Last minute holidays are booked quickly, sometimes on impulse and this is fine if you’re already prepared. It’s not fine if you haven’t thought about the most obvious aspects of holidaying. As an example, you should always check your passport before booking a holiday. It’s easy to forget but there will come a time when it expires, and it’s essential to check it with plenty of time to spare in case there are any issues. You’ll also need to ensure that your passport is in good condition and that the picture and all the details on your passport are correct and not too worn or damaged. You should also check on the visa requirements before choosing a country to visit. If you do need a visa, you’ll need to give yourself enough time to get your application approved, otherwise your holiday will go down the drain. These two obvious checks are the most important when booking a last minute holiday.
Travelling with a frontpack and a backpack
When you’re planning on traveling Asia, Africa or Australasia, it’s easy to picture yourself wearing a light backpack with a smile on your face and a warm sun beaming down on you in the background. While part of that painting may be true, the bit about the light backpack won’t. To travel for long periods of time you need a backpack that can store everything you need. Your backpack is your best friend. You live out of it. You’ll likely have a front pack too, this will be a backpack which you wear on your front, and it will be smaller with fewer items in there. You need to make sure both of these are durable, comfortable and secure. Make sure you do your research before you head off to a new country with nothing other than a cheap lightweight backpack with no room for your belongings.
Redheads – Surviving in the sun
Travelling to a hot country is an easy transition for some, but as redheads are more likely to burn faster, steps need to be taken to prevent risk of serious sun damage. Australia is one of the hottest countries in the world, yet these a surprising number of redheads living there, so how do they do it?
Well, they don’t stay indoors 24 hours a day, but keeping out of the peak hours of 12-2pm is a good start. This will mean you avoid the harsh sunlight. Wearing cream every minute of everyday makes sense too because you can burn on overcast days too. It will just become part of your daily routine, like it is for many Australians. Wearing large hats can also help and many European backpackers cover up with hats when roaming around. The only downside with this one is that you really will stand out as a tourist.
Why buying the right backpack is everything
When you’re planning to go travelling for a long period of time, it’s easy to think about the clothes you’re taking, your phone, passport, camera and chargers rather than the item that’s going to be storing all of your possessions; your backpack. Finding the right backpack is extremely important because it needs to last you, it needs to keep your items secure, it needs to make your life easy and it needs to be your best friend in many ways. There’s an extensive collection of backpacks to choose between and finding the right one for your travel requirements can take come consideration. You’re probably better off visiting a mountaineering shop to see the backpack in real life, because when you buy one online you don’t get a feel for its weight or size.
Taking ‘glam’ out of glamping
I’ve been glamping a few times now, and I have to say, there really isn’t anything ‘glamorous’ about it. The last time I went, I was in a large canvas tent. It was okay, it had a bed and it was a little bit warmer than your standard nylon tent. Other than that it was the same as camping. There was a zip you’d have to reach down to pull, breaking your back in the process, whilst candlelights were placed on a table nearby. Perhaps I’ve been to the wrong places but when I hear the word ‘glamping’ I’m expecting big things, such as heating, tea and coffee, solar powered lights and perhaps electricity. Is that too much to ask?
Travelling in 2016: How to pack light
Whether you’re soon to be travelling around Europe, Asia, Australasia, America or Africa, you’re going to need to pack your suitcase or backpack light. It’s not going to be feasible to fit a year’s worth of clothes in your backpack, and you have to make sure every item you put in your bag is there for a reason. Depending on the weather, you may only need to wear swimming shorts and t-shirts the majority of the time, so taking some basic clothes and sun cream can be enough. Whatever else you need you can get while you’re out there. You’ll buy clothes whilst you’re on the move, and you’ll make do with ‘bad hair days’ by taking a dip in the water. Travelling is about living a bit rough, but as long as you take some clothes for the first week, as well as all of your important documents, as well as a camera and a mobile phone, you’ll be fine. Don’t panic.
All-inclusive holidays – Why Brits absolutely love them
There’s something about an all-inclusive holiday. I’m not sure whether it’s the fact you get unlimited food and drink, or the fact that you’re only ever a short walk away from an ice cream, a beer or a plate of chips. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying the fact that us Brits love an all-inclusive holiday.
The other reason for this love of ours is of course because they’re extremely cheap nowadays. You can head to Spain, Greece or Turkey on a budget, staying in a 4 or 5 star hotel at a very good price. You’re guaranteed hot weather, delicious food and comfortable accommodation, which is pretty much everything you need on a two-week holiday. An all-inclusive holiday does tend to be extremely relaxing, and not that adventurous. You eat all your meals in one place, and spend a lot of time by the pool, so it’s probably not the best option for those who love to explore.
Make your travel dreams a reality
So many people say they’d love to visit a particular place, but there’s always a reason to stop them going, whether it’s timing, money or fear.
Travelling is all about exploring, but you have to let your inner-adventure free, otherwise you’ll forever be making up excuses. In exactly one year to this day, you could be on a beach with sand between your toes and sunshine beaming down on you. Wherever it is in the world you want to go, don’t let it be a dream or a wish, make it a reality. You can start saving, start making a realistic plan of your journey, or simply look at photos or videos to inspire you.
We’re all humans, and we’re born to explore, so make sure you go on the adventure you’ve always dreamed of, because no matter who you are, it is possible if you make it so.
Brisbane Living Costs compared to London
To follow on from our last blog post, which focused on Cairns, we’re going to be looking at a city in Australia positioned a little further down to the South, Brisbane.
Brisbane is now the third largest city in Australia, and it’s hugely popular, while living costs are considerably cheaper compared to Sydney and Melbourne. Let us prove it by looking at data from Numbeo.
If we compare Brisbane to a city we know very well like London, the living costs (in British pounds) vary considerably. Consumer prices in Brisbane are 19.07% lower, rent is almost 35% cheaper and restaurant prices are 23% cheaper. That gives you an idea of how much cheaper life can be in Brisbane, and that’s why it’s a prime location for British gap year travellers. If you’re looking to move to an Australian city without paying over the odds, Brisbane cod be your best bet.
What’s life like in Cairns?
Cairns is a well-known holiday destination in Australia, renowned for its golden beaches, hot weather, beautiful clear water and of course the Great Barrier Reef.
It’s a city but it certainly doesn’t have the look or feel of say Sydney or Melbourne. Life seems to move a little bit slower in Cairns, and depending on where you’re situated, you can feel more in the wilderness than in the city. I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here is filmed not too far from Cairns, and that goes to show just how close it is to the wild!
If the laidback lifestyle isn’t for you, then Cairns isn’t the place to be, but if you love the idea of relaxing in the sun, not spending too much money and meeting people from different parts of the globe, it’s definitely the city for you.