Travel Weekly Blog

Judith Chalmers has teamed up with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain to offer travel health advice. Here's the video . . .

Martin Couzins, managing editor

The lack of activity round here is down to me being on a press trip to Madeira, and the interweb being less accessible than I foresaw.

I'm writing from the lobby of the Classic Savoy in Funchal, which I'll have some video from when I'm home - believe me, there is no hope of extracting it on the old wind-up Compaq I'm using.

As far as looking for 'angles' goes, our host Inghams has done a good job of dispelling the rather slow, staid image that Madeira has in northern Europe (visitors from Spain and Portugal have a younger average age than those from the UK - anecdotally, all the UK visitors I know are of my parents' generation).

We've gone whale-watching in a small dinghy, spotting two sperm whales just 10 minutes from the marina; been on a 4x4 jeep tour up into the mountainous centre; and 'tobogganed' down roads (yes, roads) in wicker baskets with greased runners underneath, and two locals with ropes to do the steering.

I've also seen some great hotels, drunk 'poncha' in a surprisingly trendy bar, and eaten superbly. I'll post photos and whatever else I have from tomorrow...

Grande Hotel Gardone Riviera hit the news this week after a British holidaymaker died following an outbreak of salmonella (though it isn't yet clear whether the bug caused his death).

The property is set right on the west bank of Lake Garda, roughly:

• 60km north-west of Verona
• 60km north of Mantua
• 139km east of Milan
• 175km west of Venice

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It has a fair amount of history: dating from 1884, it has hosted Sir Winston Churchill, Vladimir Nabokov and Somerset Maugham (among TW Blog's favourite authors, incidentally).

TripAdvisor reviewers are largely complimentary about the property, with only 8 out of 60 dropping below 4/5 - though one family complains that they were hit by a surprise €350 charge for what their 10 month old baby had eaten over 14 meals.

It is featured by a number of British tour operators - Kuoni, Inghams, Prestige Holidays and TUI Travel (Thomson) had guests there during the salmonella outbreak, and are all investigating the hotel's safety standards through hygeine consultant IGI.

From deputy features ed Joanna Booth

I've returned from the Hayes & Jarvis fam to Mauritius overwhelmed by the hospitality on the island.

And not just from the beautiful top-end hotels we visited ­ though each one pulled out all the stops to impress us, from Thai cuisine at the Hilton to a pirate-themed quiz night at the Maritim ­ but also from the Mauritian people themselves.

Our group was divided up and sent off in cars on a treasure hunt round the island. We accosted people in the street, asking them countless questions, and the responses were polite and helpful without exception.

Few went as far as one man, though. We were asked to bring back what translated from the Creole as 'an old Mauritian'. Most teams discovered that our intended target was a day-old edition of the island¹s local paper.

However, Brad Smith, team manager at First Choice Peterborough, took a more literal approach, and arrived at the finish line cheerfully accompanied by a local man of advanced years...

Joanna Booth, deputy features editor

I was at my parents' house recently and came across this:

That's right: you, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, free Ben & Jerry's ice cream. The catch is you have to stare at their backsides.

The cabin above Independence of the Seas' Ben & Jerry's outlet has - as you can see - a restricted view of the Royal Promenade; as compensation, the occupants get free ice cream.

I would.

The photo was taken by Travel Weekly Cruise Club member Tracy McFall, a disabled travel specialist who sent us her thoughts on IoS's facilities and accessibility.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Tracking Tourism has a good post based on an interview with Ian Yeoman, a tourism futurologist formerly employed by Visit Scotland.

One point about city breaks jumped out at me, mainly because this Friday's Destinations section is heavy on city break content.

The rough version is that new constraints (less time, less disposable income, more concern about the ethical/environmental impact of travel) will leave UK travellers 'wanting more from what they can get' - and that this will be to the benefit of cities which:

• ...are within three hours of the UK
• ...have lots to offer tourists
• ...have good transport links

What does this mean for the range of city breaks taken in Europe? One reading is that it will lead to conservatism.

I tried applying the criteria to Kaliningrad, which we feature as an up-and-coming destination this week.

The city is beginning to develop following the introduction of a KD Avia route from Gatwick and a relaxation of visa rules for UK visitors. In some ways, it ticks the right boxes: it's only a two-hour flight from London, and like much of Eastern Europe it is very cheap.

But it also has comparatively limited tourist infrastructure. Public transport from the airport barely exists (though transfer by car doesn't take long). It is also on a route that may struggle as the pressure on airlines increases.

Can we see the kind of consumer Yeoman describes - one who has scarce, valuable time and is determined to make the most of it - taking a punt on Kaliningrad over, say, a low-risk dependable such as Prague?

Are the barriers to becoming a 'Destination City' about to get much higher?

Perhaps it comes down to what consumers consider 'making the most of your time' - another reading is that the desire to do so will encourage people to strike out and look for something new.

