Knowing what you will wear, what you may need, and when helps avoid packing unnecessary stuff. In this ultimate packing checklist, we will cover all you need to be prepared for any destination, from essentials to often overlooked items.

Explore Your Destination Online:

Before you start packing your suitcase, research your destination. See what other travelers have written about the climate and cultural norms. Read up about specific activities you have planned on your trip. This will help you come up with a packing list according to the destination’s requirements. A winter vacation will require different items compared to a business trip or a family wedding.

Build up a Packing List:

A detailed packing list is needed when planning a trip. Build your list according to categories like clothing, toiletries, electronics, documents, emergency, and miscellaneous items. This ensures you won’t forget crucial items and helps you stay organized during the packing process. 

Documents and Essentials:

Keep all your documents like passports, travel insurance, boarding passes, and hotel reservations in a secure travel wallet. Also keep a digital folder on both your phone and cloud storage. Keep physical copies of essential documents in different place than the originals. It’s also a good idea to have digital copies stored on your phone or cloud storage.

Try to Use Multipurpose Clothing:

Pick flexible clothing items that you can mix and match to build up different outfits. This helps to save space in your suitcase and keeps you ready for different occasions. Try to keep items made with lightweight, breathable, and wrinkle-resistant fabrics. For colder destinations, keep items that will you layer up so that you remain warm without packing multiple items.

When Packing Roll, Don’t Fold:

Rolling your clothes and not folding them helps to both maximize space and reduce wrinkles. This also helps to save space and makes it easier to locate specific items without needing to pack your entire suitcase. It’s a game-changer for efficient packing.

Pack a First Aid Kit:

A medical emergency can occur at any time. So, it’s a good idea to keep a small first aid kit. This should have all emergency essentials like pain relievers, band-aids, wipes, motion sickness tablets, and any prescription medications you may need. 

Electronics and Chargers:

While traveling it is important to keep your electronic devices charged and have destination appropriate chargers. Make a list to pack your smartphone and other necessary gadgets you may need during your trip as well as their chargers and destination-appropriate adapters. 

Take Travel-Sized Toiletries:

Invest in a travel toiletry kit for all your travels. This helps avoid having to carry large bottles or needing new smaller bottles. Doing this lets you save space as well as comply with airline directives about liquid quantities in carry-on luggage.

Keep a Reusable Water Bottle:

Staying hydrated is important, but it can be difficult while traveling. It is convenient to keep a reusable water bottle that can be filled up at airports or wherever you stay. This helps to reduce single-use plastic bottles usage. It is also handy to have free water with you during long flights or road trips.

Pack a Snack Stash:

Having a supply of snacks with you is convenient for long trips with inadequate dining options. Keep non-perishable snacks of your choice like granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit to sate your hunger. This helps you save some money at overpriced shops at travel stops or tourist spots.

Consider the Location:

Respect for local customs is essential, so keep the cultural nuances of your destination when packing. Modesty can be important in some areas, while in others, casual attire is normal, and formal attire may seem out of place due to the climate or any other reason.

Looking into the local culture and packing according to it will help you pack appropriately and avoid any blunders.

Pack a Light Backpack:

Keep a small, foldable backpack that can be easily packed in your main luggage. This can serve as a carry-on bag during flights and as a handy backpack for daily tours at your destination. Such backs are very convenient to hold daily essentials like your passport and documents, water, battery packs, snacks, a camera, and a light jacket.

Protect Your Valuables:

Keep all important items safe by using a money belt or a hidden pouch. This is essential in crowded tourist spots, where pickpocketing can be an issue. It’s also smart to distribute your cash, cards, and important documents across different locations to reduce the chances of loss or theft.

Follow the Weather Forecast:

Check the weather forecast for your destination when packing your clothes. This lets you be prepared for all forecasted weather. You can also make last-minute additions to your packing. A compact, travel-friendly umbrella or a lightweight rain jacket can be very convenient for destinations where sudden showers are forecasted.

Remain Comfortable:

Long flights, bus rides, and walking tours can be very uncomfortable. Try to pack items like neck pillows, comfy clothes, and shoes to make your experience more pleasant. 

Luggage Basics:

If you travel frequently, invest in durable, lightweight luggage with secure zippers and international standard locks. Follow the size restrictions of international airlines to avoid luggage charges. Also, pick luggage of a size that you can easily handle when it is fully packed.  Pick a suitcase or bag with wheels for easy maneuverability. Attach luggage tags with your contact information to help identify your bag in case it gets mislaid. It is also good to keep spare tags to replace lost ones.

Entertainment for the Journey:

Long flights or road trips can become boring, so keep a good book, download your favorite movies or TV shows onto your devices, or prepare a travel playlist. Having entertainment options on hand can turn a monotonous journey into a fun experience.

Packing for traveling is a skill that can alter your travel experience. By coming up with your personalized comprehensive packing list you can ensure that you are primed for any adventure. From cultural explorations to beach getaways, use this ultimate packing guideline to make your next trip hassle-free and enjoyable. 

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post Packing Tips: The Ultimate Checklist for Packing for Any Destination appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

However, with planning, smart choices, and resourcefulness, traveling to Europe is possible and can be a life-changing experience. Today we will explore practical tips for making the most of your European adventure without breaking the bank. However, it is important that you opt for appropriate travel insurance so that you are not financially impacted in case of any accident or illness. 

Budget-Friendly Destinations:

Picking the right destinations can help reduce your overall travel expenses. While famous cities like Paris, London, and Rome are no doubt popular for many reasons, they are also usually very expensive. It is smarter to pick less famous but equally (or even more) fascinating destinations that offer a more budget-friendly experience. For instance, many Eastern European countries, like Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, have a wonderful mix of history, culture, and affordability to make your trip memorable.

Planning Your Vacation Time

Plan for a vacation during the spring and fall seasons when prices are lower, and popular destinations are less crowded. These is known as the shoulder seasons since there are fewer people travelling and almost all places have lower prices.

Booking Your Flight Smartly:

Finding affordable flights is a basic part of preparing for budget travel. Use online tools and apps to compare prices of different airlines and booking platforms. Book flights for a period when you can be flexible with your travel dates. It is a smart move to opt to fly on weekdays, as flights are generally expensive during weekends and the peak holiday seasons. It is also a smart move to subscribe to promotions and discounts offered by various airlines to your planned destinations.

Pro Tips for Accommodation:

Accommodation costs can quickly add up especially if you are on a long trip, but there are multiple ways to cut down on such costs. Decide to go for budget-friendly options like hostels, guesthouses, or budget hotels. Websites and apps like Hostelworld, Airbnb, and Booking.com allow you to find affordable accommodation according to your budget and preferences. Consider staying in the suburbs and using public transportation (if it’s cheap) to reach the city center, where prices are usually higher. If you are going to remote areas find out about bus or train timings and ticket costs. 

Local Transportation:

The majority of Europe has an extensive and efficient public transportation system, which makes it easy to explore without paying for expensive taxis or rental cars. Buy city passes or transportation cards that offer unlimited travel for a certain period. Trains and buses are not only cost-effective but also provide a scenic and enjoyable way to experience the European countryside.

Culinary Exploration on a Budget:

Dining out in Europe is a delightful experience, but it can also be expensive. To save on food money, explore local markets and grocery stores for fresh fruits, breads, and cheeses. Embrace the street food culture, which is not only delicious but also pocket friendly. Additionally, consider having your main meal of the day during lunchtime when many restaurants offer affordable set menus.

Free and Low-Cost Activities:

Europe is teeming with free and low-cost activities that allow you to immerse yourself in its culture without spending a fortune. Many museums offer free entry on specific days or during certain hours. Take advantage of walking tours to explore the city, and enjoy the beauty of parks, historical sites, and architecture without breaking the bank.

Student and Youth Discounts:

If you’re a student or a young traveler, try to take advantage of the many discounts available for students. Many attractions, transportation services, and even accommodations offer special rates for students and young adults. Keep your student ID card and check your destination for youth travel cards that offer additional discounts on different services.

Travel Insurance and Health Coverage:

While it usually seems like an unnecessary expense, investing in travel insurance is necessary for any international trip. It offers coverage for unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost baggage. Shop around for the best deals on travel insurance to ensure that you are effectively covered without overspending.

Foreign Exchange Matters:

Be comfortable with currency exchange rates, processes, and withdrawal charges. Make it a practice to use local ATMs to withdraw cash in the local currency rather than exchanging money at airports, as these are usually known to charge higher fees. Inform your bank about your travel plans to avoid any issues with international transactions and get a travel-friendly credit card that offers favorable rates and spending rewards. 

Connect with the Local Community and Other Travelers:

One of the best parts of traveling is connecting with the locals. Engage with area locals to discover hidden places to visit, authentic experiences, and cost-effective alternatives. Join online travel communities or forums to seek advice and recommendations from fellow travelers who have explored Europe on a budget.

Conclusion:

Traveling through Europe on a budget from Pakistan requires careful planning, flexibility, and a willingness to embrace the local culture. By choosing affordable destinations, being smart with transportation and accommodation choices, and exploring cost-effective dining options, you can make the most of your European adventure without straining your finances. 

Remember, the essence of travel lies not in how much you spend but in the memories you create and the experiences you gather along the way. With a bit of resourcefulness, your dream European journey can become a reality, even on a modest budget.

