There are more direct flights being introduced in various cities to Cuba and travel restrictions to Cuba are gradually declining. Since travel to Cuba is becoming easier, all global travelers on a budget should visit this gorgeous Caribbean island before McDonalds sets up shop there! Here are but a few great reasons to visit Cuba…

Reason to visit Cuba #1: The Beautiful Beach

If sand, snorkel, and sea is your way of unwinding then there is no reason why Cuba shouldn’t be in your travel list! Cuban beaches are some of the crown jewels of the Caribbean. Soak in the sun and the panoramic view encompassing the endless white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, coral reefs and the crystal, blue-green waters.

Varadero, a verdant paradise, is the most popular and largest destination in the Caribbean. Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Largo del Sur, Cayo Coco, and Trinidad are some of the few islands among many more that offer a wide range of activities. Some things to see and try are snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, coral reefs, bird-watching (pink flamingoes), vibrant nightlife, and even museums! This travel experience is ideal for backpackers, watersport lovers and even honeymooners!

Reason to visit Cuba #2: Rich History and Marvelous Architecture

Love historical heritage and architecture? Visiting Cuba is like taking a step back in time. Old Havana, with its many architectural wonders and fortifications, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Tourists have a difficult time turning their eyes away from striking architectural marvels such as the Catedral de San Cristobal, Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Plaza de San Francisco, and Calle Obispo to name a few.

If you are an ardent fan of Ernest Hemingway, check out Hotel Ambos Mundos where he stayed for seven years.

Taquechel Pharmacy Museum is another curious “shop” which has been doling out herbal medicines for almost a century! The gorgeous woodwork of cabinets, the antique ceramic jars to store old meds, and other such artifacts transport tourists to a bygone era.

Santiago and Trinidad boast some of the most amazing & fascinating Spanish colonial architecture and art deco buildings. The best way to tour the city is either by foot or from the seat of a 1950’s vintage car that can venture around the cobbled streets all day.

Reason to visit Cuba #3: The Warm Climate

The comfortable tropical climate alone is a good reason to visit this Caribbean island. If you want a respite from freezing winter weather then you must visit Cuba between November and April. In very few places can you enjoy a ride in a beautifully restored classic convertible while gazing at swaying palm trees with a gentle tropical breeze kissing your face during the winter months.

Reason to visit Cuba #4: Music and Culture to Spare!

Cubans have music coursing through their blood and if you are a party animal or a nightlife person then Cuba is definitely a place you should visit at least once! Music, dance and art are inextricably linked with the Cuban way of life. Music is everywhere at all times of the day. The infectious rhythms of salsa, merengue, bachata and cha-cha have everyone foot tapping. Tourists are spoilt for choices when it comes to music and cafes in Cuba. There are opera houses, salsa clubs, jazz bars and local musicians everywhere. The Cuban annual calendar is crammed with cultural events from the worlds of ballet, fine arts and cinema.

Reason to visit Cuba #5: Local and Authentic Cuisine

Cuban food and cocktails are simply to die for. Cuban cuisine is much like a fusion of the best African, Spanish, Italian, and of course, Caribbean elements. Seafood, comprised of lobster, shrimp, octopus, clams, and the local catch of the day is usually the more popular choice. Small dining establishments set up by families in the confines of their homes are on the rise and more popularly known as paladares. They might offer you limited menu options, but the food is as authentic as you can get. La Guarida is one such restaurant which has become renowned as “the” paladar to visit in Havana. Most of them have been transformed into upscale dining experiences boasting of chefs like Chef Justo and Chef Ivan who were once chefs for Fidel Castro. Apart from seafood, their meats and vegetables are also delicious when cooked together in a wonderful aromatic blend of regionally available spices. These include chili, oregano, onion, garlic laurel, parsley, basil, saffron etc.

If you’re fluent in Spanish you can try out the eateries frequented by the locals like Kasalta Sports Bar-Restaurant in Havana and feast on their famed Pollo Kasalta for four people.

Cuba is a paradise for cocktail aficionados. This Caribbean island boasts of the best Cuba Libre, Mojito or Canchanchara; Bacardi originally hails from Cuba. All you need is some good jazz to liven up the atmosphere. La Terraza, the bar at Cuba’s most famous hotel, National Hotel, (frequented by the likes of Winston Churchill to Al Capone) makes some of the best drinks! Sipping Cuban rum and the creamy delicious pina colada in one of their rooftop bars is highly recommended. The famed Hotel Ambos Mundos, which served as Hemingway’s residence for seven years in Cuba, is also ideal for relaxing with a tropical drink and music.

Reason to visit Cuba #6: The Best Cigars

If you happen to be a cigar connoisseur then you already know that Cuba is almost as synonymous with cigars as Napa or Bordeaux is with wine and that reason alone is a good enough reason to travel to this enchanting country! Cuban hand-rolled cigars have amassed a huge cult following from renowned political leaders such as Kennedy, Castro, King Felipe VI of Spain and other affluent collectors. They are a sign of status, power and wealth and are prized possessions of many cigar aficionados. Some of the rare collections go up to $50,000 at auction. A quick visit to a cigar factory, especially in Havana, is highly recommended so you can witness these mini marvels being hand-rolled to perfection.

Reason to visit Cuba #7: The Diverse Landscape

The breathtaking landscape of Cuba with its tropical rainforests, picturesque mountain range, and gorgeous waterfalls makes it worth a visit. Cuba has some spectacular natural parks to explore. The National Park Alejandro de Humboldt is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Parque Nacional Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest point above sea level, is a bird-watchers’ paradise. Nature-lovers are bound to be impressed by the sheer diversity of the Cuban landscape. You can find everything from sugar-cane plantations to rain forests to mangrove swamps. Cuba is truly a very diverse country and well worth a visit!

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When we envision our dream vacations we usually think of cities, national parks, beaches, mountain tops and the like. Why not try out something different for a change and choose a unique accommodation, which itself makes our stay travel-worthy and unforgettable?

If you can picture yourself waking up like royalty in a medieval castle, or in an underwater hotel room watching shoals of fish swimming around, or in an ice igloo through which you can see the magical Northern Lights then read on as we compile a swoon-worthy list of some of the most unique places to stay on earth!

Most Unique Places to Stay #1: Ice Hotels

You have yet to experience winter in its truest form if you haven’t stayed in an ice hotel. Made of snow and resplendent with breathtaking snow art and ice sculpture and furniture, ice hotels are indeed some of the most unique places to stay. When you socialize in the ice bars by drinking from frozen cups, sleep on ice beds (which are thankfully covered with real mattresses), or go skiing, you will find that ice hotels are truly some magical places to stay.

The Schneedorf (Oetz, Austria) which starts from 109€ a person with dinner and breakfast is right in the middle of the picturesque Alps.

Check availability and book a room in The Hotel of Ice in the Romanian Carpathians which offers a host of activities such as skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling, sleighing and ice skating in their Winter Park.

The Hôtel de Glace in Québec City is almost a work of art with its brilliant and tasteful décor. Usually open from January to March its 44 rooms are available for reservation HERE.

Most Unique Places to Stay #2: Airplane Hotels

Aviation-themed accommodations, better known as airplane hotels, feature second in our most unique places to stay list. Some hoteliers hit upon an ingenious idea to transform decommissioned jets into a unique and incredible travel experience.

At Jumbo Stay (Stockholm), you can book one of their 33 rooms ranging from 550 SEK per night to 1895 SEK. While most airplane hotels have a strict no-guests policy, at Jumbo Stay hotel even non-guests are welcome to their café for a quick bite.

