With the whole world being a place for exploration what is the reason for most of us having never seen the half of it? Apart from the unbelievably high ticket prices we don't really have a good enough excuse. Sometimes the 5 star hotels cost almost twice less than a few hours in the air. With so many airlines all set to take you to your desired destination without much trouble, and with even less expenditure, a good holiday is just round the corner. But what can we say about the cost?

Although depending on the destination the prices do tend to differ. It will become more expensive the further you travel. Yes, at least we thought so. Now this theory is not so error-free.

We are children of the 21 century and it means that gone are the days when traveling was synonymous to standing in queues and paying a lot of money. Times have changed, and the only things that should come to your mind when you think of a trip are fun, frolic, family, friends, and a whole lot of beautiful memories to go back to. A wonderful trip is on the cards for you and so is your chance to lay hands on international cheap flight online. Why so? Let's say it's because we are modern people.

The whole idea of the internet booking is to make it easy for the person to choose while being surrounded by the comfort. You can go from one page to another lying on your pink super expensive couch, drinking a glass of wine, listening to your favorite music, thinking about the places you want to visit.

Your loyal friend, computer, can help you pick the best deal according to your taste and needs. All you have to do is decide. When it comes to low airfares, many travel sites offer discounts and attractive deals for customers; you have to take out time only to analyze selected offers and choose the one that suits your needs the best. Sometimes it is more difficult than you imagine as the deals are so tempting that you regret you don't have the possibility to travel 12 months of the year.

It is always hard to say goodbye to the money you have been struggling to earn for a long period of time. But the result is always priceless. People come back from their trips being in love with the idea of going back there as soon as possible. In order to let yourself to come back there soon you have to find a good cheap flight that will take you to the destination of your dreams.

Please, remind yourself of the most important - air cheap flights online are just a click away. Your chance of exploring God's most wonderful and beautiful creation, the world, in its entirety is here. Don't let yourself miss it because it is something you might regret. With a cheap flight you can give yourself the emotions you have been longing to experience for a long time.

Travel smart and choose the quick way of traveling with low air fares. Happy flying!
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Those of us who write these articles sometimes struggle to find a way of introducing our theme and making it relevant. But, today, it's a pleasing coincidence that a bird should be the one creature associated with the delivery of a baby. Any other choice would make it really difficult to link an article on pregnancy and babies to flight. Let's start off with the myths. Traveling in a pressurised cabin is safe. There is no risk that silicone implants will explode or that any fetus will be injured (not that the two are in any way connected, of course). Indeed, many women travel before they know they are pregnant and no harm is caused. There is absolutely no medical evidence that flying causes any disruption to the development of the baby. There are no verifiable incidents of miscarriage or pre-term labor associated with short or long haul flights. So long as the mother is healthy and the pregnancy is progressing as it should, mothers-to-be may safely fly up to the end of the third trimester. The ban on flying cause of pregnancy only arises during the last four weeks. This is for purely practical purposes. After thirty-six weeks, a woman can go into labor somewhat unpredictably and, although it might represent a slightly different take on the mile-high club, airplanes are not set up as flying maternity wards to protect the privacy of the mother or the health of the new-born baby should complications arise. In fact, some airlines require a doctor's certificate after the twenty-seventh week that the mother is healthy and no problems are expected, with the final decision resting with the captain as to whether the mother can fly.

Once the baby is born, everything changes. The first issue to consider is the ban on carrying liquids, gels, etc. Check the airport rules for the countries in which you propose to fly on what you are allowed to take on board the plane itself. When you get to the airport and check in, go to the security desk with the baby before you try to pass through to the secured area. Allow a full inspection of food, formula and bottled water. The good news is that you are not required to taste the food yourself, but everything may have to be x-rayed. The airline also need to know in advance so that proper seating arrangements can be made. Most provide special restraint seats that can be strapped into the conventional seats. Make sure the appropriate ticketing arrangements have been made. Beware some low-cost airlines have hidden charges for carrying babies. Take diapers and changes of clothing in case they throw up.

There is no reason why families cannot travel safely and economically. If you need a cheap flight do a little work searching through the online travel agencies. There are packages available giving cheap tickets and discounts for other services.
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What thing come fist to mind when we think about holidays? Yes, of course, it is a beautiful country with various places of interest, a luxury hotel and sight-seeing from the early morning till the late evening. But we forget the most important feature of the trip - the flight that is. Choose a stop on the map and the plane will take you there. You don't have to think much, just pick up the destination and the rest will be done by a good friend of yours - you beloved computer.

If you want a mesmerizing trip, just log on to some well-known travel site and you are almost ready to go. It used to be so problematic and in order to book a trip people had to stop by multiple airline offices which was not always too convenient. Now things seem to be totally different. You can sit home watching TV, looking though the opportunities on your laptop, and visiting different sites that use promotional codes and special discount which makes your planning not only easy but beneficial as well. Low airfare is a reality which is giving more and more people a chance to discover the world around.

No matter how far your destination is- whether it is the exotic East or the Fast -paced west, you will be able to get for yourself and your loved ones the best prices available.

It is all true. Take a break from the routine life which has nothing more than deadlines waiting for you and embrace a world that takes you into a paradisiacal world and rejuvenates you to the core. There is a variety of low-cost deals that are more than good. Just think of a way to travel to USA for the cost of trip to the neighboring country. What will you choose?

Yes, we thought so too. All you have to do is pick the option that suits your requirements the best in a few clicks and plan a trip by booking cheap flight in advance.

When you are searching for the travel site and you know you aren't only doing it for fun (when your goal is to find a webpage that will satisfy you with the price and information enough for you to book with them) you need to make sure it is a trustworthy site. People are right when they go for those sites that are familiar with them, those that they know about from their friends and family. Air cheap ticket can be an easy task, when with the deals, offers on air cheap flights spread on your computer screens like a map, it just gets easier and easier for you to choose. All we want you to know is that life is worth living when you are taking pleasure and enjoying yourself every minute. Good deals areall around; sometimes we have to raise our head to see the billboard advertising a cheap flight, as we are too lazy to do it. Make the best of your trip with a cheap flight and come back for more.
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A quick fact: the average air ticket prices have drop by 50% over the last three decades. Sounds untrue, right? But it's a hard fact that is confirmed by year-to-year price analysis starting with the early 1980s until now. The prices have really dropped and in some areas they have propped more than a half. The average cost of flight per mile was around $0.32 in 1980 and now it's only about $0.14, allowing over 50% of US citizens to take round-trip flights at least once a year today compared to only 20% of all Americans who attended a flight at least once in their lifetime in 1978. Feel the difference, right? But why do people still complain about not getting cheap air tickets? And what is the overall trend in air ticket prices and the market in general to expect in the near future?

Why the prices dropped and no one noticed it?

The quick answer to why the prices have dropped so drastically regardless of the ever increasing fuel costs and inflation is deregulation. Thanks to the liberalization of the airline market in 1978 when the government has stepped away from controlling every nook and cranny in the industry the laws of competition have rapidly brought down the prices and created a very crowded market. In the following decades dozens of companies have come and gone, each contributing to the high level of competition and people obtained the opportunity to fly more at more affordable prices. The minimum regulated airfare for a New York to Los Angeles flight in 1978 was around $1,400 (in current prices) but now you can easily take the same flight for less than $300. But still there are people who complain about finding it hard to get cheap air tickets. Why is that?

The complexity of pricing policies

Deregulation was certainly a great thing to do, but it also came at a price. And one of the elements of this price is the pricing policy that each company could employ and adjust without even consulting the authorities. You probably know that the prices tend to vary a lot depending on when you book the flight and there can sometimes be up to three or even four times the difference in price for the very same flight. To give you a sense of the complexity, an average airline usually has several million prices at any given moment in their system depending on the flight, seat, date, departure hour, extras and so on. Add up the currently common practice of making all the extra features payable and you get an even more complex system of pricing, which is controlled by computers. So despite the possibility of getting cheap air tickets for just any flight, people often finding it hard to get the right price due to the very complex nature of the pricing for all flights. So they just get the first ticket they think is the cheapest and think that it's the best way to save money. That's exactly why we usually have people paying $200 and $650 sitting next to each other at the same flight.

