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People mostly travel for fun, but have you ever thought about traveling on your own? According to most soloist travelers, traveling alone brings a lot of fun and boosts confidence.

One advantage is you can write your own itinerary and another one is to not think too much of time compared with traveling with a companion.

If you have been traveling for a long time now and have not tried traveling alone yet, perhaps this is something you may want to consider in the future.

We know some of you might still feel scared at the thought of it, but it is actually not as scary as you think it would be, especially after you've done it.

Traveling on your own is still fun, although the fun it brings might somehow be different compared with traveling with a companion. If you want to be a solo adventurer next time, the first thing you need to do is to be prepared for it.

By saying prepared, this means there are some tips to follow. In this article, you would learn some of the tips shared by other solo adventurers that will help make the entire trip fun and memorable for you.

Bring everything you need

First things first - you need to make sure nothing is left behind before the date of departure. This means preparing everything you need to bring with you days ahead, and not cram, lest you travel in lack.

Some of the important things you need to bring with you are your documents, such as your passport, ID, and tickets, cash and credit card, cellphone and other gadgets you will be needing for documentation purposes, medicines, and toiletries.

It is better to be prepared than never. Always remember that you are traveling alone, therefore there is no one to easily ask help from in case something urgent comes up during the trip.

The good thing about this, though, is that the experience itself will teach you to be responsible and independent. Traveling alone is not a joke, but because of the pressure and different emotions that will come out, you would have no other choice but take on the challenge. You could say it is a life-changing event, you know!

Study the place and learn the culture

Part of the preparation process is to study the place where you are heading to. Study your hotel whereabouts, the delicious restaurants near your area, the food to try, and of course the culture!

It also pays a lot if you also know the weather of the place during the time of the visit. This way, you can know what clothes to bring. If you are going there during winter time, then perhaps you could bring jackets, boots, and gloves. Likewise, you bring comfortable clothes if you are coming during summer time.

When it comes to the culture of the place, it is important to know it fully and adapt to it once you get there. Each place has a different culture, so expect that not everything would be as pleasant as what you were used to back home. However, learning a different culture is actually so much fun.

Especially if you are someone who has been traveling for a long time already, you know that the culture of a specific place adds up to the enjoyment of the entire trip. It wouldn't be as exciting as you thought it would be if not for its unique and interesting culture, right?

For example, a lot of people go to Japan simply because they love to immerse in its culture. Tourists go there to eat Japanese cuisines, visit historical places that depict Japanese culture, and even wear Kimono to complete the enjoyment of their trip.

So, to make it more pleasant for you while traveling alone, try to learn the culture of the place first and once you are already there, immerse yourself in it - as if you are a part of it - and be really merry.

Be friendly

You are traveling on your own, so it would be a bit lonely at times. However, that shouldn't always be the case if you just step out from own shyness and be amiable to anyone you meet down the road.

Basing from other's experiences, meeting new people during the trip will add up to the fun and enjoyment traveling alone brings. Imagine learning a different language, copying their mannerism, going to beautiful places not yet heard or advertised, and eating exotic foods with them - it would be so much fun!

By being friendly, it wouldn't seem like you are traveling on your own because of the new friends you will meet during your trip.

If you are not convinced yet, that is fine! However, try to read some blogs from solo adventurers and dig deeper into their travel experiences to know better. To conclude, traveling alone is not bad at all. In fact, it will give you lots of lessons learned in the end.


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If you want to save money on airfare, you may turn to the internet to search for money-saving travel tips. One tip you will find involves vacationing in the off-season. Apparently, it saves most travelers hundreds of dollars, just on airfare alone. As great as this sounds, is vacationing in the off-season right for you? To determine if so, examine the pros and cons of off-season vacationing.

The Pros of Vacationing in the Off-Season

You pay less on airfare. The greatest benefit of vacationing in the off-season is the cheap airfare. Why is it cheaper to fly in the off-season? It has to do with popularity and filled flights. Airlines lose money whenever there are empty seats on a plane. They want to fill those seats, so they offer discounts. As for popularity, most vacation destinations have tourists seasons and off-seasons. The height of tourist season in Colorado is winter, as it is a ski state. Due to its popularity, airlines have no problems filling flights in the height of tourist season, but they do in the off-season. That is why you are more likely to find deals and discounts.

You get better deals on hotels and resorts. The possibility to save one hundred or more on airfare is enough for some tourists to hold off on making their travel plans, but what if you could also save on your hotel or resort? It is possible when you vacation in the off-season. Hotels and resorts offer off-season deals and discounts for the same reasons the airlines do; they lose money each time a room is empty. It is harder to fill these rooms in the off-season, so the discounts are more frequent and more valuable. When you calculate the money saved on airfare and your hotel, you could save thousands of dollars on an extended trip.

There are fewer tourists to deal with. Do you want to relax on the beaches of Miami, Florida in the middle of July? If so, you are not alone. Luckily, those same beaches are beautiful in late spring and early fall. If you wait until then to travel, you will find fewer tourists. Whether you want to travel to relax or have the adventure of a lifetime, you don’t want to be one in a crowd of thousands. Overcrowded hotels, beaches, and restaurants are one of the quickest ways to ruin an otherwise good vacation. By vacationing in the off-season, you still gain access to great activities and attractions.

The Cons of Vacationing in the Off-Season

You may not have the freedom to decide. If you are traveling for a vacation, you can try to work with your employer to negotiate your vacation time. However, if you are traveling to spend time with friends and family back home or to attend a special event, such as a wedding, your hands are tied. Although it is easy to save money by traveling in the off-season, not everyone has the luxury to dictate their travel dates.

The discount may not be that good. You will save money by vacationing in the off-season. This is all but guaranteed. However, the amount you save will vary. It depends on where you travel, which airline you fly, and your destination. If waiting until late fall to visit the beaches of Miami only saves you $50, is it really worth the hassle? Not likely.

The weather may hamper your vacation. There is a reason why popular vacation destinations have off-seasons. That reason is the weather. New York City is a popular vacation destination, but no one wants to visit when it is covered in snow and ice. Not many people want to visit Colorado in the summertime, as there is no snow to ski on. In this aspect, the weather can impact your available vacation activities. If you have your heart set on skiing the beautiful mountains of Colorado, don’t wait until the off-season. You will get your trip and save money, but it will be nothing like you dreamed.

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It's not hard to tell when you're approaching the popular Umbrian town of Assisi - its thirteenth-century basilica stretches along the hilltop, dominating the horizon for miles around.

Although this area was once known by people in the Middle Ages as 'the hill of hell', nowadays thousands of people - art historians, holidaymakers, and religious pilgrims alike - arrive in the town every year, to visit the basilica where St Francis of Assisi (or San Francesco di Assisi, to give him his original Italian name) is buried.

The vast building is actually made up of two churches, one set above the other, and they are very different in style. The upper church is Gothic and slender, while the lower one, which you enter via a thirteenth-century archway, has a much more austere, almost squat aspect.

Here in the lower church, the magnificent frescoes - including works by Giotto, Lorenzetti and Martini - captivate visitors, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

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The remains of St Francis were not actually discovered until excavations were carried out under the altar in the early 1800s. In 1820, Pope Pio IX canonized Francesco and ordered the building of the neoclassical style crypt, and it is here that countless people now come to pay their respects to San Francesco.

Although the Basilica of San Francesco is the main attraction for visitors, there is yet more to discover in this town where the Franciscan Order was born. By contrast, for example, the Lyrick Theatre (Teatro Lyrick) in Via G. D'Annunzio offers a varied programme of dance, music, drama and comedy all year round.

As with anywhere in Italy, it goes without saying that you can also enjoy some of the finest food and wine to be found. In Assisi, the regional specialities include delicious mushrooms and that prized delicacy, the truffle. Extra virgin olive oil too is particularly fine here, owing to the landscape's many thousands of olive trees that give Umbria its silvery green shimmer.

Reaching Assisi is fairly easy, with a variety of options. The small Sant'Egidio international airport is about 10km away, although there is no bus connecting it with the town. Alternatively, the train is a good option. Travelling from Florence, for instance, you can take one of the regular daily trains, just changing at Terontola or Cortona. From Rome, again take one of around ten daily trains, this time changing at Foligno. Remember though, the train stations in Umbria are at the foot of the hills, while the towns cling to the sides... and the Basilica of San Francesco is at the top.



Keeping the St Francis connection, you might also like to take in Isola Maggiore, the largest of the three islands on Lake Trasimeno, which is within easy reach around 50km away. St Francis chose to spend Lent on the island in 1211, recognising its closeness to nature and how perfect it was for quiet reflection. Today, Isola Maggiore is gently evolving into a simple cultural retreat, and creative writing workshops take place there each Spring and Autumn, as well as the annual Isola del Libri book festival.


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Roatan, Honduras, remains a largely undiscovered jewel of the Caribbean. Cruisers are starting to become acquainted with it as more cruise lines add it to their list of ports. The island is home to two cruise ports that service and accommodate hundreds of visits every year. Almost invariably, passengers fall in love with the lush paradise, which differentiates itself from many other islands in that the island home to tropical forests and palm trees that provide shade on many of the island's picturesque beaches. Cruisers aren't the only visitors, though, as SCUBA divers from the United States and Canada frequently fly down to spend a week or two underwater.

Diving is the undisputed top attraction of the island. At many dive destinations around the world, divers have to spend the better part of an hour or more to reach dive sites, substantially increasing the time commitment that people make to the activity, making divers prone to seasickness, and keeping divers from spending as much time as they might like on other activities. In Roatan, though, the reef is just a few minutes from the shore, with many dive sites located no more than a couple of hundred yards from shore. This means that divers can get in more dives in less time while enjoying some of the world's best diving.

For those who prefer to stay on the surface, there is no shortage of snorkeling options. Some SCUBA shops accommodate snorkelers as well. West Bay Beach, one of the top choices for islanders local and expat alike, is just a short swim from the reef, where wildlife is abundant. Half Moon Bay in West End also offers plenty to see, much of it in water that is waist deep.

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West Bay and West End tend to be both the safest and most popular options for tourists on shore. West Bay has several resorts located right on the beach, putting the Caribbean Sea within a minute of their guests. The resorts offer several dining options, ranging from meals in the $8-$10 range to far more luxurious options. Available activities include jet skiing, parasailing, and SNUBA, an option for those who are not certified SCUBA divers to experience the underwater world.

West End is the island's main bar strip. It has everything from bars offering $1 beers at Booty Bar to the Argentina Grill and Lighthouse Grill, which cater to those looking for higher-end dining experiences. Even those establishments offering high-end food, though, the ambience is just as casual as it is throughout the rest of the island.

Visitors looking for other experiences on land can visit the Garifuna village to get a look at one of the island's oldest communities. For the adventurous sorts, ziplining and go-carting are readily available. Animal lovers may also enjoy the iguana farm, where massive iguanas crawl over each other - and the feet of visitors, to eat the leaves that visitors feed to them. Opportunities for close encounters with monkeys are also an option. For animal lovers who want the most intimate possible encounters, a swim with the dolphins at Anthony's Key is a must.


Roatan has earned its growing reputation as a jewel of the Western Caribbean. It offers something for everyone, from those who want adventure to those who just want to relax and enjoy a few drinks on some of the world's most beautiful beaches. Anyone planning a cruise, or a relaxing vacation would do well to consider this largely undiscovered destination.


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In the western spans of Serbia, we travelled through the Valjevo gulch(canyon) like we were its first settlers, gradually and to a hush just broken by the streaming of the river which we would break with our steps as we traversed. A steam train transported us through the rippling green woods that began in Mokra Gora and spread past the mountain tops on the steam-fuelled tracks of the Sargan Eight Railway. An evening, flanked by an eminent and glorious sun, was spent after the delicate flow of the strong Dunabe River from the little shorelines of Novi Sad to a narrow point that appeared like the serene end of its overwhelming course. On another, our little pontoon conquered the many twists of the 10-kilometer long Uvac River, embraced by the mountainous plateau.

Nature of Serbia

The back and forth movements of Serbia don't just originate from its social change since troubled time. A nation that is 75% bumpy! What I mean is Mountain! It is scattered with rolling green, secured nature parks, ravines, rivers, and lakes. I spent seven days investigating nearly the full extent of the nation west of its Capital, Belgrade - from the coastline of Novi Sad to the valleys of Valjevo, the wilderness of Gostoljublje to mountainous Zlatibor and the breadth of Tara National Park to the gigantic, snaking Uvac Gorge.

On the off chance that there is one thing that Serbia isn't really known for, it's a plenitude of untouched and unfamiliar nature. Traveling through Serbia is to move with the natural setting that has been presented to it, to be dynamic to explore its multi-layers and exceptional landscape.

For when you strip away a mind-boggling society and governmental issues, the magnificence of the landscape and nature in Serbia is the one thing here that has not ever changed and neither will be.

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Trekking The Gradac River, Valjevo 

The Gradac River goes through what I said to be some of Serbia's ideal and untouched scenery. Steep slants, high rock developments, and precipice faces encase a shallow river that curves through the timberlands and meadows of this secured region in shades of white and silver. Its streaming waters were our waymarkers as we trekked through the towns of Valjevo that lay covered up in this bumpy landscape - a 50km-long said to represent to a natural outskirt of northwest Serbia towards the south. Wild Serbia, an experience tour organization set up by local people from this very zone, takes you into the very heart of the area - deep into the Canyon, through its forest, and knee-deep into the frigid icy crisp waters flanked by twisting trees and mud tracks!

Winding The Uvac Gorge

We landed on a street that bended around the edges of the high cliff faces, and the main sighting was of a swing that just called for us to leave dead speechless and take in the view. It was the flight of flexibility after entering the Uvac Gorge in southwestern Serbia, and keeping in mind that 10,000-foot view can catch the eminent curves of this river. Even this scene was sufficient to catch the feeling of the numerous wild and free landscapes in this nation.

Inching down a manmade soil incline, we came straightforwardly to the riverfront where we could hire a boat and driver. Pontoon trips are the must-do here, where you feel as though you've been gobbled up by all the clichés of a marvelous natural scene, gliding through the gorge of the River Uvac yet feeling as though you have never observed anything like its color of reflected blues and greens never before. Truly, you haven't!

Drifting on The Danube 

Obviously, the greatest river that slices through Serbia is the Danube - a relentless spread that slices through 10 nations, from Germany and Austria in the west to the Balkan plain (and in the long run Ukraine). Europe's second-biggest river and its wide banks and endless appearance are tempting to explore.

From the sandy banks that line Serbia's second greatest city of Novi Sad, we delicately skimmed down towards a little sandy hill, likened to a mysterious island, before bouncing in kayaks and paddling to the most tranquil corners. Dunavski Rafting are your hosts, welcoming you on board its wooden house-like vessel and giving all the gear you have to float around, entire with a local guide who knows these waters and its stories. Isn't it great?



Riding The Sargan Eight Railway 

Riding the Sargan Eight narrow gorge railroad in southwestern Serbia through the bumpy valleys is a cultural-changing experience here, regardless of whether you just take a short half-hour travel. An eager train nerd's fantasy, the steam's emerald green shell sits inside a setting likened to stepping back in time. Maybe to the late 1900's, the point at which it initially ran its chugging, steaming course through restricted gages from Sarajevo to Belgrade - a connection that shut in 1974.

Now you can bounce on board at the town of Mokra Gora and take in the barcode tag of tree trunks in a shuddering of green as you trundle through the Sargan pass that was remade in the mid-2000's.

A place where there is diverse landscape, it is Serbia's natural treasures untouched by the contention that give it another new lease of life, and additionally hope for the local people to show a wonderful side to the nation that we once in a while, if at all, hear about.


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For the grown-ups, beaches are great for sun-bathing, surfing, and swimming, but for kids it is more than that. For kids, it is a different world altogether. On the beaches, they have all the freedom to use their imagination and to increase the spectrum of their thinking. Here, they can dance, sing, play, dive, surf and do a hundreds thousand activities. Following are a few of the exciting activities which one can enjoy with their kids on the beach.

1. Treasure Hunt

This is one of the most loved games for kids. When you have sand all around you, hiding things will become even more interesting. This game can be modified in a number of ways. One of them could be where parents can hide things under the sand and place an identifier on top of it. They can then ask the kids to guess what is there under each identifier. For example, if they have put a Kids Jewellery Box under the sand they can put a bangle over it. The article at the top will be a hint to what is under the sand.

2. Beach Bowling

Creating the bowling pins out of the sand will be the first exciting part of this game, followed by playing a game of bowling with your gang. The re-creation of pins every time will make them even more involved in the game. They can play this game in groups as well, where they can keep rotating the roles of bowling, creating pins etc.

3. Beach Funny Faces

The best way to play with the sand is to show your creativity. You can draw numerous funny faces on the beach. While creating these faces, kids can also play a game where they will talk to each other by making only faces and not speaking. This will encourage them to understand different kinds of human emotions. Who knows? We may get back a totally new set of emoticons invented by these little geniuses.

4. Sun-Dial

This is one of the easiest and simplest activities you can enjoy on a beach. You only need a stick and few pebbles, which you can get easily. Place the stick in the centre in an upright position and place the pebbles around it equidistant from each other in a circle. While chilling out and playing, kids will observe and learn how the motion of the sun is associated with our time system.

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5. Sponge-Animal

Let the children understand how a certain object can absorb so much of water and become heavy. First, they can make the sponge-animals absorb water from the sea and then they can play various throwing and catching games with these sponges. When someone catches the sponge, they will be splashed with water.

6. Balloon Fish

Sitting on the sea-shore, one can easily find a couple of fishes closer to shore. Parents can show children some fishes in the sea, and can ask the kids to draw the faces of the fishes which they saw near the shore on the balloons. They can then fill balloons with water and will be happy to see the inflating of their balloon. This will make them understand how things inflate in real world.

7. Passing the Water

This game is played by more than one player. The more people, the more interesting this game will become. The main idea behind this game is to pass the water in one player's glass, to the glass of the person who is standing right behind him. They can make themselves stand in any way. They can either stand one after the other in a straight queue or they can even form a circle.

8. Beach Ball with a Balloon

Kids can place one balloon at the center of the towel, and can play a game of catch by making the balloon jump up and down on the towel. The aim will be to save the balloons from bursting.

9. Hide and Seek Castles

First, the kids will have to prepare several castles from sand and will have to name them individually. When the game will proceed, one of the kids will become the finder and rest all will try to hide behind the castle. The Finder will then guess who is behind each castle.

10. Playing with Alphabets/Numbers

The beach can be treated as a large notebook for beginners who have just started learning the alphabet, and numbers. We can help them learn the shapes of different letters and numbers by making them draw the figures on the beach. The moment the sea will erase these drawings, it will be fun for kids to re-draw them, and this will allow them to practice.



11. Beach-Tents

Kids can prepare a small beach-tent out of their bed-sheet, sticks, and some medium-sized pebbles. Sleeping in tents in jungles has always been fun for people in any age group, but one can not take kids into jungle. To make the kids feel like they are in the jungle, parents can decorate their tents in hut-like fashion, and also place some bushes around the tent.

12. Tug-O-War

One of the favorite games for all age groups, this can be played by using a simple item, like rope, and involves a lot of teamwork. The kids will learn how to make strategies to defeat their opponents. Though this game symbolizes strength, good strategies will usually prevail. Parents can include themselves in this activity to keep the game moving, as most of the time, kids will not be able to survive in this game for more than few seconds.

13. Shell-Search

The young Sherlock-Holmes can get hands-on experience searching for different kinds of shells. The person who gets the most shells will be the winner.

14. Music

Here, parents can help their kids identify the sound and rhythm of sea-waves, and how they relate to the sounds that musical instruments make. However, this activity will require quietness and an isolated beach, but the effort to find one will definitely pay-off.

15. Mom's Bucket

This game can be taken as a war between the moms who have brought their children to the beach. The moms are required to hold the buckets 10-15 meters from the shore, and the kids will bring water from the shore to fill the bucket. Whoever fills it up first will be the winner. Here, one can utilize the timing of the waves to reduce the distance travelled to fill up the bucket quickly.

Author: Bob Tom

Has that dream vacation been on your mind a lot lately, but the travel costs keep holding you back? Make that much-needed getaway possible with Wizootravel. Save up to 60% on hotels and flights with our guaranteed cheapest deals to destinations worldwide. No hidden fees. Just what you see. Book your dream holiday now!

Aldeyjarfoss Waterfall

Did you come across an irresistible airfare deal for traveling to the Land Of Fire And Ice in winter? Maybe a vacation to Iceland had been in your plans for a long time. However never in your wildest imagination did you ever think of visiting this spectacular landscape in winter. Do not fret. You would be pleasantly surprised that visiting Iceland in winter has its advantages. If you compare the winter of this nation to some of the leading places around the globe you will see that relatively Iceland has milder winter despite its proximity to the Arctic Circle. The Gulf Stream current helps in moderating the climate.

Watch out for discounts

If you are searching for low-budget traveling, then winter season will work out efficiently for you. This is because the rates drop steadily compared to the summer season. You may get discounted rates on Grand Golden Circle day trip during this season. The Icelandic winters are well known for the Northern Lights. Layer up in the warmest clothes and get ready for sightseeing.

Geological wonders

You can opt for the Grand Golden Circle day trip which is accessible even during winter. This compact tour will cover Pingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir geothermal area where the hot spring Strokkur erupts after eight minutes.



Natural ice caves

Among the unique wonders of this beautiful nation, one of the natural attractions that are really stunning is the natural ice caves which form in Vatnajokull glacier. They start to melt in the summer season. The blue ice caves create an impressive sight, and they differ in size and shape. Sometimes you may come across quite a few of these temporary ice caves while at other times you may see many of them. You can go on a day tour to these caves by flight from Reykjavik.

Northern Lights

You need the ideal weather conditions along with appropriate solar activity and a bit of luck to view the Northern Lights. Of course, you will require a clear sky to see the spectacular aurora activity. You have to avoid full moon nights. You should run a check on the websites which provides aurora forecasts. If you can travel all the way to the northern part of Iceland where there are extended hours of darkness, then your chances of catching aurora borealis will increase.

Relaxing day at the spa

The natural hot springs are an integral part of Icelandic culture. You can relax your muscles in the volcanically heated pools which trace their origin back to the Viking days. In recent times, most of the incredible locations have installed geothermally heated pools with hot tubs. The Blue Lagoon spa is a favorite tourist attraction. It is situated in a lava field. The presence of mineral salts helps in the relaxation of the body.


Rely on the tour operators

Choose a tour operator who knows the locality like the back of his hand. Since Icelandic weather can be unpredictable at times, so it is the tour operator who decides if a trip needs to be canceled because of harsh weather conditions. Before deciding on a company, check out their website for the details of packages they offer.


Author: Dinesh Patel

Has that dream vacation been on your mind a lot lately, but the travel costs keep holding you back? Make that much-needed getaway possible with Wizootravel. Save up to 60% on hotels and flights with our guaranteed cheapest deals to destinations worldwide. No hidden fees. Just what you see. Book your dream holiday now!