Activities

How to Organise a Successful Stag Party Abroad

Published on

Organising a Stag Party Abroad isn’t easy! Check our advice on how to begin and what to pay attention to.

The organization of a good stag party especially abroad is a complicated and tiring business for a best man. It can involve him in writing literally hundreds of mails if a group is on the large side. There is also a good chance that he will never even have met some of the group members but will still have to organize a whole stag weekend’s entertainment for them. This can be a pretty thankless task. People will express praise and gratitude of things fall into place but will roundly condemn you if they don’t. We’re here to take the stress out of the job of organizing your stag weekend abroad and allow you to party in peace.

Source:crazy-kiev.com

Here is some advice:

  • Look Ahead

Encourage members to book their flights well in advance of the party date. There’s not a lot that’s more frustrating than negotiating a deal for a group and then having to start again because some of them left it too late and couldn’t find or afford flights and tell you this a week before you are supposed to leave.

  • Save time and money

Give yourself plenty of time. 2 or 3 months sounds a long time but it simply flies by. Last minute bookings can also mean that certain services are unavailable or more expensive- remember that most popular central hotels and apartments usually sell really well and fast. The same applies to most popular stag activities- they have to be booked in advance or otherwise you may find yourself in a situation where your preferred stag do activity is already taken at the requested time and date or at least convenient hours are already booked by the other groups.

Source:mbymontcalm.co.uk
  • Finish the formalities in time

Whether you are using a dedicated stag do company to take care of the reservations for you, or you prefer to contact all suppliers directly (which takes a lot more hassle) make sure you confirm things in advance and pay for the reserved services in time. There is nothing more frustrating for companies dealing with reservations for you, than lack of contact from the client who confirmed, but hasn’t paid the deposit or made the final payment in time, and is not answering. Delayed payments may result in cancellation of initially booked services- in the worst case you might even lose your deposit and date of the activity might not be able to be re-booked.

Also make sure you send all the requested info to a stag company in advance- meaning your preferred times of the activities, contact numbers, updates on the group size, accommodation address (if you have booked it on your own). This allows them to prepare the itinerary for your group.

Also try to keep the list of activities simple otherwise your job will become open ended. Have a word with your co-organiser or best mate, choose 2 or 3 activities or packages maximum and then send this off the rest of the group. Some best men spend weeks trying to get a common decision from people that they’ve never met just because a couple of them prefer one activity that the rest don’t like.

  • Keep things simple

The bigger the group size, the more difficult you as the organiser will find it to match everyone’s tastes, preferences and budgets. First agree on the most important stuff – the budget. Once done, choose your destination and secure your flight dates. Then decide whether you prefer to leave reservations to a professional company, or if you prefer to act as one dealing with all the bookings on your own. If you go for the latter, start with booking your accommodation first and then move into booking airport transfers and activities. Problems which you might encounter will often be:

  • foreign suppliers (bus companies, activity suppliers) might speak little English,
  • should something go wrong you might find it difficult to get a proper compensation (different countries- different laws)
Source:thefunplan.com

If you opted to have your weekend organised by a pro company, this will make your life a lot easier, but it might also cost you more. A tip which might save you a lot of money is to use stag companies which are based in the destination you’re going to. Local organisers book things directly with suppliers or are direct services providers in many cases. To give you an example – let’s say you want to have a Krakow stag do. You can choose to book directly with a locally based stag company such as e.g.: PartyKrakow, or can go for big UK based brands. The UK brands use local companies to deal with the local activity suppliers. Therefore they put their margin on top of the agent’s invoice. Hitting the agent’s web directly makes the whole chain shorter, and leaves more money in your pocket. Multiply this saving by your group size and this can go into hundreds of Euros or Pounds.

  • Make sure you book some daytime activities.

Get the boys to do some sporting activities on your 2nd day in the late morning or early afternoon. Thanks will freshen them up and allow to continue to party in the evening again, rather than getting silly drink and ending up sleeping at the apartment.

Source:pissup.com
  • Stay fit

It’s a good idea to recommend all members private travel insurance. Failing this, getting an E111 or EU EHIC card is a great idea since it gives you access to the Polish health system (very good too). It can be obtained online.

  • Deliver the details. When applying for a quote, it’s a good idea to remember the following:
    – include the number of travellers
    – include the dates
    – include a phone number
  • Once you safely arrive to the destination of your choice, advise all members to leave passports and valuables in safety at their accommodation. A lost passport means a lot of trouble and the loss of a lot of time.

5 Reasons You Should Buy An Outdoor Pool Table

Published on

Getting an outdoor pool table might be more beneficial than originally thought. Although this certainly isn’t the type of activity you’ll be doing outside, we would like to say otherwise.

For many people around the world, pool is the best way to pass the time. Some play it as a hobby while others are more serious about it. But it goes without saying that this can be an excellent source of entertainment all year round.

But, unlike an indoor pool table, we would like to argue about getting an outdoor one.

So, with all that said, here are our 5 reasons why you should buy it.

1. Excellent For Social Occasions

Source:4betterhome.com

Pool is quite possible the best way to socialize. Family members and friends will want to come over and play a game of pool. But an outdoor table is even better for the occasion.

Getting one means you can enjoy a nice barbeque whilst playing pool with your friends. Simply said, there isn’t a better way to socialize.

2. Practicing is Easy

It’s safe to say that you need maneuvering space whenever playing pool. By having lots of space to hit your shots, you are making sure that the practice time doesn’t go to waste.

And this is exactly where an outdoor pool table comes into play. Since you will be putting it in the yard or on the terrace, you will have plenty of space to maneuver.

Experts have suggested that there isn’t a better way to become better at the game.

3. Fun For the Whole Family

Getting a pool table is not only a great gift for the entire family, but it also helps bring you together. Whenever you feel as you need to spend more time with each other, then simply call for a game of pool.

And since you’ll be placing the table outside, it calls for a nice day time activity where you can make some hot dogs, listen to music, and have fun playing the game.

Source:outdoor8ball.com

4. It’s a Lifetime Investment

Very few people say this but an outdoor pool table is an investment that will last you your entire life. While some are drastically more expensive than others, you can get one for a fraction of the price and still be able to play the game with little to no effort.

Outdoor pool tables are also quite different than indoor tables, and they’re made to be more durable and withstanding of the elements. So, to help you decide on the best one, why not go here and read about the best outdoor pool tables.

5. The Outside Is Better For You

The whole thing of having such a table is that you get to play it outside. This can be a double edge sword as you’ll only be able to do it in certain conditions.

It’s safe to say that you won’t be able to play during rain or snow if you don’t have the table somewhere where the elements can’t get to it.

But when it’s sunny and the weather is nice, then there isn’t a better activity to enjoy yourself. This is not only a boost to your mental health but also your physical. While playing a game, you will drastically feel less stressed and less anxious.

Tips For Buying an Outdoor Pool

Source:buythebest10.com

Now that we’ve told you why you should do it, let us tell you the things you should look out for.

· Weight

Outdoor pool tables are not heavy at all. While some can be quite bulky and heavy, you should never buy one of those and instead look for something that weighs less.

That’s because you will need to constantly move it around the yard to find the best spots. Also, it will work in your favor to bring it inside when the weather isn’t perfect for playing.

This isn’t possible if you buy a classic billiard table as they can weigh up to hundreds of pounds.

·Maneuverability

When we say that you need to move the thing across the yard and even bring it inside, we actually mean it.

To help out with this, you will need to examine how maneuverable each unit is. Some units come with foldable legs that make moving the thing very easy and convenient.

Others can have their legs unscrewed and you’ll only need to transport the base.

·Size

Size is always disputed within the industry as outdoor pool tables tend to be smaller than the usual size. While these are intended for much bigger spaces, it’s the fact that they don’t cost anything like their indoor counterparts that makes them so good.

But if the thing would cost less, then there is certainly something that we’re missing. And missing indeed we are. Outdoor pool tables, depending on which one you get, tend to be smaller in size.

This isn’t a problem as you can quickly adjust your game to any size of the table.

·Price

Price is for many people a deal-breaker. If a unit costs more, then probably you won’t get it as no one wants to spend thousands of dollars.

But cheaper models sell like hot pie. As we’ve mentioned it several times now, an outdoor model is generally used for socializing between friends and family members.

Thus, no one will really pay the same price for an outdoor unit as you would for an indoor. Price can be very subjective as certain units are definitely better than others.

But if there is one thing we’ve learned is to always do extensive research and find the unit that works best for your budget.

·Durability

Source:pinterest

We said that outdoor units vary in quality and that people rarely break the bank for one. But durability is one thing that has to be taken into consideration.

Sure, the thing might cost a fraction of what a billiard table costs, but you still don’t want to be paying for poor quality and have the thing break down the moment you set your arm on it.

Thus, durability is an important factor that has to be taken into consideration.

What Do You Know About Nordic Walking?

Published on

Physical activities are very important if we want to stay fit and healthy. And today, it is so easy to find a proper way to train yourself since a huge variety of options exists!

One of them is called Nordic walking and this type of training is getting more and more popular among elderly people and young men and women.

What is it and where it came from?

We will answer these and other questions.

Source:pexels.com

Origin And History

As you probably already guessed from its name, Nordic walking came to us from the North, originally from Finland. Nevertheless, today it is very widespread all over the Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Sweden, or Norway.

With this sort of fitness activity, even elderly people can cover long distances and even walk several miles fast enough. Initially, this kind of fitness training was used by the skiers to get ready for the competitions and it was a part of a cross-country training program.

Additional info: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/fitness-trend-nordic-walking

Later, backpackers, as well as trekkers, picked up this idea and started using one-piece ski poles for walking purposes as additional equipment.

Nowadays, special poles for Nordic walking exist to make this training even more effective.

What is even more interesting, this fitness activity has become a worldwide known kind of sport, and today, Nordic walk competitions exist and active walkers can take part in a cup championship!

The Outfit

You can often hear people saying that skiing sticks are the same as those for a Nordic walk, but in fact, it is not like that, and Nordic walking perches are far from the common sticks or even skiing poles.

Unlike the solid ski sticks that were used before, modern Nordic walking ones are way shorter, in addition, they are sold in different variants. One is a non-adjustable core sticks that can have different length, whereas the other is presented by the telescoping counterparts of two or three sections that can be twist-locked. These have an adjustable length.

Solid perches are often stronger and weigh less, on the other hand, one must pick them up so that the poles match the person’s height, and, of course, weight.

Compared to the solid ones, their folding counterparts are easier to transport and besides, they can fit anyone due to the ability to be adjusted according to the user’s needs.

Source:pexels.com

Specifics Of the Activity

What is it so special about this training, people often wonder. Isn’t it a simple walking only with the sticks?

No, friends, it is not the same. When doing a Nordic walk, we use the sticks that regulate the step.

Generally speaking, the movements our bodies do during the Nordic walking are similar to those when we walk without the perches. However, the use of supporting perches regulates the radius of our arms movements which, respectively, influences how long our stride will be.

What we are trying to say is that the limited arm movements will result in the same limited length of the step and overall moves. On the contrary, the further we thrust the perches, the wider the step becomes, and the moves of the upper part of the body become more intensive.

What About the Benefits?

Those who are not familiar with the method might think that pole walking is nothing special but in fact, this kind of training has its specifics.

Unlike common walking, doing that with poles makes us apply force with each stride. It makes us use the entire body instead of just legs and the lower part.
The intensity of exercise stress is higher than of the common walking making our bodies train better.
Nordic walking involves not only legs but also arms (triceps and biceps), shoulder muscles, abdominals, spinal muscles, and many more that are not involved when we walk as usual.
Such kind of more intensive walking makes our heart work better which results in faster improvement of its wellbeing.
When doing Nordic walking, we consume almost fifty percent more energy compared to a normal walk.
This type of walking makes our muscles way stronger compared to conventional walking.
Nordic pole walking is allowed for any age, even for elderly people, if no health restrictions exist.

Source: https://beezzly.com/life/how-long-does-it-take-to-walk-a-mile

Any Restrictions?

Even though Nordic pole walking is considered to be one of the safest and healthiest ways of self-training, this fitness activity still has certain restrictions that must be taken into account before you rush to the nearest sports equipment store to get a pair of new poles.

Those who have any serious breathing problems like asthma must consult their doctor before starting Nordic walking. Since this activity involves lungs and thus breathing actively, intensive walks may cause problems for such people.
If you have recently had a heart attack or any other serious heart problem like surgery, etc, we strongly recommend you visit a doctor to figure out whether Nordic walking would be a suitable kind of activity for you at all. Perhaps, you can start doing it somewhat later when you are fully recovered. Otherwise, the doctor can choose more suitable ways of activity for you counting on the health state.
If you now have or recently had any serious leg traumas, it is better to take a break and not start any intensive physical activities until the damaged part of your body is fully recovered.

Additional info: https://www.wellandgood.com/nordic-walking/

For sure, Nordic pole walking is still somewhat new to many Western countries, but this kind of fitness activity is becoming more popular, and that is good.

Providing us with enough activity, making our muscles grow stronger, and keeping the whole body fit, this easy and affordable kind of sport will be beneficial for anyone from children to elderly people.

Nevertheless, we strongly recommend you consult the doctor if you have any doubts about whether you should start doing it regularly, or if you have any serious health issues that can be worsened by this activity.

Source:pexels.com

Top 6 Original Outdoor Vacation Activities

Published on

The summer holidays are in full swing. And if you haven’t had your summer vacation yet, then you might be looking for a few good ideas to occupy yourself with, in case you’re still planning on taking a well-deserved trip. We all need some time off from our drudging office lives and what better way to do that than to just undertake some exciting, outdoor activities that you normally don’t undertake, that will rustle your feathers, that will get you some much needed fresh air and that will take your time off of your 9 to 5 rat race for the time being.

Whether you’re going to Spain, Iceland, Morocco, India, Vietnam or Italy… at least one of these recommended activities are bound to be offered at your vacation destination of choice. So without further ado, let’s have a look at some of the best summer outdoor activities that you can’t afford to pass up.

1. Elephant Riding

If you’re a lover of animals, then riding an elephant should be right up your alley. These magnificent beasts are naturally very calm and friendly. Believe it or not, they actually enjoy hanging out with us silly humans, provided we treat them with the respect they deserve. And most people do, because do you really want to get into a fight with an elephant?

Elephants have the ability to traverse steep, gravelly terrains, which are narrow and hard to navigate. So if you’ve always wanted the thrill of a good hike, without having to do any of the work, then taking the hike on an elephant might just be the thing for you. Elephants will enjoy walking you through the untamed wilderness. Just so long as you pay’em in peanuts afterward.

This is a popular tourist activity in India.

2. Kitesurfing

Looking for something that will give you a bit more of a jolt? Kitesurfing is a fun, water and wind-based activity that you are going to love. Especially if you haven’t ever done it before. This skill can be learned with a little bit of motivation and grit. And it’ll be totally worth your time to get educated before you hop onto the board.

There’s no feeling quite like standing on a kitesurfing board and letting yourself be dragged all across the water by the wind. If you’re lucky and you’ve got the skills, you might even take off and fly a few dozen feet. The pros are doing it all the time. It’s a very liberating experience. I’m betting you can’t wait to try it out, can you?

There are many spots where you can do kitesurfing, such as Morocco.

3. Quading

If you’re more of a lover of motors, then you might want to give quading a shot. Quad bikes are kind of like motorcycles, but only with four wheels and a bad temper. You’ll be more stable on a quad than you are on a motorcycle. All in all, it’s a completely different experience. Quad bikes can go pretty fast. Low-end quads will top out at 55mph, while high-end quads might very well go to 90mph.

If your vacation destination just so happens to have large areas of land where hardly anybody ever shows up, then this would be an excellent opportunity for you to raise some hell on your quad. There’s no feeling quite like taking your 250cc quad and revving it up to its top speed of 55mph, riding down the road and watching the dust behind you as you make speed.

Iceland has some nice plains and valleys that make for an interesting environment to go quadding in.

4. Bungee Jumping

If you are looking for some danger in your life to really shake yourself awake, then the good ole’ bungee jump might be something that’s going to suit you well. We all know how it works… you get a cord around you and then dive head down into the abyss, praying to your deity of choice that he’ll leave the cord in one piece. What better way to relax on your vacation than to needlessly risk your life in a needlessly dangerous activity that most people wouldn’t even dream of touching?

There are so many places where you can get your bungee on, that I can’t possibly list them all here. One popular bungee location is the Chaulière bridge in France. This one will have you almost 600 feet high. If that doesn’t scare you into feeling alive, I don’t know what will!

5. Ziplining

Looking for the thrill of being high in the air, but without the risk of a cord coming undone and you splattering face down onto the ground hundreds of feet below you? Then ziplining is probably the right choice for you. You won’t go nearly as high or as fast as you would when doing the bungee. You’ll still be hanging on a cord, though. Except the cord won’t be as high and it won’t have to take as much of a strain as the bungee would.

Ziplining is an activity that is growing in popularity all across the world. It’s a relaxed way of discovering nature. Many ziplining tours will have many ziplines on a path that is essentially a hiking trail. Except you won’t be walking all across the trail… some bits you’ll be ‘flying’, instead.

A popular place for ziplining is the US. And if you’re not looking for a hiking vacation, then you can also go ziplining at a dude ranch called Bar Lazy J in Colorado. According to bootbomb.com, next to ziplining, dude ranches will provide many activities, not all of which are as strenuous as hiking, and most of which you’ve never even heard of. So if rest and relaxation in nature is your thing… then ziplining at a dude ranch it is!

6. Cave Excursions

If you’re one of those people that enjoys creeping him/her self out with a good horror movie, then maybe it’s about time that you go and experience something creepy in real life, such as an underground cave. Our lovely little planet harbors many caves, some of which are pretty dangerous if you don’t go in there with a guide. People have become lost in caves in the past without having to find their way back. You can die in there on your own. But not to worry, because most tourist accessible caves won’t let you in there without a guide anyway.

A cave excursion can be a lot more enticing than you’d think. The rock formations you’re going to find there is quite a marvel to behold. These structures have formed over eons. It’s incredible what nature will do over so much time. And you get to stand there and have a look at it. If you enjoy being awed by nature’s creations, then a cave is the place to be for you.

The Valporquero cave in Spain is a really good one. You’ll find it in Castile and Leon. It’s got streaming water, so you’ll certainly find some refreshment on your educative cave excursion.