MyTravelMoney Mystery Shop data is collected in real time on August 5th from 1:00pm-1:30pm

Key Findings

• Be smart and compare deals before purchasing your travel money!
• Banks and airports that offer ‘No Fees’ are merely misleading marketing gimmicks and should be ignored.
• Online currency specialists offer you a way around those tricky schemes often offered by banks and airport bureaus.
• Up to 10% markups at airport bureaus, true!
• As low as 1% markups online, true!

Partnerships Executive at MyTravelMoney Aviva Tabachnik comments:

“Just like anything in life, when you plan, it goes smoother. Buying travel money is no exception. We suggest you speak with online specialists and compare your options. Be smart with your money so that you aren’t taken advantage of with markups as high at 10%. That’s just outrageous!”

For press enquiries or comment: press@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Weekly Mystery Shop | Never Trust 0% Commission appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

MyTravelMoney Mystery Shop data is collected in real time on July 29th from 10:30am-10:45am

Key Findings

• Online currency specialists help you compare travel money options, ultimately finding you the best deal.
• When buying your travel money the exchange rate is the key indicator to gaining the best value on your chosen currency.
• Banks and airports that offer 0% commission are merely misleading marketing gimmicks and should be ignored.
• Don’t take a chance missing your flight by waiting in line at the airport to exchange your currency last minute. Plan in advance and save.

Co-founder of MyTravelMoney Daniel Abrahams comments:

“Why would anyone go straight to an airport bureau rather than checking online when the difference in the markup can be as large as 10%. We believe in getting British holidaymakers the best and fairest deal on their currency! In real money terms, we want to save up to £100 on every £1000 you convert.”

For press enquiries or comment: press@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Weekly Mystery Shop | Save up to 10% online! appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Now that we’ve reached the end of our quest, we’re delighted to unveil the overall top 20 which each won our gold award in their respective categories.

In no particular order, here are the official Top 20 MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blogs:

Europe Budget Guide
Kash Bhattacharaya, who’s based in Edinburgh, blogs on all things frugal when it comes to travel. His microblogging on Twitter has earned him 9,075 followers – and we can see why. Still in-keeping with the budget theme, Kash has recently launched a ‘Luxury Hostels of Europe’ section – although it’s still to be populated. And, although his new animated website is still under construction, we’ve been following his blog and tweets in the past and know this is certainly one to watch. Bear with him during this time of diversification and you’ll soon find it’s the place to discover Cheap Eats; Travel Photos; Budget Tips; Budget Places, and Stories on the Road. We hope Kash’s new Gold MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blog Awards badge will serve him well on his new all-singing, all-dancing website.

Follow @BudgetTraveller

Air & Business Travel News
Everything you ever wanted to know about business travel is probably here so it’s no wonder we ranked it number one. ABTN carries all the most important up-to-the-minute travel news, from which airlines are changing what in business class to the impact the Olympics is having on travel suppliers. Not only that, but the site is well-laid-out, easy to navigate and a clear winner with us.

Follow @ABTN_online

Inside Traveller
In its own words, Inside Traveller shows how you can travel in luxury, enjoy five-star accommodation and gain VIP status – all at economy prices. And, the thing is, we have to agree. This blog is written by a team of travel industry professionals which misses nothing. For travel advice you won’t find anywhere else, this blog came top of our list.

Follow @insidetraveller

Holiday Travel Watch
Holiday Travel Watch takes a pretty serious view of dodgy travel industry providers trying to take advantage of innocent holidaymakers – that’s why it’s our number one. As well as giving advice on rights and legislation, holiday health, ethical travelling and a whole lot more, it has ready-made complaints documents and template letters to help steer consumers in the right direction to claiming compensation or, in some cases, justice. Its website is so comprehensive you probably won’t need to look much further for answers or reassurance. The site gets top marks from us and we’re delighted to award its team with a Gold MyTravelMoney.co.uk Travel Blog Awards badge of honour.

Follow @HTWFrank

Gap Daemon
Not only is GapDaemon a Gold winner, but this blog is the ultimate guide to planning your gap year and is jam-packed with travel tips and advice. It’s also a great place to connect with other backpackers and share your travel experiences via its neat online Postcard feature. We can’t help but love its cheeky little mascot too.

Follow @GapDaemon

Take The Family
Take The Family is a gold winner for being such a great resource to tap into when it comes to travelling with kids. It’s jam-packed with genuinely useful advice, with well-written posts and features from authorative guest bloggers. Some of our favourites are entitled ‘Empowering kids to travel’ and ‘Top 10 tips for holidaying on a budget’. We say: ‘keep up the good work’!

Follow @Takethefamily

The Luxury Travel Bible
Although The Luxury Travel Bible is more an online magazine rather than a blog, we love it so much it just had to be in our top three. We admire the simple yet sophisticated layout which reeks of pure indulgence and signals escapism for the world’s most dedicated hedonists. Even if you can’t afford to travel to any of the resorts or destinations listed, you’ll have a field day scoping out Big Houses, Hotels with Heli-Pads and Resorts with Mega-Pools. Also hats off to The Luxury Travel Bible for managing to combine high end with humour – never an easy task. Congratulations, Luxury Travel Bible, you’re a Gold winner.

Follow @LuxTravBible

The Cruise Blog
This fantastic blog is penned by leading UK cruise journalist and enthusiast Jane Archer, who has written for the likes of Travel Weekly, Cruise Trade News and Selling Cruising. She’s also a Daily Telegraph Travel columnist and will be speaking at this year’s Daily Telegraph Cruise Show in London, Birmingham and Glasgow. Her in-depth knowledge of cruising and indeed her ability to produce brilliant copy shine through in this well presented blog which is currently offering a free download of Travel & Cruise Magazine for every visitor. Congratulations, Jane, you’ve struck Gold!

Follow @JaneArcherUK

The Food Explorer
This blog gets top marks for the quality of food-related content rarely seen anywhere else, but perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised. The author of this friendly, diary-style blog is freelance food and travel journalist Catherine Quinn, who’s a qualified nutritionist and regular contributor to likes of The Guardian, Times and Independent, as well as some of the UK’s best-love magazine titles. Her reviews are so engaging, we can’t get enough and say hats off to anyone who’s tried – and enjoyed – barbecued testicles.

Follow @thefoodexplorer

Campingly
Haul your folks’ VW campervan out the garage and hit the road because that’s exactly what this inspired blog beckons you to do. There are more hints, tips, advice and inspiration on campsites, vans and motor homes than you can shake a stick at and we love that it celebrates the UK by steering readers in the direction of great things to see and do. It even throws in a few wine and book reviews and isn’t afraid to help us appreciate the simple things in life again. It gets a big thumbs up from us and that’s why it became our overall Gold winner in the Lifestyle category. Oh, and PS, there isn’t a hint of mince about it

Follow @campingly

Anglotopia
Now here’s a blog for people who really love Britain – and British culture. It’s a retro smorgasbord of everything that’s fab about our nation, from its cult TV classics like Fawlty Towers and Dr Who, to British literature, days out and staycations. There’s a Dad’s Army type feel about it and you can’t help but be transported back to wartime Britain at the height of the Keep Calm and Carry On era. Whether it’s a bit of nostalgia, the UK’s top camping hotspots, or the new ride at Center Parcs you’re interested in, you’ll find it all here. But most of all, it’ll make you proud to be British. We think it’s a uniquely brilliant blog and ranked it number one. So there!

Follow @anglotopia

STA Travel
We’re sure any avid traveller, particularly enjoying a gap year, will be aware of STA Travel and, for that reason, we’re not going to patronise you by explaining what this blog is all about. Instead, we’d like to enthuse about how fab its images are and what great content it provides. We’ve been overwhelmed by its imagery of red back spiders, koalas and emus and just love the content which supports these snap shots. Well done, STA, you came top of our list!

Follow @STATravel_UK

Flightglobal
Flightglobal is, undoubtedly, the leading resource for anyone interested in aviation or, indeed, anyone who works in the industry. Its blog covers all the relevant breaking news from across the world, including interviews with leading aviation professionals, such as IATA CEO Tony Tyler, for example. It’s also a great place to read up on all the latest airshows, aviation history and individual aircraft and their merits. For that reason, it’s one of our high flyers.

Follow @Flightglobal

Two Adults and Two Halves to Bahir Dar
Join Kate and Tim Darlow on their adventures in Ethopia with young children Ellie and Seb in this brilliant blog which journals their daily challenges in Bahir Dar, where Kate has gone to volunteer and train doctors, midwives and medical students in obstetrics and gynaecology. Tim has taken time off work as an engineer to care for the children in their new and very different temporary environment. We’re big fans and love keeping up with the Ethopian version of Corrie, learning how to make desserts in a land that doesn’t do desserts (and doesn’t have the ingredients) and following the Darlows’ great picture stories. Read this insightful and heart-warming blog just once and you’ll see why it won our gold award.

The Travel Photographer
At number one is The Travel Photographer – an expert blog documenting the world in pictures. It’s penned by Tewfic El-Sawy, a photo expedition and workshop leader, among other things, who splits his time between New York and London and has a particular penchant for the Big Apple. The photos are lively, colourful and downright amazing as Tewfic explores countless sub-genres and unusual themes across the globe from the Far East to, of course, NYC. It’s a very cutting edge blog indeed – clever stuff – so we suggest you take a look.

Follow @thetravelphotog

Odyssey Overland
Although Odyssey Overland is actually a tour operator specialising in extended overland adventures, its blogs are pretty damn good and therefore it’s our overall Gold winner. Not only does its crew pen a blog post after each expedition but its members do too – giving a multi dimensional view of each trip. It’s a great place to be inspired and follow like-minded travellers on their three and six-month journeys across the likes of South America, Central Asia, China, India, Nepal and South East Asia. Who knows… after reading some of these personal accounts, you might just sign up for the next epic journey?

Follow @EpicJourneys

Tom Sweeney’s Travels
Tom Sweeney is an award winning travel writer who’s read by travel enthusiasts and industry experts alike – having been named Travel Extra Northern Ireland Tourist Board Travel Journalist of the Year in 2011. He specialises in covering the length and breadth of Europe, from the likes of Edinburgh and London to Turkey and Estonia. Occasionally he comments on issues concerning far flung places, like the Caribbean, but Europe is really is forte and, we’re guessing, his first love. We love the way in which we can keep up-to-date with his travel-related trips and thoughts via his incredibly easy-to-navigate blog, which is as lively as it is well written. We can’t wait to read Tom’s next post and that’s why he was named our number one.

Follow @ScottishTom

The Wine Anorak
Prolific wine blogger Jamie Goode is also a well-known UK journalist and published author, whose Wine Travel category gives a great insight into where to find the best wines and wine tours. We’re a bit sad that this section of what is a great blog hasn’t been updated since 2010 but we hope Jamie’s just off sampling more Reisling and gathering info for the next gripping instalment. The other parts of this blog are still very much active so we’ve no doubt that travel will make a come-back. In the meantime, we particularly like Jamie’s video-captured tastings and musings on where to find the best vino in the UK. We’ll be closely following in his footsteps, of course. Cheers to his Gold accomplishment!

Follow @jamiegoode

The Travel Tart
When we first stumbled across this blog, we thought we’d also stumbled across Ronald McDonald but no – it was self-confessed travel addict Anthony, aka The Travel Tart. He does, however, share two things in common in with the fast food mascot – one, he has the brightest faux shock of red hair you’ve ever seen and, two, he’s all about the fun. We think Anthony’s a bit of a genius actually for creating such a brilliant, offbeat travel blog – complete with his own cartoon character. We’re not going to spoil it for you, though, we’ll leave you to read it and spot why we’ve given it our very prestigious Gold honour.

Follow @TheTravelTart

Come and Go Vietnam
Come and Go Vietnam might be a boutique travel agency and tour operator but it has a killer blog penned by Vietnam expert Tim. The reason we’ve listed it as one of the most controversial is because each post is, in fact, fuelled by beer. Of course, we mock it only in jest and are in no way suggesting that Tim is an out and out beer monster but he does reference the amber nectar a whopping 50-odd times – something which was pointed by avid Bangkok reader and market researcher Alan, to which Tim replied: “Yes, it can be revealed – my enthusiasm for travelling is merely a facade to hide my addiction to beer and if I have to travel to the wilds of southern Laos, the backstreets of Madrid or the beaches of Phu Quoc to indulge, then so be it. Without the amber stuff and the creative inspiration it supplies me, Come & Go Vietnam would not exist.” We think it gives the blog added kudos and have to also commend Tim on his ability to include the term ‘wooden genitalia’ in the body of one particular post. Tim, we love it – beer and all! Keep up the good work.

Once again, well done to all our winners and finalists and thanks to those of you who got in touch to nominate.

Look out for our 2013 awards and next time it could be you!

The post Top 20 Travel Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Last but not least, we unveil our top three most controversial travel blogs – all of which are suitably different and well worth a read.

Congratulations to Come and Go Vietnam, Orbitz and Vagabond, which are our Gold, Silver and Bronze winners respectively.

1) Come and Go Vietnam
Come and Go Vietnam might be a boutique travel agency and tour operator but it has a killer blog penned by Vietnam expert Tim. The reason we’ve listed it as one of the most controversial is because each post is, in fact, fuelled by beer. Of course, we mock it only in jest and are in no way suggesting that Tim is an out and out beer monster but he does reference the amber nectar a whopping 50-odd times – something which was pointed by avid Bangkok reader and market researcher Alan, to which Tim replied: “Yes, it can be revealed – my enthusiasm for travelling is merely a facade to hide my addiction to beer and if I have to travel to the wilds of southern Laos, the backstreets of Madrid or the beaches of Phu Quoc to indulge, then so be it. Without the amber stuff and the creative inspiration it supplies me, Come & Go Vietnam would not exist.” We think it gives the blog added kudos and have to also commend Tim on his ability to include the term ‘wooden genitalia’ in the body of one particular post. Tim, we love it – beer and all! Keep up the good work.

2) Orbitz Blog – found tweeting @Orbitz
Now there’s nothing particularly controversial about being gay – at least not in the 21st century – and Orbitz is just one of a number of travel blogs out there with an increasing number of gay followers looking for insights into the best gay friendly places to travel and how honest they can be about their sexualities when backpacking etc. But what we didn’t expect from this blog are the pictures of half-naked men and full-on snogging. Therefore, it wins our Silver award for shocking us mild mannered types at MyTravelMoney.co.uk. But, joking aside, this is a really great resource for gay travellers and covers the following fantastic round-ups: North America’s top lesbian bars; Gay-friendly beach vacations, and Honeymoon spots where gay marriage is legal. We say, thumbs up for gay travel – one of the friendliest ways to see the world.

3) Vagobond – found tweeting @vagobond
The Vagobond blog, which is written by Editor in Chief Vago Damitio, who is also the CEO of Vagobond Travel Media earns our Bronze badge – not so much for being shocking (although it is a little!) but for tackling the subject of culture shock when travelling. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of this travel blog is that it doesn’t shy away from the truth – which is why this is one of the few blogs in which you will see Vietnam delicacy Hot Vit Lon in all its glory. Confused? Let us explain: Hot Vin Lon is essentially a fertilised duck egg – complete with duckling foetus inside. The egg is boiled and the juices are drained and knocked back in a shot glass. Shocking, disgusting or just plain wrong? Yep, we thought so but hats off to Vagabond for drawing it to our attention. A word of warning, though… make sure you’re not eating when you check this one out.

Well done to those in our top trilogy who are invited to download their badges of honour here.

The post Top 3 most controversial travel blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

This category has to be our favourite here at MyTravelMoney.co.uk towers – simply because we love a good chortle, especially on a Friday afternoon.

Check out these top 5 winning blogs which have tickled our funny bone no end:

The Travel Tart – found tweeting @TheTravelTart
When we first stumbled across this blog, we thought we’d also stumbled across Ronald McDonald but no – it was self-confessed travel addict Anthony, aka The Travel Tart. He does, however, share two things in common in with the fast food mascot – one, he has the brightest faux shock of red hair you’ve ever seen and, two, he’s all about the fun. We think Anthony’s a bit of a genius actually for creating such a brilliant, offbeat travel blog – complete with his own cartoon character. We’re not going to spoil it for you, though, we’ll leave you to read it and spot why we’ve given it our very prestigious Gold honour.

Fevered Mutterings – found tweeting @mikeachim
Mike’s strapline over at Fevered Mutterings is ‘I came, I saw, I suffered immensely’ – a nod to his fantastic wit. He pens vividly honest accounts of his travels, such as his popular posts ‘How to get a UK emergency passport: An utter idiot’s guide’ and ‘Five stories I tell myself when I write’ – the latter being based on the lies he tells himself when he writes. One of his posts – a particularly creative piece on things to do when you’re bored – even went viral after being read by more than a quarter-of-a-million people, being retweeted 334 times and shared a whopping 1,900 times on Facebook. Impressive, huh?

Bassa’s Blog Welcome to the daily diary of Bassa – a large, Caucasian Shepherd dog living in Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia. This multi award winning blog documents the world of Tbilisi through Bassa’s eyes and is followed by 5,000 people worldwide. Written by Mike Day, who also authors the successful Georgia About blog, which featured in one of our previous awards categories, it’s not only funny but gives a great insight into what real life is like in every day Georgia. Bassa is pretty cute, too. Just take a look at her profile pic to see what we mean. Congratulations, Bassa, you’ve landed our Bronze badge.

Chasing a Noodle Enter the hilarious world of Alistair Hazell – a UK-based amateur creative writer who’s brilliantly witty at describing his observations when it comes to life, people, culture and social trends. Our favourite tale, by far, is about a tragic mosquito called Colin whom Alistair encountered in Cancun. We salute him for managing to write a staggering 800 plus words on the death of an insect. Oh, and the piece in which he floats his boat is pretty good too.

Freedonia Post – found tweeting @FreedoniaPost
Blogger Joel describes himself as ‘an introverted, attention whore’, which he claims ‘makes for some interesting situations along the way – and we certainly can’t deny him that. His blog his hugely entertaining as he covers odd travel news and funny industry-related stories. His blog appeals to anyone with a sense of humour and even includes a page on travel trivia for those who want to put their grey matter to the test. Therefore, we’re delighted to name it as one of the few finalists in this hugely coveted round of awards.

Congratulations go to The Travel Tart, Fevered Mutterings and Bassa’s Blog on winning our Gold, Silver and Bronze badges – and to our finalists, who are also invited to download their badges here.

With just one round of our awards to go, there isn’t much time left to enter but, if you think your blog deserves to be listed in our Top 5 Most Controversial Travel Blogs roll of honour, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 5 funniest travel blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Our congratulations go to The Wine Anorak, Tim Atkin and Majestic on being our respective Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in our juiciest category yet.

1) The Wine Anorak – found tweeting @jamiegoode
Prolific wine blogger Jamie Goode is also a well-known UK journalist and published author, whose Wine Travel category gives a great insight into where to find the best wines and wine tours. We’re a bit sad that this section of what is a great blog hasn’t been updated since 2010 but we hope Jamie’s just off sampling more Reisling and gathering info for the next gripping instalment. The other parts of this blog are still very much active so we’ve no doubt that travel will make a come-back. In the meantime, we particularly like Jamie’s video-captured tastings and musings on where to find the best vino in the UK. We’ll be closely following in his footsteps, of course. Cheers to his Gold accomplishment!

2) Tim Atkin – found tweeting @Timatkin
Journalist Tim is a Saturday Kitchen regular and an award winning Master of Wine. He poses questions like ‘Is Argentina too reliant on Malbec?’ and ‘Is try before you buy the future of wine?’ which we, of course, love. What we like most, however, is that you can search Tim’s articles by wine variety and country to keep up-to-date with his experiences of wine touring and tasting around the world. The blog is one of the most visually pleasing sites we’ve come across when it comes to viticulture and, unlike many others, has stood the test of time. We’ve awarded Tom our Silver badge for his services to wine lovers everywhere.

3) Grape to Glass: The Majestic Wine Blog – found tweeting @majesticwine
Majestic is indeed out to sell wine but the blog is fantastic. Follow these wine connoisseurs around the world as they sample what’s good and what’s not – stopping off at the likes of Longrono in Rioja Alto at the very heart of Rioja region. This is not only a lesson in wine, but a lesson in geography. If you like to know where your wine comes from, why it tastes so good and the processes involved, then this blog won’t let you down. Therefore, it’s our Bronze winner!

4) Smooth Red – found tweeting @Smooth_Red
Again, Smooth Red is selling something – wine tours to be exact. But dismiss the blog at your peril. Even if you’re not embarking on a fully-paid wine tour, you’ll love this guide to where to find the best wines in the world. It covers some of the globe’s most famous wine regions, such as Bordeaux, the Rhone and Provence, and gives great insights into wine tasting weekends and self-drive holidays.

