Inspiration Archives - Page 6 of 15

September 4, 2014 by jfalbelda

Creating a more spacious Home (when you return from your Travels)

Often it’s only when we arrive home from a holiday or a long trip overseas, that we realise how cluttered our living spaces have become. Modern homes are smaller than those built a generation ago but this doesn’t mean we place fewer demands on them. If anything, the fast, always-on pace of 21st century living puts greater demand than ever on our living space, and getting motivated – when you return from your travels – can open up rooms and surfaces, making even small homes feel light and spacious. Here are some tips and inspiration on how to make it all happen!

Less is More

Whisper it softly, but decluttering is still the best solution. You don’t have to throw all your precious items and heirlooms away, you just need to be picky about the ones on show and find alternative storage for the others. Displaying just one or two choice items, leaving plenty of open space around them, not only focuses attention on the items themselves, it creates a sense of space and openness.

Start by clearing out cupboards. If you have cabinets full of items you never use, you end up with nowhere to put the things you do use. Arm yourself with a few strong boxes and pack away anything that’s lurking in a cupboard that you haven’t touched for the last six months.

Be ruthless because you’re not going to actually throw anything away. You’re just creating a divide between what you use and what you don’t. Perform this exercise throughout the house, but pay particular attention to kitchen cupboards where machinery and gadgets can quickly take over.

Choose Your Exhibits

Having taken care of cupboards, turn your attention to items you keep on display. In order to stay on display, each item must meet two of the following criteria:

You love it
It’s useful
It complements your decor

If an item only meets one of the conditions, pack it away for now.

Having cleared out cupboards beforehand, you’ll have space to stow things you want close at hand but not on display (like craft or hobby equipment).

Take the same approach with furniture. If you have inherited pieces that you can’t bear to part with but which don’t fit into your home, putting them into storage gets them out of the way while keeping them safe. Dismantle larger pieces if possible by removing legs from tables, for instance, or separating the top and bottom halves of dressers. Wrap delicate items in old blankets to protect them from damage.

Practical Storage Solutions

There are a few different options for the furnishings or boxes you’ve packed:

Stack them in the loft or basement/cellar
Store them in the garage or shed
Rent a self storage unit

The final choice is an individual one, but for security and peace of mind it’s hard to beat self storage units. This is especially true if your items are precious or if they’ll suffer when stored in a damp or otherwise unfriendly environment. The convenience is hard to beat, with rental periods from just a week and no long term contracts, so you retain complete control over what and for how long you store things. The other advantage, of course, is that you’re not taking up space at home when the original idea was to create space. You’ll also find the sizes of rooms available are suitable for those with just a few boxes right up to those with a houseful of items to store. It’s definitely a solution worth investigating if this is a new idea to you.

Taking control and reclaiming your space is a liberating experience, especially when you’ve returned home after your travels. Whether your house is bijou or palatial, it can always be more spacious and more lovely when you maximise your storage options.

August 27, 2014 by jfalbelda

How to Save Money on Travelling

Saving money on Travel

Timely preparation is a crucial factor in saving money on travelling. Early preparations allow one to make a sufficient budget to cover their expenses during the travelling. It also allows the person travelling to look up places that are cheap in terms of accommodation and eating. Spending more time in fewer places is an efficient way to save on travel. It eliminates extra costs associated with transport fee and accommodation fee. Spending more time in few places also allows for the creation of relations with the locals. This comes in handy in obtaining information on what places to stay and dine at a reasonable price. According to GVK register business in BC, Another way to save on travel is proper timing. During holiday seasons and other peak times, transportation costs are always high due to the increased demand. Accommodation places are also very expensive at peak seasons also due to an increase in demand. To avoid incurring the extra cost, it is advisable to travel during off-peak seasons.

Travelling during the weekends is also a bit more costly than travelling during the weekday. A majority of the people gets free time to travel during the weekends, and they seize the opportunity and this increases the cost incurred on travel. Many nations offer a variety of transportation means. If a person is travelling at their leisure, there is no need to travel quickly. Therefore, one can avoid transportation means that are expensive (for example travel by air) and seek cheaper means (for example, use of roads and railways). Travelling publicly also helps save money, for example, use of buses and trains rather than using taxis will lower transport costs. Another major way to save on travel is to pack for all eventualities. The weather is very unpredictable, especially in countries where one is not accustomed to changes in climate. Packing for all eventualities prevents an individual from indulging in unplanned expenses, and this saves money.

Bonus Tip: Make sure to separate your travel fund and general funds. This will make it much easier for you to create and maintain a budget that you can actually manage. It will also help you decide what you want/don’t want to spend more funds on while on the road!

July 30, 2014 by jfalbelda

The Top Five Most Scenic Australian Road Trips

Australia is a country that lends itself extremely well to a road trip. Whether you have a day to kill or are ready for an epic month-long adventure, you’ll be bound to find some unforgettable scenery and exotic wildlife along the way. From painted deserts to tropical rainforests, Australia is nothing if not diverse. Soak in the sun and keep your eyes open for majestic views on the following famous journeys.

1. The Yarra Valley

Are you short on time but interested in getting out into the countryside? Australia’s wine industry has become world-famous for its delectable vintages. Try hopping in the car on a day trip to some of the top wine-producing regions, like the Yarra Valley. Suitable for a day trip from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a lush, pastoral region dotted with charming villages, rolling hills, and verdant vineyards. You can sample wine at the numerous cellar doors or focus your taste buds on the local produce.

