“You’ve never had it so good” is not an expression you hear too often these days, but in terms of cheap direct flights from Scottish airports, it’s true.

Did you know there are a staggering 114 places you can fly to direct at little cost, without the hassle of Heathrow or Gatwick?

We might not enjoy the no-frills of Ryanair and the like, but it doesn’t stop us using them.

Leading flight search engine, WhichBudget.com has found that, rather than staying at home in these austere times, Scots are heading for budget destinations throughout Europe this spring.

Her first weekly column will be published on May 1st.

With 900,000 readers each week ‘The Sunday Post’ has a wide readership across Scotland and the north of England, though it is available nationally and many Scots living in London and southern England continue to buy the paper.

It is more representative of the Scottish population spread than any other Sunday newspaper, with high quality coverage of the Scottish regions and cities.

Travel is an important feature in the paper, with a full colour page each week and six double page spreads throughout the year.

Scotland is increasingly marketing itself as Europe’s leading wildlife  destination, and with an incredibly diverse range of habitats now hosting dozens of top quality projects and experiences, it’s an idea that’s becoming plausible.

Home to vast expanses of protected ground and two spectacular national parks, both rural and marine Scotland are awash with wildlife watching opportunities, from bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth to golden eagles on the west coast or sailing among thousands of seals and puffins in Shetland.

According to VisitScotland, the annual worth to the economy of wildlife tourism is £153m. That’s a figure averaged over 2006, 2007 and 2008, and despite the economic downturn, almost two-thirds of Scotland’s wildlife and nature tourism operators reported an increase in visitor numbers in 2009.

The country also supports an ambitious programme of re-introducing species that have long since disappeared from the region. In 2009, red kite chicks hatched in Aberdeenshire for the first time in almost 150 years, while in Argyll’s Knapdale forest there is a project to bring back beavers, last seen in Scotland in the 16th century (although tourists are unlikely to see them).

This is the city where you can famously ski in the morning, play golf in the afternoon and sail in the evening.

It all sounds too good to be true, but thanks to a backdrop of coastal mountains and elegant fingers of land reaching into the sea, Vancouver delivers a near-perfect setting – and, unlike much of Canada, has a pleasingly mild temperate climate as well.

What’s more, it’s the gateway to Vancouver Island, which both tempers city life and provides a balanced twin break.

On a two-day stomp around Vancouver, I dipped into the famed shopping spots in Robson Street, such as the buzzing market, which has all sorts of eclectic fashion boutiques and shops selling everything from great shoes to lingerie.

Here are three good reasons to go to Argentina in 2008.

First, the cost of living once there will bring a smile to even the most-budget conscious traveller’s face.

Second, the people are welcoming, educated and keen to make friends.

Third, despite the enormous beauty of the country, international tourism is still in its infancy.

There was a time when a city break to Spain could only mean Seville, Madrid or Barcelona. Well, no longer. If you’re savvy, there’s another hot contender and that’s Valencia. Less touristy, cheaper, and with fabulous restaurants, great shopping and an unusual blend of old and new architecture, it should be right up there at the top of your hit list.

Lovers of modern design will undoubtedly make a beeline for the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, but if architecture or science don’t ring your bell, you can also spend lazy afternoons wandering in and out of cafes that line the ancient alleyways and narrow medieval streets.

The phenomenal success of budget airlines like Easyjet and Ryanair has completely revolutionized the travel industry: fares of under #30 have become commonplace. Between them, the no-frills airlines now carry a staggering 23 million passengers a year to destinations all over Europe, and its predicted that the market will continue to grwo over the next few years.

Tourists can choose from a dazzling array of potential holiday destinations – many of which they may know next to nothing about. “Fly Europe” is a practical, easy-to-use guidebook that provides information on 80 budget airline destinations in one volume. Many of the cities the budget airlines fly to are not traditional tourist destinations and are therefore not covered by individual city guidebooks; equally, tourists may or may not need ot want a full-length, overly detailed city guidebook just for a short break.

This book aims to help readers make an informed choice about the best destination to choose; then, once that choice is made and the flights are booked, they will have at their fingertips all the information they need to enjoy a short break in that city.

In the introduction, the author outlines what the various budge airlines have to offer and considers the pros and cons of each company. She employs a star ratings system to show which cities are best for sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, restaurants, the arts, romance and family activities. Then, each city section provides details on transport to and around the city, what to see there and why, accommodation (from budget to luxury hotels), eating out, nightlife and shopping, along with a useful map of the city centre.