Australia’s national colours may be green and gold, and it may be known for its rugged yet beautiful Red Centre, but I encourage you to focus on the colour Orange the next time you travel Down Under.
G’day, fellow travellers! 100 countries later, I’m always on the lookout for ways to make my adventures smoother and more enjoyable. And one sure way to achieve this is by always staying connected. Let’s face it, nearly everything relating to travel is done online these days, so being disconnected feels a bit prehistoric! (I do actually remember those days!!)
Recently, I had the chance to test out the Orange Holiday Australia eSIM plan and it proved to be a valuable lifeline. I’m here to share my experience and hope that an Orange Travel eSIM may transform your Australian travel experience as well, whether you’re planning a short getaway along the Great Ocean Road, a 2-week road trip through the Outback, or a coastal tour of Far North Queensland to take in the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef.
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Unless you travel business class, which I don’t, I think we agree that plane travel is uncomfortable. You’re crammed into very uncomfortable seats, with body parts twisted in ways they just shouldn’t be. After a long haul flight, I usually walk off with back pain, neck pain, numb legs, you name it.
So, how do you improve airline seat comfort without having to sell a kidney for a business class upgrade? Chris Aliberti realized that all of this discomfot is directly related to the poor weight distribution of the seat. And he invented the Jet Seat – an airline travel seat cushion which is doctor approved, made of inflating foam that allows you to sink into any seat and eliminate pressure points.
The Jet Seat conforms to the natural shape of your body, and with two separate valves you can separately customize the thickness of the cushion. It’s portable and rolls up to 60% smaller to fit into included carry bag for easy transportation and packing.
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As full-time travel bloggers, we take our fair share of photos and videos to help us relive and share our experiences. Of course, it takes more than simply being in the right places at the right time to capture all those beautiful photos and videos of the incredible places. Thanks to today’s easy-to-use online video editors like HitPaw Edimakor, you need not be a seasoned videographer to elevate your travel videos and take your audience whether they are just family and friends or a global following on an unforgettable journey around the world.
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This past year though, I’ve traveled with Revolut in my wallet (both my phsical wallet, and my Apple wallet). And it’s saved me serious money.
Revolut is financial website and digital app used by 35+ million people, with the tools you need to easily spend, transfer, and protect your money overseas. You can set up accounts in multiple currencies, get a debit card for travel, and you can do it without any fees.
It’s easy to sign up for a standard account, and there is no monthly fee. If you click here you get a 3 month trial of Revolut premium (higher limits on ATM withdrawrals & currency exchange).
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There are plenty of moments while traveling where you do NEED data. Our phones having internet is everything, from bookings, to payments, maps, identification, crucial information, safety, and yes, calls and texts.
Local sim cards will always be a good option, but smart travelers are now using eSIMs. And after 6 weeks traveling through multiple countries in Europe on one eSIM with unlimited data; so should you!
When I landed in London I activated a 30 day Holafly sim card for Europe. It seamlessly kept me connected as I moved through England, France, Spain, and Greece. Here are my Holafly reviews and here’s the link to get a 5% discount.
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When was the last time you tried to claw your SIM card out of its tiny tray? And what are the odds that you had a hard time (and felt super annoyed) while doing it?
For some, swapping out a SIM card is synonymous with traveling abroad, especially for longer periods of time. That tiny pin that’s hard to keep track off gets dusted off and put to use, all to swap in a rarely used SIM for the destination you are headed to. There are many changes (happening very quickly) in the tech space, particularly with smartphones. Among those has been the evolution away from physical SIM cards towards eSIMs.
The technology is still new, and many of us are scratching our heads, wondering if it could ever work for us. And the good news is that yes, it can. eSIMs are something that will make your mobile life so much easier, especially when traveling. So let’s look at what the heck an eSIM is, how you can use it at home or abroad, and why it may work for you and help you stay connected (and avoid pesky roaming fees).
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Do you travel a lot and like to let your loved ones know they were on your mind while you were away?
If your love language is gift giving, here are a few classic gift ideas your family will love.