Even then, it may be the fortunes of airlines that ultimately decide how broad a palette the next generation of city breakers can paint with...

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Spotted in the Observer's quotes of the week box:

"Surely you have a word for handjobs in German?"

Michael O'Leary, the ever-charming boss of Ryanair poses a gentle question at a conference in Germany, after noting that his new transatlantic service will offer all sorts of extras. It caused some trouble for his interpreter.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

TW's editor-in-chief Penny Wilson just visited the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. Here's the lowdown.

Edinburgh taxi drivers are a chatty bunch.

I have just returned from a splendid dinner on board the Royal Yacht Britannia with Scotland's finest agents and operators - courtesy of Air France and KLM who wanted to say a big thankyou for the support the company had experienced from that part of the world.

Having spent the last four years travelling abroad, I had to admit to not having been to Edinburgh for some time, so I asked the cabbie whether he was Scottish or British.

"I am Scottish first and foremost, and British in times of conflict," he replied.

And as for the Royal Yacht, I've never seen anything so narrow in my life as her majesty's bed. No room for anything else but a tiny person in there.

Word of warning to travellers to Edinburgh courtesy of the Central Cab Company - Edinburgh is being torn apart by preparations to re-introduce trams.

Victorian utilities are being replaced before tram tracks can even be considered. All this is costing millions of pounds and will cause massive traffic delays for another two to three years.

Met Richard Edwards, tourism manager at Arun Districy Council, at the Brit 2008 Awards earlier this week. He mentioned that he was vice president of the British Resorts and Destinations Association, a group I had not heard of.

The group represents destinations in the UK - mostly coastal resorts - and boasts 20 MPs as vice-presidents.

Its president is Gordon Marsden, Labour MP for Blackpool South.

What a line-up - something the outbound travel industry can only dream of.

Let's hope ABTA's David Marshall gets to influence more people in government in his new role dedicated to policy.

Martin Couzins, managing editor

Story just up: a survey by agent consortium Advantage suggests that 30% of consumers find online holiday bookings more expensive than expected.

Is that your experience? Or do you normally pay pretty much what you had in mind online?

For bonus points: if you answered yes, why? Is the baseline price just more than you expected? Are you a sucker for anciliaries? And how come you don't 'walk' away when you get the final price?

Nathan Midgley, web producer

It's been a while since Travelodge announced a wheeze to help guests get a good night's sleep, but the time off has been well spent: the budget chain is back, and it's packing aromatherapy sheets.

The press release lays it on thick: this is an 'a-room-atherapy' service featuring five 'ReminiScents' drawn from a 'Senses Census' of 5,000 Brits.

Three strikes. Back to the dugout.

These are the whiffs on offer:

• The Sea
• Freshly Cut Grass
• Baby powder
• Home-baked Apple Pie
• Chocolate

Sadly for Travolution ed Kevin May, airline fuel - which he recently told TW Blog is among his favourite smells - has been left out.

It's another sure-fire route to press coverage, particularly in the tabloids and city freesheets. But would it help you sleep?

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Just spotted this on Plurk, social networking's latest gaping time sink. User dickieadams is horrified to find Google's route mapping tool directing him into oncoming traffic:

So much for 'don't be evil'...

Nathan Midgley, web producer

I'm caught up editing some vid and doing general production, but even TW Blog's non-trade readers will find some interesting stuff in today's big site update:

• Celebrity Solstice first look: Travel Weekly Cruise Club member Martin Hay went to Germany to see how the ship is progressing and see its engines switched on for the first time
• La Manga tennis resort: Janine Kelso tried out the famous resort and tennis academy, beloved of celebrity footballers
• Maureen: Our travel agent columnist Maureen gets the first signs that the credit crunch might hurt her sales

And some bits from around the web:

• Curious Expeditions has a post about the 'Hall of Hunting' at Vajdahunyad Castle, Budapest
• Alex Bainbridge reports on a panel session with Google execs held at ABTA's Newman Street headquarters
• Royal Caribbean has revealed more details of Oasis of the Seas - apparently it'll have loft-style studio apartments

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Another message from Louise Scott on easyCruise...

Just been chatting to a senior member of ship personnel who let slip that a customer spent a couple of hours in his office the other day having a moan.

Being a sticky-beaked journo type I asked why and he said she was an older lady who'd been on loads of (posh) cruises before this and wasn't happy with how easyCruise Life was shaping up in comparison - one of her main gripes being the food.

Hang on a minute, I thought, isn't that a bit like comparing Pizza Express to The Ivy? Or going to Maccy D's and expecting steak?

Okay, so the grub may not be the most varied in the world, but it's pretty nice if you ask me (or any of the folk I've chatted to about it). The disgruntled lady didn't take kindly to the generally informal style of the ship either, by all accounts.

