Cheap air travel around Europe

People ask me time and time again how I am able to afford all of the European trips that I have taken in the last year. Three words…LOW COST CARRIERS!!!! EasyJet and Ryan Air make traveling around Europe super cheap, but not all that convenient. You always get what you pay for. I have paid as low as £23 (US$34) for a return ticket to Stockholm. Some people choose the snobbish route and refuse to fly these airlines because of the cattle like herding that you experience when trying to get a seat (seats are not assigned on either airline), but I choose to maximize my £s. Also there are high costsof checking luggage and having overweight luggage but if you adhere to their rules the travel is really as cheap as it islisted.

I prefer EasyJet more than Ryan Air because you aren’t bombarded with advertisements every two seconds, but its nothing that an iPod and headphones can’t fix! Plus EasyJet flies into better airports. What do I mean by this youmay ask, EasyJet flies into airports that are closer to your destination city whereas Ryan Air will likely put you an hour to an hour and a half outside of the city you are flying to, such as taking a flight to Girona which is an airport near Barcelona. I have done this and I must say the hour and a half bus ride was still worth the savings.

Tips to flying with Europe’s low cost airlines

1. Pack light or be prepared to pay ridiculous prices for checked luggage. Also be sure that your baggage matches the size specifications.
2. Be patient. Yes, it sucks to stand and line to get a seat that you prefer but I’m sure you’ve dealt with worse things. Also, enjoy the scenic bus ride to the city that is your final destination.
3. Be realistic. Remember that you are flying a low cost airline and they give new meaning to the term “no frills”. You get NOTHING for free. Ok, a trip to the toilet, but other than that, nothing.
4. Check prices often. Both airlines have sales all of the time, be sure to sign up for email alerts and cash in on the sales.
5. Pack snacks. For those three hour flights that do not usually seem so long, when you’re hungry and dehydrated and don’t want to pay for their snacks, it can be quite the long haul (Please note I am writing this on a two and a half hour between Dubrovnik, Croatia and London and I refuse to buy a shot of water for £2, so I should have taken my own advice).