Happy Holiday Season from the Staff at Traveling Boy
We have designated this Holiday Season to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.
MORENine Delicious Holiday Drinks From Around the World
Bored of eggnog? Sick of cider? Here are nine scrumptious end-of-year beverages to sip on from across the globe
Courtesy Lila Thulin, smithsonianmag.com
In the United States, the winter holidays might conjure the image of a crackling fire, wrapping paper, lit candles and the taste of warm cider, eggnog or piping-hot chocolate. These libations — iced, boozy or once-a-year delicacies — reflect the culinary traditions, weather, religion and agriculture of the places they originated. Here are nine beverages that will be served at special occasions around the globe this holiday season.
MOREUrban Safaris in Africa? Absolutely. Don’t Skip over Africa’s Best Cities With the Help of Timeless Africa Safaris
From Cape Town to Kigali, Nairobi to Arusha, transformative opportunities for travelers to discover culture and connect with locals.
There is more to an African journey than watching wildlife in the wilderness – and much more to Africa as well. Timeless Africa Safaris, the boutique Cape Town, South Africa-based travel designer has made a specialty of curating Urban Safaris for travelers intrigued by the culture of the continent, with transformative opportunities.
MOREEuropeans’ Favourite Flight Destinations and Opinions On The USA For 2019 Revealed
Courtesy Calum McCloskey, 10 Yetis Digital
- New York is the most searched-for flight destination from the UK, Germany, France and Spain
- Sightseeing, food and culture amongst the top things most enjoyed by Europeans visiting the States
- French, German and UK residents cited ‘the people’ as their least favourite part of travelling to America
The data was collated by the team at flight-comparison site www.us.jetcost.com, who looked at flight searches for 2019 conducted by residents of the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and France (an even 25% split amongst the four countries).
MOREI Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb
Courtesy Allie Conti
While searching for the person who grifted me in Chicago, I discovered just how easy it is for users of the short-term rental platform to get exploited.
MOREThe Swiss UNESCO World Heritage sites.
UNESCO World Heritage sites are witness to the history of the earth and humanity. Each one of these places embodies authenticity, quality and diversity across generations.
Thanks to Mother Nature and some eminent masterminds, Switzerland is home to no less than 12 wonders, a constellation of cultural and natural sites with the Biosfera Engiadina Val Müstair, the architectural works by Le Corbusier and the Jungfrau-Aletsch Region among others.
On the anniversary of the convention adopted on 16 November 1972 in Paris at the 17th General Conference of UNESCO we pay tribute in this newsletter to our Swiss wonders.
We begin with a selection of our four favorite sites with the promise of more to come in the next few months…however, if you can’t wait, feel free to visit the exhaustive list available on our website: UNESCO World Heritage sites.
7 Hidden Benefits of Cruising That Might Surprise You
Courtesy Albom Adventures
Are you wondering if a cruise holiday is right for you? While there are all the obvious benefits that come from a nearly all-inclusive vacation with a pre-planned destination itinerary, there are also many hidden benefits of cruising that might surprise you.
MORECould Nuclear-Powered Ships Help the Industry Meet the 2050 Emissions Target?
Courtesy Lloyd’s Register
Nuclear power as a fuel for ships is a completely zero-emission solution – it does not emit any SOx, NOx, CO2 or particulates. The technology is also millions of times more power-dense than fossil fuels and alternative fuel options that are currently being considered like methanol, ammonia and hydrogen. In terms of meeting the IMO’s 2050 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction ambition, it’s the only proven solution available today, capable of replacing fossil fuels in all marine applications.
MOREThe Middle Seat Is About to Get Wider on Some Planes
(CNN) — It is a truth universally acknowledged that middle seats on airplanes are the worst.Being awkwardly sandwiched in between two people while fighting for elbow room is the bane of most passengers. Now a new design might actually make people want the middle seat — or at least make the travel experience less miserable. The S1 design from the Colorado-based startup, Molon Labe Seating, features three economy seats in a staggered layout, putting the middle seat slightly behind the aisle and window seats, and at a slightly lower height.
MORE11 Endangered Bucket List Destinations (And How to Visit Them Responsibly)
Courtesy of Mariana Zapata, SmarterTravel
Climate change and overtourism make daily headlines now and are stark reminders that some of the most beautiful places in the world are at risk of disappearing. For many travelers, the natural response to this is “last chance tourism,” or a rush to see endangered places while they’re still here. But before writing obituaries for these endangered destinations, consider instead taking actionable steps before and during your trip to keep them from disappearing. Here are 11 at-risk destinations and what you can do to help preserve them.
MOREHow to Survive Sitting on a Long Flight, According to a Physical Therapist
Courtesy Josh Ocampo, Lifehacker
I can never sit comfortably on a flight; I’ve struggled with lower back pain for years. After emerging from a long flight spent in a middle seat, I have been known to collapse on the floor of the airport like an infant that’s learning to walk.
MOREHow to Take Your Own Passport Photo
Courtesy, Caroline Morse Teel, SmarterTravel
After paying $15 to have an awkward photoshoot in the aisle of a CVS, only to have my passport photos rejected twice (once for being too dark and once for being too bright), I decided there had to be a better way to take your own passport photo. Turns out, snapping your own passport photo is easier, cheaper, and much more convenient than going to a “professional” (a.k.a., the cashier at your local drugstore). Here’s a few tips:
MOREThe Worst Seats on a Plane (And How to Avoid Them)
Courtesy Sarah Schlichter
You’re crammed into a middle seat at the back of an airplane, with neighbors encroaching on your armrests and an endless chorus of flushing sounds from the lavatory nearby. Alas, you’re stuck in one of the worst seats on a plane, and you have to ask: How did you end up here, and how can you make sure it never happens again?
Seat selection can make a huge difference in how comfortable you are in flight, especially on long international trips. I interviewed an expert to help identify the worst airplane seats and explain how you can land yourself a betterlast-cha spot on your next flight.
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Global Rescue’s Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers
Courtesy Global Rescue
“Shoppers are flooded with holiday promotions,” said Harding Bush, former Navy SEAL and associate manager of operations at Global Rescue. “But the Global Rescue Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers is the only one compiled through the recommendations of our members and staff of travel experts and military special forces veterans all of whom are among the most experienced when it comes to the excitement of travel and necessity for preparation.”
MORENew Year’s Eve in Bologna
Courtesy Alice Brignani, Bologna Welcome
“Bologna dances for the festive season” (Bologna Balla per le feste) from dances in the streets to fine-art videomapping on historical buildings featuring the best dance scenes in the history of cinema.
MORE22 Destinations that Were Ruined by Tourists Over the Past Decade
Courtesy of Ben Mack, Insider
- The 2010s saw more people traveling than ever before, according to The Guardian’s report on recent figures from the World Tourism Organization.
- But millions upon millions of people going on adventures has put pressure on numerous destinations.
- Some, like Venice, have long been affected by overtourism, but others like Dubrovnik, Croatia, are facing new challenges caused by the popularity of TV shows like “Game of Thrones.”
- Here are 22 of the places we’re loving to death.
Why You Should Visit Hamburg in 2020
From Beatles’ Hamburg anniversary, to a new 5-star hotel, to off-beat festivals and culinary stars …. 2020 is the year to visit Germany’s maritime city.
Since the opening of the Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg’s new concert hall, the city has become more popular than ever. If you have not visited this northern German city, 2020 will give you even more reasons to explore this maritime city on the Elbe river, as the coming year has plenty of new discoveries in store.
Come Together – The Hamburg Beatles Experience
March 27-29
It was in 1960, when five young musicians from Liverpool first performed at Hamburg’s Indra club in St Pauli as “The Beatles”. Sixty years later, Hamburg is celebrating the world’s most recognizable band, at the sites where their career started. A weekend of concerts at Indra and Kaiserkeller – both authentic venues where the band performed – as well as other locations, will bring back music history. An interactive Beatles’ tour, exhibitions and talks with Beatles’ experts will broaden the experience. Cometogether-experience.
MOREAncient Jerusalem Maze-of-Tunnels Discovered
Courtesy of National Geographic
A fifth-century church has been uncovered in Jerusalem. Built to commemorate the site where Jesus is said to have cured a blind man, the sanctuary fell out of use, its roof eventually collapsed, and the ancient building over time joined the city’s vast underground realm.Unearthing the 2,000-year-old, 2,000-foot-long street that once conveyed pilgrims, merchants, and other visitors to one of the wonders of ancient Palestine: the Jewish Temple, was one the world’s most expensive archaeological projects. Choked with debris during the fiery destruction of the city by Roman forces in A.D. 70, this monumental path disappeared from view.
MOREAncient ‘Lost City’ of the Khmer Empire Discovered in Cambodia
Courtesy Jessie Yeung, CNN
Researchers have identified the elusive ancient “lost city” of Cambodia for the first time.
Mahendraparvata was one of the first capitals in the Khmer Empire, which lasted from the 9th to 15th centuries AD, but much of what we know come from inscriptions recovered from other sites. Scientists theorized that the city was located on the Phnom Kulen plateau, about 48 kilometers (about 30 miles) north of Siem Reap, but it was difficult to find evidence.
MOREAmericans Reveal What Makes a ‘Good Tourist’
Going abroad provides the perfect opportunity to relax and get away from the responsibilities/stresses of everyday life. Set in vacation mode, many people sometimes forget that they are a guest in another country and therefore, fail to ensure their behavior as well as actions are always respectful towards the visiting destinations local culture/customs.
MORETogether in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society
At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.
MOREDodging Sticky Fingers: How to Outfox Pickpockets
By Rick Steves, Tribune Content Agency
I don’t give much thought to petty crime when I travel abroad. I’m well aware that it happens: I’ve been preaching about the importance of wearing a money belt for decades. And for decades — probably about a total of 4,000 days of travel — I’ve never been hit by a thief. Well, my happy streak finally ended: I was pickpocketed in Paris this summer.
MOREOne in 11 Americans Has Gone On Vacation Without Their Partner Knowing
- 9% of Americans have been on vacation without their partner and lied to them about it
- Main reasons are to go with friends, drink more heavily and to have a break from each other
- More than two fifths got found out by their partner; one in five broke up as a result
- One in ten Americans have cheated on their partner whilst on vacation
Star Struck: Half of the World’s Star Rated Hotels Located in Europe
- Number of European 5-star hotels have doubled in three years
- Asia’s star is rising with almost 5.000 new star hotels in three years
- Falling stars in the United States: decline in 5-star hotels
Half of the world’s star rated hotels are located in Europe.
MORE12 New UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Courtesy SmarterTravel
This year UNESCO has added 29 new cultural sites to its World Heritage List. Here are 12 wonders to add to your bucket list.
MORELoro Parque’s World Population Clock
The Loro Parque Foundation warns that the enormous pressure of the growing population is driving animals out of their habitats. For example, it’s estimated that in Africa, before the Europeans arrived, there could have been over 29 million elephants. However, as early as 1935, the population had dropped to 10 million and now stands at less than 440,000, according to a 2012 study conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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