There are few things in the world more wonderful than getting to travel but one thing that a lot of people don’t seem to realise is just how personal travelling can actually be. Sure, it’s something that almost all of us enjoy doing and get a lot out of but the kind of travelling that you do is going to be very different based on a whole number of different factors. Everything from the kind of person you are to how much time you have to travel to the people in your life are going to influence what kind of trip is right for you. Of course, it’s not always easy to know exactly what kind of travel is right for you since most of us don’t have the chance to sample every variety and figure out what suits us best. However, there are always ways to figure out what your preferred travelling style really is. With that in mind, here are some of the most popular forms of travel to help you figure out which one is right for you.
Whether you are going on an extended trip or just heading to another country for some well-earned rest, the very fact that you’re going to another country can be a shock to the system for some people. Yes, there is that spirit of adventure in going to another country, but sometimes we feel like we need those little home comforts to keep us on an even keel. But when we are heading to another country there are so many things to keep track of but what are the essentials that we need to know about in the run-up to leaving the runway?(more…)
Saving money for anything in life is a lot more challenging than actually spending it. However, all households will have the ability to save money in life, and it can help to be a money saver so that big expenditures in your life aren’t too difficult to manage. Here are some tips for saving money on a holiday,(more…)
Booking an adventure vacation is such an exciting time, as there’s no doubt that thoughts of fun and excitement will be whizzing through your mind. Visiting a faraway extreme destination can be an amazing experience and a great opportunity for you to make new memories, however there are also many risks and dangers that you must consider in order to stay safe and healthy throughout your trip. Failing to consider your security when embarking upon any expedition will leave you open to harm that might otherwise have been avoided, and this could really put a dampener on your holiday. So, if you’ve got a big adventure coming up and you’d like to know more about how you can reduce the risks and have the best time possible, then read on for some of the best tips and tricks that you can utilize today!
Eating Sensibly
One of the most important things you must pay attention to whilst in any exotic location is the food that you eat. Each culture has different hygiene standards, and this means that diseases and illnesses spread easily, often with painful side effects. Though street vendors may make a show to draw you in and entice you with delicious smells, it’s likely that they do not have access to a hand washing materials and have very low cleanliness levels overall. Always be smart and assess the situation before you purchase any food, looking for things such as cleaning stations and proper food preparation areas that look sanitary and organised. Learning a small amount of the language regarding meals and food items will be of great benefit, as often menus will have no english (or pictures) and you might find yourself ordering something that you didn’t quite expect. Staying hydrated in any hotter locations is essential, but make sure that you are accessing bottled water and never drinking from fountains or natural sources, no matter how fresh they appear to be.
Assess Your Surroundings
You mustn’t let your guard down at any point during your adventure vacation, and make sensible assessments of your surroundings and each situation that you find yourself in. Even the most idyllic and picturesque of places can be full of pickpockets or other criminals, so make sure that you always have your bag sealed shut and close to your person, whilst regularly looking around you for people that may cause a problem. It’s not difficult to keep your wits about you, but it really pays off. You don’t want to be caught up in an uncomfortable situation, but if you are then its important that you have access to medical care should you need it. Having insurance for your adventure vacation is so vital, as this will cover the costs of the services that you use. Don’t be afraid to pursue legal action if you fall victim to a crime during your trip, as you can find a law firm that is more than ready to provide you with the information and support you need to seek proper justice.
Dress For The Environment
In order to stay comfortable throughout your adventure vacation, you must make an effort to dress for the environment which you are in. This means that whenever you decide to go out on uneven ground, you put on a pair of walking boots to protect your ankles and gain more grip. Or if you’re headed out on a particularly sunny day, make an effort to wear light coloured, loose fitting clothing to stay cool, and a sunhat and glasses to stop those harmful UV rays from reaching your most delicate areas. If you’re in an area that has a strong religious or cultural background, do some research to make sure that there are no requirements (such as head scarves) so that you do not upset or offend any locals or stand out from the crowd like a sore thumb.
Reducing risks during an adventure vacation may seem a little tricky, but with these handy hacks you can make sure that you are as safe as possible throughout the duration of your trip. Always be mindful whenever you purchase food, as you do not want to catch a tummy bug or any other illness due to unhygienic preparation. Assess your surroundings and do not let your guard down, remembering not to be too trusting with people you have recently met. Dress for the environment by packing walking shoes for any hikes, and light cool clothing to avoid overheating, and try not to pack any junk as this will do nothing more than add weight to your case.
If you have decided to embark on your next solo travel adventure, the chances are that you are feeling those pangs of panic set in. You may have traveled before and you might have enjoyed immersing yourself in new cultures, trying new cuisine and marveling at new vistas, but staying safe has always been a concern of yours. While you can be as vigilant as possible, it can be hard to stay one hundred percent safe at all times.
Being safe means protecting your money, keeping your gadgetry away from prying hands and ensuring that your personal safety is not compromised. Having a wanderlust itch that needs scratching may mean that you hot foot it to destinations that are not renowned for the safety of travelers. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go, but it does mean that you need to be more conscious of your own security. Read on to discover how you can stay safe while traveling.
Get The Lingo
If you are heading to a country that doesn’t have English as an official language, it’s important that you learn some of the languages before you set foot on a plane. Having the basic greetings under your belt alongside some phrases that you might need in an emergency situation could help you feel more confident about communicating with locals overseas. Learning the language of a country that you are traveling to also helps locals to warm to you more. They will see that you have made the effort to immerse yourself on a more meaningful level rather than simply shouting at them in English. Be a responsible traveler and learn how to ask for a doctor or for help. Hopefully, you won’t ever need to use it, but it’s great to know.
Excursions
There are plenty of destinations that are ready for tourists. Countries like China, for example, have wonders of the world that people from all over the globe flock to. This means that, while there are plenty of exceptional official tours to the Great Wall of China available from Beijing, there will also be plenty of scam artists advertising poorly designed tours. This could mean that you end up on a substandard coach tour. The vehicles used are substandard and you may even find yourself with a dodgy driver resulting in an accident. This may mean that you need to utilize your insurance and seek the services of bus accident attorneys. If you are going for an organized tour, check out any company that you are looking to do business online and pay a little extra for a tour with a great reputation.
You could always opt for a self-planned excursion. While there won’t be safety in numbers with an official guide, you can still navigate your way safely across a foreign land. Stick to official transport and never get into an unregistered taxi. Keep your wits about you, have your smartphone charged up, and you should stay safe.
Keep Your Kit With You
While you may have a hostel room with a lockable safe, many people still prefer to keep their personal belongings with them at all times. This is a sound strategy. Make use of discrete money belts that you can keep hidden under your clothes. You can keep your passport, documentation and cash in there.
When you come to pack for your trip overseas, stick to a front-loading backpack rather than a hard backed wheelie suitcase. These aren’t practical and you will need to put them into the hold of any flight. This can increase the chances of your luggage getting lost, and it wastes time when you land at your destination. Keeping your belongings with you at all times, using appropriate locks and keeping your gadgetry to hand should help you to stay safe.
Only Go For Official Cash Withdrawals
Forget about going down unofficial routes to withdraw cash. While you might get a better exchange rate, you also run the risk of your card being cloned or skimmed meaning that your personal and confidential details and financial information could end up in the hands of fraudsters. You don’t want your trip to be ruined because all of a sudden you find that your account has been wiped out.
Stay In A Group At Night
If you are part of an organized tour, or even if you are a solo traveler staying in hostels, try and stay close with a group when out at night. Even the safest tourist destinations can take on a different vibe when night falls. If you head to a nightclub, keep an eye on your drink, don’t get too tipsy and be responsible. Yes, you can have a good time, but you need to stay in control. Don’t head home alone and always stick with somebody else so you are never alone in a strange place. Keep your drinks to bottles and never leave it unattended for your own personal safety.
Don’t Be A Hero
While you like to think of yourself as a kind-hearted and caring individual, if you see something untoward going on, don’t be like a bull in a china shop and rush into a dangerous situation. Call law enforcement and go and get help. You don’t have to try and play the hero in an effort to halt a bad situation. And if you find yourself on the receiving end of a dangerous encounter, do what the perpetrator asks. If they want your camera, give it to them. You are better being alive and without some photos rather than not here at all. If you find yourself in real danger, forget screaming. Shout ‘Fire!’ It always gets people’s attention.
Traveling alone needn’t be scary. It should be one of the most life-affirming experiences you ever get the chance to undertake. Plan your next trip to scratch that wanderlust itch and enjoy hot-footing it across the world. Follow this guide and make sure that you stay safe on your next travel adventure.
Travel is one of the best ways you can spend your time and money, but it’s not always easy making it work financially. Even if you’re able to get the time off work or are travelling in a gap year/ between jobs, there’s the issue of money to contend with. Thankfully, there are ways you can fund your travels and make it work- here are some ideas. (more…)
It doesn’t matter whether you are eighteen and fresh out of school ready to take a gap year or whether you are in your mid thirties, bored in your job and looking for a new adventure, it is never the wrong time to consider a trip of a lifetime. Travelling is one of life’s most enriching experiences. To be able to immerse yourself in a new culture, meet new people and see new vistas is incredible. We are fortunate to even be able to consider travelling to distant shores to see the world.
Planning a trip of a lifetime can seem like an arduous and complex task. And it is. However, if you are organised, determined and keen to explore the planet, you can prepare for your travels and have a more enjoyable and meaningful trip whilst you are overseas. Wanderlust is a fantastic feeling; you just need to make sure you have the capability to act upon it.(more…)
Traveling around a city can be a fun, leisurely experience, a hurried commute, or a stressful navigation. There are many methods to traveling in a city, and many options available to you. Public transport abounds, as does the use of sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads. However, we all learn very quickly that the population density found in cities can sometimes be difficult to cope with. Travelling could become something that would otherwise be a pleasant time of transit at a time you need to exercise your full powers of concentration to get through.
On top of that, caring for your safety first is one of the wisest considerations to think. Sometimes getting to your destination a little later to ensure this can be more than worth the effort. Even the most experienced and street-wise person can learn a thing or two from brushing up on their safety habits when traveling in a populated area. For the traveler entering new cities and learning new environments, safety tips are absolutely essential.
To learn and know these, bloat will give the opposite intended effect. Practical city dwelling tips must be fast, easy to remember and possible to apply without much practical thought. For that reason we have compiled a small guide to wise and safe city travel, and it is as follows:(more…)
When you travel to a different country, you want to experience all it has to offer. You want to see the sights, you want to taste the food and you want to fit in with the locals. The more experienced you are with fitting in with the locals, the easier it will be to get a real feel for the country. But, how do you fit in with a community that’s nothing like your own? Here are some tips for making friends with local people in a different country.(more…)
Are you ready for a few confessions of situations I avoided paying a lot of money for things? Sure, I’m all in for splurging every now. and then, but as a long term traveler you have to pick your favorites, you can’t do it every trip (unless you’re a millionaire, but I’m not). We all know we should keep a travel emergency fund but sometimes unexpected expenses can arise that prompt you to spend more than you originally planned. Don’t miss out on fun experiences by avoiding these costly travel mistakes.
Whether you regularly travel abroad or are planning the trip of a lifetime, we all make small mistakes when we plan. They might be small things, but they can cause us big problems when we travel. If you plan in advance, and use a little common sense, it is easy to avoid these mistakes. You have spent money on your trip and deserve to enjoy it to it’s fullest, right? Here are some common travel mistakes, and how you can make sure that you avoid them.(more…)
A lot of travelers dream of taking a wilderness trip at some point in their lives. Even travelers who aren’t big nature lovers, like the idea of getting out there and seeing some of the world’s most incredible sights. It’s one of my favorite things to do, to explore and live. Yellowstone National Park, the Inca Trail in Peru, Everest Base Camp in Nepal – to name a few popular places. The world has some incredible sights that unless you’re willing to be a little adventurous, aren’t accessible.(more…)
