August 2024

While you might now know on how to shop around for the cheapest flights, there are further resources on getting even better deals on flights. These flight alert sites specialize in finding cheap prices. Whether be it last minute tickets, special promotions or mistake fares, these websites will find them and notify its members/audience! In this post, I will go over my favourite flight alert sites and show you how to get the best deals on flights!

Before we start,

Flight mistake fares, or known as error fares are when airlines or an online travel agency (OTA) sells a ticket for significantly less than they intended. Many factors can contribute to this mistake such as human error, incorrect currency conversion, or technology issues.

These pricing mistakes happen more than you think. Here’s some examples from the recent past:

• November 2019: Melbourne, Australia to Baku, Azerbaijan for only $354 AUD roundtrip
• March 2020: Toronto, Canada to the Azores for only $137 CAD roundtrip
• November 2020: Atlanta, USA to Santiago, Chile for only $62 USD roundtrip

Atlanta to Santiago for only $62!

Because these prices are not planned, they typically don’t last long. When the company notices the incorrect fares, they will immediately change it. Pricing errors can last several days, but the really good ones disappear in just hours!

If you find a Mistake Fare that you want to book, you should always try to book directly with the airline. Booking directly with an airline cuts out any middleman and reduces the amount of time required to issue your ticket, making it more likely for the Mistake Fare price to be honored.

Even if a Mistake Fare ends up getting cancelled, the money gets refunded. This is why its important not to book any non refundable plans such as accommodation or activities until a week or two. By this time, you should have an e-ticket number and/or a code for your reservation.

While there are multiple ways to find mistake fares, such as:

• Manually searching flights – This requires a lot of effort and its like looking for a needle in a haystack. The best tip is to search a broad set of destinations (and even origin) and timeline to spot an abnormally low price
• Sign up for price alerts – Using the price alert functions on the many booking sites, you’ll automatically be notified when a flight you’re watching changes in price. It’s not as likely to find an error fare this way, as you will need a lot of set up a lot of different route alerts.

However the best way is to sign up for flight alert sites to track them.

Finding deals on flights is a time consuming process. You can spend hours searching different routes, timeline on various online flight search engines and still get nothing. Luckily, there are companies out there that have managed to streamline the process with a combination of complex algorithms and a team of flight experts. These websites will provide a list of low fares through posting online and/or delivering them through e-mails or app notifications to its members.

These flight alert sites are the best for people who are just looking for somewhere cheap to visit and are flexible in their destination and timeframe.

I want to clarify that these websites are not booking sites. So when you see a flight you want to book, you’ll be directed to an online travel agency (Expedia) or the airline to finalize your booking.

Here are some of my favourite flight alert sites:

Started in 2015, Scott’s Cheap Flights is the first of its kind. This website combines sophisticated software and human flight experts to discover flight deals and mistake fares.

Scott’s Cheap Flights monitors the best flight deals from your home airport and any other airport you choose. Here are some recent deals that they sent out!

Unfortunately Scott’s Cheap Flights has decided to focus their efforts a into serving only the US market in October 2019.

There are two tiers of membership— a free version and a premium version at a cost of $49 USD per year. Premium members will get access to up to 5x more deals, earlier access to email notifications and gets notified for mistake fares.

While Scott’s Cheap Flights only offers the US market, Secret Flying monitors flight and hotel deals worldwide.

When the team finds a great deal, they immediately post details about the fare on their website. If you like the deal, you can then directly book with their provided links. Here are some deals that they have on their website!

What is great is that Secret Flying is completely free of charge. There is no membership required to access any deals on their website, including mistake fares!

I highly suggest getting the Secret Flying app. When you join as a member, you are able to customize your departure cities and it will send out instant flight deal alerts straight to your phone.

This 1,000,000+ member club is all about providing the best flight deals. The people at Dollar Flight Club spend hours each day scouring the web for cheap flight deals. They will then notify its members in a convenient email, like this.

There are three tiers of memberships – Dollar Flight Club Free, Premium and Premium Plus versions

The Free Version allows members to receive deals from their departure region, rather than a specific airport. They will only receive a fraction of the emails that premium members do. Its meant to give users an idea of the service they can provide.

Their Premium Plan allows members to personalize the type of flight deals to receive, including departure airports, destinations and preferred airlines. Further benefits include the option to get alerts via text message and no advertisements in the e-mails that you receive. The cost for the Premium Plan is $69 USD annually.

