Travel Tips for Journalists

Journalists travel for varied reasons and in most cases, journalists travel to troubled areas or high-risk travel destinations to cover events. It’s important for journalist travelers to understand the security and legal environments of their destinations before they travel. I have a friend out in Texas that owns www.glassdawg.net and his wife is a journalist and she is always giving us tips and how to watch out for local thieves and their tricks on how they take advantage of tourists, especially Americans as they stick out from the crowd. So, nevertheless, it’s still possible to travel to a troubled destination as a journalist and go back home safely. You just need to follow travel tips for journalists I mentioned below that I have gathered from the pros.

Conduct Some Research about Your Travel Destination

Press freedom is not the same in all countries. There are countries where speech freedom is guaranteed by the constitutions. However, some countries have regulations and laws that curtail speech freedom. Therefore, take time to learn how your destination country regulates or protects speech freedom before you travel.

Prepare Appropriately

Before you travel, take time to understand the visa processes and rules of your destination country. For instance, are you allowed to work with your visa in your destination country? This is very important because practicing your journalistic skills in a foreign country amounts to working. Therefore, learn about visa terms to ensure that you don’t violet them and land yourself in trouble.

Registration

In some countries, you are required to register with the local authority before you start practicing your journalistic skills. Therefore, ask your country’s embassy in your destination country about this in advance. For instance, find out whether you are required to get press credentials or register with a press syndicate. However, there are countries where “informal” journalists are tolerated until the local government criticizes them. If you don’t have press credentials, the local government can use this as an excuse to imprison or deport you.

Weigh Your Options

It’s important to determine whether the story that you are going to cover is really worth the risk. Always consider your safety before traveling. If your country has issued travel advisory to your destination, heed to that warning. Also check for additional information that may be provided before you travel and weigh your options carefully.

These are just some of the most important travel tips for journalists. It’s important that you also carry all the equipment that you need when you travel to cover events in a foreign country. Additionally, be keen on the events that unfold during your travel. In some cases, the situation can escalate while in a foreign country making it hard for you to travel back home. Therefore, be keen on what happens around you and go back home when possible or if necessary.

With the rising awareness of environmental issues, the hospitality industry is increasingly turning towards sustainable practices. Eco-friendly lodging offers a responsible way of traveling, ensuring that your stay contributes positively to the preservation of natural resources and the well-being of local communities. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best green hotels worldwide leading the charge in sustainability.

Why Choose Eco-Friendly Lodging?

Choosing eco-friendly lodging isn’t just about reducing your carbon footprint. It’s about supporting hotels and resorts that invest in renewable energy, waste reduction, water conservation, and the local economy. By staying at these establishments, you’re contributing to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.

Top Eco-Friendly Hotels Around the World

1. The Green House, England – Located in Bournemouth, this hotel is a pioneer in eco-tourism, offering luxury with a minimal environmental impact. The Green House sets the standard for sustainable lodging from solar panels to a zero-waste kitchen.
2. Hi Hotel, France – Situated in Nice, Hi Hotel takes a modern approach to sustainability. With its eco-designed rooms and organic restaurant, it offers a chic yet environmentally responsible experience.
3. Six Senses Fiji – This resort is not only known for its breathtaking beauty but also for its commitment to sustainability. With solar-powered energy, a rainwater harvesting system, and organic gardens, Six Senses Fiji provides a luxurious, eco-friendly escape.
4. Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel, Switzerland – Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod offers an innovative approach to hospitality with its low-impact pods that blend into the landscape. Its commitment to eco-tourism is evident in its use of renewable energy and local sourcing.
5. Lapa Rios Lodge, Costa Rica – Set in a private nature reserve, this lodge is a model for conservation. Offering immersive rainforest experiences, Lapa Rios is dedicated to protecting its surroundings and supporting local communities.
6. Bambu Indah, Indonesia – Located in Bali, Bambu Indah combines traditional architecture with sustainable practices. Its unique bamboo structures and natural swimming pools create a serene eco-friendly retreat.

Sustainability Practices in Eco-Friendly Hotels

Eco-friendly hotels implement a variety of sustainability practices to minimize their environmental impact. These include:

• Renewable Energy: Utilizing solar, wind, or geothermal energy to power operations.
• Water Conservation: Implementing rainwater harvesting and water recycling systems.
• Waste Reduction: Composting organic waste and recycling materials.
• Sustainable Sourcing: Using locally sourced and organic products to support the local economy and reduce transportation emissions.
• Eco-Conscious Design: Building and renovating with sustainable materials and techniques to reduce energy consumption.

FAQs

Q: What makes a hotel eco-friendly? A: Eco-friendly hotels implement practices that reduce their environmental impact. This includes using renewable energy, recycling, conserving water, and supporting local communities.

Q: Can eco-friendly lodging be luxurious? A: Absolutely. Many green hotels offer the same level of luxury and comfort as traditional hotels, with the added benefit of being environmentally responsible.

Q: How can I find eco-friendly hotels? A: Look for LEED, Green Globe, or EcoCert certifications. Many travel websites and guides also highlight eco-friendly lodging options.

Q: Are eco-friendly hotels more expensive? A: While some may have higher rates due to their investment in sustainable practices, many are competitively priced. The cost can also reflect the quality of the experience and the benefits to the environment and local communities.

Conclusion

Choosing eco-friendly lodging is a powerful way to travel responsibly. By selecting hotels that prioritize sustainability, you’re not only ensuring a lower environmental impact but also enjoying unique and enriching experiences that traditional lodging can’t offer. As the world becomes more conscious of the need for sustainable living, eco-friendly hotels stand out as beacons of innovation and responsibility in the travel industry. Let’s make responsible travel choices for a greener, more sustainable world.

Did you know there are places where inhabitants have yet to enjoy modernity? For instance, the Sentinelese tribe in the Andaman Islands in Myanmar has never visited India, which governs them. Some places are off-limit for ordinary people, allowing only the elite to travel there. This blog post lists the top islands with high human travel restrictions.

Andaman Islands

Most people know the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal for their inhabitants, the Sentinelese. These people form a small tribe that has resided there for over 60,000 years. This tribe isolates itself from the world, and people know it for harming outsiders. Rarely have travelers photographed the indigenous people, making them the planet’s anomaly. Also, their hostility has made even the Indian government give up on contacting them.

Fort Carrol Island, Baltimore

This island is off the Baltimore coast. It’s a decaying artificial island that has protected the city since the 19th century during the Civil War. It is hexagonal, but nobody uses it because of the constant flooding risk. It served as the army’s firing range and a ship checkpoint during World War II. This island remains isolated even after its sale to a private owner.

Niihau, Hawaii

Every Island in Hawaii has a nickname, and people know Niihau as a forbidden island. The same family has owned the island since 1864. Travels to this island ceased in 1952 to protect the natives from the polio epidemic. Since then, people from the outside world have not traveled to this island. However, the inhabitants have become lenient, allowing helicopter tours to this place for a few hours.

Visiting the islands with strict human travel restrictions is not child’s play. It requires connections to the locals or authorities. Therefore, take your time to plan your trip to these places and take appropriate precautionary measures to ensure your safety.

Urban travels are all about experiencing city life. Whether you’re looking for vibrant nightlife, exciting history, or modern architecture to admire, urban destinations have it all. Here are some of the best cities around the world that offer unforgettable urban travel experiences: 

New York City, USA 

NYC has something for everyone and is among the most iconic cities in the world. From exploring Central Park and strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge to admiring world-class art collections at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this bustling metropolis has no shortage of amazing things. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Travelers who seek an eclectic urban experience should head to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam. Here they’ll find a mix of classic and modern attractions and plenty of museums, galleries, and music venues to explore. Regarding food, visitors can enjoy traditional Dutch dishes such as bitterballen (savory croquettes) or poffertjes (mini pancakes). There’s also world-class shopping along the Nine Streets district and plenty of bars and cafes to enjoy an evening out. 

