Many people travel to escape the seasons, but regardless of whether you find yourself overseas in summer, spring, winter, or fall, there are always exciting things to do regardless of destination.
Depending on where you’re traveling, you might find that some regions (namely the tropics) only experience two seasons: wet and dry season. Though for the majority of the world, you’ll find that there is beauty in all four.
If you find yourself traveling at a time of year you’ve not previously traveled before, the following should help you come up with ideas for things to do in each season.
Read More
It’s meant to be the holiday of a lifetime, the trip that starts your marriage off with a bang. However, it’s these sorts of expectations that can wreak havoc on your honeymoon planning.
People often place far too much pressure on their honeymoon planning, which often means the trip will fail before it even begins. Yes, your honeymoon is important, but in reality it’s just another long holiday.
With this in mind, we’ve put together some tips for making your honeymoon a success before you fly off into the sunset, with advice for detaching yourself from huge expectations that may ruin the trip.
Read More
Many travelers are quite familiar with the process of booking a hotel room; it’s become something so common now that we even have apps on our phones to be able to book them on the move.
Though even for those of us who find ourselves making hotel bookings monthly, it’s quite easy to take it for granted that we have perfected the perfect routine.
Because booking a hotel isn’t just about making a reservation – there’s a lot more that goes into the process before you hit the ‘book’ button if you want to get a good deal on your room.
So, whether you’re new to hotel bookings or an age old veteran, the following are some of the most important things you should do before putting down your credit card and booking your room.
Read More
From podcasts to Netflix, and reading a good old fashioned book, there are many ways to stay entertained while you’re traveling, though one of the most popular ways to pass the downtime is by playing online games.
The world is increasingly more connected, and now that many cities have WiFi on the streets, and you can even connect from the plane, more and more people are turning to online gaming for those moments you find yourself needing to kill time.
From playing Candy Crush while you’re sitting out an airport delay to hunting Pokemon across Venice, there are many reasons people log in to play. However, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind before you start your game.
Read More
Vane pumps have been around since 1874, when they were invented by Charles C. Barnes of the USA. Though, for any-one not keenly interested in mechanics, they are one of those inventions that form an integral part of our daily lives, but that commonly go unnoticed.
And they do play an integral part in our daily lives.
Vane pumps are usually used as high-pressure hydraulic pumps for cars which allow for braking, supercharging, air-con and auto-transmission. Though there are also mid-range pressure pumps used for things like soft drink dispensers and espresso coffee machines.
That said, these pumps have also become an essential part of air travel, and without them, today’s modern airplanes simply wouldn’t operate.
So to that end, today you’ll learn a little more about vane pumps; a hommage to the mechanical genius that allows us to fly from country to country, and recognition for a piece of engineering that has had a huge impact on our lives, whether or not we know it.
Read More
Gambling is one of the oldest leisure activities in human history; dating back to the Paleolithic period, before written history.
It was first invented in Mesopotamia, a historical region of Western Asia, where the Chinese invented a game of chance using tiles. This was back in 3,000 BC, though some 5,000 years later, Asia’s gambling game has stayed strong.
Whether it’s the thrill of the tumbling dice, the suspense of the spinning wheel, or the charm of how the cards might turn, gambling has become one of the most popular pastimes in Asia for both locals and tourists alike.
There’s no better place to experience the thrill of the casino than in the region that gambling was first invented, and for travelers interested in rolling the dice, you’ll be pleased to learn that the three biggest casinos in Asia are all in Macau. They don’t call it the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ for nothing!
Read More
According to a study done in 2018, the average cost per person was just over $1,000 when planning vacations. This may be fine if you’re traveling solo, or as a couple, but can become quite expensive for the whole family or a group of people.
Taking family vacations, or traveling with a group, can be a great way to break up your daily routine, and these types of trips have invaluable benefits when it comes to bonding.
But many people hold back because of the money.
So, whether you’re a couple with three kids, dreaming of a Eurotrip with your 5 best girlfriends, or planning a full scale family reunion, the following are our best tips for planning a budget friendly group vacation.
Read More
Whether you’re snapping pics to post on social media, or shooting new material for your professional portfolio, taking pictures is a part of travel. As the number of stamps in your passport grows, so too does the documented footage of your adventures around the world.
No matter how much you might cherish each one of these photos, there’s no denying that they’re taking up space on your computer and overwhelming your emails attachments.
Sure, USBs can get the job done if you want to share your photos with a family member or travel partner – you know, and not blow up their inbox because of the size limit on email attachments – or are trying to transfer all your photos from your laptop to your desktop.
But what if we told you that there’s an easier, faster way to do it?
Read More
Flying with children may be new for you, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Children can travel at virtually any age, which means you don’t have to wait until they’re adolescents to put them on a plane.
Choose a destination, pack your luggage, and enjoy a safe and memorable flight by checking out these six tips for flying with kids.
Read More
You’ll have heard the stories by now, the stories of colorful India, and how incredible a country it is to visit. Arguably, no place in the world has more delicious street food, more well preserved history, and more spirituality and culture.
But, in order to get there and experience it all, there are a couple of logistics to sort out in advance; your flights, your accommodation, your itinerary, yes. But you’ll also need to organize your tourist visa.
Applying for a tourist visa to India has never been easier. Unlike in past years, an Indian e-Visa for tourists can now be applied in the comfort of your home. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at how to obtain an Indian tourist Visa online.
Read More
Safety is always a big priority when traveling to another country; it’s good practice to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, and people do everything they can to protect themselves from becoming the target of tourist threats.
After-all, no-one wants their vacation ruined by thieves, tourist scams, or hospital visits. But what about online threats?
While many travelers prioritize their physical safety, we often don’t think about our cyber-safety when traveling. When we connect to the Internet, we don’t think at all about how we’re connecting. We just do. And we expect that nothing will come of this. But, connecting to an unsecured network overseas is incredibly risky, and allows anyone using the same network to access your information; they can see data like your usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.
Let’s be real; abstinence has never been a practical solution, so telling travelers to stop connecting in airports, coffee shops and streets is never going to happen. BUT you can protect your data and still connect by traveling with a VPN.
Read More
There are many reasons people love to travel, and the answer to this common question is typically something to do with personal development; to challenge yourself, to learn, to appreciate life, to expand your perspectives.
Of course, there are also many who travel for the pure enjoyment of adventure, or for the relaxation and rejuvenation that escaping the stresses of everyday life can bring.
There are many motivations for traveling the world, and being that travel is such a personal journey, there will always be an endless list. However some fascinating travel trends have recently emerged that have seen motivations for travel converge into three main categories.
Wondering why people travel this year? Here are three of the biggest reasons! Let us know in the comments why you personally travel, and whether you find the following travel trends surprising.
Read More
There’s no doubt that planning for your next adventure is an exciting time, but it’s always important to keep an eye on the costs as you go.
Most of us don’t have a bottomless pit of cash (sadly!), so it’s important to set the structure of your budget when you’re planning, so that you don’t get caught out overspending, and can make the most of your money.
The following are a couple of quick tips to help you save money during the planning process, and for getting you into the budget traveler mindset. You might be surprised by how far your money can go!
Read More
We often joke that I married my husband for the credit card rewards. He’s American, I’m Australian, and a definite perk of our marriage was that it came with a Chase Sapphire Preferred card! Don’t get me wrong, we have credit card rewards programs in Australia, but when compared to the rest of the world, the free travel offered by American credit cards is on steroids.
American credit cards offer an insane amount of rewards points which can be redeemed for free travel, and not only do these points accrue as you go about your normal spending, most cards offer particularly ridiculous sign up bonuses. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for instance, gives you a sign up bonus of 60,000 rewards points which equates to $1,000 of free travel just for signing up. Our Marriott card gives us free hotel stays just for being a member.
