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Top 10 Travel Accessories for Women

Top 10 Travel Accessories for Women


Top 10 Travel Accessories for Women

The boom of the travel industry has paved the way for a boom in travel accessories of all shapes, sizes, and uses.

In fact, the amount of choice is almost overwhelming when it comes to kitting yourself out for travel.

From one travel and adventure brand to the next, who does it better and where do you even start?

But in today’s world, the ultimate set of travel accessories is centered on convenience, weight, and style. Travelling light and compact is always the easiest way to go, especially if you’re an adventurous or working traveler.

In this blog, we highlight 10 of the best travel accessories for women who want to keep things both convenient and stylish during their globetrotting!

Our Top 10 Travel Accessories For Women

When it comes to travel accessories, there are three major categories we recommend spending your money on:

  1. Luggage
  2. Electronics
  3. Airplane comforts

We have rounded up 10 essential items to consider for your next hop across the globe.

1. Fossil Crossbody Handbag

This is one of those travel accessories for women which doubles as perfectly convenient and perfectly stylish.

The Fossil Crossbody handbag is ideal for a night out on the town, during the day between sights and even as a small airplane bag for essentials.

The bag features two pockets which are both large enough to fit a cell phone, standard size wallet, a few makeup essentials and a small hairbrush.

It also features a convenient outside zipper, ideal for placing regularly used cards, boarding passes or passports.

2. An Apple iPad

The convenience of an iPad goes without saying. Take it with you on the plane, to coffee shops, to the beach and even to bed and stay on top of emails as and when needed.

It’s a handy travel essential as it can also double as entertainment for kids if you are traveling with little ones.

All you need to do is pre-load a bunch of games, movies, and shows to keep them entertained for hours.

Load holiday photos from an Apple iPhone onto your iPad, cruise the internet for reviews and recommendations and even Skype call home!

3. A Dual USB Charging Port

It’s always better to assume there won’t be enough USB charging points along your travels.

That’s why a dual USB charging point is one of the top travel accessories for women out there.

A dual USB charger in any other country can cost you a pretty penny too, so save your money and buy one before you embark on your travels!

These dual USB chargers are ideal for charging more than one device at a time while hanging out in airports, on long road trips and even long-haul flights.

4. The Vivitar Power Bank

Where have power banks been all our lives, right? The ultimate travel companion, aside from a dual USB charger, has to be the power bank.

Not much could be worse than discovering your phone or camera is about to die in the middle of a day of exploring.

The Vivitar Power Bank is able to charge not one, but two devices at a time and at double the speed!

Its slim size makes it easy to store in a day bag, your carry-on luggage or even a jacket pocket!

5. A Cashmere Scarf

Another one of the most super comfy and stylish travel accessories for women has to be a cashmere scarf.

The cashmere makes for a luxe, comfortable accessory to wear on long, cold flights, in chilly airports and fresh evenings out and about town.

Turn your cashmere scarf into a wrap around your shoulders if you have to enter a place of worship along your travels and need to cover up.

With a cashmere scarf, you have the ultimate travel accessory in terms of both comfort and style.

6. The Voyage Travel Pillow & Eye Mask

This unique travel accessory doubles as both a neck pillow and eye mask, ideal for those long-haul flights where sleep is a priority.

Typically, the Voyage 2-in-1 Travel Pillow is much smaller than your average travel pillow, allowing for a little more versatility as to where you place it.

7. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

Now, these may be on the pricier end of the travel accessory spectrum, but if you’re looking for pure solitude on your flight, these headphones are your ticket.

Invest in a pair of these or shop a range of outstanding quality headphones on HeadphonesAddict for the ultimate noise and sound management accessory.

8. A Ricardo Suitcase

If you’re past the age of lugging heavy backpacks, then the highly durable and oh-so-chic Ricardo brand suitcase is a great luggage option.

The hard-sided, spinner roll-aboard suitcase is also extremely lightweight, highly expandable and robust.

No need to worry about rough handling with your luggage, the Ricardo suitcase is renowned for its durability and can withstand a number of heavy blows.

This suitcase is worth the investment and will tide you over on your travels for years to come.

9. The Osprey Packs Pixel Port Daypack

This is the ideal daypack for compact carry-on luggage on flights and days about town exploring with friends or kids.

This Osprey Pixel Port Daypack is fully lined with fleece, so it’s perfect for storing fragile items such as laptops, iPads, and cameras.

It also features a number of handy zippers which are secretly tucked away, perfect for storing valuables out-of-sight in case of potential pick-pockets.

10. A Moleskine City Notebook

If you’re more of a DIY planner when it comes to travel, then this Moleskin City Notebook is an amazing travel companion.

This is the ultimate DIY guidebook of nearly any major city across the globe.

Each notebook features a map of the city you’re visiting, while it offers a bunch of blank pages to make notes on where you want to visit, eat and explore during your stay.

There are approximately 20 or more versions of the Moleskin City Notebook, covering popular cities such as Paris, New York, Milan, London and more.

Get The Content Your Business Needs

Turn to Article City for the ultimate platform for your business’s marketing content.

If you’re looking for expertly planned, written and flawlessly integrated content for your business, our team at Article City offers the best-of-the-best.

We offer content strategy, digital marketing and writing, visit Article City for more.

Business

7 Tips for Marketing Your Travel Agency

7 Tips for Marketing Your Travel Agency


7 Tips for Marketing Your Travel Agency

What is the point of a travel agency?

This is the important question that you have to answer with your travel agency marketing.

Many people are surprised to find out that travel agencies still exist. After all, with the internet, many vacations, hotels, and flights are booked online. Where would anyone need a travel agency?

However, the truth is that there are many reasons why travel agencies continue to be an essential part of the travel and vacation industry.

How do you arrange a trip to South East Asia, with a tour guide, a driver, all-inclusive catering, accommodation and travel insurance without the help of an agency?

With these 7 travel agency marketing tips you can demonstrate to the media and vacation-goers the crucial role you have to play in making travel an incredible experience.

1. Establish Who is Your Customer

You can’t design a marketing strategy without establishing who your customers are. This needs to go beyond simply demographic information, such as; male, young and high-earning. You need to consider what motivates your customers when they’re searching and planning travel.

Once you’ve determined who’s your customer, you can start to design your overall travel agency marketing strategy around this type of customer. This means everything from the design of your website, to how you develop your marketing campaigns.

2. Re-think the Design of Your Website

Let’s talk some more about website design. Your website is likely to be the first impression customers have with your travel agency, so make it count. Make sure your website is user-friendly with an appropriate design that appeals to your target customer.

It’s important to make sure your website can be accessed by smartphones and tablets, as well as, laptops and computers. If a user is unable to browse your site with ease, they probably won’t give you another chance.

Track the visits to your site using Google Analytics. This way you can monitor visitors number and how users interact with your site. This information is valuable for your travel agency, and you should adapt your marketing strategy in response to the data.

The final tip when it comes to your company website is to always remember to keep your website information and news up to date. There’s nothing worse than finding a company website with out of date information.

3. Use Social Media Effectively

Social media is an inexpensive way for travel agency marketing. You need to consider which social media platforms you’re going to use, and also, establish a strategy for targeting your potential customers.

There are many social media platforms to choose from, such as; Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. However, the most effective is probably Facebook.

Facebook is a great network for promoting your travel agency because so many travelers use it to share photos and videos of their experiences. Tag travelers in your posts and comment on their photos to drive traffic to your site. You can also create events to get users interested in your company.

4. Make use of Email Marketing

One of the smartest things you can do as a company is to develop a database of emails from potential customers.

All you have to do is include a “signing up” subscription form on your website to get the emails flowing in. You can further tempt visitors by offering an opportunity to subscribe to an email newsletter, this way you can communicate directly with your target customer.

A great newsletter means thinking carefully about how often you send out the email, what content to include and what to leave out, as well as, the overall tone. If you produce a good newsletter, you’ll have users sharing it on their social media accounts. This generates more leads and drives traffic to your site.

5. Profit From Online Advertising

Have you tried out Google Adwords and Retargeting?

While banner advertisements and pay-per-click advertisements have significant disadvantages, there is much to be gained from online advertising.

In contrast to promoting content and products that have no relation to your visitors, you can promote products that your visitors are actually interested in. This includes products related to travel such as design a postcard.

The only downside is that Google Adwords is complicated, you may require professional assistance to carry it out successfully.

6. Create Engaging Video Content

While reading content about travel and vacations can get you excited for your upcoming break, there’s nothing as effective as a video to really get you hooked.

Inspire your customers to explore new destinations by creating videos. Creating travel videos is an inexpensive way to engage your visitors in what your travel agency has to offer.

All you have to do is set up a Youtube channel and start to video. You can include anything from how-to-guides, customer reviews and examples of tours.

Make sure you keep them short and sweet. Plus, include subtitles so that users can view them on their smartphone whenever they want.

7. Start a Blog

People love reading blogs about travel. If you can create a blog that offers visitors valuable and unique information communicated in an interesting and engaging manner you can drive further traffic to your site.

Your blog can include guest posts by customers who have recently experienced one of your once in a lifetime tours, or vacation reps who have expert knowledge about a particular destination or activity.

Your blog should become a key part of your travel agency marketing strategy. And always end with a “call to action” to get your readers to research, plan or book with you.

Tips for Travel Agency Marketing

With these 7 travel agency marketing tips you can take the first step towards building your company’s marketing strategy. The competition in the travel industry is fierce, but with a smart and effective marketing strategy, you can make sure you pull in customers.

To learn more about how to run a travel-related website, check out our blog on writing for a travel adventure blog.

Entertainment

Planning a Borneo Adventure? Don’t Pack a Thing Until You Check Out This List of Travel Essentials

Planning a Borneo Adventure? Don't Pack a Thing Until You


Planning a Borneo Adventure? Don’t Pack a Thing Until You Check Out This List of Travel Essentials

Are you thinking about planning a Borneo adventure?

Taking a trip to the adventurous jungle of Borneo requires an extensive packing list. If you’re new to jungle packing, we want to help you put together a list.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to bring to the jungle.

Information on Borneo

The island of Borneo is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Aside from Greenland and New Guinea, Borneo is the world’s third largest island. The Island is divided into three countries, Brunei, East Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Borneo’s has an equatorial climate, which means there’s sunshine year round. The rainy season is from November to January. The northeast experiences monsoon weather during this time of year also.

The dry season typically lasts from May to September. Due to the large size of the island, climate varies throughout the territory.

Whenever you decide to visit Borneo, you could benefit from looking at TripADeal cheap travel deals.

Clothing

As with many islands located near the Ecuador, the climate is humid. For all visitors, it’s recommended they wear clothing that is lightweight and breathable made of cotton preferably.

In the humidity of the jungle, you’ll want to wear clothes that are easy to dry because you’ll be sweating. And you’ll also never know when the rain will come down.

Shorts and t-shirts are appropriate during the day, however, trousers can offer more protection against branches, insect bites, and leeches.

Don’t forget to pack swim trunks and a bathing suit.

Footwear

You’ll need a few different types of footwear. Bring hiking and walking appropriate shoes that are resistant to all types of jungle terrains. You also want to bring slip-on rubber shoes to slip on in the mornings and evenings.

As already established, the jungle is extremely humid, so you need to bring moisture absorbent socks. You might also need to bring leech proof socks.

Medical

It’s not easy to predict if you’ll get sick while on your Borneo adventure, but you should bring some basic medical essentials to treat mild conditions.

Pack over the counter painkillers to treat headaches. It’s also a good idea to bring altitude sickness medication and anti-diarrhea tablets.

You’ll also want to protect your skin from the elements. It’s necessary to pack sunblock for those long hiking trails. Also, pack SPF lip balm, and sunscreen to protect your face.

Additional items you’ll be glad you have are wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and insect repellant.

Female travelers should be aware of their tampons and pads. They won’t be able to dispose of them while in the jungle.

If you bring them you’ll have to carry them in Ziploc bags until you leave. An alternative for female travelers could be a menstrual cup.

Equipment

Your Borneo adventure will take you to the jungle, and there are no electrical plugs in the jungle. Since you’ll be taking awesome pictures, you’ll want to bring extra charged batteries for your camera. Bring a multipurpose watch you can use as an alarm and has a light.

Photography Equipment

  • DSLR camera (Depends on personal preference)
  • Camera Lenses
  • Waterproof camera bag
  • Additional memory cards
  • Backup charger or batteries
  • Waterproof camera for snorkeling (if applicable)
  • Power adapter

Trekking Equipment

  • Whistle (in case if emergency)
  • Multi-purpose knife
  • Camping cutlery
  • Torch

Remember that while trekking you’ll want to travel as light as possible. You can always assess the situation and decide what you can leave behind in the lodging.

Miscellaneous

With any trip, you can’t forget to bring your personal documents. Pack your credit card and don’t forget to inform the company you’ll be traveling to avoid your accounts frozen.

Don’t depend solely on plastic, remember that cash is king wherever you go. Try to bring enough currency for the entire trip and only use the credit card in case of emergencies.

Not only should you bring your original passport, but also bring copies of your passport and leave in your luggage. Having copies will speed up the process should your passport get lost or stolen.

Also, bring copies of your itinerary, flight confirmations, hotel reservations, and any others you think are useful.

You need to always be mindful of the environment, so anything you bring into the jungle should leave the jungle with you. Bring plastic bags to store your trash in your backpack and dispose of it after the trek.

Mount Kinabalu

Climbing Mount Kinabalu is a must for any Borneo adventure. It’s Borneo’s tallest mountain, and it’s located in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Visitors often climb to the top of Low’s Peak which stands 13,435 ft.

As you climb any mountain, you should know the weather is not the same when you begin the journey than it’s at the summit. You will need lightweight breathable clothing to start and transition to warm clothing as you trek the mountain.

If you want to climb Mount Kinabalu bring the following:

  • Waterproof windbreaker
  • Fleece Jacket
  • Cap, beanie, head scar, or balaclava mask
  • Waterproof Gloves
  • Hiking shoes with good grip (it gets slippery)
  • Trekking pole
  • Disposable Raincoat
  • Head Torch
  • Water
  • Chocolates, nuts, energy bars, any other high energy food

Dress Code Awareness

Whenever you visit a new place, you should always be aware of the dress code the locals go by. In Borneo, the dress code is fairly conservative, especially for females.

It’s important that female visitors keep their shoulders and knees covered. They should also make sure their tops are long enough to cover their midriff. Showing off cleavage should also be avoided.

For male and females who wish to visit a temple, they should wear long sleeves. And it’s also recommended to cover their hair.

The beaches and forest treks are more relaxed on dress code than the villages, but visitors should be respectful when they’re bathing in rivers. For female travelers, they should bring a sarong with them and avoid bathing in just their underwear.

Are You Borneo Adventure Ready?

Don’t forget to pack light breathable clothing on your trip to Borneo. We hope this list helped you with your packing essentials, and you enjoy your trip.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more, please visit us.

Entertainment

How to Use a Travel Log App to Capture Memories

How to Use a Travel Log App to Capture Memories


How to Use a Travel Log App to Capture Memories

If you want to make your vacation one to remember, you’ll want to do your best to put together some memories.

Those photos and videos of the family trip could be just what you need to remember some great times and share them with others.

One of the best ways to go about this is through a travel log app.

Such an app will make sure you have the nifty bells and whistles to keep all of those vacation memories.

With this in mind, let’s explore more about using these apps.

#1: Find The Best Travel Log App

The beauty of using a travel log app is that there are plenty to choose between.

When you’re looking to get started with them, put together a list of the ones that have the features that you need.

For instance, Google Trips is an app that allows you to plan out your trip, keep accurate notes and store your itinerary. Since it’s linked to Google technology, you’ll also have up to date info on hotels, places to eat, things to see and do and traffic patterns.

As you might guess, this is excellent to have in your pocket when planning a road trip across multiple states.

If you need to rent a vehicle, Turo is great in this regard. They point you in the direction of third-party car owners who lend their vehicles for rental.

Mile IQ is a great travel log app to keep as well since it logs your mileage automatically any time that you drive. Having this app is particularly important if you drive for a living — such as a commercial truck driver.

This app logs the miles so you can receive government reimbursement. Couple this capability with an app like Comfreight trucker load boards, and you’ll also be able to find freight jobs seamlessly.

#2: Make The Best Use Of Your Hard Drive Space

If you’re planning to use a travel log app when on the go, it’s best that you clear space on your phone for it.

Rather than just delete items, you’d be best served adding a large SD card. Photos and video files can get huge, so never rely on your phone’s built-in hard drive.

It may also be worth your while to sync to cloud storage so that you’re never worried about taxing your phone. Apps like Instagram keep photo and video files on your phone after you post, so you can also free up clutter when you have duplicates.

#3: Stay Prepared And Charged Up

Finally, the best thing you can do is keep some chargers and adapters handy at all times.