Tokyo, Japan

The city that never sleeps, vibrant Tokyo offers its visitors a glimpse into Japanese culture like no other city. From bustling Shibuya Crossing in the center of Tokyo to the many temples and shrines in Kyoto, a visit here offers an unforgettable experience. Visitors who want to explore urban further should head to Akihabara Electric Town for the latest electronics finds or Ueno Park for its colorful street markets and food stalls. 

Barcelona, Spain

With its playful architecture, vibrant nightlife, and many museums, Barcelona is one of Europe’s most exciting cities. Enjoying tapas at La Boqueria market or taking in the works at Casa Batlló will keep any traveler busy all day long. For those who want to get off the beaten path, check out the El Raval neighborhood—its narrow streets are full of hidden gems and street art. 

London, England

From its beautiful parks and green spaces to its lively markets and historical landmarks—there’s something for everyone in London! Stroll along the Thames River or explore nearby Notting Hill for its trendy boutiques and unique street art. Be sure to catch a performance at the world-renowned Globe Theatre or grab a pint at one of the city’s traditional pubs. 

No matter which destination you choose, an urban adventure awaits! Explore some of these incredible cities for yourself and create unforgettable experiences. Happy travels!

 Before planning to travel, there are things that you may have spent quite a time preparing for your adventure, like saving up money. Have you ever considered earning more money while on your travel? Making extra cash could help you with your budget, buy anything you may need, or even spend more time in the place than initially planned. Below is a list of some creative ways that could earn you money as you you’re the world;

Freelancing Online

You can apply for various jobs that clients offer worldwide on freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Among the most lucrative fields in freelancing include web design and development, graphic design, content writing, and translation and editing.

Language Tutoring

English tuition demand is enormous all over the globe, which is why teaching English as a foreign language is an excellent way of earning income while traveling. 

Native English speaker individuals and teachers tend to employ teachers whose mother tongue is English, so taking a course like TEFL would be a great idea to increase your chances of getting work.

Online Business

Growing your business online is challenging but also the best option for those who want to build a long-term lifestyle. Whatever your passion, you can create an online business for it—for instance, creating a blog whereby you offer your services like accounting, social media management, etc.

Sell Your Photos

If you are a great photographer, you may consider being a freelancing photographer and selling your work on websites like Shutterstock, 500px, and Etsy. You earn money every time someone buys your Image for an advertisement for their website.

The Bottom Line

A big budget should not be an obstacle when planning to explore the world. The above-discussed points and others should inspire you to make money while you travel.

 Your honeymoon should offer much-needed relaxation after the many months spent preparing for your wedding. And this is the time you will spend with your partner alone and probably one of the most significant trips you have taken so far. As much as it sounds heavenly and sweet, the task of planning for a honeymoon can be stressful. This article will highlight a few tips for your honeymoon to help you save more.

 Plan Early and Together

Discuss destinations, trip durations, and travel dates with your partner. But, differences in opinions may arise, so ensure that you keep an open mind. Remember that the perfect honeymoon is where your spouse should meet all your intimate desires. But both partners should enjoy their honeymoon. With planning early, you can enjoy some benefits such as cheaper airfare. Honeymoon planning should be a joint affair.

Pack for Your Partner

Is your partner poor at packing? Some of our partners cannot put together everything they need while traveling. Including a few things that you think they will need shows how thoughtful you are. That is a nice gesture and a perfect occasion to show affection. It may be small, but it goes a long way towards strengthening the relationship.

 Inform the Hotel Earlier

Hotels tend to do something special for you, especially when they know it’s your honeymoon. You might receive an upgrade to your hotel room. In other circumstances, they will leave something special in your hotel room, such as flowers, chocolate, or a bottle of champagne. And this is an easy and effective way to feel special and loved.

 We understand how important your honeymoon is to newlyweds. These tips should help you plan and enjoy your honeymoon.