A gem of an airplane hotel lies nestled in the lush coastal rainforest bluff, Costa Verde. A renovated vintage 1965 Boeing 727 airframe, which previously flew passengers for South Africa Air and Avianca Airlines (Colombia) has been remodeled into a gorgeously detailed, two bedroom, Boeing 727 fuselage suite.  It sticks out from the jungle canopy, providing you with a spectacular view that gives the illusion of being in flight. With all its hand-carved furnishings, teak furniture, kitchen amenities, two queen beds and a 360-degree dazzling view, this unique accommodation is available for reservations at www.costaverde.com/727.

Once a favorite transport for the German Democratic Republic government, the Vliegtuig Teuge is currently a single, completely furnished, luxury suite. The 40 meters long, erstwhile political transport was converted into a commercial liner and then a restaurant. For 15 years now, it has been a hotel at the Teuge airport, Netherlands. Equipped with a Jacuzzi, shower, infrared sauna, mini bar, flat screen TVs (three of them!), Blu-ray DVD / entertainment combo (plus a selection of DVD’s), and a pantry with coffee/tea making facilities, oven/microwave etc. this gorgeous suite can be all yours for about $474 a night (ok that’s kinda ridiculously expensive but hey, how often are you staying in a place like this)!

Most Unique Places to Stay #3: Bubble Hotels

If you enjoy gazing at the starry skies and sleeping amidst Mother Nature without having to pitch tents and ward off bug attacks then a bubble hotel might just be the thing for you! Bubble hotels feature third on our most unique places to stay list for their ability to combine the best of worlds….camping out and an elegant luxurious hotel experience. They are literally a room or tent with a 360-degree view!

Attrap-reves lets you choose your own bubble, according to your comfort level, from their several fully furnished bubbles. Starting from about €109 (US$137), each bubble is equipped with a king-sized bed, nightstands, reading lamps, and a set of table and chairs, all of which have been designed to fit different styles for guests to choose from. Each bubble provides a scenic view.

If you want to have an experience of a lifetime watching the aurora borealis or the midnight sun then head over to www.buubble.com to choose from one of their bubbles located about 93km from Reykjavik, Iceland. Priced around USD 221-237 per night, all the bubbles have double beds and air blowers to keep them warm. However, you might have to wait until July 9 if you want a proper toilet, shower and kitchen because, so far, they are only equipped with outdoor dry toilets.

Most Unique Places to Stay #4: Underwater Hotels

If sleeping next to the fishes underwater without getting wet is your thing, or if you wonder what underwater life is like while being firmly planted on dry land then read on. The fourth most unique place to stay is none other than the underwater hotels. Being at rock bottom (literally) never looked so good or decadent. Thanks to the latest engineering marvels, the under-the-sea view is no longer limited to a sci-fi dream. There are some great luxurious and plush underwater hotels aiming to give guests the adventure of a lifetime.

For a truly spectacular experience and a whopping £5,500 a night, the underwater suites at Atlantis the Palm at Dubai known as ‘Neptune’ or ‘Poseidon’ are perfect. You can see all the marine life of the Persian Gulf swimming by you through the floor-to-ceiling windows in this unique suite.

The Manta Resort at Pemba Island, Zanzibar, boasts a very unique place to stay called the Underwater Room which is akin to a private floating island, replete with the most breathtaking views of the sea and marine life from your submerged bedroom. This 1500$ a night room is unlike any other in the sense that it is half-in and half-out of the sea of the very exclusive Manta House reef. You can choose to either sunbathe and stargaze from its deck or swim underwater if you feel a little more adventurous.

Have you ever scuba dived to the foyer of your accommodation or been served pizza underwater by a scuba diver before? If you are waiting to tick these items off your to-do list then look no further than Jules’s Undersea Lodge named after the famed novelist of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It is the oldest underwater hotel, surrounded by angel fish and other dazzling species off the coast of Florida and near Puerto Rico. Situated almost 30 feet below the surface and known as the La Chalupa Research Laboratory in the ’70s it is now a 600 sq. ft. two-bedroom guesthouse, and the only way to get there is to scuba-dive to its wet-room hatch. For the $800 ‘JUL for Two’ package, you get a night stay with a majestic view of the coral reef and marine life along with a pizza delivery.

Most Unique Places to Stay #5: Treetop Hotels

Feats of contemporary engineering, tree-house hotels and lodges, feature fifth in our list of most unique places to stay. Channeling our inner child, while vacationing, becomes easier with tree-house hotels as our accommodation. Indulge in luxurious amenities such as fireplaces, Jacuzzis, and even infinity pools while stargazing from treetops in these one-of-a-kind unique places to stay.

The Ariau Amazon Towers at Manaus, Brazil on the banks of Rio Negro with its 268 treetop rooms, suites, and houses is connected by over 5 miles of 30ft-high wooden catwalks. It is also surrounded by monkeys, macaws, sloths etc., making this unique place a truly magical retreat. From its inception in 1986 its guest list boasts of names such as Prince Charles, Bill Gates, Susan Sarandon, and the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin. All packages (even if it’s just for one night) include buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, access to a private treetop pool, airport and boat transfers, excursions etc. etc.

The Tsala Rooftop Lodge, in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa is a marvel of architecture. This dazzling stone and glass lodge has ten treetop private suites comprising of a luxurious bedroom, a chic sitting room with a fireplace and a spacious bathroom along with a private deck overlooking the Tsitsikamma Forest and your own infinity pool, providing the ultimate privacy. It also has six two-bedroomed treetop villas with similar amenities as the suites. Every meal at this lodge is an exquisite affair fit for royalty. For bookings head over to tsala.hunterhotels.com.

Most Unique Places to Stay #6: Lighthouse Hotels

If you want to be cocooned in tranquility with only the sound of crashing waves to break the silence then lighthouse hotels are the way to go. As several lighthouses are gradually becoming defunct, innovative hoteliers and conservation groups are transforming them into cozy unique places to stay. If you are lucky to get a room in a still-operational lighthouse (yes, you need to book them months in advance since rooms are too few) you can actually doze off to the sound of the foghorn signaling to ships. Sounds like a scene straight out of an adventure novel, doesn’t it?

Open from the end of May to the end of September, the Inn at Cuckolds Lighthouse, at Southport, Maine, is truly a dream come true for people who want to get far away from the crowd. The 360-degree view of the ocean is breathtaking. The only way to reach this beautifully restored and rebuilt 1892 Maine Lighthouse is by a Navy motor whaleboat, piloted by a U.S. coastguard licensed captain. These luxurious suites, with marble bathrooms, are priced from 1350$ a night with a minimum two night stay.

The Saugerties Lighthouse in New York is a delightfully elegant and cozy two-room bed and breakfast. This erstwhile landmark beacon on the Hudson River is accessed by a half-mile walking trail. This unique place to stay has been remodeled keeping in mind the 20^th century décor and provides educational public tours and other special events. Starting from $225 a night, which includes breakfast, this charming getaway is almost like a throwback to the olden times.

Most Unique Places to Stay #7: Grand Castle Hotels

Did you spend your childhood wondering how the kings and queens lived? Did you dream of almost living a fairy-tale life (if only for a few days)? Do hallowed hallways, romantic turrets, manicured verdant grounds with sparkling lakes, lush carpets, sparkling chandeliers, soft plush beds fit for royalty sound enticing? If the answer is yes to all of the above questions then castle hotels are meant for you! Europe, especially Ireland and Scotland with their numerous picturesque castles, is a huge favorite among castle aficionados.

The Ashford Castle is a 13^th century Irish medieval castle turned into a spectacular luxury hotel with 83 majestic rooms and suites. Spreading over 350 acres on the strikingly beautiful shores of Lough Corib, this unique place to stay has been graced by the likes of President Reagan, John Travolta, Brad Pitt, and Pierce Brosnan—who tied the knot here. These palatial grounds, which have been fully restored to their historical and artistic splendor, also served as the backdrop of the Oscar nominated movie ‘The Quiet Man’ starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in 1951. Indulge in some fine pre-dinner drinks at the Prince of Wales Bar before heading to the formal George V dining room or the more laid-back Cullen’s at the Cottage or Dungeon. Priced from 550 euros rates can go up to 3000 euros or more depending on the room type and availability.

The 12^th century Tulloch Castle Hotel, which was once the abode of the Clan Davidson, is now a 20-bedroom, magnificent, period hotel with its 250-year-old wood-paneled Great Hall and meticulously restored fireplaces and ceilings. Priced from 110£ (breakfast included) guests can expect a cozy stay, Scottish hospitality, fine cuisine and even a visit from the renowned resident friendly ghost, the Green Lady, after whom the bar in the castle  was actually named.

Most Unique Places to Stay #8: Underground/Cave Hotels

Our list of most unique places to stay would be incomplete without mentioning the charming, yet quirky, cave hotels. If you want to get a feel of how our ancestors lived without having to rough it then we highly suggest the cave hotels as your accommodation for your next trip. Cave hotels are a great choice for summer vacations as it doesn’t get any cooler than being underground!

At the Sala Silvermine in Sweden, be prepared to be wowed by a basket of refreshments including cheese, biscuits, fruit, sparkling wine and chocolate, after a guided tour of their mines, which lie 155m underground. Dress warm because it is only 2 degrees Celsius in the mine. However, the Mine Suite is warmed up to a comfortable 18 degree Celsius throughout the year. The world’s deepest hotel room can be all yours for £328 per night, which includes the guided tour, breakfast and supper. The hotel staff are always at hand above ground through intercom radio since phone network ceases to work in the underground area.

An erstwhile opal mine in New South Wales, Australia, the White Cliffs Underground Motel is now a rather unique place to stay where the rooms are known as ‘dugouts’. Established in 1989, this motel has 30 underground rooms and 2 above ground rooms and the temperature doesn’t vary much from 22 degrees throughout the year. This subterranean abode is available from $145 a night.

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Whether you are a seldom or frequent traveler, it is always best to keep a checklist of the top ten essential travel items handy to keep your vacation calm and carefree, leaving you to soak in the new sights and sounds.

No two trips are similar and, therefore, packing for each one requires a different approach. However, regardless of where you are headed I have thoughtfully compiled a list of the top ten essential travel items that go unanimously with all travel destinations.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #1: Smartphone

A smartphone is a multi-faceted travel item which can be used as a camera, GPS, map, personal music system, translation device, and more.

It’s always prudent to keep a snapshot of your crucial travel documents such as passport, tickets, travel insurance, hotel reservations etc. stored in your smartphone’s Photo app for a quick look. It’s almost unimaginable to leave home without this must have essential travel item, let alone venturing into unknown territories.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #2: EBook Reader / Electronic Tablet

Whether you are an avid reader or not an eBook reader or electronic tablet is one of the top ten essential travel items. It is great if you are in for a long haul flight, long drive or even when unwinding after a long day of exploring new places.

While eBook readers are solely meant for reading purposes some are equipped with features like web browsing. Electronic tablets, on the other hand, are a lot more versatile, but come with a bigger price tag.

Depending on your preference these devices are worth their weight in gold. You can read whenever you want and whatever you want without having to lug around a bunch of books and you can also keep up with your office correspondence without having to carry around an expensive and heavy laptop all the time.

Did I mention you can also watch movies on your tablet without having to squint!? Some of the more popular eBook readers are Amazon’s Fire tablet and the more traditional Kindle Paperwhite. However, there are many more tablets to choose from these days such as Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and Google’s Android Dragon Touch and many more…  It’s best to simply weigh the pros and cons of each in terms of functionality, price, memory, etc. as you decide which is best for your trip and lifestyle.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #3: Flip Flops / Slippers

You must be wondering how this choice of footwear (of all things) made it to this carefully compiled list of top ten essential travel items. I know, I know!

Flip flops, slippers, casual sandals are the most versatile and packable footwear of all time. Heading to a beach, tramping across the not-so-clean hotel or hostel room and taking a shower….flip flops come in handier than any other footwear. Traveling during summer is more comfortable with a pair of decent looking sandals or flip flops that keep your feet dry and sweat free than tottering on high heels which would kill your feet and back alike within a of couple of hours besides leaving you with sore blisters.

And if you really want to know how serious I am about my flip flops when traveling, feel free to reminisce on my personal account of my missing flip flop in Ko Phanghan, Thailand!

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #4: Earplugs

A decent pair of earplugs is a godsend for any traveler irrespective of their modes of transport and accommodation. Sometimes the only thing that can provide you with much needed peace and quiet is a pair of earplugs.

Cheap and easily packable, earplugs are meant for not only people who need peace and quiet for a good night’s sleep but they also provide the safest solution to earaches triggered by rapid fluctuation in air pressure. Whether in a bus, plane, or even in a hotel this must-have essential travel item is almost indispensable.

To combat both noise and pressure, you can combine ear plugs with Active Noise Reduction earphones for optimum results. In my opinion, the best flying plugs for wear with headphones are Flite Mate plugs because of their very low profile in the ear. After all, pure silence is golden!

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #5: Mini First Aid Kit

No travel packing is ever complete without a mini first aid kit regardless of your destination. Band-Aids, cold and flu meds, antibiotic cream, anti-diarrheal, antihistamines, analgesics, a single-use ice pack, a sterile bandage, and an EpiPen (for those who are allergic to certain things) should always have a place in your carry-on luggage.

It always pays to be prepared for minor hiccups on the road rather than to start looking for the nearest pharmacy or doctor in unknown territories. Hence, a mini first aid kit figures in well to our essential travel item list.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #6: Camera

What better way to make memories of your cherished vacations than to take photographs? While smartphones are the most convenient devices to take pictures with, they have their own limitations (for instance, limited memory).

Cameras have been, and always will be, one of the most essential travel items when it comes to keeping those memories alive. With the latest generation of smaller and lighter cameras catering to the needs of all kinds of travel photographers, we no longer have to lug around a heavy camera and its lenses in addition to other luggage while backpacking or traveling. These cameras are usually equipped with features like low-light performance, shake reduction, super-zoom, and of course, compactness and portability.

Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony are some of the biggest names in the camera industry with hundreds of models to choose from. If you want more information on picking the best travel camera, see my latest article on picking the best camera for your travel photography.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #7: Toiletry Bag

It is imperative to have a quality toiletry bag during your travels. Choose this particular essential travel item wisely and pack it effectively.

When it comes to air travel, TSA allows only one quart-sized bag through their security. Stretch strength and thickness are two factors that should be taken into account while buying toiletry bags for travel, as you don’t want your liquid toiletries spilled all over your clothes and everything else!

Liquids, gels, creams, and pastes must not exceed 3.4 ounces (100ml) in most airports and often must be packed in a 1 quart-sized clear, plastic, zip-top bag.

