Adventure Travel
Preparing A Holiday With An Anxious Relative
As much as you love going on holiday and planning a trip to a region of the world that you don’t know, it can be a little frustrating to travel with relatives or friends who are naturally nervous about discovering new things. You know the kind: They won’t try exotic food in a restaurant, in case it wouldn’t agree with their stomach. They look at your travel pictures with envy but always find an excuse not to join you on your next adventure. And more importantly, they try to avoid travelling abroad if they can at all help it. Be kind before you launch into criticism. They can’t help feeling anxious about everything. And maybe, if you want to help them relax a little, it’s your responsibility to make travelling as easy and enjoyable as possible. However, you’re in luck, because we can help you with that. All it takes is a little bit of planning and thinking ahead to get them sorted.
Get informed at first
If your friend or relative doesn’t travel often, the best thing you want to do is to convince them to come on a trip with you that is poorly planned. First things first: It’s about defining when it the best time to visit your destination of choice. You wouldn’t want to accidentally pick the monsoon season when going to a tropical country, for instance. That’s exactly what this handy website is about : It helps you to find out when is the best time to visit where with monthly weather overview based on observations from the previous years. In short, if you’re travelling with someone who hates being cold, you can direct them towards countries that are warm in winter, for example. As silly as it might sound, knowing what kind of weather to expect can be a great help for a nervous adventurer: Knowing what to pack is already a step out of the unknown zone.
Get the health check
You can’t easily decide to travel to any country without planning. For health reasons, there is a number of regions in the world that require vaccinations to keep you safe. You’d better keep yourself informed of the health requirements in advance, as some vaccinations need to be started up to 2 months before your departure. The typical countries where you’d be expecting additional health vaccines tend to be around the south and south-east Asia. Hepatitis A and B is a common risk in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, and even the Fiji. In India, you need to be aware of risks of rabies and Japanese encephalitis in addition to more common vaccinations. You also need to ensure that you and your relative are up to date with routine immunisations such as tetanus and diphtheria. The bottom line is that even though there are little risks for cautious travellers, you don’t want to take any chance.
Do you need authorisation?
If your friend or relative has only travelled to safe and known areas, such as Europe for instance, they may not be aware that certain countries require visitors from abroad to apply for a visa, aka an official authorization to entry the country. If you intend to visit Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine, you will need to apply for a visa, which can take several weeks and require an official letter of recommendation from your destination hotel. Visiting South Africa, North America also require a visa, as well as some areas of Asia. Additionally, you need to ensure that you have free pages for control stamps in your passport. It might sound stressful at first, but it’s something that you can easily clarify in advance so that you don’t need to worry about it during your trip.
Protect your holiday
The main reason a lot of people feel anxious about travelling abroad is that they worry that anything might happen to them while they’re outside of the country. The fear of not knowing how to sort out common health and finances issues forces a lot of people to stay at home while they should be thinking about travel insurance instead. If your friend or relative is worried about falling ill on holiday or about losing valuable items abroad, you should take a look at standard travel policies to ensure that you can find an appropriate answer to their worries. From overseas travel insurance to snow sports insurance, you can find a lot of options to cover for most accidental situations smoothly and easily. More often than not, you can get an expert insurer to define the best-suited policy for your holiday. This will save you a lot of time searching as an insurer will be able to rely on the data of previous travellers to advise you.
Know how to spend the time
But I can’t travel to India: It’s a long flight, and I’ll get bored!
If that’s the kind of comments you get, you can reassure your friend or relative immediately: There are plenty of solutions that stop you from getting bored during your long journeys. Reading always is a good idea, especially if you’ve got a Kindle so that you can fill it with several books to keep yourself occupied while travelling. Some people might prefer audiobooks, however, if you’ve got a long flight, you’re likely to want to use earplugs and rest your senses. There are also plenty of online games that you can play with a smartphone, so it’s impossible to get bored!
Not one for tech gadgets? A simple crossword or sudoku book can do the trick and keep you busy until you’ve reached your destination. If you’re sitting aside, nothing is stopping you from playing a card game or a small board game. In short, getting bored is not a fatality!
Get a guidebook
How do you know about the best places and monuments to see when you’re visiting a new place? It’s obvious: You get a guidebook like every other traveller. Guidebooks might sound old-fashioned, but they are filled with useful information about an area, from where to stay to what to see. More importantly, you get a detailed breakdown of prices, which makes it a lot easier to plan your trip. As a traveller puts it, in a guidebook you find information that you didn’t know you needed, which helps you to prepare the best you can for your holiday. Besides, you can be sure that gathering knowledge about your destination will be handy to reassure your nervous co-traveller. Knowledge remains, after all, the best weapon against the unknown.
Do you need to know the language?
