tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22394291396284651932024-03-18T11:06:25.531-07:00Travelling WeaselsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger392125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-42776487806315846912024-03-18T10:06:00.000-07:002024-03-18T10:06:18.281-07:007 Reasons Why USA Citizens Should Visit Europe<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9Eq4AZYkRWOpRAOjPRTvMocSx55HFlO0IY7tMikbu8GJgzsMrgzU2zSMonduf7m8ldJEJtx00iWB3BFSu5rU2yPjU7G1Uxg-HrgFUaQsiyolFI_xddUOLYXGcoLGPHJqEcJx3yvIyJbmeRVe-jywQ2K2TlNnSRc4rdoBKxED-IRhi3g_ogWZ0Kax9co/s840/reasons%20to%20visit%20europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="why visit europe" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9Eq4AZYkRWOpRAOjPRTvMocSx55HFlO0IY7tMikbu8GJgzsMrgzU2zSMonduf7m8ldJEJtx00iWB3BFSu5rU2yPjU7G1Uxg-HrgFUaQsiyolFI_xddUOLYXGcoLGPHJqEcJx3yvIyJbmeRVe-jywQ2K2TlNnSRc4rdoBKxED-IRhi3g_ogWZ0Kax9co/s16000/reasons%20to%20visit%20europe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">There are countless reasons that USAmericans would want to visit Europe. As someone who has lived all over Europe, I thought it would make a nice blog post if I listed just a few of these. Now, when I say Europe, I am talking about <a href="https://etiaseu.com/" target="_blank">ETIAS countries</a> as well as the countries that are not in Schengen because I think both are more than worth visiting. USA passport holders tend to get 90 days in the ETIAS area, and then a 90 days in each of the countries outside of Schengen. Read on to find out more!</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">7 Reasons Why USAmericans Like to Visit Europe</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">There used to be a time when Europeans flocked to the USA in search of the American Dream. Now, a century later we find many USAmericans often considering moving back for much cheaper (or completely free) health care plans and higher education, public transport, cleaner food, ancient architecture and more. Let's explore!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. The historical architecture of Europe</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">I spent a while in the USA (e.g. <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/02/how-to-have-perfect-day-in-san-francisco.html" target="_blank">San Francisco</a> and <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/03/guide-to-vegas-for-people-who-dont-like.html" target="_blank">Vegas</a>) feeling like something was 'off', I tried picking the easy, obvious answers like constant fear of insanely high medical bills, gun laws and Handmaid's Tale like thinking from most men (and often women too) but although those were significant (and relevant), this 'off' feeling was something else... and then it hit me: it's the lack of half a century old European-style architecture!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxnsdhyphenhyphenvVbO8C1Ohb2BSoRN2jWPOV0NPmSWDeLq2-kAKxMelLi0p2pNHEIzaD_NFcIgvBzAPrtRhIpBBc199yVduUZrUzJomr6gd1ICyQffpWtDmD3YEH1MOijG7Pea6T_Nt-8d3kCf041wkTkqtmo3jqj_VF8WEiv2wkAAuwnNaryLRgihBDr7-9zFg/s840/top%20reasons%20to%20visit%20europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="top reasons to visit europe" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxnsdhyphenhyphenvVbO8C1Ohb2BSoRN2jWPOV0NPmSWDeLq2-kAKxMelLi0p2pNHEIzaD_NFcIgvBzAPrtRhIpBBc199yVduUZrUzJomr6gd1ICyQffpWtDmD3YEH1MOijG7Pea6T_Nt-8d3kCf041wkTkqtmo3jqj_VF8WEiv2wkAAuwnNaryLRgihBDr7-9zFg/s16000/top%20reasons%20to%20visit%20europe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Most of the buildings in the USA are not old, and it's hard (for me at least) to feel that connection to history and a humbleness that comes from 'wow they didn't have electricity back then but they could build this?' I mean, apart from indigenous architecture, which is truly amazing. Anyhow, European historical architecture might not be at the top of everyone's list of reasons to visit Europe, but it is probably the biggest thing that you will notice first in urban environments - cathedrals, houses, even the streets are often old af.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. To learn / practice Spanish (or another language)</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Although Spanish is the second most spoken language in the USA, the average individual cannot speak it. In my opinion, that's a shame. Of course, you could hop over to Mexico or another Spanish speaking country in Central or South America but hey, you can also come to Spain and learn or practice Spanish. And it doesn't just stop at Spanish.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OEOG-4T27tu14Dn3Zj3AUJhnF1bvCW_EZDQY3s4jKM-3xbPiK4Ahj-H0vYQ0CL44Qnl767uF8BlcvlEKWicuYKl5eSszwDs9LTWHM6hNXDDXkcFYh31xC1O53-XjO3ltJR0fmiUxoO-UrpKJINpE9Mw-64poEO7ZmRbJB3pMC_U4qmtsUuLwJ5W5s5g/s840/reasons%20you%20should%20visit%20europe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="reasons you should visit europe" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OEOG-4T27tu14Dn3Zj3AUJhnF1bvCW_EZDQY3s4jKM-3xbPiK4Ahj-H0vYQ0CL44Qnl767uF8BlcvlEKWicuYKl5eSszwDs9LTWHM6hNXDDXkcFYh31xC1O53-XjO3ltJR0fmiUxoO-UrpKJINpE9Mw-64poEO7ZmRbJB3pMC_U4qmtsUuLwJ5W5s5g/s16000/reasons%20you%20should%20visit%20europe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Although Spanish is probably the most useful second language to learn if you live in the United States, don't let that stop you from peeking into other languages too - Europe is home to 24 of them. Officially, though, it's estimated that over 250 languages are indigenous to Europe!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. To experience walkable cities</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">I was so shocked when an USAmerican friend of mine said that her favourite thing about Disney World (or Land or whatever) was that there were walkable streets there. And I was like, wait that's not a thing in the USA? That's a thing almost everywhere in Europe - grab your coat, leave your flat or house, walk for 5, 10, 15 or so minutes, you're already halfway in the city centre (or in another hub)!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LMpwIsi4zFIWVuSrAcjVwmpcXU503TsZn6d2xBbkLRnwEfj4q6KuL2nwgtsfw5RJONKhXrNf6p4Z57gANgZrFD7PTLXNRa21Q3iQNkJhC9yVNcuHsIGaIx6emcWUjDs0muBeu3IWM86Py4MMDFKJf7KFym8VtV2l3D67MLcCptsWgnAmkTC4ia4T9LU/s840/reasons%20I%20should%20visit%20europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="reasons we should visit europe" border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LMpwIsi4zFIWVuSrAcjVwmpcXU503TsZn6d2xBbkLRnwEfj4q6KuL2nwgtsfw5RJONKhXrNf6p4Z57gANgZrFD7PTLXNRa21Q3iQNkJhC9yVNcuHsIGaIx6emcWUjDs0muBeu3IWM86Py4MMDFKJf7KFym8VtV2l3D67MLcCptsWgnAmkTC4ia4T9LU/s16000/reasons%20I%20should%20visit%20europe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The pavement is (mostly) fine, you can sit down drink a coffee whilst looking at pretty architecture and not suffocate from smog, not have to stare at concrete roads and cars. In most European cities you will be able to have a meal somewhere that's not a mall or a parking lot. We like our walkable cities, come and try them out (and demand your own back at home, too!)</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. Experience cheap, good quality inter-city and inner city public transport</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">On a similar note, it's not just the walkable cities that mean less of us need or want cars in Europe - we also have far better public transport systems - both inter-city and inner-city. I was shocked at the public transport system in the USA - it was expensive, old, slow and people using it (especially buses) were often looked down upon by other US citizens. Europe is different, most places have great public transport systems and there's no shame in using it - especially in post-Eastern Bloc European countries.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#5. For the food</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">The USA has some great restaurants run by real immigrants who've bought their awesome cuisines with them - Europe has that too... plus here you can have Italian food actually in Italy, Greek food actually in Greece, French food that's actually French - you get the picture.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhUaokTKwmys8J2X8lnKsbCzy-_HA1HFWZIp3FKzVbXLSERFMAAGWZJCw_FfgYAvSRcLG2T7FOQqo5atFzF9GUF3cwKVGBHJMMRcPqcseUdvIiXE8o8sN8MKc_Uv0RxjTIZZHpc8grbX69asEk3RKPbqzvkieJt0h6xeVJ1oYjt70d0OEvAuSe3UsQiM/s840/reasons%20we%20should%20visit%20europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="reasons to visit europe" border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhUaokTKwmys8J2X8lnKsbCzy-_HA1HFWZIp3FKzVbXLSERFMAAGWZJCw_FfgYAvSRcLG2T7FOQqo5atFzF9GUF3cwKVGBHJMMRcPqcseUdvIiXE8o8sN8MKc_Uv0RxjTIZZHpc8grbX69asEk3RKPbqzvkieJt0h6xeVJ1oYjt70d0OEvAuSe3UsQiM/s16000/reasons%20we%20should%20visit%20europe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">But it doesn't stop there, Europe has tighter food safety laws and is less interested in GMO than the USA. Hence, I've heard many USAmericans say that they never felt like they truly tasted food until they came to Europe - just simple things like a tomato or an apple. They also often said that you can eat and eat and eat in Europe and not feel ill the way you do when you just eat in the USA. This goes back to our food safety laws and a pressure to avoid over-doing it with the sugar - who needs to when there are orange, apricot and pomegranate trees growing all over Southern Europe?</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#6. For Medical Care</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">This one for sure should have been a reason much higher up the list, as more and more US citizens are discovering that it's cheaper to fly to Europe, pay for a hotel, and get medical care here than it is to just do it in the States. This is because we are not at the liberty of insurance companies - in many European countries healthcare is free and for the procedures that aren't, the prices are reasonable (e.g. $50 for an x-ray) - they won't leave you bankrupt.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#7. To Relax</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Whilst I really encourage you to see as much as Europe as you can (and please don't make the mistake of missing out on Eastern Europe, I personally prefer it!) I also encourage you to spread it out as much as possible and don't do it all at once. Too often I see USAmericans spending a day in Paris, hopping over to Rome for a night, then jetting down to a Greek island for a few days, only to then say that they've 'done' Europe. Noo.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr32ww6Tgnqgu_d0IoZDg0BhkgauSzR8iAY2g7nJuqTQsUojNuGebKwcWA1tMmB8AlvR8W1vzBgIM92-MekEsy0OHTKnRuyNkdPz8sNovuSBmcBQVSkVH5IghZGwLtfLRqSeVUDLcr7O6A0S0HM7kiWCY1EAI0FxMa7dO26ZflDgDZsyy8C9g2BpQsa1A/s840/why%20visit%20europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="reasons I should visit europe" border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr32ww6Tgnqgu_d0IoZDg0BhkgauSzR8iAY2g7nJuqTQsUojNuGebKwcWA1tMmB8AlvR8W1vzBgIM92-MekEsy0OHTKnRuyNkdPz8sNovuSBmcBQVSkVH5IghZGwLtfLRqSeVUDLcr7O6A0S0HM7kiWCY1EAI0FxMa7dO26ZflDgDZsyy8C9g2BpQsa1A/s16000/why%20visit%20europe.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">A day in Paris is barely a moment in Paris. Greek islands are for lounging on for months and Rome needs at least half a month. Of course these are not necessarily the most practical of time frames... we are fans of slow travel! It's far more meaningful, in my opinion, to spend your entire time (be it just two or even one week), in one place, to really get a feel of it, instead of spending one night in each place and spending most of your time packing and on (albeit awesome) public transport.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: 7 Reasons to Visit Europe as a US Citizen</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">This blog post was originally titled '3 reasons USAmericans should visit Europe' but such is the awesomeness of Europe that I couldn't help but add a fourth, fifth, sixth and finally seventh reason to visit.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4PmcP9ecE4?si=mjKygv1_chmy_6WN" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>I could go on, but now let's turn it over to you - why do you want to visit Europe?</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comEurope54.5259614 15.255118726.215727563821154 -19.9011313 82.836195236178838 50.4113687tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-14724664086568211132024-03-17T11:41:00.000-07:002024-03-17T11:41:41.071-07:00The Essential Travel Checklist to Ensure Every Trip Is a Success<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KG0sZACzRfT_LKnPm38JuN6G7UyxDp0bGeZyDyYwjzSEjUALRAJLaXmKKNgk701XBhZz_ZjPUARmtx_NatT_UeV_Zk3lkbqyKfmUCaAxg7U5erVtkLEUjhHonDwwNOhVL6VjfK0nn_lOfCwNWWjhrfzyFA7jAdK1IOTHryaf8mjPuIVf1v-rS_BSjwg/s840/travel%20essentials%20list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="travel essentials checklist" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KG0sZACzRfT_LKnPm38JuN6G7UyxDp0bGeZyDyYwjzSEjUALRAJLaXmKKNgk701XBhZz_ZjPUARmtx_NatT_UeV_Zk3lkbqyKfmUCaAxg7U5erVtkLEUjhHonDwwNOhVL6VjfK0nn_lOfCwNWWjhrfzyFA7jAdK1IOTHryaf8mjPuIVf1v-rS_BSjwg/s16000/travel%20essentials%20list.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Embarking on a journey can be thrilling, yet it demands meticulous planning to guarantee a seamless and gratifying experience. Whether you're setting off on a brief escapade or an extended expedition, a thorough travel checklist is invaluable for maintaining order and readiness for unforeseen circumstances. Outlined below are the indispensable items to incorporate into your travel checklist, categorized into useful subheadings.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">1. Pre-Travel Preparation</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Before you depart for your trip, there are several important tasks to complete to ensure a successful journey:<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Check Your Passport and Visa Requirements: </b>Ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your trip and check the visa requirements for your destination. If your passport is about to run out then check out a <a href="https://www.urgentpassport.com/" target="_blank">US urgent passport</a> service so you can make your trip. </li>
<li><b>Research the Destination:</b> Familiarize yourself with your destination's customs, language, and cultural practices to make the most of your experience.</li>
<li><b>Book Accommodation and Transportation: </b>Secure lodging and transportation arrangements in advance to avoid last-minute hassles.</li>
<li><b>Purchase Travel Insurance: </b>Invest in travel insurance to shield yourself from unexpected events like trip cancellations or medical emergencies.</li>
<li><b>Notify Bank and Credit Card Companies: </b>Notify your bank and credit card providers about your travel itinerary to pre-empt any potential complications when using your cards overseas.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">2. Packing Essentials</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2021/01/how-to-start-decluttering-when-overwhelmed-dehoarding.html" target="_blank">Packing efficiently</a> is crucial for a stress-free travel experience. Here's what to include in your packing checklist:<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Clothing:</b> Pack versatile clothing suitable for the climate and activities at your destination. Don't forget essentials like underwear, socks, and comfortable shoes.</li>
<li><b>Toiletries: </b>Bring travel-sized toiletries, including toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and skincare products. Remember to include any prescription medications you may need.</li>
<li><b>Travel Documents: </b>Carry all necessary travel documents, including your passport, visa (if required), boarding passes, and travel insurance information.</li>
<li><b>Electronics: </b>Pack essential electronics such as your phone, charger, camera, and any necessary adapters or converters.</li>
<li><b>Travel Accessories: </b>Don't forget travel accessories like a travel pillow, earplugs, and a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated on the go.</li><li><b>Emergency Essentials: </b>Include a basic first aid kit, torch, and any other emergency supplies you may need during your travels.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">3. Health and Safety</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Taking precautions to ensure your health and safety while travelling is essential. Here are some items to prioritize:<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Health Precautions: </b>Check if any vaccinations or medications are recommended for your destination and make necessary arrangements.</li>
<li><b>Safety Measures: </b>Research safety tips and local emergency contact information for your destination. Remain vigilant of your environment and implement measures to safeguard yourself and your possessions.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">4. Itinerary Planning</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Having a well-thought-out itinerary can enhance your travel experience and ensure you make the most of your time. Consider the following:<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Activity Planning: </b>Research and plan activities and attractions you want to visit at your destination.</li>
<li><b>Transportation: </b>Arrange transportation for getting around your destination, whether it's public transportation, rental cars, or ride-sharing services.</li>
<li><b>Dining Options: </b>Research dining options and make reservations in advance for popular restaurants or special dining experiences.</li>
<li><b>Flexibility: </b>Allow for some flexibility in your itinerary to accommodate unexpected opportunities or changes in plans.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">5. Finances and Budgeting</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Managing your finances effectively is crucial for a successful trip. Consider the following financial checklist items:<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Budgeting: </b>Establish a travel budget and allocate funds for accommodations, transportation, meals, activities, and souvenirs.</li>
<li><b>Currency Exchange: </b>Research currency exchange rates and plan accordingly to avoid unnecessary fees or difficulties with accessing funds.</li>
<li><b>Payment Methods: </b>Carry a combination of cash and cards to enhance your flexibility, and inform your bank about your travel arrangements to avoid any complications with card usage.</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/17u_Vw-nFg8?si=hcMzkU4Zkpuoj7kW" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>By following this comprehensive travel checklist, you can ensure that every trip is a success, with minimal stress and maximum enjoyment. Remember to tailor your checklist to suit your specific needs and preferences, and don't forget to embrace the spontaneity and excitement of travel along the way!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-32997804696587452642024-03-15T10:51:00.000-07:002024-03-15T10:51:19.968-07:006 Reasons Why a Mountain Vacation Is Beneficial for You<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA_v0WqnpAYqUwhXbO_9azI_QzfbcWGJDz5viQ-Wh42usoflTnEUzF-bmh7rY42cI21gvuEOKvkCwvMhGLWa_KDGURuSCGbnDJ0FfelLiQUydKAcVpj_ZFG3Cid4W3jARqQ7qtO8FeJheh7zG-5302bjbfGBEiKccgalrS57M-nlKm4tieui_5ENnTE0/s840/benefits%20of%20a%20mountain%20vacation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="mountain vacation benefits" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA_v0WqnpAYqUwhXbO_9azI_QzfbcWGJDz5viQ-Wh42usoflTnEUzF-bmh7rY42cI21gvuEOKvkCwvMhGLWa_KDGURuSCGbnDJ0FfelLiQUydKAcVpj_ZFG3Cid4W3jARqQ7qtO8FeJheh7zG-5302bjbfGBEiKccgalrS57M-nlKm4tieui_5ENnTE0/s16000/benefits%20of%20a%20mountain%20vacation.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Mountain vacations offer a unique retreat away from the fast-paced lifestyle of urban environments, presenting a serene escape that rejuvenates both body and mind. Among the popular destinations for such an experience, Pigeon Forge stands out as a prime choice. Located near the <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/10/guide-to-camping-in-the-great-smokies.html" target="_blank">Great Smoky Mountains</a>, Pigeon Forge combines the tranquillity of nature with a hint of adventure and cultural richness, making it perfect for anyone looking to unwind or seek adventure. Now, let’s discuss why a mountain vacation in Pigeon Forge is beneficial for you:</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">1. Immersion in Nature and Its Healing Effects</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The immersive experience of nature that Pigeon Forge provides is unparalleled. Surrounded by the majestic Great Smoky Mountains, visitors have the unique opportunity to soak in the healing powers of the natural world. Studies have shown that spending time in nature significantly reduces stress levels, improves mood, and increases physical well-being. The fresh mountain air, the soothing sounds of nature, and the lush greenery all contribute to this therapeutic effect, making a mountain vacation an excellent way to recharge and rejuvenate. However, it’s crucial to book accommodations in places that offer such experiences, like condo rentals. Access to a variety of natural landscapes is one of the perks of staying in the <a href="https://www.bluffmountainrentals.com/vacation-rentals/" target="_blank">condo rentals Pigeon Forge</a> offers. These accommodations are often just a stone's throw away from picturesque hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, and serene forests, providing easy access to the outdoors. Guests can start their day with a sunrise view from their balcony, spend the day exploring the natural wonders of the area, and then retire to the comfort of their condo, feeling physically refreshed and mentally at peace.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">2. Opportunities for Physical Activity</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Mountain destinations like Pigeon Forge are not just about relaxation and scenic views; they also offer a plethora of options for physical activity. Whether it's hiking along the myriad of trails that cater to all fitness levels, cycling through winding mountain paths, or engaging in more adrenaline-pumping activities like zip-lining and white-water rafting, there's no shortage of ways to stay active. These activities not only provide a great workout but also allow visitors to intimately experience the natural beauty of the mountains. Engaging in these physical activities while on vacation in Pigeon Forge has the added benefit of enhancing one’s overall health. Regular physical activity is known to improve cardiovascular health, increase stamina, and boost the immune system. What makes exercising in the mountains particularly beneficial is the combination of physical exertion with the intake of clean, fresh air, multiplying the health benefits and contributing to a more enjoyable and fulfilling vacation experience.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">3. Disconnecting from Technology</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In our constantly connected world, finding opportunities to disconnect from technology can be a challenge. However, a mountain vacation offers the perfect excuse to take a digital detox. Pigeon Forge, with its natural beauty and tranquil surroundings, encourages visitors to put down their devices and step away from the screens. This break from digital noise is incredibly beneficial for mental health, reducing stress, improving sleep, and allowing for deeper connections with both oneself and the surrounding world.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kFx39BZHD4xaAA-dDvCsxPPL8zKdts5sjVohRuh-P7LmR1vjfuDvwCMg1OrbteEDq51guAAfJn1Q4XzSyihI7XdLJNfnHJ2PYO2poamkV_LU9xeDR4tcpGnyybn88WkcXdfYxvU0yANVON3alBBGYv-ZtpacKyMwBUpJMktvUzYo_8jc5B2bTRAPjpg/s840/mountain%20vacation%20benefits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="benefits of a mountain vacation" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kFx39BZHD4xaAA-dDvCsxPPL8zKdts5sjVohRuh-P7LmR1vjfuDvwCMg1OrbteEDq51guAAfJn1Q4XzSyihI7XdLJNfnHJ2PYO2poamkV_LU9xeDR4tcpGnyybn88WkcXdfYxvU0yANVON3alBBGYv-ZtpacKyMwBUpJMktvUzYo_8jc5B2bTRAPjpg/s16000/mountain%20vacation%20benefits.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This disconnection allows vacationers to truly engage with the environment and people around them. Without the constant interruptions of notifications and the urge to check social media, guests can enjoy meaningful conversations, immerse themselves in the beauty of the mountains, and partake in activities that they might otherwise miss. The mental clarity and peace that come from this detachment are profound, helping individuals return from their vacation feeling refreshed, focused, and more present in their daily lives.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">4. Quality Time with Loved Ones</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Mountain vacations, particularly in places like Pigeon Forge, create an ideal setting for spending quality time with family and friends. The serene backdrop of the mountains, away from the distractions of everyday life, fosters an <a href="https://www.travelaroundtheworldblog.com/benefits-of-choosing-vacation-in-mountains/" target="_blank">environment</a> where loved ones can truly connect. Activities such as shared hikes, group meals with a view, and evening gatherings around a fire pit become cherished moments, strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories. The variety of experiences available in Pigeon Forge means that there's something for everyone, whether it's exploring the great outdoors, enjoying local entertainment, or simply relaxing together in the comfort of a cozy condo. These shared experiences not only bring joy in the moment but also contribute to a stronger, more connected relationship with loved ones.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">5. Unique Cultural and Recreational Experiences</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Pigeon Forge doesn't merely offer natural beauty; it's also rich in cultural and recreational experiences that add an extra layer of enjoyment to any vacation. From sampling the local cuisine, which is a mix of traditional Southern comfort food and innovative culinary creations, to exploring the cultural heritage of the area through museums, galleries, and live shows, visitors are treated to a unique cultural heritage that enriches their vacation experience. Moreover, recreational facilities such as theme parks, water parks, and adventure courses offer fun and excitement for all ages, ensuring that every day is filled with new adventures. These experiences not only entertain but also provide learning opportunities and the chance to create fun, happy memories that families and friends will treasure for years to come. Pigeon Forge, with its phenomenal natural beauty and cultural richness, proves to be a destination that offers much more than just a break from the routine.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">6. Improved Creativity and Inspiration</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The tranquillity and majestic scenery of mountain vacations are not only beneficial for relaxation and physical <a href="https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-vacationing-mountains/" target="_blank">health</a>; they also provide a significant boost to creativity and inspiration. The peaceful environment allows the mind to wander, free from the usual constraints and distractions, leading to moments of clarity and innovative thinking. Many find that their most creative ideas come to them while immersed in the natural beauty of places like Pigeon Forge, where the mind can explore new thought paths unencumbered. This surge in creativity is not limited to artistic endeavours; it can also translate into problem-solving in professional or personal projects. Inspiration drawn from the natural world and the break from routine work can lead to breakthrough ideas and solutions that seem elusive in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Mountain vacations, especially in a destination as rich and varied as Pigeon Forge, offer several benefits that go far beyond a change of scenery. From the healing effects of nature and opportunities for physical activity to the chance to disconnect from technology and spend quality time with loved ones, these vacations offer a comprehensive way to rejuvenate both the body and the mind.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OKEDm6zzpNM?si=qTZn_wXTIvGikD31" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>The unique cultural and recreational experiences available enrich the vacation, while the tranquil beauty of the mountains fosters creativity and inspiration. Have a great time!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comPigeon Forge, TN, USA35.7884241 -83.5543328999999917.4781902638211548 -118.71058289999999 64.098657936178853 -48.398082899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-87481894593905098692024-02-21T02:38:00.000-08:002024-02-21T03:00:46.807-08:00International Drivers Permit: What Is It and Do You Need One?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLetMVU-RqVQWkVO3KWabPmijopstOmsle3n9AYfy3yjj2SjOMKKXH9ZKn1_N5m0l04qVeOeqATrcqc0__6cTFU9DHaBzLRD5i9kAVQbiXwM8TSNN4IxXVMZzrm5fCOS2gvVFT4ptq74Mp4PA8Ar24vSjWkWZ2a6895MU8SQSHfF5fCWKuJTk-wS8Ri4E/s840/apply%20for%20international%20drivers%20license.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="international license online" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLetMVU-RqVQWkVO3KWabPmijopstOmsle3n9AYfy3yjj2SjOMKKXH9ZKn1_N5m0l04qVeOeqATrcqc0__6cTFU9DHaBzLRD5i9kAVQbiXwM8TSNN4IxXVMZzrm5fCOS2gvVFT4ptq74Mp4PA8Ar24vSjWkWZ2a6895MU8SQSHfF5fCWKuJTk-wS8Ri4E/s16000/apply%20for%20international%20drivers%20license.jpg" title="a photo of a woman driving (okay, it's me)" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Being able to <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">drive internationally</a> has clear advantages such as ease of movement, freedom to choose exactly when and where you go, not to mention when and how often you stop. But is it as simple as just taking your national drivers licence abroad with you? Apparently not. At this point in time, I've now driven abroad more than in my home country (the UK). I've been driving in <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2015/08/house-sitting-in-italy-unbeatable-house.html" target="_blank">Italy</a>, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/02/17-reasons-travel-to-edmonton-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada</a>, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2019/07/house-sitting-ireland-guide.html" target="_blank">Ireland</a>, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/10/need-to-know-golden-circle-iceland.html" target="_blank">Iceland</a>, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/08/australia-in-four-weeks-guide-what-to-pack.html" target="_blank">Australia</a> and, my favourite place to drive, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/11/how-to-stay-in-berlin-for-free.html" target="_blank">Germany</a>. But I just learned that in some places in the world it's not only preferable but <i>required</i> to have an <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Driving Permit</a>. Travel along with me (or dare I say drive along) as I learn when and where an International Driving Permit is needed around the world, and how to get one:</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">International Drivers Permit FAQ </h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Here are some of the most common questions asked about the International Drivers' Permit - hopefully our answers will help you!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Do you need to have a drivers licence before you can get an International Drivers Permit?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The short answer: yes. You must have a drivers licence before you can get an International Drivers Permit. Sorry. This was my own first question because learning to drive in the UK was an expensive and humiliating experience for me. I failed my test not once, but twice before passing the third time. So my first question when I learnt about IDPs was "hey, can you skip getting a licence at home and just get an International Drivers Permit?" No. You cannot. <b>You must have a valid drivers licence before you can get an <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Permit</a>.</b></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">What is an International Drivers Permit?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">An <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Permit</a> allows you to drive internationally in over 150 countries worldwide. Although it's called a permit, it would be more accurately described as a translation document - it complements your home licence thus allowing you to drive abroad. Unlike your driver's licence, it doesn't have to be physical at all, it can be a digital document that you keep on your phone or iPad. Or you can do what I did and get a physical copy too (see more below).</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Do I have to have an International Drivers Permit (IDP)?</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">This depends on where you are from and where you are going. As I'm from the UK I've only done the research for you if your driver's licence is also from the UK (sorry), and even so it still really depends on the country you're going to (and, in some cases for how long):<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Some places (like countries in the EU) don't require an International Drivers Permit; <br /></li><li>Some countries (like the Bahamas) don't require it for the first 90 days of your stay, but then require it afterwards (why? Like you can drive for 90 days and then you suddenly forget?); <br /></li>
<li>Some countries (like Canada) don't require it if you want to drive in general, but most car hire companies in Canada <i>do </i>require it if you want to <i>hire </i>a car... (so unless you're planning on buying or borrowing from a friend, you will need an International Drivers Permit in these countries); <br /></li>
<li>And some countries just straight out require an <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Permit</a> (like Egypt). </li></ul><br />
But even within that group of countries that <i>do </i>require an IDP, there are three different types of IDP - 1926, 1949 and 1968... for a list of who requires what, you can find that <a href="https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> (if your licence is from the UK). But put simply, if you're going on a world-wide trip and want to simplify things, just go ahead and get your <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Permit</a>.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TMVH4xkkltQep6xsYrL3-6GbQJMwyZ1yrQIlwVx8kJYDCfYrpyVGZ3O4Pgm4UXrq203TCph9O9G2ESAuiyFCROy2VQWIJjwMvg7PerPJZZlfBuQXaa6C-UNqTvAZWch857kN44lZaLr9Nbcsd3AgQnhGpcsvlE5vcKatqs0jcrSlmt-LQNELKdNXp0c/s840/apply%20for%20international%20driving%20permit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="driving licence international" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TMVH4xkkltQep6xsYrL3-6GbQJMwyZ1yrQIlwVx8kJYDCfYrpyVGZ3O4Pgm4UXrq203TCph9O9G2ESAuiyFCROy2VQWIJjwMvg7PerPJZZlfBuQXaa6C-UNqTvAZWch857kN44lZaLr9Nbcsd3AgQnhGpcsvlE5vcKatqs0jcrSlmt-LQNELKdNXp0c/s16000/apply%20for%20international%20driving%20permit.jpg" title="a photo of the car we rented in Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Long story short, the International Drivers Association will allow you to hire a car in over 150 countries. So if you're not sure about the rules for the country you're going to or if you're not sure how long you're going or if you're going to multiple countries with different rules or or or you just want the flexibility of going to random countries and knowing you'll be able to drive - get an International Drivers Permit!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Where can I get an International Drivers Permit?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">From the <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Association</a> which is a website that's dedicated to giving you your IDP - which will allow you to hire a car in 150+ countries. Once on the <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> the process is very straightforward so I'm not going to babysit you through it but I will tell you that this association offers unlimited replacements and 24/7 live chat customer care. You can choose between a 3-year, 2-year and 1-year permit, depending on the time that you need it (see below). You can also choose whether you want digital only (sent to you within 8 minutes) or digital <i>and </i>print (the latter sent to you by mail).</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Do I have to have a printed International Drivers Permit or is digital enough?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Having a physical, <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">printed International Drivers Permit</a> ensures compliance with driving regulations. Digital-only reduces the risk of loss or damage, because you can't really lose or damage a digital permit, but for just 6.33 euros per year more (price difference based on the assumption that you have gone for the 3-year permit, for more details see below). I personally think it's better to have both the digital <i>and </i>print versions - whilst print versions can of course get lost or damaged, so can your phone. Imagine turning up to hire your car and your phone is out of battery because you listened to too much Spotify and played too much chess on the plane (guilty) - or what if you lose your phone altogether on the road?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHOa2si5IrDC2Qn1tK8I_iaqR4WdDt-nEJ6k96dHO063qbIp52d3jp8VCgiv0F1flIKQBl2WJYy9-tkh-qO-v1dN-ml29GDbOzrKmSwFyCTnOK1ckg2fnmvG0JdrXSQxdKJL4fuHQKmcVcVHF_6ENqUXHzeVgeEuK5fE2n3D1VKWdoq4drDa1NWJ1-QU/s840/international%20drivers%20license%20online.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="driving in foreign country" border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggHOa2si5IrDC2Qn1tK8I_iaqR4WdDt-nEJ6k96dHO063qbIp52d3jp8VCgiv0F1flIKQBl2WJYy9-tkh-qO-v1dN-ml29GDbOzrKmSwFyCTnOK1ckg2fnmvG0JdrXSQxdKJL4fuHQKmcVcVHF_6ENqUXHzeVgeEuK5fE2n3D1VKWdoq4drDa1NWJ1-QU/s16000/international%20drivers%20license%20online.jpg" title="a photo of the car we rented in Iceland, the landscape and my ex" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">After all, if you are mugged (I hope you won't be but if you are), your mugger is going to be taking your wallet and, of course, your phone, maybe they'll take your watch too, but what they might not care about is your physical drivers permit. Better to be safe than sorry and have a back up - the print backs up the digital, the digital packs up the print. It's also worth noting that not all countries will accept the digital version - for some countries a physical copy is essential. Again, it's better to be safe than sorry.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">How much does an International Drivers Permit cost?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It depends on how long you need it for and whether or not you want the printed version. I will break it down presently, but first let me say that I believe the short answer to this question is 'it's priceless'. Because, trust me, if you get to your well-planned out trip and find out that you can't actually hire a car because you don't have your IDP, things can get annoying and expensive real quick (e.g. having to get a taxi to your hotel because you don't have the proper IDP to hire the car and there are no buses running). But enough about me and my mistakes, here is how much the <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Permit</a> actually costs:</div><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>1-year:</li>
<ul>
<li>digital only: €46</li>
<li>print + digital: €65</li></ul></ul>
<ul><li>2-years:</li>
<ul>
<li>digital only: €52 (aka €26 per year and a 43% discount from the 1-year price)</li>
<li>€71 (aka €35.5 per year and a 45% discount from the 1-year price)</li></ul></ul>
<ul>
<li>3-years:</li>
<ul>
<li>digital only: €56 (aka just €18.67 per year and a 59% discount from the 1-year price)</li>
<li>print + digital: €75 (aka just €25 per year and a whopping 62% discount from the 1-year price)</li></ul></ul><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So of course, if you can for absolute sure only get one year off your national life, by all means go for the 1-year permit. But if you have a sprinkling of doubt that you might extend it - go for the 2 or 3 year permits. Take it from someone who had a graduate job all lined up for them <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/08/australia-in-four-weeks-guide-what-to-pack.html" target="_blank">after their one year trip to Australia</a>, but got bitten by the travel bug and ended up travelling for the next ten years, and in fact is still travelling... I'd go back and beg past me to go for the 3 year permit. In fact, even if you are set on just a 1-year trip, but feel like in that 2nd or 3rd year you might take a break from the grind and go on a week's holiday abroad (or even just a weekend!), it's still worth getting a 2 or 3 year permit. With discounts like 59% or 62% you might as well take advantage.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Anything else you need to know before driving abroad?</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, and don't hate me if this is obvious to you, but not every country in the world drives on the same side of the road: some countries - like Ireland, Pakistan, Botswana and Lesotho drive on the left; some countries - like Albania, Ghana, Turkey and Yemen drive on the right; and some countries see their official LHT or RHT status as 'more of a guideline really' and just drive wherever there's a gap (this is kind of a joke, kind of true lol). You can <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-_and_right-hand_traffic#External_links" target="_blank">see the full list here</a> but please check it before you go, and please don't panic about driving on the other side - the rule of thumb is if you're driving in the same car type as road type (e.g. RHS car on LHT road and vice versa), your brain just kind of goes with it - the real challenge is driving the wrong type of car on the opposite road - because as the driver you will be sat near the edge of the road not the centre. Anyway, you can do it, please check first.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4kJPnMnzMNvKUOLYm9EWbfmTQDqTWjiap5JXvrFsW5qF32INOyPuE5EDg4eKpF6x2HvfMP40lBB6A7y7JhXmnT5zgqHzuBBhRp0Qe8235RtALVKbQ4ChMKIw_FdMHe8rM5Wjypho2-foIxs4P9qBJt0FQ-gE5jPxGMwG1mcr6gZYFn90JqNVBtjTbQQ/s840/international%20driving%20licence%20online%20apply.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="international drivers license online" border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4kJPnMnzMNvKUOLYm9EWbfmTQDqTWjiap5JXvrFsW5qF32INOyPuE5EDg4eKpF6x2HvfMP40lBB6A7y7JhXmnT5zgqHzuBBhRp0Qe8235RtALVKbQ4ChMKIw_FdMHe8rM5Wjypho2-foIxs4P9qBJt0FQ-gE5jPxGMwG1mcr6gZYFn90JqNVBtjTbQQ/s16000/international%20driving%20licence%20online%20apply.jpg" title="a photo of me taking a photo in the rearview mirror and chickens in Ireland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another thing I highly recommend before driving abroad is <a href="https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=24737137&utm_source=24737137&utm_medium=Ambassador" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">travel / health insurance</a>. Really, you should have this anyway (and good news USAmericans - your insurance abroad will probably be way cheaper than paying for healthcare back at home), but you should <i>especially</i> have this if you are driving. Driving a vehicle is the most dangerous form of transportation that there is - statistically, passenger vehicle death rate is 17 times higher than for trains, 20 times higher than for buses, and a whopping 595 times higher than for planes!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEnjCvdiG7mt5WJuWuzb8EPM2L5GhBitvnYcjTLp9RwGd_YBs714LB6UtAY1dxiyW624A4Rk6VER3xQwLkdGftobka-VnIlYa95iMCtGMEuwkp8IdkX52Qfqw8p3wi0c_3wRMXX3k4ARgo-2E0ZQR2T5W_GawHUoWXZhGMX1wMJp1thfKpz3o-ADxkAE/s840/international%20drivers%20permit%20application.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="buy international drivers license" border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEnjCvdiG7mt5WJuWuzb8EPM2L5GhBitvnYcjTLp9RwGd_YBs714LB6UtAY1dxiyW624A4Rk6VER3xQwLkdGftobka-VnIlYa95iMCtGMEuwkp8IdkX52Qfqw8p3wi0c_3wRMXX3k4ARgo-2E0ZQR2T5W_GawHUoWXZhGMX1wMJp1thfKpz3o-ADxkAE/s16000/international%20drivers%20permit%20application.JPG" title="a photo of a woman (me) and a rented car in Canada. And lots of snow." /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, you won't need health insurance if you're dead but if you get into an accident you will, so please get insurance. On that note, it's also important to get car insurance too. And if you're hiring a car (as opposed to borrowing a friend's or just buying one) make sure you take clear photos or even a video of the car before you start driving it so you have proof that you returned it in the condition you were given it in.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28u9R91UER0SZuZownYRkJg0PtcfF0gDRjKLQFRdCjqw-a2FjC5bcPs2wpeTtfVVQgB_VUEgue-EsPZLaNb-Dxge-E_NTnR1DqCSiWX3e9hpfVCm0MMvVvffV672S9NT2j_yJAfFM1yYj1K48v6q7M4Le0XaUEe1Ph1Jtc674wXc4sMKolVxm_HzOAT8/s840/buy%20international%20drivers%20license.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="international drivers permit application" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28u9R91UER0SZuZownYRkJg0PtcfF0gDRjKLQFRdCjqw-a2FjC5bcPs2wpeTtfVVQgB_VUEgue-EsPZLaNb-Dxge-E_NTnR1DqCSiWX3e9hpfVCm0MMvVvffV672S9NT2j_yJAfFM1yYj1K48v6q7M4Le0XaUEe1Ph1Jtc674wXc4sMKolVxm_HzOAT8/s16000/buy%20international%20drivers%20license.JPG" title="a photo of a woman driving in Canada" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We're at a strange moment in time where some countries have switched to card payment - and will only take card payment - and some countries still accept cash (an of course there are the countries that accept both). But it's worth being aware of this, especially before you fill up on gas / petrol /diesel - it would suck to try to pay with card when they only accept cash and there's no cash machine for miles or try to pay with cash when they only accept card. On that note, and again excuse me if this is obvious, but do check which type of fuel the car you've bought / borrowed / hired runs off - because if you put petrol in a diesel car it will break and vice versa.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: How to Get an International Drivers Permit</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you're anything like me, you might not have known that an <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Permit</a> is an essential to have in some countries. Now that we know, I hope I have helped explain what an International Drivers Permit is, whether you need one or not and where to get one. If I had to give a big sweeping statement piece of advice to everyone, I would recommend going for the 3 year physical and digital versions. This might not be true for you, but don't forget - in some countries the physical version is a must. Furthermore, even if you 'only' travel for one year and 'just' take 2 weeks vacation in year 2 and 3, cost effective wise, it's still a good idea to get a 3 year plan. All in all, I hope this blog post has been useful.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_E0fSbD-kN8?si=V36jYqUh1fxPZlL9" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>If you have any questions, ask the <a href="https://go.idaoffers.com/SH16B" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">International Drivers Association</a> - or feel free to reach out and ask me. What I lack in knowledge, I make up for in a enthusiastic desire to do the best I can to find answers for you!</i></div><script src="moz-extension://272dce42-ba84-484e-bfc8-bfe2803e8b89/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="moz-extension://272dce42-ba84-484e-bfc8-bfe2803e8b89/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-41568641673528698552024-02-20T07:56:00.000-08:002024-02-20T07:56:54.234-08:00Language Immersion Journeys: How Travel Enhances Your Spanish Skills<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVepXM6fJvuflJ8ukU4o1xA4zk3op-rgzBv26nLSMKzfCwQosMNJvHyDaVZ3-kZkYCmNay_6x76GrkHJY18rDYINhaZvRyE8XTSpzgbZLd50bXReN2sDIorLO8uQ3umRUfGZSByPahbCLJ_CS7cWrgjcePUy_C315PK10grYeQN8Cupv5Iv2GIT7u49U/s840/language%20immersion%20travel%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="language immersion travel advantages" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVepXM6fJvuflJ8ukU4o1xA4zk3op-rgzBv26nLSMKzfCwQosMNJvHyDaVZ3-kZkYCmNay_6x76GrkHJY18rDYINhaZvRyE8XTSpzgbZLd50bXReN2sDIorLO8uQ3umRUfGZSByPahbCLJ_CS7cWrgjcePUy_C315PK10grYeQN8Cupv5Iv2GIT7u49U/s16000/language%20immersion%20travel%202.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Break the boundaries of textbooks with language immersion travel, a method rapidly becoming a standard for its efficacy. The <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/08/our-first-spanish-house-sit.html" target="_blank">thrill of this trip</a> is more than just learning Spanish. It is also about living the language, experiencing the culture on the spot, and interacting with over 500 million speakers. This article will explore the importance of cultural immersion and provide practical guidelines on how it can enhance language skills. Get ready for an authentic and complete Spanish experience as we see how travel can significantly boost your language learning.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Beyond Textbooks: The Unique Advantages of Immersion Travel</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">When you learn Spanish through immersion travel, you step into a world where textbooks can't take you. It's the difference between reading about swimming and diving into the ocean. Let's explore why <a href="https://languatalk.com/blog/spanish/the-best-ways-to-learn-spanish/" target="_blank">these tips for learning Spanish</a> offer a more prosperous and vibrant language proficiency path.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Natural Language Exposure </h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Immersion means living the language every moment of your day. Whether ordering breakfast or asking for directions, you practice Spanish in real situations, not just rehearsing dialogues. This constant exposure tunes your ear to the language's rhythm and intonation, speeding up your learning process.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Authentic Communication</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Chatting with native speakers gives you the nuances of the language that textbooks overlook. Every conversation is a lesson in slang, humour, and expressions essential for fluency. Interacting with locals opens up authentic cultural experiences, making learning feel more like an adventure than a chore.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Culturally Relevant Learning</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Immersion allows you to decrypt the cultural background of the words. Besides learning Spanish as a language, you'll learn how to communicate across different Spanish cultures. This experience can take your language appreciation and understanding to a deeper level.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Motivation and Engagement</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Seeing your language skills in action is quite stimulating. Successfully engaging in a productive conversation or understanding a joke in a foreign language confirms your progress in the real world. Receiving instant feedback can be quite exhilarating and motivating.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Overcoming the Fear of Mistakes</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Fear of failing is one of the most significant challenges in language learning. Immersion travel puts you in a nurturing setting where making mistakes is part of learning. You'll soon discover that the locals acknowledge your efforts to speak their language, making you bold enough to keep trying each time you make a mistake.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Practical Application</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Immersion forces you to speak Spanish in practical situations like negotiating prices in a market or following directions. This practical application ensures that what you learn immediately applies, reinforcing your learning and making it stick.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Building a Language Community</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">When you travel for immersion, you'll likely meet fellow language learners. These connections can become part of your language-learning community, offering support, practice opportunities, and friendship. Sharing the trip creates yet another opportunity to enrich the whole experience immensely.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Customizing Your Learning Experience</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Everybody’s language learning path is different and immersion travel offers possibilities to adapt your experience to your preferences. Love food? Learn Spanish through cooking classes. Are you fascinated by history? Explore ancient ruins with a local guide. This personalized approach keeps learning engaging and relevant to you.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLdYca_nsHF8rZhOekkb1sEAXSq2EyzrYDEjKJ1sKFlzRseG5hm_CJmd5HjX4QaHcJ3E5q8_j0hkRKuDkhU-L9P9NaVsJV2G_iN_vYRF9YKEl0JbPvBwltP-xzdRnRqtZWsur8ipWWwHVKy8XGT6w-ko2wrwU5oXjnWanmsk1TpTpfRzxpTiwputU1YA/s840/language%20immersion%20travel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="language immersion travel benefits" border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLdYca_nsHF8rZhOekkb1sEAXSq2EyzrYDEjKJ1sKFlzRseG5hm_CJmd5HjX4QaHcJ3E5q8_j0hkRKuDkhU-L9P9NaVsJV2G_iN_vYRF9YKEl0JbPvBwltP-xzdRnRqtZWsur8ipWWwHVKy8XGT6w-ko2wrwU5oXjnWanmsk1TpTpfRzxpTiwputU1YA/s16000/language%20immersion%20travel.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">In essence, immersion travel strips away the formalities of language learning, placing you directly in the heart of actual conversations, emotions, and connections. It's about turning every step, every misstep, and every leap into a building block for fluency. You're not just picking up Spanish as you go along but also gaining a fresh perspective on life.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">From Tourist to Conversationalist: Practical Tips for Immersion Travel</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Transforming from a mere visitor to a confident conversationalist in Spanish requires more than just packing your bags and setting off. Here are some golden nuggets of advice to maximize your language learning during your travels.<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Choose the right destination:</b> Some Spanish-speaking countries are different. Each has its dialects, traditions, and unique expressions. Pick a place that resonates with your learning goals and interests. Whether it’s the cosmopolitan streets of Barcelona or the historical depths of <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/05/best-travel-destinations-in-mexico.html" target="_blank">Mexico City</a>, your destination should inspire you to explore and learn.</li>
<li><b>Engage in local life: </b>Opt for accommodations and experiences that push you to interact. Homestays, for instance, are fantastic for practising Spanish in a family setting. Participate in local events, festivals, and markets to practice everyday conversations. DIY <a href="https://www.owehworkation.com/travel-tips/city-walking-perfect-for-local-immersion-how-to-plan-your-self-guided-tour/" target="_blank">neighbourhood walking tours</a> are also ideal for local immersion.</li>
<li><b>Plan interactive activities: </b>Enrol in language classes at a local school or participate in activities like cooking classes, dance lessons, or guided tours in Spanish. These settings not only teach you the language but also about cultural practices, adding depth to your learning.</li>
<li><b>Embrace opportunities to speak: </b>Switching to English is tempting when things get tough but resist. Use every chance to speak Spanish, even if it means making mistakes. Remember, fluency comes from practice, not perfection. Ask locals for feedback; most will be delighted to help you improve.</li>
<li><b>Connect with locals and fellow learners: </b>Platforms like Couchsurfing, language exchange meetups, or social media can help you find language practice partners. Engaging with locals and fellow language learners enriches your experience and provides diverse perspectives on the language.</li>
<li><b>Be patient and persistent: </b>Learning a new language is a process that takes time and patience. Embrace every triumph despite the setbacks. Keep pushing yourself forward while rewarding yourself with each small step. Language immersion trips are about mindfulness, openness, curiosity, and fearlessness. These characteristics will help you fit into a culture like a local.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Lasting Rewards: The Long-Term Benefits of Immersion Travel</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">The journey of language immersion continues when you return home. The skills, experiences, and memories you collect diversify your life in multiple ways.<br /><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Enhanced cognitive skills: </b><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583091/" target="_blank">Studies show</a> that acquiring a second language can positively affect cognitive abilities like attention and problem-solving skills. An immersive approach to language learning provides continuous adaptation so you grow more focused and improve your multitasking abilities.</li>
<li><b>Increased career opportunities: </b>Bilingualism is one of the most valuable skills in today's globalized world. Proficiency in Spanish will set you apart in the job market by showcasing your cultural sensitivity and willingness to learn new skills.</li>
<li><b>Personal growth and confidence: </b>Immersion travel pushes you out of your comfort zone to face challenges in the best possible ways. You develop self-reliance and confidence. You go home with a stronger sense of who you are and the knowledge that you can handle challenging situations.</li>
<li><b>Cultural sensitivity and openness:</b> Experiencing a new culture can be an incredibly enriching experience as it creates an atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance of the customs and norms of others. This open-mindedness and eagerness to dialogue become your distinctive trait. You start seeing the world from a broader point of view, and you become respectful of other people’s perspectives. </li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrapping Up: Learning a Language Via Immersion Travel</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Immersing in a different language involves more than just a learning technique. This life-changing experience will give your personal development a new dimension. You can reap both the practical benefits of bilingualism and growth. It is a lifelong investment that will keep giving even after you come home. As you ponder your next travel destination, remember that it is not just about the places you will go but also the person you will be as you get there. </p><p> </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/71tzERIxWTk?si=Wkc1hYN3F6N5ucJ5" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>So, get ready to dive in and enjoy the process - learning Spanish is just the beginning of many challenges ahead. The world of the language is about to reveal its hidden treasures!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comMexico23.634501 -102.552784-4.6757328361788453 -137.709034 51.944734836178846 -67.396534tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-35699747534387573832024-02-17T09:00:00.000-08:002024-02-18T08:55:57.321-08:00Tropicfeel Backpack Review: Is It Actually as Good as They Say?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMfRplCVJg6kQpxyhffqHKQkkYS4HW2s9EEBySFMVkrUFswkvmK0Jn7FvcYaDXE5O4Xm0hJa3at7bJr-0NXEriv5-Lzn97QqFIHVwrmZer-pBFKybj5P9XW_qS0Z9F1wvxdpKGQ2xhQgX5_1B2FeJm8IegAThDRjeokQu1OIgUx6vs7lZL_DL-KVUO=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropic feel backpack review" border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMfRplCVJg6kQpxyhffqHKQkkYS4HW2s9EEBySFMVkrUFswkvmK0Jn7FvcYaDXE5O4Xm0hJa3at7bJr-0NXEriv5-Lzn97QqFIHVwrmZer-pBFKybj5P9XW_qS0Z9F1wvxdpKGQ2xhQgX5_1B2FeJm8IegAThDRjeokQu1OIgUx6vs7lZL_DL-KVUO=s16000" title="a photo of the Tropicfeel backpack and me in front of a 'London Pub' in Novi Sad, Serbia (talk about globalization & westernization lol...)" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">We worked with <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7798050-15067946" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tropicfeel</a> at the beginning of this year by <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2021/01/jungle-shoe-tropicfeel-review.html" target="_blank">reviewing their jungle shoe</a>. I was shocked by how impressed I was by those damn shoes - in a way that I haven't been impressed by a company in a long time. (Ever since I found out about wage labour basically.) But with <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7798050-15067946" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tropicfeel</a> I just couldn't help but like them - they're challenging the fashion industry, they're anti over-tourism and their products really are catered to their consumers - not in the 'traditional' 'tell us what you like and we'll pretend to listen', no they really do listen and provide. So this is our review of the Tropicfeel Shell backpack [this post was updated on the 10th of February, 2024]<br /></p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2>Tropicfeel Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">So when <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7798050-15067946" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tropicfeel</a> wrote to me again and asked if I was interested in reviewing their backpack, I actually did a blogger taboo - I didn't look at the backpack online or read other reviews... I just said yes. This review is not paid for, so I knew it wouldn't be the end of the world if I hated it and wrote about it (spoiler alert: I don't). But, I'm rambling on about this to let you know two things:<br /><br />
1) I trusted Tropicfeel enough to 'blind taste' a backpack and<br /><br />
2) other than assuming it would be great because the company is great, I had zero expectation of the rucksack - which included what it would even look like, let alone what the features were.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPAFPHeI74ylS-KYRDR6UL1i5MsGOvLd_O3vg_U-lQtoKtvddiLw9xV6dxM7gQFxmlMGPyDQJvCRJASMZG9qF9QtdttbTodq_n6uRR04zVvX2N5wjCdKXDfM4IZLLlQa7WFJ3h3SmQh7adXS2nUuNUaEYsoQcQl9RqC3mTRQ0z-oGNL2btG-7oQBVm=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropicfeel hive review" border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPAFPHeI74ylS-KYRDR6UL1i5MsGOvLd_O3vg_U-lQtoKtvddiLw9xV6dxM7gQFxmlMGPyDQJvCRJASMZG9qF9QtdttbTodq_n6uRR04zVvX2N5wjCdKXDfM4IZLLlQa7WFJ3h3SmQh7adXS2nUuNUaEYsoQcQl9RqC3mTRQ0z-oGNL2btG-7oQBVm=s16000" title="a photo of the amazing street art scene in Novi Sad" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Now I've got my blogging crimes off my chest, I can get to actually reviewing this bag:</div><br />
<h2>Tropicfeel Shell Backpack Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">First things first, I fell in love because of the colour - bearing in mind I hadn't looked at it I didn't know what colours it came in (black, moss and burgundy), I took it as a 'sign from the universe' that they sent me one in my favourite colour (burgundy). Having looked at it online now, I would say the colour is much more vibrant and kicking than it looks in their photos:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlDPI_1pfBsiGIjz-HLZWj1ch0nQdgHVfQh4ML-tjOOsgXv7mVRcXJYFTZoF_BvVYJlkNbXekzUhV8B6BRyNo8WMb17NqhnRyDHIM275MZ1qqo6bMpFh02AInBILmVUdTr6KPt6Fx0gu9MSfbzxWfuj30hSYUG8j4rPUaWcVfyjb0FT0QgrUfrbWEI=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropicfeel shell backpack review" border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlDPI_1pfBsiGIjz-HLZWj1ch0nQdgHVfQh4ML-tjOOsgXv7mVRcXJYFTZoF_BvVYJlkNbXekzUhV8B6BRyNo8WMb17NqhnRyDHIM275MZ1qqo6bMpFh02AInBILmVUdTr6KPt6Fx0gu9MSfbzxWfuj30hSYUG8j4rPUaWcVfyjb0FT0QgrUfrbWEI=s16000" title="the Tropicfeel shell backpack with my bf's water bottle :)" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Which was a nice surprise - or would have been if I'd known, lol. Seriously though their photo says more 'red' to me rather than 'burgundy' and if I'd have seen red I might well have gone for moss. (Which tbf would have also been fine, moving on.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Then there was the pockets. I think I might have a pocket kink tbh. And not because I'm in the closet (bi and loud about it). I have a pocket kink because I like to have a place for everything and a thing for every place. I like knowing exactly where all my things are at all times because it feels safe. (Pretty sure this comes from being a suitcase kid but that's for another blog post/therapy.) There are bags that don't really have great pockets, there are bags that have some mediocre pockets - in the wrong place, not big/small enough etc, then there are bags that are perfect when it comes to pockets and <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7798050-15067946" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tropicfeel</a> is one of them.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQH-04hKOPfBCP8CNyn45ARwKhB3susVFYX-Zh5cF0d7P7Wbz2m8KKG2FkbpZV6ocG5We_BmdOKiAlLpJ1jIQ6PmkU6CDw2D3hTlg94n8asPX2u1AYgoTZtBafrJ51U-GxeyQneeoZ5gv5Nyw5aAc-3j1xNmI6OS3tcgwVdI6DJqoc4XbIkE7B1k4q=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropic feel review" border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQH-04hKOPfBCP8CNyn45ARwKhB3susVFYX-Zh5cF0d7P7Wbz2m8KKG2FkbpZV6ocG5We_BmdOKiAlLpJ1jIQ6PmkU6CDw2D3hTlg94n8asPX2u1AYgoTZtBafrJ51U-GxeyQneeoZ5gv5Nyw5aAc-3j1xNmI6OS3tcgwVdI6DJqoc4XbIkE7B1k4q=s16000" title="some war propaganda in a public space" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">There's a pocket on the side for your water bottle, and it's made of some magical material where the water bottle is somehow securely and snuggly there once in, but is also easy to get in and out? It's also good for different sized water bottles, not just mine (I tried it with Tamás's too). What's better than one of these magic pockets though? Two, of course: one on each side, one for your water bottle, one for another water bottle/coke/burrito etc.<br /><br />
There's a pocket on the flap which I personally use for my sunglasses and earplugs but would also work for anything you need easy access to. There's also a pocket on the outside that is quite hard to spot (especially if you are using a toiletry or tech pack), you could keep your phone in their, I keep a lighter in there so it's easy to find and access (iff you know it's there). There's another pocket on the side where your back goes that is very secret and I keep my wallet in mostly (plz don't read this and then rob me lol). Inside are more great pockets - one for my passport, one for my jewellery and one safe padded one for my laptop. Speaking of laptops, the backpack is very waterproof - very important.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW7WqmxGimhybnrgS-O9PQytJbWBqXr3JMjYnk0MCZmlqPA2kBR5Td-TaXiQWq24x52a3vyMntJRN287w2Oc_wd6ZG82U5a33puJ7hPI5KOM7C6GwUuDNNI9oIU0YcZPY11pDhADy8_qm4oeg1H04PxvybP02GYJnJo4ZyOeE8crq_Xl59hOIOHdte=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best backpacking bag reviews" border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgW7WqmxGimhybnrgS-O9PQytJbWBqXr3JMjYnk0MCZmlqPA2kBR5Td-TaXiQWq24x52a3vyMntJRN287w2Oc_wd6ZG82U5a33puJ7hPI5KOM7C6GwUuDNNI9oIU0YcZPY11pDhADy8_qm4oeg1H04PxvybP02GYJnJo4ZyOeE8crq_Xl59hOIOHdte=s16000" title="An example of the many many vegan graffitis in Serbia, so wonderful!" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">One thing I don't particularly like is without either the toiletry or the tech add on (see below for reviews of those), the bag looks kind of like something is missing. It's probably a taste thing and maybe you don't mind it like that, but if you do mind, and you have to pay extra for the toiletry or tech (because they are add ons and do cost extra) then that is kinda sad.<br /><br />
One thing that you can never see on websites (assuming you've looked beforehand) is how good the quality is, you can't really see it until you feel it with your own hands right? Well my hands are here to tell you that I really like the quality of the <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7798050-15067946" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tropicfeel backpack</a>. I could feel in the beginning that it was good quality, but I purposefully kept off writing about this until I'd tested it over time - I've now travelled with it through two countries and five cities, it's been thrown around in trains, buses and taxis, and I've walked a lot with it - and it still looks brand new. One of the most important things for me (along with safe padded laptop space and waterproofness) is that the zips aren't rubbish - partly because I went to Egypt with a different bag, the zips failed and it was such a pain. And partly because bad zips are just so irritating. These zips re great and I love them.</div><br />
<h2>Tropicfeel Backpack Wardrobe Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you buy the backpack, the wardrobe comes included (nope, you cannot buy the bag just by itself). Since I didn't realize they were gonna send a wardrobe, my initial reaction was annoyance because I assumed I wouldn't need it and that I'd have to throw it away and I don't like doing stuff like that (although plz note that someone else might like it and need it: 'one human's trash is another one's treasure' as they say & let's be fair, <a href="https://youtu.be/QhF6wcvunNo?si=nWXOlPwUBY-Nyh82" target="_blank">dumpster diving is cool</a>, we do quite a lot of it nowadays as well).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiot1D5Vw-cZPusIViumHAGVgurlp0Glyoj_so8PdUNowlXHuyh6mTWycrDT4qKHlgwWaN7Fyt_nmWdfB2F9GdzwoxculHyG9wz8V7NoXLYOAe1vYGr_DC7gmxTg_kDUCiFEi3CLinTHs49HriiyWmSC2DOTFW07ziBC1vZr4SA5iZ37eksmzIKK246=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best backpacking bags" border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiot1D5Vw-cZPusIViumHAGVgurlp0Glyoj_so8PdUNowlXHuyh6mTWycrDT4qKHlgwWaN7Fyt_nmWdfB2F9GdzwoxculHyG9wz8V7NoXLYOAe1vYGr_DC7gmxTg_kDUCiFEi3CLinTHs49HriiyWmSC2DOTFW07ziBC1vZr4SA5iZ37eksmzIKK246=s16000" title="yeah that's my arm :)" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, that annoyance quickly turned into absolute joy once I realised it's really clever, this thing - it's like a packing cube! It has three different compartments, one for pants ('knickers' for my US readers), one that can be closed by a zip, one that can't. What I really like about it is a.) you can use it as a wardrobe. You get to a place, e.g. a hostel and you can hang it from the edge of the bed and that really makes me feel at home immediately; and what I like about it even more is that b.) you can pull the straps on the side and it goes from being as long as the rucksack to being really short. It compacts your stuff and I find that really smart. True, it is kinda heavy by itself but I think how useful it is makes up for the extra weight.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS3-WZLphhLKhO18f5QChzUqk2POC9AKhpdxlwzi1jyR3XF_WAGL_A1qYTfOFFNoVnqA_qzzXSNCFbFhQoOsGIC4BSb1o5xtjs-l7y6fc5TWLAAu0yTl6_le8lfpuiFlZ-CoRMdbBtcAz8T8-fjOn8UasrJlQbarIxphqI7FepaXHaU0dqImNclQ5K=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropicfeel hive backpack review" border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhS3-WZLphhLKhO18f5QChzUqk2POC9AKhpdxlwzi1jyR3XF_WAGL_A1qYTfOFFNoVnqA_qzzXSNCFbFhQoOsGIC4BSb1o5xtjs-l7y6fc5TWLAAu0yTl6_le8lfpuiFlZ-CoRMdbBtcAz8T8-fjOn8UasrJlQbarIxphqI7FepaXHaU0dqImNclQ5K=s16000" title="a photo of yellow house in the city centre of Novi Sad" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">What I pack in them: I have my black pants when I'm on my period and my colour pants when I'm not so it's nice to be able to see 'oh I've only got a few pants left, I need to do a washing'. Whereas before they were all at the bottom of my bag and I never knew when I ran out. In the bottom bit, which has got loads of different compartments, I keep pants, socks, my bikini, my bra (yeah I still carry one around, even though I haven't worn it for over a year. It's a sports bra, just in case I go to a boxing class. But mostly, just chuck bras, they're totally unnecessary). In the top bit, there's two separate compartments that zip up and I keep my vest there and my T-shirt. In the middle I keep a pair trousers and a jumper.</div><br />
<h2>Tropicfeel Backpack Accessories Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Although I really like the wardrobe, I'm surprised they don't make one of the accessories either the toiletry or the tech pouch included. For me, the bag without either a tech or a toiletry pouch (which both fit nicely on the front) looks kinda empty. I'm surprised they don't include one of these by default. Important note: they're both made from 64% recycled polyesther which is quite a good ratio, we'd like to applaud Tropicfeel for this. (Even more important note: we recommend buying stuff second-hand as much as possible).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1zEqGPShSmL4IfuX-QxvPvz7JwmsG8LteqjsOdb3AUfztaimL42JWaqvQbs7pR3pVA6xSiieBFUU-hcg0UW5m7vNlbceEaAw3mJBgkUTb5cLgvrxHR67WY5JzL77E7TjkSmE9c_JZ_YqpUtd3TjWrJVVfvXzBItr93Cq6CBXtuLcHrbxIgmLQp5Y4=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropicfeel shell backpack review" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1zEqGPShSmL4IfuX-QxvPvz7JwmsG8LteqjsOdb3AUfztaimL42JWaqvQbs7pR3pVA6xSiieBFUU-hcg0UW5m7vNlbceEaAw3mJBgkUTb5cLgvrxHR67WY5JzL77E7TjkSmE9c_JZ_YqpUtd3TjWrJVVfvXzBItr93Cq6CBXtuLcHrbxIgmLQp5Y4=s16000" title="a photo of three women" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Back to where we were: there are three different accessories (or add-ons) available: the toiletry pouch, the tech pouch and the camera cube (they sent us all three to review). The toiletry and the tech pouch you can actually latch onto the rucksack. I personally like both of them, I use both of them, one for toiletry (which is sometimes the tech pouch) & one for tech (which is sometims the toiletry pouch lol) - they're both very useful in this unexpected reverse way.</div><br />
<h4>Tropicfeel backpack toiletry review</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Having used both I actually think that the toiletry pouch would be much more useful as a tech pouch! It's waterproof, it's got many more compartments, it's got this secret compartment kind of thing inside.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQzeW2_mgXo-w66ST0bd-nBQL4M5ABvJ5BjeFa_GA-MCRe8cPTfIMIrrW4PZhcOKGTd8m-G1C5QGtMDcfQJtZYQskklRHnfUeVf-SoAoj0Mb6ujL_c0Kw4WeP5gLnXtUB8MbHS-WOmvmxxJ1TMNSG5MoD5paAtHAI0SGji-7OlBhuvzq2Bye2-AKNA=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropic feel shell backpack review" border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQzeW2_mgXo-w66ST0bd-nBQL4M5ABvJ5BjeFa_GA-MCRe8cPTfIMIrrW4PZhcOKGTd8m-G1C5QGtMDcfQJtZYQskklRHnfUeVf-SoAoj0Mb6ujL_c0Kw4WeP5gLnXtUB8MbHS-WOmvmxxJ1TMNSG5MoD5paAtHAI0SGji-7OlBhuvzq2Bye2-AKNA=s16000" title="a photo of Tropicfeel's Shell backpack" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">However, when I travel with this bag, I keep the toiletry pouch on the front of the bag because even though these clip or latch-on things are ingenious and it's actually quite hard to pull it off, no matter where I was I still wouldn't wanna have my tech stuff on the front of my bag... so I keep the toiletry one on the outside (with actual toiletries inside) and if anyone nicks it, they're just gonna get a moon cup and a bamboo tooth brush. If you're on a limited budget and if you only wanna choose one to go on the front, I would pick this one.</div><br />
<h4>Tropicfeel backpack tech review</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It's pretty similar to the toiletry one, with some differences: the toiletry one has two pockets on the inside, two where you can slide things in and it's waterproof, whereas this only has stuff for your leads.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgADUYMNQfjfAJC0wBrgsBmReXd8Z2sxrUmXvugvBZGtQbU-I0Usfrwxqw72u087b40YpXnyDSzjvWa1GkKuYIMrCjukrlFI_zb0iuUJCmvVj2lZRi7h1THfoBKokNzVxchmCUCKA4zoEARPE_hrHvf66zONf1lamWRSMnatVfR1jTwjebSIqaqmUp8=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="backpacking bag review" border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgADUYMNQfjfAJC0wBrgsBmReXd8Z2sxrUmXvugvBZGtQbU-I0Usfrwxqw72u087b40YpXnyDSzjvWa1GkKuYIMrCjukrlFI_zb0iuUJCmvVj2lZRi7h1THfoBKokNzVxchmCUCKA4zoEARPE_hrHvf66zONf1lamWRSMnatVfR1jTwjebSIqaqmUp8=s16000" title="a photo of the Tropicfeel Shell Rucksack" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It doesn't open up fully, the zip only goes halfway (whilst the toiletry pouch opens up like a book). I keep this one inside the rucksack where it's safer. I do really like it because my external hard drive and my Kindle fit in there both... my phone charger would easily fit in alongside these two in the toiletry pouch though.</div><br />
<h4>Tropicfeel backpack camera cube review</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Like the wardrobe, I was initially annoyed by getting a camera cube - I already had a camera bag! I was like, well, I don't need this. But then I looked at it more thoroughly and realised that I do like this cube a lot. First of all, it fits in really well at the bottom of the backpack and gives it a solid base when I put it down (the backpack does not topple over). Secondly, I used to have a camera bag that wasn't rectangular, whereas this is shaped like a proper box. I can put it down on the floor or the ground or on any surface and it feels safe, like there's not much chance of it toppling over in itself.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKcPOWC3bOrvpWa5ERDVaGN-OCsILFxUcwuZs2mHFTO3NKzgS4BIehBulyQ1EBiwXZlS9H0nUdZ0VEpuD_QBqJYrKi4YReRynxRaIaYZ4TJHs5FI1ZK3RIggyZB3HHM8UzGgGDzCOwKat5AbCJSNownadWhP2_mxuYaPkWqR9nbsYRZIKWVeWW06UV=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best Tropicfeel Rucksack" border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKcPOWC3bOrvpWa5ERDVaGN-OCsILFxUcwuZs2mHFTO3NKzgS4BIehBulyQ1EBiwXZlS9H0nUdZ0VEpuD_QBqJYrKi4YReRynxRaIaYZ4TJHs5FI1ZK3RIggyZB3HHM8UzGgGDzCOwKat5AbCJSNownadWhP2_mxuYaPkWqR9nbsYRZIKWVeWW06UV=s16000" title="the tropicfeel camera cube with my bf's camera in it" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I was annoyed initially because the zips are a bit hard to open on it but now I'm happy about it because that means that it's hard to steal the camera from it. It also comes with these pieces that are velcro and can separate the space inside the cube in various ways so you can choose the layout of the compartments yourself which find very useful. When I'm travelling, I keep my camera charger and adapter inside the cube as well so I know where it all is, and when I go out for a whole day, I take just the camera in the cube. It also has a lot of nice little pockets.</div><br />
<h2>Wrap Up: Tropicfeel Backpack Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">I find it kinda awkward to say how much I like this bag because I feel like I might come across as in-genuine but truth be told I really really like it. <a href="https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-7798050-15067946" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tropicfeel</a> seems to be quite an ingenious company: they're listening to what their clients are saying and they are delivering. I had basically no expectations of this rucksack other than I like the company and the shoes so I was quite blow away by it.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibgWtI7Ibh-Dq72SReOyrTHCLwHObgnjMYfj1afLHVDcC0LkyRpJQ_2YHsklpcC0DY-UodX8xSCvswpJ3M2c930XWyOU9nXtUDIO0y4qxkXmIw72Flor92OMLNSL3yveZlU88KD4Ipg5_zWb8nGcAFRnK-7Ism-iIXY2A4eslWciGeRKML11bkZldK=s840" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tropicfeel shell backpack review" border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibgWtI7Ibh-Dq72SReOyrTHCLwHObgnjMYfj1afLHVDcC0LkyRpJQ_2YHsklpcC0DY-UodX8xSCvswpJ3M2c930XWyOU9nXtUDIO0y4qxkXmIw72Flor92OMLNSL3yveZlU88KD4Ipg5_zWb8nGcAFRnK-7Ism-iIXY2A4eslWciGeRKML11bkZldK=s16000" title="a photo of a wall in Novi Sad whith a graffiti that says 'Death to fascism, freedom to the people!'" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I've been travelling a long time and the problem with backpacks is that they are either too big and you end up carrying too much stuff or they are too small and then your stuff doesn't fit. This backpack is the perfect size for me personally, I like all the different pockets, I like the quality of it, I feel like it'll last a long time (and I have used it quite a lot already, it's pretty sturdy and looks brand new still). It's also really comfy to carry. I like that it works as a day bag and also as a longer term bag because you can make it longer (you can pack up to 20% more in it) which is really important for me bc I do both: sometimes I will be a city rat, wandering around relatively short urban distances, sometimes a country mouse, going for long hikes - and always, always a travelling weasel :) Hope my review helped!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t-Krepx1_BA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>P.S.: If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a>, feel free to click on the link to use it :)</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comNovi Sad, Serbia45.2396085 19.822705617.731331004579083 -15.333544400000001 72.747885995420916 54.9789556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-6620789824205538122024-02-16T01:43:00.000-08:002024-03-10T10:14:09.441-07:00Dog-friendly Travel: Finding Accommodation With Your Furry Friend!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZlUXeYihGPxdU4_I2q5jIaSnzyynVr5mFc7PrzdWgLbbqsdXoct3_fSrxT4wgCnnWa8PZiME3o7QzEjpPL1zG827-uiTMKMoWjkFdxwwa95vLq5aIDBsaQgcNQOqM40vMmezS4E56n9u5jcHY5nV3St3Xn2Qmta7RPlYjwwOVXeCVwSC8ASd2kYT/s840/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="finding dog-friendly accommodation" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZlUXeYihGPxdU4_I2q5jIaSnzyynVr5mFc7PrzdWgLbbqsdXoct3_fSrxT4wgCnnWa8PZiME3o7QzEjpPL1zG827-uiTMKMoWjkFdxwwa95vLq5aIDBsaQgcNQOqM40vMmezS4E56n9u5jcHY5nV3St3Xn2Qmta7RPlYjwwOVXeCVwSC8ASd2kYT/s16000/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation%202.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">I have been travelling for the past ten years and over this time I have had a lot of time to contemplate the pros and cons of staying in one place vs travelling around all the time. For me, the biggest pros are not being weighed down by random 'stuff' I've collected along the way and not being 'trapped' in one place (be it through mortgage or long-term renting). After much deliberation, I have decided that the biggest con for me personally is not being able to cohabit with dogs, cats, pigs and any other animal who's interested in living with me.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Sustainable Dog-friendly Travel</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">As I get older though, I think more and more about having my cake and eating it. Enter dog-friendly travel and more specifically - sustainable dog-friendly travel, because I try to be sustainable wherever possible and travelling with a dog would be no exception. So, what kind of things do you have to think about when travelling with a dog, and how can you do it in a sustainable way? Is it even possible? Let's take a look:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Find the right accommodation!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">There are two things at play here, firstly, <a href="https://www.coolstays.com/inspiration/DogFriendly" target="_blank">finding dog-friendly accommodation</a> - be it hotels, glamping, cottages, hostels or camping, it's wise to check first whether or not your dog is welcome. The second thing to think about is sustainability. Camping is often considered the most sustainable of the bunch, but it's worth thinking about where your tent has come from - who has made it, the conditions they live under - as well as how durable the tent is (nothing says unsustainable like 'needs to be replaced after each use'!)</div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdA6A81nv0f40mwcjhK1xVv2Z3gJy2f3Samr6zoyifIZxxvBiMNp9JYiAwF05j-3f7E5K35gt79cbh4D_N8DCBdjTKvjXX9AK9T9Y6IJDV_hUKWdTMopdiqi-ccjNi9WNjHOiSnZ2Qn2pKDyfuALtfMWDP4pmEOSR1s600EfOitMGT6kSYuRsiHdS/s840/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="finding dog-friendly accommodation" border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdA6A81nv0f40mwcjhK1xVv2Z3gJy2f3Samr6zoyifIZxxvBiMNp9JYiAwF05j-3f7E5K35gt79cbh4D_N8DCBdjTKvjXX9AK9T9Y6IJDV_hUKWdTMopdiqi-ccjNi9WNjHOiSnZ2Qn2pKDyfuALtfMWDP4pmEOSR1s600EfOitMGT6kSYuRsiHdS/s16000/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation%203.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">When it comes to hotels and sustainability, not all are created equally. Luckily, nowadays environmentalism is becoming more and more in vogue, and hotels are excited to tell you the ways that they are doing their part, for example, asking you to reuse your towels more than once and offering vegan breakfasts. I firmly believe that it's possible to find accommodation that is both dog-friendly and sustainable, but if you're stuck and have to choose between the two, it's okay to sometimes stay at places that are dog-friendly but not so sustainable.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. Food for thought (aka your dog)</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Nowadays almost everyone knows that eating vegan is the most sustainable way to eat. We also know that dogs can not just survive but thrive as vegans. However, vegan dog food is not always available in less progressive places, so it is a good idea to think ahead about whether or not you need to take your vegan dog food with you, and how much. Circling back to the point above, if you do opt for walking you might be limited to walking in places where vegan dog food is readily available - because you won't be able to carry that many cans of vegan dog food on your back. Alternatively, you could consider making your own vegan dog food
with readily available ingredients.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Consider your transport options!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">At first it seems that sustainable and dog-friendly are opposing forces when it comes to transport. E.g. buses and trains are better for the environment than cars, but cars are arguably <a href="https://www.traveltipsor.com/how-to-safely-travel-with-your-dog-in-an-rv/" target="_blank">better for dogs</a> - because buses and trains don't always let dogs on and you can't stop at any time for your dog to get out. However, there is another option that is both sustainable and dog-friendly, and what's more, it's more sustainable than even buses and trains and it's (way) more comfortable for your dog than cars. I'm talking of course about walking.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1066AFC13JOh8pguAncvwzfPMxPlD1-KtBxoIpJ9DQdM2MmMKs3T6GZi9VrE0QAF4Y9M49ICSQWAZarz9HsESOccz5VbhgzK-6LtZ4oq3mEgPCI4-MdLo9gIiRs1OJINFA4mgjIyJ3EKxfKJemQIpy5N8g9VvC8OVWazq80zJoJIuPBtt-BN-wHR/s840/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="finding dog-friendly accommodation" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1066AFC13JOh8pguAncvwzfPMxPlD1-KtBxoIpJ9DQdM2MmMKs3T6GZi9VrE0QAF4Y9M49ICSQWAZarz9HsESOccz5VbhgzK-6LtZ4oq3mEgPCI4-MdLo9gIiRs1OJINFA4mgjIyJ3EKxfKJemQIpy5N8g9VvC8OVWazq80zJoJIuPBtt-BN-wHR/s16000/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation%204.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This might not be accessible for everyone, and it can take a lot of time, but it might be the nicest and most natural thing you could do for your dog - very often, depending on where you walk, you can even let them off the leash! So if you have the time and ability, why not walk? Even if you can't necessarily go as far as you would with other transport, the journey itself will be highly rewarding - especially for your furry friend.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. What to pack for your dog</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">What you pack will depend on how you're travelling and where you're staying, but here are a few things that are worth thinking about however and wherever you go:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>a collapsable water bowl</b> for your dog on hot days;</li>
<li><b>a harness instead of a neck leash:</b> no one wants to be dragged around by the neck, including your dog;</li>
<li><b><a href="https://dogid.com/collections/rock-solid-collar" target="_blank">get a sturdy dog leash</a></b> to protect your dog's safety on walks and outdoor trips;</li>
<li><b>treats for your dog </b>cause they deserve it!</li>
<li><b>a passport for your dog: </b>believe it or not, they're needed. And in certain places they will need proof of certain vaccines, too!</li>
<li><b>your dog's favourite toy: </b>you might not have space for much but one favourite can go a long way!</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#5. Community for your dog on the road</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If your dog loves to socialise with other dogs it's something to think about before you go. Some countries have dog parks where your dogs can be off the lead and socialise freely. Some countries have free-range dogs that might be a bit wilder than you are used to but might be friendly towards you and <a href="https://labradortime.com/yellow-labrador-retrievers/" target="_blank">your furry companion</a> (actually, not just some countries, a quick reminder: around 80% of dogs on this planet are free range, aka free dogs! See <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/11/things-to-do-in-skopje-cost-of-living.html" target="_blank">our experiences with packs of free ranging dogs in Northern Macedonia</a>).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnOof-1RjTPhHhDW-ID1awRBIBCGUcCwc90CiMq613q8mDXgbo3_33MFrnXWopzEESEO6rZFOkm-YPnFPkUt6NYNFSoQI_0LaF98gF4WCASHMLhsVczKZ0TvxlUXWP8LsUngeHRNnAitggwYB9qbGoFATRiMKJl-8QD0wzBs9JmNZyeBjpKX7CkRk/s840/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="finding dog-friendly accommodation" border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnOof-1RjTPhHhDW-ID1awRBIBCGUcCwc90CiMq613q8mDXgbo3_33MFrnXWopzEESEO6rZFOkm-YPnFPkUt6NYNFSoQI_0LaF98gF4WCASHMLhsVczKZ0TvxlUXWP8LsUngeHRNnAitggwYB9qbGoFATRiMKJl-8QD0wzBs9JmNZyeBjpKX7CkRk/s16000/finding%20dog-friendly%20accommodation.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Conversely, some countries are so strict about having dogs caged, leashed and tagged that there are no longer any free dogs in that country. Be sure to double check what each country's rules and customs are so you don't get caught out. Although it might sound counter-intuitive it might be easier to travel with two dogs than one - this way, your furry pal always has their own portable furry pal!</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: Sustainable Dog-friendly Travel</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Although it might sound like a hassle initially, sustainable dog-friendly travel can be easy with a bit of pre-planning and can be one of the most rewarding, memorable things you do for both you and your dog(s). I for one would love to see a world where humans dogs and everyone could live, cohabit and travel together in more consensual and sustainable ways, so I thank you for reading this short piece on the topic. As with anything sustainable, it's doing it as far as practical and possible that's important, rather than striving for absolute perfection and giving up because that's impossible. Be kind to yourself - you are part of this planet too!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOS5A8xauSU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>What about you, how do you travel with your furry companion? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!</i></div><script src="moz-extension://272dce42-ba84-484e-bfc8-bfe2803e8b89/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-75402717005750789962024-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:002024-02-18T08:56:51.853-08:00Is it Worth Visiting Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest Hungary? <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSndvt9hFStCF7kpOzz7PU7nJmtsPufWEXjmM5qKKYmXdMFNXKKFEjmihxRp3JJL53TginNrpfWvGVuPYio9dy_SXdu_GN_Yz9coTVhgUmUFX2m1W5Yzx1CFu37Ma8rMMclCLZSQDyyZ-wK08UKlIYjSdnXhVc2z4yyRMVSkqdiXDlSKLcW_KF7GY7/s840/sze%CC%81chenyi%20thermal%20bath%20budapest%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="széchenyi thermal bath budapest" border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSndvt9hFStCF7kpOzz7PU7nJmtsPufWEXjmM5qKKYmXdMFNXKKFEjmihxRp3JJL53TginNrpfWvGVuPYio9dy_SXdu_GN_Yz9coTVhgUmUFX2m1W5Yzx1CFu37Ma8rMMclCLZSQDyyZ-wK08UKlIYjSdnXhVc2z4yyRMVSkqdiXDlSKLcW_KF7GY7/s16000/sze%CC%81chenyi%20thermal%20bath%20budapest%20hungary.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath, one of the outdoor pools" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Visiting one of the thermal baths in Budapest is an absolute must when you come to Hungary. Hungary is the third most thermal country in the world (after <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/10/blue-lagoon-laugarvatn-fontana.html" target="_blank">Iceland</a> and New Zealand) and Budapest is the only capital in the world that has rich thermal waters with healing properties. Hence why Budapest is known as the City of Baths. As <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=szechenyi+1&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FPrivate-Entrance-to-Szechenyi-Spa-in-Budapest-with-Optional-Massage%2Fd499-5808SZECHENYI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Széchenyi Thermal Bath</a> is the most famous and won a Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor, it's on a lot of people's Budapest bucket-lists. But does it deserve to be on there? Is it worth the hype? We went to the Széchenyi Budapest Thermal Baths for the day and this is what we thought! [Note: this post was updated on the 5th June, 2023.]</p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Table of Contents:</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b><a href="#1">Széchenyi Thermal Bath: First Impressions</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#2">Széchenyi's Outdoor Pools</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#3">Széchenyi's Indoor Pools</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#4">Which is the best thermal bath in Budapest? Our favourites, ranked:</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#5">#1. Gellért Thermal Bath, Our Favourite</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#6">#2. Rudas Thermal Bath</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#7">#3. Széchenyi Thermal Bath</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#8">Our personal favourite: Gellert thermal bath</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#9">Best time to visit Budapest and Hungarian baths & some info about tickets</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#10">Where to stay in Budapest?</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="#11">Wrap Up: Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest Hungary... is it worth visiting?</a></b></li></ul></div><br />
<h2 id="1" style="text-align: left;">Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest Review: First Impressions</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">They say that first impressions are the most important, luckily that wasn't the case here as our first impression left something to be desired: the ticketing process was slow, despite there being four ticket booths, and exacerbated by the fact that we were put in the wrong queue. Visitors are given special bath wrist bands that you use to get through the gate, and to open/lock your lockers. We've seen this system before in Germany but there you can buy your band from a machine. This kind of system would probably speed things up here. However, this was only a minor setback, the room was so pretty and once we finally got through it was even more beautiful and we were excited to explore more. Important note: you can avoid our mistake by <b><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=szechenyi+2&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FSkip-the-Line-Szechenyi-Spa-Entrance-Ticket%2Fd499-5808P66" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">skipping the queue at Széchenyi</a></b>!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_IS-aNN-s4saWCWod63TdAQiu449u3hms6PGgAYEHSAznjikK8IVkI-qOx6oUk_FzIfFJkVByAaSiOHpaeJc8WByKPBGQoFfceQLkPfRorEcsTZj8nGkrUlZ-1n0mUE3Meno-3GDbfeJr4LjCtcxTr1BRNns-6zFm5bcWQUAbl59iIOTS_seLsUB/s840/budapest%20thermal%20baths.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="széchenyi themal bath" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_IS-aNN-s4saWCWod63TdAQiu449u3hms6PGgAYEHSAznjikK8IVkI-qOx6oUk_FzIfFJkVByAaSiOHpaeJc8WByKPBGQoFfceQLkPfRorEcsTZj8nGkrUlZ-1n0mUE3Meno-3GDbfeJr4LjCtcxTr1BRNns-6zFm5bcWQUAbl59iIOTS_seLsUB/s16000/budapest%20thermal%20baths.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath: One of the Indoor Pools" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There are a number of refreshment options available at Széchenyi thermal bath, including BBQ, pancakes, canteen food, juice, beers & ice cream. We went for canteen food: veggie burgers and chips. It wasn't the best food we've ever had (or the cheapest) but you couldn't beat the location. Now I'd recommend you go for a pancake - the <a href="https://vgfoodstory.com/en/vegan-hungarian-poppy-seed-palacsinta/" target="_blank"><b>Hungarian 'palacsinta'</b></a> is famously tasty (it's similar to the French 'crepe')! There are many drinking fountains dotted around the site with natural thermal water from underground. Make sure you try some of it: it's some of the freshest water we've ever tasted.</div><br />
<h4 id="2" style="text-align: left;">Thermal Bath Széchenyi Budapest: Outdoor Pools</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Outside are three giant pools. Two are shallow and very warm, about 35 degrees Celsius. The third is a swimming pool and is presumably colder. I say presumably because we didn't actually go in as swim hats must be worn and we didn't have any with us. They were for sale at the entrance, but we weren't really there for swimming, we were there for relaxing.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8kXSH0JZjnYLSrNNDccUKPmjUaSbI5lzgGwWY8vT91rQStz7R3Cwg4nZhe5Y0G3RQ1FfbiZWQjsbduKagAuPCiDdJ2y-2GqI5p1mEjI-fkWfhRJtwDzgCSE5n_0RE99PeQxp0zQ-TuHEABoqxPl9jDfwqt_GlEzV9KnH8OV7VFDkOnm5pEY9HrDD/s840/sze%CC%81chenyi%20thermal%20baths.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest thermal baths" border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8kXSH0JZjnYLSrNNDccUKPmjUaSbI5lzgGwWY8vT91rQStz7R3Cwg4nZhe5Y0G3RQ1FfbiZWQjsbduKagAuPCiDdJ2y-2GqI5p1mEjI-fkWfhRJtwDzgCSE5n_0RE99PeQxp0zQ-TuHEABoqxPl9jDfwqt_GlEzV9KnH8OV7VFDkOnm5pEY9HrDD/s16000/sze%CC%81chenyi%20thermal%20baths.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest: Outdoor Pools" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Well, relaxing and for taking <b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/travellingweasels" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Insta-good</a></b> photos... I tried and failed to take so many half under water half over water photos with my GoPro before I realised you need a <b><a href="https://amzn.to/43HnPRv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GoPro Dome</a></b> this was the first place I used it:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtI_YBgrhui0LTC2S6U4ZMw8YsTjv-jg3TGDkMWILSasToItIz18i79Adkm24Qnz9XrkaTzI6RCw3qKu0b0rnPJ8UqwfNCuCFcj_x3v7AnCqq20lGckGLRdZwYMtjHUClhh-_uiaORYt2GdeTWyV0Z26dT7SLcY4Nj0EFGhmi9B72ZCXnoqe6pYvr/s840/sze%CC%81chenyi%20thermal%20baths%20budapest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian baths" border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtI_YBgrhui0LTC2S6U4ZMw8YsTjv-jg3TGDkMWILSasToItIz18i79Adkm24Qnz9XrkaTzI6RCw3qKu0b0rnPJ8UqwfNCuCFcj_x3v7AnCqq20lGckGLRdZwYMtjHUClhh-_uiaORYt2GdeTWyV0Z26dT7SLcY4Nj0EFGhmi9B72ZCXnoqe6pYvr/s16000/sze%CC%81chenyi%20thermal%20baths%20budapest.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest: Outdoor Pools 2" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">If you don't have a Go Pro, I recommend getting one, we used ours loads - and not just for water/snow sports, they're great for taking selfies too!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtPOdp-Bl9oHGIC-n50l2A9q-aT5W8nUVuF-_11fCnpNBn9QYwm47MHV9J_uRpzS7hPw-zUBRG3L98xNrjMYN9fEMrtOH4e0SoSC-fIQ5AWXPMKqeaNED6c8bIQMyEPNqfbUXZcDNrHUndTW5gkyEh166zo9BN0LaXq3QZl33krRRn1uDGMjp2o4i/s840/thermal%20baths%20in%20budapest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest thermal baths" border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtPOdp-Bl9oHGIC-n50l2A9q-aT5W8nUVuF-_11fCnpNBn9QYwm47MHV9J_uRpzS7hPw-zUBRG3L98xNrjMYN9fEMrtOH4e0SoSC-fIQ5AWXPMKqeaNED6c8bIQMyEPNqfbUXZcDNrHUndTW5gkyEh166zo9BN0LaXq3QZl33krRRn1uDGMjp2o4i/s16000/thermal%20baths%20in%20budapest.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest: Outdoor Pools 3" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The hot water of the two other pools was definitely relaxing, but as it was a hot, sunny day it quickly got too hot. We bet that it must be absolutely superb on a cold winter's day, with the added advantage that there are fewer tourists in winter. This would be great, as by midday it was packed! [<u><b>Update</b></u>: I went in the winter, the outdoor pools are amazing! It's so nice to sit in boiling water with your head all cold. It stopped me from feeling faint and was a great way to warm up in the winter. Highly recommended.]</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mkPS22NcZ48" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">We also made a video about our time in Széchenyi thermal baths, in case you're interested :)</div><br />
<h4 id="3" style="text-align: left;">Széchenyi Thermal Bath: the Indoor Pools</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Back to the summer, we escaped the heat and the crowds by heading inside, which is where we found the highlight of our day: the indoor pools. I say highlight partly because the architecture was beautiful! Széchenyi thermal spa was built between 1909 and 1913 so it is over a hundred years old and you can really see this in the interior design:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw78A45FonpZK3BBQ-RcsreMSc-ClOxnMiqEmsyduc0ezMMfUPq13HOncDwOCJordIBAZU1k-Ds-DTL6oLLDrhokcEl8ikmlGYlg1la-zGAF5Jbo1E3nSqsN-kAwWCNkTH8sD3m6A0aoL9fIMzrR-DBhhH-R6V9v3iMrtPC_w2GC49XnU95Jmj62j9/s840/szechenyi%20thermal%20baths%20budapest%20hungary%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="terme budapest szechenyi" border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw78A45FonpZK3BBQ-RcsreMSc-ClOxnMiqEmsyduc0ezMMfUPq13HOncDwOCJordIBAZU1k-Ds-DTL6oLLDrhokcEl8ikmlGYlg1la-zGAF5Jbo1E3nSqsN-kAwWCNkTH8sD3m6A0aoL9fIMzrR-DBhhH-R6V9v3iMrtPC_w2GC49XnU95Jmj62j9/s16000/szechenyi%20thermal%20baths%20budapest%20hungary%202.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath: Indoor Pools" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There were many pools inside, some shallow, some deep, some long and thin, others square. All beautiful, all different temperatures - some freezing, some boiling and everything in-between. It kind of reminded me of <b><a href="https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Wood_Between_the_Worlds" target="_blank">the Wood Between the Worlds in the Magician's Nephew</a></b> book: <i>'a quiet forest dotted with many pools, each of which were portals to a different world.'</i> Except there was no forest and the pools weren't portals... Unless you count the fact that they transport you onto a different plane of relaxation. Yey Széchenyi!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-4y1G70ZAgACCHIIgaRUaX5WgZ5dMN6wMpIEcZP9tXajqpEzsuCOiTgetNPx9LohFFWz5wo8LSYvhPftqxyHY7ll6Mr9tNm69C1Zj7ZeSOHBdnCY_qDadS97UwYp_CwFihzeNKEN7qPx8yaRUzw8FaTjlU1odQ8JaVMiUjOnVQTHDhZanw9sHh9J/s840/hungarian%20bath.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest thermal baths" border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-4y1G70ZAgACCHIIgaRUaX5WgZ5dMN6wMpIEcZP9tXajqpEzsuCOiTgetNPx9LohFFWz5wo8LSYvhPftqxyHY7ll6Mr9tNm69C1Zj7ZeSOHBdnCY_qDadS97UwYp_CwFihzeNKEN7qPx8yaRUzw8FaTjlU1odQ8JaVMiUjOnVQTHDhZanw9sHh9J/s16000/hungarian%20bath.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath: Indoor Pools 2" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The hottest pool was 40 degrees Celsius and the coldest 20. Relaxing in a hot pool before submerging into a cold one feels fantastic - like taking cocaine. Presumably. Our skin tingled and we felt incredible! The architecture was absolutely beautiful too, each room was slightly different with the most darling, ornate tiles and high ceilings.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArM4cC5v10N9kQ1tWYo8UTXX8A8xACkutnA--WffR4ixNoAPv4cUkMB9UpTUDyiWYbDwXOYbrIi5PO59U9eyBVCfWfiKo3Zj3ZQD2Z_j1U1eJ_zFaXHn0wd4Fbrg-F0H1w0evNizwL3cn1w3wbSvrSl9eWWY9wGF_eT84DARssp4T71qZykjjJk4M/s840/szechenyi%20thermal%20baths%20budapest%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hungarian baths szechenyi" border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArM4cC5v10N9kQ1tWYo8UTXX8A8xACkutnA--WffR4ixNoAPv4cUkMB9UpTUDyiWYbDwXOYbrIi5PO59U9eyBVCfWfiKo3Zj3ZQD2Z_j1U1eJ_zFaXHn0wd4Fbrg-F0H1w0evNizwL3cn1w3wbSvrSl9eWWY9wGF_eT84DARssp4T71qZykjjJk4M/s16000/szechenyi%20thermal%20baths%20budapest%20hungary.JPG" title="Széchenyi Thermal Bath: Indoor Pools 2" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Inside Széchenyi thermal bath there were also a number of <b><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/are-saunas-good-for-you#benefits" target="_blank">steam rooms and saunas</a></b>. These were mixed and you have to keep your clothes on (of course). We enjoyed trying the different rooms and then plunging into the cool pools. And we really liked how each sauna was slightly different, our favourite was one had red glowing lights. Make sure you don't do what we did and miss the entire ground floor - there's a sauna there with an ice bucket for you to douse yourself in first/afterwards/both.</div><br />
<h2 id="4" style="text-align: left;">Which Is the Best Thermal Bath in Budapest?</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">You have to visit one (or more) of the thermal baths when you come to Budapest: <b><a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/hungarys-vast-geothermal-potential-untapped/" target="_blank">Hungary is the third most thermal country in the world</a></b> (after <b><a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/iceland-world-leader-clean-energy-supports-africas-push-geothermal-power" target="_blank">Iceland</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-generation-and-markets/geothermal-energy-generation/" target="_blank">New Zealand</a></b>) <i>and</i> Budapest is one of the few cities in the world with so many <b><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/partner-content-hungary-thermal-spas" target="_blank">healing thermal baths</a></b>!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjFKc8sVLWnGGhrmp2-r5nRdZsONgb3xuZW-UFaUFMJBJzdL5uJHdDNqkCFeZeHPfXis_OTcAipaO_0PrZp_ue3oeWwVy6H-Pvi41jsA5KXxmy9pfyPOj40TpLZmlll8hGnE28yjM89YHuu7ZMfkCDkB65_iqnt_KMQZvlk_mIACydYrG-alqdwpR/s840/budapest%20turkish%20bath.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest baths szechenyi" border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjFKc8sVLWnGGhrmp2-r5nRdZsONgb3xuZW-UFaUFMJBJzdL5uJHdDNqkCFeZeHPfXis_OTcAipaO_0PrZp_ue3oeWwVy6H-Pvi41jsA5KXxmy9pfyPOj40TpLZmlll8hGnE28yjM89YHuu7ZMfkCDkB65_iqnt_KMQZvlk_mIACydYrG-alqdwpR/s16000/budapest%20turkish%20bath.JPG" title="the outdoor pool of Gellért Thermal Spa" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">What they all have in common: the layout is kind of similar (an outside pool or two, lots of inside pools of different temperatures and lots of saunas and steam rooms). Also in all of them, the layout is super confusing and you could easily miss an awesome room or two. Try and get your hand on a map and don't be surprised if you walk towards something to find you can't go in that way and you have to turn around and go another way.<br /><br />
In all of them you must wear a swimming hat in the deeper and cooler swimming pool. You can bring one with you or buy one there. We just didn't bother going in the swimming pools, there are enough other pools, baths and saunas to keep you occupied, and frankly after an hour or two in those relaxing pools, you're not going to want to go swimming. Saying that though, I was super jealous of a few ladies who had the most beautiful flowery swimming hats.<br /><br />
<b>Essentially no mater which bath you go to, you're going to get to try out some awesome baths and saunas, and you're going to go back to your hotel feeling as soft as a baby's bottom, but, despite their similarities, each bath still had something unique.</b></div><br />
<h4 id="5" style="text-align: left;">#1. Gellért Thermal Bath, Our Favourite</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Gellért was the second bath we went to and our favourite one over-all. Their outside pool has a <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_pool" target="_blank">wave machine</a></b> (which Tanbay loved) and it was a much more reasonable temperature for a hot summer's day (i.e. it was cold).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSiTCiwNPaplm-wVB8HoTJIdRcHTBzFJ9Ir8llloBPj73UPZy3JglA-o7fkGvkLCwhLw0Q6UkS9nyoToFT74r03yNyiwGBmyjl2DIJ66bI1Ps2Jo393nxQfkm06oVjJ5s6QQJhz_O6Qfg0TzblDWlBXpPXOKvGIJKJV5DcdMNBzwkO11PJ_fAXMEl/s840/bath%20budapest%20szechenyi.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="széchenyi baths" border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSiTCiwNPaplm-wVB8HoTJIdRcHTBzFJ9Ir8llloBPj73UPZy3JglA-o7fkGvkLCwhLw0Q6UkS9nyoToFT74r03yNyiwGBmyjl2DIJ66bI1Ps2Jo393nxQfkm06oVjJ5s6QQJhz_O6Qfg0TzblDWlBXpPXOKvGIJKJV5DcdMNBzwkO11PJ_fAXMEl/s16000/bath%20budapest%20szechenyi.JPG" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, the outdoor pool" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">We also loved the decor of Gellert - it was so pretty inside! It was built between 1912 and 1918 but in a different style to Széchenyi: <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau" target="_blank">Gellért spa is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture and interior design</a></b> (see our photos and video below). If (when) you come to Gellert spa make sure you go to the pools on both sides of the swimming pool, we nearly missed the pools on the right-hand side and they were the prettiest! We really loved the saunas and steam rooms here too.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LskKWW1LVUSe2mV5xJMARagTRWUc9w1eIXR_5ulrZBrCk2aIHO4tPz6s4pXO0GumhjYvnQwtNZ9oID6QEDvZQTca3h3NwlzhNZWwU4ZAzuyjgMtbALAayevrgsJyyrX8LqWl3IHYJWtHnyhBO4oJ4lRqRMuijBS-wh-tMd9KvlG-Kd-sgDmmjRL4/s840/sz%C3%A9chenyi%20baths.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest baths in winter" border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LskKWW1LVUSe2mV5xJMARagTRWUc9w1eIXR_5ulrZBrCk2aIHO4tPz6s4pXO0GumhjYvnQwtNZ9oID6QEDvZQTca3h3NwlzhNZWwU4ZAzuyjgMtbALAayevrgsJyyrX8LqWl3IHYJWtHnyhBO4oJ4lRqRMuijBS-wh-tMd9KvlG-Kd-sgDmmjRL4/s16000/sz%C3%A9chenyi%20baths.JPG" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, one of the indoor pools" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Here are some more photos to show you how beautiful Gellert is:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKRODTmXr-MnJHw4W2-UHBB5aWvtNpzrkrfizus7KYW2Yh141ZWddC01fjt7297_COTzqv-iHKKI3je-BVU8L06RPKNuQsnCYAEs9okYe4YJ3V7XphOVtTgfdAWfh0gYkbkhrsiCasJmKvjcQEYhk5y08T8RjYGqdcqg3WgCrMxjDHYL7SNu2EyAM/s840/budapest%20thermal%20baths%20winter.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest baths in winter" border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKRODTmXr-MnJHw4W2-UHBB5aWvtNpzrkrfizus7KYW2Yh141ZWddC01fjt7297_COTzqv-iHKKI3je-BVU8L06RPKNuQsnCYAEs9okYe4YJ3V7XphOVtTgfdAWfh0gYkbkhrsiCasJmKvjcQEYhk5y08T8RjYGqdcqg3WgCrMxjDHYL7SNu2EyAM/s16000/budapest%20thermal%20baths%20winter.JPG" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, some ornaments" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">some of the decoration</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN_phXw79SJltxcINKhrkAY0cIwcwZD5Bjgy4qaQL4U47EMS_aKFk88_gnMfA5545J31NqsXWm68q0f9GOT4rsnJisMOO54ZpJ2fJAgULbY4SdCI0j2c6AgGOXc-EGB60jo2Oy5H1uXmU5i3QYnfR2Klb8wvmEqrzcDX3qgxTsFSJXcAi0Kv8IwIB/s840/budapest%20szechenyi%20bath.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest thermal baths winter" border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTN_phXw79SJltxcINKhrkAY0cIwcwZD5Bjgy4qaQL4U47EMS_aKFk88_gnMfA5545J31NqsXWm68q0f9GOT4rsnJisMOO54ZpJ2fJAgULbY4SdCI0j2c6AgGOXc-EGB60jo2Oy5H1uXmU5i3QYnfR2Klb8wvmEqrzcDX3qgxTsFSJXcAi0Kv8IwIB/s16000/budapest%20szechenyi%20bath.JPG" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, the back of the building, next to the outdoor pool" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">this is the backside of the building with the outside pool of Gellért and my good friend Flo :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz7EIRsIb1pfyIZ_nj71AEV2P-5fPI8o1vQwNeWXt-9ZmuXY5JZB_eA0ve_oouw9fPlut1zVP9pf2OEJ9Eg7-MLSJVXGEhOqILJimk5M6ulSPnxoPdifjRMZOYX6Glqiy3WzNRc9w0r2727GbzEvD2dwzJQ1NOK41gm3SkACrmno2HS_cPGDtw3Hc/s1058/budapest%20baths%20in%20winter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="spa bath budapest" border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIz7EIRsIb1pfyIZ_nj71AEV2P-5fPI8o1vQwNeWXt-9ZmuXY5JZB_eA0ve_oouw9fPlut1zVP9pf2OEJ9Eg7-MLSJVXGEhOqILJimk5M6ulSPnxoPdifjRMZOYX6Glqiy3WzNRc9w0r2727GbzEvD2dwzJQ1NOK41gm3SkACrmno2HS_cPGDtw3Hc/s16000/budapest%20baths%20in%20winter.jpg" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, an ornate fountain" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">a beautifully carved drinking water fountain with natural thermal water - amazing!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV4SAqE2G7PXTS9LqpkIqQX2twUx2mablbINbJWEPtWDbOB8d2QGTB4do4LwDVucUD0BywU8Rl0sTEhurJH2UfLfJ4H7nWwNa4BGTJYQEokgYx6n6CUDQ-CBuZC_IDleEndiiXr3khrYqqtHVPaX8-ekXndSvAtR2hOLpSHPcTy-34aKD62CfWOxT/s1176/thermal%20bath%20budapest%20szechenyi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest turkish bath" border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV4SAqE2G7PXTS9LqpkIqQX2twUx2mablbINbJWEPtWDbOB8d2QGTB4do4LwDVucUD0BywU8Rl0sTEhurJH2UfLfJ4H7nWwNa4BGTJYQEokgYx6n6CUDQ-CBuZC_IDleEndiiXr3khrYqqtHVPaX8-ekXndSvAtR2hOLpSHPcTy-34aKD62CfWOxT/s16000/thermal%20bath%20budapest%20szechenyi.jpg" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, the entrance hall with a café" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">this is the entrance hall at Gellért thermal spa with a café, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viennese_coffee_house" target="_blank">Viennese style</a></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGmhcuSa9uAALTfFX663syEDI99iWyWF8SQujfHluN9FaI71msfHcB8--7x6nLJmKdJ4XjqVjIK7QfBgTJQmxY0ONE_nvgBbZskE0T2g-ll_Ya3cPHysKwMwj1cp3eohRpc32JHCQxBzxmhDi78dQ15YS8B5cgjdUEn3dcmfc8yD-Z7HaZ8vz67Cc/s840/spa%20bath%20budapest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="széchenyi baths budapest" border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGmhcuSa9uAALTfFX663syEDI99iWyWF8SQujfHluN9FaI71msfHcB8--7x6nLJmKdJ4XjqVjIK7QfBgTJQmxY0ONE_nvgBbZskE0T2g-ll_Ya3cPHysKwMwj1cp3eohRpc32JHCQxBzxmhDi78dQ15YS8B5cgjdUEn3dcmfc8yD-Z7HaZ8vz67Cc/s16000/spa%20bath%20budapest.jpg" title="Gellért Thermal Bath, one of the indoor pools" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">one of the inner pools with old ladies and their fancy swimming hats :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNHC4RQ3SkEL4EmyKfk5AjgNmAjGoWhn_ug33UJN0jw6hs9IySyEVLToLvCFa6-OdpIKZJQXmCoqm49YgqKB1IwSN02WdTocsaTTo9f5JiuWKLAltx3tudJV-Z37Jb9I8-j7IWuTjJ5zp9SqlZUO83yuX5dZf3iZP16lnyj1VpVlSncKjj7Qz47mm/s840/budapest%20thermal%20baths%20szechenyi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="thermal bath budapest szechenyi" border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNHC4RQ3SkEL4EmyKfk5AjgNmAjGoWhn_ug33UJN0jw6hs9IySyEVLToLvCFa6-OdpIKZJQXmCoqm49YgqKB1IwSN02WdTocsaTTo9f5JiuWKLAltx3tudJV-Z37Jb9I8-j7IWuTjJ5zp9SqlZUO83yuX5dZf3iZP16lnyj1VpVlSncKjj7Qz47mm/s16000/budapest%20thermal%20baths%20szechenyi.jpg" title="the entrance to Gellért Thermal Spa" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">If you only have time/money for one pool we'd definitely say go to Gellért!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OX7c3XxzDAs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Above you can watch our video of our time spent in Gellért thermal spa, enjoy :)</div><br />
<h4 id="6" style="text-align: left;">#2. Rudas Thermal Bath<br /></h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Rudas was the third and final pool we went to. We were a little disappointed with the size of their outside pool (it's tiny):</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZC_-AZu8by8-YEkgdoNpF_DZPA_KDNWPyYdocVcLuMOZYop5vywV1l3bJWN0UpmWW6IXwmxrV4qt4wne4HwYQ2Kho9XI7fuzDmm18EwPyv4T_7gCztChTKAgmkxVsZLDBwXfgcwLRulTZQyYkPeu0_YZqeMMV2Nidf6GTkSC1vvy1FoPK66OXvgt/s840/turkish%20baths%20in%20budapest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best turkish bath in hungary" border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZC_-AZu8by8-YEkgdoNpF_DZPA_KDNWPyYdocVcLuMOZYop5vywV1l3bJWN0UpmWW6IXwmxrV4qt4wne4HwYQ2Kho9XI7fuzDmm18EwPyv4T_7gCztChTKAgmkxVsZLDBwXfgcwLRulTZQyYkPeu0_YZqeMMV2Nidf6GTkSC1vvy1FoPK66OXvgt/s16000/turkish%20baths%20in%20budapest.JPG" title="Rudas Gyógyfürdő top pool with view of Pest" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">But the temperature was perfect for the summer (not too hot like Szechenyi and not bordering on too cold like Gellert). This outside pool got extra points because it was the only one with cool views of Budapest:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTo8t4INm_iCkkbKznuRC9EHUXgxnQacIvgH_pJz5bCtELLlfsVyX6dLKt-MfEgLSMP-GDPWAmNLyfdS8Mw9DcoFD2jdKb18nU2GFQeDPNHyebBlWOHcpBtOfQgGSgC_XC4U9o4lqG00aiPAH1De_9qcORowyQqfsrGKCfdvr98AulkkMtIF92E_p/s840/turkish%20baths%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best turkish bath in budapest" border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTo8t4INm_iCkkbKznuRC9EHUXgxnQacIvgH_pJz5bCtELLlfsVyX6dLKt-MfEgLSMP-GDPWAmNLyfdS8Mw9DcoFD2jdKb18nU2GFQeDPNHyebBlWOHcpBtOfQgGSgC_XC4U9o4lqG00aiPAH1De_9qcORowyQqfsrGKCfdvr98AulkkMtIF92E_p/s16000/turkish%20baths%20hungary.JPG" title="Rudas top with view of Pest" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Here are some more photos of Rudas:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgajRP8nHuEE5gseiHJ8yW-g5DkXKImByEiNFszA8HbTSORXH7PEdt6cXzJ6UFtbTPz_4HnRJcJGyHbZfv5CXMM_BtWmEspBzogqs7l8VSjc_dVXYk7z5LN17hkR7-Thdrml0dIj9GoMdejcU47Gvr0BEJTLurkf2YzmdSLLdxreue093aYmGUPOVx/s840/budapest%20turkish%20baths.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian turkish baths" border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgajRP8nHuEE5gseiHJ8yW-g5DkXKImByEiNFszA8HbTSORXH7PEdt6cXzJ6UFtbTPz_4HnRJcJGyHbZfv5CXMM_BtWmEspBzogqs7l8VSjc_dVXYk7z5LN17hkR7-Thdrml0dIj9GoMdejcU47Gvr0BEJTLurkf2YzmdSLLdxreue093aYmGUPOVx/s16000/budapest%20turkish%20baths.JPG" title="Rudas Gyógyfürdő inside architecture" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">this is some cool old water fountain</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3TIvmWZiiZMTXnT_mJ4HRlFHVC9w9akAOhKmLzcpj20npBlktl2muh5Ly3q0QQIuNgwaU6k32ByHsonvl-5eLBMEzuoWeyiiU1svYP2klpUHQkW7Qp9nCd76Vvf-ALrLO1ZfHY8jwbvK3hWciVptqfeRf4hkxjmx5RQbfPManqIIcwE-mDDeCnXX/s840/hungarian%20thermal%20bath.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="top turkish baths in budapest" border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3TIvmWZiiZMTXnT_mJ4HRlFHVC9w9akAOhKmLzcpj20npBlktl2muh5Ly3q0QQIuNgwaU6k32ByHsonvl-5eLBMEzuoWeyiiU1svYP2klpUHQkW7Qp9nCd76Vvf-ALrLO1ZfHY8jwbvK3hWciVptqfeRf4hkxjmx5RQbfPManqIIcwE-mDDeCnXX/s16000/hungarian%20thermal%20bath.JPG" title="Rudas top pool with view of Budapest" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">this is what it's like to hang out in the top pool of Rudas, taking in the view of Pest (for those who do not know: Budapest is the combination of two cities, Buda and Pest, which were unified in 1873)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9lrM5SeoPPSdiDqcrKYHyhSyTPYN33ktBGGsRGD172XSXBGLEUppQFwPL526dVZeKyATrW4Eg1xLwtRrz7v1iCUvy2Y2TQAY9kekALzJSvMN9aoWbm0-1DlwLlNRs76Z6zvUm3PdEFNT2mlbQjUHiyLIExsJhlx2XDYxwe_Qrdh-jn47MyGwWUix/s840/turkish%20baths%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best turkish baths in hungary" border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9lrM5SeoPPSdiDqcrKYHyhSyTPYN33ktBGGsRGD172XSXBGLEUppQFwPL526dVZeKyATrW4Eg1xLwtRrz7v1iCUvy2Y2TQAY9kekALzJSvMN9aoWbm0-1DlwLlNRs76Z6zvUm3PdEFNT2mlbQjUHiyLIExsJhlx2XDYxwe_Qrdh-jn47MyGwWUix/s16000/turkish%20baths%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="Rudas Thermal Baths inside architecture" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Rudas has one section of baths of different temperatures which is nice, but most of it is very modern and not that aesthetically pleasing. No, what we loved about Rudas was the other section of baths which are super old and gorgeous, so <b>important note: make sure you don't miss the old section! The thermal springs that provide the water for Rudas spa have been known and used since at least 1292, this is probably the oldest thermal spa in Budapest!</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qXTirKcsdsQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">And this is our third video of Budapest turkish baths, this time documenting our time at Rudas spa :) We hope you find it useful and informative!</div><br />
<h4 id="7" style="text-align: left;">#3. Széchenyi Thermal Bath</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Szechenyi bath is probably the most famous bath in Budapest, with its iconic outdoor pools and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_Revival_architecture" target="_blank">neo-baroque style architecture</a></b>. These outdoor pools are pretty big and very warm, which was disappointing as we went on a hot day, and felt like lobsters. It's also magical in the winter! We enjoyed the inside a lot more, where there are lots of baths of all different shapes and temperatures.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6ntvZ4pqXWwTPmHm6Zg79dIoOwyrBm5PJTZwq9SUmS6mim_U09jvg4Ryk2dZn8WKHgBurR5IWw33WeM1V5yEX-xN2_zNnL1u3F6wVyenNZK8vM4dvvGRvRFRthKKn1Xj2TZXg0NQqEs03iPUO6TzPjdneupwN8Nc8WDX5eac34lCA92ck_zFOJZP/s840/hungarian%20thermal%20bath%20__.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best thermal bath in budapest" border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6ntvZ4pqXWwTPmHm6Zg79dIoOwyrBm5PJTZwq9SUmS6mim_U09jvg4Ryk2dZn8WKHgBurR5IWw33WeM1V5yEX-xN2_zNnL1u3F6wVyenNZK8vM4dvvGRvRFRthKKn1Xj2TZXg0NQqEs03iPUO6TzPjdneupwN8Nc8WDX5eac34lCA92ck_zFOJZP/s16000/hungarian%20thermal%20bath%20__.JPG" title="Széchenyi Outdoor Pools" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Out of the three we went to, we found Szechenyi to be a bit 'lads on tour' like. There were lots of 'lads' there buying beer at 11am and vegging out. Perfect if you're a lad on tour, but if you're a young couple it might not be your favourite pool. We still recommend going though as it's still a beautiful place.</div><br />
<h4 id="8" style="text-align: left;">Our personal favourite: Gellert Thermal Bath</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Personally, we loved Gellert the best, it's perfect for couples/singles/people who love pretty architecture. Széchenyi is mostly frequented by families and large groups. Rudas is perfect if you are travelling just as girls/just as guys because they do guys only days (Mon, Wed, Thurs and Fri) and girls only days (Tues). Sat and Sun are for all. <b>Important note: Rudas is not only the oldest spa in Budapest, it is also <u>the unofficial gay spa of Budapest</u>! </b>Enjoy, our dear queer friends :) Also, it is important to note that the existence of such a safe place has <b><a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/02/15/lgbt-rights-under-renewed-pressure-hungary" target="_blank">political implications for the queer community in Hungary</a></b> at the moment. <br /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuRdbDp7rUrbHeqpS-bVByoSzRNGepqs7ZaNq8QAENA5xxY0fFxDE9c6baU7VSKpvzmJzZFRtXSgZgYoT4r5MorAwlc2nDdeUZuKSez6wi1ckDAKRVH2-wnShmykeyS5Ubjg50w6NDcYl1TWzNPdMJtpMPb8dTZqwyI9NzJGluo-mcKmIxE-FuC-A/s840/budapest%20baths%20szechenyi.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="budapest thermal baths szechenyi" border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuRdbDp7rUrbHeqpS-bVByoSzRNGepqs7ZaNq8QAENA5xxY0fFxDE9c6baU7VSKpvzmJzZFRtXSgZgYoT4r5MorAwlc2nDdeUZuKSez6wi1ckDAKRVH2-wnShmykeyS5Ubjg50w6NDcYl1TWzNPdMJtpMPb8dTZqwyI9NzJGluo-mcKmIxE-FuC-A/s16000/budapest%20baths%20szechenyi.JPG" title="Gellért Thermal Bath as seen from Liberty Bridge" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Another important note:</b> whichever pool(s) you visit you must be brave and do this: relax in the hottest pool you can find (usually around 40 degrees Celsius) and then slowly submerge in the coldest one you can find (usually around 20 degrees). You won't want to, but submerge yourself in that cold one and I promise when you get out (which will probably be immediately whilst saying a couple of swear words), you will feel like you SPARKLE!</div><br />
<h2 id="9" style="text-align: left;">Best Time to Visit Budapest and Hungarian Baths & Tickets</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">In my opinion, Széchenyi thermal bath Budapest and indeed all the other thermal baths in Budapest that I've visited are much better in winter: it's far, far less crowded and that joy of sitting in hot steaming water with your head up in the cold can't be beaten.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9udSphwgdASCZ6FhOm5fEr5RI70HjpOqLexszuweG07CujEJ3fbujvGVuDJfxSIwlFQiD1p0J3ruOshDpwq2VHM9DX0LdOqvkdfFG30RhiNqFRtuhdlPgodRIMXnvuJmNSQNjjr5r2Q62z0YDsl80dXMEZd8_lcXMPv7d4IEQO3QL-1vV7_ifbcK/s840/hungarian%20baths%20szechenyi%20budapest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best thermal spas in budapest" border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9udSphwgdASCZ6FhOm5fEr5RI70HjpOqLexszuweG07CujEJ3fbujvGVuDJfxSIwlFQiD1p0J3ruOshDpwq2VHM9DX0LdOqvkdfFG30RhiNqFRtuhdlPgodRIMXnvuJmNSQNjjr5r2Q62z0YDsl80dXMEZd8_lcXMPv7d4IEQO3QL-1vV7_ifbcK/s16000/hungarian%20baths%20szechenyi%20budapest.JPG" title="Széchenyi Spa Outdoor Pool" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">But if you've already decided to visit Budapest in the summer, don't despair - the thermal baths in Budapest are still awesome in the summer, and you can sunbath outside (which you can't do in winter). Looking for more things to do in Budapest? Check out this extensive <b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/08/50-things-you-must-do-in-budapest.html" target="_blank">50 things you must do in Budapest</a></b> guide! When it comes to tickets, there are a few different options:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=sz%C3%A9chenyi+3&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FSkip-the-Line-Szechenyi-Spa-Entrance-Ticket%2Fd499-5808P66" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Skip the line entrance ticket</b></a>: don't waste 20 minutes like we did...</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=sz%C3%A9chenyi+4&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FPrivate-Entrance-to-Szechenyi-Spa-in-Budapest-with-Optional-Massage%2Fd499-5808SZECHENYI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Private entry + optional massage</a></b>: personally, I'd go for entry and then get a Thai massage somewhere else in Budapest, but if you're either pressed for time and/or want your massage on site, you can get a massage at Széchenyi spa, they'll do a good job too;</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=sz%C3%A9chenyi+5&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FBudapest-Szechenyi-Spa-Entrance-with-VIP-Massage%2Fd499-5808P30" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spa entrance with VIP massage</a></b>: the perfect gift for an anniversary/birthday, includes private changing cabin and VIP massage;</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=sz%C3%A9chenyi+6&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FBudapest-Super-Saver-Private-Entrance-to-Szechenyi-Spa-with-Optional-Massage-plus-Danube-River-Dinner-Cruise%2Fd499-5808SZECHDINNER" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Private entry, optional massage + Danube River Dinner Cruise</a></b>: this is probably the best way to make the most out of Budapest in one day - private entry to Széchenyi, optional massage and then enjoy a dinner cruise along the famous Danube. I highly recommend this tour.</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=sz%C3%A9chenyi+7&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FBudapest%2FSzechenyi-Bath-Entry-with-Gourmet-Dinner-at-Gundel-Restaurant%2Fd499-5808P56" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bath entry + gourmet dinner</a></b>: if rivers aren't your thing, go for a Széchenyi day followed by a gourmet dinner at a traditional Hungarian restaurant.</li></ul></div><br />
<h2 id="10" style="text-align: left;">Where to Stay in Budapest?</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">If you're planning to visit Szécheny Thermal Bath, be prepared to check out <b><a href="https://ligetbudapest.hu/en" target="_blank">Városliget</a></b> which the public park Széchenyi thermal bath is located in (you can see some of the architecture in the park, right opposite the thermal bath, in our photo below). There are several hotels near Széchenyi thermal baths, here are some of our recommendations:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0UiPV95UuIwJ39Geni8ltQbjGHWfTZCaRTJf9bZKfNtVrgI7uHfSSPrM5zaRBclrbPuB0ekaEHM9M484QxcijQJkWC30iw1r4SzHP0n4xKnhoQr83PDIpX5SDk9XKXmqULTs8qVuUel5dQiv70riuZo6XkF697ddV6OxqP1Ww_6nflDRbp40dCkQ/s840/spa%20bath%20budapest%20__.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="széchenyi thermal bath" border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0UiPV95UuIwJ39Geni8ltQbjGHWfTZCaRTJf9bZKfNtVrgI7uHfSSPrM5zaRBclrbPuB0ekaEHM9M484QxcijQJkWC30iw1r4SzHP0n4xKnhoQr83PDIpX5SDk9XKXmqULTs8qVuUel5dQiv70riuZo6XkF697ddV6OxqP1Ww_6nflDRbp40dCkQ/s16000/spa%20bath%20budapest%20__.JPG" title="Városliget, next to Széchenyi Spa" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2Fho591436%2Fmirage-medic-hotel-budapest-hungary%2F%3F%3Done-key-onboarding-dialog%26chkin%3D2024-07-15%26chkout%3D2024-07-16%26destType%3DCURRENT_LOCATION%26destination%3DBudapest%252C%2520Hungary%26expediaPropertyId%3D15064011%26latLong%3D47.51327%252C19.07809%26neighborhoodId%3D6200286%26pwa_ts%3D1683550415928%26referrerUrl%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG90ZWxzLmNvbS9Ib3RlbC1TZWFyY2g%253D%26regionId%3D715%26rfrr%3DHSR%26rm1%3Da2%26selected%3D15064011%26selectedRatePlan%3D208211971%26selectedRoomType%3D201509926%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26top_cur%3DUSD%26top_dp%3D201%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D%26x_pwa%3D1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mirage Medic Hotel</a></b> is the closest you can get to Széchenyi thermal bath, which is perfect, you can relax all day knowing that your hotel is nearby and you won't have to stress about getting there. Added bonus: beautiful views of Hero's Square from the roof. <a href="https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2Fho591436%2Fmirage-medic-hotel-budapest-hungary%2F%3F%3Done-key-onboarding-dialog%26chkin%3D2024-07-15%26chkout%3D2024-07-16%26destType%3DCURRENT_LOCATION%26destination%3DBudapest%252C%2520Hungary%26expediaPropertyId%3D15064011%26latLong%3D47.51327%252C19.07809%26neighborhoodId%3D6200286%26pwa_ts%3D1683550415928%26referrerUrl%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG90ZWxzLmNvbS9Ib3RlbC1TZWFyY2g%253D%26regionId%3D715%26rfrr%3DHSR%26rm1%3Da2%26selected%3D15064011%26selectedRatePlan%3D208211971%26selectedRoomType%3D201509926%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26top_cur%3DUSD%26top_dp%3D201%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D%26x_pwa%3D1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Best rates can be found here</a>.</li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3F%3Done-key-onboarding-dialog%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2024-07-15%26d2%3D2024-07-16%26destination%3DBudapest%252C%2520Hungary%26endDate%3D2024-07-16%26latLong%3D47.51475%252C19.07395%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D715%26rooms%3D1%26selected%3D20522171%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-07-15%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apartments Rippl Rónai</a></b>: renting an apartment in Budapest, either through a hotel website or via Airbnb is popular and cheap. Rippl Rónai is beautiful and is also very close to Széchenyi. <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3F%3Done-key-onboarding-dialog%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2024-07-15%26d2%3D2024-07-16%26destination%3DBudapest%252C%2520Hungary%26endDate%3D2024-07-16%26latLong%3D47.51475%252C19.07395%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D715%26rooms%3D1%26selected%3D20522171%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-07-15%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You can find the best rates here.</a></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3F%3Done-key-onboarding-dialog%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2024-07-15%26d2%3D2024-07-16%26destination%3DBudapest%252C%2520Hungary%26endDate%3D2024-07-16%26latLong%3D47.50999%252C19.08165%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D715%26rooms%3D1%26selected%3D22468109%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-07-15%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baroque Hostel</a></b>: if you're travelling on a budget, opt for a hostel, but be careful - most accommodation in Budapest is budget (at least for Westerners), so if it's really, really cheap, there's a reason for it (like I stayed in one place for £6 a night but didn't sleep at all). Baroque Hostel is one of the good ones, and again: near Széchenyi. <a href="https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3F%3Done-key-onboarding-dialog%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2024-07-15%26d2%3D2024-07-16%26destination%3DBudapest%252C%2520Hungary%26endDate%3D2024-07-16%26latLong%3D47.50999%252C19.08165%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D715%26rooms%3D1%26selected%3D22468109%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-07-15%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Best rates can be found here.</a></li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Important note: don't get Széchenyi thermal bath (<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/7Vcu5Q8TogMMEYLw5" target="_blank">Google Maps link</a>) and Széchenyi Bridge (<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/WrEFaNVozGsa1rpP8" target="_blank">Google Maps link</a>) confused, they're not very close to each other!</b></div><br />
<h2 id="11" style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: Széchenyi Thermal Bath Budapest Hungary... Is It Worth Visiting?</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Is it worth visiting Széchenyi Thermal bath Budapest Hungary? ABSOLUTELY! Despite the annoying ticket-booth and the disappointing food, I would definitely recommend that you visit Szechenyi spa (or 'turkish bath'). It's a relaxing, beautiful way to spend the day! There's a reason that this place is so popular: relaxation, architectural beauty, culture and history all go hand-in-hand here. Tickets include either a locker or a cabin, you could easily spend a whole day here, and I recommend a minimum time of 2 hours if you're in a rush - this will give you enough time to try everything out, without rushing too much. Towels and bathing costumes can be hired/bought on site, though we recommend taking your own if possible.<br /><br />
Also, If you have the option, visit in winter - it's beautiful and quieter, but if you can only visit in summer, don't worry, it's still awesome! Have you been to Széchenyi thermal bath? Did you think it was worth visiting? We also made a vlog about our time at Széchenyi spa - enjoy, we hope you find it informative and useful! :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mkPS22NcZ48" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">More Blog Posts from Hungary:</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/04/11-hungarian-songs-you-need-to-hear.html" target="_blank">11 Hungarian songs you need to hear</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/07/balaton-sound-2017-review-european.html" target="_blank">Our Balaton Sound review</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/08/how-to-travel-around-hungary-by-train.html" target="_blank">How to travel Hungary by train</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/08/50-things-you-must-do-in-budapest.html" target="_blank">50 things you must do in Budapest</a></b></li>
<li><b><a href="https://www.veganvstravel.com/2020/07/vegan-traditional-hungarian-food.html" target="_blank">Traditional Hungarian food that's accidentally vegan!</a></b></li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>P.S.: If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a></b>, feel free to click on the link to use it :)</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBudapest, Hungary47.497912 19.04023519.187678163821154 -16.116015 75.808145836178852 54.196484999999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-36250807464251255832024-02-14T08:10:00.000-08:002024-02-21T03:01:35.758-08:00Advantages And Disadvantages Of Pop-Up Campers<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SgpiTrlk-lOSP6-CPiuxPZWL19sxzdahFHXchNadJ_fLe3TvEpXqm8EOGi2cevM6dm_NTD3I1B8428UjBZwPRoj0ocrnW0ECbeAg_YKgqUka5lNkozldk582kWSnQ_RCWuHXuc5hG3KmH6gVCkqoD2hNJdcpDqBs6ixqG-6y6TCkJi-GsCg9q0eaM_Q/s840/cons%20of%20popup%20campers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cons of popup campers" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SgpiTrlk-lOSP6-CPiuxPZWL19sxzdahFHXchNadJ_fLe3TvEpXqm8EOGi2cevM6dm_NTD3I1B8428UjBZwPRoj0ocrnW0ECbeAg_YKgqUka5lNkozldk582kWSnQ_RCWuHXuc5hG3KmH6gVCkqoD2hNJdcpDqBs6ixqG-6y6TCkJi-GsCg9q0eaM_Q/s16000/cons%20of%20popup%20campers.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">If you're an ardent camper, you may be aware of how you need to prepare for this type of adventure. You may have heard of pop-up campers, popular among all campers inside and outside the US. Some may prefer to use these on their camping trips, while others may not be so eager. This list of pop-up camper pros and cons will help you decide whether this is the most suitable option for your camping trip. First, let's see what exactly a pop-up camper is and then dive into the rest of the details.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What Are Pop-Up Campers?</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">A pop-up camper is a type of towable trailer with a collapsible roof. Pop-up campers are also known as fold-out campers and tent trailers. Pop-up campers are ideal for camping as they provide ample space. However, they are also easy to store once you fold them up, as they don't reach a considerable height. Pop-up campers come with different amenities, and can decide which ones you want for your camping trip.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What Is The Weight Of A Typical Pop-Up Camper?</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">The average weight of a pop-up camper is approximately 2,000 lbs. The weight may change according to the type of pop-up camper and the features that come with it. Based on its model, a pop-up camper's weight may range between 1,750 and 3,000 lbs.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Pop-Up Camper Pros And Cons</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using pop-up campers on your camping trips.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Pros of Pop-up Campers</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>Lightweight: </b>Pop-up campers are relatively lightweight compared to other camping options. This is due to their simple design and lightweight materials like canvas instead of metals. Pop-ups are much lighter than conventional camping vehicles like RVs and hard-sided trailers.</li>
<li><b>Affordable: </b>Pop-up campers are less costly than RVs and other camping vehicles because they are lightweight when set up and collapsed. RVs and trailers are much larger and can be quite expensive. It makes pop-up campers ideal for beginner campers as you don't have to spend much money starting your camping <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2024/01/top-outdoor-sports-norway.html" target="_blank">adventures</a>. It's also an entry point for campers looking to get started with trailers.</li>
<li><b>Easy To Maintain: </b>Maintaining a pop-up camper is more straightforward than other camping vehicles. There aren't many complicated systems that need repairing once they break. However, the complexity of maintaining it depends on the type of pop-up camper you use. Some have complex techniques to lower and raise the roof, which can be a start to more maintenance work.</li>
<li><b>Safe and easy to tow: </b>Pop-up campers are lighter, which makes them easier to tow than trailers and other large camping vehicles. Even a car can tow a pop-up camper, which is one less thing to worry about in case you fear your vehicle will break down amid your camping trip.</li>
<li><b>Easy To Store: </b>Storage could get expensive and become a hassle with many of the other camping vehicle options. However, it's completely different with pop-up campers. Pop-up campers fit into basically <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2023/10/best-travel-bags.html" target="_blank">any standard-sized baggage</a>, primarily because it is collapsible. You don't need to worry about storage facilities, HOAs, and other aspects regarding your pop-up camper.</li>
<li><b>Comes With Heating Or Air Conditioning Facilities: </b>Whether your pop-up camper has heating or A/C facilities will also depend on the type and model of the pop-up camper. Based on the size and cost of the pop-up camper, some come with temperature control options. It can be helpful in freezing weather or during hot summer days.</li>
<li><b>Feels Like Sleeping Outdoors: </b>Sleeping in a pop-up camper feels like you are sleeping just outside of it. Pop-up campers are designed to connect you with the night sky and the great outdoors. You may be able to control the temperature inside the camper, however, it will still feel like you are sleeping in nature with simply the bare essentials with you.</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqABbCUwGSe4VxktTr8UiAydx6gcrifYnmpNRkFf2vpgAPT23OczYxtlXhSoLpb7NwyXhbJMc4Jzh9wT0T2Tb3io90E47k0xXFG8VN3k6kxS5mEWDNPYbtbqsW3XNjIEHshrIgv1-ADyh295PgoXO4-LTWtCvpK8z1GyBEWpqUOvG3s25ZnKjxOaeqbY/s840/pros%20of%20popup%20campers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pros of popup campers" border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqABbCUwGSe4VxktTr8UiAydx6gcrifYnmpNRkFf2vpgAPT23OczYxtlXhSoLpb7NwyXhbJMc4Jzh9wT0T2Tb3io90E47k0xXFG8VN3k6kxS5mEWDNPYbtbqsW3XNjIEHshrIgv1-ADyh295PgoXO4-LTWtCvpK8z1GyBEWpqUOvG3s25ZnKjxOaeqbY/s16000/pros%20of%20popup%20campers.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Cons of Pop-Up campers</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>Tents Require Diligent Care: </b>Pop-up campers are less maintenance, but the material out of which the tent awning and sidings are made could be a hassle to maintain. It's especially true if your camper gets wet, so you must let everything completely air dry to avoid mold build-up.</li>
<li><b>Limited Sleeping Capacity: </b>Generally, pop-up campers can accommodate only a couple of people. If you are camping with a group, staying in a pop-up camper could be challenging. However, there are different extensions that you can include to help make your pop-up camper accommodate more people.</li>
<li><b>No Toilet Facilities: </b>The collapsible and compact features of pop-up campers make it challenging to include a toilet in it. Space limitation in pop-up campers restricts including specific features such as these. Pop-up campers typically have a "wet bath," meaning that the toilet and shower are combined in one place.</li>
<li><b>Some Locations Have Safety Restrictions: </b>Some camping sites in the US, like Yellowstone, restrict the use of vehicles like pop-up campers due to safety restrictions. The lightweight materials used in vehicles like pop-up campers may not be safe when predators like bears lurk in the area. Vehicles like hybrid campers provide pop-up capabilities while being made from much more sturdy material.</li>
<li><b>More Setup And Tear-down Time: </b>Since pop-up campers are collapsible and easy to take around, the same is different with setting up in another place. Moving on to another place, you have to go through the process of ultimately setting up the parts of the pop-up camper all over again. Therefore, these types of campers require more setup and tear-down time than RVs or conventional trailers.</li>
<li><b>Pop-Ups That Are Less In Weight Might Tip Over: </b>Pop-ups are light, which makes it challenging to use them in different, especially harsh, weather conditions. In extremely windy conditions, pop-up campers may act as sails. Lack of a heavy base has reported on these campers being tipped over in such instances.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Final Thoughts</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">A pop-up camper is an excellent vehicle to use on your camping trips. It's lightweight, collapsible, compatible, easy to set up, and requires less maintenance. Pop-up campers are affordable compared to RVs and other traditional trailers. You can also use heating facilities to stay warm when the temperature outdoors is very low. The lightweight features of pop-up campers may sometimes make them unstable in extreme windy conditions. They may also be restricted in certain areas due to safety concerns, but there are alternatives to get around this. When on a camping trip, taking all the essential camping gear and being well-equipped is vital. This includes taking your first-aid kit, food and water, and the <a href="https://outlighter.com/best-long-throw-flashlights/" target="_blank">longest beam flashlight</a> that could show you the way and scare away any wild animals lurking around the campsite.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vwYr8Px9goY?si=aTYvcvQfAii0kDgU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">How Long Do Pop-Up Campers Last?</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">A high-quality, well-maintained pop-up camper could last between 10 and 15 years.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Can You Camp With A Pop-Up In The Winter?</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">A pop-up camper is not recommended to be used in harsh weather conditions since it's made of light material. If extreme snow and windy conditions exist, it's better to use another type of camping vehicle.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">What Are Pop-Up Campers Good For?</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Pop-up campers are suitable as an affordable camping option with limited space and amenities.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-86888615120675717532024-02-13T12:30:00.000-08:002024-02-18T08:55:26.630-08:00Laugarvatn Fontana Vs Blue Lagoon: A Good Alternative? <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjBwcaCHDvDnBbQj8RSmZRUqY-Svyfb-m88cGwheSmo_UwJd0iTS3jD0oKGVh01Tq1LEJcYcdPYAWjVRdXAozyl9UATDn2MmM9fv6F6Ik0-0MebWEuj8DmpU3nHCN36IE3p8otWO41J74iog9Fc6O2jAjm5Uhvr9sP8lU2lq4liXzsp_Rajwh3wzQxQ4/s840/are%20fontana%20hot%20springs%20worth%20it.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="laugarvatn fontana review" border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjBwcaCHDvDnBbQj8RSmZRUqY-Svyfb-m88cGwheSmo_UwJd0iTS3jD0oKGVh01Tq1LEJcYcdPYAWjVRdXAozyl9UATDn2MmM9fv6F6Ik0-0MebWEuj8DmpU3nHCN36IE3p8otWO41J74iog9Fc6O2jAjm5Uhvr9sP8lU2lq4liXzsp_Rajwh3wzQxQ4/s16000/are%20fontana%20hot%20springs%20worth%20it.JPG" title="a view of Blue Lagoon wellness spa" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">I almost didn't bother going to the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon1&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dblue%2520lagoon%2520iceland%26destId%3D" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Blue Lagoon</a> as I was worried it would be overrated and full of tourists. I wondered if <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=fontana1&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dlaugarvatn%2520fontana%26destId%3D" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths</a> - an apparent hidden gem on the <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/10/need-to-know-golden-circle-iceland.html" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Golden Circle Route</a> - would be a good alternative. [Note: this blog post was updated on the 10th of Feb, 2024.]</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Laugarvatn Fontana Vs Blue Lagoon Comparison</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">But having enjoyed many supposedly touristy sights in the past, I decided that I couldn't dismiss the Blue Lagoon as overrated without actually trying it, so I booked us (my sister Em and my ex Tan) in at both the Blue Lagoon and Laugarvatn Fontana. (Yes I spent most of my time in Iceland in spas lol.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0mF7XFCvMJs-q4FHsdnRN4eVWSKVRdsAQxrN3MboxCI9aexXFqvw7q0JtGk_HBJrZYw90dW4vDf3F_EkSq6YbYU7XiJicyK-PHHYD3k_TKA-exsmwbcqYLq7pTLOqI8771ew_DLwMXkGvQKOVBZXQ1NXOcGPK5XXhZncuVsgRqhn2vLA-FKy1Kmppa0/s840/honest%20review%20of%20fontana%20wellness%20spa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blue lagoon iceland reviews" border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0mF7XFCvMJs-q4FHsdnRN4eVWSKVRdsAQxrN3MboxCI9aexXFqvw7q0JtGk_HBJrZYw90dW4vDf3F_EkSq6YbYU7XiJicyK-PHHYD3k_TKA-exsmwbcqYLq7pTLOqI8771ew_DLwMXkGvQKOVBZXQ1NXOcGPK5XXhZncuVsgRqhn2vLA-FKy1Kmppa0/s16000/honest%20review%20of%20fontana%20wellness%20spa.jpg" title="a photo of Blue Lagoon Spa in Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I enjoyed Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths and the Blue Lagoon for completely different reasons. Other than them both being spas in Iceland, they are very different places. I think that one will appeal to you more than the other, thus I have written this Laugarvatn Fontana vs Blue Lagoon blog post to give you an idea of which one is best for you. I hope it helps!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B032n2xG3hYdD08Jl9mMZsAltm9PcAzGBdXI2D5549Pf38Dr3k629F5qvICyCT5znLEVSuMJZuDvgI_RZEOobRHCMZcwsxor7fcbDEKsNwK-izPaPIkqAo1WyvPVPZjAq-RotCRrt7hdhJ7pf9-RTHptXjClhxgH1t5G9LmCqG_BsJPdKDmiYIHyCF8/s840/fontana%20wellness%20iceland%20review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="laugarvatn fontana geothermal baths" border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9B032n2xG3hYdD08Jl9mMZsAltm9PcAzGBdXI2D5549Pf38Dr3k629F5qvICyCT5znLEVSuMJZuDvgI_RZEOobRHCMZcwsxor7fcbDEKsNwK-izPaPIkqAo1WyvPVPZjAq-RotCRrt7hdhJ7pf9-RTHptXjClhxgH1t5G9LmCqG_BsJPdKDmiYIHyCF8/s16000/fontana%20wellness%20iceland%20review.jpg" title="a photo of Blue Lagoon geothermal spa" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I'm going to review the Blue Lagoon first, so if you only clicked for Laugarvatn just scroll on down. Also, an important note before I begin: <a href="https://www.icerental4x4.is/en" target="_blank">hiring a car is very important</a> in Iceland in order to get around the island easily.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Blue Lagoon Iceland Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Having read many other Blue Lagoon Iceland reviews before I went, I was expecting it to be bad for my hair (most complained about the waters drying out or even damaging their hair), full of tourists, and totally undeserving of being one of the most iconic sights in Iceland.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp3r24hugl6Yb7w1TDWKxriYrefz-BWLZnusRipnasFnCz7dtIhJv1kAQXmRXpxabpnXl7MkzPWustOTMLHPo9IZvIyCkplEcRVB7F4kDtbwsAHJJ78FUb7DYksiAPOuTWJJBztkU69Z-2PPU6ICmhbsVMdU5Lzx5U58vP91-O0-y_Dewbyk5y8CR2z8/s840/iceland%20hot%20springs%20blue%20lagoon%20review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland hot springs blue lagoon review" border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp3r24hugl6Yb7w1TDWKxriYrefz-BWLZnusRipnasFnCz7dtIhJv1kAQXmRXpxabpnXl7MkzPWustOTMLHPo9IZvIyCkplEcRVB7F4kDtbwsAHJJ78FUb7DYksiAPOuTWJJBztkU69Z-2PPU6ICmhbsVMdU5Lzx5U58vP91-O0-y_Dewbyk5y8CR2z8/s16000/iceland%20hot%20springs%20blue%20lagoon%20review.jpg" title="our Blue Lagoon Iceland review" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">This last part interested me the most: the site isn't even naturally Icelandic, but rather an accidental by-product of a factory which tourists started bathing in, so the factory went full-out capitalist and decided to start charging for that privilege. So why is it so popular? This was my personal experience:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">The Blue Lagoon: pros and cons</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">First things first, yes, there were lots of people there, but it's so large that it didn't feel crowded, it was easy to find empty (ish) spots for chilling out (read: taking photos for Instagram).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj816UFf4Zdyhmaz2eYdukQ9_zbQwrMSDxFTBzVlLHJY-8gIWVJ7FdQbvNkw6oQlxPX1NkFljzzxgm26qrcZCgrxFNGX5B1p24rQpmuixlLaCmB4caEn-Afr5AzY8T6LhFX8JJmguoDzdlXBZo31GX5OJctQ_oAofPHBGgBiFtT4mrTEfw8RxpB_jt-jp4/s840/is%20fontana%20spa%20good.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland blue lagoon alternatives" border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj816UFf4Zdyhmaz2eYdukQ9_zbQwrMSDxFTBzVlLHJY-8gIWVJ7FdQbvNkw6oQlxPX1NkFljzzxgm26qrcZCgrxFNGX5B1p24rQpmuixlLaCmB4caEn-Afr5AzY8T6LhFX8JJmguoDzdlXBZo31GX5OJctQ_oAofPHBGgBiFtT4mrTEfw8RxpB_jt-jp4/s16000/is%20fontana%20spa%20good.JPG" title="a photo of Iceland Blue Lagoon hot springs" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The temperature of the water was about 36 degrees Celsius which complimented the 10 degrees temperature of the air well (it was September) - running around in the cold air before plunging into hot waters is one of my favourite hobbies, and having your head out in the cold, but your body in the hot relaxes the body but keeps the mind clear. Win win.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEHs5hMC5rnspELmMLtl7Tq7fhmrAqtPce-3LfT0Ujo5vSSLlsCzhJ5D60dTDHLOeHv6ueYI2aeuKXfat4627bLLu8MNh4r_urPhip0lrunQZNwG_Z2ElKqKXE6f1KP0MCVygjRy6oX7IRIPx7VF-7m_tst1U5w1f1qEeuUtWKrGUhuuohljahVFQYVU/s840/fontana%20spa%20laugarvatn%20review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland blue lagoon prices" border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEHs5hMC5rnspELmMLtl7Tq7fhmrAqtPce-3LfT0Ujo5vSSLlsCzhJ5D60dTDHLOeHv6ueYI2aeuKXfat4627bLLu8MNh4r_urPhip0lrunQZNwG_Z2ElKqKXE6f1KP0MCVygjRy6oX7IRIPx7VF-7m_tst1U5w1f1qEeuUtWKrGUhuuohljahVFQYVU/s16000/fontana%20spa%20laugarvatn%20review.jpg" title="a photo of Iceland Blue Lagoon" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There are bars situated in the water - one for drinks and one for face masks. This was a stroke of genius because it meant that we didn't have to get out of the water and freeze our butts off to get our drinks or masks. Drinks costs extra, but everyone gets a free silica face mask with their entry fee. Slathering our faces with silica really added to the whole 'relax and pamper' vibe:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE02Y8mOxuTQeIwDhDFeYKN59YOjvfYtuJxdRBOroW7b9S_utoRNu6EE5CBRg-XV2lhJDD6I5rfHuxJyY5-wVtU3jYWpcU-goKAANqRd7oyov6UheGAxR9WNgtkpKkPqTGTiXsePqRgVe7qoK87fLlLOJqLVhKOjgl6X4yHiYIzdj_OhtV2MGoDM-sjk/s840/best%20hot%20springs%20iceland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="alternatives to blue lagoon iceland lagoon" border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE02Y8mOxuTQeIwDhDFeYKN59YOjvfYtuJxdRBOroW7b9S_utoRNu6EE5CBRg-XV2lhJDD6I5rfHuxJyY5-wVtU3jYWpcU-goKAANqRd7oyov6UheGAxR9WNgtkpKkPqTGTiXsePqRgVe7qoK87fLlLOJqLVhKOjgl6X4yHiYIzdj_OhtV2MGoDM-sjk/s16000/best%20hot%20springs%20iceland.jpg" title="a photo the Blue Lagoon spa in Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Blue lagoon prices:</b> standard entry costs around 40 Euros (it's more the later you book or if you go for a peak time of day). This gets you entry into the spa, a silica face mask but no towel. 40 Euros seemed like a lot to me for an afternoon at the spa, but this is Iceland - a cheap supermarket sandwich will set you back 12 Euros. So yeah, entry is pricey, but in Icelandic terms, it's almost reasonable.<b> </b><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon2&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjanes%2FBlue-Lagoon-Admission-Ticket%2Fd32804-75721P1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book your ticket here</a> to be guaranteed a spot. Personally, I think it was worth it and I'd probably go back again (depending on my finacial situation at the time).</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Should you get a Blue Lagoon upgrade?</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">Because I'm a travel bloggers slash YouTuber we were given a complimentary upgrade to the Comfort Package - this usually costs around 55 Euros and gives you an algae mask, a free drink and the use of a towel. As I try to only ever travel with hand luggage I never have space for a towel, so having that alone was a great perk (you need a towel).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqkQCkIAa7KNEIlLM9rI-oY8qZ36bYmI-bgShlTFZ2ggG4dKuwg2Zt2uXLuxyAgPyqSMvHeHn2N62PUxWSsHZwkePSgaUUoTZHfJ1wQoA_gYlbqNlL6BALDO-YERnpZ4OIPVVf80sgpRqdaaErOOaKfGuBqFpVJVwzlE-zQBsHUKr6MtrcJdvVN9lzX4/s840/fontana%20geothermal%20baths%20worth%20it.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland hot springs blue lagoon reviews" border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqkQCkIAa7KNEIlLM9rI-oY8qZ36bYmI-bgShlTFZ2ggG4dKuwg2Zt2uXLuxyAgPyqSMvHeHn2N62PUxWSsHZwkePSgaUUoTZHfJ1wQoA_gYlbqNlL6BALDO-YERnpZ4OIPVVf80sgpRqdaaErOOaKfGuBqFpVJVwzlE-zQBsHUKr6MtrcJdvVN9lzX4/s16000/fontana%20geothermal%20baths%20worth%20it.JPG" title="a photo of Blue Lagoon spa Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The algae mask felt nicer than the silica mask and the drink I chose (a blueberry smoothie) was yummy. So if you don't have a towel (take one from your hotel) or a bottle of water with you, the upgrade is probably worth it, but if you have those things with you anyway, it's probably not worth an extra 15 Euros. Cause like, if you have an extra 15 Euros, you might want to invest in this <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iceland-Womens-Padded-Bikini-Swimsuits/dp/B07SG3XKYL/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=iceland+bikini&qid=1559650455&s=gateway&sr=8-15&linkCode=ll1&tag=travellingwea-21&linkId=ab4c521d40491d5e4b2c5859a4cb8b8b&language=en_GB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Iceland Bikini</a> 😍 But while we're talking about towels, if you are going to travel with one, go for one that's streamlined <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eono-Essentials-Microfiber-Perfect-Sports/dp/B07GJHKCG5/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=travel+towel&qid=1559650533&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=travellingwea-21&linkId=ae1aee95cd5b45d12178a29e88d885da&language=en_GB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">like this one</a> - it dries quickly, it's super absorbent and it folds down nicely.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPlIHz72_RRV39Pf3NbodF7SH6PoDwRp6-U-LyqBWGS4LjMPCDrIwN7yvjzhxz8A4Wd1VNtipZagc3dHv_2QzS77hUq4TJJcl1ajCGGAcMQsg9U8fG04iuQiH5nemgfaKVpY3jQFnECLntRW4AUquLFo9MxhnRJq1U5m1iEe1kOQhcWxdqstID3Csn5I/s840/laugarvatn%20fontana%20review.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is fontana spa good" border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPlIHz72_RRV39Pf3NbodF7SH6PoDwRp6-U-LyqBWGS4LjMPCDrIwN7yvjzhxz8A4Wd1VNtipZagc3dHv_2QzS77hUq4TJJcl1ajCGGAcMQsg9U8fG04iuQiH5nemgfaKVpY3jQFnECLntRW4AUquLFo9MxhnRJq1U5m1iEe1kOQhcWxdqstID3Csn5I/s16000/laugarvatn%20fontana%20review.JPG" title="a photo of us in Iceland's Blue Lagoon" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Back to hair and the question of it drying out: conditioner (this was before I stopped using shampoo and conditioner completely, yes I'm a #nopoo vegan). But back then I slathered it with conditioner beforehand and didn't get it in the water, and thus my hair was fine. If you're concerned about your hair drying out/getting damaged I'd recommend you do so too. I actually used this intense <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/72-Hair-Daily-Intense-Moisture/dp/B07G885QHQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=vegan+conditioner&qid=1559650177&s=gateway&sr=8-15&linkCode=ll1&tag=travellingwea-21&linkId=1694af0a08ea6e90299924da6cd94f02&language=en_GB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Intense Moisture Duo, Sulphate-free</a> one because it was my favourite - it's cruelty free (aka not tested on animals) and it smells like an actual dream. Or if you want to be super cute, you could get this <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yes-Blueberries-Smooth-Conditioner-Frizzy/dp/B01DA12KIK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?keywords=vegan+conditioner&qid=1559650177&s=gateway&sr=8-9&linkCode=ll1&tag=travellingwea-21&linkId=f21f278a3ae3f100e88bf9eaddb08a8b&language=en_GB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BLUEberry condition</a> (also vegan) and get a BLUEberry smoothie at the BLUE Lagoon to match. Too much? Okay, let's move on!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyK-2DSfQqvsREWBLj1YCNiBq2JSLSegMPxps4Gl3-VYV54mA3asEL_wmchQWLCw3jsdKK8cfsyujZ6nfDhwzpQF4Cim1nkibiSyaU6mQB9pOcf4dGTyNgXPisR5ASr4xvoKFVdLNyvb36djTYbR25gYY-CR-tcKl_5QlEYU-YVc-1uKzPY5AjaVUqLM/s840/laugarvatn%20fontana%20geothermal%20baths.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland laugarvatn fontana geothermal baths review" border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyK-2DSfQqvsREWBLj1YCNiBq2JSLSegMPxps4Gl3-VYV54mA3asEL_wmchQWLCw3jsdKK8cfsyujZ6nfDhwzpQF4Cim1nkibiSyaU6mQB9pOcf4dGTyNgXPisR5ASr4xvoKFVdLNyvb36djTYbR25gYY-CR-tcKl_5QlEYU-YVc-1uKzPY5AjaVUqLM/s16000/laugarvatn%20fontana%20geothermal%20baths.jpg" title="a photo of Blue Lagoon, one of the best hot springs in Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I have memories of the location of the Blue Lagoon being kind of out there. It's only 20 minutes drive from Keflavik Airport but it's a whole 45 minute drive from Reykjavik (I'm European, to me 45 minutes is far). I'd recommend that you either go to the Blue Lagoon as your last stop before going to the airport, or take a tour so you don't have to drive for 45 minutes after the Blue Lagoon - why? The Blue Lagoon was relaxing and tiring, I didn't want to drive for a long time after that :( I don't really support purchasing personal vehicles anymore, but back when I was in Iceland I worked with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/09/renting-car-iceland-lagoon-car-rental.html" target="_blank">Lagoon Car Rental</a> and I recommend them if cars are for you. But tours are more environmental, here are some goods ones:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Recommended Blue Lagoon tours</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon3&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FReykjanes-and-the-Blue-Lagoon%2Fd905-72591P6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reykjanes and the Blue Lagoon</a>: explore Reykjanes and the southwest with a guide before enjoying your comfort ticket to the Blue Lagoon;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon4&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FGOLDEN-CIRCLE-AND-BLUE-LAGOON-TOUR%2Fd905-117582P8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon</a>: explore the entire Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon with a guide, no need to drive, no need to worry;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon4&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FReykjavik-to-Blue-Lagoon-and-back-to-Reykjavik%2Fd905-108418P5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Return ticket Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon</a>: get picked up and dropped off at your accommodation/the nearest bus stop, (note the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon6&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjanes%2FBlue-Lagoon-Admission-Ticket%2Fd32804-75721P1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Lagoon ticket</a> is sold separately);</li>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon7&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FKeflavik-Airport-to-Blue-Lagoon-and-back-to-Keflavik%2Fd905-108418P6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Airport to Blue Lagoon to Keflavik</a>: getting transferred straight from the airport into the beautiful blue waters is the best way to start your Iceland trip. (Again, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon6&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjanes%2FBlue-Lagoon-Admission-Ticket%2Fd32804-75721P1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blue Lagoon ticket</a> sold separately);</li>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon7&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FBlue-Lagoon-to-Keflavik-Airport-Transport%2Fd905-108418P4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keflavik to Blue Lagoon to Airport</a>: conversely go the other way around and end your trip to Iceland by going to the Blue Lagoon, after your relaxing time at the lagoon you can relax as someone else drives you to the airport and then you can sleep on the plane!</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTt1UCpG5Vw" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">For more visuals on the Blue Lagoon we also made a YouTube video.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Laugarvatn Fontana Spa and Geothermal Baths Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Before I'd visited either spa, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=fontana2&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FGolden-Circle-and-Laugarvatn-Fontana-Private-Tour-from-Reykjavik%2Fd905-35454P24" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths</a> appealed to me a lot more - located right on the Golden Circle, it manages to somehow be both conveniently located but, unlike the Blue Lagoon, still a bit undiscovered. Plus, most appealing of all to me, it also incorporates natural parts of Iceland. But what was it actually like? Is it one of the good alternatives to Blue Lagoon Iceland?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA3eEm1RJKpao4Rpswx7q0UU7zGcTutLEjniOswgvfUH3p1AEj7iwKsU1zZlEoI-QICMJKOjhDbCas1e7GgW71_jaUYzAnLgevz-J16DNrcMyPsC9Bnew_XhJimPCDs7wDTrDJvEWKgMoubsBDxll6heO4uQk-tUEfV_fVxNqcwWg5fjT5F5KxXklbzs/s840/honest%20review%20of%20fontana%20baths%20iceland.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hot springs iceland" border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA3eEm1RJKpao4Rpswx7q0UU7zGcTutLEjniOswgvfUH3p1AEj7iwKsU1zZlEoI-QICMJKOjhDbCas1e7GgW71_jaUYzAnLgevz-J16DNrcMyPsC9Bnew_XhJimPCDs7wDTrDJvEWKgMoubsBDxll6heO4uQk-tUEfV_fVxNqcwWg5fjT5F5KxXklbzs/s16000/honest%20review%20of%20fontana%20baths%20iceland.JPG" title="a photo of Laugarvatn Fontana spa" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths is composed of a series of interconnected outdoor mineral baths and steam rooms. These are built over a natural hot spring and complement each other to create a healthy, natural and fairly unique experience - so I do think that Fontana is one of the best geothermal pools in Iceland, yes.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal Baths Pros and Cons</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">When it comes to Laugarvatn Fontana vs Blue Lagoon, Fontana definitely wins points for the number of people - Fontana was basically empty, there can't have been more than 20 other people there, so we had plenty of space to ourselves.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEAHRPDOie831QzY7CtSDvQxfz3xrZTMdZjAtLGrCXuQ8trQvsr3MrKYFsjcr1wkvf4N1w-1xINBJzgcgE6n-xIUfQKofjf-5qEK9bT4YLmS9bv1ZPFxOitkBl4J1_UtwSAlu6-eDq3W1GMITCWmqqma3tQKMq-LTSLvOMcVyE1CL72anMhcEu3LMQ3k/s840/laugarvatn%20fontana%20vs%20secret%20lagoon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blue lagoon spa iceland" border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEAHRPDOie831QzY7CtSDvQxfz3xrZTMdZjAtLGrCXuQ8trQvsr3MrKYFsjcr1wkvf4N1w-1xINBJzgcgE6n-xIUfQKofjf-5qEK9bT4YLmS9bv1ZPFxOitkBl4J1_UtwSAlu6-eDq3W1GMITCWmqqma3tQKMq-LTSLvOMcVyE1CL72anMhcEu3LMQ3k/s16000/laugarvatn%20fontana%20vs%20secret%20lagoon.jpg" title="a photo of a sauna at the Blue Lagoon Spa" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There were lots of different saunas to try out and because there weren't many people there, we had a sauna or two to ourselves. At 30 Euros = £26 = $34 Fontana spa is definitely a cheaper Blue Lagoon alternative, though, like the Blue Lagoon, this price does not include towel hire.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbxACSzdOk18zRlGdZCN-J1PFtYoS0lve5zFVW4X8nRrttdYgzEEdOqqpmwQDpMjE2eT7iaEJLFsV2xmrg9Z8nMe_nH8L281Y3d7Pj05pLTHlFUp6r9lOfqlAh25ynugc5fScYnW0GF6CSqYpk_Pqs76aFi5dQHzcvi2ospJFyAFpdTybu2oCXnEHjao/s840/best%20spas%20in%20iceland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland hot springs blue lagoon" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbxACSzdOk18zRlGdZCN-J1PFtYoS0lve5zFVW4X8nRrttdYgzEEdOqqpmwQDpMjE2eT7iaEJLFsV2xmrg9Z8nMe_nH8L281Y3d7Pj05pLTHlFUp6r9lOfqlAh25ynugc5fScYnW0GF6CSqYpk_Pqs76aFi5dQHzcvi2ospJFyAFpdTybu2oCXnEHjao/s16000/best%20spas%20in%20iceland.jpg" title="a photo of Fontana geothermal baths" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">By far my favourite part of Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths was the fact that you can actually take a dip in the freezing Laugarvatn lake. This feels so primal, so authentically Icelandic and was one of the highlights of my whole trip.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EIQjDukXkDrBHvQT8Rey4fVaZNccBjeMJrRX-Z-0td9C8DHa0EEcwLgVG5qOuAhj9HqpTK7F30mDcsCASsuu721QhR_uhYFQ8DQtfqns51JIA1lEh7Y8HZ8FIdt1F6PsfHlBqqY6KwtrX-N0XmO4Auh_VE-YdVpY0LmGMEz3P1op5dn8BU56Mqbbr8s/s840/blue%20lagoon%20iceland%20reviews.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="blue lagoon iceland honest review" border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EIQjDukXkDrBHvQT8Rey4fVaZNccBjeMJrRX-Z-0td9C8DHa0EEcwLgVG5qOuAhj9HqpTK7F30mDcsCASsuu721QhR_uhYFQ8DQtfqns51JIA1lEh7Y8HZ8FIdt1F6PsfHlBqqY6KwtrX-N0XmO4Auh_VE-YdVpY0LmGMEz3P1op5dn8BU56Mqbbr8s/s16000/blue%20lagoon%20iceland%20reviews.JPG" title="a photo of Fontana Spa Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Being right next to the lake was one of my favourite things about Laugarvatn Fontana, it was so nice to chill in the pools whilst looking at the lake and the surrounding mountains.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gxLUH08GTBkS-4m2gwwL6Y9Ifn3iw704fnJfUmSXy4vdVNE_Ao3QOchwqmn0SfqrG4dAqBHp8EtJ06lxz8bY9hCTgoH-VHCn81vyqtDUAMWo615T8IcDYytzJXhKkSBpDqQHZNw8OJpG0UFqv5WfFIgQ4D6O8F4s4drGMo42F7-64gAa7-2xfgRw28A/s840/fontana%20hot%20spring%20review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="fontana spa iceland, one of the best spas in iceland" border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gxLUH08GTBkS-4m2gwwL6Y9Ifn3iw704fnJfUmSXy4vdVNE_Ao3QOchwqmn0SfqrG4dAqBHp8EtJ06lxz8bY9hCTgoH-VHCn81vyqtDUAMWo615T8IcDYytzJXhKkSBpDqQHZNw8OJpG0UFqv5WfFIgQ4D6O8F4s4drGMo42F7-64gAa7-2xfgRw28A/s16000/fontana%20hot%20spring%20review.jpg" title="a photo of Laugarvatn Fontana spa Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Also, the beach was black and because it's heated by the natural steam which rises from the earth, it was hot! It was odd to walk across a black warm beach before plunging into a freezing lake. I wish I'd known at the time that visiting Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths at night to see the Northern Lights is an option. There's even a tour: <a href="http://tidd.ly/d01aa25" target="_blank">Northern Lights Laugarvatn Fontana Tour</a>.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Other Recommended Laugarvatn Fontana Tours</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=fontana2&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FGolden-Circle-and-Laugarvatn-Fontana-Private-Tour-from-Reykjavik%2Fd905-35454P24" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tour from Reykjavik</a>: if you don't have a car, don't miss out, take a tour to Laugarvatn Fontana from Reykjavik;</li><li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=fontana3&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FSummer-Evening-Trip-to-Laugarvatn-Fontana-Geothermal-Bath-from-Reykjavik%2Fd905-24308P11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Northern Lights</a>: combine your trip to fontana with a search for the Northern Lights;</li><li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=fontana4&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FReykjavik%2FGolden-Circle-Fontana-Baths-and-Northern-Lights-Day-Trip-from-Reykjavik-Including-Lunch-and-Dinner%2Fd905-23924P2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Full package</a>: Laugarvatn Fontana, Northern Lights, Golden Circle, lunch and more!</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>Now for some cons: </b>I loved the views of the lakes, but the little pools themselves weren't all that pretty (unlike at the Blue Lagoon). Apart from the 36 degree one with the nice black stones. But that didn't really matter so much, I was there for relaxing my body not feeding my Instagram habit.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XC_Qv6NmKh-Ims14qWM50VnUgXIygT8QMuKvLWgxJ5MBZKv6TrwM9R2Squn5CC-fjqwuQXcrxVMC144rMELr85r-09jNkMniUdVnA6Kxb7c-I-VbPNOoy8k9Bc3KfcvJ2Gtd-ABHLQDoI2iT-BV4DQmu44i5u-HtIx9DHthJQf-T0fuz6k16WgPsiSw/s840/is%20fontana%20spa%20iceland%20good.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="iceland hot springs blue lagoon" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XC_Qv6NmKh-Ims14qWM50VnUgXIygT8QMuKvLWgxJ5MBZKv6TrwM9R2Squn5CC-fjqwuQXcrxVMC144rMELr85r-09jNkMniUdVnA6Kxb7c-I-VbPNOoy8k9Bc3KfcvJ2Gtd-ABHLQDoI2iT-BV4DQmu44i5u-HtIx9DHthJQf-T0fuz6k16WgPsiSw/s16000/is%20fontana%20spa%20iceland%20good.jpg" title="a photo of Laugarvatn Fontana hot springs in Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">What I found the worst at the time were the showers. Before you go into spas in Iceland you are required to have a shower naked. In the Blue Lagoon they have recently brought in private cubicles, but in Fontana, there is a big communal shower for the women and no private cubicles. This would be fine but it's not a case of simply washing under the bikini, you're required to strip off completely. There's even a (female) member of staff waiting to check you do it.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuWGxBhWq4F4seclM_e3va-BWTB_yhDqNbPXNgi4vVJujaJ0Qy5fBeqidClpWy64rngO-kGnwPZ6YX55FzB4wI4NimqyKiNCePl-M87rRIse_A9m2XBiRhWF_Ic4ZXTMkiqM5ljla4D4deL_tf9PGyt4CS0xxrznK8JnrgRYEoz1hWpAYnGGSZdF3sis/s840/is%20fontana%20iceland%20good.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is fontana spa iceland worth it" border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuWGxBhWq4F4seclM_e3va-BWTB_yhDqNbPXNgi4vVJujaJ0Qy5fBeqidClpWy64rngO-kGnwPZ6YX55FzB4wI4NimqyKiNCePl-M87rRIse_A9m2XBiRhWF_Ic4ZXTMkiqM5ljla4D4deL_tf9PGyt4CS0xxrznK8JnrgRYEoz1hWpAYnGGSZdF3sis/s16000/is%20fontana%20iceland%20good.JPG" title="a photo of Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths Iceland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Nowadays I wouldn't care, but back then I was super prudish and was not comfortable doing that. I still think having a 'guard' there is kind of excessive. But hey, maybe you don't care.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2HmOdqZqLE" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Overall I really enjoyed my time, here's a vlog about it :)</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Verdict: Laugarvatn Fontana vs. Blue Lagoon</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Before visiting either I assumed I would prefer Laugarvatn Fontana to the Blue Lagoon in every single way. As it turns out I loved them both for completely different reasons:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Comparison:</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul><li>Scenery: <span style="color: purple;">Laugarvatn Fontana</span></li>
<li>The prettiness of the pools: <span style="color: blue;">Blue Lagoon</span></li>
<li>Number of people: <span style="color: purple;">Laugarvatn Fontana</span></li>
<li>Iconic-ness: <span style="color: blue;">Blue Lagoon</span></li>
<li>Authenticity: <span style="color: purple;">Laugarvatn Fontana</span> </li>
<li>Not having to strip in front of staff: <span style="color: blue;">Blue Lagoon</span></li>
<li>Price: <span style="color: purple;">Laugarvatn Fontana</span></li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I can understand why the Blue Lagoon has become the unofficial symbol of Iceland - the beautiful scenery both inside and outside the pool, the bars in the pool, the iconic Icelandic photos you can take there - in our era of selfie loving narcissists (myself included) it makes sense. However, all in all, nowadays I'd opt for Laugarvatn Fontana, it's cheaper, it's more authentic, it's conveniently located on the Golden Circle and there are fewer people - my kind of spa. Maybe I'm a secret seal, but being allowed into a freezing lake is a big win in my books. But they are so different and if they both appeal to you, and you have the money and the time, why not just go to both?</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">More alternatives to Blue Lagoon Iceland</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">In terms of price, scenery, number of people and 'authentic-ness', Laugarvatn Fontana geothermal baths is definitely one of the best alternatives to Blue Lagoon Iceland, but are there any others?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=secret+lagoon&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2Ftours%2FSouth-Iceland%2FSecret-Lagoon-Entrance-Ticket%2Fd24828-63097P1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Secret Lagoon</a>: like Laugarvatn Fontana, the Secret Lagoon is on the Golden Circle route - aka easily to get to if you're on that route; <br /></li>
<li>Reykjadular hot springs: upside free, downside hard to get to;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/09/minniborgir-cottages-golden-circle.html" target="_blank">Minniborgir cottages</a>: hello private jacuzzi.</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">What do you think? Which one would you rather go to? Let us know in the comments below :) If you're looking for more European thermal baths, check out our review of <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/06/is-it-worth-visiting-szechenyi-thermal.html" target="_blank">Széchenyi thermal bath Budapest Hungary</a>. Want more of Iceland? Check <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/02/7-reasons-to-go-to-iceland-in-2017.html" target="_blank">7 reasons to visit Iceland!</a> For more information on the Blue Lagoon <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=bluelagoon1&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dblue%2520lagoon%2520iceland%26destId%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a> and for Laugarvatn Fontana <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&clickref=fontana1&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dlaugarvatn%2520fontana%26destId%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hwdz3_SkPrU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>P.S.: If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a>, feel free to click on the link to use it :)</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comIceland64.963051 -19.02083536.652817163821148 -54.177085000000005 90 16.135415tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-752008604180463272024-02-11T10:02:00.000-08:002024-02-21T08:56:47.838-08:00Why Connect Your Kilimanjaro Trip with an African Safari Adventure<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Vf7QnapBUagPfaX1iMbMKRfTlYEzS_WumIAyQC3vflCpgFfDHNacHFzjjz153DRQa9WC5153psTqW6T79QXAekm21Rb2IKQ64-p75gDYoPI82fGzDexFCSyTK5z3aXefBk26KeV02FZFI6fl83kLUB0K0LqotExC7c2-L0D9ZQATt4NLQXaZKYDhsQ/s840/kilimanjaro%20safari%20tips.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="safari tips kilimanjaro" border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Vf7QnapBUagPfaX1iMbMKRfTlYEzS_WumIAyQC3vflCpgFfDHNacHFzjjz153DRQa9WC5153psTqW6T79QXAekm21Rb2IKQ64-p75gDYoPI82fGzDexFCSyTK5z3aXefBk26KeV02FZFI6fl83kLUB0K0LqotExC7c2-L0D9ZQATt4NLQXaZKYDhsQ/s16000/kilimanjaro%20safari%20tips.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Many people around the globe want to visit <a href="https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/kilimanjaro/" target="_blank">Kilimanjaro</a> - no doubt because it's the highest mountain in Africa. Lots of us want to go on an African safari too and see the Big Five. In fact, both of these adventures are very high on people's bucket-lists - so why not combine the two? In this blog post, I'm going to put forward my reasons why I think you should combine your Kilimanjaro trip with an awesome safari adventure, as well as give you some practical information about the former. Hold on to your safari hats, and let's get started!</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Where Is Mount Kilimanjaro and How to Get There</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">First things first, where even is Mount Kilimanjaro? Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania which is a country in East Africa that is bordered by <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/09/vacation-in-kenya-what-to-consider.html" target="_blank">Kenya</a>, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, the DRC, Malawi and Mozambique. It's not hard to remember where Kilimanjaro actually is within Tanzania - because it's literally in a park called Kilimanjaro National Park, in a region called Kilimanjaro Region (I love this). To get to Kilimanjaro you will need to fly to the airport, which, you guessed it, is called Kilimanjaro International Airport (not kidding).</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Top Reasons to Connect Your Kilimanjaro Trip with an African Safari Adventure</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">So... are there good safaris near Kilimanjaro? Yepp, there are actually a lot of good safaris near Mount Kilimanjaro - from popular ones to less popular ones (which have the advantage of feeling more personal and unique). Here are four reasons we think you should definitely connect your Kilimanjaro hike with a safari trip:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Because You Only Live Once!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes, especially when you are young, it's easy to forget that we only have a limited time on this planet. Combine that with shorter and shorter vacation times and suddenly you're looking back at your life, wishing you'd done the things you wanted to do when you had the chance and hoping that you get a reincarnated second chance. As much as I'd like to believe that we do, it's not for certain, thus it's so important to do all the things that you want to as soon as you can.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPHQoFelFxchnjdc_uAzG5cXxaGmMZlO35lr5GrQ4O3bf0moTeT_uw6aC8d6k3RB_1HGo6Jxu-nm5Ofyg6xxctOsWarNwgHu0N2im7EfwjUDHTVH3j3xE-z8GdeggqyhWnOm66QPPlnGYPf26apftiuWkq6rLZ9e9oXbaNQP9jvV4XSv2M4gMbm6c6bg/s840/kilimanjaro%20and%20safari%20guide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kilimanjaro safari guide" border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPHQoFelFxchnjdc_uAzG5cXxaGmMZlO35lr5GrQ4O3bf0moTeT_uw6aC8d6k3RB_1HGo6Jxu-nm5Ofyg6xxctOsWarNwgHu0N2im7EfwjUDHTVH3j3xE-z8GdeggqyhWnOm66QPPlnGYPf26apftiuWkq6rLZ9e9oXbaNQP9jvV4XSv2M4gMbm6c6bg/s16000/kilimanjaro%20and%20safari%20guide.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">You could do Kilimanjaro now and save the safari for your next trip to Africa - but what if you don't get the chance to go back? What if you can't go back? We can't know the future, we only know the present so do it now if you can. This is the first reason why I recommend combing your Kilimanjaro trek with a safari - do it before or do it after, but do it, almost regardless of the extra time and money it takes (because, as they put it in Internet parlance, YOLO).</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. There are Travel Companies that do both!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst going on a safari and then to Kilimanjaro (or vice versa) may sound like the dream, organising it all could be a potential nightmare. Luckily for us, there are travel companies which can organise both your <a href="https://altezza.travel/en" target="_blank">African Safari and Kilimanjaro expedition</a> which makes everything that much more convenient. Altezza, for example, organise group tours every 2-3 days, and not just to Kilimanjaro and for safaris - they also offer beach holidays too, yay! What's more, they're actually run by real travellers - so you know that they not just have your best interests at heart, they truly understand them, as only other travellers can.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. For the 'Gram</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">As a recovering Instagram influencer, I try nowadays to use my skills for good. In this case, pointing out to you that you can have a great Kilimanjaro photo, you can have a great safari photo - but if you combine the two you will have the greatest photo. Everyone loves these two things individually, but put together and they are just *chef's kiss*</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. It's environmentally friendlier than flying out separately<br /></h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Although you will need to fly too Kilimanjaro International Airport to climb Kilimanjaro, environmentalism needs all of us to do things to the best of our abilities - we don't have to be perfect, as long as we make an effort. Therefore, it's better to fly to Tanzania once and do the safari at the same time, than it is to fly to the country, leave, and then fly back a second time to do the safari tour. It's just maths (and fossil fuels).</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">How Much Does All of This Cost?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">A Kilimanjaro trip will cost around 2000 - 2300 USD per person, depending on which route you want to do, what time of year you go, how many days you go for - routes are between 6 to 8 days. The different routes offer slightly different acclimatization options. Please note that climbing Kilimanjaro is breathtaking and awe-inspiring and unforgettable - but it is hard (because of the acclimatization). Most people who've done both agree that Kilimanjaro is harder to climb than Everest! Put simply, you need to go with the experts and the professionals when you do this, it's not an opportunity for cost cutting. A safari trip costs between $800 and $2300, depending on how long you go for (3 to 7 days is recommended).</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Which Kilimanjaro Route Should I Choose?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Out of the eight main Kilimanjaro routes, the 3 most popular ones are Marangu, Machame and Lemosho. Whilst I feel like popularity doesn't always lead to the correct path, when it comes to scaling mountains, I think it's best to go with the majority - they tried and tested it so you don't have to. Put simply, they're popular for good reasons.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABy4pi100XTL0vmlvcur4bVabZQDeNQAaZ4TSVPCO_XhRf4wCMJFKvmbFyLysMRR9R5EcNvfhL3bgN8yS_q854kYoLRGhy67PrA0bYUbTSHx-cepF5vh0LW6RrEWC7GjQkQvpwD4_8zKZNPlEQZ0h4wR7gBfaXKnfZBPMRgkxI08zj0riVtR5SlXBtII/s840/safari%20tips%20kilimanjaro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="kilimanjaro safari tips" border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABy4pi100XTL0vmlvcur4bVabZQDeNQAaZ4TSVPCO_XhRf4wCMJFKvmbFyLysMRR9R5EcNvfhL3bgN8yS_q854kYoLRGhy67PrA0bYUbTSHx-cepF5vh0LW6RrEWC7GjQkQvpwD4_8zKZNPlEQZ0h4wR7gBfaXKnfZBPMRgkxI08zj0riVtR5SlXBtII/s16000/safari%20tips%20kilimanjaro.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">But out of those three, which one should you choose? Personally, I love Machame Route because it starts in a tropical forest. Marangu is good too, because it's the only route that offers somewhere to sleep overnight. Lemosho route is great if you want to help your acclimatization, because it starts at a high-altitude drop-off point. This is a question I wouldn't stress about too much though, because no matter which route you choose, you will be climbing the highest mountain in the world and get to see Africa from heaven.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Why Connect Your Kilimanjaro Trip with an African Safari Adventure</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Hopefully by this point I have shared some useful bits of knowledge to help you with your own Kilimanjaro trip. I also hope that I've been able to convince you to combine it with an African safari adventure. I know it might seem greedy to tick off two unforgettable trips back to back, but really I think you're worth it and (somewhat ironically) it's a more environmentally sound plan!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gonBQdUZuo8?si=zrctXDpOrbwWz50l" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Let me know if you have any questions or if you've been on both already and definitely let me know if there's anything I can add to this article so we can help out fellow adventurers!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comMt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania-3.0674247 37.355627299999988-31.377658536178846 2.1993772999999877 25.242809136178845 72.511877299999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-82663364400827972062024-02-11T06:31:00.000-08:002024-02-18T08:59:10.426-08:00How to Start House Sitting in Europe: Spain, Germany, Portugal and More!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lUBmHK3uVJDUJfcodhj5Ske5Ns9ewMnEYYQ3qNiA61gs-097JHmXbg1woU_mndqUEeT9bLxj3Lr4yn-ddmqX6xKqh6DBrX6_3yRl8A0BWwmzyJl_I199dZo4guc3h8xe1Lt0pHP6KpQ/s1600/house+sitting+europe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitting in europe" border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="636" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lUBmHK3uVJDUJfcodhj5Ske5Ns9ewMnEYYQ3qNiA61gs-097JHmXbg1woU_mndqUEeT9bLxj3Lr4yn-ddmqX6xKqh6DBrX6_3yRl8A0BWwmzyJl_I199dZo4guc3h8xe1Lt0pHP6KpQ/s640/house+sitting+europe.png" title="house sitting europe" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Europe is the perfect destination for many people because of its rich food, culture, history, relative safety, 1st world conditions (you can drink the tap water etc) and of course the variety in the countries that are so close together - want to have breakfast in one country, lunch in another and dinner in yet another? Come to Europe! But Europe can be expensive, especially when it comes to accommodation. That's where house sitting comes in.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">1. How to Start House Sitting in Europe</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Wait... so <b><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/04/what-is-house-sitting.html" target="_blank">what is house sitting</a>? House sitting is an exchange of services - house sitters look after the homeowners' house in return for free accommodation. </b>We started <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting</a> in Europe in 2014. Since then we've done over 15 house sits in eight different European countries. These have ranged from short luxurious weekend breaks to 3-month long term house sits. We are the house sitting experts and we want to help you find your first house sitting jobs in Europe.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>In this house sitting Europe guide you will find:</b><ul>
<li>Why you should house sit in Europe</li>
<li>How to get house sitting jobs in Europe?</li>
<li>Best house sitting website for Europe</li>
<li>Trustedhousesitters Discount Code</li>
<li>Specific house sitting in Europe guides</li>
<li>Do you need to speak the language?</li>
<li>How to travel around Europe?</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">2. Why Should You House Sit In Europe?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting in Europe</a> is a dream come true for many. Firstly, you get to explore Europe on a budget - think about how much of your holiday budget, or even day-to-day living costs, go to accommodation: hotels and hostels or rent and mortgages. Now eliminate that number. House sitting means zero accommodation costs - including zero bills! But it doesn't just stop there, because yes you could explore Europe on a budget with other free accommodation methods like Couchsurfing, camping, workaway, wwoofing, etc. BUT, and this is a big but, they won't be anywhere near as comfortable. House sitting is <b>travel with home comforts</b>:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Privacy - not just your own private room, but the whole house to yourself</li>
<li>Normality - the use of fully equipped kitchens and washing machines (ask any long-term traveller, this is a dream come true)</li>
<li>Pets - love animals? With house sitting you will often have a furry friend or two (or more)!</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">And it doesn't just stop there, more often than not you'll get to explore Europe in luxury as there are tonnes of luxury house sitting opportunities in Europe. We've house sat places with pools, saunas, Porsches and more! In our experience (and with our limited financial resources) house sitting is the only way to travel Europe not just <i>luxuriously</i> but also on a budget. I mean, how often do those two things go hand in hand?<br /><br />
Last, and certainly not least, this is <b>truly authentic travel</b> - you get to see how real locals really live (or at the very least, real expats). How many times have you stayed in a hotel and felt like you didn't 'truly see' the country? Didn't honestly feel like you'd lived there and witnessed day-to-day living in another culture? House sitting can give you that.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">3. How To Get House Sitting Jobs In Europe?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">First things first, it's important to get some house sitting experience, to a) get some references and b) to see whether or not you really enjoy house sitting. This is easy to do, simply ask friends and family if you can look after their pets and home for a few days. Then it's time to find the house sits, what's the best house sitting website in Europe?<br /><br />
In our opinion, the best house sitting website Europe is <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trustedhousesitters</a> - this is the largest house sitting website for Europe (and actually bonus point, it's the largest house sitting website in the world). All of our Europe house sits came from Trustedhousesitters and we have continually renewed our membership with them every single year since 2013.<br /><br />
You do have to pay to sign up to <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trustedhousesitters</a>, and it costs $107/year - yes this sounds like a lot upfront, but the amount you'll save on accommodation in the long run is astronomical. $107 won't get you very far in Europe using conventional accommodation (hostels and hotels) - 2 weeks at the most on an extremely budgeted trip (read uncomfortable, noisy, shared bathrooms, possible bed bugs etc). Compare that to $107 for a YEAR in luxury house sits - central city apartments, country villas, mansions - and it becomes and a no-brainer. Plus, if you sign up today, we can offer you a 10% <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">discount code</a> (click to read our blog post on how to use the discount code).</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">4. House Sitting In Europe Guides: Our Experiences</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">I'm a great believer in seeing is believing, I want to give you a taste of what house sitting in Europe can be like, by showing you some of the European house sits we've done (and giving you tips for each country)</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting Spain</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting in Spain</a> is a great place to start your house sitting in Europe adventures. There are so many house sitting jobs in Spain, it's easy, even for newbies, to get a house sit there. Furthermore, with many retired expats here, you can almost guarantee that you will find a long-term, luxurious house sit in Spain:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAlyw4lrsqrn1LWTjQtgcDx-JafJDsYwOVRlkOZ55AUFV5JxLkAC_xk3ywcoyDfp5dvEsxnq4fm-h9wUBTiKYy9OhMME3EkdmvCbzRRpYMln_uO2MXe-AFC1wiQ09emg9RK91KfzE9KI/s1600/house+sitting+europe+spain+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitter europe" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAlyw4lrsqrn1LWTjQtgcDx-JafJDsYwOVRlkOZ55AUFV5JxLkAC_xk3ywcoyDfp5dvEsxnq4fm-h9wUBTiKYy9OhMME3EkdmvCbzRRpYMln_uO2MXe-AFC1wiQ09emg9RK91KfzE9KI/w640-h480/house+sitting+europe+spain+.jpg" title="a house sit in Europe (this one was in Spain)" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We did a long-term and luxury house sit in Spain for six weeks. In return for looking after three adorable dogs, we lived in a mansion right by the beach, which had two pools! You can read more about our <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/08/our-first-spanish-house-sit.html" target="_blank">house sit in Spain</a> here. Or start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs in Spain</a>!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting in Portugal</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting in Portugal</a> is similar to house sitting in Spain - incredible weather, delicious food, friendly locals. Portugal tends to be less popular than Spain though, meaning that you'll have less competition when looking for a house sit in Portugal!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XU0c7nDzfHM1M_FjU2YD8aSKGNdSOMpW5j7BNi_Do-pr0voTMwWzZFv0-LVGb6VQJ5YLfN7atF_SxRd3T1r7PgomI_-seo3yc7rvl-UxJ05hSlqWpelNEtWPYakEoZcXeTc6BBuQeQM/s1600/house+sitting+portugal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="european house sitting jobs europe" border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="640" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XU0c7nDzfHM1M_FjU2YD8aSKGNdSOMpW5j7BNi_Do-pr0voTMwWzZFv0-LVGb6VQJ5YLfN7atF_SxRd3T1r7PgomI_-seo3yc7rvl-UxJ05hSlqWpelNEtWPYakEoZcXeTc6BBuQeQM/w640-h610/house+sitting+portugal.jpg" title="house sitting in Portugal" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We did a long-term house sitting job in Portugal - we looked after a dog and a turtle for five weeks near the Algarve. This was one of our absolute favourite house sits - read more about <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2015/05/5-reasons-to-house-sit-in-portugal.html" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">house sitting in Portugal</a>. Or start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs in Portugal</a>!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting Germany</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">House sitting in Germany should be seen in two categories really - house sitting in Germany and house sitting in Berlin. Why? House sitting in Berlin is perfect for those that want to experience Germany, but can't speak German. Most people speak impeccable English in Berlin. Plus it's one of the coolest cities in the world. Case in point: 22 <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/07/top-things-to-do-in-berlin.html" target="_blank">top things to do in Berlin</a> that are all FREE! House sitting outside of Berlin can be a little trickier, but not impossible - Germany is a progressive, practical country which everyone should experience at least once. Germany's the perfect place to house sit if you love horses - many rural German house sits come with the odd horse, or three!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZMgYhcyClnxU3Mm0SaNyiPTTENify1icMg5WLGa9NHAZQW0DQ1Q0pDD39cYTtWvDXdGuLA3RTiGc_GgaTlP_JI174hxD3sezyGjF-xrl-cXYDDfnxU4n5pGyT7c_qeR9JABidBp_1uM/s1600/house+sitting+in+europe+germany.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitters europe" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZMgYhcyClnxU3Mm0SaNyiPTTENify1icMg5WLGa9NHAZQW0DQ1Q0pDD39cYTtWvDXdGuLA3RTiGc_GgaTlP_JI174hxD3sezyGjF-xrl-cXYDDfnxU4n5pGyT7c_qeR9JABidBp_1uM/w640-h480/house+sitting+in+europe+germany.jpg" title="house sitting in Berlin" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We've done several house sits in Germany - our first one was in a luxurious house in central Berlin with its own private sauna. We house sat here for two weeks, looking after two chickens. We've done a repeat house sit in Hamburg with three dogs, two cats, four lizards and lots of fish - surprisingly, this is one of the easiest and most enjoyable house sits we've ever done. The animals behave perfectly and the beautiful house comes with a sauna and a jacuzzi (and a Porsche!) We've also house sat in the German countryside - looking after three horses, two donkeys, two dogs, and four cats. Again, not as crazy as it sounds, but probably not the best idea for your first house sit (unless of course, you've grown up with horses). You can read more about <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/11/how-to-stay-in-berlin-for-free.html" target="_blank">housesitting Berlin</a>, or start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs in Germany</a>!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting Italy</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you visit Europe without visiting Italy, it would be a crying shame. <a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy" target="_blank">Italy is a shining star</a> in its own right, and so rich with culture, history and <a href="https://www.veganvstravel.com/2017/09/how-to-be-vegan-in-italy.html" target="_blank">delicious Italian food</a>. Luckily for you, there are many house sitting jobs in Italy - from beautiful apartments right in the centre of Rome, Florence and Venice, to villas in the beautiful countryside.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxmxRC9iU-qFp6CzWTx6jqbwRFrusheJl7KYiMhz7JlkqGucu_tRZ3dNfV-eHWy7I_CMMnZ7-dmK8fxF9NHRunRA8TLTpWX9gXa_NnTjg02L1Jkz6Ct838bGYKvREsMz6Z1QQ1lnQAnc/s1600/house+sitting+italy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitting jobs in europe" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxmxRC9iU-qFp6CzWTx6jqbwRFrusheJl7KYiMhz7JlkqGucu_tRZ3dNfV-eHWy7I_CMMnZ7-dmK8fxF9NHRunRA8TLTpWX9gXa_NnTjg02L1Jkz6Ct838bGYKvREsMz6Z1QQ1lnQAnc/w640-h426/house+sitting+italy.jpg" title="house sitting Italy" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We've done a repeat luxury and long-term house sitting job in a villa with two dogs and one cat in the Italian countryside. As well as house sit in Sicily in a place with an olive grove, its own pool and one dog. You can start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs in Italy here.</a></div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting in Greece</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks no doubt in part to Mama Mia, everyone wants to come to Greece, and although Greece can be cheaper than say Germany or France, luxury villas are still outside of any budget traveller's budget. Not with house sitting though. <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting jobs in Greece</a> come up frequently, generally with perks of ocean views, olive gardens and more!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mcVsNp-Agb3vvpFhyphenhyphen9YYNLGXbdQbLsbuYrjVOezT5biVoJc_YghF0-uMZA4dDbVCOZIPLqeEyQaE3fXaUBZrghl2t4dWsuzLXPkt0NIzPDBg5YhW2hmj5CRsJtC9lSjCdyT2zrNCFx4/s1600/house+sitting+greece.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="housesitting europe" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mcVsNp-Agb3vvpFhyphenhyphen9YYNLGXbdQbLsbuYrjVOezT5biVoJc_YghF0-uMZA4dDbVCOZIPLqeEyQaE3fXaUBZrghl2t4dWsuzLXPkt0NIzPDBg5YhW2hmj5CRsJtC9lSjCdyT2zrNCFx4/w640-h480/house+sitting+greece.jpg" title="house sitting greece" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We did a house sitting job in central Athens for five weeks, looking after one dog and one cat. We stayed in a luxurious neighbourhood and got to know many lovely locals, if you wanna, the full story is here: <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2020/02/house-sitting-greece-athens-guide.html" target="_blank">house sitting in Greece</a>. And/or start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs Greece</a>!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting UK</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">When it comes to <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs in Europe</a>, the UK is probably the place that has the most house sits on offer (and thus, even newbie house sitters will find jobs here). It has, of course, the advantage of being an English speaking country, making communication easy (I'm assuming, if you're reading this you speak English. Lol). House sits in the UK can range from the not so luxurious to the ultimate luxury house sitting jobs in Europe. Either way, you'll have free accommodation in a country which has ridiculous accommodation prices!
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pf43k5m2XjE1-1YH_V1gXWnJGOwko2Zxh20eKkp01v9eNQVbZcqWCTy8BXlLYiDCSKGAysGeEjMgHqtiYTJSoWaKj1ALDA6D1SNA1QyRS1KE3azt_9yYn7W3v8Z2Q7yGcexA2p9bfe0/s1600/house+sitting+england.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="luxury home sitting" border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pf43k5m2XjE1-1YH_V1gXWnJGOwko2Zxh20eKkp01v9eNQVbZcqWCTy8BXlLYiDCSKGAysGeEjMgHqtiYTJSoWaKj1ALDA6D1SNA1QyRS1KE3azt_9yYn7W3v8Z2Q7yGcexA2p9bfe0/w640-h426/house+sitting+england.jpg" title="house sitting uk" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We've done numerous sits in the UK - our first ever one was for two cats, two chickens and three sheep in the beautiful Forest of Dean. We've looked after mansions with dogs, mansions with cats, eco-houses, fancy farms, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/10/house-sitting-london.html" target="_blank">luxury London house sits</a> and more. Start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UK house sits</a>!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House sitting Ireland</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2019/07/house-sitting-ireland-guide.html" target="_blank">House sitting in Ireland</a> is, in my opinion, perfect for first time house sitters and long-term house sitters alike. First time house sitters will find the ratio of exciting foreignness to home comforts very nice here - especially for Brits and Yanks - with everyone speaking English, not to mention them having British plugs, it's easy not to be home sick here, but with gorgeous green scenery it's hard to not feel like you're having an adventure.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaArjLl3TKV4dGkmQWShzLj7WYLbB2Gc2EaAeGo0cu6Ta88nGIvXAewXFzGVwUD9dz8Rp1zKg9UWW7ZeQ8rr67wJ6K4cAIUm-8jgdSDbxu0-bAlEgYuHMvvi0VwYyv2b0Hmsacqv7YjSieDLLZuxSYeyXk86AToChhQNdkXCRBx35_1fJ0RbTeQMm7s9o/s840/house%20sitting%20in%20europe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="luxury house sitter jobs in europe" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaArjLl3TKV4dGkmQWShzLj7WYLbB2Gc2EaAeGo0cu6Ta88nGIvXAewXFzGVwUD9dz8Rp1zKg9UWW7ZeQ8rr67wJ6K4cAIUm-8jgdSDbxu0-bAlEgYuHMvvi0VwYyv2b0Hmsacqv7YjSieDLLZuxSYeyXk86AToChhQNdkXCRBx35_1fJ0RbTeQMm7s9o/s16000/house%20sitting%20in%20europe.JPG" title="house sitting in Ireland" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Long-term house sitters may find this the perfect place to hole up and finish a project - a book for example. I've done one house sit in Ireland for two weeks, two cats, one dog and four chickens. It was perfect. You can <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">start browsing house sitting jobs in Ireland here</a> or <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2019/07/house-sitting-ireland-guide.html" target="_blank">read more about house sitting in Ireland</a>.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting Netherlands</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting in the Netherlands</a> can be perfect for first-time house sitters. As a sweeping statement, the Netherlands is very English speaking friendly, with most Dutch people having impeccable English.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lUBmHK3uVJDUJfcodhj5Ske5Ns9ewMnEYYQ3qNiA61gs-097JHmXbg1woU_mndqUEeT9bLxj3Lr4yn-ddmqX6xKqh6DBrX6_3yRl8A0BWwmzyJl_I199dZo4guc3h8xe1Lt0pHP6KpQ/s1600/house+sitting+europe.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="luxury house sitting jobs" border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="636" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lUBmHK3uVJDUJfcodhj5Ske5Ns9ewMnEYYQ3qNiA61gs-097JHmXbg1woU_mndqUEeT9bLxj3Lr4yn-ddmqX6xKqh6DBrX6_3yRl8A0BWwmzyJl_I199dZo4guc3h8xe1Lt0pHP6KpQ/w640-h480/house+sitting+europe.png" title="house sitting netherlands" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We did a house sitting job in southern Netherlands, looking after two lovely dogs, in a beautiful, traditional Dutch house. You can start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sits in the Netherlands</a> here.<br /></div><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting Finland</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting in Finland</a> might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think about house sitting Europe, but it might be the ideal house sit for you. Finland is a gorgeous country with beautiful nature and not a lot of people. The weather is something to take into account of course - if you are comfortable with the cold (the <i>real</i> cold) go in the winter, if not go in the summer.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsjy_GSmHEMnTed5x5Bj1ku_6g5vJf5QJmL7yvhYz44BPwp5k2HIPasi815Jjb-PxfLB2Z82vhBTi2GXk_3xZJoGGspBIhCGDgzVIMhsUW9LI04fFstzDOblAAUxgUAuENBUV74Ii1yc/s1600/house+sitting+europe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="trusted housesitters europe" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsjy_GSmHEMnTed5x5Bj1ku_6g5vJf5QJmL7yvhYz44BPwp5k2HIPasi815Jjb-PxfLB2Z82vhBTi2GXk_3xZJoGGspBIhCGDgzVIMhsUW9LI04fFstzDOblAAUxgUAuENBUV74Ii1yc/w640-h480/house+sitting+europe.jpg" title="house sitting finland" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">We did a house sitting job in Helsinki in March, looking after one super-intelligent dog. It was one of the coldest places we've ever been! Helsinki is very expensive, so it was great to be able to enjoy it without worrying about costs. You can read more about our time here: <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2015/03/whats-it-like-to-house-sit-in-finland.html" target="_blank">house sitting in Finland</a> or start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs Finland</a> right away!</div><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">House Sitting France</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Like the UK and Spain, <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting</a> is very popular in France and house sits pop up all the time there. Newbie house sitters can almost guarantee getting a house sitting job there. French house sits do tend, on the whole, to be more rural so being comfortable driving in France is a plus.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH77yEKDt-gehjRdlAtugw5vpohRIzHCvbU0_dODC5T9qQaCm6uN2ZXGTdNWxQhYnJe_6x0w9xmkmTWGKfVoNHoGAXpnSm7T2c6KRus_YhEKNzFhLUwIfEIQAyNPjzQKMFWIRnK8hgPz8/s1600/house+sitting+jobs+france.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="how to house sit for the rich" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="777" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH77yEKDt-gehjRdlAtugw5vpohRIzHCvbU0_dODC5T9qQaCm6uN2ZXGTdNWxQhYnJe_6x0w9xmkmTWGKfVoNHoGAXpnSm7T2c6KRus_YhEKNzFhLUwIfEIQAyNPjzQKMFWIRnK8hgPz8/w640-h404/house+sitting+jobs+france.png" title="house sitting jobs france" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So far, we have never actually house sat in France ourselves - mainly because my aunt has a house in the south of France that we can visit. But I'd definitely like to try house sitting a place in Paris! Start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting jobs in France</a>.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">5. If Not House Sitting, Then What?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, house sitting is just one of many great ideas to experience living in Europe. If you’re able to do your work remotely and be location-independent, you could also try leading a digital nomad lifestyle. And for many reasons mentioned at the beginning of this article, European countries are perfect to start this exciting adventure. <br /><br />
For those embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, finding the right accommodation is key. It's not just about a place to sleep; it's about having a space that supports both your work and leisure needs. This is where exploring options like digital nomads' housing becomes essential. These accommodations are tailored to meet the demands of remote work, offering not only comfort but also functional workspaces. <br /><br />
An interesting option you should consider is <a href="https://www.tripoffice.com/" target="_blank">TripOffice - a booking site for digital nomads</a>. It focuses on the presence of amenities that are super useful for remote work, such as ergonomic chairs, desks, and reliable internet access. Of course, it's not the only option out there. But this example shows that there are many resources available to help digital nomads find suitable stays that align with their work-and-travel lifestyle. <br /><br />
Remember, the essence of being a digital nomad is about mixing work with the exploration of new cultures and places. Whether it’s a crowded city or a quiet retreat in the countryside, the right accommodation can make all the difference in your European adventure. So, if house sitting doesn't align with your plans, there are plenty of other ways to immerse yourself in the diverse and rich experiences that Europe has to offer.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">6. Do You Need to Speak the Languages to House Sit Europe?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Europe is a linguist's dream: One of the best things about Europe is the number of awesome different languages there are all bunched together. However, this can be a disadvantage to a house sitter, what if you need to get a pipe fixed or, worse, communicate with a vet?<br /><br />
Ostensibly, no you don't need to speak <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Europe" target="_blank">all the languages</a>. We've house sat in Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands where we only have the vaguest amount of language (aka we can order food), we've also house sat in Finland and Greece where we have absolutely zero amount of language knowledge. In fact, the only places we've house sat in Europe where we could speak the language was England and Germany. So what's the solution?<br /><br />
Firstly, like most things when it comes to house sitting, it all depends on the house sit. Some homeowners prefer house sitters that <i>can</i> speak the language, but many others don't mind - often you will find that the homeowners <i>themselves</i> can't speak the language (because they are often expats). For example, our house sits in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Greece were for people with English as their first language (British and American expats). Our house sits in Portugal and Finland were for Dutch expats.<br /><br />
At the end of the day, if <i>they</i> think you can do the sit without speaking the language, you can. But you must be sure to discuss emergency situations with them and what they would like you to do. With some homeowners, they've had friends or family who are happy to help us in these situations, other times their vets / handy-people have spoken English. If you're still worried stick to places at first that speak great English: the UK, the Netherlands, Berlin, etc.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">7. How to Travel Around Europe?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">So you've sorted your free accommodation in Europe, when it comes to food you'll find the costs are similar to Northern America/Australia/New Zealand - in Europe we have expensive supermarkets, cheap supermarkets (usually Aldi or Lidl), we also have excellent fruit and veg markets where you can buy good quality fruit and veg in bulk. But what about the third cost: the travel itself?<br /><br />
I'm assuming you'll be flying into Europe, and even if you're already in Europe, there will still no doubt be some flying going on. Trains are expensive (<a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/11/how-to-travel-scandinavia-by-train.html" target="_blank">unless you're using Interrail</a>) and buses take ages - flying is a cheap and quick way to cross Europe. To find the cheapest flights we always use Kiwi, it's light-years ahead of any other flight comparison website, it's ability to find the cheapest flights is unparalleled. It has loads more awesome features, have a quick look at their website to see what I mean.<br /><br />
I can speak from first hand and say that their customer service is also amazing. When Ryanair did this annoying thing at the beginning of the year with their baggage allowance, I couldn't get in contact with them to fix it. Kiwi, on the other hand, sorted my problem within 24 hours. I love Kiwi.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: How to Become House Sitters in Europe</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House sitting in Europe</a> is the way to go if you love to travel and love animals. The opportunities really are endless and I hope you love house sitting in Europe as much as we do. For more information about starting house sitting, check out our most popular <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/06/how-to-get-started-with-house-sitting.html" target="_blank">house sitting blog post</a> about how to start house sitting and if you have any questions about house sitting Europe, drop us a comment below and we'll get back to you asap. We have also made this video for newcomers to house sitting, enjoy :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXuVUKV7aqA?si=wXpuaV-fylbrBtGg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>P.S.: If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a>, feel free to click on the link to use it :)</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comEurope54.5259614 15.255118726.215727563821154 -19.9011313 82.836195236178838 50.4113687tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-54402916205228981262024-02-10T08:22:00.000-08:002024-02-18T08:54:18.067-08:004 Eye Care Tips Every Outdoor Traveller Should Keep In Mind<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq3dB8mlms-aZryN3EILnmR5huxA8J5qBBInAQDpzzlI-j5r2BCHPXsDR2JZiOwPlZ-hYacJYoXQ1liIhR7NQEDN-2O18fApwjli2QnrIVj5_XyzypuxSWgO4K70CDTC-U_HrtGhPPLZ3Aztdo1gza3qDU9HnkFazc02fNiSO8KEzBVRZ-Pr_mPn0UNI/s840/eye%20health%20during%20travel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="eye health during travel" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq3dB8mlms-aZryN3EILnmR5huxA8J5qBBInAQDpzzlI-j5r2BCHPXsDR2JZiOwPlZ-hYacJYoXQ1liIhR7NQEDN-2O18fApwjli2QnrIVj5_XyzypuxSWgO4K70CDTC-U_HrtGhPPLZ3Aztdo1gza3qDU9HnkFazc02fNiSO8KEzBVRZ-Pr_mPn0UNI/s16000/eye%20health%20during%20travel.jpg" title="a photo of a man holding a camera" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Over thirteen million Britons are eager to travel abroad this 2024, with 31% of survey respondents saying they wanted something to look forward to over the winter months. Naturally, <a href="https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/almost-a-third-of-brits-set-to-travel-more-in-2024-43104" target="_blank">sun-drenched destinations</a> like the coastal cities of Vigo, Spain, and Rimini, Italy, became UK travellers' top choices. According to a separate study, 15% of Brits also expect to go hiking in 2024. However, with increased outdoor time and sun exposure comes potential eye hazards. So whether you'll be swimming, backpacking, camping, or doing anything outdoors, follow these eye care tips:</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Use Sunglasses!</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Sunglasses protect your eyes – and the delicate skin around them – from the sun's UV rays, which could lead to more severe eye problems. To avoid bringing multiple pairs, travellers with pre-existing vision issues can opt for <a href="https://www.glassesdirect.co.uk/products/?aspect=sun" target="_blank">prescription sunglasses</a> from brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley; these can be outfitted with various protective lens options and outdoor-friendly tints. The Ray-Ban RB7066-54 Wayfarers come in a flattering square frame and large lenses for more sun coverage, while the Glasses Direct Taylor half-rim frames are lightweight enough for all-day wear and protection. Wearing sunglasses also reduces eye strain, allowing travellers to appreciate their surroundings better. Be sure to keep your sunglasses safe with a hard shell case.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Pack Eye Drops!</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Surprisingly, dry eye can occur in both summer and winter holiday destinations. High temperatures cause your tear film to evaporate quickly, while windy conditions during the colder season can also dry the eyes. Eye drops can provide relief for dryness while on the go. Pack an option like the Blink Intensive Soothing Eye Drops, which contains the OcuPure compound that mimics human tears. This dissolves into an eye-moisturising substance that reduces irritation and redness in seconds, allowing you to continue with your outdoor travel itinerary.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Prepare for Allergies!</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Outdoor-specific allergens can irritate the eyes and spoil your travel experience. The UK has one of the highest allergy prevalence rates globally, plaguing one in three Brits. As such, it's best to plan your vacations so they don't coincide with pollen season. If unavoidable, keep your accommodation's windows and doors closed, and bring adequate allergy medication from home. An International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology study found that sunglasses can be a simple avoidance option that acts as a physical barrier between the eyes and pollen. The TAG Heuer <a href="https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/tag-heuer-bringing-back-stylish-160000944.html" target="_blank">performance sunglasses</a> have advanced bio-nylon lenses with anti-dirt and hydrophobic properties, which may help limit the airborne particles that come in contact with your eyes. They also come with Specta technology for enhanced contrast and visibility. Keep your sunglasses on as much as possible, and pack antihistamines in your day bag so you never go without them.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Bring a Hat and an Umbrella!</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">We've discussed the importance of packing appropriate clothing, such as <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2023/07/how-to-get-the-best-camping-experience.html" target="_blank">head coverings</a>, to shield yourself from the sun's rays. A wide-brim hat can help supplement eyewear protection and further reduce glare. For destinations with intense sunshine, you may want to go further and bring an umbrella. That said, hats and umbrellas don't simply protect your eyes from the sun's brightness. Recent research has shown that higher heat waves significantly correlate with glaucoma incidence. Another study found that higher temperatures in the <a href="https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2785685" target="_blank">summer months</a> can cause lowered intraocular (eye) pressure. When eye pressure is too low, it can cause vision loss and distortion, so keep those hats on and foldable umbrellas ready.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hE0eZay2T0g?si=he8c5Fxt1B1N4tol" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Outdoor activities and holidays are all about seeing beautiful natural sights, so you want your eyes to be in their best possible condition. By packing eye protection and treatment products and taking preventive measures against common irritants, you're set to enjoy your well-deserved time away.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-34039320212210594302024-02-09T08:54:00.000-08:002024-02-18T09:02:47.303-08:00Balaton Sound Review: The Best Electronic Music Fesitval in Hungary<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2081oiiXCuRnMVxYkGWh58yWJrRKPfRJD3ypVds9-YUacTHk9X6Y-uYRIaD6ON1voZyTyHkq0Qn5_S03xD_LPlyaVFv0wEWmQTlJJPjpPKlohCpllUw39NM6YUX5z78DU_vimXkPWLKosilbumZRZQVCoUJpyKLKah5FSF4eHBn4ugf25pVXNkz_JXFk/s840/balaton%20sound%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="honest review of balaton festival" border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2081oiiXCuRnMVxYkGWh58yWJrRKPfRJD3ypVds9-YUacTHk9X6Y-uYRIaD6ON1voZyTyHkq0Qn5_S03xD_LPlyaVFv0wEWmQTlJJPjpPKlohCpllUw39NM6YUX5z78DU_vimXkPWLKosilbumZRZQVCoUJpyKLKah5FSF4eHBn4ugf25pVXNkz_JXFk/s16000/balaton%20sound%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Music Festival 2017" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Welcome to <a href="https://balatonsound.com/en/" target="_blank">Balaton Sound</a>, one of Europe's largest open air electric music festivals, with DJs from all around the world. Set in one of Hungary's most beautiful locations - on the banks of the gigantic <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dbalaton" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lake Balaton</a>, which is so big it's affectionately nicknamed the Hungarian Sea. [This post was last updated on the 10h of February, 2024]</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Our Honest Review of Balaton Sound Festival</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Balaton Sound is an electronic music festival in Hungary, it runs for five nights, you can stay for all five or just opt for one night. I went on the last night and I'll be honest with you - up until this point I hadn't heard of Balaton Sound and I didn't know it was one of Europe's largest open air music festivals. All I knew was that my fellow blogging friend, American Dave, had been gifted tickets in return for a blog post. So I reached out to them and they gave me VIP tickets in return for a blog post too.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWj-A8w43tVsog9y7yfW0UJDKbU0r1sKRxEcAkX4hoP9FZxIE9YypeO1DlCFgMaKFE8ADwgYI5yTh1EdA6OxPrC2TLEW00gcQe-wf15xxHGkjnBUQlfY_4xn8CUotupftyJHLeku9CpvOJNSVaXI9PDMONNqB2SElqwrPsGzKGZ9BHdkk-eb12sN0acg/s840/best%20electronic%20music%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="balaton sound festival review" border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWj-A8w43tVsog9y7yfW0UJDKbU0r1sKRxEcAkX4hoP9FZxIE9YypeO1DlCFgMaKFE8ADwgYI5yTh1EdA6OxPrC2TLEW00gcQe-wf15xxHGkjnBUQlfY_4xn8CUotupftyJHLeku9CpvOJNSVaXI9PDMONNqB2SElqwrPsGzKGZ9BHdkk-eb12sN0acg/s16000/best%20electronic%20music%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound, a music festival in Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Although this thus has the potential to be a very one-sided and biased blog post about Balaton Sound, I can tell you up-front: it isn't. I had a fun time, yes, but there were downsides too and I will tell you about them. I'm not here to curry favour with some company that's probably not going to read this post anyway. And even if they did, my integrity means more to me than money (plus they didn't pay me lol). Put frankly, I'm in the position of having tried the tickets, and I'm allowed to be honest. Because I want to give you, dear reader, an honest view (from my perspective) because that's what I'd like to read in your position.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Location: Balaton Sound Is At... Lake Balaton!</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">First things first, Balaton Sound is right on <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dbalaton" target="_blank">Lake Balaton</a> which is a really big plus in my books. It's one of Hungary's main and most beautiful attractions, which means you can 'tick seeing that off' at the same time as experiencing a music festival abroad. It also means that you can go swimming anytime you like - another big plus in my books as I often get overheated and over-stimulated (and, let's face it, stinky) at festivals. The solution? Fresh water swimming.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSFysCd-RFs6DaKRdTPHLyQxIZpL0ckFY4XbkM7gouEH_21wb0LehHGAYghumCwT_5kd65RZgyBHkakjI6ALFZIpn0hPz-J7W5MXT-VeUnBTZI3ACVtJJyUGuZE-yHLmRwvYrJa0rp4mgo6q-UAI6RJmh6b_TulS9OBL7FlQMOlX9enzBxPJNtbjiSBQ/s840/hungary%20music%20festival.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="where to buy balaton sound tickets" border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSFysCd-RFs6DaKRdTPHLyQxIZpL0ckFY4XbkM7gouEH_21wb0LehHGAYghumCwT_5kd65RZgyBHkakjI6ALFZIpn0hPz-J7W5MXT-VeUnBTZI3ACVtJJyUGuZE-yHLmRwvYrJa0rp4mgo6q-UAI6RJmh6b_TulS9OBL7FlQMOlX9enzBxPJNtbjiSBQ/s16000/hungary%20music%20festival.JPG" title="a photo of a Balaton Festival in 2017" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">This was my first time visiting the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Dbalaton" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">'Hungarian Sea'</a> and I was happy I finally had an 'excuse' to visit. I arrived by train (with my Interrail pass) and the lake really does go on for miles and miles, like... a sea (the German name for Balaton is 'Plattensee').</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NWbKB9wovkIDxR6S4ECTP7F-5PYF8qmOdXDBYZG57e0OXwW0IAQCzK6i2pWStnqsRFGh3uL3iyBkA7WyF5xhv1aq0R3dNOty-JIxBbli0l2xfGj7AfFLL1iUUz7HzB29xisEhi1U_KlxrSxH_TiEzptU1fQgc7ndpvJrF-_ZO3alKIxJSsdvg86ADwg/s840/balaton%20sound%20accommodation.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="balaton festival hungary review" border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NWbKB9wovkIDxR6S4ECTP7F-5PYF8qmOdXDBYZG57e0OXwW0IAQCzK6i2pWStnqsRFGh3uL3iyBkA7WyF5xhv1aq0R3dNOty-JIxBbli0l2xfGj7AfFLL1iUUz7HzB29xisEhi1U_KlxrSxH_TiEzptU1fQgc7ndpvJrF-_ZO3alKIxJSsdvg86ADwg/s16000/balaton%20sound%20accommodation.JPG" title="a photo of a Balaton Festival, Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Despite the fact it rained a little bit in the evening, the weather was really really great - Hungary gets HOT in the summer, which meant we could walk around all night without being cold. I sound like an old woman... but if you've been to festivals in certain countries, *cough UK cough* you'll know how terrible it can be to be at a festival in rainy weather. This is not like that. The weather is great.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Stages and Acts at Balaton Sound Festival <br /></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31Ktc3GLhGW_7L5ykqBclHjhcJcqZtY63_Vt22Wf8uv0je2osZkoVwBc89-5GIM-UZZvDeveQcQSB_SF39nKnBOVNq3rnVTemPuqPDNEGNOKSlq1KsMfK7q9VWOzSgSO7TiqqP7CsrkL7iFmEVUUdJ04-vc0aRqO8n4AqJFHwN9NeVxzwv0Q50-aTZGU/s840/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="balaton hungary festival review" border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31Ktc3GLhGW_7L5ykqBclHjhcJcqZtY63_Vt22Wf8uv0je2osZkoVwBc89-5GIM-UZZvDeveQcQSB_SF39nKnBOVNq3rnVTemPuqPDNEGNOKSlq1KsMfK7q9VWOzSgSO7TiqqP7CsrkL7iFmEVUUdJ04-vc0aRqO8n4AqJFHwN9NeVxzwv0Q50-aTZGU/s16000/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">With music playing from 10 in the morning until 6 in the morning on ten different stages at Balaton Sound, there is something for everyone - as long as everyone likes electric. Which I'm not that interested in really lol. I mean it's an electric festival so I'm assuming if you're interested than of course you like electric. Some of the stages were GIGANTIC - like the main stage where we saw <a href="https://marshmellomusic.com/" target="_blank">Marshmello</a>! (Who was the only artist I knew and at that I only know one song lol.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHp8CrYLAe3tX-yrkPrmmXmO94mso6UCjcNO9JFcKHzaxUPbjYxI_qVGpxzB2wIz_3c6nx7mlNl63LkqkJ1KmggKyJKgJ-u8VJTPsoPqsinSjuCN8ZaCUbxxGzSo5SYPN96cgRTFEmCeVds8DYnNLPEM3N0C_JJ_vcqO1c4ACYGis1TnYN4oBoRDclyQ/s840/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festival%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="lake balaton festival review" border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHp8CrYLAe3tX-yrkPrmmXmO94mso6UCjcNO9JFcKHzaxUPbjYxI_qVGpxzB2wIz_3c6nx7mlNl63LkqkJ1KmggKyJKgJ-u8VJTPsoPqsinSjuCN8ZaCUbxxGzSo5SYPN96cgRTFEmCeVds8DYnNLPEM3N0C_JJ_vcqO1c4ACYGis1TnYN4oBoRDclyQ/s16000/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festival%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of a Balaton Lake Festival in Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There was another stage (the Telekom Arena) which was completely undercover. (Great for if it rains.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdxZVKEGYSXhkFj4lFGO5ePuNPwzpsQU9wpVjsnCj7MhU04MFO8OcVWy_mpZ5gAGiL1q4EDrV3CaehIyTF5U8njHVZqWbdd7ejkNqJd-8MzP0DaQe_NzfEN6nXMBse4RdnF64wuRf8E_yL_h1hdWetD3LQSs0GQyT4iLbxvNBF6VIeK893u5KJp9h3B4/s840/review%20of%20balaton%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian electronic music festival hungary" border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdxZVKEGYSXhkFj4lFGO5ePuNPwzpsQU9wpVjsnCj7MhU04MFO8OcVWy_mpZ5gAGiL1q4EDrV3CaehIyTF5U8njHVZqWbdd7ejkNqJd-8MzP0DaQe_NzfEN6nXMBse4RdnF64wuRf8E_yL_h1hdWetD3LQSs0GQyT4iLbxvNBF6VIeK893u5KJp9h3B4/s16000/review%20of%20balaton%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of a Balaton Music Festival in Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Some stages were smaller - perfect for dancing and chatting to people: we even bumped into a Hungarian YouTuber here!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBxDHJvAdyCUzhM66ZcDmF8qv55GPDTg4XesLIlpORw2bJKVW6wq4pXhPOK4kJ9nfd6Ubgg7uA6ULXbJ44RZAgsGVNwGACLIDDBlyCrglNkC1efO2kgXEWZg-QUbTCzTIqH-3AWNp4Q1x0TMQqrRxfWvzxh8Il0HKfzO2bXLp4FQmNMvw-fWwfx2uyPI/s840/review%20of%20hungarian%20balaton%20sound%20music%20festival.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian electronic music festival in hungary" border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBxDHJvAdyCUzhM66ZcDmF8qv55GPDTg4XesLIlpORw2bJKVW6wq4pXhPOK4kJ9nfd6Ubgg7uA6ULXbJ44RZAgsGVNwGACLIDDBlyCrglNkC1efO2kgXEWZg-QUbTCzTIqH-3AWNp4Q1x0TMQqrRxfWvzxh8Il0HKfzO2bXLp4FQmNMvw-fWwfx2uyPI/s16000/review%20of%20hungarian%20balaton%20sound%20music%20festival.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Music Festival in 2017" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The best thing about it is the range of different styles, if you're bored with one you can visit another.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-u3qivQLSCTrBs1agkHTYUZoSzD9b2hxNdIkFeIEQsEmVzpwVM0VlE7wCRtR3j59RrWTbalPtTO6YcGmBiEHRUytgZSAuyGz6tv6QHFVSuajLQIRKKbL-Deo8FsJc2L_yucM0J485ubXYAC_gTki6gUja_SnTnseJpKB0U39hAoKFng0bk0IKKL1FO0/s840/review%20of%20balaton%20sound%20review.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best electronic music hungary" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-u3qivQLSCTrBs1agkHTYUZoSzD9b2hxNdIkFeIEQsEmVzpwVM0VlE7wCRtR3j59RrWTbalPtTO6YcGmBiEHRUytgZSAuyGz6tv6QHFVSuajLQIRKKbL-Deo8FsJc2L_yucM0J485ubXYAC_gTki6gUja_SnTnseJpKB0U39hAoKFng0bk0IKKL1FO0/s16000/review%20of%20balaton%20sound%20review.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound 2017" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">It got pretty wild with some fire effects on stage too:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrlgjtizDrwj2ef3QsqDZQTussFlOUJu-5FGP9Vii-x5nEI45qRIX4IYQfMVzNx8Gw9KxsoYbVo8a-igv6EnNWEkoUBG6MSWAbCJ253Zlx2Xcs34r4TaaXDPihnX4H-X_pV34yxuzPzIwWuc5pRCZkotzYzoX_4BpFTvKu2ql-z2NEEjzMLT2KH8OBz0/s840/balaton%20sound%20festival%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian electronic music parties hungary" border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrlgjtizDrwj2ef3QsqDZQTussFlOUJu-5FGP9Vii-x5nEI45qRIX4IYQfMVzNx8Gw9KxsoYbVo8a-igv6EnNWEkoUBG6MSWAbCJ253Zlx2Xcs34r4TaaXDPihnX4H-X_pV34yxuzPzIwWuc5pRCZkotzYzoX_4BpFTvKu2ql-z2NEEjzMLT2KH8OBz0/s16000/balaton%20sound%20festival%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound, a Hungarian music festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There was even a foam party at one stage - really at Balaton Sound you can expect to find anything and everything you might be looking for at a hedonistic electronic music festival.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDyFCzlSIRTrHq3LWExEdvXxxWuko3hAtViZU-go1EhB0BrawwZZsLGD3VJeopwtvOo5aX3vuefq2ezERwKQ8-89JTFrWhDrESkKTwvvCO4CWEaV8F6fLZX0ISXmF7JOnvttc1EC58ImCxZc5DYZ4_fobVuQsp73FfC12Y3RM8iLgYpUvA8QrkJsE2jU/s840/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festivals%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian electronic music festivals in hungary" border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDyFCzlSIRTrHq3LWExEdvXxxWuko3hAtViZU-go1EhB0BrawwZZsLGD3VJeopwtvOo5aX3vuefq2ezERwKQ8-89JTFrWhDrESkKTwvvCO4CWEaV8F6fLZX0ISXmF7JOnvttc1EC58ImCxZc5DYZ4_fobVuQsp73FfC12Y3RM8iLgYpUvA8QrkJsE2jU/s16000/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festivals%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of the Hungarian Balaton festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Which includes a big wheel, a zip-line and a bungee jump!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln2sB9yVA5sxxczb8hCriRaClpI0Z92I85tWsyTmvcfDzZqdftTCvCGYZ0w1ey-NhCKEcGweEOA-ezGPf91vu4Nn6pQKf963BPvabreXCWxOlRqHuZ4g-188pRO3vex56I_CLlEbxZHn9_UckyOWp9vUbyvLP-PWD8VNSiAe_PqiW-K-hwTY44kyv_0A/s840/best%20electronic%20music%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hungarian electronic music party hungary" border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln2sB9yVA5sxxczb8hCriRaClpI0Z92I85tWsyTmvcfDzZqdftTCvCGYZ0w1ey-NhCKEcGweEOA-ezGPf91vu4Nn6pQKf963BPvabreXCWxOlRqHuZ4g-188pRO3vex56I_CLlEbxZHn9_UckyOWp9vUbyvLP-PWD8VNSiAe_PqiW-K-hwTY44kyv_0A/s16000/best%20electronic%20music%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Hungarian Balaton Lake festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">But it didn't just stop at the stages, even when you were just walking between the stages you could expect to find something super cool, perhaps a trope of people on stilts:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_m8bAkoFyPmYSNOuaoLpAKy3en86b_XaE5DAMucMEXrhw-uHZ19AKtbyikVB34obCkFo9UacPvo3qmxmUA115T9JYHhkCZPtLEKv-ArPzSVSX7kXispZkdIIsoLWjKouGwd-egk6ljSyyQaK20Tg3XJdUxi9VrPZrtsu2QIipGk9vIbm-UfqyVBbKL0/s840/music%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="where to buy Balaton Sound VIP tickets" border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_m8bAkoFyPmYSNOuaoLpAKy3en86b_XaE5DAMucMEXrhw-uHZ19AKtbyikVB34obCkFo9UacPvo3qmxmUA115T9JYHhkCZPtLEKv-ArPzSVSX7kXispZkdIIsoLWjKouGwd-egk6ljSyyQaK20Tg3XJdUxi9VrPZrtsu2QIipGk9vIbm-UfqyVBbKL0/s16000/music%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Hungarian Lake Balaton festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">a strange other-wordly jellyfish march:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I5HMbBS238-kpoHEd9fIGO3P3WSsyLAU0oUV3hQ5IyDh6hqSwP2kHTpBKH2iLRIcGerk0RwYwL40IuQFIA4lWMFbbx_uE2XJ08TWSuV6XYCG5bRq8nh2xRWxHx1qIYI6QOEu8oR67xj7uq6xU0m12P92VMqf85AI8_ZhG45q0sRaMXOxMFKDjv397Fk/s840/balaton%20hungary%20festival%20review.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound festival good" border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8I5HMbBS238-kpoHEd9fIGO3P3WSsyLAU0oUV3hQ5IyDh6hqSwP2kHTpBKH2iLRIcGerk0RwYwL40IuQFIA4lWMFbbx_uE2XJ08TWSuV6XYCG5bRq8nh2xRWxHx1qIYI6QOEu8oR67xj7uq6xU0m12P92VMqf85AI8_ZhG45q0sRaMXOxMFKDjv397Fk/s16000/balaton%20hungary%20festival%20review.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton music festival in Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">or perhaps an awesome walking marching band:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf31hkDD49Be-CnbJsexPGly06PRnN1SUfGOSBDYgOZjDbhMd6IPAeg3YWgXNjFieWxSWORDHExbzRHJLf-5j6Ha8U0R5UnwcqVfHAECx7NJbm0IurVCL24yhAVrmyJfMMy6M9kKcC9ze8JghgDaiOmK4tT3MbTmUHhUNct3nCZMX7kUHp_0yw4Wx2Gp4/s840/balaton%20festival%20hungary%20review.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound good" border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf31hkDD49Be-CnbJsexPGly06PRnN1SUfGOSBDYgOZjDbhMd6IPAeg3YWgXNjFieWxSWORDHExbzRHJLf-5j6Ha8U0R5UnwcqVfHAECx7NJbm0IurVCL24yhAVrmyJfMMy6M9kKcC9ze8JghgDaiOmK4tT3MbTmUHhUNct3nCZMX7kUHp_0yw4Wx2Gp4/s16000/balaton%20festival%20hungary%20review.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound Music Festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">These guys were my favourite - they were so talented! And if memory serves, my favourite stage was a small one where they played 90s and early 2000 hits (which are still really popular in Hungary, retro radio big time!)</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Having a VIP Pass at Balaton Sound</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFTVCLLsKawWmcnpsExnQLq4LcuCAvYPY1lv4YFM7QeGzUtpki2WK9r8s0G2O6fPGSTBlq2hztE8QChkPxQ6CaPVlggZl1VewL3wKzx-ek6omqjmYWcLVWJLIVbWC62N16VwiWhDHANLxZN3OQmU0MPKXtzynIuZvKLcaUizxIDtXGNXqVzWPi9tWsiQ/s840/lake%20balaton%20festival%20review.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="what's the best balaton festival" border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFTVCLLsKawWmcnpsExnQLq4LcuCAvYPY1lv4YFM7QeGzUtpki2WK9r8s0G2O6fPGSTBlq2hztE8QChkPxQ6CaPVlggZl1VewL3wKzx-ek6omqjmYWcLVWJLIVbWC62N16VwiWhDHANLxZN3OQmU0MPKXtzynIuZvKLcaUizxIDtXGNXqVzWPi9tWsiQ/s16000/lake%20balaton%20festival%20review.JPG" title="a photo of an electronic music festival in Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">We had VIP passes and they were totally worth it! Firstly, we had the best view of the main stage (aka we were higher up, especially important for shorties like me).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpxhB5APZ3egd3OVGNRvKLXfkMFHzMVEETncuTu2752RqsIZc2ctAhC_wm9ZJCQSKiYM-FqGAImQE3ryVx_4Kkakl0Un3nDHRbSODmSYzKWNAxz5HyXT9ToqXFuKkbUuAHINx2cAkoibOLpqL_rgERwz5G9jn6YAuPaed4cVJakDVG9hu81DS4Ez-lz0/s840/review%20of%20balaton%20sound%20festival%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hungarian electronic music festivals" border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpxhB5APZ3egd3OVGNRvKLXfkMFHzMVEETncuTu2752RqsIZc2ctAhC_wm9ZJCQSKiYM-FqGAImQE3ryVx_4Kkakl0Un3nDHRbSODmSYzKWNAxz5HyXT9ToqXFuKkbUuAHINx2cAkoibOLpqL_rgERwz5G9jn6YAuPaed4cVJakDVG9hu81DS4Ez-lz0/s16000/review%20of%20balaton%20sound%20festival%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound Music Festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">When it started to rain we were the only ones under shelter. Okay it only rained for like 20 minutes but it was great to be under-cover.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloRglZMlgjNb1dVzE2ruHOjOlGRHrb2xd1c_M5F8ZAsWHufOXa093oMLqnWCHi0tXUKPHnswJ5uwJyg4OVGgpFAloh3P57Uut3hLY8eAzOX8a9rnsmP_3fG9GwemLji0mEO63PdCVGeFO0roCpgM69E3gH1BiryGyCmFJnUqSnjD_xLg_VuSkX4i5Kwo/s840/music%20festivals%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound festival good" border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloRglZMlgjNb1dVzE2ruHOjOlGRHrb2xd1c_M5F8ZAsWHufOXa093oMLqnWCHi0tXUKPHnswJ5uwJyg4OVGgpFAloh3P57Uut3hLY8eAzOX8a9rnsmP_3fG9GwemLji0mEO63PdCVGeFO0roCpgM69E3gH1BiryGyCmFJnUqSnjD_xLg_VuSkX4i5Kwo/s16000/music%20festivals%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of a Lake Balaton music festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">We had clean toilets and no queues. This is a massive bonus. Probably the biggest bonus actually. One of the things that I hate the most about festivals is gross toilets, and with the VIP passes this was not an issue.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Food at Balaton Sound</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">I've been vegan for a couple of years now - actually, it was travelling to foreign countries and seeing various cuisines that <a href="https://www.veganvstravel.com/2017/03/how-travel-made-me-vegan.html" target="_blank">made me go vegan</a> - and Hungary is, admittedly, the land of lard, sour cream, eggs and bacon. So before the festival, I was wondering... am I gonna be okay? Well, surprise! There's a thriving vegan scene in Hungary apparently (one might wanna check out the FB group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/veganinhungary/" target="_blank">Vegan in Hungary</a> for further info).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMlxUrEiseRiKKqYuWU344P33FhIro1czTn-kXUuQj9w8EUSfvfmVXnLjh-oUC4ZesPEKTYCxBo2kccpzr7xR3QF1bwISb4CE3pdQqK3Bxj8gD3RUpTrT3BaWu9Uh9P6AaXg9PlN1i1WEn_iTH71rGHIw2n91A8itrxiOfaLZ17WrbuwOgN_wN2B4keg/s840/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festivals%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="balaton sound accommodation" border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMlxUrEiseRiKKqYuWU344P33FhIro1czTn-kXUuQj9w8EUSfvfmVXnLjh-oUC4ZesPEKTYCxBo2kccpzr7xR3QF1bwISb4CE3pdQqK3Bxj8gD3RUpTrT3BaWu9Uh9P6AaXg9PlN1i1WEn_iTH71rGHIw2n91A8itrxiOfaLZ17WrbuwOgN_wN2B4keg/s16000/best%20hungarian%20electronic%20music%20festivals%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound Festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I was impressed by the food options at Balaton Sound. There was a lot of choice and considering it was a festival, the prices were very very reasonable. Budapest is a very <a href="https://www.veganvstravel.com/2018/10/vegan-budapest.html" target="_blank">vegan</a> friendly city with lots of great vegan restaurants. Hungary as a whole isn't too bad - all the cities have at least one vegan restaurant, but out in the sticks it can be a bit harder.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlDrsMdc4cvG0bW77IUK_RnoXvL0684C5zZ93Z41u6aqF2yKQsP75rwoShkAUKNdKbpUA4n2B6638-91BLOwkuFsXFgfsZHPsUrKkx5wdPKx1V7tEthAr3G1nKoofHRmfcMe_1mfLx_5ECMsqtIQee2gLqvWxv7cU7AcO2IxO0IfySf8eHEe8IYUIJek/s840/best%20electronic%20music%20festivals%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="are balaton sound vip tickets worth it" border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlDrsMdc4cvG0bW77IUK_RnoXvL0684C5zZ93Z41u6aqF2yKQsP75rwoShkAUKNdKbpUA4n2B6638-91BLOwkuFsXFgfsZHPsUrKkx5wdPKx1V7tEthAr3G1nKoofHRmfcMe_1mfLx_5ECMsqtIQee2gLqvWxv7cU7AcO2IxO0IfySf8eHEe8IYUIJek/s16000/best%20electronic%20music%20festivals%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of an electronic music festival at Lake Balaton in Hungary" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I was expecting us to struggle at Balaton Sound and end up living on chips. But I was delighted to find falafel and hummus at many stalls and ecstatic to discover a whole vegan stall - the food at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/veganlovestreetfood/" target="_blank">Vegan Love</a> was incredible!</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Accommodation at Balaton Sound</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3FEGDSDateRangePicker-EndDate-date_form_field%3D2023-12-06%26EGDSDateRangePicker-StartDate-date_form_field%3D2023-12-05%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-AirportCode-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-DestinationId-destination_form_field%3D6054458%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Lat-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Location-destination_form_field%3DHanoi%252C%2520Vietnam%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Long-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-RegionId-destination_form_field%3D6054458%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Selected-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormTravelersField-Adult-Room1%3D2%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26destination%3DBalatonendr%25C3%25A9d%252C%2520Somogy%2520County%252C%2520Hungary%26destination_form_field%3DVATC%2520Sleep%2520Pod%2520Terminal%26endDate%3D2024-09-11%26latLong%3D46.833302%252C17.983299%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D3000029949%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-09-10%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" target="_blank">Balaton</a> Sound offers an lots of different accommodations options for every tastes: from tents up to hotels, and wooden huts too! We stayed in a two person wooden hut. Think garden shed. But with bunk beds. In some ways it was pretty basic: a bunk bed, some space for our bags and a door that only locked when we weren't in it (i.e. it had a padlock but it was on the outside). This was fine as a concept - given only two options I'd rather lock my stuff in safe when I'm out than lock myself in when I'm in, because I can guard myself and my stuff when I'm in but not when I'm out - and it's not like you lock yourself into a tent at a festival anyway. However, the down side was that it did mean that in the middle of the night the door blew open in the wind and wouldn't stay shut after that, which meant that sleeping suddenly felt like we were in the middle of a horror film. It's also not necessarily the best option if you want some privacy or safety for some reason and would like to lock the door from the inside.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHa8cYuq3nx3-exUHPeuwnDfU7-ExPwplLwY7xCaZ_HfV3pehCB-I_gYOP7dvnXLA50oDhVbBLNQ7gZjT6bN4ec-n26FBj0LvRce8lTSfDLkKPWenLtufoHo4qMJMQHbpDdnbeeWc3Pgn1nfsk2mXVNUxUZai9Y6jhj9sfD0v2y4Wb_nSLT5ZAp9zaDI/s840/balaton%20sound%20festival.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound festival worth going to" border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHa8cYuq3nx3-exUHPeuwnDfU7-ExPwplLwY7xCaZ_HfV3pehCB-I_gYOP7dvnXLA50oDhVbBLNQ7gZjT6bN4ec-n26FBj0LvRce8lTSfDLkKPWenLtufoHo4qMJMQHbpDdnbeeWc3Pgn1nfsk2mXVNUxUZai9Y6jhj9sfD0v2y4Wb_nSLT5ZAp9zaDI/s16000/balaton%20sound%20festival.JPG" title="a photo of a Lake Balaton festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">In other ways it was grand: the mattresses were surprisingly comfortable, there was electricity for me to charge all my nasty cameras and phones and it was so great to be able to safely lock our things away when we went out.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZxDvEKaucGQ1s6EyDcr9Q3romBjwlD6K9w_cgXVkXTr-Fsv3jdSeFT2lKeUYBBZm8Xz8VghecHatE2UONZljkW2r4p_N1LBZOwQ9zVd9dwQQEdryZo2WOQXr8XN3HO8z252oAuNz82Dml22TQg6IwsPqDVPJ14Rub5eL3EvaGJshYRgxIrgbEvgoZvQ/s840/where%20to%20buy%20balaton%20sound%20vip%20tickets.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound worth going to" border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZxDvEKaucGQ1s6EyDcr9Q3romBjwlD6K9w_cgXVkXTr-Fsv3jdSeFT2lKeUYBBZm8Xz8VghecHatE2UONZljkW2r4p_N1LBZOwQ9zVd9dwQQEdryZo2WOQXr8XN3HO8z252oAuNz82Dml22TQg6IwsPqDVPJ14Rub5eL3EvaGJshYRgxIrgbEvgoZvQ/s16000/where%20to%20buy%20balaton%20sound%20vip%20tickets.JPG" title="a photo of a Hungarian electronic music festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">You can rent tents from Balaton Sound or bring your own and rent a spot. There were also lockers to rent to keep your things safe. There were different huts to ours too, some shaped like tents, others painted like animals. Basically, there are lots of different options for everyone! You can also book your accommodation separately on Airbnb or on <a href="https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3FEGDSDateRangePicker-EndDate-date_form_field%3D2023-12-06%26EGDSDateRangePicker-StartDate-date_form_field%3D2023-12-05%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-AirportCode-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-DestinationId-destination_form_field%3D6054458%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Lat-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Location-destination_form_field%3DHanoi%252C%2520Vietnam%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Long-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-RegionId-destination_form_field%3D6054458%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Selected-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormTravelersField-Adult-Room1%3D2%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26destination%3DBalatonendr%25C3%25A9d%252C%2520Somogy%2520County%252C%2520Hungary%26destination_form_field%3DVATC%2520Sleep%2520Pod%2520Terminal%26endDate%3D2024-09-11%26latLong%3D46.833302%252C17.983299%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D3000029949%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-09-10%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hotels.com</a>.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Vibe of the Balaton Festival</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">I wasn't so sure about the vibe at Balaton Sound, these weren't the friendly Hungarians I know and love (probably because lots of them weren't Hungarians). Everyone was buff af. This is what the average person looks like at Balaton Sound - hunkolicious and topless. Which is absolutely not a problem per-say, but no one felt very friendly. I'm not saying there was a connection. I'm just wondering.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrId4h-PTtqhCUwMI3usVzqauT_ascYXYi6bKILPk6Z9geIRZEicN3P1XSEpsTVVbBjTXZa-iF0BAE08asOX70g3qffafZU40EyBsmsV7lP-Y8oy4Rh4N9PANohKSerdBdjX04x5l5qidJ0cG-36qh8mZkbTRHVgIJ6tsw9CHHMqbJ-8T_68oyKqSBjFA/s840/balaton%20sound%20tickets.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound any good" border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrId4h-PTtqhCUwMI3usVzqauT_ascYXYi6bKILPk6Z9geIRZEicN3P1XSEpsTVVbBjTXZa-iF0BAE08asOX70g3qffafZU40EyBsmsV7lP-Y8oy4Rh4N9PANohKSerdBdjX04x5l5qidJ0cG-36qh8mZkbTRHVgIJ6tsw9CHHMqbJ-8T_68oyKqSBjFA/s16000/balaton%20sound%20tickets.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton Sound Festival" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Perhaps it was because we were there on the last day and everyone was hungover and grumpy, but perhaps not: our friend <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FictionSource" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elias Limitless</a> had been there the whole time and also said it had been hard to make friends. Granted he smelt like he hadn't washed for five days, because he hadn't. But whilst I'm the kind of person to make friends with someone who hasn't washed (and indeed I'm the kind of person to not wash that regularly either) the average Balaton Sounder didn't seem to be. So yeah, Balaton is more the kind of festival where everyone walks around like a puffed-up peacock and isn't that interested in making friends. I come from the kind of place where festivals mean the opposite - you look rubbish, you smell rubbish and you all leave with the best of friends. This was my number one issue with Balaton - the unfriendly people, but maybe it was more about me and I'm not a likeable person lol. But it did mean that the friend we did make, Elias, meant all that much more, and we could bond a lot over not making friends haha. I was also really happy at the time that people came up to me to say hi because they recognised me from YouTube - they were friendly!</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">How to Get to Balaton Sound</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">First things first you've got to get to Balaton. It's super easy from Budapest (less than two hours on a direct train). We took the train from Budapest to Zamárdi (the nearest station to Balaton Sound). I used my Interrail passes to get there. You can read more about that here: <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/08/how-to-travel-around-hungary-by-train.html" target="_blank">how to travel around Hungary with an Interrail pass</a>. I highly recommend getting Interrail passes and tying in your Balaton Sound trip with an <a href="https://www.interrail.eu/en" target="_blank">Interrailing trip</a> round Hungary so you can see more of the beautiful country. I used my pass to see Budapest, Balaton Sound, Debrecen, Szeged and Eger (and then Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo and Birmingham too!)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ErbSsLYe-RFomrGqpXrPz-H5XW5vG10vm1DGVPuwk0qZDlRVaOyltNv8cDs4g-SOgqdAHE9Emkddw1obWN5tVjJEbVrDCfDgbnb70AbJEXl7Mxs8RiNB4uEsUToXjt54h9MfKCDqeVkEal5-l-KqReh_RQWBc9oVlqgzKJbaLETRN3BAno12YojCnBQ/s840/balaton%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="is balaton sound worth it" border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ErbSsLYe-RFomrGqpXrPz-H5XW5vG10vm1DGVPuwk0qZDlRVaOyltNv8cDs4g-SOgqdAHE9Emkddw1obWN5tVjJEbVrDCfDgbnb70AbJEXl7Mxs8RiNB4uEsUToXjt54h9MfKCDqeVkEal5-l-KqReh_RQWBc9oVlqgzKJbaLETRN3BAno12YojCnBQ/s16000/balaton%20festival%20in%20hungary.JPG" title="a photo of Balaton sound music festival in 2017" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Back to Balaton Sound: once you've got to the station, you can walk or get a taxi to the festival. The walk takes about 30 minutes. Which feels longer if it's sunny and you have heavy bags. Haha.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: Our Balaton Sound Music Festival Review</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">All in all, I did end up having a blast at Balaton Sound. The weather, the food, the location, the music were all awesome. I loved having VIP tickets and really recommend them (if only for the clean toilets). Don't just take our word for it though, our best bud Jones went too and loved it, here's his <a href="https://www.jonesaroundtheworld.com/balaton-sound-2016-the-best-music-festival-ive-ever-attended/" target="_blank">2016 Balaton Sound Review</a>. Would I go for the whole five days? Probably not, one night was enough for me. Would I go again for the night? DEFINITELY!!! Particularly if I took a group of like-minded people next time. Here's to <a href="https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3FEGDSDateRangePicker-EndDate-date_form_field%3D2023-12-06%26EGDSDateRangePicker-StartDate-date_form_field%3D2023-12-05%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-AirportCode-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-DestinationId-destination_form_field%3D6054458%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Lat-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Location-destination_form_field%3DHanoi%252C%2520Vietnam%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Long-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-RegionId-destination_form_field%3D6054458%26EGDSSearchFormLocationField-Selected-destination_form_field%3D%26EGDSSearchFormTravelersField-Adult-Room1%3D2%26adults%3D2%26children%3D%26destination%3DBalatonendr%25C3%25A9d%252C%2520Somogy%2520County%252C%2520Hungary%26destination_form_field%3DVATC%2520Sleep%2520Pod%2520Terminal%26endDate%3D2024-09-11%26latLong%3D46.833302%252C17.983299%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D3000029949%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-09-10%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" target="_blank">Balaton</a> Sound next year! Oh and btw I also make YouTube videos, here's the one I made about my time at Balaton Sound, which will probably give you more of a vibe feel than my words have done:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/boGsFpZ8IBM" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Disclaimer: Travelling Weasels were invited as guests but as always all opinions are our own. We have never, and never will, recommend something we haven't personally tried and enjoyed. We research our collaborations very carefully beforehand to check that it will be something we enjoy. On the unlikely occasion that we do dislike something, we tell you! P.S. If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a>, feel free to click on the link to use it :)</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comLake Balaton, Hungary46.8302679 17.734043818.520034063821157 -17.4222062 75.140501736178848 52.890293799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-81937253538604427622024-01-27T09:53:00.000-08:002024-01-30T07:30:18.588-08:00Why Should You Visit Stockholm This Year<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmQaVrBcQaaZuiFKU6Qd00xiYmD4THpYIFdr73RWqn9hLoMHKtcvotbTVhe47CpzGOkMOba2OFs_8bQ8HU_FP9RFT5BA21Fvs-5vjAjnCAzMG3egX7wyO808Di4gw7L1RF-nOXxJcuR6x1zprMuF0BBVmzbP-Z7AE-b_V8HkUax1RkONQ5emX0BbfaE0/s840/why%20visit%20stockholm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="why shoul I visit stockholm" border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmQaVrBcQaaZuiFKU6Qd00xiYmD4THpYIFdr73RWqn9hLoMHKtcvotbTVhe47CpzGOkMOba2OFs_8bQ8HU_FP9RFT5BA21Fvs-5vjAjnCAzMG3egX7wyO808Di4gw7L1RF-nOXxJcuR6x1zprMuF0BBVmzbP-Z7AE-b_V8HkUax1RkONQ5emX0BbfaE0/s16000/why%20visit%20stockholm.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Got your eyes on the Swedish capital for your next European city break? Stockholm is an archipelago on the <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/11/how-to-travel-scandinavia-by-train.html" target="_blank">Swedish</a> coast, set on the shimmering Baltic Sea. This remarkable city combines contemporary sophistication with ancient charm. In winter, low temperatures frequently see the picturesque city streets covered in snow, which paints a near-perfect picture on the cobbled lanes and city squares.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Four Reasons Why Stockholm Is Worth Visiting Next</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you’re ready for an idyllic weekend getaway, it’s worth knowing just why Stockholm fits the bill.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Historical wonders</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Stockholm might well be a lively capital, but its historical roots are clear to see. Local architecture is uniquely defined by an eclectic blend of modern and older styles, characterised by <a href="https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/the-royal-palace/" target="_blank">standout buildings like the Royal Palace</a>. Gamla Stan, the original centre known as the Old Town, calls back to past eras of prosperity. Tourists can explore opulent halls and feel the local atmosphere at the quaint cafés and bars that line squares like <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g189852-d5038204-Reviews-Stortorget-Stockholm.html" target="_blank">Stortorget</a>, the oldest in the city. Make sure you sip a freshly brewed coffee while you’re there, as the Swedes take immense pride in their roasteries and coffee-houses.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. Straightforward journey</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you’re looking for a weekend getaway with shorter travel times, Stockholm makes an excellent choice. Railway fans might choose to start their journey with the Eurostar, but for those living in northern parts of the UK, it’s much easier to travel by air. You can fly direct to either Stockholm Arlanda or Stockholm Vasteras Airport from several airports across the UK. To make your travel day even easier, start your journey by car and <a href="https://www.aph.com/manchester-airport-parking.html" target="_blank">utilise cheap parking at Manchester Airport</a>, London, Birmingham or Edinburgh before your smooth, non-stop flight.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Cultural riches</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">From museums to galleries, Stockholm is teeming with cultural delights - including the local cuisine, which reflects diverse influences across the city. With ample museums and art galleries to explore, many of which are free to enter, it’s easy to get lost in local stories. Contemporary art enthusiasts will appreciate the Moderna Museet, while lovers of pop should head straight to the ABBA Museum.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSORTnWm5ONzz6y7idtI81eGMQ3X4Zm2CvJTyI7Fvbd4EF97c4_T2Ffr6aITYCqMw81j2O-W4ZXfP90JedkeFH5XL2F5vDNp1aVb3Oh6ebVJlnRyFJt8nsnVl38BKsG2fdSSj9wF2FSdNcFIdeYY1OddROIEoMTQoUoytDVt6lP_7xPFckrVZFEXvKCU/s840/top%20reasons%20to%20visit%20stockholm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="top reasons to visit stockholm" border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSORTnWm5ONzz6y7idtI81eGMQ3X4Zm2CvJTyI7Fvbd4EF97c4_T2Ffr6aITYCqMw81j2O-W4ZXfP90JedkeFH5XL2F5vDNp1aVb3Oh6ebVJlnRyFJt8nsnVl38BKsG2fdSSj9wF2FSdNcFIdeYY1OddROIEoMTQoUoytDVt6lP_7xPFckrVZFEXvKCU/s16000/top%20reasons%20to%20visit%20stockholm.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Vasa warship, which sank in 1628, is showcased and impressively well-preserved at the Vasa Museum. If you’re a serious culture vulture, <a href="https://www.stockholmpass.net/en/" target="_blank">it could be worth buying a Stockholm Pass</a> for the duration of your visit. This gives you access to more than 50 attractions across the city, including several boat trips too. You’ll also get a digital travel guide, which could save you asking for directions!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. Breathtaking scenery</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Exploring Stockholm by foot, you’ll never be far from luscious parklands or gardens. From outdoor gyms to the carefully woven networks of bike paths that connect the city, you won’t be short of reasons to get outdoors. Green spaces make up a third of the city’s geographical area, and you’ll still find trees on the cobbled pedestrianised streets too. Additionally, Stockholm’s striking cityscape paints an incredible picture. The best vistas can perhaps be found on the harbour from Gamla Stan, famed for its colourful paintwork on quaint 18th-century buildings.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Overview</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">From coffee-houses to cultural centres, Stockholm promises an array of exceptional opportunities. The city can be easily explored on foot and it’s just a two-hour flight away from the UK too, making it a brilliant option for weekend breaks.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kn6kIpfvDtM?si=Tzs3VvmyWsEHXjgs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>What about you, have you ever been to Stockholm? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comStockholm, Sweden59.329323499999987 18.068580831.019089663821141 -17.0876692 87.639557336178825 53.2248308tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-51657488389649237332024-01-26T05:02:00.000-08:002024-02-18T09:03:49.185-08:00London to Amsterdam on the Bus? Overlanding to the Netherlands<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQoKgkosaIKbHiO1Accb52IsGHhdcknqSxoMbU27xduley5zoaLRuM-vkPBfjPXwFcTxTSs2UrzzrKVUtK1cKWuUPHKmvm2gR7s63gwiQlRVyyQedAVFg8xc-zBYXsOPIRcqkr_iYVQp-EGwdGo7Lw9nWL3c2NXwpkm4PtGSfP-gm61C98oLb2Bn1/s840/london%20to%20amsterdam%20overland%20by%20bus%20_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="london to amsterdam overland by bus" border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQoKgkosaIKbHiO1Accb52IsGHhdcknqSxoMbU27xduley5zoaLRuM-vkPBfjPXwFcTxTSs2UrzzrKVUtK1cKWuUPHKmvm2gR7s63gwiQlRVyyQedAVFg8xc-zBYXsOPIRcqkr_iYVQp-EGwdGo7Lw9nWL3c2NXwpkm4PtGSfP-gm61C98oLb2Bn1/s16000/london%20to%20amsterdam%20overland%20by%20bus%20_.jpg" title="Amsterdam" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">There are many ways to get from London to Amsterdam: bike, hitch-hike, train, plane, car, walking very far and of course taking a <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2678&awinaffid=208283" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BUS</a> – or, more specifically, a coach which gets on a ferry. Bussing can be a cheap, exciting and authentic way to travel: instead of seeing the earth as an angel in the sky (through a window), see it as an animal from the ground (albeit also through a window...) Bussing can also take ages and be boring (if you have nothing to read – so be well-prepared with a good read or a film to watch!) and uncomfortable(luckily, coaches have toilets on board and you can walk up and down the aisle between the seats to stretch your legs).</p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2>London to Amsterdam Bus</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">In this post, as someone who has travelled to Amsterdam by car, plane, train and <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2678&awinaffid=208283" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BUS</a> I weigh up the pros and the cons of travelling from London to Amsterdam by bus.</div><br />
<h3>1. How much does it cost to go from London to Amsterdam?</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>It costs around £15 per person to get from London (Victoria Coach Station) to Amsterdam (Amstel Station) by bus. </b> Meaning: if you book it far enough in advance (about a month) with the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2678&awinaffid=208283" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">right carrier</a>. How does this compare to other modes of transport:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>Train</b>: Prices start from about £75 per person;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>Car</b>: For petrol and the ferry it's going to cost at least £78. That's not even taking into account the cost of insuring car and the cost of the car itself. However, if you are travelling in a group of friends, renting an 8-seater car at <a href="https://rental24.co.uk/uk/london-airport-heathrow/8-seater" target="_blank">London</a> Airport can be a worthy alternative to a bus, which will save your budget by sharing the price with friends and add comfort to your journey.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;"><b>Plane</b>: Flying starts at about £20, if you book with a good flight comparison site like <a href="https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-7798050-12624156" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kiwi</a> and if booked early enough. Of course, this doesn't factor in the astronomical cost flying has on the environment we all live in (if you do choose to fly, please buy carbon offsets!) </span></li>
</ul><br />
I get it, flying is only £5 more than the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2678&awinaffid=208283" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bus</a> and it's a lot quicker. But there are lots of other additional costs to think about: on the bus you can take as much luggage as you like (weight-wise), you can take fragile things, as well and as much liquid as you like (within reason)... as opposed to flights, which suck you in with cheap cheap cheap prices and then charge you for your suitcase and don't let you take liquids in your hand luggage. Furthermore, you have to factor in the cost of actually getting to/from the airport. The bus, on the other hand, takes you from the centre of London right into the centre of Amsterdam at no extra cost. <b>Conclusion: Basically, other than hitchhiking, taking the bus is the cheapest way to get from London to Amsterdam – and has no nasty hidden costs.</b></div><br />
<h3>2. How long does it take to get from London to Amsterdam?</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">This is where trains, flights, driving and even hitchhiking win. Buses always take ages because they have to stop to pick up passengers/swap drivers. But how long does the bus actually take? We left London at 21:00 and arrived in Amsterdam the next day at 09:00. <b>Thus the journey took 11 hours.</b> (There's an hour's time difference between the UK and the Netherlands.)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5NkfaC854PJQ5wqZDfmb-c3Q64gK3UDqyUtdJKerFoO7SlIqOg89ZAHV20rcjP6jHIjAr8gDip_lPE30x7hV8pkbZ0mUt8jKsST3LqkK7VBIYFhd6fbVVazUkF158eMo6kA-jsA-cJw/s1600/london+amsterdam.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="london to amsterdam bus" border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="596" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5NkfaC854PJQ5wqZDfmb-c3Q64gK3UDqyUtdJKerFoO7SlIqOg89ZAHV20rcjP6jHIjAr8gDip_lPE30x7hV8pkbZ0mUt8jKsST3LqkK7VBIYFhd6fbVVazUkF158eMo6kA-jsA-cJw/s640/london+amsterdam.png" title="london to amsterdam bus" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Now the train and driving take about 5 hours. The flight itself only takes about an hour but you've got to factor in the two hours (or so) that you've got to spend in the airport (getting there early, going through security, standing in queue, getting on that little shuttle that takes you to the plane, etc.) plus the time getting from the airport to your destination (the same routine again + a bus to the city centre, etc.) Furthermore, getting into Amsterdam at 9am is a good time. All the cheap flights we looked at got in too early (6am) or too late (9pm) – for us 9am was the best: everything was open already and there were still enough daylit hours to check out the downtown area and get to our hotel.<br /><br />
Finally, the majority of our 11 hours were spent sleeping and / or reading or writing. Sure, it was not exactly the best sleep ever (we recommend getting earplugs, <a href="https://amzn.to/3kb7wYF" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eco-friendly</a> if possible), but certainly more relaxing than going through customs or driving down the motorway or standing on the side of the road hitchhiking.<br /><br />
<b>Conclusion: whilst 11 hours on a bus sounds awful, most of it was spent unconscious/reading/writing, and we arrived at an agreeable time.</b></div><br />
<h3>3. What's it like to go from London to Amsterdam on the bus?</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">Who cares how cheap a journey is – if you're not able to use a toilet for 11 hours and the other passengers stick needles in your eyes, it is not worth it. So read on to hear our first-hand account of what it was actually like taking the bus from London to Amsterdam! :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBKh0HeB0OQu0BRuK5BoP3shx56e051-yy-ELJZoArGdS-ehLIO3j9SHWSO-1clTiPW_P0GcH7GO1tgQEG_isgo3jAn5EsNh4Zy0MaF62g2gyLRHnYB0nHvWIZhW3vSh5rtK_KtIaJPMn/s1600/london.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="bus london to amsterdam" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBKh0HeB0OQu0BRuK5BoP3shx56e051-yy-ELJZoArGdS-ehLIO3j9SHWSO-1clTiPW_P0GcH7GO1tgQEG_isgo3jAn5EsNh4Zy0MaF62g2gyLRHnYB0nHvWIZhW3vSh5rtK_KtIaJPMn/s1600/london.jpg" title="bus london to amsterdam" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The bus left from London Victoria Station, I don't know if you've ever been there, I've always found it a bit gnarly and everyone always seems to be in a bad mood there. (Or maybe I'm just always in a bad mood when I'm there. Who knows :D )<br /><br />
We had to queue up and <b>show our passports – this is worth noting because generally in Europe if you don't board a plane you don't need a passport, but apparently you do in this situation – so don't forget yours!<br /><br />
Anyway, we then queued to get on the bus. Everyone wanted to be the first on board, so when the doors opened there was a gigantic horrible push to get through. No one was crushed to death this time, but it was a close thing I think... since then, we've had many bus trip without such hassle though, so this was probably a one-time thing. British people tend to be good queuers :)<br /><br />
Once we'd made it through, we got on the bus and sat down. It was relatively empty (it turned out that there were two buses and no need for pushing, so... do check that, as well, before you get into a queue :)) Then three minutes before the bus was due to leave, ten Americans got on. Turned out that they'd been sitting in the station, thinking that they were the first there and expecting the driver to come and tell them to get on the bus (cultural differences, once again).<br /><br />
Our driver was Dutch and actually hilarious, he didn't care about anything and gave a funny speech about not shitting on the bus, lol. Two hours later we had to get out in Dover, which we didn't know about (we thought we were getting the tunnel across and Tanbay was not impressed to be woken up). We got out again for another passport check and were sniffed by a police dog. It was still a lot smoother than the airport security check, though.<br /><br />
Once we'd all got back on the bus, the Americans all sat together so the original 'seating arrangement' was confused. One guy in particular got extremely annoyed, I thought he was going to hit them, so I said "don't worry it's only a few minutes until we're on the ferry and we get off again" and then I thought he was going to hit me. Ha.<br /><br />
He didn't and we did, indeed, get off the bus a few minutes later and onto the ferry. The ferry itself took two hours and everyone was completely knackered and tried to sleep. The sight was beautiful, though – oh, the ocean! –, if you like ship cruises, this might be just for you :)<br /><br />
The seating thing was pretty ridiculous. Everyone wanted to sit with their friends/significant others. I get that – I would have been the first to throw a tantrum if I hadn't been able to get to sit by Bae, even though I think couples should spend some time apart (ever heard of <a href="https://feminisminindia.com/2018/07/26/toxic-monogamy-ruining-relationships/" target="_blank">toxic monogamy</a>? lol) The whole thing could have been avoided if we'd been given seat numbers or if everyone just chilled out a bit. Or if the American pack had understood that people are going to want to sit where they left their stuff...</b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqaICGhkpzvQnlcAy3313_IH0o5EvpP7hxTX34yByhOzr6C5xP_j-x2gh-2DTI_fgl4juliWzDMLuAnrP_kf2C7Nhb5UbST4nSDi8ENQILxLuELzx8RkW68b1I3taLojtLThj1R_C27ba/s1600/amsterdam.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqaICGhkpzvQnlcAy3313_IH0o5EvpP7hxTX34yByhOzr6C5xP_j-x2gh-2DTI_fgl4juliWzDMLuAnrP_kf2C7Nhb5UbST4nSDi8ENQILxLuELzx8RkW68b1I3taLojtLThj1R_C27ba/s1600/amsterdam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">After that (by about 1am) everyone calmed down and slept all the way to Amsterdam. I'm not going to lie to you and say it was the best night's sleep ever (far from it), but with earplugs and then a headphone with soothing meditative music, an eye mask and a comfy jumper it was not the worst, either. When we arrived in Amsterdam, we were a little sleep-deprived, but we had the thrill of adventure ahead of us. Amsterdam itself was epic, definitely one of our favourite cities.</div><br />
<h2>Recap: London to Amsterdam on the Bus</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">So was it worth it? Should you take the bus from London to Amsterdam? We think <b>Yes!</b> Despite the sleep deprivation and worry that I'd have to hit a guy in the face (girrrrl powerrr!), it was worth it for the money that we saved. We would indeed take this journey again (if we needed to) but we would probably consider taking a day time bus (which elevates the pressure of having to sleep). But overall we are convinced that the bus is a fun, cheap option. And definitely more eco-friendly than flying. Tips in case you want to try it out for yourself:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Make sure you've got your passport!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Check whether you need to stand in the queue (you might not have to);</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Make sure you've got enough clothes: the warmer you are the more likely you are to sleep;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Take eye masks, earplugs and headphones: light to pack and so annoying when you don't have them;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Take a bottle of water or any other liquid;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Don't sit in other people's seats!</span></li></ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="One day in Amsterdam" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPkz88e7OucEfrl7JedOW5gYV3AWANSuRqWRSdaqmdWmlzEfoW46Ebwkn2kunlk3Oj_s6adA7qBUpG7uAEWt5rJawYSMePkzDZAyqwzLeIHd3zN_KaiQPWiSA-F7QjrzdNFy9qZ6ce2rH/s1600/amsterdam-for-the-day.jpg" title="Amsterdam in one day" width="640" /></div><br />
<h2>How to Spend One Day in Amsterdam on a Budget</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">Amsterdam is a bucket-list city for most people: the iconic clog slippers and tulips, the relaxed attitude to weed and prostitutes, the chance to see Van Gogh art pieces and an abundance of bicycles and canals. Whether you're there for a party weekend or if you're interested in true Dutch culture - Amsterdam will cater to you. One day in Amsterdam is often how much time people have in Amsterdam. Maybe you're fitting it into a longer Europe trip, maybe you're doing party stuff the rest of the time you're there. No matter the reason, 1 day in Amsterdam is a great start. This post is all about what you can do in Amsterdam and how much of it you can fit it into a day because, despite the fact that we will <b>definitely</b> be going back, I'm here to tell you: <b>yes, Amsterdam can be done in one day (or night). Don't get me wrong, we absolutely loved Amsterdam and definitely didn't do everything (far from it), but in one day in Amsterdam you can get a really good taste of the city and do pretty much all of the highlights. So let's answer the question: how to spend one day in Amsterdam?</b></div><br />
<h3>#1. Walk Along the Amstel!</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">We recommend starting off your 1 day in Amsterdam with a walk along the Amstel - the river which flows through Amsterdam. This will give you a great first impression of Amsterdam and show you a world that's far apart from the weed, red light and touristy centre. You'll see tonnes of bikes, beautiful buildings and cute houseboats:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="one day in amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNAQ7-qSOb1ndD5f3I6NGw8ezdqePJ3Gm613VIX7uxvFuRb2i-U1NbGkwCLV4MkyHRldKciEAJ1GVe3XSg_mqUHtOAMriAaBzzz7-Ad0uOOd_eCG55SrxYJMg9GJKrKfBNkw3Mi9vDhTT/s1600/amstel.jpg" title="Amsterdam Amstel" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">There are also pretty, wildflowers everywhere. The streets are really clean (especially for a capital city). And the locals here!</div><br />
<h3>#2. Visit the Albert CUYP Markt</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">Albert CUYP is a fun market to walk through - they have all the usual suspects: cute touristy clog slippers, Dutch cheeses, beautiful flowers:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="1 day in amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6k7wP1Mdy8JXFOvYcXcdsoF12159lAXJlQersFQ3_ekKOgX19qMJp2PpfDaLkiC-_dJeqS3RpGuLLym9HrSfRsKdFAjoHMheJuej4q6by2RdhrkjBRotepFqO_g819QQ45HP-bZed8Vg/s1600/cuyp.jpg" title="Amsterdam Albert CUYP Markt" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">It's free to browse and take shots of the clog slippers:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amsterdam Clog Slippers" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QJNTKESlOn4hPd7uAI24vcJmyY3_BmjYKydFwiXdz4uaP3SizKEajaAz5Q-x3rjpXHHug4bKVJSYvXzV0neC1dO3LOKdcsVu7C0CMw7iMBU3NARjHLIfW8nYMDOkO8oo5efmFHTzxw7k/s1600/slipperclogs.jpg" title="Amsterdam Clog Slippers" width="640" /></div><br />
<h3>#3. Museumplein</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">If you're looking for that classic Insta-good Amsterdam shot, head to Museumplein - that's where you'll find that famous 'I Amsterdam' sign. Right behind the sign is the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3DRijksmuseum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rijksmuseum</a> aka the museum of the Netherlands, inside you'll find Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages right up to present day. Tickets are around 17.50 Euro and whether or not you go in depends on your interest in Dutch art and history how much time of your one day in Amsterdam you want to spend on that. Personally, we just contented ourselves with taking a billion photos in front of the Iamsterdam sign:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="24 hours amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKk88dR5YheQw9R6j_eQCHlIWzV61KgiAaSe7OozFu2jB8c1iQVqn_bbqnaGyYUuxLsCAdSdghirsf0cLhcmsAfLe1wY3lBe9OzFeuvudGPF9c7qCiK3Njw9yt_FdO40tQ-D4MV6BXv5oL/s1600/iamsterdam2.jpg" title="I Amsterdam Sign" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Right next to the <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3DRijksmuseum" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rijksmuseum</a> on the way to the Van Gogh Museum are a few pretty (albeit touristy and overpriced) shops:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="one day in amsterdam" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-CvqcvjUOWoueFeJESO2r8cIcAAavDBKXx5zIZLfyRcT3SmibHViG34ZofLbeV1cpNE06jZFWeMIF_YoJvcuJ9XEFS43_MRsjuj7TnHXPNLURE9fyjbBygzSQnWvSudTSu5NkfWluq21/s1600/rijkik.jpg" title="Rijksmuseum Van Gogh Museum" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Where you can pick up some beautiful (fake) Van Goghs:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="spend one day in amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrmureDLy62yyOIEu6ehtZcz0WhThRQ_od4GPyjBeZLt8Z6QNPIPeK_GWub9oe3lBK-m1O48K4RU9aPwR8FC6LS-NFye7rNVS3iZGDtL1Pa5EwF1oH6b1WOkKrFGbAF211Z4v10ewtXPq/s1600/vangogh.jpg" title="Fake Van Goghs" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">I love a bit of Van Gogh. The <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FAmsterdam-attractions%2FVan-Gogh-Museum%2Fd525-a775" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">Van Gogh museum</a> itself costs 18 Euros to get in or free if you have an I Amsterdam city card.</div><br />
<h3>#4. Explore Vondelpark!</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">The <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3DVondelpark%26destId%3D525" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vondelpark</a> is named after a Dutch author and is a big park very near the Museumplein. We sat and watched the many many cyclists go by. It was cute! On a sunny day, this is the absolute best place to take a picnic.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="amsterdam for the day" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy6V0Q1DKcFXk1Ks8HE_DAtusdV9iB0bS7Mn_SmrlhDGFL4wm4GTdgRit9WxJjONpbRPDsOwSWLZs0f7GtU-3hq5JYCH2a8uNyGQlB8dOdGegh0mdu5ui8t1KuFBkKes7U-kJ6VcKgM_4/s1600/vondelpark.jpg" title="Vondel Park" width="640" /></div><br />
<h3>#5. Canal Tour</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">There are tonnes of ways to enjoy <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FAmsterdam-tours%2FCanal-Cruises%2Fd525-tag21709" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amsterdam's canals in 1 day</a> - they are literally everywhere. Start off by walking around them and getting good and lost. (If you don't really want to get lost on your one day in Amsterdam I recommend the <a href="https://maps.me/" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">maps.me</a> app - I'm not affiliated with this app, and I recommend it to people all the time, none of which listen to me, but get this it's so.much.better than google maps, try it for free and see - also, it's always free).</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="to do in amsterdam one day" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh655ceMXQRKOx774GAgV6wl2lF8MGn0MXSu6zUfEzLXvSF6esfnYelASMzSnijjNirhGsEEcRhtCCN1K1EE4bSrTtwekUX62z9h2RUQyDKlAmncK36nVb_1gzS4dwqyIaHj0Zu53FUIk9x/s1600/canal.jpg" title="Amsterdam Canal Tour" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">If you've got the time and money, I highly recommend doing a <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FAmsterdam-tours%2FCanal-Cruises%2Fd525-tag21709" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">canal tour</a>. We're normally pretty snobby when it comes to touristy tours, but this is honestly an ideal way to see all Amsterdam has to offer in 1 day, without tiring your feet out. AND you get the added bonus of seeing Amsterdam from a new angle.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="how to spend a day in amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4d8f1MDIoK24fNl5aw3o3ZLE44eSmgojhMlDC252AlU6Gwi9upzuEFNHz2TO9ZWoNXOgGaHjANRLud9a-H3YgQejmfY6Knn8UY8qFd6OHSzW9NLEs2wl1Xl9dyeXGVUKWM4KorhwiLOq/s1600/canaltour.jpg" title="Amsterdam Canal Tour" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Even if you're doing Amsterdam on a budget, there are plenty of budget-friendly canal tours. We recommend this hop on hop off <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FAmsterdam-tours%2FCanal-Cruises%2Fd525-tag21709" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amsterdam canal tour</a> - it's only $30 and you get the best of both worlds: you can see Amsterdam from a canal, and you can hop off when you see something interesting like:</div><br />
<h3>#6. Visit Anne Frank's House</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.viator.com/searchResults/all?text=anne%20franks%20house" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anne Frank's House</a> is one of the most iconic sites and important historical places in Amsterdam. Make sure you include it on your one day in Amsterdam trip. You can see it from the outside by foot, see it from the canal tour, or of course go inside. My favourite bit was seeing Anne Frank's House. We'd planned on walking there and viewing it from the outside (apparently if you go in it's boring and you're shepherded around like a sheep) but when it came to it we were too tired to do that, so it was great to see it in the same way, but from the boat:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="a day in amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnc9Ja6cXJEXY_253FL8tIuFT6-7C7rR8KEuduN2scxWdZH_MsYfQbW7LjcoM8EZ7Yi7MGL7SSkS-JrHdcVnzDY4_tqWSKr0QyeTEbzylCTBi2UAXTTNV52CWqRG_7-RLwz9LZe_kIRp0/s1600/annefrank.jpg" title="Anne Frank House" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Be warned, <a href="https://www.viator.com/searchResults/all?text=anne%20franks%20house" target="_blank">tickets for Anne Frank House</a> sell out very quickly, you can't just rock up and expect entry, pre-book. We decided that we didn't have enough time or cash to go in, so we contented ourselves to viewing it from the outside. A few people told us it's kind of boring inside and you're shepherd around like sheep. What I personally think is more interesting is a <a href="https://tidd.ly/3O7NzP3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewish Quarter tour</a> - it only takes 2 hours (perfect length for your 1 day in Amsterdam), and you get to hear about the real history. Tickets don't include entry into Anne Frank's House, but you will see it from the outside and probably learn more than if you went in - depending on how you like to learn, personally I'm a listener, not a reader. Tickets from $30 (<a href="https://tidd.ly/3O7NzP3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">book here</a>).</div><br />
<h3>#7. The Bicycles in Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">In Amsterdam, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Damsterdam%2520bike" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">everyone rides a bike</a>. There are mens bikes, there are bikes for women, believe it or not there are even bikes that don't care about your gender too... It was so great to see people out on their bikes, the carbon emission must be quite low here. We'd heard before that Amsterdam was bike crazy, but we didn't know that the bikes were all so old fashioned and cute. We also didn't know that every type of person rides a bike - people in suits, skirts, heels, parents with one or two kids on the front/back. Every new person looked less prepared for cycling, and the Dutch must be really good at balancing too - there were bags and kids everywhere:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="1 day in amsterdam" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpE5_uQCSlavkNyWdP6G2Ksb5SryTZIKHrTpjlp4MkrT8qkq5ldYfxr2LzK10-qeEK29SEEsJaGhs8bDVoe7QbeqrFUPKSVOgKJKNXQ7W99zmMfmxPqewliwLxSLS_HJNYyepxw-W1GgCe/s1600/bike.jpg" title="Amsterdam Bicycles" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">You can, of course, opt to do a bike tour of Amsterdam - it's so flat there and so bicycle friendly, it's a great way to cover lots of ground on your one day in Amsterdam. [Tickets are from $30, you can book yours <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FsearchResults%2Fall%3Ftext%3Damsterdam%2520bike" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">here</a>.]</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="one day in amsterdam" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpCWdQc2h9GLiAbkwdc78DgP14cChWcmT9dE53YFgZ91BPbJSMc9mx81gIo-lmr3lUEC5v_cyKhmcTo004ev7hNABe9KH2mTFPk4ozh04qmIDIcHWzW1mnBzGYGVtyL2nJ1M-HdKiMiDs/s1600/biketour.jpg" title="Amsterdam Red Bicycles" width="640" /></div><br />
<h3>#8. Church of Saint Nicholas and Amsterdam Centraal</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">The Church of Saint Nicholas and Amsterdam Centraal (the main train station) are two of my favourite buildings in Amsterdam and they're right next to each other, I recommend checking them out!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="amsterdam on a budget" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUn-SaBSEGSmmzGRw-TvUqsP-YY4lsWNp0GuOgEngfbP4JMWuHr55ZkuWAf_-5wqqrRIyUis_x3thgDOxE5ingoHqCJgJqOwwRevZihZrU-q2zFqLUb2OfmgAYFuq1vX4Ij0vD6LopD5g/s1600/architcture.jpg" title="Church of Saint Nicholas" width="640" /></div> <br />
<h3>#9. The Red Light District Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">One of the most famous things in Amsterdam is, of course, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7038&awinaffid=208283&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.viator.com%2FAmsterdam-attractions%2FAmsterdam-Red-Light-District-De-Wallen%2Fd525-a774" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Red Light District</a> - also known as De Wallen. This is the place to go if you're looking for sex shops, peep shows, the sex museum, prostitutes, and of course window prostitutes - you can walk past and see people sat in red-lit windows, not wearing a lot and looking bored. It's a big tourist spot, and I'm not sure prostitution as a tourist attraction is the best idea ever. Like in <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/05/top-things-to-do-in-bangkok-thailand.html" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">Thailand</a>, you'll find lots of excited looking boys (probably from England), waiting to go into peep shows. These are people bro, grow up. Saying that, prostitution <i>should</i> be legal, for the safety of the prostitutes so that's a plus.</div><br />
<h3>#10. Buying Mary Jo in Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">In the red light district, you'll also find the w33d museum and lots of coffee shops offering legal marijuana. I think w33d is great, I think going to Amsterdam for the day purely to smoke it is kind of lame. But hey, enough of my judgements let's give you some facts: the coffee shops are easily distinguished from the regular coffee shops by the smell. You're legally allowed to buy it there. There are loads of w33d souvenirs in Amsterdam, like lollipops, they won't get you high:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amsterdam Coffee Shops" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zja9Im9VZCB5g9cieOpwnKk1YZLxHDWz5UosNRO3vtN3L_hxias3XjtHmSFeZP3Hkb9LsMcEM_ODHmrj8P1ZdWRzrwCwW-HODOHf0sRaPw-vXmT6AxwI-LEOauQuGZ5esG9QjSJnJK67/s1600/coffeshops.jpg" title="Coffee Shops Amsterdam" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">And if you want an actual guide by a real Dutchman check this out: <a href="https://www.lostwithpurpose.com/drugs-in-the-netherlands/" target="_blank">Amsterdam Guide To Drugs</a> - factual, informative - all the good stuff.</div> <br />
<h2>Accommodation in Amsterdam</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">If you're spending one day in Amsterdam on a budget, accommodation may well be what costs you the most - the food is reasonable, there's plenty of cheap sites/ things to see for free in Amsterdam, but accommodation can be a lot, what should you do?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84wgNsgzo-tvQ-qdVw2Uz0Yla1uC-K82hvSehCqGs3bnfQufbpEZZNlU_u9KFiSExnHcyyRic7Fo20ldVhSHw3qix_iaMcNkKh4Gf0xTNyyiLaopi1YxvARHa3J_rWWQ-f7Tu3EOS4Jk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-06+at+11.39.01.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitting in amsterdam" border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="676" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84wgNsgzo-tvQ-qdVw2Uz0Yla1uC-K82hvSehCqGs3bnfQufbpEZZNlU_u9KFiSExnHcyyRic7Fo20ldVhSHw3qix_iaMcNkKh4Gf0xTNyyiLaopi1YxvARHa3J_rWWQ-f7Tu3EOS4Jk/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-04-06+at+11.39.01.png" title="accommodation in amsterdam" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<h3>#1. House Sitting in Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">Firstly, we highly recommend house sitting. What is house sitting? House sitting is an exchange - you look after someone's house (and often pets) whilst they are away and in exchange, you get to stay in that house for free! What it is, is free accommodation in Amsterdam, what it isn't, is a free place to crash whilst you go to peep shows and throw up because you smoked too much pot. But, if you're responsible and you love animals, definitely check out house sitting in Amsterdam. We have a whole guide and helpful tips on how to start <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/06/how-to-get-started-with-house-sitting.html" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">house sitting</a>, but if you're already convinced head straight on over and start browsing <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">house sits in Amsterdam</a>.</div><br />
<h3>#2. Couchsurfing in Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">Couchsurfing is another way to have free accommodation in Amsterdam. This is a great way to meet people who actually live in Amsterdam and to learn what it's really like there.</div><br />
<h3>#3. Airbnb in Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">Airbnbs in Amsterdam can be expensive, if you opt for just a room it will be cheaper and you will have the added bonus of meeting real locals. </div><br />
<h3>#4. Hotels in Amsterdam</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hotels in Amsterdam</a> vary, you can find ones cheaper than Airbnbs but you can find grottier ones too. If you're spending one day in Amsterdam on a budget we recommend either the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qbic</a>, <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Corendon</a> or the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Levell</a> they both have great reviews and are only £52 a night. If you have a bit more of a budget in Amsterdam, go either the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">B&B Amsterdam</a> - it's in a great location (right by the Stedelijk Museum) and - you guessed it - they include breakfast, prices there are from £112.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhO-W4aKIReooGxN38ESa0K7WDDV4H3BOL2Ge1AV9rGy783RivvATO_UpDo2PT8N68d5QiFpXmcPUTL1Djo7QOgvB3vxnrjfJBhWjmB59iIY8LMxiyN7P_A3jTPBGooiWiF6gpfxzPW8/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="hotels in amsterdam" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhO-W4aKIReooGxN38ESa0K7WDDV4H3BOL2Ge1AV9rGy783RivvATO_UpDo2PT8N68d5QiFpXmcPUTL1Djo7QOgvB3vxnrjfJBhWjmB59iIY8LMxiyN7P_A3jTPBGooiWiF6gpfxzPW8/s640/DSC_0248.JPG" title="hotels in amsterdam" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ambassade</a> is also really nice - it's luxury 4-star and only £131 per night. And if you're in <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amsterdam</a> for the day for a special occasion and want to splash out/ have true luxury go for the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sofitel</a> or the Waldorf - you won't be disappointed. Last, and certainly not least, last time we were in Amsterdam we stay at <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-7798050-13828058?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotels.com%2FHotel-Search%3Fadults%3D2%26children%3D%26d1%3D2023-08-08%26d2%3D2023-08-12%26destination%3DAmsterdam%252C%2520North%2520Holland%252C%2520Netherlands%26endDate%3D2024-05-14%26latLong%3D%26mapBounds%3D%26pwaDialog%3D%26regionId%3D378%26rooms%3D1%26semdtl%3D%26sort%3DRECOMMENDED%26startDate%3D2024-05-13%26theme%3D%26useRewards%3Dfalse%26userIntent%3D" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hotel2Stay Amsterdam</a>.</div><br />
<h2>Dutch Food in Amsterdam</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="vegan Dutch Food" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglm4lk33lxFrq64RIMMOcB9dssFTJa7dX1h9ol6U096ZqVbRDyaojuF0JHQvQwPtPDem18qw7rDQYHi1i2lWc9DOzBMaF2GlyvjmUTK5RBjQP0VX2DRjShS9srhHIMBph-CQv6lIsPg4qh/s1600/dutchfood2.jpg" title="typical dutch food" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The food we had in Amsterdam was epic, this was <a href="https://www.veganvstravel.com/2017/03/how-travel-made-me-vegan.html" target="_blank">before we were vegan</a>, and we pigged out on stroopwafel, Dutch cheese, poffertjes, Dutch fries with patatje oorlog (peanut, mayo and onions), liquorice and more. Of course, nowadays we recommend you visit one of <a href="https://www.happycow.net/europe/netherlands/amsterdam/" target="_blank">Amsterdam's vegan restaurants</a> (there's 26)! And discover that stroopwafel, poffertjes and fries with patatje oorlog all taste amazing vegan (and sometimes even better than the original version). There's also incredible vegan Dutch cheese too.</div><br />
<h4>London or Amsterdam?</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">How does London compare with Amsterdam? Our friends at <a href="https://www.jaloezieen-fabriek.nl/london-amsterdam.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.jaloezieen-fabriek.nl</a> have prepared a little info-graphic to help you decide:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW4kg44gRP8eKxL2bQBW7HH393-pTESyQzNJtJPtWCq9PwUIYjoTyaVSxwDMJtpclbKa5X4aRCqFB_o03NUe6ohK1Xjix3722z02swbVviOPPupoF2F4nGSvQs4sol8GOE7CegGIpLac/s1600/london-amsterdam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW4kg44gRP8eKxL2bQBW7HH393-pTESyQzNJtJPtWCq9PwUIYjoTyaVSxwDMJtpclbKa5X4aRCqFB_o03NUe6ohK1Xjix3722z02swbVviOPPupoF2F4nGSvQs4sol8GOE7CegGIpLac/s640/london-amsterdam.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">As Laura is English, we feel like we <i>should </i>say London is better than Amsterdam, but frankly, in our opinion, it's not. Amsterdam is cleaner, prettier and overall nicer. (Although we did prefer the museums in London - nothing is better than the National History Museum!)</div><br />
<h2>Wrap Up: How to Spend One Day in Amsterdam</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Amsterdam gigantic Clog" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_VYxxzKYokU4idHrEaWhxfig9Tlpk_IrY_PCk73yMHCKyKEiaER-82qx0wXgNiD6w-k58gjkCF9HtBMh4WoUWGBQvO1Cek7oEkOk5ggYrpI32wzlwZxG4eb4gCQJ3XJJqJCg0iE6Ia_M/s1600/lauraclog.jpg" style="font-size: normal;" title="Gigantic Clog Amsterdam" width="640" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Amsterdam is everything you expect and more. You could easily spend months there (and you might be able to with house sitting in Amsterdam), but if you don't have months don't worry 1 day in Amsterdam is a great amount of time to get a good taste for everything Amsterdam has to offer, to see the main sites and leave you eager to come back for more! For more information on Amsterdam written by a local resident, <a href="https://www.wanderlustingk.com/blog/category/amsterdam" style="font-size: normal;" target="_blank">check out Karen's post</a>! And if you have any questions about spending one day in Amsterdam or how to visit Amsterdam on a budget or anything else, just let us know in the comments below! Oh and here's a video involving Amsterdam I enjoyed :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ey_L_VzPwEI" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Would you make this journey from London to Amsterdam? Let us know! P.S.: If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a>, feel free to click on the link to use it :)</i></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comAmsterdam, Netherlands52.3675734 4.904138924.057339563821152 -30.2521111 80.677807236178836 40.0603889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-58908721475788319162024-01-13T10:44:00.000-08:002024-01-13T11:23:21.345-08:00How to Overcome Language Barriers While Travelling<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwMLIU9vBvGbJcVE3icBRnfMjsS7If4RroCAQdkdtG4KrmeP1PtvDsbVH20BCYjLLQ10_UGIrFtMuXLRbBhutkcfQSNWGeMp9_S4u9cekViHE-4j-koc7_hNKmESh-umc_jmhaxY-0MW-p78SzvmR3565JaBJlzBkhwoZOS7hxxPDNYih4bckSnnoFkY/s840/language%20barriers%20while%20traveling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="language barriers abroad" border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwMLIU9vBvGbJcVE3icBRnfMjsS7If4RroCAQdkdtG4KrmeP1PtvDsbVH20BCYjLLQ10_UGIrFtMuXLRbBhutkcfQSNWGeMp9_S4u9cekViHE-4j-koc7_hNKmESh-umc_jmhaxY-0MW-p78SzvmR3565JaBJlzBkhwoZOS7hxxPDNYih4bckSnnoFkY/s16000/language%20barriers%20while%20traveling.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Many people are not put off by their lack of knowledge of foreign languages before going. Some individuals feel uneasy and wish to feel confident in an unfamiliar place, especially if they go alone. Many anxieties might overwhelm tourists. They get lost, their bags go missing, and there are troubles with renting a hotel. Making a purchase in a store or ordering meals in a cafe is routine.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">How to Overcome Language Barriers While Travelling</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you want to limit the movement map to places where you will be understood for sure, you will not go far. It will be difficult for an American to understand even a native of Glasgow, let alone incomprehensible road signs in Asia. According to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, even though the number of Americans speaking languages other than English has more than doubled over the past three decades, it still stands at only 20%. Compare this data with that of the European Union. According to statistics, 56% of residents of EU countries speak more than one language, and 28%, in addition to their native language, speak at least two languages. Do not be afraid to travel if you do not speak English or another language. Even in a nation where no one speaks or understands your language, the language barrier may be readily overcome. Let us find out how to adapt to it.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Preparing for the trip</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">First of all, it is necessary to prepare for the trip: to find out what language is spoken in a particular country and, in theory, to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of its residents. It would be useful to buy a phrasebook and learn a few basic phrases: greeting, farewell, and asking questions to the hotelier and waiters, which will be useful in the hotel. If the country is exotic but at the same time has a developed tourism business, an excellent way out would be to study the same phrases in English, since this language is used by service personnel in most popular tourist destinations. A pocket phrasebook can help with self-guided tours, hiking, and car trips. Do not forget to <a href="http://www.yesim.app/" target="_blank">explore cellular mobile phone eSIM data plans from Yesim.app</a>. Having a virtual SIM card on your smartphone will help you get an unstoppable Internet connection so that you can quickly use online phrasebooks and vocabularies. <br /><br />
To have a GPS or a map with you (there are no problems with navigation tools now; it is not the 16th century after all), you can download the map to your phone or tablet. With eSIM, you can have no worries about it, as you can always use online navigators. Make up a route and find out the number of buses, trains, and their departure times (there will already be names of attractions on the route, it is enough to tell them to the driver or passer-by to get an eloquent answer). For yourself, on a piece of paper or the same phone, you can score the main words in the language spoken in the country where you are going. In particular, these are numbers–– spelling and pronunciation (not all languages use Arabic numerals)––and small phrases like "yes", "no", "how much does it cost?", "how to get through?" etc., depending on your basic needs.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. New technologies at the service of travellers</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">A <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2022/10/how-to-look-after-your-gadgets-when-you-travel.html" target="_blank">traveller who owns contemporary electronics</a> such as a smartphone or tablet would feel like a fish out of water in any nation. There are several language programs available nowadays that allow you to translate essential words into hundreds of different languages. A SIM card for travel will let you easily use online phrasebooks to swiftly translate words and even paragraphs, as well as supply a large number of ready-made helpful phrases tailored for a variety of circumstances. Ignorance of the language should not impede going throughout the world; rather, travel should be an encouragement to study languages and cultures from various nations. In addition to colloquial speech, there is:</div><br />
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<li>'sign language';</li>
<li>emotions;</li>
<li>facial expressions;</li>
<li>a drawing in a notebook.</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Having a business card of the hotel or a record of the name of the hotel where you are staying will add confidence to your self-guided tours. It is enough to show it to the taxi driver, and he will take you to the hotel. Also, feel free to speak your language if you do not know the local one. Even if the person you are addressing does not know your native language, perhaps they will hear the name of the hotel and tell you where to go, or something like that. So you do not have to be afraid. If you are choosing where to spend your next vacation or <a href="https://yesim.app/blog/where-to-go-for-new-years-eve/" target="_blank">where to go for New Year’s Eve</a>, ignorance of the language should not be a deterrent.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7q-kyrRxEWvkHe0pSLPQKC4FhMKUIhMDRhgQbGyogjEaF9FXvHHo2zPnWVrACsCnEf2L9CrWKz4TLcUTdQRM83l-fR6WKWJYDVjd3Xxl2j2eFC196aUlzNW0q59CExT41fOEyvkotEM8Va53pUXKxbm7xDrNtBbib2oolvMDyCN_ippLhhiFCkc2P8Gg/s840/language%20barriers%20abroad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="language barriers while traveling" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7q-kyrRxEWvkHe0pSLPQKC4FhMKUIhMDRhgQbGyogjEaF9FXvHHo2zPnWVrACsCnEf2L9CrWKz4TLcUTdQRM83l-fR6WKWJYDVjd3Xxl2j2eFC196aUlzNW0q59CExT41fOEyvkotEM8Va53pUXKxbm7xDrNtBbib2oolvMDyCN_ippLhhiFCkc2P8Gg/s16000/language%20barriers%20abroad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">You can also learn English, which is known in many countries around the world by hotel staff and not a few locals. You can watch several well-known films in English; this will allow you to hear live English speech and start getting used to it. Oh and when communicating, definitely try to smile more often. A smile will create a more positive attitude for you and a greater willingness to communicate with your interlocutors. If you partially understand the speech, ask again for a simpler and shorter explanation.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Role-playing games</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Before the trip, find a partner, if there is none, and play role-playing games, asking for directions or where the exchange office is located, and the like. If possible, use the phrasebook of the desired language or English in this. If you are not travelling alone on the road, play memorized words. Someone says a word that they remember, and someone has to remember its translation. Or one speaks a word in English, and the other speaks it in the language being studied. Then vice versa, and who will win?</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. Pay attention to your body language!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is usually assumed that 93% of communication is non-verbal, so that is good news, right? Of course, it might be challenging when you are in a certain scenario and need to explain something basic but do not have the correct words. Body language varies greatly among cultures, so a little research will go a long way. What is sometimes overlooked is that understanding how to communicate non-verbally (in any culture) is a talent in and of itself. It is always worthwhile to attempt to communicate if you feel like it, because surprising yourself with your talents may be empowering. You can do it a thousand times if you can do it once!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#5. Take notes!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another approach is to have a few pre-prepared notes if you are worried about a certain circumstance (such as purchasing a bus ticket in a small town with restricted internet or applying for visas). This is one method for reducing anxiety in a very frightening scenario, but it is not as effective for everyday use. Simply scribble down a few essential ideas or the first thing you want to say to increase your confidence. You will rapidly stray from the notes, so do not write down a complete discussion (people are quite adept at doing the unexpected!).</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#6. Speak up, even if you feel stupid doing so!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It is better to address the locals in their native language, albeit with mistakes, than to assume that they will understand your language. In the worst case, the interlocutor will just shrug his shoulders, and at best, we will be happy to help you, and maybe you will even make useful acquaintances. Besides, you will never get over your problem if you do not practice. Real interaction with people is the only way to learn how to speak.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#7. Adapt to the culture!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Knowing the local customs can endear you to the residents, no worse than your ability to speak. If you try not to make the typical mistakes of tourists, such as, for example, waiting for lunch at 7 p.m. in Buenos Aires or asking for milk in your afternoon coffee in Italy, it will let people know that you are trying to adapt to the culture, even if you cannot say a word.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#8. Go to the goal, no matter what!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The lack of language skills means that you can only point, nod, giggle, and use sign language to get where you need to go. Of course, this is not the best or most convenient way to travel, but it is better to face the difficulties of language and translation than just sitting at home on the couch.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: How to Overcome Linguistic Hurdles When Travelling Abroad</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Studying a new language may help you think differently, raise your CV, improve your writing style (and possibly your vocabulary!), improve your memory, meet new people, and come home feeling extremely cool and eager to educate your friends and family.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WvL2PWyXosk?si=J73BN7h0BbTIdpPl" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Regardless of your preference, remember that each technique provides a unique way to interact with sights, cultures, and people all around the world!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comEurope54.5259614 15.255118726.215727563821154 -19.9011313 82.836195236178838 50.4113687tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-72469643167676457522024-01-12T07:49:00.000-08:002024-02-18T09:09:14.085-08:00House Sitting Abroad: Which Country Should You Start House Sitting In?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy5qtFp6oAO6vSZ50vcxU046MFlDMwgB5SqaO4RV0C0axX5l0AD1jE5gQ93AEQ5gEBtL9nVQ9peB-opea8uh6SYrRxkRUs11JAcumAhKuCiun9cobgGeTtLYuRDVgaWjcVmapB6G6Hwg/s1600/thailand+housesitting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="thailand housesitting" border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy5qtFp6oAO6vSZ50vcxU046MFlDMwgB5SqaO4RV0C0axX5l0AD1jE5gQ93AEQ5gEBtL9nVQ9peB-opea8uh6SYrRxkRUs11JAcumAhKuCiun9cobgGeTtLYuRDVgaWjcVmapB6G6Hwg/s640/thailand+housesitting.png" title="thailand housesitting" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">When you first start <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting</a> abroad it can be a little overwhelming - there's a lot of competition between the other house sitters and you may well have fewer references than everyone else. And what about when you do finally nab your first house sit? You might find yourself house sitting in a completely new country with all the excitement and challenges that can bring. </span><span style="font-size: normal;">Don't worry, we've written you this list of the BEST countries to start house sitting abroad in, countries that often have an abundance of house sits, are easy to navigate for people who speak English (I'm assuming if you're reading this, you can 😂)</span><span style="font-size: normal;"> and are easy countries in general for first-time travellers. </span>So sit back, relax and enjoy free accommodation worldwide thanks to house sitting abroad:</div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">1. House Sitting in Australia</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsaRQY7EsAw8bYXPUn30b6iVOxD3ud7Po0GNI-RF7qD3Z4fJArVVzSoInQTL1hXrKs7tjxiK7JahOWnEK_Tbr4561r9V_RV3oOe_wugGgA4jKD6tUmuZyQJy5JthE2J810XXutqjPeIQ/s1600/australiahousesitfirsttime.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitting australia" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsaRQY7EsAw8bYXPUn30b6iVOxD3ud7Po0GNI-RF7qD3Z4fJArVVzSoInQTL1hXrKs7tjxiK7JahOWnEK_Tbr4561r9V_RV3oOe_wugGgA4jKD6tUmuZyQJy5JthE2J810XXutqjPeIQ/s640/australiahousesitfirsttime.jpg" title="house sitting australia" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">We will always be biased and say <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/12/house-sitting-in-australia-guide-for.html" target="_blank">house sitting Australia</a> is the best country to start - because it's the place where we ourselves started house sitting. We did eight back-to-back house sits across this amazing country for nine months straight. Thanks to house sitting we managed to see hot spots like Sydney, Byron Bay, Kangaroo Island, Blue Mountains, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and more; but also got to see off-the-beaten-path places like <a href="https://www.visitesperance.com/" target="_blank">Esperance</a>, Ballarat and Glen Osmond. </span></div>
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Why is house sitting Australia great for first-timers?</h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">First things first, there are loads and loads and loads of house sitting Australia opportunities, it's a really popular concept there with homeowners. So even with the competition of other <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitters</a>, you're almost guaranteed to get a sit - there are just so many to go round. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Secondly, said homeowners tend, on average, to go on holiday for much longer than say Americans or Brits. I think it's partly because Australians get better holiday leave, and partly because if they're going anywhere, they've got to go for a long time to make it worth it because it takes them so long to get there. Our house sitting Australia jobs ranged between two weeks and six weeks long, but the average was a month - this is great news for first-time house sitters, the longer the house sits, the easier it is to settle in and truly get to know a certain area of the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Thirdly, Australia is super easy to travel round - everything is in English, of course, and many of their systems are similar to the UK/USA. So you're not likely to get culture shock and want to go home immediately. Saying that though, there are so many new and exciting things in Australia you definitely will feel like you're travelling. Case in point, the weird wild animals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Bonus point - Australia is hella expensive for travellers with accommodation setting you back a minimum of $30 a day (for something horrible), house sitting Australia is the <i>only</i> way to travel Australia both luxuriously and on a budget. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">2. House Sitting in the UK</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7Xwtbc-1oIdr1F_u7T-P3U9LMeAd06zYhweqv1a87NUGqGz4lFHvNeyHIJMSpX4RA-Jk05BU5g7zzJNX2CTvIi8Nl6T64hKFW0V07xHQmoZXb74szq5Fhta4REvFR1QMZIkC_Y8ymlM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-14+at+11.23.53.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="housesit uk" border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="643" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7Xwtbc-1oIdr1F_u7T-P3U9LMeAd06zYhweqv1a87NUGqGz4lFHvNeyHIJMSpX4RA-Jk05BU5g7zzJNX2CTvIi8Nl6T64hKFW0V07xHQmoZXb74szq5Fhta4REvFR1QMZIkC_Y8ymlM/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-02-14+at+11.23.53.png" title="housesit uk" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Despite being from the UK myself, we've still done eight house sits in England, and think it's a great place for newbie house sitters to start house sitting, even if you're from the UK too. </span></div>
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Why is the UK great for first-time house sitters?</h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">The reasons that the UK is great for house sitting are similar to the reasons that Australia is: there is an abundance of house sitting opportunities in the UK. Like Australia, it's becoming more and more popular, especially in hot spots like <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/10/house-sitting-london.html" target="_blank">London</a>, Devon, Edinburgh and the Lake District. You're almost guaranteed to get a sit here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Accommodation in the UK is also very expensive, and not great quality, so again house sitting is the perfect way to travel in comfort but on a budget. Of course English is the spoken language so navigating travel and communicating with the homeowners is easy-peasy. Last but not least, the UK is relatively tiny compared to say the USA or Australia, you can definitely find enough house sits to make sure you do get to 'do' the whole country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">3. House Sitting in Germany</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC52UnVUOdzAe20sfgmlhcjRru3KofcRMhYQnv8xrmW7zoiAJh7ET_n14zZbIqRd_oFWXuDHNjZpI72mm1-QwTZQ8MKFHGVwMbQlPOIerynk5jZHQfqPrvwNNRxNl53GJf4c9_-Gb-M8/s1600/berlin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="housesitting hamburg" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC52UnVUOdzAe20sfgmlhcjRru3KofcRMhYQnv8xrmW7zoiAJh7ET_n14zZbIqRd_oFWXuDHNjZpI72mm1-QwTZQ8MKFHGVwMbQlPOIerynk5jZHQfqPrvwNNRxNl53GJf4c9_-Gb-M8/s640/berlin.jpg" title="housesitting hamburg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">We've done three house sits in Germany - two in Hamburg and one in Berlin. Whilst I wouldn't necessarily recommend house sitting in Germany for those who don't speak German, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/11/how-to-stay-in-berlin-for-free.html" target="_blank">house sitting Berlin</a> is another matter. No, Berlin isn't a country, but if you are a newbie house sitter I'd definitely recommend trying your hand at <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting</a> there, for the following reasons:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Why Berlin is great for first-time house sitters?</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Like Australia and the UK, there are a lot of house sits going in Berlin, and it should be relatively easy for you to nab your perfect sit. Unlike the rest of Germany, the language barrier shouldn't be too much of a problem in this capital - Berlin is very English speaking friendly. </span><span style="font-size: normal;">It's hands down one of our favourite cities in the world, it's fun, it's quirky, it's cheap and above all, it's super cool. </span>The public transport system is easy to work out and the food there is excellent. </div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">4. House Sitting in Thailand</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIRsZPmgSu2ASHqU-69AwJ5fMTSdM3vY7_BHXyIaejOpQjjSnpWQKWt8jXBdDLaupjZ5W6oHmWb4Z1mBxq4bU-NSrauqAKpvyd-DsOJZW1NbONviLbbYcAcj5V7-ts99wtxubbcoVILk/s1600/thailand+us.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="house sitting abroad" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIRsZPmgSu2ASHqU-69AwJ5fMTSdM3vY7_BHXyIaejOpQjjSnpWQKWt8jXBdDLaupjZ5W6oHmWb4Z1mBxq4bU-NSrauqAKpvyd-DsOJZW1NbONviLbbYcAcj5V7-ts99wtxubbcoVILk/s640/thailand+us.jpg" title="house sitting abroad" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">We <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sat</a> once in Thailand and it was a great way to experience this marvellous country. Case in point: you can't drink the tap water in Thailand, but the house we sat in had special plumbing so you could. South East Asian Airbnb's tend not to come with ovens either, so this was the first time we experienced an oven in months - it was heaven!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Why Thailand is great for first-time house sitters</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">If you're looking for a country that has culture, great weather, delicious food, and lovely people - go to Thailand, it's one of the best countries in the world! </span>In terms of house sitting, there are many expats in Thailand (mainly from the UK and Australia) who are dying to find house sitters, I'd go as far as saying that the demand for house sitters actually outweighs the supply of them over there. Why? I guess people are put off by being in a country 'so foreign'.</div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Don't be put off though, Thailand is one of the easiest countries to travel around, and if you're house-sitting for expats you won't have to worry about a language barrier. When it comes to (touch wood you won't have to, but it's important to consider), going to a vet, in our experience the homeowners will have already considered this: either they have an English speaking vet, or they will find a friend to help you out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">5. House Sitting in Spain</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bWC7z2okEvHrQXFLocFYntTNYHK8kBaK_D4SuIKSO4xQAK5D9i4pypSF1r6HULoxoYUccw6a69JJSHUrX-vRXN-apLM1s_M_mGJ2H_-104kLbi8zm35leoKElNMtnviSW_cnynBZC3w/s1600/spain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="house sitting spain" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bWC7z2okEvHrQXFLocFYntTNYHK8kBaK_D4SuIKSO4xQAK5D9i4pypSF1r6HULoxoYUccw6a69JJSHUrX-vRXN-apLM1s_M_mGJ2H_-104kLbi8zm35leoKElNMtnviSW_cnynBZC3w/s640/spain.jpg" title="house sitting spain" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">For six weeks we tried <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/08/our-first-spanish-house-sit.html" target="_blank">house sitting in Spain</a>, in a beautiful house by the beach which had its own pool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Why Spain is great for first-time house sitters</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Like Thailand, Spain is full of homeowners desperate for a <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitter</a>. But whilst Thailand might be a little out of the comfort zone for first-time travellers, Spain definitely won't be, especially not the South of Spain. </span><span style="font-size: normal;">House sits in Spain crop up all.the.time. It's definitely a great country to start house sitting in. </span>And one more thing: the sun. </div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">6. House Sitting in Singapore </span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wplPtKxyZcEEiHTjqrhICzC08vlkDpW4ohFFy0avzOh4LKk9Wf2dyC3aIqGHqs6hpZSlv3xMCU-gQhbJX4BCn095nZMyc_dM8LzICM5ED9baQyJnX04YtKLmorueCmPlGz1hYfKTtYo/s1600/singapore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="house sitting singapore" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wplPtKxyZcEEiHTjqrhICzC08vlkDpW4ohFFy0avzOh4LKk9Wf2dyC3aIqGHqs6hpZSlv3xMCU-gQhbJX4BCn095nZMyc_dM8LzICM5ED9baQyJnX04YtKLmorueCmPlGz1hYfKTtYo/s640/singapore.jpg" title="house sitting singapore" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">We spent a long weekend in Singapore and it's somewhere we've been meaning to go back to and explore further. There are tonnes of house sits there! Our best bud Sabrina from Just One Way Ticket is doing back-to-back house sitting Singapore jobs there for the next two months.</span></div>
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Why is house sitting Singapore perfect for first-timers?</h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Singapore is the perfect spot in South East Asia if you're feeling a little overwhelmed by all the crazy and a tiny bit homesick - you can drink the tap water there, everything is super modern and clean, and if you're British you'll no doubt love the fact that they have British plugs. </span>Singapore has even more expats than Thailand and Spain, and there is a lot of money there. So for first-time house sitters, that means: luxury <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting</a> Singapore jobs galore! </div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">7. House Sitting in Canada </span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxS99wDG-vVtBU8jNYWPHSIP3NmO6HBSv71lA0094NJR1oOu1pjE22m3oVTViwIWQcTTRpXoLmx9g_fGkQ9bVE64BWtZ7mPb06mNmGqNItvupt7z00f-VeIFwgTNUjzCmWLP5pT73VMQ/s1600/canada+view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="house sitting in canada" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxS99wDG-vVtBU8jNYWPHSIP3NmO6HBSv71lA0094NJR1oOu1pjE22m3oVTViwIWQcTTRpXoLmx9g_fGkQ9bVE64BWtZ7mPb06mNmGqNItvupt7z00f-VeIFwgTNUjzCmWLP5pT73VMQ/s640/canada+view.jpg" title="house sitting in canada" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Canada is one of our favourite countries in the world, we spent two weeks there and we'd love to go back. Accommodation is expensive there though so we will probably go back and try <a href="https://trustedhousesitters.pxf.io/Jrgekr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">house sitting in Canada</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Why house sitting in Canada is good for first-timers</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">Stepping over the fact that Canada too is easy to navigate, has lots of sits going and most people speak English, I think there is just one main reason we think house sitting in Canada is perfect for your first time: Canadians are just so nice!!! </span>And this is really important: a house sit is only as nice as the homeowners. Because if you don't feel comfortable with them, you probably won't feel comfortable in their house (regardless of if they're there or not)</div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">[Of course, we recommend always Skyping with a homeowner before you agree to house sit for them, to avoid this problem, but double up your chances of having nice homeowners by house sitting in Canada!]</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">How to Find Your First House Sit?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">I could go on forever, I also think New Zealand, Dubai and the USA would be great for your first sit. I also wrote a whole post about <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/04/house-sitting-europe.html" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">house sitting Europe</a>. Ultimately it's about finding that balance between somewhere you're dying to visit, and somewhere where you can be a good house sitter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: normal;">But how do you find your first ever house sit? We found our first house sits on Trusted Housesitters and actually all 30 of our sits since. We also wrote a whole post on <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2014/06/how-to-get-started-with-house-sitting.html" target="_blank">How to Start House Sitting</a> for first-time house sitters, so I hope that's useful to you! We can also offer you <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% TrustedHousesitters discount code</a>!</span><br />
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Other Resources:</h3>
Once you do get your first house sit, here are a few things that you will need:</div>
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<li><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/06/world-nomads-travel-insurance.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Travel Insurance</a> - read our review of World Nomads Travel Insurance and find out all the times we got injured whilst house sitting abroad</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: normal;">Kiwi - the only flight comparison site we use, because it's the only one that finds the best flights</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: normal;"><a href="http://tidd.ly/9bbb0bb3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Megabus</a> - useful for bus journeys in Western Europe and the USA</span></li>
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Wrap Up: House Sitting Abroad</h2>
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From hot house sitting Australia to chilly house sitting in Canada the possibilities for house sitting abroad are almost unending. We hope this house sitting blog post has been useful to you, let us know in the comments below if you have any questions. Oh and before I forget: we have also made this video for newcomers to house sitting -- enjoy :)</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bgOrq5o9E60" width="560"></iframe><br />
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P.S. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2018/07/trustedhousesitters-discount-code.html" target="_blank">a 10% discount</a> -- click on the link to use it!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-31076412721610178812024-01-11T10:53:00.000-08:002024-01-27T23:05:24.045-08:00Three Incredible Outdoor Sports to Enjoy in Norway <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDYguwgl4s7qBQEhpuwdy1hOnMTqvohSVlGHiN1ZwReqtQIaKgsqAxKMxYNFNPi5y2PkyPrWdGXzN_q89JowjugX5qlzseAXZm2yNEEPXrH-VC2CnE0FD10daVB-FS2BYyKXAYpDUJ1NKnJJKew9CzbzX0ZtmkM53cYwHN3k1Q6uAGHHSNhfIHcG4bjY/s840/top%20norwegian%20outdoor%20sports.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best outdoor sports in norway" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDYguwgl4s7qBQEhpuwdy1hOnMTqvohSVlGHiN1ZwReqtQIaKgsqAxKMxYNFNPi5y2PkyPrWdGXzN_q89JowjugX5qlzseAXZm2yNEEPXrH-VC2CnE0FD10daVB-FS2BYyKXAYpDUJ1NKnJJKew9CzbzX0ZtmkM53cYwHN3k1Q6uAGHHSNhfIHcG4bjY/s16000/top%20norwegian%20outdoor%20sports.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">There are an endless number of ways to enjoy the great outdoors in <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/11/how-to-travel-scandinavia-by-train.html" target="_blank">Norway</a> thanks to the amazing natural scenery. Hiking in particular is a favourite amongst <a href="https://www.thetripblogger.com/the-best-area-to-stay-in-norway/" target="_blank">locals</a>, but if walking isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll find plenty of alternatives on offer up and down the country. From the deep waters of the fjords to the highest snowy peaks, here are three sporting experiences to add to your Norway itinerary.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Golf</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Granted, Norway may not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking about Europe’s world-class golfing destinations. But this Scandinavian jewel has a catalogue of courses that can rival some of the finest on the continent. There are some truly spectacular golf clubs here set in even more breathtaking surroundings, so next time you’re looking to tee it up on foreign shores, keep Norway in mind.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nbhGIEoplwiLgbtY3MWtjh1VxITRjJ1WqwBtt6qeSeT2w5jtENGprP4U8ISZniiMU8S9ptz3U9JPiUh0qSrgEBK8SDCZThqHkgNJBXQNavFGa0hZJUJJi_ktj8zRunxPYfwRnEnZRi4zAmgKh0Fp18L-OoVYT7WyKh2L4lo2K1kX7GmHHW0UWNOBxLc/s866/top%20outdoor%20sports%20in%20norway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="top outdoor sports in norway" border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nbhGIEoplwiLgbtY3MWtjh1VxITRjJ1WqwBtt6qeSeT2w5jtENGprP4U8ISZniiMU8S9ptz3U9JPiUh0qSrgEBK8SDCZThqHkgNJBXQNavFGa0hZJUJJi_ktj8zRunxPYfwRnEnZRi4zAmgKh0Fp18L-OoVYT7WyKh2L4lo2K1kX7GmHHW0UWNOBxLc/s16000/top%20outdoor%20sports%20in%20norway.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">And, for a truly unique experience, why not play 18 holes at night, with the fairways and greens illuminated by the midnight sun? There are plenty of stunning tracks in the country’s Arctic north where you can enjoy this enchanting experience, including Lofoten Links and Bodø Golf Park.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. Kayaking </h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If something water-based is more your speed, kayaking is a must-try activity during your stay. Whether it’ll be your first time in the cockpit or you’re already an avid paddler, there’s no doubt that very few kayaking experiences anywhere in the world can compare with those on offer in Norway.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUADzu9AwTDjhWoq0Nxgen2t-kE_jtCxWGXd2yywuQ7ROcELXwRLMwytK5XBlrvbLizsNaNZYjHP-2x13nxWo8yB62o2mX2p0ZlCu7eRablO3B0qLZQhx9YYqkvnx_K3k3mDfvhlv4-IY872LKBcY6ZOyz6heHvaJJFsomMKLsiHURVku1PUIkf8KM1w/s840/best%20outdoor%20sports%20in%20norway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="norway best outdoor sports" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUADzu9AwTDjhWoq0Nxgen2t-kE_jtCxWGXd2yywuQ7ROcELXwRLMwytK5XBlrvbLizsNaNZYjHP-2x13nxWo8yB62o2mX2p0ZlCu7eRablO3B0qLZQhx9YYqkvnx_K3k3mDfvhlv4-IY872LKBcY6ZOyz6heHvaJJFsomMKLsiHURVku1PUIkf8KM1w/s16000/best%20outdoor%20sports%20in%20norway.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">There are an endless list of <a href="https://www.visitnorway.com/things-to-do/outdoor-activities/canoeing-kayaking/top-places-to-paddle/" target="_blank">suitable paddling points right across the country</a>, each offering something different. From gentle canals and lakes, to white-water kayaking in the canyons, to multi-day adventures through the fjords – there really is something for every type of kayaker here.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Skiing</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Widely considered to be the national sport of Norway, any trip to this part of the world wouldn’t be complete without taking to the slopes. Cross-country skiing is a particular favourite winter pastime for Norwegian nationals, and they’re spoiled for choice when it comes to <a href="https://www.skimag.com/ski-resort-life/europe/you-want-to-ski-norway-next-season-heres-why-and-how/" target="_blank">deciding where to go</a>.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMevPkxwmPbVhCtiuvgnsIU8OAVGdX3zh0wuh07Dy9vj7UmvRQytb7zgebBnUq06IlgM1kCXgLReM944VfUWRrAgfqZVVoN2TzxoInwT12DNqoz53b7NOTqssWNO_jndl8kcOHs7m2_rVb_wx-Q7RwPv1sFjyJ-GCFRvx2ysIbGF9xQ59v4uFnPaVt5M/s840/norway%20best%20outdoor%20sports.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="top norwegian outdoor sports" border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMevPkxwmPbVhCtiuvgnsIU8OAVGdX3zh0wuh07Dy9vj7UmvRQytb7zgebBnUq06IlgM1kCXgLReM944VfUWRrAgfqZVVoN2TzxoInwT12DNqoz53b7NOTqssWNO_jndl8kcOHs7m2_rVb_wx-Q7RwPv1sFjyJ-GCFRvx2ysIbGF9xQ59v4uFnPaVt5M/s16000/norway%20best%20outdoor%20sports.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The biggest, and one of the most popular resorts can be found close to the Swedish border at Trysil. This family-friendly spot has over 100 km of cross-country trails, as well as 69 manicured slopes for those who prefer something a little faster paced. The ski season peaks in the winter months through to March or April; during this period, you’re most likely to be treated to perfect snow conditions and gorgeous weather.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Enjoy Unique Sporting Experiences in Scandinavia</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In this post, we’ve explored just a handful of the many sports available for you to try no matter which part of the country you’re visiting. If you are looking to add some sporting activities to your itinerary, <a href="https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/destination/norway-holidays" target="_blank">make sure you plan ahead</a> so you can time your visit and take advantage of the best conditions. Whether you choose one of the sports listed here, or you go a little off-piste with something different, we’re sure that any experience you enjoy in Norway will be truly unforgettable.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TuOIW144_BY?si=mJ8AhFlNlkYKe_9s" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>What about you, have you ever been ton Norway? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comNorway60.47202399999999 8.46894599999999932.161790163821145 -26.687304 88.782257836178843 43.625196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-33035249317329301522023-12-21T12:35:00.000-08:002024-01-07T05:48:25.099-08:008 Must-Visit Places on a Tour of Vietnam: Hoi An, Ha Long Bay and More!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwg-NYGk_WLYiShyphenhyphenVB3fRP44k1HtpnDiSEPSWgGCXDrJ_K1OqxlLnNh6Tz6Zr0NKwwRao45i2Vcmtyc2Na7Ay_5SPW6pa8yw1DGOUNSehfBG0hkfFdc8VcvtqjTGxxG85xtDqwzqj5fJloSLjZNTABGZCEUCeQPMjQyhkBRyf6GXURuFh9D1Jajv2IRE/s840/vietnam%20must%20see%20places.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vietnam must see places" border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwg-NYGk_WLYiShyphenhyphenVB3fRP44k1HtpnDiSEPSWgGCXDrJ_K1OqxlLnNh6Tz6Zr0NKwwRao45i2Vcmtyc2Na7Ay_5SPW6pa8yw1DGOUNSehfBG0hkfFdc8VcvtqjTGxxG85xtDqwzqj5fJloSLjZNTABGZCEUCeQPMjQyhkBRyf6GXURuFh9D1Jajv2IRE/s16000/vietnam%20must%20see%20places.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Have you set your sights on the Southeast Asian wonder of Vietnam? This beautiful, intriguing, intoxicating destination has so much to offer visitors, <a href="https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/en/post/19327" target="_blank">helping it attract over 11.2 million of them</a> in the first 11 months of 2023. We visited Hanoi in 2016 and <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/07/hanoi-is-best-city-in-se-asia-heres-why.html" target="_blank">wrote about it, too</a>. This post is a recommendation of some of the best places to see in Vietnam :) Also, make sure to check out some of the best <a href="https://banbanjara.com/vietnam-tour-packages" target="_blank">Vietnam tour packages</a> that are available online!<br /></p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Best Places to Visit in Vietnam</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">You can spend months in Vietnam and still feel like you’re just getting to know the place. But if your time, budget or preference is a little shorter, it’s totally possible to tick off the highlights <a href="https://www.exodus.co.uk/destinations/asia-holidays/vietnam-holidays" target="_blank">on a whirlwind Vietnam tour</a>. Whether travelling with friends or loved ones or embarking on a solo voyage of discovery, here are five must-visit places you’ll want to see along the way.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. The Mekong Delta </h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">It might be tempting to start your journey in Vietnam with a bustling city. But the Mekong Delta in the south offers perhaps the most authentic image of this historic country. The region centres around the Mekong River, which you can venture down on traditional boats while enjoying the slower pace of life around you.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. Hoi An </h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">To the east sits the beautiful old city of Hoi An, <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/948/" target="_blank">officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>. Its ancient centre is incredibly well preserved with buildings dating back to the 15th century, cut through by a series of canals. Hoi An’s laid back atmosphere is a complete contrast to the stereotypical image of a throbbing Asian city.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Ho Chi Minh City </h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In contrast, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest and most populous, home to over 9.4 million residents – and growing - <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/910960/vietnam-population-in-ho-chi-minh-city/" target="_blank">by recent estimations</a>. It’s likely you may begin your Vietnam trip here after landing at the nearby airport. This metropolis is packed with interesting historical sites, best enjoyed at the high-octane pace of the locals who give the city its life.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. Sapa </h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The town of Sapa is a great example of how diverse Vietnam’s landscape truly is. It’s perched high on the mountains to the north, making a picturesque base for spectacular hiking routes (or scooting, if you’d prefer). You can’t miss its iconic terraced rice fields, which still help keep the local population fed today.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#5. Ha Long Bay </h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If it’s more awe-inspiring views you’re after, Ha Long Bay is perhaps one of the most photogenic places in the world. This incredible natural bay is situated on the northern coast not far from the capital of Hanoi – and truly must be seen to be believed. A series of rugged but lush rocks rise from turquoise waters, with golden sandy <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2021/11/best-beach-resort-vietnam.html" target="_blank">beaches</a> and sailing opportunities all around.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdBqKXTIzu0dGA_IUUATYSJcoDs-2WzDAYfvy4R0o3a4ffLXsuhhxHNZBdmY0RrNRBTsNRBYvBHViuNjna6XssunkGe8-l7ZIQjoRY8nTQhWwcYQaq3D9JgdsiQhYWTkizD-dDowjdDGo4btz-uXkpUCdEghaSVjDCMg5Tx4sV3mNdV7CfmnXkNWwqFg/s840/what%20to%20see%20and%20do%20in%20vietnam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="must see places in vietnam" border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdBqKXTIzu0dGA_IUUATYSJcoDs-2WzDAYfvy4R0o3a4ffLXsuhhxHNZBdmY0RrNRBTsNRBYvBHViuNjna6XssunkGe8-l7ZIQjoRY8nTQhWwcYQaq3D9JgdsiQhYWTkizD-dDowjdDGo4btz-uXkpUCdEghaSVjDCMg5Tx4sV3mNdV7CfmnXkNWwqFg/s16000/what%20to%20see%20and%20do%20in%20vietnam.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In fact, even the name translates to the bay of the descending dragon — ‘Ha’ means descending, and ‘Long’ means dragon in Vietnamese! While visiting the area, you might encounter the island of Cat Ba, which is the largest island in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BA%A1_Long_Bay" target="_blank">Halong Bay</a>. The island offers plenty of things to do, including three beaches, mangrove forests, and coral reefs. In fact, one part of the island is even a designated national park! If you’re planning to visit Halong Bay, the best option is to rent a motorboat to explore the most beautiful corners of this magical place (or even find something new!) just by sailing between thousands of islets.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#6. Thap Ba hot springs</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">After an exciting adventure exploring the country, trying delicious Vietnamese dishes, and making plenty of memories, it’s time to kick back and relax… and what better way to do so than at the Thap Ba hot springs? Thap Ba is a mineral spring and mud bath that is popular among both locals and tourists. The baths are filled with warm spring water that is reported to revitalize the body (and mind!) thanks to the unique mix of minerals.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#7. Po Nagar Cham Towers in Nha Trang</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">To get a closer look at the history and architecture of Vietnam, definitely add a trip to the Cham Towers to your itinerary. These ornate towers, which were built more than a thousand years ago, are still standing to this day! Although the complex originally had eight towers in total, only four survived the test of time. The entire complex is dedicated to the goddess <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po_Nagar" target="_blank">Yang Ino Po Nagar</a>, the founder of the Cham ethnic group, and was intended for religious rituals. Even today, the territory is used for Buddhist ceremonies and worship of ancient ancestors.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMg15epIafdxSJb27AC4SDxhGWqVL2GWvjk7qbDScYBaBSYG4frDn8M23ktslJwOIEYEoktwTw1nRGTV6FmVHfOG2ymRtdxq4U43RSQW-vCLSjANZMJnNlL0PF32-WmYLSf_1030WIe9MbATPOc-x6FpXzbScNc_LMBqZc_55lT9lUxkoHt3ryD98/s840/must%20see%20places%20in%20vietnam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vietnam top travel destinations" border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMg15epIafdxSJb27AC4SDxhGWqVL2GWvjk7qbDScYBaBSYG4frDn8M23ktslJwOIEYEoktwTw1nRGTV6FmVHfOG2ymRtdxq4U43RSQW-vCLSjANZMJnNlL0PF32-WmYLSf_1030WIe9MbATPOc-x6FpXzbScNc_LMBqZc_55lT9lUxkoHt3ryD98/s16000/must%20see%20places%20in%20vietnam.jpg" title="place to see in vietnam" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Another interesting fact is that locals have come for centuries to the towers to meditate, and because of this, there is special energy felt here. Likewise, there is an extensive observation deck that opens up to a lovely panorama of <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/pictures-palace-of-revelation-hotel-nha-trang" target="_blank">the city of Nha Trang</a>.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#8. Kao Prak Bang National Park</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Southeast Asia is known for many beautiful waterfalls (such as the one in <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2016/03/jungle-safari-crystal-pool-and-hot.html" target="_blank">Krabi’s Kao Prak Bang National Park</a>!), and Vietnam is no exception. The Ban Gioc–Detian Falls is located near the city of Cao Bang, right along the border with China. Wide rice fields, mangroves, and lush forests encircle the Detian waterfalls, which, together with the pointed peaks and mountains in the background, further complement this picturesque place and give it a magical atmosphere. The waterfall itself is a huge three-tiered cascade of water that falls from a height of nearly 30 meters. To fully enjoy the waterfalls, visitors can take a ride on a bamboo raft to the bottom of the falls.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: The Top Places to Visit in Vietnam</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If these eight locations have piqued your interest in Vietnam, you’re all set for an unforgettable experience! Here is a vlog we made back in the day about our time in Vietnam (and a post from our sister site, VeganVsTravel, about how <a href="https://www.veganvstravel.com/2017/03/how-travel-made-me-vegan.html" target="_blank">it was my trip to Vietnam that made me eventually go vegan</a>):</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLWL6XtdjN4?si=6Sa1PRX6xQstoTF0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>What about you, have you ever been to Vietnam? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!</i></div><script src="moz-extension://272dce42-ba84-484e-bfc8-bfe2803e8b89/js/app.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comVietnam14.058324 108.277199-14.251909836178845 73.120949 42.368557836178844 143.433449tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-18556534111651795792023-12-12T08:43:00.000-08:002023-12-12T08:43:26.719-08:00Vancouver Island Travel Guide: Essential Tips for Planning Your Trip<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY2fzL2Ciray18KaIH46-vT29yNtDIB81F0aOif_fUiBYd3Z6TSQn6qRgYR48u2YJO2b7Mkl76lmnE_a_SBKxfgrK78NsFw-r4rQ3Q1qUneVZctpcz76d8tzdRTcSJbfvj38UT9SY2yx38NrfBD3ErPL8WdU17NilXqa8J5QU86BHqoIwfDLJ33JohAc/s1280/vancouver%20island%20things%20to%20do.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vancouver island top things to do" border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY2fzL2Ciray18KaIH46-vT29yNtDIB81F0aOif_fUiBYd3Z6TSQn6qRgYR48u2YJO2b7Mkl76lmnE_a_SBKxfgrK78NsFw-r4rQ3Q1qUneVZctpcz76d8tzdRTcSJbfvj38UT9SY2yx38NrfBD3ErPL8WdU17NilXqa8J5QU86BHqoIwfDLJ33JohAc/s16000/vancouver%20island%20things%20to%20do.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Vancouver Island is one of those destinations in the world that never fails to amaze its visitors with its unique charm and hospitality. It is nestled off the southwestern coast of <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2017/02/what-to-pack-for-winter-in-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada</a> and is popular for its stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and vibrant communities. So, if you’re planning a trip to Vancouver Island with your loved ones, then you should be aware of how to get around and enjoy a memorable vacation. That’s why we’ve come up with this article! This article is a complete guide to help you make the most out of your trip to Vancouver Island.</p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Best Time to Visit Vancouver Island</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">So, what’s the <a href="https://travel.usnews.com/Victoria_and_Vancouver_Island_Canada/When_To_Visit/" target="_blank">best time to visit Vancouver Island</a>? Well, Vancouver Island is a destination that welcomes tourists from all around the world throughout the year. Each season in this enchanting destination is a must to experience as each has its own unique charm. Let’s say if you’re a nature lover and want to experience the vibrant greenery of this place, then visiting during summers can be the right choice. You can also indulge in a plethora of outdoor activities during this time and explore lush rainforests and pristine beaches. However, if you’re seeking a quieter experience and don’t mind cooler temperatures, then visit during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) or fall (September to October). During these times, you’ll encounter fewer crowds and enjoy the attractions without feeling rushed. So, the best time to visit Vancouver Island depends on your personal preferences and interests.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Where to Stay on Vancouver Island</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>Victoria: </b>the capital city which offers a wide range of accommodations catering to different budgets and preferences. From historic hotels like the Fairmont Empress to boutique B&Bs, it has it all. However, you can opt for accommodation in the Inner Harbour Area. This area is close to some iconic attractions like the Royal BC Museum and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings.</li>
<li><b>Parksville: </b>for a distinct experience, consider Parksville, known for its sandy shores. Parksville offers the best <a href="https://www.baysideresortparksville.com/" target="_blank">Bayside Oceanfront Resort</a> and cozy inns, allowing you to wake up to the soothing sounds of the ocean. The beachfront resorts in Parksville have all the top-notch amenities like a gym, swimming pool, business area, spa, and more. Also, this city has some family-friendly cottages where you can access nearby attractions more easily.</li>
<li><b>Nanaimo: </b>positioned in the heart of the island, Nanaimo is a great central location. Here, you can find hotels along the waterfront or explore charming bed and breakfasts for a local touch. </li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Places to Visit on Vancouver Island</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>Butchart Gardens:</b> located near <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/12/travel/36-hours-in-victoria-british-columbia.html" target="_blank">Victoria</a>, Butchart Gardens is a horticultural masterpiece, and it deserves to be at the top of your bucket list. Here, you can wander through meticulously manicured gardens featuring vibrant flowers, tranquil ponds, and themed landscapes.</li>
<li><b>Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: </b>situated on Vancouver Island's west coast, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is a natural wonderland with ancient rainforests, sandy beaches, and a rugged coastline. Hike through ancient rainforests, stroll along sandy beaches, and witness the power of the Pacific Ocean.</li>
<li><b>Cathedral Grove: </b>this is a must-visit if you’re a nature lover. It is home to towering old-growth Douglas fir and red cedar trees. Take a leisurely stroll through this enchanting forest located in MacMillan Provincial Park.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Activities To Do on Vancouver Island</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>Whale Watching: </b>Vancouver Island is renowned for its whale-watching opportunities. Embark on a whale-watching tour from Victoria or Tofino to witness orcas, humpback whales, and grey whales in their natural habitat.</li>
<li><b>Hiking: </b>the island boasts an extensive network of hiking trails catering to all skill levels. From the challenging West Coast Trail to the scenic Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, there's a trail for every type of hiker.</li>
<li><b>Kayaking: </b>explore the island's coastline by sea kayak. Tofino and the Gulf Islands are popular kayaking destinations where you can paddle through serene waters and encounter diverse marine life.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Practical Tips For Vancouver Island</h2>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li><b>Transportation:</b> while renting a car is ideal for exploring the island's diverse regions, public transportation options are available, especially in urban areas. Ferries and water taxis can be convenient for short island hops.</li>
<li><b>Weather Preparedness: </b>the weather can be unpredictable, so pack layers, waterproof gear, and comfortable footwear for outdoor adventures.</li>
<li><b>Currency: </b>make sure to have Canadian dollars on hand, as some smaller establishments may not accept credit cards.</li></ul></div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: Our Vancouver Island Travel Guide</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, Vancouver Island is a gem waiting to be explored. Whether you seek outdoor adventures or cultural experiences or simply want to unwind in a serene natural setting, this island has something for everyone. So, plan your trip thoughtfully, immerse yourself in the local culture, and prepare to create unforgettable memories of this Pacific paradise.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u_6SdTdBpXU?si=xX2qHkSL3bfN46y2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>What about you, have you ever been to Vancouver Island? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comVancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada49.6506376 -125.449390621.340403763821158 -160.60564060000002 77.960871436178849 -90.2931406tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-42758877962785823022023-11-05T05:12:00.000-08:002023-11-05T05:15:11.043-08:007 Best Treks in Uttarakhand, India<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOyD6DBL4GaAZJSfjEftE8APEMV0_RhpLDsYlEbmyqB7-ubpfIrhMkV14nypr-bR6J9a5ObpxGi84sJaVoAHPIfvReVGYdeG979nGlQmBLZ4XRhLqMHsAme_derSu-QpVekWs657xcBYm2eAoapqEiJY1ekOZjE6uOz7SOH1ShsUf1PgKnS-Df-bbBn0/s840/where%20to%20go%20trekking%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best treks in Uttarakhand" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOyD6DBL4GaAZJSfjEftE8APEMV0_RhpLDsYlEbmyqB7-ubpfIrhMkV14nypr-bR6J9a5ObpxGi84sJaVoAHPIfvReVGYdeG979nGlQmBLZ4XRhLqMHsAme_derSu-QpVekWs657xcBYm2eAoapqEiJY1ekOZjE6uOz7SOH1ShsUf1PgKnS-Df-bbBn0/s16000/where%20to%20go%20trekking%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" title="https://unsplash.com/photos/snow-covered-mountains-during-daytime-ZfviGnJiYHQ" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">From ancient times, <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2023/01/india-travel-tips.html" target="_blank">India</a>'s Uttarakhand is called “Devbhoomi” or the “Land of the Gods” for its spiritual significance and pristine beauty. However, besides its spirituality, this northern state of India depicts majestic Himalayan ranges and awe-inspiring trek routes. Trekkers or tourists visiting the place not only celebrate its sacred temples and pilgrimage sites but also adventure activities in Uttarakhand. Trekking is one of the thrilling global activities in this Himalayan wonderland. Its diverse topography and varying altitudes provide different opportunities to experience nature for novice and seasoned trekkers. From snow-clad peaks to lush green valleys and dense forests, the state covers every aspect of nature that a trekker dreams of.</p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">7 Best Treks in Uttarakhand, India</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekkers get chances to hike through the planet's most remote and unspoiled landscapes through Uttarakhand. The place has suitable trekking routes for intrepid explorers or avid nature enthusiasts, as per their capabilities or preferences. In this blog, we will cover seven best treks of Uttarakhand, showcasing its natural splendour and blend of adventure with spirituality. Therefore, fasten your hiking boots and get ready with your backpack as we embark through the towering peaks, pristine lakes, ancient monasteries, and breathtaking beauty of the <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/himalayas-hiking-practical-guide" target="_blank">Himalayas</a>.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Uttarakhand, An Adventure Tourist Destination</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Uttarakhand is famous for its diverse topography, uneven terrain, and thrilling outdoor activities. It is why adventure tourism has been a major part of this state, offering adventure activities in Uttarakhand.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">River Rafting</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.moxtain.com/blogs/rafting-in-rishikesh" target="_blank">The best river rafting experiences</a> for adventure enthusiasts is in Rishikesh, Uttarakahnd. Tourists can plan river rafting for half a day or one-day trip in Shivpuri, depending on their choice. You can also stay in the river rafting camps along the riversides. The best suitable time for river rafting is from September mid to December and from early March to May.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Water Sports</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, adventure means there has to be water sports, and Uttarakhand is the home of the largest man-made lake in Asia – Tehri Lake. The place offers Boating, Jet Speed Boat Rides, Water Skiing, Zorbing, etc, which the hikers can enjoy. You can visit the lake in the summer months of April to June. The northern state, having splendid Himalayan mountain ranges, offers the best adventure activities in Uttarakhand for trekking apart from adventure sports. However, hikers should remain cautious of the risk of landslides and avoid the monsoon season.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Bungee Jumping</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, Mohan Chatti in Rishikesh has the highest bungee jumping spot in the country. Adventurists consider this place as the best place bungee jumping spot in India.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Paragliding</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Adventure destination remains incomplete without paragliding, and the glorious hills of Uttarakhand are the perfect location for Paragliding. These are suitable for novice and experienced paragliders where people can locate cross-country paragliding to cover long distances.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Wildlife Safari</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Corbett and Rajaji National Parks are famous for exhilarating Wildlife Safaris. It is an excellent adventure for tourists to explore the wildlife in jeeps or elephants back.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Skiing</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Auli Ski Resort in Auli has also gained immense popularity for their world-class skiing facilities. The natural slopes of the Himalayas have outstanding opportunities to conduct skiing events like slalom. It is available during November to March. Therefore, adventure tourism has reached several heights in this state, attracting worldwide adventure lovers.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Why Is Trekking in Uttarakhand One of the Major Attractions?</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">This northern state of India has stunning natural beauty and diverse landscapes, offering a wide range of trekking routes. Hikers from around the globe visit India to experience a lifetime journey through the terrains of the Himalayas and alpine meadows. Best treks of Uttarakhand like Kedarkantha trek, Kuari Pass trek, Roopkund Trek, or Valley of Flowers Trek provides stunning regional vistas. The Himalayan terrain varies from dense forests to remote mountain passes, gushing rivers, or charming villages. This endless diversity attracts trekkers to choose Uttarakhand as their journey destination.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wi6k7llL8mk?si=XkVgTY1G68XdoDKL" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The state is rich in biodiversity, and trekking routes allow hikers to experience the flora and fauna. Treks like the Valley of Flowers take you through a <a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/335" target="_blank">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a>, showcasing a riot of colourful flowers in full bloom during the monsoon season. Other treks in Uttarakhand have religious significance, like Char Dham Yatra and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. These pilgrimage sites for Hindus depict the region's cultural and spiritual aspects. Some best treks of Uttarakhand, like Bali pass trek or Pin Parvati Pass trek, require high fitness and mountaineering skills, providing an adrenaline rush for thrill-seekers.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WwTxFjkodUY?si=1-NHcAa5kzu9klvM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekking is one of the major attractions because hikers can learn more about the unique culture, traditions, and inhabitation of the remote mountain villages. Moreover, all the places are well-connected by road and rail, making reaching the base camps easy. There are easy day hikes and multi-day expeditions in this state. Uttarakhand government takes care of the safety measures for the well-being of the trekkers, including providing experienced guides, well-marked trails, and emergency services. On the other hand, camping under the starry Himalayan sky adds a magical element to the hiking destinations in Uttarakhand.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">7 Best Treks in Uttarakhand</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The northern state of Uttarakhand is famous for its enchanting and exciting trekking routes worldwide. Let’s see the best treks of Uttarakhand in detail:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Pangarchulla Peak Trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 40kms</li>
<li>Base camp: Joshimath</li>
<li>Best time to visit: autumn and spring</li>
<li>Duration: 7 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This peak trek is located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand as one of the most exciting trek in the Nanda Devi sanctuary. Hikers experience the lush green valley with the dense forest covers and snow-covered Himalayas peaks. This peak is commonly known as India's “chimney peak” because of its 4575m altitude. Trekkers catch a glimpse of Mount Dronagiri, Nanda Devi, Neelkanth, and many others. Mount Trishul's aura will take your breath away, surrounded by surreal beauty.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwLnqQ55zjDFLlAsRCRPTp7PclqQJNeSGUsrkJyosu-xui-cVZSjrPDNMRxFWWWRr6OolLF9YjgFM9axDM1dnTQbVTHBtVvjzjXw8f9x3XRlhLPlVh5FyR-3Rli2F916rC7PiyyvyeB9mPJXEOoWLF8fYuo1N4NG07uTsLK9_2y-mINpsIdkPUQ2j77o/s840/Uttarakhand%20best%20treks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="where to go trekking in Uttarakhand" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwLnqQ55zjDFLlAsRCRPTp7PclqQJNeSGUsrkJyosu-xui-cVZSjrPDNMRxFWWWRr6OolLF9YjgFM9axDM1dnTQbVTHBtVvjzjXw8f9x3XRlhLPlVh5FyR-3Rli2F916rC7PiyyvyeB9mPJXEOoWLF8fYuo1N4NG07uTsLK9_2y-mINpsIdkPUQ2j77o/s16000/Uttarakhand%20best%20treks.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The trek begins from Haridwar and crosses Joshimath, Dhak, and Khullara to the Pangarchulla peak. The trekking path is rocky and steep, with never ending adventure and beauty. However, fitness should be the top priority of every trekker because this trek requires physical training beforehand. During winter, treks in Uttarakhand can even amaze the hikers as they can spot footprints of snow leopards or Himalayan bears.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Kedarkantha Trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 20kms</li>
<li>Base camp: Sankri</li>
<li>Best time to visit: winter</li>
<li>Duration: 6 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Kedarkantha trek is the best winter hiking route in Uttarakhand to experience clear mountains, rich flora and fauna, exciting campsites, or the serenity of the mountain villages. Hikers enjoy the local culture and meals during the trek. This mountain peak is one of the towering peaks of the Himalayas, with an altitude of 12500 feet. Even in the icy winter, the trekking path is always covered with vegetation. The snow-capped peaks of the mountains can be spotted from 10,000 feet because of their high altitude. The journey starts from Dehradun to Sankri by car, covering Mussoorie, Nain Bhag village, and Purola. You can see rivers like Yamuna, Ganga, or Supin flowing across the mountainous routes.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgVigdoE3hqY3Mm-E4IMqGuCAsSOCulT3lCXwcFUFbAFpgNdYp8OLCTHtGXKnzP2e9bloDg4bo7gfMlGU5zB7YqwRU4ICFYVw44viBz79YIGaSJ1vvkVqmtlRKbpczY9xXNbQUTMk-QSXkYD2mUnx4eWuidwDAHMEn3U3FghOfzJ6mRQmxVPTiwxr4Qs/s840/trekking%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best trekking company Uttarakhand" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgVigdoE3hqY3Mm-E4IMqGuCAsSOCulT3lCXwcFUFbAFpgNdYp8OLCTHtGXKnzP2e9bloDg4bo7gfMlGU5zB7YqwRU4ICFYVw44viBz79YIGaSJ1vvkVqmtlRKbpczY9xXNbQUTMk-QSXkYD2mUnx4eWuidwDAHMEn3U3FghOfzJ6mRQmxVPTiwxr4Qs/s16000/trekking%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">From Sankri, hikers reach Juda ka Talab, a sacred mountain lake through the dense forests. It is the first campsite along the riverside and oak or pine trees where the weather drops to -12 during winters. Moreover, trekkers can see the 360-degree view of the mountain ranges from the Kedarkantha summit. From the summit, hikers return to Sankri, passing through Hargoan.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Har Ki Dun trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 47 km</li>
<li>Base camp: Sankri</li>
<li>Best time to visit: throughout the year, except monsoon</li>
<li>Duration: 7 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This trek is a spiritual and ancient trek of the Himalayas, attracting hikers worldwide every year. Hikers choose this place for the summer season because it shows the natural beauty of the place, like green patches in the meadows, rhododendron flowers, and dense forests. It is located at an altitude of 11675 feet, known as one of the treks in Uttarakhand for beginners. Har ki Dun is where trekkers can witness Swargrohini, Bandar Poonch, and black peak. The trek starts from the Sankri village, then to Pauni Garaat, and finally to Har ki Dun. Hikers glimpse the Jaundhar glacier from this trek, and Morinda Lake or Borasu pass from the summit.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuJxlCnH0I_lZII7hNpyXUI3yyHDrq103W6M_4i0-xs4Vdw7K6bhZgbQxpRyIQaQfgZ9P4Z5vX96pfZyIqDGb1xg0vGDNREiQafe9sRPiNmn2bXj8zAmjV94NVK6oSdXwTVGWnUFt81viJcvsVDFJ4M07aXTLG7kARUxL9QxG9uJwo96BzCClkhzuoys/s840/best%20trekking%20company%20Uttarakhand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Uttarakhand best treks" border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuJxlCnH0I_lZII7hNpyXUI3yyHDrq103W6M_4i0-xs4Vdw7K6bhZgbQxpRyIQaQfgZ9P4Z5vX96pfZyIqDGb1xg0vGDNREiQafe9sRPiNmn2bXj8zAmjV94NVK6oSdXwTVGWnUFt81viJcvsVDFJ4M07aXTLG7kARUxL9QxG9uJwo96BzCClkhzuoys/s16000/best%20trekking%20company%20Uttarakhand.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The meadows of this place are covered with alpine flowers during the spring season, offering a pleasant sight for the trekkers. The trail is located in the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in the Garhwal Himalayas. The valley's cradle-shaped shape describes the peace and calmness of nature.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Brahmatal Trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 24 kms</li>
<li>Base camp: Lohajung</li>
<li>Best time to visit: winter</li>
<li>Duration: 6 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Brahmatal trek at an altitude of 12250 feet combines forest trails, glacial lakes, and a summit. It is one of the undiscovered hiking destinations in Uttarakhand, meaning hikers can experience pure beauty and untouched diverse terrains of the Himalayas. The total path starts from a steady incline, offering Mount Trishul, Ronti saddle, and many more. On reaching the top of the Brahmatal summit, a picturesque sight awaits the hikers with a snow-capped mountain range. You will notice different colors in the fresh white snow under the starry sky in winter trekking. Sleeping in the campsite is a dream comes true for many hikers. It starts from Lohajung village, which relates to the mythical stories of Goddess Parvati and Shiva.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uz1Yb96Evffg0jt4RYBbZUi0lhcn2ldjMEXfi4yXUiNtO22AHO27GS6qB0zVwYngP1068JGk1zYUgvhYlpeU0WsWYGvUWtW9UZ_onj9Bx2oGsTmVzbmQNHW5wLisvFweGPm8541PbP-hkxhgOD-gC96mCq_j0H1wTU5CO9QwJN3mBg9WVkfkqJmc1J0/s840/best%20hiking%20trails%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Uttarakhand best trekking company" border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uz1Yb96Evffg0jt4RYBbZUi0lhcn2ldjMEXfi4yXUiNtO22AHO27GS6qB0zVwYngP1068JGk1zYUgvhYlpeU0WsWYGvUWtW9UZ_onj9Bx2oGsTmVzbmQNHW5wLisvFweGPm8541PbP-hkxhgOD-gC96mCq_j0H1wTU5CO9QwJN3mBg9WVkfkqJmc1J0/s16000/best%20hiking%20trails%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">From Lohajung, the journey starts for Bekaltal through the silver oak forests and rhododendron foliage. The Bekaltal lakeside serves as a lakeside campsite with natural beauty. The summit of the Brahmatal Lake remains covered with fresh snow from where you can experience the majestic Himalayan beauty. From here, hikers climb to Brahmatal top to catch the bird’s eye view. You will notice the mountain ranges with the golden hue of the sun. Mount Trishul and Nanda Ghunti can be best seen from here, along with Mount Shivling.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Valley of Flowers trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 38 kms</li>
<li>Base camp: Ghangaria</li>
<li>Best time to visit: monsoon</li>
<li>Duration: 6 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This hiking destination in Uttarakhand depicts an aesthetic valley of flowers that blooms during spring among the exquisite meadows. The alpine flora adds more charm to the landscape between the Zanskar and Great Himalayan ranges. The Flower Valley is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of its vast and colourful flora. Hikers get amused with the scent coming from the flowers throughout the trek. It is a perfect trek for flower lovers, bird watchers, and nature enthusiasts.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW_kUu6BQ8SIIqESIOPgo9It-a80erstacykOsehummNLGnhKDsBrsqKgfrSv8rQKh8kpjLYYrtFhpGDs9_0S55KR8HRZAWO-kS3bsdsxH9K3ZVFfGbWiY-33_trqwGrtHzcGYcly34Ld9VPESDvdA1IrGx4DSgUTVo2wAvLgUGYI9aJlZKpjNOk6LZk/s840/best%20treks%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best hiking trails in Uttarakhand" border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheW_kUu6BQ8SIIqESIOPgo9It-a80erstacykOsehummNLGnhKDsBrsqKgfrSv8rQKh8kpjLYYrtFhpGDs9_0S55KR8HRZAWO-kS3bsdsxH9K3ZVFfGbWiY-33_trqwGrtHzcGYcly34Ld9VPESDvdA1IrGx4DSgUTVo2wAvLgUGYI9aJlZKpjNOk6LZk/s16000/best%20treks%20in%20Uttarakhand.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The trek starts from Haridwar, where trekkers travel to Joshimath, crossing the confluence of Mandakini and Alakananda rivers. The 10km trekking journey starts at Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. It is the steepest climb in the trek, with a stretch of 5km. Valley of Flowers trek is covered with clouds and gliding rivers, which look like a painted canvas.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Dayara Bugyal trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 24 km</li>
<li>Base camp: Barsu</li>
<li>Best time to visit: spring, summer, fall and winter</li>
<li>Duration: 6 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you dream of a blissful walk among the alpine forests or a night at the campsite, this is the perfect trek. Trekkers can experience mountain villages with lavish grasslands between the Himalayan ranges. The trekking journey is easy to moderate and suitable for all hikers. The mixed forest of oak, pines, and maples amuses everyone running along the Bakaria top and Dayara Bugyal. The extensive meadows stretch for 28 square meter with exotic ranges of Mount Srikanth and Draupadi ka Danda, which are the main highlights of this trek.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1yE2B74svGFQr5NacE4rSByRPL4RFXIgnZ_Y39JNG5lO7objbS4JuSNTwddJppByZ_sQMsJdC-V6aspSlmbD99ZXueOIU-awUskB-kxABZiG_nWys_5Q18p2gKC2q_IiG46Iq_5r34BYZ5f-y8160qtjJhZlKpGA9Vcy41oJ9ZuotaFhPWMy4qLz6-4/s840/Uttarakhand%20best%20trekking%20company.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Uttarakhand top hiking trails" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1yE2B74svGFQr5NacE4rSByRPL4RFXIgnZ_Y39JNG5lO7objbS4JuSNTwddJppByZ_sQMsJdC-V6aspSlmbD99ZXueOIU-awUskB-kxABZiG_nWys_5Q18p2gKC2q_IiG46Iq_5r34BYZ5f-y8160qtjJhZlKpGA9Vcy41oJ9ZuotaFhPWMy4qLz6-4/s16000/Uttarakhand%20best%20trekking%20company.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">You will reach Barnala Tal from Barsu, where you will see the lake's clear water beside the Himalayan ranges. Then, the Bakaria top summit feels challenging because the gradual ascend showcases a 360-degree view of the mountains. This trek also covers the sacred Gangotri temple near the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Bugyal offers the best landscape photography with unexplored topography, a delightful experience for photographers.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Ali bedni Bugyal trek</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;"><ul>
<li>Total trek distance: 31 kms</li>
<li>Base camp: Lohajung</li>
<li>Best time to visit: all seasons, except monsoon</li>
<li>Duration: 6 days</li></ul></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This trek covers two beautiful scenic meadows, Ali Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal surrounding Mt Trishul and Nanda Ghunti. The colossal Himalayan ranges stretches from Chaukhamba to Neelkanth to Mandani making them the main attractions of this trek. Hikers get chances to explore the villages of Didna and Wan while reaching the summit. It also has way to reach Bedni Kund at the Bedni top. It starts from Lohajung gradually to Ali Bugyal forest camp and then to Bedni top.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB_R6JClWHInBhTtAAJXwSKXpdkm9CuiEi979DJbDHWOrC1gFqjeSF4p9QgyB_Gxt3MpZMIaZV2pK1fHDZ7Q0Uw6hw7TA_Uo6XPOkdk9I2DSS071Gk1JbY114UYiKb6wVaMJtzRfPeNnefkucnTyo2G12KDG_95JyZBiFksnLq9Wg0jx-mbuBvHb-L4g/s840/Uttarakhand%20top%20hiking%20trails.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="where to go trekking in Uttarakhand" border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB_R6JClWHInBhTtAAJXwSKXpdkm9CuiEi979DJbDHWOrC1gFqjeSF4p9QgyB_Gxt3MpZMIaZV2pK1fHDZ7Q0Uw6hw7TA_Uo6XPOkdk9I2DSS071Gk1JbY114UYiKb6wVaMJtzRfPeNnefkucnTyo2G12KDG_95JyZBiFksnLq9Wg0jx-mbuBvHb-L4g/s16000/Uttarakhand%20top%20hiking%20trails.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Trekkers cross dense coniferous forests along the route with a 360 degree view of the Himalayan ranges. You can enjoy the starry nights from the campsites as well. The terrain descends from Ali Bugyal and passes through the lush Himalayan flora. Here, hikers also visit Nanda Devi temple then reaches Ghairoli Patal. This trek journey is moderately difficult but one of the safest trek available in Uttarakhand.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: 7 Best Treks in Uttarakhand, India</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">In conclusion, the northern state is the treasure trove of breathtaking trekking destinations of the world covering adventure activities in Uttarakhand for trekkers. The dramatic landscape ranging from towering peaks of the Himalayas to pristine lakes provides the backdrop of the best treks of Uttarakhand.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ju2uQrLQzds?si=LUtdlqM6V6DUONqt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Author's Bio: Promita is a content writer at Moxtain. She considers herself a passionate writer in different niches. Apart from the subject in which she is graduating, artistic pursuits also draw her. Music has always been close to her heart so she sings whenever loneliness grabs her. She hopes to get better every day as every moment counts in life.</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUttarakhand, India30.066753 79.0192996999999911.756519163821153 43.863049699999991 58.376986836178844 114.17554969999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-38928863266416234592023-10-18T09:06:00.000-07:002023-12-18T11:00:02.272-08:00Laundry Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts for Using Laundry Services Abroad<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiKbuJd6qtnAHhPtjCOcLXfSXzGhMTWuGn3Z_VmQiPjaD0zzaCcOouVAW8giX9H9XefZtsut9-eRfNud3qoCkxEBOIzFfSbGAfSmWHLNx0qQGvPxWqSN3yyZqSjzZAiJdtM0FN1blLb_XD1wtma4LnAfPxl9kSZvHKhyG-7dap2qLlaXj8mgd2l4CWc4/s840/how%20to%20do%20laundry%20abroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="how to clean my clothes while I'm travelling" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiKbuJd6qtnAHhPtjCOcLXfSXzGhMTWuGn3Z_VmQiPjaD0zzaCcOouVAW8giX9H9XefZtsut9-eRfNud3qoCkxEBOIzFfSbGAfSmWHLNx0qQGvPxWqSN3yyZqSjzZAiJdtM0FN1blLb_XD1wtma4LnAfPxl9kSZvHKhyG-7dap2qLlaXj8mgd2l4CWc4/s16000/how%20to%20do%20laundry%20abroad.jpg" title="a laundromat" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Travelling or residing in a foreign country provides a wonderful opportunity to immerse oneself in different cultures and traditions. Alongside the excitement of exploring new places and experiencing diverse cuisines, it's equally important to understand and respect local customs, even in seemingly mundane activities like doing laundry. Laundry etiquette varies from country to country, and understanding the dos and don'ts can help you navigate this everyday chore with ease and respect for local customs.</p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Dos for Using Laundry Services Abroad</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Doing laundry may not be a glamorous aspect of travelling or living abroad, but it's an essential one. This is also something that you should consider when <a href="https://wanderera.com/choosing-a-hotel/" target="_blank">choosing a hotel</a>. Here are some of the basic dos when using laundry services in a foreign country:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Research the local laundry practices!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Are they the same as the <a href="https://www.lioxclean.com/laundry/brooklyn" target="_blank">wash and fold service near me</a>? It also helps when you know some <a href="https://scoopofthoughts.com/easy-clothing-hacks/" target="_blank">easy clothing hacks</a> in case you need to treat a stain ASAP. Before diving into the laundry routine in a new country, take some time to research and understand the common laundry practices specific to that region. This includes learning about laundry terminology, the types of services available, and the general expectations regarding laundry.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7y05h19DcwE?si=s3zQPmvAU5_zHpLJ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In some countries, self-service laundromats are prevalent, while in others, laundry services are often outsourced to local launderettes. Understanding these nuances will help you navigate the laundry landscape effectively.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. Respect Local Customs and Norms!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Do not forget to research the local customs and norms. You have to remember that every culture has its own set of customs and norms, and laundry is no exception. It's essential to respect and adhere to these practices. For instance, some cultures may have specific days designated for doing laundry due to historical or religious reasons. Being aware of these traditions and planning your laundry accordingly shows respect for the local way of life.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Check Laundry Labels and Instructions!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Laundry labels on clothing often contain important information about how to wash and care for the garment. Familiarize yourself with common laundry symbols and instructions so that you can properly sort and wash your clothes.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4utieCRWe30POuOmTMkpBVrGTpkI8myTUnTHcrUaBca2LXk_601lQz_8hORmABPbCGOJ8y8BwpoBMnj0pGMzy3ZezMmRxVJ2ZE_VBu5L_LLVtvIsFGQVJ-HszZAXeZKpI9A0uDzXq79gQXAR-XtmE2q4IS7yiaFHxeUi0WI0_fyVUT6AGbxFkGwJUQzE/s840/how%20to%20do%20laundry%20while%20traveling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="how to do my laundry whilst travelling" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4utieCRWe30POuOmTMkpBVrGTpkI8myTUnTHcrUaBca2LXk_601lQz_8hORmABPbCGOJ8y8BwpoBMnj0pGMzy3ZezMmRxVJ2ZE_VBu5L_LLVtvIsFGQVJ-HszZAXeZKpI9A0uDzXq79gQXAR-XtmE2q4IS7yiaFHxeUi0WI0_fyVUT6AGbxFkGwJUQzE/s16000/how%20to%20do%20laundry%20while%20traveling.jpg" title="a foreign launderette" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This practice helps prevent accidental damage or mishandling of delicate fabrics. Following the garment care instructions is especially crucial when using laundry services abroad, where you might not be as familiar with the equipment or detergents being used.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. Ask for Assistance if Uncertain!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">If you are unsure about how to use a washing machine, dryer, or any other laundry facility, don't hesitate to ask for help. Local staff or friendly fellow travellers can provide valuable tips and guidance. It's better to seek assistance than risk damaging your clothes or equipment due to ignorance.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Don'ts for Using Laundry Services Abroad</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The way laundry is done, the laundry facilities available, and the cultural expectations surrounding laundry can significantly differ across countries. Understanding these differences and adhering to proper laundry etiquette is crucial for both a successful laundry experience and for demonstrating respect for the local culture. Here are some of the basic don'ts of doing laundry in a foreign country:</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#1. Do not assume that laundry practices are universal!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">That’s one of the biggest mistakes travellers can make– assuming that laundry practices are the same everywhere. This assumption can lead to misunderstandings, damage to clothing, or unintentional breaches of cultural norms. Always approach laundry in a new place with an open mind and a willingness to learn and adapt.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#2. Do not mix colours and fabrics without confirming!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, we really have to sort the colours and fabrics of our clothes before putting them into the washer. But, in some countries, it is a big deal, especially in places where laundry facilities are shared. It is essential to follow proper etiquette regarding separating laundry.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YGXXutQsMzc?si=Dnnyjl6T7ghNnhDH" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Avoid mixing different colours or fabrics unless you're certain it's acceptable to do so. Mixing without confirmation can result in colours bleeding or damage to the clothing.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#3. Do not overload laundry machines!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Overloading laundry machines is a common error made by travellers eager to finish their laundry quickly. However, overloading can prevent clothes from being washed effectively or damage the equipment. Follow the recommended load capacities to ensure that your laundry is cleaned thoroughly and without any problems. Also, you might want to consider <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2021/01/how-to-start-decluttering-when-overwhelmed-dehoarding.html" target="_blank">travelling in a minimalistic way</a> so that you don't have so much washing to do!</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">#4. Do not neglect communication with laundry staff!</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Clear communication is key to a successful laundry experience, especially in a foreign country. Don't hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification from laundry staff regarding the laundry process, costs, or any concerns you might have. Effective communication helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures a smooth laundry experience.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: Follow Laundry Etiquette When Travelling</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Laundry etiquette is an often overlooked yet important aspect of adapting to a new culture while travelling or living abroad. It may not be the same as the <a href="https://www.lioxclean.com/laundry/manhattan/prospect-park" target="_blank">laundry delivery and pickup service</a> you are accustomed to at home. Recognizing and respecting the customs and practices related to laundry in a foreign country not only demonstrates cultural sensitivity but also ensures that your laundry experience is efficient and trouble-free. By following the dos and don'ts outlined above, you can navigate the laundry landscape with confidence and consideration for the local way of life.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XUd4c2q5pbU?si=CE2PGrXxlkgg8OWt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Always remember, a little understanding and respect for cultural differences go a long way in making your stay in a foreign country a positive and enriching experience. Happy washing!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comEurope54.5259614 15.255118726.215727563821154 -19.9011313 82.836195236178838 50.4113687tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-50933766229589841452023-10-12T03:09:00.000-07:002023-10-12T04:58:59.719-07:00Choosing the Right Type of Bag for Your Travel Adventures<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiJ-3PRiwewHJI-EP6uvUQAxrVu1-2n1FAPJ0eCkuVre2ZfAWVaAe1Q7vM4jJgXHOuoeZvGikNNZ-oG-MJcV8iFMcgp9fZKBxqCsFnOb4gPmSvS90uqeaQg3x0lcltR3ryyEDzgKKaIyd6Xw9XYq-B_SpL1f3RFSalTGxA7W30uDx7OAxeXMvYcikqtg/s840/what%20travel%20bags%20to%20choose.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="what bag to choose for travel" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiJ-3PRiwewHJI-EP6uvUQAxrVu1-2n1FAPJ0eCkuVre2ZfAWVaAe1Q7vM4jJgXHOuoeZvGikNNZ-oG-MJcV8iFMcgp9fZKBxqCsFnOb4gPmSvS90uqeaQg3x0lcltR3ryyEDzgKKaIyd6Xw9XYq-B_SpL1f3RFSalTGxA7W30uDx7OAxeXMvYcikqtg/s16000/what%20travel%20bags%20to%20choose.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">Whether you’re a beginner traveller or an experienced jet-setter, a bag is something you simply can’t forget to bring on your trip. As covered in a previous post, bags are <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2023/07/fashion-essentials-for-vacation.html" target="_blank">fashion essentials</a> that combine style and functionality by complementing your look and serving as practical storage for other items in your packing list. However, with so many styles and designs to choose from, you might feel overwhelmed about choosing which type of bag to carry throughout your travel adventures. So, here is a short list of specific bags that will surely match the activity or destination on your itinerary.</p><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Daypack for Outdoor Activities</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">When you’re engaged in outdoor activities like hiking, trekking, or cycling, you will want a bag that can store your gear, food, and other essentials while remaining comfortable for long hours of walking or travelling. Therefore, your best option is a hard-wearing <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/osprey-hikelite-26-review-unfussy-133327378.html" target="_blank">daypack</a> that can withstand all types of weather conditions, like strong winds or heavy rain.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7U5FLtiZ-y5knGaSmQFpEW33m5yzgRAOK9tognALm7PGEj2l73upAzy-hjnd_cwr-fm5Fr251dkyoRIxZi8y4Kj0C0IynX9hpkoD7GKTzJfXhcyiE2xjHg6f617DiY6y9c1LgvqYJO_JyWNS0_aI5b5FC_NYzyl4DSfJCJ-yBxEao2_KgFH5F9p7tEs/s840/best%20travel%20bags.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="which travel bag to choose" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7U5FLtiZ-y5knGaSmQFpEW33m5yzgRAOK9tognALm7PGEj2l73upAzy-hjnd_cwr-fm5Fr251dkyoRIxZi8y4Kj0C0IynX9hpkoD7GKTzJfXhcyiE2xjHg6f617DiY6y9c1LgvqYJO_JyWNS0_aI5b5FC_NYzyl4DSfJCJ-yBxEao2_KgFH5F9p7tEs/s16000/best%20travel%20bags.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The Osprey Hikelite 26 is one such bag, with its 100% recycled nylon material and water-repellent treatment. It also has mesh ventilation for optimal airflow and padded shoulder straps with a sternum harness for maximum flexibility and comfort, whether hiking the Eiger Trail or on a cycling holiday in Slovenia.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Crossbody Bag for City Sightseeing</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, if you’re the more laid-back type of traveller who tours historical cities like Rome or shops around fashion centres like The Marais in Paris, a crossbody bag is an excellent choice for you. Not only are crossbody bags compact and comfortable to wear even for long hours of metropolitan sightseeing, but you also stay hands-free for greater convenience and access to your belongings.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhwoZjI3hsBomUPe8XWM8_6E5Wvrc9t6uZmb16AvcrlGwmdNcwpDjscsqA2pw5m9UeKNznBjgg0r0y6t_DoKOBQN6QqpULvd-BWN4Y4LyY3ijTZtuG21xxeUL2GDlLP8JT8o0gVd54pDs0frgQ7TpQ-VuvXhTLAXT13SbXvyNUC91dq5x1KxiV6hkoxc/s840/what%20travel%20bags%20should%20I%20choose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best crossbody bag for travel" border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhwoZjI3hsBomUPe8XWM8_6E5Wvrc9t6uZmb16AvcrlGwmdNcwpDjscsqA2pw5m9UeKNznBjgg0r0y6t_DoKOBQN6QqpULvd-BWN4Y4LyY3ijTZtuG21xxeUL2GDlLP8JT8o0gVd54pDs0frgQ7TpQ-VuvXhTLAXT13SbXvyNUC91dq5x1KxiV6hkoxc/s16000/what%20travel%20bags%20should%20I%20choose.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Crossbody bags are also incredibly versatile for personal style, with River Island’s collection of crossbody <a href="https://www.riverisland.com/c/women/bags-and-purses" target="_blank">handbags</a> ranging from trendy quilted patterns to chic embossed bags with chain straps. Even the colour and finish can make or break your look, from black patent leather that exudes sophistication to a pink diamante best suited for nights out.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Straw Tote for Beach Getaways</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Tote bags have always been the quintessential accessory for the beach, but this year’s trend elevates the conventional tote with a straw material. The Telegraph touts <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/summer-designer-straw-basket-worth-the-price-loewe-chloe/" target="_blank">straw bags</a> as the newest ‘It’ handbag, seen not only in picnics and street markets along Provence but also donned by luxurious travellers on their beach getaways in the French & Italian Riviera.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPKfrND_8mBRIXZBqydo7xGgpZW2J7JTH70CBEdMHCqJIfOkvHyrrSHfO40vhSn5i8zPxzyAYNYpigsE9EVauB0TYflebNLTG1v5p2dbDvtPX1rK9JumpOK37VAi5b2D2dOSBcTRVrwy0PU4G6fRi7XlRbD2rp5u008UXziHo0vy3DAt1mYfw3g31jyQ/s840/best%20bags%20for%20travel.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="best crossbody bag for travel" border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPKfrND_8mBRIXZBqydo7xGgpZW2J7JTH70CBEdMHCqJIfOkvHyrrSHfO40vhSn5i8zPxzyAYNYpigsE9EVauB0TYflebNLTG1v5p2dbDvtPX1rK9JumpOK37VAi5b2D2dOSBcTRVrwy0PU4G6fRi7XlRbD2rp5u008UXziHo0vy3DAt1mYfw3g31jyQ/s16000/best%20bags%20for%20travel.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, straw or raffia bags are an accessible way to evoke quiet luxury, as they’re among the affordable options of luxury brands like Loewe and Bottega Veneta. Despite being lightweight, they also have enough room to keep beach essentials like towels, sunscreen, and sunglasses safe and secure.</div><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Duffel Bag for Weekend Trips</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">As modern lifestyles become increasingly busier, the more common short weekend trips or city breaks become. If you’re among those seeking a quick but much-needed respite from work and daily life, it’s better to pack all your belongings in an easy-to-carry duffel bag instead of hauling a suitcase around.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKMPnCKDVpXCZYXurf-vH8PCsRSOBQl2G-CENc-wX5sRvHjoXTvQYCcxN_TxFH7-96jKITjju91nlKXSdku_wYbM62LVXscG_HFHlMKUX1g5DPVZ6YhbFMci5Aqlba419tzCvVHbM6LQ4NG6kTar8JJvW39QjiDffkXba4Tqm54ll5Gcg47jhJnrKsN4/s840/travel%20bag%20types.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="crossbody bags for travel" border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKMPnCKDVpXCZYXurf-vH8PCsRSOBQl2G-CENc-wX5sRvHjoXTvQYCcxN_TxFH7-96jKITjju91nlKXSdku_wYbM62LVXscG_HFHlMKUX1g5DPVZ6YhbFMci5Aqlba419tzCvVHbM6LQ4NG6kTar8JJvW39QjiDffkXba4Tqm54ll5Gcg47jhJnrKsN4/s16000/travel%20bag%20types.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Among the duffel bags available, the Vomgomfom overnight bag is the best choice with its water and tear-resistant polyester material, as well as its 65-litre storage capacity divided into five compartments and a convenient side pocket for shoes.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BAwHZUoCXGQ?si=EcWcyRtS5OE7YDBb" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Wherever your next trip may be or how long it may last, keeping in mind the tips above can help ensure the perfect travel companion for your style and needs. For more travel tips and guides, check out the rest of the posts on this blog!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comUnited States37.09024 -95.7128918.780006163821156 -130.869141 65.400473836178847 -60.556641tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239429139628465193.post-15874031896140393632023-10-12T02:00:00.001-07:002023-10-13T06:15:15.678-07:00Hiking Vancouver Island's West Coast Trail: a Quick Guide<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6thz7NcwE3a-gwdDxOZO4ouNvhYtaW3T6SzA33tB37RX4EMNdEtoECUCKZ1DmjkqeCppfk0J_Lrkn8Q08dhEUQp2vzU6SnGljHMeEz_fPovyCvxtyPEyHMnr9FMXwc7H9mC_fPVCUISfe28H5M1Mtet60t-L3MT1Uen_jyU0OgMyN25Whn9flcWPtXhc/s840/west%20coast%20trail%20guide.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vancouver island west coast trail advice" border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6thz7NcwE3a-gwdDxOZO4ouNvhYtaW3T6SzA33tB37RX4EMNdEtoECUCKZ1DmjkqeCppfk0J_Lrkn8Q08dhEUQp2vzU6SnGljHMeEz_fPovyCvxtyPEyHMnr9FMXwc7H9mC_fPVCUISfe28H5M1Mtet60t-L3MT1Uen_jyU0OgMyN25Whn9flcWPtXhc/s16000/west%20coast%20trail%20guide.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<p style="text-align: center;">There's always a new adventure to look forward to. Maybe you've already delved into the depths of the Blackwater Forest Trail in Ireland or explored Nepal's <a href="https://www.travellingweasels.com/2021/10/best-treks-in-nepal.html" target="_blank">best treks</a>, like the Manaslu Circuit Trek or world-famous Everest Base Camp Trek. However, Vancouver's West Coast Trail is something different.</p><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Overview of the West Coast Trail</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The trail's coastline is as treacherous as it is beautiful and has earned the name “Graveyard of the Pacific”. In this journey, you'll be fighting off sand and turf and tides while walking what was once the perilous rescue route for unlucky mariners. It'll test even the best of hikers. If you're up for the challenge, here's a quick guide on how to embark on the trip. The trail is 75km of rugged and gorgeous terrain. You'll want to visit during the summer months when it won't be quite as muddy. The journey takes about a week, starting at the Gordon River and ending in Bamfield. You'll face a topography of sand, mud, and stone and a foggy rainforest climate.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Requirements of the West Coast Trail</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The West Coast Trail has a few prerequisites you need to take care of. First, you need to make a reservation on Parks Canada's website. There are only 70 slots to begin hiking per day, and the trail is only open from May to September to help visitors avoid inclement weather. You'll also have to pay for various costs like a $160 (£126.69) trail permit, a $25.75 (£20.39) reservation fee, and a National Park entry fee of $10.50 (£8.31) per day.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHYG_Rpbv6lc656Nq9XttsJhVpNAZZchEJmQi9xR7SU_4Cp3H9L8WBdVOuWXln9U4-b4wQWkXPkyIWVAE4cQqbN0IxKvilGMTcv7eSANsb3G_6vIs4BzzCET5N_4zNa593n_QnWtUHM5pdmX9xEMyAaatR4TpJ9pOC7qxv82R2qPeQPllpaGIdSOnJSI/s840/west%20coast%20trail%20vancouver%20island.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="west coast trail hiking guide" border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHYG_Rpbv6lc656Nq9XttsJhVpNAZZchEJmQi9xR7SU_4Cp3H9L8WBdVOuWXln9U4-b4wQWkXPkyIWVAE4cQqbN0IxKvilGMTcv7eSANsb3G_6vIs4BzzCET5N_4zNa593n_QnWtUHM5pdmX9xEMyAaatR4TpJ9pOC7qxv82R2qPeQPllpaGIdSOnJSI/s16000/west%20coast%20trail%20vancouver%20island.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">An orientation session and a pre-hike briefing are required. These take place at 10 am and 2 pm at Pachena Bay and Gordon River and at 8 am and 3:30 pm at the Nitinaht Visitor Centre. You're also allowed to attend an orientation the day before your hike.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What to Pack</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">When hiking on the West Coast Trail, be sure to bring the following items.</div><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Sunglasses</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The West Coast Trail is a magnet for eye damage. You'll face UV radiation emanating from overhead and light glare from the sea—and without the right eyewear, you might get blinded by photokeratitis. To shield yourself, invest in a pair of <a href="https://www.oakley.com/en-gb/category/sunglasses" target="_blank">sunglasses</a> with special lenses that are designed with performance in mind. These will safeguard your eyes on your strenuous hikes using heavy-duty frame durability and superb lens technology. For this, you can try the Flak model from sports brand Oakley, which has impact-resistant frame material and polarised PRIZM lenses that grant detailed vision and UV and glare protection.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Rucksack</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">You'll want to be able to carry all your essentials with you on this week-long trip while keeping those supplies dry from the ever-present moisture and secure when you're climbing ladders or wading through rivers. That means your 30-45 litre backpack won't do—you'll want a larger 50-65 litre capacity. Simultaneously, your rucksack should have a stellar weight distribution system that can keep you upright even amid the infamously slick terrain of the trail. Consider trying ones like the spacious Granite Gear Crown 3 60, which is made out of lightweight, high-tenacity nylon and has a water-repellent finish.</div><br /><br />
<h4 style="text-align: left;">Walter-purifying bottles</h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The West Coast Trail's creeks flow from prime logging territory, so it could contain human and animal wastes as well as microorganisms, pollutants, and dissolved ions. If you're drinking this water, you'll want a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zvxvgdm/revision/3" target="_blank">water purification system</a> to filter everything out. Consider the Grayl Geopress Water Purifier, which has a sophisticated water cartridge that blocks particulates and blinds pathogens.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Hiking Tips</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">The West Coast Trail is arduous. Before you book your tickets, consider making an exercise plan to get to the <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2021/04/26/how-to-train-yourself-and-your-dog-for-a-long-hike-14459090/" target="_blank">fitness level required</a> to undertake it. For example, you can build muscle to backpack longer. You can also customise your trip for your level, like stopping at the midway point at Nitinat Narrows.</div><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GYl-ghO1BJB-Aofe7LzOhK1goyxqhL15jsRMllTPwL4iXvGxr_1p0I7AaF2FQwvpJpwRN1DhsxUDQcznZGhNRngldJF-MRQSfqi0d75KVgNR7UCA3nongTRFAzQVepR_tW6Us7PQwemDTVvi7zt3HwHTx3_Dkc9eqyuGnzQkQjcvcIniOpKH7bZVbtQ/s974/west%20coast%20trail%20tips%20and%20advice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="west coast trail vancouver island" border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GYl-ghO1BJB-Aofe7LzOhK1goyxqhL15jsRMllTPwL4iXvGxr_1p0I7AaF2FQwvpJpwRN1DhsxUDQcznZGhNRngldJF-MRQSfqi0d75KVgNR7UCA3nongTRFAzQVepR_tW6Us7PQwemDTVvi7zt3HwHTx3_Dkc9eqyuGnzQkQjcvcIniOpKH7bZVbtQ/s16000/west%20coast%20trail%20tips%20and%20advice.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Keep in mind that this trail is especially damp, as well. Rain can slick your paths, and previous downpours may have rotted the boardwalk—so be careful. The tides will also dictate when you can hike on the beach or when you'll have to use the nearby woods.</div><br /><br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Wrap Up: Hiking Vancouver Island's West Coast Trail</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, the West Coast Trail offers a chance to embark on an exciting and challenging adventure. Hopefully, this guide will help you experience an unforgettable journey.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1YfVcl51rKU?si=cx0IYIB2pGlksbCE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>What about you, have you ever hiked the West Coast Trail? Feel free to share any tips & advice below!</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comVancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada49.6506376 -125.449390621.340403763821158 -160.60564060000002 77.960871436178849 -90.2931406