Sleeping in an open-air room with nothing but the starry night sky above you in Africa is possible in a very special type of bed, called star beds or sleep out. When I finally had the chance to stay at Skybeds I was beyond impressed with how great sleeping in the African bush was, with only a mosquito net between the stars and me.
Starting from: 565 USD per night, per skybed (480€)
Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Arriving
It takes around two hours to arrive from the closest lodge to the camp, Hyena Pan. Skybeds is on a private concession in the Okavango Delta, Khwai Concession. The lodge is used as a one night experience from neighbouring lodges only, as the attractiveness of the experience is to simply to sleep there, and a 1 night stay gives you the perfect amount of excitement.
Arriving at the lodge after around two hours of driving and safari and seeing the four chalets for the first time will put a wide smile on your face.
About the lodge
Your first impression will be one of surprise as the car pulls up and stops in front of the main area chalet, one of the four, and you climb up to the first level, where you can find a big wooden deck with the bathroom and a big table for communal eating.
Staying at Skybeds is a one-night experience so the main area is formed by only one chalet with two different levels and a fire pit next to it. On the second level of the chalet we find a small bar and another deck used as a viewing deck. In front of the lodge, about 150m from the chalets, there’s a waterhole where you can watch the animals drink, especially the elephants.
Staying at Skybeds: the rooms
There are three Skybeds rooms (2019) located on the left hand side of the common area. They all face the waterhole. The sun sets behind the waterhole too, making it a great sunset spot to observe wildlife.
Each Skybed is a freestanding chalet built with wood. The living area is 10 stairs high from the ground and the Skybed has two different levels.
On the first level you can find the bathroom, made from wood and canvas on one side. There is a shower (only hot on request or in the morning) as well as a sink and toilet. On the second floor (which is actually the third if you count the ground) you can find the room.
The Skybed room has a four-posted double bed with mosquito net surrounding it, as well as a little bench on the foot of the bed with pillows. There’s also a stepped section in the deck that can be used to sit on or as a table.
Activities
Your Skybed experience starts at one of the neighbouring lodges, the farthest away is Sable Alley and the closest is Hyena Pan. If you are coming from Sable Alley you will be driven to Hyena Pan after your morning game drive to arrive there around lunch time, approximately 2h.
After lunch you will drive to Skybeds while on safari, stopping at a waterhole hide (a covered room at almost water level) where one can observe the animals come and go for an hour or so.
You will arrive at Skybeds lodge before sunset, and will have plenty of time to enjoy sunset with a cold drink from the main area.
At night, a fire is cracking and you can talk with your fellow travellers or staff, sharing stories around the fire or at the dining table.
The next morning there’s a walking safari offered before breakfast and then the drive back to your lodge starts.
Check out the cinematic travel video of the stay below!
What I loved the most
The experience. It is without a doubt one of the top 3 most magic sweet dreams places where I´ve had the pleasure to sleep. Hearing the bush sounds with only a mosquito net around you makes for a great experience, knowing how safe you are in your Skybed nest.
Also waking up with the excitement to look up and see if you see any animals coming to the waterhole as the sun is rising.
Staying at Skybeds is definitely an experience for the bucket list!
What could be improved
Not really an improvement but it is worth noting the distances travelled that day. From Sable Alley, the farthest away lodge, you will drive around two hours on a game drive to get to Hyena Pan. From there, there´s another two hours to Skybeds, and the next day you repeat.
Even though you see animals it is more of a transfer than a game drive, the ranger is not trying to track footsteps as you have a place to get to. Being informed about the driving times is the single most important thing for this experience.
Would you dare sleep in a room surrounded by wild animals with only a mosquito net between you and the stars? Tell me in the comments below!
Aren’t you tired of spending money on food? How inconvenient that you need to eat every day!
Food is one of the largest expenses we all have when travelling. When planning a trip independently, you will book accommodation and transportation to the destination. Maybe also book some transfers or hire a car.
