5 Recession Busting Tips: Cutting costs on holiday accommodation

In addition to flights costs, holiday and vacation accommodation is the other main expenditure when it comes to booking a holiday domestically or abroad. In these times of recession, we all want to do what we can to trim costs, so what can be done to cut holiday accommodation costs? 5 Tips for you below.

1. Consider booking a Holiday Apartment as opposed to a hotel. Holiday apartment rentals can often accommodate anything from 2 up to 12 people and they offer you the chance to make quite large savings compared to hotels.

2. If you choose the holiday rentals choice then you can also save a lot of money because of the chance to make 1 or 2 of your own meals each day. You may not feel like cooking on holiday but by just having one meal such as breakfast in your holiday accommodation can greatly reduce overall meal costs on holiday.

3. Choosing a holiday apartment rather than a hotel cuts out the temptation to spend on some of the impulse buys. You will most likely be less tempted to money in the hotel shop or mini-bar.

4. Booking early can often mean that you can get better rates. Try and plan in advance if you can.

5. If you are several people you can often cut costs by renting a holiday apartment with more than one room. This can make it much cheaper than staying on a hotel and cuts costs.

Snow delays in the UK (Travel News)

A lot of countries in the North of Europe are experiencing an extreme cold front which has floated across from Russia and is affecting cities including Paris and London. London, England is not used to getting heavy snow and the snow falls are already the heaviest in 18 years.

So if you are travelling in the UK right now or have something booked for the next 48 hours, be sure to check the appropiate website. Several flights have been cancelled so be sure to check with your airline and also check the airport website via the BAA (British Airports Authority).

Other useful resources include: BBC Travel news for up-to-date road, trains and airports news. Snow News - Up-to-date news reports on snow falls and also ski resorts.

If you are in or travelling to the UK and not worried about the snow and simply just need to know how to build a decent snowman, then the How to Build a perfect snowman article is worth reading!

Flights Costs - Cutting costs

With the recession affecting us all, cutting the flights costs means that we can maintain costs for quality travel accommodation. There are numerous airlines worldwide which offer affordable and budget style flights and below we look at Europe in this blog.

Ryanair continue to be one of the biggest budget airlines worldwide and they fly to numerous locations within Europe. London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome and Dublin for example are all cities used by Ryanair. Ryanair also fly into many smaller airports and cities and the fares are competitive. The downside for Ryanair are that there is no seat allocation and also that when you process the booking there are add-ons such as for extra bags and priority seating.

Easyjet offer bookings in any one of about 20 languages including in Lativian, Turkish, Catalan and Slovenian impressively. Destinations wise they fly to many of the same airlines which Ryanair do but you do get seat allocation wth Easyjet (which personally makes the difference to me). Neither offer free meals on-board.

Vueling.com are a Spanish based budget airline and they have some excellent fares between different places in Spain and also outside of Spain. Their fares are competitive and are worth checking.

Air Berlin in Germany also offer flights across Europe although their speciality is flights within Germany. In Easterm Europe also consider Sky Europe.

Travelling to and within the UK (London Spotlight)

With the British Pound a weak currency at the moment, this is a great time to either travel to the UK or travel within it (if you already live here). There are so many excellent attractions, locations and venues that you are spolit for choice.

If you are interested in castles and history there is much to see. If you love sports, concerts, architecture, art or shopping on holiday, you will easily find something in the UK to suit your interest. This blog I am going to focus on 5 must see things in London.

1. The British Museum is one of the top museums in the world and the collections one of the largets in the world. The Egyptian Gallery, Roman Mysteries and Chinese bronzes are just a few of the exhibition often on display.

2. The London Eye is a relatively new and a very momumental attractions which has now become a part of the London skyline. The London Eye is in effect, a big wheel which rotated and gives you a wonderful view of London.

3. A Premiership Football game is not everyone's cup of tea so to say, but it is something a lot of tourist like to do. You have a choice of clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham, Spurs and West Ham, all based in London.

4. If art if your thing then the Saatchi Gallery is well worth a visit and its easy to spend a few hours enjoying the various works.

5. For the music lover there are numerous places to go. For Jazz the Jazz Cafe, for pop the O2 Arena or for classical there are many venues in the city.

Travel News: Entering the U.S and visas

If you are planning to visit the United States in the near future, it is very important that you are aware of the new online visa entry system. You could otherwise find yourself joining the queue of people being rejected from entry to the U.S. If you are applying for the I-94 (the green form you used to fill out on arriving in the States) you now need to now apply online and to do so at least seventy-two hours before you start your trip.

There is no cost associated with the application BUT it must be done before you arrive in the U.S. and you seriously take the chance of being turned away by U.S. immigration if you do not use this new visa system. Travel agents and airlines are likely to warn you of this new visa requirement when you make your booking.

