Posts filed under 'Travel Extras'
By now most people know that if they ask nicely they can get the seat of their choice on just about any flight. For example, when you book your flight you can request an isle seat or a window seat. Or if you get to the airport super early you can request a seat while you check your luggage in. This is no big secret. What most people don’t know is which seat is best for them.
Now if you’re travelling a long long way you may want an isle seat because then you can get up whenever you want. The down side is that you have to put up with people sitting next to you disturbing you whenever they want to get up. It’s little things like this that you need to consider when choosing your seat so your decision needs to be wise, well informed and tailor-made to suit your needs. How do you go about making this wise choice? Obviously it depends on how far you’re travelling, what sort of traveller you are, who you’re travelling with and how much money you’re prepared to pay. The big question then becomes: which seat is best for you?
Well, I’ll tell you. For example, if you’re a nervous flyer or someone who is prone to motion sickness you’re gonna want a seat where you’ll experience the least amount of turbulence. So ask for a seat right on top of the wing of the plane. This is where the centre of gravity is at so you won’t feel the turbulence so much. The further away from the wing you are (especially towards the back of the plane) the bumpier it gets. If you’re a nervous flyer you should sit nearer the front of the wing because the flaps on the back of the wing can be a bit noisy which is a little unerving. Nervous flyers should also avoid sitting in emergency exit seats because you don’t need that kind of responsibility to fray your nerves even more.
Most airlines have an online seating plan that you can have a look at and these plans will vary depending on the airline and the type of airplane you’ll be flying on. I found a fabulous website that lists links to around 60 airlines; have a look. And now for the low-down on where you should sit; courtesy of The Sunday Times Travel magazine:
If you have money:
If you’re one of those lucky people the rest of us envy and you can afford business class then you’ll be more comfortable than the rest of us, no matter where you sit. However, you do still need to consider the fact that the layout will vary according to who you fly with. On some airlines new flatbed layouts make it difficult to talk to your travel buddies. I did have a look at the Air New Zealand one and I can confirm this to be true. However, this layout would be perfect if you’re travelling by yourself and want a little privacy. Airlines such as South African Airways (again, I’ve had a look) have their flatebeds side by side which is much better for travel buddies.
Daddy long legs:
If you have long legs then you’re gonna need extra legroom to ensure you can still walk by the end of the journey! Especially on long haul trips. Ask for an emergency exit seat (as long as you’re not a nervous flyer as well!) because these have extra legroom to make evacuation easier. The only problem with these seats is that in some planes they don’t recline. So be sure to ask about this when booking. The other option is the ‘bulkhead’ seat which is situated by the wall that seperates the cabins.
Kids:
If you’re travelling with kids you’re gonna want to make this journey as easy as possible. For very young children you’ll need a bulkhead seat because thats where the bassinets are. But if you have a toddler get yourselves seats near to a loo and the galley. It is a busy area and can be a bit noisy at times but you’ll find it useful to be near to the toilet and you’ll also get more attention from the crew. I found a nifty website that has lots of advice and tips for making travel with children easier.
Couples:
Obviously you’ll prefer sitting in a pair of seats rather than a threesome. Some planes only have two seats by the windows but on others there are three. In this case you’ll need to ask to sit near the back. This is where the fuselage narrows and there is room only for two seats by the window rather than three.
Sleeping beauty:
If you want spare seats next to you so you can lie down without forking out for the priveledge of a flatbed, then sit right at the back. It’s bumpy, noisy and you’ll probably be the last off the plane but these are the very reasons why most people like to sit near the front. This means that unless the flight is full, you may just be able to get a whole row to yourself. If you’re prepared to put up with the disadvantages then you could benefit from a cheap flatbed!
Now you’re informed; go forth and choose wisely. Always check the seating plan and never be afraid to ask for what you want….within reason of course!
Sam.
July 12th, 2006
The little things we tend to forget about or put on the back burner when planning our holiday can be quite important. Things like Travel Insurance and airport parking. Or sometimes all we want is information on Ferries or Airport Hotels and all the internet spits out is Travel Agents trying to sell you package deals.
