All posts filed under: Lifestyle

Eco-Friendly Vacations

Eco-Friendly Vacations

When you’re looking for travel options regarding your next vacation you should keep in mind that all your choices affect the environment; this is why choosing areas, resorts, and activities that are eco-friendly is such an important thing. As more and more travelers become aware of the negative impact that heavy tourism has upon certain areas of the world, responsible tourism and eco-friendly vacations are on the rise. This is why it is easy now, with so much more availability than ever before, to design a customized, eco-friendly vacation experience. Why Choose Eco-Friendly Vacations? We all want to travel and see the beauty of the wide world, and in order to ensure that everyone is able to do just that whilst keeping the world intact ecotourism must be a priority for everyone. Eco-friendly vacations aren’t all about sweat lodges, dread-locks, and hemp clothing as some people might imagine; ecotourism is about trying to minimize the damage that everyday actions and tourism do to the environment. When responsibility and eco-friendliness are prioritized in the tourist industry …

How to Write Luxury Villa Reviews

How to Write Luxury Villa Reviews

Writing a good (effective) review for a luxury villa that you’ve been staying in might seem like a daunting task, but actually it’s quite simple when you put your mind to it. So, whether your luxury villa was spotless, well-decorated, and gave you the vacation of your life, or it was an unmitigated nightmare there are certain things you can do to make sure your luxury villa review is really well-written and effective! Here are our top tips for writing great luxury villa reviews: Share details about yourself A great way to give people who will read your luxury villa reviews some insight into what your standards are when it comes to reviewing vacation properties is to provide some details about yourself. Talk about what you wanted from your trip, how often you travel, if you’ve used this luxury villa or brand before, and even who you were traveling with. All of this will let others determine if they’re going to have similar needs and desires when it comes to their own vacations. What is …

Tips for Traveling with Aging Parents

Tips for Traveling with Aging Parents

Travelling can be tough even on the fittest people in their prime; it’s stressful, busy, and hugely tiring. So you can imagine how much tougher it is on your aging parents and relatives! Age brings it’s own benefits and pitfalls, but we believe that restricted traveling capacity shouldn’t be one of the common cons because, with some support, there’s no reason why elderly individuals should not be able to travel in relative comfort with minimal stress. Here’s how you can begin to minimize the stress and discomfort that long journeys can often cause for elderly travelers. Plan ahead and do some research When you’re traveling with aging parents it’s really important that you do your research well in advance to make sure that all the travel arrangements and accommodations are going to be compatible with any special requirements they may have. Look into the shortest most direct routes, the most suitable methods of travel, and the accommodations which meet any specific needs (for example ground floor accommodations or elevator access). You could also look into …

Things You Should Bring on Vacation

Things You Should Bring on Vacation

Whether you are a planned-to-the-second traveller, a grab-it-and-go vacationer, or a happy medium type of tourist there are some things that you should always bring with you when you head off on your vacation. Traveling is never stress free, we know this, but you can make it a little less stressful if you remember to bring each of the items listed below. Reading Materials Whether it’s a magazine, a journal, or a paperback (or the digital versions of these on a device), having reading material can make delays and waiting periods much easier to bear when you’re traveling. These are as perfect for escaping the tedium of airport waiting rooms as they are for whiling away hours by the pool… just be sure to pack a variety of options so you can read according to your mood. Chargers for Electronics This one’s a biggie! Especially if you have a few stop-overs in the middle. Nothing is guaranteed to send a long-distance traveler into meltdown like realizing the phone they rely on for navigation, timekeeping, and …

Travel Insurance for Peace of Mind

Travel Insurance for Peace of Mind

It is so important that you feel secure and safe when you travel, and when it comes to peace of mind there are few things which will give you as much as travel insurance. Obviously we would all hope that nothing goes wrong during our hard-earned vacation time, but anything can (and unusually does) happen so it’s wise to invest in a safety net for you and your loved ones. Should you find yourself stranded, injured, lost, you lose your suitcase, have something stolen, or you are caught unawares by cancelled bookings travel insurance can take the sting out of it by ensuring that, at the very least, you’re not left out of pocket by it all. Obviously it would be best if you did not need your travel insurance at all, but it is better to be safe than sorry! What Should Be Covered in your Travel Insurance Policy The most important thing must be making sure that you’re getting insurance which covers you in all the ways you need it to.  If we …

Palapas and sustainable architecture at the beach

Palapas and Sustainable Architecture at the Beach

Dating back to the ancient civilizations of indigenous groups including the Aztec, the Inca and the Maya, palapas and thatched buildings have long been a popular architectural tradition in Mexico.  A palapa is an open-sided structure consisting of sustainable materials including a thatched roof made with dried palm leaves and branches.  They continue to be the favored choice for beachside bars and restaurants as well as resorts with a tropical vibe.  Because they offer a fantastic solution for providing shade and a cool place to relax when it gets too hot in the sun, they are extremely common throughout the coastlines of Mexico which are home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world.   Thatched roofs, which are the most common type in the world, are most often crafted in Mexico with dried palm leaves that are layered in a pattern designed to shed water and keep the inner roof dry.  This roofing method, which has been around for centuries, is a common architectural feature found in both temperate and tropical climates …

Why Choose Ecologically Friendly Vacations

Why Choose Ecologically Friendly Vacations

When you are looking into travel options for your next vacation, remember that every choice you make has an impact on the environment.  That is why it is so important to consider visiting areas that offer hotel options and local tourist activities that are eco-friendly.  Responsible ecotourism is on the rise as more travelers are becoming aware of the negative influence heavy tourist traffic can have on an area.  With more availability now than ever before for ecologically friendly vacations, it is easy to design a customized vacation centering on eco-friendly hotels and tourism.   Why Choose Ecologically Friendly Vacations The intention of ecotourism reaches far beyond just protecting the delicate habitats that have become overrun with tourists.  It encourages travelers to visit areas that conserve the environment, support the local people and economy, and educate tourists about what is special and unique about a particular region.  Ecologically friendly vacations not only bring greater economic stability to an area, they bring about a host of social benefits as well to regions rich in fascinating culture …

What do we mean by ecotourism

What do we mean by Ecotourism?

When we talk about ecotourism, what do we actually mean? Nowadays, the word “ecotourism” is thrown around like a buzz word by many people who give lip-service to the concept like it were a fashion rather than taking it seriously. So, what does it mean? Ecotourism When we talk about ecotourism, we are referring to responsible and sustainable tourism that works as closely as possible with the environment as opposed to promoting overcrowded tourist complexes that have little respect for their surroundings. Ecotourism involves not only spending your vacations in nature but also involves the active participation during your stay to protect the  biodiversity in the destination. Another important factor is to support the local communities in the projects they introduce to protect the destination. Therefore, true ecotourism is active engagement with the natural environment. Who is right for ecotourism? Without a doubt, ecotourism is a different kind of vacation, for those people who are tired of visiting the same tourist destinations and following the crowd. Taking an active part in protecting the environment can …

How to Protect your Skin this Summer

How to Protect your Skin this Summer

The summer vacations very often bring visions of sun-kissed skin, beach hair and bikinis to mind, but this is peak season for sun damage and it is very important for your health that you take care while enjoying the sun. Time in the great outdoors is good for you, obviously, but sun-exposure also leads to skin damage which ranges all the way from wrinkles to skin cancer and so you need to protect yourself. How to protect your skin this summer Most of us know that too much sun can bring out freckles, cause moles, and burn your skin, but did you know that sun exposure is also to blame for 90% of wrinkles? It’s true! Most of the damage is also incidental; while excessive sun-bed use and tanning is bad for your skin, it’s the little things like driving and walking the dog on sunny days that add up over time. This is why it’s so key to work SPF, UVA and UVB protection into your everyday skincare regime. This can mean hand, body …

Jet Lag Solutions

Jet lag is the king of all travel ailments, and anyone who has ever suffered its effects will agree that it is less than agreeable. When you add to it the myriad of other travel related issues that can arise, cancelled or delayed flights, lost luggage, and lengthy immigration check to name a few, it can become a veritable nightmare. Never fear, however, as we are on-hand with a few top tips and hints that could help you circumvent the worst of the effects (if not all of them). Here’s how you can lift that dreaded fog and make the most of your vacation from day one! Adjust your sleep patterns before you travel You can get ahead of jet lag by naturally adjusting your sleeping pattern bit by bit for a few days before you go on vacation. If you’re heading eastwards from your home then you should go to bed a few hours earlier than usual for three or four days before you head off. If you are going west, you should stay …