Don’t get us wrong, we love a little spontaneous adventure or detour as much as the next backpacker, but gone are the days when travelers can throw caution to the wind and set off without any semblance of a plan – at least without an unlimited budget or unlimited patience. With the increased accessibility to travel for much of the world, booking transportation and accommodation ahead of time and having a plan is becoming more important to make the most of your travel time and budget. This was very evident during our last trip through Europe, where we quickly realized that being organized and well planned out was the only way to ensure we had a bed to sleep in or a seat to sit in when we needed one most.

Crafting a perfect itinerary means striking a perfect balance between rigidity and flexibility – most of us don’t want to get to the point where each and every minute of every day is accounted for (although this may work perfectly for a select few), but we also want to know where we are sleeping before nightfall begins to creep in. While this balance of planning vs staying aloof is different for everyone, with a little trial and error you can figure out what works best for you.

It is for this reason that we’re focusing on travel planning in this series. For us, planning is one of the most enjoyable (and sometimes frustrating) aspects of travel. Sorting out where to go, how to get there, where to stay while we’re there, and what to do is a lot of work – but it also lets us fantasize about the trip before it even begins – sometimes the only way to stay sane between trips. Hopefully everyone will find a suggestion or new idea that will help with their next trip.

If there’s anything you want to know about or you have any questions for us, let us know in the comments or contact us via email or our social networks!

The post How to Plan the Perfect Itinerary: A Series appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

Growing up in North America, the road trip is a quintessential part of our travel arsenal. With thousands of kilometers of highways stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic, travel in Canada and the United States is car-dependent, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. However when it came time for our first international road, three days through the rugged terrain of Iceland, we quickly realized that this trip would be different than any we’d taken before. With this in mind, here are our road trip essentials with an Icelandic twist. 

A lengthy playlist – music is an essential part of any successful road trip. No matter how much your travel companions want to talk, you will inevitably hit a wall. When the time comes and you find yourself staring out the window in silence, crank up some awesome music to quell the awkwardness.

With Iceland in mind, remember that rental cars often don’t come with auxiliary inputs, making your fully loaded iPod useless. Bring along as many CD’s as possible – listening to the same one over and over gets boring really fast. Trust us.

A stash of snacks – while a large part of a road trip is about getting out and exploring, it’s also about getting from point A to B at some point, and a stash of snack foods will ensure you don’t need to make any unnecessary stops. For us, a Tim Horton’s Iced Capp is the most important snack for a Canadian road trip, but the options really are endless.

With Iceland in mind, it’s important to note that the number of convenience stores and fully stocked gas stations pale in comparison to those back home and finding food on the road can be extremely difficult. Stock up on some sustenance providing foods in addition to snack foods and don’t expect to find your favorite American snack stocked on the grocery store shelves here. For its silky texture and filling levels of protein Skyr yogurt get’s our recommendation – just remember to pack a spoon.

A Camera (with extra memory cards) – to document all the beautiful, breath taking, and sometimes strange things you’re bound to come across, a camera is a must-pack item for any road trip.

With Iceland in mind, the scenery is unlike anything you have ever seen before or will ever see again. Pack extra memory cards for the thousands of pictures you’re going to take, but don’t forget to peel your eye away from the camera every now and then to soak in the moment as well. Pictures really can’t compete with the real thing.

Extra clothing – you never know when your road trip might hit an unexpected bump, leaving you stranded over night or sleeping in your car when all the hotels are booked up. An extra pair of clothing, warm blanket, and an emergency kit will keep you safe and should never be overlooked.

With Iceland in mind, ensure that the car is in safe condition before driving it off the rental lot and remember to pack an extra layer of clothes and some food even for short day trips. As the weather in Iceland is the definition of unpredictable, these extra clothes will also come in handy should you find yourself outside when the rain rolls in (or when a misjudged wave soaks the bottom of your jeans).

A laidback attitude – even the best planners need to take a breath and relax during a road trip, part of the fun of this type of travel is the element of surprise at what you may discover by taking a wrong turn or making an impromptu stop. Sit back, relax, and try saying yes more often than no.

With Iceland in mind, with only a few short days to see as much as possible, getting lost or wasting precious time looking for a gas station that will accept your international credit card can be stressful. However it’s part of the process and the quicker you accept that the more enjoyable the trip will be.

This post was inspired by RelayRides‘ Road Trip Essentials Campaign. What’s “Relay Rides” you ask? Well, Relay Rides is a peer-to-peer car sharing network that allows travelers in need of a car to get one from someone with a car to spare. That means you can get a car for way less than your standard rental, and you can even get paid if you have a spare car or one you don’t use all the time. You can even pick one up at most major American airports to avoid those exorbitant airport parking fees! Relay Rides is coast to coast in the USA right now and (hopefully) coming to Canada soon. You can check them out on Facebook or Twitter to if you have any questions. As always, all opinions expressed are our own.

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Be still my beating heart! A little friend we met along the way.

We were extremely excited about getting out and doing some hiking, and although the weather didn’t always feel like cooperating (such are the perils of traveling in the off-season), we still managed to spend three of our five days trekking gracefully and not-so-gracefully through this unique terrain.

Goreme Open Air Museum

While not technically a hiking area, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the Goreme Open Air Museum. At it’s core, the museum is simply a fenced off portion featuring the best preserved of the 11th to 13th century cave churches. Many of the churches still feature stunning frescoes and exquisitely preserved wall carvings inside.

One of the cave churches showing the carvings around the entrance

The colourful frescoes inside

We had heard a few negative reviews about the site – mainly having to do with the small area, lack of toilets, and the fairly steep entry fee (15 TL). As we were there on a weekday in the off-season, many of these were non-issues for us. There was one tour bus in the parking and probably only 50 people in the whole site.

Another one of the cave churches

Red and Rose Valley

Probably our favorite hiking trail winds its way through the appropriately named Red and Rose Valleys. Containing countless ancient cave homes for the intrepid adventurer to explore, and set in a valley with colours reminiscent of the US Southwest, this region is a hiker’s dream.

The amazing rock formations in the valley

Cave homes to explore

We spent almost an entire day exploring this area. There are some general paths marked by a combination of trail markers and spray paint, but our enjoyment came from the freedom to explore wherever looked interesting to us. Plus, we made a canine friend in Goreme that decided we were worthy companions and joined us for our entire trip!

The view towards Uchisar Castle from Red Valley

The Red and Rose Valley hike traditionally starts near the Open Air Museum and ends at the nearby city of Cavusin. However, on our particular afternoon, some of the most ominous rain clouds we’ve ever seen started to thunder their way down the valley towards us and we decided to stop about 1km short of Cavusin and follow the main highway back to Goreme, just barely avoiding the impending storm by a few minutes!

The origin of the names, Red and Rose Valley, comes from the amazing colour of the cliffs

Love Valley

Oh Love Valley, the place where inappropriate travel photos come to life. Best known for its, um, “phallic” shaped columns – this is one of the most unique places to hike in the world. That is, if you don’t almost kill yourselves trying to get there (more on that in a later post, but let’s just say you should stick to the roads and paths and not take a shortcut over the ridges).

Love Valley – you can probably guess where the name came from!

Located just a short walk from Goreme, Love Valley is just one in a series of wonderful hiking valleys. Other than the hot air balloon pictures, this valley is probably the most common sight in a Google image search for Cappadocia.

The phallic columns of Love Valley

We spent about half a day exploring Love Valley and the surrounding area – taking funny photos and giggling all the while. It is definitely a place that will bring out your inner child. The hiking in this series of valleys is straightforward and very easy going.

Love valley makes for an easy and interesting hike

Funny pictures are an inevitability!

Around Goreme

If you don’t fancy committing to a longer day, or you aren’t sure the weather is going to hold for long enough, there are some absolutely amazing hikes to do simply by walking to the edges of Goreme. Hiking in the hills, or in one of the nearby valleys (Pigeon, Zemi, etc), can provide you with memories you will never forget. Plus, you can just wander back to town for a tea or some gozleme (aka Turkish Pancakes) whenever you want!

A rainbow just outside Goreme

 No matter how long you are in the region, hiking is one of the things you should make time to do. The landscapes in Cappadocia are truly one-of-a-kind and the hiking is generally straightforward and not very strenuous. As with most hiking, we would not recommend going it alone (especially if you are a female), and always ask your hosts about the areas you are heading to before taking off – many have wonderful insights and are extremely helpful. We also recommend not straying too far from hiking trails and be aware of stray dogs (the vast majority are friendly, but you can never be too sure!). 

Logistics: Hiking is one of the best FREE things to do in Cappadocia. The only place with an entrance fee is the Goreme Open Air Museum (15TL per person). Sometimes the best way to get to a hiking region may be taking a dolmus (i.e. dolmus up and hike back). Just ask your hosts or at the bus station and someone will point you in the right direction!

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1. Know how to get to your accommodation….really well!

Istanbul is absolutely huge and can be very chaotic at certain times of the day. This can be a bit of a shock when you finally emerge into the city – especially if you don’t know exactly where you are going! A map, the address, and a list of major nearby streets can all be extremely helpful in finding you accommodations.

Istiklal Street at night – an added challenge to finding our apartment

Probably the easiest and cheapest way to get to Taksim from the airports is via the Havatas Airport Bus. These drop off at various locations before their final destination at Taksim Square. If you are heading to Sultanahmet, then a number of other options may be easier. Great advice can be found on Turkish Travel Planner (Sabiha instructions & Ataturk instructions).

FYI, we took the Havatas Bus from Sabiha – it was really easy and straightforward! We walked out the front doors and two buses were waiting – there is also a small service desk if no buses are there at the moment. Buses leave every 30 mins and cost 13TL per person. It takes from 50 mins and upwards to get to Taksim, depending on the traffic.

2. Get an IstanbulKart ASAP!

Just like an Oyster Card in London, the IstanbulKart is your gateway to Istanbul’s excellent public transport system. You only need ONE card for up to 5 people and you can reload it at almost any major transport stop. However we found actually getting the card the hard part. They can (allegedly) be purchased from some major transit stops (although we didn’t see them at very many) and via private sellers like newspaper stands. You can also buy one at Ataturk airport, but not Sabiha Gokcen airport as far as we could tell. Your best bet might just be asking your hotel concierge or guesthouse owner the best place to buy one.

The card is a non-refundable 6TL, and rides cost 1.95 each (and then less for subsequent rides). This saves you 1.05 or more for each ride you take, a savings that adds up pretty quickly.

3. Get out of Sultanahmet at least once!

Sure Sultanahmet is where all the “must-sees” of Istanbul reside, but the neighbourhoods outside the old city centre are where all the action really happens. Better food, livelier atmosphere, cheaper prices, and of course far fewer carpet salesman await you in Beyoglu, Kadikoy, Ortakoy, and many of the other interesting neighbourhoods just a short ride or walk from Sultanahmet.

The maze of Beyoglu

4. Hop on a ferry.

The ferry system in Istanbul is an awesome (and cheap!) way to see the city. For just the cost of a public transport ride (1.95 TL), you can get a unique look at Istanbul from the water. Ferry rides are also a cheap alternative to a Bosphorous Cruise and are one of the best ways to get to the wonderful neighbourhoods we’ve been going on and on about!

The view of Sultanahmet from a Ferry

5. Get up high for a completely different perspective

You can’t truly appreciate how big Istanbul is without seeing it from above. Whether that’s during your flight in, or by going up in a structure like Galata Tower, you will definitely feel small once you see what surrounds you. Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the entire world – and visualizing that is definitely an experience in its own right. Without this view of Istanbul, it’s impossible to fully appreciate everything going on around you.

A trip up Galata tower will set you back 10TL per person, but it is an enjoyable experience and a great way to get a panoramic view of the city. Plus, the tower has a very interesting and storied history in and of itself.

The view from Galata Tower

6. Don’t drink the Water!

While tap water has improved in recent years, bottled water is still the safest way to stay hydrated. Whenever possible, we try to refrain from drinking drink bottled water, but Istanbul is not the place to do that! Bottled water is cheap and plentiful, and many accommodations provide large jugs for you to refill at. Probably better to be safe than miss out on the city because you’re sick!

7. Try new things!

Whether it’s eating strange street food like Kokorec, experiencing a Turkish Hamam for the first time, or hearing your fist call to prayer, there are many strange and exciting things to experience in this diverse and interesting city. Open your mind to the new and sometimes crazy things Istanbul has to offer and you will be rewarded with more than enough stories to take back home.

Turkish delight, definitely a new experience!

Of course it goes without saying that the normal precautions and tips apply. Like every big city, be aware of your surroundings and be careful of scams and pickpocketers on public transport or near major tourist attractions. We found that the Turkish people are some of the most kind people we’ve met while traveling, but, like everywhere, there are likely a few bad ones in the bunch.

Do you have any more tips for making your stay in Istanbul more enjoyable?? Leave us a comment and we’ll be sure to spread the word!  

The post 7 Tips to Make Your Stay in Istanbul More Enjoyable appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

Being overly budget conscious, Travis and I almost choked when we saw the cost to visit some of Bled’s world class attractions. Not wanting to hand over an amount equal to our total daily budget for a few hours of enjoyment, we did the only thing we could – we found an alternative and made some sacrifices.

Bled castle perched high above the lake.

Bled: Getting There

There are plenty of tour agencies willing to take visitors on full-day guided tours of Lake Bled and the Bohinj Valley. While extremely convenient (they pick up and drop off at your hotel) and relaxing (simply sit back and allow the guide and driver to take you around) these tours are also the most expensive way to get to Lake Bled. We found prices ranging from 59-75 Euros per person for a full day on a group tour, or up to 350 Euros for a private tour (total for 1-2 people).

Seeking more freedom in our visit as Travis and I aren’t good at “following” for an extended period of time, we decided to use public transportation between Ljubljana and Bled. Although we had to sacrifice a bit of convenience, the bus schedule had us up bright and early and we had to walk to and from the main bus station (a thirty minute round trip), we spent a measly 6.30 Euro per person each way.

Sight Seeing for Cheap

As we weren’t part of an all-inclusive tour, where all entry fees are normally included in the price, Travis and I were able to be even more selective with how we spent both our time and money. When visiting Bled, there are many wonderful free activities (mainly walking related) that would keep any tourist busy for most of a day. After partially wandering around the lake (there is an easy to find paved path that circles the entire lake) and snapping way to many photos, we found a sunny bench and watched the swans gliding by, fisherman clearly ignoring the “no fishing” signs (and dressed in full camo), and rowers training on the lake – a delightful morning, for free.

The Church on the Island

Bled is also home to some incredibly expensive activities, the main one being a visit to the Church on the Island. While the traditional way to access the island is by Pletna boat at a cost of 12 Euros per person (the trip takes 90 minutes, including sixty minutes of rowing and thirty minutes to explore the island), visitors also have the option to rent rowboats by the hour for 10-15 Euros. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any rentals during our visit in the off-season. In addition to transportation to the island, the Church charges an entry fee of 3 Euro per person (I am not sure if this is strictly enforced or a recommended donation). After a quick discussion of our priorities and what we wanted from this visit (to simply take in the views and snap some photos), Travis and I decided that a visit to the Island was neither in our budget nor something we were really that interested in. However, for others not wanting to forgo this experience, renting a rowboat to see the island while choosing not to visit the church could be a budget friendly compromise. Or perhaps in the summer one can simply swim to the Island from the nearest beach?

The Church on the Island

Bled Castle

After fully exploring Lake Bled, we turned our attention to the surrounding hills. Wanting to see Bled Castle up close, if just for the views of the magnificent lake below, we climbed the hill by foot, where we only then realized that admission to the castle is 8 Euros per person. After a quick conversion (8 Euros = approx $11.50 CAD), and realizing all we wanted to see was the view, we agreed not to visit the interior of the Castle*. However, we were unwilling to give up on seeing said view, and after wandering around for a few moments we managed to find a path that led around the base of the castle and revealed some of the most spectacular scenery we’ve ever seen – for free! Had we not been able to find a good viewpoint would we have paid the entrance fee? Perhaps. However we DID find a viewpoint and we’ve got directions so everyone else can too!

*While some people may think this decision was too harsh, to put the entry fee into perspective, we averaged 18 Euros per day on food during our time in Slovenia.

Getting to Bled Castle

When it came time to hike up to Bled Castle, we made the mistake of looking at a map. Why is this a mistake you might ask? Unfortunately most maps only show the main road leading from the town to the castle, not the dozens of twisting, intersecting, walking paths that weave around the entire hillside.

In our opinion, the best way to walk to Bled Castle is to approach from the walking path along the water, directly below the castle. Here there are numerous dirt walking paths that disappear into the thick underbrush. Although all these walking paths seem to take off in different directions, we found that in the end they seemed to meet up at the bottom of a large set of stairs and switchbacks that cover the last few hundred feet to the castle. When in doubt, use common sense and keep making your way towards where the castle is perched on the hillside above. A hike up one of the walking paths will take about 30 minutes, or longer if you stop for photos more than we did (impossible!).

The stairway connecting the lake and castle

The View Without the Entrance Fee

After reaching the hilltop and gazing onto the Castle in awe, you may be inclined to walk through it’s large gates and up a very steep cobblestone entrance. Don’t do this, unless you want to pay to enter the castle. We did and immediately found ourselves wedged between two very large tour groups only to have to turn around and walk back down.

For a wonderful free view of Bled Lake and the Castle of the Island, make your way around the castle to the right, to the end of the parking lot. Here you will find an awkward looking cave to your left and to your right, a lovely little walking path. Follow this path as it leads you around the castle and after climbing up slightly you will be greeted with a stunning view. Now while I can’t say for sure that this view is better than that from the castle, I can say it is free and absolutely beautiful.

The view that awaits you!

**One note about this walking path, it doesn’t include hand railings and can be quite steep at the end. Therefore, likely not the best choice for small children or those with accessibility issues!

Vintar Gorge: Getting There

After exploring Bled fully, we decided to visit the neighbouring Vintar Gorge, a beautiful nature park with wooden walking paths and bridges, steep rock cliffs, and bright turquoise water. Although many people don’t make it to this beautiful park, we consider it a must see and the perfect side trip to a visit to Bled. Check out their website here.

The beautiful Vintgar Gorge

Being only 5 km from Bled, one would think a visit to the Vintgar Gorge could be easily accomplished – if only that were true. The truth is that getting to Vintar Gorge IS incredibly easy, for those with a rental car, by taxi (approx 3.50 Euro per person), or as part of a guided tour (we saw some tours that included it and some that didn’t). Many people opt to simply walk the full distance, a trek that takes about forty minutes to an hour – a time that could definitely be sped up with a rental bike perhaps? If you are not up for walking, and you want to get there via public transportation you have to get a little creative. As our feet were already a bit tired we decided do just this and take the public bus as far as we could before walking the last little bit. It was a bit tricky to determine which bus we needed to catch (we eventually figured it out – Bled to Krnica); However, just to be sure, we showed the driver the stop we wanted written on a piece of paper (Spodnje Gorje) and he assured us that he would get us there. The bus fare was 1.30 Euro per person, one way.

