Just how do the discount airlines do what they do? How do they manage to provide short-range international flights like London to Mallorca for £18 and Dublin to Paris for €9? Of course, anyone who’s attempted to take advantage of these miraculous offers knows the secret already — they don’t.

The discount airlines use tricks and bait and hidden fees and small print and a deliberately dizzying array of other spring-loaded traps to get the real cost of your seat out of you and they will, no matter what, get it. They’re not charities. Having said that if you can tolerate a few drawbacks and clawbacks and you carefully and minutely observe the following rules the discount airlines can still be appreciably cheaper than than the alternatives.

Don’t be naive — these people are not your friends

Do you remember the golden age of jet travel? The age of the Pan-Am travel bag and pretty stewardesses in brassy, Pierre Cardin miniskirts offering you an in-flight martini and lighting your Lucky Strike? An age when a kind word and a wink and sharp suit could get you bumped to first class? Of course you don’t, because that was the 1950s when a flight cost the equivalent of a year’s income for the average family of six.

Fly the friendless sky

That golden age was followed by a democratisation of flight largely facilitated by the deregulation of international routes and a massive increase in competition (and the consequential demise of industry colossuses like Pan-Am) but travel then was still very much a gentleman’s agreement and airlines competed on qualities like comfort and breadth of destinations.

The third age of flight is the one we’re in now — it’s the age of the deep discount airline and it’s characterised mainly by an adversarial relationship between passenger and carrier. It’s your job to pay as close to the advertised price as you can and it’s their job to get as much out of you as they can. As a matter of policy they will maximise the profit of this one trip and they absolutely do not care if you never fly with them again.

The booking and registration process are exactly as complex as they’re intended to be. You’ll need to be particularly vigilant when deciding if you do not want to reject the offer to not accept the automatic addition of flight insurance, for instance. You’ll need to take notes as you pass through pages and pages of offers and rules and options and you cannot go back without crashing your browser but it’s guaranteed that you’ll need a detail from page two to avoid a surcharge on page five.

If you make a mistake then you’ve spent money. From the perspective of the airline it wasn’t a mistake, it was a positive entry in a cold-blooded statistical success rate and no amount of self-deprecating apology is going to move them. You can’t call them, even if that would do any good, and explaining to the pretty girl at the checkin desk at the airport that you meant to not select the “Reject to refuse to accept early check-in” option will be a similar experience to asking for mercy from a brick wall, if that brick wall could smirk a little, betraying a twisted pleasure in your pain.

Don’t be too fussy about where you’re going, because you’re not going there

You’ll be happy to know that the discount airlines aren’t just strong-arming you — many of their costs are defrayed by the suspension of airport fees and taxes and other incentives offered by remote and under-used freight airports and municipal governments hungry for even the parsimonious tourist brought in by the discount airlines.

These airports do not have modern luxuries like restaurants and heating and they very often don’t have an obvious way of getting to where you were told you were going. Charleroi airport in Belgium, mischievously renamed Brussels-South to satisfy its discount masters, is 60 km from the European capital. Ryanair’s Paris flights land at Beauvais airport, fully 84 km to the north, but you can take a coach for only €16 (tickets are available, handily, on the plane) and an hour and twenty minutes to Porte Maillot, which is very nearly in Paris!

So you’re not getting there when you think you are, either. Discount airlines are, in fact, notoriously punctual and will not abide a single litre of fuel wasted idling on runways, but as noted above the flight itself is the minor leg of your journey; Lau-Tzu’s profoundly observed “single step”. Furthermore the advertised schedule is a classic bait-and-switch — sure, you can spend the weekend in Rome for £48 return if your weekend starts at 22h30 on a Saturday night and ends at 06h05 Sunday morning. For a schedule that accommodates seeing, say, Rome, you’re going to need to pay something close to what a real airline would charge. Real airlines use that money to pay for real landing slots, so their passengers arrive at night or in the morning with some latitude in their planning. The discount airlines get the discount slots, so you’ll either be getting up at 4am to catch your flight or arriving at your destination as the sun’s going down.

So the trick is flexibility. And rigidity. A rigid flexibility. In any case you need to be very fastidious about the process and small print but very relaxed and easygoing about destinations and travel times.

