LORD OF THE COINS | Where to travel based on your LOTR archetype

The Hobbit Archetype: Playful | Peace-loving | Pleasure-seeking

Ahhh idyllic little hobbits with their idyllic little lives. They have a very important lesson to teach us about appreciating the little moments, finding contentment and peace in the now, and romanticising a simple life lived in harmony with the natural world.

For you cottagecore dreamers, here are two destinations that harness the natural beauty of nature, where you too could live out the rest of your life in blissful contentment:

#1 Turf-roofed Village of Mikladalur, Kalsoy Island, Faroe Islands

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Might I entice you with a little grass-roofed home on an island far away from the rat race? 
Between snow-capped mountain peaks and sheer seaside cliffs, little homes with little grass roofs are nestled deep into the lush green valleys of the remote Faroe Islands.  Many of the homes in this Nordic archipelago use the traditional “sod” roofing technique, which protects the charming dwellings from nearly 300 days of rain per year. 

Hobbit-y travellers will love the fairytale villages on Faroe Islands, and for the more Tookish of hobbits there’s much to explore, with dramatic waterfalls, unique wildlife (including cute little puffins!), as well as views of the spectacular Aurora Borealis. 

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

To travel to the Faroe Islands, you can take one of the two currencies used on the islands! The Faroese use both the Danish Krone (DKK) and the Faroese Króna (FOK). We recommend taking and using Danish Krone (DKK) as it’s much easier to exchange, and can be used or exchanged with ease once back in mainland Scandinavia and Europe. Learn more about the Danish Krone here.

#2 Canal Village of Giethoorn, Netherlands

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Rivers > Roads. When I was little, I always dreamed of having rivers instead of roads. It just made sense to me. All I wanted was a world in harmony with nature, filled with crystal clear water and no pollution. Turns out, the brilliant architects and civil planners of the Netherlands were leagues ahead of me, bringing the same dream to life with their canal village of Giethoorn. Little thatch-roofed homes surrounded with flowers are connected by watery routes and picturesque bridges – with most of the village only accessible by foot or by boat.

It’s perfectly charming, and perfectly attuned to a hobbit’s peace-loving temperament.

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

Nearby, there’s also the gorgeous medieval port city of Zwolle, and of course no trip to the Netherlands is complete without visiting Amsterdam. You’ll need to stock up on Euros to visit the Netherlands.
Learn more about budgeting for Europe here.

The Elf Archetype: Graceful | Wise | Mystical

Ahhh the ethereal elves. Tolkien’s favourites. As you might know, the Lord of the Rings trilogy came about long after Tolkien wrote his first elvish fairy stories. They embody beauty, wisdom, grace, and basically, perfection and all we should aspire to.

Of course, there are several places steeped in elvish myth to travel to – from the Celtic myths in Ireland and Scotland, to paying homage to the elves of Scandinavia (with a special shout-out to Iceland). You might even consider the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia as having a rather elvish aura. All of course, beautiful destinations.

However, I’d also like to propose the following: 

#1 Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

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Quinta da Regaleira exists on the eccentric side of mystical. This neo-gothic mansion is as intriguing as it is beautiful – with secret passages, esoteric symbols, and masonry, a Knights Templar initiation well, and a spiral staircase that winds down to a sanctum designed for tarot rituals. 

This romantic and whimsical palace seems fitting for an elf, with moss-covered stone columns embellished with delicate details. The architecture is otherworldly, and ever-so-slightly reminiscent of Rivendell.

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

If you decide to visit Quinta da Regaleira on your way to the Undying Lands, you’ll need to exchange your elvish silver for Euros (remembering that Portugal is a cash-centric country). Find our Travel Money Guide to Portugal here.

#2 Stargazing at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

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“But Ancient Egyptian monuments and temples in all their gilded magnificence are far bolder than the subtle, shimmering ethereality of elvish kingdoms,” I hear you cry.

And I hear you, I do. I’m not too proud to admit that Egypt is a peculiar choice for elves - it has a vastly different mythology, climate and culture to what Tolkien envisioned. But hear me out: elves are really old, and they really like stars.

If elves existed in our world, the perhaps they’d be nostalgic from ages of the past – and Egypt is home to the only Wonder of the Ancient World that still exists today: The Great Pyramid of Giza. Elves are also deeply associated with starlight, and Ancient Egyptians had the same reverence of stars – with the three pyramids of Giza representing and aligning with the stars in Orion’s Belt. Egypt is the perfect place for an elf to lose oneself in starlit reverie. 

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

The national currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP), however it’s difficult to come by before you depart. The Great British Pound (GBP), Euro (EUR) and United States Dollar (USD) are accepted pretty much everywhere, so we recommend taking one those currencies depending on where you’re travelling from and to – change however, might be given in EGP. Remember, Egypt is a predominantly cash country, just make sure to keep it safe and secured on you at all times.  Learn more here. 

The Orc Archetype: Bold | Daring | Adventurous

“But who would identify with an orc?” I hear you ask. Good question. But hear me out.
It’s a hot take, but orcs are kind of jocks, no?

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They’re a bit brutish, sure, but also very orderly and work surprisingly well as a team to get things done for their coach (Sauron) while also scrambling for power within a hierarchical system. They’re also physically fit and agile, fearless in adverse conditions, and (conveniently forgetting the fact that they’re violently oppressive villains with a terribly tragic backstory), love a good expedition. 

So, treating orcs as jock energy, where would you go if you were brave, strong, ambitious, adventurous, thrive in volcanic climates, and dare-I-say rugged?*  

*Please note, for legal purposes this is a joke.

#1 Door To Hell, Darvaza, Turkmenistan

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The Door To Hell. Aptly named. Located in the Karakum Desert of central Turkmenistan, this fiery chasm has been burning for half a century. This hellish gateway was an accidental man-made creation – Soviet geologists were seeking natural gas reserves, but their equipment was too heavy and the cavernous pocket of natural gas collapsed beneath them. To fix the issue of the gas killing natural wildlife in the area, they set it ablaze hoping to burn it all out. Unfortunately, they didn’t realise just how much gas there was, and it’s been burning ever since. Since then, it has become a popular tourist destination; however, earlier this year Turkmenistan’s leader ordered experts to figure out a way to extinguish the Door to Hell, so it won’t look like the gateway to Mordor for much longer.

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

The currency for Turkmenistan is the Turkmenistani Manat (TMT). It’s not a readily accessible currency, so if you’re thinking of going off the beaten path to pay Mordor a visit, take brand new US dollars in small denominations.

#2 Kīlauea Volcano, Big Island, Hawai’i

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Feeling daring and adventurous? Another, more accessible fiery expedition for you fearsome, fearless orcs would be seeing Kīlauea Volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island. It’s the most active volcano on the planet, and is in a near-constant state of eruption. In 2018, the volcano had a major eruption, but the island’s tourism has bounced back. Personally, I’ve been lucky enough to go on a helicopter tour over the volcano to see the glowing rivers of molten lava flowing from above. The experience is breathtaking, thrilling and surreal. Definitely give it a go if you get the chance. But don’t take any lava rocks as souvenirs, lest you incur the wrath of the passionate volcano goddess Pele. 

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

Hawai’i became the 50th state of the USA in 1959, and uses the US dollar. Take both cash and your Currency Pass – most places take card, but you’ll want cash for the delicious local fruit stands, beachside stalls, and for tipping. Find our ultimate guide to budgeting for the USA here.

The Ent Archetype: Nature-loving | Activist | Value-driven

A little bit grumpy, but rightfully so, the ents gave a voice to Tolkien’s love of the natural world. It’s well documented that Tolkien... well, he spent a lot of time describing trees. Humanising them was an act of environmentalism to fight against the industrialism that was rife at the time, and his ents were willing to die for their cause: preserving the wilderness in its wild and natural form.

So if you’re an ent, you probably share these beliefs. And now, more than ever, we need to protect our natural wilderness. 

Here are a couple of destinations where the forests are wild and need protecting:

#1 Yakushima Island, Japan

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Japan has a spiritual heart. The many temples and shrines dotted across Japan’s numerous islands revere deities inseparably linked with the natural world. And when you step into the ancient forests and breathe in the air so rich in mystery, and see first-hand the magnitude of the moss-covered, thousand-year-old trees, it is easy to understand why.

Yakushima is the home of forest spirits, who dwell in yakisugi trees – cedar trees that are at least 1000 years old. The most ancient yakusugi trees are potentially more than 7000 years old. It’s a site of pilgrimage for any wilderness-loving ent.

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

To travel Japan, you’ll need Japanese Yen (JPY)! Cash is the main form of currency in Japan, but card is becoming more welcomed in the bigger cities. Make sure to take cash for all your day-to-day activities, but load up your Currency Pass with yen for your bigger transactions. Not sure how much Japanese yen to take? Find out here.

#2 Rainforests of Borneo

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Borneo is a nature-lover's paradise. From pygmy elephants to sun bears; the Sumatran rhino and clouded leopards; gibbons, macaques, red-leaf monkeys, tarsiers, and of course the orangutan; Borneo is home to a dizzying array of wildlife. And at 130 million years old, the Borneo Rainforest is one of the oldest forests in the world.

If you’re an ent looking to both travel and leave the world in a better place, perhaps try some eco-volunteer programmes in Borneo. This spectacular island is being devastated by land clearing and deforestation, and could use an ent or two to help!

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

Borneo is part Malaysian, part Indonesian, and part Brunei. As such, you’ll need to take either the Malaysian ringgit (MYR), the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), or the Brunei dollar (BND), depending on where you’ll be going. In all these countries, you’ll want to take cash. Learn more about travelling South East Asia here.

If you’re anything like me, then you probably spend a little too much time daydreaming about going feral in the woods. Or sea cave. Mountainous region perhaps? Anywhere with access to a natural spring or waterfall and I would be happy devolve into a cryptid the townsfolk tell cautionary tales about.

Now, many of you might disagree with my hypothesis that Gollum has goblin energy due to the term “goblin.”  However, I believe that if we’re speaking sheerly in vibe, then Gollum epitomises that goblincore energy – existing on the feral side of the fairy-tale spectrum and obsessed with trinkets and treasures. 

If you’ve decided to forsake modern society and go full goblin-mode, then these are the destinations for you:

#1 Fingal’s Cave, Staffa, Scotland

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This mystical sea cave is perfect for the gremlin escapist who loves to dabble in a little bit of fantasy. The unique geological structure of the basalt stone, almost hexagonal in shape, is a wonder of ancient Celtic legend in Scottish and Irish mythology. Known as Uamh-Binn, translating roughly to Cave of Melody, the story goes that this cave is part of the bridge built by an Irish Giant who came to Scotland to fight is arch-rival. Cave of Melody is an apt name too, because the unique structure creates harmonic echoes so beautiful it inspired Felix Mendelssohn’s Helbrides Overture, as well as one of Pink Floyd’s early unreleased songs which is named after the cave. 

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency

To travel to this uninhabited island in Scotland, you’ll need Great British Pounds (GBP) in both cash and on your Currency Pass. Fun fact: on the new polymer GBP £20 banknote features Romantic Artist JMW Turner, who painted this cave in his work Staffa, Fingal’s Cave in the 1830s. Find our UK travel money guide here. 

#2 Blue Grotto, Malta

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For you Gollum-esque creatures who prefer more balmy weather, might I interest you in Malta’s Blue Grotto? Malta is rising in popularity but is still off the well-beaten tourist trails in Europe, and has so many riches to offer. This gorgeous grotto in particular glows vivid azure blue when the sunshine hits the white sandy seafloor, and the cave walls reflect the vibrant colours of the underwater flora. Make sure you visit from morning to noon during summer if you want to experience the full effects of this magical sea cave.

TRAVEL MONEY TIP: Currency
Once upon a time, not too long ago, the chief currency was the Maltese Lira! Now, Malta uses the Euro (EUR). Both cash and card are accepted, so make sure to load up your Currency Pass with Euros and take some cash too!