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
Something for the weekend 30 March - 1 April 2007-03-23 10:52:35 The lighter nights make a short break all the more appealing. Harrogate is a lovely location for a short break in the Spring. The 3 star West Park boutique hotel has double rooms for £65 per night.
The 3 star White Hart Hotel offers double rooms for £70 on Friday night and £85 on Saturday.
What about a few days by the sea in the Victorian resort of Llandudno in northern Wales? With the Grand Ash Hotel offering ensuite double rooms for £38 a night, a seaside break that won’t stretch the budget.
Further down the coast the 4 star Hotel Maes y Neuadd in Harlech, has standard rooms for £85 a night, superior rooms are £90.
Read more:March
, April
Jet2 Avignon from Edinburgh 2007-03-24 21:27:44 Jet2 will be flying from Edinburgh
to Avignon, in the south of France, once a week on Saturdays, from the 23 June to 1 September. The cheapest flights cost around £80 return. It’s a pity that the timetable is so limited as I would like to visit that area but not during the Summer and maybe not for a seven days. Perhaps if the route is popular Jet2 may expand the timetable.
I had a look at hotels in Avignon for the week 18 - 25 August and double rooms start from only 36 euros at the Bonsai hotel on the outskirts of Avignon, ideal for a budget stay. I thought that the Hotel St Roch looked charming, a 5 minute walk from the station with doubles from 50 euros per night.
Hotel St Roch
Is Switzerland expensive for visitors? 2007-03-24 12:16:04 I have started a course of online seminars about Switzerland
run for the travel trade by the Swiss Tourist Board. I think that using the Swiss Pass to travel around the country by train, bus and boat would be a great trip. I visited Switzerland 30 years ago and thought it was very beautiful. I think that many people are put off visiting Switzerland because they think of it as an expensive destination. I am not sure if that is still the case. I know when I visited Gothenburg in Sweden, I didn’t find it more expensive than the UK.
Have you visited Switzerland recently, how did you find the prices?
Do Google ads make sense? 2007-03-26 20:29:48 I have been thinking about adding Google
Adsense to my websites for a while. My first problem was I wasn’t able to do it myself. Google claims it is easy to install but I didn’t find this to be the case for me. I’d to wait until my son, my IT expert, had free time during his Easter Holidays to do it for me.
My other concern was the ads would affect the look and quality of my site. My son installed Adsense to European Cultural & Activity Tours first. The ads that came up were spot on, completely in context. However when he moved on the Europe a la Carte blog it was a different story. The first two ads which appeared were for make-up and for taps and sinks, totally unrelated to the blog. However during the day the ads seem to have become more contextual. I’m hoping this will continue to be the case.
When you visit a website or a blog, do you find the ads annoying? Or are they sometimes useful to you?
Are you a webmaster who uses Google Adsense, how have Read more:Google ads
Clickair aims to be superior low cost airline 2007-03-27 11:59:44 Have you flown with Click Air, the Barcelona based low cost carrier? They aim to combine the low cost airline structure with flexibility and value added service not usually associated with low cost airlines. It will be interesting to see if they can achieve this because it is a pretty tall order.
At present the only flights from the UK are Gatwick to Seville and Heathrow to Seville, La Coruna and Valencia.
Countdown to opening of T5 at Heathrow 2007-03-27 11:27:08 Today’s Travel Daily reports that the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow
is due to open one year today. Incredibly the project is on schedule and on budget. There will be a 6 month trial of terminal prior to the official opening. Sixteen thousand passenger “guineau pigs” will test every aspect of the terminal experience so that any glitches can be ironed out.
Read more:Countdown
Rail option favoured on short haul trips 2007-03-27 11:00:04 I read that Waymark holidays have seen an increase in passengers opting to travel to their holiday destination by rail, where this is viable alternative to flying, for example to France. The majority of customers taking this option
say their decision is prompted by environmental concerns. Waymark specialise in walking holidays
Have you booked a train for a leisure trip you might have just used the plane for in the past?
