It’s really good to have some other activities planned when travelling, especially when you’re visiting a resort that you don’t plan on leaving. When we go to Cuba, for example, it’s no big deal to pop into Havana for a day or book an excursion. Places like Mexico, on the other hand, can be more dangerous for tourists so we’re not always eager to go out and about.

Things to do at a Resort

When you’re visiting a resort, look for these activities to check out while you’re there. Some of them can be found at almost any resort hotel, while others might only apply to certain ones.

The best way to find out what’s available is to talk to the resort concierge, your travel agent, or even the front desk.

Free Shows

Every resort I’ve stayed in so far has had some kind of entertainment. Whether it’s a small concert put on by a local band or a play, there’s usually some kind of free entertainment to be watched. The most common type of free show you’re going to see is music, which can be a great way to absorb some local culture without leaving the resort.

Make sure you find out the schedule beforehand and see if there’s any reservations required.

Shopping

Most resorts have a few shopping options that you can check out without having to go out and about. This is great if you’re not familiar with the area, or just generally stay on resort.

Most of the time, resort shopping is designed for tourists and it’s going to be more expensive than local markets, so keep that in mind. Still, you can get a lot of neat souvenirs right in your resort gift shop and if you take out the cost of transportation, they’re probably not much more expensive.

Another cool thing that some resorts do is allow select locals to set up mini markets within the resort to sell handmade items.

Fancy Dinner

A lot of resorts have different tiers of restaurants. Usually the buffet is for everyone, but there’s often certain dining options that are reservation only for dinner. Some will have an extra cost, but most offer at least one dinner for free if you’re all inclusive.

Make sure you book your dinner reservation on the first day of your stay because they tend to fill up quickly.

Nightclub or Nightlife

A lot of modern resorts have nightclubs now, which is great for adults who want to party a bit while they’re away. If you’re at an all inclusive admission is usually included, and so are your drinks.

Some resorts also offer evening parties that are for all ages, so if you’re travelling with kids that’s a great option.

Classes or Lessons

There are so many of these it’s almost impossible to list all the options you might find. Most commonly, though, resorts will have: Yoga, dance lessons (including for couples), art classes, fitness classes, snorkeling, surfing, and stuff for the kids.

Some of these lessons are drop in, others you’ll need to pre register for. Most of the time, though, they’re included with your stay. Make sure you’re aware of the schedule and location of anything you want to attend.

Free Rentals

Most resorts have a bunch of equipment that guests can rent out, free of charge. Surfboards, kayaks, snorkeling gear, bikes, and sports equipment like balls or racquets.

A lot of people don’t realize what options are out there, so definitely check with your resort to see what’s available and what the process is for reserving equipment.

Make Some Friends

On our last trip we managed to suddenly become best friends after a night of drinking with meeting some fellow Canadians. There’s something about the relaxed environment of a resort that just makes it easier to start conversations with other people who are hanging around.

Since people visit resorts from all over, it’s also a fun way to meet people from different parts of the world without having to travel all over.

Check Out Unique Amenities

Every resort is different, but most offer something unique in each one. Some have wellness centers with a gym or even massages (sometimes one is included!). Others might have unique entertainment options like arcades or movie theatres.

Whether it’s big stuff like its own golf course or checking out their in house coffee shop, you’re likely to find something fun to do if you’ve booked the right resort.

Explore

Some of the most fun I’ve had on vacation is just walking around the resort. There’s usually so much to see and often secret areas that you never even knew were there. Make sure to scope out every restaurant on your adventure, too, just in case.

You probably will also find information about your local area or extra services you can book. Make sure you check those out early in your stay. Some things, like a massage or special meal, can happen right in your room!

Hopefully you’ll have fun trying out these things to do at a resort. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with lying on the beach for a week too! Get that relaxation in while you can.

The post Things to do at a Resort Besides the Pool or Beach appeared first on Travel and Adventure Life.

Honestly, they’re better than just watching something on Netflix and lamenting the fact that you haven’t left your couch in weeks. Well, maybe except to go to work. (Especially if you’re saving for a vacation.)

Travel Related Activities to do at Home Alone

These activities might be fun with a partner or friends, but they’re also just as fun to do solo.

Escape in a book

Don’t just read anything, though. Find something that can really let you explore a new place. Look for books with detailed settings in far away places, ideally somewhere exotic.

If you don’t want to read fiction, you can also check out an interesting history book about an area you’d love to explore.

Plan some travel outfits

What are you going to wear in Dubai? How about while walking the streets of Paris? Do some research about local fashion trends or try and find some interesting pieces that you’d love to add to your travel waradobe.

Even if you’re not super fashion focused you could also look for practical options. Find the best walking shoes out there, or price out a great light jacket that’s perfect for the plane.

Exotic dinner for one

Treat yourself! Order take out from one of your favourite exotic restaurants or check out one you haven’t tried before. You could even get courageous and sample a few things off the menu.

Another fun idea is to decide on a certain dish you want to try and look for a restaurant that will serve it. Or you could try cooking it at home!

Take a virtual tour

Whether it’s a museum, a walk, or something else, try looking online to satisfy your adventurous spirit. There’s so much to explore now, and most of it is in amazing detail.

So get comfy and spend the evening checking out spots you can’t visit in real life.

Revisit old memories

You can look at past travel photos on your computer and relive those memories for a fun travel related activity. If you went with someone (or a group), consider giving them a call so you can reminisce together.

If you’re feeling more creative, make a craft or do a DIY project with your pictures. Maybe now’s the time you finally get to hanging them up?

Play a video game

While it’s not the same thing, playing a video game that has a lot of exploration elements can help give you some of that excitement you get from travelling.

Something like Uncharted or Tomb Rader, for example, is all about exploring!

Drink on your patio

You know that feeling when you wake up in a hotel room without anything to worry about? Or those quiet evening where you can sit and enjoy a drink without a care in the world? Try and recreate those feelings.

Whether it’s your morning coffee or an evening drink, take it outside and enjoy just being there.

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They’re not only great date night ideas, but they can also be a fun way to tie yourself over until your next getaway. Whether you’re stuck at home because of some kind of pandemic, you can’t afford to travel, or it’s just not a good time – these activities can help you connect and enjoy your time together as a couple.

Travel Related Activities to do at Home for Couples

Travelling is something my partner and I do that we both enjoy. No matter what it is, every trip is an adventure. So when there’s a long time between vacations it can get pretty tedious. Here’s some ways we have fun together at home when we can’t travel.

Plan your next getaway

This one might seem counter intuitive but it can actually be a lot of fun. If you’re not sure where to go on your next trip now can be the perfect time to iron out all the details. That way you can start the next steps, like making a budget or booking hotels.

It’s also fun to take time and explore some fantasy vacation ideas. They might not be the next trip, but you can always jot down ideas for trips to take somewhere down the line.

Make it a themed night

The cornier the better! Take your spouse to Italy, complete with Italian music and “authentic” Italian cuisine. (OK fine, Olive Garden take out is OK too.) Pair it with a nice wine from the region and don’t forget dessert!

For a little extra something to do, find a movie set in that area. Or maybe you can even find one in the language of the area you’re ‘visiting’?

Read travel guides or magazines together

Sometimes it’s fun to go ‘sightseeing’ in some travel publications. Whether it’s your favourite magazine or a travel guide for somewhere you’d like to go, take the time to explore as if you were really there.

You can even go one step further and look up some of the places you hear about in your travel guide so you can ‘visit’ all the tourist attractions.

Use Googles Maps to explore

It’s not the same as being there but it does make a good stand in. Take a Google maps tour of a cool vacation spot or landmark. There’s so many cool places you can actually walk around in on there – right from home!

Here’s some ideas for places to explore!

Take a virtual museum trip

There might be some museums out there that you’ll never check out, or at least not for a long time. Instead of wishing you can go, check if your destination has a virtual tour. A lot of museums are adding these, or at least giving you part of the collection to view online.

The best part? You can hit up multiple museums on the same day and food and drinks are allowed while you view.

