5 tips to have a fabulous holiday without breaking the bank

If you sit to think of a word that brightens your day, brings you to glow and gets your heart skip a beat. For someone bit by the travel bug, that word is ‘holiday’. Balancing your work life and personal life is very important and the best way you could do it is by indulging in periodic breaks. But what’s holding most of us back? Yes, you guessed it right- It is money. What most people don’t know is that you can travel in budget without compromising on fun. Yes, with just a few tips, you can probably have the best vacation.

Plan ahead: 

First and foremost decide on your budget and research on destinations that fall within the bracket of your budget. Plan the trip from start to end keeping in mind the various expenses as well. Keep researching until you get the best deals and offers that can save you a huge chunk of money.

Flight options and flexible travel plans: 

If you’re flexible with your travel dates, then check for flights during mid-week instead of weekend flights. Try to travel off-season. Pack light so you could save on extra baggage charges. Compare one-way tickets with round-trip tickets. Sometimes round-trips come cheaper.

Explore free sightseeing options: 

Hike up the mountain, surf the beach, stroll around the city streets, visit malls, and do road trips- all these for free. You need no entry pass to do any of these. Once you decide your destination check on the major activities at the place you can indulge in without an entry fee.

Walking and self-driving: 

Walking keeps you on your toes and lets you explore the city at your own pace. Having conversations with the locals, and visiting local cafes sometimes help you get to know the unexplored side of the city. Renting a car or bike and self-driving around the city also is not a bad idea, provided if you have a valid driver’s license.

Cook your own food: 

Cooking is the best option to save money and stay healthy if you have a mini kitchenette at your place of stay. Avoid touristy restaurants. Opt for cafes instead of fine dining restaurants.

We assure you these will help you travel in style without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Step by step guide to planning your ideal holiday

A holiday or vacation can mean different for different people. To some, it could just mean taking a break from the usual hectic schedule and relaxing in some picturesque and peaceful place. Whereas for some, it means abandoning the regular boring day to day activity and indulging in some exciting and adventurous thrill in another enchanting locale. In either case, one is looking for some change and for that to take place it needs some planning and organizational skills.

So, here’s a travel guide that would be of some help to you:

Decide on the best time for a holiday

Most of the time, it’s not easy to just pack up on a whim and set off for a holiday. Therefore, it’s important to pre-plan to schedule a holiday and the best way to do it is by coordinating with every member you’re to take this journey with.

Decide the type of holiday desired keeping budget in mind

It sounds sensible to first decide or plan on the budget that you’d like to spend for the holiday so that one can chalk out a suitable itinerary based on that without digging a hole in the pocket. Nothing can ruin a trip quicker than realizing you can’t afford it.

A lot of research helps in the long run

Based on your budget and the type of holiday you intend to take, it’s important to do extensive research on potential places that will fit your bill and how much will it cost you to get there.

Make your travel and stay bookings

Booking travel tickets much prior to your journey is the most countable option as fares tend to increase once closer to the date of travel. Also, you can save yourself from the last minute hassle. Now that you know where you want to travel, it’s important to research hotels and accommodation in the location and get hold of something that’s affordable enough to allow you to do everything you want.

Pack wisely

Traveling with kids? Be prepared don’t forget to pack the essentials for your ideal holiday, so do your research well, most important being having the weather condition of your destination in mind. You’ll also need basic toiletries, suitable clothing depending on the type of activities you’re going for. Make sure to carry some of the essential items in your hand baggage to ensure that you have the necessary stuff within your reach.

With these travel tips, we’re sure you’re to have a great holiday.

Lost your passport? Here’s what to do

Have you ever lost your passport on holiday abroad? If you’ve ever, remember to follow these steps:

Make an official report for a lost passport

So you’ve looked everywhere and you can’t find a trace of it anymore? Take a deep breath. First, find the nearest police station and file a report. This will be essential for any travel insurance policy and is important information you’ll need to bring to the embassy or consulate. Note that this won’t necessarily speed up the process of a new passport, so if you’ve any plans to travel, you might want to skip it.

Locate the nearest embassy or consulate

Next step is you have to find out your closest embassy or consulate as they will help you apply for a new passport. Ring ahead and book an appointment, and be sure to inform the consular officer if you were the victim of theft.