A toiletry bag is the best solution to keep everything organized and handy. Toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, cosmetics, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, soap etc. can be best arranged in a good toiletry bag.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #8: Travel Adapter

In this age of technology when we are so dependent on our smartphones, laptops, electronic tablets and digital cameras etc., it is almost inconceivable to venture out without a travel adapter. Reasonably priced and compact travel adapters come in handy while traveling to countries where the wall power sockets and voltage vary from what you are generally used to.

An international plug adapter features in our list of top ten essential travel items due to its sheer convenience i.e. they are usually built to last, multi-functional and compatible with most of the common power plugs around the world.

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #9: Hand Sanitizer / Bio-degradable Towelette

Although there is yet to be a consensus on the virtues of a hand sanitizer / bio-degradable towelette, I’m personally a huge fan of these two cleansing products. Pocket-friendly, superlight and cheap, a hand sanitizer / bio-degradable towelette saves you from germs and consequent stomach issues more than you know.

A small bottle of sanitizer will last you a long time so you can travel hassle-free and sample those edible goodies whenever and wherever!

The facial towelettes will keep your face clean and smelling fresh during your summer travels without the need for water and soap, and for wiping or mopping up those pesky spills!

ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ITEM #10: Clothesline

Last, but not the least, in our list of top essential travel items for all kinds of travelers is the clothesline. Ultra-light, cheap and portable, a good clothesline goes a long way to help you pack light and keep things travel-friendly. If your duration of travel is long and you don’t wish to be burdened (literally) with tons of clothing and towels, you can simply give some of your worn and used stuff a quick rinse in the sink or under the shower with soap or shampoo. Then hang them to dry on a hooked clothesline and save on those dreaded laundromat bills.

I hope this top ten essential travel items list equips you to travel happy and carefree. I have just included the most prominent ones that came to my mind! If you think of something that deserves mention for our fellow travelers please feel free to add to this compilation by commenting below!

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Living in Shenzhen China and Teaching English

I just recently received an email from one of the more popular English Teaching organizations inviting me back where I was living in Shenzhen, China and teaching English. And needless to say, the perks they offer english teachers is enticing…If you’ve never considered it before, I’m here to tell you it can be a lucrative way to travel as well as a fully experience another culture and fully immerse yourself in the foreign city you reside.

English First was the organization that just contacted me though there are dozens and dozens of others throughout China. However, I’d like to at least cover what they are offering as an example in this article just to give a clear idea of what they are offer potential new teachers…

• A legal Z work visa they’ll sponsor
• A 10,000 RMB starting bonus
• Health Insurance if needed
• Free Mandarin lessons (for those that are ready to take on the challenge)
• Free hotel stay for your first two weeks
• 12,000 – 13,500 RMB monthly
• An 8,000 RMB flight allowance annually

They’ll even fly you out there for free and pick you up at the airport on arrival. Needless to say, they’ll take good care of you throughout the process and for those that want to know how that currency conversion of RMB salary applies to your own country, just check out the site XE.com And while it still may not seem a lot of money, you may be forgetting a couple things….

Number one, China is an extremely affordable place to live. When I was there living in Shenzhen China, my monthly budget was around $700 USD per month. That included an apartment, utilities, food, transportation on the metro, my beer allowance:) and any other miscellaneous expenses. Not bad when you make 2-3 times that and you can sock away a lot of that for savings or to travel with.

Number two is the fact that many English teachers will take on side classes and/or tutor individuals outside of their normal teaching routine. It’s a great way to make anywhere from 20% to 100% more over your normal salary on a monthly basis all dependent on how much extra you’d like to work. For instance, if interested in tutoring just 2 students a week outside of class, that could amount to anywhere from 100-250 RMB per hour per student. So if teaching or tutoring an extra 10-20 hours per week, you can imagine how much extra you’d be making and able to save on a monthly basis. If you’re interested in tutoring, here is a great post I wrote on my experience teaching and tutoring while living in Shenzhen, China.

And one of the great things about being in these areas where English is in high demand is that you’ll never be hard pressed to find work (or additional work) if that is what you want. You’ll quickly find many other schools and organizations and even recruiters will be contacting you to try and convince you to join them. In other words, you’ll be in high demand and that is a great place to be. That being said, you may find yourself completely content on your regular teaching schedule and allow yourself the rest of your time just to travel on weekends and holidays, to fully appreciate the uniqueness of a place like China or any other country you find yourself in.

Of course, there are schools that may pay more and if you’re considering living in Shenzhen, China or anywhere else throughout the country, I’d encourage you to do all your research and explore what each school and organization has to offer. Also find out how they’ll pay you and when. Some schools like to pay you a month behind so that when you finally do turn in your notice to leave, some lesser schools will try to deny you that last month’s worth of pay so do ask this question. Even better would be to interview current teachers and talk with current expats where you’re looking to be to get the inside scoop.

As for living in Shenzhen specifically, its a very exciting and new city with a lot of growth. What’s even better is the fact that you can take the metro straight into Hong Kong within an hour and Macao is just a couple hours away as well. I thoroughly enjoyed living here and would prefer it over places like Beijing. There are plenty of expats living within the city so you can network with a lot of people from all over the world. If you want to check out one of the many posts I’ve written on the city, here is one on traveling and living in Shenzhen.

This was one of the many parks I came across while living in Shenzhen, China. The city is very new and modern so it’s not unusual to find many water features and large scale artistic designs across the city.

So while you may still be considering teaching English and living in Shenzhen or another city, don’t discount the boundless opportunities that exist for foreign teachers. It may very well be leaps and bounds better from where you’re currently from, no matter what city you’re in. And as I said before, the demand is high and the experience is one that will last a lifetime! For more advice, check out my post on teaching English in China.

And as always, comments welcome below!

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GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED

With the holiday season right around the corner one can’t help but daydream of a nice relaxing vacation or adventure-packed trip to escape the humdrum of everyday life. A trip planned a few months in advance can become a trip destined to be cherished forever. Gone are the days when planning a trip or vacation was a royal time suck…perusing through innumerable travel guidebooks, making endless phone-calls or visit to various travel agents, keeping track of all the minute details.

Nowadays all you need is an Internet connection and you can plan your own trip from the comfort of your home with the click of a button. There is a gamut of travel blogs (I know a really good one) and apps available online optimized to provide the ultimate travel experience of every kind as well as a host of useful advice. Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to make your trip planning a less daunting task.

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #1: Decide on a destination

The first stepping stone to a successful trip planning lies in picking a destination. If traveling with others one must come to a unanimous decision about where you want to holiday before everything else. Various factors come into play while choosing that dream destination. For instance, define the purpose of your vacation….from lazing on the beach to wine tasting trips from exploring cities and cuisines to backpacking… the options are limitless! Apps like Minube and Trippy help you to narrow down your choices. Even doing a quick cost estimation of your vacation will help you get your trip planned.

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #2: Decide the duration of your trip

Determining on how long you wish to holiday helps you in getting your trip planned in various ways right from the start. The duration of your trip determines the cost of your trip, how much luggage you need to carry, how much time you have to tick off all the items on your travel list etc. etc. Get this nailed down early on and you’ll be in good shape in moving on to step 3…

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #3: Research destination costs

Doing an online cost analysis of all the travel expenditures might sound boring and a little overwhelming but, trust me when I say this, it is probably one of the wisest moves in getting your trip planned. After researching destination costs you might be even tempted to modify your travel destination.

Expenses like travel cost, accommodation costs, ground transportation and food bills, entrance costs (going to museums, theme parks etc.) must be taken into account while deciding on a travel budget.

