Campervan Kit Out – 6 Tips for Stocking Your Campervan with Everything You Need

There’s an art and a science to stocking your campervan for a road trip. A lonely stretch of road or an isolated camping spot can be heaven if you’re perfectly prepared, but if you’re missing some essentials, your experience can flip into nightmare mode. From the ideal cookware to the perfect snacks, here are six tips that will ensure you’re comfortable, safe, and well provided for without being weighed down. 

1. Keep kitchenware simple

Multipurpose kitchenware is your best friend in a campervan. Get a saucepan of the right size, and it can prepare most of your meals and replace a teakettle. Get a frying pan of the same size, and you can pack one lid for both of them. Though some separate tools will be necessary, there are often ways you can serve multiple purposes with one device, thus cutting down the total size and weight of your kitchen kit. 

2. Become a lister and a planner

Making impulsive decisions is half the fun of campervan adventures. However, if you want to ensure you always have everything you need, it helps to plan things out and write lists. Having a packing list, meal plan, and grocery list will save you a lot of time and stress. And if you’re perfectly prepared for the week of meals ahead, you’ll be less wasteful and more able to make spur-of-the-moment decisions that you don’t end up regretting later. 

3. Be strategic with toiletries 

A first-aid kit plus any medicines or other medical supplies you need are all mandatory. However, you may be able to get away with a minimal kit when it comes to toiletries. If you’ll be on the road for quite some time, consider membership at one of the nationwide gyms in your country. This will give you access to their full network of facilities, meaning you’ll never be far from a well-stocked shower. Given the long days of driving involved in campervan trips, this is also a great way to stay in shape and keep your energy levels consistent. 

4. Pack shelf-stable snacks

Whether you step out of the surf famished because you lost track of time or you’re just bored with a long stretch of empty road, it always helps to have easy snacks on hand. Non-perishable options like trail mix, muesli bars, protein bars, and toasted chickpeas are ideal as you can keep them indefinitely. 

5. Refine your kit 

No matter how well-prepared you are, you’re bound to find that one key item would have made your trip so much easier. There were probably also a few things that got in your way and never really served a purpose. Take note of these items (and anything recommended to you by fellow travelers), and refine your kit after each trip. Before long, you’ll have the perfect campervan set-up. 

6. Check everything before you take off

This is especially important if you’ve had your van for a while and go on regular trips. Some items, like a tent or spare tire, may sit unused for months or years. If you just assume that they’re okay, you could be in for a rude shock when you need to use them. That spare tire may be flat, and the old tent may be moldy and unusable. So, make it a habit to check over all your supplies before taking off on each new adventure. 

There’s nothing like the freedom of carrying your home with you wherever you go. With the tips above, you can ensure your home-on-wheels is always able to provide what you need.  

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The Most Epic Road Trip Routes in the Southwest Region of the United States

The southwest of the United States has long occupied a special place in the cultural imagination of the country’s inhabitants. In the American vernacular, the act of “heading out west” is associated with freedom and a chance to start afresh, and this may be the reason why so many US citizens, as well as foreign tourists, gravitate towards the region every year to spend their holidays.

With its long open roads that take you past some of the most jaw-dropping scenery that you will find anywhere on the planet, the Southwestern States area truly is the land of the free. And what better way to explore and take in the majestic surroundings than from behind the wheel? It probably will not come as a surprise to you that the epic road trip routes here make the area one of the most popular places in North America to hit the open road with nothing to weigh you down but gas in the tank.

And, if you’re a digital nomad, all these locations are simply perfect for internet connectivity but of course, do plan your trip carefully because some of these routes will not have coverage at all. So if you have to work Monday – Friday, make sure you take these road trips during the weekends or during a long holiday weekend.

In this article, we take you through a selection of the best road trips that you can do on your next visit to the southwest. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride!

Phoenix to Las Vegas

Once you have touched down in Phoenix, AZ, and passed through immigration if you are a foreign visitor, pick up a rental car at the airport (make sure to sort out an ESTA visa before you travel to gain entry on arrival – check out this fantastic ESTA guide to see what you need to do to apply). If you are arriving after a long flight and need to catch up on rest, the best place to stay is in one of the great hotel resorts in Scottsdale or Carefree.

Hit the road the next due north toward Grand Canyon National Park. Having passed by the trendy town of Flagstaff and the gorgeous spa town of Sedona on the way, you will be awestruck when you arrive at your destination. The Grand Canyon is a 277-mile long cut into the earth that is 18 miles wide in some places.

On day three, you can make your way across the Utah-Arizona border to Monument Valley. The scene of countless Western movies, the park’s incredible rock formations glow red and orange as the sun goes down. Stop off in Navajo country to spend the night.

On day four, head west to Bryce Canyon. Here, you will see the “hoodoos” – strange-looking spires and fins that reach skyward from the ground. You can stay the night in Page, where you get an amazing view of the most famous slot canyon in the region.

On the way to your final destination of Vegas, where you can gamble and drink to your heart’s content, make sure to visit the Zion National Park. The landscape here resembles heaven on earth with its lush forests, emerald pools and its imposing red canyon walls.

San Francisco to Las Vegas

Set off from San Francisco across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge inland toward Napa Valley. The region is the most famous wine-producing areas in the United States, and it provides ample opportunity to pick up a tasting tour or two. If you are feeling adventurous, sign up for a balloon ride to get a bird’s eye view of the bucolic surroundings.

The next day, carry on east to Yosemite National Park. With over 1,000 square kilometres of pristine nature and landscape to be explored, the park is home to some of the most staggering sights. If you have enough time, take a trip up to Glacier Point for some of the best views of the park. It is worth spending more than a single day here – if you like camping, there are some excellent options.

On day four/five, drive south along Highway 365 over Toga Pass bound for Death Valley. Due to the extremely low altitude here (85m below sea level), temperatures can soar on the salt flats. However, the views of across the desert of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada make braving the high temperatures well worth it. When you have had enough, make the trip to Las Vegas for some debauched fun and games.

The southwestern region of the United States is best explored on four wheels. If you are heading out on a road trip anytime soon, the two routes described above have a bit of everything. Just make sure your vehicle is up to the task!

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Effective Strategies for Taking Your Home Business on the Road

Taking Your Home Business on the Road

Taking Your Home Business on the Road

As of 2018, “50 percent of small businesses are home-based firms, including 60.1 percent of firms without paid employees,” as reported by the Small Business Administration. Having and growing a home business offers plenty of exciting opportunities. When you do not have set office hours, and employees that are also location-independent (or no employees at all), you can conduct business from almost anywhere on the planet. This is definitely a big positive, as most small business owners find it challenging or even impossible to plan a formal vacation. If you are considering taking your home business on the road in the near future, explore three effective strategies for stress-free travels.

Complete normal prep for a vacation

If you haven’t routinely taken your work on the road, it can be easy to get caught up in the business side of things. Focusing too much on preparing your business for travel can cause you to overlook important tasks that you would complete before any other kind of travel. Therefore, before you start preparing to take your work on the road, follow the normal steps you would before a standard vacation. For example, address all personal needs, such as packing medications, clothing, bath and beauty products, and any leisure-related items. Also, before driving to your destination, ensure that your chosen vehicle model is in top shape. If it has been awhile since your car, truck, or SUV has been serviced, be sure to take it in for all required routine maintenance (e.g. oil change, tire rotation). One of the most important parts of having a smooth trip is balancing and remembering the needs of both yourself and of your business.

Pack an “office in a bag”

Since you’ll be away from your usual home/remote office location for a while, you will need to prepare for this change. One of the best ways to do this is by packing an “office in a bag.” Start by using a large, protective bag that can safely transport everything you need to set up your office in any spot. Don’t forget to pack items such as your laptop, planner, pens, external computer equipment, and anything else needed for your day-to-day operations. In addition to using a sturdy bag that will protect your items, consider investing in a top-of-the-line laptop case. Water, accidental drops, and other hazards can quickly damage your computer, making it impossible to do business. Additionally, be sure that this bag can easily be transported between locations. This will give you the greatest level of flexibility when exploring new sights.

Map out free WiFi locations in advance

Before hitting the road, do your research on where you can find free WiFi at each of your destinations. Not only is this essential for business continuity, but planning your work locations in advance can help you make the most of your trip. Discovering that there is available WiFi at the beach, poolside, or at a gorgeous park can transform your workday into an amazing experience. Rather than confining yourself to the hotel business area, or to a coffee shop, aim to work in the most unique locations that you can find.

Bringing your home business on the road is an excellent way to take a vacation without compromising your work. Not only can you spend your workdays in some of the world’s most beautiful spots, but you can also enjoy the dining, attractions, and views of each city once you’re done for the day.

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The Countries With The Fastest Internet

Countries With The Fastest Internet

Thinking about living the life of a digital nomad? Or maybe just need to get some work done while on vacation? Well check out this list to see the countries with the fastest internet. While it is often hard to determine who has “the fastest” internet due to many variables such as averages, cities, and wireless; these a few nations that stand out for the outstanding and cutting edge dedication to high speed internet connectivity.

Countries With The Fastest Internet
The United States
Let’s start out with the big one. The U.S. has at average speed of over 8.6mbps per second. This is only getting faster as plans for massive fiberoptic are being completed including ambitious plans by Google. Wifi is also abundant and often “free” with purchase at most bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. Due to America’s massive size and diversity, the accessibility and speed of internet can vary greatly depending on your specefic location. Some cities have even began implementing city wide free wireless Internet.

South Korea
South Korea has possibly the fastest average speed at an astonishing 22.1 mbps. This blows away most other countries and sets up an infrastructure to allow for massive economic growth. With close to 95% of the population using the internet, South Korea makes good use of the high speed bandwidth. South Korea’s reputation as one of the countries with the fastest internet is credited to a hybrid approach including  governmental planning, private section competition, a dense urban populace, and a culture thirst for the information, online games, and live streaming YouTube celebrities.

Denmark
This northern European country boats some of the fastest and most widespread high speed internet connectivity in the world. Despite lack of competition, the danish broadband market provides excellent speed and accessibility. Denmark is also leading the pack with wireless broadband with a recent promise of  99% of the population to be covered with 4G (10mbs) in 2015. Denmark also repurposes existing infrastructure such as out of use smoke stacks as antennas.

Northern European and and North East Asian countries  are consistently ranked  to have the fastest internet. The commonalities seem to be small prosperous  nations with urban populations. It is much easier to get all your citizens on a single high speed network when they all live in same city, other developed countries such as China, Australia, and the United States face a more difficult time keeping up due to their size. Also it is important to know these numbers seem to be increasing by the year, so a country with limited internet access today could have wide spread broadband by next year. Also the amount of high-speed cellular data networks is rising exponentially and it is not hard to a imagine an entire world connected by a 4G network.

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The Best Digital Nomad Hubs of 2016

digital nomad hubs of 2016

Digital Nomad is the buzz word of 2016 and if you are like thousands of people around the world you find the idea appealing.  Working from an exotic location can be a fun, rewarding, and even enlightening experience. With thousands of cities to choose form, here are the best digital nomad hubs of 2016.
digital nomad hubs of 2016


Chang Mai, Thailand
Thailand’s low cost of living, relaxed vibe, and beautiful scenery have made it one of world’s hubs for digital nomads. Chang Mai takes this a step further. This city in northern Thailand offers all the conveniences of a larger city such as Bangkok without the chaos and pollution many are trying to escape. Chang Mai offer affordable housing and daily expenses, high speed inter infrastructure, all while being surrounded by northern Thailand’s scenic mountains and reasonable climate. It is also far less touristy than much of southern Thailand. Combine this with a large convenient airport and you have an excellent choice for one of the best digital nomad hubs of 2016.

Santiago, Chile
Another warm city tucked away in the mountains, Santiago is the perfect place for a creative expat on a budget. This city features a low cost of living and world class amenities. It is also the perfect jumping off to spend your weekend enjoying Chile’s insanely diverse natural splendor, from deserts, to mountains, to penguin rich Patagonia. This capitol city is home to a number of university’s which has sustained a vibrant youth culture of artists. It is also home to a vibrant street food scene. Santiago houses over 6 million people, rich cultural history, great public transport and with a stable economy you may love it so much you could  find yourself transitioning from a nomad to a resident.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This Southeast Asian megacity is often over looked by digital nomads but I’m not sure why. With it’s tropical climate, low cost of living, and access to surrounding beach towns; this modern metropolis is the perfect to spend some time while trekking the world with your laptop. In the shadow of the worlds largest twin buildings and with massive modern infrastructure and ample co-work locations, Kuala Lumpur on of the ideal digital nomad hubs in 2016. So if you have a taste for adventure (not to mention spicy food) put Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on your digital nomad shortlist.

The are just a few of the cities that offer a good bang for the buck as a digital nomad. There are countless more and if you play your cards right you hopefully will get the chance to see most of them. Whether you are just spending a few weeks or end up spending several years; any of these locations will be perfect for your work and travel.

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