Top Tips for Travel for the Year Ahead

Pól Ó Conghaile has just been named the Travel Extra Travel Journalist of the Year, awarded for “his exceptional body of work” including articles written for the Irish Examiner and the National Geographic.

TWO-thirds of Irish workers don’t take their full annual leave, according to a survey by Hotels.com. Respondents fail to take the holidays to which they are entitled “because they are too busy” or “they just don’t get around to taking them”.

This is at odds with how much we complain about stress. It can’t be entirely about the money, either. Surely, most of us can afford to take a day or two off to explore our own backyard?

Then, it struck me. Travel has changed over the recession. Because so many of us have been financially pinched, we haven’t kept up with those changes.

Thomas Cook’s decision to cease operating Irish charters, from April 30, demonstrates that traditional holidays are in flux.

‘Dynamic packaging’ is one of the travel buzzwords du jour, with licensed and bonded online companies, like budgetair.ie, clickandgo.com and lowcostholidays.ie, allowing consumers to package scheduled flights with accommodation into holidays that suit.

That means more midweek departures, a wider selection of readily accessible short breaks, and real savings — provided you travel off-peak

Faced with increasing competition online, not to mention the fact that Aer Lingus and Ryanair now fly directly to destinations like Malaga, Corfu and the Canary Islands, tour operators have had to get creative. That’s good news for holidaymakers, as anyone flicking through the special offers, package deals, and holiday suggestions in today’s Weekend travel special will see.

Thomas Cook is on the way out, but 2014 sees Falcon fly to Rhodes, direct Aer Lingus flights to San Francisco and Toronto, from April, double-daily services from Dublin to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and a host of new Ryanair routes from Shannon, and other airports.

I still advise talking to a travel expert before booking a holiday.

That applies particularly to families, and for big splashes, like honeymoons. Transfers, reps and free-hold baggage are incentives, too.

1) Get your timing right...

Travel will always change, but certain truths remain evergreen. Holidaymakers with the freedom to travel off-peak (i.e. outside of weekends and school holidays) score the biggest savings. Even changing your departure by a few days can make a difference. Going to press, for example, a week’s skiing with a four-star hotel booked through Topflight (topflight.ie) in Söll, Austria cost from €1,179pp over the mid-term break (February 16-22). A week later the same holiday was €831pp.

2) Save the date...

Ryanair is the surprise travel story of the decade, with customer service improvements now including allocated seating, lower airport baggage fees and free small carry-on bags. June 1 ushers in ‘high season’, which sees Ryanair boost fees for the first 15kg bag from €15 to €25 and Aer Lingus up its lowest rates on 15kg bags from €15 to €20. ‘Low season’ rates return on October 1. Limit fees by restricting yourself to carry-on allowance.

3) Take to the river...

River cruise ships are smaller than their oceangoing counterparts, making not just for a more intimate experience, but for unrivalled access to inland towns, cities and countryside. Excursions are a big feature of programmes by Uniworld (uniworld.ie) and AmaWaterways (sunway.ie), and this year sees Trailfinders (trailfinders.ie) publish its first river cruise brochure.

4) Try a luxury hostel...

2014 will be a breakthrough year for luxury hostels (or ‘poshtels’, if you prefer). They combine a more comfortable experience with the communal vibe and affordability of a hostel. Check budgettraveller.org for a list of the hottest properties in Europe, along with their en suite rooms, pools, saunas and more. The blog’s author, Kash Bhattacharya, is one of the experts in the area.

5) Value your time...

Experiential holidays will continue to grow in 2014, with niche offerings like foodie tours of Little Italy (New York) and cycling in the Dordogne (France) hooking into our increasing interest in memorable and shareable trips. Budget travellers will go to great lengths to save money, instead of spending two weeks on honeymoon in a four-star hotel, why not splurge on10 days in a five-star, or treat yourself to a direct flight?

6) Skip the queues...

Why do we persist in rocking up at the world’s biggest attractions without booking in advance? We book flights and hotel rooms ahead, and the same should apply for flagship attractions like the Vatican, Louvre or Rijksmuseum.

7) Pick a better airplane seat...

Flash new travel apps come and go — it’s the ones that stick around that matter.

