Explore America like you haven’t before.

Being quarantined for months and continuing to practice social distancing has taught us that our country is called America the Beautiful for a reason. Americans are finding National Parks and hidden gems to add to their road trip itinerary that perhaps they didn’t know about before when they were busy flying all over the world. From deserts, oceans, and mountains, there’s a lot this country has to offer—and you can see it all from the comfort of your own four wheels.

While regular camping is more common, car camping in your SUV has been trending now more than ever. People are making summer travel plans around road trips and avoiding airplanes due to the pandemic and continuing to flatten the curve. If you’re planning a road trip, consider car camping. Benefits include saving time (you’re not pitching a tent at every stop), avoiding hotel rooms, and being able to store your belongings right in your car. If you’re experienced or if it’s your first time, here’s what you should know before you go on a car camping adventure.

1. Choosing the right vehicle is everything.

When you choose a vehicle for your car camping adventure, you’re not just picking a car—this is going to be your home. There won’t be any fancy hotels or cabins to unpack everything in, this is it. I’d recommend going big, ideally a larger SUV. It gives you plenty of room to store all of your essentials, bigger living space, and the ability to take on rockier terrains in remote areas.

2. Sleep with your head toward the front of the car.

Depending where you are, it might be difficult to find a spot to park overnight that is completely flat. Even if you find flat terrain, it’s important to sleep with your head toward the front of the car. Make sure that your feet are always below your head (there’s way more room at the front). The last thing you’d want is an uncomfortable night’s sleep ahead of a full day of adventuring.

3. Get creative (like an outdoor movie theater).

Immersed in the outdoors, some nights after a long day on the road might make for a nice movie. Don’t watch it on the small screen of your phone—get creative and make your very own outdoor movie theater with a portable projector, bluetooth speaker and a blanket! As long as you aren’t disrupting your neighbors, this is a perfect break from venturing. Look out for free WiFi on certain campground areas too.

4. Keep these camping essentials handy on your journey.

It may vary depending on the needs of your trip, but it’s safe to say that these essentials should be packed in your car for any excursion:

Navigation: map, compass, altimeter and GPS device.

Headlamp: don’t forget extra batteries.

Sun protection: sunglasses, sun-protective clothes and sunscreen.

First aid: including foot care and insect repellent.

Knife: plus a gear repair kit.

Fire: matches, lighter, tinder and/or stove.

They’re tools of survival for any situation you may find yourself in. Especially if it’s your first time camping, become knowledgeable on tips from the experts so you’re ready to take on the wild while staying safe.

5. Go fancy with your bed.

The luxury of car camping is that you don’t need to carry all of your gear with you on your back. Take advantage of this and get a good bed with comfortable mats, pillows, and blankets. Insulated blankets are suggested because cars can get just as cold as tents at nighttime. We recommend an insulated sleeping pad as your base. Splurge on the bed and make it just as nice as your bed back home, because a good night’s sleep will lead to a great day of adventuring.

6. Open the windows at night for ventilation.

Always keep your car ventilated by opening your windows just a touch. Don’t leave them wide open—we don’t want any animals finding their way into your car overnight. To combat the bugs, REI suggests cutting some mesh to cover the opening of the windows. If there’s not any ventilation, your windows will fog up and you’ll collect moisture in unwanted places.

7. Find alternatives for staying clean (without water).

Taking a shower is definitely not the easiest thing to do while car camping, but it can be doable. Find alternative products to bring along like no-rinse shampoo and hand sanitizer with a fully stocked toiletry bag of supplies. While water might be hard to come by, with these products you can still smell good and keep your hygiene above average.

8. Don’t park overnight illegally.

If you didn’t already know, you can’t just park anywhere you want overnight. Trust me, you don’t want a police officer knocking on your window at 7 a.m. to give you a fine. To help plan your trip, some useful apps include AllStays and Hipcamp. On them you can find free and paid locations where it’s totally legal to park overnight to sleep. Another option is the US Forest Service, where their roads are open to overnight parking. You might need specific required permits or passes, so make sure to do your check with them beforehand.

9. Bring a solar panel to charge your devices.

Keeping all of your electronics charged can be a major task—especially when you’re car camping with a companion. From your phone to camera, it’s a lot of necessary essentials. You might not realize it at first, but charging your devices overnight isn’t a possibility because the car is off (you can only charge your devices when the car is on). That’s why I would recommend a solar panel to charge up. There are various solar panels that can sit on your dashboard to make sure you’re never out of power for your electronic essentials.

Whether you’re traveling solo, your dog, with a friend or a significant other, this trip will be one to remember. Stay safe and bring a map just in case you lose service. After being quarantined for months, we can’t take travel for granted anymore so get out there, go off the grid and have an epic adventure to make up for lost time.

Whether it’s the abundance of sunshine, crashing waves, or silky sand, we all have our favorite beach features. Thousands of people visit seaside locations every year in search of the perfect beach to rest and unwind on. Beaches are available in a variety of colors and sizes. But some beaches are truly unique and one-of-a-kind, attracting throngs of people each year due to their exceptional beauty. Here are ten of the world’s most distinctive and unique beaches, all of which are testaments to nature’s magnificent handiwork.

1. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

The Giant’s Causeway is located on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland, at the foot of basalt cliffs along the sea shore. It consists of 40,000 enormous black basalt columns protruding from the sea.

The most famous legend about the Giant’s Causeway, which gives the attraction its name, is that the columns are relics of a causeway built by the giant Finn MacCool. Over the last 300 years, geological studies of these formations have substantially aided the development of the earth sciences, demonstrating that this stunning landscape was created by volcanic activity during the Tertiary period, some 50–60 million years ago.

2. Shell Beach in Shark Bay Region, Australia

Shell Beach, 45 kilometers south-east of Denham in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, is home to billions of small shells and is close to the Hamelin Pool Stromatolites. This stunning snow-white beach stretches for nearly 70 kilometers and is made up of billions of tiny shells up to 10 meters deep.

Shell Beach is one of only a few spots on the planet where beach sand is replaced by shells in such a dramatic and beautiful fashion. Shell Beach offers a unique walking experience. Shell Beach also boasts extremely salty ocean waters, allowing swimmers to effortlessly float on the surface.

3. Pink Sand Beach in Harbour Island, Bahamas

The beach, which is located on one of the Bahamas’ smaller islands, is ideal for sunbathing and swimming in the warm, clear water. The most remarkable feature, though, is a 5-kilometer stretch of beautiful pink sand! It is one of the world’s most extraordinary beaches.

Foraminifera — a marine invertebrate – and its red shell, which crushes and then blends with the white sand, gives the sand its light rose tint. Numerous resorts adorn the exquisite island, ensuring complete relaxation in these idyllic surroundings. Visitors can go swimming, snorkeling, and fishing during the day, and then visit the town in the evening to enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

4. Moon Beach in Milos Islands, Greece

Sarakiniko, on the island of Milos, is a well-known beach with white rock formations. It is situated on the Greek island of Milos. Sarakiniko Beach is also known as Moon Beach. The island lies in the Cyclades archipelago, which also includes Santorini and Naxos, and is formed like a horseshoe. In contrast to many other well-known Greek islands, the island is gorgeous and calm.

With its gleaming white tone, the entire landscape built by volcanic rocks shows no indications of vegetation. This contrasts beautifully with the surrounding water’s vivid blue and turquoise hues. The scene provides the feeling of being on the moon’s surface.

5. Koekohe Beach, New Zealand

Koekohe Beach is a strange, slightly wonderful location near the fishing community of Moeraki in the Otago area of New Zealand’s south island’s beach line. These particularly large spherical boulders are technically known as septarian concretions.

Some of the rocks are approximately three meters large, and the majority of them have fissures on their surfaces, making them look like huge dinosaur eggs. The Moeraki Boulders are said to be gourds that washed ashore when the Araiteuru boat was destroyed hundreds of years ago.

6. Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California

Glass Beach is MacKerricher State Park’s well-known southern beach in Fort Bragg. Glass Beach is named after the smooth, multicolored glass pieces that can be found strewn across the pebbly beach. It’s the result of years of trash being dumped in the neighborhood by locals. The debris was finally crushed into the sand by the ebb and flow of the tides and surf.

Thousands of people visit the glass beach every day. Although it is prohibited to take any glass from Glass Beach, this hasn’t stopped people from stealing what appears to be a little amount.

7. Scala Dei Turchi in Sicily, Italy

This is without a doubt one of the most fascinating stairways you’ve ever seen. It is a stunning stretch of shoreline that has become a symbol of Sicilian beach tourism due to its uniqueness.

