03.25.2019

How to Save Money on Travel with Groupon: Save Hundreds on Hotels, Activities, Food, Getaway Packages, and More

Every time I open Facebook, there’s usually someone posting a question like, How can I save money on travel? Or What are the cheapest ways to travel?

Well, friends, today I’m going to let you in on another travel hack. It’s extremely simple, takes only a few minutes, and you could be saving hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars just by making this easy switch.

So what life-changing travel hack am I talking about? None other than Groupon!

For those who haven’t heard, Groupon is a website where local businesses offer deep discounts on things to do, restaurants, shopping, and more … but most importantly (and often overlooked), there are thousands of travel deals as well.

In fact, it’s possible to plan your entire trip with Groupon if you try hard enough – and I’ll show you how. ;)

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03.18.2019

How Much Did I REALLY Spend in the Maldives? Budget Breakdown & Spending Report

“Wow, how much did your trip to the Maldives cost?!”

Although most people are shy to ask questions about money (especially in the travel business), most of my friends and family — and heck, even strangers — couldn’t resist asking me this when I came back from my trip. And I can’t blame them, it’s a juicy question!

The Maldives has a stereotype of being an ultra-luxurious and expensive destination, but I found the opposite to be true while I was there. If you know where to go and how to properly plan your trip, you can travel to the Maldives on a budget. In fact, this post might even be able to show you how to visit the Maldives on a budget, including an overwater bungalow, without breaking the bank.

Seeing as how I love reading budget breakdown posts, I decided to venture out and write my very own! I’ve broken down each of my expenses by category below and added a few tips, as well as the total cost that I paid. That’s right: this budget report tracks every single dollar (*cough* rufiyaa *cough*) that I spent.

Since it’s my first budget post, please be gentle — and let me know what you think in the comments after you’re done reading ;)

Ready to see how much I spent? Let’s check it out!

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03.11.2019

THE QUICK AND EASY GUIDE ON HOW TO PLAN A LAYOVER: How to Get the Best Out of Your Layover For Beginners

Psst… Want to see a new country without spending hundreds of dollars on flight tickets? One of the simplest travel hacks to see a new country without paying an extra cent is … *drumroll* layovers!

That’s right: by adding an extra stop into your flight itinerary, you can actually save money and get more out of your vacation.

My first experience with a layover was on a trip to Nepal, where I had the opportunity to spend 9 hours in Hong Kong on the way to Nepal and another 13 hours on the way back to San Francisco. I got to try some of the best dim sum and boba tea in Asia, climb up to Victoria’s Peak, and meet one of my (now) best friends thanks to a Couchsurfing meetup — and none of this would have happened if I booked a direct flight or a flight with a short layover!

Besides Hong Kong, I also got to see countries that I normally wouldn’t have otherwise been able to fit onto my trip. Some of my other layovers were through Sydney, Australia (9 hours); Dubai, UAE (7 hours); Amsterdam, Netherlands (12 hours); and Kiev, Ukraine (too many to count ).

Thanks to layovers, you can see a new country or city for free – and I’m here to show you how. Planning a layover is simple if you follow these easy steps. I’ll tell you everything you need to know, such as which airlines are best for layovers, how to fly with layovers, how to deal with luggage/hotels, and even a few flight tickets hacks.

Let’s check it out!

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03.04.2019

What to See & Do on Catalina Island – Los Angeles Day Trip

If you’re traveling to Los Angeles, you’re probably going to Disneyland, taking photos on the Walk of Fame, or hiking up and seeing the famous Hollywood sign. But did you know about the sunny, Mediterranean-inspired Catalina Island? If you’ve never heard of it, I definitely recommend adding it to your list.

Catalina Island is the perfect day trip from Los Angeles. It’s great for families, couples, and solo travelers; there are dozens of cafes and restaurants; and a range of activities for the adventurous travelers to the casual beachgoers. Interested in visiting? Keep reading and find out more!

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