Wednesday, 24 December 2014
That's Christmas: Looking for something different in the Twixtmas an...
That's Christmas: Looking for something different in the Twixtmas an...: Former Milking Parlour near Wookey Hole Caves and Cheddar Gorge New Year £584pw for four A former milking parlour sleeping four near the...
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!”
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
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
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
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
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."
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."
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