Month: March 2023

Darwin Travel Tips

Having lived in Darwin for 10 years I’ve compiled a list of typical Darwin experiences that we recommend.

Markets

The Mindal Beach markets is a Darwin institution. They operate on Thursdays and Sundays from April to October. Thursdays are very popular (up to 10,000 people) whereas Sundays are a little quieter, a few less stalls/entertainment but a lot less crowded and the sunsets are equally magnificent. The food stalls reflect Darwins multicultural population, so bring a blanket and perhaps a bottle and enjoy the delight of a Darwin sunset.

The Parap Markets are a personal favorite, held Saturdays from 7 til 2 all year round. See where the locals buy their fruit and veg, nice place for brunch, lots of art and crafts stalls too. Similarly the Nightcliff markets operate on Sundays 7 til 2 all year round.

For weird and wonderful fruit and veg sold by an eclectic mix of local market gardeners, visit the Rapid Creek Markets. A steamy Sunday institution (7 til 2).

NT Museum and Art Gallery

An excellent local museum. It features include a Cyclone Tracey exhibit, extensive Nature and Science collection and the notorious croc ‘Sweetheart’. For many months a year it houses the Telstra Aboriginal Art Awards. The cafe Cornucopia is also a great place for brunch and offers lovely views over the Arafura Sea.

Darwin Harbour Cruises

We always recommend a darwin harbour cruise (for sunset or dinner) while you are in Darwin, a great way to start or end your visit to the Top End. There is a variety of boats offering sunset or dinner cruises.

Darwin Deckchair Cinema

This outdoor cinema is a short walk from the Darwin city centre, the Deckchair Cinema is one of Darwins delights. It operates from April to November featuring Australian and world movies. Decent snacks are available, a licenced bar as well as a curry or similar on the week ends.

Walks

The western coastline of Darwin is prime for a afternoon sunset walk. From Mindal Beach to East Point a walking track offers a lovely meander along Darwins coastline. The Trailer Boat Club and Darwin Sailing Club provide the ideal location for a sundowner and a meal.

For a remote beach and sunset walk Casuarina Beach is a delight. Unspoilt and enjoyed only by fellow strollers (or runners) and their furry friends.

Stokes Hill Wharf

For a casual dining experience try the Wharf. Barramundi and chips are a staple, but Thai, snitzels, burgers etc are also available. Casual, outdoors, uncomplicated and reasonably priced. Large fish and dolphins often frequent the harbour below looking for a stray chip. Nice place for kids (but the lack of fencing is a worry for toddlers).

Barramundi Fishing

If you are inclined, a days barramundi fishing is a very Territorian experience. Loads of crocodiles, birdlife and wildlife as well as the barramundi. Generally a maximum of four in a boat. Offshore bluewater fishing is also excellent. Darwin Fishing in the harbour is also available.…

Packing Light, Travel Tips for Techies

The travel tips “pack light” has got to be one of the most overused pointers for the regular travelers and backpackers. With today’s technological advances, we no longer need to lug those awkward maps and those huge not so mobile phones, the really blurry cameras and the ever reliable disc man. Today, travelers can do away by just bringing their sleek mobile phones, iPod, digital camera and laptops. And since almost everything is booked online, there is no need to bring a folder full of receipts and tickets. It has never been easier to connect, and stay connected while travelling.

The problem is, because of the perceived modest size of all the gadgets, there is a tendency to over pack certain items that isn’t in the list of essentials.

The first gadget, the digital camera, and the biggest challenge, is photo storage. Ideally, if you already have a scheduled trip, or are a constant traveler, you should have already invested in the biggest memory card you can afford. If you can get two of these, all the better. While there are certain travel destinations that offer cheap tech stuff, there are more that offer the same products at a more expensive rate so best you bring your own. If you are travelling with your laptop, another option would be to immediately upload your photos on your computer as soon as you can.

