Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Best Photography Equipment for Travel Blogging

Best Photography Equipment for Travel Blogging

Every day, I get questions about my travel gear and photography equipment for travel. I want to disclose that I am not a professional photographer but I do love sharing my travel experiences through beautiful photos, videos and vlogs.

So, here is the best photography equipment for travel blogging in my opinion!

Fujifilm Travel Photography Gear

– – The Best Camera Bodies – –

For the Beginner Blogger

Fujifilm X-T10

This camera is great for people that are just starting to get their feet wet in photography and will mostly be shooting on automatic settings!

This mirrorless digital camera is one of my favorite to shoot with when I’m out exploring for the day. Of all the cameras I have used over the past few years, I’ve found that it has the best automatic settings. In addition to the pretty vintage style, the body is super lightweight and small in size, making it more discreet than other models.

If you want to test your skills at manual shooting, you are able to easily adjust the combination of aperture, shutter speed and shooting functions while concentrating on picture taking- so you have options!

More details on Fujifilm X-T10!

For the Aspiring or Advanced Photographer

Fujifilm X-T2

This camera is the newest addition to Fujifilm’s X Series, and I’m in love! I just used it for the first time on my trip to Iceland and was so happy with the quality and features.

The camera has a compact Magnesium body, and is well-balanced for handling and grip, and features a new Auto Focus system. This camera is definitely geared more towards professionals or experience photographers!

One of my favorite things is the video quality on the X-T2– it captures approx. 1.8x the required number of pixels for 4K video and 2.4x the required data for full HD video so delivers superior quality!

More details on Fujifilm X-T2!

For the Travel Vlogger

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

This is my favorite point and shoot camera for video! It has impressive quality, and shoots 1080p Full HD video in MP4 format with stereo sound.

What makes it so awesome for vlogging is the preview screen’s tilt option of 180 Degree up and 45 Degree down, so you can always see your frame, even when you’re shooting yourself. You can check out some of the vlogs I’ve shot on the the camera HERE!

More details on the Canon G7 X Mark II!

For the Adventure Traveler

GoPro HERO5 Black

The new GoPro HERO5 Black perfect for on-the-go travel and outdoor adventures– it’s waterproof and more durable than ever.

From shooting sunrise time lapses in Indonesia to diving deep into the Blue Hole off the coast of Belize, I don’t go anywhere without my GoPro, the 3-way Mount and extra GoPro batteries.

More details on GoPro HERO5 Black!

For Any Traveler

Apple iPhone Unlocked Smart Phone

If a SLR camera isn’t in the budget for your next trip, snapping photos on your iPhone is a great alternative for taking travel photos.

A smart phone is not only good for taking photos and editing apps, but as a WiFi remote for your camera!

More details on Apple Unlocked iPhone!

Best Photography Equipment for Travel Blogging

– – Lenses – –

FUJINON XF18-55mmF2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Zoom Lens

This 18-55mm lens is the first one I got for my Fujifilm X Series bodies and it is the lens I shoot with 90% of the time– it is the most versatile lens in my kit. It is great for most shots you’ll take day to day exploring.

The lens also has a great range of zoom and a solid option for everyday use!

FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R (Prime Lens)

For those not familiar, a prime lens has no zoom capability– it shoots a fixed range of distance, which allows for a better range of depth of field. The lens creates a beautiful out-of-focus background so it’s ideal for lifestyle and portrait photography.

If you’re looking for a good lens for fashion shots or photos of people when traveling, this is it!

FUJINON XF10-24mmF4 R OIS Wide Angle Zoom Lens

Ever wanted to get an epic shot, but all the elements wouldn’t fit in the photo? You’ll need a wide angle for that!

Having a wide angle lens is awesome for landscape shots or shooting indoors in tight spaces. I typically use it when I want to shoot a large building or monument, or give something scale. If there’s not a lot of room to capture the entire scene, I’ll always switch to this lens.

FUJINON XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Zoom Lens

This is a big zoom lens and not something I bring on every trip. It obviously takes a lot of space in my backpack, so I only bring it when I know I’ll need it, like when I’m going on a safari! The lens has a focus range of 1.75m with a magnification of 0.19x so when you add the 1.4X Teleconverter you get an additional 1.4X zoom.

For more specification, check out My Travel Photography Gear (Perfect for Female Travelers!)!

Driving the Golden Circle

– – Photography Accessories – –

Fujifilm Instax Share Smart Phone Printer

Print Instax photos by sending images from your smartphones to the small, portable printer by using the free Instax Share app!

ONA The Bowery Camera Bag

This bag fits your camera, a lens and a few small personal items! Remove the strap and the bg functions as a protective camera organizer inside of a larger bag.

Manfrotto Compact Tripod

The perfect tripod for stable video and travel photography.

Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Charger

Extra camera batteries are essential!

Lexar Professional 2000x 64GB SDXC UHS-II/U3

For use with the X-T2 camera and shooting 4K video (UHS-II/U3 card), a read transfer speed up to 2000x (300MB/s).

Lexar Professional 633x 32GB SDHC UHS-I Card

High-speed, UHS-I technology for a read transfer speed up to 633x (95MB/s).

miniSD/microSD Memory Card Case

Keep all of your memory cards organized in this portable, hard carrying case!

4TB Portable External Hard Drive

It is imperative to backup photos and videos, so I use this hard drive. It also automatically save photos from your social networks in cloud storage!

GoPro 3-Way Mount

This mount can be used as a camera grip, extension arm or tripod for ultra versatility and a variety of shots with you GoPro.

GoPro Jaws Clamp Mount

Clamp your GoPro to objects ranging in size from 0.25” to 2”– great for extreme sports.

LifeProof in Iceland

– – iPhone Accessories – –

LifeProof NUUD Waterproof iPhone Case

Be sure to protect you smartphone from water damage, but also capture underwater shots!

Iblazr

This LED light is a great tool for shooting on your iPhone! You can wirelessly sync it to native camera apps on iOS and Android thru Bluetooth.

olloclip 4-IN-1 Camera Lens Kit

This 4-in-1 lens includes a fisheye Lens, wide-angle lens, a 10x and 15x macro lens, plus 2 lens caps!

Apps

Check out my favorite smart phone photo-editing apps HERE!

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Staying at the Barceló Maya Beach Resort in Riviera Maya

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort in Riviera Maya

The stunning Riviera Maya blows it out of the water! Once a land of quaint fishing villages, the Riviera Maya is now one of the hottest destinations on the planet.

With its coastline dotted with high-end resorts, fine dining, luxury spas, and endless shopping, the Riviera Maya is the ultimate luxe getaway. As soon as you set foot on the powdery white sand and dip into the crystal clear turquoise water, you will never want to leave.

I spent some time at Barceló Maya Beach earlier this year as a part of their Barcelo Stories campaign– it was a blast!

Check out all the fun in the sun at Barceló in Riviera Maya!

– The Resort –

The Barceló Resort allows guests to enjoy more than one hotel’s services thanks to their vast property that includes five different hotels: Barceló Maya Beach, Barceló Maya Caribe, Barceló Maya Tropical, Barceló Maya Colonial and Barceló Maya Palace– all of which I would recommend.

This incredible beachside resort spans 1.2 miles and has 14 different bars for enjoying the best Caribbean cocktails, including a 24-hour bar with buffet service and bowling alley.

Barceló Palace

In addition, it features the Jaguar nightclub for teenagers, as well as an incredible shopping center where visitors can purchase designer clothes. The resort is inspired by Mayan architecture and is located on an impressive white sand beach surrounded by spectacular gardens and pools.

With more than 2,700 stunning rooms, three chic restaurants, and three modern bars, the resort has it all. In fact, you could have an amazing vacation without ever setting foot outside the hotel, especially with the All-Inclusive or Premium packages.

Sunrise

Lounge beachside with a cocktail. Work up a sweat at its top-of-the-line gym, sports courts, and water sports facilities. Hit the dance floor at its swank nightclub. When you are ready to relax, go unwind poolside.

– The Rooms –

I stayed at the Barceló Maya Beach hotel, and it was flawless. The elegant, modern rooms feature minibars, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, hot tubs, and sitting rooms. And, of course, you can get dinner at three in the morning thanks to its 24/7 room service.

I stayed in a Oceanfront Junior Suite, on the ground floor, so it had an awesome swim-up pool area, a patio, and was close to the beach!

– The Spa –

The U-Spa Wellness and Fitness Center sits in the middle of the property, and is inspired by the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. The saunas, steam showers, tropical and bithermal showers, dynamic pool, and immersion pools will transport you to another world.

Get a massage, body wrap, and a facial. Lounge in one of the U-Spa Wellness and Fitness Center’s twenty-six treatment rooms, the float room, the hydrotherapy room, one of the three Vichy showers, or the Swiss room.

Massage on the Beach

Ready to get gorgeous? Go in for a waxing, manicure, and pedicure, and maybe even splurge on a hair and makeup session.

I requested a massage on the beach, and it was the dreamiest.

– Food & Drink –

The best thing about the Barceló Resort is the FOOD! Its all-inclusive package gives you a totally stress-free vacay. With three meals a day, taxes, tips, snacks, and drinks included, you will never have to worry about searching for restaurants or overpaying for so-so food.

The food was fresh and diverse, and so you are able to try something new for every meal at one of its sixteen restaurants, which includes four buffet-style restaurants, four grill restaurants facing the beach, and eight à-la-carte restaurants.

Barceló Resort Restaurants

Sample authentic Mexican cuisine at México Lindo, Spanish food at La Fuente, fresh seafood at Mare Nostrum, Japanese food at Kyoto or Tokyo, Italian food at Capri or La Trattoria Ristorante Italiano, and fresh meats at Santa Fe.

My favorite dinner was at the Caribe restaurant– fresh seafood and delicious wine!

The fourteen different bars at the resort are open twenty-four hours and have everything you could ever ask for! You’ll be impressed at every turn.

– Activities –

I could stay at the resort and in the surrounding area, that you will never get bored. In addition to the pools, bar and beautiful beach, there are many activities on the resort’s property for adventure seekers.

Go snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, or parasailing, or even hop on a hobie cat.

Jet Skiing in Riviera Maya

There is no better place on the planet to go diving than the beautiful seas of the Caribbean, so take advantage of this stunning location.

You can also easily visit Akumal to swim with turtles, Tulum to explore ancient Mayan ruins, or swim in beautiful cenotes that are just a short drive from the resort.

The option are endless!

More Information

Hotel: Barceló Maya Beach Hotel
Location: Carretera Chetumal-Puerto Juárez Km. 266.3, Riviera Maya, Q.R., Mexico
Accommodation: Resort – Option for All-Inclusive
Price Range: $$

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Ultimate Guide to The Yacht Week Italy

Guide to The Yacht Week Italy

What to Expect

Leading up to The Yacht Week Italy, I have to admit it was the route I was most excited about. The route is actually in Sicily which is still part of Italy, but has its own unique culture and highlights.

This is definitely the most posh (or luxurious) route in terms of destinations. Each little port town has major appeal for luxury travelers… and for good reason.

For that reason, I’ve included information below that highlights The Yacht Week Italy!

TYW Italy

Rated on a scale of 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Nightlife: 3

The Yacht Week Italy is more tame than some of the other routes, though there are some great clubs and parties. There’s a different sophistication about the nightlife making the Italy route unique from other routes.

Day Parties: 2

There aren’t really any organized day parties on the Italy route but you get the opportunity to see a LOT of the destinations you travel to. If you do want to day party, come prepared to “bring a cup of sugar.” There are some incredible opportunities to sail with other boats to gorgeous grottos and tie up for your own “rosé all day” party.

Make some friends and get the party started!

Activities: 5

Italy was one of my favorite routes for fun-filled days. We did SO much exploring with sailing to smaller islands to swim and roaming the cute Sicilian port towns.

You also get the incredible opportunity to trek an active volcano on Stromboli island. It was actually erupting the day we were supposed to hike it, so we watched the lava explode into the sky from the island of Panarea instead.

Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Local Culture: 4

Sicily is a special place for both food and culture. The locals are proud to be Sicilian and eager to share their unique culture with you. You’ll still find delicious Italian food here, but a traditional Sicilian meal can’t be missed.

You also get to sail to some spectacular islands, like Panarea, which is frequented by the rich and famous for its gorgeous vistas and beautiful marina.

Sailing Italy

Sailing Experience: 5

In the famous words of Borat, “wah wah wee wah!” The Italy route brings you to some insanely beautiful locations. We saw dolphins, a smoking volcano and gorgeous islands.

Side note: Ladies, this is also the best route to go topless without people gawking. Many days, you get gorgeous destinations all to yourself!

Say buh-bye to tan lines!

The Yacht Week Italy Bikinis

Size of Route: 2

Approx. 15-25 boats per route

The Yacht Week Italy is a smaller route which is hard to believe because it is so amazing! It’s the best route for a little bit of luxe, a whole lotta rosé and some incredible sailing.

Extra Costs: 3

There are a couple days on the Italy route with expensive port fees. The market in the marina at Portorosa is extremely limited and expensive so hire a taxi and drive a ways to another nearby market to save some cash.

The Yacht Week Floaties

Pros:

Gorgeous island destinations
Local culture
Lots of fun activities

Cons:

Inconvenient and expensive shopping
Remote start destination

Before You Go

There are a few key things to prepare before any trip on The Yacht Week. Obviously, finding a killer crew, booking a boat and getting travel insurance are the most important!

And remember, a detailed itinerary of your week will be released 2 weeks before the event.

Finding a Crew

Whether you have a group of friends ready to book the trip of a lifetime or not, there are a few key ingredients to putting together a crew. First off, you want a group of open-minded, fun-loving people (with at the very least, a mild sense of responsibility).

TYW is all about having a good time, but keep in mind that carrying your own weight on costs, cleanup on the boat throughout the week and planning is essential for all crew members. Also, keep in mind that TYW has a “gender ratio” on most routes- meaning you’ve gotta bring some girls. Nobody wants a bro fest.

If you don’t have a big enough group of friends to fill your boat, The Yacht Week crew finder is the best resource for putting together a crew. If you’re looking to join a crew, or are looking to fill your boat, you can find awesome people there to complete your tribe.

Booking a Boat

Once you’re ready to book, the process is pretty straight forward. There is only one Italy route and two different weeks to choose from in either June and July.

It is important to remember that most of the boats don’t have A/C or fans in the cabins, so bring you own battery-powered fans!

BOOK ITALY HERE

Getting Travel Insurance

I know. I know. Nobody likes to talk about this stuff. But, what do you get when you mix cocktails, sunscreen and a boat deck? A blonde and a broken arm. A broken arm on a remote island means a first-class helicopter ride and thousands of dollars in medical bills. Get travel insurance.

You can read more about why you need travel insurance, but consider it a small price to pay for the reassurance of a great trip. One person in your crew should also pack a First-Aid kit. Cuts and boo-boos happen all the time.

Get a travel insurance quote here!

Yacht Week Italy Fun

What to Pack

Packing for The Yacht Week is pretty much the same whether you’re going to Italy or the BVIs. Be sure to read my complete packing guide “How to Pack for The Yacht Week in a Carry On,” but here is a list of the essentials:

First things first, do everything in your power to pack in a soft duffle bag. If everyone arrives with big, hard suitcases there is nowhere to store them and they will lay on top of your beds or in the living room. It’s the worst. Most cabins have mini-closets so you’re able to unpack most of your things and roll the duffle bag up to store completely out of your way.

Duffle bag for your carry-on
Small cross body-bag for everyday use

Props & Toys

Misc.

Auxiliary-cord
CD’s- Each boat has a different sound system setup. To be safe, I always bring an auxiliary-cord and make a handful of CD’s as well. Throw some 90’s songs on there just for nostalgia.
LifeProof Waterproof iPhone Case
GoPro with Floaty Back
Selfie Stick – I know they don’t make you look cool, but this is one trip you’ll want one
Multi-port charger
Floating key chain (optional)
Dry-bag (optional) – if you are bringing a camera or any electronic that is not waterproof
Battery powered fan for your cabin (optional) – some boats have A/C, some have fans… and some do not

NAME	MARINA	BUOY	ANCHOR	TAXI SERVICE
Volcano	$55-80	none	none	none
Salina	$55-110	none	none	included
Lipari	$45-75	none	none	none
Stromboli	none	none	free	none
Panarea	none	$45-80	none	included

Total Per Yacht

COUNTRY	WATER	FUEL	TAXI	PORT FEES	TOTAL
Italy	$45-65	$175-275	$0	$220-350	$450-700

And last, but not least, don’t forget to tip your “skip” at the end of your trip. (They’re not just there as eye-candy. That’s just a huge bonus.)

Grocery Shopping Yacht Week Croatia

Grocery Shopping Guide

I’ve consistently found that grocery shopping for a boat of 10 people costs between $1000-$1500 for the entire week. So, assume approximately $120 minimum needs to be pooled from each crew member.

(NOTE: Consider your skipper an extra head to count when doing your food and booze shopping for the boat. A well-fed skipper is a happy skipper.)

I found the Italy route to be the most difficult for grocery shopping. There is a measly little shop in the marina that is incredibly limited and expensive. We picked two “responsible” shoppers from our crew to catch a taxi to the nearest “bigger” grocery shop to finish the majority of our alcohol and food shopping. It was definitely more of a hassle than any other route, but we managed to get everything we needed.

Be aware that there will be limited choices because it is a small town, so if there’s something you absolutely need, plan to bring it with you from home!

Breakfast. Yogurt and granola with fresh fruit is pretty much my go-to breakfast on sailing trips. But, eggs also keep really well! Buy bagels and the fixings or some fresh bread so you can make egg sandwiches or toast. Don’t forget instant coffee if you are a morning coffee drinker!
Lunch. In Italy, you can’t go wrong stocking up with supplies to make a giant salad every day for lunch. Buy lots of tomatoes, onion, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, olives, mozzarella cheese balls and balsamic & olive oil. It’s easy to prepare a big portion for everyone to share, then each person can make whatever else they feel like: canned tuna, a sandwich, pasta, etc.
Dinners. You can plan to eat out for most dinners — and, in Italy, you’ll find most meals organized by The Yacht Week are worth attending!

Note: All boats have stovetops and small refrigerators, and most catamarans have a BBQ on the back, but double check before you head to the store.

Fresh Pizza

Snacks. Don’t forget to buy lots of snacks! Stick to your senses- something salty, sweet, savory and sour! Lots of chips, some gummy candies, fresh fruit, dry meats & cheeses with crackers, etc. Hard boiling eggs and keeping them in a ziplock in the fridge is also a great idea for a quick protein packed snack.

Drinks. Buy lots of water. The rule of thumb is 1.5 liters per person per day. Best tip is that everyone brings their own refillable water bottle, then buy water in gallon jugs. As for alcohol- buy twice as much as you think you need! A few bottles of wine for meals, lots of prosecco, rosé, beer, hard alcohol and mixers!

Condiments. There might be salt and pepper on the boat, but don’t count on it. You’ll need to buy your own spices, sauces, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc.
Supplies. Don’t forget things like paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags and ziplock bags! For grilling, the charcoal bricks make life really easy.

For more information visit the The Yacht Week website!

TYW Fun

SHOP my favorite yachting essentials and styles!

The Ultimate Guide to The Yacht Week Italy is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

from The Blonde Abroad http://ift.tt/2f1xKK9

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Why You Need to Travel with a Wi-Fi Hotspot + GIVEAWAY! ($1000 Value)

Travel with a WiFi Hotspot

You never realize how much you rely on your phone until you are on the other side of the planet without data or service. As a travel blogger, figuring out how I’m going to connect to the Internet is always a top priority.

Having good Internet access makes travel so much easier. Fortunately, you can stay connected 24/7 with a Skyroam Wi-Fi hotspot.

Here are the top reasons why you need to travel with a Wi-Fi hotspot!

Skyroam is giving away “The Ultimate Travel Tech Kit” right now, which is worth $1,000!

Keep reading for details on how to enter to win!

Skyroam Mobile WiFi Hotspot

Staying Connected While You Travel

As much as I love to turn off my phone and disconnect, having access to the Internet is essential. Between the need for local maps, to posting a few quick pics online, or just letting my mom know that I’m okay, I can’t stay offline for long.

Whether you are a digital nomad working on the go or you are taking your first solo trip abroad, it’s a pain not having Internet access. After spending many trips wandering around looking for free Wi-Fi and paying crazy roaming charges, I was excited to find out about Skyroam Wi-Fi hotspots.

Travel with a WiFi Hotspot

About Skyroam

I recently heard about Skyroam and decided to try it out in Iceland. I had an awesome experience using the hotspot and it’s definitely become one of my travel essentials.

Skyroam has announced that it is now in more than 100 countries around the world.

This is a massive perk when you are on the go. You literally just turn on your hotspot and it’ll automatically connect to the local network. Just check Skyroam’s coverage map before you go to make sure you will be covered, and you’re set. You don’t need to register or even know which local networks you are using.

I used to pick up a new SIM card in every country I visited. It was pretty cheap compared to paying roaming fees, but it was still far from a bargain. On top of that, different countries have very different mobile data plans, so it can get complicated.

You might get lucky finding Wi-Fi spots in some areas, but you can never count on it. Even ultramodern destinations, like Tokyo, have very few public networks, so you don’t want to rely on just stumbling across a Wi-Fi zone.

I’m impressed by Skyroam Wi-Fi because I can go anywhere and instantly connect, and they’ve just announced that it now has coverage in over 100 countries around the world. No language barrier, no unlocking, no weird cell registration restrictions, and no need to waste time trying to find a SIM card retailer.

Just simple, quick and reliable Internet.

Skyroam Mobile WiFi

How Skyroam Works

Skyroam has a deal going at the moment so it’s a good time to get yourself set up. If you are a regular traveler, the best plan is to invest in a hotspot. The Skyroam Global Hotspot is normally $124.99 but it is on sale for $99.99 right now. On top of that, you’ll get three completely free global Wi-Fi daypasses.

Once you own a hotspot, you can top up with more global daypasses.

Skyroam works on a day pass system. If you’re going to be using navigation and uploading photos, this is a dream. You never have to try to figure out how much data you’ve used. Day passes give you unlimited global Internet access for twenty-four hours.

If you want to check it out commitment free, renting is a good option. You can either pick up your hotspot (depending on your location) or have it mailed to you. It’s only $9.95 a day for unlimited Internet anywhere.

– – Giveaway! – –

Ready to upgrade your travel? Skyroam is giving away “The Ultimate Travel Tech Kit” right now, which is worth $1,000. You could win:

Skyroam Global Hotspot with travel case and charger
100 24-hour days passes of free Skyroam international data
Flight001’s acclaimed 4-in-1 universal travel adapter
Skyroam Wi-Fi & Chill T-Shirt and sunglasses

Who wouldn’t want that? Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway