2007 Articles

Rugby fans 'still need travel insurance'

Sports fans jetting off to France to cheer on their team during the Rugby World Cup are being urged to ensure they have adequate travel insurance before they fly.

Thousands of rugby lovers are expected to leave the UK from one of the country's numerous airports this weekend but all the excitement can make some passengers forget to buy cover.

Halifax Travel Insurance claims that many people who are flying abroad for a short period of time do not bother with travel insurance as they are unconvinced that something will go wrong over such a short span of time.
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'Destination weddings' set hearts racing

The long evenings and low sun of September may put some couples in a romantic mood, but those inspired to tie the knot could be put off a British wedding after the soggy weather put a dampener on many marquee celebrations this summer.

As an alternative, many are said to be heading for other destinations - ranging from the modest old-world European grandeur of Austria to the sun-scorched beaches of Cyprus.

The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, off the coast of Africa, accessible from London's Heathrow Airport courtesy of Virgin Atlantic or British Airways, ranks as the most popular single spot, according to Ron Cropper, spokesperson for WeddingsAbroad.com.
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Winehouse jets into Gatwick Airport

Amy Winehouse arrived at Gatwick Airport to flashing camera bulbs and teeming paparazzi on Monday, amid speculation that she had timed her return in order to be able to attend the Mercury Music Awards.

The 23-year-old singer had been holidaying in lush Caribbean island St Lucia with husband Blake Fielder-Civil

She is nominated for the Mercury Music Awards, alongside 12 other solo and group artists including Arctic Monkeys and New Young Pony Club, for her second album, Back to Black.
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OFT crack-down on fake holiday clubs

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has moved to crack down on rogue dealers who purport to be offering Brits abroad the opportunity to enjoy substantial discounts on holiday deals.
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John Lennon gets a makeover as Liverpool promotion gathers steam

Liverpool's John Lennon airport is preparing for a makeover as the city gears up to become the European Capital of Culture for 2008.
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Men in uniform tackle immigration at UK airports

Immigration officials at Gatwick Airport have begun wearing uniforms in a bid to strengthen the public's sense of security, according to press reports.

With security officials reporting public confusion over regulations such as the volume of liquids travellers are permitted to take onboard aircraft, it seems that keeping the public 'in the know' about the latest security developments is vital to ensuring a smooth transit and peace of mind as they pass through travel hubs.

The government scheme to put immigration officials at Gatwick in uniform was designed to bolster public confidence in the work of the immigration services, Home Office minister Tony McNulty commented.
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Country Wife cast prepare to tread big city boards

The London cast for the forthcoming production of William Wycherley's Restoration comedy, The Country Wife, has been confirmed.

The bawdy drama, whose title plays cunningly on one of the oldest obscenities in the English language, opens at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket on October 9th.

It tells the story of a bachelor who deliberately disseminates a rumour that he is impotent, thereby catching husbands off their guard and obtaining private interviews with the most gorgeous wedded women of the country before making cuckolds of their unwitting spouses.
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Airport fee raises hackles, but convenience triumphs

The £3 fee payable at Norwich Airport before passengers can proceed into the departure lounge has come under scrutiny in the local press as a passenger questions the charge.

While the Civil Aviation Authority controls how much airports are permitted to charge travellers at Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport and Manchester Airport, other UK hubs are permitted to levy fees as they see fit.

Norwich Airport authorities say the charge, introduced this April, will go towards development, noting that such fees are ordinarily concealed in the cost of an air fare.
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Sat nav doesn't know way to Cardiff Airport, drivers told

Drivers trying to get to Cardiff Airport are being warned to ignore the directions their satellite navigation (sat nav) systems give them.

The cutting-edge devices claim the Welsh village of St Hilary, in the Vale of Glamorgan, is a shortcut between the M4 and the airport.

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Don't delay buying holiday insurance

After the excitement of booking a holiday, passengers should make sure their very next step is to buy travel insurance, the Post Office has advised.

Many holidaymakers delay taking out insurance until just before they travel, with leading insurance providers able to bring cover into effect instantaneously.

But insurance customers who remain without cover in the interim leave themselves exposed to financial loss if their holiday is cancelled, the Post Office's head of travel John Howells warned.
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Flexible holidays to help workers get away

Forthcoming changes in holiday allowance will enable more UK workers to leave the country for short breaks and week-long getaways, Thomson.co.uk has predicted.

From October this year, two million full-time employees will benefit from 24 days' annual holiday including bank holidays, while holiday entitlement will rise to 28 days' holiday by 2009.

Those additional days will give workers added flexibility on working dates, allowing Britons to flee to sunnier climes for extended weekend breaks or longer sojourns abroad.
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