Read more:trips
Car hire experience 2007-03-27 10:41:09 I read the Hertz was in the Top Ten Superbands, judged by quality, reliability and distinction. It’s hard from me to comment as I’ve never used Hertz. When I’ve done car hire searches, I always found Hertz to be more expensive for the basic car hire and for additional excess waiver insurance. I’ve found Auto Europe to have the most consistently low prices, even with excess refund included and the customer service has been good.
I’ve never had a bad experience
with a car hire firm and have used various suppliers over the years. I’ve heard all the stories about extortionate deductions for minor damage. Do you have any tales of woe? Have you used Hertz, did you feel that they offer a better service/product than other car hire firms?
Something for the Easter weekend 2007 2007-03-28 14:28:59 If you are lucky enough to have Good Friday and Easter
Monday off as Bank Holidays, why not have a long weekend away?
The Hotel De la Bere in Cheltenham, has a double or twin room available for 3 nights from April 6 - 9 for £170. Gloucestershire is a beautiful county and I’d like to go there again.
The 4 star Crowne Plaza Hotel in the city centre of Nottingham has doubles at the promotional rate of £69 per night. I’ve only visited Nottingham once but enjoyed my stay. We went to the castle where there is a museum and Tales of Robin Hood.
Glasgow is a great destination for a short break. The Arthouse Hotel is in the heart of the city centre. close to shops, nighlife and restaurants. Glasgow had many world renowned museums including the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Musuem.
Launch of extra virgin oil in UK 2007-03-28 11:05:31 An extra virgin rapeseed oil, Oleifera, which contains half the saturated fat of olive oil is to hit the shops. The subtle flavour of the oil makes it ideal for salad dressings and mayonnaise. It will be produced from distinctive yellow flowered rapeseed grown in my local area of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. The harvested crop from specially selected varieties of rapeseed will travel a maximum of 35 miles for pressing.
This product fits in well with the move to eating more healthy, high quality, locally produced food. Have you been trying to buy more local produce? I know since I saw a programme on TV which described the thousands of airmiles clocked up by a fairly average family meal, I do look more at the country of origin on products when I’m shopping.
Rapeseed growing by Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland
Read more:Launch
High price of hotel rooms in UK 2007-03-28 10:01:38 Tourists pay some of the highest price
s in Europe for hotel rooms in the UK. The most expensive rooms are in Bath, at an average of £114 per night in 2006. London coast £107 and Edinburgh £95. Rome came in at £94 and Copenhagen £93. The cheapest destinations were Tallin in Estonia at £51 and Warsaw at £61. Hotel prices across Europe rose 17% during 2006.
I think these are averages and you could be lucky and bag a last minute deal or a special offer. If you stay at peak season or when there’s a special event on the prices will be much higher. It can also depend on how many business travellers frequent the city. I know in Aberdeen prices are pushed up by all the oil related business travellers.
It’s another reason to adopt the Europe a la Carte ethos and visit a less well known destination where prices are generally lower and you avoid the crowds.
Airport queues will be reduced to five minutes 2007-03-28 09:24:25 British Airports Authority has pledged to cut waiting times at its airports to no more than 5 minutes
for 95% of passengers. BAA will spend 40 million pounds to reduce queues
at its seven UK airports. More security staff will be recruited to operate 22 new security lanes. However I did spot in the press release that “reduced
congestion and better airport facilities would only cost a few pounds more per passenger.” Are you happy to pay more to queue for a few minutes less?
I don’t think I’ve ever had to wait more than 10 minutes, However I generally travel off peak days and times. What is the longest it has taken you to get through security?
Guest interviews 2007-03-31 12:40:22 I’m starting a new feature for the blog, guest interviews with people working in the travel industry serving, at least partially, the European market. I hope this will make for some variety in the blog, instead of me chuntering on incessantly. I hope it will provide some insight into all the facets of working in the European travel trade.
If you can think of anybody that you’d like me to ask to do an guest interview or if you work in travel in Europe and would like to take part please let me know.
Read more:Guest
Increase in Brits taking Easter holidays at home 2007-03-31 11:35:12 Of the 22% of adults planning a trip during the Easter
holidays, 61% will stay away for at least one night in the UK, while 29% will go abroad. Is the tide beginning to turn? I can only speak personally, I certainly am appreciating the UK more and more, particularly as I spend more time visiting areas when writing my guides. I have lived within a one hour drive of Edinburgh for the majority of my life and yet seen so little of it.
I was in the Edinburgh area yesterday doing some research for an off the beaten track guide to Edinburgh. Although the weather wasn’t great, cloudy with a cool wind I thought what a beautiful city. I was in Holyrood Park, I could hardly believe I was in a city. I was on the shores of Loch Duddingston looking up to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park.
Read more:Brits
Edinburgh Science Festival April 2 - 15 April 2007 2007-03-31 10:25:57 This year’s ScienceFestival
is subtitled, “Science you can handle”. Several events are aimed at kids. such as Dig up a Dinosaur, Unwrap a Mummy and Lego Robosports. The event take part at various venues including the Botanic Gardens.
Our kids used to love going to the Science Festival and I think it’s a great day out for the Easter holidays which isn’t too weather dependent.
Read more:Edinburgh
, April
Guest interview - Darren Cronian of Worldwide Holiday Homes 2007-04-02 08:12:22 Some of you may know Darren
of Travel Rants. Darren’s business is the online UK based WorldwideHolidayHomes
.
1 What is the aim of your business?
I think the aim has probably changed over the four years that I have
been operating Worldwide Holiday Homes, but primarily the aim is to
offer something different than the traditional holiday package, by
allowing holidaymakers to rent a private villa, or luxury apartment or
holiday home and then book their own travel insurance, flights, etc.
2 What prompted you to start your own business?
Before starting the business, I’d had very little interest in the
internet or travel, and in 2002, my parents bought a holiday home in
Spain which they wanted to rent. I visited the internet and at the
time found few choices, and the choices available were expensive, so I
got this mad idea in my head that I could create a website, and ask
holiday homeowners if they were interested in advertising.
At the time it seemed so simple.
3 Read more:Guest
, interview
What is the best method of destination marketing? 2007-04-01 11:24:51 Yesterday saw the start of Tartan Week in New York. Organisers have attempted to portray a more modern image of Scotland this year, the 9th annual event. There will be some Scottish pop groups, A “Dressed to Kilt” fashion show. The crime writer Ian Rankin and the actors Sean Connery and Ewan MacGregor will make appearances. The event has been criticised by some as a ineffective waste of public funds. The event costs around £500.000 to host and it’s difficult to guage the return on this money. Last year’s event cost £650,000 and evidently the event received very little coverage in the US media.
Have you visited Tartan Week, did it encourage you to visit Scotland? I’m not sure about shows like this. In the competitive global tourism market a country has to market itself but it’s hard to say which are most ways in which to achieve this. What types of marketing do you think have encouraged you to visit a specific country?
For me a really clear, e Read more:method
Prague cheapest short break destination 2007-04-03 15:25:45 According a to a survey by Travelcare, Prague
is the cheapest destination for a short break in Europe. The cost of £204 was based on costs such as a stay at a four star hotel, a three course meal, museum entry fee etc. London came third at a cost of £267 with Paris the most expensive at £577. I was surprised by the fact that Dublin at £385 was slightly more expensive than Copenhagen at £380. Yet Scandinavia still has a reputation as a pricey destination.
I think that if you shop around a bit, stay perhaps slightly outside the city centre or trendy areas and don’t travel in peak season you can get a good deal in most European cities. This survey doesn’t appear to include transport costs to your destination so that could have quite an impact on the overall cost of your trip.
I decided to have a quick look at the price of hotel rooms for a weekend in April Friday 13 - Sunday 15 April. I found a superior room in 4 star hotel in Prague with Laterooms for £47 a night.
BMI most punctual UK scheduled airline 2007-04-03 11:05:45 BMI regional was the most punctual UK scheduled airline out of Heathrow during 2006, according to figures publshed by the Civil Aviation Authority. The average delay was five minutes BMI started flights from Aberdeen to Kristiansand in southern Norway on 30 March and will fly from Manchester to Lyon from 25 May.
I have only flown with BMI once on a domestic flight from Edinburgh to Heathrow around 6 years ago. The reason this sticks in my mind was because they were very strict about hand luggage and made me check in my one bag intended as carry on luggage due to its weight. I’d bought the suitcase the week before specifically as it was the maximum size allowed for cabin luggage. What’s your experience of BMI?
Interesting to see that BA languished near the bottom of the pile with an average delay of 19 minutes. The most punctual low cost airline is Jet2 with an average delay of 12 minutes. Jet2 recently came top of a UK customer airline poll. The other low cost carri
Newcastle Festival of Food & Drink April 6 - 15 2007 2007-04-03 10:38:24 A new Festival
of Food and Drink
runs in Newcastle
from April
6 - 15. There are loads of events such a “Wines of the Times” tasting on the evening of Wednesday 11 April, special offers on meals, afternoon teas and a guerilla restaurant. I plan to visit the Local Heroes Tasting Market during the day on Friday 13 April.
Laterooms have a fair selection of accommodation available during this period with prices for double rooms in a central location starting from £60 per night
Is the UK top of your holiday list? 2007-04-04 12:12:52 Hoseasons online poll of 200 holidaymakers suggests that a higher proportion of the UK population are taking holidays at home. Concerns about the environment, airport hassles and the recent warmer Summers have prompted more people to consider the UK as a holiday destination.
I don’t think that an online poll of 200 respondents is very statistically significant but it does all point to a shift in attitudes. Mutual friends discussing holiday plans brought up the topic of their carbon footprint and one was taking the train to go on holiday for this reason. Have you come across any evidence of changes in holiday plans in your family or circle of friends?
BA loses more luggage than other European airlines 2007-04-04 11:11:33 The AIr Transport Users Council has concluded that British Airways are more likely to lose your luggage than many other European
carriers, with at a rate of 23 bags per 1000 going astray. To be fair BA was the only British carrier included in the study, there were no figures from BMI, Easyjet, Ryanair or charter airlines.
However it’s still a pretty poor show by the national carrier. Yesterday BA scored pretty badly in comparative flight delay tables, in 19th place with an average delay of 19 minutes. Then there was recent proposed strike, called off at the last moment. BA could really do with some good publicity.
French train reaches 357mph. 2007-04-04 10:52:32 imagine how quickly you could reach your destination by rail if you travelled on this TGV? Two supercharged locomotives pull three double decker carriages with extra large wheels along a line constructed for the sole use of high speed trains.
What a difference between here in the UK and in France! Although the trains on the West Coast Mainline, from London to Glasgow are capable of 160mph, they are limited by track and signaling inadequacies to 125 mph, no faster than trains in the 1970s.
Surely there is a strong case for more Government investment in the UK rail system? Fast reliable intercity trains could greatly reduce the number of domestic flights which would be good for the environment. I read on the Eurostar website that flying can generate up to ten times the amount of C02 emissions than travelling by rail.
Read more:French
How much more is extra legroom worth to you and the airline? 2007-04-06 23:14:06 According to an online poll of 1400 air travellers by Trip Advisor, 75% would be willing to pay up to 10% more for more comfortable and spacious onboard seats. I suppose it depends on what you pay for your flight in the first place. If I am paying £30, before taxes etc, to a low cost carrier for my ticket, another £3 would be nothing to have more space. I’m just not sure if it would be cost effective for the airlines to lose 10% of passengers to give you 10% more space. I think some airlines may make more profit from passengers buying accommodation, car hire etc through links on their website plus from selling you food, drink etc on board. The extra revenue from fewer passengers paying a bit more may not make economic sense for the airline.
The second most popular thing that would make flying more pleasant for 30% of respondents is clean and roomy toilets. I must admit my pet hate is going into airline toilets where guys have missed and showered the floor with urine.
Seven tips for planning an independent trip in Europe 2007-04-07 18:49:50 Below are my tips for planning
a trip to Europe
. Do you have any tips you can offer prospective travellers?
One: Do not try to see and do too much.
You may end up actually seeing very little. I think it is better to see more of fewer countries/regions and see them properly. You may not want to stay in one location for your whole trip. However if you choose carefully it may be possible to do several day trips from one central location. If you do decide to tour, consider spending at least two nights in some of your destinations. It can be quite tiring being on the move every day, packing and unpacking.
Two: Decide on mode of transport.
