Top money-saving travel tips - beat the recession!

Avoid the airport express

If you're using Heathrow or Gatwick - and 97 million passengers a year do - don't take the airport express train. It's one of the world's most expensive rail journeys per mile.

The Heathrow Express (www.heathrowexpress.com) from London Paddington to Heathrow takes 18 minutes and costs £32 return - cheaper with a railcard. Heathrow Connect (www.heathrowconnect.com) does it in 25 minutes for £13.80. The Express has more luggage space and video screens; the Connect stops five times. Sample saving: £18.20. Even cheaper, take the Piccadilly line tube. An adult single to Heathrow costs £4 in cash (£3.80 with an Oystercard), and takes around 48 minutes. Sample saving: £28

The Gatwick Express (www.gatwickexpress.com) from London Victoria costs £28.80 return for a 30-minute journey. Normal trains from Victoria to Gatwick Airport cost £15.90 for a similar journey time. From London Bridge it's £16.80 return; similar journey time. Sample saving: £12.90/£12