News
Welcome to the Youtravel.com news section!
We want to share a few bits of news from our industry that might make your decision a little easier.
We will soon have our very own blog so you can share your views with everybody, how exciting!
Youtravel Press Announcements 14th May 2012
http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2001444&c=setreg®ion=2
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2012/05/14/40468/youtravel+poised+to+unveil+major+new+german+shareholder.html
http://www.ttgdigital.com/news/german-tour-op-to-take-stake-in-youtravelcom/4683990.article
http://www.fvw.de/index.cfm?cid=11183&pk=104312&event=showarticle
http://www.preferente.com/agencias/touroperadores/el-touroperador-aleman-fti-compra-youtravel-com-230764.html
Thomas Cook
You’ve probably seen the headlines about Thomas Cook and if you’ve booked flights with them via us, you might be worried. Well, don’t be. As it stands today you have nothing to worry about and all bookings will go ahead as planned. We’re confident enough to continue selling them and if we had any concerns whatsoever, we wouldn’t let you book it. If you do have any questions please contact our customer service team via you2us@youtravel.com who are happy to help.
Egypt
We’d like to reassure anyone travelling to Egypt this winter that all resorts we operate to along the red sea are very much ‘open as usual’ – you’ve nothing to worry about. The images from Cairo are unsettling, but Cairo is a good 6 hour drive from the costal resorts, it would be like someone not visiting London due to riots in Edinburgh. Should the situation change, we’ll let you know and we’ll be here to help, but for now all you have to worry about is which bikini to pack and whether you’ve booked that airport parking.
Greek strikes 5th October 2011
We’ve been advised that a public sector strike will be taking place in Greece until midnight 5th October 2011 and this will have an impact on flights.
Please double check with your airline to confirm departure times, as they will have the latest information. If you’ve any additional questions please contact the team here via you2us@youtravel.com
SEND US YOUR TRAVEL TIPS & WIN!
We’ve teamed up with top family blogger English Mum to find your best holiday tips. Send your tips in via twitter to @youtravel_com and @englishmum #youtraveltips all this week & you might even win a Lonely Planet guidebook of your choice just for sharing your words of wisdom
Official Mumsnet Partners
Hot off the press folks, we’re now officially partners with leading parenting website mumsnet.com
We put a lot of thought into who we work with both overseas and in the UK and as the best parenting website in the UK, teaming up with mumsnet.com was a no brainer.
We’ll be running regular joint promotions and special offers together (watch this space), and we’ll also be asking mumsnetters what they honestly think about us, our products and our customer service. This will keep us on our toes J and we promise to listen to this feedback and act where we can to make sure we give you guys the levels of service and holidays you deserve.
BRRR! COLDEST SUMMER IN THE UK FOR DECADES - GET OUTTA HERE WITH OUR LAST MINUTE DEALS
As us Britons return to work today after a soggy Bank Holiday weekend, official weather data confirms what we’ve all been feeling - we’ve just had the coldest summer for decades.
Officially the UK’s average temperature from June 1 to August 15 was only 57F (13.9C) – the lowest for 13 years and for central England the average was 59F (15C), making it the coolest summer since 1993.
If you’ve given up hope of any sunshine this year and already reached for your radiator and winter woollies, don’t pack away those shorts just yet. We’ve got some fantastic deals for September across the Med, but book fast, these are selling like hot-cakes.
It’s a scorching 34º in Crete today, fly there on 13th September and stay 7 nights all-inclusive at the 5* Aquis Zorbas from just £471 per person.
BRITS NEED A HOLIDAY EVERY 62 DAYS
A two-week break in the sun used to be enough to leave us feeling rested and ready-to-go but according to a study carried out by the Post Office Travel Insurance, us stressed out Brits now need 6 holidays a year to avoid burning out.
In a survey, quarter of workers said they are under so much pressure that they feel ‘desperate’ for a getaway every few weeks. But reaching the healthy holiday quota may be easier said than done, with only one in five of those questioned managing a break every couple of months, and 44 per cent going without a holiday for half a year or longer.
However, most find their stress levels slip away as soon as they do escape, with more than half feeling ‘fully refreshed’ after just a day or two away from the office.