2. Great Ocean Road

If a more leisurely journey down the coast is more your speed, don’t miss a drive down the iconic Great Ocean Road. This stretch of coastal highway hugs the southern curves of Victoria, with the panoramic ocean views broken up by dense eucalyptus forests and laid-back surfing towns. Stop and try your hand at surfing and gaze at the massive rock formations of the 12 Apostles, a highlight of any trip to Australia.

3. The Savannah Way

For those with plenty of time on their hands and a strong sense of adventure, the Savannah Way is an intriguing road trip through rugged, exciting territory. It spans over 3500 kilometres across the northern region of Australia, linking Broome in Western Australia with tropical Cairns in the north of Queensland. Along the way you’ll pass tropical savannahs, deserted mining towns, and an abundance of wildlife. Cap off your journey with a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, or visit a beautiful zoo in Sydney that your kids would love!

4. The Nullarbor

You can drive for hours in Australia without seeing a soul. Get out into the heart of Australia with a trip across the Nullarbor Plain, which links Perth and Adelaide. Dramatic rock formations and jagged cliffs provide a stunning backdrop for this road trip, which takes over a week to complete.

5. The Fleurieu Peninsula

Adelaide is nestled in close proximity to the Indian Ocean, with a warm climate and dazzling scenery. A particularly thrilling drive in this region is along the Fleurieu Peninsula, with its emerald cliffs and dark blue water.

Whether you choose to tackle the mountains or the vast stretches of the Outback, it’s important to prepare carefully for rugged terrain. Pack plenty of extra food and water and plan to dress in layers. Be sure to have your car serviced before you depart for more remote regions, and get new tyres if necessary. You can find details here about some popular tyre options for road trippers. It’s also worth checking in advance to find out where the fuel stops will be on your journey. On road trips like the Nullarbor, it may be hundreds of miles before you get another chance! With a bit of planning, you’ll be ready to sit back and really enjoy the ride.

Do you have any more suggestions for Australian road trips worth the drive? Share them in the comments below!

July 17, 2014 by jfalbelda

International Car Rental Tips That Will Save You Money and a Whole Lot of Stress!

When it comes to travelling, there is no such thing as being ‘over prepared’. Chances of running into frustrating problems are less likely if you have done all the necessary research.

Many people who travel for both work and pleasure often opt to rent a car while they are away instead of taking cabs or public transportation. While renting cars can be very useful depending on the situation, it can also very easily be a worrisome burden, causing you a ton of stress, and costing you a lot more money than you bargained for!

Here are some tips to make sure that your car rental does not cost you an arm and a leg and that you don’t come back from your trip feeling more stressed than when you left.

July 2, 2014 by jfalbelda

Top Things To Do in Atlantic City

As the heat begins to rise in the Big Apple and elsewhere throughout the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, thoughts of escaping the punishing heat of the inner city are beginning to percolate in the heads of many. If you are in this boat as well, perhaps you may have considered spending some time in Atlantic City this summer.

If you haven’t, shame on you! There are plenty of draws that this lively place has to offer anyone in desperate need of a break from the everyday stresses of the big city. The following five reasons will hopefully get you out of your funk, and into a car, train or plane bound for Atlantic City, the East Coast’s most entertaining destination.

1) Hit the beach

Fronted by a boardwalk that put this seaside city on the map back in the late 1800’s, the beach is an attraction that has been surpassed by the gambling institutions here, yet it remains a legitimate place to while away a day or two during your stay here.

The gentle slope and tame surf make this place an excellent place for families and young adults alike, as the lack of dangerous currents on most days are ideal for small children, yet when the swells are higher, inexperienced surfers can learn the ropes of this port without fear of getting seriously hurt (physically or ego-wise).

2) Tear a strip off the dance floor

When a long day of playing in the surf has evolved into night, hit the clubs in search of tunes spun by overly tanned and glammed-up DJ’s. One of the best places to get your groove on in Atlantic City is at The Pool, a nightclub located within Harrah’s casino resort. As the name implies, the club and dance floor is centred around a pool, with cabanas and VIP areas that often attract names like Kim Kardashian and Pauly D, who rose to fame spinning records at this establishment.

3) Shop until you run outta space in the trunk

Atlantic City is also known as a place where one can find an abundance of outlet stores, as common brand name consumer goods can be found at a discount to their normal retail price. Among all the outlets, its largest collection in one spot is the Tanger Outlet mall, where one can find over 100 stores offering the best in clothing, accessories, footwear and more!

4) Go lighthouse peeping

Not all attractions in Atlantic City are centred around modernity, as those seeking out a piece of marine history will want to check out Absecon lighthouse, located within Atlantic City. It ranks as the tallest light in New Jersey, and the third tallest in the United States. Dating back over 150 years, it is a sight that any history buff should take in while exploring the seacoast of New Jersey’s most popular destination!

5) Hit the jackpot … right from the comfort of your pillow top bed

While the floors of Atlantic City’s casinos can be filled with excitement, anticipation, and jubilation, this intense environment may not be for everyone, especially if you are claustrophobic or are heavily introverted. This doesn’t mean you can’t join in the fun though: recently, New Jersey legalized internet gambling within state boundaries, opening up games such as caesars online slots to both state residents and visitors as well.

So hit the jackpot while you are in the quiet confines of your hotel cocoon, having had the Atlantic City experience, and having done it your way!