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Category: Travel

A Weekend In Newport.

I’m not complaining…I am so happy everyone is safe and sound but honestly its time for a change of scenery. My anniversary was last Saturday and my husband suggested we go to Newport to celebrate. I love Newport. It such a pretty area, the Mansions of the Gilded age are fabulous. I have toured them with my mom but never with my husband so I was excited to do that together. We spent a lot of time wandering around the Breakers, the Vanderbilt mansion but the Elms, Marble House and Rosecliff are also spectacular. We saw the Warhol exhibit “Big Shot” at the Newport Museum of Art, which I loved. Also, the restaurants in Newport are amazing…HERE is a guide to some of the best..However, I love the Chanler and Castle Hill. And you have to check out the Top of Newport Bar at the Viking Hotel!! Here are some of the highlights of our little getaway. As you can see I really really loved it…I hope I inspired you to have your own little change of scenery trip!!!! Bon Voyage!!!

Moving Abroad Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult

Sometimes, we visit a country for vacation and realize that we never want to leave. Whether you fall in love with the food, the culture, or the weather, you might make the bold decision to move abroad. Thankfully, there is plenty of advice online that is designed to help make moving home easier, though much of this advice doesn’t take into account those that may be moving to another country.  

With that in mind, here are some tips that can make moving abroad easier!

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

1: Nail down the technicalities 

When you move to another country, you need to ensure you have all of the appropriate documentation required to live there safely and legally. This means you will need to obtain a visa. The type of visa you will need will vary largely on the country you are moving to, so ensure you spend some time researching visas until you find one that best matches your needs. For example, if you are moving to the UK, you can apply for a range of visas, including: 

  • An artist’s visa
  • Family visa
  • Finance visa
  • Spouse visa
  • Unmarried partner visa
  • Tier 1/Tier 2 Visa

If you have been living in the UK for five years, and continue to wish to stay, work and live within the UK, you can reach out to an immigration lawyer who can assist with your UK ILR application. This means the rules pertaining to your ability to work are the same as those that pertain to British citizens.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

2: Set yourself a budget. Stick to it. 

You’ve probably already figured out that moving abroad is going to be expensive. From visa fees to transportation costs, you’re going to need to dip into your savings a little to make it all possible. As a result, it is important that you reign in your spending wherever possible. One way in which you can do this is by noting down everything you need to pay for – from the cost of having your belongings shipped overseas, to the cost of living in your new destination – and curating a budget accordingly. There are plenty of budgeting apps you can download on your phone that make budgeting easy!

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

3: Travel Lightly

It can be hard to let go of your belongings, but moving your entire life abroad would be particularly costly, especially if you are planning on shipping heavy-duty items, such as your wardrobe and bed. As a result, you must travel as light as possible – bring with you the essentials you’ll need to go about your daily life, and nothing more. You can always ask friends and family to send over items later if you realize you need them. You can keep things you don’t bring along in storage, or if you no longer have use for them, donate them to local charities or sell them to earn extra cash before the big move. Remember, you’ll be able to buy new furniture, clothes and more in your new home. Not bringing everything along gives you a great excuse to go shopping!

Let’s Go Camping….

I was scrolling through Facebook a couple of weeks ago and something stopped me in my tracks. It was an old friend’s post…She had just explained how she finished a very unique renovation project and encouraged her friends to take on a dream and make it happen. My friend is Ruthie, and we have known each other for years and years…Ruthie has always been so cool and totally chill and really inspiring..BUT her lastest adventure honestly has me even more in complete awe of her talents. Ruthie and her family have just embarked on an RV adventure…She bought an RV and completely overhauled the entire thing, BY HERSELF. And, I have to say it is jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I have all the before and after photos below and honestly, I have to say this is one of my favorite posts that I have EVER done. The work that Ruthie did on this Camper is so amazing. I learned from talking to Ruthie that the RV business is so behind every other in terms of design and updating its look. Basically this is going to be their home on wheels for months so why shouldn’t it reflect the beauty and style of their permanent home. Since Ruthie finished her own RV, she has taken deposits to do 2 more…what once was a dream has become a hugely successfully launched business…….I cannot wait for you to see Ruthie’s Camper…and don’t forget to follow her HERE. Bon Voyage Ruthie….We cannot wait to follow you along the way!!!!

