Cheap Business Class Air Fares

Information about traveling to and within the country of Spain including flights, rail and road travel and ferry services

Mainland Spain is situated on the Iberian peninsula in the southwest of Europe. It also encompasses two groups of islands. The Islas Baleares (Balearic Islands), in the Mediterranean, Mallorca the largest island is just over one hundred miles off the eastern coast and the Islas Canarias (Canary Islands) which are situated approximately five hundred miles to the southwest and lie off the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Mellila and Cueta are two Spanish enclaves in Morocco on the African continent.

Whilst Spain is one of the world’s leading destinations for the package holiday there is more to this country than the beaches of the costas and islands. The independent traveler will want to move around see what more Spain has to offer.

Getting there – There are thirty one airports on the mainland serving the following cities and towns: A Coruna, Albacete, Alicante, Almería, Asturias, Badajoz, Barcelona, Bilbao, Burgos, Cordoba, Girona, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Leon, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Pamplona, Reus, Sabadell, Salamanca, San Sebastian, Santander, Santiago, Sevilla, Valencia, Valladolid, Vigo and Zaragoza. In the Canaries the islands of El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Tenerife and in the Balearics Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca all have airports. Gibraltar, the British colony at the southern most tip of Spain, also has it’s own airport. British Airways and the Monarch fly daily to Gibraltar from several departure points in the United Kingdom and Monarch has some very good deals on seats. Major carriers provide scheduled flights to Spain but it is also a principal destination for budget airlines with return flights available for less than 100 Euros from other European cities. It is also possible to pick up bargain seats on the many charter flights serving the tourist industry. Air travel within Spain, with the exception of a couple of budget airlines, is expensive.

Major roads provide access from Portugal to the west and France which borders Spain to the northeast. Road travel within the country can vary. Many roads are not of a good standard but Spain has received billions of Euros in aid from the European Union and much of this has been spent on the infrastructure and so it is also possible to travel on some of the newest and finest roads on the continent. The country is well served by many bus companies linking the major towns and cities with express services. There are also a wealth of local bus services.

The train service is well developed enabling access to the country from both Portugal and France and fast travel between towns and cities within Spain. Fares are cheap compared to some other major European countries. Madrid and Barcelona are served by extensive Metro (underground railway) networks.

In addition to the many inter island services ferries run from the mainland to both the island groups and the two enclaves in Morocco. The Canary Islands are served by a boat running from Cadiz. The journey is long, some 48 hours and the sea conditions often make for a rough passage. It may be preferable to fly although as we have already pointed out this can be expensive. Ferries from Tariffa and Algeciras, in the Andalucian province of Cadiz, run to Tanger in Morroco. Ferries also link the enclave of Cueta with Tariffa, Algeciras and Malaga. Mellila, the other enclave is served by a boats out of Malaga and Almeria. The Balearic Islands have services to the mainland running to Barcelona, Valencia and Denia.

