Medical tourism is a booming industry, and more and more people are considering going abroad for treatment, especially when it comes to cosmetic surgeries and dental care.

The reason why most people choose medical tourism is simple: it’s cheaper, the waiting periods are not as long, and the quality of care is comparable to what you would get at home.

Many people also like to make a bit of a vacation out of it, taking the time to explore the place they visit while recuperating, enjoying the exotic food, culture and beautiful nature.

Here are the 10 most popular destinations for medical tourism…

Mexico

Mexico is a very popular medical tourism destination for US citizens seeking cheaper dental procedures and cosmetic surgery – the fact that it borders the US is a major factor for those interested in medical tourism, as you don’t have to travel far to get it.

Treatments in Mexico are a mere 25%-35% of the cost of the same procedure done in the US, so that is obviously an important factor as well.

Costa Rica

This is another place patients flock to for cosmetic and dental care. When procedures such as face lift, breast augmentation, and abdominoplasty cost 60%-70% less than they do in the US, it’s no wonder that Costa Rica is one of the main medical tourism hubs in the world.

Malaysia

Malaysia is a hotspot for those seeking cosmetic surgery procedures and alternative medicine – rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, collagen injections and skin peels are highly sought after here.

Oxygen therapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, and detox are common alternative medicine treatments. Expect to pay 75% less than you would in the US.

Brazil

Brazil is a major medical tourism destination as it is known for its extremely reliable cosmetic surgeons and even has 12 JCI accredited hospitals.

Face lifts, rhinoplasty, and body contouring procedures are just 40%-50% of US prices, and you can relax and enjoy the culture of Brazil while you’re recuperating.

Singapore

Singapore has 13 JCI accredited hospitals and offers many medical treatments which include dental, cosmetic, bariatric, orthopedic, cardiological, and oncological treatments.

Patients from all over the world flock to Singapore for its excellent doctors, best plastic surgeons that are board certified, hospitals, and post-op care. Medical costs in Singapore are 35% of what they are in the United States.

Thailand

Thailand is another Asian country that is a popular destination for medical tourists. Treatment costs are 70% less than in the US and the surroundings are much more relaxing and luxurious.

There are private medical treatment centers everywhere, and many people who at first only go to Thailand as a tourist, end up having spontaneous treatments like teeth whitening or other small improvements.

Saudi Arabia

The Arabian Persian Gulf States are by far the most popular medical tourism destinations. There are 38 JCI accredited hospitals in the Gulf region, 17 of which are in Saudi Arabia.

There is even a Healthcare City which was designed just for medical tourists seeking advanced procedures. There are treatments available for everything from anti-aging to cancer and infertility.

India

Medical procedures in India is extremely cheap, costing 80% less than they do in the US.

The doctors are highly educated (often abroad), and this together with India’s mesmerizing culture and traditions, the extremely low rates draw patients from all around the globe.

There are 10 JCI accredited hospitals in India and they offer popular treatments for eyes, teeth, cosmetics, and heart surgery.

It’s also a good destination for alternative medicine, and many Ayurvedic hospitals treat tourists with problems like asthma, joint pains and tumor growths.

(photo credit: 1 - 2 - 3 -  4 - 5)

Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

Sri Lanka is a country famous for its spicy food and varied cuisine, and while you could write a whole book about the food in Sri Lanka, we shouldn’t forget the drinks in Sri Lanka!

Sri Lanka is a perfect destination for those looking for cheap holidays, and since food and drinks in Sri Lanka cost close to nothing, you can indulge in eating and drinking all day long.

Here are some popular drinks in Sri Lanka, you must try:

Ceylon Tea

Sri Lanka is the third largest tea producing country in the world, so it is no surprise that tea is one of the most common drinks in Sri Lanka.

Tea plants were introduced by the British in the 19th century, and today you can enjoy a cup of the finest Ceylon tea in tea houses overlooking the beautiful tea plantations in the highlands.

Just remember that Sri Lankans like their tea sweet – VERY sweet, so if you don’t want a massive sugar kick then ask the waiter to only put one or two tea spoons of sugar in your cup.

