Five Thai beaches rate tops in TripAdvisor awards

FIVE of Asia’s Top 25 #Beaches in 2017 are in #Thailand, according to the latest poll of the popular global travel website TripAdvisor, which has just released its annual Travelers’ Choice listings.

Nai Han Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and Freedom Beach at Patong, Phuket were listed as 4th , 8th and 11th , while Phra Nang Cave Beach and Railay Beach in Krabi took 7th and 14th place, respectively in the list of Top 25 Beaches – Asia. 

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Economy class but with more choice

AN enriched Economy class offer is being introduced by Air France and KLM on all their international flights within Europe, and to North Africa and Israel. With a choice of three products, each offering specific services and conditions.

• The “Light” product for passengers looking for the lowest available fare and travelling without checked in baggage.

• The “Standard” product for an additional fee of €40-50, offers the customer additional benefits, such as the possibility to check in one item of baggage free of charge and to change their ticket for a fee. 

• The “Flex” product for an additional fee of €70-150, offering maximum flexibility (no change fees and a refund at no extra charge), the possibility to take advantage of the SkyPriority service for seamless, priority access at the airport.

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All-inclusive loses popularity as more UK families opt for self-catering

RESEARCH by Leeds Building Society has found that self-catering is the most popular choice for families, as they turn away from the traditional all-inclusive deal. 

More than two-fifths of holiday-goers opt for self-catering, compared to less than one in five buying all-inclusive.

The survey uncovered a variety of trends when it came to travel habits and holiday finances, with 46% of people saying they spend more on family holidays compared to five years ago with the average spend on flights and accommodation alone topping £1,400, with the addition of £700 spending money.

Women were more likely to set a holiday budget, as well as decide where the family is going. However, men tend to spend more while travelling, with an average of £725 per holiday compared to £689 for women.

When it came to planning for their trip, a third of respondents plan six months or more ahead of their holiday, with women being more likely to do this than men.

The survey also asked about the biggest time wasters for travellers, with delayed flights being the most frequent at 54% and waiting for the luggage carousel coming second at 43%.

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'Ryanair Holidays' coming soon

#RYANAIR is looking to set up a holidays division, which could be launched within 18 months. The airline, which launched Ryanair Car Hire last August and has announced plans for a Ryanair Rooms business, said it has 'Ryanair Holidays' firmly in mind. 

Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs says Ryanair Holidays was a 'logical step' for the airline, which is looking to become a digital provider of all things travel-related. But he said the next focus is more likely to be on selling events, tours, and excursions in the destinations it serves. 

‘We've got car hire, we've announced Ryanair Rooms, and third on our list is events and tours and things to do at the destination, including excursions, restaurant bookings, and theatre tickets. Holidays would be the fourth on the list. If we did all of those things in 18 months, you would perhaps be surprised, but here at Ryanair we move quite quickly. It might even come sooner.’

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‘Period of uncertainty ahead’: UK travel industry reacts to Brexit vote

THE UK travel trade’s two main industry bodies – the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and UKinbound – have warned of turbulent times ahead following the country’s decision to #leave the European Union.

In the immediate aftermath of the #referendum vote, UKinbound CEO Deirdre Wells warned of ‘far-reaching consequences’ for its 370 business members.

‘UKinbound feels the decision to leave the #EU is disappointing,’ she said. ‘However, we have proved time and again that we are a resilient industry and the government must now work hard to secure a deal which supports our vibrant industry, which relies on the European Union for two-thirds of its business. The priority must now be to ensure that our members have the best possible environment in which to grow their business and to support them in welcoming visitors from all corners of the globe.’

ABTA said while the UK trade was entering a ‘period of uncertainty’, in regulatory terms there will not be any immediate changes.

‘Once the UK formally notifies the EU of its intention to leave, the remaining member states will have up to two years to offer the UK a deal for a future trading relationship. This period can also be extended if all parties agree. Until this process is resolved, everything will remain as it is now.’

ABTA reiterated that its role was to help keep the industry informed, to help the public to remain confident in travelling, and to help the government to understand and prioritize those matters that are important to ‘our members and our industry’.

‘ABTA will be working proactively with the government to raise awareness of the priorities for travel businesses, and UK travellers, as they negotiate a future trading relationship. We started this process some months ago, with a programme of engagement with ‘leave’ campaigners in Westminster, and we have prepared a detailed list of policy and regulatory priorities that we will be discussing with leading policymakers in the coming weeks. It will also be important to ensure that the industry’s domestic agenda is not neglected, and ABTA will continue to press for action on airport capacity, ATOL reform, which remains relevant whatever the future of the EU’s Package Travel Directive, and Air Passenger Duty.’

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