Over the past decade, casino entertainment has expanded beyond traditional gaming venues to include a variety of digital formats and interactive experiences. Alongside these developments, another trend has become increasingly visible: travelling specifically to experience live casino gaming. Many destinations around the world now attract visitors who are interested in exploring entertainment venues that offer live table games and immersive environments.

At the same time, digital platforms have also developed experiences that replicate aspects of this atmosphere online. For example, services connected with live casino UK platforms such as Bally Bet allow players to enjoy live-dealer games through streaming technology while interacting with real dealers in a digital environment.

The Appeal of Destination Gaming

Travelling for entertainment has always been a popular activity, and casino destinations often combine gaming with a broader range of leisure experiences. Many resorts feature restaurants, live shows, hotels, and nightlife alongside gaming facilities, creating an all-in-one destination for visitors.

For travellers interested in live gaming environments, visiting these locations offers an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a casino floor in person. The visual design, soundscape, and social environment contribute to an experience that many visitors find appealing as part of their travel plans.

In some cases, travellers incorporate casino visits into larger trips that include sightseeing, dining, and other forms of entertainment.

The Role of Technology

Technology has also played an important role in the popularity of live casino gaming. Modern platforms use high-definition video streaming and professional studio setups to broadcast live dealer games to players online.

These systems allow participants to follow real-time gameplay and interact through digital interfaces. This format has helped bridge the gap between physical casino environments and digital gaming platforms.

For players who may not have the opportunity to travel regularly, live casino UK platforms such as Bally Bet offer a way to experience live dealer games remotely while maintaining a connection to real-time gameplay.

Tourism and Entertainment Destinations

Several regions around the world have developed reputations as entertainment hubs that include casino experiences as part of their appeal. Visitors often travel to these destinations not only for gaming but also for the wider hospitality offerings available.

Luxury hotels, dining experiences, and live performances frequently accompany gaming facilities, helping create a broader entertainment ecosystem. These combined attractions can make casino resorts appealing to travellers who are interested in exploring multiple forms of leisure during a single trip.

This blend of tourism and gaming entertainment has contributed to the growing interest in travelling to casino destinations.

The Social Experience

Another factor behind the popularity of live casino travel is the social element associated with these environments. Casino venues often bring together visitors from different regions, creating a shared entertainment setting.

For some travellers, the social atmosphere is just as appealing as the gaming experience itself. Engaging with other visitors, exploring the venue, and participating in the wider entertainment options can make a trip feel more memorable.

Online platforms also attempt to recreate aspects of this social dynamic. Live dealer games often include chat features or interactive elements that allow players to engage with dealers and other participants during gameplay.

Blending Travel and Digital Access

While travelling to casino destinations continues to attract interest, digital platforms have made live gaming more accessible than ever before. Many players enjoy combining both experiences visiting gaming destinations occasionally while also accessing live dealer games online.

Platforms offering live casino UK experiences, including those associated with Bally Bet, demonstrate how technology can provide convenient access to live gaming formats without requiring travel.

This blend of physical and digital access reflects the evolving nature of gaming entertainment in the modern era.

Looking Ahead

As tourism and digital technology continue to evolve, the popularity of live casino gaming both in person and online is likely to remain strong. Travellers seeking entertainment experiences may continue to visit destinations known for their vibrant gaming venues, while online platforms will likely expand their live streaming capabilities.

Whether enjoyed during a trip or accessed through online services, live casino gaming represents a growing area of the entertainment industry. By combining atmosphere, technology, and accessibility, the experience continues to attract interest from a wide range of players.

The post How Travelling for Live Casino Gaming Has Grown in Popularity appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).

In cooperation with Rosetta Stone, use my tips for learning languages online—whether it’s the ability to practice anywhere or watching foreign movies, it’s the easiest (and most fun!) way to learn a language

SPONSORED — I’ve had my fair share of experiences learning various languages. Earlier this spring, I traveled to Spain for an intensive, one-week Spanish course. In Germany, I’ve been continuously learning the language since I moved here. Learning languages is never going to be easy as an adult unless you make it an absolute priority and spend 8 hours per day buried in verbs, nouns and grammar. But who has time for that?!

Rather, the best way to learn a language is to commit to it in whatever way you can. It’s important for it to be a part of your daily life as much as possible. And if you’re not living or traveling in the home country of your target language, the easiest way to learn is to simply make the language a part of your daily life. And what better way for that than making it a part of your online life? Over the past month, Rosetta Stone invited me to learn Spanish from afar. By using their website, and more importantly, their app, I’ve made the Spanish language a part of my regular daily schedule.

Learning a language online requires patience and perseverance. When you’re not physically surrounded by the language, it’s necessary to create the surroundings yourself. Thankfully, we live in the 21st century and it’s never been easier to create your own fictional world online–with real-world implications.

7 Steps to Learning a Language Online

Step 1: Use Rosetta Stone

I’ve used Rosetta Stone’s language software a handful of times. Early on in my German language studies, it was the perfect accompaniment with my language course and recently I’ve been using it to learn Spanish when I’m not in Spain. Rosetta Stone has been the holy grail of language software for decades—you probably remember seeing their bright yellow boxes in bookstores and shopping malls.

Using the website (and their app) is as good (and oftentimes better than) taking a class. The Rosetta Stone website is just another type of classroom. You’ll find a library of resources including books and reading materials, an area to have real-life conversations with other students and even a section for games and puzzles to practice. There’s a phrasebook and live tutoring—all the things you’d expect to find in a classroom, but instead it’s right there on your computer. And it’s all available at a great value with tons of bonuses unavailable if you’re taking a different type of course.

The app is equally useful because you can download lessons for offline use (and opt to turn off the speaking parts if you’d rather stay silent when out in public).

Step 2: Create a schedule

The first step to learning a language online is mastering the art of self-discipline. Create a routine and stick to it. You don’t need more than 20 minutes a day for serious learning. My recommendation is to buy a notebook and write down the new vocabulary and conjugated verbs. Complement this with your online courses and whatever extra resources.

Step 3: Change your Facebook language

A quick and easy way to help stick with your schedule of learning is to change your iPhone settings, or your computer settings to your target language—and perhaps most importantly, to change your Facebook default language. In this way you can learn that “Like” means also Gefallt mir in German or Me gusta in Spanish. And while you may feel weird at the beginning, many of the tasks we do online are so common that we do it automatically, like saving a document file or attaching a photo. But the key here is immersion.

By making the language part of your everyday tasks (yes, that means checking Facebook), you’re immersing yourself into the language—an especially useful thing to do if you can’t actively immerse yourself in the culture. Plus it keeps the language fresh in your brain in a more active manner.

Step 4: Practice everywhere — on the go

The key to language learning online is to practice offline as well. The Rosetta Stone app makes this surprisingly easy with an audio companion that you can download to use when you’re disconnected. I also found it possible to use the Rosetta Stone app with little difficulties on my limited data or on wifi. Each lesson in the app gives you an estimate of how much time it needs, so you can plan accordingly for your daily commute.

Step 5: Watch movies

Learning a language doesn’t have to feel like a chore—so in your extra time, consider watching movies in the language you’re learning. It’s especially helpful to watch movies you’re already familiar with and ones maybe that you’ve memorized the lines from. Turn on the subtitles in your target language and by watching, reading and hearing the movie in the same (new) language all at once, you’ll find it a quick way to pick up extra words, phrases and intonation.

Children movies are also great for language learners because the level of complexity of the language is for kids (yay!). Netflix can be a great tool for learning a language online—there are many international movies and they offer them with dozens of options for subtitles. It’s helpful to force your brain to associate the written word with the pronunciation.

Step 6: Connect with locals through social media

Because we live in an increasingly connected society, it’s easy to find locals from abroad—and all online at your fingertips. Seek out Instagrammers, YouTube vloggers or news media from the language you’re interested in learning. Sometimes it’s by interacting and engaging with digital “pen pals” that you can discover regional idioms, dialects or other language quirks. The Rosetta Stone software even includes the option to schedule live tutoring online. It’s like visiting the country of the language you’re learning without even leaving your own home.

Also, if you play any video games, try to incorporate your new language into your conversations with other players. People love sharing their culture online (everyone is a little bit narcissistic behind social media), so you’ll find people surprisingly patient if you decide to communicate in your new language. Plus you remove that worry of whether you’re pronouncing things correctly; connecting with locals on social media can improve your grammar and vocabulary.

Step 7: Read and listen to stories

As your confidence in the new language progresses, there are fewer and fewer lessons you need to do. But that’s when it’s smart to start reading stories or listening to audiobooks in your new language. The Rosetta Stone app includes a library of hundreds of books, poetry and story excerpts—each with an audio accompaniment so you can hear how the words are pronounced as you read it. These, again, can be downloaded offline and are all timed and connected with the lessons.

• • •

Learning a language doesn’t have to be scary. We spend so much of our time buried in our phones, connected online and hours each day staring at computer screens. With just a little bit of time set aside each day, it’s surprisingly easy to practice and study a new language. Rosetta Stone’s award-winning software has helped me with my German and my Spanish—and even still I find myself using the app more as a game than as a study tool. It helps to refresh my Spanish vocabulary and pronunciation—especially useful to use in the weeks leading up to a trip.

The post The Best Ways to Learn a Language Online appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).

Ljubljana just might be one of Europe’s coolest cities. These six tips will guide you to the best things to see and do in the Slovenia capital.

When I told a few of my Berliner friends that I was visiting Ljubljana, I got a mixed response. Some thought it interesting; others were curious how or why I would’ve decided to travel there. But those friends who had visited Ljubljana before — they knew what was up. And they had nothing but excitement for my trip.

You see, it seems Ljubljana is one of those hidden secrets of Europe. It’s one of those cities most people probably miss out on during a Eurotrip and, in fact, it’s one of those cities where you often here, “What country is that in, again?” Well, Ljubljana is in Slovenia and after spending four nights there, I’ve got nothing but praise for this little capital.

Slovenia is one of the world’s newest countries, only gaining independence in 1991. But Ljubljana’s history goes much further. With its location on the edge of Italy, and nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps – the city has long been conveniently placed for many of Europe’s most notorious conquerers. Napoleon’s armies marched through here and the Romans used Ljubljana’s strategic location as a stronghold, calling the city Emona (this year marked with a 2000 year anniversary)! Ljubljana has history.

But Ljbuljana is so much more than its history. As a relatively new nation, and a new capital, the city (much like Berlin) has had to reinvent itself. Thanks to a development scheme which saw the city’s river, Ljubljanica, come to life with new restaurants, bars and markets — Ljubljana’s downtown has come to life with an atmosphere full of languorous (but not lazy) life. Ljubljana has energy.

Why do I compare Ljubljana to Berlin? Most cities are hard to compare to one another, but we all know Berlin has its own special sense of style and atmosphere — one very unique to Europe (and maybe the world). But my extended weekend in Ljubljana only taught me that there’s quite a bit of cool in other cities as well. And in Ljubljana, there’s a whole lot of it.

The Coolest Things To Do in Ljubljana

Visit Metelkova – Former squat, now nightlife haven

Undoubtedly the coolest part of Ljubljana is the area referred to as Metelkova City. A former military barracks, it is now an autonomous region of Ljubljana. The Yugoslavia army once had its base there, along with a prison, but soon after Slovenia gained its independence, the area was squatted by artists. The area is now home to the city’s best boutique hostel and countless bars & clubs. It’s also where you’ll find some really unique public art and graffiti.

Visit Metelkova by day to check out the street art, or on Friday nights for the best nightlife in town.

• Hostel Celica: One of the most unique “prison” hostels I’ve ever seen. Besides each room having been designed by local and international artists, there are several restaurants and cafes on the ground floor and a museum in the basement. Stop by each afternoon at 3pm for a free tour and history lesson about the hostel and the Metelkova district.
• Tiffany Club: It’s Ljubljana’s most popular gay club but on Fridays it’s also just one of Ljubljana’s most popular clubs – gay or straight. More information and opening hours on the club’s Facebook page and website.

Drink craft beer on the coolest tour in town

I’d never taken a beer tour before being on Iva’s “Craft Beer Tour” through Ljubljana so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve taken brewery tours, but a tour just about beer? Never before. It was a casual walking tour and we visited four different bars to sample beer and some tapas in each. We learned a tiny bit about each of the breweries but what I enjoyed most was the company. This didn’t feel like a tour but more like an afternoon of hanging around with friends. Plus besides discovering at least two beers that I really fell for, three of the four bars were places I definitely was eager to return to–whether for their food, beer or atmosphere! It was the perfect introduction to the city and that special “Ljubljana atmosphere.”

• Ljubljananjam: This small, local tour operator is your go-to resource for any food & drink tours through Ljubljana. Besides the craft beer walk (where you sample local Slovenian beers), there are also specific walks just for desserts and other local Ljubljana foods! More information on the Ljubljananjam website (bonus points if you can figure out how to pronounce that!).

Best way to get around? On a bike!

Ljubljana isn’t a big city and in fact I spent most of my weekend there walking between places. But next time (and there *will* be a next time!) I’ll definitely rent a bike. The city has plenty of bike lanes and the roads seemed relatively safe. Plus like many other cities around the world, Ljubljana has its own official bike share program. The first hour of the bike rental is free and you can register for a week to be able to use the bikes at your leisure for just 1€/week! More information at bicikelj.si.

Eat. Every. Local. Food. You. Find.

As I mentioned earlier, I’d heard good things about Ljubljana before visiting, but something that everyone somehow missed out on telling me was how good the food was. My visit to Ljubljana was timed with the launch of Taste Ljubljana—an initiative by the official tourism organization to promote local culinary food and recipes. So during my long weekend in Ljubljana I had the chance to sample some of the best local cuisine – from cottage cheese pancakes (yumm!) to fried chicken and beef tongue… just about everything I put in my mouth while in Ljubljana left me hungry for more!

There are also countless quality restaurants in Ljubljana. It seems the locals know how to live the good life and are after fresh ingredients and quality food in their meals. My top three meals were at the JB Restaurant, Restaurant As and Gostlina Na Gradu. Look out for more about them later on in this blog.

• Open Kitchen: This weekly food market is the place to be every Friday. Over 50 different chefs participate on a weekly basis and you’ll find both local and international cuisine at the market. I was told to look out for the fried chicken (a Ljubljana food speciality) and it was delicious! The Open Kitchen (Odprta Kuhna) market is in its second year and doesn’t seem like it’ll stop anytime soon. Make sure you visit! More information on their website odprtakuhna.si.
• Culinary Slovenia cooking class: If one of the city’s many food tour options aren’t your thing, try a cooking class instead. While I didn’t take a cooking class myself, you can see more about it on the Savoir There blog. Check times and information about cooking classes on the Culinary Slovenia website.

Spend your time hanging out by the river

Most cities with rivers running through them tend to focus a lot on the riverside. And Ljubljana is no different. Thanks to some political foresight, the area around the Ljubljanica River has been developed over the past decade to become the “it” place to be in Ljubljana. From markets to some of the city’s best bars and restaurants, everyone seems to spend their time along the river.

• Sunday Market: Every Sunday open from 8:00am to 14:00, there’s a flea market where you’ll find random knickknacks, vintage postcards and other quirky memorabilia. In the city center along the river.
• Boat rides: There are more than a few companies offer boat tours down the Ljubljanica river, but you’ll want to go with the prettiest. The Laker Craft wooden boat is the most picturesque boat and costs the same as the other tours. More information and photos on their website.

Visit Ljubljana’s art galleries

I love visiting art galleries in unexpected places. And I’m not sure why, but Ljubljana has more than its fair share of art galleries, photo exhibitions and museums for a city of its size. With a Ljubljana tourist card, some of the museums and galleries offer free admission, but some are free of their own right regardless. Here are my picks for the best museums/galleries:

• Jakopič Gallery: I saw an incredible photo exhibition from Josef Koudelka at this small gallery. Located on an ancient Roman site, the small gallery was impressive with its collection and its space. Find current information about their exhibitions online at mgml.si.
• City Museum (Mestna Galerija): Located in the city center, this small museum & gallery regularly shows contemporary art exhibitions. During my visit, they had an exhibition about Internet art. More at mgml.si.
• Modern Galerija: Part of the Museum of Modern Art, the Modern Gallery has a permanent collection of Slovenian and international contemporary art, with regular exhibitions of the same. More online at mg-lj.si (and note that the museum is free the first Sunday of every month!).
• Artish Market: This monthly art market in the city center features local traders and artisans selling everything from jewelry to custom art. It takes place the last Saturday of every month. Check their website & blog for more information.

