15 Fun family-friendly activities for mahala or less than R50

Raising children can be expensive. There are nappies, teeny garments, sticky sweets, mini furniture, toys and school fees to think about, so when it comes to entertaining them, most moms and pops likely want to keep costs as low as possible. Of course, this doesn’t mean simply sitting at home – no one wants little tykes climbing up curtains or hanging from lampshades – but rather finding fun family-friendly activities that don’t burn a hole in the pocket.

And fortunately, such things do actually exist in Cape Town. From free options like storytelling sessions at bookshops to very affordable to-dos like crocodile viewing, rose picking and grape juice tasting at wine farms, there are plenty ways to keep tiny tots busy while pinching the pennies. If you’re wondering where to find such alternatives, simply take a look below – we’ve carefully compiled an overview of things to do with kids for free or for less than R50 to help you get through the child-rearing phase with your bank balance still more or less intact.

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B4i.travel simplifies your communication needs when travelling and takes the risk out of high international roaming costs. We offer a range of pre-loaded, pre-activated and pre-registered world travel SIM cards so you’ll be connected when you arrive in the country you are visiting. Tourists, students and businessmen have been talking like a local in South Africa, USA, Europe with B4I.travel since 2010. It’s time to ‘Explore your world’.

Nothing invites you to immerse yourself into the culture of a destination as much as delicious food, as you experience a city through its aromas and flavours on a sensory expedition. Awaken your inner foodie as you delve into a food adventure discovering the best flavour-filled hotspots, exclusive culinary experiences and diverse food options North America has to offer.

Chefs Feed

You no longer have to falter your food adventures at the recommendations of wannabe food critics and soapbox experts. With Chefs Feed, you get a privileged view of the world’s best chefs who share their top local restaurant choices, best-loved spots, and favourite dishes and desserts that can satisfy the cravings of any seasoned taste buds. It takes the guesswork out of finding a great place to eat in a new city when you discover where the local chefs eat and what they eat. Click here to download Chefs Feed.

Off The Menu

Take your food adventures off the beaten path as the “Off The Menu” app invites you to become an insider as you explore previously exclusive food discoveries and secret taste experiences only available to those in-the-know. You’re able to track down a city’s tastiest off-menu dishes, hidden from the general public, through a curated list of lesser-known secrets from restaurants, bars and cafes across North America. Click here to download Off The Menu.

Foodspotting

If you’ve ever been to a good restaurant and had a disappointing dish or ate an amazing meal at an average restaurant then Foodspotting is the app to favour your food adventures. Roving foodies help to discover the best dishes by creating a visual guide of their favourite choices at a particular restaurant by rating and sharing the photos of their meals. It works in any city and small town and enables you to discover new options and local haunts to find good food anywhere. Click here to download Foodspotting.

Eat St.

As you explore a city distracted by the sights and sounds you suddenly become aware of your intense hunger pangs. Thankfully, the street food revolution in North America is cooking and there’s a choice feast of mobile eateries to still any rumbling. The Eat St. app can direct you to the best street food dishes in the city, as verified by the experts, through a database of over 8,000 mobile vendors. Locate and explore the live food truck map with this interactive app of traveling deliciousness. Click here to download Eat St.

Feastly

As a traveler you may be curious about discovering the diverse food and cultural potential of cities in its most authentic form. Feastly has become a growing community where passionate local chefs can express their culinary creativity by hosting adventurous eaters in the warm, inviting comfort of their homes to create authentic food experiences. These immersive encounters create unforgettable social culinary adventures, as you taste the city with locals. Click here to download Feastly.

Whether your choice is suggestions from top local chefs or foodies, discovering secret menus, exploring the street food phenomenon or feasting on hearty, home-cooked meals, there’s an app to help you fulfill your food adventures.

If you’re using WhatsApp to send and received holiday snaps you might know that it automatically downloads and saves the images and videos sent by others to the Camera Roll. This can quickly fill your memory, cluttering it with unwanted media, which takes up prime space that could be better used for other things.

Luckily, it is pretty simple to disable the auto-download function of WhatsApp.

Option 1: Your Phone Settings

– Go to “Settings” on your device. Then scroll down and tap on “Privacy”

– Tap on “Photos” and turn off the switch for WhatsApp

Any images or videos sent will stay within WhatsApp and won’t get stored in your Camera Roll.

Option 2: Whatsapp Settings

– Open WhatsApp and tap on “Settings” (Bottom menu bar – cogwheel)

– Tap on “Chats”

– Disable the switch for “Save Incoming Media”. By default this is set to on, which is green

This will stop Whatsapp from saving any media to your “Camera Roll”.

Saving Specific Images and Videos

You can save specific photos or videos to your Camera Roll by manually tapping on the images and video, then clicking the “Share” button and selecting “Save Image/Save Video”.

