Planning a kid-friendly itinerary, especially for international travel might seem scary and daunting at first, but it’s a lot of fun once you take the first step towards it. While you can travel to any country with your kids, there are some countries that are especially kid-friendly due to the amenities they offer.

Amenities such as kids’ clubs, kid-friendly attractions, a wide variety of food for fussy eaters, and stroller-friendly walkways are some of the things which make a country seem more attractive for kids than others.

This summer vacation, surprise your kids with an international trip to these countries and see their happiness radiate!

Singapore – With loads of fun activities and vibrant places to visit, Singapore is an ideal travel destination for kids. It is extremely safe, public transport such as cabs and buses are affordable, and it offers many child-friendly attractions such as the Singapore Zoo, Sentosa Island, and Changi Jurassic Mile.

Lapland – Located in Finland, it is also known as the land of Magical Natural Phenomena, or Santa Claus’s hometown (yes, you heard us right!). It looks literally like a land out of a fairy tale! Kids can meet the ‘real’ Santa Claus, play in snow-laden forests, and even feed baby reindeers. It also offers plenty of options for parents to enjoy – watch the Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, and stay in an igloo among others.

Bali – One of the most popular tourist destinations, Bali is famous for its beaches, temples, and the wide variety of sports it offers. To have a relaxing vacation, choose a hotel with kids’ clubs and a wide range of food options. Take your kids to the Bali Zoo, Waterbom Waterpark, Ubud Monkey Forest, and soak in the flora and fauna.

Australia - Australia’s diverse cities and natural landscapes have something for everyone – from young adventurers and teen beach-seekers to culture-craving grown-ups and foodies of all ages. Visit the Grampians if you want a taste of adventure, roam around Sydney and go to National Dinosaur Museum, explore the Gold Coast, go snorkeling at The Great Barrier Reef, and see kangaroos and koala bears.

Essential things to remember while planning an international trip

Keep this checklist handy while planning your international trip:

Research, research, and research – It is important to plan everything to avoid last-minute hiccups, including the weather of the country you want to visit, the political climate, attractions, adventure activities, entry fees, the transport cost, the accommodation to the eateries, the laws to the safety regulations, and the culture to the locals.

Keep your travel-related documents in one place – These include a passport, visa, international driving license, travel maps, flight tickets, travel insurance, and medical prescriptions, if any.

Check-in with the Indian Embassy and register yourself – To be safe in a foreign land while far from home should be one of the most important things on your checklist. As soon as you land, get yourself registered at the Indian Embassy to ensure your safety, especially in case of an emergency.Pack all your essentials – These are the items that you require on a day-to-day basis such as mobile chargers, USB cables, electronic gadgets, power banks, and first-aid kit among others.

If you are planning a winter holiday in a cold country or a serene mountainous area, here are a few things you need to remember while packing.

Winter is coming and it is time to get your warm clothes and pretty woollens out. The best way to enjoy the winters is going for a trip up the hills or to a cold destination. However, you need to pack a few essentials to tackle everything from illnesses to harsh weather.

Choose The Right Shoes

A pair of sneakers or sandals would suffice if you travel during the summers. But when winter hits, make sure to pack some shoes which are ideal for the snow. Comfortable and warm boots that have a steady grip on the bottom are helpful to prevent slipping or falling in the ice.

Trekking in the snow can be dangerous if you do not have proper footwear on. The boots should be able to handle walking on ice and snow.

Layer Up

Packing several layers of warm and indoor-friendly clothing is important to beat the cold weather. On one hand, you could feel cold outside, but coming indoors with warm sweaters could prove to be uncomfortable.

Several items such as a t-shirt, a sweater, a light-weight jacket and a thick winter coat should be packed alongside mittens, warm caps and scarves.

When you layer your clothing, it is easy to adjust to different temperatures.

Winter Toiletries

The cold wind can be drying for the skin, so make sure you pack a moisturising lotion and hand cream to prevent dryness.

Another item which is essential for a winter holiday is a lip balm with SPF. This balm will help in keeping your lips hydrated, free from chapping, and protected from the sun.

Moreover, one might think that carrying sunscreen is only meant for summertime travel, but sun reflects off the snow, which can easily cause extreme sunburn without SPF protection.

Emergency Medical Kit

Carrying an emergency medical kit is the wisest thing to add to your packing list.

Keep a band-aid, anti-fungal cream, pain relieving spray, cough and cold syrup, over-the-counter antibiotics and other flu medicines as the sudden change in temperature may not be suitable. Menstruation pads are also a travel must-have.

Light Backpack

A snug and light bag which can fit all your essentials while you’re trekking, going on a ski trip, or travelling from one place to another during your holiday, is important for your trip as you will leave your suitcase in the resort or hotel you’ve booked.

Bags with multiple compartments can keep things neatly organised.

Thermostat Flask

A thermostat flask which keeps liquids warm is an indispensable part of your packing list. While on the move, finding water in nearby shops might not be easy in hilly regions, so carrying a flask which keeps water warm is essential. Moreover, warm water, tea or coffee in this flask will give you a quick relief from the cold.

Dubai Airports shared ways in which travel can be made easier

Dubai: If you are a Person of Detrmination, or have someone in the family who is, you would be happy to know that travelling through Dubai International Airport (DXB) does not have to be a stressful experience.

Dubai Airports – Terminal 1, 2, and 3 – have dedicated services that make it easy for People of Determination to navigate the check-in, immigration and boarding procedures. Here is how you can plan your journey:

1. When booking your flight, request a DPNA code for assistance.

The Disabled Passenger with Intellectual or Developmental Disability Needing Assistance (DPNA) code informs the flight that you may require assistance during your trip. You can request for the code when booking your flight, either in person, via telephone or via a travel agent.

2. Make use of complimentary parking for up to two hours at any terminal.

Dubai Airports advises passengers to ensure they arrive three hours before departure for international flights. You need to be at your gate 45 minutes before take-off.

If you are travelling to the airport by car, People of Determination get complimentary parking for two hours at all terminals.

If you are travelling to the airport by taxi, you can book a special taxi for People of Determination through the DTC (Dubai Taxi Corporation) App or through their toll-free number: 80088088. Taxi drivers are trained and certified to deal with visual and physical impairments.

3. Pick up a sunflower lanyard from dedicated collection points across DXB.

The Sunflower lanyard is a discrete identifier worn by passengers with hidden disabilities throughout the airport so that staff can identify them. Wearing the lanyard will help staff at the airport identify that you may need additional support.

Only one lanyard is required per group, and anyone in the group can wear the lanyard to indicate that someone in the group has a hidden disability.

How can you get a sunflower lanyard?
You need to look for the Sunflower sign at the information desk near entrance no. 2 in Terminal 3 and at dedicated collection points in Terminals 1 and 2.

You can also ask for assistance from staff members wearing sunflower pins, these staff members are trained to assist travellers with hidden disabilities. Make sure that you keep your lanyard after your journey, as it is reusable across other airports.

What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower?
Wearing the Sunflower discreetly indicates to people around the wearer including staff, colleagues and health professionals that they need additional support, help or a little more time.

Over 200 airports across the world either already recognise the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and provide assistance to passengers accordingly, or are planning to implement the system soon.

4. Head to priority check-in lanes for faster passport control, security check and boarding.

The Assisted Passenger Services desk is the priority check-in desk for all People of Determination passengers in Terminal 3.

In Terminals 1 and 2, you will be prioritised for check- in if you are wearing the Sunflower lanyard, based on the airline’s process.

5. Take a buggy ride to get around easily.

While you can take the elevator, escalator or moving walkway to make your way to the airplane, you will be given priority for a buggy ride or for a wheelchair if you have your sunflower lanyard on.

