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dailykhaleej · 5 years ago

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Air travel after COVID-19: The whole experience ‘will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery’

The lengthy street again to resumption… UAE airways have given indicative dates for his or her companies to renew. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej Archive

Dubai and London: For as lengthy as most of us can bear in mind, air travel hasn’t been a whole lot of enjoyable.

As airways crawl out of virus-lockdown mode, passengers can anticipate it to be much more of a bummer, with new temperature examine factors, strains of distancing folks stretching into the parking zone, and plexiglass limitations isolating baggage clerks, baristas, and different staffers.

Face masks and gloves will be de rigueur, disinfectants will be in every single place, and although many processes will be automated to attenuate human interplay, trade officers predict travel instances should enhance to accommodate the hygiene-inspired precautions.

“Going through an airport, the whole travel experience, will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery,” says Paul Griffiths, CEOof Dubai Airports, whose employees put on disposable robes and security visors that would not look misplaced in a COVID-19 ward.

As governments draw up plans to get the world flying once more, proposals geared toward protecting passengers secure are sometimes complicated and contradictory – as an example protecting folks from sitting subsequent to one another on the departure gate however cramming them six or eight abreast for hours throughout a flight. And if applied long-term, executives say they might do virtually as a lot injury to airline and airport earnings as remaining closed altogether.

The 2-metre rule can be a stretch

Retaining 400 folks – the capability of many jumbo-jets – two meters from each other “means a queue of close to a kilometer, which fills up the departure hall and out into the car park,” says John Holland-Kaye, CEO of London’s Heathrow airport.

Imposing a two-meter rule may cut back the airport’s capability to 20 per cent of its standard degree, he says. “That’s not something we can keep doing until a vaccine comes along.”

As a substitute, Holland-Kaye says airports would do higher to display passengers for COVID-19 on the terminal entrance. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest hub, is testing a thermal detection system supposed to establish folks with the virus, expertise that is been utilized in Asia for years. The UK authorities, although, has but to endorse it.

Some carriers have already introduced they’re closing their slots at Heathrow. So much will now rely on how rapidly governments assist out struggling airways. File image of a tube platform at Heathrow. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej Archive

Make finest use of house obtainable

At Frankfurt airport, Europe’s fourth-busiest, check-in counters, baggage-claim areas, and boarding-pass and safety checkpoints have been redesigned to make sure folks keep not less than 1.5 meters aside, with markings on the ground indicating the required distance. Lots of of posters and digital shows promote distancing, the PA system lights up each 5 minutes in a number of languages with bulletins on distancing guidelines, and skilled brokers stroll the halls to implement them.

Disinfectant dispensers are ubiquitous, and plastic shields have been put in wherever employees work together with clients.

This disaster is in contrast to something we have ever seen within the aviation enterprise. We’re coping with a monster

– Paul Griffiths, CEOof Dubai Airports

“We’ve put in place a good package of measures to reduce the risk of getting infected,” Matthias Zieschang, chief monetary officer of Fraport AG, the operator of the Frankfurt airport, stated.

At Amsterdam Schiphol, Europe’s No. three hub, each second check-in desk and departure gate is closed to attenuate mixing, and at baggage declare every flight will get its personal belt.

Munich has put in a merchandising machine shelling out masks, sanitary wipes, and disposable gloves. Helsinki airport, a significant crossroads for travel between Europe and Asia, gives masks for anybody who does not have one and requires folks assembly arriving passengers to remain of their vehicles or wait in a abandoned terminal constructing that has been idled.

Spray it down

At Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, alternating seats are blocked off. Cleansing employees spray the terminals with disinfectants each evening, and the elevator flooring are marked to make sure distancing”-allowing simply three folks in a spacious cabin.

At a pharmacy, there is a model sporting a masks and visor along with an inflatable neck pillow. And the airport is testing new Chinese language-made machines that may examine the temperatures of 16 folks per second as they go away baggage declare. Passengers with a fever will be pulled apart and given the choice of seeing the airport’s medical personnel and a fast COVID-19 diagnostic take a look at.

“If they refuse, that’s their choice,” says Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Aeroports de Paris. “We’re counting on individual freedom and a sense of responsibility. The aim is to put in place measures that will instill confidence so everyone feels they can travel safely.”

Air France’s fortunes have been buoyed by affirmation of a considerable authorities bundle. However how rapidly will travellers get again to flying? Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej

Not potential within the air

What’s not possible, airways say, is obstructing off rows of seats aboard plane to take care of distancing at 38,000 toes. Such a transfer would do little to include the virus whereas hammering earnings at airways, the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation says. With center rows eliminated, single-aisle jets would fly not more than two-thirds full, whereas 70 per cent is required simply to breakeven, in accordance with the commerce group.

De facto distancing will occur anyway, says Jozsef Varadi, CEO of low-cost provider Wizz Air, as a result of few persons are prone to e book seats as soon as airways begin to develop their schedules once more. He says he has no plans to restrict the variety of passengers. Some vacationers, although, are already complaining that carriers are letting planes get too full.

“Airlines are in the business of delivering passenger health and safety, but also economic efficiency,” Varadi says. “We are not structurally looking to get rid of physical seats.”

As a substitute, carriers anticipate protecting gear, disinfectants, and restrictions on motion to maintain the virus from spreading. Varadi says his clients might want to cowl their faces all through the journey. Crew will don masks and gloves, meal service will be minimal, and contactless playing cards will be wanted for any purchases.

There’ll be no in-flight magazines or catalogs, and planes will be disinfected with an antiviral fog between journeys. And low-cost large Ryanair Holdings Plc says it’ll require passengers to make a particular request to make use of the bathroom to stop queuing within the aisles.

Self-checks

Some airports are inserting their hopes on a system that mixes screening with certificates displaying that the holder is both freed from the illness or has had it and is immune, as properly as contract-tracing that may enable circumstances to be tracked ought to a flare-up happen.

Vienna airport lets arriving passengers keep away from a 14-day authorities quarantine by present process a molecular-biological take a look at in a facility close to the airport. Departing passengers who’re examined can get a doc proving they’re virus-free to current to officers upon touchdown. However the take a look at should be booked days upfront, takes about three hours for outcomes, and at 190 euros prices greater than many flights.

For Dubai Airports chief Griffiths, all of it provides as much as a urgent want for a vaccine. Whereas the emergency measures being launched might assist increase passenger confidence, he says they don’t seem to be sustainable both for corporations or the touring public.

“This crisis is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the aviation business,” he says. “We’re dealing with a monster.”

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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All You Need to Know – Wild Junket Adventure Travel Blog

This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission when you purchase through my links, at NO extra cost for you.

Bulgaria is just a three-hour flight from most parts of Europe and it’s incredibly affordable. Yet it remains an under-visited destination in Eastern Europe.

After my first Balkan trip almost 10 years ago, I was so pleasantly surprised to find such an interesting region that has seemingly slipped under the radar. The Balkan states, spanning across southeastern Europe, are easy on the pocket, and are chocked full of history and Soviet architecture.

I finally returned to Bulgaria this summer, and rekindled my love for the underrated Balkan state. Bulgaria is a beautiful country packed to the brim with rich history and culture, and a tinge of Soviet edginess that you just can’t find in western Europe.

Cost of Travel in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is an incredibly cheap destination and it’s much more affordable than other parts of Europe. You’ll get a bang for your buck, going on Bulgaria day tours for as cheap as $50 and staying at decent hotels for $50/night.

Food in Bulgaria is really affordable, fresh and delicious. A meal in a standard restaurant is usually around US$5-10 including drinks. A pint of beer costs around $1-2.

Expect to pay around $30-50 for a midrange hotel with air conditioning, private bathroom and WiFi. Hotels on the beach are definitely much more expensive, at $70-150 for a four-star hotel.

How to Get to Bulgaria

By Plane

Sofia International Airport is the main gateway to Bulgaria. It’s a small airport but it’s served by most major cities in Europe.

You can get cheap flights to Sofia from London, Amsterdam and Paris for around $100 return (three-hour journey). Airlines that serve Sofia include British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Wizz Air and Ryanair.

Aeroflot and LOT Polish Airlines fly from New York to Sofia for around US$700-1000 return. You’ll most likely need to transit via Moscow or Warsaw.

Search for Cheap Flights to Bulgaria

By Train

As a landlocked country surrounded by five countries, Bulgaria is easy to get to overland. But most trains tend to be old and shabby, and journey times are usually slower than buses.

From Serbia, the Balkan Express runs daily between Sofia and Belgrade (11 hours) from June to September. Trains depart from both cities in the mornings. Check out Serbian Railways’ website for details.

From Romania, you can catch a train from Bucharest (10-hour journey) to Ruse or Veliko Tarnovo. From Turkey, the daily Bosfor (Bosphorous Express) goes from Istanbul to Sofia and continues onto Bucharest. The journey takes 9 hours and there are sleeper cabins on the train. Check the Turkish State Railways website.

By Bus

It is even cheaper to travel to Bulgaria by the international buses from the surrounding countries and they’re relatively comfortable. On my first trip to Bulgaria, I took an overnight bus from Istanbul to Plovdiv and it was easy and smooth-sailing.

When traveling out of Bulgaria by bus, the cost of entry visas for the countries concerned are not included in the prices of the bus tickets. A good timetable for international connections can be found here.

Plovdiv is the main gateway for those traveling overland from Greece, Turkey and Macedonia. Sofia is the nearest city for those traveling overland from Serbia and Romania. Here’s more info for each travel route:

International Bus Routes to Bulgaria

Country

Departure

Arrival

Duration

Greece

Thessaloniki

Sofia

5-6 hours

Greece

Thessaloniki

Plovdiv

8-9 hours

Macedonia

Skopje

Sofia

6 hours

Macedonia

Ohrid

Sofia

9 hours

Romania

Bucharest

Sofia

9 hours

Romania

Bucharest

Ruse

3 hours

Serbia

Niš

Sofia

3 hours

Serbia

Dimitrovgrad

Sofia

1-2 hours

Turkey

Istanbul

Sofia

10 hours

Turkey

Istanbul

Plovdiv

7 hours

When to Travel Bulgaria

The best time to travel Bulgaria is during the shoulder season, from April to June, and September to October. The weather will be more pleasant, and the prices are lower. I went to Bulgaria in April on my first trip and it was perfect.

It can get really hot in summer, from June to August, with temperatures rising to 40+ degrees Celsius. Summer is also the peak tourism season, when the beaches on the Black Sea are packed to the brim.

Winter is mostly low season across the country, and most of the smaller towns will shut down. But Bulgaria is one of the best budget ski destinations in Europe, with affordable and excellent ski conditions. Bansko is the most popular ski resort.

How Long to Travel Bulgaria?

This depends on your interest of course, but two weeks are enough to explore Bulgaria properly and get to know its culture and people.

I spent around a week in Bulgaria on my first trip and 10 days this time. I felt that I actually got to know it really well on my second trip and saw a lot more than on my first trip.

If you’re an intrepid traveler, I recommend the following itinerary as it’ll allow you to see the best of the country at a relaxing pace. You probably want to skip the beaches, but I suggest keeping Varna in your itinerary as it’s a cool coastal city.

Two-Week Bulgaria Itinerary:

Days 1-3: Sofia

Day 4: Day trip to Seven Rila Lakes & Monastery

Days 5-7: Veliko Tarnovo

Day 8: Day trip to Etara Ethnological Centre

Days 9-10: Varna

Day 11: Day trip to Nessebar

Days 12-13: Plovdiv

Day 14: Sofia

How to Get Around Bulgaria

By Car

It is relatively cheap and easy to drive in Bulgaria. The main highways are well built and signs are in both Bulgarian and English. You can rent a compact car in Sofia for US$78 per week or $130 for two weeks.

In order to drive on Bulgarian roads, you will need to display a vignette sold at petrol stations and post offices. Rental cars hired within Bulgaria should already have a vignette.

Bulgarian drivers can be aggressive and most don’t stick to the speed limit, so just be aware.

Search for Car Rental in Bulgaria!

By Bus

Bus is the fastest and most popular way to get around Bulgaria. There’s a great bus network across the country and distances aren’t that long. You can find many bus and train schedules here.

Here are the main bus companies in Bulgaria:

Biomet — Runs between Sofia and Veliko Târnovo, Varna and Burgas.

Etap-Grup — Another extensive intercity network, with buses between Sofia, Burgas, Varna, Ruse and Veliko Târnovo.

Union-Ivkoni — Links most major towns and many smaller ones, including Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv.

By Train

Traveling by train is the cheapest way to explore the country, even cheaper than taking the bus.

For example, a train ticket from Sofia to Plovdiv costs just US$5 for a two-hour train ride. Although the trains are sometimes old and slow, some of the rail journeys offer beautiful views.

All trains are run by the Bulgarian State Railroad Company. You can buy train tickets online.

Duration for Main Travel Routes in Bulgaria Departure Arrival By Bus By Car By Train Sofia Veliko Tarnovo 3.30-4 hours 3 hours – Veliko Tarnovo Varna 3-4 hours 2h45min – Varna Plovdiv 7 hours 4.5 hours 5-6 hours Plovdiv Sofia 2 hours 1.5 hours 2 hours

Where to Stay in Bulgaria

There is a wide variety of accommodation to choose from in most parts of Bulgaria and they’re much cheaper than in other parts of Europe.

Sofia: Rosslyn Thracia Hotel Sofia

As one of the best hotels in Sofia, this elegant hotel is located just a few minutes from Vitosha Street, a pedestrianized street right in the heart of the city. Room rates are reasonable, decor is modern and the breakfast spread is excellent! Check rates here.

Veliko Tarnovo: Park Hotel Sevastokrator

This hotel has exceptional views of Veliko Tarnovo from above as well as a nice swimming pool. It’s technically located in Arbanasi, a hilltop town just 10 minutes away from Veliko Tarnovo. Check rates here.

Varna: Rosslyn Dimyat Hotel Varna

This upscale modern hotel is located in the heart of Varna next to the Sea Garden, 500 m from the Varna Beach. You can’t get a better location that that. Prices are affordable for a 4-star quality hotel. Check rates here.

Plovdiv: The Stay Hotel Central Square Plovdiv

An incredibly stylish hotel located right in the heart of old town Plovdiv, the Stay Hotel offers excellent value for money. Rooms are spacious and have lots of facilities. Attractions are all within walking distance from here. Check rates here.

Food in Bulgaria

I’m a big fan of Bulgarian food, especially the barbecued meats that are ubiquitous here.

Bulgarian cuisine shares characteristics with other Balkan cuisines — it’s like a blend of Greek and Turkish food. Meat is the main staple, along with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, dill and onions.

It’s actually quite easy to find vegetarian Bulgarian dishes on nearly every menu, though due to Bulgaria’s love affair with its cheese and dairy products, vegans won’t be so lucky.

There are some Bulgarian staples you need to try:

Shopska salad — A mix of tomatoes, cucumber, sirene cheese

Tarator — A cold yogurt soup made of cucumber and garlic

Kebapche — Known as Kebab in most places, grilled meat with spices

Meshana skara — Mixed grill that typically includes kebapche, kufte, and a skewer of pork meat similar to a souvlaki

Where to Eat in Bulgaria

There are lots of Bulgarian restaurants everywhere, as well as more international offerings in the big cities. I’ve found food to be really food wherever I went.

Here are some of the best places I ate at:

Hadjidraganov’s Cellars, Sofia — This traditional Bulgarian restaurant can be a little touristy, but it’s the best place to go for a feel of Bulgarian traditions. Portions are big, and food is served on wooden Medieval-style platters. Read reviews.

Restaurant Shtastliveca Old Town, Veliko Tarnovo — Rated as the best restaurant in Veliko Tarnovo, this place has excellent views of the old town and offers a well-rounded variety of traditional and modern cuisine. Be sure to make a booking in advance! Read reviews.

Park Hotel Sevastokrator, Arbanasi — The restaurant at this hotel in Arbanasi not only has great views, but also an affordable and good menu. They use fresh products and meat and I highly recommend the grilled trout.

Things to Do in Bulgaria

Explore Sofia’s Old Town

Bulgaria’s capital Sofia makes an excellent base to get an introduction to Bulgarian culture and history. The city has an eclectic mix of Roman buildings, Ottoman mosques and Soviet blocs. You’ll need at least three days to see them all.

Start with St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the Balkan region. Then head on St George Rotunda, the oldest building in modern Sofia that dates back to the 300s. Don’t miss the Central Bath, one of the most photographed buildings in Bulgaria.

This bike tour is a great way to see all of Sofia’s sights on wheels.

Hike around the Seven Rila Lakes

Outdoor lovers would love the Seven Rila Lakes, a group of glacial lakes situated in the northwestern Rila Mountains close to Sofia. Hiking trails weave their way around the lakes that are perched 2,500 meters above sea level.

Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called Salzata (“The Teardrop”) due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth.

If you’re tight on time, you can book a day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia.

Visit the Famous Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The iconic landmark is located close to the Seven Rila Lakes, at 117km (73 miles) from Sofia.

Founded in the 10th century, the monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 – 946 AD), and houses around 60 monks.

You can also combine a visit there with the Seven Rila Lakes. This day tour is affordable and comes with great reviews.

Wander around Veliko Tarnovo

Of all the places I’ve visited in Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo is probably my favorite. This small town was once the medieval capital of the Bulgarian empire, and now has a special charm thanks to its long history.

Veliko Tarnovov is a hodgepodge of impressive castles, museums and historical sites. Stroll along the cobblestoned Gurko Street and admire well-preserved old houses, and watch craftsmen hard at work in the Samodovska Chashia Market.

You can also visit Veliko Tarnovo on a day trip from Plovdiv. Get more info here.

Explore the Tsarevets Fortress

The iconic symbol of Veliko Tarnovo is the Tsarevets, an impressive fortress that dominates its skyline. With only pedestrian access, you can walk along the breathtaking fortress walls and take in views onto the surrounding hills of Sveta Gora.

Children are free to run, clamber and discover, the only place where caution is advised is at Execution Rock at the northern end of the fortress. As the name suggests a fall from here down to the Yantra River would be nothing less than fatal.

Immerse in the Open Air Etara Ethnographic Museum

Located close to Veliko Tarnovo in the town of Gabrovo is this beautiful open air museum that transports you back in time. The ethnographic centre spans over 7 hectares of area, showcasing how life used to be during the Bulgarian National Revival.

The park has replicas of traditional houses during that period, as well as water installations and craftsmen workshops. There are also stores selling sweets and artwork from yesteryears.

Visit the new Neofit Rilski Historical Park

Just a few kilometers outside of Varna is the newly opened Neofit Rilski Historical Park. It’s yet to be fully completed, but already offers some exciting activities. I was rather impressed by the scale of the park.

For curious travelers, the historical park is a great place to learn about Bulgarian history, from the Neolithic period to the Thracian Civilization and Second Bulgarian Empire.

The park gives the sensation that you’re stepping back in time, into a medieval complex with archery demonstrations and horse-riding displays. There are numerous replicas of archaeological site and historical monuments as well as homes that people used to live in.

Relax on Varna’s Beaches

As a vibrant coastal city, Varna is the main gateway for tourists that are heading to the Black Sea coast. Intrepid travelers will probably choose to skip the beaches, but don’t miss out on the charm of Varna.

The city is packed with history yet it’s thoroughly modern, with a lush and green seafront park to amble on. Its beach is not too bad to while away a lazy afternoon and enjoy some fresh seafood.

In the city centre you’ll find Bulgaria’s largest Roman baths complex and its finest archaeological museum, as well as a lively cultural and restaurant scene.

Get Lost in the Charming Old Town of Nesebar

The ancient part of Nesebar is located on a peninsula that juts out from the Black Sea coast (previously an island).

Nesebar has on several occasions found itself on the frontier of a threatened empire, and as such it is a town with a rich history. Due to the city’s abundance of historic buildings, Nesebar became a UNESCO Site in 1983.

Today it’s really popular with tourists especially in summer, so get there early if you want to get lost in its narrow cobblestoned streets.

Soak Up History in Plovdiv

As Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s heartthrob with a romantic old town. The city is packed with colorful and creaky 19th-century mansions that are now house-museums, galleries and guesthouses.

As the European Capital of Culture 2019, Plovdiv is quickly drawing more music and art lovers. Once an amiable waystation between Bulgaria and Greece or Turkey, the city has flowered into a destination in its own right – and one that should be on any itinerary through central Bulgaria.

For those short on time, this day tour leads you around Plovdiv, Asen Fortress and Bachkovo Fortress in 1 day.

Language in Bulgaria

Bulgarian is the country’s only official language. Bulgarian is written with Cyrillic, which makes trying to read Bulgarian words quite difficult for most of us.

English isn’t widely spoken in Bulgaria, especially among the older generation. But younger Bulgarians in the big cities tend to speak a bit of English.

Safety in Bulgaria

Most parts of Bulgaria are very safe and I never felt unsafe on both trips there. I traveled solo on my first trip and with my four-year-old daughter on this recent trip.

The only danger that travelers face is theft, primarily from pickpockets. In general, try not to stand out and avoid dark alleys at night if traveling solo.

Practical Tips for Traveling Bulgaria

Within cities, minibuses called marshroutki act like shared taxis and are common in many ex-Soviet countries. You just need to flag them down and buy tickets from the driver.

One thing to note for those traveling with kids, it is allowed to smoke in most places in Bulgaria, even indoors. It can be annoying for non-smokers.

As an ex-Soviet country, Bulgaria still shares a relationship with Russia and many Bulgarians still speak Russian.

I think of Bulgarians as quite similar to Russians. They may not smile a lot and can come across as rude. But give them some time, show that you’re friendly and they’ll eventually warm up to you.

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jamieclawhorn · 6 years ago

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Tempted by the Ryanair share price? I’d buy this FTSE 250 growth stock instead

Shares in budget airline Ryanair (LSE: RYA) fell again in early trading today as the company announced a “disappointing” net loss of €20m in the third quarter of its financial year.

Having lost 30% of its value over the last 12 months, does the stock now represent great value? I’m still not convinced.

Low fare environment

To be fair, the update wasn’t devoid of positives. The number of passengers carried by the firm rose by 8% in the three months to the end of December to 32.7 million. Revenue also climbed 9% to €1.53bn, supported by customer demand for extras such as priority boarding and reserved seating.

Nevertheless, the firm was hit by a combination of more expensive fuel prices, staff costs and a 6% fall in average fares to below €30 as the airline continues to compete against rivals for travellers’ cash.

Despite this, Ryanair was keen to stress that it had the lowest unit costs of all airlines operating in the EU and that “this gap is widening“. The £11bn cap went on to announce a change in structure with each of its four subsidiaries (including the loss-making Laudamotion) gaining their own CEOs and management teams. Michael O’Leary will now take up the position of Group CEO and has agreed to stay with the company until “at least July 2024“.

None of this, it would seem, was sufficient to soothe investors’ concerns over the possibility of further hits to earnings (and the share price).

Back in January, Ryanair announced that profits would be between €1bn and €1.1bn. Today, however, it stated that it could not dismiss the possibility of further reductions in air fares, particularly if lower oil prices allow flagging competitors to continue operating. As a consequence, full-year profits could come in even lower, even more so in the event of any security incidents or “unexpected” developments on Brexit.

As far as the latter is concerned, Ryanair said that it had taken “all necessary steps” to protect itself in the event of a no-deal outcome but hopes that “common sense will prevail“.

Cash rich

While it’s vital to look beyond the most recent set of numbers before making an investment decision, today’s news does little to change my view that Ryanair looks less enticing as an investment compared to its listed competitors.

Rival easyJet is the clear option for those looking to generate an income from their investments (since it’s the only one that pays a dividend) but peer Wizz Air (LSE: WIZZ) — which reported a 10% rise in passenger numbers today — would be my pick for more growth-focused market participants.

Priced at 15 times earnings, Wizz may be more expensive to buy than Ryanair (P/E of 12) but a predicted 21.5% EPS rise in 2019/20 brings the former down to a little less than 13. Perhaps more importantly, a PEG ratio of just 0.54 suggests investors will be getting a lot of bang for their buck.

But there are other attractions. Returns on capital are far higher on average at the Geneva-based business (27% vs 14%). It also possesses a huge amount of cash on its balance sheet, while Ryanair had a net debt position of €1.5bn at the end of Q3 thanks to ongoing investment. At a time of high economic uncertainty, Wizz’s financial standing is surely preferable.

Should there be further turbulence ahead, I may just take advantage.

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travelguy4444 · 7 years ago

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7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe

Updated: 6/26/18 | June 26th, 2018

Traveling around Europe can be fairly expensive. Airline tickets, high-speed trains, overnight trains, ferries – they can all eat into your limited and precious travel budget. I mean you came to spend money on delicious food and wine, not transportation!

However, there are a few recent trends that have helped travelers get around Europe cheaper: weaker currency exchange rates, the rise of the sharing economy, new bus options, and lots of new budget airlines.

The 7 Best Ways To Travel Europe Cheap

Travelling Europe by Megabus

Megabus is a cheap way to get around the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales) as well as to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Tickets can cost as little as 1 GBP if you book at least a month in advance on popular routes to get these fares. However, even if you don’t scoop up these amazingly cheap deals, you can still travel for a more reasonable price than on the national bus system, as fares rarely top 20 GBP. I recently took a 5 GBP bus from London to Bristol. (The train? 45 GBP!) That ticket was only bought the day before too! Additionally, Megabus also operates trains to some destinations around the UK, starting at 10 GBP. Megabus is definitely the cheapest way to get around the UK and now is also the cheapest way to get to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam.

Travelling Europe by Busabout

Busabout is a hop-on/hop-off bus service primarily used by backpackers, similar to the Oz or Kiwi Experience in Australia and New Zealand, respectively. You can get on and off whenever you want along one of their set routes. You can buy tickets that let you travel their whole network with a set number of stops. For example, a nine-day flex-pass, which gives you nine stops from your starting city. The only downside to Busabout is that if you want to visit a city not on their route, you have to make your own way there at an added cost. A lot of backpackers use this method of travel to get around as well as meet other travelers. The pass also comes with a guide and sometimes include group activities. A two-week pass is $299 USD. If you figure you can visit about 6 cities in two weeks, that’s $50 a trip. When you consider the soft benefits of a guide, included trips, and meeting people, Busabout becomes price comparable to trains and flights, though still more expensive than a regular public bus! Their unlimited passes for $1,499 for 6 months of travel is the best long-term transportation deal.

Travelling Europe by Flixbus

Over the last few years, a new company has come on the market that has totally changed the bus system in Europe! German based Flixbus has routes in 20 European countries and thousands of cities with prices starting as low 5 EUR. Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, up to three 3 free bags, and comfy seats. It’s essentially Megabus, but less sucky and for the whole of continental Europe. Flixbus quickly became my favorite non-train way to get across Europe cheaper after it came out. It’s the best and cheapest way to get around continental Europe!

Another option is to take Eurolines. Every country in Europe has its own national bus service but for international long distance bus routes, they sort of combine into the umbrella company, Eurolines. While they serve more destinations than Flixbus, I prefer the comfort and prices of Flxibus if I have a choice between the two. Eurolines prices usually start at around 20 Euros for a 5-6 hour journey.

Travelling Europe by Budget Airline

By far one of the cheapest ways to travel long distance in Europe is by budget airline. These airlines are hugely prolific on the continent and competition leads to incredibly cheap fares. You can often find fares as cheap as 1 Euro. When I need to go somewhere and I don’t want to take a long bus or train journey, I fly budget airlines. My favorite budget airlines are:

Vueling

Ryanair

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Wow Air

Eurowings

Flybe

Norwegian Air

Wizz Air

I use Skyscanner and Momondo to search for the best deals. They do all the legwork for ya!

It’s important to remember that these budget airlines make most of their money through fees, and the second you mess up, they whack you with a fee. They are very strict about baggage limits or forgetting to print out your boarding pass. Be sure to follow their rules to the letter. Sometimes these budget airlines cost more money because of all their fees so if you’re traveling with a lot of bags, it may be cheaper to fly with one of the larger airlines (which have also lowered their fares in the face of tough competition).

For more information, here is a complete guide to finding cheap flights around Europe.

Travelling Europe With A Eurail Pass

Getting a rail pass is a good option if you are going to be traveling across vast distances and don’t want to fly. The European rail system is one of the best and most extensive in the world. I love traveling by train. Sitting in a big seat, relaxing with a book, and watching the stunning landscape go by. It’s more comfortable than a bus and much less stressful than air travel.

If you’re going to travel by train, it’s hard to beat them on price and convenience for short city to city travel. For longer journeys (overnight journeys, between countries, or rides that require a high-speed line like Paris to Bordeaux or Berlin to Munich), trains tend to be very expensive. If you plan to travel around Europe in a grand tour, a rail pass is your best money saving travel option. Your cost per trip will be a lot lower than if you were to buy these tickets separately.

For more information, here is a complete breakdown of Eurail passes and when they should be used to save money.

Travelling Europe Using BlaBlaCar

The rise of the sharing economy has allowed people to hop a ride with locals going their way, and BlaBlaCar is the reigning king of this service. Hugely popular and widespread in Europe, I’ve used this service many times. This website lets you rideshare with people who have extra space in their car. You find a ride, they agree to take you, and off you go. You can find rides for as little as 5 Euros. It is the best, BEST paid way to get around Europe. You get to meet a local, have a friendly conversation, save tons of money over bus and train travel, and get off the highways and more the countryside.

Alternatively, there are websites where you can ask for rides so long as you pitch in for gas. Gumtree is the most popular among backpackers.

