Hi, I’m Levente Kálmán (you’ll also see my name written as Kálmán Levente).
I’m based in Manchester — Salford, technically — though I’m originally Hungarian, from Transylvania.
Levi’s Trips is where I collect the kind of travel notes I always end up making for myself anyway. In other words, it’s a place for practical details, small observations, and context that’s easy to miss if you’re just skimming a guidebook.
It’s not a polished travel guide, and it’s definitely not influencer content.
Instead, think of it as a personal notebook that happens to be public.
Why this site exists
I travel because I enjoy understanding how places actually work once you arrive.
For example, how daily life feels, how things are organised, and what shapes a place beyond the surface.
Often, I’m just as interested in why something is the way it is as I am in seeing it.
For a long time, I shared these thoughts through Instagram stories. At the time, that worked well, and people seemed to enjoy the added context — not just photos, but also observations, history, and explanations. However, stories disappear quickly, are hard to organise, and are almost impossible to search later.
Because of that, this blog is my attempt to give those ideas a more permanent home. It’s still very much a work in progress, and over time it will probably change as I learn what works best.
What you’ll find here
Most posts focus on practical, on-the-ground details, mixed with context and personal observations.
As a result, the content often includes things like:
- transport quirks and logistics
- costs, value for money, and trade-offs
- cultural or historical background, where it helps explain what you’re seeing
- places that look simple online but feel very different in real life
- small tips that don’t always make it into guidebooks
Whenever possible, I write from direct experience. If something is subjective, speculative, or based on limited time in a place, I try to make that clear.
How I travel
I’m not a luxury traveller, and I don’t chase five-star experiences.
Instead, I care much more about value for money — what feels worth it, what doesn’t, and what quietly turns out to be a tourist trap.
In general, I avoid very crowded, over-touristed places when I can. I tend to prefer areas that feel more lived-in and everyday. Likewise, I’m not interested in ticking boxes or rushing between highlights.
Rather than chasing must-sees, I’d rather stay long enough to notice patterns, routines, and small details — even if that means missing a few headline attractions.
That preference inevitably shapes what I write about here.
Background and interests
I speak or understand several languages — Hungarian (native), English, some Spanish, and a little Romanian. Because of that, language and context often play a role in how I experience places.
Beyond travel itself, I have a long-standing interest in history, aviation, and technology. Occasionally, those topics show up here when they feel relevant rather than forced.
You may see my name written in different orders, but it’s still me.
For now, I’m based in Manchester, and this site is my personal travel project.
Get in touch
If you have a question, a correction, or just want to say hi, you can reach me via the contact form. I read everything, even if I don’t always reply immediately.
In the end, if something here helps you avoid a small mistake on your own trip — or makes a place make more sense — then the site is doing its job.