Is it worth paying extra to fly premium economy?
Generally my budget dictates that on long haul flights, an economy seat is all I can afford. I often don’t even compare the cost of different seats on long haul flights, so imagine my surprise when booking a recent trip between Australia and the UK, and I found the premium economy seat was cheaper than a seat in economy. Having already made the journey between Australia and the UK four times last year, I wasn’t really enthusiastic about spending 30+ hours crossing the world again TWICE, but I needed to, so I began researching flights and made my surprising discovery. Pros: The obvious benefit of travelling in any class above…
Be scam-wise in Vietnam: How to avoid common scams
Vietnam is a beautiful country full of kind and generous people, but it also has a reputation for its many hustles and travellers often report feeling like they were treated as a walking ATM during their time there. However, if you go with a good understanding of the many tricks you might encounter, you will be well prepared to play the game – you may even enjoy it! Here’s a list of the most common tricks in Vietnam. Higher prices for foreigners While it is hard to feel good about yourself when bargaining hard with someone for whom your dollars would undoubtably mean significantly more, it is also far from…
How to Travel without Flying
The quote ‘Focus on the journey, rather than the destination’ represents a popular slower approach to travel. While anyone can jump on a plane these days, slow travel offers a more involved experience, where the traveller gets to interact more with locals, experience new traditions, and build a greater understanding of another culture. Whether you seek to travel without flying because of a phobia, environmental concern, or because you fancy a new challenge, here are my suggestions on how to travel without flying. Cruise ships Cruise ships offer an increasingly popular alternative way of travelling. Cruise vessels vary enormously in terms of itinerary, dining and entertainment, so it is essential…
How travel can enhance your career
You should never be afraid to explain a period of travel on your career history. Traditionalists might argue that travel will damage career prospects but I beg to differ. Travel puts you outside your comfort zone and exposes you to all sorts of new and foreign experiences. Here are the ways travel can enhance your CV. Time management If you’re not organised and capable of keeping to a schedule you’re not going to even catch your departure flight. Perhaps that is a bit simplistic but travel, especially a prolonged period of travel, requires you to be capable of organising and planning your time, often in complicated surroundings. Depending on your…
You CAN afford to travel – here is how
Many people want to travel but hold back from accomplishing their travel dreams because they are scared they cannot afford to travel. A bit of careful financial planning goes a long way to allay these fears. Here are my tips for saving as much as you can, as fast as possible. There are that many travel options these days that I really believe where there is a will there is a way. I think the key to travelling in a way you are financially comfortable with is to do a bit of research and then have a realistic think about what you are happy spending. Don’t worry if it is…
Getting started in the UK
From the green fields and historic country houses to the bustling, multicultural metropolis where anything goes that is London, the UK is definitely an exciting destination. Like anywhere, it can seem complicated when you arrive. Read on for my essential guide on how to get started in the UK. UK accommodation Before you start trying to sort out anything else in the UK you need to have somewhere to sleep. Finding rental accommodation is often simple enough through letting agents, which is a good option if you have moved to the UK with a selection of flatmates (make sure you have six weeks rent upfront as a deposit, your first…
Make the most of your holidays
Most people have limited ability to travel long-term due to their free time being severely restricted by having only four weeks of holiday each year. If you are one of them read on for hints on making the most of what holiday you have. Plan your trip around public holidays Don’t forget public holidays when planning your trips. Most countries have about six to ten public holidays each year, so if you add those to the 20 or so days that you are entitled to take from work that gives you more to play with. If you can time your trips around public holidays, it can mean taking six weeks…
Just how do you learn a language?
Communicating with locals enriches travel experiences. If you live overseas as an expat, it is essential. Some are irritatingly good at learning languages and pick them up easily. How should the rest of us go about it though? Take a course I was lucky. I enjoyed the language classes I got at school. If you didn’t pay attention at school though don’t panic, you have not missed your chance to take language classes. Evening and weekend classes are available all over the world. These can be group classes or one on one sessions, depending on your need and what is available locally to you. Since speaking another language is considered…
How to sail around the world on a luxury yacht
The yachting industry can seem, to an outsider, like a well-kept secret, but I’m going to let you in on it. Do you fancy the idea of sailing around the world on a luxury yacht? Want to know how to get paid to do it? Read on. What do you do onboard a yacht? The key things to understand are that yachts require maintenance and service standards are extremely high. Interior crew maintain the interior guest areas laundry and crew mess. Crew from the deck and engineering departments maintain the exterior and engine room, whilst also supervising guest use of toys (such as jetskis, waterskiing and scuba diving). Pros and…
Dive Gear – What should you really buy?
Just completed your Open Water course? Fallen completely in love with scuba diving? Fantastic! You’re probably now trying to decide if you buy your own dive equipment. If you are faced with an enthusiastic dive instructor giving you the hard sell, here is what you should keep in mind. Firstly, try not to be annoyed by them. Dive instructors are paid notoriously low wages for working long hours with people who are often demanding! A lot of dive centres insist they meet certain sales quotas. Do you need to buy your own dive equipment? Ask yourself the following questions: 1. How often will you dive and use the equipment? Nevermind…
