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5 Strategies for Promoting Your Travel Agency

Posted by on 10:49 am in Blog, Expat Life | 0 comments

5 Strategies for Promoting Your Travel Agency

As an independent travel agency, there’s so much you have to do in a day. But one of the most important things on the list is to promote the services you offer.

The travel industry is about building loyal customer connections, and especially now that travelers are looking for COVID safe experiences, trustworthiness is big. You need to present yourself as the most cost-effective and most reliable option out there, in a way that garners the most attention.

These days the most modern and effective way to promote your travel agency is to market it online. While putting up flyers in your neighborhood might help, the only real way to exponentially increase your reach and scale your brand is with digital marketing.

If the marketing aspect of your business seems overwhelming, don’t worry. We’re here to help! We’ve compiled our favorite strategies for promoting your travel agency online. Read on to find out what they are.

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6 Tips to Remember When Hiring Removalists in Rouse Hill

Posted by on 4:46 pm in Australia, Blog, Expat Life | 0 comments

6 Tips to Remember When Hiring Removalists in Rouse Hill

Moving to a new state or country can be exciting, but you don’t have to fall into the modern stereotype of selling everything you own and starting over with nothing.

The pandemic has sparked a migratory wave across Australia, and moving out of the cities is something Aussies are doing now more than ever before.

But there are a lot of responsibilities involved, including packing your items, decluttering unused objects, sorting out the boxes, and transporting your belongings.

With Sydney being one of the biggest hubs from which people are fleeing, we’ve touched base with removalists Rouse Hill for tips which will help you choose the right removalists for your move.

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How to Become a Professional Travel Photographer

Posted by on 1:55 pm in Blog, Expat Life, Photography, Technology | 3 comments

How to Become a Professional Travel Photographer

The rise of Instagram has not only inspired us to travel more, it’s also inspired us all to become better photographers. We’ve also seen the creation of the social media influencer, a potentially lucrative career that didn’t exist just a few years ago.

While the number of professional photographers was once quite limited and mostly employed by large publication companies, there is now a wide array of travel photography jobs available with many photographers simply working for themselves.

The idea of a photojournalist covering a war-torn region or capturing images of rare wildlife for National Geographic used to be the picture of a travel photographer, however today people are successfully combining their passion for travel and photography to make money in all sorts of ways.

Whether you’re interested in photographing food, landscapes, architecture, wildlife, people and cultures, products, or big events, there’s a place for you in the travel photography market.

You can score contracts working for tourism boards and hotels, make money from photographing the cuisine and interiors of restaurants for promotional purposes, become a destination wedding photographer, do studio portraits while working on a cruise ship, or even become a paparazzi who chases celebrities around the world.

If interested in monetizing your travel photography, here’s my informative guide to everything you need to know about starting down the path towards becoming a professional travel photographer.

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How to Overcome Homesickness after Moving Overseas

Posted by on 5:22 pm in Blog, Expat Life, Healthy Travel, Student Travel, Travel Tips | 2 comments

How to Overcome Homesickness after Moving Overseas

Whether you find yourself moving to another country for work, school, volunteering, or to be with your international love, it’s common to feel a sense of homesickness at some point.

Despite the excitement of moving abroad, it’s common to feel a sense of loss being away from home and anxiety from trying to adjust to your new surroundings.

While many expats experience homesickness, the causes and emotional / physical impacts are different for each person; from acute emotional distress all the way to an almost debilitating depression which can impact your health.

Whether you’re taking up a lucrative employment offer in London or Dubai or simply researched incredible Bangkok condos for rent, understand that no one is fully immune to homesickness.

The key to dealing with homesickness is to be able to recognize the feelings and work through them, rather than trying to ignore or prevent them.

Feeling homesick is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of, and there are a number of strategies that will help you to better cope with the various effects of homesickness.

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Top Ways Your Business Can Track and Reduce Travel Expenses

Posted by on 1:56 pm in Blog, Expat Life, Travel Tips | 0 comments

Top Ways Your Business Can Track and Reduce Travel Expenses

Travel costs often rank as one of the top five expenses businesses incur each year, with global estimates that businesses spend well over a trillion dollars annually on travel. While the recent pandemic has shown businesses that it is possible to reduce the need with tools like video calls instead of necessarily needing to meet in person, there are of course times when it is absolutely necessary for businesses to have their employees travel.

As business travel begins to get back into gear, businesses are rethinking corporate travel plans and are looking for ways to track their expenses more effectively and reduce costs whenever possible.

Saving money on business travel-related expenses is possible but it requires careful planning and effort from all your employees. While I may not have a large group of employees working under me (yet!) I do have to manage my own business travel expenses as a sole trader and use many of the strategies successful businesses utilize to track and reduce their travel costs.

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Toucan: The Free Browser Extension that Helps You Learn a Language Without Even Trying

Posted by on 11:50 am in App Reviews, Blog, Expat Life, Technology, Travel Tips | 2 comments

Toucan: The Free Browser Extension that Helps You Learn a Language Without Even Trying

It’s widely accepted that the best way to learn a new language is to immerse yourself. But how do you immerse yourself in Japan when borders are locked down? Or when you don’t have the means to just take off and escape to Italy (a girl can dream!).

There are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in language from home these days; apps, games, and even video chat with foreign strangers (though that’s if you’re paying attention to what they’re saying!). The problem is though, that while companies are constantly trying to make language learning fun, you still need to take time out of your day.

But that just changed! Toucan is a free Chrome extension (download it here) that helps you learn a language as part of your normal, everyday web browsing. Once turned on, it scans the text of whatever website you’re reading and changes a small number of words into the language you want to learn.

It peppers your normal daily web experience (social media, news and everyday reading) with translated words so you can pick up a new language without even trying, without changing your behavior, and without taking any extra time out of your day.

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Guide to Driving in Dubai for Tourists and Expats

Posted by on 12:21 pm in Blog, Expat Life, Travel Tips, UAE | 4 comments

Guide to Driving in Dubai for Tourists and Expats

Whether you’re just visiting or newly adapting to expat life, one of the most challenging parts of being in a foreign country can be learning the local road rules.

You can easily find yourself driving on the opposite side of the road and trying to navigate road signs displayed in a different language. There may also be road hazards you’re unfamiliar with and harsh fines or punishments for breaking rules you’re not used to.

If you’re planning to travel to Dubai or have the opportunity to make the move here, there are some things you need to know before driving a vehicle that are unique to the UAE.

Dubai has a wonderful network of roadways, and having your own vehicle allows you the freedom to explore the hidden gems beyond the reach of the city’s public transport along with driving to the other emirates within the UAE.

While Dubai may offer a well built public transport system, there are many benefits for tourists to rent a vehicle or for expats to lease a vehicle. If you do plan to drive, be sure to check out this guide to driving in Dubai to ensure you’ll stay on the right side of the law and stay safe on the roads.

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Top 5 Content Ideas for Your Travel Blog

Posted by on 9:30 am in Blog, Expat Life, Travel Tips | 2 comments

Top 5 Content Ideas for Your Travel Blog

There are many ways to make money from a travel blog, but it really comes down to producing quality content. To help you get on the right path to creating engaging content, here are my top 5 content ideas you should be implementing as a travel blogger.

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4 Tax Tips for J-1 Visa Holders

Posted by on 1:05 pm in Blog, Expat Life, Student Travel | 0 comments

4 Tax Tips for J-1 Visa Holders

An exchange program in the United States can be a life-changing experience. You get the opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge and get a taste of the American way of life. But there’s also one thing you shouldn’t forget: your J-1 visa tax return.

The Exchange Visitor Program has allowed millions of people from every corner of the world to work, study, and live in the United States. Visitors who enter the U.S. through this program, also known as J-1 visa holders, are subject to federal and state laws – including taxes.

Here’s a quick guide to taxes for J-1 visa holders, including what taxes to pay, what forms to file, and everything in between.

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The Top 4 Hotels for Digital Nomads

Posted by on 8:34 am in Blog, Expat Life, Technology | 0 comments

The Top 4 Hotels for Digital Nomads

The entire world is your office as a digital nomad as long as you have access to great WiFi and suitable working spaces. And while we used to suffer through power plugs in awkward places, and balancing a laptop on pillows, hotels nowadays have really upped their game.

There are a number of hotels now, who are meeting the trend of digital nomadism, and setting themselves up specifically to offer a fantastic work / travel space. They offer strong, fast WiFi, great cafes, and discounts on long stays. The hotels mentioned below even have their own co-working spaces.

If you’re working from the road, the following are the top hotels in the world for digital nomads. We’ve chosen our favorites across four continents; use them as your newest international base!

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