Travel Tips for Beginners: A Guide to Planning Your First Trip

Planning for a trip can be a daunting task, especially if you are a beginner. You can easily get overwhelmed when you have no clue where to start and even the more minor details that might hurt your experience. Luckily, there’s plenty of information out there nowadays. All you need to do is do your research and figure out some travel tips for beginners. Social media, guidebooks, and blogs have never been more plentiful. Just pick what suits your ideas best.

Hopefully, this travel planning guide for beginners will put you on the right path just as you desire and help you travel frequently and more efficiently.

Decide When to Travel

Timing is one of the critical travel factors to consider. One of the best travel tips for beginners is to travel during the off-season as compared to travelling during peak season.

Being flexible with your travel dates saves you a good chunk of money on both accommodation and transportation. Additionally, you get to enjoy popular tourist attractions when it’s less crowded and shorter wait periods.

Pick a Destination

Travel tips for beginners

Step 1 when planning a trip: pick your destination

One of the most exciting parts of planning a trip is researching and choosing a travel destination. The whole world is your oyster at this point, and you can go anywhere and do anything.

However, it’s essential to have an excellent strategy to narrow down your options.  You may opt to pick a destination from your bucket list that you had created, the most economical to fly to, or one that you got inspired to travel to through travel magazines or travel bloggers. Go ahead and get detailed and specific with your plans.

Every little detail would count, such as luggage storage places in Seattle, or bike rentals in London. The idea is to be as explicitly detailed about your destination as possible.

Research Flights and Dates

Research a few dates to find the best time to travel

Research a few dates to find the best time to travel

Hotel or activity prices are not as volatile as airline prices and availability are. In that, there’s still a good chance you can find another place to stay that will still fall within your budget and meet your needs if the hotel room you had booked is no longer available. 

On the other hand, consider if you had booked a hotel, but the flight you were looking at is no longer available or has doubled in price? Therefore, you must take your time researching flight routes and dates. Book your flight early enough to get your desired flight and also for the best deals.

One of our best travel tips for beginners is to use apps such as Skyscanner, Momondo, and Google Flights to help you find cheap air tickets. 

Remember to find a good parking spot for your car. You can also try to save more on the parking spots you pick. For example, you can save more if you park your car near the airport you intend to use.

For example, you can book parking at the Embassy Suites RDU Airport if you use the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. You can then use a free shuttle service to and from the airport. It will save you a lot. Remember to pick a spot that can guarantee you security for your car for the time you will be away. 

Decide on the Duration of Your Stay

The length of your trip will highly depend on your monetary budget since the longer your trip, the more you spend. On top of that, vacation time is another factor to consider. How much time do you have at your disposal?  How much of it do you want to commit to this trip?

Also, think about the time needed to explore and enjoy your destination and the travel time to the destination. One of the hardest parts about planning your first trip is figuring out the balance between taking your time, and trying to see it all.

One of our travel tips for beginners is to spend at least 2 days in each city in order to really immerse yourself. For large destinations like Paris or Rome, you should plan to spend even more time.  

Set Your Budget

Setting a travel budget is one of our essential travel tips for beginners

Setting a travel budget is an important part of planning your trip

Go the extra mile and research your total costs with your preferred travel style. Would you rather stay in hotels, or do you want to backpack to the destination? What’s the cost of restaurants, hotels, and attraction sites?

These questions will guide you in coming up with a rough estimate of your total costs. If working with a limited budget, look for destinations that fit into your range and rule out unaffordable destinations. If you are flexible, figure out how much you are comfortable spending and squeeze your expenses into that budget.

Wrap up

It’s always important to have almost as much of your trip planned out in advance as possible to avoid getting into sticky situations on your travel. We hope the simple travel tips for beginners will help you organize better and prepare for your trip.

How to Use Digital Solutions for Eco-Friendly Travel

The good news for those of us interested in sustainable travel solutions? Backpacking can be one of the most eco-friendly ways to explore. But as cool as it would be, you can’t backpack across the ocean.

