Sydney is one of the most amazing cities in the world, but it can also be one of the most expensive.
From a morning cup of coffee to a bunk in a hostel, the cost of visiting Sydney often catches travelers off guard, and might be a little bit higher than you were expecting.
However, you don’t have to let a trip to Sydney break the bank! Here are our top tips and tricks for saving money while visiting this incredible city.
Read MoreWhile it’s true that the majority of Australia’s population and tourists can be found along the stunning coastline, you’ll find the nation’s true culture and heart in the Red Centre.
Follow this helpful guide to obtaining frequent flyer points to make your next Outback adventure as affordable as it will be memorable.
I’ll show you how to earn points, use the pay+points option, and even buy points to top up your Qantas or Virgin frequent flyer points.
Read MoreImagine this: you’re scrolling through Facebook or swiping through your Instagram stories and you see one of your friends bragging about how they just booked a flight from D.C to New Zealand for $327 roundtrip.
You do a double take and wonder “How did they do it? Are fares that low even possible?”
They are indeed, and that’s what you call a mistake fare.
Mistake fares are exactly that – a mistake. It’s when airlines publish incorrect ticket prices like this $327 roundtrip from Washington D.C to New Zealand. They’re great for us as travelers, but not so much for the airlines.
Wondering how to catch these elusive fares? Here is everything you need to know about them if you want to visit your dream destinations for cheap.
Read MoreWhether you’re renting a car at home for a day trip, or abroad for a longer journey, the numbers can add up really quick. Especially when you consider the daily cost of the car rental, paying for gas, and any extras you may need like the use of a GPS, baby seat, or exceeding your mileage.
While some destinations have great options for public transportation like buses or trains, others leave you with few options but to rent a car. And what are you to do when you’ve already spent so much on a trip and you don’t want to overwhelm your budget even more?
This guide will share the best tips for saving money when renting a car. There are a surprising amount of discounts out there if you know where to look, as well as tricks for saving when you book.
Read MoreTraveling on a budget may be easy for some, but to many people this can be quite challenging. But when it comes to Greece, you’ll be pleased to know that you don’t have to resort to wild camping to travel on the cheap. All it requires is some proper planning.
Greece is an incredibly popular tourist destination, though despite this, the country has taken a hit economically, and travel here is incredibly cheap. When compared to other European destinations, it is a bargain and it gives you an array of things to do on a small budget.
If you are looking to visit Greece, here are our favorite frugal tips to get you started.
Read MoreFor those who aim to see the world but have limited funds, hostels are a lifesaver. These budget accommodations offer a good night’s sleep to those on the go, offering a variety of rooming options at various price points.
London is an expensive city, in which a hostel can make a significant impact on your travel budget. Here’s some expert advice from Safestay London for choosing the hostel of your dreams and avoiding the horror stories that deter so many from this great travel option.
Read MoreThere’s a lot to think about if you’re about to become an international student and spend time studying abroad. You have to plan classes, plane tickets, and so much more.
However, the planning doesn’t stop when you are settled into your new home. As you go through your semester abroad you need to be able to budget your money wisely so you can get as much out of your stay as possible.
Being on a budget is never easy. It especially isn’t easy if you are a young student, itching to spend your whole time exploring a new country. But just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your overseas semester to the fullest.
With these tips, you will be able to balance life so you don’t go over budget.
Read MoreHumans have always been a nomadic species. Our adventurous spirit has long seen us travel the world in search of new lands and experiences. Even today we yearn to escape the confines of our regular lives in search of new cities and countries.
While travelling to a destination allows you a glimpse into a different culture and way of life, choosing to live abroad takes the experience to a whole other level. You’re able to fully immerse yourself into a destination, and gain a behind the scenes look at what a country is really like; the experience opens your mind to new ideas, helps you grow as a person, and gives you a greater sense of self confidence.
Whether you choose to backpack across Europe for 12 months or migrate to another country permanently, you become what is known as an expatriate (expat for short); a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than their own.
To live abroad is something everyone should experience at some point in their lives, but you do have certain responsibilities as an expat. And one of those is staying on top of tax.
Read MoreIt feels like there are a million different secrets to finding cheap flights these days, and everyone has a different opinion. Some people will tell you to make your booking on a Tuesday, some might tell you to use an incognito window, or that you should cozy up to an air hostess for their friends and family discount!
But the one secret I’m loving at the moment are cheap flight subscriptions, where there’s a team of travel nerds who run algorithms and send you email alerts when they find crazy low prices.
I’m signed up to a number of these subscriptions, though I definitely have my favorites. And one of them is Dollar Flight Club. While many subscription services exist offering notifications on flights only out of America, Dollar Flight Club is something for everyone.
They search the web for flight deals leaving your home airport, where-ever you’re based in the world, and the deals they find usually save you around $500 on international flights.
Read MoreBooking flights can either be impulsive, or carefully planned out, and years in the making. But either way, it’s something that almost every traveler will have some degree of experience with.
After 10 years + years of travel, booking flights has become close to second nature, though even as a frequent traveler, there are a number of things you really need to consider before clicking that final purchase icon on your screen. In some cases it could be a real money saver, in others save you from a nightmare flight.
So whether you’re a first time traveler, or a frequent traveler who often makes bookings without stopping to think, make sure you consider the following five things.
Read MoreCryptocurrency seems to be this years hottest commodity, and if you have some, there are several ways to use them while traveling.
The recent surge of Bitcoin stock has started somewhat of a crypo-craze, and left everyone kicking themelves for not having bought in 8 years ago.
“In a nutshell, cryptocurrency is digital money secured with encryption and is only accessible by authorized parties. As opposed traditional currencies, cryptocurrency does not operate through central banks. It can be used online for direct buyer-to-seller transactions without a centralized intermediary, known as blockchain.”
While many industries have been quick to adopt cryptocurrencies, the travel industry isn’t far behind them.
Read MoreOne of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands, the Hyatt is an excellent place to spend your vacation, honeymoon, or business trip.
For those who don’t know the name, they have a string of high-class properties located in various parts of the world, and are a highly trusted brand. For those who are familiar with the name, chances are that you know that spending a night or two at a Hyatt property doesn’t come cheaply.
But despite the expense of most Hyatt hotels, we do have a couple of tricks up our sleeve for booking rooms at a discount.
Read MoreSummer is upon us (and by “us”, I mean you lucky folk who live in the Northern Hemisphere), and now is the time to figure out where you want to spend June, July and August.
And since we’re only 6 – 7 weeks out, you might already have a destination in mind. Perhaps you see yourself with a sun hat on a beach in Ibiza. Or spending days discovering ancient churches in Rome.
But for those of you who haven’t yet decided where you’ll spend your summer, there’s a fairly easy way to decide. We personally choose our next destination based on where we can find the cheapest flights. And the following is a free subscription we use to find them.
Read MoreTravelling to a distant place far from home is becoming more and more popular, especially among the younger generation who have realized the benefits that can be reaped by integrating yourself into a different culture and way of life.
And they’re not wrong! Travel offers unique life experiences and skills that become invaluable in life later on. But while this is a fabulous opportunity, students are often strapped for cash, and don’t often have the time to save money because they are too busy studying.
That said, loads of students manage to travel, and afford their adventures without loaning money.
So if you’re a broke student, but dream of travel all the same, we’ve put together a range of budget travel tips to help.
Read MoreIt’s a popular held belief that in life, you get what you pay for, and that’s usually true when it comes to budget airlines; with lengthy delays, hidden charges and uncomfortable seating, picking a good low-cost airline can sometimes be akin to playing a game of roulette.
But there are some budget friendly airlines who are bucking this trend, and have dedicated themselves to providing an exemplary service – despite the fact that you’re not paying for it.
So if you’re looking for the best of both worlds, the following are the world’s best budget airlines; all living examples that low-cost flying doesn’t always have to be limited to a no-fills experience. Bon voyage!
Read MoreTraveling around the world without going broke is totally possible with diligence, flexibility, and a few travel hacks.
The Internet has allowed travelers to find the best deals at a touch of a button, but sometimes you need to understand a little about how various travel companies work, such as airlines and hotels, in order to really cut costs and get the lowest price available.
PSECU created this thrifty traveler cheat sheet with best times to travel, cheap places to stay, and a list of travel deal sites. They list a bunch of search hacks to try to find better deals and to save you money. Keep this handy when you book your trip. It could save you hundreds of dollars!
Read MoreFor most people, one of the biggest obstacles to travel is figuring out the money. But you don’t need to be rich to travel the world; a lot of the time what it comes down to is reassessing priorities.
Saving money can be a daunting task, but there are many ways to cut costs, and with a couple of creative strategies you might be amazed at how quickly you can build a travel fund.
Read MoreVisiting a city that is rich in culture and history like Madrid can be costly, but as tourists we want to soak up as much of the culture and vibrancy of the city as we can before we hop back on a plane to our lives back home.
It can be difficult to plan a city break on a budget, but did you know that with a little research you can experience the city of Madrid without spending a single Euro?!
Here we’ll give you a few ideas and tips of how you can fill your Madrid break to the brim with the very best of Spanish culture – for free!
Read MoreThe idea that the internet is awash with travel deals could easily be one of the greatest myths of our time (right next to drop bears, and that Walt Disney invented Mickey Mouse. I know you’re questioning me on that one, so to set the record straight, it was Ub Iwerks).
Sure, there are exceptions, but once you realize that there are only two companies who control the industry, it becomes clear that the travel deals we get giddy about aren’t really true deals. They’re very clever marketing.
But that doesn’t mean that cheaper rates aren’t available. They’re just not available to you (until now). There’s a huge difference between wholesale travel rates and the retail markup that we as everyday travelers pay. Wholesale rates are about 70% cheaper. Want access? Here’s how!
Read MoreTravel is an incredible experience. The sense of freedom is exhilarating as you escape the confinements of your job and monotonous everyday. But unfortunately travel can be just as expensive as it is exciting.
Of course you want to look good as you wander the streets of Paris, or relax on the beach in Phuket, but purchasing high-end designer labels can really eat away at your travel budget, and less budget usually means eating ramen noodles out of a youth hostel!
So we’re in favor of ditching the designer for the destination, and thoroughly enjoying your travel experience. There have been many experiments conducted that prove spending money on experiences instead of things result in more overall happiness. And a great place to start is with your sunglasses.
Read MoreOne of my biggest pieces of advice for booking a hotel has always been to ask yourself why. And the answer should be beyond the obvious “I need a place to stay for the night”.
Because millions of people are booking into hotels every night. But how many of them are actually getting their choice right?
The solution? Nustay; a new hotel search engine which has 1.2 million hotels at rates cheaper than any other online booking site (seriously). And, by crunching data about your interests, it matches you with hotels which reflect your travel style.
Read MoreCompensation for delayed and canceled flights is not a new thing. In fact, in many parts of the world it’s actually a requirement that the airline compensates you when they delay your flight.
However just like any other compensation claim, you will have to ensure that you follow the right procedure to increase your chances of getting the money that you deserve.
To help you identify when you might be entitled to compensation, we have put together the following guide, with tips on how to file your claim and the top airlines that compensate their clients for delayed flights.
Read MoreWhile there are many careers that will not afford you a care-free lifestyle, or give you the option to work from the comfort of a hammock, in Bali – there are plenty that do (cue the ‘OH. MY. GOSH, no WAY!’)
Check out our list, and maybe quit your job to follow your dreams in 2018!
Read MoreIf you’re anything like me, you get a headache when it comes to understanding the specs of today’s cameras. I try my hardest to watch YouTube tutorials in an effort to become wiser, but end up frustrated and feeling as though I am that single kid in the back of the class that just doesn’t get it.
Yes I want a camera that records good images and video, I am after all a travel blogger who needs to share my experiences with the world. My goal, however, is to inspire others to travel, not to enter photo competitions or create the next Academy Award winning masterpiece.
We’ve all become so programmed to think we need to keep up with the crowd by shelling out hundreds if not thousands of dollars on the latest well known name brand camera equipment. But there comes a stage where you wonder if we really need all these new fancy camera features and if so, does it really have to cost us an arm and a leg to get it?
Personally, I’ve gotten to the stage where I would rather spend more on adventure travel and less on action camera’s.
Read MoreLos Angeles to Dubai for $260? Chicago to London for $208? It feels as though more and more people are cracking the code for finding cheap flights. And it’s difficult to be happy for your friends who got tickets from Miami to Paris for $79, when you’re secretly thinking “I hate you!“.
But what I’ve realized from chatting with travelers recently, is that it’s not necessarily that they know how to find cheap flights. It’s that they know a guy. Because they know a guy, they save hundreds of dollars on flights, and all they have to do is sit back with a cup of tea, email open, and wait for the travel deals to arrive.
But for fear of missing out on really cheap flights, I finally figured out the identity of this guy! His name is Josh, and he created the Cheap Fly Club for anyone who wants free notifications on stupidly cheap flights.
Read More
I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!
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