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

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

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!

If you’re fed up of the cold, winter days and freezing temperatures and are dreaming of getting away to somewhere warm, then there’s a holiday destination out there that could be the place of your dreams. Here are four fantastic winter sun holiday destinations that are guaranteed to warm you up, in a variety of ways!

1. Tropical Winter Sun in The Maldives

2. Family Winter Sun in Florida

3. Budget-Friendly Winter Sun in The Canary Islands

For a lively holiday in the sun, choose Tenerife, the largest island, or Gran Canaria. If you’d prefer something a bit calmer, with less nightlife and great facilities for families, then Fuerteventura, with its huge beach, is perfect for winter sun escapes. Winter temperatures in the Canary Islands are usually about 25C.

4. Party Time Winter Sun in Rio de Janerio

Temperatures from December to March range from a balmy 25C to a raging 40C, and if you head there in February, you could catch the crowds at the Mardi Gras carnival.

Travel on holiday by train

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

1. Travelling By Train May Cost Less

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

2. You Can Take More Baggage By Train

3. Train Travel is More Eco-friendly

4. Train Travel is Relaxed and Hassle-free

5. Train Travel Provides Good Views

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.

Local French restaurant

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

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

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

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.

Get a free hotel room upgrade

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

2. Book your stay for an off-peak time

3. Celebrate a special occasion

4. Check in later in the day

5. Stay regularly at the same hotel or chain

6. Stay at a new hotel

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

Best European Christmas market

Most Christmas markets run annually from the end of November until Christmas Eve, with some opening after Christmas as well. If you’re keen to visit one or more of them, then here’s our guide to the top four European Christmas markets.

1. Nuremberg Christmas Market, Germany

Nuremberg Germany Christmas market

The market is well known for being a good place to find traditional handmade wooden figurines, particularly of nativity figures. The local seasonal food, Lebkucken, is also widely available, alongside traditional favourites such as hot and spicy sausages.

2. Cologne Christmas Market, Germany

Street musicians and carol singers abound at the markets all across the city. If you’ve got lots of shopping to get done, then head to the Am Dom market located near the cathedral, as there are about 160 stalls to browse.

3. Brussels Christmas Market, Belgium

Nearby there’s usually a temporary ice rink opened at the same time, so you can shop for a while then go and watch the skaters, or have a go at skating.

Delicious Christmas food

4. Prague Christmas Market, Czech Republic

Like many of the other Christmas markets, stalls are situated in little decorated wooden huts and, as well as handmade Christmas gift ideas, you can buy local foods and Bohemian crystal.

Dachstein West ski area Austria

1. Dachstein West Ski Area

It’s easily accessible for winter ski breaks, as there are three airports all located within two hours drive from the ski resort.

2. Arlberg Ski Area

Arlberg ski area

There’s some fantastic snow coverage and the pistes cater for beginners, intermediates and expert skiers. It’s not just great for skiers though, as the Arlberg area is particularly recommended for snowboarders too.

The Arlberg ski area is easily reached by road and air, with four airports all located within a two hour drive.

3. Zillertal Ski Area

Ski Zillertal

The combined Zillertal Lift Pass provides you with access to the ski resorts of Hippach, Mayrhofen, Fugen and Finkenberg, so there’s plenty of variety to add interest and excitement to a week long skiing holiday. If you’re into snowboarding, or want to try snowboarding as an alternative to skiing, then there’s plenty of opportunities to give this a go.

For short breaks, Innsbruck Airport is only one hours drive away, plus there are other airports just two hours away.

Best Banff skiing

Located in the western Canadian province of Alberta, west of Calgary, the town of Banff is one of the most popular ski resorts in Canada. It’s a great place to be based for a Canadian ski holiday and the town has all the essential shops, restaurants and bars that you’d expect to help you enjoy all aspects of your holiday. Even if you’re a non-skier, you can still enjoy the winter atmosphere in Banff and there are lots of other outdoor activities to try.

The main ski resorts in Banff are Sunshine Village, located about 15 minutes drive from the centre of Banff,  Ski Norquay, on the edge of town and Ski Louise, which is a bit further away (about 45 minutes from Banff) but is included in the tri-area lift ticket pass.

Between them, there are a wide variety of ski slopes to try and something for all levels of skiing ability. For example, Sunshine Village alone has over 3,300 acres of slopes, an average annual snowfall of over 30 feet and is one of the biggest ski resorts in the Rockies.