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #4: Make transportation arrangements

As soon as the above three steps have been accomplished, it is time to make transportation arrangements without further delay. If you intend to take a flight to your travel destination then it is advisable to purchase your flight tickets at least one to two months ahead of your trip to get the cheapest fares. While choosing an airline don’t forget to sign up for their rewards program so that you accrue enough points/miles to qualify for free air tickets!!!

And since a roundtrip air ticket is probably going to be the biggest cost of your vacation, its best to look up aggregator sites such as Kayak or Momondo to save time and hunt for the lowest fares. Should you choose to do a road trip with your own car it will be prudent to check the tires’ air pressure, do a scheduled oil change, make sure all the lights, brakes etc. are in perfect working condition and don’t forget to carry a spare tire, hydraulic jack along with a basic tool kit. Sometimes it makes sense to rent a car for driving around to the different sightseeing spots rather than taking cabs. Websites like Travelocity offer great bargains when it comes to car rentals. Before you go ahead and rent a car make sure you familiarize yourself with the hotel parking policies. While traveling to cities with a great public transport system it is easier and cheaper use buses, subways, and trains that offer weekly and daily passes. All in all, they are way cheaper than cabs. And don’t forget to make use of any complementary shuttle services (airport to hotel-airport) offered by the hotel.

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #5: Booking accommodations

Figuring out where to stay is another essential step to getting your trip planned. Once your travel dates are fixed it is time to book your accommodation. With websites like Hotels.com  offering great deals on hotel rooms, hotel bookings have become a breeze.

If you are simply looking to crash at the hotel its best to look for budget hotels so that you can use the money for better things. However, if you want an all-inclusive resort with spa packages or theme parks then its luxury hotels all the way. And cheap holidays with A1travel can be the way to go. Hostelworld  and Hosteling International are great for hostel bookings especially in Europe.

If you want a home away from home for a reasonable bargain then websites like Airbnb or Homeaway is the perfect answer to all your needs. Hotel Tonight, a free mobile app available on iOS and Android devices enables you to make last-minute hotel bookings at pretty decent prices. If you have already booked a recreational vehicle (RV) to get to your destination then you don’t even need to worry about booking accommodation elsewhere since it doubles up as your hotel!

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #6: Plan your activities

Once these basic things have been taken care of the next step to getting your trip planned should be to figure out what all you want to do in your vacation and prioritize accordingly. For example, while visiting cities it is better to visit one museum instead of all of them since it will leave you feeling tired and confused. If you are planning on catching a musical or play like Broadway or performances by Cirque Du Soleil it makes sense to get the tickets way ahead of time to ensure availability of seats of your choice and discounts; since they can be pretty expensive last minute. Similarly if you want to go on a cruise for whale-watching or a sightseeing tour or cruise it is always best to make reservations before embarking on your trip. It is prudent to familiarize oneself with the cancellation and rescheduling policies while booking far in advance in case of any last minute changes.

Websites like Yelp are awesome for restaurant and bar recommendations worldwide while Groupon offer daily deals on food or excursions like sky diving, wine-tasting, swamp tours etc. etc. While it is very tempting to try to squeeze in as much as sightseeing and touring as possible during your vacation I would highly recommend not to over-plan and keep some time aside for relaxing and chilling out. After all vacations are meant to be stress-busters!

GETTING YOUR TRIP PLANNED – STEP #7: Packing

Keeping a checklist handy is a must while planning your trip. Make sure to keep a track of the weather at your travel destination while packing clothes for your trip. Get to know the baggage allowance of the airline you will be traveling with if you want to avoid hefty baggage fees. First-aid kits containing Band-Aids, and some over-the-counter medications for cold and fever, aching joints and stomach issues are a must. For much more travel planning tips, check out this page…

I hope the above pointers will help you with organizing and planning for the dream trip that you have been wanting to embark on for such a long time. Getting your trip planned is not as overwhelming and daunting as it seems right at the outset if you have a basic checklist ready. Keep feeding that wanderlust and have a great trip!

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The post GETTING YOUR</br> TRIP PLANNED appeared first on Planet and Go.

Travel memories are the best souvenirs that we carry home after an enchanting vacation. However, we all need something more tangible than just memories when we suffer from travel withdrawal or when they become a foggy haze or final wisp of a long cherished dream. I always leave a part of my heart behind in every place I visit and, in return, I pick up keepsakes to keep the memories of the bohemian trails alive. Let us explore some travel souvenir ideas (both unique and plebeian) to make your trip even more memorable and to accomplish the task of gifting even more unique.

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #1: Foreign Currency

The very first travel souvenir idea that comes to mind even before embarking on your travel is none other than foreign currency. If numismatics or coin-collecting happens to be your hobby or if you know of someone who is crazy about collecting currencies from different countries then keep aside a few coins or paper currency with low denominations as travel souvenirs! Collect the coins in a bowl or have a collage of paper currencies framed to display both your globetrotting days and craft skills.

It’s good to remember that coins are changing all the time and some of the old coins might turn out to be quite valuable someday. Despite all the pros of this particular travel souvenir idea it helps to know that sometimes gifting foreign currency might not be all that good since it might make you look as if you were too lazy to spare any time or thought. That being said, you can create some very interesting collections from all over the world.

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #2: Jewelry

Jewelry is one of the coolest and, not to mention, one of the chicest travel souvenir ideas if you are into fashion and ethnic stuff. Jewelry tends to be a huge hit among the ladies. Exotic and conversation-starters, jewelry from different parts of the world tend to be as unique and varied as you can get. Fear not, I am not talking about the burning-a-hole-in-the-pocket kind of jewelry here. Trinkets, for example, carved out of sea-shells by the beach or local colorful beads or semi- precious stones or metals are quite easy to come by in local markets or flea markets and they are a whole lot cheaper when you buy it locally than at a fancy mall. They also help the local artisans. A note of caution would be to make sure you are not being fleeced and that they are not mass produced (for example, Made in China, etc.)

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #3: Fridge Magnets

Although pretty common, fridge magnets are, undoubtedly, one of the cheapest travel souvenir ideas and a personal favorite of mine. Easy to find, easy to pack and easy on the pocket, fridge magnets make great keepsakes both for yourself and acquaintances. Apart from giving a touch of color and memories to your kitchen, fridge magnets serve a practical purpose too. You can stick little notes or reminders and sometimes even messages and instructions on your fridge thanks to these magnets. While they tend to be quite common as travel souvenirs, you can make them more personal and unique by picking a magnet which portrays the place you toured or activities you enjoyed there.

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #4: Fabrics / Textiles

Fabrics and textiles make for great travel souvenir ideas if you are into displaying your sartorial side and/or home décor. Different countries, different styles and different fabrics. Depending on your budget you can pick up unique and exotic fabrics to be made either into clothing and fashion accessories or turn them into objects of home décor. Buying local clothing and textiles can be incredibly cheaper than if you are purchasing them at a mall or boutique elsewhere. If you are tired of wearing the same scarf or if draping that sari that you bought in India becomes too difficult, you can always sew that fabric into a blanket or a cushion cover. If sewing is not your forte you can simply fold it in an interesting way to give your sofa a touch of drama. Just make sure your travel souvenir doesn’t start unravelling the moment you unpack your bags or the color doesn’t wash out after the first rinse!

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #5: Art

When I say art makes for amazing travel souvenir ideas, I don’t mean a Matisse or a Picasso. I mean works of art or paintings by local artists. These could be originals or prints of more renowned ones. Purchase a print or painting from your visit to the local art gallery or a street side artist for easier packing. All you need is a cheap frame to make it look really nice for your wall! Hanging them on the different walls will not only liven up your wall space but will also take you down the memory lane of those enchanting times. Our fifth travel souvenir idea comes with zero cons! Plus, it’s a great way to negotiate and haggle if that is something you also enjoy as many artists will negotiate their price.

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #6: Knick-knacks

Knick-knacks as a travel souvenir idea comes across sounding really vague but it really isn’t so. Matryoshka dolls from Russia, Laughing Buddha miniatures from Thailand, Ganesha or elephant god figurines from India, little Eiffel Towers from Paris, mini Statue of Liberty and Charging Bull replicas from New York….the list is never-ending. They are cheap and easily packable. Put them on a shelf, or atop a study-table or coffee table or anywhere they will serve you as little reminders of your amazing travel experiences. Just remember to be unique and creative while picking up knick-knacks as travel souvenirs for your friends and family. You don’t want them to be shoved into the back of a closet or a bottom of a drawer.

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #7: Cookbooks

If you or anyone you know loves culinary adventures then cookbooks make for great travel souvenir ideas. Apart from adorning your coffee table, cookbooks from the different places you visited and dined in can bring out the inner chef in you! Imagine being able to rustle up the same exotic dishes you feasted on during your travels abroad in your own kitchen with your signature touch, of course! This seventh travel souvenir idea is definitely a win-win!

TRAVEL SOUVENIR IDEA #8: Natural elements

Sometimes natural elements such as sand, rocks and pebbles and sea shells turn out to be a sentimental travel souvenir idea which you can pick up from your leisurely stroll during your beach vacation. Before you start gathering everything in your path, ask around about the laws and the customs regulations for taking the items home. You can put them in clear glass jars, vials or bottles along with a label of the place where you collected them from and put them on display to lend a touch of bohemian chic to your home décor. As sentimental as this particular keepsake is to the collector they might not make great presents for others who didn’t share the same experience and memories.

Travel souvenir ideas should be fun, creative, unique and a touch of personal both for the giver and the receiver! As long as souvenir shopping remains a cherished part of your traveling adventures and doesn’t become an obligatory slog, keep building that souvenir collection and make those memories come alive!

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The post 8 Unique </br>Travel Souvenir Ideas appeared first on Planet and Go.

Where on Earth Am I ?

I awoke at roughly 6am. It was cold and deathly quiet. At first glance, I had no idea where I was… Until, oh yeah, I was in a modified mobile home that was somehow recreated into a makeshift hotel for the night! Awesome…

Seems this was all we could find last night as we rolled into this one horse town, population 299! (and I’m pretty sure that number includes cats and dogs)

Remembering how wild our surroundings were before the sun had set the day before, I immediately threw on some clothes and ran outside.

With some boulders to climb just outside our door, I scrambled up them and witnessed one of the most amazing sunrises I’d ever seen this side of the hemisphere…

There were colors ablaze in the distance.

Yellows and oranges were streaking across the horizon as the sun broke through, ready to warm the freezing air surrounding me.

And as it shone its light across the landscape in front of me, it reminded me of what a strange and unusual place I was in.

Geological features abound, silhouettes of craters and molten rock, smoke rising both near and far…

Where on Earth Am I?

Darting back in to make an unfortunately terrible freeze-dried cup of coffee, one could only hope for a little cream or sugar! I guess wildly remote destinations wouldn’t seem exotic if they had fresh ground coffee now would they?

Anyway… as soon as we were done drinking, we were on our way!

First stop, mother nature’s black sand crater just a short drive away.

Measuring a full kilometer in diameter and almost 1400 feet tall, Oh how magical it looked from far away yet so large and domineering the closer we drove to it.

What we thought would be a quick ten minute hike turned into the better part of an hour as we trudged upward on its sandy cone shaped walls.

And if you have never hiked up a crater, just imagine how difficult it is to hike up a sand dune… now multiply that difficulty ten fold!

However, once we made it to the top, we realized just how amazing our surroundings really were!

Panoramic vistas abound – we had unobstructed 360 degree views and the landscape – was – simply – breathtaking.

Where on Earth Am I!!

Running back down this mystical formation, we hopped back in our range roving vehicle and were soon off but we didn’t really make it that far…

We quickly found another one of nature’s most interesting formations… a rocky outcropping near the road that seemed to have formed multiple caves.

Being a bit curious, upon closer inspection when we entered one of the caves, we came upon a pool of turquoise blue waters filling the void at the bottom. How very strange yet so amazing…

Seems this was the perfect spot for a dip in the waters – mother nature’s own grotto.  And it seems we weren’t the first explorers here from the writing on the cave walls.

What an otherworldly place… Where on Earth Am I???

And not too far down the road that paralleled this geological phenomenon was a string of huge molten rocks piled up on one another that ran for miles and miles.

So strange yet so intriguing. I just had to have a closer look!

We hopped out and started climbing our way to the top.

And as soon as we reached it, all we seemed to want to do at that point was stare down at our feet and try to figure out how this surface of rock came to be.

The entire area seemed so unreal.

In fact, it strangely looked as if this area was once a highway that had somehow turned over onto itself in somebizarre earthquake.

And looking down through the cracks and fractures of the rock, I realized just how dangerous and desolate this area was to be walking….

Down below my feet, wedged in the crevasse beneath was a huge pile of bones locked in place… I’d say the last thing you want to do is end up falling into one of these voids!

Where – on Earth – Am I?!?

It was time to move on.. we eagerly jumped back into our Blue, beat up, dust covered pathfinding machine and pressed north.

Only instead of taking the main road, we decided our next destination commanded use of a short cut.

However what we thought was going to save us a thirty minute drive ending up adding an extra hour to our trip.

The side road we took had quickly turned into a 4 wheeling adventure that kept us creeping along at a max … 10mph. Yep, 10 mph.

So what should have saved us ample time was now costing us dearly!

There were more obstacles on this road ready to pop our tires and enough bumps, holes and rocky terrain that we’d wished we padded the ceiling of our vehicle with Charmin.

We were bouncing around inside like a couple of ping pong balls, rocks were kicking up outside on our left and right and our rearview was useless, nothing but 20 foot hight dust cloud left in our wake.

Seems this was no land rover in any sense of the word!

Where on earth am I?

Fast forward an hour later and we’d arrived… It was now time to hike.

With camera equipment in tow, we started our descent down into a canyon to stand witness to the most powerful waterfall on this continent.

And from nearly a half mile away from where we stood, the noise emanating from this area proved the immenseness of what we were about to experience.

And unlike most waterfalls in which you stand at the bottom, this one gave opportunity to stand up close and personal right at the crest of the falls (the point at which anything in its path had no choice but to take its 148 foot fall.)

Though it wasn’t its height that gave this waterfall it’s stamp as one of the world’s most powerful… it was the sheer volume of water – 193 cubic meters of water which dumped over the edge every SECOND.

When you conjure an image of water in your mind’s eye, you never imagine it as being loud but this was sure the loudest I’d ever heard water produce a noise in all my years.

Standing just a few feet next to the falls, it was as if the earth beneath my feet were to give away at any moment as you could literally feel the ground shake beneath your feet.

And you had to shout to those next to you just to pitch your voice above the thundering falls.

But what could be more spectacular than the experience we had standing there…

The spray that was coming off this falls had combined with the sun rays off to our right to produce the biggest and most unique double rainbow I’d ever seen.

Where on Earth AM I?

Hiking back up and out of the canyon, I couldn’t imagine this day getting any more spectacular. Only … it did…

We pushed what now seemed our martian rover ever further north on this dusty decrepit beat up road only to realize it was a near martian landscape we were soon driving through.

Rolling hills of mini craters, red sand and rock and not a sign of vegetation in sight for as far as the eye could see.

It truly felt we were driving a rover on the first mission to mars.

And then, up ahead,… a turn off. Where does this one go?

Feeling fully explorative, we took that side road only to arrive at the most breathtaking sight I’d ever experienced up to that point in my life.

Getting out of the vehicle I walked just 50 feet to what seemed the edge of world.

Looking out, what did I see?

The sky, dotted with streaking white clouds off to my left and in the furthest distance I could see, the land remained relatively flat though in the foreground, it was another sight to see.

As that most powerful waterfall had been doing its work mere miles from this point over the past hundreds of years, it seems it carved out of earth the most magical geological features one could ever put their eyes on.

If there was ever a good opportunity to throw a rock into a void in the earth, this was it…

Stretched out below me was a canyon that seemed to dwarf that of the one we call ‘Grand’ back home.

And within it, multi-colored rocks and waterfalls filled the space below while layer upon layer of geologic formations carried up the canyon walls.

It was very easily decided that this, for me… was the most magical place on earth as well as a nearly perfect end to one of the most memorable days I’ve ever spent traveling.

So I ask you.. Where on Earth Am I?

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7 Culinary Wonders of Austria

Let’s set the record straight; you don’t get to be the top of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ruling the world and such, on Frosted Flakes. It just doesn’t happen. You’re going to need something a little heartier to brave the world outside your front door, and the culinary masterpieces that resulted from the Austrian takeover are downright delicious.

Don’t believe me? you’ll just have to go on a taste tour yourself and find out firsthand. Check out my picks for the best grub in the Eastern Realm.

1. Apple Strudel

Definitely the most popular of Viennese food, the apple strudel is not to be missed when you are in the homeland of its origin. Flaky, butter dough and sweet apple filling…who could possibly resist? Grab a table and a coffee at Cafe Landtmann—a popular place for this pastry since 1873—and satisfy your taste for the first of many Austrian delicacies.

2. Sacher Torte

For the fans of truly decadent style, the sacher torte—invented in 1832 for Prince Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna—is the way to go. You can take it traditional (covered in sweet apricot preserves) or plain, with just the rich, chocolate dessert to set your tastebuds on a sugar rush. The Hotel Sacher Vienna is the only known holder of the original recipe, so head there for a taste of a royals favorite dessert. Trust me, it doesn’t disappoint.

3. Alpine Goulash

Goulash has the same connotation for the Viennese that macaroni and cheese has for Americans; it is the ultimate comfort food. Borrowed from the Hungarians, the traditional recipe in Austria has many variations—from thick, gravy style to the stew types—so getting the best of the best is really just a matter of preference. Try the Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper in Vienna; it’s a traditional-style, family-owned and operated establishment that really knows it’s way around a recipe.

4. Wiener Schnitzel

One of Austria’s favorite dishes, and certainly becoming a sightseeing must-do in and of itself, the weiner schnitzel has taken over the country as the Austrian version of fish and chips. The bread-crusted veal dish originally came from a modified Italian recipe, but the Viennese have made it all their own. Head to Figlmüller to taste the specialty exactly the same way people were noshing on it over one hundred years ago. In this case tradition isn’t tedious, it’s just delicious.

5. Kaspress Knodel

Kaspress Knodel…try saying that 5 times fast! But the savory fried cheese dumplings have been mainstays on the Austrian main course menu for a very long time. Head out of Vienna for this treat and into the taste center that is the Tirol region for a taste of their kaspressknodel (spelled both ways) made with “grey cheese,” also known as Graukäse. It’s a local favorite take on a national tradition and it’s too tasty to miss. Any local pub will serve it crispy and just right, so turn on your GPS locator and log into Trip Advisor to get a hint on where to head. Not wanting to turn on your roaming for fear of going over your global plan? Ditch it for a SIM card instead, all you have to do is prep your phone first; it’s that easy and it’s cheap!

6. Marzen Lager

While the Austrians are known worldwide for their beer in general—and you should taste test as much as possible while you are there—the one that you absolutely cannot miss is the Marzen Lager. This ale is a favorite at Oktoberfest and other beer festivals throughout the year, and it’s crisp, dark red coloring is known as the Vienna style and is popular in the US during the fall months even though it is named for March, when it is brewed. But even if you’ve tasted something claiming it’s Marzen Lager while at home, don’t trust it, and grab a pint while abroad—you won’t regret it.

7. Viennese Breakfast

The hipsters in Brooklyn and trust fund Manhattanites may think they invented the Sunday Brunch, but if you come to Europe, everyone knows it’s the favorite morning tradition of the Viennese. With everything from goulash (breakfast edition) to the famous steak tartare on the menu, the “traditional” Viennese breakfast has taken on many incarnations in its namesake city, and you’re just going to have to try them all (ok, all is excessive, but at least more than once) to get an idea of what exactly makes brunch in Vienna such a must. Head to Meinl am Graben for an early morning treat, or to Ulrich for something totally decadent.

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or an afternoon brew, the Austrians are known for having a way with the kitchen and you’re just going to have to take my advice and go out and taste it to see!

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Just like travel, safety is not a gadget but a state of mind. While the term ‘travel’ is almost synonymous with fun, adventure, exploring and experiencing the unknown, a traveler or tourist, (no matter how seasoned he/she is) also needs to make safety his/her first priority. When you are pretty much carrying all your possessions on or with you and traveling around unfamiliar territories it is very important that you keep your wits about you and keep your luggage safe and sound.

Keeping in mind a few basic travel safety tips will help you to pursue that dream vacation hassle-free and ensure peace of mind to enjoy your trip. After all you are the key to your own safety!

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #1: Stay Healthy Stay Safe

Once the destination is decided upon the first travel safety tip to follow is to check whether you need or have the travel immunizations that are required or recommended for entering the country of your travel.

The Centers for Disease Control’s Travel Information website is the most dependable and up-to-date resource to check for the latest overview on immunizations, vaccination and booster requirements. Some of these vaccinations take up to four to six weeks to take effect so it is highly recommended that you get them a month or a month and a half prior to your departure date.

Don’t forget to get your Yellow Card filled out and officially stamped by your doctor or health provider after your immunization!

The Country Specific Information website is a great place to educate yourself about the place you are about to visit.

A very much overlooked travel safety tip is to obtain proper documentation from your doctor or healthcare provider about your carry-on medications since some countries have stringent rules (however crazy they are) about bringing in prescription and/or non-prescription drugs into the country without relevant paperwork.

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #2: Get Travel Insurance

Another travel safety tip of paramount importance is get travel insurance regardless of the duration of your trip. While some medical insurance companies can cover “customary and reasonable” costs abroad very few will actually cover everything which can skyrocket to exorbitant medical bills. You don’t want to be buried under staggering medical debts incurred on your trip in a country where your regular medical insurance doesn’t have coverage.

A good short-term travel insurance plan usually takes care of everything, from delayed flights to missing/lost baggage, hospitalizations and sometimes even medical evacuations. Most travel agencies and private companies can guide you through the limitless options for travel insurance.

