#120 Sample prices of Flights from Japan 2016

When I was going to Japan, I thought I could easily get a €40 return flight to Korea, considering the low cost airfares for around Europe these days. However, this is definitely not the case and it is almost impossible to escape Japan for less than 10,000 yen (€80).


I fly out of Nagoya (Chubu Centrair) because it's my closest airport. Flights are usually a little more expensive than Tokyo or Osaka, but since it's faster and cheaper for me to travel to Nagoya it usually evens out. It's also won Best Regional Airport in the World a few times and is a really nice, clean, modern facility so I enjoy using it.

Here is a sample of the prices of return flights I have paid, the airline and when I was travelling:

Tokyo Narita - Dublin €701 (for December 2015) Etihad Airways

Nagoya - Manila €78 (for February 2016)* Cebu Pacific

Nagoya - Beijing €266 (for May 2016) Etihad Airways

Nagoya - Seoul €157 (for July 2016) Asiana Airlines

Nagoya - Bangkok €257 (for August 2016) Vietnam Airlines

*From what I have seen, the only real bargain I got was for my flight to Manila, which was very cheap. Flights are usually closer to €200+. 

The good thing is that despite the higher air fares in comparison to Europe, you usually get a decent baggage allowance. Etihad give about 23kg, while Vietnam Airlines are giving me a massive 40kg!! Which is ridiculous, it's twice the amount British Airways allowed me for moving across continents...Anyway!

Similarly to other countries, flights go through the roof on weekends, long weekends and holiday periods, especially to close destinations like South Korea. 

You can also get cheaper flights from places like Fukuoka which is geographically closer to places like Taiwan, S Korea, Philippines etc.

If you constantly scour airline comparison sights you could get lucky and find a cheap flight - I once saw €50 flights to Thailand from Osaka...never booked them in time though :( 

#119 Skyscanner Hack - Change Country for Cheaper Flight!

[This is NOT an April fool!] Recently I was trying to organize booking a flight with my sister for our mother from Dublin to Tokyo. I’m more technology savvy so I decided to search for the flights, and then send her the details for her to book. Due to time difference this went on for a few days, with her saying each time the flights were more expensive than what I had said. Finally we went on Skype, using the same website (Skyscanner) at the same time, but somehow mine said it was 500euro, and hers said 600euro. Then I realized – my country was set to Japan, and hers was set to Ireland.

A rumor I had heard before was true – it actually is cheaper depending on the country you book from (or the country you say you book from....) 

I always use Skyscanner – sometimes I check other sites but it always ends up being cheaper or having more options with Skyscanner. If anyone has some other recommended sites, please comment and let me know!

I decided to do this again, with a flight from Japan to Thailand. I changed my country from Japan, Thailand and Ireland. Japans flights were 32,000yen, Thailand was 39,000yen, and Ireland was 40,000yen (about the difference of 60 euro off a 300 euro flight) There were also different flights available depending on the country.

While it may only be the difference of a few euro, from now on I will always toggle between the departing country and destination country at least, to see if I can make some savings. It only takes a minute and could save you substantial amounts!

Below are the screenshots I took, all within minutes of each other. The only difference is the country selected and flights - language and currency settings don't seem to make a difference.

Flights with Japan as country

Flights with Thailand as country

Flights with Ireland as country

#80 The Travel Show Podcast - Russia

This is a topical destination considering the Winter Olympics are now on, but it's also very contentious considering the issues with gay and LGBT rights. Personally, I am an advocate of gay rights, and I think the treatment in Russia is extreme. However, I am conflicted because Russia is a country I have wanted to visit for years now. Would the issues with LGBT rights affect your decision to visit Russia?

If you're going from Ireland, you can get return flights from Dublin to Moscow for about €250, and you will also need a visa. This takes about 20 days (so plan ahead!) and costs €60.

To listen back, go here;

The Travel Show 18-2-14 by Ulfm on Mixcloud

#76 India: The Travel Show

The main issue I have with going on holiday to somewhere like India, is the fact that it is so far away from Ireland. Return flights at the moment are about €500 cheapest to Mumbai or New Delhi. This is actually quite cheap considering the distance, but it's still €500 before you even pay for accommodation or entertainment or anything else. But then again, these are all very cheap!

So I'm posed with a problem: travel within Europe for flights under €100, but where accommodation and food is more expensive, or travel outside Europe, where flights are more expensive, but everything else is cheaper. Destinations outside Europe are also usually more drastic and exciting for someone who lives within Europe.

But anyway, before we start discussing India, here's a map to help you, so you won't get confused. I don't think it is likely that someone would visit both Kolkatta and Mumbai for example, as they are quite far apart (a 3hr flight), and these are just a few ideas for each place in India. There are hundreds of things to do near each of these cities if you do your homework!

India Map

New Delhi

This is the capital city, so it is where you can expect to find a lot of stuff, such as;

Askhardham Temple

Lotus Temple

Varanasi and the Ganges River

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, which is accessible by train by New Delhi. From what I've heard, these trains are INSANE cheap,  possibly under €10 for a first class ticket! They take about 3 hours, and from the train station there it's about 15mins by bus.

If you want to listen back to the show, please go here: www. ulfm.ie/listen-back