Travel
Should I Join a Frequent Flyer Program
Back in 2008, I joined my first frequent flier program. Despite having traveled around the world for close to two years, I never saw the value in signing up for one – I’d always been more concerned with price than brand loyalty, so I switched…

Joining a frequent flyer program is important and very valuable if you fly often. Saving you money, making booking easier and enjoying in all the perks related to frequent flyer programs, you will be a happier traveler for sure.
Back in 2010, I joined my first frequent flyer program. Despite having traveled around the world for close to two years, I never saw the value in signing up for one – I’d always been more concerned with price than brand loyalty, so I switched networks and carriers all the time. The lowest price always won.
Another reason I had never signed up before? All my favorite carriers are spread out over different alliances. Japan Airlines (JAL) is on the Oneworld network, while Singapore is on Star Alliance. Emirates Airline, the carrier that makes me salivate the most, isn’t on any of these networks.
Yet back in 2010 I realized that as I was going to fly around the world more, blogging as I went, it was probably a good idea to join an airline alliance – racking up miles, earning upgrades, and getting lounge access was probably a good idea for someone who was going to be in an airport every few weeks.
Over the years, I’ve been a member of all the alliances and my opinion about these programs has changed since I first wrote about them in 2008. Last year, I wrote about why people should not be members of frequent flier programs. Sure, you should always sign up for the program to get the points, but if you aren’t flying enough to hit elite flier status, then you should base your decisions on price. Go with the lowest price and when you do get miles, exchange them for a free flight.
But if you do think you are going to fly enough to make it worth it, you should totally join a frequent flyer program. The lowest tiers in the program, while not great, usually start at 20,000 flown miles.
You can read a lot of opinions on which program to join. Some people will say to join them all, others will tell you to join the ones with your favorite carriers, and others believe you should join the one with the major airline in your home town. I’m of the last opinion. The right alliance to join is the one on which you will most likely earn elite status.
This year I switched from Oneworld to Star Alliance. I did so because I was supposed to move to Europe and the major airline out of Stockholm is SAS, a Star Alliance member. But now that I’ve moved back to the States? I’ve switched back to American, a Oneworld carrier, because they have a hub at JFK and I like them better than United, who is part of Star Alliance.
I strongly recommend that if you are going to be traveling a lot, you stick to one alliance and earn elite flier status. Your status will last 14 months, so even if you don’t fly a lot the following year, you can still reap the benefits for a little while longer.
Because there is nothing like seeing the line for security check-in and realizing you can whiz right on past it or sit in a comfortable lounge with free drinks to make the flying experience infinitely times better.
Check out the full article over at NomadicMatt
Travel
Road Trip! European Edition
Road trips and European vacations are pretty much the two best kinds of vacations out there. So why not combine the two?!

Everyone loves a good road trip. There’s just something about getting the hell out of town and hitting the open road that makes you feel alive. But it can also be a fun and entertaining element of a European vacation! Here are some of the best road trip options in all of Europe.
GERMAN ALPINE ROAD, GERMANY
If you’ve ever been a fan of The Sound of Music, then this is the European road trip for you! The incredible combination of snow-peaked mountains and lush greenery will have you shaking your head in amazement every mile along the way. Some of the highlights include King Ludwig’s castle, Lake Constance, and Benediktbeuern Abbey.
RING ROAD, ICELAND
Thanks to its breathtaking views and delightfully cold weather, Iceland is quickly becoming one of the hottest vacation destinations in all of Europe. And if you want to get a road trip in while you’re there, Ring Road is the place to go. This whole trip can be done in just about 12-14 hours but has plenty of amazing volcanoes, icebergs, and hot springs along the way.
ITALIAN LAKES AND THE DOLOMITES, ITALY
What else can you say about Italy at this point? It’s just an incredible country that everyone needs to experience at least once. And what better way to do it that with a countryside road trip! This one is best enjoyed when given ample time, even as much as a full week. There are countless perfect lakes and quaint as they come villages along the drive. Just be sure to do it in the summer, and the area starts to see snow in the fall.
RING OF KERRY, IRELAND
Similar to Iceland, Ireland is a very popular vacation destination these days thanks to its incredible views and bundle-up-worthy weather. Sure, there are great Irish cities like Dublin, but if you really want to experience Ireland you should hit the Ring of Kerry in the southern part of the country. It’s only about 180 miles long, but you’ll see enough waterfalls, mountains, and castles to make you feel like you really did Ireland right.
AIX-EN-PROVENCE TO CASTELLANE, FRANCE
It’s no surprise that France is a beautiful and vacation-worthy country. But the drive from Aix-en-Provence to Castellane is rarely talked about as a must-see… and it should be. The incredible fields of lavender alone make it beyond worth it, but then once you’ve made it to the unbelievable beauty of Verdon Gorge you’ll be happy with your choice. Just be prepared, some of the mountain passes include some very narrow and winding roads!
NORTH COAST 500, SCOTLAND
This route is named as such because it covers a whopping 516 miles. But nearly every one of them is worth it if you want to have a great road trip experience during your trip to Scotland. You’ll catch plenty of lochs, mountains, rolling glens, and, of course, a few castles. There are even some amazing whiskey distilleries along the way. But you stop in one of those be sure you’re just grabbing some whiskey for later when you’re not driving.
Travel
Spend a Day With Nature: The Camping Trip Essentials You Should Always Pack

Getting out into the great outdoors is one of the best ways to become in tune with nature.
Going off the beaten path and finding your own campsite is a great way to unplug and unwind after a stressful week of work.
Although camping is fun, never go unprepared. Keep reading to discover our ultimate list of camping trip essentials you should always pack on your campaign trips.
Bathroom Essentials
No matter where you end up camping you’re going to need to use the bathroom and wash up. Be sure to pack the following:
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Shampoo, conditioner & body wash
- Towel & washcloth
- Toilet paper
- Hand soap
Depending on where you end up camping they may have restrooms, but if not it’s always good to be prepared with extras of everything. This camping towel is great because it dries quickly so you don’t have to worry as much about whether your towel is going to be ready for you when you’re ready for it.
Sleeping and Resting Equipment
If this is your first camping trip you may not be considering where you’re sleeping, but you definitely need to. Do you need a tent or sleeping bag? Are you sleeping in an RV or another camper?
Make sure you pack at least a sleeping bag, a pillow, and maybe even an extra blanket if you expect it to be cold while you’re camping.
Types of Food and Drinks to Bring
Unless you’re truly roughing it and hunting to eat, you should also pack camping trip food essentials. Bring items that don’t have to be heated to eat, and are also non-perishable. Check out these easy camping meals and expect to do some meal prepping before you head out.
Don’t forget your water either. Bringing a case of water bottles would be heavy, and isn’t environmentally friendly. Instead, get a filtered water bottle that you can easily fill up and use over and over again while you’re camping.
Electronic Essentials
While you may be camping to get off the grid it’s important to have safety electronics on hand in case of emergencies. Bring your cell phone with you and grab a solar-powered charger so you can keep it ready to go.
Don’t forget that it’s going to get dark at night too. Get yourself a reliable battery powered lantern with extra batteries. You’ll be happy you did this when you’re walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Depending on where you are you may not have any cell service so it’s also a good idea to bring a set of walkie-talkies. This way you’ll always have a sure way to reach either the people you’re with or emergency services.
Get Your Camping Trip Essentials Today
Now that you know our ultimate list of camping trip essentials plan a trip today! This camping trip essentials list will ensure you have the best camping trip possible.
Did you like this content? Then check out the rest of our blog for more great articles.
Travel
Moving To A Job For A 6 Or 12-Month Contract: Tips To Succeed

Working full-time at a company for years simply is not for everyone. There are those people with great skills that prefer to work on a contract basis. This could be for a year or for 6 months depending on the need of the client. The best aspect of contract work is that hours over 40 per week can be charged at a high rate. This will help reduce the chances of being asked to work a long weekend as it will be very expensive for the company. The truth is that you are not obligated outside of your 40 hours per week to do anything else. Below are tips to help you succeed when you are constantly taking on new contracts in various parts of the country.
Remote Roles Are Superior
The truth is that as a contractor you likely will want to find a remote role. Relocation can come with a number of issues and a multitude of stress. The one variable to consider is that some contractors take jobs in new locations so they can explore the country. The number of remote roles is exploding as so many people are refusing to head back to the office. The pandemic showed companies and professionals that they could maintain productivity while working at home. The convenience led some professionals to vow to never return to a traditional work environment.
Moving To A New City
Moving to a new city for a contract can be a blast as you have a certain amount of time that you will be there. You will likely try to find a rental but purchasing furniture is not something that would be considered a good investment. Furniture rental is likely the best option if you do not want to have to deal with moving furniture across the country when you get another contract. You want to get the most out of living in your new city which likely does not include going shopping for furniture. Take the time to look into all of your options for lodging as well as what part of a city that you would like to live in.
Be Realistic About Your Workload
Contractors can be taken advantage of by some companies as there is very little recourse for them. With this being said, there are contracts that will pay contractors through the entire contract even if they are terminated. You want to be paid on the same level as people that are just as productive as you. Being supremely productive might just lead to more work. You want to thrive in a new contract role without setting expectations far too high to sustain for the entire duration of the contract.
The ability to get new contracts regularly that pay well provides ultimate convenience. The ability to take a few months off after a contract allows you to rejuvenate mentally. Use the tips above so you will never have an issue finding a new contract due to the great reputation you have built.
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