Travelog

Brits trust strangers on the Net

Most Britons and the Irish place their trust in complete strangers online when it comes to researching and booking their holidays according to new findings by boo.com. The Travel Trust Index reveals that peer reviews are growing in power, with one in six posting a review following a holiday and 71% letting their fellow travellers be their guide.

With over 75% consumers opting to research and book holidays cheaper direct on the net, trust in travel agents has ebbed. Some 90% of consumers said their pre-holiday research online was accurate and only 13% of people surveyed trusted travel agents and brochures above online reviews.

When it comes to who people trust when reading online reviews, those from down under top the Trust Index, with nearly one in three saying Australians offer the best travel advice.

Old rivalries still hold true when it comes to the summer sun lounger fight, with Germany not even making the top 10 list of nationalities people would most like to meet on holiday. Again, the Aussies seem to rule the roost taking the number one slot as the most popular travel buddy!

Gallup awards Park Hotels

The Park Hotels is among the 12 organisatons from around the world to win the inaugural Gallup Great Work Place Award for employee engagement, by the Gallup Orgnisation USA. It was presented the award in Washington DC on 11 June, 2007.

The Gallup Great Workplace Awards are based on the most rigorous workplace research ever conducted and 12 award-winning organisations are evaluated by a panel of workplace experts. The Park Hotels is among the winners because its results demonstrate that it has a most productive and engaged workforce. The Park Hotels were the only winners from India.

Swiss farms for Heidi holidays

In the heart of Europe, more than 250 farms offer attractive holidays in some of the most beautiful regions of Switzerland. On these holiday farms you will find ample opportunity to discover the delights of nature, enhanced by enriching personal encounters. These holiday farms provide for active holidays of rest and relaxation.

They cater to families, unaccompanied children, senior citizens (with or without grandchildren), groups and school groups. Also unless otherwise stated, children up to 2 years of age are accommodated free of charge (bed & breakfast arrangements).

50th flight from Singapore airlines

Singapore Airlines announced its 50th service to India, with the launch of its eighth weekly flight to Chennai. The new service that comes into effect from Sunday, June 24, 2007, will help boost the capacity by almost 14% to the capital city of Tamilnadu.

Singapore Airlines will be using the Boeing-777-200 aircraft with a two class configuration- 30 Business and 293 Economy class seats- for this service, offering more connection options to several cities in the carrier’s global network.

Holiday temptations from Taj

Taj Holidays summer rates will now apply right till 30 September 2007. So if you are looking forward to experiencing the magic of Goa in the rains or the lush beauty of Kerala in the Monsoons, the year’s best rates are still available! With the Monsoon around the corner, it’s time to check out the offers in Kerala - the special 3-for-2 offer in 10 select hotels in the south.

Monsoon is also the best time to take Ayurveda treatments, so have a dekko of the offers from the Taj Residency, Calicut, home to the award winning Taj Ayurveda Centre. And, of course, don’t forget, the 1-for-1 offers at select hotels in North India!

Getting around Geneva free

Now you can enjoy your stay in Geneva even more with the Geneva Transport Card ! As of 1 January 2007, all visitors staying at a hotel, youth hostel or campsite in Geneva can avail of the Geneva Transport Card, at no extra cost.

This personal, non-transferable pass is handed over upon check-in, enabling the holder the unrestricted use of the entire public transport network — bus, train and boat — for the entire duration of stay including departure day.

BA to hike long-haul surcharge

British Airways has increased its longhaul fuel surcharge with effect from Wednesday June 13, 2007 as a result of further rises in the price of oil. The fuel surcharge on longhaul flights of less than nine hours will rise from £33 per sector (£66 return) to £38 (£76 return) and from £38 per sector to £43 (£86 return) on flights longer than nine hours.

The shorthaul fuel surcharge remains unchanged at £8 per sector (£16 return). British Airways will also increase its fuel surcharges by similar levels in markets outside the UK at the same time.