An interior design enthusiast has said that the secret to a stylish home is your curtains.

Doing it wrong can make your house look cheap.

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There were some curtain trends she couldn’t tolerate.

For example, she would rather burn the ‘clunky’ decor than have it in her home.

Throw it away and opt for a custom look for much less, she said.

Felicia appears as Avec Moi Interiors (@avecmoi_interiors) on TikTok.

She proudly describes herself as a ‘self-taught interior designer’.

She loves all things ‘home and DIY’.

But her window treatments after has gone viral with over 123,000 likes and spawned a lively comments section.

“Things that make your house look cheap,” she said in her video.

She started by directing her anger at a particular style.

SLEEVE HOOKLESS CURTAINS

“If you have these in your house, burn them,” she said.

She was referring to the hookless sheet.

“These are not only large and bulky, but also visually heavy and expensive.

“We’re going to opt for custom curtains instead,” she said.

Don’t worry about the costs because there was a way to do this without any strain on your bank balance, she thought.

“You look for a ring and hook system or folding hooks, from Amazon or Ikea.

“That will help you achieve this custom look on a budget,” she wrote.

DRAPERY BAR DETAIL

Who knew there was a proper position for a curtain rod? Felicia did that.

“If it’s installed right above your window, it looks cheap,” she said.

“Make sure it is installed two inches below your ceiling line or molding.”

Follow this tip and the ceiling will look higher.

“It will also achieve the bespoke designer look we are aiming for,” she said.

MORE DRAPERY BAR DETAIL

Who knew where the curtain rod was actually supposed to end? Felicia did that.

“Your curtain rod shouldn’t end where the window ends,” she said.

“Instead, you want it to extend at least 12 inches beyond the window frame.”

CURTAIN STACKING DETAIL

Drape stacking is one thing and Felicia explained why we should all pay attention.

“Next, we want to make sure we create the right visual stack for our curtains.

“Stack refers to the way curtains look when they are pulled back,” she said.

The secret is that it should look proportional to the room.

“The way you know you have the right stack is to measure the width of the window and multiply it by two.

“That will give you the total width of the curtains you should put on your windows,” she said.

CURTAIN LENGTH DETAIL

The margin for error is small and Felicia showed how to get it right every time.

First, make sure they are never too short. That’s a faux pas too far.

“Brushing the floor is absolutely ideal,” she said.

“You want your curtains to kiss the top of your floor.”

Soon your curtains will break through the floor and that’s okay, but with one condition.

“If you want to break them, make sure they are folded and organized properly,” she said.

Finally, longer than comfortable pooling is mentioned.

“Not ideal, but still better than short,” she said.

Commentators had a field day.

“I totally disagree with the curtains. The rings look like my grandma’s house,” said one.

“Custom shutters instead. Curtains are outdated and difficult to clean,” said another.

But there were those who agreed with her recommendations.

“All these things you mentioned are very true,” one fan wrote.

“My mother has been a professional designer for over 50 years and I learned all this,” said another.

A HOME decor expert has shared her affordable DIY garden fountain project.

The set piece took her less than an hour and came together with the supplies she had on hand.

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Lisa (@asimplystylednest) edited the water fountain for her vegetable garden in a TikTok video.

“Build your own solar fountain. All you need are two pots (these are from Lowe’s), gravel, river pebbles, plants and a solar fountain from Amazon,” she said.

She added gravel to a large ceramic bowl to weigh the piece down.

Once the gravel was leveled, she placed a matching ceramic pot in the center and filled the side surrounding the pot with more gravel.

For a pop of color, she transferred plants, roots and all, to the gravel on the sides of the bowl.

When all the sides of the bowl were full of flowers, she filled the pot with the remaining gravel and some river pebbles.

She poured a full bucket of water into the pot, into which a floating object was anchored $15 Sun Fountain she picked it up on Amazon.

“A fun and easy project for your patio or garden that takes less than an hour!” she said.

People praised her creative and affordable garden decoration project.

