The Pros and Cons of Choosing a Low Cost Airline

Posted by Rachel in Travel Tips on 04 8th, 2011 | Read Comments(1)

When you’re planning a holiday and need to book flights, it’s understandable to look for the best deal possible. With so many low cost airlines in existence now, there are more chances of finding budget flights, if you know where to look. But despite the lure of a cheap ticket, there are still some potential hidden costs and downsides to low cost flying. We take a look at the pros and cons involved in choosing a low cost airline.

Pros of low cost airlines

Here are some of the benefits of flying with a low cost airline:

One of the obvious pros of choosing to fly with a low cost airline is that you’ll save money. When you’re on a budget and have limited funds to start with, this means you may well be able to afford to spend more on better accommodation, or extra sightseeing.

If you don’t want to take loads of luggage and can fit all your holiday needs in a single carry-on bag, you can successfully make the most of travelling on a budget plane.

Budget airlines are a good option if you’re travelling in an off peak time, as you can often secure a really good deal.

Cons of low cost airlines

Budget airlines do have their downsides though:

Low cost airlines often have stricter rules on luggage, so you may need to be prepared to pay more to take an extra bag with you or even to check-in luggage at all.

The food on budget airlines varies considerably and often costs extra, so if you’re what you’re going to eat concerns you, it may not be such a good deal. Likewise, it could be tricky if you have a special diet or food allergy.

Seats on budget airlines can get booked up very quickly, especially when a good deal is available, so if you don’t book a seat quickly, you may not get one on your deal flight.

Sometimes flights aren’t as cheap as they initially seem – remember that there may well be taxes and charges to add on to the final price.

Have you flown with a budget airline? Would you do so again? Share your views and experiences with budget airline travel in the comments below!

5 Great Reasons to Travel on Holiday by Train

Posted by Rachel in Travel Tips on 01 11th, 2011 | Read Comments(4)

When you’re planning a holiday abroad, the first method of travel that usually comes to mind is air. Whilst there are certainly benefits to be had from using air travel, there are also huge benefits to be gained by thinking of alternative methods, especially train travel.

Here are five great reasons why you should consider travelling by train on your next trip abroad!

1. Travelling By Train May Cost Less

If you’re on a budget or want to save money on your holiday expenses, then it’s worth bearing in mind that travelling by train could be considerably cheaper than flying. Train fares can work out as a more economical option, plus depending on where you’re travelling and how long in advance you’re booking the tickets, there are often good ticket deals available.

In addition, extra discounts are often available for students, over 60s, and disabled travellers.

2. You Can Take More Baggage By Train

If you’re hopeless at travelling light or need to take a lot of baggage with you, then you don’t need to worry so much about excess baggage charges when travelling by train. Most train journeys aren’t quite so strict about baggage allowances and you won’t have to worry so much about weighing your bags either – just make sure you can still carry them!

3. Train Travel is More Eco-friendly

If you’re concerned about the environment, then travelling by train can be a much more eco-friendly option. Trains are well known for being more energy efficient than plains and don’t release so many harmful emissions into the environment.

4. Train Travel is Relaxed and Hassle-free

Travelling by train can be a lot less hassle-free than flying. You don’t have to arrive so early for pre-flight checks and when you’re on board and travelling, you can move around a lot more than on a plane, which can help you be much more relaxed.

5. Train Travel Provides Good Views

Finally, another great reason to travel on holiday by train is that you can better views. Although seeing the world from above when you’re on a plane can be fascinating on a clear day, when you’re travelling by train there’s generally more scenery to see, whether urban, country or coastal.

If it’s your first time visiting an area, you can see a lot more of it up close as you travel by train than you would if you were simply flying over it.

How To Find The Best Local Restaurants On Foreign Trips

Posted by Rachel in Travel Tips on 12 28th, 2010 | Read Comments(1)

When you’re on a foreign trip to a town, city or country new to you, then one of the best ways of soaking up the atmosphere and learning about the culture and lifestyle is to eat the local cuisine.

But when you’re new to the area and there’s so many restaurants to choose from, and many trying to lure the tourists in, how do you find the best local eateries?

Ask For Restaurant Recommendations

If you’re staying in a hotel, bed and breakfast, self-catering accommodation or hostel, ask the owners or staff for recommendations of where to eat. Depending on where you’re staying, there may well be information or brochures available giving details of good eateries, so make the most of these and glean them for details.

You can also ask other guests where they’ve eaten, or ask any locals you meet. Locals can be the best possible source of good restaurant information and their recommendations can lead you off the beaten track to the real gems that tourist guides may not even know about.

Go Online

If you’ve got mobile broadband or an Internet connection, then head online and post a query on a travel forum or on Twitter – you might be amazed at the replies you get!

You can also surf the net for restaurant reviews (assuming the results don’t all come up in a foreign language you don’t understand) and get the crucial details about what time the restaurants open and what type of food they serve.

Look for the Restaurants Locals Are In

It sounds the most obvious, but as long as where you’re staying is safe and you don’t get lost, it’s always useful to go and have a look for restaurants, especially the ones the locals are in. Big, noisy restaurants that are full of tourists may be able to pull in the crowds, but they don’t always offer the best local cuisine.

Instead, look for the restaurants that seem to have more locals in them and try and gauge what the atmosphere is like. For example, if there’s local music being played, instead of the radio or loud pop, or if there are lots of people eating there, even on a mid-week evening, then the chances are it’s a popular local restaurant.

It might not look glitzy or glamorous from the outside, but if it serves good, wholesome, fresh local food, then you’re onto a winner.

6 Top Tips for Getting a Hotel Room Upgrade

Posted by Rachel in Travel Tips on 12 12th, 2010 | Read Comments(1)

If you regularly stay in hotels on leisure or business travel trips and fancy getting upgraded to a bigger or better room or luxurious suite, then here are 6 top tips for negotiating a hotel room upgrade!

1. Ask for an upgrade

It sounds utterly simple, but sometimes the easiest way to suss out whether a hotel room upgrade could be available is to ask. Be polite, cheery and considerate as you check in and, if it’s not a particularly busy time and better rooms are available, your luck could be in.

2. Book your stay for an off-peak time

Hotel room upgrades are less likely to be offered if you’re staying at a very busy time of the year or in the peak season. So if you time your trip carefully, perhaps by booking a mid-week break in late autumn or winter, then you may have more chance of getting an upgrade.

3. Celebrate a special occasion

If you’re booking a hotel stay due to a special occasion, such as wedding, anniversary or birthday, then don’t be shy and mention it when you make your booking or when you check-in. If the circumstances are right and rooms are available, then you may strike it lucky and be given a room upgrade.

4. Check in later in the day

Rather than checking in to the hotel as soon as check in starts, delay your arrival until later in the day or early evening. Although your room may be ready early in the day, there’s often more chance of a room upgrade if you delay your arrival. That way, for example, staff will know how many rooms haven’t sold out and the availability of better rooms.

5. Stay regularly at the same hotel or chain

If you’re a regular guest at the same hotel or chain of hotels, be them large or small, then the chances are the booking staff will get to know you. Loyal, regularly guests are often rewarded well, especially if you’re on good terms with the staff, and could get the opportunity of a free room upgrade. Look out for hotels that have loyalty schemes too.

6. Stay at a new hotel

Sometimes it is worth looking into staying at newly opened hotels too. When new hotels open up around the world, there are often good deals on rooms and, with owners keen for good PR and promotion, first or early hotel guests can benefit from free upgrades.

Have you had any luck with getting a hotel upgrade? What tips do you recommend?