Even if you’re looking to explore far off places by foot, the modes of travel required to get there can take their own toll on the environment. If you’re trying to find eco-friendly travel solutions, you’ll be looking for green, low-carbon, safe options.

Fortunately, the digital transformation of travel technology is making all this possible. From self-driving electric cars to carbon calculators, you can explore and understand the impact of new modes of travel that get you out into nature without hurting it. Here’s what you should know.

Sustainable Travel Solutions with Tech

Sustainable travel and climate change are increasing as the top concerns of many travelers. With one TravelTechnology survey revealing that 45% of travelers put one or both of these issues just behind economic conditions as their key travel hesitations, the need for green solutions is pressing.

Now, as travelers seek to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic into a world still wracked by climate crises, the availability of tech solutions is more important than ever. From smartphone applications that can help you make more eco-friendly decisions to smarter vehicles, you can travel without producing nearly as much carbon emissions.

How to Use Digital Solutions for Eco-Friendly Travel and sustainable travel

Use technology to help in your quest for sustainable travel solutions

Advancing technology and travel are joining hands to make this possible. As 5G wireless networks go up across the world, the amount of data and insights that abound on the web mean the average person has enough information and flexibility to make sustainable travel decisions on the fly.

World industries are increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainability; digital solutions can help guide you to the most eco-conscious modes of travel, flights, hotels, tour operators, restaurants, and more.

For any backpacking adventure, finding and integrating these green solutions can help elevate your trip not only in terms of sustainable travel solutions but in fun, ease, and convenience. Assuage your travel guilt by taking advantage of the many tech solutions available with a touch of a finger. 

The Digital Solutions for Eco-Friendly Travel

There are plenty of platforms out there to help you travel cleanly and safely. From vehicles to apps, software-as-a-service to rideshare, the digital world is transforming travel by helping you cut down on carbon emissions

As technology rapidly advances to accommodate the environmentally-conscious traveler, these are the digital solutions you should keep in mind: 

Driverless Vehicles

Going on a backpacking trip to a remote locale often means seeking out the cheapest and most sustainable form of transportation. In the U.S., this is typically by a bus like Greyhound that can take you from place to place in a cheap and eco-friendly manner.

However, advancements in digital technology are rapidly making it possible for you to travel sustainably in a car without even driving.

Driverless vehicles are the future. From Tesla’s popular Autopilot feature to the work being done by companies like Amazon to develop driverless trucking technology, a world of driverless vehicles is much closer than you might think. The results will be a safer, greener world.

While you can already access rideshare services that can help with sustainable travel solutions for all of your trips, companies like Uber are working on driverless cars that you can summon as needed. This will add a level of convenience to your trip, and the best part is that almost all the driverless vehicles being developed are fully electric, meaning zero carbon emissions. 

Next time you access Uber or Lyft to find a community carpool, imagine a future in which you can summon a driverless electric vehicle to help you make the same trip.

Eco-Tourism Apps

While fully driverless cars might still be years or even decades away, there are a host of applications you can access from your smartphone to help you right now in your quest for eco-friendly travel. Here are just a few examples of the kinds of apps that you can use to access all kinds of eco-friendly services:

  • EatWith: lets you find locals who want to share their local food
  • Expedia: includes sustainability practices for the hotels in its database
  • Cabmix: allows you to carpool taxis
  • HopStop: recommends bike and walking paths as well as bus stops and public transit info
  • Locavore: guides you to local produce markets for fresh, in-season eats

There are plenty more options out there for finding everything from eco-friendly flights to hostels that use sustainable bedding and toiletries. Explore a world of digital solutions all from the comfort of the App Store or Google Play. 

Carbon and Solar Calculators

Getting as close to zero-waste backpacking as possible requires exploring all your methods for sustainable travel solutions. Fortunately, carbon footprint calculators can help make your energy use and output easy to understand. By harnessing energy independence through calculators like these, you can make the best possible decisions for eco-friendly travel.

