travel Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Traveling with your family during the pandemic

September 23, 2020 by Mandy

Traveling during the global pandemic is not advisable but it is possible so long as you are cautious. It is critically important that you take every possible precaution in order to keep yourself and your family safe as you travel during these unsafe times. Odds are you will only be able to travel within the United States because international travel is near impossible due to travel bans or restrictions in almost every country.

The one upside to traveling during the pandemic is that travel right now is very affordably priced. Airlines, train companies and the hospitality industry at large are all unfortunately suffering big profit losses because no one is traveling right now. Thus, they are offering big discounts for anyone willing to travel in order to recoup their losses.

You should also consider waiting to travel for a few months. As time has progressed the overall management and rate of the spread of the virus has slowed as the world, the United States included, has gotten a hang of social distancing and overall containment. In a few months’ time it might be even safer to travel

Your options for getting to your destination

As was mentioned earlier, your options for traveling during the pandemic will be cheap but there might be restrictions on where you can travel. Once you figure out where you are going and if you will be forced into a mandatory quarantine when you get there or not, you can look into your travel options.

Many experts say that driving with your family in your own car will be the safest option because that will cause the least amount of potential exposure to other people. With methods of transportation like planes and trains, you will inevitably be exposed to other people. However, you might not want to drive for several hours or days depending on how far you are traveling.

If you choose to travel by plane or train just be sure to follow whatever instructions you are given in terms of safety protocol. All public travel including a train trips or flights are under the strictest supervision to ensure everyone’s safety.

If that is what you end up choosing to do, you can avoid using any public transport, cabs or ride shares at your destination by having your own vehicle to drive. You have two options for this. The first is renting a car. Unfortunately, there are some issues with this. The first is that the car has already been used by other people, so even though the cars get cleaned, you will be at a small risk of exposure to the virus. Also, rentals can get expensive quickly as you have to pay for it every day that you have it.

That is why you should definitely consider shipping your car to your destination instead. This way you will have your own car that has not had any contact from other people. You also will not need to continuously pay for use of your own car.

How to keep yourself and your family safe

Keeping yourself and your family safe as you travel during the pandemic will entail all of the obvious steps as well as a little bit extra. This will include wearing masks any time that you are around other people, keeping yourself and your family socially distant from others, and making sure that you keep your hands washed and sanitized.

You should also only travel to and from states where the covid-19 crisis is under control. You can find more information about that here. In fact, if you travel from a state where cases are on the rise, you might be forced to quarantine for two weeks when you arrive at your destination, so be sure to do your homework before you start traveling.

Conclusion

Traveling at the moment is still not the greatest idea. However, some of you may need to for a variety of reasons. The upside is that travelling is very cheap right now because of the low demand for travel. If you and your family do travel during the pandemic, be sure you take every step possible to keep yourselves safe. If you choose to take a flight or a train ride instead of driving yourself, remember that it will be safer to have your own car when you reach your destination rather than using a rental.

The Best Type Of Vehicle To Travel In

September 16, 2020 by Mandy

Travel is on everyone’s minds lately. This deep-seated urge to go as far away from home as you can until you miss it enough to come back. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to travel and get away from home. The only problem that arises is how to pick which one?

Here’s a list of the top vehicles to travel in and some notes on where you’d go with them.

By Car

This mode of transit is by far the most common type of travel you can do. Most people vacation and trip relatively close to home, which means they don’t have to go far away. The good thing about traveling by car is it’s incredibly inexpensive, which means while you’re checking out St Albert real estate, you’re also ensuring you’re not pouring cash into a plane ticket. Traveling by car also means you can go on your schedule, and stop and sightsee anywhere along the way. You absolutely can’t do that on a plane.

By Bus

Travel by bus has been picking up in popularity again. This mode of transit is more expensive, time-consuming, and less safe than travel by car. The only time this should be taken instead of driving is if you either don’t own a car or can’t drive that far and can’t afford a plane ticket. It’s important to consider how much time you’re giving yourself to travel and if the tradeoff of not working for that day or two is worth it. Buses are fantastic, less expensive than planes, and offer a chance to travel without driving- but they have a lot of cons.

By Plane

Plane travel is the kind most people think of when they’re considering a vacation. This type of travel is a very high-speed option, but it can also be more expensive, and if you’re immunocompromised, there’s a higher risk of coming home with some bug. If you’re traveling with many things, going by plane can rack up an even higher price since you’ll have to deal with luggage fees and overweight fees for large luggage.

By Boat

Traveling by boat isn’t as common as it used to be, but it’s still an option many take on. Whether you’re ferrying from Victoria BC, to Seattle WA, or on a cruise from Alaska to Mexico, this is a prolonged mode of transit that’s more about the trip than the destination. It can be expensive, but it’s also more fun and has views that are far more rewarding.

Other Options

There are, of course, tons of ways you can travel besides these main four. Some travel on their motorcycles from state to state in America, while others take up riding on trains where they’re available. These are less common but still available in some areas. When traveling, you need to balance the amount of time you have, the amount of money you have, and the distance you need to cover. If you can’t afford one mode of transit but are willing to give up time for a lower price point, don’t be afraid to try the bus or a train! They’re great conversation starters, and you’ll still end up at your destination.

The first-time guide for taking kids to the beach

August 25, 2020 by Mandy

It is one of those memories that never leaves us. Going to the beach as a child is something that we savor forever – and we want to recreate those memories for our own little ones.

However, while you might have glorious memories of yourself making sandcastles, life as a parent at the beach is somewhat different. Sure, it’s as rewarding as it gets, but at the same time it can be stressful.

Particularly in the current climate, this is one of the few so-called safe activities what kids can do. Whether you are in Bournemouth, or have taken the plunge to go abroad, today’s guide will showcase some of the best tips for that first-time beach visit with your little ones.

Apply the sun cream before arrival

If you’ve never visited the beach with the family before, here’s how it goes. The car journey is long with a lot of “are we nearly there yet?” questions, before immense excitement kicks in as soon as the sea is spotted. Ultimately, trying to catch your child and apply something as mundane of sun cream is out of the question.

As such, apply in advance (and then re-apply later through the day). This way, you’ll avoid the creation of sandpaper skin, and from a safety point of view you’ll ensure that the cream absorbs if they are heading straight to the sea.

Set up camp

Here’s something that should get everyone excited. As we all know, kids love dens. In the peak of summer, they’ll love refuge as well. Setting up a shaded den can work wonders for everyone and keep stress levels down to a minimum. Granted, it’s unlikely that they will resort back to it for a mid-afternoon snooze, but it can act as temporary rest bite against the sun.

Towels will be your best friend

If you’ve set aside a collection of towels ready for your seaside extravaganza, then double the amount. You’ll realize that you can never have too many; you’ll need some to lay on, others to act as a cover, while you’ll naturally need some for their main purpose of drying! The more you have, the easier the seaside is to manage.

Make sure lunch travels with you

Sandy sandwiches are not anyone’s choice of banquet, but by the same token the last thing you want to do is leave the beach halfway through your day. After all, you’ve probably needed a shopping trolley to cart all of your belongings there; going there and back multiple times in the same day just isn’t anyone’s idea of fun. Bring along a picnic and the kids will appreciate it, and you can stay based in one place.

Consider a sunsuit

Something that we have made a big point of through today’s article is shielding your children from the sun – for obvious safety reasons.

While sun cream can help with this, an even easier solution comes in the form of sunsuits. Sure, they don’t cover everything, but they do make it easier to re-apply sun cream and provide immediate protection for most of your child’s skin.

Also, for those who find the sea a little cool, they can make it a little easier to acclimatize to!

Reasons to Get Your Own Insurance When Renting a Car Abroad

August 4, 2020 by Mandy

Many of us have fallen into that trap when we try to rent a car abroad, searching for car rental deals online, finding an $8 per day deal, only to arrive and find that the price didn’t include insurance, and when you get to the counter they hit you with the astronomical costs. The decision to continue with just basic insurance isn’t worth considering, as a single incident means that your life savings could be lost such are the charges involved, but instead of agreeing to those insurance costs, there is another way.

There are many options which you can count on to get your own individual cover before you leave home, and there are some outstanding companies which will offer you insurance for your rental car. These companies provide you with a far better deal than the rental companies, and here is why you should consider getting yourself protected privately rather than through the rental company.

Lowering Costs

When it comes to fully comprehensive cover, rental companies can charge as much as $40 per day, which can often be more than 5 times the cost of the car rental itself. Instead of paying these exorbitant charges you can get yourself covered at a significantly lower price, and still be safe in the knowledge that you are completely covered should anything happen to the vehicle whilst it is in your care. There are also additional costs which now won’t have to be paid for, insuring sports goods for example or having more than one driver, everyone and everything in the vehicle will be covered when you arrange your own cover. The additional driver cover is a great idea too as so many rental car companies will charge you extra per day for each person who wishes to drive the rental car, yet another example of them looking to profit.

Complete Coverro

The insurance which is offered by car rental companies is highly confusing, and that is by design. It is the desire of the car rental company to make as much money from each rental as they possibly can and this is why they will offer additional covers such as tires and windscreens, which of course should be covered by your insurance in the first place. The same thing goes here for their Collision Damage or Excess Waiver, they have created additional covers which should already be contained within your fully comprehensive insurance, and again that is for the purpose of making more money. When you secure your own cover however you can be safe in the knowledge that full cover means exactly that, and every aspect of that full cover is laid out clearly.

Confidence

Even drivers who have taken out full cover policies can be unsure what they are and what they are not covered for and this can affect the confidence which you drive with. For example there are many policies sold by rental companies which don’t cover the health of another party should there be an accident, or perhaps their vehicle. This means that you end up driving with more care and attention than ever before and in some cases it will mean that you don’t take the car to certain places for fear of increasing the risk that something may happen. All of this of course shouldn’t be an issue and when you rent a vehicle you should have the confidence to get out there are enjoy the open road. When you get yourself some private cover you can do this, fully confident that should anything happen, you will have maximum cover for any eventuality. Instead of letting the rental company get into your head when you rent the car, as they enjoy doing to try and make you spend more, you can simply tell them that you are already covered.

Time

If you get insurance over the counter at the rental company you do not have the time to spend on really looking over the small print and the details surrounding the insurance agreement, which could cause you to miss out on some important information. If however you decide to go for a private rental before you leave home, you are going to have more than enough time to pore over the details, weigh up the pros and cons of what each provider is offering and a make a decision which you are going to be happy with. This of course is far more preferential than taking the word of the member of staff at the rental place and sighing your life away for something which you aren’t sure about.

Increased Cover

When many of these private insurance providers started to operate there was a lot of misinformation and a great deal of restrictions on where they were able to cover and who they were able to cover. These days however this is not the case and companies such as Bonzah are offering high quality service and conditions which ensure that each driver is offered complete cover all over the world. The process by which drivers can make a claim has also been heavily simplified and this just gives travelers that peace of mind, knowing that they are covered with a quality company which adheres to the highest standards. If there are any areas where you are not covered then you will know this from the outset so there will be no confusion that could result in you not being covered, the information is completely transparent.

Say no to those over-the-top charges from rental car companies and make sure that your insurance covers every single aspect of your vehicle and its contents whilst you are traveling. Investing some time ahead of your trip to make sure that you have high level private insurance for your rental car is the best way to save money, gain peace of mind and enjoy your trip without the worry of financial ruin should you get a bump, scratch, or something worse.

Exploring Beauty of the Maldives on a Motorcycle Road Trip

July 30, 2020 by Mandy

The pavement of your driveway connects to the main road that further connects to an interstate highway. And the interstate highways connect you to every corner of the continent and beyond. As summer is ending and this is high time to kickstart that motorcycle of yours to take advantage of this network of pavement. For an adventurous soul, it is the best time for availing of the most exciting form of transportation. However, if a dream-like traveling the world on a motorbike is born from marketing and not from your passions, you won’t be able to enjoy your trip. You will be thinking many times the moment when you will return home and you can show your friends the amazing photos you did around some exotic places. When it comes to exploring the beautiful landscapes of the Maldives, your bike trip becomes even more fascinating. The Maldives is a cluster of thousands of islands each of which offers exciting opportunities including world-class resorts that are essentially the definition of luxury. You will have the sight of white sandy beaches along clear blue waters of the Maldives depicting a scenery of utopian dreamland. Here in this article, we have jotted down some great destinations of the Maldives for a bike tour.

Sightseeing in Hulhumale:

It’s best to start your road tripping in the Indian Ocean paradise of Maldives from Hulhumale Island. You can take a private or public ferry or seaplane to hop on to this exotic island but as Hilhumale is one of the islands that can be visited by road, visiting on a two-wheeler has a lot more fun. You can easily find a number of the budget as well as luxury hotels at Hulhumale Island. Sunbathing with your wife with a spectacular view of the bluest water and the white sands around is the best way to rejuvenate, when on a holiday. Being a part of the Muslim area, bikinis are a big no here, so, it’s better to dress decently while going there to enjoy unmatched beauty and splendor, sandy beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving, water sports, and resorts. In addition to the beauty of the beach, the warm hospitality of the locals, and top accommodation options make it an unbeatable destination.

Visiting the delightful island of Maafushi:

Maafushi is one of the largest and beautiful islands located in South Male Atoll, 27 km from Male, with a total population of just over 2,000 people. There are over 50 guesthouses in the region because of its popularity among the tourists. This island is world-renowned for its sandy white beaches, heartwarming hospitality, blue ocean, the tropical climate, and alluring coral reefs. This is an idyllic place with plenty of beautiful beaches, some great food, mesmerizing sandbank, offering you the surreal experience of dolphin safari, and home to water activities like snorkeling and diving. All these things are enough to put you in a mood to set out on a fully prepared, bringing all the travel luggage including safety gear like Viking Cycle vest and Viking Cycle gloves, motorcycle road trip.

Vacationing at Fihalhohi island:

Nestled on the southernmost rim of the Atoll, Fihalhohi is the last island of South Male and is the place for overwater bungalows that the Maldives is so famous for. The beach here is pristine and mesmerizing, surrounded by a stunning house reef that gives you the lifetime experience of discovering the beauty of marine life. You need to ride a speedboat to reach Fihalhohi. It treats you with the captivating view of the Indian Ocean and is truly a tropical paradise. The beach resorts here are equally charming with palm-thatched roofs and a private terrace overlooking the island’s terrain. You can enjoy a pampering massage at its spas, mouthwatering Maldivian and international cuisines and a wide variety of drinks and beverages.

Roistering in the beauty of Fulidhoo:

Fulidhoo is a tiny island, just 675 meters by 200 meters, located in the Vaavu Atoll, just 57km from Male Airport. It has only 200 permanent residents. The island is all about the local vibes – sleepy and quiet but stunning in beauty. You can indulge in snorkeling, diving, and kayaking in the lagoon in this slice of paradise. For tourists, there are a great number of guesthouses on this island for accommodation. The epic surf in this most northern of the inhabited islands of Vaavu Atoll will be the highlight of your Maldives’ tour. Moreover, this island is famous for Maldivian cultural events like Langiri, a traditional dance with drums and Tamara.

Conclusively, this route for motorcycle tours starting from Hulhumale to Maafushi and Maafushi to Fihalhohi and from Fihalhohi back to Fulidhoo is the most mesmerizing tour for motorcyclists who wishes to visit the Maldives.