Travel Tips – Culturista Life

5 Accommodation Choices for your trips

21 May 201914 May 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged accommodation, hostel, hotel, travelappsLeave a comment

All travellers are unique and they want different things from a trip. Some seek adventure in Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher, while others want a relaxing weekend in an Italian winery. No matter what kind of traveller you are, you will need a place to stay. From great deals on luxurious hotels to camping, you need to find what works for you and your budget.

1. Try Couchsurf

Couchsurfing has been becoming more and more popular, especially for those who travel alone or find hotels a waste of money. Couchsurfing is free. All you have to do is make an online profile by adding as many information as possible about yourself (for safety issues) and then contact possible ‘renters’ to impress them and seal the deal.

2. Worldpackers for longer trips

Worldpackers is probably the most interesting kind of accommodation. I came across the website by accident and I found it a great opportunity for people who want to travel from 2 weeks and more. What makes it special is that you stay anywhere for free, in exchange for work. For example, you may be asked to work 3 days per week for 5 hours each day. By doing so, you pay for your accommodation by working, you gain experience and you are left with lots of time to explore the city.

3. Flight & Hotel Deals

Choose any accommodation booking site you wish (ex. Expedia). Most of them will have an option for booking your flight and hotel together in an offer. Trust me!! They are good offers. Having tried multiple times, I have realised that trying to book a flight and hotel separately, takes a lot of time, organisation and I will definitely end up spending more.

4. Airbnb

One of the most growing communities lately. Even though there have been some problems between all parties, it still remains one of the best ways to find either cheap or luxurious accommodation. You can find the cheapest place in Barcelona, but you can also book a villa for one night.

5. Hostels

All time classic!!! Hostels never seem to disappoint. They are cheap and a great way to meet other people, especially if you are travelling alone. Make sure to always read the reviews before booking a hostel, since there are many with awful living conditions.

10 Cheap & Great Destinations for your Summer Vacation in Europe

8 May 20196 Jun 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged affordable, cheap, destinations, islands, summer, summervacationLeave a comment

The time has come when you start thinking about your summer vacation. Your days off from work might be set, but you still find it difficult to find a nice and affordable getaway. Europe, of course, is filled with idyllic islands and majestic seasides that everyone must at least visit once.

We have gathered for you the best European destinations based on location, scenery, and price because no one wants to break the bank for a small getaway. Instead, you will end up having a great time while spending less money.

1. Zante, Greece

When you are about to visit any island in Greece, you know it is bound to be an amazing vacation. If you choose to visit Zante, prepare yourself for a crazy nightlife. The island is perfect for party animals that want to let loose until the morning with a daily cost of 50 euros

As for the food, Greece is generally known for its top-notch and delicious cuisine, from gyros to fresh fish and produce. So, the local cuisine is to die for. Most importantly the crystal clear waters, the mesmerizing blue caves and the legendary Navagio Beach, make it the number one cheapest summer destination in Europe.

2. Ibiza, Spain

Oh yes!! Ibiza may sound tropical and expensive, but the truth is that it is one of the cheapest places you can visit. If you manage to book your trip early and find cheap accommodation and flight, then you are set.

Ibiza is a party city with more than 3 million tourists visiting each summer. Approximately you might spend less than 60 euros per day, depending on where you eat and how much you eat.

3. Chalkidiki, Greece

The hidden gem of Northern Greece. The ones that have visited Halkidki or Chalkidiki, only think about going back. Divided into 3 parts, Chalkidiki offers some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches with great food.

The first leg has some nice beaches and more affordable prices, while the second one has way more beautiful beaches but is a bit pricey. The third leg is Agio Oros, a monastery with access to only men.

4. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

With spending less than 30 euros per person for a day, Sunny Beach is one of the cheapest destinations in Europe for your summer vacations. Accommodation is so cheap that you can find a room for 25-30 euros per night, even in August, which is known to be the most expensive month when it comes to vacations.

Besides the good hotels, be sure to try the tasty local food, experience the intense nightlife and the beautiful scenery.

5. Algarve, Portugal

One of the best choices for your summer vacation. Algarve, Lagos or Albufeira combines natural beauty, history and good food with affordable accommodation and flights. What makes it even better is the fact that the city is very close to some stunning beaches.

With great and vibrant nightlife, Lisbon is the place to be. With approximately 60 euros per day, you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest.

6. Corfu, Greece

The second biggest Ionian island with thousands of visitors every summer and a very important Greek historical island. With a daily cost of 50 euros

7. Malta

Probably the most famous island in the Mediterranean Sea and a very popular summer and European destination with an average daily cost of 80 euros. The warm climate, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the intense nightlife, makes everyone want to visit.

It is the place for you if you want to visit the oldest temples in the world, the Popeye Village and the cleanest beaches in Europe. A big plus is the fact that almost everyone speaks English.

8. Zadar, Croatia

The ‘entertainment center of the Adriatic’, was voted as the Best European Destination in 2006. Why? Because it offers exquisite beaches and sunsets, tasty food and breathtaking locations for day trips outside the city.

Most importantly, it is an ideal destination to relax while enjoying a new city with a daily budget of 60 euros. Depending on what your style of entertainment is, you can either explore the Croatian cuisine or simply join the music festivals, which happen constantly in the city.

9. Mallorca, Spain

When the summer comes, everybody has thought of going to Majorca. An incredibly affordable destination with an exotic name, that makes everyone want to go. With the low budget airlines, the tickets are usually very cheap, especially when booked a few months before.

The beaches, the views and the nightlife make it a top destination, especially when you take into consideration that you will spend about 65 euros per day.

10. Crete, Greece

5 Things To Know For Every Trip

10 Apr 20193 Apr 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged bicycle, currency, tipsLeave a comment

You have decided on your next destination and booked everything. Now you are ready to go. Actually, not yet. You need to take care of a few things before you travel. There are some tips that you need to know beforehand and be fully prepared for your trip.

1. Learn a few local words

Words like entschuldigung (sorry in German), euxaristo (thank you in Greek), Buon Giorno (goodmorning in Italian), or hola (hi in Spanish) will always be most appreciated by the locals. Especially in some German cities in Bavaria, you will not find many people who speak English, so it’s good to know a few basics. If learning foreign words is not your thing, do not fear. Most people know English and even if they don´t, you will still manage to communicate somehow.

2. Currency

Always check the currency before you visit a new country. Find out if you will benefit from exchanging money in your country or in the one you visit. Also, check with your banks (if you have many), to see in which one a transaction like that will be better for you. Remember that currency rates change quite often, so be sure to get the best deal.

No matter what you decide, DO NOT exchange money from the airport of the country you visit. It is always a rip-off and you will lose way too much money for nothing. That happens, because exchange rates in airports are much higher so they can take advantage of someone needing money in order to leave the airport and use transportation.

3. Walk or bike to explore

The best thing you can do is stay close to the city centre of the city you visit. That will minimise your transportation costs and in the process, you will get to see some amazing places, you definitely wouldn’t if you used the metro.

Renting a bike is another popular and great option, which is most than recommended for particular cities, such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam. These cities use bicycles on a daily basis, way more than they use cars and it is a lovely and relaxing way to explore a city.

4. Order local specialities

When visiting a restaurant, try the local food. First, you will try the culture’s food and second you will pay way less money. Besides, if you visit a new country and you keep on only eating from well known fast food chains or you always order chicken, then you miss the point of experiencing in whole a city’s identity.

Fully exploring a city in a new country, includes visiting museums, sights, parks, admiring the architecture, embracing the nightlife and of course tasting all the goodies and things you cannot find back home.

5. Leave the tourist zone

Of course, at first, you will visit all the known sights, because what is the point of travelling if you don´t do that. But when you are done, try to get away from the tourist zone, especially when is time for your lunch or drinks. Going in less touristy areas, it will be less crowded, less expensive and with beautiful cultural sights and buildings as well.

