Black Friday ‘deals’ have been piling into my inbox, but I’m always rather cynical when it comes to all this Black Friday hype.   

Stores may advertise big savings to lure you in, but it’s no guarantee that buying on Black Friday means you’ll bag the best price.

Black Friday falls on 29th November this year, and as in recent years, lots of retailers are starting their sales early, and Amazon’s Black Friday sale has already kicked off.

But when it comes to the price tag, a whopping 95% of Black Friday ‘deals’ are cheaper, or the same price, after the sales, according to research from consumer group Which.  And price comparison site Idealo also found 9 out of 10 items on sale during last year’s Black Friday event were actually cheaper at other times of the year.

So here’s how to stay one step ahead of the hype when checking out those Black Friday ‘bargains’. 

Use Amazon’s price tracker 

Even if you’re not planning to buy on Amazon, worth using its price tracker tool to check the ‘best price’ of anything you’re planning to buy.

This handy tool monitors Amazon prices all year round, so it’s a quick and easy way to see what its ‘cheapest’ price has been over the year and give you an idea whether a Black Friday deal really is a good price. 

Price match

Stores don’t offer discounts to be generous; it’s their chance to shift stuff that’s not selling.   So it can be hard to compare ‘like for like’ if the tech gadgets on sale aren’t the latest models or are less familiar names.   

So worth comparing prices on a couple of price comparison websites.

Shop around now

If there’s something specific you’re after; shop around now to see who’s selling it and the current price.  This way you’ll know if the deal you see on Black Friday really is the best one.

Forget voucher codes

Bad news with Black Friday, (along with any other sales), is that you can’t usually use any discount vouchers to get ‘double discount’. 

So in some cases a Black Friday discount may only bring the price down the same level as you’d pay a week later with a 20% voucher code.   

Check returns policies

Over half of us admit to splurging on ‘impulse buys’ last Black Friday according to Protect Your Bubble, when we dented our bank balance to the tune of £145 a time.

So if you buy something you later regret, worth knowing if you can take it back. 

Stores aren’t obliged to dish out refunds if you change your mind, and this applies at any time of year, not just Black Friday.  But that said, many do have generous ‘returns’ policies so always check before buying so you’re not out of pocket.

Taking a trip to the Red Centre, the red dusty spiritual heart of Australia and home to the mighty Uluru, is beyond amazing. Also known to tourists as Ayers Rock, it got this name when William Gosse, the first non-Aboriginal person to see it back in 1873 ‘named’ it after Sir Henry Ayers, who was Chief Secretary of South Australia at the time.

The climb is closed

As the sun set over Uluru the climb has now closed for the final time. Making the dangerous scramble to the top has sadly become something of a tourist sport over the years, and resulted in 37 deaths.

Climbing has always been a subject of great controversy and debate. And many tourists ignored the signs asking them not to climb and explaining the reasons why. I’ve been lucky enough to go there twice and have never climbed on either of my trips. Personally I’ve always felt it’s disrespectful to the Anangu people, who are the traditional landowners, and for whom Uluru holds great cultural significance.

It’s a truly amazing place to visit and there’s so many better ways to experience the wonder of Uluru so here’s my tips to get the most from your trip.

Plan your trip

If you’re only going to be there once, you don’t want to rock up and miss the sunset or find you’re fighting for camera space.

Lots of tour companies organise both sunset and sunrise trips but do your research before booking to find out where you’ll be dropped as some viewing areas can get crowded. This one’s beyond the National Park, but if you’re staying for a couple of nights, and want another view, it’s worth the short walk to Imalung Lookout for a sunset view and if you’re lucky you could be the only one there.

Tour tips

You can do the whole fancy coach thing, where you pay posh prices to jump aboard a big bus and get a glass of fizz at sunset, before being herded back on the bus the second the sun’s gone down.

Going solo and hiring a car or going on a small group tour is the way to go in my book. We went on a trip with the Rock Tour, and were still in the middle of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park long after sunset when everyone else had gone. Just eight of us, hanging out, cooking dinner from the back of our van and feeling we were the only people on the planet with Uluru for company.

Do the base walk

I don’t think you can take a trip to Uluru without seeing it close up. This is when the sheer size of it really hits you and you can see the caves, paintings and the Mutitjulu waterhole. The ‘base walk’ is ten kilometres all the way round and it’s an amazing experience as after leaving our guide, we didn’t see a soul for most of the walk. Do this in the early morning or early evening due to the heat! And take plenty of water!

