Sunday 28 October 2012

Women do more work on organising family holidays

Women spend so much time preparing for their holiday including shopping, packing and arranging holiday insurance that they are exhausted by the time they reach their holiday destination, according to new research by UK holiday rentals specialists Owners Direct. www.ownersdirect.co.uk

It seems when it comes to planning and booking a family or couples holiday, women take on the lion’s share Whilst men like to ensure they are involved in the initial decision on where to go including accommodation choices, they are happy to take a back seat from thereon in.

Once the destination has been jointly chosen, 82 per cent of women admit to taking sole responsibility for booking flights, accommodation and car hire. They then go on to arrange insurance, (64%) order currency (55%) buy holiday items like clothes and sun cream (80%) arrange for plants to be watered (69%) and do the packing (64%).

“I do the research, consult my family, but after two minutes my husband does not care anymore and I do the rest,” admitted one woman.

Some women admitted the reasons they take on all responsibility for organising a holiday is that they don’t trust their other half to get things right.

“Last time I let hubby pack he took my underwear out to put something else in the case and I had to go and buy new when we got there,” said one female respondent.

“I gave my husband responsibility for passports one year and he informed me on the way to the airport that mine ran out whilst we were away! No flight for me, just a trip to Glasgow passport office, then the travel agents. £450 later, I was able to join them in Portugal,” recalled another.

The fact that women take on the main responsibility for booking a holiday is backed up by holiday home owners too.

Owners Direct holiday home owner Gillian Chappell who owns a villa in Murcia, southern Spain with her husband Philip says most of their enquiries from the site come from women.

But once women have arrived on holiday, their partners usually take control again with 69 per cent of men saying they do the driving on holiday.

Almost 93 per cent of those questioned in the Owners Direct survey travel with a partner or with their family with 78 per cent opting for European destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. Only 16 per cent went further afield in summer 2012 with the remaining 38 per cent deciding on a UK staycation.

Angela Southall, Marketing Manager for Owners Direct said: “As women seem to do all the preparation before they go on holiday, they really need a good rest and a chance to unwind as soon as they arrive. Fortunately, many of our owners work hard to ensure those little extras are there to help them do this like luxurious bedding, pampering toiletries and imaginative welcome hampers – so it’s worthwhile in the end!”

Sunday 21 October 2012

British Airways launch winter sun holidays value offers

British Airways has launched a whole host of great value winter sun holidays. But a word of advice: You must book them by October 24.

Destinations include: Barbados, St Kitts, Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia in the Caribbean; Miami, Orlando and Phoenix in the USA, Bermuda, Dubai and the Maldives, as well as closer to home, Malaga, Faro and newly launched Alicante, plus many others, based on departure dates up to March 31, 2013.

In the Caribbean, customers can save £150 each on seven night holidays in Barbados based on departures from November 1 to December 5 (including return British Airways flights from Gatwick plus room only accommodation at the 3 star All Seasons Resort Europa). Great value all-Inclusive packages are on offer in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with seven nights accommodation based on departures from January 5 to 25 (including return British Airways flights from Gatwick at the 4 star Now Larimar Punta Cana Resort and Spa). Travellers can also save up to £250 per person in Bermuda on a seven night holiday staying at the 4 star Grotto Bay Beach Resort with room only accommodation and return flights from Heathrow.

US winter sun holidays are also included, with seven night Florida fly-drive holidays with Avis car hire included for the duration and return flights from Gatwick for travel between October 22 and December 14.

Other offers include three nights in Dubai based on departures until December 12 (including return British Airways flights from Heathrow and accommodation with breakfast at the 3.5 star Holiday Inn Express - Dubai Jumeirah). Or closer to home, seven night fly-drive holidays in Malaga can be snapped up with flights and Avis car hire for the duration. Seven night holidays in Faro in the Algarve can be found for travel between January 4 and March 13 (including room only accommodation at the 3 star Atismar and return flights to from Gatwick).

British Airways will also launch new flights to Alicante at the end of October and seven night winter holidays can be taken between December 1 and March 22 with room only accommodation at the 3 star Holiday Inn Alicante - Playa de San Juan and flights from Heathrow.

To make budgeting for holidays even easier, British Airways has introduced a new online deposits service for customers who book a flight and hotel or flight and car package for travel in 2013. Holidays can be secured from as little as £150 per booking with final payment required 10 weeks before departure.

All British Airways flights include a generous free luggage allowance, free on-line check-in and seat selection 24 hours before departure and complimentary food and drink on board.

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Etihad Airways set to expand in South America

Etihad Airways is keen to expand its footprint in South America, said President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan.

Mr Hogan said that the airline is currently in discussions with South American-based carriers about potential commercial partnerships.

Etihad Airways currently has 38 codeshare partnerships with airlines around the globe, resulting in a combined network of 323 destinations, more than any other Middle Eastern airline.

Beyond its own organic growth, codeshare partnerships and equity stakes are a significant and growing part of the airline’s expansion strategy. Etihad Airways holds a 30 per cent stake of airberlin, 40 per cent of Air Seychelles, 3 per cent of Aer Lingus and 10 per cent of Virgin Australia.

The airline will launch its first route in South America on June 1, 2013, with daily non-stop flights between Sao Paulo, Brazil and its home base of Abu Dhabi, the capitol of the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways' service will also provide seamless connections from Brazil to the airline's global network, offering connectivity over Abu Dhabi to markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia.

Mr Hogan spoke of the significance of the new route, in particular the economic impact. "Brazil is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, now ranking as the sixth largest since overtaking the UK in 2011. Bi-lateral trade between Brazil and the UAE is valued at nearly US$3 billion annually, with authorities aiming to lift this to US$10 billion within five years.

"There are 25 major Brazilian companies with offices in Abu Dhabi. Mubadala, the development company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, last year signalled its intent to begin investments in Brazil, valued at up to US$13 billion.

"According to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Brazil trade volumes with the Arab world grew by 28 per cent in 2011 to reach US$25 billion. This is forecasted to grow by a further 10-15% this year.

"In addition to supporting the growing ties between Brazil and the Middle East, this new route complements Etihad Airways' recent expansion in North Asia, including the recent introduction of services to Chengdu and Shanghai and the upcoming increase to daily Tokyo services with connections to Nagoya from April 2013.

"With some of the fastest connecting flight times to China and Japan, Brazil's largest and fifth largest trade partner, respectively, Etihad Airways is providing vital air links between the world's major emerging markets."

Mr Hogan was in Sao Paulo late last week to meet prominent local diplomats, travel industry executives, media and corporate representatives.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia and North America and Asia, including Japan flights. The airline has a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.

Europcar's lost property reveals the secret life of its hire cars

Europcar the leader in car hire services in Europe for business and leisure users, hires out thousands of vehicles every day. But the variety of weird and wonderful items left by customers never fails to puzzle Europcar staff.

Unsurprisingly, sunglasses, CDs and loose change are the most common items left in Europcar vehicles. However, some customers carry more intriguing cargo when they travel, as Europcar’s lost property department has recently reported. Some of the more unusual items found in Europcar vehicles include 30 plants, two 6x10 ft. oil paintings, a live mouse in a cage, hedge trimmer and ashes in an urn.

The urn of ashes was found when a vehicle was returned by a car hire at Belfast airport customer. The ashes of the customer's mother had been brought over from South Africa and the customer was relieved to have them back so that she could scatter them at her mother's birth place.

And all the glasses that go unclaimed are recycled as part of Europcar's 'Go Green' pledge.

Perhaps the best item was left behind by a car hire in Blackpool customer. It was a life-size dummy, dressed as an old lady and left in the boot of a Ford Focus. The Europcar driver had the fright of his life when he thought he’d found a body.

"Judging from our lost property, our vehicles have a tale to tell," said Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group. "But our staff always go out of their way to reunite our customers with their forgotten items, no matter how bizarre."

Europcar is the leader in car rental services in Europe. Present in 140 countries, the company provides customers with access to the world's largest vehicle rental network through its own operations, franchisees and partnerships. With 6,500 employees committed to delivering customer satisfaction and an average fleet of 190,000 vehicles, Europcar is conscious of its corporate citizenship responsibilities. Winner of the first World Travel Award recognizing the World's Leading Green Transport Solutions Company, Europcar also was honoured with the Award in 2010 and 2011. Europcar is owned by Eurazeo.