Gather all the supporting documents

So your appointment at the embassy is coming up? It’s time to get yourself prepared. In order to replace your passport, you’ll need to submit some documents with the application on your arrival at the embassy.

Be a little more cautious

When we say be a little more cautious we try to say that leave your passport in a safe place and take copies out rather than roaming around with the real thing everywhere you go. Also, be aware of pickpockets.

Be sure to plan all these ahead of your trip and we hope these travel survival tips are of some help to you.

Technology must have while on the road

Some of them are just too fun to miss, others add some convenience to our experiences. You’ve guessed it right: we’re talking about travel gadgets!

These smart tools have forever changed the way we experience the world and certainly works as life-savers for all you wanderlust people out there. We’ve jotted some of the most enjoyable yet usable gadgets to make your trips safer and easier.

• Get your hands on the world’s smallest travel steam iron: It features a 420-watt motor and three fabric heating levels and is the smallest of its kind. It can be extremely useful for business travelers who are on the road.

• Portable Wi-Fi hotspot & power bank: Nobody wants to bother themselves about foreign SIM cards or roaming charges when traveling the world. So, get hold of a portable Wi-Fi hotspot that provides unlimited 4G LTE service and gives you unlimited internet access. Power banks are must-haves as well.

• Waterproof Bluetooth speaker: If you’re going on a beach vacation, it’s a good idea to bring a waterproof Bluetooth speaker along. You can listen to your favorite tunes without having to worry about it getting destroyed.

• A streaming stick: If your idea of a vacation is a hotel room for a week or two and you want to just sit back and relax, then a streaming stick is your friend. You can binge watch your favorite shows all day.

• A luggage tracker: If you’ve ever lost a bag while traveling, you know how tedious and nerve-racking that can be. Plus there’s a thought that it might never be found. Trakdot wants to eliminate that frustration with its palm-sized luggage tracker. The tracker has a GSM chip inside of it so you can be kept up to date. When it’s within 30 feet of you, it will send your iOS or Android phone an alert. How cool is that!

• A Kindle: If you’re an avid reader and traveler, you owe it to yourself to pick up a kindle. Just for the sheer convenience of being able to carry hundreds of books at a time.

We hope this list of all the useful travel accessories and travel check-list make you’re traveling smooth and easy.

Luxury Vacations that are surprisingly affordable

Let me paint you a picture, a tropical island, surrounded by the most beautiful turquoise water you can imagine with the most diverse aquatic life, white sand and a wide range of activities for you and the family to enjoy. I can only be describing the Bahamas and Harmony Beaches can get you there.

The Bahamas is a collection of Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It is renowned for its beauty and as a famous tourist location. It boasts a very interesting history as it was a very famous port during the Colonization of the world by the European counties. The abundance of merchant ships and cargo ships also saw an increase in Pirates who had indeed taken over the islands for a long period of time. This adds to the mystique of the island as well as making it an excellent scuba diving spot to explore all the shipwrecks. Each island is unique and they have a lot to offer like culture, food, and arts.

Here’s a list of things you can do on a weekend getaway to the Bahamas.

1. Island hopping: With all-inclusive cruise vacation packages from Harmony beaches, you can hop on over to an island that fits your requirement

2. Explore the beaches: The Bahamian Beaches are known to be the most pristine beaches in the world. They have a wide range of aquatic sports to get the adrenaline pumping. You can even swim with the Dolphins at Dolphin Cay, explore the coral reefs, snorkel and lay on the sand and get that evasive than you have wanted.

3. Learn about the island’s history: Since it had an exciting past, it’s very intriguing to see how the pirates and slavery. Relive the legendary stories of these pirate captains. You can even visit the island of Pablo Escobar. One can get a Cruise vacation package from Harmony Beaches.

4. Swimming with the Pigs: The island of Exuma has some peculiar pigs who like to swim in the sea. They have adapted to the beach life. Everybody has mentioned the pigs in the Harmony Beaches customer reviews.

5. Visit Paradise Island: This Island has some of the world’s best water parks and luxury resorts. It is a huge attraction, especially for families. With a lot of high-end hotels and restaurants, it’s heaven inside paradise.

Please follow our feature articles on travel news, tips and photography from destinations all over the globe.

Principles to Make Travel Memorable!!

It’s no secret that each one of us is busy these days. So leave everything aside and take an unforgettable family vacation but the idea of planning it all might seem daunting. Don’t WORRY, we’ve curated these principles to ensure your trip is memorable both in the moment and for many years after:

Stretch your boundaries

Try something new every day to expand your horizons and allow yourself to be out of your comfort zone. Laze under the stars, try exotic cuisine, interact with strangers, basically do something that you haven’t done earlier. You’ll soon discover the side you never knew existed.

Interact. Listen. Embrace.

When you’re visiting a new place, it really becomes exciting to know their local culture. And for that interaction is a must. Ask question to dig deep, listen attentively, all these will let you explore and you can learn so much in the end.

Slooow it down!

It doesn’t matter how many countries you travel to, what matters is how deep your footprint was. Have you really traveled to a place if you raced through? The best way to experience a particular place is when you absorb it- you’ll see more, you’ll learn more, you’ll grow more.

Swing in hammocks often

Simple things bring the most amount of joy. It doesn’t always have to be the ‘must-see’ sights. It’s okay to not follow the bucket list some times. Go for an early morning walk by the beach, attend a yoga retreat, sit on the sidewalk of a café or swing in hammocks at sunsets.

Allow your five senses to soak up the world

Be present. Experience every moment and try to make the most of everything you see around. Get excited and live every moment with passion.

With Bahamas Travel Agency, we can assure you’ll get the best experience ever. Call our representative 561-860-9739 to book your dream vacation to the Bahamas.

Check customer reviews & ratings on holiday vacation packages and deals to the Bahamas.

10 Tips For Hosting An Elegant Christmas Party

Who doesn’t love a party and especially if it’s on Christmas where Aunt Noah is probably drunk and making no sense? But sometimes, the holiday season calls for a more elegant affair where there will be dinner served but with no lager on the menu. 

So, we have listed ten such Christmas party tips for you to make the most of your sophisticated soiree:

1. Sending an Invite:

If you want to make your first impression impressive, strikeout e-invite. And even if you don’t want to burn a hole in your pocket, there are tons of tasteful options. Hire a graphic designer and invest in a professional printer to send across invitations for your fancy fete.

2. Decorate!

You know this large Santa that usually stands on your roof or at the outdoors? That surely conjures up nostalgia, but elegance? Nah! So if you’re thinking of throwing an upscale party, out decorations are a must and this usually means less is more. White lights framing your roofline is not a bad start, followed by rosemary bushes topped with red bows. Also, don’t forget to put nice scented candles!

3. Set the background with some nice Tunes:

There’s nothing worse than being at a party where every lull in the conversation is being heard. Make sure to choose the right set of melodies to make the ambience calm and comfortable. Lean on to some jazzy Christmas classics.

4. Go for Buffet:

You may not have enough seating for all your guests and in that case, buffet style is perfectly acceptable. Impress your guests with some caviar or a fancy shrimp cocktail will also suffice.

5. Also, serve your drinks in Real Glasses!

Never ever make the mistake of serving wine in plastic cups or even regular glass cups from your kitchen cabinet. Keep a couple of wine glasses, your guests are surely going to get enchanted. Or a fully stocked bar with seasonal liquors for an added touch.

6. Dress Code:

If you’re to attend an upscale affair, you don’t want to show up in jeans and sweatshirts, right? Wear your Saturday night best! Also, be sure to state dress requests on your invite.

7. Plan some Games:

You must be thinking, ‘Seriously? A game? It was supposed to be classy, I guess.”

But, just hear out for a moment!

You can do simple games of charades or a fish bowl- works great as an ice breaker and drawing quiet people out of their shell.

8. Valet Parking:

You surely wouldn’t want your nicely dressed guests parking down the street. Consider hiring a valet company to avoid all kinds of mess.

9. A little Souvenir:

Elegant Christmas parties are always incomplete without souvenirs. If you’ve served a special kind of cookie or baked a cake that everyone raves about, wrap up a little portion for your guests to take home or enjoy later. Or you can also choose to gift something.

10. Don’t forget the Desserts!

If there’s one classy thing every Christmas party needs, it is the dessert. It need not be super fancy, you can try something as simple as an Apple Pie. Steer clear of cookie, those are a little too common for the fancy vibe you’re trying to create.

Try to class it up a notch with these ten tips for hosting Christmas party and we’re sure it is going to be the one to remember.