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post <strong>Travel on a Budget: Exploring Europe without breaking the Bank.</strong> appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

The Importance of Mental Health Coverage

Mental health is a basic part of our overall well-being. Just like conditions that affect physical health need medical attention, mental health conditions also need treatment with the same level of care and attention. Many people still face difficulties when it comes to accessing mental health care. A key challenge is the cost of treatment.

Health insurance should play a major role in removing these barriers. Mental health coverage is essential because:

• Financial Support: Mental health treatment can be expensive, and without insurance, many people would be unable to afford therapy, medication, or other necessary mental health services. Like other health conditions, health insurance can help alleviate the financial burden of treating mental conditions.
• Early Intervention: Timely access to mental health care can stop mental conditions from worsening. Insurance coverage enables individuals to look for help earlier, which helps to reduce the severity and long-term impact of mental health issues.
• Holistic Care: Comprehensive health insurance plans should offer coverage for both physical and mental health. This holistic approach supports overall well-being by addressing all aspects of a person’s health.

Types of Mental Health Coverage

Most health insurance plans internationally offer some level of mental health coverage, but the extent and specifics can vary. Here are the main types of mental health coverage:

Outpatient Services: These include therapy sessions with psychologists or licensed therapists. Health insurance usually covers a percentage of the cost, and beneficiaries are responsible for the remaining amount.

Inpatient Services: If someone needs intensive care, hospitalization, or treatment in a residential facility, insurance plans usually cover a portion of these expenses.

Medication: Mental health medication is a part of treatment for most patients. Health insurance should cover the cost of prescription drugs, with co-pays or deductibles.

Telehealth Services: In recent years, the availability of telehealth services has expanded. Many insurance plans now cover virtual therapy sessions, making mental health care more accessible.

Preventive Care: Some insurance plans offer preventive services and screenings to help identify mental health concerns early.

Navigating Mental Health Coverage

Understanding your mental health coverage can be complex, but it is a basic step toward ensuring that you receive the care you need. Here are some steps to help know your insurance plan:

Review Your Policy: Carefully read your insurance policy to understand what mental health services are covered, including deductibles, co-pays, and annual limits.

Network Providers: Insurance plans often have a network of preferred providers. Using in-network professionals can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

Preauthorization: Some treatments may require preauthorization from your insurance provider. Make sure to follow the necessary steps to avoid unexpected costs.

Keep Records: Maintain records of your mental health care expenses and any communication with your insurance provider. This can be valuable in case of disputes.

Conclusion

Health insurance plays a key role in making mental health care accessible and affordable. It’s essential to understand your coverage and take advantage of the resources available to you. Remember that seeking help for mental health is a sign of strength, and there is support and care available to help you on your journey to well-being.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your insurance provider, mental health professionals, or support organizations to get the assistance you need. Your mental health matters and there are resources and coverage options to support you in your quest for a happier, healthier life.

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post Health Insurance and Mental Health: Coverage and Resources appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

That’s where travel insurance plays its role in reducing your losses. Travel insurance is an insurance category that protects you while you are travelling. Travel insurance helps to protect travellers from most unexpected expenses if something goes wrong while away from home.

This guide will discuss what travel insurance is and how it is useful for travellers.

What Is Travel Insurance?

What is travel insurance? Travel insurance is insurance coverage that we buy for an upcoming trip. It is designed to protect us against travel delays, flight cancellations, flight mix-ups, issues with baggage like delayed and lost luggage, and medical treatment.

The cost of travel insurance depends on multiple factors, like where you are from, the total expenses of the trip, the traveller’s age, dates of departure and return, and the initial premium paid. Travel plans can be as cost-effective as a few hundred rupees a day.

For more details, check out our article Travel Insurance 101: Understanding the Basics for Pakistani Travelers

How Does Travel Insurance Work?

Travel insurance works by repaying you for all expenses made during the interruption in your trip. For instance, if you miss a flight, travel insurance will compensate you for the missed or additional cost of a new flight you booked. Travel insurance will reimburse you for expenses incurred in case of lost luggage or medical emergencies. Travel insurance can also provide cover for trip cancellations and delays.

Common Benefits Covered by Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can be difficult to shop for since there are multiple benefits and coverage clauses to include. Common travel insurance benefits are:

• General Travel Protection, like Trip Cancellations, Travel Delay Benefits, and Interruption Coverage
• Missed Connections and Change over Fees
• Reimbursement of Miles or Reward Points
• Delayed Baggage or Lost Baggage Insurance and Personal Property
• Pre-Existing Condition Waivers
• Accident and Sickness Medical Bills (COVID coverage)
• Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
• Comprehensive Coverage for Emergency Medical Care
• Common Carrier Accidental Death & Dismemberment (Flight Accident Insurance)
• Search and Rescues
• Sports Equipment Renters and Rental Car Insurance
• Cancel for Any Reason Coverage (best plan if you want to cancel a trip with limited termination provisions)

Travel Coverage Types

There are two basic types of travel insurance policies:

• Trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage (Domestic Trips)
• Travel medical insurance. This is basically health insurance for international trips. This is an option suited for anyone travelling internationally.

Travel Insurance is Important Because….

A comprehensive travel insurance plan typically offers emergency travel assistance services and concierge services to you while on your trip 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

Travel insurance is slowly becoming an essential part of travel plans for any traveller. It provides coverage for unexpected medical emergencies. Medical costs can be high in many countries, and even more for Pakistani. A simple trip to a hospital emergency can rapidly add up to high charges, which will affect your budget. Travel insurance can relieve you of such costs while ensuring that you receive all necessary medical care.

Travel insurance commonly covers issues that cause trip cancellations or delays. For instance, family emergencies cause a genuine need for someone to cancel their trip due to unexpected circumstances, like sickness or a natural disaster. In such cases, travel insurance will compensate for most expenses related to your trip.

Similarly, suppose a traveller experiences any issue that results in a trip interruption, which is under the insurance cover, e.g., flight delays or cancellation. In that case, travel insurance can offer compensation for additional expenses incurred due to these factors.

For more details, visit our blog, The Benefits of Buying Travel Insurance Before Your Trip

Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance offers us peace of mind and a sense of security when travelling. Knowing that you are covered against financial loss in case of an emergency or unexpected event can allow you to relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about the economic consequences of something going wrong.

Like in any financial contract, it is essential to go over the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy in detail to know what is and isn’t covered. Some guidelines may have exclusions or limitations on coverage, so it’s important to ask questions and clarify any concerns before you finalize a policy.

Similarly, some regions have restrictions on coverage and exclusions.

Travel insurance is necessary for anyone planning to travel, as it protects against unforeseen events and can save you from potentially disastrous financial losses. Whether planning a short trip or an extended stay in a foreign country, investing in travel insurance is a smart and responsible choice.

Things to Do

When picking a travel insurance option, you need to be aware of the usual insurance buying checklist. You need to:

• Read the policy document,
• Compare different plans and policies from different companies.
• Ask about coverage clauses and exemptions.
• Ask about network associations with your travel destinations to see how well you will be covered there.

As a traveller you need to get a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers the most common travel issues and reimburses you for them on time.

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post How Travel Insurance Protects You Against the Unexpected While Traveling appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Buying travel insurance is something most of us ignore. Few of us buy travel insurance ahead of time, and even fewer compare policies to find the best travel insurance in Pakistan.

Here is everything you should look for before buying travel insurance in Pakistan.

1.  What does Travel Insurance cover for you?

A good travel insurance policy covers many situations, from minor to terrible inconveniences. This can be having your luggage delayed, or it could be a severe medical emergency, like getting stung by a poisonous insect and needing immediate medical attention.

You need to be covered for everything from lost and delayed luggage, flight delays and cancellations to medical treatment, medical evacuation and even transportation in case of severe illness and death. All these situations have different claim limits, of course.

Travel insurance also covers financial issues like reimbursing deposits or if your credit card is used fraudulently overseas.

2.  How to choose Travel Insurance

With so many different benefits in a travel insurance plan, it can be hard to select which one is worth your money. You should look for how much you are reimbursed for common travel hiccups.

Look for travel insurance that covers flight delays and cancellations since delays happen more often than we realise. They can be highly inconvenient, mainly because they cause you to miss your connecting flight. Ensure that your policy covers you for a decent period.

3.  Which Travel Insurance to Buy?

Like anything you buy, the best travel insurance gives you the most value for money. Say you are only travelling to Thailand for a weekend trip. You’re probably travelling light and don’t need significant coverage for loss of baggage.

You shouldn’t buy the cheapest in this case. The cheapest insurance will probably have lots of terms and conditions when it comes to claims. The important thing is to read the terms and conditions of your preferred policy carefully and make sure you are not caught unawares. This is especially important when you have pre-existing medical conditions

4.  Common mistakes In Buying Travel Insurance

How many of us know how to buy good travel insurance that suits our needs? Here are some common mistakes to avoid when buying travel insurance:

• Don’t just buy the first travel insurance you find. It is important to go through the details of the coverage provided to see if they are adequate for your needs or to cover the risks of the destination you’re travelling to, e.g. medical coverage and loss of personal belongings.
• Not reading the policy carefully: Many people make the mistake of not reading it carefully and end up with a policy that doesn’t cover what they thought it did.
• Not buying enough coverage: Another common mistake is not buying enough coverage. People sometimes buy the cheapest policy available without considering the coverage they need.
• Not disclosing pre-existing conditions: If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it’s important to disclose it to the insurance company. Failing to do so can result in a claim being denied.
• Not understanding the claims process: Make sure you understand how to make a claim and what documentation you need to provide. This can vary between policies and providers, so it’s important to be familiar with the process before you need to make a claim.
• Buying your travel insurance at the last moment: Like while waiting to board your flight or going to the airport? You should know that extra travel insurance benefits are applicable if you buy travel insurance ahead of your trip. For instance, coverage for natural disasters is automatically included.
• Not comparing policies: Don’t just buy the first policy you come across. Take the time to compare policies from different providers to find the best coverage for your needs and budget.
• You shouldn’t buy travel insurance just for the days you are overseas: You should include flights to and from your holiday destination to cover overall travel time. In the case of baggage delays, accidents during flights and connections, or even missing a flight, you will be able to claim damages.
• Not reading your travel insurance policy: like I always say, you need to read all policy documents carefully to see what is covered and what is not. Reading through the policy document lets you know what’s included and excluded, the claim limits, and what you need to do to file a claim.
• Assuming all travel insurance is the same: If your holiday includes adventurous elements like skydiving or scuba diving, check to ensure that the travel insurance you are considering covers these high-risk activities. Not every insurer will cover such activities, including sky diving, hot air balloon rides, and bungee jumping.

5.  When should I buy Travel Insurance?

Many things can go wrong when you’re travelling. Half of these things can happen even before you leave Pakistan. It is generally a good idea to purchase travel insurance as soon as you have made any non-refundable payments for your trip, such as flight tickets or hotel reservations. This will ensure that you are covered for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise, such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost or stolen luggage.

6.  Why should I compare Travel Insurance before buying?

It is important to note that travel insurance policies’ exact coverage and terms can vary, so it’s a good idea to carefully review the policy and understand what is and isn’t covered before purchasing. Additionally, some travel insurance policies may have a time limit for when you can purchase coverage, so it’s best to do so as early as possible to avoid any potential issues.

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post Travel Insurance 101: Understanding the Basics for Pakistani Travelers appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Saving is something that we all need to do. To develop a regular habit of saving, it is usually helpful to have a structure for your spending. This is where financial management and budgeting have a role to play. And yes, these terms apply to all of us, not just companies and businesses.

Personal Finance Management

When money comes into play, most people feel that it’s just about numbers and how much they make in a period. This approach is both simplistic and ignores a basic point, how you think about money is very important.

There are several steps you can take to get set for some long-term wealth building. Ignore how large (or small) your paycheck is and focus on making your savings account larger. Make this a conscious thought process. Takes steps to develop a healthy mindset aligned toward personal finances.

Managing your personal finances is just a way of listing down where your money goes, and it helps to identify areas where you may be spending money or where you can reduce spending. Do you have money troubles by the end of the month? Or have to cancel plans because of a cash shortage? Or end up with less cash than you anticipated? Or do you need a sizable amount of money in the next year?

This makes you a prime candidate for budgeting and financial management. Both are just methods used to keep track of your money and watch where it is going. Budgeting lets you get a grip on your finances and helps manage your earnings better.

Going through a financial management exercise on your spending is about seeing how much money you earn, where you spend it, and assessing if you are doing it right or reworking your expenditures to match your goals.

This is where financial management apps help to make informed financial decisions. We list the most useful apps available on Android and Apple play stores.

1.   Hysab Kytab

The only app that is developed in Pakistan. Hysab Kytab is a money-saving app that lets users set financial goals, develop a budget, offer review charts, and track expenses. The best thing about Hysab Kytab is the simplified visuals of spending that it offers users. These visuals are simple to understand, and users can easily see where their money is going. It also helps show where users went off track.

2.   Wallet

The Wallet is a financial management app that supports multiple currencies. The app is good to use as it highlights high or risky financial decisions. It also links with banking apps to track minor spending and charges. The more advanced features require a subscription, but most features are free to use.

3.   Pocket Guard

Pocket Guard is another money management app that links with mobile banking apps and tracks purchases, payables, and bills. It also offers comparative budgeting month to month helps to track previous expenses. The app also offers estimates about how and what you should spend and shows what spending will push you out of budget.

4.   Home Budget With Sync

Suppose you manage household expenses with your spouse or other family members. In that case, Home Budget with Sync is an app that allows multiple users to manage household finances by keeping track of their purchases. This way, the user can review their spending to make the right changes to save money.

The home budget has a family sharing feature that coordinates purchases and expenses of the whole household. This makes it easier for a multiple member household to follow the household budget. It also shares where and what spending heads need to be cut down to meet the budget. This app helps multiple users follow a set budget and manage group funds as the users decide. The app offers individual budget options to let people manage their private funds in the same app.

5.   Honeydue

Honeydue is another budget app that is good for multiple users. It is marketed as an app for couples to manage their finances jointly,but it can be used by housemates and family as well. It allows the tracking of all financial details like bank accounts, credit cards, loans, investments and savings. People can limit which information they wish to share with their partners.

The app helps users track their monthly expenses and savings and can be designed to send an alert when bills are due or if an expense head is going over budget.

It also offers a chat option to discuss issues with other people using the app.

Almost every money management app offers the option of tracking incomes and expenses, some version of spending analysis of the past period and suggestions on how to manage better for future ones

Instead of finding an app that will give you the best result, the first step for financial management and awareness is to download any app and start using it.

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post Best Personal Finance Management Apps in 2022 for Pakistanis appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

All the four provinces of Pakistan have launched and are successfully running their websites to process and list the required motor vehicle charges. Registered owners of commercial and private vehicles can easily find out what motor vehicle taxes and other related charges like title transfer and initial registration need to be paid. The online payment processing is active for Sind, Punjab, and Islamabad Capital territory, while those for KPK and Balochistan are still under process.

Links for the details of the provincial revenue authority websites are as follows:

1.    Punjab

Managed by the Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Department, Government of Punjab.

Web page: https://excise.punjab.gov.pk/motorvehicle_tax

2.    Sind

Managed by the Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department, Government of Sind.

Web page:  https://excise.gos.pk/taxes/motor-vehicle-tax/

3.    Balochistan

Managed by the Balochistan Revenue Authority, Government of Balochistan.

Web page:  https://bra.gob.pk/HowtopayTaxes.aspx

4.    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Managed by the Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Web page: http://www.kpexcise.gov.pk/app/motor-vehicle-taxes/

Sind, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have actively running websites with support and clear links out of the four websites listed. The Balochistan Revenue Authority is also aiming to digitize all its relevant revenue departments, with a particular focus on the online payment of taxes. It will facilitate ease of doing business in Baluchistan. However, all four sites had clear guides on how to go about paying vehicles taxes online.

A summary of the process is given below, there may be some differences, but the general process is the same for all provinces.

How to Pay Vehicles Token Online?

The links of the provinces’ motor vehicle tax pages open on a schedule of charges for vehicles. Suppose you want to transfer ownership, pay annual taxes, or register a new vehicle. In that case, tables are listed specifying the costs according to vehicle category and its engine capacity (its listed cc).

Make sure you have the details like your car’s last paid tax, registration year, and other relevant information. The tax calculator will help you calculate how much you need to pay.

The payment processing can be done directly, while some provinces require that you download their revenue processing applications from Play Store (Android) or App Store (Apple). Make an ID and profile and create an account to pay whatever official dues you need to pay.

To pay motor vehicle taxes Online in Punjab, you need to:

Download the Punjab ePay App. The Punjab IT Board develops this app under the instructions of the Finance Department of Punjab to facilitate people in paying vehicle tax online as well as multiple ranges of services.

How to pay vehicle token tax online in Punjab?

• Install the e-Pay Punjab application from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
• Create an account to get started.
• Select Token Tax under the Excise and Taxation Department tab.
• Enter vehicle registration number (e.g. LEA-123 or LEA-20-123).
• After confirming details, generate a challan.
• Note down the PISD number provided to pay token tax online

To pay motor vehicle taxes in Sind, you need to:

1: Open the relevant provincial excise department’s website and click on “Online Tax Payment.”

2: After clicking on Online Tax Payment,” a tab will open where you should select “Quick Pay.”

3: Enter your mobile number and car registration number on the Quick Pay tab.

4: Click on the calculate tax button to see how much tax you owe.

5: Now select ‘Generate PSID’ and copy down the PSID generated.

This PSID is used to process and track your payment through the option you decide.

Payment Options

These are the same for all provinces, once the PSID has been generated

1. Through an ATM

Visit your nearest ATM along with your ATM Card.

– After PIN verification, select the option of ‘Tax Payment’ under the choice of bill payment and select Excise and Taxation from the main menu.

– Enter the numbers of the PSID you were issued and Press OK.

– the amount due against the PSID number should be automatically fetched and displayed on the ATM Screen.

2. Net banking

Log in to your internet or mobile banking app and select the option of ‘Tax Payment.’ This should be under the option of ‘Bill Payment’ and select ‘Excise & Taxation’ from the main menu.

Enter the digits of your PSID and Press OK. Again, the payable amount against the PSID number you generated should automatically be fetched and displayed on your screen. Transfer funds and you will get a message about the transaction being successful on the screen. (take a screenshot for safekeeping)

3. Bank branches

You can also visit the nearest 1Link Member bank branches with a printout of the PSID number and ask the cashier to make the payment of due taxes against the PSID.

Payment of Online Vehicle Tax in Islamabad Capital Territory

People in Islamabad can now avail themselves of the option of paying vehicle tax online through using the Islamabad City App without needing to visit the Excise and Taxation Department physically.

The Islamabad City App is a project of the National IT Board. Apart from providing the facility to pay vehicle taxes online, citizens of the capital territory have a range of other options available for their convenience.

Some of the facilities offered by the Islamabad City App are

• Domicile Certificate
• International Driving Permit
• Token Tax Payment
• Vehicle Registration

Apart from these services, citizens can also verify all issued certificates and registrations already done.

How to pay Vehicle Tax Online using Islamabad City App?

1. Install the app from Google Play Store through the link: play.google.com/store/apps/IslamabadCityApp
2. Register using your CNIC and your email ID.
3. Click Token Tax Tab.
4. Enter your vehicle number.
5. Pay your token Tax Online.

Sadia Zaheer

Sadia Zaheer holds a Masters in Business Administration from IBA, Karachi. After working in several financial institutions in Client Management, Corporate Lending, Islamic Banking and Product Management she jumped careers to pursue a career in writing.
She is a Finance, Business and HR Development writer with four years of experience. She reads a lot and takes care of her multiple cats to remain calm.

The post The easiest way to pay vehicle tax in Pakistan appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow and divide in the body without control and invade the tissues. The abnormal cells can destroy normal body tissues and cause cancer. It is a large group of diseases that can start in any organ or part of the body and spread to other organs. Cancer is the major cause of death, but the survival rate increases daily as improvement in screening, prevention, and treatment has become more advanced.

Our body is made of trillions of cells that multiply and grow to form new cells, and when these cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place, but sometimes these cells grow and multiply and form a tumor (lumps of tissue). A tumor can be cancerous or noncancerous. A noncancerous tumor is a growth that doesn’t spread to other body parts; it is not life-threatening and can easily be removed with surgery. A cancerous tumor usually grows and spreads to other body parts and can be dangerous. 

There are more than a hundred types of cancer. The type of cancer is named from the organ, e.g., brain cancer starts in the brain, lung cancer from the lungs. The risk of having cancer depends on your age, gender, and ethnicity, e.g., breast cancer most likely occurs in older-aged women, and prostate cancer affects men.

Cancer in Pakistan

The most common cancer that is found in Pakistan is 

• Breast cancer
• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Head and neck carcinoma

Cancer Mortality in Pakistan

The mortality rate of cancer differs in males and females. Different types of cancer are found in males and females, some of which are discussed below according to their mortality rate.

Cancer in Male

According to the survey, around 48,600 males died due to cancer, in which the percentage of the following type of cancer is high.

• Mouth, oropharynx: 12.3% 
• Trachea, bronchus, lung: 10.5%
• Lymphomas, multiple myeloma: 8.4%
• Leukemia: 5.5%
• Liver: 5.5%
• Other: 57.8%

Cancer in Female

According to the survey, around 52,500 females died due to cancer, in which the percentage of the following type of cancer is high.

• Breast 30.8% 
• Mouth and oropharynx 7.9%
• Cervix uteri: 5.5% 
• Ovary 5.1% 
• Oesophagus 4.8%
• Others: 46.0%

Signs and Symptoms of Cancer

• Tiredness

If you feel extreme tiredness without any reason and that doesn’t get better with the rest of many days, you must go for a medical checkup, as it may be one of the signs of cancer.

• Weight Loss

If you feel your weight is lost without any diet food and suddenly lose 10 pounds weight in a month for no reason, this must be an alarming sign.

• Eating Problems

If you don’t feel hungry after a long hour break, or you may feel belly pain, vomiting, difficulty in swelling, and nausea, this may be a significant symptom of cancer disease.

• Swelling

If you find swelling in one or more parts of your body, cancer cells may grow.

• Hair loss

If you feel excessive hair loss despite taking care and using hair loss oil and shampoo, you must go for a medical checkup and find out the exact cause.

• Pain

If you found pain in any of your body parts that last longer and don’t go with any of the pain killers, then there must be something fishy, and you must diagnose the cause.

• Blood in Urine or Stool

If bleeding occurs on passing urine or stool, you may have bladder cancer; a particular test can diagnose this.

When to See a Doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor if you feel any signs and symptoms, and if you are afraid about the risk of cancer, then discuss with your doctor, your doctor will guide you about cancer screening tests and procedures that are suitable for you.

Causes of Cancer

There are many possible causes of cancer among them. Some of the reasons are described in which genetics and environmental factors are discussed.

• Genetics and Cancer

Some types of cancer are found in families, which mean that an individual can inherit cancer risk from one of their parents, and it can be passed from one generation to another. Genetic testing can also identify your risk of cancer.

• Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

The environment contains many harmful and physical agents that increase cancer risk. Certain chemicals are found in your workplace, e.g., benzene and asbestos. Pollution and household exposures are also environmental factors that increase cancer risk. Certain lifestyle changes such as smoking, alcohol, drinking more than one glass a day, exposure to the sun, being fat, and unsafe sex can increase cancer risk. However, you can lower your risk of cancer by changing these habits. The highest alcohol consumption can lead to liver cancer, and alcohol use has also shown an increased risk of cancer in the mouth, larynx, liver, stomach, colon, and ovaries. Studies have shown that people who chew betel nuts are at risk of oral cancer. Around the world, almost 3.5% of deaths are due to alcohol consumption, and a total of 90%of cancer cases are caused by lifestyle and environmental factors.

• Diet and Obesity

Some foods are directly related to cancer formation. Research has demonstrated that people who eat red meat regularly has shown a risk of breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. Studies have also shown that when foods are cooked at high temperatures also increases the chance of cancer.

Many types of cancer are caused by obesity, including colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma, kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. According to research, excess weight can produce many types of cancer, and around 4.8% death rate is increased in Pakistan because of obesity. Physical activity and eating a healthy, rich diet plays a significant role in cancer prevention. 

The dietary recommendation for cancer prevention includes green vegetables, fresh fruits, fish, whole grain, and avoidance of animal fats, red meat, and refined carbohydrates.

• Your Health Condition

Some chronic conditions such as ulcerative colitis may increase your risk of developing cancer. If you have any chronic illness that is not subsiding with medicines, you may consult your doctor.

• Infection and Virus

Around the world, 18% of cancer cases are because of infectious diseases like viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The viral infection causes cervical and liver cancer, and a virus that causes cancer is named oncovirus. Research has shown that several viruses can cause cancer. e.g., the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, and hepatitis C causes liver cancer

• Radiation

High energy radiation, e.g., UV light, gamma rays, and X-rays, is the most harmful radiation that causes cancer. Studies have suggested that prolonged exposure to UV light radiation from the sunlight can lead to skin cancer. According to the World Health organization, the radiation from cell phones and electric power is also harmful.

Prevention of Cancer

Early detection and prevention of cancer are more important nowadays. Research has shown that 50% of deaths can be preventable with knowledge today. You can make choices for your health. Following are some preventive measures that every individual must follow for cancer prevention.

1- Avoid Tobacco

 The use of tobacco consumption should be restricted to every individual. Tobacco has shown many types of cancer that include lungs, mouth, throat, cervical, and esophagus. 90% of lung cancer is because of smoking

2- Protect your Skin from Sun

Exposure to UV light from the sun can cause skin cancer. Skin cancer is widespread and most preventable, but more deaths are in skin cancer. Around 96,400 people are diagnosed with skin cancer. There are specific ways in which you will protect your skin from sunlight: 

• Wear Sunglasses
• Wear long sleeves and pants for protection from UV light.
• Apply sunscreen every 2 hours.
• Find shade and shelter for yourself to avoid skin damage, e.g., umbrella or tree. 
• Wear a hat, and woven fabric works best for the protection of UV rays
• Avoid outdoor activity in the middle of the day (10:00 am to 4:00 pm). The UV rays are strongest during this time.

3-EAT A HEALTHY DIET

Eat a healthy, rich diet with lots of fiber, fruits, beans, whole grains, and fresh green vegetables is the perfect diet for preventing many diseases. Avoid red meat and alcohol consumption as alcohol increases the risk of liver cancer.

4-Be Physically Active

Being overweight and inactivity can lead to cancer. Getting at least 30 minutes of the daily walk can help you maintain your health and weight. Daily exercises also boost your immune system, increase energy, maintain your weight, and reduce the risk of cancer.

6-GET IMMUNIZED 

Proper immunization reduces your risk of cancer. A virus that causes cancer can be preventable through hepatitis B and hepatitis C vaccines. Around one-third of liver cancer is caused by hepatitis B and C virus. Effective vaccination against these viruses is the most preventive measure for any age group. 

7-Know your Family Medical History and get Regular Cancer Screening

If any person in your family is diagnosed with cancer, you must go for the cancer screening test. A screening test is for early detection of cancer and can save lives. The cancer treatment is most likely successful when early detection is possible.

Cancer Diagnosis

Your doctor may suggest you follow test for cancer diagnosis

• Physical Exam

Your doctor examines abnormalities such as organ enlargement and skin color changes that detect the risk of cancer.

• Laboratory Tests

Specific laboratory tests such as blood and urine tests may reveal an unusual number of WBCS.

• Imaging Tests

The doctor will examine your internal organs and bones through CT, MRI, PET, X-ray, and ultrasound.

• Biopsy

A biopsy is a definitive way to diagnose cancer. A doctor collects a sample of cells in the laboratory and examines it under a microscope.

Treatment of Cancer

The cancer treatment will depend on the type of cancer you have. Some people with cancer need only one treatment, while most people require a combination of treatments, e.g., surgery with radiation and Chemotherapy. It is normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed during cancer treatment but learning and talking with your doctor about the type of treatment can help you feel more comfortable. Following are some standard treatments for cancer patients in Pakistan:

• Mammography
• Radiotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormonal therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Surgery

• Mammography

Mammography is used to diagnose breast cancer by using X-rays of low energy. Mammography detects cancer in the early stage. Some women feel pain in x-ray treatment, while others only feel pressure or discomfort against their breast, which is normal.

• Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is performed through radiation therapy that kills cancer cells. Radiotherapy is the most effective treatment after surgery. Radiotherapy is used to:

• Cure cancer completely
• It can be combined with Chemotherapy to make treatment more effective
• Reduce cancer risk
• Relieve cancer symptoms if the cure is not possible.

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy treatment uses drugs for killing cancer cells. It works by slowing or stopping cancer growth and reducing the chance of cancer. Chemotherapy is a standard treatment used in many types of cancer treatment. Many people need only Chemotherapy for cancer prevention. The type of treatment will depend on the type of cancer, the spread of cancer, and other health problems. Chemotherapy is used with other cancer treatments and when it is used with other treatments because it can:

• Destroy cancer cells that spread to other body parts
• Before radiation therapy or surgery, the Chemotherapy makes a tumor smaller
• Chemotherapy works better with other treatment

• Hormonal Therapy

Hormones are natural substances made by glands in our bodies. They act as messengers between one part of our body to another. Hormones are also responsible for the growth of our cells. Hormone therapy stops or slows the growth of cancer and eases cancer symptoms. Hormone therapy uses medicines to lower hormones in your body and prevent cancer growth.

• Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapies are drugs that target particular parts of cancer cells, such as genes or proteins that help cancers grow. Targeted therapies work better with many other types of cancer treatments. Targeted therapy only works if cancer growth is on the right target.

• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy treatment helps your immune system to fight body infections and other diseases. It is a biological therapy that destroys abnormal cells and prevents cancer growth. Immunotherapy uses substances made in a laboratory to improve your immune system and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy therapy is not used with Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. 

• Surgery

Surgery is a procedure where the surgeon directly removes cancer from your body. Surgery is used to:

• Remove the entire cancerous area
• Surgery removes some cancer tumors. (this can be done when removing the whole area damage other organs of the body)
• Surgery eases cancer symptoms that cause pain and pressure

Goals of Cancer Treatment

The treatment of cancer has many objectives. Some of which are described:

• Cure

Cancer treatment aims to provide a cure for cancer patients, allowing them to live a normal life.

• Primary Treatment

The primary treatment is to kill the cancer cells from our bodies completely. The most common immediate treatment is surgery.

• Adjuvant Treatment

The adjuvant therapy kills cancer cells that remain after the primary treatment. Adjuvant treatment includes Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation.

• Palliative Treatment

Palliative treatment relieves signs and symptoms caused by cancer itself. Medications may also relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath and pain.

Conclusion

Cancer prevention and treatment plan are crucial factors for cancer control. Our main goal is to cure cancer patients or provide them with a good quality of life. To diagnose and cure cancer early, an awareness program should educate people and other communities.

Hammad Jamil

The post Cancer: An Essential Guide to Prevention and its Treatment in Pakistan appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Well now is the time to take control of your life and live it on your conditions. Recently since the pandemic has finally started to slow and life is returning to some form of normal, some people also call it the “the NEW NORMAL” we all want to get out there and live our lives to the fullest! This year it might even be your New Year’s Resolution to live life to the fullest.

Whether you need more money, less stress, or just want to live without regrets, this article will give you everything you need from start to finish to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life in 2022!
Winter holidays are just around the corner and many people are making plans to travel and enjoy the year-end and beginning of a new year somewhere nice and with their loved ones….

We need to remember after the pandemic is just slowing down that now is the time to improve your health! In 2022, many people are looking to set a new year’s resolution that will improve their health and wellness. But there are a lot of contemplations to make before you start. What should you do? How can you stay encouraged? And what is the best way to improve your diet while maintaining an active, hale and hearty lifestyle?

In this blog post we’ll discuss all these queries so that when 2022 comes around, you’re ready with a plan in place!

what is your New Year’s Resolution for your improved health?

Improving your health is a noble goal, but it’s also incredibly vague. Your health is comprised of many different functions in your body, including your metabolism, your digestion and elimination, your skin health, your muscles, your endocrine system, and much more.
What exactly about your health do you want to improve? Is the struggle about losing the baby weight after having a baby? It can be possible that you want to improve the quality of life for a chronic illness like diabetes or high blood pressure. Or maybe you’re aiming at improving emotional wellbeing by reducing stress levels through slight changes. You’ll find many benefits from improving your health!

In general, there are several things you can do to improve your health. Start with
1) Clean eating
2) Following a regular exercise routine
3) Practicing stress management
4) Removing toxins such as smoking or any other drug or alcohol intake.

Incorporating these habits will include a range of new routines including new workout plans, healthy eating habits, and being cognizant about everything. It won’t be easy. But the more capacities you include in your plan, the more complete your health transformation will be. For instance, if you want to improve your health and only make an exercise routine, then your plan is half-finished. You may gain muscle, but you may find that you still have other health issues.
By giving attention to all four areas, your health will improve drastically in many different ways that you will be able to see!

Let’s answer a very important Question…

How do you stay motivated towards improving/betterment of your health?

So there are multiple ways you can keep yourself motivated to bring yourself towards the healthy you!
You can think and aim to improve your health as a new year’s resolution by cooking healthy

What one needs to remember is, improving your health is not an objective you can complete in a weekend or even a season (as we do binge-watching on Netflixthon). This is a long term objective that will take all year or even longer depending on how you start, when you start, the objective you set for yourself and the present state you started in? So how do you stay encouraged through a year or longer of pursuing this objective? First, you can start by committing to improving your health on a specific day.

For example, let’s start with baby steps, you could commit to a week at a time then work backwards. Once done with a week from there to set goals for the next days or weeks of improvement to stay motivated. You can also use interim rewards as motivators: give yourself something like a new workout outfit that will be a gift for and waiting in your closet if you meet your milestones.

For the long term health goal, decide what is most important to you when it comes to improvement- weight loss or muscle gain? Write down specific short and long term goals so that every day feels like progress on this journey of health.
If your objective includes making your body toxin-free and removing toxins such as quitting smoking or becoming sober, don’t try to do it in isolation or by yourself. It will be a lot easier if you reach out to others for support. Look around for people in the same state of affairs as you and build associations that encourage you to be in a good health and quit those things that are draining your health from you.

You can also:
1) Use affirmations.
2) Set up answerability strategies with a friend.
3) Invest in a gym membership. (You will not want to waste money, so you’re more likely to go as opposed to if it is free.)
4) Just do it. Don’t wait for motivation to strike.

Some things just need to be done rather than it being planned and strategies, these approaches will help you stay motivated toward your objective. Improving your health as a new year’s resolution can seem overwhelming, but when you break it down into small components, stay committed to it, and stay motivated, it will be easier to stay focused on getting to the result.

How will you know that your health is improving?
Speaking of the result, how will you know that your health is improving? Here are some signs that your health is on the track of restoration:

• You can breathe better
• Your energy levels improve
• You have a stronger immune system that combats diseases more effectively and heals quicker. It also thwarts illnesses from developing in the first place.
• You sleep better than ever before
• You’re more confident because you feel better about yourself.
• Food tastes and smells stronger than ever before
Women exercising to improve their health in the long term
• The clothes may fit looser
• The digestive issues resolve themselves when you start getting healthier
• The skin looks clearer and has more vibrancy
• Women can carry heavier things (your children, for example!)
• going up and stairs are no more excruciating, you can do it without getting winded
• your joints don’t ache

But don’t be surprised if it takes a month or more before you start to see these changes. Like I said above, this is going to be a long term goal. Healthy weight loss happens at 1 to 2 pounds a week, which means you might start to feel looser clothes after 3-6 weeks. And it may take 6 months of actively improving your health before you notice that your sleep and immune system are improving.
So if you find this taking much longer than you had anticipated, don’t get discouraged. If you can be consistent for a few months, then it will be easier to see the improvements that you’re looking for. Keep going!

12 Ways to Rock Your New Year’s Resolution to Improve Your Health

1. Eat more vegetables
When it comes to improving your health, the starting line to start with a healthy lifestyle is your plate. Studies have shown that people who eat more vegetables improve their health manifolds. It means that it’s more than just the occasional salad or vegetable side dish or a one in blue salad meal, but ensuring their addition to your meals at least once a day. Add tomatoes and mushrooms to your eggs in the morning. Eat carrots with hummus for lunch, and serve a sweet potato and peas with meat in the evening.

2. Drink more water to improve your health
One of the first steps towards improving your health is by drinking more water, which is at least 3 litres of water a day. It sounds unpretentious, but it can be challenging for people who have a tough time recalling to drink enough throughout the day. To mend this pattern of behaviour, start with a big glass of water first thing in the morning. You can also attempt carrying a bottle with you and sipping on it throughout the day.

And make sure it’s water. Nothing replaces water as soda, coffee, tea, and energy drinks give you tons of sugar and other chemicals that could derail those health goals you have. So stick with H2O!

