Solo Travel Tips for Shy People

Solo travel can change you if you allow it a chance. It can compel you to get out of a comfort zone. Solo travel can introduce you to new people and force you to try out new things. It can buffer you into a potentially better and new version of self. But, according to a blogger pal of mine, Austin Sims of Southwest Appliance Repair, solo travel can be daunting for a shy person. In fact, solo travel is totally a nightmare for a shy, anxious, or socially awkward person.

Shyness is something that can’t be cured. However, you can learn about it and live with it. Solo travel can help you do this. Here are solo travel tips for shy people that can help you enjoy traveling more often.

Ask Questions

Starting a conversation with a stranger can be a challenge for a shy traveler. In some cases, a shy person doesn’t even have the guts to ask questions. But, failing to ask questions won’t help you start conversations and get along with other people. It only makes you remain reserved and shy. Therefore, if someone approaches you and asks where you are from, answer them and ask a question too. Once they answer your question, ask about the place and the conversation will flow.

Try Not to Appear Shy

Shyness is something internal. Unless people have known you for sometime or you tell them, they won’t know you are shy instantly. Even when you feel uncomfortable, awkward, or nervous, they won’t notice that you are shy. Therefore, don’t give them a reason to suspect that you are shy.

Be Confident and Positive

A shy person can have difficulties getting into a restaurant or pub unless they know that someone close to them is already there. That’s because they are not confident and positive. To make your travel experience better, be confident and positive. Believe that you will enjoy a better experience from solo travel and activities that you engage in.

If you are shy and have difficulties traveling alone, follow these solo travel tips for shy people to make your experience more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Disadvantages of a Travel Buddy

It may sound appealing to travel to a new location alone with no set itinerary; however, tagging along with a companion, whether a relative or a friend, has advantages. You may be looking for security in an unfamiliar location, or you may be looking for someone with whom to share the adventure. However, some drawbacks come with it, and this article will examine some of them.

Schedule Constraints

When traveling with a companion, you must work around each other’s needs and interests, as opposed to solo travel, where you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. You will also need to devise a rough plan so that no one is caught off guard and misses a scheduled event or activity.

Catfishing

It usually occurs when a person pretends to be someone they are not. Finding credible sources to assist you in your search for a travel companion and adequate preparation and communication may help prevent this. Regardless, we must agree that you should meet some needs.

Inadequate Privacy

When setting boundaries, it is critical to ensure that you agree with your friends because everyone has different preferences and tastes. Another thing to remember is that when it comes to sharing, only do what makes you comfortable.

Incompatible Passions

Due to mismatched preferences, deciding how to spend your time can be frustrating and stressful. However, by communicating with your partner, you and your partner can devise ways to make the most of your time.

The Bottom Line

It can be intimidating to embark on an adventure with a stranger, but it can also provide opportunities you would not have had if traveling alone. If you follow the advice in this guide, you’ll be able to get along with your travel companion on any trip.

Best Travel Destinations in Japan

Japan is a unique travel destination because of its unique combination of tradition and modernity. Japan retains most of its natural features and cultures despite experiencing rapid technological developments. And this has made Japan a fantastic tourist destination because of the numerous available travel destinations.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is among Japan’s most fantastic travel destinations commemorating the 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima that led to the end of the Second World War. The park contains important monuments and museums with memorials of the first atomic bombing. Millions of people visit it annually.

Osaka Castle

The Osaka Castle is an icon of Japan’s historic journey and culture. It’s among the most famous landmarks in the country that attracts many tourists from far and wide. The castle has stood the test of time since 1583. Apart from its unique design and appearance, the Osaka Castle represents the true nature of the Japanese people in terms of resilience.

Koyasan Okunoin

The Koyasan Okunoin is a sacred place that many Japanese people believe to be the burial place of the originator of Shingon Buddhism, Kobo Daishi. It marks an important historical and religious pilgrimage site for the Japanese and tourists worldwide. Apart from the religious and cultural values, the Koyasan Okunoin has thousands of tombstones and a well-designed setting.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is one of the most noticeable natural landmarks in Japan. The tall mounting exceeding 3,776 meters attracts millions of visitors every year. The fantastic sight of the mountain as it towers over the surrounding landscape is enough for the pleasure of a traveler. However, you may find it more interesting to have a tighter experience by climbing Mount Fuji.

