The single most expensive item of your long haul trip to the tropics will no doubt be your air fare. Getting a great deal here could easily be worth an extra week or two in your chosen destinations.
But it’s not just about the cost – How about reliability and service?… and most importantly of all – safety? Here then is a summary of our highs and lows with a variety of airlines, airports & transfers.

Turkish Airlines Scam Alert
Istanbul airport - Home of Turkish Airlines - It's their turf. Why do they allow scammers to operate right next to their hotel desk?

Vientiane, Laos
Embrace the city's rich heritage as you wander through ancient temples, savor local delicacies at bustling markets, and soak in the serene atmosphere along the Mekong River.

Flight Compensation ✈️
We've experienced our fair share of flight delays, cancellations, overbooking and lost luggage. It's all incredibly frustrating & stressful.

In-transit thru Rome Airports?
The Best Western Hotel Riviera Fiumicino is a good choice for a one-night stop-gap, with a shuttle service from Rome's Fiumicino airport.

Budget Asian Airlines
Although not scoring high in airline ratings, our Lion Air inflight experience was a positive one. Comfortable & on time, with ample legroom

Terravision
Though our 1st experiences were positive, the Rome airport service has seriously deteriorated *** Do not buy Terravision bus tickets in advance ***

Syracuse & Ortigia Logistics 🧳
Master Syracuse & Ortigia logistics with our no-nonsense guide. Learn the best Catania airport buses, boutique stays, and local walking tips.

Jakarta train from Semarang 🚂
Purchasing tickets in advance for the Jakarta train from Semarang saves time when travelling & guarantees you'll get a seat when you need it.

Economy Class Survivalist
A witty, high-quality T-shirt for travellers who've mastered the art of surviving cramped airline seating & lukewarm inflight meals. 100% ring-spun cotton.

Marhaba Lounge Dubai
If you don't automatically qualify for the Dubai Connect program, what's the best way to deal with an extended layover in Dubai?

Girona Airport to Barcelona
With its proximity to Barcelona, Girona is a great place to start a trip to more exotic locations. Luckily, Girona transfers from airport and onwards to Barcelona are straightforward enough if you plan ahead.

London Airport Transfers
National Express coaches provide the most efficient solution for your London airport transfers, running 24/7 with plenty of availability.

Karimunjawa Fast Boat
Apart from flying, the Karimunjawa fast boat is the quickest transport from the Indonesian mainland to the island... but they don't run every day.

Jet Airways Inflight
Air India is surprisingly the least popular of the domestic Indian airlines. How would the budget Jet Airways inflight experience stack up?

Gdansk Poland 4-Day Break
Plan a four-day break in Gdańsk with tips on airport transfers, budget management, and hotel stays in the historic Baltic port.

Istanbul Airport Transfers
To avoid the expense of taxis, when planning our visit to Istanbul we decided to arrange our own Istanbul airport-city transfer...

Karimunjawa Boat Transfer
There's a variety of Karimunjawa island boat transfer options, but if you're on a tight schedule & need to catch a plane - plan carefully!

Lufthansa Longhaul ✈️
Does Lufthansa live up to its reputation as best in Europe & 9th best in the world? Checkout our Lufthansa longhaul inflight experience.

Ubud Hotels & Transfers
We chose two very different styles of accommodation for our Ubud Bali hotels: A family-run guesthouse & an upmarket Spa and Gallery resort.

Manila Airport Terminal Transits
Having read negative reports about Manila Nasay International, I was apprehensive about our 6-hour transit thru the Manila airport terminals

Amsterdam Layover
Beyond smoking dope, stealing bikes & visiting the Red Light area, there's much to do - especially if you pick the right Amsterdam layover hotel.

Malaysia Airlines Inflight
Though you will generally pay more to travel with Malaysia Airlines, there are several advantages that can make it worthwhile...

Rome's Prima Vista Lounge 🥐
Prima Vista Lounge at Fiumicino airport: A place where comfort, tranquility & excellent service converge to create a very welcome travel sanctuary.

Doha Airport Lounges
What should you expect from a 10-hour Doha Airport Layover? At $55 a pop, are the pay-for-entry lounges worth the cost?

Qatar Economy Class
With their elitist TV commercials & top rating in the World's Best Airlines, does the Qatar Airways economy experience live up to the hype?

Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
Welcome back to our ongoing campaign against getting old gracefully, this time beginning where all Himalayan dreams face their first integrity test: the arrivals terminal in Kathmandu.

Semarang City by Minibus
From Jepara we took a minibus back to Semarang city to try to rescue our vacation from disaster. We had just one more roll of the dice...

The Ugly Truth Behind iVisa
So, here we go again... reporting on yet another company - iVisa - out to scam your money, and this time - before you even leave home.

Australian Visa Discrimination 🌏
Read this *BEFORE* you plan a trip to Australia - It could save you $$$ thousands, as well as a lot of frustration and stress.

Hotel with free shuttle-service
Close to the airport, the Ibis Budget Hotel is clean, comfortable & affordable, with a free shuttlebus service. Ideal for a Jakarta stopover.

AirAsia Inflight Experience
It was raining but the crew anticipated this, providing a covered gangway & colorful red umbrellas. A nice final touch to our AirAsia inflight experience.

Madrid-Our-Grand-Spanish-Finale
After nine days of soaking up rays in the Canary Islands, our Spanish odyssey was drawing to a close. Madrid, the grand dame of Spain, was to be our final hurrah.

Onboard Turkish Airlines
Our expectations of the Turkish Airlines inflight experience were high, considering they were once the No.7 airline in the world.

Great British Visa Circus
Stuck in UKVI digital purgatory? From endless paperwork to broken eVisa loops, explore the reality, delays, and double standards of UK visitor visas.

London ...In Just 6 Hours!
Flying in & out of London on the same day? You can still pack in some sightseeing on a short London city stopover - Just stick to a realistic time schedule.
Airlines, Airports & Transfers
Subscribe now to get instant notifications of newly published articles (no spam).
Looking for more Inspiration? Take a look at some other highlights for the Free Independent Traveller:
F.I.T. Highlights










Discounted hotel deals & cost-saving travel itineraries