Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget

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I read an interview recently with the Nobel prize-winning author Toni Morrison in which she described her writing habits in the early days of her writing career (when she had small children). She explained that she had to get up well before dawn to write as she didn’t have a chance to write once her children were awake.

It led me to consider that when we are passionate about something, be it writing, learning a language, travel etc., we will do whatever it takes to make ‘it’ happen. Just as Toni Morrison could have thought that she simply couldn’t be a writer at that time in her life as she didn’t have the time, so we can often dismiss our dreams for similar reasons.

If it is travel that you desire, what is stopping you? Or perhaps a better questions is, how can you make it happen?

Stick some pictures on your wall of your dream journey or destination, do some research and discover just how much your trip would cost, read blogs that give you tips and tricks for travelling well regardless of budget and then go about figuring out how to make it happen! How could you spend less? Earn more? Give yourself a deadline and work to it.

And if you’re in the mood for sharing, where will your next journey take you?

Happy travels!

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If you are looking for another excuse to purchase an iPhone or want to justify your acquisition of one of these slimline  parcels of technological goodness, let me tell you that an iPhone is a fabulous travel accessory. No more lugging around guidebooks, translation dictionaries and piles of documents, there are iPhone applications to meet almost all your travel needs.

And to save you trawling through the hundreds of iPhone application related to travel, Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget has compiled a list of the creme de la creme of travel applications for your iPhone. Best of all my champagne travellers, they’re free!

The best FREE travel applications for your iPhone

Travelocity

Allows you to make travel bookings, view your itinerary plus obtain flight and airport information including gate details, arrival and departure times and baggage collection updates.

Truphone

Thought you could only use Skype from your computer? Think again. Truphone allows you to harness the money-saving wonder of Skype and use it on your iPhone. You can save yourself some serious money with this application.

MOMPF Currency Converter

We have all been there. You’re walking about in a foreign city and you stumble upon a handbag/pastry/cocktail that you just can’t live without, and then to your joyous surprise you realize that the object of your desire is a total bargain. You hand over piles of currency and it is only later that you realize you miscalculated the exchange rate and actually paid a small fortune. Moral of the story? Download a universal currency converter such as this one to your iPhone and know exactly how much you’re paying, wherever you are in the world.

ReDo Lite

Save yourself time and hassle by setting up a couple of standard checklists that you can re-use each time you travel. You can organise your lists (pre-flight, onboard luggage, business trip, island vacation etc) and hopefully you’ll never have to endure that stomach-churning worry of whether or not you packed your passport. The application allows you to check items off the list, making it simple to see what else you need to pack/do.

TripIt

If you love the feeling of organisation when you travel or have other people that need to be informed of your travel plans, TripIt is for you. Simply join TripIt, e-mail them your itinerary and they do the rest. All your trip information (including maps and more) will be available for you to view from your iPhone, as well as being able to send it simply to others.

Travel Diary

We all have fabulous intentions of penning our travel memories daily but who hasn’t returned from a trip with a hazy memory and an empty journal? This application allows you to record photos, notes and maps on the go, so you can re-live your trip for years to come.

SitOrSquat

The last time I was travelling in Thailand I was pregnant and constantly in search of the ladies room. SitOrSquat would have changed my life. I don’t think I need to say anything else.

TripWolf

No travel must-haves list would be complete without a travel guide. Travel Wolf is my travel guide of choice when it comes to comprehensive but free applications for your iPhone. Find out where to eat, sleep, dance, drink and more in your city of choice. The free version of the Trip Wolf application allows you to download three different city guides.

Air Sharing

Allows you to view all sorts of documents on your iPhone which is helpful for everything from having a scanned copy of your passport, to articles you want to read in transit.

Wi-Fi finder

If you don’t have an application on your iPhone to show you where you can find free or cheap Wi-Fi wherever you are in the world, how else can you get online to get your regular fix of Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget?