Travel hacking through credit card rewards is a real thing, and you can literally travel for nothing. But the trick is knowing which cards to get.
And for that? We use Travel Freely; a free app that lets you organize your credit cards, track rewards points, and makes personalized recommendations, telling you exactly which credit cards are the best for free travel! It’s seriously amazing.
Read More
❝ I’ve been blessed to have had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, gorilla trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
It was a meet and greet experience between us and our closest relative in the jungle. I was with my friends, a group of 5 girls, afraid of the wild jungle but who took the risk for the chance to stand face to face with gorillas in the wild.
We had only walked for an hour or so before we saw it; a baby gorilla swinging freely from tree to tree. We agreed that none of us had ever seen anything so full of life as he had been.
But this was just the beginning. It wasn’t long before we saw another, and then another, with not a care as to our presence in the jungle. Of the warmest sight, a mother gorilla carrying her baby; the epitome of love.” – Chris Amutuhaire
Many of us dream of taking an African safari, but most people don’t realize that there are many more options beyond classic jeep tours in popular countries like Kenya and Tanzania.
There are in fact, some 15+ countries which offer their own unique take on an African safari, though from gorilla trekking to exploring landscapes that include rainforests, volcanoes, savannas, and the River Nile, the following are 5 reasons you should choose Uganda.
Read More
Travelers to Tasmania have the chance to step back in history, and if it’s history that you’re after, there’s no better place to immerse yourself than the small town of Richmond. Built mostly by the hands of early convicts at the start of the 1800’s, the town’s many historic sandstone buildings remain on display to this day.
There has never been a more exciting time to explore Richmond’s fascinating sandstone heritage, and, for the first time in almost a decade, the town’s most exquisite historic estate is now open to the public.
Offering 12 contemporary-styled rooms on a property with many tales to tell, Prospect House Private Hotel has quickly become one of the most unique luxury hotel experiences in the State.
Having been blown away by the uniqueness of the experience, let me introduce you to a little of the history of Richmond and Prospect House, and why you should include both on your next visit to Tasmania.
Read More
Also known as the Big Apple and the City that Never Sleeps, New York City is a prime vacation destination for millions of people every year. But it is also one of the world’s most expensive cities.
With museums, Broadway, Fifth Avenue shopping, and so much more, it’s hard not to spend a fortune when visiting NYC. But, w’ere here to tell you that it is completely possible to have a luxury-style vacation without breaking the bank!
Enjoying the glitz and glamour of New York on a budget starts with planning and a little creativity. Ready to learn more? Keep reading!
Read More
Did you know that approximately 650,000 New Zealand citizens live in Australia today? This made us wonder, what draws so many kiwis away from the beautiful scenery of their island to set up a life in Australia.
So we asked them!
Based on feedback from the NZ expat community in Australia, the following are a few of the most common reasons why kiwis make the move down under.
Read More
Traveling is a fun and exhilarating activity, however if you’re not prepared for the weather, you might find that you’ve effectively ruined your trip.
The weather is the single factor most likely to positively or negatively affect your travels, though it’s also one of the things most travelers take for granted, and people quite often find themselves caught off guard.
Checking the weather forecast for your destination before you leave is essential to ensuring you are packing appropriate clothes, and you shouldn’t make assumptions as to what you believe the weather is going to be.
I mean it’s always going to be warm in Australia right?
Always check.
If you’re traveling during winter, or to destinations that experience extremely cold weather conditions, make sure you have the following items of clothing with you.
Read More
I recently spent two weeks in Asia with my aunt, and I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end of it, she was sick of hearing about how incredible my new shoes are … it may have been a daily conversation point!
They had arrived the day I was leaving; one of those times where you find out about an epic product 3 days before you board the plane, and pray to God that you haven’t left your order too late.
