Travel & Days Out

Travelling is fun until you have to start packing and you realize that not everything you need fits into your travel bag. Worse still is trying to stuff your essentials, then the zip rips off, and you have to start all over again. However, all these inconveniences are avoidable if you consider the following helpful tips on investing in travel luggage.

Convenience

Not every journey is the same, and as such, you need an appropriate bag on a given occasion. Get a convenient carrier bag to allow all your essentials to fit in. You may have to overstuff a too-small bag while, on the other hand, a big load for a few items may look out of place and tire you.

You need to know what you require on your trip to get only the necessary items and a fitting bag. You can get ideas on presents for people who travel, so you do not leave any necessary items behind. Some of the products that may interest you include a travel neck pillow, water bottles, portable chargers, and passport holders.

You can get yourself a backup bag that will come in handy should you need extra space for your valuables. You can use it for other purposes as well as it can serve as storage for items you will not need at all times while you move to a hotel. Before investing in your travel luggage, you need to ascertain what is most convenient for you in your journey.

Material Quality

The material of your luggage is crucial as it makes or breaks your trip. A soft material costs less and is ideal for items you can carry around since you will handle it with care. However, big luggage that needs checking may get damaged since the handlers may not pay special attention.

You need a hard and durable material for luggage that will not be by your side on your trip. Some materials are hard and heavy, which may make it a burden for you, and that will not be necessary for carry-ons.

Size Matters

Bulky luggage on a short trip can be a bother since you will have to move around with it. Before the start of a journey, you need to know how long your stay is and the things you need. A small bag may not fit month-stay essentials, while a big one may not be appropriate for a two-day visit.

Larger piece of luggage may also mean added expenses as you may have to pay for any extra weight at the airport. Carry-on bags will make things easier for you as you will not have to pick it up upon arrival. Before you pack, you should ask yourself if the bag’s size is the right one for your travel needs.

Be Unique

The last thing you want is running after a stranger, telling them they have your bag only to find out it is not. You could also pick another traveller’s bag, thinking it is yours. All this confusion is avoidable if you personalise your luggage.

Since there is no telling what another person’s favourite bag will be, why not customize yours? You can have yours drawn a unique pattern or wrap a ribbon around it to make it stand out.

At the moment I’m sure lots of us are honing our travel bucket-lists just waiting for COVID-19 restrictions to lift so that we can explore the world again.

One of the destinations I am really looking forward to visiting is Toronto.  It is often called the New York City of Canada but is reputed to be much cleaner and safer.  There is something to suit the budget of every traveller and you can buy cheap flights to Toronto without breaking the bank.

Toronto is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario and it is the country’ most populated city. Situated on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario, the city is recognised as an international centre of arts and culture and, in fact, is one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world.

Toronto is warm and humid in the summer but the winter is typically very cold and windy, with frequent snow.

Toronto highlights you’ll want to visit

Below is a list of unmissable things to do on a visit to Toronto according to the travel guides.

Take a walk down Bloor Street

This is the Park Avenue of Toronto where you will find designer labels such as Gucci and Prada and the  Holt-Renfrew department store. If you can afford $500 for a pair of jeans, this is the place for you. but window shopping and people watching are always free.

Visit the quirky shops of Queen Street

Here is where you’ll find trendy clothing stores, independent record shops, and other quirky establishments. Look out for the legendary Horseshoe Tavern where every great Canadian music act has played since 1947.

Stroll through Chinatown

If you are looking for authentic Chinese cuisine, exotic herbs or rare teas, Toronto’s Chinatown is the place to head for. Chinese restaurants shy away from the traditional “North American Chinese” menu, serving a variety of authentic dishes to over 400,000 people of Chinese background in Toronto.

Shop at the CF Toronto Eaton Center

Minutes away from popular Toronto attractions such as the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium and the Art Gallery of Toronto, the mall is a six-storey structure with a glass ceiling modelled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan.

It has over 285 stores with a great food court on the lower level. Make sure to visit New York fries and order the Poutine – a blend of french fries, cheese curds and gravy.

Take a trip on the subway

The Toronto subway is clean, safe, and easy to navigate. There are two main lines, the Younge-University-Spadina and the Bloor-Danforth. From the subway, you can get to all of the main tourist hotspots.

Visit the top of the CN Tower

The world’s tallest building at 553m (1815 ft). The view is amazing. At the top of the tower is the world-class 360 restaurant. The floor does a complete rotation every 72 minutes and, when dining, you will get to view the city below from each direction.

Indulge your passion for art and culture

Toronto is an art enthusiast’s dream and is home to several major galleries and museums.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is the largest in Canada with more than 40 galleries.  The museum displays both artworks and natural history items and has the largest collection of avian and mammalian skeletons in the world.

The museum’s Far East Collection is the largest collection of far eastern artefacts outside of China and features the Ming Tomb, a complete seventeenth-century warriors tomb and the only complete Chinese tomb in the West.

The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art is home to more than 2,000 pieces of ceramic art with a collection featuring everything from pre-Columbian pottery to classic European porcelains of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The Art Gallery of Toronto has strong collections of European and Canadian art.  One of the main attractions of the Gallery is its collection of Henry Moore sculptures, one of the largest in the world.  Henry Moore personally designed the exhibit space for this collection in 1974.

For more than thirty years the Textile Museum of Canada has celebrated international fiber art. Their permanent collection contains more than 12,000 textiles, from pieces as much as 2000 years old to modern designs, with samples from more than 200 regions of the world.

And, lastly, why not visit The Bata Shoe Museum, housed in a whimsical, shoebox-shaped building designed by architect Raymond Moriyama.  The museum is home to a 4,500-piece, semi-permanent “History of Shoes” exhibit that highlights examples of footwear spanning time and the globe, from ancient Egyptian sandals to the stilettos of the 1990s.

Gourmets will love St. Lawrence Market

Considered in the top twenty-five markets in the world, it has over 50 speciality vendors. Great vegetables, fruits, meat, cheese, and seafood abound. On the lower level, visit the St. Lawrence Market Juice Bar. They specialize in freshly squeezed juices of all kinds and related products.

Visit the eclectic Kensington Market area

Dating back to the original settlement of Toronto in the 1790s by the British, you will now find a diverse area of shopping representing the cultures of Portuguese, East Indian, Ethiopian and Caribbean.

Eat in Little Italy

Here’s where you’ll find wonderful Italian coffee shops, gelato, music bars and great night life – including latin dancing.

As you can see you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to holiday highlights in Toronto.

Have you visited this great city?  What would you recommend?

*Collaborative Post

Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country, and also the largest in the South American continent. The republic forms an enormous triangle-like shape on the continent’s eastern part with a coastline covering an impressive 7,400km along the Atlantic Ocean. Brazil is a go-to destination getaway to visit with kids and family. 

Planning for a trip to Brazil can be an exhausting task, but we are here to help you. Planning a family trip to Brazil has some peculiarities, just like any other country. Knowing the basics of what to do and how things work will go a long way. If you are planning to travel with a family, there are several things to take into account.

Book Through a Travel Guide/Agency

Vacations are supposed to be stress-free and bonding time, especially with family and kids around. Planning a vacation all by yourself is time-consuming. To save time and potential stress, some of South America’s best travel experts recommend to book here to have your activities and destination places planned out. Find an ideal package that works for you and explore some of the best places to visit in Brazil. When using a travel agency that is familiar with Brazil, you can be sure to expect the best services and options available for you and your family.

Check If You Need a Visa

A visa is a document that allows you to enter another country. No permit means no traveling. Different countries worldwide have additional requirements for visitors who want to visit that particular nation, and mostly it depends on the country of origin of the passport you have. Visa applications take considerable time due to the extensive paperwork involved, so be sure to plan well. 

Note that there are countries whose citizens do not require a visa to travel to Brazil. Citizens in such countries only need a passport (valid for at least six months) and proof that one can pay for their stay in Brazil. Check with your local consulate in your country and learn more about the documents required to obtain a visa to travel to Brazil.

Best Time of The Year to Visit Brazil

The weather patterns and conditions in the South American continent are not what you would expect anywhere in the world, and this is because weather conditions vary for most of the year in Brazil. Most experts suggest visiting Brazil during the dry season from May to September, as this is mostly the peak months for most travellers globally. This period is perfect for sightseeing and visiting nature parks and nature spots, and this may also be the ideal time to go camping and hiking in Rio with kids and family. 

Learn Simple Phrases and Words in Portuguese

Unless you speak Portuguese, then it will be a big surprise for you since most people in Brazil don’t speak English, especially in the smaller towns located away from the main cities. The language barrier can be a struggle. To curb this, learn a few basic phrases in Portuguese beforehand, while still planning for your trip. 

Below is a list of essential phrases in Portuguese:

• Hello – Olá
• Please – Por favor
• Thank you – Obrigada (fem.), obrigado (masc.)
• Good morning – Bom dia
• Good afternoon – Boa Tarde
• Good evening/night – Boa Noite
• Do you speak English – Voĉe fala inglês?
• I don’t speak Portuguese – Eu nã falo português
• Can you write that down, please? – Você poderia escrever isso?

Learn about the Brazilian Culture

After taking care of the planning, the fun part is learning a little bit about the traditions and country culture. You don’t have to go all out and learn everything under the sun about Brazil, but understanding the basics will be beneficial during your stay in Brazil, e.g., feijoada and caipirinha are the national drink and dish to many people. 

Knowing that will help improve your authenticity and experience in Brazil. Other than samba, there are plenty of music styles that the Brazilians are proud of, such as sertanejo, forró, and axé. Finally, familiarize yourself with public holidays and local celebrations to help you when planning for your trip.

Essentials You Need to Pack for Brazil

Prepare a list of some of the important things you will need for your trip. More importantly, you need to make a list in advance, as this will help you figure out whether you need to buy something earlier. Here is a short version of some of the useful things you will need for your stay;

• Repellent – this one is essential, especially for the mosquito bites. Consult a pharmacy or a doctor on the best ones, especially for kids.
• Pocket WIFI – the WIFI in Brazil is sometimes slow, stay connected by relying on a pocket WIFI.

Finally, with the steps above, you can be sure to enjoy your stay in Brazil and know how to plan for such a trip.

If you are planning your next European break, the beautiful port city of Valencia which lies on the southeastern coast of Spain should be high on your list. With over 4.5 million people visiting the city each year it has a lot to offer.

With its accommodation to suit every budget, a Mediterranean climate, a historical old town and several beaches, Valencia combines the essentials associated with both a city and a beach break. Making it a great choice if you like to mix adventure with relaxation. It is also the birthplace of one of Spain’s most famous dishes, paella. Therefore, making it a great choice for foodies too.

Here are just some of the top Valencia attractions that you must visit.

The City of Arts and Sciences

The number one attraction in Valencia is the City of Arts and Sciences which is a cultural and architectural complex. It is located in the riverbed of the Turia River in the east of the city. The Palace of The Arts was designed by local architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. Many compare it to the Sydney Opera House and it is easy to see why.

The complex includes several attractions. These include Oceanogràfic (aquarium), The Hemisfèric (3D cinema), Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía (opera house), The Umbracle (open-access garden) and The Ágora (an events venue). During the summer months especially, people from all over the world flock to The Palace of The Arts. Therefore, tickets should be bought in advance to avoid queues and avoid disappointment.

La Lonja De La Seda

La Lonja De La Seda is considered to be a masterpiece of Valencian Gothic architecture. It was built between 1482 and 1533 is a must-visit when in Valencia. The name translates to the “Silk Exchange”. This refers back to when Valencia was one of Europe’s main trading cities. This UNESCO World Heritage is a great option if you love both history and architecture.

La Lonja De La Seda is located in the city centre in front of Valencia’s Central Market. Therefore, why not combine a visit to both when you visit Valencia?

