TL;DRDigital nomad life means earning online with just a laptop and a decent internet connection, and freelancing is the easiest way in — think copywriting, online marketing, building websites or tutoring over Skype, plus one-off gigs on platforms like Fiverr. There are ten key steps: picking your field, getting involved in communities (Facebook groups like Nomádky na cestách), brushing up your English, building experience and a client base, and finally sorting out your pricing and putting together an online portfolio. Southeast Asia is the go-to first destination — you can live comfortably there for under 18,000 CZK a month, while flights out start around 8,000 CZK, which is why most nomads stick around for 2–4 months.
Right now, I’m sitting on the terrace of our little house in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. This morning I did a ten-minute yoga session, followed by a Spanish lesson, and now I’m sipping coffee and going through my emails. Within a few minutes, I’ll wrap up the work that needs doing, then snap my laptop shut and decide that today is a day for relaxing. We’re heading to the beach. Would you like a life like this too? So why aren’t you living it yet? If you’ve ever dreamed of how to become a digital nomad, this article is for you.
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRWorking well with influencers comes down to picking someone who actually fits your industry and audience, not chasing follower counts. On Instagram, engagement is what matters (above 5% for accounts under 10,000 followers, above 3% for those with 10,000–100,000), while for bloggers it’s all about SEO strength and traffic — a blog review costs around 3,000 Kč on average, and slotting a link into an existing post starts from 250 Kč a month. Micro-influencers on Instagram often ask for 600–1,500 Kč or just the product itself, while YouTubers‘ rates per video range from a free product to several tens of thousands of Kč. You can gauge quality from likes, comments and reach statistics, which the influencer should share in their media kit — and it’s worth backing any collaboration with a contract that spells out deliverables and deadlines.
Influencer marketing has been growing in popularity in recent years. Some brands feel that if they’re not collaborating with influencers, they might as well not exist. But what’s the real story behind a successful influencer marketing strategy?
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRLearning to ride a scooter in Asia starts off the road entirely — a car park, a side street, a football pitch — and you build up slowly, ideally staying under 30 km/h, helmet on, riding a light, new rental scooter (110cc is ideal). You start it by squeezing both brakes and hitting IGNITE, you steer by leaning like on a bicycle, and you always brake with both levers together. Even so, bear in mind that Thailand has the second-highest road death rate in the world after Syria, a quarter of accidents involve alcohol, and riding without a helmet costs you a 200–300 THB fine. You’ll also need an international driving licence in category A to ride legally in Thailand — category B no longer counts, and without it your insurer won’t pay out if something goes wrong.
You’re heading to Asia and you want to rent a scooter, but you’ve never sat on one before. How do you start it? How do you give it gas? Does a scooter have gears? We’ve put together a simple guide on how to ride a scooter in Asia. And also a warning that it’s really not a great idea.
This is how you should NEVER dress for riding a scooter
A scooter is the most convenient way to get around Asia — but also the most dangerous
In Thailand and other Asian countries, a scooter is the easiest way to get around if you’re planning to stay in one place for a while, but you always have to keep in mind that it’s also the most dangerous form of transport.
Thailand ranks second in the world for road deaths, right after Syria — and most of them happen on scooters. Riding a scooter for the very first time in Thailand is not a good idea at all. But if you’ve made up your mind, we know there’s nothing we can do to stop you. So at the very least, read our guide carefully.
Driving in Asian countries comes with a few differences that might catch you off guard. In most countries they drive on the left, drivers often won’t give way to scooters, and it’s not unusual for other riders to brush right past your handlebars.
Before we get into the actual how-to, here are a few tips for those of you who’ve never sat on anything like this before.
Is it a good idea to ride a scooter for the first time in Asia?
Of course it isn’t. The roads in Asia are absolute chaos, and if you’re not experienced, you’re gambling with your own life. The website Farang Deaths documents fatal tourist accidents in Thailand. And there are, frankly, a horrifying number of them.
On top of that, you now need a category A motorcycle licence — a regular car licence is no longer enough. So at least for riding in Thailand, you’ll need to complete proper motorcycle training back home before you go.
Tips for renting a scooter in Southeast Asia
Practise riding off the road first! Car parks, side streets or even a football pitch are ideal.
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET.
Learn to ride slowly. Riding at higher speeds is actually much easier — the tricky part is going slowly, where you have to focus far more on your balance.
Rent NEW, lightweight scooters without a big engine (ideally 110cc). The newer, the safer.
If you lose control at low speed, jump off and let the scooter fall to the ground. Better a scratched scooter than a broken leg.
Don’t touch the exhaust! Passengers in particular can easily get burned.
Don’t ride off the tarmac.
A step-by-step guide to riding a scooter
Get on the scooter. Keep both feet on the ground; if you’re short, at least keep one foot down. That gives you stability.
Unlock the ignition with the other end of the key, insert the key and turn it to the ON position.
Flip up the kickstand with your left foot, and grip the handlebars with both hands.
To start, squeeze both brakes (or at least the left one = rear) and press the button on the right handlebar (IGNITE / IGNITION). The scooter should start. If it just sputters, press the button again and add a little throttle (twist the right grip towards you), but keep holding the brake.
You’re ready to go! Slowly release the brakes and add throttle. You’ll feel the scooter start to roll forward gently.
As soon as you feel yourself moving, lift your feet off the ground and rest them on the scooter.
Turning is easy — just lean slightly in the direction you want to go. It’s exactly like riding a bicycle. At higher speeds, turn by leaning; at lower speeds, use the handlebars too.
Always use both brakes when stopping. The front brake is more effective, but it throws all the weight forward and the scooter can jerk unpleasantly or skid. So always brake with both and never take your hands off the brakes!
Start out carefully and ride slowly. We recommend keeping it to 30 km/h max until you really get the hang of it.
Now you know how to control a scooter. But that’s only part of what you need to learn. Far more important is behaving in a way that keeps you out of accidents.
Tourists end up in hospital every single day. A friend of ours fell off his scooter in Thailand while riding slowly (around a corner), broke his leg badly, had to undergo several operations and still isn’t fully recovered.
Don’t take safety lightly! Here are a few basic tips to help you avoid the worst.
In Thailand, unfortunately, you can’t get anywhere without a scooter
Safety rules for riding a scooter in Asia
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET! Half the tourists you’ll see on the road ride without a helmet. They reckon they’ve got their scooter 100% under control. What they forget is that an accident doesn’t have to be their fault. Plus, riding without a helmet is an easy way to land a fine (200–300 THB, roughly 5–8 €, in Thailand).
