June 2005
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Floyds Direct Travel Insurance News Section

Friday, June 24th

Fuel levy bumps up BA flight prices


British Airways is imposing a sharp increase in the surcharge it levies on passengers to cover the cost of jet fuel.

The move, triggered by record global oil prices, comes as motorists brace themselves for petrol costs to hit a new high. Experts predict an 87p litre will become the norm across the country within days.

BA is increasing its fuel surcharge on long-haul return trips to a massive £48 -equivalent to 10 per cent or more on the cost of many flights. The move marks an increase of £8 each way on the previous levy.

On short-haul flights, the price goes up from £6 each way to £8. BA's commercial director Martin George said: 'The continuing rise in global oil prices to almost $60 a barrel means a further surcharge increase is regrettably unavoidable.'

The airline's fuel bill for this financial year is likely to come in at £1.6 billion -some £450 million higher than a year ago.

Today's move, which comes into force on flights booked from Monday, is the fourth increase to fuel surcharges since the levy was first introduced in May last year at a rate of £2.50 each way for both long- and short-haul routes.

Meanwhile, the Petrol Retailers Association says petrol prices could rise by 2p in the next few days, while the AA claims prices are already at record levels across the country. Diesel, now averaging 90.34p, is predicted to go through £1 a litre by the end of the year.

In another blow to consumers, British Gas today said its household fuel bills would definitely increase later this year. Electricity and gas prices have already increased by nearly a fifth in the last 18 months.

Crude oil prices on the global markets hit $60 a barrel overnight, returning to record highs, amid long-term worries about rising demand in China and India as well as massive recent consumption in the US - the world's biggest oil user.

Global appetite for oil is increasing despite price rises of 40 per cent since the start of the year. A return to economic growth in many parts of the world and an ever-growing number of people using cars are among the reasons.

(this article was written by thisistravel.co.uk and was written by Jim Armitage, Evening Standard)
Floyds Direct on 24.06.05 @ 09:45 AM GMT [link]


Thursday, June 23rd

Britons Don't Leave Home Without Tea


While some home-loving British tourists are happy to tuck in to baked beans abroad, others help themselves to baked armadillo, it was revealed today.
And while some UK holidaymakers carry coffee and crisps with them from home, the more adventurous tuck into the cactus worms and roasted rodents.

As many as 50% of British holidaymakers take tea bags abroad while some of their number tackle tree squirrel on the Caribbean island of Grenada.
The culinary habits of those away on breaks were revealed in Real Holidays magazine published by tour operator Thomson.

The survey of 250,000 readers revealed that:

50% have taken tea bags abroad, 32% have packed coffee and 24% have carried their favourite cereal

20% have taken crisps, 15% bacon and sausages and 13% have taken baked beans

10% have packed long-life milk as a precaution, 7% have taken Marmite, 3% have packed Pot Noodles, and 1% even carry pork scratchings.

The most bizarre dishes tasted by Britons on holiday include:

Cactus worms in Mexico and dragonflies and chicken Feet in Thailand

Sheep's eyeballs in batter in Dubai, tree squirrel in Grenada and flying fox soup in the Seychelles

Stewed brains in Tunisia, baked armadillo in the West Indies, dog in Vietnam, roasted rodents in Venezuela and porcupine in Sarawak.

Among items taken on holiday by Britons are toilet rolls, washing lines and pegs and hotwater bottles.

Real Holidays editor Alison Crampin said: The British passion for holidays get more adventurous every year but even the most ambitious traveller likes to take a piece of home away with them.

'For many holidaymakers, this means they get the best of both worlds - they're surrounded by home comforts and favourite foods while exploring new and exciting places.'

(this article was taken from thisistravel.com and written by By Peter Woodman, PA Travel Correspondent)
Floyds Direct on 23.06.05 @ 09:51 AM GMT [link]


Wednesday, June 22nd

Parents Face August Holiday Price Hike


Parents Face August Holiday Price Hike by Jonathan Prynn, Evening Standard

Families still face huge mark-ups on holiday prices when schools break up for the summer, a new survey says.

Brochure prices rise by as much as 90 per cent in August, despite government pressure on the industry to stop this.

Biggest premiums were on the French Riviera, where a typical three-star hotel bill for a family of four peaked at £1,667 in mid-August but fell to £887 by early September. Holidays in Antigua and Turkey also saw big rises.

Mark-ups are lower for massmarket destinations such as Spain, Cyprus and Greece, where there is more competition. School holiday breaks for Cyprus and Spain were only 15 per cent higher on average.

The survey by Morgan Stanley consumer banking found a British holiday camp would charge 42 per cent more in August than in September.

Holiday companies have reported bumper bookings for this summer, and say pricing is set by supply and demand.

But parents, who now face a £100 fine if they take their children out of school for holidays, complain they are at the mercy of the industry. Ministers would like to see discounts of up to 10 per cent for families who keep the rules.


Floyds Direct on 22.06.05 @ 09:50 AM GMT [link]


Tuesday, June 21st

Heatwave set to 'last until the weekend'


Don't put your sun cream away just yet - most of Britain is likely to sizzle until the weekend, forecasters said yesterday.

The heatwave, fuelled by sub-tropical winds from the Azores, sent the mercury soaring to 33.1°C (91.6°F) on Sunday. It will be cooler today across England and Wales but will warm up again tomorrow and on Thursday.

However, Northern Ireland and Scotland could see heavy rain, the Met Office said. North Yorkshire had nearly a month's worth of rain in just three hours on Sunday. The deluge was so sudden - 27mm fell in just 15 minutes of torrential rain - there was no time to issue warnings.

The floods had already washed away roads and cut off villages by the time the Environment Agency posted a warning. 'It did come a bit out of the blue,' said spokesman Craig McGarvie, adding that global warming might be to blame. 'A lot places that have been flooded are not normally flooded.'

(this article was taken from thisistravel.com and was written by Metro)
Floyds Direct on 21.06.05 @ 09:39 AM GMT [link]


Monday, June 20th

Brits warned about American sun cream


British holidaymakers to America revelling in the strength of the pound against the dollar could suffer from the weakness of US suntan products.

