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😱😨☠️War Drums? Booking Wins & Budget Gems!
Published 4 days ago • 23 min read
Olá From Southern Spain Again!
Hey there Reader,
We’re still chilling at our stunning pool villa on the Costa Blanca, but our time here is almost up.
Next up, we’re headed to Valencia for two weeks of city vibes!
The world’s been a bit wild lately, with headlines buzzing about tensions near our late July-August destinations - World War III? Yikes.
Instead of hitting the cancel button, we’ve done our homework, checked safety updates, and lined up backup plans to keep things flexible if things heat up. Stay tuned for how we’re navigating this!
This week, I teamed up with our amazing follower Frances for a deep dive case study on booking hotels in London. We compared over a dozen properties—Booking.com vs. direct bookings.
The results? Let’s just say they might surprise you! We’ll spill all the details inside.
We’re also flagging some incredible June deals that are about to vanish, plus Amazon Prime Day is bringing the heat with travel-friendly steals.
And if you’ve ever landed early at your destination, exhausted, with hours to kill before check-in, we’ve got a game-changer in the partners who saved us money section.
This week’s tip is all about scoring the best destination experiences without draining your wallet. From free walking tours to local festivals and savvy group tours, we’re sharing ways to dive deep into a place’s culture on a budget.
Want the full scoop on these and more?
Read on for our booking showdown, travel safety tips, budget-friendly experience hacks, and the latest deals...
The Spanish love their street art, even in the tiny villages
*Note: Some of the links in this email are from our partners, including AMAZON. If you purchase a product or service using those links, we get a SMALL commission to help pay for the website and this newsletter. But we promise - you won't pay any more than you would if purchasing directly. You can read our full disclosure here.
Travel Smart, Don’t Let Headlines Scare You Off
You’d have to be living under a rock not to have seen the news headlines screaming about Middle East tensions, making it sound like World War III is on the horizon, and traveling the world is now off-limits, especially for Americans. (Or maybe not…It depends on what hour of the day and which news you watch.)
A few people have questioned our decision to proceed with our trip to the Caucasus next month, particularly Armenia and Azerbaijan, which share a border with Iran.
But I just want to assure you all we are not stark raving bonkers and what we're doing to stay safe and aware.
We’re not oblivious to the risks out there—there are obviously parts of the world we should avoid at the moment.
But as long-term travelers, we’ve learned headlines don’t tell the whole story. This certainly isn't the first time there was trouble in areas nearby where we've been traveling.
If I can make an analogy to Australia: In summertime, you’d avoid a bushfire zone in Victoria, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip the beaches in Queensland.
None of the locations we'll visit in Azerbaijan and Armenia are close to the Persian Gulf’s hot spots or the Iranian border, and, according to Australia’s Smartraveller, are currently low to moderate risk. In fact, a lot of the regions is currently safer than places like France, the UK, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong atm.
There’s always some risk when you travel, but with smart prep, you can mitigate those risks and explore safely.
Here's what to do:
1 - Check the Situation
As mentioned above, we went to our government's travel advisory.
They currently show:
The majority of Azerbaijan is at Level 2 (high caution, terrorism risk.) There is a “Do Not Travel” alert (Level 4) but that only applies near the Armenia border and Nagorno-Karabakh due to landmines and potential clashes.
Armenia is Level 1 (Same as Australia!), except within 5km of the Azerbaijan border (Level 4).
Georgia is at Level 2, with “Do Not Travel” for South Ossetia and Abkhazia due to landmines and violence.
All good, we have no plans to go to any of the level 4 areas.
2 - Keep up with travel advisories.
All might be fine now, but things could change rapidly. So I've subscribed to country-specific updates from Smartraveller.
Other countries like the UK, US and Canada will have equivalent services
3 - Check your travel insurance carefully. Most policies won’t cover “Do Not Travel” zones, so confirm what’s included, especially for medical or evacuation costs, before you go.
I've checked with our current insurer, Cover-More and we're fully covered for all three countries at the moment and they consider them to be low risk.
I've enabled location services in their app so they'll immediately ping us if there's any danger. The app also shows me where the closest pharmacy, hospital or police station is.
