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There are so many places around the world just waiting to be explored. Some people go their whole lives never leaving the town they were born in. There is too much beauty in the world to not go out and explore. Life should be spent seeing the world, not just staying in your house. In my opinion, jobs should give their employees way more than just the standard 2 weeks of vacation time. There is so much more to life than just sticking to the same routine. Go out and explore what the world has to over. Meet new cultures and new people. Expanding your horizon and mind set only enhances your life. I’m not saying you have to visit every country in the world, but you should at least visit every continent. Actually see the world before you are too old to truly enjoy it. It is a great disservice to yourself to never travel. Not only does traveling expand your mind, it is also known to reduce stress. That is a great added bonus to vacationing because everyone would love some stress relief in their life. Some people say that they don’t have the time to travel but not having enough time should be your main reason to go. Time is the one thing we never have enough of so why waste all of it working every second of the day. You need to get out in the world while you can. You don’t want to wake up one day and feel like you wasted your whole life working and never saw the world. Another reason that people give for not traveling is money. They think that with all the responsibilities and bills they have to pay for that a trip just isn’t in the budget. People fail to realize that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to travel. There are ways to have a vacation and not break the bank. The main thing is you just have to research and plan ahead. Also, if you go to a destination when the area is not in season then the trip will be a lot cheaper.  For example, the most expensive time to take a cruise is during the summer, winter break, and spring break. If you take a cruise outside of those windows of time, then you won’t spend as much money. Prices for plane tickets are also less expensive if you depart sometime during the week instead of the weekend. When you go on your trip you don’t have to stay in a 5-star resort. A basic hotel will do. You are there to get out of your room and explore so the place you sleep doesn’t need to be fancy. If you go to a different country where the dollar is worth more than their currency, then you won’t spend as much. Food can be pretty cheap depending where you go. Once again, and I cannot stress this enough, do your research in advance.          

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Preparation is needed in most things in life. You should always be prepared for whatever could come your way and a vacation is no different. If anything, you should be more prepared for your trip than you usually are for everyday life. Sadly, a vacation is not a daily experience most of us are able to have. It is a great change in pace to be preparing for a fun filled trip somewhere in the world than preparing for another regular day. It’s a lot more exciting to plan an exotic vacation than a morning commute to work. Once you pick your destination for where you want to travel you need to pick a date. The seasons can be extremely different around the world so you need to do your research. When it is summer at your part of the world it could be winter somewhere else and vice versa. It would be a wasted trip if your plan was to be on the beach the whole time and it is freezing at the time of the year you arrive. Imagine if you wanted to go skiing and you arrive just to find that all the snow has melted off the mountain, then you would just be sliding down rocks. When you have figured out the seasons of where you are going and picked the proper months you need to figure out how long you will be staying. Whether it is for a couple days or a couple of weeks you must have your living arraignments sorted out. You will be out of luck if you are only prepared for a 3-day trip but your trip is 3 weeks long. Many studies show that a vacation should be at least 8 days long. You need at minimum 8 days to truly unwind and destress. I personally say go for 2 weeks, the more days out there at your destination spot the better. Most jobs give you 2 weeks of vacation anyways so you might as well take advantage of that paid time off. Now that you have your destination and time frame, you now need to find the means to get to your desired spot. I mentioned on an earlier blog that you can drive there or take a flight. If your destination is less than a 12-hour drive and you have a companion to ride with, I would recommend the road trip approach. Some people worry about putting too many miles on their car. A way to stop that is just rent a car for the trip instead. That way you don’t put that toll on your car and don’t have to worry about what a road trip could do to your car. There are plenty of places for you to rent a car from and compare prices, especially if you live in or by a big city. If the trip is not possible by car than you can always take a plane. A plane trip lets you get to your destination a lot quicker than a car could. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and let the pilot do the work. There are also many places you can go for a flight. Always make sure to check prices from competitors and check them in advance. Plane tickets tend to be cheaper the farther away from the departure flight you pick them.

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This week’s blog is about travel recommendations again. I will be suggesting another trip south of the border. Instead of South America, this week I will be discussing a place in Central America. It is time to get on a plane and head down south to Mexico. More specifically, Cancun and Playa del Carmen will be the main focus of today’s post. Once again, if you are going to any Latin country that is next to water you have to go to the beach. It is my travel guide rule. Be safe, have fun, and soak in the sun. Cancun and Playa del Carmen are located fairly close to each other in the southern part of Mexico. It is right where you exit the Gulf of Mexico and enter the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Off the cost, near there is also Cozumel. Cozumel is a very popular cruise tourist attraction. Many cruise ships stop there on their trip around the Caribbean. The water in all three of the places I just listed is simply beautiful. Depending on where you are, or how far in to the ocean you go, the color of the water can range from a deep blue to an emerald green. When I was in Playa del Carmen I took a boat out of the beach and further in to the water, the water became a gorgeous green the farther off shore we got. The sand on the beach is a pearl white in many places. You feel very relaxed when you are laying down on the beach and taking in the view of the ocean. A stress free environment is the key to a successful trip. I can’t think of anything less stressful than a carefree day on the beach without a worry in world. Other than sitting on the sand and soaking in the sun, another activity I would recommend is taking a visit to see the coral reefs. In a lot of places around the world they are dying off, so you need to cross seeing this vibrant place of life off of your bucket list before it is too late. In Cancun and Playa del Carmen they have plenty of businesses that will give you tours to the coral reefs. It is not just enough to get on a boat and be taken out there, you have to go snorkeling when you arrive at your destination. Let me tell you, it is an indescribable feeling when you are swimming around carol reefs but I will do my best to give the experience justice when I describe it. The number one word that comes to mind is magnificent. The plants and animals just blend together to live in harmony in their homes there. You can find all types of fish, eels, giant Conch, and even sea turtles. Now sea turtles are my favorite animal and seeing them up close in personal was truly amazing. When you swim with them around the coral reef it will feel extremely surreal. This trip is just one of many that will leave you with memories you will never forget.

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Location, location, location. The place you decide to go when you are vacationing is extremely important. For today’s post I am going to recommend a place in Latin America that I feel would be a great place to go. My recommendation for the following place come from personal experience vacationing there. Brazil is the number one place I would suggest going. The culture and people there are just amazing. The fact that I am half Brazilian might make me a little biased in my choice, but that is not the main reason I endorse the country. The second you step off that plane and look around you will be amazed. I travel from Houston, which is a flat place, and land in Rio de Janiero, that has hills everywhere. When you first arrive you need to take a second and just soak in the scenery. It really is a beautiful place. Even when you drive past the favelas none of the beauty of the country is lost. If you end up traveling to Brazil, especially to Rio de Janiero, you have to go to the beach. It would practically be a crime to go to the country and not take the opportunity to enjoy the water. When it is winter over here is when it is summer over there, so I would recommend going to Brazil during the cold months in the United States. That way the water isn’t too cold for you to swim in, but then again Brazil is close enough to the equator so the water should never be freezing. The beaches there are amazing. The sand feels great against your feet and the waves washing over you just adds to the experience. If you go to the beaches in Ipanema or Copacabana, you will be surrounded by people. The more the merrier is what I always say. People walk down the beaches selling drinks and sweets so you never have to leave the sand if you want a snack. Of course you will have to buy a coconut and drink from it, you are in Brazil and can’t miss out on that experience. You’ve never had coconut water until you are drinking it straight out of the coconut, soaking up the sun while you lay on the beach. While you are in Rio de Janiero you have to go see the Christ Redeemer statue. I’ve been to it countless times and go every time I am in the country. It is walk up the statue to the top but it is most definitely worth it. The view when you have reached the top is just amazing. You can look out over the whole city beneath you, and you can see many islands sprawled out across the ocean. Another place I would recommend visiting in Rio de Janiero is the Pan de Azucar, which in English translates to Sugar Loaf. Pan de Azucar is a mountain right next to the Guanabara bay. You take this trolley that is suspended on wires in the air and it lifts you to the top of the mountain. The view going up, while you are on top of the mountain, and traveling back down is just spectacular. Any place you decide to go while in Brazil will surely be a memorable experience.

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The environment and culture around us is constantly changing. It might not be as noticeable to us, but everyday culture integration and interaction is happening. It is a great idea to expand your mindset and broaden your view of other cultures. A way to do just that is to visit other countries. Step outside your regular everyday life and step into the environment of someone else. Getting a culture shock is not necessarily a bad thing, it could be a fun learning experience. When choosing your next vacation spot you should go international. You will be able to immerse yourself with the people and atmosphere of another region. You will have a learning experience and also create new memories. Many people worry about the language barrier when traveling abroad, but that shouldn’t hold you back. In this day in age we have technology to help us with that. Just pull out your phone and use google translate to communicate with the people around you. Also, English is known as the language of business. That means that many people outside of the U.S.A either speak or understand some English. So when it comes to resorts, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tourist attractions there will more than likely be at least one person that can communicate with you. Going to another country also gives you a chance to learn some of the language. Don’t be afraid to try and speak the local dialect. It is much easier to learn another language when you are fully immersed in the culture. People go through 3 years of Spanish in high school and do not learn a thing. Just spend 3 weeks surrounded by people who speak one language and you are sure to learn something. The people there will not expect you to be fluent, and most people find it endearing that you are trying to learn their culture. Individuals in Latin American countries are a good example of a welcoming people. Latin America may be known for their hospitable spirit, but there are so many other regions around the world with friendly people. Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean’s just to name a few regions. What I love about the Caribbean’s and other Island destinations is the natural feel. You feel more in touch with nature there than you will in the big city. Instead of being surrounded by steel buildings, you are surrounded by trees and greenery. It truly is refreshing to walk outside, soak in the view, and get a breath of fresh air. The water out there is beautiful as well. It can be a crystal clear blue or even an emerald green. Many people when on vacation go scuba diving or snorkeling over there. Swimming around coral reefs is a wonderful experience that everyone should do at least once in their life. Being engulfed in nature is memorable and eye opening. Another thing that people do in those areas is go on hikes. They will usually get a tour guide and walk around the wild life. Being surrounded by other cultures and environments is really an experience you won’t regret.

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Choosing where to go on vacation should be a fun experience. Sadly, multiple people experience more stress than relaxation when planning their trip. They worry about choosing the wrong place, whether they should go international or stay domestic, how much the trip is going to cost them, is it a safe place to travel to, and so much more. A bunch of factors come into play during your decision process. The first step that most people take is asking people they know for suggestions. It is always nice to go someplace that you already know will be a good time. People trust peer reviews of places more than they trust the actual resorts that advertise themselves. Most importantly you must have a budget. You can’t really start to narrow down the list of places you want to go without that figured out. You could plan the perfect trip, but if there is no way you can afford it then it was a waste of time. There is no need to break the bank to have a fun time. Being a millionaire is not a necessity to have a memorable trip. People vacation all the time and still manage to pay the bills when they come back. It is all about finding a balance. You need to make sure to have money saved up so you can do the things that you want, but you also have to be realistic. If you want to go on a quick getaway but not spend as much, then keep your trip domestic. A lot of the cost people incur from international vacations is on the plane ticket. To cut that cost out then just stay in the states for your first trip. Domestic flights can be costly depending on where you want to go, but you can just drive instead of flying. Then you are now on a road trip and that is just an added bonus to your vacation. Why waste money to just sit on a plane when you can drive and see the sights. By driving you can also bring more people on the trip with you, and you can split the cost of getting to your destination. Now you are spending less money and have more people to vacation with. You know what they say, the more the merrier. Once you have narrowed down a domestic or international trip you still have more decisions to make. You need to decide what kind of trip you want to go on. You can go to the beach, a lake, a big city, the mountains, national landmarks, and you can even go skiing. When you have decided what you most want to do for your first trip, you still have more research to do. A place to stay is extremely important. At the end of the day you need to sleep somewhere. There are resorts, hotels, motels, and Air Bnbs to choose from. You shouldn’t go too cheap when deciding where to stay because that can have a huge impact on your overall experience. Research, research, and more research is the key to having a successful vacation. As long as you are excited about where you are going you will surly have a memorable experience.