Category: Travel Tips

8 Awesome Trips for Travelers Seeking Big Adventures

4/3/2023

By John Roberts
Let's get out there to live our best lives and crush some new adventures. Sublime Public Relations, a company that lives and breathes adventure travel and outdoor experiences, has helped us compile eight amazing travel experiences from all over the world that appeal to the most adventurous and fitness-focused wanderluster.
Check out these epic trips!

1. Wild Patagonia Exploration
Wildland Trekking leads a program to explore the mountains of Chile's newly created Patagonia National Park on foot. On this horse-supported adventure in the remote Aysen region, hike past glacier-fed lakes, high plateaus, pristine forests and expansive grasslands. At night, you can gather around a campfire to hear chats about the region's rich history and culture.

2. Antarctic Adventure by Air
Book an "air-cruise" through Adventure Life to skip the two-day voyage through the turbulent Drake Passage. Instead, you fly to King George Island to board your ship, then cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. There, enjoy opportunities to kayak the austral waters or hike and snowshoe while on shore.

3. Camp and Mountain Bike Canyonlands
Utah's 100-mile White Rim Trail loops through a multi-colored array of spires, arches, buttes and mesas carved by the Green River and Colorado River. Travelers spend the majority of this four-day mountain biking and camping tour with Escape Adventures riding the famous off-road route, while detouring to admire secret passages, hidden slot canyons and ancient Puebloan ruins.

4. Active Yellowstone Adventures
Set on the edge of Yellowstone National Park in Big Sky, Montana, The Wilson Hotel serves as a basecamp for active adventures. Jump into hiking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, skiing and more surrounding town, as well as explore the natural wonders and wildlife of the park.

5. Ozark Mountain Biking
The Ozark Mountains provide the backdrop for one of the best mountain bike trail systems in the country in Bentonville, Arkansas. It's every bit the charming town it was when Sam Walton opened the original Walton five-and-dime back in 1950 (now Walmart). Today, the town also offers world-class restaurants, colorful boutiques, a state-of-the-art museum and miles of singletrack to ride on a new five-day mountain biking tour with Escape Adventures.

6. Islands, Andes and Amazon
Discover the enchanting Galapagos Islands at Scalesia Galapagos Lodge, explore the Amazon Rainforest at Sacha Lodge and experience the Andes at Hacienda Piman, all in a 15-day tour of Ecuador. Hike near active volcanoes, learn about endemic flora and fauna, paddle blackwater creeks and lakes, board a train through the mountains, shop at one of the biggest craft markets in South America and more.

7. Gravel Cycling in Italy
Cycle Tuscany's scenic Strade Bianche through hilly vineyards and medieval villages, enjoying the food and wines of one of Italy's finest culinary regions on a tour with Tourissimo. The itinerary includes the historic white gravel roads in the Crete Senesi, cultural stops and beautiful scenery all around.

8. Jackson Hole Retreat
If you're looking for endless adventure surrounded by incredible views, look no further than Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Take a day trip to Grand Teton or Yellowstone national parks to see wildlife up close, hike, ski, relax in nearby hot springs, try out a ropes course and more. Then, retreat to a modern yet rustic cabin at Fireside Resort.

Thanks for having a look!

Travel adventurously,
JR

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My Best Tips and Tricks for Packing for an Antarctica Cruise

1/19/2023

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Your cruise line will often provide a parka for you to keep. But some days are warm enough that you might not even need it. Colleen decided to shed hers during a hike at Neko Harbor.

By John Roberts
A small-ship expedition cruise to Antarctica is undoubtedly the best way to see this incredible destination.
With my latest trip to Antarctica, I've now been there three times and weathered all kinds of conditions. I also learned how to refine my packing for this type of expedition. Antarctica is becoming more and more accessible to adventurous travelers because of the growing number of cruise ships that are visiting this remote place. So, people want to know exactly what to bring along when they prepare for their trips.
With that in mind, this is your definitive guide for packing for a cruise to Antarctica -- tried and tested during my visits to the White Continent.

You'll be outside a lot during your expedition, either on the ship or on an excursion such as kayaking, so you have to be ready for all conditions.

Dealing with Seasickness
This is a tricky subject in my opinion. Your ship crosses the Drake Passage, one of the roughest stretches of ocean on the planet. It certainly can be fairly mild if you're fortunate. But the passage takes about two days to cross, and cruisers could find themselves getting tossed around in incredibly turbulent conditions with waves measuring more than 20 feet high.
Even in the milder conditions, you will feel a lot of movement on the ship. So, if you tend to suffer from seasickness, you'll want to take a motion-sickness prevention medicine such as Bonine or Dramamine to help. If you are generally pretty good at sea, even in rough conditions, you might want to hold off on the meds to take a chance (because the medications can make you feel very lethargic or sleepy).
Some best practices are to make sure you can look out a window to a horizon, consume some ginger chews (candies) and try focused breathing to help you relax. Also, make your way to the middle part and lower decks of the ship to minimize the movement that you feel.

Your Clothes
You'll be outside in the elements a lot, and the weather can be mild and sunny. It's austral summer from mid-October until February in Antarctica, and you might see temps in the mid-40s with calm or no winds. But it can also be quite cold, windy, rainy and snowy.
So, the best practice is to layer up!
What you need: Bring thermal base layers. Long underwear and shirts of lightweight or midweight synthetic material work well as the first thing you put on.
Then, add (in this order) a wicking athletic shirt, a sweater or sweatshirt and a fleece before putting on your parka (parkas are typically provided by your cruise line; see more on that in section below). Pack a light rain jacket for any time you have to explore in port before heading to your cruise ship.
For your bottom half, you can add sweatpants, jeans or stretchy travel pants on top of your thermal base layer before topping off with a pair of waterproof pants. Waterproof pants are required by many outfitters for landings. The pants keep you dry during Zodiac rides and must be big enough to fit over your rubber boots. (Note that boots are also provided by your expedition team on the cruise ship.)
For time before or after your cruise (usually in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, Argentina, or Punta Arenas, Chile), consider comfortable walking/hiking shoes for any activities that you will be enjoying.
Other warm gear: Bring good quality gloves, a wool cap, beanie hat, scarves, neck gaiters and disposable heating packets (optional, but they might come in handy if your hands or feet tend to get cold.) Pack a few pair of good-quality wool or thermal socks.
You'll also need comfy clothing for your time on the ship. The environment will be casual, so you don't need to pack formal wear. However, you will want a nice selection of comfortable athletic T-shirts if you plan to use the gym. Long-sleeve shirts, comfortable sweaters and nice jeans or khaki-style pants work nicely for your time in the lounges and restaurants. I also bring a pair of stylish boat shoes and sneakers (for the gym).
These ships typically feature hot tubs and some have pools, and you might want to take part in the polar plunge event, so bring a swimsuit for these activities.
When you're enjoying your time on the ship while it's at anchor or sailing, you want to be ready to move easily to the outer decks in comfort in case there are any good sightings of whales or seabirds, for example. So, keep your parka or other warm jacket and your hat and gloves at hand.
Now, the number of each of these items you want to bring depends. Does your cruise line offer laundry service or will you do your own laundry in the cabin if items get a little sweaty, stinky, muddy, etc.? You can get by with one pair of waterproof pants because they can easily be rinsed clean.
Socks, underwear and other items like your scarf, hat and neck/face gaiters can also be washed up the sink or shower. Pack enough of the other items to account for your laundry plans and length of cruise.
Be sure to bring sunglasses. The sun can be intense (even when it doesn't appear overly sunny) because the white snow reflects the rays all around you, and you are really close to the "ozone hole" that far into the southern hemisphere. I've seen so many cruisers here get nasty sunburns on their faces.

Layer up for your adventures. From left to right: base layer, mid layer and outer layer (shell).

This is everything I packed for my latest cruise. I was able to do carry-on only for my flight, too.

Your Equipment
Antarctica is a great place for landscape and wildlife photography, so you want to bring along the right cameras and equipment to help you reach your goals. You might at least want a nice long lens and midrange DSLR camera for taking photos of the whales and albatrosses and other birds that you will see from the viewing platforms and outer decks on your cruise ship.
You also will have the chance to get really nice shots of the penguins and seals and sea lions that you will encounter on shore and floating on the icebergs in the region.
However, even if you aren't a huge shutterbug (like I'm not), you can get outstanding photos with your cellphone or a basic digital camera. Except for the whales, you will get plenty close enough to wildlife to get stunning shots to show off to friends and family back home.
I travel only with a GoPro action camera (to take out on kayaking excursions and to use ashore and on the ship for vlogging) and my cellphone. These have been plenty to create the content that I need.
I recommend a hard disk and computer, as well, so you can offload and back up your photos and videos at the end of each day. (You don't want to lose those precious photos if your disk gets corrupted or you lose your phone or camera.)
Other items that can be helpful: If you create videos, you can consider whether you want use a selfie stick, small tripod like a Gorilla pod, microphone equipment and head or chest straps to hold your GoPro in position (for when you kayak or do the Polar Plunge, for examples).
You also might want to bring along your favorite walking poles. The terrain is highly uneven and rocky at many of the landings. But your cruise ship will also be able to provide hiking poles for your use during the voyage. Also, check whether your ship will have binoculars available in the rooms or in the public areas, and bring your own if the line won't have them and binoculars are something you like to use for spotting wildlife.

What the Cruise Line Provides
You can really keep your packing load fairly light, especially when your ship offers laundry service and because these expedition cruises almost always will include a parka that is yours to keep as a memento of your trip. (This, obviously, can add a little more bulk when you try to get the parka back home; you'll see many people wearing them on the flights back from Ushuaia and Buenos Aires).
Your ship will also loan you boots to use during the cruise, as well as other items like special gloves and dry suits for kayaking and hiking poles. If you forget to pack a seasickness medication, you can usually ask for some tablets onboard, too.
Expect a hair dryer to be available in your cabin. These are great for hair care, of course (not an issue for me), and used to dry out wet clothing items.

Video Feature: Packing for Your Antarctica Cruise

Other Sundry Items
You also can consider . . .
Lip balm (highly recommended for the dry conditions) and hand and body lotions (although, your ship might offer some).
Books or tablet loaded with books, magazines, movies, TV shows and games that you might like to have for your leisure time on the ship. Pack of cards. Many of the ships offer books, magazines, puzzles, games and cards available in the library onboard.
You might get a nice metal water bottle with the logo of your cruise in or expedition company to use at water-bottle-filling stations on the ship. I always travel with my own in case. I also bring along a concentrated flavor to add to the water to give it a nice taste. I use the Mio brand energy drink flavoring and powdered single-serving packets from Built Boost. These offer zero calories, vitamins and immunity-boosting supplements.
Take any other toiletries that you would bring on any trip, such as toothpaste and toothbrush, combs, brushes, etc.

There's your list of all you'll need to pack for your Antarctica expedition cruise.
OK, I'm sure that there is something I have not considered, but this is where you come in. Please comment below with any great tips, tricks and items you think cruisers should bring on their voyages to Antarctica.

Thanks for reading,
JR

Your ship might offer hot tubs, a swimming pool and the polar plunge. So, be sure to pack your swimsuit.

Video Library: My Cruises to Antarctica

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New Gear We Love. Best Travel Items for Your Holiday Gift List.

9/29/2022

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Our new HEX Backpack and Rollink collapsible suitcase go perfectly together, offering hassle-free packing for your getaways. These are just two of the new items we were happy to add to our gear in 2022.

By John Roberts
We tried it out, so you know what to buy for the world traveler on your holiday shopping list. Here are four pieces of travel gear that proved to be essential additions during the past year. We're always looking to refine our packing list and for ways to travel more efficiently and comfortably. These items made the cut.

Note: These items were among several provided by brands for review by the In The Loop Travel team. All opinions are our own, and no additional compensation is offered to feature them here.

Rollink

Innovative Luggage
I'm a proud member of team Carry-On Only, so Rollink's collapsible suitcase is exactly what I've been seeking for years. This sleek and flexible piece of luggage is especially ideal because I cruise often and store my luggage underneath my bed in my stateroom on the ships.
This is an airline cabin-size suitcase, so it meets carry-on standards. I chose the Flex Aura Cabin Plus style, which measures 21.6 inches by 15.7 inches by 9 inches, making it ideal for international flights.
When the shell is fully expanded, there is no wasted space. Rollink claims it can fit up to 35 liters of packing volume, and the case collapses to its shell down to about 2 inches of thickness, making it easy to stow away when you're not using it. Rollink says it is 75 percent thinner than the typical suitcase. This is important for its mail-order business, making Rollink much more environmentally friendly when the company ships suitcases to homes from its warehouse.
I found the design to be elegant and efficient. The luggage is made from durable polycarbonate and water-resistant materials. The wheels are coated and roll smoothly, pulled along by a retractable handle. A magnetic buckle holds the case in place when collapsed.
There is a nice pocket on the front of the Flex Aura in which you can slide in laptop, documents or other items that require quick and easy access. This suitcase is offered in a range of colors. Mine is Dusty Blue, but you also can choose from gray, black, red, purple, green and rose colors.

