08.31.2007 | 10:52 am | Flight Comparison
Amsterdam: Sex and Drugs and terrible Rock and Roll. That’s the standard impression of the capital of the Netherlands according to most British people that you meet. A reputation for tolerance of narcotics and the sex industry has given many people the belief that you wouldn’t be able to walk down the street without being accosted by drug pushers and prostitutes.
Reality, of course, is wildly different. Tolerance doesn’t just extend to areas of life that are considered base in many other places; it is the Dutch philosophy of life. Often referred to as the most tolerant nation on Earth, the people are warm, friendly and accepting of everyone.
Amsterdam is served by Amsterdam Schiphol airport and it is just a 45 minute flight away from the UK, perfect for a short break or even a day trip.
The city of Amsterdam itself is dominated by the network of canals. Like Venice, it is built on struts that keep the city above the waterline and the canals fill up all the intervening spaces. A trip along the canals is a must for any visitor, at least once. They start at many places around the city, including right outside the magnificent Centraal Station, where you get off the trains from the airport or anywhere else. The canals are split up into rings and the trips are an excellent way of seeing the architecture.
Amsterdam buildings are amazing. Each building is individual but built adjoining another equally individual building. They tend to be four to five storeys high with ornamental designs. As you walk around the streets in the canal rings you will see so many different designs that instead of having landmarks you can become completely lost. The worst buildings are the modern ones, which stand out for all the wrong reasons, but generally Amsterdam is an architecture lover’s dream city.
Although Amsterdam gives the feeling of a green city with trees lining the canals and streets there are few open spaces inside the canal rings. However, as you reach the outskirts of the canal rings at the end of the Museum Quarter you will find the magnificent Vondelpark, 45 hectares of fabulous landscaped parkland, housing many plant species as well as local animal life. It is one of the most popular places for people to visit in the city and is great place for a picnic.
Whilst in the Museum Quarter, it is also time to visit the museums and galleries. The Netherlands was blessed with some of the greatest artists in history, in particular Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt, known as the Dutch Masters. Consequently, the museums are stocked with many works by these and many other great artists. The Van Gogh museum is dedicated to Vincent and houses many of his great works, but other artists’ work can also be found on the ground floor. The other museums to visit are the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. The Rijksmuseum is the largest museum and needs more than one visit as it contains a vast variety of work including the largest collection of Dutch artists’ work. The Stedelijk Museum is the modern art museum and includes a wide array of work, many extremely appealing and some, which are quite simply designed.
Part II of this review considers other areas in Amsterdam to visit.
08.30.2007 | 7:39 pm | Flight Comparison
A one-way ticket on the first commercial flight of the Airbus A380 from Singapore to Sydney has attracted bids of over $8,000 on the second day of the auction, with bids expected to reach high levels. Singapore Airlines will receive the jumbo plane, form Toulouse, on 15 October and have taken the unusual step of placing three quarters of the tickets (for the outward and return journeys) onto the auction house, Ebay.
The bidding started at $3.80 for an economy one-way ticket and had reached $5,000 by 28 August, whilst the one way business class ticket reached a bid of $8,159. The auction lasts for a period of two weeks and proceeds of the auctions are going to a number of charities, such as “Doctors without Borders” and children’s hospitals in Sydney. After 2 weeks of delays, the maiden flight takes place on 25 October from Singapore to the Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney, and a return flight on the next day.
The Airbus A380 is far more spacious and provides more legroom than traditional aircraft, having two decks that extend the full length of the fuselage. The plane can provide more facilities for passengers such as a bars, beauty salons, duty-free shops and even casinos!
Although the Airbus or Superjumbo is large, it has been built to be used at airports that having runways fit for a Boeing 747. More room may be required for taxi-ing though as the plane has a large wingspan.
The plane is built in separate sections in Spain, France, Germany and the UK with the parts put together in Toulouse in France . The plane has been assessed to be in line with environmental standards and has used cleaner technologies to ensure that waste and emissions are reduced. The plane has been hailed as the “21st century jetliner”.
08.29.2007 | 6:22 pm | Flight Comparison
Situated in the Eastern Caribbean, St Lucia is an island of lush lands and great scenery. Its people are good-looking, confident and friendly. The weather is fabulous, the sea is clear and populated by pretty fish and there are masses of things to do. What more could you ask for?
Of course, like much of the West Indies, St Lucia’s history is bathed in the sugar industry and the unpleasantness that went with it. Neither is it correct to suggest that it is currently perfect, despite its glowing reputation, there is still poverty as the shacks near to Castries, the capital, starkly show. However, in general, St Lucia is a great island and it has used its natural attributes and its perky population to attract tourists in droves.
The beaches around the perimeter of the island are loaded with holiday resorts and specialise in all-inclusive deals. This means that you don’t need to take your wallet to any of the restaurants or bars, just proof of residency, and you don’t get a nasty shock at the end of your stay when the bill comes. They all also offer plenty of activities to keep the active and less active happy and excursions that generally involve rum punch. Snorkelling, sub-aqua, water-skiing, boat rides and many other water sports are available. Entertainment is available every night and is typically Caribbean and fun.
A must for any visitor is the active volcanoes and views of the Pitons, two volcano plugs that are also a World heritage site, and dominate the landscape of the island.
If you manage to be there in mid-July make an effort to go to the carnival in Castries. Be prepared to stand under a tree shared with sundry locals and be quick when the ice-cream man arrives. You may also find yourself accidentally involved in the carnival, as the dancers tend to get bystanders to join in.
Overall, St Lucia is a fabulous holiday destination, especially for families but great fun for everybody.
08.28.2007 | 8:42 pm | Flight Comparison
China’s booming economy has given rise to a three-fold increase in profits (for the first half of the year) for Air China Ltd (the World’s largest airline by market value).
The net income was 1.57 billion yuan ($208 million) from 458 million yuan, a year earlier. The increase is partly as a result of the increase in value of the yuan (and a reduction of debt which is based in dollars). However, as Air China Ltd have a base in the capital city of Beijing, this means that they are able to attract corporate fliers who do not mind paying increased prices. Lower fuel costs have also contributed to the profit margins.
The airline has a market value of $21.9 billion and a 19 percent share in China’s passenger market, ahead of the airlines China Southern and China Eastern (both reporting profits in the same time period).
Under a May 23 aviation accord, new flights to China from the U.S.A. are emerging and this is leading to other airlines purchasing a stake. Singapore Airlines (and its parent company Temasek) has just announced that it is buying a share of China Eastern Airlines. The size of the stake is not yet clear and will be announced on 2 September. However, it is thought that Singapore Airlines may pay about $930 million for a combined 24 percent stake (although the Chinese media is only reporting a 2 percent stake). This would give Singapore Airlines a foothold in an increasing market and help them to compete with both Cathay Pacific (who own 17.5 percent of Air China) and Air China itself. Chinese law prevents foreign investors from having more than a 25 per cent share in Chinese companies, thus the stake is not expected to be too high.
Singapore Airlines have a 49 per cent share of Virgin Atlantic Airways, and it is thought that they may sell this back to majority shareholder, Richard Branson.
It is thought that as China’s economy continues to increase, so will the capacity of the airlines operating in China. This is confirmed by the latest release of profits for the big three China-based carriers.
08.27.2007 | 12:01 pm | Flight Comparison
Fort Lauderdale is situated between Miami and Palm Beach on the South East Coast of Florida. It has been titled the “Venice of America” as it has a series of interlinking waterways and for its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The city was formed in 1838 and is named after Major William Lauderdale who captured agricultural lands from native Americans. Although three forts were built on the banks of New River in his honour, none of them survive today.
With its warm and sunny climate and areas of natural beauty, Fort Lauderdale was once known only for its tourism industry. It has beautiful sandy beaches, of 7 miles in length, with accompanying watersports such as jet ski-ing, deep sea fishing, wind-surfing and snorkling. For those interested in culture, there are plenty of museums, such as Bonnet House, focussing on the history of South Florida, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Discovery and Science.
However it has thrived to become a business centre and a prime area for firms to relocate to. It is host to business in the marine, finance, real estate and TV and production industries as well as those specialising in the manufacture and maintenance of yachts. City Hall and the Building Services Centre play an active role in helping companies to have a base in the city.
The city’s main airport is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport which is the home to a number of low-cost airlines such as Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and also JetBlue. The latter is aiming to make the city a focal point by offering more low cost flights within America and offering one-way flights from $69! From 1 November, JetBlue will also be running a non-stop service to Richmond and more flights to the New York area and Long Beach and West Oakland (both for Los Angeles). Book early (at least 14 days in advance) to take advantage!
08.24.2007 | 7:50 am | Flight Comparison
Paddington Bear, the marmalade eating bear came from “Darkest Peru”, but there is much more to the fascinating country that that. Peru is opening up as a popular destination for those who want explore the rainforests and examine archaeology, rather than lie on a beach.
Peru is a developing country situated in Western South America. It is divided into 25 regions and the province of Lima (the capital). The country has a population of around 28 million people and the main language is Spanish (although many native languages are also spoken). A number of airlines such as Iberia, KLM and Continental Airlines offer flights via Madrid, Amsterdam and USA respectively to Lima.
Peru has much to offer:
- Archaeological sites not only from the Inca and Machu Picchu empires, but also relics from Egyptian, Chinese and Indian civilisations. More recent influences can also be seen arising from the Spanish Conquest and western culture.
- There is a rich diversity of flora and fauna as Peru have varying climates and eco-systems. These can be explored in the 60 national parks, nature reserves and refuges as Peru is heavily involved in protecting various species.
- Stunning landscapes, including many rivers born in the Andes and linking up with the Amazon River. There are waterfalls, hot springs, lagoons, vast canyons and snow capped mountains.
- Celebration of 3,000 festivals per year (many linked to patron saints); music and dancing; a variety of arts and crafts in rich and vibrant colours and museums. In some rural areas, the Peruvians still dress traditionally, for example in ponchos, layers of petticoats over embroidered dresses, loose tunics and woollen or straw hats.
- Opportunity to trek or climb mountains in the Andes; white-water rafting; windsurfing; fishing and scuba diving or soaking up on the sun on the beaches of Paracas.
Peru is not somewhere to go for a short visit (as the journey time can be in excess of 18 hours), but there are endless places to explore on a longer trip.
08.23.2007 | 10:18 am | Flight Comparison
While it has been common knowledge that flights to a particular area can easily transform not only the local economy but also introduce new industries - a part from the obvious tourist industry. The effect can be immense, exposing areas of the world to new visitors and a whole new way of life.
Such an area which is currently under going that same type of increased exposure is Cape Verde, a group of west African islands, which have recently seen the introduction of direct flights from areas such as the UK. This has seen the creation of a new and vibrant tourism industry, and planted the seeds for a prosperous property market.
Why are people flocking to places such as Cape Verde?
The internet and cheap flights have both had a major impact upon the tourism industry, adding many hundreds of new places to the tourist map of the world. They have the power to actually change the make-up of local areas, and Cape Verde is seeing this benefit.
Many experienced travellers are bored of the same places to visit, the same activities and are looking for new untapped places to stay. While some of the services and infra-structure of these places need further improvement, they offer an interesting venture for many, now able to experience that raw natural beauty before the areas succumb to inevitable change.
The cheap flight effect is not only limited to new tourist areas of the world, indeed there have been reports that the recent increase in flights to Barcelona is having a major impact upon the local population. It has given the tourism industry a much needed boost, and being accessible to business travellers, it is also attracting corporate customers.
If you were able to spot who was next on the list for the cheap flight companies, you may just have your next property boom, but there are risks trying to double guess the plans of the leading airlines.