___

Getting There

Ljubljana is serviced by an international airport with flights to other European cities. However, it’s sometimes more convenient and cheaper to fly into one of the neighboring countries’ airports and take an airport transfer to Ljubljana. From Berlin, I was able to get a cheap enough flight on EasyJet direct to Venice, and then it was just a 2.5-3 hour transfer via GoOpti. GoOpti offer airport transfer routes between destinations in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia.

* * *

I visited Ljubljana with the travel blog group The Travel Mob and with the support of Visit Ljubljana. More information about the #TasteLjubljana blog trip can be found here. Special thanks also to the guys from Luxury Slovenia for many of the recommendations here.

The post Is Ljubljana the New Berlin? 6 Reasons it Just Might Be appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).

Florida is a BIG state and with plenty of things to see and do, it’s the perfect kind of place for a road trip. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of driving in Florida

My third, or maybe fourth, day on the road and I finally reached the Florida border. Coming from Savannah, Georgia, I made my way down I-95 into Florida with little fanfare: my Google Maps app announcing “Welcome to Florida.” It was already dark, but I was relieved.

The final stretch of my I-95 road trip from NYC to Miami (give or take a few hundred miles).

When I first announced I was going on this road trip—as a favor to my aunt who needed her car down south—just about everyone I knew warned me about Florida. “Florida is big,” they’d say. I know, that, of course, but I’d kind of forgotten.

I’ve done one other Florida road rip about a decade ago. I drove from tip-to-tip, from Key West all the way up iI-95 and then across the panhandle en route to New Orleans and, eventually, Dallas.

I have a few distinct memories from that road trip—passing what seemed at the time, the Everglades, indistinct cities from the highway and a long (very long) dark road.

Almost the entirety of our road trip back then felt like it was in Florida, and that’s what I was expecting this second time around.

And it kind of was.

After driving through Florida for D A Y S, here are my tips to enjoy your own Florida road trip. The things you need to know to make the most out of driving through America’s penis.

_{FLORIDA ROAD TRIPS}
All the things you need to know

1. Florida is fucking big.

Google tells us that Florida is 65,700+ square miles with 20 million people. And we already know that this state takes up a lot of space in our news—that Florida man is fucking everywhere

But here’s the thing: because Florida is a peninsula, and because (arguably) its best bits are at the very tip, it just takes F O R E V E R to get anywhere in the state.

Driving in Florida also seems to just take forever not just because of the distance required, but because of so so many reasons. Not all of them bad, because truthfully, who doesn’t love a leisurely trip on the open road?

2. Florida’s roads are boring

Having driven the vast majority of I-95 from New England to Florida, I can definitely say that I-95 is its most boring in Florida. Simply put, there are just fewer rest stops, gas stations, and other amenities along the major artery.

For some reason, after Savannah, there’s just not much along the highway. It’s a lot of trees and open spaces. That emptiness isn’t all bad, though. Of course, it means a bit less congestion, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean safer roads (see the next one).

3. Florida drivers are reckless

I hate to make generalizations but after nearly 96 hours on the road and crossing 11 states along the way, the highway felt least safe while in Florida.

The roads were actually pretty great (there are major renovations being done along I-95 to be completed this year), but the drivers—they were awful.

I was cut off regularly during my most recent 10-hour drive through Florida; drivers would ride on my tail and cross across lanes to get ahead. It was frightening and uncomfortable and required some serious alertness

4. Florida roads are flat

And smooth! Most of I-95 was remarkably well-maintained and even with construction here and there, it was all clearly marked and felt safe and comfortable. The flat roads make it easy to move (sometimes too fast—watch out for the highway patrol!).

5. Rest stops are pretty decent

Along the interstate highways and the Florida turnpike, rest stops and travel centers were well-stocked and clean. For anyone traveling long distances, these are really useful and important, and Florida seems to maintain them pretty well.

There were signs just about everywhere about nighttime security at every rest stop, for better or worse—a little bewildering how much of a point they made about it, but maybe that’s an issue.

6. The SunPass is really useful

The Florida Turnpike runs the length of the state and while your route is what’s going to play a role in whether you take it or not, it is a pretty useful throughway for much of the state. Getting a SunPass provides easy access to the Turnpike and it can be purchased at Florida welcome centers along the state’s borders.

The SunPass isn’t necessary for accessing the Turnpike as you can also get tickets and pay cash, but be warned that without the SunPass, some turnpike exits aren’t accessible.

