We’ve all done it. Walked onto the plane and longingly glanced to our left toward the mysterious curtain into first class, only to be led away into economy.
When you see just how much first class can cost, it can really get you thinking: “What is it through that curtain that could possibly justify paying so much!?”
Is it as simple as a couple of free drinks and some comfy cushions? Or is there something they’re not telling us!
Well, wonder no more, as SilverDoor serviced apartments have put together this infographic to give you a peek behind the curtain and see exactly what separates economy, business, and first class.
The Benefits Of Each Class
The benefits of each section of the aircraft vary a lot depending on the airline, length of the flight and type of aircraft, but they’ve come to some general conclusions about what you can expect from each.
One of the things most of us complain about the most when it comes to flying is the legroom, so it’s understandable that this is one of the benefits that you’d look out for first!
On a standard economy flight, you can expect to find around 29 to 34 inches of legroom, and 17 inches of width in your seat, which really isn’t all that special!
Make the jump up to first class and you can expect as much as double the legroom on some flights, as well as an extra 2 to 3 inches width as well as a reclining chair that might even turn into a bed.
The menus for your in-flight meal will also differ quite considerably, with dishes designed by the likes of Michel Roux Jr. and Gordon Ramsey such as roast dinners, seafood dishes and curries.
A far cry from those foil trays you can expect on an economy flight!
See The Benefits & Perks For Yourself
To see the full range of benefits and perks business and first class can bring, check out the infographic below.
Economy vs Business vs First Class – Everything You Need to Know – An infographic by the team at SilverDoor.co.uk
Whether you like it or not, travel is becoming an increasingly important part of business and industry success.
Business Travel On The Rise
Meetings Today recently reported that businesses are spending more on global travel each year, with the 2016 forecast set to reach a whopping $1.3 trillion. With certain industries becoming truly international, the need to travel abroad for engagements like meetings and conferences continues to grow.
All of this global travel adds certain stresses and strains to employees that perhaps didn’t exist at quite the same level a few years ago.
For example, instead of attending a meeting a couple of hours drive away and returning later that day, a couple of days have to be scheduled to make the journey.
This means there’s a lot more to think about; such as flights, hotel booking, working on the move and preparing for the actual business once you arrive.
Working on the move can be particularly difficult. Without your usual workplace set up, it can be tricky to stay productive when working off a laptop combined with intermittent wifi and plenty of potential distractions.
This post from The Muse has a number of interesting ways to keep productive when travelling away on business.
Sleep is another thing which gets majorly affected when travelling away for work. Staying in hotel rooms the night before an important meeting can be disorientating, to say the least, and then there’s the potential issue of jet lag.
Infographic
Thankfully, this is now one less thing to worry about. Sleepy People have come up with a handy infographic titled ’13 Sleep hacks Every Business Traveller Needs to Know’.
With advice on resting in airport lounges to sleeping during your journey, from sleep travel essentials to clothing advice, there are plenty of actionable tips here so that even the more experienced business travellers can learn something.
Don’t just take our word for it, take a look at the infographic below.
13 Sleep Hacks Every Business Traveller Needs To Know – An infographic by the team at SleepyPeople.com
An increasing number of us are travelling both within our country and abroad for business engagements.
Business Travel on the Rise
The Business Travel Magazine reported that UK business travellers alone spent over £5.8 billion heading abroad in 2014, a rise of a staggering 30% on previous years. All in all, business travel is increasingly important to a number of UK industries.
Even with the aid of calling and conference apps like Skype, it’s still very important that we meet with business peers, clients and partners to talk face to face to further our success and learn more about our industries.
For anyone who has travelled for a business engagement, the whole experience is very different to jetting off on a relaxing holiday.
There is a great deal more to consider other than organising flights and hotel rooms. The majority of businesses will expect you to do some level of work between destinations, you also might have to prepare for a presentation or do some level of research ahead of a conference.
