It’s fair to say that more people than ever are getting gripped by the travel bug. In fact, the Express reported that in 2016 that more Brits than ever travelled abroad across the 12 months.
Whether we travel to experience new cultures, broaden our minds or just for a week in the splendid sun; the majority of us love getting away at least once a year.
Finding Time To Travel
However, for the majority of us, the experience of travel only ever leaves us wanting more. On top of this, we never quite get to experience as much as we’d like.
This can come down to a variety of reasons, the most common of all being our professional life.
With most jobs unwilling to give us a sabbatical of several months to travel the globe, we are confined to just a couple of weeks each year. So how on earth do we go about altering this?
The most obvious answer is to find a job which involves a great deal of travel. There are lots of different professions which involve a certain amount of travel, such as a sales role.
However, there a select few which have global travel at their heart.
Infographic
If you fancy a job that could take you to every corner of the globe then take a look at the new infographic from silverdoor.co.uk
It’s called ‘Ten Jobs That Allow You To Travel The World’ and discusses roles from a wide range of industries.
If you’re a journalist or writer, why not try your hand at travel blogging? Perhaps you’ve always loved skiing, why not become an instructor? If you are a photographer, the world is certainly your oyster!
These are just a few of the many suggestions in this piece. So, if you’d love to marry your profession with your love of travel, take a look below.
Ten Jobs Which Allow You To Travel The World – An infographic by the team at SilverDoor.co.uk
The ultimate guide to ensuring you’re not bumped off the plane on your next flight!
While it has long been a policy for plenty of airlines, the process of potentially bumped off before takeoff is something which has only just come to light for many people.
In April, a passenger aboard a United Airlines flight was forcibly removed from an overbooked flight.
David Dao, a doctor from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who refused to leave the plane, was dragged off by a security officer, cutting his head in the process.
A video emerged of the incident online which sparked a chain of controversy surrounding the process of removing people from overbooked flights. You can take a look at the video by heading to the NY Times site.
While this was clearly a rather overblown example, it made many people aware of the possibility of overbooking.
Avoiding Overbooking
Obviously, overbooking is pretty much out of your hands. However, you need to be aware of the protocol once you have been made aware that your flight has been overbooked.
Firstly, airlines are required to ask for volunteers to switch flights. As a thank you, they will compensate you with a travel voucher or some sort.
If there aren’t enough volunteers, the airline may well select people who will then be entitled to cash.
Clearly, neither of these scenarios are ideal and we would all much rather get to our destination on time, without any unnecessary fuss.
How To Not Get Bumped Off A Flight
So, how do you best avoid situations like this or manage them when they unfortunately arrive? Well, thanks to a new infographic from silverdoor.co.uk, you can learn all you need to know.
It’s called ‘The Ultimate Guide To Ensuring You’re Not Bumped Off The Plane On Your Next Flight’ and you can take a look below.
It covers everything from explaining which airlines are less likely to overbook to which type of flights you should consider booking.
Where In The World Can Brits Travel Without A Visa
The early stages of planning and booking a holiday can bring its fair share of headaches.
There is, of course, a great deal to think about. From settling on a location to booking the flights, choosing accommodation to arranging holiday insurance, the list goes on.
However, there is one thing which regardless of your journey you must not forget, your passport.
International border rulings can vary massively and are constantly altering, so it helps to have a globally respected passport.
British Holidaymakers
The British passport is certainly one of these and allows a holder into a lot of countries without the application of any other travel document.
Just take a look at this list of the world’s most powerful passports from The Telegraph. This article ranks the United Kingdom third in the world, closely behind Germany and Sweden.
However, despite its power, there are still certain countries which require some form of visa upon arrival.
Knowing which countries require a Brit to have a visa is important. Without one your dream holiday could turn into your worst nightmare.
Infographic
Thankfully, citybaseapartments.com has created a smart infographic which clearly displays all the relevant information.
The infographic is called ‘Where In The World Can Brits Travel Without A Visa’ and you can take a look at it at the bottom of this post.
It offers information on all types of visas, as they can differ quite a lot. In this case, there are three types, a standard visa, visa on arrival and an electronic visa.
The most straightforward of the three is a visa on arrival, which does what it says on the tin. You simply fill in a visa either while on the plane or when you land. The majority of countries which use theses are in Africa.
An electronic visa is a step up from this and a standard visa requires more planning than any other. So, next time you book a trip abroad, make sure that you have all the relevant documents at hand.
Take a look at the infographic for yourself below.
