Green travel up 400%
09.12.08 (4:20 am) [edit]
A green insurance provider that rewards travellers who do not fly is reporting a huge increase this summer in the number of holiday makers going green.
With the summer holiday season now closed, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) has announced a four-fold increase in the number of green holiday insurance policies sold.
The green organisation’s new holiday insurance policy includes a discount of up to 25 per cent for trips that do not involve flying.
The news follows research by the ETA that reveals four in ten people in Britain would welcome more advice on how to reduce their carbon footprint and that one in ten people has already reduced their emissions of CO2 as result of concern about their travel-related emissions.
Director at the ETA, Andrew Davis said: “We are happy to reward those who choose not to fly for environmental reasons. We are seeing an increasing number ofholidaymakers keen to reduce the environmental impact of their travels – they want to go green without compromising on quality.”
The same survey revealed 18 per cent of people admit to being bored by information and advice given on the subject of CO2 emissions.
news source : http://www.eta.co.uk/
Travel business picks up for holidays
09.08.08 (2:52 am) [edit]
The travel market is experiencing an upsurge, with the Mid-Autumn Festival just a week away.and the National Day Holiday Golden Week early next month. Chen Lijun tells us many people are choosing to take a short trip over the 3-day Mid-Autumn Festival, breaking a trend seen in the past.
Many residents in Nanning, in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are planning short-haul trips for the mid-autumn festival holiday.
Mannig Resident,said,"I want to go to Beihai to see the moon on the seashore. I think it won't take much time. I feel it would be very nice to spend time with my family while watching the moon."
Many residents in Shandong province in east China are also planning to visit nearby areas during the mid-autumn festival holiday.
Dong Cuicui,Project Manager,Ctrip.com,said,"Few people travelled during the mid-autumn festival last year. But we're seeing some changes this year."
But long-haul trips are proving more popular for those wanting to travel over the week-long national day holiday. And with the Olympics still fresh in people's minds, travel agencies in Guangdong, Chongqing, Anhui and Henan are seeing a rush for tours to Beijing to visit competition venues.
Liu Hanwu,Travel Agency,Guangdong Province,said,"In previous years, registration for national day holiday travel did not start until the middle of September. This year, we're seeing bookings come in as early as the start of the month. We expect bookings to grow by 50 to 60 percent."
In addition to Beijing, Guangxi, Yunan, and Xinjiang are also popular among people who plan to travel during the national day holiday.
news source : http://www.cctv.com/
Travel to Italy for 'a Rome-antic break' (04 Sep 2008)
09.04.08 (10:45 pm) [edit]
Britons looking to pop the question some time in the future can guarantee a positive response by proposing in Rome, it has been suggested.
According to the Flight Centre, Rome is one of the world's most romantic cities and is a top destination for those eager to get down on bended knee and propose.
"Whilst there are scores of beautiful city squares and fountains, the famous Trevi Fountain tops the list of places to propose. Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the fountain your dreams will come true and you are sure to return to Rome," Flight Centre said.
Other romantic places to propose include Morocco, where the question can be popped against the stunning backdrop of the Sahara Desert.
Those looking to push the boat out could consider a trip to New Zealand, where Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula will take her breath away and surely provoke a good response.
Other romantic hotspots include Cape Town's Table Mountain and the Whitsundays in Australia.
Do not forget your camera though. A recent poll carried out by Holiday Extras revealed that 40 per cent of Brits view cameras as their top holiday essential.
news source : http://www.gotravelinsurance....
Holiday Travel Numbers Down, Officials Say
09.02.08 (2:57 am) [edit]
About 34.3 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday weekend--down about 300,000 from this time last year. If you are hitting the roadways this weekend, expect to pay $.91 more for a gallon of gas than you did last Labor Day. The average price nationwide is $3.69 per gallon.
In central Arkansas, the average is $3.51 according to AAA. At Little Rock National Airport, Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday weekend.
Tips
The TSA offers the following tips for those people planning to fly this holiday weekend:
1] Allow extra time to accommodate the screening process. It’s still a good idea to check with your airline before leaving home. It is recommended that those traveling arrive at least two hours before flight time.
2] Be aware of carry-on limitations. One bag plus a personal item such as a laptop, purse, backpack or briefcase is allowed.
3] Remember the 3-1-1 rule for carrying liquids, gels and aerosols through the checkpoint:
--3 ounce bottles or less for all liquids, gels and aerosols placed in
--1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag
--1 bag per passenger placed separately in a security bin for X-ray screening.
Allowing only one quart plastic bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring through the checkpoint. The liquid restriction applies only to carry-on bags. Passengers can still pack larger quantities of liquids and gels in your checked baggage.
news source : http://www.katv.com/news?
