tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15598528405936088292024-03-14T09:52:26.624+00:00The Travel GuruAndy Mossack is a full time travelwriter and broadcaster and his stories can be read in national press, regional press, magazines and websites.
He is the founder of the travel site www.tripreporter.co.uk and he is the Travel Guru on BBC Radio's Late Show where he presents 'Where in the World is Andy.'
His professional website is www.andymossack.co.uk
Or you can visit his work at www.tripreporter.co.uk
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-247130146630315902018-08-22T17:05:00.000+01:002018-08-22T17:07:26.474+01:00Unsigned cheques & strikes. Whatever next at Ryanair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZLNM2jiGBQCw9TAK5LSyOtw2SfcdoL7sMUDqT3odTkNsxHUL0nyAmbiTg7xanHLcXLvvgQELFDJ34SGw2eXwh-xB0_mQ45E0IrsxPnySpB4vRmTHTAGdS5MjG7JuSa7zH3b5zeIsPJvS/s1600/love-ryanair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="448" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZLNM2jiGBQCw9TAK5LSyOtw2SfcdoL7sMUDqT3odTkNsxHUL0nyAmbiTg7xanHLcXLvvgQELFDJ34SGw2eXwh-xB0_mQ45E0IrsxPnySpB4vRmTHTAGdS5MjG7JuSa7zH3b5zeIsPJvS/s400/love-ryanair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After hearing the latest publicity disaster from Ryanair, it struck me just how much passengers are prepared to put up with all this nonsense as long as they can still get a cheap flight.<br />
I'm not convinced there is any other sector where such a disliked and unresponsive business could survive. Yet, unbelievably, Ryanair continues to dominate our skies.<br />
There was a glimmer of hope a couple of years back when boss Michael O'Leary appointed a new senior team and pledged the company was changing to become more "customer focussed." Not because it was proud to do so, but because it was "facing strong competition and had to up its game accordingly."<br />
So, we all benefited from a more responsive website making it much simpler to book flights and a more customer-oriented airport experience. But it was not from choice but simply a grudging byproduct of fighting off competition from other low-cost carriers.<br />
As far as I am concerned, sending out unsigned compensation cheques is scraping right at the bottom of the pond. What an insult to the customers who qualified for compensation in the first place and then had to pay out bank charges on the returned cheques.<br />
The company mantra is "unfortunate clerical errors" caused this latest PR blunder but seriously, it just goes to show what a dog and pony show Ryanair is turning into.<br />
Despite aircrew strikes, cancelled flights and unsigned cheques we continue to book flights. Why? Because despite the hassle, the terrible flight times, the baggage restrictions and that bloody trumpet when a flight arrives on time, we just want to get where we are going to for the lowest price possible.<br />
<br />
While we still want to do this, Ryanair will continue to flourish. God help us.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-51297295130394664602018-02-20T15:49:00.001+00:002018-02-20T15:49:23.823+00:00UK flights resume to Tunisia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkZNghzAouehht3ICbxyah0kyfryXu6bOP-NA1ANvuB9hq-nqNVTuiB_4h21IwcQnk7KEZ36EfCtJT96ejk8an8xY4HPBElki5905zgaNDl_cHb48OqSy4DIT2nP91lk8ggdp0UfDXRoS/s1600/tunisia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="900" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkZNghzAouehht3ICbxyah0kyfryXu6bOP-NA1ANvuB9hq-nqNVTuiB_4h21IwcQnk7KEZ36EfCtJT96ejk8an8xY4HPBElki5905zgaNDl_cHb48OqSy4DIT2nP91lk8ggdp0UfDXRoS/s400/tunisia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The news that Thomas Cook has resumed flights to Tunisia once more is a welcome move as far as I am concerned.<br />
<br />
Tunisia is a beautiful country that has struggled economically with the abscence of tourism to its wonderful resorts. Clearly, it has had a harsh wake up call and overhauled its security procedures to ensure it maximises tourist safety.<br />
Sadly, we are living in a world where global terror strikes indiscriminately whether it be London, Amsterdam or a Tunisian beach<br />
.<br />
We simply cannot be expected to lock ourselves indoors for the rest of our lives and it would be a tragic waste of time to try to attempt to second-guess a potential terrorist attack.<br />
<br />
Therefore we need to live our lives in the fullest sense of the word and travel wherever and whenever we want to.<br />
<br />
I for one, can't wait to return to Tunisia. It's been far too long.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-59529742895315401232017-11-29T15:19:00.004+00:002017-11-29T15:19:50.492+00:00Jet2. Stupid rules ruin a great service.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqPFd3YLv9qdQLsn5BeMrU5ejBxGVJ7J9XMOLjDE57Z96HVtHPJpDMSLHEQvaCBrHr9wLzrawg2E4t18z1u3pZg-Vq6yTtPGqz4XK29luhjwtEwoC6oWsFf018evZ9WZnyH-b5EXFiCOs/s1600/JS35969569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqPFd3YLv9qdQLsn5BeMrU5ejBxGVJ7J9XMOLjDE57Z96HVtHPJpDMSLHEQvaCBrHr9wLzrawg2E4t18z1u3pZg-Vq6yTtPGqz4XK29luhjwtEwoC6oWsFf018evZ9WZnyH-b5EXFiCOs/s400/JS35969569.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I flew with Jet2 last week to Faro and it was in the most part a delightful experience. A baggage allowance of 23K was gratefully received. Check-in was verging on business class compared to other low cost airlines, and the cabin crew were delightful.<br />
With so much going in the right direction, why spoil the party with a petty rule. A rule even the cabin crew cannot fathom.<br />
it can't have slipped the Jet2 high command's attention that the rule for mobile device use on take off and landing was changed some time ago.<br />
There is now no longer any need for people with readers and tablets to have to turn their devices off as long as wifi is not switched on or the devices are in flight mode.<br />
Yet there I was, minding my own business and enjoying a movie on my tablet when I was told to refrain from using it until the seat belt signs were turned off after take-off.<br />
"You know the rules have changed don't you?"<br />
"Oh yes sir but, but this is a Jet2 rule."<br />
"A Jet2 rule. Why?"<br />
"Don't ask me. We just do what we're told."<br />
So there we have it. An airline with so much going for it losing brownie points because of some petty bureaucracy.<br />
<br />
Oh and that very annoying Jess Glynne song on endless loop.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-16512432681267291922017-06-05T14:39:00.000+01:002017-06-05T14:40:11.578+01:00Why look like a tourist.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTG4glrK6dL_q822tWXCjccqvDemPWhGY_hdWITlR0Ezkcq3hEIcnOjN5Trx2b1ws2lMa_zaUxa3D_rxCypQboNatxfuMdAKshi2nEydchA0F2PTUB2yXpwrCps-cv0lM68_utE8qO6GI/s1600/Tourits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTG4glrK6dL_q822tWXCjccqvDemPWhGY_hdWITlR0Ezkcq3hEIcnOjN5Trx2b1ws2lMa_zaUxa3D_rxCypQboNatxfuMdAKshi2nEydchA0F2PTUB2yXpwrCps-cv0lM68_utE8qO6GI/s320/Tourits.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This is quite baffling. Why is it so many people revel, no
let me rephrase that, positively embrace looking like a tourist?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like a complete transformation, seemingly overnight as
the airport run approaches. One minute he might lead a respectable life in
