Vayama Travel Blog

Turn a shut-in winter into a glorious spring vacation with these bargain destinations and the cheap airfares to get you there.

What is an international travel bargain? It’s not only a cheap airfare; it also means that once you arrive at your destination, you will find great food, culture and hotels that are so reasonably priced that running out of money halfway through the trip is not a possibility.  The destinations below offer enough quaint affordability to suit even the most budget-conscious pockets.

The Cheap &Cheerful
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Is it worth the Premium for premium Economy?

By Florin R. Ferrs

(Premium Economy Specialist)

Let’s be clear: not all premium economy classes are created equal. Some are ‘more equal than others’ and some aren’t worth the trouble, while others outshine their “economy” label–but all that glitters is not always gold. There are currently only nine airlines that offer a true premium economy product originating in the USA. These airlines are Alitalia, ANA, British Airways,  EVA Air, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Scandinavian Airlines, V Australia and Virgin Atlantic.  The first thing one sees is that there are no USA-based carriers on the list. Sorry to break it to you, but those trumpeted Economy Plus seats that the American legacy carriers flog for an extra $50 are not real Premium Economy seats or service. A proper Premium Economy product should offer, among other things, a dedicated and separate space in the cabin, better legroom, a wider seat and top-notch catering and service that is more akin to business class, like free mimosas and ‘celebrity’ chef menus.

To Premium or not to Premium?

BA Premium Economy Cabin

So, is it worth it?

When you are faced with a 12- to 20-hour flight and your boss won’t foot the Business Class bill, these real Premium Economy deals are a great money-saving alternative that doesn’t skimp on service. Of course, it’s not the same as a proper Business Class experience, but it’s worlds apart from the 10-seats-across coach cabins that some legacy airlines are currently flying. Just make sure that you are selecting one of the airlines mentioned above and read the small print to verify exactly what you will get, like exclusive lounge access, open bar, etc.  I use vayama.com to score Premium Economy deals as they are one of the rare travel portals that actually have a Premium Economy search option in their “find a flight” box. They also offer discounted deals on Premium Economy that are not available anywhere else.

Compare Premium Economy Seats Across International Airlines
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Celebrate St Valentines and Carnival on the same trip.

The rites of spring are once again upon us, and you are wondering: Where shall I take my sweetie for a Valentine’s trip to remember? Why not combine St. Valentines and Carnival/Mardi Gras on one trip? This way, you can be very romantic and strut your stuff, though not necessarily in that order.

Top 5 St Valentine’s + Carnival destinations
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Share the Luck of the Irish for St. Patrick’s Day.

by Florin R. Ferrs

The Best St. Paddy’s Around the World.

‘Ádh na nÉireannach’ is Gaelic for ‘Luck of the Irish’. The reputation of Celtic luck harkens back to Roman times, when the Roman legions confronted scrappy, savvy bands of Gauls in asymmetric warfare. Nowadays, Irish luck is celebrated all over the world, with rivers and fountains dyed green, flowing gallons of Guinness beer and Jameson whiskey, and colourful parades from Dublin to Tokyo to Sydney and Buenos Aires.

We all know that cities with heavy Irish populations like New York City and Birmingham, England have huge St. Paddy’s bashes, but did you know that St. Patrick ’s Day is big in Japan? It’s even bigger in Madrid, Spain, and massive in unlikely places like Buenos Aires, Argentina and, perhaps not so surprisingly, Moscow, Russia.

Top Ten International St Patrick’s Day Celebrations

1-Dublin: In the Emerald Isle, St. Patrick’s Day is more of a religious holly day, originally set to commemorate the Catholic saint’s death. But after mass ends, festivities really get going, with green wigs, leprechaun costumes and a healthy dose of ‘craic’ for all.  In Dublin, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a fully-fledged festival, including plays, comedy shows, boat races, a world-famous parade, and, of course, Guinness galore. Check out Dublin’s St. Patrick’s festival website. And be sure to plan your activities ahead of time: you may be too ‘happy’ on Guinness to do any planning once you arrive.

Fly to Dublin for less with this hot airfare deal.

Share the Luck of the Irish: Dublin St Patrick's

2-Belfast: In Northern Ireland, St Paddy’s day is just as raucous as in the Republic, with Bushmills as the whiskey of choice. Check out the Belfast City Council’s website for a calendar of St. Patrick’s Day events, including a free concert and an ‘older person’s tea dance’: get your jigging shoes out and do a Michael Flatley-style step dance.

Fly to Belfast for less with this hot airfare deal.

Belfast St Paddy's

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Book  ‘Multiple Stops’ and save on fares aboard the  A380

By Florin R. Ferrs

(Cheap Airfare guru and world traveler.)

The advent of the A380 pasenger aircraft and its immense capacity should, in theory, save travelers money. But so far, the airlines operating these behemoths of the sky seem happy to charge a premium for the experience.  Much has been written about the A380’s upper floor, featuring showers, sleeper seats, private cabins and walk-up bars.  But what’s the experience like for the pasengers flying coach? Is it worth the premium for a springtime trip?

The big boys of the sky

AF A380 Size Does Matter

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Grab these Hot Shoulder Season Deals to Europe

By Florin R Ferrs.

(Euro-Med discounted Airfare specialist and Extraordinaire Bon Vivant)

Spring is my favorite time to visit the Mediterranean. The busy tourist season is still months away, but it’s already warm enough for an al fresco salad and a glass of local wine in a beachfront cafe, followed by a stroll along uncongested beaches and maybe a skinny dip or two in some hidden cove. And for those who are feeling the pinch of a strongish Euro, there is always the Aegean coast of Turkey, the beach promenades of Tel Aviv, or Beirut’s beach clubs, where you can enjoy the same Med, the same sunshine and the same food (almost), for a lot less than inside the Eurozone.

Florin’s Top Ten ‘Mad for the Med’ Destinations for Spring 2010

1-Barcelona Spain from $493 total

Mad for the Med: Barcelona

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Save on nonstops to Europe and within Europe this spring.

by Florin R. Ferrs

(Euro-airfare guru. Bon vivant par excellence.)

Valentine’s weekend is the perfect time to book your spring and early summer travel to Europe. Not only does it make a perfectly romantic gift (great for getting out of the ol’ doghouse), but mid-February also marks the beginning of “shoulder season” airfare sales, that ethereal time of year when the airlines offer cheaper airfares for travel during the spring and early summer. Now is the time to enter Europe through the “side door” and enjoy the same resorts that will be packed with tourists during the peak summer season. By booking in February and traveling in March or early April, instead of July or August, you’ll enjoy Europe’s charms for less with much fewer tourists around, and experience a few famous European spring festivals.

Shoulder Season: Springy and Quiet

Fly Nonstop to Europe, save money and aggravation
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Keep it in the family with vayama’s European brands.

by Florin R Ferrs

Spring is in the air (fare?) and European low-cost airlines are the new trendy way of seeing more of Europe and the Mediterranean for less, whether you’re headed for Paris, Casablanca or Playa del Ingles. No more flight envy when you hear tales of lucky European travellers paying just $19 each way for their inter-European flights for weekends in Paris, Amsterdam or Magaluf.

Magaluf: $20 buck flights and cheap San Miguel Beers.

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