Saving Money in New York

October 17, 2018January 8, 2019 ~ Xen18 ~ Leave a comment

By Laura Jemetta

I have visited New York on a limited budget, and had the time of my life! Below are some tips for saving money in New York. Make sure you also check out my post on free things to do in New York.

Take Advantage of the Subway

New York’s subway system is not only well-run and convenient, it is an inexpensive way to see New York City, in fact, I don’t think you’ve really seen New York until you’ve taken full advantage of the subway.

The beating heart of New York City, the subway system is actually very user-friendly, and can get you anywhere you need to go in Manhattan or the outer boroughs, quickly and easily. While the multi-coloured map with it’s criss-crossing lines can seem overwhelming at first, once you get the hang of it, catching the subway is really simple.

Each subway line is denoted by a colour and a number or letter, and these are displayed on the entrance to each subway station. All you need to do is find your nearest subway station, check that it’s serviced by the line you need, and know whether you’re heading uptown or downtown.

My advice: don’t bother with New York’s taxi’s. Though the sheer abundance of them can be alluring, because of the traffic, it takes significantly longer to get anywhere in a taxi, and they are prohibitively expensive. Instead, try relying on the subway, (and your own feet), to carry you around New York; you won’t find a cheaper, or more quintessentially ‘New York’ experience than this.

Check out TKTS

Do you love the theatre? Then if you’re in New York, I’m sure you’re excited for Broadway. Theatre in New York can certainly be expensive though, especially tickets for the most sought after shows, but luckily there are ways that you can save money on Broadway tickets.

TKTS is one of them; this discounted ticket vendor has a booth in Times Square, and if you are willing to line up, you can get same-day tickets for most of the best shows at up to 50% off! Now, the queues can be something close to horrendous, but the line does move quickly, and I really believe the wait is worth it for the huge discounts you can get. Keep in mind, you can also check out the other two TKTS locations, where the lines are likely to be shorter.

By utilising TKTS and being willing to wait a while, I was able to afford to see several Broadway shows instead of just the one full priced one, which made my New York trip so special. Make sure to check out Kate’s article ‘How To Save Money on Broadway Tickets’ for some more tips on ways to get discounted tickets.

Visit New York’s Museums

Taking advantage of the many museums in New York, is an inexpensive way to experience the city. Many of New York’s museums run on a ‘suggested donation’ system, where you are not obligated to pay anything to gain entry into the museum. Rather, there is a suggested amount that you can donate towards the running and upkeep of the museum.

This is a great honesty system; the idea being that you pay what you can afford at the time. If you can’t afford to donate much when you visit the next time, perhaps next time you are in New York, you will be in a position to donate more.

The Skyscraper Museum, the Museum of Chinese America and the New York City Fire Museum are all inexpensive to visit, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum both run on the suggested donation system. And even better, you can see the Frick Collection for free on Saturdays 11-1pm, and you can get into the MoMa on Fridays between 4-8pm for free too!

A (Bad) Day in Paris

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By Kate Arnold

Paris is undoubtably a beautiful city but when I visited I didn’t have a great experience. This was down to a few reasons, some in my control, some not. Travelling isn’t always a breeze and it isn’t alway awe inspiring, character building and life affirming. Sometimes it’s just a bit shit.

Here’s a sonnet I found in my journal that I wrote, holed up in my hostel in Paris:

— Dear Paris, fuck you

So it goes, I did not love this city
such as I always thought I would
It smells like piss, ev’ry surface gritty
It did not look like I thought it should.
Beautiful monuments not worth the cost
Local’s hatred for tourists: resolute
Pick-pockets prey on the young and the lost
Oh — that was an actual prostitute.
In the time it took to buy one ticket
three men asked for any change I mightn’t need.
I have never seen so many children
and their mother’s living on the street.
Dear Paris, fuck you, your unkind natives
And fuck the four days that I’ve wasted.

Yeah. It’s not the best poem I’ve ever written and I never thought it would ever see the light of day (that half rhyme of ‘ticket’ and ‘children’? not my finest work), and needless to say this was not the adoring poem I thought I’d be writing to this famed city of love. I was mad. Mad at the city, mad at the locals, mad at the other tourists.

