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29 Dec 2010

Travel From Prague to Vienna by Train – Where to Buy Tickets

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone who’s shopping for a ticket to that rare and much-awaited vacation, these tips on how to book cheap flights will certainly save you a lot of money. There are many ways for you to take advantage of great travel deals. All of them revolve around two major principles: right timing and research.

Off peak discounts
If you want to book cheap flights to your destination, the first thing you should do is to book during the low season. Airline ticket prices, much like other goods, depend on the law of supply and demand. If the seat for a particular location isn’t selling, the airline will be forced to bring down the price of the ticket. Naturally, the low peak, peak, and super peak seasons will also depend on the climate of the country or region you’re visiting, so you should do your research. People are least likely to visit a place when the climate is less than ideal for the location. For example, tickets to areas with a lot of beaches will be cheaper during the rainy season. If you’re willing to take that risk, you can book flights during off peak seasons and save money. If you want a 100% chance of enjoying your stay in the location, choose another option.

Mid-week flights
Ticket prices during Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays are also significantly lower than prices of tickets booked throughout the week. During the weekday, Mondays and Tuesdays are always the busiest travel days, which is why the prices for tickets during these two days are just as high as the ones booked for the weekend. If you want to book cheap flights to any destination, consider flying in and out of these days. You’ll have more money to spend on your hotel room and other expenses you may incur during your travel dates.

Early bookings and last minute tickets
You can also take advantage of cheaper tickets when you book at least six months earlier or on the date of your flight itself. Early bookings are advantageous when you’re flying during the peak season. Airlines always value sure flyers. However, some tickets sold during promos are non-refundable and cannot be rebooked. When you take advantage of early booking sales, you run this risk. On the other hand, last minute bookings are only advisable during the low seasons. Airlines would rather sell empty seats at lower prices to make up for the total flight expenses. This isn’t a good option to take, though, if you’re on your honeymoon. Take this risk if you’re traveling alone and you don’t have any schedule to keep up with.

Fly economy class
Flying economy won’t be as comfortable as business or first class, but at least you’ll be booking cheap airplane tickets. This is especially advisable if you’re going on short trips. An hour or two in the economy section of the plane shouldn’t be that difficult. You will only face smaller seats and more people in your section. If you’re in for a long flight, though, this can be a bit inconvenient.

Category: Airline Tickets  Leave a Comment
28 Dec 2010

Airline Tickets – How to Save Money Buying Low Cost Airline Tickets

There are things that you can do to save money the next time you purchase an airline ticket. Planning ahead is a good way to find a low cost ticket. You want to use off peak hours to find a ticket that is lower than full price and most airlines vary there prices during these times.

You want to use the late night and early morning hours to get a good deal on airfare. During these off peak times the airlines lower prices so that they can sell more inventory. You want to search at several times before making a final purchase so that you can save the most money.

Planning early is also a great way to buy an airline ticket for less money. As the flight sells more and more seats the price goes up so if you buy early you will get a lower price. Make sure that you try to book your flight about 30 days early to get a good price.

Getting a low cost airline ticket is not hard to do but making a plan and working that plan will help you to be successful. You should also check to see if you have any mileage points because you may have enough to get a free ticket. Even if you are a little short you can buy a few miles and be on your way.

It used to be that you could buy a hidden city plane ticket and get it for less. Since 911 it is impossible to do this anymore because once you miss the last leg of the flight then they cancel the ticket. Using these techniques will help you to save money the next time you are looking at booking a flight.

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25 Dec 2010

Belfast Christmas Events Guide 2009

Turning On of the Christmas Lights

This is the official start of Christmas in Belfast, so get yourself down to the Belfast City Hall on the 24th of November to witness this special festive occasion. This is a fantastic family event and this year the Lord Mayor will have loads of help switching on the lights, as he will be joined by ‘Bob the Builder’ and ‘Fifi And The Flowertots’! The fun begins at 7pm and there will be plenty of live music and performances by the Community Gospel Choir. Thousands of people attended this event last year so make sure you get there early this year!

