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3 Travel Tips That’ll Help You to Relax on Vacation

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After a year spent on the grind at work making money for yourself and your family, all you want to do is relax on your vacation. This, however, is easier said than done. Chilling out and enjoying your time away from home is not as simple as it may seem — if you’ve been on vacation before, you can probably attest to that fact. Something just always seems to get in the way of you and a truly relaxing break.

You should stand for this no more, however, as the three travel tips found below can and will help you to really enjoy your next vacation.

Get the important stuff sorted in advance

It’s quite simple; if you get the important stuff regarding your travels sorted before you set off on your adventure, you won’t have to worry about organizing anything while you are vacationing.

In this instance, you should seek to get your transportation, your restaurant options, and your money estimates sorted well in advance of your departure date. As soon as you know where you will be heading on your holiday, you have to check out cheap car rentals near me to ensure that you know where the nearest place to pick up your rented vehicle is going to be situated; you have to make sure that you know where the most suitable restaurants can be found; and you have to bring out the exact amount of money you think you’re going to need to cover your expenses for the duration of your stay.

Don’t pressure yourself to enjoy your vacation

When you build an event up so much, chances are, you’re going to ruin it. This happens when you put pressure on a Friday night to try and make it as fun as it can be, and this happens when you put pressure on yourself to enjoy your vacation. Simply, lay off the pressure and allow yourself to go with the flow instead.

Instead of looking for everything to be perfect, allow things to go wrong on your vacation from time to time. Instead of only finding enjoyment in the big activities and excursions that you take part in, try to find pleasure in the smaller things, such as a nice meal or a good conversation. When you take the pressure off yourself in these kinds of ways, you will be far more likely to have a relaxing vacation.

Take a ‘decompression’ day

In the essence of truly taking the pressure off, you should ensure to take a ‘decompression’ day at some point on your vacation. Rushing around and trying to pack everything into every single day will just wear you out, and that’ll only ever lead to more stress and more fatigue on your part. Taking time to decompress, be it a whole day or just an afternoon, will see you unwind and give you the chance to reorganize yourself.

By putting the three travel tips above into practice, your next vacation will surely be the most relaxing of your life.

How to Decide Where to Travel Next

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The world isn’t short of beautiful, exciting and fun destinations, which can make choosing your next destination all the more difficult. How can you possibly select one place to visit when the world is your oyster? Of course, you could pack up your life and travel the entire world, for those of us who have jobs and a family, selecting your summer vacation can be the only holiday you have that year.

If you need to decide where to head to next, here are some tips to help you come to a decision.

Decide on the Length of Your Vacation

If you plan to head off on a short vacation, you will not want to spend most of your time traveling to and from your destination. Identifying how long you are willing to travel for could help you to narrow down your next vacation spot. For example, if you’re based in England, a trip to Scotland or Wales might be more feasible than a New York City break.

Determine Your Travel Budget

Another factor that will determine your next trip will be your travel budget. If you’re on a shoestring budget, you’ll want to pick a famously cheap city to visit, such as Poland’s Krakow or Budapest in Hungary. This will ensure your money goes further on your travels, so you won’t need to watch your bank balance too hard to stay within your budget.

Choose Your Preferred Travel Experience

Of course, you must also choose an experience that complements your wants and needs, such as a city adventure or a relaxing vacation. For example, if you want a cultural yet tropical trip, you should visit South America Odyssey to book a bespoke tour. By doing so, you can explore the very best of South America, such as spectacular scenery, stunning weather, intriguing ancient ruins, and local hospitality.

Talk to Your Travel Buddy

Unless you’re traveling solo, you must talk to your travel buddy to find out where he or she would like to go on vacation. While you might want to head off on a sunny holiday, they might want more of a city break. If you want to travel together, then the both of you will need to compromise. However, if your ideas are too different, finding another travel partner may be best for the both of you.