The Cheapest Way To Travel Europe: Hitchhiking

The best way to travel Europe cheap is to not pay for it. Hitching is quite common in Europe, and I’ve met a number of travelers who have done it. I myself traveled this way in Bulgaria. It’s important to use your head when hitchhiking.

***

There are a lot of ways to get around Europe on a budget. But what’s the best way for your trip? MIX AND MATCH YOUR TRANSPORTATION. The key to traveling around Europe on the cheap is to know when to use each one of the listed transportation methods. For short trips, I like trains and BlaBlaCar. For medium length trips (half a day), I’ll take a bus, BlaBlaBla car, or train. For long distances, I fly, take a high-speed train, or overnight buses. If you have no preference on how you travel – you just want the cheapest – use a website like Rome2Rio. All you have to do is enter where you are going and they will find all the ways to get there and list the prices for each method.

When you are looking for cheap ways to travel Europe, use the transportation options above that suit your needs and you’ll always get the best deal!

Next step: keep planning your trip to Europe with these articles:

Continent-Wide Europe Travel Guide

The Cost of Western Europe Travel

The Cost of Traveling Eastern Europe

Is a Eurail Pass Worth the Cost?

Photo Credits: 2, 4

The post 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-ways-to-travel-across-europe-2/

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melissagarcia8 · 7 years ago

Text

7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe

Updated: 6/26/18 | June 26th, 2018

The 7 Best Ways To Travel Europe Cheap

Travelling Europe by Megabus

Travelling Europe by Busabout

Travelling Europe by Flixbus

Travelling Europe by Budget Airline

Vueling

Ryanair

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Wow Air

Eurowings

Flybe

Norwegian Air

Wizz Air

I use Skyscanner and Momondo to search for the best deals. They do all the legwork for ya!

For more information, here is a complete guide to finding cheap flights around Europe.

Travelling Europe With A Eurail Pass

For more information, here is a complete breakdown of Eurail passes and when they should be used to save money.

Travelling Europe Using BlaBlaCar

Alternatively, there are websites where you can ask for rides so long as you pitch in for gas. Gumtree is the most popular among backpackers.

The Cheapest Way To Travel Europe: Hitchhiking

***

When you are looking for cheap ways to travel Europe, use the transportation options above that suit your needs and you’ll always get the best deal!

Next step: keep planning your trip to Europe with these articles:

Continent-Wide Europe Travel Guide

The Cost of Western Europe Travel

The Cost of Traveling Eastern Europe

Is a Eurail Pass Worth the Cost?

Photo Credits: 2, 4

The post 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-ways-to-travel-across-europe-2/

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theladyjstyle · 7 years ago

Photo

Updated: 6/26/18 | June 26th, 2018

The 7 Best Ways To Travel Europe Cheap

Travelling Europe by Megabus

Travelling Europe by Busabout

Travelling Europe by Flixbus

Travelling Europe by Budget Airline

Vueling

Ryanair

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Wow Air

Eurowings

Flybe

Norwegian Air

Wizz Air

I use Skyscanner and Momondo to search for the best deals. They do all the legwork for ya!

For more information, here is a complete guide to finding cheap flights around Europe.

Travelling Europe With A Eurail Pass

For more information, here is a complete breakdown of Eurail passes and when they should be used to save money.

Travelling Europe Using BlaBlaCar

Alternatively, there are websites where you can ask for rides so long as you pitch in for gas. Gumtree is the most popular among backpackers.

The Cheapest Way To Travel Europe: Hitchhiking

***

There are a lot of ways to travel around Europe on a budget. But what’s the best way for your trip? MIX AND MATCH YOUR TRANSPORTATION. The key to traveling around Europe on the cheap is to know when to use each one of the listed transportation methods. For short trips, I like trains and BlaBlaCar. For medium length trips (half a day), I’ll take a bus, BlaBlaBla car, or train. For long distances, I fly, take a high-speed train, or overnight buses. If you have no preference on how you travel – you just want the cheapest – use a website like Rome2Rio. All you have to do is enter where you are going and they will find all the ways to get there and list the prices for each method.

When you are looking for cheap ways to travel Europe, use the transportation options above that suit your needs and you’ll always get the best deal!

Next step: keep planning your trip to Europe with these articles:

Continent-Wide Europe Travel Guide

The Cost of Western Europe Travel

The Cost of Traveling Eastern Europe

Is a Eurail Pass Worth the Cost?

Photo Credits: 2, 4

The post 7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

7 Cheap Ways to Travel Across Europe https://ift.tt/2Iuy55x

#Nomadic Matt's Travel Site digital nomad

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wonderliv · 7 years ago

Text

How to get cheap flights

When trying to book a flight to any location, anyone who has had to go through this process understands how difficult and tedious looking for the cheapest priced flights can be. Getting an economical flight can be a herculean task especially with prices changing at every moment and numerous search engines available. If you need advice and tricks to get you the best prices on flights while also saving your time, we’ve given some of the best tips below.

Ensure your search is a secret

Are you one of those who thinks the price of flights changes when you open the same site on your browser over and over? Well, you’re correct. As a way to get people to book flights, by increasing the flight price of a route you have searched for repeatedly using information from cookies, you are made to believe that if you do not book early, you may have to pay more. To get the lowest flight prices, you need to ensure your browser is on privacy mode or incognito.

To open your browser on incognito mode is similar on different computers. When using Google Chrome or Safari browser, you will need to press the control or command key together with the shift and “N” keys while the control or command key with the shift and “P” button is used for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. The browser window opened prevents prices from fluctuating since it does not keep records of your activities.

Note: these tips may not work for older versions of OS X. here, you open Safari, then on the menu bar, click on “Safari”. On the list that pops up, choose “Private Browsing”.

You will need to close your open incognito windows and open a new one when you wish to search for a new flight. This is to reset the cookies. An incognito tab clears your cookies when you open it, so your records are deleted. This prevents prices from increasing.

Research and use the best flight search engines

Depending on the search engine you use when searching for flight prices, you may notice that some come with cheaper prices than others for the same flight. This is because search engines are entitled to a commission from the airlines and increasing the prices play a part in gaining this commission. Learning which search engine always gives a great price is important.

You can try any of these when booking a flight

Skyscanner

Google Flights (cannot use to book flights)

Momondo

CheapOair

JetRadar (includes budget airlines)

TripAdvisor

AirFare Watchdog (this search engine is great at finding airline sale & error fares)

If you need to use a budget airline, you may need to go further in your search. The search engines mentioned cover wide areas and may not include budget airlines in your region.

While you may find a search engine that gives you a cheaper price on a lot of flights, it is possible it may not be the best for all flights. You need to use different search engines to be sure you are getting the best deal on each flight you are choosing.

One search engine which we have seen yield positive results most of the time is Skyscanner.

How to find cheap flights

Identify the cheapest day to fly out

A lot of flights are cheaper on weekdays, and a lot of people believe Tuesdays are the best days to book flights. While these may be valid on some occasions, your best alternative is to get a look at the prices for an entire month so you can see what days have the cheapest flights to your destination.

To do this using Skyscanner, follow these steps:

Open the Skyscannerweb page, or you can also consider downloading the Skyscanner app.

Type in the city you will be departing from and the city you will be arriving at.

Since you just want to know the days with the cheapest flight, it doesn’t matter if you are going for a round trip, choose “one-way”.

Once you have selected all these, click on “Depart” and select “Whole Month”.

Click on the “search” button to get a look at the different days with different prices for you to compare and see which date is cheapest.

In some cases, you may get a day which does not have any price displayed but has a magnifying glass over it. The magnifying glass indicates that you have to click on it to view the price.

If you will be taking a return flight, follow the same steps. This can help you get an overview of the cheapest days for a round trip or a one-way trip.

For something that functions like Skyscanner, you can try Google Flights. It offers you a map view so you can identify the location of the airport but it does not come with the function to book flights on it.

Other search engines like Flyr and Hopper can also give you a good idea of the days which have the cheapest flights.

Make a habit of using budget airlines

Compared to airlines which offer full services, a budget airline gives customers the chance to get tickets at a lower price. While it may be cheap, you should know that there will be some areas where they will have to cut down on costs. You may need to pay for food/drink and the cabin may be less spacious.

We have listed some budget airlines for different places around the world. Some places do not have a large number of budget airlines while some do not have at all, for such places, we compiled a list of companies which offer the cheapest prices available.

Before you jump into booking a flight with a budget airline, it is always important you understand the details of the fine print. You should also ensure you do the following;

You must be sure of the location of the airport. Lots of budget airlines usually land at airports which are located outside the town.

Make sure all your luggage is booked and also pay any luggage allowance charged. Budget airlines usually charge based on the weight and number of luggage so they have a limit to the amount of luggage, weight, and height so they can keep their prices low. Follow these rules correctly, or you may be charged for any excess.

You should also make sure to read the terms and conditions of the airlines. This can be a deciding factor if you will have to pay extra. A good example of a situation where reading the terms and conditions can save you money is with Ryanair. This airline states that you should print your ticket and failure to do so will lead to extra charges. This warning is usually in the first sentence of the confirmation email sent.

For anyone who is out to get the best prices on any flight, you must learn to be flexible. Budget airlines always have restrictions and conditions, do your research properly and learn all these.

How to find the cheapest flights

For budget airlines in the United States

Southwest

Jetblue

Allegiant Air

Frontier

Porter

Spirit Airlines

In Canada

Air Transat

Porter

Traveling from Australia

Tiger Air

Scoot

Jetstar

For European countries

Vueling

Wow Air

Ryanair

Norwegian Air (prices are great if you wish to fly between Europe/North America)

Wizz Air

Easyjet

Aigle Azur

Aer Lingus

New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Jetstar

Asia

Air Asia

Scoot

Tiger Air

Vanilla Air

Eastar

Jetstar

Vietnam Airlines

Hong Kong Express

Peach Air

Dragon Air

Spice Jet

Scoot

Spring Airlines

Jeju Air

Nok Air

T’Way Airlines

How to get the cheapest flights

For any flight you need to take to any of these destinations, your best bet is to start following any information you can get on these airlines. You can choose to visit their web page regularly or also follow them on social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter. These give you an edge as you will easily be notified of any great deal available. Some airlines which usually have special offers often are Ryanair, Tiger Air, and Air Asia.