The sky’s the limit

You can get a pretty good view of Uluru from the air if you’re taking an internal flight in, or out, of tiny Connellan airport, but for the ultimate experience hop in a helicopter.

Ok so it’s not cheap but I reckon it’s well worth every last Aussie dollar. Ayers Rock Helicopters do several trips from $150 AD.

Beyond Uluru

So many tourists think of Uluru as the one sight to see, but don’t even think about leaving until you’ve taken a trip to Kata Tjuta, (the Olgas), where you can do the short Walpa Gorge walk or the longer more strenuous Valley of the Winds Walk.

And well worth making time for a detour if you’re heading north, as Kings Canyon is a must especially if you’re planning to head up the Stuart Highway to Alice Springs, which is a five hour road trip away.

Way back at the start of September I decided to challenge myself to save some cash, and the environment, by wearing stuff that was already hanging in my wardrobe or borrowing, or buying, preloved or second hand clothes.

Oxfam had just mounted a big campaign to raise awareness of the huge amount of clothing that ends up in landfill, a massive 11 million items, each week! Now I’m not suggesting you should never buy new stuff, but as as I’ve always been a big fan of charity shops along with ebay, where I regularly pick up great second hand finds I thought I’d see if I could make it through a month without buying ‘new’.

So here’s how I got on……..and as promised I’m being honest!

Week one

Ok now this week I was working from home most days so any temptation in the form of nipping past the shops was pretty much out of the way, though I did pop in to both the Dogs Trust and Scope charity shops while I was passing through my local town. Didn’t buy anything this time round but have picked up some bargains there in the past.

My daily wardrobe this week was mainly jeans coupled with working my way through my existing t-shirt collection. The one above was originally from Gap but I picked it up at the Princess Alice Hospice Shop in Richmond, for £4 not long ago. It’s one of my favourite charity shops and always pop in when I’m in the area as often found some lovely things there.

Must admit that I do love a spot of shopping from Esprit so it was a bit tough not to have a sneaky peek on their website, especially as they’d sent me a £20 voucher against the new season stuff.

Week two

I’m also a big fan of Mary’s Living & Giving Shops. Set up by retail guru Mary Portas, these boutique style shops sell top quality second hand clothing to support Save The Children. I’ve been in several of their shops including Kew, Primrose Hill and Richmond and did pop in for a quick browse while in London.

Had a few meetings in London this week so I wore a mix of second hand including a John Rocha skirt that I picked up on ebay a while back, along with a jacket and t-shirt borrowed from my daughter and a few dresses that I’ve had in my wardrobe for a few years.

Week three

This week I was off on my holidays!

Now while I usually have my holiday togs and beach wear ready packed in my cabin case, I have been known to make a few last minute purchases at the airport, generally boosting the bank balance of Monsoon.

Well this time round, I’ll be honest, I did weaken and wander in and even started to come up with the rather sneaky idea that if I spotted something and persuaded my husband to buy it for me, then would this count as ‘cheating’?

But the Gatwick version was pretty small, so without too much of a tussle I genuinely, (honestly!), came out with a zero spend.

Week four

Only a few days of the month left and time to showcase one of my more recent ebay bargains that I wore for a work meeting. I loved this dress from Hobbs when I first spotted it in a sale in John Lewis earlier in the year. Would have snapped it up on the spot but sadly the only size was a wee bit too tight…..

But not long afterwards I found it on ebay in the right size, only worn once and in excellent condition, and bought it saving around 70% off the original price.

I love going to the theatre but tickets can be pricey so here’s 5 easy ways to save money and enjoy the show.

Tickets for 10p

Yes really! You can bag 10p tickets at the Royal Court Theatre in London. A limited number of these go on sale just one hour before the performance. But at this price, you’ve got to be happy to stand, and may not get the best view in the house! But at 10p for a night out, it’s beyond a bargain!

Save up to 60% on tickets

If you want to book in advance, you can still bag discounts of up to 60% with Theatremonkey.com I’m a big fan of the site and used it several times with great seats, (and savings!), in both the stalls and circle at different theatres.

Wait for the tour

Wait till big name shows go on tour and catch them at your local theatre to save on seat prices. Sign up for advance emails to find out what’s coming your way.

Swap theatres for pub gardens

It’s still summer so enjoy outdoor theatre. Fuller’s pubs are hosting ‘Shakespeare in the Garden’ across 30 pubs with peformances of both the Merry Wives of Windsor and Romeo & Juliet with tickets just over a tenner.

