School's Out: 9 cheap deals for childless travellers from Skyscanner

School holidays are a notoriously expensive time to travel.

In the world of supply and demand, airlines and accommodation suppliers push up their prices during the holidays, forcing parents to cough up, or stay home.

But for those not tied to the national curriculum, there are great deals to be found either side of the vacation period.

Flight comparison site Skyscanner (www.Skyscanner.net) introduces some bargain breaks for the childless traveller.

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands – from £162
Save: over £250
You won’t have any problems finding your very own place in the sun on Fuerteventura. This laid back Canary Island boasts over 125 miles of beach and is located at the same latitude as parts of Florida and Mexico with the mercury rising as high as 23C, even during winter. Stake a place on the sand at Jandia, a huge natural beach that extends some 20km along the shoreline. There are also plenty of dunes and lagoons to explore and all just a four hour flight from the UK. Travel outside of the half term holiday and you’ll pay less than half the price for your flight. Find cheap flights to Fuerteventura

Geneva, Switzerland – from £39
Save: over £200

With snow in abundance in the Alps, a last minute ski trip is a great option right now. Geneva is an ideal landing point for winter sport lovers offering the choice of over 100 ski resorts within two hours’ drive. One of the closest is Lelex, a small resort served by 13 ski lifts, ideal for beginners. At the other end of the scale there’s Morzine, part of Les Portes Du Soleil, a huge interlinked ski area offering some 650 different pistes, served by over 200 ski lifts. Travel the week after half term and you’ll get flights for less than a quarter of the cost during the holiday. Find cheap flights to Gevena

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt – from £318
Save: over £150

With almost guaranteed sunshine and plenty of beach space, Egypt has long been a hit with families. So evade the child invasion by travelling the week before half term and save yourself more than £150. That also means you’ll have much more mullah for spending on dive adventures in the Red Sea, desert quad bike treks, and of course, après sand activities. Find cheap flights to Sharm El Sheikh

Orlando, Florida – from £440
Save: over £500

With the Harry Potter hype reaching magical proportions, Orlando is set to become even more popular, as muggles from all over the world head for Harry’s homeland to enjoy the delights of his ‘Wizarding World’, which is due for completion in spring. For now, you can beat both the Harry Potter and half term crowds and enjoy Orladno’s alternative attractions instead; go gator spotting in the Everglades with an airboat adventure, treat yourself to a little luxury shopping at Tiffany & Co, Cartier, or Jimmy Choo at The Mall at Millenia, then taste the local vintage at the Lakeridge Winery. Find cheap flights to Orlando

Dubai, UAE – from £347
Save: over £50

With all its modern child-friendly attractions, Dubai has drawn an increasingly large portion of the family holiday market. Be sure to avoid all that, and the costs that go with it, by travelling the week before half term. That means you’ll have more to spend in the chic shopping centres, on a champagne brunch or on some cheap nuggets at the Gold Souk. Get your haggling hat on if you want to bag some bargain bullion though, and watch out for fool’s gold! Find cheap flights to Dubai

Jamaica – from £431
Save: over £200

Jamaica has the beaches, the relaxing atmosphere and the cocktails to make all your winter blues disappear. There are hotels to suit all tastes and price ranges, but one of the best is the ‘Breezes Runaway Bay Resort and Golf Club’ where you can have a round on the course before enjoying a round at the bar. You can also swim with dolphins, go river rafting, or visit the Bob Marley Museum. Head to this Caribbean country the week before school’s out and you’ll save over £200 on the flight. Find cheap flights to Jamaica

Marrakech, Morocco – from £160
Save: over £300

Marrakech’s close proximity to the UK has meant it’s become a rising star for those seeking somewhere exotic, yet only a short flight away. In the heart of the old city is Djemaa el-Fna, a busy square with a carnival-style atmosphere with entertainers, performers and delicious Moroccan food from local stalls. Adventurous travellers can even head out of the city to Oukaimeden in the Atlas Mountains for some African skiing. Go the week before the kids come out to play, and you’ll save over £300 on your flights. Find cheap flights to Marrakech


Paphos, Cyprus – from £109
Save: over £150

It may be at the cooler end of the temperature spectrum, but it´s still possible to enjoy days on the beach here during the winter months. Unlike other resorts on the island such as Ayia Napa, Paphos is open for business all year round and there are no less than eleven blue flag beaches in this region, making it an ideal base for exploring gems such as Konnos Bay, Cape Greco or nearby Coral Bay. Head off before half term and save more than £150 on your flight. Find cheap flights to Paphos

