For quite a few years now a group of the airlines labelled “low-cost airlines in Europe have been taking part in a fares war trying to offer the lowest air fares to a host of European cities. It’s quite normal to see that one of the major budget airlines such as Easyjet or Ryanair has an offer of return flights from the UK to Spain, Germany or France for £1 (approx $1.45). There could be taxes and airport landing fees to be added to the fare, but it’s still an absolute bargain if you’re looking to see a number of European cities. The downside of these cheap flights is that they often make use of to the smaller rural airports instead of the more well known biginternational ones. This sometimes means that a flight that is advertised to a major European city actually lands anything up to 50 miles away. There can be some plus-points with this situation, the smaller airports will always offer a much faster turnround on luggage and check-in since they are catering for a lot less flights. The disadvantage is that transportation to and from these airports can be patchy at best and a very popular alternative is hiring a car from the airport. The following are some of the wonderful cities that we’ve visited with flights from the budget airlines. We are sure that you will enjoy visiting any of these great, without doubt they have plenty to offer the visitor to their country.

Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow, once the butt of so many jokes about the slums of the Gorbals has undergone a Renaissance and has become a wonderful, architecturally divine city attracting a huge number of visitors throughout the year. The trendy West side of Glasgow is the home of one of the oldest universities in the U.K.. Perched on a hill in the middle of the Medieval part of the city, the students contribute a great deal to the fun loving and vibrant atmosphere of that area. The budget airlines use Prestwick Airport which is approximately 35 miles (51 km) to the north east of the centre of the city and you will find an excellent road between the airport and the city centre. It’s a popular sightseeing area, so you are advised to rent a car in Glasgow before setting out on your trip. A congestion free half hour journey from the airport on the M77 motorway brings you to the centre of the city. Glasgow is an ideal starting point for a journey to the Trossachs National Park. A mere 20 km (13 mile) drive out of Glasgow and you could discover sensational countryside seated upon a pony, whilst a 30 mile (50 km) drive eastwards along another excellent motorway will take you to Edinburgh together with its amazing festivals, shopping in Princes Street, the historic Castle and Holyrood Palace.

Florence, Italy

Without doubt one of Europe’s most stunningly beautiful locations, Florence is served by Pisa Airport, which is 84 km (50 miles) west of the city. Hire a car at Florence airport and you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore Pisa with its leaning tower, the wonders of historic Florence and a selection of Europe’s most picturesque countryside, that of the disturbingly beautiful Tuscany. It therefore will not come as a huge surprise that Florence is one of the most popular historic cities throughout Europe. Once you arrive at the city of Florence you will discover that most of the centre is pedestrianized protecting the many ancient architectural treasures and statues from the pollution and vibrations associated with heavy traffic. As a result you are overtaken by a sense of peace and quiet as you meander from one monument to the next. You don’t have to stray too far before experiencing the ghastly, ear splitting roar from Florence’s legion of scooter riders. Other than the Ponte Vecchio all of the bridges leading to centre of the city are polluted, noisy places, thus providing an added incentive to keep to the ancient alleyways and tranquil sanctuaries of Florence’s beautiful piazzas.

Tours, France

Tours is the ideal centre for exploring France’s wonderful Loire valley and its majestic chateaux The ideal centre for exploring the Loire Valley famed for its wonderful selection of palatial residences, Tours boasts quite a few of its own charms. Although the little airport is but a few miles out of town, it’s pretty much essential that you hire a car at Tours airport in order to explore some of the most stunning towns and villages in the whole of France. Along the banks of the River Loire between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, a number of cultural treasures are presented for the visitor to feast their eyes on. The Loire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers scenic countryside, historic villages and lots of flamboyant castles. During the middle ages the Loire Valley was named the “Retreat of Kings and was a big favourite of French royalty. Former working fortified castles were converted into palatial and elegant trophy residences and these are now the region’s main tourist attractions. Tourists from around the world are drawn to the historic towns that are situated along the banks of the Loire. Towns such as Blois, Chinon and Tours have so much to see and do whilst the most popular of all the chateaux is maybe that on the estate of Chambord. Throughout the region you will find little, family owned vineyards offering a variety of tasty wines at budget prices. Look out for the word “degustation”, which means sampling I guess, and as long as ‘Le Patron’ is not in the middle of a long leisurely lunch you will be made very welcome and he will be more than willing to lead you through a tasting of all his wines. Of course, it is vital that you take a tee-totaller as your chauffer, some of these tasting sessions can get very serious!.

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Round the world (RTW) tickets can be a convenient way to travel the world. The tickets are all pre-bought so you don’t need to worry about flights while you are away. These tickets cost a lot of money, especially if your trip is complex. RTW tickets give everyone sticker shock. It is important to heavily research and do some math before you purchase one of these tickets.