“Really beautiful! Please note: I have the solar foundation in my birdbath and the water evaporates quickly. You will have to refill the water often,” said one commenter.

Lisa didn’t think much about their concerns.

“I refill my garden hose when the level drops!” she replied.

One viewer suggested upgrading the fountain so it stands out at night.

“It would be cute if solar lights were also put in the bottom well so you can show it off at night,” they said.

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AN outside-the-box garden guru has made a special household item suitable for outdoor use.

Her tip was both easy and environmentally friendly.

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Sarah Teresinksi (@redeux_style) was already addicted to her hacking which allows her to ‘upcycle’ a common household item.

All it took to give her backyard an instant upgrade were some hooks that normally fit on the back of closet doors, which she then placed on her fence.

This time, however, the hooks were used to hold baskets plants instead of blouses.

And the more hooks you have, the better, because you can load even more baskets on them.

Her tip works for both long hooks and shorter types that tend to have more of a decorative element.

She recommended checking out Dollar Tree for inexpensive hooks that bend easily.

The money-saving store sells wall-mountable metal hooks for $1.25 — and many buyers had already found their own use for the affordable purchase.

“I love these! They are great for hanging purses and mini backpacks! But also as jewelry!” wrote one buyer.

“I am so happy with this little bracket. It is so convenient. I hung three Dollar Tree white waste bins on the wall to store and organize artificial flowers,” said another satisfied customer.

And the tips kept coming.

If you don’t have a handle on your basket, all you need is a small zip tie that attaches to your hooks. Just add flowers and your spring garden has begun.

She also had another trick up her sleeve.

It turns out that towels can also be hung on the hooks of the outdoor fence next to a swimming pool or on a sprinkler.

Although she’s also mastered hanging laundry baskets on her wrought iron zip-tie fence, you can still use the same hangers on any fence — and they work perfectly for pool storage.

Her fans were grateful for the advice and eager to try out the hooks for themselves.

“This is life changing. Thank you,” said one follower.

“I think this is a great idea! I have a privacy fence and four huskies so plants get destroyed by the dogs. Now I can hang them on the fence!” said another viewer.

“OK – this will be used by my pool this year! Thanks!” said a third audience member.

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A make-up artist has revealed the 12 cheap Primark buys you need to try.

So if you’re a beauty lover but on a budget, listen first and then sprint to Primark.

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Elizabeth Marley, a professional makeup artist, said the eyebrow pencils are seriously “underrated” while the powder blushers are “really affordable.”

The beauty professional took to TikTok to show off her favorite Primark purchases, leaving many open-mouthed.

She said: “These are the best Primark beauty picks, approved by a make-up artist.

“The cream bronzer [Bronze Whip, £4.50] is so Niceit’s just a shame that it’s only available in one color.

“If you can find your shade in this foundation [Moisturising Foundation and Contour stick, £3]I really appreciate it.

“Primark eyebrow products [Brow Pencil, £3] are so underrated and so affordable.

“I also really appreciate some of their tools, including these concealer sponges [Concealer Blender Sponges, pack of two, £1.50]and also some of their newer facial brushes [highlighter brush, £4].”

Not only this, but Elizabeth also swore by the chain’s cheap lip liners and lip oils, continuing: “I’ve always been a fan of Primark’s lip products, especially their lip liners [£1].

“And also this Vitamin Lip Oil [£2.50] is very pleasant.”

The Primark shopper also shared her opinion about the blushers and hair clips.

She added: “These Charlotte Tilbury inspired blushes [Pro Matte Cream Blush, £4.50] are beautiful. They also do a contour stick, which is beautiful.

“They have some very affordable powder blushers [High Pigment Blusher, £1.50] which I actually review and use in my kit.

It’s so good for the price

Elizabeth Marley

“These clips [Magic Hair Clips, £2.50] are great for when you’re doing makeup.”

Finally, Elizabeth shared her favorite ‘standout’ purchases, concluding: “Then my two standout skincare products are this lip serum [Hyaluronic Acid lip serum, £2.50].