Agents, the moral of this story is this: be careful who you recommend a holiday on easyCruise Life to. Those looking for a bit of swank, smarm and Silver Service will not find it here. This is firm flip-flop brigade territory.

Chilled-out types of all ages who would hate the traditional idea of cruising and want to see more of the ports of call than the portholes on deck will love easyCruise Life, though. It's easy peasy.

No, we are not talking the Brits Brits, we are talking the travel industry Brit awards 2008. Organised by Visit Britain these awards are a chance for leading UK operators to honour their top selling shops.

They took place at Butlins Bognor Regis last night and they were great fun. The big surprise of the night was the appearance of X-Factor runner-up Ben Mills.

He wowed the agents with his singing - he really was impressive. He then offered himself up for photo opportunities, which kept him very busy.

Pictured we have Clair Hancer of Visit Britain (aka the queen of domestic travel and tourism. Why? Because she sounds posh - and that's according to her) giving Ben a smacker on the cheek.

More from the night to follow.

Martin Couzins, managing editor

Travel Weekly's Louise Scott is out on a fam trip aboard easyCruise Life. She emailed me her impressions of the ship...

Orange is not the only colour aboard easyCruise Life - far from it, in fact.

Eighteen hours into a seven-day fam trip aboard the ship and the only sign of the garish colour so far is in the huge numbers printed on each and every cabin door (just so passengers definitely know which one's theirs). They look pretty funky - a word which would could befit the rest of the ship.

As a cruise virgin, I didn't know what to expect on this or any other ocean liner for that matter, but If I'm honest my hopes for this one weren't high. Going on general perceptions of sister ship easyCruise One a couple of years back I had something remotely resembling a loud, gaudy, floating Pizza Hut in mind. Instead, I've found understated, modern chic.

It's got a great bar and restaurant, sun decks with sumptuous beds to lounge on (feels a bit like the Big Brother garden), all next to a small but functional little swimming pool.

It's more than enough for singles, couples or groups of friends with a bit of taste who want to see the Greek islands at a bargain price and in a relaxed atmosphere.

My only gripe so far is with the gym - did they really need to use up so much valuable sunbathing space for that?!

If I see any of my agent companions so much as look at a treadmill, I'll eat my sun hat...

• Liked this? Try Cruise Lines, TW Group's cruise blog by industry expert Jane Archer

The International Herald Tribune has an AP story on AirAsia - the budget carrier's CEO Tony Fernandes believes it can stay profitable despite the skyrocketing price of oil.

We are comfortable even with oil at US$200 (a barrel). ... We will market ourselves out of this problem.

He also cites less competition as a 'silver lining' of the situation. Fernandes also says - and this is the bit Jaunted picked up on - that part of the airline's strategy would be to sell more in the air.

Hmm. So as the oil price forces base air fares up, and as the economy slows down, passengers will be buy more than they do now?

Is that how it works in a downturn?

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Speaks for itself, really. I think beerbike tours are available in several places and from several operators, but Amsterdam seems to be a hotspot. Hello stag and hen market...

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Our former features editor Matthew Hampton emailed me this morning with a horrified response to elements of Andy Cooper's latest column for TW:

I practically spat out my tea when I read Andy Cooper's column. His sole justification for Brits wanting to go on holiday seems to be that we live on a "cold, wet island with no guarantee of good weather."

Therefore it's "not unreasonable to expect our citizens to travel to experience culture, sunshine..."

Sorry Andy, I like a bit of beach time as much as anyone, but sunshine is not a prerequisite for a nation developing valuable cultural attributes.

Perhaps you should spend a bit less time abroad and more inside the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Galleries.... Failing that a library would suffice; most small towns have one.

When you're done, why not visit some domestic attractions and see whether they think 'tourism deficit' is completely meaningless outside Westminster.

Britain is a great country to visit and it's about time the industry woke up to that fact.

Yikes. Any differences of opinion out there? I see what Matt's getting at, but I do think Andy's wider points about the economic importance of outbound tourism stand.

Darren has a post questioning whether the humble tourist office - reliant on olden-days things like bricks, mortar and paper - will survive.

The consensus seems to be that they will move online, as GPS on mobile devices and the ability to deliver content on the web allow them to do their job with fewer real-world touchpoints (and thus fewer overheads).

Commenter Rohan counters:

I think you are forgetting that in some destinations, the tourist information office is the centre of the community. We have used a lot of tourist offices on our travels to help us with the public transport, and directions...

Head over there and join in.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Another good newspaper ad here: Bill Geist shares one that US airline Southwest, which is resisting the spread of luggage fees Stateside, ran in the Wall Street Journal. 

  The coupon reads 'Don't #$*!% me over'. Beneath that comes the payoff: 'Southwest is the only airline that accepts this coupon'.

