Month: April 2022

Advantages & Disadvantages of Traveling by Train in Spain

The trains of Spain are efficient, fast and relatively cheap. But in order to commute by train, you need to make an itinerary, not taking everything for granted.

There are a number of routes that are not very well served and the coverage is also not efficient at many places. You cannot expect everything to be cheap and quick always while decided to travel by train. Planning involves looking and going through the entire timetables and different routes of train in Spain. Different websites and portals can cater to your needs.

There is no doubt that a lot of times traveling by train will be cheaper in Spain as compared to the long distance travel in any other country. In fact, charges of train travel in Spain are nearly half the price of that in Germany or France. At times, train travels in Spain can also be extremely luxurious, especially if you are going for La Robla train tour. Luxury packages from Bilbao to Leon are also available.

Train travel in Spain also takes very little time, particularly at the Madrid-Barcelona AVE and Madrid- Seville Road. Inter rail passes and Eurail also makes travel cheaper in Spain. There are large numbers of discounts that are offered by these trains and the facilities they offer are also excellent but while choosing to take it you need to be very wise.

The ticket booking facility is also easier than that of booking the bus. There is only one main company that caters to different services. You do not have to keep on looking for services. Trains are also facilitated by lavoratory facilities unlike that of buses.

You can easier work by taking help of an interactive map that contains all the train routes in Spain, especially that of rail Europe. Real euro offers cheap rail passes in whole continent. Real euro offers maps for most of the European train routes.

Traveling by train also has some disadvantages in Spain. At times these tickets are not so cheap and travel is also not quick always. Sometimes you also need to pay extra. A lot of times you don’t also get direct routes and you end up wasting a lot of time. At times it also becomes difficult for you to make sure that the service of which train should be used. Although there are varieties of services, but the scenario sometimes gets very confusing. The situation is complicated towards the north and eastern parts of Spain. Price comparison and a good study of all routes can make train travel suitable for you.…

Traveling With Toddlers

Whether you are going a week long road trip or to the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean, you will need to plan in advance when traveling with toddlers. Toddlers are interesting and fun little people between the ages of 2 and 4 years. They are coming into their personality and know what they want, when they want it!

It’s the age where tantrums are performed at the drop of a dime, which always seem to occur at the most inconvenient moments. Reduce the tantrums and frustrations that toddlers experience by occupying their busy little brains.

Here are 5 tips that you can do to ensure your trip will go smoothly.

Plan to go somewhere that can accommodate your little one

Research the area to see what activities they can participate in

Be prepared with travel toys, interactive books, or small hand-held games that can occupy their time.

Keep sufficient toiletries, change of clothes, first-aid kit in case of accidents or spills close at hand

Keep finger snacks and sippy-cups with water for them to easily grab.

1. Plan on where to go

This, of course, will be the first part of your planning. Not all vacation destinations have enough activities to accommodate toddlers. Also you may want to check to see if there are baby-sitting services available (this is particularly important if you want to have a night out without your toddler). Some places have a nanny service that can stay with your family the entire vacation.

2.Plan what to do

Are there any amusement parks, pools or play areas for your little ones? What will they do? Find out ahead of time what is available, telling your little one what they will be doing ahead of time will get them excited!

3. Keep them busy

Having small toys, interactive books or small hand-held games will occupy their time while traveling. DVD players are especially good for long car rides or air travel. If you don’t want to carry a bulky DVD player and case, consider an iTouch or iPad, there are many pre-school apps you can download as well as movies that you toddler will enjoy! Engage your little one and have them carry their own back pack, the ones with wheels are fun

4. Take a Back Pack or Diaper Bag

No, your little gal or guy is not too old for a diaper bag. Even if they’re wearing panties or underwear, s use a pull-up, especially if they are new to potty training!

Reduce the stress and frustration of having to rush to get them to the bathroom when it’s not possible. Let them know accidents happen and keep it moving. A change of clothes, wipes, toilet seat covers, and travel-size baby wash are also great to have on hand-for a quick wash-up if needed.

