How to Make Your Vacation Fun for Everyone

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When you travel with friends, family or other like-minded people, it can either be fun-filled or a disaster waiting to happen. Keeping everyone happy can sometimes prove difficult, especially when you share different interests. 

As such, parents whose children are easily bored and disinterested with anything except for the activities they enjoy won’t experience the relaxing getaway they’ve been dreaming of, while good friends could part ways if the vacation turns sour.Traveling with others may sound like hard work, but it doesn’t have to be. With these simple tips, you can make your vacation fun for everyone.

Plan a Mix of Activities

Having a mix of activities that cater to various interests will go a long way in making everyone happy. For example, the first half of the day could be snorkeling in the ocean, with the afternoon being spent exploring the local markets. If you have kids, wear them out in the morning at an adventure park, and they will be happy doing something quieter later on. 

Consider everyone’s interests, and split into groups if that suits your dynamic better. As such, going on a cruise is a great alternative to the traditional travel adventure, as it can cater to varying interests, ages and personalities. 

In particular, Alaska cruise vacations are becoming increasingly popular, as visiting our northernmost state will likely include something for everyone to enjoy. Remember, the aim of the vacation is a big smile on everybody’s face, including yours.

Plan for Some Downtime and R&R

We all need our space, even while on vacation. Scheduling in some downtime will give everyone a break from each other and a chance to relax and unwind. During this time, everyone will be able to do their own thing, whether it’s going for a manicure, a dip in the pool, horse riding or just chilling for an hour in front of the TV. 

Having this time to yourselves will reduce the likelihood of any tension or resentment. If you’re traveling with other adults, having your own room or accommodations is recommended. 

Budget-friendly Options

Include some budget-friendly options as part of your vacation, including dinners and free activities. When travelling with others, be conscious of any financial restrictions, as unintentionally pressuring people to spend money on things they can’t afford will cause unnecessary stress. 

A cruise can be surprisingly affordable and is a great choice for those on a budget. Going on your vacation during the off-peak season and booking in advance are two ways to save big money.

Plan Together

The best way to have a fun vacation with others is by planning it properly. This means getting everyone involved in the process before locking in any reservations. What are their preferences? Do they have something on their bucket list? What type of accommodations do they prefer? 

Planning together will make the vacation feel like a joint venture. For those with children, choose a destination with kid-friendly activities, such as an arcade room, playground or pool. Do your research and read the reviews before committing.

The Final Say

A vacation should be relaxing, exciting and fun for everyone involved. Planning in advance, choosing a range of activities, and securing comfortable accommodations will go a long way in making the experience an enjoyable one. And no matter who you’re traveling with, plan some downtime and consider their needs. 

Having open communication and a positive attitude will also be key to maintaining your relationship both during and after the vacation. When done right, traveling with friends can be a unique way to bond and strengthen your connection with one another.

Carol
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Luxury Music Festivals For Early Retirement

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A new study has found that those who retire early are more likely to live longer – what better reason to give up work early and get on with enjoying all that the world has to offer. If you are retiring early, make the most of this time by rediscovering some of the most incredible, elite music festivals, in comfort and elegance. These aren’t the kind of festivals where you are sleeping in a field of shabby tents and drinking warm beer from plastic glasses. These are events that offer the best of the best, from music to accommodation.

The Oasis Fest – Marrakech

The Oasis Fest runs from 13-15th September 2019 in the vibrant city of Marrakech. This year it features quality artists such as Amelie Lens, Bassam, Carista, Ciel, Apollonia, and Driss Bennis. The festival is an extremely social occasion, perfect if you have just retired and are looking to meet like-minded people. It takes place the very secluded and private music and spa hotel. The cost of your tickets includes three stages of entertainment over the weekend, yoga studios, swimming pools and hookah lounge. There is also some of the best catering in the country, both of local cuisine and international food. Just imagine the sort of festival where you are lying by the pool, drinking champagne cocktails as the sun goes down, listening to some chilled out beats. Sounds like an ideal experience for early retirement doesn’t it?