The most wonderful travel memories and information will be lost if your battery is dying. Today’s smartphones use a crazy amount of data, so you owe it to yourself to have a backup charger in place whenever these processes become draining.

Even when traveling abroad, bring some portable chargers that keep you in the game. The last thing you’d want is miss out on photos of Italy’s countryside because you let your phone die.

What travel log apps do you use? Leave us a comment below!

Entertainment

The Best Motorcycle Travel Routes in The World

The Best Motorcycle Travel Routes in The World


The Best Motorcycle Travel Routes in The World

Are you a motorcyclist with a passion for traveling the road on your bike?

People throughout the world enjoy riding motorcycles and having the experience with friends or family.

There are more than 4.12 million miles of roadway in the United States alone. This makes for a lot of opportunities to enjoy riding your motorcycle in different places. But when you look abroad, you will find some of the best rides in the world.

Read on to learn about the best motorcycle travel routes on Earth.

Ideal Motorcycle Travel Routes

Tail of the Dragon – North Carolina/Tennessee

Deals Gap is a mountain pass that runs along the Great Smoky Mountains.

It is at the North Carolina and Tennessee state lines where you will find the Tail of the Dragon. This winding portion of U.S. Route 129, takes you through the mountains and around some of the best scenery the country has to offer.

This 11-mile stretch of highway boasts 318 looping curves and is an exciting ride for motorcyclists.

Mae Hong Son Loop – Thailand

If you are looking for an international adventure for motorcycle travel, Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Loop is worth the trip.

The loop boasts more than 1,000 turns and motorcycle enthusiasts travel from all over to experience its unique bends. The roadway takes you past a lot of what makes Thailand such a popular tourist destination.

You will maneuver your way through the mountains, traveling past waterfalls, villages, and temples.

The Trail of Tears – Tennessee to Alabama

If you are a motorcycle rider who has an appreciation for historic rides, the Trail of Tears is one of the ride adventures for you.

The Trail of Tears is known in American history for being the path Native Americans traveled as they were forced west in the 1800s.

But today, motorcyclists and Native Americans gather to ride along this stretch of roadway as a way to honor those who were forced from their land.

If you want to ride on a particularly historic day, go on the third Saturday of September. Besides being great weather for a ride, thousands gather to make the trip down Highway 72 from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Waterloo, Alabama.

The Transalpine Route – France to Italy

How does a ride from Grenoble, France, to Venice, Italy, sound?

The Transalpine Route will take you from France to Italy, through the Alps, making it one of the most popular roadways in Europe, especially during the summer. If you have a lot of time on your trip, consider traveling the whole route – over 2,400 km. It will also take you through Switzerland and Austria along the way.

Besides the amazing scenery along the way and sharp turns, you will be treated to being in Venice, Italy when you reach the end of the route.

Wrapping Up: The World’s Best Motorcycle Travel Routes

Regardless of where you are in the world, there are unique roads to travel on your motorcycle.

Besides being outside and taking in the sights and sounds of nature, you also have the opportunity to see amazing buildings and historic landmarks.

Have you traveled through some of these destinations on your motorcycle? Have another spot that has been memorable for you that’s not on this list?

Comment below to tell others about your motorcycle adventures.

Entertainment

Crafting the Best Content for an Adventure Travel Blog

Crafting the Best Content for an Adventure Travel Blog


Crafting the Best Content for an Adventure Travel Blog

An adventure travel blog is a great way to fuel your passion for writing while exploring the world. There are so many benefits, it’s hard to imagine why everybody hasn’t started one.

Blogging is huge business. Although it’s difficult to know the exact number, it’s been estimated that there are currently over 440 million blogs worldwide. With this much competition, it’s no surprise that many get lost in the shuffle.

For an adventure travel blog to stand out, it must constantly feature killer content. Here are a few tips for getting started.

Be Consistent With Your Adventure Travel Blog

While it’s easy to get distracted with planning new adventures, it’s important to stick to a consistent writing schedule. Bloggers who stop posting for months at a time may be unpleasantly surprised to find that their readers didn’t sit around waiting for them. Internet users have short attention spans, and blogs that go stale are quickly forgotten.

Stay Inspired

It’s difficult for a travel blogger to come up with content while sitting at home on the couch. Booking frequent trips keeps you inspired and ensures you will always have new topics to fuel your blogging efforts.