Nara

You won’t have had a complete travel experience in Japan if you don’t visit Nara. This ancient rural city is close to Kyoto. You will enjoy several UNESCO World Heritage sites in Nara, including ancient temples like Yakushiji Temple, Gangoji Temple, and Kohfukuji Temple. Apart from these ancient sites, you will see ancient pilgrimage routes and numerous Buddhist monuments.

Take Away

Japan is a travel jewel with numerous fantastic travel destinations. You will realize that there is much more to explore in terms of travel destinations when you travel there.

How Responsible Travel Benefits the Economy

Responsible traveling, also known as responsible tourism, involves traveling to a foreign place and positively impacting that destination. This approach helps improve one’s travel destination experience and the people you meet. If unsure whether this benefits the economy, this article explains how responsible traveling benefits the economy.

Employment Creation

Traveling is all about encountering people. It offers opportunities for everybody, primarily through employment. Through traveling, jobs are generated directly through hotels, restaurants, and taxis. Goods and services supply creates employment opportunities for those interested in travel and tourist-related businesses. Essentially, traveling leads to emergencies in new business ventures, benefiting the economy.

Development of Infrastructure

Tourists prefer traveling to a place that’s developed. They prefer locations with better transport networks, electricity connections, better water and sewerage system, and telephone services.

Locals always make sure that the above services are available to attract tourists, improving residents’ quality of life. Innovative technologies are also adopted.

Economic Growth

International traveling creates a flow of foreign currency to the local economy in less developed destinations. In most countries, tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange earnings. And this is because it generates revenue directly or indirectly to the host economy. Direct payment is from taxes on incomes from those employed in the tourism industry.

The goods and services that locals supply to tourists in restaurants or anywhere else generate revenue indirectly. Traveling is a great way and an essential part of the local economy.

Responsible traveling improves the social and economic conditions of the host community or country. We should all desire to travel responsibly by doing thorough research about our destination, getting there, supporting local economies, being smart about plastics, shopping carefully, and choosing our tours wisely.

Travel Tips for Single Men

When traveling when single, you stand to enjoy several benefits for men. However, you might also encounter challenges along the way. Nevertheless, common sense and careful planning can help you overcome these challenges. If planning to travel when single, here are helpful travel tips for single men to guide you.

Use Licensed Taxis

If you plan to use a taxi, use a licensed taxi company. That way, you can avoid using an unlicensed taxi company that may make you a victim of an assault or theft. Being a man doesn’t mean you’re immune to risks. Therefore, using a licensed taxi company, especially in a developing country, can help you minimize the risk of assault or theft.

Choose Your Accommodation Wisely

When traveling on a budget as a single man, you may choose to stay in a hostel with rooms that travelers can share. However, bear in mind that a hostel dorm can be co-ed. That means you will use a similar room with female travelers. Therefore, ask the hostel manager or check ahead to know more about room arrangements before booking. If you wish to meet new people, spend time in a hotel bar or lounge.

Don’t Be Too Trusting

Single males can quickly go out at night to enjoy the nightlife of their travel destinations. Going to a club or bar enables you to meet people from other parts of the world. However, don’t trust your new acquaintances completely. Even if you meet the most charming person in your life, don’t rush to trust them. Buying a drink for a stranger doesn’t hurt. However, be wary of your situation and pay attention to your surroundings.

When traveling as a single man, you can quickly meet a lady and agree to spend your time together. However, be careful and exercise caution in everything you do. Always focus on your safety no matter how trustworthy the person you meet might seem. If you end up in bed, engage in safe sex.

How Do You Feel When Traveling?

Traveling is a life-changing experience for some people. It also provides a chance to explore different environments and cultures that some people are oblivious to. But, people experience varying emotions during, before, and after traveling. Here are some of the feelings that people experience when traveling.

Excitement

From the moment you start researching the trip until you start booking accommodation and flights, you will most likely be excited to leave your comfort zone for a while. However, this is a normal feeling that most people experience when it comes to traveling.

