Tuesday 3 September 2019

How To Find The Best Travel Rewards Credit Card

It can be really complicated for a newbie to wrap their mind around earning points with credit cards. I thought it was all too hard and gave up until I learned about a new service that helps you not only find the best travel rewards credit card for you, but also maximise the points and benefits. Did I mention it's completely free?
Read more at our travel blog.

Sunday 25 August 2019

5 Days in London: Best Museums, City Icons & Discount Attractions Pass

Planning a short vacation to the UK’s mega metropolis, London, will inflict decision anxiety even on the most ruthless traveller. How do you trim down a mammoth wish list of attractions into a mere 5-day itinerary? I’ve expertly crafted these 5 days in London to combine a discount pass with a generous sprinkling of free museums, galleries and city icons.
Read more at our travel blog.

Thursday 22 August 2019

6 Best Walking Tours in London

Most international tourists choose to book a London walking tour to discover the city through the eyes of a savvy local. But choosing the right walking tour is harder than it sounds. I’ve narrowed down hundreds of potentials to 6 of the best walking tours in London, covering history, pop culture, street art and food.
Read more at our travel blog.

Sunday 4 August 2019

3 Days In York: Long Weekend Itinerary For English History, Culture & Ghost Stories

York’s backstory had no shortage of drama, and the modern city celebrates its past, warts and all, creating a charming fusion of classical and quirky that’s ripe for exploring. My itinerary for 3 days in York feels like a living history book filled with tall Roman walls, Norman castles, quaint medieval buildings, Victorian railways, and narrow cobblestone streets... and even a ghost story or three.
Read more at our travel blog.

Tuesday 23 July 2019

Game of Thrones Croatia Tour: Dubrovnik & Split Filming Locations, Local Secrets & Bizarre Stories

We took the ultimate Game of Thrones Croatia tour through Dubrovnik and Split to discover real filming locations behind the world’s most popular television series of all time. We also went deeper for fascinating history and a little secret gossip from locals. Find out what we discovered.
Read more at our travel blog.

Monday 17 June 2019

Traveloka Review: How Does It Compare For Flights, Hotels & Attractions?

Traveloka is an online travel booking platform focused on Southeast Asia. Founded in Indonesia in 2012, it has grown rapidly and now competes with industry heavyweights. Find out how it compares on price, range and functionality. I put Traveloka to the test in an in-depth review.
Read more at our travel blog.

Thursday 13 June 2019

I was shocked I didn't learn this in school...⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Recently we took a 5-day tour around Crete with @specialtytoursgreece to learn about the WWII Battle of Crete 🇬🇷. Soldiers from Australia and New Zealand fought alongside Cretan civilians to defend against the invading German army.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ The victory for the Germans in this pivotal battle was shallow because it delayed their surge eastward, only reaching the Russian border at the onset of winter. And the winter is what defeated them. The rest is history. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Read my brand new article about this life-changing tour in Crete - the link is in my bio @travelwithbender.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ This view is from my drone 📸 above the colourful Old Venetian Harbour in Chania, Crete, Greece. 😍


ANZAC Tours in Greece: The Real History Behind WWII Battle of Crete

The Greek Islands are a dream destination on every bucket list. When I recently visited Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, I was utterly dazzled - it doesn’t just have charming towns, immaculate beaches, and some of the best food in Greece, Crete also has an extraordinary World War II history. I took an ANZAC tour with Specialty Tours Greece to witness firsthand what life would have been like for soldiers defending the island during the climactic WWII Battle of Crete.
Read more at our travel blog.

Thursday 30 May 2019

Italy By Train: Easy 21 Day Rail Itinerary For 6 Destinations

I recently travelled for 3 weeks around Italy by train and have put all my first-hand experience and research into this epic 3-week rail itinerary just for you. Start in Milan and travel to La Spezia, Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, and Venice before wrapping up back in Milan. There are more highlights than you can count... this was my best rail journey so far!
Read more at our travel blog.

Tuesday 28 May 2019

1 Day In Milan: Da Vinci’s Last Supper, The Duomo & The Golden Triangle

We spent 1 day in Milan at the end of a whirlwind rail tour around Italy, and crammed as much site-seeing as we could into 24 hours. This 1-day itinerary visits Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, climbs the Duomo, and even squeezes a little time for shopping in The Golden Triangle. Be warned, this plan isn’t for the faint of heart. But then again, neither is Milan.
Read more at our travel blog.