Buy a coffee and watch the show

Pop into the brilliant Theatre Cafe in St. Martin’s Lane in London, buy a coffee and watch the show as the cast of some of the West End shows often pop by for performances.

I’ve just got back from a trip to Vienna which is one super stunning city.

I hopped on an easyJet flight, booked an Airbnb and spent four days checking out the sights, stopping for coffee and strudel and snapping my way around the city.

So here’s my five ways to see the sights and save money.

Tickets to the Opera for 10 Euros

I love this place, not only is it absolutely amazing to look at, both inside and out, but there’s a way in for every pocket and purse.

If you want a proper sit down ticket then a night at the Wiener Staatsoper, (Vienna State Opera House), can mean shelling out from 150 Euros upwards. Tickets get booked up months in advance and some can even top 300 Euros.

But standby, (quite literally!), for a big moneysaving secret, as you can get tickets for just 10 Euros a time. A limited number of standing tickets are released 80 minutes before each performance so you’ll need to get there early and it’s strictly one ticket per person.

Doing a backstage tour is a great way to see behind the scenes of this amazing building. We did this, it costs 9 Euros and lasts around 40 minutes and you’ll get to go up the Grand Staircase, see the Marble Hall and get a view from the best seats in the house. And even found a mini model of one of my other favourite Opera Houses in the gift shop too!

Free day out at Schonbrunn Palace

This has got to be one of the cherries on the cake, and when it comes to Viennese cakes, we’re talking Sachertorte and Strudel.

Schonbrunn was a summer holiday home for the Habsburg dynasty and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

There’s plenty of ticket options from 16 Euros upwards if you want to go into the Palace. And worth booking in advance. You don’t save money this way but you can save 3- 4 hours in queue time!

But my top tip is to head for the park and gardens first. They’re open from 6.30am during the summer and totally free and we’re not talking a small back yard here.

The park and gardens make for a great day out even if you don’t go into the Palace with fountains, statues, manicured lawns and shaded walkways and worth a trip to the Gloriette for great views over Vienna.

Explore Danube Island

Donauinsel, also known as Danube Island is an oasis of calm and a great way to see another side of Vienna. It’s just a few stops on the U-bahn from the centre of the Old Town. Take the U1 line and hop off at Donauinsel station to enjoy beaches, footpaths, cycle trails and some great views of the Danube.

You can stop at one of the many bars or cafes or pack a picnic. As I mentioned in my quick vlog you can pick up fresh food from the food stalls in the Naschmarkt first. My personal favourite is ‘Kaseland’ – aka ‘Cheese Country’ for the ultimate cheeseboard.

Ways to get around

Many of the major sights are around the Ringstrasse which is the main boulevard that circles the old town. It’s around 3 miles so you can walk or hop on a tram.

We used the underground, or U-bahn to get across the city as it’s quick and easy to use. I reckon it’s worth investing in a 24 hour transport pass which covers the bus, train, tram and U-bahn. Costs 8 Euros and as a single ticket costs 2 Euros 40 cents, you only need to make 4 trips to save money. Or you can also buy a 48 or 72 hour version.

Save on the sights

Unless you’re planning to stay forever, you’ll need to pick and choose your sights as you’ll have a hard job to see the lot in a few days.

One of my favourites is the State Hall in the Austrian National Library.

It houses over 200,000 books and the most beautifully decorated domed ceiling I’ve ever seen. Costs 8 Euros to get in, but I think it’s worth every cent.

The Palace of Justice is another impressive building just a short walk from Volkstheater underground stop.

It’s totally free to get in here, but it’s a place of work and not a ‘tourist attraction’, so you’ll need to go through security if you want a look inside. But do check the opening times as it’s not open at weekends.

The pound is going down faster against the Dollar and Euro than your first holiday beer so here’s five ways to boost the power of your holiday pound.

Pre-order currency

Planning pays off. Go online and pre-order your currency to bag better rates. I regularly use TravelMoneyMax.com from MoneySavingExpert.com to find the the best deals and then collect your cash or get it delivered to your door.

Ordering currency in advance usually always means a better deal than bowling up at a high street bank or travel agent to change your money. And leaving it last minute until the airport can mean some of the worst rates so why waste your holiday cash?

Have a whip round

The more money you exchange, the better the rate is the general rule.

Rates typically go up once you hit the £500 mark. So if you’re not planning to take this much yourself, pool your holiday cash with a friend, partner, neighbour, or whoever you’re going on holiday with, as this way you can all bag a better rate.

