travel Archives | Page 10 of 29

4 Business Expenses That You Should Eliminate Right Now

I have good news for you! Reducing costs in your business does not have to take a lot of time or a significant amount of effort. In most cases, it comes down to making smarter choices. Continue reading on to find out what I meant.

MARKETING COSTS

Use technology to your advantage as you jump on the social media marketing wagon. Social media has a vast and diverse audience that you can tap. You are missing out on the potential of having fast-paced and low-cost marketing when you do not make use of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. What’s more? You can collaborate with other advertisers or influencers.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

As I spearhead a school, I have teamed up with an mommy influencer to market our program offerings. In exchange of a post, the influencer was given free classes to fully immerse her child in our school environment. Bartering in an exchange of goods or services without handing out any cash is a good way to maximize your marketing budget.

TRAVEL COSTS

Unless you are taking the public transportation route, traveling domestically or internationally can be hefty. Eliminate the travel costs that come with business conferences by using downloadable software such as Skype or FaceTime to allow you and your client to have face-to-face conversations from anywhere around the world.

Reducing your travel costs does not mean that you must eliminate it entirely. Meeting in person with a client can bring serious profits and can close major deals. Thus, you must save your travel funds for high-priority situations.

PRINTING COSTS

How does one begin to emphasis the price tag that comes with printing? For starters, most of my school expenses surround paper and ink. Not to mention, maintaining a machine can be a time consuming. Just calculate the amount of time you spend dealing with printer issues!

Printing costs add up in a snap. Eliminate as much paper as possible by going paperless when it comes to waivers, contracts, or memos. Use online signature apps to sign contracts. Alternatively, you may invest in one printer to cut back the printing of the entire office.

MANPOWER COSTS

Is it necessary to hire a full-time graphic designer when you can outsource positions for short-term roles? There are numerous platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork that can offer the right talent at reasonable rates. This also helps other talented individuals to grow their businesses.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Furthermore, you can try designing posters or other artistic materials for free through websites such as PosterMyWall and Canva. You do not have to be as artistic as Bob Ross to execute the task! These websites are easy to use as they have ready templates available. Isn’t that amazing?

Sources: 1 & 2

The Best Prepaid SIM Card Options For Tourists

Let us be honest! In this day and age, it is hard to live without mobile data. Most of our daily lives center around the convenience of the Internet. Moreover, we find pleasure in sharing our adventures and experiences thru social media. This is why most jet-setters secure their pocket Wi-Fi before or after landing to their destination.

Having your own prepaid sim card with data allows you to navigate the area and to interact with the locals no matter where you are. If your foreign friends want to visit you in Singapore, here are some of the prepaid sim card options that you can suggest.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Firstly, it is important to note that there are only three main telecommunication companies in Singapore. These three include Singtel, Starhub, and M1. Lastly, these telecos offer tourist sim cards that can last you for a week or so.

The good news is that tourists can enjoy about 100 GB worth of local data and 100 local texts from all the three telecos. You read that right!

M1’s Tourist SIM, valid for 7 days, is priced at S$12. You can indulge on 500 minutes of local calls and 20 minutes of international calls. However, this sim does not include the roaming data.

Next up is Starhub! Starhub Travel Prepaid SIM will also take you back by S$12. It is the cheapest option with the most value. Why is this so? For one, it includes 500 minutes of local calls and 30 minutes of international calls. Additionally, it includes 1 GB worth of roaming data.

Lastly, you must highly consider the Singtel hi!Tourist EZ-Link SIM Card. This merges the need for transportation and communication. You see, this prepaid card has a stored EZ-link value of S$3. Buying a separate EZ-link card would cost you an additional of about S$15. What’s more? You can get multiple benefits tied to this prepaid card such as 25% off the Sentosa attractions.

The price of this prepaid card is S$18 including 500 minutes worth of local calls and 30 minutes of international calls. Moreover, it has 1 GB worth of roaming data. Imagine how much savings you can acquire by fusing all these services!

The bottom line is that different people can have different mobile usage when they travel. Examine your priorities and preferences when choosing the best prepaid sim card for your foreign friend.

Sources: 1 & 2

Frequent travellers rejoice! In an industry first, Allianz Global Assistance is launching an EXCLUSIVE Allianz Assist Card that comes with S$28 worth of EZ-Link value stored inside. Simply purchase an annual travel plan from Allianz to qualify for this attractive promotion. *Learn more about terms and conditions

Besides getting on-the-go travel companion, purchasing annual travel insurance may save your money and hassles compared to buying a single trip plan. More details below:

Personalized Allianz Assist Card

Upon purchasing an annual travel plan from Allianz, you will receive a personalized Allianz Assist Card as your travel companion that comes with your own name, your policy ID and the policy Type. It will also contain details such as the validity of your travel policy so that you know whether you are still insured when planning your next travel. Your Allianz Assist Card will be delivered free to your registered address and can be used immediately for Singapore public transport rides with no activation of the card required!

Greater Travel Protection At Your Fingertips

Allianz Global Assistance provide greater travel coverage such as overseas medical expenses, luggage loss, and travel delay coverage.

Besides all details listed above, Allianz Assist Card contains a 24/7 Emergency Hotline (+65 6327 2215)where you can and get assistance globally. Most importantly, it contains a QR code which allows you to file your travel claims in a seamless experience. After scanning the QR code on your Allianz Assist Card, you will be brought to Allianz Global Assistance’s online claim portal. Simply follow the instructions, fill up the necessary information, upload softcopies of supporting documents and submit your travel claims! With the Allianz Assist Card, you have greater travel protection at your fingertips!

Purchase Now To Save 45% On Your Annual Travel Plans

For a limited time only, Allianz Global Assistance is launching Allianz Assist Card with a HUGE 45% discount. To receive your personalized Allianz Assist Card (which comes with $28 EZ-Link value), simply purchase your annual travel insurance policy from now till 16 June 2019! Hurry and go online to purchase your Allianz Global Assistance annual travel insurance policy here.

What’s The Hype About Jewel Changi Airport?

Scheduled to open this month is the latest Jewel of Singapore – the Jewel Changi Airport. This multi-purpose development includes a hotel, aviation facilities, retail stores, dining facilities, and various attractions. A complex that houses all these facilities must be massive! The complex covers a total gross floor area of 134,000 meters, which spans about 10 stories.

I am most excited about the key attractions including the world’s largest indoor waterfall and the five-story indoor garden. Let us start with the HSBC Rain Vortex. Standing at 131 ft high is the world’s largest indoor waterfall. At night, the Rain Vortex glistens with lights and sounds. These were curated by the water design expert WET Design. I expect nothing but the best!

Lastly, Canopy Park aims to astound you with its two gardens including Topiary Walk and Petal Garden. The former features animal-shaped topiaries. The latter features seasonal floral displays. These natural displays excites my flower-loving heart!

Aside from flowers, food holds a special place for us. Singaporeans are enthusiastic about the flavors offered by Shake Shack and the comeback of A&W Restaurant.

Image Credits: danielfooddiary.com

Probably the most anticipated F&B opening at Jewel, is the famous burgain chain called Shake Shack. Its first outlet in Singapore is set to open on April 17. Shake Shack will offer its classic coffee milkshake along with locally brewed Jewela Melaka and Pandan Shake. Jewela Melaka is a frozen vanillacustard ice cream with coconut salted caramel, Lemuel chocolate chunks, shortbread, and gula melaka. Pandan Shake (S$7.80) puts a Singaporean-spin to their classic brew by adding pandan. Putting a spotlight on their burgers entails that its made with freshly ground 100% Angus beef. Rest assured that it has a delicate texture, great taste, and no added hormones. ShackBurger costs S$9.20 to $12.90.

Last but not the least is the ultimate throwback F&B opening of A&W Restaurant in Jewel Changi Airport. It is operating for 24 hours daily and is Halal-certified. Many are thrilled to taste the Root Beer Float, Coney Dogs, Curly Fries, and Waffle Ice Cream once more. This all-American restaurant will welcome long queues for sure!

Image Credits:greatdeals.com.sg

Oh! The Jewel houses a Pokemon center too. Certainly, the nation is shaken by the opening of the Jewel! Wait and see for more.

Sources: 1 & 2

Best Places To Withdraw Cash Overseas

Armed with five currencies in our arsenal, my friends and I decided to go to an Indochina trip. We foresaw great expenditures ahead! This is why we decided to divide the expenses throughout the months leading up to our trip. Our airline tickets and accommodations were all taken cared of. However, there were hidden expenses that we overlooked. This burnout my cash.

Now, I turned to the local ATM to replenish my funds. My friends, on the other hand, used credit cards and exchanged their American dollars. Which of us got the better deal? Well, this has been an ongoing debate ever since.

MONEY REMITTANCES

Say that you have an emergency and you do not carry extra cash or plastic cards. How will you solve the immediate situation? For starters, you may have someone from home wire money to you.

Within a day, you can get money from well-known international companies such as Western Union or MoneyGram. These two charge variable fees depending on how much money you are sending, how the recipient will access the money, and where it will be sent. The most economical price entails the slowest service.

The only downside is that remittance fees can run from 1 to more than 10 percent! Generally speaking, faster services entail more expensive fees.

CREDIT CARDS

What will you when your hotel bills skyrocketed without warning? You may consider using credit cards for large purchases like this. I am referring to airline tickets, car rentals, and fancy meals too.

The most attractive advantage to using credit cards while traveling overseas is that purchases are exchanged at the interbank exchange rate. Usually, this is the best rate you can get for a currency exchange. While most credit card issuers ask for conversion fees, these fees are usually lower than what you must pay in currency exchange counters. Furthermore, there are a few cards that do not charge for foreign transactions!

The only downside is the idea of paying hefty late payment charges when the credit card bill arrives earlier than you. So, make advance payment arrangements.

DEBIT AND ATM CARDS

Debit card was my weapon of choice when we went to Thailand. It is a quick way to get cash exchanged in the local currency. I stress on its convenience as major cities and airports have ATMs available everywhere. Moreover, you will get the same interbank exchange rate when you withdraw with your debit or ATM card as you do with your credit card.

The only downside is that you will be charged a service or conversion fee for every withdrawal you make. Fortunately for me, there are several UOB ATMs in Thailand!

JUST A RECAP!!!

Image Credits:pixabay.com

The best ways to exchange currency include using your credit, debit, or ATM cards. As much as possible, use your financial institution’s ATMs to get lesser conversion fees. Before leaving for your travels, ensure that you have your money exchanged in at least two different currencies. When you are back home, see if your bank will buy back your foreign currencies.

Source: smartertravel.com

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