Skyscanner is brilliant when it comes to comparing flight routes and prices, I’m predicting much more from Hotel Tonight in 2014, and SeatGuru.com is a good bet for getting the best possible seat on the plane.

Say I’m flying from Cork to Lanzarote with Aer Lingus next Saturday. By entering the airline, date and flight number (EI876) into SeatGuru’s app, I can pull up a map of the Airbus A320 on the route. There, I learn that not just the back rows (29) have limited recline, but so does Row 11 as well — due to the exit row behind.

Little things can go a long way — especially on long-haul flights.

If you’re travelling long-haul, check in online 24 hours ahead. “That’s when travellers with elite status often get upgraded,” says Wendy Perrin of Condé Nast Traveler. Eagle-eyed economy class passengers can pounce on the seats they leave vacant.

8) Do’s and don’ts for Disneyland Paris...

Disney’s current ‘Yes’ Days promotion offers up to two free days per family, so it’s certainly tempting to price up a trip. A successful visit depends on a few simple steps, however — namely using the Fastpass, reserving restaurants in advance, bringing the buggy and travelling midweek.

9) Shop around...

Before booking a holiday, check prices with several operators. Or better still, use sites like holidaysonline.ie — which provide results from several operators like Topflight, Sunway and Falcon.

The Irish Travel Agents’ Association (ITAA) posts weekly special offers from its members on itaa.ie offers too. It’s a great resource for holiday bargains hot off the press.

10) The kids are all right...

Finding a family-friendly property is easier said than done.

One of my favourite new family travel websites is kidandcoe.com. It not only selects cool, family-friendly properties in destinations all over the world, but lists the specific criteria that parents want to check — such as whether there’s a lift, dishwasher, changing table or high chair — as well as personal impressions and neighbourhood tips.

KL’s finest Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur

KL’s finest Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Sometimes it gets frustrating going on vacation and finding a good place to stay the entire trip.  Vacations are supposed to relax you and keep you away from stress.  Hotel accommodations on the other hand, are supposed to give you the feeling of comfort away from home.  This is the reason why finding the perfect hotel is important and cost matters.  

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has become one of the most visited by travelers nowadays.  If you happened to visit the country and wanted to stay in the city yet far from the traffic-congested streets of KL, you can stay at the ten-storey building Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur.    

Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur is a four-star hotel situated along Jalan Raja Laut.  Location wise is very convenient since it is located just minutes away from Jalan Sultan Ismail STAR LRT and the Medan Tuanku Monorail station.  This hotel is only a short train ride away from local landmarks such as the PETRONAS Twin Towers, KLCC Park and KL Convention Centre.  

You can enjoy the hotel’s rooftop pool and gym to keep you occupied leisure-wise while business travelers may work at their business center available to help keep guests abreast in the office.

The hotel has 171 yellow, red and green rooms.  These rooms are a mixture of smoking and non-smoking units that are divided into four categories: Standard Room, Executive Room, Club Room and Executive Suite.  

Hotel features:

 King, queen and twin bedded rooms

 Individually controlled air-conditioning

 IDD Telephone

 Wireless Internet connection

 Universal outlets

 Writing table with desk chair

 TV with satellite channels

 In-room safety box

 Complimentary coffee/tea making facilities

 Mini fridge with fully stocked minibar (select rooms only)

 Ensuite bathroom with bathtub with shower over tub

Dining:

 Citrus Café: International and local food. Serves a daily buffet breakfast, a la carte for lunch and dinner.

Limited hours for room service

 Club Lounge: For those who book the Club Floor room types, guests can enjoy free flow of coffee/tea, soft drinks, juices and snacks all day long.

Services and Facilities:

 24-hour reception and concierge

 24-hour security

 Business Center services

 Meeting rooms

 Club Lounge with Internet Stations

 Outdoor swimming pool

 WiFi Internet connection

 Laundry and dry cleaning services

 Airport transfer, limousine and tour services

 Elevator access to guest rooms

 Limited parking (first come, first serve basis)

Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur accepts Mastercard, Visa and Amex.  You can make reservation with them at enquiry@citrushotelkl.com or call our Central Reservations Office at +66 (0)2 168 7668

LINK SOURCE:

http://westhillconsulting.info/blog/kls-finest-citrus-hotel-kuala-lumpur/

Experience a well-earned rest at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong

There is no doubt, Hong Kong has been a tourist destination for years because aside from Hong Kong Disneyland, there are numerous attractions here.  And the best way to enjoy your stay more is staying at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong.

