Both the backpacker and cruisehead have claims to money-saving. There are a lot of ways one could save money as a backpacker, while the cruisehead likes the fact that they're going on an all-inclusive luxury trip. Even though backpacking proved to be cheaper, cruising still presents a valid argument about value. This turns the whole deal of making one's money's worth a relative concept. Which one is actually a better type of vacation—should spend your Jewish vacation on a cruise, or should you go backpacking? The Duel on Dwelling Backpacking is closely associated with the type of accommodation you'll be expecting. You can end up in a B&B, in a hostel sharing a room with tens of other travelers, or even on some stranger's couch. They call it backpacking because travelers need to stuff their entire lives inside their backpacks for the entire duration of their trip. Cruises are basically boat hotels. You unpack once and spend the rest of the trip carrying only the stuff you need for the day. The accommodation is private and is often secured (but one must still pack a combination lock). But for free-spirited travelers, the time allotted for everyone to roam around before the ship leaves may be inadequate. Overall, the duel on dwelling favors cruises. It checks all the boxes from safety to comfort backpacking can't match. Munch Madness Cruises have come a long way from cafeteria food. Companies that organize cruises listened to the pleas of their client base that they improved their food game so much. You can eat your heart out on food prepared by chefs. At any time, anytime at all, you can satisfy every culinary craving. Even if you have very specific food preferences, they're happy to oblige to every one of them as well. Jewish cruises, for example, serve an all-kosher menu prepared by kosher master chefs. There are even vegan cruises that serve some of the world's best vegan dishes. Backpackers, on the other hand, have a very wide array of food choices—where it's available, that is. If you're a Jewish traveler, or a vegan, finding good food choices near your hostel can be difficult. For most backpackers, a bag of treats from the local grocery store can be their own version of a gourmet meal. For people who go on cruises, however, they are simply served a gourmet meal whenever they want one. The Skirmish on Excursions The problem with most of the popular tourist destinations are the crowds you'll encounter. For cruises, excursions may get crowded if you're part of a giant ocean cruise. There are, however, specialized cruises. For guests going on Jewish river cruises, they offer unique destinations in their kosher Europe tours. Since it's a niche destination, it's less crowded. For backpackers, it's a free-for-all. You can go whenever you want, wherever you want. Where you intend to go and how you intend to get there is all up to you. Your sense of adventure will keep you curious and free to embrace any kind of experience you'll encounter.
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Whenever you go and travel—backpacking through Europe or simply kosher touring— you are supposed to have fun. It's all supposed to be fun and games, but there will be times when someone will get an ouchie. These traveling ouchies can come in a lot of forms. It can be a total bummer when it gets in the way of all the travel thrills. There are minor ouchies that you can recover from quickly, and then there are major ouchies where you need to see a doctor. Here's a quick guide that will get you through three of the most common ouchies. There's a list of other ouchies and simple remedies you can use to recover from them. Traveler's Diarrhea Most cases of diarrhea on the road come from consuming unsafe water. Whenever you're about to travel to a certain town, take time to know about the quality of the water in the place. It may come from direct consumption of water, or eating local cuisine. An easy solution is to bring Loperamide. Try and cut it off before it happens. Bad water and bad food conditions can also result in food poisoning. Any case of food poisoning can't be taken lightly, so be vigilant when eating on the road. Try to eat where a lot of locals eat. The possibility of food poisoning is less-likely, and the possibility of eating great food is very likely! Sprained Ankles This ouchie is often overlooked, but it happens very often. Whenever you're on unfamiliar ground, you'll never know what you will tread on. There are a lot of instances where people twist their ankles just by walking on cobblestone roads. Imagine how likely it is for something like that to happen on a long hike on hills and forests. One way to avoid this is to wear the right shoes. You can't wear flip flops everywhere just because you're on vacation. It will be harder for you to enjoy your time off when you need to hop to get to places. Wear the appropriate footwear every time you head out. If you sprain your ankle though, you could either go to the doctor or wear one of those ankle sleeves. Sexually-Transmitted Infections This may be a difficult topic for some, but unfortunate instances like these really do happen. Sometimes what happens in Vegas follows you home. If you happen to bump into these types of situations, make sure you wear protection. Contraceptives may prevent pregnancies, but it can't block off sexually-transmitted infections. If you happen to be up all night and want to get lucky, make sure you don't jinx it. Wear protection. Other Ouchies
Here's a quick run-through of other common travel ouchies. Always pack some acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease fever. Experiencing travel sickness? Acetazolamide is the quick answer. Prevent sunburn by using an SPF 30 sunscreen or lip balm. Shaving cream, soap, and vinegar are excellent remedies for jellyfish stings. Lastly, bring DEET in case of bugs. Knowing about the place you're about to visit will help your chances of getting through your trips unscathed. Make sure you know where to get help out there in case of emergencies. It would also help if you get vaccines that would defend you from serious illnesses you can get from a certain place. The likelihood of you catching them may be small, but don't take the chance. Traveling is supposed to be fun, let it stay that way by preparing ahead. Whether you’re going alone, or taking the family on Jewish trips, it’s important to stay safe. Who will be your go-to in case something bad happens? This is an important question you need to answer. The similarity of its history with the Jews makes Cambodia an ideal place for a Jewish travel itinerary. Both cultures have experienced a dark past. Both peoples have shown their resilience in overcoming adversity and loss. Over the years, time did its course. Today, the people of Cambodia are one of the most vibrant and welcoming population in the world. Traveling in the Southeast Asian country is not only a delight, but an immersion into its rich culture as well. As you're getting ready to travel to Cambodia, take time to remember these basics. Getting the Basics As soon as you get on the shores of Cambodia, get a sim card. This is especially helpful when you need internet connection while you're traveling. The network reception is usually reliable, and as a traveler, expect to Google a lot of things about the place. If bargaining is your game, then Cambodia is your playground. Negotiating for prices is very common in shops. Look up some bargaining techniques online to learn a move or two that will land you into good deals. For travelers from the West who are quite uncomfortable with this practice, paying the first price quoted to you is a welcomed practice as well. Another tip you need to remember is that the locals tend to charge foreigners more. When that happens, your bargaining moves may come in handy. When it comes to money matters in Cambodia, most shops usually accept US Dollars, but getting local currency is always the best way to transact when you're traveling. Getting Around The best way to get around Cambodia is by motorbike. When you get an entire day free for traveling a city, rent a motorbike. Look up groups on Facebook for people who rent out motorbikes. It makes going to places easier if you're on a self-guided tour. However, if you're on an excursion to see the sights, bring a jacket. The buses in Cambodia usually have their air conditioning turned up to the highest setting. The difference in the temperature inside and outside the bus can be hard to get used to, but having jackets in handy is always a big help. One important tip when going around Cambodia is to try and avoid the Tuktuks -- long cars pulled by a motorbike. Getting on those things looks like a lot of fun, but these cars tend to overcharge a lot. Getting Hungry? Eat local, but stay kosher. Cambodia has a strong Jewish community; they are very warm and friendly. They have a restaurant that serves fresh kosher food all day long. You can even get some food delivered to wherever you are within the city. Local food trips in Cambodia come in three price tiers; the ridiculous tourist price, the reasonable tourist price, and the local price. Ask a local where they usually eat. A basic rule of thumb when eating street food is to go where it's crowded. The food is usually fresh in these stalls because they're busy serving every time. Getting to Know the Locals Any vacation outside of your hometown should be an immersive cultural experience. The best way to immerse yourself is to interact with the locals. Talk to the ones outside of the tourist areas, they're usually the ones with the legitimate street knowledge. A lot of travelers often worry about the language barrier, though Cambodia has a good English-speaking population. If you do get into places where the people can't speak or understand English, use Google Translate. Another thing you need to familiarize when interacting with locals in Cambodia is the hand signals. Some gestures may mean differently across cultures. The Cambodians are usually very reserved. When you're in the streets of Cambodia, try not to be very affectionate. Something as light as seeing someone holding hands can be a shocker to the locals. Act conservative, observe how the locals act around each other, and try to blend in. When you head over to Cambodia, make sure to check out all the Angkor temples. Drink in all the ancient architectural amazement. For a Jew, Cambodians may look like your peculiar twin sibling from the other side of the world. The histories and the resilience that carried the people through the years is just the beginning of the similarities between Jewish and Cambodian cultures. Head over to Cambodia soon. Who would've thought Cambodia would be the next best place for a Jewish vacation? Going on a cruise is a good way to spend your vacation. Travelling to multiple destinations while in luxurious accommodations is never a bad idea. Enjoying your cruise is one thing, experiencing it with other people is another topic altogether. People that go on a kosher river cruise are mostly saved from dealing with people from very different cultures. Wherever guests may come from, they are likely to get along well, at least culturally. There is a certain etiquette every guest should adopt when they get onboard. If you’re yet to have your kosher cruise experience, here are some of the important behaviors you should practice when you’re aboard a kosher cruise. Be Punctual When the ship docks and guests are to leave the ship momentarily, it’s good practice to get back on time before the ship’s departure. You don’t want to bum yourself out when you have to be in a hurry when you’re supposed to be relaxed. You most definitely don’t want to bum everybody else out for delaying the ship’s departure schedule. When leaving the ship, always carry your passport and other important papers with you at all times. You don't want to get caught off guard outside without them. Punctuality should also be observed during dinner. If you think you can’t make it in time for dinner, let the crew know so they can accommodate you even after they stop serving dinner. Dress Appropriately During dinner, you may find other guests dressed in formal attire. Dressing up similarly is recommended. You don’t necessarily have to dress like you own the boat whenever you come for dinner. Often times, it’s enough to dress casually. Cloth yourself comfortably and within reason. You don’t want to wear clothes that seem offensive or uncomfortable to others. Suggestive clothing and going out in your underwear are absolutely frowned upon. Be respectful through your clothing, and everything else should be smooth sailing. Be Considerate Having the utmost consideration for other guests on the cruise should be common sense, yet there are still people that are called out because of their insensitivity. Beyond the great service and the exquisite destinations, being considerate to other guests is what makes every cruise trip a pleasant experience. When coming to dinner, for example, you may find yourself seated next to people you haven't met before. During these times, adopting proper table manners is a good way of being considerate of other guests. You may bump into these people again later during the trip. It's better to make friends in the ship than collect one awkward encounter after another. Enjoy Every part of the trip is carefully placed and scheduled for your enjoyment, it would be unfortunate for you to miss all the fun. You didn't plan this entire trip just to sit there and cross your arms while the other guests are enjoying the entertainment. Compared to other cruises, people that go on these Jewish tours take less time to get along with others. Don't be afraid to let your hair down and get to know people. |
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