Tips for Managing Common Travel Emergencies

Just like at home, we’re prone to experiencing emergencies while traveling. Unfortunately, dealing with these emergencies while on a trip is much more difficult than tending to them at home.

Here are five helpful tips for managing common travel emergencies.

1. Carry multiple copies of important documents in case you lose them

Print a photocopy of your government identification, passport, and other credentials. You should also take pictures of each of these forms of identification. If possible, sign up for mobile apps that allow you to present IDs, passports, and the like to necessary parties without needing anything more than your smartphone.
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Interesting sights in Dagenham & Barking

Interesting sights in Dagenham & Barking

Due to it’s location right at the end of the underground District line a lot of people are yet to visit the borough of Dagenham and Barking, but being part of London it is certainly a place that everyone needs to check out.

If you speak to anybody from Barking escorts they’ll tell you all about the great things you can see or do in the area. Here are some sights not be missed next time you’re in the area.

Check Out The History

Barking Abbey is the best place in town to go to see some history. It is the place where Barking started all the way back in 666. It’s a beautiful place to visit and even though some of it is in ruins they still have a certain charm to them. You’ll find the Abbey on Abbey Green, it is right next to St Margaret’s Church which was built in the 12 century. The church itself is a nice little place to stroll around too, especially if the weather isn’t too good outside. read more

Countdown of the Best Hotels in Vegas

Countdown of the Best Hotels in Vegas

Vegas is known for a great many things, its attitude towards gambling, the level of entertainment that is on offer, the debauchery and mayhem which can be found here, but above all else, Vegas is known for its world famous hotels. The hotels here take on an altogether very different approach to what a hotel should be, and many of these incredible buildings are far more than simply somewhere for you to lay your head. In true Vegas style the hotels here are ostentatious and fun-loving, and here are our top 3.

3 – The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino

Most hotels in Vegas come with a theme and the Venetian offers this in abundance with its romantic Venetian style design, featuring classic Italian architecture and high levels of detail. The most striking aspect of the hotel is indeed from the outside, with a canal running throughout the outside of the hotel, featuring real gondolas which will take you on a slow ride across the hotel’s water. Inside the hotel gets even better with its huge suites, decked out in classic Roman design and features a sunken living room, and plenty of luxurious touches. This is one of the biggest hotels in the world and inside its walls you will find shopping experiences, a number of restaurants and bars, and of course, casinos.

2 – The Bellagio

The Bellagio offers one of the most decadent hotels which you are likely to find, packed with luxury and ornate design. Much like the Venetian, the star attraction here at the Bellagio is the dancing fountains outside the front doors, which have become an attraction in themselves for many visiting Vegas. The Penthouse and the suites here are insane, offering huge rooms with all manner of service options, but the cheap rooms are still pretty special. On top of the comfortable and luxurious stay which you can expect, the Bellagio offers plenty of shows featuring the top names in entertainment, as well as restaurants, trendy nightclubs and a huge array of amenities to make your stay extra special.

1 – The Mandarin Oriental

The debate as to which is the best hotel in Vegas is one which will lily rage on for eternity, our pick however is the Mandarin Oriental. This Asian inspired hotel is a sleek, sexy and classy hotel which is designed with nothing but elegance in mind. Each room in this hotel offers Asian luxury, with bamboo detail and classy artwork and design throughout. Whichever room you pay for in this hotel will come with one guarantee, a first class hotel experience. There is less razzmatazz in this hotel than in many others in hotel, but the tea room and the spa experience here are very special, and indicative of just how luxurious this hotel really is. The cherry on the cake in the mandarin is the Mandarin bar at the top of the hotel, offering birds-eye views across the city.

Which is your favorite hotel in Vegas? Let us know in the comments below.

Urgent Accessories for the Luxury Traveller

Urgent Accessories for the Luxury Traveller

If you travel a lot, be it for work or pleasure, you need to get good at travel. It’s not just a case of learning how to spend your time during a layover, and sleeping well on aeroplanes,  you need to supplement your knowledge with a tool kit of the vital accessories all the most seasoned travellers keep with them to ease their passage as they travel around the world

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When you’re packing for a trip, you need to strike a balance with toiletries: you need to bring enough to keep yourself not merely clean but at the top of your game but not so much that passing security becomes an impossible task. read more

Spending 48 hours in Seattle, Washington

Spending 48 hours in Seattle, Washington

Seattle is one of those special places that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. I love everything that the city has to offer, whether it is the nature, history, culture, sights, or even just the amazing IHG hotels in Seattle. It is also one that I would recommend to any of my friends, family, and readers. I wrote this short guide to give you a taste of what Seattle is all about, and how you can spend 48 hours there. I hope you enjoy it!

Olympic Sculpture Park

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Image via Flickr by Elvert Barnes

This is a must-visit for anyone heading to Seattle; this park is home to a number of sculptures from world-renowned artists like Claes Oldenburg and Alexander Calder. Currently, you can see Oldenburg’s work “Typewriter Eraser, Scale X” on display in the park, which is an incredibly unusual giant sculpture of a typewriter eraser. It really is surreal to see something like this, but it makes the park a special place that is unlike any I have been to before. Another cool feature of the park is definitely the beach, which is a great place to hang out in the summer months. Plus, this park has amazing views of Puget Sound, which you won’t find anywhere else.

Visit Olympic National Park

The Olympic National Park is an incredible park that has a huge million acres — much of which is wilderness — and is the place to go for some adventure if you are in Seattle. The park offers endless miles of coastline, forests, unique ecosystems, snow-capped mountains, and some special wildlife to top it off. Aside from this, the park has an incredible history with over 600 archeological sites that span 12,000 years of human history. This really is a place to get out of the city, take a walk, and enjoy the most beautiful nature that you can imagine.

The Space Needle

No visit to Seattle could ever be considered complete without visiting the Space Needle. Riding the elevator 520 feet above the ground is always something interesting to do, and the views from the observation deck are stunning with the unique combination of the surrounding mountains, islands, and water. The Space Needle is also an ideal place to view the sunset. This is best achieved in every season except for summer, when the sun sets around 9 p.m., making it difficult with the Space Needle closing at 8! If you want the best views of the sunset and the glowing lights of Seattle, always check when the sun is setting.

Hop Across the Border

One of the benefits of visiting Seattle is the fact that Canada is very close, and you can take the bus, drive, or take the train to Vancouver. It takes just over 2 hours to drive there, meaning that you could even make a little day trip (or overnight trip, if you fancy). I would highly recommend spending a few days in Canada if possible and then heading back to Seattle of course.

There is so much more in Seattle to explore, take some time off and explore this magical place for yourself!

A first time visitors guide to San Francisco, California

A first time visitors guide to San Francisco, California

San Francisco is one of my favourite cities in the United States and many people just seem to love the mix of culture and openness, and a way of life that you just cannot seem to find in other cities in the States, let alone the world. It is always important to me to share posts with you guys about destinations that I like going to and this time it is San Francisco. You worry about booking your hotel in San Francisco, and I will worry about the things you should see. Enjoy reading!

Golden Gate Bridge

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Image via Flickr by Tearstone

This is undoubtedly the most iconic image of San Francisco and is world-renowned. It is absolutely huge at over 80 stories high and creates one of the most stunning views of the bay in combination with the ocean. It is always a great idea to head to San Francisco when the weather is good, so I would definitely recommend midday, but keep an eye on the weather, and you can never go wrong.

Walking is a great way to experience the bridge, but I also loved riding my bike there too. These are truly going to be some of the best views of the city and the bay that you are likely to see. If you want to learn more about the history of the bridge, I highly recommend the visitor center there too.

Take a cable car

The cable cars are an absolute must when traveling around San Francisco. There are a number of routes that offer stunning views and refuge from walking some of the very steep streets that you can find in the city. I love to take them everywhere, and it is a nice way to look around and truly experience what is on offer. You simply jump on and off them and go wherever you want. If you’re curious to learn more, you can also visit the free cable car museum.

Visit Golden Gate Park

Whenever you hear the locals talking about the park, it is almost certain that they mean Golden Gate Park. This huge rectangular park starts in the heart of the city and reaches all the way to the end of the island into the stunning Pacific Ocean. The park is filled with various gardens, playgrounds, and even a golf course. You won’t be searching for things to do here, they will literally be right in front of you.

You absolutely must see the Conservatory of Flowers, which is a restored 1878 Victorian greenhouse that houses over 2,000 species of plants and flowers. It is like another world being in a huge greenhouse with some of the most exotic and beautiful plants that you are ever likely to see in your life.

I also really enjoy the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, especially because I am a huge fan of these types of gardens. This particular garden gives you the feeling that you could truly be in Japan with a Japanese temple, a curious looking bridge, and all the well-kept and trimmed plants that the Japanese are famous for.

Whatever it is that you are looking to see, you are going to have a great trip. Enjoy your first time in San Francisco!

Surfs Up Dude

Surfs Up Dude

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The Southwestern county of Cornwall in England is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. With miles of sandy beaches to choose from and idyllic countryside walks, it has become a popular destination for travellers from all around the world. one of the most popular places to visit is the town of Newquay on the Northern coast of the region. This old fishing port and former haven for smugglers now attracts thousands of visitors a year with places nearby like Tintagel, the famous home of the legendary King Arthur and his knights of the round table being a popular attraction. However, the town itself is now really famous for its surfing and one of the read more

Fun by the Sea

Fun by the Sea

=&0=&If you are thinking of taking your summer holidays this year in the United Kingdom then you might want to consider going down to the South of the country and check out the Cornish town of Looe. Although this small town may seem less appealing than some of the more popular areas of the county like Newquay, it has plenty to offer and there are lots of things to do near Looe and in Looe itself.

Historically the little village itself was and still is a fishing port but it was also a major smuggling village and if you take a trip to the local museum you can see lots of memorabilia related to the old highly illegal activity. If you have a younger family, a great activity and great fun for the kids is to go rock pooling with the local marine conservation society. The children will almost certainly enjoy scrambling around the rock pools after the tide has retreated and discover the various sea creatures that have been stranded by the outgoing sea. read more

Travel Tips For Peace of Mind

Travel Tips For Peace of Mind

Traveling should be about being carefree and having all the right things in place so that the trip runs as smoothly as possible. There are many things you can do before and after you travel to make things easier, and I wanted to make that the focus of today’s blog. Here are some of my best tips for keeping your peace of mind while travelling.

Carrying Less

Image via Flickr by Roitsch

It may sound counterintuitive, but carrying less is one of the best ways to make travel easier and better while keeping your sanity. The less you carry, the less you have to worry about — and the easier it is to carry around with you. Trust me when I say that lugging a huge bag full of stuff isn’t a fun experience, especially on a long trip! It’s also always a great idea to clean out your wallet before you go, so you only take the essentials with you, like cards and cash. Some things are better left at home because you’ll just worry about them otherwise. It’s an amazing feeling going to an airport with only a few cards and some cash. It even makes your travel experience nicer. read more