RTW tickets are really air alliance passes. These tickets are used on one of them many air alliance networks. The three biggest alliances are Oneworld, Star Alliance, and World Journey. For example, if you bought a ticket with United, you would be using all the airlines on the Star Alliance and only those airlines.

Round the world tickets give you a set number of destinations over a period of one year. You pick your mileage and stops and depending on the route you choose you get a set price. There is a minimum of three stops with the maximum varying on each alliance. The more your route changes, the higher the price. One popular rout is from LAX-FIJI-SYD-BANGKOK-LON-NYC-LAX.

Round the world tickets can cost between US$2,700 – $5,000, depending on how many stops and miles you pick. You can always change the stops, mileage, and dates for a fee. However, simple tickets with only a few stops can cost as little as US$1,500.

RTW tickets are good if you have a set route, schedule, and are only visiting popular spots. These tickets are designed to send people over a set route so if you choose one of the popular routes, it becomes easy to save money. If you want to go everywhere, prices will quickly add up.

However, nothing ever goes the way you plan it when you travel. Most people who use these tickets are people who travel for a long time. The more time you spend on the road, the more your plans change. Being restricted to a ticket will hinder your ability to change plans. However, for intrepid travelers, there are many alternatives to getting an around the world ticket:

Book yourself. Booking your own flights giving you more flexibility. You can use discount airlines for cheap flights and wait for flight deals. It’s will take more work and patience but the money you save can better be spent on food, alcohol, presents, and tours.

Use Discount Airlines. While few exist in the US, there are plenty in Asia, Europe, and parts of Latin America. You'll fly the same route as you would a big airline but for half the price. You are only getting space on a plane but flying these airlines will save you a lot of money.

Use your rewards. If you don’t already have a travel credit card, you should get one now. Most credit cards will give you 20,000 miles right away and you will get points for everything you buy, receive special offers, and get miles when you. Even if all you get is one ticket out of the deal (those 20,000 points help get you there), that one ticket can save you hundreds upon hundreds of dollars.

Round the world tickets are great for travelers with a set itinerary and route. If you have a set plan, buy a RTW ticket. You will end up saving some money. However, if you are flying a complex route, are very flexible, and unsure of your dates, it is better to pay as you go.

No Comments » Posted by mary / Best Airfare Deals

air tickets

Depending on where you need to travel to and when you need to get there, getting a good price for last minute airplane fares can sometimes be a difficult task. In fact, there are even certain times of the year when it can be almost impossible to get the flight that gets you where you need to go no matter what price you are prepared to pay. This is one reason why travel industry insiders often suggest that you book early and don’t wait until the eleventh hour to try to find good flight deals.

In most cases, booking your air tickets as far in advance of your trip as possible is usually the best way to go for cheap airline tickets to your destination. When you secure your air tickets early, while there are still plenty of seats available, you will find that the airlines usually offer the cheapest airfares during this stage.

Waiting to book a flight until the last minute often means that there are very few seats left. When this happens, the airlines may charge a premium price for those seats that are left, especially during busy travel times.

And, even though it is true that the airlines have the upper hand, there are definitely times when opportunities for deeply discounted airplane fares for some last minute flights will come about. But, in order to benefit from those excellent values, you will have to be prepared to make a fast decision and to be ready to leave on very short notice.

One thing that is essential in obtaining great deals on those last minute flights is your ability to be flexible in your travel plans. If you want to save a lot of money on your tickets, then you must be flexible about the date and time of the flight, about the airline, about which airport you fly in and out of, and about how many stops you are willing to make en route to your destination. If you are willing to be inconvenienced by early morning or late night flights or by having a layover or having to change planes, then you will probably be able to enjoy the cheapest airfares even if you had to make your arrangements at the last minute.

When the airlines want to fill all of the seats on a plane quickly, they will drop their prices and will usually post these discount airfare prices on their website. These days, many airlines will offer these airfare deals only on their website, so it is important to monitor the website of the carrier you are considering.

Some airlines will send email alerts about reduced prices to frequent flyer program members or to others who have signed up for such notifications. Signing up for these alerts can give you an advantage and can save you the trouble of logging on many times a day when you are in need of finding the cheapest airfares.

In almost all cases of heavily discounted air tickets, there are greater restrictions on the tickets. It is important to be sure to read all of the fine print and the terms of discounted prices. Most discounted tickets are issued as non-refundable and non-transferable and can only be changed by paying a fee, which could outweigh the savings if a situation arises and you have to change the date of your flight. Many of these discount fares also have other limitations, such as requiring a stay over a weekend.

Typically, the special internet discounts on airplane fares are posted mid-week by the airlines for flights that will be leaving the following weekend. If you are trying to schedule your travel strictly around cheap airline tickets for last minute flights, then you will need to continually be checking in for changes to the fares. You should also be sure your bags are packed and you are ready to go, so that you can reap the benefits when just the right special fare comes along.

No Comments » Posted by mary / Best Airfare Deals

This text was written by: Holiday in Florence.

Your singles Europe tour in Paris can be your ultimate dream come true experience.

An Ideal Time to Come to the City of Light

Paris is also known as the City of Light basically because of its advances in terms of the intellectual, cultural, economic, and learning aspects. The city is in fact a cradle of historical preservations as well as modernity. So you must wonder as to the perfect time to take a tour in Paris.

Ideally, the months of March until June, from September all the way to the Christmas season, and then January are the most perfect moments to plan a visit to the city. During the months of July and August, the weather can be very terrible. The key destinations may either be crowded by several visiting people or the major business establishments may be closed for operation. Likewise, the month of February proves not a good time for a tour as well because of the weather. 

Love is in the air mostly in the months of the winter season. Imagine yourself cradled in the arms of somebody as the gigantic edifices of the city form their shadows as mirrored in the floors of the parks. More so, the summer months may make you uneasy since the sunshine can be really hot. Thus, enjoying your most favored water sports may be carried on during this time.

Parisian Sceneries to Enjoy

Indeed, Paris has several sights to enjoy. It opens its arms wide enough to accommodate many visitors who seek refuge in the romantic and rejuvenating ambience that this city boasts of. Where should you go to? Here is a list of the top destinations that you may seek out in your Parisian holiday getaway.

The Eiffel Tower. As a frequented city, it is likewise a must to visit the Eiffel Tower. This is actually one of the most sought after epitomes of the city of Paris.

Notre Dame de Paris. This cathedral has been given life through a movie. It is situated in Ile de la Cite and its Gothic architecture provides the reason for a number of people who flock the city’s borders. As of the moment, the cathedral is utilized by the Roman Catholics.

The Bibliotheque Nationale de France. It stands as the nation’s national library wherein the compilation of the French writers are kept. More so, this French library is regarded as the principal contemporary bookhouse in the whole world.

Places des Vosges. This is held to be the former Le Marais square which conveniently seats along the boundaries of Place de la Bastille and Centro Georges Pompidou. As you visit this site, you can gain the opportunity of paying a visit to the abode of the world-renowned Victor Hugo. Likewise, you may kill the time by engaging yourself in a narcotic reading.

Basilica of the Sacre Coeur. It is a must that you take the effort of getting into this church’s rooftop. A bird’s eye view of the entire city will bring you a satisfying feeling.

Getting around the city is no problem. Public transport is widely available. You can choose from the array of options which include the buses, the metro, RER, and hired cars too. Having fun is never difficult as you take into account a prospect singles European holiday in Paris.

For additional information regarding holidays please click on: Vacation in Toronto. Just be sure to get whole life insurance quotes on line.

No Comments » Posted by mary / Uncategorized

In this age of high travel costs people are constantly in search of dirt cheap airfare.  Business and vacation travelers try to save money.  There are many ways to lower the cost of travel.

Airlines now charge travelers for almost everything.  For instance charging a premium for checking a second piece of luggage.  Many charge for even one piece of checked luggage.  Many instituted extra charges for window and isle seats.  It’s now important to get a low fare in the first place.  Then once all these charges were added, at least it wasn’t breaking the bank.

It is still possible to find a dirt cheap airfare.  Airlines kept charging these extra fees after fuel prices fell.  In business prices rise quickly but fall slowly.  That’s how business works.

So we know why all of these extra travel costs have been added.  There are still ways to locate a dirt cheap airfare.  But how?  The Internet is there to help.  Travel sites offer low fares from all the airlines.  These will often result in finding the best or lowest airfare.

Don’t overlook the airline websites when searching for a dirt cheap airfare.  Sometimes the airlines offer discounts to people who shop directly with them.  So don’t limit the search to the travel sites.  Join the frequent flyer clubs and make sure to activate notification of specials and discounts.

It’s foolish to always stick to one airline.  They believe it’s a path to receiving dirt cheap airfare.  It’s not.  Yes there are perks, but they come at the expense of giving up comparison on about 95% of your flights.  It can be fun to walk onto the plane ahead of all the other passengers.  So keep flying with one airline.

Dirt cheap airfare won’t be found through an auction web site.  A vast majority of people who use them end up paying more than the fare they would receive simply by booking through the airline directly.

So for a cheap family holiday get out there and find a dirt cheap airfare.

