Whether you are
happy or in the tight situation, travelling is one of the best ways to get rid
of hassle. But it also doesn’t mean go anywhere, pick smartly and carefully so
that you and your pocket both be happy.
Greek Islands
Greece has had a
tough few years, with harsh austerity measures, soaring unemployment and
demonstrations hitting the world’s headlines. For a place that thrives on
tourists – whether the kind that parties on sunburnt islands or hoovers up ancient
culture – this is bad news. But Greece still does what it’s done brilliantly
for generations. What’s missing are visitor numbers from previous years, and
prices have come down in an attempt to woo them back. Combined with the chance
to explore Greece’s more popular sites with fewer visitors, this means that in
2014 it offers remarkable value.
By plane – Athens'
Elefthérios Venizélos International Airport, near the Athens suburb of Spáta,
is the country's largest, busiest airport and main hub, handling over 15
million passengers annually as of 2006. Other major international airports in
terms of passenger traffic are, in order of passengers served per year,
Heraklion (Nikos Kazantzákis Int'l), Thessaloniki (Makedonia Int'l), Rhodes
(Diagóras), and Corfu (Ioánnis KapodÃstrias).
By train – Due to the bad
economic situation Greek railways has suspended all international trains since
13 February 2011.
By car – Greece can be
entered by car from any of its land neighbours. From Italy, ferries will
transport cars to Greece. From Western Europe, the most popular route to Greece
was through Yugoslavia. Following the troubles in the former Yugoslavia during
the 1990s, most motorists from Western Europe came overland by Italy, and then
took a trans-Adriatic ferry from there. Although the countries of the former
Yugoslavia have since stabilized and Hungary-Romania-Bulgaria form another,
albeit a much longer, alternative, the overland route through Italy now remains
the most popular option.
By bus – There is some,
albeit limited, international bus service to neighbouring Albania, Bulgaria,
FYR of Macedonia, and Turkey, as well as Serbia, and Georgia.
By boat – From Italy,
several ferries depart for Greece daily. Ferries to Patras (Pátra),
IgoumenÃtsa, and Corfu (Kérkyra) leave throughout the year from the Italian
port cities of Venice, Trieste, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi.
From Turkey
there are ferries: from Marmaris to Rhodes, from Cesme to Chios, from Bodrum to
Kos, from Kusadasi to Samos.
There are also
ferries connecting Piraeus and Rhodes to Alexandria (Egypt), Larnaca and
Limassol (Cyprus), and Haifa (Israel).
Italy’s heel
If you’ve ever
rubbed shoulders with billionaires on the Amalfi Coast or spent the weekend in
Venice, you’ll know that Italy can drain travel budgets. This year, look south.
Italy’s heel has arguably the best beaches in the country, hilltop towns and
ancient sights. But what makes Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria such good value
is not just the financial side of being in this part of the country. It’s the
fabulous food – cucina povera (poor man’s food), simple, tasty and cheap – and
the relaxed pace of life even in peak season, coupled with good-value
accommodation for all budgets.
Getting There:
By plane – Italy has a
national airline, Alitalia, as well as several smaller carriers, such as
Meridiana. Germany's Lufthansa started an Italian subsidiary that tries to
become a main rival for Alitalia with a hub in Milan.
Italy is one of
the main battle grounds for European low cost airlines several routes to/from
and within Italy are offered. The larger airports are, of course, served by the
major European airlines.
Intercontinental
airlines mainly arrive in Rome and Milan, with Rome being the main international gateway into the country.
By train – Regular trains
are available from
- Austria via Vienna, Innsbruck, Villach,
- France via Nice, Lyon, and Paris
- Germany via Munich
- Spain via Barcelona
- Switzerland via Basel, Geneva and Zurich
Direct
connection by train with Eastern Europe (Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and
Slovenia) no longer exists. The only way to reach Italy by train from these
countries is via Vienna or Villach; it's also possible reach by train Nova
Gorica (in Slovenia, then cross the border by foot and take a train in Italy in
the rail station of Gorizia.
