Posted by rowengower | Under Motoring and Travel News
Reading the papers and watching the news you may be forgiven for thinking that the season of goodwill has been cancelled in credit crunch Britain. Not so, I say! Working on the assumption that every cloud has a silver lining, I’ve had a look for the good news in the world of travel:
Ridiculously expensive hotels around the world are somewhat lacking in customers as boom time fades into memory – bad news for the hoteliers but fantastic news for anyone in the market for 5-star luxury at 3 star prices.
The fall of sterling makes our green shores a more attractive destination both to UK residents and foreign tourists. A fact which should help our tourism industry survive the tough times forecast for 2009.
More people staying at home equals less people travelling abroad, equals less queues and disruption at airports.
Less people booking holidays – at home and abroad – for Christmas means more last minute availability for anyone who is able to getaway but has forgotten to book! What’s more, it’s all at bargain prices too – here’s a few ideas to get you started.
A recent survey by Which? Holiday has revealed that snacks on low cost carrier planes can cost as much as up to half the flight itself! Admittedly it’s challenging to find the good news in this headline, but remember that with less people flying airlines do need to make up their revenue shortfall one way or another. Isn’t it great they choose to do this through the onboard buffet meaning the cannier traveller can simply bring their own refreshments and avoid extra costs altogether!
We hope you enjoyed this festive outlook on the travel headlines.All that remains is to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year whatever you are doing and wherever you may be!
Posted by rowengower | Under Motoring and Travel News
When the last turkey drumstick has been eaten, the drinks cabinet has run dry and the Christmas tree has shed every single needle, the gloomy onset of January can be enough to put anyone into a bad mood.
What could be better to get over the anti-climax and cure the winter blues than a little break away from it all. Of course taking holidays at this time of year can be tricky, following the unavoidable expense of the festive period, but if you can set a little aside there are some serious deals to be found.
The Times predicts that 2009 will be the year of the travel bargain. A survey conducted by Co-operative Travel has found that prices for Skiing holidays in Andorra have dropped by as much as 22%. France, Bulgaria and North American ski packages are also cheaper. Cunard is slashing its transatlantic cruise prices and if you fancy a trip to Iceland, many hotel and flight prices have been cut by 50%.
To blow out the cobwebs and clear your head of all that Christmas spirit, a weekend detox break can be the perfect tonic. The Good Spa Guide has drawn up a list of the UK’s five best spas for detoxing, and you’ll find that many places are offering substantial discounts during the first months of the year. Here are a few examples:
Ragdale Hall in Leicestershire: an award-winning hydro and thermal spa. Check out the website for exclusive online offers, including a 15% discount for two nights or more in January, and 10% off guest day packages.
Grayshott Health Spa in Surrey. 25% discount on any 2-night package.
Champneys Spa Resorts (various UK locations). Book a 2-night ‘Be Rejuvenated’ break to stay in January 09 and receive a £100 per person saving.
Finally, if a new year break is out of the question, and the next summer holiday seems like a distant dream, don’t be too complacent. Some of the best UK holiday homes and other popular inexpensive destinations are already booked up.
Posted by seetaludeshi | Under Motoring and Travel News
According to the Times Online, the American car industry faces collapse after the Senate threw out the $14 billion emergency bailout bill following last night’s emergency talks. The talks between the Democrats and Republicans over the short term viability to rescue General Motors (the biggest car company in the world) and Chrysler fell completely apart after both sides failed to come to an agreement on pay for the workers that will be affected.
General Motors and Chrysler may now need to file for bankruptcy protection which could trigger the collapse of the American car-making industry. This would be heartbreaking news for Detroit, the automotive capital of the world.
The car industry provides 3 million jobs across America in manufacturing, supplying and dealerships and at present 6.7% of employees are out of jobs and is rising at it’s fastest rate for over 20 years.
Posted by rowengower | Under Products and Services
Here’s the latest update from Auto Europe’s Commercial Director for the UK and Ireland, Peter McAree:
Mulled wine, carol singers and turkey are all just around the corner and many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past, present and future. There’s no denying that 2008 has been a momentous year and 2009 promises to be challenging for families and businesses alike. That’s why it’s our objective to continually improve our prices, without sacrificing quality or service, to help keep the family holiday affordable.
This month for example we have outstanding rates across Switzerland to help all you snow sports enthusiasts out there get to the slopes. What’s more, if you are not subscribing to our newsletter already then you may not know you could be saving up to an extra 10% on the destinations featured each week. Sign up now to get the best prices we can offer.
I always find it interesting to see where our customers are travelling to and the last few weeks has seen a surge of bookings across France and Italy. Is it early snowfall or Christmas markets tempting you over there I wonder? Either way it’s a beautiful time of year to enjoy Europe and perfect timing to take advantage of the duty free en route home!
As for the future, there is great debate about what 2009 will bring to the travel industry but the prevailing sense is that people will fight to keep their holidays above all else. Is this over-optimistic? Possibly, if you look at the last few years people have been taking three, four and five holidays. I’d say many people may not be able to travel as frequently anymore but will certainly be doing their best to take a break at least once a year. What’s more, they will be looking for great value without compromising on service – which is good news for us!
Don’t forget this blog is also a forum for you to get in touch about anything and everything. So if you’ve got something to say about Auto Europe, car hire or just about the world in general, do drop us a line. Until then MERRY CHRISTMAS from us all!
Posted by rowengower | Under Motoring and Travel News
A new study commissioned by the UK Department of Transport has found that the number of over 60’s caught in speed traps has soared in recent years. Reports featured in the Telegraph and Times reveal that older drivers are at least six times more likely to be fined for speeding than a decade ago.
This would indicate that, before the widespread introduction of cameras, police officers were more likely to use their discretion, perhaps just giving a warning instead of a ticket, especially to elderly women who aren’t traditionally associated with dangerous behaviour (there’s been a 1,200% rise in penalty points for women over 60).
Younger drivers are typically considered to be a much higher risk on the roads. But despite the bad reputation under 25’s have for speeding, the increase in penalties for this age-group has risen by just 18%.
Driving regulations have undergone a massive overhaul in the last few decades, so it’s not surprising that some of those people who’ve been behind the wheel since the 1950s and 60s find it hard to adapt to the latest inflexible methods of road safety control. Using a speed you judge as safe may have been acceptable in previous years (and maybe even effective) but today’s laws and traffic conditions leave no margin for interpretation.
A survey conducted by the AA describes how most of those who can remember, claim that driving was at its best in the 1960s, when traffic levels were lower, and the roads were overseen by human beings instead of machines.
It may have been a more pleasant era to drive in, but the road accident statistics prove that it certainly wasn’t safer. 7,985 deaths were recorded in 1967, compared to 2,946 in 2007. Bad behaviour on the roads clearly isn’t a new phenomenon. So however experienced you are, keep an eye on your speed this winter – it could save your life, as well as your money.
Posted by seetaludeshi | Under Motoring and Travel News
The Daily Telegraph recently reported on talks between the Highway Agency that looks after the M25 and the counties the M25 passes through regarding the implementation of traffic lights on slip roads. The idea is to help keep traffic moving on what is one of Britain’s busiest motorways. The M25 almost completely encircles Greater London and congestion can be fierce causing delays and difficult driving conditions.
Many road engineers from the counties bordering the M25 fear that the proposed traffic lights, which could stay red for up to one minute, will leak the gridlock onto their country roads whenever motorway congestion builds heavily. That’s why the counties affected are refusing to accept this new traffic light policy without reassurance that their roads won’t suffer as a result. Watch this space to see what happens.
Posted by rowengower | Under Products and Services
With the season of goodwill upon us, and all the financial demands it entails, anyone who needs to hire a car during the holidays would do well to sign up to the Auto Europe newsletter. Auto Europe is already well known for its great value, all inclusive prices on the internet but not everyone knows that subscribers to the company newsletter enjoy further discounts.
Distributed weekly on Tuesdays, the Auto Europe email newsletter features a selection of special offers in every issue. Various destinations from Auto Europe’s 7,000+ global car hire collection points are highlighted week by week, from Cape Town to Geneva and Nice to Sydney. Whilst subscribers cannot know where will be chosen next, they can always be sure that they can hire a car up to 10% cheaper than non-subscribers anywhere included in the newsletter.
So why not cut costs this Christmas by signing up now. Simply visit Auto Europe and enter your email address under ‘Newsletter Sign-Up’ to ensure you have access to the lowest rates possible.
Posted by rowengower | Under Holiday Inspiration
As 2008 draws to an end, there’s no denying it’s been a tough year. Most of us will have a smaller budget for presents this December, and perhaps there’ll be a few less champagne corks popped on New Year’s Eve. But fear not, Christmas definitely isn’t cancelled.
There are still loads of great events taking place across the UK to help you find your Christmas spirit. Many have taken their themes from a less commercial period in history to remind us that this should actually be the season of goodwill – not just good retail figures.
If you fancy a trip back to an era when festive cheer could not be purchased at M&S, check out some of these days out:
- Grassington Dickensian Festival, Yorkshire. On the 6th and 13th December 2008, the whole village transports itself back to the time of Charles Dickens with Victorian costume, street entertainers and traditional fayre. Lots of different entertainments are planned for both Saturdays, including an urban circus, Carol Singing, a packhorse carriage and torch-lit Nativity procession.
- Festive Music and Falconry at Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire, Sat 6th and Sun 7th Dec. See how medieval huntsmen contributed to the supply of banquet food. You can find out about the history of Christmas birds and take home some recipes. There’s also a Christmas star hunt for children.
- The spirit of Christmas past, present and future, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Until the 14th December, the great hall will be decorated with an emphasis on all things Victorian, while the grand dining table is set for a present day feast. The long library will feature a special take on what Christmas future might bring. There are plenty of other entertainments, including carol singing and festive story-telling.
- The Victorian Christmas at the Museum of London. Discover just how many Christmas traditions we owe to the Victorians, including cards, trees and even shopping (they have a lot to answer for!) on Sunday 14th December at 2.00pm.
Posted by seetaludeshi | Under Motoring and Travel News
The Oxford factory which manufactures the Mini is set to close for four weeks, according to the Times Online, due to lack of sales. Sales of Minis have plunged a shocking 40% against the general new car market decline of 23% over the last month. This is just another affect of the recession that has hit the UK as well as the global market. BMW, producers of the Mini, planned to shut its Oxford factory across the New Year anyway, but now workers are unsure of what awaits them in 2009 after their extended holiday. The re-make of the much loved 60’s Mini was a wonderful success story in the car industry when it launched in 2001 by the new owners BMW. Next year sees the 50th anniversary of the Mini and it is hoped that the celebrations won’t be dampened due to the fall in sales and job cuts.
Sadly, Honda will also close its Swindon factory for two months according to The Guardian. Its 4800 staff will still receive basic pay and the management hopes the global economy will recover in order for no job loses. Other car makers, including Jaguar and Landrover, have also cut production and jobs.
However, this means very good news for customers wishing to buy a new car, as competition gets fierce on the road. According to the Times Online the credit crunch is presenting opportunities for us to save a small fortune if we buy a new or near new car. The best thing to do is to hunt around for the best deal, do your research and prepare to haggle in as many extras and price cuts as you can to save a bundle. If the salesmen in the car companies know you mean business, they will help you out, they need to meet targets after all.
