6 Incredible Experiences In Sayulita

Discover 6 incredible secrets of Sayulita that not everyone knows about.

Sayulita is a beautiful location that many people have not yet visited. For those looking for an itinerary for an upcoming trip we present 6 incredible secrets of Sayulita!

From:Punta Sayulita

A quick search online about Sayulita will likely tell you about the most popular reasons why people retire, invest and vacation here. Beautiful relaxing beaches, excellent Mexican cuisine, great surf and water sports all appear top of the list. But locals and experienced Sayulitanos will tell you there´s a lot more to see and do when you scratch under the surface. Here are our 6 incredible secrets of Sayulita to help you have awesome experiences.

secrets of sayulita

Secrets of Sayulita Number 1 – Whale Watching 

Humpback whales, known as “Jorobadas”, pass by Sayulita twice a year in early winter as they head south to mate and give birth and again in spring to return to feeding grounds. They can seen from the main beaches in Sayulita, just at the mouth of the bay as well as from hilltops. For a close up experience boat trips are available from the beach at Punta de Mita (only a short car journey from Punta Sayulita) as a highly recommended way to see these special creatures first hand. Trips last 3 hours including travel and spotting time. 

secrets of sayulita

Secrets of Sayulita Number 2 – Playa Escondido 

Also know as the love beach, Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach) is a short stretch of beach partially covered by a wall of rocks in the heart of the Marietta islands. The islands are found a few kilometers west of Punta Mita, in the Pacific, and form one of the sanctuaries with the greatest biodiversity in Mexico. Hence, it is protected by the government and considered a National Park and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.  It is a popular day trip from Punta Sayulita and does´t take very long to get there. 

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10 Secrets For Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos

Are you planning a vacation and wondering what camera to take? If you’re thinking of carrying bulky camera equipment, you should reconsider! Whether you’re planning a weekend city break, a family vacation or a round the world adventure, your iPhone is the perfect camera for your trip. In this tutorial you’ll discover ten ways to guarantee success with your iPhone travel photography.

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Is The iPhone Really All You Need?

The purpose of travel photography is to document your journey and experiences. These images serve as memories that will last a lifetime, and it’s likely that you’ll want to share them with family, friends and your social media followers.

While the image resolution and quality might be higher on a DSLR or other high-end camera, the iPhone wins hands-down on portability and convenience.

iPhone Travel Photos 16

Not only is the iPhone compact, lightweight and great for taking photos quickly and discreetly, but you’re going to be carrying it with you anyway so there’s no need to take any extra equipment.

The last thing you want to do when you’re traveling is to carry a heavy camera, tripod and lenses around with you all day. It’s impractical, and it also makes you a target for theft as you can’t hide the fact that you’re carrying an expensive piece of kit.

iPhone Photos Depth 3

The other problem with a traditional camera is that you can spend vital seconds or minutes changing settings, only to miss the once in a lifetime shot. With the iPhone you can have it out of your pocket and shooting in a couple of seconds!

The most important aspect of travel photography is to document the story of the locations you visit and the time that you spend there. So if you’re thinking of taking a large digital camera on your next vacation, you might want to think again.

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Your iPhone can easily be the best travel camera, as long as you take some basic steps to prepare for your trip and follow these guidelines when you’re at your destination.

With a little knowledge and imagination, you can take stunning and unique travel photos with your iPhone. So let’s take a look at ten ways to maximize your chances of taking amazing travel photos with your iPhone!

1. Research Your Destination

Good travel photography starts way before you arrive at your destination. It starts off at home, where you should research the location that you’re visiting.

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Spend a bit of time finding out about local landmarks, interesting architecture and areas of natural beauty that would make good subjects and locations for your photos.

Use the internet and travel guides to find out as much as you can about the region, culture, weather, and any interesting events or festivals that might be going on while you’re visiting.

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Sometimes you’re just around the corner from somewhere really incredible that’s waiting to be photographed. That’s why it’s so important to research the places you’re visiting beforehand so that you don’t miss out on great photo opportunities.

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Check what the weather will be like during your visit, and find out what time the sun rises and sets. The golden hours are usually the best times of day for taking photos, especially in hot climates where it can become hazy during the main part of the day.

In certain parts of the world you’re not allowed to photograph whatever you want, and there are certain rules to be followed. Find out what you’re allowed to photograph and what’s prohibited.

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You should also check whether there are any dress codes, as well as other local rules and laws. Learn about the country’s religion and culture beforehand so that you don’t commit any mistakes or cause offense in the country you’re visiting.

2. Use The Instagram Community

Purchasing a good travel guide book is important for many people, but it’s also interesting (and free) to check out what the Instagram community has to say about your chosen destination.

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Let your followers know where you’re going next and ask for personal opinions about locations to visit, places to eat, and what to see and photograph in that area.

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Each destination has its clichés, as well as hidden secrets off the beaten track. Search for local Instagramers to see what and where they shoot. If possible, speak to them to get inside knowledge of their favorite places to photograph.

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The Instagram mobile photography community is a friendly place, and you’re sure to find people who will be happy to help you find great locations to shoot. You never know, they might even offer to meet up and show you the sights!

3. Prepare Your Camera

Before you set out on your journey, set aside some time to prepare your iPhone for the trip. One of the most important things is to make sure you have enough space on your iPhone for lots of new photos.

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You don’t want to run out of space half way through your adventure! So free up as much space as possible by transferring your existing pictures to your computer.

Battery life is also important as you might be out shooting all day with your iPhone. I would advise purchasing an external battery, such as the Mophie Juice Pack, to give you more hours of shooting time.

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If you’re traveling to a location where you don’t need to use cellular coverage, optimize the battery usage by switching on Airplane Mode in the Settings app. This way your iPhone won’t drain the battery trying to keep you connected all the time.

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A “foggy” image can sometimes be a pure result of a dirty lens, so make sure your iPhone’s camera lens is clean. Wipe the lens gently with a clean lens cloth, or any other soft fabric such as your t-shirt, to ensure your photos are crystal clear.

4. Rethink The Cliché Shots

Visiting tourist spots when traveling is practically inevitable, but you don’t want to return home with your images looking just like the guide book. It’ll be much more fun and interesting if you take unique shots of popular travel destinations.

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The important thing to remember when photographing popular tourist locations is to avoid shooting the subject just like everyone else has done before you.

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Move around and get to know your subject. Experiment with more appealing angles and viewpoints that aren’t common in this scene.

Shooting from a low angle is an easy way to show a scene from a perspective that people don’t normally see from standing height.

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Leave the photo clichés to the tourists! You’re a mobile photographer and a traveler on a mission to take the best photos you possibly can within a set timeframe.

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Keep your eyes peeled for unique photo opportunities, and don’t be afraid to take the shot. If it doesn’t work out you can delete it, but if you don’t take the photo in the first place you’ll never know how it would have turned out.

5. Shoot Portraits Of Local People

A great way to capture the essence of your destination is to take portrait photosof local people. If you’re shooting from a distance this shouldn’t be a problem, but if you want to take close-up portraits it’s polite to ask permission first.

For a softer approach, I suggest a quick study of the language first. Buy a phrasebook or download a translation app on your iPhone, and learn the basics such as, “hello,” “please,” “thank you” and “how are you?”

Read More HERE

Best Selling Travel Gear on Amazon

While trends come and go every day, this is a fun list curated by flashpackerfamily.com of the top selling travel gear on Amazon. Hopefully one or two of them help you on your travels!
Reference

Best Selling Travel Books on Amazon

Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel

#1 Best Seller in General Travel Reference

Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See… Ranked

 

Nat Geo Destinations of a Lifetime

#1 Best Seller in Travel Pictorial Reference Books

Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places

Best Selling Luggage on Amazon

Delsey Helium Spinner 29

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Suitcase)

Delsey Luggage Helium Aero 29 Inch Expandable Spinner Trolley

Samsonite Fiero Spinner 20

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Carry On Suitcase)

Samsonite Luggage Fiero HS Spinner 20

Rockland Two Piece Luggage Set

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Luggage Sets)

Rockland Luggage 2 Piece Luggage Set

Adidas Duffel

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Duffel)

adidas Team Speed Medium Duffel Bag

Olympia 33in Rolling Duffell

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Rolling Duffel)

Olympia 33 Inch 8 Pocket Rolling Duffel

Kipling Seoul Laptop Backpack

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Daypack)

Kipling Seoul Large Backpack With Laptop Protection

Osprey Farpoint 55L Backpack

#1 Best Seller in Backpack

Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Backpack

Skip Hop Zoo Kids Luggage

#1 Best Seller in Luggage (Kids luggage)

Skip Hop Zoo Little Kid Luggage

 

Best Selling Packing Gear on Amazon

eBags Packing Cubes#1 Best Seller in Packing Organizers (Packing Cubes)

eBags Packing Cubes – 3pc Set

GoToob

#1 Best Seller in Packing Organizers (Bottles)

