Mar 06
Pierre FontaineUncategorized entertainment, family, France, health, holiday, sports, trains, Transport, travel
Thanks to the excellent railway network in France, which is run by the state owned train company SNCF, train travel in France is a pleasant, efficient and reasonably priced experience.
SNCF or the Sociate Nationale de Chemins de Fer takes the responsibility of looking after the train services in France. It is because of its work that train travel in France is effective. This company is nicely subsidized by the French government. The high speed TGV train runs mainly because of the funding provided by the government.
A wide-spread railway network is found in France. Since Paris is the city around which the network is formed, trains necessarily pass through Paris to reach destinations.
As Paris is considered to be the centre of train travel in Paris, many railway lines start from Paris and often the people have to usually change trains in Paris when they are bound for other destinations.
Train network in France is mostly electric in nature and at least 80% of the trains in France run on electricity.
Pamphlets containing details about train timings and ticketing can be procured right at the guichet or the ticket counter of any manned railway station in France.
The local government publishes a travel guide for the good of the travellers who travel as tourists in France. It is known as the guide regionale des transports. Tourists also get free of cost a booklet called horaire at all major train stations.
Main train stations in France have left luggage offices where you can leave suitcases and bicycles for up to 24 hours.
Valuables can be kept for a period of three days in computerized lockers accessible in major railway stations in France. They are called consigne automatique. You can apply the code given to you after the payment of a fee to make use of the lockers.
budget skiing holidays in France may be enjoyed at several diffierent locations . For further info on travelling to these places using Train Travel in France follow the links contained herein.
Feb 26
Graham McKenziethailand Air Tickets, Air Travel, Airlines, Aviation, Comparison Shopping, Flight Comparison Shopping, flights, thailand, tourism, Transport, travel, UK
With more than five million visitors each year, Pattaya has built and maintains a reputation for a popular vacation spot. There are no direct flights offered from the UK to Pattays’s U-Tapao Airport. You can however get a connecting flight via Bangkik Airlines from Phuket. Most flights into Phuket originate from Bangkik its only 150km from Pattaya so it is the easiest to fly into Bankkik and get to Pattaya via the road.
You can decide to fly in, U-Tapao, which is primarily a military facility. It is the closest airport handling commercial passenger flights but only to a handful of destinations. The direct door-to-door minibus is the quickest transportation option to get you from U-Tapao to Pattaya, about 30 minutes.
Pattaya has recently updated its image to become a more family-oriented holiday destination. Previously most famous for its go-go and beer bars, Pattaya now attracts large number of Thai, North and South Asian tourists vacationing with their families. Visitors not only find a selection of fine Thail beaches, but a selection of entertainment from golf and horseback, bungee jumping and shooting is also available.
If you wish to brave the erratic (by Western standards) traffic, you can hire a car, motorbike or scooter.Also called Baht Busses, are available throughout Pattaya,the songthaew, public passenger pick-up vehicles.You may also choose the local bus, motorbike taxi, or meter taxi.Getting around Pattaya offers its own options.
Pattatya’s has several beaches that fit the bill. Pattaya Beach, near the city’s center, is close to shopping, hotels and the night life area. Rented deckchairs are plentiful as are jet-skis and speedboats.High season in Pattaya occurs around Christmas and New Years as visitors seek a sunny, warm holiday spot.
There is a popular place for families just south of the city called Jomtein Beach. If you don’t wish to go to the beach, there is an entertainment complex at Pattaya Park, which features a water park, monorail, roller coaster, and activities for the children.
Both offer the primary scuba diving destinations for Pattaya.Is accessible by speedboat or ferry The Near Islands are close to Pattaya’s northern shores and the Far Islands lie directly to the west,Ko Lan, or Coral Island.Islands surrounding Pattaya also offer great beaches.
One of the most popular attractions at Pattaya is their Fishing excursions. You will get to experience much more than just fishing, included in the day is breakfast, lunch and a stop off at a local island for swimming. North Pattaya Fishing park will provide you with everything you need, from rods and bait to refreshments and even live music after dark. Now you can see why fishing has become such a popular diversion.
Another island specialty is golf. More than 20 courses are within an hour’s drive from Pattaya, and many are designed by golf’s most famous names. Laem Chabang International Country Club is ranked as one of Thailand’s top three courses and is considered the finest in this area.
Underwater World aquarium offers visitors an up-close chance to view the marine life in the Gulf of Thailand. The acrylic pedestrian tunnel gives a’0 degree view of rare angel fish, sharks, stingrays and turtles.
The Underwater World Aquarium offers visitors a chance to view the marine life in the Gulf of Thailand. An acrylic pedestrian tunnel gives a’0 degree view of rare angel fish, sharks, stingrays and turtles.