If you need a more detailed list of budget airlines, you can use Wikipedia. We recommend Wikipedia since the information available list specific airlines for each country. This is good to identify all the choices available to you, but you should note that not all may be budget airlines.

Book the individual flights yourself on a long-haul flight

When traveling to certain locations, you may need to take a transfer. This means you will travel to a first location before taking another flight to connect to your final destination. An example of such a flight is one from Canada to Australia. Most times, you will need to go from Canada to Los Angeles (LA), and then connect from LA to Australia. Doing this entirely on your own can save you $300 or more on both trips. Note that while this may be a cheaper means of choosing your flight, it is best you have a few days to yourself before the next flight. Booking two flights which have only a few hours between them is not a very good idea.

The first thing you will need to do is to find out about budget airlines from your current location to the first landing location and from this location to the next. Through this, you can book your own multi-day layover. Doing this can give you a few days to have a fun time sightseeing in a new environment before you have to take the next flight, and what makes this great, it comes at the price of one destination.

A great search engine we have found is Kiwi.com. It gives you the best airlines to use when taking multiple flights by showing those with the cheapest routes.

Find the cheapest place to go if you just feel like traveling

Using Kiwi.com to search for flights can be a good way to save some money especially if you just feel like traveling with no particular location in mind. It is also useful if you have a location. All you need to do once you are on the site is give the city you will be departing from and choose a range of the date you will be comfortable flying. It then gives you an overview of all the cities you can visit from your departure city while they are sorted according to prices. This makes it easy to get the cheapest places to fly into.

Kiwi.com has a significant advantage when it comes to looking up the cheapest flights to any destination. This is because it can mix different airlines to get you to your destination. If for instance, you are looking to travel to Rome, Italy, from Washington, USA, you can search on Kiwi.com or Expedia. You notice that you may get a TAP Portugal single route flight at $631.20 while Kiwi.com can get a price of $459.80 by mixing flights from JetBlue, Norwegian Air, and Vueling. This can effectively save you $171.40.

This makes it great for long-haul flights and the time to travel between the locations is also shorter than most single flights

One factor which people see as a risk when taking a trip with different flights is what happens when one flight gets delayed or rescheduled. Since there is no connection between the different airlines, you may either lose money or have to pay for your flight to be rescheduled. Kiwi.com offers a great deal where they can give you an alternate flight or simply give a refund in the case of delays or a canceled flight. This is only if you can contact them as soon as you learn about such changes. This offer makes it worth any risk.

Use a travel agent

Although their prices may not always be the best for all flights, travel agents usually have rates which are better than what may be available to the public. To make the most of the travel agents, you need to find some of the cheapest flights you can get and then show it to them if they can offer a price better than that. If you use travel agents for a long-haul flight, you may be able to save up hundreds of dollars, and they can also fit in additional layovers, so you get more time to enjoy the view of a new city. This beats sitting in the airport waiting for your next flight.

Local airlines should not be overlooked

In a situation where you need to go to a location which is not well-known, search engines may not be your best option. A lot of airlines which travel to regions in remote locations are usually small airlines which are not referenced in search engines. When going to a less frequented area, find out if there is a local airline within the area and also search using Google.

On some search engines, small airlines may pop up in the search results. In such cases, you should still visit the official company site. This may lead to you learning about great offers which are available and may not be listed on search engines.

If you know the location and departure date, book early

It is known that in most cases, especially in Australia and Europe, the prices of tickets are more likely to increase as the departure date gets closer. While budget airlines make booking flights cheaper, once the tickets start reducing in number, the prices of those that are left start to go up. Booking your flights as early as possible once you are sure of your destination and departure date helps you save a lot of money on the flight.

Check if it’s cheaper to pay in other currencies

Depending on the currency you choose in paying for a trip, you may get cheaper prices. Although it may not always be the case, on many occasions, a budget airline may require you pay in the currency of the country you will be leaving from.

If you wish to pay in foreign currency, avoid using a credit card which charges a fee on each foreign transaction. This may prove to be ineffective in saving your money.

Search for errors in airline fares

In some instances, you may be lucky to find a ticket price which has been cut down excessively. This is a mistake from the airline which may be due to human error, error in currency conversion rates, or a technical issue. If you are well versed in spotting such errors on tickets, you can save up a lot of money on tickets you buy.

A good source of ticket prices which have been cut down is AirFare Watchdog and Secret Flying. If you also use Skyscanner to book flights and you follow the tip on using the prices for a month to find cheap prices, you may notice some days with prices which are extremely low when compared to other days. This is a good way to spot errors on airline fares.

Consider hidden city ticketing

Hidden city ticketing describes a situation where you purchase a flight which has a connecting flight, and you drop off at the point where you are supposed to connect to the next flight. This is mostly because some flights which have a connecting point at your original destination may be cheaper than taking a direct flight to your original destination.

While this may be a good way to save money, it also comes with its risks. Some things you need to consider before embarking on such a trip are stated below.

You should only use carry-on luggage. This is because, in a situation where your luggage is checked in, it is likely to reach the final destination of the flight.

Some connecting flights do not allow passengers of the plane. This is if the same plane will be taking the last trip.

An airline may find out that you did not get on the connecting flight. The repercussions of this can be hard to say as it is common for people to miss their flights.

If you want to find hidden city tickets, you can make use of Skiplagged. This search engine works great, but since hidden ticketing is not a welcome development, United Airlines is currently suing the search engine.

You should be careful when deciding to use hidden ticketing.

Use your flight points when you can

Air Miles, or flight points, are the number of miles you’ve flown over a period. By changing these miles to points, you can get a free flight from an airline to different locations. The number of points required for each location varies and the number of points you get also varies for each flight. You can also get flight points by using credit cards based on the number of dollars spent on flights. In some cases, it is best you use your points for travel within the country as these usually require a lesser amount of points. Using your points offer significant savings especially if you travel a lot.

Some important things you must always remember;

Always use incognito browsing

Booking your flights very early saves a lot of money

Discover and make use of the best search engines

When going on long-haul flights, book individual flights on your own and include layover

Look for error fares

The post How to get cheap flights appeared first on Wonderliv.

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europeantravel1 · 4 years ago

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Budget Air Travel in Europe

Budget Air Travel in Europe 2021 Guide Nowhere else in the world has the advent of low-cost airlines revolutionized travel as much as in Europe. Numerous airlines compete with each other for customers, flying from airports across the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Turkey and Scandinavia. to name just a few, opening up a world of possibilities that were previously unthinkable; family holidays on the beaches of the Costa del Sol; skiing trips to the French Alps; spontaneous city breaks to Baku and Bratislava. Who would've thought it? The ease of finding affordable flights in Europe has radically altered how we plan our trips to that region. When I first began traveling in Europe, no one spent their own money to buy one-way airline tickets within Europe. The cost was simply too high. Today, that type of thinking is very outdated. Before purchasing any long-distance train or bus tickets, you should first check flight prices — you may be surprised by the price and the time savings. Very competitive discount airlines have made European itinerary planning easier and have turned vagabond travelers into jetsetters. You can fly almost anywhere on the Continent for less than $250 per flight, deciding where to travel is largely a question of following your travel dreams. You are no longer limited to places that are within a reasonable train ride (or driving) distance. That being said, those are still perfectly acceptable ways of traveling. It is best to examine all possible options before making a decision. It is now possible to enjoy a far-flung vacation from Greece to Portugal to Scotland. Airlines that have sprung up from the ashes of the former Eastern bloc carriers have found enormous success and even a spiritual successor in their quest for cheap flights and cheap holidays. Their success has been driven by a number of strategies the most important of which is offering flights across borders for much cheaper prices than their domestic competitors. The biggest success of the cheap flight's revolution is the fact that the European holiday market has become so wide open and the fact that so many airlines have come up with a number of ideas that make flying as cheap as possible. For instance, there are low-cost carriers, such as Easyjet, Ryanair, and Vueling that have found success by giving travelers a very cheap deal. They have taken the basic model of a full-service airline with lounges and food and beverages but made every flight a head-to-head flight against a ticketing system that shows the price of all flights instead of just the first segment of the route taken. This means that a traveler can fly from Dublin to Munich and pay the same as a visitor that flies from Munich to Dublin. Such systems are not new, German carriers Vueling and Easy Jet have been operating for a number of years and both companies claim to have over one million passengers a month using the system. However, the difference between the price of flights booked on Easy Jet and Easy Jet-owned competitor Ryanair is night and day. Another strategy employed by many budget carriers is the introduction of limited period fares. This is a great way to keep airfares low and to ensure that flights are sold as seats are available. This can be done through special promotional rates that are available for a limited time or the use of stand-by flights. Stand-by flights make the fare system work by letting the carrier book the air ticket from where it is stand-by. This is a great way to fill the empty seats in an aircraft. But what happens if the aircraft is full? It is possible for a flight to be sold as sold but empty seats remain and are given the special discounted rate. Such a flight is likely to be from an airport served by more than one airline. One way to avoid such problems is having multiple airlines serving a single route. Another strategy that a number of budget carriers have used to get so far is to offer flights from an airport serving multiple airlines. This has the advantage of giving maximum flexibility to the traveler in terms of timing and route. The downside is that it can be a problem in terms of security, as there is no guarantee that only one airline will be serving each airport. The main way to guarantee that you get the cheapest flight is to book as far in advance as possible. Early booking is always cheaper than later booking because of the costs of delays and cancellations. But you can still get a cheap flight if you book from a secondary airport serving several airlines. This will ensure you get the best deal possible because of competition. The cost of a cheap airline ticket can also vary depending on where you are traveling to and from, how much you pay for the ticket, and also which airport you are flying from. As a further tip, you can always try to travel on days that are busier than other days. So, if you can save on your airfare, then you can take more cash and spend it where it is better spent. Remember, that you must make sure that you know all the terms and conditions of the ticket before you pay for it. Cheap Flights within Europe The following are some of the affordable airlines that cover a lot of the European skies, as well as their major hubs. To find out more, visit Skyscanner, or check out Google for "cheap flights" plus the cities you'd like to fly to/from. New airlines pop up and old ones close all the time. Airline Main Hubs Aer Lingus Dublin, Shannon AirBaltic Riga Air Italy Milan Blue Air Bucharest CityJet London (London City) Condor Frankfurt EasyJet London (Gatwick, Stansted, Luton), Milan, Berlin, Paris (Charles de Gaulle, Orly), and more Flybe Birmingham, Manchester Eurowings Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg Icelandair Reykjavík Norwegian Oslo, London (Gatwick) Pegasus Airlines Istanbul Ryanair London (Stansted), Dublin, and several other cities SmartWings Prague Transavia Amsterdam, Paris (Orly) Vueling Barcelona, Rome Widerøe Oslo, Bergen Wizz Air Budapest Cheap Flights From The United States To Europe Europe's biggest low-cost year-round airlines are Ryanair and Easyjet. Both airlines operate hundreds of routes in more than 30 countries. These fly across both North America and Europe. They provide a combination of affordable travel and on-time departures. In the United States, the carriers are based in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Orlando, Florida among others. Ryanair currently flies from New York's JFK airport. Easyjet operates from Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle and Las Vegas, while it's based in the Irish capital Dublin. They both offer a wide range of flight options to suit most needs. easyJet's flights depart from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and North America. Ryanair also provides transatlantic flights to the United Kingdom. Low-cost airlines offer a combination of fuel-saving engines, fuel-efficient fleets, in-flight food and beverages, and high-quality service. It's one of the only cases where price plays a major role when buying tickets. While on one hand, they provide the cheapest flight fare on several of their routes, they offer a range of flight options on most routes to match the needs of most passengers to make your flight more enjoyable through different upgrades. They've recently launched Ryanair Check in which if you've used their flight to any destination, the airlines will check your ticket for free. They also offer an Early Bird offer that guarantees a seat on any flight of your choice between Monday and Friday for a year, or until the end of the month. This is a great promotion for travel plans who are planning to travel during the hottest travel seasons. Ryanair airlines have a range of routes to popular destinations such as Majorca, Bora Bora, Majorca, Krakow, Krakow and Split. All have flights to major destinations across the world. Flights to the United Kingdom are provided by the national airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus, and they are based in Dublin airport. There are flights to London, Bristol, Exmouth, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, and Stornoway. Seasonally other airlines such as Condor Air, Eurowings What's the downside of Budget Airlines? Saving on budget airfares can come with potential pitfalls. Budget tickets are rarely refundable or exchangeable. Many airlines operate exclusively online, so it can be challenging to contact a customer service representative in case of problems. Flights are often closely organized to squeeze more flying time from each plane, which can exaggerate the impact of delays. If you are instructed to arrive at the check-in counter an hour before the flight and show up with a half-hour to spare, you have just missed your flight. Also, it is not uncommon for budget carriers to cancel a slow-selling route or go out of business, leaving you scrambling to find a viable alternative. Because budget airlines do not make much money from your ticket, they look for other ways to increase their earnings — bombarding you with advertisements every step of the way, via advertising in e-mails, in planes, onboard food and drinks that are not included, and charging outrageous fees. For instance, you could be penalized for paying with a credit card (when there is no other option), checking in and printing your boarding pass at the airport, "priority boarding" ahead of the pack, bringing an infant along, and — of course— checking bags. The initial fare shown on the website can seem low at first glance. Once you begin the checkout process, each step seems to involve an additional charge. Checking bags is not free. For many budget airlines, the price per bag increases as you get closer to your departure date. You might be charged an extra fee for checking a bag over a certain (relatively low) weight limit. You should not assume that all luggage qualifies as carry-on in Europe; many budget carriers have smaller dimensions than other carriers. Before booking, make sure you understand the baggage policy carefully. Frequently Asked Questions Where is the cheapest place in Europe to fly into? It is a common question and an important consideration for all travelers. Is it still possible to find the cheapest place to fly into? Is there any difference in prices for flights into Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London? I find that flights to Frankfurt are cheaper generally. How can I get to Europe cheap? Well, it all begins with the question of how can I get to Europe cheap. If you look at the cost of getting to Europe from US cities it is usually very expensive with the exception of Miami, New York, and Boston which tend to be the cheapest destinations if you are looking to save money. The problem with these destinations is that they are so large that it may take a little planning and research to find a flight that will fit into your budget. This is where online travel sites like Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia and Google come in handy; once you decide the dates of your travel, you can go to a travel search engine and search through many sites and find the best deal to fit your budget. Which is better, Ryanair or EasyJet? There are many comparisons of the two airlines and they should be compared on a level field. We should not forget that each airline is a business and has its own interests. The two airlines try to offer a good service all around the world and both offer cheap flights as well. If you like this story please bookmark our website: https://europeantravel.blog/ Read the full article

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dailykhaleej · 5 years ago

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COVID-19 influence: Air travel in future ‘will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery’

The lengthy highway again to resumption… UAE airways have given indicative dates for his or her companies to renew. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej Archive

Dubai and London: For as lengthy as most of us can bear in mind, air travel hasn’t been an entire lot of enjoyable.

As airways crawl out of virus-lockdown mode, passengers can anticipate it to be much more of a bummer, with new temperature test factors, traces of distancing individuals stretching into the car parking zone, and plexiglass obstacles isolating baggage clerks, baristas, and different staffers.

Face masks and gloves will be de rigueur, disinfectants will be in every single place, and though many processes will be automated to attenuate human interplay, business officers predict travel occasions must improve to accommodate the hygiene-inspired precautions.

As governments draw up plans to get the world flying once more, proposals aimed toward preserving passengers protected are sometimes complicated and contradictory – as an example preserving individuals from sitting subsequent to one another on the departure gate however cramming them six or eight abreast for hours throughout a flight. And if applied long-term, executives say they might do nearly as a lot harm to airline and airport income as remaining closed altogether.

The two-metre rule can be a stretch

Conserving 400 individuals – the capability of many jumbo-jets – two meters from each other “means a queue of close to a kilometer, which fills up the departure hall and out into the car park,” says John Holland-Kaye, CEO of London’s Heathrow airport.

Implementing a two-meter rule may scale back the airport’s capability to 20 per cent of its standard degree, he says. “That’s not something we can keep doing until a vaccine comes along.”

As an alternative, Holland-Kaye says airports would do higher to display screen passengers for COVID-19 on the terminal entrance. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest hub, is testing a thermal detection system supposed to determine individuals with the virus, expertise that is been used in Asia for years. The UK authorities, although, has but to endorse it.

Some carriers have already introduced they’re closing their slots at Heathrow. Lots will now depend upon how shortly governments assist out struggling airways. File image of a tube platform at Heathrow. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej Archive

Make finest use of area accessible

At Frankfurt airport, Europe’s fourth-busiest, check-in counters, baggage-claim areas, and boarding-pass and safety checkpoints have been redesigned to make sure individuals keep at the very least 1.5 meters aside, with markings on the ground indicating the required distance. A whole bunch of posters and digital shows promote distancing, the PA system lights up each 5 minutes in a number of languages with bulletins on distancing guidelines, and skilled brokers stroll the halls to implement them.

Disinfectant dispensers are ubiquitous, and plastic shields have been put in anyplace employees work together with prospects.

This disaster is not like something we have ever seen in the aviation enterprise. We’re coping with a monster

– Paul Griffiths, CEOof Dubai Airports

“We’ve put in place a good package of measures to reduce the risk of getting infected,” Matthias Zieschang, chief monetary officer of Fraport AG, the operator of the Frankfurt airport, mentioned.

At Amsterdam Schiphol, Europe’s No. three hub, each second check-in desk and departure gate is closed to attenuate mixing, and at baggage declare every flight will get its personal belt.

Munich has put in a merchandising machine allotting masks, sanitary wipes, and disposable gloves. Helsinki airport, a significant crossroads for travel between Europe and Asia, supplies masks for anybody who does not have one and requires individuals assembly arriving passengers to remain in their automobiles or wait in a abandoned terminal constructing that has been idled.

Spray it down

At a pharmacy, there is a model sporting a masks and visor in addition to an inflatable neck pillow. And the airport is testing new Chinese language-made machines that may test the temperatures of 16 individuals per second as they depart baggage declare. Passengers with a fever will be pulled apart and given the choice of seeing the airport’s medical personnel and a speedy COVID-19 diagnostic take a look at.

Air France’s fortunes have been buoyed by affirmation of a considerable authorities package deal. However how shortly will travellers get again to flying? Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej

Not attainable in the air

What’s not possible, airways say, is obstructing off rows of seats aboard plane to take care of distancing at 38,000 ft. Such a transfer would do little to include the virus whereas hammering income at airways, the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation says. With center rows eliminated, single-aisle jets would fly not more than two-thirds full, whereas 70 per cent is required simply to breakeven, in line with the commerce group.

De facto distancing will occur anyway, says Jozsef Varadi, CEO of low-cost provider Wizz Air, as a result of few persons are prone to e book seats as soon as airways begin to broaden their schedules once more. He says he has no plans to restrict the variety of passengers. Some vacationers, although, are already complaining that carriers are letting planes get too full.

“Airlines are in the business of delivering passenger health and safety, but also economic efficiency,” Varadi says. “We are not structurally looking to get rid of physical seats.”

As an alternative, carriers anticipate protecting tools, disinfectants, and restrictions on motion to maintain the virus from spreading. Varadi says his prospects might want to cowl their faces all through the journey. Crew will don masks and gloves, meal service will be minimal, and contactless playing cards will be wanted for any purchases.

There’ll be no in-flight magazines or catalogs, and planes will be disinfected with an antiviral fog between journeys. And low-cost big Ryanair Holdings Plc says it would require passengers to make a particular request to make use of the bathroom to forestall queuing in the aisles.

Self-checks

Some airports are putting their hopes on a system that mixes screening with certificates displaying that the holder is both freed from the illness or has had it and is immune, as effectively as contract-tracing that may permit instances to be tracked ought to a flare-up happen.

Vienna airport lets arriving passengers keep away from a 14-day authorities quarantine by present process a molecular-biological take a look at in a facility close to the airport. Departing passengers who’re examined can get a doc proving they’re virus-free to current to officers upon touchdown. However the take a look at should be booked days in advance, takes about three hours for outcomes, and at 190 euros prices greater than many flights.

For Dubai Airports chief Griffiths, all of it provides as much as a urgent want for a vaccine. Whereas the emergency measures being launched could assist enhance passenger confidence, he says they don’t seem to be sustainable both for firms or the touring public.

“This crisis is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the aviation business,” he says. “We’re dealing with a monster.”

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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All You Need to Know – Wild Junket Adventure Travel Blog

This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission when you purchase through my links, at NO extra cost for you.

Bulgaria is just a three-hour flight from most parts of Europe and it’s incredibly affordable. Yet it remains an under-visited destination in Eastern Europe.

Cost of Travel in Bulgaria

Food in Bulgaria is really affordable, fresh and delicious. A meal in a standard restaurant is usually around US$5-10 including drinks. A pint of beer costs around $1-2.

Expect to pay around $30-50 for a midrange hotel with air conditioning, private bathroom and WiFi. Hotels on the beach are definitely much more expensive, at $70-150 for a four-star hotel.

How to Get to Bulgaria

By Plane

Sofia International Airport is the main gateway to Bulgaria. It’s a small airport but it’s served by most major cities in Europe.

Aeroflot and LOT Polish Airlines fly from New York to Sofia for around US$700-1000 return. You’ll most likely need to transit via Moscow or Warsaw.

Search for Cheap Flights to Bulgaria

By Train

As a landlocked country surrounded by five countries, Bulgaria is easy to get to overland. But most trains tend to be old and shabby, and journey times are usually slower than buses.

By Bus

International Bus Routes to Bulgaria

Country

Departure

Arrival

Duration

Greece

Thessaloniki

Sofia

5-6 hours

Greece

Thessaloniki

Plovdiv

8-9 hours

Macedonia

Skopje

Sofia

6 hours

Macedonia

Ohrid

Sofia

9 hours

Romania

Bucharest

Sofia

9 hours

Romania

Bucharest

Ruse

3 hours

Serbia

Niš

Sofia

3 hours

Serbia

Dimitrovgrad

Sofia

1-2 hours

Turkey

Istanbul

Sofia

10 hours

Turkey

Istanbul

Plovdiv

7 hours

When to Travel Bulgaria

How Long to Travel Bulgaria?

This depends on your interest of course, but two weeks are enough to explore Bulgaria properly and get to know its culture and people.

I spent around a week in Bulgaria on my first trip and 10 days this time. I felt that I actually got to know it really well on my second trip and saw a lot more than on my first trip.

Two-Week Bulgaria Itinerary:

Days 1-3: Sofia

Day 4: Day trip to Seven Rila Lakes & Monastery

Days 5-7: Veliko Tarnovo

Day 8: Day trip to Etara Ethnological Centre

Days 9-10: Varna

Day 11: Day trip to Nessebar

Days 12-13: Plovdiv

Day 14: Sofia

How to Get Around Bulgaria

By Car

In order to drive on Bulgarian roads, you will need to display a vignette sold at petrol stations and post offices. Rental cars hired within Bulgaria should already have a vignette.

Bulgarian drivers can be aggressive and most don’t stick to the speed limit, so just be aware.

Search for Car Rental in Bulgaria!

By Bus

Bus is the fastest and most popular way to get around Bulgaria. There’s a great bus network across the country and distances aren’t that long. You can find many bus and train schedules here.

Here are the main bus companies in Bulgaria:

Biomet — Runs between Sofia and Veliko Târnovo, Varna and Burgas.

Etap-Grup — Another extensive intercity network, with buses between Sofia, Burgas, Varna, Ruse and Veliko Târnovo.

Union-Ivkoni — Links most major towns and many smaller ones, including Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv.

By Train

Traveling by train is the cheapest way to explore the country, even cheaper than taking the bus.

For example, a train ticket from Sofia to Plovdiv costs just US$5 for a two-hour train ride. Although the trains are sometimes old and slow, some of the rail journeys offer beautiful views.

All trains are run by the Bulgarian State Railroad Company. You can buy train tickets online.

Where to Stay in Bulgaria

There is a wide variety of accommodation to choose from in most parts of Bulgaria and they’re much cheaper than in other parts of Europe.

Sofia: Rosslyn Thracia Hotel Sofia

Veliko Tarnovo: Park Hotel Sevastokrator

Varna: Rosslyn Dimyat Hotel Varna

Plovdiv: The Stay Hotel Central Square Plovdiv

Food in Bulgaria

I’m a big fan of Bulgarian food, especially the barbecued meats that are ubiquitous here.

It’s actually quite easy to find vegetarian Bulgarian dishes on nearly every menu, though due to Bulgaria’s love affair with its cheese and dairy products, vegans won’t be so lucky.

There are some Bulgarian staples you need to try:

Shopska salad — A mix of tomatoes, cucumber, sirene cheese

Tarator — A cold yogurt soup made of cucumber and garlic

Kebapche — Known as Kebab in most places, grilled meat with spices

Meshana skara — Mixed grill that typically includes kebapche, kufte, and a skewer of pork meat similar to a souvlaki

Where to Eat in Bulgaria

There are lots of Bulgarian restaurants everywhere, as well as more international offerings in the big cities. I’ve found food to be really food wherever I went.

Here are some of the best places I ate at:

Things to Do in Bulgaria

Explore Sofia’s Old Town

This bike tour is a great way to see all of Sofia’s sights on wheels.

Hike around the Seven Rila Lakes

Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called Salzata (“The Teardrop”) due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth.

If you’re tight on time, you can book a day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia.

Visit the Famous Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The iconic landmark is located close to the Seven Rila Lakes, at 117km (73 miles) from Sofia.

Founded in the 10th century, the monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 – 946 AD), and houses around 60 monks.

You can also combine a visit there with the Seven Rila Lakes. This day tour is affordable and comes with great reviews.

Wander around Veliko Tarnovo

You can also visit Veliko Tarnovo on a day trip from Plovdiv. Get more info here.

Explore the Tsarevets Fortress

Immerse in the Open Air Etara Ethnographic Museum

The park has replicas of traditional houses during that period, as well as water installations and craftsmen workshops. There are also stores selling sweets and artwork from yesteryears.

Visit the new Neofit Rilski Historical Park

For curious travelers, the historical park is a great place to learn about Bulgarian history, from the Neolithic period to the Thracian Civilization and Second Bulgarian Empire.

Relax on Varna’s Beaches

The city is packed with history yet it’s thoroughly modern, with a lush and green seafront park to amble on. Its beach is not too bad to while away a lazy afternoon and enjoy some fresh seafood.

In the city centre you’ll find Bulgaria’s largest Roman baths complex and its finest archaeological museum, as well as a lively cultural and restaurant scene.

Get Lost in the Charming Old Town of Nesebar

The ancient part of Nesebar is located on a peninsula that juts out from the Black Sea coast (previously an island).

Today it’s really popular with tourists especially in summer, so get there early if you want to get lost in its narrow cobblestoned streets.

Soak Up History in Plovdiv

For those short on time, this day tour leads you around Plovdiv, Asen Fortress and Bachkovo Fortress in 1 day.

Language in Bulgaria

Bulgarian is the country’s only official language. Bulgarian is written with Cyrillic, which makes trying to read Bulgarian words quite difficult for most of us.

English isn’t widely spoken in Bulgaria, especially among the older generation. But younger Bulgarians in the big cities tend to speak a bit of English.

Safety in Bulgaria

Most parts of Bulgaria are very safe and I never felt unsafe on both trips there. I traveled solo on my first trip and with my four-year-old daughter on this recent trip.

The only danger that travelers face is theft, primarily from pickpockets. In general, try not to stand out and avoid dark alleys at night if traveling solo.

Practical Tips for Traveling Bulgaria

Within cities, minibuses called marshroutki act like shared taxis and are common in many ex-Soviet countries. You just need to flag them down and buy tickets from the driver.

One thing to note for those traveling with kids, it is allowed to smoke in most places in Bulgaria, even indoors. It can be annoying for non-smokers.

As an ex-Soviet country, Bulgaria still shares a relationship with Russia and many Bulgarians still speak Russian.

I think of Bulgarians as quite similar to Russians. They may not smile a lot and can come across as rude. But give them some time, show that you’re friendly and they’ll eventually warm up to you.

Inspired? Pin it!

source http://cheaprtravels.com/all-you-need-to-know-wild-junket-adventure-travel-blog/

0 notes

topfygad · 5 years ago

Text

All You Need to Know – Wild Junket Adventure Travel Blog

This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission when you purchase through my links, at NO extra cost for you.

Bulgaria is just a three-hour flight from most parts of Europe and it’s incredibly affordable. Yet it remains an under-visited destination in Eastern Europe.

Cost of Travel in Bulgaria

Food in Bulgaria is really affordable, fresh and delicious. A meal in a standard restaurant is usually around US$5-10 including drinks. A pint of beer costs around $1-2.

Expect to pay around $30-50 for a midrange hotel with air conditioning, private bathroom and WiFi. Hotels on the beach are definitely much more expensive, at $70-150 for a four-star hotel.

How to Get to Bulgaria

By Plane

Sofia International Airport is the main gateway to Bulgaria. It’s a small airport but it’s served by most major cities in Europe.

Aeroflot and LOT Polish Airlines fly from New York to Sofia for around US$700-1000 return. You’ll most likely need to transit via Moscow or Warsaw.

Search for Cheap Flights to Bulgaria

By Train

As a landlocked country surrounded by five countries, Bulgaria is easy to get to overland. But most trains tend to be old and shabby, and journey times are usually slower than buses.

By Bus

International Bus Routes to Bulgaria

Country

Departure

Arrival

Duration

Greece

Thessaloniki

Sofia

5-6 hours

Greece

Thessaloniki

Plovdiv

8-9 hours

Macedonia

Skopje

Sofia

6 hours

Macedonia

Ohrid

Sofia

9 hours

Romania

Bucharest

Sofia

9 hours

Romania

Bucharest

Ruse

3 hours

Serbia

Niš

Sofia

3 hours

Serbia

Dimitrovgrad

Sofia

1-2 hours

Turkey

Istanbul

Sofia

10 hours

Turkey

Istanbul

Plovdiv

7 hours

When to Travel Bulgaria

How Long to Travel Bulgaria?

This depends on your interest of course, but two weeks are enough to explore Bulgaria properly and get to know its culture and people.

I spent around a week in Bulgaria on my first trip and 10 days this time. I felt that I actually got to know it really well on my second trip and saw a lot more than on my first trip.

Two-Week Bulgaria Itinerary:

Days 1-3: Sofia

Day 4: Day trip to Seven Rila Lakes & Monastery

Days 5-7: Veliko Tarnovo

Day 8: Day trip to Etara Ethnological Centre

Days 9-10: Varna

Day 11: Day trip to Nessebar

Days 12-13: Plovdiv

Day 14: Sofia

How to Get Around Bulgaria

By Car

In order to drive on Bulgarian roads, you will need to display a vignette sold at petrol stations and post offices. Rental cars hired within Bulgaria should already have a vignette.

Bulgarian drivers can be aggressive and most don’t stick to the speed limit, so just be aware.

Search for Car Rental in Bulgaria!

By Bus

Bus is the fastest and most popular way to get around Bulgaria. There’s a great bus network across the country and distances aren’t that long. You can find many bus and train schedules here.

Here are the main bus companies in Bulgaria:

Biomet — Runs between Sofia and Veliko Târnovo, Varna and Burgas.

Etap-Grup — Another extensive intercity network, with buses between Sofia, Burgas, Varna, Ruse and Veliko Târnovo.

Union-Ivkoni — Links most major towns and many smaller ones, including Sofia, Burgas, Varna, and Plovdiv.

By Train

Traveling by train is the cheapest way to explore the country, even cheaper than taking the bus.

For example, a train ticket from Sofia to Plovdiv costs just US$5 for a two-hour train ride. Although the trains are sometimes old and slow, some of the rail journeys offer beautiful views.

All trains are run by the Bulgarian State Railroad Company. You can buy train tickets online.

Where to Stay in Bulgaria

There is a wide variety of accommodation to choose from in most parts of Bulgaria and they’re much cheaper than in other parts of Europe.

Sofia: Rosslyn Thracia Hotel Sofia

Veliko Tarnovo: Park Hotel Sevastokrator

Varna: Rosslyn Dimyat Hotel Varna

Plovdiv: The Stay Hotel Central Square Plovdiv

Food in Bulgaria

I’m a big fan of Bulgarian food, especially the barbecued meats that are ubiquitous here.

It’s actually quite easy to find vegetarian Bulgarian dishes on nearly every menu, though due to Bulgaria’s love affair with its cheese and dairy products, vegans won’t be so lucky.

There are some Bulgarian staples you need to try:

Shopska salad — A mix of tomatoes, cucumber, sirene cheese

Tarator — A cold yogurt soup made of cucumber and garlic

Kebapche — Known as Kebab in most places, grilled meat with spices

Meshana skara — Mixed grill that typically includes kebapche, kufte, and a skewer of pork meat similar to a souvlaki

Where to Eat in Bulgaria

There are lots of Bulgarian restaurants everywhere, as well as more international offerings in the big cities. I’ve found food to be really food wherever I went.

Here are some of the best places I ate at:

Things to Do in Bulgaria

Explore Sofia’s Old Town

This bike tour is a great way to see all of Sofia’s sights on wheels.

Hike around the Seven Rila Lakes

Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature. The highest one is called Salzata (“The Teardrop”) due to its clear waters that allow visibility in depth.

If you’re tight on time, you can book a day trip to the Seven Rila Lakes from Sofia.

Visit the Famous Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. The iconic landmark is located close to the Seven Rila Lakes, at 117km (73 miles) from Sofia.

Founded in the 10th century, the monastery is named after its founder, the hermit Ivan of Rila (876 – 946 AD), and houses around 60 monks.

You can also combine a visit there with the Seven Rila Lakes. This day tour is affordable and comes with great reviews.

Wander around Veliko Tarnovo

You can also visit Veliko Tarnovo on a day trip from Plovdiv. Get more info here.

Explore the Tsarevets Fortress

Immerse in the Open Air Etara Ethnographic Museum

The park has replicas of traditional houses during that period, as well as water installations and craftsmen workshops. There are also stores selling sweets and artwork from yesteryears.

Visit the new Neofit Rilski Historical Park

For curious travelers, the historical park is a great place to learn about Bulgarian history, from the Neolithic period to the Thracian Civilization and Second Bulgarian Empire.

Relax on Varna’s Beaches

The city is packed with history yet it’s thoroughly modern, with a lush and green seafront park to amble on. Its beach is not too bad to while away a lazy afternoon and enjoy some fresh seafood.

In the city centre you’ll find Bulgaria’s largest Roman baths complex and its finest archaeological museum, as well as a lively cultural and restaurant scene.

Get Lost in the Charming Old Town of Nesebar

The ancient part of Nesebar is located on a peninsula that juts out from the Black Sea coast (previously an island).

Today it’s really popular with tourists especially in summer, so get there early if you want to get lost in its narrow cobblestoned streets.

Soak Up History in Plovdiv

For those short on time, this day tour leads you around Plovdiv, Asen Fortress and Bachkovo Fortress in 1 day.

Language in Bulgaria

Bulgarian is the country’s only official language. Bulgarian is written with Cyrillic, which makes trying to read Bulgarian words quite difficult for most of us.

English isn’t widely spoken in Bulgaria, especially among the older generation. But younger Bulgarians in the big cities tend to speak a bit of English.

Safety in Bulgaria

Most parts of Bulgaria are very safe and I never felt unsafe on both trips there. I traveled solo on my first trip and with my four-year-old daughter on this recent trip.

The only danger that travelers face is theft, primarily from pickpockets. In general, try not to stand out and avoid dark alleys at night if traveling solo.

Practical Tips for Traveling Bulgaria

Within cities, minibuses called marshroutki act like shared taxis and are common in many ex-Soviet countries. You just need to flag them down and buy tickets from the driver.

One thing to note for those traveling with kids, it is allowed to smoke in most places in Bulgaria, even indoors. It can be annoying for non-smokers.

As an ex-Soviet country, Bulgaria still shares a relationship with Russia and many Bulgarians still speak Russian.

I think of Bulgarians as quite similar to Russians. They may not smile a lot and can come across as rude. But give them some time, show that you’re friendly and they’ll eventually warm up to you.

Inspired? Pin it!

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jamieclawhorn · 6 years ago

Text

How low can the easyJet share price go?

Budget airline easyJet (LSE: EZJ) has seen its share price steadily losing altitude over the last few months.

For those committed to adopting a patient buy-and-hold strategy, however, I think the company is rapidly approaching great value.

Upbeat on outlook

Today’s Q4 update was as good as could be expected. Registering a “strong performance” over the period, the business revealed that pre-tax profit for the full year would now be in the “upper half of previous guidance” at between £570m to £580m. That’s despite the £5.3bn-cap continuing to feel the effects of disruption across Europe due to strikes, air traffic restrictions and severe weather.

Passenger numbers for the last 12 months are expected to be 5.4% higher at almost 85m, with total revenue per seat up 6.5% at constant currency. Total reported revenue for the full year, including that from the company’s operations at Berlin Tegel airport, is forecast to be a little less than £5.9bn.

The firm was also optimistic on its outlook, predicting capacity to increase around 10% to roughly 105m seats over 2018/19. Revenue over the first half — October to the end of March — is likely to decrease by “low-to-mid single-digits“, however, following one-off benefits experienced this year (Monarch and Air Berlin going bankrupt, and Ryanair’s infamous period of flight cancellations). Foreign exchange headwinds are also expected to hit pre-tax profit by about £10m.

Perhaps most positively, an improved performance at Tegel over Q4 has led the company to predict that it will break even in Berlin next year.

Losing altitude… for now

Whether easyJet’s share price is likely to recover in the near term is difficult to say, especially given that today’s fairly bullish update looks to have been greeted with an apathetic shrug by the market.

Even news that Ryanair has been forced to cancel 250 flights across Europe, due to pilot and cabin crew strikes, hasn’t helped sentiment.

Findings reasons as to why this might be so isn’t particularly hard.

Clearly, the elephant in the room (Brexit) continues to weigh on investors’ minds. Hard, soft or whatever, the longer negotiations over our EU exit drag on, the more skittish the market is likely to become, particularly with regard to companies that are already operating in hyper-competitive, cyclical industries.

That said, it’s surely the case that at least some of this uncertainty is now firmly priced in.

At a little under 10 times forecast earnings for the next financial year, easyJet’s shares are looking better value by the day. And they’re certainly cheaper compared to rivals Ryanair and Wizz Air — both of whom have also seen their stocks slip over the summer months.

The former is also a great source of dividends. In 2018/19, analysts are forecasting a near-26% hike to the total dividend to 69.5p per share, equating to a bumper 5.25% yield at the current share price. Since neither Ryanair nor Wizz Air return cash to their shareholders, easyJet is a clear winner for income, as well as for value hunters.

Of course, a lot could happen over the next few months to impact on the share price and the security of these cash returns. Nevertheless, with its sound finances, strong brand, and quality management team, I think easyJet should emerge from any turbulence relatively unscathed.

Are You Prepared For Brexit?

Following Brexit, fear and indecision could hurt share prices in the coming months. That’s why the analysts at the Motley Fool have written a free guide called “Brexit: Your 5-Step Investor’s Survival Guide”. To get your copy of the guide, click here now!