Buenos Aires Travel Guide

original post

Buenos Aires, Argentina is known as the ‘Paris of South America’ and lives up to its nickname with an overwhelming café culture to rival its European counterpart. The city is the second largest in South America (after Rio de Janeiro) and is a hot spot for those who love music, food, dancing, and just all around beautiful people. The nightlife is fantastic, particularly if you like clubs that open at 2am (I don’t so I can’t comment on their quality!). Buenos Aires has a very distinct European feel to it and a growing international expat community in the Palermo district. The quality of life is very high here and during my stay, I just floated from cafe to cafe, park to park, and wine bar to wine bar! Explore the markets, the many bookshops and cafes, and just relax!

Typical Costs

Hostel prices – Hostels are widespread, and start at about 75 ARS for a dormitory room. You’ll find a lot of hostels in the under 100 range for a large 10 person dorm room, a lot in the 150 ARS range, and the more popular ones 200+ ARS for a 6-8 bed dorm. Private rooms with a shared bath start at around 500 ARS a night. While expense, Milhouse hostel is really popular with backpackers looking to party. For more quiet hostels, check out the ones in San Telmo or Palermo.
Budget hotel prices – Hotels start at 180 ARS per night for single, 230 ARS for a double room.
Average cost of food – Cheap meals at the local burger/sandwich shops will cost around 80-100 ARS. In most of the cafes around the city, you’re looking at 80-100 per dish. You can find lunch specials at the cafes in the downtown area for 60 ARS. Pizzas are really popular in the city and cost 120 ARS. Steaks begin at 150, bottles of wine at 120, and pastas at 100. If you are looking for a really nice sit down meal with good steak and wine, expect to pay 320 ARS. You can buy a week’s worth of groceries (including bottles of wine) for around 500 ARS. For super cheap food, be sure to eat at the choripan (sausage and bread sandwiches) stalls for 25 ARS. Empenadas, the staple of the to go food in the country, costs between 8-15 ARS. Food in the fancy Palermo district is more expensive than elsewhere! Some good restaurants to eat at: Don Julio, Burger Shack, Origen cafe, La Cabrera, and Freddo for ice cream.
Transportation costs – Bus and the subway is still the best way to go at 5 ARS for a one-way ticket. You can can multi-pass books for cheaper but the saving isn’t great and, for a short trip, you’ll never use them all1 Taxis around the city will range between 75-100 ARS.

Money Saving Tips

Free tango lessons — Instead of forking over cash for tango lessons, be bold and head to a Milonga where there will be plenty of locals keen to show you the ropes for free. Many of the hostels also offer free tango lessons too!
Discounts on attractions — Most museums and attractions offer either discounts or free entrance to students, teachers, and seniors.
Discounted fútbol tickets —  If you’re going to a soccer match, choose tickets in the standing room lower level terrace, called “las populares” seating. These are half the price of the standard seats, and the casual fan atmosphere is much better.
Specialty discount cards — La Nacion Club and La Nacion Premium Club Cards are associated with La Nacion Newspaper, one of the biggest newspaper publications in Argentina (written in Spanish). Every week La Nacion Club Card website lists participating establishments who give discounts to card members. Although many of the restaurants offer the deals on Tuesday or Wednesday only, the discounts can range from 5-50% off and are definitely worth it.
Free walking tours- There are a number of companies that offer free walking tours throughout the city. They are very comprehensive and the best way to get a history of the city! You can also take free walking tours of the Congress during the week.
Eat out during lunch – Most of the cafes (especially those downtown) offer a set lunch menu for around 100 ARS (often times including steak). If you want to eat at the city’s many restaurants, it’s best to do it during lunch!
Refill your water bottle– The tap water in Buenos Aires is safe to drink. Save money on lots of bottles of water and refill from the tap!

Top Things to See and Do in Buenos Aires

Tango – The tango is Argentina’s national dance, and you wouldn’t leave with the true local flavor without hitting the dance floor while in Buenos Aires. There are plenty of places offering lessons, and you can even chase down a Milonga, or tango event, that begins in the afternoon and carries into the wee hours of the night.
San Telmo Market – For the best cultural and shopping experiences, make your way to San Telmo and the Sunday antiques fair at Plaza Dorrego. Artisans, musicians, stilt walkers, and other street performers line the streets. Souvenirs such as silver, paintings, and sculptures can be picked up for reasonable prices—sharpen your elbows! This is a great place to test out your bargaining skills.
Fútbol –  Soccer is big business in Argentina, and aside from having a fantastic national team, the country also has plenty of top class league teams. There are two great stadiums in the city, La Bombonera and El Monumuenta. For the best experience, try to catch a match between the city’s two rival teams, River Plate and Boca, but plan ahead because tickets can be hard to come by.
Recoleta Cemetery – It might seem a bit morbid to visit a cemetery for pleasure, but Recoleta is one of the city’s most visited attractions. The cemetery is the final resting place of many of the city’s most notable citizens, including Eva Perón and the Paz family. Also worth seeing is the tomb of Rufina Cambaceres, who was tragically buried alive according to legends
Museo Evita – Argentina is known as the home of Eva Perón or Evita, and this museum explores Evita’s life from childhood through her career as an actress, onto her role as the First Lady and ultimately, ending with her death. This museum will leave you with an appreciation and understanding as to why she is such a significant figure to the Argentine people.
Zoological Gardens –  A perfect way to while away an afternoon and get some priceless pictures of the country’s indigenous animals is by visiting the Gardens. Polar bears, flamingos, pandas, and tigers, oh my, are residents of this 45 acre city zoo.
National History Museum – Formerly the Lezama family home, this palatial building encapsulates Argentina’s history from the 1500s to the early 1900s. Most of the exhibits focus on the Argentine War of Independence fought against Spain from 1810-1818 and the May Revolution which also took place in 1810.
Círculo Militar – This is the former home of the Paz family, the wealthy owners of the La Prensa newspaper. Built by a French architect, the building has more than a subtle French influence, but strangely, a few rooms are also in the Tudor style. As one of Argentina’s most beautiful buildings, this is definitely an essential stop on your city tour.
Falkland Islands War Memorial – Under the military dictator Leopoldo Galtieri, Argentina declared war on Great Britain in 1982. The museum contains a monument inscribed with the names of all the Argentine’s killed in the 4 months of conflict over the Falkland Islands, or ‘Islas Malvinas’ as they’re known in Argentina.
Casa Rosada – Dominating the city’s Plaza de Mayo is Casa Rosada, arguably the city’s most notable landmark. The building has played a starring role in the country’s history, quite literally. It was where Madonna re-enacted Eva Perón’s addressing of the crowds of workers in Evita.
La Fería Mataderos – The Mataderos fair is an interesting alternative to the other Sunday markets. Located on the south-west edge of Capital Federal, Mataderos offers a less touristy atmosphere. Simply put, the tango dancers there are not doing it for show. They are dancing because it’s their past-time and passion. The fair also offers live music, great food, and plenty of handmade crafts to browse and purchase.
Palacio Borolo – Tour this landmark building of Argentina, themed around Dante’s Inferno, and take in the amazing history and panoramic views of Buenos Aires. This building has fascinating architecture and offers the best viewpoint of the city.
Temaiken Park – This Zoological park offers a huge variety of animal exhibits, with African, Asian, and South Americas zones. Just a short drive outside of the city, it is considered to be one of the major attractions of the area.
Recolleta – This is a high-class, fashionable neighborhood, lined with various boutiques, cafes, and galleries. There is also a street fair every weekend. As a central location in the city, it’s a great area to check out and explore while catching your breath.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes – This fine art museum is host to many significant works, from European masters to pre-Renaissance days. Additionally, there is an expansive collection of 19th and 20th century Argentinian paintings and sculptures that make up one of the most impressive collections in the country.
Jardin Botanico Carlos Thais – This garden is full of winding paths, statues, creeks, flora, and fauna from all over the world. Take a stroll alongside the resident cats for an enjoyable, relaxing afternoon outside—or stop by for a quick picnic to get out of the hustle and bustle.