Cinemagic

Cinemagic is a TV and film festival for young people and it comes to Belfast city from 18th November to 4th December 2009. This festival features gala screenings, new family films, documentaries, Roald Dahl films, kids classics and teenage classics. The festival will also have programme making workshops and acting classes. Venues for the festival include the ODEON Cinema in Victoria Square and the Movie House on Dublin Road.

Christmas Continental Markets

From the 17th of November to the 19th of December the popular Continental Christmas Markets will return to the Belfast City Hall. The grounds of the City Hall will transform into a little village of markets and stalls offering mouth-watering food, warming beverages, traditional crafts, decorations, gifts and lots more. It’s a great place to pick up a few stocking fillers and if you’re not shopping we still suggest you browse around the market and soak up its unique festive atmosphere.

Christmas Craft Fair

St. George’s Market Christmas Craft Fair will take place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of December. It is located on May Street close by the Waterfront Hall. Along with the normal market stalls there will also be stalls selling Christmas fare such as handmade chocolates, jams, baking, crafts, gifts and toys. This market has a real festive atmosphere and there will be live music on both days.

Concerts

The Odyssey Arena is located in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and is a top class concert and entertainment venue. Concerts taking place over the festive season include; Horslips (Dec 3rd), Simple Minds (Dec 10th), The Prodigy (17th Dec) and Madness (29th Dec).

The Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team also have a number of exciting and challenging games to play here over the Christmas period. This intense, high speed sport is full of action and is sure to have the whole family engrossed.

Pantomimes

If you’re thinking of catching a pantomime this Christmas in Belfast, then you’ll have a choice of Aladdin or Cinderella. Aladdin will run at the Grand Opera House from the 28th of November to the 16th January. Family favourite Cinderella will run at the Waterfront Belfast from the 28th of November to he 9th January.

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23 Dec 2010

High Street Travel Agents Face Up to Cheap Flights Found Online

The massive growth in online travel agents and price comparison websites has caused great distress to their more traditional, high street-based competitors. The likes of Thomas Cook and Thomson are being challenged on their home turf by the enormous increase in the amount of cheap flights and budget holiday accommodation easily available on the Internet.

The advent of the credit crunch and the resulting global economic downturn, led to many people looking afresh at their household budget and changing the shopping and leisure habits of a lifetime. Grocery shopping increasingly took place at the cheaper supermarkets and marketing campaigns for the supermarkets changed to reflect this. The holiday habits of UK households changed as well, with people looking to save money without sacrificing their much-needed holidays.

They were greatly helped in this with the march of the budget airlines, offering cheap flights to short and medium-haul destinations that had previously been out of the price range of many people. When these low fares were combined with the ease of Internet searching and price comparison, they led to significant savings for hard-pressed families. They also caused a shift in the way people planned their holidays. Whereas before you would book a package holiday and let the travel agent sort everything out, now people were creating a tailor-made break, choosing the cheap flights that suited them and matching them up with cheap accommodation in the destination of their choice.

To the traditional travel agents, this inevitably posed a real and present threat. The costs and overheads associated with a visible high street presence are considerable in themselves, but maintaining a network of dedicated resorts and the means to get customers to them is also expensive. In most cases, old-style travel agents simply cannot compete with the more streamlined online alternatives.

Package holidays are also more vulnerable to the effects of currency fluctuations than the individual cheap flights and accommodation available on the Internet. With so many high street travel agents tied to resorts in the EU, the increase in the strength of the euro has been bad news for them, as UK holidaymakers decide against a fortnight on the Continent and opt instead for short European city breaks and a “main” holiday outside the Eurozone, such as the increasingly popular destinations of Turkey and Egypt. Such shifts have been easily accommodated by the providers of cheap flights – especially the low-cost airlines, who have added a host of medium-haul routes to destinations such as Turkey, Morocco and Croatia.

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22 Dec 2010

ilFlights to Russia

Russia is a vast land portrayed as mysterious and bursting with historical artefacts, as well as being famed for its long, tumultuous history. Moscow and St Petersburg amaze many with their architecture and sophistication. This country is the biggest on the globe and its wide expanse is made up of different provinces that vary widely, from the beach resorts at Anapa to the culturally distinct Ufa, there is much to discover once you’ve booked flights to Russia. The capital can be reached in just under six hours flying time, meaning this may make a good short-haul destination.

