English and French are the main languages spoken, although all of the world’s ethnic groups are represented. French is the mother tongue of more than seven million people in Canada and their contribution to Canadian culture has been especially profound.

Many of Canada’s largest cities, such as Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Victoria, keep popping near the top of lists of the ‘world’s best cities to live in’, and Toronto especially has an enviable reputation as being the world’s most cosmopolitan city. The whole of Quebec City, founded back in the 1600s, has as much historical interest as many of the great European cities and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Quebec City

The Canadian natural landscape has been protected and nurtured for decades and here any nature lover will find a veritable heaven on earth. Canada has boundaries with three oceans and in its interior are to be found more than a thousand rivers, some of the world’s most extensive forests, majestic mountain ranges and no less than two million lakes.

The Canadian Government has for many years been pouring funding and resources into sustainable development of the country’s natural resources.  As a result, Canada now has 39 national parks as well as several designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Canada clearly regards its natural heritage as its single most valuable asset and doesn’t stint when it comes to protecting it.

Visitors to places such as delightful Alberta have a wide variety of hotels to choose from whilst exploring the stunning natural beauties all around them. Jasper National Park in Alberta is just one of many, and in this area of outstanding natural beauty there are many organized tours and events to enjoy, to ensure that visitors get the most out of their time here. This is the largest mountain park in the country, but visitors also have easy access to tourist-oriented Banff and other urban centers when the great outdoors begins to tire them. Jasper itself resembles a sleepy little Swiss hamlet clinging to the snowy lower slopes of a mountain, so there’s plenty of variety in this stunning landscape.

Banff National Park

There are places to stay of every kind close to Canada’s lakes, mountains, prairies and coastline, from luxury venues to small, family-run bed and breakfast accommodations. Middle-range hotels which are ideal as a base for daytime excursions include the likes of Nature’s Inn in Ontario, in the Red Lake District, where guests are about as close as they can get to a great variety of outdoor activities. These include golfing, fishing, rafting, sailing and hiking, and the same can be said for the majority of other accommodation of all types across this uniquely stunning country.  

Hanoi

Our arrival booking at Hanoi went somewhat astray, but was quickly sorted after a few phone calls to our hotel. As it turned out they had lost our booking but made amends by finding us an alternate hotel for the night and then got us settled the next morning.

The next couple of days we spent seeing the sights of Hanoi and in particular the “Old Quarter” where we were staying. The narrow streets of Hanoi’s old quarter were always busy, with every street catering for a different product. Jan quickly got accustomed to referring to them as “shoe” street or “dress” street…even “zip” street as it seemed that the streets specialized in selling or making just one product.

Busy streets in the quaint Hanoi old quarter

Our first visit to see Ho Chi Minh (Uncle Ho) was a failure as the Mausoleum was closed unbeknown to us on Mondays and Fridays. That gave us the opportunity to wander the streets and eventually get lost walking back to the old quarter, which is always an adventure in a city where no one can speak English or even read a map.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Hanoi

Next day we headed off early and lined up to see Uncle Ho lying in state. All very serene, no cameras allowed, no hats, no bags, no firearms, no talking, no sunglasses! Certainly an interesting experience.

That afternoon we toured the Hoa Lo prison which was built by the French in 1896 to house Vietnamese patriots and revolutionary fighters. During the Vietnam war, Hoa Lo Prison (aka the Hanoi Hilton) was used to house American Prisoners of war, mainly pilots who were shot down in the area.

Hoa Lo Prison - aka Hanoi Hilton

Before departing the North, we spent a relaxing 2 days cruising on Halong Bay, sailing amongst the limestone karsts in out traditional Junk. Unfortunately visibility was not the best while on the bay and temperatures a little too cool for swimming. We will return one day to this marvelous area, next time making sure that it is in the warmer months.

Exploring caves in Halong Bay

Ninh Binh

As we had an extra day or so up North due to our sleeper train being fully booked, we decided to take a side trip 2 hours South to Ninh Binh. What an experience when our bus arrived to pick us up. We were passengers number 59 & 60 to board the 60 seater bus. We thought great timing, fully loaded and off we go….NOPE. We stopped at another hotel where we loaded another 20 or so passengers and their luggage. The luggage was loaded in the aisle to waist height with passengers sitting on top. Only in Asia…..ya gotta love it!

