How To Find Cheap Airfares – Budget Airlines and Air Tickets
Today, thanks to deregulation, EU reform and the takeoff of aggressive no-frills airlines, airfares within Europe are cheaper than ever before. Even a few of the major carriers offer discounts (or air passes) for flights within Europe to their transatlantic customers. Once you’ve finalized your itinerary, check with your travel agent (or the airlines’ Web sites) to compare the cost of flying with rail and car travel. You might be surprised.

For most trips, a Eurail Pass is still going to cost a lot less than flying (and flights purchased in Europe are payable in expensive euros). But if you’re short on time or have long distances to cover, flying is the way to go.

Budget airlines offer the cheapest fares within Europe. While travel agents can book some of these inexpensive flights for you, it’s best to do it yourself (since you need to make choices on flight times while you’re booking). Reserve your flight on the Web or by phone, using your credit card to pay.
To get the lowest fares, book long in advance. Cheap seats sell out fast, leaving the pricier seats for latecomers.

Virgin Express offers flights starting at around $100 between London, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, and more. If you’re flying into or out of London, consider bmi british midland. Even without a comprehensive search, if your timing is right, you can stumble across some incredible, it-must-be-a-typo promotional deals: A tour guide on my staff booked a flight from London to Amsterdam for just $10 on easyJet. Ryanair flies from Frankfurt to Pisa for as little as $12. Even after you add taxes and airport fees, these flights are an eye-popping value.

For more information on inexpensive airfares for flights originating within the UK, visit cheapflights.co.uk, or search for a variety of budget European airlines on www.skyscanner.com, or www.whichbudget.com.

Unfortunately all flights originating for the UK now attract an extra passeneger duty, since the tax was doubled in February 2007. The charges are:
Economy class flights in Europe, including internal UK flights: £10

Business and first class flights in Europe: £20

Economy class long-haul flights: £40

Business and first class long-haul flights: £80
European airlines such as Thomson, Lufthansa, Air France and KLM offer competitive fares. There’s a catch: often you must buy your transatlantic flight from the airline in order to take advantage of its intra-Europe budget fares. But it can be worth an extra $100 for an overseas flight in order to save on flights within Europe. In some cases, you purchase an “air pass” (for $300-$400)—a set of three or more flight coupons, each good for one nonstop flight. Be aware that with any air pass, a flight will “cost” two coupons if you need two connecting flights to reach your destination. Check with your travel agent for details.

What’s the Catch?

With cheaper airfares come pitfalls. These budget tickets are usually non-refundable and non-changeable. They’re strict, too: when the ticket says to board 30 minutes in advance and your watch is two minutes slow, you may be turned away. Some airlines take only online bookings, so it can be hard to track down a person to talk to if problems arise (like lost or delayed luggage—pack light to avoid checking your bags on budget flights). Remember to check baggage restrictions. For instance, popular Ryanair charges $7 for every kilo (two pounds) over 15 kilos. If you’re packing an extra 15 kilos, a dirt-cheap $10 flight skyrockets to $100.

You’ll find the best deals flying out of an airline’s hub. But keep in mind that budget flights sometimes use obscure airports. For example, Ryanair’s England hub is Stansted Airport, the farthest of London’s airports from the city center. Ryanair’s flights to Frankfurt actually take you to Hahn, 62 miles away, and their service to Copenhagen, Denmark lands you in a different (though nearby) country: Malmö, Sweden. These are still safe and legal airstrips, but it can take money and time to reach them by public transportation.
For most of my traveling life, I never would have considered flying point-to-point within Europe—it simply wasn’t affordable. Budget airlines and the Web have changed all that.

While I still recommend calling direct to book hotels, I have to admit that when it comes to arranging for a quick last-minute flight, that kind of thinking is, well, so last millennium.

Adding up the costs

When exploring low-cost airlines, be creative. For example, let’s say you need to get from Amsterdam to Rome. After a quick search you may not find quite the flight you need, but you discover that Virgin Express flies to Rome from Brussels for $80. It makes good travel sense to take a 2.5-hour train ride from Amsterdam to Brussels ($30 second-class) to catch the 2.5-hour flight to Rome. The train from Amsterdam to Rome would have wasted 20 hours of your valuable vacation time and cost you $250 ($230 second-class fare plus $20 for an overnight berth). The train-plus-flight connection gets you there in a third the time (including transfers) for less than half the price.

Unlike most US airlines, all of these low-cost European airlines offer one-way flights without a cost increase or penalty. Consider linking cheap flights, either with the same or different airlines. If you’re traveling from Barcelona to Copenhagen but can’t find a direct flight, fly from Barcelona to Brussels and then Brussels to Copenhagen. On Virgin Express, you can leave Barcelona after breakfast and get to Copenhagen by dinnertime for under $100.

Rick Steves

Cheap Airfares Helping Save The World

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Romantic Getaways Still the Passion

Passion is not only what drives many couples, but it also drives individuals, what an explosion of passion you can create when you plan romantic getaways. The two of you will be able to allow the passion the two of you share to grow to new heights Also, the passion you have individually one for another and for the other things in your lives will blend together to create an explosion of romance and passion.

