Preparing to leave, March 2012

Holidays have a departure point. This is mine - Oxfordshire in England in mid-March









Winter is ending and Spring is champing at the bit. The crocuses have finished; the daffodils, irises and primroses are adding much-needed colour after Winter's dullness.







Spring is a difficult time of year to leave home. There are new beauties to be found each time one looks out the window.

However, Europe beckons!





The Holiday
Travelzoo offers wonderful cheap holidays. Imagine 3 days in Krakow in a 4-star hotel, flights included, for about £130. Who could resist? Find a friend and start booking. Oh yes, you want to take luggage, don't you? That's extra. You've phoned up a bit late in the day, after many others have booked, so the flights have gone up by £10 each. Transfers between the airport and the hotel? After all, the flights are late evening. And what about an upgrade to a 5-star hotel that's in a more central location? Only an extra £40. (And would you like fries with that?) By then it was closer to £200 each but it all seemed worth it. Hmm, but add in the cost of petrol getting to Stansted airport and the cost of parking for 3 or 4 days and these hidden costs are probably more than the original holiday!