Thanks to the convenient new service Barcelona Transfer QuickTransfer, travel bloggers no longer have to worry about wandering around cities looking for their destinations. This service, available in many countries worldwide, makes it easy to book a car online.

There’s something to be said about the confidence of knowing a professional driver will pick you up and deliver you directly to your chosen location.

Get Visual

Humans are visual creatures.

This is an important key to remember when crafting your adventure travel blog. While visiting foreign locations, always be on the lookout for unique and breathtaking photo opportunities.

When you craft your blog posts, be sure to integrate as many of these photos as possible.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Instead of photographing the same tourist attraction that is featured on hundreds of other sites, find a different perspective. Use candid photos of locals to capture the spirit of the location, play with lighting and angles, and take the time to go off the beaten path.

Integrate with Social Media

Instagram and Facebook are excellent ways to promote your adventure travel blog. This exposes content to a broader audience and allows readers to engage on whatever platform they’re most comfortable using.

An adventure travel blog that has a consistent following is much more likely to thrive.

When your fans are loyal and willing to share your posts, you’ve essentially created a marketing team who is willing to work for free. Keep creating killer posts, and there is always the chance of going viral.

Keep Up with the Latest News

Blogging is a craft that requires equal amounts of passion and technique. Writers who fail to sharpen their skills may find that they fall behind the pack.

Make sure your blog is the best it can be by following the ArticleCity blog for the industry’s best content marketing tips and tricks.

Entertainment

5 Key Tips for Starting a Travel Blog

5 Key Tips for Starting a Travel Blog


5 Key Tips for Starting a Travel Blog

According to a 2016 study, 88 percent of Millennials travel overseas one to three times per year. Eighty-six percent of them said their top goal is immersion in a new culture.

That means there is an eager market out there for insider travel tips and well-kept secrets that will take their trip to the next level.

If you’ve been considering whether to try your hand at travel blogging, there’s never been a better time to turn your passion into a lucrative career. Keep reading for our top 5 tips for starting a travel blog. 

Top 5 Tips for Starting a Travel Blog

1. Know Your Niche

Travel blogging has become a somewhat saturated market in the past few years. After all, getting paid to write about exotic locales is a dream come true for many jet-setters.  

That’s why it’s essential to know your niche before starting a travel blog. It’s not enough to simply write about your trips. You have to bring a fresh spin or new angle to the table to give your readers a reason to keep coming back to your blog—and not one of the thousands of others out there.  

Maybe you can turn your latest trek through South America into a series of reviews about the best Inca trail tours available. Perhaps you can turn your love of vegan cuisine into an international foodie blog for travelers with special diets. 

Determine your passion first, then stick to it in every blog post. 

2. Set up Your Site

Don’t skim over the details when it comes to your site set up. You’ll need to plan for the travel blogging career you want and make sure your site has the functionality to match your goals. 

Choose a hosting platform that’s easy to use and update. If you plan on selling products, make sure you can accept online payments. 

When you setup your domain name, take a moment to make sure it’s a good fit for your blog. It should be simple, descriptive, and easy to remember.  

3. Monetize

The next step is deciding how you want your blog to make you money. You may want to try out several different monetization options until you find what works for you. 

Affiliate Marketing

If you plan on promoting specific travel gear or other products, sign up for an affiliate marketing program. Every time one of your readers clicks your affiliate links and buys your featured products, you get paid. 

Sell Ad Space

Try reaching out to related travel brands to sell ad space on your blog. You’ll need a pretty large readership to entice some of the bigger names, so don’t be afraid to start small.

Create an eBook

Consider writing an eBook or creating another digital download you can sell on your blog. If you go this route, just be sure you can accept secure payments on your site. 

4. Treat Your Blog Like Your Boss

It helps to think of your blog as your job. Pick a specific time every day to designate as your time to work and stick to your routine. 

If you know you’ll need visuals to go along with your posts, remember to snap some pictures throughout your adventures. Jot down notes so you don’t forget business names and locations when it comes times to write. Plan extra excursions that will fit in with your themes and draw in new readers. 

5. Promote Your Work

Singing your own praises can feel a little strange to new travel bloggers, but it’s an essential part of the business. Afterall, if no one knows about your blog, it’s not going to make you any money. 

That means telling everyone you know about your blog. Cross-post everything on social media and tell people about it in person. Consider creating a digital marketing strategy and watch your readership really grow. 