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Your bag is one of the most important things to get right when you’re traveling. Make a smart decision, and your trip becomes a breeze; you can find things easily, your gear is protected from the weather, and there’s much less risk of it being stolen. Get it wrong, and your vacation can be easily ruined; belongings wrecked, you end up straining your back and neck, and you’re painted as a pickpocket target.
But we don’t just travel with one bag when we go overseas, I’d argue there are 5 types of bag which are absolutely essential. Can you name them?
These are the 5 essential bags you need when traveling if you plan to be bag smart, in addition to your main checked luggage.
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On my first trip to Japan at 14, I got permission to take the family digital camera, and went truly overboard with photos. No-one could believe I returned home with … wait for it … 200 photos. Fastforward 20 years and we now take that many on our smartphones in less than an hour!
I got home from that trip, printed my favorites, and pulled out my scrapbook kit (glue, glitter, scissors – the whole thing!), to put together an amazing book of memories. And I’ve not completed a single scrapbook since.
Scrapbooking to preserve our travel memories is one of those things we’d all love to have time for, but unlike our 14 year old selves, as adults it’s a project we don’t have time to even begin. So our photos sit on harddrives, get buried in Facebook feeds, and we never have time to look at them again.
But what if you could finish a digital travel memory book BEFORE you even return from your trip? Something which was already designed for you, with very little time input, but produces an awesome product at the end? My friend Laura has you covered with her “On-the-Go Digital Travel Memory Book TOOLKIT”.
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It’s something people have strong opinions on – should you wear activewear casually, in public. Should you wear lycra onto a plane? Personally, I’m a fan.
Activewear is the best travel wardrobe ever created, and I’m not ashamed to say it; leggings and a sports bra are the perfect clothes to travel in. It’s called athleisure, and while Paris your gym clothes might spark reactions from certain cliques, I probably think the same of women wearing stilettos to explore as they do of me (though kudos to their pain threshold – seriously!!).
Active wear is built to be comfy, easy to wash, odor resistant, and means you can pack less. Fabrics can take a beating while still looking fresh, and wearing it is practical, versatile and effortless. So when I’m asked ‘should you wear active wear while traveling?’ my response is a resouding ‘Hell Yes!’.
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As an active traveler I’m constantly pulling muscles, carrying far too heavy packs on my back, and dealing with stiffness from failed attempts to sleep on a plane. And if I haven’t got sore feet from exploring, it hasn’t been a successful day!
So I’m now a big fan of massage guns, which saves a ton of money on spa treatments while traveling, especially since physical therapists like Bob & Brad have an excellent compact, portable range.
While the smallest massage gun I’ve found to date is the Bob & Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun, which ranks as a personal favorite, their next massage gun up is the C2. With more power than the Q2, and a bigger body, though still incredibly compact and lightweight, the C2 massage gun is also a fabulous choice. Here is our review.
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When it comes to travel essentials, you might not think a massage gun makes the cut. I mean, it definitely makes the ‘nice to have’ list, but is it up there with your passport, phone, and wallet?
Fact: Travel causes muscle pain. If you’ve ever explored a temple complex for 9 + hours, or squished your limbs into an economy seat for the long haul, I’m sure I don’t have to elaborate!
Fact: Massage guns facilitate recovery. And wouldn’t it be great to treat every single muscle group for immediate pain relief while traveling, instead of having to ‘walk it off’ the next day?
The Q2 mini is a pocket-sized portable massage gun with an amazing balance between power and size, breaking up knots and relaxing tight muscles. Compact, lightweight and powerful. For under $100.
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When it comes to travel essentials, there are none more important than your phone (your passport is strong competition though!). And when it comes to essentials for your phone, travelers need three main fundamentals; a sturdy phone case, headphones (because the whole plane doesn’t need to hear the soundtrack to Bridgerton), and a gimbal.
A gimbal is a handheld device that allows your camera to rotate smoothly along an axis, so you can take smooth travel video (without the camera shake). There are a million of them on the market, but only one which is truly worthwhile for travel.
The PowerVision S1 is a stylish and portable smartphone gimbal with easy magnetic mounting, AI tracking, gesture control for hands free recording, a built-in tripod, and a portable power bank with wireless phone charging, all packed into a compact device that fits in your pocket.