By car – Italy borders on
France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. All borders are open (without
passport/customs checks), but cars can be stopped behind the border for random
checks.
By boat – See also Ferries
in the Mediterranean There are several ferries departing from Greece, Albania,
Montenegro and Croatia. Most of them arrive at Venice, Ancona, Bari and
Brindisi.
Some regular
ferry services connect the island of Corsica in France to Genoa, Livorno,
Civitavecchia, Naples and North of Sardinia. Barcelona is connected to
Civitavecchia and to Genoa.
Some regular
ferry services connect Sicily and Naples to some North African harbours.
Bulgaria
Especially in
famous cities, costs in Eastern Europe have gone up with the crowds. This is
one of the reasons to go to Bulgaria, still so puzzlingly underrated that few
but travel geeks can name a city beyond the capital, Sofia – try Plovdiv or
Varna. The latter is part of the Black Sea Riviera that brings crowds and high
prices in the summer. Elsewhere (including Sofia), transport, museums and the
ubiquitous private rooms (look for ‘Zimmer frei’ signs) are quite reasonably
priced. The most famous site, Rila Monastery, is free and offers simple rooms
for pilgrims.
Getting there:
By plane – There are four
international airports: Sofia, Varna, Bourgas, and Plovdiv. There are a lot of
charter and last-minute flight offers to Varna or Bourgas leaving from Western
Europe (especially Germany and Great Britain).
Recently,
several low-cost airlines have also started offering regular flights to
Bulgaria. Wizz Air flies directly between Sofia and London, Rome, Milan,
Barcelona, Valencia, Brussels and Dortmund. Wizz Air flies directly between
London Luton Airport and Bourgas or Varna airports - the flights are every week
and year-round. EasyJet flies from Sofia to London Gatwick, Manchester or
Berlin. Flights by Niki to and from Vienna have been cancele
By train – International
trains provide a large number of routes to Bulgaria, notably Sofia and Varna,
arriving from such places as Kiev, Istanbul, Vienna, and other common cities.
The primary
trains from Bucharest to Sofia, and back, run twice daily through the border
city of Rousse.
By car – The Danube 2
bridge is now open crossing from Romania to Vidin in Bulgaria, this is now the
fastest route when coming from Western Europe.
If you want to
reach Bulgaria from Western Europe by car, you can also take a ferry from Italy
to Greece, or you will have to pass through either Serbia (green card no longer
required as of 2012) or Romania. Travelling from Greece there are several
border points to cross into Bulgaria such as Zlatograd and Ivaylovgrad.
By boat – Seasonal car
ferries serve Bourgas and Varna ports from Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.
Danube river
cruise ships call into Vidin and Lom ports from Budapest and Vienna on their
way to the black sea. it is possible to enter and leave Bulgaria this way.
A car only ferry
runs from Vidin port to Passau in Germany.
Fiji
A South Pacific
island destination on a value travel list? Yes, Fiji may just be the most
affordable slice of paradise. The Yasawas and the Mamanucas are home to the
unusual phenomenon of island resorts aimed at backpackers. While it’s not as
cheap as Southeast Asia, the value here is in bringing the South Pacific within
reach of mid-range travellers. Combine some island-hopping by daily catamaran
with public buses around Viti Levu, Fiji’s ‘mainland’, and get almost as much
Polynesia as possible for not all of your money.
Getting There:
By plane – Nadi
International Airport is Fiji's main international airport. Suva airport also
has some international flights. Fiji Airways (Formerly Air Pacific) is Fiji
majority owned and flies to Fiji directly from Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX) and Honolulu International Airport (HNL) in the USA, and from
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), as well as many other locations. Korean
Air has three flights weekly between Nadi and Seoul. Air New Zealand operates
flights to Nadi from Auckland, Christchurch, and seasonally from Wellington.
By boat – You can enter
Fiji by boat from Australia through the Australia shore connection.
Mexico
Ignore the
headlines about budget-busting resorts and savour the value of a visit to
Mexico. Grab a good-value flight and try to avoid periods such as US school
holidays. Travellers who explore off the established trail will find Mexico
hugely rewarding. North of Puerto Vallarta, laid-back beach towns such as
Chacala offer guesthouse rooms for US$40, and the relaxed ambience is its own
reward. Good value can be had even in the tourist heartland of the Yucatán
Peninsula. Cheap bus trips to Mérida and Tulum provide all the Mayan wonders
you can muster at a fraction of the cost of Cancún-based tours. Look for
cabañas, huts with a palm-thatched roof, most often found at beach
destinations.
Getting there:
By plane – There are
hundreds of daily flights linking Mexico to cities large and small throughout
the United States.
Fly from either
Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Auckland (NZ) direct to Los Angeles(http://flyjet.com.au/FarePackageDetails.aspx?fareid=99&destination=LOS%20ANGELES&origin=MELBOURNE).
Delta, Qantas, United, and V Australia offer non-stop air service from
Australia to Los Angeles. Air New Zealand offers one-stop air service from
Australia and non-stop air service from Auckland to Los Angeles. Hawaiian
Airlines and Air Tahiti Nui offer one- or two-stop air service to Los Angeles
from Australia and New Zealand.
Many airlines fly
from Los Angeles to Mexico including AeroMexico, Alaska, Volaris, Horizon,
Aerolitoral, and United. More options are available if connecting through
another U.S. city. Also, make sure to have a good look at visas beforehand.
From Europe many commercial airlines link Mexico directly to Europe.
By train – There is at
least one place where Mexico is accessible via rail and a short walk - south of
San Diego. The San Diego Trolley can be taken from downtown San Diego (which
Amtrak serves) to the California-Baja California border. Like almost all
countries in the Americas, Mexico phased out intercity passenger rail in the
mid-20th century and has not brought it back since. Thus, unlike the U.S-Canada
border where one can proceed from Seattle to Vancouver or New York to Montreal,
there are no options for taking an Amtrak train across the border into any
Mexican cities.
By car – American
automobile insurance is not accepted in Mexico; however it is easy to obtain
short-term or long-term tourist policies that include the mandatory liability
coverage, together with theft and accident cover for your vehicle and, often,
legal assistance cover. Should you decide to drive to Mexico, the Transport and
Communications Secretariat website has free downloadable road maps.
By boat – Ferries are
available from Guatemala and United States.
Karnataka, India
India still has
lots to offer the budget traveller, though if you’ve been to Goa in high season
you might doubt this. Over the European winter bargains can feel in short supply.
While Goa devotees manage by travelling off-season or with package deals, it’s
worth considering other options. Neighbouring Karnataka’s coast has serene
beaches, fishing harbours and peaceful resorts, plus inland temple towns such
as Hampi, one of South India’s most laid-back traveller hangouts. Best of all,
lodgings are cheap and most temples and ruins are free. More upmarket places to
stay are opening all the time, but you’ll find some rewarding budget travel
here.
By plane – Karnataka has
seven airports in Bangalore(http://flyjet.com.au/FarePackageDetails.aspx?fareid=312&destination=BANGALORE%20&origin=SYDNEY),
Mysore, Hampi, Mangalore, Hubli, Belgaum, and Bijapur. These all airports are
well connected to the other cities of India and the world. The Bengaluru
International Airport in Bangalore and the Mangalore International Airport are
the two airports that offer international flights to and from Karnataka.
By rail – All major cities
of Karnataka are well linked to other parts of the country by a wide rail
network. Bangalore railway station is the most important railway terminal.
Besides, Karnataka also has an intrastate rail network, which connects cities within
the state.
By road – An excellent
network of roads connects cities internally. Karnataka State Road Transport
Corporation (KSRTC) connects the state to other major cities and states. A
number of national highways link Karnataka with Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Choose your
destination and book flight ticket (http://flyjet.com.au/) today to avail
discount.
Source: Lonely Planet