I landed in Sydney on 28 March 2023, ready to start a year-long whirlwind adventure in Australia! I really had no plan and no idea what I was going to do. But I knew I needed to be quite good with my budget in order to stretch my money as much as possible, and make… Read More Australia Budget: Month 1 (April 2023)
Marrakech was my first trip to Morocco, and to North Africa. It’s a mesmerizing city, absolutely chaotic most of the time but with so much to explore. The food is amazing, and the history and culture is fascinating. I spent about one week in Marrakech, and saw loads of the city over that time! Here’s… Read More What to See and Do in Marrakech, Morocco
Even though I lived in the UK for over 6 years, there are plenty of places I haven’t explored yet. One place I’d been dying to revisit for years was Lincoln – I visited during my study abroad in Nottingham in September 2013, and had never been back! Lincoln is similar to York: a beautiful,… Read More How to Spend a Weekend in Lincoln and Lincolnshire
My trip to Greece in September was easily one of the best trips of my life. It was both my 30th birthday present and divorce present to myself – 10 days visiting Athens and some of the prettiest islands in the Cyclades. I keep track of how much money I spend on every trip –… Read More How Much Does a 10-Day Trip to Greece Cost?
Paros is a beautiful Cycladic island, with picturesque whitewashed villages and pristine beaches. Two of the prettiest villages to visit on Paros are Lefkes and Prodromos – and they’re connected by an ancient hiking trail. This route is called the Byzantine Trail, and this hike is easily one of the best things to do on Paros!… Read More Hiking the Byzantine Trail on Paros: Lefkes to Prodromos
Paros is one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades – the stunning group of Greek islands in the Aegean. After visiting Santorini, I headed for paradise on Paros. I definitely could have used more time, but I’m glad I went! If you’re short on time, here’s a quick guide on what to see and… Read More A Quick Guide to Paros, Greece: How to Spend 36 Hours on Paros
Santorini is one of the most iconic and well-known destinations in Greece, in Europe, and around the world – and one of the most expensive. But it doesn’t need to be. Any good budget traveler can manage a visit to Santorini without breaking the bank. So if you’re after a thrifty trip to Santorini, this… Read More Santorini on a Budget: A Thrifty Guide to the Greek Island
Greece may be home to some of the most expensive destinations in Europe, but Athens isn’t one of them. The capital city is a great affordable stop for travelers visiting Greece – especially for those heading onwards to pricier Greek islands like Santorini. If you’re after money-saving tips in Athens, you’ve come to the right… Read More A Budget Guide for Visiting Athens
The Yorkshire Coast is such a beautiful place, and one of my favorite areas in the world. And I would know – I’ve walked the entire thing. My first coastal walk was in January 2018, and by summer 2022 I realized I’d hiked nearly half of the Yorkshire Coast between Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Bridlington. So I… Read More The Best Places to Visit on the Yorkshire Coast
Did you know you can take a ride on the real-life Hogwarts Express? The Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland is one of the best rail journeys in the world. It’s a bucket-list experience for any Harry Potter fan, and an incredible way to explore the Scottish Highlands. Here’s what you need to know about this… Read More What You Need to Know About the Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland
I did the North Coast 500 back in 2020, but I’m constantly discovering new places to visit in this beautiful part of Scotland. After seeing loads of photos on Instagram, I decided to break up the drive down south (on my way back from Orkney) with a walk out to Loch Glass, to see the… Read More How to Visit the Pink House on Loch Glass in Scotland
Hiking the West Highland Way was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had so far. I absolutely loved walking this 96-mile trail through Scotland. Plus, it’s definitely possible to do the WHW on a budget! If you’re planning on doing this hike, I’ve put together a packing list. I did the West Highland Way… Read More West Highland Way Packing List: What to Pack for Hiking the West Highland Way
This summer, I set off on one of the most exciting adventures I’ve had yet: I hiked all 96 miles of the West Highland Way in Scotland! This was a stunning trek, through unbelievable scenery in the Scottish Highlands. I kept track of all of my expenses, to be able to give a realistic budget… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Hike the West Highland Way in Scotland?
Thinking of an incredible adventure through the Scottish Highlands? The West Highland Way is a 96-mile, long-distance trail running through Scotland. It starts in Milngavie, heads up past the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, and through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe to finish in Fort William. It’s the trip of a lifetime – and one of… Read More A 7-Day Itinerary for Hiking the West Highland Way
7 years ago today, I bought this little space on the internet. My goal was to share my travels with other people, to have a space to offer travel advice, to inspire others to travel, and to (hopefully!) let more people go away with Maja. As I write this post, I don’t think there’s been… Read More 7 Years of Away With Maja: My Blog-A-Versary!
I’m lucky enough to call Yorkshire home, and have spent years exploring this incredible part of the country from top to bottom. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is full of beautiful places – from dramatic summits and pretty waterfalls to historic castles and abbeys. There are many different and distinct dales, but the main areas… Read More The BEST Places to Visit in the Yorkshire Dales
This summer, I finally ticked a major item off my bucket list: I went on a hot-air balloon ride!!! This has been something I’ve wanted to do for ages, and of course I wanted to see my beautiful city of York from above. After several re-bookings, I finally got to go on my spectacular hot-air… Read More Up, Up, and Away: A Hot-Air Balloon Flight in York
Scotland is easily one of my favorite destinations in the world, and I’m constantly discovering new incredible places around the country. I visited Glen Affric several years ago, on the way to the Isle of Skye, and knew it was a place I’d have to come back to. I recently revisited on my way up… Read More Hiking in Glen Affric, Scotland: The Loch Affric Circuit
I’ve been lucky enough to have lived in Yorkshire for 6 years now – this region is absolutely full of amazing places and experiences. A visit down Gaping Gill, one of the biggest caves in the country, has been on my Yorkshire bucket list for years. It’s located in the Yorkshire Dales near Clapham. This… Read More How to Visit Gaping Gill Cave in the Yorkshire Dales
As a born and bred Minnesotan, I spent most of my life living in an extreme winter climate. I’ve done a few winter hikes on my own as an adult in MN, but the majority of my winter hiking experience has now been in the UK. When winter weather hits, this country goes crazy (or… Read More My Top Tips for Winter Hiking in the UK