middle class suburbia, or perhaps she holds a management position in local
government, or it’s a man with a van doing an honest day’s trade as a plumber,
electrician or painter decorator.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next minute, he gets the garish floral shirt out with mid
calf long shorts, a straw hat and god forbid, sandals with socks. She on the
other hand plucks the tiniest shorts known to man and a skimpy top regardless
of shape or size. “This way up” ink is proudly displayed and a full English is <i>de rigueur</i> at the airport restaurant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It seems there is no shame in proudly telling all and sundry
we are on holiday now and that’s all that matters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is all well and
good while our featured humans are still at the airport. Fast forward a few
hours to some far off land, anywhere with a capital city or a beach and I can
hear the sound of local hands rubbing together in anticipated glee. The chink
of excessive euros tumbling into filling coffers. The ominous whiff of rip off
permeating the air. No amount of badly phrased local lingo will save our
featured friends from a fleecing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And it’s all because they look just like a tourist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you spot a local, is it because of the garish floral
shirt and socked sandals, or is it because he or she is sitting in a cafe
sipping an espresso or aperol with a sweater casually draped around shoulders.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember fearing the worst when sitting in a local
whitewashed taverna in a Cretan village I heard “any chance of doin’ us a
Sunday roast mate?” quickly followed by “which channel is the footie on?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With a sinking heart I decided to move on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This may well sound elitist and snobby but seriously, I’m
not picking class distinction here. There are plenty of cultured people who
simply lack the ability to dress in anything other than “tourist trashy”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in the days of football hooligans, even the foreign
visiting teams hooligans looked classy. At least they dressed well before
breaking a few noses.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-86853810582527215372017-01-24T09:54:00.000+00:002017-01-24T09:54:01.400+00:00Iceland v Iceland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iXo1B98BridMS_76IRT2olbjgkcS4RJzmAUiRZcBBRYiG3JBjtZNX5S0ADED-LV1zJG6C8p43SSMH1I67Mnv0Nca5pJCtOFxHn2eTyo4vV7_lYxqQ8JjT2wXEmi8QhzodYVgZH4tdcsl/s1600/iceland1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iXo1B98BridMS_76IRT2olbjgkcS4RJzmAUiRZcBBRYiG3JBjtZNX5S0ADED-LV1zJG6C8p43SSMH1I67Mnv0Nca5pJCtOFxHn2eTyo4vV7_lYxqQ8JjT2wXEmi8QhzodYVgZH4tdcsl/s320/iceland1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was not without a small amount of amusement I learned about the potential law suit Iceland (the country) was considering bringing on Iceland (the retailer).<br />
It seems Iceland (the country) is feeling hard done by because it cannot register any more internet names or addresses as Iceland (the retailer) has nabbed them all.<br />
You could argue that Iceland (the retailer) has simply been quicker off the online mark and quite rightly protected its online footprint.<br />
On the other hand, I do have a little sympathy for Iceland (the country) as they had the name first, and in all senses of the word, it does rather signify the term frozen.<br />
It is an interesting legal challenge as Iceland (the country) presumably has no legal standing in the UK or Europe.<br />
<br />
It is indeed a cold war.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-60450335372675573702016-11-22T10:16:00.001+00:002016-11-22T10:16:36.111+00:00Lost in translation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JGW6AyEluV34wUdyjBMennsJ502V7mPeCatFiC-ExyxO7fH11Op8gHXKSySEKwzgtPm6DwCBmxT32c5zWN-rl_txI965GBv6g_VSV9HHnLRDzrp4WofF6hhCBEtM24TKCsXXllf91kwP/s1600/rwstaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JGW6AyEluV34wUdyjBMennsJ502V7mPeCatFiC-ExyxO7fH11Op8gHXKSySEKwzgtPm6DwCBmxT32c5zWN-rl_txI965GBv6g_VSV9HHnLRDzrp4WofF6hhCBEtM24TKCsXXllf91kwP/s400/rwstaurant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Perhaps it's my sense of humour, but I always find issues in restaurants through waiting staff misunderstanding my request hilarious rather than irritating.</div>
<br />
And it happens frequently, even in high end restaurants. You can always apportion blame to poor management and training, or instead, just put it down to our basic human failings.<br />
<br />
We all try to listen, but nine times out of ten we don't hear. Instead, we plough on hastily thinking we know the answers.<br />
<br />
I had another comical moment in the restaurant of a well regarded four star country hotel which serves a dinner menu for a fixed price.<br />
It went something like this:<br />
<br />
Waiter: "Here is your fresh oven baked bread sir. is everything OK?"<br />
Andy: "All good thanks. May I have some olive oil please?"<br />
Waiter: "Of course sir. You know there is a charge for that?"<br />
Andy: "Really? That's unusual. Must be very good then so let's try some."<br />
<br />
The head waiter approaches after 5 minutes to tell me:<br />
<br />
"We are just getting your order from the bar."<br />
<br />
Andy: " Thanks. Just out of curiosity, do you have some very special hand made olive oil?"<br />
<br />
Head Waiter: "Not sure sir, I have only been here for three days, but I can check. Why do you ask?"<br />
Andy: "Well, I just requested some some olive oil and was told I would have to be charged extra for it."<br />
<br />
At this point, my original waiter materialises with a bowl of olives and proudly places them in the centre of the table.<br />
<br />
"Your olives sir.I do hope you enjoy them."<br />
<br />
Andy: "Thank you but I actually ordered olive oil. For the bread?"<br />
<br />
At which point the head waiter and the waiter look at me, and then at each other and rather sheepishly move aside for a short discussion.<br />
<br />
Of course, it all turns out well in the end. I get a lot of apologies from both waiters and we all have a giggle about it.<br />
<br />
Anyone have any funny restaurant stories they would like to share?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-77970634926868463772016-09-26T17:45:00.000+01:002016-09-26T17:45:28.414+01:00French Cheese anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiQZxrMD2n17RN3kbkbjQqEfJhrWdQZgsFLh7BdfeCnKBLWz5PufXVUrhOu2w-I3IvjENZTBtfk3T9WPCpC1Ix40Y67KIDqrX878lnxD1YG3g2N7r2IEXqUvfzjD0X62GoFuejMblOulm/s1600/camembert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiQZxrMD2n17RN3kbkbjQqEfJhrWdQZgsFLh7BdfeCnKBLWz5PufXVUrhOu2w-I3IvjENZTBtfk3T9WPCpC1Ix40Y67KIDqrX878lnxD1YG3g2N7r2IEXqUvfzjD0X62GoFuejMblOulm/s320/camembert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
On a recent trip to the USA I had an amusing experience at a very fancy resort hotel. This was, it must be said, one of the very best resorts in the country and i was enjoying my stay there immensely.<br />
<br />
I had arrived for breakfast, and instead of the usual very tasty American fare, I asked my lovely server for some cheese.<br />
<br />