ArticleCity can help you market your travel blog. We can create a strategy to grow your readership and earn you the results you need to keep traveling. Sign-up for a free account today to get started.  

Entertainment

How to Travel Like a Local in the Dominican Republic

How to Travel Like a Local in the Dominican Republic


How to Travel Like a Local in the Dominican Republic

We know what kind of traveler you are.

You bring the same appetite to street food as you’d bring to an upscale restaurant.

You’d rather find your way to the beach (or museum, shop, restaurant, etc.) yourself than go with a tour.

You’ll take a local’s advice over a guidebook’s every time.

Bottom line: You embrace local flavor. You want to travel like a local.

And you’ve picked the right place. The Dominican Republic offers some of the friendliest people, best food, most beautiful beaches, widest choice of accommodations and the most diverse range of activities in the Caribbean.

Here’s what you need to know to enjoy it all.

When to Go

There are no bad times.

June through December, roughly, is hurricane season, and some resorts close in October. But assuming no hurricanes, temperatures are steady, rooms are discounted and crowds are smaller.

March through July is shoulder season.

Santo Domingo on the southern coast will likely see frequent, brief rain that may continue into October. And days can get breezy. But temperatures are balmy. May and June will see partly cloudy days with an occasional afternoon shower.

Mid-December through February and the week before Easter constitute the high season, meaning higher prices and bigger beach crowds.

(Note that water sports are prohibited throughout the country during the week before Easter.)

What to Pay and Where to Stay

You’ll find accommodations in virtually every price range and category, from all-inclusive resorts and the Dominican Republic villas to hostels and budget hotels.

In the budget range, you can get by on about US$60 per person per day, including a hotel room or hostel for one person, meals, and transportation via local motorcycle taxis (motoconchos) and minibusses (guaguas).

In the mid-range, figure an average daily cost of US$110-$150, including first class bus transportation between cities and entertainment including guided tours.

With a luxury budget, average daily costs are typically north of US$200 for a luxury hotel or all-inclusive resort and upscale dining.

The local currency is the Dominican Republic peso, so don’t forget your currency conversion calculator.

And don’t be alarmed at the 28% service charge typically tacked onto your restaurant bill; it includes a 10% tip (though you can add more).

By the same token, hotels build in a service charge, although a couple of U.S. dollars per night for housekeeping will always be appreciated.

Where to Go and What to Do

Beaches

Most resorts have beaches. But in a country noted for its beaches, you can do a lot better with a bit of traveling.

The calmest waters are those on the south side of the island. The beaches at Punta Cana, La Samana, and Puerto Plata are on the Atlantic and the water is likely to be a bit rougher, especially between December and February.

Specifically, Boca Chica is a gorgeous, white sand beach just a few miles east of Santo Domingo. But its proximity to the city is also its biggest deficit, as Boca Chica tends to be very crowded with families from the city.

Juan Dolio beach a few minutes further east is quieter. And there are plenty of alternatives, including the beach at the small town of Las Terrenas, Cayo Levantado near the Bay of Samana (only accessible by boat), El Rincon beach and – for a gorgeous coral reef and great diving – Playa Cofresi.

Wherever you go, remember that on Sundays, accessible beaches are likely to be more crowded with locals.

But the Dominican Republic is about a lot more than just beaches.

The Capital

Santo Domingo is the country’s capital and cultural center. It features museums, parks, upscale restaurants and street food, music and nightlife.

The Colonial City is a particularly fascinating historic area.

And Malecon, the seafront promenade, is a great place for a drink at sunset at one of the many hotels, casinos, and restaurants facing the Caribbean.

Inland

Unlike some Caribbean destinations noted for their beaches, the Dominican Republic also features mountains and lush jungle.

Mount Isabel de Torres is notable for its spectacular city views and the cable car ride to the summit. There are also steep hiking trails if you’re feeling adventurous.

The Cascades of Damajagua feature a series of pools and waterfalls. The climb to the top is strenuous and you may require assistance. But the payoff is an exhilarating slide back down to the bottom.

Sportfishing is also a major pastime in the Dominican Republic, and multiple operators operate zipline adventures and canopy tours in the jungle.

Other popular activities include diving with whales, swimming with dolphins, kiteboarding, mountain biking and dune buggies.

Finally, if you really want to travel the Dominican Republic like a local, take some time to brush up on your Spanish, the national language.

And whatever you do, don’t forget to send us a postcard.