Archive for the ‘Travel advice’ Category

Jun
08
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 08-06-2009

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published an updated guide to inform holidaymakers of what they can and cannot take on board an aircraft and how they should behave during the flight.

The document can be found here: www.caa.co.uk/docs/3/TravellingSafelyFinal.pdf



Getting to the airport on time to get your flight can be quite a stressful part of your holiday. How long should you leave for your journey, what if there’s a traffic jam or an accident, how early should you arrive and how should you travel to the airport? By planning ahead and getting arrangements in place early you will help alleviate the stress.

What time you arrive at the airport will be dependent on whether you are on a domestic or international flight, however, the minimum check-in time varies between airlines and individual routes, so check in advance with your airline.

At busier times of the year it may take longer to pass through airport security and you need to take this in to consideration. If you are travelling at weekends or in the school holidays it is advisable to allow extra time, although don’t allow too much extra time as hanging around the airport waiting for your flight can be stressful in itself.

Transport options
Your method of transport to the airport may be dependent on where you live in relation to the airport. If you live quite some distance away, you may find that public transport options involve too many changes to be convenient.

Coach
If you are thinking about travelling by coach, there are many airport-dedicated services that you may wish to consider. Each airport site has a breakdown of coach services to assist you in finding out which service is most suitable for you. When booking coach travel check the coach company’s luggage allowances: hand baggage allowance and weight and number of checked-in bags permitted.

Train
Many airports now have excellent train services and generally a station located on-site or very nearby. Gatwick airport for example, was the first UK airport to fully integrate air and train services with its own Gatwick airport station. Check out the various train operators and book your train tickets online.

Special rail services
As well as the traditional train services, there are now many dedicated airport train services, such as the Heathrow Express, Stansted Express and Gatwick Express which offer fast direct services to the airport from central London. These operate at very frequent intervals, and are faster, but slightly more expensive than the normal train services.

Bus
This is probably my least favourite option, unless you live very close to the airport, and even then, the thought of dragging heavy luggage on to the bus and worrying about where to stash it during the journey fills me with dread. Your airport site will list the airport bus services available.

Car
If you are planning to drive to the airport always book your parking in advance, as turning up on the day hoping for a parking bay is stressful and significantly more expensive.

Consider your parking options carefully before booking as there are many different types of parking available, such as on-site: short- or long-stay; off-site airport parking; park and stay options with local hotels; or valet, meet and greet parking.

Plan your route in advance with an online route planner, such as the AA or Multimap, and carry a map or use satellite navigation just in case your planned route is disrupted by an accident. Always check the Highways Agency website for advance notice of planned road works that may affect your journey.

Taxi
Book your taxis in advance. It is usually cheaper to use a local taxi company to drop you off at the airport and more convenient to use the official airport taxi company on your return. Although the official taxi company will be slightly more expensive, a taxi should be waiting for you. An off-airport taxi will not be able to wait outside the airport in the same way as an official taxi due to security restrictions.

Friends and family drop off
Kiss and fly as this type of travel is known may seem convenient but think of the poor driver, their time, and their fuel. IT is also one of the least environmentally-friendly methods of travel. Relying on a friend or family member can be stressful, what if they’re late, or an unexpected problem occurs? You don’t have a contract with them and you may not be able to make last-minute adjustments to your plans.

Whatever your chosen method of transport to the airport, make sure you have organised it in advance to save undue stress on the day.



May
07
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 07-05-2009

When we plan a holiday we are often conscious of our outward journey preparations, organising as smooth a getaway as possible and keeping airport hassle to a minimum. But, do we give much thought to our return journey?

Outbound travel is always made smoother, irrespective of the hassles we may encounter, due to the anticipation and excitement of our holiday. Return travel is always worse, invariably you’re tired, you’ve had to vacate your holiday accommodation early, you’ve had to allow plenty of time to get your hire car back to the airport, then there’s check-in, often in a foreign language, hanging around for your flight, and inevitably delays.