It’s fair to say that all of this responsibility while travelling can make business trips quite stressful, but they don’t necessarily need to be.
Infographic
There are lots of ways to make even the busiest business trip go as smoothly as possible. There are plenty in this handy infographic from Central London Apartments.
Titled ’21 life Hacks Every Business Traveller Needs to Know’, this infographic covers all of the necessary areas of a business trip, providing actionable tips to make your journey as easy as possible.
From planning your trip to all of your luggage essentials, from how to stay connected on the move to communicating with the locals, this infographic offers essential tips that even a seasoned business traveller can benefit from.
To make sure you make the most of your next business trip, take a look at the infographic below.
Travelling around the world nowadays is incredibly easy because of the wide variety of transportation options. We’re completely spoilt for choice when it comes to cruise ships, airplanes, cars, trains, and even some more unusual methods of transportation such as toboggans. They all have their own positives and negatives, but are generally all quite popular amongst people for travelling from A to B. However, here at Exporta Global, we wanted to explore some of the stranger ways you can travel around the world, rather than just your average road trip in the car.
Firstly, we wanted to bring your attention to examples of people who have travelled in crazy ways, many of which we don’t actually recommend you do yourself. Reg Spiers, an Australian man who found himself stranded in London, needed to get back to Australia but didn’t have the budget for it. However, he succeeded in persuading his friend to air freight him back to Perth, which took 63 hours. Then there was Ben Saad from Dorset who decided to walk from Bournemouth to Brighton dragging a massive sofa behind him.
If you would rather not travel via a completely bizarre method, then there are some other options. If you’re travelling in Madeira, it’s tradition for men to run down the hill from Monte to Funchal while pushing tourists in a toboggan. And if you’re slightly short of money but fancy a trip on the sea, why not climb aboard a cargo ship rather than a cruise ship? They’re becoming increasingly popular for tourists and tend to offer accommodation, gyms and sometimes even small swimming pools.
Overall there are many bizarre ways to travel around the world, many of which you may never have known about before. Whether you want to go all out and set yourself a challenge of dragging a sofa, or whether you’d just like to laze by a swimming pool on a cargo ship, there are plenty of options for you.
Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about which method of transport should next be added to your bucket list.
After working hard all year round and saving every penny possible, there’s nothing better than getting away for a week or two on a summer holiday to relax and recharge.
As summer begins to approach, we start searching for all the usual destinations to find a great deal.
Popular Destinations
There are a number of locations which we all love to return to every year. For example, this UK Business Insider article shows that UK residents love heading back to the likes of Benidorm, Crete and Gran Canaria each summer.
It’s also true that even though we all love to return to the same locations, more of us than ever are able to travel a little further afield.
Destinations like Central and South America, Southeast Asia and even Australia and New Zealand are continuously on the rise as long distance flights have become increasingly affordable.
Staycations
There are also plenty of us that prefer to enjoy a holiday without heading abroad. ‘Staycations’ as they have become known, are more popular than ever.
This article from the Guardian suggests that up to 2.5 million UK residents chose to enjoy a staycation instead of heading abroad. The most popular locations in the UK include the Lake District and Cornwall.
However, no matter how much money we manage to save each year, it’s fair to say that we all have our limits.
There are always a few locations or certain resorts that we could only dream of booking.
There’s little doubt that Asian safaris and getaway adventures showcase some of the planet’s most remote, unique and unexplored sceneries. From Mongolia to India all the way through China and Indonesia, it is amazing how the beauty of the Asian alps blends perfectly with the flora and fauna to come up with picturesque sights and unforgettable experience. And if you’re wondering where you to set your sails next, here some of the top 10 Asian safaris that any globetrotter should have on their bucket list.
1. Watch the Mongolian Gazelle Migration
Image courtesy of www.treknature.com
Every year, one of the continent’s last remaining animal population will migrate in large droves over the remote steppe of Eastern Mongolia. During this time, you can catch the sights and sounds of more than a million gazelles as they troop from the grasslands near the border of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation before crossing over the China. It’s quite a sight to behold.