From communism to capitalism

As the country moves away from its communist past, many of Russia’s largest cities are changing and reflect its progressive attitude. This fairly new era combines with its rich history, so visits to main cities, such as Moscow and St Petersburg, reveal a tapestry of both old and new. In Moscow some of the well-known historic sites are still the most popular, such as the stunning Kremlin compound. Located near St Basil’s Cathedral and the Red Square, this is a good starting point for many holidaymakers, as are Lenin’s Tomb and the city’s many museums.

As Russia embraces capitalism, Moscow has been increasingly developed so previous industrial buildings have been converted to trendy apartments, which sit beside bars, nightclubs and theatres. The Moscow metro is often considered a tourist attraction due to its elaborate decorations, making trips around the city even more memorable. Lying near Finland, Belarus and the Baltic Sea, St Petersburg – formerly Leningrad – seduces many visitors with its stunning canals, soaring cathedrals and opulent palaces. European architects were called in to design some of these remarkable constructions, which give a distinctly Western atmosphere to the city.

You have many opportunities to soak up Russia’s history with visits to the Winter Palace – which houses the Hermitage Museum – and St Issac’s Cathedral, which is considered the largest orthodox cathedral in the world.

Glimpse medieval Russia

Wooden forts and battlements are abundant in many of Russia’s modern metropolitan areas. In cities such as Veliky Novgorod, south of St Petersburg, its ancient past comes alive. Historians have dated the city as over 1,000 years old and believe it is the location where Russia was born. The wars took their toll on the region but many important constructions still remain, including the oldest Kremlin citadel in the country, as well as the oldest cathedral and palace, called the St Sophia and Chamber of Facets respectively.

More medieval buildings can be seen at Nizhny Novgorod, while Samara in south-east European Russia was chosen as the site for a fortress in 1586. The city has since become an important industrial hub following its previous status as a closed city, with former bunkers for Stalin now viewable.

Discover early Russia

Russia is a vast tapestry of people and culture that make up this varied, vibrant country. Different areas have their unique identity and this is particularly obvious in Ufa, which is the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan and is located in east European Russia. This province has its own president and is a thoroughly modern metropolitan hub, although there’s evidence it’s been populated since the Stone Age. The indigenous Bashkir people make up a significant proportion of the population, as do Tartars and Russians.

This gives the republic a unique identity that reflects the cultures and traditions of indigenous citizens. Perm near the Ural Mountains also hints how ancient populations survived and is home to caves and monuments dating from 2 AD.

Great, great outdoors

As expected of a country the size of Russia, there is an extreme variation within its landscape and weather. During summer, beautiful beaches await visitors to the Anapa beach resort near the Black Sea, while keen climbers may like to broach the Caucasus Mountains. Yekaterinburg is a good base to explore the Ural Mountains and Lake Baikal in Siberia is the deepest water course of its kind in the world.

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22 Dec 2010

10 Ideas For Cheap Family Holidays

If you’re looking at booking one of the cheap family holidays this year, then you might already know when and where you want to go and what you’ll do there. Alternatively, you might still be unable to decide where you want to go on holiday.

Here are some ideas to help you decide.

1. You’ll need to establish what you want to do on holiday. Perhaps you’ll want to go site seeing, or your children would prefer to spend two weeks playing on the beach and swimming in the sea.

2. Where you go will also be dependent on what you want to do. You might want to go somewhere that you’ve been before, somewhere that has plenty on offer for young children, or somewhere that will keep your teenagers entertained.

3. You might be reluctant to go on holiday during the summer break, due to the cost. You might not be able to take more than a week off at a time due to work. How could you work around this?

4. How old your children are will also help to determine where you go on holiday, and what you do. Young children won’t necessarily appreciate a site seeing holiday with lots of walking or travelling, and may prefer to just stay at the hotel and mess in the pool or play with other young children. Older children might be looking for something other than sitting on the beach all day.

5. Spending two weeks away on holiday might seem to be extravagant, but you’re bound to feel relaxed, and enjoy being with your family for such as long time. Why not see it as time with your family, rather than an expense?

