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Cash in on National Express’s 2for1 London offer

For any traveller, London isn’t cheap. For a backpacker, it can be murderous on the budget. But there are always ways of getting your pound to stretch that bit further.

To make it that bit easier on all travellers, coach service National Express has teamed up with a whole host of the English capital’s major attractions – and is offering 2-for-1 tickets to a variety of attractions, restaurants and shows in the city.

Pay for one ticket, get the other free. Pay for one dinner, get the other free. You get the picture?

Visit National Express to find out more.

(How long the offer lasts, we know not, so get in there whilst the going is good).

Posted in Destinations, Travel Deals | 1 Comment »

Book your flights now for summer ‘09 (chances are, they’ll cost less)

Planning on heading to Europe next year?

If so, you’ll be wanting to find every possible way to pinch those pennies whilst on your travels – as is the way of the seasoned traveller.

And if you have an inkling of where you want to go, or don’t really care too much about where you end up – as long as you get there without denting the food ‘n’ entertainment budget – it can sometimes pay to book flights way in advance.

Why? Because they’re generally cheaper, and unless you detest any form of planning it can be handy to have at least one or two legs of your trip sorted before you even step foot on the continent (less to think about once on the road).

Well, if that sounds like a good plan, UK-based airline bmibaby is offering backpackers summer season flights on European routes from only £18.99 one way including taxes and charges.

That’s a pretty good deal, and will only last until midnight tomorrow night (Tuesday), so head on over there pronto and start getting ready for summer 2009!

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Transport, Travel Deals | 1 Comment »

Eurolines Seat Sale: £12 Fares to Europe

Looking to escape grey grey England and head for pastures European?

Who wouldn’t, and now there’s no blaming the budget for being stuck in the muck – not with the latest funfare sale on the go at Eurolines right now!

Eurolines UK coaches connect not so sunny England with a variety of possibly sunnier European destinations. Hell, even if they ain’t sunnier – at least they’re likely to be a different shade of grey, right?

From now until the 10th of December, backpackers can find special ‘funfares’ from as little as £12 one way (including free luggage allowance and check-in) to selected European destinations (such as Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam).

Not a bad way to get bums on seats…

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Transport, Travel Deals | No Comments »

£5 European airfares, going, going…

Today is the last day of Ryan Air’s crazy £5-a-seat sale.

Until midnight tonight (Thursday 13 November 2008), backpackers can still find and snap up European airfares for as little as £5 one way.

The offer is for selected dates and flights during December 2008 and January 2009 – and the price includes taxes and charges (though you’re like to pay for extras like cabin luggage, credit card surcharges et al).

Visit RyanAir.com for more info.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Transport, Travel Deals | No Comments »

Rhythm & Vines Festival: Be the first to see the first sunrise of 2009

Fancy being one of the first people to see the very first sunrise of the New Year that will be 2009?

Well, if that sounds like something that would float your proverbial boat, you’ll be wanting to head south to the small coastal town of Gisborne, New Zealand, where the sun rises first each day, before gracing the rest of the world with its lifegiving rays.

And if partying all night to reach that particular dawn sounds like fun (hyeah!), then it’s to the Rhythm & Vines Festival you’ll be wanting to go.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Waiohika Estate vineyards, Rhythm & Vines is the ultimate New Year celebration. Taking place from 29th December to 1st January, the best local talent will play alongside a host of top international artists, with over 120 performances across 4 stages.

Acts confirmed (so far) for the 3 day festival include; Franz Ferdinand, Shihad, The Kooks, Public Enemy, Santogold, Ladyhawke, Carl Cox, Digitalism, The Mystery Jets, Jamie Liddell, Adam Freeland, A Trak and Busy P with more to be announced.

Tickets for the festival currently range from NZ$65 for a day ticket, to NZ$185 for the entire event (29 Dec ’08 – 1 Jan ’09).

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

Cross some literary borders at the Crossing Border Festival this month

Coming up, in just over a week’s time, is the annual Crossing Border Festival in the Netherlands.

