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Thanks to a whole flock of low-cost airlines ( Ryanair, Air Berlin, easyjet) all sorts of remote European locations are now within your reach for less then peanuts - but don’t expect them to be handing out freebies when you’re on board.

Once they’ve lured you in with the hard-to-believe prices they find creative ways to pad the bottom line. Pack carefully if you’re to stay within the baggage allowance - far less then you’re used to if you regularly fly long haul. You’ll be required to pay an excess fee if your suitcase exceeds the baggage allowance weight. And if your in-flight bag won’t fit in the tiny contraption sitting alongside the long queues it’ll be taken away and consigned to the hold - that’ll be £10 please. So travel light.

The next thing to bear in mind is the cheap airlines fly you to secondary airports so you’ll be faced with a long journey from the airport to the city. Stanstead is 40 miles, Vasteras 54 miles is from Stockholm. Factor the cost and time it will take to reach the city centre to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

Consider the alternatives. You’d have to be crazy to take a plane from Paris to London when Eurostar gets you from city centre to city centre in under 3 hours for under £70 - if you book early and can be a little flexible on your departure times. Three more things to bear in mind:

1) Don’t depend on cheap flights. We Brits love to travel - you would too if you had to live with our weather. Come Bank Holidays you’ll find it hard to secure a bargain. The way to the cheapest airfares on the cut-rate carriers is to be open minded about your destination and book well in advance; prices increase as the departure date approaches.

2) The cheap airlines will “close the Gate” at the advertised time. No amount of pleading will get you on if you’re late.

3) Once aloft, don’t expect more service than you’d get on a bus. Some of the budget airlines will sell you coffee and a snack.

When you’re dealing with all this keep in mind that these low-cost carriers are pioneers, Thanks to them - and most particularly Stelios - we’re no longer at the mercy of the major airlines and a whole new world of travel opportunities is at our disposal. Do your research, buy wisely, pay your carbon compensation, put up with the usual cattle class indignities and enjoy the trip.

Charles Campion - the Evening Standard’s always excellent food critic - has published his Top 10 Cheap Eats in London. Here’s 3 of them that we can personally endorse.

Maroush

A whole network of Lebanese restaurants scattered throughout London - sub-brand include Ranoush, Beirut Express, & Randa. Simple and successful formula, very fresh juices, packed kebabs, a wide selection of meze. Best of the best is the Beauchamp Place branch ( right round the corner from Parkes Hotel ), open til 4am which makes it a popular place for sexy clubbers to rehydrate and take on board much needed vitamins during a big night out.

Tas

The key elements are sound Turkish food, a lively atmosphere, and exceptionally tolerant staff. All this adds up to a great place for a party and you will almost certainly share the dining room with a stag or hen group, particularly if you visit at the weekend. For the casual diner this chain has cornered the market in easy-going, good-humoured places with good, inexpensive food.

Wagamama

When Alan Yau started Wagamama, with what was for most of us a new kind of dish — the meal in a bowl whether soup, noodles or rice — it caused plenty of ripples. You had to dine at refectory tables; there were the first electronic order pads; dishes arrived in the order they were cooked rather than observing petty distinctions such as ’starters’ and ‘mains’. Dining at Wagamama still means a good, simple, cheap meal. Minimum fuss and a distinctive style.

“Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Mark Twain