I’m not really sure why that’s the case, but I did spot at least one exit along the turnpike which was for SunPass users only.

7. There will be traffic

Oh my god will there be traffic. I don’t really understand why because it’s my understanding that most Floridians are pensioners, but rush hour exists in Florida and it is A N N O Y I N G.

I know that’s probably universal, but the traffic around Fort Lauderdale and Miami was nerve-wracking. Luckily the weather’s good so sitting in the sun isn’t the worst thing.

8. Pack sunscreen

Which brings us to one of the most important travel tips for Florida: PACK SUNSCREEN! The sun is strong in Florida (duh—it’s the sunshine state!), but don’t forget to use it while driving, too! Your car windows won’t protect you enough and the sun will burn.

Be prepared and keep a small sunscreen spray in your car if you’re traveling Florida frequently.

Also: make sure to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water when on a Florida road trip. You never know how bad the traffic’s going to be, or how hot your car might get.

9. You’ll need multiple pairs of sunglasses

Speaking of the sun, don’t forget your sunglasses! I don’t know about you, but I frequently lose my sunglasses so during my road trip, I kept an extra air in the glove box, plus one in my bag, and another that I wore.

I somehow managed not to lose any of them during this trip, but driving without them would have been a nightmare.

10. Don’t miss the sights!

Florida is fucking big; we already talked about that. And as one of America’s most touristic destinations, there’s plenty to actually stop and see. I think?

Florida’s state parks are there to protect a lot of unique wildlife, and the big tourist cities like Orlando, Miami, and Key West all have some cool things to see.

And of course there are the beaches! I stayed a night in Daytona where you can actually drive on the beach (for a fee) which is kind of fun if you’re into cars and don’t mind sand everywhere.

(Trust me: a week in Florida and there will be sand everywhere; there’s nothing you can do about it.)

• • •

I rant about Florida quite a bit but I’ve been visiting the state regularly since I was a little kid. There’s always something new to see or experience, and even when there isn’t, the sun & sand more than make up for the annoying quirks of life in Florida.

Now: if you need me, I’ll be at the beach.

The post How to do a Florida Road Trip – 10 Things You Need to Know appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).

Listen, I don’t have to really tell you this, but New York City is one of the world’s most exciting and interesting cities. It’s no wonder that it tops most “best of” lists throughout history. Visitors from around the world come to see the sights and the skyscrapers, to be a part of the city’s unique place in history.

It’s the most popular US destination and really needs no introductions. After a slow decline into yuppieness during the early 2000s and crime during the 80s, the city has once again revitalized and gained back its title as one of the world’s leading arts and culture hubs—and certainly one of the most exciting and vibrant places on the globe.

Whether it’s in Williamsburg—the birthplace of hipster culture or good old Manhattan art, there’s just so much cool alternative free things to do and see. While its’ incredible size, population and diversity make it—quite frankly—an overwhelming place to visit, there are a handful of ways to make a visit to NYC much easier—and cheaper!

NYC on a Budget – Helpful Tips

1. Know When to Visit Museums

In New York City you’ll find some of the world’s best museums. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the MoMA and the Guggenheim, art is respected and valued in the city. But most of the NYC museums don’t come cheap. Thankfully, many corporations have subsided certain nights of the week to make art more accessible.

The Moma is free on Friday nights after 5pm to New York state residents and the Witney Museum of American Art offers free Friday evening admission, and occasionally on Sundays. The Guggenheim offers a “pay what you wish” entrance fee on Saturday afternoons. And the Met’s entrance fee is always just a suggestion – you can choose your own entrance fee donation to be anything from $1 to $25!

With each of the free nights at the museums, be prepared for long queues and in the wintertime, they’ll often require you to coatcheck large bags, so if you want a smooth and easy visit, it’s best not to bring a bag.

2. Visit the Free NYC Attractions

While there are plenty of great tourist attractions in NYC requiring entrance fees—whether it’s the observation deck from the Empire State Building, a visit to the Statue of Liberty (just take the Staten Island Ferry for a free view) or guided walking tours—there are just as many (if not more) free things to do in NYC.

Visit the 9/11 Memorial, wander around Times Square, walk the Brooklyn Bridge and explore the markets of Chinatown and Little Italy. There’s a lot to see and do in NYC and you don’t have to spend a lot to see it all.

3. Enjoy NYC’s Cheap Eats

Like any big city, there’s going to be food and restaurants available for every type of budget. And in NYC, there’s always the street food—hot dogs, pretzels, kebabs (chicken and rice) and other street food vendors can be found on literally EVERY street corner.

Prices vary but if you’re hungry, time-crunched and don’t have a lot of money, these are a great way to experience the New York way of life. Just make sure you get a Nathan’s brand hot dog—they’re the best!

And, during the summer, the Queens Night Market has the absolute best variety and deals on a huge range of cuisines. Just be warned it’s an outdoor market and a bit of a walk from the subway, so only bother on good-weather days.

4. Walk the High Line

Built on an abandoned rail line above Manhattan’s west side, the High Line runs from the meatpacking district up to 34th street in the new Hudson Yards development. Its’ landscaping is pretty unique and the the Hudson River views along it are great. Make sure to walk along the full length of it to check out all the highlights.

During summer especially, there are loads of music performances, food and drinks. It’s surprisingly peaceful for literally being a park in the sky (and in between skyscrapers, businesses and hotels). Just for an extra bit of quirky, there are even occasional tai chi and stargazing events.

Keep an eye out for the unusual public art along the route. My personal favorite is the High Line Plinth which features a rotating public art similar to London’s famous Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar Square.

Up near the northern end of the High Line, you can also explore the public spaces around Hudson Yards including the Vessel and the Hudson Yards shopping mall and food court (with free public bathrooms).

5. Spend Your Time in the NYC Parks

Not really unknown, but Central Park is brilliant. Personal highlights for me are “the pond” where Holden Caulfield kept checking where the ducks go when it’s cold in The Catcher in the Rye and Strawberry Fields, where an Imagine mosaic serves as a memorial to John Lennon.

Union Square is another favorite free thing to do in Manhattan, with loads of aspiring artists and musicians (during summer, you’ll even find free yoga classes and outdoor movies) but it’s especially great when the farmer’s market is on. Artisanal food heaven! From super fresh fruits and veggies to award-winning meats and cheeses, artisan breads, maple syrup, wine and fresh potted herbs you can grown at home.

New Yorkers love it, and its been going on since 1976. Not much further south in Lower Manhattan, Washington Square Park serves as a popular meeting point (at the arch) and center for cultural activities. Because of its proximity to NYU, there are a lot of students at Washington Square Mark—but you’ll also find famous celebrities, TikTokers, and musicians who do free, imprompto performances there. Madonna once gave a free, impromptu concert in the park near the fountain, as have Lorde and BLACKPINK.

6. Go to Brooklyn

Hipster heaven! Everyone knows Brooklyn is at the heart of modern, millennial hipster culture. Full of second hand record shops, pop up shops, designer fashion shops and a lot of fair trade coffee shops, Brooklyn is an epic melting pot.

Cross the Brooklyn Bridge (a cheap, easy and fun tourist attraction) and you’ll find yourself directly in the DUMBO area (famously short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). In DUMBO and the nearby streets, you’ll find the weekend Brooklyn Flea market, Brooklyn Park and countless restaurants and shops—all at a pretty decent bargain and, generally, with a pretty epic view of the Manhattan skyline.

Want to visit north Brooklyn from DUMBO? Just hop on the NYC Ferry—another cheap transportation option which gives you scenic views while you travel up or down the East River.

 Related: Brooklyn Travel Guide

7. Book Somewhere Cheap to Stay

New York City hotels are notoriously small, cramped and uncomfortable—even the more luxurious and more expensive properties. Just get used to that idea and choose somewhere cheap and convenient, and plan to spend as little time in your hotel as possible.

Airbnb doesn’t have the approval of most landlords or the city government, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any Airbnb properties. Hostels also exist in NYC with decent accommodation for budget backpackers and students.

Look for accommodation in Brooklyn rather than Manhattan, or if you want to stay in Manhattan, find somewhere accessible on the NYC Subway further away from Downtown. Jazz Hostels has a hostel on the Upper West Side, near Harlem, that’s a surprisingly cool and convenient area—and with pretty decent hostel rates, too. That was my first NYC hostel experience and while not glamorous, it saved me enough money to spend on activities rather than accommodation.

The post How to Visit NYC on a Budget appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).

Summertime is often the best time of year to travel. We’ve all got more time, more energy, and the weather just can’t be beat! Summer Fridays from work make it easy to take those quick weekend getaways, whether it’s a road trip to the beach, or just somewhere out of the city.

With all the sweat and sun, filling up your carry-on bag for a summer weekend getaway is never easy. Carry-on liquid limits (100ml ugh) are frustrating for those of us with sunscreen needs, but there are plenty of things still worth packing for your summer trips.

5 Things to Pack for Summer Travel

Sunglasses

Yep, sunglasses are the first thing you need for summer travel. They’re also the thing I break the most so I always have a few pairs in my bag. I’ve started keeping a sunglasses carry-case with me as well because it protects the frames.

Where to buy: I’ve got a pretty wide-ranging collection of sunglasses, from ones I’ve gotten free at various pride events, to cheap ones I’ve picked up at pharmacies and convenience stores. Recently, I was gifted a pair of designer sunglasses from SmartBuyGlasses.com.

Personally, I love a simple frame from a brand like Ralph Lauren or Ray Ban.

Fragrances

Summertime usually means heat, and with the hot temperatures (and the increasing amount of heat waves), that’s going to mean sweat. Having a good deodorant is helpful, but it’s also smart to pack a fresh fragrance or cologne for your summer trips.

A quick spritz before heading out for the evening is an easy way to mask your smell, or accentuate an outfit easily.

Where to buy: I’ve got so many fragrances at this point, I really love to mix it up. The new gender-neutral brand of fragrances from KIERIN NYC are especially delightful as their series includes scents that can be used for a variety of purposes.

For Pride Month, Kenneth Cole also released a series of men’s fragrances which can also be adapted depending upon personal taste (or smell). I also really love the Versace Eros scent.

Moisturizers

Yes, always pack sunscreen. But don’t forget the moisturizer also! The summer sun (and heat) can be especially difficult on sensitive skin. Just like it’s important to stay hydrated with water out in the heat, it’s important to make sure your skin stays hydrated as well.

Where to buy: I’ve been using a few different moisturizers. And I always keep an extra one in my carry-on bag so I make sure to never forget it when traveling! Last month, beauty brand Kiehl’s launched an Age Defender Gel Moisturizer—a lightweight, firming, lifting and anti-wrinkle treatment for men. It’s really comfortable to use.

I’ve also been using a purifying face cream Good Science Beauty which feels especially refreshing on the skin. It uses Good Silicon+ technology which makes sure the ingredients get where they need to be.

Postcards

What’s a travel blog if you don’t have a way to share it?! Anyone who follows my story knows that I love a good postcard, and sending them is such a fun and easy way to connect with those that you love. (Or I guess you could probably also send them to those that you don’t love.)

Where to buy: Even though we live in an increasingly paperless world, postcards are still available just about everywhere. Luxury hotels tend to leave them in their rooms for guests to use at their will, sometimes restaurants even keep them available, or you’ll find postcard ads in the back of bars and on sticky countertops.

But if you don’t feel like hunting one down and you want to use your own photos to send a real-world piece of mail, the MyPostcard.com app is easy and cheap.

You can send postcards for as little as $1.99 to anywhere in the world!

Good shoes

Traveling for the summer is all about packing light, but you’ve still got to make sure you’ve got some summer style! Whether you’re marching in a pride parade or hanging out at the beach, a good pair of shoes is going to make or break the trip.

I don’t buy shoes as often as I probably should, but I always make sure I’ve got a classy pair of dress shoes, a top-quality pair of flip-flops (for the beach only), and a few pairs of cool sneakers in my closet.

Where to buy: I’m a sucker for all the typical sneaker brands like Adidas, Converse, and VANS, but ever since I discovered Italian shoemaker Guidomaggi, I’ve always had a pair of shoes from them in my packed bag.

Handmade in Italy, they’re all luxury height-increasing shoes anywhere from 2″ inches to 6″ platforms. I love the way the shoes make me feel with the added height and the Italian style just really pumps it up. I’ve got a pair of their sneakers I always love wearing out to the clubs.

Packing for a summer trip isn’t always easy, but I always bring with me these essentials. What else do you make sure to carry with you?

The post Summer Packing Tips: What to Bring on your Summer Getaway appeared first on Travels of Adam (Hipster Blog).