This FREE Offer Will Change the Way You Save for Travel

By Robert Firpo-Cappiello
March 8, 2016
Lonely Planet - England
Lonely Planet

I’ve been having a ball using the You Need a Budget app in a FREE trial to help me keep track of my personal finances and save for my next big family vacation.

As I reported in “10 Smart & Easy Money-Saving Secrets,” the You Need a Budget app is a powerful tool that harnesses the company’s top money-managing precept: Give each dollar a job. By assigning each dollar a job, you become aware of exactly what you’re spending your money on, and you become free to re-assign money to priorities like travel.

What’s your dream trip? Ready to get started saving for it? Visit YouNeedaBudget.com to start the FREE trial.

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Hong Kong's Most Stylish Steal: A Custom Tuxedo

Tucked behind an arcade of busy stores, Sam’s Tailor in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui doesn’t look like much from the outside—a small shop crammed with customers—but photographs lining the walls belie its reputation. As I waited for my appointment, I perused photos of the shop’s most notable clients, spanning royalty (Prince Charles) to politics (the Clintons and the Bushes) to fashion (Kate Moss) to movies (Kevin Spacey) to music (David Bowie).  Hong Kong is renowned for the 24-hour suit—a marvel of British-style tailoring and Asian efficiency. Luckily, I had a few days in Hong Kong and could schedule more than one fitting. I came to Sam’s armed with ripped-out magazine pages of my ultimate fashion fantasy: a slim-cut, Le Smoking tuxedo made famous by Yves Saint Laurent in 1966.  Roshan Melwani, the original Sam’s grandson and fellow tailor, immediately knew what I was gunning for, and pulled down books of fabrics for me page through. After viewing and touching every iteration, I selected an all-weather, wrinkle-resistant black fabric and a rich burgundy paisley lining. I also ordered a tuxedo shirt with a pleated front and French cuffs. The price? $450, a steal compared to an off-the-rack designer suit, which average about $2,000. In the middle of the shop, Melwani took my measurements and told me to come back the next day for a fitting. On my second visit, I tried on pants with an unfinished waistband and a jacket with only one full sleeve. Chalk lines indicated where darts, a silk lapel or pockets would go. Already, the fit was better and more flattering than anything I’d ever worn. As I changed back into my slouchy sundress in the dressing room, a signed photograph of Hillary Clinton seemed to be looking down at me approvingly.   The next day, I picked up the finished product. The shirt was crisp; the jacket and pants were sharp but comfortable. To my surprise and delight, the shirt had my initials discreetly embroidered using white thread at the cuff, and a tag inside the jacket stated my full name and the date the suit was made. Melwani kept my measurements so I could order other items when I returned home. But I know I’ll be back in person for more. Where to go: Sam’s Tailor, K1 Burlington Arcade, 90-94C Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (samstailor.com). Where to stay: Bishop Lei International House in the swanky Mid-Levels neighborhood is a short walk to the SoHo escalators and overlooks the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (from $133 per night, bishopleihtl.com.hk). It operates a free shuttle to and from Central, Admiralty and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Ask for a room with views of Victoria Harbor.

Product Reviews

You Need This New Passport App Now!

One of the questions I get asked most often is: “How can I get through customs faster?” Up until now, the answer has always involved tips on packing neatly and politely and accurately answering questions. But the Mobile Passport app is poised to change the way you pass through (or make that “breeze through”) customs. How does it work? Download the app to your mobile phone, and when you are about to land back in the U.S. after overseas travel, complete the app’s “New Trip” section (including the airport you're arriving at and the airline you’re flying), snap a selfie, and answer common customs questions right on the app. You’ll receive a bar-coded e-receipt, which you’ll present to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer to re-enter the U.S. How can you get Mobile Passport? If you’re a U.S. or Canadian citizen with a valid passport, you are eligible to use the Mobile Passport app at five U.S. airports that are part of the Mobile Passport program: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle, with 20 airports expected to be available in the next 12 months. To learn more, visit the Mobile Passport page of the CBP’s website. TALK TO US! We want to know: Have you tried Mobile Passport?

Product Reviews

Best Credit Cards for Travel Insurance

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Product Reviews

Flight Attendant Fashion Gets an Upgrade

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