John Alex Travel Blog is written from the road, by someone who pays for his own tickets. This page explains how the travel writing here is produced.
First hand, or not at all
Places described here have been visited. Prices quoted were paid. If a destination is covered from research rather than experience, the article says so at the top — it is rare, and it is labelled.
Prices and dates
Travel costs age faster than any other kind of information. Every guide carries the month it was written. Treat any figure older than a year as a rough guide and verify before booking.
How the budget numbers are built
Costs are recorded as they are spent — accommodation, transport, food, entry fees — then averaged over the trip. Where a trip was unusually cheap because of a mistake fare or a favour, that is stated, so you do not build a budget on something you cannot repeat.
Corrections
Hostels close, borders change, trains stop running. If something in a guide is out of date, write to contact@johnalextravelblog.com and it gets fixed, with the correction noted.
Independence
No paid destination coverage. No free stays in exchange for a review. Alex Mercer writes and edits everything published here.
Reviewed October 2026.