Humangear GoToob 3 Ounce (3 pack) Travel Bottle

Etekcity Luggage Scale

#1 Best Seller in Scales

Etekcity Digital Hanging Luggage Scale

Leather Toilet Bag

#1 Best Seller in Packing Organizers (Toiletry Bag)

AmeriLeather Leather Toiletry Bag

Best Travel Accessories

J Pillow

#1 Best Seller in Travel Pillows

J Pillow – Travel Pillow

Master Lock

#1 Best Seller in Travel Accessories (Lock)

Master Lock 4688D TSA Accepted Cable Luggage Lock

Lewis & Clark Neck Stash

#1 Best Seller in Travel Accessories (Money Wallet)

Lewis N. Clark Rfid Neck Stash

LifeStraw

#1 Best Seller in Health Care Products

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Best Selling Cameras on Amazon

Nikon Coolpix

#1 Best Seller in Digital Point & Shoot Cameras

Nikon COOLPIX L840 Digital Camera with 38x Optical Zoom and Built-In Wi-Fi

Samsung Mirrorless

#1 Best Seller in Mirrorless Cameras

Samsung NX3000 Wireless Smart 20.3MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm OIS Power Zoom Lens and Flash

Canon EOS Rebel

#1 Best Seller in DSLR Cameras

Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm IS II + EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Bundle

GoPro

#1 Sports & Action Video Camera

GoPro HERO4 SILVER

 

 

Best Selling Electronics Gear for Travellers on Amazon

 

Armor iPhone Case

#1 Best Seller in Cell Phone Sleeves

Spigen [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][HEAVY DUTY] Tough Armor Case for iPhone 6

JOTO Waterproof iPhone bag

#1 Best Seller in Marine Dry Bags

JOTO Universal Waterproof, Snowproof, Dirtproof Case Bag

Kindle Fire

#1 Best-Seller Computer & Accessories

Fire, 7″ Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB

Amazon Fire Stick#1 Best Seller in Televisions & Video Products

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Powerbank

#1 Best Seller in MP3 Player Batteries & Battery Packs

Anker PowerCore+ mini

Tile

#1 Best Seller in GPS & Navigation Equipment

Tile (Gen 2) – Phone Finder. Key Finder. Item Finder.

 

 

Best Selling Kids Gear for Travel on Amazon

Regalo Portable Travel Bed

#1 Best Seller in Nursery Travel Beds

Regalo My Cot Portable Bed

Graco Pack n Play

#1 Best Seller in Baby Playards

Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard, Aspery

Summer Lite Stroller

#1 Best Seller in Lightweight Baby Strollers

Summer Infant 2015 3D Lite Convenience Stroller

Jl Childress Gate Check Bag for Carseats

#1 Best Seller in Car Seat Travel Bags & Carts

JL Childress Gate Check Bag for Car Seats

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Hiking Trails in Los Ayala, Nayarit, Mexico

Ready to hit the dusty trail..hiking trail that is? Explorenayarit.com has a great resource for local trails as well as a map that we posted for you. You can get a larger size copy of the map from their site.

Below are the trail details from http://explorenayarit.com/blog/los-ayala-hiking-trails-and-trail-map/

los-ayala-hiking-map-2016

El Monteón Trail

Trail Length: 4.3 miles (6.9 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 520 feet ( 158.5 m)
Time: 2-2½ hours

The El Monteón Trail is the easiest and most often hiked trail. The trail exposes hikers to jungle, farm crops and the Punta Raza development. It includes a gravel road climb to a viewpoint before descending into El Monteón.

Punta Raza Trail

Trail Length: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 370 feet (112.8 m)
Time: 1-1½ hours

An enjoyable lush jungle hike with moderate elevation providing access to remote playas and a rocky bluff (El Mirador) overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Great spot for picture taking.

Coral Point Trail

Trail Length: 1.1 mile (1.8 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 258 feet (78.6 m)
Time: 45-60 minutes

The Coral Beach Trail is part of an old overgrown road that provides an alternate route to Playa Coral. The trail offers views of the estuary, farmland and the Punta Raza development.

Mirador Point Trail

Trail Length: 0.4 miles (0.6 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 105 feet (32 m)
Time: 20-30 minutes

A brief airy walk to a rock cliff overlooking the ocean. The spectacular view is well worth the short hike. The optional trail down to Playa Toro is steep and should be hiked with caution.

