Here at Trtl, we don’t just create travel products – we live and breathe the adventure of travel itself. This World Tourism Day, we decided to tap into the expertise of our own team of travel enthusiasts and globe-trotters to bring you exclusive insights and tips.

Whether you're seeking hidden gems, sustainable travel hacks, or the best ways to stay comfortable on long journeys, our travel experts have experienced it all. Join us as we share insider tips straight from the Trtl team to make your next adventure even more memorable. Let’s explore the world together!

 

Aneta Milanowska – Ecommerce Manger

We asked Aneta, share your funniest or most embarrassing travel mishap and what you learned from it -

 

“We were looking for a cheap last minute weekend away and spotted flights to Billund in Denmark. We never heard of this town before but a quick google showed us lovely traditional townhouses and boats on a canal. A few minutes later we booked the tickets and were excited to fly in two days. We had a vision of walking about this lovely colourful town, drinking nice coffee and eating Danish pastries. Only just before the trip we started looking into the town a bit more. And started zooming in on the previously seen images. It turns out that the only thing in Billund is Legoland and the townhouses I previously mentioned... yup, all built from lego. There is nothing else in Billund, just Legoland. No canal houses, no lovely old town. We had a good laugh about this and still ended up going. We took a 1h train from Billund to Aarhus to get closer to our initial plan of having a great coffee near a cute canal and had a great time!”

 

 

Describe a local cuisine that surprised you, and tell us about your experience trying it –

“I will never stop raving about Korean cuisine. I knew it was great before I got there. I already loved tteobokki, kimchi and Korean BBQ. But what surprised me is how high quality and delicious each and every meal I had there was. Frequently, I would order blindly from local restaurants being fully open to not enjoying whatever I get. But time and time again I would get a fresh amazing meal. Imagine going to random restaurants and bars in the UK - eventually you'll get something that's either average or straight up bad meal. But apparently not in Korea. Another thing that surprised me is after I would eat one of the tastiest meals I've ever had I'd look up the restaurant on naver or google maps only to find out it's rated 2.1 stars. Restaurant ratings work differently there.”

 

Julie Auld – Performance Marketing Manger

Julie, what's the most unexpected destination you've fallen in love with, and why?

“I attended a conference in Tallinn - Tallinn Music Week - in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the city. It really has it all from great food, culture, music and history. It also makes a great base for venturing out to other areas, you can see Helsinki from the harbor and the University town Tartu (the European Capital of Culture 2024) is only a couple of hours away on the train. If you're feeling particularly adventurous you can also visit Kihnu, an island off the coast of Estonia, inhabited only by women (bar a couple of months a year when their husbands return from fishing) who uphold many Estonian cultural traditions including wearing kört, brightly coloured striped skirts”

 

 

What's your approach to packing efficiently? Any unconventional tips?

“I use the Marie Kondo folio fold method (google it!) when packing and it's changed my life. I easily fit a weeks’ worth of clothes with changes in an under seat bag and clothes don't crease as they would with traditional folding. The method has infiltrated my drawers at home meaning I can fit all my foldables into 2 small drawers instead of the massive chest of drawers I used to have! Might be a little obsessed at this point”

 

Stephen McGlinchey – Customer Experience Manager

 

We asked Stephen, Share a travel goal you're working towards and why it's important to you?

"My dream is to go to Buenos Aires to attend a Boca Juniors match in La Bombonera. I am a huge Maradona fan (named my 3rd son after him) and recently attended a Napoli match in the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples. The next tick off the bucket list is to go to the Boca stadium to see where it all started and soak up the Maradona-ness of the place."

 

What's your top tip for connecting with locals while traveling? 

"I think it is massively important to make the effort to speak some of the language. Even if it is only the basics, it shows the locals that you are making the effort rather than expecting them to conform to English. I can say hello and thank you in so many languages that you could say I’m multi-lingual 😊"

Sophie Blanchflower – Ecommerce Specialist

 

We asked Sophie, Share a hidden gem (location, restaurant, or activity) you've discovered that most tourists miss.

 

“ We used to visit a town called Calpe during all our family holidays while I was growing up. Located in the Costa Blanca, it’s about an hour's drive from Alicante airport. Calpe is a hidden gem for anyone seeking a peaceful and relaxing getaway, with stunning beaches and a variety of Spanish restaurants to choose from. The standout attraction in Calpe is the Rock of Ifach and its natural park. The rock measures over 330 meters high and is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. It is one of the most beautiful geographical features along the Mediterranean coast. Calpe is the ideal destination for a sunny holiday, offering a perfect blend of beach, nature, shopping, culture, and history.”

 

If you could instantly teleport to any place in the world right now, where would you go and what would you do first?

"If I could instantly teleport to any place in the world, I would choose Mexico. My boyfriend and I both have a love for Mexican food and are planning a trip there in the future. The first thing I would do is find the best local taco spot to relax in the sun, sipping margaritas and enjoying authentic Mexican food."

Julia Redshaw – Senior Marketing Executive

 

Julia, If you could pack only three of our company's travel accessories for a round-the-world trip, which would you choose and why?

"We have so many amazing pieces that make for a seamless travel experience but if I had to choose three it would be the Glimpse sleep mask, our mini wrap, and of course our classic Trtl Pillow Original. I get really cold on planes so having a lightweight blanket I can take everywhere and combine with a full blackout eye mask as well as proper neck support makes for my holy trinity in getting sleep literally anywhere!!

 

What's the most valuable travel lesson you've learned that you wish you'd known earlier?

"Learning to take only hand luggage has changed the way I travel. Saving me not only expensive hold bag charges and valuable hours waiting at baggage reclaim, travelling with a cabin bag only has made my journey so much easier. Over my last few trips i have discovered just how much you can fit in a cabin bag, especially if you use packing pods!! I try to take a mini capsule wardrobe with me on every trip, choosing pieces I can mix and match, combine that with a toiletry bag full of minis and my laptop then I’m good to go. The longest I’ve gone is two weeks but I’m convinced I could do more"

 

If you could instantly teleport to any place in the world right now, where would you go and what would you do first?

"Copenhagen is one of my favourite places in the world, it’s perfect for a long weekend or short city break. In the summer you get long sunny days and while it's cold in the winter it gets super cosy and festive. There’s endless cool cafes, boutiques and bars to keep you busy but my favourite thing to do is get a coffee and people watch. Everything from the fashion to the architecture is so stylish and I always come back feeling super inspired. Plus it’s home to the best burger in the world, the famous Gasoline Grill, who can argue with that!!"

 

 

Kim Poon – Community and Content Executive 

 

Kim, How do you balance being a responsible tourist with having an authentic experience?

"I always make it a point to research local customs and cultures before booking a trip because I believe it’s a privilege to be welcomed into another culture, and being respectful is key. One way to do this is by booking experiences directly with local businesses whenever possible, rather than through third-party companies. Asking locals for recommendations is also a great way to experience your destination authentically while supporting the community."

 

Share a travel goal you're working towards and why it's important to you.

"I’d love to visit 35 countries by the time I turn 35. Initially, the goal was 30 by 30, but with a few travel-less years since 2020, I decided to add a few more for the next milestone. For me, traveling is a privilege not everyone can access, so I’m grateful for every country I get to visit. I’m deeply fascinated by different cultures, languages, and landmarks. Nothing makes me happier than having a trip to look forward to—especially when it comes to tasting all the amazing food the world has to offer!"

 

Michael Gillespie – KTP Associate

We asked Michael, What's your top tip for connecting with locals while traveling?

"I have used the site workaway to find places to stay when travelling in the past. The idea is people advertise work they need done and you go and stay with them in exchange for helping with the work. It’s intended to be as much a cultural exchange as it is a work one. I’ve worked picking grapes at a vineyard, clearing dying forestry at a rural home and just general housework. All were a great way to meet people you would never usually and often go places a bit off the beaten track. I’ve always had a really great experience as most of the hosts buy into the cultural exchange aspect and are keen to show you around where they live and introduce you to local people"

 

 

What's the most valuable travel lesson you've learned that you wish you'd known earlier?

"It’s ok not to do everything you’re supposed to do when you visit a place. I used to focus so much on hitting every activity or site seeing location that the internet and the guidebooks tell you that you should visit I would stress about missing stuff and forget to enjoy the act of doing it. It was more like a box ticking exercise. Now I just pick one or two things I really want to see and do and then anything on top of that is a bonus"

 

 

Alison Campbell – Head of People and Culture 

 

Alison, Share your funniest or most embarrassing travel mishap and what you learned from it -

"When I was 17 I took a day trip around the Island of Arran with my sister and checked the timetable for the local buses to make sure that we would be able to make three stops and still get back to the youth hostel where we started. After our third stop we headed back to the bus stop and were surprised to find no-one else waiting for the bus so checked the timetable - and realised that the later bus only ran 3 days per week and that day was not one of them! Coming from a big city, we thought we would be able to get a taxi (there were none) so we started walking the 17 miles back to the youth hostel with the assumption that we would be able to hitch a lift; however, there were very few cars and those that did looked like tourists and didn't stop for us. Eventually, after several miles, a two-seater small van stopped and offered us the opportunity to sit one on top of the other in the passenger seat; it was so old and rusted that we could see the road passing through the floor and the ride was very bumpy. We had to stop an wait about half an hour whilst he picked up groceries in the local store and then were dropped off about two miles before the youth hostel but we were very grateful for the lift - and learned always to read bus timetables very carefully!"

 

 

Describe a moment during your travels when you felt truly transformed or inspired.

"We stayed overnight on Taquile island in the middle of Lake Titicaca in Peru where we had the opportunity to visit the local school, play games with the kids and learn about their way of life close up"

 

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