Travel Tips

Bargain Hunting on I Want That Flight

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UPDATE FOR SUBSCRIBERS: 

IWantThatFlight.com.au has just found a sale to Los Angeles. Fly to LA for just $788 return!

The flights are with Air New Zealand, and are only for a few days so don’t miss out

Wanderlust

Of late, I’ve found myself questioning the sanity of a serial traveller such as myself committing to completing a three-year degree in a beautiful but small coastal town. I’ll go into more detail on that front later this week, but suffice to say I’ve been plagued by itchy feet and crippling waves of nostalgia in the last few weeks.

I sometimes read with envy as Facebook friends around the world are able to make use of various travel-hacking guides and flight search engines to find absolute bargains on flights. In the past, Australia has often lagged behind on this front.

I recently came across I Want That Flight when trying to figure out whether it was more economical for me to book a train to Sydney or to book flights to Sydney for my recent trip to Dubai. While I ultimately decided to head home for a few days via train, it was good to have discovered a flight search tool specific to Australia that I could use for future research.

I Want That Flight Search

Domestic Flights

My sister, her husband, and their adorable kids recently relocated to Melbourne – putting them away from the rest of the Walker-Bush clan for the first time in years. While it’s certainly possible to take a train to Melbourne or to go on a big family road trip, time constraints obviously make flying the more desireable option.

In addition to the generic option to enter your location, your destination, and your travel dates into a search field – I Want That Flight also has the option to select flexible dates when searching. In my case, it doesn’t matter when I visit Melbourne, just as long as I make it down there and shower my niece & nephew with gifts. By selecting anytime, I’m able to browse monthly graphs that show me the cheapest days to fly.

Scroll further down and I’m able to see a handy table that shows me the average price of tickets for every month of the year, making it easy for me to plan when is the best time to head to Sydney’s ugly step-cousin.

iwantthatflight2

Not only does this table let me know just how much Qantas and Virgin have regional travellers over a barrel when it comes to pricing, but it also shows me that my best times to visit my sister would be May, June, or October.

I don’t much fancy paying $180 for a one way ticket right now, but I Want That Flight has the option to set up fare alerts that will keep me posted if there are any specials on the horizon.

International Flights

Let’s look at my proposed trip to Beijing and Nanjing this June. In this case, I have a very specific intended departure date of May 30th. I can either select my usual departure airport (Sydney) or I can get a bit creative by navigating to the International Flights tab, selecting All International Destinations from the sidebar, and then selecting Beijing.

I’m then presented with information about Beijing as well as a table showing me the average monthly return ticket price from a number of departure points. I literally just did this and was surprised by how competitive with Sydney and Melbourne prices Gold Coast airport is in this regard. I’d only be paying $5 more to fly from the Gold Coast than I would be from Sydney. With the Gold Coast being considerably closer to me than Sydney, it might be worth trekking up north for my planned trip.

iwantthatflight4

In addition to my desire to catch up with old friends in China, I’ve been eying my tattered old passport lately and day-dreaming about checking off bucket list item #71 by just packing a bag and buying a ticket going anywhere.

I go to the International Flights section, enter my departure airport (Sydney), select ‘anytime’ as my flight availability and leave the ‘To’ field blank. Let’s see what the fates have in store for me…

I see cheap flights to various parts of New Zealand, Ho Chi Minh, Bali, Fiji, Bangkok, and Noumea in New Caledonia. That’s one you don’t see every day, so let’s click that and check it out.

iwantthatflight3

Looks like I could be checking out the French colony in late August for a svelte $533 return. Not too shabby!

For the more graphically minded, there’s also a handy world airfare map showing the cheapest flights available from your chosen airport. A $350 return flight to Singapore? Sounds good!

Other Functionality

In addition to the powerful flight search engine, I Want That Flight also boasts the aforementioned fare alert set up as well as a regular newsletter making users aware of deals that on cheap flights that they might like to take advantage of. You can sign up for I Want That Flight Deals to be kept abreast of various sales and deals.

On top of all of that, the site also has a blog that shares handy travel-hacking tips such as how to avoid paying for extras with Jetstar as well as more general interest travel stories.

It’s a pretty handy resource, and one I’ll be availing myself of once it comes time to book my flight to Beijing in June.

Your Say

Do you have any favourite flight search sites you’d like to recommend?

