Sam Crawford 09/05/2023 Sam Crawford 09/05/2023

Hamburg travel guide | What to do in Hamburg for guys

Here’s your guide to Hamburg.

So should you visit Hamburg? I’ll save you time right now - the answer is yes. This Hamburg travel guide is going to take you through why this hidden gem is an absolute essential for any traveller’s bucket list and how to make the most of it when you’re here.

Let’s jump straight into it. This is your Hamburg travel guide!

Is Hamburg a good city to visit?

Honestly, Hamburg is one of my favourite cities to date. I was blown away by how friendly people were, the beautiful architecture, the quality of the food, how much there was to do and weirdly, how nice the weather was!

It’s not somewhere that immediately springs to mind when you’re planning places to visit but in my opinion, it is the jewel in Germany’s crown.

This sentiment is backed up by a lot of German’s I spoke to who told me that Hamburg offers the absolute best of Germany without any of the downsides.

A big statement, but it felt like a utopia!

Is Hamburg good for guys?

Absolutely. Hamburg is a perfect place for guys to visit. There is so much to do, whether that’s sightseeing, going shopping at high end stores or getting on the sauce! There is absolutely something for everybody. Here’s a few things I did during my stay that I think are perfect for the blokes.

Bars

There are so, so many places to grab a drink throughout Hamburg, but I am not a massive drinker so didn’t get round to too many.

What I did do (like any good tourist) was hit up a local Irish Bar which I can attest to being great.

Restaurants

More my thing these days! Hamburg is full of gems. I went to Cafe Paris which was unbelievable. Try the steak tartare and be amazed.

I also visited a few more that I’ll detail a little further on!

Reeperbahn

We only went down in the day but you could already see the buzz beginning. And that was only midweek. Apparently, the Reeperbahn gets crazy in an evening.

If you’re into a big party, this will be your Valhalla.

Cars

Germany and cars go hand in hand. They’re a match made in haven.

Get ready to walk round with your jaw on the floor as Porsches, G Wagons and all sorts of supercars fly past you with such regularity that it almost seems absurd.

I also stumbled into the Polestar showroom as I spotted the incredibly rare Polestar 1 in the window. In true German fashion, the guy in there was so friendly that I had to shake his hand when we left. He opened up the car, let me sit in it and we chatted for about 20 minutes about cars like a pair of nerds.

Football

Another thing synoymous with Germany is football. Their national team is phenomenal and their league is full of star-studded teams (especially Bayern Munich), but Hamburg has its own slice of football heritage and you can feel that running through the city.

The St. Pauli stadium is literally a stone’s throw from the Reeperbahn and Hamburg’s stadium isn’t much further.

It’s a city with two huge teams and you’d be silly not to try and absorb a bit of it.

What to do in Hamburg

Boat tour to get your bearings

This is something I do in every city where a boat tour is an option, because it lets you you see so much of a place in a short period of time.

It’s also an amazing experience in its own right. I love how relaxing boat rides are and this was the best I’ve been on - they had a bar on board! Great way to spend an hour when you arrive in Hamburg.

Talk to locals / taxis

This is something I do even before I hop on a boat tour of the city and it’s why I always get a taxi/Uber from the airport to my accommodation.

And this is because taxi drivers have the most knowledge of their city. They drive around it and talk to dozens of people every single day.

They are usually chatty and always want to showcase their city in the best way possible to visitors. I find Uber to work even better because of the their rating system. Drivers will usually go above and beyond to help you out for a 5-star rating.

So I recommend booking yourself one from the airport and striking up a conversation with your driver. Let it flow and in no time, you’ll be talking about all the best places to go, things to see and stuff to do. This local knowledge always comes in handy.

St Pauli

If you’re into football whatsoever you will have heard about St. Pauli. If you could get to a game here then I absolutely recommend it.

Unfortunately the main stadium was closed when I arrived so I could only see glimpses from outside and then took a look through their shop.

But there is a museum and tours available from Fri-Sun if you can’t get a ticket for a game.

St. Michaelis church

This church is absolutely beautiful and for about €15 you can go all the way to the top for the best view in Hamburg.

There’s viewing platforms and a huge bell up there that goes off every 15 minutes so there’s quite a lot going on! An absolute must do.

Museum of Illusions

This was one of the first things I made a beeline for when we arrived because I knew how much it’d be.

I was not disappointed! To my surprise, everything in Hamburg was much cheaper than I anticipated and the Museum of Illusions was no different. Great place at a great price.

Alter Elbtunnel

Whilst this isn’t the most *exciting* thing in Hamburg to do, it’s still a nice interesting walk that takes 10 minutes and is free. So don’t sleep on the Alter Elbtunnel!

Town hall

Easily the most aesthetic town hall I’ve ever laid eyes on! This was a proper marvel. Another cracking freebie too.

High end shopping

If you fancy spending some big bucks, then head to just behind the town hall and you’ll find rows and rows of designer stores from Cartier to Gucci to Louis Vuitton. There is absolutely everything. I honestly had no idea that Hamburg had this level of luxury.

The fact that it has something for literally everyone is astonishing to me.

All of the fun of the Reeperbahn, the football clubs, restaurants, bars and all ranges of shopping PLUS amazing car showrooms (which is my personal fav) is mind boggling. All of this in a city centre is just next level.

Bravo Hamburg!

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Honourable mentions that I didn’t get around to

I was only in Hamburg for 3 days and even though I got through a LOT of stuff, it felt like I barely scratched the surface. Here’s a couple of the popular things that I didn’t get round to but I would imagine to be great fun.

Bikes

I didn’t quite get round to this, but you can hire bikes all across the city. They even had them available to rent at our hotel which was a really nice touch.

Chocoversum

What’s not to love about a museum all about chocolate?!

I really regret not going here, but next time I will 100% be heading down.

Miniaturmuseum

Another one I regret not getting round to, but the Miniaturmuseum seems like a must-see for those with the time available.

Yes it might look a bit childish, but apparently it’s great for people of all ages.

Where to stay in Hamburg

If you want your trip to be as perfect as possible, you need your accommodation to be spot on. Luckily, mine was.

Madison Hamburg

The Madison is the perfect base for exploration in Hamburg. Its location lends itself nicely to exploring all four corners of the city centre, so you’re pretty much amongst the action as soon as you step out the front door.

Its rooms were huge, with a full desk setup for people like me who work from their laptop. We had a great balcony with an uninterrupted view right up to St. Michaelis Church AND the room was stacked with treats like Pringles, Hamburg popcorn and espressos. What a place.

Add to this that they have a top-rated restaurant and high-end luxury gym & spa (for free!) and I think it’s quite apparent that The Madison is a no-brainer for anyone visiting Hamburg.

And my personal favourite part - the unlimited sweets jar that seemed to restock every hour of the day…

Gym is essential

Any self-respecting modern day gent should strive to be active in some way and the Madison offers the absolute best way to do this.

Next door is a David Lloyd gym and spa that you have complete, free access to. This is by far and away the best hotel gym I’ve ever seen. It even had an official Hyrox certification which is unreal. It was also perfect for me as I am training for my first Hyrox competition in November.

Where to eat in Hamburg

As I touched on near the start of the article, the food in Hamburg is way better than I had imagined. Believe it or not, it’s not just Bratwurst and Schnitzel! Even though both of them are 10/10.

Froyo

I noticed this place on the way back to our hotel and immediately had cravings. It was then my breakfast of choice the next day and it was well worth the wait.

Toppings including white brownie, lotus biscoff and cheesecake tempt you in and deliver on their allure. Equally, you can get ample healthy toppings too but I had no desire for them during my visit.

Marley’s

Marley’s is actually part of the Madison Hotel so we had to give it a go. And I’m glad we did! The food was great, super attentive staff (as per the usual in Hamburg it would seem) and a great setting. If the weather calls for it, try and grab a seat outside. You won’t regret it.

Cafe Paris

I had seen this online and thought how cool it looked, but in person it is so much cooler. It has such an old school vibe, the staff were great and food was even better.

Cannot recommend this place highly enough.

Juicery by Em

It presents itself as quite ‘vegan’ but the Juicery by Em catered for everyone! I had a chicken and rice bowl which came with all sorts of random ingredients like pineapple, melon and cabbage that I had no idea could work so well together.

Being in a juicery, of course I had to try the juice itself which I have to say, was probably the best I’ve ever had.

Overall, Hamburg is an absolute must visit for anyone who wants a city that feels like home immediately and offers basically anything you could want.

I cannot thank the team at the City of Hamburg, Come to Hamburg and the Madison Hotel for making this trip happen, so be sure to check them out when planning your own trip.

Be sure to follow me on socials to keep up with the daily goings on of The Man Blueprint. You can also sign up for my inner circle using the newsletter form above. Just drop your email in there and it’s job done. Completely free and completely brilliant. Whilst you’re here, have a little browse of some other article you might like below too. You won’t regret it.

Scotland whiskey tour itinerary | Visiting Annandale

So I just got back from the lowlands. What a weekend that was! This quick-fire article is going to detail my Scotland whiskey tour itinerary and how you can enjoy your own trip to its fullest.

So I just got back from the lowlands. What a weekend that was! This quick-fire article is going to detail my Scotland whiskey tour itinerary and how you can enjoy your own trip to its fullest. It’ll also include a mini-breakdown of my new favourite place - Annandale Distillery. I think you’re gonna enjoy this one.

What to expect on a whiskey tour

This is a question I’ve had a lot since I posted about my whiskey tour on Instagram. In a nutshell, you can expect to be given an in-depth insight into the whiskey making process, the history of the particular distillery you’re visiting and then lots of lovely samples of the goods.

We got tasters of peated, non-peated, single malts, blends and even some newer whiskies that hadn’t been brought to market yet. The whiskies get progressively tastier too…I wonder why? 🥴

Best whiskey distillery in Scotland

Obviously this one is completely subjective, but I can wholeheartedly recommend Annandale Distillery as one to put on your whiskey distillery bucket list. A tour of the whole distillery complete with about 5 or 6 samples is only £15! Bloody insane value. It only goes on for an hour though, so if you want to make a day/weekend of things, be sure to book some other stuff in.

Make a weekend of it

When I went, we stayed in Carlisle which is nearby, allowing us to enjoy a bit more of the surrounding area without having to get blacked out on whiskey. If you find a cool place on AirBnB you’re sorted. I got one with a fully kitted out gym too to stay on top of my game.

Specifically, we stayed right at the end of Hadrian’s Wall which is absolutely fascinating and meant there was tonnes of people coming through who had just walked the whole thing (which is 84 miles btw). These people usually have some cracking stories too.

I ended up talking with a couple of old blokes from South Carolina who had come over to walk the wall and drink our pints. Apparently UK booze is infinitely better than America’s.

Good idea for me to invest in British whiskey then, eh? Shoutout to VCL Vintners for that.

Travelling in style

If you’re gonna be visiting the Scottish countryside (where most distilleries are) then you’re probably not going by public transport. If you’re like me and live in the city centre where cars just aren’t needed, you have an opportunity.

All that dead money and stress avoided by walking everywhere, means that when the opportunity arises for a trip like this, I can go all out and get an absolutely baller car with absolutely no hassle.

Take it for the weekend, have the insurance, maintenance, loan repayments and everything else handled by the company and when Sunday comes, give it back with no stress whilst having all the upside of a £120k super SUV!

I chose to go with Prestige Car Hire for this filthy little Range Rover SVR. All black, from the exterior, through to the interior, my clothing and even my bottle of coke lmao.

This thing was absolutely ludicrous.

If you have the spare money and want to make your whiskey distillery trip a real weekend to remember, I can’t recommend this enough.

Whiskey tour itinerary

So here is your TL;DR whiskey tour itinerary list:

Rent a sick car to travel in (100x’s the experience, trust me).
Book your distillery tour tickets in advance.
Have some skin in the game. It makes the experience more immersive knowing you have your own cask at that very distillery.
Set a couple of hours aside and then plan a weekend around it. There’s nothing worse than coming to the end of the tour and not having anything else to do!
Have a designated driver for after the tour…unless you want to sleep in the car park.

How to travel the world for free

Ever wanted to know how to travel the world for free? I do it and you can do it too. It takes work, but it’s worth it.

If you’ve followed me and the blog for any length of time, you’ll know I’ve done my fair share of travelling. You’ll also know that I’d done a lot of it for free. Well, not free. I had to put A LOT of work in and gave value back. But in monetary terms, nothing left my wallet.

Examples can be found here, here and here.

To do this, there are two options.

Both require you to start your very own blog. Here’s how to do it.

Option 1 - Pitch, pitch, pitch

Your first option is the most straightforward. Create yourself a blog. I recommend setting up something super easy on Squarespace. Populate this with lots of content focused on the sort of niche you want to target. If you’re looking to get free travel, then having lots of city guides and activity reviews is a good way to go.

Once that’s done, you’ll need to tick the following boxes:

Leverage

The easiest way to do this is to have your blog generating a decent amount of traffic (5k per month is fine to start) or to have an Instagram account with a good amount of followers. These two together are more powerful than just one alone.

Outreach

You’ll need to reach out to the tourist board of the place you want to visit. If you want to visit Tokyo for example, reach out to their tourism board and pitch to have them fly you out, source your accommodation and rustle up an itinerary.

In return, they will get some fantastic coverage that will generate more business for their city. This is the trade. You are providing immense value to them and in return, they are showing you the best of what their city has to offer.

Deliver

If you continue to deliver for these places, creating fantastic content and delivering value, you can show this to more and more tourist boards as proof of concept and snowball your operation. In fact, you could be hitting a new place every weekend if you pitch your socks off.

Option 2 - Post, post, post

So your second option is a bit more nuanced because you’ll have to get yourself an accountant (unless you’re pretty hot with your numbers).

With this option, you simply just pay for everything, but make sure you post about it incessantly.

This way, you should be able to make a case to the tax man that these purchases are wholly and necessarily for business purposes.

This is not financial advice so bear that in mind.

You can learn more about all the cool stuff bloggers may be able to get through on their expenses using this link: https://www.keepertax.com/tax-write-offs/social-media-influencer

Tag & CTA

If you’re leaving town for work then your travel and accommodation is expendable. Tag the places you’re staying, the airlines you’re using and make sure you always leave a call to action for viewers and readers so they can take a look at these companies.

That way, your expenses can be claimed because you are genuinely driving traffic and business for these places.

Pay correctly

Pay with your business card. This way, all expenses are going through your business and it’s all recorded correctly. You want everything to be completely above board. So whilst you have to pay up front initially, you can claim all of this back off your profits at the end of the year, meaning instead of lining some government official’s pockets, you’ve had the time of your life ✈️

Submit

Submit your taxes via an accountant. This is always the safest and most effective way to double-check your expenses and ensure it’s all submitted 100% legally and efficiently.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EXACTLY HOW I TRAVEL FOR FREE

If you want to find out how I became a digital nomad using this blog and how you can do exactly the same thing, check out my course here. For more information about how to free yourself, check out the video below 👇

It teaches you everything you’ll need to create a successful blog, freeing yourself from the 9-5 and allowing you to travel the world for free, making crazy money whilst doing it.

What are you waiting for?

Learn more about blog lifestyle mastery

How To Be A Nomad With No Money - A complete guide

So you want to become a digital nomad? You’re gonna need guidance. Here is the complete guide on how to be a nomad with no money.

So you want to be digital nomad? This blog will teach you how to be a nomad with no money and working remotely.

A guy in one of the private communities I’m a member of recently asked me how it was that I got started in ‘digital nomad-ing’ and how I actually make my money. Whilst I gave him a brief breakdown of things he could be doing, I thought it would be good to expand this out into a longer post that might help some of you blokes out - as this covers exactly how I made money as a nomad before I had money.

This isn’t a guide on money-making schemes. It’s more aimed at income-generating skills that give you enough money to live well whilst allowing you to be location independent AND scale if you so wish.

I’ll make a list of each and ideas on how to scale. They’re all intentionally low barriers to entry, so anyone can at least try these and begin living the digital nomad lifestyle while traveling the world as a remote worker.

🚨 A quick FYI - a lot of the scaling options are similar. Most scaling solutions are the same across all industries so I am repeating myself a little bit. But hopefully they just hammers the point home even more.

How to become a digital nomad?

It teaches you everything you’ll need to create a successful blog, freeing yourself from the 9-5 and allowing you to travel the world for free, making crazy money whilst doing it.

What are you waiting for?

Learn more about blog lifestyle mastery

Copywriting

This is one of the lowest barriers to entry in the freelance trade. If you can write in any guise, you can be a copywriter. Sites like Fiver, UpWork and People Per Hour are making this easier than ever. You can write copy for ads, daily content for sites (I used to write 10 articles PER DAY for the largest forex business in the UK and their sister companies), long-form SEO-optimised guides, brand guidelines - the list goes on and on. There’s also no ceiling for copywriting. If you are good enough, you may end up writing for huge publications such as the Esquire or GQ.

It’s different for service providers such as web developers who have to be proficient in many different design languages. If you only know CSS and Squarespace for instance, you’ll never design Nike’s new website. But if you are an excellent copywriter, you may well design the slogan that adorns the homepage.

This is THE freelance gig to get into if you want to be a digital nomad asap.

How to scale?

Up your rates.
Take copywriting courses.
Train a team up and have them write articles for you. Especially useful for spin pieces where you are just repurposing existing content to pad out news sites.

Translation

The overwhelming majority of those outside the UK, US, Canada & Australia, etc. speak English very well. So automatically you are extremely qualified in a very niche industry that those in the countries mentioned don’t really have access to. This can be done anywhere in the world!

You can start off doing translation gigs on jobs boards and one day after amassing an excellent reputation, you may find yourself translating for huge foreign sports stars or being the go-between in crunch talks between the UK and France. This is another opportunity with absolutely no ceiling as long as you really brush up on the languages you speak and all of their idiosyncrasies.

How to scale?

Up your rates
Take linguistics courses
Find people similar to you in your area with an interest in language. Create a team that are similar to yourself but with different strengths. For example, some excel in high pressure environments and some like to do their translation behind a screen for article proofs. Once built out, you can manage this team. Being from a similar area you can have solid rapport and eventually you can hire a general manager to step in and let it run itself.

Web design

This is my main income source now and it is EASY to do. If you utilise low-code platforms such as Squarespace and Wix you can create beautiful sites that are easy to manage for your clients and that they are willing to pay mega money for. Take some additional courses, read around online and build your portfolio. In next to no time, you’ll be easily making dream-level income.

How to scale?

Up your rates
Hire a junior designer
Use templates to free up more time for more clients
Slowly build a team and remove yourself as the bottleneck

Graphic design

For graphic design, you might have to have some level of artistic inclination. But it can definitely be learnt. The Adobe suite is so much more accessible to all skill levels now making it easier than ever to get to grips with pro-level software. If you’re really looking at being a digital nomad, the graphic design route would be fruitful, as you can do a lot of it from an iPad meaning it takes pretty much zero room in your bag/case. Imagine being able to make 6-figures from this tiny little screen that slots inside your backpack whilst sunning your balls in Bali? Ideal.

How to scale?

Download professional programs from Adobe or learn how to do work faster on Canva - this is a great nomad jobs for beginners
Take a course or 2. This is quite an important step for graphic design as skill is very important.
Develop a workflow
And again, build yourself a team when the work stacks up too high. Artists come from every single country in the world, so you may be able to find a world-class graphic designer who is willing to work for 15% of what you would actually charge a client. Give them a 5% tip, keep them onside and you’ve got yourself a money printing machine.

English teaching

A bit more hands on, but if you speak English well, you can travel to whatever country you want and get a job teaching English to classes or private students. A lot of rich families will pay to have their child tutored by English speakers. I had a friend who taught English to Russian royalty 😳 and another friend who lived with a German family rent-free whilst also being paid, just for teaching their kid English for 2 hours per day.

If you crave even more freedom from teaching English, you can do it via zoom to classes or privately. This is an even more viable option thanks to corona and helps to expand your target market to pretty much anywhere around the world.

How to scale?

Up your rates.
Market your services and teach to larger classes.
Build an online English academy. Learning softwares are making this quite a viable option now.
Same as above, but pre-recorded. If you build an English-learning course with a high success rate you’ll have a passive income for life with very minimal admin.

Blogging and Freelance Writing

As a lot of you will already know, this is where my digital nomad journey began and what laid the foundation for a lot of my success. Blogging taught me how to create content for social media, take great photographs, be an effective copywriter, design beautiful websites, understand SEO, network with high-level people and so much more.

If you can succeed at being a ‘blogger’ you can succeed at any form of online hustle. The best thing about getting into blogging is that the barrier to entry is SO LOW. You can create a cheap website, hook up a cheap domain and literally write about anything you want. Eventually, you will begin to generate traffic. This will be hyper-targeted traffic because these people are coming to your website to look for specific content.

This is where you can monetise. You can place ads on your site from Google who do it automatically for you. Or you can pitch companies on monthly retainers to place banner ads on your site. You can also use my Free pitching template to make your digital nomad journey even easier.

Who doesn’t love free stuff (and potentially free travel)? You can even set up your own store filled with merch - the possibilities really are endless when you’re looking to generate income from your blog. Once you have a bank of articles done, they will constantly make you money too, so it can be a real passive earner with enough traffic.

How to scale?

Charge larger fees for featured posts.
Have an outreach specialist pitch to companies for you to scale your online business. These specialists can be full time or part time.
Hire writers who know SEO well. Even if their English isn’t top drawer, their skills in SEO will still generate much more traffic for you. You can always proof their work before setting it live.
Get guest post submissions. A great way of generating free content and also helping the writers with an authoritative backlink.

Affiliate Marketing - How to Make Money as a Nomad

This is kind of in the same vein as blogging, but with more of a laser-focused approach to what the website aims to do. With blogging, you can post more rambling-style content interspersed with the money-spinner stuff. Affiliate marketing is all about the sales. Affiliate marketing sites work well if they are based around reviews and listicles. This type of content lends itself very well to being able to link out to affiliate products dozens of times within the same article without looking spammy. You can also approach affiliate marketing from the social media side of things too.

Posting links to products on your story (if you have that function), having links in your bio and even just in messages to people who are interested in the products you talk about. There are lots of ways to bag affiliate sales. One of the best is Amazon affiliates if we’re just talking about ease and linking to amazon.com. As long as the user clicked your link, you still get the commission on any purchase they make within 24 hours. Considering how many people use Amazon daily, I wouldn’t bet against this being a big source of income for those of you looking to get started quickly.

Be sure to check out the affiliate advertising program description before signing up!

How to scale?

Negotiate larger affiliate commission percentages where possible.
Get a team of writers to write the articles for you (I used to do this for a Muay Thai affiliate site who were making big, big money simply reviewing equipment they hadn’t even tried…).
Hire somebody to scour the web for the best affiliate programs and sign you up. This will free up a lot of research time and allow you to either write more, negotiate more or simply have more free time as a digital nomad.

Social Media Management - Digital Nomad Jobs for Beginners

Most of us have experience with social media. We all know what it’s like to be on one side of the algorithm, consuming content produced by others. Because of this, we know what people like - we are people. If you are someone who’s organised, can write good captions, has time to engage with users on social media and knows platforms like Instagram and TikTok like the back of your hand then you can make money simply taking over somebody’s account and running it for them.

A lot of business owners today are STILL not tech-savvy enough to take full advantage of the true potential of social media. If you can show this to them, their minds will be blown and they’ll think you are a master - which you are of course… One thing to note with social media management, a lot of people are under the impression that it’s easy to do.

You’ll often get something along the lines of “oh, my grandson will manage the social media side for us for free, he loves MySpace!”. You need to be prepared for this and be able to make a case for why they need a professional. If you build up a nice bank of case studies, you’ll have ample ammo to show the night and the day difference between a hobbyist and an expert.

How to scale?

Utilise scheduling software like Hootsuite to automate posts and remove yourself from the majority of the process.
Up your rates
Use templated posts to reduce decision fatigue.
Build a team. Since the management can be done at any time due to software, look at hiring people in lower cost-of-living areas that still speak excellent English.

SEO Specialism

This is a skill that everybody who has a website, social media profile or YouTube channel wants. You can choose to specialise in all of these areas or niche down to just one. But at the end of the day, EVERYBODY who wants to make money online needs SEO. If they have no level of search engine optimisation then they’ll never be found and they’ll never make any money.

That’s where you come in.

If you can up-skill yourself to a level where your input generates your clients insane returns, they’ll want you on retainers, they’ll tell their friends about you (if they’re in different industries) and you’ll begin making huge sums. You don’t even need that many tools. SEM Rush is good and Google has lots of free resources to keep on top of trends. Add a course, some mentorship and some real experience into the mix and your life as a global traveller SEO wizard begins to look pretty rosy.

How to scale?

Up your rates
Take a course
Find a mentor
Whitelabel for larger SEO firms
Use software such as SEM Rush, Yoast and Ahrefs
Slowly build a team and create an agency in your image

Other ideas

Other honourable mentions (that I haven’t done personally so can’t advise on) that have a slightly higher barrier to entry but may yield huge returns are:

📹 Youtube automation

💸 Drop shipping

🖥 Video editor

📱 SMMA

TL/DR

Look into the following industries if you want to free yourself from location-dependent work:

Copywriting
Translation
Web design
Graphic design
English teaching
Blogging
Affiliate marketing
Social media management
SEO specialism

If you have any digital nomad jobs that I didn't cover in this list, feel free to get in touch and I can add some more remote jobs!

London: Why it's my new favourite place

London is my new favourite place. This year, I've been down to England's capital three times, which isn't too shabby considering we've been locked down and restricted for a large part of the year. In that time, I've absolutely fallen in love with the place and I want to explain why in this article.

Why London?

The most obvious one is access. I live in Liverpool, which is only 2 hours away from London on the train. Since I can't travel pretty much anywhere outside of England because of current restrictions, having this close proximity to one of the world's most visited cities has been a godsend.

Not only that, but London is rife with opportunity, fun and pretty much anything else you can think of, at a much, much grander scale than you can find anywhere up North here in the UK. It also beats out most places on Earth for the above too.

What do I do in London?

Well, a lot! I've been to London several times this year and each time I've gorged myself into oblivion doing tourist stuff, eating copious amounts of food, drinking like Oliver Reed and shopping til I dropped, then some more. Here's all the hedonistic nonsense I love to do in the big smoke. It may even give you some ideas:

Swanky hotels

I do love an Air BnB, but there's just something special about getting set up in a hotel isn't there? I love the Assembly and The Dorsett City, London. Both offer something a little bit different but deliver on location and luxury.

Our room in the Dorsett was right on the corner with amazing views and located right above the tube for ease of travel. The assembly was a completely different vibe, but located right in the centre of Leicester Square. Despite this, both rooms were silent and offered a perfect luxury stay.

Supercar spotting

This needs no explanation. The density of supercars around London is just sublime. Look to your left and there's a Ferrari. Over to your right, a Rolls Royce. It's the norm over there and it blows my mind.

Selfridges

This is the starter to Harrods' main dish. Different experiences obviously, but I always like to do Selfridges on one day and then Harrods the next. My favourite thing to do is to go to The Fount to quaff a bottle of house champagne and then explore what Selfridges has to offer. Usually that'll be lots of clothes, lots of stupid sunglasses, doorstop cookie cake and people judging me for not having the money that they do. Ah, good times.

Rinse the tube

Everyone will have to do this anyway to get around, but I do enjoy the tube. Plus, it's always BOILING down there, so it's a nice bit of respite from the cold weather if you go in winter.

Clothes, clothes, clothes

God I bloody love clothes. I don't usually buy them though, I'll usually treat myself to a piece on a special occasion or if I really need it. That said, London is always a special occasion, so I went to town with the Amex.

Here are some of my favourites:

Represent Clo t-shirt

Cole Buxton oversized hoodie

Sandro polo shirt

Canada Goose Chilliwack jacket

Generic sightseeing

There aren't many things better than being an absolute tourist. Some people find it embarrassing being seen as a tourist in a city and would rather pose as a local. Not me baby. I love gawping up at buildings and landmarks, learning all about the place I'm in and just generally being happy to see all the most popular spots.

I do also enjoy the less tourist-y things - don't get me wrong - but those who reject any form of generic sightseeing because they don't think it's cool enough can bugger off.

Never be embarrassed to be a tourist fellas!

Keep fit

You'll do a whole lotta walking when you visit the capital, but sometimes that's just not enough. Especially for most of my readers who are generally into their fitness. Finding cool gyms/classes is always a treat when you travel. I decided to train at Jubilee Hall Gym smack bang in the middle of Covent Garden, just because.

Loads of unreal food

Here are my highlights (although everything I ate was a highlight...):

The Real Greek

Greek isn't usually the number one cuisine you'd think of when coming to London. And apparently, The Real Greek is some big chain restaurant but I'd never heard of it before! I was not disappointed on my first experience. In fact, it was the best food I've had to date during all of my trips to London.

The Ivy Soho

Very classy indeed. We went here for my girlfriend's birthday. Some of the best grub in town here. The Ivy Soho is part of the Ivy group as well, so there's lots more options across the UK.

Leon

Naturally fast food - what's not to love? I got some salad box thing and it was delicious. Good macros as well which is good for the gym bunnies amongst us. A solid 7/10 for Leon.

Rooftop restaurant

What's the best way to see London? From the rooftops! Get yourself a meal and enjoy the views. I went to the rooftop restaurant above my hotel and had to re-order my main because it was just that good. I also have an insatiable appetite for pasta so...

English Breakfast

What good is a trip to the big smoke if you're not going to scoff big ol' English Breakfasts? 10/10 greasy goodness.

Market fodder

If there's a market on (especially around Christmas) then get down and enjoy everything it has to offer. God knows I did...

Loads of equally unreal drinks

Here's what I got through:

Smoothies

Possibly the only healthy goods I consume when down in the capital. I like to start most days off with one of these. As long as I hit the gym in the morning and polish one of these off, I can be happy knowing I've at least done one good thing for my body that day.

Cocktails by the Thames

As long as it's semi-decent weather, some outdoor cocktails looking over the Thames is just about as good as it gets.

A proper pint

I probably had too many of these.

Champagne

Probably had too many of these too. See evidence below.

Coffee

And I DEFINITELY had too many of these. But when there is a selection of caffeination as vast as London at my disposal, how could I ever say no? That buzz of the first coffee is one of the greatest feelings there is. If you want something high-end, get yourself down to Harrods for their lattes - top tier goodness.

The Harry Potter Experience

Butter beer, fudge, chocolate frogs and a peek behind the curtain of the magic. What's not to love?

Harrods

As mentioned above, their lattes are absolutely larvly. Every good shopping trip starts with a coffee and Harrods should be no exception. It opens at 10am and you’ll probably be able to spend all day in there, so I’d wager that’s high time for some caffeination. Right? Guys?!

Making big splurges is my bread and butter. I never buy anything for myself usually, but then will have periods where I just go crazy and buy everything. Harrods is no exception.

And finally, if you can get in, do Harrods champagne afternoon tea. It was the best afternoon tea I’ve ever had and it’s not even a close competition. It was just unbelievable.

Also, if you think there's a theme with me and champagne, you'd be right. I tend to think I'm a big time Charlie when I'm out and about.

Usually my ego comes crashing down when somebody next to me orders something 50 times more expensive though, so that's good.

The Big Wheel

Obviously.

And if you can get an entire pod to yourself like we did then even better!

Get a haircut

I tried out what is apparently the best barber shop in the UK - Ruffians. They didn't disappoint. I went a couple of hours early to grab a bit of WiFi and a few beers. The atmosphere in here was fantastic and so was the cut. Check them out if you're ever in need of a trim on the fly.

Meet with clients

Everyone knows that London is the place to be if you want to make it big. I have multiple clients down in the big city and love to get some face to face time in with them as much as possible. The difference in opportunity is night and day.

If you want to learn a little bit more about what I do for business, you can view my website here.

Winter Wonderland (Christmas-only, obviously)

And this one is a little Christmas special that'll only be relevant to anyone reading this in November or December, but I had to include it. There's not many things better than Winter Wonderland during Christmas. It's like its very own festival with rides everywhere interspersed with food and drink huts and an entire Bavarian village where you can get steins to your heart's content.

It has everything and is a must if you're visiting London any time around Chrimbo.

So what on Earth are you waiting for? Get yourself to London and live like a king.

My 30 before 30 list | Never too late to start

Here it is people, my 30 before 30 list. I've never really thought of doing one of these, but as I approach the halfway mark between 20 and 30 it has dawned on me that I'm getting older and soon, I won't have all this time and energy to do loads of mad things.

So I've given myself the next 6 years to do as much of this list as possible.

I was thinking that 6 years isn't that long, but then I looked back to 6 years ago and I was still a snot-nosed virgin who hadn't even gone to university yet. So maybe 6 years is adequate time. I just need to do 5 things on this list each year.

Easy, right?

1. Become a millionaire

Why not aim high ey?

If I continue saving and growing my business, why can't I reach the dizzying heights of being absolutely minted?

We shall see.

2. Learn a language

I have tried and tried to learn a language and every time I seem to fail.

Or at least fail to stick with it.

I actually got pretty handy at French for my trip to Metz a while back, but I have virtually forgotten everything except for "putain de merde".

So with that in mind, I'd quite like to get proficient in a language. Spanish sounds nice so I might go for that.

Me gusta!!!! Or something like that...

3. Have my own house

This is the ultimate in boring life aspirations, but it's always nice to have somewhere to call your own without lining someone else's pockets.

Ideally, I would love to buy a plot of land and build a shipping container home myself but I very much doubt that will ever happen unfortunately.

Maybe a plush little beige new build will do.

4. Have apartments in 3 different cities

Liverpool, London, Ibiza.

That's the goal baby.

If I'm a millionaire then this one should slot right into place.

5. Go to Glastonbury

Sitting in a field injecting heroin whilst listening to music with smelly strangers.

WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?

6. Live abroad

I've lived in England and Wales, so kinda done this one on a micro level, but I'm talking fully-fledged laptop lifestyle vibes in some dingy little bedsit.

This is a must-do.

7. Live in London

Just want to live everywhere don't I?

Every time I visit London I fall in love with it even more and would jump at the chance to spend even just a few months living in the capital.

8. Eat at a Michelin star restaurant

I love to eat.

Don't we all?

But I've never really been 'fine dining' before.

Never have I been called Sir by the waiter. Never have I eaten lobster on a fancy pants dish with a 97 year old Italian man playing classical piano in the background.

THAT is what I want.

9. Drive a supercar

Even if it's just at a track day, my dream is to drive as fast as humanly possible in anything remotely resembling a supercar.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Toyota Yaris - if it's fast and/or sexy, I want to drive it.

10. Get a season ticket for Liverpool FC

The waiting list isn't even open because there's that many people on it, so this may not even be possible.

But I'm still going to try.

11. Go to the airport with a backpack and fly to a random place

Maybe once Coronavirus has left us...

12. Buy a completely bespoke suit

Everything nowadays is off-the-shelf.

I remember my grandparents telling me about how back in the day, when a man got a suit, it was always made completely from scratch. Multiple measurement sessions, lots of bespoke cloth and a finished product unlike anything you could buy from the store.

Something like that nowadays will cost an arm and a leg, but I still want it.

And I'd ensure I got my wear out of it. Even if I had to wear it to the gym or to bed, I would wear that suit until the arse fell out of it.

13. Invest in an original artwork

None of that replica nonsense.

I want the real McCoy.

Not that it makes any difference but it's just a lot cooler having the original piece isn't it?

Is it? I don't know. But I want it.

14. Give blood

Because it always feel good to give.

I'm sure my blood will cure all sorts of ailments, being the walking deity that I am.

So I may as well get this one done sooner rather than later and start curing the masses.

15. Go clay pigeon shooting

Ooohhh la-dee-dah!

Charles I've got another one! Huzzah gents!!

To be a posh toff for just one day is all I'm asking.

16. Have a night in the Casino

Oh to act rich and throw it all on red. I can dress up in that bespoke suit and use my newly acquired millions...

17. Skydive

Anus shattering and trouser staining fun for the whole family.

I would absolutely love to do a skydive if I can muster the courage over the next 6 years.

18. Visit 25 cities

Not quite sure what I'm on at the moment, but providing we can travel freely soon, I hope to have this done relatively soon.

19. Invest in my own barrel of whiskey

This sounds too good to be true, but whiskey investment has seen the biggest yield in terms of portfolio growth of any sector.

I'd need a lot more disposable income to warrant such an investment but hopefully I can get my name on a barrel soon.

Although I will be careful, it can be quite a whiskey investment. Wahey! Do you get it? Because whiskey sounds like risk- oh forget it.

20. Go glamping'

A ponce's version of slumming it - glamping looks like an absolute banging time, so I'm gonna be booking a little trip to a pod v soon.

21. Open my own gym

I've had this dream since I was about 16 and started going to the gym.

In fact, I did a full project on it for my business A-level lol.

Maybe one day before I reach the big three-oh, I'll make it a reality.

22. Have afternoon tea in The Ritz

Ideally, I want to do this asap.

If you managed to watch Inside the Ritz Hotel, then you'll know why.

23. Fly business class

It would be great to feel like I wasn't a peasant - even just for one little trip.

24. Volunteer

Weirdly, I've never volunteered for anything. Ever.

Some may say 'entitled little boy' and I would be inclined to agree.

Hopefully I can get this ticked off and turn it into a more long term habit.

25. Go to a comedy club

I've been to a comedy night to support a mate of my dad's once, but that was only a really small event.

I want a proper night at the comedy night with the works. I'm talking a fat bowl of nachos, loads of pints and a few heckles included.

26. Get a tattoo

Right across my forehead saying 'Gangsta'.

Or you know, something similar...

27. Vegas

Go out to the desert and blow thousands. It sounds unbeatable to me.

28. Learn self-defence

I learnt mixed martial arts for a few months but moved away and didn't pick it back up so for now, I'm a big floppy mess who couldn't throw a punch to save his life.

It would be nice to pick it back up and feel like I could knock your nan out if she served me a lukewarm cuppa.

29. Create my own piece of art

This could be in tandem with #13 in that this would technically be an original piece of art.

Anyway, I used to love art. As a kid I would sit for hours to draw, paint and do all sorts of artistic nonsense.

Then I got it beaten out of me by the boring school schedule of maths and english.

So it would be great to get back into it and become an acclaimed artist.

Being acclaimed by yourself counts doesn't it?

30. Tough Mudder

I've been saying I'd do this for years and years. In fact, I've been saying it for almost a decade.

Bloody pathetic wimp...

Anyway, once it's back up and running post-rona I'm making this one a priority.

Honourable mentions

Here's a few things that you might be wondering why they're not in the list. Well that's because I've done them lol. If you want to do your own 30 before 30 list though, these might help get those lightbulbs lit up.

Travel solo (see the write-up here)
Go to New York
Start my own business
Eat at a restaurant alone
Learn to drive
Climb a mountain
Become an organ donor
Publish a book
Learn to swim
Ride a rollercoaster
Become an extraordinarily handsome human being, the likes of which the world will never see again...

So that's my 30 before 30. How many do you think I can do? Have you been inspired to draft one up yourself? So many god damn questions!!!!!

Anyway, check back in 6 years and we'll see how I did. Maybe you should jump on it with me.

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The Fjallraven Kanken is a digital nomad's dream

Today, I have one of my favourite collabs to date. Fjallraven have been kind enough to send me over one of their Kanken backpacks to test drive (and keep - because who would want that back once it's come in contact with my sweaty bod?).

As someone who would probably class himself as a digital nomad, ie - someone who can work from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection - I thought this backpack would be the answer to all of my problems.

Turns out, it was.

Who are Fjallraven?

"Hailing from the small town of Örnsköldsvik in Sweden, a place where mountains and forest meet the sea, Fjällräven is an outdoor clothing and equipment company that’s committed to making nature more accessible. In true Swedish style, we focus on simplicity and practicality, and we have the utmost respect for the environment."

Straight to the point. I like it.

The Kanken

The Kanken (specifically, the Kanken No. 2 Black) backpack is by far my favourite in the Fjallraven range.

I don't want to pigeonhole them, but Fjallraven have become quite well known for their diddy little backpacks that Pinterest girls wear religiously. That is why I think the Kanken - the big daddy laptop version - offers the perfect alternative for those who want to escape this image and utilise the frankly brilliant Fjallraven range to its fullest.

After trying the Kanken for the past 6 weeks, here's why I've decided that it should be the go-to backpack for all digital nomads (and probably even those who just want a nice bag lol).

Why the Fjallraven Kanken is a digital nomad's dream

Where do we start with this one? There's so much to this Kanken that I simply didn't expect. Some of these may sound very, very trivial, but I'm going to explain each one and try to convince you cold hearted psychopaths why they actually make sense.

Let's list a few shall we?

Side bottle pockets

There's not many things worse than being out and about (being the #adventurer that you are...) and running out of water, is there?

Well, there's quite a lot of things worse than that but you know what I mean.

Anyway, having these little side pockets is perfect for putting either plastic bottles (yuck!!!!) or stainless steel bottles (yum!!!!) and keeping on top of your hydration gains all day. Seems trivial but having these on the outside of the backpack creates loads more room inside the bag to stuff full of other essentials like Yu-Gi-Oh cards or Beyblades.

Double compartments

The Kanken has two distinct compartments which is ideal for keeping stuff separated if you so please. For instance, a lot of backpacks will have a laptop sleeve in the back which is all well and good, but it's still not completely separate and easy to get to.

If you want to jump in and grab your lappy whilst you're in the airport, the Kanken has you covered. Just unzip the back part and dip in. You can also stuff notebooks, pens or even an iPad or something in there too. One compartment for tech and the other for clothes, etc. It's a modern day version of 'business up front, party in the back'. Think of it like a futuristic mullet, for your back. Or don't. Whatever.

Mat included

There's even a little slide-out mat in there, which is well hidden, but when you bring it out it's actually rather substantial. Since Fjallraven build their gear for adventurers, this mat can be used to sit on mountain sides for a rest when you're ascending to the summit of some huge monolith of a hill.

Whereas us digital nomads could probably just use it as a nice cushion to put on a dingy coffee shop stool.

Still a nice touch though...

Name tag

This is basically the grown-up version of your mum writing your name in the back of your school shirts so the grubby kids wouldn't steal your pristine whites.

In all seriousness though - it's a handy little feature to have in case for some reason, your bag gets waylaid. If you're a little wanderlust seeker much like myself then you might have to put your bag through airport security. No dramas if it ever gets lost then - your details will be right there inside.

You could probably do this with every bag ever - I know - but the fact that Fjallraven have thought ahead and put this in there is a nice touch. It's the little things.

Massive capacity in a small vessel

Absolute tardis vibes.

This backpack is perfect for taking on holiday and saving on luggage fees for the frequent travellers amongst us. Since the compartments zip all the way down, you can fill every inch with clothes, chargers and whatever else you like to stow away on your travels.

It travels well this little fella.

Looks

And obviously - the thing just looks damn good.

If you want to get your very own Fjallraven Kanken then you can find one here.

The official whistle-stop Bristol travel guide

Back in January, I had the pleasure of visiting Bristol. Having been to Bath (right next door) and having also heard some great things about the city, I'd been keen to get down sooner rather than later.

Luckily, the kind folks at Visit Bristol helped me out by inviting me down to see what all the fuss was about.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know, from the perspective of someone who has done it before.

Have a read on and hopefully you'll be equipped with the knowledge you need to tackle this unique little city.

And hopefully, it'll all be done and dusted within 5 minutes so you don't get bored of my rambling. In fact, time yourself. Go on. I dare ya.

Why Bristol?

Bristol is unlike any other city in the UK - if not the world.

The people there are totally unique and their buildings (*and the art adorning them*) are even more unique - if that was possible. There is history in abundance, but in equal measure, they are packing new, exciting architecture, experiences and places to visit.

We'll get down to the finer details a little further on but rest assured, if you're a culture junkie, you really need to get down here.

How to get there

Planes, trains and automobiles baby.

If you're visiting Bristol from further afield, you can fly directly into their airport. Trains vary wildly in price - a ticket for me (without a railcard) from Liverpool would be £85 - aka a rip off. Obviously the further into the south of England you are, the cheaper it'll be.

We chose to drive because a full tank of petrol for me is about £40 so our journey was £80 in total split between two - not bad. The journey took about 3.5 hours. Again, the further south you are, the shorter and cheaper it'll be. The further north - the further the inverse is true. Obviously.

You can also get the ferry down there if you're a weirdo.

What are the prices like?

Prices are pretty much what you'd expect in the south of England.

Not too different but you will notice the difference if you're used to doing your shopping, eating and drinking in the cheap ol' north.

That being said, it's a lot cheaper than London so that's a bonus.

Where to stay

Brooks Guesthouse were our hosts for the weekend and I couldn't recommend the place highly enough. The rooms were stylish, the breakfast was unreal and the staff were really attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.

They also have a deal with the nearby car park which gets you a heft sum off your ticket which saved us more than £25!

If you want somewhere where you'll be well looked after and has everything you could possibly need, the Brooks Guesthouse is the place for you.

One thing I do have to mention though - the wifi in our room was virtually non-existent. To the point that we had to hotspot our phones instead. It may have just been our room because downstairs it was fine but just one to keep in mind.

What to actually do

I titled this article 'The ultimate 5-minute Bristol travel guide' and I aim to keep it to 5 minutes. Ain't nobody got time fo' long reads when it comes to city guides.

You're probably reading this on your way down to Bristol if you're anything like me so we'll get you up to speed in record time. You bloody last minute-r you...

Where The Wall tour

Probably what Bristol is most renowned for - their street art and graffiti.

The guys at Where The Wall take you through the hometown of Banksy. The main guy, John, who takes the tours 52 weeks of the year, is the most knowledgeable bloke you could hope to have as a guide.

With personal connections to Banksy and so many other street artists, his take on the scene is really refreshing. The 2-hour tour was over in a flash and was by far my favourite part of the trip.

If you do anything - do this.

M shed

This museum is a fantastic foray into Bristol's past and present. You could spend hours in here and you should definitely make a beeline for it when you visit.

We the curious

A lot of it is aimed at a younger audience but that didn't stop us having a laugh in there. There's actually loads of interesting stuff to get stuck into and you may well find a lot of curious facts that you hadn't known before. Bonus.

The Bristol Ferry

The Bristol Ferry is a unique way to experience Bristol's rivers and it's actually very fun. The captain was friendly AF (like everyone in Bristol come to think of it) and offered us loads of info on where to go and what to see.

As long as you don't suffer from sea legs, the Bristol ferry is a must-do.

St. Nicholas market

Very, very bougie.

I loved St. Nicholas market (which is literally across the street from the Brooks Guesthouse) thanks to its amazing bustling atmosphere. There are all sorts of cool little stores dotted around the market as well as a buzzing restaurant scene.

We went for some vegan sausage rolls and samosas and I have to say - that samosa was the best god damn samosa I've ever tasted. Thank you Bristol - home of heavenly samosas.

Where to eat

There are all sorts of places to eat when visiting Bristol. Seriously, there's something for all palettes.

Quay Street Diner

The folks at Quay Street Diner were kind enough to host us on the Saturday night of our stay and what a gaff this place is! If you're into your burgers, you've gotta try this place out.

On the night we went, they had a mahoosive party on upstairs meaning our main took 2 hours to come, but all was forgiven thanks to the unbelievable customer service these guys provided.

They brought us loads of snacks to keep us going and threw in a load of prosecco for good measure. Not to mention the grub was worth the wait.

Seriously, the waffles at the end were some of the best I've ever had.

Nandos

A little bit boring of us but sometimes you have to be #cheeky and go for a Nandos don't you?

There's way more on offer in Bristol's food scene but I just couldn't resist the allure of that sweet, sweet chicken.

Sue me.

Spicer & Cole

This was a cafe we stopped off at for breakfast on our first day in Bristol and I fully recommend giving it a try.

It gets very busy but just look at that grub they're serving up...

Would I recommend visiting Bristol?

100% yes.

There's literally something for everyone here - from upmarket eateries to independent, street-art draped bars - you'll find it all down in big ol' Brizzo.

Make sure to tell everyone that The Man Blueprint sent you - you'll be sure to get all sorts of discounts.

Well, you won't, because no one there has ever heard of me but it'd be funny if you did, so you know...do it.

Luxury style on a budget with ASOS

As a self-styled ‘luxury lifestyle’ blog, you may be somewhat surprised to see a title promising luxury style on a budget.

And you’d be right, but I understand that not everyone wants to spend their week’s wages on clothes, so here we are.

Well that, and the fact ASOS sent me a load of gear to feature…

Explain that title please...

Ugh, if I must...

Listen, I love a good expensive garm as much as the next bloke, but sometimes I don't want to spend half a month's wages on my outfit.

I've been thinking about this recently, and as someone who's looking to get on the property ladder in the not-so-distant future, it made sense to cut back on my frivolous attire spending.

But, can you get the quality and the look of expensive clobber without having to pay an arm and a leg? Can luxury style on a budget really be achieved?

Well, read on squire.

Luxury style on a budget. Really?

Yes.

It is entirely possible. The style messiah has spoken.

Trust in my infinite wisdom and you shall be saved in wallet and in fashion - I promise.

Shall we have a little gander at what luxurious, yet reasonably-priced clothes I got then or what?

The perfect pieces

The folks over at ASOS were kind enough to let me pick 5 bits from their ASOS design range to showcase just how luxurious the bois can look on a budget.

So with this in mind, I went for an overcoat, biker jacket, cowboy (I think?) boots, a smart shirt and some rather zany trousers.

Shall we have a look?

Overcoat

Biker Jacket

Cowboy Boots

Smart Shirt

Trousers

Putting them together

The great thing about these pieces is that you can wear it all together if you wanted - with the exception of the two coats obviously.

Now, I didn't want to do that because I want to showcase to you a variety of looks, but just so you know - you can wear 'em all if you fancied it. Anyway, here's some dapper looks I cooked up just for you my friend.

Easy as pie.

Luxury style on a budget isn’t the the oxymoron you may have thought. It is entirely possible to look dashing on a relative shoestring budget.

Shoestring - was that an unintentional style pun?

Maybe.

The official whistle-stop Florence travel guide

Firenze is one of the best cities I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. Before I went, I had only saw what it had to offer via Assassins Creed and to be honest, it was exactly the same - breathtaking. This pocket travel guide to Florence is going to clear up what you simply have to do on your stay - the essentials, if you will.

No wasted time, just the juicy stuff that'll thrill ya! Of course, there are some great guides that are much longer out there and they will give you the full scoop.

But we don't wanna do that do we? We just want that sweet sweet instant goodness.

Let's do it.

Why Florence?

Known as 'The Cradle of the Renaissance', Florence has kept so much of its rich history intact and it offers an unbelievable look into Italy's past. If you're a soppy swine like myself, you'll want to bring your significant other here, as it is one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Aside from that though, there is so much to see, do - and eat! Despite being an immensely popular tourist spot with perfect weather, you'll find it easy to get around and affordable.

What else could you want from a trip?

Getting there

You can get cheap flights to Florence from most places.

We came via a 1-night stay in Pisa though (a popular choice for visitors), so if you want to get a glimpse of the leaning tower, visit Pisa first - flights are cheaper to there. Once you're finished up, you can get a train direct to Flozza.

Where to stay

There's loads and loads of hotels in Florence, but I must say, I think the hotels in Italy are very dated for the most part. For such a stylish nation, the decor in a lot of these gaffs leaves a lot to be desired.

And that's why we went for an AirBnB - there are so many modern apartments to pick from that all come with their own little unique quirks.

Here's a few of the best AirBnB's I could find - number one was our apartment, so if you fancy sleeping WHERE THE MIGHTY MAN BLUEPRINT once slept then go right ahead.

Food & Drink

Tuscan cuisine is next level.

One place in particular is All' Anitco Vinaio. This place offers one of the best (and biggest) sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of stuffing in my gob.

There's also lots of places to eat and drink in the main square. Even though these places are what you'd call tourist traps they're actually not too expensive and the quality of grub is excellent.

A few other places to keep an eye out for:

Mister Pizza (they gave us free champagne, so had to be #1. Plus, you'll be sat right at the foot of the Duomo)
Literally any Gelato shop
Caffè Donnini 1894
Fattoria Rossi Firenze
La Boheme Restaurant & Cafe

Some culture

Next to food and coffee, Italians love their culture. These sexy swines have got it in spades and Florence is no exception. From beautiful architecture to rich history, there's pretty much something for everyone - unless you're not into nice things that is.

Here's some unmissable (and mostly free) things to do in Florence.

Palazzo Vecchio & Fountain of Neptune (these are right next to each other)
Piazza della Repubblica (all manner of markets, designer stores, restaurants and bars around here - not to mention The Picci Family Carousel.
Loggia dei Lanzi (there's often performances on here for free)
Piazza del Duomo, The Baptistery of St. John & Giotto's Campanile (Florence's biggest attraction)
Uffizi Gallery
Ponte Vecchio (A bridge over a beautiful river paved with watch shops? Sounds good to me)

Staying fit

If you want to stay in relatively decent shape whilst you're gorging yourself on Pizza and Pasta, you can always try my hotel room workout that I actually developed whilst in Florence.

Or you can find yourself a gym and get a day pass - just be sure to use the best workout of all time whilst you're there.

And that's your pocket travel guide to Florence right there folks! Putting together your itinerary needn't be difficult - or very long for that matter.

The official whistle-stop Metz travel guide

Metz may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of France - hell, it may not even be the tenth.

But it should definitely be up there.

Metz is one of the best cities I've ever visited and it is one of the few that has actually gone above and beyond my expectations (and then some).

Before we dive in, I just want to say a massive thank you to the Metz Tourist Board (and special thanks to Vivienne, our guide/Metz Oracle for the weekend) for having us - it was a pleasure.

Let's talk about Metz

Metz is about 3,000 years old and absolutely steeped in history and heritage.

There are so many different influences on the city, with input from the various countries that have claimed ownership of it throughout its lifetime.

The two standout influences that are prevalent throughout are Roman and Germanic architecture - two of my personal favourites. Due to its history as a military city, there are huge, grand buildings that were designed to stand the test of time - and that they have. It adds a satisfying contrast to the little alleyways and chic flats that pepper the streets.

It is now the economic hub of the Lorraine region which seems to be heavily driven my tech and science. This mixture of historic and innovative gives Metz a vibe that is difficult to put my finger on - but I like it.

Travelling

Travelling isn't quite as straight forward as some other destinations but it's pretty cheap and it's not hard if you've got more than one brain cell.

Since Metz borders so many different places, you can fly anywhere around it and travel in by train. You could even fly directly in to Metz if you wanted but plane tickets are substantially more expensive.

Here's exactly what we did;

Flights from Manchester to Luxembourg (€50 each way)
Bus from Luxembourg airport to city centre (€2 each way)
Train from Luxembourg central train station to Metz Ville ($16.50 each way)

We're looking at a total travel time of about 4 hours which isn't bad considering what it entails. It's very hard to mess this up so don't get stressed out during your travels, trust me.

At a combined cost of €135, this was definitely one of the cheaper travel routes I've done. Considering I went for such a popular time in the year, I'd say that's pretty good value for money.

Doing it in style @ The 1903 lounge

Airports are rather stressful places to navigate let's be honest with ourselves. That's why whenever I'm flying from Manchester airport, I'll splash the cash on their 1903 lounge.

If you book it in advance, it's only £35. For that, you get unlimited spirits, beers, champagne and coffee whilst fresh food is brought out constantly. You also get to escape the chaos downstairs, get access to free wifi and there are chairs and tables where you can look straight out on to the runway.

Not to mention plug sockets for your equipment if you need a quick charge, loads of magazines and pretty much the best airport experience you'll ever have.

This time around, they were kind enough to give me and my amigo a gifted stay which set the tone for the entire holiday and made us feel a teency weency bit like Z-list celebrities.

But yeah, the 1903 lounge is literally a must-do for anyone who wants a chilled out, child-free non-war zone to relax and indulge in before hitting the skies.

Where to stay?

We stayed in one of the best Hotels Metz has to offer - Hotel La Citadelle. This place is unbelievable - a repurposed military building from the 1500's, it has got loads of character and is somehow in absolutely top notch condition, which is something I noticed with so many of the buildings around the city.

It is opposite a quiet park, adjacent to the Mayor's residence, next to the old military arsenal building and behind the contemporary arts centre.

Quite the location then...

It's also about a 5 minute walk from the river, cathedral and just about everything else in Metz. The beauty of the city is that everything is within walking distance no matter where you are, but the location of La Citadelle was just ideal.

On stepping inside, we were greeted by a friendly receptionist, offered some specially brewed drinks (obviously couldn't turn down a freebie) and shown to our room.

The room had its own hallway. A bloody hallway!

Then we were treated to an amazing bathroom, separate toilet and huge room with a bird's eye view of the park in front along with a welcome pack, robes, etc. They really had gone the full 9 yards.

A place like this really does try its very best to live up to the lofty standards its guests hold it to - hence the fact their very own restaurant has a Michelin star.

Not too shabby!

And even if this hotel was awful, it'd be worth it just to see all of the supercars parked outside...

What to do?

Now this is the real question.

I wasn't too sure what to expect when I arrived apart from the itinerary we were given. Youtube videos and blog articles are pretty hard to come by save for the tourist board's website, so it is difficult to get a full feel for Metz before you visit.

This is what annoyed me.

I can't wrap my head around why there aren't more people doing city guides, reviews, etc - the place is so full of things to do that people should be visiting, then visiting again and again - and again.

With this in mind, I felt it to be almost my duty to go as in depth as possible with this article. But even this guide barely scratches the surface. Believe me when I say, I am desperate to go back and do a part 2 already!

Food

I always thought French food was baguettes, snails and frogs.

Is that bigoted? Probably. Anyway, I have to put it out there - I am now fully in love with French cuisine. Everything from their pastries to their cheese just grabs you and sends you into the gastronomical stratosphere.

At various points I would catch myself just murmuring superlatives because I was in some strange food/orgasm state for the duration of every meal.

Fresson

Pastries is one of France's strong suits and I can see why.

We visited a family run pâtisserie named Fresson, after its owner who runs the store with his wife and a small team, who make every single pastry, cake and sweet by hand.

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The attention to detail on everything was unbelievable - not to mention the taste.

We had a St Louis macron (named after the square the store sits by) and one of their special recipe chocolates for our breakfast - all in the name of being continental of course...

La Fleure de Ly

This was not your bog standard restaurant.

I've rarely had a meal that was an experience but this most definitely was. There was about 6 courses, pallet cleansers, Michelin star-esque presentation and thankfully - phenomenal tasting food.

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The atmosphere here is great - there is a really relaxed, personal feeling about the whole place, from its location and the front courtyard to its moddily lit restrooms and open kitchen.

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La Fleure de Ly was on another level.

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Le Bistronome

Another fantastic place to grab an amazing meal is Le Bistronome. We got to eat outside which was perfect - it felt like I was on the set of a movie.

The food was, again, unbelievable.

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3 courses, 2 glasses of wine and an after dinner espresso - the French just do it so, so right.

Covered market

If you fancy a change of pace, try the covered market which is located literally right in front of the cathedral. There are so many stalls to choose from and even stores that'll sell you quirky goods like artisan coffee roasting equipment and let you pick your own beans like a pick 'n' mix.

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Did I just say artisan?

Ugh.

We tried a restaurant in the market called L'assiette du Marche/Chez Mauricette which was slightly more informal than the other restaurants. But again, we were treated to the full 3 courses along with after dinner sweets and yet more drinks.

They go the full hog in Metz and I am absolutely in love with it.

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Drink

We did quite a lot of this. From champagne breakfasts in the airport to post meal espressos, we sampled every last bit. Here's a few things you can guzzle in Metz.

Coffee in the square

Grab a quick coffee, sit outside and watch the world go by for a bit.

We did this on our first morning to get more of a feel for the place. As we were in the main square it was great to people watch whilst we got caffeinated up to our eye balls.

Worth doing.

Solar powered boat wine aperitif

I'm gonna stick my neck out on the line here and say that this may well have been the highlight of the trip. The Solis Mettensis was 2 hours of eating continental snacks and drinking local champagne whilst sharing some great company on an amazing scenic river cruise.

Due to its size, it was just me, my mate, an old couple that didn't speak a word of English and our captain.

And we had an amazing time.

Robbie, our captain, was an extremely knowledgeable bloke and told us all about the history of Metz and little snippets that only the locals know. He also had immaculate taste in champagne, as he let us drink his two bottles of Metz & Luxembourg-produced dry.

It's hard to describe it but if you do decide to visit Metz, you have to do this one.

Local brasserie

Brasserie La Tuilerie, just off the Moselle river, opened their doors just for us.

Imposter syndrome inbound.

We got to tour around their microbrewery learning about their processes, grand plans and history. We also got to sit down for an hour with the owners for a little drinking session, getting to know more about each other.

This was our first stop of the trip, so it was nice to get chatting to some locals right away.

Apparently, Metz has a lowkey underbelly of brasseries who all love to brew and share their very best creations across the city.

If you fancy tasting amazing beers all day, why not organise a tour of them all?

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That's if you could make it to the last one after all them drinks...

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Culture

I'm a little bit of a culture junky.

Thankfully, Metz gave me my fix - in fact I almost OD'd on culture it was that plentiful.

Good gear.

Locals

This has to be number one.

Maybe I felt so at ease straight away in Metz because it instantly felt like a home from home.

In Liverpool, people are proud of where they come from, we're proud of our history, we welcome strangers with open arms to tell them about how great our city is and of course, we've got a great sense of humour.

The people of Metz seem to be exactly the same.

I had never been to France before this trip, but all I've heard is that French people are rude. Is this because I've only spoken to people who have visited Paris? Maybe. If a French person visited London they'd probably think exactly the same about us.

It could be because we tried our best to learn the language and engage with strangers, but everyone we spoke to was really friendly and helpful.

They seemed to know everything there was to know about their city and were happy to chat in English too once we told them "Je ne parle pas très bien le français" - especially 3 fellas we met (all of whom were called Matthieu) who taught us the very best French swear words and insults.

Constellation

Apparently, we visited on the best night of the year - the opening of the Constellation festival and Fête de le Musique which meant there were stages set up throughout the city with people belting out tunes all day.

It was intense - the streets were absolutely rammed and it was like one big carnival.

I loved it.

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The festival is actually a month long, so if you want to see it, be sure to head down between the last week of June to the last week of July.

Architecture

Everywhere you look, amazing architecture is looking right back at you.

Because of Metz's unique heritage as a military city and its spells under German, Roman and French ownership, it has collected inspiration from all over Europe.

This creates an awe-inspiring collection of streets, buildings and landscapes which were a genuine joy to walk through and most importantly - snap pics of.

Rivers

Metz has two rivers which join together - the lake of Metz and the Moselle river.

You should definitely go and walk along these and if you can, get yourself out on the water itself via a cruise of some sort - preferably a boozy one like we did.

Cathedral

This was one of the most aesthetic cathedrals I've ever set foot in.

With huuuuge ceilings, stained glass windows as far as the eye can see and a story in every single brick, The Cathedral of Saint Stephen of Metz has to be on your to-do list.

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The stonework outside is stunning, with every figure telling a different story - most of them parables from the bible which is something I hadn't really seen before.

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At night it was lit up for the Constellation light show which was trippy AF.

Definitely a must visit.

Get lost

I love to get lost and try to do it on most of my holidays.

Metz has a plethora of alleyways, little winding streets and gorgeous parks to go and explore with no particular intentions.

It was nice to just walk around for a bit when we had time between stuff we were doing. If you stay for longer than 48 hours, definitely just stroll along the river and through any side streets you come across to see what you can discover.

Centre Pompidou Metz

We didn't get round to this but apparently it is fantastic.

Being the largest collection of 20th and 21st century artwork in France means they're probably doing something right over there. It is also the largest exhibition centre outside of Paris - not too bad ey?

Much, much more

There is so much more to do but since we went out for (too many) drinks, we needed a nap on our final day so didn't get round to exploring as much as we probably should have.

Shopping

We all love to shop don't we? Let's be honest with ourselves.I didn't get too much done whilst we were there, but enough to give a couple of recommendations.

Printemps personal shopping

France is rather famous for its shopping and for their fashion in general, which is why I was over the moon when their largest department/clothing store asked if I wanted to do a personal experience.

I was treated to a 45 minute session at Printemps Metz with personal stylist Christelle who was extremely knowledgable about the history of French menswear and dressed me head to toe in the latest fashion to give me a taster of how the homme Français do it.

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There were 3 outfits prepared for me including brands like The Kooples, Sandro, Calvin Klein and Armani which felt rather bloody lovely and made me feel like a someone off Made in Chelsea.

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Great mix of high and low end

A big trend that the French have is mixing layers. Not in the usual sense though. They are known to pair expensive, exotic materials with cheaper cuts for an interesting juxtaposition.

This experimental style can be seen throughout Metz, with lots of high and low end stores all selling their wares. It was amazing to take all of it in and dream up a few #chic outfits for myself before realising I could probably only afford the low end stuff...

Metz has genuinely bowled me over. I don't know why it was so far above what I expected but it was and that's all I can say.

Hopefully this 48 hour city guide has give you some inspiration as to what to cram into a fleeting weekend but feel free to do some more research if my itinerary doesn't tickle your pickle.

What would you do if money were no object?

”What would you do if money were no object?” Is one of the most crippling questions we can ask ourselves.

It paralyses even the most levelheaded individuals because it forces us to zoom out and look not just at the bigger picture, but the biggest picture possible - our entire life.

Often times, it can be so much easier to bury our heads in exactly what we’re doing right now and focus on a job that we neither love, nor hate - one which we just exist in.

My aim with this article is to get you to ask yourself the toughest question of all - what do you actually want to do with your life?

My personal story - I used this exercise to identify my why

When researching this article, I simply typed in to Google ‘What would you do if money were no object’ and the resources are pretty scarce, save for the following video by Alan Watts - one of my favourite modern day philosophers (he’s also the only modern day philosophers I know so he didn’t exactly have much competition...)

Now, this is arguably one of the most life changing videos you can watch - that much we can definitely agree on.

But, I am more of a practical bloke and I assume a lot of you reading this are too, which is why the lack of any sort of guidance on how to approach your goals baffled me.

It’s what also led me to sit down before writing this and develop my own process for how to extract exactly what I wanted from life.