Time and Money Wasted

It’s no secret that travelling isn’t cheap and I felt like I’d wasted so much money going to a place where I felt alone, unsafe and in general, unhappy. It would have been better for me to have stayed in London, which I love, and I would have enjoyed myself more. I kept thinking that I was wasting so much time. This trip was little over a month long and I felt like I needed to enjoy every minute of it. Sure, I went and saw Ground zero, Notre Dame, Shakespeare & Co. and of course, the Eiffel Tower. I went to the Louvre and saw Mona Lisa. I went on a cruise along the Seine. There were shinning moments but in general I was les misérables.

The Football (or Soccer)

Here’s a big mistake I made: I didn’t check to see if the soccer (I’m Australian so that’s what I’m going to call it) was on. Why would I? I don’t care about sports. It didn’t even cross my mind except when I was trying to book the Euro Star and thought Huh, I wonder why tickets are £300? It didn’t occur to me that this would mean the city would be more crowded than usual. The flow on effects of this were immense:

Everything cost more,
Locals were sick of tourists, which meant that
They could be pretty nasty, and there were
Large groups of men were EVERYWHERE and they were
Drinking from 10am in public (where there are minimal free public toilets), thus
EVERYWHERE (I’m talking the streets, the stations, the eateries, the shops) smelled like urine

I Was Alone

By this I don’t mean that I was unhappy to be alone in this city of love and romance. I mean that I got lost. I was targeted by pick-pockets and people asking for money. I couldn’t overcome the language barrier well. I found the public transport difficult to navigate. My mentality when travelling and getting lost is always just to ask someone, but whenever I did I was met with such hostility. I felt very unwelcome in Paris.

Brexit

This one is another example of poor timing. I arrived off my sleeper bus from London at 9am on the day that it was announced the UK was leaving the EU. As an English speaker (as I’ve said my French is très mal) locals assumed I was British and did not treat me favourably for it.

Homeless Mothers and Children (and Prostitutes)

I’ve never been anywhere that I’ve seen mothers and their children living on the streets. It was profoundly disturbing to see this. I had so little money, being close to the end of my trip, that I didn’t have much to give any of them. I have great guilt about walking past homeless people, even in Melbourne, but I know that I can’t stop and talk to every one of them and I can’t give them all money. Seeing young children sitting on bridges and outside train stations while their mothers beg for money, while I was privileged enough to be travelling outside my own country made me feel as though I was wasting my money on my own self indulgences, when I should be donating to homeless shelters and charities that would help these people out.

Similarly, I was on my way to Notre Dame when I passed a woman standing on the street and I just thought: She is a prostitute. An actual prostitute. It was like something out of Les Misérables. I saw a man, at least twice her age, walk up to her, take her hand and she led him into the building. I felt so sad for her. And look, I’m not naive enough to think that there aren’t homeless mothers and children and prostitutes in the world but it’s one thing know it and another to see it and seeing theses people in these terrible situations in such a beautiful city was extremely confronting.

Here on Xen. we talk so much about how travelling is so wonderful and life affirming, but it isn’t always the case. Travelling can be lonely, you can feel homesick or lost. You can be in an iconic, beautiful city, somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, and not know why you’re there. I don’t want to discourage anyone from travelling alone. It is an amazing experience that I think everyone should experience at least once, if you have the chance. Just know that, like in life, travelling has its ups and downs. And don’t worry, my trip got much better after this. I headed to Amsterdam and had a great time. Check my article on the hidden gems of Amsterdam here!

I’d love to hear about any travelling experiences that didn’t live up to your expectations and why that was. Leave a comment and let me know.

How To Save Money on Broadway Tickets

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By Kate Arnold

Broadway New York City Times Square — Photo by Daniela Echavez on Pexels.com

If you love theatre as much as I do (which is A LOT), then you’ll know that going to shows isn’t cheap. I went to New York last year and I was determined to see as many shows as I could on (and Off) Broadway but I was on a serious budget. Here’s how I saved money on Broadway tickets and a few other methods as well.

