Travelling Australia on a budget? 7 tips for solo travellers

(This is a guest post by Emma Lewis.)

Thanks to its incredible weather and warm hospitality, Australia is one of the most popular destinations in the world for solo travellers of all ages. It’s also a great place to meet new people and enjoy the vibrant nightlife of Sydney and Melbourne.

Although Australia is known to be quite expensive to live in, there are many ways to stay here for a few weeks on a tight budget. To make your stay here affordable, here’s a list of the best tips for travelling Australia on a budget, especially if you’re a solo visitor.

First time in Bangkok? 7 things your guidebook may not tell you

Many travellers start their exploration of Southeast Asia in Bangkok, and the city can be rather disorienting for first-timers. After three trips to Bangkok over a period of 20 years, certain things haven’t changed much. The following tips, often omitted by guidebooks, are guaranteed to greatly improve the quality of your trip your first time in Bangkok.

17 ways to save money in Europe’s most expensive countries

I’ve just arrived in Ireland, and let me tell you, this is not a cheap country! In fact, most countries in Western and Northern Europe are hard on the wallet. A bit over a year ago, I found myself in Iceland and Scandinavia, and it was a real challenge staying within my budget.

While things are fresh in my mind, let me share with you a few tips to help you save money next time you plan a trip to an expensive European country.

12 best spots to capture great Toronto photos

Many solo travellers love taking pictures. And why not? When you’re travelling on your own, you can stop as often as you want, and take as long as you want composing the perfect shot without worrying about your travel companions. But even solo, time is sometimes of the essence if you’re only visiting Toronto for a few days. Not to worry though, this post has you covered.

Over 40 and planning a first solo trip?

Ever since I wrote my post “Solo travellers in your 40s or 50s” I’ve been amazed at the number of people reading the post (over 10% of my entire traffic) and leaving comments. It turns out that there are quite a few of us middle-age folks either travelling solo or considering doing so. If you are over 40 and planning a first solo trip, read on.

As I’m about to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my very first solo trip next month, I’ve been thinking more about the special challenges of travelling alone for the first time. I don’t think twice about booking myself a lone air ticket these days, but that wasn’t always the case.

My best air travel tips

I just got back from Los Angeles on a red-eye flight yesterday morning. Despite the fact that I was very tired when I arrived, it was a relatively short and painless flight (only 4 hours and 40 minutes gate to gate) and I had a free seat next to me to spread out a bit.

Long trans-oceanic flights are a different matter of course. Since the topic is currently fresh to my mind, I thought I’d give you a few of my air travel tips, followed by a colourful infographic at the end!

Choosing your seat

Unless I absolutely want to see the view upon take-off or landing (rarely that special), I try to get an aisle seat, preferably in the middle section. Flights over four hours are normally on wider planes with a middle section of seats. On a long flight, you’ll need to get out of your seat several times to go to the bathroom and an aisle seat in the middle section means that you won’t have to disturb anyone or get disturbed by your neighbour.

You also have more chances to have an empty seat next to you that way. Check the airplane seat map before picking your seat.

Be careful picking exit row seats, as they may not recline (in order not to block the emergency exit window). The bulkhead seats have more legroom but they appeal to people with babies. Enough said.

Food and drink

I don’t need to comment on the quality of airplane food (especially on North American carriers). What’s worse is that you’re often served food when you’re not hungry (and trying to sleep) and then starving at other times. For this reason, I always carry some snacks with me. Don’t take fruits or veggies as these will be confiscated at customs. Wrapped up treats like cereal bars are safer.

I also try to refill my water bottle at a water fountain after passing through Security so I’ll have water whenever I need it during the flight. It’s important to stay hydrated.

I stick to plain water or juice on the plane. The air gets very dry in the cabin and alcohol will dehydrate you even more. I’m no saint though, and have been known to grab one of those mini wine bottles with my meal when they’re complimentary! 🙂

Sleep

Most people, me included, have trouble sleeping on planes. If I’m flying during my normal sleeping hours, I will manage to get several hours of interrupted sleep, which I guess is better than nothing.

Melatonin is a natural substance that will help you fall asleep, although its effects wear off the more you take it. You may also want to get some earplugs, or noise-cancelling headphones. The headphones also have the advantage of making movies a lot more pleasant to listen to, without having to crank up the volume to dangerous levels.

Wear comfortable clothes and keep a sweater or jacket around in case you get cold (which happens to me every time). Air Transat flights are notorious for cranking up the AC right after take-off in the hope that you’ll purchase one of their blankets. I just bring a scarf to wrap around my neck and face until I can complain.

I tried using a neck pillow a few times, but it never did much for me. It seems to keep my head propped forward when all I want is to recline as much as possible.

Health challenges

The two worse strains on your body in an airplane cabin are the cramped space and ultra-dry air.

