Something To Declare: Bratislava and beyond; New York cab rises

Bargain of the week: Bratislava and beyond

The Slovak capital is ideally located for the "near east" of Europe. Bratislava airport is 40 miles from Vienna, with a €10 (£7) bus link from the airport to the Austrian capital. The city is also a useful gateway for western Hungary and the east of the Czech Republic. It is also at the centre of a fares war from London. Sky Europe (020-7365 0365, www.skyeurope.com), flies from Stansted for as little as £64 return, with plenty of availability at that price on Sunday evening flights. From 2 May, Austrian Airlines (0845 601 0948, www.austrianairlines.co.uk) muscles in from Gatwick. Its lowest fare is slightly higher, at £72 return, but this includes in-flight meals. Even for weekend departures, out on a Friday and back on a Sunday, the fare with Austrian is only £107 return.

Warning of the week: New York cab rises

A ride in a big yellow taxi will cost one-third more from 3 May. The fixed fare for a ride from JFK airport to Manhattan rises by $10 to $45; bridge or tunnel tolls and the tip lifts this to at least $60 (£35). Once in the city, the flag-fall charge goes up by 50 cents to $2.50, and the rate per mile increases from $1.50 to $2. A three-mile trip will cost $8.50, or £5. Waiting time is unchanged at $1 for five minutes. But between 4pm and 8pm, an extra $1 is added to every fare.