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #3: Check and Scan Travel Documents

Apart from photocopying all your travel documents, you should also scan and email them to yourself as well as to a trusted friend or relative. This particular travel safety tip is even more relevant when you are traveling solo. The old school method was to simply photocopy them and keep them separately from the originals. However, the safest method is to go digital and email them to yourself so that even if your luggage go missing you can always check into a nearby cyber-café and look up the documents in your digital inbox.

The travel documents you’ll likely want to copy, scan and email are listed below:

Passport ID page
Foreign visa (if applicable)
Itinerary
Hotel confirmation
Airline ticket
Driver’s license (Check if it is valid in your destination country)
Credit cards brought on the trip
Traveler’s check serial numbers (remember to check to see if they’ll take them)
(Then send all to someone else back home)

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #4: Stay Connected

With almost everyone equipped with a smartphone these days it is imperative that you stay connected to a friend or relative back home and keep them apprised of your daily travel itinerary and exact routes (and stick to it as best you can) so that they know where to reach you in case of an emergency or vice versa.

Skype, text or simply call them and keep them informed. If the international roaming facility in your smartphone does not work or it is too expensive in the country you are traveling to consider buying a cheap phone or buying an International SIM card (or just use Skype via WiFi).

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #5:  Educate yourself

Another invaluable travel safety tip is to educate yourself about the country or place you are about to enter. No matter what a seasoned traveler you are it always pays to learn a few things about the country of your visit before embarking on your trip.

Keep track of both the local and international news of the travel destination to apprise yourself of the current situation there, sometimes you might even need to postpone your travel because of widespread civil unrest, dangerous conditions, terrorist activity, disease outbreak, insanely crazy weather, etc.

U.S. citizens can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to keep abreast of pertinent safety and security announcements and it also makes it easy for the embassy or consulate to get in touch with you in case of emergency.

Talk to the hotel concierge or locals and find out what are the places to avoid and be wary of entering dark and desolate pockets of the city (aka use your common sense)!

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #6: Secure and Separate Your Money

An indispensable travel safety tip is to secure and separate your sources of money on your travels. Prior to your departure, notify your bank, credit card company etc. so that they don’t block your transactions (presuming it to be fraudulent activity) when you are abroad or in another city. This happened to me so trust me on this… Usually once they cancel your card, you have to get a new one and that’s never easy to do when overseas!

Also, record your credit card numbers and their telephone numbers should you need to cancel them immediately. Just keep in mind, lots of places no longer take travelers checks so you may want to ask specific places of business before planning your trip around using them…

Keep yourself well informed about the foreign exchange rates so that you don’t end up paying more than you should.
It is always advisable and safe to use traveler’s checks and major credit cards as opposed to paying in cash especially in large denominations which can draw unwanted attention.

Never store all your money in one place, divide up your cash, checks, and credit cards and keep some in your wallet while stashing some in a pocket, money pouch or hotel safe. If you’ve read my article on ‘What I Packed for my RTW Trip’ you know I always wear my trusty money/travel belt for spare cash. It’ll hold at least 5 folded bills inside for emergencies… and it’s airport security friendly too!

TRAVEL SAFETY TIP #7: Stay Alert, Be Careful

Last but not the least, keep your wits about you at ALL times regardless of whether you are inside the confines of your hotel or wandering the streets. This particular travel safety tip requires no reiteration.

Try to avoid hotel rooms which are easily accessible by windows or the ones at the end of the hallway, keep your door locked always. I remember staying in a guesthouse once and one of the guests there said he’d left to go to the shared bathroom just for 3 minutes while leaving his door open and came back only to find his laptop stolen off his bed. Keep that in mind and be careful with your stuff!

Also, if you are new to certain neighborhoods keep your eyes open and alert. It’s best to keep a low profile and unless you are familiar with the area, avoid taking your map out or looking like a tourist. I’ve been guilty of this too but I avoid it when I can.

When faced with any kind of threatening situation try to duck into a café, restaurant, bar, store etc. and wait out till the situation has passed. Avoid getting too friendly with any strangers you might meet in your travels especially if they ask for too many personal details.

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Airbnb Tips for Guests

With more travelers than ever using Airbnb to book accommodation across the world, here are 5 Airbnb tips for guests. I’ve compiled all these after having traveled via Airbnb myself over the years as well as been a host on the other side of the coin… Hopefully these help you and save you both money, time and any possible aggravation as you hit the travel road.

1. Plan Ahead

If you’re headed to a very touristed place at a very touristy time of year, chances are most of the best places will fill up fast. What’s more is the fact that the real fun and unique advantage about staying via Airbnb is the opportunity to stay somewhere that’s really ‘off the beaten track’ or another way to phrase it is simply someplace magical! Think, medieval castle, luxury yaht or whimsical treehouse. Yes, you can stay at these places through Airbnb… Just know that they fill up fast! Best to plan ahead and book well in advance if you’re going for the true Airbnb experience!

2. Over Communicate

This can of course be said for both guest and for host however, as a traveling guest, your plans are more apt to change on a daily basis than your host. Best to keep in constant communication with your host to let them know if you’ll arrive early or be super late. Nothing could be worse than arriving to their place and realizing you’re locked out and having to wait because you forgot to tell them you’d be two hours early.

3. Personalize your Stay

If sharing space with someone in their home, don’t treat it like you would a hotel. What I mean by this is you don’t want to treat your host (and their home) like it’s a hotel and that you’re only interested in the room itself. Most hosts really do like meeting their guests and don’t want to feel like their home is so sterile and lacking in personality that it is treated like the Super 8. They want you to feel invited, comfortable and most would like to get to know you. After all, they’ve opened up their home to you and don’t want their living space to feel awkward and cold. In fact, I’d say the number one reason people prefer staying Airbnb is the opposite feeling they often get than staying in a lonely hotel room. It’s all about the experience so keep this in mind when you stay in someone else’s place and it’ll be better for both parties involved.

4. Don’t be afraid to Negotiate

For every ten hosts on Airbnb, there are probably at least one or two that are willing to negotiate a nightly rate. In fact, if you are planning to stay at least 5 days or more, you would be wise to inquire with multiple hosts to see which will offer you a discounted rate for your longer term stay. It’s a great way to save and don’t feel embarrassed by doing so. Most Airbnb hosts would much rather not having to clean or coordinate multiple bookings in a week so they’ll be much more inclined to offer you a discount for a longer term stay if you’d simply ask. Try to do this with a hotel and you can forget about it (well most of the time anyway).

5. Read the Rules

Does your host have any special rules of the house? For instance, a curfew when they don’t want you coming in too late or perhaps they have a strange way to access the home. You can find yourself in a bind if you don’t read the full description. In fact, I’ve often seen many time a guest leave a host a ‘bad review’ about something in particular that later, the host went on to reply to the bad review pointing out very plainly that whatever the problem or misunderstanding was, was pointed out right in the listing’s description. For instance, if there is an open sleeping area instead of a closed door bedroom, you might think you were mislead into thinking you would have full privacy when in fact this description (and possible even a photo of the space) would have given you the information needed up front. It is also very important to take note of the host’s cancellation and refund policy. Not all hosts will refund your money if you cancel your reservation at the last minute. This is all entirely dictated by them so you should check this out prior to booking.

Having stayed via Airbnb in many parts of the world over the years, I could go on and on with more Airbnb tips for guests however, these 5 tips cover the major things you’ll want to keep in mind as they may be the biggest factors of influence when staying somewhere. Good luck with it and safe travels! And if you have Airbnb tip for guests that you’d like to share with us that isn’t listed above, please do so and share with us in the comments section below!

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