Travel Thailand: Bangkok and Hua Hin

By Alex

Great Deals I Used For Flights to Bangkok

What a week! Last time I checked in, our big ‘ol group of friends from Koh Tao had just soaked up the spoils of the Khao Yai wine region. This week, the party continued with a three-day birthday celebration in Bangkok with the whole crew and next, a quiet retreat down to seaside Hua Hin with Ian. Bangkok is, of course, a regular repeat destination for me, but Hua Hin was a brand new (and long awaited!) one.
While I’d scheduled three posts prior to this departure and hoped to complete five more from the road, I’ve struggled to finish just three while traveling. Even this one is going up a day or two late, due to delayed transit, crippling motion sickness, and general poor planning. But for once I’ve tried not to beat myself up about it — I’ll share all my travels with you eventually, regardless of which particular days they are published!
With just one more destination to go on this particular adventure — my biggest since touching down in Thailand in September — I’m going to soak up every moment. Now that I’m living a much more settled life, my time traveling feels more precious and appreciated than ever. Stay tuned for next week’s snaps of Khao Sok National Park — and in the meantime, I’ll be posting more about my American Southwest road trip! As usual, see you in the comments…

Photo A

An eye over Bangkok

Photo B

The colorful Amari Watergate Bangkok

Photo C

BangkokThe Hualamphong Train Station

Photo D

The modern Hua Hin Amari

Photo E

One final Thailand winery — Hua Hin Hills!
Which photo is your favorite?

10 Ways to Save Money in Argentina

March 24, 2016 / By NomadicMatt

 
Argentina is a notoriously expensive country. Years of economic mismanagement and economic depression has led to rampant inflation, a black market for currency, and high prices for just about everything.  I expected the worst. In a country that used to be a bargain, I had low expectations for “doing Argentina on a budget.” However, I was pleasantly surprised and found that, while expensive, Argentina still had plenty of opportunities to save money.
Yes, the country is not as cheap as nearby Chile, Peru, or Bolivia, but Argentina doesn’t need to break the bank either. I found plenty of opportunities to balance my costs.  Beyond the universal money-saving advice — cooking your own food, couchsurfing, free tours, etc. — that I talk about on the blog, here are a few destination-specific travel ninja tips that will help you save money on your next visit:

Hitchhike – While not common in the north of the country, if you’re in Patagonia, you’ll see many locals and tourists alike hitchhiking, as long-distance buses in that part of the country can be very expensive and infrequent. It’s simply more convenient to hitchhike. This common way to get around is highly recommended. In fact, our solo female travel guru Kristin is currently over there and has hitchhiked all the way from Bariloche down to Torres del Paine so far!

Find the cheap eats – Looking to eat cheap? Empanada, choripán (sausage on bread) stands, and local hole-in-the-wall burger and pizza shops are your best options. It’s not the healthiest food, but it’s economical and tasty! Empanadas go for around 8-15 Pesos ( less than $1 USD), choripán for 25 ($2 USD), and pizza and burgers lunch specials for around 40 ($3 USD).

Eat out at fancy meals – Argentina was a weird paradox. What is cheap elsewhere is expensive here, and vice versa. At 100-130 pesos ($6-8 USD) for a sandwich and drink at a cafe, lunch is not cheap. That’s not going to break the bank, but you can dine on expensive steaks, wine, and sides for 500 pesos ($30 USD)! A full, delicious, filling meal vs. a sandwich? Easy. You get more value on the higher end! Splurge on steaks and fancy dinners in this budget tip turned upside-down.
For everything else, go for the cheap eats or make your own sandwiches (and given the lack of veggies in restaurants around the country, it’s a lot healthier to make your food!).

Buy your wine – 40 pesos ($3 USD) bottles of wine in the supermarket is a phenomenal deal. Grab a bottle, drink it up. It’s really good too! (Another tip: stick to wine. Liquor and beer are more expensive in Argentina!)

Rent a bike – You can rent bicycles from hostels and rental shops for 150 pesos ($10 USD) a day in most major cities. It’s an inexpensive way to get around and also out of the cities. This is especially useful when you’re in Mendoza’s wine country and you’re trying to get from winery to winery. Most hostels rent bikes or can direct you to the cheapest bike rental shop.

