Warsaw

Warsaw and Poland in general has never really done tourism in the past, but it slowly seems to be getting its act together. As the co-host nation for the Euro 2012, Warsaw took its chance to get its name on the map and is now making a name for itself as a top European city destination.

You might think Warsaw and automatically think war and communism, but we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what it has to offer travellers. Plus, if you want to do Europe on a shoestring budget, there are few places better as Warsaw is one of the most affordable European cities, third only to Budapest and Athens.

Shopping Havens

Ok, so Warsaw may not be a shopping mecca, but if you’re counting the pennies do you really want to be tempted by huge designer names anyway? Having said that, there are plenty of shopping centres to browse around, but for a real bargain, you’re best looking around the markets and independently owned shops.

Bazar Na Kole is an antique market held every Sunday in the Kolo district, where you’ll find just about everything from unique handcrafted articles to fresh fruit and vegetables. The most famous of Warsaw markets is Bazar Ró?yckiego, which became hugely popular after the war, but has deteriorated in recent years.

Second hand clothing doesn’t come much cheaper than at Bazar Namyslowska, but make sure you stop by at the weekend as it sells fruit, veg and sausages all week.

If the idea of sauntering around small antique bookshops and local souvenir shops takes your fancy, head over to the Old Town. This area of Warsaw is, well, old, although much of it had to be rebuilt after the Second World War.

The streets are lined with galleries, boutiques and smaller interesting shops, but at the heart of the Old Town is the Market Place.

Cheap Eats & Drinks

As Warsaw has only recently moved away from its dark communist culture and into a bright and cheery tourist destination, many of the restaurants menus are still dominated by traditional Polish cuisine. However, that’s nothing to be scoffed at, especially when you’re on a tight budget as you can dine out for peanuts.

If you’re really skint and willing to brave entering a truly local restaurant, head to one of the many Bar Mleczny or Milk Bars for ridiculously cheap food. It’s a bit foolish to think that there’s nothing else on offer though, Warsaw has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years and there is a progressive culinary scene.

For a bit of fun, try out Solec, a Polish restaurant with a twist. Here you hand over a few zloty at the counter and spend hours playing traditional board games. The fun doesn’t compromise the quality of the food though – the head chef creates a new menu every single day using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.

Dining out with the kids? Kosmos Kosmos is the perfect place for dinner. There is an entire kids’ play area with a wooden playhouse, slides, dolls houses, toy cars and colouring books, but also two menus –one for the adults and one for the children. Main meals range from £4-£6.

Arts & Attractions

If you’re looking for things to do in the Polish capital aside from shopping and dining, have no fear as there are plenty of attractions to keep you busy.

The Warsaw Rising Museum, which opened in 2004 on the 60^th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, is one of the newer museums in the city. It tells Warsaw’s story of the Second World War and acts as tribute to those that lost their lives in the fight against the Nazis. Admission is 14PLN (£2.84) but turn up on a Monday to get in for free.

Wilanow Palace, often referred to as the Versailles of Poland, managed to escape destruction from the Nazis unlike the majority of the city. You can pick up an English audio guide to help you around the palace, but make sure you’ve brushed up on Polish history beforehand for a complete experience. Don’t fork out the 20PLN (£4) entrance fee because admission is free on a Sunday.

Warsaw has an incredibly turbulent history, but a lot of time and effort has gone into regenerating the city to transform it into what it is today. Although perhaps not the first European city on your wish list, it’s the perfect destination if you’re on a shoestring budget.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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Winter Needs a Holiday!

With the winter blues set to continue well into April, we’re continually bombarded with adverts, emails and mobile messages tempting us to sign up to ‘sizzling sun-drenched beach breaks’ and ‘glistening seas’.

All of this makes a summer holiday hard to resist, but there’s of course no reason to part with your hard earned cash unnecessarily. By keeping your eyes open for good deals, planning ahead and heeding a few rules, I’ve established that most of us really can afford to enjoy a few well-earned days in the sun.

So what are those rules?

Compare and Compare again!

The idea of comparing flight prices to find the cheapest flight to a beach resort in Spain is old hat. With the power and speed of internet searches improving all the time, the days are gone where we merely compare flight prices, hotel prices and car rental prices.

These days we also have to compare modes of travel, time of travel and how we assemble holiday packages. Do we go all inclusive, half-board or non-inclusive? Do we search for a destination, or do we set the criteria for our holiday and only then find the destination that fits our needs?

To get the most out of the world of “comparison” holiday markets you could start with a willingness to accept a few flexibilities. First, be flexible on time.

It’s not always necessary to fly on the date you had in the back of your mind or from the airport you thought would be the best spot to fly from. Airfares and hotel rates vary depending on the time of year, month, week and even day.

Some of the UK’s regional airports provide better value, direct flights and easy public transport links or well-priced parking options. If you’re prepared to fly midweek, say on a Tuesday or Wednesday, universally the least popular business travel days, you can make huge savings.

My quick price comparison search saved me £112 per person for a departure from Gatwick on Tuesday, 27 August on a seven night self-catering package at the 4* Terralta Apartments in Benidorm, Spain, as opposed to taking that same package but departing on a weekend.

In fact, at under £430pp for the week, I think you’ll search far to get 4* accommodation, sun drenched beaches, all at that perfect time of year.

Search even further and you’ll find that if you’re prepared to set your alarm to catch your flight at the crack of dawn, you’ll save even more.

Be flexible on your type of holiday & destination

Was it sun that you wanted? Then the beach is not your only solution. For those more adventurous, there’s a raft of choice, ranging from a safari, sailing, hiking, cycling, fishing or even desert camping. Online travel agents, loveholidays.com enable you to search a range of criteria such as holiday type, budget, and multiple dates without having to enter where you want to go.

This is not only exciting, it also throws some great ideas and deals your way. And some of them were much better than my traditional choices. I found great deals in Cyprus and Tunisia, which I would never have thought of in the first place.

A useful feature to this specific website is that your search results will only reflect options for the dates that you can travel. This saves you finding your perfect holiday and then discovering there is no availability on the dates which you want to travel.

An obvious, but often overlooked fact by those who travel without children is that availability and prices radically improve outside of school breaks.

Websites like www.halftermdates.co.uk provide an easy view of school holidays for the UK, Ireland, France and Australia, but remember to also check the breaks for the country that you intend to travel to, because a school break in your destination country will also influence the proverbial ‘supply and demand’ of holidaymakers.

Always be sure to save on your travel insurance. There is no better place to search for the best deals on travel insurance than your trusted compareandsave.com. But first be sure what type of insurance you need.

Read about the difference between single trip, ski travel, annual multi-trip and backpackers travel insurance is explained in detail. Opting for the insurance you really need, goes a long way towards saving.

The ‘Compare Travel Insurance’ landing page offers a handy filter tool that saves you time wading through options you aren’t interested in. Once you see the list of service providers on offer and the benefits, click through to the individual quotes and offers.

Finally, start your searches early, subscribe to newsletters and alerts and if it’s a trusted operator, pay early. At the moment there are many great deals to be snapped up. If you pay by credit card, the cost of the holiday could be long paid for by the time you depart for the airport.

You might argue that if I subscribe to all these newsletters linked to holiday and airline websites that my inbox will be flooded, but you’ll also be spoiled for choice. You can always unsubscribe once you have bagged your suntan.

	Written by :
	Piet Van Niekerk Piet van Niekerk is a print and online publisher who has started two independent publishing and PR consultancies. He now assists small media companies with content optimisation and business development.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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The capital city of Spain, Madrid, is perhaps most famous for its designer shopping experience and legendary nightlife. With a relaxed lifestyle, rich culture, welcoming atmosphere and famous football teams, it’s easy to see why Madrid is such a popular city to visit.

Soaking up the Spanish way of life is usually fairly affordable, but a few days in Madrid is likely to set you back the same as two weeks in the Costa del Sol. There is a lot to do and see in Madrid, so follow our tips below to make the most of it on a shoestring budget.

Shopping Havens

Madrid is haven for all you shopaholics out there, best known for its major designer brands down the ‘golden mile’ in Salamanca. However, that’s not all Madrid has to offer. If you’re on a slightly tighter budget than the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, take a trip to Chueca.

This area of the city is a busy shopping hub and home to all sorts of independent boutiques, vintage stores, antique shops and other specialists. It’s easy to spend a few hours browsing around and even haggling for a bargain. Look for Fuencarral indoor market and stick to Calle Fuencarral, Calle Hortaleza, Malasana and Triball for the best Chueca has to offer.

Cheap Eats & Drinks

Although it’s fairly cheap to eat out in most of Spain, it’s a completely different story in the Spanish capital. Eating out in Madrid can be quite pricey, so to enjoy a mini-break on a budget, you’ll have to hunt out some of the local’s favourites.

La Finca de Sunsana is a popular haunt in Madrid thanks to its lighter and healthier Mediterranean menu. The interior is elegant and quite formal – so dress to impress. The main meals range from €6-12, but get there if early if you want a table as they don’t take reservations.

It’s quite hard to find a quiet and intimate place to dine in the heart of Madrid, but La Farfalla manages to do just that. The décor is rather dated, but you’re here for the food and cozy atmosphere, not to inspect the paintwork. Pizzas are a specialty and at €7, they’re a bargain. There are also a range of meats sizzling away on the grill, charged between €10 and€20.

Another Madrid restaurant that manages to create and intimate and romantic setting is Rest Arrayanes, which serves up North African cuisine. You’ll enjoy your meal at low tables and amongst piles of comfy cushions. Main meals are a snip at €5-7.

For a cheap snack during the day, Cerveceria 100 Montaditos is the perfect place to re-fuel. On a Wednesday, sandwiches start from just €1 rather than the usual €5-6, so it’s a great stop for a quick bite to eat. Plus, all sandwiches come with a free side of chips.

Arts & Attractions

The Spanish capital is a busy city characterised by its culture and heritage. There is so much on offer; you might struggle to get to see everything in just a couple of days. To keep to your shoestring budget, we’ve found some of the top free attractions in Madrid.

If you’re out and about in the evenings, make sure you stop by the Museo De Reina Sofia, as this world famous modern art gallery waives its admission fee between 7pm and 9pm on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If you miss the freebie, you’ll be asked to pay €6 to enter.

In the UK, the Royal Family is a major attraction and it’s no different in Spain. The Royal Palace is just a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor and is definitely a ‘must see’ attraction. Although it is the official residence, the Spanish Royal Family doesn’t live in the palace any longer. Visit on a Wednesday to get free entry.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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Dublin is one of Europe’s most exciting cities, but it is also pricey! Accommodation, dining out, attractions and travel are all incredibly expensive in the Irish capital, but with a bit of searching it is still possible to enjoy Dublin on a budget.

The city has a strong Victorian and Georgian history, meaning that the streets are lined with incredible architecture, and green space and parkland dominates the cityscape. However, it perhaps best known for its vibrant pubs, restaurants, and shopping experience.

Shopping Havens

Shopping in Dublin is an incredible experience, as well as the high street and department stores lining the streets, there are a number of street markets and fairs to enjoy as well.

When you see what this Irish city has to offer, you will understand why so many people call it a magical experience.

London is famous for Portobello Road, but Dublin has the Antique Quarter. This Francis Street market has been home to a number of well-known traders and stalls since 2003.

The market has plenty of high quality antiques, collectables, contemporary art, artisan foods, and so much more. If you want to enjoy a true Dublin atmosphere, this is definitely the place to go.

Farmer’s markets are always a great place to grab locally sourced ingredients at bargain prices and the Ballymun Farmer’s Market is no different. The market is only a few years old, but has established itself as one of the best of its kind.

One of the best stops for any visitor to Dublin is the Blackrock Market, which is a favourite with locals and tourists alike. This market has a wide range of modern art, furniture and other handicrafts usually on found in traditional flea markets.

Cheap Eats & Drinks

Being such a popular tourist destination, Dublin can be incredibly expensive when dining out, but by taking a few steps off the beaten track, you will find eateries with fantastic food at budget prices.

Although you can eat out at one of the fast food chains such as McDonalds, these international eateries don’t really provide the Irish atmosphere that travellers may crave. One of the best places to dine in Dublin without a doubt is called Crackbird.

This place serves chicken of all varieties, but the best items on the menu are the Buttermilk Chicken and the Soy Garlic Chicken. Crackbird started out as a pop up restaurant, but the delicious food, huge portions and low prices soon made it a permanent favourite in Dublin.

Crackbird is already pretty reasonably priced, but if you follow them on Twitter then send them a tweet with the date, time, number of people and include the #tweetseats hash tag, you might even be able to dine free!

If you would prefer to try something different to chicken, try out Café Azteca (www.azteca.ie) , a Mexican food eatery. The food is delicious and authentic, and doesn’t come with the huge price tags of Mexican cuisine found in many restaurants.

Main courses range in price from €8 to around €15, so a 2-course meal for two with drinks will set you back around €40.

The Porthouse (http://porthouse.ie) is an old wine cellar, which has been carefully converted into a modern Spanish tapas bar. The menu includes a huge range of foods, from smaller tapas items to complete main meals.

The wine menu is just as reasonably priced and includes a number of wines, ports plus Sherries. Dining out at The Porthouse will set you back around €30 for 6-8 tapas dishes.

Arts & Attractions

Visiting the capital of Ireland wouldn’t be complete without spending a little time at some of the attractions in the city. As we know, being a tourist in Dublin is usually quite expensive, but there are around 40 attractions, which are completely free.

First up is the Natural History Museum, which is packed full of stuffed animals and other wildlife exhibitions from just about every country around the globe. There are skeletons everywhere you look and jars of creatures you’ve probably never even heard of stacked from the floor to the ceiling.

