CD Traveller

Compensation for the Volcanic Ash

adrian — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:12:27 +0000

We all remember the closure for a week of our airspace caused by the ash spewing from the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajoekull. I was stuck twice as a result of the fun and games so had to resort to the train to return. Luckily I was only in Glasgow on each occasion unlike people trapped around the world who were well and truly stuck. Under EU law, airlines are responsible for compensation due to delay and cancellation. And as we know, Ryanair strongly objected but eventually gave way, KLM is rumoured still to be refusing to pay and many airlines are unhappy. Lobbying is going on behind the scenes to get the EU law changed. Aer Arann was very badly hit and is now in “examinership”
The legislation, as CD-Traveller said at the time, was not designed for this action. It was there so if airlines had delayed flights or decided to cancel flights because they were a quarter full or they had no available planes then they couldn’t renege on a contract with passengers. Acts of God, as we found insurance companies viewed the ash disruption, are things difficult to plan for. Isn’t that something that we as passengers have to put up with and governments as the end deposit of our taxes should help with?
Now the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has entered the argument by “insisting” (a strong word for them) that the EU reconsider matters. Since it was not due to mismanagement, they claim it should be altered. Falling back on the tax burdens and regulation they plead they don’t need any more problems. As the Carry On films would say, there just a bunch of pleaders!
But I agree with them.
The courts are also taking an interest. All compensation claims have been suspended and our High Court has referred the issue back to the Euopean court to reconsider the interpretaion of the law. Don’t hold your hat for a quick outcome.
Yes I realise that, for one of the few times in my life, Michael O’Leary and I are on the same side. I am more than happy to castigate airlines when they don’t deliver or try to evade their obligations but on this occasion, I think it comes down to just one of those events that comes along every once in a blue moon. If anyone is responsible it looks to be governments who, for reasons of safety, went too far. But then if one plane had come down with casualties, we’d have a very different attitude.

What’s Hot: September

Editor — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:15:36 +0000

CD Traveller tells you what’s hot in the travel world

HOT

Beijing Airport
Word is that Capital International Airport has become the world’s second busiest airport. A recent report by air travel analyst OAG showed that Beijing’s biggest airport has unseated London’s Heathrow leaving the mighty Atlanta airport as the only hub left to conquer. For the low-down on what it’s like to live and work in China, check out our man in Beijing’s blog – coming soon exclusively to the CD Traveller website.

The Astor
Still in China, the Astor (a luxury hotel that has been around since 1863) is reopening this month following a massive restoration. In its early 20th century pomp, the hotel hosted the likes of Herbert Hoover and guests can book luxury suites with a story to tell. Shouldn’t be long before modern day presidents are checking in.

Stylish sleeps in Devon
Salcombe may be one of Britain’s most treasured seaside spots however its lack of stylish hotels has, until now, kept this unspoilt pocket of English coastline exclusive to home owners and their lucky guests. Enter South Sands Hotel – an ultra chic 22-bedroom property located on the beach in a beautiful horseshoe bay. Described as ‘Nantucket meets Devon’ the Salcombe newcomer offers elegant design and exceptional cuisine – local restaurateur and seafood maestro, Mitch Tonks is the man behind the menu.

Three generational holidays
Holidays have become ‘three-generational’ thanks to Grannies acting as nannies. A new survey has revealed that a third of grandparents regularly holiday with their children and grandchildren so as to help with child care assistance. It’s estimated that the UK’s grandparents saved parents around £800 million in childcare costs this summer alone.

Danxia
Last month the 34th World Heritage Conference in Brazil voted to make China’s Danxia a new world heritage site. With 40 world heritage sites, China now ranks third in the world.
Danxia is the general name for six geologically and geographically related areas: Chishui in Guizhou, Taining in Fujian, Langshan Mountain in Hunan, Danxia Mountain in Guangdong, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi and Jianglang Mountain in Zhejiang. But while Chinese officials are celebrating the fact that UNESCO has recognised that Danxia needs to be protected, not everyone is enthusiastic about Danxia’s new status. Locals are worried that tickets to the six Danxia sites will become more expensive now that Danxia has been catapulted onto the ‘hit list’.