 

 

Dubai
Nothing of this size was used, but I look pretty bad-ass, right?

Of Wagers, Guns, and Clay Pigeons: A Day at JA Shooting Club

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In early March of 2015, I was invited to Dubai as part of the Hidden Dubai campaign headed up by Yahoo, Emirates, and Dubai Tourism. While my trip was complimentary, all opinions below are my own.

An Aussie with a Gun

Having grown up in Australia, I’ve not had much experience with firearms. While gun sales in Australia are strictly regulated and shooting clubs exist, experiences such as this aren’t as commonplace as they are in other countries.

I had the chance to fire an AK47 in Cambodia and an M16 in Vietnam, but I went into my visit to the JA Shooting Club in Dubai excited to have a more traditional firearm experience. 

Growing up, the idea of shooting clay pigeons seemed like the domain of the rich and famous, but I was about to try my hand at it out in the blistering desert.

Nothing of this size was used, but I look pretty bad-ass, right?
Nothing of this size was used, but I look pretty bad-ass, right?

Getting to the JA Shooting Club

Roughly forty minutes drive from the glitz and glamour of Dubai’s high-rise hotels, colossal malls, and manicured beaches you’ll find that the veneer of decadence soon gives way to dusty roads and even dustier fields. Out beyond the city limits, you see the Emirates as they may well be without the money and concerted effort of the Al Maktoum family.

As pleasant as I’d found the luxury of the Gloria Hotel and the pampering I’d received while exploring the city, it was nice to get out from the hustle and bustle of the city to the relative quiet of the Jebel Ali Shooting Club. It’s an oasis of green (and blissful air conditioning) out in the red-brown earth of the desert.

Inside, we’re ushered to comfortable couches and armchairs while we fill out the standard forms you’d expect to sign before handling a firearm. There’s a small shop on hand where I grab some souvenirs/essentials – a JA Shooting Club branded polo and a baseball cap. The desert heat has already baked my poor, bald skull and forced me to sweat through my poorly chosen sky blue t-shirt.

We’re given the option to choose a handgun and hit the firing range or take shotguns out into the blazing sun to work out our frustrations against some clay pigeons. While my preference was for the path of least exposure to sun, we eventually decide to shoulder some shotguns and head out.

The Video

If you’d rather not read (reading is for nerds, after all), Hidden-Dubai has this rad video that sums it all up.

The Wager

“Have you ever fired a gun before, Chris?” Kim-Marie from Luxury Travel Mom asks as we make our way to the range.

“No,” I lie, choosing not to count the time I fired an AK47 in Cambodia, “I have not”.

Looking the party while in Cambodia in 2013.
Looking the part while in Cambodia in 2013.

Australia has pretty restrictive gun laws. While it’s certainly still possible to fire a handgun at a firing range, it’s really only farmers who still keep guns these days. The events of the Port Arthur Massacre necessitated harsher gun laws, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

“I bet I can hit more than you,” the saucy American taunts me. I don’t doubt it. If watching The Walking Dead has taught me nothing else, it’s that every American is a crack-shot capable of pulling headshots at a run with ease.

“I don’t doubt it,” I concede.

“What do I get if I hit more than you?” she presses. For her part, the demure woman behind Hungry Hungry Panda chuckles and lets me defend myself.

“I’ll…uh…buy dinner?”

I’ve seen how much dinners are in Dubai. I am not confident my poor credit card could stand up to losing such a bet. Still, I’ve got Australian pride on the line.

The Range

Our teacher out on the range is a stony-faced but friendly man whose name escapes me. His name tag said ‘One Love’, so let’s just call him that.

We’re given a crash course in gun safety, how to load our weapons, and how to track our target before firing. It’s a far cry from the dingy shed in Cambodia where I squeezed off an entire clip’s worth of ammunition in a heartbeat.

Kim-Marie first and, wonder of wonders, only manages to blast one pesky clay pigeon from the sky. In her defense, I can’t imagine it’s easy firing a shotgun wearing high heels and a skirt. The price we pay for looking good.

Nervous and picturing a recoil that will throw me across the range and back into our camera crew, I step up to the plate and prepare to be emasculated.

“Pull”

Wait.

BLAM!

Sweet shit, I got it on the first go!

Buoyed by my apparent status as a natural shooter, I proceed to miss the next nine attempts. Still, I’ve managed to equal Kim-Marie’s efforts.

