How To ended up being an Au pair as well as travel The world

ending up being an au pair was my gateway to the world back in 1998. I had no money as well as no experience traveling solo, however I was identified to discover a innovative method to begin my adventures. I’ve been an au pair 5 times now, in 4 different countries as well as gathered a great deal of info I will show you.

Becoming an Au pair is just one of the many travel jobs we’ve written about on this blog. We’ve likewise tried, evaluated as well as earned money from lots of online jobs (the finest of which was starting this travel blog which now totally pays for our travels). Don’t miss the extensive guides below to assist you make money online, on the road or on the side to ensure that you can travel longer!

Get Paid To compose Online: 99 publications That Pay as much as $5,000 / Article

How To Make money From Home: 11 profitable Side-Hustles You Can begin Today

How To Take Paid on the internet Surveys as well as Make money Today

How To Make money Online: The conclusive Guide

In this article, you’ll discover exactly how to ended up being an au pair, what you can expect to get paid, as well as some pros as well as cons of this type of travel job. 

Table of Contents
What Is An Au Pair?
What An Au pair Is Not
Benefits Of ending up being An Au Pair
Payment & hours Of Work
The Pay
How To discover an Au pair Position
My personal Au pair Experiences
In Conclusion

What Is An Au Pair?

The word au pair is a French term that implies “equal to”.

An au pair is typically a young female (although in some cases households are available to hold male au pairs) who wishes to travel, discover a new language, check out a new culture as well as delight in herself in a new country.

She will be held by a regional household as well as will be thought about as well as treated as part of the family, in exchange for a few hours of childcare as well as light home responsibilities each day.

Becoming an au pair is a cultural exchange.

Being an Au-pair in Thailand

What An Au pair Is Not

When searching for a hold family, make sure you thoroughly talk about what your responsibilities as well as obligations will be.

Some hold households exploit their au pairs, pushing them into doing long hours of work, particularly cleaning around the house.

You are not expected to care for the parents, clean up after them or iron their clothes. As an au pair, you’re there to care for the kids only.

I had an experience in London, where my hold mom asked me to iron her husband’s shirts, as she was feeling as well exhausted (she was pregnant). I agreed to do it once, although I discussed that it was not in my task description.

The next day she came with a bigger stack of clothes to iron, as well as the day after she desired me to do their laundry, which produced a dispute as well as I ended up leaving soon after. An au-pair is not:

A cleaning lady

Cheap labor

A maid 

 

 

Benefits Of ending up being An Au Pair

You most likely won’t’ ended up being rich by working as an au pair, however there are numerous benefits to the job. 

Therefore, it’s extremely essential that both celebrations (the hold household as well as the au pair) are satisfied with the plans they make.

Au pairs have all costs covered, so all of your pocket-money will be for you to utilize nevertheless you want.

Your hold household will offer you with 3 meals a day, a personal bedroom, potentially a language course, a public transportation pass as well as even cover your airplane tickets.

Make sure your hold household will cover the minimum legal requirements, however always seek a household who is prepared to go above as well as beyond with the perks.

Those are typically the ones who won’t try to exploit you.

Remember that for the families, having an au pair is very, extremely affordable. Nannies would expense them 3 times more, so don’t be timid when searching for great perks!

I ended up being an au pair since I wished to travel as well as had no monetary capability to do so. I was likewise thinking about improving my English skills, conquering some personal independence, as well as satisfying new people around the world.

Becoming an au pair seemed like the most rational method to begin as well as because then, I have never stopped traveling.

My bedroom in Switzerland with personal trampoline!
Payment & hours Of Work

Every country has its own policies as far as working hours are concerned.

Within Europe, an au pair typically works around 25-30 hours a week with a day off, typically on Sundays.In my experience, essentially all weekends are free, implying lots of time to check out your new hold country.

In the United States, an au pair is expected to work about 40-45 hours a week with a day off, as well as yes… you may only get someday off!

In both cases, you may be expected to babysit a couple of nights a week. This ought to be organized in advance with your hold family.

The Pay

As an au pair, you won’t have official legal condition as an employee, however rather, you’re thought about a short-term household member who receives pocket money.

Salaries vary a great deal depending upon which country you select to work in.

Some offer bit pocket-money as well as it practically doesn’t make any type of sense to work there, unless you truly want to experience that country as well as culture or discover the language.

Others, however, can be a bit much more attractive as well as you’ll be able to save as well as travel some more.

If you’re an au pair in the USA, you’ll get $195.75 USD minimum per week, in Canada you’ll get roughly $330 CAD per week, while in the UK, you can expect 80 – 85 GBP per week. Check this site for much more info on au pair wages.

How To discover an Au pair Position

There are numerous methods to discover an au pair position.

The many suggested (safe) method is with an agency, which will fee you a charge to match you with a prospective family.

The drawback of this is the fee. The upside is that the hold household is vetted by the company, as well as if things go wrong, you can modification hold families.

Have a look at recommended, reputable sites like Au pair world or Au Pair.com.

Sadly, the bad experiences I had came with hold households I discovered on company websites. And, in my experience, if you have issues with one family, the next won’t be so keen on hiring you. 

Another method to discover au pair positions is by browsing on forums, on the internet groups or on the internet companies that won’t fee a finder’s fee, or, you might put a little ad in a cafe, or regional newspaper as well as wait to be contacted.

The drawback of this, is not understanding if you’re being scammed or if you’ll be safe, so a great deal of previous contact, including Skype calls, is extremely recommended.

If you’re an active Couchsurfer, location an ad in one of the au pair groups. That’s exactly how I really ended up in Switzerland. I will be utilizing this technique from now on, as many households have a full profile, references, as well as people who have vouched for them, as well as hey… it’s free!

Back in 1999 with my American family
My personal Au pair Experiences

I’ve just completed my short-term au pair task in Switzerland.

I was lucky to have the very best hold household in the world as well as to be able to online in the most costly city in the world – Zürich- with ALL costs covered.

My hold mom paid my flights as well as drove me around, showing me amazing parts of Switzerland which I would most likely never believe of visiting.

She went above as well as beyond to make me feel happy. I had a personal master suite bedroom with a big balcony all to myself as well as views over the mountains as well as Zurich city.

While being an au pair in the USA I had a similar experience.

My hold household was fantastic as well as I really felt like part of the family. during this time, I had the chance to check out part of the east coastline with other au pairs as well as new friends.

In fact, my hold household as well as I ended up being such great buddies that I even returned a few times for short-term placements. Sixteen years after this experience, we’re still in touch as well as care for every other deeply….but things are not always so positive.

I’ve been an au pair in London twice, as well as both experiences were incredibly negative.

Curiously, many of my London-based au pair buddies were likewise having issues with their families. I’ve discovered that numerous British households tend to utilize their au pairs as inexpensive labor as well as ended up treating them as maids.

Most of my au pair buddies had incredibly impolite as well as disrespectful kids to offer with, as well as the parents always stood by their children’s side, producing a great deal of friction as well as conflict.

Exploring Zurich – Switzerland in 2014

In one more situation, I was about to pack my bags as well as fly to San Francisco, California for this summertime as an au pair.

There was a household who had been sending me invitations as well as things looked quite solid. I was incredibly excited, however all of a sudden they declined their offer since I’m a vegetarian.

This is why it’s so essential to exchange a great deal of emails as well as truly get to understand one one more before agreeing to an au pair job.

In Conclusion

Becoming an au pair can be one of the most gratifying as well as safest methods to travel the world while having essentially all of your costs covered.

This is likewise a fantastic choice for beginner solo female travelers who have a wanderlust bigger than life, however still feel insecure as well as anxious to set off into the world on their own.

I certainly suggest ending up being an au pair. It’s a fantastic method to make money, satisfy new people as well as discover about different cultures.

Author’s Bio: Yara Coelho exchanged the comforts of house 16 years ago, for a life on the road. She has been traveling the world mixing a like for vegetarian food, alternate living, as well as low-impact traveling. She’s is the author of travel as well as inspiring blog, Heart of a Vagabond. 

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EXPECTATIONS: exactly how TO never BE dissatisfied

Posted: 11/29/2012 | November 29th, 2012

I woke up in a haze. “Why is my iphone screen cracked? Did I break it while I was sleeping?” half awake, I looked closer. No, not broken, just a deceptive-looking black-and-white album cover. I was just groggy, confused, as well as somewhat stupid from the few hours of sleep I had gotten.

I opened the window shade as well as looked out. The sky was altering from black to a rainbow of colors as the sun ushered in a new day… one more welcomed from 35,000 feet.

As breakfast came, I emerged from my airline blanket cocoon, as well as the realization hit me: in less than a day, I’ll be in Africa, a continent I had put off going to for long time.

Since I made the statement about my trip, the very first concern everybody asks me is “Are you excited?”

