Image by Tom Lynch under CC license

We have been building the Zoombu core technology for almost two years and during that time we have built some useful individual assets, on the back of developing the core Zoombu search engine.  One of those assets is our flight search engine, which is a stand-alone component of Zoombu.  We used to leverage flight search from another company, but then we found it to be such a core component of our own engine, that we set about building and maintaining our own tool.

We recently realised that there are a lot of companies with ideas for travel products and services that want to be able to add flight search to their capabilities.  After all, we were in their shoes not so long ago. Since we have built a useful tool, why not share it more broadly with other developers?  So that is exactly what we are doing with the Zoombu Fly API.

The Zoombu Fly API has the ability to search hundreds of airlines with worldwide coverage and retrive flight times, prices and other details.  It is free to use within a certain query limit (5000 per day, which we think should satisfy most development purposes) after which there is a charge per query, simply because we have to pay to service queries and this adds up.  We monitor the ’search to book’ ratio of API usages, to make sure sufficient bookings are being driven through (ultimately flight companies expect this in order to make it worthwhile servicing queries).  Any revenue that is generated from bookings via the API will be shared generously, creating an all round win-win.

If you are interested in using our Zoombu Fly API, then do get in touch, or sign up here.

- Posted by Rachel

Image by Dan on Flikr under CC license

Everybody loves getting something for nothing, and all frequent fliers will agree that bagging a flight upgrade is one of the best freebies around.  Experiencing a half decent nosh (with real cutlery), a comfy seat with vast amounts of leg-room, superior goody bags, with the smug satisfaction of the unexpected, is most gratifying.  It doesn’t happen often, but we’ve rounded up some of the best tips for how to increase your chances:

1. Ask nicely in advance. Usually the folks at the ticket counter won’t be authorised to give you an upgrade, but they might add a code beside your name in the passenger list to tell the gate staff to consider you for the bump up.  SFU is the magic three letter code (= Suitable For Upgrade). Instead of being blatant, you might ask for a seat ‘up front with more leg room’.
2. Be nice. I’ve been given an upgrade twice for, as far as I gather, simply being polite to the ticket counter and the gate counter staff.  Those all important three letters made it onto my name when the seats upfront were going spare, instead of another passenger who couldn’t manage a smile.
3. Become a frequent flier. Even if you don’t have many miles with the airline in question, simply being part of their club will help you with the upgrade chances.  And if you have racked up a fair few points and have status, you’re far more likely to get the push forwards.
4. Dress the part. You’re unlikely to get sat in business or first class if you look scruffy and out of place. After all, the airline staff don’t want passengers who have paid to be there legitimately to pick up that you got there for free.  Add a tie or a pair of smart shoes to your outfit, and avoid jeans or casual trousers.
5. Avoid dietary restrictions. If you have pre-ordered your vegetarian, vegan, lactose/nut/wheat free meal then you’ll already have a code next to your name, and it won’t be the upgrade one.  This rule doesn’t always follow, but it makes for a harder job to re-seat you.
6. Check in early. Some airlines (American Airlines for example) have a policy of prioritising passengers who check in early for upgrade.  You may also get put on an earlier flight if one is available.
7. Check in late. Yes, oddly enough, this has worked for some.  But it usually involves you getting an upgrade on a later flight, in the case that your original flight is overbooked.  Beware, this tactic can backfire and you may just find that you are moved across and not up.
8. Look out for frequent flier offers. Sometimes airlines have promotions on the cost of upgrades, so you may find that by spending a few of your air miles in advance or even at the desk, you can get yourself in the front row for far less than the cost of buying a ticket outright.
9. Report a genuine problem. If you genuinely have a problem with a fellow passenger’s behaviour on board, you should report it.  If the flight attendants can’t sort it, they may well move you, and if economy class is full, then you’ll be walked through those curtains.
10. Cross your fingers and toes. Getting an upgrade is usually more about luck that anything else, so don’t be disappointed if you rarely get the treat.

To search for flights for your destination, and for other options including trains and ferries, make sure you run a search on Zoombu.  We’ll help you consider your connection to the airport at the origin and destination too, so you find the cheapest door-to-door way to travel.  When you’ve found the journey you like, simply book with the supplier and get on your way, upgrade tips in hand!

