If you are torn between traveling for a while and going to university, don’t be. There is no need to choose between the two. Advances in remote studying and the changing face of education means that it is perfectly feasible for you to do both.

However, you are going to face challenges. Some of which students who study in a more traditional way will not. But, with a bit of know-how and effort, you can travel and study for a degree at the same time.

Get into a good university

The first thing you need to do is to get into a good university that provides you with enough freedom to be able to travel. There are quite a few out there. But, spaces are limited, so you will need to stand out from the other applicants to be able to get in. One way you can do this is by producing a compelling and flawless personal statement. The easiest approach is to go to this site or one like it and use their personal statement editing service. It will cost money, but for most people, it is a worthwhile investment.

Set yourself up for success

Once you are in and know the content of your course, sit down and plan. Work out how much studying you will need to do at various stages. Ideally, you do not want to be moving from place to place or doing seasonal work at key points in your course. You need to identify the busiest months and plan your travels accordingly.

Get yourself a decent laptop and buy or download the software and apps you will need to help you with your studies. Use reviews like this to decide which one to buy. Make sure you have a mobile phone deal that gives you access to plenty of affordable data in the countries you are planning to travel to.

Plan to take advantage of student discounts

As a student, you will potentially be entitled to all kinds of discounts. That includes access to special deals on things like travel and accommodation.

Find out about study abroad schemes

Sometimes it is possible to apply for one of the special schemes that enable people to study abroad without having to pay high fees. This site will help you to find out about many of them.

Stay organized

If you want to succeed, you need to prioritize your studies and plan around them. Doing that will ensure that you put enough time aside to be able to get everything you need done.

Be disciplined

Even with good planning, you will need to take a disciplined approach to your life. When you are traveling alone staying accountable can be difficult. So, it may be a good idea to pair up with a couple of students that are also combining travel with studying. Doing this will enable you to encourage each other and make suggestions about how to overcome some of the fairly unique challenges you are going to be facing.

About The Author : Emily is a UK based blogger with a passion for travel and lifestyle. When she’s not off traveling and discovering all the world has to offer, you’ll find her keeping a close eye out for all the latest styles and trends coming around the corner.

The post How to continue to travel while at university appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Whether you are planning a city break, a six-week cruise or a trip around the world, packing the right eyewear is essential. Wherever you are going, popping into the optician to get an issue sorted out is not as easy as it would be if you were at home. Packing the right eyewear is essential. Below, we help you to select the right glasses, sunglasses or goggles for your trip.

So, if you are trying to choose between new horn eye glasses, old school aviators or a sassy pair of cat-eye frames, you just need to read on. We’ve got you covered.

Get your prescription up to date

If you wear prescription glasses, it is well worth getting your eyes tested before you go. You want to be able to see properly. If you cannot you won’t get to enjoy the landscape as much and little tasks like reading a map will be difficult.

The longer your trip is, the more important it is to get your eyes tested, so you have an up to date prescription. Be sure to leave enough time for this. Factor in time to get the appointment with the optician and for your new glasses to arrive. Remember that you will also have to wear your glasses for a couple of weeks to be sure that they are right for you. If they are not, you may have to go through the whole process again and order a new pair. So, it is wise to allow double the time you think you need to update your prescription before traveling.

Choose a versatile pair of glasses

If space in your suitcase is tight, consider buying all in one eyewear. For example, choosing a pair of closely fitting prescription glasses with reactive lenses may work for you. The prescription allows you to see and read. When it is sunny the reactive lenses will darken and if they fit closely to your face you could potentially use them as an alternative to goggles.

Looks matter too

You need to make sure that you buy a pair you really like and will look right regardless of what you end up wearing. Start by looking at the classic frame shapes. If you are a man, this guide will provide you with inspiration, and it contains great advice about narrowing down your options. For women, this is a good guide. That article is written with buying sunglasses in mind but, the advice you will find there applies equally to prescription glasses.

Be prepared

Unfortunately, when you travel it is all too easy for your glasses to get lost or damaged. So, it is usually worth taking a super cheap pair of prescription glasses with you, just in case. This will get you through until you can buy a proper replacement set. Provided you have your prescription with you, it is possible to order what you need online and have them shipped to anywhere in the world. Often, that is a more practical option than relying on a local optician’s shop.

