Friday’s travel news featured two airline stories that reflect the increasingly contradictory nature of the industry as a whole. First we hear that Co-operative Travel has stood up against the proposal of a third runway at Heathrow, the first major travel company to do so. Then secondly Emirates announces the world’s first in-flight showers. The so called ‘Timeless Shower Kits’ require an extra tonne of water to be carried, the weight equivalent of twelve extra passengers and all the fuel that requires!

The Co-operative Travel’s announcement is part of the organisation’s new strategy to support responsible and sustainable tourism. The company also calls for further technological research to allow the travel industry to develop further without compromising greenhouse gas emission targets. I’ve got a feeling in-flight showers and all the ‘extra weight-to-fuel-to-emissions’ they demand will not be welcomed by the Co-op! Also, I must admit to a tendency to agree, can we really not shower on terra firma?

Then we see Easy Jet profits down to £110-120 million (instead of £138 million as predicted) blamed on rising fuel costs. Quite amazingly the company claims to have offset around 50% of its increased fuel bill through cost cutting. With increases reported at £185 million that suggests they have cost cut to the tune of £90 million plus. What were we paying for previously I wonder? And how much is a cheese sandwich now? Quite obviously its hard times for aviation and we can expect to see many changes to current operations in the future. Personally I’d predict a reduction of inaugural luxuries – such as showers and business class only flights – to cut down the number of empty seats alongside the inevitable raging extra runway debate.

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Do we really need a car at all?

Are we really better off by bike…

Over the last few weeks everyone has been feeling gloomy about the credit crunch. We are trying to save more money by cutting our luxury holidays and the pint at the pub to start our weekend. It got me, and very likely other motorists to consider if they really need a car at all? Drivers are really being hit by taxes, the road tax band which looks the car’s CO2 emissions and charge accordingly, the soaring petrol prices and also having to pay car insurance. It’s no wonder that drivers are looking for ways to save money. However it’s very difficult as some people can’t live without a car to get them to places.

I have been questioning the campaign for “Your better off by bike” which is the scheme by Mayor of London Boris Johnson to encourage us to think twice and use our cycles instead of our cars to get us around which include cycling to work and shows us the benefits of using a bike. It also offer schemes to learn in your Borrough as well as designated parking spaces for bikes only.

On average we drive 13,438km (8350miles) per year (approximately 23 miles per day). Could we cycle this far or find other means of transport that will take less time? I drive about 50miles a day all together, but it costs me over £50p/w to fill up my tank. I am only able to do about 16km (almost 10 miles) in an hour on a bike, so it would take over 2 hours to get to work! How about our wonderful, unreliable tube network including a 15 minute bus to work? Over 2 hours again. Just to compare, my drive to work takes 45mins- 1 hour and driving is hard enough. Our time is precious to us because we seem to be having less and less to ourselves and to live our lives. But for now, my car is here to stay. Time is Sanity.

In saying this, I could probably ride my bike to the gym and other places, it’s just about getting more efficient and seeing what we can all do. Before any of us can think about changing our cars for public transport or cycling, the system needs to be improved (and much much cheaper!) and cycling needs to be made safer on the roads. Do we really need to use our cars to get us everywhere? Is there no other way we can get to nearby places without our cars? After all, we can always hire a car at the weekends if we are going away, or opt in for a car share scheme to get us to work and back.

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Do we really need a fast car?

Near my home I see a Ferrari at least once a week driving along the road, it uses up more petrol revving the engine than I use in an entire week yet I always ask myself, do we all really need fast cars? In a previous article I talked about the increasing congestion on the roads, so why do we strive to get one of these bad boys?

We want one. We want the flash Porsche and the big Jeep. We want to live a life of luxury and if we can afford it, then why not? When the Ferrari drives past I think “That person must earning so much money to be able to afford that! But oh what a sexy car.” It looks good, we feel good when we are in sitting behind the wheel, and why shouldn’t we? We must have something to look forward to! We all work so hard to make our quality of life better so we can enjoy it.

However, with luxury today there is a huge cost! Can we really afford to have our own Porches with fuel bills going through the roof? New car sales have slumped according to the BBC and don’t set to be rising anytime soon, are people thinking twice about speed and now considering global warming and opting for efficiency?

