Doctor Dealchecker

Once again, Dr Dealchecker is here to tend to all those pesky travel troubles…whether you’re bored in Bordeaux or  simply cursed with the ailment of indecision, the doc will surely have a prescription to put an end to your woes…

Your ailment: You’ve come down with a heinous case of InTheRedititus as a result of too much shopping, so you’ve had to put those lofty holiday plans on hold. The painful rash of poverty has sprung up all over your credit cards and savings, leaving large painful boils of frugality over your entire life. You planned for Dubai – now your foolish spendthrift ways have meant that the only blissful rays of heat you’ll be getting will be from the sun bed shop at the end of your road. Meh.

Image by Yellow.Cat

Prescription: Don’t take to your bed just yet, dealchecker has got just the medicine for you.  Dr Dealchecker would like to administer a dose of a European city like Prague, Krakov or Bratislava. These cities rival cities like Rome and Barcelona for culture, architecture and nightlife, but won’t require you to pay through the nose for their services. If you fancied more of a beach holiday, you can grab incredibly cheap package holidays to all sorts of European holiday destinations – we feature lots in our weekly newsletter, you can find them in our ‘Real Deals’ section *coughshamelessplugcough*. Destinations like those on the Costa Del Sol, Portugal and the Canary Islands tend to be featured quite regularly within package holiday deals, and these include flights, all meals and drinks and your accommodation – sometimes for as little as £180! Holidays like this aren’t necessarily going to be ultra luxurious, but if what you’re after is sun, sand and tanning time then these will be your best bet. Good luck…oh, and cut up your credit cards!

Image by East Capital

Ailment: For the first time in your life, you’re beginning to feel guilt about your carbon footprint. Years of treading the four corners of the globe has left you with a conscience regarding what your travelling habits are doing to the environment. You’re planning your holidays for this year and want to go somewhere that you know measures are in place to protect the world and its atmosphere.

Image by neate photos

Prescription: Never fear, eco-warrior! Your efforts to change your holidaying habits are most commendable, and we have lots of suggestions to ease your travel torments. Why not visit a city like Reykjavik in Iceland? As a country it intends to remove itself from all dependence on fossil fuels by 2050 to become a completely hydrogen based economy. Already, Reykjavik gets energy for hot water, electricity and heat entirely from hydropower and geothermal resources – both of which are renewable and free of greenhouse gas emissions. Some vehicles even run on hydrogen, including three city buses.  It’s not just all goody two shoes virtue though – the city boasts fantastic nightlife and interesting people, as well as some lovely architecture. If you want to go the whole hog, you can reach Reykjavik fairly easily by ferry and train in under two days – now just to save up for those solar panels…

Image by christine zeniro