Author: admin

31
Oct
2019

Who Travels the Most?

Everyone loves to travel and, that is why the number of international visitors has continued to significantly grow over the last few years. The ease of travel, new discoveries, improvements in the living standards and changes in the lifestyles of populations across the globe has encouraged people from all walks of life to indulge in travelling. The following is a breakdown of the leading countries in world travel with relevant statistics. 

Finland 

Many tourism and travel organizations identify Finland as the country with the highest number of people that travel the world. According to numerous studies on world travel trends, an average Finn makes an estimated 7.5 trips annually, including overseas trips and stay-at-home vacations. 

USA 

The United States boasts the world’s largest domestic travel market. When you also include the national holidays, an average American takes about 6.7 trips each year. However, a majority of Americans are local travellers with only a limited number of people making overseas trips. That is partly because slightly half of the American population own passports. 

Sweden 

Several studies about world travel trends have identified Scandinavia as the most visited part of the globe. An average Swede takes about 4.4 and 1.5 domestic and international trips every year. 

Denmark 

Also found in Scandinavia, Denmark is another home to some of the world’s largest travelers. Unlike in most countries around the world, a majority of the population in Denmark own second country homes. Studies show one in every six families in Denmark has a second home in the countryside. On average, they make about 5.3 total trips annually with domestic trips accounting for 3.9. 

Other countries that also top the list of the world’s largest travelers include Norway, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and France. Based on the statistics, people from Nordic nations are found to travel the most. The trend is attributed to several factors including high incomes and low rates of unemployment. Besides, the high costs of living in those countries make the idea of travelling to cheaper international destinations more appealing to their populations. 

24
Jun
2019

Pre-Travel Tips for Responsible Travelers

Being a responsible traveler makes a trip or vacation better. Before you travel, there are things that you should do if you are a responsible traveler. Here are pre-travel tips that will make you a more responsible and ethical traveler.

Check out Your Destination’s Local Cultures

It’s important that you read about the cultures of the locals at your travel destination. Learn some words of their local language. When you travel with respect, you earn respect. It’s just amazing how far saying thank you in a word like Shukran (Arabic) or Asante (Swahili) can take you.

Leave Excess Packing Behind

Waste disposal or recycling full stop is generally tricky in most places. Therefore, don’t carry excess packaging when traveling. Even better, buy some items at your travel destination to support the local economy.

Be Environmental Friendly

Use eco-friendly products when traveling. These include eco-friendly soaps, deodorants, and sun creams. This is particularly important when you intend to spend more time at your destination in water.

Use a Responsible Travel Company

Use a travel company that advocates for responsible travel. Check the website of the company to see if it encourages people to be responsible travelers. A responsible travel company encourages travelers to minimize their negative social, cultural, and environmental impacts. It also respects and supports human rights as well as the local economies of the countries where it takes travelers.

Plan to Participate in Local Social and Conservation Project

Check if there are local social and conservation projects that you can volunteer to participate in if you have time. This will give you a chance to interact with the locals, learn about them, and play a role in conserving the environment.

Plan to View the Wildlife Responsibly

Some excursions may involve captive or wild animals. It is important that you practice viewing the wildlife responsibly. For instance, don’t plan to ride an elephant because this is an irresponsible act in most places. Even petting wild animals like tiger cubs is wrong.

Take time to learn about responsible travel before you go. Follow these tips when planning for your trip if you want to become a responsible traveler.

24
Apr
2019

How to Avoid Financial Stress when Traveling

You have probably worked hard to save money for your upcoming trip. As such, your goal is to maximize how you spend every dollar. But, according to Art from GT Roofing & Construction shares in his recent post that increased costs of travel can be the cause of more worries and stress. This can make enjoying your trip challenging. What’s more, you may have more bills to pay on coming back home. Here are useful tips to help you avoid financial stress when you travel.

Come up with a Realistic Budget

Come up with a realist budget depending on your finances. You don’t need a complex budget to travel. It can be something simple that you are comfortable with. Therefore, come up with a budget that makes you comfortable with the amount you intend to spend during your trip.

Book an Affordable Trip

Make sure that you book only the trip you can afford. For instance, if you have $500 in your account balance and your family wants to go on a trip worth $2,500, consider an alternative trip. If possible save up more money and go on a trip when ready to spend this amount.

Discuss Your Travel Budget

When traveling with partners, take time to discuss the financial pressure and budget issues that come with it. This is very important to ensure that everybody understands the financial pressure that you feel regarding the trip’s budget. What’s more, when your travel partners understand your pressures, they can support you and probably help you raise the amount required for the trip.

Make Advance Bookings

You are likely to save money if you book plane tickets, trains, and hotel rooms in advance. That means you can have money to spend on other things that will cost you more when you travel. Additionally, early bookings enable you to anticipate travel costs and make appropriate arrangements thereby eliminating the stress of the last minute rush.

Conduct Some Research

Take time to find out the maximum and minimum amounts you can spend on different aspects of your travel. Also compare prices when booking and look for the best deals, coupons, and discounts. This will enable you to enjoy more savings on your trip.

Travel experiences are priceless for most people. That’s why many people save to accumulate the money they need to travel. Nevertheless, you can have financial stress if you travel without careful and proper planning. Follow these tips to eliminate financial stress in your trip.

10
Apr
2019

How to Beat Homesickness when Traveling

Traveling comes with an exciting experience at first. However, being away from home for some time makes you yearn to spend time with family and friends. You also miss the stability and comfort of your home while away. This is what brings homesickness among travelers. However, it’s possible to beat homesickness when it strikes while traveling. Here are useful tips to help you beat homesickness when traveling.

Make Your Travel Destination Your Home

When you arrive at your travel destination, you will most likely see yourself as a foreigner. This makes you assume that your situation is temporary. However, what you think is temporary can last longer than planned. This is what brings homesickness. To avoid this, abandon the mindset of a foreigner and make your destination your new home. This way, you will adapt and become used to the way of life of the natives at your destination.

Keep in Touch with Loved Ones

When you miss your loved ones, contact them. There are many ways of communicating with family and friends regardless of your location in the world. For instance, you can use social media like Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook to keep in touch with loved ones. Some of these options are actually free. Thus, you don’t have to overstretch your travel budget to keep in touch with loved ones.

Adapt a Routine

This is the best way to beat homesickness. You develop homesickness when you don’t know the best way to spend time at your travel destination. When you have extra free time, you may not know what to do with it and this can disrupt your routine and cause confusion. This combined with being at a place where things are new makes you yearn for something familiar, and that’s your home. To avoid this, come up with a routine and stick to it from the moment you arrive at your destination.

Explore

You won’t have time to miss home and loved ones when you spend time at your destination exploring. Regardless of the place you travel to, you will find things that you can explore, see and experience. This will kick boredom and homesickness out of your life.

Enjoy the Experience

Government bureaucracy, new food, language, and even culture can be different at your travel destination. If you keep complaining about these, you will soon develop homesickness. To avoid this, embrace and enjoy the new experience. Even if cultural differences seem illogical or strange, focus on enjoying the experience away from home.

Travelers deal with homesickness differently. Nevertheless, these tips provide useful ideas for beating homesickness regardless of your travel destination.

27
Mar
2019

How to Cope with Pre-Travel Anxiety

Traveling should be a wonderful experience. However, planning a trip can bring anxiety even among the most experienced travelers. But, if you feel anxious instead of being excited about your upcoming trip, there are things you can do to cope with this feeling.

Generally, travel anxiety is a complex and common issue. It makes many travelers feel depressed and anxious during the preparation stage of a trip. There are also people with underlying fear of their trip. This fear manifests itself in form of anxiety. If you feel anxious about an upcoming trip, here are tips on how to cope with your pre-travel anxiety.

Identify the Cause of Travel Anxiety

Pinpoint the exact cause of your travel anxiety to address the root of the problem instead of its symptoms. For instance, write down everything that you feel stressed about. Once you have identified the causes of your travel anxiety, tackle them right away. For example, money could be the cause of your pre-travel anxiety. In that case, come up with a budget that suits your financial status.

Take Care of Yourself before the Trip

Even travelers that are not anxious about their trips should take care of themselves before they travel. Self-care plays a very crucial role in preventing anxiety triggers. It will also keep you calm, cool and collected. For instance, exercise more before the trip to enhance your health. Exercise has been proven effective in helping individuals deal with depression and anxiety. Additionally, eat healthy food, get enough sleep, drink water and engage in the activities you find enjoyable.

Conduct Research on Your Destination

Take time to find out more about your destination. Know what you can do while there, where to stay, and things to do. This will enable you to know the best ways to spend time at your destination. Additionally, make reservations for accommodation and transport while there. Also get contact details for the available emergency services at your destination.

Talk to the Flight Attendants

Many people fear flying. Fortunately, flight attendants are used to handling people with such fears. Therefore, when you talk to them about your phobia, they will know how to make you feel at ease. If traveling with a family member or a friend, talk to them about your fear too. When you know that you have somebody that can help you, alleviating anxiety symptoms becomes easy.

In addition to these approaches, take time to plan your trip. You can cope with pre-travel anxiety with ease when you take time to plan your trip.

16
Mar
2019

Five Crucial Facts You Should Know Be Traveling To Ireland

Many of those who have traveled to Ireland have returned there for another trip to catch up with the sweet memories. The memory of rolling green hills, fields of sheep, old castles, and exciting cultures are hard to forget. Ireland has also been the home of the settings of some popular movies like Game of Thrones and Harry Potter.

If you plan to visit Ireland too, bear in mind you will one day return to sit again in the dimly lit pubs, sipping a pint of ale while the local musicians emotionally play the old tunes. You will be redrawn to see the colorful locals again. But before you go for the first time, these five crucial points should guide you:

The Meteorologists Are as Clueless as You

In Ireland, the weather prophets can never be trusted. Their predictions are unreliable, and they are not to blame. The Irish weather pattern is unpredictable. It can be sunny one minute only for the rain to fall the next without warning, followed by sunlight. That’s why an umbrella, waterproof jackets and waterproof shoes should never depart from you. Be prepared to deal with the abrupt weather changes. While the on and off rain can be irritating, remember it is one reason why Ireland is so green and fresh.

The Driver Is Entitled To Your Gratitude

You may not be used to thanking the driver, after all, it is business, and perhaps it is you who should be appreciated. Not in Ireland. Here, there is a by-law requiring you to say “Thank you” to the driver who drove you. So if you alight from a bus or car but forget to thank the driver respectfully, the locals may be horrified. It is business unusual.

Driving On the Wrong Side

The Irish drive on the wrong side of the road. Wrong side, that is, according to Americans. That is because, the Irish drive on the left-hand side of the road, unlike in America where it is the other way round.

Tipping Is Not Necessary

If you have read many travel journals, then you have realized that tipping is natural in many countries. The question is how much, not if. But in Ireland, the stingy travelers can rest assured waiters are not looking forward to receiving free money. However, do not hurry to celebrate. The tip may not be necessary, but it is indirectly included in the service tax that is charged on every bill. It is mainly 10% of the item price. In short, there is tipping in Ireland; only it is a law! Sorry if this has rubbed you the wrong way.

This Is the Home Of Guinness

Guinness beer, one of the most popular drinks in the world, was first brewed in Ireland by one of her citizens called Arthur Guinness. So if you love beer, take time to visit Saint Jame’s Gate where Arthur first brewed the recipe of this famous brand and where it continues to be brewed.

Bonus Tip

The Euro is the standard currency in Ireland. If you are traveling in the northern parts, you may need to have Pound Sterling. Anyway, enjoy your trip.

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