”No, not yet,” I would say.

Seeing the frustration in their eyes at an response that didn’t communicate overflowing exuberance, I would always add a caveat:

“Yes, of program I am excited. I’m going on safari!!!! But, with so much to do beforehand, I just haven’t had time to wallow in that feeling.”

* * *
I keep in mind when I very first went away in 2006. before I left, my trip was the only thing I would talk about: where I was going, what I was going to do, as well as the adventures I would have. Back then, my exuberance was overflowing.

And then I left.

Days went by as well as I felt no different.

In my mind, this trip was going to be life-altering. It was going to modification whatever — inside as well as out. as well as it did, however not right away. as well as while I wouldn’t modification the path I’ve taken to this moment in my life, I still keep in mind that disappointment… frustration born of expectations produced by naïveté.

We all bring the scars of the past. Each memory is like a weight we knowingly, or sometimes unknowingly, drag with us with life.

And, as I sat huddled in my airline blanket eating one more cardboard-tasting airline breakfast, I couldn’t believe about exactly how I still bring that scar from my past.

Now, before trips, instead of jumping up as well as down, I shut them out of my mind. Yes, I’m excited for Africa. Yes, I was super excited for Japan. however as the Buddha said, without any expectations come no disappointments.

Maybe it’s all those movies I watch or just an overactive imagination, however I develop up trips in my mind to the point where what I believe will occur never matches what really does. as well as while what does occur is always amazing, it becomes less incredible when determined against the expectations in my mind.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve coincidentally discovered a great deal about expectations. Buddha was right: they lead to nothing however disappointment. frequently when we have the greatest expectations, we experience the biggest disappointments.

To many, it seems weird that I would stay so stoic as well as nonchalant about such an legendary trip. “Yeah, I’m going to Africa,” I would say, as if it was no huge deal.

But it is a huge deal, as well as while Toto’s “Africa” has been on repeat on my iPod, I understood providing as well much believed to this trip would just enable my creativity to get the very best of me as well as produce a false set of expectations.

I will believe about Africa when I land in Africa.

I will take it as it comes to me, unfiltered as well as raw.

Because there’s only the moment you’re in, as well as when you just enjoy it of what it is, not what you expect it to be, it can never disappoint you.

Related articles on travel expectations:

Why Do We Travel? endless Opportunity!

Getting scared as well as excited around Again

Losing the question of Travel

 

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Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
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Book Your Accommodation
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Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer thevery best service as well as value are:

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10 suggestions to improve Your travel blog design

design plays a very essential role in the way we consume information, especially when it concerns travel blogs where the audiences are searching for particular information in a timely manner. With a well-designed travel blog, the audience can get the information in seconds which in turn will form a practice of going to the site much more often.

On the other hand, a poorly developed travel blog can leave the audience confused, forming a bad opinion and abandoning your blog altogether.

According to the research, your audience will look at the visual appeal of your travel blog and form an opinion as rapidly as within 500 milliseconds after the page loads! Unfortunately, many travel blogs do not prioritize design in their early stages, and as the blog grows, the design is often put on the back burner and forgotten altogether.

No matter how interesting and distinct your content is, if your audience is not fond of the reading experience your travel blog offers, they will not hesitate to leave your site and switch to other alternatives.

I have been working as a freelance user interface designer for much more than 10 years now, and I have recently experimented with redesigning my own travel blog BucketListly.Blog and learned a lot about how to create a great reading experience.

☞ See Also: travel jobs – A list of 101 jobs You Can Do Remotely

Today I’ll share with you the top 10 many essential design suggestions you can apply to improve the reading experience of your travel blog.

1. Simplify Your Navigation

As I discussed before, it’s essential that your site offers the information your audience needs as fast as you can and by having a easy and clear navigation, this will allow your audience to be able to jump around and explore your site easier.

Limiting your navigation structure to be no much more than 2 levels, with easy and clear labels that are available at the top of the page is one way to simplify your travel blog. Also, according to Google, the depth of your content can identify how well your articles rank. If it takes one click to get to a page, then Google would consider the page much more essential than others that take two or three clicks to get to.

Want to learn How To start a travel Blog?  We can show you how in just a few minutes and to get you started, we’ll send you our 4-Part Beginner blogger video course & our 200-page blogging ebook for free! Click here to learn more.

2. Content-Focused Layout

If you arrive on a page and your eyes go automatically to something else other than the content, then the site owner is doing it wrong. travel blogs live and die by their content and it’s essential to pick a layout that focuses on the content instead of other unrelated things like marketing or ads.

The best layout for the content is the single column layout seen here on Goats On The Road. The content is front and center, easily digested with practically no distraction. There is no need for the user to think about where the content is. They see the page and they know immediately where it is.

The two column layout is also acceptable with the content on the left and a sidebar on the right. If you choose to go this way, make sure that the content column is considerably bigger than the sidebar so you don’t confuse the audience.

I found that the content area with the minimum width of 800px or much more to a 300px sidebar is a good balance that gives the content center stage while leaving some room for the sidebar.

3. optimize Images

More often than not, your travel blog will be available from a mobile phone through limited mobile data and because travel content are often heavy on images, it’s essential that you optimize your photos correctly before you submit them so your post will load faster and you don’t waste the audience’s limited mobile data.

You can optimize your images through 3rd party services like TinyPNG or Optimizilla before you submit or you can do it manually with Adobe Photoshop if you need much more control over the settings. the most optimum settings I found is to convert the photos to JPEG with 60% quality. The quality may vary depending on the type of photos you have so feel totally free to try out the number.

4. lazy load Everything

Lazy load is a design pattern typically used by sites with heavy content to defer initialization of images or iframes until the point at which it is needed.

As discussed above, mobile data and speed are precious to your audience and due to the nature of the travel content, you ought to lazy load all your photos, Youtube videos and Google Maps embeds in purchase to not waste your server resources and the audience data, and in turn speed up your travel blog’s initial load time immensely.

To execute this on your travel blog, you will need a little javascript development skill or a web developer to help you with. A plugin I would recommend is Verlok’s lazy load script which is easy to implement, lightweight and powerful.

☞ See Also: 10 totally free WordPress Plugins Every travel blog ought to Have

You can take it a step even more like I did with BucketListly blog by combining lazy load with small placeholder images and “srcset” attribute.

This is how it works: You will need 3 versions of the same images, one for placeholder (20 pixels broad with 20% quality), one for the mobile version (500 pixels broad with 60% quality), and the original photo.

When the page first starts loading, a placeholder version will be loaded first as a placeholder and the original image will be loaded only when your audience scroll to it. If you want the images to load a smaller version depending on your audience screen size, you can use the srcset characteristic on your image HTML label by putting the mobile version of the image inside the srcset attribute. You can learn much more about srcset here.

5. easy access to the search Button

The search feature is one of the most essential features a travel blog could have. When your audience arrive on your blog and they couldn’t find what they want on that page, the next thing they will do is to look for a search button to dive down further.

More often than not, they will look for it up at your navigation bar and If they couldn’t find a search button, they will many likely leave your site so be sure to have the search feature ready at the top of your page sitewide.

6. improve Your Photography

I took this when I was hiking the Balcon Sud trail in the French Alps.

You can improve your audience reading experience by upping your photography game. visual aids are a big component in a travel content and with well-framed photos to accompany your blog post, the audience will much more likely to engage with that post if they like the photography in it. After all, we humans are visual creatures.

Blurry, low-quality photos may give the impression that your content is low quality so don’t let that hinder your storytelling.

7. Don’t Sacrifice design Over Marketing

I have seen too numerous bloggers make the mistake of sacrificing good reading experience with numerous annoying popups and banners for the sake of marketing. the most common mistake I see is when I arrive on a page, searching for a particular information and a full-page popup appear asking me to subscribe to their newsletter even before I had a chance to read the content. That is a sure way to lose an audience.

It’s best to avoid using any kind of marketing techniques that get in the way of your audience and the content they are looking for.

8. keep fancy fonts to a Minimum

Having a fancy font as part of your blog design is a great way to make your blog stand apart from the generic ones, but don’t overuse it. I’ve seen numerous travel blogs that went above and beyond with the fonts, making it practically impossible to figure out what the blog post was about due to the poor legibility of the font they used.

Keep fancy fonts to a minimum. A good guideline of thumb is if you want to use fancy fonts, limit it to one and use it on the big headline only. choose a much more legible font for your content like open Sans or Helvetica for a better reading experience.

9. structure Your content Consistently

When creating content for your travel blog, make sure that you have a clear structure in your mind and use the best style to reflect it consistently throughout your blog.

A title ought to look like a title with the most popular font size, weight, and colors. same goes for the header text with a smaller font size than the title and same bold weight whereas the body text ought to have the smallest font size and a normal font weight.

If you know some HTML, a good guideline of thumb is to use H1 label as the title, H2 as the subtitle, H3 as a headline, H4 as a sub-headline and P for paragraphs.

10. limit Floating Content

As discussed before, your audience is likely to arrive at your blog from a mobile phone and with such a limited screen real estate, it would only annoy your audience much more if you have a floating box covering 15% of the screen.

Consider this, if you have a travel blog with a fixed top navigation bar, you are already taking up 15% of your audience screen real estate, andif you chose to put ads at the bottom that takes another 15%. This implies you are only leaving only 70% of the screen for your content. If you add a landscape size image, this might take up 50%, and then you’ll leave no room for your audience to read anything unless they scroll down past the photo.

This just creates unnecessary inconvenience to your audience. keep your mobile audience in mind and limit floating content on your travel blog.

Are you running a travel blog as well? how numerous of these techniques have you applied on your blog? Did I miss anything from the list? share with us in the comments below so we can help each other make the travel blog industry a little prettier.

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Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This implies we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

HOW TO develop YOUR own TABLETOP GAS terminate PIT FOR YOUR BALCONY

Mirroring the swirl of the wine in our glasses, the flames from our new terminate pit lick the air, comforting light flickering around our balcony. Here’s exactly how to make your own terminate pit for your balcony or veranda.

So we’ve developed our own gas terminate pit for our balcony. however what began as a whim to cannibalise bits from my old damaged barbeque turned into a full-scale diy project.

Ever since we visited buddies in San Diego who had a bit tabletop terminate pit on their balcony, we’ve desired one.

So when my old Gasmate barbeque lastly died after 15 years of faithful service, I wondered if any type of parts of it might online on. In reality, the only piece I might salvage was the hose as well as regulator, however this ignited (sorry) a job that was surprisingly fun as well as easy.

And extremely satisfying.

How to develop your own balcony terminate pit

I discovered a business called simple terminate Pits, based in Florida, that make as well as ship every imaginable product you requirement to develop your own terminate pit.

They have kits you can buy that takes the believing out of it or you can buy private parts as well as put your job together yourself.

They likewise ship around the world truly really quickly.

Here’s what you need:

– 1 big outside plant pot huge sufficient to hold a gas canister
– 1 LPG gas bottle – obviously!
– 1 wooden board at least 5cm bigger than the top of the pot to act as a lid
– 1 aluminium pizza tin or metal bowl
– Your option of terminate pit set from somewhere like simple terminate Pits

Here’s what you do:

1. Drill holes in the centre of the wooden top as well as pizza tin (you may requirement a Dremel for the tin), as well as one more hole in the side of the pot.

2. Assemble the set as well as link it to the gas canister, then connect the burner to the wooden top as well as pizza tin.

3. put the canister in the pot as well as repair the on-off key with the hole in the side. put the lid on as well as you’re set.

Easy terminate Pits set as well as parts

We didn’t end up getting a full set from simple terminate Pits. We already had the regulator as well as hose from our old barbeque as well as the kits they offer don’t include a burner – they offer them separately.

We ordered the things we couldn’t quickly discover in Australian hardware stores.

But if you don’t want to fuss around, simple terminate Pits can send you whatever – as well as it shows up really, truly quickly.

There seem to be rather a few diy terminate pit business in the States, however this was the only one I might see that would definitely send parts to us.

Here’s what we ordered

1. The burner
I ordered this from simple terminate Pits as it’s specialised for utilize as a terminate pit. I looked into repurposing other kinds of burner however none seemed to work. this is made with marine-grade polished stainless steel so it won’t corrode or rust.

We ordered the 6” burner, which was the right size for our project. You can get all type of sizes, shapes as well as styles from these guys though.

2. To link the burner to the gas hose
I ordered a completely threaded 4” fitting – I likewise bought two threaded 2.5” washers that hold the burner in place. You can buy these completely assembled, however it’s about $8 cheaper to buy each part individually for some reason.

3. A 90-degree 3/8” male flare 1/2” female pipe fitting
This goes from the larger threaded fitting in the burner to the gas hose as well as is the only method to link the larger gauge pipe to the gas hose, which is smaller. You can likewise buy these as directly pieces.

4. A high-pressure gas hose
This goes from the burner to the adjustable tap. I most likely would have been able to discover one in Australia, however it wasn’t costly as well as I understood this would definitely fit. It likewise saved me a trip to the shops.

5. An adjustable key valve, key as well as cover
Probably the most important piece, this means we’ll be able to shut off as well as change the flame quickly from outside the pot. There’s just nothing such as this currently available for sale in Australia that we might find.

I likewise bought two 3/8” male flare x 1/2” female pipe adaptor ends, which connect the adjuster to the gas line. These were already taped as well as fitted to the adjustable valve, which was extremely kind.

Buying private parts instead of a set most likely saved us about AU$100 however took a bit more time to work out.

Shipping

Wow! We were truly impressed with exactly how quick simple terminate Pits got this stuff to us.

The terminate pit devices shown up in Australia from the specifies in record time. We ordered it on the internet on Monday (so technically Sunday lunchtime for the us east Coast) as well as it shown up in Sydney via Hawaii on Thursday – just four days later!

Stuff we’ve bought on the internet domestically has taken longer than that.

Putting whatever together took actually five minutes. It was truly easy. as well as the book that includes the parts is truly useful too.

The trickiest part of this job was discovering a pot huge sufficient to hold a gas storage tank that wasn’t ridiculously expensive. We discovered ours at flower Power as well as it fits a 4kg cylinder. Also, drilling into developed concrete is a bit of a challenge.

Thanks to our brother-in-law David – the guy with all the tools as well as know-how – this was even easier than we believed it would be.

We likewise ended up utilizing a silicon filler to seal the adjustable key into the pot… however very first we had to dry the pot completely.

For the other parts – the pizza tray we got from a catering shop as well as the wooden board is a repurposed serving platter from Pottery Barn. We’re likewise looking into getting a glass cover to in shape round the burner to protect it from the wind, however all in great time.

As we sit back as well as admire our work, we’re transported to those balmy SoCal evenings with our buddies in San Diego. It’s like travelling without moving.

Please inspect with regulations in your state, area or region for guidance on fire pit construction.
We were not paid or compensated by anyone to compose this story. whatever you see right here we paid for as well as sourced ourselves.

FLYING AT 35,000 FEET WITH HEATHER POOLE

Updated: 10/25/19 | October 25th, 2019

I first met Heather Poole at a travel blog conference. I had been reading her blog for a while (she writes about life as a flight attendant) as well as we got along well. Recently, she published a book, Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, team Drama, as well as crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet, about life as a flight attendant. I, ironically, picked it up at an flight terminal as well as read it on a plane. She found time at 35,000 feet to talk about her job as well as book.

Nomadic Matt: You’re a flight attendant. What’s that like? a
Heather Poole: even though the job has changed a lot over the years, it can still be a lot of fun. however patience is a must, a lot more so than ever before. flight attendants are the face of the airline, as well as passengers have a tendency to take things out on us, even if what happened is not our fault.

Besides being friendly as well as outgoing, we likewise have to be able to adapt to modification easily. This is why we always have backup plans A, B, as well as C, since there’s always something bound to go wrong in the airline industry: mechanicals, delays, cancellations. They happen. even on Christmas Eve. If there are kids at home, this can be one of the most difficult aspects of the job.

Flight attendants likewise are very independent. It’s not uncommon to meet a coworker for the first time on a trip as well as then not see them once again for a few months, maybe even years. the best part about the job is when we step off the airplane; we always leave the anxiety of the flight behind. Every flight is a new flight, which indicates each day is a new adventure.

How typically do flight attendants work? Do they fly a lot of the same routes over as well as over again?
Our schedules typical around 85 hours a month. however don’t let the number deceive you. That’s flying time only. a lot of flight attendants work way a lot more than that. Time on the ground doesn’t count toward our pay as well as as a result isn’t included in our monthly schedules. This is why we want to spend as much time as possible in the air, not hopping from city to city with lots of time between flights on the ground.

Airline seniority figures out the kind of trip a flight attendant can hold. This describes why a lot of international long-haul flights are staffed with senior crews. once we have enough seniority to hold a good trip, it’s the only trip we’re going to work until we’re senior enough to hold an even much better one. schedules are set up with a day or two off between each trip, however lots of of us will “trip trade” with other flight attendants to work a few trips in a row in buy to maximize our time off on the ground.

Any hint on the airline you work for?
One of the huge ones.

What did your coworkers think of you writing this book?
I don’t know that a lot of of them even know I’ve written a book. as well as if they do know, they probably just presume I’m still writing it. I’ve been talking about writing this book for years!