Most travellers would tell you that speaking English is enough to get by in any destination of the world. However; you need to be aware of one important fact: Just because English is the proxy language by definition, it doesn’t mean that everyone will understand you. A lot of people don’t speak English at all, and therefore you’ll need to be able to ask for directions or a cup of coffee in the local lingo. Why does it matter? You don’t need to be fluent to ask for things you need abroad, but you can be sure that locals are more likely to help and understand if you say it in their language. More often than not, you can get by with a simple phrasebook, from ordering food in a restaurant to finding the way to the art museum.
Prepare a visit plan
What if your friend would agree to go on a holiday but doesn’t know where to? You could inspire them with a list of the most wonderful sites to visit in the world. Stonehenge in England is a great destination for history lovers to enjoy the mysteries of the past. You can even organise walking among the famous stones on specific days! If you want to take their breath away with a fascinating historical site, try to Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. If you want to seduce a nature-lover, take them to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, which is the world’s largest mirror. Or you could visit the Great Blue Hole in Belize, which is 407 feet deep and can be easily seen from above – no need to dive, thankfully!
Decide on a budget in advance
Let’s be honest: Most people avoid travelling because they’re afraid of spending too much on the go. In reality, it all comes down to clever planning: If you know in advance where you’re going to stay and what’s around to see and visit, you can plan your budget accordingly. Of course, there will always be the unexpected expenses in the form of a cocktail night at the local bar, or a really cute jumper that you simply couldn’t live further without. But for all these, you can rely on a budget app such as Trail Wallet to keep track of your expenses throughout the day. In a few clicks, you can get an overview of how much you can afford and how much you’ve already paid.
In conclusion, the secret to turning a travel-anxious friend into a travel-happy holidaymaker is to share your planning secrets with them. Yes, travelling takes a lot of preps. But it means they can enjoy their trip with their mind at peace!
Adventure Travel
Are Passengers Still Joining the Mile High Club?
The allure of joining the mile high club has captured imaginations for decades. This cheeky rite of passage involves, shall we say, intimate activities aboard an airplane at 30,000 feet. Once a whispered-about thrill that seemed relatively accessible, today’s tightened airline security, cramped seating, and the watchful eyes of flight attendants have made this escapade much trickier to achieve. Still, it remains a fascinating (if not somewhat humorous) aspect of air travel culture.
A Brief History of the Mile High Club
The idea of joining the mile high club has been around for over a century, with its origins tracing back to daring aviation pioneers. Legend has it that the concept began in the early 1900s with pilots and adventurous passengers testing the limits of romance and altitude. The term “mile high club” itself became popularized in the mid-20th century as commercial flights grew in popularity, offering new opportunities for passengers to embrace this daring pursuit.
In the early days of aviation, joining the mile high club was relatively easy. Commercial planes were spacious, lavatories were roomy, and security was far less stringent. It was an adventurous and somewhat glamorous idea that fit perfectly into the romanticized image of air travel.
However, times have changed, and so has the feasibility of joining the mile high club on a commercial flight. Security protocols, cramped cabins, and vigilant flight crews have made it increasingly difficult for passengers to achieve this daring feat.
Why It’s More Difficult to Join the Mile High Club Today
For modern travelers, joining the mile high club has become far more complicated than in the carefree days of early aviation. Here are some key reasons why:
1. Tighter Security
The post-9/11 era introduced a new level of scrutiny on flights. Cabin crews are trained to spot any suspicious behavior, and loitering in the lavatory often raises red flags. The days of slipping away unnoticed are largely behind us.
2. Cramped Lavatories
Airplane lavatories have significantly decreased in size over the years. What used to be a somewhat accommodating space now barely fits one person comfortably, let alone two.
3. Heightened Awareness
With the rise of smartphones and social media, there’s little privacy on flights. Any unusual behavior is likely to be noticed (and potentially recorded) by fellow passengers.
Despite these challenges, the allure of joining the mile high club hasn’t entirely faded. It simply requires more creativity, discretion, and sometimes a higher budget.
The Risks of Joining the Mile High Club
While the idea of joining the mile high club might sound thrilling, the risks are significant and should not be underestimated. Here’s what could happen if you’re caught:
- Fines: In many countries, public indecency laws apply even on airplanes. In the United States, passengers caught in the act can face fines ranging from $500 to $10,000.
- Arrests: Some countries, such as the UAE, have strict decency laws that could result in arrest, imprisonment, or deportation.
- Flight Bans: Airlines may add offenders to their no-fly lists, barring them from future travel with that carrier.
- Embarrassment: Perhaps the most immediate consequence is the humiliation of being caught and escorted off the plane in front of other passengers.
Famous Mile High Club Incidents
Over the years, there have been some memorable (and infamous) incidents involving people attempting to join the mile high club:
- The Vegas Couple (2017): A pair traveling to Las Vegas made headlines when their mid-flight escapade ended with law enforcement waiting for them upon landing. Their story went viral thanks to amused passengers who documented the incident.
- Celebrity Stories: While no names are confirmed, numerous rumors circulate about A-list celebrities allegedly joining the mile high club on their private jets. Their access to private flights makes these tales both plausible and difficult to verify.
Is the Mile High Club Still a Thing?
Despite the challenges, joining the mile high club is far from extinct. These days, the club thrives mainly in private aviation circles. Wealthy individuals, celebrities, and private jet users enjoy the freedom and privacy that commercial flights simply cannot offer.
Some adventurous couples even charter “romantic flights” specifically designed to provide the privacy needed for this experience. These flights are marketed as luxury experiences, complete with champagne, plush seating, and ample time in the air to achieve their lofty goals.
Tips for Avoiding Mishaps
If you’re considering joining the mile high club, it’s important to understand the potential pitfalls and how to avoid them:
- Stick to Private Flights: If you can afford it, private jets offer the privacy needed to avoid unwanted attention or legal consequences.
- Avoid Commercial Lavatories: Flight attendants and passengers are highly aware of what goes on in those cramped spaces. Attempting anything there is risky.
- Be Discreet: For those daring enough to attempt it on a commercial flight, discretion is key. But remember, even the smallest slip-up could result in embarrassment or worse.
Movies That Made the Mile High Club Famous
The mystique of joining the mile high club has been a plot point in various films, cementing its place in popular culture. These moments, often blending humor, romance, and adventure, have helped keep the idea alive in the public imagination. Here’s a look at a few memorable films that brought this daring escapade to the silver screen:
“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)
Steven Spielberg’s crime caper, based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr., includes a cheeky nod to joining the mile high club. In a scene that epitomizes the charm and audacity of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Frank convinces a flight attendant to join him in the airplane lavatory. The sequence captures the glamour of 1960s aviation and the allure of the mile high club during a time when air travel was still a luxurious affair.
“View From the Top” (2003)
This romantic comedy starring Gwyneth Paltrow as an aspiring flight attendant features a light-hearted take on the concept of joining the mile high club. While not central to the plot, the film highlights the comedic and romantic possibilities of being at 30,000 feet. The movie’s playful tone and setting within the airline industry make it a natural fit for exploring such themes.
“Wedding Crashers” (2005)
In this iconic comedy, Vince Vaughn’s character unsuccessfully attempts to join the mile high club with his love interest, played by Isla Fisher. The humor comes from the sheer awkwardness of the situation, as Vaughn’s character struggles to balance romance with the tight confines of an airplane lavatory. The scene’s comedic exaggeration underscores how far some might go to attempt this daring feat.
“Up in the Air” (2009)
This George Clooney-led drama about frequent flyers and the corporate world subtly references joining the mile high club. While the film focuses more on the emotional isolation of constant travel, there’s a brief acknowledgment of the allure and occasional absurdity of romance in the skies.
“Snakes on a Plane” (2006)
While this cult classic is more about over-the-top action and deadly reptiles, it also includes a scene where two passengers attempt to join the mile high club before meeting an untimely end. The absurdity of the situation adds to the film’s campy charm and reinforces the unpredictability of attempting this daring act in the air.
“Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997)
The tongue-in-cheek humor of the Austin Powers series wouldn’t be complete without a wink at joining the mile high club. Austin’s flirtation with flight attendants and exaggerated romantic gestures bring a hilarious, over-the-top spin to the concept, fitting perfectly with the series’ playful tone.
“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
Martin Scorsese’s depiction of excess and indulgence in The Wolf of Wall Street includes a scene where Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his wife Naomi (Margot Robbie) make an audacious attempt to join the mile high club in their private jet. This scene captures the extravagance and recklessness of Belfort’s lifestyle while showcasing how private aviation offers a less risky environment for such adventures.
Why the Mile High Club Remains a Fascination
The enduring appeal of joining the mile high club lies in its combination of thrill, rebellion, and exclusivity. It represents a departure from everyday norms and the chance to be part of an unusual and storied tradition. Whether it’s whispered about or boldly attempted, the mile high club continues to capture imaginations across the globe.
So, are passengers still joining the mile high club? The short answer is yes, but the methods have evolved. With heightened security, reduced privacy, and increased awareness, commercial flights are no longer the carefree playground they once were. The club now thrives in the realm of private aviation and curated luxury experiences, keeping its mystique alive while remaining out of reach for many.
If the idea of joining the mile high club has crossed your mind, weigh the risks and rewards carefully. It’s a quirky piece of aviation lore that’s as much about fantasy as reality—and for most, it’s probably best left in the realm of daydreams.
Adventure Travel
Honest Review of New Jersey Island Beach State Park
Adventure Travel
Facing my Fears – Hot Air Ballooning in Costa Brava, Spain
I’m not a huge fan of heights & when I was given the chance to face my fears while hot air ballooning in Costa Brava, Spain, I was a little apprehensive.
“Everyone holding on tight?”
“Brace! Brace! Brace!”
Not really the words I wanted to be coming out of our hot air balloon pilot’s mouth as we descended toward earth.
Even though I have always wanted to go hot air ballooning, I have not pushed it. You see, while Adela is not a fan of being underground, I hate being above ground. High above ground that is.
I don’t do heights very well.
So how did I find myself on a crystal clear summer morning above the stunning Costa Brava coastline? Being told to “brace” as we descended towards a tiny clearing between trees and cornfields?
Applying for Residency in Spain
For those enchanted by Spain’s charm and considering a longer stay, understanding how to apply for residence in this country is essential. Spain offers various residency options tailored to different needs, whether you’re pursuing work, study, or simply embracing the lifestyle. The process typically involves securing the appropriate visa, registering with local authorities, and meeting specific requirements like proof of income or health insurance. With its rich culture, warm climate, and inviting communities, Spain remains an ideal destination for expatriates seeking a new adventure.
I want to give a huge thanks to our incredibly talented pilot from Globus Costa Brava for taking me on a ride that will be forever remembered. And of course the extremely wonderful team at Costa Brava Tourism Board for helping me face my fears by organizing the hot air ballooning in Costa Brava, Spain.
This is a post from a series called Facing my Fears. It helps us to step outside our comfort zone, in comfort. Check out the rest of the series here.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Costa Brava tourism board, but as always our fears, stories, and photos are all our own.
Do you have a fear of heights or another phobia? How did you face your fears?
Hot Air Ballooning in Costa Brava, Spain
Rising before dawn is usually not a problem for me. I love sunrises. Even being told we have an awesome travel adventure high up in the sky doesn’t faze me this early.
It is not until we are actually watching the balloons be filled with scorching flames that I begin to worry a little bit. How is a little bit of hot air meant to hold 10 full-grown adults up 1,000 meters in the sky? Not to mention 10 adults that have been gorging themselves silly on food and drink for the past week.
Climbing into what can only be described as a fruit basket for humans, I begin snapping away with my camera to avoid looking anyone else in the eyes in case they see my fear.
Pulling my eye from the viewfinder I quickly realise we have already drifted several hundred meters above the ground. I was so preoccupied that I didn’t even notice how gently we had taken off.
Maybe it has something to do with the sunrise peaking its blazing head above the Costa Brava skyline. Or the tight space we have managed to all squeeze ourselves into. Or maybe it is the extreme stillness and quiet between bursts of flame.
I realize it is not that bad up here. I am even breathing normally and able to look over the edge of the basket. Who knows? Maybe someday I will start a business with a hot air balloon and entertain tourists from all over the world.
Okay, maybe not such a good idea.
But I am able to gaze into the distance towards the Pyrenees and across the stunning Costa Brava landscape. Farmland and Medieval towns drift silently below our feet. People go about their daily lives without even realising we are drifting above them.
It is not until we are starting to descend that irrational fear begins to take hold again.
Our Spanish-speaking pilot is gesticulating to our guide and interrupter that we are all meant to be doing something important. They both give nervous laughs before falling silent again.
Okay now would be the perfect opportunity to have finally learnt a second language like I promised myself at the beginning of the year.
Turns out that since we basically have no steering ability we are at the winds mercy. And with the coastline rapidly approaching it is time to take this contraption down to earth.
“Brace! Brace! Brace!”
Eyeing up the only clear patch of earth within a mile, our pilot is all business. The trees and houses that looked like miniature toys just a moment ago suddenly loom large directly in front of us.
Instead of gently floating down in replication of our takeoff, we are drifting along quite quickly thanks to the wind picking up speed in the last 10 minutes.
My knuckles turn white as we brace our knees and back against the flimsy wicker basket.
And even though the command to brace is just a precaution, we still manage to bounce hard 3 times before settling down. A laugh escapes my lips as the tension eases from my muscles. And from the looks on the other’s faces, I am not the only one to be relieved we are back on solid earth again.
I had done it. I had conquered my fear.
And if I ever get the chance to go hot air ballooning ever again, then I would jump at the chance, check the ETIAS Spain program.
I want to give a huge thanks to our incredibly talented pilot from Globus Costa Brava for taking me on a ride that will be forever remembered. And of course the extremely wonderful team at Costa Brava Tourism Board for helping me face my fears by organizing the hot air ballooning in Costa Brava, Spain.
This is a post from a series called Facing my Fears. It helps us to step outside our comfort zone, in comfort. Check out the rest of the series here.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Costa Brava tourism board, but as always our fears, stories, and photos are all our own.
Do you have a fear of heights or another phobia? How did you face your fears?
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We think our blog is thought provoking and a little witty. But we have been proven wrong before. Find out more about us here...
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