As summer approaches, water sports enthusiasts may be pumping iron at the gym in readiness for some extreme water action. But what if you’ve always wanted to try some aqua adventures but are not sure where to start? What are the options?

Fitness/swimming

Most water sports require a certain level of fitness. If you’re thinking of starting a hobby on the water, be sure that you have the strength needed. Of course, this is dependent on what activity you choose.

It’s also crucial that you are a competent swimmer. With most extreme water sports, you will wear a life jacket, but you may choose to engage in a water activity with less risk. However, when water is involved, there is always a risk of drowning, so you should make sure your swimming is up to standard and, if not, spend some time practicing to build strength and skill.

Training

If you’re not quite ready to hit the adrenalin-fuelled side of water activities, why not learn how to be an experienced boater to enjoy summer days on the ocean, confident that you could avert danger if needed. Companies such as https://www.ilearntoboat.com/pennsylvania/ offer approved courses in safety with certification at the end. The training is fun and interactive, and you will experience real-life situations for hands-on learning.

Sailing

Learning to sail is a great team exercise and can be included in holiday packages abroad, depending on location. You can do a crash course and be reasonably competent by the end of the holiday. If you learn fast and the weather (wind) is on your side, you could even enter into a local regatta and enjoy the competitive side of sailing. A great activity if you enjoy trying new things and gaining skills while holidaying.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is an excellent introduction to water sports as it’s pretty easy to pick up. Most of the equipment you need is provided by the club or center you attend. You will receive tuition on request. Windsurfing offers a physical and mental challenge, and once proficient, you can try different courses suggested by the experts. It provides a total body workout and helps build stamina and balance.

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding has become popular in recent years and is a fun activity, especially with friends. You can try and compete to stay on the board and laugh when someone falls in. It’s a game of balance, and after some practice, you’ll be able to stay upright as well as negotiate turns. It’s also a great way to tone a fair few muscles trying to avoid falling in!

Water skiing

For the adventurous adrenalin junkies, water skiing is guaranteed to feed the need for speed. When starting, beginners hold a bar at the side of the boat; it helps get a feel of the motion before attempting the water skis. Next, you will learn how to focus your eyes and where to position your head. Once you can stay upright with the bar, you can use the tow rope. It’s an exhilarating experience with lots of tricks and turns to learn once you get confident. Like paddle-boarding, it’s also a brilliant way to keep fit and exercises the arms and legs, which will ache for a while after the session.

Entering the world of water sports can be addictive, and you may find you’ll be getting your sea legs in no time.

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If you’re still waiting for your COVID vaccines or can’t afford to escape abroad this year, a staycation is the perfect way to get away from the everyday grind and have a well-deserved break.

So, whether you’re an avid camper or prefer the comforts of a hotel, we’re sharing this ultimate guide for what to pack for your staycation.

Something for all seasons

The weather is as unpredictable as 2020 was, meaning in order to get the most out of your staycation, you need to be prepared for pretty much anything.

To start off, never leave the house without a waterproof. So grab yourself a small foldable mac and keep it stashed in your bag.

You also might want to get yourself a pair of sunglasses for reading. These are perfect for a day by the coast, reading a book and dipping your feet in the sea. You don’t need to keep swapping from reading glasses to sunnies, and you’re covered for rain or shine.

Comfy shoes

While walking boots might not be your style, staycations are all about exploring somewhere new. So you’ll need a good pair of comfy shoes. You might be out for the whole day and then head to a restaurant for a nice meal. Some days you’ll have no plans, so you never know where the day might take you. As a result, it’s best to be prepared with stylish but comfortable shoes.

Swimwear

Just because you might not have any intention of jumping in the sea or paddling in the river doesn’t mean your kids haven’t got other ideas. Plus, when the weather surprises you with a hot day, it always feels like such a shame when you’ve not packed things for the occasion.

That’s why packing some swimwear for those ‘just in case’ moments is a great idea. You might regret not packing it otherwise!

Face masks

Depending on when you’re going on your staycation, you could still be required to wear a face mask. But even when restrictions are loosened, a lot of people will likely feel more comfortable in crowded areas with a little protection. So, a lightweight face mask (nobody likes to feel sweaty!) will be this year’s top accessory.