Luqa, Malta – from £114
Save: over £100

This small Mediterranean Island is fast becoming a popular spot with families due to its child-friendly attitude, year-round good weather and good value. Go the week before half term and you’ll be able to enjoy Malta’s distinct Mediterranean cuisine, intriguing architecture and interesting history that make it a great place for childless travellers too. The fact that you’ll save over £100 by travelling before the holiday helps sweeten the deal. Find cheap flights to Malta

Prices are for return flights and include all mandatory taxes, based on Saturday to Saturday, or Sunday to Sunday departure/return. Departures are from London airports, other options may be available. Prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change. Please check for www.Skyscanner.net for the most up to date information.

About Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a leading travel search site based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Skyscanner provides instant online comparison on flight prices for over 67,000 routes on over 600 airlines, as well as car hire, hotel and holiday price comparison. With Skyscanner, users can browse without having to enter specific dates or even destinations, and Skyscanner is available in 20 different languages including French, German and Spanish.


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sam@skyscanner.net
Tel: +44 (0)131 252 5353

Skyscanner reveals top 50 destinations for UK travellers

Travel search site www.skyscanner.com reveals the top 50 most searched for destinations from UK airports for travel in 2010.

In the top spot is Malaga, moving up one place from last year. Tenerife and Alicante are second and third, meaning Spain takes the top three positions.

Orlando is a new entry into the top ten, rising 12 places since last year. Dalaman holds its position as the 5th most searched for destination for a second year in a row, whist New York also brakes into the top 10, up five positions from last year.

Palma comes in 8th, losing one spot since last year; Lanzarote is 9th, rising four places, and Geneva is 10th, dropping two places.

Overall Spain is yet again the most popular country for Brits to visit, with 11 Spanish destinations within the top 50, five of which are in the top 10.

“These early indications show that Spain is still by far the most popular destination for British travellers. Medium and long haul locations also seem to be on the rise compared to last year, suggesting that holiday budgets may be growing after a tough financial year” said Barry Smith, Skyscanner co-founder and business director.

Brand new entries to the top 10 are Johannesburg and Cape Town, which will be welcoming the World Cup in 2010. Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong also entered the top 50.

Destinations dropping most in search volume are Edinburgh, Salzburg, Murcia and London. Fuerteventura also fell in the rankings but the fall was dispraportionate to the year before because of Ryanair suspending its service. Other airlines stepped in, such as Easyjet, Palm Air, Monarch and Jet2 to fill the gap but not in time to halt the slide in the ranking. In the coming year Fuerteventura will be helped with the new airport terminal opening and the capability to welcome more flights to the island. Irish property owners and visitors will be helped with Ryanair reinstating its flights to the island in March 2010.

1. Malaga, (Spain) [+1]
2. Tenerife (Spain) [+2]
3. Alicante (Spain)[0]
4. Orlando (USA) [+12]
5. Dalaman (Turkey) [0]
6. Faro (Portugal) [0]
7. New York (USA) [+5]
8. Palma (Spain) [-1]
9. Lanzarote (Spain) [+4]
10. Geneva (Switzerland) [-2]

11. Bangkok (Thailand) [+11]
12. Paphos (Cyprus) [-3]
13. Barcelona (Spain) [+1]
14. London (UK) [-13]
15. Bodrum (Turkey) [-4]
16. Paris (France) [+1]
17. Rome (Italy) [-2]
18. Gran Canaria (Spain) [+1]
19. Larnaca (Cyprus) [+1]
20. Sydney (Australia) [+7]

21. Johannesburg (South Africa) [New Entry]
22. Amsterdam (Netherlands) [-4]
23. Murcia (Spain) [-13]
24. Dublin (Ireland) [-1]
25. Ibiza (Spain) [+5]
26. Prague (Czech Republic) [-2]
27. Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) [+11]
28. Auckland (New Zealand) [+11]
29. Venice (Italy) [+4]
30. Luqa (Malta) [+5]



