6 Ways You Can Ruin Your Vacation and How to Avoid It

how-not-to-ruin-vacation

We all want a holiday that is smoothly orchestrated to the last detail. However, here are some ways in which you can ruin your vacation easily and how to avoid these pitfalls.

Forgetting to check the travel documents needed

Many western nations have the liberty of their citizens being allowed in most countries without a visa or with some simple paperwork upon entry. However, others have to plan ahead and have the right travel documents on hand or you will be barred from entry.

Quick Fix: A basic Google search should direct you about all the immigration documents you will need to carry upon your person. Ensure that you start this procedure at the earliest as some visas can take weeks to process.

You have chosen the wrong travel partner

When traveling with someone, you might have to also plan the trip keeping in mind your travel partner’s preferences and limitations. Ideally, you should travel with someone you are comfortable with.

Quick Fix: just because someone is your spouse or good friend, that does not immediately mean they will be a good travel buddy. It is better to travel solo or go with a person you feel will like to do similar things with your on the trip.

Not addressing problems during your trip

When you travel abroad, communication with your travel mate is very essential. If you are travelling with someone where you are unhappy about them leaving wet towels on the floor or getting up late, keeping a lid over the issue will only result in it being blown off one day.

Quick Fix: If you are experiencing a problem, the best thing is to do is to talk about it with the other person from a non-accusatory perspective. Effective communication can get you over great hurdles.

You keep socializing to a minimum

The whole idea of travelling is to go out there and experience the world – and that is not likely to happen if you keep only to the person you’re with. For example, if you are travelling to an all-inclusive resort it is just too easy to miss out on the local culture.

Quick Fix: Be open to talking to people, whether it’s with a local shop owner or a person you meet in an art gallery (or wherever you visit). You never know what meeting a new person might teach you.

You overbudget your vacation

Overspending on a holiday can seem like the right thing to do when you’re having fun but the rush is bound to go away after a while. If you are travelling with a partner, ensure that you both agree on what you wish to spend. Going a little over budget is totally acceptable, but do not go way above budget.

Quick Fix: Set a certain budget and stick to it. If you’re travelling with someone, make a list of the costs involved and who will be spending on what.

You only stick to the familiar

Travelling means doing new things and seeing something you haven’t seen before. Don’t hang on to the familiar just to be comfy.

Quick Fix: Get out of your comfort zone and push yourself to try something you have never experienced before when you travel.

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5 Heavenly Getaways in South Africa for Couples

South Africa for Couples

Africa is the place to go to if you want to experience beautiful landscapes and nature in all its glory. South Africa is one of the hottest couple destinations as it offers so much by way of both fun and adventure.

Here is a list of the places to visit in South Africa that make for very romantic getaways.

Franschhoek, Cape Town

Franschhoek is along a picturesque town set along the southern slope. In fact, this pretty town with its vineyards is one of our most recommended honeymoon destinations as will bring to mind the lush wine country of provincial France. You can take a walk down the vineyards to enjoy fine wine or take a romantic ride on the Franschhoek wine tram. For car enthusiasts, the Franschhoek Motor Museum with its excellent selection of vintage cars makes this one of the places to see in Africa.
Best time to visit: September to November

Queenstown, Eastern Cape

Queenstown is an idyllic town that is one of the best honeymoon destinations in Africa because of its laidback vibe and scenic beauty. Located at the foothills of Hangklip Mountains, the place is perfect for a morning hike followed by a dreamy breakfast at the peak, with a bird’s eye view of the town. The river resorts in Queenstown can be perfect for those who love fishing.
Best time to visit: September to November

The Garden Route, Western Cape

Travel to South Africa is incomplete without a love-filled holiday to Garden Route. Among the scenic beauty of the Cango caves, Plettenberg Bay, Knysa and Tsitsikamma, you can take canopy tours of the wild forests in this region. Rightly called Birds of Eden, you can see some brightly-colored tropical birds here.
Best time to visit: May to August

Elephant Coast, Kwazulu Natal

Kwazulu Natal is one of the perfect places to visit in South Africa if you want to unwind after a wild wedding. This makes it to the list of honeymoon destinations in Africa as you can sip on a glass of wine and just gaze into the vast expanse of nature. Gaming at he game lodge is an option for adventure seekers as is enjoying the serenity of Nottingham Road. Being a coastal area, the fresh seafood is definitely a draw.
Best time to visit: October to December

Johannesburg, Gauteng

The premium city life – great nightlife and fantastic food. Johannesburg is the place to go on a shopping spree. Its beachside resorts feature big fireplaces to help you wind down or treat your lady to sumptuous dinners at Carnical City and Entertainment World. George Harrison Discovery of Gold is the place to get some shiny baubles for your beloved.
Best time to visit: August to October

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16 Most Unexplored Destinations to Visit in 2016

unexplored-vacation

If you are looking for offbeat places to vacation in 2016, here’s a compilation of the most unexplored places to pin on a map.

  1. Mongolia is a destination that should be visited in 2016 because of its unique culture and geography. Nomadic herders move according to seasons using camels. The Gobi Desert is found in the country.

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  1. Georgia has beautiful Southern Caucasus mountain ranges. The mountains attract skiers, adventurers, nature walkers, and horse riders.

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  1. Papua New Guinea is a country of islands. The islands have thick jungles with diverse ecosystems.

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  1. The United States has an attractive North Cascades National Park. The park should be explored in 2016 because of its virgin forests and glaciated peaks.

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  1. Norway, Greenland, and Iceland are part of the Arctic. The three destinations have a lot of polar bear and blubbery bearded seals population.

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  1. The main attraction of Madagascar is the 106 lemur species. People who study prehistoric revolution illustrate that dinosaurs once roamed the area.

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  1. Patagonia Corridor has popular routes and also extensive wilderness. The Chilean part has winding waterways. However, Argentinean Patagonia comprises large and empty lands.

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  1. Iran has 19 UNESCO World Heritage venues. Examples of heritage sites in the country are the Lut Desert and the Persepolis.

 

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  1. Palau should be explored in 2016 due to its Rock Islands. Palau archipelago has beautiful emerald outcrops.

Palau

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  1. Taiwan has an indigenous culture. The Buddhism religion started in this island nation. The Taiwanese tea and food are very popular among Asian visitors.

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  1. Antarctica has diverse bird life. Thousands of king penguins reside in the area. The destination also has large populations of fur seals and arctic reindeer.

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  1. India has beautiful national parks with diverse ecosystems. The live version of the “Jungle King” was developed in India to market its parks. Two popular national parks are Kanha National Park and Nagarhole National Park.

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  1. Romania is a suitable destination for adventure seekers because of Carpathian mountain range. The mountain range can also attract people interested in skiing and hiking.

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  1. Honduras is located in Central America. It has extensive white sand beaches. The beauty of the city is further enhanced by the colonial cities.

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  1. Uganda is famous because of the silverback mountain gorilla and Lake Victoria. Ngamba Island Chimp Sanctuary is responsible for protecting orphaned chimpanzees.

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  1. Gabon has a lot of ecotourism potential. The West African country has protected marine reserves, dense forests, and national parks.

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7 Most Romantic Vacation Ideas for Couples

Vacation Destinations for Couples

Romantic gateways for couples mostly involve beach walks, candlelit dinners, and luxury accommodations. The article illustrates 15 vacation ideas for couples.

Kerala, India

Vacations for couples are in three major areas: Thekkady, Munnar, and allepy. Kerala is attractive because of the tropical forests and the pristine beaches.

Couples are advised to visit Munnar. The destination has an attractive view of diverse wildlife. Thekkady and Allepy are appropriate destinations because of the enjoyable view of the glittering waterfalls.

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Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is considered as an attractive destination for couples. This is because of the Zen temples, Enryaku-Ji, and Ryoan-ji romantic attractions.

The Zen temples have Chinese influenced gardens that generate a romantic feeling. Enryaku-Ji is an ancient Japanese temple that enables couples to observe breathtaking mountains. Ryoan-ji is located in western Tokyo and its main attraction is the rock garden.

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Maui, Hawaii

Maui provides good vacations for couples. The romantic destination is viewed as magical because of white sandy beaches and historic villages.

Haleakala National Park is located in Maui. The park has the highest point on the island. Couples are thus able to have a complete view of the volcanic crater within the park.

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Paris, France

The city is also referred to as the city of lights and the city of love. The three major romantic gateways in the city are Eiffel Tower, Palais-Royal, and Sacré-Coeur.

Viewing the Eiffel Tower is a romantic experience for couples. The couples can also visit the peaceful Palais-Royal secluded garden for leisure walk. Sacré-Coeur offers a nice sunset experience for the couples.

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San Sebastian, Spain

The two main vacation ideas for couples in the city are Monte Igueldo and basque food. Monte Igueldo offers a good view of the sunset and the city. Basque food is best served in popular restaurants such as Arzak.

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Vienna, Austria

Vienna has an attractive destination known as Schönbrunn Palace. The palace creates romantic feeling because of the picturesque garden scenery and pristine hedgerows.

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Wellington, New Zealand

The destination has mystical ambiance that attracts lovers. The two top destinations in the city are the Wellington Botanic Garden and the Kapiti Island.

Wellington Botanic garden has many exotic plant species; for example, rare trees. Kapiti Island has the highest point in the city. The island, therefore, provides the best scenery of wildlife, plants, and the larger wellington area.

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10 Travel Tips to Plan a Truly Relaxing Family Vacation

Family on vacation

Family vacation is important because it enables family members to build on good communication and relationship. The article discusses 10 tips for enjoying your travel during the vacation.

  1. Take off the pressure during a holiday with family. The planners should understand that the relaxing vacation is aimed at creating a fun family experience. To ease the pressure, the vacation plans should be simple and easily achievable.
  1. A flexible itinerary should be developed for the relaxing family vacation. Unplanned events may occur during the vacation period. For example, you might find out about a seasonal event while on the vacation. Time and resources for emergencies should thus be considered.
  1. There should be collective trip goals. Each family member should know the vacation destinations.
  1. Advance research is important. The research generates information about useful vacation areas and resources required.
  1. Family members are advised to pack light. Packing light ensures light travel. A lot of baggage causes confusion when traveling. People should travel light with the intention of minimizing traveling effort.
  1. People should choose a good traveling partner during vacations. This is because it is easy to maintain good communication with a friendly traveling partner.
  1. Trip goals should be properly set. The vacation planner must indicate the vacation destination, and the resources that will be used during the vacation.
  1. Vacation budget is important in ensuring proper utilization of finances. Good budget ensures relaxing vacation because important bills are sufficiently settled.
  1. Families should consider staycation. Staycation is a cost effective vacation model because families engage in leisure activities within the home environment.
  1. All vacation goals should be understood by all family members. The vacation planner should communicate the trip goals in a simple manner to ensure complete understanding. Clear travel goals reduce confusion during the relaxing family vacation.

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8 Secrets to a Fun-Filled and Relaxing Family Vacation

family-vacation

A family vacation is something that brings families even closer. However, if the vacation ends up being a disaster, it serves as a bad memory. One can still have a relaxing family vacation. How? Here are a few tips.

  1. Be open to exploration

For a vacation to be relaxing, one has to be willing to do what the travel partner loves. Being open to doing new things can help the other person or people involved feel loved and appreciated.

  1. Understand limits

The slowest common denominator should determine the pace of the vacation. This could be an elderly parent or small child. This should be a huge consideration in planning the trip.

  1. Eat in

When planning a holiday with family, it is wise to plan the eating arrangements in advance. This may involve making early reservations or renting an apartment where a meal can be easily prepared.

  1. Entertain the kids

For those long drives, a good way to keep the children entertained is letting them watch movies. Also, when the adults want some time to themselves, movies are a nice way to keep the children busy for an hour or two.

  1. Look for a babysitter

Enlisting babysitter services is a great idea when looking to spend some time away from the kids. Many local babysitter services are available throughout the day.

  1. Spend time apart

A holiday with family is supposed to bring family together. However, not every minute should be spent with the travel partner. One should also seek to get some alone time by walking on the beach or finding a book to read. This is especially useful when dealing with teenagers.

  1. Have planned activities for the whole day

Children tend to get cranky in the evening just before dinner. Instead of giving them that phone or tablet, find an interesting activity like card games or a scavenger hunt. This will keep them occupied before dinner and bed.

  1. Enlist the grandparents’ help

When travelling with grandparents and want some time away from the kids, they are the perfect choice in looking after the children. It also helps if they rarely see each other regularly.

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6 Ways to Recharge Yourself during a Vacation as an Entrepreneur

business-vacation

Summer is the best time for a vacation, even for entrepreneurs. However, for an entrepreneur, a vacation can be a tough call. It is hard to let go of that business and take time to relax. So, for an entrepreneur to get the best out of a vacation, what is needed? Here are six tips:

  1. Find a peak season

Most people go on vacation during summer. This means that an entrepreneur is left with a larger workload than usual. It is, therefore, advisable that entrepreneurs plan a vacation during the off-peak season when the rest of the staff is available to run the business. Also, an extended weekend during summer can do no harm.

  1. Keep away from email and voicemail

If possible, one should not go on vacation with their laptop. Also, one should not spend every ten minutes checking their inbox. A vacation is a time to relax and to take a break from work.

  1. Have a buffer day

When returning to the office, there is a probability that there will be a pile of work waiting. It is therefore recommended for one to have a buffer day before going back to the office. This is crucial in catching up with the progress of the business.

  1. Create a clear plan

Before leaving the office, it is advisable for one to have a clear written plan for the entire vacation. Also, it is wise to ensure that duties and responsibilities are relegated before leaving. A key component of the plan should be travel planning. This will help in avoiding delays and missed flights.

  1. Screen calls

During a vacation, an entrepreneur should appoint a single individual to be the point-of-contact, rather than allowing the whole team to call. Many work calls on a vacation only serve as a distraction.

  1. Travel to an inspirational destination

One should find a destination that will bring refreshment and inspiration. This includes nature, a different culture or an activity such as hiking or camping.

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