The Sharpshooter

Petite and cute as a button, Fei from Hungry Hungry Panda saunters up and makes a show of squinting as if she can’t see what’s going on.

She coolly blasts three pigeons from the air before coming back towards us with a big grin on her face.

“I got one!” she cries proudly.

“You got three!” I object, “They don’t count if you don’t know you hit them”.

In a show of remarkable opportunism and female solidarity, Kim-Marie is quick to throw her lot in with Fei.

“Fei beat you, Chris,” she chides me, “Dinner is on you!”

I bluster. I growl. I threaten mayhem in the third degree.

Thankfully, Yahoo were kind enough to foot the bill for our camel burgers that night. I was off the hook!

Luxury Travel Mom, myself, and Hungry Hungry Panda in a post firing a weapon glow.
Luxury Travel Mom, myself, and Hungry Hungry Panda wearing a post firing a weapon glow.

 The Experience

I went in a bit nervous about handling a firearm, which is likely a result of having grown up in a place where guns are pretty much outlawed. I definitely enjoyed the experience, and I can see now why people say it is relaxing to fire off a few shots. Even missing, there was something strangely satisfying about the kick of the shotgun.

Weird.

——————-

The JA Shooting Club is part of the Jebel Ali Golf Club and is located a short drive from Dubai.

The range offers a variety of handguns (including a kick-ass six shooter) as well as clay shooting. Prices range from 110 AED for a .22 up to 220 AED for clay target shooting.

All participants must be over 13 and must have a valid passport.

Your Say

Have you ever gone shooting while abroad?

Dubai
Its work done, our balloon slowly deflates on the dunes.

Seeing the Sunrise from a Hot Air Balloon in Dubai

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The sun makes its presence known as we soar over the desert at 4000 feet.
The sun makes its presence known as we soar over the desert at 4000 feet.

An Early Start

The sun hasn’t even started to colour the horizon when I drag myself out of bed and stumble-stagger my way down to the foyer to meet the tour bus from Balloon Adventures. The sun still hasn’t made its first appearance by the time we’ve left the slowly filling streets of Dubai or even when we turn off the highway and onto a bumpier, less well-traveled side road.

In fact, we stand shivering in the cool desert air as we wait for the balloon to be inflated; some of us huddling extra close so as to get a bit of the warmth that comes off the burner as it blasts hot air into the envelope.

The crew blasts hot air into the envelope to inflate the balloon for take-off.
The crew blasts hot air into the envelope to inflate the balloon for take-off.

I’m using cool hot air balloon terminology just like the irrepressably charming Captain Mike, who whisked us through the skies with more enthusiasm than anybody should have at 6am on a Thursday morning.

It was only as we piled into the basket that the sun crested the horizon, angry and red like some distant apocalypse that we’d be making a very slow, serene escape from.

The Air Up There

While there’s quite a bit of noise and heat as we’re lifting into the air, we’re soon at 4000 feet and I’m stunned by just how quiet it is. There are 24 of us in the basket, but each of us seems to realise the importance of quiet at this moment. It’s as if the stunning sight of the sun’s light slowly spreading across the desert and the fact we’re floating high above it all has approached the religious.

In fact, with the exception of Captain Mike’s witty commentary and the occassional belch of flame from the burner, the entire half hour is like this. Whether we’re stunned into silence by the experience or we’re just not awake enough for conversation, we are all wide-eyed, open-mouthed observers as we float over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.

We don’t remain at 4000 feet, of course. As we drift towards our landing site, Captain Mike takes us low enough to see more of the desert’s rolling dunes and the sparse vegetation that clings to them.

We're close enough to the ground to make out these oryx tracks.
We’re close enough to the ground to make out these oryx tracks.

Down this low, we’re able to see just how quickly we’re moving. The dunes whip below us as startled foxes and gazelle race away from the ominous shadow that hovers overhead but never seems to strike.

Even now, moving at speed, it’s still incredibly relaxing. The sun has conjured up some much needed warmth and the warm air whips through my hair (well, my beard) as we draw near to the edge of the conservation area and our rendezvous point.

A Bumpy Landing

“Landing positions!” Captain Mike shouts as we begin to descend. We dutifully bend our knees, grip the ropes, and lean back as we’d been instructed prior to take-off.

