Owner: Europe a la Carte Blog URL:http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/ Join Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:33:39 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: Authentic travel in Europe on a modest budget. See more of the real Europe by venturing, even slightly, off the beaten track to a less well known destination without the tourist crowds and which offers better value for money. Site statistics:Click here
UK Chancellor needs to brush up on his physics? 2007-02-06 13:30:01 While the doubling of UK air passenger duty is apparently having little efffect on the travel plans of UK residents, there have been reports in the foreign press about the UK becoming a more expensive destination. This negative publicity is hardly going to encourage visitors to the UK.
Has the British Chancellor
, Gordon Brown forgotten his Newton’s Law that every action has an equal and opposite reaction? What the exchequer gains in income from the increase in APD it may lose if there is a drop in VAT revenue due to a reduction in the number of visitors to UK or the amount which they spend during their trip.
How low can you go travel pricing? 2007-02-06 13:13:41 Travelocity Europe is to axe 180 finance jobs in the UK in a cost cutting exercise. The company believes that outsourcing functions such as finance will keep costs down in the highly competitive travel industry. I was rather uneasy by the euphenism of “impacted” staff used by Travelocity.
I do think that too often travel is sold on price alone. I know we all want value for money but is an unhealthy obsession with “how low can you go” pricing bound to end in disappointment or even worse for some travellers? For example if accommodation suppliers are continually pressed to reduce prices the quality of food served to guests may decline, if too few cleaning staff are employed then room won’t be properly cleaned. Whereas if you paid say £20 more for weeks accommodation these problems might not arise. What do you think?
Boom in UK & Eire holiday cottage bookings 2007-02-07 13:26:39 Cottages.co.uk, an online guide to independent cottage
booking agencies has seen a doubling of enquiries during January this year. compared to 2006. It citied reasons such as increses in interest rates and APD, tougher US immigration procedures, the strong euro and global warming as possible explanations for this increase.
I have been anticipating this change and blogged about it recently. Are you considering more breaks and holidays in your home country?
Ryanair profits rise (but so do reports of dangerous landings) 2007-02-07 10:59:10 Travel Daily today reports that Ryanair
is to open it’s 19th base in Dusseldorf, Germany as Ryanair’s growth continues. However there have several alleged dangerouslandings
by Ryanair craft, the most recent where flying very low on approach to landing triggered two cockpit alarms and led to complaints by local residents. The pilots’ union claims that Ryanair’s cost saving 25 minute turnaround time can put pilots under too much pressure.
This just re-inforces my concerns about low prices and the constant competitive pressures which could lead to corner cutting. What price do you put on safety?
Read more:profits
New restrictions on cheap Virgin rail fares 2007-02-07 10:28:13 Virgin Trains have made it more difficult to but a cheap rail ticket unless you book at least 35 days in advance. The Government has spent 8 billion pounds on upgrading the West Coast Line from Glasgow to London and Virgin receives an annual subsidy of 2 million pounds.
So what’s the answer? Virgin think it makes good business sense to charge passengers more if they can and claim that this policy also helps reduce overcrowding on the trains. Should the trains be run as fragmented private enterprise? Would it be possible for the railway system to be run as a efficient nationalised industry? If the Government is serious about providing viable alternative transport to motoring and air travel, the UK really needs a well run, attractively priced rail network and that’s not what we have at present.
Read more:Virgin
, fares
BA reduces checked in luggage weight allowance 2007-02-08 12:56:01 BA is changing baggage check in rules from 13 February, most passengers will only be allowed to check in one bag wieghing up to 23 kgs, previously this was 32 kgs. There is standardisation of excess baggage charges; £30 for domestic flights, £60 for short haul and £120 for long haul. However to allow passengers to become familiar with the new policy you will be able to check in one bag weighing up to 32kgs until 30/9/07.
I am not sure how many passengers this will affect. My luggage is usually under 20 kgs. However I would have thought that BA would be pulling out all the stops to woo back passengers after recent troubles.
Read more:allowance
Reprieve for Scottish castle 2007-02-08 11:48:39 A last Balintore Castle in Angus, Scotland, is going to be restored. The castle has been derelict as long as I can remember. My grandparents lived in the nearby Kirriemuir and I was always amazed that such a grand building was just being left to rot. Evidently there have been several attempts to buy Balintore Castle but in common with many other historic buidlings, the main stumbling block has been the unwillingness of current owners to sell at a realistic price. The castle was faced with possible demolition until the local council used their compulsory purchase powers after the previous owner failed to respond to repairs notices. The council will now transfer ownership to a buyer who will restore the castle as a private home.
I think that is it important to preserve historic buildings, even if they do stay in private ownership. It makes a visit to Scotland all the more culturally interesting if there are beautiful buildings in good condition. If you would like to see the cas Read more:Scottish
Are we prejudiced against new buildings? 2007-02-09 22:34:22 Plans released for a new 5 star hotel in Edinburgh have been lambasted by heritage groups Their criticism is that the hotel buidling will not blend in with the character of the old town and that a listed buidling will be demolished to make way for the hotel construction.
Given that the location of this regeneration project is mainly on the site of an old bus station I would think that it was not exactly a beautiful historic site to start with. However I have seen some modern buildings in cities, which to me, stick out like sore thumbs. It can be a matter of personal taste. I think that a modern building in a historic area has to complement the existing environment. Can you think of any examples of good and bad modern buildings in historic settings. I think that the skyline in Edinburgh is enhanced by the Scottish Parliament and the nearby Dymanic Earth.
Read more:against
An end to misleading prices? 2007-02-09 22:06:55 The UK Office of Fair Trading is to clamp down on misleading prices, The OFT has warned travel companies that the prices in their brochures and websites should include all non optional costs such as fuel supplements, within 3 months. Companies which do not comply are likely to face enforcement action by the OFT.
It will be interesting to see if all travel firms will toe the line or if it will take some hefty fines to ensure compliance.  I still think that there is an issue with supposedly optional costs on package holidays such as inflight meals and resort transfers as I thought that was the whole idea of a package holiday that it included all compenents of the holiday.
Will you take the pledge to travel less or not at all by air? 2007-02-10 18:51:22 The Anglican Bishop of London is the latest convert to the growing ranks of people pledging to reduce or stop their air travel. It is claimed that 3% of travellers have vowed to give up flying and a further 10% will reduce their flying due to enviromental concerns. A Flight Pledge website has been set up in the UK where you can take the Gold Pledge where you will stop flying except for an emergency or the Silver Pledge where you will take no more than one long haul or two short haul flights per year.
Lombardy's anti smog laws challenged 2007-02-10 18:26:55 The Lombardy region’s plans to bring in tough anti smog laws are to be challenged by central Government. The Government say that the Lombardy region can not impose laws on main roads as it breaches national laws. From October this year Lombardy wants to ban cars without catalytic converters and offenders will be fined up to 450 euros. Fine particle pollution caused by cars is a big problem in cities in Italy. In Milan, the capital of Lombardy, the limit of more than 50 micrograms per cubic metre is exceed on 152 days of the year.
You would think that central Government would be encouraging the introduction of such measures. It will be interesting to see how much support there will be for the symbolc one day traffic ban in Lombardy on the 25 of February. As a tourist walking around in Italian cities I would be happy if they managed to reduce pollution but it would be even better if the number of cars were reduced. Trying to cross the busy streets especially in Rome, really is
Vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World 2007-02-10 11:51:45 Why not cast your vote for the New 7 Wonders
of World
. This project was started in 2001 by the Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber to protect our global heritage. The winners will be announced on 07/07/07.
Calton Hill to be made over 2007-02-11 11:15:02
The park at Calton Hill, at the eastern end of Princes Street is going be resuscitated from its current neglected state by an injection of cash from the council and heritage groups. It really is a pity that the area has been allowed to reach such a dire state. The views from Calton Hill are outstanding over the city and across the Forth Estuary towards Fife. Calton Hill is home to the National Monument an Athenian style acropolis buil in 1822 to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. Some say the monument was not finished due to lack of funds, other say it was intended as a folly. The old Observatory and the City Observatory are also at Calton Hill.
I think it is important that such panoramic site with architectural interest is well maintained to look its best and that you feel safe walking around.
Further calls to protect unique character of Edinburgh 2007-02-12 10:59:46 I have been reading more and more recently about trying to preserve the distinctive and unique
character of cities such as Edinburgh
and Paris. A Skyline Project has been initiated in Edinburgh to assess the views and vistas of the city. However the city council’s new headquarters are obscuring views down Waverly Valley.
Oh dear, sounds like the council has put it’s foot in it here, granting itself planning permission for a buidling which contradicts its own guidlines.
