Train travel changes how you experience a destination. Instead of dealing with airports or focusing on the road, the journey becomes part of the trip.

As you are not driving or checking directions, you can either take in the scenery or switch off completely with a book or music.

Once on board, you can settle in and simply watch the world pass by. It is an easy way to see more of a country without constantly packing and moving on. When we visited Japan, we spent hours on trains watching the landscape shift from green fields to small towns and house styles you do not really see back home.

With that in mind, Feet Do Travel shares some of the best scenic train journeys around the world to add to your list when planning your next trip.

Planning an international trip usually starts with choosing your destination, booking flights and accommodation, plus a rough itinerary. That part is easy.

What most people forget are the practical details which make a trip abroad run smoothly. Questions like: Are cards accepted, or is cash king? How will I get around? Is public transport reliable? Which local customs should I be aware of? These small details often catch travellers out and can turn an easy trip into a stressful experience.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With a little research, you can avoid many of the issues that inexperienced travellers encounter. From navigating cash-heavy destinations such as the Philippines to dealing with unexpected hiccups on the road,

​Feet Do Travel shares the smart travel tips worth sorting before you go.

Public transport is often the first option travellers consider. In many cities or Countries, it works well; subways, buses, and trains are easy to navigate, frequent, and usually connect the main attractions.

But public transport is not always ideal. Sometimes the best choice depends on geography or the needs of the people you’re travelling with. In Japan, for example, trains connect major cities efficiently, yet rural areas, coastal towns, or mountains often require a car. The same applies where distances are larger than they appear, or if you’re travelling with children, someone in a wheelchair, or a person who finds crowds and loud environments overwhelming.

Even in cities with reliable transport, travel days do not always go to plan. Waiting on platforms, juggling connections, or unexpected delays can quickly eat into your day. Renting a car can make a real difference. Not for every trip, but in the right situation, it can completely change how a place feels to explore. Instead of planning around timetables, you travel at your own pace and often discover places you might otherwise miss.

Public transport works well for short, simple journeys, but renting a car gives more flexibility when visiting several places in one day or sticking to your own schedule. In this guide, Feet Do Travel explains why renting a car is sometimes the better choice than using public transport.

Bora Bora in French Polynesia has long been one of the world’s most dreamed-about travel destinations. 

The lagoon really is that impossible shade of turquoise you have seen in photographs. The overwater bungalows are exactly as they look online, and the island has become famous for honeymoons and destination weddings in the South Pacific. The volcanic peak rising out of the lagoon is genuinely that dramatic when you see it in person.

What the photos do not show, however, is the journey to get there, or the high price attached to it.
​
Reaching Bora Bora is more expensive and logistically a little more complicated than most travellers expect, and there are a few extra costs which never appear in the headline airfare. Feet Do Travel breaks down what the journey actually costs and explains why travelling as a group can change the numbers in your favour.

When planning a tropical escape, most of us picture the same thing: fresh warm air, sipping on a cold drink, and long stretches of time spent by the pool or dipping into a turquoise ocean.

But when it comes to packing for style and comfort, it is surprisingly easy to overthink it, which often leads to overpacking. Extra outfits are thrown in “just in case,” the wrong fabrics leave you feeling too hot, and items which look good at home end up being impractical in the heat. Before you know it, your suitcase is heavier than it needs to be.

At Feet Do Travel, we have spent plenty of time in sunny destinations, so we have put together this poolside packing guide to keep things simple. It focuses on what you will actually wear on a tropical holiday, comfortable outfits, easy to use, and still feel stylish without trying too hard.

Retirement often changes the way we travel. One year, you may be organising trips around family schedules or a partner’s plans, and the next, you are exploring the world entirely on your own terms.

For many people, that freedom is exactly the appeal. An AARP travel report shows that travellers over fifty are increasingly choosing more independent international trips, often appreciating the joy of slow travel, which allow more time to truly experience a destination.

Solo travel in retirement can be wonderfully liberating. You set the pace. You wake up when you like, wander further when a place catches your interest, or linger over coffee simply because the view is good.

While many retirees do not initially think too much about safety when travelling alone, staying safe rarely requires complicated rules, just simple awareness and a slight change in some habits, which quickly become part of your trip.

Feet Do Travel share a few practical tips to help you travel confidently and enjoy the independence that retirement travel offers.

An outdoor wedding sounds effortlessly romantic: blue skies overhead, flowers swaying gently in the breeze, and a breathtaking natural backdrop for the moment you say “I do.” In countries blessed with reliably sunny weather, planning such a ceremony can be relatively straightforward. But if you live somewhere less predictable (for example the UK or Europe) sunshine can turn to rain very quickly, and planning can be more complicated.

That is why many couples choose to combine travel with celebration, exchanging vows in beautiful destinations such as Cyprus, Thailand, or the sun-drenched islands of the Caribbean. Others go in the opposite direction entirely, embracing dramatic winter landscapes—saying their vows in a snow chapel carved from ice. 

At Feet Do Travel, we have experienced all three: marrying in Swedish Lapland, attending a friend’s outdoor wedding in Cyprus, and renewing our own vows on a beach in Jamaica. In this guide, we share practical tips to help you plan an unforgettable outdoor destination wedding abroad.

The Andes of South America are more than dramatic scenery. Stretching over 8,900 km along the continent’s western edge and spanning seven countries from Venezuela to Argentina, they form the longest continental mountain range on Earth. The Andean mountain range hold generations of knowledge shaped by survival, observation and continuity. Walking ancient Inca and pre Inca trails reveals how Andean societies organised food, time and community in direct harmony with their highland environment, long before modern travel redefined movement.

At the centre of this highland network sits Machu Picchu in Peru, not as an isolated monument, but as part of a vast mountain system linking valleys, peaks and living communities. Approached on foot, the experience feels connected rather than curated.

Feet Do Travel discovers how hiking through the Andes brings travellers closer to highland traditions and knowledge that remains active within the landscape, not preserved behind glass.

There is nothing wrong with visiting some of the world’s most popular destinations such as France, Italy, Spain or Thailand. They sit at the top of travel wish lists for good reason. But over tourism is now a reality in many of these places, and if crowds are not your thing, the experience can leave you feeling frustrated and frazzled rather than inspired.

Some of the most rewarding trips happen in lesser visited countries which receive far less attention. Looking beyond the usual hotspots often means fewer queues, better value, and the simple pleasure of standing in front of a landmark without weaving through a wall of selfie sticks.

From the turquoise shores of the Balkans to the mountains of the Caucasus and the vast landscapes of the Arabian Peninsula, there are countries delivering dramatic scenery and depth without the noise. Feet Do Travel shares three underrated destinations that may surprise you — and deliver far more than expected.

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA (known as The Queen City) is a fast-growing destination that surprises visitors with its mix of modern skyscrapers, thriving arts scene, outdoor adventures, and a buzzing food culture. Sports (NFL, NBA and football/soccer), NASCAR motorsport, and entertainment are a big part of city life, while leafy parks, museums, and riverside trails give a welcome escape from the urban pace.

While it’s a fantastic city to explore, many first-time visitors quickly realise that getting around Charlotte can be more challenging than expected. Rapid expansion in recent years means traffic congestion is common, and navigating public transport is not always straightforward if you are unfamiliar with the city. Unlike older US destinations built for walking, Charlotte is largely car-dependent, therefore knowing your transport options in advance can save both time and frustration.

To help you plan your visit, Feet Do Travel has created this simple guide to getting around Charlotte, covering the best ways for visitors to move around the city easily and make the most of their stay.