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Home » Archives for Steve Owen

May 28, 2015 by Steve Owen 1 Comment

9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations and Avoid a Disappointing Trip

This Isn’t What I Expected!

While walking through Venice, Italy, we heard a very loud voice talking into a mobile phone from a woman standing on one of the many beautiful canal bridges:

“No one told me that I had to walk everywhere! There are no cars here! I have had to walk all day. Just steps and alleys everywhere you go!”

I don’t want to judge (and by saying that I have obviously done so already). She might have had a hurt foot or maybe her travel agent told her there were people movers or golf carts here. Either way, it highlighted to us that people may set the wrong expectations for their trip and why it is important to do some research before you go.

9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations
What your friends show you…
9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations
What it really looks like

Another example was the man who was standing in a castle on the coast of Ulcinj, Montenegro

9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations
Ulcinj Castle

and again, talking loudly enough for all of us to feel his pain.

“I can’t wait to go home! I’m so tired of not having working air conditioning.”

Once again, maybe he had a bad day. Maybe his room was very hot, but here we were in Ulcinj, in a castle, on the coast of a very beautiful setting.

There are many posts about holiday makers complaining about some crazy things, and we all like to laugh about them and at them on occasion. That being said, if you plan on dropping your hard-earned dollars on a holiday, you certainly don’t want to be disappointed.

Why We Whinge

9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations
What I put on Facebook. Kissing the Blarney Stone in Blarney, Ireland.
9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations
What it looked like. Bring disinfectant…

We all whinge occasionally as it seems to be part of our nature. We got caught off guard in a beautiful area of Nicaragua when we didn’t anticipate the start of local holiday season and spent a week listening to explosions, loud celebratory gatherings on the streets and Christmas music that shook the windows of our apartment. We whinged and then with a head slap realized that we didn’t do the same thing we tell others to do. We didn’t do our research and ask the right kind of questions about where we were going and the best time for us to be there (some people would have enjoyed every minute of loudness). We acknowledged our mistake and then went outside to watch the homemade fireworks land on top of our apartment from seven p.m. till midnight (for about two weeks). Turned out to be fun with some wine and cake.

 

 

9 Tips to Set Your Travel Expectations

So here are 9 ways to set travel expectations for a more enjoyable trip and to avoid disappointment. The “you” below is a general you, not you specifically. Unless it is you.

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: holiday disappointments, holiday expectations, holiday tips, travel disappointments, travel expectations, travel tips

May 15, 2015 by Steve Owen Leave a Comment

His Packing List – For Long-Term Travel

His packing list. Photo: Eeva RoutioI put too many things in my bag. The thought occurred to me as I dragged my small backpack, my laptop bag and my large backpack, about 20 kilos (or about 44lbs), on wheels through a train station in Paris. And down a cobble brick road. And on the stairs to subways and various accommodations along the way.

When we packed for our career break trip, we thought about everything we might need and put it in the bag. After the first two months, I dropped a few things along the way. After six months, I dropped even more items. What I was left with is what I am going to list below for my packing list so you don’t needlessly haul around things you may or may not need.

If you stick to one region or climate, then you can leave even more out of your list. We were hiking in various parts of the world that required heavier jackets and heavy hiking boots, that you wouldn’t necessarily need in Thailand or Nicaragua.

Our first six months included heavy travel and we were reluctant to do laundry every day (more undies, etc). You may get away with less, including toiletries, if you stay longer in one area like we did in our last six months.

I expect that everyone will have different priorities when it comes to packing for long term travel, so these are only suggestions based on our experience. Hopefully you will find the list helpful.

His packing list – for long-term travel

Footwear:

  • 1 pair of thongs (i.e. flip-flops)
  • 1 pair of Nike Free Trainers – lightweight trainers for walking and gym
  • 1 pair black leather light dress shoes (for dining out with friends)
  • 1 pair of Merrill hiking boots
  • 1 pair of walking sandals (which I lost and haven’t replaced)

Clothing

Shirts: [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Packing List Tagged With: gap year packing list, his packing list, men's packing list, Packing, packing list, packing list for long term travel, packing tips

April 11, 2015 by Steve Owen Leave a Comment

Pacsafe Metrosafe 300 GII Anti-theft Laptop Bag – Review

Choosing a laptop bag has always been a challenge to me. Previous bags I have owned have either been too big, too small, or didn’t protect the contents well. For an extended trip like ours, my laptop bag of choice is the Pacsafe Metrosafe 300 GII anti-theft laptop bag. It’s a spacious laptop bag that comes with clever anti-theft and other handy features. I chose this bag as I needed something that could fit all my tech gadgets, keep them safe and was easily accessible for going through security or just generally throughout the day.

