In a world of budget airlines and flights for as little as a dollar, it can be easy to think that flying is the only way to travel. Where once airplanes were reserved for crossing oceans and continents, the ease of domestic flying has meant that society is more and more used to getting aboard a plane to travel within the same country. It’s cheaper, it’s quicker and it’s more efficient – or so we are told.

There is no doubt that in the ‘quickest’ category, flying by airplane is going to come up on top. Even when you factor in the time needed to travel to the airport and to check in, the simple fact is that flying at 500mph is going to be faster than any train, car or boat can manage.

Flying is also more efficient; you can take luggage without having to cart it around a train station or cram it in to the trunk of a car, and usually you can fly directly to your destination – or at the very least a nearby city.

But is it the cheapest?

Budget airlines and fares may look tempting, but it’s essential to read the small print. Often, taxes and other charges – such as charges for checking in, or taking baggage – are levied on top, often at a premium price. Suddenly, that 99c flight is going to cost you $40 – it’s still cheap, but not that cheap when you factor in travel to the airport.

The lesson is simple: don’t assume flying is the best method of travel. Look around, keep your option open and – most importantly – always read the small print.

The Benefits of Traveling Solo

When presented with the idea of holidaying alone, many of us will recoil immediately at the idea. Where, we wonder, would the fun be? Or even if the idea does appeal, we worry about the possibility of looking like some kind of ‘loser’, alone because we have no friends to go on holiday with.

In reality, traveling alone can be one of the most enjoyable vacation experiences of a person’s life. First and foremost, there are many reasons why someone may choose to travel alone – it does not automatically mean they have ‘no friends’. You may have interests or sights you want to see that do not appeal to your friends, or perhaps you’ve just had one too many family holidays that have ended in arguments – so you fancy seeing the world alone, and in peace. There’s no harm in it, and it is becoming more common for couples, best friends and families to travel alone on occasion.

There is an unfortunate truth that people traveling alone are sometimes penalized for it; better known as the ‘single person supplement’. This is where you will pay more for not being in a group, and is something to consider. However, with lone traveling becoming more popular, the single person supplement is losing its grip on the travel industry in the competition for consumers – so look around and you should be able to avoid it.

Better yet, there are now hotels that cater especially to people traveling alone for whatever reason, so there is an opportunity to make like-minded friends. If you’re fed up with arguing with your traveling companions or just want to experience something new, then traveling alone may be the best decision you’ve ever made.