Budget Travel Archives - Top Spot Travel

April 22, 2024 by jfalbelda

Top 3 Countries for Street Food!

For many, street food often epitomizes a country. Food represents culture, socializing and family and for a traveler it can be new, exciting and open whole new worlds of mouth-watering cuisine. Amazing street food can be found all across the world, from exotic Thai street vendors selling mysterious delicacies (bugs included!) to Mexican tlacoyos or Brazilian Feijoada. Check out these 3 top countries for street food!

Thailand

Delicious, plentiful and cheap, street vendors can be found on practically every street corner in Thailand, with the street food capital obviously being Bangkok. Mostly found for under $5 for an entire meal, Thai street food is great for those traveling on a budget as it’s filling and healthy for the most part. Much of the best street food in Bangkok can can be found in Chinatown, Silom Road and Banglamphu. There are an almost infinite choice of hotels in Bangkok as it’s actually the most visited city in the world, so you won’t find any problem finding a place to enter your food coma next to any of the aforementioned street food hot spots.

What you should try:

Pad Thai

A stapleThai streetfood, pad thai noodles are mixed with various vegetables, meats or fish. Travelers can customize pad thai as much as they wish and will need to decide whether they want their noodles ‘naam’ (with soup) or ‘haeng’) (dry). The pad thai noodles then need to be flavored using either sugar, chili, fish sauce, vinegar with chili and/or peanuts.

January 4, 2024 by Jeremy

Consider Purchasing a Travel Bundle

If you want to take the easy route when booking the big three travel requirements, look into bundling them. There are many booking sites where you can book your flight, rental car, and hotel with one click of the mouse. You fill in all the details and get a highly discounted rate that is much cheaper than if you had booked all three separately. If you don’t need the hotel or the rental car, you can bundle two of the three and still save money.

Create an Itinerary

Once you have chosen your destination, you will want to make a list of fun things to do in the area. Use travel guides to find out what’s available. Restaurants, family members, exciting events, or beautiful landscapes, you can schedule every day, so you maximize every minute. Choose the places that will help you make the best memories. Don’t forget to take as many pictures as you can. Boost your favorite places by leaving a review on their website and other social media sites.

Buy a Disposable Phone

Buy a disposable phone and use it while you are traveling. Keep your cell phone in a secure pocket of clothing or in one of your carry-on bags. If you lose the disposable phone or it ends up stolen, you won’t have lost your confidential information. You will also still have a way to get in contact with someone if you need assistance. This may seem like an unnecessary expense, but if you get a month-to-month or have to purchase minutes, you will only pay for it once. It can really be a lifesaver.

Take Care of Your Money

When you travel, carrying a lot of cash isn’t always safe. Put money on a debit card and buy a few traveler’s checks. Divide up your money and store it in different places. That way, if you lose some or are mugged, you will still have a small reserve to fall back on. Planning ahead with your money is the best way to stay in control of it. It’s a good idea to make a copy of your driver’s license as well, just in case your wallet is stolen.

Share Your Plans With Family

Before you leave on your trip, make sure to give a friend or family member a copy of your itinerary. This will ensure they can find you in case an emergency arises. Including where you will be staying, what flights you will be on, and any places you plan on visiting. If you make changes on the spur of the moment, make sure to let someone know.

When planning your vacation, include your hotel’s website. Use the formal version, First Choice Inns (https://firstchoiceinns.com/). This will guarantee that the right hotel pulls up if someone needs to find you. Planning your vacation down to the last detail will make sure you get to make the best use of your time. Make every minute count by planning ahead.

September 7, 2022 by Jeremy

Four Reasons to Put Singapore on Your Travel Bucket List

Singapore isn’t just any other city – it’s a unique and exciting experience! Located south of Malaysia, the island city of Singapore should be in your travel bucket list. With extravagant, luxurious shopping malls, relaxing spas, stunning green gardens, and picturesque beaches, there’s something for every type of traveler in Singapore whether you’re alone or with family or here for adventures, to explore, or to simply wind down and relax. Eager to learn more? We’ve put together the top five reasons to add Singapore to your itinerary!

Royalty Free Photo

#1. Shoppers Rejoice!

If you love to shop when you travel and pick up new things from the destinations that you visit around the world, then you’ll love exploring the shopping malls in Singapore. The options for shoppers are so vast in this city, that it’s pretty much impossible to visit without buying at least one or two new items for yourself, or to give as gifts for your friends and family back home. And, there’s something for everybody, from high-end and designer items at Orchard Lane, to traditional, vintage and handmade items found in Little India and China Town Lane.

