Booking your own travel has never been easier than it is today. While 10 years ago you would know your local travel agent by name, today you can research, compare prices, and book everything from flights, to cruises, and hotels, all super easily without needing any help.
Though there are now so many websites and resources, that people are turning back to their local travel agent, because there’s just too much information to sort through. I mean, when booking hotels, do you book through Booking.com? What about Expedia? Hotels.com? Agoda? Priceline? Tripadvisor? Orbitz? And what about flights? Car rentals? Cruise sites? You would be forgiven for breaking out in hives!
But don’t freak out just yet, because I’m about to tell you about one more site. Travelsites.com is a travelers dream; a free database that lists all of the best travel websites, arranges them by category, and ranks them so that you can easily find everything you need.
I have the site bookmarked as the place to find the best travel-related resources online. You should too! Either jump over to Travelsites.com right now (because it’s pretty self explanatory), or read on for an in depth review.
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It’s safe to say that we’ve all been in the position of having packed a bit too much on a previous trip. Whether it’s backup shoes or an extra iPad, even with our best efforts, sometimes avoiding overpacking is a hard thing to do.
Packing a suitcase is somewhat of a tricky mixture of artistry and science, but when you’re only heading out on a short weekend trip, you really don’t need that much with you. In fact, you should be able to travel with only carry-on.
So if you’d love to learn to pack less but have no idea how to pair down your options, let this be your guide to packing for a 48 hour weekend trip.
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Plane travel is so common in today’s world that we often assume most people have flown at least once in their life, but this isn’t always the case. And while many people already know the ins and outs of flying, everybody has to fly for the first time at some stage.
Over the years, I have definitely made a lot of beginner flyer mistakes, such as booking the wrong airport, and misspelling my name on an international ticket which resulted in a $300 change fee.
So if you’re flying for the first time it is my hope that I can help you avoid the mistakes I have made, and help you feel like a pro on your very first flight.
Whether you’re afraid of flying or have simply never had the opportunity to travel before, I would love to give you a few tips on what to expect, and how to make your first flight as relaxing and stress-free as possible.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even enjoy it!
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One of the most important things when traveling is to make sure you’re aware of the laws of the country we’re traveling to. Every country has their own unique laws, and what might be totally normal in your part of the world could be strictly forbidden somewhere else.
Foreign countries don’t care how law-abiding you are back home. If you violate their laws, they’re likely to penalize you. So it’s incredibly important to read up on the laws of the country you’re traveling to.
For instance, public displays of affection can land you behind bars in Saudi Arabia, and it’s illegal to chew gum in Singapore. Drugs are something you don’t want to touch in any country, and in countries like Malaysia, China, and Iran, some drug crimes could land you with the death penalty.
Being arrested overseas can be very traumatic, distressing and frightening. But if you do find yourself in this situation, the following general advice should help you.
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A desk job isn’t for everyone. Indeed, if you’ve worked in an office environment for an extended period of time, it’s likely you’ve felt the desire to get out of your workspace and explore the world at large at least once or twice.
But traditional jobs usually only offer 2-4 weeks of leave, and you can’t exactly ‘see the world’ in that amount of time. While we might dream of just taking off and leaving our boss behind, the one thing that usually prevents us from doing so is the money side.
I mean, what happens if you do take a year off, but you’ve under budgeted, and you get half way through a year long trip and your money dries up?
That’s a real worry.
If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling for longer, but you’re worried if your savings is going to be enough, the following are our six favorite ways for making money on the move.
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Would you be surprised to know that 56% of pet-owners transport their dog by car, at least once a month?
Not only do visits to the Vet usually involve transporting Fido in the car, many dog-parents take their beloved four-legged friend on vacation with them, or simply decide to go to the lake for the day.
Whilst many dogs cope well during travel, we have put together 5 of the best tips for training Fido to travel in a car, safely.
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There’s no denying that travel can sometimes be frustrating. And especially when it comes to long distance travel, a lot of the time it’s just downright uncomfortable.
The experiences once we get to a new destination always make the journey worthwhile, and as soon as we’re trekking through the Himalayas or snorkelling through Mexican cenotes, we completely forget about having been cramped in economy the day before.
But, for those 15 + hours where you’re very aware of just how awkward a long haul flight is, we recommend the following travel hacks to making yourself more comfortable.
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You can spot a frequent traveler from miles away. They’re the ones that know how to score an upgrade, always pack a portable phone charger, and somehow manage to appear fresh after a 10 hour flight.
Frequent travelers have an easier time traveling, because their experience means they know which useful gadgets to use. Having the right technology with you can greatly enhance a trip, though with so much technology these days, the trouble is often knowing which gadgets to invest in.
So, if you’re struggling to narrow down your tech list, the following are must-have gadgets that frequent travelers use, along with the travel style that they best suit.
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It’s almost that time of year again, and you know what that means, right? It’s just about time for an all-girls road trip! Sure, it’s only for a weekend, but you can’t go out into the great big world empty-handed. You need a flashy bag—with something in it.
The problem is, when you wait until the last minute to pack, things tend to slip your mind and you forget important items that might really come in handy. So how about this time, you let me do the work for you?
You can just check everything off the list as you pack. Deal? Deal!
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When you travel to another country, it’s good practice to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings to keep yourself safe from possible threats. But what about online threats?
Did you know that when you travel to other countries, in many cases, you are more vulnerable to online threats than you are at home?
For many of us, when we connect to the Internet, we don’t think at all about how we’re connecting. We just do. The devices we use even connect themselves to the Internet sometimes, for all kinds of things like backups and automatic updates.
While that’s just the nature of the way we live now, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful to protect yourself and your information. Because most internet connections we used by travelers are open public networks, this puts our personal data at risk.
Abstinence has never been a practical solution, so the one way to solve this is by using one of the best free VPNs. Here’s why you need to be traveling with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the sake of your data.
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The Internet and its uses are wondrous. And you may think that no matter where you are in the world, you can access whatever you want as long as you there is an available internet connection, right?
Unfortunately, that’s wrong.
While the internet might hold the answer to everything, there are actually a lot of restrictions and legalities involved with what kinds of content you’ll be able to access in specific parts of the world.
Not every country believes in providing free and open internet to their citizens, and you might find when traveling that your internet access is limited, and the government has blocked certain websites.
This means that if you’re traveling internationally, you might want to do a little research and prepare yourself for the browsing and streaming complications that might arise while you’re on your trip.
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Let’s be honest – no-one particularly enjoys a long bus ride. It can be crowded, too hot, and most all, incredibly boring.
Though despite being confined to one seat for hours at a time, there are definitely ways to distract yourself so that the time flies by.
Dreading an upcoming long distance journey? These activities will keep you entertained throughout the long-distance bus ride.
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Travel is an ironic hobby; the experience of being in a new destination is both fantastic and exciting, but the actual travel involved with traveling can be quite another thing.
From long customs and immigration queues, to fees for excess baggage, and shrinking leg space every time you fly, the physical act of traveling can be stressful. And this has never been more true than in the case of flying.
However there is good news! Despite the airlines cutting our leg space, and the transit time through airports getting longer, there are a number of travel hacks that can go a long way to reducing the stress of a flight.
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When it comes to planning a holiday, most people aim to tick off the essentials – tickets, accommodation, and itinerary.
However, there is a lot more involved with overseas travel, and it’s not uncommon for first time travelers to make a few mistakes.
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My last trip to Croatia was 2007, though I still remember that summer vividly; jumping from the top of ancient fortifications to splash down into the sea, lazily drinking cocktails on the beach, and exploring the country’s island speckled coastline via sailing.
Oh, the sailing!
Croatia has seen a massive increase in popularity of late, but its status as a sailor’s paradise has been known for decades. And, whether you want to rent a boat in Croatia to be your own captain, or jump on a skippered trip just for a day, everyone visiting Croatia should experience sailing.
Croatia is home to more than 1,000 islands, all with amazing beaches, historic ruins, and Game of Thrones style medieval scenery. And of course, connecting them all is the dazzling sapphire water of the Adriatic Sea; so mezermizing that it ‘sparkles with a jewel-like intensity’.
So, take in Croatia’s national parks, and don’t miss its spectacular walled cities. But definitely don’t miss out on the chance to go sailing. The following are 5 reasons Croatia has just been named as the hottest sailing destination of 2019.
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You’ve made the decision to head off on a trek … awesome! The world is full of incredible hiking trails, and strapping on your boots is a great way to immerse yourself in nature.
But as fun as trekking is, it’s incredibly important that you head out with the right equipment. This doesn’t always mean you need to spend a tonne of money on hiking poles, or camelbacks, but it’s often the simplest things that are the most important on a trek.
Whether you’re heading on a day walk, or a multi day trek, the following are essentials you should always have with you.
This list covers the basics for beginner trekkers, though even if you’re a seasoned pro, it’s important never to become so overconfident that we forget the essentials.
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Our most recent road trip saw us hire a car in Cancun. We were wary about driving in Mexico, but ultimately wanted the freedom to get around without being stuck on a tour bus.
