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Make an enquiryA small footnote
We never really stopped travelling: from backpacking to cruises, work trips to odd corners of the world. We did stop publishing it all. Social media, then WhatsApp and Signal, made private updates a better fit for friends and family.
The old blog remains here for us and anyone who happens across it. This page is a short, practical record of the services and gear that have earned a place in the bag.
Browse the historical travel archive
Personal travel notes
Not a shopping list. Just the choices that made repeat travel easier.
Money
For everyday travel money, Wise has done the heavy lifting: hold a base currency, exchange when it makes sense, and send or receive money through local bank details. Revolut has been especially useful when residency makes a local account practical. Both have free starting options, so getting both gives useful flexibility.
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Data
We once carried more than 30 physical SIMs. Airalo made eSIMs far easier, then too many eSIMs became their own problem. Roamless is now the simpler default: one roaming balance that works across countries, with local packages available for longer stays. Airalo remains a useful fallback.
Keeping an Australian number
For long-term travellers who only need an Australian number for OTPs and bank messages, we have used Lebara’s Standard/PAYG service. A $10 recharge has 365-day expiry; incoming SMS is free in supported roaming destinations. Avoid calls and mobile data abroad: PAYG roaming rates are expensive. Port while the old service is active, choose Standard/PAYG rather than a monthly plan, turn off auto-recharge, and set a yearly reminder.
Gear that survived the test
Hard case
The three-point, zip-free closure is the thing we value most. It is harder to casually tamper with than a conventional zip, and has stood up well to repeated flights. The trade-off is weight: these are not light cases.
Soft case / backpack
When security matters less and flexibility matters more, the Sojourn has been our favourite. It rolls well, carries as a backpack when it needs to, and has outlasted a lot of alternatives.
Charging
We stopped carrying universal adapters, individual power bricks and spare chargers. A single 100–120W Heymix GaN charger has been excellent for us in Australia. Equivalent multi-port GaN chargers are worth considering elsewhere; choose for your devices and plug type, not the logo.
Tracking
Apple AirTags make sense in an Apple household; Samsung SmartTags do the same job in a Samsung one. They are useful for finding delayed luggage and everyday items, but are not a guarantee against loss or theft.
Bookings, cards and the trade-offs
Cruises
After several ships, large and small, it remains the most useful cruise search service we have found. Royal Caribbean has generally been our favourite for ships, with more conventional itineraries. Norwegian has often been the reverse: the ship experience is less our style, but the itineraries keep winning us back. Check the cabin, itinerary and final price every time.
Flights
We usually chase the best fare. For a complicated multi-stop trip or a premium-cabin quote, RoundAbout Travel is the agent we would ask: we have booked once, and their quotes have repeatedly been competitive.
Hotels and lounges
The point of sticking with core hotel brands is recognition: breakfast and an upgrade are nice when offered, never assumed. Accor has usually worked best for us in Australia and Asia; in the US and Europe we most often land with Hilton, IHG, Radisson or Marriott. Credit cards can help with status and lounge access, but benefits and eligibility change—check the current product terms before applying.
For Australians, Amex Explorer or Platinum may suit some travellers; Revolut lounge passes are also worth checking in-app for the airport and plan involved. This is personal experience, not financial advice.
Plain disclosure: these are personal notes, not financial, telecom or travel advice. The Wise link is an affiliate link; we may earn a commission if you complete an eligible action, at no extra cost to you. The other links are direct provider links today.