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Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Northern Scotland

By on 26. October 2019 in Country Budget Guide, Scotland

Amar River Viewpoint, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Neither Expensive Nor Cheap

Type Of Travel

Traveling to Northern Scotland means being on a Road Trip. Do not be mistaken nonetheless, this is not an Odyssey that you plan as you drive, following your inspiration, at least not in the summer (July & August): you should book accommodation at least 1 month in advance, and ideally between 3 and 6 months, especially if you have clear expectations on accommodation. The far north of Scotland (North Coast 500) comparatively sees few visitors (far fewer than lower Scotland), but also offers less options while on the road. Keep that in mind when planning your trip! Continue Reading →

A Budget Guide To Sicily

By on 5. January 2019 in Country Budget Guide, Italy

Spiaggia de Cefalé or Beach of Cefalú

Type Of Travel

Sicily was our first travel destination with our newly born baby (at the time of travel, Jules was just 3.5 months), so we went on the safe side: direct flight, car rental from a reputable company right in the airport, and hotels or guesthouses where we would be sure to have all we need. That definitely means extra-costs! And yes, we definitely enjoyed Sicilian cuisine, went to some really pleasant restaurants and sampled some nice Sicilian wine… Continue Reading →

A Budget Guide To The “Semana Santa” in Andalusia

By on 20. July 2018 in Country Budget Guide, Spain

“Paso” of the Sorrows of Virgin Mary

Foreword

The “Semana Santa” (Holy Week before Easter) in Andalusia, and especially in Sevilla, is absolutely unique. It is hence a really busy time, and major cities are crowded, mostly with local, but also with international visitors. Beware that accommodation will be scarce, and that prices will go through the roof, especially in Sevilla, where you should be ready to dish out at least twice as much as other moments in the high season! Continue Reading →

A Budget Guide To Independently Chasing The Northern Lights In Norway

By on 2. April 2018 in Country Budget Guide, Norway

Bergsbotn, with a view of Bergsfjord, Senja, Northern Norway

Type Of Travel

Norway is as expensive as it gets, and since we were in the middle of the Artic winter, we decided against roughing it in any way… We chose rather comfortable hotels (especially in Senja), we rented a car in Senja (which actually saved us a lot of money), and last but not least, we went on several local tours (a significant chunk of our budget). All in all, this led to a horrendous total cost, the highest (average travel cost per person per day) of all my trips altogether! Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Iran

By on 1. January 2018 in Country Budget Guide, Iran

Easy To Travel On A Budget!

Young Girl, in the Old City of Yazd

Type Of Travel

My two trips to Iran showed a major difference: on the first trip in April 2014, we were 2 and hence shared quite a few expenditures (double rooms, sharing cabs…). In September 2017, I was traveling solo, and had to cover everything on my own. This makes a significant difference, especially in a country like Iran, where you will have to rely on chartered taxis further afield and where you will more often than not pay the same for a single and for a double room… Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Uganda

By on 21. July 2017 in Country Budget Guide, Uganda

Simply Overpriced!

Public Transport at Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda

Type Of Travel

The type of travel you choose in Uganda will have a direct and significant impact on your travel budget:

  • Either you decide to go on a Safari type of experience, and Uganda will be one of the most expensive countries you can experience, actually much more expensive than other Safari destinations like South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe or parts of Tanzania
  • Or you decide to ignore the National Parks and focus on the actual country, and you can discover Uganda on a tight budget.

Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Thailand

By on 15. March 2017 in Country Budget Guide, Thailand

A Perfect Place To Splurge A Little

Sunset at the Tew Lay Bar, Railey Beach, Krabi, Thailand

Type Of Travel

This trip to Thailand was definitely different: instead of a backpacking or “flashpacking” type of travel, it was more a mid-range to upper mid-range holiday, with comfortable hotels, convenient transports and lots of nice activities like almost one massage a day or scuba diving.

The budget displayed bellow has hence little to do with the one of a backpacker, but shows that you can splurge for a very reasonable price. Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Rwanda

By on 9. February 2017 in Country Budget Guide, Rwanda

Depending On Your Priorities!

Visiting an Ex-Poachers Village near the Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda

Type Of Travel

When traveling through Rwanda, you first have to decide if you want to focus on the country itself and hence backpack through Rwanda or if you want a “Safari” kind of experience, going through several National Parks (including the Parc National des Volcans). This decision will have a clear and direct impact both on the type of experience you will have and especially on the level of your budget. Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Colombia

By on 28. September 2016 in Colombia, Country Budget Guide

Cheap To Travel, But Not Everywhere!

View of the Café del Mar, on the City Walls, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

View of the Café del Mar, on the City Walls, Cartagena de Indias

Type Of Travel

My two visits to Colombia were quite different: in summer 2009, shortly after my first Round The World Trip, I was traveling on a (tight) budget. In 2016, I was back for 7 weeks to Colombia, and was actually “Flashpacking”: sleeping in nicer hostels or even some more upscale guesthouses, indulging quite a few activities and local tours, partly flying instead of long bus drives and also going to areas Off The Beaten Track like La Guajira (actually no longer a well kept secret), El Chocó (Pacific Coast) and especially Caño Cristales, which turned out to be very expensive… Continue Reading →