Saturday 18 May 2019

The world's most famous fresco... "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Located within the unassuming Santa Maria delle Grazie (a church and Dominican convent) in Milan, Italy, this 15th-century fresco is amazing for so many reasons. ⠀ ⠀ da Vinci was supposed to only take 1 year to complete this, but took 4 because of his extreme dedication to perfection. 🎨He even developed new artistic techniques to create the fresco - not all of them worked, resulting in the painting deteriorating quickly several decades after completion. The most recent restoration work commenced in the 1970's and it took over 20 painstaking years to complete.⠀ ⠀ This hall was bombed during World War II resulting in 2 of the 4 walls being damaged.😩 Fortunately this was one of the walls to survive.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ But what is often overlooked in photos of this scene is the amazing perspective Leonardo used. The mural takes up the entire width of a wall, and gives the viewers a sense of realistic depth, as if the walls on the left and right continue into the fresco. We take this sort of idea for granted today. But in the 15th century, perspective was a radical concept. The lighting of the characters in the fresco even reflect what the original windows of the room would have looked like. Leonardo da Vinci is a genius, but it can't fully appreciated without a knowledgeable guide. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took a tour with @WalksTours which included this church as well as rooftop access to Milan Cathedral. Two of the best things to see in this city. Oh, and getting into the Santa Maria delle Grazie is no easy feat. Only a limited number of online tickets are available, and sell out months in advance.🎟️ So if you don't go with @WalksTours then you chance of seeing this marvel are very slim.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ #takewalks⠀ #italianart


Thursday 16 May 2019

2 Days In Venice: A Survivor’s Guide To Canals, Islands & Crowds

I visited Venice to see if it lives up to the hype and to explore the epicentre of the Venetian Empire that thrived during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Here’s my handy 2 day itinerary that covers Venetian museums, icons like Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace, and then spends a day away from the maddening crowds touring nearby islands Murano and Burano.
Read more at our travel blog.

Finish this: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is...⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took an amazing day trip from Florence to Pisa & Lucca with @WalksTours. It included a wine tasting 🥂 and lunch in the Tuscan countryside. I didn't expect to enjoy climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower as much as I did. When the builders realised it was leaning during construction, they tried building the top portion to lean in the opposite direction. So when we were walking up, we reached a point where it gets really bizarre, feeling like walking up and down at the same time. Totally trippy!⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ No surprises, but I was super dizzy 🙄 by the time I reached the top of that spiral staircase. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Pisa Cathedral next to the tower doesn't get anywhere nearly the amount of attention that it deserves. That is one of the most beautiful churches I've seen anywhere in the world, and it's worth the daytrip for that alone. Oh, and it's leaning too if you look carefully.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ "What we need to do is always lean into the future; when the world changes around you and when it changes against you - what used to be a tail wind is now a head wind - you have to lean into that and figure out what to do because complaining isn't a strategy." - Jeff Bezos⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ #takewalks


Friday 10 May 2019

2 Days In Rome: The Essential Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Rome is called “the Eternal City” for very good reason. It’s impact on the world has been, well, pretty eternal. Visiting Rome in any short timeframe is destined to be a challenge. I recently had only 2 days in Rome to explore the essential big-ticket attractions like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and Trevi Fountain. Here’s how to do Rome like a pro.
Read more at our travel blog.

Your chance to 🌟win big.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I've been using the Everyday Backpack from @peakdesign for several years and it has never let me down. This shot was taken in Meteora, Greece in March. I love the #peakdesign timeless styling and dedication to detail. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ They're about to launch their 9th #kickstarter campaign and it's going to be massive. But they're not pulling back the curtain to say what it is just yet. The big reveal is 21st May. However they're giving away this new product to 3 lucky winners. For your chance to win, just follow the link in my bio - @travelwithbender. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ This new project has been their toughest yet. All I know is that's got to do with photography and is been 4 years in the making. Can't wait!⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I hope you win... good luck! ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ #findyourpeak