Not every country is involved in this new visa system although the UK is one of those involved. Ther new system goes by the name of Esta (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) and the reason for the new system is to give U.S. Immigration time to do ID checks.

If you travel to the U.S. via another country such as Canada you are still likely to need Esta so make sure to check first before travelling. The good news is that once you apply for Esta it lasts for 2 years. You can learn more via https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ .

Property market stays strong in Cyprus

The Cyprus property market continues to stay strong, with thousands of properties being bought up. Cyprus is attracting both investors and retirees and from many countries including UK, Ireland, Germany and many other European countries.

Valerie Jones, a regular visitor to the islands reports that "..the island provide a perfect match of great weather, relatively low crime, decent education system and up until now at least, affordable housing. And English is widely spoken which does make it easier whilst learning or trying to learn Cyriot".

The Cyprus property market shows no signs of lettign up at least in the short term future, with many olders couples looking to move and enjoy the good life. Prices are rising but not any faster than many other EU countries thus the growth has been relative and is still affordable at this time. Hundreds of British people continue to buy up real estate in Cyprus, especially in areas such as Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia although people are gradually considering areas such as Famagusta.

3 New Travel Ideas for 2009

If you are looking to travel and do something a little bit different for 2009 then this list is for you. Below are 3 ideas for travel with a difference for the coming year.

1. Attend the Elvis Festival - Annually in Virginia Beach, USA. Viva Elvis takes place over a few days on the beach front area and the festival includes:

• Sky Diving Elvis's (who land on the beach)
• El Vis (The Spanish Elvis in concert)
• Over 50 Elvis performances from impersonators

You can learn more about the festival via http://www.virginia.org/ from around March of each year.

2. Visit the Radish Festival in Mexico - Oaxaca is always worth visiting whether there is a radish festival on or not, but the with the Radish festival also on, well, why not. The radish festival is free and takes place on 23rd December each year, so if you are there, its on today!!! There are many stalls, food vendors and just a great Xmas atmosphere and it is well worth visiting if you are in Oaxaca.

3. Join in the Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea. - There are strange and interesting festivals which take place each year in South Korea. The Boryeong Mud Festival involves a number of people rolling around in the mud baths and enjoying the healing properties of the local mud. This festival is a lot of fun.

Travel and 2009

Looking towards 2009, if you are looking for a good travel book for 2009 then my favourite and the one I would recommend is the Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2009. It is an excellent guide to new and interesting destinations worldwide and looks great on a coffee table.

For locations for 2009, a few the team at Holiday Velvet recommend are:

• Dubai
• San Fransisco
• Phuket

Dubai is becoming more affordable to travel to and the facilities excellent. San Fransisco and Phuket are traditional favourites but remain two key places worth visiting. What destinations do you recommend for 2009? Where are you heading. Send us your comments!

Travel Videos for Christmas (More stocking fillers)

Having talked in recent blog posts about books and useful travel accessories which can make for vey good Xmas gifts, this time a look at 3 Travel DVDs which also might make for great gifts and which are affordable. Below my 3 favourites:

1. Francesco's Venice : Complete BBC Series is a series which many of you may have been watching via the BBC in recent weeks. This excellent series follows the filmmaker Francesco da Mosta, through Venice as he discovers the historical side of Venice, as well as a look at modern day Venice. The series is fantastic for anyone interested in both history and travel.

2. Full Circle by Michael Palin is another excellent travel related DVD and was also a TV series. More than 550 minutes in length, this DVD offers hours of viewing. Palin travels fifty thousand miles as he circles the worlds largest ocean and his trip takes him through countries including South Korea, Russia, China, Borneo, Indonesia and Australia. This is easy viewing and full of interesting places.

3. Wild China is another very highly related travel DVD and one which is I personally found fascinating. This DVD covers a detailed and excellent look in depth at China, including the natural wonders, the people and the culture. This is well worth buying. Send us your comments with your Travel DVD favourites.

Travel Accessories for Xmas Stocking Fillers

Following on from our very popular post last week about Travel books to add for Christamas stocking fillers, this time a look at some very good Travel accessories which can make for very good Xmas stocking fillers.

A Gorillapod is a brilliant gift which costs approx. £10 ($15) and is available on sites such as Amazon and various travel sites. The Gorillapod is a camera tripod which can clasp itself to pretty much anything which its bendable, rotatable and gripable joints. This in my view is a wonderful gift.

Travel Essentials in a Bottle is a handy gift if you have a friend or know someone who will be doing a lot of travelling. This gift which costs about £10 ($15) includes a waterproof pouch, Combo lock,
neck pillow and polycarbonate bottle.

Companies such as Eagle Creek also have a number of very interesting travel products which are well priced and extremely handy and good for Xmas gifts. Send us your own travel ideas with comments on this blog.

Travel Books for Xmas stocking fillers

Christmas is almost upon us and it is time to buy presents for family and friends. Books can be handy presents as they are fairly cheap and also with online retailers such as Amazon, reductions are big. Over the next 3 blog posts we'll be looking at 12 travel books to buy for Christmas presents.

1. A Journey Through Every Country in the World (Lonely Planet) is a very interesting book which is by Lonely Planet and looks at the whole world with a lot of images. This is full of great information and you cannot go wrong with this book as a gift.

2. The Backpacker's Bible Revised Edition is another excellent book and aimed at backpackers, there are many wonderful tips. If you have a son or daugther who are planning a year out of university, this is a great stocking filler.

3. Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapuscinski is a slightly heavier book mentally to read but if you want a good read then this book about how how Kapuscinski travelled countries such as India and China is excellent.

Coming in the next blog another 3 blogs.

Send us your travel books suggestions! Add you comment to this blog.

What's Hot

The Hot Destinations for rentals changes according to season and world affairs and its interesting to see how new places come into the fold and others drop away. Below the Hot 5 Destinations at the moment.

1. NYC always shows popularity this time of year with Christmas edging closer and with Xmas shopping trips very popular. Despite the low Pound Sterling and Euro currencies, bookings for NYC apartments continue to be strong. If you are in NYC this Xmas season, Macy's, Central Park and the Empire State are 3 places I'd strongly recommend.

2. London for similar reasons, has been showing a lot of activity in terms of London holiday rentals with shopping another reason for the popularity if this city at this time. Retail sales are lower than normal with the economic situation but people still seem to be booking holiday rentals.
3. Koh Samui has shown a lot of activitiy lately, especially for villa rentals. Many of you seem keen to grab some sun over the winter months.

4. Amalfi Coast rentals have shown a surge in recent months. Many of you seem keen to taste some Italian food and culture.

5. Barcelona continues to be popular and this city offers visitors something to do whatever the weather so it is no suprise.

Where are you off to on holiday. Where else is hot in terms of popularity worldwide in your view? Send us your blog comments!

World Travel Market 2008

Do not forget that the World Travel Market starts today and runs through to Thursday evening, in the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London, England. If you are in London in the next few days, this travel exhibition is one of the leading travel shows worldwide and the exhibition offers you the chance to:

• Taste food from around the world
• Hear presentations and attend workshops on a number of travel related themes
• Meet travel health experts to learn about innoculations
• Learn about specific countries.

The annual World Travel Market is an excellent show and it is open to the trade and public and this show is an event where many travel trade people attend. Travel Vacation rentals, Airlines, Currency Exchange, Executive Cars, Tour Operators and Travel accessory sellers are just a few of the sectors who will be in attendance.

If you are in London, the Excel Centre is quite easy to get to, with the London Underground. You can learn more about the show from the official event site at www.wtmlondon.com

Reducing Transportation Costs

In order to have the money spare to stay at your holiday or vacation location in luxury, you might want to reduce your transportation costs. Reducing the train, coach and airlines costs means for example that if you are renting a London holiday apartment, you can stay in a good location with all the necessary amenties and facilities. So how you can reduce the transportation costs?

Using London, England as an example, there are some excellent deals you can find online to reduce your transportation costs, to free up money and keep you budget sensible and still stay in quality accommodation.

For Train Fares from £1 MegaTrain.com sometimes have some incredible deals and their partner site, Megabus.com offer equally cheap coach fares across Britain. The coaches have been upgraded in the last year and they ten to provide more leg-room than the main UK coach company, National Express. National Express also offer their own discounted fares and call them Funfares.

There are a number of Budget airlines within the UK and the most affordable and comfortable way to travel between some cities is by an airline such as Easyjet. Travelling between Newcastle or Edinburgh and the South West is now made far quicker and easier.

If you are not so worried about reducing the transportation costs and just want all out luxury then using a chauffeur driven executive car hire form can be a good bet.

NYC and a weak Pound Sterling

The wild fluctuations in the currency markets in recent weeks has meant that holiday prices in many respects change. It is now suddenly cheaper for all of you in the States to visit England for example. The falling value of the British Pound and stronger Dollar to the Pound Sterling means that coming from the U.S. to the UK rather is now increasingly viable.

For British and European Travellers to the United States, there are still ways though that you can make travelling to the States affordable. Some tips for cutting costs for visiting cities such as New York this Xmas are:

1. Try and avoid Xmas week. Can you travel at the start of December for your Xmas trip to NYC for example?

2. Make sure to take advantage or flight comparison sites to get the best flights.

3. Similarly, do not limit yourself to hotels. Vacation apartment rentals in NYC often a viable and cost-effective alternative to hotel stays.