5) Wine Doctor – found tweeting @chris_kissack
Chris Kissack certainly knows his Claret from his Beaujolais and not only gives short tasting reports but features a number of guest bloggers equally as knowledgeable about viticulture. His blog is also a great place to find up-to-date news on the industry, including which estates have stopped producing, the growth of certain regions and reclassifications. This blog is for those who are really passionate about wine and probably already know their stuff.

6) Spittoon
This cheeky wine blog uses the strapline ‘We spit so you can swallow’, which we love. We think it’s a clever little line and weren’t disappointed with the content either. The site covers all manner of indulgent stuff, including wine, food, travel and photography and we particularly appreciate its vineyard visit accounts. The writing is witty, the content clean and fresh and, complete with wine notes and tasting reports, we think it’s the perfect read to consume of an evening – with a drop of red, of course.

7) The Wine Sleuth – found tweeting @thewinesleuth
Denise Madrana is a Californian in London, blogging, passionately, about wine – albeit more microblogging these days. Denise is pretty prolific on Twitter so we hope she continues to update the blog, which has fallen by the wayside a little. It would be a shame to lose this blog to the past altogether as it’s such a great read and very well put together. It’s contemporary, fair and, most of all, fun – which is why it’s included as one of our finalists and we’re sure Denise will get back on track when she realises she has another crowd of avid fans.

8) Wine Travel Guides Blog
This simple blog has won a string of awards – not least from the Born Digital Wine Awards, which not only named Wine Travel Guides as its 1st runner up in the Best Wine Tourism Feature category this year but its Tourism Winner for blogger Wink Lorch’s piece on Wine Days Out in the French Alps. It’s a particularly good pit-stop to make if you’re considering booking a wine tour in Europe as it investigates nearby places to stay and things to bear in mind. It’s certainly a great blog to bookmark.

9) Clueless About Wine
Blogger Charlie has progressed from being clueless about wine to a full-on, authoritative enthusiast who hopes to help his readers grow in a similar fashion. His blog is a bit quirky, to say the least, and we’re intrigued by his period attire in the profile photo. He approaches the subject philosophically and with great honesty and we’d have no qualms about picking up a bottle he’s pegged as a good ‘un. His blog is more wine than travel but the majority of bottles have been consumed in the UK – a great destination in itself.

10) Wines, villages and terroirs of Alsace
This blog is, unsurprisingly, devoted to the wines of Alsace – documenting the region’s charming white wines, some of which are the best in the world. It reveals the history of the area, a vintage chart, guide to wines of the week and top travel tips like on how to get around Alsace by bicycle. It’s ideal for real wine enthusiasts who want to know more about the terroir, different types of grape and their qualities and the best wine-producing villages. We couldn’t be prouder to have it as one of our finalists.

Congratulations to all our winners and finalists, who are welcome to download their badges of honour here.

The post Top 10 Wine Tour Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to Tom Sweeney’s Travels, Europe A La Carte and Euro Travel Blog, which are our Gold, Silver and Bronze winners respectively.

1) Tom Sweeney’s Travels – found tweeting @ScottishTom
Tom Sweeney is an award winning travel writer who’s read by travel enthusiasts and industry experts alike – having been named Travel Extra Northern Ireland Tourist Board Travel Journalist of the Year in 2011. He specialises in covering the length and breadth of Europe, from the likes of Edinburgh and London to Turkey and Estonia. Occasionally he comments on issues concerning far flung places, like the Caribbean, but Europe is really is forte and, we’re guessing, his first love. We love the way in which we can keep up-to-date with his travel-related trips and thoughts via his incredibly easy-to-navigate blog, which is as lively as it is well written. We can’t wait to read Tom’s next post and that’s why he’s our number one.

2) Europe a la Carte
We have honoured Europe a la Carte in a previous category but feel it’s only just to do so again in this very fitting category. In short, it would be a crime not to honour this brilliant blog which tackles so many issues pertinent to us when travelling to and in Europe. Not only does it cover great destinations, but consumer issues too. Hats off to Karen Bryan, who’s a stalwart in the industry. Karen, this time, you’re our Silver winner.

3) Euro Travel Blog
This no frills blog is our Bronze winner thanks, in part, to its simplicity. There are lots of categories to choose from, however, spanning the likes of Spain, Switzerland, France and Germany and covering all manner of European traits like café culture and competitions, tips and features on what to do where. You will find unlikely European pursuits popping up from time to time, such as ‘One night in Bangkok’, but as its title suggests, this blog is really a celebration of Europe. We love its straight-to-the point approach to travel and lack of confusing content.

4) Dream Euro Trip – found tweeting @DreamEuroTrip
If you want to know how to plan and budget your Euro trip, then this is your blog. It’s a brilliant resource for anyone planning – or already embarking on – a journey to Europe. Here you’ll find some great tips, links and stories from those in the know. It’s fantastic if you’re into music and getting away from the usual tourist talk. But don’t just take our word for it… check it out for yourself.

5) Auto Europe – found tweeting @ae_carhire
Although this site primarily offers car hire to European travellers, its tip-packed blog is not to be overlooked – especially if you’re planning to drive abroad. You’ll find everything you need to know when hiring a car here, along with nifty little features like Top 5 Drives in France and how to Be Savvy When Driving in Spain and a few travel technology posts thrown in for good measure. We’re proud to announce Auto Europe as one of our finalists and will be checking this blog out next time we decide to hit the road.

