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Ancestral Travel (continued) Get Started With Your Ancestral Search Start with a web search. I searched for web genealogy sites and found ancestry.com, which has access to billions of records. For a low monthly fee you can drill deep for all sorts of genealogical data. Look through family memorabilia. Check family bibles, yearbooks, photo albums, and scrapbooks for information like military records and marriage or birth certificates. Connect with local tourism offices. Many tourism bureaus now have branches specifically for genealogy tourism. Research local churches, archives, or clubs. I researched the Raglan village historical group, which led me to my distant cousin. Join a genealogical organization, such as the African American Genealogical Society or the Irish Genealogical Society International. Find a tour operator that specializes in ancestral travel. Having knowledgeable guides helped me learn more about the culture and history of Wales, which added even deeper perspective to this bucket list trip. Gigi’s Favorite Outdoor Activities in Wales The beauty of the Welsh countryside was breathtakingly rugged and unspoiled, making it a wonderland for outdoor recreation. Exploring the wealth of options was just as exciting as visiting my family’s ancient stomping grounds … well, almost. visitwales.com
24 WAM • FALL | 2013
Apps to Help you Stay Connected for Pennies or Less Gone are the days of SIM cards and pre-paid cell phones for leisure travelers abroad. Affordable calling is more possible than ever, thanks to smartphone apps. We researched a few lesser-known options and came up with this list of handy apps to help the adventure traveler stay in touch. Alternatives to the tried-and-true Skype and the newer Google Voice, these apps can significantly reduce your international texting and calling costs while traveling. You are free to roam without getting stuck with roaming charges! Viber Acts as a phone replacement. • Text and call other Viber users as much as you want from anywhere with Wi-Fi. • Use your own mobile phone number and contact list. • No advertisements and no battery drain. Likes: It’s free and simple to use. Dislikes: Gotta register your phone number to get the app and must use Wi-Fi or 3G to use Viber. Viber works with iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows phone, Bada, and Mac and Windows desktop devices. Available at Google Play app store, iTunes app store, and the website. viber.com WhatsApp Used for cross-platform mobile messaging. • No cost to text anywhere, including internationally, with other WhatsApp users. • Able to group chat and send video, images, and voice notes. • Automatically connects with your address book. Likes: You don’t pay for SMS. All-inclusive features. Dislikes: $0.99 to download onto smartphone. Regular data rates apply unless you’re connected to Wi-Fi. No calling feature. WhatsApp works with iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows phone, and Nokia. Available at Google Play app store, iTunes app store, and the website. WhatsApp.com Plingm Acts as a low-cost calling service. • Free to download. Users purchase calling credits via mobile phone. • Call anywhere in the world for the same price per minute. • HD quality calls to landlines or cellphones without connection fees. Likes: Savings said to be 90 percent over operator rates. Dislikes: Service can only be accessed through the internet via Wi-Fi or 3G. Plingm works with Android and iPhones. Available at Google Play app store and the iTunes app store and the website. plingm.com Tip: Unless you have an international data plan, turn off Data Roaming before you even depart for your destination abroad. Tip: A good ol’ Wi-Fi finder can even up the frequency of your status updates or e-mails to friends back home, plus help you locate a place you can use one of these apps to make a call from a Wi-Fi hotspot.
womensadventuremagazine.com
THE TYF GROUP/TYF.COM
Mountain biking: Considered some of the best mountain-biking trails in the UK, check out Cognation’s group of trail centers for beginner-to-advanced options in a maze of dirty bikin’ fun. cognation.co.uk Coasteering: Try an adventure sport founded in the Wales surf. Hike on a coastal path to a cliff and jump off into the sea, then swim to the next cliff and repeat. Helmets included! TYF.com Hiking: Walk the country from coast to coast on the stunning 870-mile Wales Coastal Path. walescoastpath.gov.uk Horseback Riding: Atop a fine Welsh pony, exploring the Swansea coast paths exhilarates. Half day and full day pony treks available. parc-le-breos.co.uk Kayaking: Half-day and full-day trips follow the coast near the pilgrimage village of St. David’s. TYF.com
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