Long story short, I faced up to some hard truths and realised exactly what I needed to do with my life - hopefully some of you will too.

A bit further on, I’ll show you my exact process and answers so that you can get started on your own journey to freedom.

Read on amigos.

Where to start?

Like with anything in life, just starting is the hardest part.

The following questions will get you started in no time at all. Just write these down and think (not too much) about your answers.

If you think too much, you’ll end up writing down answers that you think you should be putting down like “3 bedroom house”, “55 inch latest plasma TV” and everyone’s favourite “solid pension plan for retirement”.

These are all fine by the way, but are they really things that you want to actually do with your life?

The point of the exercise is to think exactly what you would do if money were no object.

That’s what we’re shooting for here. Hypothetically, you don’t need to bust your balls for anything - so what would you do?Here are the questions to ask yourself and my answers for reference.

Once you’ve answered number 1, write this list down on a piece of paper and refer back to them multiple times a day to remind yourself to pursue these pleasures constantly.

1. What things actually bring you joy (with no regrets)?

Eating great food at a restaurant
A hard workout in the gym
Preparing (and eating) home-cooked food
Spending time with my friends and family
Travelling
Playing football
Writing
Reading
Drawing
Building and improving things (this is why I’m desperate to get on the property ladder asap lol)
Researching obscure, bordering on pointless things.
Being outdoors
Sitting on a beach soaking up that Vit D

2. Is your current job what you want to do forever?

Yes. Although my previous job as a customer service assistant wasn’t.

If your answer is no, try to make the most of the situation while you can by building friendships that will stand the test of time and build up as much wealth as you can to enable you to quit your job and move on to your true vocation as soon as possible.

3. What is your favourite thing to do on your days off?

Go somewhere new.
Have a meal/drink somewhere.
Spend time with people that excite me who I can talk to all day.
Relax at home

4. If you were retired with a pension, what would you spend your days doing?

Thinking about the inevitable clutches of death
Wetting my adult diaper
Gardening
Thinking about all the missed opportunities I didn’t take because I was scared and thought that I might regret them.

See where I’m going with this?

5. What lifestyle do you want for yourself?

One of freedom. I never want to answer to anyone again and want to live life on my own terms.

6. Without listing anything material - what do you desire?

A hearty dose of adventure.
Excitement
Laughter
Fun

This all sounds like one of those Live. Laugh. Love. posters doesn't it bloody hell. It’s pretty much true though.

We all want to be excited, we all love to laugh and adventures get our hearts beating. We’re all kids deep down - it’s just that the world beats it out of us and we become numb to it all.

Just look how happy kids are. They do whatever they want and they all seem to be drunk on good times.

Have you ever felt so great you felt drunk? Imagine what that feels like.

Jammy buggers.

We can all get there though, we’ve just got to try!

7. Is there something you’ve never experienced that you’d love to do?

Skydiving
Cliff diving (can you tell I want to try diving?)
Travelling through Thailand before us Westies ruin it.
Do a full public speaking set
Eat in a Michelin star restaurant

I had an inkling that it would be the case but I didn’t think it would be so clear cut - everything that I desire in life requires very little in the way of riches.

Obviously every form of pastime involves a little bit of monetary investment but if you can turn your passion into a steady stream of income, this shouldn’t be an issue.

The biggest thing for me is simply being free to do what I want, when I want.

Lately, I’ve been stuck in somewhat of a rut surrounding my job as a writer and worrying about making as much money as possible so that I can get involved in property development right now, but it doesn’t need to be right now.

Everything I would do when I have all the money in the world, I can already do right now. I can play whatever sport I want for a nominal fee, I can go and explore new countries on the cheap, I can afford to go out to restaurants and do things with those I love for a fair price.

Not everybody has this luxury, but we can all certainly work towards it. After you complete this exercise, you’ll find that the goals you thought you might have had if money were no object weren’t really your goals at all.

Most people, when it boils down to it, want the same basic things.

We want connection and we want joy. If you’ve got those two boxed off and you can appreciate the small things that you do every day, you’ll be well on your way to a happy life.

We all get too bogged down in the notion that ‘When I have X, I’ll be happy’ and we delay our happiness until a future that never comes. We’ve got to open our eyes and realise that everything we truly desire, we can have right now.

We can be truly happy in this moment.

How to implement these into your life

Once you’ve got a steady income doing whatever you do - be that the job you don’t really want to do or the vocation that you love more than anything in the world - start your implementation process.

Sort your basic needs out: Rent, phone bill, food, car and gym (and whatever other genuine essentials you need to sort, obviously). After this, put away 10-15% in your bank account for savings and if you can, invest another 10-15% into stocks.

If you’re familiar with compound interest, you’ll realise that putting money into stocks right now will pay you a ridiculously good return further down the line that will sort you out for the rest of your life - I personally use Hargreaves Lansdown as they’re the best in the UK.

Then feel free to completely blow the rest on clothes, meals out, drinks, drugs - whatever the bloody hell you want. If it’s one of the things you’d pursue if money were no object, go wild.

I mean, maybe not the drugs and booze so much but you get the idea. You don’t want to be pinching pennies because that’s not the life to live. The whole point of this article is to show you that you can live a fulfilling life on a standard budget - but it can’t help to plan for the future whilst you’re indulging your hedonistic streak.

Easy.

If you’re looking to break free from that 9-5 life, start after work and weekends on your passion, build up your savings, try to transform your passion and skills into an income and soon enough, you’ll have enough (about 6 month’s salary) saved up to pursue your dream.

I use People Per Hour, this blog, Instagram and my book as ways to make my full time living and do things on my own terms.'

Eventually, you’ll want to build up some passive income to keep you going as you pursue your passion projects more and more. My main passive income source is the book as everything else requires a bit of work but you can find lots more passive income sources online.

The ‘If money were no object’ lifestyle

Once you’ve gotten your answers, life might just become that bit simpler.

Small hiccups in the road along the way won’t bother you as much because you know what the bigger picture is, you know your purpose and you’re essentially mentally bulletproof.

Since identifying exactly what I would do with my life if money were no object, I’ve allowed myself to get lost in my writing again, falling in love with reading, sketching and learning for the first time since I was about 7.

That all sounds a bit airy fairy doesn’t it?

To be honest, I don’t care!

Once you know what your purpose is and know what gets you going, you needn’t be embarrassed or feel pressured into doing anything else.

We all seem to forget that life is finite and we judge others for pursuing their dreams even if it means a lower paycheque.

Erm, so what?

Why run yourself into the ground building someone else’s empire just for a higher salary that you’ll waste on pointless nonsense to fill your house, wardrobe and driveway with? I know I’d choose a smaller income if it meant I could do whatever I pleased every day for the rest of my life.

Hence why I blog lol.

As Alan Watts says (and I’m paraphrasing here), no matter what you’re doing, someone else will be interested in it.

Basically, whatever your passion is - do it. Over time, you will master your craft and eventually, it’ll pay the bills because there are people out there who will pay for it.

I was a lousy writer for the best part of a year and in all honesty, I still am. Yet, that hasn’t stopped me quitting my job and making it my career.

If a bum like me can down tools and follow his dreams, I have no doubt that you can too.

Why every man should learn a foreign language

Every man should learn a foreign language.

Yes, that means you.

I’m currently in the process of learning my very first foreign language – French. Or Français…or something like that anyway.

Having dabbled in Spanish and been pretty decent at it in school – I regret dropping it more than any other stupid decision I made back then.

The opportunities that having another language under my belt may have presented at such a young age doesn’t bear thinking about.

That was why I reached out to Babbel, who are language learning experts, to help me on my quest to becoming a polyglot.

And with this in mind, I’ve decided to try and get all of you on board too.

So.

Here is why every man should learn a foreign language gosh darn it!

Why should I learn a foreign language?

There are so many great reasons to learn a foreign language, so I’ve done a quick list of 10 benefits you will see when you start your practice.

1. Improve your memory

2. Boost neural pathways (brain power)

3. Decrease your risk of Alzheimer’s & Dementia

4. Improved perceptive skills

5. Build a love for language (you’ll become better at your own)

6. Communicate with new people like never before

7. Open up doors to millions of potential business/job opportunities

8. Better decision making capabilities

9. Turbocharge your self-confidence (ability to travel solo without worrying, talk to strangers, etc)

10. Improve mental performance at school or work.

Convinced yet?

Thought so.

Why Men?

Dunno really.

I run a men’s lifestyle blog so I’m not going to switch up and write to women am I?

I suppose if you had sinister intentions of going to a foreign country and using your broken dialect to pick up babes that could be a motivating factor…

You dirty dog you.

ARE THERE CERTAIN LANGUAGES THAT ARE BEST?

Spanish is the main player here.

It is probably the easiest to pick up out of every language that isn’t English. If you speak English – which I assume you do if you’re reading this – then you’ll have an easier time picking Spanish up.

Being spoken in over 20 major countries, it will open a whole lot of opportunities up to you and make you seem a bit less like an ignorant tourist fool.

Great stuff.

It also gives you a good springboard to learn other languages once you’ve got the hang of it, such as Portuguese (quite similar), French and Italian.

Not only that, but the discipline you build from studying Spanish can really stand you in good stead for attempting far more challenging languages in the future such as Russian or Mandarin.

HOW CAN I LEARN QUICKLY?

One word – Babbel.

I reached out to these guys to help me with my learning and they only went and hooked me up with a 6 months free membership.

To be fair, their app is actually pretty inexpensive as it is, so I probably would have invested anyway but a freebie is always a nice treat.

Anyway, Babbel is the best app out there for learning foreign languages.

It takes you through a beginner course to get you acclimatised to the language somewhat and then it has a huuuuge range of topics to go through such as lifestyle, food & drink, culture and sports.

I just chose to stick to the main curriculum which breaks it down into lots of beginner, intermediate and advanced chunks as I think this is the best way to pick up a language in a hurry.

Considering I wanted to learn french in a month then Italian in another, this was sort of my only option…

Babbel make it so easy though and it’s almost a gamified experience, which makes the whole process less of a chore and more of a relaxing activity to do after work.

I like to do a few lessons before and after my dinner so I can try and jam the knowledge in before I hit the sack. So far it’s working pretty well.

I’d definitely suggest getting yourself a language learning routine/habit that keeps you accountable and is something you can stay on top of every day.

And that is that people.

Every man should learn a foreign language. It will open so many doors to you.

And don’t forget, one of the best ways to do it is through my good pals Babbel. You can sign up to their app here and follow them on Instagram here.

The official whistle-stop Bergen travel guide

Before we kick things off, let me just say a massive thank you to both Visit Bergen and Visit Norway for making this trip possible – you’re all a gang of Bobby Dazzlers.

Anyway – what a brilliant bloody city! Bergen was without a doubt, one of my favourite holidays to date.

It was very cold and sometimes rather wet, but these usually adverse conditions added to Bergen’s charm.

That might seem a bit odd to hear but trust me on this, this place is nothing like anywhere you’ve been before.

BERGEN: A BRIEF HISTORY

Bergen once was a vitally important seaport and to this day, there are still remnants of this rich history – the most impressive of which being the wooden buildings of Bryggen, which is actually a Unesco world heritage site.

It is known as the gateway to the ‘fjords’ and ‘Norway’s second city’, due to it being surrounded by seven hills, seven fjords and also being Norway’s second biggest city. Creative nicknames aren’t they?

Fast forward to the present day and Bergen still clings to its heritage and there is a real sense of pride floating round this place. Their port is still Norway’s busiest and they have expanded their international business to lots of industries like subsea technology, higher education and tourism (handy for yours truly).

GETTING THERE

Getting to Bergen is pretty easy. Most big cities fly directly there, but if they don’t, usually it’s only one quick change.

I changed at Stavangar on the way there and Inverness on the way back. In total it was about 3 hours flight time each way, not bad in my book.

Most airports offer places to chill out and plug your laptop in so you can crack on with some work or watch some Game of Thrones as you wait. I did a bit of blog work and had a read of a book and my travel was over in a flash.

Once you arrive at Bergen’s snazzy airport, you can either get the Flybussen or the Light rail into the city centre (or to any of the stops before that if you’re staying a bit outside the centre). Compared to Norway’s rather expensive costs on everything, the public transport is actually really cheap. It cost the equivalent of about £3 to get the rail into town.

From there, you can simply walk to wherever you need to go – everything is close enough together that there os virtually no need for Ubers or taxis.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed in the Clarion Collection Havnekontoret, one of the swankiest gaffs in Norway and let me tell you – it did not disappoint.

Upon walking in, you are greeted with a little welcome kit, a ‘guest of honour’ card for the city and a naughty little view of the Bergen Harbour. I genuinely had a serious case of imposter syndrome here, it was too good to be true!

My favourite part of the hotel (simply because I’m a fat glutton) was that there was complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals were different each night and were Scandinavian themed – it was unbelievable. So much so that we didn’t even eat out once.

There was a gym in the basement too, complete with weights, cardio equipment and a sauna! This would be ideal for those coming on a bit of a longer stay but as we were only there for the weekend, I didn’t need to use it.

The hotel was located pretty much smack-bang in the centre of Bergen. We were right next to the tram stop, we had the harbour right in front of us and Bryggen to the side. Everything in Bergen is pretty close together but the Clarion just makes things a million times easier.

One thing that I’ve never seen in a hotel before was a viewing tower. If you ask for a special key from reception, you can climb a big spiral staircase to one of the most unique hotel experiences out there. This viewing tower offers stunning views of the rolling hills, mountains, harbour and basically the entirety of Bergen.

I’m a big fan of the details, which is why the Clarion gets a 10/10 from me. They excelled here. When you walk into your room, there’s a little welcome hamper, bath robs, sliders, rituals toiletries – the works basically. Never has the saying “you get what you pay for” been more true.

The hotel was absolutely unbelievable. If you’re considering coming to Bergen, this should be the only place you book. The location, transport links, rooms, views, gym, food – the list goes on, this place is all you need.

THINGS TO DO

Despite having a small town feel, Bergen is one of Norway’s largest cities and thus, there is so much to see and do during your stay.

Here’s my top picks.

BRYGGEN

This was the first thing we did upon arrival and it didn’t disappoint. The first thing you think of when you think of Bergen is this.

The quaint little buildings, the wooden sidewalk – it’s amazing. It was literally like being in some sort of movie – can’t recommend this one enough.

FLØYEN / FLØIBANEN

I’ve grouped these together as they’re basically the same. Fløyen is the huge mountain of Bergen that offers ridiculous views for miles and miles. There’s also lots to do up at the top too.

You can either walk to the top or get the Fløibanen, which is the tram-thing that takes you up through to the top of Fløyen. This is an experience in itself and offers loads of cool photo opps and is great for those who don’t fancy the walk up to the top.

You can also get it back down if you don’t fancy the descent either. You can walk up and down via a path however if you fancy it – it should take about an hour each way.

MUSEUMS

One thing that Bergen does exceptionally well is museums. There are museums for basically everything. I’m not sure of the exact figure but the number of museums was definitely in double figures.

We went to the KODE museum which was brilliant. They had loads of different exhibitions on which were really interesting - not to mention #aesthetic.

Markets

Bergen has a famous fish market that is definitely worth a walk through even if you’re not hungry. But that wasn’t the market I went for.

The christmas markets were in full swing as it was the beginning of December and they were absolutely fantastic. Loads of different stalls selling all sorts of Christmas-related wares were vying for out attention and hard earned dosh.

We managed to avoid actually buying anything somehow but the hundreds of scoff options and festive tat on offer tested our willpower to the maximum.

The next couple of things are definitely worth a look if you have the time. Unfortunately we didn’t but they are very highly rated:

Fjord cruise

The world’s largest gingerbread town

Food & Drink

We didn’t actually go out for food or drink once during our weekend in Bergen.

Of course, there were coffee and pastry trips but in terms of actual meals out, we kept that to the hotel as it was just too nice to pass up.

There are loads of options for cool bars and restaurants still but we figured it would just be best to save ourselves £150+ per night and go with the free, lovely food of the Clarion.

You should however, definitely go and sample their local delights. We went to a cafe called BarBarista which was completely different to the norm.

With mad ornaments, dolls, bits and bobs hanging from the ceiling and walls, it was hard not to get lost in its unique magic. I had a chilli chocolate latte concoction which was unreal. I was tempted to go back for another but the £8 price tag made me think twice about being a glutton again.

There are tons of these unique, quirky little experiences dotted round Bergen. Half the fun of the whole experiences is just getting lost in the side streets and coming across amazing places like this.

The rest

So, the rest.

If we hadn’t have only brought hand luggage, we may may have ended up coming back with a lot more than we went with.

Bergen is full of brilliant shops that cater to all manner of interests but mostly their fashion and homeware stuff. This gear is off-the-charts cool and really lives up to the ‘Nordic style’ stereotype - in a good way.