Next week — the discount is in the details

Touring Europe can be one of the most exciting and educational holidays to have with your family and with the hundreds of tourist spots available, the only thing you’d lack is time. Going on vacation to Europe is usually equated with spending loads of money but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can easily save money by selecting destinations that are reasonably near each other. An example of such an itinerary would be Berlin, Prague and Amsterdam though the places you visit would greatly depend on the number of days you plan to stay at each location.

The first way you can save on Europe holidays is to book in advance. Many packages offer trips to these three locations and plane tickets from Prague to Amsterdam for example are quite affordable ranging from $140 to $170 depending on the date of booking.  Lower prices are usually available for those who make early bookings and discounts are given to these early birds as well. Booking early is a must if you are travelling with your entire family.

Creative Commons

Booking apartments instead of those fancy, expensive hotels during your trip is another great saver. Prague apartments for example are both stylish and comfortable offering occupants’ comforts of daily life like washing machines, coffee makers, juicers and other useful equipment. Opting for apartments such as these will allow you to cook for your family and avoid spending too much on eating out. Amsterdam apartments also have the same benefits and in addition are located close to key tourist destinations like Rembrandt square.

Carefully selecting the season you travel can also help you stretch your budget during an international vacation to Europe. Since winter clothing will mean more baggage and in turn higher cost, plan to visit these places during spring or summer when less clothing is required. Be on the lookout for periods where travel to these destinations is at its peak.

Going to cruises will also save a lot of money since these vacation deals are usually inclusive of food, accommodation and leisure at the same time. These make them a very cost effective option for your holiday plans.

Luxury Cruises (Creative Commons)

Travelling using local transportation will also prove useful to help you save money on travel. If you are a group, compare prices the car rentals with local transportation and see which would be a better deal considering the size of your group.

One of the most visited European metropolises, London is an eclectic blend of cutting edge buildings and historical landmarks with a touch of style. Whether you’re an arts enthusiast, a party animal, a socialite or a history lover, London offers plenty of opportunities. Being a cultural hub with a modernist twist, this impressive capital covers the preferences of all kind of travelers. From the Westminster Abbey to the Big Ben, London is absolutely filled with astonishing landmarks. The English breakfast can also be found among London’s attractions. If you don’t believe me, ask the millions of tourists coming to London every year: is the English breakfast one of the reasons for which they choose to visit this amazing city? Indeed, it is!

However, as any other city on the face of the Earth, London contains good places to go to, and less recommended ones. If you don’t spend too much time in London, you have to make sure that you don’t just try your luck when it comes to having breakfast. So here are a few opportunities to choose from.

One of the most renowned restaurants in London is the Breakfast Club. As the name says, this spectacular venue only specializes in breakfasts. At the Breakfast Club, one can choose from a wide variety of breakfast menus, including Benedict eggs, the well known full English breakfast and pancakes. With the four branches located in Hoxton, Spitalfields, Soho and Angel, this restaurant is definitely a can’t-go-wrong choice for breakfast.

A very typical English restaurant, the Dean Street Townhouse is a posh venue, located in Soho. With an extensive menu catering for both the meat lovers and the vegetarians, this lively restaurant offers everything from the traditional full English breakfast, which, by the way, it is absolutely delicious, to the tasty English porridge.

Wolseley and Delauney are two flamboyant restaurants owned by the same person. The similarities between this two venues can be easily sensed, especially when it comes to the delicious dishes that they serve. One can tell that both venues serve the same creative, daring recipes, with a touch of uniqueness. The staff, besides from being elegantly dressed it is also very kind and helpful. Even though the menu is not that diverse, these restaurants offer some mouth-watering specialties that can only be found here.

With an impressive range of dishes, featuring tasty and healthy breakfasts, incredibly good coffee and a variety of delicious smoothies, the Kensington Square Kitchen successfully keeps the balance between flavorsome and healthy.

Spain is a brilliant destination to choose if you fancy a relaxing break. Of course, it’s a pretty big place, so your first question is bound to be ‘where should I go?’. To help you decide, I’ve put together a brief list of some of my favourite spots to unwind in the country.

Obviously, different people find different things relaxing, so I’ve tried to include a reasonably varied mix of options. In general, though, I’ve gone with quieter destinations, as opposed to well-known party capitals!

You want: variety

If you’re like me and enjoy having a good few options when it comes to ways to relax, you should definitely consider booking a trip to Majorca. This gorgeous island combines great weather with stunning beaches, lots of sports opportunities and a cosmopolitan capital known for its great nightlife. So, it’s easy to relax no matter what you’re in the mood for!

Among the highlights are:

• Going hiking in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range: This incredible place, which is home to peaks over 1,400 m high, is a fantastic place to get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors.
• Giving water sports a try: A lot of the beaches are really well equipped here, like Cala Santanyi, which is brilliant for windsurfing.
• Staying in a luxurious hotel: Some of the top resorts include Hotel Cala San Vincenc in Cala San Vincente and the Hotel La Residencia in Deya.

You want: a quiet break

If all you want is a quiet break, Almeria in Andalusia is a great destination to choose. OK, this was once one of the most important ports in the Caliphate of Cordoba, so it certainly has a history of being busy, but these days it’s more relaxed, with a gorgeous coastline covered in quiet beaches, a beautiful landscape and utterly amazing food.

Among the things to do while you’re here are:

• Get stuck into the local food: Grapes are one of the major crops here, so go for dishes with these in. The breca a la uva, which is Pandora fish with grapes, is especially good.
• Take a relaxing stroll in Nicolas Salmeron Park, which runs along the seashore.

You want: to get back to nature

While it’s possible to explore wonderful landscapes in both the above destinations, I think La Palma is one of the best spots in Spain for really immersing yourself in gorgeous surroundings. One of the Canary Islands, La Palma is often referred to as the isla bonita – which means the beautiful isle.

As well as being the greenest of all the Canaries, this pretty island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which probably gives you a good idea of just how amazing the local landscape is.

If you want to explore it at its best, you should definitely go to Caldera de Taburiente National Park, which is one of the most impressive places on the island’s interior. In fact, here you can see the stunning Caldera de Taburiente, which is one of the largest in the whole world – and that manages to look even bigger thanks to the fact that it’s surrounded by mountains.

The local beaches, meanwhile, have to be seen to be believed. I suggest going to Los Cancajos Beach in Brena Baja, since this stretch of sand is known for its crystal-clear water and picturesque rocky beds.

With what appears to be a school holiday every other week, it can be really difficult to keep up with the holiday planning, and you may find yourself running out of ideas before long. Kids definitely need stimulating, but get bored very easily so choosing something new and refreshing for the family can be hell unless you opt to travel further away each time.

Another thing to consider is that many activities don’t necessarily suite the whole family, so it can be quite a challenge in itself getting the right balance of fun, education, entertainment and of course relaxation for mum and dad. The difficulty in many cases is that travelling anywhere with the kids can be so hectic and stressful that it takes the fun out of the trip.

What you need is a solution to give you the break you need but allow the kids to have a fun-filled, action-packed holiday doing all the activities they love, without the hassle of you organising it all!

Holiday camps may just be the perfect solution for the little ones. With a huge variety of activities to choose from, there is a package to suite even the fussiest of mites. Whether they prefer a week of dancing and singing or perhaps a multi-activity of archery, football, horse-riding and more, the kids camps are great for entertainment, education and of course socialising, having fun and meeting new friends! The chances are they won’t want to come home.

Activities for the kids are really important in developing many much needed skills. Children can benefit enormously from taking part in fun activities, and in many cases they just see it as having fun when in fact they are constantly learning as well as exercising. Obviously there are great things for the kids to do wherever you go, but it can be time consuming finding all the information you need and planning the itinerary for your trip.

Places such as Camp Beaumont are a great place to start looking at package camp holidays for the kids. Day trips are also available, which may be a good idea to ease them into being away from home, before a residential week away. And everything is included in the trips, including dedicated and trusted staff, pastoral care, and even pick up points so you don’t even have to put up with the excitement in the car all the way to camp!

