We all love something for free; it’s human nature and part of what makes the world go round, but how can you go round the world for free? Air travel can be very expensive, but there are ways to save money on air travel and gain free flights. Here is a list ways others have scored a free flight:

1. Become a pilot – this one isn’t that easy and can take years to actually achieve, but pilots get to fly the planes, not only for free, but they’re paid to do so. Sadly you can’t choose the destination even if you are the one behind the wheel.
   
2. Smuggle yourself aboard in a suitcase – the flight may be cramped, even more so than flying economy, but the rewards are that you’re flying for free. Best avoid trips to the USA in a suitcase as they may not like the intrusion. Just how far would you go for a free flight?
   
3. Flash a badge and pretend to impound the plane – it worked for Face Man in the A-Team, so maybe it could work for anyone. A little confidence goes a long way in grabbing free flights.
4. Probably the most practical is to save using loyalty programmes – there are many different loyalty programmes that allow you to save for free flights as rewards when you do everyday activities, such as when you buy your shopping, fill up your car or even pay your electricity bill.
   

France is a large country and as such has contrasting regions, from the sunny holiday resorts and beaches of the south of France to the museums, art galleries and hustle and bustle of Paris, there’s something for everyone in France.

If you’re interested in cultural weekend breaks around Europe then you needn’t look any further than Paris, the capital of France. From London via the Eurostar you can be in Paris in just over two hours, making Paris a convenient destination as well as a cultural one. Paris has art galleries such as the Louvre, where you can see the famous Mona Lisa, and landmark attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, from which you can see the whole of Paris.

If it’s a large family holiday you need then the south of France has what you’re looking for, with many holiday villas available in areas such as the Côte d’Azur and Provence.

Villa holidays in France in the Côte d’Azur allow you to spend time on the glorious beaches of Cannes and Nice, enjoy the friendly nightlife where children are always welcome and even visit the millionaire’s playground of Monaco, which is just a short drive away.

As if that wasn’t enough, every area of France has its own story to tell in the wine it produces, with Provence producing the Côtes de Provence. France has such as great variety of holidays available, there is something to suit everyone.

Local food is what I love about travel! Thanks to the warm weather in Southeast Asia, it offers a great selection of delicious tropical fruits you don’t normally find in other parts of the world. So apart from the usual bananas, oranges, grapes and watermelons, what else does the tropical cities in Southeast Asia has to offer? Let’s take a look at our carefully selected top 10 list

1. Guavas, although can be found in other parts of the world, but you don’t find them eaten the same way as they do in Southeast Asia. The green apple guava, commonly found in Thailand, are generally eaten before ripped, where the crispy fruit are dipped in salt, pepper or sugar for added flavour.
2. Rambutan, you can find the canned ones in many Asian supermarkets, but the fresh ones are simply delicious. Under the red velvety skin, it has a white fruit inside, which is generally eaten directly by the locals. Of course, with creative Asian cuisine, they can also find rambutan jam, sauces, ice cream, or added to salads for flavour.
3. Papaya in Thailand has two main varieties, one with red and the other, a yellow-orange fruit. Like many other tropical fruits, it can be eaten directly, or mixed into papaya milk drink. The green papayas are generally used in cooking, like for the famous Thai green papaya salad, or cooked into other local dishes.
4. Mangosteen, commonly known as the “queen of fruits”, has a dark purple skin. Inside, it’s a white, delicious fruit that can be eaten raw, added to drinks, made into mangosteen cake, or to be very creative, added into seafood curry.
5. Longan, don’t be fooled by its not so fancy look. Inside the thin crispy shell, it comes with a translucent white-pinkish fruit that are sweet and juicy with a unique musky scent. It is eaten raw or used as a traditional dessert toping, mixed with glutinous rice, coconut milk and ice.
6. Sapodilla or Ginseng fruit, another fruit you shouldn’t judge by its cover. Peel through the brownish fruit skin, you’ll find light reddish-brown juicy pulp that can be eaten directly, or cook with sugar or syrup to make jam and preserved fruit snacks.
7. Custard apples have what appear to be small bumps on the outside like a badly-stung head. It has a white and sweet fruit wrapping tiny black fruit pits, it can be quite a mission to eat it without accidently swallow one. It has a very interesting flavour with the blend of banana, strawberry and pineapples all mixed into one. It can be eaten raw once peeled, or mixed with coconut milk to make ice cream or candy.
8. Durian, the “King of fruits”, can be found in many places in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia, they are loved by the locals. Under the rough spiny coat, it has a delicious creamy-like fruit, which has a really strong scent to it. You can smell a ripe durian before you sees one.
9. Star fruits or Carambola, just like the name, has a star shape when sliced. The fruit has a translucent orangey-yellowish fruit with a sweet and acidic taste to it. Star fruits are normally eaten by dipping in salt, sugar or even pepper to sweeten the flavour. Also, it can be commonly found as pickled snacks or made into star fruit drinks.
10. Last but not least, mangoes. Yes, you can find it in other places around the world, but in places like Thailand, you can find at least 10 different varieties to choose from. Like everywhere else, mangoes are eaten raw, or dried – most popular souvenirs from Thailand and Philippines, or make into delicious desserts with glutinous rice and coconut milk.

Now that’s our top 10 list, what’s yours?

Source: Faraway Holidays | Wikipedia

I’m a fan of Southeast Asia for a number of reasons. It’s lively city culture, collections of temples and natural sites, delicious Asian cuisines, and of course the sandy beaches. With the subzero temperature we’re getting these couple of months, all I can think of are the white sandy stretch on the coasts of Malaysia. Malaysia is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia. Today we’ll look at the top 5 Beaches in Malaysia, specially selected for us by the experts from Malaysia Experience.

1. TANJUNG RHU BEACH – LANGKAWI
   Malay for Casuarinas Cape, the Tanjung Rhu beach is known for its abundance of casuarinas trees stretching along the shoreline. Located on the northernmost point of Langkawi Island, the Tanjung Rhu have a long clean, white sandy beach, and it is one of the most popular beach in Langkawi.
   Apart from the long beach itself, you can go island-hopping among the small offshore islands around Tanjung Rhu beach. Charter a boat out to explore the caves, mangrove swamps, limestone formations and many exotic creatures on these small islands. During a low tide, you can even walk across from Tanjung Rhu beach to the nearby islands of Pulau Pasir and Pulau Gasing on a sandy stretch.
2. PANTAI TELUK BELANGA (EMERALD BAY) – PANGKOR LAUT
   Known to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Emerald Bay is a top pick for independent travelers and travel consultants. The beach is set in a cove with soft golden sand and has an amazing rainforest as its back drop. The Pantai Teluk Belandga is private for the guests of Pangkor Laut, but it is open to the public for a fee of RM 80 (Malaysian Ringgit). The calm emerald green waters and white sand of the Emerald Bay is a great place to soak up the sun in peace.
3. KAMPUNG JUARA BEACH – TIOMAN ISLAND
   For travelers who are looking for a quiet day in the sun, Juara beach is the place to be. Isolated on the east coast of Tioman Island, you have to trek through the jungle to reach this sandy paradise.  If you’re a fan of activities out in the sea, then look no further, the Kampung Juara beach is fantastic for snorkeling, diving or fishing in its crystal clear sea. Also sailing, kayaking or even boat fishing is available around the Island.
   For nature explorers, jungle trekking on the island is also a popular activity among regular travelers. You can trek through the forest, rock climbing up the island peaks and admire the many beautiful waterfalls along the way.
4. TELUK DALAM BEACH – REDANG ISLAND
   Located at a traditional Malaysian fishing village in Redang Island, the Teluk Dalam beach has an amazing 250 meter long white soft sandy stretch. The clear water has made it an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling and diving in Malaysia. While there, you can experience the traditional fisherman lifestyle and taste the local seafood delicacies and dig for some hand-made souvenirs.
5. LONG BEACH – KECIL ISLAND – PERHENTIAN ISLANDS.
   Long Beach is soft sandy getaway on the Perhentian Islands, aka, the place to stop. Not overcrowded with tourists, this isolated island brings you back to the basics, without roads or electricity. On the island you can see white corals at Coray bay in clear waters on one side, and bury your feel in the velvety soft sand in Long Beach on the other. It’s clear water and abundant sea creatures makes it a snorkel heaven, where you might find sea turtles, fish or even swim along sharks (not dangerous unless provoked).

Reaching for your bikinis? Don’t forget to bring plenty of sunscreen before you take off to your perfect beach holiday in Malaysia.