- Posted by Rachel

The guys over at TheTravelEditor.com firmly believe this and we’ve been taking a look at what they have on offer. Visit their website and you’ll find everything you’ll want from a travel guide – inspiration, practical tips and advice, reviews of hotels, bars, restaurants and attractions. Despite being one of the new kids on the scene, they’re one of the fastest growing travel inspiration sites out there and have managed to amass an enormous amount of independent, expert advice. Unlike user review sites which can be a bit jaded and unreliable, TheTravelEditor.com has hand-picked professional travel writers, film-makers, specialists in the arts and other interesting folks to give their personal recommendations and unique take on the world. They are discerning in taste, love character and individuality, and speak from the heart.

For the time-starved, discerning traveller, TheTravelEditor.com is a breath of fresh air. Every property has been personally visited and recommended by an expert in their field, saving readers hours of time when researching their next trip. A helpful feature is their travel ‘personality’ quiz, which matches readers with writers most similar to them.

TheTravelEditor.com focuses primarily on European cities but they are rapidly adding new destinations around the globe. You can also find recommendations on cruise ships, spa resorts and even reviews of the latest travel gear and gadgets. And you can store your favourite articles in a personal Pocket Guide. We think their site is polished and stylish, and definitely worth a visit for your next trip.  Apparently the guys over at Twitter like them too – they gave TheTravelEditor a position in their top 25 travel sites.

Best of luck to the team there and keep up the good work.

- Posted by Rachel

During the festival, tourists can sample the staple local dish – sour cabbage, boiled beans, roasted and grilled meat. Cold and hot plum brandy or rakija is also served together with corn bread, cheese and the national diary dish, kajmak.

The festival reveals the true Serbian spirit through its central element, the trumpet, already a national symbol because of Serbia’s famous trumpeters. Used at births, baptisms, weddings, funerals and all other celebrations, the trumpet is also a key symbol in Emir Kusturica’s movies.  With parties lasting all night long during the festival, Guča village doesn’t sleep.  In a nutshell, Guča Trumpet Festival is the “wildest, noisiest and probably most popular event you have never heard of” (The Independent).

This year, the festival will take place between the 13^th and 22^nd of August. The officials announce a possible presence of the US president Barack Obama as well as the two biggest Russian Officials: President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. Festival Committee chairman Slobodan Jolović recently announced he expects Serbian President Boris Tadić to open the festival.

Hundreds of people celebrating on the streets of Guča

All this fun will costs you just under 100 euros for 5 days excluding meals, which can be found very cheaply. For those wishing to get into the true spirit of Guča , then camping is the thing to do. With a maximum price of 50 Euros per week this could definitely secure you a string shoe budget getaway.

Should you decide you are strong enough to attend the trumpet blowout, Zoombu can help you out plan your journey searching hundreds of itineraries and many modes of transport. From fast flying options to Belgrade, Podgorica or Budapest and estimated transfer costs, we help you find the ideal journey from the door step of your house to your tent (preferably) or hotel in Guča.

Guča Trumpet Festival 2010 Trailer

- Posted by Alexandru

Tripwolf is a free online social travel guide.  Although that’s quite a mouthful, tripwolf claims to provide a whole range of on the move services for the modern traveler who expects free WiFi to be available as regularly as clean sheets.

Tripwolf combines user-generated text and reviews with professional content, some even from the well-known guidebooks like Footprint and Marco Polo. Find hotel and restaurant reviews or leave your own, and get practical information like addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and maps.  Their trip planner is a nifty new feature – choose the local points of interest you plan to visit, and a map and itinerary can be downloaded and printed in a compact PDF file, for free!

Tripwolf appeals (according to their manifesto) to the modern travellers who “… are missionaries of the internet….we don’t mind a little dust on our electronic devices.  Our laptops and cell phones are shamelessly part of our packing list.”

To support that ethos, Tripwolf has a great little iPhone app complete with Augmented Reality, which allows great content from traditional guidebooks to be accessed on the move.  For those newbies, Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most cutting edge features out there in regards to mobile apps, and Tripwolf is one of the few travel companies to have got there first. The app itself is free, and so are the basic guides.  Premium guides, which show photos, contact information and user reviews, can be downloaded for a small charge.  Usefully, their guides can be used while offline thus avoiding roaming charges.

Tripwolf’s goal is to offer dynamic travel info and they have travel experts or ‘trip gurus’ who are location specialists who anyone can contact with specific travel questions.  Need to know the best ceviche in Lima,  just ask one of their seven experts.  Check out Tripwolf online, or follow them on twitter or Facebook.

As presented in a report entitled “Soccernomics” from the Dutch bank – ABN AMRO bank, the “World Cup effect” exists and has been observed in most of the World Cup winning countries. Some examples include a spectacular 7.1% economic growth in Argentina in 1986 and significant increases in GDP in both Brazil and Germany following their wins.  To be clear, the World Cup Title does not lower the interest rates, taxes or public spending to support the growth of an economy. It does however increase consumption, since it increases the mood of the people both in the country and outside of it.

International tourist arrivals in Italy and Spain

Let’s consider the effect on tourism. Would you travel to a country where people are in a typical state of boredom and lack of excitement, or would you try going to a country that just won the world cup, where there are scenes of dancing , singing , lively bars and nightlife and lots of happy people?  Spain, already a top destination in the world (ranked 3^rd after France and the US) now has the chance to strengthen its national brand. In 2006 the tourism in Italy rocketed by almost 16% just after they won the World Cup. In a country where “football is the locomotive for all things” (V. Del Bosque – Spanish Football coach), why wouldn’t it have the same effect on tourism? The Spanish Tourism office already launched a massive marketing campaign to seize the moment. Let’s hope the World Cup effect really works out for them.

If you fancy celebrating with the Spanish, why not look for a cheap last minute route to a Spanish destination on Zoombu.  Don’t forget that we consider train or ferry routes where they make sense, and we’ll show you connecting transportation to help you find the overall best option for travel.

- Posted by Alexandru

HouseTrip is an online platform for booking holiday apartments for short stays in top European cities. Holiday apartments are a good option if you want an alternative to a hotel, particularly if you’re in a group of family or friends, or you’re planning on staying somewhere more than a night or two. Since you get a kitchen, lounge and dining area, as well as bedrooms, there are much more options during your stay.

The problem that HouseTrip’s founders identified is that booking an apartment can be surprisingly difficult. First, you have to find a suitable apartment, and it’s hard to know where to look. Most people will start their research on Google, where you’ll find a variety of small local websites and large classified advertising sites. But the policies (such booking, payment and cancellation policies) are very varied. You will normally have to pay a substantial amount of money up front, then pay the rest of the money in advance of the stay. Some owners will accept cash on arrival, but there is normally no guarantee of what will happen if you cancel or you are unhappy when you arrive.

HouseTrip aims to simplify the process. HouseTrip handpicks their holiday apartments from sites across the internet and offers a comprehensive booking and payment solution, unlike most of their competitors, which makes booking an apartment easier and safer. Guests simply enter their dates and number of guests, then they send availability enquiries to owners to check that the dates are still available. Once they have received positive replies, guests book through HouseTrip, paying at the time of booking. HouseTrip then holds this money until after the guest has arrived at the property, leaving a minimum of 24 hours before transferring the payment to the owner. This protects the guest against fraud. HouseTrip also offers standardised cancellation policies, so if guests need to cancel, they know what the policy is.

HouseTrip won “Best Travel Startup” at the Get Funded Show @ World Travel Market held in November 2009, an award which we won at the previous event, and they are going from strength to strength. They are adding more direct booking properties all the time, which eliminates the need to send availability enquiries – these apartments can be booked immediately. It’s a really good site (we like it!), and recommend you check it out.

- Posted by Alexandru

Romania stands out for skiing, not through the extent of kilometres of slopes like Austria, Switzerland or France, but through good quality for low cost, extremely friendly locals, warm atmosphere and absolutely breath-taking scenery.

The Carpathian Mountains cover almost one third of the country unveiling a wonderful wilderness, dominated by ubiquitous pine forests.  The valleys bisect the dense forest layers allowing some excellent skiing landscapes. There are several quality resorts across different regions of the country.

●  Ranked the 6^th Best Beginners Ski Resort in the world by Guardian and in top 10 Beginners Skiing Holidays by Thomas Cook and WorldTravel, Poiana Brasov is by far one of the best Romanian ski resorts.

