Travel 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.
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One 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.
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Compensation 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.
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While 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!
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If 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.
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Los 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.
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Most airlines offer frequent flyer programs which allow their passengers to earn miles when flying. These programs work really well for frequent travelers, who are rewarded with points for every flight they take.
But even if you’re not a frequent flyer, a great way to accrue airline rewards is by applying for frequent flyer credit cards. This type of program is geared towards rewarding card holders with miles that they can use for their future travels, earning miles based on the $$$ you spend.
If you’ve made the decision to apply for a frequent flyer credit card, or are interested in how it works, we’ve put together an overview on how to earn miles based on most airline credit cards.
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Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Meliá Hotels International is one of the largest hotel companies in the world and the largest hotel chain in Spain.
With more than 375 hotels in 43 countries, their hotels offer everything from the most exclusive luxury through to family holidays. But with such a large portfolio, finding a hotel room in a Melia Hotel for a good price can prove to be quite stressful.
With brands like Meliá, Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, Paradisus, Innside by Meliá, TRYP by Wyndham, Sol Hotels and Club Meliá, here are the top 4 ways to save money on your next Melia Hotel Stay!
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Millions of travelers around the world already know and love TripAdvisor for its millions of traveler reviews. The platform is a fabulous resource for insights into attractions, restaurants, hotels, and making better decisions when planning a trip.
And a lot of the time, I’ve found that the information on TripAdvisor is often more up to date than a company’s own website. It’s truly become the Google of the travel world. Our ultimate go-to.
It’s no secret that most travelers will eventually end up on TripAdvisor when planning their vacation, but they’ve recently rolled out some pretty incredible features meaning you can book your whole trip too. That’s right – TripAdvisor is now much more than just traveler reviews!
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I’ve always loved visiting Vegas – though not for the gambling, shot gun weddings or party scene on the strip. But because there’s so much competition from one hotel to the next, it’s a unique chance to stay in luxury for an affordable price.
But nothing has ever been this affordable – discount travel site Hotwire has gone a little crazy (but let’s face it, Vegas inspires all kinds of crazy!) and launched a ‘Million Dollar Sale’ – they’re investing a million dollars to offset the cost of 5 star hotels so travelers can book them at just $50 a night!!!
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Globalization has led to an increasing number of people working in foreign lands, often far away from countries they call home. And one factor that connects most expats, no matter where they live, is the need to send money abroad.
The reasons, of course, tend to vary. These may include paying bills, making mortgage payments, or simply sending money to family members or friends.
Sending money from one country to another has evolved considerably over the last two decades, so expats get to choose from different options now. Whether you want to know the best way to send money to India, to Australia, or China, these are your options for sending money overseas.
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One of my biggest tips for hearing about cheap flights is to sign up for airline newsletters, as they send deal alerts and information on sales. An issue however with this approach is that the deals are rarely relevant to my location, and between the 50 odd airlines who send me emails, my inbox overflows.
Though after signing up for emails from a newcomer called Next Vacay, I’ve been able to go through my massive list of airline subscriptions and hit unsubscribe.
The subscription economy is booming at the moment, and companies like Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime are leaving competitors behind. So the emergence of the subscription model in the travel industry was only a matter of time.
Leading with this idea, NextVacay is an new, online and personalized travel agency that aims to make air travel more affordable. It works off a subscription model of $25 per year and supplies real time sales, deals and error fares (those absurdly cheap flights posted as a mistake by the airline) directly to your inbox, according to your home base airport.
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Traveling to Thailand is one of the most exotic trips you can take, and luckily, it’s a very easy country to experience on a budget. Even first times travelers can easily spend under 100 USD a day, and that includes your hotel, activities and transportation!
There are many ways to save money while traveling in Thailand, but here are 7 tips for the budget traveler to come in under budget.
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Iceland has become somewhat of a trend in recent years, and as with any destination which has seen a recent surge in tourism, it’s quite difficult to find great value accommodation. Difficult, though not impossible. Especially if you’re looking at Iceland’s hostels.
With some of the highest standards of hostel accommodation in the world (in terms of cleanliness, character, rooms and facilities), if you’re heading to Iceland, it’s a no brainer to book a hostel. And if you’re looking for Reykjavík’s cream of the crop, we recommend a stay at the Loft Hostel.
Offering a range of dorms, twins and private rooms, it has a modern, clean interior, a buzzing vibe, and a great location right in the middle of the city’s bar, restaurant and cafe district. It was also voted the world’s best HI (Hostelling International) hostel in 2014. Awards aside, this is what else it’s got.
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In 2016, Australians took 8.5 million overseas trips. We budgeted an average of $4,607 AUD per trip, according to the Visa International Travel Intentions Survey, which also ranked Australians fifth in the world for spending on international travel.
With so much money involved, creating a good travel budget is essential. There are many things to take into account, but these tips should guide you.
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Tasmania lies roughly 400 km from mainland Australia however it seems like a world away; a magical destination where you can escape the crowds of Australia’s main cities, and access vast wilderness and astounding natural wonders like no-where else in the world.
There’s a relaxing pureness about this small island State, and its towns transport you back to simpler times where modern stresses cease to exist. It definitely offers all the modern conveniences you could hope for, but has somehow managed to maintain its unique culture and charm. Managed to preserve it’s World Heritage Areas, wildlife, beautiful landforms, natural and cultural history, and brought them into modern times.
But it’s difficult to really experience all Tasmania has to offer without a car, so there was no question about how we would get to the Island of the Devil; we would journey overnight from the mainland on Spirit of Tasmania. By transporting ourselves along with our personal vehicle and all our gear we were assured of getting the most rewarding experience Tassie could offer.
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Visiting Barcelona and exploring all it has to offer doesn’t have to be expensive.
With these top freebies, you’ll never be short of something to do without breaking the bank.
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If you live in the U.S., chances are you’ve been to Vegas. The city was purpose-built to be available to anyone, from the budget conscious to splurging high rollers. Sadly the same cannot be said for the gaming gem of Europe.
If you’re from the European side of the pond, it’s more likely you dreamed of visiting the glamorous city of Monte Carlo. Though most people are content in their dreams, believing they would have to forfeit an arm and a leg to make this trip come true.
But this is totally not true. It’s absolutely possible to visit Monte Carlo even during the most popular month of the year – and on a budget you can afford.
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Cuba tourism is booming now that their relationship has warmed with the United States, and a lot more people are starting to plan travel to the island.
Though many people are surprised that Cuba is not a cheap country to travel through. And it’s not, if you stay in fancy hotels and eat at the typical tourist taunts. Group tour packages run between $3,000 – $5,000 right now and many times this price doesn’t even include your flight!
Though as US travel restrictions are loosened and tourism floodgates open, there are many ways for you to travel through Cuba on the cheap. And, if you follow through to the giveaway at the bottom of the post, ViaHero is giving residents of Canada and the United States a chance to travel to Cuba for free!
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Did you know that in the 1950’s people almost never went out to eat? Not only was it too expensive, there also weren’t too many places to go. Going out to eat and even enjoying a soft drink was something that most people enjoyed once a month or so – at the most.
But today, people eat out on average 4 to 5 times per week and spend around $1200 a year on fast food alone. If you’re on a road trip without an oven or even a microwave, that number can be a lot higher. If you want to save a little money on food costs, here are some suggestions for your next road trip.
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Enjoying a hike in Asia? Kicking back on a beach in the Caribbean? Who has time for taxes? However, reading this can save you thousands of dollars in unwanted penalties and fees.
Being a U.S. citizen or resident alien has its benefits. There is the right to religious freedom, freedom of speech and the right to live permanently in the United States. Those are the positives.
The downside? Well, contrary to what many people believe, U.S. citizens or resident aliens are taxed on their worldwide income regardless of where they live. The typical tax deadline is April 15. However, if you are outside of the country on that date, the IRS will allow a 2-month extension to file your tax return and pay any tax due.
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The excruciating misery of confined legs and sore necks, lack of sleep and constant anxiety attacks – these are some of the reasons people don’t look forward to long-haul bus rides.
And while some companies have made the experience a lot easier, with facilities like toilets and TV, that doesn’t change how terrible it can be to find yourself stuck on a bus. It’s one of those ideas you can usually file under “seemed like a good idea at the time”.
Most people are happy acknowledging that the long haul bus plain sucks, though there are many reasons people continue to travel this way; they can’t afford or don’t want to spend their money on expensive plane tickets, or, to reach some destinations, there may not be any other choice.
Luckily, there are simple ways to make the experience more comfortable and fun. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you how to survive long-haul bus.
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Budgeting for travel can be one of the most exciting parts of a trip – it’s the first step in the planning process, and a great way to get psyched about your destination as you start your research.
Though it can also be quite intimidating, especially if you’re traveling for the first time. There are a lot of costs involved and can be quite a lot to consider.
But it’s incredibly important to sit down and run numbers before you commit to taking a trip – there’s nothing worse than running out of money halfway through and having to max out your credit card, beg family and friends to send money, or clean toilets to cover the hotel bill (been there, done that, you don’t want to follow in my footsteps).
To help you out, use the following tips to budget for an upcoming trip.
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Travelling is fun but it doesn’t come cheap. If you plan to travel for several months or more, you may need to pick up another job.
Working on the go has never been easier with technology that allows us to communicate from across the globe. Pick up a job that will help you financially and also allow you room to explore.
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Let’s be honest, it’s a claim that most hotel search engines make, that their prices are the lowest you’ll find anywhere else online. But to date it hasn’t really mattered which search engine you choose – from the Booking.com’s to Agoda and Expedia, it’s much of a muchness, and you usually end up paying the same price.
This is because there’s very little room for hotel search engines to undercut each other; each hotel has an online login and sets their own price. The search engine then gets a small % of the booking, around 10% of the rate. And there are so many websites competing with each other that they’re usually all offering the lowest price.
So when we hear that a hotel search engine claims to offer better prices than other third party booking sites, I’m skeptical. It would take a fresh and creative approach to the established business model to be able to offer big enough savings to pull people away from their already bookmarked sites.
But a company called Sears Vacations has done just that; come up with an original approach which will noticeably save you the most.
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