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June 20, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Bored Of Beach Holidays?

A relaxing holiday in the sun isn’t for everybody, some of us get bored sitting around doing nothing all day. After a week, you’ll be itching to do something active again. If you want to avoid going out of your mind before the holiday is over, you’ll need to plan something a bit more active for yourself. There are plenty of great activity holidays all over the world, these are some of the best.

Bored Of Beach Holidays? Go skiing instead.

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Skiing is great fun and there are places all over the globe that you can go to do it. You can get different experiences depending one where you go so do a bit of research beforehand. If it’s something that you enjoy a lot, you could try to get a ski instructor course qualification. That way you can teach skiing and stay out there for longer periods.

Cycling

Cycling is a brilliant way to get to know a new country while staying active at the same time. You can cover a lot more ground on a bike than you can on foot. There are places all over that are great for cycling holidays, but some of the best ones are in Europe. France is particularly good, there are brilliant paths in the Alps that take you through some lovely picturesque areas. If you fancy something a little more extreme, why not go on a mountain biking holiday in Austria. It isn’t well known as a place to go cycling but it’s great. There are cable cars that will take you up the mountains and from there you can follow lots of separate paths of varying difficulty. Most of the trails are close to the airport so accessibility is good.

Hiking

If cycling is a bit too hectic for you and you prefer something that is a bit slower, a hiking holiday is good for you. You get all of the same benefits that you would from a cycling holiday but it’s a bit easier on the legs. Britain has lots of brilliant hiking trails, especially in Scotland and Wales, but one of the best places to go in the world is Romania. There are plenty of stunning lakes and valleys to hike through but be warned, some of it is fairly tough so it’s only suitable for experienced hikers.

Surfing

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Hiking isn’t all that cool and if you think you’re way too hip for that, surfing might be a bit more your speed. Most people tend to think of the USA when they are thinking of places to go surfing. While places like California are brilliant for surfing, there are other more interesting options. Portugal is a surprisingly good surfing location, especially the secluded resorts set in a valley on the west coast. They make a nice change from the more hectic resorts in America and they also offer lessons so don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re doing. After a long day of surfing, you can also take part in yoga sessions to help you relax.  

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June 15, 2017 by Chase Vandros

5 Ways To Add A Level Of Luxury To Your Travels

Want to Add A Level Of Luxury To Your Travels? This article will help you with a variety of suggestions

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When you’re a frequent traveler, you can often find that you tend to stick to the same kinds of experiences. After all, when you’ve found something you love, why wouldn’t you. But, it can often be fun to switch things up a little – especially when that switch involves the best of the best. Even if you’re a newbie traveler, it can be exciting to add a luxury touch to your plans. Sometimes, you just want to spoil yourself, kick back, and enjoy some of the most incredible experiences in the world. And when you want to do that, here are a few things to help you.

Go Private

Want to travel in style? Then you’re going to want to look at your options for flying private, with using a site like jettly. Not only will you get that luxury edge that you’re looking for, but you’ll benefit from incredible comfort, flying solo (or in a small group) and getting to your destination so much easier. If that doesn’t take your fancy, then why not hire a private yacht? Not only can you make it your vacation spot for the summer, but you can head out to see and swim too.

Upgrade Your Stay

With transport covered, why not think about staying in style too? Sometimes, you want to treat yourself when it comes to accommodation. And we all know there are some pretty stunning spots to stay in around the world. So wherever you’re heading, go five-star plus. Not only will your surroundings look incredible, but you’ll benefit from impeccable service and the ultimate in relaxing vacations.

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Take A Tour

Not every offer of activities will appeal to you, but if you want to do something completely indulgent but still nourishing, head off on a guided private tour. Whether you’re staying in a city or flying to a private island, there’s always something to see. But don’t wonder around aimlessly, get yourself booked in for a culture-clad wine tasting or tour of the local art gallery. This way, not only will it be heaps of fun, but you’ll broaden your horizons too.

Visit The Spa

But if you’re really not feeling up to much, you might want to think about spending some time in the spa. Because when you’re staying in first class accommodation, the spa is always second to none. If you want to make sure that your place has one of the best, take a look through the best spas in the world and see if any takes your fancy. Then, you’ll truly be able to relax, switch off and feel like a brand new you.

