Transaction Failed
It looks like your transaction failed, please try again or contact site support at megan@mappingmegan.com.
Ready to Reconnect with Friends? Cruise Together in 2022
You’ve been dreaming about reuniting and spending time with friends after being disconnected for so long, and holiday-making with loved ones is finally on the horizon. We’re starting to look beyond lockdowns and restrictions again, so if you haven’t yet considered cruise travel as an option, now is an excellent time to start.
Why? Because it’s a no-fuss, stress-free holiday that allows you to focus on the things that truly matter: quality time spent with your loved ones.
Planning a group cruise doesn’t have to be difficult, even for large groups. There’s a lot less to organise than for your typical road trip, and there are enough onboard activities to keep everyone entertained, while still allowing downtime to relax.
If spending days and nights with friends you’ve dearly missed sounds like something you can really get around now that travel is back on the table, then keep reading about why cruising with friends is the perfect solution for your reunion.
You’ll soon be completely equipped with knowledge on how to organise a group cruise, and your friends will be so grateful. Say ‘so long’ to pandemic-related relationship strain and ‘hello’ to the good times and holiday fun you’ve missed.
read moreSelf-Care While Traveling
Looking after yourself is one of the most crucial to-dos, especially when you are away from home. But so many of us see travel as an escape, that we tend to let our self care slip.
I’m personally guilty of the ‘calories on vacation don’t count’ mentality, and forgetting to apply sunscreen as I would in my normal day at the beach (if you haven’t seen photos of my sunburn in the Galapagos and Antarctica they’ll make you cringe!).
So to make sure we’re having the best vacation possible, and returning home without needing a self care recorrect, here are four areas of self-care worth your attention when traveling.
read moreTop 5 Growing Cities Worth a Visit
We are set to hit over 8 billion people by 2025, but we have seen a migration away from many of the world’s largest cities lately, somewhat spurred on by a recent eagerness for more personal space.
While many cities throughout China and Europe, as well as big name cities like Detroit, Hong Kong, and Tokyo have seen population declines in recent years, other regions are seeing large spikes in population growth.
While there are many cities experiencing slow growth, others are booming throughout regions like Central Africa and parts of Southern Asia, giving travelers the opportunity to explore cities they may have never heard of.
In fact, 17 of the world’s 20 fastest growing cities are in Africa and it will be interesting to see if this translates into increased tourism for this region.
read moreHow to Enjoy Happier & Less Stressful Travel
Travel is supposed to be about relaxing and getting away from your normal daily stress and anxiety, which makes it quite surprising that recent surveys have shown nearly 90% of people consider travel these days to be stressful.
So is there any hope of escaping stress on your next escape and hopefully enjoying a sense of happiness?
The sad truth is that we only have ourselves to blame for being stressed while traveling, whether it’s trying to tick a long list of experiences off we feel we need to have or not giving ourselves enough flexibility to deal with unforeseen events or circumstances.
Thankfully, there are adjustments you can make to enjoy happier and less stressful travel and it often starts simply with changing your perspective and getting rid of expectations. No matter the destination or your budget, any vacation can be a successful and rewarding experience if you want it to be.
read moreThings to Do in Lahore, Pakistan
Considered to be the cultural capital of Pakistan, Lahore is a walled city known for cultural and historic sites, in the province of Punjab (in fact it’s the capital). This is a metropolitan city rich in culture, where you’ll find plenty of traditional shopping, architecture, and Pakistani cuisine, and an energetic local spirit, where locals often flash mob dance in the rain!
Pakistan might be considered an off the beaten path destination, but much of Lahore is incredibly accessible; Urdu might be the national languague, however most signs are bilingual, and locals are typically fluent in English. Getting to Lahore is easy too, with direct international flights, and can be quite affordable with deals frequently sold on dxb to lahore flights when you’re traveling from Dubai.
So, from history, to culture, and Pakistani food, what are some of the specific things to do in Lahore? Plan for 3-4 days so you can fit in everything there is to do!
read moreEssential Tips for Traveling on a Budget
International travel may be taking off once again, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have the budget to book a holiday overseas.
Many of us have seen our incomes take a hit during the pandemic, which probably has you wondering how you can work in some vacation time without racking up too much debt.
While international travel can be expensive, there are many ways you can cut down on costs. Often, it just takes a little more planning, creativity, and sacrifice.
There are dozens of ways you can still manage to enjoy a getaway without having to be stressed about how you’ll pay it off later. Here are my top dozen ways you can travel on a budget post lockdown.
read moreAre Australians The World’s Best Gamblers?
In the Anglosphere, and the wider world, attitudes towards betting vary a lot. After historically being puritanical, the USA is opening things up, while China retains a hardline opposition to betting (Macau excepted), despite card games having been invented here.
But from dicing in the streets of Greece and Rome, to Baccarat in France, and a horse-betting obsession in Britain, it’s Australians who may just be the world’s best gamblers.
Just as prolific travelers as they are bettors, watch out for the Aussies returning to international casino tourism now that international borders have been announced to reopen.
read moreWhat is the Most Famous Casino in Las Vegas? Crazy Secrets and Facts about the Bellagio
Of the dozens of casinos situated along the Vegas Strip, none seem to receive as much attention as the Bellagio. The most expensive hotel ever built when it initially opened, it’s hard to believe a time without its famous dancing fountains.
However, truth is the Bellagio is only slightly above gambling age itself, looking to celebrate its 24 birthday this coming October.
In addition to its famous choreographed water feature, the Bellagio attracts high-end boutique shoppers looking for a bit of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, or Gucci, and the casino of course also attracts plenty with its 5,600 square-foot BetMGM Sportsbook, and high table limit poker rooms. But despite its worldwide fame, there are many secrets and fun facts about the Bellagio that a lot of Vegas visitors don’t know about.
read moreJoin the All Female Kilimanjaro Trek on International Women’s Day 2022!
I’ve written a lot about how climbing Mt Kilimanjaro changed my life; it pushed me to discover my physical and mental abilities, and transformed my whole perspective on life.
Oh, and I returned home from Kili with a husband (husbands not included in this March 2022 all female tour!).
But as I was climbing the mountain for my own personal development, I didn’t stop to notice that there was not one single female porter or guide. This was 2010, and fastforward 11 years, guiding trekkers to the summit of Kilimanjaro is still a male dominated world; fewer than 1% of the total guides being female.
Glory Thobias founded Tanzania Women Guides Foundation to change this by providing training and showing a career in guiding as a viable option for women. And to support these efforts, Solo Female Travelers is climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro on an all-female guide, porter and trekker team, to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022.
Will you join to climb to the top of Africa this coming March?
read moreEkrin B37: The Best Portable Massage Gun for Travel & Outdoor Adventure
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.
read more