Serviced Apartments Vs Airbnb
With the new trend of shared economy, budget airline and internet, the travel industry has been shaken up and evolved tremendously in the last decade.
In the past, the natural choice of accommodation were motels or hotels, often booked through travel agencies or direct international calls. Bed and Breakfast (B and B) was an option too. However, BnB was expensive and limited in number. Serviced apartments were unheard of then.
Who would have known that the Bed & Breakfast and serviced apartments would be the stay of choice now?
Serviced apartments are favoured by large families and long-stay corporate clients or expats. Airbnb, the simplified Bed and Breakfast (often comes with no breakfast in contrary to its name), is the favourite choice among independent holiday travelers, budget and shoe-string travelers. Combined, both are higher demanded than hotel bookings!
What are the key considerations to decide between the two then? There are 3 factors to consider:
Consistency and Standardization of services
Most serviced apartments are corporatized and managed by experienced hospitality professionals. Formal Standard Operational Procedures are in place that define the layout, furnishing and services provided. If you are one that feels disorientated with different housing style each time you travel or you irk at the housekeeping standard of home-run Bed and Breakfast, you will feel more confident in staying with the serviced apartment over Air BnB, where quality control and reputation are paramount to the former.
Customer Service
Serviced apartments specialize in serving business professionals. Due to this nature of business, the customer service standard is typically extremely high. Services usually include concierge, guest services and extended hours support. With Airbnb, you will not be able to know what to expect. Will you be received by the homeowner himself, or would it be a key drop arrangement? Is he staying in the same house with you, providing ‘local advices and directions’ or is he running the facility as an additional income and staying in a separate home? If you have an issue with your stay, where could you file a complaint? If you aren’t happy, can you change the room? The answer is ‘No’. The only recourse is that you leave a bad review on Airbnb portal to warn other travelers against it.
With serviced stays, on the other hand, you will have customer service and quality control staff who will dedicate their services to ensure that your stay is delightful. The professionals will find ways to remediate your unhappiness, such as a change of rooms or eradicating the source of discomfort.
Costs & Fees
With Air BNB, there are hidden fees, such as booking and cleaning fees. Usage of internet, phone, and laundry are often not included. If you do not read the fine-print, you can end up paying more than what you have bargained for. However, with the serviced route, the apartment price is usually all-inclusive of whatever you need during your stay, including utilities, WIFI, laundry services and even soap detergent.
In conclusion, Air BNB is the obvious sub-par option to travelling. In terms of comfort, flexibility, cost, quality and consistency, the serviced apartment route is the natural winner. There are no surprises, no hidden cost. Hence, for your next business trip or extended stay, consider these factors and choose the serviced apartment stay. After all, you should settle down quickly and enjoy the experience of your stay without having to be upset over unnecessary distractions and discomfort that should be a given.
What to expect from a Longonot Place stay
Nairobi City is popularly referred to as the Green City in the Sun. It was founded in 1899 by the colonial authorities in British East Africa, as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway. The town quickly grew to replace Machakos as the capital of Kenya in 1907. After independence in 1963, Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya.
Nairobi is undeniably one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in Kenya, and if we were to list all of the reasons why it’s an amazing place to visit, we would be here for days. The only thing that can make your trip better is where you choose to stay.
At Longonot Place Serviced Apartments, we offer guests a sanctuary right in the heart of the city, close to distinguished bars, stunning restaurants and popular shopping spots – our luxury serviced apartments are the perfect place for work and play.
A warm welcome
Once you arrive at Longonot Place, you’ll be greeted by our helpful reception staff who are available 24-hours a day to answer your questions, fulfil your requests or recommend the very best things to do in Nairobi.
While your luggage is being transferred up to your apartment, feel free to kick back and relax after your journey in our plush lobby area and connect to our superfast Wi-Fi to start exploring what the city has to offer.
Your home away from home
Each luxurious apartment is designed with you in mind. Whether you’ve chosen to stay in our one-bedroom apartments, which are perfect for shorter visits, or a spacious two or three bedroom apartment, you’ll be provided with all of the luxuries you’re used to at home – and more.
We like to give our guests as much freedom as possible, which is why you will find a fully equipped, high specification kitchen and dedicated dining area in every apartment, so you can eat what you want, when you like.
A good night’s sleep is essential to get you ready for a full day of exploring the city. Our cosy king-sized beds come adorned with extravagant cotton sheets for maximum comfort.
And to make your stay that much sweeter, our bathrooms are complete with hot showers and a range of bath products waiting for you when you wake up.
Staying active
Longonot Place offers a range of exemplary facilities designed to elevate your stay, so everything you could possibly need during your visit is covered.
There’s no need to compromise on your exercise routine with our state-of-the-art gym, open day and night to suit even the busiest timetable.
Handle your business
Looking for a private space for a meeting or call? Explore our innovative, unique facility with flexible solutions to work for you. Our board rooms are sized and equipped with the latest technology discreetly incorporated into the design suitable for executive meetings.
Dine in style
Once you’ve worked up an appetite in our fitness facilities, order in breakfast or simply prepare your own meals in your own kitchen; fully equipped with modern cookware for your convenience.
Discover the world navigating at The World’s Finest Luxury Seafood Restaurant – Mawimbi Sea Food Restaurant & Café, located inside Longonot Place. Their culinary experience is a fusion of Latin, Asian, East African, Mediterranean, and the best selection from around the globe.
Whether you’re travelling to Nairobi for business or a weekend of leisure, you can be sure to have everything you could possibly want or need at Longonot Place Serviced Apartments.
Considering a trip to Nairobi? Then make your visit extraordinary by staying in one of our lavish city centre apartments. If you want to see the very best of the city, you need to spend more than 24 hours here. Nairobi is a place for adventurers, unpretentious and authentic with multicultural cuisine, plenty of art, amazing wildlife, and plentiful attractions. You will find beneath its picturesque look and quaint charm a scrupulously evolving city that will fascinate and make you visit again.
We are located near; the Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi Snake Park, Nairobi Botanic Garden, Nairobi National Museum, University of Nairobi, Museum Hill Centre, TransUnion Kenya Offices, Nakumatt Lifestyle Shopping Centre, City market, Central Park, Tatu Restaurant – Fairmont The Norfolk Restaurant, Naivas Supermarket, and the City Market.
What is a Serviced Apartment?
Serviced apartments have been around longer than most people think – making an impact, in fact, for over a decade.
Officially, ‘Serviced Apartment’ is the umbrella term for a type of furnished apartment available for short-term or long-term stays, which provides amenities, housekeeping and a range of services for guests and where most taxes and utilities are included within the rental price.
Serviced apartments offer facilities much like a traditional hotel but with added space, convenience and privacy like home, so you can enjoy living like a local when travelling. They have private cooking facilities, sometimes a kitchenette but sometimes a full-size kitchen with dishwasher and washing machine, larger living/sleeping areas than most standard rooms, and often having access to gyms, restaurants, meeting space, concierges and other hotel-like services.
‘Serviced Apartment’ as an expression has been relatively little used outside the corporate relocation and business travel markets. Most online booking sites have long offered them as booking options, but with no separate category – most are just labelled ‘apartment’ and offered as another option alongside regular hotel rooms.
But the sector is increasingly having an impact on leisure travel as people find serviced apartments are available all over the world as a credible and cost-effective alternative. They are especially economical for longer stays, group travel or family parties, allowing savings on dining out and offering in-house entertainment as well as allowing you to live like a local.
But unlike certain unregulated parts of the sharing economy, such as home-share sites where you might move into someone else’s home for your stay and take a chance in terms of health and safety and standard of accommodation, we as a trade body aim to ensure the consumer has confidence in what they will find when booking serviced apartment accommodation anywhere in the world.
We offer different levels of membership and quality accreditation marques to the industry to drive up and maintain standards around bookings, facilities and safety.
What you should expect from a serviced apartment:
- A fully equipped kitchen, usually with both dishwasher and washer/dryer
- One or more separate bedrooms, or in studio apartments, a designated sleeping area
- A living area
- A bathroom
- TV, Wi-Fi and the latest in-room technology
- All utilities included i.e. water & electricity
- A weekly housekeeping service (many operators offer a more frequent service if required)
You may find serviced apartments across a number of sub headings which include:
Serviced Apartment– Self-contained apartments normally within a residential building. There may or may not be staff on site, so the operator may arrange to meet guests on arrival or make keys available via a safety deposit box. Some may even offer keyless entry access via smartphones or other technology. And guests will have access to a 24-hour helpline.
Aparthotel– serviced apartments within a dedicated building, offering hotel-like services with a 24-hour reception. These may also offer additional facilities like a communal lounge or an on-site gym. Some operators call their apartments ‘suites’ within an aparthotel.
Corporate Housing– a furnished apartment, condominium or house made available for rent or lease on a temporary basis, usually for 30 days or more. The corporate travel world has long seen the advantage of this kind of accommodation for executives on longer business trips or during relocations, as they allow the traveler a more ‘normal’ way of life outside hotels, with the chance to cook, relax and plan their time away from hotel operating hours.
10 Simple Hacks to Fall Asleep In Seconds
It’s easier said than done trying to actually catch some Z’s, and there is an entire spectrum of people, all desperately trying to claim back the realm of sleep and their quality of sleep. We all want high quality of sleep, and yet so many of us find ourselves tossing and turning hours after we hit the pillow, unable to slip into the Land of Nod.
However, we all deserve to get the kind of sleep we deserve, and so we’ve rounded up some of our best and most useful sleep hacks to try and help you find it a little bit easier to curl up under the covers and nod off. So, without further ado, here are ten simple sleep hacks…
1. Read a Book before Bed
One of the best and renowned sleep hacks is to turn down the lights, snuggle down, and have a quick read of a good bedside tome. It doesn’t have to be particularly highbrow reading, although reading something you find boring or stale might well induce your visit to the Land of Nod. Reading helps facilitate sleep by forcing you to remove yourself from electronic equipment – items designed to keep your mind visually stimulated – and into a relaxed activity. So, next time you’re struggling to get to sleep, try picking up one of those books on your bedside. It might just be the thing to help.
2. Set a Formal Bedtime
Setting a formal bedtime – as in a time in which you force yourself to go to bed every evening – can be extremely beneficial in terms of helping you get to sleep post-haste. Not only can setting a formal bedtime help you physically, it has some strong psychological benefits. Setting a certain time for you to go to sleep helps your mind recognize that it is time for you to start unwinding and relaxing, much in the same way a child learns to sleep through the night. A regular bedtime also helps your brain adjust its levels of serotonin and melatonin, and helps balance your circadian rhythm out. In short, all good things, and essential sleep hacks that you should implement if you want to be asleep within seconds.
3. Eat a Healthier Diet
We know everyone keeps extolling the virtues of a healthier diet, and believe us, we’re sick of it too. However, if you’ll hear us out, adjusting your diet to help you get better sleep, might just be worth it. Research has found that increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and pulses can help improve your sleep and the time it takes for you to go to sleep dramatically, thanks to enhancing your levels of magnesium, potassium, or other essential minerals that your body needs. Even incorporating more turkey – rich in tryptophan which helps induce drowsiness and sleepiness – can help make the distance between awake and sleep much easier.
4. Keep Your Room Cool
The last tip we can offer to help you get to sleep quicker, is to make sure that you keep your room as cool as possible – but not too cool. Years of scientific research have found that your body temperature is key when trying to get to sleep, as your body temperature naturally drops when you start to nod off. Therefore maintaining a cool, but not cold temperature in your room is essential. Similar to the way how coming out of a hot bath makes you feel sleepy thanks to your body’s temperature drop, the best course of action is keeping a fan or a window open to keep cool air circulating, and then taking the opportunity to snuggle down. Lovely.
5. Practice Yoga before Bed
If you fancy exploring something a little less orthodox, then research suggests that doing a spot of yoga can help relax your body and help you get to sleep in record time. In terms of sleep hacks, yoga has long been touted as an avenue worth exploring; certain sequences such as ‘Salute to the Moon’ are designed to be slow, gentle movements that promote a feeling of relaxation and which help relieve any bodily aches that might keep you up at night. Yoga gets a lot of attention for its health benefits, but if you’re stuck on a sleepless night, try your hand at some yoga and find yourself relaxing and nodding off immediately.
6. Meditate
The meditation revolution keeps on rolling through our cities and cultures, touted as a huge help for anyone who needs it – and with good reason. In terms of being simultaneously rudimentary and revolutionary, meditation has been commended as a kind of cure-all for a large swathe of physical or psychological ailments – in this case being unable to go to sleep. Meditation allows you to calm your restless mind and focus on the kind of slow, rhythmic breathing that helps make sleeping better. In fact one of the suggested breathing techniques, the ujjayi breath (or ocean breath), is perfect for calming you down and helping you nod off to sleep.
