A new best friend in France

FRENCH self-drive tour company, France Just For You, has partnered up with Insidr and is now including a smartphone in their self-drive tour travel packs. Previously, travelers had reported high international roaming fees from their cellphone providers and no access to GPS on their phones, so these customized smartphones have provided the solution.

Travelers can pick up their Insidr smartphone from Charles de Gaulle international airport in Paris, or #France Just For You can ship it to the accommodation at the first stop on their travelers’ itinerary. At the end of their trip, travelers only need to place it in the pre-paid addressed envelope provided and post it back. As one traveler put it, having the Insidr smartphone was ‘like having a new best friend in France’.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

On the runway . . .

TURNING up to the airport with an expired passport will be a thing of the past for Air New Zealand customers. The airline's mobile app is now able to scan and save passport information and send a timely reminder when it's time to renew.

Every month around 550 customers turn up to the airport with an expired passport, triggering a stressful situation for would be travellers.

Air New Zealand customers can now use their smartphone camera to capture and save their passport details. Not only will this streamline their check-in experience, it also triggers expiry reminders including providing handy click through links to renew New Zealand, Australian, British and American passports.

Currently around 10 percent of Air New Zealand customers type their passport details incorrectly as they check in online. By saving these to their profile, customers will enjoy a faster check in experience and rest easy in the knowledge that their travel document has been entered correctly.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

'Handy' services at Santa Marina Beach in Crete

THE Santa Marina Beach in Crete recently introduced the new ‘Handy’ smartphone service for a revolutionary guest experience. With the ‘Handy’ services in-house guests of the Hotel will have unlimited mobile Internet access, free local & IDD calls, an informative ‘digital Island Guide’ as well as the latest offers of the Hotel. All of this is totally free of charge.

In each guest room, a smartphone named “Handy” can be found. This smartphone, which in-house guests can take outside the Hotel during their stay, provides several services -such as unlimited 3G Internet access- allowing them to stay connected with their relatives, friends and clients while abroad.

In-house guests can also make local and IDD calls to specified regions, including the EU, USA, Canada, Israel; share updates of their trip on social media anytime, have access to destination-specific content, exclusive hotel offers and promotions, comprehensive city guides and recommended shops, bars, restaurants and places to visit.

Santa Marina Beach is one of the first hotels in Crete to introduce this communication service, used by over 10 million hotel guests globally.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Aussie travellers underutilise mobile technologies

NEW research from Amadeus has found that despite Australia’s high smartphone penetration, Australian travellers are less likely to use their mobile phone when they travel, compared to their Asia Pacific counterparts. 

The research ‘Journey of Me Insights: What Asia Pacific Travellers Want,’ also found Australians prefer peer to peer recommendations, rather than a travel agent or social media, but are willing to trade personal data to receive relevant offers and personalised experiences from travel providers.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK