Cheap Holiday Destinations to escape the EURO!!!

So where will it be for your October holidays?

Over the last year the value of the Euro has increased dramatically with you now getting about 122 Euros for £100.

This is making it more and more expensive to visit Europe, and pay for goods and services in the Euro Zone.

Now's the time to start thinking about alternative destinations:

Let us know of any good value countries you have visited by adding a comment.

Here's a few to get you thinking:

Budapest - Excellent hotels, coffee shops, and history with cheap flights!

Croatia - An attractive island-hopping option is the sun drenched Dalmatian coast of Croatia.

Although Dalmatia has been steadily gaining in popularity in recent years, it's still possible to take advantage of the pound-stretching Kuna and enjoy the warm peach architecture and the Italian influenced cuisine for less.
Istanbul is one of the world's best kept secrets.

How about Istanbul?

For sightseers the Hagia Sophia church, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace rival the Colloseum and the Pantheon in terms of impressiveness.

One of the best ways to get around is by ferry which costs less than a pound and offers panoramic views of the city to be enjoyed while sipping Turkish black tea onboard.

The modern part of town offers sophisticated nightlife and quality restaurants, where paying with Turkish Lira you'll struggle to spend the equivalent of a ten pounds for a meal.

Afterwards you might even want to even try smoking a hookah pipe like the locals do, commonly called 'hubbly-bubbly'.

Morocco

Morocco is about as far away from Europe as you can get for a 3 1/2 hour flight, and with charter flights flying direct to Marrakech prices are very competitive.

If Barcelona has Las Ramblas, Marrakech has Djemaa el Fna, the famous square where all manner of street performers entertain onlookers, which is surrounded by a maze of shopping markets - don't forget to haggle!

If the crowds get too much, retire to one of the city's lush riads or indulge in world class beauty treatments at a sliver of the cost in the UK.

Crave the beach? The coastal resort of Essaouira is only a day trip away.

Bulgaria rather than Nice!

The Cote D'Azur is renowned for ritzy glamour, but at a cost - get beachside opulence at a fraction of the price at Varna, known as the Bulgarian Riviera and the country's summer capital.

Millions of savvy sun seekers head to the region each year, where popular beachside resorts like Golden Sands and Sunny Beach provide exactly what their names suggest.

As a major shopping and nightlife hub take advantage of the Bulgarian Lev which will be phased out in favour of the Euro by 2010.

Another plus is not having to deal with notoriously prickly French service; however expect some culture clash as in Bulgaria a nod of the head means no and a shake means yes!

Finally Tunisia

Just a 3 hour flight from the UK, and with cheap package deals being widely available, its little wonder that Tunisia has become an increasingly popular holiday destination.

While it offers a taste of North African exoticism with desert landscapes and colourful markets in easy reach of Mediterranean beaches, it is also one of the more liberal Islamic countries and alcohol is widely available.

It's safe to expect hot weather all year round (high summer is perhaps too hot for some) and popular beach resorts offering water sports and reputable golf courses.

Visit Sky Travel at wwwtravel.sky.com for more information and also cheap deals.

Save £547.50 per year!

Just take a minute to stop and think how much you spend each year on bottled water!

Lets say that you buy 1 bottle of water each day from a motorway service station. You could easily end up paying almost £600 a year for bottled water. This doesn't include bigger bottles for the house and your water rates!

Your granny would be turning in her grave at the thought of (1) the waste of money and (2) the waste of plastic

Why not dump your bottle today and purchase a reusable water bottle. I have done a bit of research and there's a reusable bottle, complete with a built in filter available at the Guardian's online shop. Click here to check it out



Have a look at Think Outside the Bottle.org
It's the simple things that make all the difference both to your pocket and to the environment. Buy a bottle now!

Can you believe this one!

We have a right Canny Squirrel in our midst.

How's about this for a thrifty tip that was sent to the mailbox - still within the legal limits me thinks!!

Remember to take butter portions, tomato ketchup and other condiment sachets from hotels, and fast food takeaways - ideal for picnics, or for your dinner parties if you are really thrifty!

You get even more if you order room service!!!

Just make sure your bag doesn't fall open spilling your goods all over the floor at reception!

Don't be left out if you take the bus!!

Today has been save money on travel day with tips on saving money on petrol and on rail travel.

I have done a bit of research into buses and the deals that National Express provide.
They have a couple of good deals at the moment:

SAVE 30% - National Express - Young Person's Coach Card
You need to be between 16 and 26 and a full time student. You can save up to 30% on coach journeys in the UK. Visit National Express and go to "ways to save.

ALSO Get 25% OFF Eurolines Discount Card

National Express Europe

If you're a frequent traveller, or if you're exploring Europe, you'll be able to take advantage of a fantastic discount every time you travel, with a Eurolines Discount Card. Choose from:

Three month card: £19

Six month card: £29

You'll get a 25% discount every time you travel for the duration of the card!

To purchase your Eurolines Discount Card, simply visit National Express by clicking on the above title.

Cut pounds off your rail travel costs

There are lots of Railcard deals available that could save you ££££. We have researched the main 5 deals available. Click on the link at the bottom for more information or to apply.

Firstly, if you're aged between 16 and 25, or in full time education, you could make great savings on rail fares.

Get a Young Persons Railcard for just £24 and you'll get an incredible 1/3 off rail fares for a whole year!


Secondly, if you are travelling with kids? You can make massive savings with a Family Railcard. Up to 4 adults and 4 children can travel together, and you don't even have to be related.
Get a Family Railcard and for just £24 adults get 1/3 off rail travel and kids 60% off - for a whole year!

Next, if you're over 60 you could soon be falling in love with the magnificent savings on rail fares.
Buy a Senior Railcard for just £24 and you'll get 1/3 off Standard and First Class for a whole year.

Also, if you are a disabled person, you could save 1/3 on most Standard and First Class rail fares for you and one adult travelling with you.

A Disabled Person's Railcard costs just £18 for one year or £48 for three years.

Finally travel by train in South East England for leisure purposes, with a Network Railcard you could be saving on your train fares.

It costs just £20 and you can save 1/3 on rail fares in South East England. Save 60% on children's fares too.

Visit here for Young Persons, Family, Senior, DisabledPerson and Network Railcards.

Canny Travel Tip!

How often have you been "stung" for that essential can of coke or snickers from the hotel Mini-bar. Some hotels charge £3.50 for a KIT KAT and £4.50 for a can of coke!
Make sure that you plan ahead and take some supplies with you or purchase en route.

If you forget or don't have the opportunity then simply take an easily replaceable item, like a can of coke or a chocolate bar. That way you can always pick up replacements when you are out sightseeing.

If your mini bar charges automatically to your room, remember to mention to reception that you didn't use the product and that the charge should be refunded.
Hotels never argue and will happily cancel charges off your bill.

Thanks to a canny squirrel in London for emailing this tip in!!!