Posts for Travel

Essential Apps for Frequent Travelers

Travel Blog - Ross French - August 19, 2021

Frequent Travelers

Frequent travelers have a wide array of apps and programs to help them stay on track with their trips. These apps can help you store your passport and travel permit details, take notifications of flight changes, and can even help you keep all the information you need to plan a trip. But which apps should you choose?

Here are some of our favorite apps for travelers on the go:

TripIt

Tripit is a travel organization app, which brings together your flight itinerary, hotel reservations, and car rental information into one place. The program helps the user organize relevant information for upcoming trips by simply creating an account with their email and uploading their airline reservation information upon landing at the airport.

You can then access this information with a tap of the screen, which is much more efficient than leafing through papers and receipts. The program also allows users to store notes sent by email to your inbox on departure, giving you all the relevant travel details in one place for easy reference.

Tally

You may want to have a way to consolidate the credit card debt you’ve accumulated while traveling. The Tally app provides you with a low-interest line of credit that you can use to pay off all of your credit cards at once. Moving forward, you’ll just have one low monthly payment. A credit line app like Tally makes borrowing money easier than ever before, and it can streamline your travel budget in the process.

SendMyPassport

This apps is a unique travel management solution that allows you to digitally store all of your passport and travel permits on your mobile device so that they can be accessed instantly at a scanning checkpoint.

The app can also send a text message from your phone to pre-select emergency contacts in case of loss. It’s easy to install and use: simply scan in your documents once, and you’re done. You don’t have to worry about losing hard copies or forgetting passport details on departure.

WorldMate

Worldmate organizes all of your travel information for easy access and usage during international trips. The app helps users plan their itineraries by discovering booking deals through airline prices and hotel reviews. Worldmate also offers a currency converter and the ability to store maps, plans of important destinations, and even emergency contact information for medical professionals in case of accident or illness while traveling abroad.

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a mobile instant messaging service that allows users to exchange messages without paying for SMS charges or international data fees. The application also includes video and audio call functions, allowing you to stay in touch with your loved ones while abroad.

Another option is Skype – an internet calling service that supports video chat and instant messaging. This app can be used for free over wifi or data charges on your smartphone.

City maps have always been an essential tool for travelers, but they have traditionally been hard to store and carry around. This app allows users to download offline city maps of more than 150 cities worldwide from their smartphones, making it easy to navigate unfamiliar streets without internet access or a GPS tracker.

Google Translate App

This popular app allows you to translate any foreign language into your own, which is helpful when traveling to places where English isn’t spoken. Photo-to-text translation can also come in handy if you’re trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your native language – simply send a photo of the text, and it will appear on your phone as a word document!

You can download a language for offline use, and it will also come in handy if you’re trying to type a quick email or text message.

Guidebook

If you don’t want to bring along all of your travel guide books but still want access to their information, then this is the best app for you. Users can easily store this information right on their smartphones, allowing them to find out the best attractions and restaurants while on the go. It also includes easy access to Wikipedia articles about major destinations, so you can keep up-to-date and learn new information at any time.

These apps are great starters for those who are interested in learning how to travel more efficiently. To decide which travel apps are best for you, you need to determine your travel preferences and determine what kind of traveler you are. Taking the time to research these apps will help ensure that you can travel in comfort, safety, and style while abroad!

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5 Tips To Reduce Stress While Traveling

Travel Tips - Ross French - August 19, 2021

Are you itching to travel? If it’s been too long since you felt the thrill of adventure, now is a great time to put on your traveling shoes and head out the door. While you may be hot-to-trot, it’s important to look for ways to reduce stress while traveling. Here are 5 tips to help you simplify your choices, slash stress, and fully enjoy your adventures.

Skip The Car

Have you always rented a car in a new city? If so, you are in for a big treat. Instead of automatically renting a car, use alternate transportation. Think about riding a bike, using public transportation, or getting a driver. Renting a bicycle is a terrific way to see a city, town, or region. You’ll be out and about exploring side streets, romantic lanes, and getting away from the tourist regions.

Traveling by bicycle also means traveling without the insulation of a personal shell. You’ll be able to talk with locals, explore the back roads, and find sights you’d never encounter from an automobile.

If you aren’t a bike-person, explore public transportation. Buses, trains, and trams are popular modes of travel in many countries. You’ll meet people and get a taste of life like a local.

If you don’t want to bike or use public modes of transportation, get a driver. You may enjoy using services that you can control from your phone. New services make it possible to arrange contactless curbside pickup, without ever having to place a phone call.

With these options, you can travel about and not have the stress of driving. You’ll also steer clear of having to get an International drivers license, or deal with nerve-wracking traffic. Plus, if you’re used to driving on one side of the street, you won’t have to translate everything to the opposite side. If you’ve gone from driving in the U.S. to driving in Australia – you know exactly how stressful this can be.

Create A Picture Book

While you’re traveling, it’s stressful to try to live in the moment – and plan for future storytelling. If you’ve got a picture book, scrapbook, or photo album in mind – start with a plan.

