A ryokan is not just a hotel — it is a complete cultural experience. You sleep on a futon on tatami, wear a yukata robe, soak in a natural hot spring and eat a 10-course kaiseki dinner without leaving your room. One night in a good ryokan costs more than three nights in a business hotel — and is completely unforgettable.

Asia is a culture shock in the best possible sense. But many things that feel obvious at home work completely differently here. Some of these I learned through experience — including a birthday morning at 5am dragging two suitcases to a train station because I didn't know taxis in Hakone are booked weeks in advance. Here is what I wish someone had told me before my first trip.

Tokyo is one of the world's most expensive cities, yet finding a good hotel under $100 is genuinely achievable if you know where to look. The golden rule: in Tokyo, location beats everything else — always choose a hotel within walking distance of a metro station.

I built this checklist after too many trips where I forgot something important. Now I open it two days before every departure. Save it and use it — it takes 20 minutes and prevents days of avoidable stress.

You don't need 40 apps. You need 10 right ones. Here is what lives on my phone before every trip — with an explanation of exactly why each one earns its place.

Tbilisi is one of the most affordable cities in Europe for travellers. For €50–80 per night you can stay in a boutique hotel inside a historic building with views over the sulphur baths. What would cost €150–200 in Barcelona or Rome costs €40–60 here.