Tom Martens is the content coordinator for bestukflights.co.uk the UK’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel to Thailand and Fights to Pattaya
Feb 20
Graham McKenzieSouth Africa Africa, Air Tickets, Air Travel, Aviation, Comparison Shopping, Flight Comparison Shopping, flights, South Africa, tourism, Transport, travel
Thai airways most recently won awards from Skytrax in 2006 for Worlds Best Cabin Staff and placed second in 2007 in the Best Airline in the World category. It is the national carrier of Thailand, operating out of its hub at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Thai Airways also offers many non-stop passenger flights from Chaing Mai International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport and Phuket International Airport.
It was’60 when Thai Airways International Public Company Limited was created. It was an endeavor undertaken by Thailand’s domestic airline, Thai Airways Company and Scandinavian Airlines System as partners. The government of Thailand then took full control of the industry after a 17-year partnership when it purchased SAS’s interests in the company.
The first flights began operations from Bangkok to nine destinations within the Asian region. The first intercontinental flights were to Australia, then Europe and North American by’80. After a merger with the Thai Airways Company, the company experienced faster growth as Thailands only national carrier.
In’97, Thai Airways was a founding member of the Star Alliance network through which member airlines codeshare with each other, expanding their flight offerings. Additional partnerships have allowed Thai Airways to expand its list of destinations to include Africa (ending Jan. 16, 2009), China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, and New Zealand. The airlines route from Bangkok to Los Angeles is among the longest non-stop commercial flights currently operated.
Thai Airways fleet includes 89 aircraft, with the largest being the Boeing 767-400, seating 389 passengers.
There are four travel classes that an airline may offer, which include Royal First, Royal Silk, Premium Economy, and Economy.
Royal First-Class offers flatbed seats and is available mainly on Europe and Australia and some intra-Asia flights. Seating is equipped with touch-screen monitors, audio and video on demand and in flight entertainment systems with lumbar message. Customers may also choose from over 20 in-flight meals.
The Royal Silk airline class is the equivalent to the Business Class, because it offers angled, lie-flat seats that offer lumbar massage. Each seat also includes a 17-20 touch screen, AVOD, and IFE.
Premium Economy Class is available on intercontinental flights from Bangkok and Los Angeles on the Airbus A40-500. Fewer seats are available on these planes to offer more room for the reclining seats and leg rests. These seats also come with 10.5 touch screens with AVOD and IFE.
Economy Class seating is less roomy than the other classes, but includes AVOD.
Royal Orchid Plus is Thai Airlines frequent flyer reward program. It has more than two million members worldwide. The program has three tiers, member, silver and gold. Members can earn miles on Thai Airways flights, codeshare flights departing or arriving at Bangkok, Star Alliance flights and Jet Airways flights or at partner hotels.
One of the seven Thai Departure Lounges at Suvarnbhumi Airport can be visited by Thai Royal Silk Class,Star Alliance Gold passengers and Thai Royal First Class passengers.Traditional Thai massage,spa Jacuzzi suites and foot massage is offered by the Royal Orchid Spa.
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Aricas leading Flight comparison portal, which includes Thai Airways amongst others.
Feb 10
Graham McKenzieAfrica Africa, Air Tickets, Air Travel, Aviation, Comparison Shopping, Flight Comparison Shopping, flights, South Africa, tourism, Transport, travel
Mango is in great demand as it is the latest low cost airline in South Africa. It faces heavy competition from some of the established airlines such as 1time and kulula air which are also under the category of low-fare airlines.
Tired of losing market share to the other low cost carriers, SAA launched Mango offering starting prices for seats that were almost half that of its competition, sparking problems on two fronts.Mango is owned by South African Airways, and this is sometimes a point of contention among air travelers and competing airlines.
According to Mango’s reports, 15,000 booking requests were made in the first 10 minutes after the website went live.First, its website, its major base of operations, crashed as eager would-be customers overwhelmed the site to take advantage of the cut rate price.
The airline was criticised by other airlines for overcharging because it was a goverment-funded subsidiary of SAA and was funded by taxpayers. Mango didn’t need to charge so much since they were subsidized, so it was believed their business policy was not fair.
Mango is already reporting healthy profits,in spite of its less-than-stellar beginning.
The current routes include: Johannesburg to Cape Town, Cape Town to Johannesburg, Cape Town to Durban, Durban to Cape Town, Bloemfontein to Cape Town and Cape Town to Bloemfontein.
Mango has some attractive offers for the customers with the cool-off flights in which passengers can pay only R175 to fly to Durban or Johannesburg one way. Vouchers are not acceptable as it is availble only through its websites.