5.Don’t forget the Snacks

Toddlers love to snack, in fact, pediatricians will tell you that snacks are where many toddlers get their nutrients from, so load up on the grapes, apples, blue-berries, strawberries, and orange slices ( try to avoid Just don’t carry junk foods and juices.

When traveling, it can be a long gap between meals depending on the circumstances, so you definitely want to ensure you are prepared with a variety of snacks. If traveling by plane, you can carry liquids (for your child only) through security.

Note: if your child has any diet restrictions, call ahead of time and to see if your special requests can be accommodate.

If you plan ahead of time, do your research you will have an enjoyable trip when traveling with your toddler.…

Best Kayak For Traveling

I have done a little bit of traveling in my lifetime and often have rented a kayak while visiting a foreign place in order to explore new and different territory that I may not have been able to explore from land.  I actually love kayaking in a foreign place that I have never been before.  It is such an excellent way to enjoy a new environment.  Obviously a hard-shelled kayak is not so easy to bring traveling… unless you are going by car.  There is a very simple way though that one can enjoy a paddling experience while away on vacation without having to worry about renting a kayak.  The inflatable kayak is by far the best kayak for traveling.

Advantages of an Inflatable Kayak

Weight – They can be fairly light weight.  Their weight does vary, but it is possible to get an excellent quality and extremely rugged lightweight inflatable that can not only be brought on an airplane (with no extra charges), but can also literally be carried on your back.  Imagine being able to carry your kayak in your backpack anywhere in the world you want to go.  It is pretty exhilarating.

Size – Besides the fact that an inflatable kayak can deflate and fold into a nice and neat little package, there is also the option of choosing the size of your kayak.  All inflatables deflate and fold down quite small so whether you need a tandem model, a solo kayak, or an even larger size, you will still very easily be able to bring this kayak along traveling with you.  I personally love to have a tandem model along on my travels because I am usually exploring new areas with someone else.

Quick Inflation Time – Most inflatable kayaks will inflate within 5 – 10 minutes with a standard foot pump.  They are quick and very easy to set-up and offer extreme convenience.

Inflatable Kayaks for Traveling

Inflatable kayaks are not what they used to be… they are ten million times better.  There are many extremely reputable inflatable kayak manufacturers now that produce top quality inflatable boats that with a little care can likely last a lifetime.  They are rugged and very fun to paddle. 

I am a huge fan of bringing along an inflatable kayak while traveling.  They can be great if traveling by care – just throw in the trunk.  They are perfect for camping and RVing.  For traveling by plane I just put mine into a little suitcase (normally you are allowed to suitcases without any extra charge) and away I go. 

Often times when I have rented a kayak while vacationing I was limited as to where I could use that kayak.  For example usually I had to put it in the water right at that spot because my rental car had no way of transporting it.  With an inflatable kayak my options are open.  I can choose to paddle in any waterway that I find (as long as it’s safe) and that way I get to see way more of the environment.  I would highly recommend an inflatable kayak for traveling though I would suggest to try and keep the kayak at 40 pounds or under.  There are tons of options, but just remember the heavier you get, the less convenient it becomes.…

The Pitfalls of Traveling in Central America

For the past four months I have been backpacking through Central America, and while it has been an extremely exciting adventure I have had my fair share of ups and downs while here. For those of you who don’t know, Central America consists of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize. It is a warm and tropical section of the world that has two distinct seasons: dry and rainy. They do not have typical winters and summers and the only locations that really get cool or cold are in the highlands/mountains.

That’s the boring stuff though. The fact is this part of of the world is a beautiful yet rugged place that offers comfort, adventure, sunny skies and torrential downpours. Central America also has some of the most violent cities in the world (El Salvador’s capital has the highest murder rate per capita in the entire Western Hemisphere). Given this, it is not a place to be taken lightly, as violent crime is a serious concern. In most cases tourists are fine and do not encounter any problems, but one must stay aware virtually all the time.

I personally did not encounter any violent crime, but being there for four months allowed me to experience almost everything Central America had to offer. On the positive side, Central America is relatively small, which means you are not going to encounter hellish 16 hour bus rides that are more common in places like India and Southeast Asia. Further, Central America is also cheap. Outside of Costa Rica, dormitories cost approximately $6-9/night, and half of them include breakfast. Because of this, I was able to travel for as little as $20/day, and I was not living uncomfortably. This is a huge draw for many people, as there are few destinations left in the world where you can travel for so little money.

Central America also has some of the best surfing in the Western Hemisphere, drawing surfers from all over the world to the beaches of Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica. Because of this, the atmosphere is more relaxed relative order valium diazepam nutrition to other budget travel destinations. In Southeast Asia, for example, there are tons of 18 and 19 year olds whose only goal is to get as drunk as possible as many nights a week as possible. In Central America, on the other hand, there is a heavier focus on outdoor activities (and yes there are many things to do besides surfing).

In conclusion, I highly recommend that anyone interested in budget travel should travel through Central America. It is a challenging yet highly rewarding destination that is guaranteed to provide adventure, challenges, beauty and memories that will last a lifetime.…

Some Things You May Not Know About Personal Alarms That Perhaps You Should

Personal, home and auto alarms are not classified as a defensive weapon like stun guns, pepper sprays, guns or other weapons used to protect yourself are. It’s more of a passive security or safety type product. There are a lot of people who would rather use an alarm rather than the other above types.

Alarms are just that, they are designed to alert you or others around you that something critical is happening causing them to look in that direction or possibly giving aid. Auto alarms have made it more difficult to get that attention because they are regularly activated making others not react or pay attention to them.

If you decide to use a personal alarm you are still getting security from would be attackers because they don’t want the extra attention or possible aid from other people passing by. A good example of this is that most home robbers won’t go any further when they see a Protected By sign posted in the yard or on the windows of the home they intended to rob.

Alarms come in many different styles and work differently. You have home alarms, auto alarms and personal alarms not to mention alarms on your computer showing hackers or spammers. We will deal with the home and personal alarms in this article.

Some alarms are battery operated and others are rechargeable and the home alarms may plug into a wall socket. Some alarms even have motion sensors, stun guns, pepper sprays and lights attached to them. Finally some are small, hidden or concealed while others are obvious to see.

Alarms can be activated by pulling a pin inserted into them or by pushing an on or off button and home alarms can be activated by opening a door, window or when motion is detected. Some home alarms or personal traveling alarms can be activated just by touching a door knob. Once the alarm activated they are hard to turn off. They have to have the pin reinstalled or having the unit reset. Theoretically an assailant could muffle the sound by putting their hands on the speaker so you should be cautioned here about that.

Alarms will emit a high pitch sound, some with different pitches of about 105 decibels to 140 decibels in volume. When you get about 145 decibels it could harm your hearing especially when listening for about 15 or more seconds. The high pitch will demand attention from others. In a home alarm the pitch will probably be heard by neighbors and will demand their attention also. They will probably contact local authorities when heard, especially if they know you.

I would like to touch a little on the aerosol spray alarms. They will give you approximately 30 to 40, 1 second blast of sound around 135 decibels loud. You should replace them when you get to 10 sprays or less. What will happen is that the inert gases that forces the sound out will begin to lose pressure and the sound will decrease until mute or out of air completely. At the cost of the alarm you shouldn’t have a high expense. If you have been to a sports activity then you’ve heard these sirens or blast.

Finally, you may elect to have a professional company such as ADT or Brink’s install a home alarm for you. Usually the units are free but you have a fee each month for them to monitor it. Normally the service is around $30.00 per month. If you decide to do it yourself you could probably to a 15 window, 3 door home with an interior motion detector for $300.00 or less.

Go to our online store at for a complete selection of personal or home alarms. If you have any questions please let us know. For more helpful tips you can also go to our blog. Regardless of the type you purchase you’ll not only feel safer but you will be.

Louis Martin

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