As we enjoyed our food tour of New York so much last year, we decided to head back to New York for another food adventure on Labour Day long weekend. This time it was 4 of us in a group, which means we can try out even more foods as we are able to share with more people. I also stayed back for an additional two days so that I can experience the city on my own. Here are the highlights of our 2018 New York City Food Tour.

Cote Korean Steakhouse

We flew in to LaGuardia Friday night and started our adventure with our best meal as we were able to get reservations to Cote Korean Steakhouse. This critically acclaimed, Michelin starred restaurant definitely did not disappoint. We each got the Butcher’s feast which was $48 USD per person. With that you get four cuts of quality beef (45-day-aged ribeye, Wagyu, American Wagyu, galbi) along with banchan, scallion salad, savoury egg souffle, two kinds of stews, and soft serve for dessert. The service was phenomenal as they were knowledgeable with their cuts of meat and were very attentive to our needs. The wait staff are also the ones that do the cooking of the meat, so you don’t have to worry about under cooking or overcooking your steak. The meats were all very high quality as the wagyu and ribeye melts in your mouth. The sides were great complements to the meat and you definitely had enough food to fill you up!

Butcher’s Feast. 9.5/10

Red Rooster

Another popular restaurant that needed a reservation, Red Rooster serves up American comfort food in the heart of Harlem. We got reservations for Saturday brunch right at when they open at 10 AM. We got a bunch of dishes to share but the top picks are the Hot Honey Yardbird for $27 USD and the Mac & Greens for $9 USD. The fried chicken had light crust drizzled with a light honey sauce and the meat was moist. The garlic mash potatoes along with their gravy and pickled vegetables were great accompaniments to the chicken.

I’m usually not a mac and cheese person, but their Mac & Greens (Mac and cheese with collared greens) are amazing. Definitely the best mac and cheese I ever had. You get big pieces of macaroni, with a good amount of greens, a generous amount of cheese, and a perfect crispy top.

Hot Honey Yardbird. 8/10 Mac & Greens. 8.5/10

Xian Famous Foods

Last year we went to Xian Famous Foods and only had room in our stomachs for one dish, which we chose their hand pulled noodles. This time, we decided to head back and try their popular Spicy Cumin Lamb Burger. This Western Chinese dish has sliced lamb sautéed with ground cumin, toasted chili seeds, long-horn peppers, red onions, and scallions, stuffed into a crispy flatbread bun. The lamb was seasoned very well and had a good amount of fatty meat.  The bun was able to pick up the juices from the meat keeping all the flavours in. This burger will cost you $6 USD, but is definitely worth it!

Spicy Cumin Lamb Burger. 8/10

Stuffed Ice Cream

This was this year’s Instagram spot for dessert! Much like our last year’s trip to Taiyaki NYC, this trendy dessert is sure to be a popular post on your Instagram. The similarity with Taiyaki NYC is also that it looks better than it tastes. At Stuffed Ice Cream, their specialty is cruffs which are ice cream stuffed into a doughnut. The ice cream was good but not as good as other ice cream spots on this list. What was disappointing was the doughnut, as it tasted pretty stale. All this for the price of $7 USD.

Vietnamese Iced Coffee and Thai Iced Tea Stuffed Ice Cream. 6.5/10

Morgenstern’s

I came back to this spot after I fell in love with their ice cream on our last year’s trip. Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream is a classic American style ice cream parlor with a decor that sets you back to simpler times. They offer some classic flavours and are some unique flavours such as durian banana and raw milk. Prices are also pretty expensive as a scoop starts at $4 USD, but the quality that you get from the ice cream is astonishing. It was a perfect amount of creaminess and sweetness. This spot is a definite must on a hot summer’s day in New York!

Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream. 8.5/10

Prince Street Pizza

This pizza shop in Nolita specializes in square pizzas and New York-style pies. This small space attracts big lines and don’t count on eating in. We got their signature Spicy Spring pizza which is a square pie topped with spicy tomato sauce, mozzarella, and loaded with crispy pepperonis. The pepperonis are out of this world as they are cut in thick pieces and pack a lot of flavour. Each slice wont be your $1 New York slice as each slice is $4.50 USD, but they are definitely worth it!

Spicy Spring Pizza. 8/10

Tian Jin Dumpling House

This gem is tucked away in the basement of Golden Square Mall in Flushing. I got the special which was the lamb and chives  pan fried dumplings. They also serve many other toppings, and you can choose whether you want it pan fried or steamed. The lamb was juicy, rich and flavourful. The dough was also had perfect texture with a great balance of it being soft and just enough chew. Add some chili oil and you have an amazing combination! A plate of 12 dumplings came to a very reasonable $7 USD.

Lamb Dumplings. 8/10

We also tried

• Nasi lemak and iced milo at Kopitiam
• Fried dumplings from Fried Dumpling
• Pastries from Supermoon Bakehouse
• Ramen from Mu Ramen
• Dim sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor
• Kolaches at Brooklyn Kolache
• Soup dumplings at Joe’s Shanghai
• Bubble tea from Boba Guys
• Waffle fries from Chick-fil-a
• Gelato from Fresco Gelataeria
• Milkquake from Milk Bar
• DIY picnic (prosciutto, mozzarella, focaccia bread) at Eataly
• Chairman Bao from BaoHaus
• Artichoke pizza from Artichoke Pizza
• ShackBurger and cheese fries from Shake Shack
• Bubble tea from Bibble & Sip
• Japanese whiskey at Hi-Collar
• Ice cream from The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
• Taiwanese shaved ice from Taiwan Pork Chop House
• Lasagna alla bolognese and tonnarelli cacio e pepe from Cacio e Pepe
• Korean take out from Woorjip
• Coconut ice cream at Vanleeuwen
• Cheeseburger mac from Macbar
• Peanut butter banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery
• Chicken and rice at Halal Guys

And things we did in between eating:

• Checked out artwork at The MET ($20 USD for admission)
• Roamed around Columbia University
• Walked from Brooklyn to Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge
• Went in the United Nations Headquarters
• Took the Roosevelt Tram and roamed around Roosevelt Island
• People watching at Times Square at night
• Watched tango dancing classes at Central Park
• Checked out the Brazil Day Festival
• People watching at Grand Central Terminal
• Checked out the World Trade Center Monument
• Went on a pubcrawl for $15 USD
• Went to the US Open and watched the quarter final match (Kei Nishikori vs. Marin Cilic) for only $14 USD!

Bonus vlog footage:

My 6 day trip came in at $1,404.43 CAD. As you might already know, New York ain’t cheap! I spent more on this trip than my 9 day trip to Riviera Maya and Yucatan. This trip was pretty expensive because of:

• Again like last year, we did not hold back spending on food, as food was the main reason for this trip.
• Accommodation in New York is also expensive. We were able to save by getting an AirBnB in Brooklyn and staying in a hostel in Upper West Side during my two days of solo travel.

Let’s talk about fried chicken! It is my favourite food and every region on Earth has their own version of fried chicken. The most popular variation is the Southern Fried Chicken and is deeply rooted within New Orleans’ food scene. A visit to NOLA is not complete without tasting some fried chicken from its local spots. During my trip to New Orleans, I visited five different spots! In this post I will give you a guide to best fried chicken in New Orleans.

Mother’s Restaurant

Since 1938, Mother’s Restaurant has been serving up classic NOLA dishes such as po’ boys, seafood gumbo, turtle soup, and of course fried chicken. Expect long lines to get in this restaurant, as we waited around 30 minutes before we were able to order. The wait was definitely worth it for what I think is the best fried chicken I ever had! It had the best skin on fried chicken. It was crunchy and had  a really flavourful seasoning. The meat was tender and moist.