7. Drink Some Warm Milk
Sometimes the old wives’ tales turn out to have some common sense or a grain of surprising truth in them. For example, the old adage about drinking warm milk helping you go to sleep, turns out to be not only true, but a beneficial sleep hack for anyone trying to get to sleep quicker. Warm milk, or similarly crafted milk-based beverages, may have shaky standing as a soporific thanks to the ongoing debate over the actual effectiveness of tryptophan in aiding sleep. However, psychologists have considered that drinking warm milk may have an unconscious psychological effect, and that it relates to the childhood experience of breastfeeding and the comfort associated with it. So, if you want to have a little sip of something before you hit the hay, try a glass of warm milk, rather than the traditional boozy nightcap. You’ll feel better for it in the morning – in more ways than one.
8. Cut out The Caffeine
One of the best sleep hacks out there is to cut out of the most prevalent addictive chemicals out there: caffeine. Yep, we’re all guilty of partaking in some caffeine at one point or another, whether it’s in our tea, coffee, or even out of chocolate. However, if you want to make sure you go to sleep as soon as possible, try and cut caffeine out of your diet after a certain point in the day. Studies indicate that cutting off your caffeine intake after 3pm helps improve quality of sleep, and the time it takes for you to get to sleep. So, if you want to try something to help you nod off in record time, try ditching that late evening cup of coffee, and see what happens.
9. Turn off The Electronics
One of the biggest, best sleep hacks for the modern-day person, is to remove those pesky electronics from your bedroom to stop you playing with them. Numerous studies have found that the blue light from electronic devices disrupts your brain’s ability to begin relaxing for better quality sleep, as well as the likelihood of being unable to properly relax before hitting the hay, thanks to devices intended to keep you engaged. Instead, try and turn off your laptop, phone or tablet about an hour before you go to bed, so that your mind can unwind properly, and you can get that all-important quality of sleep that you deserve.
10. Invest In Some Blackout Curtains
This can be an issue no matter what your bedroom situation is, but it is always worth investing in a solid pair of blackout curtains if you’re looking for a great go-to sleep hack. With more and more light pollution in the day-to-day – your neighbour’s backyard spotlight, the streetlamps outside, everyone’s car headlights coming in at 1am – it can be harder and harder to sleep with all that extra light pouring in and messing up your chance at sleep. Blackout curtains are a great preventative measure, as they’ll make sure your sleep is longer, better, and is much less likely to be disturbed.
(lifehack.org )
Top Tourist Attractions in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and largest city, still conjures all the romance and adventure of its colorful colonial days. The city evolved from a humble camp for railway workers in 1899 to the capital of British East Africa by 1907.
Today, Nairobi’s rich history and tribal culture is brought to life in its excellent museums. The Karen Blixen Museum is a big hit – especially with fans of the Out of Africa book and film, who come to see where the namesake Danish author toiled on her coffee farm in the beautiful Ngong Hills.
But even in such a bustling city, wildlife is a huge draw. This cosmopolitan capital is one of the only cities in the world with a safari park in its borders. A mere 15-minute drive from the skyscrapers of the city center, you can enjoy a classic African wildlife experience at Nairobi National Park. Lion, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, rhinoceros, and buffalo roam the sun-soaked savanna here, and animal lovers can cuddle baby elephants and connect with giraffes at the excellent animal sanctuaries nearby.
Nairobi is also the gateway to the world-famous safari parks, which have captivated adventure seekers for more than a century.
- Nairobi National Park
Kenya’s first national park, Nairobi National Park lies only seven kilometers from the skyscrapers of Nairobi’s city center. A haven for wildlife, the park is also a rhino sanctuary, which protects more than 50 of these critically endangered creatures.
In addition to the rhinos, you can see lions, gazelles, buffaloes, warthogs, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, and ostriches, and more than 400 species of birds have been recorded in the wetlands.
Nairobi National Park is also a famous ivory burning site. In 1989, President Moi ignited 12 tons of elephant tusks and rhino horns here, boosting the country’s conservation image on the world stage. Today, a monument marks this historic site.
The Nairobi Safari Walk is a popular attraction, offering animal lovers the chance to spot wildlife on foot, and walking trails weave around the area known as Hippo Pools.
At the park’s main gate, you can bond with orphaned baby elephants and rhinos at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
- David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
At the main gates of Nairobi National Park, this orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program is a must-see for animal lovers. Daphne Sheldrick founded the project in 1977 in memory of her late husband David, a former warden at Tsavo East National Park.
The center cares for young abandoned elephants and rhinos and works to release the animals back into the wild. You can watch these lovable creatures up close as they frolic in the mud and drink from giant baby bottles. Best of all, your entrance fee helps support the project’s conservation efforts.
If you want to help even more, consider adopting an orphaned elephant, rhino, or giraffe – you’ll receive regular updates on their progress long after you leave.
Address: Mbagathi Road, Nairobi
- Giraffe Centre
At the Giraffe Centre, on the edge of Nairobi National Park, visitors can come face to face with endangered Rothschild’s giraffes. This non-profit center lies on the grounds of the plush guesthouse, Giraffe Manor, and its main mission is to provide conservation education for children.
The visitor center displays information about these graceful creatures, and a raised platform allows you to feed them at eye level with specially prepared pellets.
This is one of the most unusual things to do around Nairobi, especially with children – photo ops with wet, gray giraffe tongues slurping little faces are priceless.
After communing with these long-lashed beauties, you can enjoy a 1.5-kilometer self-guided forest walk in the adjacent nature reserve.
Address: Langata Road, Nairobi
- Karura Forest Reserve
Are you craving some solitude near the city? You’re in luck. The beautiful Karura Forest is a cool, shady oasis just a few kilometers from the city center.
This lush green space is actually one of the largest urban forests in the world, and you’ll discover all kinds of things to see and do here. Hike to a multi-tiered 15-meter waterfall. Enjoy a picnic in the gardens. Watch monkeys clamber through the trees, or just sit quietly by Lily Lake and soak up the tranquility. Bike riding is also popular along the well-marked red-clay trails.
Wildlife also thrives here. Besides monkeys, you might also see duiker (small antelope), butterflies, and many species of birds. After all your forest adventures, sit back and relax with a snack and a drink at the open-sided river café.
- Karen Blixen Museum
One of Nairobi’s top tourist attractions, the Karen Blixen Museum, at the foot of the Ngong Hills, is the former home of the famous namesake Out of Africa author. Karen Blixen, also known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen, lived in the house from 1917 to 1931, where she ran a coffee plantation.
Today, you can tour the well-preserved colonial farmhouse, a kitchen in a separate building, a coffee-drying plant in the woodland, and an agricultural college on the grounds.
Furniture that belonged to Karen Blixen and her husband is on display, as well as photographs and books owned by Karen and her lover, Denys Finch Hatton. Enthusiastic guides bring the story of Karen Blixen and colonial Kenya to life.
Address: Karen Road, Nairobi
- Nairobi National Museum
The National Museum in Nairobi is an educational way to spend a few hours on a city stopover. The museum displays diverse cultural and natural history exhibits including more than 900 stuffed birds and mammals, fossils from Lake Turkana, ethnic displays from various Kenyan tribal groups, and exhibits of local art.
In the Geology Gallery, you can explore an impressive collection of rocks and minerals and learn about tectonic plates and the life cycle of a volcano. The Hominid Vault contains a collection of prehistoric bones and fossils, including the preserved fossil of an elephant.
At the museum, visitors can purchase combination tickets, which include entrance to the adjacent Snake Park with live specimens of Kenya’s most common reptiles.
If you’re looking for a dose of nature on your Nairobi trip, save time to stroll around the tranquil botanical gardens here after your visit.
Address: Museum Hill Road, Nairobi
- Bomas of Kenya
About 10 kilometers from Nairobi, Bomas of Kenya is a living museum celebrating the colorful tribes of Kenya. This is a great place to learn about the lifestyle, art, music, crafts, and culture of each tribe.
The complex encompasses a recreated traditional village with homesteads or bomas, each one reflecting the culture of a major ethnic group. Every afternoon, a team performs traditional dances and songs in the large theater. Audience participation makes the performances even more enjoyable.
Location: Forest Edge Road, off Langata Road, Mageso Chember
- Kazuri Beads Factory Tour
Looking for some unique souvenirs and gifts for family and friends? The Kazuri Beads Factory is a great place to shop. Best of all, you’re helping disadvantaged local women at the same time.
Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili, and these shiny, brightly colored beads surely fit the bill.
Join a free factory tour and see how local women, including many single mothers, make the beads and other pottery items from scratch. After the tour, you can purchase some to take with you, knowing you are purchasing from a World Fair Trade Organization member. Prices are relatively reasonable.
This is a great tour to combine with a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum, as the factory lies right nearby. It’s also one of the top free things to do in Nairobi, although it’s hard to leave here without buying some of these beautiful beads.
Address: Mbagathi Ridge, Karen, Nairobi
- Kenyatta International Conference Centre
Named for the Republic’s First President, Jomo Kenyatta, the distinctive cylindrical Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) offers breathtaking 360-degree views from its rooftop viewing deck.