King Coconut Juice

King coconut palm trees line the beaches and surround the homes of locals, providing shade from the sun along with a thousand other ways to use the coconuts growing at the top.

This orange coconut is very important for the Sri Lankan people, who refer to it as a “living pharmacy”.

Our taxi driver bought us a couple of coconuts from a street stall and while the seller hacked a hole with his machete knife the driver told us all the possible benefits this “natural energy drink” apparently had.

Sri Lankans use the King Coconut, also known as Thambili, in everything from cooking to Ayurvedic medicine.

It’s much sweeter (and tastier) than the green Young Coconut and the perfect thirst quencher, you can find it for sale on the streets everywhere.

Toddy & Arrack

Toddy is a light alcoholic drink (4%) made from fermented coconut palm sap, and is usually served in Toddy shacks around the country.

Every morning at dawn, toddy tappers climb onto the palm trees along the coastlines of Sri Lanka and harvest the palm sap from unopened coconut flowers - every tree can provide up to two liters of this stuff every day.

The sap ferments immediately into toddy and becomes mildly alcoholic.

You drink it like beer, but don’t expect it to taste like it – toddy definitely has an acquired taste – don’t believe anyone who says that it tastes like cider, it’s more like vinegar!

Arrack is one of the most traditional drinks in Sri Lanka which is distilled from toddy or palm syrup, and has a much higher percentage of alcohol (60 – 90%).

The golden colored drink is often regarded as the national drink of Sri Lanka, and tastes like something between Whisky and Rum.

Many people mix it with Sprite, ginger beer or Coke into a cocktail – you can get both these drinks from the local Toddy shacks.

Faluda

Faluda is like a liquid dessert – a sweet combination of milk and rose syrup with poppy seeds and jelly pieces.

It’s a muslim specialty, sometimes served with cashew nuts and ice cream – yum!

Elephant House Ginger Beer

Elephant House Ginger Beer is a popular Sri Lankan soft drink prepared with natural Ayurvedic ginger (one of the few to do this in the world) grown from local farmers in the hill-country.

The drink proclaims to have Ayurvedic properties, helping digestion and relieving drowsiness from a heavy meal.

It’s really tasty and is a perfect match with spicy foods.

What are your favorite drinks in Sri Lanka?

Delicious Must-Try Drinks in Sri Lanka - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

Well, what can I say other than that this year’s travel plans didn’t really turn out at all as planned.

Just a month ago I was expecting a whole different turn to the year, but as everything in life, things always change – so I guess we will see how close to these plans we actually end up.

However, one thing is definitely confirmed – this week we’re going to Sri Lanka!

With our 4 month trip coming to an end here in Germany, we were clueless of what to do and where to go next – after the idea of visiting Sri Lanka came up and we did some research, we decided that it was definitely the place where we would be heading next.

We’ll be preparing to fly to Sri Lanka as you read this post, and I can’t tell you how excited we are! We would love to hear some tips and advice from you of how you think we should spend our 21 days exploring Sri Lanka.

After that, we’ll be heading to Malaysia and good old Kuala Lumpur again, from there we will travel down the coast, pass by the quirky city Melaka and maybe check out Johor in the south.

We’ll then finally make a stop over in Singapore, a place which has kept eluding us during each and every of our Asia trips.

From what I understand one of the best things to do there is to eat & go shopping – which suits me perfectly!

After this our plans are still a bit fuzzy, but we will make our way up to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand where we will rest our feet and spend a couple of months working on some secret (!) projects we have going on.

We were considering doing exactly this last autumn, but decided to spend the winter skiing in Europe instead.

Now after spending 12 months traveling in Europe we’re longing back to Asia and knowing that Thailand accommodation is such great value for money – we hope that we can spend more money and focus on building our business than we would have been able to do in Europe.

We will of course not be able to stay away from traveling, and we have some really exciting travel plans in the coming months – so stay tuned! (hint: maybe another train trip like we did in Europe last year) …

I also promised Nathan long ago that we would spend his 30^th birthday in India, so I’ll really try to keep that promise and after Thailand travel up to Myanmar, Nepal & India by September.

After all, what better way to celebrate the end of your 20′s than in India, a perfect representation of how your 20′s were – up-side-down, crazy, and inside-out..!

