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​By Robert Goldsmith at Allen Batista Travel, Inc.
 
Set sail up the East River for three hours on one of Allen Batista Travel Inc.’s entertainment boat rides – stand-up comedy, Latin, samba, family magic and Zumba – and take in spectacular views of Manhattan from the waterway.  Our entertainment boat rides are great for team building and fundraising activities, as well as milestone birthdays (quinceañera, Sweet 16, 50th), bachelor or bachelorette engagements, retirement parties.
 
Although we are in the third year of COVID-19 pandemic, Allen Batista Travel Inc. is following CDC guidelines – passengers must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination and booster shots to set sail up the East River.  The entertainment boat rides provide guests with two, sometimes three decks of pure entertainment with an indoor and outdoor setting.
 
We charter private U.S. Coast guard certified boats with capacities ranging from 100 to 400 people all equipped with life jackets, tables with white linen cloth and chairs and a fully equipped bar on board the floating vessels.
 
That being said, any riders should not be worried about missing part of their show as performers have practiced incorporating the indoor and outdoor seated guests to ensure all of our guests receive the full experience while being proactive about the pandemic.
 
Allen Batista Travel, Inc. offers three dance-themed, and two entertainment party boat cruises.
 
Dance Packages
Latin Boat Ride (Salsa, Bachata or Cha Cha)
 
On the Latin party boat cruise professional dancers will give guests a 20 minute lesson for which they can fine tune their dance skills. Dancers will then be mesmerized by a breathtaking dance performance.
 
The DJ will spin salsa, bachata, merengue, reggaeton and Latin house during the Latin boat ride.
 
This cruise is perfect for those looking to experience traditional Latin music and dance – a romantic night on the waters or an after work mixer with your colleagues.
 
Belly Dancing
The Belly dancing package features a 30-minute dance presentation from professional dancers including movements from Egypt, Turkey and Lebanon. Guests are also included in an interactive dance lesson to learn the basics of this ancient form of dance.
 
This cruise will feature melodious Mediterranean and top 40 music that is ideal for a fun afternoon or evening out with family and friends.
 
Samba Boat Ride
During this party boat cruise, Brazilian musicians will play bossa nova, forro, samba reggae and Brazilian pop music.   The enchantment of Brazil will be closer with pulsing rhythms from Brazilian musicians and amazing dancers.
 
This cruise works perfectly for those looking to build some team chemistry or to bring the whole family for a celebration.
 
Entertainment Packages
Magic Show Boat Ride
Master magician spins the ultimate web of deception during this family-oriented magic show boat ride.  Be prepared to be astonished by the magician sleight of hand tricks for children and mental deception for adults.
 
Audience participation is key as the magician skillfully weaves guests into the show, making it the perfect event for the whole family.
 
Comedy Boat Ride
Laughter will fill the air as guests as some of New York City’s rising stand-up comedians take the mic.  Comics have even appeared on BET, Comedy Central, Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, New York Underground Comedy Festival.
 
Our entertainment themed party boat cruise includes lunch and dinner.  There is a full operating bar on board the floating vessel to provide passengers with an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for guests drinking pleasure.
 
About Allen Batista Travel Inc.
Allen Batista Travel Inc. offers extraordinary sightseeing tours where travelers can fully immerse themselves into the breathtaking culture countries have to offer.   Allen Batista Travel also provides savvy travelers with airfare, hotels, cruises, car rentals and vacation packages.
 
To book one of Allen Batista Travel Inc’s entertainment boat rides, please visit www.abtravel.us or email jallen@abtravel.us
 

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Guest Post:  Chelsea Lamb at Business Pop
Vacationing abroad has always been cost-prohibitive and the pandemic has only made it more so. It’s why staycations – local vacations – have surged in popularity, reports Longwoods International. Not only are they less of a hassle, overall, but they’re also light on the wallet. Why pay thousands of dollars when you could have a comparable experience at home in New York (or nearby) for a fraction of the price?

Allen Batista Travel, Inc shares insight and tips on how you could potentially vacation at home on a limited budget:

Choose budget-friendly day-trip activities in New York
A few hundred dollars go a long way even in New York City. Some popular budget-friendly activities you can enjoy are sunbathing at Long Beach, outdoor hiking and tubing in the Catskills, and antique-hunting in the picturesque Hudson Valley. All three destinations are within easy reach of the city and offer a lot of fun on a budget.  What if you want to indulge yourself? A luxury retreat to the Hamptons may be in order. 

You don’t necessarily have to leave the city to have fun either. If you’re a sports fan, for instance, you and your buddies could have a lot of fun by catching a local ballgame. Online sites make looking for Yankees tickets a breeze. You can filter by date, price range, and seat rating. Furthermore, you can scope your preferred seat out via an interactive seating chart of Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY) that gives you a 360-degree virtual view of the row.

Hunt for deals on sites
Some sites specialize in finding and listing deals on accommodations, car rentals, attractions, and flights. Our top recommendations to check out include Kayak, Travelzoo, Orbitz, and Apple Vacations. These sites sometimes also list last-minute deals that can, potentially, cut your travel costs by half or more. 

Rope in a family and friends for bigger discounts
What’s cheaper than staycationing alone? You guessed it – it’s staycationing as a group with family and friends. Groups have an easier time finding cheaper accommodation and attractions – many places offer discounts to couples and larger groups. Furthermore, food and travel expenses are also easier to meet as a group. Everyone can chip in for the food, for instance.

Get creative with your food to save money
Apart from accommodation and travel, food will be your biggest expense. There are multiple ways to save big on food: picking places with free breakfast, eating out less, eating cheap supermarket food, cooking your own food, favoring street food, using coupons, and packing your own water bottle.  

Consider driving instead of flying
For nearby destinations, driving is almost always cheaper than flying for families. Four flight tickets usually cost more than the gas you’d pay to get to your destination. Driving is cheaper even when you’re renting a car. Lone travelers and couples may be able to save more by flying, in some cases. Comparing your options before you travel can help. 

Nail down a budget and stick to it
On average, a person in the US spends $1,573 on a week-long staycation, according to SpendMeNot. This beats a vacation to Europe, which costs about $4,000. If you’d like to save even more money, consider budgeting in advance. Instead of basing your budget on your destination and activities, base your activities and destination on your budget. You’ll save more that way.

Conclusion
Don’t hesitate to go on one if you have the opportunity. They can be just as exciting as international vacations, not to mention stress-busting. A day-trip can be just the change of pace you need to come back to work refreshed and reenergized, and so are well worth your time.

Image via Unsplash
 

 
Guest Post:  Marjorie McMillan at Come On Get Well
 
The rise of mobile work has created a whole new class of employees. Even if you don’t have an entrepreneurial spirit, you can work wherever you want, enabling you to travel or stay home as much as you like.
 
If you’ve been thinking about making the switch, here are some tips from Allen Batista Travel to live like a local and work as a digital nomad.
 
Embrace the Lifestyle
When you nail down your new job, you can start living your dreams. Decide if you want a home base or if you want to throw your stuff in storage and travel for a while. Many van-lifers travel and work full-time stateside, while other nomads hop between Airbnbs around the world. There are even companies targeted at those looking to live and work in different cities, with luxury apartments you can book on your smartphone.
 
If you’re not looking to travel as much, you might want to seek a permanent house with a good workspace. Having a dedicated desk is very helpful when working from home. In addition, you could keep a lap desk handy, so you can switch up the scenery when you get tired of sitting at your desk. Searching for the right place is easy with sites like Zillow and Redfin that allow you to narrow your search by price range, neighborhood, number of bedrooms, and specific keywords.
 
Once you have settled on your destination, Allen Batista Travel has inspirations for staycations, weekend getaways and local trips nearby.
 
Find a Job
Statistics show that working from home has increased 140 percent since 2005. This means job opportunities are out there; you just have to narrow down your options. Many smaller companies favor remote positions because it saves them a tremendous amount of money on office space.
 
Job sites like FlexJobs focus on listings with high flexibility, which often means fully remote. Some industries with highly mobile employment opportunities include sales, market research, software development, lawyers, and computer programmers. However, these are by no means the only options. You can also use your skills to work directly for clients on websites like Fiverr and win complete control of your schedule.
 
Get Necessary Training
If you are thinking about changing careers, especially to one that requires heavy technical skills, you will need to get some training under your belt. Even non-tech companies that require business-savvy workers will be happy to see that you’ve obtained the right degree. A great option is getting a degree online, which will allow you to make money and earn your degree simultaneously, as well as study at your own pace. There are tons of options to choose from, like business management, leadership, or marketing. Many programs are affordable and flexible for working adults.
 
Update Your Resume
Once you’ve got an idea of the job you want and received the proper training, it’s time to cater your resume toward your new career. Focus on your remote skills, and note whether you’ve ever traveled or worked remotely for your current job. Listing previous positions in different time zones shows that you can efficiently handle mismatched schedules. Technical skills like using project management systems, video conferencing, and virtual collaboration platforms will all be of interest to potential employers.
 
By trying some of the tips above, you will be on your way to starting a new life as a digital nomad. With so many remote positions available, you can be sure that you’ll find a job in no time. Once you have found your remote work location, Allen Batista Travel, Inc. can provide inspiration for uncovering the local culture.
 

Image via Pexels