And while the trip itself went smoothly, picking up the car hire almost took longer than the flight did.
Despite the ridiculous wait, I didn’t plan on complaining; the Hertz girl was copping an earful already. The guy in front of us was trying to return his vehicle, and wasn’t thrilled that his credit card was being charged $5,000 for, what he argued, was minimal damage.
He had taken out car hire insurance, but didn’t have an excess waiver, and had a really shitty deductible.
After having listened to an hour of his yelling, we finally got the keys to out own vehicle, and, drove out of the lot having learnt a very valuable lesson.
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Camping can mean an incredible adventure, but the one thing that can easily ruin your experience is a bad camping mattress. Not only does a bad mattress have the potential to compromise your health, it’s usually even worse than if you were to just sleep on the ground!
There are many things you’ll need to consider when buying a quality camping mattress, but the biggest thing to remember is that not one size fits all; you should be buying a mattress that’s suitable for you.
From the size to the practicality of traveling with it, the following are essential factors to consider when buying a camping mattress.
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Last summer my friends flew from LA to the Caribbean for $89. They hadn’t been back more than two weeks before they flew off to Switzerland for $227 return.
Most people’s reaction to that is “Nice for some“. Because not everyone works for an airline, can figure out how to accumulate millions of points, or has the time to watch airline fares like moving points on the stock exchange.
But here’s the kicker … neither did they.
They don’t have airline discounts, despite my constant badgering they haven’t signed up for any frequent flier programs, and they don’t spend any time researching to find cheap flights. So how the hell do they do it??!!
It’s because last summer, I told them to sign up for Cheap Fly Club, which is a free email subscription that sends you notifications of stupidly cheap flights.
I guess they do listen to some of my advice!
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Cuba tourism is booming, and all American’s can now legally travel to Cuba – with some limitations.
American travelers have been restricted from visiting Cuba for years now due to a trade embargo preventing the US from spending money on the island, and while “tourist travel” is still prohibited, travel restrictions are now less severe, and any American wishing to travel to Cuba may do so for one of 12 reasons.
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The Northern hemisphere has already started their ski season and thousands of resorts all over Europe and America welcome outdoor enthusiasts until the melt kicks in around April.
Though even if you can’t make it work to travel to Europe or North America for this years season, that doesn’t mean you have to wait a whole 12 months until next year.
The Southern hemisphere boasts its own excellent scenery, luxury hotels, and reasonable prices, although the ski season will arrive in a few months time, running from early to mid June through to early October in Queenstown & Wanaka New Zealand.
Whether you’re looking to skip Europe’s ski season and jump down to New Zealand, or taking some of those epic European jumps, the following are five ways to prepare for ski season, regardless of your chosen hemisphere.
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Whether you’re a digital nomad, business traveller, or simply using the internet while on vacation, travelling abroad poses a unique set of cyber-security threats to internet users.
Those who travel for business are the most vulnerable since they usually carry a variety of sensitive information on their laptops, smartphones, and other devices.
However, even if you’re simply using open Wi-Fi connections while travelling abroad (ie connecting at hotels, airports, or cafes), it’s important to understand that there are still many risks involved with using public internet sources.
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Cuba is a country of indefinable magic. Think beautifully kept colonial cities, pristine beaches, awe inspiring nature, intriguing culture, an innate musicality, and food that will leave you licking your fingers wanting more.
Cuba tourism is booming now that their relationship has warmed with the United States, and a lot more people are starting to plan travel to the island.
But exactly how safe is it? You might be surprised to hear that, according to a recent survey conducted by the Center of Responsible Travel, Cuba is one of the safest destinations for tourists in the world.
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When traveling internationally, many cellphone providers charge high rates to cover roaming fees. Sending a text or checking emails quickly becomes a costly expense for travelers.
Many people think that the only ways to avoid paying massive bills is to leave their cellphones at home. But if the thought of living without your smartphone while you travel makes you want to scream, don’t despair.
Many cellphone providers offer affordable options to help you stay connected no matter where you are in the world. Learn about the following five ways prepaid phones can save you money when traveling.
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Are you planning a getaway over the Christmas break? Perhaps you’ve traveled for a white Christmas in the UK, or you’re in the UK and planning out your escape!
Either way, if you’re planning on driving to the airport and paying for parking facilities, bear in mind that some are definitely busier – and more expensive – than others.
A study conducted by Staysure, a UK travel insurance provider, investigated search engine data and airport parking sites to determine how passengers at UK international airports use airport car parking services and how much they pay for them.
The results provided some surprising insights.
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