The Beyond Tourist

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Kategorie: How to 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