We arrived in Ninh Binh an hour later than scheduled and were pleasantly surprised to find that our hotel driver was still waiting for us at 11pm to take us to our hotel.

Things move a little slower in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is referred to as “Halong Bay on Land” and for obvious reasons. The limestone karsts and caves are just as spectacular as Halong Bay. We hired a motorbike (trust me, it is very interesting riding in Vietnam with all the traffic and on the RHS of the road) and headed out to visit Tam Coc. Here we hired a very small boat and were rowed up the river through all the karsts and through some very impressive caves.

Jan helps with the paddling

On our boat trip back we spotted a temple on top of a mountain and decided to try and find it. The back roads were very interesting and people along the way extremely friendly. We had to cross a flimsy bamboo bridge at one point and the locals nearby assured us that it was safe to cross. Just to be sure Jan dismounted and walked across leaving me to get the bike over. I now have the utmost faith in bamboo constructions.

We had several spectators watching us cross this bridge

The climb up to the temple was exhausting but worth the effort as the scenery was breathtaking. Ninh Binh area proved to be a real treasure and we were glad that we made the effort to explore the area. Once again half the fun was getting lost in the back blocks, seeing the farmers up close and having the kids greet us on the side of the road when we would stop for directions.

View from the top was spectacular making the climb worthwhile

This is yours truly having a shave on the footpath back in Ninh Binh town. Not something for the faint hearted and certainly not for anyone with a 4 day beard growth as there was no hot towel or hot water. I think I felt every whisker cut. Never mind, at least I helped contribute to the economy.

Getting a shave on the streets in not for the faint hearted

Hue

From Ninh Binh we caught the train back to Hanoi and then the overnight sleeper train to Hue. Our time in Hue was quite short but gave us enough time to see the sights. Day one we spent walking around the Citadel, exploring the ancient city. Unfortunately quite a bit of damage was done there during the various wars however there is an ongoing restoration project to restore many of the buildings and walls.

Citadel Hue Vietnam

That evening we decided to go to Y Thao Garden for dinner. They serve an 8 course meal, set in a beautiful Imperial villa. As they only have 6-7 tables so it is advisable to book early. Whole meal for the 2 of us…less than US$20.

Japanese Bridge - Hue Vietnam

The following day we hired a tour guide who took us on a tour to the outlying areas. His knowledge of Hue and the wars gave us a good insight to the history of Hue. Our guide took us to a temple where the Buddhist Monk, Thich Quang Duc lived. You may remember the scenes on TV where in Saigon on June 1963 he sat in the middle of a Saigon street and set fire to himself (see insert of picture below). This was a protest against discrimination of Buddhist Monks and religious freedom.

This is the actual car that Thich Quang Duc drove to Saigon.

Hoi An

What a charming town. From moment we arrived in Hoi An we knew we would love the town. Hoi An is a quaint little town situated near the coast and is known for its glorious food and clothing shops. We spent a few days here walking the cobble stone streets, exploring the markets and one lazy afternoon soaking up the sun on the beach.

Quaint streets in Hoi An

The evenings we spent walking the streets looking for restaurants to try. Thankfully we had a few recommendations for Hoi An and they all lived up to their reputations. I think we both put on a few extra kilos here.

Nha Trang

Another lengthy train trip had us arriving in the seaside town of Nha Trang in time for New Year’s Eve. Quickly sorted we sussed out the best place in town to see the new year in……the Sailing Club. We met several fellow Aussies that night, drank way too much alcohol and danced on the beach in the rain.

As you can imagine, New Year’s day was a very quiet day for us. We manage to find our way back to the beach and spent the afternoon laying on deck chairs and eating BBQ lobsters which were cooked right on the beach. Not sure that it gets much better than that…Yum!

View from our hotel in Nha Trang

Our plan was to fly from Nha Trang to Saigon as we were starting to get a little “trained out”. Unfortunately all flights out of Nha Trang were booked for several days so we had to jump the day train down to Saigon.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

We were both glad to arrive in Saigon, hence ending our train journeys. Three days on Vietnamese trains and watching people eat fertilized duck embryos was starting to take its toll on us. * Duck embryos are fertilized eggs which are a just a few days short of hatching. They are eaten soft boiled, web feet and all.

Saigon was a lovely city and we spent several days here exploring the region and visiting the Cu Chi tunnel complex. I managed to get down one of the tunnels but was totally exhausted after traveling 50 meters underground. I can only imagine how the VC felt traveling up to 5 km underground at a time.

2 day Mekong Delta tour

Just before departing Vietnam we did a 2 day tour of the Mekong Delta. We met a great bunch of tourists on this trip and enjoyed seeing the region. The morning floating markets have to be seen to be believed.

If we had more time we would have crossed into *Cambodia, but that will have to wait till next time.

* Postscript: Our Cambodia Trip Report from the following year.

1 year  before departure

• Start a travel file to hold all documentation for your trip
• Start researching your destinations, study climate charts and work out a route.
• Check prices for major airfares / transport
• Establish your travel dates and itinerary.
• Determine mode of travel and shop for best prices.
• Top up your holiday savings

6 month before departure

• Book flights early to get the best prices. Use online resources to compare and get the best deals.
• Arrange travel insurance now in case an emergency changes your travel plans.

3 months before departure

• Renew your passport if will expire less than six months after your return date.
• Arrange bills, mail collection
• Check if you need special permission to import your medication

2 month before departure

• Get required visas if needed for countries being visited. Check dates and names are are correct when you receive them
• Book hotels or confirm lodging arrangements. Print out all confirmation numbers and communications.
• Check all your tickets and compare them against the name in your passport
• Make an appointment for a medical and dental check-up Arrange any necessary vaccinations or prescriptions.
• Buy trekking shoes now and and start breaking them in
• Arrange for house plant care/yard care while you are away.

1 month before departure

• Check on your destinations for travel or health warnings.
• Check the expiry date of your debit/credit cards
• Print details of local hostels / transport timetables if not booking
• Organise any tours / excursions you want booked

2 week before departure

• Notify credit card companies of the countries you will visit and your travel dates so your card doesn’t get blocked
• Arrange for pickup and drop-off at airports to avoid cab fares
• Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home. Leave contact information in case of emergency
• Set up timers on lights and TVs so your home looks lived in.
• Order travelers cheques or local currency
• Get passport photographs for visas en route
• Pay any bills that will come due while you are traveling

1 week before departure

• Make extra copies of your passport, vaccinations record and important travel documents. Carry separate from the originals.
• Leave a set of photocopies with a trusted friend at home
• Give a copy of your itinerary to family and friends
• Get together your clothing and travel equipment
• Return library books, movie rentals. Pick up dry cleaning, etc.

Three days before departure

• Confirm late arrivals with hotels.
• Mark all luggage with personal identification inside and out.
• Research size and weight limits of carry-on luggage for each airline you are using.
• Book a taxi to your departure point

Departure day

Check that you’ve packed

• All paper tickets, e-tickets and confirmation documents
• Your passport with visas and insurance documents
• Traveler’s cheques, credit cards and foreign currency.
• Check through the entire list one more time

Before you walk out the door

• Unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment
• Dispose of perishable foods and garbage.
• Lock all doors and windows. Set security alarms.

Enjoy your holidays knowing that you got everything in order!

Falkirk Wheel Boat Lift

The Falkirk Wheel is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world, and is regarded as an engineering landmark for Scotland.

Falkirk Wheel Boat Lift Scotland

Falkirk Wheel quick facts:

•  The Falkirk Wheel is 35 mt tall, the equivalent of an eight storey building
• Cost £17.5 million to build
• 1,200 tonnes of steel was used to create The Wheel
• The structure contains over 14,000 bolts and 45,000 bolt holes
• Over 1,000 construction staff helped to build it
• The gondolas hold 500,000 lt of water, enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool
• The Falkirk Wheel only uses 1.5KWh of energy to turn through one rotation, the same amount as it would take to boil 8 household kettles 

Each gondola holds 300 tonnes of water

Note that trips on the Falkirk Wheel stop operating during November each year for maintenance, although the visitors centre remains open to the public.