"Do you have any nice cheeses?" I asked in my politest voice.<br />
<br />
"Sure Mr. Mossack" she replied, "Let me go check for you."<br />
<br />
She returned a few moments later with some slices of processed burger cheese. Not quite what I had imagined she would return with.<br />
<br />
"Thanks, but I was hoping for something a little more substantial, perhaps something European maybe?:"<br />
<br />
She dutifully retreated to the kitchen and returned after some time....<br />
<br />
"Well I found something French for you, it is called a Bry I think."<br />
<br />
Not wanting to douse her enthusiasm with correct spellings or pronunciation, I got the gist and looked very happy.<br />
<br />
"But I also found this one too. I am not sure where it comes from but it is called Cam and Bert."<br />
<br />
It was at this point that I lost it.<br />
<br />
I realise I should have used more restraint, but I couldn't help myself.<br />
<br />
"Cam and Bert it is then."<br />
<br />
I had mental images of French dairy farmers running for a ropes to hang themselves with.<br />
<br />
God bless America.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-5814319120493362902016-03-21T12:40:00.004+00:002016-03-21T12:40:35.890+00:00Special Branch comes to my rescue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n-MyOVWnbHUAMZc3vFGTg3jd1zlhr3sVEUMb0BRDFUndKRS51quju3uBPYXiKyPMfHDnaj4JDiSjz6AHRFJ4vntgzwVKVcIM3ob-SoInrfUfbqkCIyQY0vUzz-jeEQHl3rajZCREWCEK/s1600/0917-tablet-computer-ipad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n-MyOVWnbHUAMZc3vFGTg3jd1zlhr3sVEUMb0BRDFUndKRS51quju3uBPYXiKyPMfHDnaj4JDiSjz6AHRFJ4vntgzwVKVcIM3ob-SoInrfUfbqkCIyQY0vUzz-jeEQHl3rajZCREWCEK/s400/0917-tablet-computer-ipad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I had a genuine emergency last week at Gatwick airport. It was all there; shortness of breath, perspiration, panic, chest pain.<br />
The works.<br />
The cause of it?<br />
I had left my electronic tablet in the main lounge at Gatwick.<br />
Normally of course, this emergency could have been handled with calm efficient ease, reporting it to the relevant authorities etc. However, in this particular situation, time was very much against me.<br />
<br />
I am not normally one of those people who arrive at the departure gate with hours to spare. I have always thought this is a total waste of human life hours and anyone who indulges in this practice should be given a severe talking to. However, last Monday before a flight to Madeira, I did just that. I thought to myself, I have nothing much else to do here, so I might as well saunter slowly along the three miles to gate 35 surely, the furthest gate in airport history.<br />
<br />
Having finally arrived I reach for my tablet to watch a movie while I'm waiting, only to find it's not there and I must have left it on a seat in the main lounge. So much for sauntering. Now I am running all the way back to try and find it. Along the way, I bump in to Steve, wearing a smart suit and an earpiece. He looks like a security person I think to myself.<br />
<br />
"Excuse me, are you security?"<br />
"No sir, I am Sussex Please Special Branch."<br />
"OK near enough" I say. " I have left my tablet in the lounge and I only have 30 minutes before my plane leaves."<br />
"Right then" Says Steve "we need to find it pronto"<br />
And just like that we are both on a mission.<br />
<br />
We get to the scene of the crime and not a sign of my lost tablet. we interview potential witnesses, shop managers and restaurant staff but to no avail.<br />
<br />
I'm out of time, so I leave my details with Steve who promises to check with Lost Property and hopefully "you might get lucky and pick it up when you return"<br />
<br />
Of course, now I am late for the gate and run all the way back by which time my name is being called as all the passengers are on the plane.<br />
<br />
As I get to the now empty gate my phone rings. "Andy, it's Steve. I've found it! I'm on my way to you now"<br />
<br />
Amazing. Unfortunately the gate staff are having none of it. "You must board the plane now sir. It will not wait."<br />
<br />
"You don't understand" I plead. "This is an emergency situation and I am waiting for a delivery"<br />
As they shake their heads and threaten to boot me off the flight, Steve arrives like the cavalry waving my tablet triumphantly.<br />
<br />
What a guy.<br />
<br />
My eternal thanks go out to this gentleman who without doubt saved my day. Sussex Police, you are some team and I thanks you from the bottom of my heart!<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-31898724511593454692015-12-09T10:15:00.000+00:002015-12-09T10:15:08.716+00:00Low cost airlines to no longer surcharge credit cards?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnh78LIozGtR7cD4uPZfzvL1smtGXCZiLNDHAAXYmBAf09cUCJVdXgKN5b0cOGP7pbIb6Iho2dIiou3yjfTAq2sNvOnMcxeKGuJ7VdAy_9WHlW8Fla5k57X3uz1Bo12eoOsSqRru3wSI6/s1600/creditcards1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnh78LIozGtR7cD4uPZfzvL1smtGXCZiLNDHAAXYmBAf09cUCJVdXgKN5b0cOGP7pbIb6Iho2dIiou3yjfTAq2sNvOnMcxeKGuJ7VdAy_9WHlW8Fla5k57X3uz1Bo12eoOsSqRru3wSI6/s400/creditcards1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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With the news today that interchange fees are to be capped should be good news for consumers. Interchange fees are charges that retailers pay via their bank to the credit card company when their customers use a credit card to pay for goods, Up to now this has been unregulated and an almost dark secret to most of us, but thanks to a new EU ruling all fees are to be capped at 0.2% for debit cards and 0.3% for credit cards from December 9th 2015.<br />
The British Retail Consortium estimates this new ruling could save British businesses nearly £500M.<br />
So far so good then.<br />
Retailers will save money from unfair charges.<br />
So here's the thing. Does this mean our two main low cost airlines Ryan Air and easyJet will now no longer charge us a fee for using credit cards to book our flights?<br />
If, as we are led to believe, the new shiny mark 2 passenger friendly Ryan Air is always going to put its passengers first, or easyJet is looking to further improve its rapidly growing brand, then we should look forward to being able to use our credit cards for flights without incurring any surcharges.<br />
Now I am sure we will no doubt hear that historically there have been no surcharges for using a debit card or some other obscure pre-paid card, or that there are many other hidden costs in processing credit card bookings, but now in all honesty, there are no excuses for penalising customers who want to use a credit card to buy a low cost flight.<br />
As the Treasury points out in its consultation document "the government is clear that merchants are expected to pass these savings on to consumers in the form of lower prices." So will this indeed happen? My guess is as good as yours, but we live in hope.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-23842617618238140372015-11-03T16:55:00.000+00:002015-11-03T16:55:04.379+00:00Are we all becoming Narcissists?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyo88MGrs9WP9nHpFNNy4SvuUoEF1eP9KZpVsDbetSA6b3Zr7fJmE8r3hAksYGx9VCS6UWnC1hc9spwtmkbKH-Z24-cRSBOxXGpUSZqdFPJiPgAsMME0sHSNtkafJBbbQsKOGZeAmdFSA/s1600/Selfie-Stick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyo88MGrs9WP9nHpFNNy4SvuUoEF1eP9KZpVsDbetSA6b3Zr7fJmE8r3hAksYGx9VCS6UWnC1hc9spwtmkbKH-Z24-cRSBOxXGpUSZqdFPJiPgAsMME0sHSNtkafJBbbQsKOGZeAmdFSA/s400/Selfie-Stick.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I read a very interesting stat last week. It seems that more people are killed each year through taking "selfies" than die from shark attacks..<br />
I have witnessed this very phenomenon myself recently. I am not proud to say I narrowly avoided a nasty fatality last week while walking down London's Oxford Street. I was stupidly minding my own business when I failed to notice a group of Chinese tourists coming straight at me armed to the teeth with selfie sticks.<br />
Imagine my horror when, lost in thought, I glanced up just in time to avoid a hideous death impaled on twenty selfie sticks.<br />
<br />
This could so easily have been murder, simply because they wanted to show everyone they knew they were somewhere else. Look at me, I'm not in Tokyo, I'm in Oxford Street.<br />
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Does anyone really care?<br />
<br />
More to the point, how many broken selfie sticks do we see discarded in roads and gutters.<br />
Have we all become so obsessed with ourselves we have to constantly remind our family and "friends" where we are and what we're doing?<br />
<br />
It seems we are.<br />
<br />
I have seen people balancing perilously on one leg above the Grand Canyon or atop Sydney Harbour Bridge just to snap a selfie.<br />
<br />
I am so really not interested to see endless pictures of faces around a table of wine glasses or half finished food.<br />
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Yes we all have to eat and drink so get over it.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-9073486437789341242015-08-20T20:43:00.000+01:002015-08-20T20:43:33.553+01:00 Is iceberg water really the ultimate con?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hearing the news of a restaurant charging its customers £24 per bottle for 'iceberg water' I am thinking the world has finally gone bonkers. Who is kidding who here. Are there really people out there who are so terribly desperate to impress they are happy to be royally ripped off by anyone claiming to offer the latest elixir of life.<br />
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Whether iceberg water really does contain exceptional properties or not isn't really the issue. I mean, putting to one side for a minute the question of whether this is morally correct anyway because I am not happy with the thought of somebody actively chipping away at a natural iceberg simply to harvest the water for a posh meal.<br />
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No, for me the real issue is working out who is the con artist and who is the mark in all this. Who starts the ball running. Is it the media, the harvester, the vendor or the end user. I get the commercial part, obviously. If anyone can see there is a healthy profit to be made by peddling something legal that there is a market for, then good luck to them.<br />
<br />
It's a dog eat dog world.<br />
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I can list many things that fit this bracket - fashion victims for a start. Think about it. Paying top dollar for ripped jeans (sorry stressed jeans), baseball caps with 'genuine' stickers on them, two piece swim suits that don't match. The list is endless. These are all created by manufacturers who simply have a lot of surplus stock to move. And we all fall for it.<br />
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Water is the new black clearly. It is true overseas people drink bottled water all the time, simply because in most cases their over chlorinated tap water tastes awful. But here in the UK tap water is no different to any other water nutritionally. Yes, mineral water by definition contains minerals so what. The water table of our planet has not changed since it was created, it just gets dispersed in different ways. We are in effect drinking the same water Abraham drunk or the dinosaurs for that matter.<br />
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Let us please get back on track. Forgo the latest drinking fad and just stick to tap water. You know it makes sense.<br />
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By the way, I have a crate of Asteroid Moisture to sell. Just £300 a bottle. It's out of this world.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-86205598835304753932015-07-13T13:00:00.002+01:002015-07-13T13:00:52.376+01:00Driving Licence changes brings car hire hell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Jmrkm7YYIOE51Lon9HoUgLbDkW0FBNozCgFSft-8fFUxsMMLUnEwdSwI9aCvkHPdosZ80z6SkZDgEYFJ1N689oKI6NkwfnNbDmKexZqyTCK0uryJN9aF10ohxmhVfX-PQuM9kOtQWFoa/s1600/Hertz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Jmrkm7YYIOE51Lon9HoUgLbDkW0FBNozCgFSft-8fFUxsMMLUnEwdSwI9aCvkHPdosZ80z6SkZDgEYFJ1N689oKI6NkwfnNbDmKexZqyTCK0uryJN9aF10ohxmhVfX-PQuM9kOtQWFoa/s400/Hertz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
Let me paint a picture for you.<br />
<br />
Just landed at Glasgow airport ahead of a much anticipated road trip along the west coast and I made way to the Hertz counter to collect my pre-ordered rental car.<br />
Nothing strange so far then.<br />
A warm friendly greeting and a smile. I smile and hand over my pre-ordered rental coupon.<br />
Another smile. A few keys tapped. Car in the system. Good to go.<br />
Err, not quite.<br />
"Sorry sir, you are a little early, your car is still getting washed. Can you grab a coffee and come back and see me in half an hour?"<br />
These things happen, and I did land early, so a coffee calls.<br />
Suitably caffeined I return as re quested and receive yet another smile.<br />
Keys tapped. Phone call made.<br />
" Nearly ready sir" I'm told. "Shall we do the paperwork while we're waiting?"<br />
I smile back.<br />
"Can I have your driving licence please."<br />
I am armed and ready with my plastic licence and hand it over.<br />
The smile waivers a tad.<br />
"And your code from the DVLA please?"<br />
"err. Code? I booked the car online and printed out the coupon."<br />
"Yes Mr Mossack, that's for the car, you now need a code from the DVLA as the paper part of your licence is no longer needed. This only came into effect today."<br />
A looming dread slowly approaches my calm exterior. Thoughts of my pleasant drive along Scotland's rugged west coast are evaporating.<br />
I come clean. "I don't have one of those sorry."<br />
The smile has been replaced with pity.<br />
"Yes it is a little confusing. This hasn't been handled very well. All our customers have had the same problem today."<br />
Great. I have other miserable companions.<br />
I try a smile. The one usually reserved for my room upgrade requests at hotel check ins.<br />
"Is there a way around this, after all there was nothing on your website to warn me about this."<br />
Her smile returns triumphantly.<br />
"Yes sir, we can call the DVLA for you."<br />
"Excellent, let's do that then"<br />
"There will however be an additional charge for that sir."<br />
And there it is.<br />
A small change in admin from the DVLA and a new revenue stream is suddenly created.<br />
