Best Travel Deals for Getting Cheap Flights For Your Holiday Time

Whether you’re planning a trek across an entire continent or want to visit another city for a few days, Travelocity is the best site for getting cheap flights and hotel rooms. There are hundreds of airlines and 140,000 to choose from. Simply enter the travel dates and begin the search, or check out the “current deals” page. It’s always easy to find Travelocity cheap flights, no matter where you want to go.

Since 1996, it has been the leading website to put discount travel in the hands of the customer. You can easily plan your entire trip from start to finish – and save money in the process. The search engine is straightforward and easy to use. You don’t have to search for just airfare. You can also look for a hotel room and cheap car rental at the same time.

Travelocity often offers deals through email. If you don’t have time to search the site, you can sign up to receive the newest and best travel deals through email.

This website includes low airfare from all of the major airlines in the world, including United, Delta, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, etc. You’ll find discounts on the smaller charter airline companies as well. Whether you need a short flight to a nearby city or want to fly across the world, always check with Travelocity cheap flights to see what is available.

Where Else to Find Travelocity Cheap Flights

Sometimes there are promo codes that are available at third party coupon sites. These are worth looking into because they can help you save additional money. Travelocity doesn’t necessarily advertise every single discount offer directly on their site or through the newsletter.

Just read the terms and conditions regarding any promo code because they often expire after a short period. If you find a good one that will help you save on your flight, be sure to jump on it while it’s still available.

When booking your trip, about halfway through the checkout process there will be a spot for you to enter the promo code. Before finalizing, make sure that the discount has been applied to the order.

Comparing Travelocity cheap flights is easy. All of the details are listed and easy to look over. This includes price, tax information, dates, times, whether or not there are any connections, if a hotel is included, etc. If you are comparing vacation packages at resorts and hotels, there will be a small plane icon if airfare is included in the price.

Travelocity was designed with the customer in mind. There is no need to hire a travel agent when you can do all of the planning yourself – for free. The travel itself can be very inexpensive – especially if you take advantage of Travelocity cheap flights, hotel discounts, car rental coupons, budget cruises, and more.

Stansted Airport London – An Independent Travellers Guide

Of London’s airports, Stansted Airport is furthest from the centre of London, nearly 40 miles. The airport is dominated by low cost budget airlines and in particular Ryanair and easyJet, Europe’s largest low cost airlines.

The overwhelming majority of flights are European or UK domestic flights.

The airport also has significant charter traffic, particularly for the British travelling on package tours to the sun.

The main intercontinental and state carriers like British Airways, Virgin, American and Singapore Airlines all use London’s Heathrow or Gatwick Airports.

The airport is an established airport but was relaunched 15 years ago with a brand new terminal and infrastructure, including a direct rail link and motorway to London. At first it was a white elephant but the emergence of the low cost budget carriers has transformed Stansted into one of the fastest growing airports in Europe in the last decade.

Today, full capacity of the main terminal is within sight and a new terminal and further out a second runway is planned.

There are no surprises with the terminal itself, all the standard facilities are in place including choice of foreign exchange, pharmacies, news stands etc. There is a good range of eating opportunities ranging from fast food and pub food through to sit down restaurants. In common with all airports run by BAA, the owner, there is a lot of luxury shopping outlets. But remember, the vast majority of flights from Stansted are within the EEC and do not qualify for duty free status.

It normally takes around 30 minutes from touch down to exiting customs with most flights if you have luggage. There is an airport information desk immediately outside customs and a desk for AirportCarz who have a monopoly on taxi services at the airport. Taking a taxi to London is only used by a very small minority of passengers because of the distance and expense.

If your destination is London, the quickest option is to take the Stansted Express train. The train station is underneath the terminal so you just descend to the platforms by escalators or lifts.

The Stansted Express takes 45 minutes to London’s Liverpool Street Station and runs about every 15 minutes during the day. Last trains are around midnight. The fares on the Stansted Express are expensive, well over $US40 for a single return fare.

The Liverpool Street terminus is also not very convenient for most travellers, being sited in the middle of the financial district of London, 3-5 miles from most of the most popular hotel accommodation. The train stops at an intermediate stop called Tottenham Hale, 10 minutes before Liverpool Street, an interchange with the London Underground (Victoria Line).