Dollar Flight Club has recently launched a Premium Plus service that aims to provide members with access to Business and First Class flight deals. There is an additional perk of a 20% discount on a Mobile Passport Plus Plan which helps you get through airport security quicker. The annual cost for the Premium Plus Plan is $99 USD.

Right now, DFC are offering a free 14 day trial of the Premium Plan and the Premium Plus. You can cancel at anytime you are able to cancel anytime without incurring any costs. This way, you can see for yourself if there is value in paying for the Premium or Premium Plus plans.

Tripli is a new website that I recently discovered while researching on how to shop around for the cheapest flights. Started in 2020, Tripli focuses on sending cheap travel deals via email.

Their advanced algorithms search every website and flight to find the best deals. What is great is that Tripli offers a free membership program, comparable to the paid version of Scott’s Cheap Flights and Dollar Flight Club. Check out some of the deals they found:

Since they are also the newest kid on the block, they still have lots to improve on. Coming soon are the addition of mistake fares and first class & business class deals!

For all you travellers in Canada, this a website to follow. Y Deals has helped quarter-million Canadians spot the truly amazing travel deals. They provide flight deals from many cities in Canada, from larger cities like Montreal (yuldeals.com) to smaller cities like Saskatoon (yxedeals.com). You can find the list of cities here.

The website looks quite outdated compared to the others on the list, but I like the simple layout. What is great is that there is no membership required to see any of the deals. You can subscribe for the email list to get notifications on the latest deals. On occasion, he even posts mistake fares. Here are some of the recent deals posted:

Using the Toronto version (yyzdeals.com), I was able to get a great deal on a return flight from Toronto to Cancun, Mexico for $268 CAD back in January 2018! This really helped save me on my trip to the Yucatan.

Timing is everything in getting flight deals. Certain deals only last for days and mistake fares are even more quick to disappear. This is why signing up for these flight deal alert sites is the best way to get the best deals on flights. Getting email, app and social media alerts means that you will get notified right away when a deal pops up.

I highly recommend to at least sign up for the free version of these flight alert sites. They only send out emails if they are really great deals, and will not spam your inbox. Judge for yourself with the deals I posted. And by following multiple sources, you lower the risk of missing out on great flight deal!

Argentina’s capital has long been considered the Paris of South America. The city is filled with stunning European-style architecture, an eclectic night life and a food scene that rivals any major European city. And while there’s not many eye popping attractions, the city’s unique atmosphere is enough to draw millionsContinue Reading

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Just like you would look around for shopping your next iPhone or TV, flights are also something that you should price shop for. A little effort in shopping around can go a long way in finding the best deals on flights. In this post, the best websites for finding cheap flights can save you over $500!

The best place to start are aggregator or search engine sites. These websites don’t let you book directly, but instead search dozens of booking engines, airfare sites, and OTAs (online travel agencies) and compile the results in one place.

While it might seem like there are so many flight search engines to choose from, you have to know that like most industries, it is all part of an illusion. Many websites that you might use to compare prices are actually owned by the same company–there are really only a few key players. Here is a breakdown of some of the popular websites, and who they are owned by:

Other websites such as Skiplagged, Google Flights, Tripli, and Kiwi.com are independently owned.

You may find that not one website is perfect, otherwise this article would be a lot shorter. The full scope of available flights will not appear in the search results of any one site, simply because some airlines forbid them from listing their fares. The biggest example is Southwest Airlines, which only sells tickets directly on their website.

This is the first place I turn to when searching for flights. If you do not have a destination in mind yet, Google Flights allows you to search multiple destinations, such as a country or even a continent to see which city might be the best deal at the time.

• By far the fastest search engine of all
• Very simple interface and easy to use
• Free of ads and popups
• Extensive set of filters for type of airline, duration, times, number of stops, price range, etc
• Indicates if the current prices are more expensive than usual, cheaper than usual, or average
• Able to track the price of the set itinerary; Google will notify you if the prices has dropped or increased

• Prices often seem to be either out of date or a little bit higher than other sites
• Not always thorough with its search results; often lists flights without prices
• May have to book directly with the airline by calling them

This website has been around for a long time and remains an excellent place to find some of the lowest fares available. Similar to Google Flights, Skyscanner also allows one to search for specific regions, which is useful to find the best deals. They do one better by having “Everywhere” as a destination.

