Move over EasyJet - our money-saving tip

EasyJet is among the low cost European airlines we've flown in recent years as part of our quest to save euros, and even more importantly, US dollars, whereever and whenever possible without foregoing safety. The airline flies modern Boeing 737's, and offers the pay-as-you-go services from buying a cup of Starbucks Via instant coffee to checking a bag for a heafty fee. For short-haul flights we can do without coffee, and we needed clothes, so paid the bag fee - and still paid far less than using a traditional airline.

Preparing for this year's trip, we were about to book a flight on EasyJet from London's Gatwick Airport to Heraklion, Crete (the same routing we used last year) when we happened upon a website that provides a quick round-up of all budget European airlines called Jumble Fly.

That's when we discovered flythomascook.com another budget airline that not only offered a cheaper fare than EasyJet, but departed Gatwick at the more civilized hour of 8 a.m. (not 6 a.m.). It also offers a miriad of pay-as-you-go services. Not only did we book the flight, but also bought their 'adult extra bundle' for each of us which allows us to check a bag, get a full meal AND sit together for a mere 14L ($21US) per person . . .about $3US less than just checking one bag on EasyJet had cost last year.

Countdown: Greece

Yesterday a friend asked for our itinerary. "We have none," I replied. A brief silence followed.

Actually as the departure date nears, we have added a stop to our return, so we know where we will be for the first week (Chania, Crete) and the last five nights. We've included 5 nights in Paris to our return routing, thanks to Mr. Marriott and those loyalty points that lured us in to a timeshare purchase two years ago. (http://www.marriottvacationclub.com/). We will fly from Athens to Paris on EasyJet, the cheapie airline for $73E p/p. (http://www.easyjet.com/).

As for yesterday's bombing in two Greek cities (one at the Athens Stock Exchange) . . .we are still heading to Greece, as of this writing. The BBC reports that the bombers called a local newspaper alerting folks to the bomb and allowing police to seal off the area before it detonated. Couldn't help but wonder if they used the news tip line?

Jackie took the photos on this post in Naousa on the north coast of Paros, an island in the Cyclades. We took the public bus ($2.40E) from where we were staying to this once-fishing-village, turned somewhat touristy-fishing village.