Learn a new language

Or at least a few phrases. This is really fun if you’re going some place where most people don’t speak English. Start practicing some basic phrases that you’ll need to get by.

Doing this as a couple is great because you can actually work on your conversation skills.

Watch a popular live performance

Do you have dreams of visiting Broadway? How about seeing someone special in concert? A lot of these popular stage shows have movie versions, or even a recording of the live perforamance.

Pretend you’re seeing the even of your lifetime right in your living room. Don’t forget to get dressed up and ready to ‘go out’ on your big date night!

Learn a new dance

No, I don’t mean the ones on Tick Tok. Even if they’re fun. I mean something like Salsa dancing! Use online dance lessons or YouTube and pick up some steps to popular couples’ dances.

It might feel like dance lessons in the resort, which is always fun, but even if it doesn’t at least you’ll have some new moves before your next vacation.

Listen to music (or make a playlist)

Whether you decide to listen to some regional music from a place you’d like to visit or work on your perfect collection of road trip jams, listening to music as a couple can be a really fun way to connect.

Another fun idea to incorporate travel and music into a date night is to learn folk songs from different parts of the world. Then sing them together!

Recreate your favourite travel food

This one always makes me think of Disneyland, but you can recreate any dish you’ve had together travelling. If you look online, you can usually find awesome copycat recipes for most popular dishes.

Homemade Dole Whip, anyone?

Hopefully you’ll be able to get some ideas out of these travel related activities to do at home for couples. And maybe, just maybe, they can hold you over until the next time you’re able to take a trip.

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Jobs you can do as a digital nomad

Personally, I would be a digital nomad if I didn’t have kids. But it’s definitely a plan for the future. At the very least I try to get as much travel as I can in and as a writer and web designer I have the flexibility to pack up and leave whenever I want. No boss to ask permission from.

A lot of people ask me how to get started working online. Whether you want the job because of travel or just so you can work at home with your kids, you need things with flexibility. Online teaching, for example, is great but you can’t do that from an airport bar.

What is a digital nomad?

Before I suggest some jobs you can do as a digital nomad I better explain what it is. A digital nomad is someone who travels around often for weeks, months, or even years at a time while still working. That might mean living and working in Thailand for 3 months or spending a year travelling around Europe working at various destinations.

Because the work is done online, digital nomads are able to work from anywhere without having to worry about specific work visas.

Here’s some jobs you can do as a digital nomad so you can travel and work:

Professional writer

This is definitely one of the most versatile jobs. You just need a laptop and you’re good to go. Depending on the type of writing you do you might not even need steady internet access, which is perfect for travel. Especially if you’re visiting places with less than optimal infrastructure.

A professional writer can come in many forms: you might write novels, or maybe you write articles for certain websites. Even technical writers might find the flexibility to become a digital nomad!

Blogger

This is a given, but it still has merit to talk about. Being a blogger doesn’t earn money overnight but with some steady work you definitely can make some money blogging. Depending on your lifestyle, blog’s success, and existing savings it could be more than enough to live the digital nomad lifestyle.

What’s better, blogging about being a digital nomad can make your adventures more fun!

Online tutor or professor (asynchronous)

If you have some kind of education and experience combination that could qualify you as an online tutor or teacher, there are ways to do this from anywhere. One would be getting a job at an online school or university that operates asynchronously. That means you don’t have to do live lectures and can grade assignments from a laptop anywhere in the world.

You’ll probably have to set up some office hours in the timezone of where your school is based, but these don’t have to be every day (at least in my experience taking online classes). You’ll also need phone access during that time and mostly regular internet access.

Virtual assistant

Virtual assistants perform all kinds of jobs from the comfort of their homes so it makes sense that you could do this job from anywhere. Popular tasks are uploading content to blogs, managing social media, and sending in dropship store orders.

Virtual assistants often find work on Facebook groups but you can also set up your own website/resume to sell yourself.

Dropshipper

Dropshipping is touted as a get rich quick option with low investment but that’s really not true. Still, if you already have a successful store or you know a thing or two about marketing it can be something that earns a good income from anywhere.

The great thing about dropshipping is there is minimal investment upfront and you products ship from the suppliers so no need to carry any inventory. Perfect for a digital nomad lifestyle.

Web or graphic designer

This is the other half to my professional writing that earns me a good living. My clients are already located all over the country so it really doesn’t matter where you are when it comes to creating digital content.

This isn’t an industry you can just jump into with no skills but it is something you can scale to a nomadic lifestyle if it’s something you’re skilled at.

Photographer jobs you can do as a digital nomad

Being a digital nomad and photographer can be interesting for sure. Photography is universal – no matter where you go you can probably line up some gigs. Especially once you get a decent portfolio going and some clout.

Another way photographers can become digital nomads is if they do travel photography. Either they can sell their own photos (licensed or prints) or do commissions for clients.

Digital marketing and SEO consulting

If you’re already experienced in either of these fields then you know that the work is all done online. Sometimes you can luck out with jobs and get something that allows remote work. Usually you’ll be tied to office hours, but not always.

You can also start a freelance business and take on marketing clients. That way you’re able to set your own schedule and work from anywhere in the world.

Influencer

When I was in Cuba recently I saw a young woman taking a series of photos and videos of herself in the ocean. She was working alone with a tripod and spent the better part of the morning trying to get some perfect shots. Make no mistake, being an influencer is work.

If you have a social media following you can use that to secure paid sponsorships and other deals with companies. They’ll pay you to promote their products and you can use that income to keep growing your following thanks to a digital nomad lifestlye.

Combine jobs you can do as a digital nomad

More than likely you’ll have to do a few of these, especially at first, to be able to quit your day job to travel the world. Many of them go hand in hand anyway and it is possible to grow a successful internet business even if you don’t have any formal education.

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What booking last minute travel is really like

As a full time blogger I don’t have to worry too much about when it comes to my work schedule. I can basically work anywhere, and let’s be honest… Travelling is work when you write about your trips!

Recently I managed to score a great last minute deal to Cuba. The flight departure time was less than a week from when I booked! Sure, it’s not quite as spontaneous as just picking up and going – but it was something I did without any prior planning.

My experience booking last minute travel

First of all you have to have a job with some flexibility. Freelancing, retirement, or any job where you’re your own boss are pretty safe bets to be able to sneak away on a sudden vacation. Some employers are great, others not so much. Be aware of your schedule before booking any trip!

Here’s the good (and bad) that I discovered from my last minute vacation.

No anticipation

A huge part of travelling is the anticipation. Having a trip on the horizon, even if it’s far into the future, makes people happier. Since I booked last minute, I only had a week to get excited for my trip. In fact, I didn’t start getting really excited until a couple days before departure.

Lots to do beforehand

In my case I had to scramble and clear up some work items on my plate before going. Besides that, there was also a bit of shopping that needed to be done. (You have to have a new bathing suit!) Not to mention packing.

Booking last minute travel was a good deal

This is one advantage of booking closer to the departure date: the prices were great. I booked with a travel agent because the rates were the same and she managed to get me a room upgrade at no extra cost, too. Turns out we had the last booking available on that flight!

Helps with that spontaneity itch

I love being spontaneous so booking a last minute vacation was an exciting spur of the moment thing. It’s not often you can just decide on a whim to go somewhere so you have to take advantage of those chances when they come up!

No time for research

Personally I like to research before I go on vacation. For this trip, I did limited research both into the resort and where we were going. Thankfully I had family who’d been before. Plus online reviews were super helpful in making my last minute resort decision!

Another thing I like to do when going to a foreign country is learn some of their language. Of course you can’t learn every language with limited free time, but you can at least brush up on some common phrases. I speak French fluently and can sort of understand Spanish, but I would have liked to brush up on it a bit more before going.

Booking last minute travel made me feel really fortunate

One thing that’s hard to value is how a trip makes someone feel. By being able to pack up and go I was reminded how much I love my job. And who doesn’t enjoy making their social media followers envious, even just a little bit? There’s something special about a last minute trip that differs from planned travel.

