A flight may be advertised at X amount, but every time you progress further into the booking process a constant stream of extra fees are added. You seem to get charged for everything that you do. Choosing your seats, the food and even paying for the flights with a credit card all costs you money.

Photo by admin

But by far one of the worst thing is having to pay for your baggage. The charge depends on the airline you choose but baggage can cost anything from £15 pounds and upwards. On top of this, no matter how many times you weigh your bag beforehand when it is weighed at the airport it always somehow seems to be heavier. This can become problematic as there are extra fees for overweight baggage and they aren’t cheap at all. If your baggage is over the airlines specified amount you will usually be charged for every kilogram that you go over. This will add up and very quickly eat away at your spending funds and you must not forget that it will still be a problem on the way back.

But don’t give up, there is still hope for a cheap flight! There is still a way you can beat the airlines. The answer is travelling with only your hand-luggage. It is a brilliant idea and can save you from being subject to all kinds of different airline fees.

Staying At The Airport

Before we submerge into discussing cutting costs whilst in the air, there are some factors that will add to your travel expenses that have to be considered whilst still on the ground. At times there’s no way around spending the night at the airport. This is especially true for long distance travel. Some airports have special areas for passengers spending the night between flights. The facilities can vary a lot however. Even in major cities, for example Philadelphia, the airport is just not designed to comfortably accommodate overnight passengers. Although staff at PHL will give out blankets to weary travelers, there are no beds or quiet areas to rest.

In this case, it is highly recommended to check in to an airport hotel. Most airports have a major hotel linked to the terminal itself. In Philadelphia, for example, you don’t even have to go outside to reach a major hotel. Also, remember when budgeting that the cost of travel to and from the airport can be deducted from the cost of staying at an airport hotel.

What Are The Advantages Of Travelling Hand-Luggage Only?

Many people are not very open to the idea of going away on holiday with only their hand-luggage but there are so many good reasons for doing it.

• You avoid the cost of large baggage that is becoming more and more expensive.
• You don’t have to worry about your bag getting lost as you will have it with you.
• No more waiting in the check-in queues. You can just head straight through.
• You won’t have to wait for your bag at the other end.
• There is no need for expensive taxis as you can easily use public transport instead.
• You can pack everything you need.

See there are just so many great benefits for travelling with just your hand-luggage.

But How Do You Pack To Travel With Just Your Hand-Luggage?

People often just presume that packing to go away with only hand-luggage is going to be difficult. This isn’t the case it is actually really simple and easy to do.

• First you need to check with the airline that you are going with what the weight and dimensions of the hand-luggage has to be. Once you have checked this you can find a suitable bag and begin to pack.

• The first rule is not to pack any liquids. This is because only liquids that are 100 ml and are put in a clear plastic bag are allowed in your hand-luggage. This puts many people off but where have you ever been that doesn’t sell toiletries? All you need to do is instead of buying all your toiletries with the shop the week before, save that money and convert it into the currency of the country you are visiting so you can buy some over there.

• Then comes the actual packing, which is probably the most difficult part. What you need to do is determine just what clothes you need, there is no room for any “I will just pack this just in case”. The two factors determining what you need to pack is the weather (which you should always check before going away) and the number of days that you are going away for. A good idea is to check the place you are staying at to see if it has washing facilities as this will mean that you can free up some room and reduce the weight of your hand-luggage.

• The final tip is to wear the heaviest and most bulkiest clothes to the airport. It may be nicer to arrive at your destination in shorts and flip-flops but it is just a sacrifice that you are going to have to make.

If you follow these pieces of advice you will be able to beat the airlines and put some more money aside for spending whilst you are away.

Byline:

By author and travel enthusiast, Linda Michelle, writing on behalf of Marriot Hotels. If you’re looking for Philadelphia Hotels, be sure to check out their offers!

The post How To Beat The Airline By Going Hand-Luggage Only appeared first on Europe Explored.

To experience some genuine typically British experiences then try this list of five – there’s something for everyone.

1. Eat fish and chips. Ideally in the north of England or Scotland where the best ‘chippies’ are to be found, and – very important this – you must eat it sitting outside from the paper it comes wrapped in rather than from a plate. Go heavy on the salt and malt vinegar, absolutely delicious.

2. Try crown green bowling. A version of this genteel game has been played in the UK since the 13th century and it is as much a sport of kings as horse racing. Perhaps one for the older set think English country villages and a cream tea and you are along the right lines.

crown green bowling by Jenny Poole

3. Hop across to a European party island. If you visit Britain in the summer months and are struggling to cope with the unfortunate reality of almost continuous rain then grab a cheap flight and holiday in Ibiza, Majorca or Tenerife for a long weekend. Get ready to party hard this is not for the faint hearted – or your Mum!

4. Take a donkey ride on the beach. Get back to basics with some family fun at the seaside. Indulge yourself with ice creams a plenty and give the kids a treat with a donkey trek on the sands, they’ll love it. Also look out for traditional Punch & Judy puppet shows, crazy golf and amusement arcades: all essential tourist attractions at British coastal towns.

5. Go and see a football match. Soak up the atmosphere on the terraces and get engrossed with the action on the pitch. Some of the world’s greatest players play soccer in the UK so take the chance to see them close up and discover this exciting sport for yourself.

The post Five Typically British Things to Try appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by agaw.dilim

The key to planning cheap city breaks, is to first identify what the major costs may be. These are normally to be found in transport, accommodation, and activities. By choosing the most economical way to go about each of these things, weekend city breaks anywhere in Europe become more affordable.

Airline Fares: Landing on the cheapest options

Depending on the destination, the cost of flights can quite often be the most expensive part of a weekend city break in Europe. There are several ways that one can go about reducing the cost though, and all that is needed is a little time and effort. The well-known budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet all have websites that can be browsed through, and from time to time, they also run worthwhile deals. Websites that compare the prices of different airlines can also be helpful in tracking down a cheap flight. Examples of such sites are skyscanner, Opodo, Expedia, Spa Travel, fare compare,etc.

Accommodation: Getting the best deals

After the flights, accommodation can be the next most expensive part when planning weekend city breaks in Europe. Fortunately, the internet can again be of assistance, and it is possible to both view and book hotels for a cheap city break in Paris online. Many hotels will offer some form of discount if staying more than two nights, and so the overall cost per person per night can be reduced.

Activities: Cheap and Cheerful things to do

The French capital has a wealth of things to see and do, and there are several ways to do this in the most economical way whilst not compromising on seeing the attractions themselves.

The first thing to do, is spend a little time in researching Paris, and visit those sites that are grouped together in order to avoid zig-zagging all over the city. Saving travel costs on taxis or other public transport goes a long way to make a cheap city break in Paris. Another idea is to pick the best day to see each attraction. Sundays in particular are a good time to see some places, as the Louvre is free one Sunday per month, and the Sunday organ recital at the Notre Dane Cathedral adds another dimension to the experience there. Paris also has many free museums, such as the Modern Art Museum, Fine Arts Museum and the Paris Fashion Museum. The Rodin Museum is also free on the first Sunday of every month.

Perhaps the most helpful piece of advice when planning cheap city breaks in Paris, or indeed any other city in Europe, is to be flexible. Whilst weekend city breaks might be the most desired choice, it is actually a lot less expensive to travel between Monday and Thursday than it is during the weekend. Early morning flights can also be cheaper than mid morning flights, and occasionally, leaving booking flights and hotels until the last minute can lead to price reductions.

Dave writes for Spa Travel an online travel agent dedicated to offering the cheapest Spa Breaks, flights, hotels and holiday packages for the UK outbound Traveller.

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