Cheap Travel Today

If you’ve set your heart on Europe for your summer travel getaway, don’t miss the chance to visit some of the cities, towns, and beaches that are off-the-beaten path and offer some fresh new experiences. While you can spend a good amount of time exploring some of Europe’s most well-known landmarks and tourist attractions, you’ll also find a handful of destinations beyond the tourist trail that are ripe for exploring. Many of these hotspots aren’t even on the typical tourist guidebook map but are frequented by locals during the long summer months. Here’s where you’ll find some unique and fun summer travel destinations in Europe:Smuggler’s Cove in Greece When you’re visiting the area of Zakynthos in Greece, don’t miss the private beaches in Smuggler’s Cove. This is located on the island but is easy to sail by on a typical trip. You’ll find a shipwreck in the middle of the beach and the beaches here are completely white with clear waters. Head here for a few hours of snorkeling a...

If you just want to break away and enjoy a relaxing or adventurous trip on your own this season, consider heading off to a destination that caters to solo travelers. Several venues around the globe are perfect for singles or solo travelers looking for a journey through nature, a few days of rest and relaxation on the beach, or even a history lesson. You can plan a fun and exciting trip to really get away from it all and celebrate your freedom and independence. Here’s a closer look at some of the top destinations for solo travelers:United Kingdom With its myriad of small towns, villages, and bustling cities, solo travelers will find plenty to see and do in any given season. You will find it very easy to hop from town to town by bus or rail, and can even make a cross-country trip within a few hours. Whether you’re traveling on a tight budget and enjoying a backpacking adventure through Europe, or want to break away and enjoy the luxury lifestyle in the city, you’ll be in for an un...

The United States boasts more than 84 million acres of national parkland that offer a variety of opportunities for recreational activities, hiking, and nature walks. If you’re in the mood for some outdoor adventures and thrills, don’t miss the chance to visit some of the country’s most scenic natural attractions and venues that offer plenty of opportunities for adventure. Whether you’re interested in hiking, trail walking, nature photography, or want to see some native animals in their natural habitat, take your pick of several national parks scattered around the country. Here’s where you’ll find some of the best U.S. National Parks for adventure seekers:Everglades National Park, Florida Ready for a kayaking adventure you’ll never forget? Head to Everglades National Park in Florida to explore the mangroves, forests, and nature trails. This park encompasses 1.5 million acres of land and water, and is home to a variety of alligators, crocodiles, and endangered species. You can ta...

If you’re ready for an exciting travel experience and don’t want to head to yet another resort or tourist trap for your getaway, plan an adventure trip you’ll never forget. Every once in a while it’s a good idea to go for the ‘wow’ factor with that excursion and do something that you’ve never been bold or daring enough to do. Whether you want to go on a cruise or just spend a few days trekking through the rainforest, there’s an adventure waiting for you. Here are some adventure trips to add to your summer travel itinerary: Ride the Curasub in the Caribbean Take yourself on an undersea adventure in the Caribbean on board the Curasub at Substation Curacaco. This five-person mini-submarine will take you 1,000 feet below the Caribbean Sea for an underwater experience you’ll never forget. It’s a great way to explore the beautiful waters without getting wet, and you’ll enjoy 90 minutes of exploring with visibility up to 60 feet. Trip to ToroVerde Adventure Park If you’ve eve...

Driving south on Highway 75, a sign greets travelers, ‘Welcome to Stanley: Gateway to the Sawtooth Wilderness.” Gazing up from the sign reveals a spread of mountains that would leave Ansell Adams spellbound behind his lens for weeks on end. The Sawtooth range rises from the green meadows of central Idaho, their craggy peaks mingling amongst the clouds of the western sky. The small western town is home to 100 year round residents though the population swells to more than 1,000 on busy summer days. Surrounded by wilderness and national forest, the Stanley basin serves as a hub for outdoor recreation. Mountain bikers and motorcyclists explore the vast network of trails in the White Cloud National forest to the south east of Stanley proper. To the southwest lie to majestic and craggy peaks of the Sawtooth wilderness, beckoning hikers to some of the most magnificent glacially sculpted landscapes in the Western United States. The Salmon River runs through town and several outfitters off...

