Category: Closer to home

If you are trying to find the perfect travel location for your next vacation, how about check out Las Vegas? It has everything you need and more. From the fabulous hotels to the wide-open desert, there is always something fun to do for everyone.

Here are some reasons why you should visit the City of Lights:

Great Food

It is not just the great hotels that Las Vegas is famous for but also its fantastic food. Las Vegas is the home to 3-star Michelin restaurant Le Monde De Joel Robuchon. Just make sure to get a reservation early as the restaurant fills up fast.

Luxury Accommodation

Las Vegas is the home to the popular Caesar’s Palace, which owns a unique Roman-inspired décor and a modern Aria. It is not just Caesar’s Palace that attracts travellers to Las Vegas, the city is also home to many great hotels and it is just feast for the eyes.

Famous Casinos

And who wouldn’t know Las Vegas as a gambling city? Most of those who visit the city because of the casinos. Whether you enjoy slots machines or poker, there is a game for anyone. You could spend days or even weeks exploring the casinos alone. But a word of caution! Make sure you are ready to play and hope that you get lucky as you play on their tables.

The Shows

Concerts, comedy shows, Cirque productions, the city has everything for everyone. Do you want to watch Elton John perform live or watch a comedy show with a famous comedian?

All in all, Las Vegas has something in store for everyone. You just need to know what you want and head straight there. Have fun!

The natural beauty of Bali is the reason why this place is Indonesia’s top tourist destination. Travellers to this island will enjoy the stunning beaches, fascinating structures, culture and friendly people.

Thinking of visiting the island soon? Here’s a list of what you can do in Bali aside from the great beaches:

Tour the Uluwatu Temple. One of Bali’s most famous directional temples, it is made of three parts: the outer, middle and inner sections. Tourists can take photos around the temple, even when a worshiper is preparing their offerings as this is a way to introduce the Hindu Balinese culture to them. However, taking photos at the inner part of the temple is prohibited since this part is only accessible for worshippers and the part is considered holy.

See the Kecak Fire Dance in Uluwatu Temple. The Kecak Dance performance can be watched at the small open theatre in Uluwatu and is mostly done during big temple celebrations. The performance is a dance and musical love story of Rama and Shinta. It is also a holy dance and is performed mostly by men sitting in a circle singing “Cak! Cak! Cak!” for mostly an hour.

Tour the sacred Monkey Forest. Mandala Suci Wenara Wana, or well known as Ubud Monkey Forest is located in the town of Ubud. This monkey forest is home to a number of long-tail macaques. A stay at the hotel may even lead you to experience breakfast with them. A word of caution though, monkeys are territorial, so be careful where you sit on or step into.

If you are a backpacker and travelling to Singapore, budgeting properly is necessary especially if you are following a budget. So how much does it cost to visit this metropolitan city?

Low-range. A proper budget of $55 to $80 SDG or $40 to $55 USD per day will allow you stay in a hostel dorm and eat out at the cheaper hawker stalls in Little India, cooking and preparing your own meals, using local transportation, and limiting your night outs.

Mid-range. If you have more cash, you can up your budget to $75 to $135 SGD or $55 to $100 USD per day. With this budget, you will be able to eat out at restaurants as you want, enjoy some nightlife, stay at a better hotel, visit more paid attractions, and even get a private Airbnb, and ride taxis or trishaws.

Go full luxury. If budget is not a problem, you can go on a full luxury budget and spend around $520+ SGD or $380+ USD per day. With this budget, you will be able to stay in a nice hotel, visit more expensive attractions, go shopping, take taxis, enjoy the nightlife of Singapore, and so much more.

More Money-Saving Tips

Whether you have a full budget or not, Singapore has great places where you can save money but at the same time enjoy the city.
Take public transit. Buy a Singapore Tourist Pass once you arrive in the city since this will get you unlimited rides to a number of buses and trains.

Eat cheap. Little India and Chinatown offers a variety of hawker stalls where you can eat for only a few dollars but still get full.
Bring your own water bottle. The tap water in Singapore is perfectly fine to drink, so avoid buying water and just bring your own water bottle to do refills. Not only will you save money but you will also be saving the environment.

Japan is a great country to visit as it knows how to blend the old and new. Although it is a bit smaller than California, the great places and experiences you can have in the country are like visiting vast Europe. Just an hour or two of travelling will let you experience different great towns and mouthwatering food.

The incredible places and experiences one can have in Japan are what makes the country bigger than it otherwise might. Those who travel in the country often realize its density which prompts them to visit again, and again.

How long should you spend in Japan?

There is no simple answer to this question because you can spend as many days as possible and still have a grand time. The more time you spend on your trip, the better. Your journey to Japan is like devoting a long journey when you visit big countries like Europe, the US and Australia.

7 to 10 days

The minimum recommended days you can spend in the country is for a week or 10 days. This will give you time to be introduced to the country and will be able to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Hakone.

10 to 14 days

If you plan to visit for 10 to 14 days, you will have enough time to visit more destinations and immerse yourself in each of your destinations.

3 weeks or more

With around 3 or more weeks, you will be able to have a comprehensive itinerary. It can include different regions and a significant degree of immersion.

Paris is a fashion paradise. For those who do not just come to visit the city for its great museums but for the clothes it offers, we have come with some of the travel destinations you can visit.

Rue Saint-Honoré

If you are fashionista and love designer shops and French branch names, then look no further. Visit Rue Saint-Honoré and enjoy different brands such as Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons, Nous. How about French status labels like Hermès, Chloé, Chanel, Goyard and Louis Vuitton. For brands that are stylish but not pricy, you can visit Zara, & Other Stories. You are sure to find everything you need here, but make sure to bring plenty of cash and cards for a great shopping experience.

Covered Passageways (Les Arcades)

Don’t forget to check the high-quality boutiques at the old covered “arcades” that includes the Galerie Vivienne, the Passage Jouffroy, and the Passage du Grand Cerf, which is popular for its antiques and fine old jewellery.

The Marais

The Marais is a great location for shoppers who love antiques and finely-crafted arts. That is not all, you can also find great jewellery, perfumes, and cosmetics at boutiques like Mac and Diptyque on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois.

You can also enjoy great tasty chocolates, teas, and other gourmet goods at the Marais. For high-quality French tea, go to Mariage Frères on Rue du-Bourg-Tibourg, or at Kusmi Tea on Rue des Rosiers.

Merci is also one of the trendiest places to shop for men and women’s designer fashion, books and home décor.

We all want to take a relaxing vacation but at the same time, we want to save while enjoying the view. If you are one of those budget travellers who does not want to spend more than $30 per day, here are some countries where you can achieve your goals and save:

Thailand

Despite being a popular tourist destination these days, Thailand is still considered a haven’s paradise for cheap travellers. It is relatively easy to live on less than $30 a day. Budget rooms cost around $6 to $10 a night, food cost less than $5 per day, travelling can cost around $10, and $2 on drinks per day.

Just like any other countries, Thailand can also be expensive. To achieve your $30 a day goal, stay away from expensive drinks and restaurants, take local transportation and stay in guesthouses.

Bali

Though flights are long and expensive, once you get there you will find rooms that are less than $10 a night, meals for $2, and activities like snorkelling for no more than $10. If you leave the touristy southern part of Bali and travel inland, you will even be amazed at how it can go cheaper.

Budapest

Budapest is a beautiful country and full of history and travellers love to come here because it is cheap. Hostels start at $8 per night, meals at the market or at the kebab and sandwich shops cost at around $2, and trains and buses are just a few dollars. Touring this country will really give you a big break if you have already visited popular and expensive destinations in Europe.