And there you go, less memes in your camera roll and more room for capturing new moments.

What, may you ask, is 4G?

Basically, it’s the fourth generation of mobile telecommunications networks, superseding 3G. What’s so handy about it is the fact that it is more reliable for wifi devices (cellphones, laptops etc.) that use mobile broadband services. It’s roughly five times faster than 3G internet.

Another term connected to 4G is LTE; this is abbreviated for Long Term Evolution and is a very technical process concerning high speed mobile data.

The only downside is that not all smartphones are able to connect to it; if you haven’t made the transition to a newer model of Samsung, iPhone or similar smartphone, this service might not be available to you.

Here’s a map of 4G LTE coverage in the USA:

This map showcases American 4G provider T-Mobile’s reach in the USA.

Click here to pinpoint your exact location and LTE coverage.

Looks like a dream come true, doesn’t it?

Most travellers make use of local prepaid SIM cards when abroad, and most bring their own devices along. When inserting your new SIM, even if it’s temporary, WhatsApp will require you to verify your new number. If your new number is registered and activated, and you have the app already downloaded on your phone, you can simply navigate to Settings → Account → Change Number.

WhatsApp offers convenience at your fingertips, and makes it so easy to stay in contact with friends and family back home. After changing your number, make sure that your contacts have it so that they are able reach you.

Click here for more information and detailed steps.

Travelling can put a strain on your budget, so the least of your concerns should be the amount you cough up for your phone bill. Using a local SIM is the most feasible and convenient option and it means you won’t have to break the bank when calling or texting in the country you’re visiting.

Here are 7 ways using a local SIM will make your life better while travelling.

1. It’s cheaper

Making use of a local SIM card means you’ll get the best rates for calls, texts and data. Most service providers charge a mammoth amount for their international roaming plans, whereas making use of local services means you can choose a SIM package that suits your pocket – and your needs.

2. It’s easy to set up

Using a local SIM card is easier to set up than most people think. Instead of frantically searching for a mobile kiosk at an airport, you can have your SIM registered, activated and preloaded with credit – ready for collection for when you arrive at the airport.

3. You’re not contractually bound

You don’t have to sign your life away by means of a cell phone contract. Making use of a prepaid SIM means you can choose when you want to top up, and by how much. Companies like B4iTravel offer once-off packages, with the option of topping up with airtime or data whenever you like.

4. You can stay in touch with the locals

Whether you want to text the new friends you made at that beach party, contact the business associate you met at that networking lunch, book accommodation or call the car rental service, doing it from a local number just makes this process so much easier.

5. You can stay in touch with your family and friends abroad

Having your SIM set up beforehand by a company like B4iTravel, means that you’ll be able to give your new number to friends and family before you leave on your trip. Apps like WhatsApp have also made it easier to stay in touch – you can simply use your local number on your current WhatsApp and migrate your settings and chat history.

 6. You can keep your local number for future visits

You don’t have to go through the same processes every time you travel abroad. Simply keep your SIM card in a safe place and use it whenever you visit that country. Most SIM cards have a lifespan of about three years – just make sure with the service provider you’re using.

 7. You can keep your device

On top of making travel plans, you shouldn’t have to get accustomed to a new device. Using a local prepaid SIM means you can keep your own cell phone or data device without the hassle of figuring out a new phone. Just make sure that your phone is network unlocked before you leave.

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, your priority should be to make the most of your time away and not painstakingly fret on how you’ll reach your loved ones.

B4iTravel takes the admin and effort of buying and setting up your local SIM out of your hands. Literally. We give you the option to choose a package that most suits your travel needs and you can have it done before you leave your home country!

It’s your call.

You want to make the most of your time abroad. So which apps are going to stand you in good stead when you visit the United States of America? Read on and get your app store ready.

Citymapper

Available in over 30 countries worldwide, this is your go-to app for transport. It’s even more integrated in terms of journey planning than Google.

It helps you get where you need to be by providing you with information on nearby Ubers, cycle routes, departure and arrival times of public transport systems and more. It even tells you how long your journey will take by jetpack!

Click here to learn more about Citymapper.

Duolingo

Even though you’ll get by fine with English, American cities are cosmopolitan; it’ll be good for you to know a bit of foreign banter. This app works like a child’s computer game by taking you through ‘levels’ during which you’ll learn to get the basics of a new language.

Click here to learn more about Duolingo.

XE Currency

This app is able to give you coverage of current exchange rates – very handy if you are on a budget with your home-base currency.

Click here to learn more about XE Currency.

Splittr

If you are travelling as a group and sharing costs, this app keeps track of who spends how much on what, so everyone can split the bill evenly without an argument come the end of the journey.

Click here to learn more about Splittr.