Suncream

Again, we’re not making any promises about the weather, but even if there’s cloud cover, you can always benefit from a little SPF.

Picnic Blanket

The easiest way to do a staycation on a budget is to stock up on food at the market rather than going out to eat for every meal. So, whether you’re in a hotel or on a campsite, a picnic blanket will allow you to sit down for a packed lunch just about wherever.

Essentially, the first rule of staycations is to prepare for just about everything. With so many local towns and places to explore, you never know what you’ll get up to. One day you might be at the beach, the next couped up indoors playing board games. Whatever you end up doing, however, make sure to relax and enjoy!

To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category

Whenever I come to visit my friend Javier Burillo in Mexico City the first thing we do, regardless of what time of night, is to go for tacos. Admittedly this is a challenge at 5am, but believe me, it is doable. What I get frustrated by having tried the most insanely delicious tacos which you can find in Mexico City is the attitudes which most Americans have to tacos north of the border. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy the tacos you get back home, but they are not really tacos as I know and love them.

Down in Mexico City there is an insane range of taco fillings which you can get, depending on your tastes. Regardless of what kind of tacos you do happen to get, there are some particular basics which you have to get right.

The Tortilla

The tortilla is a common bone of contention for many and up north we do of course prefer the floor tortilla. For me however the best taco tortilla is made from corn, and they are small and doubled up. This is the only way in which you can enjoy multiple flavors and those tortillas had better be dipped in the meat juice from the vendor who you buy from, it is the only way.

The Vegetables

All tacos should have raw diced onion and coriander, there is simply no other topping which can be substituted for either of them. Additionally however you do have some extra options here. For example you may wish to add some pineapple if you have al Pastor equally you can add cucumber and radishes if you are going for mixiotes. At the very heart of all tacos however, is some delicious cilantro and some freshly cut onions.

The Salsa

Whilst I do appreciate that not everyone enjoys a little bit of heat on their tacos, I have always felt that it should be added anyway, because it just adds something so special to the flavors. This is why you should at the very least add a dab of salsa to the tacos, because the flavor is delicious.

Limes

The way in which you make that chili salsa palatable is with a great amount of lime juice squirted all over the top of your tacos. It doesn’t matter which taco you are eating, you are going to need that healthy dripping of lime juice to give it freshness, to compliment to the flavor and to give a tasty finish in the mouth after you have swallowed. This is the only way in which you can truly enjoy the very best of the taco.

Ignore anything that you think you know from up north regarding tacos, these are the basic which everyone has to get right when you re south of the border. The next time you get down to Mexico, grab a street taco and then tell me that I am wrong!

To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category

When you travel to a city far from home, you may naturally wonder how well you’ll sleep in that setting, and how comfortable you’ll feel there around the clock. The reality is, hotels are often travelers’ first choice when they are booking accommodations. However, this does not mean that hotels are the best choice, explained business and travel expert Brian Ferdinand in a recently released article. Here are a few reasons why a particular alternative to hotels—corporate housing—is often a smarter option for travelers.

Longer Stay

Let’s say you’re going on a business trip. If you book a hotel room, you might not have a lot of space to maneuver, so you may end up living out of your suitcase. In addition, you likely won’t have a kitchen to cook in, and the facilities to which you are given access may be shoddy. On top of this, your hotel stay will likely be expensive, especially if you plan to stay there for more than a few days at a time.

Fortunately, corporate housing is designed to eliminate all of the abovementioned challenges associated with hotel rooms. Corporate housing units are essentially luxury furnished apartments that are made to feel more like home than a hotel room usually does. In addition, they are larger than hotel rooms, thus providing plenty of space for both you and your belongings, according to Brian Ferdinand, the managing partner of SoBeNY and its parent company, CorpHousing Group.

Additional Benefits

Another major benefit of corporate housing is that it is extremely customizable as far as comfort and amenities are concerned. For instance, corporate housing units come with various furniture options as well as dryers/washers in the units.

Corporate housing units also come with full-sized kitchens. Thus, you can easily prepare your own meals during your trip, rather than constantly resorting to dining out.

Finally, corporate housing units can easily accommodate you if you need a place to stay for one month or multiple months but under a year. You don’t have to pay the hefty price of booking a hotel room for weeks on end. And there’s no need to sign a year-long apartment lease in the city you’ll be traveling to. Instead, corporate housing units fill the gap left behind by hotels and apartments by offering a short-term housing option for the modern traveler. This makes it a convenient option and also the most economical housing option for travelers in many cases.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category

• Are you looking to travel solo to the East Asian nation of Hong Kong in the next few months?
• Do you know what are some of the exciting and interesting places you can see in the island nation of Hong Kong?
• Have you tried looking at the various travel blogs and are confused about how to plan your itinerary when traveling to Hong Kong?

The tiny 10-island nation of Hong Kong is an idyllic traveler’s paradise. It has often been dubbed as the crown jewel of East Asia. While South Asia is famous for its beaches, Hong Kong is famous for its city and nightlife.

There are a number of fun things you can do in Hong Kong, whether you are traveling solo, with your friends, or with your family members. Bachelors can explore finding love and other interesting propositions in the city of Hong Kong.

List of 5 Reasons why Travelling to Hong Kong should be on your Bucket List

1. Electric Night Life –

Read about the review of any travel blogger online and they are likely to point to Hong Kong’s amazing nightlife. The city literally never sleeps! You have an array of bars, pubs, lounges, and discotheques to choose from 24×7.

In terms of food, partying, and dancing all night long, few other cities in the world can match up to Hong Kong. There are entertainment opportunities to suit all budget types. Lan Kwai Fong is the party capital of Hong Kong and is sure to set your pulses racing.

2. The Food Capital of Asia –

Many travel bloggers have referred to Hong Kong as being the food capital of Asia. This is because Hong Kong is closely influenced by the surrounding food cultures of China, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. No matter what your chosen palette you are sure to find it.

You have a wide array of night markets and shopping destinations, which offer great street comfort food. You can shop all night long and enjoy some local delicacies as well as some innovative interpretations of western dishes. In short, all dishes are mouth-watering!

3. Shop till you drop –

Many tourists prefer to shop extensively in Hong Kong. Kowloon’s Temple Street has often been rated as one of the hottest evening market spots in the world. Apart from shopping, there are tons of eating joints and partying circuits, which are sure to keep you entertained.

The close proximity to China means that you can pick up some really cool things in Hong Kong for a fraction of the price. Most brands have moved their manufacturing to East Asian and South Asian countries and it shows once you start browsing the markets of Hong Kong.

4. Dating, Love, and Relationships –

If you are someone who has always fancies Asian women, then you will love Hong Kong. As compared to other countries like China, or Indonesia where women are far more conservative, in Hong Kong the mindset is much more open.

If you like someone at the bar, you can walk up to them and offer them a drink. Who knows you might come back home with beautiful Hong Kong Brides? In all, you can make your visit to Hong Kong a very memorable one.

5. Scenic Natural Beauty –

While Hong Kong has been made famous for its buzzing nightlife, the island nation is also not short of natural beauty. There are scenic beaches with white sand and blue waters dotting its coastline. You can watch birds at the Kowloon Bird Park or take a hike on Dragon’s Back.

You can also visit the Hong Kong Global Geopark and see thousands of years of rock formations. The landscape is breath-taking in nature and it will surely make for some great Instagrammable photos for social media.

The Final Word

Many people include Hong Kong in their itinerary when they are visiting this part of the world. However, Hong Kong in itself is so exciting that you should plan a dedicated holiday exploring the country and engaging with its various sights and sounds.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category

If you own a second home and are planning to set it up as a holiday home for rent, your thoughts might be on the things you can add to the home to make it more appealing. Although this aspect is exciting and important, you should know the laws that regulate owners of holiday homes in the UK. These regulations are basic, and you can use them as a starting point. They are meant to protect you, your property and your guests.

Different rules for holiday lets and long-term rentals

The legislation concerning long-term rental properties and Furnished Holiday Lets (FHL) are the same, but there are some differences. Holiday letting contracts require guests to leave the holiday house at the end of their holiday stay.

Different tax laws cover a Furnished Holiday Let since it is classified as a business, and the owner is required to pay income tax for the rental income. You will pay a business tax instead of council tax. The Valuation Office will work out the rate based on type, quality, size, location, and your projected income.

Qualification

Your home can qualify as a Furnished Holiday Let if it is let commercially to the public for a minimum of 105 days every tax year, and the home is available to let for 210 days annually. A single letting should not go beyond 31 days (continuous).

After you have made the additions to your holiday home, you do not have to find clients yourself. Visit www.thewowhousecompany.com to know how they can help you find the guests for your holiday home.

Additional obligations

Aside from regulations, there are other obligations you should meet regarding utilities.

• Gas. Your gas appliances are covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You should have a registered engineer to do an annual gas safety check on each gas appliance you have in the holiday home.
• Electricity. All the electrical equipment you use for the business should meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. Covered by the regulations are your guests, contractors and employees in the property. You should likewise undergo Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) regularly.
• Carbon Monoxide. Under England’s Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations of 2015, each room where there are appliances that use oil or gas, such as gas appliances, open fire or log burner, boiler or oven should have a carbon monoxide detector.
• Oil. If your holiday home is in a secluded location and uses oil for fuel, ensure that your appliances pass the OFTEC CD/12 Landlord Oil Installation Check conducted by a qualified person.
• Fire. You are obligated to have a fire risk assessment, according to the requirements of the 2006 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (England and Wales) and similar regulations in Northern Ireland and Scotland. In England, you are legally required to install a smoke alarm in every room.
• Furniture. The upholstered furniture in your holiday home should meet the requirements of The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 regarding fire resistance.

These are the basic regulations you need to know. Aside from these, you should ensure that your home is accessible to people with disabilities. Moreover, it is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that you maintain general safety to protect your home, your guests and yourself.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category

When you have to travel for work, the last thing you want to face is a subpar living accommodation. Instead, you want a home away from home that makes you feel cozy and comfortable so that you can focus on getting the job done. A smart temporary housing option is the extended stay hotel, according to businessman Brian Ferdinand in a recently published article on work and travel. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of extended stay hotels.

Important Extended Stay Hotel Considerations

According to the informative article, an extended stay hotel can be a suitable accommodation option based on the length of your stay. Extended stay hotel rooms are upgrades to standard hotel rooms, but they don’t offer the amenities and comforts available in options such as corporate housing or furnished apartments. That’s because extended stay hotels are just that: hotels.

That means you’ll be faced with minimal space, although the space is slightly bigger than what you’d find in a regular hotel room. In addition, everything you’ll use will most likely be located in a single place, according to Brian Ferdinand.

Core Benefits of Extended Stay Hotels

Of course, every cloud has a silver lining—or multiple silver linings, if you’re lucky. Fortunately, as a traveling worker, you’re in luck with an extended stay hotel for several reasons. For starters, these hotels are relatively safe for a solo traveler. That’s because the properties tend to be well lit and actively monitored. In addition, the hotel staff members can recommend activities and areas that would be safe for you to take advantage of.

An extended stay hotel also offers an opportunity to enjoy camaraderie with other guests. In this way, you can forge new friendships and even create a strong community network while you’re away from home.

Extended stay hotels are furthermore known for their flexibility. You can easily stay at these buildings for weeks or months and then leave when necessary. You don’t have to commit to staying in the property for a year as you would a traditional rental property.

Finally, extended stay hotels offer the benefit of providing you with cost savings. That’s because many locations decrease their rates for their longer-term guests. That means you can have more money in your pocket to maximize your business stay each time you travel out of town for several weeks at a time.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category

Air travel has come a long way since its beginning. These days, it’s easy to buy a plane ticket with a few clicks of the mouse, look up your itinerary online and check in from the comfort of your home. Simple and streamlined, right? Well, in theory yes, but we all know that when you set off on your journey, things don’t always work out as planned. However, as simple as it was to purchase your flight, you can just as easily get the compensation you deserve when something goes wrong. Read on to find out how technology can help you get justice!

Check your rights

The majority of passengers have no idea what their rights are and that’s perfectly understandable! Who on earth reads up on the legal side of flight irregularities in their spare time? That’s where companies like MYFLYRIGHT come in. You can easily get straightforward, up-to-date information on what to do when faced with a cancellation or delay, or getting bumped from a flight, on their site. There are even current flight statistics, so you can see what flight irregularities are going on now and how much compensation passengers can expect to receive for them.