For more information: www.europcar.co.uk

Tuesday 18 September 2012

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) Photography Competition 2013 launch

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) — Photography Competition 2013 launch
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/competitions

LONDON (18 September 2012) —A year after National Geographic Traveller launched its inaugural photography competition, it's back on the lookout for the next generation of travel photographers.

As a leader in breathtaking and you-are-there photography from across the world, National Geographic Traveller is inviting UK photographers to send in their vision of the world.

In association with the Utah Office of Tourism, Delta Air Lines and Fujifilm, this new talent search is inviting entrants to submit their best digital photographs in six categories: Action, Colour, Faces, Rural, Urban, and Wildlife.

The winner will receive a photographic commission for two to Utah in an eight-night fly-drive, taking in Zion National Park, the Park City region and Monument Valley, courtesy of The Utah Office of Tourism and Delta Air Lines. www.goutah.co.uk/photo www.delta.com

The winner will also receive a Fujifilm X-Pro-1 camera and 35mm lens worth nearly £2,000. www.fujifilm.eu/uk
Six runners up — the category winners — will receive a Fujifilm X-S1. RRP: £599.

Winning images will also be showcased in National Geographic Traveller (UK) and at The Active Travel Show (17-20 January 2013). www.theactivetravelshow.co.uk

The judging panel consists of Carol Enquist, National Geographic’s photo editor; Jonathan Briggs, editor of the British Institute of Professional Photography’s (BIPP) The Photographer magazine; Fujifilm; and Chris Hudson, National Geographic Traveller's art editor.

Chris Hudson said: “Last year's photography competition was a resounding success and set the standard with thousands of professional and amateur photographers entering from across the UK and Ireland. If I was to give one bit of advice, I'd ask entrants to ensure their submitted image accurately reflects the captured moment. I can't wait to see what our readers will submit this year.”

The closing date is the 7 December 2012 at 17:00 GMT.

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NatGeoTraveller
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/NatGeoTraveller

Notes
National Geographic Traveller (UK) is published under license by Absolute Publishing Ltd (APL), from the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. It became the 15th local-language edition when it was launched in December 2010. The magazine is also available in China, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, Israel, Poland, Latin America, Armenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Indonesia, Romania and South Africa. The 180-page travel and lifestyle magazine is packed full of you-are-there photography, authentic travel experiences and inspiring narratives, all focused on the brand’s theme “All Travel, All the Time.” www.natgeotraveller.co.uk

National Geographic Traveler (USA) is the world’s most widely read travel magazine, created in 1984. It championed sustainable travel before it was cool and, eight times annually, celebrates journeys that are about place, experience, culture, authenticity, living like the locals and great photography. It makes a distinction between tourism and travel and stresses inquisitive, not acquisitive, trips. It employs storytelling and outstanding photography to inspire readers to pick up and go, eschewing fashion and fluff in favour of articles that offer a strong sense of place, inspiring narratives that make readers take trips, and solid service information to help them plan those trips.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organisations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise.

National Geographic magazine, the Society’s official journal, published in English and 33 local-language editions, is read by more than 40 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 370 million households in 34 languages in 168 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 15 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com

Premier Inn reports rise of virtual vacations

Premier Inn has revealed the results of a new report which suggests that by the year 2050, the nation will be able to feel, taste and smell their holiday whilst sitting at their desks. Brits will have drinks served by robots and will holiday with their great-great grandparents, according to the report by the UK’s best value* hotel chain, which also indicates the ultimate demise of the two-week package holiday.

Premier Inn has explored a range of emerging trends, developments and advancements in technology to understand the future of UK travel, with some radical changes being forecast. 

Key concepts of the 'Holiday of the Future' report include:

- 'Try-before-you-buy' will become a new consumer experience for travellers, thanks to a fully immersive, multi-sensory 3D version of the internet. Brits will be able to sample every aspect of their get-away, from the beach to the bar.

- Extreme holiday patterns will become commonplace as the duration of holidays become more fluid. An increase in part-time careers and variable working hours will result Brits taking anything from three day to three months breaks.

- Advancements in technology will see robots in regular use across the travel and service industries.

- Digital wallpaper and flexible, digitally-controlled interiors including movable walls will be added to the hotel rooms.

- Global travel will become regulated as a preventive measure to global warming, leading to an increase in UK holidays as the nation aims to keep within their quota.

- Multi-generational holidays will increase as people live longer, have children younger and become a part of super-extended families.

- Niche trips with like-minded people from across the country will replace the traditional beach holiday as the growth of social media will enable special interest groups to not only meet online, but holiday together.

Claire Haigh, Premier Inn spokeswoman, commented: "Holidays are an important part of our lives and something we all look forward to, so it's pleasing to see that they will still exist as a form of leisure activity in 2050. We are always keen to look forward to see what our guests will want in the future and the idea of being able to try out our holidays before we travel is a fascinating way to ensure we have the best possible breaks."

Rohit Talwar, Founder and CEO of Fast Future, who compiled the research said: "We explored a range of concepts that could shape the future of UK travel and focused in particular on how technology might be used to transform every part of the experience - from booking through to personalisation of the in-room experience.

"While technology will make it possible to experience the world from our living rooms, we believe this will only increase our desire to go out and experience the world first-hand - using technology to help us make the most appropriate choices."
 

Monday 17 September 2012

Jumeirah Beach Hotel announces official launch date of 360 Lounge and Club

Jumeirah, the luxury global hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has announced details of the new-look 360 Lounge and Club ahead of its official launch on 11 October 2012.

World-renowned superstar DJ Hernan Cattatneo will be headlining the launch, followed by Danny Daze and The Revenge, brought by Audio Tonic on Friday 12 October.

Dubai's most famous nightlife venue will now occupy two levels of indoor and outdoor space with added bar areas, tables and seating as well as an elevated DJ console on the first floor. The new stylish and minimalistic design concept incorporates a contemporary colour scheme, chic furnishings and a state-of-the-art lighting concept. An integrated music system enables two DJs to perform at the same time on each level while first floor restrooms and a glass staircase suspended above the water have also been added.

A new cocktail list inspired by a musical theme includes drinks such as Nu Funk, Sunshine Soul and Unforgettably Retro, whilst a Pan-Asian menu is also on offer.

360's prime location, at the end of its very own pier, makes it the perfect spot for sundowners and stargazing while overlooking the city’s ever changing skyline. The name of the venue comes from its 360 views of Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the Arabian Gulf and Dubai's city centre.

Each night features different acts from Resident DJ Tristain Bain, AudioTonic, Infusion, Restrospect and Must Have Soul.

One In Four People Don’t Know Where Malta Is

Do you know where Malta is? Recent findings from lowcostholidays.com highlighted that one in four people don't know where to find the Mediterranean island, and despite 1900 people in the UK searching Google for "Where is Malta?" every month, the nation is not learning. Incorrect answers from the research included the Red Sea, Atlantic Sea, the Baltic Sea and simply “I don't know”.

Find out exactly where Malta is with the ‘Where is Malta?’ infographic from lowcostholidays.com here.

The lowcostholidays.com Malta Survey looked at how the general public perceives Malta as a tourist destination. Other surprising findings include nearly 8% of people thinking Malta isn’t its own country, 19% believing Malta uses the old Lira instead of the Euro and a third didn’t recognise any names of the major Maltese tourist resorts.

With its Mediterranean climate, stunning coastline and rich history, Malta is one of the hottest destinations for Brits to holiday. In fact, visitors from the UK make up the largest part of the tourism market in Malta. As such, you’d expect us to know a bit more than we do about the country!

Lawrence Hunt, COO of lowcostholidays.com says “At the moment we are the UK’s No. 1 tour operator for Malta and it’s astonishing to learn that so many people lack a basic understanding of this exciting destination.”

Despite poor geography knowledge, there were top marks in sociology. Most participants correctly assumed it is couples who primarily holiday in Malta, and one in three people knew Malta is a great place for scuba diving. Nearly half of the participants recognised Malta’s important military history with 75% saying they would consider it for a cultural holiday.

But some elements of Malta, such as its popular nightlife scene, remain a mystery to most. Over 80% of people had never heard of Isle of MTV, a free, 50,000 capacity concert held in Malta since 2007, with headline acts from Will.I.Am to Lady Gaga. Participants were also unfamiliar with Paceville, the clubbing area of Malta. To improve their knowledge, lowcostholidays.com has created a Malta Nightlife guide.
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Sunday 16 September 2012

Aer Lingus to sponsor Ulster Rugby Club

Ulster Rugby's flying start to the season has been given a turbo charged boost with the signing of a major new sponsorship deal with Aer Lingus.

