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Tag: travel tips

  • Australian Vacation Alternatives – Take the Tourist Trail Less Traveled

    Just like any other country, Australia has its well-worn tourist paths. These locations contain all the attractions that brochures insist you must see, and their facilities are set up ready to fleece the gullible tourists.

    While there's no doubt these spots give travelers a good time, they’re also crowded and expensive. In this article we offer some alternatives that are just as much fun, without the crowds and high overheads. The Gold Coast of Australia is Queensland's tourist center, but you'll find much the same thing at a more relaxed pace at Coffs Harbour. The beaches are first rate, and once the sun goes down the nightlife is just as satisfying. Coffs is missing the Gold Coast's big theme parks, but the kids won't be bored. Just as they could at Seaworld, they can meet dolphins and seals at the Pet Porpoise Pool. And the waterslides and toboggan rides at the Big Banana are a suitable substitute for a day at Wet 'n' Wild. The Great Barrier Reef is truly awesome, but it can get crowded, particularly during the school holidays. Ningaloo Reef on the other side of the country is smaller, but every bit as beautiful. And as it’s a bit of a local secret, it's never as busy as Queensland's natural wonder. It offers all the same leisure activities too, from amazing Australia snorkeling and diving to relaxed boat cruises. Uluru is Australia's most famous rock, but most tourists don't realize it's not Australia's biggest. If you want to see that, head west to Burringurah at Mount Augustus. I won’t pretend it’s as beautiful, but its sheer size of 730 meters is impressive. And unlike Uluru, the indigenous people don't mind if you climb it! The rock is located 320 kilometers from the nearest town of Carnavon, but it's not like Uluru is exactly accessible, is it?Australia globe photo Byron Bay was once Australia’s hippie capital, but these days it's teeming with backpackers and city slickers keen to commune with nature for a weekend or two. The stores selling overpriced incense are another real turnoff for anyone who wants to take it easy. While Byron may have sold out, Denmark in Western Australia still embodies the spirit of free love. There are quirky stores to browse, artistic types to talk to, and some excellent beaches within an easy drive. Thousands of tourists travel to Phillip Island in Victoria to see Australia's largest colony of fairy penguins parade up the beach at dusk. When I visited as a child this was an intimate encounter with some of nature's cutest birds, but these days it’s a bit of a circus. Thankfully we can still enjoy the old-fashioned penguin parades of my youth at Montague Island. A small boatload of guests witnesses the country's second largest fairy penguin colony make their way to their nests each night. I'm sure these tiny birds appreciate the extra privacy they receive here! So why not take the road less traveled? You'll come home with personal stories unlike other tourists, and a few extra dollars in your wallet!

  • Important Indulgence in Beijing – What’s Worth the Splurge in China

    As with most of the world’s capital cities, it’s very easy to spend money in Beijing. But travelers should resist the urge to be too frugal in the Chinese capital.

    See also: China on a Budget. A little extravagance can be the best way to enjoy your Beijing vacation, and stay safe. Food and drink are two areas where it pays to splurge a little. Scrimping could compromise your health, so be careful when buying from street vendors. When in doubt, you can generally rely on restaurants. The safest meals are piping hot, as the cooking process kills any lingering bacteria. Raw vegetables and unbottled water should be avoided. Even bottled water should be approached with caution; if its seal is broken, its quality cannot be guaranteed. Beijing's hectic pace can also make public transport difficult to navigate, particularly for anyone who doesn't speak the language. Taxi drivers can get you where you want to go, and in most cases they'll charge a reasonable price. If you aren't fluent in Chinese, make sure you ask your concierge to write your destination in Chinese on the back of your hotel business card. You can reuse this card at the end of the day to return to your accommodation. [caption id="attachment_2731" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The Great Wall of China"]The Great Wall of China[/caption] And finally, don't be so stingy that you miss out on the world famous attractions on Beijing's doorstep. While you can see the Great Wall of China for free, it's worth spending money on the cable car in Badaling. It'll save your time and feet, and you can capture some breathtaking photos of the wall from the air. And don't let the small entry fee stop you from seeing The Forbidden City. The majesty of the palace, Imperial Garden, and Halls of Heavenly Purity and Supreme Harmony are worth more than the cost you'll pay to see them.

  • The Great Australian Road Trip – See Real Oz by Campervan or Motorhome

    A trip to the land Down Under can be pricy, but you can cut costs while you’re there by combining your transport and accommodation.

    Renting a campervan or motorhome gives your vacation all the freedom of the open road, with more luxury than you might expect. As the name suggests, motorhomes are luxuriously large and quite plush. They feature kitchen facilities, comfortable beds for sleeping, and in many cases, even bathrooms. However, they typically only have two-wheel drive. This makes them inappropriate for off-road driving, so consider your route carefully before booking your vehicle. They're ideal for an easy trip down The Great Ocean Road, but they won't allow you to explore the rugged beauty of the Australian Outback. For that you'll need a campervan, with either four-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). 4WDs are the most powerful option, but they're also the most expensive to hire. You can take an AWD vehicle to most places a 4WD will go, so unless you're tackling some really challenging terrain they'll likely suit your purposes. Both kinds of vehicles will come equipped with beds and a kitchenette, so you can pull off the road to make lunch or stop for a nap. [caption id="attachment_2842" align="alignright" width="150" caption="See Australia's Outback by road"]Australian Road Trip[/caption] Traveling off road is very different to ordinary driving, so it's smart to take a few safety precautions. If you've never driven off-road before, completing a driving course before you leave can help you learn what to expect, and how to handle all kinds of conditions. Where possible, travel with friends in a convoy. Roads in many parts of Australia can be lonely, so it's comforting to know you can jump into another vehicle to travel to the next town if yours breaks down. Your campervan should also be fully stocked with safety equipment including a snatch strap and shovel for vehicle recovery, an emergency beacon, and a satellite phone. And remember to always check the weather and conditions of the road ahead before you set off. Road trips don't offer the same level of luxury as a resort stay, but they're a great way to cut vacation costs while seeing the real Australia.

  • Calculate Cab Fares with World Taxi Meter | Great Travel Website for Tourists

    You needn’t get stung by high cab fees when you’re traveling around the world, thanks to the nifty World Taxi Meter website.

    Simply enter your departure point, your destination, and the time you’re traveling and the website will do the rest.

    It will estimate the fare you can expect to pay (in any currency), how long you'll wait in traffic, and much more. Of course the website doesn't have details for every destination in the world, but many tourist centers are covered. It's ideal for navigating the traffic chaos of New Delhi, the busy Australian streets of Sydney and Melbourne, and downtown Singapore. The handy tips for taxi travel are also very useful for tourists. The site offers advice specific to each city, such as information about public holiday and late night surcharges, tipping, and local taxi ranks. This website should ensure you're not caught short during your travels, or ripped off by cunning cab drivers out to make a quick buck. Hopefully we'll see it expanded to include more destinations, particularly in Asia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific, soon.

  • Save Money at Australia’s Pubs & Clubs

    Knocking back a few beers in an Aussie pub or club is the Australian way, but long nights spent drinking can quickly drain your holiday budget. Here are a few tips for saving cash while enjoying this time-honored Australian tradition.

    Do as the locals do, and pass over a Corona or a Heineken for a good Aussie beer. Drops from Tooheys, VB, and XXXX taste just as good as the imported stuff, but they’re available at a fraction of the cost.

    Look out for happy hours and other discount deals in local pubs. There are often cheap beers and two-for-one cocktails to entice workers to indulge in a few bevvies after quitting time. australia beer photo

    And finally, why not enjoy a good night in? Drinks from the local bottle shop are far cheaper than at the bars. And you can save even more if you’re willing to brave the wine boxes known as goon, a cleanskin bottle, or cheap bubbles called Passion Pop. Just make sure you keep the festivities down to avoid disturbing other hotel guests!

  • See Japan on a Budget – Affordable Travel Tips for Land of the Rising Sun

    Japan once had a reputation as an expensive vacation destination, but the country’s economic downturn has put it back on the radar of bargain-seeking tourists.

    With careful planning and a little know-how, your Japanese yen can go further in the Land of the Rising Sun. Buying individual tickets on the Japanese rail system can be expensive, but you can avoid those high costs. If you'll travel throughout Japan, it's worth investing in a Japan Rail Pass before you go. The pass will help you save on train travel all over the country, including its iconic bullet train. An open ticket is often a smarter purchase than an individual train fare when sightseeing in Tokyo. These are a more expensive, but as they offer unlimited trips they're typically a more economic choice for tourists. Patient travelers can save cash by eating when the mall food courts close. The vendors want to get rid of their last meals, and they'll offer considerable discounts to see it happen! It can be competitive, but hustle for a really cheap eat. If that seems too challenging, look to conveyor belt sushi restaurants or Japanese pubs known as izakayas. It might seem strange to sit on the floor with your beer, but the meals are tasty and affordable. If you're on the go, don't be afraid to grab a meal at the train station. The stand-up shops here sell tasty and affordable Japanese comfort food. Remember that tipping is not expected at Japan's eateries, so you can keep an extra few yen in your wallet. With travel and food organized, you'll need something to do. Japan's major cities have no shortage of free attractions to fill your days. In Tokyo there's the Sumo Museum and the Imperial Palace East Gardens. In Kyoto you can people watch at Gion's geisha district or see the Tanzan Shuzo Sake Cellar. In Osaka it costs nothing to visit the animals at Satsukiyama Zoo, or see the quirky Instant Ramen Museum. And Sapporo has the Hokkaido Brewery and bustling Nijo Fish Market. [caption id="attachment_3767" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Map of Japan"]japan travel map photo[/caption] If you really want to save money in Japan though, it's smart to leave the cities altogether. The mountainous countryside is free to explore, and amongst the most beautiful in the world. The traditional country inns, known as ryokan, are also much more affordable than their city counterparts. You'll probably visit a Buddhist temple in Japan, but you might not think about staying there. However, many of these sacred places offer affordable, and culturally enlightening, accommodation. For around 10, 000 yen a night, or around US$120, travelers will enjoy a private room, dinner, and breakfast the next morning. Koyasan and Eko-in temples are good options for travelers wanting to experience this serene and affordable accommodation style. You don't have to feel like you're skimping to save money in Japan. These tips will make sure you have an enjoyable, culturally rich time in the East, and return home with more money in your pocket than you'd expect.

  • China on the Cheap – Affordable Travel in Asia

    China can be one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit, or one of the cheapest. Your experience all depends on the areas you visit, and what you do with your yuan when you get there.

    Chinese money is called renminbi, of which the most popular unit is the yuan. Western travelers might equate this with a dollar, pound, or euro.


    In some parts of China, the yuan goes by the name of kuai, jiao, or mao. You'll need a lot of yuan if you hope to visit China's most popular tourist centers, including Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. There are ways to cut costs in these locations, such as staying in hostels and eating from the street stalls, but you'll pay for any luxuries. They key to traveling frugally in these places is to live as the locals do. Vendors in the markets are open to haggling, while prices are fixed when shopping in the large malls. Traveling by bus or bicycle can require careful planning, but it's much cheaper than getting around by taxi. Experiencing these cities in this way, you might expect to pay Y140 for you accommodation, and another Y140 for other daily expenses. If you prefer to live it up, look to regional areas like Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Gansu, and even Tibet. Family run homestays and guesthouses offer rural hospitality for affordable prices. If you don't have far to go, it’s worth traveling "hard seat." It will make your bus or train ticket much cheaper, although it does get uncomfortable on very long journeys. Meals in these areas are generally reasonably priced, and you'll find some unexpectedly delicious dishes in the hole in the wall eateries. It's easy toinexpensive china trip photo spend less than Y25 on food in some of China's most remote locations, while your food bills may rise to between Y40 and Y70 a day in the more populated areas. You can save cash anywhere by remembering that tipping is not expected anywhere in China. Many mid to top end eateries will sneakily get around this by adding a hefty service charge to your bill, but you shouldn’t have such a problem at more modest eateries. Most travelers would not want to miss the excitement of China's big cities, and nor should they. But with many key attractions like The Great Wall of China and the historic Leshan Dafo Buddha lying further afield, it's certainly worth saving cash and spending some time out of China's big smoke.

  • Fijian Tourist Traps – Tips for Getting the Most from Your Polynesian Vacation

    Fiji is a relaxed island country that embraces foreign travelers. But there are a few tourist traps that visitors should be aware of to ensure they get the most from their Polynesian vacation.

    Fiji lures tourists with the promise of sun, surf, and sparkling white sand, but that ideal doesn’t tell the whole story.


    The truth is, only the beaches in the Coral Coast live up to that reputation. If you plan on spending your days lounging by the ocean avoid the resorts around the rest of the island. Many of them dump white sand over the top of their gray beaches, but that can't change the murky water. On the positive side, these resorts do have lovely pools, and often cheaper prices than their Coral Coast counterparts, so if you're only after a dip they can do nicely. [caption id="attachment_2880" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The national flag of Fiji"][/caption] The advice of tourist information centers should also be taken with a grain of salt. They're notoriously biased, and will try to sway you to frequent the hotels and tours that pay them a commission. Doing your research online before setting off is a much more reliable way to plan your Fijian vacation. Read our blog about adventure activities in Fiji posted recently. Also keep your wits about you at the local markets. While it's always tempting to bring home a souvenir of your stay, steer clear of vendors pretending to sell traditional items. Don't spend your Fijian money on masks and tikis made to look authentic; instead look for carved cannibal forks and Fijian war clubs.

  • Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City – Public Transport and Travel Tips for Vietnam

    Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest city, and the heart of the Asian nation. Its bustling pace can intimidate tourists at first, but with a little know-how the area is much easier to navigate than many Eastern centers.

    Life moves fast on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, so it’s not advisable for tourists to try to drive themselves about.

    Instead rely on the expert taxi drivers and motorbike taxi riders, who are accustomed to the city's pace. Transport is quite centrally located. Trains run from District 3, which is just north of the heart of the city. Buses are a more affordable, and often more accessible transport option. They run all over the city, and due to recent upgrades are much safer and more reliable than they have been in the past. Buses from Cholon will take you to the Mekong Delta, and those from Binh Tranh travel to the north. The Tan Son Nhat International Airport is also just seven kilometers from the city. Mopeds and bicycles are available for hire, and these are a great way for tourists to explore the city at their own page. If you've got time to spare, you could also consider walking about. If you do decide to set off on foot though, make sure you heed the city's traffic. Follow the lead of the locals and exercise plenty of caution when crossing roads. Unlike so many Asian locations, the Vietnamese writing system predominantly uses Latin-based lettering. This makes signs quite easy to read, although street numbers are less straight forward.vietnam travel directions compass Ho Chi Minh City's most affordable accommodation and eateries are located around Pham Ngu Lao. If you've got more cash to spend on a bed, you’ll be pleased with the hotels around Dong Khoi Street. Ho Chi Minh City is a hive of activity, with market stalls, al fresco cafes, and sidewalk vendors lining the streets. It's an area made for exploring, so follow our tips and don't be afraid to lose yourself in this exciting part of the world.

  • Samoan Travel Guide – When to Travel to Pacific Islands

    Samoa is a tropical paradise, where life moves at a snail’s pace to please both the locals and tourists alike. Such a beautiful part of Oceania is a pleasure to visit at any time of year, but you may like to consider a few factors before you set off.

    Most tourists travel to Samoa with dreams of clear blue skies and warm sunny days.

    But if you visit during December or January, rainy weather may spoil your picture-perfect paradise. Between November and April, the humidity also makes it a little hard to enjoy that tropical heat. The weather is optimal between May and October, a time which happily coincides with most of the island's fun festivals. If big game fishing is your thing, you might like to travel during May to see the Samoa International Game Fishing Tournament. The rising of the palolo, which sees palolo worms rise from the coral reefs, happens in October or November. It might sound a bit disgusting, but these worms are eaten as a delicacy the way caviar is in the rest of the world. Even if you don't want to partake in the dish, watching their ascendancy is fascinating. But the biggest event in Samoa is the Teuila Festival, held every September. This is a spectacle of local culture, with fire knife dancing, choirs, float parades, traditional sports and more all adding to the fun. May to October is Samoa's dry period, and the peak of the Pacific Island's tourist season. Yet thankfully, most tourist operators don't raise their prices at this time of year. That makes some careful planning for the weather and activities sound even more enticing.