Stylish Girl

This would have to be my latest iPhone application crush. It is basically your wardrobe in your iPhone. Photograph the items in your wardrobe, categorize them and then compile outfits and packing lists. Not only does it make packing quick and easy, but you can look at your wardrobe in a glance when clothes shopping to make sure what you’re buying goes well with your current wardrobe.

itranslate

When travelling in Cambodia I was lucky enough to be a dinner guest at the home of a wonderful local family. The mother cooked a superb fish dish and asked me at the end of the meal what I thought of it. Referring to my hurriedly scribbled-down Khmer phrases in my notebook I proceeded to attempt to tell her that the fish was delicious. Only later was I told that I actually said ‘the fish was really boney’. Not a very gracious comment from a guest. Don’t let this happen to you, download iTranslate and be the charming traveler that I know you are.

World Nomads

When you are looking for more than just a word-for-word language translation, download the World Nomads guide for your language of choice. This application allows you to search for basic phrases to say to the locals which we all know can make the world of difference when you are travelling. It beats being that tourist yelling ‘Do you speak English?’ to anyone they come across.

Happy downloading!

Tripbase Blog Awards 2009

Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget was a finalist in the 2009 Budget Travel Blog Awards. See a full list of finalists & winners here.

Cheers!

P.S. If you’re not already, why not follow us on Twitter?

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When it comes to Thailand, there are several destinations that seem to get all the press; Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Ko Samui. The last is one of the better known of the southern islands and has long been the starting point for island-hoppers and destination of choice for honeymooners and the Euro Jet Set. Ko Samui has a lot going for it, but if you think of it as the classic It Girl of the Thailand islands, then Ko Pha Ngan is the very cool, slightly rebellious younger sister.

Just 45 minutes by ferry from Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan is best known for its monthly infamous party celebrating the full moon. Urban mythology insists that this party institution began as a secret gathering of backpackers-in-the-know. Pioneers of island-hopping the untouched beaches of Thailand’s south, these travelers would gather under the full moon on secret beaches to do… well, let the tales of primal debauchery speak for themselves. But as a character in Alex Garland’s best selling book The Beach laments, “There is no way you can keep it out of Lonely Planet, and once that happens it’s countdown to doomsday”. And so was the case for the original Full Moon Party, once word got out, along came the commercialization of the party, as did every gap-yearer. And come they did, in hordes. These days, islands in Thailand’s south host parties to celebrate the full moon, half moon or any slither of a moon. But Ko Phga Ngan remains the official owner of the modern day incarnation of the Full Moon Party.

For a few days each month before the full moon, the ferries groan under the weight of extra passengers, the hotels raise their prices and every where you look, holiday makers are clutching their ‘buckets’. Plastic containers filled with juice, soft drink, multiple straws and of course, your alcoholic spirits of choice. The excitement increases until the night itself and the party is no short affair, with after parties for the after parties. This night can be the memory of a lifetime, or end incredibly messy (Full Moon-induced psychosis has temporarily claimed the sanity of more than just a  few party-goers). As one Aussie ex-pat living on the island explained to me ‘This island is a place of peace and calm most of the time, and the party can be a great. But some months, we witness things that truly are Sodom & Gomorrah’.

But chances are, you have heard the stories of the Full Moon Party, you’ve seen the photos, heck you may even have the t-shirt, but what of Ko Pha Ngan aside from this monthly ritual? (more…)

I have been having such a great time of late reading lots of travel books & blogs, networking with other travel bloggers, planning future trips and organising  exciting new things for Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget that I forgot one tiny little detail… posting articles!  To make it up to you I can promise lots of new content coming in and will leave you with my online travel finds of the week.

If you don’t want to miss out on the latest tips and ideas for enjoying champagne travel on a beer budget, make sure you subscribe.

It is Friday afternoon here in Australia and I am looking forward to a relaxing champers in the sun this afternoon on the second last day of Summer.

What are your plans this weekend? Apart from satisfying your wanderlust by checking out the following links…

In honor of Friday afternoon drinks, here are some great resources for finding funky places to enjoy a beverage or two whilst travelling:

World’s Best Bars is a great place to start when researching a town you’re travelling to. It features mainly the more well-known bars but helps you get your bearing of what’s hip.

