autumnleaf
Registered User
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Some random information based on my travels, which someone may find useful. Mostly Europe-based, I'm afraid
How to get a cheap flight
Book at least a month in advance, six weeks if you’re travelling in the summer or on a bank holiday.
You can sometimes get cheap fares at the last minute if you’re travelling off-season and are not too fussy about destination.
Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days to travel.
Budget airlines are not always the cheapest. Aer Lingus is giving Ryanair a run for their money on several routes. Remember to take all costs into account, including travel to and from the airport, and time spent waiting for connecting flights (which will probably see you buying overpriced airport food).
Package holiday groups such as Budget Travel, Falcon, or Sunway, usually have flight-only seats. This can be a good option if you are travelling to somewhere not on the scheduled flights, such as Crete or Mallorca.
For long-haul flights, Trailfinders are the business!
How to get cheap train fares
Trains are a convenient and comfortable way to get around continental Europe, and they are also the environmentally friendly option. Great train-related info can be found at www.seat61.com.
Some countries where I’ve travelled by train:
- France: See http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ The “Prems” and “Derniere Minute” offers are great. If you’re doing a lot of travel, it may be worth getting a Euro Domino ticket (3 days unlimited train travel out of 15). TGVs and sleepers have surcharges, but for a long journey may be worth it.
- Germany: See http://www.bahn.de . Often have good special offers. The regional passes are often great value: one example is the Bayern Pass, which offers unlimited travel within the Bavarian region, including Nuremburg, Munich, and Salzburg.
- Switzerland: See http://www.sbb.ch Super-efficient and comprehensive rail system, stunningly beautiful scenery, but you’ll pay for the experience if you don’t plan well! It’s well worth getting a Swiss rail pass if you are making more than one journey (see http://www.myswissalps.com/swissrailpasses.asp?lang=EN). If you are flying with Swiss Air, they will transfer your luggage by rail to any location in Switzerland.
- Italy: See http://www.trenitalia.com/ Usually good value. Rail passes are only worthwhile if you are doing a lot of travel. Some good last-minute deals on the Web site – check before travelling.
- Spain: See http://www.renfe.es . It is worth considering the bus for some journeys. For example, there is no direct train connection between Malaga and Granada so it would take a few hours by rail, but by comfortable air-conditioned bus this is a 1.5 hour journey. For longer journeys such as Malaga to Barcelona, trains are more pleasant; book at least 2 weeks in advance for the best fares.
- Eastern Europe and the Balkans: Train travel is generally very cheap, so rail passes are a waste of money. Croatia and Greece don’t have the terrain for rail, but they do have very good bus services between the main towns (and reasonably-priced ferry services to the islands).
If you are under 26 or over 60, always ask about discounts.
How to get cheap travel insurance
If you have VHI or Bupa, ask about their travel insurance deals.
Trailfinders are good for long-haul and multitrip insurance.
If you want to take part in activities such as skiing or scuba diving, make sure this is covered.
Always read the small print!
How to get good-value accommodation
Get a good guide book. Lonely Planet books, for example, normally have sections for budget, mid-range, and top-end accommodation, and they are pretty honest about whether a place is noisy or out-of-the-way. Make sure the book is up-to-date: places often close down or deteriorate.
If in doubt about the suitability of a hotel or guesthouse, you can make inquires on bulletin boards such as the LP Thorn Tree (http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/ ).
Always check location, especially if you are relying on public transport.
Posh hotels that cater to business travellers during the week often do good deals for leisure travellers at weekends and sometimes during the month of August.
Off-season, you can usually haggle the price of a room down. I’m told that no American ever pays the rack rate in motels: that’s only for us silly foreigners who don’t ask for a discount!
Hope this helps someone
How to get a cheap flight
Book at least a month in advance, six weeks if you’re travelling in the summer or on a bank holiday.
You can sometimes get cheap fares at the last minute if you’re travelling off-season and are not too fussy about destination.
Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days to travel.
Budget airlines are not always the cheapest. Aer Lingus is giving Ryanair a run for their money on several routes. Remember to take all costs into account, including travel to and from the airport, and time spent waiting for connecting flights (which will probably see you buying overpriced airport food).
Package holiday groups such as Budget Travel, Falcon, or Sunway, usually have flight-only seats. This can be a good option if you are travelling to somewhere not on the scheduled flights, such as Crete or Mallorca.
For long-haul flights, Trailfinders are the business!
How to get cheap train fares
Trains are a convenient and comfortable way to get around continental Europe, and they are also the environmentally friendly option. Great train-related info can be found at www.seat61.com.
Some countries where I’ve travelled by train:
- France: See http://www.voyages-sncf.com/ The “Prems” and “Derniere Minute” offers are great. If you’re doing a lot of travel, it may be worth getting a Euro Domino ticket (3 days unlimited train travel out of 15). TGVs and sleepers have surcharges, but for a long journey may be worth it.
- Germany: See http://www.bahn.de . Often have good special offers. The regional passes are often great value: one example is the Bayern Pass, which offers unlimited travel within the Bavarian region, including Nuremburg, Munich, and Salzburg.
- Switzerland: See http://www.sbb.ch Super-efficient and comprehensive rail system, stunningly beautiful scenery, but you’ll pay for the experience if you don’t plan well! It’s well worth getting a Swiss rail pass if you are making more than one journey (see http://www.myswissalps.com/swissrailpasses.asp?lang=EN). If you are flying with Swiss Air, they will transfer your luggage by rail to any location in Switzerland.
- Italy: See http://www.trenitalia.com/ Usually good value. Rail passes are only worthwhile if you are doing a lot of travel. Some good last-minute deals on the Web site – check before travelling.
- Spain: See http://www.renfe.es . It is worth considering the bus for some journeys. For example, there is no direct train connection between Malaga and Granada so it would take a few hours by rail, but by comfortable air-conditioned bus this is a 1.5 hour journey. For longer journeys such as Malaga to Barcelona, trains are more pleasant; book at least 2 weeks in advance for the best fares.
- Eastern Europe and the Balkans: Train travel is generally very cheap, so rail passes are a waste of money. Croatia and Greece don’t have the terrain for rail, but they do have very good bus services between the main towns (and reasonably-priced ferry services to the islands).
If you are under 26 or over 60, always ask about discounts.
How to get cheap travel insurance
If you have VHI or Bupa, ask about their travel insurance deals.
Trailfinders are good for long-haul and multitrip insurance.
If you want to take part in activities such as skiing or scuba diving, make sure this is covered.
Always read the small print!
How to get good-value accommodation
Get a good guide book. Lonely Planet books, for example, normally have sections for budget, mid-range, and top-end accommodation, and they are pretty honest about whether a place is noisy or out-of-the-way. Make sure the book is up-to-date: places often close down or deteriorate.
If in doubt about the suitability of a hotel or guesthouse, you can make inquires on bulletin boards such as the LP Thorn Tree (http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/ ).
Always check location, especially if you are relying on public transport.
Posh hotels that cater to business travellers during the week often do good deals for leisure travellers at weekends and sometimes during the month of August.
Off-season, you can usually haggle the price of a room down. I’m told that no American ever pays the rack rate in motels: that’s only for us silly foreigners who don’t ask for a discount!
Hope this helps someone