DON’T RIDE WITH ALCOHOL IN YOUR BLOOD. Riding down to the beach, having a few beers and heading home in the evening sounds like a dream holiday — but 25% of all accidents in Thailand are caused by drunk riders. If you’re planning to drink, use Grab (the Asian Uber).
SOLID SHOES AND LONG TROUSERS. Flip-flops can fall off while you ride, and if you’re not wearing long trousers, you’re asking for a “Farang Tattoo.” That’s what the locals call the burns tourists get on their legs from the tarmac or the exhaust. Never dress like Lucie does in the photo!
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT. Even if nobody asks to see your licence when you rent, the law says you must have one. And a category B (car) licence isn’t enough — you need category A too. If you can’t prove to your insurance provider that you were legally entitled to ride the scooter on the day of the accident, they won’t pay out a penny.
CHECK THE SCOOTER’S INSURANCE. Police checks may ask you to show that the scooter is insured. Only rent from places that insure their scooters, and ask them to show you where the certificate sticker is.
BAGS GO IN THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT. Backpacks, handbags and anything else you carry should go in the storage space under the seat before you set off. This saves you a lot of trouble — like thieves who can rob you even while you’re riding (and probably cause a crash in the process).
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to ride a scooter in Asia?
There isn’t, most travelers know at least someone who wiped out on a scooter.
Is it safe to ride a scooter in Thailand?
It’s not. Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for getting around by scooter.
IMPORTANT: the previous attempt left part in CZECH. Translate ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING, not even ONE Czech word may remain.
Is it hard to drive a scooter?
Riding a scooter isn’t difficult.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRThere’s plenty to see on Koh Samui: the big golden Buddha at Wat Phra Yai, the smiling Buddha at Wat Plai Laem, the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks, the Na Muang waterfalls, the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram, and trips out to Angthong Marine Park or snorkelling at Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan — 13 tips in total for things to do on the island. The best time to visit is December to April, when it’s dry with temperatures of 25–32°C. A hostel bed costs 300–500 THB a night, street food comes in at 50–100 THB, and day trips usually run 1000–3000 THB per person. You can fly in directly, or take a train or bus to Surat Thani followed by a ferry.
Are you heading to the Thai island of Koh Samui and want to know what not to miss? In this guide, Koh Samui, Thailand: 13 Best Things to Do and See, we spent a whole month on the island, traveled around the entire island, and took many trips to the surrounding islands, and here is a list of the best things to see and do on Koh Samui in Thailand. We’ve also added some practical information on how to get to Koh Samui and where to stay.
Are you wondering how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui? You can choose from the following options:
By plane directly to Koh Samui(most expensive option), via Bangkok Airways or Thai Airways.
By plane to Surat Thani, then by ferry(mid-range option), via Nok Air or Air Asia.
By train to Surat Thani, then by ferry(cheap option), definitely book your train tickets via 12GO.asia, and then simply pick up your tickets in Bangkok; we have great experience with them.
By bus to Surat Thani, then by ferry(cheapest option), again, book via 12GO.asia. Personally, we chose to travel by train to Surat Thani, and then continued by ferry. The train was a sleeper, so we slept the whole way and it was relatively comfortable. Why? I hate flying, so I avoid it if possible :).
12go Asia Reviews
What is 12Go Asia? Can we trust it? Absolutely yes!
12Go Asia is a reliable platform for booking transport in Southeast Asia. It offers a wide selection of connections – from buses and trains to ferries and private transfers. Its great advantages include a clear user interface, online payment options, and clear information about available carriers.
Bookings are mostly hassle-free, but sometimes it can happen that some connections are not currently available or that tickets need to be physically picked up at the station. Overall, however, 12Go Asia saves us time and facilitates travel in regions where transport organization can be more complex.
Koh Samui is a tropical island in Thailand with warm weather all year round. Average temperatures here range between 25 to 32 °C. The main season with minimal rainfall lasts from December to April, when the weather is ideal for beach activities.
The rainy season starts in October and lasts until December, but the rains are often short and quickly pass. The highest humidity is in the summer months, when there can be brief showers.
Where to Stay on Koh Samui?
We’ve compiled the best accommodation tips for Koh Samui in Thailand for you.
Koh Samui Vacation: Accommodation Tips
Sasitara Thai Villas – Located near Choeng Mon Beach, these villas are styled in the Ayudhya Thai architectural style, built from authentic Thai teak wood. It’s a beautiful complex with a wellness center, pool, and restaurant.
The Spot – Villa The Spot is a 3.5-star golf hotel offering free Wi-Fi, parking, and two outdoor pools. It’s close to the most beautiful beaches – Chaweng and Lamai.
Amaya Resort Amaya Resort is a 4-star hotel located just an 18-minute walk from Lamai Beach.
Aforetime Beach House (very cheap option) – This is a 63-year-old original Thai wooden house by the sea on Taling Ngam Beach.
Koh Samui Accommodation: where We Stayed and why not Anymore
We stayed a short distance from Nathon Pier in a beach house we booked via Airbnb. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a very good experience. Nathon Pier is a pleasant, quiet town where you can find everything you need, but the beaches simply aren’t great, and our house, though superbly equipped, was in a totally noisy location.
Our place was then at a misleading price of 13,000 (we were the first guests), today it’s 30,000-50,000 per month and definitely not worth it.
Our accommodation on Koh Samui looked beautiful, but it was definitely not ideal.
If you’re looking for inspiration for hotel resort accommodation, be sure to check out the vacation offers in Thailand on the Invia portal.
The beaches near Nathon Pier are not what you want for a relaxing vacation. They are full of trash. Try Lamai instead.
Koh Samui, Thailand: 13 Best Things to Do and See
If you’re heading to Koh Samui and don’t know what to do there, we have 13 tips for you on what to see on Koh Samui.
1) Visit the Famous Big Buddha – Wat Phra Yai
Twelve-meter Buddha on Koh Samui
The icon of Koh Samui is the twelve-meter golden Buddha at Wat Phra Yai temple, which you can even see from the plane if you decide to travel to Koh Samui by air.
2) the Laughing Buddha and other Temples Wat Plai Laem
The Laughing Buddha
Another frequent stop on Koh Samui is the widely smiling Buddha and Guanyin, the goddess of mercy and compassion, who has 18 arms. The laughing Buddha is my favorite attraction on Koh Samui. When I look at the photos, I always have to smile.
3) where to Go on Koh Samui: Go Snorkeling on Koh Tao
Through Koh Samui Tour, you can book a snorkeling trip to Koh Tao, where you’ll spend an hour snorkeling. The trip also includes free lunch + unlimited drinks, and you’ll also visit Koh Nang Yuan.