Find out if you can claim

Has your flight been delayed for over 3 hours? Were you denied boarding? Were you told about a cancelled flight less than 14 days before departure? Chances are, you can claim. The great thing here is, you don’t have to navigate the tricky legal world of passenger rights to confirm if you have a case or not. MYFLYRIGHT’s free online compensation calculator does this for you – as soon as you enter the flight date and number, the system filters through all data related to your flight and lets you know in a matter of minutes. Even better, you can see the amount you should receive – this can be as much as 600 €, so it’s always worth checking.

Get your compensation

MYFLYRIGHT doesn’t just provide useful information for you and tell you if you have a claim, they can take care of your case for you. This means, by simply visiting their site and uploading the relevant documents, you’re getting justice. Bear in mind, this is all done without you having to hire legal services, go to court or even communicate with the airline at all. Thanks to advanced technologies, time spent checking a case has been reduced by 85% which benefits you, the passenger – now, making a claim is not only stress-free, you’re saving time as well.

What this means for the future

So, you already have access to the justice you deserve thanks to MYFLYRIGHT and their current advanced technologies and automations. Of course, it doesn’t stop there. To increase efficiency, new systems are now being developed to incorporate automated steps currently carried out manually by claims specialists. The result? A decrease by 50% in time spent on this process.

Being able to fight for your passenger rights is a real reflection of how advanced technologies are improving – not just increasing – access to justice. Judging by the speed with which companies like MYFLYRIGHT are progressing, the future looks bright!

To read more on topics like this, check out the traveling category.

To discover why China and New Zealand are two top travel destinations, which are well worth adding to your bucket list, simply continue reading to discover why exploring China or New Zealand will be one of the best decisions which you can make this year.

The top travel destinations to add to your bucket list:

1# New Zealand

While you’ll need to embark on a long haul plane flight in order to explore New Zealand, it’s definitely well worth the lengthy journey. New Zealand has a reputation for offering unspoilt natural beauty such as pristine lakes and glaciers, snow capped mountains and natural hot springs. Some of which boast their own waterfalls. New Zealand also offers a wide variety of adrenaline producing activities that are sure to delight thrill seekers, such as heli-skiing, jet boating, bungee jumping, white water rafting and black water rafting. If you enjoy mountain biking, you’re also in luck as New Zealand is home to a plethora of stunning mountain biking tracks.

If you’re a movie buff, it’s also a great idea to visit New Zealand in order to explore some of the picturesque sites where some of your favorite movies were filmed. As an example, if you’re a huge Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll love getting to explore the site where the Rivendell scenes were shot as it’s located in a beautiful park, Kaitoke Regional Park. Which is located in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Better yet the arch way that leads into Rivendell, is still standing to let Tolkien fans experience a little movie magic, when they visit New Zealand. Also located at at Kaitoke Regional Park is an impressive bronze statue of Legolas. Everyone’s favorite elf.

Lastly as New Zealand is home to a few award winning wineries, it’s also a fun idea to explore a few of new Zealand’s world class wineries. Where you’ll be able to purchase a few bottles, to take home with you as souvenirs.

2# China

China is one of Asia’s most underrated travel destinations, with Japan and Thailand drawing greater numbers of western tourists. However, if you’re a self confessed buff, it’s well worth visiting China to visit some of its most important historical attractions. Some popular examples of which include the Great Wall of China, which is 21 million meters long and has to be seen to be believed and the Forbidden City. An ancient Chinese palace which is located in Beijing, the country’s capital city.

While in China it’s also well worth taking a trip to Xi’An where you’ll be able to view the site where the famous Terracotta Warriors were found. You may be shocked to learn that there are estimated to be over 8,000 individual states. All of which are one of a kind and feature unique details and which were thought to have been created between 210-209 BC. Yes, that’s right all of the Terracotta Warriors were created 200 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Lastly, it would be a shame to visit China without visiting the world famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Where you’ll get a chance to glimpse endangered giant panda cubs. As well as adult giant pandas.

So if you’re looking to visit an underrated travel destination that will take your breath away, you seriously can’t go wrong planning a trip to New Zealand or China.