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The World of Sky Vacations

As one of the leading tour operators in North America, Sky Vacations offers incredible travel experiences around the globe. Custom crafted journeys for individuals or group travelers across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, you can be assured of an unmatched luxury experience. As a member of the  Sky Bird Group. Sky Vacations has access to incredible global airfares, the perfect enhancement to your land experience.  

Curated Programs Around The Globe

Our personally tailored itineraries are designed to meet the needs and interests of each traveler. Food lovers delight in our home cooking classes, art lovers rave about our insider access to museums and historical sights and families love the perfect balance of activities for all ages, created by our team of international travel experts. We go above and beyond to ensure inspiring, insightful, and immersive experiences.

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

INDIA, ASIA & AUSTRALIA

THE AMERICAS

Explore The World With

Sky vacations .

QATAR, ANCIENT & MODERN

5 Nights from $2,295

ALL ABOUT KOREA

11 Nights from $2,520

SAFARI IN TANZANIA

8 Nights from $3.995

EXPLORING QUEENSLAND & SYDNEY

8 Nights from $3,390

REEL TO REAL LIFE BRIDGERTON

6 Nights from $2,365

MEANINGFUL INDIA

11 Nights from $2,395

ATHENS & THE ISLANDS

7 Nights from $2,050

PERU, THE WAY OF THE INCAS

8 Nights from $1,435

More Ways To Experience

The world  .

VEGAN GLOBAL JOURNEYS

CUSTOM CRAFTED GROUPS

VILLAS & BOUTIQUE HOTELS

WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED

What Our Customers Say

Excellent trip.

“Thank you so much for planning our great trip. Everything was perfect and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Keep up the good work.”

Thanks Sky Vacations

“I wanted a trip to Greece that would show my family, including two teenagers both the famous places and also places where they could be away from the crowds for a more genuine experience. My travel agent chose Sky Vacations and honestly we could not be more pleased. Thanks Sky Vacations!”

India Experts

“Recently I called Sky Vacations and spoke to ask about a trip for me and my wife in 2021. I was really surprised with how helpful and how much information the agent gave me and best of all they are India experts and she was from India! We have always dreamed of going to India and we will definitely book with Sky Vacations. If the trip is as good as the service it will be perfect!”

Amazing Experience

“I just returned from a trip to India with Sky Vacations and it was an amazing experience. From staying at the Deluxe Oberoi Hotels to the different tours with first class tour guides. I didn’t know how much I would enjoy everything.”

Incredible Egypt Trip

“ What an incredible Egypt trip! Our Egyptologist /guide Ramez was so knowledgeable – we learnt a lot about Egypt’s ancient history and at the same time it was so much fun. Hotels were great, Nubian dinner was a highlight, Nile cruise was outstanding. Highly recommend .”

Well Organized

“ Darnish khatri. I’m very pleased with him he did an amazing job in organizing my vacation to Trinidad and Tobago Everything was so well organized and everything was on time. Danish is an asset to the company. Thank you Danish . “

Most Amazing Trip!

“We had the most amazing trip! Sri Lanka is absolutely beautiful we learned so much, explored so much and just loved every experience. The hotels were phenomenal, the best we have ever stayed in. Each of the hotel views were beautiful, the rooms beyond clean, and the staff was excellent. Our driver/ tour guide, Somasiri, was seriously the best. Somasiri was beyond professional, knowledgeable, super kind and just really passionate about Sri Lanka. He really made our whole experience that much better.”

10 out of 10 - Turkey Trip

“We finished our amazing tour to Turkey. Our service from Sky Vacations was EXCELLENT. Our guide had a great knowledge of history, and our entire program was a 10 out of 10. Each step our trip was pleasant and better than expected. The hotels, the tours, the whole experience.  The service and suggestions provided by Sky Vacations made the trip amazing. I wish I could rate this trip higher than a 10 out of 10!”

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Sky Bird Travel Blog

Travel Agent Resource

5 Ways To Build Rapport With Your Clients

Customer satisfaction is something that keeps every business afloat. The same applies to travel businesses. It’s crucial that travel agencies figure out how to attract new customers in a market that’s becoming more and more competitive. However, it’s just as vital that travel agents understand how to cultivate client loyalty. We at Sky Bird Travel & Tours share how you can build a solid rapport with your clients and provide them with a trip of their lifetime.