Excitement about your holiday is like a painkiller for travel hassle, but on your return, you’re tired, and all you want to do is get home. So how do you make your return journey as hassle-free as possible? Well, with a few pointers, you should be okay. To help you may wish to consider the following:

Meet and greet parking
Meet and greet airport parking has to be the most convenient airport parking available. Imagine just driving up to the airport terminal, unloading your luggage, handing over your keys to a driver and walking straight into the terminal. You can’t get easier parking than that.

Meet and greet valet parking is great on departure days, but it’s even better when you get back and you realise you don’t need to collect your own car from the car park, dragging your luggage, and tired kids, behind you.

So for the ultimate hassle-free end to your holiday, organise meet and greet parking. When booking your meet and greet parking the company will take a record of your return date, flight number and expected time of arrival, so they can monitor your return flight to ensure an accurate time to deliver your car back to you at the airport terminal. It is such a wonderful feeling knowing that, no matter how delayed your flight is, your car will be waiting for you the minute you step out of the terminal, and an even better feeling to know that you’re on your way home in a warmed-up before your fellow passengers have even reached their car.

Book an airport hotel
Booking an airport hotel room isn’t just for outbound flights. If your chosen airport is some distance from your home, or if you have an extra day or so before you return to work, book an airport hotel room and get a good night’s sleep prior to making the long journey home. If you book a park and stay package at an airport hotel, you can arrange to take you stay on your return rather than on the outward journey. Better still, book a park and stay meet and greet package and take advantage of being met at the airport on your outward journey, and having your car returned to you at the hotel when you’re ready to drive home, rested after your return flight – simple and extremely convenient!

You can’t insure against flight delays and holiday hassle, but if you are travelling from Gatwick airport consider using Gatwick meet and greet parking or book a Gatwick Hilton park and stay package. to make your journey home as easy and convenient as possible.



Mar
26
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 26-03-2009

Even the most placid child can get frustrated by the confined space of an aircraft; they just have too much energy and need to run around. Add to that the excitement of going on holiday plus the tiredness of getting up at an unsociable hour to get to the airport and you have a potential nightmare journey on your hands.

If you’re flying with a baby, young child or both this holiday, careful preparations can help to organise them and relieve the boredom of a long flight.

  1. For toddlers and younger children pack chewy sweets to help them cope with the ear pain of take-off and landing. Give very young children, or a baby, a dummy to suck on or bottle of liquid to sip to help alleviate the pain.
  2. Use a back pack for your cabin baggage, this frees up your hands and makes dealing with children at the airport much easier.
  3. Let your young child have their own hand luggage – it makes them feel ‘grown up’ and makes them a self-contained traveller. There are some great bags and cases available for small children, particularly the pull along trunk type which children can drag along behind them, or sit on and ride when they get tired.
  4. For toddlers, pack a capped beaker for drinks on the plane – it helps to avoid spills and can be slotted alongside them on their seat for easy access.
  5. Always carry a change of clothes for your baby or child in you cabin baggage.
  6. If travelling with a baby or small toddler, take a collapsible pushchair / stroller right up to the boarding gate to save you carrying them. It can then be placed in the hold and returned to you as you leave the aircraft.
  7. Pack some toys to keep your child amused on the plane: a cuddly toy, paper or colouring book and colouring pencils will help. Pencils are a safer and less messy alternative to felt tips which can mark the fabric of the plane. Even small toddlers, who are unable to write, appreciate the ability to scribble. An electronic game, portable DVD player or the like will help keep them amused. If you plan to take anything powered by batteries, make sure the batteries are fully charged before travel.
  8. If your child is not yet toilet trained, or you’re travelling with a baby, pack plenty of nappies and wet wipes for the journey and make sure you change your baby prior to the flight.
  9. Try to book a window seat for a young child, as children like watching what’s going on outside and will often be quite happy to just gaze out the window in mid flight.
  10. Keep children entertained when you get to the airport by taking them to the children’s area for a run about to let off steam before being cooped up on their flight. With any luck it will tire them out and they may sleep for part of the journey. Alternatively, take them to watch the planes land and takeoff – these things are fascinating for children and will keep them occupied for some time.