Ever since then, we have enjoyed the experience of being a panel of glass away from some of nature’s most fascinating creatures.
Amusement Parks
Another good example is the amusement park, which is still a popular day out for children and adults alike.
The first amusement parks began in the late 19th century, offering many things we would still recognise today.
From competition stalls to optical illusions, sugary treats to roller coasters which are perhaps the main feature, we still enjoy them all today.
Roller Coasters
One of the first roller coasters ever built was the Switchback Railway at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.
While it doesn’t exactly sound thrilling to us, its top speed of six mph made it a hugely popular attraction at the time.
Roller coasters quickly became a global sensation and their success hasn’t taken its foot off the accelerator since.
This is, of course, despite the emergence of increasingly brilliant home entertainment system such as VR technology.
Regardless of what you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, seemingly there’s still an appetite for the physical thrill of a rollercoaster.
Part of this is down to the variety available to us in the many parks around the world.
We’ve come a long way since the humble wooden railway. Now we have the extremes of vertical drops, +100 mph speeds and even break-away tracks!
Infographic
There are roller coasters being unveiled every couple of years which are breaking the boundaries of what we previously thought was possible.
Travel site globehunters.com has created a great infographic which offers up some of the most outstanding and truly spine-tingling rides on the planet.
It’s called ‘A Thrill Seeker’s Guide To The World’s Most Terrifying Roller Coasters’ and you can check it out at the bottom of this post.
This great infographic pulls together all of the top roller coasters in the world, from those with the highest speeds to those with dizzying heights.
One of the most impressive coasters in the list is the Formula Rossa which is situated in Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi.
To celebrate the engineering brilliance of the famous car manufacturer, this roller coaster reaches staggering speeds of 149 mph.
Riders of the Formula Rossa will go from 0-149 mph in just 5 seconds while experiencing highs of 4.8Gs.
As well as the fastest coaster in the world, this list also presents the tallest. Kingda Ka in the US is a dizzying 456 ft tall and is only the second strata roller coaster in the world.
It also reaches an eye-watering 128 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Regardless of how much of a roller enthusiast you are, this ride will certainly get the butterflies in your stomach fluttering.
If you fancy testing your metal, take a look at the list below and plan your world trip of the most terrifying roller coasters.
A Thrill Seeker’s Guide To The World’s Most Terrifying Roller Coasters – An infographic by the team at Globehunters.com
For big food fans, it’s fair to say that we now have access to more tastebud tingling meals than ever before.
Take a walk down your local high street or into the closest supermarket and you’ll find a range of delicious dishes from every corner of the globe.
Of course, it’s not as if we’ve suddenly experienced an international food revolution, instead, our options have simply expanded.
For many years, Indian, Chinese and even Japanese restaurants have been a firm fixture on any high street and we have all become accustomed to the flavours they offer.
In fact, Indian food has long been a firm favourite in the UK, overtaking the traditional fish and chips to become the most popular takeaway option.
However, in 2016 all of this changed. The Mirror reported that the popularity of Korean food had indeed skyrocketed in the UK, with the number of orders placed climbing by 85%.
On top of this, cuisine from the Caribbean, north and west Africa and Mexico has seen a sharp uptake in recent years too.
International Spice
One of the most appealing things about trying cuisine from different parts of the world is experiencing ingredients and flavours which we may not have come across.
A particularly popular sensation is spice. Spice is such a diverse taste, which is proven by the amount of different dishes which contain that heat.
For example, while both a curry and a burrito can contain high levels of spice, there is no comparing the flavours.
Extreme Spice
Obviously, some foods are much spicier than others. For example, when ordering a curry, we all understand the difference between a rogan josh and a vindaloo.
The Scoville Scale is the official way to grade the heat of particular foods. It assesses the types of peppers used in a dish which are all charted in the scale.
Plenty of us get excited about spices and enjoy testing out what we can handle. In fact, sousvidetools.com created a great infographic for spice lovers to take a look at.
It’s called ’16 Of The World’s Spiciest Foods’ and offers up dishes from every corner of the globe, some you’ll have heard of and others you won’t.
The infographic even includes the Scoville Scale rating of each dish. So, take a look and maybe even try some out for yourself, if you dare.
There are largely two different types of globally popular foods. There’s those that belong to one particular culture and those which become broadly interpreted and enjoyed.
A great example of the first is sushi. Sushi is unmistakably Japanese and is enjoyed across the world by all classes and cultures, from Michelin star restaurants to convenience meal deals.
Learn more about how sushi became a global sensation in this article from The Guardian.
