Problem
Where can I go to get good value for money? It can be swings and roundabout, lose on some gain on another. What's cheap and what's not?
I'm going to compile a list of countries with cheap flights, seasons and accommodation, food, attractions. I'm starting the blog today and will keep adding to it. When it gets too unwieldy to read, and the seasons and circumstances have changed. I'll start another post.
You will find bargains and cons all over America, Europe, Asia, Australia.
ENGLAND
SHOPPING
GAIN
Cheap stores:
Poundland.
Poundstretcher.
CLOTHES
Primark.
Charity shops: St Luke's.
LOSE
Some charity shops seem to charge higher prices. Oxfam.
FOOD
Supermarkets:
Aldi.
Lidl.
£1 sandwiches in Poundland, Tesco Express.
Reduced prices in a reduced price area, or through the shop towards closing time - good if you are a night owl and eat late. It's on food which is reaching its 'eat by ...' date.
LOSE
You could find your fruit or hummus has gone off if you leave until tomorrow breakfast time - or even midnight, after the shop has closed and they won't accept a return next day.
CAMBODIA
GAIN
Tuk-tuks or motorcycle taxi are cheap. It is probably cheaper to hire one by the day or week than to keep taking different taxis. We were asked 6 pounds/dollars for one one-way journey but 15 for the whole day.
LOSE
The temple entry tickets are expensive. You can't just buy a ticket for Ankor Wat. About £20 for a day. We might have visited one temple a day, or two, maximum five, with an hour's walking at each if we were determined to get our moneysworth. So a three-day pass for one of us was £60. For two of us £120, paid out on day one - a lot of cash, so you might run out of cash, if they don't take credit cards or charge extra for your use of a credit card. Check the cost in advance. It might go up or down since I was there and you might be getting a reduction.
KENYA
Shared taxis.
Cheap Hostels and homestays. I haven't done this but read about it in Wikivoyage.
SINGAPORE
SHOPPING
GAIN
Cheap or good value department store with huge variety:
Mohammed Mustaphas by Little India.
MUSEUMS
TAXIS
GAIN
Use uber. Sign up and they email regular deals.
Share a taxi from some queues in busy shopping malls and stations.
LOSE
Regular taxis if you go in the Central Business District (CBD for short) especially in peak, hours, and more surcharge for after midnight. Phone for a taxi and some companies charge for an advanced booking fee for a taxi.
WALES
GAIN
Many free museums fun by the government or local council, for example, Cardiff.
SEASONAL
CHINESE NEW YEAR
GAIN
If you head for a shopping mall before opening time on New Year's Day and are first through the door of a family shop or even a supermarket, you might be given two oranges, or offered a reduction because you are the first customer and bringing luck.
RAMADAN
LOSE
You might find no restaurants open during the day. In Malaysia look for or ask for a Chinese restaurant. They are exempt (so long as they are not Muslim).
GAIN
Many mosques and other places offer free food for breaking the fast after sunset.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Where can I go to get good value for money? It can be swings and roundabout, lose on some gain on another. What's cheap and what's not?
I'm going to compile a list of countries with cheap flights, seasons and accommodation, food, attractions. I'm starting the blog today and will keep adding to it. When it gets too unwieldy to read, and the seasons and circumstances have changed. I'll start another post.
You will find bargains and cons all over America, Europe, Asia, Australia.
ENGLAND
SHOPPING
GAIN
Cheap stores:
Poundland.
Poundstretcher.
CLOTHES
Primark.
Charity shops: St Luke's.
LOSE
Some charity shops seem to charge higher prices. Oxfam.
FOOD
Supermarkets:
Aldi.
Lidl.
£1 sandwiches in Poundland, Tesco Express.
Reduced prices in a reduced price area, or through the shop towards closing time - good if you are a night owl and eat late. It's on food which is reaching its 'eat by ...' date.
LOSE
You could find your fruit or hummus has gone off if you leave until tomorrow breakfast time - or even midnight, after the shop has closed and they won't accept a return next day.
CAMBODIA
GAIN
Tuk-tuks or motorcycle taxi are cheap. It is probably cheaper to hire one by the day or week than to keep taking different taxis. We were asked 6 pounds/dollars for one one-way journey but 15 for the whole day.
LOSE
The temple entry tickets are expensive. You can't just buy a ticket for Ankor Wat. About £20 for a day. We might have visited one temple a day, or two, maximum five, with an hour's walking at each if we were determined to get our moneysworth. So a three-day pass for one of us was £60. For two of us £120, paid out on day one - a lot of cash, so you might run out of cash, if they don't take credit cards or charge extra for your use of a credit card. Check the cost in advance. It might go up or down since I was there and you might be getting a reduction.
KENYA
Shared taxis.
Cheap Hostels and homestays. I haven't done this but read about it in Wikivoyage.
SINGAPORE
SHOPPING
GAIN
Cheap or good value department store with huge variety:
Mohammed Mustaphas by Little India.
MUSEUMS
TAXIS
GAIN
Use uber. Sign up and they email regular deals.
Share a taxi from some queues in busy shopping malls and stations.
LOSE
Regular taxis if you go in the Central Business District (CBD for short) especially in peak, hours, and more surcharge for after midnight. Phone for a taxi and some companies charge for an advanced booking fee for a taxi.
GAIN
Many free museums fun by the government or local council, for example, Cardiff.
SEASONAL
CHINESE NEW YEAR
GAIN
If you head for a shopping mall before opening time on New Year's Day and are first through the door of a family shop or even a supermarket, you might be given two oranges, or offered a reduction because you are the first customer and bringing luck.
RAMADAN
LOSE
You might find no restaurants open during the day. In Malaysia look for or ask for a Chinese restaurant. They are exempt (so long as they are not Muslim).
GAIN
Many mosques and other places offer free food for breaking the fast after sunset.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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