The next gadget would be hand held mobile devices like smart phones and iPhones. Most providers offer automatic international roaming services, but using them excessively can result in a nasty phone bill when you return home. The best option would be to disable your data roaming feature, and instead, rely on getting online through wifi points throughout the location if there are any. If you are travelling to Europe for example, that are scattered with cafes that offer free wifi, you can cut your surfing expenses in half.

Thanks to apps and mobile features, if you do not have any serious work to be done with your laptop, almost everything is accessible via your handheld devices. It lets you communicate with your friends and family minus huge phone bills via Skype or gTalk.

Whatever tech gadgets you decide to bring, the most important thing to remember is to keep them safe. There are skins and jackets you can buy for your gadgets that can prevent any wear and tear that may be brought about by rough travelling.

There is no need to get carried away with packing gadgets. Remember that the best way to enjoy travelling is still to indulge yourself in the experience and culture, without worrying about the email that’s sitting on your laptop, or that you’re falling short on battery life.…

Frequent Flier Mile Tips

As someone that loves to travel but doesn’t do it as a full time job, making my travel as cheap as possible is of pretty high importance to me. To try to take some of the financial bite out of going on vacation, I’m now doing everything I can to maximize my frequent flier (FF) miles. Here’s what I’m doing:

One of the best ways to maximize your miles is to look for any opportunity to garner some miles. One of the best ways to do this is to sign up for programs that benefit each other. For example, I signed up a while back with Delta Skymiles as my frequent flier program. I found that the Hilton rewards program is partnered with Delta, so if you stay at a Hilton property you can get both Hilton rewards and Delta miles – bonus! Using this strategy got me miles for staying at a Doubletree for my brothers wedding.

Another way to find them is from business travel. Businesses often care less about minute price differences than a person will, so they’ll let you fly whatever airline you wish. My brother won an award at his work, and since he wasn’t part of any FF program we flew Delta and gave them my Skymiles number. More points for me!

Many of the FF programs also partner with retailers so you can get miles from purchasing the things you normally would. I don’t both with too many of these. Why? Often they’re specialty retailers and I can find the same items for much cheaper elsewhere – so much cheaper that it negates the bonus of receiving miles. However, Delta also partners with local restaurants, and this I definitely take advantage of. I go out to eat once or twice a week anyways, so I might as well get some FF miles while I do it. And at 3-5 miles per dollar spent, it can add up quickly!

If you don’t have a credit card that gets you miles, you’re definitely missing out. What credit card to get is very much up to you, and one of the biggest decisions is getting a card that gives miles for the program you’ve already signed up for, or a card that has generic FF miles so you can use them with any airline.

In general what you want to look for is a large sign-on bonus and benefits that align with your lifestyle. Travel insurance, no foreign-transaction fees, rental-car insurance, medical evacuation, and travel assistance with worldwide phone numbers are all credit card benefits that are very helpful for travelers.

I decided to go with the Chase Sapphire card, and I’ll tell you why. It has its own generic FF miles which works well for me. If I was a full-time traveler and flying much more frequently, I could probably get enough Delta miles to move up to their higher statuses, and this is when a specific program really becomes beneficial. However, I only vacation once or twice per year which isn’t enough to move up in their ranks. The price differences between airlines can be huge, so having generic points I can use on any airline is great. It also doesn’t have foreign-transaction fees, which is another benefit when using it over-seas.

It also gives two miles for every dollar spent on dining. Since I’m already using the card while dining out so I can get my Delta Dining miles, this works out very well. That means I get 5-7 total FF miles for every dollar I spend while eating out. It may not sound like too much, but you always have to eat, and it’s a great way to get miles in-between vacations. And for someone like me, that works well.

Frequent flier programs can be a bit slow-going if you’re not truly a frequent flier, but if you keep plugging away at it, little by little like a bank account, you’ll be able to build it up and eventually be rewarded with huge savings on your vacation.…

Utah: Jam-Packed With Tourist Attractions

A Bit Different from Typical Tourist Spots: Utah is situated in the western region of the United States. It was one of those states that joined the union lately. It is the 10th least densely populated state of USA as 80% of the total habitations are centered round the Salt Lake City. Vast expanse of the total area remains unspoiled because of the centralization of the habitation to a specific area. The name of the state has been originated from the name of the ‘Ute’ tribe, one of the earlier native groups of the region, which means ‘people of the mountains’. This place is suitable for spending a nice vacation especially for those people who love outdoors. Apart from a lot of typical tourist attractions, it has a lot more to offer. Its outstanding view of the vast wilderness is surely something to notice.

Some Attractive Offerings: If planned and organized well, a Utah vacation can give people some memorable experiences to be relished for the rest of their life. It contains a lot of spots that can provide endless fun and excitement that every tourist aspires when went for a vacation. People who love rafting or skiing can choose this place without any hesitation. Some of the best skiing and rafting adventures are waiting for them in Utah. If snowboarding is one’s interest, there are resorts ready to offer it to him/her. It has a number of golf courses that allow the visitors to play in. People can have a slightly unusual vacation experience by opting for a spa trip. This place has so many spa resorts that can offer varieties of spa treatments setting on the background of either a silent, quiet town, or a famous resort. In fact, picking a spa treatment can make the travelers all out refreshed and rejuvenated before heading home.

The Attractions of the Salt Lake City: Utah has so many spots to offer the visitors and let them to experience all the thrills and excitements that a mountain centered region can offer. A lot of tourists come to this place only for visiting the Salt Lake City. This city alone can replete the vacation of people in all parts. The sights and cultural activities of this city do not allow visitors to stay idle. The number one attraction of the city is the Hogle Zoo. By offering train ride and chance of watching over hundred species of animals, this zoo never fails to captivate people. To learn the a-to-z of the telescopic stuffs, tourists can visit the Clark Planetarium. It has a Giant Earth globe and exhibits images from Hubble Telescope. There are plenty of other entertainments too including various shows in the domes. For children there is a museum called Discovery Gateway. It has a thirty feet tall beehive as well as a lot of other interactive exhibits that are enough to keep a family busy for the whole day. Taking a trip to the Raging Water can be a luxury in the hot summer time. The city has a lot more other attractive spots than these above-mentioned places. However, the whole province is filled with thrills and attractions like this city is. The Old West, National Parks, Cataract Canyon, Park City, etc. are some of tips to the iceberg. Utah is jam-packed with tourist entertainments that are worth visiting.…

A Mini-Guide to Some of the Most Unusual Hotels in the World

Do you have an inquisitive spirit? You might want to plan your next vacation at one of the following hotels.

Largest Hotel in the World

Vegas: With over 7000 rooms, the Venetian/Palazzo Megacenter in Las Vegas has been designated as the largest hotel in the world. It houses 19 restaurants, 80 boutiques, and four bars. Entertainment offered by the hotel includes standup comedy and specialty acts like the Blue Man Group.

Las Vegas is also home to several other hotels in the top 10 largest in the world group.

Largest Floating Hotel

London UK: Dubai plans to put the finishing touches on the world’s largest yacht hotel in 2012. The Aquiva will accommodate about 300 guests and will be moored in the Thames as the 2012 Olympics begin. It will rise 75 feet above the waterline with seven decks and a fleet of water taxis to transport guests.

Tallest Hotel

Dubai UAE: The Rose Tower in Dubai is a whopping 333 meters (1093 ft.) high. With 72 floors, it is the tallest finished/occupied hotel in the world. The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea is a close second at 330 m. However, construction is incomplete and this hotel has never been occupied.

Largest Treetop Hotel in the World

Manaus, Brazil: The Ariau Amazon Towers is surrounded by the natural beauty and wild majesty of the Amazon Rainforest. Located 35 miles from Manaus at the confluence of the Rio Negro and Ariau Creek, it is the only resort hotel built completely at treetop level in the jungle. This eco-friendly hotel boasts the ultimate in eco-tourism adventure – from swimming with rare pink dolphins to trekking through the rainforest. Eight wooden towers house 268 rooms, suites, and tree houses.

