A big Thank You to Jentry Nielsen for submitting this guest blog to Kemwel! To find out how Jentry keeps in shape while globetrotting, read on!

With summer quickly approaching, many of us are going to start planning those summer vacations. It takes a lot of hard work to get swimsuit ready, so don’t let the prime time when you want to show off your body stop you from fitting in your workouts.

Many beach areas are prime locations to get workouts in. While vacations should be relaxing and fun, you don’t have to fall off your workout regimen.

Here are some tips to make sure you are sticking with your routine, even while traveling.

If possible, book a hotel with a gym- Many hotels now have gyms located on the premises for your convenience. Check online or call ahead to make sure the hotel you want to book has a fitness center with the equipment you are looking for. Many properties might only have the minimum, like one treadmill, but if you have weaker knees and prefer elliptical trainers, you may use this as an excuse to not workout while you are there.

Go swimming- Almost any hotel you run into is going to have a pool of some sort. If not, go swimming out in the ocean. Swimming is one of the best forms of cardio exercise one can get. Get out there and take a few laps for a good workout. If you are worried about others getting in your way, head out early in the morning before all the little ones arrive.

Play in the waves – Not only is swimming in the ocean great exercise, playing is a great workout as well. Who doesn’t love jumping up and down over the waves? This is a great form of plyometric exercise, which is proven to increase cardio burn.

Running or walking along the beach – Moving through the sand is a great workout. When you are running/walking on an uneven surface, it forces your body to work harder to stabilize itself, thus in turn, burning more calories.

Playing sand volleyball – This incorporates that uneven running surface and forces you to move around after the ball. Plus it’s fun being out in the sun, getting your tan on, and enjoying time with your friends.

Surfing – This is an excellent total body strength workout. You are using so many leg and core muscles to not only get your body up, but to keep yourself stabilized on the board.

Bike Ride- Many places along the beach let you rent bikes to ride along the coast. Bike riding maintains balance by using the core of muscles and the abdominal area, making for a great workout. This will also get you out to see more of the sights the town has to offer.

Workout on the beach – There is really no sense in hiding it. Stand on the beach and do your workout routine right there in the sunlight. You’ll get a great tan and have the added weight of the sand to increase your calorie burning even more.

Here are a few workouts you can do right on the beach with little to no equipment:

Stretch and start with a 5-10 minute warm-up jog on the beach

Two minutes of sit-ups
Two minutes of push-ups
Two minutes of jogging in place
Two minutes of knee highs
Two minutes of jumping rope
Two minutes of shadow boxing
Two minutes of jumping jacks
(Two minute rest and repeat once)

Finish off with a 5-10 minute cool down of light jogging and some stretching!

Or try this full body workout: This one does involve light weights; you can fill liter water bottles with sand instead.

Stretch and start with a 5-10 minute warm-up jog on the beach
repeat these 4 moves 3 times- resting 60 seconds between each set

Squat with a Dumbbell Upright Row (15 Reps)
Plank with Reverse Row (10 Reps)
Reverse Wood-Chop (16 Reps)
Burpees (10 Reps)

Finish off with a 5-10 minute cool down of light jogging and some stretching!

Working out on vacation can be fun. Involve those you are traveling with to make sure you don’t lose out on time with them as well. Don’t let your vacation time ruin all the hard work you’ve achieved thus far, causing you to pack on those long lost pounds.

If this guy can fit in exercising all over the world, you can fit in a little workout on the beach!

Author Bio: Jentry Nielsen is a college student, along with being a fitness and health nut who loves to travel. If you like this post, check her out on her blog at Such Good Exercise, Twitter, and Google+.

This coming Sunday, April 22, is international Earth Day. Some may argue that travel isn’t the greenest thing you can do on Earth Day, but then again, business and family may be calling us and we don’t have a choice. Here are some easy ways to green up your travel plans this weekend!

Packing and Flying

The heavier the load a plane carries, the more nasty emissions it lets off into the environment. What do you need all that stuff for anyway? By traveling light, not only are you adding less weight onto the plane, you are also saving yourself loads of money. It is getting more and more expensive to check bags these days, so just pack the essentials!

Choosing a Rental Car

When you book a cheap car rental from Kemwel, you can choose from our massive selection of fuel efficient vehicles anywhere in the world! From mini to economy class, and even luxury and beyond, Kemwel offers a large fleet featuring vehicles with some of the world’s best environmental, mileage, and safety ratings. Check out our offerings in Italy, France, the United Kingdom and beyond.

Book a Green Hotel

When you make a hotel booking with Excellent Hotels, you will have a wide variety of eco-friendly properties to choose from. Try the Melia in Barcelona, a certified Biosphere hotel offering up luxe amenities. Or maybe Amsterdam is more your speed. The Conservatorium Hotel is a one of a kind, Green Globe Certified, high-end property. No matter where you are traveling, take the time to research the location and you are certain to find hotels offering organic linens, locally grown and prepared cuisine, energy efficient accommodations, and a commitment to Mother Earth.

At the Hotel

Okay, so you have booked your hotel room at a green property, but that is just a start. There are so many things you can do to make your stay even more eco-friendly! For example, ask housekeeping to make your bed with the same sheets you are already using instead of putting on fresh ones every day. Hotels generate a ton of laundry, which uses up electricity and water. Do the same thing with your towels. You use them more than once at home, don’t you? And speaking of towels, keep your showers short! Also, be sure to unplug your in-room coffee pot after your morning brew and turn off the lights and television when you leave the room.

Buy Local

Does the location you are visiting have a local market? Chances are it does. Instead of browsing through endless aisles of overpriced groceries at some big chain, support the community you are visiting by purchasing your baked goods, produce, and souvenirs at the farmer’s market. A lot of cities also host arts and crafts bazaars where you can find all manners of goods.

Give Back

Want to do some good during your vacation time? Voluntourism is on the rise, and with programs like WWOOF leading the way, it’s easier than ever to find opportunities around the globe. Not only will you get your hands dirty on organic farms, help conserve rainforests and wetlands, and help build homes for those in need, you will also be able to see the world. A volunteer program is a vacation you can feel good about!

If you are looking for Earth Day events and celebrations while you are away, take a peek at the Earth Day Network’s International site.

Street shopping in Rome is one of the greatest thrills of the Eternal City. There is nothing quite like finding the bargain of your dreams nestled amongst the dusty treasures of a foreign flea market. La Soffitta Sotto i Portici is one of Rome’s famous flea markets that is held two Sundays a month in Piazza Augusto Imperatore. You can find antiques, newer items, and smaller collectibles that make perfect gifts to bring back home. Look out for fakes though; this is probably not the best place to buy a Rolex.

Gifts and antiques are not the only thing you can buy on the streets of Rome. In the morning, Campo Di Fiori in the heart of Rome has an open air market, where you can buy produce and flowers. If your accommodations have a kitchen or you are going on a picnic this is great place to pick up supplies. Most restaurants in Rome get their ingredients at this market and ones like it, so that their menus are always changing and adapting with the seasons and what is fresh from the farmer’s field.

Kemwel offers cheap car rental in Rome so contact us today!

Spring is here and it’s time to start gearing up for those summer vacations abroad. I am a compulsive planner, so this process is half the fun for me. I like to map out exactly what I want to do and see, even though I generally end up throwing half of it out the window. You have to be flexible when you travel, and not be too invested in plans, or you’ll end up being disappointed. The first step of my research process is a basic internet search to determine the most notable sites. From there, I narrow down my list by weeding out the most costly and most time consuming unless they are the crème de la crème. For some, waiting in line for attractions like Madame Tussauds is worth it. For me, not so much. You have to set your own priorities.

Next, I dig a little deeper. What do locals like to do in town? And what are the hidden gems? It can be hard to find these tidbits, but with a little bit of searching you will be amazed with what you can come up with. There are many online communities where people are more than willing to share their firsthand experiences as well as user generated review sites that can give you ideas.

After your research is done it’s time to compile and organize it in a manner that will be convenient for you to access when you’re on the road. For me that is electronically, but for others it may be a notepad or day keeper. I like to have my destinations plotted out on Google Maps with details and links to pertinent web sites. You can even customize your icons for each location to make it easily recognizable!

So get to planning and contact Kemwel for your cheap car rental needs!

 

The literary pub tour in Edinburgh, Scotland is more than just your average walking tour; it’s an institution of the city’s tourism industry. The guides are actors that play the roles of two characters at odds over the merit of the Scottish literati. The tour whisks you along through the streets of Edinburgh and into the haunts of the authors and poets of Scotland. You can take a stroll through the corridors of the Scottish psyche and see how their own self perception is intertwined with their values and the importance they place on the written word.

The tour has been praised by the Scottish press as well as travel gurus such as Rick Steves. The tour lasts about two hours and you will most likely discover pubs that you will revisit throughout your stay in Edinburgh. Even if you aren’t a fan of Scottish lit, the tour is a good time and you may discover something you like. Fans of contemporary Scottish author Irvine Welsh will definitely enjoy the tour as it will show you the roots of his roguish humor.

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the seventh most populated in the UK. It has been lauded as the cultural capital of the north and is a must on any UK tour. Music is another highlight of Scotland. The literary tour visits pubs like the Sandy Bells featured below:

Kemwel offers cheap car rental in Edinburgh, so contact us today.

I have always had mixed feelings about London. I consider myself a city boy, but sometimes the crushing throngs of the uber metropolis can be overwhelming. For me the key is having a good home base. Somewhere I can escape to that’s within the city limits, where I can create my own oasis. If I’m staying for a while I’ve been known to buy flowers for my hotel room just to make it homier. I try to take things at a slow pace and enjoy my stay. Gone are the days of running around the city checking things off a sightseeing map. I guess I’m getting old.

As I have adapted my travel style I have found I that I get more of the experience I had originally hoped for. It’s easy to get bogged down in the tourist traps if you’re not careful. London is second only to New York in sheer volume of opportunities to be had. At least for an English speaker; I am sure there are those with other native tongues that would disagree with me. You could spend days in London’s museums. I have, and that was only the free ones. I hear the theatre is amazing. I’ve never been, and to be honest, I probably never will go. There are parks galore. Some of my best memories of London are just camping out on a park bench and watching the world go by. Perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of Ricky Gervais jogging or George Michael doing community service. You never know what you’ll see in a city of London’s size and that’s all part of the fun.

My favorite thing to do in the city is to visit the markets. They run the gamut from seedy to posh. If you were as big a fan as me of the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks (with the always enjoyable Angela Lansbury), then you will get a special kick out of Portobello Market in Notting Hill. It’s mostly antiques, but at the very least it’s great window shopping. On the other end of the spectrum is Camden Town. It’s seedy and the trinkets are cheap, but it’s fun. I’ve downed many a flagon of ale on the old main drag in Camden and if those streets could talk it would be quite a tale.

So take a stroll through London and see what it has to offer you.

Kemwel offers cheap car rental in London, so contact us today!

Antwerp is well known for its finely crafted artisanal products and the city is synonymous with diamonds. These are reasons enough alone to visit this historical hub, but there is another reason just below the surface. Literally. Over a thousand years ago, when Antwerp was first settled, there was a natural ring of trenches that provided safety from the flood plain. The first successful settlement was made within this ring. Later, the series of ditches and channels would be used as an open sewer. These sewers eventually became so offensive to the nose that the city decided something had to be done and they charged the citizens with covering the sections closest to them.

Some of the more wealthy inhabitants of the city (such as the Catholic Church) filled in their sections with finely crafted stones creating an elaborate system of tunnels and caverns. In other places, the trenches were lined with bricks and mortar. They were built over and for years used as a closed sewer system. For centuries the tunnels were maintained for this use until the 1990’s when new E.U. standards forced the city to modernize and install a contemporary system. The old network of empty tunnels is still under the city today.

Now, where some of us may see a scary dank horror fest, others see opportunity; and the Antwerp underground tourism industry was born! If this is your thing (and I will admit it is not mine) you can take a short boat ride followed by a walk that will plumb the depths (pun intended) of Antwerp. So, if you’re up for it, don your rubber boots and get exploring!

Kemwel can arrange for cheap car rental in Belgium, so contact us today!

It’s snowing in Geneva right now and it’s time to jump on the opportunity and book the ski trip to the Alps you’ve always dreamed of. I am originally from Colorado, so I’m no stranger to mountains and I must say I was in awe the first time I visited Switzerland. Whereas the Rockies slope gradually to great heights (keeping in mind that Denver is already a mile high), the Alps seem to erupt out of the ground like a sudden tectonic shift sent the peaks rocketing skyward out of what was once a placid landscape.

Many Alpine ski resorts are above tree line and this adds to the dramatic nature of the peaks. The white caps are huge, leaving wide open vistas with no trees to hinder the view. It truly feels like you are on top of the world.

If you come to ski, but you don’t want to limit your options to the small resort villages, Geneva is a great choice for your base of operations. The city sits at the western edge of Lake Geneva and is buttressed by the lake on one side and Mont Blanc on the other. The old world architecture and the city’s nightlife and arts venues make it a stand out choice for your accommodations.

It will be necessary to rent a car if you stay in Geneva. The closest ski resort is just over an hour drive in Chamonix, France. There are countless Swiss ski resorts near the eastern edge of Lake Geneva and it is a breathtaking drive along the lakeside and into the Alps. These resorts are approximately a two hour drive from Geneva city center, but the scenery is easily worth the drive.

Don’t let another winter go by without this winter adventure. Kemwel can provide you with a cheap car rental in Geneva and great customer service, so book today!

If you’ve never rented a car in Europe, this is a must read post for you. I’d like to highlight a few common misconceptions that first time renters may have. These issues can lead to delays and additional costs, and can be avoided by familiarizing yourself with what to expect.

Misconception: The car on the voucher is the car that you will receive
Scenario: You’re SURE that you selected the Ford Fiesta when you booked a cheap car rental in France online, but you arrive and you’re given a Peugeot 207. What gives?
Explanation: Rental companies are unable to guarantee a specific make or model when you book a reservation, due to constantly changing fleet availability. Kemwel, however, guarantees the car class, number of doors, transmission and whether or not it will have air conditioning. This is why you will often see the phrase ‘or similar’ following the example vehicle when booking.

Misconception: Any old pick up time will do
Scenario One: So you’ve selected your pick up and drop off times as noon, but your actual arrival time is later that night. You figure you’re fine, since you’ve already paid for your rental they should hold the car. Then you arrive and you’re told that they do not have a vehicle for you. What’s going on here?
Explanation: My advice is to always think of your pick up time as an appointment. If you will be later than you’ve scheduled, give a call to alert the counter so that they are aware and avoid having your vehicle released to someone else. This is especially important during the upcoming holiday season when companies often see a shortage of available cars.

Misconception: They just take an imprint of your credit card.
Scenario: You arrive at the rental counter and the clerk asks for a credit card for a deposit. Later that week, you attempt to make a purchase but your credit card is declined, even though you know for a fact there is credit available.
Explanation: Rental car companies will often block the deposit amount on the given credit card. Make sure that you are aware of the amount of the authorization and that you have a credit card (not a debit card) that can cover it and that the funds are not needed elsewhere.

These issues are among some of the more common that can be experienced but, more importantly, completely avoided. Always read the terms and conditions of your rental on your Kemwel voucher and if you ever have any questions, be sure to ask!

There are plenty of things that we all seem to know about, but don’t really understand. I can tell you that E=mc² is the equation for the relationship between mass and energy but if you asked me to explain it…well, that might be a bit of a problem. Fortunately, there is one head-scratcher that I can shed some light on: the ever perplexing Collision Damage Waiver.

The simple explanation?  It is a waiver of the car rental company’s right to make the renter pay for all damage to the vehicle. Since that description doesn’t really make it clear why you need it, what it does or how to get it, let’s take a closer look.

• Why you need Collision Damage Waiver Pretty simply, CDW is required for any person renting a vehicle within Europe and many other parts of the world. Without this waiver you would be responsible for any and all damage to the rental vehicle. This includes everything from the smallest scratch to a more serious accident.

• What Collision Damage Waiver does for you In the event of damage to the vehicle, CDW will reduce your financial responsibility. As an example, if you have CDW with a deductible of $500 and you are involved in an accident where there is $2,000 worth of damage, you are only responsible to pay $500. The rental company will cover the remaining cost. Should the damage equal a total less than your deductible, you are only responsible for the amount owed.

• How to obtain Collision Damage Waiver When renting a vehicle with Kemwel, there are three different options; First, you can check with your major credit card company to see if they offer coverage to the country in which you are picking up the vehicle. Most notably, car rentals in Ireland are rarely covered. Secondly, Kemwel offers an all-inclusive price on all vehicles that provides CDW and Theft Protection from the rental company at a low cost. Lastly, you may purchase CDW from the rental counter directly, though this tends to be the most costly option.

Still have questions? Feel free to leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer!