The Ultimate Guide To Experiencing Banff On a Budget

BY  Sibashree Sep 20, 2025

Rio de Janeiro sweeps you up the moment you arrive. Golden beaches stretch for miles, samba rhythms spill from bars in Lapa, and cable cars glide up Sugarloaf Mountain for some of the best views on Earth.  Life here is colorful and fast-moving, and part of slipping into that rhythm is knowing how far your Brazilian real will take you - from a chair on Ipanema beach to a plate of feijoada in a neighborhood café. Before we go on, here is a quick Rio de Janeiro travel guide. Just a quick note: exchange rates and prices don’t stay still. At the moment, 1 US dollar equals about 5.4 Brazilian reais, but it’s best to check the latest rates and costs before you travel. Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: What To Expect? Rio de Janeiro is one of the best cities you can explore. It is one of those few places that has a care-free energy and will make you feel alive. The beaches, food, and major attractions will draw you to it without even trying too hard. Here is a simple Rio de Janeiro travel guide. Beaches - Rio’s Living Rooms The beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are more than postcards - they’re part of daily life. Locals jog along the promenade in the morning, families gather for a swim, and groups of friends set up for impromptu games of beach volleyball or footvolley. Tourists blend right in, renting chairs and umbrellas from vendors for around R$10-15 per piece. Snacks come to you. Vendors walk the sand offering everything from ice-cold coconuts (R$8-10) to grilled queijo coalho (cheese skewers) for about R$12. You can even try a caipirinha mixed fresh on the spot, usually for R$15-20. These are usually cash-only transactions, and the small notes feel like part of the ritual - bargaining isn’t common, but handing over a few reais feels easy and authentic. Spend an afternoon at Arpoador, the rocky point between Copacabana and Ipanema, and you’ll see why locals gather here at sunset. It doesn’t cost more than a bus ride (R$5) to get there, and yet it’s one of the richest experiences you’ll take home. Food: From Street Bites to Sit-Down Meals Rio has a huge range of food. Starting from some humble bakeries to some fancy rooftop restaurants, Rio has it all. Start with breakfast like a local: pão de queijo (cheese bread) and strong coffee, often no more than R$10-15.  Step into a juice bar and you’ll find tropical flavors like passion fruit, guava, or the ever-popular açaí bowl, usually under R$20 for a generous portion. At lunchtime, the prato feito is king. This “set plate” of rice, beans, salad, and a protein such as beef, chicken, or fish costs R$25-35 and will keep you full all day.  You will get various self-service buffets that charge by weight. You will get roasted meats, vegetables, and farofa, and you will have to pay around R$30-40. For dinner, you can choose what you prefer. You can try something casual or something fancy. If you prefer a mid-range seafood meal along with drinks, it will cost somewhere around R$80-100 per person.  However, a proper night out in Ipanema at a fancy fine-dining spot might cost around R$200-250.  You can even visit Churrascarias, which is a Brazilian steakhouse. It is an event in itself. They have endless skewers of grilled meats, side dishes, and salad bars. You can expect to pay somewhere around R$120-180 per person. However, this does not include drinks. All these places accept cards, but it is better to keep some cash handy for bakeries and street food. Attractions: Big Names And Hidden Gems There are various major icons in Rio, and those are actually worth it. You can take the Sugarloaf Mountain cable car for around R$150, and the ride itself is a major part of the thrill. The glass walls will give you a 360-degree view of the way from above the city. You can visit Christ the Redeemer, resting on Corcovado Mountain, for R$100. The moment you stand at its feet and see the city from there, you get an amazing view. You can carry cards as both attractions accept payment in cards. However, it is better to carry some cash for small vendors, tacos, or snacks. Rio is also filled with a lot of gems that you can see for free or for a low cost.  The Selarón Steps, covered in colorful tiles from around the world, cost nothing to climb. A stroll through Santa Teresa’s narrow streets will take you past murals, studios, and cafés where you can pause for a R$12 espresso. At night, head to Lapa to experience samba at its source. Entry to some clubs is around R$30-50, and drinks inside range from R$15-25. Smaller bars may only accept cash, especially if you’re outside the main tourist drag. Getting Around Rio is quite a big city, but it is not difficult once you understand the system. You can take the metro, it's quite safe and clean, and a single ride costs around R$5.  Moreover, if you have a rechargeable RioCard, it will save you a lot of time and work. You will be able to use it for different types of transport, including trains and buses.  You can take a bus, which goes almost to the city, and the fare is quite similar to the metro. Here, you can get taxis for around R$6, and cross-town trips generally range around R$40-60. Also, Uber and other apps like these are popular, and often offer rides at a cheaper rate than a taxi. If you want, you can pay in-app with the card, and that way, you will not have to use cash for payment.  For day-trips outside the city, you will get intercity buses. This will help you explore the outskirts within a budget. If you are planning to visit the historic mountain town, Petropolis, you can explore it for around R$40-50. Moreover, if you are planning to take a longer ride to Búzios, the beach town, you will be able to visit it for around R$70-80. You can get the bus tickets online or from the bus station as well.  How Much To Budget You need to prepare a budget for a trip. However, the budget depends on the kind of trip you want to have. Budget travel: It will cost you around R$200-250 for a day, including hostels, street food, public transport, and free attractions. Mid-range: It will cost you around R$600. You will get comfortable hotels, visit some of the major landmarks, and have some casual as well as sit-down meals. High comfort: This will cost you around R$1000 and above. You will get four-star hotels, fine dining, and guided tours at this range.  However, the prices in Rio rise during any carnival or New Year’s, and this also varies depending on the neighborhood.  Ipanema and Copacabana are some of the premium places that tourists visit, but there are some block islands that will offer the same charm but at a lower price range. Spend Smart In Rio Start your trip with at least a little Brazilian real in your wallet. It will cover your first taxi or ride-share, snacks, or that first fresh coconut without delay. From there, cards will carry most of your expenses, but having R$100-200 in cash each day is wise for small payments. Stick to ATMs inside banks or malls when you need to withdraw. They’re safer and usually give fair rates. Avoid exchanging money at the airport - the rates are often poor, and the fees stack up quickly. Think about how you balance cash and cards. Use your card for hotels, restaurants, and tours, and keep your reais for buses, bakeries, street snacks, and tips. It’s a system that works well in Rio and lets you move through the city without stress. Enjoy Your Journey Landing in Rio with a Rio de Janeiro travel guide and Brazilian real already in hand saves you time and makes the city easier to navigate. You’ll breeze through those first transactions - a cab, a snack, a metro ride - and step right into the energy of the city. Rio rewards travelers who embrace both the big icons and the small everyday moments. The real you spend on a chair at the beach, a cup of coffee, or a bus ride across town is more than just money - it’s your ticket into the rhythm of the city.  As mentioned before, exchange rates and prices may change, but the value of those moments never does.

BY  Sibashree Aug 27, 2025

In Singapore, design doesn’t hide in galleries. It’s in your path all day. You see it in a row of shophouses painted like a colour wheel, or in the quiet precision of a new building that still nods to its neighbours.  Even your morning coffee might come in a café where the light, the tiles, and the chairs feel as considered as the beans. If you travel for good spaces, the city greets you at every corner. Also, choosing the best places to stay in Singapore is crucial for designers for the right dose of inspiration.  In this Dream and Travel Guide, we will talk about these places to stay in Singapore and why they are so special. What Are The Places To Stay In Singapore For A Design Lover?  Diverse cultural influences and the city’s commitment to design excellence have made Singapore a dream destination for design lovers. Singapore also hosts prominent events such as the Singapore Design Week.  But where to stay in Singapore? Check out the following tips.  1. Sleeping Inside A Piece Of The City Follow the river along Robertson Quay and you’ll spot The Warehouse Hotel. The name is literal.  It began life in 1895 as a warehouse when the Singapore River was the main artery for trade. Coffee, spices, and other cargo passed through here long before the glass towers rose.  In the ’80s, the music got louder, and the building transformed into one of Singapore’s biggest nightclubs. The Lo & Behold Group took it on in 2017, working with what was already there. The timber trusses stay overhead, and the pitched roof still frames the lobby.  Louvred windows filter in the tropical glare, while copper accents and bespoke furniture add warmth without covering the bones. There are just 37 rooms, so it feels calm. Inside, details matter. The linen is good to sleep in, and the lighting is soft but purposeful.  Bang & Olufsen speakers are bath products that don’t try too hard. Step out, and the riverfront walkway leads you past bars and small galleries.  Step back in, and the bar is waiting. The cocktails reflect the building’s trading history and wilder nights. 2. Neighbourhoods That Keep You Walking Kampong Glam instantly improves your mood. Narrow roads are dotted with murals. Patterned bolts are spilled onto the pavement by fabric retailers. The Sultan Mosque's gold dome shines above all. While the district's history is preserved, it coexists peacefully with modest design firms and modern cafés. Tiong Bahru reduces the tempo. It is an Art Deco neighbourhood. The low-rise buildings and curved balconies constructed in the 1930s mirror history.  Here, you will pass bakeries with lines outside. The bookstores have a subtle yet irresistible coffee and paper scent, and galleries hidden in ground-floor apartments. With the serene ambience, you get to indulge in the subtleties. Do you crave both tradition and innovation? It happens to coexist on Chinatown's block. Temples and markets continue the traditional rhythms. But behind certain facades are galleries and minimalist tea houses experimenting with contemporary Chinese patterns. 3. Where The Ideas Live Start at the National Gallery Singapore to see the layout of the city's design concept. It is located in City Hall and the former Supreme Court, which are connected by a steel and glass atrium.  The structure itself serves as a balance lesson. You go from 19th-century pieces to striking modern Southeast Asian art within. More petite galleries and museums narrow the focus. Ceramics are fresh from local kilns, hand-printed textiles, and furniture built with heritage skills, but for modern rooms.  The line-up changes often enough that you can visit twice a year and have two completely different experiences. Independent spaces are the wild cards. One weekend, it’s street photography; the next, it's abstract sculpture or experimental craft. These places make the city’s design scene feel alive. 4. Meeting The People Who Make It Happen Weekend markets are the easiest way to meet makers. These creative geniuses are the potters, jewellers, and textile artists.  Their stalls are set up and stand ready to talk. You pick up a cup, and the potter tells you about the clay. You try on a necklace and hear where the stone was found.  These exchanges turn an object into a story. Workshops take you one step further. You might paint batik in a studio where the air smells faintly of wax, or shape a lump of clay into a bowl under the eye of someone who’s done it a thousand times.  You leave with something you made and a memory that sticks. 5. Eating And Drinking In Style Singapore's cafés are known not only for their kopi but also for their kopi. They're famed on how to set a scene. Do you love Terrazzo counters? Are you fascinated with cane chairs and patterned tiles? It's all here and more. You'd love to linger in these spaces even after emptying the cup. Rooftop bars add to the skyline, but also think about the atmosphere. Lighting shifts as the evening goes on, music feels tuned to the room, and some bring in art or live performances. They’re places to stay a while, not just stop in. 6. Timing Your Visit The design hums peacefully in the background all year long. Yet certain weeks increase the volume. Such is the Singapore Design Week. It is the headline event. With talks, tours, and installations, you will see incredible colour and artistry spilling into galleries, studios, and public spaces. In between, smaller fairs and pop-ups keep things interesting. See The Little Red Dot's surprising art, especially when you plan your trip right. 7. Walk, Don’t Rush The real surprises show up when you’re on foot. A doorway framed in patterned tiles. A mural glimpsed down an alley. An old shop sign is still hanging above a modern boutique. Maps are fine. But leave room for detours, and you might thank yourself later. Enjoy The Perfect Fusion Of Heritage And Modern-World Charm At The Best Places To Stay In Singapore In Singapore, heritage and modern life aren’t kept apart. They meet harmoniously in the same streets. Oftentimes, in the same buildings. Staying in a hotel with a warehouse theme drops you right in the middle. You wake under beams over a century old. You get to spend the day in districts where history meets fresh ideas. Plus, even return to a bar that pours a little of both into your glass. For a traveller drawn to design, that’s reason enough to come. And to come back.

