Hi, I'm Ben! 👋
I'm the one-person team behind DayPack, and I'm absolutely obsessed with travel. Like, "planning trips while eating breakfast" obsessed."Researching hidden gems while brushing teeth" obsessed."Dreaming about next adventure while falling asleep" obsessed.
How This All Started 🚀
The short version of how DayPack came to be
It's 2:07 AM on Sunday night. I've got 47 tabs open. Google Maps is silently judging me. TripAdvisor wants me to climb the same mountain three different ways. My coffee is colder than my will to live.
At that moment, I realized: I wasn't planning a trip to Japan… I was auditioning for the role of "Human Spreadsheet."
So I snapped. And then I built DayPack—an AI travel sidekick that slays the Tab Monster. No more juggling 47 websites. No more falling into "Top 10 Tourist Trap" rabbit holes. Just personalized, chaos-free itineraries, faster than you can slurp down your favourite bowl of ramen.
DayPack: because travel planning shouldn't require a PhD in Tabs Management. ✈️
Fun Travel Facts About Me 🎯
The things that make my travel style uniquely mine
I take way too many photos on every trip. My camera is full of random photos of random things. I'm not sure why I do this, but I do. After getting back from a trip, I'll look at my photos and be like "what the fudge was I taking a photo of that?"
Yes, I'm that weird person who actually enjoys airplane food! There's something magical about eating at 30,000 feet. I've tried everything from traditional airline meals to local specialties on international flights. Is that strange?
I have a strict "no fast food" rule when traveling. Why eat at McDonald's when you can try the local street vendor? I'd rather risk food poisoning from a questionable food cart than eat something I could get at home. It's led to some interesting stomach adventures, but also the best meals of my life!
My Favorite Travel Tips 💡
Hard-earned wisdom from getting lost, eating questionable food, and missing trains
Always get lost once: Some of my best discoveries happened when I was completely turned around. Venice taught me that getting lost is a feature, not a bug!
Public transport > Taxis: You'll see more, meet locals, and save money. Plus, nothing beats the view from a tram window.
Download offline maps: Because Google Maps doesn't work when you're in a mountain village with no signal (learned that the hard way).
Eat where locals eat: If there's a line of locals, get in it. If the menu is only in the local language, even better!
Street food rules: The sketchier the setup, the better the food. My best pad thai came from a cart that looked like it was held together by hope.
Learn food words: "Delicious," "thank you," and "where's the bathroom" in the local language will get you far.
Put the phone down: Sometimes the best memories are the ones you don't photograph. Just soak it in and be present.
Golden hour magic: Wake up early or stay out late. The light at sunrise and sunset makes everything look like a postcard.
Talk to strangers: The best photos often come with the best stories. Ask locals where to go, not just where to eat.
Embrace the awkward: You'll make cultural faux pas. Laugh about it, learn from it, and don't let it stop you from trying.
Pack light, pack right: You need less than you think. The best souvenirs are memories, not things that collect dust.
Be flexible: Plans change, trains get delayed, restaurants close. The best adventures are often unplanned detours.