Visits to the Wheel are free or you can take the “The Falkirk Wheel Experience” which is a one hour tour which includes travel on the wheel from the Forth & Clyde Canal, 35mt up to the Union Canal and then return.

Janette makes a new friend

 Cost of the tour is £7.95 for adults and  £4.95 for children aged 3–15.  Children under 3 are free.

Falkirk Wheel Official Website

One of the 22 watchtowers at Mutianyu

Built mainly of granite, the Mutianyu Great Wall is 8 mtrs high and at the top is 5 mtrs wide.  Another reason we chose Mutianyu is that there are 22 watchtowers to explore, all within a 3 klms distance.  If you can chose your time, try and not go on a weekend as the Great Wall of China can get crowded as the locals also like to visit the wall.

Mutianyu Great Wall

First built in the mid 6th century during the Northern Qi, the Great Wall at Mutianyu is older than the Badaling section of the Great Wall. In the Ming dynasty, under the supervision of General Xu Da, construction of the present wall began on the foundation of the wall of Northern Qi. In 1569, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China was rebuilt and today most parts of it are well preserved. The Mutianyu Great Wall has the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall.

Mutianyu Great Wall

The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is much harder to climb than Badaling as there are many steep sections, steep stairs and several areas where you need to use your hands to climb. Most areas do not have hand rails so you have to be careful and take your time. If you have any difficulties walking, the wall between tower 6 and tower 14 is quite level and this still gives you an excellent Great Wall experience, awesome views and avoids the more difficult areas.

Great Wall of China

To access the wall you can climb the 454 very steep stairs, or alternatively for an additional fee (above the admission price) you can ride a cable car up to the Great Wall. Very few climb the stairs and we were thankful that we did choose the cablecar as the views were awesome and there is plenty of walking to do once on top.

Entrance at Mutianyu - Cable car and Great Wall can be seen in the distance

Some parts of the Great Wall of China have a reputation of very pushy hawkers that follow you everywhere harassing you until you buy something from them. We had one hawker that followed us quite a distance along the wall and became quite annoying.

Map of Mutianyu Great Wall

Have you been to the Great Wall of China? Comment with your own favorites or insights below!

A Vietnamese Entry Visa is required for most foreigners.  It allows Vietnam visa holders to enter and exit Vietnam at Hanoi, Saigon and Danang air-ports or at any of its twelve land borders, three each with Cambodia and China, and six with Laos.

For those who required a visa for Vietnam, they need to arrange a Vietnam visa before their departure by applying for a visa approval letter online to get the visa stamp at Vietnam International Airports (visa on arrival)  or by  applying at a local Vietnam Embassy or Consulate.  Tourist visas for Vietnam are normally valid for a single entry 30-day stay.

Drinking water

Drinking water straight out of the tap in Vietnam is not advisable.  Most mid range and higher hotels provide one or two bottles of drinking water per day.  It is best to get in the habit of drinking bottled water especially if you will be visiting rural areas or other countries in the region. Always take bottled water with you when you are out touring.  If you have purchased bottled water, check that there is a proper seal or that the packaging is intact.  Some places have been known to sell recycled bottles that have merely been filled up with tap water.

First Aid Kit for Vietnam

It is strongly recommended that you carry a small first aid kit with you. Pack some adhesive bandages for minor injuries, scissors, tweezers, aspirin or Panadol for pain and fever, antiseptic for cuts and scrapes, antihistamines for allergies and insect bites, and medicine for stomach upsets.

Changing Money

Vietnamese Dong

The Vietnamese currency is called Vietnam Dong and abbreviated as VND.  Notes are available in paper denominations of 5.000VND, 10.000VND, 20.000VND, 50.000VND, 100.000 VND and 500.000VND.  The foreign currency of choice is the US Dollar.  Clean USD 100 notes receive the best rates.  You can change money at banks, authorized exchange bureaus and in hotels. Major hotels in the bigger cities act as agents for banks and offer the same rate as them, however smaller private hotels will charge a service fee. The Vietcombank in the popular tourist destinations will also be able to exchange Thai Baht ; Australian, Canadian, Hong Kong, and Singaporean Dollars ; Deutsche Marks ; French and Swiss Frances ; Pounds Sterling and Yen.