As summer ends, flyers brace for airline changes
08.30.08 (3:18 am) [edit]
ATLANTA (AP) — The grip U.S. airlines have on travelers' wallets is about to get tighter as carriers go ahead with plans to trim their domestic schedules due to the high cost of fuel. Executives acknowledge that despite the economic downturn, fares will rise, discounts currently available will be scarce, and routes and frequencies of flights will be reduced as domestic capacity is cut through the end of the year. The changes starting in September come on top of a litany of new charges — for luggage, drinks, pillows and other amenities — announced by some airlines earlier this year.
"Airline travel is airline travel — it's been bad for a long time," Chris Bardasian, an American Airlines frequent flyer, said recently at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. "I suspect prices will go up, fewer people will travel, and if you're willing to pay the price it will be fine." There were sharp capacity cuts during prior weak economic periods in the early 1990s and between 2001 and 2003, but fares went down as discount carriers moved in and filled the void, offering more competition, analysts said. But the high price of oil, airlines' limited ability to further cut certain costs and the fact that many of the discount carriers are facing the same difficulties as the big carriers make things different this time, analysts said.
"Despite this sluggish U.S. economy, the general demand picture is better than it was post-9/11," said Standard & Poor's analyst Philip Baggaley. "In addition, you have this consistent response across the board of airlines raising fares and adding fees." On average, domestic fares between large metro cities are already up roughly 16 percent since Jan. 2, while fares between small cities are up roughly 37 percent year-to-date, according to Rick Seaney, head of airfare research site FareCompare.com.
The cheapest roundtrip ticket with a 10-day advance purchase, for example, on an American Airlines flight from Chicago to New York cost $258 on Aug. 26, excluding government and airport fees. That was an 87 percent increase from the $138 it cost on Jan. 2 for a similar advance purchase, according to FareCompare.com. The cheapest roundtrip ticket with a 21-day advance purchase on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Washington cost $382 on Aug. 26, excluding government and airport fees. That was a 37 percent increase from the $278 it cost on Jan. 2, Seaney said.
Recently announced airfare sales for travel during the traditionally slow fall season will be harder to come by as more capacity comes out of the system in the last four months of the year. "If somebody sees a good fare, they should grab it," said Kevin Healy, senior vice president of marketing and planning for AirTran Airways. Booking early for travel during peak times like the holiday season generally can get you a cheaper ticket than waiting until the last minute. But, airlines usually do not offer fare sales for travel over the holidays.
news source : http://www.mlive.com
Guide to Oceania Discount Cruises
08.26.08 (2:18 am) [edit]
Do you enjoy cruising and are looking for a different vacation experience? Have you already visited Alaska, the Greek Isles, and Mexico? Are you looking for a bright summer vacation in the middle of a cold winter? It is time to experience a new area of the planet, it is time to visit Oceania. Do not be afraid of an exotic vacation costing more than you can afford. You will be able to find discount cruises to Oceania.
Oceania is the section of the earth around the South Pacific islands and Australia. These are the areas of the world commonly known as Micronesia and Polynesia. Cruises in the Oceania region are becoming popular and considered a luxury cruise on a moderate budget. Because cruises to many of the islands in Oceania are not as popular or well known, the prices for these cruises are more moderate than some of the Caribbean island cruises.
The cruise ships used for Oceania cruises are usually smaller than the average ship used for other cruises. The ships still contain all the amenities you have come to expect from other cruise vacations but on a slightly smaller scale. A smaller ship also means less people but usually the same amount of crew. So if large crowds bother you consider giving cruising one more try with a cruise to Oceania. Less vacationers means the crew will be able to pay more attention to you and your needs.
Because of the changes in seasons between the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere, the prime cruising period for Oceania is from September to February. Oceania will be in the middle of summer during this time and quite reasonable in temperature. Imagine a Christmas holiday cruise to Australia where the sun is shining instead of shoveling snow in your driveway.
Finding a discount cruise to Oceania is easy. First, you can choose to travel during an off-peak time. During off-peak travel, ships offer great discount cruise to travelers because there is reduced demand for travel. Also, you can find great discounts if you are able to travel on one or two days notice. Cruise companies always want to sale with a full ship so many times they will offer last minute travel discounts or bonuses to travelers. It may take you a day to travel to your port of call, but a good travel agent will keep travel time in mind when contacting you about last minute cruise deals.
There are many websites that offer cruise deals and usually Oceania cruises will be included in their deals. Sign up for cruise sale notifications and contact your local travel agents and ask them to contact you if any last minute sales are posted to the ports you want to visit. Be as flexible with your travel dates as you can and you will find a great deal and a new location for cruising. With all the islands in the Oceania region you may spend years cruising the ports of Oceania.
news source : http://www.3x24.com/