Context Travel Around The World From Your Home

Annabella Pardo

Traveling the world is a luxury many of us crave and long for in order to live a long, happy, and fulfilling life. With the world slowly opening up again we are very excited to begin to visit our favorite museums, landmarks, and gelato shops once more. In preparation of our global travels, here at Off The Mrkt we are learning directly from the experts themselves at Context Travel. Context Travel is a network of scholars and experts who specialize in fields such as art history, archaeology, cuisine, architecture, history, and theology, who offer private, custom, and small group walking tours in 60 cities across six continents for almost 20-years. 

Photo via @ContextTravel

Photo via @ContextTravel

Context is now the only travel company that allows you to start learning before you hop on a plane. People are craving year-round learning to supplement their travel experiences or to serve as an alternative to in-person travel entirely.

The digital learning program is called “Context Learning,” and it offers live interactive seminars and courses on a variety of cultural and historical topics with the company’s vast network of well-versed, PHD or MA-level degree scholars. Think of this as a LIVE version of Netflix where theres tons of options to choose from, select which one is most of interest to you and learn about your favorite subject.

Photo via @ContextTravel

Photo via @ContextTravel

Now that travel is coming back IRL, Context is continuing these seminars and courses to help fulfill not only the pre- travel enrichment and allow them to learn before hopping on a plane, but also provide the opportunity for adults to become lifelong learners (the courses are so in-depth you feel like you’re learning from a professor in school).

Photo via @ContextTravel

Due to popular demand for long form travel, and because Context participants have built relationships with their experts/scholars over the course of the pandemic, Context is now taking one step further to launch  Context Journeys – the brand’s first fully planned, multi-day, small and group tours in cultural capitals across the globe.

Journeys will be led by the brand’s network of scholars, many of which hold PhDs or other terminal degrees in their field and teach at the university level, who specialize in fields such as art history, archaeology, cuisine, architecture, history, and theology. Not to be confused with your everyday tour guide, these experts have dedicated their lives to learning the history and culture of these cities and can offer unique insight and connections to provide a deeper understanding and appreciation for the destinations.  

Photo via @ContextTravel

Photo via @ContextTravel

The pre-planned itinerary, which includes hotel accommodations, on-the-ground tours and logistics and most meals, will also include experiences exclusively for Context travelers. For example, in Amsterdam, the small group will tour Rembrandt’s house before heading to dinner in an original canal house to tour a private art collection. As Context’s experts have deep and long-term connections with the museums and locations being toured, each Journeys participant will receive VIP treatment.  

Get started learning from the best travel experts in the world, at Context Travel.

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What To Know Before You Book Your Trip To Tulum Mexico

Alexandra Reconco

Are you looking for a quick and easy trip that’s not too far from home but far enough to feel like you’re getting away? Well, we have the perfect vacation spot that’s only a little over 4 hours away from JFK. Tulum is a town on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. It is best known for its beaches, well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city, and breathtaking views and excursions. Tulum is a dreamy paradise that is home to some of the most beautiful world wonders such as the cenotes and bio reserves which truly look like they are out-of-this world. Tulum is the perfect vacation spot and to ensure that this vacation is stress-free, we have curated a guide for the best hotels, and activities so that you don’t have to worry about planning.

Where to Stay

Ahau Tulum

“Where nature is the new luxury.” Ahau Tulum is an eco-friendly hotel resort that mimics a healthy ecosystem. Ahau Tulum is the place where you truly become one with nature and truly find yourself and have nature fill your heart and soul. Ahau Tulum offers all different kinds of cabanas to choose from that make the experience with nature even more surreal. Ahau Tulum offers a variety of food and offers the best quality of the freshest ingredients in order for the guests to receive the best of what nature can offer.

Casa Malca

Getting away for Casa Malca means connecting yourself with the wild but also allowing yourself to let go. Located on the beach, Casa Malca is surrounded by white-sand, crystal-clear water and the wonders of the rainforest, the ideal place that makes it feel like your in an alternate reality. Casa Malca offers four restaurants all different so that you can experience something brand-new at varying sensory and pleasure levels.

What to Do

Go visit the Cenotes:

Cenotes are a natural pit, or sinkhole that results from the collapse of limestone bedrock which then exposes groundwater underneath. Tulum is jam-packed with incredible cenotes and below are some the best that are truly a wonder worth seeing.

Tulum Ruins

Visiting the ruins should be on everyone’s list when on vacation to Tulum. This Mayan city  is very well preserved and sits atop of a beautiful beach and was used as a seaport that traded mainly turquoise and jade. Tulum is very famous and a crowd favorite because of its elegant setting on the sheer limestone cliffs and is the only Mayan city built on the coast. Visiting the ruins is the perfect day trip for those who want to immerse themselves in history and learn about the Mayan culture.

Sian Ka’an

Sian Ka’an is a biosphere reserve in Tulum that was established in 1986 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Sian Ka’an means “gate of heaven” or “place where heaven begins.” This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that will show you an authentic experience with local guides and show you the wonders of the ecosystem and wildlife. Visiting Sian Ka’an is the perfect adventure for those who love nature and love to explore the wonders of Mexico.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Incredible Things You Should Try On Your Next Vacation

For some people, taking a vacation is all about hitting a beach and relaxation; for others, it’s about so much more than that. Many people nowadays head on vacation, all in the hope of being able to experience something different from the norm.

In today’s post, we are going to examine some things you should do or try on your next vacation. Whether you are heading off around the world or staying in the same country, there are still many things you can try to broaden your horizons.

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Explore New Activities

For most of us, we spend our lives doing the same things every day of the week; after all, humans are creatures of habit. 

So when it comes to being on vacation, there is no better time to break this habit and try something brand new. Instead of heading to the beach to relax, why not consider something like Side Bet Sport Fishing Charters? Fishing is often very misunderstood, and unless you’ve experienced the thrill of sport fishing, you really haven’t felt a rush.

If you are feeling adventurous, you could even consider some other watersports while you are at the beach. To experience more fun and recreational activities with nature, you will surely enjoy going to Kiawah Island Vacation Rentals. While watersports aren’t a new concept, they are a great way to cut loose and really get the blood pumping. Who knows, this vacation you may discover you’re an adrenaline junkie, and you didn’t even know it.

Expand Your Taste Buds

As we mentioned in the previous section, humans are creatures of habit; this also goes for the food we eat. 

Unbelievably three-fifths of Americans say they won’t try the local cuisine when they go on vacation, with a world of flavors available; this is ludicrous. One of the most incredible ways to experience the culture of a new city or even country is to try some of the local delicacies as they can really open you up to a whole new world.

Food is one of the joys of life that keeps on giving, and by simply opening your mind just a little bit on your next vacation, you may end up surprising yourself and your taste buds.

Take In The Culture

Another thing we are all guilty of when we travel somewhere new is not embracing the local culture. When it comes to visiting a new city or country, it matters not in the world where it is; there will be certain local customs that could be vital for you to know. 

Taking the time to learn a little about the locals and the culture of the place you are visiting is not only polite, but it may also open up some brand new doorways for you. 

When locals see you embracing their local culture, they tend to warm to you more. The more people warm to you, the greater the opportunities that will come your way.  

Hopefully, if you are looking for something a little different from your next vacation, one or all of these things will help you discover a side of yourself you never knew existed.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

5 Must Visit Travel Destinations for Beer Lovers

off the mrkt Beer.jpg

How far are you willing to travel for a good pint of beer? If you’re a true beer lover, there’s no distance that can keep you away from trying a new type in a new country! So, if you’re really crazy about good beer, here are the top destinations you must visit this year that will quench your thirst.

Seattle

Seattle has an amazing brewery-count with over 60 breweries doing business and serving beer lovers from all over the globe. Each year, we get a new addition to the scene, and this year we got one of the best: Future Primitive Brewing. This little brewery specializes in “little beers” as their inventors like to call them. They are making an effort to rediscover old and forgotten methods and outdated styles and employ them in making something new and delicious. Other must-visit breweries include some cult faves like Reuben’s Brews, Cloudburst and Pike.

Tokyo

Beer is rarely the reason why people decide to visit Tokyo, but even if that’s not your main mission, don’t leave this city without sampling some of Japan’s best crafts. Tokyo has a pretty good scene filled with both local- and expat-owned breweries that serve everything from Japanese crafts to American favorites. For instance, make sure to visit Watering Hole in Shibuya that serves a fun mix of Japanese craft (Onisdensetsu, Minoh) and American Burley Oak and Upslope. A relatively new addition to the scene is Øl—a Scandinavian-Japanese bar opened up in partnership with Oslo Brewing. They serve everything from Oslo’s beers to Kyoto Brewing beers to Ballast Point lagers to house-made ginger ale!

Sydney

One thing is for sure, Australians love their beer! Craft breweries are popping up all over the country, especially in Sydney which is a must-visit beer destination. There’s not much to say about the scene that will make your brewery choice any easier: wherever you see beer, feel free to grab a pint, especially when in Marrickville, the country’s beer capital. Marrickville also has an excellent craft beer store that offers around 1000 beers from just about every beer brewing region in the world including local crafts. This means you can bring a taste of Australia with you and surprise those waiting at home with a bottle of best Aussie craft.    

Prague

off the mrkt Beer.jpg

The Czech Republic not only consumes the most beer per person, but they also produce some of the best brands of lager. Staropramen, Kozel, Pilsner Urquell, Krusovice and Budweiser are some of the most popular beers in Europe. Kozel is very masculine and strong with its dark foam and thick taste while Pilsner Urquell is known for its “hoppy” taste. If you want to try something light and sweet, opt for Matuska, one of the country’s youngest crafts and try their Zlata Raketa with undertones of citrus and tropical fruit. All in all, drinking beer, especially crafts, is a valid pastime and hobby in the capital of Prague, so there are a plethora of different bars where you can sample some of the country’s best crafts. And there’s just no best or worst bar to visit in Prague. Each is completely unique and offers what they think is the best example of Czech beer. So, don’t hesitate to visit them all!

Berlin

It’s just impossible to leave out Germany when talking about beer. So, when in Berlin, make sure to go straight to Markthalle Neun, an urban market filled with everything one hipster might need: Good coffee, fresh and farm-raised food and craft beer. Heidenpeters is the place to go if you want to try amazing Pale Ale, IPA and Brown Ale (sometimes they also offer Porters and Stouts). In Kreuzberg’s Wrangelkeiz neighborhood search for Hopfenreich that serves local beers from producers like Berliner Berg, Stone Berlin and Spent Collective. And Brlo Brwhouse is a modern beer playground that serves around 20 beers on tap from house-brewed Helles to other local, national and international beers. It’s really a place to be. And, if you’re visiting Berlin in July, make sure to visit Berlin Beer Week, a 10-day celebration of beer experience with numerous events taking place throughout the capital.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.