Things we thought we’d be doing in travel by now

We are officially in the future, except there are no flying cars, dehydrated pizza and levitating hover boards. We’re taking a look at the predictions futurists have been making over the years and we’re kind of ashamed that they haven’t lived up to their optimistic standards.

Here are a bunch of travel things we really should’ve sorted out by now:

Hover cars – In 1985, Back to the Future assured us that there would be hover cars as our main form of transport. Well, we don’t and the traffic and potholes are just getting worse. We want our hover cars!

Hover boards – Hover boards are an even bigger let down than the hover car. Are we not just depriving poor children, not to mention adults, from having serious amounts of fun?

Teleportation – Obviously this would completely get rid of all other forms of transport, we’d probably even use it to get from our bedrooms to the kitchen. It’s probably a good things science hasn’t given teleportation to us yet, we’d probably have become an extremely overweight world.

Food in pills – Transporting sufficient food and water on a long journey can be a hassle most of the time, and most of the time when don’t enjoy the food on flights anyway. Why not just supply food in the form of a pill. Even in first class it’ll be a good idea, lobster is a always a real pain to eat.

All cars electric – Optimistic people thought we’d all be driving around in environmentally friendly vehicles by now. Yes, there are a couple around, but majority of us still use petrol.

Space colonies – We’ve been talking about living in space for a very long time now, but we just don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it. Gravity is such a drag!

Mars for holidays – It’s big and it’s just begging us to visit. So, why aren’t we there yet?

Hyper sleep – Why do we have to sit through economy travel? Let’s just sleep through it already. In sci-fi films aliens always negatively affect hyper sleep, but as long as that doesn’t happen it’ll totally be worth it.

Wormholes – These are supposed to provide handy jumps across time and space into areas of the cosmos.

Time travel – The ultimate form of transport is via time. It allows us to create countless timelines and enter parallel universes.

But, if time travel really does exist someday, the only thing that needs to be done is to go back to 2015 and make the rest of the things on this list available today!

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Remember these 13 airport hacks before your next flight

Travelling is meant to be a fun and exciting experience, but getting through the airport can really bring your holiday mood to an all-time low. If it happens to be a bad day for you, you may be stuck with rude airport stuff, extremely long lines or delayed flights.

Luckily for you, with these airport hacks, your journey will be faster and way more comfortable. Learn to navigate the airport like an absolute pro, and you’ll be surprised at how much time and money you save.

Bring your own spare Ziploc bags
Depending on where you’re travelling; you will be required to separate your liquids into clear plastic bags. Bring spares in case some are lost or you need more.

Get a reliable taxi serviceIf you really want to travel via car, which is quick and convenient, check out services like Airport Shuttle in Cape Town, they are a lot cheaper than most shuttle services.

Freeze your liquids to bring on the plane
The only con to this trick is that your liquid must actually be frozen solid like a rock. If you’re on a long flight, consider freezing your favourite drinks too.

Pack your own snacks
If you can, always avoid buying drinks and snacks at the airport because they are ridiculously overpriced. Instead pack your own travel snacks, like nuts, fruit, chips and other dry goods.

Bring an empty water bottle
Like snacks, water costs a lot more at the airport. The best way to cheat the system is to bring your own water bottle or canteen and fill it up once you get passed the security checkpoints.

Take a nap at the airport
Some fancy airports, like London’s Heathrow, offer sleeping pods where you can catch up on some rest. If you’re not lucky enough to enjoy a comfortable nap in one of these sleeping amenity, find a seat in a quiet corner and catch some Z’s. Make sure to watch your bag is close to you at all times.

Pick the checkpoint farthest to the left
If you hate waiting in line (who doesn’t?), research shows that people who are right handed choose to go to the checkpoint which is on the right, so do the opposite and go left.

Don’t be afraid to ask for free things
Especially when it comes to flight upgrades. Take advantage of special events, like your birthday or honeymoon and tell the airline staff – they may be willing to upgrade you!

Wear your extra luggage
Worried that your carry-on is over the weight limit? Wear the heaviest items and layer your clothes to get past security, then head to the bathroom and switch out the clothes.

Fly red-eye
If you really hate busy airports and rush-hour traffic and you don’t mind overnight flights, then ty and book for a flight that leaves past 10pm. You can simply go to sleep and wake up in your next destination, without all the hassle!

Wear glasses
If you wear contacts, you’ll notice that your eyes will get really dry during the flight. Glasses may not make a fashion statement, but you’ll be comfortable and can switch back to contacts when you land.

Check airport real-time conditions
Before your leave your home, check to see what is happening at your airport, like a delay in flights, long lines or other issues.

Carry a portable battery charger
Always be on the safe side and carry a small portable charger with you. There’s nothing worse than having a dead battery when you really need some entertainment in your life.

Getting through the airport can be a struggle, so used these tips and tricks we’ve rounded up to make sure your trip to the airport is done like a real professional.

How to not get ripped off when you’re travelling

There’s no quicker way to ruin a holiday or travel adventure than by getting ripped off. It seriously sucks so next time keep these tips in mind…

Beware of the lonely ATM – Stick to a cash machine at a bank, airport, hotel or other public area. To don’t want to fall prey to an ATM scam.

Inform your bank – Before you leave, make sure you call your bank and let them know your dates and destinations.

Make copies of credit cards – Always make a copy of the front and back of all your bank and credit cards that you are taking with you, including the number to phone if they are lost or stolen.

Use the hotel room safe – Laptops, passport, backup credit cards and other important information should be locked up when you’re out and about.

Pickpockets aren’t just in crowds – Everyone knows you should always keep your money close in a crowd. But it’s also not a good idea to hand your bag on your chair in a restaurant or use your phone obviously in a taxi.

Stay organised – This one may seem weird, isn’t a holiday the time to relax? Well, 10 minutes a day spent keeping track of your bank cards, receipts and passports is well worth the hassle.

Don’t lose your vacation mojo by getting ripped off, stick to these helpful tips and you’ll have complete peace of mind.

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How to not be an irritating tourist

There is nothing worse than an annoying tourist ruining your lovely vacation. To avoid being one of those typical unwelcome tourists, follow these simple steps…

     ·         Use your inside voice

You know those complaints from foreigners about how loud tourists are? Well it’s for good reason, so take your semi-screaming voices down to a minimum. It’s all about volume control.

     ·         Leave the selfie stick at home (or in the bin)

Here are three reasons why: 1.) If you just ask nicely, a kind stranger will gladly take your photo. 2.) It is the most unsightly contraption. 3.) It is a legitimate danger to the people around you.

     ·         The same rule applies for your iPad

A bigger screen does not mean a better photo. Plus, by leaving the tablet at home you can travel without having to carry around the massive device. Cue – the fanny pack.

     ·         Don’t comment on how cheap everything is

No matter how affordable everything may seem to you, it is kind of insulting to the people who live there. They are still working hard to make a living.

     ·         Or how expensive

You chose to travel to that country, get over it.

     ·         Dress appropriately

No, you shouldn’t go out and buy the natives traditional outfit, but be respectful. Maybe an ancient temple isn’t the best place to wear a crop top and high heels.

     ·         Be aware of your surroundings

In general, just behave according. Don’t hog a busy sidewalk for 20 minutes just to take a picture. Don’t complain about people’s accents or how the coffee tastes.

Don’t be an irritating tourist, make your travels and the people’s around you a pleasant one.

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The terrible things normal people do on vacation

A survey was conducted to find out the shameful things fellow travelers do when they go on holiday, well the results were quite horrible. It looks like once the clock reaches vacation time, the average traveler turns into a complete monster!

Here are the worst offenses to be on the lookout for:

· 6% of travels sneak on the plane before their row is called

Boarding class C means nothing, right?

· 54% are seat recliners
I guess that poor guy behind doesn’t need any space to eat his lunch.

· 18% get up when the seat belt sign is on
General rules and safety obviously mean nothing when the vacation starts.

· 17% have snuck into a hotel to just use the pool
Act casual and no one will notice!

· 10% lie to hotel staff to get an upgrade
“It’s our honeymoon!”

· 7% of travelers have skinny-dipped in the hotel pool
Never mind the poor people who have to swim in the pool after you’ve had your fun.

· 60% are hotel breakfast buffet thieves
When you’re hungry, sometimes it’s hard to control your actions

· 29% raided the maid’s cart for free toiletries
Because apparently the unlimited bottles in your room just aren’t enough

· 12% of travelers have swiped a towel or robe
Yes, they may bring you clean ones every day, but they’re not free

It’s surprising how often travelers break the rules, sometimes they push the envelope a bit too far though. So, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done when you’re on holiday?

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8 Ways to make your plane ride more comfortable

The only thing standing in the way of you and a comfortable plane ride is chatty Cathy on your right and the man eating pickled eggs on your left. Good thing the flight is only 9 hours.

There are 8 ways to upgrade the experience so you feel like you are sitting in first class instead of coach…

Wear loosely-fitted clothes
Tight, restricted clothing is the fastest way to feel claustrophobic in a flight. Instead, wear pieces that are relaxed, like sweat pants and a t-shirt. You don’t want to pass out mid-flight because your skinny jeans are restricting your blood flow.

And slip-on shoes
So, what could be better than breezing through airport security and slipping off your shoes right as you get to your seat. Worried about smelly feet? Sprinkle a little baby powder in your shoes before you head to the airport.

Stow all your stuff in the overhead
Believe me, those few inches of legroom definitely make a difference! Plus after you’ve taken out everything you need, like your headphones, lip ice and cellphone, what else could you need?

Pad your neck with an ostrich pillow
Or, if you don’t want to look completely stupid, you can use a normal pillow.

Don’t forget about your back
Airline seats can sometimes make your lower back work overtime. The fix: request a complimentary pillow or blanket and tuck it behind your back to support your natural arch.

Pack your own snacks
Instead of waiting for the flight attendant to roll by with the cart, plan ahead. Pack your own snacks and make sure they are healthy and not so greasy that they make you feel sluggish and bloated.

And water
Those tiny water bottles aren’t going to cut it. Save yourself the trouble and carry your own and fill it up once you get on board.

Do whatever it takes to signal “DO NOT DISTURB”
A light-blocking sleeping mask, or a pair of noise-canceling headphones should do the trick and send the message loud and clear that you do not want to be disturbed.

You’ve checked your bag, sailed through security and got to your gate on time, now all you need is to have a comfortable plane ride!

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6 tiny, yet unforgettable places to stay when you’re travelling

If you’re a traveler who likes to mix it up a bit when you’re adventuring the world, then these offbeat places to stay at should interest you quite a bit! Here are six weird yet wonderful alternatives to generic hotels.

Little Pinky – Texas

This vintage trailer has been renovated to rent out for about R1600 a night, and guess what its only 5.5metres in length! Even though it’s small, it’s really awesome. It is bright pink in colour and located in a desert campground filled with similar trailers, tents and teepees. So you’re bound to meet some eccentric and interesting people!

The Underwater Room – Tanzania

Booking a room at this floating structure should be on your bucket list. It is a cool three-level bunk BELOW the sea, which provides you with amazing views of the ocean life, such as fish, squid, octopuses and many other sea creatures. The cost per night may put a dent in your wallet at about R20 460 a night.

Glass Igloo – Finland

Are you interested in seeing the Northern Lights? This amazing glass dome at the Kakslauttanen Resort will give you a front seat to all the action! The futuristic igloo will cost you about R5300 a night – make sure to book in at the peak season for the lights.

The Bubble Hotel – France

Have you ever wanted to sleep in a bubble? Well, down in France you can book a night in a see-through pod, somewhere throughout the countryside. The bubble is tiny at 3.9 metres, but how many people can say they’ve stayed in a bubble and watched the stars for just R1700 a night?

Treehotel – Sweden

Majority of us had treehouses growing up, but this hotel takes it to the next level! The Treehotel in Sweden is designed to look exactly like a birds nest; at 180 square feet it can accommodate a family of four. It may be small, but it has separate bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and even a retractable starcase, all for R7500 a night and R680 extra per kid!

Capsule Hotel – Netherlands

Get in touch with your inner James Bond when you decide to stay in one of this cool, little hotel. These capsules are actually survivor pods that float on the Hague with hammock beds inside. How much will you pay? Just R955 a night.

What will you pick? A vintage trailer, glass igloo or maybe a Swedish bird’s nest? Whatever it may be, make sure to add these kooky places to stay to your bucket list!

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