July 2017 - The Ultimate Thrifty Air Ticket Deal Finder

How to Air Travel with Your Bike

As a biking enthusiast, you wouldn’t want to leave your bike behind, even when traveling to a faraway country, right? The good news is you don’t have to by choosing from the many cheap flights available, and SkySurf.Travel will make things easier for you. The portal does not only allow you to browse the cheapest air ticket deals, it also allows you to book all your flights in one place.

Perhaps you are asking yourself this question most cyclists ask themselves, “How can I make sure my bike arrives at my traveling destination, upcoming competition or sport safely?”

There are various issues you have to consider if you are thinking of flying with your bike, whether it’s a mountain bike or another type of bike.

a. Level of Protection

The first issue is how you are going to make sure your bike is safe. What level of protection is necessary for your bicycle? This question should drive you to choosing the right bag or container for packaging your bike so as to avoid damage during travel. Here are the answers to that question.

Almost every airline requires passengers who are traveling with their bikes to package them for check-in. That gives you three solutions to transporting your bike:

Cardboard Box

This is probably the cheapest option anyone could think of when it comes to traveling with their bike. You can get a cardboard at little to no cost, which is why most people think of this when they want to transport their bikes. The cardboard is lightweight, can be stacked easily and gives additional space to store other items. After arrival, you can also recycle the box.

However, a cardboard box has one downside: it is unstable. In addition, if the box happens to be mishandled at the airport, it can be seriously damaged leaving little or no protection to your treasured bike.

A cardboard box also cannot give maximum protection to your bike on its own. To protect your precious bike, you will need to bubble wrap, cable tie, pipe insulate and tape it, which will cost you some extra bucks. The process is time-consuming as well. Note also, apart from low protection, storing your bike in cardboard boxes requires you to know a thing or two on how to dismantle it. To sum it up, this option requires you to have mechanical skills and provides your bike the least protection.

Bike Case

Acquiring a rigid bike box is the most expensive but safest option of transporting your bike. This case gives the highest protection to your bike by preventing knocks and shocks from harming the contents. However, like any other item, these boxes have their downsides. The bike boxes can be heavy, adding to the charges you will have to pay to transport your bike. If you choose to fly with your bike in a bike box, then be sure to check the weight limitations so you won’t be charged for extra weight.

Bike Bag

These are normally low weight, fairly priced and very functional. Basic bike bags will require you to dismount the rear derailleur, pedals, handlebars, wheels and the seat post. Here you will need some mechanical skills as well. If you are not so sure, get a professional mechanic to help you.

b. Weight restrictions

As you have seen above, the bag type matters in determining the total weight you are going to be charged for. Most airlines will not charge you luggage fee if your bike does not exceed the weight restrictions of a usual bag. However, if you choose to fly with your bike in a larger or overweight bag, you will be charged. The weight that most airlines seem to have settled on for non-oversize luggage and usual bags is 62 dimensional inches, which is the summation of length, width and height, and less than 50 pounds. Below is the cost of transporting a bike in various airlines:

Frontier Airlines: If your ticket is classic or classic +, you will not pay for the transportation of your bike. However, if you are going to travel in the economy class, you will pay a regular fee of $20 for non-oversize bags.
Delta Airlines: You will be charged $150 per bike
United Airlines: For a maximum weight of 50 pounds, you will be charged $100
American Airlines: You will pay $150 per bike for a maximum weight of 70 pounds and 126 inches (dimensional). For less than 50 pounds and 62 inches, you will pay a regular fee of $25 for your first bag.
JetBlue: You will pay $50 each way for a maximum weight of 99 pounds per bag. If the weight of your bag is less than 50 pounds and 62 dimensional inches, you will not be charged.
US Airways: You will be charged $200 each way with a weight of 50 to 70 pounds. If it’s your first bag and less than 62 inches, you will be charged $25.
Southwest Airlines: Your baggage will be stored in free checked luggage compartment and you will not be charged if it’s less than 50 pounds and 62 dimensional inches. Excess weight will result in additional charges.

For the best cycling experience, best fixed gear bikes are ideal. So, consider transporting such so you can enjoy your stay outside your area or country as you discover the terrains of your destination country.

How to Fly with a Bike: The Most Convenient and Affordable Way

Travel East Asia by Plane for Really Cheap: 12 Cities (3 Countries) for Under $750 in One Trip

In this blog entry, you’ll learn how to use the online airfare deal finder tool SkySurf.Travel to build the most economical travel itineraries to travel around East Asia by plane (or anywhere around the world). East Asia, also popularly known as “the Far East,” is home to about 1.6 billion people. The region contains world metropolises such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai, endless archipelagoes at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, as well as vast plains and sky-high mountains.

The countries that make up East Asia are as follows:

China – The world’s most populous country and one of the oldest civilizations, with a vast array of cultural and natural treasures among the frenzied development
Hong Kong – A former British colony considered by many as Asia’s World City. Come for the skyscrapers and shopping and still find beaches and sleepy villages on car-free islands
Japan – Isolated until the 19^th century, now the world’s third largest economy with both technology and tradition to offer
Macau – A former Portuguese colony with liberal gambling laws and beautiful colonial architecture in its UNESCO listed historical city center
Mongolia – A nomadic land of vast spaces and mystic Buddhism
North Korea – The world’s most secret society and last remaining outpost of the Cold War
South Korea – A hotspot of innovation and pop culture and, in many ways, the opposite of its northern neighbor
Taiwan – The remnants of the Republic of China, and an island of sharp contrasts: lush mountains, skyscrapers, gentle tai-chi and delicious food

Some popular tourist destinations in East Asia include:

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park – Home to Mongolia’s eagle hunters and highest mountain
Great Wall of China – Longer than 8,000 km, this ancient wall is the most iconic landmark of China
Mount Fuji – Iconic snow-topped volcano, and highest peak in Japan (3776 m).
Panmunjeom – The only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality
Tibet – Mysterious place in the Himalayas with a unique local culture, considered by many to resemble the mythical Shangri-La
Seoraksan National Park – South Korea’s most renowned national park and mountain range
Taroko Gorge – An impressive 19-km-long canyon situated near Taiwan’s east coast. The area of the gorge is also identified as Taroko Gorge National Park
Yakushima – A Japanese island off the southeast coast of Kyushu next to Tanegashima and north of Okinawa. Officially a part of Kogoshima Perfecture, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Though not too well-known outside Japan, Yakushima is a popular destination for Japanese tourists, which explains why the infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, transportation) is so good
Yungang Grottoes – Ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes near the city of Datong in the province of Shanxi. They are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture and one of the three most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China

Plane travel is the fastest way to travel between countries in East Asia, as well as long distances within them. Plane travel within East Asia tends to be cheap by Western standards. In this example, you’ll learn how I was able to build an East Asian flight itinerary to 12 cities (3 countries) for under $750 using SkySurf.Travel! Keep in mind, when building your own custom flight itinerary at SkySurf.Travel, prices may vary. Flight prices change on a daily basis, so building the exact flight itinerary used in this example will not work. You might get an even better deal than the one used in this example, or slightly more expensive, depending on the time you build your flight itinerary and travel route. If you need assistance building a cheap travel itinerary, you can chat with our friendly online support, which can be found on the bottom right corner of the SkySurf.Travel homepage. If live support is offline, you can leave a message and we’ll reply to you as soon as possible.

Here’s where I’ll be traveling to in East Asia for the total price of $739 (taxes included):

Beijing, China – starting point
Yantai, China – August 14, 2017 ($51)
Shanghai, China – August 18, 2017 ($79)
Wuhan, China – August 22, 2017 ($66)
Xiamen, China – August 26, 2017 ($63)
Hong Kong – September 1, 2017 ($67)
Fukuoka, Japan – September 6, 2017 ($36)
Naha, Japan – September 10, 2017 ($53)
Tokyo, Japan – September 14, 2017 ($60)
Daegu, South Korea – September 20, 2017 ($53)
Jeju Island, South Korea – September 25, 2017 ($24)
Seoul, South Korea – September 29, 2017 ($26)
Beijing, China – October 4, 2017 ($161)

That’s a total of 12 cities (3 countries).

Here’s a screenshot of my SkySurf.Travel East Asia travel itinerary (BookIt List):

East Asia Flight Itinerary (BookIt List)

And here’s a screenshot of my East Asian flight route which was automatically generated for me at SkySurf.Travel:

Here’s how I got this super deal:

I first clicked on the “Multi-city” tab, then entered in “Beijing” in the “Traveling From” input field. Next, I selected “August 2017” to find the cheapest flight departing Beijing, China in August 2017. Finally, I clicked on the “Search Best Deals!” button and a list of the cheapest flights were displayed.

My cheapest flight option was to Yantai, China on August 13, 2017 for $51 USD. I added this flight to my itinerary (BookIt List) by clicking on the “+Add to BookIt List” button. A popup then appeared, such as the one below:

I decided to stay in Yantai for 4 nights and selected the date August 18, 2017 for my departure. I then clicked on the “To another destination” link and new results appeared. My cheapest option was to Shanghai, China for $79. I added this flight to my itinerary by clicking on the “+Add to BookIt List” button, and repeated the above process until I was back in Beijing, China.

Certain countries in Asia require a visa upon arrival. Be sure to do your research before booking flights to Asia. You may need to apply for a visa before arriving in China. Citizens of some countries, such as Bahamas, San Marino, Serbia, Fiji, Ecuador, and Barbados do not need a visa to enter China.

East Asia is one of the cheapest places on Earth for travelers — with lodging and food offered at very low prices, particularly for long term travel or for those willing to stay somewhere other than the big resort. East Asia has something for everyone and continues to lure thousands of backpackers to its beautiful lands and people year after year.

你好

Nǐ hǎo

Safe Travels!

Gregory Rzeczko

http://skysurf.travel/

How to Travel Brazil Cheap by Plane: 15 Cities for Under $900 in One Trip

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the 5th largest country in the world by land area. It is an extraordinary country with beautiful people that’s rich in cultures, colors, flavors, languages, and customs. Much of the Amazon Rainforest, the largest tropical rain forest in the world, covers northwestern Brazil. The Amazon River, the longest river in the world, is considered to be the life force of the Amazon Rainforest and home to many plants and animals, such as the Boto (Amazon River dolphin), Amazonian manatee, giant river otter, and the infamous anaconda.

If you’re ever planning to visit the beautiful country of Brazil, keep reading this blog post on how to build the most economical flight itinerary using the online airfare deal finder tool: SkySurf.Travel. I was able to build a single-trip flight itinerary composed of 15 cities in Brazil for the total price of $873 USD (including taxes). That’s cheaper than many round-trip international flight tickets. You can also use SkySurf.Travel to build the most cost-effective itinerary to anywhere in the world, from anywhere. For more examples on how to save lots of money on flights to several other destinations, click on the blog links located on the left panel of this blog.

I’ll be starting my journey from Brasilia, Brazil (the capital of Brazil). Here’s where I’ll be traveling to in Brazil for the duration of 2 months:

Brasilia, Brazil (starting point)
Belo Horizonte, Brazil – September 25, 2017 ($37)
Sao Paulo, Brazil – September 29, 2017 ($29)
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – October 3, 2017 ($35)
Vitoria, Brazil – October 7, 2017 ($39)
Curitiba, Brazil – October 13, 2017 ($37)
Porto Alegre, Brazil – October 17, 2017 ($39)
Florianopolis, Brazil – October 21, 2017 ($44)
Belem, Brazil – October 26, 2017 ($70)
Santarem, Brazil – October 30, 2017 ($51)
Manaus, Brazil – November 3, 2017 ($76)
Porto Velho, Brazil – November 7, 2017 ($67)
Recife, Brazil – November 13, 2017 ($140)
Fortaleza, Brazil – November 17, 2017 ($70)
Salvador, Brazil – November 21, 2017 ($67)
Brasilia, Brazil – November 25, 2017 ($72)

Below is a screenshot of my complete SkySurf.Travel flight itinerary (BookIt List):

Brazil Flight Itinerary - BookIt List — Brazil Flight Itinerary – BookIt List

And here’s a screenshot of my entire flight route that was automatically generated for me at SkySurf.Travel:

Here’s how I got this super deal:

First, I clicked on the “Mutil-city” tab. Next, I entered where I’ll be traveling from, which in this case is “Brasilia”. I then selected my departure date; since I’m flexible with dates, I selected “September 2017” to find the cheapest flights in September 2017. If you know your exact dates, you can select your exact travel dates. Finally, I clicked on the “Search Best Deals!” button and a list of the cheapest flights were displayed.

My cheapest flight option was to Belo Horizonte on September 25, 2017 for $37 USD. I added this flight to my itinerary (BookIt List) by clicking on the “+Add to BookIt List” button. A popup then appeared, such as the one below:

Next flight (Brazil) popup

I decide to stay in Belo Horizonte for 4 nights and select the date September 29, 2017 for my departure. I then click on the “To another destination” link and new results appear. My cheapest option is to Sao Paulo for $29. I add this flight to my itinerary by clicking on the “+Add to BookIt List” button, and repeat the above process until I’m back in Brasilia. The above is just an example flight itinerary I’ve composed for this blog entry. You can build your flight itinerary anyway you desire and select the destinations you want to travel to. It’s possible to build an even cheaper itinerary than the one used for this example.

When visiting Brazil, here are a few of the best things to do:

Christ the Redeemer: A must-see attraction in Rio that’s recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Iguazu Falls (Foz do Iguacu): The largest waterfalls system in the world.
Baia do Sancho (Fernando de Noronha): Baía do Sancho has been named the best beach in the world by Tripadvisor.
Rio da Prata (Bonito): Rio da Prata the 3rd clearest water in the world. Great amounts of underground limestone in this river filter the water and make it clear.
Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro. Built in the beginning of the twentieth century, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful and important theatres in the country.
Paraty Historic Centre (Rio de Janeiro): Paraty´s Historic Center dates back to the years 1820s. The Historic Center, considered by UNESCO as “the most harmonious colonial architectonic set”, is declared a National Patrimony.
Amazon River Cruises: Cruise the Brazil Amazon River.
Amazon Rainforest Tours: Journey into the heart of the most biodiverse place on the planet.

And plenty more to see and do!

Whatever you plan on doing in Brazil, whether it’s sightseeing or enjoying the nightlife, one thing for sure is you’ll never get bored. Brazil is known for its gregarious and energetic population. One of the best aspects of Brazilian culture is its music. Dance the Samba, Carimbo, or Forro; or enjoy a Samba Show… whatever you like, Brazil awaits you!

Olá,

Gregory Rzeczko

http://skysurf.travel/