15 things you should bring while on a Flight

If you’re packing for a trip, it can be tricky to try and remember everything you need. When you’re flying, it’s important to have a strategy in case your luggage gets lost, which happens all too often these days! Lost luggage is so frustrating, especially if it takes a couple of days to arrive or you are moving on to a destination that is away from your arrival airport.

Rest assured, if you pack your carry-on with essential items, you will be less stressed if your luggage goes missing for a day or two.

What to pack in your carry on? Here are some key things to take with you on the plane!

1. Glasses and contact lenses
   If you aren’t wearing your glasses already, be sure to take them with you in your carry on. Also, pack your contact lenses and case including extra pairs if you use disposables.
2. Sunglasses
   It’s important to protect your eyes and, especially for sunny destinations, you’ll be happy you have your sunglasses handy when you walk out of the airport!
3. Clothes
   If your clothes are packed away in luggage that doesn’t arrive, you’ll be happy to have some extra clothes packed in your hand luggage. Have at least two easy outfits that will work for exploring your destination.
4. Underwear and extra socks
   If the airline loses your luggage you’ll still want some clean underwear to change into. They don’t take up a lot of room and you’ll be happy you have them!
5. Shoes
   Bring a pair of shoes to change into if you don’t want to spend the next day or two walking in the shoes you wore on the plane. For warm climates, you’ll likely want to pack your sandals or flip flops in your carry-on.
6. Medication
   Be sure to bring your go-to pain medication such as Tylenol or Advil and any prescription meds you are currently taking.
7. Toothbrush
   A toothbrush doesn’t take up a lot of room in your hand luggage. If your suitcase gets lost, you’ll appreciate still being able to brush your teeth after a long travel day. Better yet, take along a travel sized tube of toothpaste too!
8. Deodorant
   Long days of travel and overnight flights can leave you feeling less than fresh. A travel sized deodorant will help fend off unwanted odors!
9. Hand sanitizer or wipes
   Airports and planes are known for being the germiest public places. Stay healthy by keeping hand sanitizer and wipes handy in your carry-on luggage.
10. Makeup
    For the ladies, remember to take the makeup items you can’t live without in your carry-on or purse! Whether it’s concealer, powder or your favorite lipstick, you’ll feel much better knowing you have them with you instead of tucked away in the suitcase that accidentally went to a different country! Sephora has a great selection of travel sized makeup products.
11. Chapstick
    The air is so dry on a plane and having lip balm or chapstick handy will keep your lips moisturized.
12. Important documents and money
    Don’t forget to pack your passport, ID, credit cards and money in your carry-on. Stay organized with a handy travel case or passport wallet that can keep it all in one spot.  
13. Electronics
    Remember to take your phone or tablet in your carry on. Don’t forget your headphones!
14. Sleeping mask and neck pillow
    For those long haul or overnight flights, you’ll be much more comfortable with a travel sleeping mask to block out unwanted light and neck pillow to take the edge off those uncomfortable airplane seats!
15. Chewing Gum
    Gum helps with plugged ears and painful popping on take off and landing.

Knowing you have these important and helpful items in your carry on will help keep you feeling at ease when you are traveling. Ask any traveler about the time the airline lost their luggage and you will hear how much stress it caused when they didn’t have a back-up plan!

Every airline has different rules for carry on luggage weight and restrictions. Travel and Leisure has this great cheat sheet for carry on size and weights for many airlines. You should still be able to fit all of these items if you strategically pack them. The most important tip is to look for things that are lightweight and travel sized!

Author Bio: Jody Ninah from Work Travel Repeat.

Jody is a ‘travelholic’ who is always in pursuit of the next adventure! She spent many years with an annoying fear of flying, but vowed not to let it hold her back from seeing the world. She has many tips for fellow travelers on conquering travel fears, whether it’s airport anxiety, overcoming fears of getting on a plane or staying healthy when abroad.  She felt the need to collect all her advice, experience and conversations into one place, and created Work Travel Repeat. Work Travel Repeat is a down-to-earth travel community where fellow travel addicts, or people who are interested in travelling but not quite sure where to start, can share their practical travel advice, tips and inspiration for anything travel related.

When she’s not travelling, she works as a marketing and social media manager for a number of clients in Western Canada.

Instagram: @jodyninahyeg

Facebook: worktravelrepeatlife

Pinterest: worktravel_repeat

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Places to visit in Georgia in December

Georgia is one of those rare places that has been blessed with exquisitely beautiful natural resources.

It is located on the crossroads of Asia and Europe and experiences 12 different kinds of microclimate
zones. There are snow-covered peaks, deserts, beaches of the Black Sea Coast, green mountains and
thickly forested national parks. In the winter season, the place becomes a magical wonderland with
snow all around. There are many places in Georgia that offer different kinds of winter tourism activities.
If you are planning to visit Georgia in winters, then read the following post to know more about the best
places to visit in Georgia in December. 