Although travelling with young children or a baby can seem daunting, being prepared, planning ahead and following the tips above should help make the journey less stressful leaving you relaxed enough to enjoy your holiday.



Feb
27
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 27-02-2009

The current economic climate is turning us into a cost-conscious society. We are all looking to trim the cost of everything: the supermarket bills, utilities bills and, of course, this year’s summer holiday.

There are several ways to save money when booking your holiday. If you are planning to fly with a budget airline this year, one way to cut costs is to familiarise yourself with your airline’s added extras, or ancillary charges.

Many budget airlines focus on low-cost tickets to attract customers and then make a large proportion of their money by offering optional, added extras, such as checked-in baggage, airport check-in and onboard food and drink. If you are aware of where they make their money, a bit of forward planning should help you to avoid most of these charges.

Here’s a list of dos and don’ts that will help:

Don’t travel with checked in luggage
If your airline is charging you to take checked-in baggage, consider travelling with hand luggage only. A significant amount of money can be saved by a family of four if you can survive with hand luggage only.

If you do need to carry hold luggage, pay for it online before checking in as the fees charged online are generally less than at the airport.

Don’t exceed your permitted weight allowance
If you do need to travel with more than just hand luggage, make sure you know your weight entitlement and stick to it. Excess luggage charges are expensive and can add loads to the cost of your holiday. Make sure you have left a sufficient amount of weight allowance to bring back extras that you buy on holiday.

Don’t buy your currency at the airport

Purchasing currency at the airport has to be the most expensive way of buying foreign currency. If you don’t like the rates at the airport what are you going to do, you’ve nowhere else to go. Prior to travelling, shop around online or on the high street for currency deals, but don’t assume that commission-free is the cheapest option. Compare how much you will get for your money, or check how much it will cost to buy the amount of foreign currency you require. This will give you a genuine comparison on which to make your decision. Often, travel agents offer better deals online than in their high street shops.

Don’t arrive at the airport too early
Obviously, you need to allow sufficient time to get through airport security, but by arriving too early you risk killing time in the airport shops and may spend money on items you don’t really want or need.

Do check-in online

Many budget airlines charge for airport check-in, so check-in online before you leave home and print your own tickets. Try to check-in online as soon as it is possible to do so. If you haven’t pre-booked your seats, you may stand more of a chance of being allocated seats together the earlier you check in.

Do book your airport parking in advance
Up to a whopping 60 percent can be saved by booking your airport parking online, in advance. Never just turn up at the gate. During busy holiday periods, you may find the price of airport parking increases the nearer you get to your travel date, so book your parking as soon as possible.

Do eat before you fly

If you’re flying with a budget airline, consider eating prior to flying, or purchase food and drink after security to take on the plane. But make sure it will fit in your hand baggage, or you may find yourself charged for extra baggage. The cost of feeding a family of four on a budget airline can significantly increase your travel costs. Don’t forget about this on your return journey too.

Do purchase travel insurance
While the temptation can be to trim your holiday costs as much as possible, travel insurance is one expense you simply can’t afford to do with out. Travel insurance can cover airline failure, lost or stolen valuables and emergency medical treatment.

Travelling without travel insurance is a false economy, is something goes wrong on holiday it could cost you significantly more money than an insurance policy. It’s not worth the financial risk, so make sure you’re covered.

Have you any other tips to save money on this year’s holiday. If so, please feel free to add them in the comments section. I’d love to hear them.



The great summer getaway is nearly upon us, and as we shop for new holiday items and draw up packing lists, take heed of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) reminder about dangerous goods which must not be carried on aircraft.

Dangerous goods include items such as culinary blowtorches, fireworks and other explosives as well as substances such as petrol, lighter fuel and weed killer that must not be carried in either hand luggage or checked in baggage.