Read more:Further
, calls
UK Treasury denies claims of skyway robbery 2007-02-12 10:39:55 The UK Treasury
had hit back at claims
by Ryanair that the recent doubling of APD, being dubbed skyway
robbery, is being used as a cover to increase Government tax take. The Treasury asserts that the cash generated will be used wisely and will secure extra spending for such priorities such as public transport and the environment. What I would have liked to hear is a clear statement that all the additional revenue will be used for projects relating to the environment. The current statement is so vague and could cover spending a only a small percentage of the increased revenue on environmental priorities.
Getting high on bank notes in Ireland 2007-02-12 12:26:47 I was amazed to read that one hundred percent of bank notes in Ireland
were discovered to contain traces of cocaine. The traces varied in concentration with high levels on some notes suggested they had been used to snort cocaine. Research in Spain found that 94% of bank notes contained traces of the drug.
So now you know why spending cash may give you an additional high!
Ladies, win a trip to Scotland 2007-02-13 23:00:06 If you vote in the Date a Hot Scot competition for the man of your choice from the 20 profiles you could win a holiday in Scotland
. The prize is for you and a girlfriend and includes return air fare to Scotland, 3 nights in a 4 star hotel in Edinburgh and attendance at the Hot Scot Party.
City of Perth 2007-02-13 22:50:38 I have been in Perth
today taking photos for my forthcoming guide to Perthshire. Perth is a lovely city situated on the banks of the River Tay. There is a lot of open space and parks, as well as beautiful Georgian architecture.
Travel test your relationship 2007-02-14 14:26:30 There’s no escaping a romantic flavour in today’s post! I thought that Ralf Pott’s tips for travel testing your relationship were very interesting. Ralf is an author and advocate of vagabonding, taking time out to do long term travelling and experiencing the world. Rolf reckons that travelling together could be a good and fairly fast indicator of long term compatability. What do you think?
Read more:Travel
Another romantic myth bites the dust 2007-02-14 12:55:23 A Roman coin portrays Anthony and Cleopatra as no great beauties. Cleopatra has a shallow forehead, pointed chin and a sharp nose while Anthony has bulging eyes, a hook nose and a thick neck. I did read a bit about Anthony and Cleopatra when I was doing research for my Guide to Ancient Nicopolis. Nicopolis was built to commemorate the victory of Octavian against Anthony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in western Greece. Cleopatra had an affair with Julius Caesar and bore him a son. However Julius Caesar had no legitmate heir, so named his newphew Octavian as his heir. However Anthony, as a celebrated general weilded considerable power and influence and Octavian had to power share with Anthony. Anthony married Octavian’s sister while conducting an affair with Cleopatra! I am not even sure it was a great love affair between Anthony and Cleopatra but it was certainly a good strategic alliance between Rome and Egypt
Read more:romantic
, bites
Baby Boomers seeking cultural travel 2007-02-15 17:46:32 Cultural destinations have seen a 50% increase in sales during the period from 2000 to 2005. This increase has been atributed to the desire of “Baby Boomers
” to visit more cultural attractions such as art galleries, museums and historic buidlings. More towns and regions are trying to capitalise on this trend by marketing their natural and historic attributes to encourage visitors.
I think it is more general trend toward getting more out of your leisure time and holidays especially if you have the free time, good health and disposable income of a typical “Baby Boomer”. Other travellers are also looking for more from a holiday than lying on a beach and staying around a resort. They want to experience something that is unique, interesting and authentic at their destination for example somewhere such as Besalu in northern Spain.
Read more:Baby Boomers
Do you want to receive targeted follow up after you visit a travel site? 2007-02-15 16:06:23 Online travel marketing is moving toward behavioural marketing . If you are in a travel site, technology can track what you have researched but did not purchase. You can expect to receive a personalised targeted follow up with information relevant to your search. Companies using this technology have reported a tenfold increase in conversion rates.
When I read this article it is not clear to me how the technology could legitimately gather a browsers email address in order to deliver the future targeted follow up. I found an article which explained that browsers were willing to consent to receive relevant advertising in exchange for the free download of computer software. However the article concludes that bombarding potential customers albeit with relevant advertising is not the way to build loyalty.
Would you be happy to receive these follow ups? I think it could be annoying if say you did make a purchase on another site and then receive more adverts about something you have alread Read more:visit
Air traffic policy change could reduce flight distances by 12% 2007-02-15 14:31:28 The low cost airlined Easyjet has claimed that flight distances flown in Europe could be reduce
d by 12% if the Single European Sky was adopted. This would mean that planes could follow natural flight patterns rather than national boundaries.
While I don’t imagine that it will cost free or simple to implement the Single European Sky, surely the benefits of using less fuel and causing less pollution should make the implementation of the SES a priority.
Read more:traffic
, Air traffic
Babymoons set to make it big the the UK 2007-02-16 18:12:41 The lastest hot travel trend in the US is the Babymoon. This is when the expectant couple take a holiday before the birth of their first child, a last chance to have a relaxing holiday together before baby comes along. Travel companies see this an opportunity to build customer loyalty and hopefully bookings for family holidays in the future.
We had a memorable Babiesmoon before the birth of our twin sons 20 years ago. We visited Andalucia and the cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba.
Moves to cut down bogus hotel reviews 2007-02-16 13:15:53 I am glad to see that this issue is being addressed by several companies.
Trip Advisor employs a team of fraud investigators using software to highlight inconsistencies in reviews
. Hotels found guilty of gerrymandering will be named and shamed and their popularity ranking will drop. I do think that you require appropiate deterents in place to discourage dishonest reviews. It seems quite just that by trying to get undeserved favourable publicity the tables are turned and the cheats get negative publicity instead.
Ryanair offers MPs money saving advice 2007-02-16 12:11:27 Michael O’Leary, head of low cost airline Ryanair
, wants to help the British taxpayer save money on MPs travel expenses to and from Westminster. Civic minded O’Leary has advised the Falkirk MP Eric Joyce that he could greatly reduce his travel expenses of over £30,000 by flying with Ryanair.
However it is not exactly comparing like with like as it is much further to travel to Glasgow Prestwick airport from Joyce’s constituency in Falkirk than to Edinburgh airport. I would estimate that the journey to Prestwick would take at least one hour more than to Edinburgh. The far flung locations of airports used by Ryanair is one of the potential catches of the low cost airlines. Just be sure that you always check the exact location of your arrival airport when you book you flight.
Tension between wind turbines, tourism and nature on Western Isles 2007-02-17 13:01:24 The plan to site a massive wind farm with 181 turbines on the island of Lewis have been approved by the Western
Isles Council. It would be one of the largest wind farms in the world, creating up to 200 jobs and boosting the local ecomony. However Natural Heritage say that tonnes of peat would have to be dug up to allow erection of the turbines. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds oppose the current plans. The RSPB is not against all wind turbines they appreciate the need for alternative energy production, they want wind farn to have the mimumum impace on the natural habitat of the birds. A survey of visitors showed that a large wind farm would discourage 50% of tourists from coming to Lewis. A high proportion of residents living near the site are also opposed to the scheme. They fear noise from the turbines and will loss of the unique feeling of wilderness and tranquility of Lewis.
I don’t know how you carry out a cost benefit analysis here? Would a drop in tourism Read more:Tension
, nature
A ferry good way to travel? 2007-02-19 13:16:32 There were 36 million passenger ferry trips from the UK in 2005, an increase or 400,000 pasenger trips during the previous year. This follow a period of falling passenger trips, probably due to the growth of low cost flights. Passengers are citing reasons such as unrestricted baggage and short check in times as factors influencing their choice of transport.
I have mixed feelings about travelling by ferry. I made the overnight crossing from Zeebrugge to Newcastle a few years ago during an Easter holiday. It was a really rough crossing and it took me 2 days to recover. Living in the north a local ferry crossing is longer and more expensive. If you drive to the Channel ports that’s another day each way onto your trip driving on busy and or congested motorways. You can search and book with all the majo European ferry operators with AFerryTo.
Ryanair has lowest C02 emissions 2007-02-19 12:32:19 A report by the Carbon Consultancy has vindicated low cost carrier Ryanair
’s claim to be one of the most environmentally friendly airlines. A comparision was made between the amount of C02 emitted per passenger on the 1050 mile flight from London to Malaga. The figure for Ryanair was 0.126 tonnes, British Airways was 0.192 tonnes and Thomsonfly was the worst offender at 0.200 tonnes per passenger.
Read more:emissions
Are you having a French tipple more often? 2007-02-19 12:20:51 Sales of French
wine have edged upwards, after a couple years of decline. This increase is attributed to a great 2005 vintage, rose becoming more popular and the launch of some new brands. French wine now accounts for 18% of UK wine sales, in 2nd place behind the 24% market share of Australian wines.
If you would like to take a wine themed holiday in France, I can offer some suggestions.
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