BY  Abdul Aziz Aug 24, 2023

Marketing is a staple in the business world. Whether it takes on a digital, traditional, or hybrid form is decided by the nature of the company. Even the people running it are responsible. However, regardless of the choice, marketing is a business fixture that cannot be ignored. For a travel business, in particular, building attraction among potential customers using a mix of visuals. Furthermore, creative text is of the essence. One of the best content forms to utilize these elements is travel videography. Not only does travel videography provide interested clients with a snapshot of the experience that they’ll be getting. However it’s also great at creating brand hype and awareness. Confused about how you can use travel videography to promote your travel business better? Here are four simple ways how:   1) Put A Video On Your Instagram   Social media marketing is a must-do in today’s corporate environment! From following the latest #hashtag trends to creating viral reels to building exciting collaborations, it is a lot! With fellow companies and creators, there’s a lot that social media can do for your travel business. Additionally, the best way to utilize this online tool. They inculcate video in your SMM strategy, taking your content a step ahead! Worried about getting started? PosterMyWall’s Instagram reel video templates are a great guiding path. Not only do they allow you to push out reels with both quality and time efficiency due to the pre-made templates, but they also facilitate extensive editing and customization, helping each brand achieve its own unique look. And the best part? You can take advantage of all this - and more - without having to pay a single dime. Once your reels are made, you can post them on your Instagram feed, reshare them on your story, or even invite other profiles to join as collaborators, automatically expanding your reach. Of course, be sure to pair your video content with SEO-optimized captions and trending #hashtags to maximize your traction.   2) Enlist Paid Travelers   Ever heard of the concept of a paid traveler? These are people who are either content creators or travel videographers who often undertake vacations where they produce content for a brand in exchange for free services such as tickets, accommodation, food, and the like.   In order to promote your travel business, you can enlist the services of these paid travelers, sending them to capture content around areas that you’re operating in or areas towards which you want to generate tourist traffic. Once their content is made, the videos can be posted on their social media accounts such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as be used by your travel company in their own marketing material.   3) Get the Locals Involved   There’s nothing to get you in the mood for a vacation like the place itself speaking to you. And what better way to experience this than by connecting with the local people of the area themselves? It’s simple - hire a local videographer, get a couple of short videos made that highlight why the specific country or area is your ideal vacation destination, and then link it back to how your travel company can make this dream vacation a reality. Since it’ll be local people highlighting the area your content will seem more authentic, drawing in more people to acquire about your services. As for the channels, social media as well as traditional television and paid Google advertisements are the route to go down!   4) Deck Out The Posters   While video content is great, it can sometimes need a helping hand to get across to the right audience. And what better-helping material than a poster? Not only are poster posts apt for generating hype about your business, but they’re also a great mix of visuals and text, making them easily digestible. And if you’re worried about nailing the design, then just head to PosterMyWall and browse their range of travel poster templates. Fully customizable and with dozens to choose from, you’ll soon have your perfect design! With your posters ready, now it’s time to put them up. You can do everything from marketing your travel company’s video content by linking it to your poster to spreading general information about your services. In either case, the more traction you get, the more the audience will be redirected to your travel videos. So, if you’re looking to use travel videography to market your travel business, then these tips are your go-to. Just remember to customize according to your brand and you’ll be good to go! Read Also: Top 10 Business Travel Booking Platforms Of 2023 Tips For Earning Frequent Flyer Points In Business Travelling Want The Best Travel Tips: Go Through Velvet Escape Travel Blog