Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Ugandan Shilling (approx. 700 €)
The most frequently asked question about my travels, no matter if it is a single short trip or one of my Round The World Travels, is “How much does / did it cost?” and eventually “How can you afford it?” but basically, both questioned are linked in my opinion…
The Monastery, Petra
Type Of Travel
Jordan was the first “real” trip / road-trip we undertook with our 3 kids (aged 4, 4 & 6 at the time of travel in April 2024). So clearly, we did not try in any way to cut costs. Continue Reading →
Elephant and Rickshaws at Sardar Market, Jodhpur
Type Of Travel
The 4 trips to Rajasthan were really different from one another, and this actually also shows in the budget spent:
A day on a camel through the Wahiba Sands
Type Of Travel
Oman is an upscale and expensive destination, with a significant “but”: although the government is looking for “high value visitors”, i.e. tourists ready to dish out significant amounts of money, they also allow almost unlimitedly wild camping…
So choose your pick! Either you want something rather “classical” – expect a mid-range to high-end type of budget. Or you just go wild camping, and you can surely travel in Oman for a very reasonable budget. Note that this second option can be challenging both for Musandam and for the Wahiba Sands.
Djebel Kissane near Adgz, Draa Valley
Type Of Travel
Morocco was our fourth trip with an infant (at the time of travel, Jules was 16 months old), and given the overall price level & our need to rest and relax, we decided to splurge a little and actually upgraded our standards of travel, going to a mid-range (upper mid-range ?) type of travel: Continue Reading →
Amar River Viewpoint, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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 →
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:
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 →
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 →
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 →