When it comes to going out for drinks in Australia, my opinion is that Melbourne is where its at. Don’t believe me? Check out Travel Muse’s post on Melbourne’s Coolest Bars.

Concierge reports on the world’s biggest party… Carnival!

I look forward to enjoying un verre de vin rouge here in the not too distant future!

And in non-alcohol related travel news…

Lara at Cool Travel Guide has written a great series on Travel by Twitter. If you tweet, say hello here.

For those of us that are regular users of airfare search & comparison site Kayak, you might be interested to know that Kayak are now including hotel rates. Great for booking quick trips.

Happy travels…

For modern-day holiday lovers, the staycation seems to be seen as either a ‘better-than-nothing’ option when finances are hard to come by or a complete abomination to the philosophy of vacationing.

What is a staycation? Simply, it is a vacation at home. You have time off work but for some reason (usually financial) you are unable to travel away from home and so decide to holiday at your abode instead. The question is, can a staycation be luxurious or are they just plain lame?

Whether you choose to try out a staycation or if your circumstances negate that it is a case of a holiday at home or no holiday at all, there are several things you can do to make sure you return to work with that post-vacation glow, regardless of how far from home you actually strayed.

So here it is, the Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget Guide to Staycations:

1) Find what makes a holiday special for you.

Take a moment to think about what it is you enjoy when you’re taking a vacation and think how you can work that in to your staycation. Maybe it is getting up early to watch the sun rise, sleeping in til midday, trying out different restaurants, eating dinner in bed, having lots of fun things planned to do or being completely spontaneous. Whatever it might be, make sure you have plenty of it whilst holidaying at home.

2) Don’t fall into familiar routines.

It is important that your staycation ‘feels’ like a holiday and that will never happen if you are doing the same old same old. So make sure that you don’t fall into the rut of laying on the lounge watching television and mix things up a little. Think about it, when we’re on holidays we tend to eat different foods, wear different clothes and do things we don’t often have the time to do during ‘normal’ life. Live it up a little!

3) Put some thought into your surroundings.

What would give your house a holiday feel? A big bunch of exotic flowers? A bowl of tropical fruit? A mini bar set up for afternoon cocktail hour? It can be a good idea to have objects that are clearly visible to you that really give the message that you are on holidays. On the other hand, it is equally as important to hide things that will make it feel like any other day, whether that be a stack of unread documents, your Blackberry or a pile of clothes to be ironed. Your staycation surroundings should make you smile, not cringe.

4) Go exploring.

Chances are that there are great bars, parks, museums, art galleries, cafes and botuiques in your area that you have never really noticed or had the time to appreciate. Use this opportunity to get out there and look at your town with the eyes of a tourist (a very stylish tourist of course) and you might be amazed at what you find.

5) Consider a themed staycation.

Can’t get to that health retreat? Why not do an at-home detox and get along to daily yoga classes? Were you dreaming of a wineries tour? Stock up on a  variety of wines and cheeses and have friends over each night for ‘tastings’. Wish you were on an adventure trek?  Find adventure in your local area - go mountain bike riding, take a bellydance class or do some rock climbing. Dreaming of relaxing on a beach somewhere? Buy a hammock, some trashy magazines and the ingredients for some long island iced teas. You get the picture…

I’d love to hear from you, what are your thoughts on staycations? Have you holidayed at home recently? Was it fabulous or a failure? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

A quick heads up for all you Aussies, or travellers visiting the land Down Under, Jetstar is having a sale on domestic fares. You can score yourself a bargain with flights as cheap as $39 one way (Melbourne to Adelaide).The good thing is that many of the flights are available to use during December & January (when often sale fares can only be used in off-peak times). Maybe it is time to plan a little Summer getaway? 

Glamour + Camping = GLAMPING

This upscale, stylish take on what is traditionally a very budget-conscious way to holiday is becoming increasingly popular as modern travellers focus more on unique experiences with luxurious touches than just your run-of-the-mill hotel or resort experience.