Besides getting up every few hours to use the bathroom and stretch out a bit, I also do leg stretches and ankle rotations in my seat to avoid deep-vein thrombosis (blood clot in a deep vein due to long periods of immobility).

On a long flight, I also keep skin moisturizer handy. I think I’m going to start using eye drops as well because my eyes now get dry and itchy very quickly.

On a big plane full of people you can pretty much guarantee that somebody has a cold (or worse). Given the dubious quality of the air, I make sure to boost my immune system before take-off by getting plenty of rest and eating well. I also take Cold-FX, an immunity-booster which is popular here in Canada. Echinacea is a natural substance that also helps enhance the immune system. And of course I make sure I get plenty of sleep once at my destination.

A few more things…

Don’t forget to bring some reading material and/or puzzles (I love sudoku) if you know that the plane’s entertainment system won’t be enough to keep you, well, entertained. They’ll also come in handy during possible long waits at the gate.

You may also want to have a case, or at least a pouch, to put your glasses in while you nap. I always forget that one!

Fly well and fly far. 🙂

(Note: If you have other air travel tips, please add them in the comments.)

(You can also find more infographics at Visualistan)

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7 ways to get the most out of AirBnB

AirBnB’s explosive growth is enough to make your head spin. In late 2007, two San Francisco dudes who couldn’t afford their rent decided to provide three air mattresses and breakfasts for attendees of big local conferences who couldn’t find hotel rooms.

By August 2008, a third partner had joined them to found AirBed and Breakfast (later renamed AirBnB). Putting in touch travellers and locals looking to rent some spare space in their home, the company helped fill the gap that existed between “couchsurfing” and staying in pricey hotels.

AirBnB now has over 1.5 million listings in 190 countries and is valued at 25 billion dollars! For sure, it has lost some of its cosy “travellers helping travellers” feel from the early days, and a few scary stories have surfaced in the media in recent months. But despite all this, the overwhelming majority of people report good experiences, including your truly.

I started using AirBnB in the summer of 2012, and since then I’ve stayed in 19 rooms or apartments in nine different countries. I’ve met many very nice hosts, and have had few disappointments or bad experiences. I think the worse occurrence was discovering that an apartment I had booked which was supposed to have WiFi… didn’t have it (which is pretty bad for a blogger). Another time, I thought I would be staying with a single woman, and then discovered she had three young children living with her. The best remedy against bad surprises is to ask questions about everything that is important to you or that is not clear before you book.

Having become a more experienced user since I wrote my early post introducing AirBnB over two years ago, I’ve decided to give you further tips to help you make the most out of AirBnB.

How to pay less

Rent a room instead of a whole apartment

As you would expect, a room in a house costs a lot less than an entire apartment. Some of the time, you can even score an ensuite bathroom, or at least one that won’t be shared with the owner. This can be a good way to save money, especially if you’re travelling solo and would enjoy contact with a local host. With an apartment, you usually won’t have much contact with the host who will typically be living somewhere else.

My large room in Merida, Mexico, actually came with a huge ensuite bathroom, along with a full kitchen, dining room (below), living room, and terrace that were shared with a few other guests. The owner didn’t live in the house although he visited quite often.

However, if you are travelling with someone else who can share costs, an apartment (where you can cook your own food) will provide more privacy and still be cheaper than a double room in an average hotel.

Take advantage of the weekly price

Many hosts give you a discount if you stay for a week, instead of just a few days. The discounts can be substantial. Last summer, I rented a room for a week in Halifax and paid the equivalent of $32 CAD a night instead of $39/night.

When designing your itinerary, it may be worth considering staying longer in fewer places. Many capitals and large cities have enough attractions to easily keep you busy for a week, and offer possibilities for day trips further afield.

Rent a little way out of the centre

The price of rooms and apartments drops drastically outside the town centre. Some cities have very good transit so staying further out (even in some inner suburbs) may not be that bad, even if it takes you 20-30 minutes to commute. In Ottawa I paid only $35 CAD/night for a room, a 25-minute bus ride from downtown. In Bordeaux (France), I paid a similar price (based on a week stay) in exchange for a pleasant half-hour walk or 10-minute bus ride to the centre of town.

Being away from the centre may also mean a quieter environment and better sleep. In Cadiz (Spain), my friend and I rented a small apartment right above this animated square in the old town, but had to put up with a lot of street noise.

Rent from a new host

New hosts are advised to price their accommodation lower than similar units until they have garnered a few reviews. I have to admit that so far, I’ve never rented from a host without reviews. As a solo woman traveller, I feel safer not being the first person to stay somewhere. If you’re travelling with other people though, you may want to give it a try, after contacting the host and asking all your questions.

How to increase your chances of getting the place you want

Unlike booking a room in a hotel, you can only book accommodation on AirBnB if the host approves your request. The following tips will increase your chances of being “accepted’.

