Betsy Guillory | MWCD Lakes

Water Sports

How to Choose the Right Kayak Roof Rack

Transporting kayak is among the biggest challenges faced by kayaking lovers. Well, we all wish we lived on the beach that way we will drag our kayaks in the water and start peddling. But this should not stop you from pursuing your hobby. Ask around, and people will tell you different stories of what they think the best kayak roof racks should be.

This article gives you some factors to consider which will lead you to the best kayak rooftop. First of all, I will not lie to you that the endeavor might be expensive and time-consuming. Well, it has been for me. To start with the rack roofs are costly. A quality roof rack will cost you about $600 to $800. First-time buyers might be forced to pay more. We all understand the excitement, anxiety, and worry that comes with kayaking.

The type of your car will determine the type of kayak roof you will buy. Your car will be carrying the kayak almost all the time. Below are some of the factors to consider when choosing a kayak rooftop in relation to the type of car.

What Is the Height of Your Car?

Can you reach the rooftop of the car without using a ladder? This remains a hassle for so many people. Other than height, some people are not strong enough to lift the kayak without dropping it and injuring themselves. For the best services, be very considerate about the height of your car and the weight of the kayak. If you cannot do it by yourself, kindly seek help. You will be lucky if you have a short car with flat tires. They make the best roofing to kayak racks.

How Many Kayaks Are You Going to Be Carrying?

This is another important factor of consideration. As already mentioned, cars with low flat roofs make the best kayak ferries. Vans irrespective of their heights carry more kayaks than minivans. After researching well, I have concluded that a kayak can carry a maximum of six kayaks on either side. You will be worrying about the number of kayaks you can ferry if the whole family is going peddling. But it will be the least of your worries if it is just you and your partner.

Roof Types

Make sure to consider the rooftop when determining the type of vehicle you will be using to transport the kayaks. The shapes and designs of car roofs matter a lot here. They will determine the number of kayaks you can carry. The best roofs are wide flat. This does not mean that other designs cannot carry them. Just that the mentioned are the best.…

Activities

Top Necessities to Bring When Camping

Whether you are a seasoned professional or you are merely a beginner at camping, you should know that you need to be prepared and carry your essentials. When talking about camping essentials and necessities, there are some things that you truly need to bring along with you.

In this article, we will let you know what you should bring on camping trips and what necessities are obligatory to take with you. Here are the top camping necessities and essentials:

Tents and Sleeping Equipment

When going camping, of course, you need a tent. Prepare a tent that fits your whole entourage. There is even a 12 person tent as well as there is a tent for a single person. You should also prepare stakes, poles, and tent footprint. You would also need to bring an extra canopy or tarp.

When sleeping is concerned, you also need to be equipped. Prepare a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad for every camper. You should also bring pillows and extra blankets. Also, don’t forget to take the repair kit for the tent, tarp, pads, and mattress.

Campsite Gear

There is also other campsite gear that you need to take with you so that your family can enjoy the campsite during the day and night. You should bring some chairs and tables, preferably portable ones that are foldable. Bring a tablecloth too. You should also carry flashlights or headlamps with extra batteries. Plus, don’t forget to bring lanterns as well as their batteries or fuel. And remember to bring some firewood because it is not really camping if there is no campfire.

Kitchen Apparatus

When talking about your daily consumption, you should also remember to pack enough food for the whole stay. Other than that, don’t forget to pack the stove, the fuel for the stove, pots, pans, knife, cooking spoon, spatula, corkscrew, food storage containers, bags, ice cooler, and trash bags. You should also bring bottles, mugs, cups, plates, bowls, spoons, forks, foil, a cutting board, and paper towels. For washing dishes, bring an extra bin, biodegradable soap, as well as a sponge, dishcloth, and dishtowel.

Personal Items

It is essential to pack your clothes wisely. Pack daytime clothes, swimsuits, sleepwear, rainwear, extra layers for warmth, gloves, hats, as well as shoes for hiking or walking, water shoes, and easy-on shoes.

You should also never forget to bring your personal items with you. Pack your sunscreen, insect repellant, prescription medications, first-aid kit, toiletries, toothbrush, and soap.

Others

Although some of the things mentioned here are not technically a necessity, they are quite significant to be prepared. In this day and age, you shouldn’t forget your camera. Also, bring your bikes and some toys for you or the little ones. If you are bringing your pets with you, bring pet food and supplies. Prepare campsite reservation confirmation and phone number, as well as maps and area information.…

Travel

Top Travel Gadgets

If you are thinking of visiting a new place, there are several essential gadgets that you may want to pack for you your journey.

A quality travel lock

Having a quality travel lock will save you the worry of forgetting your suitcase’s combination. There are some quality locks on the market that will not only secure your suitcase but also track it if is lost provided it is within Bluetooth proximity. Some of these locks can easily be enabled and disabled on the phone.

Waterproof camera

A good photo is worth a thousand words. What better way to have the memories of your trip than capturing them on a quality camera? If you are the adventurous type, a waterproof camera will get you covered as you won’t have to worry about it getting ruined if water gets in.

Battery case

If you are uncertain of the conditions of the place that you are visiting, it is good to carry with you additional power cases just in case there is no power. Having a backpack power is quite advantageous in that it ensures that you remain connected with the outer world by charging your phone.

Luggage Tracker

It is not uncommon for one to go on a journey and lose their luggage in the process. This might especially be a disturbing occurrence especially when you are in a new place. A luggage tracker will ensure that you are not you keep track of your luggage. Most of these use Bluetooth connectivity which is only effective for a short distance. However, they can trigger your phone to ring in case you are too far from your luggage. Again if you are separated from your luggage, they are wired to save the last known location and upload it to your phone.

Comfort headphones

These usually come in handy particularly when you are on a long journey. When selecting the best headphones to buy, get those that have the noise canceling property. This will ensure that you don’t get the external noise interference which ensures that you get to enjoy the optimal listening experience.

Water bottle

For those who understand the importance of remaining hydrated when adventuring, they will understand the need to having a water bottle on your trip. The beauty of a water bottle is that it will only occupy a small space. When choosing a water bottle, choose one that can retain heat.

Traveler’s blanket

If you are going on a long trip especially at night, you may want to pack a blanket to keep you warm at night as you sleep. This is especially important when visiting cold places or those that usually experience drastic changes in weather. A good warm blanket will ensure that you remain warm should the temperatures fall. It will also help keep annoying insects like mosquitoes and other bugs off your body.

The above are some of the many items that you may decide to have for your journey. The list is inexhaustible, but the ones listed above are meant to give you an idea of what you may need to pack when you go visiting or on an adventure.…

Holiday

How to Lighten Your Travel Baggage

Traveling comes at any time of the year depending on the best time which suits you or according to your schedule. At times you just need to take a break from daily routine to rest and regain energy. You can choose to travel to destinations within our country or just travel outside the country. It will be vital that you pick a destination of your choice putting in mind why you need a vacation.

If you don’t package your baggage well, you will end up spending a lot of money. This is because heavy luggage calls for more money before it is carried to the plane. However, you can avoid such incidences when you take time to pack your belongings. If you are worried about how to pack your baggage for your next trip, then this article is here for you. We give you guidelines on how you will pack your luggage to be light hence you will avoid extra charges.

Make a checklist

You may assume that a checklist is not important because you know what you will pack but this is not true. A packing checklist is very important, and you need to have it before you can start packing your baggage. Write down what you will need while you are away and do this regarding priority. You should, for instance, indicate the number of shirts you will need and ensure they don’t exceed the days you will spend on holiday. You can also consider packing fewer clothes and choose an option of washing them. This will help you avoid carrying many clothes. Cross the checklist as you lay the items on the side of your suitcase.

Stay neutral

You can consider carrying clothes with neutral shades. This means that you will consider carrying clothes whose colors can be complemented by several colors. For instance, a black pant can be worn with blazers of any color. This will help you carry fewer clothes hence allow for bulky items like shoes.

Roll it up

Folding clothes will fill your baggage space faster. For this reason, you should consider rolling your garments. You should fold your bulkiest clothes lay sweaters and pants and stack them at the corners of your bag. Then continue stacking other lighter items in the middle of the bag. This aspect will ensure your bag weight is well distributed.…

Facts to Know about Airbnb Services

Airbnb is an online platform that provides travelers with short-term hospitality services. Like most big things, Airbnb started in a small way, and it was started college students. Later, it soon skyrocket into a global marketplace. You can now have unforgettable vacations far from home and access various location without spending a fortune. Here are some little-known facts about this hospitality marketplace worth knowing.

Why people use Airbnb

The main reason why a vast number of people have embraced this idea the cost. On the other hand, those that have failed cite lack of awareness as their main reason for not using these services. Other reasons besides the price include uniqueness of the idea and experience of meeting people from different cultures. There are also some that do not like altogether for privacy and safety concerns.

How long people stay

The duration of stay is another important factor to consider when looking at this hospitality sharing platform. Statistics confirm that most Airbnb guests spend close to four nights in these rentals. On the other hand, it is equally rare to find an individual staying in a rental facility for one day. Not just that, close to 50% of travels that previously stayed in hotels now prefer Airbnb, with some of them moving in with family and friends.

Hosts are different

As much you might have some expectations of having a cheaper price and a splendid experience, not hosts are the same. As such, some hosts might be very hospitable whereas others might not be so good at it. Ideally, you are at the mercies of the personality of your host. As such, it is advisable to do due diligence on your part and avoid hosts that show signs of inflexibility or some curtness.

Are they cheaper than hotels?

For a fact, Airbnb is cheaper than living in a five-star hotel. As such, those that choose it end up making significant savings. In a way, this makes life easy for travelers operating on a tight budget. However, the amount of saving depends on the country you are in. On average, travelers can save close to $100 or more by choosing Airbnb.

Airbnb listings are not very detailed. As such, if you are looking for a place to stay, you should not be too casual either. As a tip, ask the host all the tough questions you might have about your experience, the condition of the apartment, network connection options, and any other concern you might have. Asking questions will take care of any surprises and also create an impression on the owner.