5 Cities to Visit Before They Dissappear

26 Mar 201926 Mar 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged attractions, maldivesLeave a comment

Earth has some magical and truly unique places that we all have to visit once in our lifetime. Unfortunately, some of these iconic locations are on the edge of disappearing due to peoples´ behavior and climate change.

Of course, they will not disappear overnight but approximately around 50 to 100 years. It would be recommended that you visit them the next 5 to 10 years, while they still remain in a good condition and can be enjoyed.

1. Venice

One of the most romantic and beautiful places you have to visit. However, US scientists report that Venice is sinking five times faster than Italian scientists think. Is no secret that almost every afternoon, the water levels rise and the city fills with water while you see tourists walking around the city barefoot, especially during the warm months of the year.

2. Maldives

An exotic holiday destination, ideal to visit during the summer. But the waters around the island have been constantly getting warmer and rising. It has been predicted by the UN Environmental Program that the Maldives could be the first island to sink. The government wants to invest in making the island carbon neutral by 2020 in an attempt to save the island and its people.

3. Seychelles

No doubt this is an amazing destination for a vacation, even though the water keeps on rising. Locals say there was much more land available for tourists a few years back. Now, with each year passing the water comes closer to the shore, leaving less land free. It is believed that in 50 to 100 years all corals will die and the beaches will vanish.

4. Machu Picchu

A must see destination with millions of tourists visiting each year. And here is where the problem lies. The volume of people visiting is causing damage to the Inca City, with everything being slowly worn down in the site. That is why the Peruvian government and UNESCO only allow 2,500 visitors per day.

5. Great Barrier Reef

One of the most travelled and famous destinations that you have to visit in your lifetime. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sadly all the pollution, cyclones and hot temperatures are threatening its coral life, as 93% of the reef has already been affected by bleaching.

10 Best Greek Islands for your summer vacation

20 Mar 201914 Mar 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged crete, Greece, greekislands, island, SantoriniLeave a comment

The time has come that everyone starts thinking about their summer vacations and Greece always comes to mind. The best time to visit is between May and September. Even in mid-September, the weather is quite hot and many choose this month for a crowded-free vacation.

Greece is the most popular summer destination in Europe with almost 6000 islands for you to visit. There is a little something for everyone. If you want an intense nightlife you go to Ios, Mykonos or Zakynthos. If you want to go somewhere quiet with your family, you go to Chios or Corfu. Or if luxury is your thing, Santorini and Crete will not disappoint you.

Each island is unique in beauty. The crystal clear blue waters, the sandy beaches, the delicious food and the gorgeous blue and white island houses will take your breath away.

1. Santorini

Location: Cyclades

Famous for: Sunrise, wine, volcano, fava

What to do: Sunset in Oia, Wineries, Red Beach

2. Crete

Location: Crete

Famous for: Traditional dialect, Raki, Mantinades, History

What to do: Elafonissi beach, Balos Beach & Lagoon, Knossos Archaeological Site, Gramvousa Fortress.

3. Zakynthos

Location: Ionian Sea

Famous for: Intense nightlife, raisins, olives, honey, herbs

What to do: Navagio beach, Porto Limnionas beach, Xygia Sulphur Beach

4. Kefalonia

Location: Ionian Sea

Famous for: Wines, Olives, Turtles

What to do: Assos, Myrtos Beach, Venetian Lighthouse of Fiscardo

5. Paros

Location: Cyclades

Famous for: Architecture, Golden sand, exotic beaches

What to do: Parikia Town, Kolymbithres Beach, Lageri beach

6. Chios

Location: Aegean Sea

Famous for: Mastic, Mastello, Architecture

What to do: Pyrgi, Mavra Volia, Vrontados, Daskalopetra

7. Milos

Location: Cyclades

Famous for: Rocks, Volcano origin, Caves

What to do: Sarakiniko Beach, Kleftiko Beach

8. Lefkada

Location: Ionian Sea

Famous for: Crystal clear beaches, Historic sites, Landscape beauty, Savoro

What to do: Egremni Beach, Kathisma Beach, Nydri Waterfalls

9. Folegandros

Location: Cyclades

Famous for: Wine, Matsata, Souroto, Kalassouna, Karpouzenia

What to do: Livadaki Beach, Latinaki Beach, Agios Nikolaos Beach

10. Ios

Location: Cyclades

Famous for: Crazy nightlife, Chora, Traditional Food

What to do: Mylopotas Beach, Manganari Beach, La Tomba di Omero

15 Flight Booking Tips you should always use

7 Mar 20195 Mar 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged booking, flight, tipsLeave a comment

When travelling to a new destination, you feel relaxed and have the time of your life. But before doing that, you have to deal with a necessary evil; finding the best prices for your accommodation and flights.

If you are not happy with the prices you see, you may spend endless hours finding a solution around it. To save you some time and anxiety, we have gathered the best booking tips so that you always find cheap tickets if you are flexible and know some tips for better offers.

1. Incognito mode

First things first. Always use incognito mode. When not in incognito mode, your browser keeps all your previous searches and preferences. When you keep searching for a specific destination, the prices seem to be increasing. That is the website or airline’s way to scare you into booking right now.

2. Check Everywhere

Let’s say you find a good deal in Skyscanner.com for your flight to Milan with Easyjet. Just to make sure, check the same ticket through the official page of Easyjet. Most of the times, you will get the same price, but sometimes you might find a cheaper one.

3. Flexibility in Dates

It would be great if you could be as flexible as possible with your travel dates. Then you can play with the dates and find the cheapest tickets. However, we understand flexibility is not an option most of the time. In that case, search for tickets before applying for your days off from work.

4. Flexibility in Destinations

This option is great for those who simply want to travel somewhere, without having a specific destination. All you have to do is go on websites, like Ryanair (Plan – Fare Finder). Just type where you are flying from and your budget. You will get all the possible destinations with dates and prices from cheapest to most expensive. Other great websites for that purpose are Skyscanner, Kiwi and Kayak.

5. Last-minute deals

Nope. Do not wait for them. They are not really last-minute. They just want you to think they are. If you know your dates and destination, then book your flight as soon as possible. Usually, last-minute deals are very cheap because they offer flights during an off-season that not many people will visit.

6. Check other currencies or countries

Websites that operate in many countries, will also have different currencies. If you have the time go through as many as possible. It may be more beneficial to book in another currency or through another country. For example, when I wanted to travel to London, I paid through the Greek version of the airtickets website, rather than the German one for a difference of 10 euros.

7. Midweek Searches

The slowest days for booking flights are between Tuesday and Thursday. People usually decide on a trip during the weekend and that is when they look for tickets when the prices are the highest. Airlines have sales or various offers, during these 3 slow booking days. So, take advantage of them. Be careful: Prices are lowest for all flights if you BOOK them during Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. But the cheapest days to travel are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

8. Always Book Return

It is not a secret that booking a go-and-return flight, will save you a lot of money. And I mean a lot.

9. Book a package

Sites like Expedia, offer great deals on travel packages. You book your hotel and flight for 1 or 2/3 of the price you would pay if you booked them separately. For my summer holidays, I made the mistake to book everything separately. As a result, I paid 400 euros more.

10. One at a time

When booking for more than 1 person it is best to look for tickets one at a time. There might be a sale or offer and 1 seat available. So, one person might book the ticket for 50 euros and the next ones for 70 euros.

11. Off-Season

Try to fly off-season for each destination. You will find the cheapest tickets and enjoy the country more since there will not be as many tourists. For example, Greece is best to visit from May-September. Try to visit in April or October. The weather will still be nice and you will get the best out of your trip.

12. First and Last Flight

Almost always, especially when you have to do with low-budget airlines, the first and the last flights of the day are by far the cheapest.

13. Six Weeks Ahead

The ideal period to book your flight is six weeks before. 1,5 month prior to your trip is the perfect combination for finding cheap flights and arranging your dates and destinations if it is not set.

14. Holidays

Do not be afraid to travel on the dates of the actual holidays. For example, If you travel on the 25th or 31st of December, you will most definitely find the most affordable tickets. You may be a bit late for the family gathering, but compared to the days prior or after these days, you will pay close to nothing.

15. Social Media

Most travelling sites along with airlines will post to their social media accounts offers and sales that last for a few hours or are available for the first few customers. So, follow them, turn on the notifications and choose to be alerted by email, because you do not want to miss these deals.

10 Affordable European Destinations

25 Feb 201925 Feb 2019Posted in Travel TipsTagged affordable, cheap, destinations, europe, tipsLeave a comment

Travelling is vital for our inner peace and relaxation. Lately, people have been travelling more, while trying to find affordable but still great locations.

Europe relatively has affordable locations, except a few (London, Paris, Copenhagen etc). Below you can find the cheapest European destinations that are more likely to stay affordable most days of the year.

1. Budapest

This beautiful European city is a must. Even 3 days are enough to explore the whole city and enjoy yourself. On average you can spend 20 euros per day, without being really frugal. Everything is extremely affordable, including transportation and food.

As for the museums and thermal baths, you might spend a bit more, depending on what you want. The museums are not something special, but you have to visit at least one thermal bath & spa when visiting.

2. Riga

Latvia´s capital is best to visit during spring and summer. 2 days are enough for your visit, with average daily cost 15-19 euros. Most restaurants are on the cheap side, while museums are either free or around 1-3 euros.

3. Warsaw

Also one of the cheapest countries in Europe. The city is ideal for visiting for a couple of days. Poland, in general, is great for shopping and trying polish dishes. The prices are very low, making it perfect for a quick and cheap get-away.

4. Prague

Prague is one of the most visited destinations in Europe. The reason why? It is a gorgeous city that you can explore within a day or two and extremely cheap. Most sightseeing, if not all, are within walking distance, so it is a great way to cut on your travel costs and skip the transportation tickets.

On average 20 euros per day are enough, considering that in a day, you will have lunch and dinner, coffee and snacks. Of course, visiting any museums or buying souvenirs, is extra.

5. Berlin

Berlin is best to visit for 3-4 days and you must calculate in your budget approximately 30 euros per day. Berlin is a city with great architecture, incredible nightlife and endless food options. Beer and sausages are very cheap and something you have to try when in Germany.

6. Palma de Mallorca

Mallorca is ideal to visit during the summer months, so you can also go to the beach, relax and have a great time. Of course, during these months the prices might be higher. Nonetheless, 30-40 euros daily is what you should expect to spend.

7. Madrid

Staying in Madrid for 3-4 days, you can combine famous sights with local favourites. The capital of Spain is a true gem that you must visit for sure. The breathtaking architecture and the delicious food, along with the extremely easy and affordable transportation, make it a perfect destination. On average, be prepared to spend 30 euros per day on average.

8. Rome

Rome is ideal to visit all year long. No matter when you decide to do so, be prepared for a lot of tourists anywhere you go. 3 days is perfect for Rome with a budget of 35 euros per day and per person.

9. Vienna

Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe since it combines perfectly great architecture with high living standards. It is perfect to visit for 3-4 days with a daily budget of approximately 30 euros. What makes the city a great travel choice is the fact that most museums are for free.

10. Porto

For a strong European temperament, head towards Porto. The city wins people over in an instant, with most travellers preferring it instead of Lisbon. Porto has everything to offer. Great food and wine, amazing architecture, great nightlife and beautiful beaches. Of course, it is best to visit during spring, summer and fall. 4 days would be ideal for a budget of 31 euros per day.