Category Archives: Travel Inspiration

Travel to change your perspective on life

Winter Travel, Trip Ideas, Cultures & Customs, Travel Inspiration, Top 10 List

10 Summer Destination Ideas for a Christmas Vacation

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If you are tired of spending Christmas the same way every year, bored with the view of snow and ice and eager for new experiences, try choosing a summer destination for your Christmas vacation this time.

Celebrating Christmas among sandy beaches, warm waters and palm trees, instead of snowstorms, ice sculptures, and traditional ornaments.

Isn’t it a wonderful idea? Here are our top ten summer destinations for your Christmas vacation:

Australia

During Christmas time, Australians enjoy sun baths, diving and drinking cocktails on the beach, as the holiday season falls during the summer in this part of the world.

What could be better than spending Christmas diving with colorful fish in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef? Cairns, for that matter, has become one of the most popular Christmas destinations in recent decades.

Barbecues on the beach, tours to the wine lands of the Yarra Valley and road trips along the Great Ocean Road are also popular Christmas activities in Australia. And you can build a sandman, instead of a snowman, if you want.

Fiji

If you really want to escape from it all and have a week or two just relaxing on a sandy beach with a refreshing cocktail in your hand, Fiji is the perfect choice for you!

A stunning archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, surrounded by crystal waters, coral reefs, and rich marine life, is probably the closest you can find to heaven on Earth. It is populated with the friendliest folk on the planet and offers numerous activities for travelers. No wonder, Fiji is one of the most popular summer destinations in the world!

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka usually experiences monsoon season from October until January. However, the southern part of the island is generally dry from October until April, which makes December a perfect month to visit.

The island offers much more than just the sun and the beach. You’ll also find a fascinating culture, ancient cities, rich history and prosperous wildlife. Visit the Nala National Park and watch leopards, colorful birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and elephants.

Or explore the jungle while sitting on the back of an elephant. Or watch the magnificent sunset on the coast of the Indian Ocean.

Your Christmas in Sri Lanka will be unforgettable!

Thailand

If your idea of a perfect Christmas includes white sandy beaches, unique culture, and delicious food, then Thailand is a perfect destination for you. The “land of smiles” offers its visitors a warm welcome and a warm climate, diverse wildlife, and cultural heritage, various entertainments and Buddhist temples to explore.

Thailand is really the best value for your money!

Indonesia

The Indonesian island of Bali is a wonderful travel destination all-year-round. There’s no way it will disappoint you during the Christmas vacation. Like Thailand, it offers great value for money and both day and night entertainment features.

During the day, Bali offers surfing, lying on the beach under the shadow of a palm tree or exploring the island. While during the night, you can enjoy the vivid club life with great music, dance, and low-priced drinks. Thousands of people go to Bali every year to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the tropical climate and pleasant, friendly atmosphere!

Mexico

Mexico offers numerous destinations for a warm sunny Christmas vacation. Swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, explore the Mayan sites in Cancun or enjoy the taste of Mexican delights in Puebla. 

This includes mole, a chocolate sauce with chili peppers, cinnamon, and fruit. In Puebla, you can also take part in the Christmas night procession, which represents the biblical story of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter. It starts downtown and walks throughout the neighborhoods of the city.

By the way, its proximity to the United States of America makes Mexico one of the most popular Christmas destinations among American citizens.

South Africa

South Africa is another fantastic place, which receives plenty of sunshine in December and January.

Enjoy a hot air balloon ride in the bright blue sky on an aerial safari as you look for elephants, giraffes, and zebras. Visit Ukutula Lion Park or a penguin colony on Boulder Beach, near Cape Town. Or spend Christmas day diving with Great White Sharks.

Christmas in South Africa will surely be an experience you’ll never forget!

Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean region is a perfect destination for visitors from the USA. Its geographical proximity, favorable climate, and the regular air connections make it one of the favorite places for Christmas vacation among travelers from the USA. Of course, island such as the Bahamas, for example, are dream destinations all-year-round.

But who could refuse to spend Christmas time among deserted sandy beaches, clear warm waters and out-of-this-world views?

Christmas celebrations in the Caribbean follow many American traditions nowadays. However, they are complemented with an abundance of traditional local festivals, carnivals, and other festivities. In the Cayman Islands, you can even meet their very own Caribbean Santa.

Holidays are also the great time to visit Barbados, with its endless blue sea, soft sand, and unique traditions. No matter, what island you choose for your Christmas vacation, the Caribbean will not disappoint you!

Spain

If you would prefer to spend your Christmas vacation in the Old World, but still want to bathe in the rays of a warm sun, then Spain should be your main choice. The Canary Islands are not as hot as Africa, but winters here are warm enough for a pleasant vacation.

Also, if you feel adventurous, you can explore the island’s soaring volcanoes or sail in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

United Arab Emirates

When you’re looking for Christmas vacation opportunities in a summer climate, you can’t leave Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, out, of course.

In this metropolitan city, you can ice skate, watch a fountain show or visit the famous Dubai Aquarium. The shopping enthusiasts will be excited to hit the huge Dubai Mall. This is the world’s largest shopping mall by area, which hosts over thousand different stores.

However, if Dubai is too much for you, and all you want is some peace and quietness, head towards the nearby island of Abu Dhabi, where you can relax and kayak in the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf.

 

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Bucket List, Travel Inspiration, Digital Nomad

Top 7 Iconic Places for Travel Photographers

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Travel and photography go hand in hand. You cannot travel without a camera. Many travelers love to capture the timelessness of the moment. Places we go can be shared with the world. The single click will be cherished by us. The travel photographers need to visit the places if they want iconic shots in their gallery.

VENICE

The city of lost luxury is a must visit for photographers. In the Victorian age, it was compulsory to visit Venice. A person who hasn’t been to Venice hasn’t lived his life. The Beauty of Venice is thought to be cliché. But you should know that no matter how cliché it is always magnificent. The incredible architecture will give you amazing shots.

You can go to Palazzo Ducale. Capture the gothic columns and courtyard. How can you be in Venice and forget about Gondolas? Take a walk along Riva Degli Schiavone. You can shoot the gondolas over moving water in the sunset. For photographers, this shot is a must.

ANTARCTICA

Our geography books can never do justice to the pristine beauty of Antarctica. Photographers will kill for a shot of the snow- capped mountains piercing the clear skies. There is nothing as ancient and untouched as Antarctica.

The cute penguins are ignorant of the scanty visitors here. You can sneak near them to have a close shot. Turquoise icebergs and clear blue waters shine in the sun. That can also be added to your list of photographs. Nature is in its magnificence. Make sure you capture it.

STONEHENGE

The fact that it has stood on the surface of the earth for five thousand years is amazing. Our ancestors who created Stonehenge were geniuses. They are lost to us, but the Stonehenge still stands. Salisbury Plain holds these stones up. The sun rays dance through the stones.

An iconic shot for a photographer. The Neolithic huts surrounding the Stonehenge can also add up to your historical gallery. The ancient landscape around here is a token of past. Don’t forget to snap a picture of it too.

 

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THE SERENGETI, TANZANIA

It is one of the top natural wonders to travel to in the world. All wildlife photographers need to buckle up. Diverse natural plains will meet you. There are around two million animals in the vast area. You need to plan your trip ahead of time, so you don’t miss anything. The lion population here is highest in the world.

You can see the big cats camouflaging behind the grass. They might see you as intruders. But the risk is worth the click. You are not a digital nomad till you have a shot of nomadic people in your collection. Visit a Maasai village near Serengeti and capture their culture in your lenses. You can even have aerial views of the national park on a hot air balloon.

TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. An everlasting symbol of love. Emperor Shah Jahan built it in the remembrance of his wife. A shot of Taj Mahal might be a bit traditional. But it is where beautiful photography starts.

The intricate architecture of Mughal period is fantastic. The image of Taj Mahal reflecting in the pool ahead is a shot every photographer must have. You can think out of the box and click something unique. The minarets will also be gorgeous subjects to capture.

EASTER ISLAND

It is an age-old volcanic island. It has tales of centuries to be told. You can land here and see it is the loneliest airport in the world. The place is underrated. Rapa Nui(Easter Island) is a land of a tribe who follow birdman religion. You can capture the huge Moai(stone structures of humans).