Geoff Leach, Manager of the Dangerous Goods Office at the CAA, said: “The majority of passengers are very careful when packing their luggage and know which items can and cannot be taken on board. Whilst we are all made aware of the security restrictions imposed, passengers still need to be reminded that some items, which are relatively innocuous in everyday use, are capable of posing a serious risk to the occupants of an aircraft, no matter where they are carried on the aircraft.”

The CAA draws passengers’ attention to the risks of fire from inappropriately packed batteries and battery powered devices, which if accidentally activated could cause a fire. In February 2007, a fire in an overhead locker in an aircraft that had just taken off from New York JFK Airport was believed to have been caused by a battery which had short-circuited and overheated.

Dangerous goods that must NOT be taken on board are:

  • explosives, such as fireworks, flares, toy gun caps;
  • gases, such as culinary blowtorches, camping or compressed gas cylinders, tear gas, mace or CS gas devices;
  • flammable materials such as petrol, lighter fuel, paint, thinners, non-safety matches, firelighters;
  • poisons, such as weed killers, insecticides; • corrosives, such as filled car batteries.

For more information on prohibited items check out www.caa.co.uk/dangerousgoods



Apr
29
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 29-04-2008

In the wake of yet another airline collapse, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is again warning travellers of the dangers of DIY holidays.

DIY holidaymakers could be putting their holidays at risk by booking individual components of their holiday independently of each other – flights, accommodation, car hire etc. booked separately as part of a DIY holiday are unconnected and are not covered by the CAA’s Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing (ATOL) financial protection scheme.

Should an airline or another provider of part of your holiday cease trading you are responsible for finding an alternative, often more expensive, replacement – if you cannot purchase a replacement, you may be unable to claim back money already paid for the unused components of your holiday and could run the risk of being stranded abroad if the airline you flew with went bankrupt during your holiday.

For peace of mind, the CAA is highlighting the benefits of booking all the elements of a holiday with the same ATOL protected company.

ATOL spokesman David Clover said: “Our research shows that although millions of holidaymakers will build DIY breaks this summer, they don’t realise they are at risk. Holiday purchases are still a significant household purchase so we want consumers to make informed choices about financial protection. We must also emphasise to those building their own holidays that they may not be protected against the risks of travel company insolvency.”

He continued: “Booking an entire holiday with one travel company does not mean that consumers have to compromise flexibility for protection. Many of the major online holiday operators allow holidaymakers to build their own tailored ATOL-protected break.

“If consumers are booking DIY holidays this summer, we urge them to take out their own financial protection measures such as buying with their credit card, rather than a debit card, or taking out insurance which covers against the dangers of insolvency.”

ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) is managed by the CAA, and provides repatriation costs if a tour operator fails. In the year to March 2008, ATOL enabled more than 2,000 customers of failed tour operators to complete their holidays and return to the UK, a further 21,000 received refunds of advance payments. For the year, total expenditure on repatriations and refunds was £7.5 million.

For more information about ATOL and to check an ATOL number click on the link



Oct
02
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 02-10-2007

Do you reclaim the tax and duty paid on cancelled airline tickets? Did you know you can claim the money back?

Well, you are not alone. According to a poll of 2070 people conducted by YouGov for InsureandGo, 48% of travellers are unaware they can claim their money back, and 3% were put off by high administration charges.

Perry Wilson, Managing Director of InsureandGo said, “The amount of tax and duty paid on each flight people take has increased dramatically and it can now be as much as £150 of the cost of a long haul journey.

“Passengers are estimated to pay £972 million in Air Passenger Duty for 2006/07 and £2.117 billion in 2007/08. If you cancel your ticket, it really does pay to claim back the tax and duty you have paid on it.”



Jun
29
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 29-06-2007

The summer getaway will soon be upon us as thousands of drivers hit the road in an attempt to reach the airport and head off in to the sun. As your holiday approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the whole thing and overlook one important factor of a safe getaway – sleep!

Did you know that approximately 300 people die each year as a result of a driver falling asleep when driving? Sleeping at the wheel accounts for up to 20% of crashes on motorway and similar roads, and you are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel between the hours of midnight and 6am, and 2-4pm.