Imagine visiting a hotel made entirely of Ice! The ICEHOTEL is truly a magnificent example of a fusion between art and nature, creating an unusual yet breath-taking form of architecture. Each room is carefully sculpted using snow and ice, and each one unique to the next. The only thing protecting you from the ice when you sleep is a Reindeer skin, draped over the bed of ice.

Just like any other hotel, you will be greeted by receptionists in the foyer, and can sit at the Ice Bar and have a drink if you like. Many people flock to the ICEHOTEL to examine the beautiful sculptures or even get married in the Ice Chapel, giving meaning to a truly white wedding!

Whilst staying at the ICEHOTEL, some of the most popular activities to do nearby include husky sledging, which you can also organise for your airport transfer. You could have fun on a snowmobile, go reindeer sledging, or how about a moose safari on horseback for something with a difference?

And if you have had enough skiing in the beautiful landscapes surrounding the ICEHOTEL, then why not settle down and enjoy the unique craft of ice sculpting at the hotel. Guided by an expert, you will be shown how to create your own masterpiece out of ice. And the best sculptures will be showcased in the restaurant that evening! Be warned though, it can be very addictive and fun!

But what better way to end your evening than with witnessing the Great Northern Lights. The ICEHOTEL offer trips to the Abisko Sky Station where it is thought you can get a much better view of the aurora borealis. And you can also choose to visit the Northern Lights via a husky safari, snowmobile or even perhaps on horseback!

And if you would really like to experience the sami culture of this Swedish Lapland, the ICEHOTEL offer wonderful excursions to the sami camp in Jukkasjavi, where you can learn the skills of reindeer sledging as well as enjoying a traditional meal in a lavvu, before returning to your room at the ICEHOTEL.

The entire experience of the ICEHOTEL and what it has to offer it truly breathtaking, and with so much to choose from, you are sure to find something suited to you. From exhilarating husky or reindeer sledging to creating your very own ice masterpiece or perhaps relaxing with an evening meal while witnessing the incredible Northern Lights, the ICEHOTEL offers an experience of a lifetime.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone when visiting a new city is one of the easiest things to do accidentally and extraordinarily difficult to do deliberately.

Take, for instance, getting about. That inevitable, friendly, multi-lingual, multi-level big red bus that will stop and let you off wherever takes your fancy and then stop again to pick you up when you’re cold and hungry is irresistibly reliable and familiar. And I recommend it. It’s not economical for the city bus tours to take their passengers to the suburbs or industrial zones so a hop-on-hop-off tour is an efficiently condensed course in the highlights of the dead centre of your new city and it’s the first thing you should do to lay down a rough, subconscious map.

And then you’re ready to get on a bike. Velib in Paris (and Barclays Cycle Hire in London, Villo! in Brussels, Velo Bleu in Nice and doubtless some equally clever or sponsored name for the same scheme in whatever city you’re visiting) has been trending up since it was introduced in 2007 and with good reason. This is exactly the sort of committee-inspired, municipally-funded, bureaucratic nightmare that should fall flat on its stupid face the moment it’s launched but Velib is none of these things  —  it’s a free-market, privately-funded, advertising-driven, customer-focused service that’s conveniently placed 1800 bicycle rental kiosks each with dozens of bikes all over Paris (and similar numbers in London and Brussels and Vienna and so on).

Like most of the best ideas it’s boringly simple. Your rental period starts when you pick up your bike at one rental stand and ends when you drop it off at another, anywhere else that you find one. The success of the scheme doubtless rests on the fact that you will always find one and in the vanishingly rare instance that you don’t you get an extra fifteen minutes of rental for free and a list of the nearest available slots. The popularity of Velib is such that you’re far, far more likely to be disappointed when looking for a bike in the first place then you will be trying to find an empty dock to which to return it.

In Paris you can associate a subscription of up to a year with a credit card or, more conveniently, your Navigo (metro pass). As a tourist, though, you’ll want to take one of the one or seven day subscriptions, pay online with your credit card and rent and replace your bike with a PIN.