Stepping off the bus, it felt as though we were in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, after making our way towards the houses, in the same direction we were traveling on the bus, we spotted a sign pointing the way to the Vintgar Gorge. After this initial sign, there were a few more, however for the most part you simply follow the road as it weaves through a residential neighbourhood, past a Mercator grocery store where you could stock up on picnic supplies if it’s open, and into more rural farm houses. Eventually you can spot the transparent looking river below. Finally, the road dips down towards the river and you walk alongside the riverbank until reaching a small cabin at the park entrance. The walk took us about 15 minutes and was relatively easy except for one section where it is a bit steep.

There is a small entrance fee to visit the Vintgar Gorge of 4 Euros/person.

A 4 Euro entrance fee is a bargain if you ask us

After babbling on for so long, here is a little roundup of what we could have spent and what our actual costs were for the day.

Option 1: Full Guided Tour

Half Day Alpine Fairytale Tour: Includes roundtrip transportation to Bled Castle and option to either visit the Castle on the Island via pletna boat or continue on to the Vintgar Gorge. Cost: 39 Euros per person + entry fees (castle = 8; pletna = 10; Vintgar = 4). (Full day tour, with the addition of Lake Bohinj for 46 Euro per person + entry fees)

*We have not taken the Alpine Fairytale Tour (which has a 5/5 on TripAdvisor), we are only using it for comparison purposes.

Option 2: Public Transport with Attractions

Roundtrip bus fare from Ljubljana to Bled, Entrance to Bled Castle, plenta boat and entrance to the Castle on the Island, bus to and from Vintgar Gorge, entry to the Gorge. Cost: 42 Euros per person.

Option 3: Our Visit

Roundtrip bus fare from Ljubljana to Bled, free view from Bled Castle, bus to and from Vintgar Gorge, entry to the Gorge. Cost: 19 Euros per person ( a huge savings over the other two options!)

All this and wildlife too – just a short ride from Ljubljana

For most, a visit to Slovenia is a once in a lifetime opportunity, one that we would never want to spoil by suggesting you skip or miss out on an attraction. If you have your heart set on ringing the bell at the Church on the Island, or gliding across the blue waters of Lake Bled by boat, we are one hundred percent behind you. This post was simply meant to provide less expensive options to those that either don’t want to or can’t afford the many different entrance fees, as well as some logistical information about getting around in this area. While we don’t regret skipping the interior of the castle or boating out to the island, many others may not feel the same way. If you simply cannot afford to do everything in Bled, the best option may be to compromise, pay to visit one attraction and appreciate the others from afar, or take the cheaper public transport and save you money for entrance fees.

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See, I’m not lying (strudel and kreme cake from Ruszwum Bakery)

While preparing for our visit to Budapest, I discovered the delectable sounding Sweet Budapest Culinary & Cultural Waking Tour; a three hour walking tour designed to take participants deep into the world of delicious Hungarian confectioneries and provide details on Hungary’s baking tradition. As a lover of all things baked – the act of baking; cakes, cookies, pies, and pastries; Michael Phelps – I immediately wanted to join the tour while in Budapest. Unfortunately some things really are too good to be true, and with a price tag of 19,000 HUF (nearly $91 CAD) per person, participating while staying on budget wasn’t feasible.

Not one to be easily deterred, I decided that if I couldn’t join a guided tour I would create my own. Now, after stuffing our faces with delicious strudels and cakes, Travis and I have decided to share our “self guided tour” online for anyone else that finds themselves a little short of cash in the Hungarian capital.

First, A little bit of history…

Being interested in Hungary’s baking culture and history, I wanted to incorporate as much as I could into our tour.  In addition to inhaling sweet treats, it was a great way to convince Travis that my tour was going to be worthwhile.

Hungary has been conquered and controlled by it’s neighbours for hundreds of years, and these outsiders have all left their mark on the country’s culinary scene. In the 15th century, under the reign of King Matthias and his Italian wife Queen Beatrice, Hungary not only experienced a cultural high, but also the introduction of Italian food. Later, in the 16th century when the country was ruled by the Ottomans, filo pastry and coffee were introduced, as well as Turkish adaptations of cakes and desserts. Finally, as the Hapsburg monarchy took control in the 17th century, Hungary became famous for its cakes and pastries.

One such famous pastry, Kreme cake from Auguszt Cucraszda

The sweet treats to try…

Hungary’s bakeries are full of delectable looking cakes and pastries. Below are a few of the more traditional confections historically linked to the country.

Two generous slices of Flodni (left) and Dobos Cake (right) from Frohlich Cucraszda

Dobos Cake

A five layer sponge cake with chocolate butter cream and caramel glaze

Named after its inventor and well known confectioner Jozef C. Dobos, the cake was unveiled to the world at the National General Exhibition of Budapest in 1885. In attendance were Franz Joseph I and his wife Empress Elizabeth, making the royals among the first to taste the cake. In the years that followed, Dobos traveled Europe, introducing the cake to the masses, but kept the recipe a secret until his retirement in 1906.

Fun Fact: Dobos means drummer in Hungarian. As a long running joke, people say the cake’s name comes from the caramelized icing which is so hard it can be beaten like a drum.

Flodni

A layered semi-sweet cake that features walnut paste, apple slivers, and poppy seeds.

Popular on the Jewish holiday of Purim, Flodni is an emblematic Jewish-Hungarian cake. From my research it appears most Flodni are cooked up in the kitchens of Jewish grandmothers and it can be very difficult to find in bakeries and pastry shops outside of Budapest’s Jewish district.

The Famous Hungarian “Chimney Cake” from Molnar’s

Kurtoskalaces

A thin yeast pastry ribbon wound around a wooden cylinder, sprinkled with sugar that caramelizes while the pastry bakes

Originating from Transylvania, Kurtoskalaces, also known as Chimney Cake or Stove Cake, is famous as Hungary’s oldest pastry. It is sold in bakeries and by street vendors, as well as at carnivals and fairs. Once the pastry has cooked and while it is still warm, the caramelized sugar is topped with cinnamon, or sprinkled with crushed walnuts or almonds.

Delicious Sour Cherry Strudel from Szalai Cukraszda

Retes

Hungarian strudel made with filo pastry and stuffed with sweet fruit fillings such as sour cherry or apple, or savory soft cheeses, spinach, or cabbage.

Although commonly associated with Austria, the strudel we know and love today actually originated in Hungary and became popular in the 18th century under the Habsburg Empire. The oldest strudel recipe, dating to 1696, was handwritten and is currently held at the Viennese City Library.

Fun Fact: Legend has it that the Austrian Emperor’s perfectionist cook decreed that it should be possible to read a love letter through the strudel’s thinly rolled dough. (Although if it’s my heart you’re after, skip the love letter and just bring the strudel!)

Rigo Jancsi Cake

A traditional Hungarian and Viennese cake made with chocolate sponge cake and pastry cream

This cake’s history is as intriguing as that of the entire country of Hungary. It is named after a Hungarian gypsy who became famous for seducing Clara Ward, wife of Belgian Prince de Chimay and only daughter of American millionaire E.B. Ward. Creating quite the scandal in the late 1800s, Rigo and Clara fell in love and married. Sources are unsure if Rigo Jancsi created the cake for his beloved Clara with an unknown confectioner, or he simply bought the pastry as a gift for her and the confectioner named it after him.

About a bakery, or five…

Budapest is home to plenty of bakeries, called Cukraszdas,  however to ensure you’re sampling the best baking Budapest has to offer, you should probably hit up it’s best bakeries. Based on my extensive research, both online and via my taste buds, here are a few Cukraszdas worth checking out.

Ruszwurm

Part of the Hungarian confectionery scene for more than 150 years, it was established in 1827 in the Castle Hill district and is still in operation today. Full of history, the bakery’s cherry wood counter is original and was hand crafted before the First World War. Although likely to be crowded and full of hungry tourists, the delicious pastries are worth the wait. Try a Ruszwurm Kreme, the bakery is famous for them!

Located at Szentharomsag Utca 7 near the Fisherman’s Bastion. We sampled one kreme and one strudel for a total of 1000 HUF.

Molnar’s Kurtoskalacs Bakery

According to locals this is the best place to pick up an authentic and delicious Chimney Cake. Easily one of our favorite treats during our tour through Budapest’s bakeries, the Chimney Cake is a must try – and one is easily big enough (and sweet enough) to share! Luckily, Molnar’s is conveniently located on Vaci Utca, one of the most tourist trodden streets in the city.

Located at Vaci Utca 31. Open from 9am-10pm daily. Cost: 900 HUF for one cake

A glimpse of the bakery from the street

Auguszt Cucraszda

Originally established in 1870, the shop was destroyed by a bomb during the Second World War, after which the state assumed ownership during Hungary’s communist era. Fortunately this story has a happy ending, as the Auguszt family reopened their own shop on Feny Utca in 1957 and have been baking up delicious treats using their original recipes ever since. With three locations in Budapest, check out the most well-known, and insanely beautiful store on Kossuth Lajos Utca, complete with chandelier and wall murals.

Located at Kossuth Lajos Utca 14-16. Known for their Kremes (490 HUF each), they also had Rigo Jancsi cake I believe, which was a bit hard to find.

Frohlich Cukraszka

Founded in 1953, Frohlich Cukraszka is presently the only kosher bakery in Budapest. It’s also where you can try the Jewish specialty of Flodni as well as any of the other beautiful desserts on display in their large glass cases. Located in the Jewish District, Frohlich is surrounded by Budapest’s best restaurants and crazy/famous/popular ruin pubs.

Located at Dob Utca 22. A slice of Flodni and Dobos cake will set you back a mere 930 HUF.

Szalai Cukraszda

A small bakery tucked behind the Parliament Building, Szalai is family run with a legendary reputation. Although we had to battle the dusty construction site currently surrounding the Parliament Building to find this shop, it was well worth it as we were treated to the BEST strudel I have ever eaten. Ever. In my entire life. Period.

Located at Balassi Balint Utca 4. We couldn’t resist trying both sour cherry and apple strudel for a total of 760 HUF.

Some tips on putting everything together…

We managed to visit five of Budapest’s most famous and beloved bakeries during our time in the city, and as much as I would have loved to join a guided tour (where someone else could order in perfect Hungarian, as opposed to my butchered attempts) our self-guided version had some incredible perks. Namely, we were able to split up our visits between days. Not only did this allow us to maintain somewhat normal blood-sugar levels, but it also meant that we could pop into a bakery when we were in the neighbourhood – almost like a local. To make this work logistically, I mapped out each bakery’s location on our free walking tour map, and as we planned out our day, or stopped to check directions during the day, we could simply detour into one of the five bakeries listed above.

The other great thing about our self-guided tour is that it saved us an incredible amount of money. Considering the original guided tour costs 19,000 HUF per person, Travis and I managed to spend only 4,080 HUF, or roughly ten percent of the cost of the guided tour. As a result, we could enjoy our cake guilt free and still afford dinner afterwards.

Finally, before wrapping everything up and sending you on your own delicious route through Budapest, I should touch on our favorite treats from the tour. While we both agreed that the Chimney Cake and Strudels are delicious, Travis liked the Jewish Flodni much more than I did, likely because it isn’t very sweet. On the other hand, I devoured the Kremes without offering him much of a bite. I don’t think you can go wrong trying any of the desserts listed here, or something completely different that catches you eye from the display case. When it comes to trying new or unknown foods around the world Travis and I both prefer to jump in head first!

An unintended side effect of getting a slice of cake to go, excitedly opening the pretty paper like it’s Christmas morning

Good luck on your own tour and let us know how it turns out!

The post Finding Budapest’s Sweet Side – A Self Guided Tour appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

When it comes to money, I struggle – to spend. Some people may call me frugal, personally I don’t mind the word cheap, however like Scrooge McDuck, I prefer to count my dollars instead of spend them. I’m sure you can imagine how I struggled spending our hard earned money last fall while we traveled around Europe – not necessarily the cheapest destination in the world. However we quickly realized that there are many ways to take in a city without returning home broke. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up in Europe to save in each of our four “cost” categories – Accommodation, Travel, Food, and Activities.

Accommodation

Staying close to the city centre or a main attractions is convenient, and cuts down on the cost of transportation by allowing you to walk everywhere, however it can also be extremely pricey. When trying to decide between spending more for location or saving with accommodations outside the main centre, consider the city’s public transit system and location of the attractions you want to visit. While booking accommodations in Paris, we couldn’t find any affordable places in many of the popular arrondissements. However, as they have a great public transit system, and many of the main attractions are spread out, we stayed in a less-expensive area and took the underground train each day, saving more than 100 Euros over our five days in the city.

Another great way to save on accommodations is to change your expectations. Coming from North America, where large hotels dominate the accommodation arena, we weren’t accustom to small, family run pensions. However by opening our mind to these options, it became easier to find accommodations within our budget – and the proprietors of these establishments are wonderfully friendly, helpful, and a great source for information.

One of the best places we stayed, The Krizmanic Family B&B near Plitvice National Park (via)

Also, due to the age of the buildings in most of Europe, it’s nearly impossible to construct a bathroom for each bedroom – there just isn’t enough space. Therefore, a private bathroom often comes with a surcharge. While the majority of the places we stayed in had shared bathrooms,  not once did we have any issues with cleanliness, and we were able to save a good amount of money with little to no sacrifice.

Cutting costs doesn’t necessarily mean cutting comfort – case in point, Lisbon Dreams Guesthouse (via)

If you are really looking to save some money, the best way to do so may be to not spend on accommodation at all. While we haven’t found any free accommodation options yet, opting to travel at night, via bus or train, does allow you to cut out this particular expense for a night. In addition to saving some money on accommodations, you can also save daylight and spend the time you would have used to travel instead taking in the sights of an incredible city or town. The one significant catch with this approach to travel is that traveling at night, no matter how deep a sleeper you may be, will leave you less-than-well rested for a busy day of exploration. Also, arriving early in the morning, you will need to find somewhere to drop your backpack, or carry it around with you until you can check in to your room.

When it came to returning home, we really tightened the purse strings. As a result, we spend the night before our flight in the Gatwick Airport (London) sleeping on benches to save on the cost of a hotel room. While it wasn’t comfortable and we were pretty cranky the next day, it also provided a quintessential backpacking experience that we wouldn’t trade for a pillowtop mattress. You can find more info on sleeping in airports at the conveniently titled sleepinginairports.net.

 Transportation

When it comes to travel between Paris and London, most people take the Eurostar, which is a little pricey, even when booked early, at $69 per person. However Travis and I, distracted by the wonderful things we were seeing and eating in Italy and Vienna, overlooked this booking until only a few weeks before our travel date, when two tickets cost nearly $400. Refusing to spend such a ridiculous amount of money for 2-3 hours on a train, we searched around and found an overnight bus for only $35 CAD each. Although it extended our travel time by almost 10 hours, we were able to cancel a night in a hotel and save more money, which to us was well worth it.

One of the best ways to save money on long-haul transportation is to book ahead of time. Tickets are often released 30-120 days before the date of departure, depending on the provider, so it’s best to do some research ahead of time for each leg you need to book.

For travel within a city, do what the locals do and forgo a pricey taxi for public transportation. Not only is it a cheaper option, but it also allows for excellent people watching.

If you plan to take public transportation frequently, it may be worth looking into a travel pass or card. While in London, we took advantage of their Oyster Card program and saved money each time we rode the tube.

When it comes to getting around, even cheaper than public transportation is walking. Although there were plenty of times we were tired and didn’t want to walk any further, it’s impossible to ignore how much money your can save by simply relying on your own two feet. Just remember to pack lightly and wear good shoes.

Packing efficiently can save you lots of money in excess baggage fees – plus save your back at the same time!

Speaking of packing lightly, not only will it save your back, but bringing less with you also means you won’t have to pay pricey surcharges for having overweight or excessive luggage.

Although most North Americans are completely dependent on their automobiles, we’ve found that a rental car is completely unnecessary in Europe most of the time. Not only is driving stressful, but fuel prices are steep, and parking is sparse and expensive. Before renting a car, we recommend looking into public transportation options and weighing whether the increased flexibility is worth the cost.

Food

When culinary experiences are one of the main reasons you travel, it can be hard to limit yourself from spending on meals, however scrimping on a meal here and there can actually be extremely rewarding if it results in a worthwhile splurge later on. One of the best ways to save money while traveling it also how we save money at home, grocery shopping allows you to spend a fraction of the cost for a fully prepared meal and get a look at some weird and wonderful local products.

If you are lucky enough to have a kitchenette or access to a kitchen at your accommodations, cooking even one meal a day allows you to save a significant amount of money. However even without a kitchen, stocking up on bread, meats, and cheese for a picnic lunch or easy breakfast is cheaper than eating in a restaurant.

Cooking your own food from time to time can result in big savings.

When booking a room, it’s often tempting to opt for accommodation that includes breakfast, in an effort to save money, however we’ve found that this isn’t always the cheapest option. Not only are these breakfasts not-so filling, but the rooms often cost quite a bit more than spending on accommodation and breakfast separately. If you do decide to reserve a room that includes breakfast, be sure to run the numbers and ensure it’s a good deal.

Another extremely simple and easy way to save money is to educate yourself about the safety of drinking tap water in the area you’re visiting. In many parts of Europe, and around the world, drinking from the tap is completely safe, even if it may taste a bit different than at home. When this is the case, refilling a water bottle in your hotel or a restaurant restroom, can save you a few dollars a day which really adds up on extended trips.

Although avoiding restaurants is the best way to save money on food when traveling, it isn’t always feasible or fun. When it comes time to eat in a restaurant, a little pre-meal research can help make it more affordable. Read up on the tipping etiquette for the country you are visiting to ensure you are leaving the appropriate amount and a gratuity hasn’t already been added to your bill. Although tipping for exceptional service is always appreciated, the 10-15% gratuity that is common in North America is completely unheard of in Italy.

It’s also important to understand common restaurant practices in the area you are visiting. Service fees, cover charges, VAT (tax), and other fees may appear on your bill as a surprise if you are not familiar with the practice ahead of time. For example, when in Spain we read that often times the server will bring you bread or some type of small snack before your meal and although you didn’t order these extras, you will be charged for them if you eat them. As a result, we simply pushed these “extras” to the side and kept a close look on our bill to ensure we weren’t charged for them. Although it only resulted in saving a few Euros here and there, these small amounts all add up.

Another great way to dine out and save money is to splurge on lunch, which is often cheaper, late in the afternoon and then skimp on dinner by picking up some bread and meats at the market/grocery.Eating away from the main attractions will also help you cut the cost of dining out, and find some deliciously authentic cuisine. It’s logical that the restaurants closest to the attractions and catering to tourists will charge higher prices than those the locals frequent. It’s also extremely likely that the quality of the meal will be less. Seek out the restaurants the locals frequent, and when in doubt, ask the owner of your pension or B&B for some recommendations.

A feast of squids in Croatia cost us less than 20 Euro including beer and fresh bread

Activities

Any discussion on saving money when traveling wouldn’t be complete without a look at the attractions we all want to visit. Although attractions and activities are one of the main reasons people travel, they also represent the opportunity for spending to quickly get out of control. Unlike accommodation and transportation that can be planned in advance, it can be difficult to say no to a good time in the name of saving.

Before opting out of an activity in an effort to stay on budget, look into free or reduced admission options. While in Paris, we learned that admission to Le Louvre is free for those under 26 years of age, on Friday evenings between 6pm and 9:45pm. By simply showing our passports, and being flexible with our visit, we were able to save on the full admission price of 11 Euro/person.

If your heart isn’t set on fully exploring a particular attraction, but you still want to check it off your list and snap a few photos, why not save on admission and admire from afar? When visiting La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, we were turned off by the long lines and post-Gaudy additions and decided to admire the building from afar, focusing more attention on Gaudy’s other masterpieces and saving big.

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

A (free!) Comic Book Market in Barcelona

 One last note on admission prices, if you are considering purchasing a city pass, please crunch the numbers before handing over your money. It seems that every city has their own version of this pass or card that offers admission into a list of attractions for one combined price. However, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to make it to every attraction on your list, or that everything you want to see will be covered by the card, making it a big fat ripoff.

It’s also good to keep in mind that, while you can get up and close with these attractions by paying a steep entrance fee, getting the attraction in your photos can be achieved for free. While in Paris, we found that although we definitely needed to visit the Eiffel Tower, neither of us cared much about actually going up into it (it was a cold, gray day). Furthermore, any pictures we took out from atop the Eiffel Tower would be absent of one of Paris’ most recognizable landmarks. To capture some aerial shots without spending a cent, we rode to the top of the Galleries Lafayette shopping centre and snapped some photos of the skyline including the Eiffel Tower.

Another free attraction that we highly recommend is people watching. Relieve your sore feet or snack, catch public transport, on your picnic lunch for free on a shady park bench and watch how the locals live. Markets are another great free attraction with ample opportunities for people watching and a chance to sample fresh local products.

Unfortunately there is really no way around this next money saving tip – if you want to stay on budget, it’s crucial to keep the partying in check. With the cost of cover fees, overpriced drinks, and taxis or transportation added together, a night out in even the most affordable countries can easily add up to your entire daily budget for accommodation, food, transportation, and attractions. While we’d hate to crash the party, opting to stay in and say, blog about your day, will save you some cash and have you well rested for another day of adventure.

When looking to save money on activities and attractions, the best option we can recommend is to look at your own priorities and determine what attractions are right for you. They don’t necessarily have to be the most popular or cost a lot of money, and how you spend your time abroad should be aimed at what makes you happy. Traveling is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and making memories trumps checking items off a list every time.

Spending your money wisely will ensure you get to go to all the places you’ve dreamed of – like Bruges.

A few last thoughts on saving money…

When it comes to switching between currencies, tread carefully. Although it’s a bit more work to plan ahead or re-visit a bank machine on your last days in a city, being stuck with a large amount of cash in a foreign currency means you’ll lose on the exchange rate when you go to convert it back.

It’s also a good idea to be aware of the currency conversions between your home currency and the one in the country you are visiting. While something may have look like a bargain in Euros or Pounds, after converting it to Canadian Dollars we were left with a new perspective of the “deal” we were getting.

While sticking on budget was crucial for Travis and I, not just to return home in good financial shape but for our sanity as well, we know it isn’t everyone’s top priority. However, hopefully some of these tips will prove valuable in saving here and there for something special later on.

The post 30 Small Ways to Save Big in Europe (that you might not have thought of yet) appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

Wrapping up our month long series on all things travel budgets, we’ve got our preliminary budget for travel later in 2013 and into 2014. If you missed our announcement late last week, Travis and I are excitedly heading back to Europe September 6th to explore it’s more Eastern countries and venture into Turkey and the Mediterranean!

Valetta, Malta – one of the many places we’re excited to be visiting on our upcoming trip (via)

The post All About Budgets Week 4: Budgeting for Our Upcoming Trip (or how we tried to put all this preaching into practice) appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

Click on photo to enlarge

• Overall, large cities are more expensive to visit than small (Madrid compared to the small cities in Andalusia for example)
• Visiting the best known, most visited cities will cost you – Paris, London, and Rome are not cheap
• There are deals to be found in areas like Croatia and Montenegro (countries that are still trying to overcome the stigma of civil war), as well as Greece with its struggling economy.
• Belgium was surprisingly affordable, further proof that some of Europe’s most expensive cities are within reach if you are willing to visit in the off-season.

If you’ve missed the first two installments of our 4 part series on budgeting, you can catch up with these posts on estimating how much a trip will cost and how we manage to save for travel. 

The post All About Budgets Week 3: Is It Possible to Stick to a budget while traveling? appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

If you were afraid I was going to start pulling out screenshots of excel spreadsheets and complex formulas you can breathe easy. Although I do love a good colour-coded spreadsheet, the basis of any budget is simple addition and subtraction. This makes it just as easy to track with a pencil and paper as it does with a computer – you just have to make sure you actually DO plan and track your spending.

Last week Travis and I discussed how we saved up for our five month trip through Europe. We mentioned that, before anything else in the planning process, we first decide how much we are comfortable spending. Then, once our budget is set, we can get creative trying to save money in some of the more expensive cities. However, before we can try to find ways to save, we first need to find out just how pricey some of these cities cost to visit. After all, how do you know your saving money if you don’t know how much something normally costs?

Setting aside the budget we came up with last week, we then turn our attention to the actual countries and cities we want to visit. With a little research, it’s possible to get a good idea of how cheap or expensive a destination is, and how much it costs to get there, before confirming it on your itinerary. We break the budget down for each country into the following four areas: Accommodations, Food, Transportation, Attractions.

Accommodations:

Easily one of the largest chunks of a traveler’s budget, accommodation prices can vary significantly in each city, and unfortunately price doesn’t always equate to quality. We’ve stayed at some lovely family run pensions and bed & breakfasts for a great price and some dingy hotels for more money than we’d like to admit.

When it comes to estimating accommodation costs in a city we like to turn to Booking.com or Skyscanner.com to help with the research, using approximate travel dates to account for seasonal variances in prices.We like these sites because the reviews are, from our experience, pretty reliable, and we can filter the reviews based on our specific traveler type (we’re a young couple and have different requirements than my parents, for example).

A quick scroll down the page gave us a rough estimate of what a nice room in Sarajevo would cost us.

**Just a quick note on customer reviews on travel websites: Ensure you read the review, and not just glance at the star or scale rating. We’ve found some wonderful places that people rated poorly because of issues we aren’t concerned with such as too many stairs or the lack of an elevator. We are young and don’t mind climbing some stairs to save money; however, some travelers may need the assistance of an elevator or dread the idea of walking up a half dozen stories to their room after a full day of walking.

So how do we actually figure out our budget for a city? Well we type the city and approximate dates in whatever aggregator we are using (be it Booking, Skyscanner, Agoda, etc). We then sort our results by price (in our case, by price for two people) and begin looking at the results. We tend to scroll down until we’ve passed about 3 or 4 places that have our minimum rating (for booking that’s usually an 8/10 – again refer to our note above) and take that price as our “budget” for the city.

It’s also important to point out that one of the best ways to save money is by booking early. Many websites now have rooms offering FREE cancellation – so if you are fairly sure of your dates and spot a good deal, you can book it when you feel like it and not have to worry if your plans change or a better deal pops up!

Food:

In some countries and cities food is one of the main attractions (think Piri Piri in Portugal or pasta and pizza in Italy), and Travis and I love to try new cuisines. Keeping this in mind, we also try to balance the cost of eating out with the cheaper option of grabbing a baguette and some mortadella from a local market. The way we figure it, you might as well have a splurge on a real authentic meal once every couple days rather than eat three mediocre meals every day.

To estimate food costs in a city we tend to rely on Wikitravel, and although it isn’t always the most accurate, it is good enough for estimating costs to determine if a city is affordable on our budget. As a rough guideline, we’ve found that for us $40/day is a reliable estimate for most of the expensive European countries, while mid-range countries sit at about $35/day and the cheapest countries are about $30/day (for both of us).

The thing to remember about food is that it is one of the easiest portions of your budget to control on the road. In Paris where everything was extremely pricey, we frequented the grocery store and affordable ethnic restaurants instead of fancy french cafes. It was a decision made in the moment to save our budget and allow us to spend more on shopping for Christmas gifts to bring home. In contrast, when we found affordable restaurant meals in Greece we ate out regularly, taking advantage of the affordable fresh seafood and local specialties. Although it’s important to estimate how much you’ll spend to feed yourself each day, remember that it can be quite flexible, especially with the addition of a kitchenette or kitchen access in your accommodations.

Local ingredients help make home cooked meals feel authentic – and also save you money!

Transportation:

With accommodation and food prices filling up our budget, we turn our attention to transportation, where there are a few different areas to consider. Although your initial flight into the area will take up a significant portion of your budget, we spend more time researching how to get around within a city or country without breaking the bank and rely on Skyscanner.com for this initial flight purchase.

While we try to walk as much as possible, it’s a great way to save money, intracity travel, or getting around within a city, is an important part of budgeting for larger city centres where attractions are widely spread out. To estimate our costs, we not only look at the price of a transit pass but also how much we are likely to use it. While in London, we relied on the train system a lot to access the various museums and attractions, and as a result we budgeted accordingly. However in Seville, we walked everywhere and didn’t have any intra-city transportation costs.

When it comes to travel between cities within a country, or country to country, we rely on Wikitravel, Seat61, Rome2Rio, and Google searches to determine who the main transportation providers are operating in the area, be it train, flight, or bus. It’s then possible to look up routes and estimate costs.

Attractions:

The last category of our budget is attractions, or the wonderfully fun things you came to this far off place to do! To estimate how much we will likely spend in each city, we like to start with a rough list of everything we want to see and do using sites like Wikitravel and other travel blogs. This list also helps us determine how long to spend in each city and how much we will rely on transportation. We only ever end up doing a few of the things we initially plan on, and always end up discovering cool new things to do, but nonetheless the ballpark amount is usually pretty close.

After we’ve generated a solid estimate of the costs to visit the places on our itinerary, we like to total them by country as well as overall, to get a good idea of which areas are pricey and which are cheap, and then it’s time for the tough decisions. Likely, a particular city or country is significantly more expensive than others, or getting to one of your destinations is difficult or over budget, or perhaps worst of all your entire trip is way over budget.

Although it isn’t easy to eliminate a destination purely for financial reasons, we try to take comfort in the fact that we will one day make it back, even if it is for a shorter visit when we have careers and families and responsibilities.

Finally, after all this estimating, we take our total and divide it by the number of days we will be away to get a per day cost, broken down into each of our four categories. We found that having this daily number in the front of our minds made it easier to casually track how well we were sticking to our budget while on the road and also ensured that our budget was part of the conversation when making purchases big and small.

You may have noticed we don’t have a spot in the budget for the gifts and souvenirs you will likely want to buy while away, the reason being that it is purely discretionary and therefore controllable. We also try to keep this spending to a minimum because of a lack of space in our backpacks. Although not included on our initial estimate, we do track this spending, in addition to the rest of our spending (medicine, toiletries, etc.), once we are on the road.

Well there you have it, the not-so-short-story of our budgeting process. For reference, we planned to spend $150 per day for 120 days during our trip last fall, broken down into $60 for accommodation, $40 for food, $20 for transportation, and $30 for attractions (this is an average per day cost, some countries/cities are more or less expensive).

Next week we’ll share our 2012 budget and actual costs for four months in Europe and discuss which destinations were the easiest on our pocketbook and which left us feeling financially drained. 

If you missed Week 1 of our budgeting series, all about saving for travel and why setting a realistic budget is so important, you can find it here.

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