Future forecast for cheap air tickets

The crowded market of airlines made everyone forget that the fuel prices have sky-rocketed during the last couple of decades, and that the price of fuel makes up about a third of the airfare. The large number of bankruptcies and mergers in the industry that has happened since 2001 seems to make people aware of the fact that they are actually travelling on a very scarce resource the price of which will only rise in the future. That's why today its' still possible to get cheap air tickets, but it won't be like that all the time. Unless, of course, new technologies and fuel will be introduced to make the industry independent of the scarce resources it's tied to at the moment.
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Discounter airlines, as they are usually denoted by everyone, have served a great deal in intensifying both domestic and international flights, which is rather impressive when going through a global recession. If not for the low-cost airlines that have an almost ubiquitous presence around the globe the overall number of passengers would definitely drop to much lower figures than it did with the onset of the economic crisis back in 2008. Sure, there are many cons to discounter airlines that re evident even if you always need cheap air tickets. However, it's hard to argue that discounter airlines play a very important role in the global air traffic and may help you get cheap air tickets in ways you wouldn't even think of!

Discounters are cheap

Of course, it's evident that choosing a discounter airline is always due to the desire to get cheap air tickets. After all, discounters have been invented exactly for the purpose of providing customers with the lowest fares the industry has to offer. And while there are certainly many drawbacks to the cost-cutting policies employed by most discounter airline companies, it's hard to argue that these practices really work. That's why people seeking cheap air tickets usually go to the first discounter company they have in their area.

Discounters are very competitive

If you happen to live in an area with a large international airport nearby it's easy to see how the discounter segment is the most competitive segment of the airline market. There are new players entering the scene every couple of years while the already established airlines are trying to spread their presence and get a larger share of the market. This eventually creates fierce competition that can only result in cheap air tickets for the customer. Keep this in mind when planning your trip from a large airport and check out all the discounters present there - you may find really cheap air tickets by simply shopping around.

Discounter airlines affect traditional airfares

What most people don't realize about discounter airlines is that they also have a very pronounced influence on traditional air companies. Traditional airlines are usually associated with rather high fares coupled with many services that discounters offer for additional fees. When a particular travel destination is serviced only by traditional air companies the average airfares are usually high and there's little room for bringing them down. However, when a discounter enters such a direction the traditional airlines are forced to bring down their prices in order to compete with the much cheaper air tickets offered the discounter. So you don't have to necessarily purchase your tickets from a discounter airline in order to benefit from its presence on the market.

Discounters let you discover new locations

While most discounter airlines are aimed at servicing the most popular and traffic-intense destinations, they can also offer a broad selection of flights to places you wouldn't visit otherwise since they are too expensive to visit through traditional air companies. So you can actually discover new places and visit different parts of the world thanks to the flexible pricing policy and cheap air tickets offered by discounters.
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Whether going to a business meeting, high school reunion or simply desiring to enjoy a hot ride during the weekend, luxury car rental seems like a very good option. In fact, it seems so much of a good bargain that many car rental companies that offer luxury and exotic vehicle rental report a significant increase in revenue in this particular market. Luxury car rental companies are also popping up here and there, with the heaviest presence in high income areas such as South Florida or South California. But the market in general seems to be far away from saturation, a trait that many companies are trying to cash in on currently. But what's so special about luxury car rental that makes it such a hot topic right now?

Why renting luxury cars?

There are many different reasons why people choose to seek luxury vehicles with car rental companies. Most often such enquiries come from business travellers and executive who want to make an impression on their clients during a business meeting. And it's hard to overestimate the impression one can make when stopping by in a E-class Mercedes or Lamborghini Aventador. Rich people traveling abroad are another group of people who seek luxury cars, since they want to get the rides they are used to. But if you think that luxury car rental is only for the high class you're in for a big surprise. Many average income clients address car rental companies with luxury car request for various occasions like family events, reunions, partner meetings and other social activities where a luxury ride can serve as a great way to make an impression.

Isn't this expensive?

The first thing that everyone asks about luxury car rental is how expensive it is. Surprisingly, renting a luxury car can sometimes cost you as much as getting a mid-class economy sedan. And thanks to the increasing competition in this niche with new car rental companies entering it, it's very likely that the average prices will drop in the coming years. For example, a European company called Six Rent a Car operating in Tacoma-Seattle airport offers C-class Mercedes vehicles for only $50 per day. At the same time other companies offer the same vehicles for $250 and LAX. The prices can vary a lot and range from below $100 to over $1,000 per day, and it really makes a difference where you're renting and which vehicle you're trying to get. The variety of rides can also impress, ranging from the somewhat typical high-class Mercedes and Audi vehicles to really exotic options such as Jaguar and Bugatti vehicles, or even silver or gold body cars. In a market where the goods have to make a really good impression the only limit is your imagination and your wallet.

How hard it is to rent a luxury ride?

Surprisingly, renting a luxury vehicle can sometimes be much easier than renting an ordinary car. Since luxury rides aren't used as intensely as ordinary vehicles and are rarely taken as day-to-day vehicles, it's much easier to find and book the preferred car online. There are very rare occasions when the selected vehicle is not available - something very common when addressing car rental companies for ordinary cars. So, maybe, it's time to make yourself a present and rent the Porsche or Aston Martin you've been dreaming about for so long?
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You've probably had such a situation at least once when buying a ticket online: you found a really good fare and are just about to book it when all of a sudden the system gives you an error telling that there's no such ticket in the system at the moment. What follows next in most cases is that you book the same flight for a higher price just to get the flight in general. Such problems are not that rare and are actually one of the main reasons for customer complaints in the USA. But despite the common belief that it's an intentional practice set up by airlines to make it impossible for you to buy cheap air tickets the root of the problem is a bit different and lies in the difference between the online and the actual booking networks that aren't very well synchronized.

Booking networks

When you enter a site that carries airline tickets you are consulting with an online source that in turn has access to an international booking network carrying all the ticket details and the prices. The main problem is that while this international booking network works in real time the Internet doesn't. As much as we love the web for its instantaneous access to any information it is still subject to a considerable lag that becomes rather apparent when dealing with real time systems such as the booking one. So it's rather common for a ticket booking site to still feature information on a ticket that has already been sold in the actual booking system. Needless to say, such a state of affairs is rather annoying and there are increasing demands to review both the standards and the method operation to put these two kinds of databases into a perfect sync. But things aren't as simple as they seem.

The booking standards initiative explianed

The International Air Transportation Association has come up with a new proposal entitled New Distribution Capability, which would impose new standards for air flight booking that would make it possible for all travelers to access real-time information on all flights and tickets. This initiative is still pending US Government review and approval but there are already voices speaking in favor and against the NDC. The proponents of the new set of standards are rather optimistic in regards to the possibilities the NDC will offer to both the airlines and the passengers. IATA state that by sharing some personal information with the system travelers will be able to choose from different airlines and flights in real time, while all airlines including the ones with weaker presence will make part of the real-time booking system and provide more intense competition that would allow for cheap air tickets to appear more often. However, the opponents to NDC in the form of Open Allies for Airline Transparency, which consist of technology experts and agents, have a different view on the possible outcomes of this new initiative.

Does new proposal have any possible pitfalls?

The OAAT coalition states that cheap air tickets will actually be harder to find since the system will lack flexibility and transparency. The fact that the customer will have to share his or her personal information with the airline implies a rather likely scenario that the company will only offer air ticket prices if you share your personal information and not a moment sooner. This means that you will have to do this over and over again with each airline while comparing airfares from different carriers in real-time will be impossible. Taking such criticism into account, the NDC initiative becomes more of a killer of cheap airline tickets than a savior. But it will only be clear once the US Government reviews and decides on this new proposal that is still pending.
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The main idea that stretches across the vast majority of articles and tip collections dedicated to cheap air tickets can be boiled down to "shopping around". It's true that comparison shopping is one of the best ways to buy virtually anything for a much more competitive price, especially in a market with high supply and fierce competition. The market of air flights, especially the budget segment can certainly be characterized as such, although the economic recession has taken its toll and left us with much fewer air companies to choose from. However, shopping for cheap air tickets can be rather difficult at times, making insurance comparison shopping feel like a walk in the park. And what's really unpleasant about the whole situation is that the air companies are the ones to blame for such a state of affairs.