4 - Work Out Where to Seek Help if Needed
Identify and Register with your consulate, where possible.
I've identified the Australian consulates in the region that are responsible for those countries and the backup option.
The Australian Consulate in Turkey is responsible for Azerbaijan & Georgia
The Australian Consulate in Russia is responsible for Armenia, and
The British Embassy in Baku/Tbilisi is noted for limited backup support.
5 - Save emergency contacts.
Program local numbers for fire, medical, and police, as well as your consulate’s emergency line (such as Australia’s +61 2 6261 3305), into your phone for quick access.
6 - Dig into what’s happening locally.
Don’t just trust the news—check travel forums, Facebook & Reddit groups, or chat with locals to get the real vibe. Azerbaijan and Armenia are calm right now, far from border trouble, as is Georgia.
7 - Have a solid backup plan.
If things heat up, know your exit routes.
For us, that’s heading north to Georgia, west to Turkey overland, or catching a flight to the UK.
Keep some cash/credit handy for quick pivots.
Our Prep Checklist
Programmed Australia’s Consular Emergency number into our phones.
Followed Australian Consulate in Turkey, British Consulate in Baku, and Australian Consulate in Russia on social media for real-time updates.
Saved local emergency numbers for fire, medical, and police in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Verified our travel insurance covers us, checking alert levels and exclusions for “Do Not Travel” areas.
Joined relevant Facebook groups.
Booked flights through Trip.com, knowing (from experience) they’ll notify us of any changes to our inbound flight.
Researched transport options out of the region if we need to make a quick escape. (flights, buses, trains ) and
Set aside emergency funds to cover quick exits if needed.
Travel’s never risk-free, but don’t let sensational headlines keep you grounded.
Azerbijan, Armenia and Georgia are calling, and we’re ready with a plan.
We’ve identified and mapped out our communications and support network, and have exit routes in place. We also have emergency funds set aside, just in case.
Cover-More, our current travel insurer has an excellent deal for Australian travelers this month that could save you hundreds.
When should you take our travel Insurance?
In our experience, the same time as you make your first booking - whether that be flights, accommodation or a tour. That way you're fully covered if something goes wrong to prevent you taking the trip.
So even if your next adventure isn't until later in the year, it's worth getting a quote and grabbing this deal if you're already locked into the trip.
Get a Quote HERE and the promo code: SAVE15 will get automatically applied.
🚨 Amazon Prime Day(s) 2025 is almost here, with exclusive deals only Prime members can snag!
This year, Amazon has four days of amazing deals including many travel essentials—think luggage, cameras, headphones, guidebooks, and portable chargers at prices that’ll spark wanderlust!
😚 So let’s get you set to save big:
🔥 Why PRIME for Prime Day?
Well, if you're not already a Prime Member you can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial to get:
🛍️ Exclusive access to Prime Day deals—non-members miss out! and
🚚 Free, fast shipping (same-day, one-day, or two-day) to get your gear before you go!
And, there’s NO commitment!
You can cancel your subscription at any time before the trial ends if you don’t want to stick around post-Prime Day and not pay a cent.
It’s totally risk-free! 🙌
🎁 Bonus Prime Perks?
Your Prime trial isn’t just for Prime Day!
🔔 Early Deals Are Already On! Prime members can now take advantage of discounts on travel essentials, including water bottles, travel adapters, travel clothes, and tech items such as power banks and laptops. There are new deals every day, right up to and including PRIME DAYS.
➕PLUS
Your 30-day FREE trial lets you enjoy bonus benefits for a month to make your travels even better:
Spend a month trying:
📺Prime Video for movies during layovers
🎧 Amazon Music: 100 million songs + ad-free podcasts
📚 Prime Reading for free travel guides and magazines
🎮 Prime Gaming: Free games to pass the time and in-game perks
With both deals you get TourRadar's "Best Price" guarantee, plus all the other TourRadar benefits such as generous payment plans, 24/7 customer support, and more. (Read about those extras here.)
But here's an EXTRA BONUS - use our Exclusive partner code: travelbug25, at the checkout and get an extra 25$ OFF!
To understand all of the beneifts of booking with TourRadar rather than direct with each tour company, read our comprehensive review.
