Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you’ve wanted to ask about DIY travel, HindlesWorld, and how we craft our cinematic adventures
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
🧭 About HindlesWorld
Q: What is HindlesWorld?
A: HindlesWorld is a storytelling travel brand created by Jez & Mel; two independent travellers exploring the world one cinematic journey at a time. From Costa Rica’s rainforests to Thailand’s hidden islands, we craft DIY adventures with heart, blending emotion, authenticity, and practicality.
Learn more about us on our About HindlesWorld page and on this #FAQ page itself.
Q: What does “Travel | Explore | Discover” mean?
Q: Do you fund your own trips or work with sponsors?
A: We fund our adventures ourselves so we can stay honest and independent. Occasionally, we could collaborate with ethical brands or eco-resorts that share our values. We would always disclose when that happens.
So far, we’d prefer to highlight those places we’ve enjoyed staying or experiencing and share those in the Explore section.
🧳 DIY Travel Philosophy
Q: What do you mean by “DIY Travel”?
A: DIY Travel means planning and booking every journey ourselves — no big tour operators, no pre-packaged itineraries. We research flights, stays, and routes from scratch to build trips that feel personal, flexible, and affordable.
Find inspiration in our Travel Guides or Destinations to see where we’ve been.
Q: Can I use your itineraries for my own trip?
A: Absolutely! That’s what they’re made for. You can adapt our day-by-day plans, routes, and hotel suggestions to your own style — whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, or with friends.
Explore our free itineraries on our Travel Tips & Guides page.
Q: How do you find such unique places to stay?
A: We look beyond the booking engines, searching local websites, small eco-stays, and community-run lodges.
We usually pick a country or region, plan our international flights and then make domestic flights from there.
We also revisit favourite destinations to find what’s changed (or hasn’t). If a place surprises us, we’ll share it.
Q: What’s the benefit of travelling independently?
A: Freedom! And Cost. And to linger longer, take detours, and connect with locals. Travelling this way helps you spend smarter, travel deeper, and feel more humanly connected to each place.
💰 What is TripWorthIt™ ?
Q: What is TripWorthIt™ ?
A: TripWorthIt™ is HindlesWorld’s own UNIQUE way to measure travel value;— not just cost, but how enjoyable the experience truly feels for what you spend. It blends comfort, authenticity, adventure, sustainability, and value into a single score.
→ Explore the tool on our TripWorthIt™ page.
Q: How is the TripWorthIt™ score calculated?
A: We rate destinations using five weighted pillars — Comfort & Ease, Authenticity, Adventure, Sustainability, and Value for Money — each scored across several sub-categories. The final TripWorthIt™ score shows how rewarding a place feels compared to its cost.
Learn more in our post “Is Your Next Holiday Worth the Money?”
And then try the tools on TripWorthIt™
Q: Can travellers contribute their own TripWorthIt™ scores?
A: That’s our goal. As the project grows, we plan to let readers submit their own scores for destinations they’ve experienced, creating the first crowd-sourced TripWorthIt™ index for travel.
We don’t save any of your data. But do let us know if you’ve used the tool and want to highlight somewhere we should (or shouldn’t!) visit. More information about how we [don’t] use your data can be found on our Privacy Policy page.
🗺️ Destinations & Content
Q: Which destinations have you covered so far?
Q: What destinations are coming next?
A: We’re always planning new series: from island-hopping in the Philippines to safaris in Kenya and Tanzania. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or join our newsletter to follow along.
We hate the winter months in the UK if they are mild, wet and grey. Frosty sunny days are fine. But if the weather this winter (2025/26) is like winter 2024/25 then we’re sure to be travelling somewhere then.
Q: Do you revisit places you’ve filmed before?
A: Yes, we often return to destinations to see how they’ve evolved. Comparing “then and now” helps us create deeper travel stories and update our recommendations for readers.
Sometimes there are places where you regret going back. Hoi An in Vietnam is one of those places. In a 2-year gap between 2016 and 2018, the place was ruined by massive development. Soon, the charm will be lost forever.
🎥 Behind the Lens
Q: What cameras and gear do you use?
