Standard

March 22, 2018 by Chase Vandros

Enhancing Your Vacation: Much More Than Just Sitting On A Beach

Vacations are something that many of us really look forward to. In fact, the majority of us will plan our year based around vacation time and book the destinations way in advance. We work hard to save the money for these trips and so, the truth is, we want to ensure that we get as much out of that time away as possible. Many people get to enjoy a vacation once a year, and they really countdown the days until they head off. Not all of us like the idea of just sitting on a beach for two weeks. Sure, for some, that might be heaven, but I wanted to share with yous one of the other things you could consider doing on your vacation. Helping you to get the most out of it. So if a beach lounger doesn’t inspire you too much, here are some of the other ways you could enhance the vacation this year.

Consider camping instead of a hotel

Holidays don’t always need to be spent going somewhere hot, booking into a hotel and spending your days lounging around the pool or the beach. Why not try something different this year? Camping is fast becoming a viable choice, not just for families, but for groups of friends or even as a couple. It is a real different way of enjoying a vacation and with websites like Tents and Camp gear providing you with all the essentials, you can even enjoy some of the home comforts you are accustomed to. Camping under the stars, enjoying being at one with nature, and spending some quality time together with your friends and family really sounds like the perfect ingredients for a smashing vacation.

Go hiking and exploring

Maybe you like the idea of venturing off somewhere warm or in a different country, however, once you are there why not use the opportunity to explore and see the destination from a different side. Hiking and exploring in a different area can be very exciting, and many locals or accommodation staff will be only too pleased to tell you about amazing walks you can embark on or secret sights that are a little off the beaten track. This is your chance to experience some of the beauty of the location you have chosen, so don’t delay.

Research different sightseeing opportunities

If you like the idea of learning or want to quiet the historic buff inside you then doing plenty of research ahead of your vacation should highlight some of the main attractions and sightseeing opportunities. No matter where you go, I guarantee there will be something exciting and different to see. A temple or some ancient ruins, a cactus garden or the local town. Explore a little and don’t be afraid to try new things. It might present you with a great chance to hire a car and head out on the road to some of the best attractions out there. You may be surprised with what you find.

Combine a few locations into one vacation

Who says you can only go to one place for your vacation? No one. If you have two weeks why not look at the surrounding areas of your chosen country or destination and see if you can combine a few other stops along the way? Maybe a few different cities or even jumping on a plane and traveling somewhere else for a few days. Cruises are a great opportunity for this if you like the idea of destination hopping but you don’t want the hassle of booking flights or different accommodation. Many cruises will enable you to see different countries in one vacation, and often these locations can be pretty amazing. Alaska. Europe. The Panama Canal. Some of these places you may never get to see in one holiday.

Go back to your youth

Finally, why not take a leaf out of the students book and travel a little? Life as backpacker has to be experienced at least once, right? Student son GAP years use the time to travel around and see different places, often the locations that are the most popular are Australia and Asia. You may not want to do it for months at a time, but you could try it out for a week or two and see some of the more rural locations that are yet to be touched by tourism.

I hope that this has inspired you to consider some of the other ways you can spend your vacation time. Sitting on a beach is great, but there is so much more you could do, wouldn’t you agree?

Standard

March 9, 2018 by Chase Vandros

Royal Holiday’s Vacations Club List of the 5 Hottest Attractions in Las Vegas

Las Vegas in known for high-class dining, lavish nightlife, and good old-fashioned gambling. Make the most of your excursion to Sin City by seeing the world-famous neon lights, acclaimed entertainment, and perhaps even some of Las Vegas’ natural beauty.

Royal Holiday Vacations Club provides club members with two luxurious lodging options and a ton of advice on dining options in Las Vegas. Station yourself on the strip at The Jockey Club, or reside near the Las Vegas Convention Center at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel. On your decadent foray into the City of Lights, be sure to check of these five hot attractions.

1. The Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas strip is legendary. This is where the gamblers come to hobnob with show girls, and tourist come to watch it all go down. Simply walking down the strip exposes you to the gorgeous and extravagant architecture Las Vegas is known for. Walk inside any casino–such as the New York-New York, MGM Grand, or the Monte Carlo–to take a step into another world.

2. Cirque du Soleil
If you see only one show while you are in Las Vegas, make it a Cirque du Soleil show. This colorful and exotic brand of circus performance is designed to blow your mind and stimulate your senses. Watch classically trained acrobats do things you never thought possible, complemented by intricate costumes and bold music. There are several different Cirque du Soleil shows running in Las Vegas at any given time. Select the show that speaks to you.

3. High Roller Observation Wheel
The High Roller Observation Wheel is a 550-foot tall, 520-foot diameter Ferris wheel. This giant ride, located on the Las Vegas Strip, provides an unparalleled view of gorgeous downtown Vegas. High Roller is a great choice for families, but with a full bar, it also makes a fun option for rowdy adults. Consider riding at night to see that signature glitzy neon glam.

4. Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden
The Bellagio houses an intricate, sky-lit atrium filled with seasonal flowers, trees, and other botanicals. Take a break from the flashy intensity of downtown Las Vegas to take a stroll through this carefully crafted botanical garden.

5. Scenic Helicopter Tours
Hop onto a helicopter in fabulous Las Vegas, and take a breathtaking tour of the surrounding area, including beautiful Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon, considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is a stunning, once-in-a-lifetime sight. Viewed from the sublime comfort of a coasting helicopter, the Grand Canyon is certain to take your breath away.

If you love to travel and decide Las Vegas isn’t the city for you then there are tons of other great vacation options available like the Grand Park Royal in Cozumel, Mexico.

Standard

February 10, 2018 by Chase Vandros

Florida Isn’t Just About The Theme Parks

If I suggested a trip to Florida, you’d probably roll your eyes at the prospect of walking around theme parks all day, every day for a week. That’s what it’s known for after all. The theme parks in Florida are perfect for a great, if hectic, family holiday. But if you don’t have kids, or if you just want a quieter family affair, that doesn’t mean you need to write off Florida entirely. While it might be known for its theme parks, that’s only a tiny fraction of what it has to offer. These are some of the best reasons to visit Florida outside of the theme parks.

Orlando

Pixabay

Orlando is where most of the theme parks are found and the majority of people don’t venture outside them when they’re in Orlando but that’s a real shame because there is a lot more to see. If you enjoy a bit of retail therapy, Orlando is the place for you. There are some amazing shopping districts in the area, just be aware that it can get a bit pricey. If you want something a little more affordable, the old town area has a lot of retro shops that are more affordable. Beyond that, there are loads of great art galleries and other cultural attractions to visit during the day, before spending the evening enjoying one of the many amazing restaurants and finding some of the great nightclubs or live music venues that Orlando has to offer.

Miami

Flickr

If you don’t know Florida for theme parks, you know it for Miami, and it’s exactly like you think it is. Beautiful white beaches lined with palm trees, fancy bars and casinos. If vibrant nightlife is top of your list of priorities, Miami is the place to go. There are some great places to stay like the South Beach Vacation Club Pulse that offer luxury accommodation, perfectly situated near the best restaurants and nightlife. Miami is a world away from the kid friendly theme park areas so it’s probably not the best place for a family vacation, but if it’s just the adults, it’s ideal.

The Florida Keys

Pixabay

The Florida Keys offer the same vibrant nightlife that you find in Miami but the pace is a little slower so it’s good for a more relaxed holiday. It’s also a great destination for wildlife lovers because there are loads of great scuba diving areas where you can see some incredible tropical fish as well as America’s only living coral reef. For the adventurers out there, there are scuba diving trips that take you down to old shipwrecks in the ocean. The Keys are made up of a string of islands but they’re all joined by one long road so getting around is no problem. It’s not that big so you should be able to see most of it during your trip. While you’re there, don’t forget to taste the world famous key lime pie that originated in the area.

Don’t write Florida off just yet, there’s so much more to see outside of the theme parks.

Standard

January 24, 2018 by Chase Vandros

Continuously Traveling Vs Staying Put: Why Working Whilst You Travel Can Enrich Your Experience

It is many people’s dream to be able to travel the world one day, and they sit in work daydreaming about winning the lottery to make it possible. The harsh truth is unless you still live with your parents and save everything you earn, or somehow come into a large sum of money, there is very seldom the funds or opportunity to take off on a round the world trip. Especially one that doesn’t leave you out of pocket, and with a large gap on your CV.

(Source)

There are certain responsibilities that can hold you back, and no matter how many times you have imagined quitting your job, packing your bag and hopping on the next flight, you’re rational side stops you before you do anything drastic. How drastic is it though to leave your job for another better opportunity? Not too drastic, and you have probably done it plenty of times in your past. Career development, after all, is something humans naturally strive towards. So why does the notion of relocating and working while traveling fill many travel lovers with dread? Of course, there are a lot of loose ends to tie up when it comes to ending current employment, and waiting until your rented accommodation contract is up. However, if this is something you truly want to achieve in your life whilst you are still young and able to get as much of it as you possibly can – does this not seem like a viable option? Here are several reasons why working whilst you travel could give you a more enriching experience than saving up and zooming in any direction.

Enveloped In The Culture

It’s probably safe to assume that your love for traveling stems from the want to discover new traditions, food, monuments, and learn about a different culture and way of living life. If someone offered to take you to Hong Kong, Dubai, Indonesia, Morocco, etc. tomorrow you would probably take up the offer in a heartbeat. So why not allow yourself to be that opportunity? Many quick holidays you may be able to afford in the not so distant future may be taken up with the tourist view of the destination, and you may find you spend most of your time there behind your smartphone camera, rather than actually seeing it with your own eyes. Going to a previously mentioned location, staying in an apartment you’ve found on https://rumahdijual.com/cibubur/ or a similar site, and working within the city, will allow you to see the culture and city from a whole different perspective.You will be able to meet new people, and see the city from a local’s perspective. They may introduce you to locations, food, and traditions that you wouldn’t have experienced just being a tourist for a few weeks. You’ll be able to enrich your mind, body, and soul with the culture – not just your Instagram feed. You may be thinking: this sounds lovely, but what work opportunities are there for someone that doesn’t know the native language? There are actually quite a few, including but not limited to: teaching English, becoming a tour guide for English-speaking tours (or other languages you may be fluent in), becoming a travel blogger, etc. You may also find that there are plenty of typical tourist spots that require people who can speak another language to offer their service to more of a demand. Just doing a quick google search for jobs in your desired destination will allow you to evaluate what work is available and if it will be suitable for you.

Potential To Learn A New Language

It is very often said that if you want to speak another language fluently, you need to live where it is commonly spoken. Therefore, you can practice daily and become comfortable with the different pronunciations. You may even find the locals to be extremely helpful when it comes to learning new words and understanding words that are in your new language’s dictionary that may not be in your own. As you become more comfortable with the language, this also opens up new employment opportunities in both the city you are traveling and your hometown.

Adds To Your CV

Someone who has traveled is typically thought of as a more well-rounded person, with an increased amount of life experience. Life experience as you get older is just as attractive to many employers as a CV full of qualifications. If you were successful in learning a new language or languages whilst you were traveling you may find you have opened up many new doors on your career path. Many companies have a desire or multilingual employees as it opens up new collaborations and potential partners in countries around the world. Your ability to work in a new location will also show you can adapt quickly to new environments, take challenges in your stride, and are committed to achieving goals set out in front of you. All of these qualities will make you an extremely desirable employee for many companies.

Protects Your Finances And The Environment

Saving the best till last: You may come out of your travels financially better off. Many people take out loans in order to pay for travel, and though they may be able to afford to pay their bill every month, it can still take some time to become completely debt free. While you may need to dip into savings for your first month of rent and flights to your destination, your savings can then go untouched as you can use your monthly pay in currency to live off. You may even earn enough to resave what you took out to travel in the first place – and depending on the exchange rate, this may not have been a large amount anyway. As well as protecting your own finances, you will also have a considerably smaller carbon footprint then if you were to continuously travel. Duncan Clarke, in an article from the Guardian, explains that “one transatlantic flight could add as much to your carbon footprint as a typical year’s worth of driving.” By staying put in one location rather than jetting all over the globe, and using a greener choice of travel – for example, walking or cycling – whilst living in your travel destination, could considerably reduce your carbon footprint.

There you have it, a few reasons why the combination of work and travel is a great choice for many travel lovers. An improved CV, safer finances, reduced carbon footprint, all while fulfilling your dream of the world? No one can deny that’s a win-win scenario.

Standard

January 15, 2018 by Chase Vandros

3 Ideas for a Family Trip

There comes a time when the family needs to get away from it all. That said where might your family he headed soon? Taking a family trip can mean different things to different people. Lets look at ideas for a family trip, while your really want that fishing trip it might not be the best idea for a fin family vacation.

For example, some families like to go to the mountains and have some peace and quiet. For others, it may mean a trip to the beach and soaking in the sun and surf with countless others. Taking your family on holiday makes your children happier.

Still other families like to head off to a theme park attraction. In doing this, they can enjoy the rides and variety of entertainment and shows. No matter where your next family trip may take you and your group, have the time of your lives.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

In preparing for your next family getaway, here are three ideas for a family trip to consider:

Theme parks – There are a myriad of theme park attractions waiting for you and your loved ones to visit and enjoy. As an example, whether you opt for a one-time visit or annual pass to Disneyland, this venue has been a hit. When you have children, keeping them busy at a theme park is usually not a major obstacle. With Disneyland and others to choose from, your children should have more than enough to do. Along with fun rides, there are shows and more. Best of all, a trip to Disneyland means seeing Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and many others.
Mountains – If you and your family enjoy camping, what better place is there to go than the mountains? One of the great things with a trip to the mountains is you get away from the daily grind. Not only is that a plus, but you also get to take in some of the best that nature has to offer. So, consider packing the bags and the family vehicle to head off to a mountain getaway for a weekend or even longer.
Beaches – What can prove more relaxing than a day at the beach? Well, it might be two days or even a full week. Whether you choose to go to a beach near you or one many miles away, take advantage of all beaches can offer. Not only do you have the chance to work on your tan, but there is also the opportunity to hit the water. From swimming to surfing and more, that can be fun and relaxing for countless individuals. If you do take your family to the beach, make sure that safety is never overlooked. Although accidents can happen on any trip, being in the water etc. can prove dangerous at times. This is especially true if you have one or more little ones with you.

Get That Planning Started Now

In working on your next ideas for a family trip, do not be one of those families waiting until the last minute to plan things out. Always remember that the best deals tend to be those scooped up early on.

That said try and book your trips as far in advance as possible. By doing this, you can not only oftentimes get better prices, but you have dates to look forward to. The latter will help you get through the daily grind.

So, if a family trip is on the horizon, where might you land?