To read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392446/Burn-UK-Overworked-Brits-need-holiday-62-days.html#ixzz1Nujvd5G3
ASH CLOUD UPDATE 24/05/11 09:43
No doubt you have been watching the news and have been monitoring the movement of our beloved ash cloud.
At this time the main flights affected are those that are flying to and from Scotland. We are monitoring the situation constantly and will be in touch this afternoon once we have more information. Unfortunately it is a bit of a waiting game until the airlines decide what they are going to do.
If you have any questions in the meantime please contact us via you2us@youtravel.com
Youtravel.com team
ASH CLOUD - update 23/05/11
An ash cloud from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland is expected to reach the UK by the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Met Office has said.
It does not necessarily mean there will be airspace closures but makes flight disruption more likely, it said.
The cloud is predicted to affect parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The event comes a year after ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano spread across Europe, causing huge disruption.
We are currently monitoring the situation closely but at this time all flights are fine and there are no restrictions on UK airspace.
We will update you further if anything changes but we are confident that you will be able to enjoy your holiday without any issues.
If you do have any questions then please email us at you2us@youtravel.com
BA AND UNITE MAKE UP – NO MORE STRIKES
Good news if you’re heading away with BA this summer, as the BA Cabin crew union Unite and British Airways management have reached an agreement to end their long-running dispute. Unite met with members this morning and emerged this lunchtime to announce they had agreed a deal. A formal ballot will now take place with results expected in June. No strike will take place in the meantime.
News alert: Spanish Earthquake
We would like to reassure customers that the earthquakes which hit southern Spain last night have not impacted upon the resorts of Alicante and Murcia.
The two earthquakes stuck the small town of Lorca, which is 120km southwest of Murcia and our thoughts are with those residents affected.
NO MOTHER-IN-LAW JOKES ALLOWED
New research from www.netmums.com published this week shows that 75% of UK families plan to take Grandparents with them on their summer holidays this year, a trend that has been dubbed “Gramping”. If you’re holidaying with the Grandparents this year and need some destination inspiration, then look no further as we’ve come up with the top 5 destinations to take the family – Gramps and all.
Active Gramps
Snorkelling, camel rides, desert safaris – tick, tick, and tick! Egypt is the perfect destination for a family looking for an active break this year. The popular resort of Sharm El Sheikh is a great base with beautiful beaches and top class hotels. From here, the family can enjoy trips to the best of Egypt’s historical sites, or, you could send the kiddies with the Gramps and chill out by the pool!
Stay at the 4* Sharm Holiday Resort hotel on AI basis for as little as £14 per person per night.
Cultural Gramps - Marrakech
If ever there was a destination to tick all the senses Marrakech is it and for those looking for a cultural break that all the family will enjoy it’s hard to beat. Just a short flight from the UK, the city feels a million miles away. The main old town is a bustle of busy narrow souks, food stalls selling fresh fruits and spices, residents hurrying to their daily prayers. The hypnotic sound of snake charmers’ flutes fills the air – move in close to watch them if you’re brave enough!
Stay at the 4* Dar Tuscia hotel on BB basis for as little as £24 per person per night.
Beach loving Gramps
If it is beautiful beaches you’re after then you can’t go wrong with a trip to Greece, the country is famous for them. It’s hard to pick out any island as having the best, but Zante is hard to beat, with tranquil coves, broad white-sand bays and resort beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see. And when the sun goes down, the islands Tavanas and bars come to life. We wonder who’ll be to bed first – Mum & Dad, or Grannie & Grandad?
Stay at the 5* Mabely Grand Hotel on BB basis for as little as £19 per person per night.
Get-away-from-it-all Gramps
Malta – a tiny jewel in the Mediterranean and quite frankly overlooked by many holidaymakers, making it the ideal spot to escape the crowds. But with over 300 days of sunshine, crystal clear waters, thousands of years of history, modern hotels, delicious food and more historical monuments than you can shake a stick at, Malta is the perfect family holiday destination to keep all ages happy.
Stay at the 3* Hotel Sunflower, on BB basis for as little as £15 per person per night.
NEW TRAVEL AGENCY FOR SHEEP LAUNCHED!
Lancashire-based farmer Shaun Hyde has swapped his wellington boots for the internet as he launches the first online search and booking system for sheep transportation.
Having struggled with ever increasing costs, EU red tape and concerns over animal welfare, Hyde took inspiration from the dotcom boom of recent years.
Launched to the farming community earlier this week, www.ewetravel.com provides a one-stop-shop where livestock owners can search travel options and book online.
"Essentially, it is a travel agency for sheep,” said Hyde.
“The red-tape surrounding transportation via air or sea is a complete nightmare and I just thought there had to be an easier way, with everything in one place. We even have an advanced online booking system and a ‘review’ system. Feedback from the farming community so far has been extremely positive.
“Affordable travel is becoming a problem and I’m fed up of dealing with lots of different companies who provide woolly information and who don’t seem to care how the animals travel.
“Transporting sheep by air has been even more challenging – airports need the facilities to accommodate them. People might say why do I bother? The sheep don’t care – but I’m telling you now they do.“
PEOPLE LIKE YOU BOOK HERE!
New online travel agency Youtravel.com launched
Youtravel.com has recognised that the hotel is the most important part of any holiday – getting there is a necessity, but whether you’re flying low-cost or charter, the flight really is a means to an end. Therefore our search engine asks where you want to go first and focuses on this destination. A smart filter lets you state how much you want to spend, the star rating and board basis.
With some 40,000 hotels available in popular holiday spots across the Mediterranean, long haul resorts and cities worldwide, youtravel.com will be able to find what you’re looking for. For those who need a bit of inspiration or more information the website features some destination guides, weather reports and Google maps.
And if you’re worried about booking with a new company, then stop right now. The company is part of the YouTravel Group, which launched in 2006 as a supplier to international travel industry. This heritage means you can book safe in the knowledge you’re dealing with one of the UK’s leading travel companies and as we are a member of the Travel Trust Association (TTA) you have full financial protection on your booking.
SEESAWING STERLING SLASHES HOLIDAY COSTS IN EUROPE
What with recent media coverage of the rising cost of living across Europe you’d be forgiven for thinking that holidays on the Med are too expensive this year. Well think again as a recent report from Post Office Travel Money shows that Portugal is rated best value in the report’s barometer of living costs, while prices in Spain are at a record three year low.
According to the report, Families looking for best value in Europe will get the most for their money in Portugal and Spain. Falling resort costs and a 7.4 per cent rise in sterling’s value against the euro saw prices fall 49 per cent in Portugal year on year - making it cheapest in the 2011 Post Office Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer.
for the full report click here
FIVE REASONS TO TAKE THE BRITISH EMBASSY’S PHONE NUMBER WITH YOU
Hands up – who take the British Embassy’s phone number with them when they go on holiday?
Chances are not many of you would have answered yes, but should you run into problems overseas those folks at the embassy will be there for you – as long as you can reach them!
The embassy can:
- Issue you with a replacement passport or emergency travel document should you have your passport stolen OR even if you lose it!
- Help you get medical attention if you need it, contact your family and friends to let them know what has happened and give you a list of local lawyers and interpreters.
- Help you to liaise with your insurance company or a medical evacuation company and contact your family and friends to let them know what has happened.
- Provide information on how to transfer money from the UK if you run out of money – they won’t pay your bills for you!
- Provide assistance and support should you be arrested
For full information and contact details click here
BOOZY BRITS LEAVE RIVALS IN THE SHADE
Almost a third of Britons drink five or more alcoholic drinks a day while on holiday, compared with one in ten continentals.
Based on responses from 6,000 holidaymakers from Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, the survey also revealed:
- Britons are least likely to smoke more when away, with Italians are the heaviest on-holiday smokers
- Nine in ten of Britons are ‘careful’ or ‘very careful’ about putting on suncream
- One in ten French holidaymakers admit to not being at all careful about putting on suncream
- On a score of one to five, with one being the unhealthiest and five the healthiest, Britons were ranked three for their holiday habits, with Italians the least healthy and Spaniards the most
Best pack the Alka Seltzer!
Read more – click here