Did your airline know, as well as were there any type of restrictions placed on you?
I didn’t ask for their authorization to write the book, as well as I definitely didn’t call anyone up at headquarters to make an announcement about it either. flight attendants learn to lay low very early on in their careers. however I’ve been blogging about flying for a long time. I’m fairly specific they know who I am. just keep in mind my book is not an airline exposé. It’s about what it’s like to be a flight attendant.

It doesn’t really matter who we work for; the job is pretty much the same wherever you go. plus half of the book takes place on the ground, since it’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. That’s what I set out to write about. Plus, there are so lots of misconceptions about flight attendants I made a decision to set the record straight.

What is one really juicy story you left out?
One story that got deleted was about a star who claimed to have magical powers after a passenger fell unconscious. To this day, we still don’t know if it was his magical powers or the spouse who kept nudging his partner in the arm in an effort to make her come to as well as see the star he was excitedly talking about that made her get consciousness again.

With so lots of changes to the airline industry over the years, would you recommend that someone ended up being a flight attendant?
It’s a terrific job for someone who hates the idea of working a 9-to-5 job. however it’s not easy in the beginning. Our living conditions are pretty extreme. This is why so lots of flight attendants either last a lifetime or just a few weeks.

Has the job gotten worse over the last few years since of all the problems in the airline industry?
Of program it’s gotten worse, just like lots of other jobs in America.

Most people don’t know that flight attendants start out making $14,000-18,000 USD the first year.With cutbacks, they’ll be making less! So not only do we make less, we’re working much longer hours followed by shorter layovers. think 8-10 hours at an flight terminal hotel on domestic routes. mix in a delay, as well as there’s barely enough time to eat, sleep, as well as shower.

That said, I’m still flying as well as I don’t feel like quitting — yet. once I can no longer manipulate my schedule the way I want/need to is the day I might have to say buh-bye. I dread that day.

In the book, you talk about how new York City is your “base,” however I know you don’t live in NYC. how can a flight attendant be based somewhere they don’t live?
Instead of driving to work, we take a plane to work. It’s called commuting, as well as it’s getting harder as well as harder to do these days. I once saw two flight attendants come to blows over the one as well as only jump seat on the last flight out.

Between trips, we stay at a “crash pad.” instead of paying for a room, we pay for a bed. often we’ll even share the bed (not at the same time!). Commuters indicate business. We’re in as well as out as swiftly as possible. The name of the game is to get as lots of flying hours in as we can in a short amount of time, so we can fly back home as well as take pleasure in a stretch of days off before we have to do it again.

Are a lot of people getting into the profession these days?
In 2010, Delta announced an opening for 1,000 flight attendants. Over 100,000 people applied. these days it’s much harder to find work with an airline now that being a flight attendant is considered a career, not just a job. Turnover isn’t as high as it once was, as well as competition has gotten fierce.

In your book, you talk a lot about the problem in dating as a flight attendant. As someone on the step a lot, I can relate to that. Do lots of flight attendants have problems dating? Do they all end up with pilots?
It’s hard enough taking care of an unusual job without finding a partner who can offer with it. This is why so lots of relationships end up crashing as well as burning after someone in the relationship becomes a flight attendant. since it’s either quit or break up.

Then of program once you find someone, it takes twice as long to realize that person might not be ideal for you due to the fact that we’re not on the ground as typically as regular people. as well as then there are those who want to date flight attendants just since it’s much easier to juggle multiple partners when one of them isn’t home half the time.

As for pilots, we tend to either love them or hate them, maybe a little too much! To be fair I’m pretty sure the same thing can be said for the way they feel about us.

If you might tell people three things on how to behave on a flight, what would they be?
Be nice. Be nice. Be nice. We’re all in the same boat — er, plane — together. wait until we’re safe as well as sound on the ground if you need to freak out.

Any ideas for getting an upgrade from coach?
Do people still think there’s a possibility of that happening? Don’t get me wrong, miracles do happen, however not often. Flights are full, as well as frequent fliers know exactly where their name is on the list these days.

What’s the secret to at least getting an extra meal or complimentary drink?
Very rarely do we have extra meals on board. In first as well as business class we’re normally catered ideal on the money.

In coach, we barely have enough to serve half a plane full of passengers who are ready to purchase food. as for complimentary drinks, flight attendants have been known to comp drinks to passengers who help out by doing great things like switching seats so a family can sit together.

You can find out a lot more about Heather Poole on Twitter or at heatherpoole.com. You can find her book, Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, team Drama, as well as crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet, on Amazon.
 

Book Your Trip: Logistical ideas as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine since it searches web sites as well as airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will secure you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it lots of times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class as well as you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

EMBRACING CHANGE: health and wellness SCARES, RETIREMENT, as well as travel

Posted: 12/10/17 | October 12th, 2017

We have such a big neighborhood as well as I like sharing everyone’s story. I believe highlighting a range of perspectives as well as experiences assists influence so lots of of us! This month we’re featuring Donella as well as her husband.

After her other half had a health and wellness frighten a few years ago, they made a decision to stop waiting, lastly offer their stuff, as well as head on the road. As a lot more as well as a lot more adults think about a “nomadic” retirement (especially right here in the U.S. where it wasn’t always so common), I wished to interview them as well as have them share their advice.

Nomadic Matt: Hi Donella! thanks for doing this. tell everybody about yourself!
Donella: We have been increasing kids as well as grandkids for the past 30 years in South Florida. now at 58 years of age, as well as with my other half retiring at 65, we made a decision to offer our house as well as take off to see the world.

I was a divorced single mom of two when I very first satisfied my husband, who was working in the building of the healthcare facility where I was employed. He hesitated for five weeks before lastly getting the guts to ask me out. When he did, he said, “If I like you, I am going to marry you!”

That was his proposal, as well as a few months later we were married. He has been a marvelous provider, father, as well as grandfather these past 30 years.

Fifteen years into our marriage he experienced renal failure, as well as the physicians did not expect he had sufficient life left in him to get a transplant. They asked me to prepare for his funeral, which I did. It was a nine-year journey up until we got a phone call late one night in 2008 that they had a kidney offered for him.

Since that time you would never understand by checking out him that he had ever been ill a day in his life. It was genuinely a miracle!

How did you get into travel?
For a number of years now, I have had the desire to travel, which has been a dream of mine before marriage as well as children. My other half was never keen on the concept up until one afternoon last year he said, “Let’s do this!”

The next day I began to sell, donate, as well as provide away (almost) whatever to ensure that the day we moved we wouldn’t requirement any type of trucks. I called a realtor, as well as our house offered within 24 hours for a lot more than we were asking. We were able to drive away with whatever we had in our two vehicles. My other half was a bit shocked exactly how swiftly everything occurred when he agreed to go!

Did you as well as your other half take a great deal of trips before this huge one?
Over the past 30 years we only went to see household in Tennessee, North Carolina, as well as Delaware, though we likewise explored areas on the way, such as Savannah as well as Charleston. I checked out Texas commonly to see my brother, Puerto Rico to see our son, as well as California to see our daughter.

We are going to continue to see household as we check out the country as well as travel abroad however take a lot more time to see things that we have only checked out about. We have discovered so much about the world in travel blogs, as well as we want to experience that.

Tell me about your present trip. After you offered your house, what happened? Where did you go?
As soon as our home was offered we discovered a lovely beach bungalow in Juno, Florida, directly across from the beach. never in our wildest dreams did we ever envision ourselves being able to online so close to the ocean. We saved just sufficient things to utilize to online here.

We’ve generally done what we discovered on the internet from the nomadic community: online with less as well as take pleasure in your surroundings. Our lease right here is only up until the end of the year; in the meantime, we are getting our van gotten ready for full-time camping around the country next year.

This past March we took a long trip to Andalucia in Spain, which was the very first time my other half had ever traveled to Europe.

We went to take pleasure in however likewise to look into living there the next time we visit. We will do generally the exact same thing: discover a little area to ensure that we are able to take the time to travel to other countries as well.

What influenced this present life change?
My child told me that my granddaughter was speaking about traveling when she grew up. In an instant, it restored all the memories of my own plans at that exact same age. That rekindled the stimulate in me from my own childhood.

Traveling was the method I grew up with my own parents, who were nomads in the ’50s as well as ’60s. I grew up in North Africa, Europe, Britain, as well as the united states all before the age of 10. My daddy continued traveling the united states up until he passed away.

My mom continues to travel theus as well as Europe while residing in Spain. It’s in my roots, as well as I long to see new locations as well as revisit other locations that I have seen as a child. Sharing this with my other half seems like a dream come true.

Did people state you were crazy when you stated you were setting off to travel the world?
We were shocked at exactly how lots of people have been so ecstatic to enjoy us begin this journey. There are likewise people who look at us keeping that deer-in-the-headlights look, since they can’t envision living life without their houses as well as their stuff. I get that as well as don’t truly believe this is for everyone, however it is absolutely for us.

Has your husband’s health and wellness been an problem at all? What precautions do you have to take?
My other half is in great health and wellness now however he still needs blood work routinely as well as anti-rejection medicine. We made a decision to discover a different doctor, one who would be a lot more easily accessible in situation of an emergency. She will be able to buy blood work anywhere we are as well as get the results.

We will continue to return right here to South Florida when a year for his follow-up. When traveling to Europe, we gotten travel insurance, as well as the expense was reasonable.

Is it simple to see a physician overseas? exactly how do you manage medication? have you ever had to get a prescription filled on the road?
Our physician right here in the specifies made sure my other half had all the medications needed for our trip. We contacted a physician in Spain who stated they would be able to compose prescriptions if needed. between the two physicians we felt my other half was in great hands, together with the travel insurance coverage we bought for our trip there. We haven’t had to fill any type of prescriptions while traveling, however our physician states it would not be a problem.

What are your future travel plans?
Once my husband’s work commitments are complete, we plan to leave right here as well as online on the road. In the meantime, this autumn we are planning a road trip with Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, as well as Texas.

Next spring we are planning a trip up the east coastline from Florida to Nova Scotia. then we will travel across the northern specifies up until we reach Chicago as well as take path 66 west.

We plan to return to Spain, when we surface up the trips with the United States. We hope to have our youngsters as well as grandkids join us for a visit, too. Europe is affordable sufficient to discover a little flat to reside in as well as utilize their public transportation to see other countries.

How do you keep to a budget?
We have a budget plan in which we divide all our costs into home, auto, entertainment, food, gifts, medical, miscellaneous, personal, as well as travel. I keep envelopes with receipts for every product as well as determine what we are costs in each area by month. We choose where we requirement to make adjustments as well as keep within our budget. It assists to figure out if we have a sensible budget plan or not.

Everyone’s priorities are different, however it is great to be able to see where your money is going routinely. It is the very best method to figure out exactly how much we are able to spend in for our next travel adventure.

Young people are traveling such as this as well as have terrific recommendations on exactly how to make it work, as we have checked out on your blog. Being retired, we have a pension for monetary support, however we’ve discovered concepts for all kinds of work from young blog writers if a lot more funding is needed.

We spend a great deal of time reading as well as researching on the Web for excellent recommendations from people who are already living this lifestyle. We now plan smarter as well as a lot more cost-efficiently since of the understanding that we have got as well as feel positive that we are going to be able to do a lot more than we ever dreamed possible!

What recommendations do you have for travelers your age?
Some of the very best recommendations we have got has been from all the young blog writers on the internet such as yourself, Matt. We discovered to plan our trips for dates that are less money. Our very first trip to Europe expense us less than one of our household trips right here in the States!

Another crucial travel lesson has been not to get our info from news media however instead to depend on the us department of specify Bureau of Consular Affairs. They don’t sensationalize what is going on in each country however provide you the info you requirement in buy to make great decisions.
 

Become the next Success Story

One of my preferred parts about this task is hearing people’s travel stories. They influence me, however a lot more importantly, they likewise influence you. I travel a specific method however there are lots of methods to fund your trips as well as travel the world. I hopethese stories show you that there is a lot more than one method to travel as well as that it is within your grasp to reach your travel goals. right here are a lot more examples of people who made their travel dreams a reality:

How Jim Didn’t let a new special needs modification his Travels

How (and Why) This 72-Year-Old is Backpacking the World

How households as well as senior citizens Can utilize the info on this Website

How this 70-Year-Old couple Bucked custom to travel the World

 

How to travel the world on $50 a Day

My new York Times very popular paperback guide to world travel will show you exactly how to master the art of travel to ensure that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, as well as have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget plan travelers.”

Click right here to discover a lot more as well as begin reading it today!

Book Your Trip: Logistical ideas as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a affordable flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches web sites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will secure you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s detailed security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it lots of times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize when I travel. They are the very best in class as well as you can’t go wrong utilizing them on your trip.

MY 19 favorite HOSTELS IN EUROPE

Last Updated: 4/7/22 | March 7th, 2022

I’ve been staying in hostels in Europe for over twelve years. I’ve probably stayed at close to a thousand by now. Some were wonderful; others I couldn’t leave quick enough.

Some have stood the test of time while others have long because vanished. The hostel scene is very popular and recognized in Europe, and the growing “luxury” hostel trend that incorporates much more amenities (and higher prices) for travelers.

Hostels today aren’t the hostels you found ten years ago. They are way nicer and offer a lot much more amenities!

As I’ve been going to Europe for so long, I’ve stayed in dozens upon dozens of hostels around the continent. There are a lot of things to consider when selecting a hostel. The top four when picking the best hostel in Europe are:

Location – Cities in Europe are substantial and it can take some time to get around. pick a place that is central to the sites and nightlife you want to see. All the hostels noted here are in central locations.

Price – In Europe, you really get what you pay for, so if you choose a really low-cost one, you’re probably going to get a hostel that is small, cramped, and doesn’t offer terrific service.

Amenities – many hostels offer totally free Wi-Fi and numerous include totally free breakfast, but if you want much more than that, be sure to do your research to find the hostel that best meets your needs!

Staff – All the hostels noted here have incredible staff! They are very friendly and knowledgeable. even if you don’t end up staying at one of the places noted below, be sure to look up reviews to guarantee you end up somewhere where the staff is valuable and friendly! They can make or break a hostel!

To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the hostels in Europe that I like the most. If you don’t want to read the longer list below, the following hostels are the best in each category:

Best Hostel for budget Travelers: Sophie’s Hostel
Best Hostel for Families: Generator
Best Hostel for Solo female Travelers: Goodnight Hostel
Best Hostel for digital Nomads: Generator
Best Hostel for Partying: Greg and Tom’s
Best overall Hostel: Kabul or The flying Pig

Want the specifics of each hostel? Here’s my extensive list of the best hostels in Europe:

1. Generator Hostels

The Generator is a hostel chain with locations throughout Europe. I’ve stayed in a few of their locations but Dublin and Copenhagen are my favorites. The hostels have terrific bars and restaurants, clean showers, comfortable beds, laundry services, and highly competitive rates. My only complaints are that the Wi-Fi is typically slow and they charge for breakfast, but having stayed in a few of their locations, I’d certainly stay in others. (They also have karaoke at their Copenhagen location.)

Generator Hostels at a glance:

Great place to meet other travelers

Modern, clean design

Lots of common areas for unwinding and mingling

Beds from 22 EUR, privates from 95 EUR.

Book Generator Hostel Dublin here!

Book Generator Hostel Copenhagen here!
 
2. City Backpackers (Stockholm)

I stayed here years ago and recently returned when my trip group was in Stockholm. The place was just as incredible as I remember. They still have a very good café and an outdoor eating/sitting area. Their beds and pillows are still very comfortable and comfortable, plus they have a substantial kitchen, common room, sauna, and laundry facilities. and you can’t turn a corner without bumping into a public computer. City Backpackers was and still is one of the top hostels in Europe.

City Backpackers at a glance:

Organizes tons of events

Lots of totally free perks (free coffee/tea, totally free pasta, totally free sauna)

Social outdoor patio for unwinding and meeting people

Beds from 23 EUR, privates from 80 EUR.

Book City Backpackers here!
 
3. St. Christopher’s (Barcelona)

Located best near Barcelona’s many well-known thoroughfare, La Rambla, everything about this place was brand new when I last visited. I really love the curtains on the dorm beds and the enormous bar/outdoor area next to the hostel. In general, I really like the St. Christopher’s brand. They offer fun, clean, sociable, and modern hostels all over Europe.

St. Christopher’s at a glance:

Huge bar/outdoor common area makes it easy to meet people

Fun, social atmosphere

Privacy curtains so you can get a good sleep

Beds from 23 EUR, privates from 165 EUR.

Book St. Christopher’s here!
 
4. The flying Pig (Amsterdam)

This is still one of my all-time favorite hostels. The facilities here are conventional and the price a bit expensive, but I love the atmosphere. While this hostel is popular with travelers wanting to chill and smoke, the bar area gets very busy at night with people who don’t want to get high. The staff here is what really makes this place special. They hang out with guests, are experts on the city, and are always helpful.

Moreover, this hostel has someof the comfiest beds and fluffiest pillows of any hostel I’ve ever stayed at. The flying Pig has three locations in Amsterdam (uptown, downtown, and the new beach location). I choose the uptown location because it’s smaller and simpler to meet people.

The folks behind the flying Pig also run Winston’s, another hostel. That place has a terrific bar and is next to a rock club that showcases a lot of good local musicians. tell Allen I say “hi!”

The flying Pig at a glance:

Great place to meet people

Super fun and social atmosphere

Bar on-site

Beds from 37 EUR, privates from 130 EUR.

