My husband will be studying in Oxford during May 2008 and we would like some weekend trip suggestions. We have been to Paris, Bruges, Amsterdam, and London. We are interested in something new and love the mountains. Any suggestions for trips to Switzerland or Austria or anywhere else that could be done in 2-3 days and is accessible from one of the "cheapie" airlines from London to wherever? We also love museums, music, and great food and are trying to stay with a budget of approximately $200 per night hotel.

Closest aiports to Oxford are Luton, Coventry and Birmingham. Heathrow is also very easily accessible, and Southampton is not difficult down the A34.

I suggest you start with searching the low-cost airlines that fly out of these airports... for example thompsonfly, bmibaby, wizzair, easyjet and ryanair. The choices are getting more almost by the day! Anywhere in Eastern Europe is cheap and easy now from these smaller airports.

Try looking at the destinations, decide which appeals to you, and then search for flight bargains. Best deals are 6 months in advance when the bookings open.

Go to Ireland! Preferably the western coast- you should be able to get a cheap flight on RyanAir into Cork or Shannon...

Also, meant to include Salzburg as well- absolutely beautiful...

Oxford arguably has the best international connections of any city in the world, though without a car getting to Coventry (which has a few, often v cheap, cheapo flights, especially to Italy) is close to impossible, and Luton and Stansted (which, between them, are the centre of Europe's low cost flight industry) have poor bus connections to Oxford

Oxford has hourly trains to Birmingham airport (BHX), which has surprisingly few cheapo links, but see below and to Southampton airport (which is amazingly excellent for cheapo flights to Southern and Western France), buses up to three times an hour to Heathrow and hourly buses and trains to Gatwick.

That means he's an hour or so away from direct flights to absolutely aanywhere - but without a car, not that well placed for tnhe real concentration of cheapo airlines.

So he has a choice. Either check whether you really can fit flights to Salzburg or wherever from Stansted into your schedule (bus timetables at nationalexpress.co.uk). Or realise that it's not just "low-cost" airlines that offer low fares. Booked sufficiently ahead, there are also terrific bargains on conventional airlines from LHR, BHX and Gatwick.

The local population splits on this. If you've got time to spare, you shlep over to Stansted and, net, save a fiver. Most of us don't, and find the convenience of the rapid, frequent, 24-hour, bus service to LHR wins hands down every time.

If ytou're not used to the area, don't think hiring a car can speed up your travel significantly to Luton or Stansted. They're both nasty journeys, and getting to and from their long-term car parks adds hours as well. By hired car or public transport, you need to allow six hours each way from central Oxford to a Stansted checkin desk, which eats a huge chunk out of a weekend.

Fine for British undergraduates, who lead the world in not working. Less useful for anyone trying to earn a living or squeeze a trip out of an intensive course

if using budget airlines be aware that all is not as it seems. some airlines notably ryanair fly to airports many miles from your destination maybe up to 50 miles!! and it will be up to you at your expense to get to your final destination. If flying for example to torp/oslo airport norway it is 75MLS/120KMS S OF OSLO!!

Thanks for the great help. We are leaning toward Salzburg as our first choice and will have to research how best to get there. Any other suggestions?