Posts by : Izy Berry

Women and men have different needs when it comes to vacation essentials. Some of the most convenient gadgets out there are not always available at your typical store. Here are a few gadgets to make your next vacation less stressful.

Supportive garments

Walking around on vacation can cause foot pain and soreness if you don’t have the proper support. Foot Angel compression socks can prevent and relieve pain in your arches and heels. The sleeves are open-toed, so you can wear them with some fashionable footwear without anyone knowing that you are wearing them. Make sure that you pack the proper footwear for your trip. If you find that you don’t have the right footwear, it is recommended that you buy it before stressing your feet too much.

Buy clothes when you get there

Don’t leave all your clothing behind, but plan on buying some while you are traveling. Shopping can be fun, and you can pick up some unique items that you cannot find anywhere else.

Folding trolley bag

A wheeled bag can help you navigate through airports and railway terminals while saving a lot of strain on your back. This helps ensure that you have more energy when you arrive at your destination.

Portable hair dryer bonnet

If you want to look your best, you may want to consider how you are going to do your hair while on vacation. A portable hair dryer bonnet takes up very little space in your bag and can be a real lifesaver when you are getting ready to go out for the evening.

First aid kit

No one wants to waste their vacation shopping at the pharmacist. A very small first aid kit is all that is needed for most trips, unless you plan on taking part in strenuous or more dangerous activities. If you don’t want to buy a prepacked kit, then try to at least remember to pack a small bottle of nonprescription pain reliever, a few band aids, and antibiotic cream.

Skin care

When you are on vacation, your skin is exposed to a lot of different elements. Late nights out and time in the sun can take their toll on the beauty of your skin. A good under-eye and night cream can help you to reduce the appearance of dark spots and eye fatigue. Even if you are traveling to a temperate area, you should still pack sunscreen. Some of the worst sunburns on vacation happen when travelers least expect them, such as on a ski trip.

Reconsider your list of essentials

While it is important to pack enough to be comfortable, you also want to make sure that you don’t pack too many things. Airlines have become much stricter about enforcing baggage weight limits. If you go over, you can pay a significant amount to take all that extra stuff that you likely don’t need. You can go on an extended trip with far less baggage than you think.

Travel can be expensive. Along with flights, accommodation, public transport, and insurance, you’ll need to budget for food. Depending on the country, food can quickly add up, and since most travellers fail to budget enough for this, you may find that you need to cut your trip short, or spend less time visiting tourist sites and doing activities.

There are plenty of ways to cut your food costs when traveling. Remember that along with three meals a day, you’ll probably need to budget for both snacks and water-no one goes to Italy without trying the gelato after all.

Here are some ways you can cut food costs while traveling:

Choose accommodation with breakfast:

You’ll be surprised how many hotels, hostels, and guesthouses offer breakfast for their guests. While some may have the usual continental breakfast of a stale donut and bad coffee (I’m looking at you Motel 6), many will offer fresh fruit, a cooked breakfast, or delicious pastries. This is the perfect time to eat as much as you can, particularly foods with lots of protein which will keep you full for longer.

Cook your own food

Most hostels have some form of kitchen, and you can check reviews to see how stocked and clean the kitchens are before you book the hostel. This is not only a great way to save money, but you’ll be able to find fresh local produce in many of the markets so you’ll stay healthy as well.

Traveling can be hard on your waistline, and too many nights of fast food and pasta can mean you’re practically unrecognisable when you arrive home. Grab the makings for a salad and some pasta, or make up some huge sandwiches and you can take one for lunch the next day.

Be sure to leave the kitchen as clean as you found it for the next people, so you don’t become that annoying person who everyone resents. The best dishwasher detergent breaks down oily residue, so you can put those dishes back nice and clean.

Choose one big meal per day

Tasting the local food can be one of the best things about traveling, and it’s important to find a healthy balance between enjoying yourself, and ensuring that you don’t blow your budget.

A good way to do this is to eat breakfast in your hostel and follow it up with a light lunch. If you can’t bring lunch with you, check out a local supermarket, deli, or market, and grab some local food to eat in a park. Not only is this usually much cheaper than eating out, but you’ll be able to people-watch and enjoy the fresh air at the same time.

