Italy is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe with vast natural landscapes, magnificent ancient relics, amazing art, delicious cuisines, wines, and unique cultural experiences. Whether you are looking to enjoy a beach vacation, romantic getaway, shopping expedition, or adventure trip, Italy has a fair share of something exciting for every visitor. Here’s what you should know when planning to visit Italy. 

Italy Goes Beyond the Big Three 

Most people who visit Italy, especially for the first time often plan their trips around just the ‘’Big Three’’ cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice. However, Italy is a huge country with so much to explore beyond those three cities. While those cities boast the most popular tourist attractions, your trip should also cover other rarely visited sights. 

If you decide to go further into the mainland or off-shore into the Mediterranean islands, there is a lot to discover. The Italian coastline is a burst with several beautiful white sandy beaches and fun activities to make your trip truly remarkable. You can also go further into the villages to see the vineyards and sample some authentic Italian wines. 

Trains Are the Best Way to Explore Italy 

While you can still rent a car or take the bus, trains are the best means of public transport. Italy has a well-developed railroad network that connects the cities to other parts of the country. Most cities have high speed and cheaper trains with efficient routes that cover most of the common tourist destinations. Make sure that you validate your ticket each time you take the train. 

Get Travel Insurance 

Indeed, there are endless attractions in Italy that will make your trip memorable. However, you can only have the best adventures if your mind is at peace. And, one of the best ways to do that is by obtaining proper travel insurance. Having travel insurance is important in case you encounter any medical emergency, cancel or miss a flight, lose your luggage among other unexpected issues. 

Whether you have been to Italy before or planning your first visit, the destination is packed with exciting sights and sounds to make your trip enjoyable all the way. With a good plan and an adventurous mind, your trip to Italy will be like no other.

Nothing feels better than packing your things and setting out on an adventure. It feels exhilarating. That’s because traveling gives you a chance to escape the norm. It’s a chance to step out of the comfort zone and taste something different. If you’re wondering whether traveling is necessary, here are some of the reasons why traveling can change your life. 

1. Travel Can Broaden Your Perspective 

Your life perspective can change once you see how other people view life. Seeing how people from different backgrounds live can make you more thankful and appreciative of your life. What’s more, it can give you a new sense of empathy and wonder for other countries and cultures. Soak in the lifestyle and languages of other people. You also realize what people in other countries value, which can be different from what you value. 

1. Traveling Can Teach Your to Live in the Moment 

Traveling can teach you to live each moment at a time. It teaches you to pause for a while and feast for the eyes. It prompts you to stop for a while and enjoy the moment. You pause for a moment to see some of the spots that you’ve probably been reading about in history books. Essentially, traveling teaches you to unplug and explore to discover yourself. 

1. Traveling Teaches You to Value Experience Over Material Things 

Some people don’t travel because they want to save money and invest in material things. However, this might not help with their overall wellbeing. Traveling teaches people to spend money on what’s more valuable. Instead of purchasing a luxurious car, a person can opt to invest in traveling. They realize that seeing new places and immersing in new cultures can be more fulfilling. Thus, traveling becomes a way of life for some people. 

1. Traveling Teaches You to Roll with Things 

When you start traveling, you experience challenges like canceled and delayed flights. You also lose luggage and endure frustrating moments. These are some of the experiences that teach you to roll with the flow of things. You learn to overcome any challenge that life throws your way no matter how difficult it seems. 

1. Traveling Makes You Open-Minded 

When you travel more often, you become more open to other people’s ways of life. You realize that people in different cities and countries live differently. This teaches you to appreciate other people and cultures. 

In a nutshell, traveling can change how you see the world. It can make you a more appreciative and accommodative person. 

For some individuals, sleep gets elusive in the days that precede travel. This is one of the major symptoms of pre-travel anxiety. Other symptoms of pre-travel anxiety include muscle tension, headaches, and stomach upset. Some people even lose appetite and others stress eat. If you have difficulties dealing with pre-travel anxiety, here are some of the ways you can ease the symptoms. 

Determine What Makes You Anxious about Travel 

What you’re afraid of regarding the trip? Once you’ve figured out what makes you anxious about travel, determine whether you have a real fear. Even when the worst-case scenario can be something catastrophic, determine if there is a likelihood of the occurrence outweighing the severity. 