VISA, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in most hotels and selected stores in major cities (HCMC, Da Nang, Hue, and Ha Noi).

Hotel requirements in Vietnam

Most hotels in Vietnam require that your passport be kept with the reception during your stay.  If you’re paranoid about leaving your passport with the hotel staff, bring a photocopy of the original with you and hand that over. Most hotels will accept photocopies as passport substitutes.

Bargaining in Vietnam

Bargaining is a way of life in much of South East Asia. In Vietnam shops don’t have fixed prices so the shop keeper will start with a high price which you are then expected to bargain down until you reach a fair price.  Bargaining should always be relaxed and can be a lot of fun but you should remember that it is considered disrespectful to agree a price but then walk away.

How to cross the roads in Vietnam

Seems simple ha ha. Trying to cross the street in Hanoi or HCMC is really an adventure.  The key is to walk slowly and steadily out into the traffic. As long as you keep a steady pace and make your movements clear, the traffic will flow round you. Problems will arise if you stop or move too quickly and the drivers/riders can’t anticipate your progress.

Best time to visit

Vietnam experiences a fair degree of diversity in climate. The north has distinct summer and winter seasons. Summer lasts from May until October, when the weather is hot and very humid with temperatures averaging about 30 degrees Celsius. November to April are the winter months when the weather is mainly dry and average temperatures are about 18-20 degrees Celsius.

In the centre of the country (e.g. Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An) the weather is very hot and dry from February to August with temperatures of around 33-36 degrees Celsius, but there can be heavy rainfall between September and January.

The south of Vietnam has a hot, dry season from December through until April with temperatures of around 28 degrees Celsius. May until November is the rainy season, although there are rarely long periods of rain  as they are usually short heavy showers.

If you have a tip for Vietnam that you think our readers might be interested in why not drop us a line via the Contact Us page.  We will review it and consider it’s inclusion.

About 15 minutes drive south of Chiang Rai, off Highway 1, is one of the most amazing and stunning temples we have ever seen in Thailand.  Officially called the Chapel of Wat Rong Khun it is also referred to as “The White Temple“.

Although not visible in this picture, all the fish in the surrounding moat are white.

Construction of the White Temple commenced in 1998 and it is expected to take another 60 years to complete the nine buildings.
“My desire is to make this temple a national and world heritage. And I also want it to represent art and craft that flourished during the reign of His Majesty the King,” said Chalermchai, who has been training a cadre of 54 new-generation architects, painters and designers to ensure that work will continue uninterrupted even after he is gone. “

Stunning statues surround the grounds

Unfortunately cameras are not allowed inside the main building of the White Temple.  The murals covering the walls are absolutely stunning so be sure to take the time to study the images.  Look closely in the eyes of an elephant and you will see George Bush in one eye and Osama bin Laden in the other, American and Japanese comic book heroes flying though the sky and the World Trade Centres being hit with the planes.  All very much a testament to modern history.

The idea is that you are passing through hell on the way to nirvana.

To get inside the White Temple you cross a long white bridge, above a daunting sculpture garden of grasping white hands, skulls, fangs and other ghoulish creations reaching up to the bridge.

Not bad for a public toilet!

Many people mistake the golden building located on the left of the White Temple grounds as a place for worship. It is in fact a public toilet, although closed on the day we visited.

Have you been to the White Temple in Chiang Rai? Comment with your own favorites or insights below!

What to pack in your carry-on luggage…

• Your passport for all overseas travel.
• Wallet or purse.
• A list of all your important phone numbers and email addresses, including those emergency ones, hotel contacts etc.
• Photocopies of everything important (passports, traveler cheque numbers etc.), leave a copy at home, on the internet (internet mail account) and if possible with your traveling partner.
• Mobile phone (charger can go in your checked luggage)
• Driver’s License and/or other photo identification required for domestic travel.
• Insurance information.
• Credit cards.
• Travelers checks.
• Airline, Cruise or Train tickets.
• Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses and phone numbers of where you’ll be staying and home numbers.
• Small change or bills for tipping
• Jewellery/ Camera and any other valuables which should not be packed in your checked luggage.
• Prescription Medication.
• Prescription Glasses/ Sun Glasses.
• Snacks/Juice but check airline regulations regarding carriage of liquids.
• A good book to read for those longhaul flights.

