This is an updated list compared to my previous, 5 year old (!), overview. I've incorporated all additions from others too.
As I personally tend to travel as cheap as possible (the less money I spend on one trip, the more trips I can make
), I've been compiling a list of internet sites to check when I'm going to travel.As this list might be useful to others I thought it might be a good idea to post it, also hoping you can help to expand.
note: Scramble or I personally are in no way related to any of those sites and companies. This list is only given as a reference, you use them at your own risk!
Airline tickets
Lo-co airlines
http://www.lowcostairlines.nl/
Site aimed at the Dutch traveller, showing which lowcost-airlines fly to destinations from airports in the Netherlands, Belgium and north-west Germany. It doesn't show fares, but great place to start looking for cheap flights within Europe.
http://www.low-cost-airline-guide.com/
Site proving route information for flights across Europe. Personally I find the 'map version' on http://www.low-cost-airline-guide.com/e ... te-map.htm very useful.
http://www.whichbudget.com/
Rather rudimentary site with a collection of lowcost options. Worldwide! Although it often does not cite fares, it points you to lowcost airlines on requested routes (it was the only site which at least pointed me to GOL and Azur for some internal flights in Brazil..)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines
Wikipedia page with an overview of lowcost airlines worldwide.
http://www.flycheapo.com/
Not quite as up to date any more as they claim (I've noticed multiple newly established routes which aren't shown here), but sometimes still useful.
Regular airlines
http://www.kayak.com/
US based site, doing all the work for you by collecting fares from hundreds of other sites (including lots of airlines, Expedia.com, Orbitz etc)! Does not include (all) lowcost airlines or most European travel sites, but apart from that absolute great site!
They now have also added hotels and car rentals etc, but I have no experience with those.
Also localised variants have been introduced, including the following. But I haven't checked whether those check other/more booking sites.
http://www.kayak.nl/ - only hotels (?)
http://www.kayak.de/
http://www.kayak.co.uk/
(note; airlines/sites covered by Kayak are not included in the listing below).
http://www.cheaptickets.nl/
http://www.cheaptickets.be/
http://www.cheaptickets.de/
Dutch, Belgian and German sites of the same Netherlands-based company. Not included in Kayak searches. Think they are unrelated to Cheaptickets.com.
http://www.vliegwinkel.nl/
Dutch site. Not included in Kayak searches.
http://www.ebookers.com/
http://www.ebookers.nl/
http://www.ebookers.be/
http://www.ebookers.fr/
etc.
European brand of Orbitz.com, UK based, with different localised variants.
http://www.expedia.nl/
http://www.expedia.co.uk/
etc.
Although European variants of Expedia.com, they give different results. Both are not included in the Kayak searches as far as I can tell.
Maybe also worth a check.
http://www.wegolo.com/
http://wwww.skyscanner.net
http://www.opodo.de/ and localised variants like http://www.opodo.co.uk and http://www.opodo.be
Hotels
Budget hotels;
Usually very basic ("functional") hotels with a double bed and a bunk or comparable and located outside the city centre (mostly in or near industrial estates). All prices are for a two or three person bedroom unless otherwise noted.
B&B Hôtel
Fast growing chain of hotels, mainly in France and Germany, but expanding to other European countries. Prices start at around EUR40 per room.
Hotel Formule 1 (F1)
Although the number of hotels has been declining (for instance, all F1's in the Netherlands, East-European countries, Japan, South Africa and Brazil have disappeared, most probably having been re-branded to Ibis Budget, see below, or closed altogether), probably still the largest French chain of low cost hotels, with prices starting from around EUR30. Very basic (if you've seen one F1, you've seen them all) with shared toilets and showers, but in general clean - although exceptions exist (Marseille airport!). Also hotels in Belgium, Spain, the UK, Australia and India, although India and Australia can only be booked through the 'old' site at [http://www.hotelformule1.com/ (and France only through the above mentioned one...).
Ibis Budget (formerly Etap Hotel)
Upscale variant of the F1 (also part of the Accor group), with shower and toilet in the room, but same double bed and bunk. Pan European, with prices starting at around EUR40. Currently being re-branded from Etap to Ibis Budget, which also means on the Ibis website they are shown between the 'normal' Ibis and the Ibis Styles (former All Seasons hotels).
Premiere Classe
French chain (part of the Louvre-hotels group) with hotels in France, Belgium and Poland, usually comparable with the Etaps, but in general more differences between room-settings in the different hotels. Prices start at around EUR35-EUR40.
Brit Hotel
French chain, mainly located near the Atlantic coast. Prices start at around EUR50.
FastHôtel
French chain. In contrast to most other chains often with an indoor restaurant (but you need to check opening times!). Prices start at around EUR35.
Mister Bed
Another small French chain with prices starting at ca EUR30.
Quick Palace
And another small French chain, prices here start at ca EUR35.
Hotel Akena
Next in the row small French chains. Prices star at ca EUR35.
Best Hotel
And you thought France had enough small budget chains
Prices start at ca EUR40.Ace Hôtel
And the last, for now..., chain in France. Most in the centre of France, but expanding. Prices start at ca EUR40 per room.
Motel 1
German chain, with prices starting at EUR45 for a single or EUR55 for a double. Hotels are usually located in or near the city centre. Recently also expanding to Belgium, Czech republic and the UK.
Travelodge
Hotels in the UK, Ireland and Spain. With early-booking discount (at least 21 days ahead) prices start at GBP19 (or EUR10 in Spain).
Premier Inn
British hotels, prices start at ca GBP50 in the weekend and ca GBP65 on weekdays.
Innkeeper's Lodge
Smaller UK chain with prices from ca GBP55.
Days Inn
US hotel chain, but with hotels worldwide, including 30+ in the UK. Prices start at ca USD60 (USA) or GBP55 (UK).
Holiday Inn Express
General booking sites
http://www.hostelworld.com/
http://www.booking.com/
http://www.hotels.com/
http://www.hotels.nl/ (unrelated to hotels.com)
http://www.agoda.com/ Good coverage of Asian hotels. Found it particular useful for hotels in China.
There are many more comparable sites, but as far as I have noted, most of them use the same database of affiliated hotels.
Something else
https://www.airbnb.com
Anything from Bed 'n' Breakfast, cabins, to apartments and exclusive cottages. Even the odd 'normal' hotel every now and then.
http://www.hostelworld.com
Mostly hostels, but also hotels, B&B's and apartments.
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/
Quite the opposite of an expensive hotel... the name says it all I guess
Car rentals
Of course you have the 'regular' car rental firms (Herz, Avis, Budget, National etc etc), but the following links might be interesting too;
I have no personal experience with any of the below mentioned sites, apart from Sunny Cars (which are good).
Sunny Cars
Broker who rents cars with the major rental firms worldwide. Original a German firm but with branches in several other countries.
At first they may not look cheap, but their prices are all inclusive - including CDW/liability insurance, taxes, free mileage etc (only firm I'm aware of where you still can rent a car with free mileage rental in the Netherlands) which usually makes them cheaper then renting directly with the rental firm themselves.
Holiday Autos
Another broker, this time from the USA, but also with branches in other countries.
USA-Reisen
German language site.
Holiday Cars
Tour operators
Although usually not that cheap -mostly quite the opposite!- the next post might be useful for travel planning.
This is a list of (commercial) organisations which arrange tours, aimed at the aviation enthusiasts
The Netherlands
4 Aviation
With both Scramble and HAT ceasing their trips several years ago, I'm only aware of this group doing tours from The Netherlands, although Onze Luchtmacht has its occasional bus trips - but those are for members only.
Belgium
spottertrips.eu Dutch language group.
airshowtrips.com Also Dutch language.
Firebirds French language
There also used to be another group from Walonie (Association de Fanatiques d'Aviation Militaire), but they seem to be out of business.
Germany
Air Events
Italy
Aviation Tours
United Kingdom
Larger list, with tours ranging from small European trips to worldwide trips;
Aeroprints
The Aviation Society, Manchester
British Aviation Enthusiasts Society
Globemaster Tours
Ian Allan Tours
George Pick Travel; Last tours mentioned on the site are from 2008, so they seem to have stopped altogether.
Staffs Aviation Tours; Last tours are from 2012 though, so it seems they stopped too.
If you have any additions or comments on above lists, please let us know!
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Hans
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, but those on ARD might give you an insight in this matter by German (.de) companies, putting up pretty much the same kind of show.
