Admiring the picturesque mountain views and landscapes atop a ski-lift, feeling the cold winds nipping your skin, experiencing the adrenaline rush to start skiing – there’s nothing more exciting than a day on the slopes.
Quickly outgrowing its exclusivity of being an adventure sport for intrepid mountain junkies, skiing has now become a mainstream activity. Moreover, ski resorts around the world have kept up with the increasing demand, adding resorts, entertainment centers and all sorts of outdoor and indoor recreational activities.
So, if you’re a lover of riding down the mountain slopes and wondering where to go, here is a list of places that are world ranked for both off-piste and on-piste activities.
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Latin America is a HUGE region with many different climates and ecosystems that neighbor each other, so we don’t blame you if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the impossibility of what to pack.
One day you could be sunbathing in Colombia and the next trekking through a rainforest in Peru – with 20 different states and territories, Latin America makes up nearly 13% of the Earth’s total land surface area!
So, how can you pack for such a diverse continent in one backpack? Read on for our top packing tips for your upcoming Latin / South America trip.
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When it comes to most popular countries, Turkey consistently ranks in the top ten most visited every year. Last year saw nearly 50 million tourists alone, many of whom centered their visits around the many treasures of Istanbul.
Though while the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the thousands of stalls that make up the Grand Baazar receive most of the tourist hype, sadly, much of country’s natural landscapes go overlooked.
Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey boasts one of the world’s most important natural biodiversity hotspots. Rich in flora and fauna, the country is home to bears, wolves, hyenas, and the highest number of threatened European bird species.
So, on your next trip to Turkey, why not go beyond the bustling cities and beautiful coastline to explore its floodplain forests, mountains, crater lakes, rivers, canyons, and waterfalls?
You’ll find important wetlands, dozens of national parks, and a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Check out these top places to experience Turkey’s diverse landscapes and wildlife.
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The fear of missing out is real; you spend thousands of dollars to fly half way across the world, plan an exciting itinerary, and then get home to realize that you’ve missed out on some pretty epic attractions.
Sure, it’s easy to plaster on a smile and say ‘oh well!’, and tell yourself that you now have the perfect excuse to plan another trip, but let’s be honest. It’s pretty disappointing.
Information is power, and having as much info as possible is key to planning a really successful trip. But we’re so spammed with ‘top 10 lists’ these days, that it seems almost impossible to get a full idea of things to do, so you can make your own decisions about what you definitely shouldn’t miss. But, if you’re visiting SE Asia, the good news is that you no longer need to rely on those top 10 lists!
Traveolka is the leading online travel agency that specializes solely in travel to SE Asia, and they’ve always been my go to for flights and hotels throughout the region. But they have expanded their wings!
There’s a new section of the site called Traveloka Xperience which is kicking goals in terms of being a one stop shop for finding EVERYTHING there is to do in a destination; attractions, cinemas, events, entertainment, spas & beauty, local transport, food & beverage, and day trips. They’re kicking FOMO in the butt by giving us one place to find out about (and book) everything!
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If you’re the type of person who loves to travel, and comes down with a serious case of wanderlust during the time that you’re stuck at home, why not design your bedroom to manifest this passion!
It might seem overwhelming at the outset, but designing a world travel theme for your bedroom can be quite simple and easy to do. No interior design skills required!
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Regardless of whether you own your home or you’re on a lease agreement, one of your biggest priorities when preparing to leave for overseas should be the safety of your property.
Your neighborhood may be a safe place, and you might even feel confident leaving the doors unlocked when you duck down to the shops, but when you leave your home vacant for weeks on end, it’s essential that everything is properly secured. Burglaries nowadays are rising, especially now that social media makes it easy for would be thieves to identify when you’re not at home.
And beyond that there are the possibilities for weather damage, and accidents like fire, or flooding if a tap was inadvertently left on. To avoid all of the above, here are some simple ways to keep your property safe and secure.
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Throughout the world, different cultures have their own unique remedies for treating ailments and staying healthy.
It’s easy to believe that the strongest and most effective medicine comes from drugs prescribed by a doctor, but there are a number of natural remedies out there which may be just as effective at relieving your seasonal cold or aching joints.
Scientists are beginning to turn their attention to indigenous peoples around the world to learn about the local natural remedies these populations have used for generations. This knowledge is proving useful for treating many types of sickness, and preventing many others.
Some people may scoff at herbal remedies as silly folklore, but many natural remedies are continually proven by science to be just as effective as manufactured drugs. There are hundreds of thousands of plants around the world, and most, if not all, may be of use to us when it comes to improving our health.
If you’re looking for a more natural approach to healing, check out these fascinating ingredients provided by Mother Nature that many people around the world swear by.
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No one likes getting sick. Especially when they’re thousands of miles away from home and the people who care about them the most. But most of the time, you can avoid getting sick overseas with a few very simple tips.
When it comes to preparing for possible sickness, instead of stocking up on medications to treat potential illnesses (ie the diarrhea meds, asprin, etc), why not aim for total prevention?!
There might be vaccinations, medications, and supplements these days to treat everything, but to actually avoid sickness overseas? Most of the time all that’s needed is the basics. Something that most people have forgotten.
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We’ve written many articles about how to make money as a side hustle while traveling the world, but what if you landed a full time job that actually required it?
What if, you not only got to travel the world for free, but actually got paid a salary while doing it? A gig that covers your travel expenses, salary, retirement, healthcare, and lets you build a career?
Sounds pretty amazing right!
The following careers aren’t for everyone, as these aren’t jobs that send you away on little two week stints every now and then; you’ll spend long periods of time away from home, because they actually require full time travel!
… it’s actually in the job description!
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The way to most travelers’ hearts is through their stomachs, and when it comes to Italy, this is one of the world’s most delicious food meccas! But not all Italian food is created equally.
From a mouth watering Florentine steak paired with a fine Chianti wine, to the heavenly bliss that is gelato, Florence offers a wide range of delicious flavors to tempt your taste buds, while providing the ideal base for exploring the greater food bowl that is Tuscany. And if you’re a serious foodie, trust me when I say that you want to spend time in Tuscany!
While Florence is the beating heart of the region, basing yourself here also makes it easy to arrange trips from Florence to Pisa or Florence to Siena to explore the culinary scenes offered by these Tuscan cities.
Hungry? Read on to discover some of the top foods and wines you NEED to try in Florence and greater Tuscany.
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While there are tons of new and exciting holiday experiences popping up every day, from glamping, to walking safaris, and hot air balloon races, sometimes you just can’t beat an old fashioned road trip.
But, a road trip isn’t as simple as just jumping in the car and driving; they do require some prior planning.
If you’re considering taking your first roadtrip, but not sure where to start, use the following step by step guide – everything you need to organize before setting out on the road!
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I often feel ignorant when traveling abroad. Ignorant in that we expect tourists visiting English speaking countries to speak English, however 90% of the time don’t reciprocate by making an attempt to speak foreign languages when traveling ourselves.
Not expecting people to speak to you in English, and making at least an attempt to communicate in the language of the land wherever you go, is a sign of respect for both the locals and their culture.
But language learning isn’t for everyone, and surely no-one in the world has mastered over 200 local dialects! So what is a traveler to do?
With some practice, anyone can learn a second language, but it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Even if you are just briefly passing through, learning a few words and phrases in the local language goes a long way for both respect and ease of travel.
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Driving around most cities can be a real challenge, especially with the increasing costs of car rentals overseas and the heavy traffic that you usually have to endure to do your sightseeing.
While walking can be a healthy and cheap alternative to driving, and public transport can be a great way to explore the city like a local, there’s a new trend for city travel starting to emerge in 2019: the electric scooter.
Electric scooters might have been known as a kids toy when they first hit the market, but being that they’re both environment-friendly, less costly than driving, and much easier to store, we’re starting to see an influx of scooters on city sidewalks.
In response to this trend, today we’ll cover the pros and cons of using electric scooters for city travel. Is it really a good idea to use one?
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You’ve probably read the title and you’re thinking ‘pot, meet kettle’ right? I mean, as a professional blogger who posts live while traveling all the time, who am I to recommend that you shouldn’t?
But you might be surprised to hear that even as an influencer, I hardly ever post travel updates live.
The obvious reason is for security; for both my personal safety, and that of my empty home. But, over 12 years of travel, I’ve learned that safety isn’t the only danger of posting your travel updates live.
And I’m not saying that it’s easy – it’s actually very tough not to get swept up in the excitement of being overseas, and wanting to share your bikini bod in the Seychelles right now with absolutely everyone that you know.
But if you’re willing to take the advice of an experienced and seasoned traveler, my advice for you is as follows:
Just don’t.
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Layovers, coach transfers, night trains and flights. Whenever and wherever you’re going, the act of actually traveling is an integral part of the process and often involves long-hauls aboard various modes of public transport.
Coupled with having to get from one place to another, a certain amount of waiting is inevitable – and inevitably irritating! Even as a seasoned adventurer, time spent traveling and waiting can still become tedious.
Yes, it’s all worth it in the end, but the bit in the middle can often be a chore!
Fortunately, in today’s world, smartphones are a savior. As well as offering way to contact friends, post pictures of your adventure, and catch up on emails on-the-go, mobiles are modern entertainment hubs.
Regardless of your tastes, your device, or your budget, there’s an app out there that’ll keep you entertained. In this guide, we’ve picked out three mobile apps that will help pass the time in between destinations.
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It’s wonderful when you can travel with your dog, without being denied entry in most places. And, if you can’t fathom the thought of a vacation without your best friend, California is an ideal pet-friendly destination.
Many residents of California are already dog lovers themselves, so from hotels that cater to furry guests, to dog friendly beaches, parks, and nature trails, this is the place to be at!
But California is a huge State, so where are the best places to visit with your four legged friend? The following are the most pet friendly places in an already very pet friendly State.
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For the traveler who spends time in the outdoors, trying to avoid snakes completely is nearly impossible, unless you’re visiting New Zealand, Iceland or Ireland that is – countries which don’t have a single snake!
But if you’re thinking you’ll limit your travel to just those three countries, you’ll end up missing out on some truly remarkable places. Just because snakes are present, doesn’t mean you need to avoid traveling; you just need to take smart precautions.
While bugs and insects do attack unprovoked, the good news is that snakes don’t. Most snakes would rather to slither away than have a confrontation, and don’t aggressively bite things out of malice.
So it’s actually pretty easy to not get bitten!
But, if you’re setting up camp, and don’t even want to see one, you can use the following tips for keeping them away from your campsite.
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What do you understand by the term trekking? People often use the words hiking, trekking, and mountain climbing interchangeably, and they’re definitely similar in that you spend time outdoors and walk in nature.
But they’re also very different.
Hiking is the easiest of the three; short 2 – 8 hr adventures where you finish on the same day you started. Mountaineeting on the other hand is challenging, technical, and you climb what is often dangerous terrain at high elevations.
But trekking? Trekking is somewhere inbetween; non technical, multi day hikes where you camp along the way and carry all your food and equipment with you; an exhilarating adventure sport that presents both a physical and mental challenge.
There’s nothing better than exploring the beauty of a place on foot, and trekking is a great way to go further, dig deeper and really immerse yourself in local culture, and remote landscapes that your everyday hiker wouldn’t normally get to.
When it comes to the best treks in the world, Asia is a fabulous region, with a high concentration of incredible, bucket-list worthy treks. So if you’re keen on trekking, check out this list of top treks across Asia, brought you by Sydney Edwards from Route Prints.
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Are you one of those people who loves to stay at 5 star hotels? Of course, who wouldn’t!
It’s always exciting to stay in a well designed and super stylish luxe hotel, but unfortunately this time spent immersed in utter sophistication is often short lived, and we always have to return to our own bedrooms.
But, what if returning to your own bedroom was even more exciting than a short stay at a luxury hotel; what if you could create a bedroom so beautiful that it was like living in a luxury hotel?!
