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ArthurIdyllicVoyages : Travel Diaries for Budget Travellers

Looking to travel on a budget, these tips, tricks and traveller's adventures and stories will help you to get on your way.


Coins spilling out of a jar

Have you ever needed to go to the bank to buy money or sell it?

Isn't money not meant to be transferred from hand to hand and not with some bogus interest charges added to it? The bank must be the biggest thief to be ever invented or is it the snack machine?
Wait no, it has to be the exchange booths in the airport that don't necessarily speak your language and charge you and arm and a leg to change your money into local currency.

Man at currency exchange booth making transaction

Hey, I get it if you arrive at 3 am and after a long journey you are too exhausted or too panicked to resist stopping there for some cash. After all, they will offer you a lovely bargain. That is if that deal consisted of losing a few dollars here and there… you get it back right?

For certain! No doubt about it!

It comes in the form of a headache when you are working out all your expenses after the trip.

Lit sign showing best rates

It's part of the adventure nonetheless especially when you arrive in the city and realise… "oh my gosh, I should have waited... it's way cheaper here!"

Yep, tourist traps! You'll get the hang of it after a few trips here and there. 

Well enough about the exchange booths, let's dance with the devil himself...

CURRENCY!!!
Map showing different currencies

Currency must be one of the most important things to be considered when travelling but we don't really think about it too much so more often that not, we fall into the currency web especially when it appears to be presumably 'cheaper'. 

It really is a trap and you over-spend two times to five times more than you set out to. When you finally check your bank account, you feel the panic step in as you have little to no money for the month(s) ahead of you.

Feel that pain in your neck, muscle spasm? That is the aftermath of coming into contact with Currency and being whipped of your feet not realising that it was no good for you or your pocket.

U.S dollar bills on fire

We often get short-sighted by currency differences. Let's say for instance that the dollar is two times less than it is in your city.  You start to feel good, hey I can buy a few things for the kids and for some friends and family and still have enough to eat at a restaurant every night (you know... because we like to taste authentic food from the region...spoiler alert, you may want to consider meeting a local, befriending them and then have them cook dinner for you because restaurants my dear friend, believe it or not, they're commercial but that's besides the point).

Currency is the real side chick, who makes you feel rich for the trip and completely ruins your bank account for the return home.

Now let's add that currency to the tip jar cause it looks like it isn't worth much. Let's use the peso for example, they have a 10 peso coin and you think hey, it's like 10 cents, doesn't seem to be worth much but consider a 10 peso tip in every restaurant, bar, bathroom, guy on the street for two weeks, each day, 2 restaurants on average, 2 shopping malls, 1 bar, 4 bathroom breaks and maybe 1 guy on the weekends. That gives you a grand total of… 1300 pesos and that is on average, chances are you will tip more in restaurants if you appreciated the service and more or less elsewhere.

I am not saying don't tip but be wise about doing so and consider the value of the currency as a combined element and not just as single coin or bill. Currency is a cost.

money in tip jar

On the other hand, you are probably saying, that doesn't apply to me. I always use my card when travelling. I get rewards when I shop. Although this may be true for some, it's not the case for all or us so…  shall we discuss the charges for using your card when you travel?

Some of you may have a great program where you pay the bank for your travel card and don't incur additional charges for the foreign exchange or withdrawals, I am happy for you but for those who can't afford those cards or they aren't available to you for whatever reason, consider making a huge withdrawal in your home country or on arrival and limit swiping your card at each shop. It will save you in the long run.

hand holding visa card in and card machine

For whatever reason or whenever you use money that isn't the same as in your home country, try to remember... "Eyes on the prize, don't let the side chick Currency steal all your money. She isn't worth it. Trust me!"



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a boat ride in Martinique

Martinique is one of the more exotic French Caribbean islands with approximately 1 million visitors each year. It is part of the archipelago of the "Antilles" (French West Indies), located northeast of the coast of South America and northwest of the island of Barbados.