Pretty passports
The humble British passport is getting a revamp as of October 2010. The new passport will feature much loved UK scenes, including the White Cliffs of Dover, the Gower Peninsula, and Ben Nevis in an attempt to cut international fraud.

Calgary
If you live in London or another massive metropolis where the air quality is questionable, try a break in Calgary which recently came out top in Mercer’s 2010 list of worldwide ‘eco cities’. Cities from Scandinavia, Canada and Australasia also figured among the top ten in Mercer’s 2010 list.

NOT
Bognor
Its not Bognor or Regis but Bognor Regis, got it? Officials at the seaside town have written to public bodies across Britain asking for the “rude” practice of shortening the name to stop. Former mayor, Don Eldridge, said: ““To not call us by our full name dishonours the town”.

Virgin Atlantic
Beleaguered BA is the British airline that has been appearing with alarming regularity in this section. But not this month. Instead it’s Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic which is hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The airline, founded by Branson in 1984, is facing the threat of the first strike in its 26-year history over a row with its pilots about how many days off they can take each year.

Bank holiday Blues
It’s all over folks. No more public holidays until Christmas comes, grrr. Our advice? Cheer yourself up and treat yourself to a mini break next month. See our ‘travel destination’ page for information and inspiration.

Virginian Wine

adrian — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:44:25 +0000

Think of wine in the USA and your mind probably thinks of California. Oz Clarke and James May did a TV series a while back driving through the state and stopping of at different vineyards to taste and praise. But if you think of the state of Virginia, wine is not probably the first thing that you’ll consider. To me Virginia conjures pictures of southern gentlemen, the confederacy and heritage. So it came as a surprise to learn that it has 160 vineyards and was recently named as one of the top five wine destinations to look out for over the next few years.
For us travelling to Virginia, its easy to get to since there are frequent flights into Washington DC. And there you are. In Virginia. And being a smallish state it is not going to take hours and hours to drive around. So as a shortbreak destination, its ideal.
The Virginia Tourism Corporation has just won an award for its efforts at publicising last years’ Virginia Wine Month. This takes place each October with lots of wine festivals, festivals and trails linking different vineyards. Using Twitter, the VTC got 40 wine affecionados to taste a number of wines and then tweet about them. The result was that in just 24 hours, over 43,000 people read about the views of the tasters. As part of the promotion, of course, details of how to get to the vineyards was given to the forty three thousand and all those who read about it over the following days. As a promotion it was successful. As for the wines, they are becoming an important visitor draw. In wine tourism it’s obvious. You are only as good as the last wines you sample so Virginian wines must be good.

A Day in…Chester

Cathrene Rowell — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:54:29 +0000

Despite having visited, and lived in, many wonderful cities in Europe, if you were to ask me what my favourite city was, I would always say Chester. It has everything: over 2000 years of history, beautiful architecture representing over a thousand years of building, countryside appeal and (for those who want it!) a world-famous racecourse and ample shopping!

This is my guide on how to spend a relaxing day exploring Chester.

Find a parking space – there are many car parks in Chester, but the multi-storey (non historic 70s building) is not only the ugliest of them all, but offers the direct access onto the walls of Chester.

I always start a trip walking the walls – there is simply so much to see from up there.

Starting from the Multi-storey car park, as soon as you are on the wall you can see the amphitheatre: The ruins of this unique Roman Amphitheatre (2 on the map) is one of the largest Amphitheatres in the UK, and is still being excavated – in summer, if you are lucky, you can collar one of the archaeologists and get some insider information. If you have a big interest in the Roman history of Chester, then it is a good idea to plan in some time at the Dewa Roman Museum (14) or The Grosvenor Museum (5).

As you walk north along the wall, take some time to enjoy the view up Watergate Street, which is unforgettable from the Eastgate Clock (13).

View down Watergate Street from the Eastgate Clock (13)

When doing the circuit, be sure to exit the walls at Eastgate clock and walk east down Watergate Street towards the Cross (3). This area is a mainly pedestrian, which is good as otherwise you would get run over as you lose yourself in the beautiful architecture.

The shops along Watergate, Eastgate and Bridge Street are in two layers, aptly named “the Rows” which date back to the 13th century. The rows are a series of half-timbered buildings joined with long galleries, the Tudor equivalent of a shopping mall.

When you reach the cross, turn right towards the town hall, and the main entrance of the cathedral. The Town Hall is also the home to the Tourist Information in Chester.

Double back on yourself and passing the cross (where there are usually local musicians from Chester Music School performing) and walk down towards the river Dee.

The area around the river Dee is beautiful, and there is the opportunity to rent a rowing boat or paddle boat, in addition to some boat trips up and down the river. This is a beautiful place to sit in reflection, and eat an ice-cream!

There are plenty of restaurants, which offer a variety of world cuisines at a reasonable price and in beautiful old buildings. There is not one that I would not recommend, so take your pick!

The Eastgate Clock (13) taken from the wall

Looking west back at the Eastgate Clock (13)

The Cathedral (8) is definitely worth a closer look: For a small fee you can go inside, but my tip is to get something to eat from the high-street, and have a picnic in the pretty cathedral grounds!

Chester Cathedral (8)

A view of the Cathedral (8) from Watergate Street

Map of Chester (Source: Google Maps. Adaptations by Cathrene)

PLACES OF INTEREST

Town Hall & Tourist Info
The Amphitheatre
The Cross
The Watergate
The Grosvenor Museum
Chester Roman Amphitheatre
Chester Racecourse
The Cathedral
King Charles’ Tower
The Northgate
The Bridgegate
Chester Heritage Centre
The Eastgate Clock
Dewa Roman Museum

Heritage Days Arrive

adrian — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:44:45 +0000

From about the 9th of September (depending on where you live) heritage sites will be open up and down our countries. This is the time of the year when our heritage sites are often free to the public along with council buildings and places normally closed for the rest of the year. At least 3,000 events are scheduled
Ireland has recently had it’s week. Now it is the time for England, Scotland and Wales to celebrate this pan-European achievement. Your local library or newspaper will have a list of what is open in your area.
There are too many for us to list in the events part of CD-Traveller but here are a few from around the country. In the Borders, Neidpath Castle is open on the 12/13 September and in Scotland, the whole of September is given over to Scottish Archaeology Month. Buildings like Ettrick Mill in Selkirk which is now used for offices will be open for viewing. The Masonic Hall in Cardiff will be open on all Sundays in September. Some councils will have banners on buildings not normally open so that you can see what is available. In Shropshire there will be 65 activities arranged including a visit around Tanners Wines in Shrewsbury where the buildings are preserved. Shrewsbury will also have a carriage parade with about 20 horse-drawn vehicles recalling how important the town was as a coaching stop. How about Cambridge’s Ascension Burial Ground as somewhere slightly different? Or Waterbeach’s Waste Management Park?
This is the time to go and visit some of those buildings that you’ve wondered about because they are hardly open to the public and certainly not free.
Some guided tours need booking in advance. Others you can just turn up on the day
Apart from your local information sources, you can find more, for England, at least, at www.heritageopendays.org.uk. For Wales go to www.civictrustwales.org and for Scotland, www.scottishcivictrust.org. London has its own event on the 18th and 19th September, which you can find at www.londonopenhouse.org.