A lesson in customer service: The Cambodian laundry Outside the laundry shop, Phnom Penh I dont know what it is about travelling, but we seem to be particularly aware of the extreme levels of service when we are away from home. We all have stories of the appallingly bad; whether it is imcompetence, incomprehension or service given with added undiluted hostility. Occasionally though we also experience the very highest standards of service, and often its found in the places where we least expect it. One such case for us was in the suburb of Phnom Penh where we staying over Christmas. We were overdue for a laundry day, and needless to say the hotel we were staying in was not an option (it would have come to around $50; exactly what we paid for a nights stay). Walking through the neighbourhood we didnt find any of the $1/1kg laundry signs that were so prevalent in the tourist hot-spots of Laos. But we did find a place that looked as though they might wash our clothes (a general s...

Brunei and the art of throwing fish Earlier this month I spent four days in Brunei to research a nature-focussed article Id been commissioned to write. Despite (or because of) my very short exposure to Brunei, its social structures and its people I left the country with many unanswered questions. I entered Brunei with media accreditation and as a result I was hosted very generously by the state tourism office, so my interactions with the Bruneians I met have to be viewed with this in mind. Benevolent dictator? Brunei is about as far from a democracy as its possible to be. The Sultan is in absolute charge of the country he appoints the senior members of his government and can remove them at will. The Sultan is himself the Prime Minister and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. According to the Constitution of Brunei, His Majesty the Sultan can do no wrong in either his personal or any official capacity. The citizens of Brunei do not...

In defence of French hospitality Restaurant in Honfleur, Normandy In the UK we grow up with a love-hate relationship with our Gallic neighbours. We love to hate them, and tell countless jokes at their expense. Im fairly sure its mutual. Travelling to Paris several times in my teenage years, the stereotype of the rude arrogant Frenchman was reinforced, as we were looked down upon and offered the worst in service. But in recent years weve visited France many years and have come to appreciate the fact not only does it offer so many great places to visit as a tourist, but the people are actually, well, very hospitable. Having just returned from a few days in Normandy, I was once again impressed by the high standards of service and the warm welcome that we received at every stop. There are certain things that are worth remembering. Firstly, Ive found that it always pays to make an effort at speaking in French. My ability to converse in French is very limited, but for restaurants...

Bayeux tapestry I went to visit the Bayeux tapestry when I was 15. Booooooring! I have a vague recollection of wandering through the darkened room in which it is hung, but Im fairly sure my main aim was to get out into the sun as quickly as possible. What interest could an ancient wall-hanging possibly hold for a teenage boy? Fast forward 26 years, and I was there again last week, travelling with my wife and making a detour to Bayeux for the purpose of visiting the famous tapestry on our way through Normandy. And how different it was this time! Its the same building, probably the same audio commentary, although the computer graphics in the hall upstairs are no doubt new. But I was fascinated by the accounts of King Edward of England, of Harold going to France and signing over England to William the Bastard (as he was then known), and how his breaking of that oath led to the Norman invasion of England. The Bayeux tapestry tells the story of this turbulent period...

Having focussed much of our efforts of our trip to northern France on reaching Mont St Michel, I then looked at a map of the nearby area and wondered where we might take a drive. The city of St Malo appealed, not least when I took a look at its shape on Google Earth and saw its perfectly formed old city, contained neatly within a high city wall. St Malo it was to be! St Malo city wall Around 50 km from Mont St Michel, St Malo holds a strategic position on the north west coast. Ferries sail to the Channel Islands and across to England, but in years gone by this was a vital sea port for the French, and was almost destroyed by fire in 1944 during the liberation battles that were fought along this entire coastline. Old stone houses typical of St Malo We arrived in mid-morning, and headed straight for a croissant and coffee. Before 11am the sun stays well hidden behind the high walls of the tall buildings, and the long shadows keep the morning cool and breezy. Speaking of t...