“And also the vitamin-enriched base [Prep+Protect Vitamin Enriched Moisturising Primer, £4.50].”

The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @elizabethmarleymakeuphas clearly left many with their mouths open as it quickly racked up 19,100 views.

I love the lip serum

TikTok user

Social media users were baffled by the cheap purchases and took to the comments to express their views.

One person said: “I love the lip serum.”

To this, Elizabeth replied, “It’s so good for the price.”

Meanwhile, another added: “MUA myself, love Primark.”

In response, the makeup pro said: “I like to hear that.”

Fabulous pays for your exclusive stories. Just email: fantasticdigital@the-sun.co.uk and put EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.

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Homebuyers are being warned of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ mortgage deals as interest rates continue to rise.

Mortgage interest rates have risen slightly under uncertain market conditions.

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Swap rates, which underlie fixed-rate mortgages, have fluctuated in recent months, causing lenders to adjust their interest rates.

As a result, the shelf life of a mortgage product has fallen from 28 days in February to 15 days in March – a six-month low.

But mortgage choice recorded its biggest month-on-month increase in six months and the number of options for borrowers reached more than 6,000 – the largest number in 16 years.

Deals available on the open market can be taken off the market and repriced at any time.

The rates offered when deals are revised may fall or rise from previous levels, but this all depends on the current financial climate.

Currently, the average two- and five-year fixed rates rose to 5.76% and 5.34% respectively between early February and early March.

Halifax, Santander and Co-op all announced last week that they would increase their rates.

It comes after lenders including HSBC and Natwest signed cheaper deals only to come back with higher rates.

Rachel Springall, financial expert at Moneyfacts, said: “Lenders responded to the change in swap rates, which led to numerous repricings of fixed rate deals, undoubtedly making it a challenging situation for borrowers and brokers to keep abreast of the changes.

“Interest rate volatility led to a rise in both the overall average two- and five-year fixed rates, the opposite direction that borrowers may have hoped for following the positive rate cuts recorded a month earlier.”

Nicholas Mendes, of mortgage adviser John Charcoal, said deals appear in such a way that you “blink and miss it”.

He added: “As mortgage rates are constantly being revised, so much so that we have seen lenders repricing twice a week, with some lenders having little to late notice of a rate change.”

It comes ahead of the Bank of England’s interest rate decision, which will be announced on Thursday.

The central bank is expected to keep interest rates stable at 5.25%.

But the Bank has indicated at recent meetings that cuts are likely in the future.

How can I secure a cheap interest rate on my mortgage?

respond quickly

In a competitive market, good mortgage deals can disappear quickly.

Nick said it’s best to act quickly once you’ve found a suitable mortgage rate.

He said: “To avoid delays, please submit your application immediately and provide all requested documentation.”

Check your credit score

If you have bad credit, the first thing you can do is find out what your score is.

Nick said: “Your credit score plays an important role in the mortgage approval process.

“Check your credit score beforehand and take steps to improve it if necessary.

“A higher credit score can help you qualify for better mortgage rates.”

Nick said this should better enable you to get a mortgage that suits you.

You can check your credit file for free at websites like ClearScore and Credit Karma.

If you find that you have bad credit, it doesn’t mean that providers won’t lend you money.

Basically, get a mortgage

A mortgage is basically a lender’s official estimate of how much they are willing to lend you based on what you can afford.

It can be quite useful for those looking for a first home as it shows that you are a serious buyer.

Nick said: ‘Keep this in mind before you start house hunting, as it will not only speed up the process when you find the right property.

“Pre-approval shows sellers that you are a serious buyer and can give you a competitive advantage. It will also flag any problem.”

To get an agreement in principle, you can go to a mortgage broker and see what deals are available that you might qualify for.

It is important to remember that a broker may charge a fee to prepare an agreement in principle for you. So ask about this first.

You can also go directly to the lender offering a deal you are interested in.

Going to a lender doesn’t mean you have to borrow from them when it comes to applying for a mortgage, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck with one.

