Adventurous Andrea

The Solo Female Travel Blog

Travel Tips

6 Tips for Avoiding Boredom When Traveling

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Traveling to a different part of the world can be exciting. Not only will you enjoy a change of scenery, but you could learn more about a different culture, try a new cuisine and make new friends at a destination.

Yet, there might also be days or moments when you feel bored or homesick. To ensure you have a superb time from start to finish, read the following six tips for avoiding boredom when traveling.

1. Bring a Book

Traveling on a plane or train for many hours can be more than a little dull. To ensure the time quickly passes by, take a good book with you, which will allow you to immerse yourself in a different world until you arrive at your destination.

Not only will it help to keep you entertained, but it could also help to alleviate travel sickness throughout the journey.

2. Play Games

Games are an ideal option if the weather takes a turn for the worst or you’re on a fun road trip with your friends. For example, the license plate game is a great car game, as you and your friends will need to spot plates from each state during your travels.

You also could bring along:

Each of the above games will help the hours to fly by at a hotel or when on the road.

3. Catch Up on the Latest News/Celebrity Gossip

If you want to find out more about the upcoming presidential race or want to know who is Jussie Smollett dating, grab your smartphone and catch up on the latest news or celebrity gossip. Not only will it occupy your mind, but it will also make you feel more connected to life back home.

4. Call Your Loved Ones

Got an hour to spare? Call your friends or relatives back home to find out how they are and express how much you miss them. Not only will your loved one feel valued, but it could also help to ease homesickness and boredom.

By checking in, you’ll be able to stay up-to-date on the latest news and happenings in your family or friendship group, which will make you feel more connected to your nearest and dearest on your travels.

5. Enjoy a Nap

Traveling to different destinations or embarking on many activities can be tiring. If you have a few hours to spare in your day or are traveling for many hours on a plane, take a nap to catch up on some much-needed rest and avoid boredom.

As a result, you will feel relaxed and refreshed once you wake, so you will have more energy for a lengthy road trip, physical activity or a late-night party.

6. Create an Itinerary

 

Banish boredom by creating an itinerary filled with fun activities and attractions. Outline every type of activity and landmark you want to visit throughout a trip, and aim to tick them off your bucket list, which will help you to remain busy and fend off boredom.

How to Match Your Helmet to Your Cruiser

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In most countries, wearing a helmet is mandatory, both for the rider and the passenger of the motorcycle. Wearing a high quality helmet while riding on a motorcycle helps protect you from fatal injuries in case of road accidents. Many would rather not wear a helmet because they want to feel the freedom of the wind blowing their hair. Wearing a helmet can be hot, stuffy, and uncomfortable especially during hot weather but it helps save permanent injuries and lives.

Majority of us know that wearing a helmet protects our head, brain, face, It is the responsibility of every motorcyclist to make sure that he or she wears a good quality helmet whenever riding on a motorcycle whether the requires it or not. There are different types of helmet designed and constructed for different types of ride. Motorcycle helmets are mainly classified into full face helmet, modular, open face, half helmet, off-road, and dual-sport helmets.

A full face helmet covers the top, back and front of the wearer’s head except for the eye port and it has a chin bar to protect the chin and the jaw. Choosing the right full face helmet depends on your riding position. A full face helmet with higher chin bar and the eye port angled slightly towards the top of the helmet are best suited for the hunched over riding position of sport riders. A full face helmet has special aerodynamics to prevent helmet lifting at high speeds and constructed with ventilation ducts near the top of the head to draw in air in a tuck position.

For cruisers or casual riders who usually ride their motorcycles with a more upright position, they need to find a full face helmet with a slightly different shape to match their ride. Full face cruiser helmets have lower chin bar, the eye port angled straight out, and more frontal air ducts. Cruiser helmets are designed to provide comfort and sound proofing. Some of these modern helmets come with add-ons such as Bluetooth, mps, rider-to-rider communications, etc.

Wearing a full face helmet with the visor closed will protect you from flying bugs or particles from hitting your face or eyes. Choose a full face helmet with adjustable ventilations to suit all weather conditions. The ventilations can be open to allow in air when riding in hot weather and they can be closed when riding in cold weather. Another thing to look for is the removable and washable lining or padding inside the helmet to avoid a smelly helmet.

If you are enjoying sunny weather most part of the year, then you will need to choose a cruiser helmet with visor that is of dark coloured lens to protect from the glare of the sun. Clear visors are suitable for those who prefer to cruise in the night. Another helpful feature is the built-in breath box to direct your exhalations away from the visor to avoid fogging your visor or a pinlock system having a second lens to create a double-paned barrier to prevent fogging.

When riding in cold weather, a full face helmet will keep the cold wind out and keep the warm in. Besides a full face helmet, motorcycle gloves will keep the motorcyclist  hands warm during winter months and also protect the hands and fingers from fatal injuries in case of a fall or accident. Motorcyclists will also need a good quality all weather riding jacket to keep warm when riding in the night or when the weather is cold or rainy.