Before starting with the post, a quick tip -  Keep your tools ready for the early winters. There are many parts
of Georgia that are cut-off from the mainland owing to heavy snow and extreme weather conditions. 

The tourists usually stay at the winter resorts that open with the onset of the winter season. There are many
places for skiing and other winter tourist activities, such as Gudauri, Tetnuldi, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and
Mestia-Hatsvali. These are undoubtedly the best places to visit in Georgia in December.

Places to visit in Georgia in Winter:

#1 – Martkopi Monastery:

The Martkopi Monastery is located near Tbilisi and was founded by Father Anton of Martkopi. He is one of the 13 Assyrian fathers of the 6th Century. The monastery is located in the Gardabani municipality on the forest-covered hill slopes of Mount Ialno. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, it transforms into a magical wonderland every winter.

It was functional till 1934 and was abolished by the communists later. From 1950 to 1960, it was being used as a shelter for homeless children. Finally, it was converted into an aviation plant resting house. The monastery life was restored in 1989. The tomb of Saint Anton of Martkopi is the most sacred part of the monastery, which is perfectly preserved. It attains ethereal beauty with the onset of the winter season with snow all around and is one of the best places to visit in Georgia in December. A trip to Tbilisi, Georgia will help you explore many more attractions other than Martkopi Monastery.

#2 – Juta:

Juta is a small village located in the scenic Kazbegi region. It is one of the most visited places in Georgia and experiences significant tourist traffic throughout the year. The village gets surrounded by snow-covered mountains in the winter season and seems straight out of the set from the movie ‘Frozen’. It is covered with snow for six months in a year and gives the feel of Swiss Alpine region. There is a small lake in the foot of the mountains and the village is the starting point of an amazing hiking route to Mount Chaukhi. The hiking track offers stunning views which keep on getting better as we reach the top of the mountain. Zeta Camping is another popular camping spot on the way that offers a resting area and traditional local cuisine of Georgia. This is one of the best places for adventure enthusiasts who come to Georgia for the professional climbing experience. It is one of the best places to visit in Georgia in December because the winter has just started and the scenery is just amazing.

#3 – Khulo:

The Adjara region of Western Georgia is one of the best places to visit in Georgia during Winter. It has a beautiful mountain ski resort at Goderdzi and an absolutely magnificent winter wonderland called Khulo. It is located at a height of 923 m above sea level and is home to various medieval historical constructions such as Khikhani Fortress and the Monastery of Skhalta Cathedral. The Beshumi Resort, Green Lake and the Goderdzi Pass are the other important tourist hotspots. Cable cars are the daily means of transport from Khulo to Tago village.

#4 – Shaori Reservoir or Shaori Lake:

Shaori Reservoir, a place where nature is untouched by humans, is located in the Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo areas in Ambrolauri is one of the top places in Georgia to visit during winter. The surrounding landscape becomes magical in the winter season and is considered as one of the most distinguished natural beauties of Georgia.  It is also famous as one of the most Instagrammed locations of Georgia. Every year, it is visited by millions of tourists who just can't stop themselves from clicking numerous shots here. The lake freezes in the winter and the plateaus of the region transform into the magical abode of snow goddess. Try to make the visit in the early time of the winter to avoid getting stuck here for the rest of the season.

#5 – Mestia:

Svaneti is one of the unaltered, original places of beauty in Georgia that still retains its centuries-old customs and traditions. Mestia, located in the Svaneti region is an integral part of a tourist’s itinerary and one of the most important tourist destinations of this region. It becomes a beautiful and charming destination in the winters. This is arguably the best of all the places to visit in Georgia in December.

Even though the region has a lot of medieval monuments, it is actually a small town with very less population. It is, however, the main service centre for the Svaneti region and has all the basic modern infrastructure. Mestia has 10 rustic villages which still house the famous Svan Towers. With breathtakingly beautiful, snow-covered landscapes with churches, medieval monuments, and age-old constructions, it is a UNESCO recognised World Heritage Site.

#6 – Tusheti:

Tusheti is the protected region of Georgia that is visited by tourists all around the year. The highlands of Tusheti house some of the most exotic and rare species of the Georgian flora and fauna. It is one of the gems of northeastern Georgia. It is just like a movie scene or scenery from your dreams, in fact, a more beautiful rendition of all those combined. It is covered with snow for 5 to 6 months in a year.

There are 10 villages under Tusheti of which the Omalo Village is the centre of all activities.

Well, which ones are you planning to visit this December?? If you have already made your mind, make sure to choose the best tour packages from USA, India, UK, UAE or any other countries- that would help you enjoy your tour to its fullest even on a shoe-string. Take care!

Author Bio:

Tony John from IndiaTravelBlog.com - an Indian travel website by a group of travel enthusiasts to share their travel experiences, with the goal of providing unbiased and first-hand information about the travel destinations and accommodation in various tourist destinations.

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London’s Top 5 Instagramable spots!

Bored taking same selfies on the mountains, valleys, cliffs, beaches, around lush greenery, etc? Have you had enough of these in your previous holidays? Looking for a destination that is trendy, chic, and upmarket, has none of the clichés, and yet becomes a preferred holiday destination? If you nodded positively, you simply have to head to London on your next holiday and get clicked at some of the best tourist attractions.

Some icing on the cake, these attractions are completely FREE! Imagine planning a holiday at one of the most expensive tourist destinations, getting sublime selfies, which then becomes your next Instagram story. This certainly will be your most memorable holiday.

Remember this is just a small Instagramable guide of London. The city has a lot more to offer its tourists. London is quite rich in history, architecture, shopping, and food, and night life. To know the complete guide of the city read Places to visit in London. One can even club Scotland along with the London holiday. To plan your Scotland holiday read Scotland's heavenly beauty.

Here is a guide for the Top 5 Instagram spots of London.

     1) Big Ben: This is one of the oldest and iconic towers of London.  A very popular tourist attraction, it is usually very crowded and has a lot of hustle-bustle around it. There is a huge giant like a bell inside and the clock outside the tower right at the top is quite a highlight point.  Not to forget a lot of popular Hollywood and Bollywood movies have been shot here. Isn’t it a good selfie point?

Photo Credit: Lonely Planet

2) Tower Bridge: Yet another iconic piece of London and a popular spot for movies. This artistic bridge looks incredible from a distance, especially at night. It overlooks the Themes River. The bridge opens up when a big vessel passes through it, it’s an amazing sight. You can simply take a walk on the bridge in the evening and admire its beauty. One of the most admired location for taking selfies

3) London Eye: Closer to Big Ben and near Thames River, the London Eye is a giant like a wheel which rotates very slowly giving a 360 view of the city. It rises above the skyline and one can get its mesmerizing views even from a few miles away. This is a paid ride, however for you to get clicked in the front of the ride, doesn’t require any penny.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

4) Buckingham Palace: This is the most famous address of London for centuries. The palace is home to the 'Queen of London'. The best attraction is the change of Guard which happens daily in summers around 11.30 am. The view of the parade is simply remarkable. Tourists throng here in huge numbers just to get a glimpse. Situated off Hyde Park, one can spend some time there before proceeding to the next location.

5) Oxford Street: It is the most popular shopping street in UK. It houses some of the best flagship brands, huge departmental stores, and cheap shopping all in one place. Thousands of locals and tourists horde here daily to satisfy their shopping needs. The locality is nicely decorated during winters, especially during Christmas. All the more reason for you to get a selfie here!

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5 things to know before traveling to Cuba

Cuba is a growing tourism destination in the Caribbean. In fact, the top solo female travel destination in 2018 was Cuba (according to HostelWorld). However, despite its popularity, it remains a slightly unusual destination, with a lot of quirks that might be frustrating to an unprepared traveler. Here are five things you should know before going to Cuba.

Do your research:

The appeal of Cuba is not only its sandy beaches and colonial architecture but precisely the fact that it is different from most other countries. Before you go read up on where you are going. Find out what things you can do in Havana in 2019 and some of the history of the country.

Learn some (basic) Spanish:

Learning some basic Spanish words will make your life easier. Not everybody speaks English, and being able to communicate basic things with everyone is useful. Moreover, Cubans have their own slang that is different from Spanish in most other places. It might be useful to familiarise yourself with it before you go there. 

After arriving in Cuba: Get your head around the confusion of Cuban money.

 

Cuba is the only country in the world to have two official currencies, the CUC, and the CUP. But confusingly they are both called Peso and are used interchangeably, even though the exchange rate is 25:1! Be sure to read up a guide to Cuban money. 

Getting around Cuba:

Cuba can be a lot more expensive than people expect, and a big part of the cost is the cost of getting around in the country. Finding out how transportation in Cuba works can be extremely useful if you want to make sure you aren’t scammed by taxi drivers. 

Internet in Cuba: it's not what you are used to.

One of the big developments of 2018 in Cuba was the introduction of 3G. Many other countries are now introducing 5G. Most of the time you’ll have to look for a wifi spot in a public park and buy a scratch card to get online. It might be useful to find out how the strange internet system in Cuba works before you get there.

Bio & Logo:

We are an international network of Cubans and Cuba lovers dedicated to sharing travel inspiration and up-to-date travel advice about visiting the island.

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