At night you can find the shadows looming over you from the sky. It will make a spectacular shot. The ancient carvings can add on and on to your gallery. There is Anakena, which is a beach. You can compose a few pictures here also. The petroglyphs might scare you at first, but you can capture them as mementos. A sunset on the beach photograph at the end of the day will be a cherry on top.

PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

You cannot take pictures inside the pyramids. Recently photographers got crazy and climbed atop the pyramid. Don’t do anything illegal. Just the view of the structures aligned together is enough. The sun shining on the golden sands is breath-taking. You cannot take pictures inside the pyramids. Recently photographers got crazy and climbed atop the pyramid. Don’t do anything illegal.

Just the view of the structures aligned together is enough. The sun shining on the golden sands is breath-taking. You cannot take pictures inside the pyramids. Recently photographers got crazy and climbed atop the pyramid. Don’t do anything illegal. Just the view of the structures aligned together is enough. The sun shining on the golden sands is breath-taking.

Your lenses will snap the ancient dunes. The Triangular shape from far seems to be prominent. The sphinx was buried under the sands. But now when it is standing in all its mysterious glory. Pyramids are a paragon of design. The view from the air is stunning. If your camera tells your story to make sure to visit these places. And add some iconic shots to your gallery.

 

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Travel Inspiration, Solo Travel, Adventure Travel, Did You Know

Solo Female Travel On Rise: A Report

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Solo female travel has become popular in the past decade. With the rise in internet, smartphones, and global wifi availability, this trend is going to continue. There has been a tremendous growth in the women-only travel companies. Women have embraced the wildness. They are proving that women have guts to explore the world on their own. Cheers everyone!

A woman can enjoy herself without having a male travel companion. That is what women have effectively proved. Women are contributing more to the global travel economy than men. They are expected to reach $125 billion by 2016. Traveling solo has a lot of reasons. The above infographic will give you information on the increase in solo female travel, reasons, and popular travel destinations.

TRAVELING SAFE

Women can face a lot of problems while traveling alone. That is why it is important that they choose safe destinations when starting solo. Europe is a good first choice, although, it goes without saying that every foreign destination is a little risky.

Another interesting thing to note is that the majority of solo female travelers are from European countries. Asia and Africa are not popular destinations with women traveling alone. For now, these are considered less safe. Most women can face a lot of problems when traveling alone.

When asked about major concerns when traveling solo, most women responded with “being in a dangerous situation”. But today, many women are visiting extreme, remote, and previously unexplored locations. They are participating in all kinds of adventurous activities. In short, women know how to have fun one their own.

SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL

Many such solo travelers say the freedom that they feel when traveling alone is priceless. You might think that women are only good at shopping on a trip. Think again. It is reported by the travel booking companies that 17% of solo female travel are related to history & education.

Women can also be adrenaline junkies. They love adventure sports. 15% of women travel for adventure sports. Solo female travelers are from every age group. The women who travel most are widowed or divorced. Modern women have become sophisticated and self-reliant. That is the reason they are unafraid of traveling alone.

The age group 45 and above makes 55% of the solo female travel population. This age group might also hint at the time when most people think they need a break from their monotonous life. The biggest myth that most solo travelers are a 26-year-old dude with no money is a total lie!

Various travel reports* show that 73% of females prefer to travel alone than their male partners. It is a 45-year-old female traveling solo rather than a virile young male. Wanderlust does not discriminate based on gender. This new trend has been already observed for a few years now.

With the rise of social media, everybody now wants to posts pictures from their heroic journey. The rise in solo female travel is a boon for the travel industry and is a good thing for the entire travel loving community!

Sources: 

There are various sources that confirm these facts and figures. For more in-depth study, please refer to Harvard Business Review (women spending power), Forbes (on spending power and influence on purchasing decision), Travel stats from market researching firms such as Yesawich, Pepperdine, and Brown & Russell, Travel Industry Association (USA), Travel Guard polls (Travel insurance company) and other big online travel booking companies.

 

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Travel Inspiration, Top 10 List

Top 10 Travel Books That Will Surely Inspire You

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Travel books are a growing genre in literature. The culture of traveling is getting popular amongst today’s generation. Here is a list of travel books that will wake up the inner wanderer in you.

“Now more than ever do I realize I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.” ~The Nomad

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Image Source)

THE ALCHEMIST

The top novel in contemporary literature. It is written by Paulo Coelho. A shepherd boy named Santiago follows his dream. He journeys from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure. It’s a story about the journey of life. A metaphysical representation that happiness comes from living in the moment. The account of Santiago is that of a traveler who is not afraid to go where roads take him. The alchemist will definitely inspire you to travel.

Isabelle Eberhardt (Image Source)

THE NOMAD

It is the diary of Isabelle Eberhardt. She was a brave heart. Born in an age where traveling was seen as an abomination for women. She broke the bounds and traveled North Africa. Her diary contains details of her extensive traveling. Her life story alone is a chronicle worth telling. A journey of a 19th-century woman on the golden sands of Sahara. Her unfortunate demise deprived us of reading more of her explorations. But what The Nomad gives us is courage to travel beyond.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac (Image Source)

ON THE ROAD

Jack Kerouac is a popular name in travel writing. Written in 1957, this book is about Sal who leaves New York city. He takes rails to the west, spending away his time making friends, traveling and partying. Many of us can relate to Sal. The frustration, the hunger for travel, the need to escape — we can all feel it. A gem from the pen of Kerouac.

Beryn Markham (Image Source)

WEST WITH THE NIGHT

Beryl Markham was a bush pilot. She was an amazing woman of undaunted courage. Beryl trained race horses in Africa. But in 1936 she became the first pilot to fly solo from Europe to North America. Her memoirs is a beautiful lyrical collection of her travel experience. Even Hemmingway praised her ability to write about her journey. Experience the wind in your soul, the blue sky in your eyes, and every imaginable emotion when you read this masterpiece from Beryl.

The Beach by Alex Garland (Image Source)

THE BEACH

Alex Garland is another big name in travel writing. The beach is a tale of British backpackers who travel to the far middle east. A group of young students is set on a journey to get off the traditional path and discover heaven on earth.The consuming passion for escaping is the driving force in the novel. All newbies will be inspired after reading this.

Paul Legler (Image Source)

ON THE ICE

Written by Legler who spend a season in Antarctica. She was chosen with national science foundation artists and writers program. The book is a result of living in arms of a cold pristine earth for months. In those dark isolated days, she experienced the ruthless side of nature as well as her hidden part of the soul. An interesting read for every nature and travel lover.

Rolf Potts (Image Source)

VAGABONDING

A must read for those who are seriously into road tripping. Written by Rolf Potts this book is a treasure house for every traveler. Potts being the father of vagabonding has written about his ten years experience during his intensive traveling. It contains inspiring incidents, travel hacks, and practical knowledge on traveling. It’s the bible for all those who aspire to a life on the road.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed (Image Source)

WILD

Women are not behind in traveling. Look at Cheryl Strayed for example. She on her own hiked more than one thousand miles. Her route was from California’s Mojave desert to Washington border. Strayed writes how traveling helped her escape the grief of her mother’s death. With only a heavy backpack she made this journey of healing. She confesses how traveling healed her jaded soul. For the ones who are still confused on hitting the road, Wild will give you much-needed encouragement.

Laurie Lee headstone (Image Source)

AS I WALKED OUT ONE MIDSUMMER MORNING

A classic travel book which is one of the best in English travel writing. Laurie lee very beautifully mentions the delight when he traveled from Cotswold. His journey from London to Spain then will grab a reader’s interest. His gypsy spirit got on this adventure with only a violin. He very wonderfully portrays the joys of travel in a poetic way.

Suzanne Roberts (Image Source)

ALMOST SOMEWHERE

Every girl wants that sense of freedom and what better way than to travel. In 1993 Suzanne Roberts set out on this journey with her two girlfriends. Heading up on snowy roads they encountered strange men and wild bears. A true story of thrill and excitement. Where these girls were not prepared for adversities but were seeking peace through wandering. Her account of her personal experiences will boost you up with adrenaline which will be enough to charge you up for next adventure.

 

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Travel Inspiration, International Travel

7 Reasons Why You Should Travel Around The World

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If you are not a regular traveler and you listen to other people’s travel stories and adventures, you would ask yourself if that is what you want or not. You would wonder if you should travel or not, and if you should, why should you? 

Traveling is not only a fun experience, but it also has many deeper benefits relating to your body and the mind.

Out of the infinite benefits of traveling, here are few that we want to highlight, making you realize why you should travel more.

UPGRADE YOUR LIFESTYLE

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we‘d have roots instead of (Rachel Wolchin)” is one of my favorite quotes. If we are staying at a place forever with a fixed job and a discrete daily routine, our mind begins to become bored and looks for a change from the tiring daily routine.

The fun job doesn’t seem so fun anymore, and spending time with the family in the same old house seems tiring after a long day at work. This is where traveling comes into play.

TRAVEL IS GOOD FOR YOU

When we take short trips now and then, even if they last for a day or two, our mind gets to visit new places and do new things.

We get a break from the regular boring lives we are supposed to live, and we freshen up a bit. This is a major advantage of traveling. It helps calm our mind and soothe us psychologically.

And when we come back home to the same old hard job, we have a new found energy to throw it and go with it all over again. Therefore, it is a major reason why you should travel.

NEW PLACES AND THINGS

There is absolutely no one who doesn’t like to try on new things. We like to try out new food, wear new clothes, and in the same way, travel to new places. When we travel, we not only get to explore a new place, but there is so much more we can do. There is the local culture, the traditions, the food.

Oh, the food! You get to explore so many new things and get a taste of freshness in you. This is another main reason why you should travel. Some people keep traveling from one place to another only for this particular reason. They love trying out the new foods and looking at various cultures and lifestyles. If you try it out, you would realize that it is a very fun thing to do.

EXPANSION OF KNOWLEDGE

If we remain static in one place, our knowledge of the dynamic world is limited to our house, or town, or at most the country. We don’t get to know how the entire world functions, and the difference in the functioning of one place from another. However, when we travel, we get a whole new outlook on life. We learn so many things that it expands our knowledge exponentially.

If we are traveling to some distant city, we learn about its history, the monuments, and the geography of the area. If we are taking adventure trips in the wildlife or trekking, we learn about the wildlife and the beauty of nature.

MAKE NEW FRIENDS

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

Even though social media platforms are trying their best that we meet more and more people without moving from our couch, meeting people face to face is still the best, and the adequate way of interacting with people. And traveling makes sure you meet plenty of new people and make several new friends. When we travel to a new place, the native population tends to be nice to tourists.

We meet various new people while touring around, eating food, staying in the hotel, or literally while doing anything we do at the new place. These people not only help you get over the difficulties which you are facing in your travel to their country but in many cases also turn out to be great long-term friends. Hence, if you ever get to ask yourself why should you travel, think about all the cool friends you would make.

RESPECT FOR HOME

Traveling not only gives you the fun and excitement of exploring new places, but it also instills in you a greater respect for your home than you already have. When you don’t go anywhere and just stay at your home, you begin to become lousy and find that everything around you is dull. You begin to feel that your home is boring and nothing good happens where you live.

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But all of this changes when you travel. When you travel, you realize that even though you felt home was boring, you are still missing it. Often traveling takes you to new places that are even worse than where you live. This makes you realize how lucky you are to be born where you were. And many times you would be at places far better. These would help you in improving your home for a better standard of living. Basically, it all will end well.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Traveling has proved to be one of the most beneficial things for your health. It cures not just your soul, but your body as well. Of course, traveling can be stressful sometimes. However, its advantages are much bigger.

There are 8 main reasons, why traveling is good for your health. Check them out and plan your next vacation, without a delay!

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Infographics, Travel Inspiration, Travel FAQ

Top Travel Brands In Past 150 Years (Infographic)

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We all love to travel. We are all connected through the Internet now. Most of us have smartphones and you are most likely reading this post on your phone right now. We have come a long way.

Have you ever wondered when did National Geographic start or when the Discovery Channel was launched? And what about Priceline, Expedia, etc.

Well, we were curious too and therefore we have compiled this list of the biggest and most popular travel brands in a neat little infographic for you to enjoy!

Vertical Timeline of  Top Travel Brands

The world’s major travel brands of the past 150 years (a vertical timeline).

 

It’s great to see this progress. About 50 years ago, only the US Navy and Army (and other militaries) were using the GPS system. People used to print and bring big maps to go road-tripping. Then we transitioned to GPS and from GPS, we transitioned to smartphones and Google maps.

Travel became a big national hobby and travel magazines turned into Travel Shows and online travel websites. More and more people began to publish their travel stories and travel guides. Suddenly, the world became a much smaller and much more connected place.

Today, it’s hard to not find information on a place you want to visit. Sure, there are extreme places that are still unexplored and beyond the reach of most travelers. Most of the earth’s oceans and sea still remain uncharted. Many underdeveloped countries still don’t have great transportation system and therefore making it harder to explore the country’s inner regions. 

Nevertheless, where there is a will and a passport, there is always a new adventure. Where are you going next?

 

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Travel Inspiration, Couples Travel

Travel Is The Best Thing Any Couple Can Do Together

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The beauty of a relationship lies when two individuals become one in order to create moments of love, care, understanding, adventure, thrill, silliness, and teamwork.

When this happens, almost anything possible. People have different views about what the key to a good relationship is, but the universal goal of any relationship is to be happy.

Traveling together as a couple is a perfect way to understand the depth of a relationship.

When people start a relationship, they look for opportunities to know each other and plan to do things together. Be it the initial dating phase or the later partnership phase, you are getting to know your partner every single day.

There will be situations in everyone’s life, whether they are negative or positive. These are situations in which you’ll get to know your partner better.

You might also think that if this would not have happened I would not have known or felt things differently. There will be situations in everyone’s life sometimes up and sometimes down that you will get to know your partner deeply.

You might also think: if this hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have known or I would’ve felt things differently. Sometimes, you might also wonder: what if this scenario happens? How would my partner react?

Now you can know since traveling is exploring the world with different countries, people, cultures, language, geography, and activities.

When couples are exposed to a surrounding and an environment, there is a lot for them to learn about the world, as well as themselves.

Here are some reasons why travel is the best thing any couple can do together:

Teamwork

Traveling as a couple initiates several things. These include planning destinations, activities, things to do, organizing, and budgeting.

All of these things combined bring them together. It also gives them a great platform to build mutual understanding and to help each other.

Shared Experiences

When couples travel together, they are collecting experiences every day. Things are perishable but moments and experiences last forever.

Appreciating Life

Navigating through various parts of the world, overcoming obstacles, and experiencing difficult things helps couples unite and appreciate life.

Creating Memories

All the shared experiences from traveling around the world and doing things that you have not done before together create fond memories. These will be cherished forever.

Bonding

Couples bond at a different level through traveling. During travel, couples have more time to just relax and communicate on a deeper level.

Exploring new cultures and places gives a couple more opportunities to bond.

A Sense of Accomplishment

There is a deep sense of accomplishment through traveling. Be it navigating through a place where you both were lost, going somewhere where you both have dreamt of doing some adventure all of these helps the couple feel accomplished from a relationship as well as personal level.

Trust

When couples travel, they become transparent with each other. When they get to know each other under various different circumstances, the trust between partners grows. The more time that couples spend together they will have more reasons to know and trust.

When couples travel, they become transparent with each other. When they get to know each other under various different circumstances, the trust between partners grows. The more time that couples spend together they will have more reasons to know and trust.

Relationship Growth

All of the experiences collected over time help couples and their relationships flourish. It is not all about the time, it’s all about the experiences (both good and bad) that help couples take their relationship to a higher level.

All of the experiences collected over time help couples and their relationships flourish. It is not all about the time, it’s all about the experiences (both good and bad) that help couples take their relationship to a higher level.

Connecting with Nature

Traveling couples connect more with nature and admire significant things in life, rather than material and physical things. It helps them to be more grounded.

Traveling couples connect more with nature and admire significant things in life, rather than material and physical things. It helps them to be more grounded.

A Purpose in Life

Traveling serves to identify the purpose of life. Couples seek happiness, build relationship goals, and give purpose and meaning to their lives through travel. They get an opportunity to reflect on their life as one.

Traveling serves to identify the purpose of life. Couples seek happiness, build relationship goals, and give purpose and meaning to their lives through travel. They get an opportunity to reflect on their life as one.

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Budget Travel, Travel Inspiration, Travel FAQ

The Ultimate Travel Checklist To Use Before You Head Out Anywhere

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Here is the list of things that you need to do before you leave your house for your vacation. 

