Jessica Lippe

Escaping

Going on holiday can be expensive, and the price is something that commonly stops people from even going. Firstly you have to worry about how you’re going to get there, then the travel fees when you’re there, and finally your accommodation! Everyone has a different price range for this kind of thing, and some people might feel they have to miss out completely. On the other side of the spectrum, there are people out there with spare money on standby, just waiting for the best holiday experience for them. It’s all about what you know, as some information isn’t as easy to find as the promoted holiday packs!

Hotels

Hotels are an obvious escape plan, great for those looking for a relaxing holiday experience where they can indulge in the comfort and rely on a safe place to keep their belongings, like these courtyard calgary south rooms in Canada! The only downfall is the pricing. Yes, there are cheap hotels you can stay at, but you’re not getting the same comfort and luxuries as you would with a more expensive room; at which point, is it worth booking a hotel? If you’re looking to splash out a lot of cash on your holiday, then a hotel is a great choice for you!

Hostels

As a much cheaper alternative, staying at a hostel entails exactly what you think it would. It’s not luxury living standards, but it’s great if you’re looking for a quick and cheap place to stay for a night or two. Perfect for those who are looking to keep on the move without blowing all of their cash! It’s best you’re prepared for what kind of service you’re going to get because if you’re looking for privacy, you’re not going to get too much. That said, if you’re travelling alone, it’s a great place for you to meet other travellers!

Motels

Not quite the hotel life, but great if you’re looking for somewhere to stay when travelling places by car. You can expect your own privacy and room, as well as a safe place to keep your belongings. Generally a lot cheaper than a hotel, just don’t expect to get breakfast in bed!

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Camping

Camping is can be great for you if you don’t mind “roughing it” for a night or two. If you stay at a campsite you can expect a number of commodities, such as a pool, toilets, showers and possibly even Wi-Fi. This option is great for both social and private travellers, as others tend to be pretty friendly in the campsite communities. The perfect choice for those who love the outdoors!

One of the biggest parts of your holiday is where you stay, and you want to make sure you’re not uncomfortable with it in any way. It can be hard to enjoy your holiday if you have trouble sleeping, or you’re left with aches and pains throughout the day. Not to mention your costs; you might not even be able to see your holiday over some of those price tags, so plan what’s best for you!

Been on a hiatus from the wide world around you? Haven’t had enough time to organize your vacation every year? Or maybe you just haven’t had the cash to adventure as much as you would like? Whatever’s causing your travel deficiency, there’s no doubt it’s not good for your health. So, here are a few cures well worth considering.

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A place of your own

You don’t necessarily have to go to far-flung destinations in order to get a sense of adventure in your life. Instead, start looking at the attractions closer to you. Of course, if you live in or near a big city like New York, San Diego, or Miami, you have hundreds of ways to fill a local staycation. But there are also things like National Parks, with easy-to-use online tools helping you find the nearest one. Even a few days in a nearby bed and breakfast, or a trip to a hotel that has a spa, can give you the peace and distance we all need from our everyday life when we need to recharge our batteries.

A time of your own

What if you want to go a little further afield, or if there’s that one city or location that’s just right for you? You could be spending a fortune on hotels and renting vacation homes. Services like Welk Timeshare offer prime vacation spots that can end up saving you over the years. What’s more, you get a guaranteed spot at a guaranteed time of year, so a lot of the chaos of organizing the vacation in the first place goes right out the window.

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Wherever the wind takes you

If you don’t mind a little chaos and you are looking to make travel a lot more affordable, embracing a little unpredictability might be the best way of going about it. We are talking, of course, about getting vacations last minute. By hunting for deals closer to the time of arrival, you could be paying a lot less for the airline seats and the hotel rooms that otherwise go empty. Of course, you might not have as much choice in where exactly you end up, and you need to get prepared quickly but, to some people, that’s all part of the adventure.

Earn as you go

Perhaps you would like to spend more time traveling and less time at home but it’s your working life that doesn’t allow it? You can’t afford the time it would take to vacation or perhaps you have financial responsibilities you can’t get away from. It’s not for everyone, but you could try working while you travel as suggested by The Blonde Abroad. Running a travel blog, selling your photos, freelancing on a laptop, there are a lot of ways to make money on the road. Whether you get a full-time career or you simply make up some of the costs, it can be very freeing indeed.

Travel has enough genuine health benefits, from easing stress to fighting heart disease, that you could be missing out on a lifesaving habit. Hopefully, the tips above give you a few ideas on how to get back into it.

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If you’ve been looking at flights recently, you might have noticed one thing: all of the ones that are at reasonable times through the day are a lot more expensive than those that take off in the middle of the night and land early in the morning. This can be quite annoying if you are traveling on a shoestring budget, as you might only be able to take these so-called red-eye flights. Flying through the night can be exhausting, especially if you have to deal with jet lag in your destination.

Not sure you will be able to survive a red-eye flight? You can! Here are some expert tips that can get you through your first ever one.

Arrange Transport From The Destination Airport In Advance

One of the worst things about taking a red-eye is that you will arrive at your destination very tired and exhausted. That isn’t a good mix for when you are trying to find your way to your hotel or Airbnb! So, rather than struggling to understand a metro or bus map upon arrival, it’s a good idea to book  Atl car service in advance. That way, there will be someone waiting at the airport to pick you up and take you to where you want to go. You might even be able to have a quick nap in the car on the way!

Dress Appropriately For The Flight

There’s no getting around the fact that flights aren’t exactly the most comfortable places. So, you will be better off ignoring all of the latest trends and fashions and wearing items of clothing that you will feel comfortable in. That usually means you will need to wear tracksuit bottoms and a very loose T-shirt and sweater. It doesn’t matter that you don’t look like a fashionista – the main thing is that you won’t have to deal with any discomfort on the plane!

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Get Carry-On Items That Will Help You Sleep

Ideally, you need to try and get some shuteye on your red-eye! To try and make it easier to nod off, you will need to take some carry-on items that will help you sleep. For instance, an eye mask can help you sleep if it’s very bright inside the plane. Ear plugs can reduce any sounds or noises that might keep you awake. An inflatable pillow will also be useful and will ensure you don’t wake up with a sore neck!

Take Plenty Of Entertainment

Of course, it can be very difficult to get to sleep on a plane. Some of you will be able to get all your 40 winks, whereas others could really suffer. So, make sure you have some things like books, magazines, and card games in your carry-on luggage just in case you can’t sleep. All of this entertainment will help the flight go a lot quicker for you! If you’ve got some work to do, why not take your laptop so you can complete it on the plane?!

No more red eyes after a red-eye!

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City breaks are a great way to see the country – or the rest of the world – in one short hop. And whether you are traveling with friends, lovers or alone, they give you a chance to enjoy new cultures, excitement and a lot of fun. So, if you are looking to get away for a long weekend to a new city or country, read on – these simple tips will help you make the most of your stylish city break.

Plan it

Spontaneity is great – but it will end up costing you more money than you might think. Instead, plan your breakaway and put in some time and effort into researching your chosen destination. However, don’t plan too much – there is only so much you can do in a few days. A couple of fun activities during the weekend is all you need, and you can save your money to put towards eating out at a wonderful restaurant instead.

Book it

The simple truth about buying flights and accommodation is the earlier you book, the less you pay. It’s really that easy – so consider your options from around six months before you are due to fly. Scour the web for price comparison sites, and also go directly to the airlines. If you sign up for their email services, you will often find enticing deals arriving straight to your inbox, and will be more likely to snap them up for less.

Pack it

Ready to fly? Packing for a city break is simple enough – only take what you need. Check the weather conditions of the location you are flying too, and bring appropriate clothing. And leave some space, too – you will find that you can pick up some shopping bargains when traveling abroad and you need some way of bringing it all back.

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Rent it

The beauty of a city break is that you get the opportunity to be who you want to be – just hire what you need. According to Legacy Car Rental, you can hire all kinds of luxury cars to get around, and you can even rent things like dresses and jewelry accessories for a totally glam night out. City breaks are short and – usually – inexpensive, so why not live like a queen for the weekend?

Snap it

Don’t forget to take a camera – you will want fantastic shots of all the amazing places you have visited. Practice a little, too – you’ll want to teach yourself to take pictures of buildings and landscapes without all the rubbernecking tourists in the way. A little pro tip for you – try and get out as early as possible when taking pictures. There will be fewer people around, and the natural light is a lot more atmospheric early in the morning than it is in the middle of the day.

OK, so there you have it – my top tips for planning, traveling and creating memories of your perfect, stylish city break. Do you have any suggestions to add? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Turning down the call to travel is never a nice situation to be in. When friends are jetting off or you find a good deal, most people will find themselves searching for ways to make it happen. Of course, though, this doesn’t always seem possible, and a lot of people miss out on great chances to travel thanks to their worries or concerns. With the right effort, it doesn’t have to be this way, and this post is going to be going through some of the work that you can do to make your impromptu travel plans come together.

Evaluating Importance: Some vacations will always be more important than others, and only you will be able to decide how much you want to go to each place you get the chance to see. For locations which you’re not interested in, missing out on the adventure to work or study will be worth it. If it’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit, though, it will be a different story, and it could be worth taking some extreme lengths to make your trip work. This will be hard to figure out, bit is essential when making short notice plans, as your choices here could impact the rest of your life.

Finding The Time: Once you have an idea of how important a trip is, you will be ready to start trying to make the time for it. In most cases, the job you have will allow some annual leave which can be spent on travelling. But, of course, this will usually require some notice, and your employer might not be happy to give it to you without enough warning. If this is the case, you still have the chance to simply go, risking your job in the process. If you have a job which doesn’t matter, this could be worth it, as you will be able to get another upon your return.

Getting Some Funding: Along with having the time to see the world, getting the money together to fly and stay in a hotel will be hard, too. Getting your hands on cash loans near me can be a great way to solve this issue, giving you the chance to save the money once you get home, instead of doing it before the trip. Of course, though, this can be risky, and it will be worth making sure that you will be able to afford the money you borrow. Alternatively, you could also think about working to keep a pool of money saved just for this sort of event. Though you can’t always plan your travel chances, you can still prepare for them.

Hopefully, with all of this in mind, it should be a lot easier for you to start working on the time you put into your surprise travel plans. While this sort of thing may not come up all the time, it’s worth being prepared for when it does, as this will increase the likelihood that you will be able to go.

I’ve always wanted to go to Israel, and I am sure many of you do too. Since getting to this beautiful Holy Land can be pricey, over the past year I’ve entered every contest I could find that gave away a trip to Israel. My most recent entry is too good not to share!

Seeds of Collaboration is a new tahini company that’s giving away a trip to Israel as well as a bunch of their tahini. I’m excited for both of these prizes and hope I’m a winner, but having a blog reader win would be great too! Click here to enter!

Tahini Recipe

While I hope to enjoy tahini in Israel, so far I’ve enjoyed it in both Greece and America. Here was one of my favorite ways to eat tahini while backpacking the Mediterranean:

You’ll need tahini, honey, and (optional) bread.

Mix a good helping of tahini with just enough honey to delight your taste buds. Yes, this is a recipe where you’ll get to taste the food throughout!

I often grabbed a spoon at this point and enjoyed my “Lazy (Wo)Man’s Halva”. But to make it portable for a day of exploration, I would slather it between two slices of bread, close it in my Snapware, and stick it in my backpack. It’s like the Greek version of the American pb&j. (And in the rest of Europe, my main sandwich spread was Nutella, but I definitely enjoyed tahini the best!) Most of my meals in Greece were either Souvlaki or this.

If you won a trip to Israel, what’s the first thing you’d do once you arrived? Share your answer in the comments and don’t forget to enter the contest!

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The first couple of months in the new year is the perfect time for you and your squad to start thinking about this years vacation. Unfortunately, big group vacations aren’t always easy to find, and even when they are, they can be expensive or even in a strange location. But there are some great gems out there. So what you guys need to figure out, is what sort of vacation are you looking to go on?

Winter break

A winter getaway doesn’t have to be in the winter – as long as there are ice and snow it counts right? Ski season centres around the winter months it’s true, but Alaska, Greenland, Finland – these places never truly thaw out. And with hikes, igloos, winter vacation homes, and the northern lights, it can be an amazing trip.

A dose of sun

Or you can head go or a bit of sunshine. If you’re suffering from lack of sun, then take a trip to the southern hemisphere now rather than waiting for everywhere else to heat up. Australia has a little bit of everything destination wise – beaches, mountains, hikes, spas, cities, shopping and more wildlife than you can shake a stick at. Or you can book for the summer and go Disney in Orlando, go wine in the south of France, or go the Mediterranean in Greece.

Cruise

If you want a bit more sophistication, and not have to worry about the size of the accommodation, then a cruise is the perfect option. A cruise around the Caribbean would be fantastic. Live it up on the ship, with black tie nights and multiple restaurants. And enjoy days in the islands, maybe having a go on one of the world’s largest ziplines.

Road trip

If you want to stay in the country, then why not rent a car and travel the country. Road trip following a route, or travel down a coast. The west is full of beaches, and the east full of cities. Travel by monuments or museums, or travel by capital states. America is full of history, with cities full of the old and the new, there will always be somewhere that you have yet to explore. Pick an event and plan your trip in that direction; like Mardi Gras, or Christmas light switch on in Times Square.

Adventure

If your squad is up for some adventure, then plan your vacation accordingly. Rather than finding a house for you all, look into a luxury hut on safari in Africa. Or a chain of hostels throughout Indonesia – you can all stick together or break off into smaller groups and meet back up later. Large groups of people rarely want to do everything exactly the same as everyone else, so by picking a travel destination, you each get to do what you want.

There are loads of great reasons why London is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. It has so many great sights and attractions, including the likes of Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, and Big Ben. And thanks to its many different unique neighborhoods, each with their own unique character and personality there is plenty to discover during your trip.

You do need to remember that it is one of the biggest cities in the world, though, which can make cramming in everything into one trip quite difficult. It’s a good idea to base yourself in a neighborhood that has plenty to do and spend your time exploring that section of London. After all, you can always discover a completely different neighborhood on your next visit! Here are some of the best areas for first-time tourists to London.

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Soho

Soho is known for its very diverse nightlife as it is home to lots of bars and restaurants. It’s the perfect place for young visitors who want to sample the best of London after dark! Not only that, though, but it’s also just a stone’s throw from Leicester Square where some of the city’s best theaters and cinemas are. You’ll be able to take in a play or try and spot some celebs on the red carpet at a movie premier!

Covent Garden

Are you looking for an experience in Covent Garden? Well, you are very much in luck! There’s certainly plenty to do in this fascinating neighborhood. It’s another great area for bars and restaurants, just like Covent Garden. You’ll also find a brilliant market where you can browse lots of fresh local produce as well as all manner of cool trinkets. It’s a great place to go souvenir shopping!

Westminster

Want to be close to some of the most important buildings in Britain? If so, then book a hotel in Westminster. You’ll just be steps from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. You’ll also be perfectly placed for exploring Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace. Westminster is also right on the Thames, so you won’t be too far from one of the many enjoyable boat trips that take visitors down the famous river.

Camden Town

If you want to experience the alternative side of London life, then spend a few nights in Camden Town. There is a really good indie music scene in this neighborhood, so you will find lots of open mic nights and gigs taking place most nights of the week. It’s also the home of the very famous Camden Market. Again, this is another great place for souvenir shopping. You might even spot some famous faces around the market as its popular with many singers, writers, and other famous creative types!

Hopefully, I’ve given you some great ideas of where you should stay if you are currently planning your very first trip to London. But you should have a great time no matter where you stay!