3. Exercise frequently
Lifting and carrying your children or your nieces and nephews is a great motivator for getting in shape
Moving your body is an amazing way to improve your health. Studies have shown that even the lightest exercise can increase or maintain cognitive function, improve sleep and promote weight loss. Make time for an activity you enjoy (going on a walk, doing yoga) at least thrice a week. Try interim training where you substitute or interchange between high-intensity bursts of energy followed by short periods of rest.
Another way to continue your workout is to find a buddy for some accountability and regularity in your actions. If you can’t run or don’t like yoga much, there are tons of options for you. Walk. Rock climb. Hike in nature. Play with your kids!
Remember: No, Exercise without Diet Won’t Help You Lose Weight

4. Give up smoking for good health
Quitting the smoking habit can be difficult, and you may have already tried not once but maybe many times. But it’s worth it to improve your health in the long run and live a healthy long life.
When you decide to quit smoking, the first week is the hardest, but after that, you will feel better. Be less lethargic and be more energetic. One should also see the health benefits of quitting smoking include:
• Fewer coughs and chest infections
• Less risk of heart ailment, lung cancer, or even stroke
• Reduced breathing difficulties (which improve asthma)
• Minor chance of developing mouth or throat cancers
Well, if compared with the previous scenario, that is a huge improvement on your health.

5. Emphasize fibre
Fibre is the material in your food that doesn’t break down, and it helps with digestion. One of the calmest ways to advance your health in a better manner is by adding more fibre-rich foods into your everyday meals and overall diet. Fibre also helps keep our cholesterol levels down, and it can prevent constipation or haemorrhoids as well. So how much should you aim for? It is suggested to aim for around 30 grams a day from food sources like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

6. Try Intermittent Fasting
A few years back no one paid much attention to Intermittent fasting, it has become more popular in recent years. Fundamentally, it involves cutting your food intake to a definite time frame and then abstaining for the remaining part of the day. Many people, working on this concept use the 16/8 method, which means that you eat only during eight hours of the day and fast for sixteen hours, part of which is overnight.
So for instance, your normal regular day starts at 6:00 am and don’t eat anything just yet. Eat your lunch at 11:00 am. Then you can have a snack in the late afternoon, and eat dinner around 6:00 pm. Then completely abstain and stop eating at 7:00 pm for the night. Turn in at 10:00 pm for a full 8 hours of sleep.
It has been proven that intermittent fasting has many health benefits, including weight loss and increased energy.

7. Get enough sleep
One of the most important things and mantras to a healthy life is “GET ENOUGH SLEEP”
We wonder why to sleep never gets enough credit for all the good it does for our health. Sleep can improve learning, improve mood and improve memory. Sleep deficiency can cause problems with attention span, problem-solving skills and the ability to memorize information. It’s no revelation that sleep-deprived doctors make twofold as many mistakes in surgery as their well-rested colleagues.
Sleep is also important for our bodily health. It can improve recovery after a workout, keep blood pressure lower and improve glucose control. Research and multiple studies have shown that sleeping less than seven hours per night increases the threat of death by all causes from 13% to 18%. For individuals over 65 years old, this increase is even more dramatic (from 16% to 26%).
These days many people find it difficult to sleep, If you’re finding it difficult to improve your sleep, try setting a time to hit the sack and ensure sticking with it. Make sure the room is dark before going to bed, turn off screens at least 60 minutes before bedtime and avoid caffeine after noon. And if all else fails? There’s always melatonin!

8. Meditate
One of the oldest and most soul searching and peaceful act is the act of meditation. It can also do wonders for your health. It can boost your immune system, lower blood pressure and improve heart rate. It also has the potential to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
When you first try meditation, ensure you find a comfortable place where you won’t be distressed or disturbed by anything or anyone. Sit straight in a chair, on the floor or even cross-legged. Keep your back and neck straight but not stiff, close your eyes and relax every muscle as you breathe deeply for three to five minutes.
Start with short sessions of meditation each day, and consider using mala beads, this is a sure shot and very relaxed formula to better health and improve the immune system.

9. Practice your favourite self-care regularly
Self-care like deep breathing is important to our complete healthy self
Self-care can improve health in plentiful ways. It can make your mood better, improve your immune system, improve sleep quality and duration, improve mental health symptoms, and particularly reduce stress levels. It is a fact that if and when our stress levels are high, our health will be negatively affected.
The following are some practices you might want to include in your self-care routine: journaling/art therapy, spending time with friends and family, reading for fun (not related to your work), taking a bath to relax, playing music, or even laughing.
Choose one or all of these practices, depending on what suits you best!

10. Avoid drugs and consume alcohol in moderation (or not at all)
It has become a socially acceptable thing for youngsters to consume use drugs with friends and even resort to using alcohol, but drinking in moderation is important. It’s also worth observing that not drinking alcohol at all has been linked to a longer life expectancy than restrained drinking, according to a study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Alcohol intake can also lead to weight gain which in turn increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease.
If you’re someone or you know someone who is struggling with addiction to something, whether it be a substance or a behaviour, we sincerely recommend you seek professional help from an addiction counsellor.

11. Cut the sugar
By cutting out sugar from your body, you’ll improve your health in a lot of ways. Sugar is directly linked to obesity, heaviness and tooth decay, not to mention energy crashes and blood-sugar problems. Many people around us don’t even realize how much sugar they’re consuming because sugar is packed in everything, from pasta sauces, to granola bars, to yoghurt, each and everything has some amount of sugar in it.
If you’re craving and want to have something sweet then try having some fresh fruit or make yourself a smoothie with plain (unsweetened) Greek yoghurt instead! A piece of healthy advice, you can thank us LATER!

12. Alter your mindset to improve your health
One of the most basic and important things to start your health regime and move towards a healthy life is “SETTING YOUR MIND TO IT”.None of this is possible without a healthy mindset. When you think healthy, you can be healthier. One way of doing this is by taking a few minutes every day or week to meditate on positive thoughts or words of affirmation like “I am healthy. I am strong”. “I am happy”. I am content”
If you need convincing that your mindset needs a change before setting your new year’s resolution to improve your health, then do see this video. Dr Joe Dispenza explains exactly how mindset works… and it can change your life.

Conclusion
This blog post is only scratching the surface of what you can do to improve your health, but we hope that these 12 tips will help get you started on this New Year’s resolution journey.
Improving your health in 2022 is a big goal and should be taken seriously. But when you break it into smaller pieces, it becomes more manageable. Don’t forget that seeing the kind of improvements you are hoping for may take a while – so stick with it!

Khurram Zahid

The post Resolution for 2022: Improve Your Health! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Maribor, Slovenia

Slovenia is a tiny but vivid country, especially for family travel. Rent a vehicle and head north from the capital to Maribor, a condensed city that’s just a stone’s throw means on very little distance from active entertainment suitable for all ages. The activities there include canoeing on the river Drava in summer and skiing in the nearby resort of Pohorje in winter. In spring, the tourist can try the resort’s single-track toboggan that hurtles down the ski slopes at up to 30mph.
Where to stay in Maribor
• Best place for staying near nature: Chateau Ramšak – Vineyard Glamping Resort
• Best apartment-style: Hotel Maribor, City Apartments

Reserva Monteverde, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a yet to be explored completely travel gem. It’s a world leader in eco and adventure tourism, with the Monteverde area a prime example. About half of the sheltered area is conserved as the Bosque Eternal de los Niños (“Children’s Eternal Forest”), a huge stretch of lush cloud-forest, rainforest and montane evergreen forest threaded with trails and full of wildlife-spotting prospects. As one can expect, there are plenty of outdoor activities available for all kinds of adventure appetite: hiking, camping, zip lines, canopy excursions and horse riding. Nearby Monteverde Cloud-forest Biological Reserve offers yet more primeval forests and adventure activities, while Reserva Santa Elena even has pushchair-friendly trajectories.
Where to stay
• Best B&B to stay in Costa Rica: Camino Verde B&B Monteverde Costa Rica
• Best place for staying near nature: Chira Glamping Monteverde
Things you can do
• Best for nature and animal experience: Sustainable farm tour
• Best for foodies: Bread making in the forest
Tailor-made trips
Families travelling can opt for tailor-made trips, for instance, see sloths, toucans, monkeys and more on a visit to Costa Rica with any native, expert service providers. Take a look at sample travel plans like Beaches and Volcanoes and Tropical Costa Rica and use them for your own, personalized schedule.

 Bali & the Gili Islands, Indonesia

A country located in South-East Asia has all the ingredients of the tropical beach vacation for travelling alone, friends travelling in group and families with children. Bali’s entrancing Hindu culture and jaw-dropping tropical sceneries are enough to have any family mesmerized. But there’s no short supply of activities to keep the children from having fun, starting from Ubud’s monkey forest and shadow puppet shows to waterfall swimming at Gitgit and dolphin-watching off on the Bali’s north shore. When it’s time for serenity, the serene Gili islands are a short boat ride away. With white sands and still waters, Gili Air is the picture-perfect place to enjoy the tantalizingly slow pace of island life, but Gili Meno’s turtle hatchery is unquestionably worth a day trip.
Where to stay
• The Best family place in Ubud: Mehrudani Boutique Hotel
• Best family hotel on Gili Air: Vyaana Resort Gili Air
What to do
• Suggested activities for the active family: Beginner’s surf lessons for the whole family in Kuta
• Best to explore the island paradise: Snorkel Gili Nanggu, Sudak & Kedis islands
Tailor-made trips
We recommend that before travelling contact a travel guide or an expert on the area for the ultimate Bali family holiday. Take any travel plan and tailor it according to your fondness, like the Rest and Relaxation in Bali and Lombok itinerary, or start your request from scratch.

Havana, Cuba

At Havana apart from experiencing the fading magnificence of the exciting city, Havana has a mass of places to go with children. An excursion through the planetarium walks you through four floors of rooms, projecting a journey through the outer space, from the Big Bang (represented by a light and sound display) onwards. The Parque Almendares, as well as being a welcome stretch of greenery, is an impeccable picnic spot and offers rowing on the river and crazy golf.
The place to stay in Cuba
• The best place particularly for families: Home Jaime y Cuki
• The best boutique hotel: Malecón 663 Boutique Hotel
What to do in Havana
• Best for exploring the Old Town: Walking tour and Cocotaxi Ride
• Best for exploring the new parts of Havana: 2h convertible Classic Car ride
Tailor-made trips
We believe that you should plan and book your family trip to Havana with made trips so that you can enjoy the most while you are staying in Havana. Have a look at some example itineraries, like this active family adventure or this e-bike tour across the island. You can one or the other modify an existing travel plan or start from the beginning and just take in the comments of your local expert will then create and quote your personalized trip.

 Rosario, Argentina

While Argentina isn’t exactly well known as a family destination, it has a lot to offer for us to recommend it to you as a family destination for a vacation. The food is wonderful (kids will particularly appreciate the traditional heladerías or ice cream parlours); there’s a spectacular variety of landscapes and open-air activities, and the wildlife-spotting is second to none. Rosario makes a good base if you want to venture away from Buenos Aires; not only does it offers child-focused attractions like the Jardin de los Niños and the Museo de los Niños, but one can head out on river tours or rent a car and work your way north, ending up at the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls.
Best Place to stay
• Best to stay in the city centre: Holiday Inn Rosario
• Best value: Roberta Rosa de Fontana Suites
What to do in Argentina
• Best for first-time visitors: Walking tour through the historic centre
• Best for views: Riverboat tour on the Paraná river
Tailor-made trips
For a trip family trip to Argentina that the whole family will definitely enjoy, get in touch. You can always pair up with a local expert to plan and book every aspect of your holiday. Have a look at many sample travel plans, like Magical Patagonia, and get encouraged for your own trip.

North Island, New Zealand

New Zealand’s North Island might not have snowcapped mountains, but it doesn’t hold back when it comes to affected scenery. Kids will be captivated by the sulphur stink at Rotorua, the little living lights in the glowworm caves of Waitomo and the bubbling pools at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. If you hire a motorhome you can explore at your own pace. We all are fascinated with the lords of the rings trilogy, these days it’s impossible to separate New Zealand from it, and young enthusiasts will love the hobbit holes at Hobbiton, as well as Wellington’s Weta Workshop, the centre of New Zealand’s film industry, where kids can absorb all about prop building and prosthetics.
Where to stay to North Island
• Best in Rotorua: Prince’s Gate Hotel
• Best in Waitomo: Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge
Things to do in North Island
Best for family museums: 3D Trick Art Gallery
Best evening experience: Glowworm caves boat tour
Tailor-made trips
For family holidays in New Zealand, try the Rough Guides Tailor-Made Trip service: itineraries like the self-drive North Island can be used as a starting point for your own, personalized adventure. Find sample travel plans and travel with an amazing programme for your family.

San Ignacio, Belize

San Ignacio, Belize is one of the safest and stress-free Central American countries to explore with children. Apart from its colourful marine life and beautiful beaches, its (malaria-free) rainforest interior provides tropical excitement. At Caves Branch Jungle Lodge near San Ignacio, you can float downriver in an inner tube through luxuriant forests full of cheeky spider monkeys and squawking toucans, then wake up to a dawn chorus of chirping cicadas.
Places to stay
• Best for nature immersion: Hidden Valley Inn & Reserve
• Best for staying close to town: San Ignacio Resort Hotel
What to do
• Best for history & fun: Caracol Maya Ruins & Waterfall tour
• Best for outdoor adventure: Half-day canoeing tour
Tailor-made trips
If you’re looking for family holidays to Belize, contact the local experts as soon as you decide on the destination. They would be happy to create, quote and book itineraries tailored to your preferences and wishes and desired places.

Colorado, USA

You won’t find finer views and cleaner air than in Colorado, USA. If you’re looking for a family trip that embraces the great outdoors, this state solicits to be explored. Start in the compact, mile-high city of Denver, from there it’s a short drive to the sparkling alpine lakes and magnificent peaks of the Rockies. Hidden further east is Colorado’s answer to the Grand Canyon, the dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of America’s most discounted national parks. Older kids with an interest in history will also be fascinated by the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde in the state’s southwest corner.
Where to stay
• Best for boutique luxury: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
• Best for families: Hyatt House Denver/Downtown
What to do
• Best for a first impression: Half-day tour from Denver to the Rocky Mountains

• Best for evening entertainment: Haunted Walking Ghost Tour – suitable for the whole family

Nairobi, Kenya

On the exterior, this extensive city doesn’t seem like one of the most sensible places to go with kids. But Nairobi has access to some delightful child-friendly attractions. Nairobi National Park, where lions, leopards, giraffes and zebra roam free within sight of the city, is the perfect day trip for wildlife watching. For a more hands-on experience, try the Giraffe Center where you can feed these sophisticated, long-necked beasts from a raised gallery, or the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where bereaved elephants are transformed and prepared for life in the wild.
Best places to stay
• Best location to the CBD: Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel
• Best for a luxurious break: Villa Rosa Kempinski
What to do
• Closest National Park: Nairobi National Park, an easy drive from Nairobi for a half-day safari experience
• Best for up-close animal encounters: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust & Giraffe Center
Tailor-made trips
Thinking about going on safari? Check our Family Safari in Kenya trip. For a memorable trip to Kenya, we can connect you with a local travel expert to plan and book the perfect holiday.

Puglia, Italy

Puglia, in the heel of Italy’s boot, is a great choice for a family holiday in the sun. With no end of pristine beaches, the Salento peninsula is a highlight; the seaside town of Otranto with its hulking castle makes an appealing family-friendly base. The countryside has its charms too, not least the fairytale trulli – kids will love spotting these pint-sized limestone dwellings with conical roofs, which are dotted throughout the region. Head to UNESCO-protected Alberobello for a town full of trulli you can even spend a night in one for added fun.
Places to stay
• Best in Otranto: Vittoria Hotel Resort & Spa
• Best in Alberobello: Tipico Resort
What to do
• Best for foodies: Street food walking tour in Lecce
• Best in Alberobello: 2-hour guided walking tour to learn more about its unique history

Tailor-made trips
Plan your family holiday in Italy with local Italian trip planners and trip advisers. Our local experts create customized travel plans according to your preferences and wishes, with straightforward pricing and easy booking options.

Bran, Romania

In Bran, Romania for older children, Romania is a feast of freaky folklore. With its grim disguise, bartizans and ramparts, and dangerous position, teetering atop a rocky no-nonsense against a mountain backdrop the Bran Castle is the exemplary vampire count’s lair. To spend more time exploring and less time waiting in line, make sure to get your entrance ticket well before time. The historical symbol behind Romania’s Dracula legend (Vlad Țepeş) is as terrifying as Bram Stoker’s fiction: he wasn’t known as “the Impaler” for nothing. There are countless other atmospheric sites linked to the legend, not least Poenari Castle, where Vlad once lived, and the country’s “cult of the dead” is never far from the surface.
Where to stay
• Best for families: Pensiunea Casa Doina
• Best for a little luxury: Casa Din Bran – Inn Nature

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Scottish capital is tiny enough to promenade round and hosts a number of fun and educational attractions for the whole family. But what makes Edinburgh stand out is its festivals: there are twelve major festivals throughout the year, including the famous Fringe, from a storytelling celebration to a science fest. If you don’t go during festival season, the Camera Obscura makes for some preposterous family photos, and of course, there’s the Museum of Childhood where you can get sentimental and wistful and the kids can get hands-on.
Where to stay
• Best for a little luxury: Radisson Blu Hotel Edinburgh
• Best on a budget: Novotel Edinburgh Centre
What to do
• Best for Harry Potter fans: Harry Potter magical walking tour
• Best for a rainy day: Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Tailor-made trips
Book your family holiday in Scotland with Rough Guides Tailor-Made Trips. Family adventures from Harry Potter to Loch Ness await or book your own personalized trip with the help of local experts and tourist guides.