2. The Horse Safari in Mongolia
Still, in Mongolia, you can venture deep into the remote, almost unpopulated northern frontier that is sparsely occupied by the Tsaatan people and nomadic reindeer herdsmen. Apart from learning a thing or two about the rich culture of these Asian countrymen, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of camping in the mountains and by alpine pastures. Some things are better experienced than described, really.
3. The Japanese Hokkaido Adventures
Nobody would have ever imagined of a Japanese safari outreach. But it seems that one of the most industrialised nations in Asia has few tricks her hat. During winter, Hokkaido, Japan is one of the best places on earth where you can watch the gorgeous rare Japanese cranes gyrating and dancing in the snow. This intriguing and quaint sight is usually punctuated with Stellar sea eagles that can be seen gathering and playing on the sea ice while in the company of white-naped cranes. If anything, this a must-execute expedition for avid every bird watcher.
4. Tigers in the Ranthambore National Park
Being of the most renowned and visited parks in Northern India, it is not surprising that the Ranthambore National Park is also home to the Asian tiger. A one or two-day safari to this Maharaja of Jaipur hunting ground should reveal the rare sightings of the world’s biggest predators in its natural habitat. If not that, you can while the time away watching the marsh crocodiles or go for a bird-watching hike in the jungle.
5. The Maldives
You must have already heard the stellar reputation of this small island as a paradisal holiday destination. But apart from its breath-taking beaches, Maldives has a rich population of dolphins and sperm whales which are rare to catch in other parts of the world. That is beside snorkelling and endless sunbathing in the pristine south-west Asian beaches.
6. The Bali Safaris
The Bali Marine Park is arguably one of the island’s most visited tourist destination. Started back in 2007 by a holiday and tours foundation known as Safari Indonesia, the Marine park covers several hectares in the Gianyar region of southeastern Bali. In here, you will be treated to sights of more than 400 rare species of animals all the way from Africa, India and Indonesia. And, yes, even before you ask, the park has rare Indian white tigers on site.
7. Siberia Safaris
Though it might not sound like your dream safari destination, the lowly populated Siberian swathes of snow and ice offer the opportunity of driving a reindeer sledge through acres of the Taiga forests. What’s more, the occasional shot of vodka from the friendly locals will do more than just warm you as you navigate in the coldest and bleakest inhabited places on the planet today.
8. The Sumatran Orangutans Safaris
The Gunung Leuser National Park that is located near world-famous Bukit Lawang is one of the few places on earth where you might fall in love with super-adorable Orangutans. And this is thanks to the rehabilitation centre on site that is dedicated to teaching young Orangutans how to co-exist peacefully in the wild. Still in this park, expect to encounter tapirs, gibbons, tigers, elephants and even rhino roaming around in the wild.
9. The Panda Safaris
This threatened but protected species can be found in Sichuan Province in China near the Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. So as you enjoy the high altitude primary forest, you can track and catch glimpses of the few last wild pandas left on earth.
10. The Komodo Dragons in Indonesia
If you’re yet to see a real-life dragon, the Komodo Islands in Indonesia is the place where your next globetrotting compass should be pointed. The rather shy dragon is king in this Island and dominates over larger animals including buffaloes and wild dogs.
Let’s face it; holidays are for having fun and one of the best ways to do that is to visit one or more tourist attractions whilst you’re away. From family-friendly attractions to those a little more adult-focussed, you won’t struggle to find numerous ways to fill your days but it’s always interesting to take a look at what there is a little outside of the norm.
Citybase Apartments recently launched an infographic which looks at the world’s strangest tourist attractions and, for some of those included in the list, being dubbed strange is an understatement! From humongous pineapples through to the USA’s version of Stonehenge; one constructed from old cars!
The infographic highlights ten bizarre or strangest tourist attractions from across the globe and, as far as we are concerned, every single one needs to be on your bucket list!
Just what, however, are these ten bizarre attractions and where can they be found?
The Big Pineapple – South Africa
Ever fancied visiting a giant pineapple? If so, take yourself to South Africa and the day at ‘The Big Pineapple’ which can be found in Eastern Cape. The region is famous for their pineapples and the world’s only pineapple museum can be found within this one which is 55-foot tall!
Sedlec Ossuary – Czech Republic
Sedlec Ossuary certainly isn’t your regular church and, despite being tiny, is home to more than 40,000 skeletal remains. Spooky! It’s all arranged in a morbidly artistic fashion, however, it’s probably one which is still best avoided on Halloween!
Mother Shipton’s Cave – England
Deep inside North Yorkshire lies Mother Shipton’s Cave, one which, according to legend, was home to Mother Shipton, a prophetess who predicted the Great Fire of London. A great day out for the whole family and an attraction which is also home to a ‘petrifying well.’
Inverary Jail – Scotland
If your travels take you to Scotland, do yourself a favour and pay a visit to Inverary Jail. If you’ve ever wondered what an 18th Century Scottish jail was like, this is your opportunity to find out in the setting of a ‘living museum.’
Carhenge – USA
You are most likely familiar with Britain’s Stonehenge, however, few have yet to come across the USA’S own Carhenge. Yes, this really is a series of cars arranged in the layout of Stonehenge. A must-see attraction for anyone heading to Nebraska or nearby.
Paris Sewer Museum – France
You most likely don’t fancy spending your holidays down a sewer, but Paris’ sewer museum is a fantastic attraction, despite being one which initially sounds otherwise! This stunning museum takes you deep down under Paris itself and offers an insight into the history of an area you wouldn’t normally have the benefit of seeing for yourself. Add to your to-do list on your next visit to Paris.
Upside Down House – China
Yes, you really can pay a visit to an upside down house in China, one which is a little bit of a mind-bender. The house comes complete with furniture on the ceiling (or should that be the floor) and is a must-see sight for those who like things a little extraordinary. You’ll find the attraction an hour south of Shanghai.
Battle Of The Oranges – Italy
The battle of the oranges happens only once a year so timing is the key to visiting this attraction. The small Italian town of Ivrea plays host to the world’s largest orange fight. You must see this for yourself to believe it! Great fun nonetheless.
Gnome Reserve – England
Who loves gnomes? Or perhaps more a case of who doesn’t love gnomes? In the heart of Devon lies the UK’s very own Gnome Reserve, an attraction dedicated entirely to our tiny garden friends! You’ll have a great day out here, we promise!
Yunessun Spa Resort – Japan
You may be wondering why a spa resort makes the list, but when you find out that it’s one where you can take a dip in your favourite drink, it makes sense! However, who wouldn’t want to take a dip in green tea, wine or honey?
The World’s Strangest Tourist Attractions – An infographic by the team at Citybase Apartments
One of the best things about visiting new parts of the world is getting to try the many different delicacies on offer and whilst, for some, fine dining is the only way to go, for most, food whilst travelling is all about street food!
From Jerk Chicken and Arepas to Churros, Bakso and a whole host of others, there’s certainly no shortage of street foods to try, regardless of where you’re travelling to.
A Look At The World’s Favourite Street Foods
SousVideTools.com recently launched an infographic titled ‘Around The World In 20 Street Foods‘ which does a fantastic job of outlining some of the world’s most delicious delicacies. Want to know more? Here’s a look at our favourite street foods from across the globe:
Jerk Chicken – Jamaica
Gelato – Italy
Arepas – Colombia
Ta’amiya – Egypt
Bakso – Indonesia
Churros – Spain
Chilli Crab – Singapore
Gimbap – South Korea
Tostada – Mexico
Xiaolongbao – China
Poutine – Canada
Pulled Pork Sandwich – USA
Bubble Tea – Taiwan
Pierogi – Poland
Halo-Halo – Phillipines
Banh Mi – Vietnam
Bunny Chow – South Africa
Simit Bread – Turkey
Bhelpuri – India
Ceviche – Peru
Whether you’re travelling to Italy, Jamaica, Canada, Taiwan or literally anywhere in the world, there’s absolutely no doubting that you won’t need to look far to find a delicious street food to try out!
For some, the opportunity to try something a little bit different whilst in another country is one of the most attractive things about travelling. Who wants to eat those foods which they frequent at home when the opportunity for something far more exotic is around every corner?
Street food is affordable, delicious and oozes culture and character of the country in which it’s famous. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with sitting down to a fancy meal when on your travels, you’ll struggle to beat the same feeling you get when queueing at a market stall or similar and eating fresh street food! It’s the perfect way to try something new and right at the top of many people’s travel-lists!
In the meantime, to whet your appetite and introduce you to just a few of our favourite street foods from around the world, take a moment to have a look at SousVideTools’ aforementioned infographic:
Around The World In 20 Street Foods – An infographic by the team at SousVideTools.com
Is it your dream to secure a job overseas? If you’re feeling a touch of wanderlust and harbour global career ambitions, we’ve put together 3 things to do before living and working abroad.
Visit your chosen country
It goes without saying that moving abroad is a big step. Try and spend some time in the country you want to live and work in before you completely commit to it. One way to do this, as this infographic about overseas careers by payday loans experts Wizzcash explains, is to turn your summer holiday into a job scout. Discover more about day-to-day life in the country you want to visit and experience all that it has to offer – as well as hitting the beach, naturally.
Learn the lingo
While you won’t always need to learn the language of the country you want to move to, it could well benefit you to do so. If your role will be a client-facing one or one that involves a lot of presentations, going bilingual could significantly help you. Such improved communication skills will not only help you in your job – they’ll help you in everyday life.
If English is your first language, actively seek English-speaking roles – employers will be chomping at the bit to recruit you.
One of the easiest ways to move abroad for work is through internal transfer. This is a particularly good option if visa laws and other regulations in the country you want to head to are particularly troublesome, as the employer should be able to handle this for you.
One way to do it is to get work at an international company, get a couple of years experience under your belt then speak to management about a transfer. If you’re a hard worker and respected colleague, there’s little reason they could say no.
So now you’re thinking of launching a career abroad but don’t know where to start looking? Have a look at our new infographic below that features top tips on what you should be thinking about.
Are you looking to secure a move overseas? Let us know about your experience.
Buildings are often landmarks of cities, with some of the most impressive buildings defining them, such as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, or the One World Trade Center in New York. Tourists flock from all over the world to feast their eyes on these spectacular examples of architecture and to take those essential real-life photos of them. It’ll come as no surprise then to learn that an awful lot of money is used in order to erect these buildings. Whether they have any symbolic or religious importance or they’re built purely to show extravagance and wealth, billions of pounds are invested in architecture, which is what makes them quite so wondrous.
We were thinking of impressive buildings, and decided to do some research into what were the most expensive buildings around the world, as surely these are the most spectacular? Maybe that’s quite a subjective question, so take a look below to find out if you think the most expensive buildings are the most impressive. Will it surprise you to know that buildings such as the Gherkin in London, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris don’t top the list of the twenty most expensive buildings around the world? And might it also surprise you to learn that the most expensive building ever built cost over 100 billion dollars?
In fact, most of the buildings that dominate the list are from the U.S.A., China, and the Middle East, with the most expensive building being the Masjid al-Haram found in Saudi Arabia. This amazing mosque is the largest in the world and is the primary destination for pilgrimages, covering an area of 356, 800 square metres. It attracts over 5 million Muslims every year who have to perform the Hajj once in their life. Would you have expected this to be the most expensive building in the world? Take a look below to find out more about these spectacular buildings.
Best Travel Guides to Destinations Around the World