If you use your phone camera for travel photos and video, or take video calls when you’re abroad, the PowerVision S1 is a gamechanger. Here are 12 reasons you’ll love the world’s smallest smartphone gimbal.
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As a young traveler on my first flight trip, I made the mistake of taking a very bulky carry-on. I had no idea how narrow the aisles were on the plane and how tight the storage space would be underneath the seats. This made for a less than pleasant experience as my big laptop bag (which also doubled as my purse) overlapped onto the arm rests of passengers and embarrassed me all the way to my seat.
Thankfully I’ve learned so much since that first flight. As a writer, I need to always keep my laptop readily available (much like my partner, who needs to keep his camera ready as a photographer).
But more bags equals more problems, so 9 times out of 10 I just end up carrying my device in the crook of my arm. It was less than ideal, but it was better than bulky baggage, right? That is, until I discovered The Laptop Strap! It’s the perfect way to carry a laptop for any traveler.
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A team of outdoor lovers have invented an incredible power station which can work in minus 40 degree weather, and is completely waterproof. This is the world’s first portable power station which can break through severe outdoor conditions, working in rain, snow, wind, or dust storms. It works in both extremely cold and hot temperatures (- 40 °C to 50 °C / – 40 ° F – 122 ° F), and over 5,000 meters above sea level.
Can you imagine being able to charge your phone on top of Kilimanjaro, or boil a cup of coffee while camping in Antarctica, out on the ice?! The DynaYak N35 is the first ever power station of its kind.
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Earlier in the week I reviewed my favorite entry level portable laptop monitor; the INNOCN Travel Monitor N1F PRO, a great way to enjoy an external computer display on the go.
Though since then many of you have reached out and asked about a portable monitor with a screen specifically built for photo editing, which is still slim enough and sturdy enough to travel with on the road.
Much of my photo editing happens on the road; in the downtime I have in hotels, or in transit. Though I’m often traveling with an old laptop (safety hack, I leave my good laptop at home!), or sharing photos straight from my phone. So I definitely understand the importance of investing in a high quality laptop monitor, with a premium screen for a strong and vivid visual experience.
For me that’s the INNOCN 4K OLED Portable Monitor PU15-PRE. And just like the N1F PRO, for this monitor I also have a discount code: $120 off code: INCMT15RE
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I started life as a digital nomad 7 years ago. At this time, working from my laptop while traveling the world wasn’t heard of.
And even in 2019, it was still a very ‘out of the box’ idea for most of society, that you could pack up your belongings, grab a laptop and a travel monitor, and work from the road.
My office has been on a cruise ship in Antarctica, from a hammock in the Galapagos Islands, and from a treehouse in Costa Rica with the sloths and monkeys as my neighbors for the night.
Of all the 100 countries I’ve visited, my laptop and portable laptop monitor have always been with me, and now that the world has woken up to being able to work from home, people have also realized ‘home’ can be substituted for the road.
Whether you’re working from home or the road, the INNOCN Travel Monitor N1F PRO is one of my favorite entry level laptop monitors for personal business, office, and travel.
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Needless to say, the travel retail industry took a major hit during the pandemic; all those tempting duty-free items sold to international travelers in airports, on cruises, through airlines, at ferry terminals and ports, etc.
Airports are where you find the things you never knew you needed, or where you simply make purchases based on the perception you are getting a great deal buying duty-free. More and more though, brands are realizing that many buyers are less tempted by cheaper prices and more enticed by special products such as unique flavors or styles which are sold exclusively at airports and not found in regular stores or online.
Travel retailers need to make up for lost sales caused by the pandemic, so we can expect more travel-exclusive products to pop-up in airports, along with airport stores that are more immersive or unique. So as the world begins to open up for travel and business once again, let’s take a look at which products travelers will be buying up the most in places like airports.
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We’re all excited to get back to travel now that borders have begun to open and restrictions are easing up. But travel is obviously very different now than it was a couple of years ago.
While we’re looking forward to leaving the pandemic behind us, one change here to stay are face masks; they have become standard now across many destinations, transport, and public gathering places.
While many places like airlines might give you a mask, it’s worthwhile traveling with your own which you know is yours, and you’re comfortable wearing.
The CDC recently updated its mask guidelines, so the next logical question before you jump on that plane, bus, or train: What is the BEST face mask for travel to keep you safe?
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More important than what you pack for travel is what you pack your travel gear in. Of course, what travel pack you choose largely depends on what type of traveller you are…or does it?
What if there was a travel backpack for everyone, from the wilderness trekker to the urban backpacker and everyone in-between?
From the company that revolutionized the travel shoe with their all terrain sneaker line, comes the new Shell travel backpack that caters to all types of travellers. It’s a backpack and wardrobe system with unmatched versatility, easy access, and organization to pack up to 20% more; a multipurpose travel backpack every traveler will love to use.
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Ever craved a deep muscle massage while traveling? Maybe your muscles are tight from all day exploring Angkor Wat, or your back is killing you from that airline seat you’ve been strapped into for 10 hours.
Massage guns have always been a tool used in fitness; they relieve pain, reduce soreness, and improve performance for both gym junkies and athletes.
Using them improves the circulatory system, central nervous system, and all of the connective tissues in your body: muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, bones, cartilage, and fascia.
But there’s another activity that puts stress on your body: Travel and outdoor adventure (OK that’s two activities, but for me they go hand in hand!)
And to cut down on the high cost of spa treatments when traveling, a massage gun that you own; that you can pull out at any time and use for unlimited recovery; is a brilliant option.
Portable, light, and in a travel case with 8 hours of battery life, the Ekrin B37 is a fantastic massage gun to take with you for travel, and have on every outdoor adventure.
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Seoni is one of India’s smaller districts, but it’s also one of the most beautiful. Set in the State of Madhya Pradesh, the dense jungle, wild animals, and natural wonders of the area were the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s famous novel The Jungle Book.
Named after the Seona trees that populate the forest, many of The Jungle Book’s locations can still be visited today. The following are locations in Senoi and greater Madhya Pradesh which bring The Jungle Book to life!
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There’s nothing worse than camping in the rain, and it’s definitely not most people’s first choice of adventure. But reality is that sometimes, you’ll head out, pitch your tent, and then unexpectedly, the rains roll in.
Sometimes you can predict this, if you’ve been savvy enough to check the weather. Other times, the prediction may have been for clear skies, and it’s taken everyone by surprise.
It’s important to make sure certain camping gear is waterproof regardless of whether rain is expected, because when you’re well equipped for wet weather, rain won’t kill the mood, and may even add to your adventure.
Our number 1 tip for camping is to always be prepared for wet weather, and you can do so by making sure the gear you have with you is waterproof. These are the essentials.
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The regular use of CBD products – either as a supplement or a health care item – has become a part of many people’s lives, especially as many countries across the world have moved to legalise.
A growing number of people are using products like CBD hemp oil and CBD topicals on a daily basis to treat long-term health conditions.
For those who use CBD as part of their daily life, the idea of traveling away from home and having to leave these products behind can be a worrying thought. Until recently, this was a very real problem for many people.
Luckily the TSA recently updated their guidance regarding CBD and medical marijuana products within the United States. As always, make sure you have researched whether your products are legal in the country you’re traveling to.
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Whether you’re a light packer or an overpacker (guilty!), underwear is the one thing every traveler needs to pack. And every now and then, it does pay to give your underwear draw a refresh. But instead of buying the same old underwear you previously had (you know – the ones which gave you a wedgie in Morocco, and made you chafe in the Amazon’s humidity), a savvy traveler should aim to improve their underwear choices.
If you’re sick of wedgies, chafing, and odor in your suitcase (though underwear odor is a natural deterrent for having your suitcase hijacked), I have one word for you: Hemp.
Hemp is a cannabis Sativa fibre that is naturally antibacterial, anti-microbial, and a breathable fabric to wear. Hemp garments are not only strong, UV resistant and feel great against your skin, they’re also one of the world’s most sustainable fabrics.
WAMA Underwear specializes in ethical and sustainable hemp underwear, and since realizing the fantastic benefits of hemp undies for travel, I’ve stocked up on their boxers for Mike, and their underwear and bralettes for myself. Here’s why you should switch to WAMA hemp underwear for travel. I haven’t had a wedgie since!
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