guides, blogs, tall tales, news, information, satire and stories from the stoke world of oktoberfest, barcelona, san sebastian surf, spanish festivals, sail croatia, backpacking europe, the world’s best festivals and beyond.
Travel knowledge, stories and insights from fellow wanderers and vagabonds. Here’s where you’ll find the collective travel knowledge of the Stoke family, advice on the goings on at our destinations and festivals, and general rants from our time spent travelling around Europe and beyond.
Stokepedia is where you’ll find real life stories about travel and roaming and everything in between.
By Sophie Nicolas (former Global Hobo intern) The rumours are true, Stoke Travel and Global Hobo are teaming up this year to bring you one epic travel writing internship held…
Perhaps you’ve heard of Munich’s Oktoberfest – it’s only the biggest and best beer festival in the world. Fourteen beer tents and six million people drinking more than seven million…
Our Stoke summer itinerary is so jam packed with festivals, concerts and surf camps you don’t know where to start and what to try first. We get it, you only…
So you’re travelling abroad, living out of a suitcase and living the dream. When suddenly you’re at a rooftop bar in Barcelona and your card declines. Could it be the…
And maybe playing a couple of shows The Australian surf rockers and waterpipe enthusiasts will be joining Stoke Travel from June until July, while they take a break from recording…
Stoke Retreats is about having the most fun you’ve ever had whilst being healthy, and as if that wasn’t enough we also endeavour to bring you life-changing experiences that will…
Now let’s start planning your weekends. Before we start planning the wildest semester of your university career, are you hella popular and/or love organising amazing trips? Maybe a Stoke Travel…
If you thought 2020 and 2021 were bad, Stoke Travel have announced that they would be offering much of the same in 2023, shattering global hopes for an improvement on…
The perennial peril of the year’s perineum AKA things to do while you’re waiting for Hogmanay to start The piece of skin between a person’s front and back undercarriage goes by…
Get your 3rd (or 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th…) night free. Your Europe trip isn’t really happening until you BOOK SOMETHING IN, and there’s no time like right now to make…
Glad you asked. This video should explain it nicely… We’re the wildest, most fun, best value, biggest, baddest and best travel company in Europe. We take more people than anybody…
Yeah, you’ll drink beer at Oktoberfest 2023. But plenty of other things will happen to your sorry arse too… Europe boasts a frightening amount of festivals throughout the year. Some…
Our step-by-step walkthrough of what happens while getting absolutely sloshed (or sloshed-on) at Oktoberfest 2022. While you don’t have the be drunk at Oktoberfest, when you go to a beer…
Oktoberfest 2022 is so close you can pretty much smell the pretzels and almost hear the drinking chants somewhere way off in the distance. But you’re a little Oktoberfest virgin,…
You want to find the best place to stay at Munich’s Oktoberfest, because your accommodation will make all the difference to your German cultural experience. There are a lot of…
Oktoberfest is the world’s biggest beer festival, and the original beer fest and so it rightfully has a cemented position on almost everybody’s travel bucket list. We all want to…
You already know the Oktoberfest basics – big beers at the world’s biggest beer festival; German culture, or better still Bavarian culture, on display; more than seven million people in…
Oktoberfest 2023 is almost upon us, and with it the season that we again start hearing things about the “purity laws” relating to German beers. The purity laws are often…
Perhaps you’ve heard of Munich’s Oktoberfest – it’s only the biggest and best beer festival in the world. Fourteen beer tents and six million people drinking more than seven million…
This is the Oktoberfest information and the FAQs that you need to know about Germany’s famous beer festival. Are you ready to join us for Oktoberfest in the Munich beer…
Take a historical meander through Oktoberfest Munich’s boozy and not-so-boozy origins We know that you probably wouldn’t come to Stoke Travel for a history lesson, but you know what! You’re…
Far from being a tourist-focused beer-a-thon, Oktoberfest Munich is deeply traditional event. An almost sacred occasion to the local Bavarians and Muncheners, they eagerly await September and October each year…
Oktoberfest, not your obvious gay event. Munich’s Oktoberfest might not be the first event that comes to mind when you think of a gay event or holiday but there are…
Here’s everything you need to know about what to wear for OKTOBERFEST 2023. Unlike other festivals around the world Munich’s Oktoberfest is an easy one to dress for, with the…
Six reasons why travelling solo to Munich’s Oktoberfest is an awesome idea. It’s on your bucket list, but for some reason you can’t convince the homies to join you at…
For a guide on how to get to Oktoberfest from within Munich, you’re going to want to read this. Getting to Oktoberfest is easy from anywhere in Europe. Munich has…
We know what you’re thinking, you’re thinking that we’re just going to say, Camping with Stoke Travel at Oktoberfest is the best budget option, and you’re right, we could say…
While we don’t recommend doing drugs at Oktoberfest, we do recommend having as much fun as is physically possible, and to help with that we’re opening our bar to you…
After two years of cancellations, Oktoberfest is BACK ON in Munich for 2022. Book your space now with a risk-free €1 deposit. This event WILL SELL OUT. There’s a lot…
Getting to Munich’s Oktoberfest can be quite the ordeal, with all of the world’s beer lovers pining for a mega-pint of that delicious Bavarian nectar. But never fear, not only…
If you’ve had friends who’ve travelled to Barcelona, they’ve probably come home from an insane week-long bender with tales about chucking caution to the wind, devouring the best food of…
Barcelona’s bar scene is renowned for its cheap drinks, funky music and sexy occupants. But between the gems there are lots of lemons – particularly in the more touristy centre…
By KP, Stoke’s resident Barcelona food critic When you think of Barcelona you don’t think of curry… or do you? With thriving Indian, Pakistani and Thai communities, there are plenty…
By KP, our resident food critic Italian food is a classic favourite amongst the masses. To be fair, I don’t think I have ever met a soul that didn’t enjoy…
By KP, our resident foodie Up there with kebabs and curries as the ultimate hangover food, there’s nothing quite like chewing away the previous night’s sins – or doubling down…
By KP, our resident food critic Us Stokies know good coffee (comes with being so regularly hungover/busy), and while Spain has always had a coffee drinking culture of some sort,…
By KP, our resident food critic Surely you know that StokeTravel do a bottomless brunch with unlimited mimosas at all of our destinations, because we know that nothing beats a…
By KP, our resident food critic Now we’re talking, good old authentic tapas, shared plates of deliciousness – Spanish specialities done in Barcelona with a particularly Catalan flair. These little…
By K.P. our resident food critic Paella is one of Spain’s national joys (as you probably know) and is hands down the one dish you HAVE to wrap your mouth…
Learning to surf in San Sebastian is high on everybody’s bucket lists. We’ve got the run down of the best spots to learn to surf, and the people to do…
Reports have come out of San Sebastian, in Spain’s Basque Country, claiming that Stoke Travel’s Surf Camp there isn’t in tents, but in a real-life house with really real beds….
Of course the perfect surf camp for us is our San Sebastian Surf House, with the best waves in Europe easily accessed from our converted Basque farmhouse in the mountains….
Who said culture had to be boring? Get the dates right San Sebastian’s La Semana Grande, or, The Big Week for us English speakers, is a week-long fiesta throughout the…
If you’re searching for information on the late 90s Tobey Maguire Oscar-winning film, then I’m afraid you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if you’re wanting to find out what exactly…
San Sebastián has often been hailed as the gastronomical capital of Europe – that is until our froggy friends over in Paris nicked the title off them a couple of…
Calling All Adventurous Women During this pandemic it seems like we’ve all spent a lifetime in our comfort zones. We’ve watched every series on Netflix (twice), consumed dangerous amounts of…
This is where you can find anything and everything about one of our absolute favourite cities San Sebastián and its surrounding regions. Come and get amongst it in 2021 for…
Everyone knows Europe is the place to study abroad, but it can be hard to decide what country, let alone city, you should spend the next few months in. To…
Balling on a budget? Here are a few places that make a perfect weekend trip for study abroaders There’s nothing quite like studying abroad in Europe. Calling a new city…
One of the greatest deterrents when deciding to start studying abroad in Europe is that it can seem expensive. Costs can be a major factor in deciding which program to…
Your first week or two abroad in Europe is a whirlwind. Everything is new and exciting, and you find yourself wanting to do everything all at once. Jam-packed days of …
As you begin your study abroad experience you may find it difficult to keep in touch with the people back home, and that’s understandable. Busy travel and school schedules mixed…
Saving your pennies isn’t easy – everything is so fun, and seemingly expensive, but it’s not impossible, and if you follow our tips you’ll come in hot with a pocket full of change.
So you saved your pennies, but you don’t want to blow them all on the first part of your trip. Well, lucky for you we’ve booked thousands, and we’re going to show you how to do it.
Print it out and put it on your wall. Cross it off as you go. Don’t go until it’s all crossed off, or at least make sure you have a good go at it. This is your guide to packing your backpack before you go backpacking.
It might not be what you’re used to. Maybe because of the noise, the grossness, the lack of privacy. Well, hostel life is an inevitability of backpacking life, but we’re…
How to get the best mobile plan. One with lots of data because Google Maps and Tinder are more important than mumsy’s twice-daily checkup calls. Also, Europe has no roaming charges as of 2018, so you can travel the continent and swipe right like a legend.
You’ve done all the saving and you’re enjoying backpacker life, but with these tried and tested techniques you can make those euros go a little further. Spend the money on fun stuff, by saving on these essentials.
Oh the freedom! If you’re above a certain age and have a valid credit card and an international driver’s license and… but if you can tick the boxes this is the only way to roll.
Live like a turtle! Moving slowly with your house on your back. Pooping in bushes. Going wherever you want. Making friends with grey nomads in a similar situation. Campervan life is the life for us, here’s how to get it done.
