Tag

travel hacks

Browsing

While most of us are spending the majority of our time working to pay bills, there are others that are spending their time the way the want. For whatever reason; whether they have made millions in the stock market or have hustled their way to building a lifestyle business, some people just get to do amazing things in their free time. When the rest of us have some free time, we usually try to spend it with family or friends, get caught up on housework or do a little travelling. It’s hard to see the world in 2 weeks a year though. But what if you started looking out for opportunities to do things that seemed larger than life, but didn’t come with the price tag that most of us can’t afford anyway? Would you do it? Sure you would. Money is what stops us from doing so many of the things we want in life.
Here are three ways you can check the bigger items off on your bucket list without having to go very far or spend a lot of money.

1. Travel with a Group

If travelling is on your to-do list, the most affordable way to do it (besides having someone pay for you) is to travel with a large group. Group travel offers affordable alternative pricing on everything from meals to lodging. You can bunk with up to 4 people in a room to save even more money. Split meals with your kids, take a bus tour to save on rental cars and gas, and stick to the path less travelled. If you venture to popular tourist destinations, you’ll get hit with tourist prices; however, if you travel to the areas outside of the popular destinations, you can find much more affordable lodging and meal options. We will be sharing more about this in the upcoming post that will be published very soon!

2. Take Part in a Weekend Festival Event

There’s always some kind of celebration planned during the festive seasons, and there are even many more events planned all over Singapore! You can indulge in some soulful Japanese food at the Matsuri Race Village during the Mizuno Ekiden Run 2017, watch the thrilling Cirque du Soleil KOOZA circus performance under the Big Top Tent next to Marina Bay Sands, or take an eerie haunted walking tour at Universal Studios Singapore’s Halloween Horror Night. Well, and who would miss the biennial Singapore Airshow where you can view some of the fastest jets in the world? There’s nothing like feeling like you are being transported out of one world and being plopped into another world. Hearty food, thrilling circus performance, eerie ghostly adventures, and roaring loud planes; these things should be on everyone’s bucket lists!

3. Eat Something Exotic

Exotic is a relative term, of course, but the point is that you get outside your comfort zone and eat something you would never normally eat! Similar to travelling in groups, going out to try new foods is best practiced in groups. This way, bills can be split, people can order different entrees and appetizers to taste and you can have a great laugh with friends and family about how awesome or horrible a new food is. And of course, lots of debate and lively conversation is sure to accompany these kinds of experiences, so you won’t be bored!

adult, book, business

When you take a trip abroad, it can sometimes seem like a bit of a waste to stay in one area. It’s not often that you get the chance to explore an exotic country, and you’ll want to make the most of it. One of the best ways to really see a country, is to go on a driving tour. It takes a lot more planning than your average holiday, but it’ll definitely be worth it in the end. If you’re itching to hit the open road and get to know a new country, here are the things you’ll have to sort out before you go.

Licence and Insurance

In most countries, your home driving licence won’t be accepted. You’ll need to get yourself an international driving permit, that gives you temporary permission to drive in that country. It is also worth checking what the legal driving age is. The age can vary quite a lot in different countries, and you don’t want to get caught driving underage.

You also need to look into your insurance. If you’re lucky, then your current policy might already cover you when you go abroad. If not, then you will need to extend it. By taking defensive driving traffic school online, you can cut the cost of your new policy, and brush up on your skills before doing some long drives.

Driving Rules

Don’t drive on the wrong side of the road. It might sound obvious, but some people still end up doing it. There are some countries around the world that drive on the opposite side of the road, so make sure you know if you’re going to one of them or not. You should also look into the road signs, as they might not be the same as ours. If you get pulled over for speeding, they won’t let you off because you read the signs wrong.

Plan Your Route Before You Go

It’s good to have a bit of flexibility, but it’s still best to plan a few stops along the way. If you don’t, you could end up wasting a lot of your holiday driving around aimlessly. If you are going with family or friends, try letting everybody pick one stop each, that way nobody will be disappointed. There are plenty of great travel apps out there that can help you with your route planning. Roadtrippers can plan a route for you using google maps and then show you what sights there are to see along the way.

Budget

People often make the mistake of thinking that, because they are saving money by driving, they can spend what they like. If you aren’t careful, you’ll run out of money halfway through the drive. Make sure you account for gas, accommodation, and food, as well as keeping a good chunk to the side for fun stuff. If you’re struggling, use a travel budget planner to help you.

oh canada//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
Image Source

Canada is one of those places you think you know a lot about. You know that it’s home to the Niagara Falls, and that the CN Tower in Ontario was once the tallest free-standing building in the world. You even know that Canadians are supposed to be a friendly, law-abiding bunch, who love nothing more than to watch a thrilling game of hockey, so you could be forgiven for thinking that there is nothing surprising about Canada at all. You’d be wrong.

Canada is actually one of the most unique places you can travel abroad to, and as you would expect from the second largest country in the world, it has a lot of one-of-a-kind experiences to offer. Here are just a handful of them:

Howling with Wolves

When you’re applying for a Canadian visa at this website, the last thing you probably think you’ll end up doing on your trip is howling with wolves, but you can if you want to. Wolves often have a bad reputation, After all, they’re powerful creatures, who like to travel in packs. However, they are also very intelligent, interesting creatures, and spending some time in close proximity with them can be a very rewarding experience.

In August, there are a number of Wolf Howls held in Algonquin Park, where professional park rangers will holler out their best wolf howls before all of the tour members head out in special vehicles to catch a glimpse of the beautiful animals in their natural surroundings. It really is amazing.

Walk on the Seabed

Rocks from Bay of Fundy Explored.//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Image Source

If you want to ensure that your next trip to Canada is a truly memorable one, what could be better than walking on the ocean floor: Nothing, right? So head to the Bay of Fundy – home of the planet’s highest tides – and when the tide is low, you’ll be able to walk on the seabed, which is filled with interesting fossils, rock formations and, of course, an abundance of seaweed!

See a Dinosaur

No, Jurassic Park hasn’t become a reality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see a huge dinosaur! If you visit the fine city of Drumheller, which has been given one of the coolest nicknames ever – Dinosaur Valley – you can get up close and personal with a 151 foot long, 86 foot high dinosaur! Obviously, it’s dead, but still, impressive, right?

As well as taking a selfie or two with this mammoth creature, you can also spend some time digging the site where dinosaur bones have been found for more than 200 years. Who knows, you might find a whole new species!

Walk in the Footsteps of Vikings

Do you love your history? Do you think Vikings are really cool? Visit L’anse aux Meadow, and you’ll be able to walk in the footsteps of Lief – the son of Eric the Red. You’ll also get to see impressive icebergs, try out ax throwing Viking style and have dinner in a fun-filled Viking inspired diner. Just imagine how great the photos will be?

Have you been to Canada? What are your most unmissable activities and attractions?

Travel hacking is a term that is used to describe ways that travelers can save by using free deals, airline miles, elite benefits, and rewards. Traveling abroad can be very expensive; however, by using various methods for saving before and during your travels, it is possible to save a significant amount of cash. Travel hackers save while using rewards and miles, when checking into motels, while dining out, on transportation, and the secret is to know how!

The following tips are designed to help you make the most of ‘travel hacking’ on your next trip abroad.

Hacking Flights:

There are several ways to save money on airline tickets. The best way is to combine numerous strategies. Watch for great deals; many specials are available for short periods of time so it helps to stay flexible and open to the best opportunities. Use airline aggregators to check multiple sites and play with dates and times when you search. Once you have found a deal, go to the airline’s site to see if they offer even lower prices. Compare currencies, altered routes, and less familiar carriers that fly into smaller airports. Use frequent-flier credits when possible and fly for free! Many credit cards and member groups such as the PPS club provide exclusive benefits and privileges for travelers.

Hacking Accommodations:

Next to the cost of airfare, your accommodations are a major expense. Once again, there are several ways to ‘hack’ the costs. One way is to bid online for great rates through a travel navigating site. Once you’ve established the dates, start comparing other user’s winning bids on rooms and start bidding accordingly. Many credit cards provide bonus-points that can be redeemed, sometimes for cost-free accommodation. Additionally, ‘couch-surfing’ and ‘freeloading’ sites may help match you up with an amenable host. Other options include staying in hostels, house-sitting, ‘garden-camping’, and working for free room and board.

Hacking Food:

A good ways to save on food is to eat where the locals eat and purchase food from street vendors and local shops. Often you will experience some of the world’s best dining while seated in an outdoor café or in a ‘street stall.’ Many restaurants provide lunch specials and buffets. By moving your main meal to midday, it’s possible to save a significant amount. Whenever possible, buy fresh foods from markets and prepare your own dinners.

Hacking Transportation:

Tourist cards offer an ideal way to hack transportation expenses. Many of these cards provide free transportation around the cities via tramways, trains, ferries, and buses. Or you might want to share a rental car and split the costs, or get paid to move someone else’s car from one location to another. Whenever possible, walk!

Hacking the Extras:

Many credit cards provide bonuses on tourist attractions and amenities. It’s easy to hack the price of extras by watching for specials, locating free events, and by purchasing tourist cards for the cities where you plan to stay.

Plan ahead, save on airfare, check out the best deals, use credit card discounts, rewards, and exclusive benefits, and watch for free deals. Travel hacking has never been easier. Not only will you be able to make the most of it on your next trip abroad, the amount that you save can help you save toward future travels!