Bookmark this page to be kept up to date on the latest flight offers and cheap flights to your favourite destinations. We will be listing the best bargain flights, last minute flights and flight sales from airlines on this page.

We will also be listing holiday, hotel and flight offers we hear of here.  We don’t aim to be a comprehensive listing of every offer on the internet, just if it catches our eye, then we think you may be interested too!

Are you a holiday home or apartment owner with empty weeks in September, October or November?  Owners Direct are going on tour…

We’re starting a new section for the start of 2011 – ‘Owners Direct Verified’.  It’s a maverick scheme, and we’re not sure how it will work out: we are aiming to visit 10 properties around the world between the middle of September and the end of November, write editorial about your property and the area it is located in, then promote these properties through our ever increasing network of websites for the next year.

Let our journalist stay in your property for 5-7 days (single occupancy, and they will be very respectful of your home) – and we guarantee feature page editorial for three months, and country and area featured for 12 months on owners-direct.org. We will also be redesigning http://www.ownersabroad.org/ and the properties we visit will take pride of place on the relaunched website.  Instead of leaving your holiday property empty, why not get some free advertising?

To be considered to be amongst the first Owners Direct Verified properties, your property should:

- have wifi or be near a free wifi zone.
- be accessible by public transport, or within a 25 Euro taxi ride from the nearest airport.
- have basic amenities such as a supermarket located within walking distance.

If you are interested in being considered, then please email us with details of your property.

If you are a UK resident, you are entitled to medical treatment that becomes necessary, at reduced cost or sometimes free, when temporarily visiting a European Union (EU) country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.  Each country’s healthcare system is slightly different, so your EHIC might not cover everything that would be free on the NHS.

Gone are the days of queuing at the Post Office and filling in laborious forms to get your health insurance card, if you  have your NHS number or your National Insurance number to hand, it takes less than 5 minutes to complete your online application.  Simply click here to visit the website then click on Apply Now on the page.

Happy and healthy holidays!

Zuji have some great deals on holidays to Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne for August 2010.  They are offering a discount of up to 46% off Kuala Lumpur hotels and 35% off Melbourne hotels.

Click on the banners below and visit their website for more details.

Why don’t you just switch off your television set and go out and do something less boring instead?  Ramada Jarvis are trying to help you do just that this month, and they have some great offers for you & the children if the kids are getting bored on their summer holiday.  Use the promo codes below to take advantage of the discounts they have on offer.

On Safari with Ramada

Voted the Best UK attraction for children, West Midlands Safari Park has a host of fantastic family fun on offer! There is a 4 mile self drive park where you can get up close and personal with a magnificent display of rare and exotic animals! The package includes admission to the Safari Park, overnight accommodation and breakfast the following morning.

Promo code: PSAFARI

http://ramadabookings.at/fuerteventura?DURL=http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/offers/landing.aspx?id=12074

Price: £49.50 per person

Offer Expires: 06/11/2010

T&C’s: Full pre-payable, non refundable, offer available Sunday – Thursday

Whipsnade Zoo Package

Stay at the Ramada Hemel Hempstead/St Albans and enjoy bed, breakfast and dinner on the first night and day entry into Whipsnade Zoo.

Promo code: PFWHIPZOO

http://ramadabookings.at/fuerteventura?DURL=http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/offers/hemel/whipsnade.aspx

Price: Family Packages from £128. Adult Packages from £115

Offer Expires: 31/10/2010

Have an adventure at Drayton Manor

Treat the family to a day out at Drayton Manor when you stay at Ramada Birmingham, Solihull. Rides such as “Apocalypse” for the thrill seekers, and for the little ones there is Thomas the Tank Engine Land.

Promo Code: PDRAYTON

http://ramadabookings.at/fuerteventura?DURL=http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/offers/draytonmanor/solihull.aspx

Price: From £141 for two adults and 1 child

Offer Expires: 31/10/2010

22nd April 2010 – Almost 100% of flights across Europe will return to normal and leave to schedule today following the chaos caused by the volcano erruption and volcanic ash from Iceland.

Air restrictions have been lifted, and travellers are now making their way home after up to six days of being stranded.

For the stranded: we hope our advice helped you make the most of your extended holidays, and that you have a safe journey back. Why not browse our brochure of holiday properties and get planning your next break? After that kind of holiday, you need a holiday!

Reports of a new ash cloud heading into British airspace have led to scaling back of plans to re-open British airspace. British Airways has cancelled all short-haul flights today (20th April 2010),

Countries currently operating normal flight schedule (as of 10am 20th April 2010): Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland and Russia, who are currently operating flight to the US via the North Pole – or are we the only ones who find this information exciting?

Spain has 17 of its airports open, and the main airports in the Ukraine, Norway, Sweden and Turkey are operating flights.

If you watch live air-traffic (for free on this website) – you will notice some trans-Atlantic flights are flying through British airspace. Airlines are calling for a lifting of the restrictions in the UK, but what happens is very much in the hands of the government.

In happier news, the rumours that swept the internet yesterday about the eruption of a second volcano, Hekla, turned out to be false. Someone had just swiveled a webcam that usually pointed to Hekla round so it pointed at Eyjafjallajokul. Gotta say, we wish we’d thought of that.

Air travel across much of Europe has been paralysed for a fourth day running today, leaving thousands of people stranded. Volcanic ash from the Iceland eruption has continued to hang over the continent, posing a threat to aircraft.

When will it end?
The forecast isn’t so good. It is feared that the Ejyafjallajökull eruption may continue for months, or even longer. The last time it blew up, in 1821, it went on for more than a year. And for the doom-mongers amongst you, take this into consideration: Ever since the Vikings first arrived in Iceland in the ninth century, every time Ejyafjallajökull errupted, Katla has swiftly followed. Katla is five times bigger, and the resulting chaos can only be imagined.

What can we do?
If our articles on travel alternatives haven’t inspired you – we’ve talked about getting there without air, and holiday breaks in the UK, then we’re running short on ideas, too!

Instead today, we’ll share a few inspiring words on…

Making the most of being stranded

The key to actually enjoying being stranded is to stop worrying. You’re stranded. Unless you’re willing to get a coach, go by train, or take a ferry – you’re not getting home. No one can blame you for this: your boss, your family, the jury duty people, the local signing on office. For once, and for maybe the only time in your life, you are in complete control of what you choose to do – guilt free.

Get out of the airport!
The second most important thing to realise is this. There is no point hanging around in the airport complaining. There’s not even much point in hanging around in the airport. Until you hear on the news that the restrictions have been lifted, nothing is going to happen.

You may be tempted to hang out at least close to the airport, but why? Ask yourself again what is it that you’re rushing back for. If it’s your job, just tell your boss that you couldn’t get on the first flight out of there. Because believe it or not, there’ll be hundreds of others who can’t get on that very first flight out of there – there’ll still be hundreds of others who can’t get back on the first day that flights resume.

The point is – no one will ever know how hard you tried (or how little you tried) to get back on the first day flights resume.

Buy yourself some time
Work out how much money you have. If you’re one of the stranded who happens to get paid in the middle of the month, then you’ll have cash now that you weren’t planning on spending until you get back. If you’re flat broke, that totally sucks – just try to find a way to get together as much money as you can.

Can you and your travelling companions afford to stay for an extra few days? An extra week? An extra fortnight? Maybe even an extra month? Then take yourself off on an adventure!

Explore the neighbourhood

Most European countries have extensive rail networks – unsurprisingly, most of these networks have stops at the airport.

Also, unlike England, many of the larger railway stations have large lockers or baggage drops where you can leave unwanted luggage that you’re carrying with you.

Decide if you want to go on a day trip, or maybe even a sleeper train, then see where you can visit. Use our search engine below, or visit the Rail Europe website for country route maps.

Treat yourself to some luxury

Airport hotels are notoriously basic. If you’re stranded, you’re having a tough time, so pamper yourself. Take yourself back into town and indulge in some luxury. Search below for some great hotel ideas.

Start walking! (or driving!)

Ever wondered how long it would take to walk from Coventry to Stockholm, if you didn’t stop to sleep or eat? No? (It’s 6 days and 3 hours…).

Although walking all the way probably isn’t a great option for most people – particularly with a lot of luggage – check your route on Google Maps and see if it’s feasible to hire a car and make the journey at your own pace.

Hire a car from Hertz

Thousands of holiday makers across Europe have found themselves flightless after a volcano eruption in Iceland. UK airspace has been closed since Wednesday 14 April, and plane delays, cancelled flights and general disruption is predicted to continue indefinitely as the activity from the volcano has now intensified.

Is my flight cancelled?
Our handy list of links to the right includes most major airlines, they will have information regarding your particular flight on their own websites.

So what can I do if I’m affected?

Although many airlines will try to cater for passengers, and European regulations state that when flights are cancelled all passengers must be offered a choice between a full refund and an alternative flight, they will still have people who pre-booked who will take priority. If your insurance covers it, or if you have the money to spare seeing as you already have the time off, why not consider some of the alternatives below?

Go by coach or train, then return by air

There’s a vast rail network covering Europe. Indeed, here at Owners Direct, we’re secret Eurorail boffins – between us, we have travelled the length and breadth of Europe by train! Check out Rail Europe for a list of the most popular destinations (or use one of our search forms on the area pages if your destination isn’t listed below).

Travelling by rail is a rewarding experience, particularly for solo travellers, and those without children. Although sometimes flying is cheaper in today’s economy, travelling by rail allows you to set your own pace, and explore areas you may otherwise have missed.

National Express Eurolines runs coaches to many European destinations, from as little as £20. If you’re a smoker, buy an e-cigarette for the journey!. Hopefully, by the time your holiday is over, the flights will be operational again.

Drive to the nearest ferry port

P&O ferries sail to many destintions. Travel from Dover to Calais from £30 each way, or take advantage of the many Spring offers still available.

Stena Line ferries also run a number of routes from the UK to Ireland and Holland.

Get ready to rebook

If the long journeys don’t appeal to you, get ready to rebook as soon as possible. European regulations state that when flights are cancelled all passengers must be offered a choice between a full refund and an alternative flight – but keep in mind the alternative flight you want to book may already be fully booked. If your insurance covers it, rebook your flight without waiting for your airline to sort it out for you – use one of the comparison engines linked to from this page to find the best flight, or go to the airline direct. Then wait for your refund to arrive!

“Iceland… we said send CASH!” – guess they got it wrong! Flight disruptions in Europe have become even worse in the aftermath of the the volcanic eruption in Iceland, with the ban on flying being extended until 7am on Saturday 17th April 2010.

What do you do now?

If the idea of travelling by wheels and sea instead of by air (as we suggested yesterday) doesn’t appeal to you, why not swap your holiday abroad for something just as exciting, and a little bit different: an experience holiday in the UK?

Warner Leisure Hotels are currently promoting Strictly Come Dancing Breaks! Exclusive to Warner Leisure Hotels, you won’t find anything like this anywhere else. Guests can meet the stars of the hit BBC1 show and learn how to dance, before entering into their very own Strictly Come Dancing competition.

If you book a Strictly Come Dancing break in the next two weeks, you will be entered into a prize draw to get a full refund on their Break upon arrival.

Here are some of the other experiences on offer: