TOP 10 FESTIVAL HACKS

Festival season is upon us. Epic music festivals will be happening all over the World. In the spirit of that we decided to share with you our Top 10 Festival Hacks. See below. Enjoy! :-)

(1) Make your tent stand out

Make a huge flag to attach right next to your tent (it could be a huge beach towel attached to a nearby pole). Alternatively you can attach really bright balloons to your tent so you will be easily able to find your tent.  If you can’t be bothered with the extras, try and get a really colourful tent that helps you stand out from the crowd.

(2) Pick a spot

Try to get to the festival as early as you can so you can claim your spot. Make sure it is a spot that is on higher ground. This is to protect your tent and other stuff from getting flooded if it rains heavily. In addition, pick a spot close to something that is memorable so you and your friends can use that spot as a checkpoint just in case you lose each other in the crowds.

(3) Keep some emergency cash

Not all the shops and food stores in the festival grounds will accept credit cards, so just in case have some cash hidden in your phone case. This hack will also help you to avoid waiting for hours in a queue to use the cash machine.

(4) Bring a reusable water bottle

Bring a reusable water bottle. Bottled water can be so expensive at festivals and you are going to need water to stay hydrated. So to save some money bring a reusable water bottle so you can fill it up at the taps that will be available.  Also, remember that you will be on your feet a lot of the time so there will be times you will be hungry. As a quick solution, bring snack bars, nuts and bananas.

(5) Carry your Anti-Theft Backpack

Having your anti-theft backpack will always help in keeping your stuff safe from theft and loss while you are out and about enjoying the music and getting lost in the crowds.  This will be very useful for those that don’t want to leave certain important things behind in their tent.

(6) Toilets

The queues for festival toilets can be really long, so locate the nearest restaurants and cafes near to the festival and go there instead. Some of the local businesses nearby will have toilets. Due to the fact that you will have your festival wristband, you will be able to come and go as you please. This will give you the opportunity to use the toilet in a less crowded and cleaner environment.

(7) Use Airplane Mode

Setting your smartphone to airplane mode will help your battery save more energy, especially while you are using Snapchat and taking pictures. You will still be able to upload all your snaps and images to social media once you are connected to the Internet. Remember to save that battery energy.

Please Note: Don’t forget to bring a battery pack for your phone.

 (8) Carry a pillowcase

Carrying a pillow will take up too much space in your luggage.  You can simply make a pillow by stuffing a lot of your clothes into your pillowcase and…voila! You have a pillow.

(9) Carry a rubbish phone

By having a non-smartphone (that only calls and texts) you can use that phone as a back-up/emergency phone just in case your smartphone runs out of battery and you need to call your friends or home.

(10) Leave Early

Make sure you wake up really early so you can pack all your stuff and leave the location before it gets extremely crowded with everyone trying to leave. Try and make a swift escape.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR FEMALE SOLO TRAVELLERS

More and more people are travelling solo as a way for self-discovery and character development. It's fantastic to explore and see what the World has to offer, but its important to stay safe out there. We know that for some of you, this may be your first time travelling to another country alone. Just to help you out, here are our top 10 tips for female solo travellers. Enjoy! :-)

(1) Only use Official Taxis

Check with the information point, the airport officials or hotel information point and find out where the official taxis are. Do not go into a taxi that you have not called for.

(2) Arrive in the daytime

Arrive in the daytime; there will be a lot more people walking around that can help you.  Also, trying to find your way around a city you have never been to is a lot less scary in the daytime.

(3) Learn the places to avoid

Research the city or country you will be visiting in advance. Find out which parts of the city are safe to stay in. Do not compromise your safety just to save money. Make sure you have travel insurance, take the taxi instead of walking at night. Be very vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

(4) Photocopy your travel documents

Losing your passport or flight tickets is a common problem and can ruin your vacation. To avoid this, make sure to have photocopies of your passport, flight tickets and any other important documentation. Put a copy, in your bag, in your purse, in your hotel room or have it saved in your phone. You never know when you might need it.