4. Explore. Areas such as China Town in NYC offers some excellently prices restaurants. Even on Broadway a restaurant such as La Caridad will feed two people for less than $30 (about £18).

5. Take advantage of all the free attractions. Take a walk around Central Park, walk along Broadway, enjoy the weekend markets in China Town, get lost and have fun in Greenwich village.

You can read me NYC Travel ideas online and to check the latest Currency Rates for travellers, Xe.com is very good.

Copying documents: Travel Tips for travellers

Backing up a copy of your travel documents and accessing wordlwide: There is one very simple thing that I always do before travelling and which is so simple yet can save you a lot of trouble in the future.

If you ever have your passport or any other important travel documents stolen, having easy access from anywhere in the world to print a photocopy of the documents will make replacing the originals much easier. The trick is very simple:

• Scan a copy of your passport and documents onto a computer.


• Email a copy of the digital copies of the travel documents to a web based email account. (By web based this means an email account you can access from anywhere worldwide and example are Yahoo and Hotmail email accounts.

All you then need to do if you need to print a copy of the travel documents, whether you are in Peru, Rome or Sydney is go to an Internet cafe or the conceirge in a hotel and go to your web based email account and print a copy.

Flybe Airline named Britains best airlines

There will be a lot of smiles in the offices of Flybe this morning with this small airline being named number 1 of the top 250 mid-market private companies in the UK by the Sunday Times.

Despite these troubled economic times, Flybe are in an excellent position with cash reserves of almost £70 million pounds sterling and with passenger numbers significantly up in the last 12 months. The passenger number increases reflect Flybe's purchase from British Airways of BA Connect. Flybe target small and remotely located airports and with a good number of business travellers, Flybe look to be in a very stable position.

In a time when some people worry about airlines going out of business, Flybe look to be one of the safest and most prosperous airlines in the business. Flybe fly to a number of destinations incuding Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Geneva and Paris.

The New York City Marathon

On the first Sunday of November (November 2nd), it is time again for the popular New York City Marathon. This marathon was first organized in 1970. It starts at Staten Island and goes over the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Brooklyn.

Amateurs and also professional athletes run for more than 6 million dollars worth of price money. Or maybe even for the 2 million viewers that standing are along the track and screaming and shouting the contestants to the finish line and they expect that 315 million viewers will be watching in front of their TV.

Most people say that it is a great marathon to compete in or even as a bystander to watch it. For more information you can visit: http://www.nycmarathon.org/

Protecting yourself on Holiday: Travel Insurance

Apart from protecting yourself from the sun with some high factor sun-cream, protecting yourself with a good travel insurance policy and also protecting your travel costs are worth considering.

For Travel Insurance, if you are European and legible do not forget to apply for free your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – which recently replaced the E111 over. If you are from certain member states in the E.U. you have a certain amount of healthcare cover for free with this card.

Buying Travel Insurance can be a minefield and prices vary greatly. If you travel often then why not consider an Annual Travel Insurance policy? It could work out for cheaper if you do it this way. To cross check the various Travel Insurance policies I would recommend using www.moneysupermarket.com/travelinsurance

For deciding whether or not to purchase Annual Travel Insurance or a Single Policy, check the exact wording of the policy before buying. In general though, an Annual Policy allows you to travel for up 60 days in a year and you normally need to be staying in prepaid accommodation.
Thinking of travelling to Dubai to escape the winter blues? You can now book Dubai apartments with Holiday Velvet.

Travel news Updates

Just to update you on a few travel matters.

Do not forget that if you book flights with your credit card, you are more likely to be protected if an airine went out of business. If you are living in the UK for example, Section 75 in the consumer protection charter means that for fees over £100, the credit card takes some of the liability. Try and pay for travel services over £100 on our credit card if you can (although make sure you have a way to pay off the credit card).

Weather in some Northern European countries and across parts of the United States has been quite poor lately, with storms and hurricanes and a shortage of sunshine. In Europe, cities such as Barcelona are perfect at this time of year, with the city less crowded than in the peak of summer and with temperatures around 28 celcuis. In the States cities such as Virginia Beach can still be very pleasant and relaxed at this time of year.

If you haven't already seen the site, moneysavingexpert.com is a great resources for budget a flights. You can check flights from £1 and up, including to cities such as Rome, Barcelona and Venice.

On the holiday rentals front, Holiay Velvet now offer last minute deals and some offers recently have inclued for Rome accommodation rentals, Barcelona luxury apartments and Venice Rialto apartments.