About The Author : Emily is a UK based fashion writer with a passion for travel. When she’s not off traveling and discovering all the world has to offer, you’ll find her keeping a close eye out for all the latest styles and trends coming around the corner.

The post Packing the right eyewear for your trip appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Airbnb is the most famous example of how the traditional model of flights and hotel has been changed. Normal people can rent out their property – or even just a bedroom – to users of the service for a relatively small charge, all over the world.

What the internet entrepreneurs have shown us is that cheap holidays don’t have to mean a living frugally.

So what other services exist that allow you to travel the world on a shoestring? Here are ten other ways…

Couchsurfing

 Sign up to Couchsurfing.com and you join a community of over 14 million locals and travellers. This service might be a young person’s game, but it’s a fantastically fun and cheap way of staying in some of the most exciting places on the planet. This is perfect for anyone backpacking or looking to see the world on a budget. Couchsurfing has developed to not just provide a place to sleep, but meet new people, hang out, get tours of the city and have conversations with people you may not necessarily meet under other circumstances.

Carpool

Transport is costly, but if you’re going across continent, carpooling or hitching is a good idea. Standing on the side of a road with a sign is risky, so luckily there are some sites that match up drivers with travellers so they can get to their destination cheaply and safely. Sites like blablacar.com let you organise a car share where you’re in control, can book in confidence and with some services, fully insured.

Crew a yacht

Check out crewseekers.net for a life on the ocean waves. Working as part of a yacht’s crew will let you have a completely unique experience whilst travelling. Pick a journey you want to help out on and enjoy the adventure!

Home Swap

Home swapping with a service like HomeExchange.com allows you to stay in a home rather than a hotel and have all the creature comforts that a household has. This site covers the whole world, so there’s some really exciting opportunities to be had.

Housesit

Housesitting is becoming a popular alternative to other traditional forms of travel accommodation. For the traveller, it provides a safe home in which to use as a base for your exploring of a particular area. For the homeowner, it’s a great way to make sure your house is lived in in your absence, your belongings are looked after, pets are cared for and plants watered. The deal is all managed by the website like housecarers.com, and a deposit may be requested – but it is a much cheaper and more comfortable alternative to renting a holiday home or a hotel.

Drive someone else’s car from A to B

Transport companies offer people the opportunity to take someone else’s vehicle from one destination to the other. This is a cheaper way of transporting the car for the vehicle owner, and it’s a brilliant way of going on an epic road trip for the driver. As long as you’re flexible, have a clean driving license and – in most cases – are over 21, it’s can be a great experience. Some websites like autodriveaway.com can set you up with a vehicle and a destination – you’ll just need to provide the fuel.

Teach English

There are countless backpackers and travellers who choose to teach English or another language to school or college students in a given country. Services like diverbo.com or doing a TEFL course is a great way of exploring new countries and being able to help out. You can do this across a variety of countries – and you might like teaching so much you want to make a career of it.

Get a job

Pick up some work in the place of your choice. Work as an au pair, office worker, fruit picking – there’s a wide choice of opportunities. The pay will be a much needed boost to help subsidise your travel and allow you to experience another side of the place you’re visiting. Plus, working is another great way of meeting people.

Volunteer

Se7en is a service that allows volunteers to visit places as far flung as Bali, Namibia or India and help out on projects on anything from orphanages to farms. In return, you may get help with accommodation, food and travel – depending on the charity or body you’re working with.

Work remotely

If you have a digital job, you should explore the idea of working remotely. This will give you the ability to upsticks and leave the confines of the office to experience life overseas, and especially freelancers, you can decide where and when you want to work. Digital nomads are growing in popularity, and places like Surf Office in the Canary Islands or Remote Year allows you to join in on the movement.