🔗 These are affiliate links — they don't change your price and help us create content. · All experiences →
4) Koh Nang Yuan
The most beautiful place in all of Thailand was definitely Koh Nang Yuan island. During high season, it’s usually incredibly crowded, but in November, we enjoyed empty beaches and had the island almost to ourselves. A visit to Koh Nang Yuan was part of a paid snorkeling trip to Koh Tao.
The Best of Thailand
5) Go to the Friday and Saturday Markets in Fisherman’S Village
Fisherman’s Village offers everything a spoiled European could wish for. Beautiful cafes, tasteful souvenirs, and quality food. However, everything comes with European prices. The regular Friday and Saturday markets are the opposite. Tryrolled ice cream, coconut, or sushi for 3 CZK/piece there.
We’ve never had better ice cream! Banana with Nutella
If you’re not on Koh Samui for long but want to soak up as much of the local nature as possible, you can try the Sky Fox zipline course, which will take you through the local scenery.
7) Mummified Monk at Wat Khunaram
Mummified Monk on Koh Samui
A somewhat unusual attraction is the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram from 1973. This is monk Luong Pordaeng, who died in 1973, and has been on display here ever since. Quite well-preserved, I’d say.
8) Grandma and Grandpa Rocks – Hin Ta and Hin Yai
Grandma and Grandpa Rocks in the shape of genitals
Naming rocks as grandma and grandpa is popular even in the Czech Republic, but here they have quite unexpected shapes. They look like male and female genitals. Yes, a giant penis and vagina.
9) Na Muang Waterfall – Na Muang and Na Muang 2
Waterfalls on Koh Samui
Two waterfalls in the jungle, to which you can be driven by jeep (and we definitely recommend it!). Be aware, the jeep will only take you to the start of the trek, and then a very steep climb awaits you. You can even swim at the first waterfall, Na Muang 1, but not at the second waterfall, which is another 30 minutes higher, though the views here are amazing on a clear day.
10) Visit a Dog and Cat Orphanage
On Koh Samui, you’ll see many dogs that do as they please. Locals are used to feeding them and playing with them, even if they don’t own them. Very often, they don’t belong to anyone at all. When such a stray dog gets sick, a local calls the orphanage, and they take care of it.
The orphanage also houses dogs that are dangerous and bite people, or have lost their paws. You can simply come to the orphanage, play with the dogs and kittens, or sign up as a volunteer. However, we recommend visiting the shelter first before immediately starting to volunteer. You can also adopt a dog from the orphanage and take it home to the Czech Republic. They will be happy to help you with the paperwork.
If you arrive on Koh Samui outside of November, definitely go on a trip to Ang Thong Marine Park for a trek. Reportedly, there’s nothing more beautiful than the view from Mae Koh of Emerald Lagoon or snorkeling on Wua Talap island. Unfortunately, we were on Koh Samui in November and couldn’t take this trip. But it’s a shame not to mention it here.
In 1976, Nim Thongsuk began filling the family garden with beautiful statues. The garden is a peaceful place with a waterfall, where not many tourists visit, because the path to it is very steep and it’s not a good idea to go there by scooter at all. Our friend fell off her scooter on the way to the gardens, which was the main reason we didn’t go there ourselves.
13) Full Moon Party
If you love parties, this is exactly for you. If – like us – you hate parties, then definitely avoid this. The Full Moon Party is a huge beach party on Koh Phangan that takes place every month during the full moon. Many companies will take you here from Koh Samui; you can even book a VIP package where they’ll pick you up from your hotel and bring you back (anytime you want between 11 PM and 7 AM).
💡TIP: If you’re heading to Thailand and not limiting yourself to just Koh Samui, check out the guide to Thailand by Matouš from travelbible.
Lukáš and Lucie recommend
Where to stay in Koh Samui
5 accommodations — resorts, hotels and other lodging options
Koh Samui island offers many options for excursions. Among the most popular are Ang Thong National Park, where you can enjoy island hopping and snorkeling. Another interesting destination is the Big Buddha, which is the dominant landmark of the island. The Na Muang Waterfalls are a great place for a refreshing dip in nature. For lovers of the underwater world, an excursion to Koh Tao is ideal, as it offers some of the best diving conditions.
Prices on Koh Samui
Koh Samui is affordable for both backpackers and more demanding travelers. Accommodation in cheap hostels starts at 300-500 THB per night, while luxury resorts can cost over 10,000 THB per night.
Food at street stalls costs 50-100 THB, while in restaurants, prices range from 150 THB upwards. Scooter rental costs around 150-300 THB per day. Excursion prices vary, but usually range between 1,000-3,000 THB per person.
Koh Samui Highlights
Finally, we’ve prepared a few interesting facts about Koh Samui for you.
The Big Buddha is an iconic landmark of the island.
The rock formations Hin Ta and Hin Yai resemble human figures and are associated with interesting legends.
Ang Thong National Park offers beautiful views and opportunities for kayaking and snorkeling.
Chaweng Beach is the busiest area with a vibrant nightlife.
The mysterious Wat Plai Laem temple is adorned with colorful statues and offers a peaceful atmosphere.
The Na Muang Waterfalls provide refreshment in tropical nature.
Koh Tao island near Koh Samui is one of the best places for diving in Thailand.
The night markets on the island offer authentic Thai specialties and souvenirs.
Monkeys on the island were formerly used for picking coconuts; today, they are kept in sanctuaries.
Koh Samui is a popular destination for wellness retreats and traditional Thai massages.
Thailand Itinerary: What to Visit in Thailand
Thailand offers countless wonderful places, whether you’re looking for exotic beaches, bustling cities, historical monuments, or natural beauty. We’ve put together tips for your itinerary:
Bangkok – a Vibrant Metropolis
The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) – the most sacred place in Thailand
Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) – an iconic temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River
Floating Markets – an authentic experience of Thai commerce on water
Khao San Road – a famous street for travelers with a vibrant nightlife
Northern Thailand – Nature and Culture
Chiang Mai – an ancient city with over 300 temples, including the famous Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Chiang Rai – home to the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
Pai – a picturesque village in the mountains, ideal for relaxation and exploring nature
Southern Thailand – Islands and Beaches
Phuket – the largest Thai island with beautiful beaches and a vibrant nightlife
Koh Phi Phi – an iconic island with azure water, known from the movie “The Beach”
Koh Samui – ideal for luxury stays, beautiful temples, and waterfalls
Koh Tao – a diver’s paradise with some of the best coral reefs
Historical Sites
Ayutthaya – former capital of the Siamese Kingdom with fascinating ruins
Sukhothai – historical park with remnants of ancient temples and Buddha statues
National Parks and Nature
Khao Sok National Park – tropical rainforest with lakes, limestone mountains, and rich wildlife
Erawan National Park – stunning waterfalls with turquoise water in Kanchanaburi province
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?
The best time is from December to April, when it’s dry and temperatures are pleasant.
How do I get to Koh Samui?
You can fly directly to Samui International Airport or take a ferry from mainland Thailand.
Is Koh Samui suitable for families with children?
Yes, the island offers many family-friendly beaches, amusement parks, and a safe environment.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRThis two-week road trip loops the entire Ring Road, taking in the Westfjords and the Snæfellsnes peninsula, with stops at the Blue Lagoon, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the Gullfoss, Skógafoss and Dynjandi waterfalls, Reynisfjara‘s black sand beach and the geothermal area at Geysir. Summer (June–August) is by far the safest time to circle the whole island and venture inland, and a 4×4 is a legal requirement if you want to tackle the F-roads. Travelling as a group of four, the fortnight worked out at roughly 28,000 CZK per person, excluding flights, thanks to hostel stays and cooking your own meals — though from January 2026 there’s also a new mileage charge of around 1.18 CZK/km to factor in. Book accommodation ahead: at least a week out of season, and a month or two if you’re travelling in high season.
Would you like to know how to see as much of Iceland as possible in 14-15 days? Where to see and where to stay? We’ve put together an itinerary for a 14-15 day roadtrip around Iceland, including a map with directions and accommodation tips.
Going on a road trip is truly the best way to see the country and you can live out of your rented car (with additional camping gear) or campervan, which is well-suited for an immersive outdoors trip. Considering the tips provided here, renting an affordable campervan in Iceland expands your list of accommodation options and ensures you have someplace to stay while you wander around Iceland.
Remember, Iceland is one blast after another and you can’t do everything in 14 days. Plus, sometimes you’ll be surprised by bad weather – yes, even in summer it can snow. But we tried to cover the most beautiful and interesting. How much it all cost us, you can find in the next article here in the link.
Day 1) Blue Lagoon (optional day)
Blue Lagoon
From Keflavík we can go to the famous turquoise thermal baths Blue Lagoon. Remember to book your tickets early, at least a week in advance in the low season and a month or two in the high season. If it seems expensive, don’t worry, there are many thermal pools all over Iceland that are either a few crowns or even free. You can see the best ones here in the article.https://www.instagram.com/p/Boug0BFlKOD/Blue Lagoon is 20 km from the airport and is located in the lava fields near the town of Grindivik. Before it became a major tourist attraction, it was mainly used for therapeutic purposes. The water here is rich in minerals such as silica and sulphur, making bathing suitable for people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis or atopic eczema.
Tip 1: How to save money on accommodation: Iceland is experiencing a tourist boom that the country cannot cover (especially the construction of accommodation). Accommodation prices are therefore high and it is best to book early. Even in low season you may have a problem finding accommodation under 1000 CZK per person. Better not wait for cheap flights, a thousand saved on flights can cost you a lot of money on accommodation.
Day 2) Krýsuvik Geothermal Area and Thingvellir Plains
Thingvellir, Krýsuvik, Oxarafoss
From Keflavík we headed towards Krýsuvik, it will take you approximately 45 minutes. In this geothermal area we spent a pleasant hour walking around the bubbling mud pools. After the walk, we headed to the Thingvellir parliamentary plain, where the world’s oldest parliament was probably established.Walk to the waterfalls
The journey to Thingvellir takes approximately 70 minutes. In Thingvellir we walked through the canyon to the beautiful Oxarafoss waterfall and finished the day with the Kerid crater, which was formed some 3 million years ago. It is 70m deep and 70m wide and you can walk around for a small fee. The whole walk will take you no more than 20 minutes.
Tip 2: How to save on accommodation: If there’s anywhere that’s really worth travelling with more than one person, it’s Iceland. You can sleep in beautiful hostels in rooms for four, where you also have cooking facilities. You can reduce the price of accommodation to 500-700 CZK per person!
Where to stay
Our cheap variant (up to 1500 CZK): Ljósafossskóli Hostel – this hostel is a former school! In addition, the price includes breakfast, which is served in the former school canteen, Lukas totally fell in love with it.
Geysir, Brjarnafell, Gullfoss,Hrunalaug Hot Springs
On the third day we went to the thermal area of Geysir, where there is a geyser of the same name. If you want to see him shoot water into the air, book more time. At Geysir we also went to the viewpoint on the Bjarnalfell hill, but it was not worth it, plus we managed to change all the seasons in the process, we had sun, crazy wind, rain and hail. They caught us right at the top.
Geysir Thermal Area
From Geysir we went to the massive Gullfoss waterfalls, and we ended the day at the Hrunalaug Hot Springs, 30 km away.We recommend travelling to Iceland with at least 4 people, it will reduce the cost significantly
In the morning we went to Gluggafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrafoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. They are all breathtaking, and if you think you’ll have enough waterfalls, you won’t! After the waterfalls we went to Seljavallalaug swimming pool. Beware, this photogenic thermal pool isn’t that hot, and if you’re there out of season, it can be lukewarm. The changing area is slightly disgusting. A thermal pool every day: our motto in Iceland
We ended the day with a view from Cape Dyrholay, the black beach of Reynisfjara, which is considered the most beautiful beach in Iceland. Unfortunately we missed the troll rocks of Reyningdrangar in daylight. But maybe you’ll have better luck!
Cape Dyrholay
We spent the morning at the glacial lake Jökullsárlón, which is considered one of the most interesting and beautiful phenomena in Iceland. 60 years ago there was a huge glacier on this spot and it is unfortunately clear that soon there will be no lake here. We spent about two hours here, and then continued on to the Hoffelsjokull glacier, where you will also find the excellent Hoffel hot tubs. One of the most beautiful mountains in Iceland is definitely Eystrahorn, which you can see on the drive to Berufjörður, where we decided to spend the night.
Tip 3 How to save on accommodation:use cashbacks! For example, we save money by paying for all accommodation with our Twisto card! You can save 5-13%.
In the morning we continued driving around the fjords. Our next stop was Reyjdarfjordur, where you can take a short hill climb (about 2 hours) to Graenefell. We continued on to the easternmost point of Iceland, Neskaupstadur. We took a look at the Easter Caves of Paskahellir, where you can find crystals in the stones (if you try for a while).
Short climb to Graenefell
Honestly, we expected more from the Easter Caves, so if you need to skip something, I would choose to skip them. We found accommodationin Egilstadir, but as we still had plenty of time, we headed to the popular Seydisfjordur (30 minutes away), where the famous photos of the church with the rainbow walkway are from.
Seydisfjordur
Most of all we fell in love with the horses in Iceland
Papuchalky, Laugarfell, Snaefell, Hengifoss
We started the day with Borgasfjodur (an hour away from Egilstadir) where you can see puffins in season. We don’t recommend going there in low season because there is nothing there. Then we went to the thermal pools again, this time we chose the luxurious Laugarfell lakes. Don’t worry, the price is not high. On the way you can see the famous Snaefell mountain. and if you have enough time, on the way back to the Hengifoss waterfalls, which are the third highest in Iceland. The journey to the waterfalls will take about 30 minutes.
What would a day in Iceland be without hot pot!
Where to stay:
Same accommodation as the previous day!
Day 8) The mighty Detifoss waterfall
Detifoss
Detifoss, Selfoss, Husávik
In the morning we went to the massive Detifoss waterfall, the road is often closed and not suitable for small cars. Read our second article for advice on how to get equipped for Iceland. If you have good weather, you can also walk from Detifoss to Selfoss. We had to skip Selfoss due to the inclement weather and headed to our destination – the beautiful harbour town of Husávik.
The port of Husávik is especially famous for its whale-watching trips. Since we have seen them several times on our travels, we decided to skip this trip and spent the morning exploring the town.
Husavik, town of whalesBut if you’ve never been on a whale watching trip, you should definitely consider investing – it’s one of the most popular trips in Iceland, costs 2000-2500 CZK per person and takes 3-4 hours. You can spend a lovely morning or afternoon there. During the high season (July 1-August 19), departures are at 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The season is otherwise from May to September. Book your whale watching in advance, dates fill up quickly in high season(link to booking).
In the afternoon, we headed to Mývatn (about an hour drive from Husavík), where people go mainly for bird watching. And even if we don’t care much for birds, this landscape is breathtaking in itself.This is exactly how I imagine Mars. It took us about an hour and a half to walk around the craters, and then we went to Viti Crater and Krafta Volcano. We ended the day with a sunset at the Godafoss waterfall.Godafoss
Where to stay
Our cheap option (up to 2 500 CZK): unfortunately we booked late and everything good was already sold out, so we ended up in Amma Guesthouseyou try the futuristic Hafnarstræti Hostel or Akureyri H.I. Hostel, both places have great reviews.
In the morning we headed to the traditional sod houses at Eyjafjordur. 40 km from the Arctic Circle is the picturesque harbour of Sigufjordur, where we stopped for a short walk. If you like picturesque towns, stop in Hofsos as well. Traditionally, we ended our tenth day in the Grettislaug thermal pool.View from Grettislaug
On the eleventh day we had a long crossing along the south side of the western fjords. Not to worry, the road is truly magical, pure and it is the least visited part of Iceland. I think the romantic term “raw” is often used for this type of landscape. Maybe even a little rough. But you won’t be bored here. Actually, make sure you make it to the finish line, almost every kilometer calls for a stop. And of course for those of us with cameras – the photos. In the evening we stayed in a beautiful cabin where we watched the Northern Lights. What more could you ask for!
In the morning we started the day with a swim in the thermal lakes of Pullurin and an hour later we were exploring the western fjords. The journey is adrenaline-fuelled, long and takes more time than Google says. You pass over the beautiful Arnardfjordur and the harbour of Bildudalur. We ended the day with the Dynjandi Fairy Waterfall, where we spent at least an hour and a half. Some say it is the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland. I feel like I want to say that about everyone! In the evening we arrived in Isafjordur, where we stayed.
Luxury variant (up to 6000 CZK ): Tangs (I haven’t seen a 9.9 rating on the booking site for a long time)
Day 13) Isafjordur and the Viking landscape
Isafjorfur, Littlibaer, Holmavík, Búðardalur
Isafjordur is famous for with its dramatic vistas and wooden houses z 18. and 19th century original fishing settlements. If you are interested in local history, you can visit the museum. Instead, we continued straight on along the northern side of the western fjords. The weather was really cold at the beginning of October. Those who will be in Iceland during the season (which ends in mid-September) can go for a coffee at the Littlibaer sod house. Unfortunately, traveling in the off-season has its downsides. On the other hand, we saved money on overpriced Icelandic coffee.
A Viking landscape you can’t help but love
And so we set off through the Viking countryside, admiring the breathtaking views, almost getting stuck in a blizzard, but eventually we made it through Holmavík to our accommodation in Búðardalur.
Our trip was coming to an end, the penultimate day we devoted Snaefellness peninsula, where our first stop was in Stykkisholmur. One of our destinations was a waterfall Kirkjufellfosswho is the most photographed waterfall in Iceland. Unfortunately, we were a bit disappointed, because all the tourists in Iceland were hiding here and the magical view of the waterfall is only from one particular angle. From other angles, it looks quite ordinary. If we lived in Iceland, I would absolutely need a horseWe made up for it in the romantic village of Arnastapi, where it is worth stopping for a longer walk. There are beautiful rock formations in the water and you can see snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Our last stop was Snæfellsjökull, a 700,000 year old stratovolcano whose summit is covered by a glacier. We stayed in the town of Atranes just outside Reykjavik.
Reykjadalur,Hallgrimskirkja, The Sun Voyager, Harpa
Since we were leaving late in the evening, we decided to go to the hot Reykjadalur River on the last morning. It is a 45-minute climb to the thermal river. Yes, an ascent to a real hot river! But beware, if it’s cold and the wind is freezing, you might want to give the river a miss. You have to change outside.Hot river in Iceland
So we didn’t go to Reykjavik until the afternoon, the weather was not in our favour, but honestly we didn’t mind. After those two weeks in Iceland we were so full of impressions, cold and liquorice that we had expensive Icelandic coffee and enjoyed our last moments in this land of ice in the warmth of a café.
In Reykjavík you can visit Hallgrímskirkja, a strange looking church that reminded me more of a spaceship, in good weather you can even climb the church tower for about 200 CZK. Take a look at the futuristic Harpa concert hall and of course, don’t forget The Sun Voyager, a modern sculpture of a ship on the shore, which is probably the most popular attraction in Reykjavik.
Iceland is one hit after another and definitely worth a visitDo you want to know how much it cost us? You can find the exact budget in our next article
Take a look at our travel packing guideto help you prepare. Choose the right travel backpack, check out the travel gadgets and don’t forget anything important at home.
