A Round the World trip is The Dream. Ask anyone who’s ever thought about strapping on a backpack, and they’ll tell you that if they were handed a Round the World ticket, they’d be off in a flash. And it’s easy to see why.

A jaunt around the world is the ultimate journey; your opportunity to travel through countless countries, experience different cultures, and see what this big ol’ globe of ours has to offer.

It’s the kind of trip where you could be lazing on a beach in Thailand one week and trekking through the Amazon the next. You could find yourself munching on an In-N-Out burger in LA on Monday, and chowing down on nshima in Zambia on Thursday.

From deserts to mountains, beaches to backwaters, savannas to skyscrapers – a Round the World trip can pack them all in, and then some.

This could actually be you. Yep, you. Right there.

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Mums are blooming great aren’t they? They’re a fountain of good advice, understanding and help when you need it, but, throw a big trip into the mix, and they inexplicably manage to out do themselves with amazingness (it’s a word!)

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and to celebrate how ace Mums are, here are 15 things they do to help us make our travels as good as they possibly can be. Could we do it with out them? Probably. But it would be a hell of a lot harder.

You'll be sat on the beach and one and you'll come across a sneaky packet of fruit pastilles or similar tucked into your backpack.

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This week it’s the turn of the girls and guy (lucky Troy!) at our Bristol store to step into the spotlight and spill their answers to some fascinating travel questions, just so you can get to know them a little better. Well, they could be the one’s sending you off on the most amazing time of your life after all!

The store is looking particularly snazzy at the moment having re opened from a major face lift earlier this year – in fact it’s gone through such a transformation, it’s pretty much unrecognisable! If you’re in the area pop in say ‘hi’ to the team and let us know what you think of our new look.

Aaaaand while you’re there, feel free to take a pew and take advantage of the stores free WiFi, they won’t mind one bit – in fact they might even make you a cuppa if you’re cheeky enough to ask (but you didn’t hear that from me!)

So, let’s crack on and meet the lovely team and find out exactly what it is about travel that really gets them all a bit giddy and excited.

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In 2011, I set off on an epic round the world trip that would take me through Egypt, Nepal, India, South East Asia, New Zealand, the USA and, most excitingly for me, Fiji.

Having worked at STA Travel for 2 and a half years before I decided to take a 6 month sabbatical, I was very aware of my options when it came to my own round the world trip and I had been inspired to include a 10 day stop in Fiji from the very beginning of the planning stage.

Constantly writing about the beautiful beaches, turquoise lagoons, and laid back vibe made me desperate to experience it for myself – I wanted to be as far away from London as I could – both geographically and metaphorically. So, Fiji was catapulted straight to the top of my sabbatical ‘hit list’ and I built the rest of my trip around my time there.

I’m a bit of a ‘doer’ at heart, so I was a little worried that 10 days might be too much if all I was going to be doing was sitting around on the beach all day (however stunning that beach may be). But I needn’t have worried, after 10 days, when the time came to head off to LA, I wasn’t ready to go! I wanted to stay longer and continue with the things I hadn’t had time to do yet!

Fiji’s a pretty incredible place, and while I have this blog at my disposal, I’m going to spend 5 minutes telling you why I loved Fiji – and why I think you have to have to go. So don’t be jealous – just be on your way…

Not a bad way to soothe my hangover on Fiji party island Beachcomber

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Holiday romances are common when travelling, the experience can’t help but make us all a little bit more fun, flirty and open to suggestion than we normally would be.

So it’s natural that during those wonder years, months, or weeks, while having the time of our lives away from home, we are more open to falling in love. But, can holiday romances actually go the distance? Can they turn out to be something more than a bit of fun, encouraged by the laid back traveller lifestyle?

I’m a bit cynical myself, so I took my question online, to scout for some real life experiences from our Twitter followers, and got some very intriguing replies. A couple of which will warm the cockles of your heart.

Have you found long lasting love on your travels? Do you think it’s possible, or are you a bit of a non believer? Share your story with the rest of us nosey parkers in the comments box below.

Can a holiday romance really last?

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