Although it might seem easy to some, pregnancy is not always a bed of roses. It has several signs that could make life seem quite hectic and tiresome. As such, taking a trip during your pregnancy can be a great way to relieve the stress and rejuvenate, ensuring better health for both the mother and baby. Here are the top travel destinations for pregnant. 

Kauai, Hawaii 

Kauai, Hawaii, is a great destination to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy incredible sights. Unlike most surrounding islands, Kauai is less inhabited, which offers a clean atmosphere with secluded beaches where pregnant travelers can relax and de-stress leisurely. 

The ‘Garden Island’ also boasts lush, picturesque sceneries with mountains, waterfalls, and other spectacular sights. Travelers can also enjoy various water, land, and air activities on the island. 

Venice, Italy 

Apart from its reputation as one of the world’s most romantic cities, Venice is an iconic destination with plenty of beautiful sceneries to wow every pregnant single traveler or couple. It boasts historical-cultural attractions, including religious sites, palaces, colorful villages, and museums. The pristine marble streets are great for healthy walks but, you can also tour the city by boat. Venice, Italy, is an incredible place to soak up the sun and experience some downtime before the arrival of your baby. 

Byron Bay, Australia 

Byron Bay, Australia, is also a renowned babymoon destination that you should visit during your pregnancy. It has pristine sandy beaches, a mellow atmosphere, and a health-conscious attitude that every expectant mother would find quite impressive. You can take strolls along the shores, enjoy wellness treats at the day spas, or indulge in spiritual activities for mothers. The Australian coast is also a haven for superfood fruits to enhance your nutrients and energy during the trip.

Other suitable destinations for pregnant travelers include Blue Lagoon, Iceland; Tuscany, Italy; Nantucket, Massachusetts; Palm Springs, California; and Kyoto, Japan. Although pregnancy should not hold you back from traveling, talking to your doctor in advance is advisable. 

With the news of COVID-19 still persistent in most parts of the world, a lot of people are wondering if it will even be possible to go on vacations this year. Travelers are bussing with a series of travel questions. However, there are hopes that travel will soon resume as some parts of the world have reported improvements in containing the deadly virus. In case you are planning a vacation during COVID 19, the following are important tips to keep you safe. 

Carefully Choose Your Destination 

The safety of your vacation will mainly depend on where you plan to retreat. Although some countries are already lifting travel restrictions, several destinations are still pinned down by the pandemic. Before choosing a destination, make sure that you check the existing travel restrictions and quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to stay indoors for two weeks upon their arrival. 

Conduct a Risk Assessment 

It is also advisable that you check the statistics for the COVID 19 infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths in your destination.  Look if there has been a steady decline in the infections in the last two weeks. You should also check the policies of the airlines regarding COVID-19 safety measures. Consider booking an airline with guidelines that you are comfortable with. 

Observe COVID-19 Safety Precautions 

All the travel service providers including airlines, tour operators, cruise ships, public buses, and trains have been given safety guidelines that they must observe to reduce the risks of transmissions among their customers and employees. Similarly, there are also safety precautions for the public such as social distancing, wearing a mask, and hand washing that you should maintain at all times. 

Most people are scared of taking vacations during COVID-19. However, it could also be one of the best times to travel if you carefully choose your destination, conduct a proper risk assessment, and observe all the coronavirus safety precautions. 

Some people have different reasons for not traveling. However, none of these reasons stand up to several things that make traveling awesome. Here are some of the things that make travel amazing. 

Traveling Brings History Lessons to Life 

You have probably been reading textbooks about different travel destinations. Perhaps, you have always wanted to travel to those places but never had a chance to do so. When you travel to places like Italy, Thailand, and Spain, the things you’ve learned in history come to life. For instance, you can visit a historical site and get a firsthand perspective of it. Thus, traveling gives you a chance to immerse yourself into a learning experience. 

You Forget Materialism and Enjoy the Experience 

Some people don’t travel because they want to save money. They have become entrenched into seeking money to the extent of going through life without enjoying great experiences. When you travel, you realize that you don’t have to spend all your money piling up things like shoes, clothes, video games, and beauty products. 

