Las Vegas is now the only US city where land-based gambling is still thriving, as most casinos elsewhere loose the battle with their online counterparts. Though while Vegas is home to many of the world’s top casinos, people are also drawn by its entertainment; beyond the slot machines, roulette, and blackjack are a huge range of other draws, like outlandish productions, and the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities.
Even though many don’t come for the casinos anymore, most travelers to Vegas believe gambling a few dollars is a mandatory experience; after-all, can you really claim you’ve been to Vegas if you haven’t dabbled in at least a little gambling?!
Being that Vegas casinos draw everyone from high rollers to recreational punters, knowing how to fit in is important if you’re one of those people who don’t usually play at all. So we’ve put together the following dress code.
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Whether it’s dealing with tummy troubles, annoying bug bites, nasty sunburns from too much fun in the sun, or simply loads of stress brought on by travelling (it happens!), there are many ailments that afflict travelers.
But what if I told you that there’s a natural remedy that could replace the need to visit a chemist, and mean you don’t have to load up on medications?!
Chamomile is one of the world’s most widely used medicinal plants, once used by the ancient Romans to soothe all kinds of ailments.
While you may be familiar with the calming effects of Chamomile tea, you may not be aware that diffusing undiluted Roman Chamomile Essential Oil can be an even more effective treatment for a wide variety of travel troubles.
An immune system boosting plant that can soothe the gastrointestinal system, make those bug bites stop itching, make that sunburn feel less blistering, and help you relax when seated in that middle seat between two obnoxious airline passengers; ‘Roman Chamomile Essential Oil’ are four words every traveler should know!
There are some impressive research findings to back up these claims, so today I want to share how you can benefit from using chamomile essential oil too, and how to use it effectively and safely.
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As tech savvy travelers, we’re constantly stressing the importance of traveling with a good VPN; about the dangers of using public WiFi, why your privacy is otherwise at risk, and the best ways to keep your data safe and protect your tech.
A Virtual Private Network is the most important thing to have for internet use while traveling. It encrypts your traffic and sends it through a secure server, which means you can browse the internet securely and anonymously.
There are many perks of using a VPN, like accessing country-restricted websites (like Netflix), and skirting around Government censorship (like China), though the reason a VPN is actually essential is a matter of safety; using a secure connection means that no-one can hack you to steal data like they could on an open, public network (think free internet in airports, cafes, and hotels).
So, having established that a VPN is right up there with your passport in terms of what not to forget, the following are things you need to know about using one when traveling.
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From playing on cruise ships, to enjoying a slice of Italian pizza while the balls are called, bingo is one of the world’s favorite games. To put it in perspective, more money is spent every year in the UK on bingo tickets than it is on football!
Depending on which part of the world you’re in, Bingo is used as an education tool, played in pubs as a drinking game, and is a really fun way to practice your language / number skills if you’re traveling in another country.
And bingo players are a lot younger than you might think; this isn’t your grandmothers sport anymore! The average age of a bingo player is 35 years old.
The game itself comes from Italy, dating back to 1530 when it was known as ‘Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia’ (and it’s still played over pizza every Saturday). Though nearly 500 years later, the rest of the world has well and truly caught on!
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We’ve written plenty of posts about the importance of traveling with a VPN; about the dangers of using public WiFi, why your privacy is otherwise at risk, and the best ways to keep your data safe and protect your tech.
But one thing we haven’t yet addressed is exactly what you should look for in a good VPN; what type of features are the most important for international travelers.
A Virtual Private Network is the most important thing to have for internet use while traveling. It encrypts your traffic and sends it through a secure server, which can be in a country of your choosing.
For instance, you could be logging on from Peru, but as far as your browser is concerned, you’re accessing the internet from Australia. This is great for getting around internet censorship in countries such as China, but also means that your connection is totally private.
You’re able to browse the internet securely and anonymously, and no-one can hack you to steal data like they could on an open, public network (think free internet in airports, cafes, and hotels).
But not all VPN services are created equal. So, when evaluating your options, you should make sure you get the following functionality and services.
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Tactical pants – you don’t have to be going on a tactical mission to wear them, and you don’t have to be Bear Grylls or a US Navy Seal for them to have their use.