Central Market (Mercado Central or Mercat Central)

As one of Europe’s oldest and largest operating markets, a visit to Valencia’s Central Market is a must. Especially if you are a foodie. With over 900 stalls covering more than 8,000 square metres, selling everything from fruit and vegetables to fresh fish, cheeses and olives, there is something to whet everyone’s appetite. There are also restaurants within the market where you can grab a local delicacy, a cold drink and watch the world go by.

Even if you are not a foodie, a visit just to see the stunning modernist building with a beautiful entrance and colourful tiles, the market is housed is highly recommended.

Valencia Cathedral

Located in the Old Town, Valencia Cathedral also known as Saint Mary’s Cathedral or Valencia Cathedral is an impressive building. It was built between the 13th and 15th Century. Predominantly Gothic in design, baroque, Romanesque and neoclassical influences and aspects can also be seen.

In the Cathedral, you can visit the “Chapel of the Holy Grail”. Here you will find one of the supposed Holy Chalices which is believed to be the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus Christ drank from at the Last Supper.

Barrio Del Carmen

Barrio Del Carmen is in the heart of Valencia’s Old Town. The thousand-year-old city neighbourhood grew between two walls, the Muslim and the Christian. It is a beautiful and bohemian place that many visit for the culture and leisure options available. Here you will find terraces, bars, restaurants, markets and boutiques together with late-night bars, live music venues and clubs. Therefore making this a popular and lively neighbourhood to visit regardless of the time of day.

It is also home to a number of museums. These include the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (IVAM), el Museo de la Prehistoria and el Museo de Etnología.

Malvarrosa Beach

With several beaches along the Valencian coastline, it’s a tough choice deciding which one to visit first. However, Malvarrosa Beach, which is situated between the town of Alboraya and Calle Acequia de la Cadena is a firm favourite for both locals and tourists alike.

Located just minutes from the old town, Malvarrosa Beach is a stunning 1-kilometre long, 135-metre wide golden sand beach with Blue Flag status. The beach has a range of amenities including showers, lifeguards, medical stations and drinking fountains together with several restaurants along the promenade which runs the beach.

I hope these recommendations and tips to plan your trip and itinerary when visiting Valencia help. It is a city which has something to offer everyone. With an abundance of history, culture and the bonus of several beaches and amazing food, you really must tick Valencia off your list as soon as possible.

Just having a holiday is fantastic all on its own, but our time away can always be improved. Everyone knows and probably is familiar with how things can go wrong during a holiday, which is why we should plan our vacations as best we can. True, even the best of plans can still get ruined, but there are many ways in your hands to control how things will go. Excluding some unexpected events, here is what you can do to ensure that you have the best holiday possible.

Before you go

The best way to ruin a holiday is by worrying about things back home. Before you travel, make sure to tend to things like unpaid bills, urgent house repairs, home security, or what you plan to do with your vehicle while away. The whole point of a holiday is to get away from these responsibilities, not to take them along with you.

Vacation of a Lifetime

People love to dream about “the vacation of a lifetime.” Truth be told, you can make every vacation special and treat every holiday like the vacation of a lifetime; it doesn’t matter where you go, what you do, or how long you stay. A simple weekend getaway could be a once in a lifetime experience when you spend each day doing the things you love and make you happy.

Avoid Peak Times

Holidays are a notoriously busy time for travel. You’ll be lucky if you can even book an airline ticket. Even if you do, it might be during an inconvenient time for you, and you can expect cancellations or very long waits at most airports. To avoid having your trip ruined before it even starts, the BitLux team suggests you consider booking a private jet charter. These private charters can take you to almost any state and you can find several international options also.

You won’t have to fight tooth and nail to get a booking that suits your schedule, avoid the crowds and the unpredictability of airports, and get a free online quote. That way, you can kickstart your holiday early!

Do Something New

You will never know the benefits of trying something new until you try it. Lots of us are creatures of habit. We go on holiday once, have a great time at a particular location, and keep going back to the same location every year.

Understandably, you would want to repeat an amazing experience. However, there are tons of amazing experiences and places in this beautiful world of ours, so why limit yourself? Even if you have private reasons why you want to spend a holiday in a particular location each year, at the very least you can try different activities, stay at a different place, try different foods, and so on. Trying something new means learning something new and experiencing new feelings of happiness and contentment. Plus, you’ll have new things to tell everyone about when you get back.

Too Little vs. Too Much

We can all be perfectly happy just resting on holiday, free from obligations, and away from no-fun stuff. But, most likely, you’ll want to do some activities. If you have nothing to do, you’ll get bored, and if you include too many activities in your itinerary, you’ll be overwhelmed and exhausted. Moreover, unless you have a lot of time, you probably won’t be able to do all the things you have planned.

Strike a balance of the activities you want to do; don’t do too little nor too much because extremes aren’t good. Prioritize your activities and where you want to go. Go for quality over quantity. Create an itinerary but keep in mind that it has to be reasonable, so don’t get carried away.

Second Guess Reviews

There’s no doubt that we depend on reading reviews for everything and anything. We sometimes even read reviews on products or services that we have no intention of buying, at least not in the near future.

Reviews are good, but very subjective. What one person finds horrible another might find heavenly. That’s very confusing and leaves you shuffling back and forth trying to decide on where to stay, where to go, where to eat, where to go for the best entertainment, as well as all other aspects of your holiday. There’s a whole bunch of things you can find out about your destination spot from the locals, so take reviews with a pinch of salt.

For a super holiday, treat everyone like a once-in-a-lifetime event, and be open to all the wonderful moments you can have if you take the time to plan ahead. The effort you put in advance will surely pay off later. Even if your vacation has a bumpy start, make sure to end it on a positive note. When you do that, your holiday cheer will linger with you for quite some time.

Las Vegas is an extremely notorious destination for tourists. The city has a reputation for being wild and unpredictable, so many people don’t know how to prepare for a Vegas trip. It’s easy to get caught up in the vices of the city like gambling and partying, and making the wrong decisions can get you in some serious trouble financially. Thankfully there are some things that you can do to prepare for your Vegas trip that will ensure that your vacation runs smoothly. What exactly are these tricks that you can employ while in Sin City? Here are five tips for visiting Las Vegas.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Travel Out of Season

Vegas has lots of hotels and large gathering places, which makes the city a great place to host various conventions. Many organizations and industries take advantage of this, hosting their conventions within the city. Some of these conventions may attract thousands of people at a time, and there may be more than one convention happening at any given time. As you might expect, when a convention is going on in the city, rooms fill up quickly, and those that still remain get jacked up in price. As a result, if you’re looking to save money on lodging costs, then a quick search to ensure that no large conventions are going on during your travels would be wise. 

Pack Warmer Clothes

Many people assume that since Vegas is in the desert that the area’s climate will always be warm, but that isn’t always the case. Nights in Vegas can get pretty chilly, especially during the later months of the year. While you certainly don’t need to bring a winter coat to be warm, a light jacket or sweater to throw on while you’re cold can certainly suffice. Even during the summer, you may want to even pack a light jacket. Casinos, bars, and hotels will often crank the AC up to avoid the desert heat, often overcompensating and turning the inside temperatures freezing. Having a light jacket or sweater in your bag can be a great way to stay warm if you ever have to deal with something like this. 

Set a Gambling Budget

If you’re visiting Vegas, then chances are you’re going to try your hand at gambling at least once or twice. There are dozens of casinos in the city, and gambling and Vegas are essentially synonymous at this point. Despite how fun and exhilarating gambling can be, it can also be extremely dangerous and addictive. Sure you can win lots of money gambling, but you could also gain absolutely nothing and waste all of your time and money. Many Vegas trips can be absolutely ruined by gambling too much, as those with little self-control could find themselves absolutely cleaned out by Vegas casinos. Before you take your trip, set a hard cap for how much you can spend on gambling. Once you lose that amount of money, it’s time to stop and walk away. You don’t want to regret a great Vegas trip simply due to bad mistakes from gambling, so this is a great way to prevent that from happening. 

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Choose Meal Times Wisely

Just like how travel times to Vegas have peak times, so too do Vegas meal times. After a long day of partying and gambling, Vegas visitors will want to unwind with some amazing food before finishing off the night at the club. The prime time to grab some dinner in Vegas is usually in the middle of the evening, and during this time period restaurants fill up. Not only is it extremely difficult to find someplace to go without a reservation during this window of time, but most establishments also hike up their prices when it’s time for dinner. Due to this, it’s probably in the best interest for your sanity’s sake and your wallet that you either get dinner really early or really late in order to avoid the long Vegas lines.  

Helicopter Tours

Vegas is an absolutely gorgeous city, which is just one of the many reasons why people love visiting the city. One of the best ways to experience the city is through one of the many helicopter tours that various businesses have to offer. While on one of these tours you can take in all of the glory of Vegas, seeing just about everything that the city has to offer from the air. You can see famous sights around the city as well as the gorgeous skyline. Who knows, you may even want to aerially scout out locations for Las Vegas houses for sale, being so impressed with the city that you want to stay there permanently. Vegas is a beautiful place, and experiencing the city’s view from the air only further adds to the city’s wonder. 

Paris is one of my favourite cities and, having studied the language up to my second year in Swansea University (I majored in English Literature), my love of all things Francais is still going strong. Once we are allowed to travel freely once more, a trip to the City of Light is at the top of our agenda, particularly since Ieuan will be studying French in his first year in secondary school.

There’s an art to planning a trip with children though, isn’t there?  You have to get the right balance between family activities and things for you to enjoy as a couple so that everyone has a good time.  Kids tend to have a low boredom threshold these days so planning an itinerary in advance is a sensible thing to do.

Paris offers a wide array of places to learn and places simply to have fun. Here are just a few examples:

Perhaps your children would enjoy a donkey ride or an ice cream on the right bank at the Jardin de Tuileries, or on the other side you can enjoy the large green open space of the Champ de Mars

Here you may be able to enjoy one of Paris’s famous colourful puppet shows featuring adventures in gothic castles and oriental palaces.

The entertainment you choose will, of course, depend on the age of your children so why not think about purchasing Disneyland Paris tickets so the whole family can visit Mickey Mouse and his friends?

By Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr) – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10213567

If your children enjoy learning, why not visit one of Paris’ many museums. Quite apart from the most popular of these, the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou, why not visit Le Musée de la Magie (Museum of Magic) where kids can learn about illusionists and their craft from the 18th century to the present day. Or how about Le Musée d’Histoire Naturelle (Museum of Natural History) where the kids can see the skeletons of dinosaurs, including a giant crocodile and other huge creatures of the past.

By The original uploader was MykReeve at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2335318

If you have older children who have an interest in history, you may want to visit Les Catacombes de Paris, which is an underground tunnel comprising nearly 3,000 feet of dank walkways. Throughout the tunnels, you will learn about the macabre arrangement of over 6 million skulls and skeletons. During the Second World War, the tunnels were used by the French Resistance.

Once back in the daylight, you’ll find plenty of shopping malls and beautiful department stores including the famous Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. There’s plenty of choice for family-friendly shopping, including children’s bookshop Chantelivre or how about Maison DoDuDinDon, a bright new emporium for kids and adults full of toys, teddies, clothes and other items just waiting to be browsed through.

After shopping, choose a hot spot to enjoy a meal together. If you are on the run, check out Paris’s fabulous Tea Diners. The Tea Restaurants serve hardy sandwiches, salads and a variety of tea blends. When you sit and relax with your children, enjoying a meal and a cool drink, it brings the family together.

If you’re not ready to return to your hotel, there are plenty of cinemas to watch a family movie or perhaps you’ll fancy a swim in the hotel pool before rising early for your trip to Disneyland.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait!