Travel is one of life’s great pleasures, but it can be a very expensive pastime.
For those looking to cut expenses on their next trip, without curtailing any of the enjoyment, here are a few simple ideas to make your cash go further.
Take the road less travelled
Instagram is filled with images of jaw-droppingly gorgeous places that we all want to see. However, many of these locations are very expensive to get to, or cost a fortune once there. So, instead of heading to see bucket-list destinations, look for places a little more off the beaten path.
Budget airlines are excellent for this, as most connect to smaller, less busy airports and cities, making it easier to find new places to explore. Likewise, train journeys can offer access to places not served by airlines.
Stay for more than two nights
With limited time to see as much as possible, a large proportion of visitors will stay in one place for only one night. A better option is to use the same hotel as a base to explore the wider area, because staying for three or more nights will often bring down the room rate.
Many hotels and guesthouses reward those looking for an extended stay with a cheaper rate. In the UAE, for example, many hotels offer discounts for bookings of several nights. Check the property's website for special deals.
Book your breakfast
This is such an easy way to cut down on your daily food spend. Eat a hearty breakfast before heading out to explore, cutting out the need for expensive snacks en route and setting you up for a busy day of exploring ahead.
Use local transport or walk
The best, and cheapest, way to get to know a new city or area is on foot, so put on your most comfy shoes and fire up Google Maps. If walking doesn't appeal to you (or the weather isn't conducive), try the local bus or metro system.
The same applies when travelling from the airport to your hotel and vice versa. Or, look for properties that offer an airport pick-up with the room rate.
Invest in a cultural pass
Many major cities offer a pass granting access to several museums and attractions, so for those looking to hit numerous cultural sites during their stay, this is an excellent way to save money.
You can often find one catering to your specific interests, too. For example, in Spain, the Barcelona Card offers free entry to more than 25 museums and attractions, discounts at more than 70 sites (from cultural stops to tours and restaurants) and the opportunity to skip the line in some areas, as well as free use of public transport. The city's Articket Barcelona Museum Pass, on the other hand, covers entry to six of its top art museums, with fast-track entry and admission for both temporary and permanent exhibitions.
You also might be able to visit cultural sites for free, depending on where you are. In Florence, it is free entry to most of the major museums on the first Sunday of each month, while in Seoul, anyone dressed in the traditional hanbok gets free entry to museums and palaces.
Eat street food
Eating street food (and choosing it carefully) is an amazing way to connect to the local culture, wherever you are. Look for places that are busy with locals — not tourists — as this means the food is good, while the high turnover of customers ensures everything is freshly prepared. But use your common sense. Raw foods such as sushi, for example, should never be gambled on. Remember, it's usually the rice or ice that gets you.
Don’t eat out in a tourist area
While the idea of eating lunch overlooking the Colosseum in Rome is the stuff of dreams, be warned you will pay handsomely for the privilege. The cafes facing the Duomo in Florence, for example, will charge several times the going rate for a cappuccino than those in other areas of the city.
Take the time to dig out little coffee bars, cafes and restaurants on the backstreets of major cities. Just as with street food, look for places where the locals are eating. It will be better fare and at least half the price.
Use local supermarkets
Don't rely on room service for your nibbles and refreshments — just ask for directions to the local supermarket instead and buy whatever you need there. Not only is this putting money straight into the local economy, but it will be a fraction of the price. Likewise, never, ever eat the snacks in the hotel minibar, as the mark-up tends to be astronomical.
Carry a refillable water bottle
Buying bottled water not only perpetuates pollution, but the mark-up is often eye-watering. Add up the cost of water on a two-week trip and it will easily cover the cost of a meal. Where possible, stay properly hydrated by bringing your own bottle and refilling using tap water (only if it's safe to drink in the country) or public fountains that you'll find in many cities across the world.
Travel overnight
Airline prices are undoubtedly higher since the pandemic, as the travel industry tries to claw back the billions it has lost, yet there are still cheaper options available. Taking a flight at an antisocial hour will always give a lower price, for example. Likewise, for train and bus journeys, look for overnight sleeper tickets. The novelty of waking up as the world whizzes past the window makes for an interesting adventure.
Stay for free with locals
In some countries, this is a well-established way to travel. In Nepal, for example, those hiking many of the mountain trails can stay in local homes, paying only for the food consumed. If this is how you travel, be careful not to abuse it, however. Give your host a fair price for the food and leave a good tip. If your host looks embarrassed at this gesture, offer it as a gift for the children instead.
Haggle at markets
For those born in non-haggling nations, having to argue the price of everything can be mystifying and even a little exhausting. Yet, haggling is part and parcel of the culture in many countries.
As a guest in someone else's country, first accept that you will never get the same price as locals, so accept this with grace. Any visitor to Marrakesh in Morocco, Stone Town in Zanzibar or Istanbul in Turkey, for example, will ensure you understand that bettering the street vendors is impossible, so slash the astronomical starting price by a third, keep smiling and do your best. You will inevitably end up paying more than you should for the item, but you will get tea and a great chat for free.
Go off-season
Portofino in Italy is exquisite in the summertime, but the streets will be humming with tourists and struggling through the crowds will take the shine off the experience. Instead, go outside of peak season if you can as it can result in substantial savings across the board.
Flights will be cheaper, as will hotels and even shops, as all try to entice the smaller pool of visitors. Bethlehem, for example, is packed during the festive season, while Rome is akin to a human zoo during August. Be brave and flip these around. Bethlehem is cool during the summer, while Rome is beautiful in February.
Don't only follow guidebooks
Unless you have a burning need to stand in a queue for an hour to take exactly the same photograph as everyone else, avoid doggedly following the itinerary laid out in a guidebook. While useful for gathering information, they should be seen as a starting place, rather than a definitive how-to.
There are exceptions to this, of course, such as londonxlondon.com, which offers up a list of 56 quirky things to see across the city, some of which are so wildly offbeat even most Londoners will never have heard of them.
Ask the locals for advice
Need a taxi? Ask hotel staff for guidance on what a decent tourist price should be. Better yet, ask them to book the taxi for you, tell you the price in advance and save on arguments later.
Most regions that rely on tourism have a short window of opportunity to make enough money to last a year, so there will always be those willing to exploit the clueless, be it in Beirut or Bangkok. Arm yourself with information ahead of time on what reasonable prices should be, remembering that, as a tourist, you are always likely to pay more.
Likewise, if you want to find somewhere interesting to eat, ask around for the best food in the neighbourhood. Too often it is assumed tourists want to eat familiar food, surrounded by other tourists, so asking a local where he or she would eat can open up a whole new conversation and take you to places that you might never have found otherwise.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
MATCH INFO
Burnley 1 (Brady 89')
Manchester City 4 (Jesus 24', 50', Rodri 68', Mahrez 87')
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 2 (Willems 25', Shelvey 88')
Manchester City 2 (Sterling 22', De Bruyne 82')
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Honeymoonish
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Warlight,
Michael Ondaatje, Knopf
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
The%20Roundup
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