The first time I rode a Velib in Paris I took it directly to the next nearest station, put it back and judged myself quite satisfied with this first effort. Don’t be like that. The second time I took it from Gare du Nord to the sixth, which is about 10 km and it was a dawdle. I would suggest though that you make a point of knowing at least roughly where you’re going so that you’re not looking at street names and landmarks or Google Maps when you really, really need to be paying attention to the cars around you. Paris is in fact fairly bike friendly but it’s still a very busy city with correspondingly busy roads and a metropolitan Smart Car in Paris will kill you just as dead as a New York Cadillac.

So be careful and be bold and you’ll have the navigation edge over every other form of transportation in Paris, London, Vienna, Brussels and all the other cities that are introducing the future of urban transport.

Are you looking for a new travel destination? A place where you can relax with lots of activities and attractions? Then do not look further and check out the beautiful city of Boston. I know that when you hear about America, the more popular cities to visit are Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York or Miami, but unknown to many, Boston city has actually lots to offer to tourists and anyone who visits Boston will surely love it. This article is like a travel guide to Boston, everything that you need to see and visit will be written here.

First of all let me give you a brief background about Boston. The best seasons to go to Boston are during spring and fall, avoid going there during winter as it will surely be miserable and cold! Boston is also one of the of the oldest cities in America and the biggest in New England. When in Boston, the first place to go to is the Freedom Trail. It is a 2.5 mile stretch showcasing 16 sites about American Revolution. For the ultimate in privacy and freedom, look into Boston Vacation Rentals rather than check into a hotel.

Guided tours are available for the Freedom Trail but if you want to check it out by yourself ensure to download a map to not get lost. Going to the Freedom Trail will definitely enlighten you on the things that happened in the American Revolution. Now if you love the nature, then you will surely love the Boston Public Garden. During spring, swan boats are available for a more relaxed sight seeing of the Boston Garden. Of course shopping is a must do when travelling, make sure to also stop by Quincy market. Aside from the souvenir that you can buy, if you get hungry there are also dining places at the market.

Even if you are not a fan of the Red Sox, it is still worthwhile to visit the very famous Fenway Park. And of course, Boston also offers world class museums. One that is perfect for the kids is the Museum of Science. This is actually the most visited museum in Boston as it showcases more than 400 exhibits which include a planetarium.

Another museum to go to is MFA or Monet. If you are travelling with family, one must-see site is the New England Aquarium, your children’s enjoyment will surely be guaranteed! Be sure to also visit these landmarks and attractions like Boston Common which is a city park, Bunker Hill Monument which is one of the most famous landmarks in Boston city, Old State House, City Hall and South Station.

Boston is definitely a great place to visit not only once but many times. It is a place perfect for family and friends of all ages. There are definitely lots of places to see and visit in Boston, a few days would definitely not be enough. A travel guide to Boston is really needed as there are many places to see, we would not want to miss the best attractions right? So do not think twice, plan your next vacation and go to the beautiful city of Boston!

Saint Tropez, a town in French Riviera, was considered a sleepy place until it was made famous by Brigitte Bardot. Very soon it became a hot destination for the young and the rich. The place suffered major damages during the second world war but much of it survived the bombings and it still retains the popularity and glamour. St Tropez for many years had a reputation of being a kinky town which attracted the wilder sections of the crowd. But this is not entirely true. The place has a reputation of being a wonderful holiday destination for the families and with a wide range of luxury St Tropez villas to choose from, there’s no reason you and family can’t have a wonderful time here.

Things to See

1) St Tropez Beach – The Saint Tropez beach is one of the famous beaches in the world. The 5 km long white sandy beaches look beautiful in the backdrop of glittering blue waters. The sea is quite shallow and there is a sand bar which makes it ideal for children to swim and play. The beach boasts of good facilities like bars, restaurants, showers and toilets. Coastguards are deployed to maintain safety and security of the beach. There are also private beach clubs along the beach but entry of the children is severely restricted.

2) House of Butterflies – The house of butterflies was established in 1993 and it houses more than 4,000 species of butterfly. There are lots of rare species and each one is kept in beautifully re-created natural habitats. The place is very popular among children and this is usually the first stop for families traveling with kids.

3) The Citadelle St Tropez – The Citadelle looks over the sea as it is located above the town. It has a museum but will not find takers among the young children. The view from the citadelle is absolutely stunning and rekindles memories of the past. The walk to the citadelle is very steep and you should allot a full day for this tour. There is a beautiful ground where you can have a small picnic or the children may run around and burn their energy.

