Far from the stress of crowded airports or stations, ferries allow you to travel in comfort while taking your time.
Our friends at Vivanoda, a web platform that enables all travelers to find ferry, bus, train and plane tickets, wanted to launch a major study into ferry prices in Europe in order to gain a better understanding of the variations in ferry ticket prices according to a number of criteria (destination country, distance, seasonality, etc.).
Fortunately for those of us interested in a Europe trip that includes ferrying, they have analyzed tens of thousands of ferry fares on hundreds of routes in Europe, as well as crossings to Turkey and the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), to get as exhaustive a picture as possible. If you enjoy comparing prices using graphs you are going to want to keep reading…
It’s not difficult to understand the appeal of Ferry travel- leisurely comfortable rides with great views.
Here are the key points highlighted by this study at European level:
Ferry crossings to Tunisia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Sweden have the lowest price index.
Conversely, ferry crossings to Turkey, the UK and Morocco have the highest price indexes.
Connections between Greece and Turkey and those between Morocco and Spain are proportionally the most expensive in Europe.
Connections between Germany and Lithuania or Latvia are the least expensive in relation to the distance travelled.
The shorter the crossing, the more expensive it is.
Across Europe, prices are higher on average from July to September. They are also slightly higher at weekends.
For The Silo, Nicolas Pellier.
About Vivanoda Vivanoda is a web platform that makes it easy to find ferry, train, bus and plane tickets for travel in Europe. Launched in 2013, the site has received awards from the European Commission, the International Union of Railways and the Groupama insurance group.
Vacationers booking holidays through Canadian websites are being charged hundreds of dollars more than overseas customers for exactly the same deals, research commissioned by cybersecurity company NordVPN reveals.
From luxury breaks and hotel stays to car hire, consumers are frequently being presented with wildly different prices depending on where they log on.
Using the American website for Hotels.com resulted in a staggering $805.55 saving for a 7-night stay, while hiring a vehicle through the Italian server resulted in a quote 25% cheaper than the Canadian site.
NordVPN’s researchers used its Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to make it look to websites like they were not in Canada. They discovered savings across a range of well-known travel sites like Hertz,Expedia, Booking.com and Sixt, for a variety of countries, including Italy, Mexico and the US.
What is a VPN? A VPN disguises your IP address, while improving privacy and security. You select a country and NordVPN ensures that’s where websites think you are. VPN users are then able to see the differing content — and prices — shown to overseas consumers.
Using a VPN, a 7-night stay this August at The Gates Hotel South Beach in Miami, Florida, through Hotels.com revealed a $805 price difference for a family of four. The Canadian website quoted $3,086 and the American site $2,280 — less than a sixth as much. Visiting the website from Italy netted a 22% saving on a 7-night family stay at Venice’s Antony Palace Hotel in August — $376 off the Canadian price of $1,732.
For those visiting the French Riviera, an exclusive 7-night stay in Hotel Casarose in August would cost 16% less using the French version of Hotels.com website, lowering the price from $4,363 to $3,656.
Fans of the UK royal family planning to stay near Kensington Palace could save 13% by using the English Booking.com site, reducing a week’s stay in August at the Twenty Nevern Square Hotel from $4,260 to $3,715.
Going to Booking.com from a French server led to a $1073 lower price on a 7-night vacation at the Hôtel Alfred Sommier in Paris in August — bringing the cost down to $8,922. Meanwhile, using an Italian server to search the Rentalcars.com website for car hire in Rome quarter (25%) cheaper than the same company’s offer to Canada-based consumers.
Browsing for more summer hotel deals using the Mexico website of Expedia uncovered a 22% saving for a week break in Cancun at El Taj Oceanfront & Beachside Condo Hotel, leaving bookers $614 better off.
Looking at car hire deals from Hertz through the UK’s website, you could bag a 23% saving — $345 — on a 7-day hire of a Polestar at Edinburgh Airport in August, bringing the price down from $1,482 to $1,137. Using Sixt to book a rental from the Nice Airport in August, this time with Sixt brought up a 13% discount of $92 for hiring a Peugeot 208 for 7 days, making the French server price $650 versus $742.
Also, Sixt quoted a price that was 16% lower for a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Orlando, Florida via the US website for July — charging $867, a saving of $164.
Visiting Sixt from France delivered the 11% discount, with a 7-day hire of a Tesla Model Y from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport offered for $1038, $122 less than the Canadian website’s quote of $1160.
The research was commissioned by NordVPN and conducted by an external company between March 10th and 31st, 2023. Simultaneous searches were made for identical products being sold by the same vendor using numerous country servers.
When conducting the research, there were cases when prices offered to consumers in different countries were similar. However, for illustration purposes, this article and table present the biggest differences in price.
Table: Cost of items booked through Canadian versus local websites
7 night stay in the (5 star) Hôtel Alfred Sommier, Paris, France in a two connecting double room.
August 14-21
March 30
$9,996 (inclusive of additional taxes)
$8,922.68
$1,073.32
11%
Source: NordVPN
Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, said: “In the internet age it’s never been easier to hunt for a vacation, and you can have all the elements — from car hire to hotel stays — arranged at the click of a mouse.
“For the unsuspecting consumer there’s a price to be paid for these advances. Online tracking used by travel websites means that they can tell what holiday we’re looking for before we do, while algorithms can adjust holiday prices to the spending power of different countries.
“Never assume you’re getting the same deal as everyone else. Your location, the number of visits you pay to a website, and how your search fits in with the school holiday schedule, can all influence the price you’re offered.
“The best way to fight back is to shop around with the same provider using a VPN and see if you can find hidden savings offered to customers overseas. As our research shows, it could save you thousands of dollars a trip.”
How to save on holiday bookings with a VPN
There’s no need to overpay for a holiday abroad. Using a VPN can save you a lot of money – and it’s easy to get started.
Make sure you choose a reliable VPN provider that takes your privacy and security seriously. Though looking for a free option may be tempting, it’s best to stay clear of free VPNs. Here’s how to save on holiday bookings with a VPN:
Get a VPN subscription. If you’re interested in NordVPN, you’ll find our subscription plans here.
Launch the app and enter your credentials to sign in.
Pick a server in a country of your choice, and connect to it.
Head to the provider websites and note down the prices.
Repeat this process with several server locations to find the best price. We also recommend clearing your browser’s cache before returning to the site so it doesn’t identify you as a returning user and impact the price you’re shown.
Even though this process might take a little longer than you’re used to, you’re likely to find some great deals to make it worthwhile. This method will work for finding cheaper flights, hotels, car rentals, and even general online shopping.
Many people are unaware that they can repair some problems with their air conditioners. There are some times when you can avoid some expensive repairs.
Before calling a professional, you can troubleshoot your system first.
If it’s aggravating to discover that the problems you called a technician to fix are things you could have done yourself, Nevertheless, before booking an appointment with a technician, you can try out these DIY air conditioner repair tips outlined below:
Examine your breaker
If you discover that your air conditioning system is not coming on, then it means that your breaker could have tripped. Your breaker tripping may occur when you have other appliances connected to it. You can save money by performing this quick check instead of calling an air conditioning technician. You may contact GetPaydayloans for instant help if you need a technician to fix your air conditioning system if you are out of funds to pay a technician.
Check your thermostat
Another tip that can save you a lot of money is to examine your air conditioner’s thermostat. For instance, if the unit is battery-operated, it may just need a new battery. Also, you need to ensure that the thermostat is set for a temperature below that of the room.
Change filter
To keep your air conditioner in good shape, you must frequently change the filter. In fact, changing your filter regularly can reduce the need for constant repairs on your air conditioner. When the filter is dirty, it can cause many issues that will affect other parts of the air conditioning system.
Melt any ice
When an air conditioner is iced up, it will not cool. Simply melting the ice will get the system back to normal. However, before dissolving the ice, turn off the system and run the fan. The fan will heat the ice, and it will fall off. You can also turn the air conditioner off and gradually melt the ice.
Consistent cleaning
A lot of people need to pay more attention to their air conditioning systems. Even something as simple as cleaning the air conditioning system can reduce the need for a lot of repairs. You may not need to dismantle the air conditioner to clean the inside. Simply cleaning the fan blades and removing debris can increase the air conditioner’s lifespan. However, you need to be careful when cleaning the fan blades of the air conditioner. Nevertheless, ensure the air conditioner is turned off before cleaning it.
Check the condition of your ducts.
Checking your ducts is another way to reduce the possibility of spending money repairing your air conditioner. However, only some people feel comfortable climbing into the attic to check if the air is coming from them. But if you climb to the attic and notice the duct is dirty, you could clean it, so the air can flow incorrectly.
Conclusion
Following the cost of repairing an air conditioning system, you must take a small step to reduce your spending. Try out these tips, and you may be shocked that they may be why your air conditioner is not working.
There is no denying that travel would be a lot more fun if you could crisscross the globe in comfort and luxury. Unfortunately, this kind of experience can end up setting you back a considerable amount of money. Naturally, this is something that few people can afford… Or is it? There is actually a way for you to enjoy a better class of travel without having to empty out your bank account. Here are the tricks to doing this:
Find Ways to Book Private Flights
There is nothing particularly enjoyable about flying commercial. The lines are long, the seats are uncomfortable, and there is a limit to how much luggage you can carry. At the same time, private air travel can often seem out of your reach. If you play your cards right, though, this doesn’t have to be the case.
The Gulfstream G650
For instance, if you are traveling in a larger group, check out Gulfstream G650 as an option. When you combine the overall cost of the commercial plane ticket prices, you may just discover that hiring a single plane is cheaper!
Furthermore, there may be other ways to get you discounts on your Chicago charter or other flights as well. See in many cases, people will only book a one-way flight. Of course, since the plane has to head back to its original destination, it ends up losing money. To counteract this, certain companies will offer lower rates for these flights, if you can change up your schedule a little.
Explore Less Popular Parts of the World
If you are going to go to a place that is a popular tourist destination, you will be unable to afford the top hotels there. After all, there will be a much higher demand for these spots. This is why you may want to look at other less traveled locations.
Whether you are looking for beautiful beaches, culture, or good food, you can guarantee that you can find a more remote option. Since these areas aren’t visited as often, the cost of accommodation is much lower. Thus, you can enjoy a luxurious stay without having to pay nearly as much.
Splurge Wisely
In an ideal world, you would be able to spend on whatever it is that you want. The reality, however, isn’t quite as accommodating. This doesn’t mean that you can’t splurge on certain luxurious items, though. Instead, it is about being careful about what you splurge on.
Look at your holiday and think about which areas you wouldn’t mind skimping on. For instance, instead of eating at the hotel, you should be able to easily find cheaper venues in the city. This may leave you with more money to go shopping at some high-end stores. It is all about managing a careful balancing act.
These are all of the ways that virtually any individual can afford luxury travel. So, if you put your mind to it, you will be able to enjoy a truly wonderful experience. The next time you have to plan a vacation, keep these following tops in mind for the greatest results.
Nobody likes to live in a home that is cluttered, messy and full of stuff – but as you and your family accumulate more belongings, it can become easy to end up in this situation and then difficult to get back out of it. However, one of the simplest tricks to living without clutter is to make sure that it’s super easy for you and your family to clean up in the house quickly. We’ve put together a list of great tips that you can follow to ensure that your home can go from chaotic and cluttered to calm and clean in no time at all.
Closed Storage
Having closed storage is a great way to minimize clutter and also ensure that your home is tidy with minimal effort. Everybody likes the look of open shelving when everything on there is lined up perfectly, however the sad truth is that it’s not always very practical or possible to keep everything perfectly tidy and in order. Closed storage, when well thought out, can look just as good if not even better. If you’ve got a lot of stuff, stay away from open shelving wherever possible and use drawers and doors to conceal everything.
Under Bed Storage
Bedrooms, especially kid’s rooms, can quickly become cluttered if they have a lot of things and need constant reminding to tidy up after themselves. However, using beds with built-in drawers underneath makes a great storage space for bedroom clutter, and are easy and accessible enough for kids to clean up after themselves without even putting in that much effort. In an adult bedroom, under the bed storage makes an excellent space for storing shoes or other items of clothing that aren’t worn frequently.
Storage Containers
If you have boxes and boxes full of things that you don’t want to get rid of but barely use, they can take up a lot of room in your home and cause it to be quite cluttered. Investing in a storage container could be a great idea, especially if you don’t have free room at home such as in your shed or garage to store any extra stuff that’s just sitting around taking up room. Solutions for public storage Montreal offer a range of different sized storage containers which you could rent to put your stuff for the amount of time that you need.
Have a Clear Out
Although this might take a day or two to complete, having a full clear out of your home will really pay off. If, like most families, you have a lot of things lying around, sorting through the things and deciding what you do and don’t need is likely to free up a lot more room in your home. Clothing items could be sold on to make more money or given to charity, and any electrical things you don’t need can be listed for sale online, meaning that your clear out could result in a cleaner home and more money in the bank. For the Silo, Dimitry Karloff.
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Tiny, powerful digital telecommunication device. NetTalk Duo WiFi.
Miami, FL – – netTALK.com, Inc. (“netTALK”; OTCBB: NTLK), a telecommunications, consumer electronics and cloud technology company, announces that the netTALK DUO WiFi, the world’s first wireless VoIP telephone device, is available at leading national Canadian retailers.
The netTALK DUO WiFi works absolutely where you can access a WiFi connection. Unlike other voip devices, it does not rely on a computer or a router to function taking it to new heights of convenience and portability.
“Never before have Canadians had access to a portable wireless VoIP device such as this.” commented Anastasios ‘Takis’ Kyriakides, President and CEO. Since it works anywhere there is a WiFi connection, netTALK DUO WiFi is light years ahead of the competition, which is why throwing the switch and turning off high phone bills, forever, should be an obvious choice across Canada.”
“netTALK has demonstrated its commitment to the Canadian market over the last few years with helping Canadians save money on their phone bills with the original netTALK Duo” continued Kyriakides. “Now with the netTALk DUO WiFi, not only can they continue to save lot’s of money without having monthly phone bills or contracts, they can truly cut their phone cord as well.”
Aside from working anywhere with a WiFi connection, the netTALK DUO WiFi includes all the features Canadian netTALK customers have come to know and love including:
· Free Canadian Phone number
· Fire Your Phone Company, No Contracts or Monthly Bills!
· Free Call Waiting/Caller ID/ Call Forwarding
· Free Voice Mail to Email ·
Free True Canadian E911
The lowest cost, flat-rate international call plans in the industry. Fax-friendly service. Live customer service and technical support.
Anastasios ‘Takis’ Kyriakides, President and CEO of netTALK Canada. Mr. Kyriakides is no stranger to innovative technology- he is the inventor of the world’s first language translator and also invented the first hand held optical scanner and PC VGA card. #solid!
Mr. Kyriakides concluded, “The DUO WiFi takes ‘cord-cutting’ to new heights, eliminating even the need to tether the device to a computer. It can go anywhere, with the same phone number and the same great service. Reaching new heights in technological innovation, the netTALK DUO WiFi offers unbeatable value, call quality, features and customer service. Now that’s something to TALK about!”
The netTALK DUO WiFi carries a suggested retail price of only CA$74.95, which includes a full year of service. Setup of the netTALK DUO WiFi takes just a few minutes and works anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
The netTALK DUO (the original device from netTALK) and the new netTALK DUO WiFi are winners of PCMag.com and Laptop Editors’ Choice awards, and officially designated “Business-Ready” by PCWorld. The netTALK DUO is a revolutionary VoIP telephone device and digital phone service.
Bottom Line? The tiny netTALK DUO enables free nationwide calls to any phone in Canada and the U.S. from anywhere in the world, as well as low-cost, flat-rate international calling plans and a variety of other features, detailed at www.netTALK.com. No computer is necessary to make calls using the netTALK DUO, as it simply plugs directly into a modem (or computer). The netTALK DUO WiFi is the next step in the evolution of the netTALK DUO, by operating from any WiFi connection.
netTALK offers the following calling plans for the netTALK DUO and netTALK DUO WiFi (prices do not include tax):
Basic Call Plan: Free calling throughout Canada and U.S.; one full year included FREE with netTALK DUO and as low as CA$39.95 plus taxes for each additional year.
North America Add-On: Unlimited calling to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico as low as CA$5.85 plus taxes per month.
International Add-On: Calling to 60+ countries, including China,India, Brazil, UK, France, and more for as low as $10 per month (plus taxes).
The netTALK DUO WiFi is now available at leading national Canadian retailers; contact marketingdirector@thesilo.ca for the location nearest to you. Visit www.netTALK.ca CP
