Guest Blogger — Page 2

Turning a trip into an Indefinite Travel Lifestyle: Antonio & Amanda’s Story

October 7, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Editors Note: There are many people out there traveling – individuals, couples and families. From time to time we like to bring you their stories to serve as inspiration!

For over a year we meticulously planned a bicycle touring trip that would take us from California to Spain in 4 years. A month into our grand journey we admitted to each other that we no longer wanted to do the trip.

The truth was we both wanted something much more. The freedom of the open road, the ability to change plans on a whim and the sense of independence was powerful. We had become addicted to the unknown and our well laid out trip had become a burden.

It was simple, we wanted a lifestyle that would allow us to travel…indefinitely. We wanted a life of adventure. So we through the plans out the window and slowly turned our dream trip into a dream life.

So how do we do it, travel indefinitely? Some people think that we are wealthy or that our parents regularly restock our bank accounts. That’s certainly not the case.

Bicycle touring had taught us a lot about living simply. This is the main reason why we can maintain this lifestyle.

On average, we live on less than $10 a day per person. It’s not very difficult, traveling by bicycle is much cheaper than backpacking. Obviously there are no bus tickets to buy but more importantly, it opens doors. Invitations to stay the night in peoples houses or offers for dinner are a regular occurrence while we are on the road. Of course we do not rely on roadside hospitality, we carry a tent and stove which allows us to camp and cook our own meals.

Along with our simple lifestyle we also work regularly. A few years ago we started to scuba dive. When we decided to turn our trip into a lifestyle we thought what better way to support ourselves than to find jobs doing something we love. So we spent the last year investing in our scuba diving training, completing our divemaster course in Belize and instructor course in Honduras.

Not only is it a job that allows us to dive for in some of the most beautiful dive sites, it is something that we can do all over the world.

Currently we are living in Panama, in a small town called Santa Catalina where we are working as scuba diving instructors. These short breaks to work are a great way to get to know a place, not just pass through it. It’s a pause that most travelers we meet either couldn’t afford or simply don’t have the time because they have to get back to work.

An infinite travel lifestyle isn’t for everyone. We dont have a house, secure jobs, car or huge bank account. Most days we don’t even know where we are going to sleep at night. What we do have is freedom, something we value more than anything.

You can follow Amanda and Antonio’s adventures at : http://www.cyclingelmundo.com/.

Tempting Tenerife – What’s Not to Like?

September 28, 2014 By Guest Blogger

Over the years, Tenerife has developed a reputation as a place for holidaymakers seeking blazing sunshine and a party atmosphere. While much of Tenerife’s pull on tourists has been the beautiful climate and fantastic nightspots, it has so much more to offer if you take the time to explore the island. Take a look at the following ways you can get the most out of a trip to Tenerife.

Visit the Ancient Dragon Tree
No trip to Tenerife would be complete without experiencing the Ancient Dragon Tree. It is often referred to as the oldest tree in the world, with many locals believing it to be 1000 years old, but more accurately thought to be around 650 years old. Hire a car for the day and visit Icod de los Vinos to see the tree, and while you are there take in the Church of San Marcos and the Artlandya Doll Museum.

See the Highest Peak in Spain
Mount Teide is the highest peak in Spain, 3718 metres above sea level. An active volcano, Mount Teide is an impressive sight when viewed against the bright blue skies of the island. If you don’t fancy climbing in the mountains, you can still appreciate the beauty of the Teide National Park, a World Heritage Site filled with some incredible animals and plants. The stunning volcanic rock patterns and formations are worth the trip alone.

Experience the Local Cuisine
You may be familiar with traditional Spanish food, but Tenerife has its own unique twist with some African influences. There are plenty of general restaurants catering to tourists, but try to seek out the more traditional restaurants with a local flavour if you really want to experience the regional cuisine . Many dishes will include local fruit, vegetables and fish, grilled to create a lighter meal which suits the warm weather. Make sure to try plenty of Tapas and the Papas Arrugadas potato dish, famous within the region.

Have Fun at the Carnival
If you can make it to Tenerife in February, make sure to take part in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The people of the island are known for their warm, friendly nature, so be sure to mingle and make plenty of new friends. The carnival is known around the world and features lots of musical entertainment, dancing and a big parade. Prepare a fancy dress costume in advance if you really want to fit in.

Get Out on the Water
Surrounded by water, it is natural that tourists to Tenerife have plenty of options when it comes to water-based fun. You can charter a boat for a day out at sea, take a Submarine Safari and go diving in the Atlantic Ocean, swim in the rock pools at Garachico or look for whales in the surrounding waters. If you prefer to stay inland, there are plenty of water parks for some family entertainment in the sun, with Siam Park being the best known.

How to combine work with travel? Karolina and Patryk’s story

August 21, 2014 By Guest Blogger

We perpetually get a lot of questions about how to combine work and travel, or how to fund travel while traveling. There are many different ways of funding your travels, so when we have the opportunity to highlight how someone else does it, we’re all too happy to oblige. Here’s Karolina and Patryk’s story in their own words. – Jillian

We are Karolina and Patryk, young couple from Poland. We met only 3 years ago and we totally felt in love with each other!

We were normal students, planning to have descent job in the future. Both of us were a little crazy and adventurous but we never have enough courage to fulfill our dreams. Until we met…

Only after half a year, we decided to quit our colleges, start a company and explore the world!

We’ve always dream about travelling but there was one problem- money.

picture of us in the plane to Asia — Karolina and Patryk on the plane to Asia.

We knew that the only thing we can do is making business online. The biggest profit can be made from selling. So we needed to find good product and customer who will buy from us. It was really difficult at the beginning. We didn’t have money, we just had dreams. We worked very hard to make our e-shop and attract customers.

But we did it!

Right now our store is profitable and we only need few hours a day to work. The rest of our time we spend on having fun, travelling and writing our blog.

Our first big trip was to Asia: Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It’s almost impossible to describe how excited we were when we get to the plane to Bangkok! We felt that after a year of hardworking, we finally have our reward.

Of course, our company was profitable until few month but we spend it on travelling in Europe. Asia was a continent that we’ve always dreamt about. And we’ve managed to buy cheap plane tickets so… Everything was perfect!

And it’s really perfect until now! We are young, happy and full of dreams. We will never forget the day when we decided to do something with our lives.

We were scared the hell out of these changes but we knew that as long as we are together, everything will be just fine.This year, we’ve been in Asia and North America. In one month we are going to Middle America exploring Caribbean. In 2015 we want to move to China to learn Chinese.

Karolina and Patryk on the best day of their travels so far on Koh Chang Island. — Karolina and Patryk on the best day of their travels so far.

The more we see, the bigger our hunger for travelling is. It’s magic but beautiful!

We want to encourage every single one of you to fulfill your dreams. It’s really worth it! You have one life and you need to enjoy it. Live it fully. When you will be old you shouldn’t regret anything that you could have done and you were not brave enough to do it.

It doesn’t matter what your dreams are- it may be scuba diving with sharks in Egypt, cooking with Mexicans or play with tigers in Thailand. Just do it! Think about your dream life and do everything to have it.

Budget-Friendly Ways for Families to Travel Europe

July 22, 2014 By Guest Blogger

If you have big travel dreams with a pocket size bank account, you may think that Europe is out of your reach. Fortunately, you and your family can take in the sights and sounds of traveling abroad without spending a great deal of money.

Frequent Flyer Miles: Planning a European vacation with your family can seem like an unrealistic adventure, especially if you’re drowning in a sea of expenses. However, switching to a credit card such as United Airlines MileagePlus that offers frequent flyer miles for your chargeable living expenses can help your travel dreams become a reality explains an expert at MileCards.com. If you plan your trip ahead of time, you can save substantially and have enough miles for the entire family to get overseas and back. You can also check family-friendly travel sites for competitive pricing on flights. International airlines also offer discounts for children between the ages of two and 11, so you shouldn’t be afraid to ask.

Flexible Schedule: Popular times of the year can be more expensive than others. If you have a flexible schedule, you can save a substantial amount of money during the off season. While you may not want to travel during the winter months, you could still enjoy the attractions of Europe and take in some amazing weather before and after the peak months.

Lodging: After the flight, one of the costliest parts of a trip abroad is the lodging and accommodations for your family. The big hotel chains can be significantly higher than a bed-and-breakfast or home of your own. If you’re looking to lower your costs when making your way through Europe, you can take advantage of the many budget-friendly hotels. Here you can find clean, simple and no-frill accommodations in some of the most popular destinations. For travelers looking to experience what life is really like in Europe, you can choose to stay in a B&B. Many of the places in Europe offer family-friendly rates, especially if you stay for more than one night. Since your breakfast typically comes with an overnight stay, you can save on family meals. For European vacations that are scheduled for longer than a week, you may be able to save even more money by renting an apartment or home of your own for the duration of your trip. In addition to saving money by being able to cook your own meals, your children will get to enjoy a larger setting where they can run and play. Farm stays are another inexpensive and popular way to enjoy Europe. For approximately $100 per night, you can make your home at a working horse ranch or farm.

Transportation: Getting around Europe can be another costly way to take in the rich history of https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/achat-viagra/ the city you’re visiting. While a train and bus can be a convenient way to get cross country, you may find a car rental to be a more economical way to go. With insurance, gas, and the cost of the rental vehicle, you can set your own pace and travel at your leisure. You’ll find a number of American sites where you can compare prices and take advantage of discounts.

Family Discounts: Between museums, art exhibits and famous attractions, you can spend an exorbitant amount of money while traveling abroad. Fortunately, many of the most popular European exhibits and museums offer family discounts. Before you set out for you daily excursion, you can check with your hotel or local travel bureau for deals and concessions. If you can’t find any discounts listed, you can always ask if they offer any deals for families. In Paris, you’ll find most of the monuments and museums are free to individuals under 18. You can also experience the many free exhibits offered throughout Europe. From festivals and vendors to street performers and free concerts, you can soak in the cultures of the region without spending money.

Meals: No matter where you travel with your family, you’ll want to budget enough money for food and meals. The local markets are great for stocking up on fresh foods such as fruit, vegetables and meats. This is especially helpful if you have a place where you can prepare and store your own groceries. Lunch menus are also always cheaper than the dinner time meals. If you have a large family to feed, you can make your mid-day meal the primary one. You also get bigger portions than those served at dinner. Street food vendors are typically plentiful when traveling abroad. You can make your own picnic out of the foods the vendors sell such as sandwiches, breads, lunch meats, gelato and pizza.

Staples from Home: Your children may have their own favorite foods and snacks that they want to bring from home. Breakfast bars, coffee, oatmeal and fruit snacks can be safely stored in your luggage and enjoyed throughout the duration of your trip.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Rail Tours: Destination Checklist

February 6, 2014 By Guest Blogger

If you thought rail travel was only about commuting to work or visiting family, think again. From desert odysseys to mountain adventures, city breaks to luxury safaris, railways holidays come in all different sorts of shapes and sizes.

Here’s a quick guide to just some of the many different kinds of trip on offer.

Short breaks

If you’ve only got a https://www.viagrasansordonnancefr.com/viagra-naturel/ few days to spare or want to make the most of your weekends, a short UK railway break could be just what you’re looking for. Hop on a train in London or closer to home and be whisked https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/achat-viagra-en-ligne-suisse/ to the Highlands of Scotland, the wilds of Wales or the beauty of Cornwall. Your travel and accommodation will all be arranged for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the view!

4703986442_1d0e91a2f4 — Train station in Berlin

Historic journeys

If you have a love of trains and a love of history, taking a trip on a classic steam train through timeless countryside could well be your ideal summer break. All around the UK, steam trains carry enthusiasts to some of the most beautiful parts of the country, but if you’ve got more time then you could even visit Belgium, Austria or Germany by rail.

For https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/acheter-du-viagra/ anyone interested in the battles of World War One, a train journey to the sights and monuments of the conflict would be a weekend to remember. Your guides will talk you through the momentous events that took place in these now peaceful towns and villages and give you a real insight into what life was like back in the early 1900s.

Exotic excursions

Those who want to travel even further afield may think rail journeys are out of the question – but they’d be wrong! Go on safari in South Africa, visit the temples of Sri Lanka or walk round the imperial cities of China with sensational rail journeys throughout these countries.

3936628067_dba65bcc37 — https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/ Tracks to adventures and travels still unknown!

Long haul breaks can last anywhere from one week to three weeks, but you can also arrange https://www.viagrasansordonnancefr.com/viagra-en-pharmacie/ a custom-made trip and experience everything that your chosen destination has to offer at your own place.

If you’ve got a list of places that you want to visit, a rail tour is almost guaranteed to take you there. As train holidays let you travel around viagra pas cher inde maroc and experience cities, towns and villages at a more relaxed pace, you’ll come back with a deeper understanding and appreciation of what your destination has to offer.

Turning a trip into an Indefinite Travel Lifestyle: Antonio & Amanda’s Story

Tempting Tenerife – What’s Not to Like?

How to combine work with travel? Karolina and Patryk’s story

Budget-Friendly Ways for Families to Travel Europe

Rail Tours: Destination Checklist

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