Author: Naomie Sabbah Budget: £500 for the whole trip. Who's this for? Students looking to discover the most stunning beaches. Last year, I went to Greece with my friends and it was the best trip that I ever had at a super attractive budget. I couldn’t NOT mention this trip on the blog. My friends and I had a 500 euro budget for seven days including accomodation, food and activities, and guess what, we managed to make it. Travelling in July can be relatively expensive as there is higher demand but I will give you the best tips to travel comfortably with a tight-budget. Firstly, I advise you to travel beginning of July to Mykonos as plane tickets are cheaper and known places are less crowded. You could find plane tickets for 200 euros with low cost companies through https://www.skyscanner.net (this website will provide you the best offers). As Mykonos is one of the most expensive Greek Islands (e.g. a night out will cost you more than 200 euros), we decided to spend just a day there, and then we spent 3 days in Paros and three other days in Ios. 1st stop: Mykonos in a day Once you arrive in Mykonos, take a bus to go to the city centre. It will cost you only 4 euros per person. Mykonos offers charming landscapes, amazing beaches, delicious typical food and a stunning architecture with blue painted doors. A day in Mykonos is not sufficient to explore all the hidden places but enough to discover the principals ones . My favourite things to do in Mykonos for a day are:
2nd Stop: Paros for 3 days Paros is a relatively small island and 3 days is more than enough to visit all of this Cycladic Island. It is cheaper than Mykonos and has a lot to offer: it has all the charm and atmosphere of Mykonos but without the heaving crowds and steep prices. For the accommodation, I advise you to stay in Naoussa as the nightlife is better and transportation is more convenient. Indeed, be prepared, buses run every hour. Things to do in Paros:
3rd Stop: Ios for 3 days
In Ios, I was surprised by the number of students during the summer coming from Greece and England, so here is my advice: don’t go there for a family trip. Ios is the ideal place for partying all day and if you enjoy the nightlife, Paros is definitely the spot for you. What to do in Ios?
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Author: Mananchaya Khampachuea Budget: £200 Dates travelled: 10th - 15th September Who’s this for?: Travellers who have (or haven't) been to Bangkok before and want to experience new things (that can't be found in the guide book!) Bangkok was named the most-visited city for the fourth consecutive year according to the report from MasterCard Inc. Almost 100% of the ethnic groups in the capital are Thai but it is also possible to experience different cultures here. In this article, I will take you to each community’s centre in Bangkok to experience different cultures within a day! :-) First of all, to understand deeper on what ‘Thai culture’ is I recommend you to visit ‘Decoding Thainess’ exhibition at Museum Siam. This museum is probably my most favourite museum in Thailand. (The second one Bangkok Art and Culture Centre). Last summer, I had a chance to visit the Museum Siam and at the time they were hosting one of the coolest exhibitions I have ever seen! Across 14 rooms, Decoding Thainess had taken me to explore all aspects of Thainess and the evolution of the country from the past to present. In addition, people jam in China Town during important events such as Chinese New Year is probably worth avoiding if you plan to come with children. After dinner you can also experience Bangkok at night by the iconic tuk-tuk. Although all of the temples will be closed at the time, the atmosphere in the grounds is still worth visiting. Do not miss walking around the temple of the Reclining Buddha. In recent years, due to popularity of Korean culture from TV series and music artists, there seems to be a rise in restaurants leading to the establishment of Korean Town at the corner of Sukhumvit Road. With three floors of businesses selling imported Korean products and restaurants, the place is known for the centre of Bangkok's Korean community. Korean Town is an ideal place to visit if you love or would like to try Korean food. Although, number of shops is much smaller comparing to China Town, it is always nice to change environment by just stepping in a new place within the same city. Many restaurants are offering Korean barbeque. My favourite place there is Viking BBQ Korean Buffet. This restaurant offers a variety of Korean food at a really good price. There are a number of Japanese who came to Bangkok to work. The area nearby BTS Phrom Phong and Thonglor has been long known for two of the most demanding areas for Japanese expatriates to stay. As these areas are close to the Japanese companies area and the expressway which is convenient to travel to Industrial Estate. Bangkok has one of the largest Japanese populations in Asia outside Japan and the consumption of Japanese cultural products in Thailand has a long history. Although there is no place called Japanese Town in Bangkok but the central area of Sukhumvit, the most concentrated area for Japanese, are where you can fully experience Japanese culture. From restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets, karaoke bars to Thai-Japanese school can be found here. Hope you enjoy this article! Make sure to tag us on Instagram or use the #5dustyflipflops in your travel photos!
Khob khun ka ขอบคุณค่ะ :-) Author: Sapphire West Budget: £300 Dates travelled: 15th – 18th February 2019 Who’s this for? Those looking for a cheap city break in Europe with lots of low budget things to do Whilst the Coronavirus may have us on lockdown, there is nothing stopping us booking that first flight outta here as soon as we get that sweet sweet taste of freedom again. And what better to last minute book than a cheap city break to Hungary’s capital, Budapest. With a wealth of history, food, culture and beautiful architecture, if you haven’t been then it should be top of your list! Let’s get stuck right into the details: Flights For me this was the most expensive aspect of the trip, taking half the budget at £153pp (London Heathrow to Budapest). But do not fear, once you are in Budapest everything is moderately priced and with my tips you can save a fair amount of money. Transfers The cheapest way to get to the city from the airport is by bus. You can get taxis but be warned, all taxi drivers in Budapest will know that you are a tourist and massively over charge you (when prices are thousands of Hungarian Forints it is difficult to know how much you are actually spending!). Following signs for the buses just outside arrivals, you will find the stops for the 100E and 200E. The 100E will take you all the way to the city for 900 HUF (approximately £3) with a journey time of around 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch the 200E to Kőbánya-Kispest where you can then catch the M3 metro line into the city. The cheapest way to buy metro tickets is in packs of 10, costing 3000 HUF (approximately £8.32). For travelling from the airport, I would recommend getting the 100E, if you’re like me and very lazy, this will save you having to transfer from the bus to the metro, remaining in the same seat the whole journey. Although, once in the city I would highly recommend using the metro and railway network at some point, it’s an experience in itself! Located only one flight of stairs underground these picturesque lines of mustard coloured carriages are like something from a model village. They aren’t the high-speed dirty lines we are used to on London’s beloved underground. With only 4 lines it is also super easy to navigate, even for us blondes! Accommodation There is such a huge variety of places to stay in Budapest ranging from hotels to apartments. With so many options and competition this means you can snatch a good deal easily! First of all you need to decide where to stay, in Buda or in Pest. My personal recommendation would be to stay in Pest where the main city is. It’s full of bars, restaurants and shops with Buda just a short walk away over the scenic Danube river. After trailing many sites, Airbnb came up with the cheapest options. We chose a spacious apartment directly above the high street. The location was perfect, close to all amenities and easy to locate. It had 2 bedrooms with a sauna (oooooo) which was dreamy to head into after a cold day out exploring. In total it came to £21pp per night and was perfect. The host, Ceci, made check in and out seamless and provided plenty of recommendations for the city via a Facebook page made for guests. Activities Free walking tour If there’s one thing you HAVE to do in Budapest, it’s to go on the free walking tour. Meeting every day at 10:30 am and 2:30pm from the Budapest eye, this tour will show you all the main attractions of Budapest in 2.5 to 3 hours. I would advise this be the very first thing that you do so that you can then decide what areas/landmarks you want to explore further. Your guide will also give you some handy local tips for your stay (this is where I learnt of taxi drivers taking advantage of tourists). Our guide was great, he managed to bring the history of the city alive in a light-hearted and humorous way, despite a lot of it being quite hard hitting. I found it so interesting to hear about the oppression Hungarians endured over the last 100 years. Even after studying some of this in GCSE history, I was still shocked by everything that has happened there. Besides the history, our tour guide pointed out the best cake shops to visit, local delicacies and famous landmarks. Here’s a list of the following sites explored or viewed from a distance:
Whilst the tour is free the tour guides earn money from the tips you provide at the end of the tour. It is polite to give something, however, there is no pressure to pay a certain amount! We tend to offer £5-£10 per person. Ruin bars For an incredible atmosphere especially on the weekend I would recommend visiting one of the numerous ruin bars. Ruin bars are found in the old Jewish quarter of Budapest in old apartment buildings and warehouses abandoned after World War II. The bars are concealed with no signage up outside, with some appearing just like normal apartment buildings. However, inside is another story. On our trip we visited the biggest and most popular of these ruin bars, Szimpla Kert. This place is any millennials dream with rustic and quirky decorations lining a labyrinth of secret bars and rooms. Bicycles hang from the ceiling and vintage furniture litters the old apartment building. Disused trucks form seats and secret doors lead to new rooms with DJ’s and people dancing. You can go in the day, but I’d highly recommend going at night when the atmosphere is electric, and all the fairy lights and neon signs are illuminated. There was a moderate queue when we went but it was worth it and with free entry it’s a winner! Drinks were the same price as found elsewhere in the city and you can even buy different flavoured shisha. Sadly I had a bit too much fun to take any good photos for you so here are some from the internet of Szimpla Kert Szechenyi Bath Budapest is famous for its hot spring baths which we didn’t actually have time to go to but really wish we had! So if you have the chance don’t miss out and go! Prices start from 6,400 HUF (approximately £15.50) River boat cruise After reading some rave reviews on TripAdvisor we pre-booked a river cruise along the Danube called the Duna Bella costing around £12. However, the cruise did not live up to its reputation. Classic to any city tour you take your seat and are provided with a pair of headphones ready to connect to your audio guide. Once we got started the boat then actually went too fast for the guide with us having to crane our necks back to look at landmarks once they’d already passed. Eventually we gave up with one member of our group even falling asleep! The cruise covered all landmarks we had previously seen on the free tour and can also be better seen from the fisherman’s bastion and gellert hill. Therefore, I would definitely recommend saving your money and time for the spa instead! Food As recommended by our tour guide, near the fisherman's bastion there is a cake shop called Ruszwurm cake shop and is a must if you are in the area. This traditional cake shop is filled to the brim with incredible looking cakes. Each slice is around 600-700 HUF, roughly £1.45 to £1.70. I recommend getting a couple to try, they’ll all be amazing! Top tips:
Make sure to tag us on Instagram or use the #5dustyflipflops in your travel photos! Author: Luke Williams Budget: £250 Dates Travelled: 10th - 21st September 2019 Who's this for? Adventurous people who are looking to travel Malaysia on a budget or not. It caters for all. Malaysia has always been a part of South East Asia I have travelled through, but never explored apart from the odd day here and there in Kuala Lumpur the capital. So in 2019 I booked flights to Sri Lanka. Wait it does make sense eventually I promise. However, in April 2019 the bombings which claimed the lives of 259 people, meant UK government advised against all travel right as we were planning on going. I just want to make it clear the slight disruption to our holiday plans pales into insignificance when you look at what the people of Sri Lanka went through. But it did mean we cancelled our flights and chose Malaysia instead. We had a vague route in our heads and a list of places we wanted to tick off, but we had nothing booked. We just winged it, in my view the best way to travel. You are free, you can stay longer somewhere or leave early, or completely change your route if you like. We spent time in Penang (amazing food), Langkawi, Cameron Highlands, Perhentian Islands and Taman Negara. Each place we stayed we spent around 3 – 4 days, apart from the Perhentian islands which kept us for 11 days!
The highlight of our stay on this Island was visiting D’Lagoon. This is an incredibly peaceful & beautiful beach. Located at the end of the island. The beach is no more than 40 metres long, with a beautiful coral reef stretching out from the shoreline. We would spend hours chasing & swimming through huge bait balls of fish being circled by Barracuda. Then we’d enjoy two main meals each due to portion sizes, the cost was so minimal you could eat as much as you wanted, for example Seafood fried rice was £2! D’Lagoon is a family run beach, and many of the staff are relatives, everyone is incredibly friendly despite not speaking much English. They would feed the baby reef sharks each morning which was a spectacle, there was a zipline across the beach, a mini driving range and many rope swings. Or if that didn’t interest you, there are many places to nap under a carefully harvested palm tree. Please also find a short video of our time on the Perhentian Islands below and on our Instagram @5dustyflipflops #5dustyflipflops I have placed a table of rough costs below to allow you to budget accordingly. Things To Note 1) No cash points on the island – very few places allow card payments
2) Boats to Perhentian leave from Kuala Besut Ferry port. Last boat around 5:30 - 6 pm 3) Tickets for boat, bought as return journey 4) Accommodation organises boat back. Show ticket/tell them when you want to leave. 5) Hiking trails exist across the island, but for the lazy ferry boats are alternative. 6) Daily budget of £30 more than enough. Make sure to tag us on Instagram or use the #5dustyflipflops in your travel photos! Author: Mananchaya Khampachuea Budget: £100 (or lower!) Date Travelled: 10th - 13th April 2019 Who's this for?: Students or those who want to explore a different city in Thailand apart from the Capital. Located in the northern part of Thailand, Chiang Mai is a city full of culture and traditions. As someone living in the central area, the trip to Chiang Mai always counted as an escape from the urban lifestyle. The city itself is well known for many tourist spots. Although, you may find some places busy with people but it is still worth visiting. I highly suggest you plan your trip before traveling as some places may require you to queue (for instance, the most famous temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep). Chiang Mai is also famous for cafes and coffee shops. As tea plants require high humidity and heavy rainfall during the growing season, the northern region is the perfect place for tea plantations. Moreover, almost a hundred percent of the Arabica bean production occurs here. The variety and quality of tea leaf and coffee bean has attracted the cafe and coffee shop business to start in Chiang Mai. The high competition among these businesses, for visitors like us, means the tea and coffee experience in Chiang Mai is guaranteed to be excellent. I recommend you to take a day tour at Araksa Tea Plantation where visitors can enjoy the beauty of the lush tea garden and learn all about our tea growing process. As I mentioned before about the competition, the quality and taste of the product on its own can not make the business continue unless there were long-established shops, well-known by the locals. The highly competitive cafe business environment in Chiang Mai has led shop owners to pay more attention to design as well. You will notice many cool shops (and hotels) as you walk through the city. Here are the three cafes which I think are worth visiting. 1. The Lab Poshtel & Across The Universe Cafe Although not so common, some hotels here also run an extra business such as cafes alongside. This poshotel is one of those but the unique point is the Laboratory theme. The cafe was named after the famous song from The Beatles 'Across The Universe'. Opening hours are 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM. The aesthetic of the cafe though is different from the Laboratory style of the poshtel but it still keeps the vintage style. The interior is decorated as an antique church. When evening comes, the cafe turns into a vibrant bar. 2. Forest Cake Forest Cake is a homemade bakery shop located nearby the Ping River. The pastries are some of the best places in Chiang Mai. Everything is baked fresh daily! The shop is decorated in the theme of a forest with unique furniture and flowers. As most of the seats are outdoor, I would recommend you to visit in the morning or late afternoon so it won't be too warm. 3. Woo Cafe & Art Gallery Compared to the other two cafes, the price of the Woo Cafe & Art Gallery is considered higher. However, it had a very good review on Trip Advisor and the food is incredible! Apart from being a cafe, it also sells crafts. The ambience is really nice; the tables are surrounded with plants and flowers. Both drinks, foods and desserts come with great presentation and taste amazing! My favourite menu item is the coconut cake! :-) Food in the northern part of Chiang Mai has a unique taste, unlike those in the central area. Here are 3 local dishes I highly recommend you to try. 1. Khao Soi (Northern Yellow Egg Noodle Curry) Usually served with chicken drumsticks, this bowl of yellow noodles with exotic flavor from a curry soup, is made from chicken stock with coconut milk, a common ingredient in Thai food. Khao Soi is a very common food and you can find it almost anywhere in Chiang Mai but here's my favourite Khao soi restaurant: "Khao Soi Khun Yai", located within Chiang Mai Old City, this shop is often busy and closed on Sundays. 2. Nam Prik Ong (Pork Tomato Chili Dip) This dish is a dip that looks similar to a Bolognese sauce. It is made of chopped tomato and ground pork and is usually served alongside a platter of raw or parboiled vegetables. My favourite place to eat this dish is actually a homemade one by my aunt. The recipe is simple so you can try doing your own! :-) 3. Gaeng Hunglay (Northern Pork and Ginger Curry) This is a slow cooked pork belly in an oily broth served with a side of steamed jasmine or sticky rice. I recommend you try this on a visit to "Huen Muan Jai" restaurant. This Northern Thai Cuisine restaurant has all typical dishes and is a very famous place for locals. However, due to its popularity, you have to line up to get in. If you have extra time after visiting all the places you want in the city, I recommend you to book a trip to Mae Kampong village. An hour and a half drive from central Chiang Mai is this hidden gem village where you can experience the Northern-Thai traditional way of living. Apart from a day trip, you also have an option to stay overnight in the homestay which is provided by locals. Another highlight of this village is the beautiful waterfalls. The village is nice to walk around plus there are a few coffee shops for you to take a break and enjoy nature. Thank you for reading! Make sure to tag us on Instagram or use the #5dustyflipflops in your travel photos! khob khun ka! (ขอบคุณค่า) :-)
I first visited this area of the world with my family, as we attempted to retrace the steps of my parents who had travelled the island of Flores in the 1980s. In 2011 my mum saw a picture of Kanawa Island in a magazine, and decided we HAD to go. I have now been back 3 times on separate occasions, each time it has been a highlight of that particular trip. This area of the world is famous for and named after the Komodo Dragon. They inhabit two of the largest islands in the archipelago, Rinca Island and Komodo Island. The marine life is the biggest draw for me; I learnt to dive on the island in 2012, and it offers pristine coral reefs metres from the beach and subsequently, your bed. In today’s world, finding incredible places with few people and more importantly few tourists is becoming a real challenge. You are having to go more and more remote, more and more off the beaten track to get rid of the hoards. Flores is definitely off the beaten track, however this is changing, and soon it will become mainstream as increasing numbers find out about it. Although the remote location makes travel more complicated, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Forcing us to seek alternative travel arrangements. We wanted to travel from Flores to Gili Trawangan, Lombok. We planned to fly back to Bali, and then get taxis and a bus to a boat to then travel to Gili T. However, whilst on Flores we discovered a 4 day, 3 night boat from Labuanbajo, Flores to Gili T. This included food and accommodation (a mat & blanket on the deck), tours around Rinca and Komodo Islands to see the Komodo Dragons, snorkel spots including Manta Point among others and obviously travel. All for £110! Lewis, my travel companion, and I left Kanawa Island at 4:30am on a small speed boat to avoid the coral reef at low tide. Sparks of luminescent Algae spraying in the moonlight as we bobbed over waves. We arrived at our floating home for the next 3 nights at 5:30am, found our mat and crashed. Only until the sunrise awoke us, along with a smiling Indonesian man handing us a slice of fried banana bread. Over the next 4 days we became momentary best friends with the other 20 people also travelling on the boat, including French doctors, a German family and Swiss students. There was no WiFi, no TV. Completely basic living. Let’s be honest how many of us can say we have been completely cut off from the world for 4 days. It was such a special experience. Nothing to worry about, no deadlines, no transport worries, just completely living in that moment as you had no other choice. The picture of sailing in the sunset was taken without our knowledge with us on the mast, it captures everything perfectly. Sailing with my best mate into the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen, past an active volcano, without a care in the world and all on a budget! When asked about your ‘happy place’, I close my eyes, and this is what I picture. If you are interested, I have put together a brief 1-minute video below of this 7 days. There is a list of prices and travel information in a table below. If you make it, please be sure to tag us in your pictures on Instagram @5dustyflipflops #5dustyflipflops Map of Komodo National Park AreaA - 'Kanawa Island Resort' = The Island
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