The Beyond Tourist

Travel more pay less

Autor: zoe

  • 🌿 Travel & Holiday Health: Natural Remedies and Meds You Need on the Road 🚐

    Disclaimer: This is nursing know-how, natural medicine training, and my personal experience. It’s about everyday sickness: headache, nausea, sore throat, food poisoning, muscle pain. If your symptoms are heavy or don’t go away → pharmacy or doctor.

    Why Mix Natural & Meds?

    Being sick isn’t just “pain.” It’s the whole package: fatigue, fever, nausea, headache, a stomach that’s not your friend. I like to start with natural remedies because they support your body instead of just shutting symptoms down. But when it’s too much, I’ll take the meds. It’s not either/or — they can work together.

    And no matter where I am, I always ask at the pharmacy: “Do you have a natural medication for this?” You’d be surprised how often they do. For colds, I swear by Sinupret (3x/day). It’s herbal, it works, and it usually gets me back up faster.

    Vitamins: The Basics

    When you feel run down, your immune system is screaming for fuel. Vitamins help a lot here: Vitamin C for immune boost, Vitamin D and Zinc for defense, and Magnesium for both nerves and muscles. Fresh fruits and veggies are best, but on the road supplements are sometimes the only option. Think of it as giving your body tools to fight back.

    Headaches & Migraines

    Headaches can sneak up from dehydration, stress, or tension — and migraines are a whole different beast.

    Natural tricks first:
    Sometimes water is enough; dehydration is more common than we think. Magnesium (300–600 mg/day) relaxes muscles and can prevent tension headaches. A good old espresso can ease pain, and if you add lemon juice, that weird combo actually works for some migraine sufferers. Salt is another helper: bouillon, chips, pretzels — restoring electrolytes often calms a headache. Cooling remedies like peppermint oil on the temples or even smelling lavender oil can take the edge off.

    Medication when needed:
    For stronger pain: Paracetamol (500–1000 mg every 4–6 hrs, max 4 g/day), Ibuprofen (200–400 mg every 6–8 hrs, max 1200 mg/day OTC), or Aspirin (500–1000 mg, max 3–4 g/day). If nausea joins the party, suppositories are gold: Paracetamol + caffeine suppositories work amazing for migraines.

    Sore Throat

    Sore throats are small but brutal — it hurts to eat, drink, even talk.

    Natural first:
    Gargling with saltwater (1 tsp in warm water) clears bacteria and soothes. Thyme tea helps especially with cough and throat pain, while ginger-lemon tea boosts your overall immune response. Don’t overcomplicate it: drink whatever tea you like — the key is staying hydrated. Sweeten with honey, or if vegan, use maple or agave syrup.
    For compresses, you can mash warm potatoes into a towel and wrap it around your neck — it draws out swelling and brings soothing warmth. Ginger compresses work too, and if you don’t mind a bit of smell, they bring heat and relief directly to the sore area.

    Medication if it’s too much:
    Paracetamol or Ibuprofen take down pain and inflammation so you can actually rest.

    Stomach Trouble

    Cramps, bloating, indigestion — the kind of thing that ruins your mood fast.

    Natural first:
    Chamomile tea calms both your stomach and your nerves. Peppermint tea relaxes cramps and eases digestion. Fennel tea is the classic for bloating — not just for babies. Heat also works wonders: a warm pack or a potato compress on your belly brings comfort and relaxation. And don’t forget Magnesium — it helps your gut muscles relax too.

    Medication:
    For stubborn bloating, Simethicone (Espumisan) helps, or antacids like Rennie for too much acid. If this is a regular issue, probiotics might be worth looking into.

    Nausea

    Few things make you feel as helpless as nausea.

    Natural first:
    Ginger is your best friend — tea, capsules, or even raw slices if you can handle it. Peppermint tea or even the smell can calm waves of nausea. Tiny sips of water throughout the day are better than forcing big gulps.

    Medication:
    If it’s really bad: Itinerol is excellent — and in suppository form, it works even if your stomach can’t keep anything down. For motion sickness, Dimenhydrinate (Vomex/Dramamine) works well (50 mg every 4–6 hrs, max 400 mg/day).

    Food Poisoning

    This one is the worst. Sometimes it’s a dodgy meal, sometimes just spices your gut isn’t used to. And against common belief: sometimes you simply need to let it out. If your body wants to get rid of toxins, don’t block it right away.

    Natural first:
    Activated charcoal binds toxins and gives relief. Salt is crucial — bouillon, chips, pretzels, anything salty you can keep down. Ginger and peppermint again for nausea.

    Medication (only for emergencies):
    If you’re about to board a plane or train, Imodium is a lifesaver. Take 2 mg after the first loose stool, then 2 mg after each, max 8 mg/day. But once you’re “safe,” stop — toxins need to leave your body.

    What to eat after:
    Stick to base foods that are light and gentle: rice, potatoes, crackers, plain toast. Slowly reintroduce vegetables and proteins once your stomach feels calmer.

    Cold & Flu Symptoms

    Colds can wipe you out — everything feels too much, even drinking. But hydration is key.

    The best things:

    • Teas. Thyme is great for cough and throat, ginger-lemon for overall immune boost. Honestly, it doesn’t matter which tea — as long as you drink. The longer you let ginger sit, the stronger it gets.
    • Soup. Any light broth works. It gives you back salt and strength, and warms from the inside.
    • Steam inhalation with salt. Hot water in a bowl, 1 tsp salt, towel over your head, and breathe deeply. This clears sinuses and moistens airways.
    • Peppermint. Inside or outside, it cools. Even rubbing it on your skin gives relief.
    • Vinegar socks. Soak cotton socks in half vinegar/half water, put them on, and add wool socks over. It smells, but it really helps bring mild fever down.

    Medication:
    If it’s heavy: Sinupret (3x/day) for sinus support, paracetamol/ibuprofen for fever and aches, and a simple saline nasal spray to keep things open.

    Muscle & Joint Pain

    From bad posture to sore joints, pain loves to show up at the wrong time.

    Natural helpers:
    Arnica gel is great for bruises or swelling. Heat packs relax tension. Magnesium supports your muscles and prevents cramps. And yes, potatoes again — warm compresses draw toxins and relax. For inflammation, quark wraps are classics (use dairy-based; vegan quark doesn’t have the same effect). For joints or arthrosis, ginger compresses bring deep heat, whether from powder in hot water or fresh slices warmed in a cloth.

    Medication if needed:
    Voltaren/Diclofenac gel or simply paracetamol/ibuprofen.

    Wrap-Up

    Sometimes the humble potato helps more than a fancy pill. Sometimes ginger tea is enough. And sometimes you need that suppository with paracetamol and caffeine to survive a migraine.

    The trick is knowing what your body needs — and not being afraid to mix natural with meds. Pack smart, ask for natural options at pharmacies, and remember: most things can be eased with simple tools, warmth, and a little patience.

    Even if you do get sick on holiday, it doesn’t have to ruin everything.

  • 🇨🇭Switzerland on a Budget: Secrets just Locals know💸

    Welcome to Switzerland, land of chocolate, mountains… and some of the sneakiest tourist traps in Europe. I’ve lived here all my life, and trust me: most of what tourists spend their money on makes locals shake their heads. So here’s the stuff we actually do (and avoid) when it comes to food, transport, and getting around.

    Secret #1: The Kitchen is King

    Let’s get one thing straight: restaurants here are a scam for budget travelers. Even a sad little Margherita pizza will set you back 20 CHF. A “Swiss dinner”? Meat, potatoes, noodles—different shapes, same idea. And you’re paying triple the price for it.

    So what’s the real move?

    • Shop at Aldi or Lidl. They’re everywhere, cheap, and actually have fresher veggies than the so-called premium stores.
    • Avoid Coop unless nothing else is open. It’s overpriced and the pre-packed meals are tragic.
    • Head to bakeries for quick food. Same price as Coop but 100x better quality—fresh bread, real sandwiches, and pastries that don’t taste like cardboard.

    Here’s the bottom line: if you come to Switzerland, book a place with a kitchen. Don’t argue, just do it. Your budget depends on it.

    Secret #2: Outsmart the Train System

    The Swiss train network is famous for a reason: it’s clean, fast, and connects even tiny mountain villages. But it’s also one of the easiest ways to get ripped off if you don’t know what you’re doing.

    • Never buy the first pass they offer. The 8-day Swiss Travel Pass? Tourist bait.
    • Download the SBB app. Look for “Supersaver” tickets. Book in advance and you’ll sometimes pay half-price.
    • Interrail/Eurail: If you’re hopping borders, these are worth a look. Interrail is for Europeans, Eurail for everyone else.

    💰 Price secrets:

    • Over 28? A 3-day Swiss pass is 193 CHF. Under 28? It’s only 145 CHF. Huge difference.
    • Want to explore more than Switzerland? The global pass lets you ride across Europe for 24 hours straight.

    And don’t forget: FlixBus exists here too. It’s not fancy, but it’ll get you from Basel to Zurich for pocket change.

    Secret #3: Taxis Are a Joke

    Nobody in Switzerland takes taxis unless they’re desperate or loaded. Even locals can’t afford them. From airports like Zurich or Geneva, trains are the only smart choice.

    • Uber: It’s cheaper than taxis but still not great for a tight budget.
    • Hitchhiking: Technically possible, but Swiss people are suspicious of strangers. You’ll wait forever.

    So yeah, if you value your money: skip the taxi stand.

    Secret #4: Rent Cars Like a Local Hack

    Want a car? Great—just don’t rent one in Switzerland unless you enjoy throwing money away. Instead, do what locals in border towns do:

    • Rent across the border in France or Germany.
    • Special trick: Basel Airport is half in France, half in Switzerland. Walk out the French side, rent your car there, and drive straight into Switzerland. I once saved a few hundred francs this way and cruised around in a French car the whole trip.

    Secret #5: What Tourists Don’t Realize

    • Switzerland’s bus network is almost as good as the trains and much cheaper.
    • Bakeries are everywhere—stop relying on sad pre-packed sandwiches.
    • Locals don’t spend every night in restaurants. Why should you?

    Final Word

    The biggest secret is to cook your own meals. Book accommodation with a kitchen and shop at Aldi or Lidl — they’re cheaper and fresher than Coop. For quick bites, visit local bakeries instead of overpriced restaurants or supermarket pre-packs. Are Swiss restaurants really that expensive?

    💡 Bonus tip: Switzerland’s bus system is almost as good as the trains and much cheaper. Combine buses with Supersaver train tickets for ultimate budget travel!

  • The Easiest Way to Find Food for Your Requirements – Wherever You Are

    See in my Video how you can use Google Maps and Google Lens to avoid stomachache 😋

    Before heading to Thailand, I was a bit nervous. I’m vegetarian and lactose-intolerant, and people around me kept saying:

    “Oh, you’ll be fine! Asia barely uses dairy, and Thailand has loads of vegetarian food.”

    Well… it wasn’t that simple.

    I quickly learned that Google Lens, Google Translate, and Google Maps were going to be my best friends on this trip. Without them, my stomach would have been in serious trouble.

    Bangkok – The First Test

    We started in Bangkok, and my first thought was: Oh no… I’m never going to find anything to eat xD. Everywhere I looked, there were meat dishes.

    I asked locals if certain foods contained meat, but since we weren’t in the main tourist area, English wasn’t widely spoken. Answers weren’t always clear.

    That’s when I pulled out my phone. With Google Lens, I scanned every sign and menu I could find, searching for allergens. To my surprise, I discovered that many Thai dishes actually contain milk products. Without Lens, I wouldn’t have known.

    [Insert Photo Here: Screenshot or picture of using Google Lens on a Thai menu]

    But sometimes, menus only listed dish names, which didn’t help much. So I switched to Google Translate, typed “I don’t eat milk or meat” in Thai, and showed it to restaurant staff.

    In about 80% of cases, this worked beautifully—they’d point to safe dishes for me. In the other 20% though, I still ended up with chicken or fish. Apparently, in many places, those don’t count as “meat.”

    And then came the tricky part: dialects. What worked in Bangkok didn’t always work elsewhere. In one town, my carefully translated sentence got nods and smiles; in the next, it was met with blank stares. That’s when I realized I had to improvise—talk to locals, mimic, ask around, and sometimes even scribble down new versions of the same sentence. Whenever we met someone with a bit of English, we asked them to teach us the local way of saying it, and wrote it into a little notebook. As we traveled, our phrasebook grew and adapted.

    The Provinces – Rice, Veggies, and Tofu (Sometimes with a Surprise)

    Once we left Bangkok and headed into the provinces, food became simpler—but also easier in some ways. Almost everywhere, I could get rice and vegetables, which was a lifesaver. Thailand also has an incredible amount of tofu, which made me so happy… except that often, the tofu was stir-fried together with chicken or fish. So, I had to double-check every time.

    This is where the magic word “Jay” helped. A vegan couple we met taught us about it—written like a number 17, it signals vegan or vegetarian food. It didn’t always work perfectly (sometimes “Jay” meant just vegetarian, sometimes fully vegan), but it definitely gave me more options.

    The couple also shared something else with us: stories that sounded so different from ours. Since my boyfriend and I usually avoid touristy restaurants and prefer to eat where the locals go, we had to fight a bit harder for safe meals. Meanwhile, in tourist areas, they said finding vegan food was super easy.

    So that’s the balance: the more local you go, the more authentic it feels—but the harder it gets to stick to restrictions.

    Koh Yao Noi – A Hidden Gem

    Of all the places we visited, the absolute best for food was Koh Yao Noi.

    [Insert Photo Here: Picture of Koh Yao Noi scenery or food]

    There, we found Chaba Café and Gallery—an eco-friendly, wooden café run by the loveliest owners. It’s vegan-friendly, creative, and such a peaceful spot. They offer plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes, and the atmosphere itself makes you want to stay forever.

    But the real highlight? Extra Time Sports Bar & Restaurant.

    [Insert Photo Here: Picture of Extra Time Sports Bar or the food served]

    This place is completely unique. There’s no menu—you just ask the kind woman who runs it for vegan options, and she creates something magical from scratch. Every dish she made was an authentic Thai recipe, turned fully vegan without losing the flavor or soul. Honestly, it was the best food I had in Thailand. Ever.

    She was so passionate about cooking because her husband is vegetarian. You could taste that love and care in every bite. It was the kind of place you never forget.

    My System: The Travel App Combo

    If you’re traveling with food restrictions, here’s the combo that saved me:

    • Google Maps – great in cities to find vegetarian or vegan restaurants.
    • Google Lens – a lifesaver for scanning menus and food labels.
    • Google Translate – type or save phrases like “no meat, no milk,” and don’t be afraid to ask locals to correct your pronunciation for different regions.

    No fancy apps needed—these free tools already on your phone are enough.

    What This Trip Taught Me

    • Rice and veggies are always safe options.
    • Tofu is everywhere (just watch out for the surprise chicken or fish).
    • The word “Jay” opens doors, but local help is even better.
    • And sometimes, the best food finds you through people you meet along the way.

