7 Methods to Create Realistic HDR Images

Mention the phrase “HDR photography,” and you will definitely get some cringes. HDR is one technique that you either love or hate. Fortunately for me, I have been using this technique to create many of my images ever since I picked up a DSLR, and it is a tool I definitely have grown to appreciate. Personally, I love taking photos during sunset and sunrise, which means most of the scenes I encounter are of extreme contrast and therefore high dynamic range. Depending upon the shot, it can be nearly impossible to create a tonally balanced image without doing HDR photography of some kind, although there are many different methods of blending exposures with different results, some more natural than others.

from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/7-methods-to-create-realistic-hdr-images#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-methods-to-create-realistic-hdr-images

10 Best Places to Travel on a Budget

Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018

The world is full of affordable destinations, and it doesn’t require much effort to find them. No matter what continent, there are always places you can visit on a budget — even countries we think of as expensive are quite budget-friendly if you know certain tips and tricks. No destination is really ever “too expensive.” After 10 years as a frugal budget traveler and, in light of the release of my new book, today I want to talk about my favorite budget travel destinations from the last 10 years. These destinations are my favorite countries and regions for getting the most value for your money, meeting friendly locals and travelers, eating well, and having fun.

If you’re looking to travel on a low budget and wondering where you should go, here are the 10 best cheap places to travel internationally:

1. Fiji

Most of us imagine Pacific Island destinations as expensive destinations filled with high priced resorts, food, and services. However, that’s not always the case. Fiji, unlike its expensive island neighbors and sharp marketing by Fiji water, is actually relatively cheap to visit. While there are many $1,000-a-night resorts in the country, you can manage to enjoy pristine beaches, world-class diving, tasty seafood, and friendly locals without having to mortgage your home.

Since Fiji is a stopover on Fiji Airlines, you’ll find a lot of flight deals to the country. Many backpackers take advantage of that and a small backpacker community has emerged. That means cheap guesthouses, transportation, and activities, especially in the popular Yasawa Islands. Even if you’re not a backpacker, you can take advantage of all these deals and save money. Fiji is one of the best budget destinations on the region and not to be missed.

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Fiji.

2. Central America

Want to roam ancient ruins, trek through the jungle, surf, and eat delicious food with few tourists around? Visit the smaller countries in Central America — think El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Here you will find most budget hotels for around $15 per night, meals for $3, most bus journeys for the same price, and beer for less than a dollar.

Beliza, Panama, Costa Rica – these are expensive destinations by regional standards. If you visit the central Central American countries, you can get by on $40 a day as a backpacker or splash up to $60 a day and live large. Your money goes really far in this part of the world.

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Central America.

3. Cambodia

While you could put all of Southeast Asia on the list, Cambodia is one of my favorite countries in the region — it’s affordable, beautiful, and the locals are incredibly hospitable. You can get a private, air-conditioned room for $20 USD, street food for $2, and transportation across the country for $20. If you are spending close to $50 a day, you are living large. It’s way cheaper than all its neighbors, just as beautiful, and filled with some of the nicest people in the world. It’s one of the cheapest backpacking destinations in the world!

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Cambodia.

4. China

China has fascinated travelers ever since Marco Polo traversed the Silk Road. While the days of China being a super-cheap destination are long gone, the country remains a budget destination – and one of the cheapest in Asia – but with a caveat. You need to get out of the big cities. Sure, the cities are still a bargain. Hostels cost less than $20 a day, food is $2-5 per meal, and local transportation in cities runs less than a dollar. But, the country becomes even cheaper, when you get off the beaten path and the interior. This is where you’ll find the best travel deals and bargains! China still remains one of the best value places in the world.

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on China.

5. South Korea

South Korea is a country not talked about enough. To me, South Korea is one of the greatest “undiscovered” travel destinations in the world — its prices rival that of Southeast Asia, it’s high tech, the food is mind blowing delicious and eclectic, the countryside is jaw-dropping beautiful, and the nightlife is out of this world. It is one of the most underrated travel destinations out there. With the South Korean currency at 1,100 won per $1 USD and most everything costing only a few thousand won, it’s hard to bust your budget here. My friend and I went out for Korean BBQ complete with drinks, and we each spent $8. You can pick up bottles of beer in 7-Eleven for less than a dollar. Trains are cheap. Everything here is cheap – plus it’s fun and different! If you’re looking for a budget trip to Asia, visit South Korea. There are lots of international flights to here!