A: My filming armoury has evolved a lot over the last 10 years. Jez used to use my Lumix DSLR GX8 camera, which has a great zoom lens. But it’s heavy and obviously not waterproof. I matched that with a GoPro, and have upgraded from Hero 8, to 10 and now 12, which is mostly used by Mel.
BUT! We now love the DJI Product family. So have been using a mix of the DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone, DJI Osmo Action 5, and iPhone in Cinematic Mode, and DSLR cameras. Each helps us capture different moods and perspectives for our travel films.
Jez has promised himself a big upgrade IF we ever get to 1,000 subscribers on YouTube 🫣
Q: What software do you edit with?
A: We started out using iMovie but needed something a little more powerful.
All our films are now crafted in Final Cut Pro. We’re still learning the skills as it’s a hugely complex tool, but we are trying to shoot more footage in D-LOG M that allows better colour grading.
For sound design, we’ve started to use Auphonic.com that allows Multitrack combinations of music, sound effects and dialogue and can combine them to produce a more professional output.
For the music, we have run out of ideas on Audio Library on YouTube so now subscribe to Uppbeat.io, which provides some decent alternatives.
We’re hoping that the combination of our narrative pacing, the 4K footage and inspiring soundtracks give our videos a cinematic feel.
Read more about the process on our Been & Scene Blog page
Q: Can you share filming or editing tips?
A: We occasionally post “Behind the Journey” features where we share creative tips, workflows, and lessons from the field.
Check our Explore Vlogs or follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes moments.
🤝 Collaborations & Media
Q: Are you open to collaborations or brand partnerships?
A: We’ve been approached by multiple companies that want to place bitcoin or other adverts on my website or on my videos.
The short answers is “Yes” Happy to collaborate — but only with brands that align with our ethos: sustainable, authentic, and human-centred. Whether you’re a boutique eco-resort or ethical gear brand, we’d love to chat.
→ Visit our Contact page for enquiries.
Q: Can I feature HindlesWorld content on my website or in media?
A: We’re happy to consider features or media requests. Just contact us first for permission, and we can provide credits, images, or short clips if appropriate.
🌐 Community & Support
Q: Can I download your itineraries?
A: Yes! We offer free downloadable itineraries for selected destinations. These include our exact routes, hotels, and local tips.
→ Look for download links on our Travel Guides or specific blog pages. Or use the Search option.
Q: How can I get notified about new videos and posts?
A: Subscribe to our YouTube channel and newsletter to get travel stories, destination guides, and special updates straight to your inbox.
Join here: Newsletter Sign-Up
Q: Can I suggest destinations or give feedback?
A: Absolutely! We love hearing from fellow travellers!
Share your thoughts or suggestions on our Contact page or comment on our latest YouTube video. We also have Comment sections on most of the Blog pieces.
Q: Where can I follow HindlesWorld online?
A: You’ll find us sharing cinematic stories and behind-the-scenes moments here:
And of course on this Blog.
The HindlesWorld Way
HindlesWorld stimulates you to:
What Makes Us Different?
[apart from being free!]
Above all, we don’t just review a place: we bring it to life. Shot on DJI Mini 4 Pro drone, GoPro, iPhone, and DSLR, our vlogs and guides focus on feeling as much as facts.
DIY Luxury (Without the Price Tag)
To put it frankly: we reverse-engineer high-end itineraries and show the DIY version. In short, it’s the same wow, but with fewer zeros. Think boutique stays, standout experiences, and the best value at each step.
Ethical Choices That Matter
With this in mind, we plan trips that seek to do good as they feel: from eco-resorts to responsible elephant sanctuaries. To illustrate that, we spotlight partners who put people and planet first.
Join the Journey
✉️ Got a question we haven’t answered? Contact us — we’d love to help.
Be part of the HindlesWorld community: travel further, explore smarter, discover deeper, and craft trips you’ll remember forever.
If you want see what HindlesWorld has been up to recently, then try some of the links below:
“Travel smarter. Explore Deeper. Discover More. Spend wisely. Feel more. Return refreshed. That’s the HindlesWorld way.”