Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is an island off of the east coast of Kra Isthmus lying within the Gulf of Thailand. It is the second largest island in Thailand and is home to many fantastic beaches, tropical blue waters, and beautiful scenes of nature.

Koh Samui is in close proximity to other major island travel destinations in Thailand making it the perfect destination for your next vacation. Originally a Thai fishing community, Koh Samui has since been transformed into a world of resorts and has become a very sought after destination for tourism.

There is no shortage of culture in Koh Samui, and there is a wide variety of individuals from all over the world who visit Samui year round. While this island is a fantastic place all year, the best time to visit is in March when the weather is great, the beaches are lively with visitors, and the wildlife is out and about.

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March Weather:

March is one of the warmest months in Koh Samui and that makes it prime time for a nice dip in the ocean. The weather doesn’t range much. Here’s the daily outlook for March in Samui.

As you can see Samui stays pretty consistent in the mid 80’s F which is prime weather for a beach getaway. No sweaters required. In addition, nighttime in Samui stays about this temperature as well, so you don’t have to run back to the villa and change for your wonderful evening out at the local Samui hotspots.

In addition, with Samui being located in the tropics it is understood that usually the island is a rainy place. Often times a visit is accompanied by thunderstorms and you are most certainly going to get wet.

However, March in Koh Samui sings a different tune for all you out there who aren’t rain fans. It is one of the driest months averaging only 4 days of rainfall over the course of the month. This means that you can enjoy the warm sun and will have no worry of needing a parka on your adventures.

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Cost of Visit:

Depending on where you are from, the exchange rate for travel to Thailand is fantastic. When I went just last year the exchange rate was coming in around .0286 USD per Thai Baht. So 100 Baht is only around 3 USD.

In addition, prices in Koh Samui are not generally consistent with the US or other places of the world. Thailand is cheaper overall, meaning high quality Thai food is low cost. Let me tell you, the food in Thailand is absolutely AMAZING. For the price? Who can beat it. Some evenings we would have huge meals for only 100 Baht. Meaning that our meal cost us only $3. These were full entrees also, not a McDonald’s cheeseburger.

I know you are probably wondering at this point about the cost of lodging. Well, that is also very reasonable. You can choose to stay at an extremely upscale resort, or you can use Airbnb or your own private research to find an equally comparable villa. I personally chose Green Coconut Village on Koh Samui because of its proximity and friendly staff.

Your stay is partially about the people, and having a friendly staff to help you navigate the island is very important when you are somewhere you have never traveled before. I commend Green Coconut Village for this.

In addition, we were close to the best beaches and night clubs on the island for our evening fun. We had great restaurants right down the beach, and the price was great for a 3 bedroom villa. The overall cost averaged for us around $175 a night for the entire villa and great service.

So if you are looking for a place to stay I would suggest this quiet village. It allows you to remove yourself from the night life and relax and enjoy the beach during the morning hours if you please.

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Things to Do:

Koh Samui boast countless things to do. I have a few personal favorites directly on Koh Samui and some additional ones from the surrounding areas. Here are my top 5 things to do when visiting Samui.

1. Rent a moped and explore the entire island in a day. This is a stretch as there is so much to do, but the scenery and different small villages through the island are amazing. You can take a scooter around the main highway and end up exactly where you started. I would encourage you to get an early start as it does take quite a bit of time. My personal favorite stops are the multiple waterfalls. If you snag a map from the Bo Phut area you’ll easily be able to navigate the main land marks.
2. Take a speedboat from Bo Phut over to Koh Tao and Nanyuan. Koh Tao has some of the most beautiful snorkeling in the world. It is home to some of the best diving reefs on the planet as well. If you are scuba certified this is the go to! If not snorkeling is still great. Also, you’ll want to hike to the top of Nanyuan which is perhaps the most famous photo spot in all of Thailand. No pictures here. Just trust me and go see the beauty it has to offer for yourself.
3. Party it up at the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. Full moon party is quite the experience. If you at all love nightlife and culture this is the place to experience everything. I suggest jumping the fire jump rope, sliding from the top of one of the popular beach bars down onto the beach, or hanging out by one of the many stages watching fire dancers go crazy.
4. Eat at the best restaurants on the island. I’d honestly just start walking down the beach and go to the first place you come to or whatever looks enticing to you. Most of Koh Samui’s restaurants have fresh caught seafood from that morning. Usually you can ask to have it cooked any way you would like as well. In addition, have yourself some Thai Tea and some quality cocktails overlooking the beach at sunset. You won’t be disappointed.
5. Lastly, meet people! Everyone in Koh Samui has an amazing story. You can easily meet the restaurant owners who have been running the place for years. I personally met people from all over the world…English teachers from Canada, Restaurant owners from Spain, Vacationers from Sweden, you name it. Not only that but meet the locals. Our tour guide to Koh Tao was originally from Myanmar and had moved to Thailand to explore the water every day.

I hope these tips help on your visit to Koh Samui. If you do stay at Green Coconut Village tell the staff I say hello.

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Not convinced? Want more information? Let me know in the comments below and let’s chat about Koh Samui.

Been there yourself? Love it or hate it? Share your thoughts below also.

If you are wondering how I work from these awesome destinations all over the world cruise over and check out my Wealthy Affiliate Review.

Also check out the Best Place to Travel in April.

Wellington, New Zealand

Knocking down on average around 2,000 hours of wonderful sunshine a year, there is honestly no BAD time to visit Wellington. However, we have done the research at Incite Wealth and are ready to tell you why February is the best time to visit.

Wellington is not just another capital city, it’s the leader in arts and has recently been deemed the most creative city in New Zealand. This is without a doubt one of the richest cities for arts and culture in the entire world and by our standards is an absolute must see.

In addition to doing our own online research, and having been to Wellington ourselves, we also had the chance to talk to a Wellington resident who gave us a few local tips. If you want to hear his suggestions, read on my friend.

 

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February Weather:

February is without a doubt the best time to enjoy the outdoors. This is largely in part due to Wellington’s amazing February weather.

Boasting highs on average of 70 degrees F and average lows of only 61 degrees F you can comfortably venture outside and explore the cities vast landscape and beaches.

70 degrees is warm enough to evade the sweater, however, the wind in Wellington can get a little bit excessive matching that of New York City in some months. In February you may be able to avoid this but take a light windbreaker just in case!

In addition to the awesome sunshine you can also expect the least amount of rain in the summer month of February. February is actually the month with the least amount of rainfall and least amount of days with rainfall over the course of the entire year.

Considering that February in New Zealand is summer, you would expect there to be minimal rain, so this makes sense.

However, it is bringing up the back end of summer, so expect there to be a large influx of crowds during this time and be prepared to battle the standard tourist.

 

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Cost of Visit:

The cost of your visit to Wellington can vary greatly. Personally I like to stay luxury, I’ve done the backpacker version of travel and while it is a blast to meet people and have fun, I like my privacy.

Depending on what you enjoy, I’ll give you the rundown on both options.

Backpackers Paradise:

If you are a backpacker, chances are you have minimal luggage with you. Just your pack and your own mental baggage. You may be extremely worn out at this point and just be happy with any old piece of mattress to crash on.

However, you may just be getting started on your packing journey and be looking for something a little more cushy and comfortable. Regardless of your goal, you can get into a place in Wellington for pretty cheap.

Average price of a hostel style place in Wellington during February is around $36/night. This is pretty cheap by American standards, and even for a backpacker on a budget this would be a good option. Book your stay here.

The YHA Wellington is the place to go for backpackers as you can book a shared ensuite or your own private place for a solid price.

Luxury:

Maybe you are with your family, maybe you’ve become successful on the internet as an affiliate marketer and entrepreneur like I’ve done and want somewhere that you can stay in style while still being able to work from abroad.

If that is the case there is quite a range of options for you. Cost wise you are looking at anywhere from $189-$309/night. Keep in mind these aren’t your standard hotel amenities and you pay for location. Some places like the Museum Art Hotel Apartments (as seen below) are right on the water so obviously the price goes up a bit.

