Vayama Travel Blog

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

By Florin R. Ferrs

The Bad

2010 indeed turned out to be a very challenging year for travellers. A volcano in Iceland halted trans-Atlantic air travel, floods in South America disrupted air traffic, two inches of snow shut down Heathrow airport and many northern European hubs (including Paris and Frankfurt), two feet of snow closed down all New York area airports over Christmas. Maybe Al Gore was right after all. And On top of all the weather chaos, nature delivered the one two punch of earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

The Ugly

Not all travel chaos in 2010 was caused by Mother Nature. 2010 also brought us an 11 day traffic jam in Beijing, a massive oil spill in the Gulf, and even a cranky air host meltdown down an escape chute, beer in hand.

The Good

But 2010 as a travel year that was not all doom and gloom. 2010 saw vayama.com open discounted airfare portals in Bangkok, Hong Kong, London and Canada, giving world travellers access to international bucket shop airfares from the comfort of their own living rooms and making discounted DIY around the world tickets a reality.

Top 5 Good Travel News of 2010

Air New Zealand announced their skycouch seats. Their re-designed economy class cabin has been fitted with 22 skycouches on their Los Angeles to Auckland route, allowing 2 passengers in coach to transform 3 seats into “cuddle class”, for the price of their own seats plus half of the third empty seat. Cuddle class will allow lie flat “cuddling”. No news on mile high club candidates flocking to book yet.

Air New Zealand Skycouch: Mile High Club Hopefuls

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Things to do in London when you’re snowed in.

By Florin R. Ferrs

A blanket of snow covers the European continent. We might be in for a rare white Christmas in London this year (bookies are taking bets). The last time the UK has seen weather like this was back in the 1960’s, when the Beatles were still a Beat group with silly haircuts. Chicagoans may laugh at Londoners for shutting down because of “only” 4 inches of snow and mothers in Siberia must be positively giddy – they let their children play out in the snow until the temperature reaches -40.

If you are stranded in London because of the snow, it’s no use thinking about Siberian mothers or Obama’s hometown’s arctic winters. If Heathrow’s lack of snow ploughing abilities has cancelled your flight (and the next one, and the one after that), I beg you not to sleep at the airport unless you have a good sleeping bag (Heathrow was one of the few airports in Europe that did not distribute cots to stranded passengers).

Instead take your airline’s offer of a full refund or a free change of date (check your airline’s website for their change and refund policy due to the snow) , and take a “if you can’t beat them, join them” attitude and enjoy London in the winter.

Did you know that winter is still one of the best times to visit London ?
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Enter the Dragon: Celebrate Chinese New Year with these international travel tips designed to please your Chinese Zodiac sign (and the hot airfare deals to get there for less).

By Florin R. Ferrs

According to Chinese astrology, a person’s destiny can be determined by 12 Zodiac signs. Chinese Zodiac years occur in 12 year cycles, so we have to wait 12 years for another year of the Rabbit.

Fortunately you don’t have to wait that long to make all your 2011 travel resolutions come through. Find out what international destination fit your Chinese zodiac sign the best and get out there to see the world for less on 2011.

Rats are charmers, send them to Paris.

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Avoid congestion, flight delays and mayhem this holiday season by choosing airlines that use these sleek airport hubs.

The always reliable travel experts at Lonely Planet have nominated their top 10 airports of the world.  I use Lonely Planet a lot during my travels and have had many enjoyable experiences all over the world thanks to their insight and tips.  I also happen to agree with their top ten airport list, and you will notice that 7 out of the 10 airports on their list are located in the Asia/Pacific region. Keep that in mind when booking your next international flight. Sometimes the fastest and most convenient routing is via Asia and the good news is that Asian / Pacific airlines offer some of the best value in the sky today.

1.    Singapore Changi Airport

With airport gardens, free day tours of Singapore for in transit passengers,  spa facilities, napping areas, live music and fine dining,  all make Singapore’s Changi Airport hard to beat.  But the airport’s pièce de resistance is its rooftop swimming pool at Terminal 1′s Ambassador Transit Hotel. There is no better way to relax and cool down before a long-haul flight. Most flights on Singapore Airlines connect in Singapore. Check out this airfare deal from Los Angeles to Singapore and experience this world class airport for yourself.

Singapore Changi Airport: Cool and Sleek

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Ever wanted to spend New Year’s in Rio? Hogmanay in Edinburg? A White Christmas in London?

You can still be in all the best Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations of the world this holiday season with Vayama’s “Twelve Deals of Christmas Sale”, offering discounted international airfares to the beast Xmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe.

“Vayama’s Twelve Deals of Christmas Song”

For the first day of Christmas vayama gave to me,

A cheap air ticket to London City.

On the second day of Christmas vayama gave to me

Two flights to Rome

Really, really cheap.

On the Third day of Christmas vayama gave to me

Two Flights to Rome

Tree French airlines

And a cheap air ticket to London City

1-New York to London

Enjoy a rare White Christmas in Dickensian London this year and be in Trafalgar Square on New Year’s Eve.

Be in London for New Year's Eve

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