Posted by Jennifer on February 23, 2009 – 5:00 pm
In 2008 the Eurostar high speed passenger service welcomed 9.1 million travellers which is a 10.3% increase on 2007’s figures. It is thought that shorter journey times to Paris and Brussels are attracting more and more custom along with high levels of punctuality that would put some airlines to shame! It seems that the economic downturn has not yet affected Eurostar and Chief Executive Richard Brown comments, “The uncertainties of the current economic climate reinforce the importance of good value fares and Eurostar’s UK lead-in fare remains at £59 return for the sixth year in a row.”
Posted by Jennifer on February 23, 2009 – 1:00 pm
Red Funnel is offering excellent camping packages on the Isle of Wight for a fantastic credit crunching £26 per person. The price includes five nights pitch and return ferry travel. You have the chice of four wonderful campsites all located in beautiful and picturesque locations. Each campsite is well equipped with excellent amenities and facilities. The Isle of Wight offers an array of attractions including Carisbrooke Castle and Amazon World, a brilliant indoor rainforest experience. There is also a selection of shops and restaurants. It is a great place for the whole family to visit.
Posted by Jennifer on February 23, 2009 – 9:00 am
Ryanair has announced that passengers can now use their mobile phones to make phone calls during their flight. 20 planes are now equipped to allow the service and Ryanair plans to fit out all 180 air crafts in the next 18 months. Reactions to the announcement have been mixed but polls suggest passengers are against the idea, and it is not suprising when calls could cost between £1.50 and £3.00 per minute! Some passengers are fearful that voice calls sould become irritating to others within close proximity and cause tempers to rise within the cabin. But on the other hand is it any different to making voice calls from a train, bus or any other method of transport?
Posted by Jennifer on February 22, 2009 – 9:00 pm
Next month the three day Windsor Festival is coming to town to celebrate its 40th anniversary. It was founded in 1969 by Conductor and Violinist Yehudi Manuhin and Ian Hunter. Already lined up for the event is the Southbank Sinfonia and the Academy of St Martin who will be playing Beethoven at the Picture Gallery at Royal Holloway. St George’s Chapel at The Windsor Castle will be hosting performances of Bach’s Mass in B minor. Children can enjoy an array of activities across the region and there will be talks and book signings galore! It is advisable to book hotels in the Windsor area as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Posted by Jennifer on February 22, 2009 – 6:00 pm
The harbour of Portsay in Scotland will host the 16th annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival. Boats from far and wide will travel here in July to take part. You will be able to enjoy special seminars from speakers from all over the world in subjects such as, boat design, sail weaving and gansey knitting. Throughout the festival, adding to the bustling and vibrant atmosphere, there will be music, food and live entertainment. It is suitable for the whole family with events to suit all tastes. For the energetic there will be a 2km fun run and a 10 or 20km road race. Let your hair down at the Friday Night Concert and explore the delicious cuisine on offer at the Food Fair.
Posted by Jennifer on February 22, 2009 – 3:32 pm
Budget airline Ryanair has announced that it hopes to remove check-in desks by the end of this year. It claims that today most passengers take advantage of the online check-in service already. It sees this as an excellent opportunity to cut more costs and stay ahead of the game with competitive pricing. Passengers will use the web to complete all of their check-in needs which will save time and the inconvenience and stress of large queues at the airport. On arrival at the airport there will be a baggage drop area and then passengers head straight to security. It is as simple and straigh forward as that! (Or so we are led to believe!)
Posted by Jennifer on February 19, 2009 – 1:00 pm
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports a steep decline in the number of overseas visitors coming to Britain. The total visitors for the last quarter in 2008 was 7.01 million which is 12% less than the same time the previous year. This was made worse by visitor spend dropping by 21%. It is not only the UK that is suffering, visitors from all regions of the world are in decline. VisitBritain said ‘The figures illustrate the continuing challenges of maintaining Britain’s popularity as a destination in the face of the global economic downturn and increasing competition from rival destinations.’ It is hoped that some of the financial loss can be recovered by many UK residents choosing to holiday domestically due to the weak sterling.
Posted by Jennifer on February 19, 2009 – 11:00 am
The boutique Bermondsey Square Hotel is due to open as soon as April. It is conveniently located in the heart of London in the desirable and bustling area of Bermondsey. The hotel was designed by David Gabriel and created by Bespoke Hotels, known for for their eclectic collection of beautiful English hotels. It will attract a number of guests and is a haven for stylish shoppers. The guest rooms are comfortable and thoughtfully designed using a palette of reds, greens and black. Each room is well equipped with modern amenities including TV’s and Internet access. Enjoy a delicious meal cooked by an award winning chef in Alfie’s Kitchen, Bar and Deli, followed by a refreshing and relaxing drink.
Posted by Paul on February 19, 2009 – 10:16 am
English Heritage does more than you think! Employing over 2,000 people with diverse skills, expertise and backgrounds, it’s a great place to work if you’re interested in working in the industry. They are currently seeking staff to work at a number of their sites; from Visitor Operations Team Members to Historic Areas Advisers,. If you’re looking for a job with a difference, take a look at their current vacancies.
Posted by Jennifer on February 19, 2009 – 9:00 am
Travelbite.co.uk has reported that Virgin Atlantic may have to make up to 600 redundancies and is currently holding discussions with staff. The company believes that in order to retain competitive prices for customers it must cut costs by reshaping the business. Virgin Atlantic employs around 8,500 people and therefore these cuts would mean a 7% cut in workforce. It is another blow brought on by the current economic climate but Virgin hope that sensible cutbacks will allow the company to grow once the UK is out of recession. Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive commented ‘no airline is immune from the recession and we need to stay healthy so we are ready to grow again when economic conditions allow’.
