What is the longest you’ve been on a flight? Was it horrendous or did you know of a few tricks to make the whole trip less stressful?

Whether you are taking your first or your seventh long flight, you can never be too prepared. While exhaustion is guaranteed, there are a few things you can try to make your trip less tiresome and stressful. Here are tips on how you can make your next trips easy:

• Stay calm and avoid carry-on luggage

Working as an ICBC personal injury lawyer is demanding, and if you are taking your first dream vacation to the furthest part of the world, then you are most likely to pack more than you need. The unfortunate part is that even after years of travel, some people still pack more than they need. To get control of this, you should not have checked and carry-on luggage.

If your trip lasts many months, then you can carry one checked luggage. Though you can carry about 15 more pounds of luggage as a carryon, it is a bad idea which you’ll realize at your destination as you try to lug around some elephant bags. Even if your carry-on bag has rollers, you will minimize stress by avoiding the carryon completely.

• Pack all your in-flight essentials in a clutch or a small bag

A long flight means that you must have everything you may need within reach. You need an on-flight bag that has a lot of water, a scarf, eye mask, earplugs, hand sanitizer/ wipes, snacks, headphones, toiletries, eye drops, a change of clothes and a good book. You should also keep your makeup bag within your reach.

You need comfortable but classy clothes and shoes. You should also consider getting compression socks. Don’t forget your pillow.

Entertainment gadgets will keep you entertained throughout the flight, and the flight is a perfect opportunity for you to catch up on that TV series you’ve been planning to watch.

• Set your watch to your destination time

To avoid a bad jetlag that will cost you days upon arrival at your destination, you should use the World Clock function on your smartphone to set the time. With the time set, you should try your best to sleep when it is nighttime at your destination and stay awake during the day at your destination. Fortunately, the flight crew will help with your adjustment by adjusting the lights.

• Stay hydrated

Even though drinking a lot of water means making multiple trips to the bathroom, staying hydrated is good for your skin and your body in general. You may opt to drink a lot of water before your flight. You also need to drink water as long as you are awake on the flight.

• Stay away from caffeine and alcohol

That stiff drink, though appealing and somewhat comfortable isn’t your best pick for a long trip. Alcohol and caffeine will disrupt your sleep, and even if you pass out, you won’t get any meaningful sleep. Also, you will get dehydrated, and your skin will suffer.

Finally, you should stay productive during your flight. You also need to stretch. Some flights pack in more seats than others, so, research before booking your flight.

Traveling on holiday is a great way to spend time with loved ones and take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily tasks. When you set out to plan your next holiday, consider taking it to a location that appreciates mindfulness and values sincere hospitality towards visitors. This article will highlight some of the best reasons that you should consider visiting the Baltic States on your next holiday.

• Mindfulness. While mindfulness has become fairly popular, it is unique to find a place that values it as a community or business. When you visit the Baltic States and stay in a hotel, you are likely to find some that value mindfulness. This particular hotel in Riga values mindfulness and operates its business with the concept at the forefront. By providing many options for you to relax your mind and body, this hotel is a great one to look into if you want to de-stress while on holiday.

• Somewhat undiscovered. If you want to visit a country that has not been discovered by the mainstream population, the Baltic States is certainly something to consider. You can go on vacation and not have to worry about fussing with crowds or long lines. The Baltic can offer a great deal of history to appeal to the mind and beauty to appeal to the senses. Stay ahead of the crowd and visit the Baltic’s before others catch on to its greatness.

• Something to do regardless of season. It is important to keep in mind that the Baltic States are blessed with very long summers which means that the weather is typically exquisite for a substantial period of the year. However, during the winter, many tourists enjoy visiting during “white nights” as this is the time when the sun stays out very late into the evening hours. You can even visit the nearby islands in the winter via an ice road. Now that is cool!

• Delicious food. Most countries provide great hospitality, beautiful scenery, and substantial history. Not every country however, can provide outstanding cuisine. The Baltic States is well known for fresh and flavorful foods that can entice any palate. If you like classic dishes made by neighboring countries, Poland and Latvia, you will likely enjoy the Baltic fare.  

In addition to all of these wonderful benefits, the Baltic States is also well known to be a safe place to visit as a tourist. If you are concerned that you will have a tough time in navigating the country, you can rest assured that the Baltic’s have a solid infrastructure in place and are considered to be one of the fastest growing countries in the area. If you enjoy being on the cutting edge of travel and staying up on the latest trends, visiting the Baltic States will prove to be an enjoyable experience and one that friends will envy.

A family trip can be a wonderful way to encourage bonding and help members become closer to one another. However, it comes with its own set of challenges: it’s not always possible for an entire family to enjoy certain activities. Thankfully, the diverse city of Sapporo has plenty to offer for the young and old alike. Below are a few tips on where to go and what to do as a family in Sapporo:

1. Book at a Kid-Friendly Ski Resort

A family friendly resort such as Kiroro offers activities that both parents and kids can enjoy, from beginner skiing, snowboarding, snow-shoeing, and other winter sports. Kiroro also offers hot spring facilities for those who have had enough of the powder outside and just want to spend some time in a relaxing onsen, as well as various indoor activities geared towards children such as musical shows, workshops and lessons.

2. Experience the Sapporo Snow Festival

Held every year for a week in February, when the snowfall is heaviest, the Sapporo Snow Festival turns the famous Odori Park into a winter fantasy wonderland. Here, you’ll find the International Snow Sculpture Contest, which has been held on-site since 1974. You’ll also be able to find hundreds of snow statues and ice sculptures in the nearby Susukino area. They are lit beautifully at night, which makes them great for family photos. There is also a wide variety of winter activities available, including sledding and snow tubing, as well as musical performances.

