Budget — Blog | A Happy Passport

One Day on Faial Island in the Azores | Self-Driving Itinerary

Known as the Blue Island of the Azores, Faial is part of the central group of the Azores and is especially beautiful in July and August when the island is covered in bright blue hydrangeas. It only takes 1 hour to circumnavigate the island on the main road meaning you can fit all the main sights in just one day. Due to the unpredictable weather in the middle of the Atlantic, we’d still recommend you to stay at least two days on Faial. You can split this itinerary across two days for a more relaxed pace or keep it all in one day if the weather doesn’t cooperate on one of the days.

Portugal, Europe, BudgetAlison MullisAugust 9, 2019Azores, Faial Comments

Cost of 2 Weeks in Japan during Cherry Blossom Season | Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka

Japan is notorious for being on the pricey side, especially for a popular time like Cherry Blossom season. While accommodations and food are definitely more expensive than most tourist destinations – we were pleasantly surprised that we were able to keep the total cost of the trip down without sacrificing experiences. To put it in perspective, we spent the same amount on our 13 day trip to Japan as our 9 day trip to Peru. Japan is relatively inexpensive when it comes to occupying your time and even internal transport. Most gardens and shrines are free to visit and cheap convenience stores and vending machines are aplenty. There is still the initial shock of hotel prices and the cost of a rail pass, but Japan doesn’t have to be the ultra-expensive travel destination it is made out to be.

Budget, Asia, Japan, Most PopularAlison MullisApril 22, 2019Budget Comment

Best Way to Get from Cusco to Puno, Peru

Going from the Sacred Valley to Lake Titicaca (or vice versa) is a common route for most travelers in Peru. Puno is the gateway to the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. With car travel often discouraged in Peru, it is often difficult to figure out the best way to travel across the country. Here we outline the different ways to get between Cusco and Puno and each ones’ benefits.

South America, Peru, BudgetAlison MullisOctober 18, 2018Train, Road Trip Comments

Cost for 9 Days In Peru | Sacred Valley, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Lima

The cost to travel in Peru can be incredibly difficult to estimate. Even if you are a backpacker trekking around the country, the prices you will encounter can vary widely. Peru is a fairly inexpensive country, but you will likely experience a "tourist tax" – paying more for items than the locals. Visiting the major sights in Peru, like Machu Picchu, is pricey no matter how you get there (Inca Trail vs Train). However, other luxuries may be a lot cheaper in Peru than elsewhere. With some pre-planning and knowledge on fair prices, you can get some great deals on food, accommodations, and ground transportation. In this article, every individual cost during our 9 day travels in Peru is outlined, with tips on saving money.

Budget, Peru, South AmericaAlison MullisSeptember 7, 2018Budget Comment

How Much Does it Cost to Go to Iceland?

If you haven't already heard it from everyone else, let me be the first to tell you: Iceland is expensive. Super expensive. Iceland is currently ranked as the 3rd most expensive country in the world. During our visit, we tried to limit expenses where we could without limiting experiences. We did everything we wanted (within reason... unfortunately, no helicopter rides over the gorgeous landscape), but for the lowest price we could swing. In this guide, I break down everything we spent money on and how to reduce your expenses while in Iceland.

Europe, Iceland, Budget, Most PopularAlison MullisJune 24, 2018Budget Comments

4-Night Bahamas Cruise on Enchantment of the Seas

Sometimes you just need a quick break from reality, need to relax, and take things at a slower pace. A cruise is a perfect way to do just that. You get to explore multiple places in one trip without the hassle of re-packing your bags. A cruise is like an all-inclusive resort ... that moves! After the cruise we took for our honeymoon in June 2017, we were eager to get back to a boat. A short, 3 or 4-night cruise provides a great getaway at an affordable price. Here is an overview of what we did, how much it costs, and tips from our experience.

Central America, Bahamas, Budget, United StatesAlison MullisApril 29, 2018Cruise Comments

24 Practical Tips for Sustainable Travel

Travel allows us to experience new cultures, explore interesting places, meet new people, try amazing food, and see the world. This would not be possible without the one thing we all share: the Earth. Inadvertently tourists can destroy the very thing they want to see. While traveling does result in negative by-products for our globe, like through carbon emissions from air travel, there are practical ways to lessen your impact and be more sustainable while you travel.

Travel Tips, Most Popular, BudgetAlison MullisApril 25, 2018sustainable Comments

Caldera and Cable Cars: The Perfect Day in Santorini, Greece

It is hard to put into words how beautiful the cliff-perched towns and stunning sea views are. Santorini is a caldera or large crater formed by a volcano. The crater is mostly submerged and what remains is the 5 islands that make up the Santorini group. The main island of Thera is where you will likely spend all of your time. To start off with, one day in Santorini is certainly not enough. We arrived by cruise ship and were severely limited with what we could explore on the island in that time.

Greece, Europe, Most Popular, BudgetAlison MullisApril 24, 2018Honeymoon, Romantic, One Day, SantoriniComment