Those gaps have changed considerably in the smartphone era. Travellers no longer need to pack several books or rely entirely on whatever happens to be showing on the hotel television. A phone and an internet connection can provide music, films, games, reading material and countless other forms of entertainment almost anywhere. As a result, downtime has become another part of the travel experience that people can shape around their own interests.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 

Travel downtime is not necessarily wasted time

A packed itinerary can sound appealing before a holiday begins, but constantly moving from one attraction to another can quickly become exhausting. Experienced travellers often leave deliberate gaps in their schedules, especially during longer trips. A quiet hour at the hotel or an unhurried afternoon in a café can provide a welcome reset before the next activity.

Digital entertainment fits naturally into these periods because it requires little planning. Someone waiting for a delayed train might watch part of a series, while another traveller may spend half an hour reading the news or listening to a favourite podcast. The important change is choice. Travellers can decide how actively or passively they want to spend a particular moment rather than treating every period of waiting as an inconvenience.

This flexibility is particularly useful on multi-destination trips. Moving regularly between airports, stations and accommodation creates small pockets of free time that are difficult to predict in advance. Mobile entertainment can fill them without adding anything substantial to a suitcase.

A smartphone can carry an entire entertainment library

The variety available on one device is perhaps the biggest difference between travelling today and travelling a generation ago. Streaming platforms allow people to continue watching programmes from home, music services provide enormous libraries without physical media, and digital books eliminate the need to choose which novel deserves precious luggage space.

Gaming has followed the same path. Travellers can move between puzzle games, strategy titles, traditional mobile games and browser-based entertainment depending on their mood and available time. For adults who already enjoy casino games at home, regulated digital platforms can also form part of that broader entertainment mix.

For example, someone exploring online casino entertainment through MrQ can access slots, table games and live casino titles through a mobile browser rather than making the experience dependent on a desktop computer. That kind of flexibility reflects a much wider travel trend, entertainment increasingly follows the traveller instead of being tied to a particular place.

The result is not that phones need to occupy every spare minute. Quite the opposite. Having several options available makes it easier to choose entertainment that suits the moment and then put the device away when something more interesting is happening outside.

Long journeys have become easier to personalise

Long-distance travel inevitably includes periods when there is relatively little to do. Even an exciting destination can be preceded by several hours on a plane, train or coach. Travellers once depended heavily on books, magazines, and whatever entertainment a transport operator provided. Today they can prepare their own digital selection before leaving home.

Downloading content remains particularly useful because internet access is never guaranteed. A playlist prepared for a train journey, several podcast episodes or an offline film can make a lengthy transfer much more comfortable. Portable chargers have become almost as important as headphones for travellers who depend heavily on their devices.

There is also a practical reason to think ahead about connectivity. Public WiFi can be convenient, but travellers should remain careful about what they do on unfamiliar networks. The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to pay attention to online security when using public WiFi and to favour encrypted connections and websites. This becomes especially relevant while travelling, when people frequently move between airports, hotels, cafés and other shared networks.

A little preparation therefore makes digital downtime both easier and more comfortable. Downloading entertainment in advance can reduce dependence on unreliable connections while also conserving mobile data.

Podcasts suit the rhythm of travel particularly well

Podcasts have become a natural travel companion because they do not require constant visual attention. They can accompany a walk through an airport terminal, a long train ride or a quiet morning before sightseeing begins.

Travel itself can even determine what people choose to hear. Some visitors listen to history podcasts about the city they are exploring, while others download language programmes before arriving somewhere unfamiliar. Food, culture and local storytelling can add context to places that might otherwise be experienced only at surface level.

At other times, travellers simply want something familiar. A favourite comedy or interview programme can provide a comforting sense of routine when everything else around them is new. That balance between discovery and familiarity is one reason audio works so well on longer journeys.

Hotel evenings are more varied than they used to be

Not every night away needs to involve a restaurant reservation, bar or organised activity. After walking around a city all day, staying in can sometimes be the most appealing option.

Hotel entertainment once revolved largely around television. Now guests can continue watching their own programmes, call friends and family, play games, read digital magazines or organise photographs from the day. Some use the evening to research the next destination, check transport arrangements or find somewhere interesting for breakfast.

This has subtly changed what travellers expect from accommodation. Reliable internet access and convenient charging points can influence the experience almost as much as traditional room amenities. A room has become more than somewhere to sleep. For many guests, it briefly becomes a personal living space, office and entertainment hub at the same time.

The same applies to holiday rentals, hostels, and other accommodation. People arrive with their own digital ecosystem already in their pocket, so entertainment no longer needs to be supplied entirely by the property.

Sometimes the best entertainment is the destination itself

There is an obvious tension in all of this. Technology can make the quieter parts of travel more enjoyable, but travelling also provides a rare opportunity to break familiar digital habits.

An hour spent watching people in a railway station, sitting beside the sea or talking with someone in a local café may ultimately become more memorable than anything displayed on a screen. Even boredom can have value. It creates room to observe unfamiliar surroundings and process everything that has happened during a busy day.

The most satisfying approach is therefore probably not to eliminate downtime but to decide how to use it. Sometimes that means listening to music or playing a game. On another day, it might mean leaving the phone in the room and wandering outside without a plan.

The small gaps are part of the journey

Travel will always involve waiting. Flights arrive early or late, rooms are not always ready immediately, trains take time, and even the most enthusiastic traveller eventually needs to sit down.

What has changed is the amount of control people have over those moments. Entertainment that once required separate devices, physical books or advance planning can now travel inside a pocket. Films, podcasts, games, news, music and reading can all appear when they are wanted and disappear when the journey becomes interesting again.

That does not make digital entertainment the purpose of travelling. Its value lies in something simpler, making the unavoidable pauses between experiences more comfortable. A journey is made up of more than landmarks and restaurant tables. The airport lounge, the train seat and the quiet hotel evening are part of it too, and travellers now have more freedom than ever to decide what those moments should feel like.

The post Beyond movies & podcasts: How travellers fill the quiet hours between destinations appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Why your next trip probably needs an eSIM

International travel in 2026 isn’t what it used to be. Boarding passes live on your phone. Ride-hailing apps replace the airport taxi stand. Translation tools, currency converters, offline maps, “where’s the pharmacy open on Sunday” — all of it runs on mobile data. Losing connectivity when you land isn’t an inconvenience anymore. It’s a problem.

The old workarounds all have cracks. International roaming plans from your home carrier still quietly charge €5–15 per day, sometimes per country. Airport SIM kiosks mean queueing, showing ID, and swapping out your physical SIM card — which means losing your home number for the week. And free airport Wi-Fi? Fine for 20 minutes. Useless the moment you’re in a taxi.

eSIM technology fixes most of this. No physical SIM tray swap, no store visit, no losing your local phone number. You scan a QR code, the eSIM installs on your device, and you’re online before you collect your bags.

How Roambit actually works

Roambit is a travel eSIM provider that covers 200+ destinations worldwide. You pick your country or region, choose a data plan, pay, and scan the QR code that lands in your inbox. Activation usually takes under two minutes. Because it’s embedded digitally, your original SIM stays active — so calls and texts to your regular number still come through while Roambit handles your data.

Plans come in fixed sizes (no guessing games, no auto-renewals), and pricing is flat. What you see at checkout is what you pay at the end of the trip. If you want a discount, the team often runs promo codes through their partner blogs — worth a quick search before you buy.

Coverage that actually matches how people travel

Roambit splits its catalogue three ways:

• Single-country eSIMs for 200+ destinations — Japan, USA, Turkey, UAE, Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, and dozens more.
• Europe regional eSIM covering 36 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Northern Cyprus, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, and Vatican City.
• Balkans regional eSIM covering Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia — rare as a standalone plan, and genuinely useful if you’re road-tripping the region.

That Balkan split is one of the things I like most. A lot of eSIM companies bolt Albania or Montenegro onto a Europe-wide plan with patchy local networks. Roambit runs separate regional packages so it can partner with the strongest carriers in each zone.

Where it quietly beats the competition

I’ve used Airalo, Holafly, and Saily on previous trips, and they all do the basics well. Where Roambit pulls ahead, in my experience:

• Pricing transparency. Fixed data plans, no hidden fees, no nasty add-ons.
• Activation speed. I’ve had the QR code emailed and working before the plane’s wheels were up.
• Real human support. If something goes sideways at 11 PM local time in Southeast Asia or South America, there’s an actual person replying, not a chatbot loop.
• Coverage depth. 200+ destinations with regional plans that respect how people actually travel.
• True unlimited data. Roambit offers real unlimited data without throttling, ensuring the best speed connectivity throughout your trip.

The bottom line

If you’re flying internationally in 2026 and you’re still fighting with roaming charges or airport SIM queues, you’re making life harder than it needs to be. A reliable eSIM costs less than a decent airport meal, installs in two minutes, and quietly solves the whole connectivity problem for the entire trip.

Roambit eSIM isn’t the only travel eSIM out there — but after a year of testing alternatives, it’s the one that keeps ending up on my phone.

The post Best eSIM for international travel in 2026 – How Roambit keeps you connected across 190+ destinations appeared first on Paths to Travel.

The first few minutes after landing can shape your entire trip. You turn off aeroplane mode, expect instant access to maps and messages, and hope everything works without delay. Travel has become tightly connected to mobile access, and even short interruptions can feel frustrating. Reliable data now plays a quiet but critical role in how smoothly a journey begins.

Digital connectivity has shifted in response to those expectations. Many travellers choose an eSIM for travel because it can be installed before departure and then activates automatically once the device connects to a supported network after landing. That timing keeps things practical and efficient. The sections below explain how this approach simplifies modern travel in everyday, useful ways.

No physical SIM swaps

Traditional SIM cards require removal, storage, and replacement. Tiny plastic pieces are easy to misplace during hectic airport transitions. Digital SIM profiles remove that concern entirely.

With an eSIM for travel, installation happens through a QR code or app before departure. There is no need to handle physical components after landing. Once the plane arrives and your device connects locally, activation begins automatically. This streamlined process reduces stress during your first moments in a new country.

Activation upon arrival

One of the strongest convenience benefits lies in timing. Digital travel plans do not activate mid-flight or before departure. They activate only when the phone connects to a supported network after landing.

This arrival-based activation ensures that your plan duration begins when you actually need it. You avoid wasting active days during transit. The result is better value and predictable timing for short vacations and extended trips alike.

Faster airport transitions

After a long flight, most travellers prefer to move quickly through customs and toward transportation. Searching for SIM vendors or waiting in service lines slows that process.

Digital installation allows preparation in advance. When you disable aeroplane mode after landing, the device connects without additional steps. That smooth transition supports quicker navigation, ride bookings, and communication with hosts or colleagues. Convenience at arrival sets the tone for the rest of the trip.

Flexible plan management

Travel plans change frequently. Extended stays, last-minute meetings, or spontaneous weekend trips require adaptable connectivity. Digital profiles make adjustments simple.

Travellers can review available data plans and choose options that match their schedule. Activation still occurs only upon arrival in the supported region. This flexibility provides control without the need to visit local stores or replace hardware during the journey.

Support for multiple profiles

Modern smartphones usually allow multiple digital SIM profiles at once. This capability supports separation between home and travel numbers. Users can keep their primary line active for calls while assigning mobile data to the travel profile.

Dual profile convenience

Switching between profiles happens in device settings without removing anything physically. This flexibility helps business travellers maintain access to work contacts while using local data abroad.

Clear data selection

Selecting the correct profile for mobile data ensures proper activation after landing. Simple configuration keeps connectivity organised and predictable.

Improved security and privacy

Physical SIM purchases in unfamiliar locations sometimes require sharing passport details at kiosks. Digital setup reduces that exposure. Installation occurs before travel through secure online processes.

Once you land and activation begins through local network detection, the connection remains within supported partner networks. Avoiding public WiFi for sensitive tasks enhances privacy. Digital connectivity helps protect personal and financial information while abroad.

Reduced risk of loss or damage

Small SIM cards can fall out, bend, or become misplaced during storage. Travellers sometimes lose their home SIM while switching cards overseas. Digital profiles eliminate that risk.

Since there is no physical component to remove, your primary number remains safe. You maintain access to both home and travel connectivity settings in one device. Reduced handling means fewer opportunities for accidental damage.

Digital SIM technology aligns well with modern travel needs and expectations. Many travellers now use an eSIM for travel because installation happens before departure, while activation begins after landing. This setup supports smoother arrivals, flexible data use, and better security. With proper preparation, travellers can stay connected and organised throughout the journey.

The post The convenience benefits of eSIMs for modern travelers appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Some coastlines reveal their best details only at water level. Calm bays, tidal lagoons, and small island channels often sit beyond viewpoints and roadside pullouts. A compact kayak that travels in a bag can turn a familiar destination into a new map, with landings that lead straight into quiet harbours, pocket beaches, and coastal trails.