Gather the necessary documents

When you apply for a mortgage, you must be honest and upfront with the mortgage broker and the lender.

Gather all your personal information and be sure to avoid disclosing any information that could deter a lender from closing the mortgage at the last minute.

For example, if you have recently gone on maternity leave and do not disclose this to the lender, this will likely be reflected on pay slips and bank statements, which could negatively impact your application.

For example, working shorter hours should also be made public for the same reason.

Get mortgage advice

It may be tempting to go straight to a bank or building society for your first mortgage, but this can seriously limit your options.

Nick said visiting a real estate agent six months in advance can be helpful in helping you determine what your maximum purchase price will be.

Nick said: “Mortgage brokers can help you navigate the mortgage market and put you in touch with lenders offering competitive rates.

“They have access to a wide range of loan products and may be able to find deals you wouldn’t discover on your own.

“They will also be aware of any market changes or repricing from lenders.”

A broker can review a wider range of products and advise you on the right choice for your circumstances, as well as assess any hidden costs that can sometimes be difficult to find.

However, keep in mind that they charge a fee for their services, so you should factor that into your costs.

CONSUMERS may no longer have to pay top dollar for premium cameras and gaming on their next smartphone.

Technology giant Qualcomm has unveiled brand new technology to boost upcoming budget devices with the latest AI features normally reserved for expensive handsets.

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The company’s best chip is currently in mobile phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which tend to have a higher price tag.

That’s why Qualcomm has come up with a new version – called Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 – to bring some premium features to the cheaper end of the market.

It is expected to appear on future handsets from the likes of Honor, iQOO, realme, Redmi and Xiaomi in the coming months.

So if you’re considering buying an expensive new smartphone because of all the new AI features, you might want to wait a little longer.

We’ve already seen how Snapdragon – Manchester United’s new shirt sponsor from the start of the 2024/25 season – has led the way in the arrival of massive new AI tools.

These include advanced photography features, like the ability to magically expand a photo you’ve already taken beyond what the lens can see.

Many of these tricks are performed on the device.

This means you don’t have to be online and none of your data has to go to the cloud, making things like AI voice assistants a lot more secure.

Qualcomm claims the new chip boosts audio capabilities with lossless high-definition sound and hyper-realistic mobile gaming.

With new devices launching within the next few months with the new chip on board, we won’t have to wait long to find out if the upgrade will pay off.

“We are excited to introduce the latest addition to our premium Snapdragon 8 lineup, our most premium mobile offering, bringing a host of exceptional, curated capabilities to more consumers,” said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile phones. at Qualcomm Technologies.

The announcements come just a few weeks after Qualcomm unveiled a mega upgrade for Wi-Fi connectivity and faster 5G for upcoming smartphones.

A new system known as X80 5G Modem-RF uses AI to improve 5G speeds.

But that’s not all, as Qualcomm claims it will rid your phone of other common issues like service quality and coverage.

COMPANY called Nothing brought a breath of fresh air to the busy smartphone scene in 2021.

And now the British company is hoping to do it again for those on a budget with the new Nothing Phone 2a.

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Starting at £319 this is a very attractive price tag in today’s mobile world, but does it add up to a good quality device worth considering?

Read on for our full review.

Nothing Phone 2a: Look and feel

Nothing Phones stand out for their quite unique design, led by the quirky Glyph lighting system on the back.

For those who don’t know, the Glyth light strips flash in a variety of ways of your choosing, such as for notifications, as a volume indicator, or as a timer – think of it as a mini dance floor in the palm of your hand.

The Glyth lighting thankfully survived on the 2a, but has been scaled back quite a bit compared to its bigger brother, the Nothing Phone 2.

There are now just three light strips, compared to the 11 on the Nothing Phone 2 – and they’re concentrated on the top third of the handset, rather than the entire surface.

