You also shouldn’t rely on a time schedule, which can be a problem in connection with other flights and should always plan with some extra time in advance. It is also important to know the detailed information about the airport you will be landing on. Low-cost airlines use cheaper regional airports, which can be quite far from your destination. In this case, it is necessary to calculate the time and cost of a transport. Calculation of ticket price is very unpredictable and depends on the current demand for a particular flight. You can get the best price when purchasing tickets several months in advance, but this may not always be the truth, as it depends on the season, weekend events (major concert, football match, etc.), state holidays or a coincidence (special offers). If you just found a flight at a good price you should buy a ticket immediately, because the price can change very quickly. Paid ticket is usually not refundable and fares are usually quoted excluding airport and possibly other ancillary fees (luggage, Credit Card fees on payment).

But they are really cheap!!!

I used to fly with Ryanair or Sky Europe (this company does not exist any more) and sometimes I caught really great offers. For example a year and half ago I flew with Ryanair for a weekend from Prague, Czech republic to Pisa, Italy and back for only €8, including all taxes and fees (I took just a hand-bag with me). Well, actually it wasn’t only €8… It wasn’t direct flight. I had to fly through Frankfurt-Hahn, Germany by the evening flight from Prague (I’ve been in Germany at 23:00). Here I had to stay overnight in a pension for further €20 and early morning (09:30 am) left to Pisa by another flight. To save more money I could stay on the airport overnight for free but I did this only once in Rome and I promised myself it was for the last time. But if you have never done so, I can only recommend you to try it. Well, the big advantage of Pisa airport is that you can get to the city centre on foot, you don’t have to pay even for a taxi or bus. It takes just about 30 minutes walking).

As you can see, this can be really very cheap, however not very easy at all.

Ok, but how to find which low-cost airlines is best for you?

Until recently I didn’t know that there are so many low-cost airlines in Europe. I found out that they are around 40 of them available for the travellers. There is even a website where you can find out which low-cost airline fly on the route you wish to travel. Just choose the airports and you will see the list of low-cost airlines flying on that way, so you can then check their offers and choose the best one. You can find this great tool on the website: www.low-cost-airline-guide.com

General instructions on how to proceed (for individual companies may be differences)

Below you can find some more basic information about buying the tickets, online check-in and other good tips.

Always buy a direct flight from destination A to destination B. If you then continue to destination C you have to buy another ticket, even if you continue with the same company. In my example above I bought the return ticket from Prague to Frankfurt-Hahn for €4 at first and then another return ticket from Frankfurt-Hahn to Pisa for the same price.

When you already chose a particular flight you can pay over the Internet using an international credit card or a different method of payment (depends on the company). Different methods have different fees. Majority of low-cost airlines offers free hand luggage transport if you take it with you to the airplane. But be aware that such luggage has to meet the airline’s requirements. Do not exceed the dimensions or weight as they can be measured and you may pay extra money if exceeded. You also need to meet the requirements of the airport security and you cannot pack any sharp objects (knifes, scissors, …), nor liquids, guns etc. You will be asked to leave it at the gate.

After successful payment you will receive an email with a code. Print this email and do not forget to bring it with you to the airport. You will need to show it first to security guards and then to airline stewards instead of former paper tickets.

But prior you move to the airport you should make an online check-in which confirms that you are attending the flight (usually from 15 days up to 4 hours before each scheduled flight departure time). This can be done through the website of your airlines.

The last thing you have to do is to come to an airport usually at least 40 minutes prior departure. If you have a big luggage you have to go to your airline customer centre on the airport and leave the luggage there, so they could load it to the craft. Otherwise you can go directly to the gate with the printed email and a personal ID card (when travelling within EU countries) or passport.

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AquaCity Zalaegerszeg has a swimming pool with waves like in the sea and covers the total area of 1100 m2. The water temperature is 25-27°C and the depth from 0 to 180 cm. Other attractions, for the more daring ones, include jumping pool with a depth of 2-4 meters. In the AquaCity Zalaegerszeg there is also 300 m long slow river suitable for relaxing. The depth of water in this river is 100 cm and the temperature is around 25 – 27 °C.

For the active athletes there is an irregular pool covering an area of 1500 m2 with a depth of 0-150 cm. For the youngest is ready 30-55 cm deep paddling pool with lots of entertainment in the form of slides and fountains. For older children there is a pool with a depth of 0-90 cm and water temperature 28-30 °C. The most popular water attractions of AquaCity Zalaegerszeg are eight long slide, including Twister, Kamikaze, Multi, Anaconda and a Black hole.

For the rest and relaxation there are available pools with Jacuzzi massage, with a depth of 103 cm and a pleasant temperature of 38 °C. AquaCity Zalaegerszeg also boasts sports facilities, playground and lots of refreshments.

Basic Admission is 3,500 ft. It is possible to apply the family and group discounts. It is open from June to August in the time range between 10:00 to 20:00. Many other interesting information can be found on the official website of AquaCity Zalaegerszeg.

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Popradské pleso is also a good starting point for the tours around Mengusovská valley. To Popradské pleso you can get from Štrbské pleso following the marked trail which take approximately two hours of slow walking. Near Popradské pleso there is the symbolic cemetery. In this cemetery there is a monument to victims of the High Tatras. The cemetery is a good idea to show the number of victims who lost their lives in the mountains.

Popradské pleso covers an area of 6.88 hectares and it is 18 meters depth. In the past it was called Rybie pleso (Fish lake), as it was the only mountain-lake in the southern High Tatra Mountains with the natural occurrence of fish. The old name was first used in 1736 by Matej Bel, a prominent Slovak scholar of 18th century.

At the lake you can find Cottage of Popradské pleso where you can buy some refreshments, beer or try Slovak traditional meals (e.g. Bryndzové halušky). You can also book a room here and stay here for few nights. If so, I would recommend you to wake up very early and enjoy the sun-rise.

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Already on the way to Vesuvio you can see the places where nothing grows. In 1944 there was the last eruption of lava flowed through here. From the car park you can walk to the top of a very busy sidewalk. Hike is pretty tough and definitely not suitable for older people. There are stalls selling refreshments and souvenirs on the top.

During the beautiful weather it really worth to look at the Gulf of Naples, the sea and also to the crater of a volcano.

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It was back in 1953 when the Východná Heritage Festival was first held. Originally, the festival was held in an open air field that overlooked the village; however, within the last decade a large theater was developed in the area in order to house the annual event. Every year, usually during the first weekend of the month of July, the Východná Heritage Festival is held in the newly constructed open-air theater.

Due to the fact that the Východná Heritage Festival is now considered part of the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art, more than 1500 performers come to the festival every single year in order to entertain almost 100,000 people who regularly attend the annual event.

For the most part, much of the Východná Heritage Festival is held within the open-air theater, however there are a number of smaller events that can be found throughout the village; before, during as well as after the annual event. You will also find a number of kiosks located throughout the city during the event in order to ensure that there are plenty of refreshments and things to eat for the numerous visitors who come to this sleepy little village areas. The festival itself is also recorded and presented around Slovakia thanks to the efforts of state Slovak Television.

There is also a substantial amount of effort being put into ensure there is sufficient lodgings in and around the village of Východná in order to accommodate large influx of visitors. There are countless warding houses, hotels as well as other accommodation facilities that can be found in and around the village.

The Východná Heritage Festival is definitely a unique and interesting Festival to visit regardless of whether you are simply visiting Slovakia for the season, or even if you live there year-round. You are bound to stay entertained throughout your entire trip to the sleepy little village of Východná. So if you are visiting Slovakia during the early part of July, make sure to take a day and head on over to the Východná Heritage Festival.

Photos by festivalvychodna.sk

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