4) Luna Park near St Tropez – The Luna Park is a big and noisy fun park which the kids will simply love it. There are roller coasters, water slides, horse rides, fast food and even crazy golf. You can spend loads of fun-filled hours here with your kids. There is a huge supermarket next door which has lots of shops and restaurants but you may need a taxi to reach there.

Things to Do

Ideally you would love to spend countless hours on the beach for relaxation. But to enjoy the place thoroughly it is suggested that you explore the town on your own by taking a stroll. You can walk through the narrow alleys and find the quaint little homes and a number of historical structures. There are a few cafes around where you can sip a beverage to rejuvenate yourself. If you are a connoisseur of art then walk to the Musee de l’Annonciade which houses an interesting collection of art. It has works by Bonnard, Dufy and Derain et al. The windows of the museum afford excellent views of the harbor and the town.

Taking a trip with your teenage children can be difficult especially if you have no idea how to keep the kids preoccupied throughout your family holiday. Older teens do not find their parents ideal companions during travels and holidays either. They may become restless during the holiday if they have nothing entertaining to do. Teenagers are full of energy that can be released in a number of ways. However, there are various activity holidays for teenagers out there and this post aims to give you some ideas on what you can do to ensure your family has a fantastic holiday.

Sports and Adventure Holidays

Various holiday destinations offer an array of sporting adventures. Active teenagers can indulge in canoeing, quad biking and wild camping. The teenagers can be spoilt for choice with a range of activities such as handball, basketball, tennis, golf, trekking and pony-riding. Some holiday destinations may offer facilities such as games room with pool table, pinball and table football as well as air hockey for indoor entertainment.

You can look up any holiday destination that is an ideal spot for your teenagers to have a great mixture of sport and adventure. The destination can be a great location for outdoor activities such as fishing, whitewater rafting, cycling, kayaking, hiking, swimming, bungee jumping, safaris, paintballing, skiing and mountain biking. Moreover, amusement and theme parks are some attractions for teenagers to enjoy active outdoor activities.

Urban and Cultural Holidays

An urban setting may be appealing to teenagers who are into street culture. Holiday destinations that offer the prospect of cheaper clothes, shoes, sunglasses and entertainment devices may be ideal for such teenagers. There are many things to do during an urban holiday. Teenagers can hangout with their peers and have a great time. A city break can include social activities such as pizza evenings and karaoke nights.

The kids may have a natural curiosity for a city especially if the location is famous for movies, TV shows and video games they like to play. Famous landmarks, bus tours, movie tours may be attractive to them. Other activities that can keep the teenagers busy and out of trouble include shopping, dining, sightseeing and live music nights. They can engage in recreational activities such as painting, photography and learning sessions. A plethora of teen-themed theater entertainment, dance, art exhibitions and film screenings can be ideal.

Teens can also learn the history and culture of the people in a city and surrounding areas by visiting the museums and historical sites. The highlights for cultural holidays can include learning about food, festivals, beliefs and traditions. Teenagers can learn fascinating facts about other people’s way of life that is much different to theirs, which can provide a lifetime of memories.

Beach Holidays

Soaking up the sun while enjoying the cool breeze from the waters can be a relaxing way to spend a holiday. Teenagers who enjoy going to the beach can engage in more water sports such as snorkeling, sailing and diving. Walking along the beaches while enjoying the sand on their feet and collect can also be fun. Wild beaches, beach parties, kite surfing, bonfires, forts, authentic villages and deserts can be fascinating to teenagers who enjoy adventurous beach holidays.

You can look up any holiday destination that is an ideal spot for your teenagers to have a great mixture of sport and adventure. The destination can be a great location for outdoor activities such as fishing, whitewater rafting, cycling, kayaking, hiking, swimming, bungee jumping, safaris, paintballing, skiing and mountain biking. White water rafting around Idaho Springs might just make your teenagers week. To experience the thrill of white water rafting is an adventure with friends. Moreover, amusement and theme parks are some attractions for teenagers to enjoy active outdoor activities.