Travel and Leisure Tips

Hong Kong is one of the leading destinations for people looking to start fresh. This vibrant and dynamic city is unique in Asia, as it combines the Western and Eastern cultures to create something new and beautiful. It’s also one of the world’s leading financial centers, serving to create an affluent, culture-rich atmosphere in very pleasant living quarters. It should be no surprise that Hong Kong is a place with a very high cost of living. The one way to make sure your stay here is successful is to take on the wisdom of the people that came before you. Read on to find the top 5 pieces of advice from ex-pats in Hong Kong.

A working lifestyle

Whether good or bad, the people here are intensely focused on doing their best work, even if it takes them working overtime to complete it. Get used to long days and longer evenings, as you then reward yourself with a nice late dinner or massage. The heaps of international companies, combined with global talent and high costs of living, makes Hong Kong a very competitive place, where you need to put in the effort to succeed. On the other hand, that’s precisely what makes the successes so rewarding. The competition is healthy as it drives people to do their best and push the limits of what they think they can do.

Accommodation

Once you have decided to live in Hong Kong, you need to think about where you’re going to stay, at least for the first little while. The main tradeoff is typically between large brand name shops, proximity to all the entertainment and between a more affordable cost of living. Keep in mind that the farther you get from The Island, the more you’re going to need a working knowledge of Cantonese, as fewer and fewer people will know English. The way to get a good deal as an ex-pat then is to look into serviced apartments in Hong Kong. These will typically offer great deals, without needing to commit to anything immediately. There are a large variety of neighborhoods to explore, each with its unique features you have to see for yourself before you settle somewhere.

Transport

Get an Octopus card. It allows you to use all public travel without any difficulties; you can tap in and out. You can also load up extra money and use it to pay for meals or drinks at cafés, so you can even leave your cash at home. It makes Hong Kong’s already excellent public transportation options even better and more affordable. At the same time, if you’re far too used of having your own space, look into buying yourself a car here. The second hand cars HK prices here are insanely low, and if you browse the used cars Hong Kong section online, you will find new brands and cars in excellent condition going for a meager price.

Food

The food here is phenomenal. Be sure to check out everything and anything you can get your hands on before deciding on your favorite. The food stalls and restaurants you’ll find packed everywhere have a great variety. You can find here different food from practically anywhere in the world, so broaden your horizons and reap the reward. Even picky eaters will be persuaded to try things and end up liking them.

Being practical

First and foremost, get your Hong Kong ID card and carry it with you at all times. Open a local bank account, as it will help you save money in the long run. Don’t be afraid to meet people – in such a large city, you’re bound to find likeminded people that can share their advice and offer help, should you need it. Invest in air purifiers and de-humidifiers – to ensure a much healthier level of air quality and prevent the spread of mold. Finally, don’t bring much furniture – the apartments and Hong Kong property tend to be somewhat smaller than you’re likely used to.

Are you planning to charter a yacht on your next holiday? If so, we suggest that you follow a few important tips for planning your trip. These tips will help you ensure everything goes smooth. Read on to find out more.

1. Consider the Important Aspects

Regardless of where you want to go, make sure you choose the right companions. Also, you need to plan your routes a few weeks before the big day. Everyone should be on the same page as far as the details of the trip are concerned.

If you can steer the yacht yourself, it will offer tons of fun. If you don’t have enough experience, you can hire a skipper. A big benefit of hiring a skipper is that they know many routes. So, they can help you plan your routes.

2. Choose the Right Yacht

As far as opting for the right charter yacht is concerned, make sure you have enough budget. Other important factors to consider include sailing skills, comfort level, desired charter region, and the local weather.

If you need plenty of space on the deck and inside, you might want to opt for a catamaran. On the other hand, if you want to move around fast, maybe a motorboat can be a great choice.

3. Consider a Yacht Charter Insurance

The skipper liability insurance and the deposit are the most common types of insurances when it comes to yacht charter. Also, it’s better to consider insurance to prevent arguments among friends later on.

4. Required Experience for Chartering a Yacht

If one member of your group has a skipper’s license, you can charter a yacht. However, Greece is an exception where at least one more member of the group must have the ability to be a co-skipper.

Sailing in good weather is easier but when there is a storm, you may find it hard to control your boat. In this situation, it’s better to hire the services of an experienced skipper

5. Sailing Weather and the Charter Season

Make sure you adapt to the weather systems at the destination and get the right outfits. For instance, if you want to go to the Balearic Islands in August, you may not get any rain in those months. On the other hand, during the same months, it may be colder at night but warm during the day. Plus, you might get a lot of rain as well.

6. Other Things to Consider

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to take a look at all the things you need to consider before the big day. After all, you need to get there on time so you can have a cup of coffee and know a little bit about the port and other things.

One of the best parts of traveling is getting to taste and savor all kinds of new and delicious foods, whether you’re driving across the state or flying across the world. And, without a doubt, it’s fun to let go a little and eat things you wouldn’t normally eat during a week at home, that’s part of the freedom and excitement of being on vacation!

But we all know the feeling when we’ve had way too much for too many days in a row: the total lack of energy, the bloating, dehydration, headaches, or hangovers, the pronounced jet lag, the increased susceptibility to getting sick. All of these things can really get in the way of maximizing your travel enjoyment. And if you’re someone with food restrictions, you know the added frustration of trying to find good food that will be good to you, too!

The great news is that it’s easier than ever to make the kinds of food choices that will keep you healthy and energized while you’re away from your usual routine. Here are some simple ways to eat great while you’re taking in the best moments of your trip:

1. Plan ahead. Often when we’re traveling, we’re out of routine and aren’t eating at regular intervals. Sometimes we can go several hours without eating anything.
   
   Contrary to the popular myth that you should hold off eating to “save room” for a big meal, going for long stretches without eating actually slows metabolism and causes your body to become sluggish and tired and hang on to calories. Our bodies experience these periods as “mini-starvations” and send our brains into panic mode. To keep blood sugar stable and avoid energy lapses (which can then lead to overcompensating with high-sugar or fried foods), aim for eating a little bit every couple of hours while in transit and while you’re out and about, in the form of foods that are nutrient-dense and high in lean protein. Pack snacks for easy access: nuts, seeds, hard-boiled eggs, firm fruits (like apples), veggies and hummus, or natural fruit-and-nut bars.
   
   If you know where you’re staying, scout out restaurants in the area of your hotel. Check with your hotel or resort to peruse menus and see what’s available. Once you arrive, you can use an app like AroundMe to locate healthier restaurants in your area. And check out these smart phone apps that can help you find gluten- and other allergen-free options while you travel.
2. Don’t forget the grocery store! A supermarket, and especially a local co-op, can be your best ally while traveling. You’ll have easy, cheap access to fresh produce and bulk healthy snacks. You’ll find a wider variety of great foods that are free of gluten, dairy, and other common allergens at a reasonable cost. Plus, many co-ops also have a deli where you can get delicious sandwiches, salads, or wraps to take with you during the day.
3. Your mother was right: get your greens and take your vitamins. While you’re traveling, your immune system is exposed to tons of new pathogens-especially on airplanes and other mass transit. You want to make sure your body has what it needs to stay healthy and fight germs and process toxins. Don’t forget to pack your multi-vitamin and your other supplements! If you can’t get ready access to fresh greens, consider getting some powdered greens that you can bring with you and easily mix into a glass of water or a morning smoothie.
4. Speaking of morning smoothies… if you’re really dedicated to getting your daily intake of fruits and veggies, you might even consider bringing along a travel blender. This might seem extreme to some, but consider this: most of them are under $20, fit easily into a suitcase or the back of the car, and can be just the thing to quickly make a power breakfast of fruits, nuts, and vegetables that will keep you going all morning.
5. Drink way more water than you normally do. Planes and hotel rooms are notoriously dry. Walking around all day expends energy and dehydrates. Often people drink alcohol or sodas with meals, which also are dehydrating. Drinking more than your usual 8 glasses of water a day will keep you energized, hydrate your cells, keep your skin glowing, and will help flush out toxins.
6. Drink less alcohol than everyone around you is drinking. This can be challenging especially on business trips, where drinking is a familiar pastime. But in addition to worsening dehydration and jet lag, tossing back more than two drinks leads to more unhealthy eating. (A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that men take in an extra 433 calories on average from alcohol and food when they consume more than two drinks!)
7. Try to get your eight hours’ beauty rest. Easier said than done, I know! But getting decent rest helps steady your metabolism, resets your adrenal system, and boosts your immunity. Being sufficiently rested will make every other choice you face on your vacation so much easier.
8. Try the “one and done” rule. Let yourself have treats and enjoy them-just keep it to once a day. Get that gorgeous piece of chocolate cake. Have an extra helping of steak fries. Order the thing that’s happily doused with butter, and love every single bite. And then, be done with the less-than-healthy food for that day. There’s always more.

Exploring new and different places always ends up with great memories and stories to be remembered later in life. Also, when you get to meet new people, you are able to understand the human psychology in a better way.

It has also been proved that travelling improves one’s overall health and refreshes the mood. Take a break from your hectic and mundane life schedules, and go out for some time to be spent in the lap of nature, or anywhere you have always wanted to go. You never know what life has in store for you.

Various benefits of travelling are given below.

1. Real-life Education

One always get to meet new people and explore new places while on a trip, and this provides you with new information and education, which you can never get at traditional schools. Schools never provide us with the real-life experiences. You will get to know about different cultures and societies and their way of living by travelling. Overall everything new is served you.

2. Improves Social and Communication Skills

If you are an introvert person, travelling can help you in improving your personality. You will meet different types of people, of different regions and religions, and you have to communicate with them. This will help in improving your social skills to a great extent.

3. Get to Know Yourself Better

By travelling alone or with friends or family, you might get yourself stuck in difficult situations and they are always new to you. But, you will find a way to solve them with your capabilities. In such a situation, you get to explore yourself and meet the inner you.

As it is always said that you can never know what you can till you try. So, try some new places with new adventures and let your inner-self get explored.

4. Travel Sharpens the Mind

While travelling to new places, you get to do new things, all unfamiliar to you, like reading foreign languages, trying new things, making quick decisions, and altering your new eating and sleeping schedules.

Everything from your regular life gets changed for that particular period of time. Your brain even welcomes that change. Once you return home, you’ll be sharper than ever and will better organize and spruce up your daily routine.

5. A positive Shift in Perspective

Nobody comes back in the same way they started their journey. Being exposed to new people and cultures will greatly shift you to a healthier perspective.

You’ll always return back with renewed energy, a new set of mental filters that are ready to take on the next big project or challenge. You will be proud of yourself that you explored a new place and successfully completed it by tackling all the hurdles in your way.

Getting away for some time will greatly upgrade your skills and attitude towards everything. You will feel positive towards people.

Even though it requires a great effort to take a break from the hectic schedules of life as after you will come, the work for those days will surely get piled up. But, your productivity will increase that will help you to complete all the work in much less time than before.

Breaking up the monotony for a while proves to be a considerable way to reduce stress and fill in some excitement in the life. And, once you come back, you will not be able to stop yourself from planning out the next one.

If you want to go on a private tour, our tips may help you. On a trip, you will have tons of fun seeing beautiful sights and getting to know different cultures in a different place. Without further ado, let’s know the tips that can make your tour unforgettable.

Customized experience

Having a private tour is a great idea as it helps you have a customized experience. But it’s possible only if you talk to your guide so you can have the right expectations. Therefore, you may want to share you likes, dislikes and interests with the guide, and this will help your guide make your tour the best experience of your life.

Be ready for poor weather

You should be ready to deal with poor weather. Know that you will have sunny days as well as cloudy days and rainy days. Unlike what most people believe, bad weather is a great time to go on a tour.

However, make sure you make necessary arrangements so you don’t have to face difficulties in case of poor weather. You don’t want to ruin your trip.

Choose comfy shoes

You may want to get a few pairs of comfortable shoes. In the same way, you should have a few dresses for different types of weather, customs and cultures. Again, your guide can help you make the right choices.

Respect the other cultures

You may want to respect the cultures of the places you are going to spend time at. What does this mean? In short, you need to understand the things that are going to be different in those places. As a matter of fact, travelers who spend a good deal of time in understanding different behaviors and customers have more fun during their trip.

Try new things

You may want to try new things, such as food, activity and drink. No matter how small they are, do give them a go. You will have a lot of fun.

Do your research

Before you leave, don’t forget to find out as much as possible about the places that you are going to visit. And do let your guide know about a special place that you are most interested in.

Another way to know more about that place is to read a short story or novel written by an author who lives in that area. This will help you know more about the local culture and get inspired.

If you want to enjoy a safe vacation, you need to know a few things to get ready before you leave your house. Listed below are a few things that you may want to consider before you leave your house and go on a tour.

Take photos

You may think that photos are taken while you are there in the destination country. It’s not the whole truth. What you need to do is use your smartphone to take photos of important documents, such as medical prescriptions, passport and other documents that you may need. Instead of carrying around a lot of files, you can use the digital copies of those documents.

Get paper copies

Of course, you need to keep your passport with you while you are in a foreign country. It’s better to keep a photo copy as well.

Inform your credit card company

You may want to let your credit card company know that you are going to use the card. This will help avoid any issues that may arise in case the company assumes your credit card is stolen.

Hold newspapers

It’s better to hold any newspaper that you may have subscribed to. This is to keep the burglars from knowing that you are away for a few days.

Consider a house sitter

When you are away, it’s better to have someone in your house. You can consider someone in your community for this job.

Look for a gardener

If you have a lawn in your house, the plants need to be watered and taken care of while you are away. Therefore, make sure you ask someone to do the job. You may even pay them for the service.

Remove the spare key

Some people have a spare key to their house in case they need it in an emergency. If you also have one, make sure you remove it or take it with you.

Drop the curtain

Burglars may look into your house if the curtains are not dropped. So, make sure you drop all of the curtains before you leave your house.

Activate a timer

To reduce the likelihood of burglary even further, consider installing a timer to turn on a few lights at night automatically.

Switch off water supply

You may consider turning off the water supply to different appliances in your house, such as ice-makers, dishwashers, washing machines and toilets.

Unplug other devices

Obviously, no one will be using the appliances when you are gone. So, it’s better to turn off your computer, toasters and ovens, to name a few.

Check your wallet

Make sure your wallet has only the times you will need while you are in another country.

Pay the bills

Bills must be paid before the expiry of the due date or you may have to pay fees for late payment.

So, if you are going to travel in the new future, we suggest that you consider the tips given in this article. This will help you keep your house and get the most out of your tour.

Solo travel has become a hot topic. Unlike “single(s)” travel, it is a broader group. It can include those who are single, married or have a partner/significant other. It may be a business person looking to add a leisure weekend or extension to a trip for work. Two stumbling blocks to solo travel can be: I. whether it is lonely to vacation as a “party of one” and ii.whether eating alone, especially dinner, is really uncomfortable.

Now having visited 68 countries and all 50 states, I have found 5 good ways to go alone without feeling you are “going it alone”.

1. River Cruise and Small Ship Cruises

I highly recommend river cruises and small ships. They are especially a good fit for a first time solo traveler. However, they are also great for well-traveled solos in two cases. That is where destinations like Cambodian boat villages are not otherwise easy to reach. Secondly, they work well in places where security is an issue.

Here are the key advantages of such river and small ships for solo travelers, they:

-Give you time alone but a group for tours and meals

-Can be competitively priced when compared to a piecemeal approach

-Make unpacking a one-time chore

-Work well with land packages

-Often have discounted package pricing including flights

2. Select your own lodging, and take day trips.

Here are the key advantages of this independent approach, it:

-Affords you the opportunity to select your own interests and travel style.

-Provides more opportunity to interact with local residents.

-Gives you a “day-off” when you need it.

-Works with a range of budgets.

3. Combine both of the above approaches.

I really favor this approach when I travel. On solo travel for 17 days at New Year’s, I toured Southeast Asia. I started with a private taxi tour in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I then joined a top Mekong River Cruise on to Vietnam. On the last leg, I had five days in a 5-star hotel in Bangkok. In my last stop, I tried all 3 ways of sightseeing: 1. A large bus tour 2. A private guide and 3. Self-directed subway tour.

This blended approach puts you in the driver’s seat and:

-Will let you set your own course while being free to pick and choose

-Gives you a part-time group of travel mates but also time alone

-Makes it possible to follow a budget (or splurges) tailored to what works for you

4. Sign up ahead for a class abroad.

This has become very popular now for cooking classes in France and Italy. However, for decades, language classes abroad have lured students for short-term or full summer programs. Add to that options for photography classes, skiing and scuba diving.

Here are the key benefits to this approach.

It:

-Provides you with a ready-made group

-Gives you a local contact to hear what not to miss off the tourist path

-Make it possible to connect with classmates for meals or sightseeing

-Results in providing local contacts in an emergency

5. Join a volunteer group or exchange program.

I have done this twice. My first trip out of the US was at 18 joining 5 other girls on a summer YMCA project in Trinidad and Tobago. It was the best way to learn about day-to-day life in another country and participate in community activities.

The benefits were endless. They included:

-Meeting local residents outside of the typical tourist path

-Seeing distant and often more unusual destinations

-Providing volunteer efforts to communities than may have experienced natural disasters or other hardships.