It's worthy of Ryanair, the UK's undisputed king of cheeky print ads. Hit the pic for a bigger version on Bill's site.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

As web producer I don't get to see print adverts until I read the issue. But I like this one from US cruiseline Carnival:

It's a cute riff on the name of its ship Carnival Splendor, which would be spelt 'splendour' in British English.

'All that's missing is u' is knowing, ever so slightly self-deprecating... to my ears, perfect for a big US ship coming to the UK.

The only problem? The hook is buried in the middle of the ad. Having done a bit of copywriting in my time, I hate to see a great idea take the back seat...

Anyway, as you can see Splendor is on the way to the UK. It will have the good fortune to have Myleene Klass as its godmother, and, as our cruise blogger Jane Archer also mentions on Cruise Lines, will be christened with English sparkling wine instead of champagne.

All this deference to homegrown spelling and produce... it's enough to win anyone over. 

Nathan Midgley, web producer

I'll be totally honest: when I heard that Silverjet had secured more funding after ostensibly going out of business at the end of May, I had three questions:

• From who?
• Seriously?
• Seriously?

It's not that I don't like Silverjet - I heard nothing but good things about the service, I admired the chutzpah of its advertising, and so forth.

But its initial failure came hard on those of Eos and Maxjet. The business-only model wasn't looking too secure - to say nothing of the passenger aviaiton sector in general. So I was astonished when the carrier found the cash it was looking for.

Now the deal appears to have completely fallen through, with the BBC reporting that Silverjet's entire workforce is on the way out. So is this, finally, the end?

Nathan Midgley, web producer

That's pretty much the substance of this post. I've had soap, shower gel, shampoo, moisturiser, scented spray, cologne, shower caps... but never toothpaste.

After finding the proverbial cupboard bare at InterContinental's Aphrodite Hills resort, which I thought would lay on everything on the bathroom front, I'm more convinced than ever that something's going on.

Have I just been unlucky? If not, what's the deal? Is there some global dentistry lobby vetoing it?

Answers in the comments, please...

Nathan Midgley, web producer

The last of the ITT Conference business sessions finished about three hours ago (around 2pm UK time), and I've just got the last of our videos online.

Interviews include Stella Travel Services boss Keith Stanley, lastminute.com chief exec Ian McCaig, and - bit of a curveball, this - Elaine Iljon Foreman, a clinical psychologist who specialises in fear of flying.

Fear of airports might be more like it. We've been told that low-cost carriers lord it over operators in terms of route development and have airports in their pockets (John Grant).

We've also heard concerns about the quality of the airport experience (Andrew Cornish, and echoed in a quote about the joys of rail travel from Eurostar commercial director Nick Mercer).

At breakfast this morning TW was discussing quite what the trade is able to do here. Can it put pressure on operators and airports? Should the 'getting there' experience be as fundamental to the sale as the 'being there' experience?

The soaring price of oil will not help matters - it was mentioned in several sessions, but was never an overriding focal point.

In some ways this was odd, because when delegates switched on BBC World or Sky News in their rooms, disruptive fuel protests in Spain and now Portugal loomed very large indeed (the protest in Portugal caused delays at Lisbon after the airport ran out of fuel).

So we're coming away with plenty to think about, which is of course the point.

From a blogger's point of view, the event was fantastic. When you're covering a session live you want big, colourful quotes and ideas, and we got that in spades.

John Prescott and Ian McCaig were excellent value, and Sir Ken Robinson delivered a final session that was as funny as it was stimulating. (The links go to our live posts on each speaker).

Enjoy the coverage - normal service will resume here from Friday.

Nathan Midgley, web producer

Just some pics and a slightly daft vid from InterContinental Aphrodite Hills, the venue for this year's ITT Conference:

Pool area...

Private pool (ground floor suite)...

Bathroom...

And finally - are you sitting down? - a TV cabinet that pivots 180 degrees so you can watch it on the sofa or in bed. TW Blog is not difficult to entertain...

Apologies for the lack of activity here. I'm attending the Institute of Travel and Tourism Conference with a few other TW people. We're at InterContinental Aphrodite Hills, just outside Paphos in western Cyprus.

That's Travolution editor Kevin May and Travel Weekly news editor Michelle Perrett interviewing Gill Craig and Karen Gee outside the Association of Women Travel Executives reception, while other delegates mill around in the background wondering why they can't come to the party (it's because you're guys).

This morning Kevin and I were sat at the back of the hall, co-writing a live ITT 2008 blog during the sessions. We heard about 'route development' (i.e. establishing new holiday destinations), cruise growth, corporate manslaughter law and more, then former deputy PM John Prescott wrapped up with an entertaining speech.

News coverage, plus some video - which I'm afraid is Youtube for the moment, as our usual delivery system is on the blink - is on Travel Weekly, and there'll be some special episodes of Travolution's Purple Pod podcast too.

And I'll post some pics of Aphrodite Hills later...