Top 10 Tips for Saving Money
1. Amsterdam
If you’re looking for a cheap way to see the city you should jump on the Canal Bus. This will take you through the canals and allow you to get your bearings in what can otherwise be a confusing city. Tickets last for a whole 24 hours and at €17 they are good value for money. If you are between 4 and 13 years old or you book as a group of ten people, you get an even better deal with tickets priced at a mere €11. See Anne Frank’s house, check out Van Gogh and don’t miss the Heineken experience, with the aid of this little boat.
If you’re looking to save money on a larger scale, it’s worth investing in the I Am Amsterdam Card. This was developed by the Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board and it entitles you to free admission at nearly all the famous museums and a 25% discount at a whole bunch of restaurants and attractions. This little beauty also gives you free travel on trams, buses and subways. A 24 hour pass is €33 and it’s worth every cent.
Be sure to check out next month’s newsletter for a first hand account of exactly what you get with the card.
You can get the card from local tourist information (VVV) offices. Check out the fine print by visiting www.amsterdamtourist.nl or www.iamsterdamcard.com
2. Bruges
Save yourself the “I got lost and need to get back to my hostel” taxi fare, by investing in a cheap map and visitor’s guide. You can pick these up from the information desk at the main railway station or the main tourist office In &Uit, Concertgebouw, on the 't Zand square. Maps cost a mere €0.50 and visitor guides are a modest €1.00.
For food don’t miss the market on 't Zand. Saturday mornings see the best offers come out to play but don’t get your Belgium chocolate from here. Here’s a tip for taking the best cocoa based fun home without emptying your piggy bank. Take a trip to the Supermarket for boxes of the brands you’ll recognize, without the startling price tags. The big names to look out for in Bruges are on Oude Burg, Langestraat or Noordzandstraat.
3. Berlin
If you get a kick from undercutting the expensive eateries and you don’t mind a little Lidl action, then check out this super market chain. Here you can buy a box of fine rose wine and a jar of the finest frankfurters, and still have change from a €10 note.
Going out on a budget is also pretty affordable in Berlin and thanks to the largest Turkish population outside of Turkey, you can pick up a delicious gyro-like sandwich (a Döner-kebab of sorts) for a bargain price. You can check out what’s on offer from the thousands of food stands beneath the “Imbiss” signs. You’ll find these fast food outposts near most S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations, along with a healthy helping of Currywurst.
4. Newquay
There’s a lot crammed into the boot of Britain and Newquay is the perfect place to launch yourself into the thick of it. Break away from the conventional tourism packages, hire a bike and explore the St Piran Trail. This will take you on a scenic tour of picturesque villages, patchwork countryside and National Trust property like Trerice Manor. This Elizabethan Manor boasts beautiful gardens and a rather out of the ordinary lawnmower museum.
When you’re on the road be sure to check out the sleepy village of St Newlyn East for a real taste of the Cornish Pastie pace of life.
For more information give the Cornish County Council a call on +44 (0) 1872 222000.
5. Edinburgh
This city has more events going on than you can shake a stick at but unless you have an unlimited amount of time in Edinburgh, you’ll never see it all. The best plan is to make a plan so here are some of the best ways to see the city.
If you like a drink and a good book, save time and money by combining the two with the Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour. This award winning tour is lead by two highly qualified actors who will make sure what you learn, while under the influence, is entertaining and engaging. The tour runs all year round and takes you through the back streets, high streets and courtyards of the Old and New Town. Check out the details at www.edinburghliterarypubtour.co.uk
If you’re not bewitched by the prospect of beer and literature try something out of the ordinary with the Caddies and Witchery Tour. Based in the Old Town, the tour takes you back several centuries to the days when Edinburgh’s legendary spirits were flesh and blood. Check out the ghouls that’ll scare the life out of you at www.witcherytours.com.
6. Bath
This beautiful city has a lot to offer but for less than £10 you should shimmie over to Sally Lunn’s House. This is the oldest house in Bath and it was where Sally Lunn set up her delightfully delicious bakery. Surprising enough it also produces the world famous Sally Lunn Bun, which is still baked here, strictly according to the original recipe.
This Tudor style building is however much more than just a restaurant. The basement is a museum featuring the original kitchen, which comes complete with the original faggot oven and excavations of the Roman and Medieval foundations of the house. On top of all this you’re also treated to a stalactite and stalagmites cellar. I challenge you to find a bakery with more on the menu.
You’ll find Sally’s house at 4 North Parade Passage, Bath, BA1 1NX. If you get lost give them a call on +44 (0) 1225 461634.
7. Brighton
This sea side city can be boiled down to a couple of key things for bargain hunting backpackers – retro clothing stores and cheap eats!
The pebbly beach might mean you can’t fill your time with the usual sea side sun bathing sessions but you can kill a dull and dreary afternoon with a movie montage at the abundance of vintage shops. Why not retrofit your wardrobe and save a buck or two with some second hand goodies from the lanes?
When you’ve had enough of shopercising, print off a discount meal voucher from http://www.visitbrighton.com/
This little beauty gets you two courses for £7.95 or three for £9.95 at Al Duomo. It’s a set menu but there’s plenty of choice with pasta, fish and meat dishes. Make sure you’re there before 17.30 if you want to use this on a Saturday.
Back to London . . .
8. Camden
Don’t be taken in by the indoor markets. They have some cool stuff but you’ll find that when you compare them to the outdoor stalls, the prices are pretty inflated.
There’s an abundance of cafes and restaurants in this wing of North London but with summer approaching you can be a little bit crafty and undercut those overcharging cafes with a deliciously inexpensive picnic by the canal.
You should also keep an eye out for the last minute gigs and musical showcases that have a tendency to pop up. You never know when the right place and time might lead to a secret Amy Winehouse gig and an evening of Back to Black.
Check out the Beds and Bars feature to find out about the rocking Camden Crawl in April.
9. Belushi’s in Fulham
The Hammersmith and Fulham FestivalThis year the festival is focused on sport and the spirit of competitiveness. The festival runs until April 15 and it’s a great way for travellers and residents alike to get involved in a fantastic spectrum of sports.There’s mini rugby, interclub tournaments, indoor and outdoor rowing, basketball, football and a whole lot more. Best of all, it’s free.The Festival is a great chance to enjoy free sports coaching sessions in Ravenscourt Park, Hurlingham Park and the Linford Christie Outdoor Sports Centre.Check out the football and basketball coaching at Ravenscourt Park from 11am until 2pm on Saturday 14 April.On the day after there’s hockey at the Linford Christie outdoor sports centre in Wormwood Scrubs from 11am to 2pm. Here you’ll find coaches from Chelsea Football Club and Polly Chiswick Hockey Club.For a full listing of everything that’s going down in Fulham, check out www.lbhf.gov.uk.
10. Orient Espresso
If the free weekend taster sessions at Borough market don’t fill you up or you can’t quite stretch to that £3 coffee from a soulless, global coffee shop, then check out the plethora of cheap eats and drinks at our lovely little coffee shop.
Some cafes reward you with a free caffeinated experience after you buy ten cups from them. The Orient however gives you a free cup after seven bargainous drinks. But wait – there’s more. You can earn your loyalty points at mark down prices by presenting your Beds and Bars card.
The 10% discount from this wonderful piece of plastic also extends to the croissants, fruit, cake and sandwiches on offer from this nice little London "Caff."