But what about food? You have to eat every single day of the trip, possibly many times, and yet it is often overlooked in all our budgets. Do you want to learn how to save money on food while you travel? Keep reading!
How to save money on food while you travel
Luckily there are so many ways that we can cut our food expenses while we are travelling. In this article, I will give you some simple and easy to follow tips so the next time you are planning a trip, you can save a lot of money!
When you travel you want to experience the destination and that involves, in most places, trying delicious local food. I’m not going to stop you from doing that!
But how cool would it be if you knew how to cut on some silly food expenses so that you can spend your money on trying local foods or even doing local food tours?
1. Book accommodation with free breakfast
Before booking your accommodation check if breakfast is included. Some hotels will include breakfast in the nightly rate while others will charge you anything between 7€ to 20€ per person.
If you are staying for 4 nights that could be 20×4=80€ spent on breakfast! Would you ever spend that in your daily life? I didn’t think so.
Find an accommodation that offers free breakfast – it will be indicated on the booking platform or hotel’s website and you can use that daily breakfast for a big meal without paying more for it! 😉
2. Get an apartment or accommodation with a kitchen
Booking a self-catering unit or apartment, even going to a hostel and using the communal kitchen, will be your biggest saving during the trip, if you plan accordingly!
Do grocery shopping on arrival and get some easy ingredients you can make a nice meal with. Cook them the first night and have food for the next few days! To make this one work even better…
3. Bring your own Tupperware and bamboo cutlery
Having your own container and cutlery when travelling has proven to be one of the best things ever for us. If you cook on one night you can take the leftovers for the following day’s lunch and while you are exploring you don’t have to come back home to eat or spend money on food.
Depending on what you are exploring, coming back for lunch is nearly impossible and buying food while at a popular tourist site is almost always very expensive.
Personally I’ll take a good dinner out over an expensive lunch, so I would rather eat something from a container that’s homemade or even a sandwich and then sit down for a decent dinner somewhere beautiful.
Since I started getting serious about reducing my impact when I travel, I always carry both Tupperware and bamboo cutlery in my backpack. They are useful and can be used in multiple situations: from grocery shopping to meal transport to use instead of plastic plates at a market/food truck festival.
They take very little space in your bag and are very versatile.
4. Stop buying drinks
Don’t worry – I’m not saying that you shouldn’t drink alcohol, although it is a big expense. I’m referring to not buying water bottles and soft drinks every time you are thirsty and on the go.
Use your reusable bottle because water keeps you hydrated, you’ll save money and help the environment. It is a win-win if I’ve ever heard of one.
Going to the supermarket doesn’t make sense for a weekend trip or if you’re only staying for a couple nights, but if it is part of a longer trip or a long stay in one place, it will save a lot of money.
I highly recommend that you pick up some groceries. You can always carry some fruits, bread and condiments (veggies, cheese, cold meat) or even get a bag of rice and cook it with different fresh products.
6. Explore outside of big tourist areas to get local prices and cuisine
When you leave the tourist areas the overpriced restaurants are left behind as well. By moving about 3 blocks away from a touristy hub you will already find under the radar, local bars or small restaurants with the same food and normally far better prices.
This is also a great way to alleviate over tourism in certain areas of well-known cities like Barcelona or Venice.
7. Get on with street food
Food trucks, food stalls, street vendors… Street food presents itself in a variety of ways but grabbing a plate of rice and fried chicken at a Balinese street stall will cost you 1€ Yes… you’ve read that correctly.
Always check that the establishment looks clean, and has some locals queuing, to try and minimise the bad decisions that will come with food poisoning.
Try to apply logic to make sure you trust the place where you are getting food from: locals buying there is the best sign of all.
8. Start intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting is a method consisting of having a longer window without food, usually between 13 and 16h.
Intermittent fasting is one of the ways that I use to save money on food while I travel!
