How to fly Ryanair in Europe with less hassle, saving money and a little style !

Ryanair is one of the the best known low cost European charter airlines. However it is often  considered as just too much hassle, as in order to actually have a hassle free experience, it is necessary to study all their rules and regulations ! As a North American living and travelling in Europe over the last twelve years I have often flown Ryanair and I can honestly say I have not had a bad experience.

Another  "however " here.... it is also necessary to have the best attitude as to what you are getting for your money. You are not going to be flying first class when you have paid the grand total of 65 euros one way for a flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Pisa, Italy ( a one hour and twenty minute flight time ) for example. Ryanair pioneered some innovative ideas to keep their fares low such as no seat assignment, paying for your snacks on board, and paying an extra fee for your checked in luggage. These ideas were successful to a point and the point was a good one except for one very unpredictable element which was good old human nature with a cultural overlay ! People cramming as much as they could into their free 10 kilo onboard bag and then being surprised when it was actually 14 kilos and they were informed it would cost extra or lining up and jostling for position, rushing to the plane to nab a " good seat "  etc. etc.

Ryanair has changed many of their policies and it is a much more hassle free experience these days (2017 )  You can pay 15 or 20 euros beforehand and select your front row or exit seat otherwise Ryanair will assign everyone a seat for free a few days before ( except the exit rows ) Don't stress if there is no more room in the overhead compartments for your carry on bag as they will then put it in the hold for free. You can now have one free on board bag up to 10 kilos ( no more ) and a smaller shopper size bag.


Here are my top tips for flying Ryanair " Slow, Solo, Sparkling Style "

• My guideline for flying Ryanair is if I can save at least 100 euros or more on my flight cost. I have flown to Morocco and also the Canary Islands with Ryanair and have saved this much money and sometimes more.
• I pay the extra 15 or 20 euros to choose an assigned seat in the front row or the exit rows. Much more legroom and this extra payment also includes priority boarding which means you get on the plane first. You can purchase priority boarding as an extra with a free seat and this will cost you 6 euros.

                                                    My exit row seat on a 3 hour flight

                            

• I pay the extra when needed for the checked bag which can weigh 15 kilos max. I have a portable suitcase scale so I know how much it weighs before I get to the check in desk. This is very important otherwise Ryanair can ( and most likely will ) charge you 10 euros for each kilo that you are over the 15 kilo limit !

                                       

                                                   

                                                     My luggage scale is small and very light.
                                                     Now you can buy digital versions !

• You can take your own food on board so buy a good sandwich beforehand. After all, most flights within Europe are under 2 hours. If not you can buy snacks and drinks on board ( 3 euros for a tea or coffee )
• Make sure you print out your boarding pass beforehand as they still have the unreasonable 40 euro fee for issuing it at the desk.
• If you do not have a European passport you will have to get your boarding pass stamped. There will be signs to go to another counter first or sometimes they will do the stamp at the check in counter.
• Research where your destination airport is actually located as many Ryanair flights land a fair distance from the main city centers.
• Ryanair is great with their one way fares so you can plan a more open ended trip easily. For example I flew into Bologna, Italy from Frankfurt Hahn airport, then travelled around by train in Tuscany and flew back to Frankfurt Hahn from Rome.
• If you need to change your flight you can for a fee - even to another destination. However you cannot cancel your flight and get a refund.
• My most important tip ...... think of it as a flying bus !

Right now I am in a destination ( Canary Islands ) which flying Ryanair versus other airlines at this time of year saved me 300 euros which I then used towards  my accommodation costs. Well worth it !

Two  positive Ryanair statistics of note are they frequently arrive on time and rarely
lose luggage. It is always good to have travel choices and saving money............bonus !

www.ryanair.com


Carpe Diem  **  Sabrina

"Put a ding in the universe !" - Steve Jobs

Notes from a Secret Greek Island

Shhhhhhh.........everyone has secret places that are unique and special to them even when traveling ! A few years ago I was lucky to find a wonderful little island in a country of islands that is very dear to my heart. I took the leap of faith and rented a traditional village house for six weeks, solo,  in a place where I knew no one at all. I have a deep and abiding affinity for the culture and have been many times to other places but not to this island. I now come every year and it has become my private retreat in so many ways which is very precious to me.

This very special place has elements that I was specifically looking for -  a small, traditional village on a traditional island which is not inundated by mass tourism and still off the beaten track, a place where the people live their daily lives as they have for generations, a beautiful sea , virtually no air or light pollution ( how precious to see the stars twinkling in an indigo sky as they should ) healthy, simple food, safe, and genuinely friendly people.

I found the place that is right for me. A village that has no vehicles and which requires a fairly strenuous walk to reach, donkeys braying and sheep bells tinkling, and the chanting of priests in the morning from the numerous churches dotted around, church bells ringing the hours, fig trees rustling their leaves outside my window......

I believe that we should honor those secret places within our souls and in our lives wherever they may be found. For me,  just being here solo during these precious weeks once a year is as much an inner journey as an outer one.

I wish everyone the power of experiencing their very own secret place wherever it may be found !

Caveat -  My family and friends know where I am in this big, wide, wonderful world of ours ! Shhhhhhh......... its a secret ! 

Carpe Diem - * Sabrina

The Power of Secret Places

       

Travel is incredible for opening your eyes to the diversity and beauty of life on this planet as well as for truly expanding your knowledge of the world. Travel for me is essentially  a deep passion in my life and continually shapes my need to keep on exploring and learning. Solo travel in particular has evolved into my preferred mode of travel and my mantra is to take it slow and give yourself enough time to absorb more fully where you are.

I have been fortunate to experience a great variety of travel destinations in my life and there are just so many more !  "So many places and so little time " Ha ha !



     

Our  present era of technology and the ability to have swift information literally at our fingertips has revolutionized  the travel business in the last ten years. We can instantly find out versions of places we must see before we die, or the world's 10 best secret beaches, cities, countries, restaurants etc. How ironic that when these "secret places" become available to all on the worldwide web they instantly become much less "secret."


I love to share my travel experiences and impressions but also know it is very important and powerful to honor your own personal secrets ......which also includes some of my own unique and yes, "secret " destinations. The irony of this does not escape me as I write this post on my travel blog !

Of course I will write about my various solo travel experiences and give specifics but I want you to know, fellow travellers, that we all should have some "secret destinations " that must remain  that way ................... and I do !

Carpe Diem *   Sabrina

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware" - Martin Buber

Solo versus Single Travel.......but no selfies please !

I was reading a travel article recently on the growing popularity of single travel among women in the " over 40 " demographic and it made me reflect on solo travel as I like to experience it. It so happened that I had a previous conversation with a very well traveled female friend and we were discussing the differences between single and solo travel. She travels on her own to join a travel group as a single traveler. The travel article also defined this type of travel as single travel and was providing many websites for group tours designed especially for singles. My definition of solo travel is traveling alone as the entire experience and not joining any kind of tour, travel group or retreat. So I will use solo travel as my own personal distinction!

I met an older woman recently in Spain who was traveling on her own. She was taking photos of a fountain and I asked her if she wanted me to take her photo. I know what that is like as one of my travel quirks is never to take "selfies" or buy one of those dreaded "selfie sticks " ! Have you ever seen a sign in a cafe that says they don't have wifi....talk to people ? I don't take selfies...... I talk to people ! Ha ha. We sat in a cafe for a drink and she told me she travels for a few days on her own before she joins a tour group. However, her own personal story was she adores travel and her husband does not. He golfs in Florida, USA while she goes as a single traveler and joins various travel tours around the world.

This is a way to have travel adventures if you just cannot see yourself going completely solo!

I know solo travel is relatively rare for both men and women but if you have the feeling you would like to try it , even for a few days,  it can be a deeply renewing and self revealing experience !

As a woman who is not afraid to travel solo and who concentrates on European travel it is always an opportunity to keep learning and exploring, to follow my own individual interests, to celebrate the ability to take risks, be confident in myself, and to renew my body and spirit with the concept of slow travel.

For example, in Athens, Greece the Parthenon and the Acropolis are one of the ancient wonders of the world. When I was there recently I spent two hours absorbing the details of the structure, the architecture , the deep historical energy, soaking up the wonderful golden warmth and light while walking carefully on the marble stones that have been polished by millions of feet and are as slippery as ice !  I could easily have rushed to a few other places in those two hours but I prefer the more intense experience. I also had a nice  interlude acting as an impromptu tour guide to an older couple who were on their own and who had not researched the Parthenon beforehand  ( they thought it was a castle.)

The opportunity to travel is always a precious experience in terms of  both time and money so it is wise to shape it in the way that you truly will enjoy ! There is no "right "or "best " way to travel and my advice is to be thoughtful and careful in regards to your own personality whether you travel solo, single, as a couple or with friends or family !

"But no matter, the road is life "  Jack Kerouac

An Iconic Flea Market Experience in Berlin,Germany

On a slow, solo weekend in the vibrant and individualistic city of Berlin I spent an afternoon exploring a little known and culturally iconic flea market located in the former East German area. Berlin is famous for their amazing flea markets and one of the best known is at the Tiergarten. This is a wonderful one to also stroll around and I particularly like looking at their silver ware and old linens.

However this market is not the one I am going to write about in this post ! If you want to experience a small flea market, in a real neighborhood and which is focused on selling items from the former East Germany ( as well as other items from the 1960's and 1970's ) then go directly to the Arkonaplatz on Sundays between 10 and 5 p.m

In a small leafy square and surrounded by neighborhood coffee shops this is an iconic Berlin experience. As you wander up and down you will see record players with vintage albums, German movie posters from the 1940's and 50's, vintage dresses and shoes, sunglasses, coffee cup sets and silver ware from the East German era, and cool, futuristic ( even for today's standards ) furniture and lamps from the early 1960's "sputnik " era from the time of the Russian and American race for space !

The vendors are relaxed ,specialize in their wares and nothing is very expensive. You can bargain a little, usually offering 10 to 20 percent off the asking price. Fantastic people watching too as you peruse the treasures ! I love the juxtaposition of items which often have a surreal air to them. Last time I was there I bought six silver plated spoons from an elderly couple who I am sure spent most of their life growing up in the former East Germany. This is the area of Berlin that has the most remnants of this era in history as well as the longest length of the remaining infamous " Wall " known as the Mauerpark.

If you have enough time and energy left over you can walk to the huge, sprawling and lively flea market in the Mauerpark ( which has the graffiti laden and artistic paintings on what is left of the real Wall )

 But that experience is another story...........

How to get to Arkonaplatz with the Berlin metro -      Take the U8 to the Bernauerstrasse stop

"Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Whatever you see can inspire you " - Grace Coddington

A Life Long Passion for Greece !

I resonate to the idea that all of us have a ' soul country' , which is often not our place of origin , and we are very fortunate if we find it during our lifetime. This concept of a soul country is not as simple as " I love the beaches, the food, the buildings " etc. It is rather a deep sense of belonging and a sense of knowledge on an inner level when you first travel to that place.

This happened to me at a young age when I first traveled to Greece in my twenties visiting Athens and Crete when Greece was emerging from the times of their dictatorship. I instantly felt an instant connection and rapport with the land, the culture, the history and the people. I studied ancient history and have always loved ancient Greek mythology but this feeling went way beyond an academic interest !

I have been so fortunate to travel back to Greece and the astonishing Greek islands countless times during my life ( well, lets say more than thirty times and I have explored twenty plus islands ) There is a very unique energy in Greece made up of the translucent quality of the light, the crystal sapphire seas, their ancient history, the simple Greek philosophy of enjoying and appreciating life, their attention to family, their open hearted attitude to tourists, travelers, foreigners, their traditional way of life on many islands, the Greek food which is very simple and fresh ( and their extra virgin olive oil which they use liberally is now known as a health food crucial to the long life " Mediterranean diet " ) and of course the beautiful sunshine which Apollo provides Greece with most generously all year long !

Ahhhh...the heavenly Greek islands !  Did you know that Greece has approximately 1,400 islands of which 227 are inhabited and has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. My life long passion has been to experience many of them......Chios, Rhodes, Crete, Astypalea, Corfu, Kefalonia, Karpathos, Naxos, Sifnos, Andros, Thassos, Aegina, Hydra and so many more !

My advice if you want to experience the Greek islands ( and perhaps this may be your only visit to Greece ) is to definitely see Santorini for its sheer geographical beauty, although it is the most heavily touristed with cruise ship visits and then one other island , perhaps Folegandros, which is close to Santorini and much more traditional.

If you are an independent traveler then I recommend island hopping as the thing to do on your first visit to get an overview !

Greece is a very safe country to travel around as the people are honest and genuinely friendly but of course take the usual precautions with your belongings. Personally I have never felt unsafe in all my years of traveling in Greece.

If you have any questions about traveling in Greece and around the islands please ask me in the comments section below. I love Greece and will be happy to help !

Carpe Diem *  Sabrina

" The days in Greece are like golden coins which I spend slowly one by one.....   -   Sabrina

Open the Door in Hydra, Greece. Leonard Cohen's artistic hideaway !

When you are traveling, whether solo or not, it is wonderful to take in details of where you are that you can then transcribe in writing or in photography. Take a look in a completely different way and you will discover real beauty in what are usually very ordinary objects !

When you are in a brand new city, country and culture your eyes are wide open and you can drink in and more fully appreciate what you are experiencing. Ah........the true beauty of slow travel !

 Hydra is an exceptionally unique little Greek island as there are no vehicles permitted  - not even bicycles ! It has a permanent population of approximately 2,000 people and 500 donkeys and mules (and one fire truck, one ambulance and one garbage truck ) It is incredible to think of the children who grow up on Hydra living this lifestyle and what they must think when they have their first visit to Athens. It must seem like they are on a different planet !

UNESCO has awarded Hydra a special recognition for " preserving integrity of place "  I spent one afternoon wandering the narrow, twisting, back streets through Hydra town and was taken by the intricate and utterly unique door knockers which were just like little works of art ! This is one of the fantastic moments of   "slow travel " when you can truly take time to drink in and fully appreciate where you are !

Carpe Diem*           Sabrina


MAGIC DOORS !

" Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller "  -  Ibn Battuta