This white cliff can be found between Realmonte and Porto Empedocle (Agrigento), and its rock is made of soft limestone and brilliant white marl. Visitors are welcome to wander on the soft, white cliffs, however, they are not permitted to take any of the rocks. Sicily is committed to preserving this outstanding landmark for the foreseeable future.

8. Black Beach, Iceland

Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach on Iceland’s south coast, close to the little fishing community of Vk Mrdal. It features characteristic Icelandic black sand, towering basalt columns, and big waves rushing onto the beach. The basalt rock formations were used in a couple of Game of Thrones episodes because of their unusual shape!

These massive basalt columns were formerly thought to be trolls attempting to draw ships from the sea to land, according to local legend. These trolls, on the other hand, were dim and ventured out late at night; daylight came on the horizon, turning the trolls into solid stone.

9. Hidden Beach in Marieta, Mexico

The Hidden Beach, or Playa del Amor, is a highlight of the Marieta Islands, which are located 22 nautical miles west of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at the inlet of Banderas Bay. A huge, sandy cavern with the Pacific’s azure seas flowing in looks like something out of a dream story.

The hole that created the Hidden Beach is said to have been created by intentional bombings. The Hidden Beach is hidden from view and can only be reached by a long water tunnel that connects the beach to the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can swim or kayak to the beach because there is around six feet of space above sea level.

10. Cave Beach in Algarve, Portugal

The golden beaches and magnificent azure seas at Algar de Benagil, also known as cave beach, are spectacular within the cave, with sunshine shining through the roof and golden sand. For those who have not visited, it is a natural wonder of the world and pure travel inspiration.

With sunlight spilling through the cave’s roof, golden sand, and magnificent turquoise waters, Algar de Benagil, the cave’s Portuguese name, is breathtaking. Natural light pours in through the wide natural hole at the top, and the sun’s rays create a breathtaking natural sight. The lighting reflects magnificent colors everywhere as it dips into the ocean, accentuating the water’s emerald green and the rocks’ gold.

You really want to see a city like Dubai-its glittering skyline, its lavish lifestyle-but better seen on your own terms. With car rental, you have the freedom to explore all the wonders in a location-where you may have city streets seeming so busy and with quiet desert escapes. Here’s an informative guide packed full of tips for renting a car in Dubai and suggestions for scenic day trips that you won’t want to miss.

Tips to Rent a Car in Dubai

Renting a car in Dubai is not very tough; however, knowing all the details does add to your experience. Some of the vital tips are listed below:

1. Choose the correct car according to your requirement

Dubai roads are made for comfort and luxury. The vehicle you choose needs to fit your needs.  There are expensive options that can be used when cruising the city or on day trips.

2. Understand Licensing Requirements

Valid Driver’s License A valid driver’s license is required for car rental in Dubai. Most nationalities are allowed to drive here using their home license or International Driving Permit. Always confirm with the rental company in advance what is acceptable.

3. Book in Advance

Dubai is a very popular destination, and during peak seasons, there is always a great demand for car rentals. Booking ahead of time will ensure you get the best rate for you and the car you want.

4. Road Rules

The laws regarding driving in Dubai are pretty stringent and implemented as well. Be on your guard for speed limits, refrain from taking calls while driving, and even the radar cameras.

6. Rent a GPS Navigation

The roads of Dubai are quite well signposted, but growth in the city is so fast, and new roads and landmarks arise so often that it is quite easy to lose one’s way. A GPS system would really be a boon if your rented car comes with it; you won’t get lost as easily.

7. Be Cautious about Salik Tolls

Dubai has an electronic toll system called Salik. Most car rental companies will include any tolls in your bill, but check with them beforehand.

Great Day Trips from Dubai

With your car rental, the good times are really just beginning. Here are some day trips to take in some of the incredible scenery the UAE has to offer:

1. Dubai to Hatta

Hatta is a beautiful town in the Hajar Mountains. It is about 90 minutes by car from Dubai. It is a great outdoor activity place. Paddle at Hatta Dam, or visit the Heritage Village, or go hiking through mountain trails. And, of course, the trip itself is the adventure, the serpentine roads and stunning vistas.

2. Dubai to Abu Dhabi

One cannot bypass Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the UAE. It lies within 90 minutes by car from Dubai and includes attractions from grand mosques, like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, opulently designed to palatial Emirates Palace and the cultural treasures forming the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The road runs through a breathtaking urban and desert landscape.

