No matter who you are, where you live or what you do, every person should have at least one significant traveling experience that they will remember for the rest of their life. Following the same schedule, you do every day can become monotonous, and you may not even realize it until you pack up your bags and leave for a vacation.

 

 

Why travel?

Changing your scenery has proven to be beneficial for your mental health in multiple ways. Also, long term travelling has many other valuable benefits. But what about the people who have never traveled before and have no experience? Or the ones that have had it, but it was not exactly what they expected it to be and caused them to swear off traveling forever? Lucky for them, there is a single solution that addresses all these issues – group traveling.

Traveling as a group may sometimes sound too stressful to keep up with, and undoubtedly has a few cons attached to it, but when we draft a list, the merits outweigh the demerits by a large margin. In this article, we will highlight the most wonderful of its advantages that will definitely change your mind.

1.    Cost-Benefit Analysis:

If you are traveling in a group, companies will likely be more willing to give you lower prices for what you purchase. In addition to the lowered primary traveling expenses, you can also get better deals for activities, food, and beverages.

It is never a bad thing to be smart financially when it comes to planning a trip. This is especially beneficial for people who are on a tight budget but love to go globe-trotting, maximizing their experiences and making memories that will last them a lifetime. A simple Google search can instantly lead you to sites which can help you to get the best deals for a travel group.

2.     Making New Friends:

There is no such time when making friends is not possible. Traveling in a group will make you socialize with people with whom you may not have conversed with on any typical day.

Traveling in a group creates friendships that are bonded by the fun memories you had on that trip. And what do you know, maybe you’ll even want to travel with one – or all – of them again! In this way, your journey will allow you to make new friends all over the world.

3.    There is little chance of you getting lost:

When traveling as a group, there is little chance that you will get lost. Since you will always be surrounded by a bunch of people – some of them expert tourists and excellent at reading maps and figuring out where they are – you will never have to figure out your location on your own.

Getting to places such as the airport, bus stop, train station, or even the hotel becomes more accessible than it was ever before. Looking for places to eat or shop will also become easier, and you won’t have to have your nose in a map at all times, giving you a greater chance to truly experience the new world and culture around you.

To top it all off, a travel group has a tour guide who will pick you up, show you around to the places you want to go and give you the facts about the places you are sightseeing. If you have traveled to another country, it can naturally get difficult to navigate the trip with a language barrier. However, with the help of a competent tour guide by your side, that becomes a non-issue.

4.    You do not have to take care of the details:

Often times, planning a trip can get as worrying and mentally taxing as the stressful routine you are trying to escape from at your workplace or school. But with group traveling, you can let go of all the frustrations, sit back, and relax to your maximum.

This is possible because when you are traveling with a group, your Tour Director will help you plan all your excursions ahead of time. It does not matter if you are planning a luxurious trip to Bali Island or looking for things to do in Springfield MA, the tour director assigned to your travel group is supposed to find you the most exciting activities that each tourist spot has to offer.

That being said, if you want to get the most out of your journeys, you should make sure to pick the best available group trip for yourself. As STA Travel points out: “There’s a group tour to fit nearly any traveler. Keep in mind while researching: the age group you’d like to travel with, your own activity level, and even the type of accommodation you’d prefer.”

5.    Best Possible Itinerary:

Since the tour company has a vast experience in arranging travel groups to a particular destination, it is natural to expect that their itinerary will be far more efficient and cost-effective than anything you can manage to wrangle last minute. They have had tried and tested methods that have been proven to work smoothly countless times before. Thus, instead of taking a risk with your time and money and deciding to travel solo, it is best to trust the professionals and plan the trip with a group.

6.    Getting Your Parent’s Or Guardian’s Approval:

If you are a student who is still living under their parent’s roof, it will be much easier to win them over with the idea of traveling in a group. They will be reassured that you will be safe in a large group and will not be wandering lost in a foreign city or country. Getting the green signal is also helped by the fact that the trip will be a lot easier on their – or your – pocket than a solo trip.

7.    Pictures, Pictures, and Pictures!

In this day and age, it is impossible to go anywhere without having to take a million pictures. You know these will be the first thing that your friends and family will ask about as soon as you get back. Also, let’s face it: would you not want your Instagram to tell the beautiful and exciting tales of your travels?

