How to Fly to Paris (and other European cities) for $150 or less from Louisville

While people window shop, I plan fantasy vacations.  This means I spend a lot of time looking up photos and prices for places I want to visit.  Fortunately for me and fellow travel bugs, those fantasies can now be realities!

WOW Air, an Icelandic budget airline, will start offering flights out of Cincinnati in May 2018 at a base rate of $100 one way to Iceland and $150 to 18 European destinations and Tel Aviv.  Flights to Iceland’s capital Reykjavik are direct and 6 hours long.  All other destinations stopover in Iceland.

This means you can fly to select cities in Iceland, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Poland, Sweden and France for cheaper and faster than flying to some U.S. cities!  Flying to anywhere in Europe currently is $700 - $1,000 round trip, so this is AMAZING news! So if you ever fantasize about flying away to Paris and never come back (or at least for a short vacation), you can finally do it for only $150 one way.

Ridiculously cheap?  Yes!  It comes with a few caveats, but you can do it and here’s how.

How to book the cheapest flights

You can book tickets now for 2018 by going directly to wowair.com but I found the process to be cumbersome.  Search results only show prices for a few days at a time and you'll have to scroll one by one to see better prices.

Instead, I prefer to go to flights.google.com (best on your desktop).  To book one way tickets to Paris for $150 and to Iceland for $100:

• 1) Choose "one way" 
• 2) Departure = CVG and Arrival: Paris/KEF/Berlin...etc., 
• 3) Click on the "date".  A calendar will appear at the bottom and scroll through the months to see the cheapest dates. 

Cincinnati to Paris for $150

Cincinnati to Iceland for $100

It's easy to find cheap one way tickets to Iceland and Europe but finding a separate one way ticket back to Cincinnati is almost always more expensive.  To get a better deal, I suggest searching for "Round Trip".  When you click on the departure and return date, a calendar will pop up with a two-month calendar view of the prices.

 Pick the departure and return date with the best prices (in green).  The price for the dates you pick initially might not be the cheapest but you can refine your search further by choosing “flexible date” (next to "calendar" under departure date).  You’ll get a matrix with dates around your desired departure time with better rates.  For detailed instructions you can go here.

$260 RT to Iceland is an excellent price!

Once you find the dates and prices you like, Google will direct you to WOW to book.

If the price for your desired departure date is high, try these tips:

• For $100 and $150 tickets, search and book months ahead.
• Be flexible with your travel dates and destination.  Leaving a day early or later can save you hundreds.
• Google flights has the option to track flights & prices.  It’ll notify you when the price changes.  If the price is too high now, it might be worth it to wait.  However, have an idea of  what a good price is. You don't want to wait around for an unreasonable rate that may never come.  A really good price for a round trip ticket to Iceland is in the $300 range and $400 range for other European destinations.
• Prices change all the time, if you find cheap flights, book! By law, you have 24 hours to cancel free of charge.  That'll give you time to ask for your boss' permission :)  
• WOW flies only on certain days of the week depending on the destination, choose those dates to ensure the best rate. WOW flies out of Cincinnati to Reyjkavik: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; out of Reyjkavik - Cincinnati: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
• If you want to combine Iceland with other European destinations, consider their free Stop Over Offer. More info here. 

Europe and Beyond

If your intended European destination is expensive through WOW air or not offered at all, there's a great solution!

• 1)  The cheapest option is to book your round trip ticket to Iceland through WOW and use Iceland as your travel base.  From there, you can fly to almost any European city for very cheap. 
• 2) Go to skyscanner.com, my favorite website for inter-European air travel, to search for tickets to the destination of your choice.  If you are flexible on your destination and dates, try this search option:
• Departure: KEF
• Arrival: Everywhere
• Departure month & Arrival: Cheapest month
  

  

  Search Sample

  
  You'll get this result.  Round trip to the UK from Iceland for as low as $50.



Sample search results

Or if you have multiple cities in mind, fly one way into one city and back from another city.  You can find one way tickets from Iceland to Europe for as low s $22 one way.

If you time and book things correctly you can fly to from Cincinnati to Iceland for $260 + $50 (RT to UK) + $62 (RT from UK to Paris via EuroStar train) + whatever other cities you want to visit....the options are limitless!  Here's further reading for tips and advice on budget airlines in Europe. Please NOTE: skyscanner is a search engine so you cannot buy the tickets directly from them. When applicable, it'll give you a list of travel agencies and/or airlines to book.  I suggest selecting the airline company directly to avoid complications with un-reputable third party sites.

Louisville to Cincinnati 

Yes, you’ll have to fly out of Cincinnati but the short 1.5 hour drive there from Louisville is worth the savings.  If you have friends or family in Cincinnati, park your car there and then Uber/Lyft to the airport.  Information here for a free Uber ride.

If you opt to park at the airport, there are a few options.  The cheapest is to park your car at CVG ValuPark, a long term open air parking lot for $9/day.  Directions here.  Before you enter the lot, the parking attendant will direct you to the appropriate row, a shuttle will then come to you to give you a ride to the terminal.  It's a well coordinated process and you can be at the airport in 10-15 minutes, depending on how many people they have to pick up in the lot.

Finally...the Catch.

Since the airfare is cheap on budget airlines, you’ll have to make some compromises.  Drinks and snacks are not free;  the seats are smaller and leg room is minimal; luggage requirements are strict and expensive.  Prepare yourself by reading the policies and guidelines from each airline so are not caught off guard by unwanted expenses and headaches.

I've booked my Iceland tickets and am looking forward to this scenery!

Photo Source: D. Tran

If you are interested in more travel tips, check this blog post on how to fly to the beach for as low as $30 or this for tips on booking cheap hotels and cars.

The Case for Cruising

Call me crazy, but I like my vacation a little stressful and hectic.  I love to get lost in the sights of a foreign city, to race against time and borders.  I don't get too many vacation days, so when I do go on vacation, I want to see and do as much as I can.   My husband is the opposite.  He likes to relax on vacation, to know exactly where he's going and when he'll get there.  After a crazy race across 11 cities in 17 days last year, I promised to slow down a bit and to replenish our funds.  Our usual compromise for vacation in that situation: cruising.

If you've never been on a cruise before, here's my case for cruising:

It's affordable.   Depending on the cruise line, you can easily find cruises to the Caribbean and Europe for $500 - $800 for 7 days or to the Bahamas for $200-$300 for 3 to 4 days.  Cruises are all inclusive.  This means you get to travel to exotic places for less than $100/day which includes lodging, all you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, entertainment, activities and room service.

Sample rates from Royal Caribbean

All you can eat.  Order as many appetizers, entrees and desserts as you like from a changing menu at one of the sit down restaurants. Or choose from endless options at the buffets.  Ice cream and pizza are usually available 24/7.  Free room service means you can even eat in your room.

Can't decide between the lobster or the prime rib? You can get both.

Lots of things to do on the ship.  Cruising is not just about mini golf and gambling anymore.  The ships are bigger and better, which mean a lot of fun activities on board to keep you busy.

Lots of fun water sports.

Rock climbing on the Oasis.

It's stress free.  Cruises take away the stress out of arranging hotel, transportation and where to eat.  The cruise ship drops you off at prearranged destinations, you get off to explore and return to the ship to relax and wake up in a new location.  Besides figuring out what to do on your excursion at each destination, there's not much planning involved.

You'll have time for this.

Of course the downside to all that is you don’t have as much time to explore each destination and you’re restricted by the ship’s schedule.

If you're new to cruising and are interested, here are a few pointers:

How to choose a cruise.   A big part of cruising is the ship itself since you’ll spend a large part of your trip on the ship, so choose a ship with high ratings.  I use cruisecritic.com to read about the ship's amenities and reviews from experts and previous guests.  Also, each cruise line is different, so pick one that's right for you.  Princess is for older adults (60+), Carnival for the partying crowd, Disney for children and families, Royal Caribbean is a good mix of everyone. Click here for a list of cruise lines comparison.

Choosing the right ships will mean better entertainment and food.

After going the Oasis of the Seas, the largest ship in the world at the time, it's hard to go back to the smaller ships.  For the largest cruise ships, check out the Oasis Line from Royal Caribbean (Oasis, Allure and Harmony).  Harmony is currently the world's largest.  Check out our video of the Oasis of the Seas here: https://goo.gl/photos/aXqJq83FcyMzaGDd8

Where to book your cruise.  I use aggregate sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Cruisesheet to look for the best rate then go directly to the cruise line to book my tickets.  Or go directly to the cruise line to book, the two that works best for our budget and style (cheap and casual) is Carnival and Royal Caribbean.  If you have a Costco membership, look here first.  It can be cheaper and more than likely you’ll get on-board credits to spend.