31. Krakow (Poland) [-5]
32. Las Vegas (USA) [+13]
33. Cape Town (South Africa) [New Entry]
34. Melbourne (Australia) [New Entry]
35. Fuerteventura (Spain) [-10]
36. Berlin (Germany) [+1]
37. Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) [New Entry]
38. Marrakech (Morocco) [-9]
39. Milan (Italy) [-7]
40. Dubai (UAE) [New Entry]

41. Madrid (Spain) [-5]
42. Hong Kong (Hong Kong) [New Entry]
43. Perth (Australia) [New Entry]
44. Edinburgh (UK) [-16]
45. Munich (Germany) [New Entry]
46. Salzburg (Austria) [-15]
47. Crete (Greece) [-6]
48. Brisbane (Australia) [New Entry]
49. Sofia (Bulgaria) [-2]
50. Nice (France) [-2]

About Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a leading travel search site based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Skyscanner provides instant online comparison on flight prices for over 670,000 routes on over 600 airlines, as well as car hire, hotel and holiday price comparison. With Skyscanner, users can browse without having to enter specific dates or even destinations, and Skyscanner is available in 20 different languages including French, German and Spanish.

The 6 Best Places To Windsurf And Kitesurf

Windsurfing and kitesurfing expert Gareth Bayley introduces 6 of the best places to get on your board.

El Médano, Tenerife
Only 10 minutes drive from Tenerife Sur airport, El Medano is a wind and kite surfers' paradise, featuring year-round cross-onshore winds from the left and water temperatures where you can get away with board shorts and rash vest (if you're hardy) or a shorty wetsuit (if you're a wuss). Water temps are around 17 C in mid-winter and 25-26 C in summer.
The wind is strongest and most reliable in summer, but the wind stats are pretty good all year round, thanks to a north-east trade wind strengthened further by a thermal effect. In summer, leave your big kites and sails at home; kiters here tend to use just 7m kites or smaller, and the windsurfers are looking at between 3.5m and 5m sails. Travel: find cheap flights to Tenerife

Hot spots:

El Medano Bay - suitable for any level with a mixture of chop and small waves. The wind tends to fill in as the morning progresses, and then remains steady throughout the day, with surfers out right until sunset. El Médano is not the easiest place for learners, but there are schools right on the beach for both kitesurfing and windsurfing, with fully qualified instructors.

Cabezo - further upwind, featuring waves and only for the more advanced rider.

Sotavento, Fuerteventura
Like Tenerife, there's very good and reliable wind in Fuerteventura, and off-water fun aplenty if the wind should drop, although Fuerte is so blessed with wind that it's become a fixture of one of the major kitesurf world tours. Travel: find cheap flights to Fuerteventura airport

Hot Spots

Sotavento Beach - wide and long with a lagoon for learners to pick up the sport. On the outside, a mixture of chop and waves pulls in the more advanced.
Sotavento is around 40-50 minutes from Fuerteventura Puerto del Rosario airport.
Flag Beach - the other main location on Fuerte for wind. Situated in the north east.


Cabarete, Dominican Republic north coast
Another legendary spot in the Caribbean for wind and kitesurfers, with a chilled out beach atmosphere in which to recover from tricks gone awry. This is very much the place to mix a Caribbean holiday with your wind pursuits. Cabarete's wind is most reliable in the summer months. Find cheap flights to the Dominican Republic
Hot Spots
Kite Beach - this imaginatively named kite spot can get busy due to its relatively smooth waters protected by a reef but there is plenty of space to spread out in Cabarete, including at Bozo Beach a bit nearer to town, but featuring chop and small waves. If you get bored quickly, then there's always a guided downwinder you can take.
Cabarete is about 30 minutes drive from the nearest airport, Puerto Plata. It's quite a bit further to the next airport, Santo Domingo, around three-four hours drive away.
There's a good range of accommodation for any taste and budget. And there's a great variety of bars and restaurants on Cabarete's main beach drag.
If the wind drops, you can always explore inland, cheaply hiring a car or motorcycle in Cabarete.

Aruba, Caribbean
Aruba, a Dutch dependency located off the coast of Venezuela, has some of the most reliable wind stats on Earth. Not a big island, you nevertheless need to hire a car if you're going to get the best out of the two wind spots, at either end of the island.
Hot Spots
Fishermen's Huts - this area provides off-shore wind and therefore flat water conditions. For a small fee, someone will keep an eye on you and bring you back in if you can't stay upwind. Time is divided between kitesurfing (morning and late afternoon) and windsurfing (day).

