What Does 5-Star Accommodation Have That You Are Missing Out On?

BY  Nabamita Feb 13, 2024

Before packing your first box, make sure to notify your utility and service providers of your move date and new address. This includes essential services like gas, electricity, water, internet, phone, and cable or satellite TV. Notifying them in advance ensures you receive a final bill for service at your old address so you can pay any remaining balance. Provide the exact date the service should stop and your new address where the service should start. Also give them a forwarding address for the final bill, which may come later. Taking these proactive notification steps alleviates headaches from missed bills or payments during a busy move. Avoid Bill Surprises While On The Go Constantly traveling or relocating for extended periods can make paying and keeping track of utility bills a real headache. Set your accounts for automatic and paperless billing to avoid missing payments or getting hit with late fees. Have electric, gas, cable, internet, phone, and other bills set to autopay directly from your bank account every month while you are away, and make sure you have enough funds available to cover those payments? Also, set up your accounts so that bills can be viewed and managed electronically online through each provider's website. Retail expert movers recommend routing all bills and statements to a trusted relative or P.O. box that will forward your mail to wherever you end up. With a few preparatory steps before locking up and heading out, you can travel worry-free knowing vital services won't be disconnected. Forward Important Mail During Transitions Whether you're moving across town or traveling overseas for months at a time, don't let lapses in mail service leave you in the dark on important communications. Before an upcoming move, submit a change of address to the post office so mail gets routed to your new residence or a trusted contact. This ensures you receive mail from utility companies, banks, insurance providers, and other services during the transition process. If taking an extended trip, have the post office hold your mail until you return or forward it to a friend or family member who can scan and email you anything urgent. This way bills, legal documents, and other correspondence don't pile up unchecked at your empty house while you're gone for weeks or months. Staying up-to-date on mail prevents unexpected issues. Read Also: Corporate Travel Redefined: The Power Of Taxi Amsterdam For Business Rides Streamline Services While Away When you're preparing for an extended time away from home, look at temporarily suspending non-vital home services to save money. Cable TV and internet packages often tack on fees, so you end up paying for services never used. Before an extended trip or during slow relocation periods: Put cable TV services on seasonal hold - once reactivated, retain your previous channel package without added fees Suspend internet if wireless access is not essential during your time away Stop newspaper delivery which will pile up unread Place gym memberships on hold status so monthly fees aren't wasted Disable alarm monitoring systems with the assurance of quick reactivation Pausing unnecessary utilities and home services over weeks or months gives savings that add up. Most providers let you conveniently pick up where you left off for seamless transitions. As the Federal Communications Commission notes, be aware of any terms or conditions associated with temporarily discontinuing services. With some advanced planning, you can streamline the services you actually need and forego the rest while you’re away. Get Seasonal Utility Rates For Long Trips When planning for an extended trip spanning multiple seasons, take advantage of many utility providers' seasonal service plans to maximize savings. Call your gas, electric, and water companies to inquire if they offer special rates for customers who will be away for months at a stretch–common for snowbird travelers and those holding up somewhere warm for the frigid winter months. Oftentimes providers give breaks on standard bills when they know in advance you won't actually be occupying the home to use services for a fixed duration. Find out what options are readily available for putting gas, electric, water, and even cable on hold status just until your return, even if you come back at a different time annually. Checking on special cost-saving programs specific to extended seasonal gaps in service can pay off. This allows flexible travelers focused on warm weather destinations to save a little more towards their next adventure on the road. Reconnect Services Upon Returning Home Don't come home to a property full of shut-off notices! Be proactive by scheduling and confirming the reactivation of utility and home services shortly before your return. A few days ahead: Call the cable company to reopen service on your scheduled move-in date - this prevents lagging connections. Have the power company resume electrical service by your designated date to avoid dark, warm apartments. Reactivate your home internet modem and wireless router to get back online for work and entertainment needs as soon as you arrive. Resume your garbage pickup on the day you move back to prevent waste pile-ups. As cautioned by USA.gov's household services guidance, don't assume providers will automatically switch your accounts back on. After lengthy absences, directly request all services be transferred or started at your location effective on the precise date of your arrival to avoid any lapses. Scheduling ahead alleviates having to reboot utilities one by one after coming home tired from travel. Instead, enjoy seamless access to functioning appliances, climate control, and amenities. Planning Ahead Minimizes Headaches Whether you're frequently on the go or planning an extended getaway, don't let utility billing and services fall by the wayside. With some advance preparation before transitions, you can redirect mail, suspend non-essential accounts, take advantage of seasonal rates, and seamlessly reconnect everything upon returning home. Staying actively informed and visible to providers while away reduces the chances of penalties, confusion, or disruptions down the road. A few simple proactive tasks like automating payments or consolidating bills to one trusted advisor can alleviate countless headaches. Embrace solutions that simplify managing obligations from afar. The little time invested upfront in organizing your affairs makes for smooth travels every step of the journey. Read Also: Sands Of Splendor: Luxurious Desert Safari Experiences In Dubai 20 Of The Best Places To Travel In Africa In 2024 6 Best Destinations For A Safari In Kenya