3. Dubai-Al Ain

Al Ain is referred to as the “Garden City” of the UAE and is a two-hour drive from Dubai. Visit Al Ain Oasis, Al Jahili Fort, and Jebel Hafeet, the country’s second-highest peak. The drives up Jebel Hafeet offer panoramic views and are one of the most scenic routes in the UAE.

4. Dubai to Fujairah

Fujairah is on the eastern side of the country and can be accessed within a 90-minute car drive from Dubai. The emirate is very ideal for a relaxing day by the sea; it has stunning beaches and incredible mountains. A visit to Fujairah will not be complete without visiting the oldest mosque in the UAE, the Al-Bidyah Mosque, and the Fujairah Fort.

5. From Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah is simply referred to as RAK. It is a treasure hidden an hour from Dubai. It has its fame on Jebel Jais mountain ranges where the world’s longest zipline was established. There is great mountain scenery suitable for photography.

6. From Dubai to Sharjah

Sharjah is the sister emirate of Dubai, and this emirate is full of culture and heritage. Among them, one can visit Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization. One can take a stroll in Al Noor Island or pass time in shopping in the traditional Blue Souk. It is ideal for a day trip from Dubai as it is only a 30-minute drive.

7. Dubai to Liwa Oasis

Drive to Liwa Oasis, which straddles the rim of the world’s largest sand desert, Rub’ al Khali, a.k.a. Empty Quarter. This is an almost surreal experience from sheer size of dunes and stillness in the air. It takes about three hours from Dubai; so, do make an early start by morning.

8. From Dubai to Umm Al Quwain

If you’re looking for a tranquil escape, Umm Al Quwain is the perfect destination. Just 45 minutes from Dubai, this lesser-known emirate offers serene beaches, mangroves, and the Dreamland Aqua Park, ideal for families.

9. Dubai to Ajman

Ajman, the smallest emirate, is only a 40-minute drive from Dubai. It’s known for its relaxed vibe, beautiful beaches, and the Ajman Museum, housed in an 18th-century fort.

10. Dubai to Kalba

Kalba is a beautiful seashore town on the eastern side, which is two hours from Dubai. It is a perfect destination for people who want to live in places with diverse biodiversity. Places of attraction are the Kalba Bird of Prey Centre and mangrove forests. It is a haven for nature lovers.

Conclusion

With car hire in Dubai, you get to see the city and the places around it. You can make every moment of the journey as memorable as the destination when driving around the city and its surroundings at your own pace, be it a luxurious vehicle or something more practical. Now, here are some tips and ideas for great day trips so you are all set to go on an unforgettable adventure in and around Dubai.

Expert tips for passengers who use a wheelchair or require special assistance

Tarita Davenock suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, which makes it tricky to navigate airports, where the distances between gates can be measured in football fields. Airports can be challenging for many other travelers as well. A quarter of U.S. adults have a disability, and 14 percent have trouble walking or climbing stairs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The one thing we all have in common is that we want to be accommodated [at airports],” says Davenock, whose MS hasn’t kept her from flying. As the owner of Travel for All, a company that specializes in accessible travel, she has caught many flights at scores of airports.

If you have mobility or other issues (such as dementia or vision loss) that make navigating airports difficult, Davenock and other accessible-travel experts offer some tips.

1. Request assistance in advance

Many accommodations are federally mandated by laws such as the Air Carrier Access Act, which requires that airlines offer assistance to those with mobility issues, visual or hearing impairments, or other disabilities. You can (and should) request such assistance when making your reservation online (or by calling the airline’s special assistance phone line).

As you make your way through the booking process on the American Airlines website, for example, you’ll eventually see a link to “add special assistance.” Click on that link and you’ll find various options, such as “mobility” and “traveling with a service animal.” After checking one of the boxes, you’ll be prompted to be more specific, so the airline understands your particular need. If you check “mobility,” you’ll be asked to specify how much assistance you’ll need by checking another box, with options such as “can walk — need help only if there are stairs.”

Before your departure date, an airline representative may contact you for additional information. But even if you do hear from a representative, accessibility specialists recommend calling your airline a day or two before your flight to confirm that it has your request and understands your needs, and that ticket agents will be able to see the info. There shouldn’t be a problem, because your request is automatically linked to your reservation when you buy your ticket. Still, it’s always best to double-check, says Debra Kerper, owner of Easy Access Travel, who has visited more than 30 countries and taken more than 90 cruises despite facing health-related mobility challenges, including often using a wheelchair. “Everything’s easier when it’s done in advance,” she notes. “At each step, learn to be proactive.”

2. Give yourself plenty of time at the airport

“Even if travelers aren’t checking luggage, arriving in advance of the departure time is very helpful for those with mobility issues,” says Alvaro Silberstein, founder of Wheel the World, who’s paralyzed from the waist down. He and the airlines offer similar advice. “I recommend arriving two to three hours in advance of an international flight and one and a half hours ahead of a domestic flight,” he says, “just to give ample time for moving around the airport and making sure that requested accessibility assistance is in place.”

Specialists say the labor shortage created by the pandemic means that in some cases, there will be fewer wheelchair attendants, which means you might have to wait for one.

“The process itself is fairly simple and straightforward, but the level of quality is all over the place,” says Laurent Roffé, general manager of Tapooz Travel. He salutes airports in Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando as “big tourist destinations that are eager to accommodate elderly travelers with mobility limitations.” On the flip side, New York’s LaGuardia Airport has historically been harder for his clients to navigate.

3. Be vocal at check-in

When you get to the airport, promptly identify yourself to a skycap or the ticket counter agent as someone who requested help when you bought your ticket. Wheelchair assistance will then be summoned if that’s what you need, or perhaps a guide if you’re visually impaired.

By law, an attendant must tote your carry-on luggage for you if you can’t. Also, the attendant must have your permission to leave you unattended for more than 30 minutes before boarding begins for your flight, even if you’re traveling with a companion.

If anything goes wrong — if, for example, an airline employee tries to charge you a baggage fee for a case filled with and marked “medical supplies,” which should be free — ask to speak to the airline’s complaint resolution officer (CRO), a position mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation to promptly address disability-related air travel issues. If there’s no CRO on-site, you’ll be connected to one by phone.

4. Speak up at the security checkpoint

“Don’t let it be a guessing game,” says Kerper, who advises travelers to quickly identify their mobility issue to TSA agents so they can figure out the best way to help. “I’ll say, ‘I’m a double amputee and can’t walk into the screening device,’ and they’ll say, ‘Fine,’ and take me around it.”

If you have questions about the checkpoint process, don’t wait until you get to security to ask them. Seventy-two hours prior to your flight, you can get your questions answered in advance through TSA Cares (855-787-2227), a helpline for those with disabilities, medical conditions or other special circumstances.

You can also request that a passenger support specialist, a specially trained TSA agent devoted to those with special needs, personally accompany you through security. At least 72 hours before your flight, simply fill out an online form or make your request via the TSA Cares line. A specialist will contact you to arrange a time and place to meet at the airport.

Calling the Cares line and providing the TSA with sensitive information in advance — for example, identifying areas where an agent’s touch may be painful — can save you from having to explain your circumstances on-site. “TSA’s program allows you to tell them about your disability, so you don’t have to go through all the rigmarole [at the security checkpoint],” Davenock says. “They’ll pat you down, but you won’t be embarrassed and manhandled if you’ve preplanned.”

5. Request a ride to your gate, if needed

If you’re not using a wheelchair but would like help making the long trek to your gate, airlines operate courtesy carts in some airports (though not all, since they’re not required to do so by law). For example, American provides the service in cities including Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami and Philadelphia; Delta Air Lines has them in Atlanta and Los Angeles, among others. You can call an airline’s special assistance line for information about where they’re available. You probably won’t be able to schedule a time to be picked up outside security, but carts typically roam concourses continuously during the busiest times of day, so it’s just a matter of waiting for one.

Your attendant will remain with you until boarding for your flight begins and will assist you onto the plane during pre-boarding.

6. Arrange for help at your destination

If you’re mobility impaired, you can ask the airline to have an attendant waiting for you when you land. The attendant will provide a wheelchair (if you need one) and help you deplane after the other passengers have exited, assist you at baggage claim, and then stay with you as needed to the terminal exit or vehicle pickup location.

If you don’t need a wheelchair to deplane but do need help making a connection at another gate or getting to baggage claim, try asking the gate agent to call a cart for you. Just remember, cart availability varies by airport.

7. Remember to tip

Tipping wheelchair assistants and guides — who are usually contractors, not airline employees — is discretionary, but most accessibility experts say it’s commonly done, and recommend doing so. “If it’s not super far, I’ll tip $5, but if they’ve taken me to baggage claim and waited, I’ve given as much as $20,” Kerper says. “If you can afford to travel, you should be nice to the people who help you.”