Glamping has all the hallmarks of traditional camping - the wilderness, isolation and sleeping under the stars, minus uncomfortable camping mattresses, eating beans from a can and a lack of showers.

Basically, glamping is camping for the jet set and if you’re keen to see it at its best you need to get yourself to one of the following hot glamping destinations:

Longitude 131, Northern Territory, Australia.

Longitude 131 accommodates its guests in elevated luxury tents which boast features such as air-conditioning, mini bars and BOSE sound systems.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, British Columbia, Canada.

Offers remote-controlled propane wood- stoves, antique dressers and tea tables, heirloom china and silver accessories and wireless internet access in their ‘tents’.

Paperbark Camp, New South Wales, Australia.

Glamps it up with candle-lit dinners and ‘in-tent’ massages.

But if you’re truly a budget traveller in every sense of the word and these glamping options exceed your budget, it doesn’t mean you can’t add some style to your next camping adventure. For some DIY glamping, don’t forget to pack a few little luxuries along with your tent and fold-out chair.

My picks for the little extras that can turn your camping into glamping would include:

Champagne (no surprises there) - adds a bit of glamour to any situation.

Sun lounges - not your usual camping gear but for something that doesn’t take up much more room in the car than a fold-out chair they add a resort-like feel to your modest camping trip.

Gourmet camping recipes - camp fire cooking can extend far beyond baked beans without a great deal more effort. Try camp recipes for meals such as Mostaccioli with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts.

What are your thoughts and ideas on adding glamour to your camping experience?

With such an abundance of travel blogs and websites out there, excuses are few to not be inspired and resourced to travel in style.

But if you don’t have the time or inclination to search these sites, you’re in luck. Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget does the searching for you and presents the finds in our monthly ‘Link Love’ post. Let the link love begin…

My latest travel blog crush would have to be The Jet Set Life. Check it out and see why.

New website Backpackability is home to a handy list of Budget Travel & Backpacking Resources.

Via Gridskipper, check out the article on the Best New Residence Hotels. I mean really, can you get more champagne travel than setting up digs at a glam hotel? I think not…

I think you are either a quote person or you’re not and I definitely fall into the camp of people who love a good quote. If you’re like me, you’ll love Brave New Traveler’s compilation of The (Next) 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes Of All Time.

If you’ve found any other great resources online, feel free to share them in the comments.

If you’re a US resident or have plans to be travelling there in the near future, it is well worth checking out Things You Should Do

This site has tonnes of suggestions for fun things to do in different cities across America and beyond, in fact yours truly has recently done a guest post on free & cheap things to see & do when travelling in Melbourne, Australia.

This post was one of the original ones posted on Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget, and has by far been one of the most popular.

If you are new to the site, other popular past posts that you may want to check out are:

Indulge in a luxury spa experience without the luxury price tag

Having the time of your life travelling solo

How to make flying economy feel like first class

The Ultimate Guide to Getting an Upgrade when you Fly - Pt 1 (I promise Pt 2 is coming soon!)

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Pour yourself a glass of bubbly and settle back for a little bit of online travel browsing:

Travel podcasts

If you’re like me and couldn’t imagine travelling without your ipod, you can now justify your dependence as being a clever strategy to lighten your load. Vagabondish provides a great guide to all the fantastic travel podcasts available here.

Why not lighten the weight of your backpack or suitcase by exchanging a few of those travel and guide books with some of these travelcasts?

Do you have a favourite travel podcast? Please share it in the comments.

The World’s Best Beaches

I love a beach holiday - there’s no need to pack a great deal, you’re guaranteed to leave relaxed and there’s nothing better to daydream about in the weeks leading up to the holiday than laying on a sandy beach, cocktail in hand.

My favourite beach holidays to date have been spent at Haad Tien Beach, Ko Phan Ngan, Thailand & Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece.

But as it is currently winter in my homeland of Australia and I don’t have any beach holidays in my plans at the moment, Concierge is providing me with my fix through the 2008 Guide to the World’s Sexiest Beaches.

Read, dream and then start planning your next beach holiday!

