Tag Archives: destination

Top Tips for Getting the Best Holiday Deals

We all love a good long, relaxing holiday every now and then. It is even better when you vacation to a different country because you can leave all your worries behind along with bills, taxes, work and social media, which so often governs our daily lives nowadays. However it can be hard to get a good deal on a holiday, particularly at the time when you most need it.

Arranging holidays during the school holidays can be a hassle and can often be more expensive as that is the time when all the families with school age kids are away too! However there are a few top tips from veteran holiday goers that might make booking and flying a little less stressful and a little less painful on your wallet!

Book WELL in advance

In general the further you book a holiday in advance the more likely you are to get a better deal. By booking 9 months or more in advance you can save more money than trying to wing it on a last minute deal. Plus by using a price comparison site or by signing up for coupons you can also add further savings to your booking price. Perfect!

Try holidaying out of season

4260985963_769ea2ecc3Depending on where you are going there will be always sun somewhere throughout the year. If you want to follow the sun, perhaps try booking a holiday out of season. Many places are hot throughout the year and only actually get cooler or wetter in the summer months. By booking out of season, hotels are in lower demand and you can save around 40%, also using mix and match airlines can help. Another bonus of booking out of season is that, if you’re not much of a people person, there will be less families filling up the dining hall!

Book on odd days

Strangely enough if you book your holiday in the middle of the week and aim to fly out on a Wednesday you could save up to 50% on the flight costs, which ends up being a massive saving on your holiday. Many members of the public prefer to go on a Monday to Monday basis, however if you’re self employed or are entitled to a certain number of days holiday per year, there should really be no problem in switching this to a Wednesday as you will get a far better deal on prices this way.

Set up Price alerts

482448873_34df906f47There is a huge list of comparison websites and individual travel company websites, so cast your net wide! By subscribing to holiday websites and setting up price alerts on specific holidays, you’ll receive emails of the latest deals and updates available. This is incredibly helpful if you are flexible about where and when you plan on holidaying and will also help you to find some great deals for family members as well.

Subscribing to price comparison sites as well as individual sites can be just as important as, in some cases an individual subscription may give you access to certain deals not available to the general public, however receiving emails on a price comparison site will normally give you a fair idea of what you would normally pay for a certain type of holiday.

Do the Research

As with anything that takes a little planning and a bit of cash, it is important to do a lot of research about where you want to go, what you want to do when you get there, travel arrangements such as flights, travel from the airport, hired cars while you are out there and more. There may be some instances where booking the flights and the hotel in one deal is beneficial whereas in other situations it may be cheaper – although slightly more complicated – to book and pay for everything separately.

2144933705_20517bedab_zMake sure you browse the market thoroughly before making your decision; a holiday should be a trip to a place that you care about or would like to learn more about. If you are holidaying with the family, try to take into account the individual needs of each family member and weigh up the pros and cons of particular countries if you are having trouble deciding where to go.

In the end if you plan far enough ahead and do significant research while being subscribed to price comparison websites, specific deals, offers and price alerts it will be a lot easier to find ways to book your favourite holiday destinations without having to break the bank. So why not try it today? Be it a week away in the Caribbean sun, an adventurers Egyptian paradise holiday getaway or a hitchhiking trip through Hong Kong, take the plunge and get searching for your next big holiday!

Beautiful Lakes in the South of France

The South of France is a beautiful holiday destination to visit in the summer, particularly for those who love stunning beaches, but aren’t that fond of taking long haul flights to the likes of Hawaii and beyond. Some of the best locations to swim in the South of France are, ironically, not by the sea, but are instead by the region’s various rivers and lakes. These beaches may not be sandy, but their isolated locations and lack of tourists along with gorgeous views more than make up for their outward rocky appearance at first. Here at Penguin Car Hire, with fantastic deals and opportunities on hire cars from Boulogne-Sur-Mer to Toulouse, we look at the more beautiful Lakes and rivers, perfect for holidaymakers, located in the south of France.

Lake Bugarach

[penguin]lake bugarach blogA tiny lake just south of the village of Bugarach, located in the shadow of nearby mount Bugarach, this lake is beautifully quaint. Surrounded by rolling hills and with various nature walks through the forests nearby, Lake Bugarach is perfect for holidaymakers who are looking to get more in tune with nature.

Montpeyroux

Located on a hilltop, Montpeyroux is a small village which accurately reflects the quaint and relaxing atmosphere of the countryside. Situated in the picturesque Lidoire Valley, Montpeyroux is located right next to L’Allier River, where you can see the water cascade its way through the rocks of the valley, down tiny waterfalls and running alongside itself in beautiful rivets made over hundreds of years.

Take a homemade picnic and sit on one of the large rocks stranded in the centre of the river, where you can enjoy the quiet sounds of L’Allier flowing by while basking in the beautiful weather of sunny South France.

Frigoulet

[penguin]french lakes guinguette blgoThe river near Frigoulet village has a popular family beach framed by dense forest on one side. The other side often receives visitors on family days out, attracting both local residents and tourists. The beautiful archway bridge across the river is often used as a diving board for local children, but it is not recommended for tourists!

If you fancy a bite to eat, you can always visit a nearby ‘guinguette’. The traditional word for a classical French pub, a guingette can serve small snacks and sandwiches for a very reasonable price.

Whatever your holidaying preferences, take your trip out in style with Penguin Car Hire. With a first class directory offering hire cars from thousands of destinations worldwide, you can be sure with our comprehensive search and booking engine, you will find the very best rate for a holiday hire car.

 

Top 5 Things To Do In Madrid

Madrid is unusual for a capital insofar as it is found in the centre of the country, whereas most capitals are found on the coast or rivers in easily accessible locations on old trade routes. On the one hand, this does mean that, unfortunately, unlike the majority of popular Spanish destinations, Madrid doesn’t have a beach. However, it also means that the city benefits from a really unique character. So, what are the top 5 things to see and do in Madrid?

Prado Madrid

The Royal Palace

This palace is the official home of the Spanish royals, though they don’t actually live here. It shouldn’t cost more than €10 entry, and there are several concessions and ways to get free entry. Many of the rooms are open to the public and are decorated in an opulent, extravagant manner with lots of marble and luxurious velvets. Be warned that photography is forbidden inside the palace.

Jardín Botanico

There are more than 30,000 plants from all corners of the planet residing in the botanical garden, making this a little slice of paradise and welcome respite from the intense heat of the city. Water features , shaded areas and sprinklers make this the perfect place to visit in the late afternoon when heat can become stifling, and there are beautiful blooms here all year round.

Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is the name for Madrid’s three major art palaces – the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofia. These three galleries between them contain the vast majority of the city’s priceless artworks, making it ideal for art buffs. A pass to the three should come to around €15, a small price to pay to spend time with some of the world’s most impressive, coveted pieces of art.

Eat tapas

Scattered around central Madrid and the Gran Via Broadway are ‘ham museums’, or eateries specialising in various types of cured ham. Many of these act like the abundance of other tapas bars in the city, where you can order a drink and be brought a free tapa as an accompaniment. Wherever you are, the tapas on offer will vary broadly, from seafood to sliced meats and chorizo to vegetables to tortilla, so you can sample a huge variety of Spanish cuisine.

Bus tour

Most European capitals offer up some kind of river tour to visitors, but Madrid’s lack of river means that city tours should be done by bus. You will be given earphones and a map of the city so you can listen to Madrid’s history and figure out where you want to go, and it is a far better way to travel than by Metro as you get to see more of the tiny winding streets, hidden churches and bustling plazas for the price of one hop on, hop off ticket.

Madrid has much to offer its visitors, but anyone wanting to get out of the busy capital can hire a car to nearby city Valladolid, which should take around two hours, with a trip to the vibrant Salamanca taking around the same time.