Packable designs work best when travel days mix short paddles with hikes, campsites, and waterfront neighbourhoods. When comparing options, focus on setup time, tracking, comfort, and construction quality—because those details decide how the trip feels more than any marketing label. Many travellers begin by exploring the inflatable kayak category, since it packs small while still handling protected coastal water.

Coastlines that reward a small, portable boat

Canada offers strong examples because many coastal parks already combine trails with sheltered water. In New Brunswick, the massive tide range creates narrow launch windows, so routes often hinge on tide tables and timing. The Bay of Fundy region planning guide is a useful starting point for understanding how scenery, access, and daily logistics shift with the water level.

On the Pacific side, island chains can provide wind shadows that suit calmer paddling days. In the Southern Gulf Islands, short crossings link coves and small harbours, while forest trails add variety on land. For the destination context, the Southern Gulf Islands overview highlights how paddling and hiking naturally blend.

Wherever you travel, treat “sheltered” as a local question: regulations, nesting zones, and typical wind patterns can matter as much as distance on a map.

Turning gear tests into trip-ready decisions

Weight, packed size, and transport reality

Touring-oriented packable boats commonly weigh about 11–18 kg; lighter recreational models may sit closer to 9–12 kg. Packed bags often fall near 60 × 40 × 25 cm, but seats, fins, and pump choice can shift the real footprint. If flying, expect checked baggage and weigh the full kit at home (boat, paddle, pump, PFD, and repair items) to avoid surprises.

Setup, pack-down, and build quality

With a capable pump and a practised sequence, setup often lands in the 8–15 minute range. Pack-down usually takes longer because drying and sand removal are slow, but important—trapped moisture shortens material life and creates odor. Look for multiple air chambers for redundancy, tidy seams, dependable valves, and abrasion protection where the hull meets shore.

On-water feel: tracking, comfort, pace

Short wide hulls tend to wander, while longer shapes and a solid fin or skeg track straighter. For relaxed coastal travel, 3–5 km/h is realistic on calm water; pushing faster can drain energy quickly, especially into wind. Prioritise a supportive seat, usable foot bracing, and enough paddle clearance to avoid knuckle hits—small comfort issues compound over hours.

Bring a packable kayak or rent locally?

Bringing your own boat can make sense when rental fleets are far from your route, inconsistent, or limited to tourist centres. Familiar handling also helps keep day one conservative. Renting often wins when transfers are complex, baggage limits are tight, or the trip is too short to justify drying and packing logistics. A quick comparison of time, cost, and reliability usually makes the choice obvious.

Route planning that links water, trails, and towns

Time math for realistic day stages

Plan with conservative numbers: a baseline of about 4 km/h on calm water, then add time for landings, snacks, photos, and navigation around traffic lanes. A 12 km paddle can still take most of a morning once you include setup and pack-down. Set a turnaround time early, especially if afternoon wind is common.

Multi-day loops with simple resupply

Multi-day trips work best when campsites, water sources, and exit points are clear on the map. Island chains can support short hops with a land day for hiking to rest shoulders. Waterfront towns often provide resupply and cultural stops that keep a trip grounded. For an urban example, this Toronto waterfront activity guide shows how paddling can sit alongside museums, markets, and neighbourhood walks.

Safety practices that keep coastal paddling calm

Flotation, rules, and basic readiness

A properly fitted PFD is the most important safety item, because cold water and wind can overwhelm even strong swimmers. Regulations vary by region, so local rules should guide what must be carried and what must be worn. For general context, the United States Coast Guard boating safety program explains why wearable flotation matters.

Conditions: weather, tides, wildlife, contingencies

Coastal conditions can change quickly near headlands and channel mouths. Check forecasts and tides before travel days, and—when possible—plan around slack water. Tools like NOAA Tide Predictions show how water levels shift at specific stations. Give wildlife space, avoid sensitive nesting beaches, and carry a plan for capsize, warming up, and communication beyond cell coverage. A small repair kit (patches, adhesive, a valve tool that matches your boat, and spare caps or seals if your model uses them) can turn a puncture into a manageable delay.