Leisure drivers are at risk because they are likely to drive further distances during holiday times than they are used to. It’s a natural instinct to want to reach your destination as soon as possible, particularly when going on holiday, but it is better to factor in some breaks and plan your journey properly so that you arrive alive.

Sleepy drivers are aware of their tiredness – common symptoms of tiredness are a drowsy, relaxed feeling, difficulty keeping your eyes open, difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, nodding head, excessive yawning and repeatedly drifting out of your lane.

It’s a fallacy to think that turning up the radio and opening the window for some fresh air will wake you up.

The following tips will help you avoid that tired feeling when going on holiday and help you arrive safely at your destination:

· Plan your journey to include a 15 minute break every two hours of driving

· Drink 2 cups of coffee or other high caffeine drink before resting to allow time for the caffeine to take effect

· Have a good night’s sleep prior to setting out on a long journey

· Be aware that you are more likely to feel tired if you have an unusually early start – ideally avoid making long trips between midnight- 6am and 2-4pm when your natural alertness is low

· If possible, share the driving

· If you start to feel sleepy find a safe place to stop as soon as possible – not the hard shoulder of a motorway

· If you are flying away on holiday, try to book a local hotel either for the outward journey – this will enable you to drive at a time when you are less likely to feel sleepy – or for the return journey – great after a long flight – you can ensure you have a good night’s sleep prior to setting off home. Just think of it as another day’s holiday!

If you are flying from London Gatwick this summer, why not book a room at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel with Hilton Valet Parking – an upgrade on their park and stay package.

The Hilton Valet Parking package in association with Help-Me-Park.co.uk offers a convenient parking service – your car is collected from the entrance to the Hilton Hotel when you arrive and is returned to you at the Hilton when you get back from your holiday.

You can either stay at the Hilton prior to your departure, or after you arrive back from holiday and have your car returned to you at the Hilton the next day when you are refreshed and ready to drive home.



May
22
Filed Under (Travel advice) by Paula on 22-05-2007

If like me, you like to take total control for your holiday, mixing and matching components such as purchasing flights from one company, accommodation from another and car hire from another…beware! You, like me, and 18 million other people could be putting your holiday at risk in the event of bankruptcy of any one of the companies that sold you part of your holiday.

Flights and accommodation booked separately as part of a DIY holiday are unconnected, so if an airline or accommodation provider ceases trading you could be forced to buy alternative, often more expensive, replacements – if you cannot purchase replacements, you may be unable to claim back money already paid for the unused components of your holiday. You could even run the risk of being stranded abroad if the airline you flew with went bankrupt during your holiday.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which operates the ATOL financial protection scheme, is highlighting to holidaymakers the benefits of booking all elements of a holiday together with a single, ATOL-protected travel company, and urging travellers to check that their summer holidays are financially protected.

ATOL is the UK’s only licensing scheme for travel companies selling air holiday packages, protecting around 27 million people each year from losing money or being stranded abroad if their travel company goes bankrupt. Travel companies are also responsible for all aspects of the holiday, so if one element goes wrong, the company will make alternative arrangements.

The CAA has issued the following advice to consumers on how to check for ATOL holiday protection:

  • Look out for the ATOL logo on websites and in brochures if you are booking online or by telephone;
  • If booking with a travel agent, check out brochures and ask the agent to confirm whether ATOL is protecting the entire holiday;
  • Check the company’s details online at www.atol.org.uk or call ATOL on 020 7453 6430 for free advice.

DIY package holidays are not protected under the ATOL scheme so consumers should consider:

  • Booking with a credit card. But beware – this does not always mean full protection. You must have spent at least £100 on each element of the holiday to be covered;
  • There is no protection for payments made via debit cards;
  • Taking out travel insurance which covers against insolvency – but check the small print, as most policies do not include this cover or will not cover all consequential losses.
  • Remember – you may only be covered for the component of your holiday that has gone bankrupt. You may not be able to claim for any subsequent losses from other components.

For more information and advice about ATOL and holiday protection, consumers should visit www.atol.org.uk or call 0207 453 6430.







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