SMALL-TOWN GIRLS, MIDNIGHT TRAINS

— travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams —

travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams

Whale Watching in Sydney, Australia (May to November)

Whale breaching | Whale watching in Sydney | Photo by Lei Solera

♥ ♥ Sydney, Australia is one of the best places in the world to spot whales because of its position along the migration path of the Group 5 Southern Hemisphere humpback whale population. These magnificent marine mammals can be spotted from land with a bit of luck and persistence but we wanted to make sure — it’s […]

How Our Family Saved Over PHP20,000 in Dining Expenses in Sydney

The one thing that surprisingly made the most difference to our food budget: our choice of hostel (The Pod Sydney). – – If you read my previous post How to Have a One-Week Holiday in Sydney, Australia for PHP 50,000, you’ll know we budgeted 15 AUD per person per meal for our one-week family trip […]

Sydney Basics: How to Get to Your Hotel from the Airport

Bus, train, taxi, shuttle — what you need to know about your options for transportation from the airport, particularly if you’re in a group. – . In Sydney, commuters use an Opal card, which is a card that you tap in for entry to public transport such as trains, buses, and ferries. You will need […]

Best Sydney Hostel for Families: The Pod Sydney

♥ ♥ Just got back from Sydney! This trip was special for a lot of reasons: it was only H’s second trip outside the Philippines, his and my mom’s first trip outside Southeast Asia, and it was my parents’ first ever hostel experience in their 60+ years on earth. I was worried they might find it […]

How to Have a 1-week Holiday in Sydney, Australia for PHP 50,000

1 week in Sydney budget for PHP 50,000

My first impression of Australia — Sydney in particular — was that it was inexplicably expensive. I was planning a weeklong trip for a family of 5 and it didn’t take long for the travel budget to reach six figures (in Philippine pesos). Sydney, for some reason I couldn’t fathom, seemed more expensive than Paris […]

10 Best Cheap Accommodations in Sydney

♥ ♥ For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing research for a trip to Sydney, Australia and I’ve come to one conclusion: it’s expensive! My nieces’ school choir is participating in an event in Sydney from July 5-16 and in particular I’ve been looking for accommodations that are central, well-reviewed, and at the same […]