Wednesday 8 May 2019

The Academy of Athens is said to be the most beautiful neoclassical building in the world. And I have to agree. 😮😍 Wow, just wow.⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We explored the modern architecture of Athens on the "Beautiful Neoclassical" tour with @fantasytravelgr. Our guide Katerina, alongside tour developer Athina, led us past the Greek Parliament building, University of Athens, National Library of Greece, Numismatic Museum and more. The final stop was a guided tour of the National Historical Museum - something every visitor to Athens should see. Exhibits range from the War of Independence, to WWI and WWII.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took another tour with @fantasytravelgr to discover the "Museum of Ancient Greek Technology". I was blown away by how much advanced technology the Greeks had 2000 years ago! We saw automated doorbells, rapid-fire crossbows, wine pouring robots, mini cinemas (with sound effects) and complex mechanical clocks. This museum does not receive the recognition it deserves. A lot of painstaking time has been put into each exhibit by studying ancient manuscripts and designs. You can't miss this place on your next visit to Athens.⠀ ____⠀ ⠀ @thisisathens


How To Spend 4 Days In Athens: Best Historical Sites, Discount Tickets, Museums & Restaurants

There’s something about Athens that is simply timeless. The famous Classical period ended over 2,300 years ago, yet when we think of Athens, we still imagine Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato teaching philosophy, the invention of democracy, and massive advancements in medicine, science, and the arts. These things shaped the very foundation of our modern western society, and they all happened in Greece. With this first-hand, expertly crafted itinerary, your 4 days in Athens will cover the most significant historic sites and get maximum value out of your Athens City Pass.
Read more at our travel blog.

Tuesday 7 May 2019

The famous Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion, Greece. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ Completed in 440 BC and dedicated to the ancient Greek sea god, this temple is perched on a cliff 60 metres (200 ft) above the raging sea. Impressively, 16 out of the 38 columns are still standing today (only 4 were re-erected in the 20th century).⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took a half-day tour here with @athenswalkingtours. The day of our trip was particularly windy and cold, but that didn't dampen our spirits. Getting up close to this amazing ruin was well worth it.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ "I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." - Leonardo da Vinci⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I'm a big foodie. So in Athens we also tried a Greek cooking class with @athenswalkingtours. It was fantastic! Our teacher, Fofi, lead a small group through the process of making spanakotiropita (cheese and spinach pie), Greek salad, tzatziki dip, roast lamb, dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), zucchini balls, and a yoghurt desert. At the end of the evening we got to enjoy our efforts (delish!) to the sound of live Greek music on classical guitar and bouzouki. Opa!⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ @thisisathens


Monday 6 May 2019

San Diego Zoo Discount Tickets – Cheapest Prices In 2019

I’m not going to convince you to visit San Diego Zoo. If you’re reading this, you’ve already done your research. You know you want to go. Now it’s just a matter of finding the best San Diego Zoo discount tickets. After all, why pay full price?
Read more at our travel blog.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece. ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ I have been looking forward to visiting Delphi for many years, which was once considered the centre of the world in ancient times. Within the temple, the Pythia (high priestess) would provide prophecies once a month after getting high on natural ethylene escaping from a chasm in the earth's crust. Ancients considered that Apollo possessed her body during these trances. Even Alexander the Great consulted the Oracle of Delphi before waging war against Persia.⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ We took a day tour from Athens to Delphi with @fantasytravelgr, which included return bus ride and guided tour of the nearby museum.⠀ ⠀ ___⠀ ⠀ While in Athens we also enjoyed a food & wine tour 🍷 with Marina from @greekality. She customises each tour depending on the tastes and preferences of guests. We went to some amazing wine bars and gained a lot of insight about Greek wines. Highly recommended! ⠀ ⠀ ____⠀ ⠀ #lovegreece


Wednesday 1 May 2019

How To Discover Modern Athens In 5 Easy Steps

3000 years of history is impossible to ignore in Athens, from your first glimpse of the iconic Acropolis, to ancient remnants scattered throughout the city centre. But there’s more to Athens than its history. I found 5 ways to experience Athens as it is today and uncover the remarkable journey that brought it here.
Read more at our travel blog.

Sunday 28 April 2019

Athens Cruise Shore Excursion Ideas: 5 Unusual Experiences

Are you planning a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea? Sailing along sparkling deep turquoise waters between paradisiac islands on a Mediterranean cruise is the kind of stuff travel dreams are made of. If you choose to go it alone, you’ll need to find activities that not only provide a taste of the city’s abundant history and culture, but are also timely, affordable, flexible, and interesting. Here are 5 out-of-the-ordinary activities that can easily slot in to your DIY Athens cruise shore excursions.
Read more at our travel blog.