Save

Save

The post 10 cheap and cheerful ways to travel the world appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Countries with Hard-to-Get Visas for Americans

If you are planning to travel abroad and explore what’s beyond your time zone and demographics, the first things you need to comply with are your visa and passport. You can personally go through the tedious and daunting application process or you can find online visa service providers to do the difficult tasks for you. These companies can also help you pinpoint the countries where visas are specifically hard to get for Americans. If you deal with the right visa or passport application services, you just might secure that much-coveted requirement for entry to these countries:

Cuba

Although with a close proximity to the United States, Cuba is deemed so close yet so tricky to enter for Americans. The truth is that the Cuban government is quite open to American tourists. It is the U.S. government that does not allow its citizens to visit Cuba strictly for tourism purposes. The State Department is quite stringent in their visa requirements especially if your destination is any of the remarkable places in Cuba such as the famous Varadero Beach. Cuba does have their popular free universal health care and other baits for tourists but Americans need to have purposes other than tourism to secure a permission to set foot on Cuban soil.

Libya

Due to the civic issues and security concerns in the country, Libya is even much stricter in issuing visas to American tourists. The Libyan government has, in fact, issued visas to Americans since June of 2010. However, despite allowing Americans to visit, the process of getting approved from the embassy is a daunting and painstaking journey.  American travelers would have to hurdle tons of requirements and difficulties before they can have that sought-after visa. Americans that have dual citizenship and would use their non-US status to secure a visa to enter Libya are in even much deeper trouble because when discovered, imprisonment is one of the penalties to face.

North Korea

Aside from the obvious reason that the country does not have their embassy in practically any parts of the globe, North Korea is quite difficult to visit because visa application process is quite lengthy. Although Americans may visit North Korea, getting your visa approved is long and difficult, not to mention a sanctioned guide will be virtually accompanying you at all times once you are on North Korean soil. Your sanctioned guide will be the one who’s in deep trouble in case you want to venture off the beaten path to sightsee. Book your tour to the country and have your visa submitted for approval but make sure you use a trusted online visa service for a risk-free and time-saving application process.

Saudi Arabia

Yes, Saudi Arabia Visa is in the list. American tourists are up for a long and overly stringent visa application if they choose to visit and explore the Desert Kingdom. All visa applicants must comply with the needed requirements particularly a local sponsor and several months of preparing for the application and waiting for it to be approved. Your passport must not also have an Israeli stamp on it if you don’t want to jeopardize your trip and say goodbye to an adventure in this interesting kingdom in the Middle East.

Iraq

Another destination in the Middle East also requires a hard-to-get visa but it’s worth the shot especially if you want to see the exotic and beautiful scenic spots in the country. The Iraqi embassy should basically grant you a visa first which you can get in Washington. However, if you don’t have the time, you can always get assistance from online visa service providers. Other requirements include a valid passport that is still validated for 6 months. You may also get an Entry Visa Approval Memorandum which could be obtained through the Interior Residency Office. US tourists must also willingly submit to a mandatory blood test upon entry in the country.

A lot of countries are welcoming to American tourists with easy to get visas or no visa requirements at all. Hire an established and trusted online visa service company if you are adventurous enough to visit the countries on this list.

Save

Save

Save

The post The Most Difficult Countries to Get Visas for Americans appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Are you looking for shoes for your next travel? Are you going South and looking for some light sandals? I spent three weeks in Sri Lanka and South India and was wearing only clogs.

I took off my other shoes and socks at the first moment I landed in India, put them to the bottom of my backpack and didn’t need anything else except my lovely clogs.
This is probably the most attractive feature of the clogs (mainly known as Crocs, because it adds to the comfort and makes you feel like you’re walking on air. By far the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn. These shoes are very comfortable and well suited for the hot, sticky, sandy climate. The air flows well through the vents and offers a unique feel of cool comfort.
You can get a little bit dirty because the holes allow all sorts of debris into the sandal while you’re walking, such as sand and rain water, but who cares about it?  Somebody who afraid to get dirty shouldn’t go to such places like India or other South East Asia countries in the first place.
I honestly recommend to try one. You don’t need to buy clogs made by Crocs as it can be pricey. Depending on size it can cost about $US15-30. I bought mine on the trip to Nepal in Kathmandu. It was noname, made locally and cost only $US 2 or 3  and they lasted for more then two years. I took my clogs to the hiking trip and every night it was like heaven for the feet after I was taking off my hiking shoes and putting on the clogs at guest house.