Pack the right plastic

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ with debit and credit cards. So that very same card you use on the high street may charge sky high rates if you produce it abroad.

Check charges with your bank or card company. Do this several weeks before you go so you’ve still got time to apply for a better value card.

The Santander Zero, Halifax Clarity and Tandem credit cards are among those that don’t add on fees for using cash machines abroad or charge more for spending. Plus there’s a bit of a bonus with the Tandem card as it pays 0.5% cashback on every £1 spent, both in the UK and abroad.

Go local

Always pay in the local currency. Lots of shops and restaurants will offer to switch the bill back to Sterling if you’re paying by card.

Can seem the easy option, but you’ll pay more this way as it’s the shop or restaurant that sets the rate, not your bank or card company.

Known as ‘Dynamic Currency Conversion’ this can bump up your bill by around 5% every time, so just say no.

Switch it back

Bringing home spare cash? Check if the place you bought it from offers a ‘buy back’ deal. This means you can swap your money back at the same rate.

Or trade with friends or family if they’re heading off to the same place.

Most places won’t take coins. Donate them to charity on board the flight home as most airlines have collections, or with some currencies you can change them in Coinstar machines in supermarkets. Not the best deal on the planet as you’ll lose 11.9% in commission but better than nothing.

Think there’s no such thing as a free lunch?   Think again!  Here’s my five easy ways to get a free meal.

Trade in Tesco points

Swap Tesco Clubcard points for three times their value to boost your spending power when eating out.

Go to the Tesco Clubcard website  where you can trade points for restaurant vouchers to use at places including Pizza Express, Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia and Zizzi.

Meerkat Meals

Buy any ‘qualifying’ product from Comparethemarket.com to get its Meerkat Meals deal.

Cheapest ‘qualifying’ product is a one night UK travel policy which you can pick up for under £2 so worth shelling out even if you don’t need the insurance as this way you get ‘2 for 1’ on starters, mains and desserts at restaurant chains including Frankie & Benny’s, Giraffe, Pizza Hut along with lots of independent ones.

Works from Sunday to Thursday and lasts a year.

Join the club

Sign up online with your favourite restaurant, cafe or bar and chances are you’ll get some lovely vouchers to slash the price of your meal.

I always do this if I’m going somewhere new and often get a voucher for a free glass of wine, G&T or even some bubbles with your meal and often a discount off the bill for your first visit.

Plan ahead

Bag a restaurant voucher from sites like MoneySavingExpert.com before you walk through the door.

Heaps of places including many chains like TGI Fridays, Pizza Express and Yo! Sushi seem to offer regular vouchers that you can download and show on your phone.

Grab a Tastecard

Tastecard is a restaurant discount card that means you get deals including 50% off or ‘2 for 1’ at over 6,000 places across the UK.

Usually costs £79.99 for the year, which is pretty pricey, but you can get it cheaper.  Right now  you can get 60 days for just £1 as part of a trial offer.   So you can pay £1, make use of the discounts for two months, and cancel it at the end.

 

Summer has finally arrived so why not make the most of it by packing a picnic and spend the evening at an open air cinema or theatre.   I’ve rounded up five of them and they’re all totally free!

Yes no need to scrabble around for vouchers or do a ‘buy one get one free’ to nab your free ticket, just bowl up, take your seat and enjoy the show!

Canalside film festival

Brindley Place in Birmingham has just kicked off its free annual film festival which runs till 21st July.  Films showing include Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins Returns, The Sound of Music and A Star is Born.

Just turn up, grab a deck chair, (or bring your own cushion), sit back and enjoy!

Shakespeare in the garden

Free open air theatre at The Dell in Avonbank Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon.

It’s the Royal Shakespeare Company’s outdoor theatre and every weekend through to September you can enjoy a mix of student, community and semi-professional productions.

Cinema on the green

The Greatest Showman, A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody are just some of the movies on screen at this free outdoor cinema event in Welwyn Garden City.

All part of Cinema On The Green which runs from 22nd – 24th August.   Totally free as it’s all funded by local businesses.

Riverside entertainment

If you’re in London then head for the Scoop on the Southbank.

This outdoor amphitheatre shows a mix of movies, theatre, music and events all summer as part of the ‘Summer By The River’ season.

Check the full rundown here

Open air movies in Milton Keynes

Friday and Saturday evenings are movie nights at the Fred Roche Gardens behind the city’s church in central Milton Keynes.

Movies start at 7pm with a line up including Bohemian Rhapsody, Grease and the new Dumbo movie.

