Ask any game geek and they will tell you Japan is a mecca for all things in the video game world. It is one of the only countries where you can walk into a game shop and grab retro games from the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System) the Megadrive, the Playstation and a variety of other consoles from bygone days ('bygone' in gaming parlance is around five years or so). There are also tons of retro consoles to look at and purchase. A popular store is Hard-Off, this store is filled with boxes of consoles, extra power plugs, controllers and ... read more

Tent Having a reliable tent can make the difference between a enjoyable camping trip or a disastrous one. When buying your tent you have to take into account that the size will affect the price - a tent designed for say one or two people will be significantly cheaper than a tent designed for four to six people. When looking for a tent take into consideration the types of weather you will use the tent in, tents range from one- to four-season, some are only suited to particular weather conditions, some are suited for all weather conditions. Buying a tent with ... read more

Staying in contact with home while on holiday can be important for a number of different reasons. There may be family members staying back at home. You may be on vacation, but work still goes on. And sometimes just saying hello to loved ones will be enough reason. The cost of holidays goes up every time you turn around. Fuel costs more, which carries over into accommodation and food. The last thing any traveler needs to add to the expense budget is communication. Finding inexpensive ways to stay in touch can help to decrease worries and at the same time decrease ... read more

Making a break from it all during the spring feels great. Finding the extra money to make that break – or to take a vacation of any kind – may not be in the cards during these tight economic times. There are great vacations that you can take that will not break the bank and still give you the relaxation that you need. Great Vacations for a Budget Spring Break Consider a stay-cation. These at home versions of vacations began to gain popularity last year during the summer travel season when the economy was so tight and gas prices climbed so high. ... read more

With the recession no longer a news story but more of a long depressing trudge through the reality of it no longer being a news story but just, well, life, more than ever most of us need a good holiday to restore some cheer. Of course, with a recession in full slide, there’s not much spare cash floating about. Below are some top tips on how to knock a couple of hundred off the cost of a decent break. Travel 1. Shop around for flights Price comparison websites are useful, but not the be all of bargain hunting. Taking the time ... read more

As the pace of life seems to accelerate toward ever more frenetic speeds, the need to take a break, even for just a few days, is ever more pressing. No one can function well when they’re running on empty. But staying at home rarely does the trick; the temptation is always there to tidy up, shampoo the carpets, decorate, repair, improve, or just catch up with that soul-destroying backlog or ironing. You end up going back to work to catch a rest. If this story sounds depressingly familiar, it really is time to think of better ways to spend your short, ... read more

With many of us feeling the need to tighten belts and ease up on expenditure in these economically gloomy times, it still matters to arrange for a little beam of sunlight to cut through the grey mist every so often. And getting away from home for a couple of days is one very effective way of introducing some much needed levity and fun into the routines of life. For everyone on a tightened budget, this might seem like a wishful daydream, but there some great offers to be found out there which will get you out of the house (relaxing ... read more

As the ski season approaches the question arises again of whether it is better to save money and avoid the crowds or avoid the cold by taking a holiday later in the season. The Christmas and New Year period is always going to be busy, although it is still possible to find good deals. However, at that time the snow may not be at its best. Generally the best bargains can be found in January and this is also the time when snow conditions should be good. It is also when temperatures dip to their lowest so warm clothes are essential. European ... read more

Being the victim of crime when you are in familiar surroundings is difficult enough. When you are abroad in a foreign country, it can be the factor that exacerbates an already very stressful and unpleasant situation. Tourists are an ideal target for thieves; 1 in 20 will be the victim of some sort of crime on holiday. The problem with tourists is that they are generally easy to spot, they usually carry large amounts of currency and they often wander off the beaten path, ignorant to the risks they are taking. As a tourist, it is difficult to be any ... read more

Italy possesses a rich culture. Art, music, food and architecture - the country features near the top spot worldwide for nearly all of these. It’s a pleasant coincidence, then, that these are high up in the list of things most wanted on a good holiday. However, Italy’s embarrassment of riches can also be its Achilles heel. Even scratching the surface of all that Italy has to offer would take more than a month, a luxury most of us cannot afford. So in a country so full of great places to visit, where do you start?... read more