Price: $11 USD for 2 pieces served with 2 sides,  $13.50 USD for 1/2 chicken served with 2 sides
Rating: 9.5/10

Coop’s Place

Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Coop’s Place is a Cajun grub famous for creating delicious local foods and cocktails inside a laid-back atmosphere. Maybe it was my fault for getting the $15.75 USD Coop’s Taste Plate which came with a cup of seafood gumbo, shrimp creole, red beans & rice with sausage, and rabbit & sausage jambalaya. I couldnt really focus on the fried chicken with so many other things on my place. But from what I can remember, the chicken tasted good but nothing outstanding. The skin was also not as crispy as I would like.

Price: $11.25 USD for 2 pieces served with rabbit & sausage jambalaya and coleslaw
Rating: 7/10

Cafe 615 Home of Da Wabbi

Across the Mississippi River and technically outside of the city limits of New Orleans, Cafe 615 Home of Da Wabbi has been around since 1949! They have amazing wait service and offers a clean and comfortable eating environment. Food portions are huge which you can see from the size of the chicken. The taste itself was great. The batter they used was lighter than what I would like, but the meat was tender and juicy.

Price: $14 USD for 1/2 chicken served with 2 sides
Rating: 8.5/10

Willie Mae’s Scotch House

A 25 minute walk from the French Quarter, this family-owned restaurant prides itself for serving some of the city’s best fried chicken and soul food. It has even gained recognition from the Food Network and the Travel Channel as “America’s Best Fried Chicken.” I can see why as the skin was crispy and seasoned to perfection even though it doesn’t have that much batter. The meat was just as good as it was hot and juicy. Choose the mac and cheese as a side! I regretted it after I got to taste it.

Price: $15 USD for three pieces and a side
Rating: 9/10

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant

Founded by Leah Chase, the Queen of Creole Cuisine, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant has been through a lot of history. From the numerous gatherings during the Civil Rights Movement to the visits of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama making their fried chicken pilgrimages to this dining room. This restaurant is one of the finer restaurants on this list and shows in the price of its food. I found the meat to be one of the better ones on this list. It was juicy, tender and flavourful. Unfortunately, my rating for this is not as high as others as the skin was lacking in crispiness.

Price: $15.95 USD for three pieces served with a side of vegetables
Rating: 8.5/10

In the span of my four days in New Orleans, I was able to visit these five restaurants and ate an enormous amount of fried chicken. All in the name for SCIENCE!

If you are still hungry and interested in what else to eat in New Orleans, check out my Top 5 Eats in New Orleans!

The Australian east coast trip from Sydney to Cairns is the most popular route for travellers heading to the country. It’s a backpacker’s dream with stunning beaches, great cities, diverse landscapes and endless activities. Australia is known to be an expensive country to visit. However I will show you how you can stretch your dollars on this trip. Here is the ultimate guide to our East Coast Australia Road Trip.

Currency Info: In October 2019, the exchange of the Australian Dollar is around:

• Canadian Dollar: $0.90 AUD to $1 CAD
• US Dollar: $0.68 AUD to $1 USD
• Euro: $0.62 AUD to 1 EUR

You will find below our route!

We start at the end of our trip as we flew back to Sydney from our final destination, Cairns. As we booked last minute and right after state borders opened during the COVID-19 pandemic (Jun 2021), domestic flights were not operating at full capacity, we paid a premium ($252 AUD) for our Qantas flight. Not to mention we could only get a flight that had a layover in Brisbane, making the journey a full day rather than a 3 hour flight. Normal prices see flights from the two cities average around $100 AUD.

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.

Eating out in Australia can get quite expensive. Especially when you get out of the bigger cities, there are less cheap options.

Most of our meals were our own cooking. We would usually go to the grocery store, buy food on sale (we were able to buy a really good chocolate cake for $1.30!) and cook in our Airbnb, hostel or van. We cooked easy dishes like hot dogs, soup, chicken wrap, spam fried rice, instant noodles, mac n cheese.

Some days, we were able to eat some delicious dishes at restaurants such as:

From the Sydney to Brisbane, we rented a car from Europcar for 5 days for a total of $119.56 AUD. I also chose the pick up point in Sydney and drop off in Brisbane rather than their respective airports, making it a lot more convenient to get around the city with public transportation after.

After having already driven in South Africa and a couple of places in Australia (see Great Ocean Road), we were quite used to driving on the left.

For the Brisbane to Cairns journey, we wanted to try the campervan experience. We went with Spaceships Rentals getting the Beta 2S model. We were quite happy with our choice. While there were times, we wished we got a bigger van (and one where we can stand in), we got attached to “Philip J. Fry” and felt like it was our home for three weeks.

The cost of the spaceship campervan was $35.71 AUD per night, which came to $714.08 AUD for our 20 days with the van.

As for gasoline, we spent around $500 AUD on fuel on our whole trip. The average price for gas was around $1.20 per litre

Getting to Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville required a ferry service, so we went with Sealink, which is one of the two ferry options you can take. At a cost of $34 AUD, the ferry takes 20 minutes, with 18 daily services, so you won’t have to wait long in between rides. This included all bus transportation in Magnetic Island.

From Sydney to Brisbane, we stayed mostly in Airbnbs and motels trying to get the cheapest prices. They range around $60 AUD – $80 AUD per night.

For about two weeks, we went to stay at a farm doing a workaway. Workaway is a website that allows members to contact one another to organise homestays and cultural exchange. Hosted by Ronnie and James, we were able to have free accommodation and food in exchange for helping them around the farm. This was around 5 hours a day consisting of tasks such as weeding, cleaning vegetables, stickering products, The farm that we stayed at was just outside Toowoomba, Queensland.

After our farm stay, we continued the rest of East Coast Australia in a van. The accommodation costs became quite low as we slept in free campsites every other night. We were able to find these spots using a combination of the Spaceships Camping app and CamperMate. We mixed up where we parked in caravan parks. These RV parks can vary in prices depending on what they offer. We usually go for a basic one which offers showers and a kitchen. They usually range around $20 AUD – $40 AUD per night.

Some unique caravan parks include the Horizons Kangaroo Sanctuary & Camp Ground in Agnes Water/1770 which is a hidden gem with has a kangaroo sanctuary right at your campground. Cape Hillsborough Nature Tourist Park was also a memorable one where its right by Cape Hillsborough Beach famous for wallabies feeding every morning at sunrise.

Since there are so many things that we did, . What is great is that most of the things that we did was FREE or cost very little.

A popular area for Sydneysiders to go on the weekends to escape the busy city. Only a 90 minute drive away from Sydney, we hit our first destination at Bouddi National Park. There hiked a portion of the Bouddi coastal walk where you can see beaches, boardwalks and birdlife.

A popular spot as its about half way between Sydney and Brisbane. This is also a great place to base yourself to see the surrounding area. Here are my recommendations:

• Its a bit out of the way, but I highly suggest driving the Waterfall Way Scenic Drive. Here you can find the most scenic falls in the country. Here are the ones to check out:
  • Dorrigo National Park and the Skywalk Lookout
  • Crystal Shower Falls
  • Dangar Falls
  • Ebor Falls
• Forest Sky Pier
• Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve

Byron Bay is one of the top destinations in Australia. It’s famous for its laid back lifestyle along with its fantastic beaches. It has exploded in popularity in recent years, so expect crowds especially in peak times. Here is what I recommend checking out:

• Cape Byron Lighthouse for sunset
• Cape Byron Walking Track
• Byron Main Beach

Gold Coast is where Australians flock for your typical tropical beach and theme park vacation. Just think of Florida for Americans. Most of Australia’s biggest theme parks are here such as Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World, and Wet ‘n’ Wild. There are also tons of beaches and tall skyscrapers, similar to Miami.

