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Hey there Happy Travelers! I'm excited to bring you a guest post from Sean Tolliver, that's all about booking a sailing trip for your honeymoon. Which, to be honest, sounds amazing! Pat and I took a sailing course last year, and I've been dying to go on a sailing trip ever since. Sean is a personal trainer turned freelance writer and traveler with an affinity for sailing and scuba diving, always on the lookout for new destinations to visit. An adventurous Californian, he prefers a nautical lifestyle, but when he's on dry land, you'll find him typing or planning his next big fishing trip, probably with a freshly brewed cup of coffee by his side. Now, without further ado, I'll turn it over to Sean!
A cruise is awesome, but a private sailing trip for your honeymoon is unforgettable.Newlyweds who are planning their honeymoon often include a dinner cruise or staying at a travel resort in their itinerary. And sure, you'll spend a lot of time outside, at a unique destination. Although there are a number of adventures to enjoy, sailing is a unique experience that is romantic and offers beautiful panoramic views while spending time on the water. Taking a sailboat out on the clear waters will allow you to gaze at a bright blue sky by day and stargaze while taking the boat out at night. When renting a sailboat on your honeymoon, I've got a couple of tips on how to select your route, book your trip, and pack. First and most important tip: do your research! Seriously, Google everything, every question you might have, and look for others who have gone on a sailing trip for their honeymoon and see what they have to say. Book a chartered yacht and just enjoy yourselves.Take a fully-equipped yacht on the ocean where you can spend the day and night on your vessel in a secluded location. Many yachts come with quality bed linens, towels, and sunbathing platforms for plenty of luxury that can be enjoyed for several days out on the water. You can explore different destinations while traveling on the yacht for beautiful sites that make for an exciting trip. You'll get the chance to visit remote locations and wake up in a pristine bay each morning to enjoy water activities that include snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming. My suggestions? You can travel far away, but you don't have to, especially if you have a budget to think of. Sail across the Pacific or Atlantic Coast if you're in the States, and don't forget lakes as an option as well. Of course, there are amazing international destinations, such as France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, to name a few. Give into hedonism. Treat yourselves!There are additional honeymoon services available, such as fine wines and spirits provided onboard, beauty and spa treatments, and a full-time hostess and a full-time skipper to prepare meals. You can enjoy a high level of privacy while visiting different islands and can feel accommodated with a full-time staff that has separate living quarters on the sailboat and will respect your time alone as a couple. The crew will also offer their advice on the best scuba diving location or beach to visit while navigating the waters. Don't pack too much. On a boat, pack light.It's important to pack light while sailing on your honeymoon to avoid weighing down the boat and making it difficult to maneuver. Don't pack clothes that you'll maybe wear, pack what you definitely need. Be practical. Pack clothes that are warm to stay comfortable at night when the temperatures drop. You'll also need a few rain garments that will make it easier to stay dry in wet weather or storms that arrive. And like I said before, do your research, check out what kind of clothes you really need on your sailing trip. It might not seem super important, but sailing is good for your health. You can feel relaxed and rejuvenated during your honeymoon while taking a sailboat to different destinations due to the long list of health benefits that are associated with the activity. The salt that is in the air while out at sea contains ions that can increase the body's ability to absorb oxygen, which will balance serotonin levels to boost your mood throughout the day. You'll also have reduced stress levels due to the rhythmic movements of the boat, which can make it easier to sleep during the night for added rest. Although taking a sailboat out on the water for your honeymoon will make it easy to relax and enjoy plenty of alone time, it's also a great way to stay physically active. Navigating a sailboat can reduce the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular health because it requires the hoisting of sails to direct the boat in different directions throughout the day. This can increase your muscle strength and make it easy to stay physically fit while spending several days away from land. The bonds between the two of you will grow stronger. Your communication skills will also improve as a couple while out at sea for a great way to kickstart your marriage. Sailing can make it easy to work as a team by discussing how to maneuver the boat in different types of weather. Both of you can have important roles on the boat while sailing to your desired destination. Yup, sailing is great for couples! While sailing, you can increase your agility levels by pulling lines and hoisting each sail frequently, which is proven to improve motor skills and increase hand-eye coordination. The activity will also make it easy to learn how to increase your ability to rely on your instincts and limit your reliance on technology to make decisions. Basically, you'll rely on each other. Sailing could quickly become your favorite hobby. Those who choose to spend their honeymoon on a sailboat can adopt the activity as a newfound hobby that can be enjoyed for many years to come – I've seen this happen, as I've been a crew member on such sailing trips. It becomes a mutual hobby, and couples continue to go sailing for years and years. Although, I have to mention this, many people are intimidated by the idea of navigating a vessel, but it doesn't have to be a complicated