We would love to get some tips for things to do and foods to try in these places, so if you have any – share them below!

Our Travel Plans For The Next 6 Months - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

I have no shame in admitting that I’m a hopeless romantic – I love romantic movies, music, restaurants, hotels – and most of all, romantic travel destinations.

But it’s not always the destination alone that makes it so romantic, but the whole concept: where you eat, sleep and what you do during your holiday is what makes it romantic.

Here are some romantic destinations and activities around the world…

Stargazing – Chile & New Zealand

No date is more romantic than one which includes a glass of wine, a bit of stargazing and some philosophizing about life.

There are many destinations which are famous for their clear skies and amazing opportunity to see an abundance of stars, both with or without telescopes.

If you want to splurge and spoil yourself and your partner, then Chile has the most romantic stargazing opportunity, where you stay in the Atacama desert in Hotel Elqui Domos.

Your room is specially designed as a geodesic dome with detachable roof, where you can gaze at one of the clearest skies in the world from the comfort of your own bed.

If you’re on a budget, lake Tekapo in New Zealand is a very romantic alternative – because of its low light pollution and high altitude, it has one of the clearest skies in the world.

Eat, Sleep & Live By The Water – Fiji

Imagine waking up to the sound of calm waves softly breaking against the stilts supporting your wooden bungalow.

A place where you can start the day by taking a quick morning dip into the water, only meters away from your doorstep.

No matter where you look, above or underneath the surface – you will find something extraordinary – from exotic fish to birdlife, white beaches to lush forest – this is Fiji in a nutshell.

Spend your days snorkeling together, dining & relaxing on the beach and sleeping in a bungalow on the water.

There is a reason why Bridezillas go crazy about this destination for their honeymoon – it is ridiculously romantic..!

Just make sure you visit when the Fiji weather is at its best, because during the off-season it can be pretty miserable on the islands in the South Pacific.

Wine Tasting & Chocolate– Lavaux, Switzerland

There is something romantic about this ancient drink alone, and if you add the romantic setting of colorful vineyards perched on hills above a milky turquoise lake and a platter of Swiss cheese – and you have a complete recipe for romance.

Vevey is the perfect base for exploring the vineyards on your own or with a tour.

Take the idyllic wine train from Vevey to the small villages Chexbres and Puidoux, walk among the vineyards and sample the wine in the quaint little wine cellars belonging to each vineyard, and take in the incredible views.

Vevey is also where the milk chocolate was invented, so if you’re more of a chocolate fan than cheese fanatic, then you can enjoy a glass of wine with chocolate fondue at many places in town.

Do you have any romantic trip ideas you have taken or dream of taking?

 (photo credits: 1 - 2 - 3)

3 Romantic Trip Ideas Around The World - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

Finally the cold winter weather is starting to subside in the northern hemisphere, giving space for spring to shake things up and give everyone a reason to celebrate!

March, April and May are months full of festivals and events all over the world, giving you an opportunity to experience the best of a country’s culture – or simply an excuse to party and go crazy.

Here are some awesome festivals around the world that will be happening in the next few weeks and are well worth traveling across the globe to experience…

Songkran – Thailand

Dates: April 13th -16th.

In Thailand it is time to celebrate the coming monsoon season, which will bring the rain many have been longing for.

They celebrate it with a festival called Songkran, where people head out to the streets with water guns to spray everyone who walks past.

If you walk on the streets where the festival is celebrated, prepare to get soaked! Get yourself a water gun from the nearest 7/11 and join in with the play fight – Songkran is also celebrated as the traditional New Year.

Naghol – Vanuatu

Dates: Every Saturday from April until May.

Every year villagers come together to celebrate the harvest of yams, an important staple in the people’s diet in Vanuatu – the festival is most famous for its “land diving ceremony”.

During the ceremony men and boys dive to the ground from high rickety wooden towers – with only two thin vines attached to their ankles..!

It gets worse, the divers’ heads have to lightly touch the ground when they jump – something which is very dangerous if the vines aren’t measured properly.

This celebration was really the first “bungee jump” invention, which inspired the New Zealander AJ Hacket to invent a safer and more modern version.