Brittany, France

Brittany, France is a European bucket-and-spade holiday, it’s hard to beat Brittany. France’s roughly beautiful northwest offers everything from charming seaside resorts and family-friendly campsites to remote coves and rocky peninsulas. For a first visit, base yourself in St-Malo, where a strip of stunning beaches stretches east from the winding streets of the old walled town. Older children can try windsurfing or catamaran sailing at the St-Malo surf school, while grown-ups will bargain fresh oysters to feast on and local ciders to sample. And on rainy days, consider a trip to the Aquarium.
Where to stay
• Best for ocean views: Kyriad Saint-Malo Plage
• Best on a budget: Hotel Eden Saint-Malo

Toronto, Canada

Toronto is a-buzz and amazing with kid-friendly activities, from cheap thrills marveling at the slick skyline and interweaving town aboard a streetcar to splashing out on a ticket to go up the famous CN Tower and sighting dinosaur bones and Native Canadian headdresses at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). To make the most of your time in Toronto, book your entrance ticket well before time and receive chosen access to the ROM. Chinatown and nearby Kensington Market are great browsings and wandering territory, and the Toronto Islands are only a ferry ride away, but a world apart from the city’s hustle and bustle. If you have time on your hands, you can venture south to spectacular Niagara Falls or north to the rocky islets of Georgian Bay. For children over 7 years of age, check out the adrenaline-fuelled zipline experience from Niagara Falls.
Where to stay
• Best for a little luxury: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
• Best for great views of the city: Radisson Admiral Toronto Harbourfront

Lake Retba, Senegal

Senegal has a lot to offer families, from wide-open beautiful beaches on its wild Atlantic coast to some seriously curious natural wonders. There’s the pink-hued Lake Retba, which, at its liveliest, is a startling sight. There are undulating sand dunes ripe for you and your 4X4 to explore, and don’t miss Ile de Fadiouth – a small island in the south made entirely from shells.
Best places to stay
• Best for being on the coast: The Rhino Resort Hotel & Spa
• Best on a budget: Hotel Mermoz
What to do
• Best for wildlife: Fathala Wildlife Reserve
• Best for a relaxed tour: From Dakar or Saly to the Pink Lake

Antalya, Turkey

Antalya, in southern Turkey, is packed with activities to keep the whole family entertained. Behind Konyaaltı beach lies the Antalya Aquarium (complete with 4-D cinema), the Wildpark (devoted to insects and reptiles) and – for when the kids really can’t bear the heat an indoor snow park. Next door is Antalya Minicity, which has a 1:25 scale re-creations of some of Turkey’s most iconic landmarks. The Toy Museum at Antalya’s harbour also provides a fun distraction from the beach.

Best places to stay
• Best for family fun: Titanic Beach Lara
• Best on a budget: Sealife Family Resort Hotel
What to do
• Best for families with teenagers (14 years) and older: Quad Safari
• Best for younger children: The Land of Legends Theme Park

Tokyo, Japan

There are loads of kid-friendly destinations in Japan, but when it comes to places with activities all the family will enjoy as with everything you’re spoiled for choice in Tokyo. The Ghibli Museum and Odaiba highlight, and the city have plenty of huge parks and interactive museums to explore together. Tokyo Disneyland is also nearby, while Yokohama (for Chinatown and yet another Ferris wheel), Kamakura and Nikkō (more nature and history, less neon) are all visitable on a day trip.
Best places to stay
• Best on a budget: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
• Best for a little luxury: Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba
What to do
• Best for a full day of fun: Tour to Disneyland or DisneySea including transport and preferred access
• Best of both worlds for younger & older children: Tokyo Legoland and Madame Tussauds entrance tickets

Cape Tribulation, Australia

Queensland’s Cape Tribulation is great fun for courageous children, and adults too. With both lush forests and palm tree-lined beaches, there are plenty of activities that Australia has to offer. From here, you can also take a boat trip out to the barrier reef or trek through Daintree Rainforest on the lookout for primordial cassowaries, avoiding crocodiles, spiders and snakes along the way. The brave might want to try a night-time rainforest walk or a thrilling treetop jungle zip wire.
Where to stay
• Best for being close to the rainforest: Heritage Lodge In the Daintree
• Best on a budget: Cape Trib Beach House
What to do
• Best for outdoor lovers: 2-hour beach and rainforest horseback ride
• Best for underwater fans: Ocean Safari Tour including snorkelling

The Maldives, Indian Ocean

The Maldives in the Indian Ocean might seem like a honeymoon-only destination, but don’t be turned off. Most resorts are child-friendly it’s best to check first, though, to avoid being surrounded by just-married couples. Rent a hut on the beach and children will spend hours playing in the white sand, jumping in waves or snorkelling in the shallow waters.
Many islands have swimming pools and offer beach games, kayak hire, and dolphin-spotting trips too, with diving courses for older children.
Where to stay
• Best for on a budget: Meeru Island Resort & Spa
• Best for a little luxury: Velassaru Maldives
Tailor-made trips
Not sure where to stay and what to do? Consider taking a combination trip Sri Lanka and the Maldives together, and contact the local tour advisers today for your own, personalized offer.

Ko Lanta, Thailand

Ko Samui or Ko Lanta are great possibilities for family holidays, with plenty of facilities and lots of distractions for kids. If the thought of resorts makes you shudder, Thailand’s well-developed traveller arrangement makes it fairly easy to head to a more isolated island or part of the mainland. Thailand is especially great for kids in January National Children’s Day (the second Saturday of the month) means free activities and public transport for children all over the country.
Where to stay
• Best for a little luxury: Pimalai Resort and Spa
• Best for amazing views: Unique Sea View Apartments
What to do
• Best for beach lovers: 4 Islands and Emerald Cove Snorkelling Trip
• Best for local immersion: Tung Yee Peng Village Eco-Tour
Tailor-made trips
Thinking about taking the family for a vacation to Thailand? Don’t worry about the logistics but let the professional local experts take care of the quoting and booking process for you if you are not a frequent traveller and need help with planning and execution. Modify existing itineraries like the way you desire Family Time in Thailand trip or start from scratch starting from asking the quote online.

Cape Town, South Africa

The outside activities are never far away in Cape Town, which makes the city a on the whole great destination for children. It’s tough to beat the city’s marvellous beaches, the highpoint of which for most kids is Boulders, home to an inhabitant of the penguin-breeding colony. The beach at Fish Hoek, a little further north, boasts a playground alongside its beautiful beach and gentle waves. There’s also a richness of parks and open spaces, the spots are perfect for picnicking in fine weather, while for rainy days there’s a handful of good, hands-on museums.
Best place to stay
• Best for views of Green Point: Cape Royale Luxury Hotel
• Best for a little luxury: The Table Bay Hotel
Best things to do
• Best for exploring underwater species: Skip-the-line tickets to the Two Oceans Aquarium
• Best for coast views: Sailing Trip across the bay
Tailor-made trips
Explore Cape Town on this 8-day long sample trip or stay active as a family and cycle the Garden Route – the locals and experts would be happy to plan these trips for you or create your own unique family adventure.

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The daring wildlife of the Galápagos Islands makes adults feel like kids and make kids feel like they just can’t believe their luck. They’ll tread softly in between giant tortoises, have birds land inches from their nose, splash around in the shallows with playful baby sea lions, and snorkel near hammerheads and enormous turtles. When they get tired of the wildlife one-on-ones, amuse them with stories and accounts of the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century pirates who hid out on the islands. The landscape is still (almost) exactly as those old sea dogs would have known it, and there’s still even some old pirate graffiti to boot.
Best place to stay
• Best for a little luxury: Galapagos Casa Playa Mann
• Best on a budget: Galapagos Verde Azul
Tailor-made trips
You can explore Ecuador’s cultural cities before heading to an island paradise or create your own itinerary from scratch with the professional help of our local experts.

Tobago, Caribbean

Perhaps the Caribbean’s most laidback place to take the kids, tiny Tobago provides dozens of activities and wildlife experiences, from beachside horse-riding to hummingbird spotting. Instead of high-rise hotels, you’ll find small-scale guesthouses accustomed to catering to families. Steel bands and street eats, fresh juices and safe swimming beaches – one you’ve been “Tobagoed” you’ll want to return.
Where to stay
• Best on a budget: Lillibets
• Best for being by the ocean: SeaScape on Heavenly Bay

Travel Secure

One thing to remember is safety and security comes first, be it financial or health. You need to insured that you are covered and protected. The world has evolved in the past one and a half year and the things, such as additional documentation like vaccination certificates has become as important as your passport. The countries which didn’t require travel insurance, have now explicitly mentioned the presence of corona care in your travel insurance policy.
So it is recommended and suggested that before applying and executing any plans it is imperative to get the travel insurance and travel secure and carefree without any hassle and stress.

Last word! ‘

OK so you’ve read all the way through the article and you’re now equipped with a list of places to go with kids in tow. But what about getting there? We’ve all been on an aeroplane with a crying baby or unruly toddler and felt the parent’s pain. And we’re not going to lie: long-haul travel with the whole clan can be challenging, but there are some ways to make family travel go more smoothly.
Firstly, if your children are old enough, get them involved in trip planning – talk to them about where you’re going and ask them to think about a special day out or activity that they’d like to do while you’re there. If your kids are crafty, think about a scrapbook that they can start to work on before you leave, and add to while you’re away. Let your kids pack their own mini suitcases or backpacks with games and favourite toys. And don’t feel guilty about letting your kids watch movies on the flight!
Travelling with a baby or toddler? First of all, give yourself a break. Many of your fellow travellers will have been in your position and understand the stresses and strains. Get to the airport early so you don’t have the additional stress of being late for your flight. Different airlines have different rules about free seats or discounts for children, so do your research and you could save yourselves money.
Be realistic about what you can see or achieve in a day and enjoy the downtime as much as you’re exploring time. Young children will take a while to adapt to new time zones, temperatures and cuisines, so be patient with them (and your partner!).

Khurram Zahid

The post 21 Best Holiday Destinations to Travel with Family and Children! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.