While some people say traveling solo is boring and hectic, savvy solo travelers confess it is a great experience with lots of self-growth and development opportunities. Nevertheless, choosing the right travel destination for a solo trip is integral to the adventure. The following are some of the best destinations for solo travelers to consider.
Instead of rushing to the overcrowded popular travel destinations in Central and South America, opt to visit Guatemala. Unlike most of its counterparts, Guatemala is inexpensive and also offers endless natural attractions, ancient features, great weather, and adventures for the solo traveler. It boasts lush jungles, volcanoes, buzzing food markets, and friendly environment to visitors. Activities range from hiking, kayaking, food tasting, sightseeing, rafting to several others.
If you are looking to travel, exploring the pleasures of life in modern cities, New York is one of the best places to begin. Apart from its cluster of iconic modern structures, New York is a multi-cultural destination bursting with art, architecture, food, parks, fun activities and so much more delights to make your solo trip memorable. Every corner of the city is buzzing with sights and sounds that make it quite hard to distinguish day and night.
Although most people say Barcelona is a busy city, it has a lot to make your solo one of a kind. In Barcelona, you will experience both worlds as it has the allure of a modern city, pristine beaches, and ancient treasures to please your eyes. It is also famous for its streams of cafes and restaurants that line up the boulevards, electric nightlife and buzzing food scene.
This is another great destination for solo travelers looking to escape the ordinary. Thanks to its thick, green expansive rainforests, nature trails, warm weather, and unique cultural attractions, travelers have a lot to experience. The destination is mainly famous for hikes and camping but, there are many other outdoor activities to make your trip worth the while.
Regardless of your desired travel experience, the destinations discussed above have unique features and attractions to enrich your life in many ways.
…When planning to fly with a toddler, it’s easy to be afraid that other passengers will hate you. That’s because a baby can be quite annoying when bored and tired in a plane. Luckily, there are tested and proven tips that you can follow to make the flight better for you, the baby, and other passengers. Here are tested and proven tips for flying with a toddler.
Instead of choosing a flight with a longer layover, book a direct flight. That way, you will avoid connecting flights. Most little ears are put under immense pressure by landing. This can cause pain and make the little ones scream during flights. What’s more, you avoid mid-flight tantrum when you spend minimal time in transit. If unable to book a direct flight, spend extra time between flights. Spend your on the ground time changing diapers, grabbing non-airplane food, and allowing the baby to run freely.
Take time to change the baby before you board the airplane. Make sure that the baby is comfortable and prepared for the flight. When you visit the restroom before you board the airplane, you avoid visiting the tiny lavatory in the plane. You also ensure less work during the flight.
You may think that you don’t need pre-boarding to ensure that you spend minimal time on the plane with your toddler. However, using pre-boarding time properly is very important. It enables you to travel with a less-stressed toddler or baby. You don’t want to have other passengers sign while you struggle to keep the little one comfortable.
Although your toddler can fly free of charge, it’s advisable to book them a separate seat. This is a safer option that provides more room for you and the baby to spread out. It also enables you and the toddler to be more relaxed on the plane.
In addition to these tips, it’s crucial to carry toys and items that your toddler can play with. That way, the baby will be more occupied to avoid getting bored.
…Today, most countries will not allow travelers entry unless their passports are set to expire at least six months after the end of their trips. As a result, it is highly unlikely that you can travel internationally with a passport that has less than six months to the expiry date. Even if you manage to travel with the passport, getting back home could be a serious problem.
If you are flying within the United States, there is no reason to worry even if your passport is expired. But, you must have a valid form of ID recognized in the US like a driver’s license. There is no requirement for using a passport on domestic flights.
Flying internationally with a passport that is about to expire is almost impossible. However, there are two options to go about it. The first option is attempting to get an expedited passport before the one that you have expires. It is possible to get an expedited passport but, it might take time and a lot of input.
As soon as you realize that your passport is about to expire, contact the US Passport Office immediately for an expedited passport. You can also liaise with a reliable passport agency for the same. Make sure you confirm with the people expediting the passport about all the requirements for processing it. Sometimes, you may be asked to give proof that you are scheduled to travel in the next two weeks.
To get an expedited passport, you will also need to pay a fee for processing the document. The fees may vary but, it usually costs about $170 to process an expedited passport.
