Waegook Tom

A Blog About A Globetrotting English Teacher

Travel Tips

Top Tips for Your First Vacation with Friends

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Traveling with your friends is one of the best experiences you will ever have, as you spend quality time together and make fun memories that are sure to last a lifetime. However, if you have never been on vacation with a group before, you may be in need of some help and advice on how to make the experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

While it is normal to feel a sense of excitement for the upcoming trip, you might also feel apprehension in the hope that it all goes to plan. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at how you can make your first group vacation with friends an experience you’ll never forget, and for all the right reasons!

Agree on a budget

Before planning any group vacation, it’s important you sit down with one another and work out a suitable budget that you’re happy with. This will determine how much you can all afford to spend on the accommodation, flights, and activities once you arrive, so no-one is left short of cash. You may need to cut back on a few ideas if people in the group are looking to spend less, which is why a group planning session beforehand is crucial.

Find a holiday destination

Another key step to the planning of a group vacation would be determining the best destination to suit your interests. Depending on how long you want your trip to be, you may be happy with a short city break, a relaxing trip to the country or perhaps a multi-stop trip, where you’ll be traveling from place to place for several weeks. It may also all depend on the occasion too. For example, if you have the job of planning a hen party for someone in your group, you will need to think about the ideal getaway where you can spend quality time together. There are plenty of hen party houses for rent that you can choose from, where up to ten guests can be accommodated, allowing for plenty of space for your celebrations, while having the element of total relaxation due to the remote location.

Create a group message

Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with one than one person, thanks to social media. Therefore, it would be a good idea to keep everyone up to date on news and updates by creating a group message on the likes of WhatsApp or Facebook. This way, you can instantly discuss everything from the flights to the accommodation and the itinerary, without having to wait for your next meeting. If someone is happy to take the lead with the planning, assign a group leader to oversee all the steps and ultimately, take charge. They may even decide to delegate tasks to each person, in the group so that it doesn’t fall on one person’s shoulders.

Start saving the spare coins

One way to cut down the costs once you arrive at your destination would be to start saving spare coins to add to a pot, which can be used to purchase food and drinks once you arrive. This should only be spent when the whole of the group is in attendance and makes sure that everyone contributes fairly. If this won’t necessarily work, think of other ways you can share expenses.

Reasons to Buy Your Universal Studios Tickets Online Before You Leave Home

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If you are heading to Orlando in 2020 then you are no doubt already looking to see which theme parks you will hit, where you will stay and how you will map out your vacation in this amazing location. A family trip to Orlando takes a lot of planning and you need to maximize each day in order to get the best out of this trip on the whole. When it comes to buying tickets for somewhere like Universal Studios it really makes a lot of sense to get those tickets online before you go. There are many websites which offer ticket buying options and there are so man benefits in doing this.

Cheaper Prices

For the best prices on Universal Orlando tickets you have to go online and visit a third party seller who is offering big discounts on entry passes. If you compare the prices of these tickets to what you may pay on the door when you arrive at Universal Orlando, you will see that the difference is pretty sizable, sometimes up to 20% cheaper. This is of course a big saving but when you consider that you are going to be taking the whole family, that saving becomes even bigger. Check that you are buying from a reputable reseller before you part with any of your money.

Guarantees

It doesn’t happen often but there are times when you may find that the park has sold out for the day, which can completely ruin your itinerary. Guarantee yourself tickets before you go to give you the peace of mind which you need. Buying online before you go will ensure that you have secured your tickets and that you are going to be able to get in on the days which you have selected.

Planning

As we mentioned in the intro, a holiday to Orlando is a hectic one and because there is so much to do, and so much which you’ll want to do, you need to plan your itinerary to the letter. knowing that you have secured your tickets for theme park access helps you to better plan your time in Orlando, rather than leaving anything up to chance.

Less Stressful

As someone who has taken the kids on 2 separate occasions to Orlando I can tell you that this is a vacation which is very stressful, and that starts before you leave home. If you compare a vacation like this to a two week trip to Spain, the amount of planning, luggage and work that you have to put in to a trip like this is huge. It is for this reason that you need to be an expert with your plans, because the more that you have prepared before leaving, the less stressed you are going to be when you get there.

Universal Orlando is a great place to spend a couple of days, get your tickets before you leave, and tick another item off your to-do list.

Tips on Staying Safe When Traveling Abroad

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Roaming through the heart of Geneva on your own may not seem like the scariest thing on Earth but traveling through busy and bustling cities in India or passing a few days in Honduras can present dangers to the solo traveler. There is a notion that girls are more at risk when traveling abroad but honestly I would say that any solo traveler should be cautious when they are in a new place, and one with any kind of increased crime rates. Petty crime is normally the biggest risk but there is nothing petty about being scared stiff and having your stuff stolen whilst you are on the road. Whilst you can never guarantee that you won’t get into trouble, there are some steps which you can take to keep yourself safer.

Taking Tours

I am not a massive lover of taking tours but in some places they are very necessary just to give yourself that extra layer of protection. On a recent trip to Chile we decided not to take a tour for a small mountain climb, as we began to walk up the foot of the mountain we were approached by groups of men demanding payment for our being there, this of course wouldn’t have happened with a tour. In some locations a tour gives you the security which you need when you visit attractions.

Keep it Light

If you are somewhere with high crime rates or somewhere that you are unsure about, don’t walk around with all of your expensive gear on. I see some people wandering around with cameras hanging from their necks, jewelry on and all manner of gadgets with them, this is just making yourself into a target.

Act Normal

The real key to avoiding issues is to try your best not to stand out as someone who isn’t from the parts. You need to walk like you know where you are going, if you need to check a map then do so in private rather than in the middle of the street. In terms of clothing try to blend in and where similar stuff to the locals. The more that you appear as though you belong, the less likely you are to be seen as a potential target.

Drinking

When we are inebriated, even slightly, our judgement can very quickly change and our ability to sense danger is lowered. For this reason it really makes sense to maintain a sober head during your time away, at least until you know the area.

Trust Your Gut

It is really important that you trust your own sense of judgement, if something doesn’t smell right, don’t go there. If you take a wrong turn down a street which doesn’t look great, if you meet someone who wants to take you somewhere but you are unsure, even if you get into a taxi and you don’t trust the driver, whatever it is, you must ensure that you abort if things don’t look good. Trust your gut and stay safe.

Always be sure to keep your eyes open, stay where there are people and follow the tips on this list to stay safe when traveling alone.

Planning a getaway to Hampshire? What to see

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Source: Unsplash | Annie Spratt

Hampshire is perhaps synonymous now with comfortable country living and iconic English towns. This slice of idyllic England is home to the seaside, acres of towering forest and homes of some of Englands most famous authors. Hampshire’s reputation for being the home of refined taste makes it the perfect place to plan your getaway to. Whether you’re after a town or city break, or you’d prefer to spend your days outdoors, there’s plenty to do in this beautiful corner of the country.

Jane Austen’s House

If you’ve watched Pride and Prejudice and ever wanted to see where it all began, then this is the place to visit. Not only is this the home that Jane Austen wrote her most famous novels, but it’s also a beautifully preserved cottage with stunning gardens that surround it. This capsule of Jane’s life is a treasured place for many literary enthusiasts and is also a monument to celebrate one of Britain’s most influential female authors.

Endless Gardens

While you’re in one of the most quintessentially English parts of the United Kingdom, you may as well visit some truly iconic gardens while you’re there. In Hampshire, you’ll find beautifully-presented gardens that are bursting with the best wildlife that Britain has to offer. For example, Exbury gardens come to full vibrancy during the summertime, and while you’re there it’s a good idea to make the most of their quaint nearby attractions – an adorable miniature steam railway being one of them. You’ll also find forests, as well as riverside walks, to enjoy. Nearby gardens also include the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, where you’ll be able to smell some of Britain’s most beautiful native flowers, such as hydrangeas.

Mid-Hants Railway

If you want to enjoy the English countryside at full speed, then taking one of their picturesque railway routes is the way to do it. The ‘Watercress Line’ takes you to some of the most quaint English towns known to man, including Alresford. If you want the chocolate box experience, then be sure to take the train to this adorable little town. You’ll find multi-coloured houses, tiny boutiques and plenty of places to eat and drink. This town is renowned for its place on the train line, and so it’s not completely removed of tourist attractions.

You’ll also find plenty of riverside walks to go exploring down and views of the sprawling green countryside. Depending on which end of the Mid-Hants Railway you’d prefer to base yourself at, you’ll also find plenty of places to stay in the surrounding area. By simply searching ‘Holiday Cottages Hampshire’ you’ll find plenty of luxurious cottages to base yourself, in the Hampshire area.

Hampshire enjoys some of the UK’s most beautiful views, as well as some of its most vibrant wildlife. By taking the steam train, you will discover hidden towns that look as if they belong in a film set. You will also discover the writers of films that would be created centuries later, as well as beautiful gardens to lose yourself in – it is truly a county that’s worth visiting.

Adventurous Travel Options For Thrillseekers

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Whether you’re an avid traveller or someone who just likes to get away from it all on occasion, it’s entirely possible that you will like to take advantage of time away from work to focus on things that you love to do, such as hiking, exploring, art and music or cooking. If you’re planning a great getaway, you might be wondering where you can go that will allow you to exercise your interests as well. Here are a couple great options for travel ideas for thrillseekers. 

Source: Unsplash | Felix M. Dorn

Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country where many people flock to see some of the area’s most important wildlife. The Okavango Delta is located in Botswana, a hugely important ecosystem of flora and fauna in the area. This is one of the major points of interest in all of Botswana, with a number of safari companies bringing tourists to the area. If you want a real treat of African wildlife, this is the place you need to see. Boat trips are just one of the ways you can explore the area, but any safari operator will provide you with excellent options if you want to add this to your itinerary.

Colombia

Formerly considered one of the most dangerous countries on the planet due to the cocaine trade, since the dissolution of the FARC, Colombia has grown its tourist infrastructure and industry to become one of the biggest up and comers when it comes to tourism. Not only can you visit impressive beaches, but also cocoa plantations, coffee plantations and beautiful mountain regions where hiking is ample, the people are friendly and you’re sure to have an experience that will leave you with lasting memories. 

Source: Unsplash | Agreen Duhoki

Iraq

If you’ve ever thought about travelling to a truly wondrous location with a deep history and ancient sites, Iraq is one of the best places. While it’s entirely possible to visit some of the more “shady” places such as Babylon which is out of the “safe zone”, parts of Iraqi Kurdistan are perfectly safe and include cities such as Erbil, where you can find high class accommodation and plentiful sources for restaurants and other tourist sites of interest. 

Russia

Russia has for a long time been somewhat a strange and unique option for travellers who are looking for something new and unusual for trips and adventures. With a number of cities to choose from for exploring including Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg in the western part of the country, there’s a whole host of options for almost any class and type of traveller. One of the most interesting and unusual ways to explore the country is through taking the Trans-Siberian Railway across the country from Moscow to…wherever! If you’re feeling brave, why not take it all the way to Beijing? It’s possible! 

So if you’ve been looking for some truly adventurous travel options, why not consider one of the choices above? There are literally so many cool, adventurous places to choose from, it’s no wonder adventure travel is becoming more and more sought after. So what are you waiting for? Get those bags packed and pick your top place to explore this year. Enjoy!