With 12 slopes and 11 ski lifts, Poiana Brasov is fit for both beginners and intermediate skiers. The resort also has one of the multi award winning ski schools in the world, Ana Ski School, suitable for both adults and children. Around 3000 British tourists visit Romania every year to learn skiing. For those that are more advanced, there are several difficult runs as well as several off piste circuits. Don’t forget to try the local mulled wine and tuica.

Outside the slopes, tourists can try swimming, horse riding , ice skating , paintballing , ATV riding and many other air sports such as paragliding and flying in a motor hang glider. The resort is known to be very lively with lots of bars and restaurants and an intense nightlife. For those interested in the delicious local cuisine and winery, I would strongly suggest you try Sura Dacilor or Coliba Haiducilor, two restaurants with an impressive tradition in the area.

Cool stuff: For those looking for more adventure, Poiana Brasov is the starting point to amazing expedition opportunities in the Bucegi and Fagarasi mountains.  Ski touring and free ride in the highest mountains in Romania is a life time experience taking around nine days. Shorter alternative tours as well as snow shoeing events are also available.

A must-see attraction in the area is the Bran Castle known as the Castle of Dracula. A place of myth and mystery, visiting the castle is a splendid experience. The medieval architecture and the deadly silence behind the walls carry your thought deeper into the legend.

●  Known as the pearl of the Carpathians, Sinaia is located at the heart of the Prahova Valley, the biggest ski region in Romania. Offering a 1000 m vertical drop, Sinaia is excellent for high altitude skiing offering more difficult slopes for advanced skiers but also excellent facilities and ski school for the beginners. Apart from skiing, tourists can practice snowboarding, bob sledging and ice skating. Again, the resort has a vivid nightlife with a broad range of bars, restaurants and clubs. Snow shoeing on the Bucegi Mountains trails is also possible.

Cool stuff: Hostels and the mountain chalets organize Romanian meals nights with live music and a very warm atmosphere. There isn’t any better way to learn about the Romanian culture and traditions than through food, drinks and music. After dinner, I strongly recommend you try and relax by walking on the candle-lit paths in some parts of the resort.

The Bucegi Mountains hide one of the most beautiful palaces in the world: The Peles Castle.  Standing witness of the Romanian monarchy, the palace hosts an invaluable art collection comprising paintings, sculptures, medieval weapons and antiques.  The Peles Castle also appeared in a recent Hollywood movie, The Brothers Bloom (2009), staring Rachel Weisz and Adrien Brody.

●  Located in the Bucegi Mountains, Azuga contains the longest ski run in Romania , the Sorica ( 3042 m ).  The resort, known for its magnificent beer brand with the same name, is a small and peaceful town.  Apart from the very good ski facilities , there are lots of restaurants and local markets with all kind of handmade crafts.

●  Cavnic is another ski resort in the northern part of Romania. Situated at the heart of the Maramures region, a place where the traditions have been well preserved, the resort is a delight to the eyes. Surrounded by a beautiful centenary forest Cavnic is most suitable for families and its slopes are very good for beginners. Do not forget to visit the famous wooded churches in the area and taste some of the local delights. They are fantastic!

●  There are also other beautiful resorts as well:  Predeal and Busteni on Prahova Valley, Paltinis near Sibiu, Borsa in Maramures and Vatra Dornei in Bucovina.

Just to give an estimative, the average price for a 7 day period in a 3* hotel including all the ski expenses would reach a maximum of 400 pounds/person. The best period is from early December to late February. I strongly recommend you check the weather forecasts before booking to ensure there is a good level of powder. When planning your journey, use Zoombu to find the best way to travel to your hotel. Come to Romania and feel at home (but it’s cheaper)!

- Posted by Alex

Stranded jets during the air space closure. Image by Travel Aficionado

• Total cost to airlines: According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airlines lost more than US$1.7bn in revenue during the six day air space closure. This doesn’t count additional costs incurred of compensation to passengers (many of which are still being settled), nor does it include the relative benefit of reduced operational costs due to flights not being run (reduced fuel consumption for example)

• Total passengers affected: According to the EU transport commissioner, over 10 million passengers were affected when approximately 95,000 flights were cancelled during the initial six days of cancellations alone.

• Total carbon dioxide emissions avoided from cancelled  flights alone was an astonishing (and approximated) 1.6 million tonnes during the six day continuous air space closure alone.  [That's based on assuming approximately 60% of EU flights were cancelled and using data from the 2009 EC GHG inventory report (www.eea.europa.eu/publications/european-community-greenhouse-gas-inventory-2009)]. To put this in perspective, according to the BBC, the average Briton is responsible for 3.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.  In practice, during the crisis many passengers took alternative flight routes home, often adding to their carbon footprint, but those who took a train home instead would have cut their footprint to by at least 75%.  People who hired a car and drove all the way home would have roughly halved their carbon emissions, based on two people sharing. Any carbon dioxide emissions saved by alternative transport should be offset against emissions from the volcano itself, estimates of which vary wildly, with the upper end being quoted as 300 thousand tonnes CO2 per day.

Aside of massive disruptions to plans, one of the biggest frustrations for travellers during the period was not knowing where to get information on alternative routes. Judging by the interest that our own site received during this period, the demand for a search engine that answers the simple question “how do I get from A to B” is stronger than ever.  Flight engines are only able to compare routes between international air terminals, and travellers find it difficult to determine the accessibility of alternative airports, or options for taking the train or ferry instead.

With Zoombu you simply tell us your origin and destination and the dates you want to travel and we do the hard work of searching the options for you, recommending door-to-door routes involving different modes of transport.  Try it out and tell us what you think!

Lots of you wanted to run one way searches during the ash incidents, whereas Zoombu currently searches for the outbound and return journeys – the single search feature is in the pipeline.  The beta version currently serves UK outbound travellers, but we’ll be expanding to serve other markets very soon (just in case Eyjafjoell or one of it’s cousins comes back for more…).

- Posted by Rachel

The main stage at Exit by Belkus.

Summer is right around the corner and the festival scene is beginning to hot up.  If you’re looking for something different to do this summer then we’ve picked out a few of the best festivals in Europe to whet your appetite:

1. 1st – 4th July, Belguim, Rock Wercher. This is one of Europe’s largest rock festivals, and stands up to Glastonbury in terms of artist quality and turnout, but with a truly European Twist. Tickets cost from 76 Euros per day. The festival park is located alongside the Haachtsesteenweg in Werchter, which is just 30km from Brussels and 15km from Leuven.  A festival bus will take you from Leuven to the festival (operated by De Lijn).
2. 8th – 11th July, Serbia, Exit Festival. Ths is possibly the hippest festival on offer with a line up of modern pop and rock, staged in the grounds of impressive Petrovaradin Fortress. Exit celebrates its 10th birthday this year so expect extra special stage action. Located in Novi Sad, which is within reaching distance of Belgrade (87km), Budapest (295km), and Zagreb (372km) airports, there are festival airport transfers on offer from a variety of operators.
3. 24th July, Germany, Love Parade.  Originally started in Berlin just months before the fall of the wall, and now held in a different location each year, this time Duisburg is the lucky host to the fun, frolicking and techno-wizardry of the parade of love. Free to attend, this is a must for electronic music lovers. Wacky outfits are optional but generall encouraged! Dusseldort International airport is just 20km away.
4. 9th – 11th July, Netherlands, North Sea Jazz Festival. Probably the biggest Jazz festival in Europe showcasing an array of talent with artists such as Joss Stone, Jamiroquai and Quincy Jones on show. Tickets are available per day (84 EUR) or for the full three days (194 EUR). The festival is located in Ahoy near Rotterdam and is accessible by public transport from Rotterdam Airport or the city centre.
5. 13 August -5 Sept., Edinburgh International Festival (and 6 – 30 August, Edinburgh Festival Fringe). Hundreds of shows across a vast range of genres from opera, modern dance  to stand-up comedy. Tickets are available on an event by event basis, so you can pick and choose depending on what takes your fancy. Edinburgh is easily accessible by train from cities in the UK or from Edinburgh airport (takes around 30 minutes). Check out our information on travelling to Edinburgh page for more detailed travel advice.

We can help you to get from your home right to the festival with our journey search engine, Zoombu, so after you’ve made your pick, give it a whirl to book your transportation.

- Posted by Rachel