Stylish, comfortable ballet flats, made from super soft manmade rubber, they promised to be stylish for every occasion, easy to wash, and comfortable from the very minute you put them on.
Think crocs that people would actually compliment you on; a jelly shoe that you can walk in all day, that’s crazy light for traveling, and one you can wear to the beach, throw under a tap, and then wear to a 5 star restaurant. I came home from overseas and instantly bought 2 new colors!
If you’re looking for the perfect shoe for both home and abroad, the name you need to know is Mox. Read on to find out why I’ve been raving about them so much!
Read More
Chances are that if you’ve ever traveled to a foreign country, you’ve probably been advised that it’s wise to immunize. There are a huge range of vaccines available these days, some mandatory, some a matter of choice.
Places like Canada, Australia, and Europe probably won’t require extra vaccines, though if traveling through third world countries or places stricken by poverty, you might choose to vaccinate yourself against common diseases like typhoid, hepatitis, and influenza.
And it’s always important to research whether a country requires mandatory vaccines before allowing you to enter (ie you’ll need the yellow fever vaccine for traveling to parts of Africa and South America).
After you’ve decided that you need / want an immunization, the following are important things you need to know before getting the needle.
Read More
Working while traveling – for many people this is the dream; to set up an online business and freelance as you’re traveling the globe. And in our increasingly tech savvy world, there are even more opportunities for freelancers than ever before.
But, traveling the world as you’re working from your laptop presents a unique set of risks, and one of the biggest considerations is how to protect yourself from data theft.
Unfortunately, as technology has evolved, so also has the common criminal. In an age where identity theft is an all too regular occurrence, devices and user data should be protected from prying malicious attacks at all costs.
Open Wifi networks and malicious software await travelers at every step of their journey, so using devices while on the road should undoubtedly require the same level of care as a wallet or passport.
If you’re a digital nomad who freelances and runs your business while jumping from one country to the next, the following are tips for how to keep your data safe while you’re abroad.
Read More
It’s better to be safer than sorry. Yes, this is an overused cliché, though safety is something which should be taken seriously when traveling, especially when traveling solo.
The world isn’t actually dangerous or unsafe, and most foreign countries welcome solo travelers quite warmly. Solo travel is a fantastic opportunity to see the world on your own terms, to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and make friends out of strangers.
There are many myths when it comes to traveling solo, most of them around safety. But largely, the biggest secret to staying safe abroad as a solo traveler is using common sense, and being aware of your surroundings
It’s true that some countries will make solo travelers more vulnerable to danger than others, so it’s always important to check up to date advice for your specific country, but by and large, the following common sense tips will ensure your safety.
Read More
Technology has become such an everyday part of our lives that we’re traveling with more than ever before. From phones to digital camera, tablets, laptops, and kindles, tech is something that every traveler packs.
Losing or damaging your tech is a worst nightmare, especially when you’re traveling, and unable to replace or fix it, being so far away from home. But every year thousands of smart phones alone are lost, stolen, or damaged while on vacation.
Considering the expense of personal technology, the inconvenience of losing your boarding passes, photos, and contacts, and the security risks of having your personal data and information available for hack, it’s imperative to protect your tech and electronics.
Here are some very simple steps. Basic? Yes. But we’ve found that the most basic tips are the ones that travelers most often forget (or take for granted).
Read More
There’s always a certain charm attached to a journey by train. While some may swish across landscapes at high speeds, connecting some of the world’s most major and iconic cities, others may simply rattle slowly along a scenic coastline.
While trains have long been a vital link for transport, their role as a mode of a luxury travel is experiencing somewhat of a renaissance.
Think plush carriages, pressed linens, and a five course meal where you’re expected to dress for dinner; rail travel has once again become an elegant affair.
Luxury train travel has made a serious resurgence in recent years, and these five top class contenders vie with each other to pamper you as you travel across remote landscapes in the most plush and romantic of environs.
Thinking of taking a luxury train journey?
You can’y go wrong with one of these!
Read More