Realistic budget tips for the savvy traveler

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If your thirst for adventure is restricted by the money in your bank account, don’t panic! You’re not the first person to dream of foreign lands while rummaging down the back of the couch for spare change, and you won’t be the last.

The problem is that travel is an essential part of the human experience, and we need it to be able to unwind our stresses and escape from the daily grind. If you have a yearning to see the world but money is holding you back, then these realistic budget tips might just help trim the fat from your holiday expenses.

Travel not tourism

There is a huge divide between being a traveler and being a tourist.

Tourists are going to spend their money on every tour, excursion, experience, and souvenir they can find. Prices inevitably go up when it comes to tourist proximity.

Travelers can reduce their budget easily by committing to the laidback life of a traveler. Pick your destination carefully, taking time to ensure that you are missing the most tourist-heavy seasons. Avoid that by going off the beaten track.

Save money when it comes to souvenirs as well. The internet makes it easy to get gifts no matter where they come from or where you are in the world, and by not buying for every aunt, uncle, and cousin, you’re saving money on both the gifts and the cost of getting them home. Also, remember that restaurants and bars in the center of tourist-heavy destinations are usually very expensive, so download some good travel apps and learn to eat like a local, and your budget will go a lot further.

Saving on Entertainment

While it’s nice to mentally picture yourself interrailing across Europe with lots of staring romantically out of the window and watching the world go by, the truth is that travel often has long periods where you’re just waiting for the next destination. That’s where your entertainment comes in. Those people who don’t have to worry about costs can usually rely on their Spotify and Netflix subscriptions, but if you want to reduce your costs, then you should cancel your subscription.

Don’t worry, you can still watch films and listen to music! Spend some time before leaving on downloading your favorite albums and tracks, which you can do easily by using YouTube and SoundCloud and a handy mp3 recorder PC that you can add to your phone, tablet, or laptop.

You can also use your Kindle to download a massive library of free books, meaning you don’t have to drag your copy of War and Peace around with you, as the weight of real books can add a lot to your luggage fees!

Sleep smart

One of the biggest costs when traveling is accommodation. Avoid hotels like the plague and your costs will go down very quickly indeed. Escape the astronomical fees that hotels are known for, and look instead at alternative options.

For those on a shoestring budget, hostels and Airbnb listings can be very cost-effective, although Airbnb is not available everywhere just yet. There are also resources for couchsurfing, and that will reduce your accommodation costs to zero! Obviously, if you’re visiting somewhere that is the home of friends or relatives, then make use of those as the ultimate budget-saver.

Whether you’re off to Asia, backpacking around Europe, or driving across the United States, always look for ways to reduce your budget. The tighter the control you have over your expenses, the more that you can spend on having fun!

How to Make the Most Out of Ecuador

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There are so many incredible places in the world to see, and so many amazing experiences to partake in. By not getting out of your country or even your continent, you are doing yourself a massive disfavor. There is a lot to learn about the world and the people within it, and sometimes those lessons need to be taught by countries thousands of miles away. That’s why you should make Ecuador your next trip. This amazing coastal country is small, easily accessible, and very diverse. It is the perfect introduction to South America, and full of life-changing experiences and activities to enjoy:

Tour the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are where rare and beautiful species flourish. It is also the destination that convinced Charles Darwin of his theory of evolution in 1835. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must to see for any traveler. Do be prepared, however, because the Galapagos Islands are not a playground for humans. While you can indeed visit them, there are tight regulations you must follow. For example, you can only go with small tours, can only visit certain areas of the islands, and you must at all times follow the organized pathways so as to not disturb the wildlife. This is very important to keep the area thriving and beautiful for all to enjoy.

Climb Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is one of the most famous (and active) volcanoes in South America. Visiting these snow-covered peaks and experience the stunning beauty of it for yourself is something that should be on everyone’s to-do list. The volcano itself hasn’t erupted in over 70 years, with its last significant eruption being more than 100 years ago. This has made Cotopaxi climbing tours quite popular, and definitely not an experience that you will want to miss.

Peruse Otavalo Market

Markets are always excellent to enjoy as a tourist because it allows you not only to experience the culture first hand, but you can also buy and bring home a variety of souvenirs. Unlike when buying a souvenir from an airport gift shop, picking up items from markets helps support the local communities. Try to invest in some truly beautiful pieces that highlight Ecuadorian heritage, and you will have a souvenir of a lifetime and help keep their culture alive and thriving.

Visit the Amazon

The Amazon is world renowned, and for a reason. It holds diverse wildlife that we to this day are still uncovering. It also produces 20% of the world’s oxygen, and, as a consequence, holds a lot of carbon dioxide as well. Visit the Amazon in Ecuador, and you can enjoy this massive and incredible jungle for yourself at what is considered to be one of the cheapest destinations to do so. Remember to be very respectful, learn about the Amazon and the people who live within it, and perhaps go home with more respect for it. If you go forth and support only rainforest certified products, then you can do your part to protect this important place.

Ecuador is a small country, but this only means that you can truly do and see everything that it has to offer. Whether you want to travel on a budget or in luxury, do so here, just remember to respect the wildlife and to do all you can to support local communities.