For this reason we have a section on our site called TRAVEL EXTRAS designed to feed you some really juicy information that could come in handy.
Sometimes we just need a little help when it comes to planning one of our most cherished pastimes - ‘Annual Holidays’. We supply you with really helpful information on the following:
Travel Insurance
Airport Hotels
Airport Parking
Ferries
Timeshare
Rental Market in Spain
Take some time out to explore these topics and then let us know if you would like to see anything else in this section?
by Doreen B
April 6th, 2006
Did you know that it is illegal for a travel agent to insist you take out their Travel Insurance rather than use an outside or independent source? Apparently there are still tons of people being caught out by uncouth travel agents.
Another thing that surprises me though is that people are still not convinced that they need Travel Insurance. In a recent survey, Sainsbury’s Bank found that an astounding 13 percent of UK travellers chose to go insurance free!! Another survey found that 1 in 7 people take out Travel Insurance with inadequate cover. There are some really good reasons for you to make sure you treat your Travel Insurance as part of your basic check list when planning a holiday. Recently two close contacts of mine have really needed their insurance.
Many case studies have shown that things do go wrong on holiday. Something as simple as falling, or becoming ill or having an accident. People tend to forget that insurance covers more than just the hospital treatment or the local Doctor. Issues like loss of or theft of luggage or money are forgotten. If a visit is somehow cancelled due to, say ill family members, or if you are ill abroad, your family may need to fly out to be with you. There is also the issue of the cost of an Air ambulance if you need to be flown back home. Did you know that a flight from the Balearic’s could cost you in the region of £10-12,000 for an air ambulance? All these risks and more can be covered by taking out travel insurance.
At the end of the day, it is really worth while taking out travel insurance but you don’t have to be taken for a ride in the process. We advice people to shop around when looking to buy insurance. Our site gives you some basic advice and points you in the direction of some reputable companies like Directline, Churchill, Norich Union and for people over 50, Saga.
Have a read of the site and let us know if you want more on Travel Insurance?
Doreen B
March 23rd, 2006
Thinking of buying Timeshare? Are you a FIRST TIME buyer? We have some great advice for all you first time buyers out there, so check out our website (INDIGOGUIDE under travel extras).
This advice is also good for those of you still ‘just thinking it through’. Timeshare works well both in theory and practice but it is important to do your homework before buying. Timeshare gives you the opportunity to secure good holiday accommodation in sought after areas at a set price. You can choose to visit the same place every year or you could choose to visit different locations or even countries (especially around Europe) every year.
With Europe being the most popular tourist destination in the world, time sharing could be the answer to accommodation woes. If you are not that well organized and leave things to the last minute, having a regular time of year and a regular holiday destination bought and paid for upfront will take the stress out of your annual holiday planning. Or you could visit various places in Europe but not have to worry about where to start looking for the right sort of accommodation.
There are many benefits to buying timeshare, but if this is your first experience, you need to be aware of the pit falls like the real cost of timeshare. When you are looking to buy Timeshare, don’t forget to ask questions about maintenance fees, taxes and assessments etc. A good place to visit for further advice is www.dti.gov.uk. They have some handy information about timeshare in Europe. They cover very basic information about the law and timeshare in Europe. It is well written and simple to understand.
We will be happy to produce more information, if you let us know what you are looking for.
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Doreen B
March 15th, 2006
We have a new section on our sight called Timeshare Online which is very useful for those considering buying Timeshare.
I don’t know about you but my experience with Timeshare companies has not been great. They put major pressure on you to buy and they use every trick in the book to make you sign on the dotted line. If you are considering buying Timeshare take a look at the advice we provide on our sight, under Travel Extras under the Timeshare Online section before you take the leap.
Timeshare can be a great holiday option but buying ‘right’ is important or you will not be satisfied and getting out of a timeshare deal can be tricky. Be wary of those companies that offer free travel and accommodation if you go along to their presentations. Another pit to watch for are those companies that make a point of separating partners at the presentation. This is designed to limit communication between partners. This was my personal experience and fortunately for me, I made the decision to ’sleep on it’.