The Bodyscanner Debate Goes On

Editor — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:30:12 +0000

On the face of it, the use of bodyscanners to deter terrorists or, to put it another way, to make us feel that we are as protected as possible when we fly, is something that few would argue with. But all is not simple and there are many justifiable objections to them, not the least of which is privacy. And health risks. And whether the machines work.
Recently EPIC, Electronic Privacy Information Center, a US body took a lawsuit against the US Marshals Service which is the authority that runs the machines. As a result of this they were able to find that body images were being kept despite assurances to the contrary. They have received 100 images of undressed individuals (as they put it) which is a sample of the 35,000 that the US government has admitted to having. AS EPIC says, this proves that the machines can store images. We, as travellers, were told none would be kept. The Department of Homeland Security documents released as a result of this show that the department instructed its officers to store and transmit images. Again, we as travellers were not told this. Now EPIC is returning to court to stop the scanners being introduced elsewhere.
A Las Vegas company, Flying Pasties Inc, is now producing patches you can cover the more private parts of your body with. Why? If they stop the officials checking you all they are going to do is slow things down while they ask you to remove them!
At the same time, it appears that it takes 5 times as long for a person to go through the machine as it does going through the normal metal detector according to a report in US Today. We were told that there would be no real increases in time so, if true, this has implications for security lines and how long we turn up before a flight.
The EU, some countries in the Middle East like Dubai and others who haven’t publically said so, is concerned by the side effects on our health. Some have argued that because most of us travel rarely, any effect would be minimal. But what about frequent travellers? Having been lied to once by the US authorities, can you believe them when they say there is no problem?
Finally there is the issue of whether they work. The same department has admitted, according to Travelmole, a travel industry newsletter, that they don’t know whether the system would have detected the person who tried to blow up a jet bound for Detroit last Christmas Day.
I don’t know the answers nor do most passengers. We just want something that works, is safe and doesn’t make travelling any less disagreeable than it already is. But who do we believe?

A Vulcan Welcomes You to Gloucester Cathedral

adrian — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:31:00 +0000

For 2 months, Gloucester cathedral will host the largest exhibition of UK sculpture outside London. There will be 75 different pieces on display in the cathedral and its grounds. So big is the venture that when I was there a few weeks ago, they were erecting scaffolding and preparing for it. It was going to take a whole week to just get the exhibits into position. Called Crucible, the event opens on September 1st and runs until October 30th so there is plenty of time to get down to Gloucester to see it. And it won’t be going to any other towns or cities. Miss this opportunity and you don’t get another.
Sculptors included in Crucible include Anthony Gormley (responsible for The Angel of the North,) Damien Hurst, Lynn Chadwick and Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. Paolozzi’s huge 15 foot high sculpture, Vulcan on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland is the centrepiece of Crucible and you won’t be able to miss it. It will be outside the main entrance. One sculptor who won’t have to travel far is Jordi Raga Frances. He works as a stonemason at the cathedral. Some are better known through their links with Gallery Pangolin who have helped curate the exhibition.
The event must be proving popular even before it opens since the official website has been down at times in the last few days so you will have to be patient to see more information about it. The free exhibition has generated lots of interest locally but for those of you travelling from further afield and looking to stay overnight, the local tourist authority has put some overnight packages together. If you are considering staying then it might be better to wait a week or two and let the rush die away.
It comes, of course, as Gloucester joins the rest of our countries in celebrating our heritage. From 9-12 September, Gloucester has over 100 events planned. You can collect the 20 page brochure from the tourist office or download it from their website

Taking the guilt out of your trip

Editor — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:10:41 +0000

Last week, Lonely Planet let us in on how offering your time and skills is a great way to see new places and give something back. The problem is volunteering holidays – the big travel trend of 2010 – aren’t cheap. Make no mistake: altruism can cost. CD Traveller suggest some other ways in which you can have an ethical, environmentally friendly holiday experience without paying the earth

We live in an era of cheap air travel and now take planes as we once took trains. But there’s a catch….carbon emissions from planes are speeding up global warming. Environmentalists argue that the only true eco break is one based in your country. If you agree why not discover the beauty in your own backyard? (See our destination page for brilliant breaks in Blighty). However if you have your heart set on holidaying in the Caribbean and feel that Cornwall can’t compete, panic not. There’s really no need to give up your frequent flyer miles just yet (if we did it could be quite the disaster as developing countries rely on tourism to help boost their economies.) To balance out the damage done by your flight (and avoid a diatribe about how your holidays are destroying the planet) simply offset your carbon emissions. Websites such as Carbon Neutral Company (www.carbonneutral.com), Climate Care (www.climatecare.org), Future Forests (www.futureforests.com) or Friends of Conservation (www.foc.uk.com) will calculate the carbon emissions made by your flight in tonnes. You can then offset this by making a donation to forest planting schemes or energy saving projects in developing countries.

Of course eco tourism isn’t only about carbon offsetting, it’s about sustainable travel – helping a country rather than damaging. Here’s how…

Stay in local guesthouses and hostels instead of big chain hotels so that the money you spend goes back into the community.

The same goes for food – give MacDonald’s a miss and buy the local produce.

Show respect. Learn a little of the local language and always ask before taking pictures of people. Think about what kinds of clothing is appropriate. If for instance you’re heading to a Muslim country, don’t forget to cover up. As the saying goes, when in Rome…

When travelling in Asia and Africa, chances are you’ll be inundated with requests from small children for a biro or another small item. Refuse. Your act of generosity actually only serves to encourage begging and keeps children out of school. If you want to help the local children, why not make a donation to a local school or health centre instead?

Don’t haggle too hard. Sure we all like a bargain but don’t get carried away. At the end of the day the shopkeeper struggling to feed his family in a developing country needs that extra pound more than the privileged holidaymaker.

Leave places as you found them – don’t discard rubbish irresponsibly.

Use water sparingly – it’s a precious commodity. Do you really need a clean towel every day?

Finally enjoy your guilt free trip. Taking an eco break might be the height of holiday cool (Brangelina, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore are all doing it) but it will also leave you with more than tan lines: you’ll leave knowing you’ve done the right thing.

Avoiding Cruise Add-Ons

Editor — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 06:44:22 +0000

Like the airline industry, it seems that cruise companies have started developing new ways to relieve you of your money. It was always the case that an outside cabin cost more than an inside and the closer you were to the top of the ship the more expensive it became. But most people looked on cruising as an all-inclusive holiday. When you paid you had little more expense to consider other than how to tip and how much. And even that started to be priced in so you paid for it at the point of purchase. That is changing. Now there are add-ons. And most of them are little things but which add up to big money for companies.
But the new updated,Douglas Ward book, Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships for 2011, (not the snappiest title!) highlights some of the things you should beware of. Like restaurants on land, although the tip might already be added on, they still leave space for you to add a tip so, to the unwary, they can make on this twice.
Take visits to the bridge. I remember being taken to the bridge of the old Sitmar line ship, “Fairsea” when I was about 11 but I don’t remember my father moaning at the cost. (so, probably, it was free) The guide tells us that Princess Cruises charge a whopping $150 to do this.
Tour operators tend not to charge for transfer coach travel from the airport to your accommodation and back again. And, in fairness, some cruise companies don’t either. Others seem to charge almost taxi like fares. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look as though Ward tells us which ones but since the book isn’t published until October this may not be true (why publicise the book so far in advance?)

One of many pet hates is the price of bottled water. Supermarket prices can be quadrupled by some outlets and cruise companies seem to be no exception. On the ship it’s covered. Go ashore and they “offer” you water but at a far from cheap price. Ward suggests you buy it when you get on shore. And preferably at a supermarket.
But on the plus side, Ward says that basic cruise prices are as low as they were 30 years ago so that might explain why it is so popular and why more and more people take this type of holiday.

There are just a few things that he points out. Just as you can now tell from the airlines how much they earn from ancillary revenue, (add-ons) maybe we’ll find that out too from the cruise companies.

Supporting Welsh Tourism Growth

Editor — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:53:28 +0000

This story is a little different from the usual things you read here but I make no apology for including it. On this bank holiday weekend, there will be lots of people working in some aspect of tourism in Wales who will have ideas on how to improve things; to make that day-out, that stay, that attraction better or more appealing for us the visitor. And those ideas should be supported.
The Tourism Society in Wales offers a £5,000 award to someone,-anyone- to help develop a project that will improve, help or build tourism in the principality. You can be in business, in academic life or just that person with a great idea.
When chosen, the person will have assistance and support from other Tourism Society members and, when, the project ends, they will be expected to present their results.
The project chosen is expected to be capable of being put into practice rather than remaining in the mind. You’ve only got a few days to develop and submit your ideas as the closing date is 1st September.
If you know someone who has an idea mention it to them. Or if you are that person, here’s your chance.
Submit your ideas to the head of the Welsh chapter of the Tourism Society at jwalshheron@btconnect.com