Jellyfish alert!

Sweltering temperatures sweeping Europe have brought a plague of jellyfish to Spain's eastern seashores, forcing holidaymakers to stay out of the sea, the Red Cross said yesterday.
The unwelcome visitors, which can reach the size of a dinner plate, have flourished thanks to a glut of plankton brought on by higher sea temperatures and a decline in natural predators like dolphins and turtles.
The Red Cross has treated more than 10,000 jellyfish stings this summer so far in the eastern region of Catalonia, a spokesman for the organisation said. "Nearly a third of those have been in the past week," he said.

Have you ever considered home swapping?

A money-saving idea - swap your home for a villa in the sun. Sounds too good to be possible? Not so. Thousands of families do it every year, according to Jon Connolly, who runs HomeLink International, a home swap organisation. 'We've got 13,500 members worldwide and the second largest group, after retirees, are families with school-age children or teachers'. Visit: http://www.homelink.org.uk/

Sail away this summer

British holidaymakers spent more than £1.34 billion on cruise holidays last year. The UK market grew by eight per cent, while the land-based package holiday market shrank by three per cent. One in 20 foreign holidays is now a cruise with 1.25 million brits going cruising this year.
Visit The Cruise Store for inspiration and some great deals.

Tour ops slash summer holiday prices

As Britain continues to bask in beautiful sunshine, travel agents are getting hot under the collar as unsold holidays mount.
Prices have dropped by hundreds of pounds in some cases, and holidaymakers are being urged to cash in and take advantage of the bargains on offer.
Company bosses are said to be blaming the World Cup phenomenon and soaring temperatures for the sluggish school holiday sales.
Travel giant Thomson is also offering discounts - customers can save up to £200 on the brochure price of holidays as part of a £50million giveaway launched recently. Check out what's on offer at: http://www.thomson.co.uk/po/index.jsp

Pilots vote on bank holiday strike

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) today began balloting pilots for strike action in bmi baby, the ‘low frills’ division of major airline BMI. And it gave BMI seven days notice that it is planning to ballot pilots for strike action in BMI Mainline and BMI Regional, the other two divisions of the company.
The result of the bmibaby ballot will be known on August 16 and the union warned that any industrial action could hit many airports around the busy bank holiday weekend.
Read more at: http://www.balpa.org.uk/Media---Pr/bmi%20release.htm

Passport costs set to rise

A huge increase in the cost of passports was announced yesterday. British holidaymakers will have to pay £66 (currently £51) for a standard British passport from October representing an increase of almost 60 per cent in less than a year.
A child's passport will increase to £45 (currently £34) and those that travel often will be expected to pay £77 (currently £62.50) for their extra page document.
The fast-track options with a guaranteed one week turnaround will cost £91 (currently £77.50) for adults, £80 (currently £70) for kids and £97 (currently £87) for the extra page passport.
So if your passport is due for renewal witihin the next 9 months it's well worth considering applying before October in order to avoid the increased costs as any unused time (in whole months) will be credited to your new passport.
For more information visit: http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/

A Welcome At Gatwick Airport

You can expect to feel welcomed at Gatwick this summer holiday when you are greeted and assisted by a team of Welcome Hosts, now a familiar sight during the Summer at Gatwick - This is their 3rd year of working as a mobile information team.
The Welcome hosts are easily spotted in bright yellow tee-shirts. The Welcome Hosts help airport users to find their check-in zone and onward travel connections. They provide travellers with information and directions to all the airport’s facilities.
Travelling can be confusing at the best of times, but the volume of traffic in the summer months means that it can be difficult to find your check- in zone or onward travel connection. As part of the measures to reduce queuing passengers are being asked to adhere to the internationally agreed limits on the size of hand baggage. Measuring gauges and staff will be on hand to help by security.
Hand baggage should measure no more than 56cm in length, 45cm in width and 25cm in depth.
'Staying at the Airport the night before you fly can save stress'. 'Many airport Hotels offer stay-and-park deals that cost little more than the price of two weeks airport parking.'
For a quote visit: http://www.parking4less.co.uk/airport_hotels.htm

Taking your iPOD on holiday?

Travellers who plan to take their iPod to the beach this summer should look out for the new oPod, a protective case which is drop-proof, sand-proof and waterproof. Plug in a pair of H20 waterproof headphones and you can even listen to your favourite tunes while swimming. Prices from £39.99 for the oPod and headphones from http://ruggedpeak.com

£48 to fly to Rome but £125 for Airport Parking

According to a recent report in the Sunday Mirror Britons pay the highest airport parking charges in the world.
Heathrow is the most expensive with travellers paying £223 for two weeks in its long stay car parks, more than three times as much as those in Sydney, Australia. But booking in advance at Heathrow (and all other UK airports) can reduce the cost drastically. For example two weeks at Heathrow in August can be pre-booked via Parking4less from just £75 for off-airport parking and from just £117.60 for parking on-airport (within the airport boundary).
Stansted in August - where a flight to Rome can cost as little as £48 - charges £125 for two-weeks long stay but pre-booking can reduce that to £103.60.
Parking at Gatwick costs more than JFK in New York, while drivers leaving their cars at Stansted, Manchester and Birmingham pay more than Geneva or Rome. Again it’s well worth pre-booking with Parking4less to make substantial savings.

In many cases, if you don’t pre-book, parking a car for two weeks can cost considerably more than the flight!

http://www.parking4less.co.uk/

Airparks Summer Offers

Save on your summer airport parking at Airparks in the Summer Sale. When you book with Airparks you know that you will receive friendly, professional service at a Park Mark recognised secured car park.
It is the standard of service and the low prices that keep customers coming back to park at Airparks sites year after year. If you haven't tried airport parking at an Airparks site - Park at Airparks this Summer .. Just minutes away from the airport but miles cheaper!!
Unbeatable Summer offers available at Airparks brand parking sites:
Birmingham Airparks 8 days parking was £35.60 - now £29.60
15 days was £66.75 - now £54.50
East Midlands Airparks 8 days parking was £43 - now £36.00
15 days parking was £72 - now £69.75
Luton Airparks 8 days parking was £51.20 - now £49.50
15 days parking was £96 - now £89
Airparks offer a great service with regular transfers to and from the airport. When you leave your car with Airparks you can be sure it is in very safe hands.

Iberia Srike Back On!

The Daily Mail have reported that the planned Iberia pilot's strike has begun today with flights from Heathrow to Madrid and Barcelona being disrupted. Read more at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=394832&in_page_id=1770

Ryanair Seat Sale

Ryanair have just announced 4 million seats available for travel in September, October and November 2006 from just 19p one way (excludes taxes,fees and charges).
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/

Cosmos Summer Getaways from £99

Cosmos are offering some great deals this summer at:
http://www.gefx.co.uk/cosmos/D20060713/1.htm

Manchester Multi-Storey Car Park

Park at the Manchester Airport Multi-Storey car park and save up to 15% this summer. The Manchester Multi-Storey car parks at Terminals 1 and 3 are attached to the terminals meaning that there is no requirement for airport transfers or shuttle buses.
The Multi-storey is pre-bookable for 3 - 15 days
Summer offers for Manchester Multi-Storey:

8 days £64
15 days £113 (was up to £150)

The Manchester airport Multi-Storey is so convenient - just park your car and walk to the terminal. Take your car keys with you.
http://www.parking4less.co.uk/manchester_airport_parking.htm

Iberia pilots' strike ends

Further to Monday's 'blog' The Guardian have reported that the crippling pilots' strike which has grounded more than 200 Iberia flights a day since Monday, has been called off. Read more at: http://travel.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1819576,00.html

City breaks/weekenders

Fancy getting away for a few days? Check out The Guardian's late travel offers: http://travel.guardian.co.uk/lateoffers/

Pilots strike to bring misery to holidaymakers this summer

According to The Daily Mail action by pilots at Spain's largest airline is expected to affect almost a third of the flights operated by Iberia on routes it shares with its partner British Airways between the UK and Spain this week. Read more at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=394832&in_page_id=1770

Travel Insurance Survey

According to a recent survey one in twelve people go on holiday without travel insurance.Travel Insurance 4 less provides its customers with best selling value for money Travel Insurance from a range of reputable companies including Columbus Direct, Holiday Extras, Options Insurance and Go-Sure. Preparation and caution are essential ingredients for a trouble-free holiday, but you never know what's around the corner which is why travel insurance is so important. Make sure you are protected if something goes wrong and contact Travel Insurance 4 Less today for a quote:
http://www.travelinsurance4less.co.uk/

Theme Park Breaks

Park tickets and hotel from £85 for a family of 4 - choose from 8 top UK theme parks, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and LEGOLAND® Windsor - each jam-packed with amazing attractions for the whole family. Check it out at: http://www.play-and-stay.co.uk/legoland/index.html?agent=wx372

London Theatre Breaks - FREE Hotel Offer from Showstopper

Buy a theatre ticket and get a Free night in a 3 star hotel, or upgrade to a 4 star for just £10pp. Choose from the following shows: Blood Brothers, Footloose, Whistle Down the Wind (to 12/8), The Producers, We Will Rock You, Stomp, Chicago, Les Miserables, The Rat Pack and Sinatra. Prices start from just £43.50pp! This unbeatable offer is available throughout July and August for stays in August (Mon-Fri). Book online at http://www.showstopper.co.uk/

XL.com Summer Sale

The summer is here and XL.com is offering up to 25% discount on flights and holidays for July, August and September. Book online now at http://www.xl.com

July Offer on Gatwick Hotels

This July Parking4less are offering overnight stays at Gatwick Airport Hotels from just £39 for a room only and from £69 with 15 days parking!
Our Gatwick hotels are value for money, provide a comfortable nights sleep, leave you ready and rested for your journey and many have excellent leisure facilities including gyms, swimming pools and in house restaurants. Customers can take the hassle out of driving to the airport in the morning and book a Gatwick airport hotel in advance.
http://www.parking4less.co.uk/gatwick_airport_hotels.htm

Spaceships 'could fly from Scotland in three years'

According to the BBC Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic company claim that space tourism flights from Scotland could be a reality within three years. Watch this news report at: http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-in/search/results.pl?b=all&go=homepage&q=richard+branson&scope=all

New short-break contenders

Turkey, Croatia and North Africa are fast becoming the new short-break destinations with the introduction of more no-frills routes. According to Mintel the number of short breaks taken by UK customers has risen by 47% since 2001. Western Europe still dominates the short break market but eastern Europe also enjoys high demand.
Check out Thomas Cook for great deals for all these destinations: http://www.flythomascook.com/skylights/html/Index.shtml

Have you left booking your holiday to the last minute?

Never fear The Observer have come up with some last minute solutions. For inspiration go to:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/travel/story/0,,1805142,00.html

Premium Passport Service

Did you know 17 per cent of people start looking for their passport one day before a trip, 15 per cent start looking only a few hours before a trip, 7 per cent have had a last minute panic because they were going away and either didn´t have or couldn´t find their passport and 3 per cent have left home for a trip abroad without their passport. Luckily there is a Premium Service, guaranteeing receipt of a passport within four hours, by appointment at a passport office. Call 0870 521 0410.