Boca Grande - located at the other end of the island, the cross on-shore winds, chop and small waves at will keep you entertained for days. It's not a huge bay for launching, but once you're on the outside, there's the whole Caribbean to play in.
Aruba is also great for diving, on wrecks as well as reefs. And for the ultimate dive sensation, head to Aruba's sister island of Bonaire, the entire coast of which is a designated marine park, and rightly so. The water temperature is always balmy, so surfers can leave their wetsuits at home.
Aruba is the perfect place for a couple or family who want to be doing different things on their holidays. Beach bums can head to the brilliant (and cooler to the touch) coral sand beaches outside the main hotels. Watersports nuts can head off to the windsurfing, kiting and diving. And all can get together again in the evening, for the laidback but delicious Aruban cuisine.
Travel: Find cheap flights to Aruba

Red Sea, Egypt
There are a number of places around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, perfect for windsurfing, kitesurfing and diving.
Hot Spots
Dahab - the "Goa of Egypt" but with plenty more wind averaging over 300 days a year of sailable weather. Dahab is laidback, friendly and always sunny, and along with Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, is also world renowned for good diving. Travel: find cheap flights to Sharm el-Sheikh (just 1 hour away.)
Sharm el-Sheikh - not quite as windy as Dahab, but Sharm's still got it. The main reason to come to Sharm, however, is to sample the world famous diving, including on the "Thistlegorm", the wreck of a World War 2 freighter complete with its wartime cargo. Plenty of dive schools here to choose from, as well as charter boats to join going out to the main sites on day trips or longer liveaboard excursions. Travel: find cheap flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, just minutes away.

Safaga - South of Hurghada, but with a much quieter vibe. Again, great wind statistics and different conditions for all levels. And did we mention the diving? Again, world class.
Moon Beach - for something a little bit different, try Moonbeachretreat.com, equidistant from Sharm el-Sheikh airport and Cairo International Airport. Moon Beach is a get away from it all kind of place, tucked away on the east coast of the Gulf of Suez, near Ras Sudr. There, you can try kitesurfing, windsurfing and yoga for when your limbs fail you. The Moon Beach team arrange windsurfing from your doorstep. The kitesurfing is run out of a resort twenty minutes up the road. The wind of course is great and reliable. No diving, though. Travel: find cheap flights to Cairo


Tarifa, Spain
The European Mecca of windsurfing and kitesurfing, Tarifa needs little introduction. Situated west of Algeciras on Spain's Atlantic coast, Tarifa benefits from the effect of winds funnelling through the Straits of Gibraltar from the east (the "Levante") and the west (the "Poniente").

In summer, the Levante can get quite mental, occasionally hitting Force 10! But in general expect more manageable wind and a relaxed but hip off-water life, centred around the funky and compact Tarifa old town.
The water is a mixture of chop and small waves. Water temperatures are high in the summer, so you only need board shorts and rash vest. In the autumn and winter, you're going to need a full wetsuit.
Off the water, there's plenty to see and do, so hire a car and make some trips to fishing villages, mountain towns and the sherry capital of Jerez.
Travel: Find cheap flights to Jerez, Gibraltar and Malaga.

Source Skyscanner

Fuerteventura Airport – Canary Islands Airport’s do not rank in SkyScanners lastest list of rudest, weirdest and strangest airport names in the worl

The old capital name for Fuerteventura which was formally known as Puerto de Cabras ( Port of the Goats ) now known as Puerto del Rosario because it was felt the previous name did not reflect the right image for an islands capital that is the business centre for Real Estate, banks, Lawyers and Notary’s. We think that Fuerteventura’s Puerto de Cabras could have managed to obtain the listing in the airport or zoo category for Goat Airport
All are genuine, official airports, recognised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Skyscanner’s Top 10 Personal Favourites:
1. Batman Airport (BAL) Turkey
2. Useless Loop Airport (USL), Australia
3. Black Tickle Airport (YBI), Canada
4. Mafia Airport (MFA), Tanzania
5. Moron Airport (OZP), Spain
6. Ogle Airport (OGL), Guyana
7. Brest Airport (BES), France
8. Eek Airport (EEK), USA
9. Pickle Lake Airport (YPJ), Canada
10. Raspberry Strait Airport (RSP), USA

Watch your language – airports that may offend!
1. Old Crow Airport (YOC), Canada
2. Fukui Airport (FKJ), Japan
3. Dang Airport (DNP), Nepal
4. Pratt Airport (PTT), USA
5. Ponce Airport (PSE), Puerto Rico
6. Fort Dix Airport (WRI), USA
7. Tsili Tsili Airport (TSI), Papau New Guinea
8. Gaylord Airport (GLR), USA
9. Shafter Airport (MIT), USA
10. Phi Phi Island Airport (PHZ), Thailand
11. Fak Fak Airport (FKQ), Indonesia
12. Big Bell Airport (BBE), Australia

Say what now? The strangest sounding airports
1. Gorom-Gorom Airport (XGG), Burkina Faso
2. Wee Waa Airport (WEW), Australia
3. Wagga Wagga Airport (WGA), Australia
4. Woodie Woodie Airport (WWI), Australia
5. Wuhu Airport (WHU), China
6. Xingning Airport (XIN), China
7. Puka Puka Airport (PZK), Cook Islands
8. Flin Flon Airport (YFO), Canada
9. Kar Kar Airport (KRX), Papua New Guinea
10. Linga Linga Airport (LGN), Papua New Guinea
11. Muko-Muko Airport (MAL), Indonesia
12. Mala Mala Airport (AAM), South Africa
13. Sabi Sabi Airport (GSS), South Africa

Airports you might prefer not to fly to…
1. Mafia Airport (MFA), Tanzania
2. Slave Lake Airport (YZH), Canada
3. Asbestos Hill Airport (YAF), Canada
4. Desolation Sound Airport (YDS) Canada
5. Crooked Island Airport (CRI), Canada
6. Deception Airport (YGY), Canada
7. Broken Hill Airport (BHQ), Australia
8. Warroad Airport (RRT), USA
9. Battle Mountain Airport (BAM), USA
10. Battle Creek Airport (BTL), USA
11. Mysore Airport (MYQ), India
12. Bloodvein Airport (YDV), Canada
13. Storm Lake Airport (SLB), USA
14. Red Devil Airport (RDR), USA
15. Rifle Airport (IRD), USA
16. Deadhorse Airport (SCC), USA
17. Cue Airport (CWT), Australia
18. Alert Airport (YLT), Canada
19. Danger Bay Airport (DGB), USA
20. Colon Airport (ONX), Panama
21. Aspe Airport (YGP), Canada

Airport or Zoo - airports for animals?
1. Monkey Mia Airport (MJK), Australia
2. Murnansk Monkey (MMK), Russia
3. Squirrel Cove Airport (YSZ), Canada
4. Big Trout Airport (YTL), Canada
5. Snake River Airport (YXF), Canada
6. Goose Bay Airport (YYR), Canada
7. Whale Cove Airport (YXN), Canada
8. Beaver Creek Airport (YXP), Canada
9. Muskrat Dam Airport (MSA), Canada
10. Sheep Mountain Airport (SMU), USA
11. Elk City Airport (ELK), USA
12. Deer Park Airport (DPK), USA
13. Hawk Inlet Airport (HWI), USA
14. Big Bear Airport (RBG), USA
15. Red Dog Airport (RDB), USA
16. Moose Jaw Airport (YMJ), Canada
17. Mammoth Lakes Airport (MMH), USA
18. Wolf Point Airport (OLF), USA
19. Chicken Airport (CKV), USA
20. Fox Airport (FOX), USA
21. Duck Airport (DUF), USA
22. Atlanta Beaver Ruin Airport (JAO), USA


And finally, a little fun with IATA Airport Codes:
1. DIK – Dickinson Airport, USA
2. NOB – Nosara Beach Airport, Costa Rica
3. KOK – Kokkola/Pietarsaari Kruunupyy Airport, Finland
4. BOG – Bogotá Airport, Columbia
5. BUM – Butler Airport, USA
6. PEE – Perm Airport, Russia
7. POO – Pocos De Caldas Airport, Brazil
8. SEX – Sembach Airport, Germany
9. EAT – Wenatchee Airport, USA
10. FAT – Fresno Yosemite Airport, USA
11. DOH – Doha Airport, Qatar
12. CAT – Cat Island Airport, Bahamas
13. DOG – Dongola Airport, Qatar

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