Save

The post Best shoes for travel appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

When I was renting car in Europe, US or Canada, I never did think or care how much fuel I can fill into car tank. Usually was no problem to find gas station near by. But it didn’t work in this case. Thought I was renting smallest campervan it still was using about 15 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers and with 55 liters tank I could drive maximum 370 kilometers (230 miles). It meant I needed to stop at every road house for refueling and I had carefully to check any side trips I wanted to take. Did I have enough fuel to get back on road.

When you know your tank capacity and how much fuel your car uses per 100 kilometers or miles it is easy to calculate an distance you can drive. But I created this calculator to make it even more easier.

Rental companies provides all data you need to calculate it and it is important to know how far you can go with your car in such remote places. It makes you to look to your road trip planning with different approach. Can you reach every place with your car without auxiliary fuel tank. I hope this calculator will help you with your next road trip planning in Australia.

Save

The post Gas mileage calculator for travelers appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Clothes

Take minimal clothes as it’s easy to pick up more cheaply if you need them, and laundry services are also inexpensive.

Take clothes that will cover your body. Short skirts/shorts and tight or revealing clothes should be avoided. On women, clothes should cover knees and shoulders. Long sleeved shirts and linen trousers will keep you cool, prevent you from burning and can stop you from being bitten.

Travel in a pair of sturdy shoes that are comfortable for walking long distances and pack a pair of sandals, which are handy to slip off when visiting temples.

Wraps can be useful to cover you in the sun, to wrap around you if it gets cold, to sleep under during journeys and to wrap around your head if visiting a mosque.

If you’re visiting a touristy beach resort, take modest swimwear (a one-piece for ladies).

Take a lightweight fleece – even if you’re visiting during the hot weather, air conditioning can sometimes be fierce and nights can cool down.

Remember to take a sun hat.

Toiletries and medicines

You can take small bottles of your usual products, although you’ll easily be able to buy most things in India. Remember to put bottles of liquid in waterproof bags to avoid leakage.

Put together a medical kit. Although medicines are available in India, they can be under different names. Be sure to include all of your usual medical essentials, especially diarrhoea medication and a thermometer.

Take the advice from health professionals about whether you need to take anti malaria medication.

Insect repellent with DEET is essential (check for advice about using repellent on children). You can buy plug in repellents when you arrive.

Luggage

The most practical luggage to take is a lightweight, soft rucksack that has a detachable daysack. A rucksack will allow you to dodge through a busy airport and it will also be easy to squash into the luggage racks on buses.

A packable bag is also useful, so you can pull it out if you go shopping or you need something more than just your daysack.

Documents

Make sure you leave photocopies of any important documents – including your passport and insurance – with somebody at home.

Extras

• A camera and charger.
• Sunglasses.
• Ear plugs and an eye mask (useful for both on the flight and in case your hotel is noisy).
• Suncream.
• Aftersun.
• Umbrella and packable rain macs.
• Antibacterial hand wash.
• Individually wrapped, antibacterial hand wipes and small packets of tissues.
• Plug converters.
• A torch.
• A travel washing line along with a small bottle of liquid wash detergent.
• A mobile phone (ensure it is activated to be used abroad before you go).
• A mixture of cash, credit cards and travelers cheques.
• A lightweight travel towel (takes up minimal space and dries easily). Whether you take one of these each depends on whether your accommodation includes towels or whether you plan to visit the beach regularly.
• Notebook and pen for planning, writing memories and making notes on train times etc.
• A good guidebook.

Travel to India

Don’t take too much with you on vacation as heavy, bulky bags can make your time in the country less enjoyable. You can get most things in India, so don’t worry if you forget to pack something. A good piece of tried and tested advice is to put everything out that you’d like to take, halve it and then take double the money! But even if you can’t double up on your spending money, you’ll certainly benefit from traveling light.

The post What to pack for a family vacation to India appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Only “problems” are when you are sitting at home and watching news on TV. “Iran is evil” – all you can hear on TV. A long time ago I learned don’t trust news as nowadays journalists are looking just for sensations, accidents or conflicts. I spend two perfect weeks in Iran disconnected from mass media. Just I came back, switched on news and it was again the same – Iran did that or that.  Hmm… It seems I visited totally different country.

It was no surprise my family and some friends where asking me: “Iran? Why Iran?” when I told about my plans. I knew people who already have been there, I knew some Iranians and I couldn’t find any reason which could prevent me to visit that country.

I was thinking about Iran for long time. Two years ago I won Lonely Planet travel guide giveaway on Fresh Roads blog. I could choose any LP guide available at the time. I picked [amazon_link id=”1741791529″ target=”_blank” ]”Iran”[/amazon_link].  Two years later I visited it at last.

What can I tell? It was no any issues with safety.  In any hotel or hostel you can find similar advice like this from on hotel in Tehran:

Dear Guests in Tehran,

To ensure a secure and pleasant stay in Tehran we would like to draw your kind attention to the following points:

1. Only stay in authorized hotels or apartment hotels with valid license and sign.

2. Nobody is allowed to search you and inspect your private things. Only the Police (with uniform and the police car) presenting the valid ID can check your ID or ask for it.

3. Leave your passport and valuables in the hotel safe. Do not leave valuables in the room. Do not carry large sums of money; carry only what you need. Check your belongings regularly.

4. for traveling in the city a copy of passport and a hotel card would be enough for presentation to the police or when necessary.

5. Always carry with you card information of your staying hotel. In case of any problems the police can help you to your hotel.

6. Avoid connecting strangers. For visiting places or strolling in the town, ask your hotel desk for help or guidance.

7. Both for inner city and country roads, use authorized transportation. When possible let the hotel desk clerks make these arrangements for you.

8. For exchange go to the banks or ask your hotel desk for help.

9. In the event of an emergency please call 110.

But all these are just common sense things you use in any country you travel. It just shows there is nothing special about security in Iran.

Most people I met were very friendly and helpful thought a lot of them don’t speak English, but still they will try to help you if you are asking for direction or looking for something. Of course there are taxi drivers who wants to charge you double price comparing to locals, but it is nothing to do with your safety.

I wasn’t worry about safety before my trip and I will tell “yes” even with more confidence now if somebody will ask me “Is it safe to travel in Iran?”

The post Is it safe to travel in Iran appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

There is a solution, but it needs to be worked into your plans at the very beginning. Travel insurance is not just for those travelling internationally. Even when tripping around Australia, for work or pleasure, it’s a wise decision to invest in travel insurance to cover you should the unexpected occur.

Domestic travel insurance will provide you the means of paying for unforeseen expenses such as accommodation or hospital fees, but only if you remember to take it out and ensure that your policy includes those kinds of things.

Benefits may be payable for expenses sustained such as additional accommodation and transport costs arising as a result of sickness, natural disasters, strikes and protests, and missing travel documentation. For example if you arrive at the airport and the luggage handlers are on strike, preventing the plane from loading and taking off, then you may be covered for accommodation so you can make alternative arrangements. If you or a member of your party falls ill, then costs may be covered for another form of transport (a coach instead of a plane). If sickness, an accident or adverse climate affects your travel plans and you need to rearrange or cancel part or all of your trip, you may be reimbursed from your travel insurance. Some insurers may also cover you for unexpected misfortunes such as retrenchment or death.

Insurance doesn’t only cover plans, it can also cover belongings. Should your luggage or personal items become lost or damaged, the cost of replacing or repairing items will be refunded. This could include cameras, glasses, computers or jewellery.

If for some reason you can’t return your rental vehicle (illness, hospitalisation etc) or it is stolen or damaged during your rental term, insurance could cover the excess you would normally have to pay. And if a claim is made against you by someone that is injured or incurred property damage, you may also be covered for legal liability.

Some insurance companies also include niceties such as 24/7 phone help. Ask what they offer by way of assistance while you’re travelling.

It pays to research the insurer you plan to engage and thoroughly investigate the cover they offer. If they cover for eventualities that might never occur, then see if you can save yourself some money and opt out of that part of the policy. Read up on their benefit limits –$3000 might not cover a protracted hospital stay, but it could easily buy another laptop. Purchasing travel insurance should be an integral part of your trip planning as booking a hotel or flight. It doesn’t pay to skip it.

The post Benefits of Domestic Travel Insurance for Australians appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.