Marwan Farouk

Marwan Farouk's Tips When In Europe

Welcome to the Marwan Farouk blog. Let’s be honest. Who doesn’t want a trip to Europe? We’ve all dreamed once in our lives of visiting the Eiffel Tower and medieval churches. European attractions are filled with so much history, not to mention, the culture, food and the spectacular views make experiencing Europe a must. But a trip to Europe can be daunting to some given the popular awareness of how expensive it can be. Here are my top budget travel hacks for traveling in Europe.

• Save money on booking your flight to Europe. Let’s start off with booking your flight to Europe, as this would take a huge chunk of your budget. Start hunting for flights at least 6 months before you take the trip. The same rule applies to all international flights. The reason for this is that international flights are few and prices are more influenced by availability. As the seats fill up, the ticket prices increase.

*Top tip: Never book a round-trip ticket if you’re visiting several countries.

•  Exchange currency beforehand. The biggest mistake that many travelers make is to exchange money at the airport. Even though it is enticing to see on the signage, “No Commission!”, just ignore it. They offer unbelievably low rates. The best place to exchange money is at your local bank. If you do forget to exchange euros before boarding your flight, your best bet is to withdraw money at a bank within Europe or at a currency converter outside the airport. 
• Avoid the red bus! That’s right.. This bus is mainly for convenience if you want to go sightseeing. But it comes with a hefty price. If your goal is budget travel, the best option available to explore a new city is local transportation.

• Skip the taxi at the airport. For budget travel, an obvious step to take is skipping the taxi at the airport. But it could be tempting to take this option if you arrive at the airport late at night, and especially if you know that your hotel would require some lengthy walking to get to.
• Grab some snacks before the flight. Just like other places in the world, Europe can be pretty expensive when it comes to airplane snacks. 
• Avoid traveling in the summer if you can avoid it. Traveling to Europe (and generally to most other places) during the summer will not only be less satisfying—locals go abroad, everywhere is booked up and crowded, etc.—but will also be more expensive. If you’re able to, traveling to Europe during the winter can save you enormous amounts of money, and especially with hotel bookings. You should also try to avoid traveling in December if you can.
• Be open to ride-sharing.Sharing a long distance ride with a complete stranger has become quite a common thing within Europe now. This is a great way to save money on travel within Europe if you’re comfortable with the idea.
• Consider Airbnb when visiting Europe. I am a huge fan of Airbnb because they have a fantastic range of places to stay and always offer great value. As much as I love staying in hostels, I love sometimes to have the comfort and privacy of a flat.

Marwan Farouk is a retired surgeon and a traveler. Learn more about Marwan Farouk online here. Marwan Farouk also provide tips so others won’t have to waste hard-earned money when traveling and avoid the mistakes that he did on the Marwan Farouk Twitter page. You can also read Marwan Farouk's news here.

Marwan Farouk Shares His Travel On A Budget Tips

Welcome to the Marwan Farouk blog. Okay, I know. Travelling ‘on a budget’ might not sound like a particularly glamorous proposition. But one person’s idea of ‘budget travel’ and another’s can be quite different. This guide isn’t about complicated ‘travel hacking’ methods or extreme penny-pinching; but budget travel tips for the ‘average’ traveller. So if you’re looking for easy ways to travel more and spend less in style, I'm going to share what I’ve picked up along the way. 

General Budget Travel Tips

• Avoid peak travel season. Obvious is obvious, but if you can avoid travelling in school holidays or over Christmas, avoid it, because everything’s usually more expensive!
• Check your insurance. Travel insurance never seems useful or important til you actually need it; then it becomes vital. Shop around, and take it out as soon as you’ve booked a trip as it could cover you for some unforeseen circumstances that might result in you having to cancel before you travel. Travel lots? Definitely worth looking at an annual policy.

Saving Money on Flights, Buses & Trains

• Be flexible. Travelling mid-week is often cheaper than at weekends –  something you can do with just a Monday/Friday off work. If you’re flexible, you can compare dates across a whole month using Skyscanner for the cheapest fares.
• Search in incognito mode. I always forget to do this, and actually haven’t noticed a huge difference…but it’s pretty common advice to search in an incognito browser to find cheap flights. Or clear your cookies before searching the same destinations/routes.
• Look at indirect flights. If you’ve got time, but not money, going via somewhere else might bring your flight cost down by more than you’d think.
• Check for hidden extras. Luggage is the main one – most budget short-haul flights include only hand luggage, some don’t even include hand luggage as standard at all
• Book your trains early. Travelling by train? Advance fares are released around 12 weeks in advance, which is when they’ll be cheapest.

Luggage & Packing Tips

• Travel light. If your flight’s hand luggage only, you might have to streamline your packing to avoid extra case charges. It’s actually really easy to do on a weekend city break.
• Save on miniature toiletries. Instead of buying mini versions of stuff you have already, grab some travel bottles* and decant the products you have at home. It’s cheaper in the long run AND better for the environment.
• Check your weight. Carry on with that doughnut, cause I’m talking about your luggage here. Grab an affordable luggage to avoid the paranoia that your case will be 3lbs overweight and you’ll spend all your taco money before you’ve even passed through security.
• Buy before you travel. Not applicable in all cases, as some countries sell things you’ll need cheaper than in the UK. But do your research.

Finding Cheap Accommodation

• Secure a great hotel deal early. I always like to book somewhere as soon as I’ve ordered flights, finding a budget hotel or great deal on booking.com with free cancellation. That way, I can still consider other options but have a fallback option still – just make sure you note down the last date to cancel.
• Check out AirBnB. 

Eating & Drinking on a Budget While Travelling

The most important tip? Weigh up what’s important to you…

Often, when travelling on a budget, you need to compromise a little. Working out what your travel priorities for a destination are before you go will make sure you can travel on a budget.

Marwan Farouk is a retired surgeon and a traveler. Everyday, Marwan wake up with one goal in mind- to help other people travel better and realize YOUR travel dreams. Discover more about Marwan Farouk  here. You can find travel photos & videos Marwan Farouk traveled on the Marwan Farouk Facebook page. You can also check Marwan Farouk's  travel expert advice and unbiased reviews here.

Steps to Becoming a Surgeon

Whatever your reasons for considering to become a surgeon – whether it’s the prestige, pay or intellectual stimulation associated with this highly rewarding and exciting career path, or even being inspired by TV shows like ER and Grey’s Anatomy (ah, McSteamy!) – we’ve put together this little guide to help you get started. From working hours to useful skills and required qualifications to where to look for opportunities, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out everything there is to know about how to become a surgeon!

1. Research the Profession. To ensure that a career in surgery is right for you, it’s essential that you first gain a complete and thorough understanding of what exactly the profession entails. Below is an overview of job duties, skills, working conditions and salary information.A surgeon’s job is not confined to the operating theatre. Their typical day-to-day duties may include:

• meeting patients (and possibly their families) before the operation to decide on the best course of action for their condition
• explaining procedures and risks involved
• taking tests and arranging X-rays
• performing pre-booked or emergency operations as part of a team (including other surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists and administrators)
• carrying out ward rounds to check the state and progress of patients in their care
• writing to GPs about patients’ conditions and treatments
• performing administrative duties (e.g., completing paperwork).

Benefits of Workng for the NHS

There’s a lot to consider for qualified international nurses and doctors thinking of relocating to the UK. A major consideration is whether you will work in the public or private sector. Working for the NHS is an attractive option for many, which is why its workforce is so wonderfully diverse and multicultural – reflective of the UK population itself. The NHS actively welcomes professionally qualified doctors and nurses from outside the UK and there are many benefits to choosing this employer. Here are our top 4.

Working for the largest employer in the UK. With over 1.3 million employees, the NHS is the largest employer in the UK. By working for the NHS, you can enjoy job security knowing that you are working for a well-established organisation which has been around since 1948. Having such a renowned organisation on your CV will be an asset which opens opportunities in the future, should you eventually choose to move on.

Manageable work hours. The NHS is an organisation which genuinely recognises the importance of a healthy work-life balance, having taken measures to ensure all its employees can benefit from increased flexibility and manageable working hours. Introduced back in 2000, the Improving Working Lives Initiative has helped to boost morale and reduce stress amongst the NHS workforce. Within the NHS, there are many opportunities for working part-time, term-time only or shifts that fit around your commitments. International nurses can also enjoy a standard working week of 37.5 hours, with the flexibility to choose whether to work overtime at enhanced pay rates.

Excellent pay and benefits. By working for the NHS, you can benefit from competitive salaries which reflect your level of training and experience. For example, even newly qualified nurses earn in excess of £22,000 which will afford a comfortable life in the UK. Pay scales reward enhanced knowledge and experience, with experienced consultants able to earn over £100,000 a year.

Training and development opportunities. The NHS is renowned for investing in its employees and supporting their professional development. You will have access to additional training, funded by your employer. Every NHS employee is encouraged to progress through the Knowledge and Skills Framework and you will benefit from an annual review and development plan which supports your aspirations.

Marwan Farouk Biography

Marwan Farouk is a retired surgeon. He is not currently practising.