As many as 84% of Britons do not realise that US sun protection factor ratings are only half the strength of UK ones, a survey found.

So a factor 20 suncream in America is only the same as a factor 10 in the UK.

It also re-enforced the findings of Malaria Awareness Week earlier this summer which showed that Britons were generally ignorant of the risk of malaria.

The survey by online pharmacy Allcures.com found that 80% of Britons were not aware that many prime holiday destinations were actually malaria hotspots and consequently took no precautions.

A quarter of the 527 people surveyed said they had experienced health problems while on holiday which required them to seek help from a doctor or pharmacist, with 34% saying it was a stressful and unpleasant experience and 19% declaring it ruined their holiday.

A total of 22% said they had difficulty locating or communicating with local doctors and pharmacists and 9% said they left the problem untreated until their return rather than try to get it treated locally.

Allcures superintendent pharmacist Mike Ritson said: 'It's important that people do their research and seek proper advice from their pharmacist before they travel.

'It's easy to get caught out when you're in an unfamiliar place, but there are simple and inexpensive precautions that people can take to minimise the risks before they travel, without spoiling their holiday. It's definitely not a good idea to leave problems untreated as they may well become more serious.'

To get a quote for competitively priced travel insurance, see this page and fill in the quick form.

Floyds Direct on 20.06.05 @ 03:49 PM GMT [link]


Friday, June 17th

Top Shops


thisistravel.co.uk has gathered information on the top three best shops for retail therapy...

UK - Harrods, London
(www.harrods.com)
Beaming out regally from Knightsbridge's Brompton Road, Harrods remains the most famous department store in the world largely thanks to its current owner, the limelight-loving Mohammed Al Fayed.
The store started life selling tea in 1849 and continues to sell thousands of its own branded products - all lavishly wrapped in the familiar green and gold design. The food hall is nothing short of sumptuous - you can pick up everything from Dundee cake to quails eggs.
Wow factor: Harrods boasts a dazzling array of services, you can get your pooch kitted out with a new coat or your tennis racquet re-strung should you so wish. An appointment with a personal shopper will showcase the very latest ranges and you'll get a free style profile too.
Just remember this is a luxury store. You have to pay to use the toilet and refreshments at any of the restaurants - from tapas to sushi - won't be cheap.
The store stays open until 7pm every night and is spectacularly lit up when dusk falls.

FRANCE - Les Galeries Lafayette, Paris
(www.galerieslafayette.com)
As Parisian as the Eiffel Tower, Galleries Lafayette, on Boulevard Haussman, offers shopping with added ooh la la.
This historic store - it's a listed building - is as famous for its lavish interior as it is for the exquisite wares on sale.
Wow factor: There's an entire floor dedicated to lingerie and fashion parades, showcasing the latest haute couture, take place every Wednesday morning.
Add a little je ne sais quoi to your living room at Lafayette Maison, a new home-furnishing wing to the store.
The building's biggest eye-catcher is the beautiful - and much photographed - glass and steel dome. Underneath it lies the mouth-watering Lafayette Gourmet food hall, an epicurean nirvana that stocks everything from the finest chocolat noir to thirty-year old bottles of Petrus.
When you've found your perfect purchase, head to the sixth floor for coffee, croissants and fantastic views of the city.
On your way out, ditch the elevator and clip clop down the famous Art Nouveau staircase, built in 1912.

SWEDEN - NK, Stockholm
(www.nk.se)
As the keeper of Scandinavian cool, it's no surprise to find the Swedish capital brimming with shopping opportunities.
Uber cool store NK - Nordiska Kompaniet - in the Hamngatan area of the city, sells everything from the latest Prada handbag to seriously slick Swedish designer furniture.
NK began life as the pet project of Josef Sachs, who opened the store in 1912 after being inspired by the grandiose shopping arcades in turn-of-the-century Paris.
Wow factor: The menswear department is particularly strong with a veritable smorgasbord of global brands - Armani, Gucci, Versace - alongside native Swedish designers.
The Swedes love to shop and around 18 million visitors get tempted here every year. If you've got a sweet tooth, reward your restraint elsewhere in the store with a treat from the NK bakery. Specialities include chocolate macaroons and the NK mints, for which the 90-year-old recipe remains top secret.

Floyds Direct on 17.06.05 @ 10:04 AM GMT [link]


Thursday, June 16th

Top Three Spas at Sea


What you do expect from a holiday at sea: tons of fresh air, wall-to-wall ocean views, hot and cold running food and drink, a lady in a spangly dress strangling showtunes.

What you don't expect: fabulous five-star spas.

But these days, just as every smart hotel has a special place where guests can be pampered, no self-respecting cruise liner is without a state-of-the-art spa.

Lining up a soothing massage, a skin-saving facial or even a yoga session can add a new dimension of relaxation to your cruise holiday.

And if you're trying to persuade a reluctant partner or friend to try a holiday at sea, choosing a ship with a fantastic spa might just swing it in your favour - if the worst comes to the worst, they can spend their every waking hour lying in a darkened room being soothed by panpipes and phytotherapy.

Here are a few of the best spas afloat:


Crystal
Forget converted broom cupboards on a dank lower deck, the spas aboard Crystal's ships are spacious, with soothing sea views.

The spas on board both the Harmony and the Symphony have recently been refurbished in accordance with Feng Shui principles (though you may only be aware of the sound of gentle chimes ringing and the soft colours of the decor).

Facilities include a dry flotation tank (suitable for singles and couples), and manicure and pedicure areas with sunken foot bowls.

Choose from luscious treatments such as the Japanese Silk Booster facial ($130) and Exotic Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap with Well Being Massage ($239).


Peter Deilman
Spa-goers in search of something special should board the ocean-going Deutschland, a 1920s-style ship which has a fantastic Roman-style spa that has recently been refurbished.

Lavishly decorated with statues, mosaics and marble, the spa houses a Roman steam bath, Finnish sauna (featuring picture windows with views of the open sea), and a fitness centre with gym equipment.

Top treatments include Thalassotherapy (using seawater), the Cleopatra bath (a bronze bath where you are immersed in milk and oil mixtures - said to relieve stress and strengthen the immune system, from €42), Thalgo anti cellulite treatment, (from €50), and Rassoul (be smothered in mud treatment then rinsed off with tropical rain, from €30).

There's also a range of Ayurvedic treatments (starting from €40), ranging from Mukabhyanga (a face and decollete massage), Abhyanga (a whole body massage), Padahyanga (foot massage) and Garshan (massage with a silk glove).

The Deutschland is a spacious ship with a staff to passenger ratio of 1:2, so there are no queues anywhere - including in the spa, so unlike other cruises, there's no need to book before you board.


SeaDream
SeaDream's 'mega yachts' offer chic, informal unstructured holidays at sea, with routes in the Med, the Caribbean and the Adriatic.

Each of the two ships carries only around 100 passengers - no heaving crowds anywhere, and that includes in the Asian Spa.

Heavenly treatments - administered by six trained Thai therapists - include the traditional Javanese Lulur (a spice and yogurt scrub to tighten and moisturise, $55) and an Aloe Vera Body Mask (great for sunburn or dry skin, $70). You can also have massages on deck - or even on the beach.

There's also a fitness centre, with trained staff (personal trainers available on request!), featuring treadmills, elliptical machines, recumbent bikes, and free weights all with flat screen TVs and DVD players.

Tai chi, yoga and aerobics classes are also available.

(this article was taken from thisistravel.co.uk and was written by Jessica Brighty)
Floyds Direct on 16.06.05 @ 11:06 AM GMT [link]


Wednesday, June 15th

Cheap Caribbean Cruises for Younger Market


EasyCruise is to sail in the Caribbean this winter and plans to add a second ship for eastern Mediterranean cruises next summer.

The budget cruise concept was launched by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou with a single ship offering an itinerary along the French and Italian rivieras.

The vessel easyCruiseOne will move to either Barbados or Antigua from November to run sailings to St Lucia, Martinique, the St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada until next April.

A second ship is planned for summer 2006 operating from Athens to Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, Heraklion, Hania and Milos.

The company is also considering basing a vessel in the Arabian Gulf for winter 2006-07, possibly based in Dubai.

The company says the average age of passengers in its first season in the Med is 33 - more than 20 years younger than in the traditional cruise industry.

Haji-Ioannou said: 'I am very pleased that easyCruise has attracted a younger crowd. In the future we intend to continue growing this younger cruise market and to offer them a wider choice of destinations in each new season.'

(this article was taken from thisistravel.co.uk)
Floyds Direct on 15.06.05 @ 09:38 AM GMT [link]


Tuesday, June 14th

Water-sports in Egypt



Learning the principles of water skiing while squatting on the beach is easy. Bottom tucked up, arms straight, elbows in, ready!
'You're supposed to shout Hit It! remember?' said my blond instructor, a vision of vitality in Ray-Bans and O'Neill board shorts.
So I did and when he pretended to be the boat and tugged at the rope I got up on my feet first time. 'Perfect technique', he said without a hint of irony. Funny how when you don a pair of water skis and actually get in the water it's so utterly impossible. Unless, of course, like the star our group, you're only ten and did a Mark Warner with your Mum and Dad last summer.
The ridiculous sight of our beginners group practising squat positions on the beach aside, the joy of learning the gnarly art of watersports in a family-focused resort like Mark Warner is quite frankly that nobody, apart from ten-year-old boys, will laugh at you.
There are no whistle-blowing Baywatch types hell-bent on peeling pale, nervous tourists from their sun loungers, no fixed itineraries nor, heaven forbid, anything that remotely approaches beach jogging expeditions at dawn.

What there is is as much state of the art kit you could possible want to get your hands on and a have a go attitude that could inspire the biggest coach potato to don a life vest.
The young Beach Crew who put apprentice sailors, surfers and snorkellers through their paces do so gently and despite going through this rigmarole on a weekly basis manage to remain enthusiastic and endearingly encouraging.
The Mark Warner concept is simple: provide first-class facilities and tuition, food, drink and childcare in five-star accommodation all for one neat price tag and let people get on with it. Or not.
You are at liberty to do nothing at all and if you're a watersports widow or widower you can happily wave off your beloved and settle down to nothing more active than a good book or a snooze by the pool before padding off to the health club for a massage. And of course, there are the tennis courts and multi-gym to keep active landlubbers happy.

Here at the Abu Soma resort, Mark Warner's new Red Sea venture which opened earlier this year, the same goodie box is on offer with one vast and obvious bonus - the Red Sea. If you're not driven to strap on an aqua lung when some of the world's choicest coral reefs are but a ten-minute boat ride away, chances are you never will.
To ease you on your way, the resort offers free try-dives in the safe confines of the marina in addition to full PADI certification, which with a bit of dedication and willingness to give up boozy nights and days on the sunbed for the classroom you can complete in just a week's stay.
Take the plunge and it won't take you long to discover why the Red Sea is such a honeypot for divers.
Conditions are perfect. And for those who are too nervous to plumb the depths, snorkelling here is equally thrilling - with visibility this good you get to see more than your fair share of brilliant, shimmering fish and explore the vibrant tapestry of coral beds.
Introductory snorkelling with an instructor also comes for free and there are frequent boat trips throughout the day.
The resort quite simply bustles with activity and it's no surprise that kids love it here. The older ones get to hurl themselves into water at every available opportunity, grapple with flippers and clamber into canoes supervised by young instructors whom rapidly become heros.
Even better, you don't have to wait until your kids are out of water wings to make the trip.
The under-fives skip along the beach singing Bob the Builder classics with a team of dancing nannies who appear to have graduated from the Julie Andrews school of childcare before escaping the midday sun for a spot of finger painting in the nursery.


(this article was taken from thisistravel.co.uk)
Floyds Direct on 14.06.05 @ 10:19 AM GMT [link]


Monday, June 13th

Royal Caribbean's 'cut and shunt' liner


Royal Caribbean's 'cut and shunt' liner by David Harding, Metro

It could be the ultimate in cut-and-shunt jobs.

A cruise operator has come up with a quick-fix solution to a pressing need for new boats. The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has taken one of its ships, cut it in half and slotted in a whole new midsection.