I’m feeling just a little bit smug right now as I’ve achieved a ‘personal  best’ in Ikea  Yes my fastest time yet, just 10 minutes from entering the store to emerging plus purchase at the Milton Keynes store.   

As I was tight for time I’d already found the exact aisle I needed in the warehouse and nipped straight to this bit, whizzing in by the tills to short circuit the usual marathon maze!

So here’s my five tips on how to have a stress free and speedy trip to Ikea…..

Remember you have a car not a Tardis….

I can’t be the only one who’s fallen into this trap.  Seems whatever vehicle you drive, once you’re through the doors of Ikea, you just assume it’s suddenly got the inside of the Tardis and that anything and everything you buy will somehow miraculously fit in.

I’ve learnt the hard way over the years that you can’t shoe horn half of Ikea into a Mini or Corsa as no amount of muscle power or creative thinking will find a way to get everything in.  Plus you’ll end up back where you started and have to get a refund on all the stuff that won’t fit in!

Don’t go when it’s busy   

Even if you’re super organised and know what you want and where to find it, if the store’s busy, you’ll end up trailing along at a snail’s pace behind everyone else.  Plus overloaded trolleys are not the easiest things to manoeuvre at speed without causing anyone a serious injury!

If I can, I go mid morning on a weekday or just before closing can be good too, depending on which store you go to.

Check your item’s location

Ok so this won’t work if you’re after a browse round the Marketplace but if you know what you want, you can check it’s in stock before leaving home by going on the Ikea website, finding the item you want, and then clicking on the ‘Find it in -store’ button which tells you the precise aisle and location in the warehouse which all saves time when you’re there.

Take a short cut

If I’m just popping in to pick up something from the warehouse section, I nip in past the tills which is a great short cut as it takes you straight into the warehouse section.   This is a real time saver, and I’ve never spotted any signs to say you can’t do this, and I’ve never been stopped…..

Without this savvy shortcut, even you miss out the ‘showroom’ section, and head through the Marketplace, this can still take time, and of course there’s always the danger that you’ll suddenly realise you need yet another spatula, selection of storage boxes or industrial amount of tealights and candles and rack up a bigger bill with all those impulse buys……

Need a hand?  Ask a fellow shopper….

If you need help getting stuff into your car, you can ask at the till and they’ll ring through to ask someone to meet you at the ‘Assembly Point’.   All well and good but will they turn up, especially if they’re busy?

In Milton Keynes the Assembly Point is directly as you come out of the lifts on the ground floor.  But take it from me,  you can be waiting for help for a long time.

After waiting 10 minutes today for the promised help, I gave up and enlisted the help of a friendly fellow Ikea shopper who was loading up his own car just a few spaces from mine.  He was more than happy to help so job done!

Budget and Boutique aren’t two words you’d usually find together in hotel world.   In fact it’s more like ‘Cheap and Cheerful’ when you think of the likes of budget hotels but having recently discovered Point A  hotels, I’ve got to say they’re a breath of fresh air in the budget hotel market.

Right now there’s six of them in London, one in Glasgow and two more in the pipeline with Edinburgh Haymarket and Kensington Olympia due to open in July.

I checked out the one just minutes from Liverpool Street Station and could happily have stayed the night!

Rooms from £50

Rooms at Point A start from £50, and £75 at the newly revamped Liverpool Street location.

Had a tour of the room and there’s lots of thoughtful touches, like a safe in the room, mood lighting, plug sockets under the mirror, (which makes life easy if you want to dry your hair and actually look in the mirror at the same time, which isn’t something lots of hotels think about!), and there’s even a hidden secret garden for summer nights.

Ok so on the downside, there’s no kettle in the room, and no bar to get a drink, though you can pay for a  cold buffet breakfast and buy drinks from the well stocked fridge at reception.

Join the A-List

All guests get to be ‘A-List’ members when they sign up online.  This is free and means you get 10% off your booking plus a whole heap of discounts in the local area which have been negotiated by the Point A team.

So if you’re staying at Liverpool Street, the offers include a free bottle of wine at the local Carluccio’s, 15% of drinks at the local Ten Bells pub, free use of the DW Fitness First gym.   And there’s a 10% off deal at Blow Dry Express just round the corner.  Had the dream team of Andrea and Natalie doing my hair and they were great so well worth it for a night out, plus you can get 50% off simply by popping in ‘off peak’ during quieter times.