Planes, trains, automobiles… Europe has them all! But how are you going to move around the continent during your ultimate backpacking superduper trip-of-a-lifetime? The answer is: a little bit of everything.
It’s totally easy, but maybe a little intimidating. You can do it, we have faith in you, just remember which side of the road we drive on, and get ready for some pretty big tolls.
The nature of the European Union means that flying between countries is as big a hassle, and a similar price, to flying interstate at home. Sometimes you’ve got to jump in that big bird and get somewhere in a matter of hours, not days, and you’re going to need to do that on the cheap.
Is it worth your while getting a Eurail Pass? There’s no more romantic way to travel across Europe than by train. They go everywhere, and they do so at a frighteningly rapid rate. They stop in the city centre. You can walk about and cavort with cute strangers. But sometimes the passes are expensive.
It’s not ideal, but it is cheap, and that’s sometimes all that matters. The highways in Europe are spectacular and so the buses get to where they’re going with ease. Sometimes you’ve got to suck it up and save some cash.
While relatively free of violent crime, some cities are often seen as being a haven for pickpockets, thieves and other petty criminals. Don’t let them ruin your trip, know their tricks and how to avoid being robbed.
The evening meal might be the most important to backpackers, a time to chat, pre-drink and, obviously, fill the belly with fuel. Across the continent meal times can vary greatly, so here’s a guide to average dinner times in Europe, so you don’t get caught hungry.
Eating and drinking is one of the most pleasurable things we can do while backpacking – and also one of the most expensive. Learn how to lessen the blow with our guide to eating cheap meals while travelling.
One of the best things about travelling is discovering new places and then eating all their food. Make sure you eat the right things in each place, with our guide to best European food, a country by country guide to the continent’s weird, delicious and typical dishes.
Europe is home to some delicious food, delicious, fatty, salty food. Eating well while backpacking is difficult, but not impossible if you follow our simple guide to eating healthy on a budget.
Stoketoberfest: a brief history It was almost a decade ago that the weary Stoke caravan limped into a Munich campsite with delusions of festive grandeur, Stoketoberfest. The caravan was loaded…
To live, laugh, love, pray, eat, drink and sometimes pass out in Barcelona Have you got a passion for words? For the moving picture? For likes? Stoke Travel, Europe’s —…
This list was initially “it’s beer” five times, but a little digging gave us five real things about Munich’s Oktoberfest beer that’ll put saliva on your tongue and a sway…
The Most Extraordinary Ordinary Job In The World competition is back, and this year we’re looking for two chosen ones. Do you love writing, shooting videos and photos, bragging to your…
At the bottom of everyone’s bag is a collection of items that haven’t been used once, but your inner hoarder refuses to get rid of as you’re convinced at some point they’ll be absolutely essential and you’ll be kicking yourself if you’ve thrown them out.
People think Stoke is for young people, but there are so many reasons why not just young people travel with Stoke. We accept everyone of all ages, races, faces, and…
The question is: tomato: fruit or vegetable? They say that the world is divided between those who say tomató and others who say tomáto, but that point of difference barely…
Hello, and welcome the new edition of Stoke News of March 2016 It would be remiss of us not to mention the tragedy in Belgium and Pakistan this past week…
We see these “Best Job In The World” promotions popping up often, offering lucky punters a job that isn’t really a job, a glorified galavanting around the globe, sampling all…
New Year, new you! Are your resolutions in order? Have you deluded yourself into thinking you’ll miraculously become a new person once the clock ticks over into 2017? We haven’t!…
Dear Mr. President, The Stoke Travel Co. team would like to formally invite you and your family to join us here in Pamplona for San Fermin, Running of the Bullsand…
Hey Stokies of 2015! Thanks and Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for coming and seeing us this year Thanks for once again letting us put on the kinds of…
We’re getting pumped here at Stoke Towers in April 2016 Because the weather is heating up, summer is on its way and nothing but good times await… Yes, it really…
The Stoke Boozeletter February 2016: the who’s who letter, the better check your news better, when you get unlimited booze your poos get wetter Are you hot or are you…
Media Release Donald Trump hangs ten on Stoke Travel Surfari and demands an ongoing and unrelenting search for best surf The Stoke Travel Co. will be expanding their summer Van…
No vocation for location, just a good ol’ time It’s always good to have a few choices in life: salty or sweet, chicken or beef, margarine or butter, underwear or…
Don’t get us wrong, winter’s alright. But there’s just a je ne sais quoi about spring that makes us all warm in the bowels of our bellies (that is the scientific term for one’s loins)
From 11 am we are taking a bunch of crazy cats out on the canals on an open deck party boat. 3-4 hours cruising the canals with unlimited beer and sangria for only 10€!!
Why in the Kaiser am I receiving this email? Because somewhere down the line we’ve crossed paths. You might have been surfing with us, or thrown up on one of our pub-crawls.
Stoke Travel’s After-Grog-Blog-Blackmail around the world “You think of travelers as bold, but our guilty secret is that travel is one of the laziest ways on earth of passing the…