10 Years of Independent Travel | 5 Continents | 45+ Countries

Hey Ajala!

I don’t think anyone expected the UK to bless us with a consistent sunny stretch😆 So for most people, the summer mindset is only just kicking in. I’ve been hearing rumblings from the community about wanting vacation style breaks - going away, slowing down, taking stock, simply not working. So this edition is about getting the most out of your summer, however that looks like for you.

Spontaneous Santorini

August last year, I scored a Santorini getaway that cost the same (or LESS) than if It had been booked in advance.

It was initially meant to be a staycation, but in the face of UK race riots we chose to look for last-minute deals abroad instead. My (now ex-)boyfriend at the time was getting free deal-finding magic from yours truly, and I indeed found multiple deals until one stood out - Santorini!

EasyJet Holidays were selling well-timed flights that gave us 4 full days in Santorini with checked luggage, airport transfers, and well-reviewed accommodation just 5 minutes from a gorgeous black beach area... at the cost of... £525 FOR TWO PEOPLE! (Yes!!!)

While waiting for his confirmation, the EasyJet package sold out. But I noticed something interesting - slashed accommodation prices. It turns out hotels would rather be full than empty too - and somehow there were rooms available in Santorini (overall we didn't find the island overrun with tourists, to be honest).

We booked on the 8th of August to fly on the 10th - just 2 days before take-off! Here’s the cost breakdown:

• Return flights: £166 each, personal bag only

• Accommodation: £155 reduced from £397 for an apartment with two beds (Christian couple) in Perissa

• Airport transfers: We used the local bus for ~4 euros each

  Total: £495 for 5 nights and 4 full days

I'll admit that I didn't pay for food or activities (my job was done, lol). But we honestly didn’t need to spend that much more for a mixture of adventure and relaxation.

Here are some activities we really enjoyed:

And for the foodies, Rosemary in Pyrgos and Pegasus Suites & Spa Hotel were my favourite restaurants serving great food at very reasonable prices, with priceless sunset views 😍. Bakery 24 Hours in Perissa also gets a special mention for the phenomenal savoury pastries, desserts and ice creams at any moment of the day!

Shoulder Season Flights

If you are enjoying the heat and don't have a particular need to fly abroad right now my advice is to wait for shoulder season. Europe in particular is a great continent to visit before and after the peak-summer holiday season because the weather is still bright and balmy, there’s less crowds, dynamically lower accommodation prices and it’s close by with cheaper flights now too. When digging through the data this week I found a funny pattern of £46 well-timed return tickets which I couldn’t resist sharing below.

The September deals I found to Madeira, Dubai and Bangkok are too good not to share though. So for all the Ajala’s who contributed to the summer community survey, a bonus email will be on it’s way this week! - Take 2 mins to complete it if you haven’t already.

Insider Tip on UK summer travel

Ajala-ing can also take place in the UK. From seeing where the day & night takes you in London. To taking in the beautiful sights of the Lake District. Avanti West Coast has an amazing offering called ‘superfares’ that helps hack your train transport to/from London, or other major UK destinations like the Lake District, Liverpool, Carlisle, Glasgow, Birmingham and more.

I love it because it's a good price, especially if you haven’t booked months in advance and you don't have a Railcard (over 30s I see you). Instead, superfares allows you to decide if you want to go up to 7 days before travel and while it requires some flexibility, there are three discreet time frames to choose from on the day.

Check out my time in the sand dunes of Merseyside (a metro-ride from Liverpool) for some inspiration.

@letsgoajala

Can you believe this is in the UK??? Comment 'SAND' if you want me to DM you a cheaper way to travel here last - minute. #Sometimes #Staycation