The mango fleet is very safe as it is made up of Boeing B737-800. It can carry’6 guests in leather seats and the seats are arranged in two rows of three seats on either side. Travelers are informed about their seating arrangements after they check in and they can also choose the in-flight food service.
Children aged 7 days to 24 months may ride in an accompanying adult’s lap. However, if a child turns two years of age before his return flight, a ticket must be purchased for the return flight.
Mango also offers accommodations for handicapped or impaired travelers, providing access for several types of wheelchairs. These passengers and those with small children will not be asked to sit in emergency exit rows.
Mango doesn’t allow pets in the cabins on any of its flights. There is the option of transporting your pet in the pressurized cargo hold, but this is subject to availability .
For added flexibility for this group, Mango Plus tickets provide access to a business class lounge, 10 kg extra luggage and vouchers for meals. Customers may choose to pay for tickets by credit card, by Edgars account (adds approximately R40), cash, voucher, or POLi – internet banking and debit cards.Mango offers Mango Flex tickets which allow ticket holders to change the date, time and destinations of their tickets. These features apply to travel during the week, not weekend flights. Business travelers are the main participants in this program.
Mango has partnered with several other companies to offer additional discounts and conveniences. Tempest SIXT, a low-cost car hire company, offers deeper discounts for Mango customers. A partnership with Edcon gives Mango customers the option to use store credit cards to pay for their tickets. And Vodacom credit card holders can save up to 25 percent when they purchase Mango tickets on their Voadacom card.
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes Mango Airlines amongst others.
Feb 08
Graham McKenziethailand Air Tickets, Air Travel, Airlines, Aviation, Comparison Shopping, Flight Comparison Shopping, flights, Phuket, thailand, tourism, Transport, travel, UK
Thailand’s largest island, Phuket (roughly pronounced poo-get) is a popular holiday travel destination with beaches, night life and a rich melting pot of culture and religions. Most flights into Phuket originate from Bangkok via several airlines: Thai Airways (also offering flights from the UK to Bangkok), Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Firefly and Air Asia.
Once you arrive at Phuket’s International Airport you will find that the shuttle bus will be the easiest and cost effective way to get where you would like to go. Local buses also run to all major beaches. Other traveling options include taking advantage of the minibus service or taxi.
Phuket high season is from November through May, but the island is generally hot and humid all year long. The summer monsoon season consists mornings and afternoons that are sunny and clear while the evenings are mostly rainy. Residents consider May to October the “cool season.”
Phuket’s 12 white beaches and clear water will offer something for everyone. Whether you are a beach bum or have a family Phuket is the place to be. The windy coastal roads have scenic views and access all of these great beaches.
Karon Beach is a long stretch of beach offering a quieter environment than Patong without sacrificing a full range of dining and entertainment, including art and sports.Patong is known as the ideal beach to party and play with hundreds of restaurants, bars and discos centered around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road).
Phuket’s other beaches are Mai Khao, Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Kata Nio Beach, Ao Chalong, Rawai Beach and Nai Ham. Kata Beach, just a few miles south of Karon Beach is popular with families thanks to its spectacular beach, restaurants and lively, but not wild, night life.
Several smaller islands surrounding Phuket offer unique attractions of their own and are easily accessible by boat. Snorkeling, and diving sites are available as are small quiet beaches and accommodations ranging from the rustic to the exclusive. If you want to get away from the beach, Phuket offers a variety of options. Here are Phuket’s own top, must see attractions..
Thai traditional myths are mixed with humor, fantasy into an increasingly amusing plotline. Simon Cabaret is probably the biggest “transvestite” cabaret in the area and features musical floor show performed by the world famous “ladyboys” of Simon Cabaret.Phuket FantaSea Show features aerial trapeze artists, elephants on stage and pyrotechnics in a Las Vegas style-show.
You are able to enjoy the sunrise and sunset from many viewpoints east and west of Phuket. Promthep is popular and spectacular example of a place offering fabulous views over the ocean all the way to the island of Phi Phi. Phuket town is a sleepy and provincial capital that offers funky shops that surprise and delight you. There is a blend of colonial and Chinese architecture highlights of the old towns quaintness.
Bring your sense of humor and an open mind with you as you stroll after dark down Patong’s Bangla Road. Patong is known for its wild nightlife. Let’s just say it’s nothing like home. Wat Chalong is one of Phuket’s most important temples and hosts thousands visitors each year. As Phuket’s spiritual center, Wat Chalong has an interesting history.
Tom Martens is the content coordinator for bestukflights.co.uk the UK’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel to Thailand and Fights to Phuket
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