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!
Read MoreRegardless 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.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreDriving 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?
Read MoreYou’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.
Read MoreLayovers, 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.
Read MoreIt’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.
Read MoreFor 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.
Read MoreThere’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!
Read MorePeople 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.
Read MoreTraveling on the Beijing to shanghai train is the quickest and most cost-efficient way to get between these two iconic mega-cities. Because China’s high-speed trains operate at a speed of 350 km/hr, you can travel 819 miles within 4.5 hours.
While this is of course longer than the time it takes to fly (2 hours), there are many perks to train travel, including easier security, the convenient location of stations, comfort of travel, and cheaper cost of ticket.
And, when you consider getting to the airport at least an hour before your flight, and the time it takes you to disembark, collect your bags, and then catch a taxi, train travel actually ends up being around the same amount of time.
So, you’ve decided the book the train between Beijing and Shanghai. What else do you need to know?
Read MoreIf you’re someone who likes to travel for longer than the average 2 week vacation, there’s no doubt that one of the most challenging things you’ll face is staying in touch with people back home.
The simple fact is, to continually travel the world you sacrifice the majority of your pre existing relationships. Even if you’re close with your family and friends, it’s very easy to lose contact when you’re in completely different locations.
After-all, you’re busy traveling, they’re busy with their stuff, and without even realizing it, you end up missing out on milestones and momentous occasions because you’re on the other side of the world, in a different time zone.
But staying in touch doesn’t have to be expensive, and with tech nowadays it’s actually very easy to keep in contact.
Read MoreEveryone enjoys some Netflix and chill, and there’s nothing like rolling into a hotel, tired after a long journey, and putting on a couple of shows while you get some rest.
Whether you’ve had a lazy day at the beach, or a dream day between waterfalls and temples in Bali, having access to home comforts while traveling is quite the luxury. However, due to the geo-restrictions imposed on Netflix, your viewing experience is going to vary wildly from one country to the next.
In many nations, you could login to find that your favorite shows are just gone. And, if you think finding a movie is hard back home; imagine suddenly having a catalog that is up to 90% smaller. It happens.
Thankfully, there is a solution!
No matter how small the local catalog is, you can “spoof” your location to another country to increase the number of options. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online service that permits you to switch your IP address to any country you like.
As soon as you use a VPN to pretend to be in a different country, you can watch the larger Netflix catalog! So, which locations have the smallest catalogs? And where is it a good idea to pretend to be instead?
Read MoreVacation-time is clearly the best time of the year. But there is one constant struggle each traveler has to deal with: what should you bring and what can you leave at home?
Most importantly, does everything you need even fit into your suitcase?!
Regardless of whether you’re trying to cram a few outfits into a small weekender bag, or you’re packing everything + the kitchen sink into your suitcase, the following are 4 useful and creative tricks to making everything fit.
Read MoreThere’s a certain magic about Siem Reap; as the gateway to Angkor Wat, this small, compact tourist town is where modern and ancient worlds collide.
Cosmopolitan cafes and modern markets form the epicenter of chic Cambodia, though a short tuk-tuk ride and you’ve stepped back in time.
Siem Reap was built around an empire of ancient temples, and from those reclaimed by the roots of enormous banyan trees, to complexes that were once the royal capital city of the Khmer empire, the city of Siem Reap is an incredible base for authentic adventure.
There’s plenty to do in Siem Reap beyond the temples of course; from the Cambodian circus, to Buddhist monasteries, and back country adventures to explore rural villages fringed by endless rice paddies, swaying sugar palms, and water buffaloes.
But before you focus on things to do (and you won’t be short of things to do!), the first thing to figure out is how to get there; by plane, bus, or boat.
Read MoreVacay! V-A-C-A-Y! There’s a smartphone app for everything these days, and when it comes to travel, our phones have become like our own personalized travel agents.
From finding flights, to accessing real time translations, they’ve become a one stop shop for everything we need to search for, book, and enjoy our holidays.
But if you browse through the travel section of the app store, you’ll find thousands of useful apps, and obviously, these aren’t all going to fit on your phone! So, to help you out we’ve narrowed it down to the 7 we find the most useful.
Here are 7 useful travel apps you should download … every traveler should have these on their phone!
Read MoreIt’s no secret that as Australians, we have a passionate love affair with SE Asia. From the millions of travelers who descend upon Bali, to those who temple hop through Thailand, it’s become almost a rite of passage to visit the region.
And it’s no wonder we’re so addicted; Southeast Asia is a melting pot of vibrant modern cities, and small traditional villages; a crazy juxtaposition of chaos and tranquility, tradition and modernity, religion and commercialism.
You have the chance to taste exotic street food, fail at chopsticks, and ride long-tailed boats to secluded islands so pristine, we couldn’t imagine such beauty in our wildest dreams.
Let’s be honest – the attraction also lies in the fact that it’s often a dirt cheap holiday, and as such, I don’t see our love affair with Southeast Asia dying out anytime soon.
But, whether your ideal holiday consists of relaxing on tropical beaches, visiting temples, or tracking tigers through the jungle, the most important website for organizing your trip is Traveloka.
Here’s why you should bookmark it!