We have dispensed with a stupid paper version of a licence that got torn and lost to another piece of paper that will get torn and lost. Or alternatively, providing car hire companies with a revenue stream which hereto was not an option.<br />
Now where is the sense in all this.<br />
I applaud the demise of the paper version of our driving licence. Good riddance. But please let us have a better solution for car hire. Printing out codes? I'd rather print out a smile.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-84700808739421235522015-04-12T11:29:00.000+01:002015-04-12T11:29:13.088+01:00Why Are USA Business Class Lounges So Poor? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgpka1CIGRTEc0l-GHRAEiZYZpVN6pKohyt-BaHAj66PDpc-4BHyI3bggbNa9sPHfjXz1He-qVueOB24fFfIMH0OywnpJ3FOnUo2xJ7akZ47gWRPGnAeIkffKR0GYj77ddLTYb7Pc7W8R/s1600/PH-127009999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgpka1CIGRTEc0l-GHRAEiZYZpVN6pKohyt-BaHAj66PDpc-4BHyI3bggbNa9sPHfjXz1He-qVueOB24fFfIMH0OywnpJ3FOnUo2xJ7akZ47gWRPGnAeIkffKR0GYj77ddLTYb7Pc7W8R/s1600/PH-127009999.jpg" /></a></div>
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I have been on a few trips to the USA recently, and the experience prompted me to flag up the stupendously average quality of US business class lounges.<br />
They are always busy, I'll grant you that; and there is no shortage of customers desperately trying to gain access through one type of card or another only to be triumphantly turned away by smug receptionists.<br />
My issue is simply that compared to the rest of the world, US business lounges are way down the pecking order when it comes to food and amenities.<br />
And my question is why?<br />
America has always been the home of customer service (albeit shameless and shallow) so why are the airport business lounges so bad.<br />
They are in the main, soulless places, with practically no form of human interaction.<br />
Servers tend to be disinterested, bored or both and there is precious little in the way of food, generally just processed snacks of cheese (red or yellow), crackers and jars of chemically infused nibbles washed down with stale coffee from flasks.<br />
So, apart from admittedly well stocked bars, free internet and some peace and quiet, there ain't a lot to shout about.<br />
Compare this with the Far East, or Europe and the difference is marked. In many cases there are either a la carte menus or a number of freshly produced dishes, perhaps showers or massage or even (drum roll) a hairdressing service and nail spa. The environments tend to welcoming and positive with attentive staff who try at least to make your short stay pleasurable. Unless as was the case during a recent visit to Istanbul when a Siberian snow storm put the airport in lock down and I was stranded there for over 14 hours, but that as they say is quite another story.<br />
Come on USA pull your finger out and provide much better business lounge facilities for your tired and stressed executive passengers. Or, perhaps its all a plot to make the plane experience feel a lot better than it really is?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-46853830104783432012015-02-05T08:52:00.004+00:002015-02-05T08:53:42.589+00:00Crowdfunding needed for new Elephant documetary<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I support “DO Elephants Go To
Heaven?” because future generations deserve a world with elephants. Dream Out
Loud Films is headed to Africa to film the story of the baby elephants
kidnapped in Zimbabwe facing a miserable life in captivity China. We will hear
from the elephants about their love for the herd and the daily struggle to
maintain these bonds against all odds. Support the project on Kickstarter and
join our herd: </span></i><i><a href="http://kck.st/1zCDNLB"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">http://kck.st/1zCDNLB</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">- Unless humans change their hearts,
minds and actions, elephants could be extinct by 2025, only ten years away.
Dream Out Loud Films believe that in showing the world the plight of elephants
– from the elephants’ perspectives as interpreted by animal communicators -
humans will be compelled by empathy to act. Support their upcoming film, “DO
Elephants Go To Heaven?” </span></i><i><a href="http://kck.st/1zCDNLB"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">http://kck.st/1zCDNLB</span></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-20484404884524734802014-12-01T14:56:00.000+00:002014-12-01T14:56:09.821+00:00Advance Passenger Duty Needs to be Reformed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">With the news that one of Britain's most loathed taxes is 20 years old this week it got me thinking about just how much this loathsome tax costs everyday people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">A family of four
flying to a destination outside Europe will pay £284 in tax, compared with
just £40 when the levy was introduced on November 1, 1994.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">That seven-fold increase in APD has taken place while inflation
has not even doubled over the same period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">APD, which is the highest aviation tax imposed anywhere in the
world, has also hugely outstripped other UK taxes such as petrol duty, road
tax, duties on alcohol and insurance premiums over the last two decades. </span><span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Annual Treasury revenue from APD is now nearly ten times as much
as in the tax's first full year. In total, air passengers in the UK have paid
more than £26 billion in APD since 1994.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">Even on short-haul flights, APD has become a big proportion of the
ticket price. The £26 APD payable per person on a return flight within the UK
is frequently at least a quarter of the total fare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Mylius Modern'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%;">According to City analysts PwC, abolition of APD would boost
Britain's economic growth by 0.5 per cent within a year and lead to the
creation of 60,000 new jobs without reducing the Treasury's net revenues. Now that really is something the government should ponder.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-8463828852819879282014-09-01T15:27:00.003+01:002014-09-01T15:27:36.975+01:00Gordon Ramsay's Hotel Hell is just Hell itself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I forced myself to watch 2 episodes of Gordon Ramsey's latest TV series Hotel Hell. Whilst his previous series Kitchen Nightmares USA was predictable and formulaic it was nevertheless a subject Gordon can boast he knows a thing or two about. This time around however, he is attempting to make us believe he is not only a hotel expert, (which he clearly isn't) but also a therapist (in one episode he talks an owner into admitting he is an alcoholic and needs help). The owner that is, not Gordon although after this series finishes who knows.<br />
This is a series so clearly staged it's embarrassing. Are we really expected to believe Gordon's seemingly astonished looks when given some new dramatic information, trying to make us believe this is the first time he has heard it? Are we really to believe in the matter of a two day stay a hotel's business woes can be literally swept away, rooms renovated and entire menus transformed.<br />
He might be good, but he's not that good.<br />
