Airfare to Salvador, Brazil

Salvador is actually Brazil's oldest city, founded in the mid-1500s. A base for the slave trade, Salvador documents its past at the Museu Afro-Brasileiro. Other top attractions include the pilgrimage site, Igreja do Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, and the model market, Mercado Modelo.

Airfare to Salvador will be the cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday. Mondays are popular with business travellers and weekends are key dates for holidaymakers wanting the longest trips possible - avoid these dates.

Also consider flights into Recife, Brazil. To get between the cities, you can grab a spot on a train, bus or flight. Look for cheap flights on no frills airlines. Gol Transportes Aereos flies to Salvador. Although it will take longer to reach your destination, a bus or train could save you enough cash to make it worth your while.

Another possible money-saving tip is to look for flights that go through Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or another major gateway city instead of flying direct. Because there are more flights - and competition - from these cities on low budget airlines, you can save some cash over flying non-stop to your destination. It is very common to layover in one of these main cities.

Finally, consider traveling on a lesser-known carrier. Varig is the national airline. However, TAM, Star Airlines, Air Europa and other airlines also stop in Salvador.

The most expensive air tickets to Salvador are found during peak holiday travel times, such as the New Year. Also be aware of national events or festivals, which can also cause ticket prices to rise.

Summary of Money Saving Tips:

• Fly mid-week
• Book your holiday during the off-peak season
• Consider flying into Recife, Brazil and traveling overland to Salvador via train or bus
• Look for flights that go through large cities, with many flights
• Check out carriers besides the national airline - they may undercut the monopolistic competition

For more information on Salvador, check out BootsnAll's Brazil Travel Guide.