budget travel Archives • Page 3 of 5 • The Bliss Movement

Leatherback Turtle Nesting, Trinidad & Tobago

When night falls upon Turtle Beach it is transformed into a home for endangered leatherback turtles. A popular nesting site for these animals, they choose the hours of darkness to pull themselves from the sea and drag their massive bodies across the sand to settle in a spot of their choosing. We made our way to Turtle Beach around 10pm. As we walked along the shore, flip flops in hand, we saw her. A leatherback turtle, larger that I ever could have imagined, had nestled herself into the sand and was in the process of laying her eggs in the hole she had just finis[...]

Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago

Visiting Argyle Falls, Tobago

Our rental car was dropped off Thursday morning and like eager beavers, we hopped in ready to hit the road. Tobago can be difficult to get around within a car of your own and so for a modest fee of $300 TT per day, or roughly $60 Canadian, we opted to go on a road trip of the entire island. Narrow, windy roads featuring excessive honking, a few gasps of terror, and stunning coastal views took us from the south of the island all the way around it's perimeter. Along the way we stopped at countless bays and beaches, walking barefoot through the sand and dipping our t[...]

Barbados, Budget Travel, Caribbean, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

How To Travel To Barbados on a Budget

Barbados is known for its white sandy beaches and being the birthplace of Rihanna. What it's not known for is its affordability. The Caribbean isn't a popular place for those on a backpacker budget, as many are drawn to the extreme budget prices seen in Southeast Asia or South America, but the Caribbean is home to some of the most beautiful islands in the world and shouldn't be missed just because it seems a little pricy. Here are some traveler tips to make the most of your time in Barbados without breaking the bank: Shop Local Food prices in the supermarkets can[...]

Barbados, Caribbean, Travel

The Day I Learned to Crack Open a Coconut in Barbados

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn't move hour to hour, but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun." -Unknown The bus weaved it's way up and over the hills that make up Barbados' east coast, winding down the road until at last it came around a corner presenting the most beautiful of views, capturing us all into silence. We were high above the rugged coastline, looking down upon the many cliffs that jutted out into the Atlantic and the palm trees that dotted the shore. A very religious island, Easter in Barbados[...]

Barbados, Caribbean, Travel

Off The Beaten Track Barbados: The Hot Pot

Amidst a long stretch of the white sand beach off the shores of the Caribbean is a natural little pool that flows out into the sea. Though shallow, there is a strong undercurrent that allows the pool to shift it's shape often and will carry you out to sea if you're not careful! Situated in front of a factory, the water that cools the generator of the factory becomes warm from the machinery and flows back out into the ocean, causing this small body of water to become unusually warm. Locals flock to Brighton beach to bathe in this water, adults chatting as they lou[...]

Barbados, Caribbean, Travel

Grenade Hall, Barbados: Mahogany Forests and Coastal Views

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree," - Michael Crichton If you took my suggestion from my previous post about visiting the wildlife reserve in Barbados you will be pleased to find that your admission into the animal kingdom also allows you a jaunt up to the Grenade Hall signal station and the mahogany forest that surrounds it. Walking to the left of the ticket booth and, if you're lucky, a monkey taking a rest on the bench, you'll find yourself walking up a trail made of brick that wi[...]

Barbados, Caribbean, Travel

Barbados’ Holetown Festival

Each year in mid-February, Holetown celebrates the anniversary of the first settlement in Barbados by hosting the annual Holetown Festival. A mix-mash of tourists and locals crowd the streets to get a glimpse at all of the local products on offer in a long jumble of tents. As you make your way through you'll pass bands playing local bajan music and can enjoy the tastes and smells of bajan foods like fish cakes, macaroni pie, and lots of barbecue chicken. Warning to the vegetarians attending the festival: it can be difficult to find vegetarian or vegan foods but t[...]

Barbados, Caribbean, Travel

Take a Stroll Through Batts Rock Beach, Barbados

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." - Wyland Just a short stroll away from my dorm is a white, sandy beach with turquoise waters kissing the sand. It's a popular place for snorkeling and picnics but is never too crowded and it's quickly becoming my go-to spot to relax after a hard day at work. I don't believe I can do it justice through my words, so put on your flip-flops and take a walk along the sand for yourself.[...]

Barbados, Caribbean

The Man Behind the Stone

If you walk along a particular stretch of beach, from Paradise to Batts Rock, you'll come across a number of coral stone statues, each of different shape and size. Clearly made by hand, stones delicately balance atop one another in such a way to make an intriguing piece of art. These stone statues appear along the beach, placed individually or in groups. I noticed them on my first afternoon at the beach and they always made me wonder what their story were. A few days ago, my questions were answered. As the sun began to set over the sea a man made his way down t[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

Three Accessories to Travel in Style

Call it vanity, but sometimes you just feel better when you don't arrive to a destination with red eyes, crazy hair and wrinkly clothes. It's happened to me too many times because I always put off purchasing these three accessories, claiming I could never find any that I loved. Well, times have changed and I am now fully prepared to arrive looking at least a little better than I used to. The Sunglasses Have you ever woken up and stumbled out of an airplane in the middle of the night, far earlier than any human should be awake with swollen, bloodshot eyes, eyelas[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing

What’s In My Carry-On

Deciding what to pack in a carry-on can be a daunting task for the inexperienced traveler, but it doesn't have to be as hard as you think! If you want to walk through security with ease, keep your carry-on baggage to a minimum. Keep jewelry to a minimum and leave most in your checked luggage to avoid setting off the alarm and keep your bag organized so that you can unload what needs to be unloaded quickly and minimizing that flustered feeling of having everything falling out all over the place. I have a few items that are always in my carry-on. 1. Passport - a n[...]

Alberta, Canada

Banff, Alberta: Spray River Horseback Tour

"This is Brew," is your only introduction to the animal being handed to you and you quickly begin to become acquainted to the gelding you're about to spend an hour with and trust to take you safely through the muddy trails. One foot snugly in the stirrup, it's a familiar feeling to swing your other leg up and over until you're seated up on the horse's back. Last weekend I took a day trip to Banff with a friend and the highlight of the whole thing was easily the horseback riding. Banff Adventures offer a number of different rides, from one hour up to an entire s[...]