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Dragons, Volcanoes, and More: 7 Reasons Indonesia Should Be Your Next Holiday Destination

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Indonesia is home to over 18,000 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited, making it the largest archipelago (group of islands) in the entire world. Indonesia also inhabits around 240 million people, making it the fourth most populated country, and the largest country in Southeast Asia by a mile. While Bali is usually what comes to mind when people think of travelling to Indonesia (and why wouldn’t it? Bali is amazing), there is so much more to see and do. Indonesia has so much to offer, as well as it’s amazing beaches, so here are seven reasons why you should consider Indonesia for your next trip.

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Beautiful Bali

It’s already been mentioned, so why not start with Bali? With its beautiful beaches and stunning mountain scenery, it’s absolutely no surprise that Bali is so popular with tourists and travellers. However, like with the rest of Indonesia, there is so much more to Bali than a stretch of beach. There are also some amazing temples to explore, practically one on every corner to be exact, all of which are great photo opportunities. There is also a range of waterfalls for you to explore. While some may require a hike or even swim to reach them, some are fairly close to footpaths and car parks, but most are visited by only a few people each day, so the further you go out, the high the chance you have of getting a waterfall all to yourself.

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Active Volcanoes

If you consider yourself somewhat of an explorer, then Indonesia, being home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world, maybe the perfect place for you. While Kelud and Mount Sinabung were the most recent volcanoes to erupt in Indonesia, Mount Merapi is usually the volcano that comes to mind when you think of Indonesia. However, consider how naturally beautiful the volcano is, it’s no surprise at all. Luckily, as long as you’re with a qualified guide, it is possible to scale the 5,600 ft mountain, which might just be the perfect adventure for your trip. Visit http://atravellersjourney.com/mount-merapi-volcano/ if you’re considering the climb.

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Wild Wildlife

You will be surprised at just how diverse the wildlife in Indonesia really is. You can find anything there from elephants, to orangutans, to tigers. However, one of the most famous creatures to inhabit the islands is the family of Komodo dragons. If you’ve ever seen one, you’ll know that Komodo dragons are no typical species of lizard. They can easily grow to around three metres in length and weigh more than one hundred kilograms each, so it’s no surprise that Komodo dragons are pretty dangerous creatures, even to humans. However, despite their ferocious and dinosaur-like appearance, attacks on humans are rare, and the won’t try to eat you like your typical T-Rex, so there’s no reason not to visit Komodo National Park, and see the magnificent creatures with your own eyes.

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Jakarta Capital

When visiting the archipelago of Indonesia, most people choose to give Jakarta, the capital city, a miss. It does make some sense, as, being one of the greatest megalopolises in the world, Jakarta does appear to be a confusing and incredibly crowded city. However, Jakarta has just as much to offer as the rest of the country, so if you’re visiting Indonesia, it would be a mistake not to at least consider visiting the capital. Shopping centres in Jakarta aren’t the same as the rest of the world, in fact, Jakarta offers some of the best options for shopping in all of Southeast Asia. The malls are large and extravagant, with a range of different stores for you to peruse. There is also plenty of restaurants and cafes for you to enjoy, all of which are sure to serve delicious foods (more on that later). There are plenty of hotels for you to stay at, but if you wanted to save a little money, then you can find apartments, like the ones here https://rumahdijual.com/jakarta-selatan/apartemen-bintaro-parkview, on websites like Airbnb.

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Fantastic Foods

One of the best ways to experience local culture (and treat yourself) on holiday, is to enjoy the local foods on offer. Luckily, in Indonesia, there is so much variety and diversity that you shouldn’t have to eat the same dish twice during your entire stay. If you’re visiting more than one region, you’ll be even more surprised at just how much the cuisine can differ, so be sure to enjoy as much local food as you can during your trip. One of the most famous dishes reining in Indonesia is a meatball noodle soup named Bakso. The dish is popular among students, but also presidents, as Barack Obama once mentioned how delicious the soup is after a visit to Indonesia.

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Lovely Locals

If you’ve visited France or Russia, then it’s likely that you’ve come across at least one rude local. After all, these countries have been named by Forbes as being the rudest nations for travellers. Indonesia on the other hand is home to some of the most friendly and welcoming locals on the entire planet. They are always there to offer a smile or a helping hand if you need one. They are also incredibly proud of their culture, history, cuisine, wildlife, and everything else, and are happy to share it with others, unlike many others.

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Sensational Spas

Holidays are all about getting away from the stresses of everyday life and relaxing, so Indonesia is the perfect place for this. Any spa treatment that you could possibly imagine can be found in the spas of Indonesia, from seaweed wraps to glorious massages. If you choose to stay at a hotel, then you are likely to find most of these treatments are offered there, but if not, then you are sure to find plenty of spas while exploring the islands, and will usually be offered treatments on the beach too.

Indonesia is a beautiful country, filled with delicious foods, amazing beaches, and lovely people. For all of these reasons and so many more, Indonesia would be a perfect place to visit on your next holiday.