People often get carried away by the stunning visions conjured up in their heads at these presentations and sign up without giving the idea due consideration. Don’t get caught out. Do your homework before attending any presentation and always give it time before taking the next step.
Let us know if you have had a bad experience?
Doreen B.
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February 28th, 2006
We have recently added a ‘Vacation Rental Guide’ for Spain. Do yourself a favour and read the section on Renting Directly from owners. It is the cheaper option but you do need to be aware of the down side.
We have a villa in Spain that you could rent. It is in Costa Calida which is still unspoiled compared to most the Costa’s along the Spanish coast line. If you are looking for a private rental let us know. We can arrange this through our property managers based in the UK and Spain.
We don’t advertise the property with any agents. We do have family living in the UK who take care of the villa for us. They also have a villa in Spain close to our property which they visit frequently during the year. We also have a property manager based near the house for convenience. We only let the place out to a select few because we view the property as a second home.
Let me know?
Doreen B.
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February 28th, 2006
If you are considering a weekend break with a difference why not try this: take the FERRY from Hull to Rotterdam with the kids - yes the kids. They have a great zoo in Rotterdam which is themed. The kids can visit the Gorilla Island, the owl enclosure, the bat cave or the oceanarium with all its different fish species, otters, sharks and penguins. There is also the ‘Pancake Boat’ where the kids can eat as many pancakes as they want. Some interesting facts for the adults: Did you know that the port of Rotterdam is the largest in the world? Also, they have over 5000 shops, tons of restaurants and bars, and over 50 festivals throughout the year. For the more cultural tastes they have 34 museums, loads of galleries, tourist attractions, and theatres. There is also ample accommodation as well as cinema’s and clubs if you want to stay for longer than a weekend. The ferry ride is an overnight service so adults and kids can relax while someone else takes the helm. Let me know if you want more information?
December 14th, 2005
If you have never tried it before, trust me its worth it. We had a early flight out of Gatwick Airport and usually we would just get up at sparrows fart and drag all the tired and miserable kids into the car, pile in the luggage and drive like a bat out of hell to the airport. Yes, you guessed it; we never ever get up early enough to just mossy on down the high way at a leisurely speed and get to airport on time. In our wisdom, one holiday we booked into an Airport Hotel the night before. It was great. Not only did we get to enjoy a stress free journey to the hotel but we also enjoyed eating out and swimming in the hotel indoor pool and the best part of all was….. we did not have to get up at sparrows to get to the airport. Another bonus was that we got to leave our car parked safely at the hotel (at a small cost of course) while we were driven to the airport the next morning. If you have never considered doing this, take it from me - its worth it! Have a look at our sight for great information on Airport Hotels:
http://www.indigoguide.com/airport-hotels/gatwick.htm
December 12th, 2005
If you are going skiing or doing any kind of extreme sport don’t assume that an average travel insurance policy will do because it wont. Also, loads of people seem to think that their house insurance should cover them for travel as well - surprise, it doesn’t! If you think I am stating the obvious think again. Did you know that 1 in 3 British travellers go on holiday without any travel insurance let alone considering being covered for extreme sports. If you travel uncovered you can expect major medical bills. An example - just a broken leg in Europe could cost you on average about £25.000. If you need to be air lifted from a ski slope or flown back home the cost could be in the region of £60.000. Not worth it when you consider most holidays cost between £4000 and £8000. Why take the risk.
December 8th, 2005
I so nearly missed my flight when I travelled for the first time from Stansted airport because I miss calculated the time it took from the long stay car park to the check-in desk. My next trip out of Stansted I made sure that I allowed an hour just for parking and taking the shuttle to the terminal building and then getting through the crowds to my check-in point. Another time I travelled to Spain (Murcia) I was waiting in the Que, which was long but I had about 10 minutes so did not worry. When I saw the check-in lady close up I was confused because there was still a Que. I discovered that I was in the wrong cue. I had a great big pillar or column in my way and had joined the wrong cue. What a dork! If you want more info about airport parking at Stansted and also Airport Hotels check out Indigoguide. Maybe staying over the night before is that answer.
December 8th, 2005
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