When you think of holidays in England I wonder what images enter your head first? Maybe the famous red buses in London? Or possibly the splendour of Windsor Castle, the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace?

All of those images point to some great features of England for visitors but there is a hidden side to the country. If you try and move away from the well-trodden routes of the tourist trail you’ll find some real gems.

A great example of this is the South West of England. This is a region of the country that is sometimes overlooked by visitors and yet contains all of the key elements for a wonderful stay. You can certainly be forgiven for knowing little about this area, so maybe you’re unaware that it contains the finest Roman spa town in the country, sandy beaches, an indoor rainforest and some great surfing. A real mixture for all the family!

There are so many wonderful places to visit in the south west that it’s difficult to know where to start. Indeed, you’ll find that this article only gives you a small taster of what the region has to offer.

To begin with, let’s turn our attention to Bath, the unique city that is a World Heritage Site. The city of Bath was founded before the Romans even arrived in the British Isles but it is the Romans who expanded the city and helped to build its reputation. This was primarily due to their construction of the extensive Roman Baths complex, which is still open to visitors. Indeed, you’re still able to drink the spa water, produced from a natural spring!

The city is also renowned for its splendid and distinctive Georgian architecture - nowhere is this more evident than when you see the Georgian crescents. As you would expect of an English city, you’ll also find a more modern mix of shops, restaurants, theatres and pubs. The beauty of Bath is that the modern and the ancient seem to live side by side.

Elsewhere in South West England, Cornwall is a hidden gem that seems to have remained that way despite the fondness of the English for visiting the county on their own holidays.

The world famous Eden Project has provided a central focus for tourism in the region but it is by no means all that is on offer. You’ll find quaint, traditional seaside towns, as well as modern locations where you can relax on the beach and even enjoy the best surfing conditions in the country (St Ives is particularly popular for this pursuit).

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On your next holiday, why not raise a Guinness glass - or two - in the city that’s famous for brewing it; Dublin, one of Europe’s most exciting cultural centres, plays host to countless tourists each year, and with good reason. With everything the city has to offer, from remarkable theatres and intriguing museums to a thrilling night life, what’s not to be drawn to?

Dublin is not just popular with tourists either; in 2006, the World-Wide Quality of Living Survey rated Dublin as the 24th best city to live in. What’s more, it’s particularly popular with young people; while a quarter of the population of Ireland lives in its capital city, an estimated 50% of Dublin’s residents are under the age of 26. That being said, Dublin bustles with diversity, culture and life.

Dublin’s countless attractions are sure to delight any visitor. For the art enthusiast, the city boasts an array of intriguing museums, including the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery and the National Museum of Ireland. The National Print Museum of Ireland displays printing machinery from the ‘hot metal’ era of printing - something worth seeing in a city so well known for its literary tradition. Indeed, Dublin is also famous for being home to a number of prominent historical and literary figures, such as Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Bram Stoker and William Butler Yeats. Many tourists even take literary tours around the city in order to track momentous locations from such works as Dubliners and Ulysses, both set in Dublin.

If you’re an avid shopper, head to the high-street shops along Grafton Street or Henry Street; and if you’d simply like to enjoy the lively atmosphere without all the spending, grab a coffee at Butler’s and stroll along the River Liffey. No matter where you are in the city, you’re also sure to get a glimpse of the famous Spire of Dublin - the world’s tallest sculpture - though it’s certainly worth getting an up-close view from O’Connell Street, the widest and most famous street in Ireland.

Alternatively, if you’re after a bit of peace and quiet in the city, head over to St. Stephen’s Green; you can lounge on the grass, feed the ducks or have lunch by one of the small lakes. Other must-see attractions in the city include the Guinness Brewery, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin City Hall and Trinity College - where visitors can feast their eyes on the Book of Kells.

What’s more, Dublin is just a short train ride from other charming Irish cities, such as Galway and Cork. So, if you’re looking to get out of the city setting, a serene bike ride in the countryside or a seaside escape is not far off.