And do we really need to be subjected to his naked rear in a shower, or see him disrobing to swim wear for a swim he was never intending to have as we all saw the state of the pool. I even chuckled at his quick stomach tuck in as he took off his towelling robe.<br />
This is a hotel series which is simply abject hell to watch.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-27991058267839336582014-07-23T18:14:00.003+01:002014-07-23T18:14:54.954+01:00Can we really get sued for writing a bad review?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mb498QG-5nSDXFek3axh12zbRu0cXPNHEfCDVpDnhrsjopCxLqnsJC4zdcPykT0xV5JULaSsXCObMB0I1pye4pYlSK_tPIkOLJCvOmGDz5ex5mxRGwwheFdTtmR4ofWxN4KJ1ukQwgGx/s1600/giant-food-office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mb498QG-5nSDXFek3axh12zbRu0cXPNHEfCDVpDnhrsjopCxLqnsJC4zdcPykT0xV5JULaSsXCObMB0I1pye4pYlSK_tPIkOLJCvOmGDz5ex5mxRGwwheFdTtmR4ofWxN4KJ1ukQwgGx/s1600/giant-food-office.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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With the recent court case in mind, where a French food journalist was sued successfully for €2,500 by a restaurant for a bad review, it struck me as a warning shot across the bows for all on line reviewers.<br />
It poses an interesting conundrum simply because of how Google handles search results.<br />
In the case of the food journalist, her headline was the culprit; it was about an Italian restaurant called Il Giardino and the headline ran "The place to avoid in Cap-Ferrat. Il Giardino." It seems Google placed it very high under Cap-Ferrat searches and caused business at the restaurant to plummet. it didn't help of course that she called the boss a "diva" which under French libel law is an insult.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, under normal circumstances any review has to be simply seen as a personal opinion, however Google has become so intrinsic to finding information online, it is quite possible for something like this to happen over and over again.<br />
So what do we do? Should we include large swathes of legalise at the bottom of each review? Should we all take legal advice before publishing anything? How about filling the review with middle of the road non confrontational phrases?<br />
<br />
And why stop at food reviews, the same goes for hotels, films and shows. Could we get sued by a hotel interior designer because we didn't like the decor?<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-13858976481731608412014-06-01T20:05:00.000+01:002014-06-01T20:05:17.629+01:00Hotels fail to cater for diabetics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4JNrM702CTtgJ1SGa-N6BA2A6UzHEVxlOxkB2nWH2ouBIFTkVK5jEJ-MtYGmY3mHDh9OGpWEnZKlkTGpdc3hHfMFquY70oM3GSQxrMRk3O48dI2BphVrj_82z9EhlUZWbhXG-XnoiUJ-/s1600/1274448873704621161jitcrunch-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4JNrM702CTtgJ1SGa-N6BA2A6UzHEVxlOxkB2nWH2ouBIFTkVK5jEJ-MtYGmY3mHDh9OGpWEnZKlkTGpdc3hHfMFquY70oM3GSQxrMRk3O48dI2BphVrj_82z9EhlUZWbhXG-XnoiUJ-/s1600/1274448873704621161jitcrunch-md.png" height="281" width="320" /></a></div>
I was reviewing a clutch of top hotels recently and the dinner and breakfast menus made interesting reading. Anyone with nut allergies need not fear, there were plenty of warnings to ensure clarity in that department. Gluten free products? Again, if you were looking to stay gluten free you would have no problem here either. What about lactose intolerant then. Fortunately, in most cases, my menus were sympathetic in this regard and offered all kinds of alternatives.<br />
However, when it comes to diabetic friendly dishes it's quite a different matter.<br />
Mention to a member of the waiting staff about available sugar free dishes or the dreaded word diabetes and I see panic set in. I've come to the conclusion that any guest who suffers from diabetes might as well bring their own food with them and this is just not acceptable in any standard of hotel and restaurant in my opinion.<br />
I'm not saying for one minute the hospitality industry is collectively conspiring to alienate diabetic guests, just that the subject of diabetes has silently dropped off the radar. This simply means hotel staff are not trained on what to do or how to cope in a situation I've just described. Porridge normally comes with honey and brown sugar, some fresh fruit salads are made with syrup, obviously jams or marmalade are made with sugar. Or are they?<br />
I'm delighted to reveal, that on a recent visit to the <b>Langham Hotel</b> in London, our waiter passed my little sugar test with flying colours. It was breakfast and we asked if they had any sugar free jam. Within 5 minutes an array of mini St Dalfour jams materialised. St. Dalfour for those of you who don't know, makes jams using just natural fruit sugars from an ancient French recipe and is about as diabetic friendly as you can get for a generic food product.<br />
So well done The Langham and well done that waiter, who got a vote of support from me to the management.<br />
Diabetes is one of the highest killers of the human race. It's a serious matter.<br />
If The Langham can get this right so easily, it surely cannot be difficult for the hotel industry to wake up and ensure their menus carry dishes for diabetics or at the very least offer guaranteed sugar free menu items.<br />
Discuss.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-84028236254589107252014-03-28T17:09:00.002+00:002014-03-28T17:09:38.766+00:00Free food on Ryan Air at last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmw388bhppnlk_49_715AvGlnIX1fVeMrJ6AFG16VOD8hz3DIshnA9dEoSo9myXWXm-mXmkwjSc8Qx0wXlHsz4GUfoE6g5vKhWTpis1LU9IvRF5PXbicfT1HnNAZy9BzVuB1IUCjQib56/s1600/ryanair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmw388bhppnlk_49_715AvGlnIX1fVeMrJ6AFG16VOD8hz3DIshnA9dEoSo9myXWXm-mXmkwjSc8Qx0wXlHsz4GUfoE6g5vKhWTpis1LU9IvRF5PXbicfT1HnNAZy9BzVuB1IUCjQib56/s1600/ryanair.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
I never thought I would live to see the day, but finally yesterday I had a meal supplied by Ryan Air and it didn't cost me a penny! How can this be possible I hear you shout. How can an airline, who at one time were rumoured to be even thinking about charging passengers to use the toilets, stump up a free meal.<br />
I will tell you. It is all part of CEO Michael O'Leary's new charm offensive. A new improved Ryan Air where customers come first. The new look Ryan Air where you can now take 2 carry on bags, get pre allocated seats, be able to change a booking on-line without a penalty and best of all, a new web site that promises you a much better user experience, where you can see just where the cheap seats are in seconds and even register your personal details so next time the site will remember who you are.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it is because easyjet has already brought in allocated seating and is charming the pants off business customers, or perhaps it is because Mr O'Leary has realised insulting passengers just because they are paying rock bottom prices doesn't lead to a lot of loyalty and love. What ever the reason, I applaud Ryan Air for doing it, because anything that makes travel a better experience is good in my book whatever the reasons behind it.<br />
<br />
So what about that free food? Well in a swish press bash in London yesterday, where very attractive models dressed up as Ryan Air cabin crew and all the top brass were rolled out to present the new improved Ryan Air to the travel press we were treated to a sumptuous lunch with all the trimmings by the side of the River Thames. Even Mr O'Leary had to admit it was an extortionate amount to have to pay, but nevertheless he did and shook everyone's hand too.<br />
<br />
Good for him and good for Ryan Air to be honest and bold about changing an already successful albeit tacky service into something hopefully a lot more customer friendly.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-1961825833944274052014-03-19T16:49:00.002+00:002014-03-19T16:49:29.955+00:00You really can time travel in Ethiopia <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhjuKTtlDRJFrxRxxacVSGZuLRVH0v-plBkOG_yqtfX_3UhQtmtFJDz8EXJ3fZOhRIVl6gKUbTz3IYsKs0Va78LEs20tlQwECb4zantvzBeAgZD9XA_7uT2KBJLgnmxOTEnFkrahKPHUl/s1600/Ethiopia+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhjuKTtlDRJFrxRxxacVSGZuLRVH0v-plBkOG_yqtfX_3UhQtmtFJDz8EXJ3fZOhRIVl6gKUbTz3IYsKs0Va78LEs20tlQwECb4zantvzBeAgZD9XA_7uT2KBJLgnmxOTEnFkrahKPHUl/s1600/Ethiopia+090.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills above Addis Ababa (c) Andy Mossack</td></tr>
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<br />
On a recent trip to Ethiopia, I had a 9 am meeting arranged, and the night before I received a call from my Ethiopian colleague reminding me of it. "see you at 3" he said. "err, no I have 9 am" I replied" "oh yes of course, for you it's 9 for us it's 3 see ya."<br />
<br />
It seems Ethiopian time works completely differently to ours; their day begins at 6 am rather than our midnight, so 7 am for us is 1 am for them! Similarly, 1 am for us is really 7 pm for them. I am not making this up.<br />
<br />
Just to make things even more complicated, they also have 13 months in their calendar year, so technically they are still in 2007 seven years behind us!<br />
<br />
If anyone can shed light on this alternative clock and calendar please let me know. By the way I would love to see what their watch dials say........<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-51804427484327405732014-02-06T09:42:00.000+00:002014-02-06T09:42:05.944+00:00Airlines now clear for take off on mobile phone chatter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqzY0oN_LG1ohLCRaCB8UX54l0Iif7Ry03vugD7kz4oQLteh197Nq_0piflk1wKTc5gzCW1dC7KNRAv3pZSIYGmBMKw0OcAvY2qI0ol5CL8h-B7fGfoTdBruH9WwK3Vow2_zqmn2ardQ6/s1600/cell-phone-on-airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqzY0oN_LG1ohLCRaCB8UX54l0Iif7Ry03vugD7kz4oQLteh197Nq_0piflk1wKTc5gzCW1dC7KNRAv3pZSIYGmBMKw0OcAvY2qI0ol5CL8h-B7fGfoTdBruH9WwK3Vow2_zqmn2ardQ6/s1600/cell-phone-on-airplane.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></div>
With the recent news that the regulation on using electronic devices on flights has finally been relaxed is joyous news indeed. For years now, airline passengers have endured the glare of flight attendants marching up and down the aisles hell bent on finding miscreants flagrantly flouting the law on electronic devices. I know it was the regulations, but clearly we all know flight mode enabled devices do not transmit anything so the threat of interfering with aircraft navigational systems was really a non issue.<br />
<br />
The new law permits passengers to use their electronic devices from gate to gate now, as long as they are enabled in flight mode. Marvelous news. Now we can finish that movie or keep reading our stories instead of having to thumb through the latest in flight magazine we have already read three times at the beginning and end of flights.<br />
<br />
However, I fear this news is not so joyous in the longer term. There are already plans afoot to allow phone calls during flights as faster wi fi access becomes a reality or cellular technology evolves over 10,000 feet.<br />
My worry is this. Do I really want to sit next to someone who is having a conference call board meeting, or selling the very latest line of adult nappies, or negotiating with their divorce lawyer during my flight? The thought of a few hours of peace from anyone who has been, prior to lift off, glued to their smart phone or immersed in earnest conversation is a window of opportunity I always embrace. The thought of this peaceful time shattered with a constant barrage of endless chatter feels me with dread.<br />
<br />
Can you imagine a scene when (and I'm not being disparaging to any particular nation here) someone who revels in letting everyone in earshot hear how successful he or she is, or how good a Wall Street wolf they are is too horrible to contemplate.<br />
<br />
Perhaps we should all go back to banning PDAs after all.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-30778526533925105862013-12-05T16:28:00.002+00:002013-12-05T16:31:31.871+00:00Lost luggage at HeathrowI have been doing this a long time, this travelling lark. I've been from one end of the planet to the other, across sea and desert, on foot, in the air and on sea, but I have never and I repeat never ever lost my suitcase.<br />
<br />
That was until yesterday.<br />
<br />
I was travelling back from a truly epic cruise experience on the Crystal Serenity, Casablanca to Heathrow, which by and large went without a hitch apart from Royal Air Maroc's rather curious cabin service, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
So, reaching the baggage carousel in record time and spotting my case slowly circling the belt all alone was an unusual but nevertheless pleasant surprise. Only it wasn't my case, it was a Mr Mahoud's case, bearing a distinctly familiar look to mine. Same colour, same model. Only real difference was mine was a lot bigger.<br />
<br />
So after spending a few minutes pondering in that state of mental hiatus where you don't quite understand what is going on, just gazing into nothingness for a while while your brain works out the logistics - no other bags are here just this one, therefore someone (Mr Mahmoud presumably) has taken mine thinking it is his.<br />
<br />
Then indignation kicks in, followed by a demand for a solution to this crisis.<br />
<br />
The baggage staff at Heathrow who have obviously seen and heard all this before look at me with resigned pity and silently slide across a form for me to complete.<br />
<br />
This is what it has come to. My belongings, my worldly possessions filed onto a single sheet of A4.<br />
<br />
"Don't worry sir" a soothing voice in my ear "it will all work out OK."<br />
Easy for you to say I mumble, what if Mr Mahoud likes my case better than his? What if his case was merely a prop designed for him to look like a normal traveller when instead he is a man who spends his life collecting luggage from all over the world. That's it! I have unknowingly uncovered a world wide scam to steal goods and sell them on the black market. I must be the victim of a gang of global sky thieves.<br />
<br />
I go home armed with my reference number.<br />
<br />
I call the help line later that night for an update. Nothing. I am resigned to my fate, my goods and possessions must by now be somewhere far far away, portioned out and fed to the highest bidder.<br />
<br />
Morning comes and the despair is hanging over me like a storm cloud. Another call brings no further news. lets be honest here, if Mr Mahmoud was on the straight and narrow he would have realised by now? How would he clean his teeth or shave or do anything else without his real case.<br />
