When I Went To Paris

I went to Paris in September towards the end of the month and I don’t think there’s any better time to have gone! I had great weather most of the time, it was pretty empty, but there was still enough going on for it to be a lively experience.

At this time of year you’ve got cooler weather but it’s still more than warm enough to enjoy walks around the city without getting cold. Highs are around 22/23°C and lows are around 13°C with only a few days of rain here and there! Plus, as I said, you’ll be avoiding massive queues, huge crowds, and frustrating foot traffic.

Why September Is The Best Month To Visit Paris

• Weather that’s not too hot, or too cold
• Low chance of rainfall
• After the holidays so there’ll be less people and kids about
• With autumn on its way at this time of year, the leaves are starting to drop and change colour
• It’s cheaper – tickets for getting there and back are cheaper, as well as activities in the city
• Disneyland will be much more bearable without the summer queues – in fact when I went, I barely even queued for most of the rides!

What Should You See And Do In Paris?

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel tower is pretty much a no-discussion-needed spot when you visit Paris. It’s almost definitely on your list already right? I’d recommend going up in the afternoon as you’ll get the best weather and views of the city. Then, once it gets dark you can grab a picnic blanket, some wine and snacks ,and enjoy the tower’s lights from the Champ de Mars! 

The Louvre

Now I never actually made it into the museum when I went – there wasn’t quite enough time! But I did spend some time above it by the famous pyramid and walking around the old surrounding buildings. I couldn’t leave it off the list though as a) even if you just do what I did, it’s still worth it to see this fascinating building and b) if you do have a little more time, the full art gallery is meant to be good…although I have heard the Mona Lisa experience is fairly underwhelming!

The Catacombs 

Paris’s catacombs are certainly a unique sight and definitely and interesting one worth adding to your list. Twenty metres beneath the city are the bones of millions of Parisians with creative artwork displays and incredible history of what happened in Paris and why the millions of skeletons are all there! I can’t say what it’s like in terms of busy-ness most of the time, but when I went in the morning it was extremely quiet!

Disneyland Paris

This is one for you if you’re a fan of anything Disney, or theme parks in general. I’m definitely more into the latter, and it was a great day exploring both parks. Again, in September during the week it was virtually empty and I barely queued! If you manage to go out of season when it’ll be relatively quiet, get the 2 parks pass and do them both in one day. 

The Seine

The famous river that runs all through the city is great for strolls and will lead you to loads of cool spots along the way. If you’ve got the weather for it (which in September you should do), take some walks along the Seine and enjoy the bridges, parks, and sights on the way! Look out for the Louvre, the Notre Dame, Pont Neuf, Jardin des Tuileries, and the Eiffel Tower.

Arc de triomphe

Another must-see if you’re in Paris! It’s almost always busy from what I gathered, but you can still easily get a great view of this stunning architecture. It’s a bit out of the way of other spots so I’d recommend getting the metro there and back. When I was there it was  covered as a commemorative art piece, check it out:

Notre Dame

Another sight that’s worth a quick visit, especially at the moment with it under repair. Whilst it doesn’t look as spectacular, in my opinion it’s even more fascinating to visit the Notre Dame now since it nearly burnt down in 2019 as it really shows you the huge extent of the blaze. There’s also some interesting back story to read about the building if you walk along its side! 

The Luxembourg Gardens

An unexpected and spontaneous trip to the Luxembourg Gardens actually turned out to be my number one spot! This huge garden area in the middle of the city is amazing on a warm sunny day. It’s a beautiful area, with grass for sitting on, chairs to enjoy the sun in and an amazing view. I can definitely recommend spending a late afternoon here with a few bottles of beer and wine!

The Promenade Plantée

The Promenade plantée is a walkway that goes above the city, filled with cool plants. It’s a great way to spend your time walking through Paris, especially if you’d like to be surrounded by a bit more nature. Lots of spots along the way give you a great lookout over the Parisian streets! 

La Petite Ceinture

The petite ceinture is one of the more unique spots in Paris – it’s an abandoned railway track that’s been turned into a beautiful walkway surrounded by loads of plant life. If you enjoy walks in a more peaceful setting then this is the place for you! The track runs for a fairly long way so if you’d like you can spend a decent amount of time strolling through the various sections.

Have you got plans to visit Paris any time soon? If you’ve got any questions or want some more recommendations, feel free to send me a DM on Instagram!

The post The Best Time To Visit Paris appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

I’ve been vegan for a few years now, but never really mentioned it on the Centravely blog because, well, I haven’t seen any reason to. Until now that is. With more people turning vegan every day, I think it’s useful to provide some travel-related tips on how you can maintain the lifestyle wherever you are in the world. I also think it’s a great opportunity to show everyone why veganism is being chosen by so many people, and how it can benefit us all. (don’t worry, I won’t be going over the top on any vegan persuasion!)

What Can You Expect On This Section Of The Blog?

This section is mostly going to be for vegan travel tips – how to maintain a vegan lifestyle easily, in countries all across the world, which tools you can use to help you and what to avoid.

I’ve been to a lot of places as a vegan – granted, some have been more tricky than others – where I’ve gained some experience in how to best go about eating and purchasing items, so hopefully I’ll be able to share that with you!

Stay Tuned

I’ll be posting more on the blog from now on, so be sure to stay tuned for more! You can follow me on social media to see when I add any future posts.

The post Welcome To My Vegan Travel Blog appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

Skillshare

Skillshare is a fantastic online learning platform that covers a huge range of topics in video format. You’ll learn from industry experts to improve practical skills via courses that are split into useful segments. Skills that you can learn here include marketing, business, photography, design, illustration, film and video editing, and much more.

There are free videos available, that don’t go into as much depth as those that you can access with their membership plans. In the UK, Skillshare plans start at just £13 per month, or £84 per year if you pay upfront. 

Best things about Skillshare:

• Free and paid classes
• In-depth learning for members
• Taught by industry experts
• Video learning
• Courses are split into digestible segments
• Many courses provide you with practice opportunities
• Develop practical skills
• Affordable monthly cost

Fiverr Learn

Fiverr Learn is mostly focused on freelancers who want to develop their skills in digital marketing, or creative skills such as photography, editing, design and writing. Although their database of courses is limited, all courses are taught by industry professionals, and have a strong focus on their specific topics.

Fiverr Learn allows you to pay for individual courses, which range anywhere from £15 all the way up to £105. Courses also range in length, from 3hrs up to 36hrs of educational content. Each course has a rating with reviews to help you decide which ones are worth investing in, and which are most likely to help you develop your skills.