This sky high, 56-story iconic masterpiece is a luxurious tower overlooking the city’s most prestigious shopping, cultural and business addresses.  You will enter feeling grand within this urban sanctuary.  It is remarkable with treasures waiting to be discovered.

You will find the "Great Motherland of China", the largest Chinese landscape silk painting in the world inside the atrium.  You will surely be mesmerized by how much it is grand and inspiring.  This piece of art is so stunning you will track of time as it feels like it stopped by its artistry.

But the wonders don’t end here as Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong has more to offer.

The Lobby Louge will welcome you with the 130-year-old Banyan Tree that will captivate you which had cost HKD 24million to conserve

Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong was honored as one of the best hotels in the world for dining by Conde Nast Traveler.  Experience Shangri-La's very own, Summer Palace before trying the other five choices of their six restaurants.  And is it shopping that you want?  Then you do not have to go far because Hong Kong's Pacific Place mall just below the hotel.

You deserved a well-earned rest, enjoy your vacation at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong.  The experienced staff at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, cater to the needs of guests by providing an extensive range of services and facilities.

Facilities
• 24-hour Business Centre
• 24-hour Health Club
• Complimentary Broadband Internet Access
• Conference Facilities
• Facilities for the Physically Challenged
• Non-smoking Rooms
• Parking Facilities
• Safe Deposit Box

Services
• Butler Service in Suites
• Complimentary Shoeshine Service
• Concierge Service
• Express Check-in and Check-out Services
• Laundry Service
• Medical Service
• Photocopying Processing Service
• Postal / Courier Service

Children
• Babysitting / Child Care

Travel & Transportation
• Airport Transfer

Shops
• Gift Shop
• Foreign Exchange Counter
• Shopping Arcade

Food & Beverages
• 24-hour Room Service
• 6 Restaurants
• Pastry Shop
• Lobby Lounge

Business Centre
The Business Centre at Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, offers many business amenities for the discerning executive traveller.

Business amenities include:

Facilities
• Audiovisual Equipment
• Computers With Broadband Access, Including Apple Macintosh
• LCD, Overhead & Slide Projector
• Meeting Rooms / Boardrooms
• Mobile Phones

Services
• Binding Services
• Conference Call / Videoconferencing Facilities
• Courier & Facsimile Services
• Internet Service
• Laser Printing
• Photocopier & Photocopying Services
• Printers & Scanners
• Word Processing / Translation / Interpretation Services


LINK SOURCE:
http://westhillconsulting.info/blog/experience-a-well-earned-rest-at-island-shangri-la-hong-kong/

Enjoy Luxury, Lifestlye and Heritage at once at Mamilla Hotel

Have your vacation right in the heart of the city and experience luxury, lifestyle and heritage  all at once at Mamilla Hotel.  Mamilla Hotel is a newest of luxury Jerusalem hotels with magnificent views of the Old City walls, the Tower of David, Jaffa Gate, and alongside Jerusalem's new shopping and entertainment experience, the Alrov Mamilla Avenue.  The hotel brings world-class superior design and lifestyle hospitality to Jerusalem and Israel.

Guests and visitors at the Mamilla Jerusalem Hotel enjoy exceptional accommodations together with exclusive restaurant and bar venues, a Holistic Wellbeing Center, as well as events and banqueting spaces, that blends sophistication and modern international style with the unique and rich culture of the City.

Piero Lissoni is the one responsible for the hotel’s visually stunning example of intimate, sophisticated contemporary design.  This exquisite design was one of the world's renowned designs, and is one the finest Jerusalem hotels.

The Jerusalem’s finest luxury accommodations is designed in collaboration with Alrov Luxury Hotels vision.  It also collaborated its commitment to excellence and execution, and in partnership with world-renowned architects Moshe Safdie and Piero Lissoni, the Mamilla Hotel incorporate contemporary comforts and distinctive furnishings create a unique ambience that both stimulates the senses and relaxes your body and soul.

The hotel features a world class facility with extraordinary rooms, exclusive restaurant and bar venues and incomparable service.  Experience the outstanding views of the Rooftop outdoor lounge and restaurant, through the iridescent ambience of the Mirror Bar, to the fascination of the Holistic Wellbeing Center, Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem is lead in a new period of luxury lifestyle hospitality.

Offering a exclusive blend of tailored attention, profundity of knowledge and flawless service, Mamilla Hotel's team of professionals are dedicated to providing an outstanding visitor experience for each and every guest.

Music is the universal language of mankind and Mamilla Hotel takes great pride in delivering an assortment of music playing throughout the hotel and its exclusive venues.  Music is one of the best ways to savor the present.

The Mamilla locality, home to Mamilla Hotel is uniquely located at the junction between Jerusalem of old and new.  Mamilla Hotel is next to Alrov Mamilla Avenue, Jerusalem's new shopping experience, with the view of the Old City walls, the Tower of David and Jaffa Gate and is within walking distance of many major touristic sites, and only a short taxi ride from several significant venues located outside the city center.



Link Source:
http://westhillconsulting.info/blog/enjoy-luxury-lifestlye-and-heritage-at-once-at-mamilla-hotel/

Thai Protesters Plan to Shutdown Bangkok

ANTI-GOVERNMENT demonstrators are planning to overwhelm major intersections of Thailand's congested capital in what they claim is an attempt to shut down Bangkok.

This plan was feared to create violence that may set off a military coup.

The protesters are doing everything to make caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to resign.  They wanted her government changed by a non-elected interim administration to execute reforms they clam are required to put an end to corruption and money politics.

In February 2, they desire to rush a premature general election called by Yingluck.

Ever since November, the demonstrators were involved in street battles with police; they also cut off water and electricity to police headquarters and there was a time when they occupied the compounds of other government agencies.

Counting a policeman, at least eight people have died in violence connected with the political turbulence.

The protest leaders said last week that the demonstrators would occupy seven key intersections on Monday in Bangkok, a teeming city known for its debilitating traffic jams.

They are also menacing to invade government office compounds.

Late on Sunday of, groups of demonstrators begun arriving at some of the venues, where they said they would erect stages.

Earlier on Sunday, some demonstrators blocked a road in Bangkok's northern outskirts, where many government offices are located, said Deputy Police Spokesman Colonel Anucha Romyanan.

There were no instant confrontations with the authorities, who have guaranteed to demonstrate command in order to avoid violence.

Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Friday that a combined force of around 12,000 police officers and 8000 soldiers was being deployed to maintain order in the capital.

Protest leaders have said they will maintain their "shutdown" of Bangkok for weeks, or until they obtain their goal.

Their latest demonstrations have drawn up to 150,000-200,000 people at their height.
Worry about a coup is elevated since the army's history of intervening in politics.

Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha has turned down to rule out the possibility of a military conquest.

Another deputy prime minister, Pongthep Thepkanjana, said on Friday that be believed the army had learned a lesson from the 2006 coup - which ended up polarising Thailand rather than pacifying it - and that the international community and many Thais would be opposed to a military takeover.


http://westhillconsulting.info/blog/thai-protesters-plan-to-shut-down-bangkok/

Travel Hacks for 2014

Mile-high bargains

Check the airline's website to its foreign-language website, it could have a potentially cheaper ticket there.  Use Google Chrome’s translation feature and make sure your credit card has a low international-transaction fee prior to making a deal.  Who knows you might be in luck so always do so.  Check if there is a sale in the region.

Use soap to soothe an insect bite

Just rub a bar of soap in the insect bite, you can use what’s available, hotels usually has soaps in their bath, and leave it dry.  This will save you time and money going to the pharmacy to buy some relief for the bite.

Cancel your booking without paying for it

If you miss the cancellation window for your hotel or rental car booking don’t worry because you can still change the reservation date for free.  Here is what you should do, move the reservation several weeks or months ahead, then call back and speak to a different person to attempt to cancel it.

Venting can be good

A sick seatmate on the plane can be bad, you might get sick as well so if you are worried about germs on planes, experts suggest that aiming your air vent in front of your face can deflect any circulating germs away from you.

Save on phone bills

You can save on phone bills using apps like Skype or Facebook's Video Calling, just the WIFI will do.  Both have unlimited calling while you can use WhatsApp and Kik to text with loved ones back home for free.

Be more supportive

Some airline seats are uncomfortable because they do not have lumber support; this makes passengers back and neck sore.   Here is what you can do, put a blanket or rolled up piece of clothing behind you so your back can maintain its natural curve.  And for the armrests, drape a folded scarf over it to boost the comfort factor.

Just roll with it

Use an expandable bag rather than bringing multiple suitcases, or running out of room to pack all your items after a huge shopping spree overseas
Pack like a pro

Organize your clothes well and save them from getting crumple in your bag by using packing folders or you can roll your clothes instead of folding.  You can also zip it up and reopen it and you'll often find more room has emerged in the corners.

Think outside the box

You can go and check out some site like HomeAway com, they have a list of ranges of properties you can rent for your holiday, and most importantly they are usually cheaper than hotels.  And it is negotiable!  You can negotiate the price and length of stay when renting these types of properties.

Use Vaseline to remove makeup

Petroleum jelly can work as a make-up remover.  But avoid getting it in your eyes.

Use a pillowcase for your dirty clothes

Pillow cases can be practical for separating your dirty clothes from the clean ones and are also useful to wrap delicate souvenirs collected during your trip.

Remove lint with your bag tag

Get rid of that fluff, or animal hair, by removing the baggage tracking sticker placed on your suitcase.

Timing is everything

Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the least expensive days to fly because most people tend to take to the skies on Friday and fly back home on Sunday making air travel more expensive on these days.

Airlines also tend to pull discounted airfares in advance of the weekend.

What’s more, never buy airline tickets earlier than three-and-a-half months before departure, and be warned that prices can go up radically within two weeks of the scheduled flight.

The early bird gets the worm

According to deal websiteFarecompare.com, the first flight out in the morning is usually the cheapest.  You're also usually more likely to avoid the worst delays, because airlines are starting with a clean slate.

http://westhillconsulting.info/blog/travel-hacks-for-2014/

Winter Sports Destinations You Must Try

http://westhillconsulting.info/blog/winter-sports-destinations-you-must-try/

Winter snow sports have become a hot tourist attraction in the growing popularity of adventure tourism in India. The country has one of the finest snow-clad peaks where you can enjoy these thrilling adventures. We provided a list of the country’s top five winter adventure destinations for all those seeking a dose of adrenaline.

• Auli

In the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand ther lies Auli. It is one of the uncharted ski destinations. According to many foreign tourists, Auli can be compare with the best ski resorts in the world. Garhwal and Kumaon offer another exciting sport – ski touring amongst the glaciers together with their wide open spaces above the snowline. For the avid skier, cross-country runs of 10-20 km are now available, with the added advantage of fresh powder snow. You can also enjoy thrilling white water rafting aside from skiing.

• Rohtang Pass

The majestic Rohtang Pass is situated at the altitude of 3,978 metres in Himachal a 50 km drive from Manali. This year-round snowy pass is mostly visited for its adventure snow sports activities such as snow skiing, paragliding, zorbing and trekking. This place is a favorite for the extreme sports enthusiasts throughout winters when the temperatures drop to freezing point which makes.

• Solang Valley

Another round the year favorite is the fun-filled place at Manali where adventure sports are popular and fun never stops. A perfect spot for skiing, the natural slope during winters and the locals have an alternative for all the summer i.e zorbing. An extremely well-liked destination where there is adventure sports for all walks of life and ages. Paragliding, parashooting, skiing, zorbing are some of the popular sports. People who are not so adventurous can take a nice yak ride.

• Gulmarg

Gulmarg is one of the best skiing destinations as many are describing it, not only in India but around the world. From the month of December and the fun continues till late March it is the season for adventure snow sports kicks off in. This vastly visited tourist spot is famous for skiing, snowboarding, sledging, skibobbing, heliskiing. The adventure admirers can go both uphill and downhill and enjoy the thrill of skiing with the new ski lift introduced early this year, the adventure admirers can go both uphill and downhill and enjoy the thrill of skiing.

• Gangtok

Indulge in adventure activities like trekking, white-water rafting, hang gliding and mountain biking at Gangtok. The place offers interesting treks to the Pemayangtse, Khechopalri, Yuksam, Tsokha, Dzongri, Thangshing, Zemathang, Chaurigang, Tashiding, Varsey, Yangang, Rabongla, Sang and Sikip.