Read MorePets form a very intimate part of our lives, and for those who like to travel, the idea of leaving your most vulnerable family member at home is often quite unthinkable.
However, travelling with pets is never easy, especially if you’re navigating your way through international flights, cars, and boats!
For those who are anxious about traveling with a pet, the good thing is that as long as you’re prepared, things can go as smoothly as ‘I can’t believe it’s not butter!’, and you won’t have to deal with the anxiety of leaving your fur baby at home.
The following are tips and tricks for navigating the three most common forms of transport with pets; or if you’re undecided about how you’ll be traveling, use this as your guide to choosing the most suitable option.
Read MoreIt was 1873, and a spirit of adventure was bubbling throughout Europe. There was a thirst for worldwide adventure, and intrepid explorers were pushing the boundaries to explore unseen worlds.
It was this same year that Jules Verne published his classic adventure novel; a sensational tale of an Englishman named Phileas Fogg, who takes a bet that, with the opening of a new Indian railway, he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.
Around the World in 80 Days may have been published almost 150 years ago, but two centuries on, this iconic story is still capturing imaginations, and inspiring new generations to reattempt the challenge.
But what if, with today’s technological advancements, I made you a bet that you could take Jules Verne’s same route in, say 80 hours?!
Around the World in 80 Hours is an interactive guide which plots out realistic routes for those wanting to explore the world by car, train, plane or boat … check it out!
Read MoreJust as Liam Neeson has a set of acquired skills if you mess with his family, for a kick-ass vacation, you’ll need to master a number of travel skills before you go.
Traveling like a pro requires many skills sets. From learning how to handle your money, to being able to communicate with strangers (forget what your mother told you!), there’s a lot more involved than just knowing how to pack a suitcase, or being comfortable with traveling alone.
Many people head out on their first trip and find that they’ve jumped in the deep end, learning these skills on the road. But it does pay to know what you need to become a better traveler before you go.
Sharpen your pencil and grab a notepad, because travel school is now in session! The following are 5 travel skills we highly recommend learning before you leave home.
Read MoreDid you know that as of last year, 82 airlines provide some form of in-flight WiFi?
In-flight WiFi is becoming a necessity for airlines to compete in today’s market, and even small carriers such as Air Astana from Kazakhstan, Air Côte d’Ivoire from Ivory Coast, and Air Mauritius are getting in on the WiFi game.
Fortunately, airlines are also working on improving their current technology to improve internet speeds in a way that makes it possible to use almost any app during your flight.
When Routehappy measured global in-flight WiFi last year, they found that 57% of flights offer strong enough WiFi to browse the internet, but only 16% provide fast enough WiFi for full video streaming and speeds comparable to your connection at home.
With that in mind, the next time you’re on a flight with WiFi, here are the best apps to use regardless of your airline.
Read MoreWe’ve come a long way from classifying eyeglasses as bulky medical equipment intended purely for optic aid.
These days, glasses have become less about vision correction and more of a fashion statement, saturating the eyewear market with thousands of different shapes and styles.
While fashion has always blurred the lines between the classic and the avant-garde with perennial collections by the likes of Gucci, Ray-Ban and Tom Ford – it’s often the underdogs who rewrite the rules of the game.
With e-tailers like SmartBuyGlasses carrying more than 80,000 products across over 200 brands, it may seem impossible to find that diamond in a sea of glass(es). So we’ve created a list which celebrates ingenious functionality from eyewear brands you may not have heard of!
Read MoreYou can spot a frequent traveller from miles away.
They’re the ones who know how to score an upgrade, always pack a portable phone charger, and somehow manage to appear immaculate and fresh after a long-haul flight. They always travel prepared, pack smart, and the bank never blocks their credit card.
You may not be a frequent flier but we’re here today to share the ins and outs of travelling like a pro.
Read MoreWhat if I were to tell you that you can quit your corporate job and travel around the world for the rest of your life?
As somebody who has worked and traveled around the world for over 10 years now, there was a point when I realized that countless people are sitting at home right now wondering just how to do this.
My name is Mike Swigunski. I am the author of the #1 Amazon bestselling travel book, Global Career: How to Work Anywhere and Travel Forever. I’m also the founder of GlobalCareer.io, which is a remote jobs website that empowers people to start working remotely.
Recently, my story was featured on Forbes.com and today, I am excited to share an introduction of the ideas presented my this book. By the end of this post you’ll be able to see what daily life looks like for somebody who works and travels full-time.
Read MoreYou can spot a frequent traveller from a mile away. They’re the one who knows how to move up a class, always has a portable phone charger, and never packs more than they actually need.
They know how to avoid credit card drama, how to dodge hidden fees, and somehow manage to emerge from a long flight looking immaculate and totally replenished.
While it’s easy to watch these travelers and think ‘I wish travel was as smooth as that for me’, for every frequent traveler who has their stuff together, at some point along the way, they’ve all made rookie errors and beginner mistakes.
The reason they’re so pro at travel is because, more often than not, they’ve made these mistakes and learned the hard way.
So we’ve put together a list of the most common travel mistakes, and how to avoid them. You might be surprised at how many of them you’ve made!
Read More
I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!
