Budget Travel with Kids

After long years of yearning and planning, we finally made it. Our family  will be going on our first trip abroad-Hong Kong.

Why Hong Kong?

First of, travel to HK doesn't require us to have visa.

Second, since we have kids, our primary concern is their enjoyment. As we all know, Hong kong boasts of attractions that will satisfy every child and even the child within us..

What to consider when traveling abroad?

1. Where to go?

2. When to go?

3. Budget

 Prior to travel, we bought books and travel guides and we also searched the net for blogs and reviews regarding Hong kong. 

- which airline

-weather

-best time to go

-attractions

-culture

-precautions for tourists

-dos and donts

-food

-accommodation

-how much to bring

-do it yourself or packaged tour 

Basically, we just want to know what to expect so we'll be prepared.

When we thought we are equipped with the right knowledge on those things, we then decided when to go.

We opted to go on a November trip since it's also vacation time for the kids.

And accordingly, the weather is tolerable. Next we decided to do the trip by ourselves.(choosing the airline, accommodation and planning the tour on our own without getting help from any agency)

We also checked the promos offered by airlines and we're just lucky that we fall on a promo period.(7 weeks before travel period) Be on the look out for promos,  in  our case,  Philippine Airlines had the best deal. ( we got ours for only 10k roundtrip, and for the kids 9k+ since we applied for the Reduced Travel Tax from the Philippine Tourism Authority located at Terminal 2 NAIA. So if you'll be traveling with kids not older than 12 years old, ask the airline of your choice on their policy regarding travel tax. As per PAl, you need to apply it first so the discount will be reflected on your ticket price. The discount by the way is 50% off the regular travel tax which is PhP 1620, so PhP 810 will be ripped off your travel tax. That itself is a deal you shouldn't miss.

Now that we have our tickets ready, next step is to determine the budget.

First we established which area in Hong Kong we will be staying, secondary to that is whether we'll book in a hotel or a guesthouse ( which by the way is much cheaper but consider the risks.)

Our guesthouse's street

We preferred to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui (shim sha shway)because of its accessibility to almost everything. from the mtr (subway) station, to the stores and other essentials. (check the map, it also showed us the tourist attractions within the proximity of our location.) Instead of the usual and expensive hotel, we booked in a guesthouse as it is much cheaper (HK$ 500.00/night) and we won't be staying there the whole day anyway. The guesthouse, Monica Motel, is owned by a Chinese-Korean couple, governed by a Filipina, (Ate Fe). Strategically located in Cameron Road, in an old building which has a very narrow lift and no hallway. Their guesthouse is similar to our bedspace/room for rent. You literally enter the house of the owner and in it you'll see doors leading to the rooms for rent which are very small..do not be deceived by the photos posted in the guesthouses' website..( they just know how to enlarge or at least make the rooms look larger..)

The room that we got has a double deck bed (the lower deck's size is equivalent to our "double sized bed", the upper is single.)a bathroom with heater, aircon and windows facing the busy street of Cameron Road.

Since we already established the location, accommodation and budget, we then searched the Internet and the books we acquired for the tourist destinations that we shouldn't miss. Hong kong has a lot of destinations that are highly recommended for tourists. We based our daily itinerary on the map so we can maximize our time for each place and also to avoid the inconvenience as we have children in tow. It is highly advisable to prepare an itinerary so you can enjoy more of Hong Kong's sights. Hong kong may be small but travel to and from each destination can be tiring and it entails great deal of walking. While it is more fun to be spontaneous, it doesn't apply for tourists with kids like us.

Following the planning is the packing. How to pack (based on the international regulations-visit Hong Kong International Airport's website-- restricted items and the like.) consider the weather as well, you wouldn't want to be hypothermic with your sleeveless and shorts. Being first timers, we opted to stay safe. We packed lightly as possible considering we are 6 and we will be away from home for 6 days. We used one luggage, but we were able to squeeze in everything we need for the entire trip. (keep a checklist so you won't miss anything.)   

We bought vacuum sealed plastics for our clothes so we can fit all our essentials in one luggage. (smart bags are available at all Lock and Lock outlets, Ace Hardware and department stores, they come in varying sizes to suit your needs. Ours is medium sized(box is color blue, price is at 399.75)  we were successful enough and we saved ourselves from being charged for excesses.

Since all the essentials has been set,The only thing we need to work out is the conversion of our money to Hong Hong's. We reserved Hong Kong dollars from our reliable "suki" HK$5.85= (buying rate is higher than selling)

We had our money changed a week before, but had it reserved more than two weeks in advance as we were informed of the difficulties to secure Hong Kong dollars here in the Philippines. 

Now that we have everything in place, comes the waiting period.

  

Waiting is another part of the story and needless to say, the more we wait the longer the days seemed to be. Endless checking and re checking has been done. Very important, by the way, is to furnish photocopies of your travel documents:passports, etickets, ids, bank certificates-not really necessary to get one..as I've said, we were just being safe. It is required to bring proper identification at all times so better be prepared.

Don't forget to include in your checklist: your house, who will look after it while you're gone...and so forth. In our case, we don't have a maid so it's much easier as we have no one to worry about while we're gone, we only secured our valuables inside our house and we also entrusted our 2 shi tzu and 1 chihuahua to our relative. As ive said, it doesn't hurt to make a checklist, what seemed to be simple and plain could be the first forgotten so be wary. From the water valve, electric fuse, windows and the like..(that is if there is no one left in your house) but nevertheless, don't forget the reminders to those who will be staying behind. (you wouldn't want to come home to an empty house after your enjoyment, right?)

It helps to bring out your being OC sometimes, at least in this kind of scenarios. Check and recheck and recheck. Remember, you'll be out of the country and all you can rely on is your SELF and family of course (if you're traveling with them) use  a durable bag where you can put all your essentials-IDs, passports,tickets,money..etc. Very important--if you have a backpack that you can use, much better. But be vigilant, of course.you never know when the evil minds will strike. And most important of all, bring reliable shoes that can go a long way .. As much as possible, avoid flipflops, tight and heeled shoes. Swollen feet will only spoil your day. 

Wear whatever you want but I advise you to bring sweaters or anything that will keep you warm. (again, check the weather advisories on your preferred month of visit) 

The last week of waiting has passed, re-checking has been done for the nth time..(no harm done) baggages-(clothes, jackets, towels, undergarments, socks, hankies and toiletries

Gadgets- laptop and card reader for fast uploading of pictures to the net,cameras,memory cards, tripod, cellphones, iPads, iPods and their respective chargers.

House locks rechecked, and so forth.

A day before the trip, recheck your bags. If possible, put a padlock in your check-in baggages for security purposes but keep the keys handy in case of inspection.

Check your hand-carry bags. Does it have all you need for the trip? Passports, ids, tickets, cards, etc? By the way, you still need peso so keep some in your wallet- for terminal fees in the airport and food while waiting before you depart as well as for your arrival in Manila. Have a good night sleep and don't forget to set your alarm clocks.

On the big day, we woke up really early. Again, we rechecked our things. Had our house secured, from windows to all the valves and switches.

Our flight is 10 am but we opted to be in the airport at least 2 hours before, to avoid the hassle of traffic and checking in.  At the airport, we did early check in, (keep the claim tag for your baggages, boarding pass and passports) after  which we filled up the departure card (counter is beside the terminal fee payment booth) then proceeded to pay for the terminal fee (php750.00-just present your boarding pass and passport ( travel tax is included in our ticket so we skipped that stage, ask your airline provider about travel tax so you'll know the necessary procedures you need to follow. ) after the payment, we lined up for the immigration. (remove your caps, sunglasses so you can properly present yourself to the officer. They didn't ask us anything, contrary to what I read in blogs. After our passports has been stamped, we moved to another security check counter, with scanning machines and all. Kids need not remove their shoes, but adults should.  After all the security inspection and scanning, we are now free to relax and eat at the departure waiting area. It is best to go to the gate indicated in your boarding pass.if you have extra money, don't starve yourself. The food in the plane isn't good, but will ease your hunger pang. (I was told Cebu Pacific doesn't offer anything)For health purposes, bring with you some chewing gums, and please chew it while on flight. That will keep the pressure off your ears. The pressure can lead to temporary deafness, there could be pain and it can be annoyingly irritating.

NAIA waiting area

When it was time to board, we followed the instructions for boarding. (those with kids and elderly are given priority) inside the plane, everything you do should be based on common sense and being obedient to rules set by the airline.        

Arrival Cards

During the course of the flight, attendants will be distributing arrival cards, fill them up while you are in the plane. You may not have the time to do so when you land. Queue in Immigration in Hong Kong is too long (being a tourist destination). Before the plane lands, there will be an  announcement as to where you can claim your baggages so pay really close attention. 

Then have your pictures taken just as we did.

Once you get off the plane, get yourself together and expect long walks. Head to the immigration counter,  officers in Hong Kong look intimidating but nothing to worry, after they stamp your passports, they  will smile so just be patient and polite. At the back of the immigration is the baggage claiming area, go to your respective area as  per announcement, get your baggages and go to the Nothing to declare/something to declare door. Upon exit, there's a branch of Travelex where you can change your money. But then again, I highly recommend that you have your money changed here because the rates in Hong Kong is poor. It was 15PhP per HK$1 there when we went. So you won't get much, unlike if you had it changed here in the Philippines but as ive said earlier,give your money changer time to gather the amount you need as HK$ may be a little scarce compared to US dollar.

The  formula to use when buying is you divide your money by the current exchange rate. Example: PhP15,000/5.85(rate that time)=HK$2564.00, so you can just imagine if the rate is higher,the lower your cash will be. Be wise. 

Before leaving the airport, we purchased octopus cards ( very convenient all around card) can be used to buy things in almost all stores, pay fare in buses and subways. We got 1 for each of us. Kids' and adults' cards are different, kids' card automatically discounts fares in buses and trains. Regular fare is charged for adult octopus cards.

In the bus

Transportation in Hong Kong is vast. From the airport, we could have taken the airport express(subway) for lesser travel time but we opted to take a bus so we can see Hong Kong's sights.

When we got to the bus stop, I called the contact person of the guesthouse and asked her to pick us up. With our luggage and kids in tow, we strolled along the very busy and crowded street of Cameron Road. When we got to the guesthouse, we were a little disappointed as we didn't expect it to be the way it was. Maybe, we expected too much. Space in  Hong Kong is synonymous to our average sized bathrooms. Very small and compact. The guesthouses' landlord isn't so inviting as well. He's lounged in his couch watching tv everyday. Well, speaking of security, why bother him?

The room that we got has a big window facing the street so it was just okay, considering the ventilation it provides as well as the sights.

Entrance to our guesthouse

It was our first day and we don't want to waste any minute so we just lodged our things and went out. The weather was very bright and cold. It was a good thing we checked the forecast. Our first stop was the subway, not to ride but to walk. It is the easiest route to the Avenue of Stars, it was so convenient for people with children since we don't have to cross streets. The subways have signages that are written both in Chinese and English so it's not hard to find the directions where to go.

bilingual signage

Machine for tickets

   

Subway alley

For the record, We had our first food at 711(it's practically everywhere..whichever direction you set your eyes, there's surely a 711. They do not practice bag-packing your merchandise, (you have to ask for it, otherwise they 'll just go on with their thing unmindful of the inconvenience you have carrying your stuff wih your hands. We also bought HK sim card for our phones. it was HK$65.00 and it has minimum load of HK$20, I guess. Not really necessary but we decided to buy for emergency purposes. 

We got to the Avenue of Stars, a very long stretch that would entail great deal of stamina for walking, posing and taking photos.

In case you'll be needing restroom breaks, there are only a few restrooms along the stretch so plan it if you can. Surprisingly, their public restrooms are clean, airconditioned and toilet paper is provided.

Since it was still early for the symphony of lights,(exhibition starts at 8) we strolled a little more and got into the Harbor City. The mall is big and organized. You'll find all the kids' stuff on the lower ground, KFC  is also there. 

Harbor City

Anyway, during the entire vacation, we were able to have a taste of both internationally known but locally served fast-food and was able to differentiate. For example, with KFC, instead of rice they have corn and the packaging is different. They also serve chicken a la king there and chicken comes in varying portions. Gravy is not free, so if you're a gravy person, you have to shell out HK$5.00 for a regular sized not tasteful gravy.Tissue is also an issue. It isn't automatic for counterpersons to provide tissues on trays. Everything is either to be paid or asked.

Mcdonald's doesn't serve spaghetti, it's just burgers and fries, nuggets and drinks. Orange juice doesn't taste like one and also they do not encourage the use of drinking straws but they have it on the counters. To differentiate our culture to theirs, we noticed that they have middle aged to elderly as counter persons in their fastfoods, 711 and the like. the young ones are the ones you'll see dressed in coat and tie.

Rush hour at MTR

Going back to Harbor City, there you'll see ordinary people all dressed and made up to a party(it's their nature) what we've also noticed is the over use of blacks, earth and calm colors in their fashion.

After our dinner at KFC, we went back to the Avenue of Stars and we're able to get a nice spot on the second deck. The view is spectacular, the flashing lights, colors and sounds made our evening extraordinarily special. We wrapped up our evening strolling along the stretch back to our hostel. We grabbed a few goodies along the way. Our first day was very tiring and yet no one complained. 

To Take Note on:

1. How many stars there are in the whole stretch

2. How long is the whole show

3. How many restrooms...(just kidding!)

We set the trip to Disneyland on our 2nd day. Thankfully,the weather was well. As usual, we took the subway and damn it was overwhelmingly exciting for first timers like us. The ride was smooth.  The train is extremely clean and it would be a shame to make a mess. By the way, eating and drinking are prohibited. If you really are starving, don't board yet. There are numerous food stalls and 711 on the subway alleys. 

We didn't use our octopus cards yet, we purchased our tickets at the machines..very exciting.

We boarded on the TST station,  got off at LAI KING , took the other train going to SUNNY BAY then boarded the exclusive Disney train.

Disneyland 's facade is very inviting, we took all 
the pictures we can.

Entrance that time is HK$250 per child and HK$350 per adult. Not so much of the amusement park we're used to, there are not much to ride but the sights are more than enough and well the feeling is something else. Again, this trip entails walking. Be entertained by the maintenance guys (Filipinos) who perform outstanding music ensemble using their cleaning gadgets. It'll make you proud to be Filipinos, considering you are in another country.

Filipino performers

Food stalls

Food and drinks are not allowed inside. Food stalls are everywhere, and believe me, I bet you'll consume more than 2 bottles of water during the entire walk especially on a sunny day. So, if you have water bottles, better fill them up before going to save you at least.

We had our lunch at the food court, the servings are good enough for two, and read:no take outs (they have no containers for left over food for take out)

So get only what you can consume right away. Unlucky for us we got 2 extra untouched plates, we asked the manager on duty, who is very accommodating to let us take the food with us. He explained that they do not usually practice such because it'll will compromise food quality but still he gave us Mickey plates for free. Lucky for us.

If you are planning to buy Disney items, look for the stalls outside the gift shops, they offer great bargains. we got keychains at 3 for HK$100, original price is at HK$50 each depending on the size and design. 

Disneyland offers a variety of shows and attractions, unfortunately when we got there, the usual parade is on a break since they had a Halloween party  nights before. I didn't read it anywhere. Don't miss out on the Mickey magic show, the 3d is magnificently real...(forgive my excitement).. If you want to take pictures with Disney characters, you have to line up and wait for your turn. well, the impatient us   are lucky enough that we bump into each and every character before they go to their spot for photo ops. So instead of being in a queue, we take stolen shots of the characters with us on the background.

Tarzan, and the cruise is also worth going, with all the special effects, add to it the "scripted ad lib" (huh?) of the tour guide. 

Overall experience in Disneyland is like being a kid again. You would want to just stay there.

We got home just after the fireworks and before the park closes, rode the same train with the same enthusiastic smiles..got off at SUNNY BAY, took the train to LAI KING, then to TST. Tired as we are, we opted for a ramen dinner at the hostel.

We were so tired can't even remember how many dreams I had that night.

To watch out for:

1. HIDDEN MICKEYS are everywhere, try to spot as many as you can.

3rd day's itinerary was at the Victoria Peak and the Madam Tussads Wax Museum.

The rail from behind

We wasted a little time looking for the right subway station, going back and forth asking directions to locals who cannot understand..in short, we got lost. We left the hostel at 9, got to the peak just before noon. The usual travel time is 30 minutes or more but it took us more than the usual.

From the station, we walked passed 2 gardens  and a tram station, walked some more..stopped at a Catholic church to pay respects and again more walk. 

At last, our walking was paid off. We got to the Peak Tram..an old fashioned train ride going to the peak (highest point)..the ride was exciting as well as the views. 

First stop upon boarding off is the wax museum. Models are done explicitly beautiful. You'd hardly notice the difference. Icons of every field, from entertainment, to sports to science to politics..name it...they have most of it. The museum has no restrictions about picture taking, they even have props and costumes that you can use to doll up yourself for the camera.

They also have a scary walk through a dimly lit room with demonic, ghosts, supernatural creatures all out of wax. It's like being in the movie House of Wax, less scarier and corny though. Merchandise of every sort representing the museum are in the gift shop. Be mindful of the prices, they weren't cheap.

The topmost floor where the museum is situated is the Peak. We had lunch at Burger King, by the way. Not so much to discuss about.. 

I almost forgot, before you buy your tickets, ask the staff the inclusions. We got the combo ticket. (round trip tram ride-Madam Tussads Wax Museum entrance-]The Peak entrance).. Do not lose any portion of the ticket. You will be needing all of them. Prior to going up the Peak, go to the restroom on the floor where the entrance is. There are no restrooms upstairs and depending on the staff in charge at the entrance, you may not be allowed to go back upstairs once you get down.

At The Peak, you'll get to see the whole harbor and the buildings. Very rewarding to see how beautiful the world is.  

Before going home,we explored the mall named Galleria, it's across The Peak. Also had our pictures taken there. There is a replica of the tram where you can take pictures. People of different nationalities are everywhere. 

It was almost dark when we decided to go to the Tram terminal. Be aware of the schedule or be left behind. There are buses and taxis though but it would be a waste esp if you have combo tickets. Going home, we took a different route. Instead of the usual subway, we took the bus. Be aware that unless you swipe your octopus card or put money on the cash canister, the bus driver won't drive. They do not have conductors to move around to get your bus fare. The ride was pleasant and we enjoyed the view on top.

best Milk tea, ever..

Gotten tired of the usual fast-food, we explored the aisles leading to our road. There we chanced upon a small nook which caters to every taste. They have spaghetti, but we love their noodle soup and milk tea the most. Nothing beats their milk tea. The flavor is so rich, you'll crave for it. We did, even our kids.

That night, as our children were tucked in bed, my husband and I enjoyed a relaxing evening massage just two floors up where we are staying.  The Thai massage is by far the best I've had.     

The stretching was so relaxing, all the aching muscles were treated and needless to say, that night was 1 of the most relaxed I had since the trip.

Midnight snack

That same night is also when we tried the night market in Mongkok. Since the subway closes at 12 midnight, we took the cab. It took less than 10 minutes from Kowloon to Mongkok. As soon as we got off the cab, mini eateries line up the street, as well as the market proper(their own little Quiapo) 

Be wise when you haggle, you have no idea how low they can go. Do not make them think that you do not know what you are looking for, make them feel and think that you have an idea about the product.

Don't make them see you as a walking wallet full of money. Be nice as well.

To Flashback:

1. How many wax models are there in the museum

Day 4's weather is not so good. Drizzles almost ruined our day but we come handy with our jackets and caps. Our trip for the day was the Ngong Ping Village and the Giant Buddha. 

Subway became our official transportation partner during the entire trip, taking bus occasionally. We got to the cable car terminal just in time. I chose the crystal cabin ( see through glass all over) it looks scary but since it's our first time, we took the fear out and let the enjoyment in. Always Take note what your purchased tickets are inclusive of. Read carefully and ask. As always, we got combos.. Round trip cable car ride, Ngong Ping Village, Monkey Trail, Buddha's story show. The giant Buddha is located off the Lantau Island. It crossed literally a body of water and at least 3 slopes of mountains. The height and distance if you'll take it seriously is what made the ride a little scary especially if you have fear of the heights. 

I have and I didn't entirely conquer it but I won over it.

Since it was raining already when we got out of the cable car, we had no choice but to buy raincoats, (more convenient and practical) than umbrellas ( we are 6 remember, 4 are kids..)

Despite the weather, we still made sure we don't waste a single minute.

We watched Buddha's life story and well at least now, it made sense..Picture taking inside the theater is not allowed. The staff will provide you with headsets and mini recorder translated in your preferred language. English, Mandarin and Fookien, I guess, are the only languages set on the recorders.

Take note of the following:

1. The number of steps leading to the main temple of Buddha.

2. The Swastika sign on Buddha's chest

3. The number of mountains passed by to reach to Ngong Ping Village

There are numerous mysteries or let's just say tricks to look for to spice up your journey.

As usual,we got home to our hostel tired as ever but our memory banks are more than exhausted with all the fun filled memory inputs.

Day 5 and it's still raining.

balloon replica

Ocean Park completed our week's itinerary. It was still raining but it didn't stop us from pursuing our plan. Some said not to allot your whole day in Ocean Park because it's boring, but it's not true. Ocean Park is so big that you can hardly spend at least half an hour on each sight. A day won't do. If you're into nature and animals, this place is surely best for you. It was for us. The hot air balloon replica gave us a top view of the lower portion of the park. We then visited the panda's sanctuary. How lazy those mammals were. It was lightly pouring so we decided to take the train ride going to some place we weren't sure of. Upon disembarking, that's the only time we realized we headed to the upper portion of the park. Since this place is higher than the entrance, we got the whole top view of the park. It was overwhelmingly huge. Considering the new constructions being done. We went to Dr. Sturgeon's Marine Aquarium, I was just a little disappointed because I was expecting a bigger type of aquarium but anyway, that is nothing to spoil our day. Our kids were able to feed the sea lions (hk$20 each for 3 fishes).

view of the construction

death defying Abyss

Some of the rides were closed due to the weather. We chanced upon The Abyss, the hell of all the rides I have taken in my whole life. I swore never to take that ride again. It took my breath,my soul, my wholeness away. I was with my two older kids, I was a little worried for them, turned out I was the one they are more worried of. The abyss is like an elevator moving up and down in a wild manner. First kick of the ride was okay, but when it started to pull us up and drag us down, oh my..God knows I swore the best and the worst..

I almost kissed the ground when we landed, and again I swore never to take that hell of a ride again. I could hardly feel my feet, I was like floating.

We got down to the lower portion just before it darkens. We were able to watch the show at 5:30pm. The show was in Fookien, but we had fun. The performers' actions and gestures made us understand what the show was about. It was only then that we realized that the rides on the lower part of the park is more suited for kids. Hay!

It was already dark when we left Ocean Park. We rode the bus on the same terminal. This night marked our last. How we wish we could make this day longer. 

We packed our things( vacuum sealed in plastics). This time we have an additional luggage, we got one for our newly bought purchases. It saved us from having too much load to carry.

The next morning, we left the hostel just before noon, we took a cab and headed to the airport and decided to just explore it. Upon reaching the airport, we looked for the storage area where we can leave our baggages since we are 4 hours ahead of our schedule. There is a corresponding fee depending on the size of the storage and the time your valuables will be stored. You are assured, though that your baggages are secured and well kept. They use a specialized security system which enables the owner to key in a pass code for his storage, once you enter your baggage, you cannot just barge in and open it whenever you like. 

After having our baggages stored, we explored the enormous airport. damn, it is so big. it's like putting all our airports together. the airport itself boast of an extremely beautiful duty free mall. it was so big that you'll get tired strolling, especially if you have kids in tow.

It also houses a museum, a cinema, gaming center for kids and food court, spa centers and beauty salon. It was also there that i had my very first hair color. It was so expensive, I now ask myself what made me do it. It cost me HK$ 850.00 ( x PhP 5.85) it could have been cheaper had they combined the fee for the hair color and shampoo and blow dry. unfortunately, shampooing and blow drying is not part of the package, it is being paid separately. what the hell were they thinking? can somebody just get a hair color then go home to have a shampoo at his own place? so lame but true. 

As Ive said, everything in Hong Kong is either paid or to be asked for.

When time came for us to check in, we got our stuff from the storage area and went to the counter. We were then instructed to go to a platform where we boarded a train (subway) going to the other wing of the airport. very cool!!

when we got there, we are free again to roam around. our children watched cartoons at a kids' station while we checked our emails. We waited a little more than an hour and was able to rest our swollen feet. It was only then that we realized and notice the callous that have grown from all the walking.

Just before we boarded our flight, we look back at HKIA and smile. 

???

why are the cars in HK do not hold as many stickers as we have here?

why are there no beggars in the subways?

how were they able to build subways under a subway?

well, perhaps, our adventure hasn't ended yet..we promised ourselves to go back as soon as we can so we can unravel the truth behind the mysteries and maybe to look for other mysteries.

By the way, 
Here is how I was able to keep track our daily finances.

When we had our money changed, I specifically asked that they break down the amount in all denominations. Everyday, I would separate a certain amount,

I kept a log of how many $100s, $50s, $20s, $10s we brought then at the end of the day, I'd check what was left. 

Note:We didn't book our airfare tickets online. We literally cross one airline office to another to canvass. To maximize time in your travel destination, you might want to get the earliest flight going there and the latest flight when coming back.Sometimes, they are cheaper too.