BY  Abdul Aziz May 17, 2023

Travel is not a thing to be taken lightly. The ability to explore the world is well and truly a privilege, born of new travel capabilities and ever-more global communities. Travel is a gift – but choosing where to travel can feel like something of a course. Say you’re looking for somewhere utterly beautiful to visit; where should you go? Any list of this nature is unavoidably subjective; beautiful places are often bucket-list places, fanned out across a wide-open world and which appeal to very specific sensibilities. Someone who sees the delicate nature of life through the coral reefs of Sharm El-Sheikh might not find that same sublimity in the harsh expanse of the Grand Canyon. As such, this list doesn’t seek to define or even rank ‘beauty’ from destination to destination. Rather, it’s designed to be a crib sheet – a handy guide by which to inform your own decision-making, should you be planning the trip of a lifetime. And these are just a handful of suggestions, too! The Azores, Portugal The Azores are Portuguese territory, but a far cry from the Iberian Peninsula. These nine volcanic islands are way out in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, boasting some of the most incredible island landscapes of the entire world. Secluded bays, beautiful villages, unspoiled sands and so much more await the intrepid traveler. A private jet rental can bring you to the quiet runways of Ponta Delgada in consummate luxury – from where you can enjoy the unusually lush green landscape that surrounds you. The Lago das Sete Cidades, a crater lake of indescribable magnificence, is a short hop away and unlike anything you have ever seen before. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – Kyoto, Japan On practically the opposite side of the globe, Japan plays host to an incredible array of stunning views and sublime locales. It is especially hard to choose between them, particularly when so much of Japan’s landscape is forever immortalized in art and pop culture. One stand-out bucket-list location is an unassuming one in comparison, but no less popular for its size. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, nestled in the suburban northwest of Kyoto, is a stunning forest of pure green bamboo. Paths run through the trees, allowing you to soak in this utterly unique forest experience – with an outside chance of meeting a few monkeys in the process. Reynisfjara, Iceland I challenge you to find any destination in Iceland that is not an emotionally moving location or landscape. Reynisfjara stands apart from the jagged volcanism of the inland, though, being a black sand beach that is every bit as mesmerizing in person as it is in the pictures. Iceland is worth a tour of its own, but Reynisfjara should be high on your list of places to visit. Banff National Park, Canada While globe-hopping can help with getting up close to the best sights on the planet, there are those that are little more than a stone’s throw away. A brief stint north of the border could take you to Banff National Park in Canada, where you can explore the Rockies like nowhere else: above and below. This mountainous terrain hides incredible views, stunning glacier lakes, and a network of caves and basins that defy your eyes. Read Also: How To Plan A Best One-Day Trip To Atlanta With Family? What Is Most Likely To Cause Someone To Fall Overboard? Top 10 Scenic Snowflake Cities In The U.S. To Travel To This Winter

BY  sagnika Mar 18, 2025

Are you making plans to visit Chicago? Are you wondering if is Chicago safe? Wondering how being a solo traveler, it is important to be aware and integrate your safety precautions before you visit the bustling streets and neighborhood solo!   Let me share with you some of my experiences which I really enjoyed. You have to prioritize your safety before you do anything! Acquiring experience is important however, it is significant that you should learn about some of the safest places to stay and visit safe places to eat and visit.  If you are looking for one of the warm places to travel in February, skip Chicago. Instead, focus on how you can travel safely.   Is Chicago Safe? Question as a Solo Female Traveler!   A fantastic destination, Chicago has repeatedly been identified as a safe location for travelers. When you question about exploring places in Chicago solo, you need some safety tips that will help you make a successful vacation plan. Afterall, you are going to one of the exotic places to travel!   The vibrant city of Chicago is quite accessible with excellent public transportation. If I share my personal experience, I love traveling alone and when I went on a vacation to Chicago, I realized that the public transportation system is so easy to navigate, that it was a breeze for me to get around.   There are many tourist attractions, quite close to each other. Planning and creating cluster location trips is both affordable and safe for a solo female traveler. Let me share with you some of the things to do, top restaurants, top places for accommodations and others while being safe.   Safety Tips for Solo Female Traveler!   When you are traveling, the first thing you need to keep in mind as a solo female traveler is your safety. It is crucial when you are traveling solo especially when you need to enjoy as well as stay safe. Please keep the following tips in mind:   Learn more about the city – You should go through maps of Chicago and familiarize yourself with the city, its streets and places. Go through the layout of Chicago, and either use mobile apps or physical maps to navigate across the city. Trust me, you will feel more confident when you know all about the city’s places, streets, routes, and places to visit.   Follow the safety guidelines – There are general safety guidelines, especially if you are traveling alone. You must stick to safety practices. A vibrant city, Chicago is safe, but you still need to be aware of the place properly to travel alone. Chicago can easily be one of the best places to travel solo female in the US.   Awareness of surroundings – You need to be aware of your surroundings, especially when it comes to keeping your things to yourself. Try to avoid deserted streets or buildings along with strangers trying to be over-friendly.   Visit the tourist-friendly areas – The city is overall a cool place to be, but there are some places where you need to be a little aware. It is better to avoid them if you are a solo female traveler. Yes, you will find security measures being taken to keep people visiting these places safe.   Things to Do in Chicago   Let me share with you some of the things to do when you visit Chicago while staying safe. If you love visiting museums, this is your chance to utilize most of your vacation time. You can visit the following places if visiting museums, and cafes and going on walks is your vibe.   Field Museum – Open from 9 am to 5 pm, this state-of-the-art museum displaces beautiful scientific artifacts, displays, and exhibits. You will also find several inventions that are displayed in this museum. Furthermore, you get to see the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the largest display in the world!   Millennium Park – Open from 6 am to 11 pm, sprawled across 24.5 acres of green, there is an outdoor theater. Furthermore, you can take memorable pictures in front of the reflective “Bean” structure. This is one of the best places to travel with kids if you are traveling with your family!   The Art Institute of Chicago – Open from 11 am to 8 pm, this museum is known worldwide. It has exhibits that are collected from all over the world across many centuries.   Lincoln Park Zoo – Open from 10 am to 5 pm, this zoo is small. However, their exhibit is quite good as you get to see primates, reptiles, lions, and other animals free of cost. There is also a children’s area along with a very interactive farm exhibit.   Griffin Museum of Science and Industry   – Open from 9:30 am to 4 pm, this sprawling space is filled with industrial exhibits and child-friendly scientific exhibits that are quite informative.   Riverwalk – You can visit this place between 6 am to 11 pm. A pedestrian path along the riverside offers you beautiful city views. If you are solo traveling, it is a perfect place for dining with a lucrative view. You can also check out the bridges, boat docks, and fishing piers!   Top Restaurants and Bars to Visit   I am a foodie, so I love checking out places that offer delicious food along with a variety of options. Chicago offers you delicious food especially for people who are solo traveling. The experience is both enigmatic and beautiful.   The Longroom – If you are a beer enthusiast, this is the perfect place to try delicious craft beers. The vibe is great while the pub fare is not that expensive so, as a solo experience, it is perfect.   Girl & The Goat   https://www.instagram.com/p/DF3jhNDzQdn/?img_index=1 – The innovative cuisine is the selling point of the restaurant so, every time you visit the place, you get to eat something exciting and new. Visiting this place is the perfect way to experience the developing culinary scene of Chicago.   Olio e Piu   https://www.instagram.com/p/DGGQN_xTnXn/ – The Italian restaurant is quite charming serving a cozy environment with delicious dishes. If you are looking for an authentic trattoria, this is it for you. Try their fritto misto, Nutella calzone, carbonara and Margherita Pizza and others.   The Signature Room at the 95th   https://www.instagram.com/p/CtMYSa8qwU0/?hl=en – Giving you the perfect rooftop vibe, the pub is located high above the city offering stunning skylines. You will get the perfect feel for solo dining with delicious and mesmerizing food dishes.    Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria   https://www.instagram.com/p/DE24sxrTRb8/?img_index=2 – The deep-dish pizza, Lou Malnati is a popular Chicago classic! You must try this if you want to experience Chicago-style pizza thus, feel the authenticity.   The Purple Pig   https://www.instagram.com/p/DHHa8AGgm8P/?img_index=3 – If you are craving some Mediterranean–inspired dishes, this is the place to be! The Charcuterie is to die for. Starting for delicious cocktails, you must try their roasted bone marrow with herbs, crispy pig’s ear, grilled broccoli, Spanish octopus, and others.   Best Neighborhood for Booking Your Accommodations   If you are planning to visit Chicago, let me suggest some of the coolest and safest neighborhoods creating the perfect environment for your solo travel. When booking your accommodations, let me share with you some of the places known for various things!   If you want to shop in Chicago, the best neighborhood to stay is around the North Side. You must visit the Magnificent Mile which is vibrant and filled with charming elements all around. There are several stores, both high-end brands, unique flagship outlets, and street styles!   You also need to consider visiting near historic water tower and the John Hancock Center. Overall, it brings to the forefront the rich history of Chicago. A perfect mix of cultural exploration and retail therapy thus, providing a perfect place for your solo self to shop.   If you are planning to party, another place in Chicago to offer you vibrant nightlight is River North. Popular for eclectic bars, vibrant live music venues, and a high-energy club scene, the neighborhood exudes nocturnal life. You can visit the roof-top lounges like LondonHouse and The Godfrey Hotel!   Wrapping Up!   In conclusion, if you are wondering if is Chicago safe especially if you are a solo female traveler, plan your vacation based on the tips. Remember the safety tips I have shared along with keeping your eyes and ears open.   Comment below if you need any more information regarding creating a travel plan when visiting Chicago! Furthermore, you can also let us know if any safety tips that we have missed in this article.