Thanks to Trevor Stuart-Dent, a member of the Travel at 60 Travel Lovers group, for these great travel tips:
1. “If you’re on a budget, by limiting your travels mostly to developing countries in Southeast Asia (and choosing your European destinations carefully), you can live like a prince at a pauper-friendly rate.”
2. “Look into renting a unit rather than staying in a hotel. Generally you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for a whole week – with Wi-Fi, electricity, gas etc all included – for less than a hotel room costs for just two or three days. There are two other benefits that I have found in renting an apartment: Firstly you can avoid expensive restaurants as you’ll have a kitchen in which to prepare your meals, and secondly you’ll meet locals more easily.”
3. “Learn about 20 words/phrases in the local language. I have found that once the locals see you’re trying to talk their language they become far more helpful. In fact, I have learnt more Thai, Behasa and Spanish from talking to the locals than I could have imagined. Download a language app onto your phone and every time you see a sign, type the word in and get the translation – you’ll pick things up much more quickly this way.”
About Trevor
Trevor Stuart-Dent is “almost a septuagenarian” who lived and worked on the Northern Beaches of Sydney for 24 years after emigrating to Australia in 1980. He grew up in South Africa and was bitten by the travel bug after living in the USA and Canada in the 70s. Trevor’s done lots of travelling in South Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, India, Nepal and “my beautiful adopted country of Australia”. He’s also been on 12 cruises through the South Pacific! He retired at the end of 2015 and spent the next couple of years living in Thailand and Bali and seeing lots of Asia. Right now he’s spending two months in Spain – mostly in Valencia, with visits to Seville, Barcelona, Madrid and the Tomatina festival all booked! Then it’s off to visit his daughter and family in Delft in the Netherlands, followed by the Greek Islands, Sydney and Kata Noi in Thailand. That takes him up to Christmas. Phew! Next year will be a ‘quiet’ one – 12 months in Seminyak, with side trips to Vietnam and Cambodia. “None of my travels would have been any fun without my soulmate, Julienne,” says Trevor.
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