A few important  packing tips…

• Pack anything in your carry on that you cannot live without in case your luggage is lost or delayed (glasses, prescription medications etc)
• Pack your valuables in your carry on. Do not pack money or valuables that could be stolen from your checked luggage.
• Do not pack anything in your carry on that could be considered a weapon like scissors or nail files – they will be confiscated!

A few more general packing tips…

• Very useful for everyone in the family are pants that become shorts when the bottom parts zips off.
• Bring lots of t-shirts including a few oldies that can be thrown away.
• Even in a hot climate, bring a jacket or sweater: air-conditioned restaurants and hotels can get cold.
• You may think that you need everything but if you are really pushed for space, don’t pack anything that you can buy at your destination.

First Aid Kit

It is always best to travel with a personal medical kit. Why?  Primarily because you need this stuff quickly and readily available – and that’s not always convenient when you’re traveling.  Additionally, you’ll find that in remote destinations much of what we take for granted as “basic” supplies is simply impossible to find.

This list can be expanded depending on where you are going and what your doctor advises, but the basics should include:

Basic Kit

Travel First Aid Kit

• Antiseptic cream/lotion
• sunscreen
• headache tablets
• band-aids/gauze
• small scissors/tweezers
• any antibiotics or prescription drugs (with a letter and a copy of the prescription from your doctor)
• crepe bandage + safety pins or butterfly closures
• hand sanitizer… (Basic hygiene also goes a long way to ensuring you don’t get sick in the first place)

 If you are going off the beaten track or to developing countries, also pack:

• anti-diarrhoea tablets and laxatives (for changes in diet and water quality)
• fluid and electrolyte replacement medications (eg. Gastrolyte, a water-soluble powder)
• water purification tablets
• Malaria tablets – this varies according to the destination and the mozzies’ resistance levels.  
• antihistamines – very useful for savage insect bites

Travel with Kids

And if you’re traveling with children, our two top first aid tips are:

• packets of antiseptic hand wipes for cleaning sticky fingers before and after meals
• enough liquid paracetamol or similar to get you through at least a week of a bad fever.  Whilst it seems commonplace to buy this over the counter in many Western countries, it simply does not exist in developing nations.

Never rely on just one form of funds.  Depending on where you’re traveling, it’s a good idea to take a combination of local currency and credit cards.

The second golden rule is:

Try to have more than you think you’ll need – traveling is rarely as cheap as you think it will be.

Most countries now have ATMs that dispense local currency to foreign cardholders. But if you’re heading off the beaten track, be sure to check and, if necessary, carry enough cash to tide you over.

Beware of bank fees associated with credit card transactions overseas and withdrawing cash from foreign ATMs: check with your bank before departing. Also check the expiry date on your card and that it will be accepted where you’re going.  We always use the 28 Degrees Mastercard (formerly Wizard Clear Advantage Mastercard) when traveling as this card if free of all overseas fees.

Carry some US Dollars cash as this is the most universally accepted currency. It’s a good idea to have a few dollars in the local currency before you arrive so you can catch a bus or taxi and not be forced to change money at the airport or border where exchange rates are traditionally at their worse.

Avoid bank Fees when Traveling

Thankfully, for us in Australia, we have access to the 28 Degrees Mastercard that has no fees attached to it, and with some clever planning you can even get cash advances while overseas free of charges.

Here are a few key benefits of the card…

No fees - ever

• No ATM fees when used overseas
• No currency conversion fees when used to buy things overseas
• No fees for cash advances
• Normally the best exchange rate available for purchases & cash advances
• Up to 55 days interest free
• No annual fees

The trick is to load enough money onto your 28 DegreesMastercard with BPAY before your journey. By doing this you will have a positive balance on your card and you will be actually using your own money to make purchases or ATM withdrawals and therefore you won’t get charged any interest by Wizard.

Note:
The daily limit for cash withdrawals is about $1000AUD, or the foreign exchange equivalent.

Travel light

Empty out any unnecessary cards from your wallet or purse before you go – that way there’s less bulge to attract thieves and less to lose.  

Be discrete

Need we say this?  Keep your cash under your clothes and out of sight; a money belt is a good idea.  Do NOT keep your valuables in a ‘bum bag’ or ‘fanny pack’ – they are easy and obvious targets for thieves.  If you carry a bag, make sure it has a shoulder strap and wear it across your chest, rather than on one shoulder, with the opening near your body.

Split it up

A money belt is a cheap investment

It sounds so obvious but … split up your valuables so that your money, cards and passport are not in one place and if one ‘area’

gets hit you still have some resources. If you put all your money,

passports and cards in one money belt and that gets stolen you really are in for a world of hurt.

Day Tripper

Only carry enough money in your wallet that you will need for that day, and leave the rest in your inside money belt, hidden pocket inside your clothes, or in your guest house or hotel’s safe. Sometimes, it’s wise to take out only small amounts from the bank even if it means higher bank fees – check with your bank before leaving home as to what charges you’ll incur.
And don’t walk around with credit cards, air tickets and passport (which you don’t usually need day-to-day) in the same spot as that 50 Baht you are going to use to buy a pineapple shake.

Guard your Credit Card

Never let your credit card out of sight when you’re paying for something to avoid fraudulent use of it, and destroy any carbon sheets from the receipt. When using ATMs, be aware of others around you and avoid letting them see you enter your PIN or take out your cash.  It is also a good practice to only use ATMs at a bank during opening hours.  You have a much better chance of retrieving that card should the machine refuse to spit it back out.

If you have a tip that you think our readers might be interested in why not drop us a line via the Contact Us page.  We will review it and consider it’s inclusion.

Here are some tips that we have put together that may just help you do that.  With some research and perseverance, you can save quite a bit of money when planning your family holiday.

No matter how you buy your travel, be it flights or a cruise, do your homework and you will find a good deal.  The beauty of the internet is that there are so many options available to you to find the best deal for your next family holiday. On this page we have put together a few of our tips that I hope you find useful in finding those cheap flights and deals.

Here are a few tips to help you find those cheap flights,  cruises or holiday deals.

1. Sign up for online travel newsletters

Many airlines, tour operators, online travel agencies and travel sites have newsletters that they will send you via email.  These usually include the latest cheap flights and family holidays or last minute travel deals.

2. Shop around

Check various travel sites and talk to some travel agents to get prices. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples and know what is included. That great cruise deal may not include the airfare to the port!

3. Consider all possible discounts

Do you have  frequent flyer miles you can cash in?

4. Travel in off-season

Off-season will vary depending on where you are traveling so do your research and find out when  that is.  Usually school holidays are the most expensive time to travel to family destinations and cheap flights or family vacations will be hard to find.

5. Travelling during the week can save you money

Saturday and flights during the week are less crowded and therefore more likely to have last minute discounting. Some companies charge a bit less for holiday packages that leave mid-week.

6. Read your newspaper’s travel section

The weekend travel sections in newspapers are a good source for travel news, tips and cheap family holidays departing from your city.

7. Do some negotiating of your own

Ask for a deal or a better price! This will usually work if you are dealing directly with a hotel or car rental company. It may also work with some travel agents.

8. Book late

When looking for last minute deals, start shopping around about 6 weeks prior to your departure to get a good idea of prices and availability. Narrow down where you want to go and compare some prices. About 3 weeks prior to departure is probably your best time to book. When you notice packages begin to sell out, you want to book before you miss out on that deal. The prices only go so low and sometimes sell out before they really drop in price.

9. Book early

Some of the best deals may be had booking early and not last minute. Most tour operators and cruise companies offer discounts for early booking. If there is a specific date you want to travel and or you have a specific resort or destination in mind, you are better off to book early and secure your holiday or cruise than to risk waiting for a cheap family holiday deal that may or may not happen.

Overall, keep in mind that cheaper is not always better. If you save a few hundred dollars by adding lots of stops to your flight or staying in a hotel you are not happy with, it won’t be worth it. Save some money but don’t compromise too much with what you really want and need for your family holiday.