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13 Oct
How to Create and Edit Travel Videos
Have no experience with creating and editing Travel videos? Don’t worry! Just like anything else, it’s a learning process in itself – much like photography. No matter what experience level your filming / editing currently lays, everyone has to start somewhere. Here are some tips to get started with.
Before you go…
Before departing on your trip, come up with a concept that you want to capture and outline it. Depending on the amount of research you conduct on your destination, you will more than likely arrive with a good sense of what to expect. This will help you in creating a skeleton outline as to what you want to capture, specifics you want to focus on, and an overall vibe you want to create.
If you use music: One thing I find specifically helpful is to put together a good playlist before heading out on my travels. Personally, music is one of my core influences in my videos. A lot of times, however, the music selection will be decided after the trip itself during the editing process. You can find more about music selection in the Editing Process section below.
Filming on location
While there will be many things you will spontaneously film, you should have that skeleton outline we discussed earlier. Plan your shots accordingly so you can capture and tell your story. Think about the angle you want the shot from, the sentiment you want to convey (is it humor? Euphoria? Melancholy? Awe-inspiring?). Take candid shots of your surroundings that give your audience of what day-to-day life is like. If you are going to use voice overs, think about some of the things you will want to mention as you observe and take part in your travels. Keep in mind that this is a “minute tour,” so the more shots you take and the more angles you include, the more well-rounded your video will feel. You will also have much more editing power with additional footage. Throughout the filming process, try to plan your shots in sequence. This will help substantially when you are editing your video, as it will be much easier to piece your footage together.
Keep the Camera as Steady as Possible
Many people do not recognize this until they get back from their trip, but the slightest bump or sway on camera can give people motion sickness on a big screen. Instead of shooting while walking, try to take still shots with a steady hand and use slow zoom capabilities to focus in on your subject. For instance, if you are taking the footage of someone else, run ahead of them and let them walk passed you as you steadily pan the shot. That having been said, don’t over do it. There is nothing more visually nauseating than overly zooming in and quickly panning. When you take your footage, come up with a consistent means of filming and stick to it.
Get Over Being Camera Shy!
If you are putting together touring footage with a friend or of yourself, get over that shyness! This is a tour! Being awkward on camera is your psyche’s reaction to doing something unfamiliar – which makes it uncomfortable. I tend to think of camera-shyness as a sheet of ice that’s blocking my way. So what do we do with this obstacle? We break that ice with a sledgehammer called ‘your personality.’
Firstly, RELAX. If this is your first video in front of the camera, you will need a few takes – especially as you get comfortable in front of the lens. If you are talking to the camera, pretend you are describing something to someone you are very comfortable with. Use an appropriate amount of body language to help convey your message and your enthusiasm, and do NOT stick your hands in your pockets. That’s the clear-tell sign that you are uncomfortable. Most importantly, above all else, just be yourself.
The editing process
At this point, you have the skeleton outline of your movie along with the footage. Now comes the fun part: the editing!
Trim the Fat
The first thing you will want to do it sit down, watch all of your footage and ‘trim the fat’ – cut the unwanted, unnecessary, and poorly shot footage from your video reel. The more you can trim the easier your video will be for editing purposes.
(Re)Consider Music Selection
After your trip, you may now have a different ideas to what kind of experience you would like to convey. Music can help a great deal with that. You may have some ideas from that playlist we discussed earlier. If not, no worries. The easiest way to choose your music is to narrow your selection down to 5 choices, and listen/watch the footage simultaneously. I work through my footage while paying attention to the attitude and emotion the music conveys (IE you are going to have a very different video if you use Andrea Bocelli vs. Lady Gaga). I tend to find myself singing the song I want to use in my video the entire time in a location.
Tell Your Story
You have everything you need to now turn your footage into a stellar travel video. Consider things like transitions in between scenes, use of pictures, special effects, and voice overs to help you tell your story. While you have that skeleton outline and overall concept, there is no said outline to this – so do what feels right to you. After all, this is your Minute Tour.