It’s certainly a consideration for anyone tired of breaking the bank on a smartphone

As someone who really likes the Glyth feature, it’s sad to see it reduced, but I can understand why there needs to be some wiggle room to keep the overall cost down, which is why I’m glad it’s in some way another form remains.

An important point to note about the back is that it’s plastic and not glass like previous Nothing Phones – which is another way the company has seemingly cut corners to reduce overall costs.

They don’t look all that different, but the plastic is more sensitive to fingerprints and will scratch more easily.

As for the display, it’s a 6.78-inch screen that delivers sharp, bright and colorful results.

Nothing Phone 2a: Performance

Nothing has swapped the chipsets that power the device and switched to MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200 Pro.

General apps ran quite quickly, although switching between apps wasn’t as smooth as I’d like.

But games performed surprisingly smoothly considering the price.

The maximum amount of storage you can get is 256GB, which isn’t much if you like to take a lot of photos and videos – and there’s no microSD support either, leaving you reliant on the cloud or staying super tidy with what you keep on your handset.

In terms of functionality, there aren’t any AI tools making headlines like we’ve seen with other recent smartphone launches.

The Nothing Phone 2a runs Android 14 and Nothing has committed to three years of major Android updates and four years of security updates, which is less than most rivals.

Nothing Phone 2a: Battery

The battery measures 5,000 mAh, which is the same size as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but so are some mid-range devices.

Nothing claims that you can get up to two days of use and especially after a day of reasonable use (watching videos, surfing the internet and light gaming) my battery was about half empty.

The Nothing Phone 2a does not have a charging brick in the box, but it does have a USB-C cable.

Charging up to 45W is supported, meaning I can get a full charge from zero in about an hour.

One feature that has been removed is wireless charging.

Nothing Phone 2a: Camera

The Nothing Phone 2a has a dual 50-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

It took some pretty decent photos, although some parts lack sharp detail.

And since there’s only a 2x digital zoom, you don’t expect to get a great close-up photo of something that’s far away.

Taking photos in low light at night went well, although some elements felt too artificially brighter.

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A WELLNESS enthusiast has an easy way to make your home smell like an oasis of calm, without harsh chemicals.

She shared her cheesy recipe full of kitchen items that will make your house smell so good that people can’t help but compliment the scent.

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Alley (@ally.renee1) is passionate about all things natural, from beauty and health to DIY hacks.

She showed viewers in a TikTok video how to make a non-toxic and affordable concoction to keep your home smelling impeccable and cozy.

“People will compliment your home as soon as they walk in. It will touch them,” she said.

She even joked that they would wonder if it was the Bath and Body Works candles.

Step one is to grab a fruity citrus element and for this mix she chose an orange and a lemon.

The ingredients also include an apple, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and the spice cardamom black.

Then she filled a large pot with water and brought it to a boil on the stove.

Next, Ally cut three slices each of her citrus fruits and apples.

“Some people like to use the peel. It smells so good,” she added.

Immediately afterwards she ‘plopped’ them into the jar with her cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and cardamom.

She joked that it would be a great thing to do when “your boo thing comes around.”

She topped it off with a few dashes of nutmeg as the final step.

“It’s going to smell like apple pie or peach cobbler in here,” she said with a smile on her face.

“I do this with cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger and cardamom and drink it as tea. So delicious and the house smells wonderful too!” one viewer commented.

“Simmer for the WIN!!!” another wrote.

“I love a good simmer,” one TikTok user added.

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With a SMALL, budget-friendly upgrade, you can give your bathroom the feel of a five-star hotel in minutes.

A home expert revealed the change she made that gave her bathroom an instant boost.

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In her videoJulie Sousa (@de_avantgarde) showed her followers a before and after comparison of her bathroom.

Using a simple hack, the TikToker made her shower look less cluttered and more luxurious.

“If you want to take your bathroom to the next level, don’t leave your bottles like that,” she told her viewers.

Julie showed her audience her shower products, which she had placed on the edge of her bathtub.

“The installation is so much more stylish,” she explained as she showed off her shower gel and shampoo, which she had mounted to the wall with hooks.