(5) Avoid giving away personal information

While travelling solo, you will meet a lot of interesting people. Remember to be vigilant and do not let strangers know what hotel you are staying in. Also, do not tell the person you are alone.

(6) Check out travel alerts

Check for any travel alerts in the country you will be visiting and look out for any alerts on wars or any other state of emergency situations. In addition, research the common crimes and scams in the country so you are well prepared and watchful.

(7) Dressing Requirements

Some countries are a lot stricter than others in terms of dressing. Before you travel check on the dressing requirements for that country or city and dress accordingly.

(8) Listen to the Locals

If locals or hotel staff tells you to not go to a certain area because it is dangerous. Do not go. In more nuanced situations, always follow your gut.

(9) Act Confident

Even though you may be unsure of yourself at times. Always act confident and assertive, it will make you less of a target.

(10) Let people know where you are

Visiting a new country or city is very exciting and you can get so caught up in the fun that you forget to update your

TOP 5 PLACES TO TRAVEL IN 2017

As we are heading into 2017.  We have been hearing that most people's New Year resolutions is to travel more. Here are a few of the destinations that we think will be very popular in 2017. Click the images to find out more. Enjoy! :-)

(1) CANADA

Get ready to explore cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa. They all have something unique to offer and there is something for everyone. In 2017, it will be Canada’s 150th birthday. So there will be festivities all year long. In addition to the celebrations, there will be free Discovery passes that will give anyone (especially tourists) free entry into all of the national parks in 2017. This will give visitors the opportunity to explore Canada’s various habitats. Also, its National Heritage sites will be free to all. Canada is truly a budget friendly destination. These are just a few of the perks that will be available to tourists visiting in 2017. 

(2) JAPAN

If you want to party and explore different cultures and interests, Japan is the place to be in 2017. There are so many festivals happening in Japan. You won’t have to wait until spring and summer for the partying to start. In January there will be The Internet Cat Video Festival, the Ice Waterfall Festival, Sapporo Snow Festival and many more. There’s also an opportunity to see a sumo tournament, which is held at the prestigious Ryogoku kokugikan. There are also a lot of attractions such as the Todai-ji Temple, the Fushimi Inari taisha shrine and many more. 

(3) CUBA

In recent months many restrictions have been lifted, and an increasing number of people now have the opportunity to visit Cuba. For the first time in 50 years it will be easier for Americans to go and legally spend money there. It is amazing that Cuba has come a long way. It is now a new frontier in tourism open to learn from and explore.

Cuba has relatively been untouched by globalisation and the country gives you the feeling of stepping into a time capsule surrounded by old cars from the 1950s and old buildings. Cuba is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are so many things to see and do, such as The Malecón, Old Havana, Varadero Beach, Playa Paraiso just to name a few. You can even visit the home of Ernest Hemingway, which is now a Museum. 

(4) BOTSWANA

Botswana is the destination to visit if you want to get up close and personal with nature and rare wildlife. You should visit the Savute Reserve (Choba National Park) and see the elephants chilling and doing their thing. You can also check out the Rhinos at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. After that, you can get a history lesson at the Three Chief Statues Monument in Gaborone. Also by stepping into a dugout canoe you can explore the Okavango Delta and every now and then you will a see a hippo.

Botswana has a reputation for offering a luxurious experience for its visitors, so it's definitely a great place to check out in 2017.

(5) PORTUGAL

In recent months Portugal has increasingly become a popular holiday destination for tourists and it shows no signs of slowing down. It has the perfect blend of adventure, amazing beaches and vibrant cities. Portugal is also known for its delicious wine. It also has a reputation for providing affordable luxury for its visitors. According to the US News Rankings, Lisbon is one of the least expensive cities on the European continent, so this means you can explore without worrying too much about your pockets.  Places to check out are Algarve, The Azores and many more.  At this rate Portugal is definitely going to be even more popular in 2017.