The people are really friendly too, with basically everyone being able to speak brilliant English. This however, was the holiday that tipped me over the edge and made me want to take up a foreign language. I just found it baffling how basically 100% of a population could speak two languages fluently - I felt like a FRAUD.

Thus, 2019 is the year I get my act together - I may even learn Norwegian!

Getting about

Everything is walking distance. There’s no need for cabs or Ubers really as you can get everywhere in 20 minutes max walking.

I mean, you could moonwalk around if you wanted but that’s the only other transport option you’d need.

Bergen. What a brilliant city. Completely unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced. If you’re looking for somewhere that will blow your mind every few minutes, this is the place for you.

If you just want to go and drink beer, shout at people and trash your hotel, maybe you should stick to Zante.

A look back at the 2018 Northern blog awards

A couple of weeks back, I got to attend the second annual Northern blog awards. Believe it or not, this blog was actually on the shortlist for one of the categories…

Since I enjoyed the night so much and since it was the popping of my red carpet cherry, I thought I’d do a little write up on the whole occasion.

WHAT ARE THE NORTHERN BLOG AWARDS?

The Northern blog awards were put together by Holly Nicol (@Hollygoeslightly) back in 2016 and they’re aimed at celebrating blogging talent from up North.

Northern bloggers tend to miss out on a lot of the bigger opportunities/events as most of it goes on in London, meaning those up here don’t really get the chance to attend the swanky gaffs held further afield.

WHAT WAS I UP FOR?

The Man Blueprint (I mean the site – I don’t identify as ‘the man blueprint’, this isn’t a weird third person thing) was up for best male blog of the year.

The category was full of some great blogging blokes so it was quite the honour to be rubbing shoulders with these fine fellas.

It was also great to see a couple of ‘em in the flesh on the night itself.

THE DAY

I made Lucy come with me for the day because I didn’t want to be the loner swigging wine from the bottle and shouting obscenities at the winners. For this reason there is going to be a lot of ‘we’ and ‘us’ in the article. I haven’t got multiple personalities just so we’re clear.

BREAKING OUT

We made our way to Manchester early in the morning. I had no idea how easy it was to get there from Liverpool – we got there on the train in about 40 minutes.

Once we were off the train however, it was business time. Breakout Manchester had been kind enough to offer us a go in one of their breakout rooms.

For those of you unfamiliar with Breakout rooms - you have to find clues and solve riddles in order to find the code to break out of a locked room within an hour.

Breakout do it best and we’re absolutely obsessed with ‘em. You can pick from a load of different rooms with interesting stories behind them and varying difficulties.

We put up a valiant effort in this one but failed to actually break out. As you can tell from the picture below, I took the defeat extremely well and didn’t take it out on anyone at all.

This was our fourth go of a breakout room and we’ve got another booked in a week’s time. If you want in on the action you can book a room here.

MANCHESTER

After we failed to break out, there was a few hours to kill before we got to stuff our faces with fine dining grub.

This meant exploring all the designer stores and pretending we were covert millionaires who could afford to buy out each floor of Selfridges.

In all seriousness though, Manchester is a fantastic city to explore and is basically like Liverpool on steroids. Being a scouser though, I can’t exactly say Manchester is better can I?

FILLING UP

Phwoaaaaaar. What a gaff Grafene is!

We were treated to a 6 course tasting menu by these guys and all I can say is - bloody hell.

Grafene put a unique twist on traditional British dining, bringing the taste of the country to the big smoke.

We had dishes such as rendered duck leg, burnt ends of brisket and chocolate, cherry & marigold. Every dish was like eating a nicely portioned bit of heaven, the service was amazing and the whole vibe of the place was as boujie as you’ll find.

The guys at Grafene offer this ‘grafets’ menu along with a few other tasting menus made up of 5 or 7 dishes, vintage champagnes, cocktails and tours. You can dine a la carte too if you’re into your norm activities.

If this tickles your pickle you can book yourself into Grafene here.

Basecamp

For those of you who live under a rock - Air BnB is the new kid on the block that’s giving the hotel business a run for its money.

For about 50 quid, we got to stay in a swanky high rise apartment that overlooked the whole of Manchester. No need for check in desks, over zealous bellboys or dodgy cleaners.

Just meet the hosts, grab the keys and Bob’s yer uncle.

Can’t fault it whatsoever and the location was perfect. Often, going through Air BnB is far cheaper than a hotel room too, which is ideal if you’re looking to make your money stretch as far as possible.

If you’re after some sweet little BnB deals head over here.

The night

Now we’re getting into the nitty gritty. Kicking off the night at the apartment, we had to get ourselves dolled up for the big stage. This involved mostly watching Liverpool playing Chelsea on a livestream for me then jumping into my outfit for the evening. Which reminds me…

Suiting up

My suit for the Northern blog awards was provided by the good folks over at Marc Wallace. These fellas specialise in bespoke tailored suits and they sorted me out with an absolute barnstormer.

The jacket and trousers fitted like a dream and the materials, design, etc was on another level to any other suit I’ve worn before. I'm a huge fan of grey suits and the check pattern was a winner.

I must add, I’m not exactly a suit connoisseur but I can tell if one is decent or not. Well, at least I pretend to.

The lining was a little bit racy (a slew of naked female playing cards) but it was an effective, albeit, weird conversation starter - as long as I gave people forewarning of what I was about to show 'em.

Overall though, my Marc Wallace suit was perfect for my first awards evening and I can’t thank them enough. You can check out their designs here.

Shoes

I wasn’t going to rock up in my suit and socks was I?

Undandy were kind enough to send me over two pairs of their handmade shoes to pick from for the night. I was faced with the tough decision between the brown oxfords or the black monks.

After an intense decision making process, I opted for the monks - which was definitely the right decision (or so I tell myself).

I met the guys and gals from Undandy when I travelled to Lisbon a couple of months ago and they told me a bit about their company. All of their shoes can be customised online and then they are handmade in an old school workshop right there in Lisbon - all to your specification.

You can also pick pre-made options too. Think of it as Nike ID for grown ups.

If you fancy picking up some bits from one of the best bespoke shoe makers in the world - head over to the Undandy website.

The Venue

The Venue for the Northern blog awards was the Midland hotel. And what a place to have it! I felt like I was bloody royalty swanning in pretending I had an ounce of talent.

The fact there was even a red carpet made the whole thing feel a little bit surreal. Unfortunately there were no paparazzi snapping ugly candids of me but we can’t have it all can we.

The Event

Now, the main event! I’ll be honest, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from the Northern blog awards.

I’d never been to something like this before as you may have guessed from the fact I keep going on about it, so I was sort of expecting a big old chinwag where people ate canapés and looked down their noses at you but I was pleasantly surprised.

Everyone was there to make conversation, meet new people and generally just be very sound. We got a free glass of champagne on arrival (and a few more when they had some left at the end) and it only got better from there.

One thing that took me by surprise was the effort that the sponsors had gone to. There were giant teacups filled with chocolate and popcorn, GIF makers (if that makes sense), photo booths and even a bloody bed. There was a load more too but I didn't get round to that as I was too focused on securing free chocolate all night.

Then there was the three course meal with a load of free booze. Can't say fairer than that can you? Luckily most of the table were on the white wine so I managed to keep most of the red to myself which really took my opinion of the Northern blog awards to a whole other level.

It was also great to see so many hard working winners take to the stage - some of whom had been at the blogging game for almost a decade! It was rather motivating seeing how their hard work had paid off so well for them. Seeing how passionate they were about what they do was a real eye opener, too.

Did I win?

Unfortunately ya boi didn’t bring home the bacon. It was a deserved win by Alexander Ward who is a Manchester based photographer and blogger with a fantastic site.

All this has give me a little bit of a kick up the backside in terms of work ethic though. Seeing all these brilliant people giving speeches has motivated me to get up there next year. Even if it’s just drunkenly storming the stage, but still - motivation is motivation.

However, at the end, there was a little afterparty which was brilliant. There was a fantastic live band belting out all the classics and we had a boogie to celebrate me being a big fat loser.

Living it up at the Goodlife Experience

What more can I say about the Goodlife Experience that hasn't already been said? The Goodlife Experience comes with thousands of top notch reviews from people all over the world and with good reason - this was one of the best experiences of my life.

What more can I say about the Goodlife Experience that hasn’t already been said?

The Goodlife Experience comes with thousands of top notch reviews from people all over the world and with good reason – this was one of the best experiences of my life.

The guys at the Goodlife Experience sent my girlfriend and I a pair of tickets over to see this festival in all of its weird, wonderful glory.

Before we get into that though, let’s see what the it actually offers.

CAMPING

Let’s start with the festival bread and butter shall we. There was loads of room for camping here, accompanied by showers, *eerily clean* toilets and even unlimited drinking water refills which were all quite novel for a festival.

Then there were the glamping tents. Bloody hell these were nice! Apparently they’re kitted out with all sorts inside, I even saw a picture of one with a full double bed in – not a bad way to spend your weekend in a field.

I must confess though, I didn’t camp this year as I live nearby-ish, but after seeing how great the Goodlife Experience camping was, I’ll definitely be doing it next year.

MUSIC

Your standard festival foundations these.

A festival without music would be like me without this blog – unloved and terrible.

Some cracking acts were playing this year with the likes of Trevor Nelson, Greg Wilson and even Ben Fogle getting in on the act. Obviously good old Fogez wasn’t serenading us with melodies but he was a very interesting fella all the same.

The DJ’s that were on were absolutely top notch as well, it was such a surreal experience going from Ben Fogle chewing your ear off, into folk music then into dance music, but it was something which just felt right – the Goodlife Experience makes this sort of stuff the norm somehow.

TALKS

Along with the next item on the list, this was my joint favourite thing at the whole of the Goodlife Experience. I’m not usually one for going to listen to someone talk for an hour but all of these talks really struck a chord.

Dare I say…changed my life???

There were so many interesting ladies and gents talking about their life experiences and how we could all apply them to our lives. There was Gordon Reid talking about his world cup beer mats, Mark Shayler telling us why in business (and in life I suppose…) – kind is the new cool and Alice Guy retelling her story of going a year without plastic.

These were all amazing people with amazing stories but they also offered such a great insight into how we can all live a better life. There was also a guy called Michael Townsend Williams who talked about the importance of breathing and who taught us some level 9000 yogi breathing bits.

I tend to joke around when it comes to stuff like this but I do actually try to take it seriously and have been using his breathing technique since.

A great nugget of info he hit us with was to breathe through your nose via your stomach. Don’t breathe from the chest and always breathe out for longer than you breathe in.

By implementing those simple little tips, I have already become calmer, more productive and had improved sleep. Nice one Mickey.

AXE THROWING

So here’s my other joint favourite. The god damn axe throwing. Is there any better way to pretend you’re a manly man of the wilderness than lashing an axe at a tree stump? Didn’t think so.

I mean, anyone older than 12 could participate but it still felt cool, okay? OKAY? It was a great bit of fun for anyone, be them man, woman or whatever in between – Lucy was even better at it than me! No bruised ego though, promise.

ARCHERY

I’d done archery before when I was 10 at some weird school trip so I don’t mean to be cocky but I was basically a professional.

This really came to light when I was missing the target with each attempt. The consummate archery professional.

In all seriousness though, the archery was a close second to axe throwing in the fun-ness stakes. The only downside being the much larger queue.

TREE CLIMBING, FIRE WALKING… LAKE SWIMMING?

These were the activities I was desperate to do but didn’t get a chance to for one reason or another.

Turns out the tree climbing was just for kids. Obviously that wasn’t going to stop me but I was restrained by my concerned girlfriend who didn’t want me wrestling 8 year olds to get to the top of the tree first.

Apparently you had to book the fire walking in advance which I had no clue about and for the lake swimming, I just didn’t fancy donning the wetsuit. These are a must for next year though as they looked so bloody fun.

LOCAL CRAFT

One thing that really stood out to me was the sheer amount of local craft on display. The Goodlife Experience really champions independent businesses and gave them a great platform to get their wares in front of a hugely receptive audience – myself included. I couldn’t help but buy a t-shirt on my first day.

But it wasn’t just clothing, there were blacksmiths, artists, explorers and anyone else interesting plonked in the market tents offering some of the coolest, most unique products you’re likely to find.

We even got invited up to a lavender farm. Don’t think you’d get that at any other festival, do you?

BOOKS

There were books EVERYWHERE at the Goodlife Experience. There were vans selling books out of their pop up, there were book merchants set up in the markets and there was even a book club where the only requirement to take a book was that you read it and pass it on to a friend.

This is all a bit Utopian this isn’t it?

CAMPFIRE COOKING SESSIONS

I fancy myself as a cook I’m not gonna lie. I have come quite far from the microwaved bacon and beans connoisseur that I once was and am proud of that fact.

BUT, some of these actual cooks completely blew me away – from ‘seasonality & sustainability’ to crab masterclasses and dumpling workshops, the wannabe foodie in me was going berserk.

Anyone who knows me in real life knows how much of a food slut I am, so this was my idea of Valhalla.

FOOD

Speaking of which – there was definitely a lot more variety when it comes to food at the Goodlife Experience than other festivals I’ve been to in the past.

With loads of vegan options, freshly baked pizzas and Persian curries on the go all weekend I can’t complain whatsoever. I even got the pleasure of sampling the best burger in Wales which did not disappoint.

Curry, burgers and pizza. What’s not to like?

FOR YOUR PLEASURE

No this wasn’t hundreds of condom masterclasses.

This was mostly booze based but isn’t that all you need? There was an ale house, cocktail shack, boujie coffee trucks, vintage shops and even tai chi lessons.

Again, my peasant brain was absolutely mangled by the sheer magnitude of choice on offer but we managed to box so many things off in just a few days and the whole experience left us both feeling like we’d ascended to a higher plane of existence.

CONCLUDING THE GOODLIFE EXPERIENCE

Obviously my favourite aspect of the whole thing was the axe throwing, but I bloody loved everything else we went to. Usually I’ll give a fully balanced review of things I try, often finding negatives and constructive criticisms but this place was just on a whole other level.

Cannot fault it whatsoever.

Every festival I’ve been to has basically just been listening to music and drinking 9 crates of strongbow dark fruits – the Goodlife Experience changed that.

I felt like I had stepped through the void and into adulthood. This is what mature, axe wielding me wants to do with his life and there isn’t a single ounce of shame in that.

And that’s that. As far as three day benders go, this was most definitely near the top of the pile.

You can get your Goodlife Experience tickets for next year here. You can also follow the guys year round on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

The official whistle-stop Lisbon travel guide

Lisbon. What a city.

I was lucky enough to be flown out there by Visit Lisboa who kindly sorted me out with flights, accommodation and some recommendations on how best to spend my time.

I’m happy that they did sort me out with those recommendations otherwise I would have just lay on a random beach for the entire time.

But yeah – a big thanks to the folks over at Visit Lisboa for hooking me fully up – I can’t express enough gratitude for their hospitality.

So…

I spent four days in the Portuguese capital and could have happily spent another four. There was so much to do, see, eat & drink that it was just impossible to get tired of the place.

This is gonna be a long one fellas, so strap in and get the snacks.

LISBON: A BRIEF HISTORY

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back about 300,000 years – far older than most other capitals like Paris, London and even Rome.

Since its inception, the ‘enchanting port’ has enjoyed a hugely successful time as a propserous trading city. This is where a lot of Lisbon’s initial wealth came from.

However, in 1755 a huge earthquake destroyed most of the city, meaning that it had to be rebuilt for centuries, with some unfinished restorations still standing to this day.

Much like Liverpool (the best city of all time), Lisbon has managed to keep a hold of its character and so much of its rich history – despite being nearly destroyed almost three centuries ago.

Fast forward to the modern day and Lisbon has now carved a reputation as the place to be. There’s so so much on offer here, it is a wonder that it hasn’t been a hotspot for culture vultures for longer.

WHY LISBON IS PERFECT FOR THE MODERN GENTLEMAN

Other than the gorgeous weather, picturesque scenery, friendly people, a strong culture and unlimited adventure – Lisbon actually has a lot of other traits that lend themselves perfectly to the modern gentleman.

LOCAL CRAFTSMANSHIP

Portugal is known for its handcrafted leather goods, especially shoes – essential for any aspiring gent. There are workshops, tailors and good old fashioned menswear stores everywhere in Lisbon, making this the ideal city for a gentleman to pick up some bespoke pieces.

I visited the office of one of Lisbon’s newest and most impressive men’s shoes and accessories makers – Undandy. These guys have taken custom footwear to the next level and being based in Lisbon meant that I had the opportunity to go and check them out in person.

They agreed to hook me up with a couple of pairs of custom shoes along with some accessories which was absolutely ideal. The kindness of the Portuguese really knows no bounds and it clearly stretches to the menswear market!

LUXURY RESTAURANTS

This was a real kicker – although there are no shortage of wonderful local, traditional restauarants, there is also a huge concentration of high-end restaurants here too.

If you’re big into your fine dining then Lisbon is the place to be – there are some amazing restaurants offering menus that are completely different to anything on offer in England – or anywhere else for that matter. With that being said – I did just opt for a burger when I had the chance…

HOSPITALITY

This is sort of linked to the local craftsmanship point above but the hospitality of the people here is absolutely overwhelming. Everyone is unbelievably laid back and the whole place has a real Amsterdam vibe about it, except it’s about 100 times more beautiful.

This is also a huge plus for gents who happen to be digital nomads or entrepreneurs – there are a bevvy of co-working spaces for those looking to make connections, be productive and work in a friendly, positive environment.

INSPIRATION

Finally – and this one is kind of linked to the co-working aspect of the above point – you may find a hefty serving of inspiration as you traverse the Lisbon hills.

There’s just something about the views that kind of put you in a meditative state. It could be when you’re at the peak of Alfama, on top of the Rua Augusta arch or looking out from several parts of the Sao Jorge castle, but there’s serious mental clarity to be had by Lisbon’s breathtaking vantage points.

I found myself looking over the city and just running through lots of ideas in my head – a few of them being what on Earth to write in this article, but it proved to be an extremely inspiring experience that I think a lot of us gents can benefit from.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

BACKUP CHARGER

This saved my bacon a lot whilst out and about. Using your phone for pictures, navigation, texts and whatever really drains the battery – quickly.

So, having a back up was crucial for me. I was constantly doing work on my phone through the day so by the time 5pm rolled around i was on about 10%. This is where I had my back up charger, which offered another 20% to see me through to the end of the day which was vital for booking ubers, taking sexy pics of food and finding my way round.

I decided to get a Qi charger as it’s super cool, fits in your pocket and if you already have your own phone case – is a much better alternative than a full charger case.

TRIPOD W/ REMOTE SHUTTER

This is a bit novel but could be a good shout for those who love the perfect photo. If you’re travelling on your own and want to get those ideal shots, get one of these, grow some hairs on your chest and just set it up in the middle of wherever you want to get your pics.

The remote is ideal as well as it means you don’t have to set a timer and can take as many pictures as you want whilst not having to go back and forth to the camera.

And for couples/friends/whatever, set this up if you want a picture of you that isn’t a selfie. You can pick tripods up for like £10 and a remote for half that so it’s not exactly a Spielberg-esque layout.

BAG

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this but i completely forgot to bring a backpack or any sort of bag other than a big holdall that had all my stuff in.

This meant i was stuffing everything in my pockets and just carrying stuff which was less than ideal.

Get yourself a backpack or a bum bag and put all your essentials in and you’ll thank yourself over the course of your travels.

HEADPHONES

These are ideal when you’re travelling, especially if you were travelling alone like I was. You can really zone out or concentrate on a task you’re doing whilst travelling.

You can even throw ’em on when you’re walking round the city – I did a few times. Listening to a podcast, having a coffee and just looking out on the pure beauty of the city was one of the most blissful experiences of my life – I may have even started to levitate a few feet off the ground…

PRE-FLIGHT

The pre-flight ritual is a sacred art. Every person’s ritual is different but this is mine – it’s just a guide but it might give you a few ideas going into your next trip.

CHECKLIST

The checklist is obviously the most important part of the pre-flight ritual – do this before you set foot out the door.

Have you got your passport? Undies? Whatever electronics, adaptors, etc you need? Just list everything you need the night before and do a thorough check before you leave your house to make sure the build up is as stress-free and fun as possible – with no worries of forgotten bits in the back of your mind.

PAMPER

This trip was the first time I’ve done this but I’ll be doing it again every damn time now. Get yourself a wee pamper fellas. Those cosmetics counters that you give no second thought to offer loads of male-specific treatments for travelling blokes.

I got an eye rejuvenating treatment from Estee Lauder which was ideal considering I spend about 90% of my waking hours staring at a screen. I felt was walking round with gleaming eyes (like this) and felt like I had just had a cosmetic epiphany.

MEAL

Maybe not one for flyers with a dicky stomach but having a decent meal before take-off is a must for me. If you’ve got time, have a nice little sit down, chow down on some stodgy scran and just relax.

This will stop you freaking out on the plane (maybe), stop you going for overpriced plastic food on the plane and maybe even send you off to sleep for the duration of the flight if you want it to.

Plus, airport food is decent – no two ways about it.

GUM

This is a bit of a novel one but I suffer really badly with popping ears during take-off and landing and chewing 2 sticks of gum has really helped limit the pain somewhat.

Some people recommend sucking on a sweet (which may work for you) but the chewing aspect seems to help massively and has stopped me looking like a huge man-baby almost crying with pain on every flight.

GETTING THERE

FLY

You can fly straight to Lisbon from virtually any airport in the UK, I went from Manchester which is always a treat. Even though I’m from Liverpool I have to admit that our airport is a steaming pile of excretion compared to what Manchester are offering.

Flights are relatively cheap. They start at about £40 when you’re off peak AF, but mine were roughly about £300. This included priority boarding and a bit of egg and cress on the plane though so who am I to argue?

ONCE YOU’RE THERE

Once you’re outside the airport you’ve got a few of options. You can get either of the Aerobus shuttle buses that will take you to virtually any stop in Lisbon centre within an hour. Or you can get a taxi/uber straight to where you’re staying.

It’s about 4 euros for the bus and for me, it was about 8 euros for an Uber. If you’re travelling in a group you may as well just opt for the uber and save yourself time and money. It’s definitely worth getting an uber over a local taxi as these are notorious for trying to rip tourists off.

WHERE TO STAY

One thing that Lisbon certainly doesn’t lack is hotels – there’s all sorts to choose from, from palace grounds to youth hostels.

THE DOUBLETREE

But what sort of luxury blogger would I be if i didn’t go for a swanky little pad? With this in mind, I stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton – one of Lisbon’s sexiest hotels.

LOCATION

The Doubletree is right by Avenida da Liberdade – which is the strip full of all the high-end stores you could think of. This is a nice little way to let off some retail steam before getting into the meat of your trip.

It’s also got fantastic transport links, with 2 metro stations and a few bus stops about a 3 minute walk around the corner. Even though this place has ideal transport links, I decided to get an Uber basically every day because I’m lazy – more on this in the next section.

ROOMS

By far and away the coolest room I’d stayed in, my room in the doubletree was like something you’d see on an episode of cribs.

With all sorts of cool features (my fav being the electric blinds), I was in my element and kind of wish I’d had more time to spend just chilling in there. But let’s be honest, when you’re in Lisbon, you’re gonna want to do a fair bit of exploring…

BREAKFAST

If the Doubletree excelled with their rooms, then the breakfast took it to a whole other level. I’ve never known a breakfast banquet to be so lit.

They had vats of bacon, hash browns and even a make your own waffle stand. I couldn’t believe it. Each morning I’d sit there with a coffee and an orange juice, collect my thoughts and then wolf at least 6 plates of grub, it was just that good.

The pictures don’t do it justice as I was too concerned with wolfing as many calories as possible in as short a time as possible.

THE GYM

Small and no barbells but I managed to actually get 2 decent workouts in during my stay here. It’s more of a ‘fitness suite’ than a full gym but you can get a lot done with some dumbbells, a bench and your imagination.

There’s also some cardio equipment in here but if you’re going to be exploring Lisbon, then trust me, you won’t need any additional cardio.

THE BAR

There’s a lovely bar and outdoors area in the Doubletree which is ideal for chilling if you don’t want to stay in your room all night.

I only realised this on my last night but came down to do some work, managing to get a decent amount done in the relaxed setting.

Even if you’re not there for a booze up, it’s a nice place to relax after a full day of #activities and #exploration if you don’t fancy going to up to bed straight away.

GETTING ABOUT

Lisbon is quite big so getting around may take you on various modes of transport – here’s the best ways to get around.

WALKING

This is pretty obvious and is how I spent the majority of my time travelling. Walking is the cheapest (obviously) and best way to explore the city. It allows you to get lost in the side streets, see places that are unaccessible by public transport and cars and it’s pretty good for you apparently!

A word of warning though, Lisbon is without a doubt, the hilliest city I’ve ever visited. You’ll be absolutely pooped from a day of exploring the Portuguese capital so keep a few protein bars and red bulls with you…

METRO & BUS

Ah public transport – the second cheapest and most cheerful way to get around a city. Once you get a handle of the Lisbon public transport system I’m sure it’d be easy to navigate but I didn’t have time for this. I didn’t want to wait 30 minutes for a bus and didn’t want to have to stop off every 2 minutes to drop off and pick people up.

I did try the bus once and ended up going the wrong way, meaning I took an hour off my day. With this in mind, I just opted to leave the buses and trains but I’m sure they’d work for you if you took the time to get to grips with it. It’s also free if you have a Lisbon card which bares thinking about.

UBER

Let me get this one out there, I’m not sponsored by Uber. But, they offer the perfect solution to getting around a city of Lisbon’s size for a decent price.

From the Doubletree to the various areas of Lisbon was about 5 euros which is a steal, especially if you’re sharing with someone else.

I’d recommend taking all your medium length trips in an Uber as it is far quicker and better priced than the public transport system. If you’re going further afield then maybe take the train and if it’s shorter then just walk – simple.

TRAM

Not really too practical but the tram is a cool experience so I’d recommend trying it at least once. This one is free with a Lisbon card too.

THE AREAS

There are four main areas to Lisbon – Baixa, Alfama, Belem and Bairro Alto. Or at least these are the four that I visited. I know there’s a lot more than four areas in total to Lisbon but for ease of reading, let’s say there’s four.

Anyway, here is the breakdown for each area and what exactly you should do in them. I’d recommend spending at least a day in each place, maybe mixing Bairro Alto in with another area as there isn’t too much to do there in the day time.

BAIXA

PRACA DO COMERICO

This is a very picturesque square right in the heart of everything in Baixa. It is right by Rua Augusta, the museums, the waterfront and everything else you can think of.

It is also full of great places to grab a bite to eat which is handy given its position in the middle of all things.

It’s also just pretty to look at, which made for a few very lovely instagram shots for yours truly.

RUA AUGUSTA

Rua Augusta is a really cool street that stretches for what seems to be an eternity. It houses lots of souvenir shops, local craft shops, museums, restaurants, clothing shops and everything else you could possibly think of.

One thing that stood out was the street performers which were fun to have a laugh at. But, you could spend hours checking out everything this street has to offer so make sure you schedule it into your itinerary or you’ll easily lose track of time!

At the end, just before you enter the Praca de Comerico, you will come to the Rua Augusta arch. It’s a couple of euros to enter but if you choose to head up to the top you get a brilliant view of the square and the waterfront.

You could just get some lovely shots of it from the front like I did though and you’d be fine…

WATERFRONT

Just off the main square is the waterfront. This gives you amazing views across the sea and really shows off the awe-inspiring landscape of Lisbon perfectly.

You don’t have to sit in awe for too long but just taking a little bit of time to sit back and revel in the sheer beauty of this place was fantastic.

SANTA JUSTA LIFT

This is literally just a lift that sits in some side street BUT it is very cool to look at and you can actually go up to the top of it.

I wouldn’t recommend going up to the top as the queues are absolutely ridiculous and there are better views of the city elsewhere. It is very cool to look at though and if you were to go to the top you would get a very cool view. Maybe just go super early and beat the crowds.

ROSSIO SQUARE

Another one of Lisbon’s fantastic squares, this is home to fountains, amazing architecture, nice shops and the fantastic Rossio station.

Rossio station, whilst being one of the sexiest stations you’ve ever seen, is the best link to basically every area of Lisbon, including Cascais and Sintra – discussed later.

ALFAMA

VIEWPOINT

Let’s start off with the best element of Alfama in my humble opinion. This viewpoint is called Miradouro de Santa Luzia and offers an absolutely perfect, uninterrupted view of Lisbon. Start your day here and work your way down to the bottom of Alfama.

The only way is up from here. Technically it’s down but you get what I mean.

GET LOST

I inadvertently did this after visiting the Alfama viewpoint but then continued to do it throughout the rest of the trip.

Getting lost is the funnest way to explore a city and find some things that aren’t listed on Tripadvisor. It’s a lot easier nowadays to get out of a pickle if you get truly lost with the invention of google maps so the whole situation is all fun and no stress – promise.

28 TRAM

Briefly touched on above, the tram is definitely something you should try at least once but it isn’t exactly the most practical mode of transport.

It is rickety and old but that is the charm of the tram. Take in everything about it for as long ass you can before you have to hop off at your stop. You probably won’t get on again!

It usually gets really packed so make sure you jump on nice and early.

ST. GEORGE’S CASTLE

This is by far and away the best thing you can do in Lisbon. I absolutely loved exploring the grounds of the castle. You can get a breathtaking view of the whole city as soon as you walk in and it just gets better from there on in.

You can grab a snack and a drink and sit in carved out tables and chairs whilst looking over the vast Lisbon landscape, you can climb the turrets of the tower and see where knights of old would keep guard, you can take guided tours of a crypt and so so much more.

THE CATHEDRAL

The cathedral is a place of sheer beauty and I actually forgot about it until the last day. It was the very last stop before I headed back to the airport – and thankfully it didn’t disappoint.

You head in and are immediately greeted with huge ceilings, detailed artwork and some major religious feels. I am by no means a religious person but even just going to see the craftsmanship on display was worth it. So, even if you aren’t religious I’d definitely still recommend the trip.

NATIONAL PANTHEON

This was a bit of a wildcard as I just kind of stumbled upon it as I was busy getting lost in the flea market (mentioned below).

I had no idea what it was and still don’t really know too much about it other than its religious roots but this building is one of the most beautiful in Lisbon and offers a roof-top view of the waterfront.

It was actually one of my favourite activities of the trip and I’d fully recommend giving it a go. Like most things in this article, it’s free with a Lisbon card too.

FLEA MARKET

This is right round the corner from the national pantheon and is apparently Europe’s largest flea market.

Whilst the stuff on offer isn’t exactly cutting edge merch, you can soak up the fantastic atmosphere and maybe pick up a unique souvenir or two on your way through.

BELEM

TOWER

Belem was definitely my favourite area of Lisbon and I’d recommend spending at least one full day here. And you should definitely be starting things off with a trip to Belem Tower.

Get there early because the queue for this is stupidly long but if you don’t want to go in you can always admire it from outside and explore the grounds around it.

MONASTERY

Another big old queue for this one (about 40-60 mins) but it is oh so worth it. The Jeronimos Monastery blew me away with its amazing grounds. It is also full of little rooms that contain lots of history about the place which is excellent for you Time Team aficionados.

This is also free with the Lisbon card.

CENTRO CULTURAL DE BELÉM

The cultural centre of Belem is a very odd building. It merges so many different aspects into one; High security meeting halls, opera halls, exhibition centres and conference hosting.

But it’s the arty side that attracted me – their exhibitions were really interesting and the fact that they’re constantly updating them means you could easily go back and be able to exoplore the place all over again.

It’s also completely free to walk round and is smack bang in the middle of basically everything, making it absolutely bloody ideal.

PADRÃO DOS DESCOBRIMENTOS

This monument is positioned right on the edge of the river Tagus and celebrates the Portugese age of exploration – a theme that seemed quite prominent throughout Lisbon.

Up close, it is spectacular – the figures of the (what I presume to be) explorers are so detailed and imposing, it really took me aback a bit.

You can actually go inside the monument too which is cool but I didn’t have time to be waiting in another queue so decided to just ogle outside instead.

PASTEL DE NATA

Potentially the highlight of the trip – these puppies were on some next level business.

Make sure you go to Pasteis de Belem for your authentic ones as this is the place that has the *secret recipe* for perfect nata.

I can only describe the taste as a pancake mixture inside of some crunchy pastry. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle then you might want to get your head checked.

Try these. Then try some more.

COACH MUSEUM

The coach museum is kind of on the edge of main Belem and is definitely one of the more unique museums I’ve been to.

It has the largest collection of coaches in the world apparently and I’m not talking National Express here – these badboys are fit for royalty.

They’re actually quite imposing and very impressive – another one that’s free with a Lisbon card so it’s definitely worth a look.

LX FACTORY

These next two places are just a little bit outside of main Belem. I took a 5 euro Uber out here for reference.

Once you get here, you are greeted with the coolest place you’re ever likely to find. LX Factory is a refurbished strip of old factory buildings that has now become THE one stop shop for Lisbon’s boujiest boutiques, restaurants and everything in between.

PILAR 7

Pilar 7 is right next to LX factory so you could do this before you head off for a meal. If you did it after your meal and don’t like heights, you may just throw it back up.

