Search results for

spain

Gateway, Lifestyle, Summer, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation,

List Of At Home Staycation Ideas During Pandemic

by travzdlaSeptember 2, 2020

Are you feeling disappointed that you cancel all your summer vacation plans and you can’t travel anymore? You are not alone because many people around the world are in the same situation and they have been creative on how to enjoy their summer even though they canceled their travel plans. Some are

Here are some tips you can do to have an enjoyable staycation idea during quarantine. Enjoy these ideas for staycation

Virtual Travel

girl wearing grey long-sleeved shirt using MacBook Pro on brown wooden table

Due to the rise of technology, you can enjoy virtual travel experiences while you are still laying on your living room sofa. This means you can take virtual tours of cities you love or places you wish to visit some times. For instance, you can take an online tour of Paris or Barcelona Museums, Rome tour and many other places you dreamed to visit. Another option of online tours is to check out youtube for some travel destinations to get inspiration for your future traveling.

Plan A day Trip During Lockdown

boat parked on dock

Planning a trip during a pandemic can be very challenging. Many people don’t feel safe when it comes to choosing where to stay and keeping up with restrictions. Instead of planning a trip, another option you can do is to take a day trip. You check out some places around your city that you can go to and return on the same day. You will be amazed at how many places you can visit and you have never been to before. There are different places you can for a day trip such as hiking, canoeing amusement park, local beach, etc.

Campout ideas in quarantine

brown dome tent near trees at night

This can be a great activity for family and friends. You can choose where you want to camp out, whether you want to camp in a tent in the middle of nature or you just want to camp in your backyard. Camping is a good and easy adventure to do while keeping the distance.

Make a dish from your favorite vacation destination

brown and white pastry on blue round plate

Start your day by making a meal from your favorite vacation destination, for instance, if you like Nice, France, start your morning with making crêpe salée for breakfast. If you like Barcelona Spain make Paella for lunch or dinner. You can also add make some drinks from your favorite place like Thai ice tea, the name says it all, or you can make Sangria if you like Spain and Portugal destinations.

Pamper yourself during staycation

Four Lit Tealights

This is something you should try often, who knows it might be a new normal. Instead of waiting for spa places to be open, you can treat yourself in the comfort of your home. You can buy feet and face masks, some beauty products, scented candles, and oil and turn your bathroom into a spa place. It’s not that hard all you need its time.

Check out some Spa kit on Amazon

Culture, Lifestyle, Music, Travel,

Happy International Dance Day 2020 | Most Popular Dance Styles

by travzdlaApril 25, 2020

April 29th is a global celebration of dance, the day is known as International Dance Day. One can wonder why the celebration is on April 29. Well, the event takes place on this day every year because is the anniversary of the birth of Jean–Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of modern ballet. The day strives to encourage participation and education in dance through events and festivals held on this date all over the world. Its also a celebration day for those who can see the value and importance of the art of dance.

Usually, on this day the outstanding dance personality is selected by International Theatre Institute to write a message for International Dance Day. There’s also a Gala celebration event in a selected host city, at which there are dance performances, educational workshops, humanitarian projects, and speeches made by ambassadors, dignitaries, dance personalities, and the selected Message Author for that year.

In honor of celebrating this day, we want to showcase some of the dance styles around the world. Here we go;

Salsa-Cuba

Salsa is a Latin dance originated in the 1960s in New York City strongly influenced by Latin American culture. Salsa is a result of the combining of Cuban dances that were popular in the ballrooms and nightclubs of Havana by the end of the 1950s. Developed by Puerto Ricans living in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There is a distinct salsa style from different regions of Latin America and the United States. Salsa dance socials are commonly held in nightclubs, bars, ballrooms, restaurants, and festivals.

Breakdance- United States

Breakdance also is known as b-boying/b-girling or breaking is a style of the street from the United States. African American youths created this dance in the early 1970s, by the late 70s, it started to spread to other communities and gained popularity. Breakdance mainly consists of four kinds of movement: top rock downrock, power moves, and freezes. Breakdancing usually plays set to songs containing hip hop funk, soul music with drum breaks, and electronic music that utilizes breaks also known as breakbeats.

Bollywood Dance-India

Well if you are a fan of Bollywood movies and watch those dancing scenes, that dance you see is what known as Bollywood dance. Bollywood dance is usually used in Indian Bollywood films. There are different styles used in executing this dance. The mix of different dancing styles such as Indian folk, jazz, belly dancing, kathak, western popular, and many more. Bollywood dancing has gained wide recognition around the world due to his well-executed choreography.

Flamenco-Spain

Flamenco dance is a famous dancing style that originated in Spain. Its a very highly-expressive dancing style based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain. The flamenco is usually performed solo features hand clapping, percussive footwork, and detailed body movements. The dance is usually accompanied by a singer and guitar player.

Belly Dance-The Middle East

Belly dance is an expressionist and impressive style of dance that originated from Egypt and spread all over the Middle East. Belly dance emphasizes the complex movements of the torso. The belly dancing style and costume can be different depending on the country.

