Deciding what to take with you when you travel have always been one of your main challenges – and that frustration is why I eventually created my own detailed packing list for travel essentials I want to share with you.
The most important things a woman should pack when traveling are her intuition and Diva Cup
Women on the Road’s Ultimate Long-Term Travel Packing List for Women
Documents & Bags
Passport + extra photocopy of the front page of your passport
Additional photo ID (such as a driver’s license, student ID) debit and/or credit cards
Estonia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is a developed country with an advanced, high-income economy and part of the European Union and in 2011 was ranked among the fastest-growing in the EU. As a part of the Union, the country accepts the Euro. Even not so well known the country is pretty tech-savvy. Some of the most known companies started in this country are Skype, Hotmail, Transferwise, Veriff and others.
The best time to visit this Baltic country is late spring or summer when the weather is good enough to allow you to explore the cities by combining some great outdoors. Traveling to Estonia is perfect for all types of outdoor lovers.
Summers are short – from around mid-June to late August, but even then you can experience showers and chilly nights. It is recommended to pack a waterproof jacket and warm sweater alongside your T-shirts.
The first snowfalls usually can be expected around mid-November.
The reasons to visit Estonia are countless. But before you book your trip to Estonia, here a few things you may want to know:
Currency
The euro is the official currency of Estonia, which is a member of the European Union. ATMs are available throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted, but you can expect to pay with cash or pay with your phone, most of the time. Half of all point of sale transactions in Estonia were done with cash in 2016, according to the European Central Banks in comparison to the rest of the EU where on average, 75% of POS transactions were made with cash.
Technology in Estonia
Estonia is one of the top tech countries in Europe. You’ll have WiFi pretty much everywhere you go. Internet access is widely available throughout the country. Based on Estonian World Estonia is ranked 15th in world fastest internet speed. The electrical outlet is standard as the rest of Europe, so you can use your European adapter.
Language
The official language of Estonia is Estonian, a Uralic language which is related to Finnish. It is unrelated to the bordering Russian and Latvian languages, both of which are Indo-European.
Prices
Estonia is still a budget travel destination in Europe. The prices in Tallinn have increased in the past couple of years, but still affordable.
Safety
Estonia is pretty safe to travel to. Its crime rates are mostly low, but of course in bigger cities and the capital city of Tallinn, you have to be more cautious about areas to avoid pickpockets, or other types of assault.
Cuisine
The traditional cuisine of Estonia uses meat and potatoes varieties. There are a lot of soups, seafood, of course, meat. Estonian food is heavily influenced by its nearby neighbors. Many types of food are close to Russian. Kohuke is a great Estonian snack. It is a milk-curd sweet covered with chocolate.
The most typical foods in Estonia are black bread, pork, and potatoes. Estonians are proud of their beer and vodka.
Transportation
Estonia is a small country and it is, therefore, very easy to get around. The majority of the travel throughout the country is by bus. However, some of the islands require a car in order to fully explore them.
Reccomendations: Travel Insurance – Don’t forget about getting travel insurance when you are traveling since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Visas – Many countries do not need a visa in order to enter Estonia, for any stays shorter than 90 days. If it is longer than that, you might need to acquire a visa. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you plan on return. You can always check your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com
If you have your own tips on what not do, when you visit Estonia, please share them in the comment below. I would love to hear about your experience.
Want to learn more about sustainable travel? Check our other posts.
Greenland is the world’s largest island, located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Here are five things to know about this autonomous territory located between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
Facts about Greenland You Didn’t Know
It has the world’s lowest population density
With a population just over 56,000 people, Greenland has the world’s lowest population density and its capital Nuuk is one of the world’s smallest capitals. The national language, Greenlandic, is closely related to Inuit languages of the indigenous population of the Canadian and Alaskan Arctic regions, although people here also speak Danish and most have a good grasp of English.
They will be quite offended if you call them Eskimos. The proper name for an indigenous person from Greenland is Kalaallit, which actually means ‘Greenlander’ in the native Inuit language. 90 percent of its 55,000 inhabitants are Inuit, an indigenous group from Central Asia.
5000 people are Danes. Less than a 1000 people come from other countries – most of them from the Nordics, the other half from Thailand and the Philippines, Lena Lauridsen writes in Inussuk.
No Roads
Greenland is the biggest island with a land size of over 2 million square kilometers there are no roads or railway systems. All travel between towns is done by plane, boat, helicopter, snowmobile or dogsled.
Only two civilian airports have been built in the country, the largest of which is Kangerlussuaq Airport, in the south-west.
Largest national park in the world
Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallisut: Kalaallit Nunaanni nuna eqqissisimatitaq) is the largest national park in the world, with an area of 972,000 km2 (375,000 sq mi),[1] making the park larger than 163 countries. It is the only national park in Greenland, and the most northerly national park in the world, its most northerly point reaching slightly further than the most northerly point in Quttinirpaaq National Park in Canada. The park encompasses the entire northeastern coastline and interior sections of Greenland.
The Sun Never Sets
This only occurs in summer but it’s a pretty cool natural phenomenon. It’s known as the ‘midnight sun’ places north of the arctic circle do not see any darkness all summer. From late April to late August, the sun will rise and colors will change as the day goes on but the sun will still be visible in golden light even throughout the entire night. The longest day of the year, June 21, is also Greenland’s national day.
It was named one of Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Best in Travel for 2016
Perhaps a surprising entry on the Lonely Planet’s list of Best in Travel 2016, Greenland snagged one of the coveted top 10 positions. The organization attributed it to such qualities as the enchanting Northern Lights and the excitement of the upcoming Arctic Winter Games taking place in March.
This unique landscape is wonderful for visitors for here they’ll find fjords that are free of ice, with sparkling channels and relatively luscious landscapes of verdant rolling hills.
The capital and largest city in Greenland is Nuuk, with a population of approximately 17,000 people, almost one-quarter of Greenland’s population lives there. Vibrant and funky, the city is the biggest, most cosmopolitan town on the island. It’s home to the University of Greenland, an art museum, sports stadium, cultural center, the National Library of Greenland and the country’s international airport.
One of the best spots in the world to see the Northern Lights in winter
Though winters in Greenland may be long and dark, they do provide the opportunity to see the amazing Norther Lights (aka Aurora Borealis) in all its glory. From September to mid-April, you can see the lights on just about any night the sky is clear, and since there’s little light pollution here, the colors are extremely vivid.
Southern Greenland lies underneath the Aurora Borealis Oval Zone and is, along with Iceland, considered a prime spot for Northern Lights viewing.
Greenland is indeed one of the most fascinating and enigmatic destinations on earth. Alongside a formidable ancient culture that’s distinct, the Arctic wilderness here is simply out of this world.
Watch this increadible video about the Magic northern lights of Greenland from VisitGreenland!
Want to learn more about Greenland? Check our other posts.