<br />
And then a call from Raymond. Raymond is the man in the baggage hall. My go to man for all things bag related. " I have your case here now sir." he chirps to me, " Mr Mahoud sent his driver back with it and we will deliver it to you this evening. As soon as possible."<br />
<br />
My relief is audible. Raymond has my lifelong love and respect. Of course my compensation plans are all in tatters now, as is my theory of global sky robbers.Still, an apology from Mr Mahoud would have been nice. The decent thing to do.<br />
<br />
Still at least i didn't have to lug my case home eh?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-54532999528458991492013-11-18T12:55:00.001+00:002013-11-18T12:55:33.109+00:00UK Immigration fast tracking? Another rip off for travellers.It seems the Home Office is about to approve a paid for fast track service at UK airport immigration points and for what it's worth this kind of nonsense makes me shudder. What are they thinking of. As if we are not already subjected to ridiculous amounts of red tape at airports, now we are faced with the added insult of smug looks on the faces of people who can breeze through immigration lines just because they can afford to do so.<br />
I have long campaigned about all the unnecessary hoops we all have to jump through at airports, from the long lines at security to the morbidly morose faces we meet at passport control. Now, don't think for one second I am expecting our security measures to be relaxed, unfortunately we live in an age when we are all potential terrorist targets so we deal with this inconvenience as part of the airport experience.<br />
My beef is the way certain airports try to make money out of this inconvenience, and the way we get treated by security staff.<br />
Luton Airport is a prime example. Not only does the airport charge you to simply come in and drop someone off, it positively advertises a 'security fast track lane' where you can 'beat the queues' if you fancy stumping up a fee, unless of course you are travelling in any class above economy. This is just plain greed in my opinion.<br />
For a start, we didn't bring in security lines, the airport did, and what happens when the so called 'fast track lane' is empty? Do the staff in this lane offer to take traffic from other overflowing lanes or do they just stand around talking about the latest episode of I'm a celebrity or TOWIE? <br />
Then there is the inconsistency. Do I remove my shoes and belt or not. Take all coins out or not. Some say yes, others say no.<br />
Passport control is the same problem. If you are unlucky to arrive at the same time as a number of other flights then you can bet on a long line. To have to pay for the benefit of making this inconvenience shorter is simply scandalous. After all, scrapping the IRIS system of retina scans which cost million to implement was a complete waste of money, the new e-passport system is slower than Ryan Air check in, and the staff we see here, people who let's face it are the first face a visitor to this country sees, are often miserable and aggressive.<br />
Instead of creating a revenue stream through by-passing a decrepit system imposed on us in the first place, airports need to focus on improving their existing staff and processes so we can all benefit and not just the smug passengers who can afford it.<br />
Airports have to learn, at the end of the day it their passengers who are more important than anything else.<br />
End of rant..<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-27324920452415049472013-10-07T11:48:00.001+01:002013-10-07T11:48:32.149+01:00A lunch that was really out of this world!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoCCt0F68hr2iLdK4p1J8QYmkcrig9cDha0ZIFBbk8-DVfi1lay2gCANW-TKi0DW0g3YP_-q-jR0GBsFEa_PaGSmhU9neS5u_-xcReeiFsmtNKlkQzhRFZ2tXldbxeCCBS_obVTVP4eKr/s400/Jim+Reilly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Jim Reilly and Andy Mossack (c) Andy Mossack" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Jim and me. Two veterans from different worlds!</td></tr>
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I had lunch last week with an astronaut.<br />
Not just any old astronaut you understand, but one Jim Reilly no less, a veteran of four Atlantis Shuttle missions. We met in the unimposing restaurant facility at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, during a recent visit there to unveil the brand new Atlantis attraction.<br />
Jim was, I have to say, the complete opposite of what I expected, a somewhat self deprecating man who insisted he got into the Space business by accident. I am sure he has had his fill of nosey civilians who want to know all the ins and outs of life in space, mostly to do with toilet habits I might add. I on the other hand was like a breath of fresh air, testing him with questions on more simple things like God and religion; did he feel closer to the big guy up there, or did it give him more of an insight into how creation really happened etc.<br />
He deftly dodged all the tricky stuff and gave me answers that would avoid any politically incorrect incidents. Jim was, the perfect politician.<br />
Having said all that, the Atlantis attraction was jaw droppingly good, and features at its climax the actual shuttle itself close up and personal. There was I have to admit, a tear in my eye.<br />
Thanks Jim for a lovely lunch and a little insight into living in Space.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1559852840593608829.post-24566010672759928992013-09-21T00:00:00.003+01:002013-09-21T00:02:46.868+01:00Supercar hell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrUiog57lzac-Gso537aD_j_YmkkHhY4EvNLr0_u-Y2aCZDlSkPV3AfRQ_Dyajk720lvXjeK_vw3a8o7-s27I3kp51la88gta8XuaP-kfO58m7jUVip_TrfIPVfZF-mKWHQEDgZmk8yvP/s1600/ronn_scorpion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrUiog57lzac-Gso537aD_j_YmkkHhY4EvNLr0_u-Y2aCZDlSkPV3AfRQ_Dyajk720lvXjeK_vw3a8o7-s27I3kp51la88gta8XuaP-kfO58m7jUVip_TrfIPVfZF-mKWHQEDgZmk8yvP/s400/ronn_scorpion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I parked a rented Fiat Punto in the outdoor parking lot of a luxury hotel last week in Italy. It was empty, so naturally I parked as close to the ramp of the hotel entrance as I could. The next morning, I came out to drive to a meeting and found it surrounded by hundreds of supercars parked at all kinds of angles, as if they had been driven in at speed and left exactly as they had braked.<br />
Imagine the sight. I am picking my way delicately through a maze of Ferrari's, Lamborghini's, Maserati's and Porsche's coming up against dead ends and reversing back and forth desperately attempting to solve the parking maze. It seems it was a weekend away for a Czech supercar club who had spent the day driving to Italy.My Punto was, fortunately small enough to squeeze through the tiny gaps left by the owners of these supercars, who thought perhaps that surrounding my little car was an amusing diversion to their day.<br />
I on the other hand was terrified of incurring an eye watering repair bill.<br />
That said, I eventually found the exit to my supercar maze some 20 minutes later.<br />
I was not impressed.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00342662830174262298noreply@blogger.com0