3. Visit The Zoo

A visit to the zoo can be both great fun and educational for children. Maruyama Zoo is a popular destination in Sapporo for families. Here, the aim is to recreate the animals’ natural habitat so visitors are able to view them in their most natural state, safely. The Kid’s Zoo section is sure to delight young children – they’ll be able to feed and pet small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits. There is also a large playground on-site for children who are just overflowing with energy. The Maruyama Zoo is open all year and anyone below the age of 16 gets in for free, while adults are required to pay a small fee.

4. Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

Just a short ride from Sapporo by train is Shiroi Koibito Park: a toy museum, candy store and chocolate factory all in one. Entrance to the main park is free of charge, and a mini steam train ride is available to board for a small fee. The main draw here is the Shiroi Koibito chocolate cookie: a butter cookie with a white chocolate filling. For a small fee, families can visit the factory where these cookies are made and be treated to a presentation of the history of the confection. On the second floor of the Shiroi Koibito shop is a museum that houses an impressive collection of toys – and what kid wouldn’t be interested in that?

5. See a Puppet Show

At the Kogumaza Sapporo Children’s Puppet Theatre in Nakajima Park, a puppet show is held every weekend and every day during the long school holidays. It’s a great place to take young children to experience art and culture. The best part is the place is friendly even to parents with infants or children who can be a little restless and loud.

Going on a family trip to Sapporo can be an exciting experience. By following these tips and including these locations in your itinerary, you’re ensuring that even the youngest members of your family will have a lot of fun creating happy memories.

It’s widely known that Singapore is one of the best tourist locations on the globe, and many visit just for  its beaches. Most Singapore Visa agents recommend their clients to visit these Singapore beaches at least once. Here I am going to share my personal experience about Singapore beaches.

Siloso Beach
Out of Sentosa island’s three beaches, I liked the Siloso beach best, but it’s the busiest one too. If you plan to visit on a sunny weekend, be prepared to face the crowds. This is the place where bikini lovers, beach volleyball players, and sunkissed swimmers gather. The Siloso beach is also famous for its beach bars found surrounding it. If you’re one who’s always up for an adventure, here you can carry out various activities like kayaking, rollerblading, swimming, and cycling.

East Coast Beach
This is a beach and park all rolled in one. Here again, weekends will be busy. I love visiting this beach mainly for the activities. After a tough day, I love to go for some cycling and rollerblading here. The beach is picturesque, and the park is peppered with sporting, entertainment and dining attractions. I’ve organized plenty of barbeques with my friends here. It’s a blissful experience—having a smoky meal near the sea, followed by a walk along the white sands. Above all, this is a family-oriented beach. You will see plenty of kids enjoying their weekends here.

Palawan Beach:
This beach is also on the island resort of Sentosa; located at a walking distance from the Siloso beach. It’s quieter and more peaceful when compared to the Siloso. My most favorite part about this beach is the suspension hanging bridge that links this beach to a small sandy island called Pulau Palawan. I love walking along this bridge above the clear and beautiful sea waters.
This beach is also family-friendly. Parents will be pleased to know that the kids’ club “Port of Lost Wonder” can be found here. The children have a great time here, where they enjoy a number of activities, keeping them occupied all through the day, while their parents can enjoy you are taking a tranquil walk along the beach and relax.

I’ve given you just a taster here about these top Singapore beaches. If you’d like to know more, you must definitely visit. Don’t miss them.

Anyone can travel, as it’s just a matter of getting from point A to point B. However, the manner in which most travel is subpar and they end up complaining about this and that. Overall, there are a lot of things they do or don’t do which leads to their lack of satisfaction. If you are planning a trip to the US for example, you should have a look at the tips we have prepared for you. Knowing these things and preparing ahead of your journey will make the difference between having a good journey and a bad one.

The paperwork

Documentation is essential for traveling and if you don’t have everything in order, you might not even get on the other side of the border. It would be a terrific shame to have to turn around and go home, without even setting foot in the country you wanted to visit so much. Everything from how recent your passport picture is to whether or not your esta application is in order, everything must check out before you leave home for your trip. This will help you avoid unpleasant situations and complications along the way.

Budget planning

If you’re thinking about going in without a plan, you should stop it, immediately. It’s pretty much the worst thing that could cross your mind. Having a budget is the only way you’re going to enjoy your trip. Without a budget, it’s pure lottery whether or not you will have enough cash for the entire trip. Your budget is your safety net but also your lifeline. You can count on that number to last you for as much as you’ve planned out. This also means that the budget needs to be realistic as well, so do some research and make sure you’ve calculated the various costs of your trip according to what things actually cost now.

Keep in mind that you’re not home anymore

Back home, some things might have been acceptable and others might have been completely unthinkable. In the country you’re visiting, things might be the other way around, for all you know. That’s why you should spend time learning the local customs and ensuring not only that you don’t insult anyone or break any laws, but you also don’t get too easily offended and know when people might come off as rude or offensive when they’re actually not.

Plan your calls

This might sound weird, but if you intend on keeping in touch with people back home, you should plan your calls ahead of time. Calling through regular carriers will cost you a fortune with international roaming fees. You can, however, talk to your friends and family for free, if you use WiFi. There are many ways in which you can initiate a phone call using a WiFi network, so you have to research in advance and see what establishments like hotels, bars, restaurants or malls have free WiFi that you can go and use for your checkup phone calls. This will save you a lot of money, which you can use on other things during your stay.