• Extensive set of filters that lets you choose from the airline, duration, times, number of stops, prices, etc.
• Can select nearby airports for departing or return flights when searching
• Can search the whole month, great for those that can be flexible with their dates
• Able to set up price alerts; they will notify you if the prices of the itinerary you are searching for has dropped or increased
• With the current COVID situation, they are among the best resource to find out about the travel restrictions and COVID cases for each country

• Clutters organic results with sponsored results
• Not the cleanest website with advertisements on the side

Part of the massive Booking company, Momondo has transitioned from pure aggregator to an OTA as well, now offering direct booking on its own site. They consistently return more search results than their counterparts. These include results such as two one way tickets from different providers packaged together to get you the best deal.

Just like Skyscanner, they have an “Anywhere” option that displays cheap fares from any departure city. This is under the Explore button on the top of their website. However, it is only limited to return flights.

• Visually appealing data with lots of charts that show estimated prices by date, so you can quickly find nearby dates with better prices
• Extensive set of filters that lets you choose from the airline, duration, times, number of stops, prices, etc
• Displays price insights for your itinerary (the cheapest and most expensive fares, pegged to season, airline, time of departure, day of the week)
• Fare calendar graph shows average prices for other days
• Can set up price alerts; they will notify you if the prices of the itinerary you are searching for has dropped or increased

• Similar to Skyscanner, they have sponsored results along with organic results
• The interface can be a bit messy, with pop-ups and secondary searches that launch by default

A relatively new website, Skiplagged started in 2013 to exploit “skiplagging” or “hidden city ticketing”. This is a controversial method that can save you a lot of money.

The basics of this method involve buying itineraries that have layovers and abandoning the final leg before the final destination. For example, a direct flight to Tokyo might cost you $1447 CAD normally, but there is a deal to Singapore that connects through Tokyo and only costs $588 CAD! The goal would be to book the cheaper flight to Singapore, transfer to Tokyo for the layover, and simply “miss the connecting flight.” While this method is legal, it is frowned upon by airlines. United Airlines have even tried to file a lawsuit against the founder of Skiplagged but was unsuccessful. If caught doing this, customers run the risk of having their airline miles taken away and elite status revoked.

New York to Tokyo direct on Google Flights New York to Tokyo on Skiplagged

Skiplagging only works for one-way tickets, since airlines will automatically cancel any remaining flights on an existing itinerary once a connecting flight is missed. You should also not check any baggage as the luggage will be sent to the final destination and not where you got off.

While I have personally not tried this method, I will be looking into it in the future. This is a great way to save lots of money on flights. The above example will save you almost $900! However, I would probably only do this once in a while and not put any frequent flyer details to prevent any possible backlash with the airlines.

If you are not interested in this method, Skiplagged is also a great option to search for standard flights. Like Momondo and Skyscanner, they have an “Anywhere” option to explore different destinations.

• Shows a line graph of the prices a month prior and a month after for the same itinerary you’ve chosen
• Fare calendar graph shows average prices for other days
• Can filter by layover city
• Clean interface with no ads or popups
• Can track the price of the set itinerary; Skiplagged will notify you if the prices has dropped or increased

• No multi-city option
• Filters not as extensive as Momondo or Skyscanner
• Longer transfer time to airline/OTA site
• Although Skiplagged displays all fare classes (economy, business, first), you are not able to search for a specific class type; they do not offer a filter to separate each type
• For some cities, there is no option to include all the airports within the surrounding area (e.g. Bangkok, Istanbul, Seoul); this will force you to search several times

Last but not least, Tripli is a new website that I recently discovered which has impressed me with its results. The site was started in 2020 and primarily focuses on sending cheap travel deals via email. However, I am including its flight search service in this list as it scans an entirely different set of online travel agencies–mostly smaller agencies who compete on pricing and can sometimes get you surprisingly low rates.