Camp – As you start to travel south to Patagonia, accommodation costs get higher and higher. Hostels are often 250 pesos ($17 USD) or more a night here (as opposed to as cheap as 90 ($6 USD) a night in Buenos Aires). Look for camping opportunities as often as possible. When you aren’t in the national parks (where you can obviously camp), many hostels will let you pitch your tent for a small fee.

Try out Airbnb – If hostels or camping aren’t your jam, I found a ton of Airbnb opportunities throughout the country starting at 500 pesos ($40 USD) a night for your own apartment.
Explore the outdoors – Hiking is free, and throughout the country you’ll find plenty of opportunities to enjoy this and other outdoor activities since Argentina is blessed with many city parks and nature reserves where you can spend the day wandering around and relaxing. (And, of course, there are a plethora of national parks where you can do multi-day treks!).
Don’t fly domestically – Thanks to a tax on foreigners, airfare in Argentina for non-residents is quite expensive. A two-hour flight can cost as much as $200 USD! Unless you are in a rush, don’t fly. Take the bus.

Dance for free – If you find yourself in Buenos Aries on a Sunday, you can find free tango events in San Telmo at 8pm on Sundays.  (On Monday, there’s the famous La Bomba de Tiempo, a music and dance event. It’s 90 pesos ($6 USD) but completely worth every penny! It was an unreal dance and music show!)
Argentina was tremendous and I was sad I didn’t get to see more of the country but with direct and fairly cheap flights from the United States, I suspect I’ll be back. I gorged on steaks, became a slight wino, and unstressed myself in the mountains! This isn’t the cheapest country in South America, but through smart spending, there’s no need to blow your budget in the land of steak, wine, and tango.

Note: All Pesos to USD conversions were rounded to the nearest whole number.
Note #2: As people pointed out in the comments, there’s a lot of inflation in Argentina so be sure to double check current prices before you!
P.S. — The Nomadic Matt Community is having a book and movie webinar based on the theme of Australia! We’re discussing Bill Bryson’s In a Sunburned Country and watching “Crocodile Dundee” on Tuesday April 5th at 6:30pm EST. Click here for more details and to sign-up!
P.P.S. — Join our Travel Action Challenge by April 15th and be entered to win cool prizes (including a $100 Amazon.com gift card)! All you have to do is take a step towards your travel dreams and post proof of it! Click here for more details and to enter!

Thailand Travel Tips

 By Nomadic Matt

Thailand is the travel hub of Southeast Asia. Most people coming into the region fly into Bangkok and make that their base for doing the circuit around Southeast Asia. With its lush jungles, famed beaches, world-class diving, amazing food, and cheap prices, Thailand attracts visitors from all walks of life. It is by far my favorite country in the world! You can find super cheap guesthouses, and then seemingly right next door you can find resorts charging upwards of $10,000 USD a night! With all the variance, finding inexpensive accommodations is definitely doable. Travel through Thailand is easy. The country is a well-worn destination on the backpacking trail and everything is convenient and easy. Though well on the map, there are still good destinations to visit away from the crowds and the prices they bring. Overall, Thailand speaks for itself. It’s so well known around the world that when you hear the name, you already think about beaches, beauty, jungles, and food. And your thoughts are spot on.

Destination Guides for Thailand

• Bangkok
• Chiang Mai
• Ko Lipe
• Ko Phi Phi
• Ko Phangan
• Phuket

Typical Costs

Accommodation – Thailand is very cheap, though the north is far cheaper than Bangkok and the southern islands. You can find cheap guesthouses for as little 300 THB per night in cities and 200 THB per night in the countryside, though in the big cities like Chiang Mai and Bangkok, rooms start at about 400 per night. On the islands or for a nicer room with air-conditioner, expect to pay 600 THB and up per night. Basic bungalows cost the same. Hotels start at around 1,350 THB per night and go up from there. Big resorts on the islands start at 1,700 THB per night for a bungalow on the beach. Dorm rooms, which are increasingly widespread throughout the country, range from 100-150 THB per night. Suk 11 Guesthouse (Bangkok), Chada Guesthouse (Bangkok), Julies (Chiang Mai), Kodchasri B&B (Chiang Mai), Pooh’s (Ko Lipe), Greenhouse (Khao Yai) are my favorite places to sleep in the country.

Food – Food is really cheap in Thailand. Street food costs as little as 20 THB, though on average you’ll spent about 35-50 THB per meal if you want something really filling. If you stick to the local street food, you can eat for around 120-170 THB a day. Most western dishes (burgers, pizza, pasta, etc) cost between 170-340 THB, though they can be higher in the fancier western establishments. Since food is so cheap, there’s no point in grocery shopping unless you’re looking to get some pre-made salads or fruits. Visit each city guide for specific food recommendations in each place!

Transportation – Like everything in Thailand, transportation is also cheap. Local buses cost as little as 8 THB per trip, the Metro and Skytrain in Bangkok cost 15-50 THB per trip, and metered taxi rides are usually 60-100 THB each. Tuk-tuks are un-metered and generally more expensive, costing 100-235 THB per ride.  Motorbike taxis (in orange vests) are available all over the country with short trips costing about 35 THB (you need to negotiate the price). Train service around the country is cheap – day trains cost as little as 50 THB. Night trains start at 575 THB for second-class without air-conditioning. Boats to/from the islands cost between 250-475 THB. (Note: It’s often better to get a bus/boat package then pay for them separately.)
Activities – Day tours cost 500-1,200 THB depending on the activity. Jungle trekking costs 1,000-1,685 THB per day. Keep in mind, you have more bargaining power if you go with a group. Most parks and national museums cost between 50-100 THB to get into (as a non-Thai, you’ll always pay a higher rate). A PADI dive certification course (very popular in Thailand) costs around 10,000 THB (but often includes accommodation).

Money Saving Tips

Go local – The easiest way to save money in Thailand is to simply live like a local. Take local buses, eat street food, and drink local beer. The average Thai lives on a less than 7,750 THB per month in Bangkok, and on even less in the country side. If you stay at cheap guesthouses and eat street food, you can spend as little as 335 THB per day.

Eat street food – Speaking of street food, don’t be afraid to eat it. It’s safe — sometimes it’s even safer than restaurant food. If it wasn’t, Thai people wouldn’t be packed in the food stalls each day. You’ll find the best of Thailand’s food on the street and it will cost you a fraction of what you pay at a restaurant.

Take advantage of happy hour – Thailand’s many happy hours have half-priced drinks and 2-for-1 specials.

Buy beer at 7-Eleven – Buying beer at Thailand’s ubiquitous 7-Elevens and drinking outside will save you quite a bit on your bar tab.  A beer in 7-Eleven is about 35 THB, while the same beer will cost 100-170 THB in a restaurant or bar.

Top Things to See and Do in Thailand

Explore Bangkok – The heart of Thailand, this crazy city is a must-see. Most travelers don’t like it right away but it grows on you. Explore temples, palaces, amazing markets, shops, one of the craziest nightlife scenes in the world, and of course, amazing Thai food. At first, I didn’t like this place but now it’s one of the places I feel most at home in.  I love this city and return frequently.

Find adventure around Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai is an old city ringed with temples and surrounded by jungles. It’s a good launching pad for jungle treks into the area; there is a nearby elephant sanctuary, and the Chiang Mai night market is a place for some of the best handicrafts and deals in the country.

Hike in Khao Yai National Park – Located three hours north of Bangkok, this park is an excellent place to hike, swim, and find wild elephants. It’s not very crowded so you’ll have the jungle to yourself. Stay at the Greenleaf Guesthouse for the best tour/accommodation deals in the area.

Visit Khao Sok National Park – Located down south, this is considered one of the best parks in the world and the best in Thailand. You’ll find caves, jungles, rivers, lakes, and tall limestone kyrsts here. It’s not a common stop but if you are in Thailand for a while, you should make the effort to go.

Hop around the ancient capitals – Between Chiang Mai and Bangkok are Thailand’s three ancient capitals – Sukhothai, Lopburi, and Ayutthaya. Visiting them on your way north is a unique way to head from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. You’ll get to learn about ancient Thailand and see rural life at its best. My favorite is Ayutthaya.

Relax on tropical islands – Thailand has a million and one beautiful tropical islands. Some are overdeveloped, while others only have a single bungalow on them. You’ll find everything here. Some of the best islands here are – Ko Samet, Ko Taruato, Ko Lanta, Ko Chang, Ko Tao, Ko Jum, the Similian Islands, and Ko Samui.

Partake in the Full Moon Party – If you like partying, there’s no better party in the world than the famous Full Moon Party. It’s 20,000 people partying until sunrise on a beach on Haat Rin, Koh Phangan. Sure, it is super touristy but that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of fun and it’s as much a part of Thailand as anything else.
Go jungle trekking – There is some great jungle trekking opportunities in northern Thailand. Be sure to go on a multi-day hike. The shorter hikes aren’t as good and the hill tribes you visit are like visiting a rural impoverished Disney World. The biggest departure points are Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Go scuba diving in the Similian Islands – Scuba diving here is a popular activity because of the crystal clear waters and majestic sea life. The cheapest place to learn is on the island of Ko Tao, which caters specifically for dive trips. Most people don’t go unless they’re planning on diving. While you can dive all over the country, the Similian Islands offer the best diving. If you dive the Similan Islands, be sure to see Elephant Head Rock, and the reef houses plenty of fish, snappers, rays, and turtles.
Learn to cook – Thai food is delicious and it’s relatively easy to cook. All over the country you’ll find places to teach you, though the best are in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Even if you don’t plan to cook back home, at least you get to spend a day making and eating scrumptious food.

Get off the beaten path – If you really want to see what Thai life is like outside the big cities, visit Isaan.  Isaan is the name for the northeastern part of Thailand and is extremely rural and the people are very friendly. This area contains small farming villages that hardly see any tourists. Life here hasn’t changed much in a long time. Often considered a “backwater”, I think it’s one of the most interesting places in the country.

Take the day train – Taking the day train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is not only cheaper but a much better way to see the countryside than the night train. Sure, you waste a day but you see the countryside, you experience how Thais take the train, and you’re treated to vendors coming off and on every stop selling meals for 15 THB. The day trip remains one of my favorite experiences in Thailand. Just make sure you have a good book!

Take water during Songkran – Between April 13-15th, the Thai celebrate Thai New Year by holding an enormous, three-day water fight. Songkran, as it’s known, is meant to wash away the old and begin the year anew. It’s an amazing festival, and an unforgettable experience!  Be prepared to get wet everywhere you go those days (and keep your electronics sealed in plastic).  Here’s a glimpse of the festivities:

Help the elephants – Sure you can come to Thailand and ride an elephant, but so many of them in this country suffer from abuse. An even better way to get up-close-and-personal to the animals is to volunteer at the Elephant Conservation Center near Chiang Mai.

Admire Wat Doi Suthep – This stunning Buddhist temples lies in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, 10 miles out of Chiang Mai. A tram or a trek up 300 steps will take you to the summit of Doi Suthep, where the glittering gold temple spire awaits you. The temple dates back to the 14th century, and really is too beautiful to miss.

Visit the Golden Triangle – The point where the Mekong River meets the Ruak River is known as the Golden Triangle. You can take a boat and head to the Golden Triangle Park, or check out some of the many Buddha statues and markets.

Check out the Hill Tribe Villages – There are several tribes that can be found throughout the Northern area of Thailand. The Akha, Hmong, Lisu, and Karen tribes live in this area. There are several treks you can do that will take you through the smaller villages and meet locals.

Shop at the floating markets – Thailand is full of markets. Perhaps the most whimsical of these are the floating markets, which can be found throughout the country. Some of the best are Damnoen Saduak, in Ratchaburi, and the Taling Chan Weekend Floating Market in Bangkok. You’ll find rickety boats piled high with colorful goods and eats. You’ll get plenty of great photos!

