Travel Advice

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for the travel industry. Whether its people going on holiday to make the festive period even more special or its friends and family travelling to see each other, chances are everyone travels at some point over Christmas.  Whatever your chosen method of transportation is here is some travel advice that will help you avoid the Christmas rush and get to your destination stress free.  

Train – If you are travelling by train it is strongly advisable to buy your tickets and book your seats as soon as possible. Thousands of seats have already been reserved on many services which means that you may not get a seat if you buy your ticket on the day. If you have a long journey or are travelling with children, standing for the duration of the journey is highly inconvenient and will make your journey a lot more stressful than it needs to be. Reserving your seats early ensures that you will have a comfortable and relaxing journey to wherever you are going. It is also wise to check if and when services are operating so you don’t end up stranded somewhere. There aren’t usually any services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and there are limited timetables up until New Year. If you look on the website of the train company you are using you will be able to find travel advice and timetables for the Christmas period. 

Car – There are going to be thousands of cars on the road leading up to Christmas as people will be travelling to see friends and family. In order to miss the traffic it is advisable to leave as early as possible so you miss the rush. Keep the radio on so you can listen out for regular traffic updates and travel advice so you know where to avoid and if possible avoid motorways that you know are going to be particularly busy. 

Aeroplane – Aeroplane travel is more expensive over the Christmas period as children are on school holidays and it is an extremely popular time to travel. Seats sell fast and although flights are updated and added on a daily basis it is wise to book early as the later you leave it the more expensive it will be. Ensure that you leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport as there is going to be more traffic on the roads than usual. Also make sure that you have plenty of time to check in at the airport as queues are going to be longer than usual. Checking in online is very advisable at this time of year as it means that you won’t have to queue at all which can save a lot of time. Some travel advice for when you are flying is to take travel pillows and anything else that is going to help you get comfortable on the plane because chances of there being any empty seats to stretch out on are extremely unlikely.  

Ferry – Just like most other methods of transport ferry prices increase over Christmas. As well as this it will be very busy so if you don’t like queuing take drinks and snacks with you so you don’t have to wait a long time to get something to eat. Again, it is advisable to book your tickets in advance so you can guarantee that you will get on the ferry you want. The key to successful travel over the festive period is to be prepared, plan in advance and seek lots of travel advice. If you do this then there is no reason why you shouldn’t have an easy and stress – free journey.   
Technorati Profile

Sofitel Hotel splits into two brands

Regular business travellers will more than likely be familiar with the Sofitel hotel brand which can be found in various countries all over the world. In a bid to keep up with the increasing amount of competition from new hotels, Sofitel hotel has announced plans that they are going to split their current name into two sister brands. It is hoped that by doing this they will be able to target niche segments in the luxury brand market.  

The Sofitel hotel network is being completely reviewed through a robust programme in order to reshape their current network and upgrade each of their hotels through extensive renovation and refurbishment. They have launched new development programmes in North America, Europe, Russia, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia in a bid to try into break into their markets.  

By 2010 they hope to have a network of over 100 businesses and resort hotels in prime locations. Around seven Sofitel hotels will become Sofitel Legend properties over the next two years. Amongst the first will be the Grand in Amsterdam and the Hua Hin resort in Thailand.   

The first new brand is set to be called Sofitel Legend which will be a collection of unique legendary properties with exclusive services. This will no doubt attract the top end of the market who enjoy being in the most luxurious surroundings.   

The second will be So by Sofitel which will be an edgy and stylish offer dedicated to a new generation of guests. Whilst this chain will still offer top class accommodation it is likely to attract those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere but still want classy surroundings.  

New check – in times at UK airports

All passengers who fly from Heathrow and Gatwick Airport have been advised to make themselves familiar with new check in times that have been introduced at the airports. On the 28^th October 2007 British Airways introduced a new minimum check – in time of 45 minutes to help make passengers’ journeys through the airports quicker and easier. 

There are many reasons as to why British Airways have introduced this new system but it is mainly to benefit their customers. Having a consistent check – in time ensures that travellers always know how much time they should allow themselves to go through this process.    

All passengers should be aware of the fact that all British Airways and Great Britain airport check – in desks, kiosks and bag drop desks at Heathrow and Gatwick Airport will close 45 minutes before the flight is scheduled to depart. However, online check – in is not affected and will continue to close 60 minutes before departure. Check – in times for flights from all other airports both in the UK and around the world remain unchanged.

Hand Luggage Restrictions

Hand luggage restrictions are constantly changing at airports across the UK so it can be hard to keep up with what you are and aren’t allowed to take on with you. Whereas the rules are pretty standard across all UK airports it is advisable to double check before flying because it can vary depending on your destination.  

• As of the 14^th November 2007 hand luggage restrictions were loosened as the one bag rule was lifted. However, this doesn’t mean that all airports have honoured this and some may still enforce that you can only carry one bag so again, it is wise to check before leaving for the airport.
• There are still hand luggage restrictions regarding travelling with liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols. You are only allowed to take liquids in containers holding no more than 100 ml on board with you and they must be carried separately in a transparent, re – sealable plastic bag. There are a few exceptions to the rule including baby food or milk and medicines. However you may be asked for a doctor’s note to prove you need the medication for the flight so make sure you bring one with you.
• Sharp or pointed items are strictly prohibited in hand luggage and will be confiscated at security control no matter what you need them for. Some of the more obvious things include knives, scissors and hypodermic needles unless required for medical reasons. However, some people don’t realise that things such as razor blades and certain toys will be confiscated if it is thought that they could cause harm.
• Other hand luggage restrictions include no Christmas crackers, party poppers and non – safety matches. One cigarette lighter per person may be carried but any more will be taken away.
• Many people are confused about how the hand luggage restrictions affect what you can buy at the airport. Once you have gone through security control anything you buy can be taken on board including alcohol, fragrances and cosmetics in sizes over 100 ml.  

Heathrow to get third runway

Recent news that the Government is to back plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport has caused much debate between airline and environmental groups. A new runway would also mean the introduction of a sixth terminal to help cope with passenger numbers. It is thought that the runway will be in place by 2020 if everything goes according to plan. Some people are in favour of the new extension whereas others are going to do everything possible to prevent it from being built. In order to help you make a decision here is some information from both sides of the argument. 

For

The introduction of a third runway will bring £5 billion worth of economic benefit to the UK even after taking account of climate change and noise costs. Heathrow Airport provides 170,000 jobs, billions of pounds of British exports and is the UK’s main gateway to the global economy. With so many benefits when only using two runways, the possibilities could be endless with the introduction of a third.  

It will help the airport to run more effectively as it will be easier to cope with ever increasing passenger numbers. At the moment Heathrow Airport is always full and relies on only two runways which can lead to delays and congestion. Not only does more space mean more flights and less delays, it means that more flight destinations can be introduced.  

The airport has been running at nearly full capacity for so long that minor problems are leading to major delays which angers travellers from all over the world. This means that Heathrow’s status as a world class airport will diminish over time which means that jobs will be lost and the economy will suffer. Another problem this will cause is that London and the UK’s nations and regions are reliant on the good international connections that the Heathrow Hub provides which could be destroyed if things continue as they are.  

All those involved with building the new runway are well aware of the environmental impacts and will work hard to keep them as low as possible. The chief executive of British Airways has said that the runway can be developed without increasing carbon emissions and the Stern Report on climate change has revealed that economic growth can be pursued hand – in – hand with measures to cut emissions.  

Against

As there is already limited space around Heathrow Airport this means that space is going to have to be created so that the new runway can be built. This is going to result in people who live in Harmondsworth, Sipson and Harlington losing their homes and there is every possibility that whole communities may be wiped out including ancient buildings. People who have been living in these areas all their lives may not want to move but will feel pressured to sell up and may not end up having a choice in the matter at all. There are currently 473,000 planes using Heathrow Airport but this is set to rise to 700,000 a year upon completion of the new extension. There is no doubt that this is going to have an effect on the environment with more carbon emissions being released from aeroplanes and more people driving to and from the airport.

As well as this new transportation links from trains and busses are going to be installed which again means that Heathrow is going to be inflicting more pollution on the environment. 

People who live near Heathrow Airport are already finding it hard to cope with the noise levels with aeroplanes taking off and landing every 90 seconds. This is set to increase after the introduction of a third runway which means that the noise is going to become even more unbearable for local residents. Although aircraft are now quieter than they were a few decades ago the fact that there are now so many of them taking off and landing every day makes the noise just as unbearable as it was before. 

So what do you think about the introduction of a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow Airport? Maybe you are a local resident and are campaigning against the building work or maybe you are a regular business traveller who is welcoming the extension. Whoever you are and whatever you think let us know.