6. India

While always a cheap country, the Indian rupee used to ride high at 39 rupees to the US dollar. Now, you get 73 rupees to the dollar — that’s nearly 50 percent more money to travel with. Unless you book five-star resorts and eat only Western meals, you’ll find it hard to spend $50 a day here. You can get by on closer to $30 by staying in cheap guest houses, taking second-class trains, and avoiding Western food. India a cheap backpacking destination – heck, just a cheap travel destination – with a rich cultural history, top class food, helpful and curious locals, incredible regional diversity, great tea, and a lot to do. It’s a gigantic place best either explored in either one large trip or a few smaller chunks. Either way, don’t miss India.

7. Eastern Europe

Far Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova) is the cheapest part of the continent. It’s a sin most people don’t visit this region more. I was living like a king for less than $40 per day, paying $8 a night for a room in Ukraine, $1.50 for a liter of beer in Bulgaria, and a few dollars for transportation. Eastern Europe has the charm and beauty of the West without the high prices or hordes of tourists you’ll find in Paris, Prague, or Barcelona. They are not the impoverished ex-Communist countries most people still think them to be. If you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path, come to this area of the world.

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Europe.

8. Portugal

Not all Euro countries are created equal, and Portugal is one of the bargain countries in the region — and one of my favorites. I fell in love with the country the first time I visited — how could I not, with beautiful beaches, wine country, stunning cliffs, delicious food, jovial locals, and historic cities all at bargain prices. Portugal has become a lot more popular and crowded in recent years. Lisbon has become especially expensive was people move there and drive up prices. It’s a great place after all! However, once you get outside of Lisbon, prices are still relatively cheap compared, even if the crowds are a bit larger these days!

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Portugal.

9. Australia

While an unlikely candidate to be listed on a “cheap destinations” list because it’s known to be incredibly expensive, Australia can also be incredibly cheap – if you know a few tricks! Thanks to a lot of work exchange opportunities, a well-worn budget backpacker trail, lots of Couchsurfing hosts, and cheap groceries, you can visit Australia on a budget. Additionally, Australia has become cheaper thanks to the 20% drop in the Australian dollar has tempered that price increase and made Australia the most affordable it has been in years.

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Australia.

10. Thailand

On every list ever about budget travel, Thailand is where it all began for me so it holds a special place in my heart. It is where I decided to quit my job and travel the world. I lived there. I loved there. Thailand is incredible. With a tourist trail going back decades, Thailand is the heart of backpacking in Southeast Asia, and you can get by on between $25-30 a day thanks to cheap guesthouses, street food, local buses, and attractions. If you spend all your time on the islands and in expensive accommodation, expect to pay closer to $50 USD a day. However, even at the price, Thailand is still one of the most bargain destinations in the world and should not be skipped!

For more information, check out this detailed planning guide on Thailand.

******

I believe most destinations in the world can be explored on a budget without sacrificing too much comfort (heck, I even traveled Iceland on $50 a day). If you’re a savvy traveler, you know how to maximize your money no matter where you go in the world. But your mission to find the cheapest places to travel in the world is a lot easier when the places you’re going to are already affordable. It takes less work to save money.

So visit one of these places and save! Leave a comment below and add in your suggestions too!

Read more and learn to travel cheap: 

• How to Make Your Travel Money Last
• 15 Easy Money Saving Travel Tips
• 8 Great Alternative Budget Vacation Ideas
• The Ultimate Guide to Traveling When You Have No Money

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Where to Book a Cheap Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Where to Book Your Accommodation
If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. You can book your hostel – if you want that instead – with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive inventory.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

The Best Companies to Book With
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

The post 10 Best Places to Travel on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/ten-budget-destinations/

Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise

Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018

We all have our own version of The Beach — that spot in the world where all is perfect and all is paradise. I found my version back in 2007. It’s a small town in Western Australia called Coral Bay. It’s a one-road town with one bar, one supermarket, three restaurants, and three hotels. This is a small town. There’s not much to do. And that’s why I love it.

Coral Bay is my paradise. From the first time, I visited, I fell in love with this idyllic little beach town in the middle of nowhere. On one side of Coral Bay, it’s barren, arid cattle country, where sheep roam and truckers dodge kangaroos. On the other side, it’s blue water, sandy beaches, and the Ningaloo Reef and its abundance of marine life.

And, in between that, is a little town that’s home to one hotel, an RV site, a bunch of backpackers, and some beach bums enjoy the tropical beauty at the end of the world.

Everything in this town revolves around one giant white sand beach with turquoise blue water that stretches until infinity and a reef system so close to the land, you can swim to it. There are so many turtles, fish, and stingrays, it’s too much to handle. When I was there in 2007, I woke up every day, swam with turtles, relaxed on the beach, and worked on my tan. At night, the setting sun would light up the sky in fiery tones of red and orange while I cooled off with a cold beer and good friends.

Life in Coral Bay is perfection, and my time there went way too fast. I could have stayed for weeks, and I longed to go back and visit because a quiet beach town is all I want in life. When Tourism Australia invited me to Australia last month, I declined the offer at first. After all, I just went to Australia at the beginning of the year. But when they told me I could go back to Coral Bay, I jumped at the chance.

I wondered what the town would look like after three years. Tourism in Western Australia has grown in recent years, and I wondered if this sleepy town had been spoiled. Would I return to my one-road paradise just to find multiple roads, more hotels, and more restaurants? After three years away, I was glad to see the town was still quiet and peaceful.

Whatever Coral Bay looked like now, I planned on doing more this visit than just sitting on the beach. To begin with, it was off to explore the outback that surrounds Coral Bay. While I was in the countryside, kangaroos jumped all around, eagles and other birds flew above, and there was wildlife everywhere.

Then we went down to the beach and spotted parrotfish jumping in the shallows and reef sharks circling for food. Snorkeling and swimming around the reef for a second time, I realized this is the best reef in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef gets all the attention, but the Ningaloo Reef is much better. There’s brighter coral and more wildlife, including whale sharks, turtles, and dolphins. It hasn’t been spoiled by overdevelopment or overfishing. While the Great Barrier Reef looks amazing from the air, it’s what we see underwater that matters, and I see far more underwater action here than I do on the Great Barrier Reef.

During March and April, whale sharks migrate up the coast, and large manta rays can be found around the reef. It being off-season, I had to settle for the manta rays. I took a half-day snorkeling trip around the reef; about an hour outside of Coral Bay, we spotted some large manta rays.

These creatures were huge! It was amazing to swim with them and watch them glide effortlessly through the water. I never realized how big these creatures were. In my mind, they were as big as a person. In real life, they’re as big as three!

This isn’t your standard Aussie tourist destination. It’s that very isolation that keeps most tourists away, leaving the place so peaceful and detached from the rest of the world. This is a spot for mostly Australian and people driving around in campervans. There are no hordes of people ruining the beaches or the wildlife. It’s a world away from the busy East Coast.

If you ask me, there’s nothing in eastern Australia that equals the beauty of Coral Bay. Forget Cairns, Noosa, Magnetic Island, or Bondi Beach. If you want to experience the beaches you see in ads for Australia, come to Coral Bay.

While part of me wants you to go there, part of me wants it all to myself. Paradises are all eventually lost, but I want to hold onto mine just a bit longer. If you make it there, you’ll see what I mean. You’ll want to tell others, but you won’t really want to tell others. Then again, maybe you’ll find the sign pointing to Coral Bay has suddenly disappeared, and I can keep my version of heaven just a bit longer.

How to Visit Coral Bay

Coral Bay isn’t an easy place to get to. By car, it’s almost 5,000km from Sydney — literally across the entire continent. It’s located in the middle of the western coast, making it far off the beaten trail. The closest airport is located a couple of hours away in Learmonth. If you plan to drive from Perth, expect the journey to take at least 12 hours each way. If you’re coming from the other direction, the trip is a solid 14-hour drive from Broome.