Best things about Fiverr Learn:

• Focused course topics
• Focus on freelancers
• Course prices to suit a variety of budgets
• Taught by industry professionals only
• Video learning
• Ratings and reviews to help decide

YouTube

YouTube is an extremely popular content platform, mostly used for entertainment purposes. However, there are also great opportunities to learn on YouTube. Although the content is not verified by professionals, it is free and often taught by experienced people. You can learn almost anything on YouTube, whether it’s professional skills such as marketing and copywriting, financial skills, creative skills such as photography and video editing, or simply develop your hobbies such as musical instruments and languages.

Learning on YouTube allows you take things entirely at your own pace, re-watch content, and save videos to specific playlists that will help you to create your own “courses” for free.

Best things about YouTube:

• Content is completely free, always
• Video learning
• Extremely flexible – puts you in control of how and when you learn
• Lifetime access to all content
• Huge variety of topics
• Mostly taught by experienced professionals and freelancers

Coursera

Coursera provides real academic courses that are taught by real professors, so you know that you’re getting excellent education at a great price. The platform offers a wide range of courses and classes, from simple guided projects, to professional certificates, all the way to full degrees. There is a huge range of professional topics available, including marketing, business management, computer science, social sciences, maths, languages and arts.

Coursera lets you pay for individual courses, projects and degrees with financing options available, with cheaper courses starting from around £30. Learners can also sign up to Coursera Plus for £42 a month, or £284 a year which will then give them access to over 3000 courses and learning projects.

Best things about Coursera:

• Flexible learning
• High level courses and certifications available
• Financing plans available
• Huge variety of topics
• Taught by real professors and universities
• Pricing options to suit all budgets

Udemy

Udemy offers a huge range of learning courses – over 100,000 courses in almost any topic you can imagine. Whether it’s professional skills such as IT, business management, or marketing, or lifestyle skills including languages, music and fitness, Udemy has a course for it! The courses are taught by a wide range of instructors and teachers from various professions who help you to master your new skills.

The courses range in what they offer – from audio lessons, to videos, to quizzes and tests, each is created uniquely by the instructor to give you the best learning experience. As courses are offered by individual instructors, courses on Udemy are priced individually, ranging from around £10 all the way up to £150+. 

Best things about Udemy:

• Huge variety of topics, including lifestyle skills
• Courses are priced to suit all budgets
• Courses offer lifetime access
• 30-day money-back guarantee on all courses
• Courses utilise a variety of teaching techniques (video, text, tests, audio & more)

EdX

EdX is a platform that offers a range of professional courses, created and taught by top universities including Harvard and MIT. Topics cover a huge range of areas, including science, business and management, law, languages, humanities and more. You can then learn these subjects at varying levels, including “MicroBachelors”, “MicroMasters”, professional certifications, and online master’s degrees. 

EdX’s courses are taught in video format, and allow you to work at your own pace. Even though courses have set start dates, once you have enrolled in a course, you’re free to learn at whichever pace you want. A lot of the courses are actually free to take on EdX, however if you’ll be needing the verified certificates, you’ll have to pay anywhere from around £40, to £250+.

Best things about EdX:

• Taught by top universities and professors
• Wide range of course topics
• Professional certifications
• Large number of free courses
• Learn at your own pace
• Some courses offer transferrable credits

The post 6 Of The Best Online Learning Platforms appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

London

This list couldn’t be written without England’s capital and largest city – London. Filled with culture, museums, stunning sights and good old British pubs, it’s a definite English must-see. 

Some of my favourite spots include Leicester Square for its energetic city-centre vibes, the walk along the Thames from the London Eye to Big Ben, Hyde park, and Camden Town for its creativity and bustling markets.

If you’re in the mood for a drink or two – and by if, I mean when – then be sure to check out the Alchemist for its fun and unique drinking experience, or head to the Sky Garden Bars for a spectacular view. If rooftop bars are your thing, check out this list of London’s best! 

London’s also home to some great museums, including the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Tate Modern Art Gallery (yeah ok, not technically a museum, but it fits in too well with this category). They’re all relatively central and are easily accessible by tube, so it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re nearby. 

Cornwall

One of, if not the nicest beach-y area in England, Cornwall has lovely coastal areas, seaside towns and is home to the almighty Pasty. If you’ve never had a pasty, I could recommend you to visit Cornwall on that basis alone, but there are certainly more than enough reasons that make a trip absolutely worthwhile.

Cornwall is surrounded by coastal walks, beaches and stunning cliffs that easily make for several days’ worth of adventure. Visit Kynance Cove, Porthcurno Beach and Sennen cove for fine-sand, blue-water beaches. Several beaches – Fistral Beach, Gwithian Beach, and Praa Sands Beach to name a few – are known for their great surfing.

Other iconic landmarks in the area include: 

• Eden Project – a large eco environment that hosts tropical plant species
• Land’s End – literally where the land ends, the final point of England
• The Minack Theatre – an old open-air theatre with sea views

There are also several coastal towns filled with English culture, pubs and restaurants that definitely make it onto Cornwall’s must-see list. Some of the most renowned include St Ives, Padstow, Falmouth and Newquay. 

Brighton

Brighton is another English city on the southern coast of the country, that has a vibrant and energetic culture. There are loads of interesting spots scattered all over Brighton that make it a great place for a fun weekend trip.

Along the coast, you’ve got long stretches of beach to spend the day (providing that the weather permits). A fun fact about Brighton’s beaches is that you’re actually allowed to barbecue on them, so grab a disposable BBQ from any of the nearby shops and set up on the beach for a seaside meal!

Other activities to enjoy along Brighton’s coast include the renowned Brighton Pier, and the British Airways i360 tower – the world’s tallest moving observation tower. On certain days you can even dine and enjoy a drink up there, which makes for a stunning evening meal.

In the city itself you’ll find even more cool spots to fill your day, including the iconic Royal Pavilion, the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Brighton’s open market and the Street Diner BN1 – a street food market hosting a variety of emerging and established stands.

As you can see, there’s more than enough to keep you busy during the day! Then, fill your nights will Brighton’s best bars for a fill of delicious cocktails and craft beers. Check out some of the city’s best bars here.

Lake District

The Lake District National Park boasts 912 square miles of mountains, lakes, and some of England’s most stunning countryside. Situated in North-west England, this park is perfect for long hikes through some of the country’s most stunning nature!

Climb to the top of Scafell Pike, England’s tallest peak, or hike along Cat Bells High Ridge for some breath-taking views, and great exercise of course. At 978m and 451m high respectively, you’ll get a great panoramic view of the surrounding nature!

The Lake District is also home to – you guessed it – a large number of lakes! Some of the top lakes to visit include: 

• Windermere – which offers great views, watersports, lake cruises and is England’s largest lake.
• Derwentwater – which offers stunning lakeside walks and is situated near to the friendly market town of Keswick.
• Ennerdale Water – which, although harder to access, makes up for it by being much quieter. It offers stunning lakeside walks and views.
• Wastwater – which is perhaps the hardest to access and explore due to a lack of roads, but again offers stunning views and some great walks.
• Ullswater – which offers a quieter environment than Windermere, yet is packed with all you could want: boats, water sports, great walks and amazing scenery.

Yorkshire & Leeds

Yorkshire covers a huge area that’s home to stunning nature and seven cities, each with their own scenes and unique attractions. There’s so much variety here that I couldn’t leave it off the list of England’s best travel spots.

If it’s a nature-filled day that you want, head to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the North York Moors National Park and Sheffield’s Winter Gardens. Both national parks contain expansive areas of wild moorland, rolling hills, limestone caves and cliffs, and waterfalls. Sheffield’s Winter Gardens consist of an indoor glass house – one of the largest built in the last century – that hosts over 2,500 plants in a warm and peaceful environment. A perfect escape in Sheffield’s city centre!

As already mentioned, Yorkshire is also home to a number of bustling cities and picturesque towns. Whitby, located on the coast of East Yorkshire is a small seaside town, with a traditional feel and beach access (that’s if you’re brave enough for the North Sea!).

Yorkshire’s largest city is Leeds, vibrantly filled with both modern and traditional sights. See some of Leeds’s older spots at the Kirkstall Abbey Ruins, and Harewood House, where you’ll find art, bird gardens and a stunning 18^th Century mansion. Next, visit the Corn Exchange – a retail space and food hub built into a stunning Victorian-era building. You’ll often find street food festivals and craft fairs taking place in this buzzing environment. If you’re in the mood for some night time fun, check out the renowned Call Lane, which hosts an extensive array of bars and nightclubs that will keep you up into the early hours of the morning!

Bristol & Bath

Bristol and Bath are two cities located on England’s West coast, situated closely to Wales. Bristol’s got something for everyone, with museums, art galleries, nightclubs, great food and so much more. 

Take a trip to The Harbourside – Bristol’s former harbour that has been transformed into a modern cultural hub. Here you’ll find bars, cafes, restaurants shops, and markets. It’s also home to the Arnolfini Arts Gallery, and the M Shed Museum if that’s more your style.

Other areas of interest around the city include Bristol’s Shopping Quarter, the SS Great Britain, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Bristol Zoo Gardens. If you’re around in August, be sure to check out Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta, where over 100 hot air balloons take off above the horizon! Bristol is also has several markets and a range of fun bars and nightclubs that are perfect evening entertainment.

Bath is a nearby city, filled with thermal baths and limestone buildings, making it a picturesque destination well worth a visit if you’re in this area. Enjoy the day relaxing in warm Roman Baths, or simply tour the city to enjoy the Georgian Limestone buildings. The Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Circus are some of the most renowned spots to visit. 

Which of England’s best travel spots do you want to visit the most? My current number one has to be the Lake District as I’ve never been, but it looks awesome!

The post English Tourism Week – What are England’s best travel spots? appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

The Amalfi Coast has been one of Italy’s most sought out destinations for many years now, and with great reason too. Dramatic cliffs lining the coast, scenic villages and towns, and stunning clear blue water. 

There’s so much to do, you’ll never run out of options. Visit any of the picturesque towns including Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento. Traditional, pastel-coloured buildings line the coast where you’ll get great sea views and authentic Italian food.

A trip to the island of Capri is also a must – some of the most stunning views, beaches, and swimming that you’ll find in all of Europe! Other great beaches along the Amalfi Coast include Spiaggia di Cauco, Fiordo di Furore, Spiaggia Arienzo and Marina Grande.

Corfu, Greece

Corfu is a small island located off the coast of Greece that makes for a relaxing, nature-filled summer break. Filled to the brim with picturesque sights, beautiful beaches and stunning coastlines, this small, friendly island offers plenty to do.

Visit Agni Bay or Corfu City for a relaxed day exploring local areas with fantastic Greek food and traditional Greek buildings. Agni Bay’s small beach is lined with restaurants that all serve fresh food, Greek beer and live music in the evenings. My absolute favourite here was Nikolas’ Taverna – a lovely beachside spot for a relaxing evening!

For awesome beaches and equally amazing sights, check out Palaiokastritsa, Porto Timoni and Cape Drastis. Beautiful white sand beaches, dramatic white cliff faces and great snorkelling opportunities.

Zillertal, Austria

I suspect that this is one of the lesser-known spots on the list, but it’s absolutely worth a visit! Just an hour and a half drive from Munich and situated in the middle of the Austrian countryside, a stunning summer awaits.

It definitely caters to those who love an action-packed trip, with endless mountains, lakes, activities and hikes. Head up to Lake Achensee for a full day of lake activities – long hikes along the lakeside, water sports ranging from paddle boarding, to windsurfing to sailing, relax on the beach, or even go diving in the crystal waters.

Alternatively, go rock climbing at one of the many climbing courses located nearby (in German known as a Klettersteig), or take a mountain hike. I recommend the Olpererhütte hike that takes you up above Lake Schlegeis to a great observing bridge (pictured on the right, above). And who doesn’t love a great Instagrammable spot once in a while right? To find out how you can make it here, check out this helpful guide!

A personal recommendation is to stay in Zillertal, a small village located just south of Lake Achen – there are some great, quiet homestays that plunge you in traditional Austrian life! Absolutely one of Europe’s best summer destinations if you ask me!

The French Riviera, France

The South of France is another great coastal spot with so much on offer. Long stretches of beach, non-stop fine dining, and iconic coastal towns. It’s one of my favourite scenic trips in all of Europe and definitely earns its spot on this list.

Along the coast you’ve got St Tropez, Nice, Monaco, Cannes, and Antibes. All of these picturesque seaside towns make for a great day out, roaming the cobbled streets, surrounded by traditional French buildings, cafes and restaurants.

And let’s not forget that, being situated on the Mediterranean, this area is packed with lush beaches. Clear blue water, white sand or cobblestone, and endless sun! For some of the best that the French Riviera has to offer, check out Paloma Beach, Plage des Marinières, Plage de la Mala, and Plage D’Argent. 

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The final spot on this list goes to Amsterdam – a city teeming with culture and stunning scenery. This is a great place for a city break that really comes to life in the summer.

With more bikes than people, you won’t find it hard to locate a bike and tour the city. Cycle along the canals, to nearby lakes for a swim, or to one of the many cafes situated around the city. Amsterdam also has several great museums including the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art. If you want to book tours or tickets in Amsterdam, grab some great deals here!