Expediting your passport is convenient but, can sometimes conflict with your travel schedule. The other option is to simply cancel or reschedule the trip. Nevertheless, it is always best for every traveler to keep the expiration dates of their passports in check to avoid the trouble.
…Most people find long haul flights boring. Cramped positions, boredom and too much TV make these flights challenging especially for those traveling with kids. If you must take a long haul flight with children, here are guidelines to help you prepare for it.
Even children are now required to have passports. These include toddlers and infants taking international flights. Passport processing takes time. And even if a passport is not required where you are traveling to, it’s important to have certified birth certificate copies of your child. Your airline might ask you to produce a birth certificate though it is trumped by a passport.
For divorced travelers, authorities require them to produce a non-custodial parent’s letter to show that they are aware and in agreement with you to travel with the kid. It’s also important that you carry insurance documents and have a backup copy somewhere.
You may need to get some vaccinations early depending on the age of your child and your destination. Ask your doctor about the vaccinations that you need and when to get them depending on your destination and travel time. Also get prescription copies, medical history, and contact information of your doctor.
If your kids stay up during the day, they will theoretically be ready to sleep once you board the airplane. However, the airplane presents a different environment. That means your kid might still have a hard time sleeping. Nevertheless, flying at night can still help and this can ease part of your flight.
If you intend to fly more than 12 hours, consider having a stopover in the middle of the trip. This will eliminate travel boredom and break up jet lag as well.
Follow these tips to prepare for a long haul flight with kids and your experience will be somehow better.
…Many travelers describe street food as the best they have ever tasted. However, some travelers report cases of scary ingredients, suspect food handling, and regular trips to hospitals. But, despite these conflicting views, it’s possible to have a safe experience with street food when traveling. Here are tips that will make your experience better.
Before you start enjoying street food at your travel destination, allow your body time to adjust to the local food. Only taste street food when your body gets used to the local cuisine. This is particularly important for travelers that are not used to eating spicy food.
There is a reason why a particular vendor is avoided by the local. Therefore, avoid a vendor that doesn’t seem to have many customers. Instead, eat street food from a vendor that is always crowded. Go to a vendor that seems popular with the local families. That’s a safe bet.
If possible, spend some time with the street food vendors. This will enable you to know what they use to prepare the food. You will also learn about their habits. For instance, you will know if the vendor cleans utensils properly. You will also know if the vendor uses tongs and whether they keep their food covered.
Pay keen attention to the oil color. If the vendor fries foods using cloudy oil, be careful. Also be wary of a vendor that uses oil with debris. That’s because these are indicators that the vendor is reusing the oil to prepare food.
Check whether the surfaces and pots where the food is prepared and served are dirty. If the utensils or cart surface has sticking food scraps, it means the vendor is not clean.
In addition to these tips, avoid street food if it is not cooked thoroughly because it can have parasites that can affect your digestion system negatively. Follow these tips and you will enjoy a safe experience with street food whenever you travel.
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Travelling solo is brilliant, tempting and also exhausting. It is an eye-opening experience that you can really enjoy. Solo adventure gives you the opportunity to explore the world in total freedom and, at your own pace. In fact, it is one of those experiences that every travel enthusiast should try. When you choose to go on a solo adventure, below are useful tips to help you make the trip worthwhile.
While on a solo adventure, you only got yourself to rely on most of the times. So, step up your confidence and stay positive. It is normal to feel lonely and scared sometimes but, that should not discourage you from experiencing the delights of the trip. With confidence and a broad smile, you can find the trip so exciting and even end up with a companion.
Considering there is no one to make plans for you or tell you what to do, there is no reason to be in a rush. Instead, use the opportunity to see, do and enjoy as much as you can from the area. Open your mind to new experiences and get the most from every moment spent there. However, always stay on the lookout.
Even if you get a companion at your travel destination, always have your phone on. The phone and travel documents are your only contact with the outside world so, never leave them behind. Remember to update your friends and family about the progress of the trip so they know you are safe. In case you lose your phone or travel documents along the way, get a replacement as fast as possible for convenience.
Whenever you are travelling alone, do not overindulge. Whether you are out partying, drinking or engaging in other social activities, do it in moderation and proceed with caution. You should also be ready to get off in case things seem to go wrong.
Generally, solo adventures are awesome and can be quite thrilling. But, you should always keep in mind the above tips in order to get the desired experience.
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