Guides

The how-to of travelling well.

Planning, booking, packing and points. No clickbait — just the stuff we'd tell a friend.

Planning5 min read

Is Iraq now safe to travel in 2026?

After years of closed doors and cautionary headlines, tourists are trickling back to the land of Babylon and the citadel of Erbil. But with the Foreign Office still warning against all but essential travel, the answer is far from simple

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Booking8 min read

How to find a cheap long-haul flight without losing your mind

The five tools we actually use, the dates that move prices, and the airlines worth chasing.

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Booking6 min read

Booking.com vs direct: when each one actually wins

Sometimes the hotel website is cheaper. Sometimes it really, really isn't. Here's how to tell.

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Packing5 min read

A packing list for two weeks in one carry-on

The exact bag, the exact 23 items, and the laundry rhythm that makes it work.

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