Continue reading “5 Ways To Build Rapport With Your Clients”

Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2023

With the new year of 2023 approaching, travel agencies are preparing to face the one question clients ask every year — “Where should we go?” Here at Sky Bird, we’ve put together a list of the Top 10 Destinations for 2023 that are sure to inspire your client’s wanderlust! This list combines some of our agents’ personal favorites with some of the up-and-coming travel destinations we’ve noticed. Book your client’s upcoming trip on our WINGS Booking Engine without a glitch and fill it with culture and adventure.

Continue reading “Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2023”

Top 2022 Travel Destination: China for Clients – Part II

Travel agents understand that China is a top vacation destination because of its beauty, culture, and personality. So much so, that it can be overwhelming to plan activities and tours for everyone in the travel party. To combat this, we created a list describing the finest points in China to add to your itinerary. In the first part of our guide, we provided the best stops for clients interested in history, hiking, shopping, and eating. In this last part, we’ll divulge beautiful locations for families, photographers, explorers, artists, and architects!

Continue reading “Top 2022 Travel Destination: China for Clients – Part II”

Top 2022 Travel Destination: China for Clients – Part I

China’s been flourishing since the 13 th century BC, operating under various dynasties. It’s not only larger than all other Asian countries, but it’s the most populated country in the world. The land’s split up into 33 administrative units consisting of 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions. It’s almost impossible for travel agents to know every landmark, so Sky Bird compiled a list of our agents most beloved locations!

Continue reading “Top 2022 Travel Destination: China for Clients – Part I”

6 Spots To Celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States

The United States celebrates Thanksgiving annually on the fourth Thursday in November (second Monday in October for Canada). The holiday dates back to 1621, when the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Tribe hosted the first Harvest Festival in Plymoth, Massachusets. The celebration feast included bird, deer, fish, lobster, and dozens of local vegetables. Today, most people eat turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. If your client has decided to take a holiday vacation, then here are 6 of the most exciting Thanksgiving festivities and celebrations across the United States that’ll elevate the trip!

Overview of the best destinations to send your client for Thanksgiving in the USA:

• New York, New York
• Orlando, Florida
• Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Frankfurt, Michigan
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Leavenworth, Washington

Continue reading “6 Spots To Celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States”

Why To Never Let Clients Book Their Own Airfare

Travel consultants are an increasingly popular resource because most travelers don’t have trip planning experience or time to spare. When using a travel agent, clients benefit from receiving a full itinerary, accommodations, and transportation for their vacation without the extra effort on their part. If you’re a travel agent, never let your clients book their own airfare—especially when they’re paying additional costs for your services. If you aren’t already convinced, then read on to discover why travel agents should never let clients book their own airfare!

Continue reading “Why To Never Let Clients Book Their Own Airfare”

Top 2022 Travel Destination: England for Clients – Part II

When customers book through a travel agent, they expect to receive an itinerary specifically tailored to them. This doesn’t have to be an impossible request with the help of Sky Bird Travel & Tours. We narrowed down the best monuments, tours, and activities around England to prevent you from falling into tourist traps! Read on to discover experiences curated specifically for photographers, foodies, film fans, artists, and architects in England!

To read the other half of our guide, check out the previous blog post Top 2022 Travel Destination: England for Clients — Part I .

Continue reading “Top 2022 Travel Destination: England for Clients – Part II”

Top 2022 Travel Destination: England for Clients – Part I

England is one of Sky Bird’s most frequently booked travel locations, and it’s securing the number one spot on our list of the Top 2022 Travel Destinations . However, there are so many activities to pick from, that travel agents can struggle to select the perfect one for their clients. The country offers beautiful art, historical monuments, unique dining experiences, and much more. To help travel consultants find a unique tour for any client, we created this two-part guide that describes our favorite activities for each type of traveler!

Continue reading “Top 2022 Travel Destination: England for Clients – Part I”

5 Tricks to Boost Social Media Visibility

Social media, like Facebook and Instagram, is a valuable tool for your travel agency! When used correctly, it can increase your client base , brand awareness , and sales .

However, navigating the online marketplace can leave you feeling tired and frustrated. Some days it might seem like there is no engagement coming in at all.

If you, or your travel business, struggle to promote brand awareness or reach your target audience on social media—then you’re not alone. Here at Sky Bird Travel & Tours, we’re here to help you master the online marketing game with five tricks to boost your profile visibility!

Continue reading “5 Tricks to Boost Social Media Visibility”

5 Travel Trends in 2022

2022 is looking brighter for the travel industry. According to the TSA , travel numbers are gradually growing closer to what they were pre-pandemic. Research shows travelers have a positive outlook for travel in 2022; people plan to take more leisure and international trips, despite concern for new variants of COVID-19. We are optimistic for travel in 2022, and hope our list of travel trends help spark the optimism in you.

Continue reading “5 Travel Trends in 2022”

Sky High Travel

Making the world a smaller place, vacation planning for every stage of life.

No matter why you’re traveling, we can help.

Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

Let us help you plan a destination wedding to remember. You can’t beat the views of a destination wedding.

Family Vacations

Time is fleeting when you’re a parent. Bring the kids along for some unforgettable family moments.

Corporate Travel

Meetings, Incentives and Corporate Travel can be easy when you work with experienced advisors! We specialize in itineraries along with event planning for our numerous corporate accounts.

Extended Family Reunions

It’s so fun when the whole family can get together! Relieve the stress of planning group travel and let us handle it.

Conferences

We assist organizations in organizing conferences in destination by assisting with selection of location and all details that follow.

About Us-St. Louis and Proud!

Sky High Travel is a store front agency located in Sunset Hills, Missouri, a suburb of Saint Louis.  Our founder’s first-hand experience traveling around the world has always been a passion and hence, they founded Sky High Travel!

Fast forward to today, both founder’s and their team of travel consultants, serve the St. Louis area, along with numerous others around the United States, seeking incredible travel experiences and unforgettable memories.

In The News and Community

Sky High Travel is extremely proud to have been recognized by  St. Louis Magazine as the Best Travel Agency in St. Louis (2022 & 2023) and hold a partnership with, “Bon Voyage,” a Fox 2 News broadcast.

Community is at the center of the Sky High Team so they frequently volunteer in communities and organizations throughout the Saint Louis area.

Sky High Travel is known for their, “Where to Next?,” campaign which encourages clients to look for their next trip, even while in destination. What better time to brainstorm future fun travel ideas than when you’re currently immersed in an unforgettable trip! They recognize that travel is not a one-size-fits-all and specialize in all regions, destinations, land and cruise options. 

Who We Serve

Sky High Travel offers travel arrangements for leisure, family, honeymooners, destination weddings, international travel, domestic travel, retreats, small to large groups, corporate travel and incentives! We hold partnerships with many corporations from Saint Louis and beyond while assisting with their meetings, incentive trips, executive retreats and event planning.

Benefits of Working with Sky High

It pays to work with an insider! We take the planning off of your plate, which gives you more time to focus on what matters, ENJOYING YOUR TRIP!

Experience More

We will set you up with amenities and opportunities that we have inside access to as industry leaders . 

Travel Like an Expert

We live and breath travel (can you say travel nerds?!) which means we can help you travel like an expert, too!

Itineraries Crafted Just for You

No trip we create is the same twice . Our planning process is tailored around relationships , and getting to know our clients, so we can create a custom travel package to align with your needs and budget.

We're On Call During Your Trip

Keep an expert in your back pocket. Travel can be stressful, but we’ll be there to help whenever you need it. 

Experience You Can Trust

We are industry experts and are ready to serve you .

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Blue Sky Tours Hawaii

Blue Sky Tours is the leading wholesaler to Hawaii and the South Pacific, selling custom designed vacation packages since 1981. BST offers best value for vacations, with an outstanding selection of over 175 hotels and condominiums, rental cars, tours and all major airlines flying to the islands.

Blue Sky Tours sells only through travel agents and offers a platform to book online or through the reservations team. Their destination catalogue includes Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai and Lanai, with 250+ excursions and activities throughout the islands. Blue Sky Tours has over 6,000 travel agents in their network and served 27,300 passengers in 2017.

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AgentSky.net is a division of RHT - Global Reservation, a US based company established in 1992, and our mission is to provide our customers with the best possible service.

We have been in business for 25 years as a leading Global Airfare Consolidator, and during that time we have expanded and strengthened our portfolio, and we now hold specialty products with most carriers.

AgentSky.net is our booking platform for travel agents. We offer a full range of fast and reliable fulfillment services to agents, doing all of our own ticketing, as we do not outsource to any 3rd parties.

Our international team has a great deal of experience in working with many different agent-partners around the world. Our highly trained, world-class customer service travel professionals, are available to assist you via chat, email, Skype or phone, in one of our in-house call centers located in North America and Europe, to cover all of the world's time zones, offering 24/7 multilingual support; in English, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Hebrew, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Ukrainian.

We currently have specialty products with all of the major airline alliances (Skyteam, Oneworld, and Star-Partners), along with our other airline-partners, we hold agreements with over 100 carriers, serving Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, Oceania, Latin America and North America. We offer airfare content for international and domestic US travel, giving you access to all of our low fares worldwide; including promotions, specials, web fares and exclusive offers, as well as specialty fares and of course published fares too.

All data and information is secured within our systems, so you can feel confident as you entrust us with your client’s travel plans.

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K-Pop group ITZY showcases individuality on second world tour

Members of the K-pop supergroup ITZY are looking to show a new side of themselves as the band takes its "Born to Be" tour to fans around the world.

Money latest: The 'German classic' that's a healthier and cheaper alternative to crisps

Crisps are on the menu as we see where you can make healthier choices for the best value. Elsewhere, the boss of Sainsbury's has insisted customers like self-checkouts - do you agree? Leave your thoughts in the box below.

Friday 26 April 2024 15:44, UK

• New research reveals cost of having children
• Sainsbury's boss insists customers like self-checkouts
• FTSE 100 hits another record high
• Halifax hikes mortgage rates - as entire market moves upwards

Essential reads

• Do smart meters actually save you money?
• How to buy the least unhealthy crisps
• The world of dark tourism - what is it, is it ethical and where can you go?
• Money Problem : I have a mortgage offer - will it change now rates are rising?
• Savings Guide : Why locking into fixed-rate bond could be wise move
• Cheap Eats : Michelin chef's secret lasagne tip - and expensive ingredient you shouldn't use

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Sky News has learnt the owner of Superdry's flagship store is weighing up a legal challenge to a rescue plan launched by the struggling fashion retailer.

M&G, the London-listed asset manager, has engaged lawyers from Hogan Lovells to scrutinise the restructuring plan.

The move by M&G, which owns the fashion retailer's 32,000 square foot Oxford Street store, will not necessarily result in a formal legal challenge - but sources say it's possible.

Read City editor Mark Kleinman 's story here...

NatWest says its mortgage lending nearly halved at the start of the year as it retreated from parts of the market when competition among lenders stepped up.

New mortgage lending totalled £5.2bn in the first three months of 2024, the banking group has revealed, down from £9.9bn the previous year.

The group, which includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Coutts, also reported an operating pre-tax profit of £1.3bn for the first quarter, down 27% from £1.8bn the previous year.

An unexplained flow of British luxury cars into states neighbouring Russia continued into February, new data shows.

About £26m worth of British cars were exported to Azerbaijan, making the former Soviet country the 17th biggest destination for UK cars - bigger than long-established export markets such as Ireland, Portugal and Qatar.

Azerbaijan's ascent has coincided almost to the month with the imposition of sanctions on the export of cars to Russia.

Read the rest of economics and data editor Ed Conway 's analysis here...

Rishi Sunak has hailed the arrival of pay day with a reminder his government's additional National Insurance tax cut kicks in this month for the first time.

At last month's budget, the chancellor announced NI will be cut by a further 2p - so some workers will pay 8% of their earnings instead of the 12% if was before autumn.

The prime minister has repeated his claim this will be worth £900 for someone on the average UK salary.

While this additional cut - on top of the previous 2p cut in January - does equate to £900 for those on average full-time earnings of £35,000, there are two key issues with Mr Sunak's claim:

• Once the effect of all income tax changes since 2021 are taken into account, the Institute for Fiscal Studies reports an average earner will benefit from a tax cut of £340 - far less than £900;
• Moreover, anyone earning less than £26,000 or between £55,000-£131,000 will ultimately be worse off.

In short, this is because NI cuts are more than offset by other tax rises.

We explain below how this is the case...

Tax thresholds

This is partly down to tax thresholds - the amount you are allowed to earn before you start paying tax (and national insurance) and before you start paying the higher rate of tax - will remain frozen. 

This means people end up paying more tax than they otherwise would, when their pay rises with inflation but the thresholds don't keep up. 

This phenomenon is known as "fiscal drag" and it's often called a stealth tax because it's not as noticeable immediately in your pay packet.

That low threshold of £12,570 has been in place since April 2021. 

The Office for Budget Responsibility says if it had increased with inflation it would be set at £15,220 for 2024/25.

If that were the case, workers could earn an extra £2,650 tax-free each year.

Less give, more take

Sky News analysis shows someone on £16,000 a year will pay £607 more in total - equivalent to more than three months of average household spending on food. 

Their income level means national insurance savings are limited but they are paying 20% in income tax on an additional £2,650 of earnings.

In its analysis , the IFS states: "In aggregate the NICs cuts just serve to give back a portion of the money that is being taken away through other income tax and NICs changes - in particular, multi-year freezes to tax thresholds at a time of high inflation."

Overall, according to the institute, for every £1 given back to workers by the National Insurance cuts, £1.30 will have been taken away due to threshold changes between 2021 and 2024.

This rises to £1.90 in 2027.

The UK could face a shortage of cava due to a drought in the sparkling wine's Spanish heartlands.

The Penedes area of Catalonia is dealing with its worst drought on record, with vineyards across the region so parched the roots of 30-year-old vines have died.

It's left shrivelled red and green grapes languishing under intense sun, fuelled by fossil-fuel driven climate change.

Cava is an increasingly popular drink in the UK, with 17.8 million bottles sold in 2023 - an increase of 5% from the previous year, when Britons stocked up on 16.8 million bottles, according to the Cava Regulatory Board.

That makes the UK the fourth-biggest buyer, behind only the US, Belgium and Germany.

Workforce slashed

The problems have been compounded after Catalonia-based cava producer Freixenet announced it will temporarily lay off 615 workers, almost 80% of its workforce.

Under Spanish law, companies facing exceptional circumstances can lay off staff or reduce working hours.

This measure is expected to take effect from May and it is not known how long it will last.

Price rises

One industry source told retail publication The Grocer  that cava shortages would push up prices "certainly for next year" if there isn't enough supply.

This could last for years if the drought persists, they added.

Consumer expert Helen Dewdney told MailOnline the staff cuts at Freixenet can only mean one thing - price rises.

However, she added, supermarkets say they are not experiencing any issues right now.

Parents are being hammered by rising childcare costs, according to a new study that suggests they may spend more than £160,000 raising their child to the age of 18.

Research by Hargreaves Lansdown has found that parents with children pay £6,969 a year more than couples without.

Over 18 years and assuming an annual inflation rate of 3%, that amounts to a whopping £163,175, the investment platform said.

Its study also found that parents were less likely to have money left at the end of the month.

Single parents carry the biggest burden, with the research suggesting they have just £85 left on average compared to £365 for couples with children.

Hargreaves Lansdown also found just 23% of single parents reported having enough emergency savings to cover at least three months' worth of essential expenses, compared to 63% of couples with children.

Parents are also at a slight disadvantage when it comes to pensions, the research found, with only 43% of couples with children on track for a moderate retirement income, compared to 47% without. Only 17% of single parents have a decent projected pension fund.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at the firm, said "having children is one of the most expensive decisions a person can make".

She adds that as a result of having a child, "financial resilience suffers across the board", and added: "For single parents, life is even tougher, and they face far lower resilience on almost every measure.

"It means we need all the help we can get."

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

One of the top stories shaking up the markets this morning is that UK-based mining company Anglo American has rejected a major $38.8bn (£31bn) takeover bid.

Details of the attempted buyout by Australian rival BHP emerged yesterday  - sending Anglo American shares soaring.

The deal would have created the world's biggest copper mining company - with the news coming as the price of the metal hit record highs this week.

However, Anglo American has now dismissed the proposal as "opportunistic" and said BHP had undervalued the company.

Anglo's shares are slightly down by 0.8% this morning - suggesting investors may not have given up hopes that a deal could eventually be agreed.

However, overall the FTSE 100 is up around 0.4% this morning, buoyed by strong reported earnings from US tech giants Microsoft and Google owner Alphabet.

It's helped the index, of the London Stock Exchange's 100 most valuable companies, hit yet another intraday (during the day) record of 8,136 points this morning.

The winning streak comes after a week of all-time highs on the index - including a record close of 8,078 points yesterday. The score is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

Among the companies doing well this morning is NatWest - despite the bank reporting a fall in pre-tax profits of nearly 28% for the first quarter of the year.

Shares in the lender are up more than 3% after its results were better than expected by analysts.

On the currency markets, £1 buys $1.25 US or €1.16, almost on a par with yesterday.

Meanwhile, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has crept up slightly to $89 (£71).

Self-checkouts - they're like marmite, people seem to either love them or hate them.

But the boss of Sainsbury's has claimed that his customers do  enjoy using self-checkouts, despite criticism that that machines don't always provide the convenience promised.

Simon Roberts told The Telegraph that there are more of them in Sainsbury's stores "than a number of years ago" as shoppers like the "speedy checkout".

But despite this, he said there won't be a time when they'll replace cashiers completely.

"Over the last year, where we've put more self-checkouts in, we're always making sure that the traditional kind of belted checkout is there," he said.

His comments come after northern supermarket Booths ditched self-checkouts at all but two of its sites after customer feedback. 

Walmart and Costco in the US have also scaled back on the systems.

Let us know in the comments - do you love or hate self-checkouts?

We've all heard consumer advice that's repeated so often it almost becomes cliché. So, every Friday the Money team will get to the bottom of a different "fact" and decide whether it's a myth or must.

This week it is...

'Smart meters save you money'

For this one, we've enlisted the help of Dr Steve Buckley, also known as the Energy Doctor and head of data science at Loop...

So do smart meters help you save? 

"The short answer is both yes and no," Steve says.

"Installing a smart meter by itself won't magically reduce your energy consumption. But, by giving you easy access to your energy usage data, smart meters pave the way for savings that you couldn't achieve otherwise."

Before smart meters, most households only found out how much energy they had used when the bill arrived. 

By that stage it's too late to address wasteful usage, leading to what's known as "bill shock". 

"With a smart meter, you can see your usage and costs in real-time through an in-home display or an app provided by your supplier," Steve says. 

"This immediate feedback encourages you to use less energy. If you measure it, you can control it."

In 2022, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero found that homes with smart meters used about 3.4% less electricity and 3% less gas. 

"This might not seem like a lot, but it adds up to a saving of over £50 per household annually," Steve says.  

If all homes in the UK made similar cuts, that would amount to savings of around £1.5bn and a potential reduction in CO2 emissions by about 2.7m tonnes each year. 

"Good for individual households but also great for the planet," Steve says. 

Smart meters are often installed at no extra cost to the consumer - it's effectively free data for households. 

Limitations

Smart meters are more or less what you make of them - a simple, free tool that allows you to see headline figures. 

However, "without detailed analysis, it's tough to identify and eliminate" where you could be wasting money, Steve says. 

Apps like Utrack, Loop and Hugo Energy can help you work out where you might be losing money by offering a more detailed breakdown if connected to your smart meter. 

Those tools are often free, but you may need to register your card details as proof of address. 

The tools give a number of useful insights, including looking at consumption in other households of similar size or monitoring where chunks of your money are going, such as to a faulty boiler or the "phantom load" (energy wasted by devices left on unnecessarily).

Myth or must?

Although smart meters alone don't reduce energy bills, they are a vital tool to help energy efficiency and cost savings. 

By Ollie Cooper, Money team

It can be hard to balance getting nutritious foods that make you feel good without spending a lot.

In this series, which ends today after digging into yoghurt, bread, pasta, fruit juice and plant-based milk, we've tried to find the healthiest options in the supermarket for the best value.

Sunna Van Kampen,  founder of  Tonic Health ,  who went viral on social media for reviewing food in the search of healthier choices, has given his input for the past six weeks.

And for the final part of the series, we're looking at the nation's favourite snack: crisps. 

The series does not aim to identify the outright healthiest option, but to help you get better nutritional value for as little money as possible.

We're a people obsessed: in the UK, we get through six billion packets of crisps a year.

Sunna has three easy tips for finding the tastiest options that are kinder to your body...

1. Understand the fat facts

"Typical crisps can be oil sponges and contain over 30% fat from low-quality vegetable oils that have been fried," Sunna says. 

"What we are on the lookout for those that buck the trend and stay away from the fat." 

So, he says, aim for crisps that contain less than 15% total fat.

2. Fibre up your snack time

"While crisps aren't exactly salad, some can offer more nutritional value than others," Sunna says.

"Check the labels for options that have more fibre or protein."

These help you feel fuller for longer and also keep your digestive system happy.

3. Portion control

"It's easy to demolish an entire bag in one sitting - however, many brands offer multipack bags that are portion-controlled, usually around 25g a bag," Sunna says.

Sticking to these helps to manage calorie intake and stops overindulging.

The big picture

"Small changes might not immediately seem like a lot but if you eat a bag a day with your lunch, we are talking about up to a whopping two litres of oil cut from your diet over the course of the year," Sunna says,

"This is not permission to eat crisps every day (enjoy as an occasional treat) but rather an indication of how small changes add up quickly overtime."

The good news is Sunna's recommendations are all similar in price to their popular, fattier rivals - so you don't need to make a bigger investment to reap some health benefits. 

We've included the prices for the brands' standard multipacks at Tesco - correct as of time of writing. 

Walkers Oven Baked - £1.95 for six-pack

"Around £1.95 for a pack of six, these crisps are baked, not fried, slashing the fat content to 13%, so a great option."

Popchips - £2.25 for five-pack

"These have just 13% fat content as they're popped rather than fried so are a great way to go reducing fat without compromising on the crunch."

And for some non-crisp options...

ProperCorn Popcorn - £2 for six-pack

Often described as "the healthier, lighter option", Sunna says ProperCorn "isn't actually the best option on the market for fat content at 17.4%".

That being said, you do get "double the fibre of standard crisps at 10.9g per 100g". 

At only £2 for a pack of six, it's well-priced, too.

Snack A Jacks - £2.20 for five-pack

"At only 8.3% fat per 100g, it's a great option at £2.20 for a pack of five."

Penn State Baked Pretzels - £1.50 for 175g bag

Now for Sunna's winner.

"The German classic is a great option at only 4.6% fat per 100g," he says.

One downfall is that they are not available in portioned bags, so be careful with the whole 175g bag for £1.50.

Want another option altogether?

"If you want to be even healthier, consider the switch to nuts, seeds or even dried cheese snacks," Sunna says.

"Higher in calories yes, but higher in good healthy fats too and are more satiating which will limit the chance of overeating."

The nutritionist's view -  from  Dr Laura Brown , senior lecturer in nutrition, food and health sciences at Teesside University...

"Baked instead of fried crisps is definitely a way forward as well as the popcorn suggestion," she says.

"We should also be aiming to look at the amount of protein and fibre found in products. For example, lentil and pea snacks are growing in popularity due to their higher protein and fibre values, so the focus should be more on looking for ingredients other than potatoes, oil and salt. 

"I also feel 'crisp' based snacks made in an air fryer are becoming more popular. These can include a wholemeal wrap with a small amount of oil added, and placed in the air fryer with paprika and other seasoning added for flavour. 

"Also, chickpeas in the air fryer make for a super delicious protein and fibre rich snack. They are cheaper than crisps and lower in fat since no oil has to be added."

Read more from this series... 

Halifax has become the latest major lender to up mortgage rates.

They are putting up a range of deals by 0.2%.

BM Solutions also announced increases today.

It follows similar moves by TSB, NatWest, Virgin, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry last week.

Lenders are responding to swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - rising on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there. 

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

This is what average mortgage rates look like as of today...

Justin Moy, managing director of EHF Mortgages, told Newspage: "Yet more bad news for mortgage borrowers, as two of the biggest lenders announce increases to their fixed-rate products. 

"As mortgage rates creep up and past 5% even for those with the largest deposits, we seem to be lacking a clear strategy of the government or the Bank of England on how rates will eventually fall. 

"Even 2% inflation may not be enough to reverse the recent trends in rates."

Morrisons has launched two major changes for shoppers – with stores now offering travel money and trolleys featuring advertisements.

Announcing their bureau de change service, Morrisons said customers could exchange currencies in select stores or could place their money orders online at Morrisonstravelmoney.com.

Using the online service means customers can either click and collect their cash in certain Morrisons stores or at any of Eurochange's 240 branches. Alternatively, they can go for home delivery.

Services director at Morrisons, Jamie Winter, said the service "will provide our customers with easy access to a wide range of currencies at competitive exchange rates".

So far, stores in the following areas have travel money kiosks:

• Basingstoke

In other news, the supermarket chain rolled out a new trolley advertising across 300 stores in a partnership with Retail Media Group.

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Visit Moscow Tours

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Welcome to visit moscow tours.

We provide authentic, informative and memorable tour packages and city tours, at very competitive prices. Visit Moscow Tours are available not only in Moscow, but also in other cities: Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.  We also organise customised individual programs tailored just for you.

Our guests come in large groups, small private groups, as couples or as single travellers. We take care of and treat our guests with respect in a friendly and warm family environment. We show people our beautiful cities with passion and deep knowledge of their history, culture and traditions.

Our guides are extremely hospitable, helpful and well-informed. They are simply the best because only by providing the best services can we make the world fall in love with Russia. And we are very happy when our guests say that they will definitely come back to Russia and that they will tell all their friends how great Russia is! That is what inspires us to put even more dedication and hard work into our tours, knowing that what we do is positive and meaningful.

Our classic tours include tours of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, two main Russian cities.

Moscow is a big and busy  megalopolis and Russia’s capital city, where more than 12 million people live and work. Our capital city is happening place; it is mysterious, elegant, luxurious, fashionable, clean and bright, with its unique legends, traditions and events. It is with great pride that we show the Red Square and the Kremlin, our Underground and Tretyakovskaya Gallery, among other stunning attractions.

Saint Petersburg is our second capital,  the second largest city in the Russian Federation. This wonderful city has a strong and lively aristocratic spirit, uniquely Russian royal architecture, magnificent museums and theatres. Saint Petersburg bears the royal heritage of Russia, which can be felt in its air, its streets, parks, monuments, museums and citizens.  In Saint Petersburg tours, we will take you to the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Faberge Museum and Orthodox Cathedrals. We’re sure you will love it!

If you have a few more days to spare, venture into the dreamy Russian countryside in Suzdal or Sergiev Posad. Suzdal is a small town with a population of about ten thousand people, situated on less than 15 square kilometres. This tiny area is home to 53 historic cathedrals, five monasteries and a kremlin. Church domes are visible like mushrooms from anywhere and everywhere in the town like in a fairy tale. No wonder Suzdal is called the ‘Town Museum”.  It is definitely worth visiting!

Just try any of Visit Moscow Tours’ tour packages or any individual city tour, and we promise that you will want to come back to Russia again.  Russia is huge with countless amazing places to visit. There are so many unique experiences to be had and energies to be felt that one tour is definitely not enough to explore this vast land. It is also a very safe destination to travel, and we have a tradition of warm hospitality. Our people adore and take care of visitors as our own guests, and even if they do not know your language very well, they still try to be helpful and hospitable.

Our guides will show you the most interesting attractions and historical places, taking you on a journey to the past to enjoy stories of medieval times, the Romanov monarchy, the Soviet Era. And of course, we will show you the contemporary life of our country through authentic local experiences.

We look forward to meeting you soon!