Tango-Argentina

Tango is a social and partner dance that originated in the 1880s in Rio de la Plata the border between Argentina and Uruguay. This dance style is the combination of African Candombe Spanish-Cuban Habanera and Argentinian Milonga.

Samba-Brazil

Samba is a rhythmical lively dance of Afro-Brazilian. Samba was created by African people in Brazil from the music and dance culture they brought from Africa. In other ways, we can say Samba is originated in Africa. Samba music is influenced by Angolan and Latin American music genres and dances. Samba is the most predominant dance style in Brazil and plays a big part during the festivals or Carnival.

Culture, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

Traveling On a Budget – How To See and Enjoy Barcelona Without Breaking The Bank

by travzdlaFebruary 20, 2020

What to do in Barcelona on a budget?

Sometimes we want to go to places we really love but we always think if we can afford, how expensive it is, and then we end up changing our mind and not going. The truth is you can make your dreams come true by visiting the place you love if you plan to do it on a budget.

Barcelona is one of my favorite cities located on the coast of northeastern Spain. Barcelona is one of the world’s leading tourists and culture centers. There are a lot of things to do in Barcelona from sightseeing to entertainment. Barcelona has a lot of unique architecture, city parks, museums, and churches. You can do all this and more on a budget and here are some tips to do it.

The best time to visit Barcelona

If you are on a budget the best time to visit Barcelona is between September-December. This time is good because the tourist season slows down and hotel rates are getting cheaper compared to June-August. You don’t have to worry about the temperature they will still be in the high to low 70s. You can still go to the beach in early fall, but mid-October temperatures can be in the low 50s. If you don’t mind wearing coats/jackets and not being at the beach January-April will be good for you. It’s a very low season due to weather of low 40s to 30s, everything is cheap from flight fare, etc. The temperature is rising up around March-April.

Accommodation

There is a lot of accommodation in Barcelona if you want to score some hotel deals you can search on the website like Hotwire, Priceline, etc. The good thing about hotwire if you know specific dates or estimates you can put an alert the will alert you if there is a price drop so you can book your hotel when you are ready for that price. Priceline also has good deals. They give you the option of express deals and bid your price you might be like and find amazing deals. Another option is Airbnb, this is a good option, on my trip to Barcelona I found out it was cheaper than hotels. I think it depends on the city, some cities are more expensive than hotels. For instance, when searching for accommodation in Rome, Airbnb was more expensive than hotels. In my opinion, Airbnb is good if you are not alone because you might book a house/room in an excluded neighborhood in a foreign country that can be scary.

Things to do in Barcelona

There’s a lot of things to do in this magnificent city of Barcelona. You can enjoy a lot of things such as sightseeing, museums, city parks, restaurants, wine tasting, cooking classes and many more. Since you are on a budget you can take advantage of free stuff. Yes in Barcelona there are some places where you can visit for free. But the best places you can do while you are in Barcelona are; first my favorite place La Sagrada Familia (Church of Sacred Family) this is the major attraction in Barcelona. A large unfinished Roman Catholic Basilica, construction started in 1882. If you like architecture you will enjoy the experience. The entrance fee for the basic tour is 20 euros or US$ 21.67. The basic tour does not include a tour guide. But there are different prices which are higher, for instance, you want a guided tour, going to the towers, going to the Gaudi Museum, etc. Another option you can take a quick peek from outside for free. The church usually enforces the dress code and some ground rules entering Sagrada Familia. You can check them here so you can get well prepared.

If you are a foodie or you just wondering where to eat in Barcelona you can go to Mercat de la Boqueria(Boqueria Market). The famous market in Barcelona you can get a variety of foods, drinks, desserts, fruits, etc at very good prices and you don’t have to break your wallet. You can check more about this famous market here and get some inside scoop and decide for yourself. The amazing part about the Boqueria market is connected to another tourist attraction Las Ramblas. La Ramblas is a famous street in central Barcelona. This is a tree-lined pedestrian street, it stretches for 1.2 km (0.75 mi). It’s also close to another tourist attraction Barri Gòtic ( Gothic Quarter). There is a lot of tourists attraction such as live performances, artists that will draw your portrait or caricature, whatever you want it.

There is also human statue art (street performance)if you don’t pay attention you will think you are posing with the statue of Galileo or Christopher Columbus, but there is Christopher Columbus monument nearby. There are a lot of museums, a restaurant, etc. One thing to notice about this place, since there’s a lot of tourists sometimes prices tend to be higher than in other places. You can go there for the experience and taking pictures but you can dine in some local places or non-tourists places where food is the same or better at cheaper prices. I found out when traveling in different places non-tourist places are the best when you are on a budget. You can get food, souvenir, etc for three times cheaper compared to tourist places. One thing I make for sure is to visit all these places and also hit the locals.

Getting around Barcelona.

Now you are in Barcelona, you’ll have to get around the city. There are several ways to get around the city of Barcelona by car, taxi, metro, and bus. The best I will recommend and it’s cheaper is Metro. You can buy a metro ticket for a single trip or depends on your duration of stay. There are several tickets, first is the T-Casual ticket, this will give you 10 trips on the metro, FGC. The T-Casual ticket costs 11.35 euros (US$12.29). It’s good for all the main city center routes and the airport. With a T-Casual ticket, you will save 12.35 euros (US$13.37) because if you buy a single metro ticket it costs 2.40 euros (US$2.60) per trip.

The second ticket option which I think has more benefit is the Barcelona Card. This is the official tourist pass of Barcelona. It can help you to save money because not only you can use it unlimited on the metro and other public transportation but also can be used to enter into Barcelona´s best museums. You can also get many deals and discounts on visits, tours, entertainment, shopping, dining, and nightlife. The Barcelona Card is available in different packages; there is a 72hrs package that costs 46 euros(US$49.81). A 96 hours package that costs 56 euros(US$60.64) and a 120 hours package that costs 61 euros (US$ 66.05). You can buy this package online. You can get more about the Barcelona card and its benefits here.

Now you know what to do when you want to visit Barcelona, first the right time to visit, the time when accommodation and flights will be cheaper. Second is things to do when you are in the city, there are a lot of things to do even if you are on a tight budget. Third, the best way to get around in Barcelona is through public transportation. There are several ways you can save in Barcelona by using public transportation.

lady sitting on a pink checked-in suitcase

Business, Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel,

Traveling with a checked-in suitcase vs traveling with a carry-on suitcase.

by travzdlaFebruary 9, 2020

Whether you have a short or long trip most of the time we all thinking want we want to carry on our trip in terms of luggage. Sometimes a piece of luggage can determine how much we can carry or the number of things we want to bring on our trip can determine what piece of luggage will be a perfect fit. To me what plays a major role in determining what type of luggage I will carry on my trip is transportation. What I will carry for a road trip will be different from what I will carry on a flight. I will carry more on a road trip or a large suitcase compare to what I will carry on a flight.

Most of the time we have only two options on what to carry which is carry-on luggage or checked-in luggage in some cases both when catch a flight. These two option comes with pros and cons.

What Are The Pros and Cons of the Checked-in suitcase?

1. You can carry almost everything

The good thing about the checked-in suitcase, you can carry almost everything, plus things you think might need for some pop-up event, or jacket/coat for unexpected weather change, etc.

2. Hard to go over the weight restrictions

Do you want to pack that perfume or lotion you like but it’s over 100mls? Do you want to carry that bottle of wine you got on the wine tour you attend in Spain? Then a checked-in suitcase can be the best option for you. With a checked-in suitcase, you can pack a lot of stuff as long you are not going over the weight restrictions.

Samsonite luggage

However, most have some restrictions on the checked-in suitcase. For instance, airlines such as Emirates, KLM, Swissair do allow two checked-in luggage for free but they have to be 5olbs (23kg) or less. If it’s over that weight limit there is a fee that starts from $150 and up. These fees also apply to any extra suitcase.

A checked-in suitcase is better when you have layover or transit, you will not have to retrieve your luggage until you get into your final destination. You will be able to walk freely when waiting for your next flight and avoid spending more money to pay for airport storage because you can’t walk around with your suitcase especially when you have the longest layover. There is a high possibility of your suitcase to arrive safely.

Restrictions on the checked-in suitcase

With a checked-in suitcase, there are also some cons such as checking in your suitcase at the airport, this can be stressful especially when you are in a hurry and there is a long line. When you arrive at your destination you will have to go to retrieve your suitcase in some cases depends on how busy the airport is can take no less than 30 minutes. A checked-in suitcase can be stressful when you are relying on public transportation such as subways, buses, etc. Also, it’s uncomfortable if your destination has tiny rooms like some hotels in New York City or Europe they can fill up space.

What Are The Pros and Cons of the Carry-on suitcase?

1. Carry-on luggage is better for short trips and if you don’t want to carry too many things.

They are faster and easier to move around. In some cases, carrying a carry-on suitcase it will help to avoid extra fees. Carry-on suitcase its perfect when you rely on public transportation such as subways, buses, etc.

Kenneth cole carry-on

Limited space

With a carry-on suitcase, you will not be able to carry extra things such as souvenirs you bought on your trip. It can be stressful when you have the longest layovers that mean you have to guide and walk around with your suitcase. Carrying a carry-on suitcase limits you on what to pack. Will not be able to pack emergency outfits, coat/jackets.

As we can see both checked-in suitcases and carry-suitcase has pro and cons. It’s hard to pick a side which is better it all depends on what you need and what is comfortable for you. Here is what I think, the checked-in suitcase can be perfect for a vacation or honeymoon. And the carry-on suitcase can be perfect for short weekend gateway and business travel.

Newer Posts