Tips To Stay Within Your Budget While Vacationing In Japan

Vacationing to any foreign country can become an expensive venture in a short amount of time. The same holds true when vacationing in Japan. Besides the travel costs, there are a number of extra expenses that begin to add up as soon as you step foot in the country. From lodging to shopping, food costs to entry costs, the money you have set aside for your Japanese adventure can disappear quickly. But there are several things you can do to be a budget conscious traveler while still enjoying all that Japan has to offer.

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Why Backpacking in Cuba is Different than Anywhere Else

Only a couple of weeks ago I returned from a backpacking trip that was like no other I have ever been on, exploring the Caribbean island of Cuba! Arriving in Cuba was like taking a time machine back to the 1950’s, which is probably why travelling there was such a different experience - and such an unforgettable one.

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Huangshan
An overlook on top of Huangshan

China on the Cheap

We arrived in China almost two weeks ago. The country has made a good impression so far. This is actually our second trip to China, our first being five years ago to the south (from Hong Kong to the Yunnan). After five years, this behemoth of a country is advancing in leaps and bounds. Economic growth can be witnessed everywhere. At the same time, ancient culture and personal experiences await around every corner. After arriving in Beijing late in the evening, we found our hotel down one of Beijing’s many Hutong alleyways. These microcosms of Chinese culture, where locals live in close proximity to one another and share a tight-knit neighborhood, are slowly being torn apart and replaced with towering skyscrapers. Beijing as a whole is impressive. It’s huge and modern in some parts, but ancient and cultural in others. We visited Beihai park, where crowds perform Tai Chi in unison along the shore of an ancient lake with a modern skyline as a backdrop.

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