Your backpacking travel planner

There has always been a tradition for Brits to head abroad for their summer holidays, and when you consider the steady stream of poor weather that we all have to endure throughout the winter months it really is no surprise! By the time we enter spring, everyone is longing for the sort of sun and warmth that can only be provided by a weather system not found in our own country!

Obviously finances play a huge part both in terms of where people go, and whether or not they go at all. With this in mind it is important to consider the more affordable places to visit which will give you a total chance of scene, as well as climate.

One of the first places to spring to mind is Malaga, in Spain. Spain is renowned for being a cheap place to stay. Food and drink is a fraction of what you would expect to pay here in the UK, and on top of that, the coastal resorts surrounding Malaga have wonderful weather records. Of course, despite the fact that flights to Spain are in general very affordable, you still have to consider trying to find the best deals, which is why you should think about having a look at off peak flights to malaga. You can save a lot of money by searching in this way and getting there cheaply will only make you value your holiday even more!

If you are looking for an exotic holiday destination with a difference this winter then why not jet off on one of the great safari holidays available in locations across East Africa. If you tire of looking at the architecture, museums and art galleries that adorn Europe’s great cities and instead are looking for one of the best holiday destinations that will allow the visitor to get away from urbanised areas, then there is probably no better way of experiencing the great outdoors, going back to nature and seeing Africa’s vibrant and varied wildlife.

A Kenya safari will doubtlessly offer the traveler a holiday of a lifetime - and unique experiences of another world and way of life. With cultures, peoples and landscapes so different to those found in both urban and even rural Europe safari holidays can offer the visitor and exciting step into the unknown. With incredible natural wildlife seldom seen in the wild in many other locations across the world that includes mighty elephants, fleet footed leopards and powerful rhinos, there is no better way to enjoy these animals in there natural habitat than going away on Safari.

In this blogpost were going to be looking at what I believe are the 5 of the best online resources and travel websites to help you plan, prepare for, book and ultimately enjoy your dream backpacking holiday to all of the best holiday destinations in Europe. With the following travel tips and advice hopefully you will find some useful resources to help your trip go smoothly - and also save you a heap of money too!

1. InterRail - http://www.interrailnet.com/

It may be somewhat cliché, but as any young backpacker will tell you these days, getting around Europe with an InterRail travel card is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel - and importantly give you the great amount of flexibility you will need to enjoy all the brilliant backpacking holiday destinations in Europe. Booking a ticket online is quick and easy, and the travel cards are valid in the vast majority of countries in Europe.

2. Hostel Bookers - http://www.hostelbookers.com/

Quite possibly the biggest and best online resource for backpackers who are looking to compare and book hostels in Europe and indeed, across the rest of the world. I used have used this site when traveling, booking holidays, stag dos - you name it. Its really easy to use, has an extremely simple booking system and has many useful reviews from likeminded travelers to help you make informed decisions on where to stay based on your personal requirements whether it be location, cost, atmosphere etc.

3. Gaynors Sports of Ambleside - http://www.gaynors.co.uk/

While far less well known outside of the UK than the 2 sites I highlight above, Gaynors is a great shop for anyone looking to take on a backpacking holiday, camping trip or who simply enjoys the great outdoors. Their shop in Ambleside in the Lake District is packed with great gear at low prices or you can also save time and money by buying online. Whether you are in the need of backpacks, waterproofs or boots they have hundreds of products from well known outdoor brands and tend to have some great deals available throughout the year.

4. Low Cost airline Guide - http://www.low-cost-airline-guide.com/

Need help on finding the availability and price of cheap flights to Europe? This great resource is one of the quickest and easiest ways to compare and find out the latest flights online with this low cost airline guide. Listing all of Europe’s best holiday and backpacking flight destinations in the UK, Spain, Romania, Russia, Norway, Serbia, Portugal and pretty much anywhere else you can think of - you’re sure to be able to find the details you need to plan and book your flights whilst traveling in Europe.

5. World Backpackers Forum

If you are planning a backpacking trip or simply need help along the way its nice to be able to share your thoughts, questions and concerns with other likeminded individuals online. With this travel forum you can find backpacking tips and advice, ask questions, raise concerns you may have and generally soak up the knowledge and info of other people who are enjoying their traveling in Europe and other holiday destinations around the world.

Uk-based budget airline BmiBaby is celebrating summer by offering backpackers and other cash-strapped travellers the chance to fly for as little as £9.99.

The deal applies to selected flights for July and August, and are one way.

Book before 14 July 2009.

The recession may be bad news for most
people, but for backpackers looking for travel discounts, it’s a pretty good
time to be on the trot. UK budget airline

BmiBaby has slashed all fares by
up
to 40% for flights between now and the 16th of December 2009.

Midlands-based airline covers a variety of
European and UK routes and services destinations such as
Alicante,
Prague and even
Perpignan.

Creamfields is one of the UK’s biggest shindigs, with a lineup that would make any dance music fan weak at the knees. Think Basement Jazz and Tiesto, think Paul Van Dyk, Too Many DJs live, Mylo live and Dizziee Rascal and you’re just getting started.

And, there’s great news for dance-loving backpackers out there: Creamfields 2009 has reduced its ticket prices!

Creamfields 2009 is an explosive end to the Summer, with no stone left unturned with the line up, and ridiculously good value for money, dance festivals don’t get much better than this! It’s what August Bank Holidays are for…

So, head over to www.creamfields.com and be a part of this music-lovin’ action.

Via Opodo comes the news of a big sale on British Airways flights.

Catch a worldwide sale flight in any direction with these offers from British Airways across five continents. All of these flights depart London and are direct (except Sydney which has a technical stop in either Singapore or Bangkok).

Weekend supplements may apply, and of course all the usual terms and conditions.

Sale ends 14 July 2009.

Tiger Airways is offering backpackers 50% off existing one-way fares.

The Singapore-based budget airline operates on various routes in the Asia-Pacific, visiting major cities such as Bangkok, Perth, Kuala Lumpur and more.

To get 50% off flights out of Singapore, visit www.tigerairways.com by 24 June 2009.

Backpackers exploring Europe this summer and hoping to save a few bucks on travel costs, listen up. The ever-vigilant Kathleen who writes About.com’s student travel blog explains the special better than we could:

“Love this Eurail sale on now: buy a qualifying Eurail pass by June 30, 2009 and Rail Europe will give you a credit voucher good for 25 percent of the value of that pass, which can be used toward up to 75 percent of any rail travel purchase made by December 20, 2009, provided your second purchase is at least 1.34 times the value of credit. Okay, this is how it works:

For example, buy a $586 Eurail Youth Global pass (that’s the already discounted student price) and get a voucher for $146.50 (25 percent). Subsequently save $146.50 when you buy any Rail Europe passes or tickets worth at least $196.31 (1.34 times the dollar value of your credit ) next fall. That could be up to 75% off a different pass or a point-to-point ticket which you discover you need to buy on top of your pass. “ (more of that here)

Whilst you’re at it, you can also score an extra two days of free train travel if you book a Eurail 8-day Select Pass through Rail Europe from June 1 to July 31, 2009 (you’ll need to have an ISIC card). More about that here.

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Welcome to the new look, new feel, new just-about-everything . It’s been quite some time since we’ve made a big change and this one’s definitely in the realms of ‘overhaul’. We hope you like it!

Our funky new site is centred around a Travel Blog, updated daily, with two major themes: upcoming festivals and highlighted destinations. Plus, as before, you can make online hostel bookings and air your views in our ever-popular travel forums!
Upcoming Festivals

We’ll be bringing all you party animals out there the scoop on the best upcoming festivals around the globe.

From the more famous festivals like the Running of the Bulls (San Fermin) in Spain and the beer-guzzling Oktoberfest in Germany, to the weird and the downright quirky ones like Camel Wrestling in Turkey, we’ll get you all the latest news and tips for survival.

Plus, like we’ve done before, we’ll organise ticket giveaways and festival passes for awesome dance parties like Godskitchen’s Global Gathering and Creamfields!

Destination Highlight

We’ll continue with our habit of featuring a new destination every month. But, we’re not going to try to be just another destination guide. We’ll point you in the direction of traditional destination websites, sure, because they do know their stuff, but who better to tell you about a place than someone who’s there right now, or a traveller who has visited recently and wrote about it?

Every day we hear about great sites, old and new, covering the ins and outs of each and every known destination, from first-hand experience. From now on you’ll get the story from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Plus, every backpacker loves freebies, so we’ll have loads of destination-related competitions and giveaways to help you stretch that ever-restrictive budget a little bit further!

Hostel Bookings

As before, you will be able to choose from over 10,000 hostels world-wide, at the best internet rates available (no mark-ups!). No waiting in line, no frantic phone calls, just a simple online service you can access from anywhere at any time.