Tired of Travel Blogger Positivity?

Underway during a busy time, I decided to head to Germany to spend my week with family. Navigating my way through heavy city traffic, and then negotiating the busy Philadelphia highways, I arrived at the airport to find that it was surprisingly light in foot traffic, for being Thanksgiving week; I guess travelers are waiting a day or two longer. Or so I thought. Arriving at Chicago O’Hare, I quickly noticed that it held no shortage of the typical family element (two parents and two children), which added to the already high-volume business, and solo traveler numbers making their way somewhere. Working my way to the closest café to grab a coffee, I couldn’t help but stop to take notice of the high density of holiday travelers, noting the impact that it had on everything from the staff numbers at McDonald’s to the constant upkeep of restroom maintenance, to every other element that permits an airport to run efficiently. We never really stop to wonder what it takes to keep the machine running, we just expect it to do what it is designed to do (when we do our part), which is purchase the tickets and show up. We’ve paid our money, we’ve contributed to and stimulated their economy, so everything should work as it is made to. Right? Everything we read about travel puts such a positive spin on the experience, its almost unrealistic.

“Its in the moments of rest and indulgence that I get lost in thought, which is what usually brings me to something.”

Photo by Kristopher Roller on Unsplash

As I sat in my seat and sipped my coffee, while choking down a burger which I swore I would avoid—in an effort to getting on track to becoming healthier at 40—I pondered those things. For me, its often that I can come up with ideas to write about while in motion, but almost a certainty when I am still and processing. Its in the moments of rest and indulgence that I get lost in thought, which is what usually brings me to something. Lost in thought and creating answers to my own questions, it occurred to me that one common aspect of travel blogging that always appears to be missing is the negativity. Now, here me out. While I am not one to wallow in negativity, I am realistic enough to understand that many aspects of travel are just as frustrating as they are exciting. Yeah, we can chalk them up to “experiences,” and that is usually how they are represented, but I honestly believe that there can be value in digging into the negative parts of what people experience, while they are trying to experience something different.

The more I engaged in this realization, the more I began to wonder about why it is that a positive spin is always put on everything a person experiences when they travel. Projecting a moment of negativity never killed anyone, so I do not think that there is any value lost when we examine the other side of things. For example, think about over-crowded waiting areas, long lines, diminished service due to high volume stress, and yes, delays. All these things factor into our travel, but rather than acknowledge how completely aggravating they can be, we develop the tendency to focus on other things, becoming less analytical and more complaney than anything. Although it turns out that the very attribute of being analytical is what often leads to logical rationalization, and then decompression. I find that taking the analytical route is the best way to approach things sometimes, especially when we are talking about ways to deal with the inevitable stress.

Don’t get me wrong, I love blogging, and most of what I aim to provide is a positive outlook. However, it seems to me that a more realistic approach is when we consider that it is perfectly fine to acknowledge how annoying some things can be. For example, on my way home from Germany, things appeared to be flowing smooth. I made good time driving to the airport and managed to get ahead of most of the morning rush-hour traffic by leaving early, and with ninety-minutes to spare, the rental car was turned in, my bag checked, and I breezed through security. Nürnberg to Frankfurt was a breeze. Then came the cataclysm. More than a decade ago, in order to accommodate an increase in flight traffic at the Frankfurt airport, a second runway system was built. And while the terminals were expanded, today many aircraft still park on the ramp, and buses will ferry passengers from the terminals to and from the planes. Already slightly behind, the crew managed to finally opened up the gate and began shuffling passengers through the checkpoint, at which point we would descend a flight of steps, board the bus, and after a ten-minute drive, arrive at the plane, which happened to be a Boeing 747. I boarded at the back door, quickly found my seat, and settled in while people made their way onto the plane, slowly but consistently. Not long after I was settled, a gentleman and his friend came to my seat and the first sat beside me, but then quickly pointed out that I was in his colleague’s seat. I retrieved the ticket stub from my pocket and together we examined it, only to find I was indeed in the correct seat, yet his ticket also showed 55C. He called the attendant and the only reply he received was, “it looks like that seat was double booked.” The attendant collected the stubs from each of us and said that he would return shortly.

While I waited for the return of this attendant I anticipated his request for me to find another seat. So, like any mature adult, I poised myself to appear very much settled in, even grabbing my iPad and opening it up to begin reading. After all, why should it be me that moves when I was there first? Then a funny thing happened. I over-heard another couple with the same issue, and soon after the intercom comes on and the attendant requests that all passengers double check their tickets to make sure that they are on the correct flight. In a slightly condescending tone, the German gentleman beside me asks me to confirm my destination (as if to suggest that I am mistaken), to which I replied, “Philadelphia.” I then countered his tone with my own request for information, and his reply…, “Orlando.” “Naja, dann bist du auf dem falschen Flug,” I said to him. Translation, you are on the wrong flight. It turned out that the bus driver of Orlando bound passengers delivered his passenger cargo to a Philadelphia bound airplane, and of course the people didn’t know any better, so they boarded the plane and mixed in with the Philadelphia group.

Long story short, once every Orlando bound passenger left the plane and re-boarded the bus, we Philadelphia passengers were asked to grab all of our things and get off the airplane, so that we can return to the terminal, re-check in, re-board the bus, and re-take our seats on the plane; all in all, a total time investment of nearly two hours. This was the only way that the flight crew could absolutely ensure that every passenger on that airplane was headed to the correct destination. I will admit, it was aggravating. Especially since I was already very hungry. But I had an internal conversation that went something like, “hey, you can’t change the situation, you don’t have to catch a connecting flight, and your evening was going to be free anyway, so don’t stress.” And just like that, I let it go. But what did kill me was the others who failed to have a similar internal conversation. Many passengers, if they could, vented every little bit of their frustration with anyone who would listen and indulge, and so the circle went around and around; thankfully I had my headphones to blot out the complaining. This could be the experience of any travel blogger, but perhaps the only thing you would see is a picture of something that in no way showed the bulk of that moment of reality, but rather a sliver of opportunistic time for a picture that would tell a different story.

Traveling is a great thing; I’ll never deny that statement. We learn so much when we see the way others live, and when we experience life that is vastly different than our own, it provides us with valuable perspective. But let’s be honest, while the destination has all the potential to show us an amazing time, the process of getting there can be … less than fruitful. Travel bloggers often paint us pictures of amazing experiences, yet we usually find that the one thing missing is the WHOLE picture; we only see the good stuff. Social media has that tendency to show us the good, and only the good, but rarely do we get the chance to see the frustration, the confusion, and irritability to be experienced. We go through it all, yet we hardly ever talk about what goes wrong. Well, maybe now it is time we confront both sides of the coin. More to follow…

 

Like anything, experience has to be earned.

Experience changes an individual, often for the better and in permanent ways. So why should it not be fought for, sweat for, bank breaking for, and earned? Many believe that the best things in life are free; that’s true if those things are air, sun, and a view of the stars at night. But in reality, most things today are not free. Not the water we drink, nor the resources we depend on, the grass that we walk on, and even falling in love; it all has a cost. And with the exception of love, those things just sustain, not change us.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

~ Helen Keller

Photo by Tobi on Pexels.com

If a picture is worth a thousand words, where are we with experiences? Stagnation is a sad reality, but growth through learning about more than we are, seeing more than we know, and pondering more than we commonly conceive is priceless…I’d say. Therefore, the best way to learn, see, and conceive more is through experience, and that is what travelling is best for. To be clear, a person does not have to jump on a plane and fly halfway around the world in order to feel like they are legitimately traveling; a neighboring state will do just fine. Although, an opportunity to experience the way a foreign culture lives can promote tremendous perspective in all of us.

Logically speaking, its not the actual experience that brings anyone change. Instead, it is the result of an experience that yields the high returns. The actions–our experiences– those are just the means; the vehicle, if you will. But the result, the facilitator of change in all of us, that must be earned. And the cost…not always a financial dilemma. Rather, the cost of change (of experience) is fortitude; its facing a fear of the unknown, stepping outside the comfort zone, and taking away the most comfortable aspect in our lives, and that is control. Without control a person is powerless, and vulnerability is the absence of control, something travel presents an abundance of.

According to multiple sources, common reasons for avoiding traveling include the following: no one to travel with, can’t afford it, the element of danger out there, a lack of time and vacation days, language barrier, logistical nightmares, and germs (LOL). What these reasons all boil down to is a lack of resourcefulness and/or fear. Overcoming a fear of the unknown, fear of loss, fear of leaving the comfort zone, it’s not what we are designed to endure. Our brains are designed to do one thing, and one thing only; keep us alive. A desire…that goes beyond survival. It’s take guts and a real f***it kind of attitude to say “to hell with familiarity and comfort, I want to know and see more.”

Like most things in life that aren’t handed to us, we need to earn it. We need to put in, in order to be able to take out something in return. Experiences make a person grow. They formulate differing perspectives, intelligence, understanding, and debate. If you want the experience, you aren’t going to have it given to you. To learn about the world you don’t know, you will have to take yourself from the one you do. And it will cost. It will make you nervous, intimidated, and timid, until you return home a different person than the one who left. OF COURSE it comes with a cost, but almost anything worthwhile does, so you have to make the effort to be someone other than the person in you who refuses to change. You have to actually try, and want to be and know more. Jim Rohn once said, “if you think trying is hard, wait until you get the bill for not trying.”

So, if you want to know what the cost of experience is, it’s life as you know it. And whether a person chooses to experience all that life has to offer or not, they should know that they will pay in any case. Pay for the experiences now, or pay for the regret later. It’s something to think about.

What makes this entrepreneur qualified to launch a travel business??

Entrepreneur, “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.” This is what you’ll find when you research the meaning in Webster’s dictionary. It’s a good definition, short and concise. Yet it tells us nothing about why it is that an entrepreneur feels that a specific field is one in which they are qualified enough to offer something valuable to the world. Value… isn’t that why we start businesses? Because we believe that our knowledge and experience is enough to turn into a service that adds value to everyone else?

“where there is the will to have that sense of organization, deferring to someone else’s experience may be just the thing that’s needed.”

When talking travel, what exactly is it that makes a person qualified enough to create something which people will find utility in, at a value so substantial that the business itself grows, molds, adapts, and expands to a global level? This is something that I ask myself often. Creating a business is turning experience into something that serves the consumer, as well as generates growth and wealth for the entrepreneur; essentially an ROI (return on idea).  But honestly, haven’t most of us traveled? Are there levels of differentiation in travel experience that are significant enough for one person to offer others the lessons of their experiences for a cost? When do the scales actually tip?

The idea for Planiversity was developed by an individual whose mission was to expand on a concept learned over the course of fourteen years of military experience; nearly a decade of that time as an aviator. The concept was a simple one, to ensure that before we set our feet on the ground at our destination, that we are already empowered with information about that location. Now, while some may see the value in just going and learning on the fly, there are many that enjoy having a sense of control, which ultimately saves time, costs, and leaves room to enjoy those things that bring them to that location.

Most of us have experienced one of two variations of travel experience: the one where we figure things out as we go, and the one where we walk around with a binder or folder full of printouts, which are the itineraries, bookings, maps, etc. Obviously, for the uber-adventurer, who enjoys letting things happen as they will, a travel logistics and organization service is of little use; it’s the antithesis of what adventure means to them. However, where there is the will to have that sense of organization, deferring to someone else’s experience may be just the thing that’s needed.

For this entrepreneur, the skills learned while in the military were so valuable that it was difficult to avoid sharing the experience with the public. Although, it was obvious that some aspects of planning needed to change, and that is why the focus of Planiversity is to allow users to decide what resource knowledge is critical to have before arrival, and then provide them the tools to piece together their own travel packet. For example, maybe the user just wants to keep things simple and only have a single source document for all of their itineraries, while another wants the same, plus to have a schedule, maps, and knowledge of which hospitals, police stations, etc. are in close proximity to their hotel. But that’s only a fraction of what Planiversity can do. This service, it’s a logistics engine for the traveler, and designed by someone who knows the value of information while travelling.

So, when asked why THIS particular entrepreneur believes he is qualified to start a travel logistics service, the answer is an easy one; experience. Having traveled to 28 foreign countries, and with plans to see much more of the world, the experiences and knowledge gained while on the move generates the inspiration for designing a service that simplifies planning and reduces the need to occupy valuable time with problem solving dilemmas. One thing in travel that is-and always will be-a certainty, planning increases confidence in one’s circumstances.

So, give Planiversity.com a shot. A little information and planning never hurts!

 

Travel: a resource war on the wallet

The best thing about travel, besides the trip itself, is being able to experience it all without breaking the bank. While sometimes we just have to go all out and treat ourselves to elite hospitality, other times it is not only necessary to keep a budget, but doing so can also make a trip more interesting. It’s undoubtedly true that most people enjoy a challenge from time to time, and never will travel fail to provide the opportunity to be given a multitude of challenges. Think about it, when visiting a new city, in a short period of time you’re trying to master navigation of that city, learn the subways or bus system, find the good-off the mainline-restaurants, figure out the currency, memorize a few words and phrases for getting around, and so on. And this can be just over a three-day weekend. Oh, and that doesn’t include the safety aspect of traveling; that alone is a task of its own. We probably underestimate just how great of multi-taskers we actually become when travelling.

“When returning home from a trip, a person should feel rejuvenated and motivated to go again, not feeling like they have to postpone the next one because they just can’t afford it.”

As we all know, traveling can become expensive quick. However, if you’re conscientious about spending and how or where or what money goes to, you’ll also see that you may surprisingly come in under budget by the end of the trip. And while you may have a few ways of your own to save those pennies, here are a couple of options we’ve given you to consider:

• Food trucks and fruit carts

Think about it, a trip may be a good time to trim down the caloric intake and eat healthy for a change. While there are plenty of possibilities to overdo it on eating, many tourist dense cities will offer plenty of fruit cart options. If you are the kind of person who keeps a bag on you while walking around, its too easy to have a few apples, bananas, or otherwise close to you, so that when you do feel the need to snack, you can do so with a healthy and very inexpensive piece of fruit. And not only are fruit carts handy, but food trucks are also a great way to experience local cuisine (especially if you plan to visit Thailand); they are far less expensive then a restaurant dining, saving you the cost of service and plated food.

Photo by Héctor Martínez on Unsplash

•  Public transportation

How great is it to be able to move around a large city for the cost of pennies on the dollar? Even in a large city like Manhattan, a person can literally traverse the city for less than $10, which a strong contrast to what they may pay in taxi or Uber fees. And if for some reason they decide to use their own vehicle, the cost of parking, gas, and time costs far outnumber the public transportation ones. And speaking of time costs, how great is it to be delivered close to the location you are planning to visit, and NOT have to worry about finding a parking space or feed a meter? Nope, instead you can step off the station and just head straight in.

• Minimize amenity needs

Sites like Airbnb and VRBO have really made the travel experience a much more personal and affordable one for many. It used to be either overpriced and under-quality rooms at a hotel, or cheap and even further under-quality rooms at a different hotel. Or, there was always the option for luxurious, but that’s no money saver. Though today we have the choice to experience a new place from the perspective of a local; at least to some degree. Renting a flat from a local is a great way to weed out those unsavory locations, save money, and even better, have the opportunity to cook your own meals. Sure you won’t have the room service or ice machine down the hall, but you WILL have a unique setup of your own, and for a better price. And if that option is still too expensive, there are always the hostels.

Just remember at the end of the day, there are options for saving money and minimizing costs; you just have to look around. Travel does not have to leave a person feeling broke or anxious about having spent too much on unnecessary things. When returning home from a trip, a person should feel rejuvenated and motivated to go again, not feeling like they have to postpone the next one because they just can’t afford it. Take some time before your next trip and research your options, bring a comfortable bag, research the public transportation day rates, and prepare to experience some amazing food options. And that’s all we have to say about that!

For simple travel planning and building a master itinerary, check out: https://www.planiversity.com

Technology, or steam gauges?

It’s nearly 2020, and these days the progress in technology seems to be a speeding snowball, demanding we constantly keep up or get left behind. Yet, regardless of the pressure that advancement seems to have, many are resisting it’s demand, in favor of holding on to the old ways. Planning is no different than playing with a piece of hardware, our needs have their own level of needs, and sometimes those needs just want to keep things simple. How many of us have that one grandparent or older co-worker who talks about holding on to something because it is “dependable?” Even though there are new and far more precise and better time saving alternatives. They may be correct, just because something is kept past its time does not negate its reliability. So, here are a few tips for those of you who prefer to dial it back and slow that pressure to modernize:

1. Find the middle ground

While it’s true that you don’t always have to bend to the pressure of keeping up with the times in all aspects, you should find ways to pepper in a certain level of technological use. For example, instead of trying to spread a little bit of love everywhere, limit your uses to those things that are relevant to your lifestyle only. We don’t all need to be on the same page, and have the same new phones, the same piece of equipment, or the same apps. A person can literally customize usage to their lifestyle. No matter how laid back it is, there are options.

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

2.  Balance usage 

Perhaps the reason that you feel you need to stick to the old ways is because you are delving too fast into the new ones. Moderation is the key to many things in life, and if you get to a point where you feel overwhelmed by the pace of techno gadgets and applications, take a step back and move back into your comfort zone again. There are no rules in how fast and how aggressive you should be applying yourself here.

3. Step into the blind

Many times when a person resists change, it is because its either presented to them incorrectly, or because they fail to understand what it truly represents. Technology can be intimidating, especially to someone who thinks of themselves as being incapable of getting a handle on it. Yet as we often see, people well into their 70’s and 80’s are walking around with smart phones and navigating complex sites and apps. It really doesn’t take a genius; just a small initiative to learn something completely unfamiliar. Often when we think we are looking at a mountain, it turns out to be nothing of the sort when up close.

4. Understand that things are getting easier, not more difficult

The further one gets away from advancements, a certain level of confusion begins to cloud what things accurately represent. The goal of much of the technology world these days is to make things simpler, not the other way around. Without even trying something, a lot of times people will get a sense of it being far beyond their level of aptitude and comprehension. It happens to us all in one way or another, but its best to try to understand why we resist something and what that means to each of us individually. Chances are, like everything, the more you will come to find out about something, the smaller and more manageable it becomes.

5. Comes to terms

Technology is the way of the future, and denying its ubiquity is self-detrimental…to some extent. Rather than fighting the reality of the times, learn to embrace its ability to make life easier when and where it can. Nothing will make a person feel more left behind than being the only one in their circle not informed or taking place in something, when everyone they know is and does. And sometimes nothing will make us feel more silly than coming to the realization that we could have had it much easier long before this point.

Older equipment and methods seem more reliable to many, but its not often because those things are actually more reliable. When we trust the steam gauges (meaning dated ways and equipment) more than we do technology available to us, it can often boil down to a lack of understanding that alternative. Don’t get me wrong, even I prefer to use an older piece of equipment for some things, just because it is simple and reliable. However, in doing so I am resisting forward movement. Because the truth is, a person can depend on those simple things for some time, but eventually those same THINGS are going to get further and further away from their successors, and eventually become obsolete, and maybe even unavailable to replace.

 

Featured image by Ajeet Mestry on Unsplash

Circumstances get a vote

Planning and preparing for your next trip, you think that you’ve got every angle covered. The bags are packed, you’ve double checked to ensure you have all of your documentation, the destination has been researched, online check-in initiated, cash in pocket, and the automatic cat feeder topped off. Things appear to be flowing well, at least for the moment. Three hours until takeoff and your ride should be arriving momentarily. Five minutes pass, then ten, and still no call. Chances can’t be taken, so you immediately contact the driver, who informs you that he’s just gotten a flat and should be there within twenty minutes. However, the time that you’ve already factored accounts for traffic enroute, and you know that you’ll now be cutting it close, and that is if his twenty minute estimate is even accurate; it could be later.

By the time you make it to the airport, you are now T-minus ninety-minutes and the security line is long, but not to worry, you’ve cut it close before. You pass through and casually stroll up to your gate, thinking everything is back on track now, just to see that the takeoff time for your flight was just pushed back an hour, due to weather delaying the plane you’re supposed to be on from taking off from their last location. And now your only thought is that the small window of time that you had to catch the connecting flight at your layover location is now gone, and you will have to look into a backup flight. It’s now time to get in line with the other twenty or thirty people in the same situation, just to be able to speak to the agent at the counter, who possibly won’t be able to get you a flight going into your final destination, because many other people are also delayed and being shifted around.

Photo by Leo Cardelli on Pexels.com

This type of scenario happens daily, and so many people are affected by the constant little setbacks. It’s almost not fair for you to have to experience it, because YOUR only job was to pay for the ticket and get yourself to where you are supposed to be, on time. And as long as you are where you need to be, everything else should be doing it’s part to work for you. But that isn’t how it always goes. The problem is, when putting plans together, we never seem to consider the fact that circumstances have a vote in how things go. And that is just another way of saying that we need to expect the unexpected in planning. Whether it is travel, or anything that relies on external variables coming together to help one successfully achieve a desired outcome, there needs to be a certain level of expectation for those things that we ourselves cannot control.

So, how does one get around this issue? Well, the simple answer is that you cannot always get around it. Like anything in life, when you try to mitigate every potential avenue in something, you begin to work backwards, and the same goes for planning. When we attempt to get ahead of the potential for the unexpected, we begin to create stress in different ways. For example, you maybe plan to get to the airport four hours before the flight, instead of two, but now need to cut into preparation time in the morning. But maybe you prepared the night before, although at the cost of cutting in to work time; those adjustments come at a cost.

The answer to resolving these issues is not necessarily to defeat those variables with time and action every time. But you can minimize potentials by planning, planning, and planning. Try getting an idea and writing down the other flights that arrive at your destination, in the event your flight for any reason gets pushed. With that information, at least you know where to direct your next move, rather than being at the mercy of random selection. If you know weather is rolling in, perhaps gather an idea of hotels at your layover. Or, one can also look into travelers insurance, if they think there is a chance for setbacks. The point is, you have to forecast the obvious, but sometimes its the not so obvious that will get you. The best that you can do each time, is understand that those things that cannot be controlled will always have a vote. Take the time to plan for contingencies and have an idea of what you can resolve, should the moment come where that idea is needed.

Tips along the way:

• Use a travel planning organizing service to assist you (www.Planiversity.com)
• Check the weather along your route before leaving the house
• Check in for your flight as early as you can (be proactive)
• Have an idea of where you can go or who you need to call in the event plans begin to fall apart
• Carry a few extra supplies in your bag, should you need them
• Charge your phone when you have the opportunity; a dying battery is sure to add to your stress
•  Carry cash, don’t rely on card services when things fall apart

When Travelling Solo

Nо matter what оur сhоісеѕ are and whаt wе crave fоr in life, traveling ѕоlо is оnе thіng associated wіth оur dеереѕt еmоtіоnѕ. We all іmаgіnе it, but rаrеlу wе tаkе a step оut оf оur mundane lіvеѕ tо identify, who wе аrе? Solo trаvеlіng betters uѕ іn еvеrу роѕѕіblе dimension. And, thе benefits far outweigh the nеgаtіvеѕ, so, why nоt juѕt расk yоur bags and make the most of it?

Things to Consider When Trаvеlіng Alоnе for Business

Buѕіnеѕѕ travelers аlоnе on a trip spend much оf thеіr dауtіmе attending mееtіngѕ, аѕ they еndоrѕе thеіr еntеrрrіѕе’ѕ interests. Between limited day time remaining fоr personal аmuѕеmеnt аnd not knоwіng anyone in the city, a vасаnt schedule іѕ sadly wasted іn a hоtеl rооm. But buѕіnеѕѕ travel doesn’t need to feel dull, even whеn gоіng ѕоlо.

“while many aspects may remain out of our control, ultimately it is the traveler who wanders into the scenario.”

First thіng уоu need tо dо tо mаkе thе most of уоur buѕіnеѕѕ trаvеl іѕ tо analyze the dеѕtіnаtіоn. Thе Internet іѕ a ѕоurсе оf plentiful trаvеl information, so find out fascinating рlасеѕ to ѕее аnd fun things tо dо, even іf уоu аrе left with little time in the evening. Plаn аn itinerary, ѕо уоu dо nоt use your valuable time wаlkіng іn circles around the hоtеl. Many travel ѕіtеѕ have ѕіghtѕ-tо-ѕее аnd things-to-do linkѕ, which is whеrе уоu can fіnd a few interesting suggestions. Also cosider making a рlаn tо tour the tоwn аlоnе, or link uр wіth a colleague іf уоu prefer to go wіth a соmраnіоn.

Fіvе Tірѕ fоr Travelling Solo

When trаvеllіng solo (outside of business), уоu hаvе the flexibility tо go wherever you wіѕh whenever уоu have free time. If you dесіdе уоu dоn’t lіkе a раrtісulаr dеѕtіnаtіоn, thеn уоu аrе frее tо расk your bag аnd hеаd оff. Yоu саn аlѕо choose tо ѕtау longer if the рlасе арреаlѕ tо уоu, іf you mееt some interesting реорlе you want tо stick around, or if you lоvе thе ассоmmоdаtіоn. Backpacking іѕ a grеаt wау tо travel solo аѕ іt mаkеѕ іt easy tо visit mаnу destinations, and уоu retain the option to lеаvе at a moment’s notice. You wіll аlѕо meet lоtѕ of like-minded trаvеlеrѕ in bасkрасkеr hоѕtеlѕ. For safety, consider these five points when travelling solo:

No. 1 Always tell someone

The mоѕt іmроrtаnt thing уоu ѕhоuld dо whеnеvеr traveling аlоnе іѕ to let ѕоmеоnе knоw уоur іtіnеrаrу. Lеt fаmіlу аnd friends know where уоu аrе going and whеn. Lеаvе a lіѕt оf contacts wіth thеm, іnсludіng nаmеѕ оf рlасеѕ, hotels or hоѕtеlѕ and іnсludе thе соntасt phone numbеrѕ. Let them knоw what airlines уоu wіll bе flуіng, аnd other critical trаvеl information. If your рlаnѕ сhаngе along thе wау makes sure уоu lеt them knоw bу sending an еmаіl, рhоnіng them оr even posting a mеѕѕаgе оn a ѕосіаl networking ѕіtе, іf thеу vіѕіt іt rеgulаrlу.

No. 2 Kеер documents safe

It іѕ іmроrtаnt to keep уоur dосumеntѕ ѕаfе while trаvеlіng, іnсludіng раѕѕроrtѕ, visas, аnd anything you require fоr a раrtісulаr соuntrу. If уоu nееd mеdісаtіоn, уоu mау nееd a lеttеr frоm your doctor so thаt уоu саn bring it wіth уоu into сеrtаіn countries. Keep this safe аѕ well. Dоn’t carry all уоur mоnеу wіth уоu, stash ѕоmе аwау wіth уоur dосumеntѕ. Hоѕtеlѕ аnd hotels hаvе safes to ѕtоrе thеѕе іn and whіlе traveling, іt is also a gооd іdеа tо kеер thеm in a роuсh or bag соnсеаlеd under уоur сlоthіng. Thіеvеѕ аnd pickpockets can be a hugе рrоblеm іn some fоrеіgn popular tourist destinations.

No. 3 Kеер аn eye out

Watch оut for thіеvеѕ аnd use a bit of соmmоn sense. Dоn’t leave bаgѕ lуіng аrоund, еvеn for a mіnutе. For еxаmрlе, іf уоu аrе ѕіttіng аt a саfе, keep the bag on уоur lap or thе ground wіth your fооt through thе strap, аѕ ѕоmе thіеvеѕ аrе brаzеn еnоugh tо snatch bаgѕ and run. Wаtсh out for crowds оf реорlе; pісkросkеtѕ sometimes wоrk іn grоuрѕ and wіll crowd around you in buѕу places, ѕо уоu don’t nоtісе that уоu аrе bеіng rоbbеd. Uѕе common ѕеnѕе when іt соmеѕ tо vаluаblеѕ too. Keep your mоnеу аnd іmроrtаnt dосumеntѕ hіddеn ѕаfеlу under your сlоthіng and don’t wear еxреnѕіvе or flashy jеwеlrу.

No. 4 Blend іn

A good tір іѕ to trу to blend іn wіth the lосаlѕ and nоt lооk lіkе a tourist. Avоіd asking for dіrесtіоnѕ by checking out a mар bеfоrе уоu lеаvе your hotel fоr thе day. Alwауѕ look confident аnd if you dо nееd to аѕk dіrесtіоnѕ рrоbаblу the ѕаfеѕt person tо аѕk wоuld be either a роlісеmаn оr maybe even a wоmаn with her сhіldrеn. Try nоt tо wear сlоthіng thаt ѕtаndѕ оut еіthеr, іf possible dress less flashy.

No. 5 Thіngѕ tо tаkе

Handy thіngѕ tо take іnсludе a rоll оf toilet рареr, a расk оf cards, a bоttlе ореnеr. But also consider a charger for your phone, a calling card, and a list of emergency facilities close by.

Many times, a rhyme and/or reason are absent from common situations. However, in travel, we often cultivate our circumstances, and while many aspects may remain out of our control, ultimately it is the traveler who wanders into the scenario.

Thanks for stopping by, and check us out at https://www.Planiversity.com

Travel Speed and Efficiency

Why is it that when you fail to plan, things almost always end up hitting the wall when it comes to travel? Is it because when you fail to plan you actually plan to fail? Is that really a thing? Or is it that travel is one of those things that is incredibly dense in variables; not the least of which includes relying on others to do their part. After all, you’ve paid for the ticket already, you showed up early to the airport or station, you cleared your bags through security, you have the documents that you know they are expecting, and yet, things just can’t seem to go your way. And the worst part of it all is the fact that your precious time is quickly being thrown away or wasted by something or someone who you have little to no chance of compromising with. Welcome to the chaotic world of travel.

“This is no substitute for what is efficient; it is vastly underappreciated these days. “

If you travel by plane (let’s say a minimum of twice a year), you’ve likely had the pleasure of experiencing those times where you do everything right, but the airline just has you by the cojones, and sadly every twenty minutes or so, you see that ‘estimated time of departure’ time climb by another forty-five mins. And it happens not once, and not twice, but maybe three or four times, until you are now taking off closer to or after midnight. And now your bag is in limbo, you’ve likely missed the last connecting flight possible, you have no hotel room booked, and to top it all off, your eyes are blood shot and the headache you’ve been tolerating for two hours is getting stronger. Your clothes are sweaty, your stomach empty, and now you could care less if you spend five dollars on a bag of M&Ms; you need something to snack on after-all. Man, what stress!

When this scenario happens to you, its awful. But never will you appreciate more those times when things were on-time and efficient. I’ve been through airports where I’ve come in on an international flight and just sailed through customs, and onto the next flight. And other times (and other airports) where I’ve waited more than an hour to pass customs, and of course everything from there just followed suit. And many many times I have been the person sitting there watching that departure time drift further from me. This is no substitute for what is efficient; it is vastly underappreciated these days.

Value what saves time; those apps, those plans, those services, and those systems, all designed to make yours and everyone’s life just a little bit easier. When it comes to your travel, Planiversity is a software designed to allow the user to put as much information as possible out in front of them, before they even take the first steps on their journey. Knowing before going, organizing documentation into one single file, locating valuable resources at the destination, building a schedule, and many more features make the user one that handles what they can; those variables that are within their umbrella of control. When travel circumstances get away from us, it isn’t always because the airlines fail to get us out on time, or because TSA is backed up and limited to two checkpoints. Sometimes, just sometimes, it IS because we fail to do our part to help the process. So, control what you can, when you can, and use those tools that will make your life just a little bit easier when underway. At least control what you can control; try Planiversity.

Check us out at https://www.planiversity.com

Travel Planning Today

Some things never change, but planning hasn’t been one of those things. Give things enough time, especially something as heavily participated in as travel, and it will naturally adapt. Solutions to almost any problem a person can experience while traveling have been created over the course of a few decades, and today, the rate at which technology advances, more solutions are being made and those travel dilemmas are quickly being checked off the list.

As a child, I can still remember the times of traveling with the family during holidays, so much information and variables unknown as we went along. With one of those large Atlas maps in the car, we would set off to Florida, or whatever other destination mom and dad had in mind, and that map would get stretched across the front seat, mom trying to navigate, while in the back sat three sleepy-eyed kids, unable to do anything but go along for the ride. And then there was the time when my father, brother and I were attending an event in Pennsylvania, only to get lost on the way home, and ending up in Pittsburgh, rather than Upstate NY where we should have been hours earlier. What a joy those days were.

“With a multitude of options available on the market, there is no deprivation of travel technology, should one be looking.”

Fast-forward to today, that type of thing is almost impossible to replicate, unless one was intentionally trying to get lost or wing it, completely avoiding taking advantage of the resources now available. With improved maps, GPS technology built-in to many cars, smart phones, and the variety of aps on the market, there is no shortage of ways to get you to your destination, but also collect an abundance of information about the area as well. So, the question has evolved from how do I find the destination, to which resource do I use to get there; the questions over time had only changed while the event remained constant.

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With a multitude of options available on the market, there is no deprivation of travel technology, should one be looking. There are aps that map routes, aps that list activities, aps to find a traveler a place to stay, to inform them of flight delays and seat changes, to highlight resources at the destination, and to navigate airport terminals even. With all of this technology available, I couldn’t even re-create my experiences as a child if I wanted to, those days are gone. Best case scenario, I backpack across Europe with no network for my phone, and disconnect from technology for the time. Otherwise, I haven’t rented a car in the past three years that doesn’t come with a built-in navigation system, no matter how little I spend on that car. So, at the very minimum, finding the destination is a sure thing most of the time.

One has to admit, there was-and is-something about the idea of just going without a plan, and seeing where the wind takes them; it offers a greater sense of adventure. Or to set off for a pre-determined destination, with just a map in one hand and the steering wheel in the other; that’s a good one. Sometimes not having a plan and leaving things to chance is the way to go, but one has to commit to wanting that type of experience in the first place. Otherwise, as much as a person may try to wing things and steer off course, its almost too easy to get yourself back on track in no time, thanks to technology and the abundance of travel aps available today.

If a person did want to travel in a way that saves them times, prevents stress, lines up information, and consolidates the many pieces of information that need to travel with, there is no shortage of ways to achieve this state of organization and peace of mind. Travel doesn’t have to be a stressful thing, but so many of us make it that way by failing to plan ahead. Neglecting to take the time to identify goals for the trip is a sure fire way to ensure that confusion makes its way in and that at some point, wasting time is what a person will end up with. Do yourself a favor the next time you hit the road, take some time to research the aps and software available, and see if it doesn’t make your experience even a little more stress free.

https://www.planiversity.com

Time, your only finite resource

It’s been said before and it can’t be said enough, a failure to plan is a plan to fail. Often times, there is this tendency in life to just make things up as we go, never truly knowing and/or fundamentally understanding that in doing so, we become an obvious resource wasting machine. Throwing things together at the last minute, or even just failing to throw things together at all, leads to a number of unnecessary expenditures, such as funds, opportunities, and more. But there is one resource that we all possess, are given for free, and only have a finite amount of, yet many times throw it away for little to absolutely no return, and that is TIME.

Time is more valuable than anything else you hold in life, it ties to everything; that cannot be stated enough. Money is earned and spent, and earned again; the chance to earn and replace what was spent always comes back. Opportunities are missed, but if you miss one, you won’t be denied another for the remainder of your life. Skills atrophied can easily be re-learned. But time, when its gone, its gone. This statement cannot be said enough. While many things in our lives will come and come again, time does not, so it makes sense that we should expand on every bit of it when possible.

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There are all sorts of ways to maximize our efficiency, in order to give ourselves more of that irreplaceable thing, but sometimes in an attempt to save time, we are losing it in the process of learning something that we may never see utility from again. Now take travel into consideration; its something that most are going to do at some point, many doing it more often than others. And when traveling to a new place, somewhere far away and foreign, time is being invested into learning about that place, how to get around, what to do and not do, where the resources are (in the event of emergencies), and so on. Or, there is absolutely no attempt to plan ahead, leaving efficiency to chance. Doesn’t it make sense to find the most efficient and time saving method to consolidate critical information needed, before arriving? I think so.

“Time is more valuable than anything else you hold in life, it ties to everything; that cannot be stated enough.”

Anything in life that fills your calendar demands your attention; anything from a few minutes to days, weeks, and/or months. If its worth doing, it’s worth doing right, and more so, being done in a way that allows you to squeeze every bit of potential from the seconds ticking away. Imagine a trip to Paris, France with no agenda, Rome, Italy with no knowledge of the best sites to see, or New York City with absolutely no plan on how to best traverse the map. While it may feel like more of an adventure having no plan, imagine all the opportunities being missed during the time you are getting lost on the wrong subway, finding yourself on the opposite side of the city from where you wanted to be, or needing to find a doctor during an emergency, only to pass 1, 2, or 3 of them on your way to the only one you know of, because you aren’t aware of what is close by.

If your goal is to make the best possible glass of lemonade, you wouldn’t buy a lemon, squeeze half, and throw the rest away. There is more to gain from squeezing every drop from a piece of fruit (fruit being opportunity or potential, of course). The point is, don’t waste you time. If you want the highest level of value in any moment, you need to have a plan before you are ready to execute. That’s the true merit. Just remember to always consider the one resource that you’ll never see again, once it is gone. And as I wrap up, I’ll leave you with this quote from famous entrepreneur, motivation speaker, and self-development coach, Brian Tracey, “Every minute spent planning, saves as many as ten minutes in execution.”

Check us out at https://www.planiversity.com

While studying abroad can be scary, some things should come easy

Your bags are packed, loaded into the car, and you’re just gathering up and inventorying the rest of your things. Passport, check. International license, check. Pocket translator, check. You jump into the car, and off you go, heading to the airport to board a plane, which will take you to your first experience away from home, and in a foreign country at that. Mom is nervous, dad is nervous, but neither of them quite as nervous as you, the one who in a matter of hours will be completely out of your element. It’s an adventurous feeling for many, yet statistics show that for many more, study abroad programs are nerve wracking for students. Fears range from language barriers and homesickness, to what to do if they become sick and how will they get around.

There are many variables that can stress out a student who is traveling abroad for a semester, but some things really should just come easy. When the decision to go to a foreign country for school is made, it is made based on the hope and assumption that the experience will be a rewarding and adventurous one, where the student can meet new people, add to their academic progression, experience a new culture, try a different cuisine, and show all of their friends back home what a fantastic time they are having while away; something that will make those friends both envious and in aw. Yet, underneath it all, sometimes the level of comfort really is not fully present, as certainty and self-confidence wane from within.

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Leaving home for any extended period of time while young can be a frightening thing; we all know that. But while there are some things that remain uncertain–and will be scary to a young traveler–preparedness at its best will help to set a limit on those fears. In an attempt to create a service that allows all travelers to plan their travel like a professional, Planiversity.com is thinking ahead, and soon we may be developing an option for creating a student account, in addition to both individual or business.

“There are many variables that can stress out a student who is traveling abroad for a semester, but some things really should just come easy.”

At present, the service does well to organize documentation, while providing users the option to create a schedule, add notes, and something very relevant to the student, we enable filters into the trip packet, allowing them to pinpoint a destination in their travel, and locate resources within whatever proximity they set around it. For example, users can set their location, and know where hospitals, police stations, hotels, service stations, and even their embassy is, within that chosen radius. All of this, combined with the option to include maps, driving directions, arrival weather, and receive a U.S. State Department travel advisory makes this service ideal for the first time traveler. A person can’t easily overcome their fears of leaving home, and/or the feeling of missing their own bed, but they can mitigate a substantial amount of fear of the unknown.

Planiversity isn’t just a service designed for travel agencies and event planners; it’s a travel software that can benefit all who are serious about planning. We may be a master itinerary service, but we’d rather see ourselves as a service providing a much needed and highly relevant tool for anyone on the go; no matter how far, no matter how long.

http://www.planiversity.com

“Winging it” doesn’t cut it

Tasked by time constraints, moving with the lines, travel requirements and personal needs, whilst attempting to pull last-minute information together, there are always some who fail to prepare, although knowing that doing so will make things flow smoother. It is a time-consuming process to sift through information, pull out what’s essential, and organize it all; but it’s repeatedly done because that’s mostly what travelers know best. Yet there are many who know to anticipate what’s coming, because they know that when they’ve  consolidated and prepared, they’re ahead of the game.

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In 2012, authors John Crotts and Anita Zehrer published a book titled, ‘An Explanatory Study of Vacation Stress,’ identifying through analysis where in travel the greatest areas of stress originate. This publication quickly became furthered by independent travel bloggers and online influencers since. To echo an article published in 2016 by an independent online travel influencer, about those surveyed in the making of the book, “The participants reported that the most stressful part of their trip was actually the trip planning stage, followed by traveling to the destination, and finally the actual stay at the destination(s).” The author also writes, “The most stressful part, which many people may not anticipate, begins before they even leave their homes in the planning stage.” Makes sense…

Uninformed, ill-prepared, and behind schedule; there’s no need for it. While there are just some circumstances out of our control, most travel stress we bring on ourselves. I’ve been there. I’ve been the guy who digs through his email to find the e-boarding pass two minutes before boarding, who has his itinerary somewhere else, and who is attempting to book a rental car on his phone, while clinging to the last few minutes of free airport WiFi in a foreign country. I can confidently say, to start right reduces a significant amount of stress, anxiety, and confusion. However, I had to know what wrong looked and felt like before fully developing an appreciation for right.

“When one knows what to expect, they keep circumstances within, or close to within their control.”

Time management is usually within our control, and so is planning. The best that a traveler can do to eliminate the potential for stress is ensure that they’ve done the best that they can to prepare for the trip, as well as prepare for the unexpected. Let go of the winging it, even if you think ‘winging it’ will reduce the amount of stress. Some people think that planning leads to expectation (and it does) and when expectation fails, they are forced to deal with stress and adapt. But studies show that the more prepared a person is, the less they are likely to experience stress; that can be applied to almost anything.

Admittingly, there is some adventure in just going where the wind takes you, but that isn’t something that can easily be embraced by the many travelers working on a timeline, traveling for business, or going somewhere for a purpose. When one knows what to expect, they keep circumstances within, or close to within their control. When the choice to forego preparation is made, and impromptu decision-making valued, it should not be a surprise when frustration creeps in. Take the time the plan in advance, have your ducks in a row, consolidate your information, and know where things are.

Check us out at https://www.planiversity.com