Wedding bells…

When checking out the different search engine terms that bring people to Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget, I have noticed a few people searching for budget honeymoons. If that is what brings you here, you may appreciate another great blog along the champagne life on a beer budget philosophy - Champagne Wedding on a Beer Budget.

Our blogs crossed paths due to the similar names and I’m glad to recommend it, especially if you’re in the process of planning a wedding that has plenty of style without costing you plenty of cash!

Perhaps a future post on honeymoons is in order? My honeymoon was an absolute blast and was spent in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo & Byron Bay, Australia. If you have any tips or hints for anyone planning a honeymoon, please send them in!

Here’s the latest online offerings in the world of budget travel:

The ever useful Frommers Price Index for May 2008. Find out just how far your dollar will take you everywhere from Trindad to Tokyo.

Budget Travel provides great ideas for making European travel more affordable by travelling by bike.

Brave New Traveller has us thinking about the importance of travelling with an open mind.

Budget Globetrotting posts on learning languages while travelling . And the best bit? All the resources they mention are free.

So pour yourself a glass of champers & settle back for some great travel reading this weekend.

As for me, I am off to spend the weekend in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley Wine Region. I’ll be sure to report back with lots of great tips for budget travel in wine regions.

Have a great weekend Champagne Travellers!

Cheers

Tara x

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If you want to travel in style (especially if you’re not quite making the Forbes Richest 100 list yet), getting the low down on a destination before you arrive is imperative.

When you have done your research, it is easier to travel with confidence, to have a fair idea of how far your money can take you and to decide what it is you want to spend your money on (I personally am a big fan of scrimping on some aspects of travel so that I can splurge on others).

Last Carriage provides some excellent ideas on Researching your Destination before you go.

To Last Carriage’s suggestions, may I add the following online ports of call for stylish travel preparations:

Gridskipper
Lonely Planet Thorntree Forum
The Cool Hunter

Checking out these sites supplements the tried and true favourite of…

Asking people who have been there!

Nothing beats first hand experience and asking friends for the low-down can be a great way to avoid hidden scams and find out what isn’t necessarily worth the money & what is.

The positive here is that everyone loves to talk about their travels and most people will be more than keen to share their experiences (as well as show you way too many photos).

The downside is that everyone is different and what is trash to some is treasure to others. Consider the personalities, likes & dislikes of the people you are asking (and if possible ask people with similar values & interests to yourself) and take everything you hear with a grain of salt.

Now back to our original question is… How do you prepare for a trip?

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Have you ever day dreamed about escaping to your own private island for an indulgent holiday with friends? (if your answer is no.. c’mon, really, what are you daydreaming about?).

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a week or two and so I have been researching the options. And of course, as my beer budget doesn’t quite stretch to accommodate all my champagne travel tastes, I’ve been looking to take this rock star holiday, without the rock star price tag.

And I think I have found my answer. Found through Private Islands Online, here are a couple of fabulous islands that are yours to rent for less than the cost of a good night out.

1) Pandan Island, Phillipines

from US $84 /wk

2) Leleuvia Island, Fiji

from US $113/wk

3) Ploccia Island, Croatia

from US $159/wk

If you know of other great champagne accommodation options that suit beer budgets, please leave your pearls of wisdom in the comments.

Thats right. Dinner absolutely free. We’re talking about the full deal - starters, main meal, a bottle of wine, all from top restaurants.

This is one little tip that is essential to any champagne traveller’s arsenal.

Last month I was travelling to visit a friend in another state. During this trip I was able to take someone out for dinner, enjoy great starters, a beautiful meal and wine in a funky restaurant in the middle of the CBD.

And the best part? At the end of the night I was able to tell my friend that dinner was on me.

The even better part? I kept the receipt and was completely re-imbursed for the full cost of both meals.

Next month I have a few hours stop-over at an international airport. How will I pass the time? I’ll be spending part of it enjoying another fantastic meal and a glass of wine at a great restaurant, all on the house.

How do I do this? I am a mystery diner.