The building is an internationally acclaimed venue for conferences, meetings, and exhibitions, and it’s an eye-catching landmark in the city. Though not the tallest building in Kenya, it dominates the skyline with a 28-story tower overlooking a large amphitheater. Its pale terra-cotta façade recalls the color of traditional African huts, and the central plenary hall resembles the ancient Roman Senate. Zoom up to the rooftop viewing platform to take photos of the sprawling city below, and you can also enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants.
Address: Harambee Avenue, Nairobi
- Ngong Hills
“Ngong” means “knuckles” in Maasai, a fitting name since these beautiful pointed green hills resemble the back of a fist facing the sky. They are a popular place to visit close to Nairobi and provide a welcome respite from the city heat.
The Ngong Hills are the peaks of a ridge overlooking the Great Rift Valley, and many white settlers established their farms here in the early colonial days. Half-timbered houses and flowering gardens remain, but seem more suited to southern England than Africa.
Several walking trails traverse the hills, offering beautiful views of the valleys below. Wildlife is also visible in the area. Buffalo, gazelles, giraffes, bushbuck, the occasional klipspringer, and troupes of baboons are often glimpsed grazing along the roadside.
If you’re an Out of Africa fan and you’re looking for other places to visit in the Ngong Hills, stop by the grave of Denys Finch Hatton, the lover of famous Danish author, Karen Blixen. It lies on the eastern slopes, graced by an obelisk and garden.
Address: Great Rift Valley, Mageso Chember, Nairobi
- Railway Museum
The Railway Museum in Nairobi celebrates the rich history of the railroad in Kenya and its impact on the nation’s development. Among the museum’s fascinating collections are train and ship models, photographs from the original construction of the Uganda Railway, railway magazines, maps and drawings, and a silver service set used on overnight trains to Mombasa.
A collection of steam locomotives and rolling stock are also on display, including a model of the MV Liemba, built by the Germans and still in use along Lake Tanganyika.
A favorite exhibit is the carriage used during the hunt for the Maneater of Kima in 1900. Captain Charles Ryall, a colonial officer, positioned himself in the carriage to shoot a man-eating lion; unfortunately he fell asleep and was dragged out the window by the lion.
Address: Uhuru Road, Nairobi
- National Archives
You’ll find a little bit of everything about Kenya at this museum. Housed in the old Bank of India building, the National Archives spotlights Kenyan tribal culture, as well as the country’s art, history, and politics.
Paintings and artifacts from the collection of Joseph Murumbi, one of Africa’s most famous collectors, dominate the exhibits. The main floor gallery displays historical documents and a collection of photographs.
The second floor houses more art, a display of postage stamps, and the National Archives reading room, which is used for personal and professional projects.
Along with the Nairobi National Museum, this is one of the top places to visit in Nairobi on a budget, and it will broaden your understanding of Kenya’s rich history and culture.
Address: Moi Avenue, Nairobi
(Source: planetware.com)
7 Tips on How to Find the Perfect Gift for Someone
With individual personalities, budgets, time and so many other resources to consider, knowing how to find the perfect gift for someone is not for the faint of heart nowadays. But the act of gifting turns into a burden as soon as the holidays become more focused on materialism than it is on the meaning behind it. We won’t let that happen this year!
Here are seven secrets on how to think like the best gift-givers out there.
1. Find out their love language.
By now you may know that each person has one or two dominant love languages. Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages describes these as the way in which a person prefers to give and receive love. It began as a powerful tool to strengthen the connection between romantic couples, but it’s also great for all kinds of relationships: between parents and their children, best friends, siblings, and even colleagues.
A good gift-giver can figure out their recipient’s love language by paying attention to how s/he most often expresses affection—whether it’s through words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, gift giving, or acts of service.
2. Recall their recent complaints.
Have you ever wished out loud for an item that you swear would make your life better or complained about one of your favorite things becoming unusable? It’s the best feeling when someone surprises you by “fixing” your problem for you via a thoughtful, well-timed gift.
A good gift-giver listens and pays close attention to any needs she can address for her recipient, and fulfills it for them with a gift or by having a broken item repaired. “This is just the thing I needed!” is something she often hears.
3. Make a list and plan ahead.
Each year we swear to start Christmas shopping early so we aren’t caught buying gift cards at the very last minute. If you haven’t already, start your gift list today.
A good gift-giver writes down the name of every person she wants to give a Christmas present. She keeps this list somewhere she’ll see it often and adds gift ideas next to each name as they come to mind. She’ll also set calendar alerts to ensure that she’s on track to collect all her gifts, wrap, and distribute them.
4. Succumb to intuitive (versus impulsive) buys.
You’ve heard the warning not to succumb to last-minute impulse purchases, but sometimes you haven’t even thought about whether something will make the perfect gift until you see it in person or come across it online.
A good gift-giver assesses impulse buys by asking herself whether it’s a “buy now” or “think about it first” purchase. By learning how to recognize and acknowledge the feeling she gets when she “just knows” the gift is right, she can confidently listen to and trust her gut intuition.
5. Re-gift.
When you’re keeping gifts out of guilt, it’s likely because you assume that you’re ungrateful. I love this person, so I should keep it, right? But as Maria Walley writes for Verily, “By letting go of the gift, they’re afraid they’d lose the object’s associated meaning—even if, in reality, the memories and feelings are so much larger than the objects themselves.”
A good gift-giver knows that re-gifting can be done tastefully and thoughtfully. John Tierney writes for The New York Times, “Don’t be ashamed to regift. Researchers have found that most people assume that someone who gave them a gift would be deeply offended if they passed it along to someone else. But these same studies show that most givers actually aren’t offended. Once they give someone a present, they figure it’s the recipient’s right to dispose of it at will.” At the end of the day, Tierney says the perfect gift is the one they asked for!
6. Don’t equate the cost with the value.
Dr. Gary Chapman tells Verily, “Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.”
A good gift-giver focuses on the individual by making it personal and thinking about the presentation. She believes that less is often more, and that the most expensive gifts aren’t necessarily the most valuable. She knows that something she makes herself—à la Little House on the Prairie—can be much more meaningful than something store-bought.
7. Give experiences, not things.
Studies report that being less materialistic with how we spend our money is proven to expand our openness to new experiences. Experiences are less subjective to comparison. Lack of comparison allows us to draw more pleasure from experiences.
A good gift-giver knows that just because a physical object will last longer, does not mean it will make us happier for a longer time than a one-off experience. In his book, Dr. Gary Chapman explains that what makes quality time a truly special gift is giving the other person 100 percent of your time and attention. A good gift-giver remembers that the experience isn’t what makes the perfect present, but rather the time spent together. Whether it’s making a date night dinner, signing up for an Airbnb experience, or setting aside time to just be, you can’t go wrong as long as the receiver stays top of mind.
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7 Things to Do Now to Prepare for the Holidays
The holidays will soon be here. The good news is that there are some things we can do now to prepare for the holidays. You won’t have to miss out on enjoying time spent with family and friends during the holiday season when you’ve gotten a jump start on all those tasks. These tasks will prepare you for the holidays by helping you stay organized, keeping you sane and even helping you save money. Ready to see what you can do NOW to help you prepare for the holidays?
Prepare your gift list
It’s time to make a list of who you plan to purchase gifts for this year. Remember to include family, friends, coworkers, everyone. Don’t leave anyone out! You may also choose to jot down any gift ideas you have at this time for each person. You can use Pinterest to create secret boards to store gift ideas as you brainstorm.
Prepare holiday decorations
Now is a great time to take a peek at the holiday decorations you have on hand. What do you plan on using this year and what do you want to replace? It’s also a great time to start searching Pinterest for ideas for any DIY decorations you may want to do. The earlier you get them done, the sooner you can check them off of your to-do list.
Prepare a budget
How much money should you spend on the holidays this year? This budget should include money for gifts, decorations, food, even Christmas cards. Don’t leave anything out so you’ll be prepared and have the money you need. By creating your budget now you still have some time to save money before shopping season starts.
Start price shopping
Now that you have your list and know your holiday budget, it’s time to start price shopping. You want to make sure you’re getting the best deal when the holiday sales start happening, so go ahead and price the items on your list. It will be much easier to spot the good deals when you know the regular price of items. You may even find and scoop up some great deals now!
Plan homemade gifts
Do you plan on making any handmade gifts this year? If so, you will want to plan these out ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute if you know your project requires a lot of time, energy and effort. Choose a target date to have these items completed before the hectic holiday season starts.
Stockpile pantry staples
Hosting holiday parties or giving out baked goods this year? If you don’t already stockpile items now is a great time to start. Fill up your pantry with baking staples like sugar, flour, chocolate chips and canned goods you plan to use for holiday dinners. By buying items ahead of time when they are on sale you’ll save money and have everything you need on hand (other than perishables) when you need it.