It is an overseas department of France, known for its history surrounding Aimé Césaire, heck even the airport is named after this legend. Let’s not forget the infamous Mount Pelée, carnival, zouk and rum amongst other interesting things about this island. So, when I heard that I would have the opportunity to be heading to the great island of Martinique as an English Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), let’s say that this was an adventure that I was excited to be taking on.



Sainte Marie Tombolo


I arrived there in late September, a bit anxious to be taking this trip as a solo traveller. I was unsure of what to expect but I would soon be starting my job so I guess you could say I was ready for it all... well maybe somewhat.

My flight was a pretty quick one, only 45 minutes from Barbados and I was soon seeing the lit streets of Martinique through the windows of the plane as we were preparing for landing. It was night but it was still very beautiful.

Fast forwarding to finally meeting my "professeur référent", the person who was more or less responsible for ensuring that I settled in smoothly and that all my administrative obligations were taken care of. She was super friendly and welcoming and she did an excellent job of making my stay a memorable one.





You see, I was appointed to Sainte Marie which is located in the north of the island where the Atlantic Ocean brushed the shoreline so after an approximate 45 minute drive, I arrived at my new home where I would be spending the next 7 months.

It was time to start this new journey.

The very next day, I was ready to explore and so we set out to see the beauty of the island during the day under the Caribbean sunlight. I was needless to say amazed by the picturesque views of the lush hills and the sea.

volcano over the horizon
Mount Pelée 

During the first few days I made myself comfortable which was not as difficult as I thought that it would have been. I quickly settled in, started my training and met the other assistant language teachers.

I was quite nervous at the beginning but the nervous feelings quickly disappeared as everyone was very friendly. It was a great start to my adventure.




I admit that I was excited to meet the students who were more than eager to learn about an anglophone country. I was working in different primary level schools and at one of them, I was able to share and help students learn a local Barbadian song. I was ecstatic to be able to share my culture with them.

In the midst, I learnt some French creole, how to make some traditional dishes and even artisan ice cream using a manual ice cream maker.

We spent our days immersed in culture, my culture and theirs. We sang songs, played games amongst other very amusing activities. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience as one should when packing up your bags and heading to a foreign country to teach and learn.

Martinique is truly a gem. It's the perfect blend of Metropolitan lifestyle and Caribbean living. Aged like a fine Bordeaux wine and distilled like Clément Vintage rum.



people in costumes during carnival
Carnival in Martinique


As an ALT you have the opportunity to share a part of who you are with your students and under the French system you have plenty of vacation time to do some exploring and meet friends. Thank you French metropolitan systems with your many holiday breaks.

On the other hand, you are probably wondering what it's like to be Caribbean, what exactly is Caribbean living? Well, alcohol for starters, rum preferably, enjoying a nice wine in the midst isn't bad but that's quite metropolitan.

Honestly, Caribbean people are like anyone else trying to make a living for our families with a title of being the nicest people on earth but of course that comes with its own terms and conditions. Not living in straw huts and sipping on coconuts all day long either but a mango is truly one of our tropical fruits to be enjoyed and we can't forget the occasional party, all year round actually as well as the after-work "lime" (social gathering) on the weekends. You can't find a party like ours anywhere else in the world.

We mustn't forget the nosy neighbour is part of what Caribbean living is, we all have one or seven nor must we omit well-seasoned food with flavour like only we can do.

Well this brings me to the end of my adventure and all in all, the experience was a great one with happy memories that definitely left an imprint on my life. I am very happy that I had the opportunity of working in Martinique. It is a country rich in history and if you have the chance to visit, it is highly recommended. It is a lovely island with beautiful people inside and out. I have made lifelong friends like I wish you will too and I can't wait to visit again soon.



Gros bisous de La Martinique
- Sha'na


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You need to think outside of the box and your comfort zone when you travel. The idea is not to think of how to get to your destination but rather just arriving safely at your destination.

Considering the way you travel should be deemed important, right up there next to first class with a bottle of champagne. A private jet would be a better option but this isn't that type of article because who doesn't like to save a penny when you can.

So, below are some tips that prove to be very cost effective and efficient in helping you to travel low-cost and adventurous. 

1. Track transport prices


It is best to track your progress when travelling from deciding on a destination to arriving there.
Tracking the rise and fall of transport costs therefore becomes an essential part of your experience.
This way you can see:
  • when is the best time to book 
  • how much funds you should need on average 
  • which means of transport best suits your budget
Whatever your reasons, tracking your progress and prices will be beneficial to you in more ways than one. 


2. Pre-book 


Book in advance, even if you have no idea where you will be staying, those other details should come afterwards. Facts are you will always find someplace to lodge and most times it may be less expensive than the price you were going to pay in the first place.

We aren't talking about booking a day in advance but rather 3 months to 21 days in advance. The prices are at their best between this time frame. However, it may be the case that at times, you find something cheaper 15 to 5 days before your trip.

This is the rare occurence when the company is offering some form of promotion but if you were tracking your progress and prices, you would have been able to see the rise and fall and chosen the best moment to book your ticket ahead of time.


3. Choose a different start/end point


It is sometimes and honestly more often than expected more economical to reach your destination if you travel from another location. Of course you need to count the costs of arriving at the neighbouring destination to see if it is friendly towards you and your budget but that is only a minor part of the process in a long way to saving on your journey.

You may also need to consider staying on someone's couch or getting a room in a budget hotel for a night or two. No worries, the bread and breakfast adventure won't kill you but it will definitely help you to save some change.


4. Use a different mode of transport 


We are creatures of habit so many persons don't even consider taking other forms of transport besides the train or plane. They are seemingly the most mainstream, rapid and convenient and in some instances this may be true but they are also the most costly especially if you don't have some form of reduction when you book.

Maybe you could:
  • Try swapping out your train ticket for a ride on a bus from time to time. You may be surprised that you actually like it or maybe you won't but it definitely doesn't hurt to try. 
  •  Consider carpooling! Yes you may be scared for various reasons but you shouldn't judge it till you've tried it. You could save a few bucks here and there. Think of it as an uber ride with more people travelling longer distances and hey if hitchhiking is on your bucket list, this counts as a 'safer' way of doing it. 
  •  Rent a vehicle and take a road trip. 
Break the habit and set out for an adventure that could cost you two times less than you are currently paying. 
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Ever wanted to know what it was like to live and work in Japan? Maybe you are thinking of moving there soon or you're just plain curious. Well, you are in luck because this article features the journey of a Barbadian living and working in Japan.

girl holding japanese calligraphy
Dawn first went to Japan in 2014 where she studied Japanese amongst other subjects at the Osaka Gakuin University. It was an exchange program offered by her university in Barbados where she was at the time studying Spanish. After completing her undergraduate studies, she returned to Japan in 2016 and enrolled in a language school.

During her studies, she passed the highest level of Japanese language proficiency and held a part time post working for an entertainment news media house which is based in Osaka. This post consisted of verifying translations done by the company's main translators but over time more responsibility was added to her workload. This allowed her to develop professionally and to be exposed to Japanese office culture.

Duly prepared for the next step in her life she began working with the 2020 Olympic team in Japan and the host town programme.

Nanyo has become the host town for Barbados’ 2020 Olympic team and it will be the site of the athletes’ pre-games training camp where they will take time to adjust to the time zone difference and to the climate in Japan in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.


Now working as a Coordinator for International Relations in Nanyo City Hall, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, she is the point of contact between the Barbados Olympic Association and Nanyo City.
Dawn also plans and participates in events aimed at sharing Barbadian culture with Nanyo citizens like the courtesy visit of Nanyo city officials to the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) in August 2019.

people holding barbados flag in Japanpresentation of the country Barbados in Japan

For Dawn, each day spent in Japan is a new adventure. She enjoys every moment of it. She even has the opportunity to see some Barbadian friends at times. Working in this sector allows her to do something that she really loves while living far from 'home'.


To learn more about her experiences, check out her blog A Bajan in Japan.
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