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Passport

Tips on how to renew your passport

Are you planning an international vacation or business tours? Well, one of the requirement need is a passport. It is then essential to check if the passport is still valid to avoid some misunderstanding on your traveling day. The process of reviewing if the passport has expired can only take a short time or even few seconds, but most of us we forget checking until it’s at the last minute.

Having your passport renewed will help you save thousands of cash that you could have used on your upcoming trip.

Tips to fasten the passport renewal process

Apply in person avoid the intermediaries

Doing the process on your own or by applying by the mail will make the process faster than using some intermediaries. Hiving intermediaries in the chain will cost you a lot because they will demand payment and also delay the feedback. Appearing in person in the agency will save time in some process most of the cases the photos in the expired passport are not transferred to the new one. In this occasion, you will be needed to be there for the pictures replacement.

Have the right passport Photos

Passport photos have their requirement for them to be verified and used in your passport. Having the right and required type will save time because you will not be asked to go back and bring others. Make sure when taking passport pictures you should not close your eyes, minimize the background colors its advised that the background should be white. You can save some time by taking the photos yourself or even move around and find the best post office, which can produce quality. Always remember to open your eyes and maintain neutral expressions.

Routine follow up

Keeping in mind that the agency is busy and deal with many people your application might lose or even misplaced. To avoid this, you have to be visiting and inquiring about the status of the passport. By doing this, you will able to notify them about the application, and if misplaced it will be easy traced than waiting till the moving day to ask for the passport it will not only cause inconvenience but also confusion. Also having a day-to-day visit will help if there was a mistake in the application you can quickly rectify.

Asking friends on the easy way

This is the best way and the most efficient way to trace the passport. Try and find out how the people you know who have just renewed his or her passport. A friend will help you have the right procedure that will help you have the same passport but with cheap way within a short period. For those who wise to renew their visas. Find out from people who you know and will give you the best information on how to go about. With all the above tips be assured that the process will be faster and in a cheap way.…

Choosing a travel destination

Deciding on where to go for your vacation can be a little challenging. There are many options to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. The destination that you pick will determine quite a lot, including how much fun you will have during your vacation. To help you make a good choice, you should consider the factors highlighted below.

Factors to consider when choosing a travel destination

Interests

You should have in mind what you intend to do for fun during your vacation. This will help to narrow down your options to only the destinations that can allow you to explore your interests. For example, destinations that have a beach should be your top options if you enjoy water activities. Remember to consider the interests of everyone else who will be joining you for the trip. You should choose a destination that offers you a wide variety of entertainment, to try to cater to the needs of everyone.

Finance

Going on vacation can be quite costly depending on the destination that you choose. There are destinations where the cost of living is too high compared to others. Such may not be a good choice for you if you are working on a tight budget. Consider only the places that you will enjoy your vacation in relation to the amount of money that you have budgeted for it. Distance from your home can also affect the cost when you consider the transportation costs.

Security

It is important that you consider your safety as you enjoy your vacation. This means that you should choose a destination that promises good security. Avoid going to destinations that have high crime rates, political instability, war, or any other indication of insecurity. This means that you have to research about the location before you make your final decision.

Culture

If you choose a destination where the locals have a different culture than what you are used to, you should consider the impact that it will have on you. Make sure that you will be comfortable staying with the locals and interacting with them. Language barrier should be among the things that you put into consideration.

Climate

The climate of the destination should be at best during the time of your travel. You do not want to miss the activities on your itinerary simply because it is rainy or too hot outside. Consider seasonal changes and check the weather forecast for the destination.…

Choosing a travel agent

Traveling requires a lot of preparations and arrangements to be made, to ensure that you enjoy a smooth experience. Handling everything on your own can be quite hectic and frustrating, especially if you are not used to doing it. You should consider hiring a travel agent to take care of all the travel arrangements on your behalf. Make sure that you choose the most suitable agent to cater for your needs in the best way possible. Below are a few factors to put into consideration, which may work as your guide when choosing the agent to hire.

Factors to consider

Experience

Choosing an experienced agent may prove to be very beneficial to you. After working for many years, it is likely that the travel agent knows all the tricks to get the best deals. For example, he may know the experience that his clients received in various hotels and use that information to book you the best accommodation based on your needs. He is also likely to have developed relations that can get you special offers. In case you get some hiccups during your travel, the agent will handle the situation more swiftly compared to a newbie.

Location

The office location of the travel agent should also be considered. It is wise to work with an agent located in your destination. The main reason is that he will have better knowledge of the attractions and local customs in the destination, compared to other agents. He can help you choose the best options that will ensure you get the best experience during your trip. He will also be available to you in person when you are on the trip, to take care of your needs such as transportation, entertainment, and such.

Cost

Consider the amount that you will have to pay the travel agent for the services that you will receive. Make sure that the amount charged is very reasonable and affordable to you. Remember to compare the fees against the services that you will receive as opposed to simply checking the amount charged.

Personality

Choose an agent who has a great personality. You do not wish to work with someone who you cannot even communicate with you well. He should show a lot of interest in your needs and spend some time to learn more about your traveling needs, budget, tastes, preferences, and limitations such as phobias or medical conditions.…

Author: Betsy Guillory