• Has an extensive search history (even showing the prices), helping compare different flights
• Extensive set of filters that lets you choose from the airline, duration, times, number of stops, prices, etc. Has an additional baggage filter, which is not found on any other website
• Clean interface with no ads or popups
• Offers a free membership program to get alerts about the world’s cheapest flight and hotel deals, comparable to the paid version of Scott’s Cheap Flights and Dollar Flight Club

• Newer website, so with that you can expect some hiccups. However, that means they have the most potential to improve
• Does not have a calendar view or flight insights, which makes it harder to compare with different dates
• No “Anywhere” or option to search by regions makes it harder to explore different destinations

Even though interface and design are important qualities, I wanted to determine which of these websites can generate the cheapest flights. Therefore, I tested these five websites with 25 different sets of itineraries. I have varied the journeys between half one way trips and half return flights. They also range from flights within Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, and long international flights.

The results were quite surprising. Here is my ranking of how each website performed, from best to worst.

1. Tripli
2. Skiplagged
3. Skyscanner
4. Momondo
5. Google Flights

Below are six itineraries that I think make a fair representation of the flights I looked up. All the flight prices are in Canadian Dollars ($CAD).

One thing to note is that since these websites direct users to many online travel agencies (many that you may never hear of), you do need to do your due diligence on websites that you are unfamiliar with. I usually do a quick Google search of the website and read reviews from users to see if they are legit. If you see competitive prices directly from an airline, I would highly recommend on booking with them as they will/should provide you the best customer service if anything goes wrong.

This exercise actually taught me a couple of things. In the past, I have always relied on the combination of searching on Google Flights, then price shopping on Skyscanner and Momondo. However, recent startups such as Skiplagged and Tripli have been able to compete and even offer even cheaper prices! A good strategy moving forward should be using Google Flights, Skyscanner and Momondo on your initial search. Their great explore function, filter options, and calendar views make it easy to explore around different destinations and timeframes. Once you are ready to book, I would then compare the prices on Tripli and Skiplagged to get the best deal!

Hope you enjoyed my rundown of the Best Websites For Finding Cheap Flights! Once you book your flight, make sure you get the best deal on accommodation by checking out my post on Five Easy Ways to Save Money on Accommodation!

South Korea is often overlooked by backpackers who are either drawn to the cheap Southeast Asia or the more popular Japan. But this country offers so much for a great value. Below I will provide you my budget breakdown so that you can go backpacking South Korea on the cheap.

Currency Info: In August 2019, the exchange of the Korean Won to the Canadian Dollar was around 900.9 KRW to $1 CAD.

After our trip to Japan, we hopped over to Busan, where our Korean journey began. There is an overnight ferry available from Fukuoka to Busan, but we decided to take the cheaper and faster flight with Jeju Air for 56,730 KRW ($62.97 CAD).

To book the flight, I use Skyscanner. They price check with over 1,200 travel companies, and usually give the best prices. They also have Price Alerts where they can notify you as soon as fares change on the flight you’re looking at.

If you love strong flavours and spicy foods, then you either already like Korean food or you should give it a go!

Eating out in South Korea is very affordable. There are so many little hole-in-the-wall eateries that cater to locals and offer meals for around 5000 KRW ($5.50 CAD). You might have to get around the language barrier (try Google Translate or pointing to photos).

Be aware that eating is a very social activity in Korea. A lot of meals are meant to be shared (with at least one other person) which can be an obstacle for solo travellers.

• Korean BBQ lunch special 8000 KRW ($8.88 CAD)
• Sundubu jjigae – a spicy stew made with soft tofu and seafood 9000 KRW ($10)
• Whole box of Korean fried chicken 17,000 KRW ($18.87 CAD)
• Cheese ribs at James Cheese Back Ribs 34,000 KRW ($37.74 CAD) for two
• Expensive but satisfying New York style pizza from Monster Pizza for 4000 KRW ($4.44 CAD)
• Dwaeji-gukbap (pork and rice soup) from Michelin guide restaurant, Okdongsik for 8000 KRW ($8.88 CAD)
• Bingsu (Korean shaved ice) from Sulbing 8900 KRW ($9.88 CAD)

Korean BBQ Lunch Set. 8/10 James Cheese Ribs. 7.5/10 Bingsu from Sulbing. 8.5/10

Like Japan, Korea’s convenience stores offer a great deal of cheap and good food–from gimbabs, sausage-on-sticks, fish cakes, and a wide array of instant noodles. We often went here for our breakfast! One thing that Korea has over Japan is the abundance of street food markets. Lots of yummy eats are available for cheap!

• Gimbab from convenience stores (e.g. E-mart, GS25, CU) starting at 2100 KRW ($2.33 CAD). Gimbabs looks like a big sushi roll, but they are more than that. Inside are sauteed vegetables, sweet pickled radish, your choice of meat and rice, rolled and tightly wrapped in a sheet of seaweed.
• A bottle of soju, Korea’s national drink that’s usually about 20%, from convenience stores. 1700 KRW ($1.88 CAD)
• A plate of kimchi mandus and baos from Hyojason King dumpling for 4000 KRW ($4.44 CAD)
• Hoettok. Usually found as street food, these are fried pancake containing brown sugar, honey, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon. 1300 KRW ($1.44 CAD)
• Eomuk (fish cakes in broth) – 5000 KRW ($5.55 CAD) for two skewers
• Dopotki or tteokbokki and tempura. Another popular street food snack, it consist of rice cakes, fish cakes, vegetables doused in a sweet red chili sauce. 6600 KRW ($7.33 CAD) for two portions

Mandu from Hyojason King Dumpling. 8.5/10 Gimbab. 8/10

Be sure to check out my Top 5 Eats in South Korea for more delectable Korean dishes!

As a small and dense country, South Korea’s public transportation is top notch. If you want to save money (who doesnt?), avoid taking the KTX high-speed train. Instead take the slower trains or better yet, the buses. Korea’s buses are pretty comfortable and a lot cheaper than taking the train. For example, travelling from Busan to Seoul on the 2.5 hour KTX ride would cost around 59,800 KRW ($66.38 CAD). We took a 4 hour bus ride and it was only 24,200 KRW ($26.86 CAD). That’s more than half the price!

There are many buses between Sokcho and Seoul, running every 30 minutes from the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. There are also different kinds of buses. To Sokcho, we took a more premium bus (more leg room, more comfortable seating) costing 19,700 KRW ($21.87 CAD). We took the normal one back costing 15,100 KRW ($16.76 CAD). The bus journey which took from the west coast to the east coast of the country took only 2.5 hours (may depend on traffic).

Similar to Japan, South Korea has a re-loadable transit card called the T-Money card. They work across the major cities of the country. You can get these cards at most subway stations as well as convenience stores. The card itself costs around 2000 KRW to 4000 KRW ($2 – $4 CAD) depending on the design you get. However, there will some savings using this card. You are able to transfer without paying more and the card provides a 100 KRW discount per trip.

While not exactly the cheapest accommodation in Asia, hostels in South Korea are nice and very good value. Like Japan, we decided to stay in a combinations of dorms and private rooms. We even found a sweet deal for a hotel (more below)! Here are some accommodations I recommend for your stay in Korea.

Busan Backpackers for 15,315 KRW ($17 CAD) per night for a dorm bed

The owner Jay (and his cat Pickles) was one of the highlights of this hostel. He was welcoming and friendly as he provided us with many tips for Busan. He was also able to arrange logistics when we forgot some stuff in the hostel after we checked out. The hostel has a great common area with a full kitchen. It was also a social hostel, as we got to meet lots of other backpackers through the events. The only downside is that our room got quite stuffy as the AC didn’t quite reach our room.

The House Hostel for 72,000 KRW ($79.92 CAD) per night for a private room with an ensuite

As the town is not big, this hostel is minutes walk from the Intercity bus terminal, the main shopping street and the ocean. The bus to Soeraksan National Park is just around the corner. Rooms are spacious, clean well maintained. It’s very homey and perfect after a long day of hiking. Breakfast is also included (toast and cereal). It is on the pricey side of hostels, but this is among the best prices for hostels in Sokcho.

Benikea Premier Hotel Dongdaemun for 57,162 KRW ($63.45 CAD) per night for a hotel room

I found this hotel for such a great price that I had to book it. Their rooms were in great conditions and were kept clean. The hotel also has a great location, perfect for exploring the east side of Seoul (Dongdaemun, Gangnam, Lotte World). We also took advantage of the gym they had. Overall, it was a nice break from hostel life without breaking the bank.

Zzzip Guesthouse for 26,000 KRW ($28.86 CAD) per night for a dorm bed

Rated 9.8 on HostelWorld and 9.5 on Booking.com, this highly rated hostel is family run by Brian and Jina. They were helpful during our stay in Seoul, letting us know where to go and eat. Location is great if you are looking to stay in the Hongdae area (known for nightlife and great restaurants). The hostel was clean, cosy, and felt like a second home. It was a social hostel (without being a party hostel) so it was easy to meet other people. Breakfast was also included (toast and cereal). One downside that it’s cash only.

Every Zzzip Guesthouse visitor gets to have a Polaroid on the wall.

For those looking to spend a bit more on accommodation, you can find good quality private rooms in a lot of hotels and guesthouses in South Korea starting at 20,000 KRW ($23 CAD) per night! Check them out yourself at below!

Booking.com

You don’t have to spend a lot in South Korea to see its most famous sights. Most of the activities are either free or very cheap to visit.

Hiking is probably the most popular pastime among Koreans. You can see locals of all ages decked out in full hiking attire in the subways on the way or back from hiking. As the country is very mountainous, you are not too far from a hiking spot. The best thing is that this will be either free or very cheap.

• We watched the new Lion King movie in a Lotte Cinema 10,000 KRW ($11.10 CAD)
• One of the most unique things about Korea is how easily you can get fireworks. We bought fireworks from GS25 and shot them over Gwangli Beach! 3750 KRW ($4.16 CAD)
• Relax and pamper at Spaland Centum City. This gigantic and modern jjimjilbang (Korean-style sauna/spa) consists of 22 hot tubs and 13 themed saunas. The best thing about here is that children under 13 aren’t allowed inside! Keep in mind that in Korean style spas, most of the amenities are segregated by gender. 17,000 KRW ($18.87 CAD) for four hours.
• Yonggungsa Temple. One of the most beautiful temples in South Korea due to its picturesque seaside location. Go in the morning or towards end of the opening hours to escape the crowds. FREE
• Gamcheon Cultural Village. Nicknamed the Santorini of the East, pastel coloured houses are nestled into the side of a mountain. Get lost in its labyrinth of alleys, take in the views, admire the street art or go shopping in the many boutique shops. FREE
• Pay our respects at the UN Memorial Cemetery. This is the only cemetery in the world managed by the United Nations. Along with their graves, there is a memorial for the soldiers that sacrificed their lives during the Korean War. FREE
• Visit the many beaches. Busan is famous for its beaches. There are so many within the city like Haeundae, Gwangalli or Songdo Beach. Go to Haeundae and Gwangalli at night for street food and buskers. FREE

Gamcheon Cultural Village Yonggungsa Temple

• Seoul is filled with themed cafes specializing in different animals and different cartoon characters. We went to a raccoon cafe called Blind Alley. 15,000 KRW ($16.65 CAD)
• Gyeongbok-gung Palace. Seoul has five main palaces and this one is the largest and most important of them all. FREE due to the Korean Holiday
• Namsan Mountain. Go up to the peak (walk or take the bus) to catch the best panoramic views of Seoul. FREE
• Bukchon Hanok Village. This picturesque village features over 400 traditional Korean houses, called hanok and is synonymous with Instagram photoshoots. FREE
• National War Memorial. A grand museum about Korean military history and of course the Korean War. One of the best museums I’ve ever been too. I was there for half a day; could have been there longer! FREE
• Cheonggyecheon Stream. This is a great escape from the bustling metropolis of Seoul. You can find lots of locals jogging, hanging out and cooling their feet in the stream. There are also light shows and art pieces. FREE
• Similar to Kyoto, Shelly rented a hanbok (traditional Korean dress) for 10,000 KRW ($11.06 CAD) which will then grant you free access to the palaces and the shrine

Our son Gyeongbok-gung Palace at Night View from Namsan Mountain Life of an IG BF

The main reason to visit Sokcho is to go to the Seoraksan National Park which is famous for its many hiking trails, ranging a few hours to a few days. We hiked to Ulsanbawi Peak, one of the more popular day hikes which was about two hours from bottom to the peak (first hour is 2.2km and pretty easy while the second hour is 1.1km and pretty gruelling). Check the weather and see if you can visit on a clear day because when we went it was really foggy and when we climbed to the peaks there, we couldn’t see anything. However there are other great hikes you can do. Entrance to the park is 3500 KRW ($3.89 CAD)

Never-ending stairs! -_-

Here are my other expenses while backpacking South Korea:

• ATM fee 36,000 KRW ($4 CAD). Make sure you use a debit card that doesn’t charge you for any foreign transaction fees. If you are from Canada, I recommend getting STACK!
• Pocket Wifi 49,500 KRW ($54.95 CAD)
• Laundry 2000 KRW ($2.22 CAD)
• Visa FREE! I want to point out that Canadians, like many nationalities, don’t need a visa to get in Korea. But only Canadians can stay there for up to 180 days (6 months)!

The Sum of Backpacking South Korea on the Cheap

South Korea is not the cheapest destination in Asia (especially compared to Southeast Asia), however it is not going to break the bank either. It is a great alternative to Japan as I found it more budget friendly. In total, I spent 895,349 KRW or $993.35 CAD for the two weeks we were there. That equates to 63,954 KRW or $70.99 CAD per day. I have chosen not to include my flights in and out of Korea as that might vary depending where you are coming from.

As Korean cuisine is one of my favourites, our food budget was the highest category. We wanted to try as much Korean food as possible. You can easily spent less on food than we did, but as we were big foodies, we did not want to cheap out. Prices are quite affordable. However, eating with other people will keep costs low as a lot of Korean dishes are meant to be shared. Nightlife is pretty big here so watch out on how much you spend on drinks and cover to bars and clubs.

Transportation is pretty affordable. The distances between cities are not big and buses can get you there pretty cheap. Those metro and city bus rides do add up.

Most of South Korea’s cultural attractions are either free or really cheap. Most of the places that we went to won’t be the reason you can’t afford to visit South Korea.

• The nightlife and drinking culture is pretty big in Korea. Koreans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world and if you want to join in the party, consider pre-drinking by buying drinks (especially soju) at the convenience stores. It is legal to drink on the streets.
• If you want to do some karaoke, I recommend the karaoke booths as opposed to a typical karaoke bar. You can typically find them in arcades and these booths can fill up to four people. I found it costs 1000 KRW ($1.11 CAD) for four songs. That is already so cheap, and if you have other people to sing with, you can sing ’til the morning!

Here is a short vlog shot by me and edited by Shelly:

We’ve heard nothing but good things about the diverse and vibrant food scene in Melbs, so it was imperative that we hit up as many spots as we could… you know, for science! And the conclusion was that some places were over hyped while others completely blew us out of the water. I present to you, la crème de la crème:

Our first meal in Melbourne was off to a good start. Hi Chong Qing is a hole-in-the-wall noodle spot with a limited menu, which got us thinking that they must make their dishes really well. And they did not disappoint! Our favourite was their Signature ChongQing noodles which were cooked to al dente perfection. The broth was rich and unlike anything we’ve ever had before. You can even customize your spice level! One bowl cost $10.80 AUD, which is as cheap as it gets. All in all, the perfect meal for a cold evening out.

ChongQing noodles

Oddly enough, we kept walking past this 24/7 Greek restaurant whenever we found ourselves in the CBD. Curiosity got the better of us, and we decided to try it out for lunch one day. It cost $33 AUD for the mixed giro platter of marinated boneless lamb and chicken from the spit, served with Greek salad and chips (pita bread and tzatziki were extra). Portions were generous and the meat was so juicy! We left with full and satisfied stomachs.

Tired and hungry after a morning of exploring the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance, we stumbled upon this hidden gem of a restaurant with just a quick Google search in the area. This spot does Taiwanese cuisine with a modern twist. Luckily we got there when they just opened for dinner–many of the tables were already reserved. Service was quick, portions were huge, and prices were fair. The three dishes we got below came to $47 AUD.

Clockwise from top right: sausage fried rice ($16), dry beef noodles ($14), and popcorn chicken ($17)

Another unexpected find at Queen Victoria Market, we learned in hindsight that American Doughnut Kitchen is actually a Melburnian institution. We joined the long but quick-moving queue, thinking that it would taste like mini donuts with powdered sugar. However, it turns out that they only sell one thing: hot jam donuts! They are made fresh right before your eyes. $8 AUD for five moderately sized donuts.

Melbourne does brunch pretty damn well. This place was recommended to us by our hostel as well as a local (shout out to Sarah!) The avocado smash is an iconic Australian breakfast/snack and we tried it for the first time at Archie’s. Avocado on toast sounds simple, but add some chilli flakes, lemon juice, feta cheese, with a side of poached egg and you have yourself a fancy meal. However, at $22.5 AUD we won’t be buying a house anytime soon. We also ordered the ricotta hotcakes ($20 AUD) which were simply divine. All things considered, this meal for two was a bit of a splurge but was definitely worth it.

Top: Smashed avo
Bottom: Ricotta pancakes

I have heard of Workaway a lot of times through many backpackers I’ve met during my travels. I have always wanted to give it a try, and I figured as I would have plenty of time during my long term travels in South East Asia, I would figure I would give it a shot. Below, I will let you know about my Workaway experience in Malaysia.

What is Workaway?

Workaway.info is a website that allows members to contact one another to organise homestays and cultural exchange. In exchange for lodging and/or food, volunteers are expected to contribute an amount of time per day to help out their hosts.

There are opportunities in most countries you can think of. The types of volunteering available include farming, animal care, language help, hostel work, babysitting, as well as more unique ones such as helping out sail to different islands to distribute medical goods!

A full year membership to the website is a reasonable $38 USD for an individual account and $48 USD for a couples account.

Where did I do it?

I did my Workaway experience at Map Travelodge hostel in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Situated between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands is popular among travellers for its tea plantations, hiking trails, orchards, and cooler temperatures. Temperatures rarely rises over 25 °C (77 °F) and can drop to as low as 9 °C (48 °F), which can be a nice break from the hot weather in the rest of Malaysia.

What work did I do?

As I had previous experience working at front desk in a hotel, the hosts gave me the opportunity to help out with the check in process. I worked 3 hours a day around the 4 pm to 7 pm time frame. I would mostly take guest’s information, process their payment, show them to their beds, and introduce them to what they could do in the area.

My “office”

As the reception is also a cafe, I was able to learn how to make lattes and cappuccinos. While I am no expert yet, I was able to make this latte art. Its my attempt at modern art.

My “Modern” Latte Art

I spent most of my time “working” interacting with guests. I enjoy talking to other people so it was pretty easy and fun for me to do. After a couple of days there, I was able to lead groups to do activities such as steamboat (hot pot) dinners and a night market tour.

Steamboat (hot pot) dinner Night Market Tour!

What did I get in return?

• A bed for 10 nights (a value of 30 MYR ($10 CAD) per night)
• Laundry (it was timed coincidentally where this is the only place I did laundry in Malaysia)
• Coffee, tea and other refreshments

What did I do in my free time?

On my first day, I did the full day tour of Cameron Highlands for 90 MYR ($28.14 CAD) which included

• BOH Tea plantation & factory – got to see tea plantations and how tea gets processed
• Mossy Forest – a boardwalk at forest covered with moss on top of Gunung (Mount) Brinchang moss.
• Time Tunnel (The Local Museum) – a memorabilia “museum” that showcase what life was like in Malaysia
• Butterfly Garden
• Strawberry Farm

Mossy Forest

It was also the Nine Emperor Gods Festival during my time in Cameron Highlands. The festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which began on October 8th, 2018 and ended on October 17th, 2018.

Only a 3 minute walk away from the hostel, the local Chinese temple was the scene of the festivities. Each night was different performances such as singing, dancing, lion and dragon dances. The last night concluded with everyone doing a fire-walking purification ritual (walking on charcoal)!

Along with that they provided FREE vegetarian meals for everyone in order to purify our bodies.

Yummy vegetarian meals!

Many people come to Cameron Highlands to just trek. There are many trails ranging in different difficulties. Prepare to sweat as the humidity and some steep incline will make the hike tough!

Overall Experience?

I greatly enjoyed my Workaway experience in Malaysia. Aaron was a really good host as he was pretty easygoing and very welcoming. The staff that I worked with in the hostel were also great. They helped me learn about the Cameron Highlands area, how to make lattes. and were great people to talk to! Some drawbacks of my experience were that the bed that I slept on was very thin. The first couple of nights was pretty hard to sleep through. As I am more of a city person, I found myself pretty bored after a week in Cameron Highlands. This is why I ended my Workaway experience early. The initial agreement was to work 5 days a week (3 hours a day), get two days off, for two weeks. I ended up working the 10 days straight as 3 hours of work was not a long time for me.

If you are curious to see what else I did in Malaysia, click here!