TOP 5 MONEY SAVING TRAVEL HACKS

(1) MONEY EXCHANGE

Never exchange your money in the airport. The rates are usually not great and you could end up paying more than you bargained for. It is best to do it in advance so you have time to compare the rates. Also, keep an eye on the exchange rate.

(2) KEEPING IN CONTACT

If you want to stay in touch with family and friends through making calls. It is strongly advised that you used the Whatsapp telephone feature. It uses a VOIp system so through the use of the Internet your calls will be completely free.

Whenever you wish to make a call, find a place with WiFi to avoid running up a huge bill. Also, don’t forget to turn off roaming on your phone. This is another cause of high phone bills when travelling.

(3) AIRPORT TAXIS

Airport taxis can be very expensive because the taxi drivers usually inflate the price. Before your trip, research the best ways to use public transport to get to your hotel. It is also an opportunity to hit the ground running when experiencing a new country. If you do insist on using a taxi from the airport make sure to negotiate on the price before entering the taxi. This is to ensure that you avoid getting an unexpected price that you did not budget for when you reach your destination.

 (4) SAVE MONEY ON FLIGHT TICKETS

Book your flights during the weekdays because it is a lot cheaper. Also, try not to book your flights during the weekends or public holidays, as the price will increase.

Sometimes airlines also do discount codes on their flights, so be on the lookout and search the Internet there are loads.

 (5) AVOID TOURIST TRAPS

Tourist traps are usually overhyped places where tourists go to eat and be entertained. Those places are usually really expensive. To avoid being ripped off check out the local things to see and do. Remember to do your research.

To truly enjoy the culture of the country or city that you are visiting eat the local food. It’s going to be much more affordable and will further add to the experience.

When you arrive at your destination. Go to the information centre or check with your hotel and they will usually have coupons and discount codes for different restaurants, theatres and tourist attractions.

HOW TO GET CHEAP FLIGHTS

Just wanted to give you guys some tips (below) on how to get cheap flights, especially for those of you who have made a commitment to seeing more of the World this year. Enjoy! :-)

Be Flexible

If you want cheap flights you have to be flexible on times, dates and even the destination. Skyscanner offers an option where the search engine will give you a list of affordable destinations within your budget.

Book Midweek

People tend to travel less during midweek. To ensure you get the best prices possible book your ticket between Mondays and Thurs.  In addition, it has been said that Tuesday and Wednesdays are the best days to find cheap flight deals.  Sometimes changing the day of your flight could save you a lot of money. Give all these days a try and see which prices suit you best.

 

Book the times that very few travel

Try to book tickets for the first flight of the day or the very last flight of the day going to your preferred destination. These times are usually the cheapest because airlines will be very keen to fill their seats. Also, try not to book your flights at peak seasons.

Use the Google Incognito Window

When searching for flight deals, use the incognito window on Google to avoid your cookies getting tracked. These cookies will enable a flight company to see your flight searches and they will increase the price. So to avoid this and ensure you get the best possible prices on your flight searches, hide your cookies by searching for flights using the incognito window.

 Book tickets that have a stopover

Usually direct flights can be quite expensive. So try to look out for flights that require you to stopover before you reach your final destination.

 

Compare prices

Don’t go for the first offer you see. Check out flight comparison sites and cheap travel sites to get the best deal. Here is a list of amazing flight websites to help you get started.

Skyscanner

Google Flights

Momondo

Kayak

HolidayPirates

CheapTicket

Jacks Flight Club

Also, if you find a good deal on a comparison website remember to go directly to the airline website as they may have even cheaper deals that will not be shown on the travel comparison site.

Sign-Up to Airlines

Sometimes flight offers will not be available to the general public and will only be available to subscribers. In order to stay aware of the deals, follow airlines on social media and sign up to the airline newsletter. 

As an example, you can sign up for airfarewatchdog.com

There are also discount codes for some airlines. They are out there on the Internet. You just have to search for them.

Sign-Up for Reward Programs

If you have a credit card, you can sign up for frequent flier miles rewards programs. The points will add up very quickly and you will be able to save money in the long term.

Book in advance

Book your flights up to 3 months in advance. Just a couple of days and weeks can make a huge difference in the final price.

Excess Fees

When booking your flights, watch out for excess fees or any further hidden charges.

TOP 5 PLACES TO TRAVEL IN 2017

As we are heading into 2017.  We have been hearing that most people's New Year resolutions is to travel more. Here are a few of the destinations that we think will be very popular in 2017. Click the images to find out more. Enjoy! :-)

(1) CANADA

Get ready to explore cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa. They all have something unique to offer and there is something for everyone. In 2017, it will be Canada’s 150th birthday. So there will be festivities all year long. In addition to the celebrations, there will be free Discovery passes that will give anyone (especially tourists) free entry into all of the national parks in 2017. This will give visitors the opportunity to explore Canada’s various habitats. Also, its National Heritage sites will be free to all. Canada is truly a budget friendly destination. These are just a few of the perks that will be available to tourists visiting in 2017. 

(2) JAPAN

If you want to party and explore different cultures and interests, Japan is the place to be in 2017. There are so many festivals happening in Japan. You won’t have to wait until spring and summer for the partying to start. In January there will be The Internet Cat Video Festival, the Ice Waterfall Festival, Sapporo Snow Festival and many more. There’s also an opportunity to see a sumo tournament, which is held at the prestigious Ryogoku kokugikan. There are also a lot of attractions such as the Todai-ji Temple, the Fushimi Inari taisha shrine and many more. 

(3) CUBA

In recent months many restrictions have been lifted, and an increasing number of people now have the opportunity to visit Cuba. For the first time in 50 years it will be easier for Americans to go and legally spend money there. It is amazing that Cuba has come a long way. It is now a new frontier in tourism open to learn from and explore.

Cuba has relatively been untouched by globalisation and the country gives you the feeling of stepping into a time capsule surrounded by old cars from the 1950s and old buildings. Cuba is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are so many things to see and do, such as The Malecón, Old Havana, Varadero Beach, Playa Paraiso just to name a few. You can even visit the home of Ernest Hemingway, which is now a Museum. 

(4) BOTSWANA

Botswana is the destination to visit if you want to get up close and personal with nature and rare wildlife. You should visit the Savute Reserve (Choba National Park) and see the elephants chilling and doing their thing. You can also check out the Rhinos at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. After that, you can get a history lesson at the Three Chief Statues Monument in Gaborone. Also by stepping into a dugout canoe you can explore the Okavango Delta and every now and then you will a see a hippo.

Botswana has a reputation for offering a luxurious experience for its visitors, so it's definitely a great place to check out in 2017.

(5) PORTUGAL

In recent months Portugal has increasingly become a popular holiday destination for tourists and it shows no signs of slowing down. It has the perfect blend of adventure, amazing beaches and vibrant cities. Portugal is also known for its delicious wine. It also has a reputation for providing affordable luxury for its visitors. According to the US News Rankings, Lisbon is one of the least expensive cities on the European continent, so this means you can explore without worrying too much about your pockets.  Places to check out are Algarve, The Azores and many more.  At this rate Portugal is definitely going to be even more popular in 2017.