Roll up roll up! It’s time for our round-up of the best travel blog posts this week. How are they selected?  Well, points are earned for inspiring travel tales, the art of storytelling, stunning pictures, discovery and daring!

‘There are times when I just want to pick up the guidebook, point to a page, and go there.’

Jessica and Dani, AKA ‘Globe Trotter Girls’, are travellers who consistently delve that little bit deeper. In this post, they explore the Plain of Jars in Laos, an area strewn with colossal, Stone Age vessels. This magical site and its history are portrayed beautifully by the girls with their well-crafted words and striking images.

Their account, as always, goes far beyond ‘what we did’ and extends a friendly hand to the people, colours and flavours of the region.

Image: Nick Hubbard

Best for Photography
Four Jandals in Istanbul

Cole and Adela’s photos of the Istanbul Spice Market are akin to looking down the barrel of a kaleidoscope. Spice mountains, cascades of lanterns, blood-red oranges and sparkling jewels are beautifully captured, causing the smells, flavours and textures of the spice market to saturate your imagination.

Best for Travel Tips
Finding the Universe in Barcelona

Need some tips on how to enjoy the beauty of Barcelona for free? Laurence of Finding the Universe explains how it’s done, with some stunning pictures to get you inspired.

Working his way around the highest points in the city, he explains how to enjoy the best views of Barcelona’s magical skyline without spending a penny.

Best for Storytelling
Aaron’s World Wide Adventures in Egypt

‘Little did I know…that I would be embarking on a journey…that would make me a witness to some strange oddities and perhaps, some illegal activity. And a journey that would make me wonder if I’d seen the last of my days…’

Aaron’s exploration of unlikely places has taken him everywhere from Palestine to Bhutan. In this action packed post he contemplates the very real possibility of being kidnapped on his journey to Cairo. As always, his storytelling is immersive, funny and builds the Egyptian deserts around you as you read!

Image: John Thomas

Best for Alternative Travel
Hecktic Travels go House Sitting

When it comes to out-there experiences, Dalene and Peter Heck appear to have done it all. In this post they share their house-sitting adventures, from demons and bears to rainbows and ice-cream.

If you don’t have enough cash to book a hotel , House Sitting is a fantastic alternative. This globe-trotting couple have stayed everywhere from a 10^th century manor house in Ireland to the shores of Roatan, Honduras.

That’s all for this week folks, we hope you enjoyed. Tune in next time for another round of blog posts that are sure to amaze and inspire.