After a long conversation with a fellow travel pal of mine, James Grana, and also happens to own a successful San Antonio seo company, asks me a random question out fo the blue with, when was the last time you travelled abroad? Maybe you have traveled abroad for business, but have you done it for leisure? Traveling to a foreign country for leisure comes with many health benefits that have been proven scientifically. Here are some of them.
Research has shown that traveling keeps a person healthier. Women that travel at least two times every year have a lower risk of a heart attack compared to females that travel after every 6 years. This is also the case for males. Men that do not travel every year have a 20% death risk and 30% risk of developing heart disease.
Losing your baggage or a connecting flight in a foreign country can cause anxiety. However, scientific evidence shows that traveling can reduce stress levels dramatically. Most people feel less anxious when they travel. They also come back home in a better mood and more rested. And, these benefits can linger even for weeks after traveling.
Foreign experiences can increase the integrativeness and depth of thoughts, as well as, cognitive flexibility. This means traveling can enhance the ability of a person to make better, deeper connections when given disparate forms. Essentially, research has proven the existence of a link between international travel and creativity. But, traveling alone is not enough. A traveler must be purposeful about interacting with and engaging other people.
Most people are happier when they travel. Perhaps, that’s because they don’t have to worry about work when traveling. However, most people report increased happiness from trip planning.
Most people don’t want to talk about depression. However, it’s a major health problem in modern society. It’s not uncommon for doctors to prescribe depression medication to patients. Unfortunately, depression medication is not a healthier option. A healthier alternative is escaping the anxiety and hopelessness of depression. Travel can help you escape this hopelessness and lead a depression-free life.
These are scientifically proven health benefits of foreign travels. Plan more foreign trips to enjoy them.
Most people are concerned about their money when traveling abroad. What would happen if you run out of cash in a foreign country and you can’t access your bank account? What if somebody steals your money? How would you get back home?
These are some of the major concerns that most people have when traveling overseas. Nevertheless, these concerns shouldn’t hinder you from traveling. They should also not prevent you from enjoying your trip. Simply follow these money tips for traveling abroad to ensure a safe and comfortable trip.
Check the money conversion rates before you travel. For instance, find out how much Kenyan shillings you can get for one dollar. Also, check the amount you will be charged to convert your money. Do some mathematics before the trip to determine the right amount of money to carry when traveling abroad.
Before you travel, find out whether you can use your credit card in your destination country. Most banks have switched to chip-and-PIN technology because it’s more secure. Also, know that most businesses are no longer accepting outdated magnetic-stripe cards. Therefore, check whether you can use your credit card in your destination country before you travel.
Airport conversion centers and those in the city are a major rip-off. These will charge you hefty fees to convert your money. To avoid this, use a bank or ATM to get an exact conversion rate.
Don’t travel without cash in the local currency. This is very important because not all places accept credit cards. As such, you may want to use cash in places like buses and trains.
Your credit card provider or bank might think that a transaction that you perform outside the country is a fraud. This can prompt the provider or bank to take security measures like turning off your credit card. To avoid this, inform your bank that you will be traveling to a foreign country and you will be using the card there.
Some countries will charge you to enter or leave their boundaries. Usually, they don’t include this fee in the airline ticket. Therefore, check whether your destination country charges an entrance or exit fee. In most cases, this fee ranges between $25 and $30.
Follow these money tips for traveling abroad to have an enjoyable and comfortable trip abroad.
Many people want to travel solo but they feel guilty whenever they think about leaving their partners behind. So, how do you travel alone without feeling like you’re being selfish? Shedding this travel guilt and making you the priority is not easy. You need the right mindset to plan a solo trip guilty-free. Here are some of the thoughts to consider.
Maybe your spouse is not interested in traveling. If you think about it that way, you will be freeing them of the guilt of keeping you from traveling when you take off solo. Thus, you could be feeling guilty about the idea of wanting to travel alone when you could be doing them a favor.
You deserve to be happy. And, your partner will be happy on realizing that you’re doing what makes you happy. A smile can be contagious. Therefore, travel solo to come back as a happy person and spread this happiness to them.
You may be responsible for caring for your children, parents, and friends. In that case, traveling alone provides a chance to take some time off the duties. It’s an opportunity to make you a priority. This rejuvenates your body, mind, and soul, thereby enabling you to take care of the others better.
Traveling with a partner or a friend involves giving and taking. However, a trip with a partner or a group might not provide what you want. In that case, avoid dragging other people and go solo.
Engaging in a selfish activity like solo travel can be a gift to another person. For instance, you may have been generous with your talents and time. In returning your generosity, the recipient may want you to take time to yourself and travel alone.
Essentially, you don’t have a reason to feel guilty for traveling alone. If that’s what makes you happy, consider going on a solo trip.
Traveling usually comes with a lot of anticipation that could easily distract you from the goal of the trip, and end up spoiling the adventure if you do not know how to handle it. Although traveling gives you the freedom to indulge as you wish, it also requires some discipline to keep things on track and make the experience enjoyable. The following are some of the key things that you should stop doing when starting to travel so as to get the most out of the adventure.
Whenever you want to start traveling, try as much to avoid shopping for items that you do not need. Overspending will only cut short your budget and make it hard to save for travel. It is often tempting to buy just one more shirt, blouse, pair of sneakers, or pant when you have money. However, try to limit yourself to the basics at least until after the trip. Go easy on partying and find other ways to cut your spending.
If you have decided to start traveling, comparing your adventure to that of other travelers will only impact doubts and insecurity. Instead, set precise goals for your trip and look towards the positive side. Sometimes, listening to people only creates unrealistic standards that will prevent you from achieving the full potential of your adventure.
It is okay to visualize your trip and get a better view of what to expect in advance but, dwelling much on it could easily impact fear and even demoralize you from going on the adventure. Just like other hobbies in life, traveling has its perks and risks, all of which play an important role in making the experience memorable. You can only find out about the experience if you take the trip, so, put yourself together and let things flow naturally.
There are many things to avoid when you want to start traveling. However, most of them are basically common sense that every purposeful traveler should uphold. Nevertheless, just make sure your actions do not override the plans for traveling.
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Whether you are going on a business trip or vacation, you might want your dog too to come in tow. And, there is nothing strange about travelling with your dog. But, unlike humans, traveling with pets requires certain precautions. In case you may want to go on a trip with your dog, the following are some tips to keep in mind.
Although some people usually fear the idea of boarding flights with dogs, it is quite safe. However, they do not share the same cabin with people. In planes, animals are transported in crates in the undercarriage. The crates vary in sizes so you can always choose the most comfortable one for your dog. However, it is important that you start crate training the dog before the trip so they do not feel discomfort when traveling.
Before setting out on a trip with your dog, find out what the customs laws of your travel destination says about traveling with dogs. While there are some countries that do not allow dogs from other countries, most allow it but, with certain restrictions. Many countries require that people traveling with pets like dog acquire a pet passport. Besides, there is other additional paper work that you may be required to fill out. So, make sure that you know all the requirements and have them ready before the trip.
After crate training your pet and preparing all the necessary paper work, it is also important to notify the airline that you will be using that you intend to come along with a dog. This will enable them make the necessary preparations so you do not have problems at the time of traveling.
Not all hotels and resorts allow clients to stay with pets. So, make sure you book accommodation at a place that is pet friendly.
Overall, travelling with a dog can be a thrilling adventure. Besides the tips given above, you should also be vigilant and always try to keep the dog in sight for safety.
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