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Today marks my 30th birthday, and a common question I’ve been asked is how I’m spending it. Perhaps I’m skydiving. Perhaps I’ve flown to Bali. Perhaps I’m hanging out with animals in the wild.
But for all the adventure I’ve sought over the past 30 years, today I have a bottle of wine, and a hard-drive full of photos; today I plan to reflect (and write this).
Thinking back to my 10 year old self’s daydreams, I had wanted to be a world traveler even then. Albeit, my inspiration for wanting to visit Africa was The Lion King, the Middle East, Aladdin, China, Mulan … you get the picture!
If I’m being perfectly honest I wanted to grow up to be The Little Mermaid, but even Ariel had an insatiable desire to be part of foreign worlds.
Most people have a list of things they want to accomplish before they hit their 30s, and if you’re one of those people, I would like to share my list. I can personally vouch for each item being worthy, having now completed all 30.
read moreVirtual Private Networks (VPN) have been around for a while now, and while they might have previously been viewed by travelers as a ‘nice thing to have’, nowadays they’re internet security 101, and firmly on the list of “must pack”.
A program you run on your devices which gives you security and privacy when you surf the internet, the perks of using one as a traveler include getting access to region-restricted websites, minimizing your risk of being hacked while using public WiFi, and preventing your bank accounts and email from being frozen.
The following are 7 reasons why you shouldn’t travel overseas without a VPN, plus a description of what it is, how it works, and why you need one.
read moreThailand has become one of the popular countries in the world for travelers seeking affordable luxury, with everything from 5 star hotels, to Michelin star restaurants, and private luxury villas available for less.
Budget travelers and backpackers can often get by in Thailand for US $25 per day, but most of us have a lot more to spend. And what might get you a 3 star hotel in some of the world’s more expensive cities like London, Paris, or New York, can often translate into a stay in a million dollar villa in Phuket.
A country that offers some of the best value for the money, a trip to Thailand gives everyday travelers the unique opportunity to shoot higher than 5 star hotels, and as such, private luxury villas have become the trend.
Think incredible locations, infinity pools, state of the art kitchens, and the exclusivity of your own residence; antique furniture, elegant interiors, and tropical gardens with day beds.
But what’s more affordable than staying in a private luxury villa in Thailand? Not having to pay for it!!
read moreIt’s not something anyone likes to talk about, but it’s something I guarantee that every traveler will experience at some point, regardless of whether or not you have an adventurous appetite.
Travelers diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness, and a very real health problem faced by developing countries. It is estimated that 15–20 million travelers will experience traveler’s diarrhea annually, which means that roughly 40,000 travelers got the runs today.
So what do you do if you find yourself with Delhi belly / Montezuma’s revenge, and have to make a sudden break for the bathroom? Follow these tips to prevent travelers’ diarrhea so you can still enjoy your holiday.
read moreIt’s interesting to note that if you were to research why Myanmar has two names, you might struggle to find a concrete answer. Such is the country’s diverse and often turbulent history, that Myanmar and Burma are used interchangeably depending on where you go and who you speak to.
The ruling military junta changed its name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989, a year after thousands were killed in the suppression of a popular uprising. Rangoon also became Yangon. But some countries like the US and UK do not recognise the legitimacy of the regime that changed the name.
Regardless of what you call it, perhaps the country is best summed up by English writer Rudyard Kipling, when he said “…it is quite unlike any land you know about.” Apparently he only visited for three days, but it was enough to make such an accurate observation.
read moreCatching a show on Broadway is one of those bucket list experiences which sees travelers flock to New York City.
With 41 large theatres concentrated near the iconic Times Square, millions of tourists descend upon Manhattan each year to see the best Broadway shows, from long-running phenomenons such as The Lion King to more recent hits like Aladdin and Hamilton.
But between plays, musicals, and revivals, there’s a lot of variety out there, and sometimes, even shows which make it to Broadway end up being a flop.
read moreThere’s definitely something romantic about the idea of a round the world adventure of a lifetime. Our last RTW took in 11 countries over 6 continents, 13 flights, and 35,000 miles … for cheaper than the cost of having purchased each leg individually!
Almost equally as entertaining as the trip itself, were people’s reactions when they asked where we were going next. It was quite a mouthful, but I eventually managed to run off Sydney, Singapore, Cape Town, Istanbul, Venice, Vienna, Barcelona, Cancun, Panama City, Buenos Aires, Auckland, and back to Sydney, all in one breath!
For us, this was the perfect balance of romance and adventure, and we managed to include a huge number of bucket-list experiences like cage diving with Great White Sharks in South Africa, and swimming with Whale Sharks in Cancun, all into the one trip.
If you’ve ever thought about booking an around the world ticket, it’s an incredible option with endless possibilities. The following overview will help you decide if booking a RTW fare is right for you.
read moreAustralia’s second largest city, Melbourne is one of the world’s most liveable cities, and draws visitors from all over the globe with its elegant European feel, convenient and reliable public transportation, rich culinary heritage, and wealth of exciting attractions.
With year round festivals and events, there is always something happening in Melbourne. Whether you fancy watching sports, enjoying entertainment, or simply want to relax in beautiful gardens, Melbourne makes for the perfect holiday no matter what your personality is.
Though how do you know if Melbourne is the destination for you? Even though it’s a pretty safe bet in terms of an incredible vacation, what kind of travelers does the city suit?
read moreWhether you’re visiting relatives in New Zealand or soaking up the bright lights of Hong Kong, travelling with kids can really make those grey hairs sprout.
And the stress seems to ramp up days before the trip – youngsters spit the dummy for random reasons and teens whinge when they realise they might miss the Aussie tour dates for Taylor Swift.
But family travel can be much more Zen-like if you follow these three tips.
read moreAs of March 2018, the Australian Government introduced a new work visa in replacement of the 457 visa – the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa.
The Government’s March visa changes have been highly anticipated since its announcement in April last year that they would be replacing the 457 visa in order to address Australia’s skills shortages and to prioritise Australian workers.
Brisbane based migration agents, Results Migration have agreed to take us through the changes.
read more