For most people, it’s far too expensive to live out of hotels permanently, but if you can’t bring your bedroom to the hotel, why not bring the hotel to your bedroom? The following simple design ideas will help you get started!
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If you’ve battled the elements trying to set up your tent on a rundown campsite but still want to be in the great outdoors, glamping is the answer!
There’s a real explosion of glamping in the US at the moment; luxury tents in picturesque natural surrounds. I’m talking tents with real beds, cozy decor, and all of the amenities of home.
Think sleeping under the stars, hearing the crickets chirping at night, and opening your eyes in the morning to stunning, secluded wilderness.
Once you realize that you can get all of the benefits of camping without any of the headaches, you’ll never go back to primitive camping again! The following are 10 of the best glamping spots across the US.
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There’s nothing like an Aussie summer. You might think it’s all about the sun, beaches and beers, however there is much more Australia can offer in the summer months!
Want to join in the fun? The following are 5 ways to feel like a local Aussie this coming summer!
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Do you ever wonder why medical tourism is suddenly the new black and stealing the spotlight from cultural tourism? Medical tourism is booming, and people from all over the world have started traveling overseas for medical care in another country.
Around 8 million patients each year in fact!
Of those 8 million people who travel for medical treatment, 700,000 alone travel to Turkey; an industry that earned the country a whopping $1.5 billion in 2018.
Turkey is a popular destination among tourists generally, and many European and American-trained doctors have taken up residence here, which appeals to medical tourists from these regions.
It has the most American-accredited hospitals of any other country, and with affordable healthcare, it is estimated that 32% of Turkey’s patients are medical tourists.
So, if you’re thinking of traveling for medical, what are the benefits of specifically choosing Turkey?
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Of the world’s many incredible journeys, sailing from Vietnam to Cambodia featured prominently on my list. And while floating up the Mekong River on a luxury ship might sound leisurely, there was still something truly adventurous about it.
Picture this: you’re aboard an exquisite colonial style wooden ship, sailing up one of the world’s longest rivers. While your final destination will be Cambodia, you know that if you keep following the river north, it’ll lead you all the way to China.
While you board in one of the most cosmopolitan and bustling cities in Asia, the landscape up river quickly changes. The skyscrapers of HCMC change into a countryside dotted by rice paddies, fish farms, and tropical fruit orchards.
Inbetween major ports, daily life comes alive in undeveloped and unexplored parts of the region that you wouldn’t have been able to access by land; remote, seemingly untouched villages, where locals may have never seen a foreign tourist, and rush to shake your hand.
There are many reasons to take a Mekong River Cruise, though today I want to dive into the specific highlights; individual experiences that are so full of magic, they become some of your most cherished moments.
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People often take their drinking water for granted. In most western countries we don’t think twice before grabbing a glass and sticking it underneath a tap. So you’ll probably be surprised to know that 99% of the world’s water sources are unfit for human consumption.
This leaves a paltry 1% of the world’s water to sustain over 7 billion people across the planet. So, that begs the question, where is this clean water?!
The following infographic by Waterlogic (manufacturers of workplace water dispensers), takes a deep dive into the 15 purest water sources left on earth, uncovering everything from the freshwater havens of bracing Alaska through to the natural filtration effects of the gold mines in South Africa.
There are even a couple of surprises: who knew the River Thames is now regarded as the cleanest river in the world to flow through a major city? Read on to see which other waterways make the cut as world’s purest.
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As plastic pollution becomes a global environmental priority, governments and political establishments are working towards a greener way of life.
And as responsible travelers, we can show our support for the cities that prioritize responsible living by throwing our tourism dollars behind them, and visiting these destinations over destinations that continue to contribute to the problem.
Cities in USA, Scandinavia and Australia have introduced initiatives to motivate their citizens to start pursuing an environmentally friendly way of life in a sign of independent action against plastic pollution.
In the following article, Waterlogic covers a variety of urban initiatives aiming to overcome global warming. Why not consider your own independent action and install a bottleless water dispenser at home or at work?
Consider the following cities for your next vacation to show you support the fight against plastic pollution.
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