🔗 These are affiliate links — they don't change your price and help us create content. · All experiences →
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRMindflow Focus is a Czech nootropic with caffeine (100 mg), dry green tea extract (220 mg), ginseng (150 mg), guarana (130 mg) and vitamins B3, B6 and B12. A reviewer who’s taken it for over a year says it sharpens focus, memory and productivity, with no sugar, preservatives or artificial colours. It kicks in around 30 minutes after one capsule and lasts 2–3 hours; the recommended dose is 1–3 capsules a day, with a maximum of two at once. The maker offers a money-back guarantee if it doesn’t work for you, say if you’ve built up a tolerance to the active ingredients. Alongside Mindflow Focus, there’s also been a hangover-cure version, Mindflow Hangover, since 2020.
I love exploring ways to be more productive and I enjoy trying new methods of getting into the “flow”. Mindflow is one of the few supplements I’ve stuck with long term — I’ve been using Mindflow for well over a year now. In this article I’ve carefully broken down everything Mindflow contains and how each ingredient affects the human body. You’ll find out what you can expect from Mindflow, when to take the pills, and whether they’re even right for you.
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRThe ideal Morocco road trip for 7–9 days runs from Marrakech via Aït Benhaddou, Ouarzazate (the CLA and Atlas film studios), the Dades Gorges and the desert near Merzouga, where a 3-hour camel trek and a night in a desert camp costs 40 EUR, then back via the Bin el Ouidane dam and the Ouzoud Falls. You’ll cover around 1400 km in total, and the best time to go is October to May, before the desert heat turns extreme. An eight-day trip for two came to 23,260 CZK all in — flights, food, accommodation, car hire and the night in the Sahara. The standout stop is the UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Benhaddou, along with the Game of Thrones castle at the CLA studios, where entry costs 40 MAD.
Are you tempted by Morocco? Would you like to take a look from Marrakech at desert on your own and at the same time explore the Atlas Mountains, the beautiful Dades Gorge, see the castle where the famous Game of Thrones series was filmed and visit the historic town of Aït Benhaddou? Our article will make planning easier, give you tips on cheap and beautiful accommodation and advise you on which company to go camel trekking in the Sahara with. At the end of the article you will find out how much the whole trip cost us.
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRMorocco is, on the whole, a safe country to visit, but there are 18 specific risks worth knowing about — from pickpockets and fake fossil scams to sketchy night-time wandering through the Medina in Fez and Marrakesh. Skip the tap water, leave the backpack at home (a bumbag or moneybelt is a better bet), and don’t buy SIM cards off street vendors — at the airport you’ll get 5 GB for 5 EUR. Haggle hard at the markets too; knocking 30–50% off the first price quoted is completely normal. Women shouldn’t walk around alone, especially after dark, and should keep shoulders and knees covered. Police checkpoints on the roads are routine in Morocco, popping up roughly every 50–100 kilometres, and fake fossils often go for as little as 20–40 euros.
Morocco and security is a sensitive subject, some say there is nothing to worry about, others would not travel here again. The truth is that travellers who are reckless and careless can easily become the target of scams.
Driving is choatic in cities and theft is also rampant here. Although it is not very likely that someone will physically harm you, it is important to remember that this does happen. There are certain rules that a person travelling to Morocco must follow. Let’s take a look at how to travel safely in Morocco.
1) Plastic, no plastic, drink bottled water at all costs
Maybe you’re the kind of traveller who carries your own bottle and refills it with tap water. But leave it at home for the trip to Morocco.Even locals don’t drink tapwaterhere and it’s not recommended to brush your teeth with it.
Don’t even use the local water for tea
2) If you don’t ask for advice, don’t listen to it
Especially in Marrakech and the big cities, you can easily be targeted by groups of scammers. Locals will tell you that the roads/streets are closed and impassable, offer you help and chase you to places you definitely don’t want to go.
Never tell them where you’re going. Don’t ever go to them or go to them. Pretend you know where you are going and don’t use a paper map. If you don’t ask for advice, it’s no good listening to it. Conversely, if you need advice, ask in a shop or restaurant, Moroccans are generally nice people and happy to help.
3) Don’t go to the Medina at night
The medina, or old part of the cities, is dangerous in Fes and Marrakech. I have heard many stories from Czechs and Slovaks who have been robbed in Medina, some allegedly by groups with knives. Therefore, do not walk in the Medina at night.
Women should not walk alone in Marrakech
4) Don’t walk alone at night
Even if you are in a safe part of Morocco, don’t go alone at night. Tourists here are targeted by scammers and thieves. Always move in groups.
5) Women should never walk alone
Unveiled women and Europeans attract a lot of attention in Morocco. Many Moroccan women even voluntarily cover themselves because they feel freer. Why?
It’s called “male gaze”, I would translate it as male gazing. Luke would say that they just stare at you like a piece of meat. Women are often sexually harassed in Morocco, and although various associations and politicians are trying to change this, it is slow.
Don’t be afraid to haggle
6) Eat where the locals eat
If you see restaurants full of tourists, go away. Eat where you see the locals. We followed this rule, which we had read on English discussions, and we always had a great meal at a good price. We broke it once at the falls and regretted it. The food was not only overpriced but also almost inedible.
Eat where the locals eat
7) Proceedings in Morocco
Although we have driven in both Uganda and Thailand, the traffic in Marrakech was a pain. You need to be alert at all times, it’s best to either avoid driving in Marrakech altogether or to take it at the end. Someone is always yelling at you, “wanting to give you advice” and drag you somewhere, and no mobile navigation works properly here.
Whenever you stop somewhere, a Moroccan comes up to you and asks for money. We’ve read that he doesn’t always have the right to collect money. Often they will just try it on you and you will pay.Park where youare advised by your accommodation or in marked car parks.
Donkeys and camels ride here
8) Never leave anything in the car
Even in a secure parking lot, it’s not a good idea to leave valuables in your car. On an unguarded one, you’re just asking to be robbed. It’s best to leave your belongings locked in your suitcase at the hotel or carry them with you.
9) When it pays not to speak French
In Moroccoyou can speak more French than English. It worked out well for us, though, because we both know only very rough rudiments of French and refuse to communicate in it.
In Morocco, there are police officers on the roads every 50-100 km. In five days on the road we were stopped about 20 times, and I’m not exaggerating. You don’t have to worry, as long as you don’t break the rules, they just tell you to keep going.
But we broke them once, there was a badly visible line on the road that looked like a dashed line. Turns out she just looked like one. And so we overtook the car and the police probably saw us through binoculars (we can’t explain it any other way).
But the policemen didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak French. They tried to explain to us for five minutes what we had done (which we understood but did not) and wanted to fine us 40 euros (400 dirhams). After a while they gave up and let us go.