As for accommodation, there are a couple of hotels in the area as well as a hostel to stay at. If you’re driving, you’ll find some RV parks too.

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3

The post Coral Bay: My Beach Paradise appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/my-beach-paradise/

Canyon Swinging in Cairns: Conquering My Fear of Heights

Updated: 10/30/2018 | October 30th, 2018

I hate heights, which is something a lot of people find ironic, considering how often I fly. But anyone who has flown with me before knows that I’m a bit of a nervous flier. Any bump in the air and I grab onto the seat until my knuckles are white. While I’ve gotten a bit better over the years, I still won’t even go near ledges or cliffs and, if someone does manage to get me up an observation tower, it takes me about ten minutes to walk toward the glass. I’m that scared.

As you might know, extreme sports are hugely popular in Australia and New Zealand. From bungy jumping to skydiving to scuba diving to rock climbing to whitewater rafting and everything in between. People come to this part of the world to get outdoors and get an adrenaline rush.

And no activity is more synonymous with this area of the world than bungy jumping!

Bungy jumping was invented by a New Zealander named A.J. Hackett in the 1980s. Taking inspiration from a ‘land diving’ tradition in Vanuatu, Hackett worked to figure out how to make land diving actually work in a safe and consistent environment. Eventually, he and his colleagues took their product to France where they then jumped off the Eiffel Tower. This was illegal of course, which resulted in Hackett briefly spending some time in jail.

But that jump caught the attention of the world, and bungy jumping has been a common (if extreme) sport ever since.

A.J. Hackett is the biggest name in the bungy biz, operating jumps all around the world, including the world’s tallest bungee jump in Macau which stands 764 feet above the ground. Naturally, as bungy jumping grew in popularity, other extreme activities were developed and followed suit. Enter the canyon swing, a large gravity-powered pendulum that drops people into a canyon and lets them swing back and forth.

When I was visiting Cairns, Australia with some friends, I got invited to visit the AJ Hackett Bungy Jump by Brett Claxton, then the head of Queensland’s backpacking association. While we are there, AJ himself turned up and we started talking! He was an extremely interesting guy. I pictured him to be this big, burly guy but, instead, he was a short, hippie with a penchant for adrenaline sports!

After some peer pressure, I agreed to do the canyon swing they had there. In fact, not only did I do the canyon swing but I got to do it with AJ himself. How could I say no to that?

While the video below doesn’t have the quality, it definitely shows you want you can expect when you do a canyon swing in Cairns:

While I’m no adrenaline junkie, I have to admit it was a memorable experience. While it’s not for me, I can definitely see why bungy jumping has become such a popular activity. These days, no visit Down Under is complete without some sort of extreme sport. So, if you find yourself in Cairns be sure to head over to AJ Hackett’s and take a leap. You won’t regret it.

How to Bungy Jump and Cayon Swing in Cairns: Logistics

The Cairns location is actually A.J. Hackett’s favorite place to hang out. They have built an impressive setup, offering 16 different styles of jumping, including the ability to jump blindfolded or to jump from a BMX bike. There’s a bar on site, and the place is open all day so you can book multiple jumps.

AJ Hackett Cairns is open daily from 10am, 364 days a year (they close on Christmas).

Transportation is included in your ticket, with multiple pick-up points available around Cairns. They’ll pick you up at a place convenient for you. Make sure to book in advance so you can choose your ideal time and secure a spot on the shuttle.

Single jumps start at 159 AUD for adults and 139 AUD for students and children ages 10-14. For an additional 99 AUD, you can also purchase photos and video (including POV footage) of your jump.