It is now busy welding the 75,000-tonne behemoth back together in a dry dock. The new section is 22m long and has 151 cabins - enough room to accommodate 300 extra passengers. At a cost of just £32million, it was cheaper than building a boat from scratch, which can take up to three years.

One executive said the job was 'like playing with Lego - but big Lego'. The idea came from Royal Caribbean vice-president Peter Fetten, who trained as a naval architect. He had the idea while walking past the Enchantment of the Seas in Rotterdam harbour.

The vessel was already big. At 280m long and 32m wide, it could take 2,500 passengers. But that was before cruises increased in popularity. The scale of the month-long operation was daunting but it is hoped everything will be finished by July 7.

The ship has been put in a dry dock at Rotterdam and the keel raised on to sledge-type devices that run on rails. Up to 1,000 workers have been involved in the transformation. They spent six days cutting the vessel in two using oxyacetylene torches and circular saws. The two sections were then painstakingly moved apart using hydraulic jacks and a laser alignment system.

The new middle section was built in Finland and transported to Holland by barge. It has been fitted with just millimetres to spare and it will take another fortnight to weld everything together.

Mr Fetten said modestly: 'This is just an engineering question. We can fly to the Moon, so we can cut ships.'

(this article was taken from thisistravel.co.uk)
Floyds Direct on 13.06.05 @ 09:47 AM GMT [link]


Friday, June 10th

Top Five English Sunsets


Holidays don't always have to be a flight away, some of the most beautiful spectabcles are here in our country, in places rarely visited by the holidaying masses. Take a look at this list of the best places to watch the sun go down this summer...

The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk
For shimmering tidal salt marshes, visit this much-loved north Norfolk inn. Look out to Scholt Head island from a decked terrace or tuck into fabulously fresh seafood in the conservatory restaurant (Thornham oysters, crab and mussels and locally smoked fish).

The terrace is popular in the evenings, when golfers, sailors, twitchers and walkers (the White Horse is right on the North Norfolk Coast Path) have worked up a thirst.

Stay in one of the 15 chic and contemporary rooms - including five family rooms - or the brand new Room at the Top, which is split-level and has its own telescope. The White Horse (01485 210262; www. whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk). Weekend B&B from £125 per person, two nights minimum.

Oloroso, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle is on one side, the Firth of Forth on the other, and if the weather closes in, the floor-to-ceiling windows ensure you can still gaze out over the buzzing city.

So discreet is the entrance to this smart, modern restaurant, slap bang in the town centre, that you'd never stumble on it. Oloroso enjoys a top-floor location on a street corner in New Town, where locals shoot the breeze over cocktails on the terrace. Oloroso (0131 226 7614; www.oloroso.co.uk), 33 Castle Street, Edinburgh. Stay at the Glasshouse boutique hotel, (0131 525 8200; www.theetoncollection. com), 2 Greenside Place, Edinburgh. From £165 per night B&B.

Redroofs at Oldfield, Maidenhead
As the sun makes its descent, this idyllic riverside scene - a pretty Victorian bridge, a tiny island, grebes, geese and rowing boats from Maidenhead Rowing Club gliding by - really comes into its own.

Breakfast is offered in a double-height Great Hall, and each of the eight bedrooms is individually furnished with an eclectic array of antiques. You can even have a blissful La Stone massage or reiki treatment.

The biggest treat, though, is going to dinner by water to The Fat Duck at Bray or The Waterside Inn, both of which are nearby. Redroofs at Oldfield 01628 621910; www.redroofsatoldfield.co.uk), Guards Club Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire. From £85 per night B&B for a double.

Tresanton St Mawes
The view from this classic Cornish hotel is sheer romance. Built on a hillside, it overlooks the harbour in the tiny fishing village of St Mawes towards St Anthony's Lighthouse and the Roseland Peninsula.

Its rooms are the epitome of seaside chic but pricey - around £280 a night. But anyone can book dinner, or just drop in for a Tresanton Martini on the terrace - designed to look like the deck of an ocean liner.

The Rising Sun (01326 270233, www.risingsunstmawes.co.uk), the Square, St Mawes, £55 per person B&B.

Weston Park, Staffs
From the sweeping lawns down to formal gardens and parkland, the fabulous setting of this 17th-century ancestral seat of the Earls of Bradford affords a breathtaking sunset scene.

The stately home has 28 bedrooms for guests with a yen for romance and history. Summer packages include dining beneath the gaze of several Van Dycks, and a choice of open-air performances in the grounds (designed by Capability Brown). On balmy July evenings, you can enjoy a Proms concert with the English National Orchestra or performances of Pride and Prejudice.

Weston Park (01952 852100; www.westonpark.com). One-night package with champagne reception, three-course dinner, performance in the grounds, B&B, from £170 per person.

(this article was taken from thisistravel.co.uk)
Floyds Direct on 10.06.05 @ 10:00 AM GMT [link]


Thursday, June 9th

Underwater Hotels and Surfing in New York...


Some things you expect to do when travelling to certain destinations, such as visiting a museum when on a city break to Rome or dancing till dawn in Ibiza: other activities are a little more unexpected, such as surfing in New York, skiing in Dubai or scuba-diving while on a skiing holiday in the French Alps.

Roman Katanec, head of marketing at Flight Centre, says: "As the world shrinks and people continue to travel more, destinations around the globe are always looking at ways of broadening their appeal to holidaymakers to encourage more visitors, and they have come up with some novel ways of doing this."

Flight Centre staff have travelled the world extensively and come up with their list of the more unusual activities that destinations around the globe are offering or plan to offer to attract people:

Surfing in New York: Lucky tourists and residents can now surf legally in New York, as the city opened its first official surfing beach, Rockaway Beach, earlier this year. This is the first time in more than a century that people have been allowed to surf at the city's beaches or waterways.

Skiing in Dubai: People will soon be able to cool off from Dubai's 50 degree heat at a faux mountainside dubbed Ski Dubai. Completely indoors, with no windows, the indoor field will offer skiing and snowboarding trails, mugs of hot chocolate and log fireplaces to help people forget the soaring temperatures outside.

Sunbathing on a Paris beach: Once again next month and in August a 3km stretch of the River Seine will be turned into a beach, an annual event since 2002.

The strand be complete with white sand, palm trees, sunbeds and parasols so that residents and visitors alike can pretend they are on the Cote d'Azur.

Ice diving in the French Alps: Tignes in the French Alps is better known for its ski slopes than its diving opportunities but, for those on the lookout for something different to do on their ski holiday next year, ice diving could be an option.

Professional ice divers will take suitably qualified divers through a hole in the ice in Tignes Lake for a truly unforgettable experience. Sipping vodka at an ice bar in Auckland: Minus 5 is an exceptional bar experience in Auckland where the whole bar is produced from ice.

This includes the walls, sculptures, seats and glasses. People are offered warm jackets and given a 30-minute tour which includes a drink of vodka.

Sleeping underwater in Dubai: Leading the way with underwater hotels, the five-star Hydropolis in Dubai, billed as the world's first underwater hotel, will open in December 2006.

It will be a 220-suite hotel, divided into three elements; the landing station, the tunnel to the submarine area and the submarine that will be the actual hotel, where guests will be sleeping in suites underwater.

Visiting a working prison in La Paz, Bolivia: This prison is operated as a co-operative by the prisoners and was written about in the book Marching Powder by Rusty Young.

The guards on the gates will let tourists in for a few dollars, but once inside visitors are left in the hands of convicted drug dealers, terrorists and rapists for a highly unusual tour.

Camel racing in Alice Springs: Pay homage to the great cameleers who opened up the Australian Outback at the Voyages Camel Cup. This has been an annual event since 1971 and this year it takes place on July 9.

Up to 20 camels will contest each race on the card and there will be novelty races as well (as if the camel races didn't qualify for that description themselves!).

The most popular event is the Honeymoon Handicap where the groom races his camel halfway round the track, gets it to kneel beside his bride, picks her up and charges back to the finishing line.

Cooking in China: The hot destination of the year, China is getting ever more popular in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

For those who want to experience more than just the usual sights ,there are tour options that include teaching visitors the cooking skills needed to make the perfect Chinese meal.

Have a facelift in Cape Town: Guests at the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Camps Bay, Cape Town, can come away with more than just the benefits of a bit of rest and relaxation.

A new nose or flattened tummy could also be theirs. With cosmetic surgery growing in popularity, Twelve Apostles offers the ideal place to relax, rejuvenate and recuperate. The Clarins gold-rated Sanctuary Spa is an idyllic retreat, and boasts state-of-the-art equipment and treatments.

(this article was taken from iol.co.za)

Whether you are going for the usual annual trip to Scotland with the family, or you're going to do something a lot more adventurous this summer, check out the highly competitive quote Floyds can give you for your travel insurance.
Floyds Direct on 09.06.05 @ 09:55 AM GMT [link]


Wednesday, June 8th

Kidding Around on Holiday


There's no need to stop taking adventure breaks just because you've got kids. On the contrary, the experience could be even more rewarding.

Adventure, like age, is a supple thing. It changes with circumstances. What's adventurous for an adult thrill seeker-cum-orthopedic surgery candidate would be unsuited for a 10-year-old (and bloodcurdling for his parents). But child-friendly adventures don't need to be dull.
Pick the right trip and you can camp, bike, kayak, rock climb, hike and even elephant trek en famille. Explore Madagascar, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka or remotest California. Daily distances on these trips are short, activities varied, crowds scant, and the guides will double (in most cases) as baby sitters.
You'll have time to yourself, which, as a parent, is its own thrill. 91m-tall conifers look even bigger when you're a kid. Western Spirit Cycling Adventures (www.westernspirit.com) sends families mountain biking along the Coastal Trail in Northern California, a dirt byway (closed to cars) sandwiched between redwoods and the Pacific.

In the morning, everyone rides, with kids as young as four often pedaling what's called a tag-along, a sort of half-bike that attaches to the back of Mom or Dad's big bicycle. In the afternoons, parents can head out for longer trail rides.
Offspring take part in guide-led activities in camp or hike, escorted, through the land of the giants. Trips are five days, with tent camping; departures throughout June, July and August.
Nicaragua isn't Costa Rica, and hurrah for that. It still has a pleasing scruffiness and almost no crowds, but the tourism buzz is building.
So you may want to go soon. Where else can your kids hike on an active volcano, kayak Lake Nicaragua, wander through a tropical cloud forest and slip on a harness to whiz on wires from platform to platform high in a treetop canopy, all for a bargain price?

Nicaragua Adventures (www.nica-adventures.com) even accepts infants. Little adventurers as young as three can do the canopy tour, but in a guide's arms, which reduces the risk but not the thrill.
Push through the jungle in Sri Lanka on an elephant's swaying back. Let your child feed a baby at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, its trunk gently sweeping her palm. Bike, hike, ride a tractor deep into the countryside, eat fresh coconuts, ford low rivers, disengage river leeches from your ankles (or have your son do it; they like the nasty things), and sleep at a rain forest tent camp. Adventure Center (www.adventurecenter.com) has 13-day Sri Lanka trips in July and August.

A helicopter whisks you and your family from Banff, British Columbia, on a cool swoop above the timber to one of several high-country, haute-rustic lodges. Kids as young as six are welcome. At the lodge, you get provisions and directions for hikes either easy or strenuous; each helicopter ferries up to 10 hikers to a starting point.
Counselors hike with the kids; parents can join or not. Everyone reconvenes in the hot tub later. REI Adventures (www.rei.com/adventures/activity/family.html).
The west coast of Ireland is relatively flat, green, dotted with fantastical stone castles right out of the Lord of the Rings, and trafficked more heavily by sheep than automobiles, making it a fine spot for family cycling. Bike Riders (www.bikeriderstours.com) offers a family trip from Connemara to Galway, with an overnight stay in a castle (other nights are in hotels), and optional kayaking and tree climbing along the way. Each day's distance is 20km to 40km, with support vehicles.

Llamas don't spit unless provoked. They're usually as fuzzy, nuzzly and pliant as sheepdogs, and they make fine trail companions, since they do the work. Llamas lug all the gear when Red Rock 'n' Llamas (www.redrocknllamas.com) takes families, in groups of no more than 10, camping in the canyon country of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah.

A 20km multiday hike geared to children follows the Upper Escalante River. Kids, always with a guide, can explore, swim, handle a llama, view Anasazi rock art or make their own paintings with native ocher and other plants.
Madagascar, off the coast of Africa, is Animal Planet come to life. Among its unique residents are ruffed lemurs, Diademed sifakas (big lemurs), Indri indris (even bigger lemurs) and a kaleidoscopic array of chameleons.
Reef and Rainforest Tours' Family Adventures program (www.familytours.co.uk) founded by a British couple with two young children, has 14-day wildlife viewing trips that take you from the country's rain forest to its otherworldly spiny forest (named for its pointy, cactuslike trees).

(this article was taken from taipeitimes.com)

For more information on our policies see these pages, or get an instant quote to suit your individual needs.
Floyds Direct on 08.06.05 @ 09:58 AM GMT [link]


Tuesday, June 7th

Travellers miss out on currency deals


MORE than half of Britons fail to shop around to check they are getting a good deal on their travel money, research showed today.
Around 53% of people admitted they did not bother checking exchange rates when it came to changing money into foreign currency, according to NatWest Travel Money Services.
One of the reasons for this may be people's tendency to leave organising their holiday money to the last minute, with four out of 10 people saying they left it until less than a week before they were due to leave the UK.

One in 10 people also said they waited until they arrived at their destination before exchanging the bulk of their money, despite feeling that foreign bureaux de change did not provide a good service.
A quarter of people said they found changing money confusing, saying they could not always tell if they were getting a good rate.
As a result the majority of people bought their travel money from a bank branch, with reasons for doing this ranging from the convenient location of branches to the quality of service and peace of mind they offered.
Meanwhile financial information group Moneyfacts today urged consumers to shop around for the best deals when changing money. The group said conversion charges could be as high as 2% with a minimum charge of £5, plus handling charges of more than £5, but it added that many providers changed money commission-free.
Rachel Thrussell, head of savings at Moneyfacts, said: 'With a little shopping around, it's very easy for hoildaymakers to save money.With most providers you don't have to be a customer, but do check exchange rates, as these can vary.'

(this article was taken from thisislondon.co.uk)

Floyds Direct on 07.06.05 @ 10:16 AM GMT [link]


Monday, June 6th

A Dining Room With a View in the Maldives


In seafood restaurants you expect to find the fish on your plate. Not swimming around over your head. But in this new restaurant, your dinner table sits 16ft below the waves of the Indian Ocean.

In an interesting reversal of the situation at an aquarium where you can see fish eating their food, here they may glide over to enjoy the spectacle of you enjoying your mealtime. At the Hilton Maldives Resort, the Ithaa restaurant (pronounced 'eet-ha' which means 'pearl' in Dhivehi, the language of the Maldives) is a dining room with a view.

The restaurant tables are surrounded by a coral reef and encased in clear acrylic, offering diners 270 degrees of panoramic underwater views. When the waiter arrives at your table to elaborate on the catch of the day, explanations may be unnecessary - he will merely have to point out a handy specimen swimming by.

Carsten Schieck, general manager of Hilton Maldives Resort, says that they have used aquarium technology 'to put diners face-to-face with the stunning underwater environment of the Maldives'.

He explains: 'Our guests always comment on being blown away by the colour, clarity, and beauty of the underwater world in the Maldives, so it seemed the perfect idea to build a restaurant where diners can experience fine cuisine and take time to enjoy the views - without ever getting their feet wet.'

The fact that the entire restaurant, except for the floor, is made of clear acrylic is a world-first for Hilton, says Mr Schieck. 'We are currently planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views of the rays, sharks and many colourful fish that live around the reef near the restaurant.'

Don't expect to share the experience with dozens of friends. The 16ft by 29ft transparent arch, which spans the entire room, seats just 14 people: 'Ithaa offers one of the most intimate and exclusive dining experiences in the world. It provides a feeling of being completely at one with the underwater world while submerged beneath the surface of the ocean.'

Ithaa is reached by a wooden walkway from the nearby over-water Sunset Grill Restaurant. Diners begin their meal with drinks on a specially constructed deck and then descend to the restaurant via a spiral staircase where the a la carte menu is served.

This innovative restaurant is part of a £3million rebuild of Rangalifinolhu Island, one of the twin islands that make up Hilton Maldives Resort. This rebuild includes the construction of 79 beach villas in the country as well as the Spa Village, a self-contained, over-water 'resort-within-a-resort' with a spa, restaurant and 21 villas.

The opening of the restaurant provides a further boost to the Maldives' tourist business which reports that bookings are recovering following the Boxing Day tsunami.

Eighty-two people, including three tourists, were confirmed dead when the waves crashed into the nation of some 1,200 low-lying islands off southern India.

While the number of deaths was low compared with other countries, the Maldives nevertheless suffered substantial damage: the tsunami affected one-third of the archipelago's 290,000 people and only nine of its 199 inhabited islands were spared destruction.

The physical damage, however, was substantially less than originally feared, largely because the coral atolls that surround the islands appear to have dissipated the force of the waves.

Early inspections have shown that fortunately the fragile reefs have suffered no lasting damage.

The majority of hotels and resorts have now reopened. Out of a total of 87 resorts, 74 are back in business and six months on tourists are returning in growing numbers. Hotel occupancy now stands at 71 per cent - well below the usual 90 per cent expected for the period- but a creditable figure in the circumstances.


(this article was taken from the Mail On Sunday)
Floyds Direct on 06.06.05 @ 11:49 AM GMT [link]


Globetrotting Brits Rack Up Holiday Miles


The average UK holidaymaker will travel nearly a quarter of a million miles during their lifetime - enough to circumnavigate the globe 10 times.

New figures point to an average lifetime holiday mileage of 248,000 miles.

According to Halifax Travel Insurance, 89% of travellers visit a new country every time they leave the UK.
But despite this, France remains the most popular holiday destination, with 83% of British travellers having visited the country.

Spain fills second slot, with 77%.
The US is the third most-visited country, with Italy and Greece making up the rest of the top five.
Canada, Australia, Tunisia, Thailand and Malaysia all also make it on to the list.
And Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, Egypt, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, India and Jamaica are all in the top 30.

Young people are the most frequent travellers, with nearly half of those aged between 18 and 20 taking an average of three trips a year.

(this information was taken from Ananova)
Floyds Direct on 06.06.05 @ 11:35 AM GMT [link]


Friday, June 3rd

Young Travellers Risking Trips Without Travel Insurance


A survey has revealed that Brits are getting ever more adventurous - but more than 4.6 million people are failing to take out insurance to cover their trips.

According to the survey, British holidaymakers are likely to travel 248,000 miles to overseas destinations during their lifetime - the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe ten times over.

Almost nine out of ten (89 per cent) of those travellers are so adventurous that they will visit a new destination each time they leave the UK.

However, a third of 18 to 25 year-olds - the group most likely to take three or more foreign trips per year - admit failing to take out travel insurance.

"It is a concern to see that many younger people are going abroad without insurance, especially as they are travelling so far and so frequently," said Vicky Emmott, senior underwriting manager for Halifax Travel Insurance.

"Ironically, this generation are more likely to be tempted to bungee jump or go off the beaten track and therefore should be thinking more about the need for insurance."

France was the most popular holiday destination for Britons, according to the survey, with 83 per cent choosing to visit our Gallic neighbours. Spain came second, with more than three-quarters of holidaymakers heading for the land of fiestas and flamenco.

(this article was taken from the fairinvestment.co.uk news section)
Floyds Direct on 03.06.05 @ 11:57 AM GMT [link]


Thursday, June 2nd

TV's Palin backs European sick note


TV traveller Michael Palin is urging the public to help avoid holiday health nightmares by filling in a simple form.

The Department of Health has launched a scheme make sure the public knows about the benefits of getting an E111 certificate before heading to Europe this summer.

The form, available online or at post offices, entitles Britons to reduced or sometimes free medical treatment if they fall ill or have an accident in 28 European countries.

Travellers are still advised to take out travel insurance because E111 does not cover some factors, such as repatriation to the UK in the event of serious illness.

But travel insurance alone might not be enough to cover all medical care, and some policies are not valid without an E111 form.

Palin, who has trekked the Sahara desert, been around the world in 80 days and travelled pole-to-pole, said: "No-one wants to get sick on holiday.

"But if you do you'll be glad you packed your ticket to saving money, hassle and time if you need medical treatment."

The E111 form also covers people for treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, for maternity care and illnesses they had before going away.

The campaign has been launched now because any forms issued before August 19, 2004 are no longer valid.

From September the E111 form is being turned into a more handy-sized card, known as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

(this article was taken from Yahoo Independant Entertainment News)

The E111 is your basic safeguard when travelling anywhere for holiday, the government recommends always purchasing travel insurance to cover you for every eventuality that the E111 can't (and it doesn't stretch much past the basic emergency). To get an instant quote for travel insurance for your holiday, go here.



Floyds Direct on 02.06.05 @ 05:19 PM GMT [link]


Wednesday, June 1st

Foreign Office Advice for Travel to Italy


Foreign Office Advice for Travel to Italy

SUMMARY

Italy shares with the rest of Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, as demonstrated by serious bomb attacks on trains in Spain in March 2004. There continue to be isolated cases of domestic terrorism in Italy by extreme left wing and secessionist groups, which are aimed primarily at official Italian targets.

There is currently a risk of unannounced wildcat strikes by municipal transport workers in cities across Italy. See Local Travel below for dates of pre-planned strikes.

You should be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities.

There continues to be non-violent volcanic activity on the island of Stromboli. Italy is in an earthquake zone.

Visitors to ski resorts should take advice on weather and avalanche conditions before they travel and should make themselves aware of local skiing laws and regulations throughout their visit (see: http://www.goski.com/italy.htm and http://www.avalanches.org).

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Terrorism
Italy shares with the rest of Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, as demonstrated by serious bomb attacks on trains in Spain in March 2004. Last year the Italian Government announced that the risk of an international terrorist attack in Italy had increased. At the request of the British Embassy, the Italian authorities have increased security around British interests.
The Italian authorities take terrorism seriously and in recent years they have carried out numerous arrests of extremists in Italy, which have disrupted a number of terrorist networks. Nevertheless, there continue to be isolated cases of domestic terrorism. Typically, incidents have been aimed at official Italian targets, mainly in the form of small bombs and incendiary devices, and carried out by extreme left-wing and secessionist groups.

On 24 May a parcel bomb was sent to the brother of a Government Minister but defused, another exploded in a Turin Police station and another was defused at a Lecce Police station on 26 May. On 13 March 2005, three people were injured in a church in Treviso when a small device hidden in a plastic candle exploded. Earlier in March, anarchist groups placed four bombs near Carabinieri stations in Milan and Genoa; a parcel bomb was left at the front door of a residential building in Orvieto; a bomb exploded in front of the courthouse in Ostia (on the coast near Rome) and a flare was thrown at a political party building in Milan. In 2004, two rudimentary incendiary devices were made safe by Police outside a Rome branch of McDonalds and a car blew up outside a McDonalds branch in Brescia killing the driver, in what appeared to be a suicide car bomb - there were no casualties.

For further information and advice please read Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas.

Crime
Though levels of crime are low, you should take care on public transport and in crowded areas where pickpockets and bag snatchers may be operating. In Rome, take particular care around the main railway station, Termini, and on the number 64 bus, which goes to and from St Peter's Square. You should also take care in and around railway stations in other large Italian cities. You should be particularly wary of groups of children who may try to distract your attention whilst trying to steal from you. Passports, credit cards, travel tickets and cash should not be carried together in handbags or pockets. Only carry with you what you need for the day. Consider making use of safety deposit facilities in hotels.
The number of robberies from cars, at rest stops and service stations on the motorways, is on the increase. You should treat with caution offers of help if you find yourself with a flat tyre, particularly on the motorway from Naples to Salerno, as sometimes the tyre will have been punctured deliberately.
Always lock your vehicle and never leave valuables in the vehicle even if you will only be away for a short time or are nearby. There have been a number of recent cases of stolen cars containing luggage or of luggage left in cars overnight being stolen. You should avoid leaving luggage in cars overnight or for any length of time.

Be vigilant when travelling on sleepers/night trains. Thieves sometimes operate on trains in Italy and may take the opportunity, during the night period, to rob sleeping travellers. Theft can also take place on trains during the day. Do not leave bags containing valuables unattended.

Local Travel
If you need to use a taxi, please remember to travel in only officially licensed taxis. These will have a taxi sign on the roof. Also ensure that the meter in the taxi has been restarted before commencing your journey.

You are advised that there is currently a risk of unannounced wildcat strikes by transport workers in cities across Italy. However, you should be aware of the following pre-planned strikes:
31 May 2005: 24 hours Local public transport
06 June 2005: 12:00-16:00 Pilots Italian union strike
06 June 2005: 10:00-18:00 Air traffic control
16 June 2005: 10:00-18:00 Air traffic control
26 June 2005: 12:30-16:30 Alitalia pilots
07 July 2005: 12:00-16:00 Rome air traffic control

Due to heightened security at ports and other sensitive areas, delays at security check-points may occur. You are therefore advised to plan your travel accordingly.
Travellers on public transport should note that tickets for public transport need to be endorsed in a ticket machine before commencing a journey. The machines are usually positioned at the entrance to platforms in railway stations, in the entrance hall to metro stations and on board buses and trams. Officials patrol all means of public transport and will issue an on the spot fine of Euros 50 to 60 if you do not hold an endorsed ticket.

Road Safety
Following a three year closure, the Mont Blanc tunnel linking Italy and France is open to all vehicles except those with more than four axles, those carrying dangerous goods and those which came into circulation before 1 October 1993 and do not meet the Euro 1 and 2 pollution standards. Please note the speed and vehicle distance limits signposted at the entrance and exit. Vehicles, which are forbidden from using the Mont Blanc Tunnel should use routes along the Mediterranean coast or through the Frejus Tunnel; there are, however, some restrictions on HGVs using the Frejus Tunnel. Full details of these are available on the French Government-run website: website: http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr.

Trucks over 7,500 kilograms (75 quintali) are not allowed on Italian roads, including motorways, on Sundays from 07:00 to 24:00 hours local time. These restrictions do not apply to those trucks already granted an exception such as those carrying perishable goods and petrol supplies.
It is obligatory to use dipped headlights during the day while travelling on motorways and major roads outside cities. The same legislation also introduced a stricter limit for alcohol in the bloodstream; the limit is now 0.5 grams per litre. The use of mobile telephones in cars is prohibited except where they are fitted with speaker devices.

It is obligatory to carry at least one reflective safety jacket in a vehicle and to wear it when standing with, inspecting or repairing a stationary vehicle on a public highway.
Italian Police may stop cars from driving in mountain areas in winter if the car does not have snow chains
On-the-spot fines' for minor traffic offences operate in Italy. These may range typically between 150 - 250 Euros. You are strongly advised to stick to the rules of the road, and/or have enough cash if you have to pay a fine. Failure to do so may seriously inconvenience your visit.
Travellers who rent cars in Italy should check the rental insurance terms carefully. Some polities will not cover an accident that does not include a third party eg a collision with a wall. Certain provisions in policies, such as fire and theft, might not apply for all regions of Italy.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

In the cities of Venice and Florence you should observe public notices about conduct. Fines are possible for visitors who drop litter. It is also now an offence to sit on steps/courtyards or to eat and drink in the immediate vicinity of the main churches and public buildings in Florence.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Italian Embassy, 14 Three Kings Yard, Davies Street, London, W1K 4EH; tel: 020 7312 2200; fax: 020 7312 2230; e-mail: emblondon@embitaly.org.uk

HEALTH

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance. In addition, you should always carry a completed E111, obtainable free of charge from British post offices. Although this can help you get emergency medical treatment in Italian state hospitals, it is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance.

The Italian authorities may carry out SARS checks on passengers arriving from China at Fiumicino (Rome) and Malpensa (Milan) airports.

For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at: www.dh.gov.uk.

NATURAL DISASTERS
Many parts of Italy lie on a major seismic fault line. Minor tremors and earthquakes are almost a daily occurrence.
Major Earthquakes on 31 October and 1 November 2002, affected the Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia regions of southern Italy. The epicentre of the worst tremor was near Campobasso in Molise. Further tremors in this region cannot be ruled out.
Volcanic activity on Mount Etna in Sicily in early 2003 has now subsided. There continues to be non-violent volcanic activity on the island of Stromboli. Further information on Stromboli and other volcanoes around the world can be found at: www.stromboli.net.
Visitors to Venice should note that parts of Venice are liable to flooding at certain times of year, especially in late autumn and early spring.

GENERAL

Skiing
If you are planning a skiing holiday it is advisable to contact the Italian State Tourist Board for advice on safety and weather conditions before travelling. They can be contacted at:
1 Princes Street
London W1R 9AY
Tel: 020 7 355 1557/1439

You should be aware that off-piste skiing is highly dangerous. All safety instructions should be followed meticulously given the dangers of avalanches in some areas. Italy has just introduced a law forcing skiers and snowboarders to carry tracking equipment if going off-piste. The law also obliges under-14s to wear a helmet and there are plans for snowboarders to be banned from certain slopes.
Further information can be obtained at the following websites:
http://www.goski.com/italy.htm
http://www.avalanches.org
You are reminded that the currency in Italy is the Euro.
Further information can be obtained from the FCO website at: Dealing with the Euro "Money Matters and the Euro".
European Union
Information on the EU can be found at: Britain and the European Union

The British Consulate, Venice has relocated to:
British Consulate,
Piazzale Donatori di Sangue 2/5
Venice-Mestre
30171
Tel: (0039) 041 5055990 or (0039) 041 5069389
Fax: (0039) 041 950254

Floyds Direct on 01.06.05 @ 10:17 AM GMT [link]




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