Treat Yourself

And sometimes, you want to be able to treat yourself, just because. When the occasion calls for it, go all out. Get champagne in your room, reserve an elegant restaurant for dinner and dance until the sun comes up, just because you can. Make sure you snap away to save your memories, take everything in and enjoy your little luxury touches. Because life’s too short not to spoil yourself every once in awhile.

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May 19, 2017 by Chase Vandros

9 Things You’ll Only See in Antarctica

AntarcticaAre you sick of traveling halfway around the world only to find another t-shirt shop? Feel like if you’ve seen one tourist-oriented port then you’ve seen them all? We hear you. Here’s the solution – book yourself a trip to Antarctica.

An Antarctic cruise is not your typical touristy vacation. It’s an adventure. You’re going to get to experience things unique to the pristine South Pole region, and you’ll avoid the regular tourist shtick that pollutes the usual vacation hotspots. Here are just ten of the captivating wonders you’ll get to experience when you visit our southernmost continent.

1. Penguins.

Penguins are restricted to the southern hemisphere, either on Antarctica itself or the islands lying within the continent’s vicinity. Unlike most other wildlife, penguins get very curious about humans and will sometimes waddle right up to investigate you.

2. Camping out under the Aurora Australis.

Some cruise lines offer you the chance to have a night camping out on the shores of Antarctica. You’ll set up the provided tents far enough away to not disturb the local penguin populations, then kick back and enjoy the lightshow dancing overhead.

3. The Antarctic Marathon.

Do you like running? Do you like running where almost nobody has ever run before? Hop on over to the Antarctic Ice Marathon and test yourself with an average wind-chill of -20°C, ice, snow, and competing penguins, all taking place at 80° south.

4. Southern continent Zodiac tours.

Zodiacs (small rubber outboard-engine boats) are able to zip in close to the coasts and get into nooks and crannies that your mothership cruise liners will be too big to manage. So you’ll be able to sneak past sunning seals, give lovely blue-white icebergs an up-close inspection, and on the best days, get paid a visit by welcoming whales.

5. Send postcards from Port Lockroy.

There’s a working post office in the historic British site of Port Lockroy. How impressed are your friends going to be to be receiving postcards stamped with an Antarctic origin? While you’re there you’ll also be able to visit the museum that highlights just some of the scientific endeavours that have drawn people to the South Pole over the past century or so.

6. Relics of Antarctic whaling history.

Where there were whales there was whaling. The Antarctic is no exception. One hotspot of our whaling past is found on Deception Island. Historic relics (boilers, oil drums, whale skeletons) still sit on the shores as a reminder of how much the industrialized world has changed in the past 100 years.

7. Shackleton’s shack.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s exploration in the name of God and country was all the rage. Common folk would follow the exploits of explorers much the same way some people follow their favourite sports star today.

One such hero of the people was Sir Ernest Shackleton who led not one but three British expeditions in the race to be the first to reach the South Pole. Relics of those expeditions remain to this day including the shack he and his men lived in while enduring the harsh conditions of the Antarctic.

8. Take a look from Observation Hill.

Sitting about 30 minutes away from McMurdo is Observation Hill. Aptly named, Antarctic explorers can climb the hill and treat themselves to a jaw-dropping view (bring your cameras).

9. Antarctica itself.

It’s clean. It’s rugged. It’s blue and white and beautiful. It’s happily lacking throngs of tourists and it’s free from tacky tourist-geared stores. If you’re looking for a trip that’s more an adventure than just a vacation, then you should give an Antarctic cruise a try.

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May 14, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Four One-of-a-Kind Places That You Need To Visit

If you are thinking of planning a once in a lifetime trip, then where do you start? To make an obvious statement, the world is vast with so many amazing places to visit. But I think one way to look at it all is to decide on a vacation destination that is a little unlike any other in the world. For a lot of places, particularly like beach destinations, they can be quite similar. There isn’t anything too unique about them. So if you think along the same lines, where would your next trip be to? Here are some locations that are unlike any other and would be perfect to add to your bucket list.