Monday 22 April 2019

5 Best Day Trips from Athens, Greece: Meteora, Delphi, Sailing, Islands & Cape Sounion

With over 3,000 years of history and culture beckoning, it’s no surprise there’s a lot to see and do in Athens. But Greece’s capital is also a convenient jump-off point to explore deeper into the underrated countryside. These 5 day trips from Athens unveil remarkable sites from both ancient and modern Greece, that will take your Athenian vacation to the next level.
Read more at our travel blog.

Thursday 11 April 2019

Where To Eat In Athens: 5 Best Foodie Experiences

In Athens, Greece, people don’t just eat to live, they live to eat. And I don’t blame them. Meals often span over 2 or 3 hours and start with meze and aperitifs to really get your appetite going. If, like me, you’re a bit of a foodie at heart and want to know where to eat in Athens, then these 5 dining experiences will give you a real taste of this city’s food culture.
Read more at our travel blog.

Saving Money For Travel: 7 Smart Banking Tips

You’re probably overflowing with travel dreams thanks to drool-worthy Instagram posts from far-flung destinations, so how do you get the cash to make the dream happen? That’s one of the most common questions I get asked. Let's start with saving money for travel, and what to do about your banking.
Read more at our travel blog.

Tuesday 2 April 2019

Top 8 Things To Do Around Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Any trip to Singapore would be incomplete without at least a day to explore the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) complex and its surroundings. From icons like Merlion to massive Gardens By The Bay, you can find a lot of beautiful locations and amazing things to do.
Read more at our travel blog.

Thursday 28 March 2019

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." – C.S. Lewis ___ New article published today: Greek Nightlife Tour. Check out travelwithbender.com to find out how we navigated the maze of restaurants & bars in Greece's capital thanks to the help of a local guide from @withlocals. ___ This shot was captured from the Above Rooftop Bar & Restaurant in @wyndham.grand.athens, overlooking Psyri, Plaka and Monastiraki. The Parthenon is lit up beautifully atop the ancient Acropolis. ___ The food at this restaurant was amazing - combining the best fresh Greek ingredients with an upscale twist. Presentation was flawless and flavours were technically impressive. I have no hesitation recommending this place for a special night out in Athens. ___ #withlocals #aboverooftop #thisisathens


Greek Nightlife Tour: Discover Athens’ Bars, Food and Drinks Like A Local

An authentic nightlife experience to discover local Athenians hangout spots. We tried talagani cheese, local wine, mastic ice cream, rakomelo and more with the help of a friendly guide from Withlocals. Once you’ve done this tour, Athens will never be the same.
Read more at our travel blog.

11 Reasons Why Singapore Zoo Is One Of The Best Zoos In The World

I’ve been to dozens of zoos around the world, and to be honest, it now takes a lot to impress me. It’s fairly rare for me to carve precious time out of my itinerary to visit a zoo, let alone write an entire article about one, but I made an exception this time. For very good reason.
Read more at our travel blog.

Sentosa 1 Day Itinerary: What To Do On Singapore’s Island Of Fun

Singapore's Sentosa island is home to some of the world’s most prestigious resorts, action-packed theme parks, fast food and fine dining restaurants. Here’s my recommended Sentosa 1 day itinerary to take all the headache out of planning a fun day out.
Read more at our travel blog.

Friday 22 March 2019

Crazy Rich Asians Tour – Singapore’s Ultra Wealthy Neighbourhoods, Homes & Film Locations

If you’ve ever read the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy by Kevin Kwan, or watched the 2018 movie, you might imagine Singapore as an extremely affluent and ostentatious country full of extremely affluent and ostentatious people. We took a guided Crazy Rich Asians tour around Singapore to discover this country’s ultra rich elites, and what we found surprised us.
Read more at our travel blog.

Wednesday 13 March 2019

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel: The Cheerful Robot Greeted Me At The Door

On a recent trip to Singapore, I stayed at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel and discovered it exemplified Singapore’s revolutionary mindset and contemporary way of life. Here are my favourite 3 ingenuities that set the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel apart from the crowd.
Read more at our travel blog.