Why it gets so hard?

The air ticket industry is probably the only one where the customer may be clueless about the final price of the service even when registering for the flight at the airport. This is primarily due to the price fragmentation exercised by air companies, when instead of a single price for the service render you get an entire bulk of smaller prices for separate services that "make up" the final amount payable. You usually get a base price, which gets indicated in all the air ticket aggregators, which account for more than a half of all the air tickets sold in the US. Most customers shop around for air tickets namely by these base prices, forgetting that there's a multitude of additional fees waiting for them just around the corner, which can sometimes push the overall price of the ticket twice as high as the base rate and even beyond that. To make it even more confusing, each air company tends to name all these additional fees in a different way, thus making it difficult to standardize them and include these fees to the overall price comparison. More fees are being added on a yearly basis, with things like early boarding, preferred flight seats or even additional beverages with your meal each adding up to the final price of the ticket. No wonder that it often gets confusing and shopping for cheap air tickets becomes such a pain in the neck.

Why the air companies are doing this?

The answer to this question is apparent: to make you pay more money. In the light of the current economic situation, which has literally become the number one excuse for all sorts of dirty business practices, air companies are fighting for survival with all means necessary. Seeing so many air companies going bankrupt or taken over by larger players, it's easy to imagine how desperate some surviving operators can become when it comes to earning money. So they will use all kinds of unethical practices and introduce various hidden costs to make the travellers pay more and compensate for the ever increasing fuel prices and dropping numbers of travellers. It's easy to see how such practices, in fact, damage the entire industry and make the travelers choose other means of transportation when possible. But it doesn't seem that things will change anytime soon.

Is there any way around?

Unfortunately, it's rather unlikely that the air companies will make comparison shopping for tickets any easier, at least in the short run. Since the industry is not regulated and there are no real initiatives on standardizing the prices, the price fragmentation and abundance of hidden costs will surely prevail in this market. This means just one thing: you should always double and triple check the conditions and additional fees when shopping around for cheap air tickets and try to get as much information as possible before making the payment. Of course, this will make the process even more tedious and time-consuming, but it may save you a lot of money in return.
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If you consider yourself a weathered traveler with a long history of domestic and international flights you surely know how it has become hard to find really cheap air tickets. What we considered as "ok" options only ten years ago are now the cheapest fares we can get, and the ongoing trends aren't very optimistic in that sense. Air ticket prices have increased considerably and finding cheap air tickets has become very hard. There's a number of reasons for this situation and you have to understand them very well in order to be realistic about your cheap air ticket expectations these days. So, let's take a closer look at the current state of affairs in the airline industry and learn why cheap air tickets have become such a rare beast.

Falling competition

Some 15 years ago the airline market was a really crowded scene. There were dozens of major, average and small airlines offering a very broad range of flights and ticket prices. But what do we have now? Only three major airlines in the USA, two in Canada and several serving the entire Europe. The industry has changed a lot since 9/11 and especially since the 2008 crisis. Many companies went bankrupt, others merged with larger players, and as a result there are now fewer airlines servicing an ever increasing number of both business and leisure travelers. Needless to say, with less intense competition on the market it's much simpler for the large players to set their own prices - you just have no other choice.

Raising oil prices

It's actually surprising that cheap air tickets are still possible to get in general assuming the tremendous increase in fuel prices over the last two decades. In the late 1990's a gallon of fuel was only $0.50 whereas now it costs at least five times more! And the fuel prices don't show any signs of decline in the future. The airlines have tried taking much of the increased fuel cost upon themselves, but this was actually one of the reasons for the large number of bankruptcies in the industry over the last several years. Eventually, part of the increased fuel cost is now transferred over the customers, so finding cheap air tickets has become more problematic.

Numerous fees

The authorities aren't helping the travelers as well, introducing a wide range of fees that sometimes can make up half of the price you pay for the ticket. All those 9/11, immigration, airport and security fees can make a regular domestic flight really pricey. And the rest of the world seems to catch up with the trend, introducing new fees and taxes that make it harder and harder to get cheap air tickets every year.

Profit-oriented companies

The airline industry has suffered a major blow after the 2008 economic crisis. On the one hand, the collapse of the credit and banking system has shattered the financial stability for many companies. And on the other hand, the declining economy resulted in lower economic activity, fewer travelers and more demand for cheap air tickets. In order to survive in such harsh conditions the companies that have managed to live through the hardest period were forced to reduce the number of flights, thus making sure that all their flights are full, and prefer business travellers, who are traditionally very flexible in terms of ticket price, to leisure travelers, who are rather price-sensitive. And since the overall picture hasn't changed much over the last several years, it's very likely that such a state of affairs will persist for a very long time. Read More......

Italian drivers are certainly infamous for being very aggressive and compulsive on the road - a fact that may scare off a lot of travels who are thinking about getting a rental car on their trip to Italy. But don't let the unexpected creativity of Italian drivers become such a big factor for you, since it's only common to see such behavior in large cities with heavy traffic. And there are several good reasons to stay out of cities while driving a car in Italy. So it's definitely worth addressing car rental companies if you want to make your Italian vacation as comfortable and exciting as possible. Still, you may want to consider certain recommendations when working with local car rental companies.

Avoid big cities

It's hard to stress enough the advice to avoid driving in large Italian cities. First of all, the traffic there may be very heavy and crazy, so you will simply crash the joy of driving in Italy by getting stressed out on the narrow and crowded streets of large places. Typically, the major metropolitan tourist destinations such as Rome, Milano, Naples, Verona or Venice have good public transportation networks and therefore you don't really need a car of your own to get around most large cities. Besides, some Italian cities are gradually introducing the tax system, which makes it rather expensive to drive in the car in the city center. So if you're looking forward to staying only in large places and don't plan going off the beaten path, there's no need to address the local car rental companies altogether.

Drive with the help of GPS

It makes sense to rent a car only if you want to go to the Italian countryside, which is a great idea if you're looking for the real local flavor. Most of the smaller villages are off the national train grid, so you will actually benefit from renting a car. However, you should definitely get a GPS navigator if there's so an option, because getting around the small curvy roads, some of which can even be uncharted, is definitely a great idea. And you should also get a road map as a backup in case the GPS is not accurate enough or you're going to a really remote place.

Don't ignore the local laws

You must carry the International Driver's License when renting a car in Italy. The laws and regulations regarding the necessary car contents such as reflective vests and signs tend to vary from one region to another, so you should definitely ask car rental companies about the local regulations in order to avoid possible complications with the police. And always make sure that your car corresponds to these regulations - it's the rental company's duty to make it all work.

Drive the car of your dream!

Italy is where the famous sport car brands are produced and many travelers sure feel inclined to drive a super car along the picturesque Italian countryside. Fortunately for you, there is a number of car rental companies that will make your dream come true. Of course, it won't come as cheap as renting a regular car. But if you've been dreaming about driving a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Alfa Romeo through the narrow country roads and the magnificent mountainous landscapes, this is definitely the best option to make your dream come true!
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When you first think of it, it's rather strange to see any risks in addressing car rental companies around the globe as it's a type of business that doesn't involve large amounts of money or too much access to personal data. But when you hear various stories about travelers being literally ripped by car rental companies for services they didn't even know of or becoming victims of fraud schemes involving car rental companies, it's easy to become overly-cautious about all types of rental services, especially when going overseas. To be adequate in your expectations and avoid any risks regarding car rental companies you don't have to become a car rental expert. There are simple rules you must follow, which will help you avoid unpleasant situations and get the best service no matter where you wish to go to. Here are some simple tips on how to stay on the safe side when dealing with car rental companies:

Make sure they are licensed

First thing you must do when dealing with car rental companies is checking if they are licensed. Of course, it seems obvious that a large rental business is a licensed legal entity. But in some countries that might be a different case. And of course, when dealing with a legal entity it's much easier to settle any disputes compared to working with an individual. So always make sure that the company you are looking forward to renting a vehicle from is an actual legal entity to begin with. It's easy to do when checking their site online. And if they don't have one, well, this should certainly raise doubts about using their services.

Learn the local peculiarities and legislation

Local legislation can be a pain in the neck, especially when traveling abroad. Don't expect the local rules to be identical to those of the US - this is a mistake that causes too many problems to international travelers. Check the local legislation, especially when it comes to gas fees, contracts, extra services, airport and station taxes and so on. This will save you a lot of money and nerve when you get to your destination and will also give you some firm base for settling any kind of disputes with the rental company if such arise.

Check out the competition

No matter how small the country of your destination is there should be at least a couple of car rental companies to choose from. And you always have to check the competition not only for better prices but also to learn the average rates for different types of cars in the country. Even if there are two or three car rental companies, the competition will force them to keep the rates at a similar level and it will be easier for you to pick a car according to the local fees and circumstances.

Inquire about all the extras

Extra fees and services can sometimes add up hundreds of dollars to your original receipt at a car rental company. And these extras tend to vary a lot from country to country. For example, a child seat can go free of charge in Finland but it may cost you additional 15 Euro per day in Italy. The same goes for return fees and other widespread extra services. That's why you always have to check the price-list for extras and inquire about the conditions when these extras apply. This can save you a lot of money and free you from unnecessary stress.

Check the feedback

The common practice of providing feedback on different types of services such as accommodation, transportation, housing, catering and so on involves car rental companies as well. There are many travel forums that feature separate threads for discussing car rental companies and there are even separate review sites to check the feedback. So make sure to address these resources any time you want to rent a car, especially abroad, since it can prepare you for all types of situations that other travelers already went through.
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If you really want to travel at affordable rates there are different ways to get cheap air tickets. Just google the term ""cheap air tickets" and you'll get tons of helpful tips that all boil down to several simple truths that can really help find what you need. Among these tips you will sometimes find two contradictory recommendations: buying early and buying late. While buying early sounds quite logic to anyone who has ever dealt with preliminary booking and knows that the earlier you book a plane, car or hotel the lower are the rates, buying late sounds a bit strange. However, it's a very common practice for all types of airlines to offer last minute deals on plane tickets they haven't managed to sell. The mechanism behind this practice is rather simple: airlines prefer making at least some money on unsold tickets rather than flying a half-empty plane. And that's exactly why last minute purchase can result in very cheap air tickets. But what is the risk involved with such a method of purchasing and is the prize really worth it?

The risks are rather apparent, when you come to think of the situation.

First of all, last minute deals may pop up within hours or even minutes before departure. This implies your full readiness for the flight, and you may even want to be at the airport already in order to reap the benefit of a last minute deal. It's really hard to imagine anyone going to the airport without having a valid ticket, actually, so this may seem like a very awkward practice, especially those who prefer having all things ready in advance. On the other hand, such cheap air tickets can add excitement to compulsive travelers who just come to the airport and pick a destination on the spot. But in any case, you will need to have your luggage ready for the trip and able to set off to the departure zone in a matter of minutes.

The availability of seats is another obvious risk associated with the last minute ticket purchasing . Sure, if you're traveling alone there will usually be an empty seat on virtually any plane, unless it's the peak of the traveling season. But if you're traveling with your spouse, partner, business associate or children? The likelihood of finding at least two adjacent seats with last-minute deals is very low and you risk flying different planes with your traveling companions. It's hardly acceptable even for the least pretentious of travelers, so this might be a very bad idea. The bottom line is that last-minute ticket purchasing can only be practiced by those traveling alone, unless you really want to soak up with stress during your trip, worrying about your travel companions.

And then there's the question of availability. Sure, most flights have at least a couple of empty seats before departure that are sold as last minute deals. But what if the plane is literally full and you really need to take it. This is one of the most pronounced risks when looking for cheap air tickets through last minute deals. If the timing is crucial for you and you really need to get to your destination on a precise date or hour, then buying late can be too much of a risk to assume. However, if you are flexible with your travel and can wait for another flight in case the current one is sold out, then last minute purchasing can be a really good source of cheap air tickets.
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We all want to travel without spending too much money, there's nothing wrong with that. The pursuit for cheap air tickets is shared by so many people that there's nothing to be ashamed of when shopping around for tickets online. However, there are reasonable limits to how cheap the tickets can be, which are defined not by the economical possibility of buying cheap air tickets but by the quality of service you get for your money. In this sense the pursuit for extra cheap air tickets can actually result in very unpleasant situations and far more compromises than you are ready to make in the first place. So how can you tell if going cheap is really worth the effort and when you simply have to stop?

The first thing you probably do when looking for cheap air tickets is early booking, and that's a very good idea. Early booking is definitely the easiest way to get affordable fares for virtually any flight. The earlier you book the better are the savings. But this may not always be the case with your trip, since booking several months in advance may simply be not your story. What if it's an emergency trip or a business meeting that was decided only several days in advance? That certainly excludes the possibility of an early booking. But still, if you have the time to book in advance - just do it, because it's the best way to get cheap air tickets without sacrificing anything.

Using discounter airlines is the second and most common solution for buying cheap air tickets. These airlines service most major domestic and international routes and are present virtually all over the globe. Discounter airlines have earned their nickname due to the lower overall price of their fares compared to traditional airlines, and that's exactly what most travelers are attracted by. However, when you check the details, things turn not as bright as you would expect. The level of comfort is usually inferior on discounter flights, all services such as meals, drinks and luggage are subject to extra fees, the flight timing can also be inconvenient. And as a result you end up paying a bit less and sacrificing a great degree of comfort that is taken for granted with traditional airlines. Of course, it's up to you do decide whether this is acceptable or not, but in many cases there's a significant tradeoff when dealing with discounter airlines.

The practise of connected flights, odd flight times and alternative airports, which are often suggested by saving tip experts are, of course, difficult to overlook. When choosing connected flights over direct flights, especially if it's an international flight it is definitely true that it can sometimes save you hundreds of dollars. Alternative airports may also prove to be an affordable solution if you're departing from an area with several airports. And odd flight times during the nights and on low days can surely get the air ticket cost low. But is it really worth it? Imagine spending 12+ hours with several connected flights instead of 3 hours with a direct route. Or having to drive 50 miles just to get to an alternative airport. And are you so eager to stay up all night just to take that early morning flight? In cases like these there's an immense degree of discomfort involved that is rarely taken into account before you actually make the trip. However, when you have to deal with it there are more implications than just the cost of your trip. Spending all day running between connected flights or choosing late/early flights will seriously deteriorate your productivity, which is especially crucial during business trips. And even if it's a leisure trip, are you really eager to spend the next couple of days getting back to norm after your tedious long flight? Certainly not! That's exactly when cheap air tickets aren't worth the effort they require.
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In this day and age when all types of services are subject to globalization and it's easy to find the same things at opposite sides of the planet, it's not surprising that car rental companies all around the world tend to look all the same. Sure, there's a local flavor to any type of service and you can't deny the influence of local competition, gas prices and economy in general. However, wherever you go, car rental companies will tend to offer virtually the same services and the same options. The only things that will differ are the car selection and the rental rates. Well, that's how it all looks at first. But if you take the time to take a closer look at car rental companies around the globe you will realize that there are certain specifics you must learn before renting a car, if you don't want to end up paying an enormous extra charge. Here are the things to watch out for when reviewing the services of car rental companies around the globe:

Local taxes

The first thing to consider when travelling around the globe and looking for rental cars is the local taxation. Quite often, large airports, train stations and sea ports carry special taxes for all types of services provided on their territory, including vehicle rental. This doesn't actually depend on car rental companies but this can add up to the cost of renting the car, and the difference can be significant depending on your destination. So make sure to learn about the local airport and station fees before renting the vehicle on site - it's often more convenient to take a taxi to the city and find a rental office there that doesn't carry any additional taxes and fees.

Extra charges, fees and penalties

Extra charges and hidden costs are the most popular tools used by car rental companies to make you pay more, and they tend to get very tricky when travelling abroad. If you know your domestic rental fees and extra charges this doesn't mean anything when traveling abroad, since car rental companies around the world will use different methods and charge different extra rates. This is especially important when going to such places as the European Union, where the services market may seem regulated but where every country has its own rules, practices and extra charges respectively. So it can make a huge difference if you rent a car in Berlin and leave it Prague, for example, or if you do the same in Lisbon and Rome - there will be different charges and regulations involved.

Insurance

Insurance is another common tool for making customers pay more, and it can make a big difference depending on where you want to go. In most countries car insurance is mandatory and car rental companies are obliged to have all their cars insured before offering them for rent. However, in certain countries the responsibility may be transferred to the customer, so the rental insurance will be mandatory. Make sure to learn about local insurance requirements in order to decide whether you actually need insurance or if it's just an option.

Traffic rules

Knowing the traffic rules of the country you will go to is a must. Sure, in most cases all the rules are similar if not identical, even for countries with different traffic directions. However, minor regulations and rules can make a big difference, especially when renting a car. For example, in some countries baby seats are required to carry a child in the car by law, while in other countries it is an option. The same goes for mobile phone use while driving. All these small regulations may require you to get extras with your car such as hands-free cell devices, child seats and others. That's why it is important to learn the traffic rules before renting the car abroad.

Competition

Learning the local competition can give you an advantage when shopping around car rental companies overseas. Depending on how crowded the rental market is, you will get different rates and different extra costs. So it may be more affordable to rent a car in a large city where the competition is fierce and drive to your destination, instead of paying more in a smaller town where there's only one rental office.
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Flying cheap is definitely one of those things all travelers take as a blessing. First of all, because it can really take off the pressure off your traveling budget. But also because it's an opportunity that doesn't come around all that often. Still, travelers tend to find various ways of buying cheap air tickets and often succeed in their intension to keep traveling costs within reasonable limits. That's how all those tips on cheap air tickets are created. However, besides the obvious advantage of reduced prices, cheap flights have certain drawbacks that tend to surface more often than with ordinary priced tickets. Some people tend to overlook them, focusing solely on the price of the flight, but this doesn't necessarily mean that you won't feel them. So in order to be ready for possible drawbacks of cheap air tickets make sure to understand the price they usually come at:

Convenience

The most common price you have to pay for cheap air tickets is the convenience of your flight. Quite often the cheapest fares are available for odd-time flights such as nighttime flights, between secondary airports on off days of the week. This means that you will have to take additional measures for getting to your exact destination, get up very early (or don't get any sleep at all) and spend extra days somewhere you may not want to stay for too long. Not to mention connected flights that can stretch a routine several hour flight into a whole day of flights and spending time at airports. As a rule of thumb, the most convenient flights will cost you more, so in order to get cheap air tickets you will have to sacrifice the convenience factor of your trip.

Comfort

Cheap air tickets are usually available through discount airlines, which are primarily known for their minimalistic approach towards all forms of comfort during flights. Not that you will have a hard time finding a pillow or getting a meal on board, only that it will cost you additional money, which will diminish the whole idea of getting cheap air tickets in the first place. Traditional airlines may sometimes adopt the same approach when selling cheap air tickets, so get ready to give away some of the usual comforts if you want to fly cheap.

Availability

One of the main tips on getting cheap air tickets is booking them well in advance, which makes the question of availability all too evident. Cheap flights aren't as easy to find, especially if you have to fly soon. So you will always have to settle with the options available at the time of your purchase, which aren't very broad in most cases. Moreover, the selection of airlines, through which you will be able to get cheaper airfares will always be limited of compared to standard fares. And that is why the problem of availability is one of the most pronounced questions when trying to get cheap air tickets.

Flexibility

All of the articles providing tips on cheap flights will suggest that you become more flexible in your choices when flying. Flexibility should be exercised in everything, starting with the class of seats to when and where you fly. Of course, being flexible to an extent is certainly a great thing and it can really save you money. But what if you're already used to a certain level of comfort, convenience and service quality? Wouldn't it mean that by becoming more flexible you will simply have to refuse from all the things you actually find pleasing during a flight? In this perspective, becoming too flexible is often a synonym to putting your personal needs behind. And it's up to you to decide whether this price is fair enough for getting cheap air tickets.
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If you fly abroad or to distant cities in your country at least 2 times a year, you must ever thought about the inadequacy of airfares pricing. You may know  that fuel usage is directly related to the weight of the aircraft, and that's exactly why we have to pay those extra charges for overweight luggage. Still, it sounds ridiculous that a person has to pay extra for additional several pounds on their luggage while the seat itself would cost them the same regardless whether they weight 80 or 280 pounds. The idea of weight-based airfares is nothing new and it has been floating around for decades. But this year Samoa Air, a small airline in the Pacific region, has become the first company to actually adopt this concept to the surprise and frustration of thousands of travelers.

As strange and outrageous it may sound, Samoa Air is the first company that you can get cheap air tickets from for being thin. And if you think about it for a second, their approach sounds very logic. What they do is that they set a base rate for all their flights, which are usually small flights between local islands, and multiply it by the passenger's and their luggage's total weight. For example, a flight from the Samoa's capital Apiu to Asau has the base fare of $1.32, which is multiplied by the passenger's total weight including luggage. So if your weight is 160 pounds and your luggage is 40 pounds (a total of approximately 100 kilograms) then the flight will cost you $132 ($1.32 by 100 kilos). And if you're only 100 pounds with no luggage then the price will be nearly twice as less. This sure sounds great for lightweight travellers as they will always get cheap air tickets with this airline. But is it actually fair?

Samoa Air has faced substantial criticism on launching this pricing scheme, which has earned the nickname "fat tax". And this was certainly very unpleasant for Samoan women, 80% of whom are estimated to be medically obese by the World Health Organization. Perphaps this statistical fact was one of the reasons why the company has decided to go with the controversial pricing scheme. Still it seems there's certain logic and rationalism behind this decision. Fuel use is directly affected by the aircraft's weight. And when speaking of the small aircrafts used by Samoa air, every passenger's weight counts. So instead of charging for seats that can weight differently, the airline is charging for something that affects their costs in a direct manner. You can call this pricing policy whatever you want, but you have to give the airline credit for being very smart with their accounting.

Some of you may wonder how this pricing scheme actually works. Well, it's very simple. When booking a flight online you have to enter your approximate weight including the luggage and you will get the booking price. After that, when you arrive to the airport, the workers of Samoa Air will weight you and your luggage on site and will charge you the exact airfare depending on your exact weight. To some travelers this might sound outrageous, but is it really so especially when compared to luggage checks and internal scans that have become routine in US airports? So if you needed a good reason for losing some weight, having the opportunity to get cheap air tickets with Samoa Air is certainly one of them.
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Being an international traveler is definitely fun, especially if you're into learning about new cultures, visiting new places and getting to know new people. Whether doing a business travel or while on vacation abroad, it's always pleasant to discover a new country, learn about its history and get to see its most attractive places. And of course, using the services of car rental companies may prove to be very helpful in such journeys. By renting a car you can easily go to places that are off the beaten path or simply require a lot of time if traveling by local transportation or going with a guided tour. However, as an international traveler you have to be rather careful with car rental companies abroad because they will want to take advantage of you and make you pay more by applying various techniques. If you don't want your journey with extra costs, the following recommendations should always be kept in mind when dealing with car rental companies abroad:

They assume you want  to throw your money around

Somehow, all international travelers are automatically assumed to be wealthy regardless of where they are from, especially if they've come a long way to their destination. Sure, this sounds plausible when dealing with vacation-goers, but even those who are enjoying their holiday on the seaside sure know how to count their money and won't be eager to overpay for car rental. That's why you should always shop around between several car rental companies to see the actual state of affairs on the market in order to avoid being taken advantage of by shady car rentals.

They believe you no little about the local regulations

Car rental companies offer make international customers to pay more stating that specific extra costs are required by local legislation. This is rather common when being offered with insurance waivers as most rental services will try to make you believe that it's mandatory in their country. In order to avoid such situations, take a minute browsing the web and learn about the basic rental requirements in the country of your destination. This will save you a lot of time and money when dealing with car rental companies that want to make money off you.

They hide extra fees and believe you aren't too shrewd

Extras are the favorite method for making customers pay more utilized by nearly all car rental companies. It's a regular practice and you will surely find it all around the globe. However, the extent of features requiring extra payments as well as the argumentation for such a policy may vary greatly from company to company. For example, car rental companies may state that it's mandatory to carry a child's seat while the law doesn't require you to do so. Look out for these little details and make sure to learn the local laws and traffic rules in order to avoid paying for extras that aren't actually mandatory.

Apart from the evident extra options, there will also be hidden extra costs that may be concealed until it's time to pay the final check. The most common extra costs include empty gas fees, early return fees, 24-hour rent days, return location fees and many others. These costs may differ a lot from country to country and company to company, ranging from minor to times the base rate. That's why it is very important to check the wording in the special provisions section of your contract, preferably in a language you understand the best. If the company will refuse to provide you with their cart of extra fees and costs then they are definitely trying to squeeze more money out of an international traveler.
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It's hard to deny the fact that car insurance companies can help you out a lot during a trip. There are many situations when the mobility of a personal car is needed, and car rental companies are certainly the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to finding a vehicle. Fortunately, there are numerous companies located all around the globe, and even in the least popular destination you are very likely to find at least a single car rental service. But it also makes a difference how you use their services, especially when money really matters. Car rental can be very affordable but it may also be very expensive, and it usually depends on the choices you make rather than the local offers. So if you want to get adequate car rental for a reasonable price, make sure to consider the following tips wherever you find car rental companies:

Advance booking

The best way to get the exact car you need at a reasonable price is to book it in advance. Thanks to the Internet, it usually takes just a minute to find a car rental company at the place of your destination and make a reservation for a specific date. Moreover, you can usually choose from more cars than are available immediately on-site, so it will be easier to get the exact car you need.

Defining your exact needs

And speaking of cars, it is very important that you define your exact needs before making a reservation. Do you need a small car to get around alone or you need a mini-van to fit your entire family with comfort? What are the local gas prices and which car will give you the best gas mileage? Do you need a smoker or non-smoker car? What about electric drives and does the country have a good-enough infrastructure for them? Try to answer all the questions that come to your mind and define, which car or range of cars will suit you best before making the reservation.

Choosing not only by lowest prices

The most common temptation when checking out car rental companies is to rent the cheapest car they have. However, if you study the offers, it is quite often that the difference between the cheapest car and a decent mid-class vehicle is only just a couple of dollars per day. So there's no point in sacrificing comfort when you can get a better vehicle for a slightly higher price. Moreover, some car rental companies have very flexible pricing policies, which allow renting expensive and luxury vehicles for a very reasonable price. So if you pay a little extra you can add some show-off value to your trip.

Shopping around

Comparison shopping is essential when dealing with many things and car rental is no exception. It especially makes sense to shop around when going to a popular destination with many car rental companies competing for the client. By checking offers from several companies you can easily find the same car available at a lower rate, which is certainly a great thing if you have a strict travel budget.

Renting off-site

Renting a car at the airport or train station sure feels convenient and logic. However, it's a sure way to pay more for car rental. Many airports, train stations and sea ports have additional taxes for all types of transportation services, so you will end up paying more just because you're there. Besides, car rental companies understand that travelers feel inclined to rent a car right upon their arrival, so they usually offer higher rates than they usually do. That's why it is recommended to get out of the airport, go to the city center or right to the car rental company's office and get your car there.
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When looking for cheap air tickets online one of the most common questions that has definitely crossed your mind is the difference between ordinary and discount airlines. You've definitely seen the offers from both types of airlines and wondered why the latter tend to offer really cheap air tickets and why the former can charge triple the price of a discount flight. The confusion can get even more pronounced when comparing similar routes where only a single type of companies is present - the prices there can be ridiculously different. In order to understand why that is so, we first have to look deeper into the primary goals each company type has in their business strategy.

Traditional airlines are all about profit and they will try to make it out of everything. That's a normal business approach and they've been doing this for almost a century. Of course, there are certain basic costs they have to cover such as fuel, labor, taxes and so on. But through the years the big airlines have realized that comfort and convenience is another factor that determines which company the customer will choose. If they can pay the same price for a mediocre level of comfort in an old plane and improved comfort in a new spacy plane, they will certainly choose the latter because flying with comfort is what most people want. So, when there were only large airline companies on the market their competition boiled down to offering better planes and extras, while the tickets themselves were overpriced since travelers had no other choice. But things have drastically changed when discounter airlines have entered the market.

Many people mistake discount or low-cost airlines with every operator that actually offers lower ticket prices. This isn't correct, because discount airlines distinct themselves first and foremost by employing a business model that is different from that of traditional airlines. This business model is aimed primarily at cutting down all costs by all means necessary. As a result, the aircrafts used by discounters are cheaper with no extra features, there's only one class of seats, all reservations are made online, all extra services such as baggage, meals and even pillows come at an additional price, and the flights are usually made between secondary airports and during off-hours to reduce fees and traffic problems. This always results in lower operational costs and cheap air tickets but it comes at the expense of basic comfort that is default with traditional airlines. Some legacy carriers actually tend to employ the same business model or at least some of its aspects, but there's always a pronounced difference between the level of comfort offered by discounters and legacy carriers.

The two types of carriers usually tend to avoid direct competition, servicing the same routes through different airports and hubs. But when there's actually a discount airline present on the market, traditional carriers tend to offer cheap air tickets as well, although they will rarely drop the prices to the level of discounter tickets. Still, it's always a question of personal comfort you are ready to sacrifice in order to get cheap air tickets. With discount carriers you can easily save a lot of money on your trip but only if you are able to refuse from such basic services as meals, blankets or drinks during the flight. If not, the cost of your flight will end up being the same if not more expensive than with a traditional carrier. So there's always a price to pay if you want to get cheap air tickets.
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Unfortunately with car rental you often find yourself in a situation when  you pick a car at a favorable rate and drive happily until turns into a check with twice the rate when you return the car to the rental office. That is a common practice of rental companies to increase your deal by little extras here and there. They would advertise low rental fees and adding a lot of extra hidden fees on top, which can sometimes push the final rates twice as high and even higher. SO to avoid overpaying for car rental due to extra fees it's highly recommended to look out for the following little extras that car rental companies may throw into the rental contract:

Insurance

Insurance is one of the most common methods car insurance companies utilize for making you pay more. And in some states or countries it's hard to avoid it, since certain insurance waivers are mandatory for rental cars. Sure, you can try to use own insurance policy or credit card to pay for the potential liability, but you will have to check with your provider first. And this may be very challenging when going overseas, so you will be forced to get insurance for an extra fee.

Not-full tank

Most car rental companies will add an extra fee if you return the car with a not-full tank, even if you've initially rented it without a full tank. Some companies offer full tank options that allow you to avoid the extra fuel fees, but their per-gallon prices may differ from those you would actually find at local gas stations.

Full days and early return

It is very important to remember that all car rental companies have 24-hour days. So if you take a car on Monday morning and return it on Tuesday evening, this will count for two full days. In case you don't want to pay for two full days, you may want to look for car rental companies that also feature hourly fees. But such rates are always higher than daily or weekly rates, so you may end up saving little or no money at all.

Returning a car earlier than intended may seem like a good idea, but most car rental companies will charge you extra for doing so. If you've booked a car for a particular period but returned it earlier, there may be extra fees or you may be reimbursed the difference with the interest taken out.

Age restrictions

Most car rental companies will charge extra if the driver is younger than 25. Even higher rates will apply for drivers aged 21 or younger. Senior drivers who are older than 70 years old will also get special fees, if the rental company will generally accept their request.

Mileage limits

In most cases, car rental companies have unlimited mileage. However, you should be careful when travelling to a different state or country, as the regulations may differ a lot and you may be charged for driving an excess of miles per day.

Drop-off charges

Dropping off the car at a location different from where you've taken it from will usually result in an extra fee, but this usually depends on the company and where you've actually dropped the car off. Usually, the drop-off rates apply when leaving the car in a different state or country, and depending on the case these may rocket sky-high.

Multiple driver fees

If there's more than a single driver added to the contract, the company may charge an extra fee. However, some car rental companies won't charge extra fees if the second driver is the main driver's spouse or partner.

Additional extras

Car rental companies will offer a wide range of extras that can be rather useful for an additional price. Things like child seats, GPS navigation systems, top racks, entertainment systems, hand controls and more will cost differently depending on company and country, so inquire in advance when booking the car.
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If you are planning to move around the location you travel to a lot, especially when travelling abroad, car rental services may be a good solution for you. The convenience of having a car to drive around is one of the things that can make or break your vacation or business trip, so it's very useful to have car rental companies at your disposal. Not to mention, the cost of renting a car may sometimes be a little too high, especially when traveling to destinations with low competition among car rental companies. Besides, even with normal competition it may be a bit costly to rent a car if you're on a limited budget. The following recommendations will help you to save money regardless of your destination:

Book early. It's a common practice, booking a car early will usually deliver lower rates as compared to immediate rental. With so many car rental companies working online, it's really easy to book a car regardless of your destination or arrival date. To put it in other words, the earlier you book the cheaper is the rental, besides you also get a broader selection of cars and a guarantee that the particular model you've chosen will be available at the exact time and place of your arrival.

Rent cars outside airports. Renting a car in the airport or sea port is certainly very convenient, since you don't need to go anywhere else without a car. Though, some airports tend to have special taxes for all types of transportation on their territory, so you will pay more right from the start. In addition, car rental companies know that people arriving to the air or sea port don't have much to choose from and don't know the local rates, so they will usually charge more than they would in the city. On this account it's better to go out of the airport and look for car rental companies in the city center or specific local landmarks for better rates.

Prefer non-smoking cars. There are two major advantages to renting a non-smoking vehicle. Firstly, non-smoker cars tend to be in a better overall condition and lack the fragrance of various chemical deodorants that are used to conceal the smell of tobacco. Secondly, some car rental companies will also offer additional discounts for getting a non-smoker vehicle. Very likely it won't be very convenient for smokers, but the difference in rates may sometimes be significant enough to consider this option.

Drop additional insurance. All car rental companies offer additional insurance waivers, which are used to cover possible damage to the car or loss of belongings inside it. Depending on their purposes these waivers may seem very attractive, but they are purely optional and you can rent a car without them. Each waiver will usually add several dollars to your daily rental rate, so if you're staying for a long time this can result in a rather hefty amount of money. Anyways, if you have the money and think that certain waivers will actually give you some peace of mind, then it's certainly better to grab the insurance.

Shop around. It's quite usual that each location has several car rental companies on the market, depending on the population and number of travellers. But even in the least popular destinations there is more than one provider offering car rental services. It's obvious, the local competition may be low and the different in rates may be insignificant. And still, shopping around always makes sense, especially if you're looking for a particular car to rent. Thanks to the Internet, shopping around with car rental companies is very easy these days so don't hesitate to do it.
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Here we are going to speak about the easy ways to get air tickets for lower prices, and this is about choosing the right timing of your flight. Of course everyone knows how the high and low seasons affect air flight prices, but there's way more to the time factor than just that. If you have some flexibility to the timing of your trip, make sure to consider the following important time factors that will affect your chances of getting cheap air tickets:

Mid-week flights are cheaper

Flying around weekends is always more expensive because the traffic increases during the days when people don't have to go to work. That's exactly why air companies tend to raise their prices - they know that people will accept paying more for personal convenience. But if your primary goal is to get cheap air tickets then it's highly recommended to choose mid-week fights, which are usually less crowded and cost less as well. There's the benefit of getting cheaper tickets and a wider selection of seats to choose from.

Avoid holidays

Holidays are definitely the worst time of the year to fly just anywhere. The traditional Christmas holidays turn airports all around the globe into hectic hubs crowded with travelers. And no wonder that fight companies will do their best to reap at this fruitful season to the max. Not only the air ticket costs are higher during the holidays, but it also may be very problematic to get a ticket in the first place, let alone shop around for one. So if there's a possibility to make your trip before or after the festive season go with it!

Check the high and low season of your destination

Apart from the traditional holidays, there may be local high and low seasons to look out for. These can be associated with particular local holidays, events or pleasant weather. For example, visiting Paris or Rome in June will cost you more because it's the high tourist season there thanks to the great weather. Visiting Munich in October will also be pricey due to the traditional Oktoberfest. Check the local calendar for special dates and find out the most popular tourist season in order to avoid paying more for air tickets.

Check the local vacation period

Another way to get cheap air tickets and have a good time at the place of your destination is to time your flight on the local vacation period. For example, people recommend going to London in August because it's the usual vacation period for most people living and working there, so you'll be able to avoid crowds and it will be cheaper to fly there. Check for such periods anywhere you go, but time your flight carefully in order to avoid the return of vacation-goers, which will crowd the airports and put pressure on the airlines.
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Cheap air tickets are almost impossible to find during the holiday season. However, with these tips it will be easier to find cheap air tickets during that special time of the year.

Traveling for holidays can be a challenge on its own, but if you choose to fly during the festive season you will surely get into a fierce budget battle. Holidays have always been cash cows for airlines and they won't miss the chance to earn some extra money off the high number of travellers that stretch from Thanksgiving until New Year. That's why it may be quite problematic to get cheap air tickets for your holiday flights. But this certainly doesn't mean that it's impossible. One important thing to understand, however, is that you may be required to settle for something less affordable if you want to get cheap air tickets altogether. Miracles do happen, but if you are a realist then you have to understand that flying during holidays is always expensive, it's only a matter of high low you can push the price of your ticket to make it more or less affordable. And with the following tips it will definitely be easier to push the prices to the lower price segment:

There is no thing such as "too early" when buying cheap air tickets for the holiday season. Even if it's summer, you will find it hard to get cheap air tickets for Christmas and the longer you will wait the harder it will be for you to get an affordable fare. That's why you have to start looking for air tickets right now regardless of your plans and uncertainties. After all, having a flight on the exact day is exactly how plans are made, so start booking online today.

Ticket prices tend to increase right before and after the holiday, so it's easier to get cheap air tickets when flying earlier or long after the holiday. For example, during Christmas the fares usually go up on the 16th of December and go down after 1st of January. So planning your flights outside this time interval will give you a higher chance for finding cheap air tickets. Sure, it may be not the most convenient option, but it will sure cost you less.

However, if you simply cannot avoid the price bubble during the holiday season, there's a simple way to go around it: fly on the exact day of the holiday. While this may sound a bit illogic, getting cheap air tickets is much easier for the big day because most travelers tend to avoid flying on holidays fearing the delays and other things that may spoil their festive spirit. Sure, there's a huge risk of missing all the fun, but if you choose the right flight it will be easy to get cheap air tickets and get to your family on time.

While it's always more convenient to take continuous flights right from your local airport it is usually the easiest way to end up with expensive airfares. If your primary aim is to get cheap air tickets then you will have to sacrifice some traveling comfort and be more flexible with your flights. First of all, take the trip to the nearest metropolis for your flight instead of using the local small airport, since air tickets will always cost less in larger cities. And think of going with connected flights for even lower prices, unless you're travelling with children. No money is worth saving when it comes to the stress of a connected flight with a child.

Eliminating extra fees can be easy if you take fewer clothes with you or use the public transportation to get to the airport instead of taking a taxi. It sure may be more convenient, but it's an easy way to make your entire trip more expensive. If you weren't lucky to get cheap air tickets in the first place, then try to at least cut your extra costs by sacrificing some of your comfort for the budget's sake.
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International flights are often a challenge for a tourist due to several factors. First of all, it's the duration of the flight, which is usually way longer than your standard domestic flight. Depending on your destination, it may take you more than 10 hours to do the trip and you may sometimes change planes to get where you need to be. International flights are also subject to special taxes and are serviced not only by domestic carriers, so different policies and restrictions may apply. At last it may be hard to get cheap air tickets for such flight. But the good things is there are some smart tips you may use to increase the chances of getting your cheap flight despite its international character:

Book ahead

Booking early is the simplest way to get cheap air tickets, which works for all types of airfares. But in case of international destinations you may want to book several months in advance to make sure that the price is low and there are still seats available. Besides, you can find the right seats much easier when buying your tickets very early, which can be very important on a long international trip. And if you're flying during the local peak season (holidays, good weather, special events, etc.) you may want to book your flight even earlier.

Try to plan your trip off-season

And speaking of seasons, it's hard to argue that flying during the peak season isn't a very good idea for cheap air tickets. Airlines will do their best to reap the income of the high season so they will put higher prices on everything simply because there may be no alternatives available for that time. That's why it is important to check for the local peak season and try to schedule your trip at least several weeks before or after the peak. Keep in mind that a high season isn't only a matter of tourist activity. International students may be returning home during breaks, local holidays may attract more travelers and so on. So make sure to check the local calendar and book your flight farther from the important dates.

Think about alternative destinations

If you have some degree of flexibility to your trip, you may want to check for an alternative destination in order to get cheap air tickets. For example, when going to France a typical flight to Paris will usually cost more than a flight to Lyon, Brussels or any other smaller destination. And you could take a train or rent a car to get to the primary destination of your trip. There may be several airports serving in the same area, such as Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo in Moscow, and it will make a huge difference price-wise, which of them you choose.

Compare fares online

Shopping around is a must when looking for cheap air tickets, and it's also very easy to do online. If the competition is sensible on the route and there are discounter airlines present, the entire market will try its best to give you the most competitive price. So you can save a lot of money by simply choosing between different carriers, picking the best service quality and price out of many offers.

Check for special offers

In contrast to the early booking tip, it also makes sense to look out for last minute deals. Quite often cheap air tickets become available in a very short time before a flight because the flight didn't sell out and the air company wants to avoid empty seats at all costs. So, even if you already have a flight booked in advance, you may want to check the last minute deals before making the trip as the low price may actually compensate for the ticket return charges if you decide to cancel your early reservation.
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In the today's world customers get a wide range of extra options by car rental companies. This usually serves two major purposes. For sure it goes here for providing additional convenience and meeting the expectations of the customer. But at the same time it's simply making more money through renting a single car, which is certainly a top priority for most car rental companies regardless of your destination. And even if it's hard to admit that, some of the options offered by car rental companies can really come in handy, especially when traveling to different locations. So it may be worth to add a little extra money on top of the standard rental fee and consider the following options provided by car rental companies:

Child seats. Everyone understands that when traveling with a small child having it in the car is very useful and safe. Moreover, more and more countries are adopting special regulations making child seats mandatory for all motorists. That means, you may actually be obliged to include this option in order to avoid possible fines. However, if the local regulations aren't very strict on the matter, it is still very useful to get a child seat because it is a proven and tried safety feature just like a seat belt.

Navigation systems. The cars being produced nowadays are normally equipped with on-board navigation systems as part of the standard package. Still, there are too many cars on the road that only have GPS as a stand-alone device, which can be offered by car rental companies for an additional price. These devices can be extremely helpful when driving around unknown places and looking forward for a fun adventure abroad. So make sure to get this option since it will certainly save you a lot of time and nerve on the road.

Ski racks, base racks and cargo boxes. Depending on your destination, equipping the car with additional features such as ski racks, bike racks or cargo boxes may prove to be very helpful. So, you will save a lot of space in the back of the car and it will allow you to get more people aboard if you have a ski rack when traveling to ski resorts. Exactly so help bike racks when going to a remote location for a little mountain biking or visiting places where car entry is forbidden. Moreover, if you're looking forward for a night out under the sky or rafting on a mountain river, a cargo box may fit the extra luggage that may be challenging to fit into the back of the car.

DVD players and entertainment systems. For those who travel with children or simply more passengers for long distances, having an entertainment system may be very helpful. Nobody denies that audio players are great, but even the most exquisite music lover may grow tired of listening to music for hours, or there may be people who don't share your tastes. There's a great solution like a DVD player or an integrated game console which will entertain your passengers, eliminating their frustration and unintended distractions from their part.

Hand controls.  Many car rental companies tend to offer special options for disabled drivers with special needs. In such cases hand controls are probably the most common option for such drivers and there's usually a choice of sides for such systems to get mounted. Anyways it's advisable to ask about hand controls in advance and make early reservations, as some car rental companies may need some time to fit the system into the car you actually want to rent.
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In the current economy, travelers actively seek ways to save money.  Cheap air tickets are the top of their list as this is often the greatest expense of travelling.  There are several ways you can find these tickets that allow you to save money so you have more cash to spend when you reach your destination.

Employ a Travel Agency

Travel agents are experts at finding low airfare and the best routes for travelers.  But they are not free which means you will have to pay for the benefit of their expertise. This can be money well spent or a complete waste of your resources depending on the outcome.  If you already have a relationship with a travel agent, you may be able to get discounts on their fees for being a loyal customer.

Check Airline Websites

This is not a bad option if you are loyal to a particular airline.  If you are, there is no sense in looking at tickets available through other airlines.  You can use your airline's website to find inexpensive tickets and to reserve your seat.  Airlines typically offer discounts to frequent flyers and loyal customers.  And you can find last minute deals on their website.

Visit Online Comparison Websites

Many websites exist that allow you to comparison shop for the best tickets.  All you do is enter your travel information including departure and destination locations, the days you want to fly, and where you wish to sit on the plane, and you will receive quotes from various airlines that have tickets available that meet your requirements. It is important you use a reputable site and read all of the fine print which details the conditions of your purchase.  Some sites do not allow refunds so if you are unable to use your ticket, you may have to eat the cost.

Each option offers benefits and drawbacks to customers.  It is up to you to determine what comprises a good deal for you.  Once you do that, you can take advantage of these opportunities to look for cheap air tickets until you find the one that is right for you.  Do not get hung up on trying to find the absolute lowest price.  This will consume your time when you can settle on a great deal that may not be the lowest one available. With a little work, you can find cheap air tickets.
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Have you ever experienced these insightful moments when you realized that flying from Boston to Philadelphia costs twice the price of going from Boston to Long Beach? Normally we overlook such evident things, but when we start paying more attention to it, it's like a strike of lightning to them. Why does a flight that is ten times shorter in distance cost twice as much as a 2000+ mile flight from the exact same city with the same airline? When guided by logic, air ticket prices should be based on the fuel consumed by the airplane (or the distance travelled, which is the same thing) and when the ticket prices go up this is exactly what the airlines want us to believe. Still, it seems that there are entirely different factors that affect the ticket pricing and determine how easy it is to find cheap air tickets for a particular flight.

No doubt, air companies do take fuel and labor into consideration. But it's not that of a direct relation that you would actually expect. Actually, there are far more influential factors involved, and you wouldn't even guess them if you wouldn't apply at least some airline logic. The first one is the demographic makeup of the particular flight, or if put simply, the kind of people that fly in a particular direction regularly. Just think, if you have ever been on a flight from Boston to New York or Hartford to Washington D.C. you've probably noticed the high percentage of "suits" on the plane. Here we have two destinations particularly popular among business travellers and airlines know this very well. That's why they can put a ridiculous price on a 200-300 mile flight, knowing that the corporations and the government will pay just any price. Still, things change dramatically for price-sensitive flight such as Fort Lauderdale to Long Beach or New York to San Jose. These flights usually carry diverse groups with lower income, and if the airlines would charge higher rates no one would actually pay the price if it were too high. On that account the 2000+ mile flights cost the same or even less than those 200+ mile flights mentioned earlier. So now you understand, there's no standard pricing policy for all flights even with the same company, as all airlines will try to take advantage of the flight's character to the max. If they see that most of the travelers are actually able to pay a higher price and won't complain about it, they will simply put the highest price they can. Anyways, there's another factor that usually prevents them from doing so - presence of discount airlines on the route.

Should a discount airline enter a particular route things change for the better and it's much easier to get cheap air tickets, and not only from them. Such companies change the balance in the micro-market of a particular flight, making it impossible for large airlines to dominate it and put ridiculous prices. That means, when a discount company includes a particular route to their offer, large airways are forced to reduce the price to virtually the same level, otherwise they will just stay out of business for this particular flight. It's clear that the discounters tend to focus only on the most popular domestic and international flights. However, they are slowly diversifying their offer and actually paying attention to routes with particularly ridiculous pricing. The latest example is the Boston-Philadelphia flight, which was dominated by US Airways for a very long time, with an average ticket costing over $650. Now that the discounters started servicing the same route, the average prices dropped dramatically and now the same US Airways is offering the very same flight for only $280. So it's obvious, the presence of discounters itself is enough to deliver cheap air tickets even if flying the big companies, so their usual pricing cannot be called adequate or rational in any way.

In conclusion it would be fair to say that air ticket pricing can sometimes lack any plausible logic. The desire for revenue shared by large airlines, which sometimes looks like pure greed, can erode any pricing policy and make a very short flight ridiculously expensive. So it's better to choose the routes where the discounters are also available if you want cheap air tickets, since it's actually the only way to get true competition in air flights today.
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