Category Pages For: Where To Stay

Detailed analyses of where to stay in particular destinations

Hoi An - Old Quarter 103
JUNE / JULY 2023 OVERVIEW We have just finished our 3 month stay in Cenang Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia. … our next stop is Hoi An, Vietnam … PLEASE NOTE: I have been to Hoi An before: firstly in 2015 and later in 2020. Hoi An hasn’t changed much 🙂 In this blog, I will focus on what is new. To read my previous blogs follow these links: Hoi An – Vietnam – Information (2015) Hoi An – Vietnam – Retirement Locations (2020) EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Vietnam is the Dong (or the ‘VND’). At the time of writing, the […]

Hoi An – Vietnam – Information (2023)

MARCH 2023 OVERVIEW We have just finished our SCUBA Diving Liveaboard and Island Hopping in the Andaman Sea, Thailand. … our next stop is Cenang Beach, Langkawi, Malaysia … EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Malaysia is the Ringit (or the ‘MYR’). At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 4.50 4.77 5.38 Actual Exchange Rate (Wise Debit Card) 4.46 4.73 5.33 Actual Exchange Rate (Typical Credit Card) 4.36 4.62 5.21 Actual Exchange Rate (ATM) 4.40 4.66 5.25 You will NOT get this Wholesale Rate … you will get the Actual […]

Cenang Beach – Langkawi – Malaysia – Information (2023)

FEBRUARY 2023 OVERVIEW We are island hopping south from Khao Lak, Thailand through the Andaman Sea to Langkawi Island, Malaysia. We have just visited Ko Lanta. … our next stop is Koh Mook (aka Ko Muk) … EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Thailand is the Baht (or the ‘THB’). I will refer to them as THBs. At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 34.24 36.66 41.40 Actual Exchange Rate (Wise Debit Card) 34.00 36.40 41.11 Actual Exchange Rate (Typical Credit Card) 33.21 35.56 40.16 Actual Exchange Rate (ATM) […]

Koh Mook – Thailand – Information

FEBRUARY 2023 OVERVIEW My main reason for coming to Thailand was to do a SCUBA Liveaboard in the Andaman Sea out of Khao Lak. I am, now, island hopping south to Langkawi Island, Malaysia. … our first stop is Koh Lanta … EXCHANGE RATE The currency in Thailand is the Baht (or the ‘THB’). I will refer to them as THBs. At the time of writing, the exchange rates for the major currencies were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 34.24 36.66 41.40 Actual Exchange Rate (Wise Debit Card) 34.00 36.40 41.11 Actual Exchange Rate (Typical Credit Card) 33.21 35.56 […]

Ko Lanta – Thailand – Information

DECEMBER 2022- JANUARY 2023 OVERVIEW In my previous post (Boracay Island – Philippines – Getting There) I talked about how to get to Boracay Island and how to find long-term accommodation. Check out 12Go to have a look at ‘getting there’ options: It is assumed that you plan to be here for 2 months … arriving with a standard 30 day Visa On Arrival (VOA), then extending your VOA by another 29 days. This gives you up to 59 days for your Boracay Island ‘experience’. … now let’s talk about what it is like to ‘live’ here … EXCHANGE RATE […]

Boracay – Philippines – Information (2023)

DECEMBER 2022 - JANUARY 2023 OVERVIEW In August 2022, I emerged out of COVID-19 restrictions and left Roatan Island, Honduras. I spent October and November in Gili Trawangan Island, Indonesia. … next is Boracay Island, The Philippines … PLEASE NOTE The currency in The Philippines is the Peso (or the ‘PHP’). I will refer to them as PHPs. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 Published Wholesale Rate 57.01 58.61 68.34 Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate 56.06 57.64 67.21 You will NOT get this Wholesale Rate … you will get the Effective (Actual) Exchange Rate; expect […]

Boracay Island – Philippines – Getting There

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2022: OVERVIEW: In my previous post (Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Getting There) I talked about how to get to and find accommodation in Gili Trawangan (GiliT). You can check out 12Go to have a look at ‘getting there’ options: It is assumed that you plan to be here for 60 days … arriving with a standard 30 day Visa On Arrival (VOA), then extending your VOA by another 30 days. This gives you upto 60 days for your GiliT ‘experience’. … now let’s talk about what it is like to ‘live’ here … PLEASE NOTE: The […]

Gili Trawangan – Indonesia – Information

JUNE 2021 - NOVEMBER 2021: OVERVIEW: In June 2021, I returned to West End, Roatan Island, Honduras for the 3rd time. This time, I planned to stay for several months. … GRANDPAckers may be interested in what ‘long term furnished rentals’ you can find … ABOUT ROATAN: Roatan Island (Isla de Roatan) is the largest of the Honduras’ major Bay Islands in a region that marks the south end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (the second-largest in the world). It is about 65 kms (40 miles) north of the Honduran coast. It is approximately 77 kms (48 miles) long, and less […]

West End, Roatan Island – Honduras – Where To Stay

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2020: OVERVIEW: During COVID-19, I was in Phuket, Thailand for 4 months followed by Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt for 2.5 months. In October 2020, many countries were still closed. The ‘2nd wave’ was well underway. I had few options: Turkey was open to tourists and did not require a ‘Fit to Travel’ health certificate within 72 hours of travel. … we, now, go to Dalyan, Turkey … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (or the ‘TRY’). I will refer to them as T$s. At the time of writing, the exchange rates were: […]

Dalyan – Turkey – Information (COVID-19)

JULY - SEPTEMBER 2020: OVERVIEW: COVID-19 delayed my travels and altered my plans. I was stuck in lockdown in Thailand for 4 months. My Visa Amnesty in Thailand came to an end and I was forced to move on. Many countries were still closed. Daily infection rates in Europe (and many other countries) were on the rise again. I had few options. Egypt had just opened its borders (albeit with restrictions and a 14 day self-isolation period). … we go to Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (or the ‘EGP’). I […]

Hurghada – Egypt – Information (COVID-19)