Anchored – Mediterranean

Many people choose to take a cruise when they give up work and retire early. It is a great way of seeing lots of different parts of the world in a single trip. Anchored is a cruise with a difference – it is a floating music festival that tours around the Mediterranean, in glorious sunshine. Hosted on the Vision of the Seas cruise ship, the festival runs leaves from Barcelona and travels to Corsica and Ibiza. Whilst you are onboard, you can not only listen to some incredible music, but also experience all the five star facilities that the ship has to offer, include spas and saunas, mini golf, casino, speciality restaurants, a rock climbing wall and a fitness centre. Anchored leaves port in September 2019 this year, prices start at $650.

Secret Solstice Festival – Iceland

When you are retiring early, Iceland should definitely be on your travel bucket list. At The Secret Solstice Festival you can combine seeing glacier, the inside of volcanoes and walking through lava tunnels, with some of the most current and hip music you could hear. This year the festival runs from 21-23 June, in Reykjavik. At this time of year, it is light both day and night, so the music never ends. The Icelandic Beats Experience Package (prices start at $950) includes private, luxury hotel accommodation, your festival ticket, day trips to the Blue Lagoon, the Golden Circle and the Black Sands. This years line up includes Morcheeba, Black Eyed Peas, Patti Smith, Robert Plant and Kerri Chandler.

When you are retiring early, you will have the opportunity to experience more of the world. Going to a luxury music festival, will open your eyes and your ears, and you can stay in some five star accommodation – not a tent in sight.

Tracy
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Beyonce’s Lemonade Finally Arrives On Spotify And Apple iTunes… The End Of Tidal?

José Amorim
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beyonce-lemonade-cover.

Three years after the launch of Beyonce’s Lemonade album, her latest, it is finally available on Spotify and other streaming platforms. Is this the sign of Tidal’s end? Four years ago, we wrote about TIDAL and the way Jay-Z (Beyonce’s husband) wanted to revolutionize the music streaming industry. When Beyonce launched her latest album Lemonade only on TIDAL, the message was clear. Well, three years later, the album is finally on Spotify and in other streaming platforms. Why?

TIDAL Never took-off really

Back in 2015, when we wrote our article about Tidal, the streaming platform accounted for 500’000 users worldwide and around 20 million songs. In one year, Jay-Z platform did have a great start. Four years later, the platform declares to have 3 Million paid users and about 60 million songs. In comparison, Spotify used to have back in 2015 around 15 million paid users and 30 million songs. Today, the Swedish platform has 96 million paid users (207 million in total) for a global catalogue of 40 million songs.

Tidal-reviews

One of the interesting aspects of launching TIDAL was the promise of a better sound quality. Here is the most important question: is the sound better on Tidal? Frankly? No. The average listener will not notice any difference with Spotify. The “advanced listener” will invest in a very high fidelity headphones and be very sensitive to details. What this listener will feel is that music on Tidal is somehow “louder”. Both services integrate music from CD support. The encoding between the 2 companies is not necessary different but it is true the sound is slightly louder on Tidal (which does not mean a better quality). So no big differences. If you want to increase the quality of your listening you better invest in proper headphones no matter which tool you are using.

TIDAL Subscribers Numbers Is An Unsolved Mystery

When you read the press, you will find many different numbers for the total subscribers. The platform itself declared a 3 million mark but many analysts and newspapers say it is much less. Two years ago, Jay-Z announced on Twitter that Tidal crossed the bar of one million users. Of course no details were provided in the split between Paid subscribers, trial accounts, etc.

Tidal-key-figures

According to Gizmodo, Dagens Naeringsliv, a Norwegian newspaper that sits diligently on the Tidal beat, reported in May 2018 that the company allegedly falsified streaming numbers for Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo and Beyoncé’s Lemonade. The newspaper partnered with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s Center for Cyber and Information Security, which concluded that over 90 per cent of Tidal users saw manipulated listening stats and that the company logged over 300 million fraudulent streams for the two artists. Tidal vehemently denied the claims, but in the 78-page report, the centre concluded that it’d be highly unlikely for this level of data manipulation to occur from outside of the company. While it was a scandalous report, such claims are not outside of the ordinary for Tidal since Jay-Z’s purchase.

Despite having strong driving forces like Rihanna, Beyonce and Kayne West, Tidal is losing money. Back in 2016, it announced a total loss of USD 44 Million. The real numbers of subscribers remains a mystery as per today. Analysts would tend to say that real numbers are closer to the million but nobody really knows.

By bringing Lemonade to Apple iTunes and Spotify, it shows that TIDAL is losing the battle of exclusivity. While movie streaming businesses like Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO or recently Disney+ are battling through exclusivity, the music industry is not managing it. Giants like Spotify and Apple iTunes are winning this battle, meaning that if you are not in… well you are out. So it is a wise decision from Beyonce to place Lemonade in other music streaming services, which also facilitate fan’s lives.

How long TIDAL will still work? Nobody knows.

José Amorim
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Planning a Luxury Vacation in Seattle

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Holidays-Seattle

Seattle is a city of endless possibilities. Although nestled amongst some of the most stunning scenery and mountains, the city offers all the convenience and modern comforts you can imagine. There is something for everyone from fine dining, luxury accommodation, culture and art, to quirky shopping, sports, outdoor adventures and a bustling nightlife. While there is something for everyone in the Emerald City and plenty to fill multiple trips, it’s a particularly popular destination for travellers looking for luxury from their vacation. If you’re planning a trip to Seattle and looking for ways to make it extra special, here are some suggestions for where to stay, where to eat and what to do during your stay.

Where to Stay

Four Seasons

This 5-star hotel combines modern comforts and a central location with luxury and relaxation. The modern rooms and finished to an incredibly high standard with floor to ceiling windows which provide exceptional views of the city and the natural landscape around you. Televisions are integrated into the bathroom mirrors so you can soak in the tub while keeping up with the latest shows, movies and news. Head to the rooftop infinity pool on a sunny day where you can take in views of the Olympic Mountains and Elliot Bay, or make use of the onsite spa to relieve any stresses, aches and pains.

Loews Hotel 1000

Loews Hotel 1000 has a luminous modern refinement throughout the hotel, while paying homage to the rich history of its location. The guest rooms are defined by the local landscape with soft greys, rich greens, and a hint of rose, which adds soft warmth to the space, and each room includes a large bathtub and fantastic views. There is a Virtual Golf Club that enables you and up to 3 others to play on 50 of the world’s best golf courses. It’s a vibrant and lively place to stay with a downtown location and the restaurant, All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar, shines a spotlight on Seattle’s distinct character and flavors. Guests will enjoy the freshest seafood available in a welcoming atmosphere.

Seattle-Luxury-Hotels

Where to Eat

Canlis

This fine dining restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy both exquisite cuisine and – thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows – breath-taking views of the city, the Cascade mountain range and Lake Union. Canlis is a family restaurant currently run by the 3rd generation of chefs and offers a sumptuous 4-course menu and award-winning wine selection. There are 3 private dining suites as well as exclusive dining space, The Caché. The Caché appears to be situated amongst the trees, has a couch for relaxing between courses, and is perfect for private and romantic evenings. 

El Gaucho Seattle

El Gaucho offers diners a journey back in time with a classy and glamorous approach to fine dining. You enter through leather-padded doors to a candlelit room and live jazz which take you straight to the 1950s. The food and wine are renowned for their quality and you can enjoy your evening in the main restaurant or a private dining room. Find out more at the El Gaucho website.

What to Do

Private Hot Air Balloon Ride

There’s no more luxurious way to enjoy the breath-taking scenery around Seattle than from a hot air balloon. Book an exclusive hot air balloon ride and glide peacefully over the landscape and lakes and past the mountains at sunrise or sunset. With Seattle Ballooning, you’ll get a close-up view of Mt Rainier (which no other balloon side service in Seattle provides), champagne and freshly-baked croissants from Seattle’s famous Bakery Nouveau.

Seattle-Air-Balloon

Grahams Royal Tea

For formal fun, try an authentic English Tea experience with a private tea party at Grahams Royal Tea. You’ll have a private room with a hostess and generous servings of delicious tea, sandwiches, scones and cream. Everything is served on delicate bone China and you can even wear fancy hats and tiaras to turn it into a real celebration.

Wine Tasting

Woodinville Wine Country is just a 25-minute drive from downtown Seattle. You’ll be surrounded by the picturesque beauty and peace of Sammamish River Country. There are over 100 tasting rooms and wineries from small family-owned cellars to the region’s founding winery, the grand Chateau St Michelle.

Carol
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5 Tips to Protect Your Luxury Yacht From Thieves

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You wouldn’t think that a luxury yacht could be stolen, would you? It can happen, though. As a yacht owner, you need to protect the yacht itself in addition to everything valuable aboard. Thieves might not be able to think of how they’d hide a 60-foot-or-larger ocean vessel, but those same crooks would certainty know what to do with the jet skis, personal electronics and other costly items they might find.

The heist of the Change in Latitude yacht from its berth in Dania Beach, Florida, back in 2015 stands as proof that a yacht can, in fact, get stolen. Ultimately, the $700,000 Ocean Alexander Pilothouse yacht was recovered. Yet clearly, you wouldn’t want anyone to as much as “borrow” your yacht or any attendant possessions, particularly given any damage that might be done. Here are five tips for protecting your yacht.

1. Dock your yacht securely

The majority of luxury yachts are moored at marinas. Just any marina, though, won’t do. Make sure that the marina is well lit and has 24/7 security staff.

Also, marina staff should be flexible enough to let you get them up to speed on how you use your yacht. This will make easy for them to detect any activities that are out of the ordinary. One useful approach to assuring safe dockage is to sign on with a yacht management company, which can also handle insurance needs, crew management and much more.

2. Safeguard the engine and personal watercraft

Engines and personal watercraft can themselves be tempting targets for theft. Buy locks especially designed for engines. If you have a tender, jet ski and/or other personal watercraft, get them hauled out of the ocean and on to the deck if at all possible whenever your yacht will be unattended. These smaller craft are much more likely to be purloined than their larger counterparts, statistics show.

If you must leave your small craft in the water for any reason, lock them to the yacht. It’s also a good idea to get your tender or other personal watercraft painted in an unusual and striking color or pattern. That way, it will be less attractive to crooks because it will be so easily identifiable.

3. Protect your smaller valuables

It’s best to take smaller valuables such as computer tablets, digital cameras and other personal electronics items with you when you leave the ship. If you do keep them aboard, stash them in locked cabinets, drawers or lockers within the cabin, and be sure to lock the cabin.

Put up blinds or curtains as cabin window coverings. Yacht solar shades are a great way to establish privacy while maintaining your view and keeping the heat out while you’re aboard the ship. You can see through the shading mesh from inside, but no one on the outside can see in. Some solar blinds are made of mesh and fasteners especially designed to deal with marine conditions like salt water and strong winds.

4. Be extra careful of your keys

Keep the keys to your engine and your vessel separate, so that if you ever lose a key ring, a would-be thief won’t have access to all the keys.

Be sure to take your ignition key with you any time you turn off the motor. After docking the vehicle, make sure you haven’t left any keys on the boat. Keep copies of both sets of keys in a secure location onshore. As common sense would dictate, replace the locks ASAP if keys ever do go astray.

5. Install an on-board security system

Install an on-board security system complete with alarms, motion detectors and lights. A security camera system is a must, too. Outdoor security camera systems are essential for keep a watchful eye on your property, whether that’s your luxury yacht or your home. After all, the thieves who stole the Change in Latitude got nabbed because of surveillance video which proved their misdeed. Look for a system that offers IP66 weatherproof ratings for wet weather and other outdoor conditions.

Carol
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Game of Thrones Season 8 – The TV Series Of All Superlatives

José Amorim
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Game-of-thrones-season-8

Season finale Game of Thrones just started and the HBO series is establishing itself as the world record series at all levels. Here are some key numbers you might not know that translates the high level of performance of this season 8. Game of Thrones becomes the TV series of all superlatives. Here is why.

Game of Thrones Season 8: A Huge Budget

When the world discovered Game of Thrones back in season 1, the average budget per episode was USD $6 million, which was already a lot. When HBO released season 6, the total budget per episode was at USD $10 million. The final six episodes of the series will cost around USD $15 million apiece to produce. With 6 episodes, the total production budget for this final season will be of USD $90 million.

TV series production became a high budget game. While Game of Thrones reaches the top, competition is not far. Netflix pays around USD $10 million per episode for The Crown. The streaming platform also pays around USD $8 million for each episode of season 2 of Strange Things.

Game-of-thrones-season-finale
Game-of-thrones-review-season-8

Game Of Thrones viewership is exponential

Game of Thrones has far managed to build on its ratings every season. Season after season, the HBO series increased its popularity and interest around the world. Here is a recap season after season from a viewership point of view. Numbers are in million viewers in average per episode. The source is Variety and HBO communictions.

  • Season 7: 32.8 million
  • Season 6: 25.7 million
  • Season 5: 20.2 million
  • Season 4: 19.1 million
  • Season 3: 14.4 million
  • Season 2: 11.6 million
  • Season 1: 9.3 million

For this last season, numbers are going on crazy. Distributed in more than 170 countries, experts say that each episode will be seen by at least 100 million people. Game of Thrones became the biggest ever tv series of all times.

Game-of-thrones-production-budget

GOT Season 8, Episode 1: Twitter Record

The season premiere of Game of Thrones was the most talked about episode of all time on Twitter, according to a new study by musicMagpie.

The first episode of season 8 saw a record-breaking amount of conversation on Twitter, with 131,582,339 tweets posted discussing it. This is followed by The Walking dead with 114,359,205  and Stranger Things with 64,008,599.

Game-of-thrones-season-8-tweets

The premiere was also more positively received online than the season 7 finale, with 38% of tweets being joyous, compared to just 24% for the finale. To add to this, 56% of tweets about the season 7 finale were sad, compared to just 42% for the season 8 premiere.

GOT Season 8, Episode 1: World Record For Piracy

The first episode of Season 8 was pirated more than 55 million times in the first 24 hours (source: The Verve). The official legal audience in the US for the first broadcast was 17.4 million viewers across all official platforms (TV and OTT). 11.8 million watched live on TV. The top 3 countries with the most pirated views were India with 10 million views, China with 5 million views and the US with 4 million. These incredible pirated views show the planetary character of the series and that season 8 was long time expected by fans from all over the world. In addition, HBO NOW saw a jump of approximately 50% in viewing when compared to last season’s finale and a 97% increase when compared to the seventh season premiere. This Sunday also accounts for the largest night of streaming activity ever for HBO.

Game of Thrones Cast Is The Most Well Paid TV Cast In The World

Game-of-thrones-cast-salaries

After the show’s tremendous success, it’s no secret that the cast of the hit fantasy HBO epi-drama get paid pretty well. Here is the net salary per episode for the key main characters.

  • Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen): USD $710’000
  • Kit Harington (John Snow): USD $710’000
  • Lena Heady (Cersei Lannister): USD $710’000
  • Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister): USD $710’000
  • Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister): USD $710’000
  • Maisie Williams (Arya Stark): USD $210’000
  • Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark): USD $210’000

With Season 8 containing 6 episodes, this means that the top 7 actors will receive for the entire season around USD $23.8 million salary. The first episode was aired on April 14th and it was called “Winterfell”. The following episodes will air each Sunday following the premiere, which will lead us towards May 19th.

The series conclusion is probably one of the best-kept secrets in the world, nobody really knows what is going to happen. One thing we do know: Winter is coming.

José Amorim
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Five Reasons To Buy Your Luxury Watch Pre-owned

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You could buy a pre-owned watch from the year you were born, the year you got married, or even a retired color or unique style that speaks to you. Discover the excitement of the hunt for that unusual, rare watch find, with the idea that you will have a one-of-a-kind timepiece gracing your arm.

Here are 5 reasons to buy your luxury watch pre-owned

1)   Choice

Remember that watch you really wanted when you were a teenager, but couldn’t afford? There is a good chance you can find it in the pre-owned market, probably for a reasonable price. The pre-owned watch market is full of rare and discontinued models for smart shoppers looking for bargains.

For example, bag this Cartier Roadster for a pretty decent price, the pre-owned luxury watch market offers loads of choice.

cartier-roadster

2)   Save

Just like buying a car, a brand new watch depreciates as soon as you “drive” it out of the showroom. In fact, the biggest hit on a watch’s value is when it goes from new to pre-owned. The pre-owned luxury watch market can offer more for your budget, with watches that are out of your reach as new suddenly made more affordable. This means you can buy a watch with more features, precious metals, or even rare jewels, thanks to the lower initial cost over the new luxury watch market.

3)   Still keep your warranty

If you choose a reputable retailer such as Chonoexpert, you can buy with confidence, knowing that each watch has been examined and rated for condition, from new (in box with papers) and so on. You can have peace of mind that you can return your pre-owned luxury watch within 14 days if you regret your purchase. Each watch on their website also comes with a 12-month warranty.

4)   Resale Value

When you are ready to trade in your watch for something else, reselling your pre-owned watch works to your advantage. The depreciation factor on your pre-owned watch is much more gradual than if you were to have purchased the watch new.

You may even find that your watch has increased in value since you purchased it. Therefore, when you decide to purchase another luxury watch, you are in a better financial position to trade up, so to speak. In addition, if you had a good buying experience, you have a route to sell or even make a trade by using the same service.

second-hand-watches

5)   Authenticity

Reputable luxury watch sellers, whether online or brick-and-mortar, will offer a 100% guarantee that the watches they have on offer are authentic. Avoid resellers who also deal in copies, fakes, or non-originals, as these dealers can often have fine print that locks you in after a sale.

Luxury watch marketplaces that have a team of experts to guarantee the watches listed on their site are authentic, give customers confidence that they are buying the best in the world.

When buying a luxury watch, don’t limit yourself to what’s flavor of the moment; buying pre-owned opens up your chance to be unique with your style.

Emily
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The Best Temples to See in Vietnam

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There are many reasons why so many people come to Vietnam each year. This is a truly incredible place with an enormous amount to see and do for every type of visitor. Arguably, the best aspect of Vietnam is exploring the breathtaking temples which give you a glimpse into the country’s fascinating ancient past. Here are a few of the best temples to visit during your trip here:

Tran Quoc Pagoda

Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Vietnam dating back to the 6th century. The main pagoda reaches 15 metres high with the surrounding structures including a fascinating museum, an incense burning house and more to explore.

Tran-Quoc-Pagoda-Vietnam

Temple of Literature

Founded in 1070, this Confucian temple contains the very first university in Vietnam and it is one of the most famous temples in the country. There are 5 impressive courtyards to explore and a great place to go to relax and unwind.

Mariammam Hindu Temple

This striking Hindu temple in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City was built at the end of the 19th centre as a dedication to Mariammam – the Hindu goddess. It is one of the most popular temples in Vietnam largely thanks to the colourful and beautifully crafted statues of Amman in her different avatars.

Mariammam-Hindu-Temple

Thien Hau Temple

Located in the middle of Chinatown in Ho Chi Minh City, this Chinese-style temple was originally constructed in 1760 but has since undergone a number of restorations. It is dedicated to the Lady of the Sea and houses a number of cool antiques inside, including incense burners which date back to 1886. There are also amazing porcelain figures on the roof which depict scenes from Chinese religions and legends.

Thien-Hau-Temple

Staying Culturally Appropriate

It is important to note that visitors must be respectful, culturally appropriate and have the right etiquette when visiting any of the temples in Vietnam. These are religious sites so you must show respect when visiting here. This includes wearing conservative clothing and avoiding shorts, dresses, skirts, low necklines and bare shoulders. Those on adventure holidays in Vietnam should ask their guides for advice on what to wear and how to act not only when visiting the temples but elsewhere in Vietnam as it can be conservative especially away from the major cities.

Vietnam is a wonderful country with an incredible amount to see and do. The temples are easily one of the highlights and will give you an insight into this country’s intriguing and mystical past. The above are just a few of the best temples to visit during a trip here but there are many more to consider. You must also remember to be respectful and abide by etiquette in order to avoid causing offence.

Ed
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Find Out What To Wear In St.Tropez: 2019 Summer Guide

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Let us guide be your guide for what to wear in St. Tropez 2019 – Look and feel the part this summer.

The Cote D’Azur has long been a jet-set destination, and this is perhaps why a classic style has always been in favour here. Yet while it may look majestic, St. Tropez fashion is a lot more attainable than you may think. The key to achieving that effortless French Riviera style is to plan your outfits so they do all the work for you.

Here are five looks to bring that coveted je ne sais quoi to your holiday wardrobe, taking you from day to night, from beach to bar, from Les Parcs de Saint Tropez to Les Caves du Roy.

Here’s what to wear in St. Tropez in summer 2019

Relaxing

Sunbathe in a stylish one-piece. This is a sophisticated choice in a place where everyone shows up in their best beachwear ready to lounge by the sea, sip Champagne, admire the scenery and spot the celebrities. With the right accessories, a swimsuit can also take you from the sandy shore to the beach club.

Relaxing-in-Saint-Tropez

It goes without saying that sunglasses are the essential accompaniment of choice (cat-eye design for added vintage points), along with espadrilles and a kaftan or crocheted maxi dress when heading to the bar for a café or crème glacée.

Shopping

Opt for a lightweight cotton or linen dress in white or neutral shades for a feminine, timeless silhouette. If it’s a little cooler, go for a black or white t-shirt tucked into your high-waisted Levi’s. Add delicate gold jewellery and your trusted shades to create a look that’s not only comfortable and chic, but also makes trying on any items that take your fancy even easier.

The St. Tropez fashion is for ballet flats or gladiator sandals over heels, creating a relaxed, Riviera style.

Strolling

Classic polka dots, florals and nautical patterns are the way to make a contemporary statement in the Cote D’Azur. Whether worn as a blouse or a scarf, these prints are timeless so will still look good for years to come. Team with a natural raffia basket bag and you’ll look like a local as you take in the late afternoon sun on your way for an aperitif.

As the sun begins to set, layer up with a cardigan tied around your shoulders.

Dining

For dinner, the question of what to wear in St. Tropez in 2019 is not much different to any other year. Indulge in plats de fruits de mer and a nice bottle of Dom Perignon while donning another fashion favourite: the little black dress. This wardrobe staple is about as French as a buttery croissant and can take you anywhere. When you’ve found ‘the one’, you’ll feel extra comfortable and cool on those warm Riviera nights.

Pair with your favourite jacket or blazer (over your shoulders if it’s too warm to wear), embellished flat sandals, a relaxed updo and a soft red lip for très chic dinner time style.

Partying

Dance into the early hours in one of the many hybrid restaurant-turned-nightclubs; it’s the most popular way to party in St. Tropez. That’s why your little black dress is an ideal St. Tropez fashion piece to take you through the night elegantly and effortlessly.

Partying-in-Saint-Tropez

The next day, head to the private beach clubs of Pampelonne in your swimsuit, kaftan and a woven sun hat to take your capsule holiday wardrobe full circle.

Lara Candido Porter
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Five Reasons To Say No To A Smart Meter

LuxuryActivist
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Hailed as technology’s answer to high home energy bills, smart meters are installed in nearly seven million homes in the UK, with every household set to be offered one by 2020. Unfortunately, in addition to being fraught with problems, smart meters have not been the budget saviour they were promised to be. Here are 5 reasons to say no to a smart meter.

1- Smart meters compromise security and privacy

Hacking issues arose almost immediately when the smart meter installation effort was announced. Security experts still warn that smart meters can become infected with viruses, spreading it around other devices in your home.

smart-meter-review

Still other experts call out concerns of hacking, warning that the device could be used by terrorists. Of further concern, there are no privacy laws protecting the data on your energy consumption or how the information can be used.

2- Smart meters don’t work in low-signal areas

Consumers in areas with poor mobile signals have reported intermittent operation of their meters, at best. Meters in areas with challenging mobile signals “went dumb”, leading to estimated meter readings that everyone was trying to avoid in the first place.

Other consumers reported that they just did not receive a bill at all for an extended period, having to catch up in one lump sum that really broke their budget.

3- The display on smart meters is difficult to understand

One of the main consumer complaints about smart meters is the inability to understand the smart interface portion of the meter that is installed inside the home. This interface should provide the consumer with data about usage and cost, but most people are unable to understand the information shown. While mobile app development may solve this problem, not every provider makes these available.

4- Nobody has reported any significant savings thanks to a smart meter

Our cousins on the continent swear by their smart meters and how they revolutionized their energy consumption, purely because they provided homeowners with the real-time information on how much energy they were using, giving them the ability to adjust.

However, there is no evidence that smart meters have affected energy use in this way in the UK. In one study, British Gas has disclosed that the average smart meter customer saves an average of £30 per year. Additionally, most energy providers encourage annual payment plans, which results in most consumers paying on estimated monthly use and leaving credits of hundreds of pounds on their accounts.  You could probably save more more simply by  paying a visit to usave.co.uk to compare energy prices.

5- They make it harder to switch suppliers

Some consumers were in for a surprise when they tried to switch their energy supplier and the smart meter they had in their home was incompatible with new communications. Even though the consumer had compared energy prices online and found a better deal, switching suppliers meant that they still had an estimated usage, forced to submit manual readings like in the old days.

Ofgem agrees; the average savings of consumers who switch is £200 per annum, which leaves smart meter savings in the dust. Use the free comparison tool and join almost 5 million consumers that have switched their energy suppliers since 2016.

Emily John
Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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