5 Essential Tips to Keep Your Home Safe while on Vacation

While spending some time away on vacation sounds like a dream to most, in order to come back to a home with all your belongings as you left them, we must not forget to these simple tasks when planning days away from home. These tips are important to keep out any burglars from targeting your home.

(1) Ask Someone to Check on Things

By mentioning to a trusted neighbour, friend or family member that your home will be vacant while you are away, they will be able to make sure the house looks as unempty as possible by collecting any mail left out or turning lights on when visiting.

(2) Install Timers

By installing timers on electronics within the house hold such as lights, TV’s and even sprinklers; the house will not look give off a sign that the occupants are away on vacation. By timing these to come on at different times of the day and night, if anyone were to be watching the house’s movements they would be unsure as to whether someone was actually in or not due to the irregularities.

(3) Lock Everything

Although this may be obvious, it is many times overlooked or forgotten when in a rush. Make sure to check and lock any doors or windows which are usually left open in order to prevent easy access.

(4) Keep Valuables in a Safe

When leaving any valuables including money, jewellery, electronics at home while on vacation, the best place to store them is out of sight, avoiding obvious hiding places such as in a drawer under clothes. Using a safe means that even if anyone is to break in, at least the most valuable items are stored safely out of reach.

(5) Don't Broadcast your Absence

In this social media age, it is very easy to broadcast to the World that you are going away on vacation. Be mindful that by telling everyone you are away on vacation, the word may spread to unwanted visitors. Only tell those you trust before you leave or once you have returned. Social media can wait!

Written by Nicole Fernandez Medina

Barcelona Travel Guide

Barcelona, Spain is a wonderful city.  It is full of life, culture and full of sun.The locals speak Catalan. They also speak Spanish. So to get a taste of the local lifestyle, remember to greet locals by saying ‘Bon dia’ (Good Morning), ‘Bona tarda’(Good Afternoon) or ‘Bon vespre’ (Good Evening).  These greetings are sure to start things on a positive note when interacting with the locals.

In Barcelona, there is so much to do. It’s the place for shopaholics, football fans, creatives, designers and architects. It has something for every body. If you are a true shopaholic you have to check out Passieg de Gràcia. It is one of Barcelona’s prominent shopping and business areas. It has all the top global brands and designer brands. The area has a lot of wonderful architecture and culture. It is said to be the most expensive street in Spain. Another shopping hotspot is Barri de Gracia. In this cool urban location there are small fashion boutiques, if you are looking make a few unique purchases.

If you are a football fan you have to make some time to catch a football game at Camp Nou. It doesn’t matter what football team you support at home. It is truly a great opportunity to experience The Barcelona Football Team and enjoy the epic atmosphere in the stadium.

If you want some design inspiration you should make time to visit Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.  No trip to Barcelona is complete without making a visit here. It is still under construction, but seeing the structure in real life is truly breathtaking. If you want avoid waiting in long queues for hours you should get a ticket online and this will fast track you to gain access. Another famous building to check out is the Casa Batlló in the center of Barcelona. Antoni Gaudí redesigned it. Throughout Barcelona you will see more amazing buildings designed by the famous architect, such as the Casa Milà and many more.

La Pedrera

In addition, you should check out Las Ramblas. It is so vibrant, full of energy and there is so much to see and do. Also, definitely explore Mercat de la Boqueria it’s a super cool market, full of fresh produce and it is a wonderful opportunity to try some Catalan cuisine.

Barcelona

Pickpocketing Hotspots in Barcelona

When it comes to being a victim of pickpocketing. We believe prevention is better than the cure. So we wanted to share the pickpocketing hotspots so you are vigilant, prepared and two steps ahead. Please be aware that pickpockets change their location from time to time. But from our experience we have managed to find the common hot spots where pickpockets operate in Barcelona.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is a huge tourist location. The street is buzzing with noise, activity, crowds and movement. It is very easy to get lost in the distraction and become a target for a pickpocket. When in Las Ramblas be very vigilant or better still you can bring your High Spirit backpack with you for extra security for your belongings. The backpack with zips against your back will prevent any pickpockets from stealing your possessions. This will enable you to fully be care-free, especially in places where large crowds gather and there is a lot of entertainment going on.