At the other end of the scale, you have dishes which are enjoyed all over the world but are interpreted and enjoyed differently wherever you go. Generally, this means they don’t have one individual identity.
A brilliant example of this is sausage. Sausage is defined by dictionary.com as:
“Minced pork, beef or other meats, often combined, together with various added ingredients and seasonings, usually stuffed into a prepared intestine or other casing and often made in links”
This definition is pretty vague and sums up the versatility of the dish. This is why there are so many iterations of it around the world.
In the UK the classic banger is the sausage of choice at meal times. It picked up the name during the Second World War when meat was in short supply.
Sausages had a much higher water content and tended to burst or “bang” when placed in the oven or frying pan.
The classic British dish, of course, is bangers and mash which is simply pork sausages and mash potato covered in an onion gravy.
However, this is massively different to some of the other popular sausages around the globe.
Consider Spanish chorizo, German Bratwurst, American Corn Dogs and the many others, all varying massively from one another.
Infographic
In fact, sousvidetools.com has created a globetrotting and mouthwatering infographic which charts the different types of sausage from all across the world.
It’s called ‘How Do People Eat Sausages Around The World?’ and you can read about all of those mentioned above, along with plenty more in the infographic below.
How Do People Eat Sausages Around The World? – An infographic by the team at SousVideTools.com
Around The World In 16 Banksy Street Art Locations
If you stopped someone on the street and asked them to name you 5 popular artists of the 21st century, you’d struggle for many answers.
However, there is almost certainly one who will be known by many millions around the world, and that’s, of course, Banksy.
Who is Banksy?
The mysterious, British satirical street artist has said that he/she would never reveal their true identity which has lead to years of speculation. This article from the Telegraph is a classic example of the speculation.
Banksy has created many brilliant pieces of art in recent years, all of which either being an observation of today’s society or a satirical statement on the state of the politics of capitalism of a particular country.
While being based in England, Banksy is truly a globe-trotting artist. However, because of the subject of all of Banksy’s work, and the fact that it is often graffiti, it doesn’t hang around long.
In fact, there is a great list you can read here which compiles all of the Banksy pieces which have been damaged or destroyed.
All of this means that it is often hard to go and visit his works of art in person because many of them are removed.
Infographic
Thankfully you can take a look at many of Banksy’s greatest works of art in a handy new infographic from citybaseapartments.com.
The infographic is titled ‘Around The World In 16 Banksy Street At Locations’ and it covers some of the artist’s greatest works as well as some you may not have seen before.
For example, it presents the famous London piece which shows a young girl with a heart shaped balloon just out of reach. The words, “There is always hope” are written nearby.
Maybe less known is a piece on a wall in Toronto Canada. It depicts as businessman carrying a briefcase. The man has a sign around his neck which reads, “0% interest in people”.
To see these and much more from around the world, take a look at the infographic for yourself below.
Around The World In 16 Banksy Street Art Locations – An infographic by the team at Citybase Apartments
The Lake District is England’s largest national park and attracts 17.32 million visitors a year. It’s not hard to see why, with stunning lakes, mountains, coastline and historic sites.
The Lakes are popular in all seasons, and are as beautiful in the autumn and winter as it is in the warmer months with any families choose to spend Christmas or New Year in the Lake District.
Here are five great reasons why the Lake District is the perfect destination for your next holiday
1. It’s Beautiful!
With stunning views all year round, from the endless landscape and lake views to the carpets of bluebells that erupt in the warmer months, the Lake District is truly an area of outstanding natural beauty.
There is also an abundance of wildlife such as Golden Eagles, red squirrels, and stags, ducks and badgers to name just a few. There are six nature reserves in Cumbria.
Whether you are a keen photographer, or just want to relax and unwind surrounded by the calming beauty of nature, the Lake District is a wonderful place to be.
2. There’s So Much To Do
There is so much to do in the Lake District that you can visit time and time again and experience something new each visit.
Thrill seekers can even cross the Infiniti Bridge, suspended between two mountains. At 2,000 feet above the valley floor, it is double the height of the shard!
3. The UK’s Best Walking & Cycling
If you fancy getting outdoors and exploring the Lakes, there are many great walking and cycling routes, and you can take a look at them on the Lake District National Parks Website here. You don’t have to be a hardcore hiker to enjoy exploring the lake district, as there is still plenty to see if you just fancy a gentle stroll.
4. Plenty Of Great Food
The Lake District is heaven if you are a foodie. Not only does the area boast some incredible restaurants, but also a lot of foods you may be familiar with have their origins in the Lakes.