Nervousness

When the day to travel draws closer, most people get nervous. The nerves start to sink as they realize that they are about to leave their homes, loved ones, and family to embark on an adventure. Again, this is a normal feeling.

Doubts

Upon arriving at the airport, you might doubt that you packed everything. This nagging feeling can make you think you have forgotten something important. If you don’t manage this feeling, it can drive you crazy throughout the flight.

Accomplishment

After boarding the flight and flying for a while, you will enjoy a feeling of accomplishment once you land at your travel destination. You will be excited that everything has gone well so far. You will feel in control of your trip and destiny.

Self-Confidence

You will feel confident, stepping off your plane and heading to a new, strange place. You will feel like you have made it. You can feel tired and desire to crash, even if it’s for a few hours.

Boredom

If you’re traveling alone and the flight took many houses, you can quickly get bored. The adrenaline can keep you awake, and you will feel exhausted by the end of the flight. That’s because you could have listened to all your music, tried to read some materials, but bored could still kick in.

It’s normal to experience these feelings when traveling. Just learn to manage your emotions, and your trip will be enjoyable and comfortable regardless of how you feel.

How to Travel as a Lawyer

Pursuing a career in law can be very demanding but, it also has its perks. Unlike in the past when lawyers only spent their time in courts and offices, there are many options today for lawyers to practice and travel at the same time. Such opportunities not only allow you to make money but, also have fun, exploring unique sights and sounds around the globe. The following are some of the best law careers that can offer you greater travel opportunities.

Human Rights Lawyer

As the name suggests, human rights lawyers deal with cases related to protecting the freedoms and rights of the people, both nationally and internationally. Some work for private law firms while others also work for various government agencies such as the U.N. Due to the wider scope of their work, human rights lawyers often travel to different parts of the world to collect statements from witnesses, make court appearances or attend court hearings.

International Trade Attorney

This is also another field that you should consider specializing in if you wish to practice law and travel. International trade attorneys focus on cases involving international trade such as disputes between global corporations or governments. International trade lawyers tend to focus on cases involving import and export laws, trade regulations, and compliance.

Corporate Lawyer

Specializing in corporate law could also allow you to travel. Depending on your qualifications and preferences, you can opt to work for a private firm or join a multinational organization. Most large corporations are currently looking for qualified candidates to expand their in-house legal staff. Some of the best corporations to look out for are those that deal in finance, healthcare, consulting, and insurance.

Overall, there is no shortage of alternatives for lawyers to practice and explore the world. However, you should do a little more research to choose the right law career that will deliver the desired travel experience.

How to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Most people love traveling. However, traveling can be stressful for some people. It can also be detrimental to their health, especially if a person is always moving. If you’re a person that is always traveling, here are tips to help you stay healthy on the road.

Get Adequate Sleep

When you sleep while traveling, you give your body time to rest. Crossing different time zones and carrying luggage, as well as, walking throughout the day can be challenging. Traveling can take a toll on you. Therefore, make sure that your body gets adequate rest by sleeping.

Pace Yourself

You won’t enjoy seeing an entire city in a single day. If you intend to do many things within a big city, slow down and stay longer. Make sure that your itinerary is properly spread out. That way, you’ll know the area more instead of telling people you have been to a place. Roam the city streets and be active. However, don’t overdo it. Make sure that you take breaks between trips to the streets.

Walk Everywhere

Take time to walk around. Walking is the best exercise you can do when traveling. If the train station is a few miles away, consider walking there rather than hopping on the metro. Avoid the escalator or elevator and walk up the stairs instead.

Stay Hydrated

Eat a good breakfast and keep your body hydrated. Travel with a bottle of water to ensure that you always shave water with you. Drinking adequate water will keep your body hydrated and healthy. Carrying a water bottle enables you to drink adequate water conveniently even in public places.

In addition to these tips on how to stay healthy while traveling, watch out what you eat and drink. Stick to a healthy diet and avoid sugary and alcoholic drinks. Non-alcoholic drinks and alcohol are full of calories that will give you unwanted, excess weight.

Travel Tips for Cash and Currency

The use of one currency and cash machines in most countries makes using cash when traveling easier. However, you can easily become extravagant with cash if you are not careful. It’s also easy to be robbed off your money if you carry a lot of cash. Here are travel tips for cash and currency to help you make the most of your money.

Avoid Buying Foreign Currency before the Trip

Some people feel like they should have British pounds, euros, or dollars in their pockets when boarding the airplane. As such, they end up paying for bad exchange rates. To avoid this, withdraw money at your travel destination. Most airports have ATMs where you can withdraw money in the local currency.

Avoid Cash Exchange

In places like Europe, cash exchanges are a major rip off. For instance, changing dollars to another currency at a local bank can mean losing up to 8% of your money. You can lose even up to 15% if you use a currency exchange booth at the airport. To avoid this, find a place where you won’t be charged a commission. Ideally, choose a place where you won’t lose more than 10%.

Use the Local Cash

You may be excited to find a store that accepts dollars in Europe. However, what you don’t know is that the purchase will cost you about 20% more due to the exchange rate of the store. Thus, you end up changing your money at a rate that is lousy whenever you use dollars to shop.

Use Credit Cards for Emergencies Only

Use credit cards to get cash advance via ATM of your debit card gets lost or damaged. However, bear in mind that you will pay a significant fee for cash advance and you must have your PIN.

Travelers are shortchanged in most places when it comes to cash and currency. Nevertheless, following these travel tips for cash and currency will enable you to get the most from the money that you spend when traveling.

Expectant Mother Travel Tips

There is an assumption among some women and even men that pregnant women should not travel. But, that is not true because there is no law prohibiting pregnant women from going on trips. If you have a healthy pregnancy and feeling fit to travel, there is nothing to worry about. Here are useful tips to keep in mind when planning a trip while pregnant.

Consult With Your Doctor before Takeoff

Even in good state of health, traveling while expectant has its risks that could badly affect your and the infant. To be sure that you are safe to travel, check with your doctor and let him or her know about your travel plans. Your doctor will provide the necessary advice and also measures for dealing with any health or medical emergencies on the road.

Check Your Airline’s Policy for Expectant Travelers

The second trimester is usually the best time for trips but, most airlines allow women who are up to 36 weeks pregnant on their flights. Besides, some carriers require that expectant travelers bring a note from their doctor stating they are cleared to travel. However, be sure to ask your carrier about their policy for pregnant travelers to avoid surprises.

Talk To Your Health Insurance Provider about the Trip

You never know what might come up after take-off so; it is advisable to also inform your health insurance provider that you will be traveling for a given period of time. Find out if your health insurance plan covers medical emergencies and other situations like, giving birth while on a trip abroad.

Get Plenty of Rest

There are many physical changes that occur on a pregnant woman’s body that can make you feel uncomfortable and exhausted even after a short trip. For a more relaxed and safe trip, book a comfortable seat, take naps and get off your seat during stops to stretch.

With the above tips, you can easily avoid all the stress of traveling while pregnant and make your trip smooth and safe all the way.

Why You Should Not Feel Bad about Travel Expenses

Traveling more often doesn’t mean you have a lot of money. It simply means you are naturally a traveler. Wanderlust is a strong, innate desire to travel. Some people may think that this desire is confined to foreign travels. But, this is not true. Some people derive great joy from traveling locally. However, traveling comes with expenses. If you are not careful, you can feel bad after spending a significant amount of money on a trip. But, this feeling should not bog you down. Here are some of the reasons why you should not feel bad about travel expenses.

Travel is an Investment

Spending money on travel is an investment. When you travel, you spend your time having fun. You get a chance to do things that gives you joy. Happiness is important because it relieves stress. As such, spending money on travel is investing in your happiness. It improves the quality of your life and overall health.

Travel Makes Life Meaningful

What’s the sense of making a lot of money if you can’t spend it on things that you love? Saving for tomorrow is important. However, it should not hinder you from living a fulfilling and exciting life today. Therefore, if traveling makes your life meaningful, spend on it without feeling guilty. Live the kind of life that you yearned for while growing up because one day you will surely die.

You Deserve a Vacation

You spend many hours working hard to earn money. Travel expenses are just part of the money that you earn in life. The world is fast-paced and stressful. You need some time away from the routine. Travel provides a sure way to break away from routine. So, if you have worked hard for months or year, you deserve to go on vacation alone or with your loved ones.

Clearly, there is no reason to feel bad about travel expenses. After all, it’s your money and you have the right to spend it on things that make your life better.

Important Things to Know Before Your First International Travel

Everybody is a newbie at some point when it comes to international travel. At this point, there are many things that you should know to ensure that you enjoy a seamless international travel experience. My friend who owns Garden Bistro Bar, a Nightclub in San Antonio Texas, once gave me some pointers that I will share with you below. If you are about to make your first trip abroad, here are some of the most important things that you need to know about international travel.

Language Basics

It’s not a must that you learn to speak the local language of your travel destination fluently. However, it’s recommended that you learn the basics. For instance, know something about currency exchange rate. This will enable you to control costs with ease when you travel. Also know how to count one to ten as well as say yes and no. It’s also crucial that you learn to say thank you in the local language.

Getting Bearings

Be less adventurous until you get bearings. Once you arrive at a foreign country, you will be vulnerable to bad choices and errors. If you feel disoriented upon emerging from the customs, consider using less adventurous and conventional services. Instead, take time to get bearings first.

Visa Process

The process of getting a visa can be totally unreasonable. It can be time-consuming and more complex than you would expect. That’s because there are different laws and probably limited staff serving many travelers. The process is also very bureaucratic.

International Airports are Complex and Massive

Your home airport may seem busy but not as an international airport. Generally, international airports receive many travelers. Therefore, they have thickets of customs checkpoints, terminals, and re-check-ins. Expect the international airports that you use to be busy and plan accordingly.

These are generally some of the most important things to know before your first international travel. Have them in mind when going on an international trip to make your international travel experience better.

Tips for Timing a Trip

If you have a flexible lifestyle and job, you can easily travel any time. However, if you have limited choices, you must know how to time your trip. Fortunately, there are tour destinations that you can visit any time throughout the year. Nevertheless, every season offers a unique experience and ambience regardless of the destination that you opt to travel to. That’s why you need tips for timing a trip.

Know The Peak Season

Summer is basically the peak travel season in many tour destinations. However, this may not be an ideal travel time for you if you don’t like crowded destinations and high temperatures. Nevertheless, exuberant nightlife, long days, and sunny weather make summer a peak season that’s ideal for most people to travel. Families that travel with school-age kids prefer traveling during the peak season. Therefore, if your lifestyle allows and if you don’t mind crowds as well as high temperatures, you can time your trip around the peak season.

Shoulder Season

The shoulder season combines the advantages of both the off-season and peak season travel. During the shoulder season, travelers enjoy sufficiently long daylight, a decent weather, and fewer crowds. The local industry is also ready to entertain and please visitors during the shoulder season. This season varies from one destination to another. That means you need to do some research when timing a trip during the shoulder season.

Off Season

Off season is basically the time after summer in most travel destinations. That’s after the peak season when many destinations deal with a sightseers’ stampede. The good thing about off season is that you pay less for most services. For instance, airfares and accommodation fees are cheaper during the off season period.

Essentially, these are the major travel seasons to consider when planning a trip. However, you need to conduct some research on your destination to determine the most appropriate time to travel. This way, you will benefit more from timing a trip around the peak season, shoulder season, or off season.

San Antonio Night Club Venues Make the City a Perfect Resort for Holiday Makers

Nightclubs in San Antonio provide great venues to meet new people and have fun. This Texas metropolis has a variety of nightclubs for visitors and locals to choose from. They include clubs that host live music bands and sophisticated clubs where people dance nights away. Essentially, this city is the place to go when you want to learn popular dance steps.

With a little research, you will know the club to visit in San Antonio and have fun as you dance to your favorite tunes. Whether you want to dance to cowboy tunes, dancehall tunes, or Latin music, you will find a club that will be playing it over the weekend or even in the evening.

Variety

My friend that owns Nightlife San Antonio tells me that this city has a great entertainment spot for everyone. From carefree dancing where no rule applies to modern music venues, the city has a club that plays great music that locals and visitors love. It is a perfect city to visit whenever you want to unwind especially after long and tiring time at work.