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite places to stay in Cairns are:

• Gilligans – This is biggest hostel in Cairns. Come here to meet people and party.
• Asylum – An all around solid hotel with friendly staff and comfy beds.
• Calypso – This is a bit outside the city but the staff is friendly and it’s quiet.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Photo credit: 1

The post Canyon Swinging in Cairns: Conquering My Fear of Heights appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/my-fear-of-heights/

Photographing Bhutan

Fine art travel photographer David Lazar first became fascinated with Bhutan after winning a photography contest in 2010, and then enjoying the fruits of his first prize – a free trip to the mysterious, “Land of the Thunder Dragon”. When he had the chance to return earlier this year, he could not have been happier! This is quite befitting in a country where the government actually has programs for the mental and spiritual wellbeing of its citizens, and measures what it terms, Gross National Happiness.

from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/photographing-bhutan#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photographing-bhutan

Exploring New Zealand Tip-to-Tip

New Zealand has long been a ‘bucket list’ destination for photographers around the world. It has often been described as one of the most beautiful countries on the planet, scoring in the ‘Top 10’ on many travel and photography websites. My wife and I have been very fortunate to be able to visit New Zealand a number of times. Our most recent three trips (2013 to 2018) were focused on doing field work for a photography eBook (New Zealand Tip-to-Tip) which we just published at the end of October 2018. Since our photographs were taken over a number of years, they were captured by both Nikon full frame gear, as well as Nikon 1 equipment.

from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/exploring-new-zealand-tip-to-tip#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exploring-new-zealand-tip-to-tip

My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney

Updated: 10/28/2018 | October 28th, 2018

The first time I was in Sydney (all the way back in 2007), I spent most of my days sitting in the botanical gardens, reading a book and looking at the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. For so long I had heard about how wonderful and beautiful Sydney was, and there I was experiencing it!

Over the years, I’ve been to the city a handful of times, exploring it more and more and getting a local taste through all my wonderful friends there. I’ve been everywhere, I’ve done all the major attractions, the smaller attractions, and everything in between.

If you are wondering what the best things to see in Sydney are, wonder no more!

Today, I want to share my favorite things to do and see in this laid-back, warm, sunny, and gregarious city so you can better plan your trip and make the most out of your visit!

The Best Things to See in Sydney

1. Explore The Rocks
The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney. With its narrow lanes, fine colonial buildings, sandstone churches, and Australia’s oldest pubs, this neighborhood is where Sydney started when the British first landed. It was almost torn down in the 1970s for modern high rises, but, luckily, citizen action got it preserved instead. The Rocks’ weekend markets, art museums, street entertainment, delicious (and sometimes overpriced) restaurants, and beautiful views of the harbor, Opera House, and bridge make this is one of the coolest areas of the city. I love heading up to the Sydney Observatory Hill Park for a good view of the city, wandering the harbor promenade, and hitting the bars at night.

2. Hang out at the beach

Sydney is synonymous with its beaches, and the area is also especially famous for having world-class surfing. Since it’s warm and sunny most of the year, the city has a strong beach culture, and on the weekends (and many weekdays for that matter), locals flock to the seashore. From Palm Beach and Manly in the north to the famous Bondi and Coogee in the south, Sydney has a beach for everyone. All the beaches are easy to get to via public transportation or car and there are tons of restaurants and surf shops around, too! My favorite beaches are Manly (wide and beautiful) and Bronte (small and quiet)

3. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair

You’ll find Australia’s first vegetable garden and a treasure trove of trees, ferns, flowers, and gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens. On a sunny day, you’ll find locals sprawled out all over the lawns soaking up the sun. You can also see Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a seat carved into a stone cliff, where you can sit and gaze out at the harbor. There are also free one-hour volunteer-guided tours of the garden, too!

4. Take the ferry to Manly Beach
The ferry ride to Manly ($12.40 AUD round-trip, $2.50 AUD on Sundays) offers sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the world-famous Opera House. It’s a picturesque 30-minute ride each way that puts you in one of the coolest parts of the north end of the city. Manly is famous for its wide beach, giant waves, surfing, and kick-ass nightlife.

5. Walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The bridge was built in 1932 as a government employment project during the Great Depression. Its steel frame has become an iconic symbol of the city. While tours that climb the bridge are expensive ($158 AUD), it is free to walk or bike across it for panoramic views of the harbor and Opera House.

6. Marvel at the Sydney Opera House

Just as iconic as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is famous for its white-shelled roof. As an architectural delight and feat of engineering (getting the roof to stay up took the creation of a complex support system), guided tours ($37 AUD) give you a whole new appreciation for just how challenging the building was to design and erect. Tickets for a show in the Opera House are surprisingly affordable ($43 AUD), so try to take one in if you can.

7. Visit the Blue Mountains

Over the millennia, the ancient sandstone of this national park has been weathered into gorges lined by steep cliffs and separated by narrow ridges. Some activities in Blue Mountains National Park include seeing the magnificent rock formation of the Three Sisters (particularly stunning at sunset and under evening floodlights) or hiking along the paths that offer excellent views of the valley, sheer rock walls, tumbling waterfalls, and magnificent forests. The park is free to visit and you can get there by train from Sydney, which takes 90 minutes. If you want to hike further afield, it’s best to stay overnight!

8. See all the museums

Like most cities, Sydney has a wide variety of museums. There’s free entry to the Art Gallery of New South Wales (modern art), the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia at The Rocks, the Nicholson Museum (antiquities), and the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbor. I also suggest visiting the White Rabbit Gallery (contemporary Chinese art; it also has a teahouse) and The Rocks Discovery Museum (local history); both are also free. However, my favorite museum of all is the Hyde Park Barracks. Set in the old convict barracks, it does an amazing and detailed job of chronicling colonial life in the city, with lots of stories of the early settlers, and it’s well worth the $10 AUD entrance fee. If you only pay for one museum, make it this one!

9. Learn to surf

Sydney is often the place travelers bite the bullet and learn the art of Australia’s famous national pastime. There are many companies here that offer lessons. While Bondi is the most popular beach, Manly on the north shore of Sydney has better waves (though you can find good waves up and down the coast!).

10. Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley
North of town is one of Australia’s premier wine regions. The Hunter Valley is home to amazing wineries that produce luscious reds. While it’s not as easy on the budget, it is an excuse to get out of the city and see the countryside. Day tours are offered from Sydney, but they are expensive ($150-200 AUD) and you spend a lot of time in the bus. Want even more fun? Try a bike tour. Grapemobile and Hunter Valley Cycling offer one-day bicycle rentals starting at $35 AUD. It’s best to stay for at least a night to get the full experience.

11. Take the Sydney Tower Skywalk

As tall as the Eiffel Tower and twice as high as the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Tower offers amazing panoramic views of the city from its Skywalk at the top. At $50 AUD, it’s cheaper and easier than climbing the bridge itself, and the views are actually far better. Also included with your purchase of a Skywalk ticket is access to the “4-D” cinema experience, which includes in-theatre effects like wind and fire.

12. Walk one of the coastal walks

There are a number of stunning coastal walks that allow you to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of Sydney Harbor. While tons of people follow the two-hour Coogee-to-Bondi walk (skip the weekends when it’s overly crowded), I found both the shorter walk in Watson’s Bay and the Split-to-Manly walk quieter and more breathtaking.

13. Explore the markets
Sydney has many amazing markets to walk through. At Paddington Markets (Oxford Street; open Saturdays after 10am), the fish market (Bank Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road), Bondi Farmers Market (Campbell Parade on Bondi Beach), the flower market (Parramatta Road), and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it’s really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I love Paddington Markets and the farmers market the best — they draw an eclectic crowd, and the farmers market makes me want to cook nonstop.

14. Attend a cultural event

Since Sydney has a complex about Melbourne being called the culture capital of Australia, it tries to outdo its rival by hosting over 30 official festivals and events each year. It offers art gallery nights, concerts, festivals, and much more. Most of them are free and can be found on the Sydney tourism website.

15. Party in King’s Cross
If you’re looking to go out and get wild on the cheap, then go to King’s Cross. This is where the beer is inexpensive and the backpackers (and locals) party late. The famous World Bar is where most of the action happens (cheap drinks and a large dance floor). For a less traveler-centric time, head to Manly, The Rocks, or the CBD (central business district) where there are more locals and less travelers (but more expensive cocktails and beers).

****

Sydney is a remarkable city. While some cities scream “run around and see stuff” (cough, NYC, cough), Sydney’s message to visitors is always “relax, go outside, and enjoy the beautiful weather.” Sure, there’s plenty to do, but I find the best way to enjoy the city is to take it slow, see a few attractions, and mostly lay outside on the beach or in a park… or relax at a nice happy hour at a bar overlooking the harbor! Sydney has it all!