Driving will give you more flexibility but can be daunting at times and is not recommended if you mainly wish to visit cities. You may decide to take your own car if you live in Europe. If you fly you can hire a car. Beware of extra charges for additional drivers, insurance excesses, airport charges, out of hours charges etc. I always book a Read more:Seven
, independent
English beaches 2007-04-09 10:46:55 I thought this article about beaches would be useful if you’re thinking of visiting the coast over the Spring and Summer. At the Quality Coast site you can search for your ideal beach by region using criteria such as whether you prefer sand or shingle and which watersport you wish to do.
Which is your favourite beach in England? I am not sure about my favourite. There area some stunning beaches in Devon and Cornwall. I have to say I really like my local beach at Spittal. It’s so accessible, a 5 minute drive away, that we go for a walk there at least once a week. There’s lovely sand, plenty of free parking, great views to to Berwick upon Tweed to the north and to Holy Island to the south. The only downside is that the public toilets are pretty old and shabby.
Read more:English
How green can a music festival be? 2007-04-08 13:05:56 A “green festival” combining music and outdoor activities is taking place near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands from 22 - 24 June 2007. The main attractions are JT Tunstall and Crowded House. There are wildlife walks, mountain bking, rafting, canoeing and rafting. A weekend pass ticket costs £65, there are additional charges for some activities. There is a car sharing facility online and the venue is within 2 miles of a railway station. There is a designated quiet camping zone for families or those who are looking for a peaceful night’s sleep away from the main camping area.
Does this sort of event appeal to you? I am not convinced that it is possible to have a gathering of 10,000 people and call it environmentally friendly. The food served there will be free trade, organic produce in biodegradable packaging. They encourage festival goers to use public transport. I think erecting the stage and toilet/shower blocks etc won’t be good for the environme
Guest interview - Alin Todea of Transylvania Live 2007-04-11 10:01:07 Alin’s business, Transylvania Live, is the latest addition to my other site, European Cultural and Activity Tours. Transylvania Live offers a variety of themed holidays such as walking, Dracula tours and cultural tours.
1 What is the aim of your business?
Our aim is to have our guests enjoy Transylvania by the same passion that we do!
Launched in 1995 Transylvania Live is always searching for better values and continuously optimizing existing services in order to deliver the perfect holiday. Professional staffs are not only ready to answer current needs, but can also anticipate future requirements in the constantly changing marketplace.
Transylvania Live is member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), and the National Association of Tourism Agencies in Romania (ANAT).
These organizations ensure that their members maintain high standards to protect tourists.
Transylvania Live is also active within the community; we are co-founders of Turda’s (the city where we Read more:Guest
, interview
June Gourmet Weekends in Bisceglie Apulia 2007-04-12 17:34:48 Gourmet weekends run every weekend during June 2007. This is the cherry season in Apulia, the heel of Italy. You will be based in Biscelgie, a medieval town 35 kms north of Bari. On Saturday afternoon there is a tour of the old town including the 11th century cathedral followed by a fish feast dinner. After breakfast on Sunday you have chance to pick cherries in a local orchard, visit a Bronze Age monument and lunch at Zappino farm. The cost is 79 euros per person based on two sharing, 84 euros for single room occupancy. The price includes accommodation at the 4 star Hotel Salsello, coach transfers, museum entry, dinner, breakfast and lunch with water, wine and soft drinks included. Please complete an enquiry form if you’d like me to check availability for these weekends.
Trulli houses
If you’d like to stay in a typical trulli house in the region a double room in a trulli piccoli costs from 69 euros per night.
I visited Apulia in November 2004. The visit was all too b
Is Thurso cool for surfing? 2007-04-12 12:50:45 One of the most prestigious global surfing competitions, the O’Neill Highland Open will take place in Thurso in the far north of Scotland from 24 April - 1 May 2007. There’s prize money of £60,000 up for grabs. Let’s hope that the competitors have been doing their cold weather training and added an extra layer of insulation to their websuits, although the waves are predicted to be ideal at around 20 feet, it’s not going to be like surfing in California. If you can’t make it to the event it’ll be online.
There’s a competition with a first prize of a wet suit on the tartan adorned website. I noticed that the second prize was a watch with a tartan strap. Come on now, not everything Scottish has to be tartan!
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