Therefore, it is necessary to chronicle your travels in the form of something tangible. These are the memories that will always have a special place in your heart. As a solo traveler, most of the times you will have to awkwardly ask a passerby to take your picture. But when you decide to travel as a group, you automatically have multiple companions who will readily take a picture of you standing in front of the Eiffel Tower or the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

8.    Getting To See Places You Would Not On Your Own:

Another advantage that comes with traveling as a group is that you get to see places that you usually would not if you were traveling alone. As a group tour, you can get exclusive access to places, or even get to skip long lines! Your Tour Director can help you navigate efficiently so you can maximize the amounts of stops you can make.

The Final Word

It has been an age-long debate about which method of travel is better, solo traveling or group travel. Although solo travel definitely has its own benefits (like having a flexible schedule since you are the only one whose opinion matters) but group travel has a unique charm that cannot be beaten. As long as you are on time, follow the rules, and get to know your travel mates – you will remain a happy camper.

Comment down below if you believe there is more to the benefits of traveling in a group. If you think otherwise, tell us why you would prefer to make the trip alone, and what advantages solo traveling holds. Until next time, Bon Voyage!

Author Bio: Audrey Throne is the mother of a 3-year old and a professional blogger by choice. Throne is passionate about lifestyle, business, automotive, technology and management and blogs frequently on these topics.

Find her on Twitter: @audrey_throne.

As a parent, the one thing that often weighs heavily on your mind is just how to keep your children safe at all times and in all situations. When they are infants, they are in your care 24/7, but as they grow and become more independent, it’s difficult to know that they will be well-cared for and protected at a nursery school, a primary school or even at the nanny’s home.

 

How can you keep your children safe from the everyday realities that most children must face at one time or another?

1. Lessons About Strangers

The first lesson to teach your children as soon as they can understand what you are saying is that they should never talk to or go with strangers. Although each family has different procedures in place, this is one lesson you cannot avoid. Make sure you teach them what to do if approached by strangers and to always stay in sight of the adult they are in the care of. This has proven to be the salvation of literally millions of children over time. It is one of the leading everyday realities your children must learn. Not all people are good.

2. It’s Not Always Your Fault, Parents!

This is something every parent learns to face early on. Not everything that happens is your fault. However, how you choose to deal with events can have a significant impact on the rest of your child’s life. Consider the doctor you took your child to. Your little one was misdiagnosed and has now suffered what could be life-long consequences because of medical negligence. Was that your fault? Absolutely not! You trusted the medical ‘expert’ to know their business and to treat your child according to an accurate diagnosis. To learn what you can do in a situation like this, browse through the information on www.the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk. If your child has suffered at the hands of a physician or medical team, you have recourse to get the compensation your family deserves.

3. Not Everything Is as Safe as It Should Be

There are a million and one products on the market that have proven to be totally unsafe for children. From infant sleep pillows to products manufactured with dangerous chemicals, there are too many to enumerate here. Just know that you should do research before buying anything new or trendy for your kids. Those C-shaped infant pillows have caused many children around the world to literally suffocate, because they force the head forward and down. A tiny infant is unable to lift its head, causing the airways to close. Although extreme, there are other products like these on the market, so try to opt as often as possible for those made from organic materials (chemical-free) and those that have been studied under stringent laboratory settings.

The key takeaway here is that, while you try your hardest to keep your children safe, there will always be dangers in everyday life. Your response is critical, so always be on guard. That’s the best advice you will ever be given in terms of child safety, though you should heed all of these steps to ensure you’re giving your kids the safest life possible.

Because of the number of things, it’ll require from you, moving from one location to another can become a struggle. You’ll need to have a sufficient amount of money to finance the move, change your daily routines to accomplish tasks and you’ll even have to miss days from work in order to move successfully. The stress you can experience can heighten, especially if you’re planning to do it with your kids – but all is not lost because there are techniques which can actually help you have fun with your kids.

 

 

Aside from hiring movers or the best moving company NYC, there are a lot of ways on how you can make your move more convenient and fun for the kids. Instead of thinking about how stressful the move will be, change your mindset and use the move to bond with your kids. Here are some amazing things you can do with them when moving:

1. Let them clean their own rooms

One of the most important things you’ll have to do before moving is cleaning different rooms of your current house. This task is essential because it allows you to declutter your space and determine which among your valuables should be disposed or brought to your new house. Instead of cleaning all of the areas of your home alone, let your kids clean their own rooms. This tip can be appropriate for young children or kids who are old enough to work on their own.

Doing this will not only lessen your chores as a mover; this will also keep your kids engaged and occupied during the move. This task will help them decide which among their valuables are still usable and which ones should be disposed. When kids are engaged, their boredom and stress will be at bay.

1. Allow them to pack their valuables

After cleaning their own rooms, next comes the packing. You and your kids should properly pack all of the valuables you’re going to bring to your new house to avoid any kind of damage. Assist your kids with the packing and let them do the bulk of the work. Teach them how to properly pack their clothes, toys, and school supplies. You should also guide them on how to properly label all of their moving boxes. By doing this, you will not only teach your kids to become more responsible; you’ll also make the unloading process easier and faster.

1. Take pictures as many pictures as you can

The move can be a memorable experience for you and your kids. This is especially true if this is your first time to move from one location to another. To ensure that you’ll have memories of the family’s first-ever move, don’t forget to take pictures. Get your smartphone or tablet whenever your kids are packing their valuables or labeling moving boxes on their own. Print these pictures and store them in your family’s photo album or hung these in different areas of the home. With these pictures, thinking that moving is stressful can be a thing of the past.

1. Ask for their help when preparing food

Having a sufficient supply of food is necessary for a successful move. How can you pack all of your valuables if you have not taken a healthy breakfast? How can everyone stay focused on the move if none of you brought snacks during the move? To ensure that everyone in the family is healthy and well-fed during the move, ask your kids’ help in preparing food. Ask for their assistance when preparing healthy breakfast or snacks. Let them choose which snacks to prepare, especially if your move will require being on the road for hours.

Always Think Positive

Aside from following the tips from this article, always remember to start your move with a positive mindset. Don’t focus on how tiring or costly your move will be. Instead, think of how this move will become beneficial to the lives of your family. Having a positive mindset throughout the entire duration of the move will surely increase your chances of succeeding!

Who doesn’t want to boast about the beautiful vacation destination they’ve visited when returning home? There is an abundance of magical locations out there, and choosing one can be a challenge. From energetic city breaks that bring about new creative inspiration to blissful beach resorts, there are options to suit every type of personality.

Let’s take a look at five vacation destinations like no other:

Berlin, Germany

A hub of eclectic culture, boasting a music scene like no other and home to some of the world’s most profound modern history, Berlin has a lot to offer visitors. The city doesn’t sleep and buzzes with a friendly atmosphere charged with creativity in all corners. Here the art galleries are housed within cutting-edge buildings, and its locals take pride in the food they offer. Highlights include the Brandenburger Tor, the Reichstag, Berlin’s infamous wall and Museuminsel. Boasting an array of contemporary hotels, be sure to check out Mr Hudson Explores gay hotels in Berlin for an insider’s view on this unique European city.

Santorini, Greece

Breathtaking sunsets, tick. Character-full beaches, tick. Charming local culture and delicious cuisine, tick. Ticking plenty of boxes, Santorini is heaven on earth. A vacation that needn’t break the budget, here is one of the most stunning sunsets (it has a reputation for a reason) that can be appreciated from the white building rooftops found in the cliff-high town of Oia. Located above a beautiful turquoise sea, the endless vistas are landscape eye-candy. Be sure to take a trip to the volcanic island too!

Reykjavik, Iceland

From the well known northern lights to the relaxing blue lagoon, there are several very good reasons why this small city with a big soul deserves a spot on your vacation list. As the country’s capital, there are museums and galleries to explore allowing intrigued visitors to fill up on local culture, restaurants serving unique delicacies such as cured flavourful fish as well as the highlight being the otherworldly ice-covered landscape that surrounds the city.

Positano, Italy

Southern Italy has a charm that keeps its first-time visitors coming back for more. Characterized by pastel-perfect colored buildings, The Amalfi coast’s postcard-worthy town is a must-visit. There are many nooks and crannies to be explored as visitors navigate around its alleyways, stumbling into welcoming trattorias serving some of the best cuisine that the country has to offer. Limoncello, perfect backdrops for photos and stunning scenery await tourists.

Prague, Czech Republic  

The city’s beauty is truly one-of-a-kind. With fairytale architecture forming its winding streets, Prague is home to some of the most remarkable architecture in Europe. A perfect weekend break destination, visitors are treated to history that dates back a millennium, moreish local food such as the chimney cakes and the stunning Charles Bridge, a top romantic spot. Flooding with character, niche entertainment such as beer spas and home to a museum dedicated to its own icon Kafka, the city offers plenty of personality for its welcomed visitors.