By doing this your body has time every day to detox and properly digest the food you’ve eaten. You can read more about intermittent fasting here. In practical terms, it means that you only eat during a window of 9h a day, and fast for the remainder (while still drinking water of course).
For example: you can eat only from 12h00 until 21h00. You can eat as many times you want during those 9h, but you’ll quickly find your body gets used to not eating until 12h00 again the next day and then you only need lunch and dinner, and maybe a snack once a day, without feeling hungry.
You can also cut dinner out if you prefer your window to be early morning food.
Do you have any other tips on how to save money on food while you travel? Please share them below – new tips are always welcome!
Senja was the greatest surprise during our 10 day trip in Lofoten Islands & Northern Norway. This breathtakingly beautiful island is above the Arctic Circle and is the second largest island in the country.
It is often overlooked for the neighbouring and famous Lofoten Islands but there are so many things to do in Senja that they have nothing to envy. If you are planning a trip to Lofoten Islands and Tromso, Senja is an unmissable spot.
In Senja you will find dramatic landscapes, hidden gems and beautiful hiking paths with very few guests. The steep mountains plunge into the sea creating dramatic landscapes that are every traveller’s dream.
The island of Senja has a dramatic and exposed outer coast and a mild and green inner coast. Most settlements on the islands are located in the outer coast because that´s where the best fishing is, and fishing is the main industry on the island.
Views of Segla mountain from Hesten
How to get to Senja
The closest airport to Senja is Bardufoss (BDU). From there it is around 1h drive to get to Senja. Another option is to fly to Tromso Airport (TOS). From there it is about a 2h40 minute drive.
During summer there are two main ferry lines that connect Senja for visitors:
Andenes (Vesteralen Islands) to Gryllefjord (Senja)
Bothnam (Senja) to Brensholmen (outside Tromso)
Using those ferry’s, your entry points into the island multiply, making it easier to organise in a shorter drive from Tromso or from the Lofoten & Vesteralen Islands via Andenes.
Best things to do in Senja, Norway
Hike Segla
Segla mountain is the most famous landmark of the island of Segla. It can be hiked in 3 to 4h return trip but it is a very strenuous hike. From the top you will have great views of the plateau. It has an elevation of 630m and as most hikes in Lofoten, Vesteralen islands or Senja it is short but intense.
View of Segla from Hesten Peak
Hike Hesten
Hesten is the second most well known hike on the island. It is next door to Segla and from it you can see the famous views of most Segla Peak pictures. We decided to hike this one with the family and it was as difficult as it was rewarding. The return trip takes around 3h and it is also strenuous with an elevation of 556m.
Bergsbotn Lookout
The Bergsbotn viewing platform is a metal and wood viewpoint located on the way down from a mountain ridge. It gives great views over Bergsfjord and makes for a great pit stop to admire the views. It has a small parking lot and no facilities.
Tungeneset Viewpoint
Tungeneset is a viewpoint by the sea. It is formed by a wooden walkway that leads to a rocky area. Depending on tide movements you can see more or less of the area.
The walk down the walkway takes less than 5 minutes. The rocks are big and spacious enough to make it a picnic spot. There are toilet facilities and the parking is a little bigger than Bergsbotn.
Hike Husfjellet
This hike is less uphill than Segla or Hesten and has an elevation of 630m. The duration for a return trip is 3 to 4h and from the top you can also admire the outer coast of Segla.
This compact and small village is almost an island, only attached to the mainland by a tunnel and breakwater. It is home to a big fishing community and some of the oldest houses are held up by wires to help withstand strong winds.
Bovaer
Just because you are so high up from the equator it doesn’t mean there are no beautiful beaches to visit. You can relax with the sea breeze and admire the beach.
Sorlivatnet
This lake is very pretty but hard to visit. We drove around it and stopped in areas where we could park our van – which we didn’t find often! I knew I wanted to check the lake out so we found a couple of magical spots just by driving around and getting out of the car when there seemed to be a spot – would totally recommend!
Senja Trollet
This was the world’s largest troll but it was destroyed in a fire in March 2019.
Northern Lights
Senja is located above the arctic circle, making it a great destination in Northern Norway to try and hunt for Aurora Borealis. You can book an Aurora hunting tour with a specialist from most hotels on the island or go for a hunt on your own – I recommend you check Aurora services online to know where to go on the specific date, depending on weather conditions.
Anderalen National Park
There are different routes and hiking trails on this national park. It is also used as a pasture for domestic reindeer: if you see them, it is important to remember not to disturb them or scare them! The Senja hiking trail traverses the whole park, but if you are looking for a shorter hike the 2h30 hour one-way hike to Andervatnet Lake is a great start. The hike is long but flat all the way, perfect for those with small children or for a relaxing walk after hiking Segla/Hesten and having sore calves ;).
To do the Lake Hike drive to Norwegian Wild/Camp Tranoybotn and park across the road from the hotel entrance. The park is very well sign posted and the trail is super easy with different landscapes along the way.
Mefjordbotn
At the bottom of the fjord Mefjorden there is a small settlement with very few houses and a pier. From there you can see a very special view of the Fjord and the sea. This one is a very quick stop!
Ersfjorden
Another beautiful fjord of the island of Senja that is worth visiting (which one is not?!). This one is great to visit during sunset as the sun sets in front of you but depending on the season this could be next to you.
From the beach you can admire the Okshoman peaks to your left.
Silsand
One of the biggest concentrations of inhabitants on the island of Senja, Silsand is a small city on the shore of Senja.
There are so many things to do in Senja, I cannot recommend it highly enough! Create an itinerary including some of the above points and exploring the island. Many beautiful and off the path views are there to be discovered if you take the time and peak around every corner.
Have I missed important things to do in Senja? Please let me know in the comments!
During our long weekend away in Prague, I managed to get a reservation at Resort Green Valley. I had seen a picture of their high treehouse on a website years ago and since then it had been on my sweet dreams wish list. In just three nights I explored one of the most famous capitals in Europe and slept in my highest ever treehouse – how cool is that?
Their website is only available in Czech and they are also on Airbnb with Czech descriptions, so I had to spend some time with a translator before I could book – I managed to get it right and it was so worth it!
Credit: Resort Green Valley
Quick facts:
Good for: families, couples
Starting from: 3900 CZK per night for the highest treehouse (148€)
Location: outside of Prague, Czech Republic
Where is Resort Green Valley
The Resort is in the Czech Republic countryside, merely an hour
away from the capital, Prague. The region is called Central Bohemian
Region and Resort Green Valley is specifically located in the municipality of
Chotysany.
To get there you need to have your own car, as the resort
is in a valley with no bus stops nearby.
The resort
The resort is set in a large valley surrounded by hills, trees and green fields. It truly is an idyllic setting. The hotel has different double and triple rooms distributed between the two main buildings near the dining room, with a maximum capacity of 100 guests. They also have three unique treehouses: the high tree house (where we stayed), the not so high tree house and an elevated dome.
The resort grounds are stunning
– which makes me want to
go back during summer!
They have a tennis court and a swimming pool and since the resort is far away from any villages there many hectares of property
surrounding you with stunning views. Nature immersion
101!
Breakfast is included in your accommodation but dinner isn’t. I highly recommend staying in the resort for dinner instead of adventuring out if you are looking for a fine-dining, mouth-watering meal. The “owner” does not speak English but one of his staff does and with his help, we organised check-in and decided on our dinner menu. We did not know how good the food was going to be beforehand and were expecting a home cooked style meal. To our tremendous surprise, we were served incredibly tasty, finely presented food in the middle of the Prague countryside!
The treehouse at Resort Green Valley
The treehouse is 9m high. It is built around a tall tree and you get up to the door using a spiral staircase. One of the branches has a swing – could this be more perfect!?! On top there is a small terrace with a wooden table and a couple of chairs.
The inside of the treehouse has a hexagonal shape and you can actually see the tree branched in two main logs through the room. The treehouse features a double bed, small table, coach or sleeper bed, a little cupboard and door to a chemical toilet room.
If you are not one for “roughing” it, there’s a heater for Winter and about 40m walk from the base of the tree you can find a bathroom with electricity, flushing toilet, shower and towels. The bathroom is shared between the two tree houses and the dome.
The lower treehouse is great for families as it features a double bed and a bunk bed. The Dome is great for couples.
Optional
activities in the area of Resort Green Valley
If you want to explore a little bit
of the area where the resort is located here are some stops you should visit:
Vlasim: In this little village you can check out the Vlasim castle and park, next to each other
Cesky sternberk is an early Gothic castle from the mid 13th century. It’s location is pretty cool: the entrance is via a bridge and it feels just like you’re in a movie!
Jemniste castle: A big mansion more than a castle by the looks of it, this ‘castle’ has amazing garden grounds that can be visited. The family that owns it still leaves on site. They change their visit timetables depending on the month so be sure to check their website beforehand.
Benesov: in this town, you should walk around the colourful old town and visit the statue of the minority order convent.
Konopiste Castle: a gothic castle built at the end of 13th century. The inside has collections of rare items and the baroque style gardens are beautiful to stroll around in. There’s also a bear living in poor conditions as part of a cultural tradition :(, which I hated.
Sázava: the town is located next to the river of the same name. It was built around the Sázava monastery, the main attraction to visit.
Visiting every item from this route
from Resort Green Valley to Sázava takes 1h46 minutes of driving. It can be
done at a leisurely pace
with half a day before returning to Prague.
Getting out of the city was great,
not only for the stay, which was magnificent, but for the chance to explore a
lesser known area, only an hour away
from Prague, and all it had to offer. I’ve always loved the sensation of driving in the countryside and
the Resort Green Valley was no exception!
The Okavango Delta is a prime destination for breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife sightings. The Delta is the largest inland delta in the world and gets all its water from the rains in Angola, coming through the underground water system. The rains in Angola happen during Jan-Feb but the high season (dry season) in the Okavango takes place from June to September (season depending) when the water filtrates through.
Even though it is not a “Big 5″ destination but a wetland area, there are incredible amounts of African birds and it is a great place to initiate yourself in the art of appreciating them. You will find big mammals too!
20 pictures to inspire you to travel to the Okavango Delta, Botswana
On a mokoro trip, the Botswanan dig canoeGreat destination to find wild dogs!Textures of mudHow to drink water without upsetting the elephants, a short storySleeping under the starsSunsets in the Okavango DeltaA school of hippos
Types of safaris in the Okavango Delta
Drive-In Safaris: these generally scheduled group tours take you to different areas of the Okavango in a 4×4 vehicle. You will be moving every 2 or so nights to another camping location. They can vary in number of days, nights on safari and level of comfort. They are great for solo travellers and budget travellers wanting to visit the Okavango Delta. Each tour will have 1+ vehicles with a guide.
Fly-In Safaris: as most of the Okavango is wetland it makes very difficult for cars to be able to access all areas. Because of that most camps only way in and out is via airstrips and light aircraft. Those camps are more sophisticated than camping and offer lodge-based activities for their guests (every lodge will have different activities and a guide per car/boat/mokoro). These safaris are organized privately and the cost of flying makes it more expensive. Generally, the lodges that can’t be reached by 4×4 are more luxurious.
Okavango Delta types of camps
Water-based: these camps will be located in areas of wetland and will be accessed by boat or aircraft. Their main safari activities will be mokoro and boat safaris. They also offer walking safaris.
Land-based: Based in an area where it is mostly dry, these camps will offer
Combination: the best option is to find a camp that offers all the activities that you are interested in. If that’s not possible you can always combine one of each camps to get the full experience.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with thisCookie Settings, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPTRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