No Comments » Posted by mary / Best Airfare Deals

A trip to Turkey is inevitably a journey through the continents of Asia and Europe. Located in the juncture of the two great continents, Turkey has land situated on both, making it, literally and figuratively, the link between East and West. The city of Istanbul is likewise transcontinental, as it covers land in both sides of the Bosphorus Strait, long considered the demarcation line separating Asia from Europe. The European side of Istanbul has many interesting attractions, among them the Sultanahmet Mosque or Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome – once the center of power in Constantinople, the Topkapi Palace which becomes more impressive as one goes through its four imperial courts and where some Prophet Mohammed’s relics are found, and the Hagia Sophia, a masterwork of Roman engineering which was formerly a basilica turned into a mosque and currently used as a museum.

After taking all the sights in Istanbul, head off to Ankara where the life is a little less frenetic than Istanbul. Although also founded in ancient times, and centrally-located such that it is at the center of all railway and highway networks in the country, the capital nonetheless offers a more relaxed ambience, perhaps due to the well-planned urban development that the city underwent after it was chosen as the country’s capital. From Ankara, one is just a bus away from the Cappadocia region, a popular destination famous for its moon-like landscapes. The cities of Göreme, Uçhisar and Nevsehir in Cappadocia sit on soft rocks erupted from volcanoes millions of years ago, and weathering and erosion caused exceptional natural formations that attracts tourists in droves. Cappadocia has underground cities, temples and cave houses carved on the soft rocks, which were believed to be sanctuaries of early Christian converts fleeing from persecution. Going through these extraordinary natural and man-made wonders makes one feel like being in a fairytale, particularly if one opts to stay in one of the pricey cave-houses-turned-into-hotel facilities.

A nice way to end your fairytale trip is to visit Antalya, the gateway to the Turkish Riviera. In Antalya, you’ll find ancient buildings and structures, particularly in the enclosed old quarter, Kaleiçi. From Antalya, one can go to any of the smaller cities and towns along the Turquoise Coast, such as Kemer, Ölüdeniz and Fethiye, which have some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean. The town of Olimpos, sitting on ancient ruins, is a known hang-out for backpackers. Olimpos offers tree-house style bungalows, a view of the Eternal Flames of the Chimera which mysteriously erupts in a hill side, and a lively social scene. Nothing really compares to sharing notes with fellow travelers about your fairytale trip while getting drunk in paradise.

Marice Willard is a travel writer who writes for Zencarhire.com – Zen car hire offer cheap car hire in 17,000 locations worldwide. To book your car hire Greece  visit www.zencarhire.com

No Comments » Posted by mary / Uncategorized

This year many thousands of us will be jetting off to the four corners of the globe to lie on sun soaked tropical beach, to trek through some of world’s most beautiful wilderness countryside, to see some of the architectural wonders of our planet or to simply explore new cultures and countries. And, sadly, many thousands of us are also going to find that the first two or three days of our vacation are taken up with trying to recover from jet lag.

However is jet lag an unavoidable part of modern long-haul travel?

The answer to this particular depends very much on where you are flying from and to. If you start your journey in Canberra, Australia and fly to Tokyo, Japan then you are not going to experience any jet lag at all because, despite the fact that you are flying thousands of miles, your flight essentially takes you due north so that both your starting point and arrival point are in the same time zone. However, if you fly from Melbourne to London, England then you will be flying east to west across ten time zones and you will certainly suffer from jet lag.

Jet lag is simply the result of your own internal body clock getting out of synchronization with local time and, although your body clock will adjust itself to come into line with local time, this adjustment takes a bit of time.

If you are flying across just two or three time zones then the time difference experienced will be small and you will probably not notice it greatly and your body clock will adjust reasonably quickly. But, if you fly over four or more time zones then the difference is going to be noticeable and your body clock will take longer and longer to adjust as you fly across an increasing number of time zones.

In our example of flying from Australia to London your internal clock is going to need a few days to adjust itself fully and, while it is doing so, you are likely to find that you suffer from insomnia, finding it hard to get to sleep at night and to get up in the morning, feeling tired through the day, possibly experiencing problems with eating with nausea, stomach upset, a headache, dehydration, and a great deal more.

So just what can be done?

There are a whole variety of ‘traditional’ remedies for jet lag including jet lag diets, sleeping pills, over-the-counter medicines, melatonin and much more and each has both its enthusiasts and critics, but do these ‘traditional’ remedies work?

The simple answer to this question is no. These ‘traditional’ jet lag remedies are not effective and, in some cases, can make your jet lag worse.

Coping with jet lag is not a matter of using pills and formulas, but requires you to devise a plan centered on your specific travel plans and lifestyle which helps your body’s natural adjustment of its own internal body clock. This involves taking a series of steps before your journey, as well as en-route and at your destination. Sometimes these steps will be sufficient to help you avoid jet lag completely while, in other cases, they will unquestionably help to reduce the effects of jet lag greatly.

No Comments » Posted by mary / Best Airfare Deals