Dublin has even more to show by night; Temple Bar district is undoubtedly the most popular area for nightlife, as it is almost entirely lined with pubs, clubs and bars. Temple Bar was originally redeveloped as Dublin’s cultural quarter, and it certainly retains this spirit in the form of intimate music venues and street performers. Great Dame Street is also popular with party-goers, with various bars and clubs strewn along its edges.

For those who are seeking other types of cultural night-time activity, Dublin boasts a fantastic theatre scene. The largest theatres are the Abbey Theatre, the Olympia Theatre and the Gaiety Theatre - all of which are within the city centre.

If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Dublin, getting there is no problem; you’ll find countless domestic flights to Dublin to and from the city every day - so what are you waiting for? Whether you’re seeking culture, excitement or a just a bit of Irish craic, you’re sure to have the time of your life in Dublin. What’s more, you’ll see what they mean when they say that the Guinness in Dublin always tastes just a little bit better.

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Consolidators or wholesalers are companies that buy airline tickets at very low prices in bulk and then sell them off to public at a discount rate than the original price set by the airline. They are the cheaper means to buy airline tickets from, because even after they have deducted their profit on the tickets, they are still cheaper for normal people like us. You must be wondering why airlines sell tickets at low prices. Actually, not all flights are booked seat-to-seat by the passengers. Because of this reason the airlines or air travel agencies have to sell tickets in order to make a full flight. And of course everyone involved in this game makes a profit this way.

You might have heard of brick & mortar travels or B&M Travels as they are commonly called. They are the offline consolidators specializing in providing cheap airfare to their customers whenever the demand for a certain flight grows. Online consolidators are also available and they are becoming increasingly popular these days. They are called online travel consolidators. Many websites that you will encounter while searching for cheap airfare are of these consolidators or air travel agencies. They are there to help you out in finding the cheapest flight, whether it’s national or international, and they also advise you on choosing the right time for booking these flights.

Consolidators in the field of international air travel are the most helpful and useful source of saving a lot of money on airfare. Of course people are always looking for these consolidators or online cheap travel agencies to benefit from the services they have to offer. However, there are some points you should keep in mind before booking with one of these agencies. First of all, keep your options open. Consolidators all around the world offer different discount rates. Sometimes, you save only 10% and at other times, if you are lucky, you can even save up to 70% on your airfare! But it needs a little research and careful investigation before you can find such a consolidator. Furthermore, it also depends on the time of your flight and some other considerations including the destination location and the popularity of an airline.

Secondly, check the price of the airline ticket offered by your consolidator and see if it is inclusive of tax and other fees. Sometimes these companies list only the ticket cost and exclude taxes until the time of payment. This way they can advertise themselves quite cleverly, but do not fall in their trap. Check with other companies and compare their prices. Some websites let you compare prices only through a few clicks and a little information you provide. If possible, wait for a whole season and then see if the ticket rates have reduced. Then book yourself in advance to enjoy affordable and cheap airfare when the time is ripe.

You can tell the agent about the frequent flier program if you are enrolled into one. The consolidator will see if they find a matched price on one of the flights and will book you on it. If time is not of importance then tell your consolidator how flexible your dates are. They can find a good flight for you at the lowest possible price on a weekday or when there is little rush. This way you can travel safer and cheaper. Last but not the least, always check and double check you name and date of the flight and reservation after you have been handed over the ticket by your consolidator. Like every other business, there are traitors and dishonest persons out there so you need to keep an eye open.

Follow these steps and you will find a good consolidator very soon whether you are planning to fly national or international. Here are some consolidator websites to help you start your search from: Travelocity (travelocity.com), Hotwire (hotwire.com), Expedia (expedia.com), Cheap Travel (cheaptravel.com), and Airfare Choice (airfarechoice.com). However, do not rely on just these sites, as already said, keep your options open and keep looking for better and more reliable websites and consolidators to fly cheaper on your next trip.

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