Then you can eat dinner out, and celebrate a successful day of sightseeing with a delicious meal. Alternatively, you could switch these meals around and make lunch your largest meal. Often restaurants will have lunch specials, and if you make a quick run back to your hostel with the leftovers, you can get two meals out of one lunch.

During my travels around the world I have eaten in a huge variety of places, from Michelin star restaurants to street food venues in the suburbs of an Asian cities, munching on roast duck while playing my favorite royal vegas casino mobile games. And I found that many of them have one thing in common: annoying waiters. Sometimes I feel that waiters have a special class in waiter school (if there is any) that teaches them how to annoy their patrons. There are exceptions, of course, and notable ones. But without further ado, here are the 5 things I hate most about waiters all over the world.

1. Smoking

I don’t say that waiters should not smoke at all. I myself am a smoker, and I would be the last one to deny the right for anyone to light one in their free time. But when it comes to waiters at a restaurant, the smell of smoke can be very unpleasant. I hate when a waiter comes to my table right after smoking, even outside. The smell of cigarettes is embedded in his or her clothes and hands, and it annoys the hell out of me – especially since I am not allowed to smoke in a restaurant.

2. The Menu

A good waiter should know what’s on the menu, and what it’s made of. There’s nothing more disappointing than having a waiter who has to run into the kitchen to ask if the Tikka Masala has chicken in it, or if there is any of it left.

3. Too much interaction

When I go to a restaurant, I usually want to do two things – eat and socialize with the person I sit with at the table. Making friends with the waiter – especially if he or she forces me to – is not among my priorities. Waiters should keep social interaction to a minimum, and be respectful at all times – patrons are the ones paying their salaries, after all. A good waiter should be mindful of the patrons’ reactions and know when it’s time to move along to another table.

4. Not enough interaction

Leaving the patron breathe is important, but abandoning him is a no-no. A good waiter will not return to the table every five minutes to ask if you are ready to order, if you want something to drink, but will be mindful of the patrons and be ready to act when he or she is summoned.

5. Information (too much / not enough)

When a patron asks about an item on the menu, a good waiter will know what it is and explain it briefly, but correctly. The patron is not interested in the life story of the steak, but answers like “everything’s great” when asked for a recommendation is virtually no information. A good waiter will find the balance between the two. And, by the way, sous-vide is not sexy – I don’t need to know that my meat was slow cooked in a plastic bag.

+1 – A good waiter won’t take a nearly untouched plate away from the table without asking if there was something wrong with the food. And if there was an issue, a good waiter will seek for a way to solve it by either removing it from the receipt or offering something as a compensation.

If you are taking a business trip to Dubai, be sure to carve out time to enjoy the sights and sounds of this fast-paced fun city. If you are traveling there for pleasure, be ready to have one of the best times of your life. Dubai is the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The excellent infrastructure and liberal policies make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world. No matter what your pleasure, you will find it in Dubai.

People from all over the world travel to Dubai for a break from their daily routines. The city is only a few hours by air from many European and Middle Eastern destinations, and is a popular destination for business and leisure travelers from the U.S. The city has some of the best shopping, dining, and hot spots for partying in the region. Be sure to book a central hotel in Downtown Dubai so you are not far from all the action.

Here are three of the most popular attractions in Dubai.

Image via Flickr by capelle79

Burj Khalifa

If you can stand being high up in the sky, you do not want to miss the Burj Khalifa. The tallest building in the world, this skyscraper is the centerpiece of Downtown Dubai. The building took six years to complete. Standing proudly 2,716.5 feet (over 828 meters) high, it is a top attraction. The building houses fine dining restaurants on the 122nd floor and an observation deck on the 124 floor. You will also find a gift boutique and a plethora of photo opportunities on the observation deck, so don’t forget your camera.

Camel Safari in the Dubai Desert

An experience of a lifetime is taking an early morning or late evening desert safari on the back of the Rolls Royce of the desert: a camel. The morning safari begins with a bumpy ride in a 4×4 dune drive across the desert. As if that wasn’t enough adventure, you will then sand-ski down the high dunes to begin your camel safari. The evening adventure forgoes the sand skis but adds in a stop to take pictures of the sun as it sets over the desert dunes. You will ride your camel into the desert camp, where you will be greeted Arabian-style with a wonderful dinner buffet.

Dubai Marina and Beach

If you love the water, you cannot miss Dubai Marina and Dubai Marina Beach. The clean beach is scattered with shops and restaurants and one of the prettiest sites in Dubai. From the Marina, you can book fishing charters and even a yacht. The Marina and Beach is located near the city so getting to and from the waterfront is easy when staying in Downtown Dubai

These are just three of the top attractions found in this contemporary city. Other popular attractions include the dancing Dubai Fountain, the ultra-luxurious Burj Al Arab hotel, and Jumeira Beach and Park, to name a few. Once you visit Dubai you will not want to leave. You’ll unearth a new discovery around every corner of this city that never sleeps.

Although the easternmost of the Canary Islands is not particularly glitzy or flashy, it has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years. It’s far more up market than you might think and offers prospective holiday-makers an abundance of activities. Big tour operators like Thomson offer great deals on flights to Lanzarote. We offer our top five tips below to get you started.

Cesar Manrique Foundation

Once you’ve booked your flights to Lanzarote, make your first port of call the Cesar Manrique Foundation. Manrique was an architect, artist and environmentalist who campaigned against the rampant development of the island. His name is synonymous with Lanzarote and his former home is now dedicated to his life’s work. The ground floor is made up of exhibition space, while the house, built into boulders in a lava field, is a work of art in itself.

Teguise

This little town, the former capital of the island, was founded in the 15th century. It boasts handsome colonial houses, cobbled streets and a bustling Sunday market. Be warned, however, that it can be very busy during the summer months. Haria market, which takes place on Saturdays and sells both local produce and crafts, may be a more sensible alternative.

Timanfaya National Park

A vast black landscape whose focal point is the Islote de Hilario volcano, Timanfaya National Park counts as one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. If the striated rock foundations don’t get you, then the camel safari must!

Go surfing

Lanzarote has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the world’s best watersports destinations. And indeed, what could be more enjoyable than taking a trip out to Famara in the north west of the island, where you can try kite boarding and surfing, among other things, against an unbeatably dramatic backdrop of rugged mountain cliffs?

Food and drink

After all that time spent on the water, you will have earned a slap up meal or two. It’s a good idea to eat in simple village restaurants for inexpensive but high quality local fare. El Fondeadero, near Arrecife port, comes highly recommended. Try the fish or papas arrugadas (wrinkly potatoes). If you’re day-tripping in Timanfaya, meanwhile, the Cesar Manrique designed El Diablo restaurant serves meat and fish grilled using the heat that rises inside the volcano.

Sources:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destination/spain/lanzarote/49676/Lanzarote-attractions.html

Turkey is a rich historical land that has been the heart of various empires throughout the ages, and is home to mountains, beaches, ancient ruins and the famous city of Istanbul. Whether you’re a history buff, a culinary fan, or an outdoor adventurer, the sites and activities scattered throughout this beautiful country have plenty to offer an intrepid traveller. Here are just five of Turkey’s most prominent attractions that you must visit before heading home.

1. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Construction of Hagia Sophia began in the 6^thcentury, and for the 900 years that followed, this incredible building served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Hagia Sophia was then used as an imperial mosque until 1931, and was re-opened as a secularized museum in 1935. Famous for its massive dome, this stunning work of Byzantine architecture is home to relics from all periods of its existence save for the first church, which was destroyed by riots in the year 404 CE.

2. Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

Istanbul is famous for holding the remains of its ancient city beneath its current buildings and streets. The Basilica Cistern, or “Sunken Palace” in Turkish, is the largest of the city’s several hundred ancient cisterns, and was built in the 6^thcentury under the Byzantine Emperor Justine I. The ceiling of this cathedral sized cistern is supported by a variety of marble columns sourced from all parts of the Byzantine Empire, and include famous carvings of the Medusa head, and the Hen’s Eye.

3. Troy

Known for the famous 12^thor 13^thcentury B.C. siege by Spartan and Achaean warriors from Greece, and immortalized by Homer in the Iliad, Troy is home to 4000 years of history, and is widely considered the most famous archaeological site in the world. The relics of Troy have provided evidence that has helped us better understand the development of European civilization, and its sites Troy II and Troy VI, provide brilliant examples of ancient fortified citadels.

4. Aspendos

Aspendos was an ancient Greco-Roman settlement in Antalya province, and of its many ruins it is most famous for having the world’s best-preserved theatre of antiquity. The theatre was built in the year 155 CE, and provided seating for 7000 people. The city is also home to the remains of a basilica, agor, nymphaeum, a Roman acqueduct, and the Roman Eurymedon Bridge.

5. Cappadocia Underground Cities

The underground city of Derinkuyu was originally built out of the soft volcanic rock in the 7^thor 8^thcentury B.C., and then was fully developed as a defence from Muslim Arabs during the Byzantine-Arab wars through the 8^thand 12^thcentury. The city itself is 18 storeys in depth, and features fresh flowing water, ventilation shafts, individual living quarters, shops, wells, tombs, arsenals and escape routes. The region of Cappadocia is home to hundreds of similar cities.

Experience these sites for yourself by visiting this extraordinary country, and you will see why it has long been the gateway between the east and the west.

Images by Clara S, Denis Jarvis, Frank Kovalchek and Julian Fong used under the Creative Commons license.

Once associated with theft and squalor, hostels are enjoying a comeback as some of the most valuable, budget-conscious lodgings available around the world. What they lack in luxury amenities, hostels make up in cost, community, and culture. However, while most hostels have become safe havens for travelers of all stripes, some still remain shady when it comes to the safety and security of your belongings.

Especially in the modern era, when travelers move with all sorts of expensive digital equipment to record their experience, losing your stuff could be particularly devastating. Even after extensively researching your hostels before your trip, you might rest easier at night knowing you’ll have your camera, phone, laptop, and more when you wake up for a new day of adventure.

Bring Locks

Most hostels offer closets and cupboards where weary travelers can stash their stuff and go, but most travelers are rightfully wary of leaving their possessions unguarded. Some hostel cubbies come with locks, but most times, travelers should come with their own to ensure utmost security. If you are flying through America, you can only secure your baggage using special TSA-approved devices, which the TSA can unlock with a master key. Fortunately, many of these devices provide excellent protection from intrusion, including:

• PacSafe. Uses a keycard that is inserted into its base, so there is no need to remember codes or passwords.
• SearchAlert. Uses a programmable four-digit code, and has a security window that changes colors if the TSA (or someone else) opens the lock.
• Boomerangit. Uses a key, and contains a tracking device that helps locate missing or stolen luggage.

Wear Pouches

Travel-savvy inventors have created hundreds of products that keep your valuables safe on the road. Unfortunately, for the most part, anti-theft devices are usually built to house smaller items, like passports, bank cards, and cash. Still, there are a handful of wearable pouches and other accessories that can keep smaller tech safe.

• Money pouch. Despite the name, these small pouches worn around the waist, under clothing, are usually large enough to stash phones, vaporizers, and even small tablets.
• Bra stash. These pouches are easily tucked into the sides of brassieres and are just big enough for a small phone or music player.
• Pocket underwear. These brief-style undergarments boast small pockets that fit small electronics.
• Hidden-pocket scarf. For more fashionable security, many accessories can have hidden pockets that easily fit phones, vaporizers, and other small tech.

Maintain Eyesight

Any time you are separated from your gadgets, you are vulnerable to theft. While you are in the hostel and using your gear, you should keep all of your valuables within sight and preferably within reach. This goes for periods of transit between hostels, as well.

You should never allow anyone to separate you from your baggage; you should kindly rebuff taxi drivers, bus valets, and others who wish to store your belongings in the trunk and opt to keep your stuff on your lap or on the neighboring seat instead.

You may think that certain often-used technology, like your phone or vaporizer, is less likely to be swiped because you’ll have a hand on it every few minutes. However, the fact that you keep these gadgets in an easy-to-reach place makes them more susceptible to theft. You should find a viable safety pouch for the technology you use often, and you might even consider investing in a vaporizer carrying case to disguise your valuables and keep them safer from other accidents.