Sustainability and durability on the coast

Longevity is often the most practical form of sustainability. Rinse salt and sand, protect the hull from long sun exposure, and avoid dragging over barnacles or sharp rock shelves. In colder regions, dress for immersion and choose routes with frequent sheltered landing options. When selecting gear, favour repairable designs with accessible spare parts and common valve standards. On shore, follow low-impact habits; the National Park Service summary of Leave No Trace principles offers a simple standard for campsites, waste, and wildlife respect.

Packing, setup flow, and common mistakes

A compact checklist for travel days

Keep the kit simple: pump, four-piece paddle, PFD, dry bag for phone/documents, a small towel or sponge, sun protection, warm layer, and headlamp. Add a repair kit with patches, adhesive, and the right valve tool for your boat.

A repeatable sequence from arrival to launch

Choose a clean setup spot away from sharp shells and gravel. Inflate in a consistent order, recheck pressure after a few minutes, then load gear low and centred to reduce wind-catching. Before pushing off, confirm wind direction, identify bail-out landings, and agree on turnaround times.

Errors that reduce comfort and safety

Common pitfalls include overestimating speed, planning with no buffer, and trimming the boat poorly by loading too much weight at one end. Skipping fin setup makes control feel sloppy, especially in crosswinds. Finally, the “just a bit farther” mindset late in the day often collides with rising afternoon wind—turning around early keeps the return calm.

The post Unlocking hidden coastlines with lightweight packable kayaks appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Founded in 2021, Mede eSIM is a digital SIM service that makes staying connected on international trips easy and affordable — without physical SIM cards or costly roaming fees. It provides data-only eSIM plans in 170+ countries worldwide, making it a versatile choice for tourists, digital nomads, and frequent flyers alike.

Why choose Mede eSIM?

Instant activation: Getting connected is designed to be quick and hassle-free. It only takes you one minute to set it up in five steps. This means once you arrive, it’s often as simple as enabling mobile data on your phone — just a few steps and you’re online. Prepare for your trip ahead of time:

1. Visit mede.cc and create your account.
2. Choose your destination and data plan.
3. Pay using a credit card, PayPal, or Alipay.
4. Scan the QR code you receive.
5. Install the eSIM on a compatible phone and activate it when you land.

Wide global coverage: Works across major destinations including the US, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Whenever you go to, you can find the data plans that you need at Mede eSIM.

Competatively effordable data plans: Mede eSIM offers competitively priced data packages, often cheaper than local SIM cards or carrier roaming. Mede eSIM packages range in data volume and duration to best suit your individual needs, for example:

• China Mainland — 1GB / 7 days ~ $3.18
• New Zealand — 3GB / 15 days ~ $7.30
• South Korea — 10GB / 15 days ~ $10.68
• United States — 20GB / 90 days ~ $21.16

They are budget-friendly options for short trips or longer stays — often costing just a few dollars for usable data abroad.

Flexible Options: Choose regional or global plans based on your travel needs.

Easy to Use: The app and web platform guide you from purchase through installation. You can install the eSIM using QR code or in-app activation, which many users report as taking just 1–3 minutes when done right. Manage data plans and top up or switch packages directly in the app if your needs change.

Who Is Mede eSIM Best For?

Mede eSIM is ideal for:

• International travellers and tourists.
• Digital nomads and remote workers.
• Business travellers needing reliable data abroad.
• Anyone looking to avoid airport SIM queues and roaming charges.

If you want an easy, affordable, and global data solution without physical SIMs or roaming dramas, Mede eSIM delivers. With clear pricing, quick setup, and broad coverage, it’s a practical choice for travellers and digital workers alike — especially those who value simplicity and cost savings.

Activate Mede eSIM today to enjoy seamless connectivity abroad and save on mobile data the smart way.

New user offer

New users can enjoy 30% off all data plans on Mede eSIM with the link. No need to enter codes manually – simply sign up via this link and the discount is applied automatically.

The post Mede eSIM review: Save on global mobile data for travel appeared first on Paths to Travel.

In the blogger world, passive income is a hot topic, and for those who manage to figure it out, it can become a steady stream of cash flow. One of the biggest sources of passive income is affiliate marketing. In the simplest terms, affiliate marketing is how bloggers earn commission on bookings and purchases made through their site (at no cost to the reader).

The … well, let’s call it a classic affiliate marketing model, requires you to create a custom link for each hotel property you are looking to earn commission on. Some affiliate networks make it easier to create custom links with browser plugins, while others build WordPress widgets. Once linked, that post, or rather that property link, can earn referral income hands-off, finally making that passive income actually passive. But sometimes those links break, or vendors move between affiliate agencies, making all of your links suddenly invalid. And suddenly, all of those tedious hands-on tasks boomerang back. Now you need to find all of the broken links before Google figures out you have them and punishes you with some weird … shadowban.

Already being a member of a few affiliate networks, I was hesitant to try Stay22, but enough people I trust brought it up independently that one day I pulled the plug (or I suppose plugged in?) and set up my account in roughly 7 minutes before running out to dinner. When I came back to my desk the next morning, I saw dollars on my dashboard. So here we are now, let’s get into it.

How is Stay22 different?

Stay22 is headquartered in Montréal, but the platform is available globally and open to everyone; there is no minimum traffic requirement. 

Getting started with Stay22 is easy. After registering your site, you simply drop in a piece of code in your site header, make sure it’s connected, and your work here is done. All hotel links for Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, VRBO, TripAdvisor, Trivago, and Kayak (aka suppliers) are automatically converted by the script and are eligible for earnings.

The possibility of these earnings is then amplified with ‘Let Me Allez’ (LMA), Stay22’s AI solution for the future of affiliate marketing.

Note: Take advantage of my referral code, KATERYNATOPOL, to earn an extra $100 once you reach 100 confirmed bookings. 

Key features of Let Me Allez:

1. Once the reader clicks on your LMA link, they are not only shown the connected property but also other personalised options, which increases conversions by an average of 10.6%.
2. Let Me Allez’s AI booking agent, lovingly named Nova, offers those travellers who illustrate clear intent in a destination a collection of best-match properties before they leave. Stay22’s team saw an increase in bookings by up to 50% with this feature.
3. The platform automatically determines the reader’s geolocation and converts all of those .ca links to .com or .co.uk and so on, so you don’t miss out on commissions (Optimized Redirect). The same goes for the language and currency the site visitor sees. This is a small but essential piece because with many travel affiliate networks, you have to create separate links per geography. 
4. LMA also fixes the supplier’s broken links and 404 pages (more on that here). For example, if an Expedia link you originally added goes poof! LMA will automatically repair it. If the page no longer exists, LMA will redirect the user to the search results page for similar accommodations in the same location.
5. You can also manually create LMA links or even QR codes and add them to your secondary channels, like newsletters and social posts. 

Booking analytics & Why they matter  

Your Stay22 dashboard offers a ton of data. From page loads to views, number of clicks and interactions to actual bookings data. This is a snapshot of your overall performance. You can see which site the booking was made on, what its status is (confirmed or pending), and even how many nights the booking was for. 

The even more valuable piece of data is which blog post the booking was made on and in which location. You can customise what data you see, export it and filter it to gather specific booking information (ie. sort by date or location) to spot trends. The Page Analytics tab learns over time, making it easier to see what posts have the highest conversion rate. Now you can tailor your recommendations by location and booking platform to optimise your earnings.

Write about events? Use Maps

Maps is actually where it all started for Stay22. This feature learns from your visitors’ activities and offers them live accommodation recommendations based on specific dates. This feature is, of course, best suited for event-specific articles, like music festivals or carnivals. Stay22 interactive booking map offers live, visual price comparisons in 220+ countries.

On getting paid

The split commission rate is 30%, which is comparatively high. Your commission is ready for payout 7 days after the guest checks out from the property. Stay22 will load your payment in before they get paid from the supplier, and you can request a monthly payout once the minimum threshold amount is met. The minimum payout for PayPal, ACH or e-check is US$100.00, higher for wire transfers. Thereafter, it takes 30 days for your payment to come through, which, believe it or not, is actually not bad at all.

And a quick note on support

Stay22 support is handled through an Intercom chat bubble on the platform and is manned by real people, not bots. They might not get back to you right away, but they will, in my experience, within a few hours. 

* * *

It is worth noting that Stay22’s team learned quickly that what they wanted to do was build tools to support the travel blogging community. And as such, they make their presence known at travel conferences (ie. WITS, TBEX, TMAC, TravelCon), local travel events, and educational webinars.

The post Making passive income with Stay22: What is it and how it works appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Let’s be honest, we are all quite reliant on our phones to stay connected, to find directions, or to just doom scroll in bed out of habit. Using your domestic provider data while travelling is typically the most expensive option, so the alternatives are to either find a local SIM card package or get an eSIM. 

Getting a local SIM can be as easy as walking into a cell phone shop at the airport and popping in a new card (Mexico City airport). More often than not, however, it is a quest around town or to the neighbouring resort/mall, and at this point, you may have already had to turn on your data, which, if you are Canadian, immediately costs you at least $14. I’ve been using eSIMs for over a year now and have found them reliable and safe to use.  Admittedly, occasionally they can be more expensive than a physical local SIM card, but the hustle of finding one is a major deterrent for me, especially with multiple country stops.

This post is about a specific eSIM provider, GigSky, but first, let’s cover some common eSIM-related questions. If you are already familiar with how eSIMs work, just scroll past these FAQs. 

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.

GigSky giveaway!

* CLOSED * First thing first, I have a $100 GigSky credit to give away, and it can be yours! Head over to this Instagram post to participate.

Get 10% off with code: PATHSTOTRAVEL10

eSIM FAQ: What’s an eSIM & How does it work

What’s an ESIM

eSIM is a shorthand for embedded SIM. Instead of having to swap out a physical SIM, eSIM gets installed next to your regular SIM digitally, so in simple terms, it’s a digital SIM card. You can even add it to your tablet if that’s where you want your data to live. Using an eSIM offers you data only, typically this data is sourced from a local provider (Orange, T-Mobile, etc). Since it is a data-only card, you do not get a phone number, and you cannot make or receive calls unless, of course, it is a WhatsApp or FaceTime. 

How does it work

eSIM can be installed in two ways: using a QR code or using an app. I found the QR code method a bit tedious since the code needs to be visible on something other than the phone you are installing the eSIM on. Additionally, with a QR code without the App, you don’t get visibility into the status of your data. With an app, you can purchase, top up, and keep track of your usage so you can know if you are running out and will not be just cut off. You do not need a contract to use an eSIM, you simply purchase the data package and top it up as needed. 

Where is the eSIM on my phone

Once your first eSIM is installed, you can turn off your primary SIM with a toggle and turn on the eSIM. This makes sure you do not get charged for roaming usage from your local provider (Rogers, Bell, etc) because that SIM is now completely inactive. On your phone, the eSIM lives in the “Cellular” settings section (iPhone), here’s a screenshot of mine. The one “On” is my Canadian physical SIM. The ones “Off” are the travel eSIMs that I can top up when I return to that location. The “no sim” lines are the eSIMs I removed.

Can I make calls

Not in the traditional sense, but you can make calls using WhatsApp and FaceTime, which I found is perfectly enough, unless of course you need to be on a call or waiting to receive some banking verification code. 

What happens to my phone number

Nothing. It is there, taking a nap behind the scenes, receiving text messages that will flood your phone once you turn your primary SIM card on upon returning home. All of your apps and settings remain intact and you can use iMessage (iPhone) and WhatsApp to stay in touch with your friends and family. In many places around the world, WhatsApp is actually the preferred mode of communication and can even be used to make restaurant reservations. 

About GigSky eSIM

GigSky is a company from Palo Alto, California. When the eSIM was first released, GigSky launched as an Apple partner in 2018. Today, they provide eSIM services on land, cruise ships, and in-flight. The company is also the largest provider of connectivity services to the Airline industry, servicing staff, passengers, and core parts of the plane. Recently, GigSky launched a global partnership with Visa so if you have a US Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, a GigSky data plan is available to you. It is a safe, legitimate business, and a reliable eSIM provider. 

How does GigSky work

Same as any other eSIM plan (described above) GigSky eSIM can be installed using a QR code or through the app (recommended). With GigSky you can have two operators active at the same time, for example, their eSIM and your regular physical card, if you need the calls for example. The plan can be purchased in the app or on gigsky.com. In a nutshell, the steps are:

1. Choose your destination and package
2. Install your eSIM
3. Activate the eSIM on arrival
4. And you are connected!

GigSky connectivity & Service locations

Connectivity is the major differentiator for GigSky. The majority of eSIM companies basically resell network services from local providers (re-route you to it so to say), GigSky, however, is an actual network provider. The company partners with about 400 cellular network providers around the world to have direct access to the servers. So if one network goes down, they will automatically re-connect you to the next, best available service. 

The coolest bit is that you only need one GigSky eSIM for all of the countries you plan to visit, so your cellular settings are not riddled with lines like mine. 

Where can you use GigSky

Currently, GigSky offers connection services in 190 different countries and offshore throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. It is also available at sea on over 190 different cruise ships. Trust me when I say that getting connected on a cruise ship is challenging and expensive so if I ever do get on another boat, this is my plan. Data plans are also available for over 20 different airlines, more about in-flight connectivity here. What all this really means is that even if you are island-hopping, you can still stay connected.

The GigSky plan range

Plans are offered by country, region, and location (cruise, offshore, in-flight). GigSky also offers a trial package, 100 MB for free without a credit card, to test drive the data and the app. 

Overall, the packages are competitively priced and in some instances could be a bit more expensive than other brands (ie. AirAlo) but for some destinations are also more affordable. You can get country-specific packages (ie. India), regional (ie. Asia Pacific), or combo (ie. Cruise+Asia Pacific). The choices you need to make, of course is how much data and for how many days. However, if you run out of data on the trip, you can simply top it up within the app.  

The best value, in my opinion, is the unlimited regional packages, for example, the Unlimited European country of your choice or Europe as a whole is $27.99/7 days or $44.99/15 days!

Purchase your plan on gigsky.com.

A few eSIM usage tips

• Turn off your domestic SIM and roaming as soon as you take off to avoid accidental charges
• Upon landing, connect to the airport WiFi, find a strong connection spot, and stay there until your eSIM is activated 
• Check the connection by turning off the WiFi
• You might need to make sure roaming is turned “On” for your new eSIM
• In “Cellular” settings, scroll down and turn off roaming for any apps you know you won’t need so they are not using data in the background

The post Staying connected with GigSky eSIM & How you can get some free data appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Do you always purchase travel insurance? When I first started travelling in my 20s, it certainly wasn’t something I thought about deeply. But as time went on insuring my health and belongings became a more prominent thought. I will admit that for some odd reason, I used to only purchase travel insurance when travelling outside of Canada, but watching a travel companion’s suitcase disappear in transit to the airport made me reconsider my choices. These days, all my travel, international or domestic, is insured. There are many insurance companies out there that you can find with a quick search, offering a wide range of pricing. Today, however, I’d like to talk about budget travel insurance with battleface, a company that focuses on travel insurance exclusively.

Quick company background

battleface is a new travel insurance product for the Canadian market created in collaboration with Hunter McCorquodale and underwritten by Northbridge General Insurance Corporation. The policy can be purchased before or during the trip and allows you to build a comprehensive yet affordable package for a single domestic or international trip. 

According to the company’s CEO, Sasha Gainullin, battleface is “designed specifically with the modern traveller in mind, providing affordable and accessible protection”. Needless to say, my interest was piqued. 

What your insurance includes

There are quite a few unique inclusions in the battleface package that you might not be able to find with other insurers, including typically uninsured areas and sports activities. But let’s dive into the details. The entire purchasing process took me 5 minutes, and all documents were available immediately.

Please note: Pricing is based on age, destination, and duration of the trip with per-day pricing. Therefore, the amounts might differ per individual based on their unique needs. My total package was  $22.52 CA for a 7-day trip to the Dominican Republic and did not include sports coverage. 

Insurance inclusions:

• Trip cancellation (up to $20,000) and interruption (up to $1,000).
• Medical and emergency expenses ($5,000,000) and hospital benefits.
• Personal accident ($50,000).
• Personal liability (up to $500,000)
• Baggage ($2,000) plus personal money and passport ($500).
• COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine cover for all travellers up to 75 years old.
• Winter ski add-on for cold-winter activities, including skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding, and many others. This add-on also ensures your equipment to minimise trip interruptions in the event of baggage delay.
• Out-of-province coverage for medical expenses that may not be covered while travelling domestically.
• Coverage for areas deemed “Avoid non-essential travel” and “Avoid all travel”.      
• Maximum trip length 365 days – this is a really cool one because many insurers won’t cover the past two weeks.
• A 10% discount is offered if the coverage is for more than one traveller

I would be curious to know what the most important travel insurance inclusions are for you. But in the meantime, stay safe and enjoy your explorations :)!

For more information or to purchase a policy, visit battleface.com/en-ca.

The post Let’s talk budget travel insurance with battleface appeared first on Paths to Travel.