In fact, built to withstand the elements, and the abuse of wear, tear, tactical pants are a solid choice for adventurous travelers, whether you’re mountain climbing, trekking in the jungle, or just heading out on a short hike.
Tactical pants look like cargo pants, but they’ve been technically modified to be lightweight, fast drying, and have more concealed pockets than any other pair of pants in your closet.
They’ll also outlast anything else in your closet.
Tactical pants are commonly worn by law enforcement; men and women in the military, SWAT teams, and, yes, Bear Grylls! These aren’t just your average trousers. But the following is a guide should you, the average person, want to add them to your everyday armor!
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When it comes to prepping for an emergency disaster, we don’t blame you if it’s the last thing on your mind. After-all, you’re going on vacation to have a good time. You don’t want to think about terrorism, natural disasters, or conflict.
And granted, it’s very rare that you’ll be caught up in an event that qualifies as a disaster, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen, and they key to survival in any situation is being prepared for anything.
There’s no doubt that worldwide disasters are on the rise; climate change is seeing extreme weather patterns become more normal, and everything from flooding, to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and devastating bush-fires are ravaging countries around the globe.
And then there’s terrorism, and civil conflict, which seems to be touching everybody. So, what items always come in handy if you find yourself in an emergency situation abroad?
Let’s get started.
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The biggest question people having been asking this year, is how to start a travel blog in 2021. And even if you’re not thinking about making money from your blog, hobby blogging can be a fantastic way to keep a record of your adventures.
Ultimately, a laptop, a mobile phone, and a camera are all the tools you need to make it as a blogger professionally. BUT when it comes to starting a blog, there’s quite a lot to think about; a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
So, if you’re thinking of starting a travel blog in 2021, strap in, as we’re about to introduce you to a world of domain names, hosting, widgets, and beautiful travel WordPress themes!
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As you gear up to travel over the holidays, or book your next big adventure, you might be hit with a sense of dread. Long-haul flights, and those hours you spend overcoming boredom and discomfort, can instill anxiety in even the most seasoned traveler.
It almost seems like they’re specifically engineered for maximum annoyance. Not only is there the question of how to stay occupied for a long stretch sitting in one place, but the ensuing jet lag can be the ugly cherry on top.
Not this time!
We’ve written posts on how to stay comfortable on a long distance flight, and even how to survive them, but what if you could learn how to actually enjoy your time in the sky?!
Rather than suffer through the in-flight entertainment on that painfully small screen; rather than twist and turn on the rock-hard headrest; rather than touch down at your destination feeling like death warmed over, follow these simple tips for enjoying a long-haul flight.
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Airport parking has evolved over the last couple of years, and if you haven’t traveled for a while, it’s safe to say that it’s definitely not how you remember it!
No longer is there one set option for airport parking, where you rock up at the airport and park your car at the terminal, airports around the world now have a variety of options for you to choose from.
These options depend on the kind of parking you’re after, the extent of your budget, and how close you need you car to be to the gate. The closer you park to the airport the more expensive it gets (London Gatwick airport is a prime example!).
Whether your main priority is budget, or convenience, the following are the most common options for airport parking at most major international airports (always remember to check your options before you fly, as they obviously vary from airport to airport).
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It’s one of my favorite outdoor activities; lacing up my boots for a bit of hiking; to fully immerse myself in the natural landscapes that range from the snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, to lush mountain gorilla habitat in Rwanda.
While many hiking adventures don’t require a great deal of planning or preparation, there are times when simply lacing up the hiking books and slinging a small backpack over the shoulder doesn’t quite cut it.
Hiking in mountains presents many potential dangers, and although it isn’t nearly as technical as full-on mountain climbing, you definitely have to be conscious of prioritizing your safety.
While basic mountain hiking generally doesn’t require equipment like helmets, ropes, carabiners, crampons, or ice axes, there are definitely still things you need to be aware of, and essential items you should include as part of your gear.
To keep you safe on your next adventure, follow this list of safety tips for hiking in the mountains. From knowing what to pack to what potential dangers you may face, these tips will go a long way to making your next hike much safer.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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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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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