Page 27 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  25

Fly-Drive
rates. The main drawback with can be the least expensive way
these tickets is that they are Many airlines, as well as to go. Indeed, if you want to get
usually non-refundable. They numerous travel companies, to destinations such as Portugal
also tend to land at remote offer fly-drive packages, which or Greece quickly, flying is almost
airports and at wildly unsocial combine air fares and car rental. the only option. However,
hours. The level of in-flight These deals are often worth between major cities, such as
service and comfort is usually considering, as they give you Berlin and Paris, you could go by
lower, too. flexibility and offer a saving train, which is almost as quick
over arranging the two and cheap, and saves the trouble
parts separately. of getting to an airport (see p26).
Package Deals It is best to avoid flying
One of the easiest ways to Internet Booking between major cities on
arrange your visit to Europe is Friday evenings and early
to book a package vacation. The Internet is also a popular Monday mornings because
These are offered by all the way of booking tickets. Two these flights can be crowded
major airlines, as well as various of the best sites for this are with European commuters.
reputable independent Expedia and Opodo. Expedia As with transatlantic flights,
companies, such as Central has a system called a “Fare you can get cheaper tickets by
Holidays and American Tracker” whereby you fill in a booking early. The best cities
Express. They normally form online and they email for finding good deals from
include flights, transfers, you information when tickets “bucket shops” are London,
and accommodations, and become available. The US Athens, and Amsterdam.
sometimes side trips and food, company Europebyair also
and the cost can be far less provides excellent deals on Low-Cost Airlines
than if you were to buy these flights to Europe. It offers a
separately. While an excellent Flight Pass for non-European Recent years have seen the
way of reducing the strain of citizens, valid for 62 European emergence of so-called “no frills”
organizing your vacation, the cities and one-way flights airlines in Europe, such as
downside with a package between these destinations, Ryanair, easyJet, Air Berlin, and
tour is that it usually involves for a very reasonable price. Eurowings, which offer very
traveling in large numbers on competitive prices. A return
specific flights to a hotel which, Flights Within Europe flight from London to Berlin, for
because the price has been example, can cost as little as £50
pared to the bone, may not There is an extensive flight ($70). To keep prices down, there
offer a high standard of food network serving most major is usually less legroom, on-board
or facilities. On the other hand, cities, making it quick and easy catering, and checked luggage
there are specialist package- to fly within Europe. If you are costs extra. Outlying airports
tour operators that do offer traveling some distance, and may also be used. Unless you
top-quality hotels and use especially between Great Britain must have these benefits, the
scheduled flights. and other parts of Europe, flying price justifies the inconvenience.
DIRECTORY
European KLM Trailfinders Internet Booking
National Airlines Tel 1-866 434 0320 (US). 194 Kensington High St, Europebyair
Tel 01300 392 192 (Aus). London W8, UK.
Air France ∑ klm.com Tel 020-7938 3939 ∑ europebyair.com
Tel 800-237 2747 (US). Lufthansa (for long-haul travel). Expedia
Tel 1-300 39 01 90 (Aus). Tel 800-645 3880 (US). Tel 020-7937 1234 ∑ expedia.com
∑ airfrance.com Tel 1-300 655 727 (Aus). (for European travel). Opodo
∑ lufthansa.com ∑ opodo.com
Alitalia ∑ trailfinders.com
SAS
Tel 212-903 3568 (US). Low-Cost Airlines
∑ alitalia.com Tel 800-221 2350 (US). Package Deals
Tel 300 727 707 (Aus). Air Berlin
British Airways ∑ flysas.com American Express ∑ airberlin.com
Tel 800-247-9297 (US). Travel Agents Tel 1800-297 2977 (US). easyJet
Tel 1-300 767 177 (Aus). ∑ americanexpress. ∑ easyjet.com
∑ britishairways.com STA Travel com/travel Eurowings
2871 Broadway,
Iberia New York, NY 10025, US. Central Holidays ∑ germanwings.com
Tel 800-772 4642 (US). Tel 212-865 2700. Tel 800-539 7098. Ryanair
∑ iberia.com ∑ statravel.com ∑ centralholidays.com ∑ ryanair.com

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