He tells me that there are clubs and bars that hold special shows every day of the week. And, with modern technology, you don’t have to struggle to identify them. The internet enables you find all the information you need about these clubs and shows on their Facebook pages and websites.

A great resort

When you visit San Antonio, you visit a resort. That’s because in addition to great nightclubs, this metropolis has amazing hotels, apartments, restaurants, and accommodation. It has stylish hotels and restaurants as well as venues for amazing in-house events. Whether you plan to visit the city alone, as a couple, or a group, you will find something special for you.

So, why don’t you treat yourself to a special holiday by visiting San Antonio this year?

How to Hire the Best Travel Guide

To get the most from your travels, hire the best guide whenever you travel. Travel guides are hired by individuals, friends, and families when they travel to unfamiliar places. When many people think about traveling, they envision crowded buses, strangers that don’t care about them, and cities with confusing buildings and landmarks. A sure way to clear the fear that such visions bring is hiring a travel guide.

The best travel guides are professionals that know travel destinations where they operate. These know places that many travelers like to visit and things that they love doing while there. As such, they enable travelers to get the most their travels. But, you must be careful to enlist services of the best travel guide.

Professionalism

A travel guide can work independently or for a company. It’s however important that you hire a professional guide. Therefore, ask the guide to provide information about their skills. For instance, ask the guide whether they have a degree in tour guide or travels. That way, you will be certain that you are being guided by a professional. Professional guides are ethical and determined to ensure ultimate satisfaction of their clients. They are also certified by relevant associations such as the American Mountain Guides Association.

Experience

Ask the travel guide that you want to hire about their experience. For how many years has the guide been providing services in the region? Do they have a safety policy or record? Essentially, ask the guide questions that will enable you to know their level of experience before you enlist their service. An experienced guide will understand your travel needs than a novice.

Overall preparedness

How prepared is the guide to take you to various destinations? For instance, does the guide have first-aid and medical training? Do they have connections with people at different travel destinations where they take clients? Can they provide information on time when you can have the best experience when you visit museums and other attractions in the region? Ask such questions to know how prepared the guide is to help you travel around.

Basically, these are the major factors to consider when hiring a travel guide. It’s important that you also ask the guide to provide references from their previous clients to prove that they will provide an excellent service.

How to Survive Business Travels

Everybody loves traveling for leisure and fun. For instance, many people are excited about traveling to visit friends and family members, exploring new places, and relaxing along the beach. But, many people don’t like work-related travels. The thoughts of airport security checks, flying, and packing feel like tough cores for many people. Unfortunately, you will most likely travel for business or work at some point in life. That’s because you are bounds to attend a company meeting, visit a client, or attend a work-related conference. That’s why you need to know how to survive business travels.

Here are tips that will make traveling for business more enjoyable and probably fun:

Plan Ahead

Before you leave your home or office, take time to plan your business trip. This will make the business trip easier. Essentially, take time to pick and pack items that you will need during the trip. Find out more about your destination. Also take care of accommodation, flights, and local travels. Stay updated on flights, hotel information, meeting times, and happenings in your destination. That way, you won’t have difficulties or stress when you travel for business purposes.

Pack Smart

A carry-on bag is perfect for smart travelers. That’s because it enables a traveler to pack what they need for business trips without worrying about losing their bag. Basically, a carry-on enables you to have all items that you need with you everywhere you go. That also means you won’t spend much time waiting for the bag at the airport. And, the lesser the time you waste the happier you will be throughout the trip.

Be Active

When traveling for business purposes, you are likely to spend much of your time sitting in conferences and meetings. That means you may not have time to go to the gym. In fact, you will most likely want to retire to bed immediately the meeting or conference ends. However, you should stay active by working out. This will enable your body to release dopamine into the brain. This hormone will make you less stressed, happier, and energized. So, make sure that you visit the fitness center of the hotel after the conference or meeting.

Have some fun

You may not have enough free time while on a business trip. But, try to spare some moments to explore. For instance, use the internet to find some of the best places to visit around the conference or meeting venue. Learn about the things to do in the surrounding area. This will enable you to engage in such activities and have fun no matter how busy you are during the business trip.

If you plan to travel for business, follow these tips on how to survive business travels and make your experience fun and enjoyable.

Important Travel Rules to Abide By

Every traveler has a unique chance to break down barriers, impact global communities positively, and enhance cultural exchange. Travelers can end stereotypes of their own cultures, bring fresh perspectives and ideas, and stimulate local economies. Essentially, travel can be life-changing for visitors and hosts. When you travel, you become a better version of yourself. You understand other people and the world better.

But, some travelers create bad impressions. Some throw up on streets, demand that their hosts conform to their special needs, ignore local customs, and become obnoxious to the locals. In fact, some travelers treat their destinations as hedonistic playthings. That’s why you need to know the travel rules to abide by to ensure that you foster positive change and get the most from your travel.

Here are the most important travel rules to abide by:

Conduct a research of your destination before you travel
Eat local food
Respect local customs and cultures
Learn phrases or words in the local language
Try something that you are afraid of
Don’t turn cheapness into a competition because travel is not a competition
Don’t haggle over something that is less than a dollar
Don’t be an obnoxious, loud traveler that demands locals to conform to their values
Be humble and patient
Respect other travelers in the hostel and their sleep even when you party all night
Understand that traveling does not give you an excuse to put personal hygiene on hold
Never ask other travelers the same question repeatedly
Always remember that travel is about getting a personal experience, not a competition
Never whine about a destination or judge others on the basis of how they go on trip or travel
Make sure that you enjoy the moment instead of spending most of your time on the social media

Whether you are a new or experienced traveler, these are some of the rules that you should abide by. Follow these travel rules and you will have a better experience whenever you travel. Feel free to check out one of my favorite traveling booking websites by clicking here.

Five Things You Need to Know Before Visiting South Carolina

Whether you’re planning to visit South Carolina with your family or you just want to spend some time away from home alone, South Carolina is the best place to be. The state is home to some of the country’s most romantic and beautiful cities. Charleston and Greenville and some of the cities you must visit as you get to this gorgeous state. South Carolina features forests, an amazing landscape, mountains, beaches, lakes, natural beauty, and every other thing you could want in a perfect vacation destination. If you look at Southeastern US states, you’ll realize that South Carolina has a distinctively unique natural beauty and historic cities. As you plan your trip to this beautiful state, here are some of the things you need to know.

You won’t find any Really, Really Big City

Surprised? Well, that’s expected. Just know that the “big cities” in South Carolina aren’t big as such. However, that doesn’t mean there’s isn’t anything to explore and admire here. Greenville and Charleston are two cities that offer travelers with the perfect, Southern treasures. In fact, Charleston is has been ranked the best city in America on several occasions. You should head here and find out for yourself why it is so.

The Sweet Tea here is Delicious

The chances are that you’ve heard about the sweet tea offered in South Carolina. Don’t be surprised to learn that you won’t be going back to that iced or unsweetened tea nonsense after taking a few sips of the tea here. You better not allow anyone to try it for you.

Outlet Shopping is everywhere

Does this statement sound different to you? Well, visitors come here to enjoy the beaches in Charleston, SC while others come to explore the rich history of Charleston and Greenville. However, it’s important to note that there’s plenty of opportunities to splurge on the outlet shopping in South Carolina. From Myrtle Beach to Tanger Outlets in Charleston, SC and Hilton Head, you’ll shop until you feel like you’ve become the most professional bargain hunter in town.

Charleston is a Must-See Location

You cannot travel to South Carolina and leave without visiting Charleston. Charleston is not only a historic city but also characterized by charm and beauty. You can either choose to enjoy some walking tours of Charleston’s historic district or step back in time at Boone Hall Plantation. As mentioned, you can’t afford missing out on the pristine beaches in Charleston. Some of the beaches here include the Folly Beach, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Must-See

South Carolina doesn’t just feature historical sites and beaches. If you love exploring the landscape and natural beauty, you can head towards the northwestern corner of South Carolina, near Spartanburg and Greenville, and get to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains are often referred to as the “secret state treasure.” If this doesn’t seem enough for your vacation, there are other wilderness areas and state parks to explore in South Carolina.