Schedule downtime
While holidays are meant to be a time of celebrating with family and friends, we often we get tired and burnt out with all the activities the holidays bring. Go ahead and block out downtime on your calendar now before it gets over laden with holiday commitments. Making sure you don’t get overstretched by scheduling some time to relax or to do something fun will bring you peace and keep you sane this winter.
With a busy season ahead of us, pacing ourselves is to the key to getting to the finish line. By completing these 7 tasks to prepare for the holidays ahead we can spend more time doing what’s important – spending quality time with family and friends.
8 Pieces of Travel Etiquette Every Tourist Should Know
There are some etiquette rules to being a tourist that are obvious, like being respectful and well-mannered to locals. But other rules are less obvious, and yet totally crucial to not only being a good tourist, but also a good human. There are pieces of travel etiquette that every tourist should follow no matter where they go. Regardless of whether you’re going to a low-key beach town or a historic religious institution, there are ways that you, as a visitor, should behave to not only show respect, but also represent your character and where you come from glowingly.
You should always remember that it is a privilege to be able to visit another country. When you’re in a new country, you should think of yourself in a stranger’s home, even if you’re in the local coffee shop. The same kinds of manners and considerations you’d make if you were in someone’s private space should be your behavioral standard when it’s not obvious how to behave. Being a polite tourist isn’t just about remembering your please’s and thanks you’s. It’s about ensuring that the country hosting you is aware of just how grateful you are to be there, and just how much respect you have for their way of living — even, and especially if it’s very different from your own.
Know Where You’re Going
Before you travel anywhere, you should do a little bit of preliminary research. Get a general idea of what the area is like, what important historic events have occurred there, and what the culture is comprised of. Was there recently a war there? Are the locals conservative? Are you traveling there during a holy time? To ensure you’re not being unintentionally disrespectful, and to be a good travel student, do a little homework, it will only enrich your time there and help you relate to the people better.
Don’t Take People’s Pictures without Asking
People don’t want to feel like they’re a human zoo. You should never take someone’s picture from up close without asking for permission. If the person is far away, it might be OK to snap a quick photo — but, and this will be relevant if you’re visiting a memorial site or a cemetery, remember that under no circumstances is it ever OK to take a photo of someone grieving. If you’d like to take someone’s picture, go up to them and ask if they will permit it, and if they do not, be understanding and back down immediately.
Be Mindful At Memorials & Religious Places
If you really want to take a picture of a memorial or religious place, do your best to ensure there’s no one in the photo, as people who have come to grieve deserve privacy and respect. Places like concentration camps and cemeteries should be no photo zones, if possible. While you’re there, make sure that you’re also respectful of the tone. Aka, these are not the places to make phone calls, to laugh with friends, or to speak loudly.
Prepare To Dress Conservatively If the Culture Calls For It
If you’re going to a conservative country, respect the culture. Dress as close to the locals as you can, both to show them that you respect their dress code, and also for your own safety. If everyone else has their shoulder’s covered, you should have yours covered, too. If you’re unsure of how to dress, get in touch with a travel agency or tour guide to get some reliable advice.
Try To Translate, If Possible
No one expects you to learn a new language before visiting a new country, but having some knowledge of the language will only help you. At the very least, do some research to find out the best way to greet people, so that you don’t offend anyone with an outdated phrase. When in doubt, use Google Translate.
Do As Others Do
Before you open up your laptop at a cafe or make a phone call in a museum, look around to see if anyone else is on their phone or computer. If you’re tempted to take a photo of something but no one is taking pictures, perhaps there’s a reason. Always scan a room for clues before you make yourself too comfortable.
Be Polite, Always
For instance: If you don’t like the local food, you don’t have to eat it. But you do have to be gracious, and at the very least take a small bite and pretend to like it. Insulting food is insulting a culture in many cases. In the same way that you wouldn’t spit out something your grandmother made special for you, you shouldn’t crinkle up your face or turn up your nose at another culture’s food, drink, dress, music, or lifestyle.
Be Patient
Even when you are in a rush, make sure that you are being careful and polite. If you’re used to a metropolitan life or travel often, it’s easy to forget that you’re a visitor. But when you’re visiting a new country or culture, it’s important to hold the door for people, walk at a respectful distance and pace, and not show signs of frustration when waiting for food or other services. Even if you are jet lagged, even if you are late for an important event, even if everyone around you is slow, or distracted, find patience, as you are a guest and it’s not your place to demand fast service or the right of way. Reminding yourself that it’s an honor to be there is a good way to put things into perspective.
(Source >> https://bit.ly/3cZrt11)
