A view of Sakura-jima, an active volcano in Kagoshima.
Natural hot-spring footbath with Sakura-jima in the background.
Mount Fuji in all its glory.
Believe it or not, this is someone's house...
TL;DR: Japan is a VERY safe country that is highly efficient and organized (they have to be because of the dense population). Visitors will note right away that the streets are very clean and the people are very polite. Radiation levels and its dangers (from Fukushima) are exaggerated and the main tourist areas are far from ‘ground zero’.
Arriving:
There are two main airports around Tokyo – Haneda (HND) which is in Tokyo and Narita (NRT) which is larger, but slightly outside Tokyo. Haneda connects to the Tokyo subway system so it tends to be more affordable after you land. Narita offers various ways to get to Tokyo, including Narita Express (train) and T-Cat (bus) that go to dozens of places in and around Tokyo quite regularly (sometimes 10 minutes apart).
Places to go:
Other than the main Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka areas (which are highly recommended) there are other activities that are worthwhile to check out.
Around Tokyo – About 1.5 hours outside Tokyo you’ll find Hakone which is world-famous for its hotsprings (see hot spring etiquette below). For those of you looking to stay in the city, a bike tour operated by a local couple is a great way to see the city. It is a very casual and easy-going bike-tour through different parts of Tokyo (including the fish market) depending on the tour you take.
What is Japanese Hot Spring Etiquette? The idea of the public hot springs is that users enter the bath portion clean. Meaning you shampoo, soap and rinse before entering the hot bath. For those worried about bacteria and germs, because most hot springs are quite hot (you’ll have to enter slowly to let your body adjust), not much can survive in there. Also, the water changes regularly (since it’s coming naturally from the mountain) so it’s fresh and clean.
Outside Tokyo – Japan has many tropical islands, including the islands of Okinawa. Here you will find white sand beaches and areas that are barely touched. Although slightly out of the way, if you’re already making the trip to Japan an extra 2-hour flight to what is arguably one of the most beautiful places in the world seems worth it (one or two nights is all you need). If sticking to the main island of Okinawa (Naha area), be sure to check out Manza beach hotel.
Food:
Japan is known for its culinary expertise. Everything just seems to taste better in Japan. Must tries include ramen, okonomiyaki, and izakaya (Japanese bar) food. If you need to give in to fast-food, their versions of McDonald’s is called Mos Burger.
Don’t Tip!
Japan is a tip-less society. You are not required to tip anywhere for anything (some places will see it as an insult if you do). The price you see is the price you get. How wonderful!
Of the many places that spring to mind when thinking about Argentina as a travel destination, Catamarca is not one of them.
Run for decades as a mining province by corrupt politicians, its outstanding natural beauty has been very much ignored, both by locals and foreigners. But its combination of awe-inspiring beauty and rustic abandon make it a fascinating road-trip destination.
There is one flight a day to Catamarca from Buenos Aires, and the airport is a strip of old tarmac in a field. Once the plane has managed a safe landing after hitting turbulence generated by different air currents from the Andes, passengers must exit straight onto the landing strip and giddily make their own way across the tarmac to an old and badly kept building, where a single creaking baggage conveyor belt squeaks suitcases around in a loop. Forget duty free, forget cafés and air the conditioned lobbies of the world you are used to inhabiting, think serious backwards middle-of-nowhere-stuck-in-the-seventies cowboy land.
Outside the old building, over thirty old taxis await anxiously for the ride that will make their day. Squabbling amongst the drivers is a very common scene that just adds more colour to the already extremely colourful backdrop.
The capital city, San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, has grown considerably during the past few years and there is now quite an assortment of hotels and restaurants, but the few old family-run hotels that used to be the only viable options a few years ago still hang on, and if you chose one of these, it will add more zest to your road-trip. Check into the Hotel Pucará for a real seventy’s twilight-zone experience.
Hotels are the one thing that is not cheap throughout most of Argentina, from a B&B to a big chain hotel, they are all charging more than you would expect. Under this panorama, the mediocre medium-size family run hotels are the best quality-price ratio options. You can get a double bedroom with bathroom and TV for around 400$ pesos (about 70U$).
If you’d rather ignore the seventy’s style road trip and prefer a little more quality, then The Grand Hotel might be a better option, and if you want to go all out, the Hotel Amerian is the best one can find in the small provincial capital. But beware, a room at the Amerian will cost you!
Despite the backwardness of everything, car rental is easy and efficient and there are many options, if you splurge you can even get a pick-up. Once you’ve arranged transportation, which is usually delivered the next morning at your hotel door (costing around 250AR$ a day for a car) you are ready to hit the highlands.
A few kilometres after leaving the city, you will soon find yourself on deserted highways with tussocks of grass creeping their way onto the tarmac. If you enjoy solitude, your soul will be elated with the vastness and the wonder of driving for hours without another vehicle in sight. If you are of those who posses a nagging mind with a penchant to worry about flat tires, this might not be the place for you, many of the roads are gravel on high mountain passes.
As one leaves the misty valley and climbs over the mountains, the pale shades of green give way to darker shades of green and finally browns as you drive over the cactus-strewn mountain tops and get hit by the realization that you are on the top of the world. The awe-inspiring views sprawl out in every direction for hundreds of kilometres of red earth, lightly snow-capped peaks and winding rivers.
When you need a rest, you just stop by the side of the road and turn off the engine and climb out of that bubble that connects you with civilization and allow yourself to be awed by the silence. If you walk off into the mountains, there are places where there is no human trace except the sounds of your own footsteps, the silence in between each footstep ringing in your ears.
Head for Tinogasta, a small mining town 260km from Catamarca Capital (today the Dakar goes through it, so you might want to avoid that time of the year, unless you are a Dakar fan of course), where you can stop for the night. From there you can head to Fiambalá the next day, a small town hidden in the middle of the Andes close to the Chilean border, where you can indulge in the hot water springs – another seventy’s twilight zone experience in itself.
It’s good to have some plan worked out, but the best thing is to just allow yourself to meander and let destiny and the beautiful views to guide you.
Balancing quality and cost can be like walking a tightrope, especially when planning your trip.
After flight costs, accommodation prices tend to eat up most of a traveler’s budget. By saving on your guest house or hotel room night after night, it can make a huge impact on your spending. Especially important for vacations longer than a week, saving even 10% per night can keep hundreds of dollars in your pocket.
But how do you book a great place, at a cheap price?
Use online tools
Price comparison sites like Booking.com, Kayak.com (also for flights), and many more can help you establish a baseline for price and find a great deal.
Agoda.com is one of the best cost comparison sites, for both service and helpfulness. Agoda offers reward points that will eventually earn you free stays, and often lowest price guarantees. Their customer service is also available via phone and email, speaks English, and is outstanding internationally.
Contact the hotel directly
If you see a hotel that you really like on one of the above price comparison sites, you should try contacting the hotel directly. Mention the price you viewed on the comparison site, and see if the hotel can do better if you book direct with them. Most hotels will be willing to at least match the deal and throw in a free amenity (like breakfast, parking, airport transfer, or an upgrade) if not beat the deal completely.
Consider staying in a home
Airbnb.com is growing in popularity and scope. With a wide range of options in most cities, Airbnb offers the advantage of staying in a more authentic location and having a host who can provide suggestions and help if needed.
The price savings can be substantial. In some major cities, an excellent Airbnb with full amenities can be less than half the cost of a comparable hotel room.
Use points
If you prefer staying in large, international chain hotels, it is very much in your interest to sign up for the rewards programs. In addition to earning points (which will eventually equal free stays), many reward programs offer discount stays, free upgrades and special deals.
Can you be flexible in your travel dates?
Use Google Hotel Finder
Google Hotel Finder will tell you the cheapest time to visit a location, and will consider your inputs, such as budget, preferred dates, and location limits.
Travel during low or shoulder season
Big city prices quadruple during peak season, especially around popular holidays like New Year’s Eve.
In popular traveler cities (like Rio de Janeiro or Rome) you can save an average of $100 per night or more by traveling in a shoulder season. On Airbnb, rooms quintuple in the peak month, as compared to low season
Groupon and LivingSocial
If you are a bit flexible in your travel times and locations, these sites can be extremely worthwhile. Amazing hotel and flight combo deals are available every day, but not for every locations. The most prolific deals are in the US, Mediterranean, Mexico, and Central America.
Whether vacationing in Mexico or trekking through Thailand, the biggest expenditure on any trip tends to be the same- flight tickets.
By decreasing your flight ticket cost, you can have a substantial impact on your budget, allowing you to use that money towards enjoying your trip, rather than just getting there.
Always cost-compare
Always utilize cost comparison sites for the best ticket deals.
Kayak.com and Skyscanner.com are two of the best, as they search through thousands of carriers around the world, including national airlines and some low cost carriers. As a bonus, neither of these two sites charge fees.
Check out local low cost carriers
Some airlines do not list on Kayak.com and Skyscanner.com, because they are too small and too local. If you are traveling domestically within a country, researching the local carriers and going directly to their website can yield super cheap flights that you wouldn’t otherwise find on a cost-comparison site.
Be mindful of the day you buy
On the weekends, especially Saturdays, flight costs tend to shoot upwards. More people are searching for and buying flights on their days off, and airlines take advantage of it.
For the cheapest flight, Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the best day to buy, but it is recommendable to check out flights daily over the course of the week.
Buy ahead
International flights should be booked between 150 and 230 days ahead of time. Flights in advance of this tend to be a bit more expensive.
Waiting to the last minute is almost certain way to increase your cost, sometimes up to double.
Refresh your browser
Most airlines and cost-comparison sites use cookies when determining the quote. Basically, this means the site can “sense” when you are interested in a flight, and the price may raise because of this.
To avoid this, you have several options. You can do all of your flight searches from a “private” browser window that does not store cookies. Or, you can erase your search history and cookies before, during, and after price searching. Always delete your history before booking a flight.
Trim your baggage
Always check with your carrier to determine your baggage allowance. Staying within the allowance allows you to avoid baggage fees.
Low cost carriers especially have strict guidelines for carry-on baggage, and most do not give a free checked bag allowance. Traveling carry-on only, if possible, will save the sometimes steep baggage fee.
Can you be flexible with your travel dates? If so, even more tips below.
Avoid peak season
Peak season flights can be significantly more expensive than low season. Traveling around a major national holiday can even double your flight price.
Avoid the busy season and holidays, and travel during low or off season if possible.
Don’t travel on weekends
For international flights, leaving on a Thursday and coming back on a Monday can reduce your costs by more than 20%. Traveling on Fridays and Sundays tend to be the most expensive.
Groupon and LivingSocial
Check these sites regularly when in the beginning stages of planning your vacation. Every now and then, an amazing hotel and flight combo deal will pop up. This is especially applicable if your destination is the US, Mediterranean, Mexico, or Central America.
So you’ve decided to take on Las Vegas! Here’s quick summary and checklist of what to expect and how to survive.
As you’re probably aware, Vegas has many layers. Everything from a family friendly layer to the absolutely ‘can’t tell anyone this happened’ layer. It’s all what you make of it. In general, Las Vegas is very safe, especially on the main strip, and very well lit at night as one would expect.
Things you should know:
1. Dress shoes and dress shirt are mandatory to get into most nightclubs. Heels are a must for ladies. This is of course assuming you’re not spending thousands on bottle service in which case you can wear whatever you want. Expect to pay anywhere from $14 to $20 per drink (excluding tip).
2. Along with the above, ladies get preferential treatment at the clubs. Many even offer free cover and free drinks until a specified time. In many cases, guys can get in faster/cheaper if the ratio of the group is 1:1 guy to girl.
3. Try to book a hotel close to a McDonald’s and Walgreens. As you will quickly learn, food gets very expensive in Vegas and purchasing food at McDonald’s and Walgreens can help keep your wallet in check. Planet Hollywood is great for this as it’s practically attached to Walgreens, McDonald’s, Subway, and a mall with many other options.
4. Pools parties are a great place to meet people. Most of the hotels have daily pool parties, so be sure to check these out (you will have to pay cover if you aren’t staying at the hotel).
5. Fremont Street is a great alternative to the main strip with its own flavour of restaurants, bars, and casinos.
6. Drinking on the street is 100% legal.
7. There are two outlet malls. One at the south, and one at the north. Both offer great discounts on brand name merchandise.
8. It is almost impossible to hail a taxi on the main strip (too busy). Taxis are available at all valet areas of the main casinos/resorts. For the most part, you will never have to wait for a taxi as the valet is where they all line up to pickup passengers.
What started as an April Fool’s joke, quickly turned into something real and the next thing you know there’s going to be a Travel Massive conference in Ios Greece! It is an experimental Travel Massive concept to bring a cross section of our global community together to meet, collaborate and share ideas on how to re brand and market a Greek Island for the future.
THE ISLAND:
Ios is a world famous Greek Island close to Mykonos and Santorini. It is known as a party island but has a lot more to offer – and we want you to help us expose the island and its secrets. You can easily get to the Island by ferry from airports in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros-Crete, Ιkaria or Milos.
DATES:
Travel Massive Island will start on 18th July and finish on 26th July after a party featuring international DJ’s. However, the official program will be held from Tuesday, 21st to Saturday, 25th of July (see details below).
PARTICIPANTS:
Are you a CEO? Founder? Start-up? Tour operator? Video Creator? A Blogger? Journalist? DMO? Consulting company? PR agency? Anybody who is up for a week hanging out on Travel Massive Island IOS learning and sharing ideas is welcome.
PURPOSE:
The aim of the event is to bring experts, innovators adventurous travel professionals together to learn, create ideas and share knowledge about how we can make a positive impact in travel for the island of Ios, and explore its (sustainable) future.
Our hosts are LuxurIOS Island Experience, a local brand that wants to show a different part of the island away from the famous party scene.
WHY COME?
– Meet and connect with travel insiders, leaders, and innovators in the travel industry.
– Join collaborative workshops & informative sessions created through the Unconference.
– Enjoy a creative environment to work and collaborate with content creators.
– An island. And yes, you’ll be living on it!
FORMAT & THEME:
3 days of a self-organising, participant-driven “Unconference” (see:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference). In order for the event to be successful everyone should be willing to share their knowledge and ideas and be ready to help out.
The Unconference will focus on three key themes:
1. Video and creative content
Hailed as the future of content, how can emerging video platforms document and share the visitor experience? Calling presenters, filmmakers, YouTubers and aspiring actors. Let’s create something inspiring.
2. Sustainability
We make an impact everywhere we go. What sustainability practices can we learn from an island with two thousand inhabitants and how can we improve the communities we visit? Calling responsible tourism experts, advocates, leaders and innovators.
3. Local tours
How can “living like a local” provide a more valuable and authentic experience of a destination and change its perception to a visitor? Calling tour operators, tour startups, and local guides.
Outcomes
This event is part of a project by www.luxurios.com and there rebranding strategy. As a result of the event, we expect to get both creative content and great ideas on the destination marketing and branding. However, the outcome of this collaborative experiment is up to YOU. We count on your ideas and inputs! On the last day of the Unconference we will host a wrap-up report from each workshop, and a content and video screening evening.
Draft itinerary
July 18 – 21 – Arrival and welcome to Island / Island Explorations
July 21, Tuesday – Unconference Day 0, Opening session.
July 22, Wednesday – Unconference Day 1, Collaboration sessions.
July 23, Thursday – Unconference Day: 2: Project work
July 24, Friday – Unconference Day: 3 Presentations, travel film screening
July 25, Saturday – Closing party with international DJs
COSTS:
– The Unconference is FREE to attend, but you’ll need to cover all the other costs including transport and accommodation.
– Travel Massive is negotiating deals with sponsors, so we might have access to some discounted accommodation and we are in contact with other transport partners.
– The Island hosts a great party at the 25th of July with international DJs including David Morales. The public entrance cost 50EUR but all Travel Massive members can enter for free.
*Travel Massive is not making money out of this event.
CONTRIBUTE!
The whole event will be run in an open and collaborative style. If you have any inputs or something you’d like to contribute (from a great idea, workshop to giveaways) – let us know by sending an email toisland@travelmassive.com.
FINALLY…
This is an experiment. Consider this is a BETA product, use at your own risk! We hope to take away a lot of learning from this event and will be relying on your help and input to make this a success.
For those considering seeing the U.S. with Contiki, below is a summary and review of their Western Highlights tour starting from L.A. and ending in Las Vegas. Note that this tour is part of a longer tour called Wild Western which ends back in L.A.
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Day 1: Your tour starts at Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles at 7am. There is some paperwork needed from everyone so be sure have your passport and emergency contacts ready. If you’re looking to tour L.A. before the tour starts, be sure to book a couple extra days in before the start of the tour. Contiki will offer you a good rate at Miyako Hotel, but be sure to check other sites like Expedia and Hotels.com. Also, before you board the coach be sure to have everything you need in your day bag as you won’t have access to your suitcase until hotel check-in in the evening.
From L.A. you head to San Diego for a couple nights. The first planned activity (which is optional) is a speed boating experience where you get to drive a 2-seat speed boat ($60USD). The whole experience is guided where the group follows the lead instructor and is meant more for beginners. On occasion you might get splashed, but the chances of getting soaked is pretty slim (see below video). All other time (including those who opt-out of the speed boating) is free time to explore the hip city.
After speed boating, you are off to your hotel to check-in and freshen up for dinner. This first dinner is included in the price of the tour and is an authentic Mexican experience where you will have a choice of steak+shrimp burrito, taco salad, or other Mexican staples. Be sure not to overeat as it’s off to a bar crawl after, including a country bar with a mechanical bull! Be sure to check out Vin de Syrah for another very unique sensory experience (hidden door to get in?).
Day 2: This day offers various options, including Sea World, San Diego Zoo, and Surfing. Around 2pm, there is a shuttle to Mission Beach for some relaxing beach time and carnival type rides. Dinner, although not included, is spent at a local hangout (walking distance from the hotel) called Kristy’s MVP Sports Bar where if you ask Kristy nicely she might give you a light paddling. For the remainder of the night there’s karaoke, beer pong, flip cup, and whatever other drinking game you can come up with. Don’t go too crazy as the next morning is an early start.
Day 3: Say goodbye to the beach and head to Arizona where it’s HOT HOT HOT! On the way to Scottsdale, you will stop at a Wal-Mart to experience the shopping giant first hand (gun in a box anyone?). Be sure to stock-up on some non-perishable foods, snacks and ‘beverages’. You will arrive in Scottsdale in the mid-afternoon in time to take in some sun by the hotel pool with your new friends. If all goes well, dinner will also be pool-side as well. Once the sun goes down, it’s off to hit-up the great nigh-life of Scottsdale!
WARNING! For those that opt-in for the hot-air balloon ride ($170USD) the next morning, you are required to be ready at 4:45am, which will likely limit your time out at the bars. Obviously, this comes down to priorities (see below for review and video of the balloon ride experience to see if it’s worthwhile for you).
Day 4: For those that opted-in for the hot air balloon ride, it’s a 4:45am start. This experience is recommended for first-time ballooners, but probably isn’t worthwhile for those that have done it before. See below video and be a judge for yourself.
For those that opt-out of the ballon ride, you will need to be ready for 8am. Once you link-up with the ballooning crew, it’s off to Sedona. In Sedona, there’s a mix of free time and also an optional Jeep Tour ($50USD). For those that don’t do the deep tour, be sure to have your swim gear ready as there’s a local river that’s only known to the locals 5 minutes from the dropoff point (see below video). Jump-in to be refreshed! Once you meet back up with everyone, it’s off to the Grand Canyon.
Arrival to the Grand Canyon is in the late afternoon and will give you a chance to settle into the cabins, shop at the local grocery story (which has reasonable pricing and options given that it’s inside the park) and grab some dinner (you will receive one breakfast voucher and one dinner voucher to be used anytime during your stay). After dinner, consider a low-key night outdoors with your fellow travellers enjoying some beverages. Be sure to pack a head-lamp and flashlight. NOTE: It gets cool at night in the Grand Canyon.
Day 5: Full day at the Grand Canyon with optional helicopter ride ($275USD) in the morning and bike ride ($57USD) in the afternoon (see video of the hidden ledges you get to see on the bike ride). Otherwise, it’s free time to hike and enjoy the park. WARNING: Be sure to pack lots of water and follow all warnings. Dozens of people die each year in the park from underestimating the trails and ledges.
At sundown, head to Mohave Point with the crew to see the sunset. After the sunset, expect another low-key night of hanging out with your fellow travellers.
Day 6 &7: Vegas!!!! There will another stop at a Wal-Mart on the way. Things are expensive in Vegas so get what you can here, including a lot of sunscreen, and be sure to plan ahead. The Hotel that you will be staying at is Harrah’s, which is right on the strip, but if you decide to stay longer it may be worthwhile to check out other hotels just to change it up. As always check other sites like Expedia and Hotels.com for best pricing.
Vegas is full of surprises. As the saying goes, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” so you’ll just have to take the trip to find out what happens there. Couple of tips: Be sure to bring dress shirts and dress shoes to get into the clubs. They have strict dress code policies. Also, there’s an optional (but not optional) ‘surprise’ that’s organized by Contiki for $10USD. Don’t complain and just pay it. It’s well worthwhile! Need extra tips to survive vegas? Go to my Vegas specific post here.
The final stop is in the City of Love where there is plenty of free time to explore and shop. The obvious recommendations are the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, L’Arc to Triumph and Notre Dame Cathedral. Although these are highly recommended, if you feel like these are too touristy or main stream, a walk along the Seine river and seeing the small flea market type shops are an experience on its own.
The activities are endless and it might be hard to get motivated to go out as you will be tired from the last 11 days, but just keep in mind that you will never be with the same group of people ever again and the next time you will be back in Paris (if ever) may be decades away.
TL;DR – Go out with a bang. Paris is a truly magical city with a lot of history, culture, and attractions.
Looking to take a similar trip? Visit Contiki’s website to get started!
Switzerland was probably the highlight for most people on the trip. The stunning scenery, clean water, and crisp air definitely gave everybody a second wind during the last leg of the trip.
On the way to the hostel from Italy, you will pass through Lucerne to learn about some Swiss history and to do some Swiss watch shopping. While here, be sure to pickup some milk as milk from Switzerland is second-to-none in quality and taste!
With two nights in the same hostel, it is a great time to catch up on emails and do some laundry. The Jungfrau tour which takes you up a mountain via rail to an elevation of 4,158m (13,641 ft) is highly recommended, but some preparation is required. Be sure to take warmer clothes with you and some Advil/Tylenol to help with elevation sickness (most people will be ok). If you’re feeling extra adventurous, be sure to hike to the peek of Jungfrau and/or take some snowboarding lessons while you’re there.
Although after a few days it’s difficult to leave Switzerland behind, knowing that you’re heading to Paris makes it a little more tolerable.
Venice, as most would imagine, has amazing architecture and history. A gondola ride is a must to fully experience Venice. If you ask nicely, you can even steer the gondola through the winding liquid streets. All in all, I’m glad I went to experience this legendary city.
Tip: Be sure to buy beers, snacks, etc. during your last rest stop in Italy. Things are significantly cheaper in Italy and Switzerland is a whole different currency all together.