Traveling opens up your mind into the things you can enjoy outdoors. For instance, you realize that you can enjoy a better experience if you explore the marine ecology at a place like Panama. You also realize that you can learn great cooking skills in a place like Southeast Asia. Eventually, you learn that such little things can make your life more interesting and enjoyable. 

Traveling Makes You Better at Being in a Group and Alone 

When you start traveling, you stop hiding behind your extrovert or introvert label. If you’re a solo traveler, you will spend much of your time alone. But, if you love traveling in groups, you will be in the company of other people most of the time. These experiences are easier and important when enjoying the view of awesome scenery or enjoying a fascinating culture. They teach you to be better in groups and even alone. 

Traveling is an awesome activity. It enables you to learn more and become a better person. So, if you’ve not been traveling more often, this is the time to start. 

Before you buy solo travel insurance, it’s crucial to determine what it covers. Several things can happen to you when traveling alone, especially when you choose a destination outside your home country. As such, you should choose travel insurance whose coverage ensures your protection while away. 

When buying solo travel insurance, consider your annual travel plans. Determine whether your travel plans include: 

• Single short trips- You may want to take a single or two trips throughout the year. 
• Single long trips- You may want to go on trips that will last more than 30 days. 
• Multiple trips- You may want to go on two or more trips that will take 2 to 4 weeks during the year. 

After this, consider the most appropriate coverage for your solo travel insurance. 

Coverage for Solo Travel Insurance

Your solo travel insurance can cover different categories of risks. Major among them include: 

• Dental and medical coverage- This includes coverage for accidents and illness. This should be your priority because you don’t know how the weather and food at your travel destination will affect your health. To ensure your good health and safety, get the insurance that provides dental and medical coverage. 
• Trip delay, interruption, or cancellation- This coverage is important to travelers that purchase a cruise or tour. When traveling independently, most people don’t invest a significant amount of money upfront. Thus, this coverage might be less critical for them. 
• Personal and baggage effects loss- Damage or theft of personal belongings can cause real trouble to a traveler. To avoid the trouble that loss of personal belongings and baggage can bring, buy insurance that covers their loss or theft. 

Before you purchase solo travel insurance, compare coverage and prices of different companies. This will enable you to buy travel insurance that provides important coverage at a reasonable price. 

To some pet lovers, a trip is no fun if their pets are left behind. While your puppy can be a great travel companion, going on trips together also comes with its set of challenges that you should be prepared to tackle. The following tips for traveling in a car with a puppy can help you to easily overcome most of the hurdles. 

Train Your Puppy to Ride in a Car 

Driving in a car with your puppy for the first time can be stressful if it is not properly trained for such situations. If you cannot train the pup on your own, simply hire a trainer to do it. The sooner it gets accustomed to riding in a car, the easier it will be for both of you on the road. You can start by taking the pup on short car drives around. 

Get a Suitable Crate or Carrier 

Traveling in a car with a puppy requires that you use a crate or carrier to house it during the journey. When choosing a crate or carrier, go for one that is strong, well-ventilated and spacious enough for the puppy to maneuver.  If your puppy is not used to such restraints, it is also important to train it before the trip. 

Whenever you come to a stop and need to leave the car for some time, always remember to take the puppy with you. 

Carry the Puppy’s Vet Records 

The varying climatic and weather conditions experienced on the road can make your puppy to suddenly fall sick. As a result, you should always carry their vet records to assist with getting the right medical assistance for your puppy in case it starts to feel unwell.  

Observe the Pet’s Feeding Schedule 

Traveling may no doubt alter the feeding routines for your pet. However, you should not leave the puppy hungry for too long as that could impact erratic behaviors. It is advisable to feed the puppy well before departure and offer supplements and water on the road. 

Although traveling in a car with a puppy might seem daunting, proper preparations, training and a better understanding of your pet can make all the difference. With that, you and your puppy can experience remarkable adventures on the road.