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May 23, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Planning a Backpacking Adventure? Here Are The Questions You Need To Ask

Backpacking really is one of the greatest ways to see the world. Behind all of the fancy restaurants, five-star hotels, resorts and tourist attractions are often a fascinating destination brimming with culture and history. Instead of being a tourist you become a traveller, and it allows you to see things in an entirely new way. Planning on going backpacking this year? Here are a few questions to ask yourself!

Backpacking With a Tour or Going Alone?

If you’re new to backpacking, booking a tour could be the way to go. Here you will join a group of other backpackers and will have transport and accommodation sorted along the way. You will be taken to all of the best sites, and your route will be planned so the hard and scary stuff is done for you. If you’re a little more experienced, you and your group could plan your own route. Just be careful, backpacking can be dangerous, and the world is an enormous place. It’s so easy to end up lost. Even more so in a country you’ve never been to, who speak a language you can’t understand.

Which Backpack is Best?

If you’re going to be spending weeks or months with a backpack on your back, it needs to be a good one. Spend some time in the store trying on different models, find a size that’s comfortable for you. Obviously, a bigger pack allows you to carry more, but then there’s the risk of overfilling it and it becoming too heavy. Look into different brands, materials and sizes to find your perfect match.

What Clothing Will You Need?

Suitable clothing is a must, and exactly what you need will depend on your destination and the time of year. If you’re in a part of the world where it’s very sunny, or there are a lot of mosquitos, long layers will protect your skin. If you’re travelling through a part of the world that’s very religious, you may need clothing that suitably covers you since certain pieces won’t be deemed acceptable. A good pair of walking boots is essential for any backpacker, make sure yours are broken in and feel comfortable before setting off on your travels.

Will You Be Staying in a Tent or Accommodation?

If you’re mainly going to be camping, you will need to look into what the best backpacking tent is for your needs. Something sturdy yet lightweight enough to carry around is a must. If you’re staying in hostels, it may be worth signing up to a hostel chain. That way you can plan out your journey based on the hostel’s locations, and you know where you’re going to be staying will be clean and secure,

What Food and Water Will You Consume?

When you’re going to be doing a lot of walking, high energy and nutritious foods are essential. Do regular stops at the grocery store to fill up on essentials while keeping costs down. You need a least a day and a half’s food and water with you, it can also help to include a water filtering kit in your pack. That way, at least if you do get lost or stranded, you have something to drink if you can find a water source. This could literally be life-saving.

Are You Prepared For Accidents?

Another important piece of kit not to be overlooked is a first aid kit. Some band-aids and over the counter pain medication will make life more comfortable if you need them. It should also include antiseptic wipes, bite and sting cream, gauze and bandages. In warm climates cuts and bites can get infected quickly, you need to be able to patch yourself up until you can get medical attention.

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May 19, 2017 by Chase Vandros

9 Things You’ll Only See in Antarctica

Are 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

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

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 3, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Business Travel Help: Top Apps You’ll Want to Pack in Your Smartphone

In today’s connected world, packing isn’t just about your physical belongings. You can also pack virtual items – smartphone apps that can help you in various ways on your trip.

A smartphone app may even end up being one the most useful things you bring along, and it won’t even make your suitcase any heavier!

Here are some of the top apps to pack for a business trip.

Concur

Concur is the simplest way to track travel expenses, as well as submit and approve expense reports. The app allows you to import credit card data, capture and store receipts, itemize hotels charges and more.

With Concur, you don’t have to worry about carrying around receipts and can get expensive approved in real time.

TripIt

Organizing a business trip has never been easier. Simply import your confirmation emails for hotels, events, flights and more, and TripIt will automatically create an itinerary for you.

This app keeps all your reservations in one place, which helps simplify the planning process and keeps you on schedule. You can even sync it with Concur to save even more time.

Circleback

Managing business contacts can be difficult, especially if you meet a lot of new ones on your business trips.

Circleback stores all of your business contacts in one place and automatically updates their contact information if they change it. You can even scan business cards to quickly load contact info into the app.

Dufl

If you really want to pack light, this is the application for you. Dufl allows you to choose what you want to wear from a virtual closet. The company will then clean it, press it and ship it to your destination. After your trip, schedule a pickup from your hotel and they’ll hang it back up in your virtual closet.

If you hate packing or searching for your bags at the airport, Dufl can help you get out of the terminal and to your first meeting fast.

PandaDoc

PandaDoc is a sleek way to sign, send, track and store legally binding documents. With this app, you can get that contract signed on the spot and send it back to your company as soon as the deal is done.

Automatic Call Recorder for Me

When you’re on the go and you get an important phone call, it can be hard to stop and take notes. With Automatic Call Recorder for Me, you don’t have to.

You can set the app to automatically record certain calls or manually start recording when a call comes in. With this call recorder app for Android, you’ll never forget what someone told you during that important phone conversation.

Yelp

While not strictly for business use, Yelp can certainly help you find your way around an unfamiliar place. You can use this app to find a restaurant to take a client to, order some late night pizza, find a mechanic if you’re having car problems and just find fun things to do with any spare time you have. You can even make reservations easily from the app.

Hipmunk

This app compares top travel sites and shows you the best deals on hotels, flights and more. It’s great for saving money, choosing accommodations and find last-minute bookings if your plans suddenly change.

In today’s world, the apps you load onto your smartphone may be just as important as the stuff you pack in your suitcase. For a successful business trip, download a few of these top business travel apps.

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April 3, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Discovering Latin America: Understanding What Life is Like Amidst the Rainforests and Ancient Ruins

From the Panama Canal to the Mayan ruins of Guatemala, the Andes, the Amazon and everything in between, Latin America has something for everyone, breathtaking views, friendly locals and delicious food in unexpected corners of the globe.

To help you prepare for your upcoming adventure, or perhaps inspire you to embark on your own journey, we’ve gathered a few tips for traveling around in Central and South America.

Plan in Advance

From your flight to your accommodations, as well as all the good stuff you can expect upon arrival, don’t leave your Latin American adventure up to chance, do some research — get the best deal on flights, and set a loose itinerary in place.

Additionally, some countries may require a travel visa, so be sure to find out if one is needed before jumping on that great airfare deal or booking a non-refundable hotel room.

Learn Some Spanish

Being able to speak a bit of Spanish is sure to come in handy. Not only will it improve your experience during your stay (no matter what country you end up in), the locals will appreciate the extra effort, rather than the cringe-y stereotype of the loudmouth foreign visitor. Sure, you’ll come across some communication issues, but why not ease the process. You might even make a new friend or two, or even decide to stay. Here’s a look at some Costa Rica real estate, if you’re serious about making the move down south.

Make Sure You’re Physically Up to the Activities

Across Latin America, whether you’re in Mexico, Costa Rica or as far south as Chile and Argentina, expect to be moving around a lot if you want to get the full experience. In addition to planning your trip, make sure you’re physically fit enough to run after a bus, walk in high altitudes or able to enjoy activities like surfing, swimming or hiking.

In addition to physical fitness, you’ll want to look into whether you need to get vaccinated for malaria or yellow fever well in advance.

Understand the Climate

Latin America is vast, and has a diverse landscape filled with every kind of weather imaginable. If you’re backpacking across all of Latin America, be sure to pack warm clothes for mountain climates, as well as some summery garb (and plenty of sunscreen) for those days spent along the sunny coast. Do your research, but prepare for some unforeseen changes – one thing is for certain, you can’t count on the weather in no matter what country you should find yourself in.

At the end of the day, planning will save you some major headaches, but when you’re on your trip, flexibility may be the key to exploring the country, or countries you visit like a local. Keep an open mind and say yes to something unexpected—you may just get a taste of the Amazonian rainforest you weren’t expecting, or entry into a new friend’s home—adventure lies ahead, and you’ll want to take advantage!