Spend the Night on an Archaeological Dig Site: Sydney Harbour YHA Hostel Review
As far as budget accommodation goes in Sydney, you can’t find a hostel with a better reputation than the Sydney Harbour YHA.
With a killer location, killer facilities, and that million dollar view (think sushi from a rooftop terrace directly overlooking the Bridge and Opera House), booking a room is the best choice you’ll make.
But not only is the hostel clean, affordable, friendly, with spacious, stylish communal areas and all the amenities you’d expect from a modern hostel, it also wraps around the archaeological remains of colonial Sydney.
The Big Dig Archaeological Site is an area of land with archaeological remains from the late 18th century, the time of Australia’s first European settlement. The excavations are part of the hostel itself, and this remains one of the largest urban archaeological dig sites in Australia.
With rooms built around the excavated foundations of over 30 homes and shops from 1795, and artifacts on display throughout it’s halls, this is one of few opportunities in the world to spend the night on an archaeological dig site.
read moreEuropean Vanlife: Tips for Taking an RV Holiday Around Europe
The pandemic has forced us to rethink how we do many things in our lives, from working and schooling remotely to social distancing wherever we go.
Travel too has been greatly impacted and many are now seeking out COVID-friendly holidays as travel restrictions ease; looking to adventurous RV holidays as a way to avoid hotels and public transport, joining the millions who have already embraced vanlife.
Vanlife is the movement that’s rocking social media. It’s about simplifying your life and realizing what’s truly important. It’s easy to see why so many people are embracing the lifestyle as it offers a great deal of freedom, flexibility, and adventure.
Renting an RV is a great way to decide whether you want to commit to vanlife as a lifestyle or simply wish to experience it as a travel break from everyday life. The flexibility allows you to change your plans at a whim; stay an extra day in a place that invigorates you or easily escape somewhere where the weather may not be cooperating.
If you want to experience a holiday where the possibilities are endless, check out these top tips for renting an RV and taking a vanlife holiday around Europe.
read more5 Secrets of Successful Travel Hackers + The Cheat Code You’ve Been Looking For
If you’re anything like me, one minute you’re typing up that report and the next thing you know you’re staring out the window imagining paddleboarding with sea lions off the Canadian coast or enjoying tapas at an outdoor cafe in Barcelona.
For most of us, making those daydreams come true takes a lot of work. You have to make a plan, figure out what the trip will cost, and then save up enough money to make it happen, all while crossing your fingers your safari money doesn’t end up as “fixing the broken car” money instead.
And then there are those travel hackers – the ones who manage to visit 10 countries every year and post about how awesome and easy it is to pay for first-class flights and 5-star hotels using credit card rewards.
It’s true – you can use credit cards and points and miles to take amazing trips for free, but travel hacking has a steep learning curve. You have to put in a lot of time and pay close attention to detail to consistently earn enough rewards to cover your travels.
In this post, I’ll help with the learning curve by sharing five secrets of successful travel hackers, plus a new app that shortcuts the learning process and instantly travel hacks for you. (Psssttt … that’s the part you really don’t want to miss!)
read moreBest Side Hustle Jobs to Save Up for Travel
International travel may be coming back soon, but that doesn’t mean your travel fund will necessarily be ready. Many people have seen their finances take a hit and are now looking for ways they can earn extra cash to save up for travel.
Thankfully, there are many side hustle jobs out there that will allow you to earn quick money on a schedule that works for you without having to seek out another constrictive part-time job which may force you to work more than you are willing or able to.
The best part of many side hustle jobs is that they don’t require a degree or very much training if any at all. You may even be able to turn a hobby or something you enjoy into cash.
Whether it’s starting a blog, selling items around your home that are otherwise just collecting dust, or renting out a spare bedroom in your home, there are many easy ways to turn any extra free time into money you can put towards memorable travel experiences. Here are some of my most recommended side hustle jobs.
read moreQuick List of Travel Sites that Accept Bitcoin Payments
Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer currency that is borderless and decentralized (not controlled by anyone), and the tourism industry has really embraced this new age way to pay.
Already travelers are able to pay for flights, hotel rooms, tours, and more with their secure digital wallets, and this may just become the go-to form of payment for travelers.
Wondering which travel sites accept bitcoin payments? The following is a quick list to reference of those who have taken up the digital currency and accept it for their services.
read moreTop Ways to Help You Save For Your Next Trip
Are you looking to enjoy more travel but finding money is a bit tight? There are a number of ways you can learn to simplify your life by reducing your daily expenses in order to help you save up for travel.
By learning how to differentiate between essential expenses and unnecessary purchases, along with changing what you put value on, you may be able to enjoy more travel without having to find a second job or sell everything you’ve worked hard for.
We’ve all read those articles about individuals or couples selling their homes and nearly all their belongings in order to travel the world. While the notion may seem romantic and adventurous, for many people it just isn’t realistic and does come with obvious drawbacks and challenges.
Sure, saving can be difficult, but you don’t have to sell everything you own in order to afford taking a holiday. There are many things you can do in your daily life that will help you cut your everyday expenses and allow you to save for the travel you desire.
By setting goals and learning how to budget, along with tracking your spending and cutting costs in certain areas, you too can free up some of your income to allocate to travel. Here are some of the best ways that will allow you to save money for your yearly travel fund.
read moreReasons to Start a Passionate Love Affair With Standard Luggage (Best Carry-on Backpack)
It’s one thing we all crave; a passionate love affair that will still make us smile even when we’re 90; that electric attraction where you can’t keep your hands off one another when together, and every minute spent apart is an unbearable state of intense longing.
As travelers, we fall head over heels quite often; swept up by the romance of intrepid adventure, and easily addicted to the high of new discovery.
But in terms of an affair to change your life completely, and a relationship where you fit together so naturally it feels like it was always meant to be, today I’d like to introduce you to Standard Luggage.
A durable carry-on backpack designed to fit the maximum dimensions of most airlines (that’s right – it’s big, but not so big that it doesn’t fit), expandable from 35-45 liters, Standard Luggage have created a travel bag so stylish and practical that you’ll remember this bag when you’re 90! (here’s the link).
It’s convertible to be used as three different bag styles, made from ballistic nylon to be both durable and water resistant, and includes a huge range of add-ons which enhance the travel experience without charging extra.
And if you fantasize about plenty of well organized, practical pockets (because which traveler doesn’t), you’ll never crave unzipping another piece of luggage.
read moreGuide to Buying Airline Tickets with Bitcoin
The future of paying for travel may not be with cash or credit cards, rather with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The tourism industry has embraced this new age way to pay, with travelers already being able to pay for flights, hotel rooms, tours, and more with their secure digital wallets.
There are many advantages to using this decentralized digital currency as a way to pay for travel and as more and more airlines, hotel brands, and other travel-related companies join in on the acceptance, using Bitcoin may quickly become the go-to form of payment for travelers.
The industry is at the forefront when it comes to accepting cryptocurrency and more and more travelers are purchasing Bitcoin to pay for their travel.
Here are just some of the current airlines and travel booking websites where you can use your Bitcoin to get traveling once again.
read moreGetting Paid to Write About Your Travels
Many people pack a journal to document their travels, as it offers you the ability to later reminisce about the exotic flavors, sights, and sounds you encounter. More and more travelers, however, are beginning to also get paid for their travel writing.
Whether you’ve scribbled a few lines in a notebook or are an experienced writer, there are many ways in which both amateur and professional writers can earn cash for writing about travel which can help fund continued journeys around the world.
I’ve gone further, and for me it’s become a full-time career.
With a bit of self-motivation and willingness to think outside the box when it comes to landing online writing jobs, you too can join the millions of other travelers that are getting paid for their stories which are helping to fund their future travels. Here are some of the top ways you can get paid for your travel writing.
read moreConnect With Other Travelers to Exchange Your Foreign Currency: Download the Money Atlas App and Make Money!
How much money have you forgotten about? Money that’s sitting in your drawers, leftover from overseas trips? Euros, Pounds, Canadian Dollars, Japanese Yen? Maybe you’ve got a couple of Australian gold coins with a kangaroo and emu engraved on them.
Almost every traveler I know returns home with a pocket full of foreign coins. And they either get lost in the washing machine, or go in a draw for ‘when I’ll visit again’. But have you ever visited again? Or have you been sitting on hundreds of dollars worth of coins and notes for years on end? (Though it doesn’t need to be hundreds, I’d love to exchange my currency even if it was only worth 10!)
Fortunately now, there’s a cool app where you can sell your coins to others looking to buy them! It’s called MoneyAtlas (here for iPhone / here on Android), and you can connect with other travelers to exchange your foreign currency, at a price you set! Skip the inflated exchange rates at the airport, and make a deal traveler to traveler!
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