If you've ever dreamed of visiting the Arctic, GAdventures have just released their newArctic collection.
Remote, raw, and rich with life, the Arctic is where nature and culture meet on the edge of the map. Their small-ship expeditions give you a front-row seat to dramatic landscapes, rich histories, and iconic wildlife like polar bears, whales, and puffins.
EuroStar Winter Tickets Now Available through RailEurope
Eurostar’s winter tickets are now available for booking – with travel dates open through 8 February 2026.
London ⇄ Lille (with easy connections to the Ski slopes)
London ⇄ Cologne
Booking.com vs. Direct Booking – A London Price Comparison Adventure
Last week, we shared a post about our most-used apps of the year, with Booking.com topping the list for snagging accommodations.
We invited you all to join the conversation in our Facebook group to share your favorite platforms and tips.
One of our absolute favorite followers, Frances—an experienced world traveler with a knack for finding great deals—jumped in with some thoughts.
Frances is no stranger to budget travel. She backpacked in Central America for 3 months in her late 20’s, and she was a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica for 2 years. She and her husband lived in Cameroon and Senegal, and when they tried to move to Zaire, they had to evacuate with the Belgian and French Foreign Legions because of a military coup - with their 2 cats! But nowadays, their travels are more sedate, and both her priorities and budget have evolved.
She mentioned she’s wary of Booking.com after hearing stories of scams, particularly in London, where she’s headed in a few months.
Plus, she felt she often scored better deals by booking directly with hotels.
That got our attention, and we decided to dig deeper with a fun, informal experiment.
A huge thank you to Frances for being such a good sport and sharing her expertise—her perspective as a seasoned traveler with different priorities made this case study so much richer!
The Setup
Frances kindly shared her spreadsheet of the best prices and conditions she found for a 5-night stay in London, approximately three months in advance, across 14 mid-range + properties, with multiple room types (standard, deluxe, king, suite etc.) for some.
These properties were in the $280–$650 USD/night range—way above our usual budget!
For context, we’re the kind of travelers who’ve never paid more than $100/night in London, opting for camping, cheap rooms, or housesitting for free.
However, we know that these prices are typical for the average tourist, so it was a great opportunity to compare Booking.com with direct bookings and see what the difference is.
Our Approach
We took Frances’s list and checked the same properties on Booking.com for the same dates, aiming to compare apples with apples.
This wasn’t as straightforward as it sounds—different platforms, different variables!
Here’s what we looked at:
Non-Refundable vs. Flexible Cancellation: Non-refundable bookings are often cheaper, but direct bookings rarely offer this option. On Booking.com, we could lock in lower prices by opting for a non-refundable option, while flexible cancellation (especially closer to the stay) increased the cost.
Breakfast Included or Not: Direct bookings often included breakfast automatically, while Booking.com sometimes didn’t offer it or charged extra (up to $54/day—unclear if per person or for two).
Room Type: Matching the exact room type was tricky in some cases. Maybe they were booked out, or descriptions differed between platforms.
Booking.com Perks: Our Genius III status (earned after just a few bookings) unlocks significant discounts, complimentary room upgrades, and other inclusions, including breakfast. These weren’t available when booking directly.
Mobile-Only Pricing: Booking.com’s app often offers exclusive mobile and app-only discounts that hotels don’t match.
Hotel Club Memberships: Some hotel chains offer loyalty discounts when booking direct, which are unavailable on Booking.com.
The Results
Here’s the scoop: in almost all cases, Booking.com offered cheaper prices for non-refundable bookings, sometimes saving hundreds of dollars over five nights.
In one extreme case, we could have saved $922 by booking a non-refundable stay through Booking.com.
But when we compared cancellable bookings with breakfast included, Frances’s direct deals often came out on top.
Frances, being the savvy traveler she is, prioritizes flexibility and inclusions like breakfast to suit her travel style.
Her choices reflect her focus on getting the best value for her needs, and we love how her approach pushed us to think beyond our budget-obsessed ways.
It made this comparison so much more valuable, highlighting how different priorities shape booking decisions.
Our Preferences (and Why We’re Cheapskates)
For us, it’s all about the bottom line. We’d book the cheapest non-refundable option on Booking.com every time, especially if it comes with free breakfast, upgrades, or cancellation perks (if they don’t jack up the price).
Our plans are usually set in stone by booking time, so we’re fine risking a modest loss if something goes awry.
The exceptions?
We’d avoid non-refundable bookings if:
We need a booking for visa or entry purposes but plan to cancel.
There’s no non-refundable option available.
There's a chance a housesit might pop up, letting us cancel and stay for free.
Breakfast?
We skip it unless:
The property’s in the middle of nowhere,
It’s included via Genius Rewards, or
Reviews rave about its value.
We pack our own coffee (priorities!) and find it easy to grab yogurt, fruit, or pastries from a nearby store. Buffets rarely feel worth it for us.
In fact, a lot of the time we'll skip breakfast altogether and go straight to brunch.
Addressing the Scam Concern
Frances’s caution about Booking.com scams is valid—scams can happen anywhere, especially with budget accommodations, whether booking direct or through a platform.
However, we’ve made over 100 bookings on Booking.com and had just four bad experiences.
Two were resolved smoothly thanks to our Genius III priority support (we even came out ahead!), and the other two weren’t worth fighting over since alternatives were plentiful.
We’ve also tried negotiating directly at hotel receptions and found that in many instances they are unwilling to negotiate. Or, they are happy to give us the same price and keep the platform commission themselves rather than split it with us.
So Booking.com’s instant confirmation is often cheaper and easier in most instances. In fact I've made online bookings for a cheaper price while STANDING AT RECEPTION several times.
Key Lessons
This experiment revealed that everyone’s travel style and risk tolerance are unique, which is what makes trip planning so personal.
Frances’s approach—prioritizing flexibility and inclusions—helped her secure deals that matched her comfort level, and we respect that 100%.
Frances ended up booking directly with a hotel using their direct booking discounts. Plus, after our discussion about breakfast buffet in a hotel versus a room with a fridge and/or going out for breakfast, she opted for a no breakfast option as the hotel room has a fridge. The difference between her room on Booking.com and direct with the hotel was an extra $180. Her biggest takeaway from this discussion was the importance of looking at all of the options, including Booking.com, and she is going to try that in the future.
For budget-conscious travelers like us, Booking.com’s non-refundable rates and Genius perks often come out on top.
The Conclusion?
Always compare platforms, but make sure you’re comparing the same conditions (room type, cancellation policy, inclusions). If you can’t, weigh the trade-offs and choose what fits your needs.
While caution is wise given the horror stories out there, millions of bookings go off without a hitch, and the savings can be huge.
Pro tip: Get good at reading between the lines of reviews—there's a bit of an art to it, and a game-changer for minimizing risks. (Maybe we’ll dive into that in a future newsletter!)
Frances also found that reviews are critical - the online reviews were essential to choosing the right hotel.
Huge thanks again to Frances for sharing her insights and spreadsheet. Her experience as a world traveler and her unique priorities made this case study a blast to put together. Here’s to finding the best deals, whatever your travel style!
PS. It's a Loooong time since we paid for an extended stay in London and we tend to visit for at least two to three weeks a year. Most times our accommodation costs = ZERO as we are staying in stylish inner-city properties as housesitters.
This series was started with long-term travelers in mind. But as it's evolved, many of the tips have proved useful for every traveler and, in fact, life in general when it comes to online security. You can find all the previous tips in each newsletter on the archives page.
Tips include:
Defining your travel goals and bucket lists,
Setting your baseline,
Creating and refining your budget
Finding extra income streams while traveling
Identifying your support crew, and
Performing an annual banking review
Finding accommodation for extended periods
Implementing long-term Health Management Strategies
Keeping Money and funds safe
Staying prepared in case of disaster
Ways to Cut Your Accommodation Costs
Securing Your Online Security with 2FA
VPN Tips for Globetrotters
Cloud Storage for Safe & Accessible Data Anywhere
Using Password Managers.
Back to Basics of Long-term Travel
Last week we went back to tips on the basics of making long-term travel sustainable.
Over the next few weeks I'll expand on each of the topics we've not yet address in previous editions.
Travel Tip N16 - Maximum Experience on a Budget
For us, travel isn't just about visiting a place; it’s about truly experiencing it—connecting with its people, soaking up its culture, and seeking out the "quirks" many tourists don't see.
That said, paid tours and activities, especially the more unique ones, CAN eat up your budget faster than you can say “sightseeing.”
Last week, we shared a tip about getting savvy with activities and tours, and now we’re unpacking that with practical, wallet-friendly strategies to explore and discover while keeping costs down.
Here are our top tips:
1- Tap into Free Walking Tours: Platforms like GURUWalk offer tip-based walking tours led by passionate local guides. They cover major sights, share insider stories, and let you pay what fits your budget—often way cheaper than standard tours.
2 - Leverage City Passes and Discount Cards: If you plan to visit multiple paid activities or exhibits, city passes and cards can offer considerable savings by bundling attractions, public transportation, and discounts on tours, shopping, or dining.
The Lisboa Card, for example, saved me over 120 euros on our last visit and it could have easily been more.
GoCity and Tiquets are two platforms to check out what's on offer.
3 - Visit the Local Tourist Office for What’s On: Tourist offices are treasure troves of free event listings, maps, and local tips. Drop by to discover festivals, markets, or pop-up events—many are free or low-cost and give you a real feel for the place.
4 - Explore Self-Guided and Audio Tours: Apps like GPSMyCity offer downloadable self-guided walking tours with maps and highlights, letting you explore at your own pace a small fee. We even have a few of our self-guided walking tours on this platform.
Audio tours on WeGoTrip provide narrated guides for museums or cities, offering flexibility and expert insights without the group tour price tag. Both save money and let you linger where you love.
5 - Join Local Festivals and Community Events: Street fairs, cultural celebrations, or markets are often free or inexpensive and allow you to mingle with locals.
Check:
Online (e.g. Google - What's on in... or check platforms like Eventbrite,)
The local paper to catch these vibrant, authentic experiences.
4 - Connect Through Meetups and Local Ambassadors: Platforms like Meetup connect you with locals hosting hikes, cultural meetups, or casual gatherings. These free or low-cost events offer a local’s perspective for a richer experience.
5 - Explore Language Exchange Opportunities: Apps like Tandem (limited physical locations) or local language meetups (often on Meetup) pair you with locals for language swaps over coffee. It’s a free or inexpensive way to learn, make friends, and immerse yourself in the culture. These types of meetups were really popular in Saigon.
6 - Volunteer for Unique Experiences: Platforms like Workaway or local volunteer projects (check tourist offices or forums) let you join community efforts—like festivals or farms—in exchange for free experiences, meals, or even lodging. It’s a meaningful, budget-friendly way to connect.
7 - Join Events at Your Accommodation: Hostels, guesthouses, campgrounds, and resorts may host free or low-cost activities like pub crawls, cooking classes or group dinners. We've been part of several of these over the years. Chatting with fellow travelers in common areas can also spark budget-friendly plans or tips.
8 - Dive into Online Communities: Travel forums, Facebook groups, or Reddit are packed with ideas for free or cheap activities.
9 - Book Group Tours for Value and Safety: Sometimes, paid tours are the best solution for a great experience and can save you money.
We’re not always group tour enthusiasts, but they can be a game-changer depending on the activity or destination.
Expert guides bring safety and insights, especially in places with subpar public transport, saving you from pricey taxis or getting stranded.
Your accommodation or local tour companies can often arrange these, but booking online can help you manage your time, save the hassle of trudging around town for deals, or at the very least, provide a price point to start your in-person negotiations.
Platforms like GetYourGuide or TourRadar offer a wide range of experiences, from city walks to safaris, where you can split costs (such as vehicles or guides) with others.
Bonus: Online platforms allow you to compare reviews of local operators, plus offer protections like no-risk cancellation policies, funds held in escrow, and best-price guarantees.
Conclusion
Each of these strategies has its pros and cons depending on the desired experience and destination.
By mixing them up, you’ll stretch your budget while creating memories that outshine any price tag.
If you've got a killer tip for saving money on tours, activities, or experiences, head to our Facebook group and share your best finds—we’d love to hear how you explore on a budget!
Travel Partners That Saved Us Money This Week
This week, we’re giving a shoutout to 🏆Radical Storage, another of our partners we've researched thoroughly but have yet to use until now.
We're not really saving money with this one; we're saving our hips, knees, butts and tempers.
Although the freedom it will give us will probably save us cash as well as we won't be stuck in one cafe and feel obligated to buy a heap of food and beverages we don't really want.
Picture this: we’re landing in Budapest at 8:30 AM, bleary-eyed and exhausted from a 3 AM airport run and a sleepless night.
Our apartment check-in isn’t until 3 PM. Because it's a separate apartment, they can't let us store our stuff while we wait for check-in (I asked.) The last thing we want is to drag our heavy backpacks around while we try to stay awake and explore.
Enter Radical Storage, our new best friend for hassle-free travel.
This genius service lets you stash your bags for a minimal amount so you can roam hands-free, and it’s about to save our sanity in Budapest!
Radical Storage operates in over 70 countries and 500 cities with more than 5,000 storage points worldwide.
That means no matter where you’re headed, there’s likely a spot to drop your bags near key locations like train stations, metro stops, or tourist hubs.
In Budapest, we found a storage point right by the subway station we’re exiting—less than 200 meters from our apartment! Talk about convenient.
For just €5 per bag per day (about $12 for 24 hours), we can ditch our packs and wander without feeling like pack mules. Plus, for an extra €3.50 (4 USD), both bags are covered by a $3,000 guarantee if anything’s lost or damaged, giving us total peace of mind.
The booking process is a breeze—just hop on their website or app, pick a spot, and you’re set.
There's no size restrictions, no fuss.
After dropping our bags, we’re planning to stroll around and maybe sneak a craft beer at one of Budapest’s best bars, conveniently around the corner from our apartment.
A quick tipple, a light explore, and we’ll be ready for an early night without the burden of our bags.
How Our Travel Plans Are Shaping Up
One small change this week.
Rather than head north to Barcelona/Badalona to see a friend, we've booked an apartment just outside Valencia and she's coming down to see us.
So here's the updated plan:
We're in Calpe on the Costa Blanca for another couple of days.
We'll then head north to Alaquas for 5 days in an apartments and then 8 days in central Valencia with a kitty called Meatball.
We then fly to Budapest for 5 days to catch up with friends and then...
Fly to Baku. We still haven't nailed our itinerary but we'll probably spend a week or so in Azerbaijan and then head to Georgia to explore a few places before starting an 18-day housesit in Tbilisi.
We then have 10 days to explore other parts of Georgia and Armenia before heading back to the UK.
Next up, a 2 week sit in a house in the center of Cambridge.
We'll then spend a few weeks catching up with friends before heading south to Asia Pac, the long way round. Visas and insurance are barriers to entry for a couple of our bucket list countries, and the current ruckus in the Middle East has potentially scuppered a few other plans so we're looking at Plan B for what that route might be.
Watch this space!
Travel Bloggers, Websites, Info and Newsletters You Might Like
We've been madly planning our Caucus adventure.
Three resources I've found useful as part of this process are:
Wanderlush, a fabulous website created by Emily Lush, a fellow Aussie (Journalist) who has some fabulous advice, recommendations, and itineries on the whole region (and many other countries.)
Caravanistan - A comprehensive website with up to date information on borders, visas and all things Silk Road.
TourRadar - We might not be booking a tour, but I always check what's on offer to identify highlights, must-sees, and logical routes. I can then examine how we can achieve the same goal independently using public transport and compare the costs and logistics to someone else handling all the organization.
That's all for now.
The scooter goes back today and we're taking a little train trip along the coast.!
Happy Travels! Talk Soon.
Tim and Sharyn
PS. If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, please feel free toBUY US A BEVERAGE. 😉 ☕🫖🍻🍷
Every $ helps keep us motivated and the show on the road.
P.P.S. - Booking a trip soon? Here are some resources to use:
By using our links when you book, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you - This allows us to produce free content that helps you travel better and longer for less. Affiliate Disclosure
We're long-term travelers sharing our passion for independent, budget travel. Every newsletter gives you travel tips from experts, lessons from the road, great deals, and carefully curated travel products & services.
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