There are some options that are still hotels but they come in a bit closer to backpacking prices. If that’s what you’re going for then The Cambridge Hotel below might not be a bad idea.

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Things to Do:

Since Wellington is such a lively city and one of the busiest in New Zealand, there is no shortage of fantastic experiences to be had here.

There’s a few different suggestions we’ve been given on the top things to do in Wellington and we’ve outlined them here.

1. The number 1 recommended thing to do in Wellington was visiting the Te Papa Museum. This was personally recommended to me by the resident mentioned above. Te Papa is a great national museum and mixed art gallery that has everything from a bug lab to great cafes and shops within. If you take my advice and visit Wellington this is the top priority for your trip.
2. I was personally recommended the must-have Ortega Fish Shack. By American Standards this eatery is not too expensive. However, it can be somewhat pricey for those on a serious budget. Ortega has won multiple Capital awards within the city in addition to the Chef’s Hat Award. I highly suggest checking out their exquisite menu here.
3. On the western side of Wellington resides Mount Kaukau. This summit is quite the trek, so hikers will be in love. Even if you aren’t an avid hiker yourself, it’s worth the hike to see the amazing views up top. The hike overall is about an hour and can be pretty steep in some places. I would share a picture, but I think it’s something that you deserve to see for yourself.
4. Not far outside Wellington is the Matiu/Somes Island which also comes as a highly recommended destination. This is a historic reserve privately owned. There is no predator activity allowed so the wildlife is in great abundance. If you are an animal lover, there will be no shortage of that here.

Those are my top 4 to-dos in Wellington. There are really a million different things to see in such an artistic and amazing city. I hope that you make it out in February and get to see all the wonderful offerings this city really has for yourself. Stop back in after the trip and let everyone know how it was!

 

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Not convinced? Want more information? Let me know in the comments below and let’s chat about Wellington.

Been there yourself? Love it or hate it? Share your thoughts below also.

If you are wondering how I work from these awesome destinations all over the world cruise over and check out my Wealthy Affiliate Review.

Also check out the Best Place to Travel in March.

Miami Beach, Florida-USA

Ah, Miami Beach, the land of bikinis and tanned up muscle heads strutting around on the warm white sand.

Known for it’s beautiful 20th century architecture and abundance of models and celebrities, everything in Miami Beach will catch your eye. Miami Beach isn’t exactly mainland Miami, but it is a smaller island area just off of mainland Miami that is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.

Miami Beach is a prime place to cruise the palm tree lined Ocean Drive, or go take a dip in the bath water-like ocean. It’s highly coveted properties in South Beach are a great visitation spot and the culture of south Florida runs rich in this area.

There are a ton of benefits to visiting Miami in general, but visiting during January is especially nice.

January Weather:

Usually Florida is known for it’s summer storms. Quite often when visiting in the summer months of June, July, and August you will not have a single afternoon outside to relax and soak up the sun.

Thunderstorms roll into much of Florida in the afternoons, and you end up blasted with rain and lightning.

This isn’t very attractive for those trying to take a swim in the ocean or hangout by the pool. Considering these are some of the main things to do in Miami Beach traveling here during these summer months can really kill your mojo.

In addition to being stuck inside on your vacation, you’ll quickly realize that flying into Miami in this sort of weather is less than ideal. Flights can easily be delayed, you can be stuck in a holding pattern for hours, or maybe you’ll just be trapped in the airport with no luggage until the thunderstorm lets up enough for the airport staff to unload.

All of these things lead to January. Since Florida is generally a tropical climate, it doesn’t get very cold in Miami Beach. In the middle of January you actually see some of the driest times of the year.

The precipitation levels in January on average come in around 2″. This is extremely low considering if you were to visit in June you would expect closer to 8-9″ of rainfall.

In addition to the nice dry air during January, you generally see moderate temperatures that keep you just warm enough to take a dip in the ocean. The average for January pushes a beautiful 74 degrees F. This is perfect weather for relaxing. Since you’re on vacation I’m guessing this is your goal.

Cost of Visit:

The cost of staying in Miami Beach per night can range from around $175-$500 depending on the exact location of the resort and the amenities you require from the hotel.

If you aren’t after marble floors and all the luxury goods then you can most certainly stay at one of the main hotel chain resorts like the Hilton Garden Inn just blocks away from the historical Miami Architecture District.

Things to Do:

• Rent a Boat or Jet Skis. The very first thing you should do in Miami is get in the water. Everyone in South Florida loves their boats. You may as well experience this place like a local. So grab yourself a boat from one of the many boat rental companies in Miami Beach and get out on the ocean.

If you would rather be a jet skier, then that’s fine too. Since Miami Beach doesn’t have huge waves it won’t be so exhausting to cruise up and down the coastline either.

• Go Shopping. Lincoln Avenue is one of the most historical shopping destinations out there. If you’ve been needing to treat yourself to something nice for a while and the vacation just isn’t doing it for you, then you definitely want to cruise down here and explore all the awesome shops.

• Hit a Club or a Beach Bar. Whether you are a big drinker or not, you should at least check one of these places out. Miami Beach is home to some of the best nightlife. This especially holds true during the summer, but January is no slouch. Since the temperatures in January only see the lower end of the 60s many people are still out at night exploring this city.

In addition, the beach bars during the day are boisterous and fun. Even if you just want to catch lunch and not explore the wide variety of cocktails on the menus the local beach bars are the place to go. I personally suggest hitting The Broken Shaker, it’s my favorite cocktail bar.

• Explore the Beautiful Architecture of the Art Deco Historic District. I know I mentioned this earlier in the post, but you wouldn’t believe your eyes with all the colors this place boasts at night time. During the day it is an awesome sight, but cruise down to this district in the evening or night and check out the lights. I purposefully didn’t share a photo here, see it for yourself!

Not convinced? Want more information? Let me know in the comments below and let’s chat about Miami Beach.

Been there yourself? Love it or hate it? Share your thoughts below also.

If you are wondering how I work from these awesome destinations all over the world cruise over and check out my Wealthy Affiliate Review.

Also check out the Best Place to Travel in February.

I’m going to tell you a story. This is a story about the fabulous Sin City and what I’ve experienced every time I adventure to this wonderland of empty promise and pretend riches. Most people don’t win in Vegas, it’s statistically proven.

I DO. And I’m going to tell you how in this article.

If you really want to know how to win in Vegas you have to understand a few things, it’s not easy, and the definition of “Winning” here is pretty loose.

Why Do People Go To Las Vegas?

I’m sure most of you have heard about all the insane times your friends have had in Vegas, and I’m sure that most of you are here reading this because you either want to, or already have, planned a trip to probably one of the most charactered cities in the world.

Depending on the occasion, you may all be heading to Vegas for many different reasons. I’ll list a few of the main reasons below:

1. Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties: A ton of people find this as their travel destination right when they are on the verge of getting married. This is usually ill-advised but your friends want that one last hoorah of freedom with you. Now your blindfolded at Caesar’s Palace at 4am when they said you were just hitting the local Chili’s down the road.
2. The Club Scene/Music: Vegas is a huge hot spot for resident DJ’s and artists from all over the globe. There are many top acts in Vegas including world class DJ’s and pioneers like Steve Aoki for example. In addition to the DJ scene you can always stop in and see J-Lo for a night, that’s iconic in itself.
3. The Shows: Everything from Cirque Du Soleil all the way to the Pirate Show outside of Treasure Island, you can see it all in Vegas. Some of these shows are pretty expensive though so prepare your wallet.
4. The Architecture/Rides: I know I probably shouldn’t lump these into one category, but most of the people that are in Vegas for one of these reasons is really drawn to the other attraction. This is essentially the category all your typical tourists fall into or people who have never visited Sin City before.
5. Gambling/Casinos: Probably the most popular reason to go to Vegas is gambling. It is without a doubt the hottest spot for sitting down at a table and throwing some chips around. Now while there is money to be won gambling, I want to explain to you how I look at this “sport” so to speak…

The Secret To Gambling

 Everyone thinks that there is some magic formula to gambling.

They imagine themselves coming straight out of the movie 21 and counting Blackjack until they become Millionaires and the couple bumps and bruises they obtain in the process are completely worth it.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are odds and strategies to winning poker games, roulette, craps, pretty much any game you play. However, these odds are usually set against you, especially in a city where the casinos can easily take your money after feeding you a few drinks.

There are a few different key points to focus on when gambling, and the secret to gambling encompasses all of them.

• Read: My personal suggestion is that you read up on all the different types of games before you go blasting into Vegas like a runaway locomotive. It’s important to understand particular odds of individual games, when to bet on your hand, and when to throw in the towel. It also helps understanding where to bet based on best odds of winning.
• Casino Selection: So as much fun as it is to gamble at some of the super casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, you have to realize your odds are decreasing here. Whether it is through more decks on the poker tables, or higher cost of hands, you will probably lose money faster at some of the huge casinos than you would at the smaller casinos on Fremont Street.
• Don’t Drink Too Much: If you start to drink too much, you will most certainly lose your money quickly. Your inhibitions go out the window when you drink so you are more likely to bet big and pretend like you’re going to win it. This is usually not the case (the odds are against you remember). Free drinks will come at you all night, make sure to work in some water. Check out Incite Fitness for some more on drinking and hydration.
• EXPECT TO LOSE:  ALWAYS go into Vegas expecting to lose. This is the secret to gambling. As long as you aren’t hoping and dreaming of getting rich and you follow some of the steps above, you’ll win. No I don’t mean you’re going to win a bunch of money after you read about and understand different poker games. No I don’t mean selecting the right casino is going to make you a fortune. Not getting hammered won’t make you a billionaire either.

Definition Of Winning

I define winning as gaining the most you can out of the experience. I enjoy gambling, but I consider it an expense for the brief getaway.

I’ve spent a decent amount of time in Vegas and I never come out in shock about how much I’ve lost (or won, I really have won a couple of times).

This mindset keeps me sane. Understand that you must never use money that you HAVE to have to pay your bills or money that is considered your safety net to gamble. This is not safe.

If you want safe investments please read more about being an entrepreneur online. You can start out completely free and this method won’t deplete your bank account in one hand.

There are ways to benefit from gambling even when you don’t win. Every time I go to Vegas my stay is almost completely free. From free rooms, to free food, to free night club admission. I can go to Vegas and my only expense will be what I am willing to spend on Three Card Poker or at the Sports Book.

How To Go To Vegas For Free?

Join a rewards program! There are a couple major programs in Vegas including M Life Rewards that encompasses the Aria, Bellagio, MGM, Mandalay Bay, and more.

In addition you can sign up for the TR Rewards Program (my personal favorite) and take advantage of earning at The Rio, The Linq, Caesar’s, Bally’s, Harrah’s, Paris, and more.

If you have a budget for gambling, you’ll usually play enough to earn a decent amount of points. These points get you huge discounts at restaurants within these casinos in addition to comped/discounted rooms.

The fantastic thing here is, if your room is free you may want to spend a little more on the tables. The casinos know and understand this, so they are winning also.

A free trip to Vegas is winning in my book. If you were ever wondering how to go to Vegas for free, here is your answer. I understand you may say “it’s not technically free, you’re paying for it by gambling.”

I look at things as being free when I was going to do them anyway. If I was going to throw a couple thousand dollars at a table, why not get a comped suite out of it? What would you do? Thought so…

As always please leave a comment below and talk about your experiences with Las Vegas! If you have any questions for me about rewards program’s, what they offer, or how they work feel free to ask below as well!

Disclaimer: Gambling is a HUGE risk. Do not partake in gambling unless you fully understand what the repercussions of losing are. Do not gamble more than you can afford. If you have a gambling problem there are websites that you can turn to for help anonymously. This article is not meant to encourage anyone to gamble. Simply to explain how to get the most out of your experience gambling.