If there's one thing Brits love, it's a piping hot cup of tea. So it's maybe no surprise Adam and Alun both got scammed by the infamous tea house scam in Beijing, China. Scams of this nature, usually taking place in traditional tea houses, bars or restaurants, involve inflated menu prices and attractive locals posing as students wanting to practice their English.

Unfortunately scams are common; they come in all forms and it's often tourists who are targeted. It's important to regard some situations with skepticism; employing this mindset may help you avoid trouble and keep you safe. Adam and Alun share which scams they've fallen victim to whilst traveling, including advice and tips on how to spot scams from a distance.

Have you been scammed whilst traveling? Do you have any advice you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email at [email protected]

This week TRIPOLOGY Podcast was recorded in its 7th country: United States.

Join Adam & Alun as they relive their fond memories of a road trip through the stunning Rocky Mountains, Canada. Crossing the border from British Columbia into Alberta, they had been tasked with hand-delivering a new born puppy! Freezing temperatures of -32 degrees Celsius and 7 hours of driving through snowy, icy mountain passes ensured the trip was anything but straightforward.

Stay tuned for the second half of the episode, as we enter the Hostel Common Room. We discuss a heartfelt, thought-provoking email from a listener who is currently travelling around Southeast Asia. Their backpacking trip has resulted in mixed feelings towards long-term travel, particularly regarding sustained happiness whilst on the road, and the ol' travel community favourite: expectation vs reality. Will a mindset shift solve the problem or is it time for a change of scenery?

Workaway website: https://www.workaway.info/

Have you experienced Workaway? Do you have a road trip adventure you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email at [email protected]

You can support the show by subscribing and recommending us to friends. Please rate the show and help us grow! It may only take a minute but it makes a BIG difference.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/tripologypodcast

PATREON: patreon.com/tripologypodcast

HUGE thanks for your continued support. It means the world.

After tempting fate in previous episodes, Adam describes his nail-biting encounter with a bear. Whilst hiking in Nelson, British Columbia, Adam came face to face with a bear cub. Knowing its mother would be close by, Adam frantically tried to remember all of the advice from the 'Take a Hike!' episode.

Wow! Adam thought this day would never come. New Zealand and the UK have announced improvements to their Working Holiday Visa schemes, including increasing the age limit from 30 to 35, extending the maximum period of stay, and increasing the length of time individuals can work. These upgrades will benefit travellers and expats from the UK and New Zealand, with more news on the horizon from the Australian and Canadian governments regarding their respective WHV schemes. Australia has also increased the age limit, in addition to announcing an improved scheme to be implemented in 2024.

(New Zealand will also re-establish an annual cap for the UK WHS to be set at 15,000 visas per year – higher than the volume of UK WHS visas previously granted)

Working Holiday Visas act as golden tickets within the travel community, allowing backpackers to work and travel in foreign countries with relative ease. Adam and Alun know a thing or two about these visas, having cashed a few in themselves!

Alun shares a hilarious story of his bohemian life in Adelaide, South Australia. Enduring three months of backbreaking and repetitive 'regional' work, Alun packed potatoes until the cows came home. Subscribe to our Patreon (link below) to hear the crazy plot twist!

This week's Hostel Common Room section involves a travel phenomenon: coincidence. Following your instinct, and travelling with an open heart and an open mind usually leads to good fortune, but some occurrences just cannot be explained. Adam regales us with a tale of his nightclub antics in Berlin, resulting in him nearly getting hit by a cyclist... three years later, on the other side of the world?! Coincidence or destiny? You decide!

What's your experience of using Working Holiday Visas? Do you have any WHV related questions? We'd love to hear from you! Send us an email at [email protected]

You can support the show by subscribing and recommending us to friends. Please rate the show and help us grow! It may only take a minute but it makes a BIG difference.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/tripologypodcast

PATREON: patreon.com/tripologypodcast

HUGE thanks for your continued support. It means the world.

The TRIPOLOGY community continues to grow, as we welcome Canadian content creator Hannah Teslin into the studio.

Originally from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Hannah made the decision to move to Hamburg, Germany, back in 2014. Hannah works as a Global Event Marketing Manager and in recent years has shot to fame on Instagram and TikTok, creating fun, engaging content about her life in Germany - and her curly hair!

With a loyal community of over 170k followers across Instagram and TikTok, Hannah's insights into daily life in Germany entertain and inspire many! Hannah shares her experience of living in Hamburg, as well as her frequent trips around Europe. We discuss Hannah's travel inspirations, and her perspective on travelling as a woman, as well as her social media presence, including tips & advice for creating content and growing a following.

Connect with Hannah and check out her fantastic work below:

Follow Hannah on Instagram: instagram.com/hannahteslin

TikTok: @hannahteslin

Hannah's website: hannahteslin.com

Hannah's also the founder of Business Babes Abroad, an international community of female professionals residing in Germany.

Business Babes Abroad Instagram: instagram.com/businessbabes.abroad

If you're living an expat life, we'd love to hear about your experiences! Send us an email at [email protected]

HUGE thanks for your continued support. It means the world.

TRIPOLOGY Podcast is your one-stop shop for travel guides, backpacking advice, and big tips!

Tipping culture is hot topic at the moment. Adam & Alun tackle the concept head-on, including cultural differences, travel faux pas, and advice for travellers who may be anxious about the tipping culture in other countries.

Adam shares the story of his terrifying motorcycle accident whilst riding through the Sa Pa mountains, Vietnam. Hunted by a mob of angry villagers and hidden away by a local family, Adam was able to escape unharmed and literally couldn't do enough to say thank you.

The boys also answer a question from a fellow romantic. Falling in love whilst travelling the world can lead to intense relationships, amplified emotions, pressure cooker environments, and serious sacrifice. Travel romance is something many travellers experience but are the relationships built to last? One thing we do know is that the TRIPOLOGY community is here to offer support.

Do you agree with the concept of tipping? Has North American tipping culture gone too far? Send your thoughts and experiences to [email protected]

This week, we welcome Tom Hopcroft into the TRIPOLOGY studio. Tom, an English expat from Birmingham, UK, has been living in Madrid, Spain, for the past 6 years.

A web designer by day and content creator by night, we hear about Tom's rise to fame on Instagram and TikTok, discussing his refreshing approach to sensitive topics. Proudly embracing the term “Guiri" (foreign tourist), Tom shares his perspective on expat life: community, cultural differences, language barriers, and the exciting projects he has lined up!

Check out Tom's compelling content using the links below!

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomcharliedesign

Insta: instagram.com/tomcharliedesign

If you're an expat living abroad and have stories you'd like to share, please send us an email at [email protected]

Seasonal Work plays a huge role in the lives of many backpackers. Passionate about organic farming, sustainable agriculture, permaculture, and often volunteering to acquire knowledge and new skills, travellers use seasonal work as a way of earning money whilst experiencing the world.

However, it doesn’t always go smoothly!

In this episode, Adam shares an embarrassing experience he's tried hard to forget. In 2019, whilst living in Hong Kong, Adam was gifted a rare opportunity to work for a prestigious wine producer in Burgundy, France. Intending to learn as much as possible and prepared to work himself into the ground, his enthusiasm quickly turned into overindulgence. Unsophisticated, uncouth, unbelievable!

Alun & Adam also discuss a lovely email from a lovely listener. Maintaining relationships with family and friends whilst travelling is incredibly important and far from straightforward. Technology has made regular communication much easier over the past few decades, but it's often more complicated to spend quality time with loved ones. Tune in for tips and advice on how to stay in touch with people whilst on the road - We even hear the thoughts of Alun's lovely Mum!

Do you have an embarrassing story you'd like to share? Which seasonal jobs would you recommend? Send us an email at [email protected]

Adam & Alun return to the TRIPOLOGY studio for another edition of Tales of a Trip.