Happy Traveller Blog

Archive for the ‘Travel Tips’ Category

If possible, everyone should consider booking Barcelona flights well in advance of their travel dates. There are two reasons for this. One, Barcelona is a highly popular destination and flights on certain dates can sell completely out. Secondly, booking in advance is generally considered the best way to secure a lower price. For these reasons, advanced planning may hold some advantages over waiting until closer to your travel date.

Flights to Barcelona are priced quite reasonably at this time. You can easily use your computer to search through the available prices, and will be able to purchase your seat directly online if you wish. Keep in mind that should you choose not to purchase immediately after searching, the rates you find when you next search again could indeed be different. Flights always have been, and always will be, subject to availability.

If you are unsure of your specific travel dates, you may still be able to find an excellent last minute deal on Barcelona flights. Obviously, there are no guarantees when you shop at the last minute. However, if you find that you do have some level of flexibility over the time frame during which you travel, you may be able to grab a last minute deal on a flight that has open seats. Again, check online to see what is available.

Holiday booked, departure date growing ever closer and the anticipation and excitement is rising, but stop a moment and just think about all the things you should do before you go. If you don’t want to spend the whole flight wondering if you cancelled the milk or locked the door, then this is the check list for you.

1-2 months before travelling

• Make sure that you have passports, visas, and any other documentation sorted out for yourself, your kids and anyone else travelling with you.
• Sort out your inoculations and any medication you need to take with you.
• Arrange your travel insurance and start thinking about travellers cheques and currency.
• If you’ve got pets arrange for a pet sitter or sort out any kennel arrangements if you haven’t done so already.
• Confirm your travel arrangements and documentation.
• Start keeping an eye on the news to make sure there are no airport disruptions, volcanic eruptions or political uprisings going on.

1-2 weeks before travelling

• Start checking the www.fco.gov.uk website for all the latest government advice and warnings on travelling abroad.
• Make sure you are aware of all airport and airline baggage rules so that you can pack appropriately.
• Arrange with a friend, relative or neighbour to keep an eye on your home while you’re away & to move any post away from the front door.
• Buy or borrow a timer device or check your existing one is working so you can have a show of lighting in the evenings while you’re away.

Immediately before travelling

• Gather all your tickets, documents and currency together in one bag that you can keep with you at all times.
• Give the person designated to look after your home a set of keys and some emergency contact details.
• Give away or bin any food in the fridge that would otherwise spoil.
• Empty the bins.
• Cancel the milk & newspaper deliveries for the length of the holiday.
• Set the timer ready so that it turns lights on and off in the evening to make it seem someone is home.
• Hide away any high value objects such as jewellery, laptops and other things which might tempt someone if they did break in.
• Switch off and unplug all electrical equipment.
• Turn down your heating, but make sure it’s not completely off to stop pipes from freezing if it’s winter time.
  Call the airline for a final check on delays.
• Close and lock all doors and windows as you leave the house.

Useful links
http://blog.netflights.com/useful-travel-tips-and-articles/
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/

Cheap Spain holidays to either mainland Spain or the Canary Islands are back this year. Holiday makers aren’t limited to summer holidays either, the sunny Canary Islands are an ideal destination any time of the year. Some sun in the middle of a harsh winter never hurt anyone. Since discount airlines started adding so many more flights, a quick trip to Spain anytime of the year is really affordable, especially from one of London’s many airports.

Spain has always been a popular destination, especially for British tourists. Benidorm on the Costa Blanca, caters to British travelers with English style pubs and restaurants. One of Benidorm’s  Blue Flag beaches, the ever popular Playa de Levante beach, is lined with trendy bars and discos where visitors can have a great time on their holiday. There are many different cheap Spain holidays available if you look online and compare prices. There are some really good deals out there. .

The fabulous beaches are what make cheap Spain holidays so popular, so you’ll usually find the most deals on beach resort destinations, especially Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol destinations. With a huge range of affordable accommodations in these popular tourist destinations, anyone can find a hotel, bed and breakfast, a self catering apartment, or a villa to fit within their budget, even one on the beach.

Mexico has established itself as a prime vacation spot for tourists wanting to spend the afternoons on spectacular beach shores.  El Cid Vacations can take anyone to dream vacation sprees.  Its key resort properties in Mazatlan, Cozumel, and Cancun offers only bliss coupled with lifetime memories to take home with.  Tour contractors are in the house to cover various activity plans for its visitors to ensure a taste of the local culture, a piece of the area’s ecology and history, and experiences with water sports.  For animal lovers, there is a turtle hatchery to consider.  A tequila factory is also open for the spirited ones. The options are limitless.  All it takes is to have an adventurous heart and a feel for what is fun.

El Cid Vacations is providing only the best amenities for its guests of all ages.  Children are very much welcome in its resorts.  There are children’s clubs to keep them busy especially while the parents are in its business and convention facilities.  One of its highly rated resorts is the El Cid Marina Beach Hotel.  Its low-rise Mediterranean styled hotel with 200 elegantly styled units is truly a representation of luxury and comfort.  The 30 minute ride from the airport makes it very accessible to its visitors.

There is much more to be discovered at El Cid Vacations.  Come celebrate the most important events of life and family in its luxurious hotels.  If fun, memories and ultimate relaxation are the criteria, they have got it all.

It is true that any parent can be hard to leave your child off alone. But figuratively speaking, but we refer to the service they can offer an airline for a child to travel only by air.

Each airline

The situations can be: a family with distant grandparents, an exchange trip, or simply the inability to accompany our son on a trip. Fortunately, no shortage of solutions to a problem of this type. And we mean even to kids who just go to the bathroom alone, or do not even know their own to tie the laces.

Young children can travel alone by plane, after five years. Some airlines (see best airlines) determine the age of seven or eight years, always in direct flights. If you have connections, children must be accompanied by an adult. To do this, there is a service that solves the problem.

provides a service for unaccompanied minors. The system includes a support during the flight by the airline staff, helping a good journey and arrival at destination, assisting with any setback. Of course, nothing is free, and the service has a fee that varies depending on the type of trip and distance. The service for unaccompanied minors is usually required until a certain age limit, usually between 12 and 15. (See also tips for traveling with children)

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There is good news for anyone looking for affordable holiday spots in 2001; the best cheap holidays are European holidays again because of a weaker euro. Spain in particular has fantastic deals on offer.   Not all European destinations are as affordable, Italy and France are costly no matter how the Euro is doing in relation to the pound.

For long haul flights, Mexico offers some of the best cheap holidays available for British travelers. The country is so huge that no matter what type of holiday one was looking for, from beach holidays to exploring ancient Mayan ruins deep in the jungle,  it’s available in Mexico.

There are ways to make even the best cheap holidays more affordable. First, shop around online whether you have a  specific destination in mind or if you’re looking for inspiration. Sometimes you can find fantastic deals to destinations which would never have occurred to you. Being open mined about your destination may result in real bargains to fantastic locations. Next, decide where to splurge and where not to splurge. If your holiday is jammed packed with sightseeing tours,why not scrimp on the lodgings as you will only be sleeping there, not using the extra amenities that raise the costs of rooms at four and five star hotels. With careful advance planning and a little research online there are many ways for tourists to make even the best cheap holidays more affordable.