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For any seasoned – or aspiring – skier, an expedition to the United States of America is an outright must. With nearly 500 resorts to choose from, one is indeed spoiled for choice, but might also be left a little baffled. Check out the list below to find out where to begin.

For your convenience, we’ve also thrown in a few handy mobile apps.

Save the date

December to April (and May and June, in some states) are traditionally the months to go skiing in the United States. Since December and January fall in the Festive season, and the best snow for skiing falls in February, this period tends to be considerably more expensive, and bookings will need to be made way in advance.

March and April still have good snow, and resorts tend to be quieter. If you’re on a budget, you’ll want to book for this time of year.

Where to go?

The Rocky Mountains (or Rockies) is considered America’s prime mountain range for alpine-related activities. Aspen, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada are some of the most well-known destinations for the months of December to February.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is considered by many to be America’s prime skiing destination, with the best months for visiting pinpointed as May to June.

These are, of course, but a few of the destinations available to skiers; keep an eye on nearby resorts in the region for good deals. Since snow-related conditions are prone to drastic and unexpected change, it’s a good idea to have email details and, in case of bad internet connection, contact numbers for a few ski resorts in the area you’ll be travelling to. Before embarking on your trip, be sure to register for an American SIM with b4i.travel to make communication easier and a lot cheaper.

Insurance, insurance and insurance

Look: skiing is, and always has been, a dangerous pursuit. That’s why it’s known as an extreme sport.

Should, perish the thought, rescue helicopters and emergency surgery be required, things will get complicated. Throw caution to the wind and have a look here:

https://www.comparethemarket.com/travel-insurance/winter-sports/ski/

Also, you’ll need to pay a visit to your doctor prior to embarking on your snowy quest. He/she will be able to determine whether you are capable of undertaking the excursion at hand.

Budget

Skiing is traditionally known as a pastime of the rich and famous, and with good reason.

Luckily, iPhone app Liftopia has taken initiative, with daily price updates on lift tickets and ski passes for more than 250 resorts across North America (including Canada). What makes it extra effective is that you can also book your tickets on their website. Check it out: www.liftopia.com

Check the weather

[Almost] nothing can spoil your skiing holiday as much as a blizzards or unexpected avalanches. However, we live in modern times, which means there is an app for that. Check out www.onthesnow.com for Android and iPhone. You’ll get coverage on the latest weather and powder (deep snow that has not been skied on; in other words, fresh snow) reports for your region, complete with various mountain webcams. It also features other useful information, such as open and closed lifts and mountain trails.

Organise your gear

If you aren’t taking your own, make sure you are kitted out before heading up the slopes. Most resorts should have gear for hire, but the risk of them not having something in your size available is a possibility. Check out these rental services and secure your outfit:

www.skiset.us
www.rentskis.com

Get a GoPro

Impress everyone back home with awesome first-hand footage of you rocketing down the peaks. Check out GoPro’s website to find a device that suits your prerequisites and means:
www.gopro.com

Now that you’re all clued up, what are you waiting for? Buy the flight ticket, and strap on the ski goggles!

B4i.travel skiing checklist:

• Contact details for various resorts
• A printout of your booking
• American SIM arranged in advance
• Insurance
• Ski goggles/glasses
• Sunglasses
• Gloves/mittens
• Ski jacket
• Ski hat (beanie)
• Ski boots
• Helmet
• Waterproof socks and pants
• GoPro/Camera
• Power pack charger
• Waterproof phone cover
• Extra batteries for camera
• Walkie talkies
• A basic first aid kit
• Sunscreen (trust us: sun reflects off the snow)
• Hydration pack
• Hairdryer

b4i.Travel offers three different types of American SIM cards that can be purchased in advance. These SIM cards can be purchased here: https://b4i.travel/usa-sim.

Buckle up for a next-level sightseeing tour of the Mother City’s breathtaking Atlantic coast

They say that first impressions are everything, and beyond a doubt, the best way to get acquainted with the Mother City is to meet her via helicopter. In South Africa, chopper flights are reportedly the cheapest in the world, and more importantly, a heli-flip is really the only way to truly appreciate Cape Town’s magnificent beauty.

Sure, there’s plenty of opportunity to take in bits and pieces of her exquisite scenery with ground touring. But much in the same way that looking at individual pixels to get an idea of a grand image is rather unsatisfying, conquering the Mother City on land just doesn’t compare to drinking in the whole of her brilliance from the heavens above.