activity. Beginner sailing schools can make it easy to become experienced before the honeymoon to ensure that you feel comfortable hoisting the sails and evaluating the weather conditions. Couples can stay mentally and physically fit because it's an active hobby that requires plenty of concentration and movement. Sailing can increase cognitive function with age and will reduce the risk of dementia. It is even known to boost confidence levels and make it easier to become more independent because it requires plenty of self-reliance. It's another topic, but I've seen business people become office leaders after group sailing excursions. Those who choose to partake in sailing as a hobby will also have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the boat. From the port to the starboard, there are a number of parts of a sailboat that are quickly learned while spending your honeymoon on the water. Should it be just the two of you, or should you hire a crew? Short answer: Hire a crew. Those who are inexperienced should rent a chartered boat with crew members. That way, newlyweds can learn how to sail without taking any risks, the crew is there to keep everyone safe. Okay, if one of you is a sailing expert, then you’re good, but keep in mind that you also need time for romance! You don't need a huge crew, but two experts would indeed help you out a lot, and wouldn't affect your privacy. Professionals know when they're needed, and when they should get out of the way. Remember, it's supposed to be fun! Sailing is a lot of fun. Sure, it can be dangerous, but that's why you have to be prepared. It's adventurous, sometimes risky. Actually, it's a lot like marriage. The most important thing is, know what you're getting into before actually doing it. Take a course, hire a crew, see if it's something that both of you would enjoy. If it is, you're in for a journey of a lifetime, and your sailing honeymoon could very well be the I want to give a big thank you to Sean for sharing this post with us and for sparking some great ideas for you soon to be honeymooners! I think honeymoon or not, a sailing trip would be an incredible adventure for anyone. What about you? What's your idea of an ideal romantic adventure? No matter, where you're off to, don't forget to travel happy! Skeeter
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Hey there Happy Travelers! For those of us who love to fly, booking a helicopter tour is a great way we can see our holiday destination of choice from the air. For some it is the chance to explore bits of a location that are hard to reach on foot or to turn a distant view into a close up. For others, it is a chance for a new way to record a holiday - with a bird’s eye view. However, for some it is a glorified selfie device like one couple on honeymoon from Japan. Drone technology has developed to such an extent, thanks to National Geographic, IMAX, and to a large extent private enthusiasts, that now it’s a mainstream option for many travelers. Many are seeing it now as the logical extension for tourists from cameras to smartphones and now drones providing high definition still or moving images from 100 foot up in the air. As with many new technologies, some people see them as a game changer and others as a nuisance. When used responsibly and considerately, they are a new tool in holiday recording; one which provides a wider image of the landscape which videos and photos limit to a small field. Many travelers see it as adding context to the world in which they walked or in some cases, to the cliff they just base jumped off. The Top Drone Videos to Whet Your Appetite If you are not convinced yet that this might be a good idea, imagine being on the ground and filming some of these videos, which are according to AirVuz.com the most viewed drone travel videos going: Hawaii - stunning beaches and blue seas, rivers, tropical islands and stony shores. It’s easy to see why this landscape has attracted the most views. Norway - They’re pretty good for sport too, getting unique views of those ready to jump, as they fall, or of the landscape as never seen before. Indonesia - magical rock formations carved by wind and sea. Most tourists can only get a glimpse from a boat. The brave or foolhardy might climb the cliffs or steep slopes, but for most, a drone is the best way to capture their majesty. Practicalities of Drones on Holiday The biggest barriers to using drones on your vacation is cost and logistics. They are becoming cheaper as they become better, like with most technologies, but they remain something for people with plenty of spare cash hanging around. The most popular type of drone is the Phantom 4 worth around $1,400 however, there are cheaper models retailing for as little as $499. The thing to bear in mind though is that cheaper drones are not only less able or reliable, they are less stable which means a lower quality video. If a drone is affordable, the next element to consider is laws. Does the country you are about to visit allow for ordinary folk to fly drones all over the place? It is worth asking local law enforcement wherever you are going, home or away, whether it is ok to use a drone and what areas are prohibited. Some nations may ban it altogether while others will place huge restrictions on their use. After all, as the producers of The Cove found out, drones can be quite useful for uncovering things governments don’t want us to know. The most difficult thing practicality wise is getting the drone to your destination in one piece and using it for extended periods of time. All drone batteries are LiPo batteries which must be included in carry on luggage due to explosion concerns within checked in luggage, nice. However you take the drone itself, it needs to be protected from damage. A last few things: keep your ownership documents with you in case of trouble, bring a charger, and make sure your drone can get back to you before it runs out of juice. Now, go have fun and make some fantastic new memories, just don’t forget to look around with your eyes too! Thanks to our friend Phoebe Parlade for sharing her tips on using drones to capture your next trip!