Teccy stuff

Ok so I know we all have different things we look for in a room.  Got to be honest  here, my husband rates a room on the size of the telly, so with a 43 inch Samsung Smart TV in all the rooms you  know you’re not going to be stuck squinting at a tiny telly stuck somewhere in the corner.  Oh and there’s free Wi-Fi in all the rooms too.   Is it time to unpack yet?

 

I’m a huge fan of eBay and over the years I’ve picked up a wonderful wardrobe of bargains.  Reckon my best one, (if we’re talking value for money), has to be a lovely black and white Coast halter neck dress that I bought as a ‘worn once’ on eBay for just a tenner.

Wore it to a New Year party, followed by the Brit Awards, (yes was a very lucky girl that year!), dusted if off again for an awards bash and then sold it back on eBay for £25, so I even turned a profit!

Another of my favourites are these fabulous shoes from Dune which were brand new and boxed and I picked them up for under £20 whereas Dune shoes are usually around £50 plus.

Not only can eBay be a little goldmine when it comes to picking up clothes and shoes at a snip, don’t forget you’re doing your bit for the environment too with a spot of recycling!

So here’s my top tips on how to hunt down some bargains!

Be size savvy

I only ever buy brands where I know my size inside out.  This way there’s less chance I’ll buy something that’s too big or small and waste my money.

Damage limitation

I go for brand new or ‘worn once’ items as this way there’s less chance of finding a snag, pull or scuff.

While I’ve always found sellers are very honest about any faults, can be easy to overlook a tiny snag, so unless something’s advertised as ‘brand new’ I usually always mail the seller and ask if there’s any ‘snags, rips or pulls’.

Means they’ll usually give the item a second check and if they say no, means you know you can return it for a full refund if it arrives in less than perfect condition.

Jack the jeans

Personally I never buy jeans on eBay even if they’re brand new.

My theory being, even when you know the size, style and cut you like, designs change and I find it tough enough finding the perfect pair of jeans on the high street when you can try on hundreds of pairs, let alone when you’ve narrowed down your choice to a couple on eBay!

Buy doubles

If you spot another version of your absolute favourite dress, top or whatever on there in your size, snap it up! 

Wear & recycle

I often buy, wear and sell items back again especially when it comes to telly clothes, aka this little red flower number I’m wearing on the right on Sky News.

And even if I don’t make a profit, chances are I can still end up with a dress that’s come in at a very cheap ‘cost per wear’ rate.

The golden rule of course is be honest.  If you buy something that’s worn once, you wear it a couple of times and flog it back, just say ‘worn just a few times’ and be honest with the state it’s in.

 

I’ve just got back from a trip to New York.  I absolutely love the place and it was my fifth trip to the Big Apple.  You can very easily spend a fortune in the city that never sleeps, but I’ve come up with some travel swaps and tricks so you can see the sights and save money.

Statue of Liberty

You can take a trip to Liberty Island for a close up view and if you book far enough in advance, get a ticket for the climb to the Crown.  

Tickets cost from $18.50 for the ferry trip, pedestal access and the new museum, (which opened on 16th May), along with Ellis Island for the Immigration Museum.

Or it’s $21.50 if you want to add in the climb to the Crown.  I booked our Crown tickets four months in advance and we got the first boat of the day at 8.30am, to avoid the crowds, which paid off as we were the first people to reach the Crown.

Savvy free tip…..

If you’re booking tickets do book through Statue Cruises as they’re the only official and authorised ticket company for trips to the Statue of Liberty.

Or for a free view of Lady Liberty jump on the Staten Island Ferry which runs 24/7.  It’s near Whitehall and South Ferry subway, totally free, and takes around 25 minutes.  Once you’re on, head for the top deck and stand on the right as  you leave Manhattan for the best shots.  Then just hop off the other end and come straight back.

Skyline views

You can head for the top of the Empire State Building for an amazing view of the city, but I prefer the Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Centre, which is where I took the snap below.  Tickets are  cheaper, it’s less crowded and this way you get the iconic Empire State Building in your shots. 

Savvy free tip…..

Or for a free view, you can book free tickets to climb The Vessel  It’s New York’s newest landmark at Hudson Yards.

Not for the faint hearted as it’s nearly one mile of vertical climbing with 154 interconnecting flights of stairs, 2,500 steps and 80 landings, but the pay off is  some great views over the Hudson River.

Cheap harbour cruises

The Circle Line Cruise will take you all the way round Manhattan but set you back $44.

Savvy moneysaving tip……

For a  cheaper option, hop on the New York Ferry Service  A ticket costs $2.75, just over £2, with routes including the East River trip from 34th Street that makes several stops in Brooklyn including a stop right by the Brooklyn Bridge before heading for Pier 11 & Wall Street.

Or go for the ‘Soundview’ route, where you can jump on at East 90th Street and take the ferry all the way down the East Side of Manhattan to Pier 11.  Ok so  you won’t get a commentary but it’s much cheaper and far less touristy.

Broadway shows

A ticket to a Broadway show can easily cost you well over £100 but you can bag ‘on the day’ tickets with big reductions from the TKTS booths in both Times Square and South Street Seaport.

Savvy moneysaving tip…..

We went for the South Street Seaport one, as it opens at 11am, that’s around 4 hours earlier than the one in Times Square, and we found much shorter queues there.  Plus you can book matinee tickets a day ahead here which is an added bonus.   Our tickets for Beetlejuice cost $88 each, which was exactly half price and we were just 7 rows back in the stalls.

But for what’s probably the cheapest ticket in town, head for Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway.  For the price of a bagel you can sit back and watch the show as the waiting staff sing, dance & perform showstopping numbers from all the big musicals to entertain you.  Hugely popular and has big queues from lunchtime onwards, so we got there at 8am for breakfast.  Of if the line’s too long, try Gayle’s Broadway Rose  which has just opened up on 8th Avenue with entertainment while you eat.  Didn’t get a chance to go there but it’s had great reviews.

Snap up a Subway ticket

I’ve always used the Subway as I reckon it’s the easiest way to get around and see as much as you can plus it’s much kinder on your feet!

Savvy tip…..

A single ticket is $2.75 however far you go, but if you’re sticking around for a few days then an ‘unlimited’ card at $33 is the best deal.   As a rough guide you break even once you rack up 11 subway trips and we managed 20 in just five days.

 

Ever found hiring a car on holiday can seem more like playing the lottery?

All too often it can seem nothing more than a game of  ‘pay your money and take your chance’.  And no I’m not harking back to the chap I once hired a car from in Malaysia many years ago who told me ‘you drive careful’ when I asked about the insurance deal……..

Since my Malaysian experience, (and luckily both the car and I made it back in one piece), I’ve hired cars in heaps of places around the world.  Driving through the backstreets of Marrakech was certainly an experience……..but when it comes to the good guys of the car hire world, I’ve never found anyone who can even come close to Dimitris Rent A Car  which is based in Kefalos on the Greek island of Kos.     

Sadly the world of car hire isn’t always as good as Dimitris and his family, and yes that’s a shot of one of his cars that we hired our last trip.   All too often it seems it’s the big players in the world of car hire who can be the hardest to play ball with, especially if things go wrong.

The big car hire companies including Hertz, Europcar and Sixt have been told to clean up their act after the CMA, (Competition & Markets Authority), took five of them to task when they were told to be clearer about their pricing and charges.

So before you grab the keys and jump in your hire car, here’s my top five tips to save you a bumpy and costly ride.

Check the paperwork

Ok so a trawl through the small print isn’t the most fun thing on the planet especially when you’ve just arrived and want to head for the beach, but a few minutes reading can save you a whole heap of cash in the long run.

Beat the insurance ‘hard sell’

If you’re collecting your car from the airport, chances are you’ll be given the hard sell on extra insurance.

‘Excess waiver’ is usually the one most companies try and flog and it’s not cheap at around £20 a day.  Saves forking out the ‘excess’ if you have a prang, (which with some hire car companies can be as much as £1,000 even for the smallest scrape), so I always buy this before I go.

Buy before you go and you’ll pay around £2.99 a day, rather than the £20 airport deal, and you can shop around for the best deal through TravelSupermarket

Turn your car into a movie star

You should be shown round the car and get the chance to point out any damage, but let’s face it, you may not spot every last tiny nick and scratch on the spot.

So whip out your phone and take a quick video round the car as proof of the condition it’s in before driving away.

The fuel factor

Some companies like to bill you for a full tank, which can come with a hefty surcharge, so check the fuel deal as it can be a deciding factor in who you book with.

I go with the ones where you’re just asked to bring it back with the same level in the tank.

The drop off deal

Take the car back on time.   If you’re late, you could be billed for another 24 hours.

And make sure you know exactly where to park, as if it’s out of hours, there may be nobody around to ask.  I once got billed an extra five Euros in Gran Canaria after parking in the ‘wrong’ space at the airport when we dropped the car off at 5am and couldn’t find the ‘right’ parking spot!

 

 

I’ve just got back from a trip to Malta, a place that’s literally bursting at the seams with a rich mix of history, culture and sights.

This small archipelago of islands sits between Sicily and North Africa and at times I did feel like I’d stumbled on to a film set as there’s a definite Mediterranean facade combined with backstreets reminiscent of Cairo and Marrakech.

Here’s a quick run down of 5 things to do without breaking the bank along with some of my snaps.

Take to the water

We were staying at an Airbnb in Gzira, and yes the shot below really was the view from our balcony! 

It was a great location as we were just ten minutes walk from Sliema, which is the jumping off point if you want to get a ferry to the Valletta, which is the capital city.

You can of course catch the bus to Valletta but taking to the water means great views plus it’s only 2 Euros 80 return with boats every half an hour and late night crossings during the summer season from June.

Explore the backstreets of Valletta

It’s one of Europe’s smallest capital cities and while you’d be hard pushed to get really lost, do nip down the side streets and take some of the back routes, (though be prepared for plenty of steps!), for a taste of the real Valletta

Loved Caffe Cordina on Republic Street which has been a family run business since 1837 and housed in an old Palazzo.   Step inside and it feels like you’ve gone back in time, and from the look of the place you think it might be expensive but, it’s speedy table service and an apple cake and latte only set me back around  £5.

Hop on a bus

The buses on Malta are no longer the brightly coloured ones you used to see, so unless you spot a tourist version running a tour, don’t be disappointed if they look very similar to your average bus.

But it’s a super efficient service and cheap!  Costs just 1 Euro 50 however far you go, even if you change buses, plus you can use your ticket for up to 2 hours.

So you could always go for a short hop along to coast to explore some other bays, enjoy a glass of wine and get back from around £1.

Fares do go up slightly during Summer, (from June), to 2 Euros.

Don’t leave without seeing Mdina

This walled city was the capital of Malta until 1530 and if you’re a Game of Thrones fan you’ll recognise the main gateway into the city.

Known as the ‘silent city’ it now houses around 200 residents with tiny restaurants tucked away down tiny side streets.

You can get some amazing views across the island from the top of the city walls and it’s totally free to go in and wander round.  And buses stop just five minutes away.

Lots of people see Mdina and head off but make the time to wander to Rabat where you can go into St Paul’s Catacombs for under £5.  However we’re talking trainers for this trip and do watch out as some of the railings down into the catacombs are rather wobbly and the lights go out from time to time so take a torch!

Pick up some Pastizzi

As a cheese lover I could happily have eaten these pastries every day of the week and did manage to do so most days for breakfast!

Pastizzi are a Malta speciality and a yummy snack of puff pastry filled with goats cheese.  Plus they’re super cheap too at under a Euro from most bakeries or street stalls.

 

 

 

 

I love Tapas and even the thought of sitting at an outdoor cafe with a cheeky glass of wine with a few plates of Tapas brings back holiday memories.  Found a lovely little Tapas bar in Malta last week that was tucked away down a side street.  So I thought I’d round up a few of the Tapas deals back home.

Tapas Tuesdays

Lounge bars are great places to go.  I discovered one in Devon and been in a couple of others since.  As it says on the tin, think ‘lounging’, so squishy sofas, chill time, eclectic decoration and great food and drink with no rush to leave.

Every Tuesday from 5pm you can bowl up at your local Lounge and get three Tapas dishes with a glass of wine thrown in for £10.50.  Usual price is £3.95 a dish and a glass of wine costs around a fiver so this deal saves you over £6 a time.

Fourteen dishes on the menu including Salt & Pepper Squid, Patatas Bravas and Halloumi and Sweetcorn Fritters with Chilli Jam.

Free bottle of wine with Tapas

Another ‘Tapas Tuesday’ deal here, this time from All Bar One who will give you a  free bottle of house wine, (worth up to £17.95), when you buy any four small Tapas plates from 4pm.

12 dishes to choose from with prices between £5-£6 a time and 56 bars around the country.

20% off Tapas

Download the loyalty app or get a loyalty card at La Tasca and you’ll get 20% off Tapas.

Prices start from under £5 a dish up to around £7 and there’s a big choice on the menu.

Tesco Tapas deals

How about take out Tapas?  Pop along to Tesco as it regularly does a Tapas offer where you can snap up 3 dishes for £6.  Usual price is  £2.50 a dish so that’s a saving of £1.50.

My favourites are the mini sweet and spicy vine leaves and the mushroom arancini but plenty of choice with around 30 dishes to choose from.