Whether you choose to try this crazy thing out, or opt for the safer option in nearby New Zealand, you would definitely need travel insurance..!

Cherry Blossom Viewing – Japan

The cherry blossom season has a huge importance to the people of Japan, who celebrate the days when the flowers finally blossom, and when they only a few days later fall to the ground, like pink snow flakes.

This is one of the most beautiful things to see, and in Japan literally everyone has picnics in the parks to view the flowers.

Dates: The cherry blossom season varies from year to year depending on the weather forecast, but this year most of the cherry blossom trees will be blooming during the end of March and early April.

Sinhalese New Year – Sri Lanka

Dates: 13th – 14th April.

This is a festival we didn’t actually know about until we realized that we would actually be traveling in Sri Lanka during this festival.

Just like in many other countries in South and South East Asia, this is the time when the Sinhalese celebrate the traditional New Year (the Tamil people celebrate the similar Tamil New Year during the same time), an ancient celebration which marks the end of the harvest season and is one of two times of the year when the sun is straight above Sri Lanka.

There is a lot of focus around food during this celebration, and families practice a variety of rituals in exact timings of which are determined by astrological calculations – from lighting the fire to making the milk rice to entering into the first business transaction and eating the first morsels.

It seems like it’s a very family oriented festival, but we’ll keep you updated and share more about it once we’ve been there and experienced it, and if you have been there during this time we’d love to get some tips!

What are your favorite spring festivals and events?

(photo credits: 1 - 2)

Fun Festivals Around The World In April - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

When it is time to choose a surfing destination, the mind often wanders to faraway lands, often in the distant southern hemisphere.

However, you don’t actually need to travel that far in Europe to enjoy great surfing conditions, not even in places that feel a world away from surfing.

Here are 3 of Ireland’s best surfing destinations, which, depending on where you live in Europe, could be just under an hour away by plane.

1 – Bundoran

The best surfing in Ireland can be found in and around the north western coast – after all, last year’s Eurosurf competition was held in the area, and for very good reasons.

Bundoran is the country’s prime surfing sport – at Bundoran’s beaches, waves are consistent, offshore wind conditions are excellent, and the swell height is almost always over a metre high.

The average sea temperature stands at 10°C, so you would need a full-body wetsuit to last more than a few minutes!

Bundoran is a laid-back town geared towards surfers, where those looking to take lessons can choose from a surf academy and a considerable number of schools offering everything from beginner lessons to improver weekend courses.

If you want to stay in Bundoran during your surfing trip you can reduce your accommodation expenses by taking advantage of the many surf lodges in town that offer discounted “surf and stay” packages.

2 – Easkey

Located in the north west of Ireland, the village of Easkey is blessed with some dramatic geological features, and is a stunning place to stop for any reason, but particularly popular for surfing in Ireland.

Easkey is also unique in that it has two reef breaks: Easkey Right and Easkey Left, just under a mile apart from each other.

The waves break over the rocks at both, providing surfers with a swift sea surf. Nonetheless, most people agree that Easkey Right is more challenging.

Easkey’s fully exposed beaches and continuous offshore winds create the perfect conditions for a demanding yet rewarding surfing practice.

Swell heights easily reach 2 metres (7 feet), and heights of 3 metres (10 feet) are not unusual.

The Irish Surfing Association recently chose Easkey as its permanent base, so if you happen to be in town, pop into their premises and check the many events they organise throughout the year, they also offer surfing instructor courses, typically during the spring months.

3 – Inishowen

Close to the border with Northern Ireland lies the peninsula of Inishowen. Since the peninsula is encircled by the Atlantic Ocean, the existence of appealing surfing spots is guaranteed.

Buncrana, the largest town in the peninsula, is home to a fully insured surfing school that makes the most of Inishowen’s superbly consistent waves.

Buncrana’s main beach is Lisfannon beach, a 3 mile-long stretch of sand which has blue flag status.

Twenty miles to the west of Buncrana you will find Culdaff beach, a favourite among surfers and other water sports lovers.

Here you can expect wave periods of up to 16 seconds, and an average swell height of 1,5 metres (5 feet) – these conditions make of Culdaff an ideal beach for beginners looking to go surfing in Ireland.

Before you decide on where to go surfing in Ireland, remember that having comprehensive insurance during your surfing adventure is as important as choosing a location – shop around for an insurance provider that guarantees medical cover, board damage and personal liability.

This article was written by Get Cover Travel Insurance - an experienced Irish based travel insurance company.

(photo credits: 1 -2)

Surfing in Ireland - Guide To The Best Spots - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

Eating out in Europe is always a slightly different experience depending on which country you visit, and while many things are similar to the US, Canada and the rest of the world, there are some important differences.

To make sure you don’t have a bad and confusing experience, and that you act with good etiquette when eating out in Germany, follow this guide…

Getting A Table

When you stop to eat at a restaurant, you will most likely be seating yourself – if you choose a table larger than you need, you may be joined by other diners.

This is not bad etiquette in Germany, and often there are a few long tables rather than many small ones, especially in beer gardens.

If this does happen, take the opportunity to meet new people – it could be a lot of fun.

Smoking and non-smoking sections exist at some restaurants, but most restaurants don’t have specific “non-smoking” sections and second-hand smoke is somewhat tolerated, so complaining about it won’t help much.

When looking for seating for your group, remember that some tables are reserved for specific regulars – these will likely have a “Stammtisch” sign in plain view – if there are no other tables, ask the waiter/waitress if it would be okay to sit there.

Complimentary Goodies

It is not customary to serve bread/rolls before a meal without charge, that is sometimes added to the bill as a separate “cover charge”.

Even water carries a charge at most restaurants in Germany. If you order water you will have to pay for it as any other drink, and you will never get tap water (asking for tap water is sometimes even seen as rude).

Germans generally don’t drink tap water even though it’s usually safe to do so.

Service is a bit slower than in the U.S., so you might be tempted to opt for the water and bread and rolls to hold you over until your first course arrives.

In many restaurants, even in fast food places like McDonalds, you will be asked to pay extra for ketchup and mayonnaise.

And, if you are at a familiar fast food venue, don’t expect the same taste or serving size you are accustomed to in the US.

The Tipping Custom

Tipping in Germany is totally different from the United States – first of all, Service and VAT are included in the menu price in restaurants, cafes, bars etc – however, it is customary to tip the waiter.

In Germany waiters and waitresses are normally paid more so the tip tends to be much smaller.

A rule of thumb is to add 5 to 10 percent of the bill, and it should be rounded up to the nearest Euro.

For example, if the waiter says “€7,50, you can hand him a 10 Euro note and say “9 Euros”, and will get €1 back in change.

You don’t leave the money and the tip on the table when leaving the restaurant, but it expected to pay when the waiter comes up to your table with the check and tells you the price.

When deciding how to tip for services at restaurants and night clubs in Germany, you should also consider how many people were served and how good the service was just as you do in the U.S.

Cash, Credit Card or Check?

In Germany, cash is king – checks are very rarely accepted and credit cards are not the norm. Germans use either cash or electronic cash cards (EC), so be prepared before visiting a store or restaurant.

If you don’t have cash, ask in advance if another form of payment will be accepted – it sometimes is.

It’s very common to split the bill (especially among younger people), and the waiter usually asks if you prefer to pay together (“Zusammen?” in German).

If you pay separate the waiter will tell you how much you pay each, and you round up your own bill just the same.

Table manners and restaurant etiquette are a little different everywhere you go, but embrace the differences and you will have more fun and make more friends when you venture out to a new world.

For information on Frankfurt & flights from the U.S. to Frankfurt, visit: http://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/promotions/new-york-flights.jsp

(photo credit: 1)

German Dining Etiquette - What You Need To Know - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

If you haven’t been to San Francisco yet, start by looking into discount hotels because you’ll find that the city on the bay is quite adept at emptying your wallet.

Then do whatever it takes to get there – whether that means by train, plane, ferry, car or air charter, you’re missing out on a special experience every moment you delay getting there!

San Francisco is a unique city well worth exploring, with a fascinating international flair to it.

Here are four reasons why this city is a must-visit…

The Neighborhoods.  

Very few American cities possess an identity based on the composite of their neighborhoods.

Much of America is inundated with strip malls, suburbia and sterile, commercial culture.  Cities like New York City, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans and of course San Francisco are leading examples of the depth and breadth that unique neighborhoods offer to a metropolis.

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia and the oldest in America.  North Beach in San Francisco has a European flair with its many cafes, street side trattorias, beatnik history and innocuous red light district.

Chinatown and North Beach sit right next to each other, so in a matter of blocks, you’re transported between two worlds.

The Food Culture.  

Most people outside of America think the quality of American food leaves a lot to be desired.

However, when your perspective is limited to McDonald’s (which are almost nonexistent in San Francisco), hot dogs and pizza, you’re unaware of true American culinary pleasures.

These iconic foods misrepresent America’s gastronomic talent.

In contrast, San Francisco features regional dishes where you’ll find magic at the end of a fork.

Eating here is done with sophistication and purpose.  San Franciscan chefs continually stretch the boundaries of their trade, creating decadent, original dishes you’ll find nowhere else.  If you ever eat poorly here, it’s likely your own fault.

San Francisco offers some amazingly delicious fresh seafood, any kind of Asian food you could ever imagine, fabulous Mexican and locally sourced, artisanal food products: milk, cheese, mushrooms, meat and many more.

The Street Culture.  

Much like bustling European cities, San Franciscans love to be on the streets – people greatly enjoy walking here, and why not?

With so many neat places to discover, tucked all over the city, the only way to uncover them is to get intimate with the city and walk.

The many bicyclists, street vendors, trolleys, cable cars, even the elderly Chinese men pushing around their hand trucks in Chinatown translate into an unmistakable lively and boisterous atmosphere on the street.

The streets have a pulse that ebbs and flows, which you not only feel, but that finds you becoming a part of.  As a result, San Francisco has some world class “people watching”.

Pull up a street side chair and a beer in the financial district to watch the locals, or go to North Beach and enjoy a cappuccino while life soothingly settles into a slow drip.

The Foreigners.  

A lot of people from around the globe call San Francisco home.  Sure you’ll undoubtedly see lots of foreign tourists in Fisherman’s Wharf and along the Embarcadero, but you’ll be surprised by how many you encounter off the beaten tourist path.

Whether it’s a French couple on BART (the local metro service), a Russian coed heading across the bay to Oakland, a lovely Italian woman that can barely speak English working in a bakery, or a Mexican mother doing her produce shopping, San Francisco’s diversity astounds.

Usually this kind of diversity owes to a city being a vital transportation hub.  The port of San Francisco deserves credit for attracting an impressive multicultural assortment.

Have you been to San Francisco – did you enjoy your visit?

(photo credits:  1 -  2 - 3 - 4)

San Francisco - A Cultural Immersion - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

The first time Nathan and I traveled around the world (back in 2008) we barely had enough money to survive for a few months.

Many people have asked us how we managed to keep our travel costs to such a bare minimum especially when traveling through countries like New Zealand.

One of our “secrets” was camping – we’re not big campers, in fact neither of us had ever gone camping before, and had no idea what we had signed up for.

Our camping adventure was a pretty crazy story in itself, but we’ll save that for another time (watch the video below to see what happened to our lovely tent :p)

The best thing about camping however, was not the money we saved, but the beautiful camp spots we found.

If you want to stay only meters from the beach and wake up watching the sunrise from your bed, you can stay either in exclusive five star hotels – or at a great camp site.

We thought we would share some amazing camp sites around the world, both for those on a budget as well as those who like to splurge (apparently this is called “glamping”).

Here are 5 awesome camp sites in the world…

Corcovado National Park – Costa Rica

According to National Geographic, this remote national park is “the most biologically intense place on Earth”, in other words it is home to a huge variety of wildlife.

Among the animals here are four monkey species, tiger herons, sloths, scarlet macaws, and pumas – the list is long.

There are camping sites at each of its entrances on the Osa Peninsula, which makes for an awesome base to explore the lagoons, waterfalls, empty beaches and of course the largest tropical primary lowland rainforest in the world.

4 Rivers Floating Lodge – Cambodia

Located on the Tatai River in Cambodia, this tent resort is probably as far away as you can get from the normal camping holiday.