    The Invitation

    If you’re vegetarian, vegan, lactose-intolerant, or gluten-free—don’t let that stop you from traveling Thailand (or anywhere). Yes, it takes patience. Yes, you’ll have some slip-ups. But with the right tools, a bit of creativity, and a willingness to talk to locals, you can still have authentic food experiences.

    And who knows—you might just stumble across a hidden gem like Koh Yao Noi, where a passionate cook turns your restrictions into some of the best meals of your life.

  • 🌍 The Ultimate Budget Travel Guide 2025: How to Travel More & Pay Less

    Do you dream of traveling the world but think it’s too expensive? Good news: it doesn’t have to be. I’ve spent over a decade exploring Europe, Asia, and Australia on a nurse’s salary—and along the way I’ve learned that smart travel isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about knowing the right tools, hacks, and strategies.
    This budget travel guide will show you how to plan your own trips—even as a beginner—while saving money on flights, trains, vans, cars, and accommodation.

    Step 1: The Travel Triangle – Where, When, and Budget

    Every trip starts with three questions:

    • Where do you want to go?
    • When do you want to go?
    • How much do you want to spend?

    Your answers will shape everything else—from flights and trains to accommodation and food.


    This “Travel Triangle” decides everything else


    👉 Example: If you know you want to visit Australia but your vacation dates are flexible, you can track the cheapest flight months.
    ->If instead your leave is fixed (say September), you can look up which countries are affordable in that timeframe. Flexibility = savings.

    If you decided where and when to go, there is the Question: How am I going to get there?

    🚍 Step 2: Choosing Your Transport
    Transport costs can eat up a huge part of your budget—so choosing wisely is key.
    ✈️ Flights
    Best for: Long distances & tight schedules.
    Cheapest with: Apps like Trip.com or WayAway.io where you can search by timeframe instead of destination.
    Downside: Least eco-friendly option.
    💡 Pro tip: Always search in “incognito mode” to avoid price hikes based on repeat searches.
    🚍 Buses
    Best for: Budget Europe trips & cross-country routes.
    Cheapest option almost always.
    Must-try: Flixbus (cheap tickets, easy booking).
    Downside: Slower, less comfortable, but amazing for seeing landscapes.
    🚆 Trains
    Best for: Scenic routes & sustainable travel.
    Strong networks in Europe & South Asia.
    Pro hacks: Interrail passes, Flixtrain in Germany.
    Downside: Can be pricier without pre-booking, but flexibility makes it worth it.
    🚐 Vanlife
    Best for: Freedom + transport + accommodation in one.
    Works for solo travelers or couples (but beware: close quarters = intense!).
    While it looks expensive at first, you save on hotels & daily transport.
    🚗 Rental Cars, Scooters & Bikes
    Best for: Exploring beyond city limits.
    Always book cars in advance (often sold out).
    Scooters/bikes: Cheaper to rent on the spot, especially in Asia.
    🚕 Ride-Hailing (Uber, Bolt, Tuk-tuks)
    Best for: When you’re short on time.
    Downside: Pricier, less immersive—you don’t see much of the surroundings.
    Tip: In countries like Thailand, use it only when absolutely needed.

    🏨 Step 3: Finding Affordable Accommodation
    Accommodation doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s how I do it:
    First night secured: Always book your first night before arrival, then stay flexible.
    High season hack: Even during busy months, you can find last-minute stays if you’re open to different neighborhoods.
    Go with the flow: If you like a place—stay longer. If not—move on.
    Vanlife = double savings: No need for hotels if your transport is also your home.
    💡 Insider tip: Booking sites raise prices if you search repeatedly. Use incognito or apps like Hopper to track price drops.

    🎁 Freebie: Grab My Notion Budget Travel Planner
    Want to put this into action? I’ve created a Notion Travel Planner that helps you:
    ✅ Compare transport options side by side
    ✅ Track your budget & expenses
    ✅ Plan your trip by “Travel Triangle”
    ✅ Save notes, bookings, and ideas in one place
    👉 Download it free here