Finland

One-of-a-kind Places 1

Iceland seems to be ‘the’ place to be at the moment. But Finland, for me, is a much better option. You get the vast land and snowy mountains in Finland, just as you would in Iceland. But there are many more snowy parts of Finland, including things like glass igloo holidays, for example. Pretty unique and special to book a vacation like that. Finland does tend to be cheaper than Iceland too, so that is a good reason to get yourself over there too.

Thailand

There are many Asian countries that have a similar feel to Thailand. But when you break it down, there are actually very different. I like that Thailand has a large variety of places to visit that are all completely different. If one day you’re out in the street markets and bustle of Bangkok, but then the next day you could be out on the calm and relaxing island of Phuket, or taking a boat out to Phi Phi Island. They are completely contrasting but still all in the same country. So for me, Thailand has to be on there.

Alaska, United States

One-of-a-kind Places 2

When you think of the United States and vacations, many people might think of hiking or camping in National Parks, or even hitting the busier cities like New York City or Chicago. But they don’t often think of a vast wilderness like the likes of Alaska, do they? It is a stunning part of the world, with many hiking trails, as well as watersports and fishing. If you want postcard picture perfect of the great outdoors, then Alaska is the place to be. You still get all of the benefits and similarities of any other US state, though. So a win-win.

London, England

You get busy cities in all parts of the world. But the mix of modern and old in London makes it a completely unique place to be. It is vibrant and cultural, as well as full of all things British (and that includes the Royalty). So for people visiting from countries without a Royal family, it can make for a really exciting and unique trip. There are so many different restaurants to eat in too, as well as a complete range of attractions. So there really is something for everyone in the lovely city of London.

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April 10, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Protecting the Oceans on Your Travels

Protecting the OceansSomething that many travelers have in common is an insatiable desire to be beside the ocean. This is fantastic news, as anything which brings you close to nature should always be applauded. However, it’s actually really important to learn a little something about respect along the way. If you’re going to do any harm to the environment, forget about it. It’s all about minimizing our man-made impact on the world around us. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos. It’s important!

Save The Reef!

Popular activities whilst traveling so often revolve around being in the sea. From boat trips to snorkellng and diving, the ocean can give us a myriad of fun experiences and breath-taking images to look at in years to come.

When we are adventuring in the oceans, it’s so easy to be egocentric and to forget that the oceans aren’t our homes – in fact, they’re actually the homes of millions of special marine life. The ultimate key to exploring the vastness is to maintain respect. Don’t disturb sea creatures, don’t hurt them, and don’t take them home with you. Coral bleaching is also real (and it’s what’s destroying so many iconic reefs like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia), and you can help matters by not touching any of it, because it’s actually a living organism. 

Sharks Are Our Friends

Yes, sure. They can be deadly. But you know what? There are so many reasons why they should be revered, not feared!  Now, people don’t usually have to be told twice about respecting the likes of, say, dolphins – but when it comes to sharks, it’s often a whole other story.

As travelers, it’s our jobs to look beyond the media’s vilification and not cherry pick the marine creatures we choose as friends. Sharks are actually far less dangerous than people think; they’re just often misunderstood. Regardless of your thoughts on sharks, it’s undeniable that you should admire them, and in fact, they can teach us lessons to bring to our own lives! A shark knows when to strike. It’s a predator, but it’s pretty calculated. Once you know the traits of a shark and how best to apply these to life situations, whether it be in the world of business or even in the world of poker, you can actually often get things to go your own way! All it takes is knowing when to act ruthless and fearless, and when it’s best to be patient. 

Don’t Encourage Captivity!

It’s really important to note that whilst you can – and should – love marine life in its natural habitat, it can often be counterproductive to go and see it in captivity. Whilst there are efforts to conserve and protect and this should be encouraged, many animals from the sea are subject to cruel conditions for the purpose of serving as a tourist attraction. You might remember the storm surrounding SeaWorld and the way it treats its whales. In reality, things are a whole lot worse than they even seemed, with animals essentially living out their days confined unnaturally until the release of (premature) death. You should also consciously consider things like swimming with dolphins, unless it’s in the wild. This is because cetaceans (sea mammals including dolphins, whales, and porpoises), simply do not belong in captivity.

As travelers, it’s our responsibility to think very carefully about our decisions. Whilst photographs are all you should take in theory, it’s about more than that perfect Insta pic. Life lessons can also – and really should – be learned, in order to make us better citizens of the world.

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