BUDGET TRAVEL OR TRAVELLING WITHIN A BUDGET
One question I`m often asked is are you a budget traveller?
My answer is I`m a traveller on a tight budget .
My view on Budget travel is .
If you don`t earn big bucks why waste your hard earn cash on posh surroundings. Companies like Easyjet and Ryanair are not as bad as people make out. OK they may not offer freebees or have fab entertainment but
if their cheap they re fine. Bring your I pod and a good travel guide to read on your short flight.
When the budget airlines took off I grabbed the pound flights all over Europe.
Well done Stelios or should I say Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou for founding
Easyjet in 1995 when he was 28. In June 2006, Stelios received a knighthood from the Queen for services to entrepreneurship.
Ryanair was founded in 1985 by Christopher Ryan, Liam Lonergan (owner of Irish travel agent Club Travel) and Irish businessman Tony Ryan (after whom the company is named. Ryanair are basic and take you from Ato B. Don`t fall for their hard sale on the aircraft or the bragging about arriving early. The trumpeter has fixed the time.
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An idiot`s guide to Budget city break
STEP 1
Plan when you can get off work, how many days you have free and no other
events arranged. Diary a must for travellers.
Get yearly insurance . Must have cover don`t take airlines too expensive.
STEP 2
Who`s going - Who`s booking-Who`s paying -
Card must have enough funds . Debit cards are sometimes cheaper.
Passport must be valid for 6 months after departure.
Make sure you have enough ink in your printer.
Warn fellow travellers you could be booking and to have their passports handy [and valid] incase you need info.
Have their mobile numbers handy.
Step3
The fun part now . Browse the net for bargains.
Great if you have no favourite place, just the price makes your mind up.
Just watch you could get a cheap flight but the cost of transfer to your hotel could be more than your flight. Ryanair in particular fly to airports which are not always close to the city.
Other thing is to note is the country`s cost of living.
We flew to Norway on a £10 flight and spent the last day skint so beware
other costs involved on your bargain seeking trip.
If you don`t have much cash sometimes a place you wouldn`t think of might be perfect for your city break.
Poland,Latvia or Estonia come to mind.
Watch out for flight times going and coming back. You may get in too late
for public transport. These things add to the total cost.
Think -Would the total cost be cheaper not using your local Airport .
Flying out of another airport. You must add cost of transport there and back.
We use Glasgow,Edinburgh or Prestwick but would prefer Glasgow.
KLM have good prices but you have to go via Amsterdam
Longhaul
If you want to fly futher away . Put your destination in Expedia or E Bookers
Find out what route/ airlines they use . Then go and try and book
it yourself. Getting cheap flights to the USA is difficult .
Sometimes national newspapers run low cost flights if you collect the tokens. Flight centre can have good deals . Sta travel has good deals for students.
More bargains you get the more you can fly.
Have a look at Hotel judge to see the hotels we have used.