6) City Breaks Guides
We love this blog. Simple as that. Find great European destinations at the drop a hat, easily on the menu bar. Everywhere from the UK and Ireland to Poland and the Czech Republic is covered in this aesthetically pleasing blog, which has us returning time and again to see what’s new. If you ever wondered what to do where when it comes to Europe, then wonder no more.

7) Travel Like a Brit
We have also already featured this blog in a previous category but it fits into this one so well. It’s a great guide to travelling in the UK and Europe and we just loved its coverage of the Olympic Games. It’s no wonder it was honoured in the Top 20 UK Travel Blogs in conjunction with holiday365.co.uk. Now it can add a MyTravelMoney.co.uk Top 10 to its growing list of accolades.

8) Wicked Campers
Yes, this site is selling something but the blog is pretty good. Join the Lynch family who have been travelling, with three teens in tow, to support their father’s musical career. The less said the better, just go to http://www.lynchfamilyadventure.com/Lynch_Family_Adventure_v2/Welcome.html and find out what it’s all about.

9) Savage Europe
Savage Europe covers great weekend trips to take, compares budget airlines and reviews travel destinations and hotels. It’s simple to follow and expertly written. Need we say more? Perhaps not, but we will. This is a great read for Joe Bloggs who wants to discover the joys of Europe – and sometimes on a budget.

10) Susan 23 On the Road – found tweeting @ontheroadto
Join Susan, who initially started out on the Euro trail but, more recently, covers the likes of Oz and everywhere in between. Her blog is complete with maps, superb links and some top advice for anyone looking to do the same. It’s a bit of an advertisers’ paradise, though, which is largely down to its success, so be sure to read with caution.

Well done to all our winners and finalists in this round, who are invited to download their badges here.

The post Top 10 European Travel Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to Odyssey Overland, Overland Traveller and London To Sydney Overland, which are our Gold, Silver and Bronze winners.

1) Odyssey Overland – found tweeting @EpicJourneys
Although Odyssey Overland is actually a tour operator specialising in extended overland adventures, its blogs are pretty damn good and therefore it’s our overall Gold winner. Not only does its crew pen a blog post after each expedition but its members do too – giving a multi dimensional view of each trip. It’s a great place to be inspired and follow like-minded travellers on their three and six-month journeys across the likes of South America, Central Asia, China, India, Nepal and South East Asia. Who knows… after reading some of these personal accounts, you might just sign up for the next epic journey?

2) Overland Traveller
The Overland Traveller’s Blog is our Silver winner for two reasons: it’s funny and it’s incredibly clever. It’s written by freelance writer and editor Emma Field, who claims to have been an overland travel fan since birth – and she wastes no time in telling it like it is. We love her quirky posts, entitled ‘Elton John and the bison ballerina’ and ‘The pros and cons of a youthful appearance while travelling’. Curious? You should be.

3) London To Sydney Overland
Follow what this blog claims to be the ‘biggest road trip ever’ as 22 intrepid travellers travel overland from London to Sydney via France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Regularly updated and with great images, it’s a brilliant lunch time read. We challenge you not to be jealous of this group’s adventure of a lifetime.

4) Going Overland – found tweeting @goingoverland
Going Overland is an honest account of mature bloggers Helen and Paul’s nomadic lifestyle as they zip about in a white Land Rover covering as many miles as they possibly can. We love things like Paul’s gory injury photos and their warts and all approach to circumnavigating the world overland. Everything from planning and packing to personal medical and practical driving training is covered here and there’s even an online shop.

5) Oasis Blog
Yes, Oasis Overland provide trips but they also provide a pretty good insight into overland transatlantic expeditions. Not only is there a great, informative blog from the team, which is currently in Africa, but there’s a whole online community giving you the opportunity to connect with other travellers. You can even share photos, videos and post your own reviews. In our opinion, it’s great for young, intrepid travellers looking to embark on other meaningful journeys.

6) The Longest Way Home – found tweeting @TLWH
This brilliantly written blog features some great human interest stories from around the world, such as the ‘Green-eyed girl from Nepal’ and takes you on a journey which really is ‘beyond travel’ as its strapline suggests. There are lots of elements here to inspire as it covers, in candid detail, the ‘raw reality of life’ as you join Dave – a man on a mission to travel the world in search of home. He’s been travelling for seven years and seven months so far and we think that’s pretty impressive.

7) Overland to Egypt
This is such a fun blog by Gordon May, who travels the world on his 1952 BSA Bantum motorbike. It’s really well penned and so it should be for Gordon has also written a number of books on the subject – including 2008’s Overland to India and this year’s Overland to Egypt. Expect lots of pictures of Gordon and his bike with some of the world’s most famous landmarks as a backdrop. All in all, it’s a great blog for anyone who’s a fan of bikes and travel.

8) The Man in Seat 61 – found tweeting @seatsixtyone
We’ve already honoured this blog in a previous category but it’s so good that we just had to do it again – particularly in this round covering overland travel. This blog, is of course, about grounded travel and covers all manner of train and ferry adventures – explaining how to get to most countries in the world in the most eco friendly way possible. It’s great for advice and what to expect on your journey and a great read for all those train anoraks out there.

9) Guzzi Overland
Guzzi Overland isn’t the most visually stunning of blogs but there’s some great nuggets of information to be had within. Its posts journal Kev and Karen’s overland adventures on a Motor Guzzi – a legendary Italian motorbike produced in Mandello del Lario. It’s expertly written and gives a great personal insight into life on the road.

10) Overland Live – found tweeting @africaoverland
• The primary source of information for this blog comes from The Africa Overland Network and authors Martin and Nick have been involved in overland adventures for more than two decades and Nick is actually emigrating to South Africa via a 14-year-old Land Rover Defender 110 with his wife, Vicki. It’s a great blog for anyone passionate about Africa and we love to read about the team’s adventures.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here. To be considered for our next round of awards, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk

The post Top 10 Overland Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to The Travel Photographer, Ken Kaminesky and Adventures of a GoodMan – you’re our top three!

1) The Travel Photographer – found tweeting @thetravelphotog
At number one is The Travel Photographer – an expert blog documenting the world in pictures. It’s penned by Tewfic El-Sawy, a photo expedition and workshop leader, among other things, who splits his time between New York and London and has a particular penchant for the Big Apple. The photos are lively, colourful and downright amazing as Tewfic explores countless sub-genres and unusual themes across the globe from the Far East to, of course, NYC. It’s a very cutting edge blog indeed – clever stuff – so we suggest you take a look.

2) Ken Kaminesky – found tweeting @KenKaminesky
At number two is Ken Kaminesky’s blog – a witty and incredibly charming site filled with fantastic posts, interviews, articles and reviews and, of course, fab photography. Ken has spent the last decade shooting commercial lifestyle images for stock agencies, including Alamy and Getty Images – two favourites of the press and glossy media. His expertise shines through in his lively blog in which, for someone whose forte is photography rather than journalism, he can’t half write. His blog is steeped in honesty, engaging descriptions and the odd anecdote or joke pertaining to travel photography. It’s also a great place to check out Ken’s amazing portfolio and order some prints if you fancy.

3) Adventures of a GoodMan – found tweeting @GregGoodman
Wow. Who needs words when you have such fantastic images? The photography on this blog is stunning and, of course, we particularly love the night time images of London, illustrating the London Eye, The Thames, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. Blogger Greg Goodman, who has lived all over the world, also shares his travel stories, some of which are hilarious – like the time he narrowly avoided an international incident and sneaked his late Great Aunt Donnie’s ashes past security and into the Taj Mahal.

4) Mitchell Kanashkevich: The Blog
This visually stunning blog makes us want to pack our bags and head off on a volunteering or conservation journey to the heart of Ethiopia – because that’s exactly where travel photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich is. He captures local life – not just here but across Asia and Eastern Europe – beautifully. The images and supporting text help to bring home what’s important and Mitchell’s snapshots of a very different way of life will almost make you want to weep. But far from being filled with sad tales of underdeveloped countries, Mitchell’s blog gives the lowdown on the good, the bad and the ugly, honestly and without holding back. We think it’s a good read and a great eye-opener for anyone planning to travel to Africa and beyond.

5) Martin’s Travel Photo Blog – found tweeting @travelphotoblog
For enviable snaps of all your dream destinations, Martin’s Travel Photo Blog is the one. From Johnny Cay island to Machu Picchu to Sighisoara Romania, Martin Wilkins has snapped a diverse range of locations across the globe and isn’t done yet. In his blog, he also thrashes out the pros and cons of taking time out to travel – a page no doubt useful for anyone facing the dilemma ‘should I stay, or should I go?’ Perhaps the most exciting part, however, is on the page where he reveals his big travel plans for 2013 – a European road trip in a transit he plans to convert into a campervan. We think it’s a brilliant idea and wish him all the luck in the world.

6) Georgia About
Georgia About journals one Englishman’s experience of living in Tbilisi after making the leap and moving to Georgia several years ago. Naturally, it’s picture led and gives a great insight into the place, its culture, history and, above all, food. With followers in 90-odd countries, it’s quickly gaining momentum and we can see why. It’s well written, well laid out and an absolute pleasure to read so hats off to the man who pens it: Mike Day.

7) Anywhere But London – found tweeting @anywherebutlond
Anywhere But London isn’t your typical photo blog but with its iconic images of British town and country, not to mention pie charts, infographics and screen grabs, it’s pretty visual so we think it fits the bill. Apparently this blog is read by the likes of David and Victoria Beckham and has attracted suggestions from Sir Stephen Fry. It certainly champions Great Britain and we love author Andrew Denton’s concept of focusing on the UK’s other great assets away from London. Thumbs up to him for offering an alternative to Olympic 2012 overload in the 150-day run-up to the event.

8) Anywhere But Home
Join photographer Naomi as she travels far and wide – and believe us, she’s covered some serious miles. She’s lived in Europe, North America and now Asia with no future plans for a permanent abode. Our favourite piece has to be her favourite Moroccan finds, entitled Treasures from the Souk, in which she has snapped some of the most gorgeous, colourful wares and trinkets to be found in North Africa. The spelling isn’t always spot on but we love this 20-something gal’s approach to travel.

9) alexasigno.co.uk – found tweeting @alexasigno
Meet self-confessed ‘mad traveller’ Alex, whose images of everything from Black & White Tip Sharks and Polish weddings to Moscow’s metro and Auschwitz will leave you inspired and hungry for more. His blog is substantial and jam-packed with lots of great tales, tips and travel trivia. But the stand-out post for us is his food safari, in which he explores weird and wonderful delicacies from around the world, including Japan’s infamous sh*@t burger.

10) Taboo Photography
The photos on this new, would-be travel blog are simply amazing – however, the blog content isn’t really up and running yet so we’re watching this space with eager anticipation. It’s also a one-stop-shop for buying and downloading images of Asia and photographic prints and canvases for a small donation, which is split between two linked educational and support-aid charities.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here.

For your blog to be considered in the following upcoming categories, contact lynda@mytravelmoney.co.uk:

Top 10 Overland Travel Blogs
Top 10 European Travel Blogs
Top 10 Wine Tour Blogs
Most Humorous Travel Blogs
Most Controversial Travel Blogs

The post Top 10 Travel Photography Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Congratulations to Two Adults and Two Halves to Bahir Dar, Animals Unlimited and Into The Wild for being such great volunteers, conservationists and all-round eco-warriors.

1) Two Adults and Two Halves to Bahir Dar

Join Kate and Tim Darlow on their adventures in Ethopia with young children Ellie and Seb in this brilliant blog which journals their daily challenges in Bahir Dar, where Kate has gone to volunteer and train doctors, midwives and medical students in obstetrics and gynaecology. Tim has taken time off work as an engineer to care for the children in their new and very different temporary environment. We’re big fans and love keeping up with the Ethopian version of Corrie, learning how to make desserts in a land that doesn’t do desserts (and doesn’t have the ingredients) and following the Darlows’ great picture stories. Read this insightful and heart-warming blog just once and you’ll see why it wins our gold award.

2) Animals Unlimited – found tweeting @AnimalsUnlimit

This is our top blog for animal lovers because it has it all – great photos of amazing wildlife, latest news, conservation projects and even advice on pet keeping. It also covers all those nature questions you’ve been pondering in the back of your mind for years – such as ‘How do Atlantic Salmon find their way home?’ and ‘What’s the difference between tortoises, terrapins and turtles?’ We think it’s great and have awarded it our silver badge.

3) Into The Wild – found tweeting @FrontierGap
This blog is penned in conjunction with Frontier – a non-profit conservation and human development organisation which helps people secure voluntary placements all over the world. It was set up to educate and inspire people about the benefits of travelling with a purpose and does exactly that. The photography is excellent and, if you’re looking for something meaningful to do with your gap year, then you might just find the ticket here. It gets our bronze award for being a brilliantly inspiring travel resource.

4) Do-it

Now this blog is nothing fancy looks-wise but it’s one of the best in terms of gaining a real perspective on what it’s like to volunteer at home and abroad. It’s solely dedicated to volunteering and how to make it possible and carries to end of real life stories from different people who are actively volunteering in different parts of the world. It’s a great place to start for anyone who’s thinking about volunteering but still has many questions to ask.

5) Becky Badluck’s Flight of Fancy

Rebecca Ashwood’s blog is brilliantly written – incredibly honest and witty – and journals her antics in Rwanda as a VSO volunteer. She touches on a lot of things, from what she’s learnt so far and common pitfalls of volunteering abroad, such as missing friends and major life events, to Rwandan culture and wildlife – not least her experience of camping with warthogs and impala. Not bad for a girl from Brighton.

6) Act for Wildlife – found tweeting @ACTforWILDLIFE

Act for Wildlife is a wildlife conservation campaign led by Chester Zoo – focusing on conservation projects around the world in which it’s involved. It’s there to raise awareness and, of course, money but the blog is pretty fantastic as a stand-alone. It doesn’t just focus on zoo-related posts, but on the great things happening around the globe.

7) Coral Cay Conservation Blog – found tweeting @CoralCay

Conservation specialist Coral Cay is dedicated to providing resources to help protect coral reefs and rainforests – with David Bellamy among its patrons. The blog is a great place to find out about the latest conservation research that’s taking place – whether it’s bat protection or coral reef research.

8) Diary of a Muzungu – found tweeting @CharlieBeau

Diary of a Muzungu means, quite simply, ‘Diary of a white person’ and is written by Charlotte Beauvoisin who’s been on a three-year journey as a volunteer in Kampala. Although she’s now working in tourism, her volunteer blog is featured on Lonely Planet and is well worth a read for her tales of bush adventures, embarrassing moments and desperately trying to find a man. And if you ever wanted to know how to feed a baby elephant, then this is your blog.

9) Think Pacific – found tweeting @thinkpacific

This organisation specialises in meaningful journeys to the South Pacific – and to Fiji in particular. Although a small organisation, its blog features some fab photos and real life accounts from volunteers from all over the world. It also offers some fascinating insights into local Fiji life.

10) VSO UK – found tweeting @VSOUK

Rather than just one blog, here you’ll find a collection of blogs from more than half a dozen different volunteers helping out in various parts of the world – all working for VSO, the British version of the Peace Corps. It also offers lot of hints and tips on how you, too, can get involved.

All our winners and finalists are invited to download their badges of honour here. Well done!

The post Top 10 Volunteering & Conservation Blogs appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.