OK, so it might be a while before you can stop dreaming and actually set off on your next adventure. But it doesn’t stop you planning! Here is our pick of the 10 must-know travel blogs in 2020. Whatever your bag, they’ll make you want to pack it and go…

1. Lone ranger?

If you’re travelling solo, check out the Adventurous Kate blog. Kate McCulley has been travelling the world for nine years. One of the best must-know travel blogs for women who want to travel safely but adventurously, it’s fun and informative. Sample post from Kate: ‘Dear Amazon, We’re Breaking Up. It’s not me. It’s You.’

2. Culture vulture?

Emily Luxton Travels is Wanderlust magazine’s Travel Blog of the Year. So far, Emily’s visited over 40 countries across five continents and likes to go slow to soak up the local culture – high and low. With blog posts from ‘The Glasgow Mural Trail’ to ‘That Time I accidentally went on a date in Nicaragua’, this is one of the most popular travel blogs for culture vultures.

3. Retired roamer?

LifePart2 is an adventure travel blog from Jonathan and Sarah. These two independent baby-boomer travellers met up in Thailand then continued their globe-trotting journey together. They aim to inspire other retirees to experience life to the full through enjoying everything the world has to offer. Check out their philosophy on retirement.

4. After hidden gems?

The motto of Dan Flying Solo is ‘getting lost in places/meeting new faces’. Going off the beaten track and meeting the locals helps Dan find tucked-away delights. And this makes it one of the top must-know travel blogs for those searching for unique locations.

5. Adventure junkie?

The Adventure Junkies blog began with a three-year cycle trip from San Francisco to Argentina, made by Amanda and her future husband Antonio Cala. Now it’s developed into a community and practical resource for anyone looking for epic adventures in the great outdoors. Dive in with all the info on scuba-diving around the world.

6. Sailing away?

Followtheboat charts the adventures of travel writer Liz Cleere and photographer Jamie Furlong, along with their rescue cat Millie. The three of them have been sailing the world on board their sailboat Esper for 14 years. You can almost smell the sea breeze… To transport yourself to a tropical paradise read about ‘the island that thinks it’s a sailboat‘.

7. On a budget?

The Bemused Backpacker believes that travelling the world and having awesome adventures can be done independently, cheaply and easily. The blog is full of helpful advice and amazing experiences for the lone traveller without much cash to splash. This is a gem among must-know travel blogs for backpackers of any age. And there’s plenty of fun to be had, including an inspiring ‘tail’ of the cat that saved the Bemused Backpacker’s life in Cairo.

8. Dog-lover?

Looking for advice on taking your furry best friend along on your adventure? Then top of the list of must-know travel blogs for you could be Global Grasshopper.

This award-winning travel blog from Becky and some fellow ‘self-confessed travel snobs’ offers great photography, guides and stories. Plus there’s a whole section on dog-friendly travel. Have fun finding out how to give your little dog a pet’s-eye view in his own canine car seat.

9. Foodie?

Girl Eat World is a delicious must-know travel blog for foodies, from fellow gourmet Melissa. She’s based in Singapore, but loves eating and travelling the world. Her main focus is Asia, Australia and New Zealand. She offers simple but comprehensive guides, and where to eat is given properly serious consideration. For a flavour, try her guide to Osaka, Japan, with a visit to the Cup Noodles Instant Ramen Museum a must. Obviously. 

10. Eco-tourist?

If you’re a traveller who wants not just to see the world but to save it, one of the foremost must-know travel blogs is Green Global Travel.

Bret Love and Mary Gabbett believe that eco tourism is an adventure that can change lives. Here’s just one example of a post that’s both practical and inspiring – on plastic-free packing.

Before you go…

We hope you’re inspired by our 10 must-know travel blogs! Enjoy planning your real-life getaway, and don’t forget to check out the best travel credit cards for your future journey.

Meanwhile, the last word should go to the post from Green Global Travel on 30 ways to travel the world without leaving home.

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MyWalletHero, Fool and The Motley Fool are all trading names of The Motley Fool Ltd. The Motley Fool Ltd is an appointed representative of Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 422737). In this capacity we are permitted to act as a credit-broker, not a lender, for consumer credit products. We may provide information on consumer credit, savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and investment products and services, but will not provide advice, or confirm the suitability of any product or service, for your specific circumstances or requirements, neither will we arrange these products on your behalf.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers.

Eight resources for bill payment relief

1. Your mortgage company

Lenders have agreed to offer three-month payment holidays on residential mortgages to people who are struggling. You need to apply for one by calling your lender or arranging it online. The missed payments will be added to the total cost of your mortgage and factored in to your repayments when you start them again.

2. Your utility companies

All energy providers have agreed with the government to offer some kind of bill payment relief. British Gas will delay due bill dates, while EDF and others will also allow longer repayment periods and alternative ways to pay. Most importantly, no-one will be cut off during the crisis. There’s help on offer from water companies, too, with payment breaks or flexible payments, and some have charitable trusts that offer grants to hard-pressed families. BT and other phone & broadband providers are also offering bill payment relief if you’re struggling. So call your provider or look online to get help right away.

3. Your mobile provider

Check what help your provider is offering – some are offering extra data and free calls during the crisis to help people stay in touch. For example, 02 is giving all its ‘Pay Monthly’ customers (including those on SIM-only contracts) unlimited minutes to mobile and landline numbers.

4. Your bank

Most banks are giving account-holders an interest-free overdraft up to £500 and payment holidays for bank loans and credit cards. Call them or go online and find out how they can help.

5. Your local council

Council tax is one of the heftiest bills we have to pay every month, but councils are offering bill payment relief to those who need it. Some are putting the start date for this year’s payments back to July or offering payment holidays. Councils are all different so get in touch and ask what yours can do for you.

6. Your credit card company

Credit card companies are also offering three-month holidays, as long as you’re not already in debt with them. If you are then you may need to find a better long-term solution such as a debt management plan where fees and interest will be waived.

7. The Government

Of course, the best way to get bill payment relief is to get some money into the bank to pay your bills.

For PAYE employees the government has set up the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, where you can claim 80% of your wages. Details are online here.

For businesses the government has created a range of grants and loans, including the new Bounce Back loans of up to £50,000 for smaller businesses. These are 100% guaranteed by the government and interest-free for the first 12 months. You’ll find the information on all the schemes here.

8. The Citizens Advice Bureau

If you need to apply for benefits – whether it’s Universal Credit, Statutory Sick Pay or the new Employment Support Allowance – the best place to start is the Citizens Advice Bureau, who have comprehensive information online.

And finally…

When you’ve done all you can to get bill payment relief from your providers, you can move on to search for better value on everything from energy to insurances and credit cards. That way, your bills will be lower each month. Check out our top tips for credit balance transfers.

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MyWalletHero, Fool and The Motley Fool are all trading names of The Motley Fool Ltd. The Motley Fool Ltd is an appointed representative of Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the FCA, and we are permitted in this capacity to act as a credit-broker, not a lender, for consumer credit products (our FRN is 422737). The Motley Fool Ltd does not have permissions for, and does not advise on, investment products and services, but may provide information on investment products and services.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers.

Five historical recessions

1. The Great Depression – 1929 to 1933

While it was the ‘Great Depression’ in the US, triggered by the Wall Street Crash, the UK experienced a severe recession, as demand for British goods collapsed and unemployment soared, leading to widespread poverty. What brought us out of it was coming off the Gold Standard. This allowed the pound to fall along with interest rates, making us more competitive and boosting house-building and industry. Later governments applied the lessons that you need to act decisively at times of crisis, and not constrain your currency.

2. Stagflation – 1973 to 1976

Along with Flower Power and bad haircuts, the Seventies are remembered for the end of the post-war boom of the 50s and 60s. Thanks to the Yom Kippur War, oil prices quadrupled. Prime Minister Ted Heath’s attempts to get the economy growing grew inflation instead, and in early 1974 the miners’ strike resulted in the infamous three-day week. Unemployment rose along with inflation, climbing to 26% in 1975 with a stagnant economy – ‘stagflation’.

4. Manufacturing goes south – 1980 to 1981

In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became PM, determined to reverse Britain’s decline. She raised interest rates to cut inflation and the value of the pound went up too, thanks to North Sea oil. Despite all this, inflation rose to 20% in her first year. A perfect storm of high inflation, high borrowing costs and cheap imports blew a fifth of Britain’s manufacturing away. However, we’d learned by now that the economy is cyclical – recessions don’t last forever.

5. Property boom and bust – 1990 to 1992

We were doing rather nicely again by the mid 1980s, with lower unemployment and inflation down below 2.5%. But low interest rates and tax cuts fuelled a property free-for-all. By 1988 interest rates were up to 15% – a nightmare for mortgage-payers.

Then a member of the Exchange Rate Mechanism, Britain couldn’t cut interest rates. The result was over three million unemployed and record house repossessions.

6. Thanks, banks – 2008 to 2009

In 2007 Northern Rock went on the rocks, and a year later Lehman Brothers’ employees walked out of the building with their belongings in a box: The Great Recession. Once again it started in the US, where a booming housing market led global financial institutions to buy ‘sub-prime’ mortgages in bulk in the hope of a quick profit. It didn’t go well. The property market dropped, homes were worth less than the mortgages and repossessed in their thousands. Millions lost their savings, their jobs and their homes.

We learned that unaffordable debt is the Devil.

Five reasons to be cheerful

The current pandemic is a tragedy for thousands and a serious threat to our economy. Current data suggests we’ll dive into a recession deeper than 2008. But looking back over historical recessions and global crises, it’s clear they are catalysts for change – sometimes for good.

1. Disruption brings innovation

World War II brought in the computer and rocket technology. Britain is brilliant at innovation, especially when our backs are against the wall. A new ventilator and hands-free door opener are just the start of new inventions that could boost our economy in the future.

2. Big firms collaborating for the public good

Burberry is making personal protective equipment, McLaren is making medical ventilators, private labs are working with the government on testing. Let’s hope working together continues when this is over.

3. Flexible working – here to stay?

The boss of Barclays says coronavirus will have a lasting effect on where staff work, and that buildings with 1,000 workers in them “may be a thing of the past”. Could your expensive commute become a distant memory?

4. Local communities matter again

Local food shops vital again, neighbours coming out to clap the NHS and delivering food to people nearby they’d never spoken to before: could local communities and economies see a revival?

5. The Earth is healing

Carbon emissions are down dramatically, pollution has gone and skies and air are clear, wildlife is burgeoning. How willingly will we sacrifice that when this is over?

Get recession-ready

So there’s our run-through of historical recessions. Best begin cutting your costs now, starting with your credit cards. Check out our top picks for credit balance transfers.

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MyWalletHero, Fool and The Motley Fool are all trading names of The Motley Fool Ltd. The Motley Fool Ltd is an appointed representative of Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the FCA, and we are permitted in this capacity to act as a credit-broker, not a lender, for consumer credit products (our FRN is 422737). The Motley Fool Ltd does not have permissions for, and does not advise on, investment products and services, but may provide information on investment products and services.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers.

Buy-to-let – not dead yet

Buy-to-let mortgages are harder to get than they used to be, and it’s tougher for landlords to make a profit now.

But with interest rates so low, investing in buy-to-let allows you to take advantage of lower mortgage costs with the chance of a better return than savings accounts are offering. Plus there’s always the hope of building up capital in the property over the long term. Having a decent deposit will help you get the mortgage you need.

Do you have the qualifications for getting a buy-to-let mortgage?

Different lenders have different criteria. But there are some basic requirements you’ll need to fulfill for most mortgage providers, and they’re more demanding than they used to be.

Take our “Do I Qualify’ quiz below to find out if you’re eligible for a buy-to-let mortgage.

1. Do you understand the risks involved in investing in buy-to-let – and can you afford to take them? 
2. Do you own your own home (either outright or with a mortgage)?
3. Do you have a minimum annual salary of £25,000?
4. Are you investing in a residential property – a house, bungalow or flat? 
5. Do you have a good credit record?
6. Will you be 75 years old or less when the mortgage term finishes?
7. Can you afford at least a 25% deposit (some lenders demand up to 40%)?

If you answered YES to questions 2 to 7, it means YES you do have the qualifications for getting a buy-to-let mortgage.

If you can’t honestly answer YES to question number one, you might be offered a mortgage – but you could come a cropper…

Before you dive in

It’s important to be aware of the risks before you take the plunge. The biggest risk is that your costs outstrip your income. Here’s how:

Generous tax breaks have been taken away

As of April this year, landlords will be taxed on revenue rather than profits (goodbye tax relief on your mortgage interest). Although you will get a 20% tax discount on mortgage finance costs.

Also gone is the 10% discount on tax bills for landlords of furnished buy-to-let properties to cover ‘wear and tear’.

Plus there’s now a stamp duty surcharge of 3% on buy-to-let properties over £40,000. Buy an investment property for £255,000 and you’ll now get a stamp duty bill of £10,400. Ouch.

Empty periods

 As sure as eggs are eggs, you will have empty periods where there’s no rent coming in. You need to have enough cash in the bank to tide you over until you have another tenant.

Hefty repair costs

 A boiler that needs replacing will take a big chunk out of your savings and there will be ongoing maintenance costs. You’ll need the funds ready and waiting.

Nightmare tenants

 You could have trouble collecting the rent, or find yourself with a tenant who does a lot of damage or refuses to leave at the end of their term. Take out good landlord’s insurance with legal costs included.

Legal safety requirements

 You must have a gas safety check done every year by a Gas Safe-registered engineer and portable appliance testing (PAT) on electrical appliances – more costs to factor in.

Where do you go from here?

So you have the qualifications for getting a buy-to-let mortgage and know the risks. What’s next?

1. Do your research

Look for locations with relatively low property prices and strong rental demand, including university towns. Decide whether you want to rent to professionals, families or students. Aim for at least a 7% return on your investment. 

2. Search for the best buy-to-let mortgage deals

Don’t forget to check you meet a lender’s specific requirements.

3. Improve your personal finances

To build up that financial cushion, make sure your investment profit isn’t draining away elsewhere. Check that the current mortgage on your home is still the best option for you; and finally, cut your credit costs. Here are our top picks for credit card balance transfers.

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MyWalletHero, Fool and The Motley Fool are all trading names of The Motley Fool Ltd. The Motley Fool Ltd is an appointed representative of Richdale Brokers & Financial Services Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the FCA, and we are permitted in this capacity to act as a credit-broker, not a lender, for consumer credit products (our FRN is 422737). The Motley Fool Ltd does not have permissions for, and does not advise on, investment products and services, but may provide information on investment products and services.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers.