Vacation
Solo Trip: Tips for Travelling Alone for the First Time
Have you ever planned a solo trip, stepping beyond the rigid schedules and compromises of group travelling? Solo travel is a leap into adventure, where every turn unveils a fresh surprise. A solo trip for the first time is an enriching experience that amalgamates excitement and caution.
While the thrills of exploration are immense, it is crucial to prioritise safety and preparedness. With thoughtful planning and an open mindset, solo travel can be a transformative journey. Here are some tips that will help your first solo journey be safer and much more enjoyable.
Ways to Stay Safe for the First Time Solo Travellers
Preparation is Key
Efficient planning can make your trip easier and less stressful. Before you start your journey, it is a good idea to create a checklist of important things you will need.
Make sure to gather all your travel documents like your passport and tickets. Packing suitable clothes for the weather at your destination is mandatory. Do not forget any medications you might need. Book flights, and hotel rooms ahead of the trip. Besides these, take local currencies and credit cards for travel expenses.
Read more: 10 Most Affordable Destinations in Indonesia: Winter retreats on a budget
Share Information with Trusted Ones
Keeping safe during solo travel is important. Try to share your travel plans with someone you trust, so they know where you will be. Stay aware of your surroundings, especially in new places.
Choosing Safe Accommodations
When selecting places where you are planning to stay alone, explore different options like hostels, or guesthouses. It is suggested to pick a spot that feels safe and fits your budget.
Checking reviews is important to ensure that the staycation is secure, especially at night. It would be wise to pick accommodations in well-lit areas and places with good security measures.
It is essential to choose accommodation that makes you feel comfortable and secure during your solo trip. Furthermore, keep an eye on your belongings to avoid theft.
Read more: Best Asian Alternatives to the Maldives: Affordable Island Getaways
Stay Connected
One may consider buying a SIM card from the place they are visiting. This helps one stay connected and reachable. With a local SIM, one can use maps and stay connected even without Wi-Fi. Having a local number allows people to access local services and make calls easily during their solo trips.
Moreover, stay active on the internet during your trip. Having a reliable means of communication helps you stay connected and feel secure while travelling solo.
Stay Emotionally Strong
While travelling alone, you may sometimes feel lonely. Staying positive and staying open to new experiences helps keep your spirits high while travelling solo.
How to Spend the Weekend in a Creative Way
Weekends are like a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of daily life. This period offers a precious window for rejuvenation and self-expression. However, avoiding the pitfalls of idleness and monotony during these treasured days is pivotal. It is the time to shun procrastination and embrace creativity, ensuring these moments are not squandered in lethargy. Engaging in diverse entertaining and stimulating activities can transform weekends into an enriching experience, igniting a sense of fulfilment.
10 Creative Ways to Spend Your Weekends
Reading
You may immerse yourself in a captivating book during the weekend to explore new worlds, gain knowledge, and engage your mind. Reading goes beyond mere entertainment; it expands horizons, fosters empathy, and acquires knowledge.
Read more: Benefits of Reading Habit for Mind and Body
Traversing the lines of a well-crafted story or delving into informative texts engages your mind in discovery and enrichment. Relaxation blends with mental stimulation as reading deepens your understanding of the world. Altogether it is a perfect choice for a fulfilling weekend activity.
Best Asian Alternatives to the Maldives: Affordable Island Getaways
Nestled serenely within the expanse of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has lured travelers with its opulent allure. The pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxurious resorts have made it an icon in high-end travel. Yet, for those with a more budget-conscious spirit, some exotic tourist destinations in the heart of Asia can offer almost similar experiences. Let’s take a look into some of the most popular budget-friendly Asian alternatives to the Maldives.
10 Best Budget-Friendly Alternatives to the Maldives in Asia
Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
This tropical paradise, along with its mesmerizing blend of stone and sand beaches, is located in the Andaman Sea. Among this island group comprising six distinct islands, Phi Phi Don is renowned for its Monkey Beach and Maya Bay.
In the case of spending the night, Tropical Garden Bungalows come with a jungle vibe with modern amenities.
The airfare to Phitsanulok, the nearest airport to this place, from Bangladesh starts at USD 230 (BDT 25,264.65 at an exchange rate of USD 1 = BDT 109.85) per person.
Meals cost approximately THB 417 or BDT 1,289.45 (THB 1 = BDT 3.09) per day, while local transportation is estimated at THB 253 or BDT 782.33 daily.
The average cost for a couple's hotel stay in Koh Phi Phi is THB 2,956 (BDT 9,140.58).
Read more: Beach Bucket List: 9 Magnificent Sea Shores in South Asia
Koh Lipe, Thailand
This hidden gem, located in the Andaman Sea, offers hiking opportunities to take in the island's natural beauty from elevated vantage points. The island provides a variety of amenities, from bars and open-air restaurants to cafes and massage shacks.
Shopping in Malaysia: What to Buy, Where to Buy from
If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, you are in for a treat. This vibrant country offers not only stunning natural beauty but also a unique shopping experience. Malaysia is renowned for its diverse shopping opportunities, from bustling street markets to high-end shopping malls. This article will explore the best souvenirs, home decoration items, and other special treasures to buy in Malaysia.
Best Souvenirs to Buy in Malaysia
When you visit Malaysia, the desire to collect souvenirs that encapsulate the essence of this beautiful nation is nearly irresistible. Malaysia offers an array of choices for those seeking mementoes, each reflecting the rich culture and heritage of the country.
One such option is the exquisite Malaysian batik, a true work of art. These hand-dyed fabrics are adorned with intricate designs and a vivid spectrum of colours. This extends beyond clothing to include accessories and wall hangings available in the vibrant markets and boutiques across Malaysia. These intricate patterns and bold hues make batik an ideal keepsake.
Read more: Romantic Beach Honeymoon Destinations in Asia
Traditional Malaysian clothing is another fantastic choice. Women can opt for the elegant 'baju kurung' and 'baju kebaya'. Meanwhile, men have the option of the 'baju melayu,' a timeless symbol of style and cultural significance. These outfits pay homage to the rich heritage of Malaysia.
Handmade crafts are the way to go for those who appreciate craftsmanship. Malaysian artisans’ skills are reflected in the exquisite wooden carvings, rattan baskets, and traditional pottery. These items are not merely souvenirs; they also serve as splendid choices for adorning your home. Their intricate details and cultural significance make them outstanding decorative pieces.
Lastly, Malaysia's reputation as a haven for food enthusiasts makes it an excellent destination for culinary souvenirs. Among the popular choices is Durian Candy, offering a unique experience of the iconic but divisive durian fruit.
Another is Dodol, a beloved sweet treat throughout Southeast Asia, and White Coffee is a unique Malaysian brew known for its creamy, smooth taste. These souvenirs are more than mere items; they are fragments of Malaysian history and culture, destined to be cherished for years to come.
Read more: Can You Travel Abroad Without Buying US Dollars?
Home Decoration Things to Buy in Malaysia
Malaysia presents a diverse selection of distinctive items when it comes to enhancing the aesthetics of your home. Malaysian pewter stands out as a prized choice. It offers intricately designed vases, candle holders, and figurines that exude elegance and charm, making them ideal additions to any home décor.
Traditional Malaysian carpets, particularly those originating from Kelantan, are a splendid choice. These are perfect for those keen on incorporating a vibrant Malaysian flair. The carpets are renowned for their complex patterns and vivid hues. They serve as a perfect accent to infuse the living space with a touch of Malaysian culture.
If you are on the lookout for furniture, you may choose Malay rattan pieces. Rattan chairs, tables, and storage units showcase exquisite craftsmanship and also reflect an eco-conscious choice.
Read more: How to comfortably travel with babies
Other Special Things to Buy in Malaysia
Beyond souvenirs and home decorations, Malaysia opens the door to a treasure trove of distinctive items that hold their own unique allure. Among them, fine jewellery commands attention. Gold and silver pieces are adorned with beautiful designs inspired by the rich tapestry of Malaysian culture.
For collectors and history enthusiasts, traditional Malay weapons such as the 'keris' and 'parang' offer an intriguing choice. These weapons bear a rich cultural legacy. It makes them fascinating collectables and also powerful symbols of Malaysia's history.
Food enthusiasts can not overlook Malaysia's status as a culinary paradise with exotic spices and herbs. Lemongrass, turmeric, curry leaves, and more await to elevate your culinary adventures at home.
Read more: E-Passport for Children in Bangladesh: Application process, necessary documents
Whether you seek a meaningful gift, historical artefacts, or culinary inspiration, Malaysia's diverse offerings extend far beyond then expected. They are perfect to enrich both your home and your life.
Delhi Travel Guide: Must-see Places and Fun Activities in the Indian Capital
Standing on the bank of the Yamuna River, Delhi, India's capital territory, presents a captivating mix of history, culture, and modernity. Its strategic location, at the centre of the Indian subcontinent, has made it a bustling hub of diverse influences. And, this year, this city is one of the venues of the ICC World Cup. Delhi promises a wide range of experiences, from exploring ancient monuments to savouring delicious cuisine, along with sports excitement. Let’s take a look at this Delhi travel guide and explore the numerous facets of this fascinating metropolis.
Top 10 Famous Tourist Places to Visit in Delhi, India
Arun Jaitley Stadium
Formerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, this cricket venue was established in 1883. Five matches of the Cricket World Cup 2023 are going to be held at this stadium located on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi. Among them, the match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is set for November 6, 2023.
India Gate
Also known as the All India War Memorial, it stands on the side of the Rajpath in New Delhi. The 138-foot-tall historic structure was designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. A Republic Day parade is held annually around this war memorial.
Read more: Shopping in Kolkata: What to Buy and Where to Buy from
This structure is dedicated mainly to the 84,000 Indian and British soldiers who perished during the First World War and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Engravings on the monument surface display the names of 13,300 soldiers. Local food hawkers often gather here, offering various delicacies for picnicking groups. A charming children's park is also nearby.
Qutub Minar
Known as Victory Tower, this minaret is part of the Qutub Complex in Lal Kot, Delhi. Qutub Minar's construction began in 1199 under Qutub-ud-Din Aibak. Shamsuddin Iltutmish completed the upper sections between 1199 and 1503.
Qutub Minar brilliantly merges Islamic architecture with Southwest Asian design. In 1993, UNESCO bestowed upon it the prestigious title of a World Heritage Site.
Read more: Spain Travel Guide: Top 10 Must-Visit Places
8 Best Winter Travel destinations in Bangladesh
Bangladesh being on the tropical spectrum of the climate, experiences a moderate winter season. Apart from the northern regions of the country, the mild winter season makes for a perfect time to go for a vacation and explore the diverse landscape of the country. With that said, here are the 8 top popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh for spending winter vacation.
Top Place to Visit in Bangladesh During Winter
Saint Martin’s Island
One of the prime attractions of winter travel is Saint Martin’s island. This Bea coral island is situated in the south of Bangladesh off the coast of Cox’s Bazar. The ship operation to St. Martin remains closed from April to October. It begins in early November and runs through March for the winter and spring seasons.
Every year, millions of tourists flock to the island to experience the serene landscape and the blue lagoon all around. Getting to St. Martin Island is also easy. There are direct bus services from Dhaka to Teknaf. From Teknaf, there is an abundance of ships and launches going to St. Martin. It takes about two and a half to three hours by ship to get to the island.
Read more: Bandarban Tourist Spots – Best Places to See and Craziest Things to Do
To protect the biodiversity and environment of this coral island, the government of Bangladesh has taken some initiatives. Tourists are required to take permission before visiting this island.
Make sure to take ample winter clothes as nights can get pretty cold. Take note of the tides to experience the unobstructed beach along the coast of the island.
Kuakata
Kuakata is famous for being the only place in Bangladesh where one can enjoy both sunrise and sunset. Often referred to as the “Daughter of the Sea”, Kuakata is comparatively less crowded than Cox’s Bazar during the peak travel season.
Read more: Best Places for Honeymoon in Bangladesh
Best Rustic Resorts and Campsites near Dhaka
Being the capital city and the major administrative centre of Bangladesh, Dhaka can be considered anything but natural and scenic. Unplanned urbanisation has seen the destruction of natural open spaces which are now reduced to a few parks scattered across the city. In such a scenario, the resorts and campsites just on the outskirts of the city are a breath of fresh air for many. They offer an escape from the concrete jungle into somewhere peaceful and serene. Let’s look at the best natural campsite resorts in and around Dhaka for you to explore.
Top 8 Rustic Resorts and Campsites Near Dhaka
Dhaleshwari Camping and Kayaking
The first on the list is the Dhaleshwari Camping and Kayaking situated on the bank of the Dhaleshwari river at Kalatia in Keraniganj. The retreat offers natural camping and kayaking in the serene waters of the river.
Read more: Best Honeymoon Resorts and Hotels in and around Dhaka
Top 25 hotels in Asia, according to Tripadvisor
Asia is often considered the most diverse continent in the world. From winter escapades to tropical retreats, Asia offers a vacation experience unlike any other. To complement these retreat options, there are thousands of hotels and vacation stays available across countries. In this article, let's take a look at 25 of the best hotels in Asia and the amenities that await travellers.
Best Hotels in Asia According to Tripadvisor
This list will focus on ratings taken from Tripadvisor, one of the leading websites for hotel reviews. The platform takes reviews and ratings from thousands of users based on their experience and aggregates them to create their list. Let’s start from the bottom.
#25 Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
The last on the list is Four Seasons Hong Kong. The hotel is situated right across the famous Victoria Harbor adjoining the Hong Kong financial district. Visitors can conveniently access the Hong Kong metro and the famed Star Ferry Terminal.
The specialty of his hotel is the incorporation of several world-leading features into their service. The most notable of them are the two Michelin-starred restaurants: Caprice and Lung King Heen. The latter is also the first authentic Chinese restaurant to receive this honor.
Read more: These are the countries you can visit visa-free with a Bangladeshi passport in 2023
There is also their award-winning spa experience on the rooftop adjoining the infinity pool overlooking the Hong Kong skyline.
Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations in Europe
It is the season of love. It doesn’t have to be any specific time or season to celebrate love, especially for honeymooners. Over the years, western Europe and its coasts have become go-to spots for newlywed love birds. From Santorini’s coast to Amalfi’s peaks, Europe is probably the perfect destination to make your honeymoon absolutely magical. With that said, here’s our list of 10 of the most popular honeymoon destinations in Europe.
10 Best Honeymoon Destinations in Europe
You will need to create an itinerary that best suits your travel plan. In this article, we will mainly focus on the places and their offerings.
Santorini, Greece
Starting the list with the blue lagoon and the lush white houses of Santorini. For over 3 decades, Santorini has been one of the top choices for destination weddings and honeymooners.
Read More: Beach Bucket List: 9 Magnificent Sea Shores in South Asia
And why not? The place has everything from the crisscrossed houses on the side of the mountain to the horizon touching the Aegean sea.
10 Best Professions for Travelers
Traveling cherishes the soul and gives the inspiration to live a better life. An annual vacation of a week or two may not be sufficient to kill the travel bug for many travelers. Outdoor enthusiasts may need more than this. The wanderlust souls bear strong desires to explore to new places and experiences around the globe. Though the regular 9 to 5 office jobs can make this practically impossible, some vocations allow to travel and earn money simultaneously. Let’s take a look at the top occupations for travelers.
10 Most Amazing Vocations for Wanderlusts
If you want to arrange your life around travel, you can consider any of the following occupations and plan your career accordingly.
Freelancing or Outsourcing
If you have any skills like writing, editing, video creation, graphic design, coding, etc then you can work on the outsourcing platforms like Upwork, 99 design, People Per Hour, Fiverr, etc. You may outsource your skill and travel outside your city and country!
Read More: 8 Safe Motorcycle Riding Tips for Women
Online Passive Income
In this digital era, it is becoming more normal to create a passive earning source, and live abroad on the road. Many online passive income sources like selling online tickets, digital products, etc. can be operated even from coffee shops.
There are diverse kinds of digital products. You can pick as per your skill, and passion. For instance, you can write an ebook, or design a WordPress theme and thus earn selling it online.
Teaching Language
There are great options for those who are fortunate enough to speak international languages like English, French, German, etc. Teaching English or other international languages in a foreign country presents extraordinary employment options for those interested in traveling. You can also work as a translator.
Read More: This is the top travel destination of 2023 according to Lonely Planet
Flight Attendant
Working as a flight attendant might be the dream job for those who want to see the world. Flight attendants are an essential component of an airline crew since they help customers and make certain that their safety and comfort are maintained. Flight attendants may find employment with commercial airlines, private jets, corporate jets, or even certain types of military aircraft.
Au Pair
A profession that involves working with children may be very fulfilling. An incredible profession would be one in which one works with children and also gets to travel the globe. To become an au pair, you are required to have prior experience or training in child care and the ability to speak a language other than English.
You will be expected to live with the family that you will be working for and care for their children. Your obligations may include anything from helping their kids with their homework to changing their diapers, depending on the ages of the kids in their care.
Read More: 10 Swimming Pool Safety Rules for Infants and Toddlers
Travel Writing, Blogging, or Vlogging
If you love traveling and get hired for writing about travel, it’s a dream-cum-true career. Travel writing may take many different forms, including first-person features, destination pieces, guidebooks, and tales based on research. As your assignments will vary with each trip, you can enjoy the challenge and never get bored.
If you have video-making skills and a good camera, you can create vlogs. You can also run a personal travel blog and earn from AdSense, affiliation, brand promotion, etc. Your tasks will be different for each journey since each sort of writing has its own set of criteria and its own set of destinations.
Travel Photography
You can buy a camera, and hone your skills as a photographer or videographer. Selling your travel photos on the internet is a smart move to make money. If you have a passion for traveling, and want to make the road your permanent home, learn and earn from photography.
Read More: 5 Sundarbans eco resorts to experience world’s largest mangrove forest
Despite the fact that you will need to make a very modest investment, the possibility of making photography your vocation can be exhilarating, challenging and joyous.
Athletic Recruiter
People who have a strong desire to see the world also often have an interest in leading physically active lives. Travelers often enjoy activities such as skiing, sailing, swimming, jogging, and yoga when they are away from home.
Besides, if you would rather combine your love of travel with a job in a team sport such as baseball, basketball, football, or soccer, then athletic recruitment could be the perfect fit for you.
Read More: Top 10 Historic Places, Landmarks in Dhaka
Travel Agent
This is the perfect career for you if you have such a strong passion for vacationing across the world. Thus, you can travel and at the same time organize trips for other people. Working as a travel agent, you can also make substantial savings for your personal vacations.
Cruise Ship Worker
Work opportunities aboard cruise ships are plentiful, but they are also quite competitive to land. If you can get hired on a cruise ship, you can make a livelihood while traveling the globe. In this profession, you can get free meals and a place to stay while you are on the sea.
Conclusion
While a travel-focused profession can allow you to spend unlimited days in a distant city, or region of the country, it may have a few downfalls. A profession that includes a lot of travel comes with a busy schedule, which can be challenging when you have a family and kids. Travel-related careers often require certain education, skill, and experience requirements. Not to mention, unlike regular jobs, travel vocations are risky.
Read More: Hassle-free travel tips for senior citizens
So far we have discussed 10 professions for travelers. The wanderlusts who are seeking ways to make money while traveling, can choose from these vocations and acquire the necessary skills and qualifications.