The Gray Malin Cabana at the Beverly Hills Hotel

Today I am going to take you on a virtual vacation to one of my favorite places, The Beverly Hills Hotel. You all know how much I love Gray Malin and his incredible photography. Well, he has teamed up with the BHH to bring his brand to life at the icon hotel by decorating one of their fabulous pool cabanas. Gray also included many of the elements from his own Beverly Hills Hotel photographs, in the cabana decor, so you can have your own Gray Malin photo moment right there poolside. I love that he chose the hotel’s signature Martinique wallpaper, and the custom pink and white awing (also a signature design of the hotel). All of the wicker elements are fabulous, as are the embroidered and pink pineapple throw pillows. My favorite might be the elegant push for champagne button. The cabana will remain up until the end of the year and is available for daily rentals by hotel guests. Hope to meet you at LAX soon!!!!!

The Top Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Vacation Home

Photo by Josh Sorenson from Pexels

It’s a dream for many to own a vacation property. A place where you can relax and retreat to when you’re away, it’s your own little haven away from home. However, before purchasing a vacation home, no matter where it’s located in the world, there are certain advantages and downsides you should consider. 

A way of ensuring that you’re ready for the investment, you’ll be in the best position possible. To help guide you, here is a list of the top pros and cons associated with purchasing a vacation home.

Let’s start with the pros:

Your Own Home to Enjoy

As mentioned above, by investing in a vacation home you’ll have your own private spot to enjoy. No longer will you be battling for the sun lounger or having to get up at a certain time to have breakfast. Now you’ll have a place in which you decide the rules.

No matter what time of the year you want to visit, the only barrier you’ll have to face is the flights or whatever transport you’ll need to take. Cutting the costs in the long term, this flexibility is very appealing. 

You Can Use it as a Second Income

When you’re not using your vacation home, why not rent it out so that you can get an extra income? Helping to offset the cost of a mortgage and ensuring that it’s being made use of throughout the year, it’s a valuable asset to have.

Of course, before jumping into this, it’s vital that you’ve researched into the property market in that area, the legalities of this and are certain that the people who will be renting it are trustworthy. 

You Can Benefit From Tax Deductions 

A huge benefit that you can reap is tax deductions. Applied to your mortgage and any interest it’s accrued on it, it’s a big thing to consider if  you’re looking to rent it out for up to two weeks a year. Deducted from your gross income, it’s a plus point that many owners will find to be invaluable. 

It’s Convenient 

By having a vacation home, it’s incredibly convenient for the next time you want to travel. Within this home, you can store clothes and other items you typically require when you’re away. This makes the packing situation a lot less stress the next time you want to go on vacation there. 

Now onto the cons:

You’ll Need to Guarantee it Gets the Maintenance it Requires

As the property owner, you’ll need to ensure that it is maintained properly throughout the year. Whether this involves having someone to come in and clean it or repair any issues that need fixing, it’s a big burden to bear on top of your current home. 

Extra costs that not everyone considers at the start of the process, it’s a responsibility that will last for the entire ownership of the property. 

It’s Likely to Be Far Away

Now, this isn’t always the case. But if you’re thinking of purchasing a vacation home that’s further afield, you’ll have to think about the likeliness of you making full use of it throughout the year. For example, if it’s in a location that’s more than a couple of hours flight away, then the chances are that you’ll only be able to visit on average, twice a year.

This point puts into perspective how much you’re paying for the property versus how much you can actually use it. 

A Lack of Flexibility

Even if you currently love the location you’re looking to purchase the vacation in, over time, there’s a chance that you might want to travel somewhere else. And while this is of course possible while owning the home, you might want to take full advantage of it each time you go away.

Making you feel tied to one place, it’s not the ideal option for avid travelers that love to explore new places each time.

The Cost

Following on from the above, perhaps the key reason why people are put off by vacation homes is because of the cost. Not only do you have to pay out for a deposit, but you’ll need to consider how much the mortgage or loan you’ve taken out will cost you each month, any taxes, maintenance, etc. 
These costs could make it feel like it’s more affordable to stay in a hotel here and there rather than have a second property that you need to pay for each month. To determine whether it’s attainable from the start, it’s therefore a good idea to use the best home loan calculator available and budget how much your outgoings will be.

The “New Normal” of Travelling After Covid-19

It’s no understatement to say that there are very few occurrences that have resulted in such a worldwide paradigm shift in our lifetimes as that of COVID-19. We are still in the thick of it and already we can see how people are clamoring for change after we’re out. How we live, how the state handles welfare, the importance of scientific literacy and the rise of conspiracy-mindedness are all big questions brought up by the virus still taking its toll. Travel is another part of our lives that might change a lot, and here are some ideas of what the new “normal” might looking like.

Image – CC0 License

People are likely to stay much closer to home

While there may be a lot of people who are more than happy to get far away from home and to find somewhere to relax once COVID-19 is over and done with, there is likely to be an increased sense of caution amongst travelers for some time once travel restrictions start easing off. As such, many people anticipate that we are going to see a great rise in staycations and city breaks and fewer people traveling overseas or too far from home in general. Given the number of people who got stranded from home by being overseas when the borders and airports shut, this is no surprise. People who worry about the potential of a second wave are likely to fear that happening to them, too.

Road travel is going to become a lot more popular

A lot of people are also going to have concerns about using any kind of transport that is shared or the public in general. As such, it’s likely that cruises and air travel might see something of a reduction for a while. Air travel demand might decrease, but that doesn’t mean that travel as a whole will decrease. Instead, many anticipate that road trips and RV purchases and hire are likely to expand. People are going to want more control over their own environment and have peace of mind that they’re not sharing their modes of transportation with people that might be carrying the virus. This might also translate to more people taking the time to go camping rather than entrusting their safety to hotels.

Different countries will re-open at different times

One of the factors worth remembering about the virus is that its impacts are not being felt equally around the world. There are some countries that are still experiencing their first swell of cases and there are others that seem to be at the tail end of things, with no new cases found in some time. As such, they are also likely to have different COVID-19 travel restrictions. We might expect that some countries might restrict travel for tourists for some time while keeping them open for essential travelers or for citizens. Similarly, the countries with the highest infection rates are likely to be treated with more scrutiny, with travel from the countries blocked by other major countries. As such, it will be crucial for travelers to do their research on travel restrictions on a country-by-country basis. You need to see if the country you want to travel from accepts visitors from the country that you are leaving, especially if you live in a place that still has a relatively high rate of transmission.

Airports are going to become a much different experience

Even if the rates of transmission continue to decrease across the globe, it is very likely that airports will take the risk of COVID-19 very seriously for a long time in the future. Already, a lot of airports are installing heat-detecting cameras and implementing longer and stricter checks to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. If there is a COVID-19 vaccine developed at some point in future, it is likely that airports will demand travelers provide proof that they have been vaccinated. Already, some airports are requesting that even essential travelers offer proof that they have tested negative for the virus. As such, we can all expect to have to do more prep work if we want to fly, and to spend more time in the check-in. It may also mean that we have to visit the doctor ahead of time to collect any proof that we might need to present before boarding any aircraft.

Costs are going to change across the board

At the moment, it is very difficult for even industry experts to guess whether or not the costs of travel will go higher or lower in general. Many anticipate that both flights and accommodation will experience a drop in price. Customer confidence will be low, meaning fewer people will travel, meaning these costs can go down. However, most also agree that insurance prices are going to skyrocket. Insurance prices are always affected by risk. If there’s a greater risk of you becoming sick, then insurance costs are going to go up. With that mind, everyone is likely to be at more risk, so everyone’s insurance prices are likely to go up. However, costs may be decreased in some other ways. For instance, many have been predicting that travelers will rely less and less on third-party travel agents and will instead be booking with airlines directly. This is due to the fact that airlines and hotels are going to have their own measures that third-party agencies can’t keep up with.

Hotels and tourist spots are going to become stricter

Just as airports are likely to undergo some changes to ensure that travel is safer, we expect the same to come from the tourist and hospitality industries, as well. For instance, hotels and BNBs are likely to start implementing new measures such as stricter hygiene practices and new employee training, as well as new rules for guests, such as social distancing and the mandatory use of gloves and masks. Tourist spots are also likely to start having stricter rules, such as restrictions on how many people can be at a certain spot at any one time throughout the day.  To that end, it’s going to be important that tourists check ahead with any spots they want to visit, find out what restrictions might apply, and prepare accordingly. This could include longer wait times to see some of the most popular spots of any tourist destination as well as rules for mandatory maks wearing.

Everyone should still stay on guard

Aside from the trends mentioned above, we’re going to see most travelers remain very mindful of the risks of going overseas and traveling in general. As such, we should all be sure to stay vigilant, to keep our distance from others, to stay out of crowds, to wash our hands regularly, and to wear our masks. When it comes to traveling in airports, staying in hotels, or otherwise using shared or public resources, it’s important to be wary and to clean one’s environment, too. As such, it will be recommended to travel with your own supply of things like hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and masks, as well. Even if a country has no reported cases of COVID-19 in the past weeks, travelers are expected to present a risk of transmission from place to place. As such, the responsibility will be on us to make sure we’re being responsible for the added risk that we represent.

We still can’t entirely predict what travel might look like once COVID-19 has fully eased off. However, we can expect a long transition back to normal given how slowly some countries are recovering.