08.22.2007 | 3:33 am | Flight Comparison
In a move not seen very often, even in the ultra competitive world of air travel, Ryanair recently announced plans to halt all flights to and from Charleroi airport in Belgium due to a spate of wild cat strikes which left many passengers stranded and Ryanair red faced. The airport was one of Ryanair’s main European hubs and as well as offering flights to the area, it was welcomed by many as vital for the area of Belgium itself.
The staff at the airport have been in dispute with the management for some time, and recently resorted to unannounced wild cat strikes which paralysed all operations at the airport. Ryanair have issued a further statement confirming that they have held further talks with management of the airport in which a number of proposals were discussed. It is believed that the management have given the low cost airline a number of firm assurances, and if the guarantees are followed up in writing over the weekend, there is every chance that Ryanair flights to and from the airport could return as soon as Monday - but this is not yet totally certain.
While flights to the area have proved very popular, this does in many ways reflect the problems associated with low cost airlines, where the need to use such smaller airports opens them up to problems of this nature. As Ryanair are already working on very slim margins, cancellations and disruptions to flights can have a great impact on their bottom line profit. This then effects cash flow and the ability to introduce offers or even hold prices at similar levels.
Ryanair have been swift in their response to the wild cat actions, although if the appropriate assurances are confirmed over the weekend, there is every chance that everything could be back to normal by Monday.
08.21.2007 | 3:51 am | Flight Comparison
Under a government backed scheme a levy of £1 will be charged on all packages holidays from April 2008, in order to replenish the coffers of the ATOL fund which covers the cost of bring people home, and refunding those who have bought tickets, when the companies in question collapse. While the fund has been in place for a number of years without any additional funding required from the consumer, a recent spate of high profile collapses over the last 5 years has pushed the fund into the red, to the tune of £20 million.
Collection of the new levy will be managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and while their first task will be to pay back the deficit on the ATOL fund, they will also be in charge of taking out relevant insurance in the short term to ensure that the fund is able to cover the liabilities to travellers. Once the ATOL fund has been refinanced, the CAA administered scheme is expected to revert to the traditional funding arrangement from a central pot.
The holiday sector has for some years been under pressure with airlines and tour operators alike coming under increased pressure from tighter margins, and falling bookings. While a number have actually collapsed, often leaving holiday makers stranded, there are rumours that a great number of the smaller operators are struggling at the moment.
Much of the problems come from the increased use of the internet, and the ability to create “DIY” holidays using various high tech sites. This has led to many travellers turning their backs on the traditional package holiday companies, resulting in the problems being encountered at the moment. While the new CAA fund should offer more confidence to travellers, the underlying problem of the industry still remains.
08.20.2007 | 2:23 am | Flight Comparison
While the stock market and serial entrepreneur Richard Branson have not always seen eye to eye, there are indications that Branson is set to float his airline on the markets, with a price tag in the region of £1.5 billion. This would conclude a period of major expansions by the company which has seen them take stakes in a number of airlines around the world, and begin their own US service. So why would Virgin consider selling off their airline?
The airline industry is very investment intensive and requires constant cash injections to stay one step ahead of competitors and bring in the newest of equipment. Branson has been involved in a very aggressive head to head with British Airways after effectively forcing his way into the big time, although the company have been rather unconventional in their methods.
A float of the company would likely raise some cash for the company, with Virgin Group retaining a majority shareholding in the company. There is also the question of profile, although some may argue that the profile of Virgin Atlantic could not be higher, and the quodos which goes with a stock market flotation. It also offers the company options for any future funding requirements, with investors always interested in backing a good long term story.
The story of Virgin Atlantic, although often shrouded in controversy, has ultimately been one of success although they have caused waves in the industry. They have also managed to push themselves into markets which many believed were effectively “closed shops”, which did surprise experts and market observers.
It has been rumoured that in the future Virgin Group will be looking to act as an incubator for smaller companies, investing into them and pushing them through to stock market floats or trade sales. Either way it is sure to be an interesting ride aboard the Branson shuttle!
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