What to buy for your traveler friends

All of us probably have that friend who can’t stop traveling. Whether they’re a backpacker, a luxury traveler, or anything in between, these people are usually very extroverted and inspiring. But what happens when you need to buy a present for them and you’re stuck? We’ve got you. In this article, we are tackling a gift guide for travelers. It’s important to know some of their favorite destinations and their future trips for this to work out, so if you haven’t talked to that traveler buddy in a long time, it’s time for a catch-up. Get reading and get ready to make your friend happy.

Practical gifts

If you’ve traveled a couple of times in your life you know some of the biggest struggles that this comes with. Packing, forgetting important things, being unprepared, or just not knowing what to do in some situations. For all of these problems, there are many items that come with the solutions. The perfect presents for travelers are practical bits and pieces that would make traveling easier or more stress-free. For example, you can find a backpack that fits the flight company’s Carry-on dimensions, so your friend doesn’t have to worry about their bag being too big. You can find some tiny accessories that come in handy when traveling such as compact umbrellas, an external battery charger, a passport holder, or any other gadgets that solve small problems. These would help your friend travel in a more comfortable way and they will always think of you when using those items in their trip.

Cultural pieces

If you think about it, people travel for the memories, for the stories that come with traveling, and for the good times. If you put all of these things together, you can come up with some unique personalized gifts that would make that person remember their trips even when they’re home. For example, if you know their favorite destination, you can get them some cultural presents from there so that they can incorporate them into their home life. Let’s say your friend has been to Scotland and they absolutely loved it there. Find some Scottish gifts that can be used around the house, this way, whenever they have a cup of coffee, or they pass by an art piece you got, they’ll remember their trip and think of you with joy. You can also go for something collectible such as flag patches from their previous trips, pins, or stickers.

Their next flight ticket

Last but not least, a traveler’s biggest joy is planning their next trip. The easiest, but not cheapest, way to surprise your friend is by getting their next flight ticket. You can buy one just for them or you can gather your friend group and plan a trip together so that you can all enjoy this present. Make sure you organize this as a group presentation, as it can be more expensive than our other suggestions. You can take it a step forward and go on TripAdvisor for some itinerary suggestions as well.

Where to Travel When You’re Overwhelmed with Work or Stress

Work can be overwhelming at times. And, even though the best online casinos can cheer you up when you get home, you may want to go out and get some air. Taking a vacation is a great way to de-stress after a long hard day at the office. If you don’t have time off due to an overworking schedule, take advantage of any available days off. Here are some beautiful destinations to travel to when you eventually get a break.

Maldives

The Maldives is a tropical paradise with clear blue waters and white sand beaches. In addition to its stunning scenery, there are also many resorts located throughout this island nation. These include luxury hotels that offer amazing accommodation and amenities like swimming pools, spa facilities, and private beach areas for guests. The Maldives boasts one of the highest GDP growth rates in the world. It has a relatively low unemployment rate, meaning that people have jobs in tourism-related industries such as hotel management, catering, and transportation.

Bali

If you’ve always wanted to visit Bali but haven’t been able to find a good reason to do so until now, it might seem like your best chance at visiting this tourist hotspot is by booking a flight ticket through the airline company that operates from your local airport. However, if you really wish to experience Indonesia, then make sure you book your flight tickets on the official website of the country itself. Bali is surrounded by gorgeous natural features including mountains, rice paddies, waterfalls, caves, national parks, and forests. 

Thailand

Thailand is another popular destination for tourists who love nature and adventure. There are several islands scattered across the South China Sea and Thailand offers visitors a variety of activities ranging from scuba diving to hiking to shopping. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and is known for its bustling streets, delicious food, and nightlife.

Tips on How to Stay Safe in a Foreign Country

When you’re traveling to a foreign country, one concern that you may be having is how to stay safe. When you’re in a different country all by yourself, it is certainly justifiable to be worried about your well-being. Being cautious is normal, and at the end of the day, it is preferable to be prepared than to end up in a risky situation.

Below we are going to talk about the tips you must follow to stay safe if you’re thinking of moving to a foreign country.

To Stay Safe in a Foreign Country, Invest in Health Insurance

One of the most vital things you need to do to stay safe in a foreign country is to invest in health insurance. You shouldn’t leave home without health insurance.

For instance, if an accident happens and you need medical treatment, a trip to the hospital could cost you thousands.  Which you probably aren’t prepared for. Yes, you could think it won’t happen to you, but what if does? Therefore, you need to invest in health insurance.

Make Sure You Research Your New Home in Advance

Another important thing you should do when traveling abroad is to research the country and town you’ll be living in thoroughly. This includes learning about emergency services and phone numbers, the average cost of living, and many more. Hence the more you prepare yourself, the easier it will be to settle down in a foreign country.

You Should Learn the Local Language

Moreover, it is a great idea to learn the local language of the new country you’re in. Whereas you don’t need to be completely fluent, you need to be able to hold a fundamental discussion. And inquire critical questions.

Keep Your Important Documents Secure

Furthermore, when you’re in a foreign country, you always need to be prepared for the unforeseen. This is often why it’s imperative that you just keep your important documents secure in case you wish to confirm your personality.

In conclusion, these are the tips on how to stay safe in a foreign country. While you’re in a new country, you can give yourself time to play best au online casino games and win real money.

The Most Useful Tips For Business Travels

Business can be stressful, but it can be one of the enjoyable parts of your job if you know how to do it. Here is an article with the top tips for business travels.

Having A Travel Insurance

If you are having a business trip you should make sure that you have travel insurance. The last thing you want during a business trip is to get sick. But if that happens you need to be able to see a doctor and get prescriptions, wherever in the world you may be.

Book Direct Flights

You should book direct flights because it’s not all of us who live in a big with large international air pots. In addition, it minimizes the risk of delays, of missing connections, and limits the boring time you spend at the airport. Also, it is recommended to look for early morning or late evening flights. Because they are the ones that have fewer chances of being delayed.

Take Along A Partner

It is a good idea to take a travel partner along with you. While you are in meetings, your partner can be enjoying their mini-break. And then you will have company in the evening. In addition, it may even make socializing with business contacts more fun as they will be able to bring along their partners too. You can also try the best au online casinos together for fun.

Make Sure To Have Working Wi-Fi

If you are having a trip, you should always have good Wi-Fi with you for business purposes. And you should carry a portable wireless device or micro-router. In addition, a wireless device saves you from looking for a place with decent internet and getting a local SIM card. It connects up to 5 devices at once. And a VPN will allow you to pass any local firewall or blocks so that you can send photos, files, videos, and whatever is needed.

In conclusion, these are the best tips when having a business trip.

South Africa’s Top 5 Historic Wine Estates

South Africa has one of the most tourist-friendly new world wine industries. Its 300-year-long history began shortly after the first Dutch contingent arrived to create a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope, and it continues to this day.

The Dutch did not have much success, and the colony’s few wine farms muddled along until the arrival of the French Huguenots in the late 1600s. The options for touring the Cape Winelands are many. Other than hiring a car and staying at accommodation on estates, you can book into a hotel or guesthouse in the village of Franschhoek, or you can stay in Cape Town or another town, and join an organised day trip. These are the top historic estates to put on your itinerary.

Rustenberg, Stellenbosch

The viticulture potential of the land on which Rustenberg wine estate stands in Stellenbosch was first recognised in 1682. When production began is not clear, but there is a 1692 record that shows a bottle of brandy was sold. 100 years later, the estate was producing approximately 6000 cases of wine. The estate is famous for its Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. It would go down a treat at the top racing events that you can bet on at the best horse betting sites.

Groot and Klein Constantia, Constantia

Regardless of when Rustenburg’s potential was recognized, Constantia actually is the oldest wine-producing area in South Africa. Simon van der Stel founded it in 1685. The estate was divided over time, with the largest portion eventually being split into the estates still known as Groot (big) and Klein (little) Constantia.Beautiful gardens, rolling hills covered in vineyards and sublime views are all part of the Constantia wine route.

Boschendal, Drakenstein Valley

The history of Boschendal began in 1685, when the Dutch East India Company gave the land to Jean le Long. In 1688, he sold the estate in the Drakenstein Valley near Franschhoek to Abraham de Villiers, who in turn sold it to his brother Jacques de Villiers. It remained in the family until 1879, when it was bought by Cecil John Rhodes, who turned it into a fruit farm. Wine production resumed in 1969, after Anglo American bought the estate. A consortium of investors now owns Boschendal. The picturesque estate is famous not only for its wines, but for the quality of its restaurant that serves everything from caviar to local dishes, accommodation, other facilities, and activities.

Meerlust, Stellenbosch

Founded by Henning Huising in 1693, the Meerlust Estate near Stellenbosch was bought by the Myburgh family in 1756, who have owned it ever since. Various accommodation options are available, and there are mountain bike and hiking trails to help you work up a thirst. The estate produces red and white wines. The Bordeaux-style Rubicon blend comes highly recommended.

Rust enVrede, Stellenbosch

Willem van der Stel founded Rust enVrede (rest and peace) in 1694. It also was divided, but the larger of the two sections continued under the name. For decades, the estate did not produce any wine, but that changed in 1977, when former Springbok rugby player, Jannie Engelbrecht, bought it. The estate’s cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah are always well received.

 

Essential Food Safety for Travelers

Whether travelers’ food poisoning is known as Delhi Belly, Montezuma’s Revenge, or the Tokyo Trots, the digestive problems it can cause have the power to ruin a holiday. There is no way guaranteed to prevent the ailment unless you stay home, but by following essential food safety tips, you can decrease your chances of being exposed to its causes.

The top tips for food safety while traveling can help protect you from more than a bout of vomiting and diarrhea. They also can help minimize your chances of being exposed to diseases such as hepatitis A and typhoid. Food poisoning is more common in developing countries, especially those in Africa and Southeast Asia. Poor personal hygiene, low standards of food storage and production, and contaminated water supplies are largely responsible for the high instances of food poisoning in those regions.

  1. Wash Your Hands

Almost every lesson in good personal hygiene begins with hand washing. When traveling, it is especially important to wash your hands with soap or sanitize and warm water at every available opportunity. Taking a small bottle of water-free soap or hand sanitize also can help keep your hands clean, so the odds of beating germs and infection are more in your favor.

  1. Be Flexible With Your Diet

The food and beverages that people enjoy when they play Aussie slots games online may be alright at home, but, depending on what they are, they may pose serious risks abroad. Be prepared to be flexible without going wild. Avoiding the prawns that you would have eaten if you were at home is no reason to choose the most exotic dish on the menu because the consequences could be just as dire.

  1. Avoid Certain Foods

Although you are not likely to get travelers’ diarrhoea every time you eat certain foods, some items are best avoided when traveling. They include uncooked eggs, fish, meat, and shellfish, as well as exotic meats such as bushmeat, bat, and monkey. Consider avoiding salad and other raw produce, and buy what you do eat from reliable restaurants, vendors, and outlets. Avoid buffets when traveling. Apart from not offering the freshest food that is on offer has usually been reheated several times before being kept at the incorrect temperature.

  1. Beware of Water

Avoid drinking tap water, as well as drinks and even ice made from it, when traveling. Take a reusable bottle with you, and then use apps to help you find purified drinking water. You also can take water purification tablets with you.

  1. Take Over-the-Counter Medication

Take over-the-counter medication that provides relief from vomiting, diarrhea, and other food poisoning symptoms when you travel. If you do fall ill, you will at least have some means of immediate relief. If Delhi Belly does strike, you also should drink purified water to stay hydrated.

  1. Take Non-Perishable Food

Pack a few non-perishable food items into your luggage before setting off on your trip, even if they deviate from your usual diet choices. They could be a lifeline if you find yourself in a place in which your only food option is one you would rather avoid.

 

5 Best Destinations For Fantasy Fans

Destinations associated with favourite fantasy books and movies offer holidays that can be truly unforgettable. Writers have been inspired by all sorts of locations, and there are many from which to choose.

The problem with being spoiled for choice is knowing where to start looking, and then deciding where to go. A good place to begin is to take a look at a few of the best fantasy book and movie holiday destinations for inspiration, and then take it from there.

Game of Thrones, Croatia

Although Game of Thrones was not filmed entirely in Croatia, the city of Dubrovnik conveys a sense of the hit series in a way that none of the other locations do. While there, which fans will recognize as Kings Landing, you can do walking tours that take you to Blackwater Bay and to the Old Town. Altogether, there are about 19 different locations in the city, so you should be kept busy for a few days.

Lord of the Rings, New Zealand

Peter Jackson filmed much of his stunning interpretations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces, the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, in New Zealand. If you head to the beautiful island country, you can go on studio and set tours that are as exciting as what betting sites in New Zealand have to offer. You can explore Bilbo’s house and other places in Hobbiton, as well as the Mill, and the Green Dragon Inn. It also is possible to visit places in which Isengard and Rivendell’s scenes were shot.

Roswell UFO Museum, USA

In 1947, something crashed into the New Mexico desert. The wreckage, reported to include rubber, sticks, and tinfoil, was collected by the US military, and it was taken to the Roswell Army Airfield. Conspiracy theorists generally do not believe the official explanation of the wreck as being that of a nuclear testing balloon. A visit to the UFO Museum and Research Centre in downtown Roswell is the best place to make up your own mind about a defining moment in history, sci-fi, fantasy, and wider popular culture. Try to time your visit to coincide with the UFO festival.

X-Files, Canada

A staple of 90s TV, the X-Files inspired many hours of the office water cooler and neighborhood pub discussions. Decades later, the show still inspires devotion among fans. If you are one of them, a vacation in Canada may be for you. Even though the X-Files was set in the US, the first five seasons were filmed in Vancouver and around British Columbia. Make no mistake, it is possible to find a few locations that were used in the filming of the series if you do some digging.

Harry Potter Studio, UK

If you attended midnight book launches and movie screenings dressed as your favorite Harry Potter character, you may want to head to Warner Bros’ Leavesden Studios in the UK. The European facility offers Harry Potter studio tours on which you can see costumes and props, and you will get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the movie’s special effects. Professor Snape’s potion laboratory is one of the sets that you can see.

 

Tips for Eco-Friendly Travel

As wonderful as travelling is, it is not always the most earth-friendly activity, especially when it involves long-distance flights and luxury hotels. There are ways to reduce our impact on the environment when we travel, and it does not need to be in a way that is uncomfortable or a hassle.

Faced with a rapidly changing climate, our planet needs all the help it can get. The following tips are just a few easy ways in which you can help make a difference when next you set out on an adventure.

Carbon-Clever Flying Tips

Aeroplanes are one of the worst offenders when it comes to the carbon footprints of various transport methods. It is not always possible or practical to travel the way teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg does, which is to travel by rail, road, or sail. If you need to fly, you can do it in a way that reduces your carbon footprint.

One way is to fly economy class because doing so is five times less heavy on carbon per person. Packing light also helps, as does travelling directly to your destination.

Eat With the Locals

An eco-friendly travel tip that is also good for your budget is to eat with the locals. Instead of opting for the same boring old global brands that you can find at home, look for the establishments owned and favoured by locals.

They tend to use locally produced ingredients, rather than imported processed foods, which means a smaller carbon footprint created when getting the food from producer to the table. You can use the money to save to try your luck at online betting sites that are licensed and regulated.

Water-Wise Travelling

Many of us can remember that, just a few years ago, bottled water was almost indispensable when travelling. It is not, of course.

When travelling in countries where drinking tap water is not recommended, you can use a portable water purifier or water purification tablets. Some countries have potable water stations set up in major cities. You can find them easily with the help of apps. Remember to be water-wise when brushing your teeth and showering.

Interact With Animals Ethically

For centuries, interactions with wild animals have been tourist attractions in various countries. From organised hunts to elephant rides, human beings have exploited animals for our own senseless purposes. It is high time we focused on ethical animal interactions instead.

Ways in which you can do this is to avoid circuses, zoos, and aquariums. Instead, visit conservation and rehabilitation centres that allow animals to roam freely in their natural habitat. Avoid demonstrations or shows that let people handle animals.

Reuse and Recycle

If you have toothpaste, soap, or other bathing and personal grooming products left over at the end of your stay, it would be a crime not to take them with you, and keep using them until you have finished them – and then recycle or reuse the plastic bottles in which some of them were packaged. Another way of recycling on holiday is to take information leaflets, brochures, and maps to a tourism office so that someone else can use them.

 

The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the world’s most exotic species, from sharks and dolphins to marine iguanas and swallow-tailed gulls. However, the Galapagos is perhaps best known for the giant tortoises that inhabit the Ecuadorian islands.

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Other than Seychelles, the Galapagos Islands are the only place on the globe that these creatures exist. They have been indigenous to the islands for about one million years and are a definitive part of any Galapagos cruise. Many species of animals are tracked to follow their progress and breeding. The technology used is similar to the Fleet Vehicle Tracking that is used by companies such as https://www.vehicle-accessories.net/vehicle-tracking/fleet-tracking/ and will use GPS to send information back to a central hub.

In the 1970s, the giant tortoise who later became known as Lonesome George rose to fame after his discovery by Hungarian malacologist József Vágvölgyi. Lonesome George was the last surviving individual of the subspecies Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, otherwise known as the Pinta Island Tortoise. Due to his status as the last of his kind, George was referred to as the ‘rarest creature in the world’. Shortly after being discovered, he was relocated to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island for his own safety.

In the hope of prolonging the existence of the subspecies, George was penned with two female giant tortoises from Isabela Island that were genetically similar enough to reproduce with the last Pinta Island Tortoise. Scientists hoped to produce offspring that would be intergraded, as it would be impossible to create pure-breeds of the Pinta subspecies due to the lack of a female Pinta tortoise.

In July 2008, at the age of 98, George was reported to have mated with one of his female companions. Thirteen eggs were produced that summer, offering hope for the conservation of the Pinta Island Tortoise. However, by November, the Charles Darwin Foundation stated that 80% of the eggs were believed to be inviable. By the following month, the remaining eggs had failed to hatch and x-rays showed they were inviable.

On July 23rd, 2009, precisely a year after George’s first mating attempt, a second clutch of five more eggs was found, providing another opportunity for the continuation of George’s species. The Galapagos National Park described the eggs as being in perfect condition and prospects for George’s potential offspring looked positive. However, when the eggs were moved to an incubator on 16th December, it was revealed that the incubation period had ended meaning the eggs were inviable.

By 2011, successive reproduction efforts were unsuccessful, leading to the park removing the two female tortoises from George’s enclosure. With mating efforts having proved ineffective, it was accepted that George was to be the very last Pinta Island tortoise, and with his death, the species would go extinct.

On June 24th, 2012, Lonesome George was announced dead by the caretaker of the Galapagos National Park and the rarest creature in the world went extinct.

 

 

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