“I hung this two years ago with Command Strips, it looks great.”

The tenant-friendly self-adhesive product is available on Amazon for just $9.

Julie explained to her followers how she made the objects stick to the tiled surface.

“[It was] a combination of bleaching the area and then, when dry, cleaning it with rubbing alcohol,” she said.

“I was worried at first that it wouldn’t hold up, but I haven’t had any problems at all.”

Her followers shared their thoughts on the home hack in the comments section.

“That bathroom is a real spaaaaa,” wrote one impressed viewer.

“Life changing!! I did this because of your videos and I’m obsessed!! Thank you!!” said another TikTok user.

“Okay, but I have multiple products depending on my mood and skin that day,” a third person joked.

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Coach trips can be a great way to see more on your holiday, as new landscapes unfold outside your window.

But what if the journey covers thousands of miles… still tempted?

Here we reveal some of the toughest bus services in the world, which might make you wonder who that would be.

From a two-and-a-half-day journey through eight countries in Europe to a five-day ride through the Amazon rainforest, it’s all a regular, direct service with no stops. Scroll down and discover the routes with the longest route at the bottom.

Europe

Lagos, Portugal – Sofia, Bulgaria: 2d 3pm

Perhaps no bus journey benefits more from the EU’s open borders policy than the Union Ivkoni service from the coastal city of Lagos, in the Portuguese Algarve, to the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

The bus travels approximately 3,991 km through eight countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria. The two-and-a-half-day trip will include stops in every country except Serbia, the company said.

Each bus has a toilet on board and has several scheduled breaks per day.

A one-way ticket costs £122.57 ($156) in May and there are several buses every week.

Visit en.union-ivkoni.com

Bordeaux, France – Bucharest, Romania: 2d 2h

Another contender for the longest bus journey in Europe is the FlixBus service from Bordeaux, France, to the Romanian capital Bucharest.

The bus covers a total of 3,173 km and travels through parts of France, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary on a two-day, two-hour journey from Western to Eastern Europe and has three scheduled breaks each day. said.

Ticket prices in May start at £94.99 one way.

Onboard facilities include a toilet, free WiFi and USB charging points for each passenger.

Visit shop.flixbus.co.uk

North America

Los Angeles, USA – San Salvador, El Salvador: 4d 3h

US Tours operates a regular service from Los Angeles, sunny California, to San Salvador, El Salvador.

The four-day journey covers an epic distance of 5,008 kilometers through four countries: the US, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.

A one-way ticket costs £230 ($294).

Los Angeles, California – Houston, Texas, USA: 1d 9h

GreyhoundThe longest continuous bus service in North America is the US1001 service from Los Angeles to Houston, Texas, the company revealed.

The route covers 2,374 km (1,475 miles) in one day and nine hours and passes through four states: California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

On board the bus, passengers can use a toilet, free WiFi and USB charging points.

Passengers can stretch their legs and stock up on food and drinks during five scheduled breaks during the journey.

A single ticket costs £105 ($135) in May. Several buses run from Los Angeles Union Station every day.

Visit shop.greyhound.com

South America

Lima, Peru – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 5d 1h

This service, offered by Trans Acreana, covers 3,989 miles (6,420 km) in five days and one hour, and includes one border crossing between Peru and Brazil.

The route passes through Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire in the Peruvian Andes, passing through part of the Amazon rainforest along the way.

The bus makes three stops a day “for personal hygiene and meals,” according to the company’s website.

A one-way ticket costs £163 ($207) and includes filtered water and onboard Wi-Fi.

Visit www.transacreana.com.br/en.

San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela – Buenos Aires, Argentina: 5d 5h

See the longest bus journey on our list: the Lines of the Andes bus service from San Antonio del Tachira to Buenos Aires.

The journey covers 5,072 miles (8,162 km). five days, five hours and passes through six countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina.

A single ticket costs £368 ($465) in May.

Visit lineasdelosandes.com

Costs may vary depending on travel date and booking date.