More information about Spain can be found at the Spanish Travel Guide

While your cruise is paid approximately 85% in advance, more than likely you’re going on encounter some onboard expenses like alcoholic drinks and soda-pop, gambling in the casino or playing bingo, tipping, shore tours, and purchases in the shops found on-board…which will all go on your on-board account. In other words, cruising isn’t a pay as you go system. Instead, when you board, you’re given a card that is the size and shape of a credit card. This card is your ID, your room key and your onboard charge card. So, you want to buy a beer? You turn over the card and it’s charged to your room. Want to buy a shirt with the cruise line logo on it? You turn over the card and it’s charged to your room. I think you get the idea.
Your onboard charge card is secured with a credit card or debit card such as VISA or MasterCard or you can put down cash. All three ways (charge card, debit card, and cash) are accepted on all major cruise lines.
The tough part is telling people how much to expect to spend on their onboard account. Heavy drinkers are often shocked when they receive their end of cruise statement and it’s well into the thousands of dollars…trust me, there is at least one on every cruise! So, to help you estimate your spending while onboard there ship, here is a list…well at least a list of everything I could think of…that will or could be charged to your on-board account:
- Tips (gratuities). The latest trend which has been in place for a few years now is automatic tipping. In other words, in days gone by, it was customary to give the people who worked hard for you during your cruise, such as your waiter, assistant waiter, and cabin attendant a gratuity for their services. Often times people didn’t tip them at all and, since this is major part of their salaries, the cruise line decided that automatic tipping would help to discourage this practice of non-tipping. While you can still remove tips (and that does remain your right) or increase them if you had outstanding service, you can expect to see this expense on your end of cruise bill which will be charged to your credit card or withdrawn from your debit card or cash reserve. What needs to be understood is that if you see recommended tips are $68 per guest for the week…that goes for every single person in the cabin INCLUDING children. So if the recommended tip is $68 per guest, a family of four can expect to be charged $272 for a week’s worth of service. Which roughly breaks down to $9.71 (US Dollars) per day, which is split between your waiter, assistant waiter, cabin attendant, etc.
-Drinks. There are some drinks such as tea, ice tea, coffee and sometimes juices that are complimentary on most of the major cruise lines. Everything else is going to be charged. So from bottled water to ginger ale to cola to beer to mixed drinks and wine…expect a charge. Pricing varies greatly but, on average you can expect soda-pop to run between $1.50 – $3.00 (depending on the cruise line) per glass or can; beer runs between $4.00 – $6.00 (again depending on the cruise line) per glass or can or bottle; and wine, figure $4 per glass and up. There are some cruise lines, usually, the more upscale cruise lines that include drinks in their prices but, if your traveling on the mainstream cruise lines like Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean…you’re going to be charged for these drinks. Only you know what you drink and how much…budget accordingly.
-Gambling. I don’t think anyone out there expects this to be free, so, again, you know your habits in gambling situations….use your own judgement and budget accordingly.
-Shore Tours – Depending on the cruise line, chances are your shore tours (sightseeing and activities in the various ports of call) are not going to be included with your cruise fare. Some cruise lines allow you to book and pay for your shore tours prior to coming aboard and others simply allow you to reserve them and then you pay for them once you’re on board. Of course, you can wait and book onboard too. Shore tour prices vary greatly, so, check with your individual cruise line for pricing.
-On-board Shopping. You’re going to have the opportunity to purchase many trinkets and silly items onboard your cruise ship. Some of the more common things you’re going to find will be “An Inch of Gold” or “An Inch of Silver” where they sell an inch of gold or inch of silver starting at $1 per inch. Of course, you have the onboard shops which will sell everything from sunscreen to cruise line logo shirts to liquor to magazines. These things add up quickly, and, expect to pay premium prices on most items. One trick…if you want things like logo shirts, wait until the very end of the cruise…that’s when everything goes on sale!
-Unforeseen Expenses – Most of the newer, larger mega ship now offer alternative restaurants onboard. These restaurants are usually an outstanding value for the quality of food and service, however, just be prepared to pay extra for it. The average alternative restaurant runs about $20 per person. Spa Services and the Beauty Salon services never come cheap on land, so, don’t expect any discounts while at sea…figure the pricing to be about the same as you’d pay in any major city. Another new trend is to add Coffee House type areas on the ship. You can expect to pay premium prices for your latte and they often have pastries and cakes for purchase at these stands as well. Another money pit is the game room…I was on a Carnival ship in Europe in 2005 with one of my closest friends and her then 16 year old son. I went into the game room with him for a while and we played air hockey and several video games and within an hour, I dropped $40 without a sweat…so unless you have deep pockets, encourage your children to save and bring their own money along for the game room…and help them out by budgeting them an allowance each day.
I’m sure I’m forgetting to list a few things but these are the major expenses you’ll have to plan for while on a cruise vacation. And, believe it or not, even with all of these “extras” factored in…a cruise vacation is still one of the best values for your money in today’s vacation market!
I hope you’ve found this tips helpful in planning your cruise vacation.

Redefining the term ‘unspoiled’, La Gomera is a tiny (less than 25kms across) island-paradise, whose rugged coastline – of rock-strewn bays, and black-sand beaches – belies a starkly contrasting interior, wherein subtropical florae jockey for attention with prehistoric volcanic plugs.

While most of the larger tour operators offer trips to Gomera, the island is still very much an ‘alternative’ destination – due largely to its lack of traditional beaches, and other commercial distractions: although there are bars and restaurants aplenty, the 24/7 dance clubs of the Balearics are conspicuous by their absence.

That said, Gomera is warm all year round – usually sunny, with temperatures ranging from a winter low of around 20-degrees, to a summer high of 28-degrees+. And it offers myriad attractions – appealing principally to holidaymakers who seek a conducive year-round climate, yet eschew the tourist crowds.

Getting there

There are no direct flights to Gomera: the European Union-funded airstrip is suitable only for the short island hops – to Tenerife North and Gran Canaria – that depart twice-daily. You are therefore left with two choices: to fly into Tenerife North, in hopes of catching a connecting flight. Or to take to the sea.

The Garajonay Express high-speed catamaran from Los Cristianos (a 20-minute, EUR 20 taxi ride from the airport) reaches Santiago – the island’s southernmost town, and my chosen destination – in a little over an hour. Unfortunately, however, the service is somewhat unreliable: a light breeze is all that’s required to restrict the vessel to port.

This being the case, you’ve an equally enjoyable contingency: the Fred Olsen ferry to San Sebastian (La Gomera’s capital town).

Secure a window seat and watch Gomera, just 30kms distant, rise up out of the mist, the choppy sea refracting the golden sun, creating rainbows at the vessel’s hull. Or stay out on the sundeck and savour the sea air – eyes pealed for bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales…

On arrival in San Sebastian, you have two choices: bus or taxi. The former are regular and reliable; the latter: ubiquitous and underemployed. Santiago is roughly 30kms west of San Sebastian. A taxi is therefore likely to cost around EUR 75,-. However, the majority of luggage-laden tourists prefer to book their travel arrangements in advance – ensuring seamless taxi, boat and coach connections from the airport to El Balcón.