A trip to this museum is fun for kids and adults, but more importantly, it is free to enter.

There are a number of museums and galleries in Dublin but one of the best is the National Gallery, which opened over 150 years ago. Understandably, there is a lot of Irish art on display, but there are also plenty of European pieces.

There are more than 2,000 works to see in total and it may prove to be an afternoon well spent with free admission.

Whether you are supping a pint of Guinness, listening to live bands, taking in the ambience or just enjoying the ‘craic’ – Dublin is worth a visit!

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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Voted the UK’s first ever City of Culture in 2013, the Northern Irish city of Derry is the place to visit.

Also known as Londonderry, it’s a vibrant place to explore and has a rich historical background. This city has an abundance of things to see and do and it’s also an excellent base for exploring further afield.

Situated on the banks of the River Foyle, Derry is a stunning city and has plenty of modern features to occupy tourists. Being the second largest city in Northern Ireland has its advantages, including a vibrant shopping experience with an array of attractions and numerous activities.

Shopping Havens

Derry is the perfect fix for any shopaholic. It has a vast array of designer names, high street department stores and independent boutiques, so whether you’re looking to kit out your wardrobe or buy a few gifts, there is something for everyone.

The main shopping arenas are Foyleside Shopping Centre and Richmond Shopping Centre, but these are largely made up from national chains.

For something unique to Derry, visit The Craft Village, a delightfully quaint area in the heart of the city, just between Lower Shipquay Street and Magazine Street. The Craft Village is a reconstruction of an 18^th and 19^th century Street and square. You can transport yourself back in time and browse around for some fantastic crafty finds.

The Craft Village is not the only thing that Derry is famous for, it is also the home of the oldest independently-run department store in the world: Austin’s.

Cheap Eats & Drinks

Due to Derry’s close proximity to the river, the chefs in the local area cook up some highly exquisite seafood dishes. If that’s not up your street though, there are plenty of other delicacies for you to try out. Being in Northern Ireland, there’s nothing more appropriate than a pint of Guinness to wash it down with.

It can be costly taking the family out to eat whilst you’re away from home, so to ensure that you can enjoy Derry on a shoestring, I have handpicked some of the city’s best budget eateries.

If you’re out and about around the city, one of the top places to stop for a quick bite is Java Coffee Shop & Juice Bar. This family run café serves up tasty food at great prices, so whether you want a hot breakfast or lunch or just a coffee and a cake, there is something for you. Caramel squares and carrot cake are two of the top favourites in here.

There’s a great little gastro pub on Queens Quay called Quay West, which is perfect for an evening meal with your  family or just somewhere to relax for a couple of hours over lunch. The light lunches, include chilli chicken ciabattas, homemade fishcakes, club triple sandwiches and more delights, which are all a budget-friendly £6.95. The prices in the evening are a little steeper but still reasonable enough for a one-off treat; starters are around £4-5 and mains range from £11.95 to £19.95.

It’s a common dilemma, half of the party fancies one thing and the other half something else. Well, instead of splitting up, head over to Mama Masala as they cook up fabulous dishes from both Italian and Indian cuisine.

The prices are very kind to your wallet, with starters anywhere between £3 and £5, the Italian mains around £10 and the Indian mains ranging from £11-15.

Arts & Attractions

Derry is the only completely walled city left in Ireland. These defences were built in the 17^th century to protect against the English and Scottish settlers.

The walls form a complete walkway around the city, with a total of seven gates: Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate, Shipquay Gate, Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate. The 1.5km walk offers a unique view of the city and insight into its turbulent history, all for free.

The Tower Museum is one of the city’s most popular attractions since its recent refurbishment. There are two permanent exhibitions to browser around: The Story of Derry and An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera.

There’s also an open air viewing facility at the top of the museum where you’re treated to some beautiful panoramic views. There are admission charges, but you’ll have to contact the Tower Museum for exact prices.

As Derry has been granted the honour of becoming the UK’s City of Culture, so there’ll be plenty of new attractions and activities on offer – many of them free. Check out some of Derry’s finest entertainment venues if you’re planning a visit next year.

Millennium Forum – www.millenniumforum.co.uk

The Playhouse Theatre – www.derryplayhouse.co.uk

Nerve Centre – www.nervecentre.org

Verbal Arts Centre – www.verbalartscentre.co.uk

Get packing and check out this hot city before word gets out ……

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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Looking to get somewhere? With dark mornings and early evenings drawing in, I find it grim enough to try and get out of bed.  Forking out for travel makes it that much harder to motivate you to get into work – and it looks like it’s going to get worse.