If you’re new to skiing, then you can rest assured that ski lessons are available (and snowboarding ones too, if you fancy giving that a go), and all the equipment you need can be hired or bought in Banff too.

The 2010 ski season in Banff kicks off on 19th November 2010, when the slopes open at weekends, then it’s full pelt from December. Depending on which slopes you’re skiing on and the snowfall, the season runs until mid April or late May. Between January and March there are even opportunities to have a go at night skiing, which is quite an experience!

If you are heading to the Canadian ski slopes, remember to wrap up warm! It may sound obvious, but if you’re used to skiing in Europe, the temperature in Canada is rather cooler.

Best beach in Antigua

Gorgeous beach

1. Half Moon Bay beach, Antigua – you’ll find this lovely crescent-shaped beach (hence the name) which is now a National Park, on the south east coast of Antigua. One of things that makes it extra special is its very fine pink sand.

2. Jabberwock beach, Antigua – this wonderfully named beach can be found on the north-east coast of Antigua. The beach is a mile long in length, with wonderful white sand and turquoise blue sea.

3. Runway beach, Antigua – found on the north-west coast of the island of Antigua, this large expanse of sandy beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. It’s also home to many hotels, restaurants, bars and rental villas, so is a good place to stay near if you like to remain near the hub of nightlife and good restaurants.

4. Crab Hill beach, Antigua (also sometimes known as Turner’s beach) – this lovely beach is located on the south west coast of Antigua, between the villages of Crab Hill and Johnson’s Point. If you’re after a quiet atmosphere, head for the Crab Hill end. The other end, near Johnson’s Point is livelier and is frequently used as drop-off point for passing cruise ships.

5. Dutchman’s Bay beach, Antigua – If you’re looking for an active beach where you can indulge in watersports activities, then Dutchman’s Bay, north of the airport, is the perfect place to put your windsurfing to the test.

Pink beach in Antigua

6. Ffrye’s Bay, Antigua – found on the south-west coast of the island, this is a beach for nature lovers and bird watchers. The sea is calm and, if you’re lucky, you could get to see a pelican or two.

7. Hawksbill Bay beaches, Antigua – located in the Five Islands Peninsula, on the west coast of the Caribbean island, you’ll find four secluded beaches here, including the only nudist beach.

8. Galleon Beach, Antigua – located in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, this beach is a quarter of a mile long and is blessed with gold sands. The perfect spot to relax and unwind.

Caribbean island of Antigua

9. Carlisle Bay beach, Antigua – located on the south coast of the island, this gorgeous beach is about half a mile long, has fine sand and is a great place to try out your snorkelling skills. It’s also home to an exclusive luxury resort.

10. Rendezvous Bay beach, Antigua – one of the most remote beaches on the island of Antigua, this unspoilt beach is found on the south coast. If you fancy a quiet rendezvous here, the beach is reachable by sea, horseback or a long hike through the hills.

Essential tips for backpacking

1.  Only pack the essentials

It may seem hard for some people to master, but if you’re going to have a successful backpacking trip, you need to limit your luggage. You’ll be carrying your luggage throughout your trip and a heavy backpack will inevitably have its toll on your back. There’s no point being fed up of carting it around after only a short time. So only pack the essentials and limit items that you don’t really need. If you find that you do need something, then you can always buy it on your travels.

2. Stay safe at all times

We’ve all heard the horror stories about backpacking and, as friendly as backpackers may seem, you do need to be aware of personal safety issues. Ideally, first time backpackers may want to backpack with a friend. Avoid accepting lifts from strangers or going off with people you’ve only just met. Keep in regular contact with family and friends at home and let them know where you are and what your plans are.

3. Make the most of exploring

Backpacking gives you a degree of freedom and it’s a great way of exploring a country, without having to rely on pre-arranged plans or tour guides. Use guidebooks and the Internet to get ideas of where to go, but also pick up tips from the locals and explore the hidden nooks and crannies of an area.

4. Keep your money and valuables hidden and safe

Ensure you keep your money, credit cards, valuables, tickets and passport safe at all times when you’re backpacking. A money belt, or bag that you can wear under your clothes will keep them hidden from view, but easily accessible. Always sleep with your money too, especially when staying in hostels.

5. Buy a return ticket

Some people set off backpacking by only buying a single ticket. But if your money runs out, or you have more expenses than you’d expected, having to then pay for a return ticket can be a bit of a pain. If you’ve got your ticket sorted out in advance, it’s one less thing to worry about.