It’s finally time. Time to live la dolce vita. Time to embark on an adventure with more ancient wonders, cultural kicks and carb-laden goodness than you can shake a (bread)stick at.

But why choose a group tour when you could go it alone? Keep scrolling for the answers, and take it from us – Topdeck’s Italy tours are the real deal when it comes to exploring bella Italia in all its glory.

Back in May, we asked you lovely lot a burning Q on Facebook: what are the best travel apps for planning a holiday?

My oh MY did you come up with the goods. Keep scrolling for a round-up of your faves – these pocket rockets are going to take the hassle out of planning and set you free to travel in the best way possible. 

Talking of the best way to travel (spoiler: it’s on a Topdeck trip), now we’re another day closer to it being a reality it’s time to plan that mega trip rather than just dream it.

Despite having seen a big chunk of Western Europe with Topdeck, I’d only just touched the tip of the iceberg on this continent. Most people hear about the enticing romance of France, the delicious food of Italy, the fascinating history of Germany – but not much emphasis is put on the other side of Europe. 

It seems that many movies use Eastern Europe as a backdrop for dangerous, crime-riddled storylines. A bit of research shows it’s quite the opposite, and I couldn’t wait to see for myself. 

2020 has been a year from job uncertainty and uni hesitations, to lockdowns and mask acne – it’s no surprise that these pressures and allll the other craziness has had a huge impact on your mental health.

In a recent survey of Topdeckers, we’ve heard that more than 50% of people aged between 18 and 25 have struggled to protect their mental health during the pandemic*.

With lockdown restrictions limiting brunch catch ups and Netflix hangouts; the various impacts on career prospects and education; plus the general halt on future plans we’ve all endured – it’s been a tough situation to grasp. We’re there with you.

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.

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.

Imagine: you’re winding your way through snow-topped Alpine mountains – pressing your forehead to the coach window as you pass rushing glacier-fed rivers and glittering aquamarine lakes. Then, you turn a corner and suddenly a valley of misty waterfalls and greener-than-green pastures is laid out before you.

Sound like a dream? Well this was my reality as a Topdeck Chef based in the jaw-droppingly beautiful Swiss town of Lauterbrunnen. Don’t be too jealous.

Stay at home. Thanks to COVID-19, what was once a Sunday hangover past-time has now become a way of life for most of us. With most of your time being spent indoors, it’s more important than ever to keep your mental health and wellbeing in check. So, here’s some advice to keep in mind while we all adhere to government advice.