Have you ever taken a drone on a trip or have you considered getting one? Do you have any tips for someone who's just starting out with drone footage? Personally I waffle back and forth between wanting to capture ever aspect of an amazing trip and also trying to disconnect from technology and just enjoy it from my own perspective. No matter what your plans are, don't forget to travel happy! XO, Skeeter Hey there Happy Travelers! Today we are bringing you a guide to help you uderstand and overcome a fear of flying. Fear of flying is really common and can seriously limit your ability to travel. Our own Happy Traveler writer Liz, posted a while back about her own issues with flying Some people experience a fear so profound that they literally will never board an airplane. In the case of some other individuals, the level of fear is not quite as significant. Nonetheless, these individuals tend to be unable to fly without being medicated in some manner. Understanding the fear of flying necessitates a consideration of a number of factors. Overcoming the fear of flying can take some time and effort, as well as professional intervention in some case. Fear of Flying: Phobia or Fright Psychologists and other medical professionals make a distinction between a rational fear and an irrational one. An irrational fear oftentimes is called a phobia by these experts and professionals. In a nutshell, a phobia is the fear of something that in and of itself is not inherently dangerous. For example, being fearful of a loaded gun may be considered a rational fear because this type of weapon is inherently dangerous. In fact, it is intended to be so. This line of reasoning can be extended to aircraft and flying. Airplanes in and of themselves are not inherently dangerous. Indeed, they are designed specifically to be safe modes of transport. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines a phobia specifically as: "an anxiety disorder classification that represents unreasonable or irrational fear related to a specific object or situation." Fear of flying has been the term used by laypeople and psychological and other medical professionals for decades. Some of these professionals have taken to adopting a term like aerophobia or aviophobia to denote a fear of flying. Triggers Associated with a Fear of Flying As is the case with other types of phobias, triggers exist that cause a person to experience an irrational fear of flying. These triggers necessarily vary somewhat from one individual to the next. However, there is a sense of commonality among these triggers experienced by people who have a fear of flying. For some individuals, the very thought of taking a plane flight is enough to trigger anxiety and fear. On the other hand, for other people, a more concrete step towards taking an actual flight must occur as a trigger to anxiety and fear. For example, making a flight reservation may be the trigger. There are a number of people who have a phobia around flying that do not really experience symptoms until they arrive at the airport or are en route. In addition, there are individuals who might be considered to have a more controlled fear of flying. These individuals very well may be able to board a plane and keep their anxiety and fear in check. However, if there is an unidentifiable noise in flight, actual indicative of nothing dangerous or even significant, a person could nonetheless experience a full blown irrational, fear based response to that situation. Addressing a Fear of Flying The least desirable way of addressing a fear of flying is to avoid flying. In the end, that represents avoidance of the issue and not addressing it directly or resolving it. However, for some people, this is the only course that seems to work for them. As mentioned previously, there exist medications that can be helpful in controlling the symptoms associated with a fear of flying. Anti-anxiety medications are the primary types of medications used towards this end. Psychotherapy or talk therapy represents another avenue a person with a fear of flying can take to resolve the issue, or at least attempt to do so. Indeed, there are therapists who specialize in treating phobias of different types, including an irrational fear of flying. In some cases, an individual will be treated with medication and engage in psychotherapy as means of addressing a fear of flying. Some individuals report that they benefit from contemplative practices like meditation or yoga. These tend to be people with a lesser degree of fear associated with flying. These individuals typically do not engage in these practices on the eve of flying but on an ongoing basis. Yoga and meditation are not practices that can have a beneficial impact on a person when done occasionally and in the short term. The positive impact of these practices tend to be accumulative over time. When you have a very strong fear, it's hard to rationalize with statistics that show that air travel is very safe. If your fear of flying is keeping you for seeing the world and experiencing life like you'd like, now may be the time to start facing these head on.
Have you overcome a fear of flying? Let us know in the comments what's worked for you. Thanks to our friends over at Miami Helicopter for sharing their tips on overcoming a fear of flying. And no matter where you go, don't forget to travel happy! XO, Sketer |
Skeeter
Hi there! I'm Skeeter. I grew up moving a lot and that makes me a bit restless for travel and exploration. I started this blog with my husband Pat when we decided to backpack New Zealand for a year. We are always looking for the next adventure and are loving life. We're just your average couple with two sassy dogs and a love for travel. We're sharing our travels and the tips we pick up along the way. LIZHello! I'm Liz. Blogging is very new to me, but I'm so excited to finally write as much as I talk! Archives
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