Separate Stuff

You don’t want to make it easy for thieves to take your valuables, but leaving all of your technology in a single pack at your hostel is like asking to be robbed. The more secret stashes you have, the harder thieves have to work to get all of your valuables. You might want to ask your hostel if you can have more than one cubby to lock up your belongings. You can also separate some gadgets around your various bags; for example, your phone, vaporizer, and camera can travel in your day pack, while your computer can wait in your main bag.

Pack Light

While this might not be the most pleasing advice, it is perhaps the most sensible: Don’t bring your especially valued tech on the road. The more you bring with you, the more you stand to lose if your bag gets swiped and your gadgets get taken. You should strive to slim down to the bare-bones necessities, like your vaporizer and smartphone. Plus, travel is about seeing and experiencing first-hand, and you’ll waste a trip by spending too much time with your tech.

It’s interesting to think about how much travel has changed in the last 100 years. From trains to planes, from glamour to pain, we’ve certainly come a long way.

Many people consider the 1950’s and 1960’s to be the Golden Age of Travel. This was the glory days of Pan Am, and before flying became a much cheaper way to travel.

While it’s easy to remember a lavish, colourful era, when passengers every need and comfort were catered to, I don’t agree that it was really that great to travel 50 years ago.

Sure, we may not have had to deal with the annoyances and inconveniences of modern travel, including tiny seats, bad food, and long security lines, however the reality was far different than most people expect.

Travelling in the 1940’s was far more expensive, and you would be paying 40% or more for the same flight which you purchase today. Depending on which route you took, it was four to five times more expensive to travel (especially to fly) during the so-called “Golden Age”.

There were also far more flight accidents and plane crashes during this time, and if you hit a bad patch of turbulence you could end up with a snapped neck. It also wasn’t safe to land in fog, and mid air collisions were a common occurrence. While the glass dividers between first and economy classes looked nice, they would shatter and spray those on the plane during a rough patch of turbulence or an accident.

While today we take onboard entertainment, iPads, and Kindles for granted, these distractions weren’t available during this time, so if you forgot a book you were destined to be bored.

In my opinion, travel has come such a long way that now is the Golden Age of Travel. No longer is travel solely for the richest among us, and taking a flight is something that most people can do. Minorities for example, would rarely travel, and if you were black and could afford a ticket you were unlikely to be allowed on the same plane as white passengers.

Sure, the legroom must have been amazing, and instead of arriving 3 hours early for security, you could make your flight by simply showing up 30 minutes before, and you were guaranteed to eat something nice like a steak on your flight, but I would much rather live in a world where people of most economic backgrounds can afford to travel occasionally.

Flights are also much faster, as are trains and boats if that’s the way you like to travel. And the world is a much smaller place, which means we can have access to countries and places which were previously unthinkable.

With technology constantly changing, and travellers able to get recommendations and reviews for hotels, we’re also guaranteed better service. The next ten years will be interesting as fuel prices continue to increase, but one thing is for sure, despite all of the inconveniences of travelling, it’s now accessible to more people than ever, and that can only be a good thing.

When someone begins to plan a trip they’re often inundated with suggestions from friends or family who have been to that particular destination and have loads of advice. If that someone is brave enough to venture into the numerous online travel forums for advice then you’ll get same inundation from strangers. All of these people have their own opinions and experiences, but that advice can often boil down to one thing.

Avoid the tourist traps.

While that sounds like good advice one might wonder what it all means? What is a tourist trap? For many, a tourist trap is simply an overpriced and underwhelming site, museum, building, or experience. However, one man’s trap is another man’s treasure, and you’d be better off to take that advice with a grain of salt.

When it comes to London it can be hard enough to decide how to fit all of the wonderful things to do into the time you have allotted. When you add the fact that you now have to avoid the tourist traps to the mix it can seem downright daunting. However, if you visit some of these London landmarks — tourist traps or not — you’re certain to have a great time.

And you may have them all to yourself.

The Tower of London

Home to the Crown Jewels and the crown that the Queen wears for state functions, the Tower of London is a bit on the expensive side but worth the price for the sheer history of it all. You can take a guided tour and learn more about the site’s impressive macabre history, and explore the many towers that make up this monument.