Grunt Trail

Trail Length: 0.4 mi (0.6 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 306 feet (93 m)
Time: 20-30 minutes

The name states it all! The short steep trail leads to a flat junction where three trailheads are located. A brief rest stop might be in order.

Easy Trail

Trail Length: 1.0 mi (1.6 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 435 feet (133 m)
Time: 40-60 minutes

It isn’t as easy as the name implies but an interesting trail passing through three distinct vegetation areas. The first section is an old orchard, followed by a thick tropical jungle before descending into the meadow section.

BS Trail

Trail Length: 1.0 mi (1.6 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 508 feet (154.8 m)
Time: 45-60 minutes

The trail’s name doesn’t imply the obvious. This moderate trail is an enjoyable adventure with a couple of short steeper areas. Once on the road, walk uphill to visit a palapa, then follow the road down to a gate, referred to as Casita 8.

Mountain Trail

Trail Length: 2.3 mi (3.7 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 759 feet (231.3 m)
Time: 1 hour

The Mountain Trail provides an alternate route to El Monteón. The initial trail’s segment climbs before leveling and finally enters a roadway descending into El Monteón. Great hike through jungle featuring a variety of different trees.

Black Diamond Trail

Trail Length: 0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 560 feet (170.7 m)
Time: 30-45 minutes

The trail’s beginning is a shady picturesque jungle featuring large fig trees. While the trail is not for the faint of heart, there are numerous cut out steps and hand holds to assist with the short steep climb. Try the trail as it’s quite a different hiking experience as it climbs up to meet the ridge.

Butterfly Trails (Horse Trail)

Trail Length: 2.7 mi (4.3 km)
Trail Elevation Gain: 633 feet (193m)
Time: 1-1½ hours

Delightful fun set of trails through jungle and open grassy areas. The lower trail which overlooks Highway 200 offers fantastic views of Rincón de Guayabitos. An easy short hike and if the timing is right, many butterflies can be seen.

Points to Ponder:

  • Wear sturdy footwear

  • Pack ample water

  • Apply sunscreen and bug repellent

  • Bring your camera

  • Always hike in a group

  • Leave all gates as you found them, not leaving them open for other groups.

  • Times/distances are approximate.

  • Trails are maintained by volunteers, and may not be open for hiking eight months of the year.

  • Different map created by Lori Schneider Wood shows similar trails in the Punta Raza area.

Airlines With The Best Wifi

Wether for business or for pleasure, an internet connection has become a way of life for many of us. Streaming videos, music or checking email is just part of our routine. With this in mind many airlines have started to install WiFi in the airplanes, but which ones are the best? In a recent article by Fortune we find out that “three American airlines offer the most onboard wireless Internet connections worldwide…Delta Air Lines topped the list of the most connected airlines, as measured by available seat-miles with at least a chance of getting a wireless connection, according to the survey by Routehappy.com, a site that evaluates in-flight amenities. More than 500 million of Delta’s available seat-miles are covered. It’s closely followed by United Airlines  (500 million miles) and American  (more than 400 million miles)”.

So if a connection to the internet has become a necessity for you, keep this in mind when you are booking your next flight.

Read the complete article from Fortune HERE.

10 Tips to Survive a Long Flight

The day has come and you are getting ready to board a plane for a long flight. What is the best way to pass the time and make that 10 hour flight feel like 2? Often we take work, but staring at a spreadsheet may be a good use of time, but 10 hours will still feel like 10 hours.

 

Below is the top 10 tips from IndependentTraveler.com

“1. Upgrade.

When traveling long-haul, you have no better friend on the planet than your frequent flier miles. On the Tokyo – Newark flight I was disappointed to see come to an end, I enlisted the help of my travel agent to find flights on which I could burn up all of my Continental miles to upgrade my entire trip. It meant catching puddle jumpers to my final destination in Japan (Gifu), but a couple of short extra flights were a small price to pay for 27 hours of first-class legroom, fully reclining chairs, edible meals, entertainment and breathing space.

If you stop reading at this point in the article, you almost need to know nothing more than this — by hook or crook, try to get an upgrade. (Even Dr. Timothy Hosea, from whom you will hear below, offered this as his first and most important suggestion.)

2. Escape.

You will want to have a rock-solid plan for frittering away several hours of your flight, and I don’t mean working; staring at spreadsheets and writing proposals may burn up hours, but it does not make them vanish. You want these hours to disappear almost without a trace. Think headphones and Hollywood blockbusters. Getting a lot of work done is fine — rarely do you have 15 consecutive hours without a phone or email, so I encourage bringing some work — but work will fail you when you get to the brutal middle hours of this ordeal. Headphones and Hollywood; don’t stray from this.

Spring for the airline’s headphones, pay for and watch every movie, swipe your card for the DIRECTV, bring your iPad crammed with your favorite flicks — whatever it takes.

3. Don’t carry on too much stuff.

While checked baggage fees are inspiring travelers to carry on more and more stuff, on a long-haul flight this could burn you; anything that is under the seat in front of you just means less legroom and a more cramped living space for 15 or 16 hours. Don’t bring so much on that you compete for your own sleeping space.

4. Bring your go-to gear.

When it comes to surviving flights, I am not a gear guy. I can’t be bothered to lug around neck pillows, eye masks, earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, etc. — except on a long-haul flight. As I note above, your total carry-on haul should be limited, but you may want to consider some of these relatively small survival tools. Your body and brain will thank you for every small comfort you can provide, and the inconvenience of packing and carrying these around is dwarfed by the misery of 15 hours in flight with crying children, pilot announcements, engine noise and a major crick in your neck. Gear up.

5. Board relatively rested.

Don’t count on a long-haul flight as a good place to catch up on sleep — it’s not. As attractive and intuitive as it seems to get on a long-haul flight extremely tired, hoping to sleep the whole way, you are in for a world of hurt if you can’t sleep for any reason. You will be on the plane long enough to catch a few winks even if you are somewhat rested, and my advice is to take it when it comes; if your eyes start to droop, get out the eye covers and earplugs, and go with it. If you throw away a solid two-hour nap on a few extra rounds of Angry Birds, you might well be angry at yourself later.

6. Secure your stuff.

A long-haul flight gives unscrupulous travelers all the more time to size up the location of your wallet, wait until you fall asleep and make a move on your luggage. Secure your valuables deep inside your bags where it would take a TSA X-ray machine to find them. Consider keeping items like your passport, credit cards and cash in a money belt under your clothes.

7. Consider a sleep aid.

If you are planning to use sleep aids (including “natural” methods such as melatonin, or drugs such as Ambien), try them before you fly with them. A few years ago a friend gave me an Ambien pill for a red-eye flight from Honolulu to New York City, and the drug acted more like a stimulant than a sleep aid. I was awake the entire flight and felt wretched to boot. These drugs can vary greatly in how they affect individuals, so you will want to try them at home before you rely on them on the plane.

Dr. Timothy Hosea, team physician and Chair of the Sports Medicine and Research Committee for the United States national rowing teams, sometimes prescribes sleep aids for his athletes, but notes, “If you feel you need a sleep aid but haven’t used those drugs before, you should probably try taking Tylenol PM or Benadryl. A prescription is fine with your doctor’s approval, but don’t experiment on a long flight; [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][the plane won’t] stop for you!”

Dr. Hosea also says that, as the team doctor, he does not take any medication while flying with the squad in case someone needs care. “I bring a book, watch the movies and try to let the flight pass,” he says. His approach is appropriate for other travelers who need to have their wits about them, such as folks flying with children, for example. If someone could potentially need you to be 100 percent during the flight, you should forgo any sleep medication.

8. Use SeatGuru.

On the flight back from Sydney mentioned above, I called ahead to get my seat reassigned to an exit row — big mistake. Unbeknownst to me, the exit row seat I chose was a window seat at one of the big, thick exit doors, which encroached on my leg area such that I had to sit sideways in the seat for the entire flight. It was also more like an “exit aisle,” located right at a restroom, so there was endless and noisy foot traffic the entire flight. I was lucky that the rest of the row was empty, but it wasn’t much help; the armrests did not go up, so I couldn’t lie across the three seats in the aisle.

Needless to say, mine would have been a “yellow” or even “red” seat on the SeatGuru seating chart if it had existed in 2000 (the site was launched the following year). Eventually I went around the aircraft collecting all the unused pillows and blankets I could find, piled them up in each of the three seats, and created a workable (but in truth not very comfortable) platform across all three seats — and got a very few winks of sleep during the flight. I guess it was fairly comical, as friends all took pictures of me during the flight for their amusement. Glad you had a fun flight, guys.

Before you choose, also think hard about your usual preference of exit vs. aisle seat; it may be different on a long-haul flight than on a shorter flight. If you usually choose an aisle seat, consider whether you want your long, Ambien-enhanced sleep to be interrupted by an aisle mate; similarly, if you usually choose a window, you could get trapped in there by a snoring person in a prescription drug-induced stupor.

9. Ask about seats at the gate.

Failing the ability to choose great seats before your flight, try again at the gate. If the flight is not full, the gate agent may be able to see an empty row, or put you and a traveling partner in a “window and aisle” configuration that reduces the likelihood of having someone sit in the middle seat, thereby getting you a seat and a half, at least.

10. Take care of your health.

Hydration: If you think hydration is a concern on a cross-country flight, try tripling or quadrupling your time in the air; you might as well spend 15 hours lying on the desert floor. Which is a good comparison, and you should stock up and behave accordingly. Imagine you are going to walk from Flagstaff to Winona, Arizona. How much water would you bring? Expect to drink about that much on a 16-hour flight.

Dr. Hosea recommends drinking “electrolyte solutions, Gatorade being the best known, instead of solely water.” Hosea says that maintaining electrolyte balance is important, and that you don’t want to become completely diluted with water, particularly for older folks or people with other medical problems. “The combination of dehydration and stasis is really the issue with blood clots,” he explains.”

Thank you IndependentTraveler.com for the great information, and hopefully this helps with your next long flight.

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What To Bring On Every International Flight

Wether you are coming to visit the beautiful Hacienda Antigua, or traveling to other international destinations, there are some items that you need to bring on every flight, as well as a few that you should leave behind. Forbes has compiled a great list of these items.

One of our favorites from the list, and often most overlooked is a USB travel battery pack. This is to ensure you can get a charge to your phone (which is most likely doubling as your camera) without a wall charger or relying on the plane having a USB charging port.

51fuYVJW-mL._SL1000_Some of the best ones are under $40, for example this Anker Powercore is only $39 and has “Ultra-High Capacity: Weighs as little as a can of soup (12.5 oz) yet charges the iPhone 6s seven times, the Galaxy S6 five times or the iPad mini 4 twice”.

 

 

For the complete list visit Forbes.com HERE

Finding Inspiration in Sayulita, Mexico.

Recently Sayulita was featured on HGTV during an episode of “Mexico Life”.  According to the HGTV website (http://www.hgtv.com/shows/mexico-life) Mexico Life is a show that follows “homebuyers in search of sun, sand and surf. Whether it’s a vibrant nightlife and sizzling culinary scene or a totally secluded piece of paradise these buyers crave, local realtors will help them find the perfect property for their own slice of Mexico heaven.”

We also believe that this area is a slice of heaven and find an enormous amount of inspiration. Make sure to take some time to view this episode.

http://www.hgtv.com/shows/mexico-life/episodes/two-foodies-find-new-inspiration-in-sayulita-mexico?soc=sharefb#episode-tunein

 

About Hacienda Antigua:

Hacienda Antigua is a luxury vacation rental nestled on the Nayarit coast near Lo de Marcos, just 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. Offering the ideal Mexico family vacation, Hacienda Antigua can accommodate up to 10 guests with family-friendly options such as nanny and chef services. Hacienda Antigua is a one-of-a-kind setting for destination weddings or other special occasions. If you are looking for a Mexico beach vacation, escape the crowds of Sayulita for the tranquility and privacy of Hacienda Antigua. Visit us at haciendaantiguamexico.com to learn more or book your trip.

The Wonderful Benefits of Travel

As the year is coming to an end, it is time for us to reflect on the year that was, and resolve into the new year. Often traveling is reserved for vacations and good times. But traveling can actually help you in more ways than you think and may actually help you with your New Years Resolutions.

Here are 9 benefits of travel from Lifehacker.org

 

1. You’ll find a new purpose

“To travel is to take a journey into yourself.” – Danny Kaye

Traveling is an amazingly underrated investment in yourself. As you travel you’re exposed to more new people, cultures, and lifestyles than you are living in your homeland all the time. With all the newness in your life, you’re also opened to new insights, ways of seeing the world and living, which often gives people a new purpose for their lives. If you’re feeling stuck on what your purpose is, what you want to do with your life, the career or educational path you want to pursue, go travel…you might just be surprised about what you discover as a new sense of life purpose and direction.

2. You’ll appreciate your home more

“All travel has it’s advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson

When we spend time away from home, especially in a place where we don’t have the same luxuries readily available to us…like a village in Fiji that runs without electricity…we become more aware and appreciative for the luxuries we have back at home. I remember a time where I visited my cousin in Argentina after she’d been living there for about a year. I was visiting her around Christmas time and brought her the new Harry Potter book along with some basic goods that you can find almost anywhere in Los Angeles. She was over joyous and filled with gratitude, like she just got the greatest gift in the world. In other parts of the world, like India and Ethiopia, people don’t have as much access to clean drinking water…especially from what’s readily available on tap. Traveling through areas like that really make us appreciate what we do have, and often can spark the movement of something to support people living there experience a greater quality of life.