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Australia?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!

Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

The post My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-things-sydney/

How Much a Holiday in Thailand Costs

Updated: 10/28/2018 | October 28th, 2018

Traveling Thailand can cost as little or as much as you want it to be. This is a country that covers all budgets! This is a country where you can stay in $3 USD rooms or $1,000 USD resorts. Street food for pennies or gourmet dinners for hundreds. Expensive tours or inexperience attractions.

There’s something for every budget here in Thailand.

Thailand is a cheap country to live in and travel around. I usually spend very little money here. But that changed when my friends came, and why that changed is important for anyone planning to come to Thailand.

How much does it cost to travel around Thailand?

Your Thailand costs will vary greatly depending on the kind of traveler you want to be. I’ve been visiting the country for over a decade and I’ve seen it change a lot. Here’s how much you can expect to spend and how to save money in the country.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Thailand?

On a recent visit to Thailand with my friends, we traveled for 24 days and I spent $1,596.27 USD or $66.51 per day. Here’s the breakdown (all prices are in Thai baht):

• Accommodation (cheap guesthouses, nice beach bungalows, luxury jungle huts) – 13,565
• Flights around Thailand – 4,200
• Transportation (public buses, trains, taxis) – 1,470
• Ferry to, around, and from the islands – 1,875
• Diving in Ko Tao – 800
• Hiking in Khao Sok – 1,200
• Movie and popcorn (Sherlock Holmes 2—don’t see it!) – 320
• Misc. (bug spray, toothbrush, etc.) – 363
• Drinks (it was the holidays!) – 10,115
• Jim Thompson House (museum in Bangkok) – 100
• Medicine (I popped my eardrum scuba diving!) – 1,890
• Food (street food, seafood dinners, amazing international meals in Bangkok) – 11,000
• Web stuff for work – 890
• Water – 100

Total spent: 47,888 THB or $1,596.27 USD

Note: 1 USD = 30 THB

For Thailand, that’s a lot of money. But my friends had never been to the country before so we traveled a little faster than normal and stayed at nice placer than I normally would on a budget.

I love traveling Thailand because it’s cheap and backpacking around Thailand usually costs $30–35 USD per day, depending on how much alcohol you consume and how many days you spend on the islands, where costs are higher.

But when time’s limited and this is one of two big trips all year, you don’t want to scrape every penny. Vacations don’t need to cost a fortune, but if you aren’t traveling all the time, staying in the cheapest place to make your money last becomes less of an issue. You want nice things.

You travel faster. You take planes, not 12-hour trains. You cram more activities into your day. You pamper yourself more. You eat nicer meals.

And my friends definitely wanted all of the above.

How Much Do You Need to Travel Thailand?

You don’t need to spend a lot of money in Thailand.

If you’re backpacking Thailand, plan to budget between 825–1150 BHT ($25–35 USD) per day. This range will get you your own room (fan only) with a shared bathroom (or a dorm room on the lower end), food from the street stalls, a couple of drinks per day, a few tours here and there, and local transportation. If you’re spending more time on the islands where things tend to be more expensive, budget towards the higher end or even upwards of $40 a day.

On a budget of around 1,650 baht ($50 USD) per day, you would be able to fly between some destinations, eat more delicious seafood dinners and international meals, take more tours and activities you wanted, sleep in air-conditioned rooms, and drink more.

If you’re looking to stay in Western hotels or expensive resorts, eat mostly Western food or in tourist areas, drink a lot, do a lot of tours, and fly a lot, you should budget 3,300–5,000 baht ($100–150 USD) per day. After that, the sky is the limit.

Throw in some extra money for shopping, and a maximum of $55 USD per day would give you a very, very nice budget vacation in Thailand. For that price, you would get:

• Flights (so you don’t have to spend time on long bus rides)
• Meals that include local restaurants and cheap street food, as well as delicious seafood dinners and some delicious international food in Bangkok
• Budget guesthouses with a few “splurge” nights thrown in
• Some tours and activities
• A few drinks
• A little extra wiggle room just in case

While all the money-saving tips mentioned on my website can be applied to any style of trip (saving money is universal), how fast you travel on a vacation changes how you spend money. We could have saved a lot if we’d skipped the flights and taken the train, but my friends didn’t have the time to spend 12 hours on a train. We flew, which is expensive during peak season.

How to Save Money and Lower Your Thailand Costs

Thailand is an inexpensive country, but if you’re on a really tight budget and need to lower your costs here’s how to save even more money during your visit:

• Get off of the tourist trail – The easiest way to save money in Thailand is to live like a local. Take the local buses, eat street food instead of standard restaurant food, and drink beer instead of other (more expensive) alcohol. In Bangkok, average Thai citizens live on a less than 8,000 THB per month. In the countryside, the average person lives on even less. Try to follow their example. Visit less touristy cities and islands, and you’ll save big.
• Book tours when you arrive – Want to take a cooking class, try zip-lining, or head out on a jungle trek? Maybe you want to try scuba diving near the islands. No matter what you’re looking to do, wait until you get into Thailand to book. Travel agencies are located everywhere so they are easy to find. These people are extremely friendly and easy to negotiate with, too. When it comes to tours, the general rule is that the more you buy, the better discount you can get. Grab a group of friends and sign up for tours together to increase your discounts. If the first travel agent won’t negotiate with you, move on to another one. Sure, you could just purchase these tours online before you arrive, but you’ll be paying a lot more. Wait until you arrive and you’ll save a lot of money.
• Eat at the street stalls – Everyone agrees that the food from street vendors in Thailand is the best food in the country. Plus, it’s ridiculously cheap. You can easily find a bowl of soup or noodles for less than 30 THB. Street stalls line every block, making them a simple and cheap option for any meal.
• Skip the Western food – Western food venues are always more expensive when compared to Thai food. Since some of the ingredients need to be imported, you should expect the prices to be higher than any Thai food you’ll find. Since most Western food places also pale in comparison to its original, it’s best to just skip it altogether and enjoy the delicious local food.
• Negotiate with tuk-tuk drivers – Unlike taxis, the tuk-tuks do not have meters. This means you need to agree on a price before you take off. If you don’t, they’ll be able to jack up the price on you. Drivers are always friendly but if you’re going to act like a clueless tourist they will definitely take advantage of you and charge you a few extra bucks. While I generally try to avoid tuk-tuks, they are fine for short distances (and you need to try them at least once!).
• Limit your drinking – You can save a lot of money by limiting how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol in Thailand can be quite expensive, so go for water if you’re on a budget. If you are going to drink, be sure to take advantage of happy hour deals when you can, and stick to beer instead of cocktails. o save even more money, buy your beer at 7-Eleven as it will be much cheaper than the bar.
• Use a hospitality exchange website – Sharing economy platforms like Couchsurfing and BeWelcome allow you to stay with locals for free while giving you a local perspective on the destination. There are plenty of hosts here, both locals and expats, so be sure to check out to not only save money but get an insider experience.
• Bargain hard – When you head to the markets you’re going to have to bargain hard. Never take the first price and don’t be afraid to walk away if you feel like you’re getting ripped off. If you can, ask a local what prices you should expect to give you a point of reference. Just remember to bargain hard but don’t be a jerk!

***
In the rush to see everything, you can spend a lot of money before you even realize it. I’ll admit that the budget traveler I normally go out the door on this trip. I would normally never fly around Thailand, skip the expensive resorts, and not eat as much international food as I did with my friends.

A three-week vacation in Thailand might not be as cheap as a three-month backpacking trip, but it can still be inexpensive as long as you watch where your money goes and don’t forget about keeping to a budget in your quest to see everything. Thailand doesn’t need to cost a fortune though and if you use these tips when you travel, no matter your travel style, you’ll save money!

 

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Thailand!

My detailed, 170+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guidebooks and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money while in Thailand, a country I used to call home (so I know it really well!). You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and get started.

Book Your Trip to Thailand: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

The post How Much a Holiday in Thailand Costs appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-much-a-holiday-in-thailand-costs/