Round Off 2016: Most Popular Instagram Post This Year

This is a round-off list of the most popular photos on my Instagram feed. Follow me @littlemisshappyfeet to see more! 

Round Off 2016: Most Popular Blogpost This Year

This is a round-off list of the most popular blog posts in 2016. Have you read them? Don't get left out!

1. 22 Travel Scams I Encountered During My Travels and How to Avoid Them. 

Tourist scams are everywhere nowadays but they are precautions you can take to avoid becoming the next victim!

Europe Trip : 70 Days 15 Countries Under 3000€ (RM12000+)

          You won’t believe how many inbox messages I get daily asking about my 70 days Europe Trip budget and itinerary. Although I only release the more detailed version to Miss Happy Feet's Blog followers, here is an effort to end the copy-and-paste replying routine once and for all. 

Round Off 2016: Favorite Destinations This Year

My conclusion is that the longer I stay in a place, the harder I'll fall in love with the culture, people and places. Here are my Top 10 favorite destinations in 2016, including my 70 days Europe Trip.

Round Off 2016: The Best Adventures This Year

Rounding off my favorite adventures of 2016!

1. HangGliding in Interlaken, Switzerland

Definitely deserved to Top my list! 
Voted as number 2 among Trip Advisor’s World Best Adventure tours, all the hype I read online was proven to be true. Flying like a bird has always been human’s wildest dream. And Hang Gliding in Interlaken with Bernie the Birdman from Hangglidinginterlaken.com is truly the coolest thing I’ve done up to date! 

A collection of Hostel/Hotel/Apartment in Europe I've stayed In

Since a lot of people ask me for hostel recommendations in Europe, I've decided to put up this list of hostel/hotel/Airbnb/B&B that I've recently stayed in. I can't really do the recommendation because everyone's needs are kinda different, but I'll state down the reasons why I like those places and also the reasons why I don't. Remember to check their reviews on Booking.com before making your decision! 
I've attached the booking.com links to every property mentioned in this article to make life easier for you! Happy planning! 

Paris Market Guide: What to Eat

The many open markets boast some great food choices in Paris. No matter which one you choose to visit, you will find something that caters to your taste buds and budget. Wanna immerse in the culture, discover the “everyday side” of Paris, get to know the locals, do some people-watching and grab delicious budget food? Although not in a usual designated tourist path, put an outdoor market in your itinerary. You won’t be disappointed.  

The 50 Ways I saved enough Money to Travel the World As A Fulltime Student

I am a full-time student in most months and travel full-time on longer holidays. Since I am a student, tips like "avoid school holidays" and "travel off-season" will never work for me. So how to save money as a university student? I am gonna be 100% honest with you... In case anyone decides to judge and say I am just inflicting pain to myself instead of enjoying life, I am willing to prioritize comfort over the opportunity to actually go out there and see the world. So... phew, there goes nothing. 


Day trip from Paris: Monet’s House and Gardens, Giverny

Need a break from the hustle and bustle of Paris? What if I tell you there is a place not far from the city where you can venture into famous paintings and actually BE a part of the paintings? Impressionist painter Claude Monet would be delighted to welcome you to the place he appreciated the most— his house and his lovely gardens. 

Best Sweets to Try in Paris

You will see some big names on this list, but before you rise on your feet shouting "Tourist Traps", note that this is my first trip to Paris and so tourist traps or not, I just wanna try them all and see for myself what's all that hype about! 

The Best Places to View The Eiffel Tower Up Close

Arriving in Paris was such a dream came true. The first thing that popped into my mind was "I am going to visit the Eiffel Tower". Then riding in the metro line 6, I realized something: It can be seen everywhere and everywhere seems to be a good photo point... so where should I start? 

Tell Me about Your Holiday Inspiration + Giveaway

       December is the month of celebration for me even without Christmas in sight (Russians celebrate Christmas in January). Now I have a question if you are in the mood for a brainstorm. What inspires you during this holiday season?

Where to Find The Best Skyline Views in Paris (My Top 15)

Ask any one of my travel buddies and they'll tell you how I am obsessed with city skylines. While in Paris, I was determined to stand on all observation points that offer spectacular views over the City of Light, however, after a quick research, I knew it wasn't possible to do everything in 4 days.

Top Tips To Know Before Visiting the Palace of Versailles

Well, A trip to Paris is never complete without a visit to Palace of Versailles. Versailles was the lavish residence of French monarchs until the French Revolution in 1789. A total of three French kings had lived there and added improvements to make it the Versailles Palace we see today. 

40 Best Free Things to do in Paris.

The best things in life are free. Thus, best things to do in Paris are free too. Now, let me list down 50 best free things to do in the city of light!

100 Paris Travel Tips

       Where is my favorite city in the world? Although it’s hard to answer this question, as Paris, the City of Light is the first city in my “100 ___ Travel Tips” series, you know the answer. It might seem cliché, some will even say that it is a highly overrated city and I know their reasons. 

       Now let me reveal the answer to this mystery. Visit Paris on a day trip hopping from one landmark to another without immersing yourself in the culture, and you will most certainly dislike Paris. But if you take it slow, go past the surface and explore its core, Paris will be the most beautiful city you’ve ever seen. 

       Here I’ve listed down 100 tips to help make your first trip to Paris as enjoyable as possible! 

10 Safety Tips for Sleeping in Airports While Traveling

I know most people wouldn't do this and Sleeping in Airports did get me into trouble sometimes, but when you find yourself in an expensive city with BUDGET hostel dorm beds starting at 60 Euros, and you are nearly broke, I bet you wouldn't mind. After all, sleeping in airports isn't that bad: free wifi, comfortable sofas (in certain places), free aircon... what more do you want? 

France: 24 hours in Tours, Loire Valley

       Tours (with a silent s) is a vibrant, bustling city in the province of Touraine in Loire Valley, located in the centre-west of France. Standing on the lower reaches of the River Loire, the city had long been an important crossing point of the Loire since the Gallic time. Since the city is ideally located rather near to most Loire Valley chateaux, for example, Villandry (19 km), Amboise (35 km), Chenonceau chateau (40 km)… it makes a great base for travelers wanting to explore the exceptional Loire chateaux. That's not all... The city of Tours itself has a lot to offer. As first-time visitors, we've heard so much about its first-rate cultural heritage. We knew that we were going in for a treat. 

21 Illegal Things To Avoid While Traveling In Europe

       To be honest with you, I am guilty for I've done most of them except 6 (because heels are for grown-ups), 14 (because mom brought me up the right way), 17 (because carving your initial alone is just plain sad), 18 (for who?) and 20 (because it's just wrong). 

       So here you go, 21 activities to avoid while traveling in Europe. These activity could get you heavily fined or jailed, hence read up, better safe than sorry. 

A Walk with Leonardo Da Vinci: 1 day in Amboise, France

       If the Loire Valley is an open book, I was lucky enough to flip through 2 pages by visiting Amboise and Chenonceaux. 
       Once home to the French royal court, now a vibrant market town, Amboise is a charming town in central France with the most Italian flair going on. 

Aix-en-Provence Hidden Gem: Hotel de Gallifet (Food+Art+History)

There are a million thousand reasons to visit Provence in Southern France: the Lavender fields, the theater festival, the freshest selections of fruits and vegetables. Hence, we are not leaving without a proper meal in Aix-en-Provence, and we found just the perfect place to embark on our Provencal gastronomic venture. 

A Quick Guide to Iceland (19 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Iceland )

Who wouldn't want to visit Iceland? If you are planning a trip to this majestic land of Ice and Fire, here are some tips I discovered during my recent Summer trip. Sharing is caring. 

The Day We Ate Svið (Sheep Head) in Iceland

Introducing, the dish that gave me 3 days of nightmare. Hence, I felt like it deserves a special blog post. 

10 Best Activities in Iceland (Summer)

To truly understand the Icelandic culture and the people, it is important to look further past the beautiful landscape and amazing sunsets (after photographing them, of course!). Instead, dig deep into the roots, soak up the Icelandic lifestyle, appreciate the evolution of its cuisine, learn about the geology, respect the nature and the invisible people of Iceland... and you will be greatly rewarded. 

20 Food You Should Not Miss In Iceland

I once thought Iceland being an isolated country surrounded by the sea, has little resources and raw material, resulting in limited food choice. I've never thought that one day I would be interested in Icelandic cuisine, until my first Icelandic dish was sent to my table-- Reindeer and puffin appetizer. The Icelanders are survivors. They are creative in developing a unique set of national cuisine, making the best out of limited raw material. This guide serves as a rough introduction to Icelandic cuisine. 

If you've tried something exceptionally good in Iceland, or straight-out weird, which is not yet on the list, let me know by commenting below! Let's start a discussion, everyone is welcome. 

Solution to Visiting Iceland Without a Driver License: Bus Passport

"Hi, your Iceland posts inspired us a lot, thank you. I have a huge problem, I hope you can give me some suggestions: I don't have a driver license... but it seems to me that my trip would be ruined without one. My friends keep telling me to learn now, but the thing is, I am really afraid to drive in a foreign country... Is hitchhiking easy in all of Iceland? Is there any other choice for us? Thank you in advance..."

Solution: Bus Passport!

Iceland: Bike Tour in Reykjavik

Our initial plan was to cycle the Golden Circle, just like what my friends Jessica and Chris did exactly a month ago. However, despite everything looking relatively close on the map, biking from point A to point B actually takes time, as the roads in between are usually windy (plus, a lot of stamina involved, so nay!) We felt quite sorry for the failed plan, however, our spirit were once again lifted up by another brilliant suggestion from Reykjavik Bike Tours: We’ll be joining a morning bike tour to experience the culture and hidden gems though the locals’ eyes. 

My Icelandic Horse Riding Experience In Reykjavik

I wasn’t really a big fan of horse riding due to a damaging childhood experience— falling down from the back of a horse (an fully grown, adult horse!) at the age of 9. I heard that Icelandic horses are different from regular horses, most importantly their size and personality and I've seen pictures of them, so I was convinced to give horseback riding another chance. 

How To Rent Camping Gears In Iceland + My Experience

After dropping our luggage in BSI Reykjavik, we walked to the city center to pick up our camping gears. Iceland Camping Equipment Rental is located in the heart of the city and from the street, you’ll be able to see their office which is located on the second floor. 

Iceland: Puffin and Whale-Watching in Husavik with North Sailing (Eco-friendly)

The quaint town of Husavik is well known for whale sighting, so since we were stopping by, embarking on a journey out to the Arctic Ocean was the most natural decision made. I found out that the Puffin Island was nearby, so to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, we booked ourselves onto the 4 hours Puffin+whale watching tour by North Sailing. 

Things You Have To Know Before Camping In Iceland

I recently went on a press trip to Iceland, well basically press trip means my tours, activities, hotel stays, hostel stays are all sponsored or paid for. But guess what, I did not go for the easy stuff because I like torturing myself (as some of you might think). I rejected most accommodation offers, and I went tent camping in the wilderness instead, without a Wi-Fi hotspot, or a car, or a plan. Was I crazy? Probably yes, I almost broke down trying to set up my tent in the harshest weather in South Iceland, but if life were a movie, I’d probably click on that God-damn replay button again and again.   

Here are some things you have to know before you make this big decision to camp. 

Food Affair: An Affordable Feast For The Whole Family In Iceland @ Bryggjan, Akureyri

At the Akureyri Tourist Information Center, the girl at the counter recommended us The Bryggjan restaurant for a casual meal. Since it was quite a short walk away and the fact that it is connected to another amazing restaurant in Akureyri— Strikid, we found ourselves heading east towards the harbor at the edge of “Old Town". 

9 Cheap and Easy Meals You Can Make In The Hostel

One of the best way to save money while traveling, is to cook your own meals. However,  I highly encourage you to eat out at least once to try the local cuisine. Believe me, you don't have to be a top-chef to cook up these simple dishes. And if you handle the ingredients correctly (always wash them as well as your hands before cooking), you wouldn't get diarrhea. Just look at me, I am still alive. 

11 Tips On How To Handle Money While Traveling.

I think I’ve made my point in the previous article: 22 Travel Scams I Encountered and How To Avoid Them. Not all people you meet while traveling are angels, some of them simply want to snatch your valuables away when you are not looking. The golden rule of handling money on vacation is: Never let your guards down. However, an extra effort in preparation goes a long way. I hope the following points will help you deal with valuables better during your holidays. 

10 (Secret) Ways For Booking Cheap Flight Tickets

1. Travel during off season 


This is probably the oldest point in the rule book. Flight tickets are the cheapest during off seasons and the price shoot right up during school holidays. However, if you are a student traveler like me, this rule doesn’t apply.  

Example of off-seasons: September (after Summer break), April (after Spring break). 

A 12-Days Round Iceland Self-Drive Trip Itinerary

Day 1 

Moscow-Riga-Reykjavik : all necessary preparations

I took AirBaltic, a budget airline which serves indirect flight from Moscow with transit in Riga, Latvia before reaching Keflavik International Airport. 

How I Spent Only 474$ (RM2092) On A 12-day Round Iceland Trip With A Car: Budget-breakdown and 20 Tips

Two months ago, I had a chance to explore Iceland with 3 friends. We decided to rent a car and self-drive the whole journey without consulting a tour operator. Our journey around Iceland took us 12 days and we did it within a budget of 474$ (RM2092), not including flight ...Here is exactly how we did it. 

7 Tips To Know Before Renting A Car In Iceland

If you are a group of 2 or above, have a driving license and aren't direction idiots, opt for a car instead of frittering away hundreds of USD for private excursions.

From my latest trip to Iceland with 3 friends, it’s proven that it is much more worthy to drive your own car and besides economical consideration, it’s also the best way to explore the beautiful country at our own whim instead of sticking to rigid timetable (You should understand why without much explanation…)

Top 6 Hidden Gems and Things To Do In Perth

If you are traveling to Perth, Australia soon, hear me out. I am going to disclose these 6 secret attractions I absolutely love. These are the things I think you should never miss.

Misconceptions About Solo Travel (My Take)

I used to be intimidated by the idea of solo-traveling. Now that I've discovered the beauty of it, I encourage everyone to try it at least once. There will be ups and downs, true enough, we have to be aware that solo-traveling is not all unicorns and rainbows. I agree that some bloggers (including me) do unintentionally makes solo-traveling seems too easy to be true (which is far from reality). Solo-traveling mean you are on your own from prepping to trip planning to maps reading, it requires hard work but it IS possible and it will most certainly be one of your fondest memories to look back at and proudly proclaim “Been there done that”! These are some common misconception about solo-traveling, especially when the traveler is a girl.     

Top 5 things to do in Puerto Rico

Hailing from Malaysia, never in my wildest imagination I have ever thought of stepping foot into the Caribbean region and my dream came true this summer to explore this wonderful island for a 3-days visit. It wasn’t too long but it’s worth it to have experienced the Caribbean adventure!

Best Ways To Make New Friends On The Road (For Shy People)

Traveling solo doesn’t mean that you should be alone all the time. In most cases, making new friends is easy because generally, travelers are outgoing and excited to meet new people from around the globe. But, if you are extremely shy, things could be harder for you… I feel you, I am an introvert as well. Nevertheless, I’ve listed down 12 practical tips I discovered during my travels to help you shy people out there. 

Step out from your comfort zone and make a new friend today, will you? 

Conquering Mount Fuji On A Budget -- 2 Economical Ways

What comes to your mind when you see the word "JAPAN"?
For me, Mount FUJI is definitely at the top of the list. Standing at the mighty height of 3776m, Mount Fuji is a national icon of Japan and has always been a must-do in every traveler’s bucket list. 

13 Road-Tested Packing Tips From Yours Sincerely

Packing is the final step of trip planning, but at the same time, it is also the vital beginning point of an unforgettable journey. It takes the pivotal position in every trip and I believe everyone had been through it: pacing back and forth thinking what else to pack and how to pack (your whole room) into a small carry-on bag. So I thought it might be a good idea for me to share out all the basic packing rules I’ve been sticking to since I first journeyed abroad. Introducing these 13 road-tested packing tips, if you like them too, share this with your friends, because sharing is caring! 

A Day Trip From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans

For generations, Zaanse Schans has been a tourist mecca, welcoming tons of visitors from all over the world. It is said to be the jewel of Dutch cultural heritage. Since we have one more day in Amsterdam, we decided to follow the crowd and tick this “Netherlands’ most popular attraction” off the list.  

What To Pack For A Summer in Europe?

So you've booked your flight ticket, totally overwhelmed by the excitement, you can almost see yourself stuffing your face into all those beautiful pastries in Paris... and then, here comes the tough question: What should I pack? 

21 Totally Free Things I Did in Amsterdam

Ah, Amsterdam! The world capital of canals and bridges. It has long been a top destination on travelers’ bucket list and it is not hard to figure out why. Being a budget traveler, my mission was to experience as much as I could without spending a dime in Amsterdam. There are probably 100 more free Amsterdam attractions that you can enjoy but here is what I manage to do in my short weekend escape last July. Come explore with me!  

10 Things Not To Be Missed In Avignon, France

Last July, I had an amazing time in Avignon, the city of the Popes. Now let me tell you exactly what I did during my 2 days stay. I hope this serves as a useful guide for those who are planning their first visit to this beautiful medieval city. As for returning visitors, I am sure you've gain more insights, so feel free to let me know in the comment section below! Thank you in advance! 

Why is Alta, Norway Your Top Aurora Destination this year?

Do you know that the city of Alta, located in the northeast region of Norway, is also dubbed as the City of Aurora?

Hence, this winter, if you are planning for an aurora hunt, you wouldn’t want to miss Alta, Norway as your pit stop in realizing your dream for catching this elusive aurora!

13 Useful Phrases Every Traveler Needs To Know

When traveling abroad, especially to non-English speaking countries, you might feel lost and helpless at times. It's normal and I understand, I've been there too.