It’s a smorgasbord of literature, music, film and the visual arts, all taking place in various locations in and around the Toneelkwartier Den Haag (The Hague Theatre District).

Delve into this year’s programme or wander into the Crossing Border Cafe:

“On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, festival tent Teatro Cuatro or festival tent De Eenhoorn will be open for artists, authors, crew and audience, and transform into our amiable crossing border café. The bar is open, there will be performances and it is the place where you can meet everyone. So feel free to come in.”

Cost of tickets varies from show to show, but ‘passport tickets‘ are available (at a slight discount) to those who want to see it all and catch up on sleep later.

This year’s festival runs from Tuesday the 18th to Saturday the 22nd of November.

Related travel resources for backpackers:
Hostels in the Netherlands – find and book a cheap hostel in the Netherlands
Holland.com – travel and tourism info for Holland
Netherlands Destination Guide – budget travel info for the Netherlands

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »

bmiBaby Winter Sale: Up To 1/3 Off All Flights

It’s winter-time – which makes it ski season and time to head for the slopes…

And budgeting backpackers are in luck: UK airline bmibaby is offering cash-strapped travellers discounted flights for selected routes.

Heck, even if you think heading for the snow (when it’s already freezing outside) is a rather daft notion and prefer to head where the sun still shines, you can take advantage of the special.

From now until midnight Tuesday (11 Nov ’08) get up to 1/3 off all bmibaby flights to the airline’s Mediterranean winter sun and ski destinations.

That’s a fair whack, so get to it!

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Transport, Travel Deals | No Comments »

Adventure Travel and Backpackers Expo comes to Sydney and Brisbane

The annual Adventure Travel and Backpackers Expo is coming to Sydney in just over a week’s time.

During the expo, backpackers and other independent travellers can listen to informed travel talks and seek advice from over 200 exhibitors, as well as take advantage of fantastic travel specials.

There are loads of awesome prizes to be won, including a return flight to the UK, an A$2000 Travel Voucher from STA Travel and many many more (just for being there!).

The Sydney Expo runs from 15-16 November 2008 at the Exhibition & Convention Centre (Darling Harbour) and then moves to Brisbane, where it will be on from 22-23 November 2008 at that city’s Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Tickets cost A$7 at the door, but you can get a 2-for-1 entry on the expo website.

Posted in Destinations, Travel Community, Travel Deals, Travel Guides, Travel Tips & Planning | No Comments »

Cheap Australian airfares for backpackers with Virgin Blue

Get up and GO with discount fares from Australian airline Virgin Blue.

The budget carrier is offering backpackers and other independent travellers the opportunity to travel around the country at discounted rates between 19 November and 15 December 2008.

But, to take advantage of this special offer, you’ll need to book before midnight tonight, so get on over to Virgin Blue, and look for the ‘Go! Fares’ before they’re all toast.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Transport, Travel Deals | No Comments »

Liverpool Music Week kicks off

Liverpool Music Week is the UK’s largest indoor winter music festival – staging events across 20+ venues throughout Liverpool city centre, with a combination of ticketed shows and a massive agenda of free events featuring every musical genre imaginable.

Attracting the UK’s biggest musical artistes to the city and offering fresh and emerging new talent a platform to perform, this year LMW has partnered with MTV, to coincide with the MTV Europe Music Awards, which will be staged in Liverpool as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations

The event has attracted some of the UK’s biggest live acts, as well as becoming a platform for new emerging talent set to become the stars of tomorrow, breakthrough artistes such as The Wombats, Hot Club De Paris, and The Rascals alongside the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and The Chemical Brothers, to name but a few.

The event has just kicked off in Liverpool, and will run through to the 6th of November.

For more info, and to find out about the free shows, visit the event website.

Travel resources backpackers might find useful:
Book hostels – book a hostel at thousands of locations around the world.
RTW flights – book your round-the-world flights at backpacking prices!
Travel Insurance – instant, cheap travel insurance for backpackers

Posted in Destinations, Festivals | No Comments »