Tripit

Tripit takes all of your transport and accommodation emails and compacts it into a handy scheduled travel document. This comes in handy for time management, and saves you the hassle of carrying around paperwork and taking notes.

Click here to read more about Tripit.

Free Wifi Finder

This app is sure to be a favourite as it helps you find free WiFi hotspots in more than 50 countries.

Click here to learn more about WiFi Finder.

Google Photos

We’ve all experienced that moment when we’re having a good time taking photos and your phone runs out of storage and you start going through your pics deleting, arg! Well with Google Photos you’ll never run out of storage again. Their smarter albums are great for all your adventures along with fun animations, movies and more.

Click here to learn more about Google Photos.

With these apps and some good cheer, you’re bound to have a ball of a time abroad in the States!

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It’s easy to get a bit side-tracked when planning your trip overseas. Daydreaming about those laid-back balmy beach days or cosy winter nights, can mean that the tedious task of meticulous planning is often left on the backburner.

Go the extra mile by taking the following into account to ensure that your plans run relatively incident-free.

Do you have all the necessary documents?
Is your passport and visa packed? Life has a way of being unpredictable and as Murphy would have it, often with catastrophic consequences. Sigh. Rather play it safe – make a few copies of your documents and keep them close by.

Do you have all the necessary accessories?
We know: things like batteries and alarm clocks don’t make the cut on your list of things to get excited about. However, make sure that you pack them along with the right plugs and adapters, suitable for the country you’re travelling to. Double check that you have locks for your luggage, and even your backpack or travel bag that you’ll carry with you on your daily outings.

Do you have travel insurance?
Are you covered against baggage loss, flight cancellations, and medical emergencies, to name but a few? Get comprehensive travel insurance to ensure that you enjoy a hassle-free holiday.

Is your electronic ticket printed out?
Your e-ticket is usually available 24 hours after confirmation of your booking. You need to present this, along with your passport when you check-in at the airport.

Do you have sufficient travel money?
Getting stuck without money in a foreign country is not how most of us wish to spend our days. Double check with your local bank beforehand to ensure that you have enough cash and credit. Have money on hand in the correct currency for when you land – maybe you’ll need to catch a cab or grab a quick bite. You can always top-up later when needed.

Did you double check your flight status and departure date and time?
Go over your booking again. Make sure your flight is at 09:00 and not 19:00. Oversights happen – especially when you’re under a lot of pressure to get things done. At times flights are delayed, mostly due to the weather, so if you’re travelling in winter, carry a warm blanket, jacket and blow-up pillow with you. The wait can be long and exorbitant.

Did you double check your transport for when you land?
Are you taking a cab or is someone picking you up? If someone is picking you up from the airport, confirm the time with them before you leave.

Did you double check your accommodation booking?
Again, call ahead before you leave. You don’t want to be left out in the cold in another country, or pay thousands for alternative accommodation. Confirm your check-in and check-out times with the place or places you’ll be staying at.

Did you check the weather forecast and pack accordingly?
The weather is subject to change, but you can at least get a feel for what the days and nights will be like. If you’re travelling in summer, be sure to pack warm clothes too as the evenings can oftentimes be chilly. Winter calls for coats, boots, jerseys, raincoats, scarves, and beanies. Go prepared.

Ticking the above points off your list is probably the least fun part of planning. However, it’s a necessary evil if you want to go the distance to ensure that your travel plans run smoothly. Enduring the administrative bore now means you’ll have more time to enjoy your holiday later!

If You Don’t Speak the Language let Google Translate

Google Translate(free on iOS and Android). This app can help you overcome some foreign language obstacles. Its simplest feature is the text-translation system— you type in text in a foreign language and Google will give you the English translation, or you type in English what you want to say in another language and Google will show you the foreign text to use.

Google Translate also has a spoken-word feature, where it will listen to someone speaking in, say, French, and show the translated text in English on the screen. This can be unreliable, depending on the noisiness of the environment.

A very handy feature of Google Translate is its camera-based translation. To use this, place text printed in a foreign language in front of your phone’s camera, and on the screen, you’ll see a live image with the words automatically replaced in English. This tool is particularly helpful for reading restaurant menus.

This requires data and can be invaluable when you are out  and about so you may want to buy a little extra data if you will be out and about in a foreign country.

Bring Along a WiFi Router and Create a Hotspot for the Whole Family

Bring along an inexpensive WiFi router.  With a WiFi router and a local SIM, you can share a data package among your family. Everyone will have the connectivity and convenience of the internet as you travel and tour around.  Use it for directions, Whatsapp, Skype, Factetime, WiFi calling, etc.  You will need a separate SIM with a data package for the router.  Most likely you will still want a another local SIM with voice for making local calls but you will not need extra data  this SIM.