Sydney is a city of constant competition between what is man-made and what Mother Nature has provided. Glass and steel skyscrapers dot the skyline, vying for attention with blue waters alive with sailboats and working ferries shuttling travelers from one craggy shoreline to another. At night the competition heats up. The skyscrapers turn on their lights and the harbour, not to be outdone, reflects those lights, increasing the beauty twice over. Some of the most popular attractions in Sydney are part of that eye-popping harbour setting and for Australian travelers, cheap domestic flights make this an easy-to-see destination.

Sydney Opera House

Listed as a World Heritage Site, the Sydney Opera House sits in winged splendor on the shores of Sydney Harbour. The main Concert Hall seats 2,690 and there are four additional performance spaces. If you are lucky enough to be in town on a Sunday afternoon, you may catch the free performance given harbour-side next to the Opera House. Hour long tours of the Sydney Opera House are available daily, save for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Combination performance, dinner and tour tickets are also offered.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney’s impressive skyline and its busy harbour are best appreciated from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Walking the 1,650 foot span takes about 30 minutes from shore to shore. The more adventurous might consider taking in the Pylon Lookout. At the south-eastern end of the bridge, off of Cumberland Street, steps lead underneath the bridge. It is four flights up to what is called the Western Footway. This path leads to the first pylon, or bridge support, and a panoramic view of the harbour from 292 feet up.

Sydney Tower Skywalk

The Sydney Tower Skywalk is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you want a commanding, impressive view of the Sydney skyline this is where to find it. Creators of this attraction built a glass-floored platform some 853 feet above the ground. Visitors put on special outfits, are tethered to a safety rail and then start their walk around the outside of the building. Your guide will point out the city landmarks and give you a bit of encouragement if the view from beneath your feet becomes a bit daunting. The glass floor makes it seem that there is nothing between you and the city streets below.

Sydney Aquarium

The people of Sydney have created an aquarium where you are the captive species and the marine life swims around and above you. The Sydney Aquarium routes an underwater tunnel through its shark and giant ray tank, and another under its seal exhibit. As you walk through the tunnels you are surrounded by water and the creatures that swim in it. At some point you may begin to wonder if you are doing the watching, or if that big-eyed shark swimming next to you is finding you interesting. Another exhibit is the Great Barrier Reef, complete with piped in classical music to enjoy while you watch the colorful reef fish flit about. Kids especially get a kick out of petting a baby shark in the touch pool exhibit.

Sydney Ferries

Ferries have transported people around Sydney Harbour since 1789. They were the quickest way of getting around until the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. Eventually the private ferries were taken over by the NSW Government. Today the ferry system is still going strong, taking its fair share of commuters and visitors for a mini-cruise as they make their way to work or play. Destinations reachable by ferry include Manly Beach, Darling Harbour, Cockatoo Island and the Taronga Zoo.

Photo by: Eustaquio Santimano

The high travel season in Europe has just ended, so it makes perfect sense to spend September in Italy . The weather can still be hot but it cools down at night. Since the locals are back to work and school, foreigners can have the beaches to themselves and enjoy the less crowded beach towns.

Technically, September is part of the shoulder season but, especially during the first two weeks of the months, the prices are still quite high. Expect summer-like prices in Tuscany but much lower rates in Southern Italy.

If you don’t want to spend money on rental car and gas, invest in an Italy rail pass , especially if you prefer to use the high speed trains.

So what can you do in September in Italy? Start your vacation in Venice. Assuming you’ll be arriving in mid-September, an adult single ticket from London will set you back £20 (on Ryanair). Visit the city’s highlights and maybe even take a day trip to Verona. Then head to Cinque Terre and plan to do some hiking. Florence can be next on your schedule and do plan to stay here longer (4 days). You’d also want to spend 4 days in Rome, checking out the major sites, before heading to the Amalfi Coast and then to Naples. A ticket back home (to London) will set you back £68 (on easyJet).