Details of the two-year support package were unveiled at a signing ceremony held at Ravenhill.

As part of the new relationship, Aer Lingus will provide Ulster Rugby with air travel as well as supporting the development of travel and accommodation packages for Ulster supporters to away matches.

Declan Kearney, Aer Lingus Director of Communications said the link-up with Ulster Rugby represented a significant sporting first for the company: "As the official airline of Ulster Rugby we are absolutely delighted to have the responsibility of providing transport from George Best Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport for the playing squad, the support team and fans, throughout our extensive UK and European network.

"The broadening of our sponsorship horizons through this exciting new Ulster Rugby deal reflects a continued commitment by Aer Lingus to the local community and complements our other community support such as sponsorship of the Dublin GAA team and of the Galway Hurlers supporters club.

"We look forward to welcoming Ulster’s players, support team and fans on board our flights over the coming season and future years."

Phillip Polack, Ulster Rugby Business Development Director said: "The reputation of Aer Lingus as a proactive organisation fits superbly with our ambitions at Ulster Rugby and we look forward to cementing a long-lasting partnership."

Aer Lingus will start flying from George Best Belfast City Airport on Sunday 28th October 2012.

Southampton Airport launches App

Southampton Airport phone appThis week sees the launch of Southampton Airport’s iphone and Android smartphone App.
The free App is packed with planning tools, terminal information, special offers, news and more.

Neil Garwood, Head of Customer Service, commented, “Good information is the key to good passenger experiences, so it’s great to be able to deliver this information in a format that appeals to those passengers looking for info on the move.”

The airport’s Ambassadors will spend the week in the terminal explaining the App’s features to passengers and showing them how to download it to their smartphones.

With the Southampton Airport App you can:
• Keep a track of your upcoming trips
• Take a photo of your car to remind you where you parked
• Book car parking easily on your phone
• Check the weather in your destination
• View tourist guides on all of our destinations

Southampton Airport has over 1.7million passengers per year travelling for business and pleasure to destinations across Europe, including 15 French destinations, and new for 2012 Barcelona with Vueling, and Ibiza with Thomas Cook. You can now travel to 100s of worldwide destinations from Southampton Airport with KLM via Amsterdam.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

New back pack hotel in Barcelona

Tuesday, 11 September 2012
The first guests check in.St Christopher’s Inns and Home Hostels have opened a new backpacker hostel on Carrer de Bergara, in Barcelona. The 415 bed hostel is located opposite the airport shuttle drop off station on Placa de Catalunya - seconds away from La Rambla on foot.
Officially launched as St Christopher’s Inn, Barcelona, the new hostel offers a mix of private en-suite rooms with balconies and shared mixed sex, and single sex dormitories. (w) www.st-christophers.co.uk/barcelona-hostels

Keith Knowles, Managing Director of St Christopher’s Inns said: “This is the best St Christopher’s Inns hostel yet with the most modern conveniences, for the modern day backpacker. It’s easy to get to and welcomes all. I couldn’t be prouder of the new site and the team behind it.”

All dormitories are equipped with the latest generation of pod beds and each individual sleeping compartment has a privacy curtain, power socket reading light, and luggage locker.

Spread over six-floors in a fully renovated building, St Christopher’s Inns, Barcelona also includes an on-site cinema, Belushi’s bar, mezzanine garden, outdoor eating areas, a large common room and solar panels on the roof, which harness the sun and contribute to the hostel’s daily power needs

St Christopher’s Inns are part of Beds and Bars Ltd, a leading operator of tourist accommodation and entertainment venues in Europe, with 26 backpacker hostels, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants in eight countries.

The next Beds and Bars site to open will be a second St Christopher’s Inns hostel and Belushi’s bar in Paris, in May 2013. Located directly opposite the Eurostar platforms at Gare du Nord, the £36 million property will be the biggest unit yet with 600 beds.

Beds and Bars will also expand to North America in the near future. Negotiations are currently on course with New York’s City Hall with regard to acquiring a suitable property and operating a backpacker hostel in the city.

Sunday 9 September 2012

Staffordshire’s Halloween Fright-fest!

Alton Towers Resort Scarefest 2012
In the deep, dark heart of the country, Staffordshire plays host to some of Halloween’s most horrifying events... From woodland walks to ghoulish ghost tours, there’s something to strike fear in to even the bravest of souls. Visit – if you dare…

For those who are serious about their scares, Alton Towers Resort’s 2012 ‘Scarefest’ from 13th - 14th and 19th - 31st October promises more high-octane horrors than ever, with rip-roaring rides, weird and wonderful costumed characters, blockbusting attractions, and amazing live shows – and the park will be open until 9:00pm!

New for this year is the ‘Zombies Scare Zone’, where an abandoned road becomes a post-apocalyptic nightmare that only the bravest of visitors will escape alive… From Friday 19th to Wednesday 31st October you can also visit the theme park for just £31.50 as an adult (12+) or for £25.20 as a child (4-11), upon presentation of the Staffordshire Enjoy Card. And kids under the age of 4 can enter free! Visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com/enjoycard for more information.

To keep little monkeys entertained all through October half term, Trentham Monkey Forest has a whole host of spooky entertainment! Entertainment includes terrifying treasure hunts, frightful face painting, and scary story-time all in 60 acres of woodland.

Have an evening of freaky fun with Halloween Hi-Jinx! at Consall Nature Park on Wednesday 31st October . With activities for all the family including apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, face painting and bone-chilling woodland walks, followed by a BBQ and toffee apples.

Prepare to be spooked at the Halloween Hands on Horror event at Stafford Castle and Visitor Centre, where kids can ‘drop in’ for pumpkin carving workshops and deadly delicious refreshments from 11am – 4pm on Wednesday 31st October.

Lower Drayton Farm’s annual ‘Fright Night’ will return this year on Saturday 3rd November from 3pm ‘til late, and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. A joint Halloween ‘Spooktacular’ and bonfire night celebration, there will be something for the whole family to enjoy!

Children will love the fairground rides, while older kids and the young-at-heart will relish the challenge of taking on the Maize Maze in the dark – dodging zombies and other spooky characters, all culminating with a magnificent fireworks display. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for children and OAPs, with under 3s going free. Advance tickets available from www.lowerdraytonfarm.co.uk at reduced rates.

Experience the hidden history of Lichfield with its Gruesome and Ghostly Tours on the 23rd and 31st October - an evening to make your blood curdle and your spine tingle! Discover the deep, dark secrets of the city with a professional guide, followed by a visit to the local pub for a glass of mulled wine and a sausage roll.

Get set for some heritage horror at Weston Park on 28th October - board the Phantom Express or the Haunted Hayride for a one way train ride through the wild woods, then follow the Pumpkin Lantern Trail back to the house if you dare… A bewitching array of Halloween activities including children’s craft-making sessions and a devilish disco will keep everyone entertained and delicious sausage sizzlers and homemade pumpkin soup are on hand to feed the famished! Pre-booking is essential.

For information about all of these grisly goings-on visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com or the Enjoy Staffs Facebook fan page, or follow them on Twitter @enjoystaffs.

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament European launch event

Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament to take place at Pebble Beach from 29th November – 1st December 2012 with European launch event at The May Fair Hotel, London on 18th September 2012.

Superstar Sports are proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament taking place at Pebble Beach from 29th November – 1st December 2012.

The tournament will celebrate Ballesteros’s life and raise money for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation with a par-3 tournament on Pebble Beach’s Peter Hay Golf Course. Seve Ballesteros set up the foundation, in partnership with Cancer Research UK, in 2009 to raise money for research into brain tumours. Seve was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October 2008 and it took his life less than three years later.

The event will bring together teams of amateur golfers playing for the Legends Trophy in a Ryder Cup-like format, with each team captained by a well-known celebrity or golfing legend. Play will take place amid a festive environment with live music and DJs, fine food and wine, TV screens broadcasting from around the course and more attractions.

Confirmed celebrity captains include the following, with more celebrities and golfing legends to be announced in the ensuing weeks:

• Piers Morgan, journalist and host of CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight”
• Jodie Kidd, fashion model and TV personality;
• Len Goodman, judge on “Strictly Come Dancing”;
• Dennis Haysbert, American film and TV actor - “24”, “The Unit”;
• Peter Weller, American film/stage actor and director - “Robocop”, “Star Trek”;
• George Lopez, American film and TV actor, standup comedian;
• Chris Noth, American TV actor - “Sex and the City”, “The Good Wife”;
• Cheech Marin, American comedian and actor - “Cheech & Chong”, “Desperado”;
• Jason Isaacs, film, TV and stage actor – “Harry Potter”, “Brotherhood”;
• Ioan Gruffudd, film and TV actor – “Fantastic Four”, “Amazing Grace”.

The Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament will be launched in London at The Penthouse of The May Fair Hotel on Tuesday 18th September 2012. Invited guests will enjoy cocktails and canapés and to compete for some great golfing prizes on London’s highest putting green.

Teams of two and four are available for The Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament and all amateur golfers are invited to participate, with each team member to receive:

• Ground transportation between Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) and Pebble Beach
• Invitation to Opening Night Reception (Wednesday, Nov. 28)
• Four nights lodging (double occupancy) at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach
• Participation in the Legends Tournament, including food and beverages throughout the event
• Post-tournament Champagne Reception and Gala Dinner with live entertainment, prizes and charity auction at the exclusive Beach & Tennis Club in Pebble Beach (Thursday, Nov. 29)
• One round of golf at The Links at Spanish Bay (Friday, Nov. 30)
• One round of golf at Pebble Beach Golf Links (Saturday, Dec. 1)
• Official team golf shirt and luxury goodie bag
• Invitation to Closing Reception (following golf on Dec. 1)

Registration per team of four is £20,000 +vat, with fundraising from the Legends Tournament going to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

“I am very happy that Seve’s Foundation will benefit from the Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament at Pebble Beach this year,” said Ivan Ballesteros, Vice-President of the Seve Ballesteros Foundation. “Seve played at Pebble Beach many times throughout his career and loved its challenges, so it is fitting that a tournament is played there to honor him. Thank you to all the players and celebrities who will come together to make this event a success, helping us raise money and awareness for the foundation in the U.S.”

To participate in the Seve Ballesteros Legends Tournament e-mail teams@sevelegends.com  Or call: UK: 0845-177-1617, USA: 1-800-761-2932.

Midcounties Consortium is Good Match for Wedding TV Travel

An overseas wedding and honeymoon business which said ‘I Do’ to a partnership with The Midcounties Co-op Travel’s new consortium says the match is proving a successful one.

Wedding TV Travel was formed to meet the demand of viewers who were inspired by features on its specialist wedding television channel and needed help to realise their dreams of marrying in exotic locations.

Head of Media Sales, Nick Tiday said: “We joined the consortium to give us the benefits and strengths from a unified group of independent agents. We were impressed by Midcounties’ approach and its commitment to working together for the good of all.

“The business has got off to a great start since we formed in June. We believe we have chosen the right partner to help it to continue to flourish and grow.”

Wedding TV on Sky Channel 266 focuses on everything connected with weddings from fashion and beauty to wedding venues. Travel for weddings abroad and honeymoons feature heavily. It prompted the setting up of the travel business with specialists to put packages together for couples, families and friends. The Caribbean and Indian Ocean are particularly popular destinations.

Midcounties’ Alistair Rowland, Group General Manager of Travel Services, said: “As an independent co-operative consortium we can deliver real benefits to our members. We are delighted that Wedding TV Travel is seeing the positive results. We are ready to welcome other agents with the right quality of business who share our vision and we are in talks with a number of potential new members.”

The consortium will retain principal ATOL status for each of its members.

Midcounties has embarked on a strategy of rapid growth as it aims to become one of the best independent travel retailers in the country, with co-operative values at its core.

Visit www.midcounties.coop

Sunday 2 September 2012

Holiday safety concern for youngsters

Group Holidays Guide lowcostholidays.com has today released worrying data on the habits of 16-24 year olds whilst on group holidays. Data reveals nearly a third (28%) of young holidaymakers did not take out insurance on their last group holiday, whilst 44% claimed their biggest holiday expenditure is alcohol when away with friends. Worryingly a further 24% claimed that their attitude towards safe sex would be more relaxed on a group holiday.
In light of the data and a summer season of negative stories on young holidaymakers, lowcostholidays.com has collaborated with the FCO’s Know Before You Go campaign on a project on group holidays safety. This project provides timely advice for parents and young holidaymakers preparing to go on holiday to celebrate school results and the closing of the summer season in popular holiday resorts.

“Group holidays should be about having fun with mates. We would encourage all young people going on holiday this summer to take out comprehensive travel insurance and make sure you have your EHIC card with you if travelling in Europe. Reading up on local laws and customs and knowing your alcohol limit can also help you to avoid running into trouble with the law abroad.” Khalida Cox, Campaigns Officer, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

A guide detailing the holiday habits of 16-24 year olds has been produced to distribute amongst parents and young adults going on group holidays, providing information on key topics that affect safety. lowcostholidays.com has also produced a resource on general safety practice on group holidays, with the aim of placing this information directly in front of the consumer.

View and Share Group Holiday Guide

Furthermore, the FCO’s own British Behaviour Abroad Report revealed that there has been a 132% increase in Britons hospitalised in Majorca over the last two years. lowcostholidays.com have moved to produce an informative resource for those travelling to the Balearic Island. “Majorca is one of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations, especially for group holidays. It’s important as a provider of these holidays that we give our consumers essential safety advice when researching or booking a holiday.” Lawrence Hunt, Chief Operating Officer at lowcostholidays.com.

lowcostholidays.com and FCO’s Majorca Safety Advice

Sort your battery before holidaying abroad: CTEK


To avoid a costly and undesirable breakdown during a holiday abroad, drivers should ensure that their vehicle’s battery is fully charged and as healthy as possible before setting off, advises CTEK, leading brand of smart battery chargers.

Battery failure is widely acknowledged as the number one cause for vehicle breakdowns. As a result, motorists are faced with unexpected call-out charges, huge inconvenience and, in some cases, the cost of expensive, replacement batteries; all of which, of course, is made much more stressful when in a foreign country. Travellers who do not speak the local language could potentially have great difficulty in finding a breakdown service or a garage, and costs of such assistance may spiral out of control; a ruined holiday due to a flat battery or failure could easily be avoided through simple battery protection and maintenance.

With the increasing demands that sophisticated technology places on vehicles, battery charging has become a vital part of car maintenance and should be considered as important as checking tyre pressures and oil levels. Smart chargers present a safe and efficient way of maintaining and prolonging a battery’s life.

Jan-Ulf Soderberg, head of brand and marketing at CTEK, advises: “A CTEK smart battery charger makes the process of caring for a vehicle’s battery easy, straightforward and effective, and such a simple maintenance routine could be the difference between a fantastic driving holiday or a spoiled, stressful and costly one.

“Smart chargers consistently monitor and communicate with the battery, charging only to its direct needs. This ensures that the battery is also conditioned, which will extend its life significantly. Furthermore, holidaymakers can take their CTEK charger with them; their compact designs allow them to be easily packed in the boot or glove box so drivers have peace of mind when far from home.”

All of CTEK’s chargers, including its 12V battery charger range that is suitable for most cars, are fully automatic and do not require any specialist knowledge to use. For details on CTEK’s range of chargers, visit www.ctek.com.

European Choice Privileges members can earn a free night after just two stays

Choice Hotels Europe, the company behind the Comfort, Quality and Clarion brands in Europe and part of Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, has launched a promotion enabling European members of Choice Privileges, Choice Hotels International’s award-winning rewards programme, to earn a free night at over 250 participating hotels in Europe.

After a member completes two separate stays with arrival between 30 August and 14 November 2012, they will receive enough Choice Privileges points to redeem them for a free night at a participating hotel in Europe between 16 September and 30 November 2012. Hotels taking part in the promotion include the newly refurbished Comfort Inn Victoria in London, Comfort Hotel Diana in Venice, Clarion Hotel Dublin City, Comfort Hotel Frankfurt City Centre and Quality Hotel Centre del Mon in Perpignan, France. Qualifying stays must be booked online at ChoiceHotelsUK.co.uk or by calling 800.800.44.800.

"We are delighted to offer Choice Privileges members in Europe the opportunity to now earn a free night's stay when they travel either on business or holiday," said Duncan Berry, CEO UK, Choice Hotels Europe. "This promotion will reward our most loyal customers and help them earn a free night faster."

Originally launched in 1998, the Choice Privileges rewards programme has been available in Europe since 2008 and is one of the fastest growing travel industry rewards programmes with membership tripling over five years and now standing at 15 million members worldwide. At the recent travel loyalty industry Freddie Awards, over 1.3 million frequent travellers scored Choice Privileges as the second best programme overall.

To become a Choice Privileges member, travellers can log on to www.ChoicePrivileges.eu or sign-up when checking into a Choice-brand hotel. Members can earn points or miles at 5,500 locations around the world and also enjoy express check-in, extended check-out, and the opportunity to redeem points for free nights at thousands of properties throughout Europe, the Middle East, Australasia, North America, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Members can also redeem points at luxury partner hotels, such as Preferred Hotel Group and Barceló Hotels & Resorts, through airline partners including airberlin, American Airlines, Qantas, Delta, and Czech Airlines, and for free car hires from Avis and Budget.

(Terms & Conditions apply, see www.choicehotelsuk.co.uk/en/free-night for full details.)

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers announces opening of 'Tori No Su' Japanese Restaurant

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, a member of the global luxury hotel group Jumeirah, officially opened Abu Dhabi's and the hotel's latest gourmet venue: Tori No Su, a sleek Japanese destination of style and taste offering traditional Japanese cuisine along with contemporary creations based on classic elements by Chef Ando. Combining an authentic modern Japanese ambience with superb dining and lively urban interaction, Tori No Su features live Teppanyaki and Robatayaki counters, a Sushi bar, a beverage bar as well general seating areas.

A native of Japan, Chef Ando applies decades of mastery and skill as a kaiseki-trained chef, and like a traditional Japanese poem, at all times pays homage to the season, ensuring freshness and connectedness to what is served. The cuisine served within each corner of the restaurant has been specially designed in consideration of its own unique environment so that the overall dining experience can be enhanced, a philosophy reflected through the "hito kuchi" or "bite-sized" gourmet elements offered at the bar, through to the skewered culinary creations at the Robatayaki counter, or more intricate creations served at regular table dining areas. The freshest of the day's catch is served either as sashimi or sushi depending on personal preference, and in traditional Japanese style, guests could try not looking at the menu and request an "omakase" course whereby Chef Ando and his team will provide a line of dishes inspired by the moment. Here, at the Abu Dhabi hotel, the true sense of Japanese culinary skill and hospitality is experienced.

A contemporary reflection of modern Japan, Tori No Su, meaning "bird's nest" in Japanese, is located opposite the Lobby’s main entrance and is contemporary in design but with a heart that reflects a strong connection to its cultural, homely traditions. The importance of freshness is immediately recognised with the restaurant’s living grass walls, and the soul of modern Japanese tradition comes clearly through Restaurant Manager Hosoda-san and his team’s deep desire to impart not only a dining experience to be remembered, but also one that helps provide a little light and illumination on Japanese culture, cuisine and service. 

The perfect scene for casual drinks after work amongst an eclectic crowd, Tori No Su mixes style with taste, infusing traditional Japanese beverages with modern accents. Not to be missed is the house signature mocktail known as 'Tei-en' or 'Japanese Garden' which is a delicious mix of fresh kiwi, cucumber and apple juice garnished with a traditional Shiso leaf.

Located on Podium Level 3, opposite the hotel’s main lobby entrance and with its own private outdoor entrance, Tori No Su is open for lunch from 12:00 - 15:30 and for dinner from 19:00 - 23:30.

Thursday 30 August 2012

Jumeirah Carlton Tower invites guests to channel their inner Agent in true British style

Jumeirah Carlton Tower is inviting guests to celebrate the latest installment in the famous secret service series throughout October and November, with its espionage inspired packages.

The 'Shaken' package is the ultimate secret agent themed experience. Designed to give spy aficionados a glimpse into the life of Britain's most infamous secret agent, the package includes one night's accommodation in Jumeirah Carlton Tower's opulent Royal Suite and return airport transfers in an Aston Martin. On arrival, guests will be greeted by their very own bartender who will fix them the hotel's signature martini, shaken or stirred of course.

In the evening, guests are invited to indulge in a three-course dinner in the iconic Rib Room Bar & Restaurant. The menu, featuring an array of modern British dishes redefined for the 21st century by head chef Ian Rudge, is accompanied by a bottle of wine to share and followed by a martini nightcap in the hotel's glamorous GILT Cocktail Lounge.

During their stay, guests will also be treated to a 60-minute relaxing massage per person in The Peak Health Club & Spa. On waking up to breathtaking views of Knightsbridge from The Royal Suite, guests will start their day with a traditional Full English breakfast for two in The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant, and the option of late check-out (subject to availability).

The 'Stirred' package invites guests to stay at Jumeirah Carlton Tower in a room of their choice, over a hundred of which have been recently refurbished to a new level of luxury. Guests will be treated to a welcome martini on arrival in true secret agent style at GILT Cocktail Lounge. During their stay, guests will also enjoy unlimited access to The Peak Health Club & Spa and Full English breakfast in The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant.

The essence of Knightsbridge, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is the perfect setting for guests to experience quintessentially British tastes in the heart of London.

To book either package, visit www.jumeirahcarltontower.com or call +44 (0)20 7235 1234

Jumeirah's global brand ambassador Rory McIlroy wows youth golfers in NYC

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts and its global brand ambassador, Rory McIlroy, joined forces to support a local community initiative in New York. Fresh from his second Major victory, Rory got back to basics with a junior golf clinic at the City Parks Foundation's Junior Golf Center in Brooklyn.

The day was organised by City Parks, a New York City organisation, and Rory's principal sponsor, global luxury hospitality company Jumeirah Group.

During the clinic, 50 junior golfers from the City Parks golf centre, aged 10 to 17, got the opportunity of a lifetime to receive coaching from the current world number one golfer. Rory led the day with a demonstration of his practice routine and answered questions from participants. The young golfers then rotated through driving, putting and chipping stations while receiving tips and techniques for improving their game.

"I spent my day with Jumeirah in one of my favorite cities, New York," said Rory McIlroy at the end of the clinic. "It was great to see so many kids enjoy the game of golf and for me to be able to help them in some way."

Jumeirah Group has sponsored Rory McIlroy from the very first year he turned professional in 2007. Spotting his prodigious talent early on, Jumeirah invested in the young golfer's career and has followed it with great passion ever since. After winning the PGA Championship in the US with a record eight strokes, Rory recently reclaimed the top spot as world’s number one golfer.

"Did you mean that?" Britain's holiday howlers

Does the ferry sail straight to Disneyland Paris? How much does the free shuttle bus cost? Apparently, asking a holiday howler is becoming an increasingly common affair amongst Brits arranging their holidays, as the excitement about escaping abroad truly sets in.

According to the UK’s leading European escorted tour operator Leger Holidays, the closer you get to your getaway the more likely you are to trip yourself up with a question you later laugh about. The company also believes that ‘booking brain’ may also lead to lost luggage, a packing faux pas and relationship hiccups in the build up to your break.

Speaking about the holiday howler trend, Leger Holidays’ Marketing Director Huw Williams said:

“It’s only natural that our minds start to wonder as the prospect of a holiday draws closer. Having spent all year battling the daily grind, we need to be able to drop the pace for our holidays and this is when even the most focussed of minds will begin to wander off to an exotic beach or cosmopolitan cityscape.

“A few minor mishaps and a holiday howler can be expected on every break and for some they make the most interesting memories, providing a bit of light-hearted relief and humour to share. However, to stop things turning sour, the trick is to start your preparation early so that you can truly enjoy the build-up without any major complications. Or, for an even easier experience, hand all the organising over to an escorted tour provider like Leger and let someone else take care of all the details for you.”

According to research, here are a few of the travel industry’s top booking bloopers. Recognise any?

Transport traumas
· In relation to self-drive holiday - Booking agent: “What car are you taking?” – Holidaymaker: “John's”
· Holidaymaker: “How much does the free shuttle bus cost?”
· Holidaymaker: “Can you explain what self-drive means?”
· In relation to a journey back from the continent – Holidaymaker: “When you say we would gain an hour on the way back, is that because the wind is behind us on the ferry?”

Geography gems:
· Holidaymaker: “Does the ferry sail straight to Disneyland Paris?”
· Holidaymaker: “Is Dover in the UK?”
· Holidaymaker: “At Disneyland Paris, can I have a room with a sea view?”
· Holidaymaker: “What language do they speak in France?”

Come again?
· Booking Agent: “How is your party made up?” – Holidaymaker: “They're ecstatic!”
· Holidaymaker: “Are the Disney hotels ok for kids?”
· Holidaymaker: “I need to change my mum's name to what’s on her passport. Her date of birth is still the same though.”

For further information about Leger Holidays visit www.legerbreaks.info or call 0844 504 6250.

Tuesday 28 August 2012

British Airways launches worldwide sale

British Airways has launched a 'Go after the Games Sale' offering savings of up to 27 per cent off flights and holidays. The sale follows the airlines recent 'Home Advantage' campaign encouraging Brits to stay in the UK during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to support Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

The sale, which is now on, includes over 90 worldwide destinations and is based on travel dates from September 10, 2012 to July 12, 2013.

Great value deals include holidays in Orlando and holidays in New York with flights and accommodation.

In the Caribbean, the best deals include seven nights in Tobago and all-inclusive holidays in Cancun with return flights from Gatwick and four-star, all-inclusive accommodation.

Fly-drives are also included in the sale with seven night deals to Boston with return flights and inclusive Avis car rental great for discovering the New England region.

Closer to home, two night city breaks include holidays in Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh, Jersey, Nice, Pisa, Rome or Venice with return flights and accommodation.

The best flights savings are to be found in North America with savings of up to 27 per cent on return flights from Heathrow to Montreal and Toronto and Dallas and flights from Manchester to New York. In South America savings of up to 35 per cent can be found on flights to Rio de Janeiro and 22 per cent on flights to Buenos Aires.

In the Far East, Bangkok flights include a saving of up to 22 per cent and up to 15 per cent on flights to Shanghai. For guaranteed sunshine head to the Middle East, where British Airways is offering savings of up to 21 per cent off flights to Dubai and 20 per cent off flights to Beirut.

For further information customers can visit www.ba.com/sale.

Monday 27 August 2012

Beaten to August holiday dates by your colleagues? Don’t despair!

With August being one of the most fiercely fought after holiday times in offices, some workers are forced to sacrifice their vacation plans as other employees pip them to the post. Many want to make the most of the ‘free’ days holiday and with the bank holiday weekend fast approaching, leading car hire comparison site carhiremarket.com, is expecting to witness a flurry of last minute deals as people look to book their short getaways.

However, work calendars cannot be lucky for everyone and three days can seem like a very short amount of time to play with if you can’t extend it any further. As a result, holidaymakers are anxious to discover a destination that will allow them to take full advantage of their mini-break.

Andrew Shorrock, Marketing Manager at carhiremarket.com says: “August is always the peak reservation period, and despite all the excitement this year, 2012 is no different. However, holidaymakers should realise 3 days can be a perfect amount of time to get away from the stress and strain of work life.”

Common destinations for Brits include the typical beach breaks such as Dorset, Cornwall or the Lake District. However for those looking for something a bit quirkier, carhiremarket.com has complied a list of top 5 locations accessible enough to help those with only a short while to play with:

1) Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

This diverse location has a breadth of exciting activities and iconic landmarks to visit across a 3 day visit – with the additional benefit of being only a 4 hour train journey from London.

By hiring a car upon arrival you can make the most of the spectacular golf courses and romantic castles on offer. With the magnificent Scottish wilderness of the Galloway Forest Park, enjoying the great outdoors can help blow away any stresses with canoeing, hiking, white water drafting or mountain biking all readily available.

2) Black Forest, Germany

Not just a delicious cake, this must-see location is considered one of the most beautiful cities in southern Germany!

Easily accessible from Frankfurt airport, any traveller can jump in a car after a short direct flight from London and begin to enjoy the fairytale villages, thermal baths, casinos and pine-filled mountains. With an abundance of popular activities for the adventurous, including skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, boating and ice-skating there really is something for everyone.

You can even take your car down to the town of Baden Baden and visit the Roman Irish baths, in which you can enjoy an invigorating 16 step bathing sequence to regenerate your mind and body! The changing temperatures and varying baths, with their precious thermal waters, guarantee a feeling of complete relaxation on your short break away.

3) St Lawrence, Jersey

Head over to the stunning Channel Island of Jersey - famous for having more sunshine hours than any other corner of the British Isles.

Step back in time and learn about the German occupation in the Second World War at the Jersey War Tunnels in the spooky setting of a hospital bunker, before heading over to the 13th century Mont Orgueil above the eastern harbor of Gorey, and the simple yet evocative 19th century communal washing areas, such as the Lavoir de La Rue des Prés near Five Oaks junction.

Car hire from carhiremarket.com across the bank holiday would set you back as little as £64 for the whole weekend, and will provide a quick and convenient way to discover all of the historical monuments Jersey has to offer.

4) Corsica, South of France

Well known to many UK holidaymakers the South of France really does boast some outstanding backdrops for a perfect for a short getaway. Corsica offers great driving roads through lavender fields and vineyards leading to ancient hilltop villages, and the rugged surroundings of the several national parks in the area will satisfy anyone looking for relaxtion close to home!

For something a bit different, grab your car and head down across the spectacular coastal road along the French Riviera. Here you can peer down at the blue azure water of Southern France, a perfect chance to take some stunning photographs and show off to those back home.

5) Saltzburg, Austria

Famous as the birthplace and home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the legendary music composer who was born and raised in Salzberg in the early 1700’s, the city is only a short flight direct from Stansted airport.

Austria also boasts spectacular scenery and brilliant roads for any keen driver and their families to enjoy. After a day trip you can head back into the city centre to do a whistle stop culture tour of the locations made famous by “The Sound of Music”. By hiring a car you can save money on expensive coach tours and give yourself the freedom to see the statue of Pegasus, Leopoldskron Palace, Hellbrunn Palace glass pavilion, Nonnberg Abbey and Lake Fuschl at your own leisure.

For more information on the best value car hire visit www.carhiremarket.com

Tuesday 21 August 2012

British Airways doubles winter 2012 frequency between Dublin and Heathrow

British Airways has announced it will double the number of flights between Dublin and London Heathrow on its service this winter.

Following the acquisition of bmi by International Airlines Group (IAG), British Airways now operates this important air link after taking over the route at the end of June.

The changes will take place when the airline introduces its winter 2012 schedule and launches a new timetable which sees the number of daily services increase from four to eight return flights, enabling it to offer thousands more seats a week between both cities.

The new schedule, effective from October 28, will also include the introduction of a new early morning departure time of 6.25am benefiting both business and leisure customers.

Commenting on the announcement, Simon Daly, British Airways' Sales Manager Ireland, said: "I am delighted to see the British Airways colours back in Dublin after an absence of 20 years. We appreciate the importance of air links to London and are pleased to announce that less than two months after taking over this route, we are now able to respond to customer demand and increase capacity.

"Our improved schedule also sees us adding a new early morning departure time from Dublin which will mean that passengers will be able to extend their working day should they need to.

"In addition, it offers both business and leisure passengers greater choice in terms of connections to our extensive global network at London Heathrow bringing destinations on the world map closer to Ireland, benefitting Irish businesses, tourism and Ireland as a whole."

Dublin Airport Authority's Director of Strategy Vincent Harrison welcomed British Airways decision to double frequency on its Heathrow service, saying it underscored the importance of the Dublin-London route.

"We have worked closely with British Airways since the bmi takeover and are delighted that the airline has decided to significantly increase its services on the Dublin-London Heathrow route. This is excellent news for business and leisure travellers, as British Airways doubling of its existing Heathrow service will offer additional choice and flexibility for passengers. Dublin-London is Europe’s busiest international city pair with 3.7 million passengers travelling by air between the two capitals last year."

The route will be operated by a 150-seater A319 aircraft offering the choice of both Club Europe and Club Traveller cabins and passengers can enjoy a full onboard experience with complimentary food and drinks.

British Airways offers city breaks in Dublin and a variety of hotels to suit all budgets, right in the thick of the action.

British Airways offers all-inclusive fares which include a generous 23kg baggage allowance, free online check-in and seat selection 24 hours prior to departure.

Flights to Dublin are now available to book on ba.com.

Sunday 19 August 2012

Olympics ‘Marry Mound’ Inspires the Proposal, Planet Holidays inspires the wedding destination

weddings in Greece and beyond
weddings in Greece and beyond
With the recent flurry of ‘Olympic inspired’ engagements taking place at what has been dubbed ‘Marry Mound’ by Bride’s Magazine aka Park Live, operated by British Airways in the Olympic Park, specialist wedding operator, Planet Holidays & Weddings (www.planetweddings.co.uk) offers up some exciting overseas destinations for couples looking to tie the knot.

Planet Holidays offers overseas weddings in Lapland and Italy for the first time this year, as well as in Cyprus, the Greek Islands, Malta & Gozo, Antigua, Portugal and Croatia, with some of the most stylish, as well as unique venues for couples to have their own gold plated ceremony.

Venue options range from an ‘ice chapel’ or ‘under the midnight sun’ in Lapland, overlooking Lake Garda in a Tuscan castle or a spectacular count’s villa in Italy to luxury yachts, cliff tops, historic buildings and lake and beach locations to name just a few. Planet Holidays can also organise same-sex civil ceremonies at a number of locations in The Algarve.

If couples want to continue the Olympic theme they could opt for a wedding in Greece. Planet Holidays offers civil weddings on 10 Greek Islands including Santorini, one of the most romantic, Rhodes and Crete, two of the most popular islands and Thassos and Amorgos, two of the lesser known islands.

The lead in price for an overseas wedding starts from £500 per couple which includes the venue hire, legal paperwork and marriage certificates.

Planet Holidays can also organise all the little extras a couples may want to include in their special day such as flowers, button holes, photography, DVD, car hire and wedding cake; the whole range of ‘finishing touches’ that can be added to their wedding day, plus ideas for the ‘hen and stag’ do. The operator can also look after all the travel arrangements for the couple and their guests.

Planet Holidays are now taking bookings in all destinations through to 2014.

For personal advice on weddings and prices contact Planet Holidays’ wedding assistants on 0871 871 0405 or visit www.planetweddings.co.uk

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Famous family home now open


Plas Dinam
A descendant of famous Victorian railway and mining entrepreneur David Davies has launched a new business welcoming guests to the family’s magnificent country house for their UK holidays.

Home to five generations of the famous Davies family for 128 years, Plas Dinam in Mid Wales, is enjoying a new lease of life as an exciting luxury venue for weddings, holidays, corporate events and special occasions.

Overlooking the scenic upper Severn Valley on the edge of the award-winning village of Llandinam, near Llanidloes, the Grade II listed house has 14 bedrooms and six bathrooms on two floors.

The house is a perfect base for a huge variety of things to do in the area, ranging from shooting, hunting and fishing to mountain biking, sailing, kite surfing, golf and walking.

The property has 37 rooms, including a grand dining hall that seats up to 40 people, a drawing room with a grand piano, comfortable sitting room, cinema room, library, billiards room, table tennis room, large kitchen, sunroom, drinks room, cloakroom and bootroom.

Surrounded by 12 acres of beautiful gardens, lawns and woodland, Plas Dinam has a tennis court, outside lawn games, including croquet, giant jenga and Connect 4, stabling for up to five horses and kennels for well behaved dogs, which are welcomed.

Romans in Residence in Caerleon

Romans in Caerleon
Nearly 2000 years ago a mighty fortress stood at Caerleon, guarding the land for the Roman Empire. Home to more than 5,000 soldiers, outside its walls many local people worked hard to earn a living.

This August there’s an opportunity to relive the Roman experience for free at the National Roman Legion Museum as the Romans are in Residence from 1 to 27 August, 11am - 4pm Monday - Saturday, 2 - 4pm Sunday, making a great family day out.

Come and meet the Romans in Caerleon. Train with the soldiers, watch Roman crafts or if you’re hungry visit our ‘Popina’ for a taste of some Roman fast food. Who knows what characters you will meet at the Museum? It may be a trader, a doctor or a soldier; talk to them about their lives and try some Roman activities.

Meet some of these people and find out more about their lives. The Roman gardens comes alive with all sorts of colourful characters. You might find Amazonia, the gladiator, who can train you to fight – but watch out! She’s got a nasty temper!

Or maybe have a chat with Dorothea the basket maker as she makes things to sell in the market, or Victoria the jewellery maker. You can’t miss Marcus the friendly gardener, who used to be a gladiator, so the story goes. If you’re feeling ill, visit Victoria the doctor and she’ll use the herbs that grow around her to cure you.

Flavia and Olivia can be found chatting to the soldiers or serving drinks in the “Jolly Boar”. Here you can also gamble with the soldiers, but watch out for the Centurions, because it’s illegal! The army is recruiting, so why not join? Haggle with the market stall holders or watch the craftsmen. Visit Lady Helena in her villa, recline on her triclinium and join a real Roman feast.

Victoria Le Poidevin from the museum said, “Step back in time at the National Roman Legion Museum this summer where we’ll bringing history to life over the summer holidays. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the Romans in Residence, before they vanish once more into the mists of time.”

Etihad Airways extends Melbourne Etihad Stadium deal to 2019

Etihad Airways has signed a new multi-million dollar agreement to extend to 2019 its naming and marketing rights for Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, the city's premier sports and entertainment venue.

The five-year extension was announced in Melbourne by James Hogan, President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways, and Ian Collins AM, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Stadiums Limited, the company that operates Etihad Stadium.

Mr Hogan said: "Placing the Etihad name on this world class sports and entertainment stadium, as well as activating our marketing and hospitality rights, has provided Etihad Airways with a solid platform to build our brand across the state of Victoria and the whole of Australia.

"The partnership with Melbourne Stadiums Limited gives Etihad Airways unparalleled exposure in Australia, one of the most important routes in our network, and we are delighted to extend the naming agreement for Etihad Stadium until 2019."

Etihad Airways became the stadium's naming rights sponsor on March 1, 2009, the same month it commenced non-stop flights to Melbourne (www.etihadairways.com/sites/Etihad/global/en/home/Pag...) from Abu Dhabi. By 2019, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will have sponsored the stadium continuously for 10 years.

Mr Hogan added: "More than 250 arena events have taken place at Etihad Stadium during the past three years highlighting the vital role it plays in the local community, and we look forward to strengthening those ties further in the years to come."

Mr Collins said: "Renewing the agreement is in many ways more exciting than when it was first signed in 2009 as it demonstrates how successful the partnership has been for Melbourne Stadiums Limited and Etihad Airways.

"During this time, the stadium and Etihad Airways have enhanced their reputations for delivering first class services to an international audience. Visitors from across the world now regularly fly to Melbourne, with Etihad Airways, to attend an event at the stadium during their trip."

More than 150 AFL premiership season matches have taken place at the stadium since 2009, as well as 39 soccer matches, which included internationals against Serbia, the English Premier League's Fulham and David Beckham's LA Galaxy.

The stadium has hosted three cricket matches, seven rugby league games and three rugby union matches including the Bledisloe Cup between Australia and New Zealand in July 2010.

On the entertainment front, Etihad Stadium has hosted 11 concerts by some of the world's biggest acts including AC/DC, U2, Bon Jovi, George Michael and Eminem.

In addition, Etihad Stadium annually hosts a range of philanthropic events including the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal and the EJ Whitten Legends game.

Etihad and Melbourne Stadiums Limited regularly produce innovative sales promotions and campaigns for corporate members and visitors to Etihad Stadium. In May 2011, the stadium's 25 millionth visitor was presented with the trip-of-a-lifetime to Europe with Etihad Airways. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com
  

Aer Lingus welcomes Team Ireland home

Aer Lingus, proud sponsors of Ireland's Olympic Team, has welcomed Team Ireland on board its special homecoming flight.

Flight number EI 159, an airbus A321, carrying 200 passengers, including Team Ireland, departed London Heathrow at 12.05 and arrived in Dublin at 1.25pm. As a memento of the official homecoming flight, each passenger received a gift of a retro sports bag, designed in the vintage Aer Lingus 'Irish Airlines' colours.

The aircraft was met by Dublin Airport fire service and escorted to its parking stand at T2. The Athletes including medal winners Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlon and Cian O’Connor were greeted by their families and friends at Dublin Airport.

Following a photo call at the steps of the aircraft, a press reception was held in the terminal building. Among the attendees who welcomed Team Ireland back were Mayor of Fingal Cian O’Callaghan, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD, Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise O’Muiri, Northern Ireland Minister for Culture, Arts & Leisure Carál Ni Chuilín MLA, acting British Ambassador Andrew Staunton, Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey and Chef de Mission Sonia O’Sullivan, amongst other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Christoph Mueller said: "We are incredibly proud to welcome the Irish Olympic Team on board the special Aer Lingus homecoming flight. On behalf of all the staff at Aer Lingus, I would like to take this opportunity to offer our congratulations to Team Ireland on their success in the London Olympic Games."

The Olympic Council of Ireland President, Pat Hickey said, "It's been a marvellous Olympic Games for Team Ireland and we return home knowing that the Irish public fully appreciated the efforts of our athletes at the greatest sporting event on earth. We thank everyone for their support and good wishes."

Tuesday 14 August 2012

Turn those holiday photos into prizes…

If you’ve taken some great photos while on holiday, or perhaps really captured the spirit of London as it celebrated the Olympics, why not enter them into one of the world’s most prestigious photography competitions?

Entries for the international Travel Photographer of the Year awards close on September 17th, so you’ve got just a few weeks to submit your images.

Open to amateur and professional photographers from all over the world, Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) now attracts entries from over 90 countries, and features categories for all ages and levels of photographers (even beginners). And there are some fantastic rewards…

The top prize for TPOTY 2012 is the Cutty Sark Award for the Overall Winner, who will receive £2,500 in cash together with an expenses-paid international photography commission with a £2,500 commission fee. In addition, they’ll get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky's master blender, blending and bottling their own unique whisky.

Individual category prizes include trips to Kenya with Explore, and to Morocco’s Essaouira Music Festival with Tribes Travel, the very latest Fujifilm cameras and Adobe software, plus leather portfolio cases from Plastic Sandwich. There’s also a paid commission to shoot for Condé Nast Traveller magazine, in a special category to celebrate the magazine’s 15th anniversary in the UK.

The winning images from last year’s TPOTY awards are currently on show at London’s Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) until September 2nd. The Society is just along the road from the Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum and Royal Albert Hall, and the exhibition is free, and it’s open every day, so why not pop along for some inspiration?

The 2012 TPOTY awards feature three portfolio categories – 'People Watching', 'Wild Planet' and 'Journeys' - the Condé Nast Traveller category 'Celebration', a New Talent award, Young TPOTY (for photographers aged 18 and under), an HD video category 'Travel Shorts', and a single image category 'Water'. If you’re nervous about putting your images up against professional photographers and serious amateurs, you could give the First Shot category 'Big City' a go. This is just for beginners, and you can even submit images taken on a mobile phone.

Winning images are also exhibited each year at the Royal Geographical Society and published in the Travel Photographer of the Year 'Journey' books – all fantastic exposure for the winners.

Images can be submitted as prints or uploaded online, and entries close September 17th. Entry fees start at £10 and Young TPOTY is free to enter. Full details of how to enter can be found at www.tpoty.com.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express expand in Europe

Region welcomes the opening of 16 Holiday Inn brand family properties

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) continues the growth of its Holiday Inn brand family (Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express) throughout Europe, with the region welcoming 2,337 new rooms from one of the world’s most recognised hotel brands, now in its 60th year.

In the first half of 2012, IHG opened 16 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels across Europe, and signed 10.

Holiday Inn hotels were opened in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and Poland. IHG also signed Holiday Inn hotels in United Kingdom, Algeria and Azerbaijan.

Holiday Inn Express hotels were opened in United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Portugal. IHG also signed Holiday Inn Express hotels in United Kingdom, Turkey and the Netherlands.

IHG’s Chief Development Officer Europe, Robert Shepherd said the growth of the Holiday Inn brand family demonstrated the strength of the brand for both owners and guests.

“Holiday Inn Express is one of the fastest growing midscale hotel brands, and these openings and signings are a testament to the strength and winning formula the brand offers owners. Holiday Inn Express is a great hotel choice for guests on the go. It offers guests exactly what they need - a great night’s sleep in a quality hotel and a free breakfast. Every year 100 million people stay at Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world - guests know they can expect a consistent, refreshed experience at an affordable price in any of our hotels.”

Robert Shepherd said both Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express would lead IHG’s growth in Europe.

“Expanding in Europe is one of our priorities and there’s plenty of room to grow. There’s strong demand among owners and investors for a solid conversion product like Holiday Inn Express as opportunities for new builds in Europe are rare. And among consumers there’s demand for a consistently good midscale offering.”

IHG is focusing on building a presence in main centres throughout the region. Two Holiday Inn hotels were opened in London – Holiday Inn London Stratford City and Holiday Inn London Gatwick-Worth - and another two were signed – Holiday Inn London Wembley and Holiday Inn Express London-Excel. IHG also opened a new build Holiday Inn in Berlin, and the brand pipeline expanded in Paris, Istanbul, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Kiev and Algiers.

Three of the hotels – Holiday Inn Kiev, Holiday Inn Algiers and Holiday Inn Express Istanbul – are under management contracts with IHG. The remaining hotels will operate under franchise agreements.

As at 30 June, there are 494 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties throughout Europe, with 53 in the pipeline. Globally, there are 3,389 Holiday Inn and Holiday Express hotels, with 698 in the global pipeline.

IHG’s Europe pipeline expanded by 2,900 rooms in the first half of 2012

17 hotels (2,964 rooms) were added to IHG’s overall European pipeline since the start of 2012. The hotels will operate across the IHG family of brands, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, as well as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. The new hotels will open in the UK, Russia, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Algeria and Azerbaijan.

Thursday 9 August 2012

Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express expand in Europe

Region welcomes the opening of 16 Holiday Inn brand family properties

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) continues the growth of its Holiday Inn brand family (Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express) throughout Europe, with the region welcoming 2,337 new rooms from one of the world’s most recognised hotel brands, now in its 60th year.

In the first half of 2012, IHG opened 16 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels across Europe, and signed 10.

Holiday Inn hotels were opened in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and Poland. IHG also signed Holiday Inn hotels in United Kingdom, Algeria and Azerbaijan.

Holiday Inn Express hotels were opened in United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Portugal. IHG also signed Holiday Inn Express hotels in United Kingdom, Turkey and the Netherlands.

IHG’s Chief Development Officer Europe, Robert Shepherd said the growth of the Holiday Inn brand family demonstrated the strength of the brand for both owners and guests.

“Holiday Inn Express is one of the fastest growing midscale hotel brands, and these openings and signings are a testament to the strength and winning formula the brand offers owners. Holiday Inn Express is a great hotel choice for guests on the go. It offers guests exactly what they need - a great night’s sleep in a quality hotel and a free breakfast. Every year 100 million people stay at Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world - guests know they can expect a consistent, refreshed experience at an affordable price in any of our hotels.”

Robert Shepherd said both Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express would lead IHG’s growth in Europe.

“Expanding in Europe is one of our priorities and there’s plenty of room to grow. There’s strong demand among owners and investors for a solid conversion product like Holiday Inn Express as opportunities for new builds in Europe are rare. And among consumers there’s demand for a consistently good midscale offering.”

IHG is focusing on building a presence in main centres throughout the region. Two Holiday Inn hotels were opened in London – Holiday Inn London Stratford City and Holiday Inn London Gatwick-Worth - and another two were signed – Holiday Inn London Wembley and Holiday Inn Express London-Excel. IHG also opened a new build Holiday Inn in Berlin, and the brand pipeline expanded in Paris, Istanbul, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Kiev and Algiers.

Three of the hotels – Holiday Inn Kiev, Holiday Inn Algiers and Holiday Inn Express Istanbul – are under management contracts with IHG. The remaining hotels will operate under franchise agreements.

As at 30 June, there are 494 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties throughout Europe, with 53 in the pipeline. Globally, there are 3,389 Holiday Inn and Holiday Express hotels, with 698 in the global pipeline.

IHG’s Europe pipeline expanded by 2,900 rooms in the first half of 2012

17 hotels (2,964 rooms) were added to IHG’s overall European pipeline since the start of 2012. The hotels will operate across the IHG family of brands, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, as well as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. The new hotels will open in the UK, Russia, Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Algeria and Azerbaijan.