What do you get for the person who loves to travel? Or what do you put on your holiday wish list this year as an avid traveler yourself? We know all travelers are looking to travel more efficiently and improve the quality of their journey. But where do you go from there? It can be difficult to decide on gifts when each person’s travel style is different and the ‘top travel gifts’ lists are ever-changing. No need to stress — we have come up with the perfect guide! Not just a list of the newest gadgets and gear, but a strategic list, built around a mindset. With questions to ask yourself that will ensure you pick out the perfect travel gift every time! Find below the travel style that best describes your recipient, and start confidently gifting:

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The 2021-2022 Traveler

The pandemic has certainly changed how we travel. With new restrictions and requirements, there are a few things that every 2021/22 traveler will need for at least the next year.

For the Travel Photographer

You may have noticed some of your friends come back from their trips with amazing photos. They are more ‘show’ than ‘tell’ travelers who are always excited to show off their artistic travel photos! 

The Social Media Guru/ Remote Worker

Especially with Covid, more and more people are remote-working while they travel, whether they’re on social media with a huge following or need to work on their laptop and join a zoom meeting or two. Side note: the Social Media Guru would probably also enjoy any of the above Photographer suggestions

The Over-Packer

We all have that traveler in our life who packs 3 big suitcases for a weekend getaway. No matter how they try, they will pack much more than necessary “just in case”. The key here: don’t fight it. Don’t try to turn them into something they’re not, instead, find gifts to help them!

Outdoor Adventurer/ Sustainable Traveler

These are the travelers who love to get out into nature– everything from backpacking to glamping, They typically have a focus on reducing their waste. Even if they’re not heading into the great outdoors, many travelers in 2021/22 are considering their impact on the planet.

Long Distance Traveler

Do you have a friend who is always going to far-flung places? Their next vacation always seems to be at least a 10hr plane ride away, with multiple stops? While their exotic destinations are always amazing, remember they’re going to spend a long time on a plane and in an airport to get there.

Acquaintance

Maybe you’re involved in an office Secret Santa, or you’ve just made a new friend and don’t really know them well, or your mom says you need to get your second cousin a birthday present. The one thing you know about this person is that they travel.

Going Now

Does your traveler have a trip coming up imminently? This is the easiest one! Get them something themed towards that trip. It will help them get excited about their upcoming adventure and have the added benefit of being immediately useful!

It’s been a long time since many of us have taken long-haul flights! After nearly two years of travel restrictions, we’re all feeling a bit rusty, and there’s some worry that we’ll get to the airport and think “Ok, how do I do this again?” Fortunately, we’ve picked up a lot of tips and tricks over the years. For those of you who are feeling like you don’t remember how to travel long distances anymore, or want some useful flying tips — let’s walk through it together! 

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Step 1: Pre-Flight

Packing

The key to enjoying your long-haul flights begins in the packing process. You can download our free printable packing list here!

Pro-tip: You don’t need the whole bottle for all your medications. Save space by just taking what you need.

STEP 2: The Day Before you Fly

It’s the day before your flight! Time to get up, get moving, and get charged! Because you’re going to be sitting for an unusually long time, you’ll want to prepare your body. Go for a long walk, do some stretches, and get outside in the fresh air where possible.

Put your electronics and external battery pack on charge. Don’t worry — they’re on the ‘out the door’ checklist, so you won’t forget them before you leave. 

Finally, if your flight allows early check-in, go online and double-check (or choose) your seats. You can use a site like SeatGuru to find the best options.

Step 3: At the Airport

You have your bags, you’ve checked your checklist and you arrive at the airport ready and excited for your trip! Check-in (if needed) and head to TSA – consider a TSA pre-check or skip-the-line option to make this process smoother. 

Take a breath, put your shoes back on and head to your gate. While waiting at your gate, it’s the perfect time to prep for the flight: 

• Put your toothpaste, hand sanitizer, and deodorant in your ‘Airplane Essentials Kit’ and store the rest of your liquids away. 
• Fill your reusable water bottle and start hydrating! 
• Maybe have a light snack. {traveling on an over-full stomach is not a great idea}

If you’re at the airport for a long layover we recommend finding a lounge. They often aren’t as expensive as you may think. With unlimited snacks, drinks, wifi, a shower, and a comfortable place to sit while you wait they’re worth the comfort if you’re going to be in the airport for a while. If you don’t already have lounge access through a credit card or by virtue of a Business/First Class ticket, use the Loungebuddy app to find which lounges you can pay to use without membership.

STEP 4: On The Plane

You’ve boarded the plane, you’re in your seat and you’re ready to start your journey! The first step is being friendly to the flight crew. Then, if you need to store your carry-on in the overhead bin, take out anything you might need in the next few hours and put them in an easily-accessible spot.

Step 5: Landing 

If you’re landing in a layover destination, use this layover to freshen up and head to the lounge. If it’s your final destination or a last (short) layover then change your outfit! After going through customs or finding your gate, give yourself a little freshen up and change. If you don’t want to completely change outfits at this point, at least change your socks. Trust us, new socks will make you feel like a whole new person who is ready to enjoy your first day of vacation and find the hotel! 

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If this post has given you a new sense of confidence in tackling those long-distance flights, let us know! We would love to help you plan your next trip to a faraway exotic destination!

It’s no surprise that an African safari is on so many people’s bucket lists. Safaris offer up-close-and-personal encounters with incredible wildlife, the opportunity to meet fascinating local people, and a chance to experience landscapes and cultures that are completely foreign to us. When you’re getting ready to plan this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. There are so many incredible places to safari, which means there’s no easy answer to “Where’s the best place to go on safari?”. But there is an easy place to start. Answering the four questions below is the first step to figuring out the best place for you to go on an African Safari. 

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Wildlife Wishlist

The first step is figuring out which animals you’re most excited to see.

We recommend checking out this comprehensive list of African animals. Decide which ones you’d like to see in person. Rank them in order of most important. Note if a specific type of experience with the animals is important to you. Do you want to be able to feed giraffes in Kenya? Or do you want to watch a whole herd of elephants drinking from a pool right in front of your lodge? Knowing which animals are at the top of your must-see list will help decide which reserve gives you the best chance.

Type of Safari (and Budget)

The second step is deciding which type of safari you’re interested in taking and what your budget allows.

Even the traditional game drives come with options. You can choose a more economic group tour with other vacationers from the camp. Or opt for the freedom and customization of a private guide and vehicle. If you’re taking the kids, we recommend heading to a more established safari locale with kids programs. Consider a short 1-2 day private tour with a flexible schedule. Then you can adapt it to fit the children’s ages and interests. Couples might enjoy more secluded locations, under-the-stars romance, and ultra-unique experiences. A big group of friends should consider visiting several different parks throughout the vacation to capitalize on variety for everyone.

Other Activities

Different countries have different experiences available aside from the safaris! Which could factor into the final decision of where you want to go. 

Ideal Time-frame

Most safaris are available all year round. However, what you’ll see and how comfortable you’ll be will change with the seasons. If you have a specific time frame in which you need to take the vacation then this should be your first question. If you’re free to go any time of the year then you have the choice between dry season, green season, or the shoulder seasons in between. And you can time your visit to coincide with things like the Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania if that is high on your bucket list.

East Africa’s green season is November to May. Southern Africa has heavier rains between December and March.

The shoulder seasons offer a mixed bag. Sunny clear skies and unexpected rains, deep green bush mixed with drier spots. Generally speaking, the end of the green season is extremely comfortable with milder temperatures. While the end of the dry season can experience high heat and dusty conditions, you also have some of the highest chances of spotting lots of wildlife. 

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Once you know the answers to these questions you’re ready to start planning! Using a travel agent like Shared Adventures Travel to help you plan means that most of your work is now done! We can ensure you’re booked with an accredited, dependable local tour operator and that your custom-made adventure is everything you dreamed of. Let us know if you’re ready to discover which safari is the right choice for you! 

Sometimes what you need most is a breath of fresh air, a closer look at our National Parks, and some time in the great outdoors. And when you want to combine those needs with a bit of luxury? There’s only one clear answer: Glamping. Bob and Stacey wanted it all- wide open spaces, an adventure in nature and the luxury of a warm comfy bed by the fire at night. Inspired by this post, they were ready to try luxury camping. They enjoyed a traditional stay in Jackson Hole and a more adventurous stay with Under Canvas Yellowstone while they visited the park. Read on below to hear a first-hand account of their glamping experience!

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“First thanks for another well planned trip. We had a great time! Here are my 2 cents while this is fresh in my mind (literally just unpacked from the trip).

Jackson Hole

Horseback Riding was great. 2 hours and great price for the value. Good people at the ranch. Other than that, if it weren’t for the stores and the beer interests didn’t seem like there was a ton to do. But we did fine for us.

You should know that the Hertz location is “off campus” (not my favorite but happens) AND the location is not updated on the WAZE etc! This was almost a disaster as we left town yesterday. The people there were somewhere between oops sorry (ie I could give a crap) and “gee we have been trying to update with google and has been quite the fight (really?). If Stacey hadn’t remembered how to get back there we may have had some drama leaving town yesterday. I booked the rental so not on you in the least but I would be very careful on advisories on locations etc.

Under Canvas Glamping/Yellowstone

There was plenty of well-chopped wood as well as kindling and fire-starting “balls of wood” which worked well. I have not lit a fire in dozens of years and yet was a pro in no time. The shower was not very warm (someone else said they were having issues with some of the water heaters?) So we showered usually in the afternoon or early evening.

There may have been other activities to do through them and we canceled our boating trip (was very cold and that day called for rain and it was pouring in the am- the place was understanding completely but I did not request a refund but obviously was hoping to get one?)

I would be happy to tell you more (and Stacey I am sure will chime in) if we can give more specific color on anything.

Thanks again and look forward to our next trip!

– Bob