The Us Bus, a great new hop on, hop off, shuttle service across North America is proving to be a big hit with young ravellers who want an affordable, flexible, and fun way to travel across the States.
The Us Bus pick-up and drop-off points are located at accommodation, either at youth hostels or Kampgrounds of America cabins. A Flexipass which allows 10 days of travel in any 25 day period costs $159 and can be purchased from USIT. Added value is the US Bus phone card which gives you a voicemail number for the Mammy to call with messages. Us Bus will be exhibiting at the Alternative Travel Show on Sunday March 8th in Dublinia at Christ Church Synod Hall.
If you would rather bus it at home Bus Eireann has a wide choice of breakaways all over the country using their extensive network.
Prices are from £23 per person per night, and include your bus fare. Just decide where you want to go, and your can book your accommodation vouchers and tickets at the same time. You can use the service to travel around Ireland.
Further details from Bus Aras, Store Street, Dublin 1 (01 836 6111) or main Bus Eireann offices.
Sports fans score with British Midland. If you want to see Chelsea play at home, or see rugby at Twickers, then British Midland's new sports fans fare of £59 is just for you. Fans can travel to Heathrow on selected early morning flights every Saturday, and return on selected evening flights the same day. If you call shopping a sport then I am sure they will give it to Harrods fans too.
If you were looking for a longer break in London or even a weekend, Alan Lynch Travel, (01 670 8877) which has specialised in inexpensive London breaks for the past number of years has, despite the sterling differences, reduced their brochure prices by up to £11 per person. You can stay the weekend at the Apollo Hotel in Kensington for £128 or Jurys for £183. They have another 30 hotels on their books.
And while you are in London you might like to use your time to see as much as possible by taking one of the Original London Walks. There is a terrific selection of walks around the `Big Smoke': Jack the Ripper's London, Spies and Spycatchers, Classic Murders and Crimes, Old Hampstead Village Pub Walk, Ghosts of the Old City, Haunted London, Historic Greenwich and many more. Brochure from British Tourist Authority 27, College Green, Dublin 2 (01 670 8100) or from any London Tourist Office.
The new Heathrow Express train service into London opened at the end of January. At the moment it is a bus and train service and takes about half an hour into London. Exit at the East Door in Terminal One, and the bus collects and brings you to the new Heathrow Junction Station for the high speed train into Paddington Station. It is an overground train and costs £5 each way. In another few months it will arrive right at the terminals.
How about seeing the May blossoms in Canada this year? Trailfinders (01 677 7888) has a short visit from May 12-18th with Canada 3000 airline from Dublin or Shannon for £249.