For those who would like to experience a bit more of the dark side of history, sign up for the Ceremony of Keys, which takes place at the creepy hour of 10 pm. Unfortunately, you do have to apply two months in advance for this ceremony.

Buckingham Palace

Everyone who visits London wants to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, right? The answer to that question is generally in the affirmative, and if you happen to pass by at the right time you should definitely check it out. However, a visit to the interior of the palace, the home of the Queen, is not to be missed.

Unfortunately, tours of the interior are only available during the summer months when the Queen is away. However, during your tour you’ll be able to see priceless works of art hanging in the staterooms, and the many antiques and priceless artifacts located here.

The London Eye

Constructed to mark the turn of the 20th century, the London Eye has been described by some as a monstrosity, and by others as an overpriced waste of time. That being said, a ride on this behemoth of a Ferris wheel is undoubtedly the best way to get a bird’s eye view of beautiful London.

Be sure you queue up early, though. The lines at the London Eye have been known to be an hour or more deep, especially during the peak tourism season. It’s all worth the wait when you sit at the top and see the city spread out below you. Bonus points if you’ve made a friend in London and can sneak a kiss at the top.

The Globe Theatre

Shakespeare fans would likely disagree that the famous Globe Theatre is a tourist trap, but the fact remains that it is a reconstruction of the original, and it is often crowded, due to its prime location on the banks of the Thames. The Globe is also a working theatre, and performances of Shakespeare’s works can be seen here on a regular basis.

If seeing a play is not your thing, consider a tour. Guides are happy to give visitors in-depth information about the Bard and the period of time when he penned his greatest works. The guides are also very theatrical which highlights the experience.

A visit to London is the highlight of almost any globetrotter, tourist traps or not. If a trip to England’s capital is on your radar make sure to consider some of these options, in addition to some off the beaten path ones.

Charming accents, incredible scenery, more pubs than you’ll find anywhere else, and friendly locals. These are just some of the reasons why I can’t wait to get to Ireland, and if you’re an avid traveller, you’ll be thinking the same.

Often Ireland gets overlooked in favour of the more typical tourist countries like France and Italy. Huge mistake. Ireland is a country of legends, and its long history has left its mark on the country, which is full of castles, rolling hills, and tales of “little people”.

Here are some reasons why you should travel to Ireland:

Visit Dromoland Castle and Fly some Falcons

Medieval nobility used to be fond of falconry, which is why Dromoland Castle offers a school in the sport. You’ll be paired with a falconer and hawk, and will be able to launch the trained hawk into the sky and call it back to your arm.

The castle itself is also well worth a visit, and is now a luxury hotel with large and comfortable suites-some located in the turrets of the castle.

The estate also offers pony rides, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding lessons, and a golf course.

Eat in Cork

If you’re going to Cork, you’re in for a treat. The English Market is a huge roofed food emporium and showcases artisanal food offerings along with regional Irish ingredients. It’s also the ideal destination for people watching, shopping, and wandering. Don’t forget to try the traditional black pudding, along with soda bread, goats cheese, and cakes.

Experience Literary Dublin

Dublin is famous for the many literary figures who have called the city home over the years. Each of them had a different pub where they hung out when not writing. Take the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl for a fun way to explore the city and learn more about the famous writers, including Brendan Behan, Michael Collins, James Joyce, and Oscar Wilde.

Gamble at the Galway Races

The Galway Races are part of the largest and most famous racing festival in Ireland, with 250,000 people attending each year. Betting is fun, and millions of Euros are spent during the week, and ladies day continues to grow every year. Running over seven days, you’ll leave with a hangover, new friends, and a few interesting stories. There are 51 races for both fans and punters, and if you can’t make the races be sure to do your Galway Festival betting with William Hill Ireland.

Learn all about the Titanic

When the Titanic sank and dragged over 1,500 people to a watery death in 1912 it sparked a fascination with the ship which continues today. In Northern Ireland you’ll find Titanic Belfast, which is where the ill-fated ship was built. The massive museum is an interactive experience and will show you how the Titanic was built, tells many of the passengers stories, and explores the wreck under a glass floor.

You can also tour the pumphouse and dry dock, along with the first-class tender which was recently restored.