This place offers a jaw dropping view of Lisbon (and of the ground below) via the transparent viewing platform on the top floor.

Once you get over the jelly legs, this is one experience not to be missed.

BAIRRO ALTO

DRINK, THEN DRINK SOME MORE

I thought I’d get this one out there first as this is what Bairro Alto is primarily famed for. The thing is, I went out there on my own so didn’t really fancy drinking on my lonesome – meaning I can’t really give a reliable verdict on this.

Apparently it’s rather good though…

CHURCH OF SAO ROQUE

Potentially one of the blingiest churches I’ve ever seen – the church of Sao Roque was a treat for the eyes.

Like most things in Lisbon, it really took your breath away to see the unbelievable artwork and craftsmanship that humans can create – especially when you consider that all this stuff was built hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

CARMO CONVENT

You’ll hear a lot about the infamous Lisbon earthquake while you’re here and nothing quite displays the effects of that earthquake better than the carmo convent.

This convent-turned-museum has no roof and is left unfinished to preserve the state that the earthquake left it in all those years ago.

What that creates is one of the most interesting buildings in Lisbon that is unique to anything else I came across during my stay.

It’s only a few euros to get in and is well worth the outlay.

MNAC

The national museum of contemporary art is over a century old and houses mostly art from the 18 & 1900’s.

It’s definitely an interesting stop on your way through the city and it’s free to enter with a Lisbon card.

It’ll also make you feel a lot more cultured than you actually are, which is always a big plus.

SAO PEDRO DE ALCANTARA VIEWPOINT

The Alcantara viewpoint is potentially the best view you can get of the full city and it’s easy to see why.

It’s right round the corner from the church and right next to a tram stop so you can have one of the most tourist-y hours of your life here.

PRINCIPE REAL

This area used to be the main gay quarter in Lisbon, but now, along with that, it has built a strong reputation as a high-end shopping district for those with rather deep pockets.

If you’re after some new luxurious garms then definitely consider giving Principe real a little visit.

WHAT TO WEAR

Lisbon is officially the sunniest city in Europe, receiving the most hours of sun per year compared to any other city across the continent – beating out the Greek capital, Athens.

When I went it was pretty grey and cloudy as you can probably see in the pictures, but it was still absolutely boiling.

This means that you’re not really going to need a pair of jeans when you’re heading out there. Here’s a breakdown of everything I took out there on my travels:

3 x t-shirts
2 x polo shirts
1 x lightweight trousers
4 x pairs of shorts/swim trunks
7 x pairs of socks and underwear
1 x pair of brogues
1 x pair of slides
1 x gym kit

As you can see, it wasn’t exactly an extensive list but it gives you some options on how smart you want to play your outfit for the day. I found the slides were great for travelling in and doubled up as my gym shoes.

FOOD & DRINK

There’s so much to eat and drink in Lisbon. They’re famed for their seafood and custard tarts, so you should really try and cram as much of that into your system as possible.

But, in terms of restaurants I tried a few and they did not disappoint. Here’s my recommendations.

OTTO

This was the first of the bunch and I kind of just stumbled in as I was exploring on the first night. Located just opposite the time out market, this place is a bit of a more laid back experience than the madness of the market.

They specialise in latin influence food (mostly Italian) and delivered the goods with a veal and polenta dish. I followed this up with a chocolate log of some sort and it blew my head off.

I’d never tasted anything like it and that really set the bar pretty god damn high for the rest of the grub for the trip.

100 MANEIRAS

The next night, I went to 100 maneiras. This place was, for want of a better word, the dog’s bollocks. They offer a weird and wonderful selection of foods but being the Brit abroad I am, I opted for the burger.

This was branded the best burger in town however and it delivered on that promise and then some. This burger was unbelievable and I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever had a better one.

It’s hard to think of new and exciting words to describe the act of eating a fantastic burger so I won’t. Let me just tell you that it was unbelievable.

CENTRAL DE AVENDIDA

This was the last meal of the holiday and it lived up the hype. I realised I hadn’t even had any fish since I had been in Lisbon, so I decided it was time to test the waters (lol).

This was a tapas gaff so I opted for some tuna along with a load of other stuff which was all a bit different from my usual.

You can see in the pictures just how good this stuff looked. Thankfully, the taste more than lived up to the aesthetics.

Central de avendida is also located in the LX factory which is without a doubt, the boujiest area in Lisbon. Head here if you’re after one of the coolest days (that will probably spill into night) of your life.

I also realise I have used the word ‘boujiest’ twice. Forgive me.

HONORABLE MENTIONS/NON-ESSENTIALS

SINTRA

I wanted to do a full day here but didn’t get a chance as I only had 3 to play around with. You should definitely go if you get the chance as Sintra looks picturesque, but if you’re pressed for time – do the main areas listed above.

CASCAIS

Another one that you should really dedicated a full day to, which makes it hard to visit if you have limited time on your trip.

Cascais is the main area if you’re looking for perfect beaches and seafront seafood, but again – it’s not exactly essential if you’re on a tight schedule.

I have it on good authority that the trip is definitely worth it if you do get the chance though so maybe you should book an extra day or two on to the trip to go and explore the wonders of Cascais.

CHRIST THE KING

Looks cool and has high trip advisor ratings but it really isn’t essential. Like all the things on this list, if you have the time then do it but if you don’t fancy the long trip to get up close and personal with Christ then you can just gaze from afar at the big fella and call it a day.

BOAT TOUR

Whilst they are popular, they are pretty time consuming. In my opinion, this time could be better spent going through side streets, flea markets, museums and beaches but that’s just me.

If you fancy seeing Lisbon from a completely different perspective though, take a few hours out of your day to chill on a boat tour and soak up the rays.

TUK-TUKS

They actually have solid Tripadvisor reviews but I’d recommend swerving the tuk-tuks off if you can. The locals hate them and you can do the exploration by foot for much cheaper whilst getting a far more authentic experience.

Just my two cents.

How about that for a comprehensive, rip-roaring ride through Lisbon? If that hasn’t convinced you that Lisbon is the absolute go-to gaff of the year then something is seriously wrong with you.

This place is what dreams are made of – visit Lisbon.

The official whistle-stop Amsterdam travel guide

As you may have seen on my Instagram, I went to Amsterdam a few months ago. This is actually the second time I’ve been and I’d go again in a heartbeat. There’s so much to do there that you could feasibly do it about 10 times, then 10 more.

This time round, I got fewer ‘activities’ done because I didn’t go with my girlfriend, meaning there was roughly zero organisation to the trip.

We did however, still get some bits done amongst all the aimless wandering. I know a lot of you are probably like me in that sense so I thought I’d put together a quick 48-hour guide for those who want a fleeting & relatively cheap, yet enjoyable experience in the dutch capital.

This one will be a lot less regimented than my last Amsterdam trip so sit back and RELAX GOD DAMN IT.

GET A PICTURE ON (OR IN) THE ‘I AMSTERDAM’ SIGN

If you go to Amsterdam and don’t pose with this sign, did you even go?! This has to be the first stop you make. If you don’t then the holiday is null and we can’t be mates. It’s located just outside of Schiphol airport so you’ve got no excuses.

Bonus points if you can fit all the letters in the picture. I just settled for squeezing inside the ‘D’ (is that a weird euphemism?) which is basically the same thing.

GET A WORKOUT IN

There’s nothing like a bit of back breaking labour to relax you on your jollies. We did a saucy push workout at The Athletic Club in Leidseplein. It was a bit steep at 20 euros for a day pass but they threw in a free bottle of water and a protein smoothie so it wasn’t that bad.

To be honest, this was one of the highlights of the trip for me, getting a juicy little pump and parading round the city centre was a transcendental experience. Could have been the 87 espressos coursing through my veins though, but still.

Actually, on the subject of espressos…

DRINK YOUR WEIGHT IN THE GOOD STUFF

Coffee is everywhere in Amsterdam. The smell of coffee is almost as frequent as that of the Devil’s lettuce.

There’s a reason for this – everyone in Amsterdam bloody loves coffee. It’s cheap and it tastes amazing. If you like your americanos though, you’ll be in for a bit of a shock – every time you ask for a black coffee you’ll just be given an espresso.

It doesn’t really matter, it still tastes brilliant and gives you that kick up the anus that you so desire. In the end I was almost converted to the espresso way of life, although I am glad I didn’t fully convert as I was spending an alarming portion of my money on shot after shot.

SOAK UP THE ARCHITECTURE

It’s free and it’s breathtaking, Amsterdam is famed for its architecture and with good reason. Coming from Liverpool I have grown up appreciating the beauty of historic buildings and Amsterdam has them in spades.

Walking round any part of Amsterdam, all you have to do is look up and you are greeted with some of the sexiest architecture you ever did see.

You could feasibly spend hours just walking round, hunting for buildings to oggle – and that wouldn’t even be a waste of time, if you’re a boring git like me.

DO THE HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE

This was the highlight of my first trip and it was the highlight for the second too. The Heineken Experience is a self-guided tour of the Heineken museum and it’s got everything you could think of.

You can see how it’s made, the history of the beer, all the weird little bits of trivia, old adverts, pint making masterclasses, champions league stuff, rugby simulators, interactive videos and even places to play FIFA, which is where we spent most of our time.

Oh, and you get three free beers.

There’s far more to it than that and at 18 euros it’s worth every penny.

If you want to do Amsterdam on the cheap and want the most from your experience in just 48 hours then give these a shot.

There are obviously other things you can do like the bikes (which are way too scary with all them psychopaths whizzing round), the food (which ain’t that great, except for the dessert-based stuff) and the red light district (for you seedy buggers) but they won’t really add that much to your experience for the time they take and the money you pay.

Travelling Europe with Barrels of London

As you may have seen, I've been out and about on the continent a couple of times recently. Luckily, the folks over at Barrels of London sorted me out with their flagship product - The Black Collection Barrel Bag.

As you may have seen, I’ve been out and about on the continent a couple of times recently. Luckily, the folks over at Barrels of London sorted me out with their flagship product – The Black Collection Barrel Bag.

I put the barrel bag through its paces during my time in Amsterdam & Prague, here’s my thoughts.

BARRELS OF LONDON TRADEMARK FEATURES

The bag comes with loads of features – one which I didn’t even know was possible was that it’s entirely waterproofed canvas (?!) which means it’s equally adept in the winter months as it is in the summer.

It’s also pimped out with polished nickel on the luxury zips, straps and details. The thing oozes class.

As someone who is travelling quite a lot and has to pack his life into a bag, having different compartments was a bit of a game changer. The dedicated shoe compartment was fantastic – I wanted to get some training done on my hols so this was perfect for storing gym shoes. It was also great for shoving my sweaty garms in to stop them whiffing out the rest of my stuff.

The laptop compartment was another great addition, you usually get this in rucksacks but rarely in barrel and duffel bags. It was ideal for me as I need my laptop with me wherever I go for work purposes. This is perfect for the frequent traveller who is handcuffed to the internet.

MY ONLY GRIPE

My only gripe was a lack of small pocket on the inside. Usually, I like to store my keys, wallet, coins and other tidbits in a little pocket on the inside. Although I just put all this stuff in the big laptop pocket which was okay, I would have liked a separate part for this. Other than that I can’t fault this design at all.

Honestly, this bag was definitely the best I’ve had the pleasure of owning. I thought nothing would ever top my Nike shoulder bag from year 10 but this has come along and blown it out the water.

You definitely get what you pay for.

You can grab your own Barrels of London bag here. You can also follow the guys on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

The official whistle-stop Stockholm travel guide

Stockholm. Not the first destination that springs to mind when thinking of your next travel destination, but definitely one that should.

I have recently just come back from this wonderful city and couldn’t believe just how good it was considering how little we knew about it before going.

The Swedes call this city ‘beauty on water’ and with good reason, some of the views on offer were simply astounding and we were lucky enough to get some great pictures for you to feast your eyes on.

THE STOCKHOLM PRICE PROBLEM

When we told people we were off to Stockholm the default response was “That’s a bit strange! What is there to do there then?!!?!?” followed by “Ooo I’ve heard it’s expensive over there!!!”. While both of these responses were valid – it isn’t a popular tourist spot and some places can be expensive – we didn’t care.

After spending 3 full days in Sweden my pockets were £400 lighter. However, when you consider the fact that this included return flights, a 2 night stay in a great hotel, travel passes and everything in between, it starts to look relatively cheap – especially after everyone’s reservations beforehand. You’d probably end up paying that if you stayed a few days in Slough and I know where I’d rather go…

Let’s not forget that Stockholm is also a capital city, so any reservations you may have about having things to do are unfounded. We managed to pack a massive amount into our few days here and you could literally go back another 5 times and you’d still have things to do.

THE FOOD

Hands down the best meal I’ve ever had was cooked in a little German restaurant called Slingerbulten. It was an ox cheek and mash dish – simple and hearty which is exactly how it should be in my eyes. 2 mains, 2 desserts, 2 drinks and a side came to the equivalent of £50, not exactly the astronomical fees promised by every man and his dog.

One thing I noticed about the food scene in Stockholm was that there were lots of vegan restaurants available. Travelling whilst following a vegan diet can be notoriously hard so if you’re looking for a city break where you can enjoy amazing food along with everything else, Stockholm has got you covered.

There’s also a bevy of cafes all over Stockholm selling lots of fantastic food and drink but one thing that is synonymous with Sweden along with their meatballs is cinnamon buns. These are amazing but far too easy to wolf down, if you’re watching your waistline then be careful because one of these could easily turn into eight.

THE SIGHTS

The ABBA museum was definitely the highlight of the trip. It’s around £25 to get into but it’s worth the initial outlay. Believe it or not, I’m not actually an ABBA fan – but by the end of it I was hooked. Even if you’re not into Eurovision winners of yesteryear you need to buy yourself a ticket, because this was hands down the best thing we did all weekend.

Fotografiska is a museum solely dedicated to photography. There are hundreds and hundreds of pictures in here, with new collections going on display regularly. The main exhibition that was on display during our time of visiting was highlighting poverty and refugees which was hard hitting but a definite eye-opener and offered some major perspective.

The Old Town was our favourite area of Stockholm and was full of fantastic old buildings (believe it or not), amazing views and a whole host of backstreets where you could slink off to for a quiet meal or drink. The whole atmosphere around the old town is so relaxed and laid back that you’d think everyone was stoned 24/7 – turns out everyone in Sweden is just extremely chilled. Compare this to the thunder-faced commuters in basically every other capital city (except for Amsterdam, because everyone actually is stoned 24/7) and it’s a breath of fresh air.

One thing in Stockholm that is free is the changing of the guard. I’ve never witnessed anything like this before, being the uncultured swine that I am, so this huge display blew me away a bit. As Sweden have a royal family, this whole performance is very regal and would be ideal for those of you who love a good bit of royal prestige.

THE REST

The 72 hour travel pass is absolutely essential if you’re staying outside the centre like we were. It allows you to get on any train and is an easy way of getting trams to different parts of the city centre instead of walking everywhere clocking up too much exercise (because who wants to waste energy walking when you could save it for eating?).

Katarinahissen is a pedestrian bridge that offers amazing views of the whole of Stockholm and should not be missed, as it’s the best free option to get some amazing shots of the city. Unfortunately the lift up is broken, and with no plans to fix it in the pipeline you will have to take the stairs. If you’re not knock-kneed then definitely give this one a go on your way to Fotografiska.

The NK shopping centre was one of the most beautiful shopping centres I’ve ever seen in my life. It was like something out of Harry Potter except there were no wands and everyone was dressed better. There’s something for everyone here, with lots of high end designer wear, homeware, food & drink, you’re spoilt for choice. You do have to pay £1 for the toilet though so if you want to save money you can find yourself a dark corner outside and spend that pound on a sandwich instead.

Impromptu performances are extremely common as you traverse the cobbled streets of the old town especially, with everything from Alien worshipping flash mobs playing ABBA songs to people playing classical music by rubbing glasses. It’s a bit of free entertainment and can brighten your mood if they aren’t too terrible.

Stockholm. My favourite holiday destination so far and definitely somewhere you need to consider for your next weekend city break.

Hamburg travel guide | What to do in Hamburg for guys

Is Hamburg a good city to visit?

Is Hamburg good for guys?

Bars

Restaurants

Reeperbahn

Cars

Football

What to do in Hamburg

Boat tour to get your bearings

Talk to locals / taxis

St Pauli

St. Michaelis church

Museum of Illusions

Alter Elbtunnel

Town hall

High end shopping

Subscribe to the inner circle ⭕️

Honourable mentions that I didn’t get around to

Bikes

Chocoversum

Miniaturmuseum

Where to stay in Hamburg

Madison Hamburg

Gym is essential

Where to eat in Hamburg

Froyo

Marley’s

Cafe Paris

Juicery by Em

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