In the evenings, enjoy drinks at one of the local breweries, roof top bars, or pubs. For some of Amsterdam’s most popular bars, head to the Skylounge, the Flying Dutchman, Hiding In Plain Sight, and Brouweij’t Ij.

So there we have it, 5 top picks for a summer in Europe. Obviously, there are loads more awesome European destinations that should still make it onto your list at some point, but you can’t go wrong with the ones listed here.

Which of Europe’s best summer destinations have you been to already? Which spot gets your number one pick?

The post 5 Of Europe’s Best Summer Destinations appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

So, we have to look forwards right! I’m calling it right now – 2022 is going to be the biggest year we’ve ever experienced. The roaring 20s all over again, only we can easily travel the world this time! Let’s take a look at some of the top places to visit next year, in terms of great travel destinations that are most likely visitable by 2022.

Europe

In terms of ability to travel, all European countries are going to be lumped together here. They pretty much all follow the same guidelines, and if one implements a border close, most others are likely to follow suit.

With that being said, Europe is going to be a great destination for 2022. It’s done – relatively speaking – not too badly in terms of Covid-19, and they’ve been able to keep a lot of the borders open for extended periods of time. By the time next year rolls up, a good chunk of the continent should be over their peaks, and should have a fair amount of vaccinations completed – all speaking for potential travel opportunity. Especially for those living within Europe, or nearby and those with vaccinations stand an even better chance of travel to and within Europe in 2022. But which places should you visit?

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest really has it all for city adventure. Great food? Check. Awesome sights and attractions? Check. Fantastic culture? Check. Cheap booze and some of Europe’s coolest bars? Definitely check!

If you’re looking for a long weekend getaway, or a city adventure, this is definitely the place for you. Accommodation is affordable, and central to the city’s top spots with great public transport links. The food is brilliant yet cheap, with a huge array of local Hungarian restaurants and take away’s. 

Budapest also has tons of great sights to see, so you’ll never get bored of exploring. And to top it all off – the ruin bars built into old buildings, filled with fascinating night-time vibes and some delicious cold brews. 

Keep an eye out for an upcoming guide to Budapest here on the blog!

Berlin, Germany

Another great city adventure awaits in Berlin. Known for its variety of attractions, Berlin is filled to the brim with Museums, beer, cultural landmarks and nightlife. What more could you want from a city trip right?

Although a little on the pricier side for European cities, it’s well worth it! Head out in the mornings to tour the city on electric scooters, discovering the massive array of historic museums and sites – from the Berlin Wall to the Brandenburg Gate.

Then, spend your afternoons visiting the cafes, traditional German restaurants and bars, filled with wonderful German beers and traditional German dishes. You’ll definitely get your fill of the culture here!

To top it all off, Berlin’s world-renowned nightlife awaits, with an endless supply of pubs, nightclubs and open-air clubs. From Berghain to the ELSE Open Air Club, regardless of how long you’re in Berlin for, you’re not going to run out of exciting nightlife options!

Stuttgart, Germany

Stuttgart is a city that’s often missed on people’s lists, however it makes for a perfect weekend or even week-long trip. With a large city centre and plenty to do there, surrounding countryside spots and the second largest Oktoberfest in all of Germany, there are so many great options in Stuttgart.

The main city, like many others, is filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. There are also several park areas to enjoy the surprisingly nice summer weather that they get in Southern Germany. You can easily spend a full day walking around and exploring the main street!

Something that many don’t know about Stuttgart is its close proximity to the Black Forest, Swabian Alps, Switzerland and France! All within a 2 hour drive, you could visit the picturesque city of Strasbourg, go for a swim in Switzerland at Lake Constance, go hiking in the Black Forest or climb to the top of a mountain!

There are so many sights to see in the surrounding areas that you won’t ever run out of options. Lakes, idyllic German towns, forest treks, mountain hikes, waterfalls and so much more!

I couldn’t mention Stuttgart without talking about the Oktoberfest and “Frühlingsfest”. Every year in April and October, Stuttgart breaks out into its traditional festivities of drinking beer and eating classic German foods. Stuttgart hosts the second biggest in all of Germany, the benefit being a cheaper, yet equally bustling event. If you’re around the area during this periods, it’s well worth a visit – even if drinking litres of beer isn’t your thing!

France’s Alps

There’s no question about it, the French Alps are my favourite mountains in the world. If you’re a bit of a skiing freak like me, you’re probably itching to get back to the slopes ASAP and this is the place to do just so in 2022. 

With over 250 ski resorts to choose from and over 10,000kms of beautiful white piste, there are virtually endless options. 

The larger resorts including Courchevel, Avoriaz and Alpe d’Huez provide you with a more commercial stay; more shops, larger hotels, more bars and clubs. On the other end of the spectrum, small ski towns give you a more peaceful, less busy trip and often won’t have as much piste to discover. 

I’m hoping that all of them will have the chance to open up again in 2022 – I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed until then. With such an extensive array of ski resorts, all filled to the brim with delicious French cuisine, there should at least be a few options available to those of us who are desperate to get back next year!

The Greek Islands

As of when this was written, Greece looks like it’s going to open up travel again in 2021, albeit limited to those who have been fully vaccinated. This is however a good sign that most people will be allowed to travel to Greece and its islands next year – although it all depends on the evolution of the current situation.

There are over 220 inhabited Greek islands to choose from, all special in their own ways, yet having lots of great travel-inspiring things in common: Local Greek food, great snorkelling, beautiful countryside and some of Europe’s best beaches!

You can’t really go wrong with a trip to any of the Greek islands – although one thing to look out for is pricier accommodation. Here are some Greek island top picks for 2022:

• Santorini
• Corfu
• Zakynthos
• Naxos
• Crete

The Spanish Islands

Spain have also said that they’ll be opening their borders up in 2021. From June 21^st, travellers within Europe will once again be able to visit, although as with every other country, this is subject to change. 

If all does go to plan though, the Spanish islands are a great bet for summer travel in 2022. Warm weather, lovely beaches, cheap living costs and awesome nightlife awaits!

Spain’s islands also provide you with a wide range of holiday styles – spend your trip enjoying nightlife filled islands like Mallorca and Ibiza, or fill your days with activity and beaches in the Canary Islands.

Some of Spain’s top island picks for 2022 include:

• Mallorca
• Tenerife
• Gran Canaria
• Menorca
• Ibiza
• Lanzarote

Portugal’s Algarve

Algarve in Portugal has been a favourite spot for many for a few years now (before Covid-19 hit of course), and there’s good reason for it – stunning cliffs along the coast, perfect beaches, affordable costs and lively towns. 

All along the coast of the Algarve you’ll find great beach spots to spend your day relaxing, partaking in water sports or surfing the waves at any of the awesome surf spots. 

One of Algarve’s best-known features is its stunning cliff-lined coast with amazing sights and cool caves. Take a trip to Sagres and Lagos for some of the best cliff views in the country!

Algarve is also full of lively towns that provide great restaurants, nice cafes and some great nightlife. Some of the best towns to experience a lively night include Vilamoura, Portimão and Albufeira.

And to top it all off, the Algarve is budget-friendly and one of the safest destinations in all of Europe! Airbnb’s, hotels and restaurants are all among the most affordable in Europe for beach destinations, and Portugal is currently listed as one of the safest countries in the world, making it a great family-friendly area too!

Outside of Europe

Venturing outside of Europe is going to be more difficult in 2022, simply because of the additional travel restrictions and difficulties that come with going further away. Whilst some countries have done better than others, they are currently opting to keep their borders closed, and it could be a long time before they reopen.

There are still a few countries that are looking positive for 2022 travel though:

USA

Although one of the worst hit by the pandemic, the USA are now ramping up vaccinations and it looks like a good majority of them will have had one by 2022. As of now, America are saying that they’re going to try and open borders up for international travel again in mid-May 2021 – a good signal for travel freedom in 2022!

The US has such an array of options that you’d struggle to go wrong with a trip here! Massive cities such as New York and Chicago, beach states such as Florida and California, mountains with amazing ski resorts, and national parks throughout the country.

Some of the best trips include a West Coast road trip, East Coast road trip or a skiing trip to the Rocky Mountains. I’ll have guides on each of those coming up soon!

South East Asia 

A few countries in South East Asia are also looking like a solid option for travel in 2022. Many of the countries rely so heavily on tourism that they’re keen to reopen as soon as possible, which is great news for travellers as trips to this part of the world make for some of the absolute best!

Thailand

Thailand currently looks like the best option as they are reopening borders up again on July 1^st 2021. Provided all goes well, they’ll definitely be open to most countries in 2022 as well. 

You get the best of everything in Thailand – great local food, mega cities like Bangkok, full of restaurants and nightlife, great beaches, rainforests and amazing snorkelling/diving!

Some of Thailand’s top destinations include:

• Bangkok
• Ko Samui
• Ko Tao
• Khao Sok National Park
• Similan Islands

Singapore

Singapore is another South East Asian country that not only makes for an awesome trip, but is also looking like a go for 2022! The small city-country is filled with great sights and activities, so you won’t get bored.

For some of Singapore’s most iconic sights and attractions, visit the Marina Bay Sands for an amazing view from the observation deck. Nearby are also the Gardens By The Bay, which provide an escape from the bustling city – you’ll be surrounded by plants, have the opportunity to see the world’s largest indoor waterfall and walk high above the Supertree Grove. 

Back in the city, you’ll find endless high-end shopping malls and streets with stunning architecture and design. There are also many places to eat and drink – take your pick from small local takeaways, to large, luxury restaurants. Chinatown is also a great place to eat on the go whilst you explore the fascinating area of shops and stands.

Finally, there’s Sentosa Island. If you’re feeling beachy or sporty then this is a great place to spend your time – sandy beaches, indoor and outdoor water sports and beach volleyball are just some of things you can enjoy here.

Where do you want to go in 2022? I certainly can’t wait to get back to travelling and visit anywhere that will take me!

The post The Top Places To Visit In 2022 appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia National Park covers a mountainous 823 square miles in North-western Wales. Founded in 1951, the park contains a huge array of outstanding spots – from Mount Snowdon itself, to magnificent castles and stunning lakes.

This National Park really has something for everyone and is a definite must-visit once things start to open up. Take massive hikes to the top of Mount Snowdon, or through the Llanberis Pass – surrounded by vast green nature and rolling hills! 

Alternatively, visit the White Water Centre for an adrenaline-packed white-water rafting experience, or visit the Zip World Forest where you can experience the thrill of Europe’s highest five-person swing and the world’s first tandem drop experience.

For a more relaxed, sight-packed experience, visit some of the castles: Harlech, Conwy and Caernarfon are all stunning and impressive sights that are well worth a visit! The park is also home to a vast array of beautiful lakes, including Lake Bala, Llyn Padarn, Llyn Ogwen and Llyn Trawsfynydd (try pronouncing that one!). 

The Lake District National Park

Also created in 1951, the Lake District National Park boasts 912 square miles of mountains and lakes. Situated in North-west England, this park is perfect for long hikes through some of the country’s most stunning nature!

Climb to the top of Scafell Pike, England’s tallest peak, or hike along Cat Bells High Ridge for some breath-taking views, and great exercise of course. At 978m and 451m high respectively, you’ll get a great panoramic view of the surrounding nature!

The Lake District is also home to – you guessed it – a large number of lakes! Some of the top lakes to visit include: 

• Windermere – which offers great views, watersports, lake cruises and is England’s largest lake.
• Derwentwater – which offers stunning lakeside walks and is situated near to the friendly market town of Keswick.
• Ennerdale Water – which, although harder to access, makes up for it by being much quieter. It offers stunning lakeside walks and views.
• Wastwater – which is perhaps the hardest to access and explore due to a lack of roads, but again offers stunning views and some great walks.
• Ullswater – which offers a quieter environment than Windermere, yet is packed with all you could want: boats, water sports, great walks and amazing scenery.

The New Forest National Park

The New Forest became a National Park in 2005, however it has been home to idyllic villages and huge expanses of forest for almost 1,000 years. Full of wildlife, plant life, picturesque villages and lakes, it makes for a great weekend out in nature!

Take long hikes or bike rides through the forest for a brilliant outdoors day. The Northern Commons and Telegraph Hill are great places to spot wild animals – from free roaming wild ponies to cows. The large open areas also provide for a great sunset!

If you’re looking for interesting plant life, take a trip to the Ancient Woodlands – home to some of the oldest trees in the country and stunning all year round. The Exbury Gardens also host an array of plant life, with many different flower types, rare trees as well as small lakes with water plants.

The New Forest also boasts some brilliant coastal spots. Lepe Beach offers a nice stretch of sandy seaside with blue water – perfect for a summer getaway (hopefully one that we’ll actually get this year!). Or, visit Lymington, a picturesque seaside town and stroll through the cobbled roads and old English pubs!

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park covers over 240 square miles of the Western coast of Wales. From magnificent castles, to beautiful beaches and stunning walks, this National Park is definitely worth a trip.

Visit any of the old castles or cathedral to capture some of Wales’s oldest architecture, including Pembroke Castle, Manorbier Castle, Cilgerran Castle and St David’s Cathedral.

Alternatively, take a trip to any of the idyllic coastal towns situated within the National Park. Tenby, Goodwick and Fishguard are some of the most notable towns to visit, due to their old and historic feel. They are also surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and stunning walks if you prefer to venture further than just the town centres.

For the ultimate Pembrokeshire experience, hike along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path which runs along 186 miles of the coast! Here you’ll see some of Britain’s most breath-taking coastal scenery with miles of beaches, cliffs and wildlife. Be sure to keep an eye out for seals along the way! 

Last but certainly not least are the beaches of Pembrokeshire. These are some of Britain’s nicest beaches and provide for a great beach day in the summer. Some of the top beaches here include:

• Barafundle Bay
• Blue Lagoon
• Whitesands beach
• Freshwater West Beach
• North Beach

The Cairngorms National Park

The largest National Park in the UK, the Cairngorms National Park covers a huge 1750 square miles. The park is filled with mountainous terrain, forests, rivers, lochs and more. It also boasts a huge variety of wildlife, including a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species.

Take long hikes through the varying landscapes – moorlands, forests, mountains and glens. Keep your eye out for any of the amazing wildlife there, including birds of prey like the Osprey and Golden Eagle, deer, red squirrels, badgers and many more.

If the weather’s not so great (which can often be the case in Scotland!), spend your time visiting any of the distilleries in the area. Speyside, Scotland’s home of whiskey, contains over 40 distilleries! A great way to learn more about the process of whiskey making.

For the more adventurous, the Cairngorms National Park also offers an array of adrenaline-packed activities. Go white-water rafting on the River Feshie, or mountain biking at High Burnside or Laggan Wolftrax, or go climbing at Glenmore Lodge or the Northern Corries. 

If you’d like to discover more on any of the national parks mentioned, check out their websites listed below! Although it’s unlikely that many of us will be able to experience the parks during Discover National Parks Week, it’s still a great opportunity to spread awareness of the stunning nature that we have right on our doorstep! And, with any luck, by the time summer comes around, we might get our chance to go exploring!

1. Snowdonia National Park
2. The Lake District National Park
3. The New Forest National Park
4. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
5. The Cairngorms National Park

Which of the national parks do you like the sound of the most? Leave your comments below!

The post Discover National Parks Week 2021 – 5 Of The UK’s Best National Parks appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

Skip straight to the TLDR Tips

Sustainability is something that we should always be aiming for when we travel now. Whether it’s how we travel, our habits whilst we travel, or the places we stay in and how they strive for sustainability, everyone should aim to make at least some elements of their trip environmentally friendly. 

It can be hard to want to travel, especially frequently, and remain sustainable and as environmentally friendly as possible given all the flying, driving, hotel usage and general consumption. But I’ve come up with a few ways – and trust me, this topic has been on my mind a lot lately – in which you can improve the sustainability of your trips.

You can’t always be completely sustainable

This is something you’ve got to realise when you’re considering travelling. You’re simply not going to manage to avoid certain issues and that’s alright, but you’ve just got to accept it before you plan so that you don’t get hung up over the things that you can’t change or eliminate.

Your transport

How you get to and from your destination, and how you get around once you’re there is probably one of the most influential factors in changing your level of sustainability. 

And obviously, certain methods of transport are worse for the environment than others – but how much worse and how can you actually avoid them?

It can be quite problematic that planes are the worst, by quite a long way, as they’re the easiest, quickest and sometimes the only way to get to certain areas of the world. So how much worse are they?

A popular route – London to Paris – has been calculated by EcoPassenger to determine the emissions of a passenger on each transport type.

Flying – 122kgs of CO2
Car – 48kgs of CO2
Train – 15kgs of CO2

So how can you most easily avoid flying?

Short haul flights should become an absolute no-go for everyone! Short haul flights are the least efficient way to travel possible, in terms of CO2 per KM. Luckily, they’re also the easiest journeys to substitute with a car, coach or train.

You can use Michelin’s route planner to determine the best driving routes, as well as rough petrol costs for your specific car. It’s a handy tool that’s helped me out a lot when planning road trips.

Coach travel’s an even better way to travel as the CO2 footprint of the vehicle is split by a large number of passengers – not the case with a small car for example. You can use these sites to get great deals and check for longer distance journeys

• Omio
• Flixbus
• The Trainline

Finally, there’s train travel – the best of the lot! Although, the most expensive of the lot too…

As I mentioned earlier, trains emit the least CO2 per passenger so it’s the best way we can make our travels more sustainable. If you want to book train journeys, have a look through these sites. They’re great for combining legs and getting the best possible prices.

Moving around once you’re there

Travelling around the area we travel to is another focus point for travel sustainability – and by making a few simple changes, we can easily lower our carbon emissions. 

• Walk wherever you can instead of getting a taxi
• Rideshare where possible and group together with other travellers when using taxis or cars
• Hire bikes – many locations are ideal spots for long bike rides and tours
• Use public transport – using trains, trams and buses are far better for the environment than individual cars
• Hire mopeds – in certain countries, such as Indonesia, it’s difficult to get around without a vehicle. Instead of using large cars, consider renting a moped which is far more fuel efficient and emits considerably less CO2.

Your Accommodation

The places you stay in also have another major impact on sustainability levels when you travel. Large hotels and resorts often don’t focus on what they throw away, how they source their energy or which products they use to fill your rooms.

That’s where eco-friendly stays come into play, and thankfully, it’s becoming easier and easier to find them. 

From sourcing their electricity using solar, wind or waterpower, to growing all food locally on-site, to recycling and implementing a zero-waste strategy, many accommodations now place their primary focus on being more sustainable – which is great for those of us who want to travel, yet remain environmentally friendly where possible!

Most hotels that put a strong focus on being eco-friendly will advertise it clearly, so they are often easy to find. What’s more is that these days, a lot of hotels have their own websites, so if you’re not entirely sure then you can read up more on there, or can always reach out to them with more specific questions on their sustainability situation.

One of the best ways to look out for eco-friendly and sustainable hotels is to use a hotel booking platform centred around these ideas. There are more and more of these useful sites – which will be linked below – that help you to easily browse a huge range of sustainable accommodations around the world!

By booking sustainable and “eco” accommodation, you can contribute to less waste, less energy consumption, and less CO2 emission. To find great accommodations like this around the world, check out some on this sustainable hotel booking site!

Make sure your general travel habits are also sustainable

One of the final areas in which you can improve your sustainability when travelling is your “general daily habits and activities”. Unfortunately, many of us tend to let the basics go once we are on holiday or travelling, however it can make a huge difference with just a few small positive changes.

Food & Drink

Eating and drinking is probably our largest daily impact when we travel. I mean who doesn’t love eating anything and everything they see when abroad? Sadly though, this attitude is one of the most damaging.

That’s not to say that we’ve got to limit our eating and drinking habits to only cooking ourselves, or only drinking water and eating grains – but we should at least try to keep an eye on consumption and where the food comes from if we really do want to be sustainable.

Again, this doesn’t have to be as hard as it sounds, so here are some handy tips on how to keep sustainability a focus in your travel diet:

• Use apps to find vegan and vegetarian restaurants (they usually have an environmental focus)
• Use Google Maps to locate restaurants in the nearby area that serve local food, or put a focus on sustainability
• Shop at local markets where food will be from the nearby area
• Avoid shopping for plastic drinks bottles, packaged foods or imported products
• Don’t continuously buy bottled water!! Try to refill your bottles whenever possible as it’ll save huge amounts of plastic

Waste

Fairly obviously, don’t litter or improperly dispose of waste. If there are recycling systems in place, use them! If there are composting systems in place, do it! Luckily waste is a pretty straightforward one when it comes to being sustainable, and it definitely has a huge impact.

Activities and Tours

This is one of the hardest, and oftentimes unachievable ways to improve your sustainability when travelling. I thought I’d still include it as there are some ways to make sure that your activities are as sustainable as possible, whilst getting the absolute most out of your trip.

• Choose tours and activities that focus on the local area
  • Local food tours
  • National Parks
• Hire local tour guides and activity operators – this will support the local system and will prevent you needing to travel further 
• Find better alternatives
  • Instead of going on a speed boat or large boat, find a smaller, more fuel efficient one, or take kayaks instead
  • Instead of driving around to various viewpoints, cycle to them or hike them
  • Instead of booking onto a large tour, find a smaller, local tour

So there you have it! These are the main areas in which we, as avid travellers, can remain as sustainable as possible on the go. Some things are easy to avoid, whilst others are next to impossible. 

But as always, every little helps, right! Even the little things you do can help to reduce environmental damage and keep travel destinations viable and wonderful. Below I’ll leave a summary of points that can be used as actionable tips when planning and travelling – let me know if it’s useful and if you’d like more of these at the end of future posts!

Here’s to helping the planet out as we explore it!

TLDR Tips Breakdown For Sustainable Travel

1. Substitute flying whenever possible – trains, coaches, cars!
2. Switch out short car journeys for hikes and bike rides
3. Book eco-friendly hotels online
4. Eat locally when you arrive
5. Shop at local markets for snacks and self-made meals
6. Be respectful with your waste and try to reuse whatever you can
7. Research and make yourself aware of tours and activities in the area
8. Book tours with smaller, local operators who care more about their environment
9. If you do HAVE to fly, pay to offset the CO2
10. Remember that having an awesome time and sustainability can go hand in hand!

The post How Can We Make Travel More Sustainable? appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

With the rise of the pandemic, remote working has exploded and has opened up opportunities for even more people. But how do you get started and what job roles can you hope to get?

How to get started

Working remotely is all about your skillset. Can you provide a service for someone, or offer your skills to someone in an online environment? Answering that question with a yes is what you’re aiming for. 

If you already have a skill that can be applied in an online-only environment then you’ve got a great starting block, as you can skip straight to the “application” process.

Skills/jobs that might allow you to work remotely will be mentioned later on when I go over which job roles are best suited to working remotely, so stick around!

If like many of us, however, you don’t yet have a developed skill that could be used to earn an income solely online, you’ll need to start with learning. Thanks to the internet there are so many ways you can do this now, from free resources such as YouTube, blogs and open software, to paid courses, learning platforms and even online degrees and qualifications. 

Choosing which field you want to work in will determine which level of education you might want to achieve. For example, a web designer or marketer may need full qualifications and proven test results in order to create a successful income stream, whereas a photographer, copy writer or graphic designer may just need to develop a portfolio of work to show to customers and clients.

Some of the best platforms to gain knowledge on are:

YouTube

Skillshare

Udemy

Coursera

Future Learn

Learn. From Fiverr

If you’re looking for a certification or full qualification look at:

The Open University

Reed

University websites

Institutes in your chosen field

Your next step is to begin applying or building your online presence. If you want to go for the potentially easier, more traditional route of working a standard, full time job then you’ll want to look out for job ads and begin writing to companies. Use popular online job boards such as Indeed, Reed and TotalJobs (or whichever happened to be the most used in your country) and search for remote openings.

A tip for finding jobs on these platforms is to search for whichever position you’re looking for but set the location to “Remote”, which will bring up more relevant results that include Remote working in the job description.

Another great method for finding work is simply to reach out to companies yourself. Create a motivational letter, an outstanding CV and offer them your services to see if they’d employ you. Be prepared for a hefty turn-down rate, but with enough emails sent, opportunities will eventually arise!

An alternative method for sourcing remote work is to freelance and offer your services to a range of potential clients. Although slightly harder to begin with, working for yourself can bring significant benefits if you’re wanting to work and travel the world. 

First and foremost, it will give you the flexibility of working when you want (and need) to – something that a full time, permanent position is unlikely to offer. This is great for being on the road as it allows you to free up time and move around far more spontaneously.

Freelance work also allows for more flexibility with your earnings; it has more potential for scaling up as you become more experienced, and it also allows you to earn more and less each month as suits your needs. After you’ve gained a lot of experience in your field, you’ll be able to work with larger, higher paying clients allowing you to earn more whilst working less – and who doesn’t want that?!

Again, the flexibility to earn more or less in certain periods ties in with your ability to work more/less when you want, rather than having to fulfil contracted hours each and every week. 

As you can see, freelancing definitely has its benefits for travellers, over regular paycheck jobs. However it’s up to you to decide if the extra risk is worth it, or if you’d prefer the security of a full time employed position. 

So what jobs can you work remotely?

There are a wide range of jobs that you can perform remotely, as long as you have a computer and an internet connection. Here’s a list of the main ones to look out and prepare yourself for, if working wherever you want is something that appeals to you.

I’ll go over each of these in more detail in a later post, but for now, here’s a small intro to each that will give you a rough idea of what it’ll involve.

Copywriter

A copywriter is somebody who writes for others. Whether for other individuals or for businesses, they create texts for all sorts of things: websites, blog articles, email newsletters, adverts, brochures. Pretty much anything you can think of that involves text (known as copy) online, you can write for others as a copywriter. Due to the nature of the job, this is most likely going to be freelance work.

Virtual Assistant

This is pretty much what it sounds like – you’ll be working as an assistant for someone, in a virtual environment. It involves carrying out a wide range of online tasks such as writing and responding to emails, creating and maintaining schedules, booking appointments and other small tasks such as website updates or social media updates. You may find this as a full-time position or as freelance work, working for various clients.

Digital Marketing/Social media manager

As an online marketer or social media manager, your role will be to create marketing and social media campaigns for businesses and/or clients. This includes creating social media campaigns, running paid advertising and creating email marketing campaigns. You’ll usually need to have some kind of marketing qualifications to show your expertise. Again, you’ll usually be able to find a lot of full-time positions as a digital marketer, but you can also operate on a freelance basis, working with a range of clients that you choose.

Graphic design

Graphic design in another fairly obvious one – you’ll be creating things like graphics, logos, images, brand designs and more. If you want to become a graphic designer, you’ll need to become proficient in using things such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and you’ll need a good body of work and possibly some qualifications if you’re looking to secure a job. You’ll find a good deal of full-time jobs as well as freelance opportunities as a graphic designer.

Website builder/designer

Web designers and website builders vary slightly in what they do, however as they’re similar I’ve put them together here. A web designer will create a website from scratch using large amounts of customised code. They’ll often be more advanced, complex and expensive. You’ll be able to find work in the form of a full-time job or as a freelancer.

A website builder usually creates more simplistic websites using web builders and templates. As they require less work and knowledge, they’re also cheaper so you won’t be able to demand as much, however you also won’t need to spend as long acquiring the skills as you would to become a website designer. You’ll want to look out for freelance work for this skill.

The last three jobs are somewhat different in that they’re all self-employment roles only and they more so require dedication, development and self-promotion rather than hard qualifications or skillsets.

Photographer/Videographer

For this role you’ll need to make sure you’ve got appropriate equipment first, as well as the skills needed to produce work for clients/customers and the ability to promote yourself and your services online. The great thing about being a photographer or videographer is that you can use travel as your actual work – something that a lot of other roles don’t allow for. You can also work for clients around the world, creating videos or taking photos for businesses, for example creating property videos, or taking photos for small business marketing campaigns.

Online business

Creating your own online business is one of the best ways to “work” and travel the world – if you can build one successfully. It will take a lot of time and potentially financial investment for this and you will have to be patient and willing to take risks to make it work. However, if you do then the rewards are great. You’ll be able to scale the business to a healthy income as well as being able to delegate most of the work, leaving you with plenty of free time for your travels!

YouTuber/Influencer

This is essentially one version of the above method – by becoming a YouTuber or influencer you’re starting a business online. It will require a similar level of dedication, risk and investment of time before you can reap the rewards, however if you do, they’re easily some of the best any job can provide for a full-time traveller. Not only can you use your travels as the foundation of your content and work, but you’ll eventually be able to generate a somewhat passive income that will allow you to enjoy a wealth of free time!

Hopefully this intro to working remotely has given you some inspiration and starter points from which you can develop a fully sustaining remote career! There are many ways in which you can create a totally remote income and in 2021, it’s easier and more accessible than ever. I’ve touched on a few tips on how to start out, and which skills and roles are the easiest to develop online – keep an eye out for future posts where I’ll go over each aspect in more detail, giving you an actionable plan on how to work remotely from anywhere in the world whilst you travel!

The post An Introduction To Working Remotely appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.

With that being said, there’s nothing we can do about it, so why not find things that come closest to satisfying your travel urges? In this short guide we’ll discuss some of the best ways to take your mind off of the boredom and to start feeling like a globetrotter once again! Feel free to leave any other suggestions in the comments so that others can join in on your fun!

Hiking

One of the few things that we’re still allowed to do – at least in the UK – is to go out for exercise. A great way to make the most of this opportunity and to enjoy an adventurous outing is to plan longer hikes through nature.

You often don’t have to stray far from home (perfect for adhering to lockdown guidelines) to find amazing walks and treks to spots that you’ve never even visited before. I don’t think I’ve ever explored my local area as much as I have in the last year!

Simply have a Google, or use online maps to mark out your route. Look out for fields, hilly areas or forests and you’re well on your way to immersing yourself in a whole new world – hopefully giving you a somewhat travel-y feeling along the way! 

Of course, it’s not the perfect solution, but sometimes the best we can manage will have to do!

Plan your next trip

Another great way to feel the excitement of travel – without even leaving the house – is to plan your next adventure. Obviously, it’s not the easiest thing to plan currently; we don’t know when travel will be allowed again, we don’t know when certain countries will open their borders and we don’t know what the new travel requirements might be.

Having said this, you can still plan what you’re going to do when the time comes. Plan where you want to go, plan what you want to see and do whilst you’re there, see where you could stay.

The great thing about the internet is that it allows you to save as many spots, places to stay and activities as you want. And that’s exactly what I do! Browse for hours finding great beaches, awesome activities and stunning accommodations that you can keep stored away until it comes time to book. In the worst case, when travel is allowed, some of the activities won’t be, or some of the spots won’t be accessible – but thanks to your never-ending list of bookmarked ideas, you’ve got nothing to worry about!

For me, planning a trip is the single best way to feel the excitement, without actually being on the trip.

Start scrapbooking your old trips

If you feel too uncertain to plan a new trip, how about making more out of your old trips. Creating a scrapbook, a photo album or a photo board of an old trip is an easy, fun way to bring the memories back and get the travel feeling.

It’ll take you hours of digging through photos, old tickets and souvenirs that will keep you motivated through until the next one! 

They’ll also leave you with an added bonus – some great decorations for your home that will serve as a constant reminder of the best moments, journeys and destinations!

Read travel blogs

A bit of a shameless plug here, but, reading travel blogs can be another simple way to get yourself in the travel mood whilst at home. Look for the best travel blogs around and for those who have significant catalogues of destinations as they’ll give you hours of travel entertainment.

Not only can you use them to inspire yourself for future destinations, but they can provide you with a nostalgic documentation of a place you’ve once visited. Lots of blogs also have handy tips and guides that’ll help you to plan better for your next trips!

Read and watch travel books and programs

The fifth and final tip for quenching your travel thirst during this, or any lockdown for that matter, is to read travel books and watch travel documentaries and films.

There are so many out there, you’d be left with no time to sit around in boredom! It’s a super easy way to relax and get your travel fix whenever you have a spare moment, so why not make the most of it! Check out these lists of the best travel documentaries and the best travel books to start building your schedule!

With all of these activities to get you in the feeling of travel whilst at home, you’ll be able to keep yourself entertained for the foreseeable future! Not that I want it to be that long until restrictions are lifted…but just in case! Of course, it’s not going to live up to the real thing, but it’s a time for making do with what you’ve got.

The post 5 Things To Do During Lockdown That Will Quench Your Travel Thirst appeared first on Centravely Travel Blog.