You couldn’t be any closer to the waterfront, in fact, your hut is actually floating on the water.

These days being away from everything does not need to mean disconnecting from everything.

You can be one with nature when you’re out jungle trekking, kayaking and rafting, and then return to your floating tent and watch Tv or browse the internet.

Lido Vacanze – Italy

We all know that staying in Venice can be very expensive, and while you’re surrounded by water – you wouldn’t really want to take a refreshing dip in it.

The Camping Union Lido Vacanze is a great alternative to get a bit of both. It’s close to Venice and has its very own private beach that’s more than a kilometer long.

Being one of the largest camp sites in Europe, it also has nine bars and seven restaurant within the complex, if you just want to have a “night in” – just view the Zoover holiday reviews and you will be convinced.

Golden Bay – New Zealand

Golden Bay was one of our favorite camp sites in New Zealand, and definitely one of the most beautiful places in the country.

The sand really is golden, a beautiful contrast to the turquoise waters and native forest surrounding you.

It’s a popular area to go hiking in, and you can choose everything from a one-day hike to two full weeks exploring the bays, hidden beaches and unique forest – or do the whole route in a kayak, if you want.

Camp for free!

Another budget tip if you really want to keep your costs to a minimum is to check if there are any free camp sites in the country you’ll be visiting.

In Sweden, Norway and Finland you can camp pretty much anywhere for free.

In Netherlands there are certain places where you can camp for 72 hours for free – you can find camp sites in the Netherlands on Zoover, and there are also maps on Google where you’ll find the free ones.

Where is your favorite place to go camping?

(photo credits: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4  - 5)

4 Beautiful Camping Spots Around The World - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

Many people living outside of Britain hold a certain image to the country and its inhabitants. It would be incredibly dismissive to quash these visions as untrue for outside visitors – but they’re definitely all not true for all parts of the UK.

They say you should never meet your heroes as you will only be disappointed – the same should be said for places you love. The last thing you’d want is to go to England only to see that what everyone says isn’t true.

It would be cruel to ruin the dream, so here are the best places to go to experience the English stereotypes that you hold dear to your heart.

Now, all you need to explore the land of the Brits is a good camera, a car with European breakdown cover and a comfortable pair of shoes.

London

This is the capital for a reason – you’ll find thousands of traditional stereotypes living and breathing here. Visit the East End for cockney pubs and jellied eels, then travel to the centre for a completely different culture.

Seeing past the busy workers power-walking past on angry phone calls, it’s easy to experience the tradition seeped in England’s capital.

In Westminster you can visit the Houses of Parliament and have a peek down Downing Street – and from politics to royals you can visit Buckingham Palace.

And then there are the skyscrapers, big red buses, the London eye, China Town, the Thames, the West End, Hamleys and Harrods, along with so much more.

York

The best word to encapsulate York is ‘quaint’. With winding, cobbled streets, tea rooms and stone walls, this is a very typically English city.

It has old sweet shops and dusty second-hand book shops, as well as The Shambles – one of best preserved medieval streets in the world.

It is filled with tourist shops, tea shops, and aromas of fudge and chocolate.

Lake District

With breath-taking peaks, quaint countryside towns and Wordsworth’s grave, the Lakes gives postcards of England their pictures.

With around 15.5 million visitors per year, you won’t be the only one chasing traditional England…

Make sure to visit Keswick for traditional English pubs and cafes.

Scarborough

When people think of Britain, they think of fish and chips – whilst the food horizons of many Brits may have broadened, this is still the go-to Friday evening meal for many households across the country.

Scarborough, the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast, is the ideal place to visit for seaside traditions – as well as fish and chips, you’ll find arcades, donkey rides, candy-floss and a nice freezing cold, British sea.

Yorkshire Dales

The county of Yorkshire has strong stereotypes attached to it – and they can all be found in the popular holiday destination of the Yorkshire Dales.

Talkative strangers, farmers, lots of sheep and an abundance of pubs – any village in the Yorkshire Dales will make you feel at home in England.

What is your favorite stereotypical place in Britain?

(photo credits: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5)

Where To Find The Stereotypical Britain - As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog