Travel tips for flying

There are some parts of travelling that can often be rather simple but you can miss out on great deals and offers if you don’t consider your options. A perfect example of this is when booking your flight.

This is partially because you know what you want, such as where you want to go. As such, it can be all too easy to settle for the first offer that seems reasonable. The downside to this is that, if you just take a little more time to look around, you can often find more competitive and flexible options.

Tips for flying

Location

First of all, there is always a practical issue to flights. Depending on where you live, there may be airports closer to you. If you don’t live down by London and you don’t live near Scotland, for instance, than you might want to consider flying from East midlands airport.

Not only will this be closer to home but the flights are just as competitive. In addition, don’t forget that you’ll save money getting there and back, making for a more tempting offer all round.

Likewise, even if you do live closer to a major airport hub, such as Heathrow or Gatwick, these aren’t your only options. Flying from locations such as Bristol airport may prove to be a much more tempting consideration but will depend on your individual circumstances. Ultimately it’s a balancing act between finding somewhere that’s more suitable whilst still keeping an eye on the price.

Costs

Whilst it’s great to have a more practical option, it understandably also needs to be affordable. Fortunately, this is just as simple to work to your advantage. There are countless flights and offers available at any airport; you just need to know where to find them.

Rather than looking individually, use a service like Flybe to compare and find the best deals and flights across the country. Whatever you’re after, you’ll be surprised at how cheap it can actually be.

Be flexible

The more flexible you are, of course, the more there is to take advantage of. If you don’t mind flying early or late you can often make extra savings as these travel times will usually benefit from the lowest fare prices.

In addition to this, bear in mind that you can vary both your outgoing and return flights. They don’t need to be at similar times and if you find two flights at different times that are more affordable, then there’s nothing stopping you from booking in this way. You’ll need to consider how you’ll get to the airport at these times and factor in travel costs but it is certainly worth considering.

So, whether for practical or financial reasoning, you should always consider every travel option at your disposal. This includes looking at nearby airports and shopping for the best offers.

Travelling in Luxury with P&O Cruises

Arguably one of the biggest names in the cruise business, P&O cruises offer the best in cruise holidays and experiences. With quality ships, they ensure a peaceful and memorable holiday, with plenty of happy memories.

As long standing experts in the field, the company goes to great lengths to ensure you have the best cruise possible.

P&O: A history

P&O, or Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, have been around since 1822. Originally a delivery service, the company used boats to transport various mail and goods to the Iberian Peninsula, with later contracts to the orient.

However, the company also started taking passengers in 1844. These sea tours are in many ways the beginnings of the cruise, placing P&O at the forefront of the industry. To this day, they have continued to deliver quality and memorable holiday experiences with happy customers around the world.

P&O Luxury Ferries Travel

Cruise ships

A key component in making an excellent cruise is the cruise ship. P&O have a small fleet of seven cruise ships for their popular holiday trips. Yet each ship is a worthy cruise liner in its own right. Whilst the smallest ship, Adonia, can fit just over seven hundred passengers, the largest, Azura, can take a full complement of more than three thousand.

Despite the passenger difference, each ship offers an unrivalled holiday experience. The insides of each ship are decorated in a classic or contemporary style, making for a comfortable setting as you glide across the oceans. With various activities and entertainment available, you’ll never have a dull moment aboard either.

Of course, if you want to simply relax and take the weight off your feet, you can do that too. With various pools and spas available, you have the option to take things peacefully. You don’t even have to leave your room if you don’t want to; all the ships boast twenty-four hour room service, just like any five-star hotel would offer.

Furthermore, some of these ships boast excellent children activities and a family friendly atmosphere. If you’re taking the kids with you, then taking one of these ships is a must, as they’ll offer the opportunity to keep the younger kids occupied whilst you are free to enjoy yourself.

Destinations

It’s not always about the ship; a cruise has to go somewhere. With P&O cruises, you have a choice of several different cruise routes. These all vary, so it’s simply a case of deciding where you want to visit. From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean and the rest of the world, cruise ships take full advantage of the ocean and explore the best locations around the globe.

Furthermore, there are shorter two to four night cruises available. A smaller option, this offers a condensed experience – ideal if you don’t have the time for a full globetrotting cruise.

If you’re looking for a cruise company with a history of expertise and keeping customers happy, as well as visiting various countries across the world, then these cruises are right for you. With P&O cruises available from Cumbria Cruises, there’s never been a better time to come on board.

Five ideas for great railway holidays

Taking a trip by train is a great idea for those looking for a relaxing way to enjoy a break away from home and one which brings some different experiences to the usual beach side getaway. Here are five suggestions for some memorable great train holidays around the world.

Scotland

scotland

Rail tours in Scotland might not have the initial allure of the sub tropical regions, but the north of the British Isles carries its own romance and certainly has scenery that is a match for anywhere else on Earth. Right up at the top of the land mass of Britain lays the magical town of Findhorn, where vegetation grows to unusually large sizes amongst the windswept beaches and hidden coves. The Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness has its own sense of mystery, as of course does the body of water it stands next to!

Switzerland

switzerland

The Glacier Express is sometimes called the ‘Orient Express of the Alps’ as its leisurely pace marks it out as the slowest express train in Europe. The journey through the Alpine heart of Switzerland lasts over seven hours, travelling along narrow-gauge tracks through scenic ravines and snow covered mountains. The specially adapted train features panoramic windows and a glass skylight to give the best possible views of the amazing Alpine scenery.

France

france

A train tour of the Dordogne in France should also be high on any serious rail traveller’s wish list. The region itself presents beautiful scenery all year round and whatever your particular interests, there is something in the Dordogne to suit you. There are many prehistoric sites dotted along the Vezere River, including Lascaux II, Font-de-Gaume and Combarelles, representing a human history timeline of over fifty thousand years, whereas the town of Sarlat is the market of the region and is lit at night by gas lamps.

U.S.A

usa

The California Zephyr has a well won reputation as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the whole of the Americas. Traversing the Rocky Mountains through to the snow capped Sierra Nevada, the range of vistas is equal to any other train journey in the world.

Travelling between Chicago and San Francisco, to Salt Lake City and San Francisco, the trip takes in some of the most cinematic wide screen scenarios that railway holidays in the United States have to offer.

India

india

India’s colonial past has gifted it a railway system quite unlike any other in the world. From the beaches of Goa to the massive urban conurbation and markets of Delhi, India is a five sense explosion of colour, sights, tastes and fragrances as a cocktail of cultures mix and match.

Train travel is arguably the best way to see as much of what India has to offer as possible, visiting historic towns and world class monuments such as the Taj Mahal, the Temple of Winds or the Blue City of Jodhpur. For rail travellers, there is therefore plenty to excite the senses in India.

Diving holidays in Sharm el Sheikh

The Red Sea, which sits between Asia and Africa, and is connected to the Indian Ocean, has long been a popular place for tourists. Temperatures are high, there are many sites of immense historical interest, and the Red Sea’s coastline has a number of beautiful resorts which are must-visit holiday choices for divers. It’s one of the most saline – this means the saltiest – seas in the world, which means that swimmers may notice an unusual buoyancy compared to swimming in bodies of water in other places. While you might think this raises issues for divers, who are primarily interested in sinking under the waves, it hasn’t done anything to damage the popularity of the area with diving fans from across world. read more

Holidays in Turkey

Turkey is a country with a long and colourful history. In its past it has been the place where great battles took place, where in 333 Alexander the Great undid the Gordian Knot to claim the rule of the whole of Asia, where Achilles fought the Trojans and where the Ottoman Empire became the largest and most enduring empires in the whole of history, and changed the face of the world.

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