Sunday 10 March 2019

The best way to start the day... ___ Taking a swim on the rooftop infinity pool at @thewestinsingapore at sunrise. The view over Marina Bay was breathtaking. ___ Westin focuses on wellbeing and we tried their Heavenly Spa with a revitalising Lavender Journey scrub and massage. A little pampering now and then is good for the soul. ___ #WestinSG #WestinWeekend #singapore


Why I Loved This Singapore Food Tour

Singapore is all about food. This city has so many restaurants and food courts that it’s not uncommon to get a little decision anxiety when choosing a place to eat. It’s kind of like choosing a movie to watch on Netflix. Once a decision is made, so many good options go flying out the window. That's why I went on a Singapore food tour by Withlocals. The tour connects the appetites of tourists with expert Singaporean foodies who know all the best foods to try and the best places to find them.
Read more at our travel blog.

Wednesday 6 February 2019

Travelan - The Travel Insurance That Could Save Your Vacation

Right off the bat, I’ll say this will be an awkward article. I’m talking about poop. This is something that affects most people in one way or another. Yep, you’re not alone. Up to 50-70% of travellers are affected by travellers’ diarrhoea (TD) at one time or another. I've tried a new medication called Travelan that helps prevent TD in 90% of cases.
Read more at our travel blog.

Friday 18 January 2019

12 Reasons Why You Should Visit Turkey’s Çanakkale Region

I recently had the opportunity to visit Troy and Gallipoli on a tour of Turkey’s Çanakkale province (pronounced “Chan-uh-ka-lay”). I knew there’d be a lot to learn from these famous sites, but I did not expect Çanakkale to be such a wonderful off-the-beaten-path vacation destination. Çanakkale is a dream destination for anyone interested in history, but even if you’re not the world’s biggest history buff, you still can’t go wrong with a trip to Çanakkale. Here’s 12 reasons why.
Read more at our travel blog.

Wednesday 16 January 2019

Scratch Off World Map Review: The Surprisingly Satisfying Travel Tracker

Recording your journeys is as old as time. Prehistoric Paleolithic dudes did it. Ancient Greek conquerors did it. This scratch off world map is blissfully simple and you get the same buzz as an instant-win scratchy game, but there’s no gambling involved… everyone’s a winner! Simply scratch off the foil from countries you’ve been to, and you’re rewarded with a gratifying burst of colour and an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Read more at our travel blog.

Have you been to Thailand before? _ View of the stunning pool at @movenpickbangtao in Phuket, Thailand. One of the best resorts on the island. _ Ive been pretty quiet on IG lately as we're working on a new project that I look forward to sharing with you very soon. It's been in the works for over 9 months. _ Make sure you activate post notifications so you don't miss anything @travelwithbender. _ While in Thailand I used my all-time favorite travel gadget - my @tepwireless hotspot. I just upgraded this month their newest model which is even sleeker and lasts on one charge even longer. Couldn't travel without it!


Tuesday 15 January 2019

Rücken Camera Backpack Review: Affordable All-Round Bag

I recently tried out the Rücken Camera Backpack from BAGSMART to see if it would live up to the promise of a universal combo camera bag & all-day backpack.The Rücken is endowed with style. It would look at home on the back of a plaid-clad hipster in the big smoke, commuting on a zippy bicycle, or even hiking in the mountains. And of course, on an all-day photography walk.
Read more at our travel blog.

Friday 4 January 2019

Villa Amrita: My New Favourite Luxury Villa in Ubud, Bali

We visited Villa Amrita, one of the best luxury villas in Ubud, Bali, and found out what it means to be treated like a celebrity. The villa staff were super friendly and helpful, carrying our luggage, getting us settled in, and giving us insider tips for Bali. And that’s only a taste of the bend-over-backwards attentive service you can expect to receive.
Read more at our travel blog.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." – Ralph Waldo Emerson ___ Fellow travel blogger and friend @jess_ismore is hitting Northern Arizona soon which inspired me to take another look at a few of my photos from a road trip in Utah/Arizona in 2017. ___ I have hundreds of beautiful shots from that trip and most have never been published. Here's one such shot, taken at The Wave (Coyote Buttes North) in Northern Arizona. ___ We've been busy the last few weeks. If you check out travelwithbender.com (link in bio), 3 new articles have been published over the last week: 21 things to do in Bali with teens, Top 77 photos of 2018; and Ultimate guide to cheap flights The last one is my longest ever published blog post at over 5100 words! I guarantee if you read that and apply the strategies I use, your next flight will be cheaper.