As we leave the Christmas turkey and mince pies behind 6.2% rises in some rail fares as of January 2013 will be double the rate of inflation, according to the Retail Prices Index (RPI). Granted, with petrol prices sky high it’s still infinitely cheaper to leave your car on your forecourt and hop onto the fastest bus train or tram, but it’s worth a good browse to ensure you’re on the cheapest ride.

Train Hop

Don’t you notice as I did that train fares vary wildly from service to time of travel to when you buy.  Number one of the train ticket bible is: buy in advance.

Buying on the day is bad enough, but buying on board is a cardinal sin. National rail (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/) is any savvy fare hopper’s best friend.

With fares often increasing up until 12 hours before your train, getting two off peak single advances instead of a return can cut an advance ticket like Birmingham to London from £27.50 to £14.00.

Equally, by going on slower Chiltern or London Midland trains instead of a speedy Virgin you’ll cut costs by seventy per cent. Yes:  you will end up travelling for longer and stopping at stations you never knew existed, but like me, if you whack in those earphones and get going with some work, you’ll reap rewards.

Get it cheap on card

Regular travellers definitely should have a look at railcards. A 16-25 card may cost £28 but when it saves a third on rain journeys you’ll soon make that back. Any serious train hoppers should browse the National Rail website to see what suits: (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/season_tickets/goldcard.html  A gold card is like the upgraded version of an annual season ticket, giving you discounted travel on a range of rail companies and deals for London underground services.

Things could be looking rosier with the arrival of a new smart card scheme which will ditch paper tickets for more flexible season ones that help to find commuters the cheapest fare, regardless of when they bought their ticket or the time they travel.

Two wheels good: four wheels bad…

Or you could abandon the train entirely! You would be amazed at how quickly you can get around on two feet or two wheels: a journey like Euston to Kings Cross on the London underground looks like your standard station hop, but you’d balk at the £1-something tube fair once you’ve walked the 900m down the road in less than 5 minutes. Having a quick check to see if you can’t walk some of the distances you travel on your daily commute can not only save you money and time but mean avoiding those rush hour crowds.

On your bike

This goes for cycling too. Once you’ve mastered the art of avoiding angry city drivers and buses, it is an easy, quick and very enjoyable way to get round. Honest. The Barclays bike scheme in London is, quite frankly, a rip off. When it’s an £1 for a 24 hour access fee and usage fees start at £1 before jumping to £4 for one and a half hours, it’s cheaper to go on the tube or bus.

Instead you should invest in a bike. With a small amount of knowledge, you can get a good one on sites like gumtree (www.gumtree.com) or eBay (www.ebay.co.uk). As long as you check your frame size http://www.evanscycles.com/help/bike-sizing and steer clear of something that needs a lot of work or is old, it’s fairly simple.

Otherwise, stores like Argos (www.argos.co.uk) have hybrid and road bikes for under £150, which, if you do not have pretensions of being Bradley Wiggins, are perfectly adequate for your daily commute.

You’ll want a bike helmet, you’ll need a lock and you’ll have to get some lurid colour water proofs ready for the winter months but these are cheap at Halfords (www.halfords.com) or any bike store. How much you spend is up to you, but even so cycling past those packed, stuffy buses on a cold morning will have you pleased to duck your bus fare.

In it for the long haul

A trip from Newcastle to London is not exactly viable on a bike. If you’re were to get a morning ticket for tomorrow with National Express coaches (http://coach.nationalexpress.com/nxbooking/funfares) you’d be taking a hit of £10.50 compared to £58 on a train. Coach travel definitely isn’t the most comfortable or rapid mode of transport, but it’s certainly nicer on your bank balance.

So if you’re on rail, go off-peak or take it slow. Otherwise, get on your walking shoes and grab your bike helmet to save those pounds.

	Written by :
	Eve Commander is a news reporter for compareandsave.com. She has worked as a journalist on several UK personal finance websites and regularly writes copy offering students financial advice. Eve now spends her time writing UK personal finance articles to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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If you are one of the lucky few with tickets to the London 2012 Olympic Games, you might be considering booking in to a budget hotel for a night or two.

London welcomes tourists from all around the world every year so there are hundreds of budget hotels dotted around the city, but these budget bedrooms may now break the bank.

According to Visit Britain, London will see over 300,000 visitors during July for the Olympics and they will be competing for just 140,000 hotel rooms. The huge demand for hotel rooms means that the prices of rooms are being hiked up tremendously.

The online hotel room website Hotels.com claims that during the Olympics Games the typical London hotel room will set you back £210 per night. This is more than double the average room for the same period last year.

It’s not only Hotels.com that found London hotels were pushing their rooms through the budget barrier, a Which? Travel report also found the same results. The research shows that a room at the Holiday Inn Express on 27th July would cost £359.50 compared to just £85 on 18th July.

If you have blown your budget on tickets for the Olympics and are not prepared to pay these extortionate prices, then at Compareandsave.com, you can check now out our top alternative accommodation, with prices to suit your budget.

Pitch your tent
When considering budget accommodation for the London Olympics you may not have thought of camping. Despite being the largest city in the UK, there are a number of cheap camping options available to you.

Camp in my Garden at www.campinmygarden.com is a scheme, which is the ‘world’s first garden camping community’ and allows homeowners to rent out spaces to pitch tents in their back gardens. Fortunately, there are many London homeowners with fabulous gardens right on the doorstep of some of the major sporting events.

If you have tickets for the Olympic Opening Ceremony, you and three friends could pitch a tent in one of the gardens for £25 per person per night. For examples, one advert states that an available garden space is ‘seconds away’ from the Tube station and thirty minutes’ walk from the Olympic Park.

Camping at the Games at www.campingatthegames.com is another excellent scheme, which has been set up specifically for the Olympics. The idea is that visitors can camp out in the grounds of sports clubs in London, all within a few miles of Olympic venues.

Eton Manor Rugby Club is a 9 minute tube journey away from the Olympic Park and is in an ideal location for a number of the event. Camping here will cost just £10 per adult and £5 per child per night. Even if you don’t have, any of your own camping gear the campsite will provide extra for just another couple of pounds.

Try out glamping

Should the thought of spending a couple of nights in a damp sleeping bag in a sopping wet field not fill you with joy, you could opt for a glampsite. This new phenomenon is taking the UK by storm, as more people prefer a luxury experience when camping.

Check out Camp in London at www.campinlondon.com  offers traditional camping and luxury glamping. They claim that booking into their luxury Bell Tents will be ‘just like staying at a hotel’.  A bold claim but considering camping here provides guests with a 24 hour reception, private lounge and luxury toilets, they may be right. The ‘rooms’ come with luxury inflatable mattresses, 100% Egyptian cotton linen, towels, tables, rugs and even a chandelier. There will be shuttle buses running from the campsite to Olympic Park every day.

 At £100 per adult and £30 per child, the cost of glamping is significantly more expensive than traditional camping, but it is still a far cry from the outrageous amounts quoted for the Olympic period by London hotels.

Hostels

Staying in a hostel is commonly associated with students on gap-year backpacking around the world, but they are a cheap alternative to costly hotel rooms during the Olympics. Rather than private rooms you will usually have to stay in a shared dorm, but other than that they operate in a similar way to a hotel.

Journeys Greenwich West Hostel in South East London has beds from just £40.01 for the night of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. It is sensible to make sure you watch out for minimum stays during the peak season.

The 2012 London Olympics are going to be expensive time for anyone staying in London as the price of everything will probably skyrocket. However, if you are willing to spend the time thinking of creative alternatives, you could save hundreds of pounds.

Staying in a hostel is commonly associated with students on gap-year backpacking around the world, but they are a cheap alternative to costly hotel rooms during the Olympics. Rather than private rooms you will usually have to stay in a shared dorm, but other than that they operate in a similar way to a hotel.

Journeys Greenwich West Hostel in South East London has beds from just £40.01 for the night of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. It is sensible to make sure you watch out for minimum stays during the peak season.

The 2012 London Olympics are going to be expensive time for anyone staying in London as the price of everything will probably skyrocket. However, if you are willing to spend the time thinking of creative alternatives, you could save hundreds of pounds.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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Poole is an incredibly popular coastal town in Dorset, a fantastic place for a few days or just for a weekend away to escape everyday life. The town is famous for Poole Quay, which has been a major feature in the town’s development over recent years.

The harbour is home to powerboats and luxury motorboats, which unless your trip to Poole includes plans to win the lottery, you may not be hopping on board anytime soon.

Poole has plenty to offer, in the form of museums, shops, national parks, restaurants, beaches, and more. Although a major business hub in the UK, Poole has proven itself an excellent tourist destination as well.

Shopping Havens

Although the High Street is dominated by the names found in towns and cities all around Britain, it also has a number of unique independent shops. If you are looking for antiques, gifts, crafts, children’s toys, or jewellery, Poole is bound to have the ideal shop for you.

Poole is home to a number of markets, which offer excellent value for money, and often provide a peek into the culture of Poole. Even if you have no intention to buy, these markets are a fun way to spend the day.

Every Thursday between 9am and 2pm in Falkland Square is the Farmers Market. Fantastic, high quality produces are on offer from farmers and bakers at a fraction of the prices found in high street shops.

One of the most popular markets is the French Street Market, which takes place in the middle of September. Although it means being in Poole at a specific time of year, the cheeses make it well worth the trip!

Heading out of the town centre and into the village of Lower Parkstone, you will find an eclectic collection of shops, with everything from flowers , lingerie to coffee and paintings! Located near Ashley Cross Green, Lower Parkstone is a great place to visit for a peaceful stroll around the shops.

Best Eats & Drinks
Poole has some incredible places to stop for a bite to eat at lunchtime or for dining out in the evening. The town centre and quay area are both home to great eateries, whether you fancy a pub lunch or a 3-course meal at a fine dining restaurant.

Keeping the cost of eating out down can be difficult when sticking to certain types of restaurants, but by visiting www.restaurantspoole.co.uk , first you might be able to grab a cheaper deal.

One of Poole’s favourites with families on a budget is Georgie Porgie Buffet World. Located on Yarrow Road, this buffet is like 10 restaurants in one! A real food lover’s paradise, it has food from just about every cuisine going including Indian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, and European. Georgie Porgie’s is open seven days a week from breakfast until late dinner with prices that won’t break the bank.

The prices vary depending on the day of the week and the time of day, but adults can eat out for as little as £5.99 to £13.99. It’s ideal for those with children as under 9’s eat for half price!

Arts & Attractions
There is so much to do in Poole it can be difficult to decide how to fill your day, but two fantastic attractions for people on a budget are the Greenslade Pleasure Boats and Poole Museum.

The pleasure boats are part of history in Poole; they provide visitors with a unique way of exploring the local area. Once on board you can cruise around the five islands, including Dorset Lakelands and the Isle of Purbeck with on-board commentary. This is a fantastic way to spend a sunny day relaxing and enjoying the best views Poole has to offer.

Trips on the Pleasure Boats aren’t ridiculously cheap but they are affordable, the adult fare is £9.50, and children £6.00. However, if you are a family, you can get great discounts with the family tickets, which range from £15.50 to £25.00.

Poole Museum is definitely one of the best attractions in town; it was reopened in 2007 after undergoing a major facelift. The four galleries show the history of Poole without any cost as entry is completely free. Whether you want to learn more about archaeology or potteries, or even pirates, Poole Museum is a great place to visit.

This is proof that a trip to Poole doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are hundreds of independent stores where you can grab bargain after bargain, discounts to be found on fine dining establishments, or just great value family outlets, and even free attractions. Enjoy what Poole has to offer without the added expense.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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Finally, the time has come for London to host the 2012 Olympics and we are just 43 days away from the largest sporting event to come to the UK.

At a time when thousands of people are preparing to travel to the UK to watch their athletes compete for their country, many of us are actually planning to go abroad to avoid the Games according to Association of British Travel Agents:

“The Olympics are going to be an amazing showcase for the UK, but not all of us are sports lovers and our consumer research has found that 12% of us will be heading overseas when the games are in progress.”

If you are a sports lover, and one of the lucky ones to get a ticket for the Olympics in the capital this summer, then you will be restricted to using a Visa card for all your purchases. As one of the official sponsors of the 2012 Games, Visa is the only type of card that will be accepted in the Olympic park.

Fortunately, if you are planning to travel this summer, you will not be restricted on how you pay for things, and so will want to ensure that you are getting best value for money.

With plastic becoming a more dominant method of payment all around the world, it’s no surprise that less people are swapping their Pounds for Euros at the currency exchange before jetting off.

It is a good idea to consider how you are going to use your money abroad well in advance, as you may have to apply for cards and wait for them to arrive in the post.

If you are planning to use your existing credit or debit cards, make sure you contact your bank to find out what their charges are for using the card abroad.

Choose your hand in credit & debit cards

A spokesperson for ABTA warned of the dangers of using credit cards abroad:

“If you’re [going abroad to avoid the Games] and you’re going to be relying on plastic, check with your bank about what level of charges they’re going to levy. Credit cards can often offer better value than debit cards as long as you make sure you pay them off in full when you return.”

If you do opt for a credit card, make sure it’s one that works for you. By doing a bit of research into the best credit cards for travelling before you go on your holiday, you can make sure you are not being overcharged.

“Try and avoid taking regular, small amounts of money from ATMs as most banks will charge a set fee each time you do so. Always tell your bank where and when you will be travelling as they keep an eye out for ‘suspicious’ transactions and can refuse to accept foreign payments if they’re not expecting them” (Sean Tipton, ABTA).

Halifax Clarity
This is one of the best credit cards for using abroad because it does not charge any fees for withdrawals or other transactions.

There are many UK credit cards offering a lower rate of interest than the Clarity, but the lack of fees and charges more than makes up for this slight increase. By paying off the balance in full when you come home, you might even be able to completely avoid any interest charges – saving you money all round.

There are a number of popular ways to pay with plastic now, there is still the option to use credit or debit cards, but now you can also use prepaid cards.

Prepaid travel cards are the ideal alternative to carrying cash around; they provide you with the ease of paying by card but without linking to any bank or credit account.

Check out the prepaid cards on offer

Whilst credit and debit cards often have fees and charges from the bank, prepaid cards do also have their drawbacks, as there are often fees for using the cards both at home and abroad. However, by comparing prepaid cards online, you can get an idea of which ones will best meet your requirements.

Caxton FX Traveller Card
This prepaid card is one of few on the market that does not impose fees and charges for ATM withdrawals or transactions whilst travelling abroad.

It is important that when you return from holiday, or before you leave, you’re not tempted to use any of the three Caxton FX Traveller Cards. Using one of the cards in the UK will leave you out of pocket as the charges are quite high.

All cards, whether prepaid, credit, or debit cards have their advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider how you will use the card when travelling and find a card to suit your specific needs.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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The Welsh city of Swansea is a lively place with plenty to offer visitors on a shoestring budget. A large student population ensures Swansea is a vibrant and young city offering plenty of great activities and eating opportunities at competitively cheap rates.

Swansea’s proximity to the sea means it inhabitants often pursue sports such as surfing and volleyball. The Gower peninsula next to Swansea is a perfect seaside destination for those looking to relax when the weather is good. Sport is big in Swansea and there is a famous rivalry with Cardiff meaning local derbies are always exciting to watch. The poet Dylan Thomas was born and lived in Swansea and admirers of his work enjoy locating areas of Swansea mentioned in his poetry. Swansea is located in a bay which includes some great beaches and villages that are well worth exploring. The industrial era has certainly had a profound effect on the city and the city celebrates this rich heritage with some great museums.

The Maritime Quarter of Swansea offers numerous attractions to visitors. The aforementioned Dylan Thomas has a museum dedicated to his work (The Dylan Thomas centre) which offers an exhibition of his life and work. The centre hosts year-round literary events, book launches and plays and is well worth investigating. Entry is free and is great both for Dylan fans and curious visitors alike.

The Swansea Museum, which is situated in four locations, offers a great glimpse into Swansea and gives an insight into Swansea life past and present. The main museum is the oldest in Wales and houses great collections and an impressive stone building. The museum also has many boats in it collections which can be found down at Swansea marina. Some of the boats include a tug boat, a warning boat and various smaller vessels. The Tramshed, located on the marina has a wonderful display of memorabilia from the street trams of Swansea including the Mumbles tram which ran from Swansea to Mumbles pier. The fourth location of the Swansea museum is The Collections Centre. Open on Wednesdays, the Collections Centre houses the museums reserve collections of maritime and industrial memorabilia. Some of the most memorable artefacts in the centre are the old vehicles and boats on display. All four locations are free of charge and will provide visitors with a great idea of Swansea’s eventful and colourful past.

Swansea is also home to Wales’ youngest museum – The National Waterfront Museum, located in the Maritime quarter. Housed inside an innovative slate and glass building, the museum focuses on Wales’ history of industrial revolution and innovation. The museum continues the theme of innovation by using interactive touchscreens and multimedia to tell the story of industrial era Wales in great detail. There are many artefacts on display that will interest many visitors. The industrial era shaped Wales enormously and it might come as a surprise to hear that Welsh iron and steel was sent around the world to be used in countries such as New Zealand and India. Such an amazing heritage is celebrated in the free to enter National Waterfront Museum and it is highly recommended.

Swansea nightlife is legendary. The centre has a large range of pubs, bars, clubs, restaurant and even two casinos. Most of the well-known nightspots can be found on Wind Street and not only do they offer visitors good value food and drinks but also a glimpse into how locals view the world. There is plenty of great seafood to be eaten in Swansea and local cockles and laver bread are the local specialities.

There are several beaches around Swansea bay that are promoted to visitors and are among some of the most beautiful in Britain. Langland Bay, Caswell Bay and Llangennith all offer surfing possibilities for visitors looking to ride the waves or just admire others doing it. The seaside village of Mumbles, a 5 mile walk from Swansea along the coast, is highly recommended and there are many great shops, restaurants and cafes that are ideal for those visiting on a budget.

Swansea is a delightful city to investigate and one that will certainly not break the bank in doing so. The seaside attractions, as well as its rich cultural heritage mean it offers something for everyone.

	Written by :
	Jemma is a news & research reporter for compareandsave.com.Having worked as a journalist on a number of personal finance websites; she now spends time researching and commenting on UK personal finance stories and investigating new ways to help our readers save money.For press enquiries, please visit our Media Centre page.

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