And while there are a handful of operators that take passengers up, up and away, we recommend booking with long-time locally reputed company NAC.

The established operator is backed by South Africa’s first commercial aviation company and boasts a 100% accident- and incident-free record. More importantly though, it offers two entry level flights that treat riders to spectacular views of glorious Cape Town, including vistas that feature Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Lion’s Head and so much more.

Read the full article here

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

Planning a beach holiday to the States? With nearly 20 000 kilometres of coastline, there’s certainly a lot to choose from. So, where do you begin when planning the perfect North-American beach vacation? Read on to find out.

Choose a destination according to your prerequisites

Identify what it is that you want out of this vacation. A quiet seaside resort-experience? Water sports? Fun in the sun?

If it’s big crowds and parties you’re after Miami is the place to be, with a nightlife to match. California is a mecca for surfers with its world-class waves, while Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Massachusetts are home to charming, quiet beach towns. Book your flights here: https://b4i.travel/book-flights-in-usd/.

Speaking of which: the seasons

It’s pretty safe to assume that you’ll want to plan your visit during the warmer months. Summer in North America (on paper) begins on the 20th of June, and ends on the 21st of September.

Also remember that the water on America’s West Coast (California) is, as a rule of thumb, much colder than the water on the East Coast (Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina). It is worth mentioning that California’s southern coast is warmer around summer time (June to August).

Accommodation

As per usual, this depends entirely on your budget. If you can’t afford hotels (very expensive during peak season) or don’t feel like staying in a backpackers (very crowded and rowdy during festive season), check out accommodation here: https://b4i.travel/accommodation/

Some handy tips

Now that most of the practicalities have been covered, consider these hints to make the most of your beach vacation in the States.

Especially for surfing and swimming, monitoring the tide is key. Luckily, there is an app for iPhone and Android to give you coverage of both the current and upcoming tide, as well as the sunset: https://tidesnear.me/

For a lowdown on the waves, MS Surf Forecast (for iPhone and Android) is a must: http://magicseaweed.com/App/

Safety first, everyone

Getting into a tight spot on the beach is no-one’s idea of a good time. Avoid going into the water when no lifeguards, or at least other people, are present, don’t swim out too deep; you know the basics.

It’s also a good idea to get a few emergency contact numbers, and register for an American mobile SIM so that you aren’t stuck in an emergency.

Now that you’ve got the basics covered, grab your beach kit, make some reservations and buy the plane ticket. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen!

B4i.travel beach bum checklist:

• Sunscreen, sunscreen and sunscreen
• Lip balm
• After-sun lotion
• Basic first aid kit
• Flip flops
• Sunglasses
• Sarong
• Beach towel
• Beach mat
• Beach umbrella
• Sun hat
• Cooler bag
• Beach bag
• Camera
• Power pack charger
• Waterproof cover for mobile phone
• American SIM arranged in advance
• Emergency contact details
• Water bottle/ hydration pack
• Insect repellent

15 Fun family-friendly activities for mahala or less than R50

Raising children can be expensive. There are nappies, teeny garments, sticky sweets, mini furniture, toys and school fees to think about, so when it comes to entertaining them, most moms and pops likely want to keep costs as low as possible. Of course, this doesn’t mean simply sitting at home – no one wants little tykes climbing up curtains or hanging from lampshades – but rather finding fun family-friendly activities that don’t burn a hole in the pocket.

And fortunately, such things do actually exist in Cape Town. From free options like storytelling sessions at bookshops to very affordable to-dos like crocodile viewing, rose picking and grape juice tasting at wine farms, there are plenty ways to keep tiny tots busy while pinching the pennies. If you’re wondering where to find such alternatives, simply take a look below – we’ve carefully compiled an overview of things to do with kids for free or for less than R50 to help you get through the child-rearing phase with your bank balance still more or less intact.

Read the full article here

B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

Nothing invites you to immerse yourself into the culture of a destination as much as delicious food, as you experience a city through its aromas and flavours on a sensory expedition. Awaken your inner foodie as you delve into a food adventure discovering the best flavour-filled hotspots, exclusive culinary experiences and diverse food options North America has to offer.

