travel health safety world wonders travel directory world festivals tours worlds best beaches exotic places european places english speaking places safari wildlife gap year destination finder travel pictures maps bugbog homepage Maps, tours, pictures, travel guides

Bugbog Travel Guide and Pictures
Helping you plan great value holidays with ease


Thailand Beaches Pictures, Asia Rome Pictures, Italy Alaska Pictures, USA Japan Festival Pictures

Some great weather, interesting destinations for March-April 2010:
Thailand beaches; the Vatican, Rome, Italy; Alaska snow, dogs and lights, USA; Japan Festivals

 

Europe, March-April:
Spring is creeping up through southern Europe so this would be a great time for a bit of a drive, but forget about swimming unless your hotel has a heated pool.
From Rome driving down to south Italy and along the Amalfi coast would be perfect; then there's Spain's Andalucia - especially magnificent Seville with its two lively April festivals, Semana Santa [immediately before Easter] and Feria de Abril [20-25 April]; Greece's Athens, Meteora and the Peloponnese offer fine weather and magnificent sightseeing in this season, or try the truly bizarre Church Rocket War on Chios Island over the Easter weekend.

Check bugbog worldwide Beach Holiday Deals for hot places with cool discounts...
...or our Ski Holiday Deals for cool places with hot discounts!

North America, March-April:
Of course the USA still does good snow during these months so head for Alaska to see the Iditarod Dog Sled Race [March 6] and get in some ski time, or Canada's Whistler for the exuberant World Ski and Snowboard Festival [April 16-25]. Texas culture is on show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo [2-21 March] and the extravagant Fiesta San Antonio [ 15-25 April].
Caribbean weather should still be superb in the spring with hundreds of dazzling white beaches and comfortable beach resorts will have plenty of space in March tho' book early for the Easter vacation. Florida beaches and theme park attractions are legion and good value but don't underestimate the driving involved.

Asia, March-April:
Desperate for some good value beach life with exotic culture? Then Thailand or India's Goa beaches should hit the spot; alternatively head for Egypt's Red Sea to avoid long-haul flights. All three destinations offer excellent exotic sights and experiences on the side.
Alternatively for a real weird and wonderful eye-opener Japan's cherry trees blossom in early April while both Kanamara Festival [small but hilarious, near Tokyo, 4 April] and Takayama Festival [large and lively event near Nagoya, 14, 15 April] are exceptionally captivating events.

 

 

Search by Maps

Look for SPECIAL DEALS or DISCOUNTS from Tour Operators:

Intrepid Travel special promotions [Worldwide]

Explore price reductions or Exceptional value adventures [Worldwide]

Trek America discounts [USA, Canada, Central America]

Adventure Life discounts [Latin America, Alaska, Antarctica]

Adventure South specials [New Zealand]

 

A short guide to saving money on foreign holidays:

Times are tough for world travel right now with credit crises rampaging across the globe and fuel/flight costs higher than ever, so consider a vacation destination that isn't long-haul and do some thorough research.

1: Research and book online [pay by credit card and if using a tour operator check they have ATOL insurance coverage].
2: Keep check-in baggage to the minimum for no-frills flights and ensure the airline knows how many bags you'll have.
3: Eliminate any 'world care fund' or 'carbon footprint' contributions - they probably go straight into the airline's revenue stream.
4: If you already have travel insurance make sure the airline doesn't add it to your charge by default. If not, check offerings through a price comparison site [see below], and consider multi-trip insurance if you take more than one holiday abroad in a year.
5: If you are planning to drive yourself to the airport, choose your parking area and book it well in advance to get the cheapest rate. Alternatively explore public transport options; buses are often fast and good value for couples, though not perhaps if travelling as a family.
6: Never change money at the departure airport - apart from a little emergency cash if essential. Check around before you leave for the best exchange deals; for example the UK's Post Office offers great value. If you forget and need some cash pronto, exchanges at your vacation destination usually give better rates, assuming you don't arrive in the middle of the night.
7: Car hire costs differ dramatically place to place, so research will be required in this area too. If you're planning to head for a city first, then drive around the country, it will be easier and cheaper to taxi or bus into town from the airport then rent a car after you've finished the city sightseeing. [popular value comparison websites: www.travelsupermarket.com or www.moneysupermarket.com]

See our low cost flights comparison site listings:
UK Cheap Flight Comparisons
| USA Cheap Flight Comparisons

Using bank cards abroad efficiently:

Buy goodies or pay bills [checks] with credit cards when on vacation as they provide insurance as well as delayed repayment but don't draw cash out from ATMs with them [unless it's a new-wave no-fee card like UK's Abbey Zero]. Interest starts accruing immediately and bank exchange fees in addition to the ATM fee may be unreasonable. Better to buy foreign cash at home from a commission-free provider [e.g. in the UK, the Post Office, Thomas Cook] though, of course when you travel you'll have to carry a fat wad around, so the best solution depends on the security of your holiday destination. If you travel a lot and want to get cash from an ATM do some research on transaction fees and get the lowest fee debit [not credit card] card you can find. [Nationwide is the UK's cheapest in 2008]
Also, never pay for anything abroad in your home currency [the exchange rate is likely to be absurd], insist on paying in local currency.

Mobile phones when travelling:

Ideally use a wifi internet or Skype phone abroad and you will escape the ridiculous charges incurred if you use your home cell phone for local or international calls when abroad.
Alternatively get a global sim card at home [do some web research on best deals currently] and change the sims over when you arrive at your destination. The number will be new but charges will be way less.

Finally, don't go short of travel insurance if you're going to be participating in any kind of marginally dangerous activity, or even a non-dangerous activity in a third world location, that's NOT the way to save money! Use your brains while they're intact!

External reviews of travel and hotels

'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page' St. Augustine

Bugbog is an independent travel guide that helps plan holidays - whether it's beaches, safari, exotic or European tours - quickly and efficiently. We provide guides to the world's best destinations, with key tourist information, festival dates, travel pictures, travel health and safety advice, maps and thousands of useful exit links.

We summarise the best times to go, good and bad points of different great holiday destinations and give you an idea of what they look like with a mass of travel pictures in various photo galleries.
Bugbog is not attempting to be a detailed reference, but rather a concise and inspirational guide for fast, informed destination decision-making.

Site Map | Contact | Resources | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps

© 2000-2010 Bugbog