We strike the barbed wire fence that surrounds the conservation area as we’re coming in, although it’s more of a kiss than any real contact. Just like that we’ve hit the ground and we’re all hanging onto the ropes and dangling precariously. There are a few surprised cries as we tip to a point where we’re almost lying on the ground on our backs, and then we’ve leveled out again.

“That’s what I call a pussy landing,” Mike informs us as we clamber out of the basket and onto the road he’s landed us beside.

We have a twenty-odd minute wait until the trucks make their way out to us with cool refreshments and our return to civilization, but there’s an incredible serenity to that twenty minutes out in the desert. We’re the only people in any direction for miles, although we can hear the distant sounds of gunfire from a nearby military base.

Its work done, our balloon slowly deflates on the dunes.
Its work done, our balloon slowly deflates on the dunes.

We’re the only people in any direction for miles, although we can hear the distant sounds of gunfire from a nearby military base. When they’re not firing it’s just the wind and our own muted chatter. The balloon, its work done, slowly deflates on the hot sand; much like it’s smaller cousin’s do after the party is over and they’ve been forgotten about.

Riding back to the buses, I cling to the side of the 4WD and soak in the sun and the view. It’s not even 8am, but it’s going to be hard to top this day.

Your Say

Is riding in a hot air balloon on your bucket list?

If you’ve been before, where did you fly and what did you make of the experience?

I was lucky enough to be invited to go hot air ballooning as part of the Hidden Dubai campaign, although all opinions are my own.

All photos taken on an iPhone 4. Some have been edited using Instagram. All images are property of Aussie on the Road, but feel free to share them with accreditation. 

The balloon starts its day feeling about as energetic as I did.
The sun rising over the desert.
Looking straight down from the basket. Terrified I’d drop my phone!
Obligatory idiot selfie. Adventure Time!
The same shot from the opening, but with the sun’s light helping out.
Soaring over the dunes.
A sea of canvas next to a sea of sand dunes.
Spain
The breathtaking Costa Del Sol.

Guest Post: Top Things to do in Malaga

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Spain has long been a region that has enchanted and intrigued me. My European experiences thus far have only seen me tackle Scotland and England, but this guest post from Erica Tapley has me looking at Spain once again. Up until recently, my friends Stephanie and Richard (from Our Food Future) were temporarily calling the country home, and their photos paint a wonderfully appealing picture. 

Top Things to do in Malaga

Located in the south of Spain is a little slice of coastal heaven — the city of Malaga. Known for its pristine beaches and culturally rich in history and tradition, it’s no wonder the area draws in thousands of visitors every year.

Once you experience the area for yourself, it can be difficult to leave. But for those of you still not convinced it’s worth the trip, check out some of the top sights the area has to offer, and see if you can resist packing your bags.

The Picasso Museum

A visit to Malaga's Picasso Museum is a must.
A visit to Malaga’s Picasso Museum is a must.

While everyone has heard of the world-famous artist, very few know that Picasso was born in Malaga. Not surprisingly, one of the best museums dedicated to the famous painter’s memory is located right in his home city. Known as the Museo Picasso Málaga, the museum shows over 40 pieces of his work spanning his entire career from 1892 to 1972. This timespan covers the revolutionary innovations of his career, as well as the wide variety of styles, materials and techniques that he employed in his storied career.

Whether you’re an art lover or just somebody who appreciates the significant cultural contribution the man made, it’s a must see museum. As such an important part of the city’s culture, the citizens’ pride for the beloved local is evident in every inch of this well-kept monument to his talents.

Costa Del Sol

While you’re visiting the south of Spain, you’ll of course want to check out the sparkling beaches. As British Airways confirms here, the coastline of Costa Del Sol is one of the biggest attractions for Malaga visitors. Every year, tourists flock to the area to enjoy the white sand beaches and deep blue waters.

The breathtaking Costa Del Sol.
The breathtaking Costa Del Sol.

Not only can you soak in the sun while lounging and taking in the sounds of the surf, but lining the beach you’ll find amazing shops filled with local styles along with a slew of restaurants and tapas bars to quench your thirst and sate your appetite. As Malaga has just recently embraced a trend for traditional cuisine, some of the finest restaurants along the surf are offering up plates of classics regarded as some of the most decadent dishes in the area.

Historic Castles

One of the benefits of exploring an older city is that you get numerous glimpses of its past. In Malaga, however, you get much more than that. You can’t miss taking in the city’s history, especially when it’s in the form of two enormous castles, one of which is located right in the city’s center.

Visiting iconic Alcazaba is one of the most popular things to do in Malaga.
Visiting iconic Alcazaba is one of the most popular things to do in Malaga.

Built by the Hammudid dynasty around the 11th century, the Alcazaba of Malaga is a well preserved castle located in the heart of the city. Guests can explore the inner and outer citadels in addition to admiring the views overlooking the city centre and Mediterranean Sea.

There’s another historic castle in Malaga: the Gibralfaro Fortress, which was built in 929 AD. Calling the castle a “fortress” makes it sound a bit intimidating. However, as Andilucia.com notes here, the stunning architectural detail and meticulously kept gardens surrounding the castle make it a stunning, must-see piece of Malaga history.

The Museum of Glass and Crystal

The Museum of Glass and Crystal is always highly regarded as a worthwhile stop among Malaga’s long list of must-see attractions. If you can’t already guess from the name of the venue, it features different decorative art pieces shaped out of crystal and glass.

This particular museum is located in a carefully restored 18th century house that’s beautiful enough in its own right, and visitors can learn about and admire the evolution of these man-made pieces of art by viewing over 3,000 works of art. Some of them are from as far back as the Phoenician times; while others reflect the more modern designs of the 1900s.

The Botanical Gardens

The Malaga Botanical Gardens make it possible to take a botanical tour of the world.
The Malaga Botanical Gardens make it possible to take a botanical tour of the world.

Established in 1855 by the Marquis of Casa Loring, the absolutely beautiful Historical Botanical Gardens are situated in north Malaga. The greenhouses and outdoor gardens contain tropical and subtropical plants and vegetation from parts of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania.

In additional to hundreds of species of plant life, there are several species of birds that call the gardens home. Some are taken care of by garden staff while other, wild species have created homes in the plants all on their own.

Make sure you set aside a few hours to explore everything on the beautiful grounds. Just like the rest of Malaga’s best offerings, the garden is an easy place in which to willingly lose yourself.

Your Say

Have you been to Malaga and have a favourite of your own to share?

Barcelona

Why choose an apartment for your stay in Barcelona?

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whereToStay

 

When I travel, I generally like as much personal space as I can get. Sure, sometimes it’s fun to rough it in a backpackers and make new friends, but I’m a pants off as soon as the door’s closed kind of guy. I like being able to sleep in without somebody banging on my door to change the linens and I want to be able to jack my music up and dance around like an idiot to psyche myself up.

In this guest post, I’ve been reminded of why I love apartment stays and why I’ve made so much use of them in past trips to the US, China, and even here at home in Oz.

Why choose an apartment for your stay in Barcelona?

When it comes to choosing a European destination to visit, there’s one city that’s on everybody’s mind lately – Barcelona. The Catalan capital has taken the world by storm ever since the 1992 Olympics and each year seems to be attracting more and more visitors to its colourful, vibrant, and historic streets. So if you’re one of those people planning on making the trip soon; what are you going to do? Book your flight and then choose a nice hotel, right? Nope, not always. You might be accustomed to hotels, but Barcelona is a city that is much more suited to discovery from an apartment.

Don’t believe me? Here are 9 reasons why:

1. Barcelona is a city for mates

The Catalan capital has the beach and a booming nightlife, making it ideal for groups of friends that are out to make the most of life. If you were to stay in a hotel, you’d all have to split up into booking separate rooms and organize yourselves each day, and hostels aren’t for everyone either. In an apartment you can all stay under one roof and make the most out of your time in the city. Financially speaking, renting an apartment as a group is likely to work out cheaper per head than shelling out for a hotel room each too.

An apartment gives you a lot more personal space.
An apartment gives you a lot more personal space.

2. Barcelona is a city for families

There is a sophisticated side to Barcelona too; museums, parks, and a wealth of stunningly beautiful buildings make the city a great place for a family trip. Despite the main attractions in the city being ideal for families, for some reason hotels aren’t. Why should you split up over two or more rooms when you can all stay in an apartment as one big (Ed: usually) happy family? An apartment stay puts everybody you love under one roof, so you don’t have to worry about what the kids are getting up to and can get everybody organised without ducking between hotel suites.

Ed: My family and I did this back in 2013 when we took a family trip to the Sunshine Coast. We needed two apartments to accommodate the eleven of us, but it was far cheaper than finding the 4-6 rooms we’d have needed at hotels.

3. Love is in the air for couples

There is no bigger buzzkill than arriving at a hotel with your other half and hearing the people in the room next door (Ed: Unless that’s what you’re into…). Barcelona is a city for romance, so a private studio apartment is ideal for visiting couples wanting their amorous activities uninterrupted. No more worrying about a house-keeper barging her way into the room and interrupting a romantic moment.

Ed: Oh God, that hostel in Monterey. The poor staff member. What was seen cannot be unseen.

4. All your WiFi are belong to us

One of the biggest gripes for travellers visiting Barcelona is fighting to get a decent WiFi connection. At traditional accommodations like hotels you’ll be sharing the connection with hundreds of other guests, effectively throttling the connection to the point that even Facebook is a chore. In an apartment you have the full broadband connection to yourself, meaning you can get down to business and keep in touch with everybody back home without too much drama

Why work on a dodgy WiFi connection when you could set your PC up and have your own dedicated connection?
Why work on a dodgy WiFi connection when you could set your PC up and have your own dedicated connection?

5. In an apartment, you can stay ANYWHERE

Barcelona has an endless selection of neighbourhoods to stay in, and it’s really no exaggeration to say that each is very different from the last. Most of the hotels congregate around the touristy areas, so if you want to find a place to stay in a more authentic zone like Gracia, or even Sant Andreu then you’ll find it much easier to find a decent holiday apartment in these areas. If you want to stay in a tourist zone though, that’s still not a problem. There are literally apartments scattered all over the city and local agencies like OK Apartment Barcelona have selections of over 1000 apartments, meaning you can always find the ideal spot for you.

Ed: This was one of the biggest appeals of apartment stays for me. I didn’t necessarily want to stay in a crowded beach suburb or right by the night life district with its associated noise. 

6. Don’t dine-out. Dine-in.

Many people say the accommodation is the most expensive part of a trip, others will say the flight depending on how far you’ve flown, but one part many people forget about is dining out. Even at a hotel you need to eat, and breakfasts are usually incredibly expensive add-ons! Not to mention having to go to a restaurant for lunch/dinner each day! Sure, you can have lunch for as cheap as 10 – 20 euro per person per day in Barcelona, but that’s two times a day for each visitor! In an apartment you have a fully equipped kitchen, so rather than spending hundreds on expensive food, you will only be spending a tiny fraction of that.

Watching your weight? Cooking your own food lets you know exactly what is going into your food, alleviating the chance of coming back with a holiday hump.

7. Make the most of the Spanish summer-time

The weather is reliably stunning and beautiful during the summer months; to enjoy it from your accommodation you’ll need a terrace. That’s usually a big extra in hotels, but in an apartment many already have them anyway. Enjoy the Barcelona sunshine with a barbecue amongst friends or simply soak in some rays in your own private space.

Less screaming children to share the pool with too.
Less screaming children to share the pool with too.

8. An intimate insight into the local way of life

One thing you don’t manage to see with the more conventional accommodations is how the locals live, and there is no more authentic way than living like one yourself. For an even deeper look; stay in an apartment by a local plaza and you’ll see residents greeting each other, children playing, the elderly gossiping, and other charming outlooks into Catalan everyday culture that’s impossible from a hotel.

9. Get advised on what to see off the beaten path

There are thousands of things to see in the city. Arrive at a hotel and you’re usually greeted by a reception desk and some pamphlets to choose from, but with an apartment you’re given more than that – you have a contact. Usually a local from the city, who is more than willing to give you advice on what’s going on in the Catalan capital – things that you’d otherwise miss like one-off events, local festivities, and hidden attractions. Just ask, you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Ed: We made full use of this while traveling across the United States in 2012. Our hosts were excellent at recommending hidden hole in the wall restaurants, good beaches to escape to, and local attractions that weren’t awash with tourists.

Most of these tips don’t apply to Barcelona alone, but they’re especially relevant in this fair city. So next time you plan your trip and think about booking a hotel, at least play with the idea that an apartment might be more suited for you, it may or may not be, but unless you give it a look you’ll never know!

Your Say

Do you ever use apartments stays or services like AirBnB when you travel? What do you think are the biggest advantages and disadvantages?