Be Soothed And Meet History At Hot Springs National Park

BY  Abdul Aziz Apr 11, 2022

Marketers today rely on videos to showcase their products or service to the audience. More than 80% of the internet audience is now spending billions of hours watching videos. And, eyeing this trend, search engine giant Google has modified its algorithm to prioritize the video content. According to a study, videos come in 52% of Google keyword searches, and more than 80% of these search results are derived from YouTube. Therefore, video marketing is not visually appealing, but they are perfect from the SEO point of view. Therefore, videos have become the main aspect of marketing, replacing the conventional marketing tricks. According to marketers, videos are much more effective than texts and images. They simply provide a sense of practicality to the viewer, and it will be easy to convince them after watching an introductory video of any product or service. That's the abject for selecting video as the prominent marketing tool for the travel business Marketers find many reasons to trust videos to promote their travel business. A few of the important reasons are mentioned below. Prime Reasons for Using Videos in Travel Business 1. Videos offer effortless engagement Using video content for marketing allows businesses to tap into a huge audience. Videos eliminate reading requirements, and travelers find it easy to view a video rather than spend hours reading texts. Since videos are replacing the conventional marketing techniques, that doesn't mean the value of the texts and images has decreased. Still, they are valuable to describe any specific location or its outstanding features. Videos arrest the viewers' attention, and that is the best part of promoting the travel business. 2. Helps to increase the visibility of the brand A video can be heavily edited and customizable. They can be made to intensify the viewer's emotion and yield the best result for the travel industry. Engaging video contents are effective in influencing the decision-making process. Plus, when you publish a catchy and informative video on your timeline, not only will it grab appreciation from your followers, but they never hesitate to share that with their circle. Due to this feature, marketers never hesitate to invest thousands of dollars in making commercial videos. 3. Better click-through-rates Call-to-Action or CTA is one of the finest features that drive viewers to land on your travel website directly. It provides a passage to view and features of the travel agency. The website and the While creating the video, ensure to include CTA in the video so that you can allow the travelers to go to the next point once the video is over. CTA is the key to video promotion, and it enhances engagement with your audience and improves click-through rates. 4. Videos are suitable for all the occasions If you want to introduce any new tour, then creating a video on that specific topic is the best way to let your audience know about that. You can insert new information providing fresh highlights or the current one. It is also possible to introduce the travel team or an interview with a client who has already availed of your package. This kind of inclusion will make the video a real one. 5. Higher email click-through-rates Videos are attractive, and inserting the word video means it will attract the viewer's attention. The same thing applies to email marketing. When you insert a video in the email, chances are the audience will open the email and read what you have put there. That means inserting video will drive more traffic to the website, and once the traffic flow grows, the chance of conversion also grows simultaneously. How to Use Video to Drive More Conversions in the Travel Business? Here is how to use video to convert viewers to potential customers for your travel business. 1. Create Engaging video content Creating videos is the finest way to engage the audience. You can try to create amazing videos using an online video maker tool. Making use of these tools can be quite beneficial for marketers as these tools are very versatile and customizable due to their easy-to-use features. Their uses and benefits are endless for a brand. Once the audience starts to believe in the brand through these original videos, the business is bound to grow. You can post this video on social media channels to draw maximum attention. If you have any website, then upload these types of videos on them, and in this way, the viewers will get an overall idea regarding the brand and the proprietor. 2. Virtual meeting with clients  Virtual meetings are a fun way to improve the engagement with the clients, especially for the people who are planning a group tour. Keep the meetings as simple as possible so that the clients will feel easy to interact with you openly. If the client is not planning anything to travel anywhere, ask about the future planning. This is the right way to concrete the relationship that ultimately delivers the best result to the travel business. 3. Share HD quality destination videos If you are planning to launch any travel package based on any specific location, then before that, share a few quality videos regarding that destination. These videos can also be added to proposals you create for the clients. This is a fun and interactive way to showcase the beauty of the destination they probably want to travel to in the future. 4. Insert videos in the client's proposal To gain the customer’s trust, it is the best way to embed videos in the proposals. The videos can be based on the destination, hotel, and tour. This is why many marketers today use videos while preparing clients' proposals. 5. Happy hour with clients If you have something special to share with your clients, arrange a happy hour. Fix a time where everyone can join and discuss the special feature or plan with your loyal clients. In this session, you can also take a couple of questions from the clients and answer them directly during the session. Virtual meetings are cool since you can meet with your loyal clients anywhere without barriers. 6. Creating a travel vlog Travel business can be thriving when more and more people travel to their favorite destination. If they don't know the destination and the details available there, they won't step out of their comfort zone. To inspire them to travel, you should create travel vlogs. These videos don't need any fancy film production techniques, but they must be simple and interactive. Make travel vlogs on these topics: Walkthrough tour Hotel room tour Vlogs are based on the delicacies and foods in the restaurants. Videos that record the part of the tour Assembling multiple clips to prepare a complete video highlighting the best features of the destination 7. Share travel tips through the videos Few people want to travel, but they have a lack knowledge of how to prepare for it. If you are leading a travel business, then create informative videos regarding how to prepare yourself for travel. Giving the ideology in the form of travel tips it's going to lead to a positive impact on clients or visitors. Making videos on packing tips, food, and beverage selection, clothes to carry, and accessories that help during the travel is a fantastic idea to improve engagement with the audience. These videos also draw a positive impression from the audience that directly impacts brand value. 8. Drive more sales by video greetings Video greetings are innovative ways to drive more sales towards your travel business. You can record a quick 1-2 minutes greeting video for your client and send it to him. Thank him for accepting the proposal and wishing for a better travel experience in the video. These are the ways that draw more attraction and brand loyalty from the customers. Preparing these videos is also simple, and there is no need to invest heavily while creating them. 9. Make question-answer videos Question-answer sessions are best to improve the engagement with the clients. Brand loyalty is the best thing that delivers long-term results from the clients, and this is why you should spare some time to make a Q&A video. Take questions from the comments and answer them by naming the person. In this way, that person will feel privileged and loyal forever. 10. Create "how-to" or demo videos Share videos with your followers describing any unique recipe they can cook in the home. Describe the steps of the recipe and make it visually appealing. Once you create and upload it to your social media accounts, it will attract maximum attention from the audience. Conclusion Video is the most powerful marketing tool now. Using the right video marketing technique in the travel business will surely drive more leads to the brand. Read Also: How To Fund The Cost Of Travelling Top 5 Travel Tips For Your Next Trip To China 5 Fascinating And Fun Travel Destination Ideas In Africa For Vacation Top 10 Scenic Snowflake Cities In The U.S. To Travel To This Winter

BY  Sibashree Aug 20, 2024

Joshua Tree National Park, named after the crooked Joshua trees, is known for its endless hiking trails and desert ecosystems of the lower Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert.  Further, the Joshua Tree is one of the few national parks in the USA to offer equally amazing daytime and nighttime experiences.  The geology of Joshua Tree is “interesting.” You will find Arch Rock and many other fascinating rock formations in the park. Wind power, erosion, and different weather forces have created many other spectacularly-formed rocks and other sculptures.  Hiking is the best way to cherish the beauty and splendor of this national park to the fullest. So, let’s know the tales from the trails!  Best Hiking Trails in Joshua Tree National Park Joshua Tree had an impressive 3,270,404 visitors in 2023, and hiking is one of the most popular activities in this park. Home to some of the best hikes in the USA, Joshua Tree also has many trails for kids and beginners.  Further, you can explore various short walking routes and nature trails like Bajada, Oasis of Mara, and Barker Dam in this park.  Here, I have curated some amazing hiking trails in the park across various difficulty levels.  Joshua Tree Hikes (Easy) The easy hiking trails in Joshua Tree are accessible in all seasons. To make the most of your hiking expeditions, you must start by 9 am in the morning.  Cholla Cactus Garden The Cholla Cactus Garden trek is easy, and even kids can explore it. It will take just 15 minutes to get completed. You will find the trailhead 20 miles north of Cottonwood Visitor Center. As you can guess from its name, the trail is named after the growing cholla cacti found in abundance here. Wear full-length clothes and closed-toe shoes and follow the trail to avoid getting hurt by the cactus thorns.  Discovery Trail You can start hiking this trail from the Skull Rock parking area. This easy hike will take you around 30 to 40 minutes. Catch a glimpse of the desert washes and boulders throughout the route.  Skull Rock  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joshua Tree National Park (@joshuatreenps) Start hiking this trail early in the morning from the Jumbo Rocks Campground. You can even take the trailhead from the Skull Rock parking area, which is east of the Jumbo Rocks Campground. Skull Rock is one of the many unique rock formations you will see in the park, and it’s the highlight of this trekking route.  You can cover the trekking route within just one or two hours. A night-time view of the Skull Rock can offer you the perfect Halloween experience!  Moderate Hiking Trails Like the Channel Islands National Park and the Death Valley National Park, the Joshua Tree also has many moderate hiking trails. Here is a brief overview of some of the most amazing moderate Joshua Tree hiking trails.  Hi-View  The Hi-View trail, starting from the Northwest of Black Rock Campground, will require you to hike for at least an hour. However, based on the weather conditions, you may also need to walk for more than 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Once you reach the top of the steep ridges, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire park. Further, the iconic Joshua trees are found in the steeper sections of this trail.  If you feel tired in the course of your trekking, you can catch some rest on the benches across the park.  Mastodon Peak The Mastodon Peak trail starts from the Cottonwood Spring parking area, and here, you will experience an elevation change of 175 feet. To reach the granite mountain peak, you will have to pass through a rugged terrain.  You can complete the entire trek within 1.5 to 3 hours.  Split Rock Loop The Split Rock picnic area is the starting point for hiking this trail of 2.5 miles. You can complete the trek within two and a half hours. However, if you are a seasoned hiker, you can complete the safe route within 1 and a half hours.  On a spur trail of the Split Rock Loop, you will find a rock formation that looks like the profile of a human face. It is called the Face Rock.  Pine City  Go to the end of the Desert Queen Mine Road to find the trailhead of Pine City. The dense vegetation of junipers and pinyon makes this 4 miles long trail picturesque. It will take around 3 hours to complete the hike.  Strenuous Hiking Trails  These strenuous trails are not suitable for summer hiking. You can try conquering them in autumn and spring.  California Riding and Hiking Trail Stretching over 36.6 miles, the California Riding and Hiking Trail is a two-day long hike. If the weather conditions are unpleasant, the total duration of the hike can stretch up to three days.  As you hike the route from Black Rock Canyon to the park’s North Entrance, the amazing landscape of the Mojave Desert will charm you.  Ryan Mountain Hiking to the summit of Ryan Mountain is one of the most popular activities to do in Joshua Tree National Park. The trekking route has an elevation of 1,050 feet, and it stretches over 3 miles.  Despite being strenuous, this trail can be hiked in 2.5 hours. So, it is one of the most popular hiking trails in the park.  Willow Hole At the end of the Willow Hole trail, you will find the amazing willow trees. You can start hiking from the Boy Scout Trailhead located inside the park at the South end.  The sandy washes, Joshua tree vegetation, and famous boulder landscape make the trail amazing.  Short Walks And Nature Trails In Joshua Tree National Park View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joshua Tree National Park (@joshuatreenps) The short walks and nature trails of Joshua Tree are available for year-long hiking. These trails also have wheelchair facilities, offering the most inclusive experience to visitors.  It’s time to be familiar with some of these amazing nature walk trails.  Oasis of Mara (Oasis of Mara is the only trail in Joshua Tree that allows dogs. So, hiking this trail is surely one of the best things to do in Joshua Tree as a pet lover.)  Arch Rock Barker Dam Ryan Ranch  Bajada  Among these short walks and nature hiking trails, Cottonwood Spring is the shortest. You can finish the trail within just 10 minutes. Enjoy the view of cottonwood trees as you take a walk to the fan palm oasis.  Integratron: The Wonder Of The Joshua Tree National Park  Facts to Know Integratron is four stories high.Its diameter is 55 feet.It’s a 16-sided metal-free building.The construction technique used in it is called joinery.No nails or screws are used in the construction.It is made of non-ferromagnetic materials. George Van Tassel said that Nikola Tesla’s writings influenced the structure of Integratron.  The western half of the Joshua Tree National Park is on the Mojave Desert’s southern tip. UFOlogist George Van Tassel built “a time machine for basic research on rejuvenation, anti-gravity, and time travel” in the Mojave Desert in the 1950s.  This is a place where visitors are offered sound therapy that is believed to have the power to rejuvenate living tissues in human beings.  From the time it was built, this place has attracted reporters, visitors, artists, and spiritual minds.  George Van Tasse chose the Mojave Desert for building Integratron as, according to him, this place had a connection to the Great Pyramids in Giza. The proximity to magnetic vortices was another reason for choosing the site.  Final Words: Schedule Your Hike Right   March to May and October to November are the two best seasons for hiking in Joshua Tree. The park remains open throughout the year. However, the scorching and dry summer makes hiking impossible on many moderate and strenuous trails.  During summer, the daytime temperature of the park reaches around 100 degrees F, and the temperature falls to 75 degrees F at night.  Further, if you visit the park between March and May, you will see the wildflowers blooming. Also, in April, you can celebrate the National Park Week here.  In October, there are important events in the park, such as the Joshua Tree Music Festival and Pioneer Days. The temperature is also pleasant in the fall season, recording an average temperature of 80 degrees F and 50 degrees F at day and night. So, plan your visit to Joshua Tree right and share your travel stories with us as you return with the most amazing hiking experience.  Joshua Tree National Park FAQs  Is It Safe To Visit Joshua Tree At Night? Yes, it is safe to visit Joshua Tree at night. In fact, stargazing is one of the most popular activities in this national park. The roads in the park are marked, and there is strict patrolling on all roads.  However, this desert park is an important preservation hub for vulnerable ecosystems. Also, there are snakes and scorpions in the park.  So, camp in the park or explore it at night as a responsible visitor. It is safer to restrict your movements near the campsites at night.  Is Joshua Tree Worth Seeing? Yes, Joshua Tree is worth seeing, as you can hike through the California Riding and Hiking Trail, Pine City, Bajada, and many other amazing trails. As you explore these routes, you will come across a wide variety of flora and fauna.  Further, the Joshua Tree is an important preservation and conservation center for fragile ecosystems. In addition, this is a place where stargazing is an ultimate immersive experience. Other highlights of your trip to this national park will be exploring the Penguin Rock, Arch Rock, and other iconic rock formations. Moreover, indulge in a sound bath at the Integratron. Built by UFOlogist George Van Tassel, this dome-shaped place offers sound therapy that promises to rejuvenate living human cell tissues.  Can You Sleep Inside Joshua Tree?  Yes, you can sleep inside Joshua Tree, as there are nine campgrounds inside the park. The Hidden Valley, Belle, and White Tank campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, White Tank and Belle campsites can remain temporarily closed during summer.  For the India Cove, Ryan, Cottonwood, Jumbo Rocks, and Black Rock campsites, you will need to make a prior booking.  In addition, you can try backcountry camping and consider putting up a tent in the campsites outside the park.  Remember, there are no restaurants and modern lodging facilities inside the park.  Can You See Milky Way From Joshua Tree? The International Dark-Sky Association, or IDA, has identified Joshua Tree as an International Dark Sky Park. You can get the best view of the Milky Way here.  Joshua Tree also has the darkest nights in Southern California. So, you will get to see the passing meteors, stars, and planets from this national park.  Stargazing from any part of the park is an amazing experience. However, there are also four designated stargazing spots in the park. These are: Quail Springs parking lot Hidden Valley parking lot Cap Rock parking lot Ryan Mountain parking lot Further, you can put up tents at one of the nine camping grounds, and among them, the Cottonwood Campground demands a special mention. Also read Why Include Whale Watching In Your LA Itinerary. Traveling On A Budget: Tips For Affordable Adventures. Be Soothed And Meet History At Hot Springs National Park.

BY  Barsha Sep 13, 2023

Before you set off on your global adventure, it's crucial to have a well-thought-out plan for what to pack and what to store. Create two lists; one for items you'll need on your travels and another for possessions that will stay behind. This will help you prioritize and make the packing process more manageable. Remember, the aim is to travel light but also ensure that your life back home remains intact for your return. Sorting Your Essentials Deciding what to take with you on your journey is a balancing act between necessity and luxury. Start by listing all the essentials like travel documents, medication, TEFL accreditation, and basic clothing. Once you’ve got that sorted, think about the climate of your destination and pack accordingly. Don’t forget to include a small first-aid kit and any specialized gear you might need for activities you plan to do. It’s always better to have a few versatile items rather than overpacking with things you might not use. Using Storage Units Storage units are an excellent option for keeping your larger possessions safe while you're away. Not only do they offer a secure environment for items like furniture, but they also provide a climate-controlled setting for keepsakes that may be sensitive to temperature or humidity. Make sure to pack these items carefully, using bubble wrap or cloth to prevent any damage. Opt for a storage facility that has robust security measures like 24/7 surveillance and coded access to ensure the utmost safety of your belongings. Safestore’s storage units all have 24-hour CCTV, and they have locations across the country. Their dry, clean, and secure units are the perfect place to store your belongings while you travel the world. What To Do With Your Car If you own a car, you'll need to decide what to do with it while you're traveling. Long-term parking can be expensive and may expose your vehicle to the elements. A better option might be to leave it with a trusted friend or family member who can occasionally run the engine and keep it maintained. Alternatively, you could look into professional vehicle storage services that offer secure, climate-controlled environments specifically designed for car storage. Preparing Your Home For Your Absence Before you leave, make sure to take care of household responsibilities that could become issues in your absence. Contact your utility providers to inform them of your travel plans and see if any services can be paused. Arrange for someone to collect your mail or have it held at the post office. If you have subscriptions or regular deliveries, pause or cancel them for the duration of your trip. These small steps will help you avoid unnecessary costs and complications when you return. Make Your Return As Smooth As Possible The excitement of traveling the world is unparalleled, but eventually, the time will come to return home. To ensure a smooth transition back to your regular life, it's essential to plan your homecoming as meticulously as your departure. Start by making a checklist of tasks to complete upon your return, such as restocking your pantry, reactivating paused services, and checking the condition of stored items. If you've left your car with someone, coordinate the return beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassles. Don't forget to reach out to friends or family who've been looking after your home, plants, or pets to let them know your return date. A little planning can go a long way in making your return not just bearable but enjoyable, allowing you to seamlessly pick up where you left off. Planning a long-term trip abroad is an exciting but complex task that requires meticulous preparation. From sorting your essentials and securing your possessions to taking care of your home and vehicle, each step is crucial for a hassle-free experience. By following these guidelines, you can embark on your adventure with peace of mind, knowing that everything will be ready and waiting for you when you return. Read Also: How To Save Money On A Trip To Abu Dhabi 7 Tips To Make The Most Out Of Your Trip To Gatlinburg How To Use Videos To Drive Conversions In Travel Business