For example, there are all kinds of free carbon footprint calculators that can help you gauge just how sustainable your plane’s flight, bus ride, or housing situation really is. With the help of apps like those mentioned before, you can pair your sustainable travel efforts with added insights via a carbon calculator.

Eco-friendly travel requires insight and preparation. Make use of all the knowledge available in the digital world and check it against the carbon footprint calculator. As a result, you can effectively cut your carbon footprint for your backpacking trip to an absolute minimum.

7 Cultural Destinations for a World Heritage Trip

When choosing your next vacation destination, you might crave a scenic mountain escape, a beach vacation, or an adventurous road trip. However, cultural legacy also plays a decisive role in choosing a travel destination. If you’re interested in history, world heritage, geographical wonders, and traditional customs, choosing one of the world’s cultural destinations can be an unforgettable vacation experience.

Culturally-rich destinations not only offer tangible delights like traditional food, museums, archaeology, and architecture, they also have an intangible element that makes the place special, like customs, rituals, and historical significance.

On top of that, connecting with different cultures helps open your eyes in ways that a typical holiday might not achieve. So without further ado, here are seven such cultural destinations for world heritage travelers and explorers.

1.   Cambodia

Cambodia - on the best cultural destinations in the world

Bayon Temple in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Cambodia has an impressive history of civilizations and lucrative trade routes that really come alive when you visit the country. The iconic Angkor Wat temple, the world’s largest Buddhist temple complex of the early 12th century, reveres Lord Vishnu.

You will be able to take in the magnificence of Hindu god statues in the many temples in this architectural monument. Cambodia also has a rich tradition of handicrafts like golden silk, cotton textiles, and clay pottery. While visiting Cambodia, be sure to hop on the famous two-wheeled carriage Tuk-tuk, which ferries around people of all cultures and nationalities in Cambodia.             

Cultural Highlights:  

  •     Royal Ballet in Phnom Penh (Khmer classical dance featuring apsara dances in brightly colored costumes)
  •     Krama (traditional Cambodian checkered scarf)  
  •     Battambang (known for French colonial buildings and architecture, artist-run galleries)
  •     Arts and crafts (stone carving, silversmithing, lacquerware, kite-making) 
  •     Pin Peat (percussion instruments)
  •     The Reamker (Cambodian version of the Indian epic Ramayana)
  •     Nang Sbek (Shadow Theatre)

2. Japan

Japan, a country rich in heritage and tradition

Japan is known for its historic shrines, temples, and cultural celebrations. Travelers will also have plenty of opportunities to learn about other Japanese traditions like Manga art and hand-drawn computer animation.

There is a high regard for tradition in Japan, so pay attention to the customary bowing while greeting, removing your shoes upon entering a home, or eating with chopsticks.

Cultural Highlights:  

  •     Manga art (comic books in woodblock print)
  •     Anime (hand-drawn and computer-animated works)
  •     Geisha (traditional Japanese music sung by women at high-class banquets)
  •     Shodo (flower calligraphy)
  •     Ikebana (flower arrangement)
  •     Kimono (traditional Japanese clothing) 
  •     Bunraku and Kabuki (puppet theatre featuring stylized masks, costumes)
  •     Sushi, Teriyaki (Japanese dishes)

3. Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu - one of the best cultural wonders of the world

As one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a stunning cultural destination

The magnificent site of Machu Picchu is the world’s most famous ancient city and a top tourist attraction. Scenic backpacking routes, like the Inca Trail, lead up to this classic mountain ridge tucked in Peru’s Andes Mountains. Machu Picchu, declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1983, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 (per an internet poll).

This architectural city delights you with its stone blocks, temples, monuments, walls, steep mountains, water channels, and varied flora and fauna.

Cultural Highlights:

  •     The Temple of the Sun (for the Sun God worship)
  •     Intihuatana (astronomic solar clock and monolithic structure)
  •     The Sacred Rock
  •     Huayna Picchu
  •     The Temple of Condor (well-known Inca temple)
  •     The Ocarina, the Antara, and The Charango (ancient Andean musical instruments)

4. Egypt

The Great Pyramids of Giza - the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World

The Great Pyramids of Giza – the last remaining wonder of the ancient world

The ancient Egyptian culture has left its mark on the world with magnificent monuments, scientific advancements, and fascinating treasures that are still being unearthed today. But a visit to Egypt will also teach you about mythology, religion, civilization, and architecture.

Egypt’s beauty is unparalleled, as even the folk paintings on rural house walls depict Egypt’s strong artistic focus. The Great Pyramids of Giza built for three Egyptian pharaohs are the oldest Wonder of the Ancient world, and in fact it’s the only one that remains intact today.

For a unique viewing experience, you can take a camel or horse ride to enjoy the view of this last remaining wonder of the ancient world.

Cultural Highlights:

  • Great Pyramids (481 feet tall made with 2.3 million limestone blocks)
  •     The Great Sphinx at Giza (world-famous sculpture with a lion’s body and a human head)
  •     Pharaohs (Egyptian art)
  •     Tomb of Tutankhamen
  •     Bread loaf and falafel for daily and ceremonial occasions
  •     Perfume and minerals for makeup

5. Rajasthan, India

Hawa Mahal palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Hawa Mahal palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Camel fairs, royal palaces and rulers, festivals, handicrafts, and The Thar Desert make this state Northern state of India one of the top cultural destinations in the world. While there, be sure to enjoy the traditional folk music and dance that convey the heroic tales of battles fought on Rajasthani soil.

Cultural Highlights:

  •     Pushkar Camel Fair (held every November)
  •     Langas and Manganiars (folk musicians)
  •     Ghoomar dance from Jodhpur
  •     Dharohar dance performance (earthen pots stacked on the head)
  •     Kathputli (puppet show)
  •     Choki Dhani (resort village experience of Rajasthan folk dance, cultural skits, and eating platter meal while seated on the floor)

6. Russia

Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia

Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia

Russia is so much more than freezing tundra and imposing castles. It has colorful cathedrals, gilded fountains, ballet, painting, literature, and cuisine to awaken your cultural spirit.

Culture Highlights:

  •     St. Basil’s Cathedral (Moscow’s famous work of architecture)
  •     Peterhof Palace and Gardens (check the spectacular fountains)
  •     Bolshoi ballet (renowned classical ballet)
  •     Food and drinks (sample beef stroganoff, borscht soup, caviar, vodka)

7. Cuba

A typical street in Havana, Cuba - one of the best cultural destinations in the world

A typical street in Havana, Cuba

Cuba excites visitors for its unspoiled beaches and its lively music and dance. It is also the birthplace of several music genres. Interestingly,  Cuba has nine UNESCO-approved World Heritage sites for the heritage explorer in you.

Cultural Highlights:

  •     Baroque architecture
  •     Moorish-inspired arched walkways
  •     Art deco style, as seen in the Bacardi building in Havana
  •     Salsa and Cha-cha-cha (local music)

Final Thoughts

Before planning your trip to these cultural destinations of the world, be sure to check guidance around the pandemic. To protect yourself and the local population, be sure to wear and carry reusable masks and sanitizer for a safe journey.  

9 Tips & Tricks for Backpacking with your Dog

Notice how your dog’s tail wags when you say the word walk? Our canine furry friends absolutely adore getting out in nature for a big walk, and hiking with your dog is a great way to keep both you and your furry friend in shape and healthy. Whether you are new to canine care or have been doing it a long time, hopefully, this article will help you out! Here are nine tips and tricks for backpacking with a dog when you and your furry friend go hiking in the great outdoors.

1. Pre-Hike Training (for both of you!)

Before you even attempt to go backpacking with your dog, it is important to make sure you are both ready. Before going out together, take your pup to dog parks to ensure they are socialized and well-behaved around other dogs, people, animals, and unknown circumstances. Give your dog little bits of experience around hiking by going on small walks and building up slowly before attempting anything too big.

How to go backpacking with your dog

Take necessary steps to bring your dog on your backpacking adventures

2. Do the Research to Find a Dog-Friendly Trail

As Reece Lance, a travel blogger at Academized and Write my essay, commented, “The first thing you need to ensure before heading out is that you are planning on going to a dog-friendly trailhead. It is extremely easy to make the mistake of heading all the way there and then finding that they do not allow dogs.” Before you go to the trailhead, it is important to do some research. Ensure that the trail is not going to be too hard on your dog’s paws or too much for both of your fitness levels.

3. Pack Enough Food, Water, and Treats for your Pup

9 Tips & Tricks for Hiking and Backpacking with your Dog

Just as it is important to bring yourself enough energy bars, water bottles, and packed sandwiches when you are walking; it is crucial to do the same when you go backpacking with your dog! The best way to think is to bring a little bit more than you need for the both of you. Bring their usual food, extra water, and treats to keep your pup motivated. You do not want to be caught without if the hike goes a little longer than expected. This dog water bottle is easy for them to drink out of, and its handy dual-valve system lets you re-store any water your dog doesn’t drink so that their fresh water doesn’t go to waste.

4. Leave No Trace! Bring Poop Bags

On trails, it is requested that people leave no trace behind and clean up after themselves. This applies to dogs as much as it does to humans. You are responsible for the trace that your dog leaves behind, and this is especially important to consider when your dog poops! Pick up after your pup or bury the waste deep in the ground. Be kind to the environment and bring some extra-thick biodegradable poop bags to dispose of your dog’s waste once you’re off the trail.

5. Bring a First Aid Kit

You should always bring a first aid kit on long hikes for yourself, but also ensure you have canine-specific first-aid items when you go backpacking with your dog. In all hope, you will never need it; but it is always better to be prepared than caught unawares. The most important safety items for a pet first aid kit are tick-tweezers and an LED-lighted color.  This dog-specific first aid kit also includes wraps, a water bowl, special tick tweezers, and a LED light-up color, so that you can easily spot your dog once the sun goes down.

6. Pack Dog Clothing & Wrap-Ups

Ensure your pup will be prepared for extreme weather on the trail

Ensure your pup will be prepared for extreme weather on the trail

Following on from my previous point, it is always better to be prepared than caught unawares. Check the weather before you go backpacking with your dog, but also be prepared for circumstances where the weather may change without warning. Pack extra dog clothing and wrap-ups for both of you. A lightweight rain jacket will fold up nicely in your pack and will come in handy in case you encounter stormy weather on the trail.

7. Bring a Dog Toy on the Hike

Bringing a favorite toy of your pups on the hike will make them feel instantly comfortable and at ease in a new environment. This can also be used as a way of getting their attention if they start wandering off too far to explore. This football-shaped squeak toy is easy to throw, plus the irregular shape means it will bounce in different ways, keeping your dog’s attention.

8. Take Regular Breaks & Keep an Eye on your Dog

Bring your dog (big or small!) on your hiking adventures

Bring your dog (big or small!) on your hiking adventures

Anna George, a lifestyle writer at Boomessays and Resumention, noted, “On a long hike, make sure to keep an eye on your dog for signs of discomfort, pain, or fatigue.” If you start to see signs that you are worried about, this is where your first aid kit comes in handy! However, keeping your dog hydrated and fed will avoid this happening in most cases.

9. Do a Final Check on your Pup

Congrats! You and your dog have finished your hiking adventure or backpacking trip. It is important to do a final check on your pup for any bug bites, ticks, or little injuries before hopping back in the car and heading home.

Checklist for Backpacking with Your Dog

Backpacking with your dog

Hiking with Dogs

How to Fly Safely during COVID-19: 5 Health Tips

It has been more than a year since we saw the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and most of us have been practicing social distancing ever since. Many travel enthusiasts are thinking of using the coming spring and summer to travel somewhere away from such an isolated existence. If you are one of those considering traveling again soon, be sure to pay heed to safety measures and health advisories to protect yourself and those around you. So, besides having your Covid-19 test, here are five air travel health tips for how to travel safely during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

1. Take Required Safety Measures Before Your Flight

Covid-19 has hardly left any part of the world unscathed. So your destination might have new scenery, but you need to follow the same fundamentals when it comes to your health.

  • First and foremost, get vaccinated if you can. It is your best security in the present circumstance.
  • Even after you and your co-travelers have gotten vaccinated, if any of you are sick or show common Covid-19 symptoms, do not travel.
  • Before you plan your trip, check the travel restrictions in your destination as well as the areas through which you might be passing.
  • When you are at the airport and on your flight, follow the social distancing norms issued by the airline. Whenever you touch something, remember to clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer.

2. Pack All Your Travel Essentials

One of the key aspects of traveling during a health emergency is packing all your essential items and being prepared for any situation. You never know how the situation changes in your destination, and therefore, pack the following things:

  • Carry separate sanitizing solutions like travel-sized hand sanitizer, alcohol sanitizing wipes, disinfectants, and liquid soaps for all your family members. Note that air travel has stricter liquid carrying limits as compared to ground transportation.
  • Carry well-packaged high-protein snacks and chocolate bars. If you feel hungry on your way, you can eat these snacks without needing to find them on the go.
Bring medicines from home to travel safely during Covid

Bring medicines and a first aid kit from home to avoid pharmacy visits when you travel

  • Take essential medications with you so you don’t have to find them at your destination. If you can, carry antiviral drugs and supplements to help yourself in case of an emergency.
  • Take a strong moisturizer like shea butter lotion to apply on your hands that will be quite dry after repeated sanitization.
  • Put important items like medicines, sanitizers, and headphones in a small carry-on bag for easy access.

3. Use a Face Mask And Sanitizer Throughout Your Air Travel

Even if you have gotten vaccinated, you shouldn’t let your guard down while COVID-19 is still a threat. Flying safely during COVID-19 requires you to consider the following points:

  • Wear your mask throughout the entire journey
  • Carry travel-sized hand sanitizer so that you can frequently sanitize your hands after you touch things
  • If you have to touch your face, clean your hands with alcohol sanitizing wipes beforehand
  • For extra protection, bring a face shield to protect your entire face from particles from your co-passengers
  • When you need to take the mask off, do not touch the inner surface area. And if you accidentally touch it, put on a new one immediately
  • Keep spare masks and sanitizer bottles in your handbag, so that you can access them in seconds

4. Eat And Sleep Properly Before Boarding Your Flight

Flying safely during Covid requires a strong immune system which means you’ll want to feel your best despite the tense times. The air pressure at 4,00,000ft is much lower than normal, and it can upset your stomach. Couple that with being in close contact with so many passengers in the cabin, and you know why your immune system might become susceptible. So, prepare in advance to remain in good shape during your air travel.

  • The gas in your body can increase significantly on a flight. Therefore, opt for easy and light meals before you board.
  • The meal you take just before the flight should not have sugar and be rich in complex carbohydrates and protein.
  • Fruits are great options for eating before you board a plane. Potassium-rich fruits like bananas can regulate your blood pressure and ease your muscle cramps during your air travel. Consider Vitamin C-rich oranges to boost your immunity.
  • A good night’s sleep is very crucial before you board the plane since may not get proper sleep on the flight.
  • Avoid drinking too much alcohol on the night before the journey, as it may leave you feeling ill during the journey.

5. Fly Airlines That Maintain Safety Norms

The airlines have a big role in ensuring their passengers are able to travel safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check whether your airline offers the following services.

  • Your airline must sanitize all the interiors after each flight. This includes spraying disinfectants and clean-wiping all the seats, lavatories, doors, overhead nozzles, and every other touchpoint.
  • The airline should block the middle seat of every row to maintain a safe distance among passengers.
  • The airline crew should have done their Covid-19 tests and must have negative results.
  • Many international airlines are equipping themselves with High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters (HEPA) to suck in 99% of harmful particles. Make sure your airline has the system installed.

Final Words

During these turbulent times, flying safely during COVID requires you to be conscious of all kinds of dangers. But with all the hygiene measures in place, you can complete a successful trip without compromising your health and happiness.