Fill out your profile

AirBnB is built on trust and reputation, so don’t forget to fill out your profile on the AirBnB website including one or two paragraphs describing yourself and your interests. Mention what makes you a good guest (at least until you get a few reviews from hosts). Include a nice clear photo of your face. You may be a bit wary of staying with a stranger, but imagine how they feel letting a stranger into their home.

Since you won’t have any reviews when you start out, you may wish to have a good friend or two provide a “character reference” for you. Adding some verifications (email address, phone number) is also a good idea. AirBnB now lets you link your account to your social media, and even upload a video! The more proofs that you are a real and nice human being, the better.

Contact the host with a short message first

Once I’ve found a place I like, I always contact the host first to introduce myself, confirm that my dates are still available (sometimes their calendar is not up to date), and ask a few questions. When they respond positively, they usually pre-approve me so that I can then book with the click of a button and receive my confirmation right away. Don’t wait too long to book though. Somebody else can still snatch the room even if you’re pre-approved.

Start looking between one and two months in advance

I find that this is the ideal period to book AirBnB accommodation. If you book too early, something may happen that forces your host to cancel the booking (unexpected business trips and the like). Some people also don’t seem to like to commit too far in advance (like the young woman who told me that five weeks was “way too far in the future” for her to commit – I moved on).

On the other hand, if you wait too long, the best choices risk being rented already. Having said that, I booked the nice room above (in Valladolid, Mexico) only two days in advance! Do not attempt to do this during a holiday period though.

Ready to give it a try?

If you haven’t signed up for AirBnB yet, use this referral link to do so and you’ll get a US$20 credit on your first booking.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for on AirBnB, several similar services have cropped up in recent years. One that I just started using this fall, for my upcoming stay on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, is called homestay.com. (I’ll let you know later how that went.)

You may also want to read this post for more options on finding cheap accommodation.

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Tipping – what you should know

When I first started paying for my own restaurant meals as a University student in Montreal, I was shocked to discover that people were leaving an additional 15% of the value of their meal as “tips”. I didn’t really understand why I had to spend more money. After all I was already paying for my food (at an inflated cost which included labour I assumed) and the restaurant owners were paying their employees, so why the extra money? My fellow students seem outraged that I refused to “tip” so I ended up succumbing to peer pressure, and eventually it became a “habit”.

Several years later I came to understand that the reason for the tips is that waiters in Canadian restaurants do not make a “living wage” and rely on tips to survive. Well, that still doesn’t seem right to me. Why should I pay part of the waiter’s salary? Why doesn’t the restaurant pay them fair wages, like in other jobs?

While tipping is normal behaviour in Canada and the USA, this is not the case in large parts of the world. Restaurant staff in many countries do not expect tips because they are earning living wages. However, if you are a North American conditioned to tip, you may feel reluctant to not leave change on the table as you settle your bill. You should educate yourself before you do so, because not only could it be unnecessary, it could be viewed as an insult.

Take Japan for example. Any attempt to tip your waiters will be politely refused. Repeatedly. You are probably insulting them, but they are too polite to show it. Imagine someone trying to tip you for doing your job! In Australia and New Zealand, tipping is not expected either. It’s the same story in several European countries such as France and Belgium, although rounding up the bill to the nearest Euro is appreciated. A French friend told me that no matter what the total bill is in France, leaving one Euro per person on the table is more than enough. This seems hard to believe for tip-conditioned North Americans, but that’s the way it is. I find it quite a relief actually.

While people tip 20% in cities like Los Angeles (yikes!), no more than 10% or even 5% is expected in many other places. In some countries, such as Spain, the law requires menu prices to include the service charge (often called “cover”, “couvert” in French, or “cubierto” in Spanish). Check the menu carefully for the small print that specifies that service is already included. You could leave some additional small change if you’re so inclined, since the cover charge may be used mostly to cover cutlery and bread (and may not make it to your waiter), but 5% is usually plenty.

Before travelling to a new destination, look up this information online or in your guidebook to avoid tipping when it is not necessary. Or ask a local person. Otherwise, instead of coming out as generous, you’ll probably look like just another clueless tourist.

Similarly, tipping the owners of a business doesn’t really make sense. The purpose of tips is to complement employees’ low salaries when you receive good service. So if the service was horrendous, you don’t need to tip either!

When I help myself to a buffet, I usually reduce my tips accordingly since the waiter’s involvement is minimal. However I know people who tip the full rate regardless. When eating in a large party, a fixed service charge may be added to your bill, and this is usually noted on the menu.

Unlike Canada, many countries also include the tax in their prices. So what you see, is what you pay. No surprises when the bill comes. I like it! 🙂

What is your country’s policy regarding tipping? Enlighten us by answering in the comments!