10) Careful with the backpack, prefer a kidney
Right after arriving in Marrakech, we noticed that nobody carries a backpack in the centre, although they sell them everywhere. We soon found out why.
After five minutes of marching, someone tried to open Lukas’ backpack. Luckily we use a lock on the backpack and don’t carry anything in the front pocket. I have a buckle backpack that’s hard to get into.
Morocco is a hugedeposit of minerals and fossils, even dinosaur teeth are said to be found here, but when you see the glittering minerals playing in all colours, don’t be fooled. In fact, the only minerals to be found here are mostly plain grey minerals, which the locals often dye with very cheap paints. Some travelers claim that the paints are so cheap that they start to melt when you spit on them. So we didn’t try it, but we didn’t buy any minerals either.
Marketers often want to turn you
Another common scam is fake fossils. They say an expert can tell at a glance, but we laymen don’t stand a chance. But if the price is said to start at 20-40 euros (200-400 dirhams), it is already clear that it is fake.
Local market vendors reportedly compete with each other to see who can sell worthless fakes to tourists for more. If you want to bring something, reach for spices, tea or a plate. And don’t forget to bargain.
Minerals are painted with cheap colors
12) Poor quality liquid gold
Argan oil is another item the Moroccans will be happy to hook you on. You can tell good quality argan oil by its clarity and slightly yellowish colour. It should have a light nutty scent and the price for 100 ml should be somewhere around 200 dirhams.
13) Don’t fall for “enticements”
Often you may be invited to the shop for tea. This is to create a psychological sense of reciprocity, so that you are more likely to buy something. Also beware of the request to “read the view from your niece”, which is written in English/French.
Fossils are often fake
14) Don’t buy a sim card on the street
Simcards are free in Morocco. You just have to buy credit for those. But many scammers get free sims from companies and then try to sell them to tourists for money. Porder your sim card directly at the airport, 5 GB of internet costs EUR 5. In Morocco, they can’t stretch you in any way because of the strict telecommunications laws.
15) Don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself
Morocco is a Muslim country and they are happy for tourists, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t respect their culture at least a little. Some things that are quite normal for us can be completely shocking and offensive to the locals!
It’s different in every place in Morocco (even in towns just a few dozen kilometres apart, it’s completely different!) but in general, it should women should not expose their knees, shoulders or arms at any cost. You won’t see shorts on Moroccans either, and it’s much better to wear loose, light trousers and long-sleeved shirts.
You don’t have to cover up in Morocco, but don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
16) Always use your right hand
Whether you eat or hand the merchant money, use your right hand. For Muslims, the left hand is unclean, so if you pay with the left, you will often see the merchant get puzzled or even angry.
17) Do not hold hands, grope or kiss
In Morocco, love is not expressed in public. It’s completely taboo for them and it offends them. But you can see the men holding hands. These are not homosexuals (homosexuality is a crime in Morocco), but deep friends. Therefore, you may find that a man will take your hand when he goes to show you the room!
18) How not to get ripped off when shopping at markets
Bargaining is an art and Moroccans love it. Therefore, you can always knock 30-50% off the first price the market gives you. If you like something in a shop, don’t let it show, ask the price of other things first, then ask casually for the thing you like. If you show too much interest, it’s a foregone conclusion that you’ll get ripped off. 🙂
Markets in Marrakech
Morocco is a beautiful country that is definitely worth exploring. But always remember that although Morocco is considered one of the safest countries in Africa, it is not a European country.
🔗 These are affiliate links — they don't change your price and help us create content. · All experiences →
Tips and tricks for travelling
What to pack
Take a look at our travel packing guideto help you prepare. Choose the right travel backpack, check out the travel gadgets and don’t forget anything important at home.
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRThere’s no single best camera for bloggers — it comes down to weight, whether you need interchangeable lenses, and how much video you shoot. Among fixed-lens compacts, the Fujifilm X100F (24,999 CZK) stands out for lifestyle and street photography, while the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II (13,990 CZK) is a favourite for video too. If you’re starting out with interchangeable lenses, look at the Sony Alpha A6000 (11,990 CZK) or Nikon D3500 (12,990 CZK); more advanced shooters might prefer the Fujifilm X-E3 or Canon EOS 80D. Cameras bought online in the Czech Republic can be returned within 14 days, no questions asked, so you can properly try one out at home before committing.
We all know how much great photos matter when it comes to blogging. But how do you choose the best camera for bloggers when there’s an overwhelming number of options on the market? A camera isn’t exactly a cheap investment, and the last thing you want is to be kicking yourself a month later for making the wrong choice. So which one should you buy?
Disclaimer: I don’t consider myself an expert and I certainly don’t have all the answers. This guide is based on my own months-long research. I’ve deliberately avoided photography jargon and tried to explain everything in a way that anyone can understand.
Why I Left the DSLR World Behind
My Canon 6D was a love affair — I was completely happy with it, which is exactly why I was terrified of making a mistake when choosing a new camera. I didn’t want to downgrade. You might be thinking — well, then why did you want a different one?
I had an entire drawer full of accessories for my Canon, including multiple lenses and a set of flashes. But the moment we started travelling, I realised it wasn’t the most practical setup — my camera with all the gear weighed several kilos!
Even when I travelled light with just the camera body and one lens, my shoulders still ached from carrying it around, and I knew the time had come for a change (I nearly cried about it, honestly). The Canon 6D is a legend among photographers, and its newer version is truly brilliant — but for travelling, for lugging around every single day as a petite woman, it’s a legendary nightmare.
I needed a smaller camera for travelling
DSLRs take gorgeous photos, and there will always be bloggers and travel creators who swear nothing can replace them. I used to be one of those people, so I don’t blame them. But for bloggers today, the clear choice should be a mirrorless camera or a high-end compact. And as I’ll show you at the end of this article, you can even take stunning photos with just your phone.
How to Choose a Good Camera for Everyday Shooting
I’ll tell you straight away — there’s no single best camera that works for every blogger. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, if you ask yourself the following questions, you can get much closer to finding the ideal camera for you.
How Will You Use Your Camera?
Camera weight
If you want a camera for everyday shooting, weight will be one of your main criteria. You definitely don’t want to haul something around the city or on your travels that turns your bag into a dumbbell. However, if you blog about cooking or beauty, weight might not be as big a concern.
Do you need interchangeable lenses?
This is a question only you can answer. A camera with interchangeable lenses has obvious advantages — you can get a lens that takes stunning portraits, a telephoto lens for wildlife, or a wide-angle lens for landscapes. They say the lens matters more than the body. And there’s a lot of truth in that. But extra lenses add weight, and a quality lens is an investment of hundreds to thousands of pounds.
Quick tip: if you decide to buy a camera with interchangeable lenses, in 90% of cases it’s better to buy just the body and choose your lens separately. Why? The kit lens that comes bundled with the body is usually the worst thing you can put on your camera. If you don’t plan on investing in lenses, you’re better off getting a camera with a fixed lens, like the Canon G7X or Fujifilm X100F.
If you’re getting a camera that supports interchangeable lenses, research the availability and prices of accessories for each brand. An equally good lens from one brand can cost three times as much as from another. I recommend checking second-hand marketplaces too — for example, Canon accessories are much easier to find used than Sony gear.
Camera Recommendations Without Interchangeable Lenses
Fujifilm X100F – around £700 / €800
If I were going for a fixed-lens camera, this would probably be my pick with its 35mm lens. It’s an absolute gem for photography, especially if you focus on lifestyle and street photography.
CANON PowerShot G7 X Mark II – around £400 / €450
This camera is brilliant for video, but it also takes perfect photos without you needing to put in much effort.
Popular Cameras with Interchangeable Lenses Among Bloggers
1) For Beginners
Nikon D3500 – around £370 / €420
Fujifilm X-F10 – around £280 / €320
Sony A5100 – around £280 / €320
Sony Alpha A6000 – around £340 / €390
Olympus E-M10 – around £480 / €550
2) For Those Who Want More from Their Camera
Fujifilm X-E3 – around £650 / €740
Canon EOS 80D – around £810 / €920
3) When Budget Is No Object
Sony Alpha a7S II – around £2,000 / €2,250
Sony Alpha a9 – around £3,100 / €3,500 (Lucky’s dream camera :))
Which Lenses Should You Look At?
Prime lenses (the ones that can’t zoom) have a fixed maximum aperture and focal length, which results in sharper, higher-quality, and more professional-looking photos.
1) Portrait Lens
Most people start with a 50mm f/1.8 — this lens creates gorgeous portraits with beautifully blurred backgrounds. You might run into trouble when photographing larger groups or landscapes, though, because you simply can’t fit everything in the frame without backing up quite far. This lens is ideal for portraits.
2) Street and Fashion Photography Lens
Another popular choice is the 35mm f/2. It’s perfect for beautiful lifestyle shots and street photography.
3) Landscape Lens
If you want to focus on landscapes, you’ll probably reach for a wide-angle lens. This could be a zoom, for example a 16-35mm, or one of the prime wide-angle options — such as a 16mm or 28mm. These are rough guides, as each brand offers slightly different focal lengths. The lower the number, the more you can fit into the frame. However, the lowest numbers also bring the most distortion. Personally, I shot landscapes at 28mm because 16mm was just too distorted for my taste.
You don’t need to know how to create your own presets — basic Lightroom edits are enough. You can learn them through an online course, and you’ll find a detailed review here.
Will You Be Filming with Your Camera?
If you’re planning to use one camera for both photos and video, your options might narrow down. Ask yourself: will you be filming from a tripod, capturing moving shots, or will you want to film yourself handheld?
If you only film from a tripod — for example, if you’re a beauty blogger — pretty much any camera will do.
But if you want to film without a tripod, you’ll want to look into image stabilisation. And if you want to film yourself while walking, a camera with a flip-out screen would be incredibly useful.
The king among bloggers’ video cameras is the CANON PowerShot G7 X Mark II, which often surprises users with not only great video but also impressive photos. We know people who bought it for filming and ended up ditching their DSLR altogether, using it for photos as well.
Another excellent choice is the affordable and compact mirrorless Sony Alpha A5100, which experts consider a guarantee of “optimal performance”. Plus, it’s the smallest and lightest camera with interchangeable Sony E-mount lenses and a built-in flash in the world.
Another camera that’s well-suited for all types of video is the Canon EOS 200D.
How Does the Camera Handle?
You might think you’ll get used to any controls, and yes, that’s true. You can even reassign buttons on some cameras. But it can simply happen that despite your best efforts, a camera just doesn’t feel right in your hands.
Take Advantage of the 14-Day Return Period
If you buy a camera online, you’re legally entitled to return it within 14 days without giving a reason (this doesn’t apply to in-store purchases). If you find that the controls just don’t work for you, returning it is straightforward. Of course, you can always pop into a shop first to get a feel for the camera (which is worth doing if you have the time), but trust me — most issues only become apparent once you’re at home with it.
Can You Take Great Photos with a Phone?
Absolutely! Modern smartphones take incredible photos these days. Whether you’re using the latest iPhone or a flagship Android device, you can achieve stunning results. The photos below were all taken with a phone. Beautiful photos aren’t just about the camera anymore — they’re also about editing. You can read about how to edit photos like a pro in Lightroom here.
Don’t Buy from Dodgy Online Shops Just to Save a Few Quid
After some bad experiences, I decided to include this section in the article. Like everyone else, I hunt for the best prices online and order wherever it’s cheapest. But not when it comes to tech. It’s too big an investment, so I only buy from trustworthy retailers where I know returns and warranties won’t be a hassle, and where I’m confident the shop will still exist next year.
I absolutely despise drawn-out warranty claims, and after terrible experiences with small online shops, I no longer take the risk. For that same reason, I don’t buy electronics from anywhere I can’t easily reach if something goes wrong.
For UK-based readers, sticking with reputable retailers like Amazon, John Lewis, Currys, or specialist camera shops like MPB (for second-hand) and Wex Photo Video is the safest bet. These retailers offer solid return policies and reliable customer service. John Lewis, for instance, offers a generous 2-year warranty on electronics.
I’d again recommend ordering online so you have the option of returning within the 14-day cooling-off period if the camera doesn’t suit you. If you want to try before you buy, most high street camera shops will let you handle the gear in store — it’s always worth a visit if you have the time.
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
TL;DRGrammarly checks your English grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary in real time, plagiarism included, and it’s free. It works as a browser plugin, a web app and a desktop app built into your system — there’s no mobile version yet. The free tier needs no card, has no adverts, and covers most people who only write in English now and then. Corrections and style suggestions come back in under a second. It’s worth having even if you only write two English sentences a year, whether that’s a work email or homework.
We’ve all been there — someone asks you to write something in English. Whether it’s a report for an international client, an email, or a university assignment, the pressure is real. Let us show you a simple free grammar checker called Grammarly that we use every day. It catches spelling mistakes, checks grammar and style — and it doesn’t stop there. It even suggests how to rewrite your text to make it sound more professional and polished.
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