Chefs Feed

You no longer have to falter your food adventures at the recommendations of wannabe food critics and soapbox experts. With Chefs Feed, you get a privileged view of the world’s best chefs who share their top local restaurant choices, best-loved spots, and favourite dishes and desserts that can satisfy the cravings of any seasoned taste buds. It takes the guesswork out of finding a great place to eat in a new city when you discover where the local chefs eat and what they eat. Click here to download Chefs Feed.

Off The Menu

Take your food adventures off the beaten path as the “Off The Menu” app invites you to become an insider as you explore previously exclusive food discoveries and secret taste experiences only available to those in-the-know. You’re able to track down a city’s tastiest off-menu dishes, hidden from the general public, through a curated list of lesser-known secrets from restaurants, bars and cafes across North America. Click here to download Off The Menu.

Foodspotting

If you’ve ever been to a good restaurant and had a disappointing dish or ate an amazing meal at an average restaurant then Foodspotting is the app to favour your food adventures. Roving foodies help to discover the best dishes by creating a visual guide of their favourite choices at a particular restaurant by rating and sharing the photos of their meals. It works in any city and small town and enables you to discover new options and local haunts to find good food anywhere. Click here to download Foodspotting.

Eat St.

As you explore a city distracted by the sights and sounds you suddenly become aware of your intense hunger pangs. Thankfully, the street food revolution in North America is cooking and there’s a choice feast of mobile eateries to still any rumbling. The Eat St. app can direct you to the best street food dishes in the city, as verified by the experts, through a database of over 8,000 mobile vendors. Locate and explore the live food truck map with this interactive app of traveling deliciousness. Click here to download Eat St.

Feastly

As a traveler you may be curious about discovering the diverse food and cultural potential of cities in its most authentic form. Feastly has become a growing community where passionate local chefs can express their culinary creativity by hosting adventurous eaters in the warm, inviting comfort of their homes to create authentic food experiences. These immersive encounters create unforgettable social culinary adventures, as you taste the city with locals. Click here to download Feastly.

Whether your choice is suggestions from top local chefs or foodies, discovering secret menus, exploring the street food phenomenon or feasting on hearty, home-cooked meals, there’s an app to help you fulfill your food adventures.

If you’re using WhatsApp to send and received holiday snaps you might know that it automatically downloads and saves the images and videos sent by others to the Camera Roll. This can quickly fill your memory, cluttering it with unwanted media, which takes up prime space that could be better used for other things.

Luckily, it is pretty simple to disable the auto-download function of WhatsApp.

Option 1: Your Phone Settings

– Go to “Settings” on your device. Then scroll down and tap on “Privacy”

– Tap on “Photos” and turn off the switch for WhatsApp

Any images or videos sent will stay within WhatsApp and won’t get stored in your Camera Roll.

Option 2: Whatsapp Settings

– Open WhatsApp and tap on “Settings” (Bottom menu bar – cogwheel)

– Tap on “Chats”

– Disable the switch for “Save Incoming Media”. By default this is set to on, which is green

This will stop Whatsapp from saving any media to your “Camera Roll”.

Saving Specific Images and Videos

You can save specific photos or videos to your Camera Roll by manually tapping on the images and video, then clicking the “Share” button and selecting “Save Image/Save Video”.

And there you go, less memes in your camera roll and more room for capturing new moments.

What, may you ask, is 4G?

Basically, it’s the fourth generation of mobile telecommunications networks, superseding 3G. What’s so handy about it is the fact that it is more reliable for wifi devices (cellphones, laptops etc.) that use mobile broadband services. It’s roughly five times faster than 3G internet.

Another term connected to 4G is LTE; this is abbreviated for Long Term Evolution and is a very technical process concerning high speed mobile data.

The only downside is that not all smartphones are able to connect to it; if you haven’t made the transition to a newer model of Samsung, iPhone or similar smartphone, this service might not be available to you.

Here’s a map of 4G LTE coverage in the USA:

This map showcases American 4G provider T-Mobile’s reach in the USA.

Click here to pinpoint your exact location and LTE coverage.

Looks like a dream come true, doesn’t it?

Most travellers make use of local prepaid SIM cards when abroad, and most bring their own devices along. When inserting your new SIM, even if it’s temporary, WhatsApp will require you to verify your new number. If your new number is registered and activated, and you have the app already downloaded on your phone, you can simply navigate to Settings → Account → Change Number.

WhatsApp offers convenience at your fingertips, and makes it so easy to stay in contact with friends and family back home. After changing your number, make sure that your contacts have it so that they are able reach you.

Click here for more information and detailed steps.

Travelling can put a strain on your budget, so the least of your concerns should be the amount you cough up for your phone bill. Using a local SIM is the most feasible and convenient option and it means you won’t have to break the bank when calling or texting in the country you’re visiting.

Here are 7 ways using a local SIM will make your life better while travelling.

1. It’s cheaper

Making use of a local SIM card means you’ll get the best rates for calls, texts and data. Most service providers charge a mammoth amount for their international roaming plans, whereas making use of local services means you can choose a SIM package that suits your pocket – and your needs.

2. It’s easy to set up

Using a local SIM card is easier to set up than most people think. Instead of frantically searching for a mobile kiosk at an airport, you can have your SIM registered, activated and preloaded with credit – ready for collection for when you arrive at the airport.

3. You’re not contractually bound

You don’t have to sign your life away by means of a cell phone contract. Making use of a prepaid SIM means you can choose when you want to top up, and by how much. Companies like B4iTravel offer once-off packages, with the option of topping up with airtime or data whenever you like.

4. You can stay in touch with the locals

Whether you want to text the new friends you made at that beach party, contact the business associate you met at that networking lunch, book accommodation or call the car rental service, doing it from a local number just makes this process so much easier.

5. You can stay in touch with your family and friends abroad

Having your SIM set up beforehand by a company like B4iTravel, means that you’ll be able to give your new number to friends and family before you leave on your trip. Apps like WhatsApp have also made it easier to stay in touch – you can simply use your local number on your current WhatsApp and migrate your settings and chat history.

 6. You can keep your local number for future visits

You don’t have to go through the same processes every time you travel abroad. Simply keep your SIM card in a safe place and use it whenever you visit that country. Most SIM cards have a lifespan of about three years – just make sure with the service provider you’re using.

 7. You can keep your device

On top of making travel plans, you shouldn’t have to get accustomed to a new device. Using a local prepaid SIM means you can keep your own cell phone or data device without the hassle of figuring out a new phone. Just make sure that your phone is network unlocked before you leave.

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, your priority should be to make the most of your time away and not painstakingly fret on how you’ll reach your loved ones.

B4iTravel takes the admin and effort of buying and setting up your local SIM out of your hands. Literally. We give you the option to choose a package that most suits your travel needs and you can have it done before you leave your home country!

It’s your call.

You want to make the most of your time abroad. So which apps are going to stand you in good stead when you visit the United States of America? Read on and get your app store ready.

Citymapper

Available in over 30 countries worldwide, this is your go-to app for transport. It’s even more integrated in terms of journey planning than Google.

It helps you get where you need to be by providing you with information on nearby Ubers, cycle routes, departure and arrival times of public transport systems and more. It even tells you how long your journey will take by jetpack!

Click here to learn more about Citymapper.

Duolingo

Even though you’ll get by fine with English, American cities are cosmopolitan; it’ll be good for you to know a bit of foreign banter. This app works like a child’s computer game by taking you through ‘levels’ during which you’ll learn to get the basics of a new language.

Click here to learn more about Duolingo.

XE Currency

This app is able to give you coverage of current exchange rates – very handy if you are on a budget with your home-base currency.

Click here to learn more about XE Currency.

Splittr

If you are travelling as a group and sharing costs, this app keeps track of who spends how much on what, so everyone can split the bill evenly without an argument come the end of the journey.

Click here to learn more about Splittr.

Tripit

Tripit takes all of your transport and accommodation emails and compacts it into a handy scheduled travel document. This comes in handy for time management, and saves you the hassle of carrying around paperwork and taking notes.

Click here to read more about Tripit.

Free Wifi Finder

This app is sure to be a favourite as it helps you find free WiFi hotspots in more than 50 countries.

Click here to learn more about WiFi Finder.

Google Photos

We’ve all experienced that moment when we’re having a good time taking photos and your phone runs out of storage and you start going through your pics deleting, arg! Well with Google Photos you’ll never run out of storage again. Their smarter albums are great for all your adventures along with fun animations, movies and more.

Click here to learn more about Google Photos.

With these apps and some good cheer, you’re bound to have a ball of a time abroad in the States!

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