Going away for a week or two can be quite a stretch to your (already overstretched) budget and your priorities may change whilst trying to find something suitable. Whether you are looking for sun, sea and sand or tracking down an action adventure holiday overseas- everyone is out to find the very best when booking their summer break. Whilst budgeting isn’t usually fun, it has to be done, so here is a rough guide to the best ways to budget whilst you are on holiday.

Elche, Palm capital, Spain / Photo by admin

Determine how much you can afford to spend

Before you start to book anything, sit down and work out how much you can afford to spend. Try breaking this down into flights, accommodation and living costs whilst you are there. It may be cheaper to consider a self-catering apartment rather than a hotel if eating out is going to be expensive. However if you are going somewhere like Eastern Asia, dining out is cheap, cheap, cheap, so your budget will probably stretch a bit further than it would in the US or Europe.

Check out the free attractions

Most destinations will have a variety of free museums, galleries and other attractions to keep you amused during the day. Pick up a travel guide from your local book shop- these will usually tell you what is free and the ones that will blow your budget. Some European countries like Amsterdam or Berlin, have one day a week when all of their galleries etc are free, so be sure to check that out before you go. If you are lucky enough to be a student- remember to take your student cards as many museums and public transport are free to students and young people.

Check out last minute deals

If you don’t mind where you go, but just fancy a few days away from it all, there are plenty of cheap holidays available online, as part of last minute packages. Discounted rates are offered on hotels and flights to fill up spaces still left unsold. If you are willing to take a chance on a lesser-known city, or if you are lucky enough to have flexible working hours- leave it to the last minute and take a look online

Consider travelling at a different time of year

If you are looking to catch some rays whilst you are away, consider going a little later in the year when peak season has died down. Many places will still be relatively warm all the way through to October. Holidays in Turkey for example, will enjoy plenty of sunshine if you are willing to hold off for just a few more weeks. If you go during the summer, you will be faced with paying peak prices, for both your flights and your accommodation, so seriously think about where you want to go and if you can wait until later in the year.

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So you’ll need to decide whether you want to jump on public transport, if possible, take a taxi, get a friend or relative to drop you off or perhaps drive yourself. And if you choose the latter, you may then present yourself with the added headache of finding somewhere to leave your car while you’re away.

Birmingham airport, England, UK by Elliott Brown

If you’re flying from Birmingham airport then there are plenty of options, one of which is the NCP car park which is located just minutes away from the terminal buildings and offers both short and long stay parking facilities and even offers a valet service.

So what are the best ways to arrange airport parking? And what facilities are provided for Blue Badge holders? Read on to find out.

How to arrange airport car parking

If you are considering airport parking Birmingham offers a number of options, most of which are best arranged well in advance, either online by or via the phone. This will not only save the hassle of leaving arrangements until the last minute but can also save you money.

Where to park

If you are getting a lift into the airport then your driver can either use the ‘Drop & Go’ area for a small cost or use the ‘Long Stay’ car park, which is free for 15 minutes.

If you’re only going to be away for a few days then the short stay car park is best. Birmingham airport has three short/medium stay car parks that can be booked in advance either online or over the phone or you can just turn up on the day.

You may decide to take advantage of the valet parking service, especially if you are short on time as this offers the fastest way to check in. Simply leave your car with a member of the valet team who will then make sure it is securely parked and ready again for when you return.

If you’ll be leaving the country for a week or more, then you’ll need to park up in the long stay car park. Although this is slightly further away from the airport than the other car parks, it is still within walking distance and a shuttle bus service is also provided.

For motorbike riders looking for airport parking Birmingham NCP has clear signs for the designated motorbike parking zone within short and medium stay car park number three.

Blue badge holders

Holders of Blue Badges are given up to one hour’s free parking in the ‘Drop and Go’ area and will have to produce their Blue Badge and parking ticket at the NCP customer services desk.

If Blue Badge holders stay for longer than one hour then normal car parking fees will be charged.

AUTHOR BIO

Shirley Jones writes regularly on travel and focuses on the best ways to get to a destination rather than things to do once you get there. If you are considering airport parking Birmingham has a wide range of options and is just one of the many locations of which Shirley has experience.

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La Coruna airport serves the A Coruna province of North West Spain which forms part of the Galicia region. The capital city, also named A Coruna, is located approximately 8km from the airport, so a hire car can transport you swiftly between the two. Galicia is not as tourist-driven as some other areas of Spain, making prices comparatively low and this also extends to car rental costs. Having your own vehicle whilst visiting the area will allow you to fully explore the beautiful countryside and historical towns and cities, whilst also saving you money on public transport costs. Collecting your hire car direct from the airport is very convenient, particularly for families or other large groups and for those visiting on business. Most of the major car rental companies have facilities at the airport, including Avis, Alamo, Budget and Europcar.

La Coruna airport, Spain by Marcus

Booking Online

There are a number of ways to find companies offering car hire for La Coruna airport online and a simple search on Google (such as “car hire Spain“) will return many pages of results. If this seems a little overwhelming then price comparison websites will do a lot of the hard work for you, providing easy options to narrow down the search to your requirements and directly compare particular companies and deals. When you find something you are happy with, simply click through to the relevant page and make your booking. Alternatively, if you have been recommended or prefer to use a specific company, you can go directly to their homepage to book your car.

Benefits

Online booking is very fast and simple and you will usually be e-mailed all the details relating to your purchase for easy reference. There may also be the option of amending any details of your booking prior to departure, but be sure to check for any additional charges. Booking in this way gives you as much time as you need to select the right vehicle for your needs and budget, without feeling unduly pressurised. Most companies also have a wider choice of vehicles available online, compared to booking on arrival at the airport. In this way, you can be sure of all the usual benefits associated with car rental, such as freedom and independence, with the additional reassurance of knowing that the car you want will be ready and waiting for you on arrival.

Online booking of rental cars is by far the most convenient way to arrange your transport from La Coruna airport, providing the best prices and widest range of options to truly make the most of your stay in this beautiful part of Spain.

AUTHOR BIO
Shirley Jones writes regularly for a range of travel websites and blogs, covering many aspects associated with this field. Particular areas of interest include finding the best holiday deals on tickets, accommodation and related travel requirements in Europe (e.g. cheap car hire Spain, car hire for La Coruna Airport) to help UK-based consumers make the most of their money in this top holiday destination.

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If you are planning a vacation to Northern Scotland, make sure to set aside some time during your stay to view the Duncansby Stacks. Let this serve as your guide to touring the area, finding nearby attractions and choosing the best accommodations.

History of Duncansby Stacks

Most British residents believe that the northernmost location in Britain is the coastal location known as John o’ Groats. John o’ Groats is a popular tourism destination and has been one for decades. However, it is wrongfully coined as the northernmost spot in Britain. In reality, the title belongs to Duncansby Head.

A view of Duncansby Stacks / BillC

Just off the coast from Duncansby Head lies several rock formations that jut out of the water and provide incredible views. The mystical atmosphere has led many to believe that this area is the basis for Mordor, the mythical land in Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Although it is not nearly as popular as John o’ Groats when it comes to visiting tourists, those in the know appreciate the Duncansby Stacks as the northernmost tip of the nation.

Travelling to the Area

There is no denying that this destination in Scotland is off the beaten track. Most visitors arrive by car to Duncansby Stacks. The journey from Edinburgh is nearly 300 miles, so keep in mind that you will almost certainly have some extensive travel coming from further south in England or even Wales. Although there are no direct trains, buses or flights that bring to Duncansby Stacks or the surrounding settlements, there is extensive public transport throughout much of the Scottish Highlands. International Visitors should fly into the Inverness Airport for the nearest location.

Visitor’s Information

In order to visit the Duncansby Stacks, you will first need to visit John o’ Groats. From there, a small road winds along the coast for just over a mile. You can drive or take the local bus until you arrive at Duncansby Head. From here a short walk is required to get a view of the stacks, and the path is clearly signposted the whole way. There is no admission fee associated with visiting Duncansby Stacks.

Nearby Attractions

There are a large number of attractions throughout the Scottish Highlands for visitors to explore. The Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most popular in the region and was featured in several feature films such as Highlander and The World is Not Enough. Other interesting attractions include hiking along famed paths like the West Highland Way or the Great Glen Way. Just a few miles from Duncansby Stacks is the Castle of Mey, a beautiful structure that was once home to the late Queen Mother. If you are looking for the attractions of a large city, the nearest option is Inverness. Here you will find the Inverness Castle, the Old High Church and the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

A view of Great Glen Way / Draco2008

Accommodation Options

Accommodations in the area around Duncansby Stacks are quite limited. There are just one or two small guesthouses within a mile or two, although there are a number more within driving distance. Some great holiday ideas for visiting this region include camping in the summer or finding villas to rent that offer privacy, exclusivity and surprisingly affordable prices outside of the busiest summer months.

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In many European countries, discounts are offered on flights and public transport cards for travellers under 25 or 26, sometimes as a matter of course, other times if you buy a specific “young person’s” travel card, which entitles you to the lower rate. This can be a big help getting around, so check out the information on the countries you’d like to visit to find out more.

Photo by the leap.

Staying in youth hostels is a popular option for gap year travellers, as it is far cheaper than a hotel and allows you to meet other gap year students easily. These can be found in most major European cities.

If you venture out of the Euro zone on your gap year, make sure your bank card works abroad so you can withdraw money and use your debit card to avoid having to change between currencies all the time. You will probably need to notify your bank that you will be using the card in different countries too, as they tend to stop cards due to suspected fraud if not informed.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Dave Smith

You have to pay to get in to the theme park itself, which currently costs £30 for children, £40 for adults (and a child over 12 is considered an adult so expect to pay full price for older kids) or £120 for a family of four for a day, so it isn’t cheap, but once inside your ticket covers all of the rides and so the only extras will be souvenirs and food and drink.

Thorpe Park is famous for some of its rides, including the new rollercoaster and live action maze based on the Saw movie series. Not all of these rides are suitable for young children and some are particularly scary, so it is a great choice for thrill seekers and teenagers but not so good for the feint hearted.

Thorpe Park has several rides, including the Logger’s Leap log flume, where you will get very wet, so unless it is a very hot day it is a good idea to buy one of the waterproof ponchos they sell at the park to try and keep your clothes dry.

Thorpe Park also has plenty of restaurants and bars where you can unwind during your visit. For further information visit their official website.

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The animals here live in very nice pavilions and it is really amazing how much space they have available. The pride of the ZOO is a newly built Indonesian jungle pavilion, tiger and predators pavilions, and a house of African gorillas. Very interesting exhibitions are also an aviary for birds of prey, pavilion of big mammals, the giraffe area and polar bears pavilion.

But the Prague Zoo is probably mainly proud of a unique breed of rare Przewalski’s horses. The main task of zoos is to protect species and help in their reproduction and Prague Zoo is involved in the reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses. Przewalski’s Horse lives in the wild only in Mongolia, and even there it was last observed during the scientific expedition sometimes in the 50′s of the 20th century.

Natural evolution

During its existence, the Prague Zoo has undergone many changes and has made great development. In its opening in 1931 Zoo had about 300 animals and was spread on an area of ​​only 8 hectares. It gradually expanded, but still retains the quality.

Prague Zoo was very affected by floods in 2002. A large number of animals were killed and many buildings were damaged. After the floods, ZOO has undergone extensive refurbishment and now it is a very modern and popular zoo. The symbol of those floods is a sea lion Guston, who in 2002 got into the river and was caught up in Dresden, Germany. Unfortunately the seal lion died on its way back to ZOO.

During the reconstruction of the Prague Zoo, several interesting and unique buildings were built here. These include also the most expensive pavilion in the history of the Czech Zoos – Indonesian jungle. The pavilion was opened in 2004 instead of 50-year-old monkey pavilion. The pavilion has an elliptical shape of the greenhouse, which creates the impression of the jungle. Inside, visitors can see the orangutans, gibbons or lizards.

Other interesting sites in the Prague Zoo include complex of monkey islands, children’s zoo (where kids may even feed the animals), African pavilion and lots of other new pavilions. Prague Zoo is growing rapidly, so in the near future we can look forward to another interesting enclosures and pavilions.

How to get there

Prague Zoo is one of the places where you can spend pleasant moments with your children. You can come here by your own car, or you can take a bus from the subway station Holešovice. A pleasant experience can be already a trip to the zoo by a ferry across Prague.

For more information, visit official website of Prague Zoo.

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