Some of the tips here are simple hacks to save you some extra money while you’re not home, others are simple to-dos to ensure peace of mind.

None of the items on the checklist are trivial enough that you can just leave them out. Check them out and you’ll have a great trip, the one you have been eagerly waiting for.

The Ultimate Travel Checklist

Security Checklist

The security of your house when you are away is a big concern. After all, you wouldn’t want it to get robbed, would you? Therefore, it’s important that you ensure that your house is safe before you leave.

  • Check that all the windows and the backdoor are properly locked. Cover the windows with drapes so no one can look inside.
  • Cancel your subscriptions. Accumulating newspapers and mail is a sign that the person has gone away for a long time.
  • Consider using a timer for night lamps to keep the house lit during night time. A completely darkened house suggests no presence inside the house.
  • Have someone you trust to keep an eye on the house while you are away.
  • If you use LPG or CNG, close the main valve.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

There are a lot of papers that you need to keep with you while you travel. These include your passport, airline ticket, visa, medicine prescriptions etc.

  • Get your passport, airline ticket, visa information and other travel related documents photocopied. Losing any of these documents can throw one into huge trouble.
  • Take photos of your documents and medicine prescriptions and medicine labels on your phone.
  • Keep your documents secure with you. At the last minute before leaving the house, check if you have them on you.
  • Don’t keep them in a bag or a pocket that you will reach out quite often, as this will put them at a risk of falling out.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

As mentioned before, subscriptions should be canceled if you are planning to leave your house for several days. This doesn’t just help you save money, it also provides added plus point of security.

  • Call your newspaper agency and have them pause the subscription for the number of days you will be out. In case you think you will be out for an uncertain number of days, figure out a maximum and pause for that amount of time. Even if you come back before that time, you can call them again and tell them to resume the service.
  • If you have your groceries, milk or bread delivered to you on a daily basis, have them canceled. This would hint to burglars that you aren’t home, accumulate piles of rotten food and simply waste your money.
  • Have your mail paused too. This will keep your important mail secure.

CREDIT CARDS

If your credit card is used from an unusual location, the credit card company assumes it has been stolen and refuses payment. Therefore, if you want to use your card from the place you are traveling, you should call your credit card service in advance from your residence. Tell them that you intend to travel and use your card from the new location. This will keep things easy.

Travel Packing Checklist

The most important issue that people face while traveling is that they pack improperly and forget some very essential things that they would need in their travel. Therefore, efficient packing is a must.

  • Make a checklist a few days before you intend to pack. Enter all the things that you would need in this checklist. As time passes, you will remember more and more things. Therefore, when the time of packing comes, it won’t be in a rush and you will have everything you require.
  • Remember to put essential things like socks, toothbrush, handkerchiefs and all the little things that people tend to usually forget.
  • If you have prescription medicines, put them in.
  • If you are asthmatic, remember to take your inhaler.
  • Put in all your travel documents beforehand. Don’t put them in too deep as you would require to access them at the airport. Keep them in a side pocket.
  • Remember to take your camera and phones.
  • Last and the most important, take all the bags that you packed. Keep a count, and don’t miss any of it!

PETS & PLANTS

If you have potted plants or pets at home, you need to make sure they are fit and fine when you return.

  • Ensure that you have your plants and lawn watered when you are away. Give this responsibility to someone you trust, as they would be having access to your house.
  • Ensure that your pets get fed while you are away. This is very important, as starving them would be a cruel and harsh thing to do.
  • If you have pets like dogs or cats, do not lock them up in a room. Make sure they get sufficient place to roam about.

PHONE AND EMAILS

It is hard to inform everyone in advance that you are planning to go away. Therefore, you need to make sure that the people you are trying to reach you get to know about it.

  • Keep your emails on auto-answer. This will keep you from worrying about answering them.
  • Record a voicemail message on your phone which lets people know that you are away and will not be back soon.
  • In case you don’t want urgent information to be missed, provide them with a number to contact you in the case of very urgent matters.

ENERGY SAVING

If not taken care of nicely, the time that you are away can lead to wastage of a lot of water and electricity, which is not only an unethical thing to do from an energy point of view, but also will pile up your bills.

  • Switch off all the light, fans, TV, computers, refrigerators and any other appliances that you might have. The ones like TV, computers, fridge etc. should be unplugged as well.
  • Switch off the main water valve. If you cannot do that, at least turn off the water to your dishwasher, washing machine and other things that use a lot of water.
  • Repair leaky faucets and faulty lines. You wouldn’t want a stream of water running everywhere when you get back home

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Take out the garbage before you leave.
  • If there is any leftover food, give it away, feed it to animals, or as the last resort, and throw it away.
  • Pay the bills that might be due when you are away. This will save you from some fines and unnecessary hassles.
  • Save urgent numbers like the medical help, friends, and family, airline contact number, emergency number etc. on your phone.
  • Get ready to have a fun and tension-free vacation!

 

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Transportation, Travel Inspiration, Did You Know

Top 5 Online and Global Travel Trends

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Economies are changing. Societies are changing. People are changing. Travel is changing. At the core of all new trends related to traveling (both locally and internationally) are three things:

“Traveling increases in a globalized world.”

GLOBALIZATION

People are more connected with one another than ever before in the history of mankind. (How deeply connected is a topic for another time). Most people are also receiving more education today than just 50 years ago.

If you combine literacy with internet access, you get a society which is very knowledgeable about other cultures, places and interested in exploring new opportunities.

“Traveling increases when people have friends from all over the world.”

AUTHENTIC INDIVIDUALISM

The other growing trend that we are currently seeing is “authentic self-expression”. While the social media has done a good job giving everyone a platform to express themselves in whichever way they want, I believe, having such an exposure of the world on your fingertip is a good thing.

For example, young people today from all over the world are interested in coming together for a cause and solving tough problems in creative ways.

“Traveling increases when people’s bank balance increases.”

MONEY

Finally, traveling is a costly endeavor. It is always more economical to just stay home than to go out, even locally. When you are out of your home, you have to spend money on food and drink.

If you are too far out, you have to spend on gas and car, renting a place for the night and if you are traveling too far from your home, you are now also spending on air tickets, insurance, gears and cameras among several other things.

However, as people are earning more (all over the world) and as transportation is becoming cheaper due to better technology and global competition, many more people are now able to afford to travel which would have been impossible just 150 years ago. Think about that.

So, what are the top 5 travel trends of our time?

ADVENTURE

People today wish to experience the world for what it truly is. From skydiving to river rafting to scuba diving, the adventure has become a top reason for people to travel.

One of the major travel trends has become doing “interesting things” or visiting “interesting places” while traveling.

BUDGET TRAVEL & SHARING IS FUN

Luxury travel is going to stay. Luxury feels good. Trust me on this. If you have the money, you would not pick budget travel over a 5-star resort in the Caribbean. If money allows, you would want a full window, balcony suite on a luxury cruise. That said, business such as Airbnb, Home Away, Priceline, Hostels, Time-sharing, etc. are becoming hotter than ever before. Another trend is people now tend to share more. As global trust level is increasing, traveling and sharing things with strangers are becoming a growing possibility.

GOING LOCAL

Nothing can beat the experience and the opportunity to see your own home country or town. People want to engage with a worthy cause and give back to the local communities. This trend is picking up and becoming big. Traveling which often involves a larger involvement of locals and engaging with the community.

MORE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Seeing the world. Particularly, the continent of Asia and Africa. Today more than ever before, many young people are committing to travel the world.

For some that may mean visiting a country from each continent while for some, it may mean visiting 100+ countries. In the past, Africa was an expensive and exotic destination reserved for only the brave or the rich.

The countries in Asia was also the land of mystery, snakes, and uncivilized tribal communities. We all know now that the truth is far from any of these stereotypes of pre-1950s.

RELOCATION AND WORKING REMOTELY

Technology has allowed us to work from anywhere in the world and be part of a truly global team. A lot of young people are relocating to warmer or cheaper (or both) destinations to work remotely for their employer, who is based in the US or in Europe.

Information Technology, programming, and software and web development can be done from anywhere as long as one has access to fast internet and electricity. No wonder, we are seeing this trend where a lot of Americans are locating to South America and even Thailand to work remotely whether for a short duration or while traveling.

What other travel trends you see? Comment below.

 

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