Look for dedicated seats marked for People of Determination while waiting at your gate.

As the waiting area can be busy, special seats have been allocated for People of Determination, marked with the People of Determination logo.

“I think we’re closer than ever to an iPhone camera being a true replacement for a DSLR camera,” Tiffany Nguyen says.

Tiffany Nguyen didn’t set out to become a professional photographer. She, like many of us, started simply by snapping photos on her iPhone 4 to document her everyday life. Slowly but surely, she learned a few tricks of the professional trade, using tools available on her mobile, which have now made her one of the most respected travel photographers in the game.

“I was in my first year of dental school, and I hadn’t started my photography career yet. Fast forward to 12 years later, and I’ve transitioned to a career as a full-time photographer,” Nguyen told Travel + Leisure. “The iPhone was definitely an integral part of my journey as a photographer and made me realize how much I enjoy taking photos and creating something unique.” She added, “I didn’t take the straight line path that I expected to take in life, but I hope [talking about it] encourages others to chase their passions as well.”

With the release of the latest iPhone 14, Nguyen shared that she’s been “so impressed with the image quality” thanks to its 48-megapixel RAW capability, that she says “can stand up next to DSLR images better than ever before. There is so much information contained in each image which allows for much more in-depth adjustments when editing.” She added, “I think we’re closer than ever to an iPhone camera being a true replacement for a DSLR camera.”

To help others step up their game, Nguyen shared a few pieces of critical advice to level up right from your phone and shared a few of her favorite photos from Los Angeles taken on her device to help inspire you to get out and shoot more too.

Try shooting in RAW.

“A lot of people don’t realize that you can shoot in RAW, which allows you to have more information to work with in order to maximize your editing capabilities,” Nguyen explained. RAW is an uncompressed file format that allows your camera (or, in this case, your phone’s camera) to capture as much data as possible. This way, when you go to edit an image, you can do so in much greater detail. (The only downside is that shooting in RAW takes substantially more data space.)

“With 48 megapixels to work with, you have so much flexibility and can really bring an image to life with editing. Being able to lock your exposure and focus when shooting also helps you to capture the scene exactly as you envision it,” Nguyen added. “Dialing in your exposure in camera and making sure it’s as close to ideal as possible can make the editing process a lot easier.”

Get to know the basics of composition.

Taking great photos isn’t just about having fancy equipment. It’s also about understanding a few basics of composition.

“I would recommend shooting close to sunrise or sunset to capture your images during the most ideal light,” Nguyen shared, pointing to the time commonly known as “golden hour” to give off those dreamy warm tones.

“Having a strong composition can really make or break your image,” Nguyen added. “Some of my favorite composition techniques include leading lines, negative space, symmetry, the rule of thirds, and using layers. Utilizing these techniques along with shooting during periods of soft light will really help take your iPhone photos to the next level.”

Pick a subject and practice, practice, practice.

Nguyen’s favorite thing to practice with is cityscapes, as evidenced by these gorgeous L.A. shots. Picking a favorite, she explained, helps people want to get out and practice even more.

“The best camera really is the one you have in your pocket, and the iPhone allows me to quickly capture moments in high fidelity while I’m on the go,” she said. “There’s so much that goes on around you when you’re walking through a city, and shooting on an iPhone lets me stay fully immersed in the moment while still being able to capture high-quality images of my favorite sights and memories.”

Learn how to edit on the fly.

Yes, taking stellar pics is key, but learning to edit, Nguyen noted, is also a big part of leveling up.

“Editing is half the fun and is where I really get to bring my images to life,” she said. “I edit all of the images taken on my iPhone with the iPhone as well. The apps I typically use are Lightroom Mobile and Touch Retouch. It’s the quickest and easiest way to edit my images when I’m on the go and gives me almost the same editing capabilities as compared to editing on my laptop. I’m always amazed at what I’m able to create 100% on my iPhone.”