The two of you may choose a private getaway in a cabin in the mountains or on a lake, to fuel the passion for each other and for nature. If the two of you enjoy romantic getaways that allow you to enjoy nature, you can rekindle the passion for each other as well. Waking up the beauty of the lake and enjoying that first cup of coffee together may renew the passion you have to just look in each other’s eyes as you hold hands by the lake. Or taking a hike on the mountainside and catching the one you love in your arms, as you enjoy the passion of the wild that surrounds you. You can take that passion for the wild and let it flow into the romance the two of you share. Read more »

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When you are on holiday the cost of your basic vacation can usually be predicted before you leave home. But the price of eating out while you are away from home can break your budget if you are not careful. Follow these tips for finding food and drink that will not cost a fortune, wherever you travel.

You can find good food to suit your travel budget as long as you are open to doing things slightly out of your normal routine. Also you often need to look around before going into the first cafe or restaurant that you see. Drinks and snacks can be the biggest cost, and are not always available in smaller resorts. A travel kettle will pay for itself in no time – take sachets of coffee, tea and sugar and buy milk and biscuits locally.
If you are in a budget hotel, guest house or hostel, breakfast may be included in your package. Make sure you check out the meals, do not be put off by other guests. Plain simple food is fine if it is served properly, a freshly baked roll with jam and coffee or tea will cost you nothing. That same meal taken in a cafe overlooking the main piazza would eat up half your daily food budget!

Budget Travel breakfast could be in a local basic cafe – if it is full of hungry workers then it is likely to be good value. And remember to eat what the locals eat. If you order an imported drink the cost could be three times the local equivalent. This is also a chance to meet people and get tips on the best place for lunch.

If you are still ready to experiment at lunch, again look for cafes without a ‘tourist’ image. The basic budget travel rule when dining in a city is to avoid the restaurants overlooking a major attraction. Not only are these the most expensive, they charge extra for sitting on the terrace and the waiters can be very fierce in demanding tips. One street away you can stumble on a small cafe with the menu chalked up on a board, and local people eating there. It may offer just a few dishes but they are freshly cooked and good value.
Or you can choose the easy option for budget eating and save time by using one of the international chains – or a local fast food outlet. Many restaurants in major cities offer takeaway pizza and bakes, sold by the piece or weight, teamed with a quick coffee or cola to prepare you for an afternoon of new experiences. Third option really applies if you have a vehicle – stock up with bread, cheese or cold meat and drinks, and stop at a beauty spot where you can dine al fresco. You should always buy plenty of bottled water when you see a supermarket – the cost difference buying water in small bottles can be more than five times the price!

Making yourself known to other guests, the receptionist and locals is another way to find the best places to eat within your travel budget. Most people are proud to share the best points of their city and will happily direct you to their favourite restaurant.

When you want to enjoy a really smart restaurant meal, the best option is to eat at lunchtime. The best deals are on offer for set lunches as most customers want to eat in the evening. In France and many other EU countries, restaurants are obliged to offer a Table d’hote menu and this is the best value meal in the restaurants. The food will be fresh as they will be cooking plenty of the dishes on this menu, and it is a good way of trying local dishes. When you order wine, the same principle applies: the restaurant will sell more House Wine than anything else, so it will be fresh and good value. The markup on house wine is usually lower than on the famous vintages, as the restaurateurs can buy it in for a better price.

If a restaurant has a waiter outside to bring customers in, it is a tourist trap. If the menu is painted up permanently and offers 100 dishes, they come from the freezer. Local produce rules again – an imported spirit will be triple the cost of the local tipple, so why not try that instead?

Finally, coffee in a smart restaurant is an expensive item. If you settle your bill, take a post prandial stroll and keep your eyes open you should find a friendly bar where you can get a drink, a relaxed atmosphere and usually music thrown in.

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Booking half price hotel rooms
Here is an easy method for booking a hotel room at the best rate: half price hotels can literally be yours when you choose the best time to book a hotel room. By shopping around online and offline, you can find the hotels that are looking to do a deal on the room rate, and sometimes this means you can book a great hotel room for less than half the regular advertised rate. Read on for your step by step guide to staying at the best hotels at half price. If you are in a rush, get HotelsCombined.com to compare 30+ travel sites at once for you.

1. Orbitz and other price comparison sites – First research hotels on Orbitz (or whatever traditional booking system you prefer: Expedia, Travelocity, or Hotels.com etc. I will use Orbitz as the example for simplicity.

2. Hotwire Secrets – Next, go to Hotwire.com (US only – otherwise go to step 3) to see if there is a nicely priced property in comparison to what you found on Orbitz. Hotwire does not show you the property name, but it does give you the price, the general location, star rating, and amenities. The prices on hotwire are sometimes as much as 40% off the best price you will find elsewhere. Unfortunately, the savings can be close to nothing. Yesterday, I booked a hotel in Denver. The best price on Orbitz was $86. I got it for $57 on Hotwire. That’s a 30% discount. Not bad.

3. Priceline – But don’t stop there. Next, go to Priceline.com and offer a rate about 20% lower than the best price on Hotwire – using the same location and star rating. With Priceline YOU name the price for a given star ratings. You might want to check out bidding support sites for some help in your bidding (I don’t bother). With Priceline, I have found hotels for 60 per cent off the Orbitz price. But don’t go too low, or your bid won’t be accepted and you won’t be able to re-bid the same star rating and location (for a period of time). I found that Priceline is consistently the least expensive option, if your bid is accepted. Read more »

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Top ten Beaches in Spain

Anyone who has visited Spain knows that the beaches are breathtaking. Many Spanish beaches are havens for fans of sunbathing.
1. Playa de Las Catedrales in Galicia has been well known for the rock formations created by the ocean and a great spot for people to go relax and sunbathe.
2. Gandia, located in the Costa Brava region of Spain is a single area consisting of several smaller towns with tranquil beaches. Towns vary by size and many who have visited comment about how it is hectic. They are most often describing the crowds and traffic when holidays come for those who spend it in a location especially if the location is a popular hot spot for parties.

3. Tarifa, located in the Andalusia region and this is a known hot spot for the younger crowd. This is the best beach for people who regularly sunbathe or partake in other activities on the beach.
4. Nerja, also located in Andalusia has been dubbed as an overpriced haven meaning it is more home to those with money than those who are of middle and lower classes. The area is full with beautiful homes and beaches that are pretty from the citizens who live there.

5,6. Playa de los Peligros & Playa de la Magdalena both located in Santander the capital of the seldom-explored region of Cantabria situated near Asturias and Basque in the Spanish countryside. Both beaches are closer to the downtown area and beachgoers aim for a more scenic type of environment to watch boats and viewing the mountains. It’s ideal for those who want to take pictures and relax.
7. Sitges is a party town located near Barcelona and being a regular hot spot for the
gay and lesbian crowd, but the regular beaches are diverse with different people.

8. Playa de la Victoria is located in Cadiz and this beach basically is for those who are more of a city dweller than a villager.
9. Ibiza has a lot of beaches and is mainly a haven for the young college crowd who gather there on their breaks from school since they have an active nightlife that is made up of clubs and bars and may not be ideal for those who are not into the party lifestyle.
10. Playa de Silentos in Asturias is great for those who want to hike and take photos with the rugged terrain makes it perfect for hikers and photographers.
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http://www.directline-holidays.co.uk provides you with the latest Spain holidays, cheap Spain flights, essential information & reviews on Spain.

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Adventure holidays or Activity vacations are becoming hugely popular.
Many travellers are bored with spending their days lying on a beach, and they want a program of activities for their trip. Hiking, walking, tennis, canoeing, even cookery – all can become the focus of your activity vacation. But it can be hard to find budget deals for travel, activities and accommodation when you want an Adventure Holiday. So many people are looking for an adventure when they go on holiday, and these tend to be affluent, slightly older travellers who can spend more. So if your travel budget is tight you need to shop around to get your dream holiday activity. The key to an adventure or activity holiday that does not break the bank is to book direct with the holiday operator.

If you go via travel agents, international tour operators and guides they all want their slice on top.

Booking your budget adventure holiday direct benefits you in many ways – you will meet more local people and see more of the culture. The best way to build your adventure holiday package is to start with a low cost air ticket to the closest airport, then go into town by bus – not taxi.

When you arrive at your destination, start asking around about the best adventure guides. Local tour operators know the area, they want to please their customers, and they are much cheaper. The reps from big tour operators in popular resorts often put out a lot of scare stories to frighten tourists into using their excursions – from which they earn a big commission. But you can use your common sense. I almost bought that line once in Turkey: fortunately some other holidaymakers were raving about their amazing trip with local guides and I booked with them. The tour was far better than the official version, and around half the price.

If you are a new budget traveler or you have always taken package deals this can seem daunting – you are a long way from home and there may be a language barrier. You must remember that the people providing this service know where to find their customers and will be easy to locate. They will also know the essential terms in a number of languages, otherwise they could not earn a living.

Do some research on your planned trip while you are still at home. Talk to anyone who has been to your planned destination and find out about their experiences and recommendations. Read a guidebook – before buying one, check out your local public library as they may have a recent edition that you can borrow.

When you are at your destination make sure you get a clear agreement with your tour guide. You need to confirm the cost, duration of the trip and what is included. Ask about the guide’s previous experience on this kind of trip, the food that is served and any accommodation – if that is part of the deal. It is best to agree all this before the trip begins. You do not want the negotiations (or any misunderstandings) to spoil your enjoyment.

Play fair with your tour guide. If you add anything to the trip itinerary after it starts then you must expect to pay something extra. If you are open and honest with your guides, they are more likely to play fair with you. At the end of the trip, make sure you tip a little extra for good service. It is easy to forget the real price when dealing in local currency. Back home, you would think it a cheap shot to haggle over a couple of cents

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