Select Your Preferred Climate

It is, however, important to think carefully about your preferred climate before you book your next trip abroad. For example, while you might dream of visiting Mexico, you would be wise to avoid visiting the country during hurricane season, which ranges from June 1st to November 30th. Instead, you should book a trip to the likes of Cancun during the optimum time to visit, which is usually between December to April, as there is next to no rain. Learn more about your desired destination before you book a trip to avoid making a big mistake.

Think About Your Travel Bucket List

Do you want to make 2018 the year you tackle your bucket list? If so, now might be the perfect time to book a sought-after holiday. If you have money in the bank and don’t know where to spend it, write a list of all the destinations you’ve always wanted to experience and aim to visit at least one this year. For example, you could finally walk in Rome’s Colosseum, stand in front of Berlin’s Brandenberg Gate, or view the breath-taking glaciers in Alaska. Doing so will ensure you will look back on your 2018 travel experiences with no regrets and many fantastic memories.

Things you should know about traveling with pets

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About thirty million individuals are estimated to travel with their pets on a yearly basis. Major airlines accommodate about five hundred animals every day. While pets can make excellent travel companions, there are some things you should keep in mind if you want to set out for your next amazing destination along with your cat or dog.

Here are some tips and tricks you might find useful if you’re considering traveling with your fluffy or furry friend. You won’t have the convenience of a cat bed or a dog house when you’re out and about, but here are some funky options you might want to check out.

Airline safety and documentation

It goes without saying that one of the most important things you need to check off the list when you’re preparing to take off with your pet is having all the documentation on you. Check with your vet before leaving on your trip. Bring along all of the vaccine records as they are required by most airlines.

Some countries limit the entry of some types of pets, which is the case of Australia, for instance. Australian officials are particularly attentive when it comes to your pets’ documentation, so make a point out of providing them and having them on you all of the time.

You will need identification which will consist of an ID tag, the microchip, and a passport with a picture of the animal. Before buying your ticket, you need to check with the airline and find out whether there are any weight limitations for traveling pets. The pet carrier is included in the overall weight you’ll check in.

Car travel with your furry friends

For road trips, it might be a good idea to take a test ride before actually going on the road for several hours on end. This way, you will notice whether the dog or cat becomes anxious when spending too much time cooped up in the car.

As for the pet’s safety, there are some things that you can buy and install to make sure that your Fido or Tom is safe from harm. Dogs can wear a seat belt, too, so you should at least consider getting a car-specific harness for them.

Don’t ever leave your pets alone unless they have all the essentials readily available. On an 85-degree day, the temperature in your car with all of the windows cracked might reach as much as 110 degrees in the time span of just ten minutes. That kind of temperature can be lethal to a dog or a cat, especially if they have a lot of fur.

Pet-friendly destinations

Most pet parents know that some hotels are different from others in that they allow you to stay with your furry little friend. That doesn’t happen for all types of accommodation, of course. If you really have to spend time in a location where there’s no pet-friendly B&B or hotel, we urge you to seek out appropriate lodging for them.

How to Keep Up Studying for Your Online MSN Degree If You Are Going Away This Holiday Season

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The advent (Christmas pun intentional) of online degrees has made it possible for people looking to do a post-grad degree and get to the next stage in their career to do it flexibly and economically while still working in their current roles.

Online Master’s Degrees for Nurses

If you are on a nursing path, then doing an RN to MSN (registered nurse to master of science in nursing) degree can open up more senior positions, and make you a good candidate for leadership roles in nursing.

Doing your RN to MSN online is therefore a great way to move towards a more lucrative job with more responsibility, while also keeping your current working schedule and still having time for a personal and family life too!

A Break to Your Routine Can Be a Challenge for Your Study Time

Most nurses doing this find it fairly easy to balance studying with their jobs and lives once they get into a routine, but the times when routine goes out of the window – such as when on vacation – can make studying more difficult to keep up with.

While many nurses don’t get the luxury of time off over the holidays, if you have managed to score some coveted Christmas leave and are planning to go away – whether to visit relatives or simply to enjoy Christmas somewhere new, here are some tips for keeping up on your studies:

Set Up a Goal Amount of Studying You’ll Be Satisfied With

Unless your plan with your trip is to hole yourself away somewhere peaceful and focus on studying (in which case you probably don’t need any tips!), then chances are that being realistic, you are going to get less study done over Christmas than on a normal week. This is perfectly normal and just about every student in the world will be doing the same (if they celebrate Christmas).

However, what you do need to establish is how much study you will need to get done to be satisfied with your work over the holidays. Whether you set this goal as a number of hours, or the completion of certain tasks or modules is up to you, but knowing this going into your trip is the bare minimum you need to do to assuage feelings of guilt!

Work Out a Plan with Study Windows

Having figured out how much work you will be satisfied with, now you simply need to work out when you are going to do it. Making a schedule for your Christmas vacation may not sound fun, but if you do it and stick to it you can at least be sure you will achieve your study goal.

Look for dead time, for instance when on a plane or train, which can easily be used for study if you are prepared, as well as days when nothing much is going on in your plans. Focus study windows on these and you won’t feel you are missing out.

By planning and setting targets, you can keep up your online RN to MSN studies over Christmas without too much trouble.

Don’t Over Pack – Tips From Long Term Travellers

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It’s almost inevitable – you have booked that one way ticket somewhere wild and exotic and you’re about to head off on the adventure of a lifetime. But what should you pack? So many travellers run afoul of the packing situation and pack far too much for their trip. The truth of the matter is you probably need half of what you’re packing, maybe less depending on the type of person you are. Have a read ahead for some tips and tricks on getting the most out of your packing so you don’t end up having to lug around a bag full of clothes you haven’t touched since you left.

A Medical Kit That Makes A Hospital Blush

Any traveller – short term or long term – will tell you that the number one thing you need to pack is a comprehensive medical kit. It’s sod’s law that you will forget to pack or overlook packing something in your medical kit and then run into a situation where you wished you had. Depending where you’re going, having a comprehensive medical kit is absolutely vital as not everything is always available in your country of destination. A couple of things to consider packing include Loperamide (Immodium), activated charcoal with probiotics, bandages of all sizes, gauze, medical tape, tiger balm, antiseptic liquid such as TCP or rubbing alcohol (or wipes), nail scissors or clippers (although scissors can be used for other things, not just nails!), ample pain killers for headaches or bumps and bruises and antihistamines in the event of allergic reactions to bites and stings. DEET bug spray at at least 40% will help keep biting bugs at bay, and packing your own sunscreen is a highly suggested idea as some countries don’t stock it much if at all and if they do they may charge an extremely high price for it. Anything to use after bites or stings is also ideal to relieve pain and itching. Yeast and fungus can grow on and inside the body in warm, humid climates so it’s a good idea to bring yeast/thrush infection medication as well as anti-fungal cream.

Clothing and Shoes

In this department, employ the “joy technique” when choosing what to pack. The joy technique is a technique that has become popular in recent years for removing clutter from a home or office where you hold each item you own and ask if it brings you joy and if not then you discard it. The same goes for clothes when heading out on a big trip – hold each item and ask “Am I really going to use this?” “Am I really going to go to a fancy restaurant where I need this dress/dressier clothes?” Chances are the answers are no, as when you’re moving around on the road frequently you start to favour the baggy, loose fitting and easy clothes over those that are fancier or more “acceptable” back home. A good example is fisherman pants – a staple for travellers and locals alike throughout South East Asia. Many travellers find that they end up wearing fisherman pants almost exclusively during their trips, and not even touching the capris or leggings they brought from home. If you’re ditching the fancy clothes, that means you can probably ditch the fancy shoes too.

Double The Usage

A final quick tip, especially for women to cut down on the amount of stuff they take abroad, is to bring clothes with two usages. Tank tops and t-shirts are prime examples of clothes that can be doubled up to be pyjamas as well!

There you have a couple of great tips on how to pack for a long trip without going overboard and the things that you absolutely must take with you. Remember to go easy on the packing if possible – it’s likely you will end up acquiring stuff on the road that you favour over your typical clothing as well, so save room!