Tag: #budgetblogger #travelplans #moleskin #anthropologie

Innsbruck Insights

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After making the move to Bavaria, I have had the luxury of being able to visit Austria with ease. One of my favourite discoveries is the city of Innsbruck: surrounded by snow-capped mountains and insta-perfect views, it should definitely be on your Europe bucket list!

These shoes were made for travelling

Natural wonders

Innsbruck – the capital of the Tirol region – is beautifully protected by the Austrian Alps. Nordkette, the mountain at Innsbruck’s core, is easily accessible from the city centre. Take the Nordkette gondola and enjoy panoramic views over Innsbruck – there’s even a café at the top so you can take in the views in style! On ground level, be sure to walk or cycle (take your pick) along the river Inn…the colourful houses that line the river make for a wonderful backdrop! The crystal clear waters are quite spectacular.

Taking in the view along the river Inn

Sights to see

If the mountains are not enough reason alone to visit Innsbruck, there are some bucket list sights to tick off. Below, I have included 3 sights that I managed to see:

1 – The ‘Goldenes Dachl’ (Golden Roof): probably the most famous picture spot in Innsbruck. A beautiful golden roof designed for Emperor Maximilian 1, it’s worth a trip to see it glimmering under the sunlight!

2 – Bergisel Ski Jump: fans of the Winter Olympics should definitely make a beeline for the ski jump! Towering in the distance as you travel into Innsbruck, the climb to the terrace is worth it for the incredible views. Sport enthusiasts should aim to visit in January, when Innsbruck hosts the annual Four Hills Tournament.

3 – The Hofburg: beautiful both inside and out, the ‘Imperial Palace’ was once owned by the famous royal Habsburg house.

Cafe Culture

No trip is complete without a visit to a blog-recommended cafe! Unfortunately, I have not made it into every cafe in Innsbruck, however here are a few recommendations from the places I have sampled!

Coffeekult

Cafe O’clock

 

I’m not normally one to recommend chain cafes, but Coffeekult hits the spot – great coffee, presented simply on an adorable little tray: you can’t go wrong! I especially liked the unique decor with coffee machine tables and bags of beans hidden in corners. There are 5 venues in Innsbruck to choose from and they also sell their own coffee packs!

 

 

Hitt und Sohne

A favourite discovery of mine, I was fortunate enough to visit Hitt and Sohne during the winter – a warm oasis above the bustling city of Innsbruck. Take the Nordkette bahn to reach the cafe and enjoy coffee up above – there’s a great range of sweet treats on offer too for any sugar addicts (like me!).

The Breakfast Club

Exactly what it says on the tin – a great stop for breakfast (or any other meal for that matter) just off the main shopping street of Maria-Theresien-Strasse. The menu offers a wonderful range of omelettes (I can highly recommend), as well as a variety of vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

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As far as omelettes go, this place is a must!

Innsbruck isn’t a city that takes long to explore, but it’s certainly a city well worth visiting, even just for the incredible views.

Happy Travels, K x

Planning to a budget

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With a world full of wonders, why are we not constantly travelling? Aside from other factors (such as earning a living and trying not to drive my parents too insane with another holiday), money seems to be the unwanted relative that holds many of us back from seeing the world.

Constantly on the lookout for the cheapest way to see the sights, I have picked up a few tips of over the years- hopefully you will find them useful in making your next adventure possible!

Planning and preparation is key!

 

Top Tips

#1 – Keep an open mind for travel destinations

If you’re anything like me, your list of places to visit will grow continually and it’s a challenge to decide which place to go next (#firstworldproblems). I found that concentrating on just one destination meant that I was missing out on amazing deals elsewhere on my bucket list. When planning my next trip, I like to use Skyscanner’s ‘everywhere’ option – simply type in your starting airport, then put ‘everywhere’ as your destination and it will bring you the best flight deals! You might just find a dream destination that you had never planned to visit…

#2 – Consider all forms of transport

Although flights are convenient, there are sometimes other options which can save us a huge amount, especially if you are travelling to more than one destination on your trip. Don’t be put off by coaches – I’m not a fan but I have to say my experiences to date have all been very positive! If you are travelling around Europe, look into Flixbus for cheap and easy travel all across the continent. If you are in Australia, Greyhound buses provide a much cheaper alternative – save even more by travelling overnight!

#3 – Pack savvy

When it comes to packing for a trip, do you really need that extra pair of jeans? Is it essential that you bring the chunky jacket, ‘in case it rains’? Grab an umbrella and save space in your bag! By reducing the amount you take on a trip to hand luggage, you will save money on hold luggage – I found this to be extremely important when I was making several flights through Europe, as I did not want to have to pay for extra luggage every time! With the modern travelling climate, most places have washing facilities so you can recycle your outfits. The trips are about the memories you make, not what outfit you wore for dinner on a Tuesday night – so embrace the 2 euro ponchos and save your money for a coffee or two!

#4 – Don’t say no to a hostel

I’m sure we would all dream of a 5* holiday in the Maldives, but for some of us, we might have to wait until the lottery numbers roll in…there are some wonderful budget accommodation options all over the globe with fantastic facilities! My advice would be to spend time doing some research and reading reviews on various places. I find booking.com really useful and for most places you can have free cancellation if you find a better option. If you are worried about staying in a packed dorm, most hostels offer private, twin or female only rooms – they will be a bit pricier , however still cheaper than many hotels. The great thing about hostels is that they are always placed in the most convenient of areas too! Out of all the hostels I have stayed in (there have been a few), Sydney Harbour YHA has to be the best – modern facilities, amazing views and all for a great price!

#5 – Do your research beforehand

Once you arrive in a new country, you can often be left with an empty purse before the first 24 hours are up – ridiculous airport-taxi prices and not knowing where to go for food place a huge dent in your holiday budget. I have found that getting to know the public transport system beforehand has saved me a lot of money. Most cities have direct links to the airport, saving you a tax fare and awkward conversation with the driver. It’s also worthwhile looking into the transport offers, such as multi-day or weekly tickets if you need transport to get around. I have also found that reading blogs and insider tips have been really useful to me in the past – the locals know where to find the best food at the cheapest prices, so read up and listen to the experts!

Wherever you choose to go next, I hope you find these tips useful in saving a few pennies! Maybe then, you can afford the deluxe breakfast on the last day…

Happy travels, K x