Camera / Software recommendations
“What Kind of Camera Should I Use?”
While it would be nice if we could all afford one of these, it’s quite unrealistic. Believe it or not, point-and-shoot cameras (I stick with Canon and Nikon) and smart phones (iPhone, Android, Samsung) take fine quality HD footage that is just right for this kind of tour. SLR cameras are also excellent, as GoPro cameras are for action and adventure. Try to make sure you are shooting your videos at a frame rate of about 30 fps (the higher the better for effects like slow motion, etc). As you make your way up the in the world of videography and your editing skills improve, you may want to consider investing in a camcorder or an SLR Camera (Canon or Nikon are always winners) with video capabilities.
“What Video Editing Software Do You Recommend?”
Unfortunately, I have not had great experience with free video editing software. The majority of these are typically linked to trial periods, missing features you have to buy, and leave distracting watermarks on the footage you’ve just put your sweat and blood into editing. The good news is that you can afford two excellent (if not two of the best) video editing programs for under $100.
For diehard Mac converts (including yours truly), iMovie is a great place to start. iMovie is part of the iLife package software. The majority of my videos that I create are edited on iMovie. The editing process on iMovie becomes familiar fairly quickly, and the features are excellent. iMovie gives you the ability to create those awesome transitions, an easy way to monitor and create a story board, one click special effects and transitions, etc. I highly recommend iMovie ’11 to anyone with a Mac and brand new to this process.
Available for both Mac and PCs, Adobe Premier Elements offers a robust platform to organize and edit your photos and video into remarkable travel footage. While Apple provides some excellent tools for both photo and video, Adobe Premiere is the next step up – providing you with much more technical editing ability than iMovie with a quick learning curve.
05 Oct
Skift Trend Report: Co-Op Marketing for Destinations
Skift Take: Using in-depth interviews with destination leaders from Europe, Asia Pacific and across North America, skif trend report provides a roadmap for any destination executive looking for solutions to try and jumpstart their tourism economy in the era of Covid-19.
05 Oct
This Company Is Travel’s First to Emerge From a Major Pandemic Bankruptcy
Before the coronavirus crisis struck, WorldStrides organized educational trips for 550,000 students each year. WorldStrides
Skift Take: The European and Chinese backers of travel agency WorldStrides seem to think there’ll be a rebound for international student travel. Do they know something we don’t? First to Emerge From a Major Pandemic Bankruptcy.
05 Oct
Is Kenya or South Africa Better for a Safari?
Going on safari is the experience of a lifetime. From when we’re small children, many of us dream of seeing lions and elephants in the wild, roaming the plains of Africa.
There are a number of countries where you can embark on an adventure and see animals in their natural habitats, with two of the most popular being Kenya and South Africa better for Safari. But which country offers the best safari experience?
The answer depends on the kind of trip you are looking for.
Accessibility
The first step to going on safari in Africa is to make travel arrangements and ensure you have authorization to enter your chosen country.
Both Kenya and South Africa are easy to visit for travelers from many countries.
Kenya has an electronic visa (eVisa) available for visitors of most nationalities. This can be obtained from any location with an internet connection by filling out a Kenya online visa application, cutting out the time-consuming process of applying for a visa at an embassy. Once you have your visa confirmation, you can travel to Kenya, and Nairobi will most likely be your starting point.
There are only a small number of countries whose citizens must apply in person for a Kenyan visa. On the other hand, visitors from over 40 countries (mainly in Africa and the Caribbean) can enter Kenya without any visa at all.
South Africa has yet to introduce its own eVisa system, but citizens of around 70 countries can visit visa-free for up to either 30 or 90 days. However, if you are not a national of one of these nations, you’ll have to head to your nearest South African embassy to apply for a tourist visa.
Getting Close to the Wildlife
Both Kenya and South Africa are great places to see a diverse array of animals, including Africa’s “big 5” game: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and Cape buffalo.
More of Kenya’s land is dedicated to national park space and wildlife reserves than South Africa, including the world-famous Masai Mara. There is a huge concentration of wildlife here, with many visitors ticking off the big 5 as well as cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and wildebeest within a few days.
South Africa is home to its own famous safari location in the Kruger National Park. This is also rich in biodiversity and safari-goers are rarely disappointed with the animals they see.
The one factor that gives Kenya the edge is the Great Migration. Each year, around 1.3 million wildebeest, half a million gazelles, 200,000 zebras, and thousands of other antelope make the journey south from the Masai Mara over the border into Tanzania around July, returning en masse in October. One of the most impressive natural events in the world, it is well worth choosing a safari in Kenya to witness this epic exodus of animals.
Safari tours in Kenya also allow more room for approaching and getting up close to wildlife. Drivers and guides may slowly approach animals, not so as to disturb them, but to allow a better angle for your photos. The rules in South Africa are much stricter and you may have to settle for watching from a distance.
Comfort and Cost
Kenya tends to be a bit wilder than South Africa, so if you’re happy to camp in tents and feel closer to nature, Kenya’s a good call. However, if you want to stay in a lodge with clean facilities, it will not come cheap. There are few options in between fancier private accommodation and camping.
South Africa’s national parks, on the other hand, are built with visitors in mind. There are a range of different lodges, from more affordable cottages and bungalows to luxury private lodges. All accommodation tends to be of good standard, with clean facilities, a natural setting, and many come with bonus features like golf courses.
South Africa tends to be more family-friendly, with great options for visitors with children. The roads are better paved and infrastructure is better developed. This is a big plus if you want to drive around the parks yourself. Yes, this is an option in South Africa (as long as you stick to the rules). Of course, there are also guided tours if you’d prefer, which are practically the only option in Kenya.
However, this all comes at the expense of some of the wildness. South Africa gets full marks for being comfortable, having budget options, and being ideal for families, but it can’t help but feel a little controlled and sanitized, compared to the authenticity of Kenya. Again, it depends what you prefer.
Vaccinations
It’s always worth bearing in mind that whichever country you choose for a safari, you’re probably going to need to get vaccinated against certain local diseases.
Surprisingly, South Africa has relatively few required vaccinations for travelers, with basic coverage against measles, hepatitis, and typhoid recommended.
The risk of serious diseases like malaria and bilharzia is much lower. Malaria tablets are only recommended for certain areas of the country. While national parks are generally hot-spots for mosquitoes that carry the disease, South Africa is unique on the continent for having a number of safari destinations that are free of malaria.
When on safari in Kenya, malaria tablets are a must and the list of vaccinations is more comprehensive.
Going Coastal
If you’re going to make the trip to Africa, you’ll want to do more than just go on safari. Both Kenya and South Africa have idyllic stretches of coastline, which are great for beach lovers.
Once again, South Africa is better for families and those seeking a bit of luxury. The country has a number of beach resorts catering for visitors of all budgets, which are perfect for relaxing at.
Kenya, however, has a cultural ace in the hole. While it may not have the number or level of resorts as South Africa, it does have a number of fascinating ancient ports and medieval ruins, such as Gedi, to explore. History buffs and lovers of old architecture may get a lot more out of a holiday in Kenya than South Africa.
Two countries, two very different safari experiences. For a more wildlife-focussed, authentic experience in the wilds of Africa, Kenya probably has the edge, while for more comfort and a more rounded experience that all the family can enjoy, South Africa may be the better choice. Either way, it will a trip you will never forget.
The post Is Kenya or South Africa Better for a Safari? appeared first on Wandering Earl.
05 Oct
A Local’s Guide to Boston
The post A Local’s Guide to Boston appeared first on The Blonde Abroad. Local Guide to Boston.
05 Oct
How to Plan for Expat Life Around the World
If you want to live the expat life, with dreams of living affordably and comfortably in a foreign land that offers an enticing set of benefits, it’s possible. It’s not always straightforward and simple, but it’s possible.