Sagrada Familia

Pickpockets have been known to operate in this area. Due to the fact that it is a famous tourist attraction, pickpockets will be waiting around to take advantage of their target. In addition, they have been known to target people waiting in queues, so make sure you have your belongings stashed away in your High Spirit backpack or leave your more important items locked in the hotel.

The Metro

Millions of people travel through the Metro, but there have been many pickpocketing incidents in the Metro stations in different locations across the city. As it is a crowded and enclosed place remember to stay vigilant throughout your metro travels.

Into Seoul and Beyond: See, Do and Experience it Beyond the Touristy Stuff

The vibrant city of Seoul in South Korea is a metropolis that’s brimming with action. There is so much to do and see there that you’ll never be able to see it all. Unless you pack up and move there, which isn’t a bad idea either.

You’ll definitely want to visit popular tourist destinations like Insadong, where you can check out art galleries, eat temple food while watching a traditional performance, and scoop up amazing souvenirs to take back home with you. You’ll also want to take the subway to Lotte World for a Korean version of Disney World. Plus, there are museums that will help round out your experience. And the palaces! You can’t miss those either. The most famous of them all, Gyeongbokgung Palace, has two museums on-site too.

The DMZ tour is also another popular thing for tourists, and honestly if you’ve got the time to do it, you shouldn’t skip the chance to visit. You’ll need to take a long bus ride for it, but most hotels can set you up for a tour if you ask the concierge.

While these touristy things are incredible and you should make time for them, if you stick to just those things, you’ll miss out on a whole other side of Seoul that you’ve simply got to see. Here are some other things you should make time to do and see while you’re in Seoul.

1. Go for norebang

Korean karaoke rooms, called norebang, are amazingly fun. You get your own private and comfortably outfitted room with a state-of-the-art sound system. This singing room allows you and your crew to sing songs, order plenty of Hite or Cass (Korea’s domestic beers), and have an absolute blast. They have them everywhere so just pick a place that looks good and go. 

2. Take line 2 for a view

The line 2 subway will give you the most impressive view of the Han River. You can also get out at Dangsan and walk out exit 3 to walk across the walkway and take selfies to your heart’s content.

3. Seoul Children’s Park

Most people that visit Seoul for a trip don’t know about this awesome place. You could spend the entire day here and still not do it all. It’s free to get in too. You’ll find a zoo and a stunning botanical garden. There’s also an amusement park. You only have to pay for rides or any food purchases that you make, making this a fantastic way to stay entertained even if you’re low on funds.

4. Food, drinks, and nightlife

Go out like the Koreans do. Start at one place, like a Korean barbecue where you can grill your meats right in the center of your own table. Make sure you wash it down with plenty of soju, an alcoholic beverage akin to vodka. Then, amble on to the next place. Often, fried chicken joints are an inevitable stop where you and your friends will get spicy crispy fried chicken and a pitcher of beer. Want to dance or do the bar scene? Itaewon practically caters to foreigners, while Hongdae gives you more of that college set. Either place is great for a fun night out with plenty of restaurants, bars, and clubs to fill your night!

5. Go shopping

Seoul is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Look at the way the women here style themselves and in a few months, you’ll see the trend take hold in the states. It’s an excellent place to shop. You’ll see plenty of malls filled with sparkly stores that will tempt you to spend. But one place you have to look is underground. Take the subway to the Gangnam Terminal where you’ll find the Goto Mall. Or head to Yeungdeungpo or Jamsil for more underground shopping madness. There are gobs of trendy clothes, shoes, jewelry and more, and the prices are outstanding. Hopefully, you’ve brought an expandable suitcase to take all your goodies home with you. If not, you can find one in one of these underground malls for super cheap.

If you do these things and get in some time at the many other touristy stops you can make, you’ll get the best taste of Seoul. It’s impossible to do it all so plan wisely and you’re experience in this majestic city will be truly unforgettable.