Kendal Mintcake, the famous sugary energy boost loved by walkers and climbers, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and of course Cumberland Sausages all originate from the Lake District.
There are also an abundance of wonderful pubs if you want to enjoy some hearty pub grub with a pint of beer, perhaps even by a roaring fire in the colder months.
5. The Perfect Accommodation For Everyone
Whatever type of holiday you are after, there is sure to be an accommodation to suit you. If you are a big fan of camping, you won’t struggle for choice when it comes to finding a camp site. Check out the National Trust guide to campsites in the lake district here.
If you’re after a little more comfort and luxury, Lake District Country Hotels offer three stunning country house hotels. In the heart of the Lake District, they boast stunning views, and indulgent and stylish accommodation, perfect for unwinding on a romantic getaway or family holiday.
Image courtesy of www.lakelovers.co.uk
If you are looking for a home from home, look no further than Pure Leisure who offer well equipped, modern Lodges in fantastic locations throughout the Lake District. You can rent one out if you just fancy a holiday or if you really fall in love with the Lakes you can even own your own holiday lodge and come back regularly.
Even in the sheltered and largely safe world the majority of us live in today, plenty of us suffer from fears and phobias, some of them irrational, others entirely rational.
According to fears.net, some of the top ten phobias of all time include the fear of small spaces (Claustrophobia), a fear of spiders (Arachnophobia) and a fear of heights (Acrophobia).
Rational vs Irrational
Overcoming a fear of something can be difficult, especially with both irrational and rational fears.
A rational fear is one which exists because there is potentially a real danger involved in the action or event. An irrational fear is a fear which exists without this danger existing.
The difficulty of overcoming fears is amplified when the particular fear sits somewhere between the two. One great example of this is a fear of flying.
Fear of Flying
There is no hiding from the fact that throughout history, people have died as a result of a plane crash. This fact makes a fear of flying rational.
However, the frequency of deaths as a result of flying is incredibly small, almost making it irrational.
For example, Fly Fright statistics show that there’s a 1 in 11 million chance of being involved in an aeroplane incident.
They also show that 96% of people survive these accidents. All in all, air travel is by far one of the safest modes of transport in the world.
Despite this, there are still millions of people around the world who suffer from a fear of flying. This fear can really limit your ability to travel, be it for business or pleasure, meaning it could have a massively negative effect on your life.
15 Ways To Overcome Your Fear of Flying
To help those who do struggle with it, silverdoor.co.uk has created this infographic titled ‘15 Ways To Overcome Your Fear of Flying’ which presents lots of handy ways to tackle this phobia.
Whether you genuinely are afraid of flying, or just fancy a little more reassurance, this infographic could be a real help, so take a look for yourself.
15 Ways To Overcome Your Fear Of Flying – An infographic by the team at SilverDoor.co.uk
There’s no getting around the fact that winter is finally upon us. Once the temperature is cooler and the days become shorter, we find ourselves turning from the pleasures of summer to the comforts which will keep the chill at bay.
As soon as the temperature drops, there is something a lot less appealing about light summer meals. Instead, we replace them with heavy, warming foods like stews, pies and roast dinners.
Hot Drinks
We do the same with our hot drinks. The lemonades and ice teas don’t seem very appealing when the cold arrives, so we turn to hot drinks instead.
Coffee, tea and the occasional hot chocolate become commonplace at work, at home and pretty much everywhere else to give us that welcome fuzzy feeling.
Somewhat surprisingly, despite the coffee revolution which has swept the face of the Earth several times in the last few years, tea is still the most popular beverage according to National Geographic.
It’s fair to say that despite the obvious variations of coffee and tea, there’s actually not much choice, especially in comparison with refreshing summer drinks.
However, this isn’t entirely true. There are actually many delicious hot drinks from around the world which many of us are missing out on.
Around The World In 16 Winter Warmers
The people at citybaseapartments.com have created a taste bud tingling infographic which offers up a number of tasty alternative from around the world.
It’s called ‘Around The World In 16 Winter Warmers’ and has drinks ranging from Canada to Colombia, India to Ireland and Sweden to South Africa.
This infographic is packed with plenty of drinks you won’t have tried or maybe even heard of. However, you absolutely have to try them!
There’s also plenty that you can spice up for the adults by adding certain alcoholic drinks to give you that extra added cozy feeling on chilly nights.
Don’t just take our word for it, take a look at the infographic below and go try some of these out yourself!
Around The World In 16 Winter Warmers – An infographic by the team at Citybase Apartments
Best Travel Guides to Destinations Around the World
