Ready for the off...

Backpacks backed, tickets booked and en route to the airport, hubbie and I are off for a trip around the world.

As part of an approaching 40 and 35 crisis, we are taking off to take in 5 continents, 15 countries, stuff ourselves  with a variety of international foods, sample plenty of local beverages and learn a little of some foreign languages.  I am also mission to try and learn as much about the history and influences of each country and how that reflects today in the lifestyle and local cuisines and finally I obviously want to try and learn to cook as many of my favourite dishes as possible! 

The first update will be in Vietnam, from Hanoi and Halong Bay, but for any peops that are thinking of a backpacking trip, a holiday, or even a good weekend away, below are a few things I learned to save money when looking to go abroad.

1.  Book any flights, accommodation, activities in advance through a cash back website like Quidco (www.quidco.com).  Depending on who you book with you can earn up to 10% cash back.  Just by booking flights, some accommodation in advance and car hire in North America, we earned about £700.  For those going to several destinations, it is worth looking at STA travel or trail finders, but for us, it was cheaper to book separately.

2.  Book tickets, flights, etc with a credit card that provides a % of cash back also.  You will probably need a credit card for your trip anyway, so getting one that pays you for money that you spend is good.  Just remember to pay the bill off quickly!

3.  Sign up for groupon alerts for any of the countries you are visiting.  You will get daily emails of lots of offers, but these offers range from cheap meals, activities including dancing, cooking classes, overnight stays at some really lovely resorts.  We signed up for New Zealand, UAE, Thailand and Malaysia.  If you are going away for a long trip, some of these offers are great birthday or Christmas presents family and friends can buy you, if they don't want to give you cash.

4.  Lastly but very importantly whether you are going on the trip of a lifetime, your annual holiday or even a long weekend away and you want to get your trip off to a great start, then book yourselves into one of the airport lounges before your flight.  £30 per person will ensure that for three hours before your flight you can eat and drink as much as you like, which you may have spent close to if you had gone to the bar before takeoff anyway.  Just make sure you book the lounge via quidco!

Right, so cash back all tracked, sparkling wine drunk and mushroom tortellini ate, we are off for the 24 hour mission to get to our first country, Vietnam.