Underground Cave Hotel

Coober Pedy, South Australia: The Desert Cave Hotel presents accommodations both below and above ground. Enjoy dining, convention facilities, underground shops, bar, and opal display areas. It is located in the outback sandstone formations of the “Opal Capital of the World”. Specialized tours are available for guests who want to venture out into the unique scenery of the outback.

Coldest Hotel in the World

Tomamu, Shimukapppu, Japan: The Ice Hotel, open for just a few months a year, is among the most unusual hotels in the world. Hokkaido is the northernmost island of Japan; the village is one of its coldest areas. Entrepreneurs have turned bone-chilling temperatures into a tourist attraction, complete with rooms carved out of ice. Extra activities include hot air balloon rides and dog sled tours.

If dinner served on an ice plate isn’t your thing, maybe you would like to try a hotel in one of the hottest cities in the world, Timbuktu!

Hottest Hotels in the World

Timbuktu, Mali: This ancient, scorching-hot city is located on the fringes of the Sahara Desert. Any hotel here would classify as one of the hottest in the world. However, do not expect the amenities and services of five-star hotels. Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an impoverished small community of about 15,000 occupants. Founded in the 11th century, it has a long and colorful history.…

Cabin rentals can be an excellent investment for those looking to make a little money while on vacation. But ensuring you are getting the most out of your investment is essential.

The best cabin rentals will have some key features you should look for. These include location, size & layout, amenities, cleanliness, and affordability.

They Can Be a Great Investment

Whether you’re looking to buy a cabin for your use or as an investment property, owning one has many benefits.

Unlike hotels, cabins provide an escape from the hustle and bustle of life. They also allow you to slow down, enjoy nature, and recharge your batteries.

Before investing in a cabin, visit it and get a feel for how it makes you feel. That will help you determine if it fits your needs correctly.

They Are a Great Way to Enjoy the Outdoors

If you’re looking for an activity to get your blood pumping, the outdoors is the place to be. There’s a lot of research to show that outdoor activities can boost your mood, lower stress levels, and improve your health.

If you want to see the best of the outdoors, look no further than a cabin rental. Typically, they come equipped with the basics (sleeping accommodations, indoor restrooms, a kitchen), but some may also include on-site activities, curated outdoor spaces, or a local area guide. The best ones will be able to accommodate guests of all ages and interests.

They Are a Great Way to Make Money

A cabin rental can be a great way to make money, especially if you want to pay off debts or supplement your retirement income. It’s also a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family.

To make the most of your cabin, clean it frequently and add luxury touches like a fireplace or outdoor hot tubs. Guests will be more likely to book your vacation home if it’s located in an attractive location, so take advantage of the natural scenery around you.

They Are a Great Way to Travel

Cabin rentals like in Beavers Bend Broken Bow cabins can be a great way to escape it all and enjoy nature. They are often nestled in a beautiful location and have all the expected cozy amenities, like fireplaces and hot tubs.

They can also be a great way to earn extra money while you’re at it. However, do your research before you start renting out a cabin for profit. Determining what kind of business you need to be licensed for is essential. It would help if you also considered getting a good insurance policy.

They Are a Great Way to Spend Time with Family

Spending quality time with your family can strengthen relationships and create lifelong memories. This is especially true for children who often need to feel like they belong and are part of something special.

One of the best ways to accomplish this is by going on vacation or finding a new activity that your family can enjoy together. This could be as simple as visiting a local museum, taking a family walk, or playing board games.

They Are a Great Way to Stay in a Remote Area

If you’re looking for a place to stay in a remote area, cabin rentals are a great choice. They offer quiet, a great view of the outdoors, and a variety of amenities.

One of the best things about staying in a cabin is that it gives you more privacy than a hotel. This means you can chat with your neighbors and enjoy the beautiful surroundings without hearing noise from people passing by. If you’re looking for a peaceful place to stay in a remote area, cabin rentals are the perfect option. Unlike hotels, which are located in crowded areas and often come with thin walls that can interfere with your sleep, cabins are hidden away from busy roads and highways.

However, living in a remote area can be lonely at times. Therefore, it’s essential to have a few things available in case you ever need them. One of these is an internet connection.…