First impressions

The 40-minute drive to Santiago is a revelation: your introduction to Gomera – carrying you heavenward along giddying mountain roads. Then plunging back down through sweeping terraced valleys scattered with cacti, prickly pear and eucalyptus. The experience triggers a kind of sensory overload – of almost unbearably vivid colours, and unfamiliar scents. To one side you encounter towering basalt cliffs. To the other: deep, dark laurisilva forests; almond and orange groves; banana plantations – a wealth and diversity of florae and vegetation that simply cannot exist elsewhere.

Then before you know it… you are sweeping down into the refreshingly undisturbed village that is to be your temporary home.

Around and about

For walkers, Santiago represents an ideal base: numerous footpaths criss-cross the island. They are – almost without exception – brilliantly signposted, with routes to suit all levels of fitness and ability.

And a number of accompanied walking tours – such as the Rain Forest Walk, which takes place each Sunday – are available, offering coach-collection from the Santiago. Just one note of caution, however, before you set off…

Take along good walking boots, water, a camera, with plenty of spare memory or film – for the infinite number of inspiring views that you’ll want to capture – and a waterproof jacket. Yes, a jacket. As you bask in the Canarian sun, contemplating your first peripatetic adventure, you’ll most likely mock the very suggestion. Don’t. The temperature can drop, dramatically, following even a short drive into the mountains. And rain is not unusual. You have been warned.

Less athletic visitors will be pleased to learn that cars are available for hire, and fuel is cheap (EUR 10,- will comfortably cover your diesel costs for a full circuit of the island). The roads, though narrow and winding, are quiet and recently tarmacced, making this a great way to explore Gomera’s hidden nooks and crannies. (Just remember to sound your horn, as you navigate those all-too-common blind corners.)

You might also consider joining the full-day island excursion. This informative coach trip, which takes in a stay at the Garajonay National Park Visitor Centre, as well as lunch at the Castillo del Mar (a restored 19th century banana trading station, that stretches out into the Atlantic), will doubtless reveal numerous sites of interest to which you’ll wish to return.

Essential Gomera

Whatever your preferred mode of transportation, a visit to the ‘Parc Nacional de Garajonay’ is essential. There, the near-constant temperature and humidity has created an almost eerily tranquil 3,984-hectare environment made up of laurels and lichen, mosses and ferns, freshwater springs, streams and spectacular rock formations.

Protected since 1982, and achieving UNESCO recognition in 1984, Garajonay is home to one of the world’s largest continuous areas of laurisilva forest – a habitat that has almost disappeared from southern Europe and North Africa.

Weather permitting, a boat trip to San Sebastian is likewise recommended (though it’s best avoided, when the sea is rough). The port-town and capital was visited by Christopher Columbus, in 1492, before he set out on the voyage for which he is best known. (Indeed, a notice at the local well records how the explorer drew its water to ‘baptise America’.)

Like all the neighbouring towns, San Sebastian is quiet, friendly, and very well-kept: you’ll see no graffiti on the walls, few cigarette butts on the pavement. With a population of 2,000 or so, it is the largest municipality. The mountain and the hills dominate the west; the port lies in the east. And within that port, the beach, which – though rocky – is both clean and safe.

The town’s handful of shops, restaurants and bars are all within easy walking distance, making it an ideal destination for a light lunch, a revivifying glass of wine, and a spot of people-watching in the central square.

Similarly accessible via the regular ferry from Santiago, Valle Gran Rey to the west offers – on clear days – a panoramic view of La Palma and El Hierro. In addition to a popular beach, the region provides many reminders of Gomera’s fascinating past, not least the hermitages of San Nicolás de Tolentino and La Adoración de los Reyes which – though recently renovated – date back to the early 16th century.

Historically speaking

The earliest known inhabitants of the Canaries were the Guanches, a Berber people of particular anthropological interest, who were assimilated by the conquering Castilians in the 15th century. Of the Guanches, little trace remains – which is hardly surprising, as they were illiterate. That said, they did leave a rather unusual legacy on Gomera: El Silbo, the peculiar whistling language used by the farmers to communicate from mountain to mountain. (Alas, El Silbo is slowly dying out, in line with the decline in farming – not to mention the relatively recent arrival of electricity and the telephone.)

By 1495, the archipelago was entirely Spanish. And thus it remains, despite the Canaries’ proximity to Africa – and the islanders’ tongue-in-cheek protestations to the contrary. We are, they protest, Gomerans first – Canarians second. Only given these preconditions, or the onset of a high-profile international football match, do they acknowledge their Spanish ancestry and influence.

Quite unlike the more devout Spain, where Easter is all-important, Carnival is the Canary Islanders’ favourite festival – and the Carnival El Mar is its most popular, taking place usually three days prior to Ash Wednesday.

In reality, the islanders require little excuse for a party, and each town hosts its own annual fiesta. Most notable are those of San Sebastian, which is held in January, and includes street theatre, music and dancing, and culminates in a procession to the local shrine. Other worthy diary-dates include the fiesta of Guadalupe – the Patron Saint of Fishermen – in mid-July; that of Santiago, in late July; and El Paso, in September. (This latter – the largest of Gomera’s fiestas – attracts 100s of revellers from the nearby islands.)

Culinary choice

The island’s cuisine – like its music – shares much with the Spanish Caribbean. The local wine is most distinctive, complementing a tapa (snack) of watercress soup, goat’s cheese, fresh fish and roast pork or goat meat. The ‘papas arrugadas’ (salty skinned potatoes) that accompany most meals are quite delicious. As are the ‘mojo’ and ‘almogrote’, two piquant sauces that enrich the hunks of fresh bread that arrive, unsolicited, at your restaurant table, the moment you sit.

Those with a sweeter tooth will appreciate the Canarian specialty of ‘guarapo’ (sap of the Canarian palm tree) – the perfect addition to fruit salads, and other desserts – as well as the many lard cakes, buns, pastries, biscuits and roasted milk that are mainstays of Gomeran confection.

Those who prefer to cook will be pleased to learn that Santiago’s supermarkets are well-stocked and realistically priced.

In addition, the village’s many cafés, bars and restaurants, several of which are situated next to the small, picturesque port, offer a choice of anglicised, and more local, fare – enabling you to select from a light snack or a multi-course tapas meal. (Be warned: many Gomerans think of the latter, as the former.)

For a special treat, you may also wish to enjoy one of the five restaurants at the luxurious Tecina Hotel and Golf Complex, which is owned and managed by the island’s ‘first family’.

That family, the Olsens, is inextricably linked with Gomeran history, dating back more than a century. No one knows what prompted Norwegian Thomas Olsen, and later, his son Fred (father of the company’s current President) to begin buying land in the area, in 1904. One assumes that he simply fell in love – with the island, and its inhabitants.

Despite turning a considerable profit – by securing control of the island’s freshwater springs, and purchasing huge tracts of land at rock-bottom rates – the Olsens brought (and indeed, continue to bring) if not wealth, then at least prosperity, to the island: in those early days by, amongst other good works, establishing a functional irrigation system and opening the island’s first school. And, more recently, as Gomera’s biggest employer.

Today, the island survives and thrives almost entirely on tourism. Which is hardly surprising. For, in stark counterpoint to the more exotic pursuits mentioned earlier, it’s a place where you can also enjoy the familiar comforts of home – not least: BBC TV and Radio 4; water direct from the tap; and a high standard of accommodation.

You don’t even have to adjust your watch when you arrive.

In fact, tucked away in your exceptionally well-appointed apartment, there’d be little to remind you that you’re actually holidaying on an extinct volcano.

Save, of course, for that sublime climate.

Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries of Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.CultureThe culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding one’s head means ‘no’ where as shaking the head means ‘yes’. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers aren’t much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers don’t have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit. Travelling within the countryBuses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels.Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs €6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards. Eating OutRestaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so it’s better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.Site SeeingIf you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping. AccommodationIf you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.Getting ThereOne of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information. Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.Duty Free ItemsFollowing are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them: 1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine2. 250ml of eau de toilette3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco4. 50ml of perfume.Prohibited ItemsThings that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunitions. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.

Imagine sitting comfortably on your flight. You have just had a relaxing glass of wine and are about to nod off till you reach your destination. A phone rings. The passenger sitting next to you takes his mobile phone out of his pocket, and starts to chat to a friend, negotiate a business deal or whatever! Welcome to the chattering class.

Like it or not, the prospect of using mobile phone on the planes is closer than ever. OnAir, a company backed by Airbus has technology that allows mobile phone calls without interfering with ground based networks. Ryanair, Europe’s largest low cost airline has announced plans to equip its entire fleet of Boeing 737s with this technology to enable passengers to make in-flight calls. Air France is to do the same with its Airbus A318 planes. It is only a matter of time before other airlines follow suit.

Why should airlines invest in this technology? They want a share of the phone call revenue. Ryanair’s reasoning is that this will keep its fares down.

Will people flock to airlines that offer in-flight calling? How much the passengers are likely to pay for the privilege of making a call even if the flight is cheap? Time will tell. Prices are likely to be on the higher side initially and they will come down in time.

Surveys conducted recently suggest that a vast majority of people approve the idea of an ability of making calls from the plane while only around 54% business and 40% leisure travellers are likely to switch their phones on as long as call prices are under $2.50 per minute. Interestingly Europeans are much warmer to the idea of in-flight calling than their American counterparts. United and Delta do not want it, yet!

The ability to make in-flight calls, and any airlines’ interest in this, is an interesting development. This is more so since Boeing recently scrapped Connexion, its impressive satellite based in-flight broadband service on its planes.

The Europeans are likely to give a formal go ahead to in-flight mobile calling soon by start issuing frequencies and guidelines to airlines.

I think that this service will more likely to be a success in short haul flights where people do not mind sitting next to a fellow passenger shouting into his mobile phone, however annoying it may be, as long it helps airlines subsidise their airfare.

So expect your chattering class air ticket in less than 6 months. Bon voyage!

Whilst Spain is one of the world’s leading destinations in the tourist industry there is more to this country than just beaches and islands. The country is situated on the Iberian peninsula. Spain also encompasses two groups of islands, The Balearic Islands (Islas Baleares), in the Mediterranean, coast and the Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) which lie off the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The Balearic Islands have ferry services to the mainland running to Barcelona, Valencia and Denia. Please bear in mind that car hire companies do normally not allow to transport a rental vehicle on board.
Furthermore Spain has got two enclaves in Morocco on the African continent, Ceuta and Melilla. Ferries link the enclave of Ceuta with Algeciras, Tarifa and Malaga. Melilla, the other enclave is served by ferries out of Malaga and Almeria. Remember that a rent a car in Spain may not be taken from Malaga to these enclaves on the boat.
Spain has a extended network of airports serving the following cities and towns: A Coruna, Alicante, Almeria, Aviles, Badajoz, Barcelona, Bilbao, Girona, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Leon, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Pamplona, Reus, San Sebastian, Santander, Santiago, Seville, Valencia, Valladolid, Vigo and Zaragoza. All the Canary Islands have at least one airport which makes it fairly easy to travel to El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canary, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Tenerife. Except for Formentera the rest of the Balearics Islands, namely Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca all have airports.
In addition to the many inter island flights which are available at reasonable prices the islands are also connected by ferry services. If you are not travelling with a car you may choose the much quicker jet foil services, however if you are travelling by car you will have to opt for the slower traditional ferries. Please bear in mind that rent a car companies do not permit to transfer a rental vehicle from ome island to another.
All mayor airlines provide scheduled flights to Spain but it is also a main destination for low cost airlines with flights available from almost any city in Europe. Furthermore there are many charter flights serving the major tourist destinations in Spain, like Malaga or Alicante, and it is possible to find some very good deals on seats on these flights if the tour operator has not sold out the inventory.
The train service is well developed and tickets are relatively cheap compared to other European countries. The AVE high speed train network is extensive, you can travel comfortably from Barcelona to Madrid, Sevilla and Malaga at a speed of almost 300 km per hour.
Travelling by car is an other cheap option for visitors from many European countries who do not depend as much on air transportation as tourists from the United Kingdom. Some roads in Spain are not of a good standard but the infrastructure has been improved considerably and so it is also possible to travel by car on some of the newest and finest roads on the continent. If you prefer to travel by bus Spain is served by many bus companies linking the major cities with express services.
One of the most interesting options for the independent traveller who wants to move around and see much more of Spain is the service of one of the many car hire companies in Spain. Especially in major tourist destinations car hire in Spain can be a very economical option if you compare with the total expenses for taxi fares for several sight seeing trips. Spain car rental is also available from the internet at bargain prices, all you have to do is use your favourite search engine to find the best prices for cheap car hire in Spain.

I’ve been travelling for over 40 years – by thumb in my early days, by boots in the Scouts, a Lambretta came next and then my first old banger followed by newer old bangers to the beaches of the Costa Brava.

My thumb, boots, bikes and bangers took me all over Europe and the UK before finding that a charter flight to Spain on an old ‘Connie’ could get me to the beaches and bars a lot quicker and allow more time to enjoy the local travel opportunities by horse and cart and the occasional bus and train.

‘Go West and Prosper’ seemed to be a good idea so instead of taking an 8 hour flight I took an 8 day transatlantic crossing from Tilbury to Montreal on the Stephan Batory of Polish Ocean Lines ensuring that jet lag did not trouble my travel plans. Some years later I crossed the pond again on a ship but this time it was 5 times bigger and I travelled

tickets in style on the QE2 and dined in the Queen’s Grill somewhat removed from my earlier experience. I highly recommend ocean voyages but cannot see myself on one of the modern cruise ships going from port to port with constant line-ups to get on and off to buy t-shirts. However, I have done 10 Windjammers and a Star Clipper cruise in the Caribbean which were all memorable (let’s hope Windjammer Barefoot Cruises recover from their woes). But I digress.

I had read that Canada is a spectacular country, from sea to shining sea, and my entrance into the St. Lawrence River to Montreal and then heading west in an old Econoline van from the Great Lakes, across the Prairies to the Rocky Mountains before ending up whale watching off of the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island was a trip of wonder to a bloke from London. Today the scenery is still spectacular and the best way to go is still by road so rent or buy a car, motorhome or motorbike, take the train or tour bus but remember the maps, a fly rod, good boots and take your time.

My favorite part of Canada / USA for adventure travel has to be Northern BC / Alaska, to hike the Chilkoot Trail in the steps of the goldseekers of 1898. The Northwest Territories to canoe the Nahannie River and the Yukon to drive from Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska. If you like the outdoors and can put up with a few bugs, cast a fly and scale a few hills or drive on endless dirt roads sharing the space with moose, caribou, elk, bears and eagles, then these are the places to put on your list. The pleasures and experiences in driving to Inuvik on the Dempster Highway or to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway or even the Canol Road can only be felt by doing them. I would have mentioned the Alaska Highway but now it is an easy drive unlike the aforementioned.

Today the costs of driving these distances may mean that sharing the journey with others is required, but RVing or simply vanning and camping is a great way to see beyond the horizon. Some enroute adventures now need to be booked in advance whereas when I hiked Denali and the Chilkoot Pass it was just a case of turning up, registering with the local ranger office and heading on out. A little more forward planning is needed for today’s traveller and cost considerations of lengthy flights or drives have to somehow be countered with more careful planning. In the days of reasonable gas prices I would not even consider the driving or flying costs and have driven to Key West from the northwest coast, down the west coast to the Baja and to the west coast from New York. I once even flew my 1946 Fleet taildragger from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back using around 5 gallons an hour of avgas. Before the oil and credit crisis I drove from Rio de Janeiro to Lima, down to Tierra del Fuego and back to Rio covering over 15,000 miles of spectacular scenery and with no consideration about the cost of gas. South America should be on your itinerary too! Some other memorable drives that may now require a mortgage with the gas companies include London to The Nordkapp, Norway, Skippers Canyon in New Zealand and the loneliness of the far north of Australia and the amazing coast of Western Australia stopping by at Monkey Mia and Wave Rock.

We tend to forget that the real cost of travelling

tickets is often less today than over the 40 years of my travels. In 1977 my round-trip airfare from Canada to Australia cost over $1700 in 1977 dollars so today it is far cheaper to fly, even with the airlines gouging for fuel, extra baggage, no service and no pleasure. The ‘Big Mac’ method of price comparison as developed by The Economist newspaper gives us a good gauge for most expenditures of today compared to yesterday but my $1500 cost to get a private pilots licence in the 1970’s seems cheap by comparison to today, but obviously not when using this Big Mac principle. Other travel costs are also far cheaper today but this should not mean that travellers should disregard the many methods of saving costs that can then be put to extended or improved travel experiences

Travel Post-Internet:

In my 40 years of travel I have had to use travel agents to make even the simplest of reservations and buy tickets, not even thinking to ask them if they had “been there, done that?” It was just a case of there being no other options to buying travel. Now we have unlimited choices and can seek out better travel agents, better prices, better selections and information about anywhere in the world for our travels – without even leaving home.

The Internet now gives travellers ideas and options of Where to go, When to go, Why to go, What to do, Who to book with and How to save money and offset costs. We can search and find experts for every travel option. If we are comfortable with the Internet we no longer have to go to a travel agent to make reservations and buy tickets except to book with some of the larger travel companies that still produce glossy brochures and offer all inclusive packages or tours that only sell through the agency system. The Internet also allows those of us who are smart enough to know when to seek out a top travel agent with knowledge, experience and expertise (KEE skills) of destinations and activities about where to find them. There is no longer any need to only use our local agents when we can find one somewhere else in the world. When we do not need ‘the knowledge’ and can do it ourselves we simply surf the web so that we can book directly with tour and travel operators wherever we have decided to go.

Some travel agents operate their own tours, some are both wholesale and retail, some limit consumer selection by only selling their ‘preferred’ suppliers and some have professional consultants with years of experience invested in gaining knowledge, experience and expertise and are worth their weight in gold to the savvy traveller. Beware though, as some are also called destination specialists and some of these designations merely require the agent to take a rudimentary test offered by tourism offices, destination marketing groups or even tour operators and in my opinion can harm the reputation of the travel industry. A specialist is not necessarily an expert.

Travel is probably the most used commercial aspect of the Internet and if retail agents want to harness this exciting medium to offer ‘the knowledge’ and their ‘kee’ skills to a global audience, not just their local community, they must embrace the changes that are happening. Travellers now have the ability to seek answers to the 5 W’s of travel and the important ‘How to’ save money and offset costs by having information just a click away.

And then it occurred to me that even internet travel prices often include a commission element even when sold directly to the consumer. If we book directly with operators we should not have to pay full retail prices as we are doing for ourselves what a retail agent would normally do for us. A dilemma for the operator is that to show a both a retail and a cost price option could deter many agents from selling the services as travellers could use an agent for free advice and book directly with the operator to get a ‘net of commission’ price. Obviously this two tier pricing is not often available but travellers who do not need advice should also not be penalized by retail pricing. A new way had to be found and I think I have found it!

The need for fairer fare prices is why I developed the Top Travel Voucher program at The Top Travel Club and I even found a dot com for it. All travel selections on the site are at ‘net of commission’ prices for members who handle there own travel arrangements directly with the operators linked on the club website using our voucher program.

I am inviting travel operators from around the world to join this program, from B&B’s, Motels, Hotels, Luxury Lodges, Eco Resorts, Beach Resorts and Tour and Adventure Operators who want to promote their products and services to travellers who are comfortable with direct bookings and reservations.

I am also inviting Travel Agents with knowledge, experience and expertise of destinations and activities to showcase their skills to a global audience of travellers and to the members of this new travel club. I am leery of ’specialist agents’ and only want experts to showcase their services.

This opportunity is available to the travel trade at no cost except for them to offer net, wholesale or outlet prices to club members and visitors to the website using top travel vouchers. I believe this program offers fairer fare prices to direct-booking travellers. The operator would normally be paying commission anyway but now travellers get the savings because they make their own arrangements.

The Top Travel Club opened in mid-April 2008 offering thousands of top travel vouchers for travel in over 70 countries with around 150 travel operators onboard. Every week we add more travel operators with more choices for members. Currently you can get savings on accommodations, adventure travel, boat charters, culinary tours, hike, bike and dive tours, auto and RV rentals fishing lodges and guides, safaris, vacation rentals, single travel, women only and dude ranches. Members get the vouchers free of charge by paying an annual membership fee and non-members can buy the vouchers on the internet at Top Travel Sites at deeply discounted prices to the face-value. The future growth will include restaurants, travel clothing, travel insurance and the opportunity to access air ticket consolidators who want to deal directly with consumers.

The way I have travelled and the way I see travel is that consumers should have unlimited access to every travel opportunity with the ability to do their own due diligence or to find a professional who can offer quality advice and services at fair prices, and to find all of this without needing endless hours of searching.

To find out more about the new way of cost offsets for travel please go to The Top Travel Club and my apologies for some of the spelling (traveller / traveler) but that is what I was taught. As long as we all understand the meaning, vive le difference!

According to the Air Transport Users Council, vigilant Brits may be able to bag ” real bargains ” as the budget flight market becomes fairly saturated. The comment comes after Ryanair this week released a profit warning for next year, due to weakening consumer demand, rising oil prices and higher airport charges.

Compare all low cost and cheap flights to and from all airports with one search. Simply include your local airport and your destination airport or region along with your dates of travel into the flight search engine and all available low cost flight options will appear on lowest price order. One simple search to find all cheap flights from all airports to your holiday resort destination. Compare the lowest flight prices from the low cost budget airlines.

A price-war amongst low cost airlines operating flights to Spain means that a trip to the UK’s favourite holiday destination looks set to become even cheaper with some feal bargain flights on offer. With around 60 million tourists expected to take a Spanish holiday by the end of the year, low-cost airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and the Spanish carriers Clickair and Spanair, are stepping up the competition and driving down the price of flights.

Spanair is reported to have cited growing competition on flights within Spain as a prime factor leading to the airline recording a higher loss, according to website flightglobal. All airlines operating in Spain are facing a difficult struggle.

“The fare war in Spain has affected everyone including us,” the website reported Alex Cruz, the chief executive of Barcelona-based Clickair as saying. Ryanair and easyJet are also focused on grabbing a larger share of passengers travelling to Spain, with the Irish airline Ryanair announcing that it will be opening two new bases in Alicante and Valencia later this year. “We want to double profits and passengers… by around 2012,” Ryanair’s director of marketing and sales in Spain, Maribel Rodriguez, told Reuters.

With prices set to tumble on bargain flights to the Spanish Costas, a trip to beautiful Murcia and a luxury vacation in the five-star resort of La Manga looks more attractive than ever before. People seem to be getting more bargain flights to Spain to visit their Spanish holidayvillas if new figures are anything to go by. According to the Spanish Industry Ministry low-cost airlines flew 2.7 million passengers to Spain in August, up 42.9 per cent from the same month last year.

It said that about 40 per cent of passengers arrived in Spain on low-cost airlines during August. Top airlines were Ryanair, easyJet and Air Berlin which carried a combined 52 per cent of passengers in the low-cost bargain flight sector. In August, Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget carrier, announced plans to set up two more bases in the country by 2010, adding Valencia and Alicante to its existing hubs in Madrid and Gerona.

Sunny Mediterranean island Malta is set for her annual international air show to be the best ever this year, with tens of thousands of islanders and tourists attending the event.

Making the event a truly international one, as well as the Armed Forces of Malta participating, the French, Italian, Dutch Swiss and Spanish will all have planes and crew in attendance, plus the British Royal Air Force and US Air Force.

Among the planes taking part are two Alpha jets from France, one of which will be doing an aerial display, six F-16’s with two Dutch F-16’s flying, and from the RAF two Harriers and two Tornados, with one of the Harriers expected to do an aerial demonstration.

Ticket prices for the Saturday or Sunday are low compared to many international air shows, ensuring access is available to many of the Maltese population as well as enthusiasts and veterans who travel from around Europe for the weekend. Prices this year are 4.5 Maltese (around US $12) for either day, with public transport to the show available throughout the island.

With the tourist season beginning to slow down, many of the Malta hotels see the air show as a tourist attraction and organise transport to and from the event.

An advantage of holding the show in the second half of September is that the Malta weather can almost be assured to be good, with the all important clear skies allowing viewing of the participating planes.

The air show is seen by many in the Malta holidays industry as evidence that Malta can produce events which will not only prove an attraction to those tourists already on the island, but also as part of a package of other attractions to draw new tourists to the island.

The first half of the year has been a disappointing one for the holiday to Malta industry, with a drop in tourists for the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year.

Commenting on the recently released figures showing a drop in visitors, one independent travel guide for Malta believes that events like the air show should be promoted more.

‘Malta needs good news’, they say, ‘and if potential tourists could see on a Malta map of events quality displays such as the air show it would be a good reason to visit the island.

The island needs to compete against other destinations in the Mediterranean, but while most of them are seeing an increase in visitor numbers, Malta is showing a drop’.

Many hoteliers and others in the holiday industry are hoping that cheap flights to Malta might become a reality in the near future. There has been talk of low cost carriers from the UK and Ireland providing services to the island for some time now, but no deals have been struck yet.

Unemployment on the island is high at over 8 per cent, and tourism is a major employer, but many feel that the government is reluctant to see the national carrier Air Malta face potentially subsidised competiton. But by doing nothing the island faces the danger of the whole tourist industry suffering.

‘Malta can be a high quality destination with low cost fares’, comment the travel guide. ‘We already have good accommodation like the Qawra Palace Hotel, so potentially we can do it’.

This is www.buypropertyportugal.com ’s next chapter of how to buy a property in Portugal, here we focus on the Algarve as it’s currently one of the most attractive places to invest and to enjoy investment growth while enjoying the sunshine on the beach

The Property Market

Why not choose to base yourself in an area with over 3000 hours of sunshine each year and give yourself the quality of life you deserve?

Portugal is an attractive location for house buyers, with the Algarve being the most popular area for British buyers, mainly due to the weather, golden beaches, and the abundance of golf courses. It is Portugal’s busiest, most developed region and it is reported that 90 percent of all property sales to foreign buyers are in the Algarve.

The age of Internet and ADSL means that mobility of labour is very much a reality and it is easily possible to maintain instant contact with colleagues anywhere in the world. Satellite TV means access to English language television and VOIP systems give you a U.K. telephone number and U.K. calls at low rates.

There are excellent air connections to anywhere in Europe and intercontinentally from Faro or Lisbon airports, making it perfectly possible to base yourself in Portugal and ‘commute’ back to the U.K. Many of the ‘budget’ airlines fly into Faro from Stanstead, Luton, Bristol, Gatwick, Heathrow, East Midlands, Dublin or Manchester and offer excellent value charter fares. Additional routes come on stream during the summer months.

Where to Buy

The Portuguese property market is showing consistent growth, strong rental demand, relative living costs and safe environment.

There is a wide choice of great properties in wonderful locations and often less expensive than the equivalent in France or Spain.

Remember that the summer months in the Algarve, especially August, are very busy in terms of traffic and there are visitors from the north of Portugal and from Spain as well as holidaymakers from all over Europe, all expecting good access to the beach. Unless you enjoy being part of the crowd you may appreciate being a little removed from the bustle. Being just a few kilometers inland can have considerable benefit.

Don’t forget to take into account your proposed usage of the property, if you are expecting to live in Portugal permanently then the factors that affect your decision on what to purchase will vary from those required if you are planning to rent the property out for part of the year.

Many properties inland or ‘up in the hills’ do not have mains water or drainage. Instead they rely on a system of cisternas (tanks) to collect rainwater and store water brought in by or pumped from a ‘furo’ (a bore-hole), whilst a ‘fossa’ or sceptic tank contains and treats sewage waste.

All of these facilities are reliable and capable of many years of unattended operation. Bear in mind if you plan to re-plant the garden, water can be at a premium in the summer months and a new garden may require a bore-hole to be drilled to obtain the necessary extra water needed for irrigation.

Drilling companies charge per metre for drilling and then the cost of the pump, control equipment and electrical installation must be added.

At Exclusive Algarve Villas, we  try our hardest to give you the latest and most up to date information on the Portugal property market and costs.

Please feel free to question our consultants about anything to do with buying and investing in Portugal, in person, via email at info@eavillas.com or on the telephone (+351) 282 353 019

Portugal remains an exclusive location, with fewer of the ‘over development’ problems of some of its neighbours. The opportunity to buy quality property in a great location remains excellent but, like all good things in life, availability can’t last. Portugal is slowly but surely being ‘discovered’ and if you’re going to do it, now could be the perfect time to step in to this beautiful country!

Portugal is an utterly charming country and relatively speaking still overlooked by second-homebuyers.

Many areas have an exclusive feel and second-homebuyers and investors are waking up to the advantages of buying in a country which has not suffered the mass development of other parts of Europe, which is quick and easy to get to, and where the cost of living is still relatively cheap.

The Portuguese market is very active, with purchasers from across Europe.  There are plenty of Dutch, French, Spanish and Scandinavians buying, as well as the British. This means that to buy your dream property, quick and decisive action is often required. New developments are selling particularly quickly at the moment and many properties are sold from plans.