HEX Backpack

Sustainable Backpack
The HEX Evolve Logic backpack offers a simple design that looks good and makes sense. This sporty travel backpack can easily be used as your main travel pack or to take on hiking trips or weekenders. The HEX backpack touts anti-microbial tech to resist germs, and the sleek design includes a handy carrying loop at the top, easy-to-adjust shoulder straps, water-resistant zippers and a non-skid protected bottom to increase the life and durability of the pack.
You can slide the pack sideways over the handle of a roller suitcase, too, which makes transporting it through airports a breeze. We're happy to find a product that uses recycled materials for both the exterior of the backpack, as well as the soft interior. HEX uses a recycled ECO Cordura for the outer material. The inside space and the front tablet pocket are both lined with faux fur, giving the backpack a surprisingly elegant and luxe feel.
There are two water bottle holders, one on each side, and the backpack has a sturdy, compact and durable profile once packed with all your essential items.
We love it!

Manta Sleep

Colleen tested the Manta Sleep Mask Pro and was impressed with the comfort and blackout effectiveness.

Innovative Sleep Mask
It's always a trick trying to get a bit of rest on long flights, especially when you head overseas and face a time change and impending jet lag. Conditions often are not ideal for your sleep schedule, with sunlight streaming in through open windows or cabin lighting fluctuating based on the service timing during the flights.
The Manta Sleep Mask Pro was an intriguing option, as it has a design that puts careful thought into what travelers really want out of a sleep mask. It's not a simple piece of fabric and rubber band that you slip over your eyes and hope for the best.
Instead, the Manta Sleep Mask promises 100 percent blackout with a stylish headband and attached adjustable C-shaped eye cups. And it delivered. We tried this one out on a recent plane trip from Denver to Croatia, and it blocked out sunlight, the seat neighbor's laptop glow and the lights being adjusted as we got closer to our destination. A big bonus: This mask is super comfortable. The cups and overall design are fantastic because you feel no pressure on your eyelids or eyelashes, especially if you sleep on your side. A strap allows you to adjust for all head sizes, and the mask won't sit on your ears. This one will become a permanent part of our travel essentials.
The mask comes with a hefty price at $89, but it is machine washable and built to be long-lasting. It comes with a carrying case/wash bag.

EZQuest

Next-Level Charger
We grabbed an EZQuest charger before our busy summer of travel, and this handy device has proved to be invaluable in places like Egypt, where power outlets can be hard to find. We are using the EZQuest Ultimate Power 90-Watt Wall Charger, and it showed its value right off the bat when we returned from our Nile River cruise and were waiting for a couple hours for our flight at the airport in Cairo.
The lounge had only one outlet, so we had to make optimal use of it among a group of friends traveling back to the States.
The EZQuest offers a U.S.-style plug and international two-pin style plug, so you can easily connect in most places around the world. The EU International Converter easily snaps onto the built-in U.S. plug on the small block, so we could plug right in at the airport to share power. The EZQuest charger proves versatile because it offers two USB-C connections and one USB outlet in the block, so you can get three devices hooked up and charging.
The kit also comes with a two-meter-long cable to extend the reach. EZQuest charges as quickly as other chargers we've used, but it is compact and flexible, easily packing away. We like that it opens up a couple more ports to charge multiple devices at once while also reducing the load in our backpack because of its small size.

Thanks for reading and happy shopping,
JR

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8 Awesome Trips for Travelers Seeking Big Adventures

My Best Tips and Tricks for Packing for an Antarctica Cruise

Video Feature: Packing for Your Antarctica Cruise

Video Library: My Cruises to Antarctica

New Gear We Love. Best Travel Items for Your Holiday Gift List.

Rollink

HEX Backpack

Manta Sleep

EZQuest

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