Many of the airlines will sell tickets for the Stansted Express, some at a discount, before landing at Stansted Airport.

The budget transfer option into London is to take one of four scheduled coach services run by National Express and Terravision. There is a large, modern coach station in front of the terminal, adjacent to the rail station.

The cheapest option is the Terravision service to Liverpool Street Station, the same route as the Stansted Express. The price is about half that of the Stansted Express Train. Downside like all road based transfers is the London traffic, on a good day the coach will make it in about an hour. National Express run services about every 30 minutes to nearby Stratford Underground at a similar price.

The other route taken by the coaches is Stansted to London Victoria. Both have return fares around $US25. The Terravision service is non-stop, the National Express service makes stops through central London, many of them close to the major hotel districts.

The National Express service is a true 24×7 service, the Terravision service only stops for a couple of hours early morning. Some of the highest frequencies are around midnight Stansted-London and very early morning London-Stansted for the first and last flights when the Stansted Express and London Underground have shut down.

Because of the sometimes extraordinarily cheap fares of Ryanair and easyJet a lot of transcontinental travellers have found it cheapest to fly into Heathrow and then complete their journey to their European destination using a low cost airline from Stansted.

National Express run shuttle services between Heathrow and Stansted from the coach station at Stansted. There are usually a couple of services an hour, the journey taking around 90 minutes (though delays on the motorway are almost routine at rush hours). The fare is not cheap either. The return fare is about $US50. It is cheaper to use the indirect National Express service to Stratford and then catch the London Underground to Heathrow, but less comfortable.

If you want to stay over at Stansted Airport before a flight there are plenty of options available. Like all airport hotels at London, room rates are normally much cheaper at weekends than mid-week. If you are transiting from Heathrow or Gatwick which have much fiercer competition, you will probably find rates more expensive at Stansted, particularly in the budget sector.

Immediately adjacent to the terminal is the luxury Stansted Radisson SAS, the only airport hotel where you do not need a hotel transfer vehicle. This is perhaps the most luxurious hotel and at weekends rates can be fairly competitive. The original luxury hotel at Stansted is the 4 star Hilton Hotel on the airport perimeter. The Hilton Stansted runs its own shuttle bus from the coach station about every 30 minutes.

In the immediate vicinity of the airport is an Express by Holiday Inn and a Best Western. The consistently cheapest option is the Days Inn on a motorway services area at the entrance to Stansted Airport. It provides no airport transfer facility itself though of course there are taxis and a local bus service.

Apart from the chains there are a lot of independent hotels in the vicinity. These feature hotels for all budgets and tastes, ranging from Country House Hotels, to pubs to traditional Bed and Breakfasts. The countryside around Stansted is surprisingly unspoilt and there is opportunity to stay in a traditional market town or coaching inn for example.

Cruising The South Dodecanese Islands In Greece – Travel Advice For A Cultural Holiday In Greece

Travelling is at its most enjoyable when there is a hint of exploration to it, an element of discovery, of visiting places that preserve their traditional character and approaching them in unusual ways. To some extent all Greek islands offer this, but none more so than the beautiful and highly diverse Dodecanese islands in the southeast Aegean, which hug the Turkish coast.

These islands encompass varied landscapes of immense beauty, unforgettable coastal scenery, picturesque settlements and a multitude of fascinating archaeological sites.

The Dodecanese are easily reached by daily boats and flights from Athens, and the largest islands in the Southern Dodecanese, Rhodes and Kos, are also served by charter flights from Northwest Europe during the summer season.

Pleasant as it is to spend a week or so basking in the sun and sea of a single island, there are more interesting ways to enjoy this part of the world. Strung out between Rhodes and Kos are a series of more rarely visited small islands, each with its own distinctive character, each scattered with historical and archaeological monuments, and each of them uniquely beautiful.

Traditionally, enterprising travellers have explored this intimate marine world through “island-hopping”, literally jumping from one island to the other, sometimes following a fixed itinerary, sometimes being entirely spontaneous.

But, for those who want to visit the islands in style, without having to worry about tickets and schedules, and without having to put up with the limited charms of ferry terminals, shoe-box shaped vessels and a mass transit atmosphere, there is a wonderful alternative.

For a number of years, it has been possible to cruise the Dodecanese on Turkish gulets, an Aegean variation of the schooner, a hand-built wooden double-masted sailing boat. These luxurious and graceful vessels come equipped with all necessary conveniences, and can accommodate anything from 2 to 24 people.

There is surely no more enjoyable way to travel the Aegean: imagine lying back on the cushioned rear deck, listening to the sound of creaking wood and flapping sails; anchoring on a whim in untouched coves for a quick swim or a brief bit of solo-exploration by kayak, before enjoying a delicious meal prepared by the on-board chef from the freshest ingredients.

The best itinerary through the Southern Dodecanese would begin in the ancient harbour town of Kos, overlooked by an imposing medieval castle. Here, you can explore the highly attractive city, which was entirely rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1930 by the Italians (who were then in control of the islands). They chose an unusual expressionist style, a mix of Greek and Italian building traditions.

The town is interspersed with a whole array of archaeological parks, revealing the large Roman town beneath, more of which can be discovered in a fine museum of ancient sculpture and in the spectacular Casa Romana, a reconstructed Roman town house.

One place that shouldn’t be missed is the famous Asklepieion of Kos, one of the most renowned healing sanctuaries of antiquity, located on a tranquil wooded hillside overlooking the town, sea and adjacent Turkish coast.

From Kos it is a short sail to nearby Nisyros, a tiny island that has been left untouched by modern mass tourism. Boats moor near the labyrinthine island town, Mandraki. Coming from busy Kos, Nisyros is a revelation: a forgotten world of trees and rocks and whitewashed houses rising from the intensely blue Aegean.

An excursion to the island’s centre reveals its fascinating origins: the ancients thought that Nisyros was formed during a clash between gods and titans, when Poseidon, god of the sea, threw a rock at his assailants, trapping them underneath but not killing them.

Their moans and rumbles could be heard ever after. This picturesque story reflects the fact that Nisyros is actually a semi-dormant volcano. At Stefani, visitors can walk inside one of craters, now a bizarre lunar landscape of heat and steam, overlooked by the sleepy but beautiful village of Nikia, perched on the caldera’s rim.

From here, the next island that beckons across the blue sea is Tilos, one of the smallest and least inhabited islands in the group. Tilos is a surprisingly fertile island, surrounded by a string of untouched beaches. Its main village, Megalo Chorio, offers a surprise: a small museum devoted to a breed of pigmy elephant that roamed the island 10,000 years ago.

The next crossing takes you to Halki. Its harbour town, Emborio, is an astonishing sight: a jumble of neat, white 19th-century houses with fine Neoclassical façades, set along a wide bay with incredibly stark limestone mountains towering behind.

The nearest peak is crowned with an impressive medieval castle built by the Knights of Rhodes, and its flanks are covered with the stark ruins of a ghost town: the old capital of the island which was abandoned when the inhabitants decided that it was better to live close by the sea.

A long sail with the prevailing wind takes you to the island of Symi. If you thought that Emborio was impressive, Yialos, the harbour of Symi, is an absolute marvel to behold. Row after row of lovely traditional houses, each painted in slightly different pastel tones, rise above and around the narrow fjord-like bay.

An excursion to the upper town, Chorio takes you back in time – its winding streets and innumerable houses packed in close together perfectly preserve the character of a 19th century village community.

The final sea crossing marks a return to a busier world: the harbour town of Rhodes. Rhodes was already the major centre of the region in antiquity, famous for its Colossus, now lost, which stood not too far from the harbour where the gulets moor.

Rhodes has many attractions, foremost of which is its bustling medieval old-town, dominated by buildings created during the 14th and 15th century by the Knights of Rhodes, who also surrounded it with the impressive fortifications that can still be seen today. Overlooked by its ancient acropolis, crowned with the ruins of a small theatre and several temples, Rhodes is visibly the result of millennia of dynamism.

If you have any time left after you have disembarked from your gulet, you could continue your explorations of these culturally rich Greek islands. There’s always more to see!

Travel Europe By Plane, Train, Bus Or Car – It’s Easy

Map out your trip – travel Europe by train, plane, bus or rent a car. This saves you time and money. If you are on a budget, compare prices against train, plane or bus. Check departure, arrival times and length of travel.

By train

Travel Europe by train is still the most popular way to go around. If your life’s motto is to travel light, this is a great way to get to your favorite cities! Find out how many countries you will be visiting. There are certain types of train fares to match your needs.

Do you travel during the day when you can admire the scenery? Or at night, while you sleep it out and wake up at your new destination, saving you one night’s stay at a hotel? Travel Europe the way Europeans do! Mix in with the locals. One piece of advise, as back home, please keep your belongings close to you, particularly in the larger cities such as Rome.

I’ve traveled around Europe alone. And for women traveling alone, Europe can be pretty safe. I’ve never had the need to travel at night as I do prefer sleeping in a warm comfy bed. 🙂 While traveling, bring along your drinks. Most train stations have stores and kiosks. It’s hard to be thirsty on board and praying for that guy selling the snacks to show up!

Eurorail or eurail passes can only be purchased while you are still outside Europe. There are special passes depending on the length of your stay, how many times you will be traveling and how many countries you will be seeing. This is handy although if you are covering a few cities at a time, it is best just to purchase point-to-point tickets. During these cases, I buy mine on the spot.

A green way to travel around the UK: Get around on the Virgin train! They’ve got rates from as low as GBP 12.50 one way. And if you book early, they have great deals for first class. First class and saving the environment, what a great combination.

By plane

With people wanting to get to their destination faster and cheaper, European regional airlines come up with promo flights sometimes even cheaper than train fare! Wow! That’s a great way to travel Europe! So instead of travelling overnight on a train, you can choose to fly! There are lots of cheap airlines out there to make us female travelers happy!

British Midland flies from London to several European cities. My Paris to London flight with a group was delayed but the service made up for it. Despite that delay, I still fly British Midland.

I’ve also tried easyjet from Dortmund to Rome Ciampino and Jet2 from Leeds to Amsterdam Schiphol. These are low budget airlines. If I booked fast enough, I could have gotten my Leeds to Amsterdam fare for only GBP 1 (excluding taxes)!

Flying within Italy? Try out My Air. They also fly to several international cities within Europe.

Be aware that you pay for the drinks and snacks on board so make sure you have coins or small bills ready. The flights left on time and in about an hour, you’re in your destination!

On the other hand, there is also a possibility of renting a private jet. Check out Net Jets Europe if you don’t want to wait for flights (like the rest of us mortals).

By car

If you’re the type who loves driving during your vacation and consider map reading a stress-free hobby, then go ahead and rent a car! Driving in Europe is a breeze… that’s what Jan (my hubby) says… I can’t say the same because I don’t know how to drive!

By bus

Europe bus travel is an alternative to going around by train. It’s simple. Hop on, hop off. Coaches now are turning ultra modern. The ride is as smooth as when you’re on board a plane! Bus ride’s your thing the next time you travel Europe? There are several bus companies to choose from.

I travelled on Eurolines’ Amsterdam to Paris drive. We left Amstel Station at about 8pm and arrived in Paris at 6am. There are several toilet stops through the night and because the seats were comfortable, I felt pretty much OK on arrival.

National Express is a UK coach operator that goes to about a thousand places in the United Kingdom and to popular destinations in Europe (with Eurolines) as far as Moscow and St. Petersburg! There are some really great offers so you might just get a chance on a great deal. The trip may take longer than a train but you won’t worry about your luggage since all luggage are stored underneath the coach.

By private coach

The best in land travel, you and your friends and family have the privacy of your very own coach! Plan out your itinerary and have your very own professional driver take you around the continent for the entire duration of the trip.

The latest family group I had decided to travel Europe (well, Italy and France) in the comfort and security of their very own deluxe coach, a big plus in their vacation! The kids claimed the back seats to chat all day long and their parents stayed in front enjoying the view!

By ferry

This is a great alternative for those who easily get bored. You get to do different activities on board the ferry so there is never a dull moment while you travel Europe on your own.

Travelling Costa Rica on a Budget? Yes, It’s Possible!

Transportation is the most desired necessity that is required to travel from one place, state or country to another. It is difficult to travel long distances without having proper transportation facilities. This is the easiest way to go around the roads where you want to save the money, time and efforts.

With the growing modernization, we are benefitted by various modes of transportation, which include road, air, water and rail transportation services. But when it comes to Costa Rica, then the country is offering the best of their transportation services to the tourists to make their visit an everlasting memory.

We all are well aware of the rainforest, volcanoes, sandy beaches and magnificent diversity, which makes Costa Rica a land full of adventure. For many of us, it is one of the dreams to relish such beauty of its destinations that combine the peace of mind with the happiness of heart.

The heights of gorgeousness can be seen itself from the San Jose international airport, if you fly into. So, you impressed now, and got more excited? The ultimate journey starts after stepping out from the airport.

Costa Rica is an easy country to get around, with the numerous transportation options including buses, taxis or air connections, with an easy, comfortable and reliable ride. To make you go around the roads, there are a number of Costa Rica transportation services that provide a level of comfort combined with trust, surety, and affordable prices to the visitors.

These services are not limited to taxes or cabs, but provide a huge range that fulfills your needs. Following are some transportation options that are offered to the tourist for their successful journey in Costa Rica:

Air Transport – If you like to be on the top always, you can enjoy the view of Costa Rica from the sky by hiring helicopter flights on shared or private modes.

These services are available at affordable prices either for fun or on any emergency condition. If you have a good budget, you can go for charter flights to rent an entire plane and pilot for your personal use.

Ground Transport- Costa Rica Transportation Services include various facilities to explore the roads smoothly. You can hire the ground transportation services either on shared or private means to enjoy the astonishing destinations from the pacific to the Caribbean side, from the city to the mountains.

Not only this, it also includes airport shuttle services, i.e. cars or taxis to and from the airport to make your journey contented. Rent a car is an ideal option to travel local areas to experience the panoramic view at your own pace.

Water Transport- To explore the flora and fauna of Monteverde in Costa Rica, taxi-boats are the most adventurous and wonderful way. This makes the trip more beautiful and exciting. To lessen the travel time, a ferry between a port in Puntarenas to the port on Nicoya Peninsula can be used.

Last, but not the least, in order to connect the travelers to the far separated areas of the country, Montezuma and Jaco, a water taxi service is the best and an ultimate ride that can’t be expressed without experience.

The best part of availing these Costa Rica transportation service is that all these services are readily offered at very reasonable prices. You can hire any of them within your budget to make your trip more enjoyable and fearless.

If you are thinking of planning a vacation in Costa Rica, there is nothing to panic about. With the ease of the internet, you can contact the transportation service providers for your help.

Browse your internet and search for the best Costa Rica transportation agencies that tailor your needs or that perfectly suit your wish list of exploring the ultimate destination including beaches, wildlife, and a lot more amazing options.

As with the endless choices of transportation agencies you can make your trip more memorable, exciting, and joyful. Plan your trip to Costa Rica now, to enjoy the destinations full of diversity, adventure, and surprises!

Discount Flights Paris

Recognized as one of the most popular metropolitan cities, Paris is the capital of France. A renowned romantic city, it rests on the banks of the river Seine and is also the largest city in France. Paris boasts of numerous monuments, landmarks, museums and historical cities.

The most modern method to find discount flight deals to and from Paris revolves around robots air travel finders. They are air flight search booking engines that constantly search for low cost and discount flights deals. These air flight search-booking engines assist people to find low cost airfares. They work on an international level and people simply need to use the Internet to find such deals.

Discount flights to Paris are offered directly by certain airline companies. Such deals are often advertised through travel agents, newspapers and online. A number of travel packages boast of low cost flights to and from Paris. They often cater to group travels. Critics consider travel specials to be viable and effective marketing strategies that are used by travel companies to compete for customers. This proves to be beneficial for tourists as they make available discount flights.

The most likely group of travelers, who can acquire discount flight deals at a short notice are frequent fliers. This is because airline companies offer such travelers points for the number of miles they travel. These travel points can be redeemed for discount flight deals to Paris. Before finalizing a discount flights deal, it is advisable for potential customers to be absolutely sure about their travel plans.

This is because most companies do not offer a refund or delayed bookings in case customers choose to make cancellations. When discount flights are declared, they happen to be short-term offers. Such bumper flights are not advertised for long and are limited period offers.

This requires customers to make prompt bookings. Postponement in making decisions often results in the discount offer having expired. Customers can enquire with travel agents, tour operators and airline companies regarding discount flights to and from Paris.