$50 In Bali
In Bali A$50 can go a long way, but rather than spending all that money on mountains of clothes, jewellery and cheap food, why not spend that extra cash to experience a different side of Bali. You can have loads of fun with a water sport package – for just A$46 you can go high up in the air parasailing, jump on a banana boat or hang on for dear life with friends on an inflatable flying fish, flying over the waves, explore the beaches and coastline on a jet ski, and discover under the sea with a dive at NusaDua, and still have four dollars for a drink at the end of it!
Your A$50 will also give you the ability to travel around Bali without worrying about maps or getting lost by hiring a car + driver for the day for around A$37, allowing you to go off the beaten track and really explore. Instead of picking up street food for a few dollars, why not try an upmarket restaurant to spend your savings, one with brilliant views located in one of Bali’s most prestigious locations? Head to Metis in Seminyak where you can get their signature pan seared foie gras with port and raspberry reduction, morello cherry and roast apple for A$22.50. Or for the ultimate value, come for the lunch special – sumptuous three-course meal for just $12.75 – and you can dine overlooking Metis’s beautifully serene rice paddy.
Relax at the end of the day with a locally inspired cocktail or four costing about A$11, and enjoy the beautiful views of the Seminyak sunset on the rooftop of the SOS Supper Club. Don’t forget that even if you do spend your extra A$50 on one of these fantastic suggestions there are plenty of things you can do for free in Bali. Watch sunrise and sunsets at many of the beautiful beaches along the Bali coastline, check out the local night markets where there is a huge variety of traditional food on offer, plus there is always the chance to watch the Gamelan orchestras and Balinese dance performances while they are rehearsing, or at annual festivals and other ceremonies.
$50 In Paris
Paris, the City of Love and one of the more expensive cities in the world to visit, with brands like Christian Louboutin, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton founded in this luxurious city, you may think A$50 won’t get you very far. You would be wrong. Fifty dollars will give you the ability to explore Paris more easily and cheaply with the Navigo week pass for A$50, allowing you travel all around Paris and even to tourist attractions just outside of the city including Chateau de Versailles or Disneyland Paris. If exploring Paris on your own isn’t for you then you can do a Paris Bus Tour for around A$42 with tour highlights including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Notre Dame.
Bakeries and patisseries are a dime a Euro in Paris and you can often pick up a croissant or baguette from A$1.25 but with your A$50, you can fancy it up with a seat at a traditional French restaurant for dinner at Le Baratin, where you can try Landes duck leg confit main meal, plus a cocktail, and to finish it all off sip on a coffee while you try a selection of mini desserts all for under A$50 total (EU$27.66). End the night at Alcazar in the Mezzanine bar area and enjoy a couple of signature cocktails for A$21.15.
Even though A$50 won’t get you those signature red-lacquered soles of Monsieur Louboutin you can always get the chance to window shop. Walk down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and window shop at the Louis Vuitton store or imagine drowning yourself in diamonds at Cartier. There are plenty of free things to do to explore the ins and outs of the Parisian culture by visiting popular Paris neighbourhoods including The Latin Quarter, Montmarte and Saint Germain de-Pres and don’t forget to check out Belleville with its amazing street art and beautiful Parc de Belleville where you can view the city and the Eiffel Tower. Many museums and monuments are free all year round including the modern art museum Centre Pompidou which normally costs A$18.50, but if you time it right you can even visit tourist magnets such as the Louvre or Musee d’Orsay, without paying!
$50 In London
Another royal baby on the way – could it be time to visit Wills and Kate? Yes, London is calling! There is so much to do with that A$50 you saved from booking your flight with Skiddoo. You can get you to see some of the world’s most recognisable sites like the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Hop on and off a red double decker bus for A$42.60, and enjoy a free cruise on the river Thames and three fully guided walking tours. Another way to discover London is to pick up an Oyster Card A$42.50 allowing you access to bus, tram, DLR and the Tube. This works just like the Australian Opal card taking money off each time you travel, with adults fares for the bus and tram $3.13, or a tube journey costing from A$3.94 depending on where you want to go. You can explore Central London yourself and it will cost you no more than A$15 in a single day. Pubs are a plenty and have been around London for centuries, get educated in the history of Old English Pubs with a historical guided tour from A$45.16, or enjoy the nightlife with a pub crawl from A$26.63. You can even download an app for your smartphone and use that as a guide to visit as many pubs as you want – with The London Pub Walks app for A$8.99 (iPhone) or A$5.99(Android). Enjoy a classic pub feed with a Sunday roast or A$23.20 or fill up with an entrée, main and dessert for A$32.12 at the Duke of Edinburgh in Brixton.
Claimed to be one of the coolest bars in London, Mark’s Bar in Soho is a place to grab a cocktail or two that will give you the tastes of different British eras from A$18, as well as classic ales, UK’s best lager, and crisp ciders from between A$8 and A$10. Don’t forget there are plenty of free ways to explore London and see what it has to offer, if you have used up your A$50 already. Borough Market located in Central London is London’s most renowned food market and a great source of British and international produce. You can go crazy on the samples here and if you wanted to you can even get a whole heap of produce for under A$50 or even for A$5! Visit a city farm such as the Kentish Town City Farm, and come rain, hail or shine, the Columbia Road Flower Markets near Hoxton are open every Sunday. And of course two legs and a heartbeat always is free – so you can download free maps to explore London town on foot, and there are plenty of free London travel guides apps to download to your smartphone as well.
$50 In Los Angeles
Famed for Hollywood stars and rock gods, you will be surprised how far A$50 can take you in the City of Angels. In LA, try renting a car from A$28/day, but remember LA is notorious for a lot of traffic and heavy delays. We recommend hiring a bike from about A$9/ hour (or A$34.50 dollar for the day) at Bike and Hikes LA and ride along the beach – from Malibu through Santa Monica to Venice Beach, or see the sites of Hollywood and take in glamourous Beverly Hills by bike.
America is certainly the land of choice and you can get fast food meals from under five dollars and a wide range of decent eating places with generously sized meals – just remember to add the tip! Start the day with breakfast at the Blu Jam Café on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood where you can get a Californian omelette for A$15, giving you that energy to keep up with the LA pace. For lunch, why not try a ‘reuben’ sandwich for A$7.50 at Ink.Sack, in West Hollywood or a 9 inch chilli dog from Hollywood’s Pinks on La Brea near Melrose Ave is A$4.75. A fun place for dinner the Fritto Misto Italian in Santa Monica gives you a large range of pastas to choose from for under A$20.
Thirsty? There are often great specials around, and many places have happy hours, and beer can cost between A$3.50 to A$6.50 a serve. If you want to splash out, a cocktail can set you back A$13 – but take note that bartenders often “free pour” (in the hope of a good tip of course) and the cocktails here are generally much more potent than those served in Australia. Be sure to head to Primitivo Wine Bistro in Venice for happy hour and Sangria Sundays and quench that thirst with A$4-6 drink specials every day. Every week at TR!P Santa Monica there is free entertainment ranging from local bands, Burlesque shows, open mic nights, and Jazz Trio. You’re set for a great night with cheap eats and over 60 beer selections. There are also lots of free things to do in LA, for instance at The Getty Museum you can let your eye soak up the masterpieces for free, and view some of the world’s most famous art pieces include Van Gogh ‘Irises’. Go down to Griffith Park where you can go for a hike, have a picnic, and play a variety of sports. The famous LA Zoo ,where general admission will only set you back A$20, allows you to walk around and check out the unique Sumatran tiger, Visayan warty pigs, or even a Cape griffon vulture, and they even have a bit of home with the Australian section of the Zoo with koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and echidnas!
When you book an international flight on Skiddoo.com.au, an online travel booking site, you can save between A$30 – A$50 on no international booking fees. Take that extra cash you saved and enjoy the destination you choose.