Consider Your Past Travel Experience

Did anything that is making you anxious now happen during your previous trips? If yes, how did you handle it? If you managed to get over the challenges you faced during your past trips, it means you are a resilient and effective problem solver. 

Strategize Your Travel 

Maybe the reason you have pre-travel anxiety is that you are over-planning or making long lists that might not help you. Remember that people have different ways to prepare for a trip. Therefore, don’t conform to the plans of other travelers. Instead, strategize your trip your way.

Come Up with a Relaxing Strategy 

Don’t spend all your time planning your upcoming trip. Instead, slow down and take a breath. You can even use an app that helps you plan your trip while relaxing. It’s not a must you plan everything at a go. You can start planning the trip a few days earlier to avoid doing everything at the same time. 

Engage in Self-Care Activities 

It’s easy to think that you are facing a time crunch a few days before the trip. However, this is not the case. To avoid the anxiety that such thoughts can bring, take time to engage in self-care activities like exercise. Engaging in physical activity is a great way to deal with stress. 

No matter how tight your schedule is, these tips can help you ease pre-travel anxiety. Follow them to avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety before you travel. 

Traveling is a universal experience that brings together people from all walks of life. Over the years, the travel sector has continued to record significant growth and, the trend is expected to continue. Millions of people travel to different parts of the world each year. Today, traveling is identified as one of the key agents of economic development and growth across the globe. But, just how many people travel every year? Read on to find out. 

World Travel Statistics 

Thanks to the internet and technology, you can now easily get accurate and reliable travel statistics from various online travel and tourism platforms. However, you do not have to go through all the stress when you can find all that information herein. 

According to the UNWTO, America received an estimated 217 million international travelers in 2018. That represents an increase of about 3% from the previous year. North America and South America were the biggest contributors to the growth. The same report by UNWTO also points to an increase of 7%, 10% and 6% in the number of people visiting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, respectively from the previous year. 

The total number of foreign trips originating from the US has continued to increase, hitting 38.32 million in 2017. In the past 17 years, it was only in 2002 that the US recorded the lowest number of overseas trips, estimated to be 23.4 million. Between 2000 and 2017, the number of annual visits increased from -7.35 to 10%. The UNWTO also reports that the number of international tourists grew by 6% in 2018 to reach 1.45 billion people. 

Millions of people travel to various parts of the world every year and, it is not very easy to keep track of every traveler. However, considering the projections by the UNWTO, it is safe to safe to say that more than 1.45 billion people travel each year. 

Guidelines for Traveling with Your Cat

Unlike dogs that can easily adapt to traveling, cats do not usually find traveling an exciting experience. As such, coming with your cat on a trip may not be as fun as expected, especially if you do not know the best practices for traveling with cats. The following are guidelines for traveling with cats that you should keep in mind when planning an adventure.

Make Sure the Cat is in Good Health

The health of your cat should be a priority considering you will be visiting new environments. Checking the essential vaccinations is important before the trip to make sure that the cat is in proper state of health to travel. The vet will advise you on further measures to keep the cat in good health throughout the trip.

Take Precautions

When traveling with your cat, you should be keen on keeping it restrained at all times when in public places like on the flight, in car, bus, train or boat. Crates and carriers are the most suitable for handling cats while on transit. It is also important to get an ID tag for the cat bearing your names and contact information. Some airlines have also not been good at transporting pets so; do your research before booking a flight.

Do Not Leave Your Cat in the Car

The crate or carrier provides adequate restraint for the cat and when you combine that with the hot temperatures in the car, you might come back only to find your kitty dead. Even if it seems cool inside the car, always take short breaks together with the cat whenever you are out. It will help your cat to stretch and avoid unnecessary accidents.

Even with proper travel plans, coming with a cat on a trip might still not be a bed of roses. Just accept that things could go wrong and focus on getting the most out of the trip.

Japan is one of the most recommended travel destinations in Asia with endless attractions that can make your trip truly memorable. However, you can only have a good time in Japan if you know a few things about the country including the culture, best time to visit and how to travel. The following are key tips for traveling to Japan that you should remember when planning the trip.

Learn About the Culture

Japan has a very unique culture that will surprise you but, there is no cause for alarm. To easily blend in with the locals, try at least one of their cultural activities like Samurai training and tea ceremony. You may also want to buy a kimono or their traditional attires to wear while on the trip.

Check the Japanese Calendar

The reason why you should check the Japanese calendar is to help you determine the best time to visit. Japan boasts 16 public holidays when most of the tourist attractions are usually crowded. The Golden Week and Obon holidays in May and August respectively are often the busiest.

Exchange Your Money at the Airport

Many travelers who have been to Japan say the exchange rates are relatively higher there and, there are very few money exchange shops in the cities. To avoid all these, it is advisable to exchange your dollars into Yen from your home country or at the airport.

Get Japan Rail Pass

If you will be visiting various cities in Japan, getting the Japan Rail Pass is the best way to ensure convenience and lower fares. The JPR is an exclusive pass for foreigners that will enable you to use any of the Japan Rail lines throughout your trip. But, the pass is only issued outside Japan, which means you should order yours before the trip.

Similar to other destinations, traveling to Japan also comes with its share of risks. However, the above guidelines can help you make the experience more fun.

Things Done by Frequent Travelers to Save Money for Travel

 One of the major challenges that people face when it comes to traveling is funding their trips. Almost everybody needs money for rent, groceries, bills, and other expenses. These leave them little or no money for travel. However, there are things that are done by frequent travelers to save money for travel. If you want to travel more often, here are some of the things that you should also start doing.

Using Money Saving Apps

There are apps that you can use to save money for your trips. Some of these apps enable you to save money without realizing it. These apps are designed to ensure that you prioritize saving for the trip while paying catering for your expenses. Therefore, if you want to save money that will enable you to travel frequently, start using innovative money saving apps.

Saving Money for Travel Every Month

Frequent travelers take traveling seriously. As such, they have accounts where they deposit travel money. Consider opening a savings account where you can deposit money that you intend to use when traveling. It can be a small amount but it will eventually accumulate to a significant amount that will pay for your travel expenses. Opening a savings account enables you to separate money for traveling from your regular savings. Thus, you won’t be tempted to spend money meant for travel even when broke.

Cutting down Expenses

Frequent travelers prioritize their trips. If they are not traveling, they are saving for or organizing the next trip. To become a successful frequent travel, you need to cut down on your expenses. Don’t spend on things that you don’t really need. For instance, don’t buy clothes if you will put them on once a year. Also don’t invest in assets that you don’t need.

These are some of the things done by frequent travelers to save money for travelers. Try them out if you want to become a frequent, successful traveler.

Things to Know Before You Travel to Africa

According to a fellow blogger friend that runs a few party halls in San Antonio Texas, he went to talking about his latest adventure and saying that Africa is an awesome continent with many things to explore. From Egypt to South Africa, Kenya to Cote d’Ivoire, the continent presents many options for you to choose from. However, once you decide to travel to Africa, there are important things that you should have in mind. Here are some of them.

Temperatures Vary

You might think that Africa is always hot. But, this is not always the case. The temperature that you face when you travel to Africa will depend on when and where you travel to. Some parts of Africa get snow at some time of the year. Therefore, check the weather forecast of the African region that you travel to.

Africa Has Big Killers

Beware of Africa big killers that include the Nile crocodiles, Kenyan elephants and lions. These are scary beasts and they will kill you when given a chance. Nevertheless, the hippo is the real killer that you should watch out for. It is an aggressive, huge and unpredictable beast. Therefore, stay close to a guide and follow their safety advice to be safe.

Two Language Can Help

The African continent uses the language of their colonial masters. As such, some parts of Africa use the English language while the others use French or Portuguese. However, some countries like Kenya use Kiswahili and English as the official languages. Many people speak these two or either of the two languages. As such, knowledge of two or more languages can help you when you travel to Africa.

Be Friendly

Don’t fear the locals when you travel to Africa. A nod, a smile, a wave, or a hello is normal in Africa. It shows that you are a friendly person and this will enable you to get assistance anywhere you go and when you need it.

Generally, these are some of the things to know before you travel to Africa. Most people in Africa are Christians or Muslims. Dressing modestly will also present you as a moral person. Nevertheless, there are a lot of things that you can learn when you travel to Africa. So bear these facts in mind and head out to explore this beautiful continent.