#2. Turn on Your Taste Buds:

One of the main reasons that Singapore attracts so many visitors is that quite simply, it’s a paradise for foodies. Anybody who enjoys trying new dishes and enjoying all the taste sensations of a new cuisine will be in their element in this vibrant city. From tantalizing street food on the go to sitting down for a three-course meal in a high-end, five-star restaurant, Singapore has something for every type of food-lover who visits. If you’re ready to get started with sampling the best cuisine in the city, you can book Delhi to Singapore flights here.

#3. Fun and Adventure:

Singapore may be known for its calming spas and quiet beaches, however, it’s not just the serenity that attracts visitors to this city. In fact, it’s just as much of a great choice of destination if you are looking for some fun, adventure and an adrenalin rush, with several awesome amusement parks to choose from. These include Universal Studios, LEGOLAND Singapore and Wild Wild Wet Singapore to name just a few, which are popular with visitors of all ages!

#4. Relax and Unwind:

Lastly, whether you’re looking for a totally relaxing vacation or simply want somewhere to rest in peace after an action-packed day in Singapore, you’re in the right place. The city has a vast array of spas and massage parlors to choose from if you want to indulge in some rejuvenating treatments, whilst those who love exploring nature will be in awe of the many gardens around the city. Gardens by the Bay is a must-visit, and home to the Cloud Forest Dome which is the tallest indoor waterfall in the world. For a truly relaxing day, eastern Singapore and Sentosa Island are where you will find the main beaches, complete with water sports options, seafood restaurants, and plenty of spots to kick back and relax.

Make sure to include Singapore in your travel bucket list. It is a city that truly offers something for every kind of traveler.

May 9, 2020 by Jeremy

Find Deals When You Hit the Road

If you like to travel, the last thing you want is feeling bad about your trip because money became an issue.

With that in mind, can you save some money when you next hit the road?

Yes, you can do so if you put your mind to it.

With some good planning and finding deals, you could see leftover money in your wallet once back from a trip.

So, how best to plan for savings?

Are You Good at Tracking Down Savings?

In coming up with deals when you plan to hit the road, remember a few keys:

Locating discounts with brands – Some fret that using brand names will cost them too much. In fact, the savings are there with even the top names in the travel business if you look hard enough. For example, are you looking to go about getting Disneyland discount tickets? Given the popularity of the iconic theme park, countless guests visit there each year. That said some of them save money during their visits. This is from finding discounted tickets through the brand or approved ticket resellers. A little homework on your end could lead to such savings. Since the top brands are rather easy to find online, tracking them down is not hard. Visit such online sites and see what deals they have to offer you.
Being a rewards member – Are you a rewards member when it comes to any brands in travel and entertainment? If so, you can save some money through those connections. Many brands offer their top customers savings given they tend to use them a lot. As such, you could see the savings pile up over time. Most rewards programs only need one to sign up and become a member. As the points grow, you could be rewarded with savings.
Planning far enough ahead – Another way to save during your time on the road is when you plan far enough in advance. As an example, say you have the desire to travel somewhere warm for spring break. The worst thing you could do would be to wait until the last minute to start making plans. This is especially true if you are looking at airlines, hotels, rental cars and more. By planning far enough in advance, you can lock-in savings. You also don’t have to sweat that they will have no reservations left for you by the time you start shopping around.
Rewards for categories – Also save if you or those in your travel party fall into categories. For example, do you have any young children as part of your travels? If so, they could qualify for free stays in hotel rooms, discounts at restaurants and more. If you are a senior citizen, this is another way to scoop up some savings when away from home. Still another way to save is if you are a current or former member of the military.

When you want to secure deals in hitting the road, plan ahead and do your homework.

December 15, 2019 by Jeremy

Best Travel Products You Need to Buy in 2020 Review

Travelling with friends or family to new and unknown places is a fun filled experience for every person. The excitement of visiting foreign places, witnessing foreign culture, and checking out new cuisines can be a great experience. Just like you spend time finding the best hotels and flight tickets for the trip, it is also important that you take some time and make a list of all the importance travel accessories that you need to carry in order to make the trip more memorable and exciting. Whether you talk about items that help you stay organized or items that help you maintain a good health and follow a good hygiene or even those items that keep you safe and comfortable, it is good to carry them with you.

List of Some of the Best and Most Essential Travel Products

The list of some of the best and most essential travel accessories or products can be rather lengthy. However, the list discussed below includes just the most essential of all travel accessories so that you do not get bogged down by heavy travel bags.

Document Organizer: When you travel to new places or even countries, you need to carry a lot of important documents that help you gain access to and also leave foreign countries. These include passports, visas, your personal id cards, and much more. If you lose any document, it can mean trouble for you and your group. If you carry a document organizer, it will help you keep all your documents safe and secure in one place within reach.
Travel Bottles: There are several countries where you may be asked to show your gut for security purposes. This is why you may also be asked to keep liquids to tiny amounts. If you are one of them who often like to have water, then you may be better off with a good quality travel bottle with you. Keeping a water bottle handy will help you in several occasions as shown on TrueTop5Review.com.
Duffel Bag: Most of the passengers prefer to carry suitcases with caster wheels or trolley bags while travelling. Although these are rather convenient while travelling with a family or a group of friends, it can often prove to be a big problem. Imagine having to pull your heavy suitcase behind you while walking uphill where cars are not allowed. This is why it is often said to use duffel bags instead. In many scenarios, it can be rather convenient, comfortable, and also rather efficient as a luggage.
International Travel Adapter: Planning to travel abroad, are you? It will be a good thing for you to know that the shape of the power plugs in many countries are different. As a result of this, their power sockets are also differently shaped. Some countries use round shaped power sockets, and some have flat shaped ones. Whenever you decide to travel abroad, it is always a good idea to carry an international travel adapter with you. A good quality adapter cable lindy usb-c will provide you with multiple outlets at the same time.
Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot: There are many people who normally travel with a lot of gadgets and in groups. For such people, getting all the different devices properly connected can be a major problem in many countries of the world. In such cases, a mobile router that is unlocked to all types of networks can be a big boon for you. These are rather reliable and pretty simple to use. Using a mobile router or hotspot can also help you save a lot of money. It is important for you to remember the list of frequencies that the device can support. Different mobile operators in different countries have their own SIM cards that normally work within their frequency range.
Hand Sanitizer: Although it may sound a bit silly to some of you, it is rather important for you to carry a hand sanitizer with you all the time while travelling. The positive effects of hand sanitization is rather huge. You will be surprised to know that some cases of food poisoning are caused by dirty hands rather than the food. With the help of a hand sanitizer, you can easily keep your hands free from germs. When you travel, you actually touch a lot of things unconsciously. With the help of a hand sanitizer, you can actually provide a first layer of protection to yourself from bacteria and viruses.
Melatonin: In case you didn’t know, melatonin helps to regulate your day and sleep cycle. The level of melatonin in your blood helps to determine when you are ready to sleep. When you travel to new places, this level can easily get disrupted. When you have to travel to a different continent, melatonin can easily help you minimize jet lag and adjust to a different time zone. It is important for travelers of all age groups.
GoPro Camera: When you travel to a new place, you will spend a lot of time exploring new places and adventuring in different ways. With the help of a GoPro camera, you can easily capture these moments as it happens. This action camera can prove to be rather creative and versatile. The small and compact size of the camera can also help you create extra ordinary videos of standard vacations. Whether you go skiing or kayaking, visit new monuments or do any other activity, a GoPro camera can prove to be rather helpful.
Padlocks: This is probably one of the most overlooked items that is needed while travelling. The problem is that you do not understand its importance when you actually need one. Finding a padlock can be rather tricky to find depending upon the place where you wish to spend your holidays. Padlocks are an added layer of safety when you are away from your stuffs.
Packing Cubes: Not everybody is a master at packing stuffs. Finding a chaotic pile of items when you open your luggage is a common sight for most of you. Add to that the fact that you often have to spend a lot of time trying to find the item you need the most. In such matters, the best solution is to use packing cubes. This helps packing and unpacking become a simple task. It also makes your luggage appear neat and tidy and finding any item becomes rather simple for you.
Multi USB Charger: If you do not have an international travel adapter, you should use a multi USB charger instead. In this modern era, where gadgets rule the world, not finding enough charging spots for your gadgets can be a rather frustrating thing. There are also several hotels that have limited charging points for their customers. Using a multi USB charger is also rather useful when you travel in groups.
Power Bank: With so many smartphones doing the job of a good quality camera and handy cam, it is quite obvious that you will require some extra juice while exploring a new city. Thus, the best solution is to use a power bank that can help you charge up your phones even while clicking photos with it. Opt for a power bank with a minimum power of 10000 mAh. It is important for you to remember that power banks tend to lose power over time.