When to book.  For cruises, the earlier you book, the better the deal. My in-laws booked theirs a year in advance on the same ship we went on, they got a better room (ocean view balcony) and a bigger on board credit, at a cheaper rate.  There are also last minute deals, but these are not as good or as frequently offered.  Consider travel off season for better prices such as: hurricane season (September – November), during the pre-holiday (first week or two of December) and the post-holiday (first two weeks of January).  If you have time to spare, look into repositioning cruises, when ships travel across the ocean to change ports as the seasons change.  The rate is great but the trade-off is you’ll spend a lot of consecutive days at sea.

Choosing a departure port.  Leaving from the right ports can mean big savings on airfare, which is not included in the cost of your cruise.  From Louisville, you can find reasonable flights ($200 - $300) year round to Orlando (cruises depart from Cape Canaveral, an hour drive from Orlando), Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and even Puerto Rico.  Consider flying from Cincinnati to get even cheaper rates on Frontier and Allegiant (details here).  Plan for weather and other incidentals by scheduling arrival to your port a day before your cruise departure date, the cruise ship will not wait for you if your flight is delayed/cancelled.

Explore tropical fruit gardens in Miami if you arrive a day early.

Choosing cruise destinations. The Caribbean is a great choice for first time cruisers, prices are cheaper and there are a lot of cruise ships to choose from.  The water is amazingly blue and warm, activities revolve around the outdoors and the water.  European and Asian cruises tend to be more expensive when you take into consideration the flight there and back but you’re treated to amazing cultural sites and glamorous cities.  Cruises to Alaska are on smaller ships and limited to the summer months.  You'll find destinations do not vary too much from one cruise line to another.

Beautiful Labadee, Haiti

Booking excursions.  There’s plenty to do and see once the ship drops you off at your destinations, the easiest and cheapest is to head to the local beach or town and spend the day exploring.  For other activities like scuba diving, guided tours, etc., you’ll have book them through the cruise ship or find your own tour operators.  There’s pros and cons for both.

Shore excursion in Italy.

• Cruise ship tours: You pay an exorbitant amount of money but you’re conveniently picked up at the ship and you’re guaranteed to leave with the ship in case anything happens during your tour.  These tour companies has a special contract with the ship so they’re more reputable.
• Other tour operators:  Prices are almost always cheaper and tour options are more extensive.  But if there’s transportation issue or other delays during the tour, you risk missing the ship.  Do extensive research by reading reviews on Tripadvisoror Cruisecritic to make sure the company is reputable.  These tours are designed specific for cruise ship passengers so you’ll be okay. But it’s a small risk you’ll have to take.  

How to save money on the ship.  Asides from the basics, everything on the ship costs extra.  Beware of what they are and you will save.  If possible, skip the soft drinks and alcoholic beverages or opt to buy a beverage package; set a budget for the casino (on my last trip, one passenger can't pay his huge gambling debt and was not allowed to get off the ship);  avoid buying professional photos, they will take a lot of these;  and eat only at free restaurants.  Tipping is also not included and many ships now require a mandatory percentage added to your account for each day of your trip.  But the staff are always excellent, so don’t forget to set out extra to tip them.

Whenever I get a chance to travel, I take it.  Between every few hectic and crazy travel adventures, I slow down with a cruise and have enjoyed them all (5 of them now).  Whatever your style, happy traveling!

Adventuring in Baltimore, Washington D.C. and New York on the Chinese Bus

I spent my Jul 4th weekend hanging out with a parakeet on a Chinese bus headed for New York City.  I didn't have it planned out that way but it became a part of a week long budget traveling adventure that started in Cincinnati and ended with a 12 hour bus ride home by a very mistrusting bus driver.  Here's how it started.

I was heading to D.C. for a week long work trip so asked my husband to tag along.  I scored him round trip direct tickets from Cincinnati to Baltimore/Washington D.C. for $90 on Allegiant Air, (my coworkers paid $286 to fly from Louisville).  We had to drive to Cincinnati and then Uber to the airport, it costed only $4 when I used my discount.  Despite being a budget airline, the plane was new, clean and spacious.

Inside Allegiant Airline

We flew into the Baltimore airport, a quick 40 minute Amtrak ride away from D.C that costed $15/person.  Here's my husband's first Amtrak experience.  I love taking the train so I think there's going to be a cross America train adventure in my near future.  

The wanderlust that I am, I have to fit as many destinations in one trip as possible.  So before going to D.C., we headed to Baltimore's Inner Harbour, a short light rail ride away for less than $2/person.  Often praised as a model for post industrial redevelopment, this historic harbor is hodgepodge of attractions, restaurants, and museums that's ideal for exploring on foot.

We walked for 30 minutes around the area and ended up in Fell's Point, a lovely historic town established in 1730 with narrow side walks and red brick homes where locals and tourist alike hung out at restaurants and pubs.  Edgar Allan Poe's last stop was here at The Horse You Came In On, America's oldest continuously operated saloon.  Poe was found dead outside.   We came here specifically for Thames Street Oyster House for the lobster roll and crab cakes.  My husband took the photo below, bit into the lobster roll and then felt compel to take his phone out again to take another photo because it was so good. 

$24 for the lobster roll, but definite worth it.

$15 crab cake sandwich, a must have when in Maryland.

Two happy tummies later, we rushed back to the Amtrak station to catch the train to D.C. to spend our week.

After work each day, we did all the touristy things, visited all the monuments and historically significant sites.  D.C. is easily accessible via the Metro, by foot, or bike.  We walked 10 miles some days and biked everywhere using the bike share system, $8 for a day pass + additional fee for each hour used.  Washington D.C. architectural style pays homage to the Rome, it's like walking in a Roman city if it were still intact today.  For museum lovers, it's the place to be, since most major museums and attractions are free. 

Martin Luther King Memorial

The Supreme Court

Sample of the architecture.

The popular Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument.

Got caught in the rain walking back. I LOVE rain.

I've been to D.C. a few times but appreciated it more this time because my coworker lived in the area and gave us a more intimate tour of the area.  The Wharf specifically rocked my world.  Here you will find fresh seafood for cheap.  My favorite meal is to head over to Jessie Taylor to get a few dozen fresh blue crabs, they then carry it across to the other side and steamed it with some Old Bay seasoning on the spot for FREE.  We paid only $25 for 2.5 dozens of fresh crab.  Pro tip: flirt with the guys and you'l get at least 3 dozens for the same price.   

We also made a quick trip to the historic port of Annapolis, Maryland right on the Chesapeake Bay.  I felt in love with its European-like charm, laid back atmosphere, and the sail boats gliding in the wind. 

As the week neared the end and the long weekend loomed ahead, I convinced my husband (he used the word "tricked") to take a trip to New York, promising to keep it as cheap as possible. It was a big victory for me since his fear of robbery, alien invasions and super hero show-downs kept him from wanting to visit New York.

To keep it as cheap as possible, I booked us tickets on Ilikebus.com for $20/each.  The website is a travel agent of sort for Chinese-owned bus companies, offering cheap travel along the East and West coast of the U.S.  Pick up and drop off locations are usually located in a Chinatown or in smaller cities, an Asian grocery store.  This is our bus and this is the shady looking office where we checked in:

Bus stop 

Our Chinese Bus

We sent several messages to friends notifying them to look for us if we don’t come back.

It wasn't luxurious travel, but it's wasn't bad either.  The seats were uncomfortable but the bus is clean and spacious.  It's the way to go if you're looking for cheap transportation (Bolt Bus, Megabus, Greyhound and Peter Pan are other options).  The highlight of our ride was our traveling companion, the parakeet.  She perched on the shoulder of her owner the entire time, squawking away periodically and her owner shushed her every time she did.  This went on for the entire 5 hour ride to NYC.  I regret not taking a photo.

We made it to New York in one piece.  We scored this awesome hotel for $105/night a few blocks from Times Square and the Rockefeller Center, making everything easily accessible by foot so we saved on transportation.

Photo source: The Roosevelt Hotel

New York in short for me was: big, loud, delicious, exciting, electrifying.  My husband’s description: SCARY, a cab driver almost ran him over within the first hour in NY.  To make up for his near death experience, I found some amazing places for him to eat:

Sushi burrito from Pokeworks

Long line for cookies at Levain Bakery

Large Levain chocolate chip cookie 

Rolled ice cream from I CE NY

Baos from Baohaus (Owner is Eddie Huang from Fresh Off the Boat)

Delicious $1/slice pizza from 2 Bros Pizza

Awesome Ramen from Ippudo

We saw some cool stuff:

Central Park

NY skyline

9/11 Memorial

Grand Central Station

Saw Rachel Platten in concert for free at the Today show

Times Square

John Lennon Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park

And hung out with some New Yorker friends:

Friend not pictured only the macaron she bought us

We ended our adventure with a 12 hour bus ride home for $70 on another Chinese Bus.  We left New York with this image fading in the background.

Here's a video highlighting our trip.  Photos and Video Credit: Frank B.

https://goo.gl/photos/r9N52kLUy816HiRh9