 

 

 

Planning Your Great American Road Trip

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A traditional American holiday that more people need to try is the famous road trip. Even if you’re not from America, there are countless reasons why you should do this at least once in your life. Be it a solo adventure or a trip with your friends and family, travelling across this massive country and passing through dozens of states is something that few people have experienced, but everyone that does it comes home with fond memories, plenty of souvenirs, and countless photo albums. But what makes the great American road trip such an attractive holiday, and what does it take to plan one? Read on to find out.

 

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Prepare documentation for your group

If you don’t live in the United States, then get yourself a passport and a visa. Instead of getting a regular visa to enter the United States, you can choose to get an ESTA instead. This is essentially a visa waiver that people can apply for if they come from certain countries. You can use this ESTA application checker to monitor the status of your application if you’re eagerly waiting for it to come. In addition to a visa, you might need to carry your driving license with you if you plan to be the driver. When you rent a vehicle, you might also need further documentation, so be sure to check online because it heavily depends on the state you start your road trip on. It’s preferable if you can connect with Americans to make this step a lot easier since they can rent the car and drive it instead of you jumping through legal issues to rent a vehicle.

Plan a route

Road trips are all about the journey, not the destination. If possible, try and plan your route so that it crosses as many iconic destinations as possible. For instance, the famous Route 66 is one that plenty of road trip enthusiasts have travelled at least once in their lives. It crosses through several different states including Chicago, Texas and California, giving you plenty of varied scenery. Make sure you also plan ahead when it comes to accommodation. Although sleeping in your vehicle is a valid way to spend the night, you only get the full experience if you stay at the various bed & breakfast and motel establishments along the route. You also get to experience classic American dining as you stop off at each city. Just make sure to carry a GPS device with you so you don’t get lost!

Carry essentials

Something that is often forgotten during the road trip is that you pass by countless stores. You don’t really need to carry many things with you. Just a bit of luggage, travel documents and medication is usually enough. You can buy plenty of snacks along the route, there are places to sleep so there’s no need to camp, and there’s plenty of entertainment along the way as well. The most important devices to carry are a GPS unit and a camera to take pictures. Don’t carry too many things. Lighten the car, carry just the essentials, and remember to bring money for gas!

Planning A Long-Haul Vacation

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Planning a vacation is one thing, but going for a long-haul vacation is an entirely separate set of challenges. To be in the position to choose a destination on a far-flung side of the world is a blessed one. Deciding to go on an adventure and trek the foothills of the mountains or ski down the slopes covered in fresh, powdered snow instead of lounging on a beach an hour away is a big decision.

 

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Before you do anything, though, you have to plan. For some, planning is hard and boring and for others, the excitement of an adventure is in the planning. Proper planning is an absolute essential when you have only a week or two to play with for your vacation. You not only have to ensure you have all the right travel documents – including any visas for the place you are going. There are so many websites that can tell you what you will need to have alongside your passport and you can check out FAQs here to see if you will need authorization to travel through Europe. You also need to look up the right insurance cover for your vacation; long haul destinations tend to need better coverage so ensure you look into that.

The absolute first thing you need to decide is what you want from your holiday. Are you looking for lush jungle treks or lounging on the white sandy beaches? Are you aiming to city hop your way around a country or scale to the summit of a mountain? Whatever your tastes, you have to check the local advice with the Foreign Office for travelling to ensure you’re covered for any visas you need and health requirements. Some places require you to have injections before you go to protect against certain diseases, and you don’t want to be turned away at the airport because you didn’t check!

 

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Next, you need to decide if you want to create a package holiday, or if you want to book everything separately. Sometimes, it’s cheaper to book a holiday as a package but for others, it makes more sense to book flights separate from hotel. All-inclusive breaks are easier to come by if you book a full package, and if you want less hassle, a package break is an easy option. There are plenty of travel agencies that offer vacations that are quite specialist, including specific skiing holidays and mountain hikes. Wanderlust is infectious and you should think carefully about exactly what it is you want out of your holiday before you book it.

Be practical about your holiday. We’ve talked about travel documents and the possible need for vaccinations for a holiday. Being practical about timelines before you go on holiday is important, because if certain travel authorizations and visas take a little time, you need to plan ahead so that you don’t lose out on a great holiday deal. There is nothing better than planning a break away, so doing it carefully will get you memories to last a lifetime!

 

Coping With The Top 3 Worst Travel Troubles

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

In an ideal world, every trip will go as smooth as can be. There will be no problems, and we travel with complete confidence and no hiccups. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world, and things go wrong all the time.

So, here’s my list of the top travel troubles and how you can cope with them:

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Cancelled Flights

When your flights get cancelled, it can ruin your travels. It prevents you from getting somewhere on time and can cause a great deal of stress. Especially if it’s your flight home, as you end up lost in a foreign country with no way of getting home.

It’s hard to cope with this travel trouble, but there are some things you can do. Mainly, try and have a plan B wherever possible. This doesn’t mean you should book multiple flights, but more that you should prepare for the worst. For example, reserve a room at a hotel near the airport for the day of your flight. Then, if your flight gets cancelled, you have somewhere to stay for the night. If your flight isn’t cancelled, you can cancel the reservation free of charge (check with the hotel that you can do this, most allow you to, but some don’t).

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Lost Luggage

Losing your luggage is one of the worst travel troubles out there. When an airline loses your stuff, it can put you in a really bad position. All of your clothes and precious belongings have gone, leaving you stranded with nothing.

Thankfully, you can cope with this problem in two ways. Firstly, you can prevent it from happening by avoiding paying for hold luggage. Try and only use hand luggage, and you can keep your bags with you at all times. This may be hard for some people, but you can always pay for extra hand luggage too if you can’t keep it all in one bag. The second idea is to help you cope with the aftermath of some lost luggage. What you should do is buy travel insurance to protect you when this happens. There are loads of places like GoBear that compare travel insurance so you can find the best one. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be protected if any of your luggage goes missing or gets damaged. You can claim compensation and get replacements or money for anything you lost.

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No Cash

Most of us like bringing foreign money with us when we travel. This is because it can cost a lot to use our cards, and our banks may see activity in a foreign country and block our account as a security measure. This leads to a long phone conversation as you prove who you are and get the account unblocked. So, we use cash, but what happens when we run out? It can cause a big problem for us, particularly if we didn’t bring our card at all.

Well, coping with this issue is easy. First, always bring more than you need, just in case! Secondly, get a travelcard and load it up with money. You can use this card at ATMs to withdraw cash without being charged fees!

There you have it, three travel troubles complete with ideas on how to cope with them. Now, you can travel with confidence this summer.

 

 

A Well-Traveled Life Is A Life Lived Well

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Everyone will have their own pleasures in life. Whether you love a hearty plate of food or a fine piece of art, it’s these small luxuries in life that help to keep us alive and kicking. For some, it will always be travel. Travel is one of the few things in life that we spend money on, yet it makes us richer. From experiencing different cultures and meeting new people, to seeing some of the world’s most breathtaking sights and enjoying different climates, travel can really broaden your horizon.

So, it’s not all that surprising that more and more are enjoying a well-traveled life with their children. When you travel as a family, not only are you benefitting from a wealth of experiences, your children are too. You can help to shape their minds, perspectives and even their futures by filling their lives with travel. And, of course, you’re making lots of memories at the same time. If you’re interested in adding a lot more travel into your family life, whether you’re on a tight budget or not, here’s how you can do it and make a life full of travel work for your family.

Pack Well

Firstly, when you’re planning your travels, you’re going to want to be very selective as you pack. Whether you’re going on a summer-long adventure, or on a weekend trip, you want to make every item count. When traveling, it’s always best to pack as little as possible, so that you can get from A to B easily, but you also want to make sure you have all your bases covered. With everything from clothing for the right climate and any survival equipment you may need, you need to pack smart.

Do Your Homework

Alongside packing, you’re also going to want to make sure that you get all of your paperwork and research in order before you leave for your travels. Whether you need to sign up for the Visa Waiver Program before coming to the US, or getting something similar sorted for international travels, or find yourself some insurance, these are the things you should cover off as you plan your journeys.

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Shop Around

When it comes to booking your travels themselves, make sure that you shop around. If you’re on a budget, you want to make sure that you get flights or hotels for the best price possible – especially if you want to travel often. Traveling can cost you as little or as much as you’d like it too. You just have to shop around and be flexible with the places you’d like to stay or see at different times throughout the year. If you can grab a good deal on one place, snap it up now and see somewhere else later.

Make The Most Of Breaks

Another key trick to ensuring that your family can travel as much as possible is to utilize the school breaks well. Not only do you have a whole summer to fill with travels if your schedule permits it, but you can also get a lot done in short week breaks or even in a weekend. By being flexible and even working with plans last minute, you could see a lot more of the world.

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Plan Cultural Experiences

When you start to travel more, you’re opening yourself and your family up to so many incredible cultural experiences. Even if our beautiful United States, there is a lot of heritage to take in – so make sure you see it. It’s a great way for you to boost your kid’s education and ensure that they learn about their history, as well as the history of other cultures around the world. It’s these kinds of experiences that can nourish their little minds as they grow.

Try New Things

It’s always great to open yourself up to new experiences, but the idea can really come alive when you travel. With a wealth of different activities, foods, cultures, experiences and more, available to you, start to say yes to things when you’re traveling. You may find yourself on so many different adventures by just being open to trying new things.

Encourage Exploration

And finally, while you’re traveling with your family, encourage your children as much as you can to embrace every experience. Encourage exploration and curiosity and adventure in them. Not only will this allow them to open up their minds and see things differently, but you’ll also be installing a hunger for travel in them, which they can go on to use in their futures or enjoy with their own families as they grow up.

 

 

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