3. You’ll realize that your home is more than just where you grew up

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

The more we travel, the more we realize that our home is so much more than the town, city, state and even country that we’ve grown up in; we realize that our home is the world, this planet, and we become more conscious of how we can harmoniously live and support one another. And in that knowingness and state of consciousness, people like those supporting the movement of charity:water come into fruition.

4. You’ll realize how little you actually knew about the world

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine

There’s concept, and then there’s experience. When we travel, we may notice that some of the things we’ve heard about the world end up being very different than what we were indoctrinated and conditioned to believe. Many of the initial myths that get dispelled are often about traveling itself. Where you once may have thought it was too expensive and dangerous, you may realize how you can actually save more on your lifestyle expenses traveling the world than you do living at home. You may also realize how kind and friendly strangers can be, and how they are even willing to take care of you with a place to sleep at night. Beyond that, you have the whole world to learn about with every place you discover, every person you meet and every culture you experience.

5. You’ll realize that we all share similar needs

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

Tony Robbins has said many times that no matter what your background is, all human beings share 6 common needs. As you travel more, you notice the truth of this even more…and as that happens, you are more adept in being able to relate to people regardless of their background.

6. You’ll realize that it’s extremely easy to make friends

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill

One of the first things I learned from traveling solo is how easy it is to make friends. Something magical happens in how people can show up more raw and real when they’re out of their conditioned environment and open to express themselves without feeling judged. That rawness and realness ends up inspiring others to be authentic, and that’s how you can become best friends with people when you’ve only known them for a few hours.

7. You’ll experience the interconnectedness of humanity

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

Just as we notice how we share similar needs, how our perspective of our home expands, and how we become close friends with others from different backgrounds and cultures, we begin to realize how we are all connected. This state of awareness is a jump in consciousness, and what I mean by that is in the way we perceive the world, the life experience and ourselves. Ken Wilber speaks about consciousness as spiral dynamics, each level of consciousness inclusive of the one previous. I feel that traveling often helps people experience a world-centric view of consciousness, and some even on that’s integrated…able to see, understand and accept all states ofconsciousness, and utilizing the gifts of whatever is best and most appropriate in the moment.

8. You’ll experience serendipity and synchronicity

“Traveling is one of the easiest ways to become aware of the magic that weaves all of creation together through serendipity and synchronicity with perfect timing.” – Adam Siddiq

Serendipity: luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for. And here’s Synchronicity: coincidence of events that appear meaningfully related but do not seem to be causally connected

I’m going to share one story of how I experienced serendipity and synchronicity in Spain. It was early in the morning and it was time for me to return the motorcycle my friend had rented with me yesterday. She left very early in the morning on a flight home so it was my responsibility to return it. I woke up to a beautiful sunny morning in Spain and went out to the street to start the motorcycle. I started to drive, forgetting that the chain was left on the wheel. Having no previous experience with motorcycles, I realized I was in a predicament. Two minutes later, a car drove and parked behind me. I had a feeling that someone in that vehicle knew how to fix motorcycles and was going to help me remove the chain so I could return the motorcycle. As they got out, I spoke to them in Spanish, telling them what happened. One of them motioned the other to go on. He mentioned they were mechanics and here for a job, and that he could help me get the chain off…and he did. I thanked him and he seemed gratified to help a fellow soul on their way. In that moment, I realized that no matter what…the world is here to support me, which leads us to the last benefit of traveling.

9. You’ll realize life is a wonderful gift

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Life is a wonderful gift. It really is, and as we travel and experience more of the world and life, we often become overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for all the beautiful moments we enjoyed and people we’ve shared them with. More often than not, this is a realization that we can experience and take action from now while we’re still alive with energy rather than stacking up regrets by the time we’re on our death bed. Rather than waiting until you’re saying “I wish I had”, live so you can say “I’m glad I did”.

Ref: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/9-wonderful-benefits-traveling.html

 

About Hacienda Antigua:

Hacienda Antigua is a luxury vacation rental nestled on the Nayarit coast near Lo de Marcos, just 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. Offering the ideal Mexico family vacation, Hacienda Antigua can accommodate up to 10 guests with family-friendly options such as nanny and chef services. Hacienda Antigua is a one-of-a-kind setting for destination weddings or other special occasions. If you are looking for a Mexico beach vacation, escape the crowds of Sayulita for the tranquility and privacy of Hacienda Antigua. Visit us at haciendaantiguamexico.com to learn more or book your trip.

10 Tips to Survive Holiday Traveling

For many of us the holidays also means traveling. With a huge amount of people traveling this year here are 10 tips from The Travel Channel to help you survive.

“Do your research.

Plan alternative trips if traffic makes your way home too overwhelming. Is there a scenic drive that might be longer but have less traffic? Break up a long drive by finding a few places to stop that will get the kids more excited than a truck rest stop. When flying, make sure you check the airline’s restrictions ahead of time on carry-on luggage and fees for checked bags.

Stay connected.

Stock up on the latest travel apps before you leave home. Flight Status gives you real-time updates on delays, baggage numbers and more, and GateGuru gives you approximate times you’ll spend in security. Heading out on the road? Find the cheapest gas and cleanest bathrooms on the road with GasBuddy and SitOrSquat.

Pack snacks and drinks, so you and your family will be fueled up for a road trip. If you’re flying, definitely get some grub before you board the plane.

Pack light.

Avoid checking bags altogether if you can. You won’t have to wait for your luggage on the conveyor belt, and you won’t have to worry about your mom’s Christmas present getting lost in Logan Airport. If you do check luggage, make sure you have all your medications and important documents and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost. Here’s a family packing list for more tips.

Pack earplugs.

Short of doing yoga in the airport, the best way to mentally escape your stressful surroundings is to turn the volume down. And the easiest way to do that is with earplugs. Crying baby next seat over on the plane? Earplugs. Sister’s music in the car driving you mad? Earplugs. And if you really want to check out for a bit? Bring an eye mask (as long as you aren’t driving).

Don’t get hangry.

When your tummy growls, your mind can’t think straight, and you could unknowingly get in the wrong line, take the wrong turn, or worse, upset an innocent flight attendant. Pack snacks and drinks, so you and your family will be fueled up for a road trip. If you’re flying, definitely get some grub before you board the plane (check ourGateGuru’s Best Airport Restaurants), so you won’t have to rely on airline food if you’re sitting on the tarmac for hours.

Ship gifts or give gift cards.

TSA suggests to ship wrapped gifts or wait until you reach your destination to wrap them, as they might have to unwrap a present to inspect it. Ship gifts ahead of time or bring the gift that can’t go wrong: gift cards to their favorite store or an Amazon card.

Travel on off-peak days.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest travel day of the year and can also cause you the biggest meltdown of the year. A better option is to leave early on Thanksgiving Day and avoid the record traffic the night before. Same goes with flying: if you fly on the actual holiday itself you’ll be avoiding the long lines and hoards of travelers.

Flight statistics show that planes traveling earlier in the day have a better on-time performance. Best time to hit the road? When every one else is asleep — early morning or late at night

Travel early or late in the day.

Flight statistics show that planes traveling earlier in the day have a better on-time performance. And if your flight is cancelled, you will have the option of taking a flight later in the day. Also, there will be fewer lines at security. Best time to hit the road? When every one else is asleep — early morning or late at night. You can always take a nap when you arrive at your destination or on the ride there (if you aren’t the driver, of course).

Plan for the unexpected.

Have only a half hour before connecting to another flight? Traveling to Rochester, NY, during snow season? Think ahead and plan accordingly. Leave extra time before flights to deal with security, extra time between connections and, for road trips, pack tire chains for snowy conditions, flashlights, and of course, a few band-aids never hurt either.

Inhale. Exhale.

The overly friendly person next to you on the plane, the cancelled flights, the luggage that fell off in the middle of the highway? All of it will make for great stories over dinner when you finally make it to your destination. After all, holiday travel stress is just as much of a tradition as pumpkin pie and regifting.”

(Ref: http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travel-tips/articles/top-10-survival-tips-for-holiday-travel)

 

About Hacienda Antigua:

Hacienda Antigua is a luxury vacation rental nestled on the Nayarit coast near Lo de Marcos, just 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. Offering the ideal Mexico family vacation, Hacienda Antigua can accommodate up to 10 guests with family-friendly options such as nanny and chef services. Hacienda Antigua is a one-of-a-kind setting for destination weddings or other special occasions. If you are looking for a Mexico beach vacation, escape the crowds of Sayulita for the tranquility and privacy of Hacienda Antigua. Visit us at haciendaantiguamexico.com to learn more or book your trip.