Hey, my name is Jack Bolton and I am one half of Acouplescalling and a travel lover from the United Kingdom. For as long as I can remember I have loved all things travel and Acouplescalling gives me the opportunity to share my passion.
My partner Abbie and I started Acouplescalling to share our adventures with other keen travellers. We love to travel on a budget, search for wildlife experiences worldwide, and travel to less visited places, all while immersing ourselves in different cultures.
If that sounds like you too, join our journey!
About Jack
I was born in North Wales in the United Kingdom and despite my love for travel, I still live there today. As a child, I was lucky enough to travel around the UK, Europe, and South Africa with my family.
My first trip to South Africa in 2009 was the one that made me realise just how much I wanted to travel. Since then, I have visited 18 countries across Europe, Asia, and South America, with many more planned in the next few years.
In 2018, I graduated from university with a First Class Honours Degree in Sports Coaching. Shortly after, I went travelling around Asia for 8 months. It was then that I founded Acouplescalling with Abbie.
Fast forward a few years and I am now a content writer who specialises in travel. When I’m not writing content for my clients or updating Acouplescalling, you’ll find me exploring somewhere new!
10 Things To Know About Me!
Before we go any further, here are 10 interesting things you might like to know about me!
1. I absolutely love animals – More often than not, wildlife experiences are the first thing I look for when visiting a new destination.
2. Two of my best friends are my pooches – I have travelled around the UK with my Cairn Terrier (Phoebe) and my Border Terrier (Izzy) for many years.
3. My main passion away from travel is football – I used to play Futsal for a Football League side in the North West and I still play football once or twice a week. I support Preston North End F.C.
4. I’m also a keen photographer – Another thing I love about travelling is being able to take photographs of unique places all over the world.
5. My favourite cuisine is Indian – I truly fell in love with Indian food during a trip to India in 2019.
6. I’m a freelance writer – For a while now, I’ve been a freelance writer. I specialise in travel, but I’m used to writing about a wide range of topics, including sports, wildlife, photography, and health.
7. My favourite time of year is summer – I’m at my happiest when the sun is out. For me, there’s no better feeling than having a walk in the warm or sitting in the sun somewhere picturesque.
8. I’m a Harry Potter fanatic – By far my favourite film series is Harry Potter. Every year, me and Abbie have a Harry Potter marathon.
9. I want to live in Scotland – I would love to own a property in Scotland in the future. I dream of a cosy cottage on the Isle of Skye.
10. I want to be a full-time traveller – In the future, I would love travel to be my main source of income.
How I Like To Travel!
When it comes to how I like to travel, of course, travelling in luxury is great, but I don’t have endless amounts of cash to spend, so you won’t catch me flying first-class, and that’s fine by me.
In fact, I prefer to travel on a budget. Travelling on a budget really gives you the chance to get to know a country. I love to embrace local cultures, save as much money as I can, and search for wildlife wherever I go.
One of my main passions is saving every penny possible. That way, I can travel for longer and find some awesome hidden gems. Admittedly though, I do like the occasional luxury too! My passion for budget travel is a driving factor behind Acouplescalling.
The only thing I’m not too keen on as a budget traveller is hostels. I love how cheap they can be, but my social battery often runs out quickly.
My Favourite Destinations
At the time of writing this, I have travelled to 25 countries (including the ones in the United Kingdom), so it is quite difficult to choose my favourite. However, some countries do stand out more than others.
Here are five of my favourite destinations to date!
1. South Africa – I have family in South Africa so I’ve been a few times. There’s just so much to do, the scenery is amazing, and there are endless opportunities to spot wildlife.
2. Peru – I visited Peru in 2023 and quickly fell in love with the country. I loved visiting Machu Picchu and spotting a sloth in the Amazon Rainforest.
3. Sri Lanka – I absolutely love everything about Sri Lanka. The food is great, the coastline is perfect for a summer getaway, and once again, there’s plenty of wildlife to try and find.
4. Bali – Let’s face it, who doesn’t love Bali? I’ve been to Bali twice and I loved it both times. The unique landscapes and stunning villas are amazing, but it’s the people that make the island so special.
5. Scotland – It might not be too far from home, but Scotland is definitely one of the best places I’ve ever been. For me, Scotland is very underrated. There are so many hidden gems to explore and the scenery is beautiful.
Some of Our Other Favourite Destinations
Narrowing my list of favourite places down to five isn’t easy. There are just so many places that I love and would love to visit again.
I’ve been to Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa, and I’m still not sure where I love the most. To give you a better idea of the places I’ve been, I’ve dropped some links to more of my top destinations below:
- Barcelona – Barcelona was the first destination me and Abbie visited together so it holds a special place in my heart. My favourite attractions were Camp Nou, La Ramblas, and Port Vell.
- Oslo – Oslo, Norway is a wonderful city with lots of things to do, a great street food scene, lush islands, and impressive architecture.
- India – During a trip to India, I was lucky enough to spot tigers in the wild, watch the sunrise at the Taj Mahal, and hike in the Himalayas.
- Stockholm – Stockholm is the only place I’ve been to in Sweden, but it certainly won’t be the last. It is a beautiful city with wonderful people, interesting architecture, and lots of things to do.
- Cambodia – Cambodia is one of the most memorable and hardest places I’ve ever been to. The country is incredibly beautiful but it has a tragic past. You’ll want to learn everything about the history but it can be hard at times.
My Most Memorable Experiences
Travelling has given me the opportunity to see and do lots of memorable things. Here are some of the things I’ll never forget, and would definitely do again if I got the chance!
1. Going on a tiger safari in India – Seeing wild tigers in India was something I dreamed about for many years. We were lucky enough to spot a male and female tiger in Ranthambore National Park.
2. Seeing elephants on a safari – During our time in Sri Lanka, we headed out on a safari in Udawalawe National Park. We saw Sri Lankan elephants, wild boar, sambar deer, crocodiles, and jackals.
3. Sitting on top of Table Mountain – Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain that overlooks Cape Town in South Africa. There’s a cable car to the top and the views are absolutely phenomenal.
4. Spending almost a month in Bali – Bali is still one of my favourite places of all time. The island really does live up to all expectations. Ubud, Canggu, and Uluwatu are some of the best highlights.
5. Going on a night walk through the Amazon Rainforest – One of the most amazing, yet scary things I’ve ever done is hike through the Amazon Rainforest at night. I saw lots, but it was very nerve-wracking.
Bucket List Destinations
I may have been to more than 20 countries, but I’m still nowhere near completing my bucket list. Here are some of my top picks, just in case you’re wondering where I might be going soon!
1. Egypt – I can’t wait to see the Pyramids one day. The Egyptians fascinate me so I’ll be spending at least a few weeks exploring the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Valley of the Kings.
2. Alaska – I dream of one day visiting Alaska’s national parks in search of epic wildlife and dreamy mountain views. I have a fair bit of saving to do first though!
3. Nepal – I’d love to spend a couple of weeks exploring Nepal. I would love to reach Everest Base Camp but I’d have to get a lot fitter than I am now.
4. Canada – Abbie and I have always wanted to do a road trip around Canada in an RV. Banff is at the top of my Canada bucket list!
5. Costa Rica – One day, I’m going to explore the dense jungle in Costa Rica. I would love to spot a jaguar in the wild and volunteer at a sloth rescue centre.
Thanks for Stopping By!
That’s everything you need to know about me, so thank you for stopping by and giving my author bio a read. As you can see I’m travel-mad, so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of stories and travel tips to share with you for many years to come.
If you want to learn more about travelling and different destinations around the world, be sure to check out the many itineraries and travel guides I’ve put together. You could check out our About Us page too!
Until next time, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself in the comments? I’d love to get to know you all!