Book The flying Pig here!
 
5. Goodnight Hostel (Lisbon)

I stumbled across this hostel in Lisbon (mostly because it was super cheap), and I’m really happy I did. conveniently located downtown, they offer totally free dinner and sangria and organize nights out. There’s a small common area, and the showers had incredible water pressure. This small hostel becomes very intimate and makes it easy to meet fellow travelers.

Goodnight Hostel at a glance:

Organizes lots of activities (pub crawls, walking tours)

Free breakfast

Intimate atmosphere makes it easy to meet people

Beds from 15 EUR, privates from 49 EUR.

Book Goodnight Hostel here!
 
6. Skanstull (Stockholm)

My second favorite hostel in Stockholm after City Backpackers, this place was remodeled in 2013 and has a brand-new, larger kitchen and common area. They really did a good job, and the kitchen is one of the nicest I’ve seen in a hostel in a long, long time. The hostel is quite small overall, but that offers a close-knit setting for getting to know other travelers.

Skanstull at a glance:

Huge kitchen for cooking your own meals

Cozy atmosphere (it’s a smaller hostel so it’s easy to meet people)

Recently renovated so everything is clean and new

Beds from 27 EUR, privates from 44 EUR.

Book Skanstull here!
 
7. Gallery Hostel (Porto)

This “luxury” hostel in Porto, Portugal, is probably one of the best I’ve ever stayed in and is certainly a new addition to my “all-time favorite” list. It’s not the most affordable in Porto, but this hostel/art gallery features home-cooked Portuguese food, a backyard, totally free after-dinner drinks, a game room, and friendly staff committed to making sure everyone gets to know each other. The art on the walls is from local artists and is available for sale (for those not traveling on a budget). I loved the nightly dinners they organized the best.

Gallery Hostel at a glance:

Delicious communal meals

Great place to meet people

Free drinks

Beds from 25 EUR.

Book Gallery Hostel here!

 
8. Hostel Mostel (Bulgaria)

This hostel has locations in three cities in Bulgaria (Sofia, Plovdiv, and Veliko Tarnovo), and they all follow the same principles: comfy beds, totally free breakfast, totally free dinner, totally free beer, totally free shots, a pool table, and free, fast Wi-Fi. I honestly haven’t ever seen a hostel offer so much totally free stuff to travelers.

Usually everyone stays whatsoever the Hostel Mostel locations, so you run into the same people frequently. I found them booked up a lot, so book in advancement if you want to stay here.

Hostel Mostel at a glance:

Social atmosphere so it’s easy to meet people

Lots of totally free perks (free drinks, totally free breakfast)

Organizes lots of activities

Beds from 7 EUR, privates from 26 EUR.

Book Hostel Mostel Sofia here!

Book Hostel Mostel Veliko Tarnovo here!

 
9. Kismet Dao (Brasov)

Probably the best hostel in Romania, Kismet Dao had a terrific backyard to unwind in, a fairly good breakfast (Frosted Flakes!), a large and clean kitchen, comfy rooms, and a substantial common area. I didn’t like the showers, as there wasn’t a lot of privacy (think gym style) but overall, this place is social, in a good location, and checks all the best boxes on meeting a traveler’s needs.

Kismet Dao at a glance:

Chill backyard for unwinding and mingling

Great place to meet other travelers

Free breakfast

Beds from 12 EUR, privates from 30 EUR.

Book Kismet Dao here!
 
10. The Yellow (Rome)

The Yellow is just a fun hostel. There’s no common area, so everyone hangs out in the bar downstairs. people come here to socialize and party. It’s a loud hostel in that respect, but because the party is separated from the main area, you don’t really hear much in the rooms. They have terrific security, high water pressure in the showers, comfy beds, and good enough Wi-Fi. They also run walking trips throughout Rome.

The Yellow at a glance:

Bar on-site makes it easy to meet people

Party vibe

Organizes lots of activities

Beds from 35 EUR, privates from 107 EUR.

Book The Yellow here!
 
11. Tallinn Backpackers (Tallinn)

This hostel in Estonia is for those who want to party, which I didn’t really do while I was there. but I still found the hostel to be fantastic because the beds were comfortable and the staff really put an emphasis on getting the guests get to know each other and interact. They do a nightly pub crawl, before which everyone gets together in the large common area (which they shut down at 11pm, so people who don’t want to go out can get some sleep).

Tallinn Backpackers at a glance:

Social party hostel

Great place to meet other travelers

Organizes lots of activities (like a nightly pub crawl)

Beds from 11 EUR, privates from 72 EUR.

Book Tallinn Backpackers here!
 
12. central station (Kiev)

Not so much a hostel as a series of apartments in the same building, central station is a true hostel’s hostel. It’s got enormous dorm rooms, a few showers, a tiny kitchen, and a little common area. It’s mostly the spirit of the place that makes it cool: activities every night, really friendly staff, and that tiny space that forces everyone to socialize and meet each other, not just sit behind their computers.

Central station at a glance:

Organizes tons of activities

Lively social atmosphere

Super friendly staff make it easy to socialize

Beds from 8 EUR.

Book central station here!
 
13. Greg and Tom’s party Hostel (Krakow)

I came here on the strength of a friend’s glowing recommendation. What I liked about this hostel was that on the one hand, there’s a strong focus on taking full advantage of Krakow’s lively nightlife.

On the other hand, they have two separate buildings, so if you want quiet at night, you can stay in the non-party building. They offer totally free breakfast, they cook you a meal every night (salad, potatoes, pasta, or meat), they have Nintendo Wii and Playstation, and there’s a large film collection. but what I loved the most was the massaging showers. It was the best shower I took in months.

Greg and Tom’s party Hostel at a glance:

Great place to meet people

Lots of totally free perks (free breakfast, totally free video games)

Separate building for non-partiers so you can get a good sleep

Beds from 13 EUR.

Book Greg and Tom’s here!
 
14. Kabul (Barcelona)

Kabul is tied with The flying Pig as my favorite hostel in Europe. It attracts travelers who are searching for a good time. This isn’t a quiet hostel where people go to bed. If you come to hostel, be prepared to party.

They have a lively common room area and organize nightly outings. The dorms are very clean, the beds comfy, and the showers high pressure. but what makes Kabul so fantastic is the downstairs common area. The common area takes up a whole floor of the building and comprises a café, bar, tables, Internet kiosks, and a pool table. here travelers eat, play pool, drink, and hang out – and the people here want to hang out. It’s a good hostel for a solo traveler because everyone here wants to make friends. The hostel is booked out weeks in advance, especially during summer, so don’t book last minute!

Kabul at a glance:

Lively party atmosphere

Organizes lots of activities

Really easy to meet people

Beds from 23 EUR, privates from 119 EUR.

Book Kabul here!
 
15. Archi Rossi (Florence)

They had me at breakfast. I’ve never been to a hostel that had a menu for breakfast. You can get eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes – the works. It’s not the normal European bread and coffee breakfast that makes me sad in the morning. It’s a full-on hearty breakfast! much more than the food, the hostel has character. You can sign your name or draw on the wall, their kitchen is a size of a cafeteria, and they have a terrific outdoor garden where you can kick back with a bottle of wine! and did I mention they have a full breakfast?

Archi Rossi at a glance:

Amazing breakfast

Laid-back outdoor garden for unwinding and mingling

Great place to meet people

Beds from 35 EUR, privates from 120 EUR.

Book Hostel Archi Rossi here!
 
16. Francesco’s (Ios)

With a view like this, how could you not like this place? There’s a pool, kitchen, very clean rooms, and comfy beds. The owners are very friendly and accommodating, the patio area is a terrific place to make new friends, and every night they have a hostel get together so everyone can meet people (free shot included). They also organize pub crawls (because it’s Ios and everyone comes here to party). It�

HOW I lost 50 pounds during QUARANTINE: 4 things I Did to lose Weight

When the neighborhood quarantine was implemented, I was obese as well as at my heaviest — 207 lb. Today, I have reached the healthy weight for my height — 157 lb.

In less than five months, I have lost a overall of 50 lb (22.7 kg).

I’m not alone in this. Vins, my blogging partner, has lost 40+ pounds over the exact same period. We online in the exact same apartment, so we comply with almost the exact same diet plan as well as eat the exact same meals.

When we published recent pictures on Facebook, a great deal of our buddies were shocked by the transformation. I can’t blame them since even I am still surprised that we were able to pull it off. however since we get a number of messages asking us for weight-loss tips, I decided to compose this publish (even though it’s not travel-related).

Here are some before-and-after pics of Vins as well as me.

But first, a bit background on exactly how I gained weight in the very first place.

