Ideas to inspire your travel plans http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/ Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:36:15 +0000 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:36:15 +0000 You've done the beach. Again! And again... Maybe you have visited Disney West and East coast and Paris, too? (Exactly how many times can you see Mickey Mouse and his charming wife, Mini?) Perhaps you want something different, this year? Perhaps, dare we say it, Disney rodent free? Pumpkin Tours might just have the answer for you. They offer a wide range of less-than-usual holiday adventures. Nobody could describe Pumkin's offerings as run-of-the-mill! Pumpkin Tours offers a wonderfully bizarre and diverse range of holidays from driving a Soviet era tank or armed vehicle in Hungary to partying at Serbia's' EXIT festival. Pumpkin organises escorted adventure trips, visits to music festivals and also F1 Grand Prix and horse racing packages. Managing director Eugene Bari, is firm in his beliefs in what constitutes a good holiday: “Our message is simple, Life is for living – get away from the hum drum!” He went on to say: “We make exciting trips accessible to all to help broaden horizons. Whether it is going to see Lewis Hamilton’s last race at his home ground in Silverstone or firing a machine gun in Cambodia, it is all about...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/tanks_for_the_great_time!_45299293.htm Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/tanks_for_the_great_time!_45299293.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/and_now_for_something_completely_different_83654250.htm Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/and_now_for_something_completely_different_83654250.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/do_the_ghan_73764612.htm Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/do_the_ghan_73764612.htm www.traveltheunknown.com, tel: 0845 053 0352) points out that it is the only travel operator that features tours to this as yet undiscovered corner of India. (So why not book now, before it does become discovered?) Highlights of the tours include driving high above the Himalayan clouds to Tawang to visit the largest Buddhist monastery outside of Tibet. Or you can join up with an elephant-back safari in the breathtaking Kaziranga National Park, which is the home to the world’s largest population of (sadly) endangered unicorn rhinos and the densest tiger population in a protected area. Or there is game walking and river rafting in the Nameri National Reserve. You can have the privilege of meeting up with the ancient Apatani tribes of...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/re-assessing_your_life_18750726.htm Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/re-assessing_your_life?_18750726.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/rock_and_roll_tourism_92977846.htm Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/rock_and_roll_tourism_92977846.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/singapore_botanic_gardens_31654564.htm Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/singapore_botanic_gardens_31654564.htm www.icelandprotravel.co.uk) Whilst the majority of British tourists travel to Reykjavik, there’s more to Iceland than the admittedly fascinating capital city, and seeing by using a hire car is probably one of the best ways to do this. Iceland's main airline is boosting the number of flights from the UK to Iceland this September, with the flight time from London takes three hours. Flights to Reykjavik are also available from Manchester and other airports (including Glasgow) will be available later. Visit APH not only to book your airport parking, but also to see what great...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/self-drive_in_iceland_16484021.htm Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/self-drive_in_iceland_16484021.htm
Have you considered inclusive destinations holidays? Now, before you start to see visions of Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Williams in 'Carry on Abroad' and think back to package tour nightmares that you heard dating back to 20 to 30 years ago, things have moved on a great deal since then. All inclusive destinations are not package holidays!  And possibly saving money might not be your primary concern? Perhaps you just want someone else to handle all aspects of booking your holiday?  For example, if you fancy an inclusive holiday in Egypt, Barwell Travel offer some good deals. As part of their continued growth in the long haul luxury market, they are offering some very good all inclusive packages to Sharm El-Sheikh this summer. Actually, you can also save money with Barwell. Take advantage of their early booking incentives...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/go_on_holiday_and_save_money_16153515.htm Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/go_on_holiday_and_save_money_16153515.htm
But someone made a mistake. Someone allowed Dad (or mum!) to read a magazine and get an Idea! Oh, no. That's never good...  “I read an article in a Sunday supplement! Apparently with the recessionary thingy-whatsit, the in thing this year is the Staycation! We'll book a cottage in the wilds! Oh, DO say yes! It'll be fun!” So rather than the trip to the airport the family car -which is still too traumatised to remember very much about the journey to the Staycation- is forced to drive 300 miles to a cottage in the middle of nowhere.  Did anyone think to have the car serviced? The battery checked? No. So the journey was enlivened by a rather kindly gent in...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/staycation_oh,_great..._12480062.htm Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/staycation?_oh,_great..._12480062.htm By looking at flight search data for travellers over the Easter break, Skyscanner points out that although Spain remains the most popular country overall for holidaying Britons, it’s not as popular as it was even just one year back. London is the most searched for destination for Easter travel by UK-based travellers. But then London does the city itself have an amazing range and number of attractions for families and couples, and it is also a hub for travellers heading for destinations outside the UK.
Malaga is still the second most popular place for an Easter holiday for the second year running. But as pointed out, there has been a noticeable reduction in popularity for Spain compared to Easter 2009. For example searches for flights to Alicante fell three places whilst poor old Palma dropped out of the top ten completely! Searches for flights to Amsterdam were shown to be on the rise, up two places. Barcelona stuck where it was at number three. However, New York has show up as a surprise placement. Entirely missing from last Easter's top ten, flights to New York are...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/spanish_love_affair_17112697.htm Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/spanish_love_affair_17112697.htm  But seeking bargain holidays can be fraught with danger, as the experts at GetSafeOnline.org and ABTA issue a timely warning that UK Internet users are taking unnecessary risks and even ignoring basic online fraud-prevention measures as they hunt down that bargain break. They are laying themselves open to fraud by unscrupulous rogue traders. In the worst cases, they might even risk all by sending their money to pay for a holiday that never existed in the first place.

Get Safe Online has undertaken some new research which showed that (worryingly) nearly 30% of Internet users who book holidays online never even bother to check the authenticity of the firm they are dealing with (checking out if they are ATOL/ABTA registered, for example) before sending their payment.
...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/when_is_a_bargain_not_a_bargain__42821597.htm Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/when_is_a_bargain_not_a_bargain?__42821597.htm
"However, no one expected to see this money running out during the height of the holiday season. In an attempt to preserve the summer holiday consumers have become very savvy at sniffing out value for money deals - one of the reasons why budget travel firms such as Goldtrail, Sun4U and Kiss Flights have failed.
"But the postcard picture is more complex. Yes the industry is suffering from a lack of consumer finance as we reign in our credit card lifestyles but it is the budget end that is...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/no_phoenix_from_the_flames_49268322.htm Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/no_phoenix_from_the_flames_49268322.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/do_not_forget_medical_insurance_71893510.htm Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/do_not_forget_medical_insurance_71893510.htm  
Instances experienced by Europ Assistance customers so far this year include:
 
Tourists who only wanted to buy a cheap over-the-counter medication being pressured into being driven to a clinic.
 
Some tourists alleged they felt pressurised by Doctors into signing for more treatment than they received. Whilst some Brits were being placed on trips that were totally unnecessary being put on drips when they were only experiencing minor health problems.
 
“We are shocked...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/beware_of_this_health_scam_in_turkey_43383311.htm Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/beware_of_this_health_scam_in_turkey_43383311.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/book_now_for_christmas_17495618.htm Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/book_now_for_christmas_17495618.htm
First step, always check the small print of your breakdown cover. A colleague had been a member of the same breakdown provider for many years, happy to renew his policy annually, safe in the knowledge that he was covered for emergency roadside assistance or recovery to his home should the repair not be one that could be completed at the roadside.

The truth, when he finally did breakdown, was that his membership would only cover his car to be taken a maximum of ten miles. As he commented to me: “That was utterly useless!” His advice? Check the details of your policy and ensure there isn't such a restrictive clause. And if there is? “Change providers!” he said,...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/keep_your_car_well_76700803.htm Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/keep_your_car_well_76700803.htm
We don't want stress when we travel. Let's face it, if you are flying for business or for pleasure, the last thing we want or need is a load of unnecessary hassle on our journey!  So, how do we reduce stress? First of all, make sure you use APH to sort out your airport parking. And please remember that the APH website is as close to a one-stop-shop as you can get. Travel insurance, car hire for when you arrive at your destination, hotel bookings (that's why it is called Airport Parking and Hotels!) Executive lounges (at a rather non-executive price) a Travel Cash service, Truphone Local Anywhere, attraction tickets sorted out for you, taxis arranged at your destination and airport transfers dealt with for you, should you require these. There are other measures that will ensure you have peace of mind and can enjoy stress-free travel before you leave for the airport. Make sure milk and papers are cancelled. And arrange for post to be held at your nearest Royal Mail depot whilst you are on holiday, if you are going for an extended period of time.Use automatic timer switches on some lights in your house to make it look as if...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/stress_free_travel_33417996.htm Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/stress_free_travel_33417996.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/festive_family_break_in_egypt_84649428.htm Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/festive_family_break_in_egypt_84649428.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/take_your_common_sense_abroad_19833599.htm Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/take_your_common_sense_abroad_19833599.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/tips_on_winter_drving_driving_25334709.htm Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/tips_on_winter_drving_driving_25334709.htm http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/winter_tyres_19310528.htm Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/winter_tyres_19310528.htm
 What do you do? Firstly, make sure you know something about the country you will plan to be taking a holiday in. Is it a good, stable country? Is the political situation liable to kick off whilst you are there? The Internet and search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo! Are good sources of information.

 Also, check with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They have lists of countries that are troubled and publish updates of trouble spots. And issue advisory notices, too. Make sure that your holiday insurance is as comprehensive as you afford. You can book your holiday insurance at www.aph.com, as well as arranging airport parking, hotels and the like. Ensure that you have all the vaccinations that you will need. Do not trust to luck. I recall in the 1970s when Holland -one of the cleanest, most health-conscience countries in Europe- was under...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/what_to_do_if_your_holiday_destination_does_a_tunisia_20359916.htm Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/what_to_do_if_your_holiday_destination_does_a_tunisia_20359916.htm
Although this is a positive trend, Foreign Office staff still had to deal with 5,700 arrest cases last year with Spain and the USA showing the highest figures. Drug arrests, sadly, continue to be a significant problem in some countries, particularly parts of South America and the Caribbean where a high proportion of total arrests were still related to drugs. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office report, which reveals the number of consular cases handled worldwide from 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011, gives a unique insight into the number of Britons who get into difficulty overseas. Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said: “We work hard to warn British nationals about the consequences of breaking the law abroad so it is encouraging to see the overall number of cases of arrests and drug arrests falling. But last...]]> http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/brits_abroad_18677338.htm Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aph.com/news/travel_inspiration/brits_abroad_18677338.htm