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Regardless of when you visit Iceland, don’t miss a dip in one of the best hot springs in the world : Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring, near Borgarnes.

Other amazing things to do in Iceland include: drive the Ring Road , which circles Iceland and offers some of the loveliest sights in Europe; explore the outdoors; see the Northern Lights; try the traditional (and often bizarre) local food; or ride an Icelandic horse, the only one in the world which does the tölt (a special smooth walk, in which only one foot touches the ground at a particular time).

If you want to save on flights to Iceland , early or late winter can be excellent times to visit. In January, daylight is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., which gives you plenty of time to explore the outdoors and the sights. But the airfare is cheaper, you’ll pay less for accommodation as well and you get to see the superb landscape covered by a blanket of snow.

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The capital of Athens is pretty much deserted during August, as the locals flock to the near-by islands. So, it might just be the perfect time to check out the attractions in Athens . Reserve a day for visiting the Acropolis of Athens and the new museum near-by. Then, if you want a different perspective of the capital, take the funicular up to Lycabettus Hill. Don’t leave the capital without watching the changing of the guards in front for the Parliament. And, of course, plan for a night out in one of the tavernas and try the local dishes.

Airfare to Greece tends to be quite pricy during this time of the year, so you should keep your eyes on the airline’s special offers. Keep in mind that the large booking engines don’t list the flights from all low-cost carriers.

Of course, you can always choose to travel by train to Greece. You can purchase passes or round trip tickets, which come in handy since you’ll be saving some money. But be prepared to spend quite a lot of time traveling.

Don’t forget to pack your sunscreen , sunglasses and summer clothes. Take into account that it gets breezy on the islands and you might need a light jacket at night. Also, if you plan to do some hiking, pack appropriate gear and clothes.

Photo credit: WhygoGreece and might not be used without permission

I promised my teen self that after I’m done with school I’ll visit every country in Europe. And, slowly and steadily, I’m doing that. Each summer, I choose a new destination to visit. This summer is for exploring France, a superb country which offers much more than just Paris.

Sure, you’ll be flying into Paris, because there are plenty of flights available and the rates are low, especially if you are already in Europe. Spend several days to soak up the atmosphere and then explore the great destinations in the South of France . Make your base in Montpellier and explore the area around it at your own pace. Sete is just 30 km from Montpellier and is called “Little Venice” for the canals that line the main streets. Nime is just 20 minutes by train from Montpellier and is home to the best-preserved Roman Arena in the world.

While renting a car will give you the freedom to travel within the country at your own pace, getting around France by train is both fast and affordable. There are passes which help save money and you can also book the tickets online.

When it comes to hotels across France , book a room in Paris and the next town you plan to visit. Once there, plan your next move. This insurance you have both the freedom to stay longer than you planned and to take advantage of the last minute offers (which help save money).

France is a large country and it’s impossible to plan to visit all of it during one vacation. So, for this summer choose the south part of the country. There’s always time to get back and explore more of what it has to offer.

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So, what are budget travelers supposed to do? Head to the next popular backpacker destinations which, obviously won’t break the budget. Albania has recently emerged as a cheap and interesting. You can explore the Greek ruins, spend time on deserted beaches and explore beaches. Another good option is Macedonia. It is known for the medieval towns, interesting churches and monasteries.

Unfortunately, the budget flights within Europe are limited when you want to fly between lesser-known destinations. It is easy to get from Albania to Macedonia overland, but it’s hard to find cheap international flights into either countries. Ukraine is a different story. You can fly cheaply into Poland from abroad or from other European country, and then you can catch a train to Ukraine. Another option is to fly into Budapest and the travel to Ukraine by train.

If you want to explore the beauty of Europe but your budget doesn’t allow for an expensive destination, you can always choose cheaper countries to visit. But you need to be creative. Typically you’ll have to fly into a larger hub in Central Europe – such as Budapest, which is served by a variety of low-cost carriers – and then choose the train to travel further.

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But in order to visit these stunning pieces of architecture, first you need to get to France. Airfare to Paris is affordable and easy to find especially if you are already in Europe. There are so many low cost carriers that it’s impossible not to find something affordable. If you fly from over seas, you’ll have to be more careful and plan ahead; especially if you plan to explore Loire Valley during summer (when everybody wants to fly to Europe).

Once in Paris, do plan to spend at least couple of days here. Look for private rooms in hostels if you don’t want to sacrifice privacy but want to lower the cost of accommodation. Then, rent a car. Getting from Paris to the Loire Valley by car is a fun and relaxing thing to do. Sure, you’ll get there faster by TGV but why rush things? The drive takes about 2-3 hours and will cost you about €30 in tolls.

Book a hotel in Amboise and then start exploring the area. Having a car makes it easy to travel between the castles. A personal favorite is Chenonceau castle, of the most beautiful castles in Europe. The other castles of the Loire Valley are: Chambord – the largest castle in the Loire – , Amboise – known for the unique blend of Gothic and Renaissance architecture – , Blois, Cheverny, Villandry , Langeais and Clos Lucé (which is actually a large mansion).

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But if you want one more reason to fly to Germany , we surely got it: Women’s World Cup. It might not be as popular as the Men’s World Cup but it’s spectacular and interesting. And should I remind you it’s a good reason to visit Germany?

When you look for cheap airfare to the Women’s World Cup consider flying both into large airports –served by many airlines – and smaller ones – served, typically, by low cost carriers.

The matches take place in: Augsburg, Berlin, Bochum, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Monchengladbach, Sinsheim and Wolfsburg. So you got a good reason to visit the lesser-known cities in Germany, equally interesting and having a lot to offer to the travelers, just like the well-known destinations. For example, in Leverkusen don’t miss visiting the Morsbroich Castle, the Japanese Garden and the Water Tower, while in Bochum you should see the Bochum Planetarium. Dresden is also home to a Castle and Augsburg has a superb Augustus fountain.

Just remember that you should book the hotel in advance. The Women’s World Cup takes place in mid-July, which happens to be the peak travel season in Europe. So, look for Frankfurt hotels ahead of time and book the right one for you. Then, figure out the transportation between the cities. And don’t forget to buy tickets for the matches, as well.

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Of course, there are other nice points on the 2011 Tour the France route which might appeal to you. Just do some research when you choose where to head to.

Do remember that the Tour of France is an event sought after millions of tourists. It’s going to be crowded and pretty expensive. Book your cheap tickets to Paris ahead of time and decide whether you’ll use the public transport in France or rent a car. You could consider camping (especially in remote areas) and hence cutting down on accommodation costs. Otherwise, do the research ahead of time and book the hotel or hostel before you leave for France.

Also, you should know that the tour passes through little-known areas of France so accommodation in certain places might be limited and you’ll have to find other options (camping, staying in another village, so on). Since the tour also visits larger cities, you might want to spend some time checking out the sites and then focusing on the race (for the finish).

Regardless of which stage you want to watch or which city you plan to visit, do make sure to plan your vacation ahead of time. July is high season and everything books up quickly (especially during the race).

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We all know that traveling as a couple has its rewards. And so does traveling with your best friend. And now, you can travel for less if you travel in pairs. Whether you are a family of four, a couple or a group of six friends, now you can take advantage of the latest sale from TUIfly: 2 for 1 to the sea.

So, you pay for just one ticket but you get two tickets! The destinations included in the sale are: Majorca, Antalya, Crete , Corfu , Rhodes , Peloponnesus, Faro, Sizilia, Apulia, Boa Vista/Kap Verdes, Sal/Kap Verdes and Agadir .

For example, if you fly to Crete from Frankfurt on July 10, you’ll pay €132 for 2 adults , one way. However, do note that for the flight back you won’t get any discount (and for that period, flights start at €182 for 2 adults).

Read more details about the offer on the airline’s official website and browse their special offers.

Read more TUIfly Flight Deals.