6. If you can’t, or don’t want to go abroad, then you’ll find that there are lots of holiday destinations available in the UK. Why not explore somewhere different, or see what the beaches in the UK are like, and what they offer for your children? Even if the weather isn’t great there will be museums and galleries, as well as many other activities you can do. You might just spend some time away from it all, and catch up with some reading, or enjoy playing with your young children.

7. Camping holidays can be good fun, whether in the UK or abroad. With many sites having all the mod cons and amenities you could wish for, you’re bound to have a great time. There is also a good chance that your children will make new friends too.

8. A coach holiday can take all the strain out of getting there, and make holidays less expensive than flying. Without having to worry about the traffic, parking or the cost of fuel, you can relax, and get your holiday off to a good start. You also won’t need to drive back yourself either.

9. Cruises are an excellent way to visit many places in a short time. Why not see whether your family are interested? With many Mediterranean and Nordic cruises available, you’re bound to find something that appeals to everyone. These can work out much cheaper than arranging to visit individual places yourself

10. Cheap family holidays can be found, and with a bit of careful planning, you can ensure that everyone will enjoy themselves, and have plenty to see and do. You don’t have to spend a fortune for you and your children to have a good time.

Now you know what sort of things to look for, you can see which of the cheap family holidays is right for you.

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21 Dec 2010

Five Ways to Fly Cheaper

When you happen to be looking online and all that you can see are expensive flights abroad. All you ever wanted were cheap international flights and you can’t seem to figure out why exactly these prices are so incredibly high.

In the summer of 2009 it was easier to fly cheaper, but something is telling you that it is not going to repeat itself this year, well you’re right! Last year the economy blew up and accordingly the airline prices dropped significantly. Even though we are not exactly in the golden era again, airlines seem to do a little better and are charging more than before. Thanks for the history lesson, but how can you fly cheaper this year?!?

1. Book your flights on a Tuesday instead of Sunday midnight, fares seem to be dropping for no apparent reason.

2. Try to fly during the week, from Monday to Wednesday. It’s a little cheaper than the weekends, but there are more available seats, because people generally fly out on weekends and try to return on a Sunday due to their busy schedule at work.

3. After you done your research with all the major booking engines online, talk to some travel agents and see what they have to offer. Most of the time they save money by not advertising as much as Orbitz or Priceline.

4. Don’t book years in advance, because the airlines know there are some people with high anxiety whom rather book to get it over with. If you book to early, you miss out on some discounted fares. If you keep shopping around you will get a feel of things and when you spot a bargain, you will know it is a good deal

5. For the risk takers, you can fly cheaper with last minute tickets than buying it a month before. In this case, you won’t find it often with the major search engines, so you have to have a trusted travel agent, who won’t charge you too much. When airlines have some seats left, they give it to travel agents to sell and they can get it for much cheaper, especially if you fly one way.

It isn’t always easy and you can’t get lucky all the time, but if you put the effort into it then I believe opportunity will present itself sooner than later.

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21 Dec 2010

Head to Meribel For Your Ski Holidays in 2011

While many people are dreaming of the summer that is on its way, winter sports enthusiasts will no doubt be looking ahead to the next ski season in Europe.

If you are so keen to hit the slopes again that you are already planning your ski holidays in 2011, then you should certainly consider one of the resorts in the French Alps.

Among the fantastic range of resorts to choose from is Meribel, located in the heart of Les 3 Vallees.

The region itself boasts 330 ski runs, with snow parks, off-piste trails and even heliskiing among the activities to tempt snow-loving holidaymakers to the area.

Another plus point to Meribel is its accessibility. Chambery – Savoie is the nearest airport, however, bus transfers from Lyon and Geneva are also available, allowing British skiers to reach the slopes easily and within three and a half hours of collecting your kit from the luggage carousel.

If you are looking for ski resorts that have it all, then look no further because Meribel will tick all your boxes.

As well as its impressive skiing credentials, snowboarders will be happy in this winter wonderland too.

With all the runs to choose from as well as snowparks featuring half-pipes, jumps, border-cross and bump runs, there is something to suit every taste when it comes to winter sports.

The first snowpark in Les 3 Vallees was set up 15 years ago, proving that Meribel is not only a popular but also a trail-blazing place to visit.

Location is paramount when it comes to selecting a ski resort and picking Meribel from the destinations on offer will not prove to be a mistake.

With more than 600 km of trails catering for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced skiers, the Les 3 Vallees region really is one of the best places to go in Europe.

Meribel is situated in the heart of this area, allowing anyone heading to Meribel for the skiing to access this wide range of runs.

With officials at the resort guaranteeing that 85 per cent of the area above 1,800 m will be covered in snow, you don’t need to worry about the weather ahead of your holiday.

Once you’re on the mountain you can simply sit back and relax on one of the 174 ski lifts, watching the white snow slip away beneath you as you ascend to your chosen summit.

Coming down the mountain is the fun part, but be sure to take in some of the stunning views before you race to the bottom, kicking up powder as you go.

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17 Dec 2010

Six Flags St Louis Discounts Will Help You Save on Your Visit! Learn About This Park and Its Rides

Even though the season has just started, there are tons of Six Flags St. Louis discounts available. If you’re going to be spending time in MO this year, this park is the place to be! It’s been around since the 70’s and has featured many great rides and attractions over the decades. This season really seems to be promising. The water park will be opening up in late May, and looks to be very promising as well.

You can find some great deals through the park’s website. It’s best to order your Six Flags St. Louis discount tickets online ahead of time. The best choice is the season pass, since it pays for itself after only two visits. Plus, it comes with $300 worth of incentives and freebies! It also comes with 5 free tickets that you can give to your friends or family.

The park is split up into different sections, so it’s easy to find your way around. This season, there is a new Six Flags Fun Finder app for iPhone or iPod Touch. It’s a free application that comes with interactive maps, friend finder, fun ideas, and so forth. You can also print out a map to take with you from the park’s site.

Superman’s Tower of Power, Ninja, The Boss, XCalibur, and Batman: The Ride are just a few examples of the many exciting rides available at the theme park. There are also some exhilarating slides and rides at Hurricane Harbor, which will be open later this month. Batman: The Ride is a pretty fun experience, as it travels on the outside of the track rather than inside the loops. You will be on a ski-lift type of coach with the floor dropping out from beneath your feet. The ride is 10 ½ stories tall, two minutes long, and goes up to speeds of 50 mph.

There are fun rides at Bugs Bunny National Park and DC Comics Plaza, two places with features that kids love. At Bugs Bunny National Park, they can meet with all the Looney Tunes characters and go on rides like the Elmer Fudd Weather Balloon and Leghorn Foghorn train. At DC Comics Plaza, they can meet with all their favorite superheroes and go on rides such as Shazam! and Log Fume.

Last but not least, there are tons of shops at the park. You can easily locate them with your Fun Finder app or map. There is food, drinks, gifts, shirts, accessories, etc, sold throughout the park. Once again, you need to consider getting a season pass, so that you will receive hundreds of dollars worth of Six Flags St. Louis coupons to help you save on just about anything!

Category: budget travel  3 Comments
16 Dec 2010

Going on Safari in Kenya

If you have never experienced a safari holiday before, then you are in for an absolute treat. Most people haven’t and it is quite amazing to think how much money is spent by people every year heading out on their holidays to places in the sun on the Med, when there is such an incredible world out there to be visited. There’s nothing wrong with soaking up the rays next to the pool, but it is never going to expand your horizons and it is certainly not a memory that will stay with you for life. Going on a safari holiday is something that you will never forget. From the first time you see a Cheetah tearing across a wide open plain, to seeing Elephants walking two by two, you will never be the same again after witnessing these things.

A safari holiday in kenya is surprisingly affordable, and when you think about what you are getting out of it, it’s an amazing price. You are seeing a truly spectacular country, and you will be guided through some incredible scenery by people who understand the land. You should always try to go with a responsible holiday company who employs people from the region, because it helps to support their economy, and your experience will be better because of their knowledge. Kenyan safari’s are second to none, and booking one is one of the best things you can do for your heart and soul. If Kenya is not for you though, you could consider morocco holidays or holidays in china.

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