I was skinny for most of my life. Some buddies back in college even commented that I looked frail as well as sickly. Haha. however whatever altered when the terminate nation attacked. as well as by terminate Nation, I mean the constant stress at work. When I joined the war zone that is the business world, the one sure thing that made me feel happy was — yep, you guessed it — food. It didn’t assist that our building had its own food court with a smorgasbord of delectable choices. Over the years, I slowly however surely gained more pounds. When I stop smoking five years ago, I just… ballooned. (I don’t regret quitting smoking, of course. It’s one of the very best decisions I made in my life. however it did make me eat more.)

I believed I might turn things around when I stop my full time task to travel. however I soon discovered that it was so damn difficult to withstand tasty food when traveling. however that’s not when our weight would jump even higher. After all, whatever additional calories we devour is canceled out by regular walking as well as trekking. The issue is after the trip — when we get house hungry for some rice as well as lutong bahay. That’s the genuine culprit right there.

Fast ahead to 2020. I wished to lose weight however the begin of any type of year was the most difficult time to do that for us. After the joyful Christmas-New Year season, Vins enjoyed his birthday in January, we had a 2-week cuisine-centered trip to Taiwan in February, as well as I celebrated my birthday in March. I just woke up one day, stepped on the scale, as well as was alarmed by the number — 207 lb, the heaviest I have been ever.

So I tried to do something about it. I enrolled at a close-by gym. This is it, I thought! however after only my evaluation session, that crazy bit thing called COVID-19 ruined everybody’s life plans as well as brought the world to a standstill. All fitness centers stopped operations, so I never got to utilize my membership.

But I decided to not let it stop me. If I was gonna be stuck at home, I’d rather utilize the time well. I guaranteed myself that I would still accomplish the physical fitness goals that I had long set aside.

Please note that I am not a physical fitness or nutrition expert. I’m just sharing my own experience. What works for me may not work for you. as well as what’s been working for me is the combination of the following.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

1. part Control
2. Intermittent Fasting
3. routine Exercise
4. moral support from Friends!
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1. part Control

If I might condense this whole publish into just one tip, this is it — part control. I strongly believe that this has been accountable for much of the weight loss.

In fact, when I shed off the very first 20 pounds, part manage was the only thing I did. I wasn’t exercising or doing intermittent fasting consciously. I was just limiting the size of my meals up until I got utilized to it.

At its core, weight loss is all about consuming less calories than what your body burns. I checked out that to lose weight, guy requirement cut intake to less than 1500 calories per day. I utilized that as a rule. We have a little kitchen area scale that I utilize to evaluate the food I put in my body. then I google exactly how many calories it equates to.

There are a number of reasons why this works for me.

I was a starved eater. I believe this is truly my problem. Pre-quarantine, my default quick food order is 2-piece fried poultry with rice as well as spaghetti as well as drink as well as dessert. Yep, you checked out it right, with rice as well as spaghetti. Hahaha. Takaw. So just reducing my food intake significantly pushed down my weight.

I was downsizing economically as well as as well terrified to go out. The travel market was the most terribly hit by the pandemic so I have not been earning since March. So to minimize the everyday costs as well as the time spentoutside, I deliberately downsized the amount of food I eat. When I shop for groceries online, I try to make them last by not consuming as well much per meal.

I can eat whatever I want. I’m not restricted to the type of food, only the serving size. I still eat chocolate as well as other sweets. just the other day, I still had French fries. This is fantastic since I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself.

I can’t utilize it as an reason to overeat. It’s likewise psychological, I guess. I have tried other diets as well as going to the fitness center before however none of them worked since I compensate by eating more than usual. At mealtime, I was always like, “It’s okay to pig out, I’ll work out anyway.” Or when I’m on a low-carb diet, I would have a big serving of protein as well as dessert thinking, “It’s fine. I don’t eat rice anyway.” When you’re counting calories, there’s just no method around it.

But I drink a great deal of water.

It was a struggle in the beginning. any type of diet plan is tough at the start. however after a couple of weeks, I totally failed to remember that I was downsizing. I just weighed someday as well as was surprised — this time, pleasantly.

2. Intermittent Fasting

Is it effective? Here’s the thing: I’m not sure.

Yes, I do intermittent fasting however not consciously. even before I had any type of intention of dieting, I was already doing this since I always avoid breakfast. I’m just not a fan of breakfast since I didn’t like feeling bloated or heavy in the morning.

So NO, I’m not that sure whether or not it helped. however YES, I’ve been doing it this whole time.

My very first meal is around 12:30 pm. My last for the day is around 6:30 pm.

I sometimes slip in a fruit in the afternoon. however outside this 6-hour window, I don’t eat anything other than water as well as hot unsweetened tea.

3. routine Exercise

When I noticed that my weight was going down, it influenced me to work out in parallel with the diet. keep in mind when I stated that I was able to go to one evaluation session before they closed all gyms? during that session, the fitness instructor taught me some fundamental body weight exercises. These are just simple exercises that you can do without equipment. So I did those over as well as over again. When I got tired with them, I searched YouTube for other routines, which I followed.

Sometimes, I would utilize the elliptical machine that Vins bought last year (which was cheaper than a treadmill). I had never touched that before, however I utilize it now. Hahaha.

Then, when I would get tired with a workout, I’d move on to a new one. just recently, I ordered a hula hoop online. Hahaha. It’s fun.

Often, I would just dance alone in my room. I most likely look crazy doing it however no one’s looking.

4. moral support from Friends!

I was alone during the very first month of my weight loss journey. Vins was most likely watching his weight as well however we weren’t truly comparing notes. When I lost the very first 20 pounds, I published it on Facebook. It turned out that two other buddies were likewise trying to lose weight on their own.

Since we have the exact same goal, all three of us decided to support each other by producing a group chat, in which we publish our development every day. We likewise report what we eat. Whenever we’re craving something or about to overeat, we message the group so somebody might talk us out of it. It’s like a mini-support group.

The goal isn’t to be competitive however to influence as well as discover from each other.

That’s it!

I still have a long method to go. Yes, I have already lost 50 pounds as well as have reached the ceiling of the healthy weight variety for my height. however I don’t want to stop now. I still requirement to lose 20 more to reach the middle of that range. as well as I still have a somewhat extending stomach to flatten.

Kahit ‘yun guy lang ma-flatten. Juice ko this pandemic.

2020 • 8 • 7

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CASA DE SEGUNDA: satisfying Jose Rizal’s very first like in Lipa City, Batangas

It was like at very first sight. That’s precisely exactly how I felt when I very first laid eyes on Casa de Segunda, likewise understood as Luz-Katigbak Ancestral House. From the balcony overlooking the garden, I might see the many fascinating shapes as well as patterns around the place. It was my very first time here. While I had been to many of Lipa’s tourist destinations before, I had no concept that this location existed prior to this trip. I discovered about it while getting ready for this tour. We struggled to discover it however we did not provide up on our search. as well as boy was I grateful. It was a location to autumn in like with.

Entrance to Casa de Segunda. quite difficult to find.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

Jose Rizal’s very first Love
Casa de Segunda
Top hotels as well as Resorts in BatangasSearch for more Batangas Accommodations!

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Jose Rizal’s very first Love

The ancestral home of the Luz-Katigbak family, Casa de Segunda is named after Segunda Solis Katigbak, commonly regarded as the very first like of national hero Jose Rizal.

Born to Don Norberto Kalaw Katigbak, the gobernadorcillo from 1862-83, as well as Dona Justa Metra Solis, Segunda grew up in a prominent household as well as was sent to Manila to study. She went to Colegio de la Concordia in Sta. Ana, Manila, where she ended up being classmates with Dona Olympia Rizal. At a celebration to which she was invited, Segunda satisfied Jose Rizal, who was quickly smitten. Swooning over her, Jose sent her poems, sketches as well as flowers. She was only fourteen years old at the time.

In one of Rizal’s biographies, Rizal was quoted stating that although Segunda was not the most gorgeous lady he had seen, she was definitely the most alluring as well as beguiling. He was saddened, however, that she was set to get married to a family member — Manuel Metra Luz, who likewise came from a prominent household in Lipa.

A portrait of Segunda Solis Katigbak displayed inside the casa
It was Ms.Lilet Malabanan, granddaughter of Segunda (or Lola Unday, as she phone calls her) as well as the site’s tour guide, who accommodated us as well as showed us around. When asked why Lola Unday as well as Jose Rizal didn’t ended up being an item, she stated that the parents didn’t like Rizal since the household truly desired her to marry somebody from Lipa, too, as well as Rizal was from Calamba, Laguna. Segunda married Manuel, or Lolo Uwel, in 1886 when she was just 16. It was all good, though, since Lolo Uwel came from a great household — poets as well as scholars. They had nine children.

Casa de Segunda

The home boasts a Spanish design however still retains a extremely tropical atmosphere. Its stonework as well as patterns add character to what might have been a typical Spanish-age “bahay na bato.” My eyes feasted on so many patters scattered around the house. From the diamond-tiled floor to the intricately painted ceiling, the home is just full of bit joys.