Will fast, slick cars be a thing of the past and the new “speed” be “zero emissions”? It certainly looks that way, 4×4′s are getting taxed out of the exhausts with them being in the higher tax group for emissions, our more energy efficient cars being taxed from £0, and these are cars that are also exempt from the congestion charge.

We here at Auto Europe do an entire range of luxury cars, so if you fancy saving money, rather than buying one, why not hire one for that weekend road trip you were planning?

Next Week… Round Two

Do we really need a car at all?
Are we really better off by bike…

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We here at Auto Europe want you to get the best deals for your holiday where ever you choose to go. Our competitive rates give you savings in some of our top European countries to visit this year in which you are sure to find a bargain!

Go to France with Auto Europe and be free to drive to Paris to see the wonderful Eiffel Tower or dine in some of the fine French restaurants and cafés. Or drive down to Disneyland Paris with your family and enjoy a magical holiday. Drive to Nice, located on the French Riviera and enjoy some of the beautiful natural surroundings.

Why not visit Spain with a hire car and enjoy some of the fine culture this country has to offer. Drive along coast starting at Barcelona, visiting some of the fine beaches with a mountainous backdrop then travelling down to Valencia, a city with many cultural attractions and glamouris lifestyle. Here you can also visit the modernistic Palau de les Arts opera house to enjoy some wonderful music. Take a ferry to Palma Island to get away from the mainland or carry on along the coast to get to Alicante known as ‘The City of Light’ and relax at some of the finest beaches along the Costa Blanca. Here you can visit the Old Town El Barrio and have some really wonderful food. Keep going down the coast but turn further inland to Murcia which will have some stunning views for you to enjoy. It has 70km of gorgeous beaches and compromises of perfect weather for any driver. If you want to discover more of Spain and see what else you can find along the coast!

Portugal is absolutely stunning. I really enjoyed it when I went for a week with my friends. We hired a car after getting many quotes and I would recommend it with Auto Europe as they beat the price we were quoted. We drove down to Algarve after spending 2 days trying to cram in everything we could possibly see in Lisbon and it was worth the laughs on the road trip alone! Algarve was beautiful and warm and we enjoyed our 2 days there. And the drive back up to Lisbon was just as funny! I would recommend Portugal for anyone looking to go away with friends and anyone wanting to enjoy the relaxation they can have from having their own car to explore Portugal for themselves.

So have a look at Auto Europe to see what great rates you can find. If you want to be the first to hear about our latest offers on car hire, sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts! Auto Europe offer a Price Match Promise if you find your hire car cheaper elsewhere.

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In the last few days some of the major airlines and tour operators have announced some new ‘green’ measures designed to help us all reduce our carbon footprint when we fly. The new Emirates super-jumbo planes will be paperless – so no magazines, catalogues and other seat pocket paper that apparently adds up to an extra tonne of weight and wastes fuel. Hopefully they’ll still provide those little bags for queasy travellers, or the on-board environment could start to suffer too.

BA and Ryanair are reducing services to certain destinations this winter and now TUI Travel UK, which owns Thomson and First Choice holidays, has announced that new measures will be introduced soon to penalise passengers who take large suitcases on planes. According to a TUI spokesman quoted in the Times Online, a third of what’s in most bags could be left at home. He added that one of the heaviest routes is the Maldives, “where you don’t need much more than a bikini”.

I know we do generally tend to pack a little more than is needed, but that’s just silly. Stuffing a swimsuit into your pocket and jetting off to a Caribbean island might be something James Bond would do, but most of us need to carry sufficient supplies to make sure we get maximum enjoyment from our fortnight in the sun. If I can’t pack plenty of toiletries, teabags and half the stock from my local pharmacy, my holiday simply won’t be as pleasant, and anyone with children knows you can barely leave the house without a bag full of stuff to cover all eventualities.

The idea is that modest packers would reap the benefits of this new scheme. I’d guess that most of the money saved at the airport would be spent at the resort shop on sun lotion and other essential items you left at home in a bid to travel light. The same TUI spokesman also admitted that space in its holds is used to transport cargo such as tuna, so would you really be helping the eco-system by leaving that extra pair of shoes behind?

TUI’s plans will suit the seasoned traveller, with a capsule wardrobe, a cast-iron stomach and a good working knowledge of the country he or she is visiting. For most of us it will just be another way of charging higher prices for flying. The good news is you can still cram as much into the boot of your car as you like – with no restrictions on clothes, books, kettles or anything else us Brits need to make a temporary home from home.

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If you are undecided about a summer holiday on a Spanish beach, you should think twice as there is more to Spanish beaches than the popular resorts crowded with sun-hungry tourists.

The Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) on Western part of the Andalucian coastline offers an alternative to other well known Mediterranean resorts. Stretching from Portugal down to Tarifa and the Strait of Gibraltar, this whole region is a distinct favourite with the Spanish.

With several miles of fine white sandy beaches, rolling dunes, stretches of cliffs and coves, it is surprising that this area of Andalucia is relatively undiscovered. The Costa de la Luz offers an exceptional Andalucian atmosphere with a strong flamenco tradition, colourful carnivals and religious processions. Also, superb Andalucian cuisine with tapas bars packed with excellent fish and seafood, which is a welcome alternative to the usual, more predictable tourist menus.

The unspoilt beaches are also within reach of some of Europe’s most attractive cities. This special area of Andalucia has many historic cities rich in culture and tradition such as Cadiz, Seville and Jerez, or amazing hilltop towns like Vejer and Arcos. One moment you are walking along a deserted and unspoilt beach, the next you could be exploring vibrant Andalucian cities. For example, the old town of Tarifa with lots of boutiques, terraced cafes and restaurants around the streets which wind up towards the late-Gothic 15th century church of San Mateo and an impressive castle overlooking the town. Tarifa also has a lively nightlife with its many bars and clubs promoting a growing reputation as the new ‘Malibu of Europe’.

So if you want to experience a different kind of Spanish holiday, Costa de la Luz provides numerous attractions to beat rival holiday resorts within the other Costas. The difference is that for now it is relatively remote, which means better chances to find cheaper deals.

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In response to a crackdown by European traffic police, yesterday evening’s Tonight programme on ITV reported the differences in European driving laws that lead British holiday drivers to inadvertently break the rules, resulting in hefty fines and even confiscation of vehicles.

It featured some very sobering statistics and case studies that really highlighted the importance of planning a car journey properly. Apparently up to 5,000 European road accidents a year are caused by Brits driving abroad, and one in five of us don’t understand foreign road signs. Add to this the fact that we often have no idea of the emergency roadside number, what paperwork to carry, or the speed limits and it’s not surprising that the authorities are no longer willing to make allowances.

When you think about it, the idea of driving when you have absolutely no idea of the rules is crazy. You wouldn’t just forget your Highway Code and hope for best here in the UK (you certainly wouldn’t have a licence for long if you did), so why do we do it so regularly in other countries?

Perhaps we don’t realise how different traffic laws are across Europe, or maybe it’s that same holiday madness that makes many British tourists eat far too much saturated fat, drink their own body weight in tequila and forget any normal codes of conduct for a week or two each year. We just want to escape normal life and indulge in some no-holds-barred fun – and quite right too, that’s what it’s all about, right? Not if you end up getting into trouble with local police, or worse still are involved in a serious accident.

One man interviewed in the Tonight programme thought he’d driven to the letter of the law in France last year, until he was stopped as part of a routine police check and was heavily fined for carrying a radar detector, a gadget that’s perfectly legal here in the UK.

A bit of research to find out what the driving rules are and what documents you need would take a few minutes, but it could save lives. There are plenty of websites available to help, like driving abroad. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provides some great tips as part of its ongoing campaign with about 250 travel industry partners to help Brits stay safe and healthy abroad. And look out for the range of destination guides coming soon to the Auto Europe website, featuring all sorts of practical advice to make sure your holiday goes without a hitch.

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According to an article in the Daily Mail, up to half a month’s rain fell on parts of Southern England in just half an hour on Monday night, and Piers Corbyn, Director of Long-range forecasters WeatherAction, predicts that this summer as a whole will feature amongst the top five wettest on record.

Depressing as this news is (especially for those who suffered terrible flooding following last year’s downpours) it’s really not surprising. Anyone who lives in the UK knows that our weather has never been reliable. Long before global warming became a threat, wet summers and mild winters were a regular occurrence.

The ‘typical British Summer’ is world renowned, yet still we cling to the hope of sunshine and feel cheated when it doesn’t arrive. As the euro strengthens and fuel surcharges rise, many of us will be even more desperate for bright skies as we forgo a foreign holiday and spend our break closer to home. According to a survey conducted by Norwich Union, one in three British holiday makers will be avoiding foreign holidays to cut costs.

The good news is our tourist trade hasn’t simply shrugged its shoulders and given up just because we don’t get three months of guaranteed sun. In fact, in many regions it has worked tirelessly to make sure our desires are catered for without having to step on a plane. The current economic climate is providing the UK with an opportunity to prove its credentials as a great destination for holidays. After struggling for many years under an old-fashioned, expensive and child unfriendly reputation, our leisure industry is finally enjoying a renaissance.

You don’t have to plough the savings you make on flights back into accommodation if the budget is tight. Camping might be off the agenda this year, but there are still loads of great deals to be found online, even for the peak season. House swapping is also growing in popularity (and I’m yet to hear of a bad experience of this). Websites like Homelink offer hundreds of properties across the country for temporary exchange, so you can enjoy some real home comforts at no cost at all.

I’m not suggesting that great weather doesn’t matter – the benefits are obvious. But after wasting too much time hoping for heat, I’ve decided the most sensible idea is to plan for the worst. A bit of research and imagination to make a memorable summer despite torrential rain means I won’t be disappointed. And if the sun should choose to make an appearance, however brief, I’ll throw on my flip-flops, run into the garden, and count myself lucky.

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Today I’m inspired by one of the most useful internet articles I have ever seen! Nick Trend writes “Savvy Traveller – Holiday Dates to Avoid” on the ever-good Telegraph travel site. The article runs through the busiest days and weeks of the summer across the UK, France, Spain & Italy, on roads and in airports. If you haven’t planned your summer trip/s yet then do READ IT. After all why sit in traffic if you don’t have too.

Did you know for example that our European counterparts often all holiday at the same time? Pick the wrong weekend to drive through France and it will be a lot like a lovely English bank holiday “back to London” pile up all the way, except probably a lot hotter! The article also features a link to a website so good we’ve added it to our “Travel Sites we like” section. Keep Moving (www.keepmoving.co.uk) has direct access into CCTV cameras on major roads across Britain. Log on before you leave to protect against unnecessary aggravation on bad traffic days.

And, for when the best laid plans go to ruin, try new website Missed A Flight to ensure you don’t miss out on a holiday entirely when one element goes wrong. Designed to cater for people who simply miss their flight or are the victim of airlines going bust or other external factors affecting their plans, the website aims to get you on another flight within 24 hours. Great news for anyone with inflexible holiday dates from work. The service operates 24 hours a day but enquiries between 8pm and 8am do need to be made by telephone.

I’ll keep you updated on other useful new travel services as I find them and all your suggestions are welcome as always!

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As fuel prices increase I have time to reflect on my recent journey to Scotland. Driving north from Reading was a pleasant drive in the early hours of the morning avoiding all of the possible traffic on the 430-mile trip.

Over the 12-day trip we covered 1100 miles and saw the cost of diesel go from 121.9 to 131.9 per litre. The trip was for 2 reasons, an early family holiday (with the in-laws) and for me to run the Edinburgh Marathon.

The first half of the holiday was spent sight seeing, visiting castles, distilleries, locks and other places of interest, plus keeping an under 2 happy and content. Driving around the most scenic routes we could find away from the main traffic going to places only my wife can find on a map (the joys of not using sat nav).

One of the best things about the trip was the chalet we had booked on the side of a private lock near Crieff in Perthshire. (http://www.monzievaird.co.uk/) Our chalet over looked the lock and we had the pleasure of watching the bats flit between the trees each evening. We were also lucky enough to come across a deer on one of our evening walks around the lock.

Our daughter had great fun with lots of open grass areas for her to play, as well as chasing the ducks, rabbits and any other animals that happened to be caught in her view.

After we left the lock and moved to Edinburgh we stayed in a hotel for 2 nights to allow me to register for the marathon and then run the following day. As always I discovered around the 18-mile point that I had not done enough training and suffered for it. I did manage to finish as I have done in the past and vowed if I run again I will train harder and be better prepared.

To summarise it may have been a long drive there and back at over 7 hours each way. However even with the increased cost of fuel this turned out to be a great holiday and good value for money. We got to see some of the great heritage of the Scotland, plus I got to run the Marathon.

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