Category: FAQs

Working from home has become increasingly popular in recent years, but people may wonder what the benefits are of paying to use a shared co-working space. Co-working spaces may be appealing to younger people who are looking to network, but is it worth the extra expense?

Instead of paying to use a shared co-working space, people can simply create their own workstation back at their apartment, hotel, or wherever they may be staying long-term. This way, they can avoid lugging a laptop to and from a co-working space each day, and they can have the privacy that they may not have in a public place.

One advantage of using a co-working space is that it provides an environment that fosters collaboration and creativity. It can be easier to come up with new ideas in a shared space with different people who have different jobs than in a home office. Furthermore, it can be easier to network with like-minded people and make professional connections.

Another benefit of using a co-working space is that it can serve as a place to get away from the distractions of home. Without the distractions of family and home life, people can focus better and be more productive. In addition, there may be amenities such as coffee, snacks, or even a gym, that are not available in a home office. This can help make a shared workspace more appealing.

Finally, a co-working space can offer a sense of community that can be beneficial to people who work alone. Working in a shared space can help create a feeling of camaraderie, which can help increase motivation and prevent feelings of isolation.

In the end, whether or not to use a co-working space depends on an individual’s needs and preferences. People who are looking for a place to collaborate, network, and focus away from home may find a co-working space to be beneficial. However, for those who are happy with their home office and want to save money, there is no need to pay for a shared workspace.

I first heard about the concept of a “15-minute city” while here in Bogota. It’s a concept I look for in every city I visit. A 15-minute city is essentially a city where you can walk to any everyday necessity – like a gym, supermarket, shopping mall, restaurant, nightlife spot – in 15-20 minutes. Bangkok, NYC, and London are some of the best examples of this concept.

But what about other cities that are walkable and still affordable to live? Montreal, Canada is one of the best cities in North America to experience a 15-minute city. Laureles in Medellin, Colombia is another great option. Mexico City has many neighborhoods like this, although it has become more expensive. Las Palmas in Gran Canaria is a great 15-minute city, as is Thessaloniki in Greece, Nice in France, Budapest, Split, Hanoi, Da Nang, Montevideo, and Yerevan in Armenia.

The best part about living in a 15-minute city is that you don’t have to spend time in traffic or waiting for public transportation. You can walk to the places you need to go and get there quickly. Plus, these cities are often much more affordable than their western counterparts, making them perfect for travelers who want to experience a different culture without breaking the bank.

Living in Europe is often a dream for many people around the world. But what does it really cost to live in Europe comfortably? I recently stumbled across a post talking about the cost of living in an expensive city in Germany, and I was surprised to learn that 1.5k€ was enough to live comfortably. I was even more surprised when I compared it to the cost of living in the US outside of Boston, where I am currently struggling to get by on much more than that. I wanted to dig a little deeper and see what kind of breakdown I could come up with for the cost of living in Europe.

Rent prices in Europe will vary depending on the city you choose, but you can usually find a comfortable place for about 1k€ per month. For food, I would budget around 150-200€ per month, depending on what type of food you prefer. Transportation can be a bit tricky if you don’t have a car, but most cities have good public transportation systems. You can usually get by on about 100€ per month for transportation. For activities, you can usually find something to do for around 50€ per month.

So, where can you live comfortably in Europe on a budget of 1.5k€? Pretty much anywhere, but some of the best cities include Belgrade or Novi Sad in Serbia, Valencia in Spain, and Bucharest in Romania. In Croatia, you can find great cities like Zadar, Šibenik, and Split. And if you’re looking for somewhere slightly more expensive, you can always try Dubrovnik.

Living in Europe doesn’t have to break the bank. With careful budgeting and an eye for the best deals, you can find a comfortable place to live in Europe for around 1.5k€ per month. With that amount of money, you can rent a place, buy food, get around, and still have enough left over for a few activities. So if you’ve ever dreamed of living in Europe, now is the time to make it happen!