Living area on the second floor of the Casa
One of the bedrooms
It makes me question exactly how elegant as well as gorgeous it must have appeared a century ago. provided that the home was damaged during world war II in 1942, a great deal must have been altered here. (Lipa was one of the most heavily destroyed cities after the war as well as many of the old homes were burned down.) In fact, the home was remodeled in 1956 by Paz Luz Dimayuga, one of Segunda’s daughter. In 1996, however, the home as well as its garden were brought back by Paz’s grandchildren, who all grew up here.

Casa de Segunda likewise homes a number of products that provide us a great look at not only the household history of the Luz-Katigbak however likewise the way of life of many prominent households in Batangas. Some old clothes are on screen inside. The beds, altar, sala sets, as well as other home products are well-preserved inside. There were likewise some reading materials about the household at the living area that visitors can browse.

Bell hanging by the entrance. sound it if you desire to enter.
Casa de Segunda balcony, overlooking the garden
Casa de Segunda garden
Small fountain at Casa de Segunda
Outside was a rounded staircase that leads to a balcony, overlooking the garden as well as the fountain. It was my preferred part of the house. As we Ma’am Lilet was entertaining other tourists when we arrived, we decided to stay at the balcony in the meantime. While waiting as well as as I gazed upon the garden from the balcony, I was flooded with pictures of a happy household — parents under the shade of the tree as the kids played by the fountain. The descendants of Lola Unday kept this home in great condition not since of its historical value — not just since of its historical value — however since of their emotional connection to the place. This site homes memories of a household that had survived difficult times. as well as as soon as it dawned on me as I stood at the balcony, I understood I fell in like with this location even before we started the tour. It was like at very first sight.

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OYO 120 Balai Sofia. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

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Search for more Batangas Accommodations!

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5 cost effective countries worth moving To

finding countries that are fun to travel in is easy, but finding a place that you can really clear up down for a bit and call home is a whole other ball game. You need to make sure that the place you choose is affordable, has good health care, suitable grocery stores and plenty to keep you busy. We’ve been to 45 countries, and only a few of those destinations are places that we could actually live.

Sure, we return time and time again to the cities/countries we love, but that doesn’t indicate that we could live there. here are 5 cost effective countries (and their best cities) that we recommend you immigrate to! (In no particular order)

Thailand:

Costs

Basic 1-Bedroom apartment or condo in Bangkok

Street Meal

Meal In A Restaurant

$450 USD / Month

$1.50

$5

We love Thailand and have spent months on end in this country. From chaotic Bangkok and party crazed Koh Phangan, to chilled out Koh Kood and sublime Koh Lanta, Thailand has enough to keep you busy, while giving  you all of the amenities that you need when living somewhere.

We found a beautiful, modern, one-bedroom bungalow on Koh Phangan, close to the water for just $300 USD / month. We have friends who have a luxurious downtown apartment or condo in Bangkok for just $450/month. Thailand is absolutely affordable, and with fabulous local foods and western grocery stores like Tesco and Lotus, you can find pretty much any food your heart desires.

Street food in Thailand is very inexpensive and delicious, but getting groceries is amazingly cheap. We gotten 6 chicken breasts on sale at Tesco for $3! Affordability, friendly people, complete safety and natural appeal all add up to make Thailand the best place to relocate!

Mexico:

Costs

Basic 1-Bedroom apartment or condo in Merida

Street Meal

Meal In a Restaurant

$350 USD / Month

$2

$6

Mexico is a great, cost effective country to step to. sensational mountain towns like San Cristobal offer culture and nature, as well as funky cafes, cobble stone pedestrian streets and delicious white wine bars. bustling cities like Merida and Mexico City, have all of the action and nightlife a city-slicker could ask for. even in Merida, a larger city where prices are higher, we found a great one bedroom apartment or condo for just $400 USD / month. grocery stores here have it all and eating out on the street is incredibly cheap.

There are also ultra-laid back islands like Holbox, where the pace of life slows and everyone gets around on golf-carts. If we were to relocate to Mexico, we would probably choose one of the smaller cities like Valladolid or San Cristobal. Both have the best mix of authenticity and necessity and there’s enough enjoyment to keep you busy for a few weeks, months or years.

3. Malaysia:

Costs

Basic 1-Bedroom apartment or condo in Kuala Lumpur

Street Meal

Meal In a Restaurant

$600 USD / Month

$2

$5

This place has everything you could ever ask for in a long-term home. For those who take pleasure in cities, Kuala Lumpur is the best place to live an urban life. With wild, all-night bars, a great metro system, cheap food and good budget apartments, you can’t go wrong in KL. but there are many more places to choose from. check out duty-free Langkawi Island where the booze is cheap, the accommodation is of great value and there are lots of cool activities to keep you busy, from go-carts, to a floating suspension bridge in the mountains.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
If you’re trying to find a really chilled out, quiet life abroad, you can head to one of Malaysia’s lots of islands.

The Perhentians in the north are a popular vacationer destination with sensational white sand beaches, while Kapas and Tiamen are best for those who want to escape the bustle of the mainland. trying to find a metropolitan feel without sticking to the capital? Georgetown is a funky, vibrant city with all of the nightlife, action and amenities of the capital, but with a completely different vibe. The greatest part about living in Malaysia is that you can base yourself in any of the above provided cities, and then take cheap flights to kick back for a few days elsewhere in the country.

4. Georgia:

Costs

Basic 1-Bedroom apartment or condo in Tbilisi

Street Meal

Meal In a Restaurant

$350 USD / Month

$3

$7

For us, if we were to step to Georgia, we would absolutely set up shop in the nation’s capital, Tbilisi. With a mix of ultra-modern and old-world architecture, sensational tree-filled parks, riverside walkways and shaded pedestrian-only back streets, Tbilisi is one of our much-loved cities in the world. Sip an ice-cold mug of beer while enjoying street performers downtown, or enter a medieval winery and taste some of the oldest vintages on earth. Tbilisi has all of the modern necessities you need, but with a historical backbone that could keep any visitor intrigued. but you don’t need to stay in Tbilisi to take pleasure in this country, there is a huge expanse of countryside where you can explore and get a good feel for the real, rural Georgia.

5. Turkey:

Costs

Basic 1-Bedroom apartment or condo in Istanbul

Street Meal

Meal In a Restaurant

$550 USD / Month

$3

$8

There are many cities in Turkey that we would be delighted to call home. From the eastern cities of Van and Kars, to the lively capital of Istanbul, Turkey is a fantastically diverse country with beaches, bars, architecture and history that would be hard to match anywhere else. If we moved to Turkey, we’d probably clear up in the nation’s liberal capital of Istanbul, where there’s a good mix of standard Islam and a a lot more modern, western mentality.

We love the sound of the mezzanine’s call to prayer early in the morning, but we also like to be able to wear t-shirts and shorts when we want to. Istanbul is a place where you can do just that. We enjoy having drinks on the Bosphorus Bridge at sunset, and exploring ancient behemoth mosques like Hagia Sophia, but it’s Istanbul’s buzzing cross-continental vibe that really sets this diverse metropolis apart from anywhere else. accommodation is cost effective in Istanbul, but you can find even better value in other cities like Gaziantep, Gerome and Sanliurfa.

The sensational Ayasofya Mosque in Istanbul

Places worth An Honorable Mention

Indonesia – Cheap, fun and lush

China – great place to show English!

India – Goa is calm (for India), liberal and beautiful

Belize – Uber-laid back islands, quiet and funky

Greece – lots to see & do, a good mix of beach, bar, outdoors and history.

Conclusion

We’ve been to quite a few countries that we could see ourselves living in, but as you can tell by this post, it really comes down to the individual towns, cities and villages. The local people have a huge impact on our idea of a life-worthy destination, but so too does cost and comfort. If there’s anything we’ve learned from our time both living and travelling abroad, it’s to find your long-term accommodation when you arrive, not on the Internet beforehand.

Hotel rooms can be booked in development with no issues, but apartments found online are nearly always holiday rentals and are as a result over-priced. Not only do online apartment or condo rental sites charge large service fees, but the owners that use them are normally targeting tourists and short-let tenants. show up, find your apartment or condo and get a steal of a deal.

Our apartment or condo in China, $350 USD / Month. cheap because we found it on arrival!

We love living in new countries and experiencing cultures first hand, rather than just passing through. travelling is a great way to get a taste for lots of different cultures and learn a lot about the world and its citizens, but living somewhere is a special experience that allows you form a closer relationship with the places you visit and the people you meet.

We haven’t been to lots of places where we could see ourselves living long-term… have you? tell us where you could see yourself setting up a life in the comments below!

Like it? Pin it! ?

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