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Why I set up a group travel company for solo travelers aged in their 30s and 40s
Flash Pack co-founder Radha Vyas explains why she launched a game-changing solo travel company, reinventing the genre.
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The world’s best countries for vegetarians
Want to try some amazing vegetarian dishes from around the world? Here’s a taster of the best countries for vegetarians.
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Christmas and New Year’s Eve escapes to book now
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Ed Stafford on the power of being vulnerable
Does a man’s strength lie in his tears? In his monthly Flash Pack column, adventurer Ed Stafford reveals how he shed his stiff upper lip and instead learnt to meet his emotions head-on, in a tale of modern-day masculinity. Vulnerability is basically weakness. That’s what my very British upbringing taught me. Man up you naval-gazing…
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Ed Stafford: what fear has taught me, from childhood to today
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Why your next holiday should be to a national park
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24 tattoo ideas to inspire your next adventure
Want a tattoo that salutes your wanderlust? Step right this way, into a world of bold vision and intricate design There’s a subtle symmetry between the world of tattoos and solo travel. Both are potent acts of self-expression that feel a little reckless. You start off unsure what to expect, but end in a place…
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5 ways AI and robots will affect future travel
The future technology of Artificial Intelligence (or Machine Learning) is exciting, scary and arriving at supersonic speed. But how will AI and robots affect future travel? 1. Driverless everything We have an interesting relationship with driverless vehicles. We accepted driverless trains very easily – London’s DLR, for example, has been trundling around without drivers since…
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Why your 30s and 40s are the best time to travel with your parents
We’ve all tried holiday rentals, but what about a holiday with the ‘rentals? If you think you’re too old, too cool or too likely to spend your holiday regressing to the point where you lock yourself in your room and listen to The Cure on loop, think again. Your 30 and 40s are the BEST…
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8 things that were great about a holiday in the ‘80s
’80s holidays were very different – and bloody great (particularly if you were a kid) – as anyone in their 30s and 40s knows. Here are eight fab things that will whip up some summertime nostalgia 1. Your mum packed a suitcase full of food We take it for granted now that basically, every food…
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These 7 words perfectly sum up the reality of life in your 30s
These phrases exactly capture the beautiful struggle of life in your 30s (including why your 30s are better than 20s). In an interview with Vogue, Emma Watson talks about her decision to “self-partner” herself in her 30s. “I was like, ‘Why does everyone make such a big fuss about turning 30? This is not a…
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6 ways to create a major life change
Want to shake up the way you live your life? Here’s how to stage-manage that major life change – and steer your dreams to reality Don’t grow stagnant and complacent, this is the time of year for new beginnings and fresh starts. But changing your life doesn’t have to mean quitting your job (although sometimes,…
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Have you got what it takes to be a Flashpacker?
Were you born to travel? Do you crave adventure with a boutique twist? Flash Pack co-founder Radha Vyas explains everything you need to know about becoming a Flashpacker No, it’s not some strange new viral dance move you’ve never heard of. The term “Flashpacker” may owe its origin to a quirky neologism made up by combining…
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Four compelling arguments for a career break
In today’s delicate economic climate, a career break might feel like a career breaker, but here are four reasons why it could be good for all involved The problem with taking a career break is that – even in this day and age – some people tend to regard it as somewhat flaky. Those who…
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I celebrated my 30th birthday by travelling alone
When it came to plans for his 30th birthday, travelling alone wasn’t top of Matt Risley’s list. So imagine his surprise when he booked a solo trip to spend it on Easter Island. Whether it’s your 30th, 40th, or 100th (hey, we can dream), every big birthday has its own ‘milestone’ checklist. The faff of…
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It’s normal to feel insecure about friends – but there’s an easy fix
Olivia June is the founder of Hey! VINA, a make friends app that introduces women to like-minded people. Described as “the Tinder for girlfriends”, it’s set to transform our friendship habits Nobody wants to walk into a party or to a bar with a sign on their head that says “Help me – I need a…
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Going to Tokyo Disneyland alone taught me solo travel is great
Hi, I’m Gav and a few years ago my girlfriend and I booked to go to Japan together. I’d arranged all kinds of romantic excursions despite firmly believing that anything called an ‘excursion’ couldn’t possibly be romantic. I’d booked us into an exclusive sushi restaurant after spending two months on their waiting list, got us…
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Farewell comfort zone: a five-step strategy to shaking up your life
Why is it so difficult to do the things we really want in life? We crave maverick status – to be that daring person who takes risks and turns the world upside down – but in reality, most of us simply go about our daily routines, barely putting our head above the parapet. As a…
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How one couple quit their comfortable life for an epic Americas road trip
Few people have the courage to live the Thelma & Louise open-road dream. But one couple did exactly that, gambling the security of a comfortable life to pursue an epic road trip and motorbike adventure https://www.instagram.com/p/9wfyZTBtki/ At the beginning of 2014, Lisa Morris and Jason Spafford had secure jobs and an ordinary life. She was a…
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How the film Up broke my heart – and moved me to travel the world
The first 11 minutes and 4 seconds of Pixar’s Up are the greatest piece of cinema ever made and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, A) you need to sort out your priorities and B) watch it immediately. I’ll assume that’s done, but just in case there’s any Grade…