While it would be wonderful if we could just show up in a new country, find a place to live and get settled into a new life, unfortunately, that’s not how it works. You can do that for a limited period of time (usually up to 3 months) in many places but beyond that timeframe, the process gets trickier.
This is why it’s vital to not just plan ahead, but to really dedicate significant time to figuring out how to achieve your expat goal before you buy a plane ticket or start looking for apartments. The more you plan ahead, the easier the process and the better your chances of making it happen.
When I recently got a residency visa for Spain, the process seemed overwhelming at first. But I spent a week examining everything I needed to do in order to apply and when the time came to move forward, I only needed 1 week to gather all of the documents and apply at the Spanish Consulate in Miami. Two weeks later, I had my visa and I was good to go.
Without that pre-planning though, the process would have been a mess and taken much, much longer in the end.
Apart from determining how you can actually stay in a country long-term and which visa you might need, there are other things to consider as well that will help ensure the process is smooth and the adjustment to life in a new country is smooth too.
1. Learn the language
Yes, people all over the world speak English these days and in 20 years of travel, there has never been a time when I was 100% stuck and could not communicate with anyone at all. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn the language of the country where you want to live. It’s important that you do. It’s not only respectful to your new country but it’s also going to benefit you by allowing you to communicate better, meet more people and get deeper into the local lifestyle and culture. Expat life will be so much more rewarding as a result.
Start with the basics, dedicate some time each week to expanding your knowledge and focus on the benefits of learning more. If you are headed to Thailand, for example, try out the Simply Learn Thai app, and use that to improve your knowledge, with its 1000+ phrases available at the touch of a button. There are apps for every language and don’t try to rush it. Take it slow, learn a few more words each day and you’ll quickly see the results. Of course, taking professional classes and making sure you use your language skills by directly interacting with locals are also important steps.
2. Accept the surprises of expat life
Life in a different country can sound extremely appealing. However, there are always going to be surprises or aspects of life that you didn’t expect. Certain things that are easy back home might be complicated in your new land. There will be cultural differences and unique customs that you must adjust too. Life overall will indeed be different that more you realize this ahead of time, the less stressful will be your experience once you arrive.
Keep an open mind, try to learn as much as you can and appreciate the differences. This will help you get adjusted quickly without much friction. Making local friends helps and hanging out with other expats who have been in the country for a long time can help too.
It’s best to learn and join in the new culture instead of shutting yourself out. It can be tough at first but once you’ve figured it out, life will be even more fulfilling.
Not getting too worked up about the differences is the key. It’s only natural that different places will have different ways of life but again, it will all seem normal soon enough.
3. Understand your budget
While it might seem like you’re moving to an inexpensive location, it definitely pays to spend some time figuring out just how much you should expect to spend. A realistic budget takes into account potential surprises (which you can find with some research) that you might not initially think about when moving abroad.
One example is Playa del Carmen, Mexico. This great beach town offers an ideal expat life, with beautiful apartments for less than $1000 per month, within walking distance of the white sand beach and the center of town. You’ll probably have a rooftop pool with a view as well. However, most people don’t realize that the cost of electricity is very high in parts of Playa del Carmen, especially in newer buildings.
If you use the air-conditioner for 10 hours per day, you could end up paying over $200 USD per month in electricity. This could affect your budget greatly and would be an unwelcome surprise if you didn’t know about this before you arrived.
Some countries have very high fees for signing a contract to rent an apartment or house. Other countries might have limited public transportation options, leading you to take more taxis than you normally would take, and therefore spending more money. There are all kinds of possible financial surprises and it’s best to know about them ahead of time.
The best way to get real information is to ask questions to those already living in the place you want to go. Facebook groups, reddit forums and so on are all great resources where you can post your questions and get actual answers that will help you figure out how you will actually spend per month for the lifestyle you prefer.
4. Earning an income
If you can live off of savings or retirement funds, excellent! If you need to work though, you want to look into the rules before moving to your new country. In general, it can be quite difficult to get a work visa that allows you to work for a local employer. You would typically need a job offer that proves the company couldn’t find any locals to do the work. This is difficult and unless you’re moving between countries in the European Union as an EU citizens, the chances of getting such a visa are low.
If you work online, that’s ideal. In many countries, such as Portugal and Germany, there are actual visas you can get that are designed for those who work online and just want to live in their country as a resident. You can show up, continue your work and avoid the taxation rules as a result, making for an easy adjustment to expat life.
For other countries that don’t offer such a visa, it can be a little more challenging but still doable. You just need to check the local tax and employment rules and figure out how that might apply to you.
Whether you teach English online, design websites, find work on Upwork.com or even work remotely for a company in your home country, wherever you end up, this is going to make life easier than if you need to look for work in the country itself.
Of course, if you do work online and even if you have a small one-person business, it’s best to make sure that your operation complies with the laws of your home country before you move abroad. This could involve having the proper business structure, tax numbers, bank account and business insurance, which doesn’t need to be a huge expense but offers some useful peace of mind.
—
The allure of the expat life is real and these days, it’s easier than ever to make happen. What you don’t want to do is decide to move to a new country, buy a plane ticket and only then realize that there is much more to the process than you imagined.
From cultural surprises to unexpected expenses to visa rules to work eligibility and so on, being an expat can be quite frustrating if you don’t take the time to understand the situation before you leave.
It’s worth doing the research and being prepared in advance. This will certainly lead to a smoother transition from life in your home country to those wonderful expat dreams.
The post How to Plan for Expat Life Around the World appeared first on Wandering Earl.
05 Oct
U.S. Hotel Unemployment Slips Below 30 Percent for First Time Since March
U.S. hotel unemployment dropped to 29.9 percent in September but remains roughly four times higher than the national average. andrewbecks / Pixabay
Skift Take: Job gains are great news for hotels. But the U.S. Labor Department figures only paint one part of the full picture of an extremely troubled industry.
05 Oct
Money to Travel, Just Not Booking Yet: Amadeus Consumer Poll
The Upper House Hotel in Hong Kong. The world’s leisure travelers are planning trips again, but their responses to a survey released by Amadeus on Wednesday show a thirst for vacations. Swire Hotels
Skift Take: The year has been so horrible for the travel sector that it can be easy to forget about Amadeus Consumer Poll pent-up demand to explore the world. This survey is a helpful reminder.
05 Oct
Hilton, Hyatt and Others Pull Back the Curtain on Making Hygiene More Than Theater
Critics argue safety measures like temperature checks are more theatrical than effective against the spread of coronavirus. Hotel brands say they help build guest confidence. NeferJanah Meistrup / Wikimedia
Skift Take: Strong communication and decision-making power at the local level are key to making hygiene hotel cleaning measures succeed in an ever-changing pandemic information environment.
05 Oct
A Pandemic Upside Is Hotel Chains Are Being Forced to Address Management Bloat
Palm Court Suite at Raffles Hotel Singapore. Accor Group
Skift Take: Covid-19 is the turning point for the hotel chains, industry to unplug, simplify structures, and redesign roles, which can all make it more attractive to future talent.
05 Oct
What Happens When a Massive Wave of Hotels Default?
Some hotels like Chicago’s Palmer House (pictured) are facing foreclosure, but real estate attorneys see alternative options for struggling owners. ThreeIfByBike / Flickr
Skift Take: The hotel industry is struggling under months of cratered occupancy and revenue. But there may be a way to avoid foreclosure with the bank — as long as your hotel was doing fine before the pandemic.
05 Oct
Hospitality Schools Weigh the Pandemic’s Long-Term Impact on Travel Curriculum
Universities with hospitality schools like Cornell (pictured) aren’t likely to make swift changes to curriculum in light of coronavirus. But the pandemic is a hot topic within every classroom. sach1tb / Wikimedia
Skift Take: It will take years for pandemic strategy to show up as a central part of any major hospitality school curriculum, but coronavirus today is still a central part of any classroom — virtual or otherwise.