how to travel

Preparing for World Travel

As someone who has visited six continents, I get asked all the time about travel preparation. People are interested in how to go about getting visas for different countries, how to check the safety of a destination, what vaccinations to get, and what sort of travel insurance they should get.

There’s certainly no “one-way” of doing things and many travelers might have differing opinions, but if you’re going to be leaving your country, you should at least have some general knowledge of various travel preparations and decide what you want to do and how you will prepare. [Read more…] about Preparing for World Travel

Exotic Arizona & Turning Any Trip Into a Lifelong Memory

by Matt Leave a Comment

things to do in arizona — Enjoying the views of Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

A few weeks ago, we got invited to Phoenix to meet up with a public relations company that manages various brands. We were excited to learn more about the company we had been working with and discuss various ideas for marketing in the age of video and social media. We had also never been to Phoenix and we’re excited to see the city that so many people visit each and every year.

However, Phoenix itself wasn’t a dream trip for us. Sure, we were excited to meet the people we had previously only knew through email and yes, Phoenix is a pretty cool city, but it wasn’t a trip we would have made if not for the meeting we had been invited to.

But, whenever we do anything, I always try to maximize the experience and turn it into something amazing. In this case, we didn’t have a lot of time because we had to come back and shoot some winter videos for our Must Do Canada YouTube channel. We were also on our way home from both Cuba and Mexico and we’re kind of excited to return home for a change. Despite the lack of time, we still had four additional nights we could make use of, so I began looking at the map. Google Maps in this case.

Grand Canyon in the Winter — Witnessing the beauty of the Grand Canyon in January

The first iconic park that came to mind was the Grand Canyon. Karla and I had visited the Grand Canyon many years ago during the summer but we had never seen it in the winter. As a photographer, being able to see the Grand Canyon surrounded by snow seemed like a magical experience. Located just five hours north of Phoenix, the Grand Canyon became our main point of interest. I then continued looking at areas around it and remembered a place called Antelope Canyon, which just so happened to be two hours from the east side of the Grand Canyon. Antelope Canyon is another incredible work of mother nature that I’ve been wanting to visit ever since I saw a photo in a Las Vegas art gallery. Check, Antelope Canyon added to the list. Then, all this red rock scenery got me thinking about another place called Monument Valley. This is another area I’ve always wanted to visit and its only 2-hours from Antelope Canyon! Check again!

Dream Trip Grand Canyon — Standing next to the edge, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Our trip was planned. After three days in Phoenix, we would travel to the Grand Canyon for one night, Page for one night (Antelope Canyon), and Monument Valley for a night, before returning to Phoenix for one last night before flying back to Canada. I especially love road trips, so we rented a small car (just $25 per day, including all taxes), booked our accommodation, and prepared for what we knew would be an incredible adventure. [Read more…] about Exotic Arizona & Turning Any Trip Into a Lifelong Memory

How To Travel Cheap And Live Like A Local In France (or Anywhere For That Matter)

by Matt Leave a Comment

One of the things I hear all the time about traveling is that it’s become far too touristic. With flights getting cheaper every day and the world become much safer, people are traveling more than ever. Then there’s the internet, which has opened so many different opportunities for travel, whether it’s staying at a locals house or renting a mansion in France. This can be good and bad. It’s good because more people get to expand their universe and experience another culture, which usually enhances one’s life. The bad thing is that places become too crowded and suddenly lose their appeal. In fact, there are many positives and negatives, far too much to go over in this single article.

Some places are obviously more crowded than others and one of the countries I hear so much about is France. However, when most people say that “France” is too touristic, they’re often talking about Paris, which is only one city in France. At the same time, if you talk to an avid traveler, they’ll likely tell you that even in Paris, if one leaves the touristic area, you can experience the “real Paris” without hordes of tourists. You just need to be willing to explore on your own, to ditch the common path, and to possibly just get lost for half a day.

This is one of the inspirations for me writing this article. I wanted to demonstrate that even in Paris or France in general, it’s possible to explore the country off the beaten path and/or to experience it on the cheap by embracing local traits. In fact, even though technology has brought more tourism, it can also help you live more like a local, such as helping you find a charming apartment to rent instead of a hotel. [Read more…] about How To Travel Cheap And Live Like A Local In France (or Anywhere For That Matter)

How to Couchsurf Around the World

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Why Couchsurfing is a Great Way to Travel

Couchsurfing is one of my favorite types of accommodation when traveling. It’s a community of like-minded travellers who are willing to let you crash at their place for free. While the name certainly implies that you’ll be sleeping on a couch, this isn’t always the case. When searching for a place to sleep, you can read profiles and search for people who have private rooms available rather than a couch, which comes in handy for couples and families. I have found couchsurfing to be the best way to meet friendly locals. Think about it – they are letting you stay with them for free! You can view their profile and see if you both share similar interests and if other people found them welcoming. Couchsurfing is much more work than Airbnb, hostels or hotels because you need to sift through your potential hosts, read their profiles and send messages to each and every one of them, waiting for a reply as to whether they can host you or not. You can’t just book it like you can with the other options. Also, couchsurfing is not the best option if you only plan on staying one night or have no interest in the host themselves. Hosts generally expect that you spend a little bit of time with them. After all, you’re staying in their house! Couchsurfing is built as a community so if you’re looking to actually meet and hang out with the hosts, this option is for you!

Best Websites for Couchsurfing:

Flight of the Butterflies | Experiencing the Longest Known Insect Migration on Earth

by Matt Leave a Comment

(Note: Visiting the Monarch butterfly sanctuaries of Mexico was one of my 100 things to do before the age of 31 list. Ever since I learned about it, I wanted to make it happen. I’ve since been twice and have also completed all 100 things from “the list”. Want to see the list? click here.)

Deep in the forests of central Mexico’s mountains, a natural phenomenon takes place each and every winter. The forests become absolutely smothered in colourful monarch butterflies that have migrated all the way from Canada.

how to travel

Preparing for World Travel

Exotic Arizona & Turning Any Trip Into a Lifelong Memory

How To Travel Cheap And Live Like A Local In France (or Anywhere For That Matter)

How to Couchsurf Around the World

Why Couchsurfing is a Great Way to Travel

Best Websites for Couchsurfing:

Flight of the Butterflies | Experiencing the Longest Known Insect Migration on Earth

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