The GypsyNesters

So you have finally decided to take your holidays one level further and partake in a complete Caribbean experience. This destination is found on any traveler’s lover bucket list, and considering the breathtaking scenery found there, it’s understandable why. There’s more to this type of vacation than just buying your plane ticket and trying to find the most luxurious resort on your chosen Island beach, so if you want to truly embrace what this destination has to offer, being prepared is recommended. In order to truly make the most out of every moment spent there, getting some insights on the topic will turn out to be extremely useful. Here are the tips you should be aware of before actually departing, and beginning your dream, long-awaited holiday:

Buy your tickets early

If you want to keep your expenses to minimal this vacation, considering the Caribbean can be quite expensive, you should handle each detail of your trip with care. Among all the cots this holiday will involve, quite a lot of money will go on plane tickets, especially if you are flying from Europe (flying from the USA can be a bit more affordable). So, in order to not spend a fortune on your flight, the best thing to do would be to purchase your ticket with enough time in advance. The earlier you decide to book your flight, the more reasonable the tickets will be priced. As soon as you decide on your Caribbean destination start looking up plane tickets.

Finding the ideal resort

The number of resorts available in the Caribbean Islands has certainly increased tremendously along the last couple of years, so variety is something you won’t have to worry about. However, in order to have access to accommodation that manages to provide you with the level of comfort desired means you will need to do a bit of research on the topic. If this is a family holiday you are planning, it’s best if you narrow your choices down to only the family oriented options available, just so you know your children will also experience a pleasant vacation as well, regardless of age. If, on the other hand, you are traveling with your partner or your friends, you could book a place at an adult-only resort, where you won’t have any problems with children running around. This is totally up to you and your personal preferences, but if you do have an opinion on the matter, it’s best if you are aware of all our options and pick a place that will cover your needs and desires best. With so many deals available, you won’t have troubles coming across a resort that ticks off all the boxes.

Try something new – a great place for treasure hunting

While enjoying the mesmerizing surrounding, sunbathing, swimming in the crystal clear waters and partaking in local, thematic parties will be the main focus of your entire vacation, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experience something slightly different. Because you are basically surrounded by beaches, why not get into the overall feel of the pace even more, and go for some treasure hunting. A pirate inspired activity day will give your entire trip a different vibe, something you haven’t experienced until now, having a great time is a guarantee. Upon research, you will find out that metal detecting doesn’t come with any restrictions in the Caribbean islands, so you don’t have to worry that you might be breaking any laws and dealing with inconveniences. As long as you have access to a high quality metal detector (investing in one is not that expensive, and the returns might be higher than you expect), and some time on your hand to wander around, you will discover a thrilling and regarding activity that will make your vacation even more pleasant and exciting. Besides the actual thrill of metal detecting itself, you could also come across some hidden treasures and discover what this sort of activity has become such a popular hobby for many travel enthusiasts.

Don’t skip on any beach-oriented activity – fun and excitement

From snorkeling to sky diving and excursions and sailing or booking a private boat charter at turkstourcompany.com, the Caribbean islands stand at your disposal with a vaster activity variety than you could think of. Now it’s the perfect time to engage in water sports and other activities that allow you to experience a rush of adrenaline and have some moment of fun and excitement. When you have already had enough of sunbathing and swimming, doing something that pushes your limits and gives you the chance to overcome your fears will only make this entire trip more interesting and memorable. Find out what activities you have the possibility to engage in near your resort, and don’t miss out on the long list of great things you can experience. Snorkeling or scuba divining are definitely a must.

Immunizations – stay safe

Although there are no exact obligations or regulations in regards to vaccines, you could have the misfortune of traveling there during an occasional outbreak of tropical disease, so it’s always better to be safe than deal with health concerns. Contact your health care provider a few months prior to your departure and discuss about possible vaccinations required. Getting your immunizations will give you peace of mind that a potential health concern won’t ruin your entire trip or bring you even more serious inconveniences. A couple of vaccines might be all it takes to know you are safe to enjoy a long vacation in an exotic location.

When you finally have the opportunity to go on holiday in the Caribbean, you probably want this vacation to turn out perfect from start to finish. Because it’s important to go prepared, in order to not waste any time once you arrive there, getting a few insights on the matter might actually make a difference. Go through the tips above stated and use them in order to partake in an once-in-a-lifetime holiday, which will give you the chance to gather numerous amazing memories.

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The concept of solo travel has gained popularity in the recent years. People with wanderlust want to experience the joys of traveling alone rather than with friends or family. Of course, you may miss them once in a while but solo travel is an AMAZING journey. It is an opportunity to be on your own, something that encourages introspection and think better about your life. It is something that you do for yourself and your growth as a person. Let us give you some good reasons to travel alone at least once in your life.

Gives you the freedom to make your own decisions

As a solo traveler, you are completely autonomous and get complete freedom to make every big and small decision on your own. Whether it is about your destination, mode of travel, accommodation or itinerary, every single thing is up to you. You need not please others or align your plans with them. If you are an adventure lover, you can freak out completely when you are on your own while nature lovers can explore the glory of nature without having to worry about the choices of co-travelers.

Boosts your self-confidence

When you travel alone, managing everything is up to you. From finding your way in a new city to communicating with locals or making the food choices, you have to do everything on your own. This independence boosts your self-confidence; even if you do face challenges and make mistakes, you end up as a smarter, stronger person. You may even find up innovative solutions for your problems and suggest it to others. For example, you can use www.clickairporttransfer.com to reach your destination from the airport without any hassles.

Enables you to discover yourself

A solo journey is a discovery of yourself, a time to introspect and evaluate the purpose of your life, your challenges and goals. It gives you a lot of time to yourself, which you can seldom do in the otherwise occupied routine. You can re-evaluate what you are doing at present and take some decisions related to the future, whether you want to follow the same direction or bring some big changes in your life.

Makes you an interesting person

As a solo traveler, you can enrich your experiences and come back as an interesting person who has several stories to share. As you grow older, these experiences become a treasure chest of memories that you can pass over to the next generations. Who knows, you may even narrate these tales to your grandchildren and become their favorite grandparent!

Makes you value your relationships

Traveling alone gives you time out from your relationships, which is the reason that you may feel even closer to your loved ones when you return. Distances may actually make your heart grow fonder as you realize how much you treasure their love and how important they are for you.

Considering these facts, you will realize how beautiful a solo trip can be. It not only gives you a chance to explore a new destination but experience it with a new perspective that is all about independence and self-confidence.

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When planning travel there is a lot to think about: flights, accommodation, insurance, payments, and health and security – to name just a few!

Being well organised will avoid a raft of minor (and major) inconveniences which can mar your trip, as well as letting you get the most out of your money and your time.

If this sounds more like hard work ten a holiday, never fear: we have compiled a list of the top ten tips for an organised trip, to make everything go smoothly with as little stress as possible.

1. Set Up Flight Alerts

Although as a general rule flights will be cheaper the further you book them in advance, fares can go up or down. Set up fare alerts for the date and destination(s) you would like to travel to on sites such as Kayak or Skyscanner, and you will notified as soon as flight prices drop so you can immediately book your tickets.

2. Use Flight Booking Sites But Also Check Airlines’ Sites

Sites like Kayak, Skyscanner and Expedia are great for comparing fares across different airlines and finding the best deal. However, sometimes you miss out on features or services by booking via the site rather than directly with the airline, such as upgrading your luggage allowance while booking.

For this reason the best approach is to use multi-airline sites to find the best deal, but then go to the actual airline’s site to make your booking.

3. Buy Extra Luggage Allowance Online

The great thing about travel in 2018 is the range of budget airlines around offering some incredible bargains on fares, including international and intercontinental routes. However beware that many of these fares do not include any baggage allowance which will need to be purchased separately.

It is much cheaper to book extra luggage online in advance, rather than on check in. In some cases the prices to buy extra luggage are divided into three tiers: price available on booking, price when purchased online before or during online check in and price when purchased at the airport.

So be sure to check the luggage allowance included in your fare and buy any additional luggage you need well in advance.

This is also a good time to check about any rules for flying with an emotional support animal.

4. Book Luggage Storage In Advance

Storing suitcases is often necessary during a trip, for example while you explore for the day between checking out of your accommodation and moving on to your next destination, or while making the most of a stop-over on route to somewhere else.

Finding somewhere to securely store you luggage will mean you can make the most of this time and use the extra day to explore more of your destination. Save time and often money by booking your storage online in advance.

5. Investigate Vaccinations

No matter your destination, you should always check with your doctor to see if you will require vaccinations. There is nothing worse than ruining your trip by getting ill, and travel to certain parts of the world can expose to some serious illnesses! Even if you have had vaccinations for previous trips it is important to seek medical advice as most vaccines last only 2 to 5 years (which varies depending on the vaccine) so you may need a booster.

Be sure to consult your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip, as some vaccines require a series of injections and a certain amount of time to come into effect.

6. Check Your Mobile Roaming Plan

One sure fire way to blow out your holiday budget is by racking up a sky-high mobile phone bill through international roaming charges. Make sure you know how much your phone company will charge you for phone calls, texts and data, as well as if you need to do something in particular to turn on roaming. Beware that some companies charge you to receive text messages while overseas even if they don’t when you are at home.

Excessive data charges is often where people are tripped up: you may not even be realising that your phone is automatically downloading emails or performing updates until you are hit with steep data charges on your next bill. A good bet is to turn off data on your phone while you’re away and use wifi, which you will find at hotels and cafes everywhere, instead.

7. Inform Your Bank

Avoid having your ATM or credit card suddenly blocked due to unusual usage by making sure you inform your bank that you will be travelling, and let them know where you will be going and when. These days most banks will let you do this online through their online  banking system so it’s as easy as completing a simple form, which can save you a lot of hassle later.

8. Look Into Visas Before You Leave

Another important aspect to arrange before you go on any international trip are visas. Many countries have visa waiver programs particularly for citizens of the UK, the EU, Australia and the US, or a “visa on arrival” which simply means paying a small fee to customs and immigration after you land.

However, in other cases you must purchase a visa online before you leave and your airline will not allow you to board your plane without seeing proof of your visa. All visitors to the USA, for example, must apply for a ESTA “visa waiver” even if they are just transiting through the country and will not leaving the international terminal.

Be sure to check this in advance, and arrange and necessary visas: which can usually be done online, although sometimes you may need to go to the local Embassy. In either case, these often take a few days or more to process, so be sure to arrange this at least a week before you fly.

9. Check Other Entry Requirements

In other cases, you will not need a visa but customs and immigration will have specific requirements, so you should check this before flying and have everything prepared. The most common requirements are proof of onward travel (that is a plane booking or something else to show when you are leaving the country again), proof of vaccinations against certain diseases and sometimes even extra passport photos.

Make sure you have a copy of your return tickets on your phone – usually a screen shot of your booking is sufficient for customs officers and airlines. Also carry proof of your vaccinations with you – your doctor should give you a document for this.

10. Change or Take Out Local Currency At The Airport

You finally arrive at your destination – you’ve made it! You survived the long flight, got through customs, thankfully your bags arrived with you and you grab a taxi at the airport. Upon arriving at your accommodation the taxi asks to be paid and you suddenly realise you have no local currency!

In the past travellers went to the bank before heading off on a journey and changed money, along with picking up some travellers’ cheques. Luckily things are a lot easier these days. Almost every airport in the world will have a currency exchange station and ATMs, so be sure you use one of these before leaving the airport.

For more travel tips, you check out TravelDepartment.com.

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One of the best times to get away and escape day to day life is in the long, bleak months of winter. The promise of warmth and sunshine when it’s going to be below zero at home is a wonderfully uplifting experience to look forward to. There are many good reasons to plan a winter break, and a surprisingly extensive range of destinations to choose from, so rather than feeling glum about summer coming to an end, have a browse through some travel brochures and start planning your sun-kissed winter vacation.

The benefits of taking a sunshine break

There are particular benefits associated with traveling to somewhere warm and sunny, especially for the older generations:

 • Winter can be a cruel time if you suffer from weather-sensitive pain. Most older folks have some degree of arthritis, and for many, it becomes almost crippling, particularly when it’s cold and wet. Barometric pressure is to blame, and falls in atmospheric pressure that accompany cold, wet weather affect the nerves and tissues that are involved in conditions such as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Warmth nearly always relieves pain symptoms to some degree, and can help with stiffness in the joints and muscles too. So soaking up the sun and avoiding the cold, damp winter at home could ease your symptoms significantly.

 • Winter can also be a depressing time, made worse as you get older. You can’t get outside and enjoy all the activities that you would during the better weather, and when there’s a prolonged spell of bad weather, it can make you feel isolated and lower your spirits. There’s also limited light during the day, which can affect your mood; in severe cases leading to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depressive condition caused by insufficient light levels in vulnerable people. Looking forward to a break from the wintry conditions, and enjoying your time in the sun will help relieve the mood-lowering effect of winter.

Planning your trip

Booking well in advance gives you longer to enjoy the positive effects of having your break to look forward to. Therefore it’s a good idea to get browsing and book up early. Companies like Teletext Holidays offer all inclusive winter sun vacations at very reasonable prices to locations such as the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, and Dubai. Some of these destinations may involve long-haul travel arrangements, so it’s a good idea to stay as long as you can to get the most out of your trip. Many resorts offer special Christmas packages that give you the festive feeling while enjoying the warmth of warmer climates, which can be a first-class idea, particularly if you wouldn’t be having a family get-together this year.

There aren’t really any negative aspects to taking a winter sunshine break, with the possible exception of having to come back to a damp and drizzly climate at home again! However, the benefits of taking a winter break far outweigh any attack of the doldrums when you return – and if you do feel blue when you get home, just start planning your next trip.

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