Organize your travels so it’s easy to create memories of your favorite moments. You might go old school, and have a set of envelopes for each day of your trip. Just stash your mementos into the envelope and label each one by date and place.

Once you’re back home, you’ll have a blast going through the envelopes and reliving the moments. And, when you’re home, you can decide if you want to organize your trip in a classic scrapbook or an online collection.

Stay Safe

Getting sick while traveling is stressful. Of course, there are some things that may be out of your control. To stay safe while traveling, check current conditions.

You can reduce stress when you follow the guidelines for safe travel. These will include updates about international and domestic travel. You can also check on vaccinations, testing requirements, mask updates, and specific recommendations for destinations.

Have a Master Plan

Do you enjoy making a master plan for your trip? Some people find that having an overview, itinerary, and reservations gives them a sense of security. If this sounds like you, do your best to create a master plan for all the basics.

Organize your trip with hotel reservations, travel arrangements, and details to help you enjoy travel with minimal stress. Naturally, you may also want to do advance research on sites, museums, and special areas of interest.

If you don’t like to have a master plan, you are in charge. You may be a free spirit who enjoys traveling wherever the winds take you. If so, take time to communicate your dreams with your traveling companion. You’ll save yourself loads of stress by discussing your priorities and travel preferences in advance.

Are you itching to travel? If it’s been too long since you felt the thrill of adventure, now is a great time to put on your traveling shoes and head out the door. While you may be hot-to-trot, it’s important to look for ways to reduce stress while traveling. You may already manage your everyday anxiety with the help of things like these delta 8 gummies, but it’s important to consider what you can do in addition to this to help with any travel-related stresses you may face. Here are 5 tips to help you simplify your choices, slash stress, and fully enjoy your adventures.

Be Flexible With Changes

Even with a clear agreement and a master plan that matches your personalities, stay flexible. Things happen. Weather changes. Events occur.

You may not be able to plan everything down to the last detail – and have things go that way. If things change, what can you do?

Be agile. Stay flexible. Adapt to changes and enjoy the ride.

It’s often said that the most interesting parts of a trip or vacation are the unplanned bits. This is when you’ll stumble on a back roads vista, hidden hotel, or off-roads trail. You’ll meet people and explore places that are ‘off-the-itinerary.’

Have a great trip – and enjoy traveling with less stress!

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Top Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Travel Tips - Ross French - July 19, 2021

Traveling

Many people decide to take a vacation from their healthy routines as well as from their everyday life when they travel, and this can cause them to become ill and even taint their travel experiences while they are away. Whether you are going on a vacation or a longer trip, read on for some top tips on how to make sure that you can stay your best and healthiest self when you are away from home.

Top Tips to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Take Probiotics

When you are on vacation, it can be easy to become run-down, either due to stress or the fact that you are not in your normal surroundings. Not only this, but you might be eating foods that you are not used to or coming into contact with viruses that you are not normally exposed to. Consider packing probiotics for adults, as these can improve your gut health, boost your immune system, and can even do wonders for your mental health.

Drink Bottled Water

Although you might love to indulge in tap water at home, when you are abroad, you should avoid drinking water straight from the tap unless you have researched its safety. If you are going to do so, you should consider filtering the water first or using iodine to disinfect water if you intend to drink water from a river or pond when camping. However, the best step that you can take to protect yourself from water-borne diseases is to drink bottled water throughout your trip.

Pack a First Aid Kit

However much you try to protect your health when you go away, accidents and emergencies are not always easy to predict, and vacations carry many risks, from bug bites to falls when hiking. Then, you should always make sure that your suitcase contains a first aid kit that can help you quickly patch up and disinfect any injuries you get when you are abroad before you can seek medical attention.

Eat Well

Although a large part of the fun of going on vacation is enjoying different cuisines, you should not throw healthy eating completely out of the window as this is what gives you energy and stamina and can also improve your mood. However, when you are eating out abroad, you should be careful of what you eat and avoid undercooked foods, giving you food poisoning.

Guard Yourself Against the Sun

Many people choose to vacation in locations with guaranteed sun. If you love the sensation of being near the equator and love to chase the sun around the globe, you should make sure that you guard yourself against it. For instance, you should always make sure that you apply sunscreen when you are heading out and about and that you wear sunglasses and a hat. You should also try to avoid being outside during the height of the sun each day, which is normally between 11 am and 3 pm. This will ensure that you do not find yourself suffering from heatstroke and that you do not develop serious medical issues later in life, such as skin cancer.

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Your Guide to Planning a Socially Distanced Vacation

Travel Blog, Travel Tips - Ross French - June 12, 2021

Over the last few months, it appears that the pandemic situation is improving in several parts of the world. However, this doesn’t mean that you can go back to the way that things were. Since COVID-19 is far from being eradicated, you still have to be careful when planning your vacation. The good news is that it is quite simple to travel during this period and have lots of fun. If you want clear and concise instructions on how to manage this, consider the guidelines below:

Stay Updated On Statistics

Before you take off anywhere, be sure to research the places you want to visit. Look for cities like Seattle where most people have been vaccinated. If you want to go out and about, there will be less risk of infection.

Keep in mind that the numbers can change quite quickly, so you need to stay up to date on current news. Be prepared for a change of plans if there is a shift in the situation. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Consider Isolated Travel Options

It’s difficult to control your environment with public transport systems like trains and planes. This is why it’s important to travel in your own vehicle. However, what if you don’t want to be stuck in your car for hours on end? What if you aren’t looking for yet another road trip?

In this case, you could consider renting out a yacht. For instance, if you are headed to Seattle, you can easily access your yacht in Seattle, which makes it simple for you to explore and get supplies as needed.

Look for Remote Rentals

If you are planning to stay on land for any period of time, skip the hotels and other crowded areas. Instead, look for remote rentals in rural or spaced out locations. This way, you can make sure that you don’t have to share a space with anyone outside of your immediate group.

The other benefit is that you get total control over sanitizing the area. This makes it a lot easier to keep all surfaces – and even the air – clean and healthy for you and your family.

Get Creative With Having Fun

Just because there are restrictions in place doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. By being a smart traveller with careful plans, you can ensure that you get the most out of your vacation. For instance, with a little research, you can find tourist spots and other recreational ideas that aren’t swamped with too many people.

You should also take this opportunity to check out places that you would typically miss out on. By doing more research about what a particular city or town has to offer, you can uncover some hidden treasures and enjoy a real adventure.

The pandemic doesn’t have to get in the way of your vacation. With some research, planning, and unique ideas, you can have a holiday that neither you nor your family will ever forget!

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Traveling To Hawaii For Your Next Vacation

Travel Tips - Ross French - May 13, 2021

trip in Hawaii

Hawaii is a popular travel destination for couples and families all across the world. No matter where you go in Hawaii, you will be met with beautiful beaches, amazing hikes, and stunning scenery. Whatever the reason may be that you are traveling to this beautiful island, it can be a challenge to decide what you’d like to make a priority on your trip. Maybe, you’re not one for hikes and would rather hang out by the beach with a drink in hand. Or, you’re the type who loves hikes, waterfalls, and all things adventure. Look no further, because we’re here to help you prioritize and plan your trip to Hawaii this year.

Destination Wedding Or Honeymoon

If you are planning a destination wedding in Hawaii or you are planning your honeymoon– you may want to consider a different type of itinerary than other travelers!

Finally, the wedding invites are all sent out, and the wedding date is approaching quickly. With so much to think about, you haven’t had much time to plan your trip in Hawaii. Many couples create a combination wedding/ honeymoon trip in Hawaii. Because let’s face it, you’re already in paradise. Why leave early?

If this is your primary purpose of travel, we suggest a sailing excursion. This is a great pre wedding activity but is also spectacular for a honeymoon or post wedding. The best part about sailing is you get to relax and unwind. You won’t have to worry about getting dirty before your wedding and you can relieve some of that added stress. You can plan a sunset sail, perhaps whale watch, and explore the colorful reefs. You and your fiance can bump your favorite music and enjoy the ride! No matter what island of Hawaii you decide on, there are always boating offers.

The Adventurer

Are you someone who has always identified as being adventurous? Well, Hawaii could be the perfect vacation for you too! Kauai is said to be the “garden island” because of its waterfalls, cliffs, and tropical rainforests. The island also has a variety of outdoor activities you can be a part of. Some adventurous activities include kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, and ziplining. Although, you don’t have to pick Kaui to adventure, because of its landscape, it hosts a lot of outdoor activity.

In fact, ziplines are something that Hawaii is known for, because it has some of the longest ziplines in the US. If you are a thrill seeker, you can zipline to get the perfect view of the lush canopies while you get your adrenaline rush. Otherwise, you can find plenty of gorgeous hikes throughout the landscape that feature ocean views or waterfall access.

Family Fun

Family vacations are magical in Hawaii! The warm ocean water and sandy beaches are enough on their own to capture the wonder of your children. Hawaii’s big island has so much to offer. There is so much culture and fascinating attractions to see here. You can hike mountains, surf, or wander in the towns. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a great place to take your family for an experience they’ve never had before. At night, you can attend a Luau where your kids can dance and enjoy the scene along with some Hawaiian food. Overall, there are also great family-friendly resorts that offer fun pools and waterslides for the kids! They’ll return wishing they never left!

The Surfer

It’s not a surprise that Hawaiit is well known for its epic surf. If you are a surfer searching for the next big wave, Hawaii is definitely a good move. Oahu is the proverbial heartbeat of surfing in Hawaii. The island’s north Shore is the perfect place to catch your dream wave. If you are an advanced surfer, the winter waves can actually get massive so you’ll want to be prepared. Otherwise, in the summer the waves are manageable for an intermediate or even beginner level surfer.

Some of the biggest surfing competitions in the world are held on Ohaui’s North Shore from the months of November to December. If you are more of a surf follower and watcher this is the place to be! Otherwise try to decipher your skill level and pick the right season to go out and surf yourself! You can spend all day on the sandy beaches of Oahu while also squeezing in some hiking, dining, and relaxation time.

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