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Should You Check Your Suitcase

A lot of people opt to bring both a carry on bag and a suitcase. This is a good way to eliminate some of the problems on this list, but not everything. Plus you have to try and juggle two pieces of luggage throughout the airport!

We can’t solve your problem for you, but we can help you decided if you should check your suitcase or bring a carry on. Here’s some things to consider:

Are there any extra fees?

A lot of airlines are changing the way they do business. For some, only the carry on is free. Other airlines, especially discount ones, charge you for the carry on and the checked bag, and only allow a small personal item. Usually the price for a checked bag is steep so this can be a real part of your decision making.

Tip: check the airline’s checked bag policy and pricing. If you do opt to pay for a checked bag it’s usually cheaper to do it at booking or online than going to the check in counter.

Can you fit everything into your carry on?

Carry on bags are a lot smaller than the maximum sizes for checked luggage. If you’re planning a long trip then you might not be able to fit everything into a smaller suitcase. Pre-pack and make sure that everything you need fits inside your luggage before you make plans.

Tip: If you really want to just take carry on luggage you can stretch your space by packing some items in your personal item that fits under the seat (like a backpack) as well as wearing your bulkiest items on the flight.

Do you need to pack items that can’t go on a plane?

Certain things aren’t allowed in your carry on but are in your checked luggage. Most notably are larger bottles of liquids or gels. Everything from a souvenir bottle of wine to your favorite shampoo brand might have to be skipped if you don’t check a bag. Even travel sized liquids and gels are limited in quantity.

Tip: If you’re going somewhere that provides these items or you can easily buy them that might be an option too.

Should you check your suitcase if you have a connecting flight?

If you have a connecting flight, especially if it’s a close connection time, having to lug a small suitcase through the airport can be quite the plane. Especially if you’re travelling with kids or someone who needs extra help. Having your luggage forwarded to your destination makes these stops lighter.

Tip: If you want to keep your luggage with you during a connecting flight consider bringing a backpack rather than a small suitcase.

Will you need things during your travels?

If you’re travelling with young kids it makes sense to bring a carry on. Even if you’re already checking a bag! Make sure you have enough diapers and formula, and anything else you might need for your kids if you’re stuck on a plane or on a layover.

Tip: Pack your essentials in a carry on bag or at least a small backpack or purse. Don’t forget to include extra medication if you take it.

Do you want the hassle of bringing luggage through the airport?

Security is always worse with a carry on bag. You have to pull out liquids and gels and it’s one more thing to put through the scanner. While you’re waiting to board, you have to lug your carry on with you through the airport. Some people don’t mind, others find it annoying.

Tip: Pack all your liquids and gels on the top of your bag so they’re easier to pull out through security.

How quickly do you want to get off the plane?

Waiting for your checked bag to come out feels like forever. Especially if you’re in a hurry to get to your destination. Taking a carry on avoids this and makes getting of the plane (and on your way) way faster.

Tip: Some airlines gate check larger carry on bags. These sometimes can take a minute to arrive, but it’s still faster than checking a suitcase.

Is lost luggage a concern?

Although it’s rare, lost luggage does happen sometimes. Especially if your flight has multiple connections. If your luggage is essential, the safest way to make sure it arrives in one piece is to keep it with you.

Tip: Split your packing between a carry on and suitcase if it doesn’t all fit so you’re covered in an emergency.

Should you check yours suitcase with travel companions?

One more thing to consider here is your travelling companions. If you’re going with family or part of a tour group, other people might have checked luggage in your party. That means you’ll still be stuck waiting for their bags even if yours came off quick.

Tip: Coordinate with your party and see what everyone else is doing to help you make your decision.

Should you check your suitcase?

I’ve done it all; checked bag, carry on suitcase, and just a backpack. By far the checked bag was most convenient. The small suitcase was nice for shorter trips. And the backpack was pretty easy too.

I usually make my decision based on where I’m going, what I’m doing, and what the costs are to check or carry on a bag.

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