Who better to give us some great tips on how to save some travel money than avid travellers? Intrepid Express readers have come up with some fantastic ideas and this super list of tactics to save cash for travel comes from Express win-a-trip winner Colleen Moses…
“From one who has champagne taste but, alas, a beer budget, I’ve got a few tips I’ve learned over the years on how to save money for holidays without having to do without…some of my best tips are as follows:
1. This one’s my absolute favourite….if you’re on the dating scene or simply enjoy fine dining but can’t afford a three course dinner for two, most fine dining restaurants do a fantastic breakfast for a smidgeon of the cost - impress your date with a gourmet breakfast at the best restaurant in town without breaking the budget. It also makes for a nice change from the traditional ‘dinner and a movie’ - go for breakfast and a walk along the beach instead, just as romantic but not so costly on the hip pocket!
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When travelling in Vietnam, Express reader Pam Shackleton enjoyed a special Intrepid real life experience that embraced the spirit of Christmas…
“We were travelling on the Reunification Express from Saigon to Hanoi. It was late evening and next day we were to have a celebratory Christmas breakfast when we arrived in Hanoi. We were delayed by several hours, stopped in the middle of nowhere during the night. We realised that our breakfast would not materialise and it was changed to lunch. Our guide Dave didn’t tell us too much about where we were going for our Christmas Day dinner, but we knew enough to be expecting a lot!
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On a warm Laos evening, Christmas eve in Vientiane was livened up by twelve high-spirited travellers, one Intrepid group leader and two trainee leaders. Intrepid’s Nicki Gibson was amongst the fun as people stopped and stared and even took photos of the crazy mob complete with Santa hats…
“The hats suddenly appeared from the backpacks of two travellers, who wanted to ensure that the Christmas spirit didn’t escape their Intrepid group in South East Asia. Locals smiled and looked slightly puzzled when we strolled through the city on our way to a not-so-traditional Christmas eve meal.
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In the Galapagos Islands the wildlife has right of way. Seeing the amazing animals in their natural habitat is what makes these islands so unique, and as Sean Kennaway discovered when he travelled on Intrepid’s Active Galapagos adventure, you don’t have to look hard to uncover the wonders of these remote islands…
“The Galapagos has always painted dazzling images in my mind of an unaffected wildlife sanctuary containing unique and wonderful examples of evolution. My only real understanding of the islands were that they contained an extraordinary diversity of creatures that could be seen at close proximity, and there were examples of animals that gave reason to believe that we are the product of adaption, and ultimately survival as a species. This is the reason why most people come to these islands off the coast of Ecuador, to be part of history and see where Darwin got his inspiration from.
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This holiday adventure had been a long time in the planning. Having a keen interest in Polynesian culture, and specifically being great admirers of the artisans who continue the traditions of tiki carving, our dream was to visit the Marquesas Islands.
This isn’t your everyday travel destination and is certainly not on the regular tourist route. The most common question when people heard where we were going was “Where’s that?” The Marquesas Islands are part of French Polynesia and sit 1500 km (800 nautical miles) northeast of Tahiti and just 6 degrees below the Equator. Although supplies come via Papeete, and this is where children usually go for higher education or where more advanced medical services are available, in many ways the Marquesas are worlds away from Tahiti. The Marquesans have their own language, unique customs and even the climate is different (often less humid and drier on some islands).
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Alaska is one of those wild frontiers that gets the superlatives flowing - with formidable mountains, impressive glaciers and magnificent national parks, it really is North America’s nature utopia. Alaska is where the wild at heart come to watch the wildlife at play, as Express reader Sharon Eldridge discovered…
“When we arrived at Denali National Park we were told two things by the local bus driver - only 30% of visitors get to see a clear view of North America’s highest mountain and 20% of us will see bears. But that didn’t dampen our spirits at all, because the surrounds were absolutely spectacular and we were excited to explore this amazing wilderness area.
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In the northwest of China you will find a wild part of the world surrounded by Tibet, Qinghai and Gansu provinces and no less than eight bordering countries - Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, India and Mongolia. Intrepid’s Tina Gerets loves her Silk Road adventures through this extraordinary region…
“When I think about ‘wild frontiers’ the first place that comes to mind is the barren landscape of China’s remote Xinjiang province. The name literally means ‘new frontier’. Home to one sixth of China’s total landmass and a third of the country’s natural resources, Xinjiang is like nothing you expect China to be.
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From a sublime icy slurp of a gelato to a simply delicious pizza, everything about Italy is full of flavour, so it’s no surprise that this book review from Express reader Kylie Sutherland comes with a warning, don’t read on an empty stomach…
“Dolce E Salata, by Marlena di Blasi, is a beautiful book chronicling an older American lady marrying a traditional Italian guy. It shares their mid-life adventures together, their move from Venice to the bittersweet countryside of Tuscany and the townspeople’s love of food and love of life itself.
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In many Asian countries it’s often difficult to get past the ‘tourist menu’ of chicken curry and chips. This was the dilemma for Intrepid’s Sally Johnson on a recent Sri Lanka trip, until she discovered that staying in locally run guesthouses and sharing the family meals was the secret…
“We lucked upon this idea on one of our first nights after joining Circle Sri Lanka. We were staying in the fabulous fort town of Galle and the man who ran the guesthouse asked if we’d like to try some of the curries left over from his family’s meal, rather than order from the menu. We jumped at the chance and were astounded by the delicate yet complex flavours. So fresh tasting and delicious!
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