Backpack through the Kanchanburi Province – Here you’ll find a lush forest perfect for trekking, though the history of this area is rather dark. The infamous Death Railway is located here, linking Burma and Myanmar, which were constructed during WWII by prisoners of war. This is also where you will find the Bridge on the River Kwai, built using POW labor and the subject of a both a film and a book. While it is a haunting reminder, it is an essential part of Thailand’s history.

Motorbike through Northern Thailand – Around the Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai areas, there are lots of great routes. Many people rent bikes, and tour the scenery. You can do a day trip, or you can take a couple of days- whatever suits your schedule. The Mai Hong Son Province offers a great loop that you can do starting in Chiang Mai and ending in Pai.

Explore the Khmer temples in Isaan – There are many temples built throughout the region, all along the ancient roads connecting Angkor to the other villages. The largest of these is Phimai, located at the end of the ancient highway. In the Buriram province are two other magnificent Khmer temples only a few kilometers apart. Phanom Rung built on top of a hill and Muang Tum which is at the base of the hill.

Get off the banana pancake trail in Isaan – There aren’t just temples to see in Isaan. One of the most under visited areas of the country, Isaan is mostly a land of farms and villages. Which makes it a great place to escape the frantic tourist atmosphere you may find yourself in in some of the larger cities or destinations. It is not overrun by tourists, and you get a chance to experience Thai culture in a different, more personal way. Some of the best villages to visit are Korat, Pai Mai, and Nong Khai, and the best way to check them out is by taking a scenic bike ride!

Relax in Pai – Pai has grown as a tourist destination in more recent years, but it is still a great place to escape some of the craziness of your larger cities. It is a true backpackers town, located in Northern Thailand. It is nestled in rolling green mountains, and surrounded by waterfalls and incredible hiking trails. It is a small town that moves at a snails pace, all the while being incredibly affordable. Be sure to take a day trip to the Tham Lot Caves, where you can take a stop off to swim in waterfalls and hot springs on your way there.

Tapas In Barceloneta, Barcelona

By Dan - Travel Blog

 

Barcelona is a city that holds a special place in my heart, that is a story for another day, but for now, let me try to show you one of the many reasons why I love this place so much… THE FOOD!!
In the old fishing village of Barcelona, tapas is a way of life, the local people gather together in the tapas bars whenever they have the chance, to eat, drink and enjoy sobremesa (we’ll come to that). This small district named ‘La Barceloneta’ or ‘little Barcelona’ is home to some of the best tapas bars in Barcelona, which means, if you go at the right time, you are certain to get that local eating experience.

La Bombeta

A ‘Bomba’

La Bombeta is the archetypal Sunday lunch hot-spot in the Barceloneta district, a place where the locals queue down the road, to wait for a table in this special Barcelona tapas bar-come-restaurant. At the back of the bar, a slogan fills the entire wall that says “no hablamos inglés, pero hacemos unas bombas cojonudas” which, in English means “We don’t speak English, but we have very good bombas”.
That is the perfect summary of the type of restaurant that La Bombeta is, it doesn’t matter if you don’t speak Spanish (or Catalan), it doesn’t matter if you’ve never had tapas before, you will be surrounded by locals and treated like a local while eating some of the fine food they have to offer.
The next slogan on the bar I love; “no tenemos wifi, hablen entre ustedes” or “We don’t have WiFi, talk to each other’. Not that you’ll be thinking of WiFi with food like this around you.
Oh, and the Bomba, in the image, it’s a deep-fried potato ball with meat in the middle and a spicy (bravas) sauce on top. They’re delicious.
Where to find it: Calle de la Maquinista, 3, 08003 Barcelona (closed Wednesdays)

El Vaso De Oro

Patatas Bravas & Choricitos

El Vaso De Oro is a true Barcelona tapas bar, the side of the bar in which the customers sit (but usually have to stand), is equally as tiny as the other side of the bar, where the staff are endlessly pouring cañas (small beers) and serving food.
In summary, it is brilliant. The beer is cold, the food is top-notch tapas-bar style and the staff are friendly. But the best thing about this place, for me at least, is that at peak times, in the one metre or so between the outer doors and the bar, the locals will be packed in, occupying every last bit of space available, and the atmosphere is brilliant.
It is the type of Spanish-bar atmosphere that just makes you happy… or is that just me?
Where to find it: Calle de Balboa, 6, 08003 Barcelona

Jai-Ca

Patatas Bravas & Chipirones

Jai-Ca is in the same category as La Bombeta, a locals tapas bar which is more like a restaurant, but, it might just be even better. A wide selection of beautifully cooked tapas is on offer, and the seafood is especially good. Try the Chipirones (deep-fried baby squid) and the Bacalao (salt cod) fritters for a small snack.

In contrast to La Bombeta, where you are likely to be surrounded by local families of multiple generations enjoying a meal, Jai-Ca is more likely to be the place where groups of young friends gather for a few snacks, a couple of beers or some wine and spend the whole afternoon chatting. This socialising of friends and families has an importance in itself, as it is valuable part of Spanish (and Barcelona) culture, and Jai-Ca is definitely one of the places in Barcelona to be immersed in this culture.

Where to find it: Carrer de Ginebra, 13, 08003 Barcelona (closed Mondays)

La Cova Fumada

Pescadito Frito (Small Fried Fish)

As simple and down-to-earth as tapas gets, the tiny La Cova Fumada, in the Barceloneta, does tapas, and does it very well. This rustic bar doesn’t have as varied a menu as the other bars on this list, but it is probably better for it. A small wall-menu displays what the chefs have on offer to cook for you that day. The hole-in-the-wall nature of this bar makes it less likely that tourists are going to wander in, not that they wouldn’t be welcome.

The simple menu has everything that you would want for a small snack or even an indulging meal, but unlike the other bars I have mentioned here, they don’t offer a translated menu, it is written purely in Catalan. In spite of that, if you have a basic understanding of typical tapas (or just know how to google the place and translate in advance) the staff are more than welcoming to non-natives, and you will be rewarded with a true local eating experience.

Where to find it: Carrer del Baluart, 56, 08003 Barcelona (closed Sundays)

Tapas… and Sobremesa

So, now you know where to go for some local-style tapas in Barcelona, now you just need to know how to do tapas, and that’s the trickier part. Although there is no exact science to it, the locals in Barcelona have their own way of eating and it is good to try to fit in.

If you were to attempt to get a table at any of these tapas hot-spots at 12pm, you may be very surprised to find them virtually empty, whereas an hour or two later you may be queueing down the street to wait for a table. This is the nature of eating in Barcelona, lunch is typically 1-3pm, although at weekends this is likely to go on for significantly longer.

The reason for this, is the topic I said I would come back to… Sobremesa. Literally translated, it means ‘over the table’, but to give an idea of what this truly means is difficult, as it doesn’t really have an equivalent in many other cultures.

Sobremesa is simply the time spent together after the eating has finished, it is the time spent chatting (that important Spanish, and Catalan, pastime), laughing, drinking slowly and generally enjoying your friends’ company. This is to the locals of Barcelona, as important as the food itself, and on weekends can go on for hours at either lunch or dinner time.

I will be back in Barcelona again next month, so I’m already thinking of the exceptional food and brilliant atmosphere this incredible city provides. Are you going to Barcelona soon? Go and try the locals’ food and tell me what you think, if you think you know other tapas bars that should be added here, let me know, and I’ll be sure to give them a try if I haven’t already.

How To Find Cheap Flights

By Dan -  Travel Blog

 

The one thing I get asked by family and friends every time I tell them when and where I am going is… How? They seem genuinely shocked that it is possible to travel so often and so cheaply, and assume I must be going out and holding up banks to fund it.

Today I am going to let you in on my process of how to find cheap flights, and how to keep them cheap. Whether you are flying a short budget airline flight in any region or booking a round the world trip, a little extra time spent researching the flights before booking can save you hundreds of pounds.

How Much Can I Save?

First of all, here’s an idea of how much I have saved by using these tips;

UK to Dublin Return – June – Standard fares with Aer Lingus £70-100 – found and booked for £15 each

London to Rome Return – September – Standard fares £150-200 – found and booked for £80 each

UK to Barcelona Return – January – Standard fares £80-150 – found and booked for £40 each

London to Bangkok Direct Return – June – Standard fares £600-800 – found and booked for £520 each

UK to Rio de Janeiro Return – February (peak Carnival time) – Standard fares £750-1000 – found and booked for £500 each

Step 1 – When and Where?

The first thing to decide is when and where you would like to go, to get the best start possible, then the best answers would be “Anywhere and anytime” but obviously that is not usually the case.

If you are enormously flexible, then a bargain can pop up for unexpected places that you may just fall in love with. There’s no need to panic if you aren’t so flexible, just get a good idea of what potential issues may be. If you want to travel around Europe in the middle of summer, the school holidays make some prices ludicrously expensive, but if you know you’re looking at flying in the shoulder seasons then you know prices are going to be significantly less.

Another consideration to make here is peak times and festivals, for example, flying in the USA around Christmas, in Brazil around carnival or in China at new year may reduce the chances of finding a cheap more difficult, although never impossible.

Step 2 – Be Flexible

The best advice for finding a bargain flight is to be as flexible as possible, whether that is being flexible on which airports and airlines you use, to being flexible with flight times, this is the number one way to save money.

One method that can be utilised here, more for short-haul budget-airline flights is to book each leg of your journey separately. For example; if you want to do a return flight in Europe, and Ryanair are cheaper for the outbound flight but EasyJet are cheaper for the return flight, then book two separate flights with both airlines and save money.

Step 3 – Comparison Sites

The most common flight comparison sites such as SkyScanner or Kayak can be extremely useful if you have flexible dates. Use these sites first to get an idea of which airlines serve which routes and look at the typical prices graphs before moving on to the websites of the airlines.

Most of the comparison sites have functions to make your search flexible, including options to search in a whole month rather than specific dates or search using nearby cheaper airports.

Step 4 – Routes

Now that you have an idea of the route you want to take and roughly when you want to go, use the comparison sites and tools such as Google Flights to find out the cheapest days and times to fly, certain airlines may only serve a particular route on certain days of the week and may be much cheaper than the others.

For a flight from Bali, Indonesia to Cairns, Australia, the typical flight is to change in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, but by using these tools you can see that Jetstar fly the route direct three times per week and can actually be cheaper than an indirect flight.

A consideration for an indirect long haul flight would be if it would make sense to book each leg individually with multiple airlines. If a flight from Europe to Australia is more expensive than two separate flights that meet at a point in Asia, then perhaps you could use that saving to spend a couple of nights seeing Singapore.

Step 5 – Airline Websites

Now that you know which airline is cheapest and when you are going, go and hunt around on the airlines website, look when their cheapest flights are for that route and if they’re three months from now, consider if that’s that best option, to book three months in advance.

ALL airlines have sales, or at least in my experience of dozens of airlines, I am yet to come across one that doesn’t have sales. A budget airline like Ryanair may have a couple of sales each month for different routes, whereas a carrier such as Lufthansa may put flights on sale a certain number of months in advance of departure. A key way to keep track of this is to sign up to the airline’s mailing lists, this way you can be sure they’ll let you know when they have a sale on.

Step 6 – Fare Finders

A fairly recent addition to mainly budget airline websites but one that has a lot of cost saving potential is fare finders, these tools which can be found on the airline website generally let you enter very basic information and they find you the cheapest flights. An example of this is the Ryanair version of this tool in which you can enter as little as departure and a budget and it will find you where it can take you for that amount. They also have many other options to filter by dates and journey length, but it is one of the easiest ways to find a bargain flight.

Recently, a budget airline had a sale on, and by using the Fare Finder, flights around Europe could be had for as little as £5 each, with no extra fees… Now that’s what I call a good deal.

Step 7 – Wait or Book Now?

The final decision to be made is whether now is the best time to book the flights you want. There is no fixed rule on whether flight prices will increase or decrease over time, but one thing you can be sure of, is that last minute flights are not cheap. In general booking well in advance will be more likely to save you money, but it depends entirely on the airline, so getting familiar with their sales could be the key to deciding when is the best time to book.

In general, flights schedules are released by airlines roughly 11 months before departure, although budget airlines tend to be less than this. Prices usually start at a medium level and fluctuate, before reducing during sales and increasing in the weeks or months just before departure.

Check the prices for every month of your route, if you want to fly in 8 months time, but the cheapest flight times are between 3 and 6 months from today, consider waiting and you will likely save.

Step 8 – Extras – What Do I Actually Need?

This is more applicable to small and budget airlines than the big carriers, budget airlines rely on making money by the extras that you purchase on top of the standard fare.

In Europe, for a short haul flight, putting a piece of luggage in the hold can cost as much the flight fare. So consider what you actually need carefully, if you are only travelling for a few days, will all your luggage fit in a carry on, the size of carry on luggage permitted vary by airline, but the minimum dimensions are usually 50cm x 40cm x 20cm, which is more than enough for a few days clothes.

Allocated seating is another extra that is usually purchasable by the airlines, consider whether you are really that interested in picking your own seat or whether you would rather let them allocate you a free seat on check in and save your money for when you get there. A decider for this could be if you are travelling with children, in which case, even though most airlines would likely sit you together automatically, you may be better off by purchasing seats to be sure.

The final extra, that most definitely does not need paying is credit card charges, many airlines have fees depending on which type of credit or debit card you use, but the general rule is that debit cards are normally free to use and credit cards carry a charge somewhere between 1-5%.

Step 9 – Cash–back and Frequent Flyers

On to the final step before booking them now, decide if you will save or gain more by using a cash-back website to book the flights and enrol to frequent flyer programs if you are likely to use the airline more than once.

Prominent cash-back websites such as Quidco are the place to check to see if cash-back is possible with the airline you are using. Further to this, some debit or credit cards offer extra miles or cash-back on purchases so if you have it, use it.

9 Steps And Finished

So there we have it, the go-to guide for finding cheaper flights, its the method I use every time i travel, so I know it works. If it works for you, pass this guide on to your friends to help them travel further as well, because travel broadens the mind you know.

I hope you found the information useful, go ahead and get looking, I’m positive you’ll find flights cheaper than you thought. Share this post with your friends to help them travel cheaper too…

Puerto Rico Seriously Has It All

Original Post by Adventurous Kate

Now that I’ve settled down in New York after five years of travel, one of my goals is to travel more within the U.S. I have a lot of cities I want to visit this year: Austin, Nashville, Portland. But the biggest goal of all? Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico was a priority for late February. Or sometime in March. After growing up in New England, that’s been the most frustrating time of year, when you’ve been dealing with winter for months and months and just can’t take it anymore.
I started planning — but it wasn’t going to happen. I spent a lot more on home furnishing expenses than expected, I couldn’t find any flights with my miles, and I didn’t know any receptive hotels. Puerto Rico would have to wait, I decided sadly.
Then the most perfectly timed invitation landed in my inbox from Puerto Rico Tourism. Four days exploring the island in late February and early March. Would I like to join the trip?
Would I like to join the trip?! Of course I would!
I ended up having a wonderful time in Puerto Rico and I was surprised at just how much it has to offer.

It’s So Easy

Normally, I have no qualms about traveling internationally. That said, I appreciated how much less work I had to do in order to travel to Puerto Rico, which is a U.S. territory. If you’re an American, here’s why it’s easy:

1. You don’t need your passport — a license or ID is all you need to fly.
2. The currency is the U.S. dollar.
3. While Spanish is the main language of the island, English is widely spoken and everyone in the tourism industry speaks English.
4. Your U.S. phone plan will work normally without having to get a SIM card or paying roaming charges.

Additionally, there are direct flights to Puerto Rico from all over the U.S. (but especially on the East Coast). I was also surprised to see that you can fly direct to Puerto Rico from as far away as Frankfurt and London!

The Perfect All-Around Island

Plenty of people fly to Puerto Rico and never go beyond the confines of their resort. Not my thing, but I get it. Sometimes you need a getaway where you do nothing.
But if you want more than just a beach, Puerto Rico has it all. If you’re visiting for just a few days, like I was, you can easily fit in beach time, adventure time, culture time, and yes, even hanging-out-at-the-pool time.

Beautiful Beaches

Of course, if you’re going to the Caribbean, you want to see some beaches!
Culebra island, east of the main island of Puerto Rico, is home to Flamenco Beach, which is frequently voted one of the best beaches in the world in travel magazines and on sites like TripAdvisor.
Meh. I’ll believe it when I see it, I thought. Could this beach really compete with the tropical beaches of the Philippines, the white sands of the Florida panhandle, the unreal urban beaches of Sydney, the raw and untamed beaches of South Africa’s Eastern Cape?
OH, DID THIS BEACH EVER DELIVER.

Flamenco Beach is easily one of the best beaches I’ve ever seen. Perfect sand, bright clear water, and even though I visited in the heart of high season, it wasn’t too crowded.
For what it’s worth, I’ve heard that the neighboring island of Vieques has even better beaches. I can’t wait to check those out! Caroline from Caroline in the City wrote a great guide to Vieques.

Adventure Galore

Zip-lining is a popular adventure activity in resort destinations, and for good reason: it’s easy and requires no skill. I got to experience zip-lining at Toro Verde Adventure Park in Orocovis, in the mountainous center of the island, and it’s the most beautiful and dramatic place I’ve ever zip-lined in my life. (Not gonna lie — it was also the scariest. I kept my eyes shut a lot.)
My trip coincided with the opening of the new longest zip-line in the world: The Monster! The Monster has a total distance of 1.5 miles, or 2.5 kilometers, or 28 football fields. You do it while on your stomach, like Superman, and can achieve speeds up to 93 mph (150 kph).
(I know a lot of places claim to be the longest or the biggest or the highest zip-lines in the world, but this one is absolutely the longest. The Guinness Book of World Records people were there to certify it.)

Plus: if you get stuck on the line, Javier will come out and rescue you, dragging you back between his thighs.
If you’re up for adventure, there’s far more than just zip-lining: Lillie from Around the World L wrote about visiting El Yunque Rainforest, and Cam and Nicole from Traveling Canucks wrote about doing a bioluminescent kayak tour in Fajardo.

Legendary Culture

Puerto Rico isn’t just a pretty island devoid of personality — there is so much history and culture and art. While there are lots of cultural options all over the island, San Juan is the epicenter and an easy place to explore.

If you’re looking to maximize your time, head to Old San Juan. Here, you’ll find the island’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site (La Fortaleza, or the three forts that protect the bay) as well as colorful buildings in the old town and a handful of museums.
If you time your visit to one of Puerto Rico’s legendary festivals, you’re in for a treat. Here are some of the better known ones.

Food

I had no idea what Puerto Rican food was before arriving on the island — but I left having having experienced so many different flavors.
Some dishes to try:
Mofongo — A popular dish where a dome of mashed plantains (or cassava or breadfruit) surrounds a variety of fillings.
Lechón — The ultimate roasted pork! Piggy heaven.
Tostones — Mashed plantains formed into patties and fried.
Bacalaítos — Bacalao, or salted cod, is popular here; bacalaítos are fried bacalao patties.
Morcilla — Every culture has its own blood sausage. This one is Puerto Rico’s.
Arroz con gandules — Rice and beans. With Puerto Rican spices.
Rum — Puerto Ricans love their rum! Try some Don Q.
Puerto Rican food is delicious — but be warned, it’s also very heavy. I don’t know how Puerto Ricans don’t all weigh 400 pounds. You might want to balance out your feasts with lighter meals. I waved a white flag and ordered ceviche on my final night.
Next time, I’d love to drive the pork highway, written about in this post on Twenty-Something Travel.

Off the Beaten Path Destinations

There isn’t much in Puerto Rico that hasn’t been discovered — but there are plenty of lesser-visited corners.
With a packed four-day trip, I didn’t get too far afield, but I did get to enjoy the city of Ponce in the south. From the moment I saw it, I was entranced. It reminded me of Granada, Nicaragua, mixed with a little bit of New Orleans.

An added bonus? Ponce and the south have a wonderfully dry climate, a major change from humid San Juan.

Nightlife

One of my favorite parts of our trip was the final night in Placita, a collection of open-air bars in San Juan. (I was also thrilled my Puerto Rican buddy, Norbert of Globotreks, was in town and came to join us!) We went on a Thursday night and it was hopping, though Norbert told me it really gets going on Friday and Saturday.
If you go, be sure to check out Santaella. It’s one of the fancier places in Placita. My Puerto Rican friends say this place has the best bartenders in San Juan and they made me a delicious tamarind margarita.
The casual bars are equally fun and you can get local Medalla beers for around $2.

Where to Stay in Puerto Rico

San Juan is the perfect base for a trip to Puerto Rico — it’s close to the airport, the city is fun, there are lots of nice beaches, lots of tour providers will pick you up from hotels there, and it’s easy enough to get all over the island within a few hours’ drive.
On this trip I stayed at two Hilton properties in San Juan: the Hilton Caribe and the Hilton Condado Plaza.
Here are photos of the room, view, and grounds of the Hilton Caribe:

Here are photos of the room, view, and grounds of the Hilton Condado Plaza:

Both hotels are solid options — each has beautiful rooms, a nice outdoor space, ocean views, and beaches with calm, clear Caribbean water. But between the two of them, I greatly preferred the Caribe. It had much better pools, beachfront, and outdoor grounds, plus two Starbuckses on the premises (including one on the beach!). The Caribar has excellent tapas — I especially loved the ropa vieja arepas. That said, the rooms were better at the Condado Plaza.
Now — if you’d like something even more upscale, resort-like, luxurious, and secluded, check out El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, on the east coast. This is a Waldorf Astoria property and it’s the largest resort in Puerto Rico. They even have their own private island!

I didn’t stay overnight here, but I got to explore it one afternoon. And while I normally can’t stand hotel visits on press trips (“Look at this amazing hotel…but you can’t stay here. Please blog about us?”), I enjoyed my visit here so much that it left an enormously positive impression on me. I need to stay here on my next trip!! Also, the desserts at Chops are unreal, especially their mile-high chocolate cake and piña colada cobbler.
If El Conquistador strikes your fancy and you’ve got the cash, go for it. It’s a special place.

The Takeaway

I can’t believe it took me 31 years to get to Puerto Rico! I honestly had no idea it had so much to offer until I got to see it for myself.
Between the ease of visiting and how much there is to do, I know this is only going to be the first of many trips to Puerto Rico in my future.

Essential Info: Puerto Rico has public transportation, but the best and most efficient way to get around is by renting a car. You can get anywhere around the island within a few hours. It was just 90 minutes from San Juan to Ponce on the south coast.
I visited Culebra on a one-day Culebra Snorkel Trip with East Island Excursions. The trip includes a snorkel stop next to the island and a two-hour stop at Flamenco Beach, plus a simple lunch, some snacks, and alcoholic beverages. The cost is $99 for adults and $79 for children under 12.
Personally, I think the snorkel trip is a little bit expensive for what you get, compared to similar activities I’ve done in similarly priced destinations, and not enough time is spent on the beach, but it’s a fun, fast, and easy way to experience Culebra for a day.
Do note that on this trip, you can only get to Flamenco Beach by swimming from the boat. This means that if you want to take photos on the beach, you’ll need a dry bag for your camera. They sell some smartphone-sized dry bags at the dock; instead, I recommend that you buy a high quality bag before your trip. This is a good dry bag that will fit a DSLR camera and it comes with a bonus smartphone bag. The crew will assist you if you can’t swim.
If you choose to visit Culebra independently, there are ferries from Fajardo, but it’s quickest and easiest to fly from the mainland.
I went zip-lining at Toro Verde Adventure Park in Orocovis. An eight-line zip-lining tour costs $85; The Monster costs a supplemental $175. There’s also a shorter version of The Monster, called The Beast, which costs a supplemental $65.
Rates at the Hilton Caribe start at $179. Rates at the Hilton Condado Plaza start at $179. Rates at El Conquistador Resort start at $199. These are all low-season rates; rates increase sharply in high season.