Four European Pride events you don’t wanna miss in 2025 🏳️‍🌈

Having to postpone your Topdeck trip-of-a-lifetime was hard. We know the feels. BUT it’s time to get pumped for 2021-22. To discover the new and exotic. To experience different cultures. To create unforgettable memories.

The world has changed since your last adventure. So how can you prepare to travel the world in 2021? We’ve got the answers.

At eighteen, I had no real dreams of travelling the world. Instead, I was being practical and had my sights set on my education.

It wasn’t until an opportunity arose to move over 9,000 miles from Australia to the UK, that the idea of transporting myself out of my cosy little comfort zone started to intrigue me.

Fast forward five years and I am a Trip Leader for Topdeck. And what a journey it’s been.

I’ve learnt plenty along the way, so if you’re considering stepping outside your own bubble and planning your own once-in-a-lifetime trip – there’s a few things I think you should keep in mind.

Backpacking across Europe seems to be the ‘thing’ to do after you’ve finished school.

So, when I was coming towards the end of my university stint – I jumped on the bandwagon to ‘find myselfʼ and started planning my big summer Europe tour. Think: Bilbo Baggins’ “Iʼm going on an adventure!” – that was me.

Being a teenager in the 00ʼs, I grew up during a boom of teen movies about Europe – as stereotypical and clichéd as they come. Films featuring summer getaways in search of love, sex, food and boozy bars – each scene inundated with cringe-worthy moments and crazy storylines ranging from the bizarre to the outright dangerous. They give everyone on the outside an unrealistic expectation of Europe.

Don’t get me wrong, some may experience the above mentioned in some form. But trust me when I say that you’ll experience a great deal more. The only way to know is to go experience it for yourself.

I craved travel and instead of going with a group of friends, I decided to leave my comfort zone and travel solo. Or so I thought. 

Enter: Topdeck.

I was told by my friends that they found it brave to go travelling solo but, unless you have been on a group tour before, you just don’t realise that you’re never alone.

Japan and sushi? They go together like Mario and Peach. But we’d be lying if we said that good ol’ reliable soosh was the only dish to get pumped for in this food-obsessed country. Traditional Japanese cuisine is the perfect balance of salty, sweet, sour and umami – and non-sushi lovers (whoever you are) will be glad to know that it’s not all raw fish.

Japanese food got your taste buds doing a dance? Then read on for our must-eat list.

I love to travel. I’ve had nothing but amazing, beautiful, life-changing experiences travelling solo through many different continents and countries – uncovering new cultures as I went.

BUT.

The experience of international travel as a member of the LGBTIQ+ community is likely to be slightly (or even vastly) different to that of our hetero counterparts.

Not always! But often enough.

While my experiences have always been positive and I’ve not yet encountered any major incidents (touch wood), it hasn’t been without precaution.

So, here’s a few things I do to stay safe on the road.

Since I could remember, I had always dreamed about working abroad. And over the past few years I’ve been lucky enough to get out there and make that dream come true – much to the disappointment of my savings (which have been non-existent for a significant period of time now…)

I’ve travelled to many far-flung corners of the globe – from Iran to Ecuador and everywhere in between. And the one thing I have come to really appreciate is: acceptance.

I’ve never had to hide who I am in my home country. But if I’m completely honest, in some of the countries I have travelled to – I’ve been fearful.

Over time, I’ve learnt you can either let this fear stop you or you can let it teach you – and now I don’t let it turn me away from travelling to particular places. If anything, travelling to these places showed me how important it is to be surrounded by acceptance. And how truly free you feel when you are.