TKTS Booth

The TKTS Booth is in Times Square and you can buy rush tickets for select shows that same day. You won’t find tickets for Hamilton or The Lion King but there are always great deals on great shows. Laura and I got our Anastasia tickets through this method and saved around 40%. You can get up to 50% off shows but there’s no way to know which shows will have tickets available until the day of. Theatres give the booth the tickets that they haven’t sold yet so that the shows are more likely to sell out. This means there’s no way to know how good the seats available will be until you get to the window and ask and you probably won’t have a lot of choice. If you’re interested in seeing a play check out the ‘Plays Only’ line, which tends to be much shorter. You can buy up to six tickets from the booth but ONLY buy from the windows at the booth. NEVER trust people standing on the street or walking through the lines claiming to be employees of TKTS, they are scammers. As it gets closer to curtain rising the lines will get shorter and prices may get cheaper but more and more shows will sell out so if you don’t have one show in mind that you really want to see it might be worth waiting but you may also be disappointed. You can ONLY buy tickets from TKTS in person, never over the phone or online.

Return Ticket Line

While I was in New York I was dying to see Dear Evan Hansen and I was entering the lottery every day, which I never won. Finally, on my last day I decided to try the return ticket line and I ended up getting an unclaimed lottery ticket for only $42! It was a standing ticket but I had a great view and it was completely worth spending the two hours in line. If you are going to try the returns line there are a few things you should know:

It’s first in best dressed. I recommend looking up the time the box office opens and aim to get in line by that time if not a bit before
You could be standing in line for hours, in my experience each time has been around two hours but it could definitely be longer
You will be offered a ticket that someone has phoned it to get a refund on because they cannot attend the show, you will have to pay face value for the ticket and you don’t get a choice where you get to sit or how much you have to pay
You can pass up a ticket if it’s too expensive for you or if you’d like something with a better view but there’s no guarantee that something better (if anything) will come along
There is no guarantee that you will get a ticket

Today Tix

Today Tix is a website or smartphone app that can give you great discounts on tickets for popular shows. You’ll find tickets for Mean Girls, Come From Away and Book of Mormon from $69, School of Rock, Anastasia and Lifespan of a Fact starring Daniel Radcliffe from $59, Chicago and Waitress from $50, Avenue Q from $45, Fun Home from $35, Puffs! The Play from $22. I never got around to getting a ticket from Today Tix, I had my eye on a performance of Come From Away but sadly I ran out of time.

Broadway Box

Broadway Box is similar to Today Tix but there are select shows that have discounts, usually mid-week and matinees, and you use a discount code to get the special prices. You can buy these discounted tickets through the Broadway Box website or app or you can give the code to your sales person at the box office and get the ticket in person. I bought tickets for both Chicago and Puffs! The Play though this website using various discount codes. On Broadway Box you can get Waitress tickets up to 70% off, Kinky Boots up to 40% off, Anastasia and Chicago up to $50 off, Puffs! The Play up to 29% off, Avenue Q up to 38% off and many more.

Lotteries

Sadly I didn’t win any lotteries but they’re worth giving a try. Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are all shows that are expensive to go to, hard to get tickets to and often sold out so I’d recommend trying these ones.

To enter the Hamilton lottery you need to download the Hamilton app. You can enter to get up to two tickets and if you win, tickets only cost a Hamilton ($10 each). There are lottery tickets available for every show.

The Dear Evan Hansen lottery is also online and you have until midnight the day before the performance to enter and you can win up to two tickets. Winners for matinee performances will be drawn and notified around 9am on the day of the performance and will receive email instructions on how to proceed. You must complete your purchase of the tickets by 11am and you can pick up you ticket 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the show. The protocol for evening performances is similar. You will be notified around 2pm and you must complete your purchase by 4pm.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child does lotteries a little differently. They call it the Friday 40 where they release 40 tickets for every show in the upcoming week for $40 ($20 per part). The Friday 40 opens at 12.01 every Friday morning (Thursday night) and is open until 1pm on Friday afternoon. Winners will be notified between 1 and 5pm and will have one hour to buy the tickets. Due to the split nature of the show, Cursed Child runs four performances each week. Again, you can win up to two tickets and you can enter the lottery here.

NOTE: If you have your heart set on seeing any one of these three shows I’d recommend buying them full price in advance as chances of winning any of these lotteries is slim.

Being a theatregoer isn’t a cheap hobby so I look for discounts wherever I can get them, especially while travelling. Let me know how you scored cheap theatre tickets or if you’re going to try any of the methods I outlined above. If you’re headed to New York sometime soon check out Laura’s articles on 5 Free Things to do in NYC and how to use the New York Subway System.

10 Free Things to do in Melbourne

October 14, 2018January 8, 2019 ~ Xen18 ~ Leave a comment

By Kate Arnold

Visiting Melbourne can be kind of expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s plenty of free things you can do if you are on a budget. Here’s 10 free things to add to your to do list if you’re travelling in Melbourne.

1. Take a Tour of the Street Art

Melbourne is renown for it’s graffiti and street art culture, so while you’re in the city you’d be remiss is you didn’t seek any out. Hosier Lane is the most famous graffiti street, which you find off Flinders Lane. Continue on to AC/DC Lane and Union Lane to see more incredible street art.

2. Say Hi to the Penguins on St. Kilda Pier

On a sunny day the St. Kilda beaches are full of swimmers, sunbathers and kite-surfers. Take a towel and a book and spend a chilled day reading on the sand, or bring your swimmers and take a dip in the sea if it’s a warm enough day. But don’t go away when the sun goes down; at sunset you’ll see the fairy penguins returning to land.

3. Jump on the City Circle Tram

Trams in Melbourne are a way of life for locals but the City Circle Tram (route 35) is completely free and audio guide will tell you all about the sites that you pass on your commute. You’ll see places such as Federation Square, Melbourne Aquarium, Docklands, Parliament House, the Princess Theatre and the City Museum as you travel in on of Melbourne’s classic W-Class trams. The City Circle runs in both directions every 12 minutes from 10 am – 6 pm Sunday to Wednesday and from 10 am – 9 pm from Thursday to Saturday.

4. Hang Out at the State Library of Victoria

Libraries are a great place to take a breather (and charge your phone!) while travelling. If you’re desperate for some free wifi and somewhere to sit in peace and quite you’ll find it at SLV. The library has some of Melbourne’s most famous architecture is a free exhibition of full of old books and texts that is always available to visit.

5. Have a Picnic at the Royal Botanical Gardens

The Royal Botanical Gardens are the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Take some lunch for a picnic or take advantage of the free walking tours that are held everyday. These tours begin at 10:30 am and 2 pm and each run for about an hour and a half. A guide will talk you through the different types of flora and fauna in the gardens while you take a stroll though the park.

6. Pay Your Respects at the Shrine of Remembrance

While you’re at the Royal Botanical Gardens you might as well look in at the Shrine of Remembrance, where you’ll find a memorial to the Victorian soldiers who fought in World War I, relics from the war and the eternal flame, which has been burning since 1954 when it was lit by the Queen to commemorate those who perished in World War II. From the Shrine you’ll see stunning views of Melbourne skyline

7. National Gallery of Victoria International

On your way back to the city from the Shrine of Remembrance you’ll pass the NGV International, where their ongoing collection of international art at the Ian Potter Centre is always free to visit. You’ll find a range of names that you recognise such as Picasso and Monet on as you wander around the gallery. NGV International is also the home of the worlds largest stained glass ceiling, where you will find people lying on the floor to get a good view.

8. Head to Spleen Bar on Burke Street for a Free Comedy Show

Every Monday night Spleen Bar holds free comedy nights (though a gold coin donation is appreciated). Some of Melbourne’s best comedians, such as Wil Anderson, Claire Hooper, Tom Ballard, Frank Woodley, Sammy J and Josh Thomas have performed at Spleen. Grab a drink and get ready for some laughs

9. Trivia Night at Common Man at South Wharf

Tuesday night is Trivia Night at Common Man, which is free to enter, grab some friends to form a team and test your knowledge. Drink specials are also on offer as well as $10 pizzas to complete your bargain evening.

10. Check Out a Market

Melbourne is full of markets that you can take a stroll through, the most famous being the Queen Victoria Markets, where you will find gadgets, clothing and toys as well as food and fresh fruit and vegetables. The Camberwell Markets are on every Sunday mornings and though they do require a gold coin donation for entry, you’ll find secondhand and vintage clothes, jewellery, shoes, books and other bric-a-brac. The Rose Street Artists’ Market in Fitzroy is full of local artwork. There’s also Esplanade Market in St Kilda and the Sister’s Market in Brunswick. A trip to any one of these markets would be a great excuse to get out of the CBD and check out one of these ultra hip suburbs.

Spending a day in Melbourne doesn’t have to be expensive. There’s so much to do in this city that doesn’t cost a cent. If you check out any of these places, let us know! What’s your favourite free thing to do in your city? Don’t forget to check out Laura’s article on free things you can do in New York City!

How To Save For A Trip

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By Kate Arnold

Planning for a trip can be so fun, saving for one… Not so much. Here are some of my tips and tricks to make saving for a trip easier.

Set a Goal

First thing is first, you need to set a goal. Work out how much you want (or need) to take away with you and what time frame you have to save it up in. You need to know exactly how much of every pay check you need to put away. Say you have eight months (or 32 weeks) and you want to save $10,000, this means (if you get paid weekly) you’ll need to put $312.5 of each pay check into your holiday fund.

Put it Out of Reach

Set up an account that is for your designated holiday fund, preferably with another institution to your regular bank so that when you are doing your everyday banking you don’t see that money there. If the money is out of sight and out of mind you won’t be tempted to skim a little off the top when you’re dying for a fro-yo and you’re waiting for pay day to come around. Make sure this money is safely stored away in a savings account with high interest and no card attached to the account. Bonus points if there’s a waiting period for transferring the money back into your regular account that you can spend from. Most institutions allow you to rename your accounts and if you have this option then you should take advantage of this feature and rename the account ‘Holiday Fund’ or ‘Japan Trip 2018’. This will remind you what this money is for if you are ever tempted to skim some money off the top.

Sell Your Stuff

If you look around you, you can probably find something that you don’t like or need that you can sell on eBay or Gum Tree. The average person have $2000 worth of unwanted items in their house, including old models of phones and laptops, unused furniture and appliances and barely worn clothing. Have a look and see what you could turn into money.

Get a Side Hustle

Whether it’s baby sitting, dog walking, waiting tables, taking online surveys, tutoring, delivering Uber Eats or Uber driving there’s a side hustle out there that will earn you a bit extra dosh that you can put towards your holiday. You could start freelancing if you have any writing, photography or editing skills. What ever kind of side hustle you get, if you get it with the intention of bolstering your holiday fund, make sure 100% of your earnings go into your designated holiday account.

Know Where You Spend

Before you can change your spending habits you need to be aware of your current ones. Print out three months worth of bank statements and go through each transaction, highlighting any transactions you don’t remember buying as well as all of your purchases of dinner and drinks out, getting take away or ordering in, going to see movies, concerts or show and shopping for things you don’t need.

Embrace Frugality

If you are saving for a holiday (or anything) you need to rethink where you spend your money and you need to reduce the amount of disposable spending you do. Disposable purchases are things like shopping, entertainment or dining out, which should be the first things you cut out of your budget.

Tell Your Friends

Accountability is huge when it comes to finance goals and having a friend hold you accountable can be just the drive you need to stick to your goals. If you are travelling with a friend you can become saving buddies and check in with each other’s progress and talk about your saving strategies. Telling your friends (and family) will also help make them aware that you’re committed to not spending excessively for the moment and that you don’t currently have room in your budget for eating out and going to see movies. If they invite you to go out for dinner, remind them that you are saving for your trip and instead invite them to your place for a meal that you can make and enjoy with wine. If a friend asks you to go see a movie with you, suggest that they instead come over and watch a Netflix movie/TV show with snacks, drinks and blanket forts. Cinemas can’t compete with blanket forts.

Treat Yo Self

Saving hard core can be dispiriting, especially when you feel like you are missing out on going out with your friends and depriving yourself. Don’t forget to treat yourself when you hit milestones. Maybe you and your friend can go out for a cocktail after you’ve saved your first $1000. Maybe you can go out for your favourite meal when you’ve hit the half way mark. Maybe you can buy a book that you are really excited about or get a cheap ticket to a concert or show that you really want to see. Don’t go overboard and spend hundreds of dollars and undo all your hard work but plan something that you can look forward to while you’re deep in the midst of frugality.

Saving money can be the least exciting part of planning a trip but if you implement some of these tips into your strategy you’ll find financing your holiday less painful. What are your tips for saving for a trip? Leave a comment, let’s create a wealth of money saving knowledge.

How to Save Money at Disney World

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By Laura Jemetta

In this post, I share my tips for visiting Disney on a budget.

Plan Your Meals

Planning your meals carefully can be really good for your wallet. When I was at Disney, I made sure to eat a filling breakfast before getting to the Park – this was my first defense against unnecessary spending. When I was hungry again, I snacked on inexpensive things like popcorn, and instead saved my money for a nice quick service meal for dinner.

Stay Hydrated Without Breaking the Bank

Staying hydrated at the Parks is essential, especially in Orlando and California. Did you know that you can get free iced water at any kiosk or quick service restaurant? All you have to do is ask. My advice: skip the expensive sugary drinks in favor of the healthiest and cheapest option – good old water!

Take Advantage of Disney’s Free Experiences

Can’t afford character dining or the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique? Don’t worry – some of the most magical Disney experiences are actually free. Grab a spot on Main Street, or outside Adventureland and catch the Parade. It is a spectacle of colour, music and dance, and you can see all your favourite characters pass by. Of course, the Parade ends with everybody’s favourite; Mickie and Minnie, and the kids will love getting a wave from them from atop their float. There are also heaps of opportunities to meet your favourite character for free. Meet Ariel in her grotto, the Princesses at Fairytale Hall, or be lucky enough to spot a rare character out and about around the Park. Make sure you also catch the fireworks – trust us, you’ve never seen fireworks like Disney does fireworks. The show is magnificent, (and free!) – spectacularly set to your favourite Disney songs and bursting with colour, don’t be surprised if they move you to tears!

Skip Most of the Souvenirs

Don’t get me wrong – you don’t have to forego the souvenirs entirely! Just be smart about what you buy. Skip the edible treats and the balloons – they won’t last past your trip to the Parks, and you won’t be able to carry that balloon back with you on the plane. Perhaps give the Mickey ears a pass too, (I know; unpopular opinion) – will you ever wear them again once you get home? Think about getting practical things instead; things that you will be able to use or look at every day. One of my favourite souvenirs is the Magic Kingdom mug I picked up at the Starbucks on Main Street. I use it every day, and it makes me think of the magic of Disney each time.

What are your tips for saving money at Disney World or Disneyland? Let me know in the comments below if any of my tips are helpful to you! And don’t forget to check out my post about our day at the Magic Kingdom.

The Best Beaches on Oahu

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By Laura Jemetta

Waikiki Beach

You can’t go to Honolulu or stay in Waikiki without going to Waikiki Beach. You will have seen this beach in those tourism shots of Hawaii, and it is just as beautiful in person. Crowded at almost every time of the day, Waikiki is a pristine, white sand beach with the bluest of blue water. The ocean is usually dotted with surfboards and outriggers, which are both a fantastic way for you to experience the beach. If you prefer, you can sit on the sand and watch the surfers, enjoying Diamond Head to your left, and Honolulu to your right. Whichever way you choose to enjoy Waikiki Beach, my tip is don’t let the tourists deter you; just join them and take in the beauty around you.

Waialae Beach Park

Waialae is a beautiful and more secluded beach about 10 minutes east of Waikiki. This is a beautiful beach for a walk or a picnic, and a great place to take some beautiful palm trees. This beach is less popular with the tourists and more popular with the locals, but we recommend taking the short drive to Waialae for a peaceful retreat from bustling Waikiki. Waialae’s more secluded atmosphere, along with the palm trees and blue, blue ocean make it a popular choice for Hawaiian weddings; in fact, I chose it as the location for my parent’s 30th wedding anniversary vow-renewal.

The North Shore Beaches

Is this a cop-out? Maybe. But I couldn’t choose just one beach on the North Shore, because as a whole, the North Shore is known for both its swells, and it’s beauty. The beaches of the North Shore stretch for more than seven miles up the coast of Oahu, and are home to some of the biggest waves in Hawaii, and some of the best surfing competitions in the world. Less busy and bustling than the beaches around Waikiki, the North Shore offers a laid-back taste of the real Hawaii. Rent a car and explore Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, or Ehukai Beach; also known as the Banzai Pipeline. If you go during the winter months, you will be rewarded with some of the biggest swells you’ll ever see – just remember to leave them for the professional surfers, and don’t attempt to swim or surf on the North Shore.

Halona Beach Cove

Halona Beach Cove is a secluded cove on the East Shore of Oahu which is colloquially known as ‘Eternity Beach’ because part of the movie “From Here to Eternity” was filmed here. The cove can only be accessed by a hike down steep and jagged rocks, so make sure you wear proper shoes if you plan on heading down. If you are brave enough to take the hike, (I wasn’t!), you will find a small and beautiful beach at the bottom, which is perfect for sitting and watching the ocean, or maybe for a picnic. Just remember not to try and swim here, as the water can be dangerous, and there are definitely no lifeguards here. If you do visit Halona Beach Cove, don’t forget to check out the blowhole a little beyond the cove; it is pretty spectacular in itself!

If you’re in/going to Oahu check out our article on must see places while you’re there. Let me know in the comments below what your favourite beaches on Oahu are!

Universal’s Best Kept Secret: The Single Rider Line

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By Laura Jemetta

Universal's Best Kept Secret_ The Single Rider Line.jpg

That’s right, many rides at Universal Orlando have a Single Rider Line, which is a free way to skip ahead of the general line for some of Universal’s most popular attractions.

Really?

Yes, the Single Rider line allows you to access a special queue especially for single riders, significantly shortening your wait times.

So, what does this mean?

Generally, guests opt to be seated with their friends and family on the rides themselves, which can result in a spare single seat in a row or carriage. As a single rider, you opt fill that spare seat where needed. The wait times in the Single Rider line are significantly shorter, for what I consider to be the small trade-off of not sitting beside your friend or family member for the duration of the ride.

But don’t despair!

You still queue up with your loved ones, and only say goodbye to them for the two or three minutes of the ride. In fact, the many times I used the Single Rider line at Universal, Kate and I ended up seated next to each other on the ride anyway!

Think of it this way: you won’t be chatting to your friend on the ride anyway, so why not save yourself the two hour wait in line for Gringotts?

MY TOP-TIP

For both Gringotts and The Forbidden Journey in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, take the general line for your first time riding, no matter how long the wait. Both have a spectacular walk-through queue that you have to see at least once.

Tell me in the comments below: have you taken advantage of the Single Rider Line at Universal Studios? What did you think of it?

Your Guide to the London Underground

October 9, 2018January 8, 2019 ~ Xen18 ~ 3 Comments

By Kate Arnold

The Tube is very easy to navigate once you have a map and you know where you want to go. It’s a cheap and quick way to get around central London as well as getting out to further away towns and attractions. If you’re going to London, getting yourself an Oyster Card is an absolute must. Your Oyster Card will allow you access on, not only the Tube but the buses (yes, the double-decker buses) and trams, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), the London Overground, the Transport for London (TfL) Rail as well as most National Rail services.

Trains in Central London run about every two to ten minutes during peak hours. The Victoria, Piccadilly, Central, Jubilee and Northern lines run 24-hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

See a larger version of the Tube map here.

Oyster Card

There are two types of Oyster Cards that you can get if you are a tourist in London. The Visitors Oyster Card must be bought in advance and mailed to you before you arrive in London. It will cost you £5 plus postage. When you order your Visitors Oyster Card you can pre-load it with ‘pay as you go credit’. If you’re staying for two days it’s recommended that you top your card up with at least £15, for four days, load the card with £30. You can top up your card if it runs out at a machine at all Tube stations. Pay as you go is much cheaper than buying single ride tickets or even a Travel Day Card, plus rides are capped per day. If you are travelling within zone 1 and 2 your Oyster card will be capped at £6.80; a Travel Day Card for the same zones will cost you £12.70. If you get the Visitors Oyster Card you can enjoy some special offers such as 2-for-1 West End Tickets, up to 25% off museum entrance tickets as well as food, drink and experience discounts and more.

If you don’t order your Visitors Oyster Card before you leave then you can buy a regular Oyster Card at a TfL centre at Heathrow. You won’t get the special discounts but you have the ability to load a 7-day Travelcard to your Oyster Card, which will allow you to travel as much as you want during the week for a flat fee, which can save you some money. Everyone needs to have their own Oyster Cards if they are travelling on the Tube, Overground, buses, etc., including children over the age of 11.

Top Tip:
Avoid travelling during peak times (Monday – Friday: 6.30am – 9.30am and 4pm – 7pm, excluding public holidays). You will save money on your train fares and the buses and trains will be much less crowded.

Connecting Stations

Connector stations are the lifeblood of the Underground system and there are so many around Central London that getting around is so easy. Here are some of the main connecters and the lines that they service:

Kings Cross/St. Pancras

Piccadilly, Victoria, Hammersmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan, Northern

Baker’s Street

Bakerloo, Metropolitan, Circle, Jubilee, Hammersmith & City

Waterloo

Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Waterloo & City

Oxford Circus

Central, Bakerloo, Victoria

Green Park

Piccadilly, Victoria, Jubilee

Liverpool Street

Central, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City

Moorgate

Northern, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City

Paddington

District, Hammersmith & City, Bakerloo, Circle,

Embankment

Northern, District, Circle, Bakerloo

International Transport

Heathrow Airport is serviced by the Piccadilly line. The Eurostar leaves from St. Pancras International Station, which is connected to Kings Cross. International buses (to France, Spain, Italy, Prague, Germany and more though Euro Lines) leave from Victoria Station, which is on the Embankment, Victoria and Circle lines.

Top Tip:
Take your Oyster Card back when you’re leaving and you’ll get back the £5 that you paid for it plus any spare money you have on it. If you have less than £10 on the card you can get this money plus your £5 deposit from the ticket machine at Heathrow airport. If you have more than £10 on the card you get the refund from the TfL Visitor Centre, which is outside Terminal 1, 2 and 3 of Heathrow and is open daily from 7am to 8:30pm. All refunds will be in cash. The £5 deposit refund is not available to you if you have purchased the Visitors Oyster Card but you can get back any money that you have left on the card.

Get yourself a map of the Underground and an Oyster Card and you’ll be travelling around like a born Londoner in no time. Heading to New York? Check out our article on the New York Subway System. What are your tips for using the London Underground? I’d love to hear your insights!

Travel Accessories You Don’t Need

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By Laura Jemetta

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok on Pexels.com

Here is my list of travel accessories you don’t actually need in order to travel comfortably. The travel industry is saturated with travel accessories, so read on to find out what you don’t need to bother buying before going away!

A Travel Pillow

Possibly a controversial choice, but hear me out: you probably don’t need to take one of those neck pillows on the plane with you. They are not only a cumbersome thing to have to carry with you, but they take up room in your carry-on that you probably don’t have to spare. I would happily and easily leave my travel pillow at home on every trip I take from now on; it didn’t actually make it easier for me to sleep, and took up too much room in my luggage when I wasn’t using it. I didn’t even bother to take it out on some flights. My advice is: use the pillow they give you in economy; it’s there for a reason. That, or your rolled up jacket or cardigan makes just as good a pillow as you will need on a plane.

If you’re really attached to your travel pillow, consider a blow-up version. Just blow it up when you need it, and let it out and fold it away when you don’t.

Carry-On Suitcase

I’m sure some people swear by their four-wheeler carry-on’s, but I would never travel with one again. Large and cumbersome, carry-on suitcases are hard to lift into the overhead compartments, and difficult to access during your flight. While a carry-on suitcase can made a good foot-rest while I was waiting for flights; that was just about the only thing it was good for; having a small and large suitcase to deal with through airports and in and out of cars and ubers, was more trouble than it was worth.

My tip: Skip the carry-on suitcase and invest in a great backpack. You can fit a huge amount in the right backpack, and the best part is, you don’t carry it, you wear it! Backpacks are easier to hoist into the overhead compartments, or like me, you can usually stuff them under the seat in front of you without trouble.

Lonely Planet Travel Guides

Don’t get me wrong! I love Lonely Planet Guides, I do. I would buy every one of them if I could, but they can be expensive, and I find them cumbersome to actually take away with me on holiday.

My top tip: download the free Lonely Planet app from your app-store, where you can find shortened e-versions of Lonely Planet guides. Now, you can’t find every city or country on the app, but it does feature some of their most popular destinations, and a really good selection of well over 60 guides. The app version of the travel guides are so handy to have when you’re overseas as they still feature recommendations for places to eat and the best sights to see, as well as an offline map!