La Vieille Bourse, Lille Planning a day trip from London? 90 minutes from the capital by train can take you to some interesting cities: Bristol, Southampton, Winchester, Canterbury, Stratford are just a few options. Until recently however, you would not have considered a French destination. All this changed with the introduction of the high speed line that takes the Eurostar from London St Pancras to a long black hole under the Channel in less than 40 minutes. Lille is now perfectly accessible as the first major French city on the Brussels line, and is reached around 30 minutes after emerging on French soil. La Grand Place, Lille Lille is the centre of an industrial region and does not rank highly among the French tourist hotspots. While it may lack the surrounding beauty and interest of southern France, the city of Lille itself has enough to keep a visitor entertained for a day and probably a weekend. Its a laid back city, and having been three times and arrived eac...

Disturbing wolf, Lille Zoo Imagine coming face to face with this creature? I was calmly munching on my baguette when I turned round and caught sight of this monster lurking in the bushes. Well, I was so shocked I almost dropped my delicious snack. When youre in France for a day trip you should be prepared for almost anything. But this? Welcome to the eerie, slightly unnerving and utterly splendid cardboard zoo of Lille. Le Parc Zoologique de Lille is a very impressive municipal zoo and easily reached by a 15 minute walk from the citys main square. It does have some real animals too; in fact Ive paid to enter zoos that are considerably smaller. The red pandas at the entrance are a crowd pleaser, and the American and African sections provide a selection of alpacas, llamas, rhino, zebras and gazelle-shaped creatures (not all mixed together obviously). Levitating lynx But its the cardboard animals that caught our imagination. They are scattered around the park, sometimes occ...

Crap travel diaries: a naive teenager in Paris Id had a bad day. And to top it off, here I was in a pastel pink Parisian hotel room, complete with a frilly lamp and that textured wallpaper that a previous generation had considered the height of interior design chic. There was no TV and no view from the dirty window. I was only 19 and it wasnt meant to be like this. Why was I feeling homesick after less than two days away? Id left Nottingham only 36 hours before, waving cheerily to my anxious parents and telling them that Id be back in a couple of months. I took the bus across town and walked along the service lane to Trowell Services on the M1 the point from which most of my hitchhiking adventures had begun. It was the end of my first year at university and I was full of anticipation; I might make it to Greece or Spain, perhaps even down to Turkey where Id travelled by train only a couple of months before. I had no money for an Inter-Rail this time around; a minor detail and...

We spent yesterday walking the streets of Paris and visiting the famous spots weve had the pleasure to see many times before. Paris is choc-full of instantly recognisable monuments and symbols, and on a sunny day is a photographers dream. Add to the mix tens of thousands of tourists on any one day and you get the inevitable: people stopping at every street corner, by every fountain and in front of every building to strike another pose and add yet another image to their over-burdened data cards. Having observed with interest the lengths (and in some cases the depths) to which people will go to create that memorable photo, I was drawn to photograph those people who were taking the photos. Heres a little selection of my own pictures, giving a snapshot of the photographers out on the Paris streets yesterday. Did they really put these pillars there for this? Yes, I think they did See a statue with a strange expression? Only one thing to do! The sly photographer trying no...

We had rushed out of our hotel in Nice to make it to the station in time. In our haste we had left our passports in the room. I sat on the train for the 20 minute journey feeling annoyed with myself. Would I regret this? We were entering another country after all. Surely Monaco would not have strict border controls in place that would send us back to our hotel? We neednt have worried. Getting off the train in Monaco is much like any other station on the French railway system. Within a few moments of emerging from the stations underground tunnels we were at the waterfront, surrounded by some of the worlds largest, swankiest yachts. Monaco is one of the small group of six European principalities and on the face of it has no reason to be a stand-alone nation. It is the worlds second smallest country (after Vatican City), stretching less than two miles from end to end and extending inland only half a mile from its picturesque shoreline. Yet its independence from its only neighbour Fr...