Top 5 Must-Reads On Holiday

Holiday’s are the perfect time to get your literature knowledge growing, weather it’s airport waiting, beach chilling or mountain escaping, here are the top 5 must reads which I think very necessary.

1.     Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

The 80s were a time of radical changes, especially when it came to love between two men. This carefree yet passionate story defies the idea of a forbidden love in a time where this was not yet considered the norm. Taking advantage of every moment spent together, readers are encouraged to do the same with their travel days

2.     Just Kids by Patti Smith

A beautiful memoir written by singer/songwriter Patti Smith, beautifully documenting the passionate, complicated relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Set in a 60s New York, a time of rebellion, this intimate story injects you with a sense of creative fascination with the surrounding world, especially with those living in a city as magical as New York.

3.     A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This truly inspirational story successfully places you into the complicated lives women lead in Afghanistan. While educating you on their country and behaviours, this book has a way of enhancing your outlook your surroundings and the beauty of life itself.

4. Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

The urge to travel is very present through this novel and thus inspires the reader to delve further into their travels themselves. The combination of unplanned events, unexpected lovers and in detail descriptions, allows for this novel to be a definite influential must read.

5. On The Road by Jack Kerouac

As if travelling through the eyes of the narrator himself, Jack Kerouac transports you into the unexpected, exciting world of hitch hiking, encountering jazz, poetry and drugs along the way. His series of documented trips will no doubt increase your thirst for exploring the world.

And there you have it, read carefully, responsibly and remember not to delve yourself too deep into the story or you might find yourself missing that holiday flight!

Written by Nicole Fernandez Medina

Top 5 Effective Tips to get a Free Flight Upgrade

Here are our top 5 tips to getting a free upgrade from economy class to first class or business class. One thing I must say is that there is no point in trying to upgrade on short-haul flights. You will have a much better chance of scoring a free upgrade on long-haul flights and it will be a longer lasting experience. Give these tips a go on your next trip. Hope they work out for you as they have worked for us. :-) Enjoy!

1.    Be prepared to be bumped off a flight

If a flight is full and the airline has oversold on tickets. The airline staff will look to bump people off the flight and put them onto the next flight.  We would suggest that you should definitely volunteer yourself to be bumped off a flight. This is a great strategy as airlines offer incentives, compensation and upgrades to those willing to be bumped off a flight.

To ensure you come first to be bumped off a flight. Make sure that when you are checking-in, you simply inform the check-in assistant and make them aware that you are willing to be bumped off a flight in return for a free upgrade if the situation arises. 

2.  Express concern if your airline has inconvenienced you

If you have been inconvenienced by an airline, do not hesitate to ask for a free upgrade. If your flight is late or you are not happy with the overall customer service. You can express your concerns and the airline may offer you an upgrade in order to maintain goodwill. This strategy is even more effective if you are a loyal customer with a particular airline.

3. If you are celebrating a special occasion. Let them know.

If it is your birthday or you are travelling on a honeymoon (make sure you show your wedding documents as proof). Let the airline staff or travel agent know. You may get a free upgrade or get some extra perks added to your flight experience. Even if they say ‘no’ when you request a free upgrade, they may still give you a huge discount on a first class or business class upgrade, which will be a lot cheaper than the original price. 

4. Travel Solo

If you ask for a free upgrade as a solo traveller you are more than likely to be accommodated. This is due to the fact that there is a higher likelihood that one seat in business class or first class will be available. Getting free upgrades for more than one person is a lot harder and less likely. 

5. Dress to Impress

First impressions are lasting impressions, so dress the part and simply ask for a free upgrade with a smile and you may just get lucky.

5 WAYS TRAVEL CHANGES YOU

Travel has many positives; one of the main things is that it exposes you to new and exciting things you would have never experienced at home. In addition, travel does something more life changing; it has the power to change you as person for the better.

Below are the 5 ways Travel changes you. Enjoy! :-)

(1) Better Perspective

Whatever you are going through. Travel is sure to fix it and give you a little bit more perspective. What may seem like a large challenge will start to look small once you take in your travel experiences and meet more people.

In addition, it’s always great to have your views of the world be challenged and tested. This then makes you more open and more able to see things from another point of view.

(2) Having More Flexibility, Tolerance and Patience

When travelling, things do not always go according to plan. It doesn’t matter how well organised your itinerary may be, things can sometimes go off course. This isn’t always a bad thing. Through such experiences you may discover a new part of a city that you have never heard of. You may even meet and connect with amazing people you would have never met. By having these experiences you will find yourself slowly embracing the spontaneity of life.

Sometimes it is necessary to be taken out of routine and out of your comfort zone. Once you do that, you learn something new and exciting about yourself and the World around you. So try to have patience when things don’t go according to plan. You never know what good fortune may come out of it.

(3) More Knowledgeable

Travel fills in the gaps of knowledge. We all have a deep desire to explore the unknown. Once you begin your journey to explore and get satisfaction from learning something new on your adventure, your thirst for knowledge will grow even more.

If you have always wanted to see an elephant in real life in its habitat, go see it. If you have always wanted to have proper British fish and chips, go do it. It is all part of the learning experience and your personal development.

When you are in a social situation you will be able to confidently share your knowledge with people and maybe inspire someone else to go on an adventure.

(4) Travel Makes Your Happier

Travel makes you a happier person by helping you to start appreciating the little things. When you take in an epic view you start to realise that you play a very small part in the vast universe.  And once you realise that, you will think more about the present and embrace and appreciate the little things.

Travel  also enables you to realise how huge and diverse the World is and reminds us to be grateful for who we are and what we have.

(5) Travel Boosts Confidence

Travel makes you a better person overall. If you struggle with self-confidence you will get a life-long boost of confidence when you go on adventure, face your fears and immerse yourself in the moment. Through this, it puts you on a journey to discovering your true self and achieving self-acceptance.