Travel Stories: No-Plan New York

Travel Stories: No-Plan New York

New York City. Those three words elicit thoughts of skyscrapers, bustling cabs, art, culture and fashion. It makes complete sense that NYC makes most people’s travel wish list. I had my first experience in New York City during winter while in high school, and was fascinated by the bright lights and fast pace of the Big Apple. Flash forward several years - and there I was posed with the opportunity to spend five days in July exploring the city again with some of my best friends. There was one catch though.

Travel Stories: The Flamenco Hostel

Travel Stories: The Flamenco Hostel

I am currently living and working overseas, and after weeks of below freezing temperatures and full days of teaching, I decided that it was time for a break. So a few friends and I sat down to plan out a 10 day vacation from life here. We honestly chose our destination by the price of the plane tickets. We knew that would be our biggest expense. So we booked our $200 flight to Spain, packed our clothes in carry-ons, and were ready. There wasn't much planning involved in our trip. We knew we were landing in Madrid, staying the night there, and then thinking about traveling to Northern Spain, to a place called Asturias. 

Travel Stories: Sailing Adventure in Guadeloupe

Travel Stories: Sailing Adventure in Guadeloupe

Sailing on a catamaran in Guadeloupe was a wonderful and unique adventure! I have been on several similar trips in the Caribbean, but Guadeloupe is unique in that it is French and is actually an archipelago of 5 islands among the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. It is a 3 hour direct flight from Miami. If you are interested in discovering all of Guadeloupe, but not by renting a sailboat, you can travel to the out islands by 20-45 minute ferries.

Apps We Love

Apps We Love

Most will agree that technology, the Internet and social media have completely revolutionized daily life. It only makes sense that those things have translated over into the travel industry. Airplanes are beginning to offer WiFi. Tickets are being issued directly to your smartphone. Instagram photos or tweets allow us a glimpse into countries around the world. But even more so, companies and industries are creating apps that assist travellers before, during and after their expeditions. Here at Big Adventure Travel, we’ve chosen 4 of our favorite apps that help you travel smarter.

Destination Spotlight: Jinja, Uganda

Destination Spotlight: Jinja, Uganda

In 2015, I had the opportunity to spend a glorious few months exploring the country of Uganda. Located in eastern central Africa,  Uganda has been dubbed “the Pearl of Africa”, and rightly so. With always-green countrysides, miles of red clay, beautiful lakes, rich culture and inviting locals, Uganda is a hidden gem in Africa. With the best of both worlds in bustling city life and quiet towns, Uganda has many offerings for international travellers. If the busy streets of capital city Kampala aren’t your cup of tea, look no further than a retreat to the beautiful town of Jinja for both rest and adventure.