Holiday accommodation is getting more and more expensive every year, a couple of decades ago, it used to be the plane flight and travel costs which made up the significant party of a holiday price, now we are seeing this situation reversed as hotel and resort prices rise. When we factor in the price of food, most of which you will either be purchasing in restaurants or cafes, then it becomes easy to see why the price of the average holiday is now so high.

Luckily, new options usually open up to facilitate budget travel as older options become more expensive. The current trend of short term apartment rental is a great example of this. We can logically see how a short term rental can reduce the overall cost of a vacation, you will have access to a fully equipped kitchen so you will be able to save some money by eating at home when you feel like it. Simple things that can really add up such as making a cup of coffee instead of purchasing it from a hotel cafe, can represent a major saving and leave you more spending money to enjoy your holiday. There are some other great benefits of taking up a short term apartment rental for use as holiday accommodation, not just cost benefits, but comfort and convenience benefits as well.

Consider the fact that you will have a home away from home, somewhere that is comfortable, secure and private. You are free to relax in the knowledge that you are completely in control of your accommodation. No cleaning maids will be knocking on the door, you won’t have to share access through a communal lobby, you won’t need to hang up a do not disturb sign if you want to sleep in.

Also consider the fact that many available apartments are situated in central areas, whilst budget hotels tend to be built on the edges of major holiday areas, you will save on transport costs and save time by being right in the centre of the action.

It is possible to find short term budget rentals in almost every major city around the globe. Next time you are planning  budget travel tip, why not spend some time investigating this option?

I remember travelling around Israel a couple of decades ago, I had a really tight budget as I was trying to extend my stay as long as I could, I discovered quite quickly that the cheapest and tastiest food available was the simple Falafel I was travelling with a friend at the time, and we made quite a game out of searching for the perfect one shekel falafel (which we found within the old city of Jerusalem eventually). Falafel can be considered a localised form of fast food, and ever since this revelation, I have always tried to locate similar types of food in every country I visit. Food like the falafel is cheap, nutritious, and quick to prepare, and can form the basis of a staple diet. For real budget travellers, this kind of food can reduce travel costs considerably. It seems every country or nation has some form of food that the local population treat as a form of fast food. During my time in Portugal I discovered the incredible things that can be done with the humble sardine, very tasty and cheap.

Currently I am residing in Thailand, and I am really spoiled for choice here, so much so that it is quite difficult to highlight a single food to think of as the local fast food. If I had to choose, I think it would have to be Kwai Tiew (noodle soup), which is available everywhere from street stalls and small Thai kitchens. It comes in a variety types, and can contain chicken, pork or simply vegetables. The dish is served straight from a cooking vat and you then add chili, sugar and vinegar to your own taste. The greatest challenge is eating the soup with chopsticks in your right hand and a spoon in your left, quite difficult until you get used to it, It is a cheap and tasty dish, excellent for breakfast or lunch.

I am going to be tracking down local dishes such as Falafel and Kwai Tiew for as many countries I can over the next few weeks, and I will present my findings here. If you have travelled to a country, and have already identified the local style of fast food, please leave a comment below, and I will research the food you recommend and post a blog article about it.