How to Make Staycations More Affordable

Although staycations are generally cheaper than traveling abroad, they can sometimes stretch your budget. Staycations are ideal if you want to reduce travel time and book last minute. If you are struggling to find one within your budget, here are some tips on how to make staycations more affordable.

Shop around for vehicle rentals 

If you are looking for a van to rent for your trip around the place you are visiting, then it is beneficial to shop around for competitive prices. Many places will offer discounts if you hire for an extended period of time, whilst offers may generally be lower in price. It is worth contacting companies and asking for their prices and to see when is the cheapest time to book. Companies such as sydneyutehire.com.au offer short and long-term hire with special deals. Without shopping around, you might not know the best prices or get the best deal for your money. 

Find out when accommodation is cheaper

Accommodation prices fluctuate depending on the time of year. Finding the best accommodation to suit your needs and budget may depend on the time of year you book. The off-peak seasons when children are at school are generally the cheapest. If you can avoid all holiday seasons then it is best to, as you will save a lot of money. 

Find Free Activities

No matter where you are in the world, there are always free activities to enjoy. Some museums may offer free passes, whilst parks and city walks are always free. The best way to explore somewhere is on foot so why not walk around the place you are staying and take it all in. If you cannot find much else to do for free other than walks, there may be discounts available for activities. It may mean you need to go on a certain day or time. But, if you are looking to make your trip as affordable as possible, discounts are a great way to stay within your budget. If most activities cost, then it may be worth weighing up which are really worth it. Or, stick to one activity per day. Paying for multiple activities every day can be very expensive and in the end, not always worth it. Mix up your schedule with walks and picnics in the local park with paid-for activities. 

Avoid Eating Every Meal Out

When you are on holiday, home or abroad, it can be easy to eat out for every meal. Yet, it isn’t really necessary. Nor is it budget-friendly. Try to eat breakfast in and one meal a day out. It could be dinner or lunch. For the third meal, you can pre-pack food and take it out for the day with you. You can sit and enjoy it in a nice park or on the way to your activity. Eating your own prepared food can help cut the cost and save time.

The next time you are planning a staycation and want to stick to a certain budget, consider these tips as they will always guarantee to save you money.

Have you ever taken a staycation? What has been your favourite staycation tips and memories? Share them in the comments below.

And until next time...

Stay curious!

Choosing the Best Accommodation When You Visit Australia

 It's no secret that the weather in Australia can be quite extreme. The sun is hot, the air is dry, and it can be quite uncomfortable to spend time in a place like this if you don't have the right accommodation. Air conditioning can definitely be considered an essential, but there are other features you should be looking for when you're looking for the best accommodation Australia has to offer. Let's take a look at some of the features you need to look for, giving you the chance to start your hunt with a clear idea of what you want in mind. 

The Facilities

As mentioned above, air conditioning is very important in a place like Australia. While many of the locals you will meet live without AC, this is only possible because they're used to it, and it can be much harder for people who have been living in a cooler climate. It's always worth making sure that the accommodation you choose has options like this in place before you set off. Of course, though, you should also be looking for things like shutters to make sure that you can keep the hot sunlight out of your space.

Beach Proximity

Australia is home to some of the world's most famous beaches, and the coastline in this part of the world is stunning! Beaches are easy to find when you travel to Australia (unless of course you're planning a trip to Uluru) but you need to make sure that your accommodation is nice and close to one if you want to make sure you have easiest access. Holiday apartments in Byron Bay will give you unique access to some of the best beaches in NSW, making it nice and easy to enjoy this part of your trip. 

Creepy Crawlies

Insects, arachnids, and other creepy crawlies are some of the things that most people know Australia for. You know, it's basically the country that is constantly trying to kill you. Of course, while the worst of the critters are found inland, it's always worth being careful to choose the accommodation that has the right protection against them. If you have open windows, for example, mozzie nets can be a good idea to prevent bites during the night. Many of Australia's hotels hire people to work on keeping them free from unwanted visitors. 

The Location

As mentioned previously, choosing a location that is near to beaches is a good idea. Alongside this, though, it's also worth thinking about the other aspects of your break. If you plan to visit other parts of the country, it will help to have good transport links nearby to make this easier. Alongside this, many people want to experience city life when they visit Australia, and this makes it worth thinking seriously about your location. Depending on what city you're choosing to visit, you may be sacrificing proximity to the beach for easier access to public transport. 

With all this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the task of choosing the best accommodation when you visit Australia. If you're travelling to Melbourne on a budget, you may with to explore these accommodations. If you're wanting to stay somewhere a little bit more luxurious, maybe explore these places. This part of the world has so much to offer, but it will be easiest to enjoy it all if you are in the right place. 

If you've travelled Australia before, where did you stay? Would you recommend it to a fellow traveller? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

And until next time...

Stay Curious!

4 Ways to Take the ‘Routine’ Out of Your Fitness Routine

It can happen to any of us. We begin a fitness routine with good intentions but when it becomes too routine, by which we mean something of a chore, we can quickly tire of what we are doing. At that point, we can be tempted to call it quits!

As you will understand, calling it quits isn't something to consider. Keeping on top of our fitness levels is important, for both our physical and mental wellbeing, so when our workouts do become boring, we should make changes.

When it comes to your workouts, consider the following if you are starting to become bored with what you are currently doing.

Are You Feeling Discomfort While Working Out?

We've all been there. Whether you're super motivated starting a new fitness journey, training for an event, or just getting back into the gym post-COVID, we've all gone a little too hard during our workout. You want to push yourself, really get back into shape, and you may have pushed a little too hard, too quickly.

Some soreness, a little aching to be expected after a workout, and you should, indeed, feel the burn, as they say, while pushing your body to new limits. However, if you’re feeling new discomfort that can’t be explained by that familiar burn or soreness, then you might need to examine how, exactly, you’re working out.

Slow It Down

If you’re working out and you push yourself to a new intensity or lift a new amount of weight then you feel some discomfort, tightness, or pain, you should stop immediately. That’s a clear sign that you might be pushing your body farther than it should go and too soon. Increasing the intensity of your workouts is a great fitness-boosting strategy, but you should only do it once you’re comfortable working at your existing pace and your body is warmed up to kick it up a notch. Don’t up the pace too quickly or too dramatically.

Let Yourself Recover

If you have already worked out (especially to a high intensity) or you have injured yourself recently, then you should listen closely to your body when you start your next session. If you feel pain as soon as you start moving or doing a specific kind of exercise, then it’s a good indicator that you need more time to rest up. Remember, there should be discomfort but not pain.

I think a lot of neglect our recover time. We think the more we workout, the faster we will see results. But not allowing for some recovery can severely impact your progress. It's better to allow your body the time to rest in between sessions, rather than push, injure yourself, and then have to postpone your progress. If you're someone who wants to keep consistency in your schedule, utilise stretching as your recovery session. Your body will thank you!

Wear the Right Gym Gear

Simply put, if you’re not wearing things of the right fit, then you’re going to be experiencing sensations that are going to reduce the effectiveness of your workout. When it comes to sports bras, you don’t need the additional movement and chafing of a bad fit. Similarly, instead of baggy pants, you should switch to these red white and blue workout clothes that offer tightness and compression. You’re going to be able to move your body more freely and, thus, more comfortably.

Shake Off That Sweat

Another physical cause of discomfort is sweating too much or, rather, letting that sweat stay on your skin. Of course, we all do and should sweat while working out to regulate our body temperature. However, if that sweat stays on your body, it can irritate and chafe your skin, not to mention cooling you down too rapidly. Use sweat-wicking materials as well as sweatbands to prevent it from happening.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you have given yourself enough time to recover, you’re wearing the right gear, and exercising carefully, but you still feel a specific kind of pain or discomfort that isn’t caused by the regular burn of muscle wear and tear, then you should see a doctor. There could be an underlying fitness injury that flares up when you move a specific set of muscles, for instance, that’s worth looking more closely at.

You need to listen to your body and know the difference between the natural kinds of achiness while working out and recovering, and the kind of discomfort that should, on your first experience, feel wrong. Hopefully, the tips above can help you address and fix the problems behind it.

Have you ever injured yourself because you pushed too hard during a workout? What are some of your recovery tips and tricks? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

And until next time...

Stay curious!