I chose the Pacsafe laptop bag for our trip because I wanted the security features of the locking zippered compartments, the mesh lining, as well something comfortable to carry. I also didn’t want to worry about someone doing a slash and grab on the bag or pulling it from my arm. The locking shoulder strap and the slashguard wire mesh built into the bag help prevent any of those types of theft. The bag comes with RFID blocking material in [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Things We Carry, Travel Gear Reviews Tagged With: anti-theft, anti-theft laptop bag, bag review, gear review, how to, how to pack, identity theft, laptop bag review, long-term travel, metrosafe, Packing, packing tips, Pacsafe, Pacsafe Metrosafe, Pacsafe Metrosafe 300, Pacsafe Metrosafe 300 review, Pacsafe review, pickpockets, to-and-from, travel, Travel bag review, travel pointers, travel safety, travel theft, travel tips

March 24, 2015 by Steve Owen Leave a Comment

11 Simple Tips for Eco-Friendly Travel

Eco-Friendly Travel Santorini, a beautiful Greek island, lost some of its shine when we stumbled upon its immense landfill. Bottles aren’t recycled and the trash accumulates quickly on this very popular tourist destination. The landfill reminded us of each small bar of soap, the paper on that soap, the little plastic container of shampoo, the paper, plastic or styrofoam cups (also wrapped in plastic) used by everyone who stays in a hotel each year. The numbers quickly become overwhelming, not to mention a little depressing. For instance, Global Soap, a non-profit organization that recycles hotel soaps globally to improve health in impoverished nations, estimates that U.S. hotel visitors throw away over 2.6 million bars of soap – every day. So here are eleven easy to follow tips for eco-friendly travel that we try to follow and use for business trips, short holidays or a year long career break.

11 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips

[Read more…]

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Filed Under: Travel Tips Tagged With: eco-friendly, eco-friendly travel, environmentally friendly travel, reduce waste when traveling, travel tips, trips for travelers

March 19, 2015 by Steve Owen 1 Comment

Riding a Minsk in Vietnam

Get Off the Beaten Track on a Minsk Motorbike Tour

We try to see countries from a different perspective if possible whether it is going to a local fruit and vegetable market away from the busyness of the tourist centre, taking a bike ride into the country or hiking on little known trails. We tend to shy away from the larger tour crowds when we can just due to the fact that we don’t like the jostling of crowds and vending opportunities that many tourist sites have to offer. Of course if you want to see a sight like the Louvre, the Grand Canyon or any well-known attraction it is almost unavoidable to show up and see six tour buses getting off to join you. Fortunately, there are still some amazing attractions and things to do that offer an adventure off the beaten path but close enough to your accommodation to get back in time for dinner.

Or in the case of Hoi An Motorbike Adventures, on and off very beaten and historic tracks on a an old Minsk motorcycle.

Tour Information

Tour Operator: Hoi An Motorbike Adventures

Location: Our tour was out of Hoi An Vietnam with additional riding opportunities offered in Sri Lanka and Laos. The tour included side streets in quiet neighborhoods, a short ride through Danang, up a steep climb along jungle and the sea as well as historic sites.

Price as of March 2015: $95 each or $140 in total for two if your partner rides pillion, check website for latest pricing

Tour style: Easy riding, some technical riding involved if you choose to drive vs ride on back

Length of tour: 1 day although many other options available for multi-day trips, also in Laos and Sri Lanka

The booking office is just outside of the Hoi An ancient town and provides anything from day trips to overnight or multi-day trips for anyone who wants to get a taste of Vietnam in a new perspective.

About The Minsk

If you happen to be a motorcycle enthusiast [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Vietnam Tagged With: Hoi An, Hoi An Motorbike Adventures, Minsk, motorbike, motorbike tours, motorbike tours in vietnam, motorbike vietnam, motorcycle tour vietnam, old motorbike, riding in vietnam, russian motorbike, vietnam motorcycle tour, vietnam tours

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