• My favourite area is the Gold Coast Hinterland. This lush mountainous area behind the Gold Coast is where the Springbrook National Park is with amazing viewpoints and waterfalls such as:
  • Best of All Lookout
  • Twin Falls
  • Canyon Lookout
  • Purling Brook Falls
• Visit the beaches – there are tons of great beaches ranging from surf to calmer ones in the area. Here are some to check out
  • Surfers Paradise
  • Burleigh
  • Coolangatta
  • Currumbin
• Burleigh Heads is a good area if you want to escape the crowds of Gold Coast. Just a 30 minute drive away, there are just as nice beaches along with Tumgun Lookout, in which you can see the Gold Coast skyline from a distance.

The capital city and largest city of Queensland, Brisbane offers the city vibe in our road trip. Its home to some great museums, fantastic restaurants and bars. Here are some things to do:

• Hang around at South Bank, where there is a city beach surrounded with many great eats.
• Head up the Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower for some views of the city
• Queensland Museum
• Gallery of Modern Art
• Take the free CityHopper ferry and see the skyline from the Brisbane River.
• Walk around what seems like a jungle in the city at the City Botanic Garden
• See the skyline of Brisbane from the Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout

Another popular beach town in Australia, Noosa attracts a mixture of backpackers and family vacationers. I think the vibe is similar to Byron Bay, but with a bit of a more older crowd. Here are some places to check out:

• Check out the coastal tracks at Noosa National Park where you can see these points:
  • Boiling Pot Lookout
  • Dolphin Point Lookout
  • Fairy Pools
  • Hell’s Gates
• Sunbathe or swim at one of the town’s many beaches
• On the way to Noosa, is the Glasshouse Mountains National Park. This park is filled with extinct volcanoes, in which you can hike up!

This is the long stretch between Noosa and the Whitsunday Islands. While there are few headline destinations, there are still a lot to see, such as:

• Rainbow Beach is a tiny little town, but is home to the Carlo Sand Blow. One of my favourite places in our road trip, this sand mass covers over 15 hectares and you feel like you are in the middle of a desert. These also sand dunes offer exceptional views of the ocean and is a great place to sandboard!

• Hervey Bay is the gateway for travelers going to Fraser Island. But it is also a great spot to rest in between your long drives. What was cool to check out was the Urangan Pier, a km long pier and a great place to see the changing tides and locals fishing. It is also one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales on their migration, from August to October.

• Next town to see is Agnes Water and 1770. The Town of 1770 is a historical site as it was the first western settlement in Australia, named after the year it was discovered by Captain Cook. This area is also a great place to learn surfing as it has the cheapest surf schools in Australia. Some things to see are the Wave Lookout and the Paperbark Forest Boardwalk.

• As we had time to kill, waiting for our tour at the Whitsunday Islands, we decided to drive inland to see the Carnarvon National Park. It is not a common stop along an East Coast road trip, as it is a 5 hour drive detour. If you have ample time and love hiking, I recommend on heading here. There are many different walks ranging from 30 minutes to overnight ones. The overnight ones do require bookings. Here is what you can see
  • Amphitheatre
  • Moss Garden
  • Baloon Cave

• Our next stop is Cape Hillsborough. The main draw of this place is the kangaroo and wallabies feeding on the beach at sunrise. There are also other things to do such as the walking on the Diversity Boardwalk, hiking to Andrews Point, and exploring Wedge Island. The island becomes accessible as a causeway emerges during low tide.

• While we did not visit Fraser Island, as no tours was running at the time, I highly recommend on going. The largest sand island in the world has over clear blue lakes, ancient rainforests, wild dingoes, all surrounded by white sandy beaches. However, you do need either a 4WD vehicle or go with a guided tour of the island.

The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands that lie off the coast of Queensland and form part of the Great Barrier Reef. These islands are one of the most popular Australian tourist destinations and a must on the East Coast Australia road trip. As they are islands, you do need to get on a tour, unless you have access to a boat.

We went with Sailing Whitsundays on the Whitsunday Adventurer. It was a 2 day and 2 night excursion with everything included such as food, accommodation, and the activities. We got to explore the main island, seeing the Hill Inlet Lookout and the famous Whitehaven Beach. Other activities include snorkelling the surrounding reefs and paddleboarding. We went for the cheaper shared accommodation at a cost of $482.13 AUD per person.

While it was nice size group at only 12 people, I felt that the tour was a bit pricey. There are many day tours available that will take you to main sights of Whitsunday for a lot cheaper, if you are on tight budget. However, we wanted to have the experience of sailing overnight.

North Queensland’s largest city is the gateway to the wet tropics . While the city is usually just a stopping point to get to Magnetic Island, don’t skip out on the Castle Hill Lookout. See the breathtaking views of the city along with Maggie Island.

Taking the ferry over to Magnetic Island, you can find tranquil island that has become a must visit destination on an east coast Australia road trip. Here are the things to do on this island:

• There are many hiking trails, but the best one is The Forts. The 4km return hiking trail are filled with historic World War II fortifications and some of the best views of the island. Make sure to keep an eye out as there are wild koalas along the route.
• On top of koalas, there are rock wallabies roaming around. You can find these adorable creatures on the of the road heading towards Geoffreys Bay.
• At Horseshoe Bay, you can find jet ski and kayak rentals. But it’s also a good spot to tan and swim on the beach. Many great restaurants are also nearby.

Between Townsville and Cairns lies Wallaman Falls, the highest single-drop waterfall in Australia. There is a great viewpoint that’s right outside the parking lot but to get a closer look at the falls, take the 2.6-km Jinda walk into the gorge. This should take a couple of hours but it’s well worth the view from the bottom.

Far North Queensland is famous for its many picturesque and impressive waterfalls, and many of them are located in the Atherton Tablelands region. This lush highland plateau behind Cairns is a great escape from the hot tropical coast as the climate is fairly temperate all year round. Here are some of the sights to see in the area:

• Before heading up to Atherton Tablelands, head to Josephine Falls. This waterfall is a great place to cool off with many rockpools and natural waterslide on the rocks
• See the massive Curtain Fig Tree famous for its otherworldly roots
• Try your luck at seeing a platypus at the Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Platform. Unfortunately, we did not see one 🙁
• Take the waterfall circuit encompassing Zillie Falls, Ellinjaa Falls and the famous Millaa Millaa Falls.

Bypassing Cairns, we headed to Port Douglas, a resort town filled with great restaurants, quirky cafes and boutique stores. This is also the start of the Daintree Rainforest, part of the larger Wet Tropics of Queensland, the oldest tropical rainforest in the world.

• On the way to Port Douglas, you will take the Captain Cook Highway, a picturesque road hugging the coastline. Make sure you stop at Rex Lookout to see gorgeous views of the coast.
• We wanted to go to the famous Mossman Gorge. However, it was shut down for four months to reduce the exposure and spread of COVID-19 within the local Indigenous community.
• Crossing over the Daintree River, you get to Cape Tribulation. This area focuses on more small scale, eco-focused, communal vibe and full of nature and adventure. The area feels off the beaten path, partly due to the fact that you have to take a ferry over and that there is no cell service. Here are some things to do in the area:
  • There are plenty of wooden boardwalks to walk through jungles such as Jindalba Boardwalk and Kulki Boardwalk
  • Views of the rainforest, oceans, and islands from Mount Alexandra Lookout
  • Daintree Ice Cream Company. Another place that was closed, that we wished we got to try. They are famous for their exotic ice cream flavours!

The largest city in the Northern Queensland is built on tourism as it is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. You can find a lot of infrastructure here. From the international airport, tour agencies, and restaurants. There is not much to see and do here except for the artificial lagoon they have in the city centre. This can get quite popular as local beaches should be avoided during stinger season between October and May.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the best places to dive in the world. Cairns is the most popular jumping off point for dive trips to the reef. Trips start around $200 AUD ($140 USD) for the day. I was blown away at the abundant wildlife and coral. It did not disappoint.

This was also our last stop in our road trip.

• Kuranda Barron Falls
• Cairns
  • Cairns Esplanade
  • Cairns Art Gallery
  • Rusty’s Markets

A road trip is not complete without visiting random roadside attractions. Driving around the country, you can see Australia’s obsession with ‘big things’. There are dozens of large statues in every Australian state and territory that celebrate its unique culture in the region. Here are some that we were able to see on the East Coast.

• Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, NSW
• Big Prawn in Ballina, NSW
• The Big Pineapple in Woombye QLD
• Big Rum Bottle in Bundaberg, QLD
• Big Mango in Bowen, QLD

The total spend for our 25 days East Cost Australia road trip came to $2,794 AUD / $2,515 CAD / $1,900 USD per person, which comes to $112 AUD/ $100 CAD/ $76 USD per day.

Everyone knows McDonald’s golden arches, big macs, and Ronald McDonald. McDonald’s is the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue has restaurants in over 100 countries. Whether you love it or hate it, you cannot dispute the impact it has on the world. During my travels in Thailand, I got toContinue Reading

In: Asia, Budget Breakdown

Thailand is by far the most popular country for backpackers in Southeast Asia. The country is so diverse, from the beaches and crystal blue waters in the Thai islands, to the temples in Northern and Central Thailand, to the hustle and bustle of the metropolis that is Bangkok. Thailand isContinue Reading

Lao cuisine is not well known in the western world, but did you know that there are more ethnic Lao living in Thailand than in Laos. A majority of the people living in Northeastern Thailand are ethnically Lao, and Lao cuisine played a pivotal role in making Thai food an internationalContinue Reading

In: Asia, Budget Breakdown

Laos is often overshadowed by its bigger neighbours, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. It doesn’t help that it is the only country in Southeast Asia without a coastline. The country has not undergone a major industrialization and modernization like other countries in the region. There are a lack western comforts likeContinue Reading

Thailand has an abundance of yummy eats. From Southern Thailand’s curries to Northern Thailand’s papaya salads, you can find many different tastes that will cater to any foodie. Having been in Thailand for over a month, I got a good grasp of the cuisine and in this list I willContinue Reading

In: Asia, Budget Breakdown

Malaysia is my first true taste of solo backpacking in Southeast Asia. I spent three weeks in the country spending time in Penang, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca. Below, I will give you my budget breakdown to show you how to spend less than $30 CAD per day inContinue Reading

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This past November, Adi and I booked a weekend trip to Chicago because a) the man really loves to travel, b) flights were cheap, and c) it worked with both of our schedules. I was particularly interested in The Windy City as I have heard amazing things about its architecture, museums, and food. We managed to snag a good deal on plane tickets and booked a private room at a budget-friendly Airbnb. With transportation and accommodation taken care of, the days leading up to the actual trip was spent figuring out how we could see/eat the best of Chicago in 72 hours.

Day 1

After we landed at Chicago Midway Airport, we bought Ventra cards and loaded 3-day CTA unlimited ride passes — a convenient option for getting around the city and an absolute must, in my opinion. Riding the L-train is an unique experience in itself, as you get to meander along the cityscape and see the nooks and crannies of each passing neighbourhood.

As soon as we checked into our Airbnb and dropped our bags off, we hit the ground running. Our first mission was trying the iconic deep-dish pizza. There were numerous options but we decided to go with Lou Malnati’s, a chain restaurant with a big reputation. We had to join a waiting list to be seated and once we ordered, had to wait another 30 minutes for the pie to be made. But the wait was definitely worth it — my tastebuds fell in love at first bite.

I recommend:

Day 2

The next day we headed to one of the city’s best attractions, The Art Institute. Pro tip: buy tickets in advance online and you won’t have to queue in a ridiculously long line. We spent a good part of our morning exploring the numerous exhibitions — there’s bound to be something for everyone. Afterwards we headed to Cloud Gate which is a nice place to take selfies and people watch.

As we were visiting Chicago near the start of the holiday season, we were able to check out Christkindlmarket at night. There were vendors that sold authentic German eats such as pretzels, currywurst, roasted nuts, among other things. Adi was the more adventurous out of the two of us and tried the pickled herring (I abstained from kissing him after that). We ate a low-key dinner at Portillo’s before heading to a live music bar, where we jived to old-school hits and even witnessed a proposal!

I recommend:

Day 3

On our last day, we hopped on a bus and headed north to Lincoln Park for a picturesque view of the city. The weather was finally cooperating and we were able to snap photos of Chicago’s famous skyline. We then walked around to the nearby Zoo and Conservatory. Despite being free, it never felt overcrowded and the indoor and outdoor enclosures allowed us to view a fair amount of animals. My favourite part was probably seeing the penguins! Spent a good five minutes watching the little one on the rock contemplating life.

As our flight back to Toronto was scheduled in the evening, we spent the rest of the day exploring Old Town and The Loop before making our way to the airport. With a bag of Garrett’s Popcorn in one hand and XXtra Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in the other, our short but sweet trip to the Windy City came to an end. I would love to return in the warmer months and discover new eats and sights outside of the city core. Until next time! 🙂

I recommend:

• Taking a short detour to Chinatown to eat cumin lamb flatbread (omg so good!) at Xi’an Cuisine
• Lincoln Park for a different view of Chicago’s skyline — also houses the Zoo and Conservatory (both FREE!)
• Checking out the various FREE public art downtown

Bonus vlog footage:

Also! Make sure you check out Adi’s top 5 things to do in Chicago!

The Sum of our Chicago Trip

Our Chicago trip cost each person $ 544.95 CAD.  In all, I think we had good value for our money. We only spent this much due to:

• Adi found a great deal on a flight to Chicago as we went on a randon weekend in November
• For the most part, we never really splurged on food and got by on affordable, but satisfying eats
• Chicago is a very affordable city to visit due to the numerous things you can see and do for free such as Millennium Park and Lincoln Park Zoo
• Accommodation is cheap compared to cities such as New York and Boston

This country in South America is often overshadowed by more popular destinations such as Peru or Argentina. However, you will still encounter many backpackers, as Bolivia’s Andean region is a part of the well-travelled South American backpacker circuit (Colombia to Chile/Argentina or vice versa). While I only had time to explore the West–partaking in activities such as the Uyuni Salt Flats and the Death Road (more on that later)–there is another world in the East in the Amazon Lowlands. In this post, I will go over my experience and the costs of travelling to Bolivia.

Currency Info: When I was there in April 2019, the exchange of the Bolivian Boliviano to the Canadian Dollar was 5.17 BOB to $1 CAD.

While within Bolivia, I did not need to book any flights. I entered the country from the Chile border during my tour of the Uyuni Salt Flats and exited the country on the Peru border on the way to Cusco.

If you are planning to visit the Bolivian Amazon, which is the cheapest way to do any jungle activities within the Amazon, I would suggest to fly. Rurrenabaque, the small jungle town which serves as the primary gateway for tours, is only 400 km away from La Paz. But the journey via bus is a 16 hour ride on poorly maintained roads and is notorious for many accidents.

The food scene in Bolivia is heavily influenced by a combination of Spanish cuisine and indigenous Andean traditions. Ingredients such as corn, potatoes, quinoa and beans are popular in local dishes. Because their food is mostly bland and centered around meat and potatoes, Bolivia isn’t a world famous culinary destination. However, I was able to try out some delicious local delicacies such as:

• Lunch is the most important meal of the Bolivian day, and a typical Bolivian lunch would consist of several courses such as a soup and a main course of meat, rice, and potatoes. You can find these at a local inexpensive restaurant for 15 BOB ($2.90 CAD)!
• Grilled trucha (trout) from Lake Titicaca with quinoa and roasted vegetables. 50 BOB ($9.66 CAD)
• The chola is a classic sandwich from La Paz. There are many different versions and is a great snack (or meal if you get two). They can be bought for just 10 BOB ($1.93 CAD)!
• Choripan, consisting of chorizo (sausage) in pan (bread) and accompanied by lettuce, tomato and onion. 8 BOB ($1.55 CAD)
• Dinner at the highly rated Las Velas. This is a unique restaurant tucked away on top of Isla del Sol. There is no electricity here so the kitchen cooks with a wood burning oven and propane-fueled stove top. Because of that, be prepared to wait for almost 1.5 hours for the food (there are some board games to pass the time). I got the trout in wine sauce there, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as other places. But I was able to try some lasagna which was really delicious. The whole candlelit dining experience made it a memorable one. 50 BOB ($9.66 CAD)
• Fresh juice from a market. 10 BOB ($1.93 CAD)
• Local beers starting at 10 BOB ($1.93 CAD)

Sopa de Mondongo. 6.5/10 Beef with rice. 7.5/10 with the salsa Grilled trucha (trout) with quinoa and roasted vegetables. 8/10 Sandwich de Chola. 7/10 Choripan. 8.5/10

While I covered some of the dangers riding on buses across the country, that pertains more to the route between the Andes region to the tropical lowlands. I took buses in between Uyuni, Sucre, La Paz, and Copacabana, and I didn’t feel any dangers. The roads were obviously not up to the same standards as a developed country, but were not the worst (looking at you Cambodia!) The overnight buses I took were pretty basic, not as great as the ones in Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Here are the bus journeys I took within Bolivia:

• Uyuni to Sucre: an 8.5 hour overnight bus journey 70 BOB ($13.53 CAD)
• Sucre to La Paz: a 12 hour overnight bus journey 189 BOB ($36.55 CAD)

I primarily used Busbud.com to purchase the bus rides as they are easiest to book and charge minimal to no admin fees.

Visiting Lake Titicaca, I also had to take ferries:

• Ferry to Copacabana 30 BOB ($5.80 CAD)
• Ferry to Isla de Sol 25 BOB ($4.83 CAD)

I also used Bolivia Hop (same company as Peru Hop) to get from La Paz all the way to Cusco. Within that trip I was able to stop in Copacabana, Bolivia, and Puno, Peru for $51.45 USD. Bolivia Hop (Peru Hop) is a hop on hop off bus system and makes getting around Bolivia and Peru a little easier (granted it only goes to Copacabana and La Paz in Bolivia). They pick up and drop off directly to your accommodations and provide English speaking guides on the buses. I also thought it would be great way to meet new travellers, but I didn’t find it to be the case as most people were already travelling in groups. I probably wouldn’t do it again, as you pay a lot more for that convenience.

I found the cost of hostels to be pretty cheap, similar to those in Southeast Asia. While they might not be the same quality, they are still great places to stay and are really great value. You can find more about the places I stayed as below:

KulturBerlin for 3 nights at 68.5 BOB ($13.24 CAD) per night

Only 10 minute walk to Sucre’s main square, this hostel is situated in a great location. The dorm rooms were so spacious that there was even a sofa and dresser in my 6 bed room. They have a great breakfast with a wide variety of foods: fruits, jams, and bread. It is a social hostel with nightly events and a big bar/club. A downside of that is that loud music will disturb your sleep as the dorms are right above the bar. I really appreciated that I was able to check-in at 5 am after my overnight bus.

Look at all that space!

Wild Rover La Paz for 3 nights at 68 BOB ($13.14 CAD) per night

If you want a taste of Ireland in South America, then head to this place. This party hostel also offers comfortable beds and hot clean showers. They also have beds with privacy curtains, which help with the noise from the in-house bar. As a party hostel, they have nightly activities such as trivia night, karaoke, etc. which makes it a great place to meet other travellers! They are also a chain with other locations in Cusco and Huacachina.

A (shared) private room for 2 nights at 60 BOB ($11.58 CAD) per night

Most of the visitors to the island only make it for a day trip. We were glad that we stayed the night so much that we extended another night in this beautiful island (more below). As for accommodation, many of the Isla del Sol hotels and hostels are fairly basic. But what they lack for, they make up in sweeping vistas of Lake Titicaca and the island. Be wary that most of the accommodation are at the peak of the island, requiring a hike up. Being up at 4,000 m altitude adds to the challenge. Carrying my backpack was intense as I had to stop a lot just to catch a breath. I got a random room at a basic accommodation, which I shared with another fellow traveller.

Sunrise from right outside our room!

My two must do’s in South America were both in Bolivia: The Uyuni Salt Flats and The Death Road. These activities were not cheap and added to my cost of travelling Bolivia.

My tour left from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile which made it more expensive than if you were doing it from the Bolivia side. The tour was 130,000 CLP ($255.40 CAD) but this also included all our meals and accommodation for the three days and two nights. This did not include the National Park entrance which was 150 BOB ($28.99 CAD). The tour was more than just the salt flats, which by the way, was breathtaking. It also included stops to:

• Laguna Blanca (the White Lake)
• Laguna Verde (the Green Lake)
• Aguas Termals de Polques – a hot spring, which was lukewarm at best. An additional 6 BOB ($1.16 CAD)
• Sol de Mañana geyser
• Laguna Colorada (the Red Lake)
• Arbol de Piedra (Tree of Rock)

The tour was by far my biggest expense in the country and probably within South America but it was the activity I looked forward to most. The whole experience was an amazing one and definitely worth the money! I was able to see so many incredible sights and meet awesome people.

Laguna Blanca When you can’t hold it in anymore Laguna Colorada And the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen!

Aside from the Uyuni Salt Flats, another must in Bolivia for me was cycling down Death Road. For those that do not know, this road was one of the most dangerous roads in the world due to its steep slopes, narrow dirt road, and lack of guardrails.

The Death Road experience takes you down 65 km from an altitude of 4,700 m to 1,200 m. Because of that, the climate drastically changes from the freezing Andean peaks at the top to the humid tropical jungle at the bottom. Most of the ride was downhill with only some pedalling at the end of the road where there is an incline. Even though I did fall due to a flat tire, I did not find the ride to be too dangerous. While there are sheer drops off the side of the road, if you are careful, you should be fine!

There are different adventure companies that sell the Death Road Tour package, but I did mine through the Wild Rover Hostel in La Paz for 380 BOB ($73.45 CAD). There was an additional fee of 50 BOB ($9.66 CAD) to access the road.

Sucre is one of the two capitals (the other being La Paz) of the country, where it houses the Supreme Court. “La ciudad blanca” or White City is Bolivia’s pretties and well-kept city with numerous colonial historic buildings. The city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as it was able to blend local architectural traditions with styles imported from Europe. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it a great place to stay long term, with many choosing to take Spanish lessons here.

I did a walking tour of Sucre through my hostel, KulturBerlin for 30 BOB ($5.80 CAD). Unfortunately, the tour guide left half way without even telling us. There are a bunch of museums and parks that are nice to see such as Casa de la Libertad, the meeting hall where Bolivian independence was declared and Parque Bolivar. But the best thing to do is to walk around the city.

Sunset in Sucre

At 4,058 m above sea level, La Paz is knows as the highest capital city in the world. It is also an important cultural center of Bolivia and most visitors to the country often stop by in this city.

I did also did a walking tour of La Paz through my hostel, Wild Rover La Paz. This time, the tour guide did not leave us and was actually knowledgeable of the city and the Bolivian culture. We got to see the Witches’ Market, where stores sell things like llama fetuses and dried frogs for Aymara rituals, as well as Plaza Murillio, the main square with government buildings and the city cathedral. 20 BOB ($3.87 CAD)

I explored the city with its extensive cable car system, Mi Teleférico. It is also the largest urban cable car network in the world. There are 8 lines that traverse across the city giving great views of the city. Each ride on each line is 3 BOB ($0.58 CAD).

Views of La Paz

A little introduction to the island, which is the largest island on Lake Titicaca. Inca legend says that Isla del Sol was the birthplace of the Sun God, hence the name of the island. Once you get out of the main port, life on the island is tranquil. There is no noise and no motorized traffic. You can only find donkeys here. Everything is laid back, where you can enjoy the sun (sun shines strong here as you are about 4000 km above sea level) and the slower pace. If you are looking things to do there are great hiking trails and incredible lookout points all over the island.

My other costs travelling in Bolivia were very minimal, they include:

• No ATM Fees for me. I didnt find many ATMs in the country that charges any fees. Make sure you use a debit card that doesn’t charge you for any foreign transaction fees. If you are from Canada, I recommend using STACK!
• Laundry for 24 BOB ($4.64 CAD)
• Entrance fee for Isla del Sol 10 BOB ($1.93 CAD)

The Sum of Travelling in Bolivia

For the 12 days I was in Bolivia, I spent a total of 3,762.58 BOB or $727.30 CAD. That amounts to 313.55 BOB or $60.61 CAD per day.

As you can see below, my Activities budget is the biggest portion due to my Uyuni Salt Flats tour and the Death Road experience. Just those two alone was 47% of my total spend in Bolivia. You can save a lot of money by doing the Uyuni Salt Flats tour from the Bolivian side and only doing 1 day instead of my 3 day one.

As the Uyuni Salt Flats tour also included meals and two nights accommodation, my food/drinks/accommodation spend per day is understated. Nonetheless, they are still very cheap. Meals can be had for under 25 BOB or around $5 CAD. A night at a highly rated hostel will only set you back around 70 BOB or around $14 CAD.

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Did you know you can get cash back for almost everything you purchase online?

Online shopping is convenient, easy, and cheaper than ever. One advantage that many people do not know about: you can earn cashback for buying things using these websites (as discussed below)! I have been using these cashback websites for quite a few years now and I’ve really been able to rack up the moolah.

In this post, I will show you how to earn cashback in Canada.

The general gist of these cashback websites/apps is that they work as an affiliate partner. These websites refer customers to the retailer’s store, and when a purchase is made, the affiliate earns a percentage of the sale at no cost to the customer.

Whenever you decide to buy something online, consider using one of these cashback websites listed below. It is free and easy to join. Either look for the store based on categories or by the search box to see if they have a partnership with that store. If so, the website will show you how much cashback you’ll earn from your purchase.

In order to get cashback on your purchases, you have to make sure that you’re using the website’s link to the site. Once you check out, your purchase will automatically be recorded on your account. Depending on the website, you will need to wait a certain period until the cashback “clears” (making sure that you don’t return the product) and becomes available for payment. The common pay out method is usually either by cheque or via Paypal.

With over 750 stores to choose from, Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) is arguably the most popular cashback site in Canada.

The cashback can vary from anywhere between 0.5% to 15% depending on retailers and promotional periods. Rakuten also has promo codes and coupons available, helping you save even more when shopping!

Rakuten was able to save me money while travelling especially with accommodation costs. Read more about it here!

Currently Rakuten offers three ways to receive payment: Cheque, PayPal, and Amazon e-gift cards. They send the cashback payment every three months, for purchases posted during the previous quarter. I like getting my cashback through PayPal because I can directly transfer it to my bank right after. Here is a screenshot of my last cashback payment:

Rakuten also has a Google Chrome extension, notifying members if they are eligible for cashback when they’re on their partner retailer’s websites.

Earn your first $5 CAD in cashback with Rakuten.ca with my referral link below!

This Canadian owned and operated website is the original cashback website in Canada. It has since overshadowed by Rakuten due their marketing dollars. However, there are still some great cashback deals with Great Canadian Rebates.

Their website is not as intuitive or as visually appealing as Rakuten but works just fine.

What I like about Great Canadian Rebates is their cash back offers on credit card applications. I applied to the MBNA Alaska Airlines Mastercard which had an annual fee of $120, but was reduced by $50 cashback I got from using Great Canadian Rebates.

They also have cashbacks for other popular credit cards such as:

• American Express Gold Rewards Card
• American Express® Cobalt Credit Card

There is a minimum 58 day wait to get the rebates as they need that time to track returns for purchases and to collect money from the merchants. They are then paid out to members through PayPal, cheque, or Amazon.ca gift cards.

They have a great referral program, where if you refer a friend or relative, you’ll even be able to earn 15 percent on all of their Cash Back Rebates in referral bonuses.

Register below and they will start you off with $2 CAD into your account just for becoming a member.

This fintech company founded in Canada in 2016 is targetting Millennials and Gen Zs. Only available through its mobile app, Drop rewards its users with points for linking their debit or credit cards and shopping with their partner retailers. The Drop app looks directly at your transaction history and rewards you automatically.

Drop uses a points system rather than straight cashback. Currently, every 10,000 drop points is equivalent to $10 CAD.

They have recently created an extension for Google Chrome so you can get points when you shop online. They also have surveys and quizzes available to earn even more drop points!

When signing up, use my referral code “lliwf” to get $5 CAD or click on the link below!

There are many cashback credit cards available for Canadians, but this one in particular is the best out there, IMHO.

The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card offers more cashback for everyday spending categories than any other credit card in Canada. MoneySense deemed it the Best Cashback Card (with a fee) in 2019! Here are the cashback rates:

• 4% cash back on groceries and recurring payments
• 2% gas and daily transit
• 1% on everything else

As it is Visa Infinite, there are exclusive benefits that comes with it such as a 24/7 concierge service, access to the Visa Hotel Collection and Visa Dining and Wine Country program. What’s more is that the card also comes with travel medical insurance, trip interruption, flight delay and car rental insurance. Scotiabank also just added a New Mobile Device Insurance.

There is however, a $120 annual fee. But for a limited time, The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite card is offering the first year annual fee waived.

The only real downside to these cashback programs is that it can be tempting to see your cashback or points accumulate. The point of these programs is to get consumers to spend more. That is why it’s important to make sure to buy things you’ve already decided on and not splurge on the basis of seeing those cashback balance increase. Other than that, I really do not see any downside of this!

If you are a big online shopper, I highly suggest getting started with these cashback programs!

Every winter, I like to escape the harsh Canadian winter to a tropical place where I can soak up some much needed sun. In the winter of 2017, I decided to go to Costa Rica with G-Adventures, specifically on their “Costa Rica Quest” tour.

Today’s Colombia is unlike the one of which your parents once imagined. Gone for the most part are the violence from drug cartels and rebel factions. Because of this, tourism has skyrocketed over the past years and has shown visitors the country’s immense diversity of landscapes and cultures. There are tropical beaches, coffee farms in the mountains, as well as jungles in the Amazon. There is the Caribbean culture in the island of San Andres, the cool vibe of Medellin, and the hustle and bustle of Bogota. I was only in Colombia for three weeks and felt that I barely scratched the surface. Below, I will give you an insight of my budget breakdown and the cost of backpacking Colombia.

Below is a map of my route in Colombia. My journey started in the island of San Andres and ended in the capital, Bogota. I started in San Andres as I wanted to avoid the 171,000 COP ($72 CAD) reciprocity fee that Canadian citizens would have to pay to enter Colombia. However, one of the exemptions of entering the country without paying the fee is to visit San Andres. As luck would have it, as of May 1st, 2019, they have waived the fee for all Canadians.

Currency Info: In May 2019, the exchange of the Colombian Pesos to the Canadian Dollar was around 2400 COP to $1 CAD.

It might not look like it on the map, but Colombia is pretty big. It was a surprise learning that it is twice the size of France!

I decided to skip out on Peru during my time in South America all together as Shelly wanted to visit there too. However, the cheapest flight from Bolivia (La Paz area) to Colombia was actually to take a flight from Cusco, Peru. Cusco is only a 12 hour bus ride from La Paz and gave me the chance to visit Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol. From Cusco, I flew to Bogota with budget airline Viva Air for $143.96 USD ($194.35 CAD). I only had an overnight layover before I headed to the island of San Andres with Viva Air again for 217,000 COP ($90.31 CAD).

If you’re planning to fly around Colombia, the best prices are on Viva Air. All my flights were with them, which included:

• San Andres to Cartagena 83,660 COP ($34.86 CAD)
• Santa Marta to Medellin 53,900 COP ($22.46 CAD)

When flying with Viva Air, note that they have a stricter luggage/carry on policy than other airlines. Passengers can take one piece at no charge with a maximum weight of 10 kg and dimensions of 40 x 35 x 25 cm. While I haven’t flown with European budget airlines yet, my backpack was able to meet the dimensions of a carry on/hand luggage in most other airlines which have a more forgiving limit of 55 x 36 x 23 cm.

I did not know about the different policy until boarding in Cusco. They checked my bag and found that it exceeded the dimensions as well as the weight requirement. Not wanting to pay the extra fee, I took out as much stuff as I can, wore my sweater and jacket, and carried my toiletries bag and laptop charger. After stuffing my bag into those metal size guides, I guess the attendant felt sorry for me and let me board with a carry on tag. From then on, I left that tag on my bag for as long as I could and was able to get away with it as a carry on for future flights.

However, on my last flight from Santa Marta to Medellin, the staff noticed my torn up tag and decided to test my bag. Again, it didn’t meet the dimensions as my bag is 55 cm tall. This time I wasn’t so lucky and had to pay the boarding gate fee of a carry on fee of 85,000 COP ($35.42 CAD).

I never pay for any baggage fees even though my bag is usually over the weight requirement, as most of the time they don’t actually check. With the number of flights I have taken during my travels, the only time I got caught with an overweight bag was in Vietnam, and had to pay 330,000 VND ($18.89 CAD). It just makes more financial sense to not check in your bag and risk paying the higher boarding gate fee than paying for additional baggage fees every time. Checking a bag with Viva Air in advance had a fee of at least 67,000 COP ($27.92 CAD).

For such a diverse country, the food scene follows with influences from Spanish and indigenous cultures. More recently with the wave of other immigrants and globalization, Arabic and Asian influences has also impacted the food scene. Different regions will also have its own unique traits. In Bogotá, due to its high altitude and cool climate, the local staples tend to be hearty and starchy. Along the coasts, such as Cartagena, you will find more vibrant and lighter foods such as fresh fruits and seafood.

However, for a country with such richness in natural ingredients, I haven’t been completely wowed by the cuisine. I found myself eating more international foods, which I found was pretty abundant in cities such as Medellin and Bogota. There were some local dishes that I enjoyed found below:

• Bandeja Paisa. This is your the national dish of Colombia. The dish has a generous amount of red beans cooked with pork, white rice, carne molida (ground meat), chicharrón, fried egg, plantain (plátano maduro), chorizo, arepa, hogao sauce, black pudding (morcilla), and avocado. I got this with a soup and juice for 17,000 COP ($7.08 CAD)
• Fritanga. This dish is a huge platter of grilled meat such as chicharrones, intenstines, black pudding (morcilla), sausages, with some fried plantain and potatoes. This dish was 12,900 COP ($5.38 CAD)
• Empanadas. What makes the Colombian variety different is that they’re almost always deep-fried compared to the baked ones down in Chile or Argentina. Most of the time the shell is corn based. This street food makes for a great, cheap snack. I got one for 1,200 COP ($0.50 CAD)
• Patacones. Popular all over Colombia, it is green plantain that is squashed into thick pancakes, then deep fried in vegetable oil until golden brown. See below for a photo.
• Lemonada Coco. A must get! Especially on the coasts or San Andres where this drink will refresh you from the hot weather. 10,000 COP ($4.17 CAD)

Bandeja Paisa. 8/10 Fritanga. 7/10 Empanandas. 7.5/10 Lemonada Coco. 9/10

Considering how big the country is, intercity buses are still a great way to get around most of Colombia. They are cheap, safe, and reliable. Here are the intercity buses that I took:

• A mini van transport from Cartagena to Santa Marta. 44,000 COP ($18.33 CAD). We accidentally went to a private transport station rather than the public one. The bus rides would normally be cheaper at 30,000 COP ($12.50 CAD)
• A 10 hour bus ride from Medellin to Bogota that I booked on Busbud.com 60,000 COP ($25 CAD)

Here were some ways I got around in each place:

• One day scooter rental in San Andres set up through my hostel. 80,000 COP ($33.33 CAD)
• A ride in Colombia’s only metro system in Medellin. 2,550 COP ($1.06 CAD)
• A ride in Bogota’s TransMilenio (Bus Rapid Transit). 2,400 COP ($1 CAD)
• Uber rides are really cheap in Bogota and Medellin. If you do not have Uber yet, please use my referral link so that you can get free rides and/or discounts. I would also earn some free rides and/or discounts! Win-Win!

Scootering around San Andres Medellin Metro

You can find a wide range of accommodation styles in the country, from budget backpacker dorm beds to luxury five star hotels. Each city/region also offers accommodation at different prices. Prices will be more expensive on the island of San Andres due to the lack of accommodation. You can find more value in hostels in bigger cities such as Medellin and Bogota, for as cheap as 25,000 COP ($10.42 CAD). If you can “splurge” (talking an extra $10 CAD a night), you can get really awesome hostels. The hostels I stayed at in Cartagena, Medellin, and Bogota were some of my favourites of all time!

Blue Almond Hostel for 3 nights at 51,680 COP ($21.53 CAD) per night

The hostel has a great relaxing atmosphere with good facilities. Alejandro was a great host and was knowledgeable of things to do and see on the island. The location could be better as it was a 20 minute walk to the town and main beach. All in all, this hostel is a solid choice for your stay in San Andres.

Life is Good Cartagena Hostel for 3 nights at 49,000 COP ($20.42 CAD) per night

This may be the best hostel I have ever stayed at. This boutique hostel is a 15 minute walk away from the old town and steps away from restaurants and bars. The staff are the friendliest I have encountered; they are extra attentive and professional. The facilities were clean and modern. They have a rooftop with a nice seating area and a hot tub. The beds have privacy curtains and they even let you use the A/C during the day. They provide complimentary water, coffee, tea, and even ice! Their WiFi is probably the strongest I have ever used in a hostel, clocking at 88.3 Mbps on Speedtest.net! The breakfast that is included is one of the best that I’ve had.

The only downside is that because it is not a true backpacker hostel, it doesn’t really have a common area space and there is not much of a social atmosphere, making it harder to meet other people.

Omelette and patacones served for breakfast

Calle 11 Hostel Rodadero for 3 nights at 27,000 COP ($11.25 CAD) per night

This resort-like hostel makes you feel so comfortable that you won’t want to do any sight seeing. It has a pool, common area with a TV, hammocks, and a bar. It is a very social hostel making it easy to meet lots of new people. Don’t expect the facilities to be as clean and new as in the pictures on the website (they have a really great photographer), but they are still in good condition. The beds also have privacy curtains. Overall, this place is a really great value for what you are getting.

Los Patios Hostal Boutique for 4 nights at 45,470 COP ($18.95 CAD) per night

This stylish, upscale hostel is one of the more expensive ones in Medellin but is worth it for what you get. Located in the Manila neighbourhood, there are coffee shops and restaurants close by and is only three blocks away from Poblado Metro Station. They offer a lot of complimentary activities such as Spanish lessons, salsa lessons, etc. For people who need to do work, they also have a board room free to use. It felt like a mini co-working space. They also have other facilities such as a rooftop bar, kitchen and gym.

Chapinero Hills Hostel for 2 nights at 37,800 COP ($15.75 CAD) per night

If you want to stay in a nice and quieter hostel in Bogota, then check out Chapinero Hills Hostel. Located in the financial district of the city, it is surrounded by many great cafes and restaurants. The rooms have a great look and are very clean. I found the WiFi to be particularly quick and the dorm beds have privacy curtains creating a pod-like environment. The downsides are the lack of atmosphere and no communal kitchen available for guests.

There’s a wide range of things to do in Colombia, and most activities from museums to adventure sports are very reasonably priced. Here are the activities I did in each place:

• Snorkel rental provided from the hostel. 15,000 COP ($6.25 CAD). Snorkelled around San Andres, one of the best spots I’ve been to. San Andres and Providencia is renowned for beautiful coral reefs, with many coming to the island just to scuba. Too bad I don’t own a GoPro.
• Checked out the many different viewpoints while driving around the island on my scooter. FREE
• Went to the highest viewpoint in the island at the First Baptist Church. This gives you a great overview over the island and the Caribbean Sea. 10 COP ($4.17 CAD)

View from the top of First Baptist Church

Cartagena is the most touristy city in the country and I didn’t spend a dime on any activities while I was there. In my opinion, the best thing to do in Cartagena is to explore its historic old town. Walk around neighbourhoods such as Centro, San Diego, Getsemaní and take in the historic plazas and bright coloured houses.

While there are other things to do such as checking out the fortress of Castillo de San Felipe or go to Playa Blanca (beach), I was not interested as they were a bit pricey. To go to the fortress, there is an entrance fee of 25,000 COP ($10.42 CAD) and the beach requires a day trip. Plus I was “beached” out from my time in San Andres.

I really didn’t find much to do in Santa Marta itself. Many people go here as a base to do the Lost City Trek, Tayrona National Park, Minca or Taganga. After many beach days in San Andres, I decided to go to the sleepy village of Minca in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains.

The main activity in this area is hiking. Along with friends I have met, we hiked up to Los Pinos, which is a viewpoint about three hours from the centre of Minca. The humidity and the constant uphill makes this trek up into the mountains one of the most gruelling hikes I’ve done.

An hour into the hike, we stopped at Marinka Falls. This waterfall is a blessing for those hiking around the area. For 5000 COP ($2.40 CAD), you can soak into the waterfall and the surrounding pools. After being drenched in sweat and baked from the sun, it was so refreshing going under the waterfall.

Once you get to the peak, there are superb panoramas over the distant Caribbean Sea and the green mountains of the Sierra. There is also a popular hostel called Casa Elemento which is famous for its remarkable giant hammock overlooking the mountains. Visitors can lounge in the hammocks and the pool area without staying overnight for 10,000 COP ($4.17 CAD)

• Pablo Escobar Tour for 80,000 COP ($33.33 CAD). I felt this tour was overpriced for what it is. The guide drove us around to some well known Pablo Escobar related sites such as La Catedral (Pablo’s prison), Pablo’s grave, and the site of the Monaco building (Pablo’s former home) and explained some stories. Pablo Escobar has been a very controversial issue for Colombia, and especially Medellin. For many visitors, Pablo has been somewhat romanticized due to many portrayals on TV shows and movies such as Netflix’s Narcos. But for Colombians, he is known as a terrorist that has tarnished the reputation of the country for decades. Thousands of lives have been claimed by him from bombings and assassinations. I would suggest skipping this tour and spending this money on other great things that Colombia has to offer.
• Free Walking Tour with Zippy Tour Comuna 13. This tour gives an insight on how Comuna 13, once the most dangerous neighborhood in Medellín, miraculously transformed into the thriving area it is today. Other sights include the many street art and the outdoor escalators that take people up the mountains to their homes.

Comuna 13

• Walked around and exploring the landmarks around La Candelaria such as La Catedral and Plaza de Bolivar. FREE
• Learned more about Colombia in the city’s many museums such as the Emerald Museum, Gold Museum, and Museo Botero. I went to the National Museum (Museo Nacional), which housed a collection of over 20,000 pieces representing the country’s different national history periods for 3000 COP ($1.25 CAD)

Here are the other expenses that was included in my cost of backpacking Colombia:

• No ATM fee. There is a bunch of banks don’t charge any ATM fees, I used BBVA! Make sure you use a debit card that doesn’t charge you for any foreign transaction fees. If you are from Canada, I recommend using STACK!
• San Andres Tourist Card. All visitors require this card to get into San Andres. When I visited in April 2019, the price of the card was 112,500 COP ($46.88 CAD)
• A fake Colombia football team jersey for 35,000 COP ($14.58 CAD). You can find so many of these all over Cartagena.
• Laundry in Medellin for 9,900 COP ($4.13 CAD)

The Sum of Backpacking Colombia

For the 20 days I was in Colombia, I spent a total of 3,291,000 COP or $1,371.27 CAD. That amounts to 164,550 COP or $68.56 CAD per day.

Colombia, along with Peru and Bolivia, is among the cheaper countries in South America. As I visited San Andres, my flight expense was a significant chunk of my total spend. On the other hand, because I didn’t do any big ticket activities such as paragliding in Medellin, scuba diving in San Andres or trekking the Lost City, my activities spend was relativity quite small.

Below is my spend per day in Colombia. My Food & Drinks spend could have been lower as a lot of times I ate western and international foods rather than the local dishes. After many months travelling, I was increasingly missing food from back home. I even found myself eating Subway three times in San Andres! If you have cravings of wings, lasagna, or spaghetti, you can get pretty good quality for prices a little cheaper compared to Canada or the US for around 25,000 COP ($10.42 CAD).

My accommodation spend could also be lower as I chose really nice hostels during my stay.

Backpacking around Colombia can even cheaper than my trip if you:

• Eat more local dishes or cook your own food
• Skip out on San Andres as it is not a cheap destination (accommodation, food, flights, travel card)… unless it’s a must-see for you
• Stay in more budget friendly hostels