Don't Underestimate

The sailboat from Colombia to Panama (or Panama to Colombia) is one of the most iconic, and talked about activities in Central America. But what's it really like? In this episode, we break down everything you need to know: why people choose this route, which companies to consider, and how much it actually costs. We also get into the pros… and yes, a few cons you might not expect... Tune in to find...

As type B travel girlies, remembering to split all of our expenses when traveling has never really been our thing... we always just found it a little annoying calculating the money we owed each other at the end of every day. On our last trip, we came up with what we think is the perfect solution to this: having a joint bank account! Turns out they're not just for married couples, they work pretty...

When you're traveling, it's almost guaranteed that something will go wrong. Whether that's having your phone stolen, missing your bus, or having to walk 30 mins in a thunderstorm, tricky moments are to be expected. In this episode, though, we try to convince you (and ourselves) that those moments are exactly what make you stronger. Especially as female travellers, we reflect on how empowered we fe...

This week we’re talking about Caye Caulker in Belize, a Caribbean island that feels so different from the rest of Central America! We chat about what makes the island worth visiting, from the best food to try to the things you shouldn’t miss while you're there... a.k.a the best snorkeling of your life!! P.S. Strong piña colada recommendations also included.

This week, we’re diving into a big one, the Seven Wonders of the World! After ticking a few more “wonders” off our list on our recent trip, we (rightfully or wrongfully) decided we might be qualified to weigh in on which ones truly deserve their spot. In this episode, we break down how the Seven Wonders were chosen, which landmarks made the official shortlist, and, of course, what would make it on...

Not quite a normal ep this week, a bit more of a life update instead. Excuse the shaky voices lol, it's a bittersweet new chapter...

When you’re backpacking, you’re almost always chasing the cheapest way to get from A to B... and more often than not, that means jumping on local transport. It can be intimidating (especially when you don’t speak the language), but in this ep we chat about why leaning into local buses and metro systems can lead to some of the most memorable moments of a trip, giving you a real feel for the culture...

A bit of a nostaglic ep this week... We ask ourselves, is there something about our FIRST ever backpacking trip that just hits harder than the other ones? Are we just chasing the unique first taste of freedom that we felt on that first long trip? This week, we dive into why that first experience feels so powerful, comparing it to the trips that came after. Plus, we touch on the idea of a 'once in...

Big ep this week! We’re chatting all about the Acatenango hike in Guatemala. Starting in Antigua, this hike is one of the most ICONIC experiences in all of Central America. We cover how it all works, how tough it really is, altitude, and what it's like doing it in off-season... If you're thinking of doing the hike soon, listen in!! xx

Packing for a big backpacking trip is stressful at the best of times, but make it carry-on only, with a mix of beach, hiking AND city travel... it defs gets even harder. It's safe to say that while we had some packing wins, we made quite a few decisions that we ended up regretting. In this ep, we talk through what those were, plus touch on the amount of items we ended up losing... (10 pairs of sun...

Today we're talking about what has got to be one of the best cities in the world, Rio! With it's incredible beaches, beautiful mountains and vibrant culture, Rio quickly became a trip highlight for us. In this ep, we catch you up on what our fav things to do in Rio were, the iconic landmarks you've got to hit, and what the nightlife, food, and hostel scenes are actually like. ...There might be a s...

This week we're giving a bit more insight to overnight buses beyond Europe! On our last trip, we took plenty of overnight busses through South and Central America, and also one in Africa. We break down how they compare to overnight buses in Europe and Asia, share which ones were in our favs, and unpack a few nightmare stories along the way… mostly involving Molly not sleeping at all, and Tam getti...

The ol' “Did you feel safe in South America?” question — it's a tale as old as time. Honestly, we asked everyone we knew before we left! So this week, we’re diving into how safe we actually felt while traveling the continent, the little things we did to stay confident, and yes… a few horror stories that definitely shook us along the way.

Welcome to Don’t Underestimate! The podcast where we tell you what you shouldn’t underestimate about travel. Here’s an updated intro to our travel podcast. If you want silly backpacking stories, info on how to travel and why you should, you’re in the right place xx

Hi, and welcome to a new era of the pod!

We are coming to you (very much not live) from South America! More specifically, we recorded this episode in Cusco, Peru after a full day of rainbow mountains, questionable car rides, jet lag and altitude sickness. This was a few weeks ago now, but better late than never. While we won't promise regular episodes while away, keep listening for sporadic travel diaries from on the road!

To plan or not to plan, that is the question we are facing right now as our South America trip fast approaches. While we have made some progress in terms of booking tours and accommodation, we're unsure of how organised we should actually be. Listen in for a long-winded chat about planning, from two girls who honestly hate to plan.

We loved last weeks episode so much, we decided we wanted more! In this ep, strap yourself in for more stories from Tam's legendary parents, who tell us more about what their Euro backpacking trip was like in '97. It may or may not have made us lazy girls appreciate the technology we have now...

Buckle up, we're taking you back to the 90s for a deep dive into what it was like to travel before iPhones and the internet. It's something that we've been curious about for some time, so we decided to ask our parents all of our burning questions, like how on earth did they book a flight without Skyscanner??? Let's just say this ep made us more grateful for our generation.

If you haven't heard of El Nido, let us introduce you. A picturesque, beachside town on the island of Palawan the Philippines, it is one of the great backpacking destinations. Listen now to hear our take on what to see, do and eat there!

Happy new year! We are kicking off 2025 with a slightly chaotic chat about a big decision we've just made about our trip. Please excuse the high levels of stress throughout the episode. Enjoy xx

The decision to go for check-in or carry-on luggage in South America is looming, and we're undecided. This week we chat through all the pros and cons of both options in a discussion that probably just confused us both more. Enjoy!

Staying safe is sometimes easier said than done while travelling. Unexpected situations can arise very suddenly, leading to some, yes, 'near death experiences'. This week, Tamsyn shares a story from her recent trip to the Philippines which illustrates this quite well.

On Don’t Underestimate, we like to be pretty open about money. This week, we’re chatting about the figure we’re trying to save for our 6 month South America and Europe trip. We’re talking about the randomness in coming up with the amount, how money provides flexibility and how one of us might be quite far off the saving goal…

We all love a cheeky South East Asia trip, so that’s exactly what we’re doing! This time, we’re doing separate trips. We talk all things traveling with friends vs traveling with fam, why we love a short, slay trip and what our expectations for each other are… P.S. After the recent events in Laos, a reminder to stay safe in South East Asia. Sending our sympathies to the families and friends of the...