This week’s BBC Panorama programme focused on the low-cost airline Ryanair and asked the question ‘Why Hate Ryanair’. It’s an interesting debate and whilst the programme provided an insight into Michael O’Leary and his Irish operation the question is did the programme provide any new information about Ryanair? Probably not, so why do it in the first place?
From a travel agent’s perspective there are issues which are more important such as the financial protection of passengers which the Panorama failed to address. By booking holidays and/or flights with ABTA and ATOL protected operators the client’s money is protected when things go wrong, but when Ryanair cancels a flight and you have booked your own accommodation which you may not be able to now reach, you have no comeback when the accommodation provider levies no-show charges (and they do!). Or you may be returning to the UK and Ryanair cancels a flight resulting in you having to find accommodation for however many nights it is before you can catch an alternative flight back to your UK destination. In both cases Ryanair will not compensate you although they will refund the air fare (which may be very cheap) and you will be left to sort out your own alternative travel arrangements. Contrast this with an ATOL protected holiday, the ATOL holder is responsible for your complete package and it is down to them to assist you with the alternative arrangements at no cost to you the traveller. Perhaps the low-cost airline is not quite as cheap as you thought now?
To view the BBC Panorama edition ‘Why Hate Ryanair’ click here.
The Sunday Times has encouraged it’s travel writers to reveal their favourite beaches and there are some stunners as well as some surprises.
From exotic destinations such as the Maldives, Seychelles and the Caribbean, to closer to home gems such as Porthcurno in Cornwall, Cala Erbaju in Corsica, and Panormos Bay in Mykonos, the Sunday Times’ writers have been more than forthcoming in sharing their own secret paradises with their readers. Read the article online here.
Dubai has recently announced that it has seen an increase in cruise passengers of 25% on last year with 260,817 cruise passengers visiting the Emirate.
Next year Dubai expects to play host to 99 ship visits as a result of the of the new Dubai Cruise Terminal becoming fully operational by the end of 2009. A number of cruise lines have chosen Dubai as their regional hub including Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean International who offer cruises on Costa Luminosa and Brilliance of the Seas respectively. The latter will be operating UAE and Bahrain cruises from January until April in 2010.
We received an impressive new offering from Anatolian Sky in the form of their new Egypt brochure which has been launched for Winter 2009 and Summer 2010. Anatolian Sky has been offering quality holidays to Turkey and North Cyprus for 20 years and in their anniversary year have movrd to offer Egypt for the first time.
The brochure contains some superb Nile Cruises including the MS Nile Premium, Oberoi Philae and MSSonesta Nile Goddess backed up by quality hotels enabling you to combine Nile Cruise holidays as part of a twin centre or other tailor-made packages. Red Sea holidays and diving packages have also been carefully hand-picked to bring a rounded choice of holidays to Egypt to the British holidaymaker. Call Conexo Travel on 01904 767511 to get your copy or find out about the options available to book your quality holiday in Egypt.
Hotels.com have recently conducted research into excess baggage charges and their findings suggest that we waste up to £1.5billion pounds carrying books that remain unread.
The survey found that around a third of British holidaymakers are guilty of packing more books than they read whilst on holiday - averaging at around three books per person - which often results in them being penalised by the airlines with excess baggage charges. Alsion Cooper, Hotel.com’s communications director added “Packing for holiday can be a nightmare and travellers are often getting caught out at check-in when they are over the weight limit”.
The advice from the research suggests we should be more realistic about our reading habits and try not to take more tomes than they are likely to read on holiday.
Take the Turkey 2 Minute Survey to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to Turkey. Click the link below to be in with a chance of this fantastic prize!
This year’s Paphos Aphrodite Festival runs from September 4th to the 6th and is now in it’s 11th year.
This year’s highlight allows visitors to enjoy an open-air opera in the magnificent setting of Paphos Castle. The French composer Leo Delibes’ Lakme will be performed by the National Opera of Sofia, and it tells the story of a British army officer in 19th century India who falls in love with the daughter of an Indian Brahmin priest’s daughter. British holidaymakers may recognise Lakme’s Flower Duet which was used by British Airways in its advertisments - watch it below.
If you are having a holiday to Cyprus during this time you can get tickets from the Aphrodite Festival website.
This year’s phenomenal success of rail-cruise holidays from Viking River Cruises has prompted the cruise line to offer a baggage transfer service that will deliver UK clients’ baggage direct to the ship.
After introducing rail travel on their Rhine and Seine cruises in 2008 the company is going to trial a rail-cruise on the Danube with an overnight stay in Cologne at either end of the cruise to break-up the journey. This will include transfers to and from the Cologne hotel but will involve a change of trains.
Viking River Cruises have really embraced the concept of rail-cruises and introduced a representative at Paris Gare du Nord to meet and escort passengers arriving by Eurostar to their onward travel arrangements; a similar service is planned for Brussels for next year.
The Danube Rhapsody rail-cruise is now available to book with Conexo Travel for 2010 and there are some excellent early booking discounts available until 30 August 2009.
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is home to a very unique attraction - Cenotes.
Cenotes are a truly remarkable natural wonder and are found almost exclusively in this part of Mexico and the Riviera Maya. Cenotes are hidden passageways which are submerged caverns in which people can swim safely in the clear freshwater. The indigenous Mayan people believed the Cenotes to be sacred entrances to the underworld.
If you are taking a holiday in Mexico you should make an effort to enjoy these beautiful turqoise waters, enjoy the excellent visibility and moderate water temperature in the safe knowledge there are no currents to contend with. We recommend Xcaret Park as an excellent choice not just for the Cenotes but also other ecological attractions including their Mayan ruins, wildlife and a chance to swim with dolphins.
As the summer comes towards its end thoughts turn to Winter holidays and now is the perfect time to find a bargain.
Last Winter was a huge success for many Alpine resorts due to the excellent snowfall throughout Europe, Of course there is no guarantee that the 2009 ski season will repeat the results of last year, but nevertheless now is the optimum time to book your ski holiday for 2009. It is at this time of the year that the low cost airlines prices are still offering great value for money and, it is still possible to get the pick of the accommodation across European ski destinations. Add to this the frequency and choice of local airports now offering cheap flights to European ski resorts and smart, price-conscious skiers can still get a bargain in a ski destination they want.
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Hays Travel Ltd