I’m Back & Talking Bargains!

Hi Guys!

Just wanted to let my readers know that I am back from my busy holiday time!

I say holiday loosely because I have not technically been away. Or not abroad anyway!

As you will have ready in my last blog, I have spent the last week and a half driving firstly up to Durham for 3 days, and then down to Cambridge for another 3 days!

Yes back to back weddings have taken up a full week of my holidays this month!

Both absolutely brilliant and we had a great time, but to be honest with all the driving up and down, plus all the eating, drinking and socializing, I am actually glad to be sat back down in my office ready to crack on with work again!

I feel like I should have booked another week off to sit on a beach somewhere and get over the tiredness that always comes with these events! But sadly if I did that I think my wallet would pack up and leave!

Yes we have spent a small fortune over the last week or so close to the tune of £1000 when you add up all the hotels, food, drinks, wedding gifts and of course petrol!

So now as I count my pennies for the rest of the month whilst the other half goes out to buy rice and beans, I wonder what I could of done for the same kind of money had we decided to decline the weddings and take a cruise  instead!

The short answer for August of course is pretty much nothing, but if you hang fire for a couple of months you can pick up some real bargains!

These days with offers such as P&O’s Early Savers or Costas Promo Price schemes, you can literally get away in October & November for under £500pp, and probably still have some left over for drinks on the ship!

It makes it very easy to see why so many people are now trying cruising for the first time, I mean, when compared with a week in say France or Italy, or even somewhere like the Canary Islands, why would you not choose a cruise over these places! For a start you are going to see much more on a cruise. If you fly out to Italy for a week, you might do 3 nights in the City and 4 nights at the beach. Whereas on a cruise you can see 3 or 4 different cities whilst not needing a beach because you have pools and sunbeds galore on your floating hotel!

And if the price is the same, or sometimes lower, it’s surely the obvious choice!?

‘Yes but who wants to do the Med in November’ I hear you ask!

Of course the weather is not going to be the same as July or August but have you ever tried walking around an Italian city at the height of summer? I have, and I can tell you that it’s not much fun! I went to Venice in early July a few years back and I almost melted, likewise I did Barcelona at a similar time, and again I was reduced to a puddle of Mancunian sweat.

If you really want to SEE a place and experience it whilst being comfortable, then the best time to go is later in the year. This way you also get less tourist, so less queuing, less waiting in bars, and less bustling in the cities.

I took my fiancee to Paris a few years ago in November and it was bitterly cold most days, but if you asked her where her favourite city in Europe was, she would tell you Paris!

My point is that you don’t always need to think about the sun first.

The two weddings I mentioned we had been to last week both had bouts of hideous rain, particularly the last one with the storms and rain of late, but we still had a brilliant time, as did the bride and groom!

Sometimes you have to think about your pocket first, and this makes October and November the best choice.

Whether you are new to cruise or simply looking to plug a gap for a quick week, these months will give you a real variety of possibilities when it comes to destinations.

Mediterranean aside, you still have, The Canaries, Dubai, or even a Transatlantic Voyage to America. What’s more is that you can pick them up for fantastic prices.

Interested in some late luxury? Or maybe you just want a great value taster cruise?

I’d love to hear from you whatever I can help you with!

It’s great to be back and I hope this blog has given you some food for thought.

As always, thanks for reading………….. until next time!