Flying when you have a nasty ear infection can be a risky business. I’m 18 and was planning to fly tomorrow, but I’m on antibiotics for the infection and the flight is 12.5 hours. My enthusiasm for the trip is tempered by the knowledge that I could be putting my ears in jeopardy.

I can sympathize, as I recently had a similar experience. I had a mild sinus infection that led to fluid build up in my ear and I flew from the US to India with a layover in Europe. As we started to descend on the second leg of the flight, I felt a terrible pressure in my ears. I tried to clear them like someone had suggested, but it only made the pain worse. It felt like my eardrums were going to burst and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. The pain didn’t stop until the plane touched down. After that, I was left with a month of not being able to hear out of one ear.

The experience taught me the importance of getting checked out by a doctor before flying if there is fluid present in your ear and you aren’t fit to fly. I saw a doctor in India that prescribed me an anti-inflammatory medication. It helped a bit, but the pain didn’t go away until a few weeks later.

My advice to you is to get a doctor’s note that you can file with travel insurance before you fly. If you don’t feel comfortable flying, it’s probably a good idea to postpone the trip until the infection is gone. No matter how enthusiastic you are, your ears and health should always come first.

Traveling with a pet can be a stressful experience. Whether it’s because your furry friend is flying in the cargo hold or because you’re worried about them during their journey, it’s understandable to be concerned. To ease your mind and ensure your pet’s safety, I have an idea.

If you’re traveling with a pet that has to go in cargo, attach a sealed note to the outside of their cage with your phone number that says if anyone reads it and sends you a picture of your pet, you’ll Venmo or PayPal them a few dollars. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind, and I bet a few baggage handlers would be willing to do it for the reward. To maximize the chances of the picture reaching you, it’s a good idea to list both a domestic phone number and a Whatsapp number for international travels.

For an extra layer of protection, pet owners can now use Apple Air Tags to have transparency on their pet’s whereabouts during the manifest cargo travel process. I’ve even seen someone create a graphic to attach to their dog’s travel kennel, illustrating that their pet is deaf and using sign language to show it.

The airline staff that handle live animals during manifest cargo are generally very careful and considerate. Plus, there are plenty of people out there who would be willing to send the picture for free. I saw a crate being loaded in Amsterdam last week and the staff were so gentle with it. I work in an airport, so I know first hand how much people care about the animals.

If you’re planning to travel with a pet, this could be a great way to give yourself some peace of mind without breaking the bank. Just remember to attach your phone numbers so you can receive the picture, and you’re all set.

Ten years ago, finding a good review of a country you wanted to visit was much easier than it is today. Instead of thoughtful and well planned expositions, you can now find an overwhelming amount of complete trash. Videos full of stock images or people doing boring activities are common, and it’s nearly impossible to sift through it all to find a reliable review.

I might sound like an old person, but the sheer amount of poor quality travel reviews is astounding. People argue that you can just not watch these videos, but that doesn’t change the fact that these people have monopolized the market with their inane content.

When I’m looking for a good review, I often end up watching Rick Steves videos. They’re reliable, informed, and generally not obnoxious. But if you’re looking for something a bit different, then I recommend checking out Wolters World, a YouTube channel and travel blog run by Mark Wolters.

What sets Wolters World apart from other travel bloggers is that he films on location and provides really great travel tips. He already has a job as a marketing professor, so his YouTube channel and blog are just a side gig for him and his family. He also has a channel dedicated to family travel.

I don’t look at these travel YouTube channels as travel guides. They’re mostly just trip reports of what the YouTuber did when they were there. If you’re looking for reliable information, it’s better to consult specialized travel guides or even ask people who have recently been to the places you’re interested in.

Are you planning a vacation and concerned there may be an issue with your booking? Many hotels and booking sites require you to enter the actual age of any children staying with you, and they may charge a fee according to that age. To ensure the details of your booking are accurate, it is important to double check the details.

When booking a hotel room, you may want to check both the hotel’s website and a booking site such as Expedia, as prices may differ. For example, if you are booking a room for a week for two adults and one 13 year old, Expedia may say “child 0-17 years old” but when you select a child you then have to enter the actual age in the dropdown. The hotel website will also allow you to add a child and select their age from the dropdown. When you compare the prices of the hotel website and Expedia, you may find the total pricing is the same.

If you are unsure whether the child’s age will affect your booking, it is best to be prepared. Print out and bring all the details from Expedia and Expedia alone. If the hotel verifies the age of the child, be prepared to calmly show that the booking states the child is aged 0-17. Don’t be the one to bring up any discrepancies, but be prepared to politely push back if the hotel brings up any issues.

Bringing food on board a flight is allowed, especially if it’s a 6 or so hour flight and the complimentary snacks don’t quite fill you up. If you choose to bring food with you, consider packing something that isn’t too pungent to not bother those around you. As someone with food allergies, I’ve always packed my own meals and snacks for flights and I don’t see it as rude at all, just necessary.

Most airlines on a flight that long will offer food for purchase onboard, and even if not, they could have brought something or picked something up in the airport to bring along if they’d wanted to have a meal on the plane. It’s important to remember that you’re taking care of yourself and that it would be rude to eat a full meal in front of others who may not have brought any food with them. However, it’s not rude to bring food on board a plane – just be thoughtful about smells.

My suggestion is to pack an insulated bento box with some hearty snacks like onigiri, grapes, cut up veggies and dip, crackers and string cheese. This way, you’re getting the nourishment you need without being too intrusive to those around you.

My Europe vacation plans were in full swing when I posted today, but I quickly realized I had no chance of making it happen. I was shocked to find that flights for a family of three were coming in at nearly $10,000, and that was before we even got to the hotel or other expenses. That’s when I realized I had been too late to book and that Europe trips during the summer season were going to be much more expensive.

I started to look into other options and found out that if I wanted to make the trip happen, I was going to have to book my flights 10 months in advance. It makes sense when you think about it, because summer is the busiest time for travel and if you have specific dates in mind, your chances of finding affordable flights are slim.

I tried to book a trip to Croatia out of Denver, but I had no luck. I’m sure it would have been a wonderful experience, but I was only able to find flights for under $1500 if I was willing to be flexible and book 10 months in advance. Even then, I would still have to worry about finding a hotel and other expenses.

At this point, I’m not sure what I’m going to do for a summer vacation. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year to plan better. I’m definitely going to start my search 10 months in advance and be willing to be flexible with my dates. I’m also going to look into domestic trips and consider going in April and September to avoid the summer rush and high prices.

I used to be incredibly shy, so I completely understand the hesitation to jump into conversation with strangers while traveling. It can be intimidating, but the truth is, there’s nothing wrong with being alone. I used to think that solo travel meant having to find new friends and connections in every city, but I’ve since learned that there’s so much value in enjoying the solitude of a new place.

When I travel solo, I don’t have to worry about making a thousand friends or feeling out of place if I’m eating alone. Instead, I can focus on my own needs, take the time to experience a new culture, and truly immerse myself in a new place. If I’m feeling social, I might join a tour or book a hostel stay. But if I’m feeling introverted, I’m just as content to stay in my own room and explore the city on my own.

It’s important to remember that there’s no “right” way to travel. And while some people might enjoy the social side of travel, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to have a great experience. I’m proof that even the shy traveler can have a meaningful, enjoyable trip when traveling solo.

So, if you’re feeling intimidated or overwhelmed about the idea of solo travel, take a deep breath and remember: there’s no pressure to meet a ton of people or find someone to do things with. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you can have an amazing trip when you’re flying solo. Enjoy the chance to immerse yourself in a new place and take the time to get to know yourself in the process. Who knows, you might even surprise yourself in the process!