Category: Travel

Mobile gamers poured roughly US $150 billion into in-app purchases last year, and much of that money vanished into platform fees rather than extra rolls or skins. A growing number of players are sidestepping those mark-ups by purchasing their game currency through third-party marketplaces—often shaving 20 – 70 percent off the official sticker price.  After testing several options myself, ManaBuy is the one I keep returning to for quick, secure, and noticeably cheaper top-ups.

When “Just One More Pull” Breaks the Budget

A single ten-pull in a gacha banner can feel harmless—until the charges stack up. In Japan, nearly one in five gamers in their twenties admits to skipping rent or groceries to keep up with micro-transactions. In high-spending regions like Singapore, Genshin Impact already extracts about US $67 from every download over its lifetime. Those numbers swell because Apple and Google historically applied a platform commission of up to 30 percent on every in-app sale.

The Shortcut I Wish I’d Found Earlier

Marketplaces such as Codashop or Joytify advertise deep discounts, but ManaBuy consistently shows the steepest live offers—sometimes up to 70 percent off popular titles during promo windows. A recent U.S. court ruling now lets developers and stores tell players about these alternative payments directly, cutting out the old “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach.

Why ManaBuy stands out

• Transparent pricing. The website lists the exact currency bundle and the percentage you’re saving up front—no coupon hunting required.
• Security by design. You provide only the in-game user ID that the publisher already displays; passwords never change hands.
• Buyer-friendly payments. Card processors, regional e-wallets, and PayPal are all supported—handy when PayPal remains the most-preferred method among gamers worldwide.

From Checkout to Delivery in Minutes

My first top-up on ManaBuy took about three minutes from payment to seeing diamonds in my account—right in line with the “1-to-5-minute” windows quoted by other leading vendors. Orders are covered by a 24-hour guarantee; if the currency hasn’t landed by then, the payment is automatically refunded.  In practice, I’ve never come close to that cutoff.

The three-step flow

1. Pick your game and package. The catalogue covers everything from Mobile Legends to the latest Hoyoverse releases.
2. Enter your player ID. No login credentials required.
3. Pay and relax. Most deliveries finish while I’m still on the lobby screen.

Make the Smart Move

Official stores will always feel familiar, but familiarity costs you the full platform tax every patch. Taking 60 seconds to price-check the same bundle on ManaBuy can translate into extra pulls, a new battle pass, or simply money back in your pocket. Next time a limited-time banner starts ticking down, open a second tab, punch the numbers into ManaBuy, and decide whether that 30 percent surcharge is really worth it.

Gaming should be fun, not a financial headache. A quick comparison—and a smarter payment route—keeps it that way.

So you're finally making the trip (or the flight) to Los Angeles,California to visit the city the entire world has heard of. You'll definitely enjoy the weather,individuals and the history,and while you're at it,you'll probably find a pretty good souvenir or 2 to flaunt to your friends.

Here's a list of a few of the big stops you almost need to hit if you're visiting from anywhere further than 100 miles away. 

1. Visit Hollywood 

It was called Tinseltown for a reason-- the piece de resistance in this particular movie buff's paradise is Hollywood and Highland,the famous intersection where nearly every thing is designed to glamor visitors. From a towering complex of designer stores to a crowd of costumed street performers,to a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex poking its head through the roof of the Ripley's Believe-It-Or-Not museum,this area can provide a busy afternoon. Especially if you venture further south and west to check out the area's vintage stores (like Wasteland),cult restaurants (Pink's Hot Dogs) and historical attractions (the La Brea Tar Pits). The many shops and tourist attractions along Hollywood Blvd add to the fun,as do the holiday decorations of you come in December.

2. Go to Universal Studios 

Not far from Hollywood,this hive of fun tourist activity (100 Universal City Plaza,Universal City) combines amusement park rides and a carnival atmosphere with a movie-studio feel that almost puts you inside your favorite flicks. On the famous Backlot Tour,you can take the Jaws ride to see "Bruce" (the shark's nickname) charge out of the water at you,see the New York set where Manhattan-based movie scenes are filmed,and see how a heavy rain storm is created. Or you can go on rides designed after your favorite movies,where you could be used up and swept along with the plot,then probably dropped from a staggering height. Only a 9.5 mile ride from Los Angeles

3. Hit the Beach 

Santa Monica State Beach offers a nice,tourist-friendly getaway,though it can get crowded and hectic on weekends. The bright side is it's right next to the Santa Monica Pier,a well-trafficked amusement park area where you will find an abundance of food,entertainment and more costumed performers. This beach could be found along Ocean Avenue in the vicinity of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica. For a more relaxing beach hangout,Manhattan Beach has to do with 30 minutes south,where a paved walkway makes it good for sightseeing. Or you can go about 40 minutes north to get to El Matador Beach near Malibu for a more secluded,scenic beach.

4. Go to a Dodger game 

Catching a baseball game is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon,and the local team is there to entertain visitors and rabid fans alike. Baseball fans can find Dodger Stadium at 1000 Elysian Park Ave Los Angeles,and the area's public transport is an easy way to arrive without paying for parking. Ticket prices range from $9 for upper-deck seats to around $70 for most other seats,for full-priced adults. More ticketing information could be found on the Dodgers Website (Dodgers.com). Just watch out,because Dodgers fans are fiercely passionate about their team,and they also like to drink huge cups of beer.

5. Go to Disneyland 

It's what every major athlete does after scoring a touchdown or hitting a home run. Disneyland (1313 S Harbor Blvd,Anaheim) isn't only for kids (even though it tends to send them into ecstatic spasms),as the park offers the biggest,brightest and most complete amusement park experience you'll find outside of a dream. The rides last longer,the park-wandering characters are happier,and even the customer support folk are more helpful than any other park,despite the crowds. Explore the park's many themed "lands," see the light parade and jump onto the newest rides,as well as the nostalgic classics like Pinocchio and Small World. Naturally,Pirates of the Caribbean never ceases to amaze - watch out for Captain Jack Sparrow sightings,which can seem surreally lifelike.