The Mystery Dining Company re-imburses me for all my meal & drink expenses and in  return I answer a questionnaire on my experience at the restaurant. The questionnaire covers the ambience, the service, the cleanliness and of course the meal itself.

The Mystery Dining company has clients in the UK, the US, Australia, Turkey, Norway, Egypt and more. These clients are restuarants, coffee shops and cafes. They want feedback on their services and are willing to give you dinner on the house in exchange.

You do need an eye for detail and need to fax your receipts and answer the online questionnaire to the Mystery Dining Company by the next day.

But if that sounds like an ok deal for being able to have a great eating experience for free, it might be something worth checking out.

Are there any other similar services that you have been a part of? What was your experience?

Want to step off the plane looking like you’ve been luxuriating in first class when the reality is you’ve been cramped back in economy?

Read on for a selection of tips on travel style from those who do it well:

Lisa Bjorksten gets the inside secrets from one of those impossibly polished Emirates air attendents at Beauty Addict

Anna Soref gives the low-down on in-flight Ayurvedic beauty tips at The Yoga Journal

Michelle Johnson delivers practical advice in Frequent Flyer Fashion - arrive at the airport in style

Photo source - Flickr  

 Want to relax? Detox? Feel rejuvenated? Look amazing? 

If so, make sure your next travel experience involves some time at a luxury spa…

Steam rooms, spas and communal baths have been all the rage in countries such as Turkey and Korea for centuries, but day spas and spa resorts are a phenomena that has increased exponentially over the past decade.

And if you have been to one, then you know why. Nothing beats the feeling of walking out of a spa in a blissful state. Refreshed & calm while radiating that glow that is only acheived by being massaged to within an inch if your life.

Most luxury hotels from Sydney to Singapore, Chennai to Costa Rica have their own spa (with some resorts even being solely dedicated to the spa experience), meaning you can work a bit of spa action into the itinerary of nearly any trip you are planning.

But if you are reading Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget, chances are that you want the luxury experience without the luxury price tag. Am I right? Never fear, here are some ideas for a champagne spa experience on a beer budget:

1. Book into a luxury spa, but stay at cheaper accommodation nearby

Just because you are not staying at a hotel or resort, doesn’t mean you can’t book into their spa facilities. So, to cut down the cost of your spa experience, book into the spa at a ritzy resort but book your accommodation close by in a cost-friendly hotel.

Using Thailand as an example, here are three tried and tested spa resorts (from budget to decadent) that have very affordable accommodation options nearby:

The Sanctuary - Ko Phan Ngan

Spa Resort - Ko Samui

Chiva-Som - Hua Hin

Whether you book in for a quick beauty treatment or a week long fasting program, most spas will allow you to use their facilities (either complimentary or for a small fee) - pools, spas, saunas, fresh juice. Which leads to my next point…..

2. Pace your spa experience

Think that a whole day at a spa is too expensive? Then pace out your spa experience. Only booking in for a massage & a blow-dry? Space your treatments out and make a day of it. Get there early and relax in the sauna and spa. Have one treatment and then laze by the pool reading a book and sampling some spa cuisine before you have another. Spending a day at the spa is a very glam and decadent experience and you’ll walk out feeling like a new person.

3. Find a hidden gem

Every travel destination has its own well-known spa, you know the one, you’ve seen it in the magazines, heard it whispered about with almost reverential tones. But usually not too far away is another spa that is maybe not as well known, far less pricey, but still a haven of relaxation equipped with therapists that really know what they’re doing. Ask the locals where they go, check out the back streets and don’t be put off by spas that look like they’re in need of a fresh coat of paint (as opposed to things you should be put off by - like promises of ’sensual’ massage). Some of these spas without all the hype are the tried and true black book secret of many a local.

One that springs to mind straight away is The Ginseng Bathhouse. Located in Sydney, Australia’s Kings Cross, this spa (also known as the Korean Baths) has been relaxing and rejuvenating locals for years for less than half the cost of spas only blocks away. It may be a no-frills establishment, but these women take the spa experience seriously and ensure that you won’t regret your visit.