• New Post Office® City Costs Barometer makes Budapest a best buy
• Sterling still strong in Turkey and Poland, as well as Hungary

Eastern European cities outside the eurozone are the places to head off for a bargain break this spring, according to the new City Costs Barometer from Post Office® Travel Services (postoffice.co.uk/). 

As the euro continues to fly high against sterling, the Post Office report into non-euro city destinations shows that Budapest, followed closely by Warsaw and Prague, are the cities where thrifty tourists will get more for their money.¹ 

The three eastern European capitals emerge as cheapest of 10 ‘alternative’ cities outside the eurozone where UK tourists, daunted by the idea of sky high prices in traditional favourites like Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona, can bag a bargain break.   

And, despite the bad press for sterling, UK tourists will actually get more for their money than a year ago in three of the cities surveyed – Warsaw, Budapest and Istanbul – as sterling has strengthened against their currencies.² In the case of the Polish zloty, the UK pound is over 10 per cent stronger, making city breaks to Warsaw and to Krakow much cheaper than in 2008. 

The Post Office City Costs Barometer examined the price of typical tourist items like drinks and meals out, together with three-star city centre hotel accommodation, airport transfers and sightseeing costs.  It found that all five eastern European cities surveyed – including the Baltic duo of Tallinn and Riga – are much less expensive than those in Scandinavia. 

Individually, Warsaw rates as cheapest for weekend accommodation – so independent travellers can expect a great deal if they travel while the Polish zloty remains weak.  Budapest and Prague are best value for eating out, while return transfers between airport and city centre, a cost that tourists cannot avoid, is cheapest in Riga.  

The Post Office also surveyed the costs of visits to art galleries and top heritage attractions, finding that culture comes cheap in Warsaw, Tallinn and Budapest – but costs nothing at all in Oslo, where the key visitor attractions are free.³ 

However, while costs on the ground may be significantly cheaper in eastern Europe – at under £130 for 11 items, the Budapest shopping basket weighed in almost half the price in Copenhagen – the Post Office report also established that flight costs to Scandinavia could be significantly cheaper than elsewhere in Europe. 

Andrew Spice of Post Office Travel Services said: “There are lots of factors for consumers to consider when booking a city break, including the cost of getting to a destination.  Our ’snapshot’ of flights available in late April⁴ showed that Copenhagen actually had the cheapest weekend price of just £41.98, so there are definite benefits to considering a Scandinavian break. 

“The exchange rate is another crucial factor.  With sterling’s continuing weakness against the euro, doubts have been expressed as to whether the traditional spring getaway to popular cities in the eurozone will survive this year.  However sterling is holding up well against several European currencies and our costs barometer of non-euro cities shows that there is great value to be had for UK holidaymakers. 

“Capitals like Budapest and Warsaw are extremely cheap places to visit at the moment and have attractions to rival those of the traditional city break favourites.”    

Over 1,600 Post Office bureau de change branches offer the most widely requested European currencies on demand, including all those featured in the Post Office City Costs Barometer, except the Hungarian forint and Estonian kroon, which can be pre-ordered.    

All currencies can be pre-ordered for next day branch collection at all 11,500 Post Office outlets or online at postoffice.co.uk.  Home delivery can also be requested online.  Travellers to the eurozone can obtain euro currency over the counter at more than 8,000 Post Office branches. 

The full results of the Post Office City Costs Barometer can be viewed online at: postoffice.co.uk/citybreaksreport.�
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Ends 

CBPR     Post Office Press Office 

Christine Ball    Hayley Fowell

01798 874177   020 7250 2417

cball@cballpr.co.uk    hayley.fowell@royalmail.com

Notes to Editors:

¹ Post Office City Costs Barometer 2009 of cities outside the eurozone.  Prices supplied by tourist offices of participating countries. Hotel prices were researched independently and are based on two adults sharing a double/twin room in a three-star city centre hotel over a weekend. Where possible, these were verified by tourist offices.

POST OFFICE CITY COSTS BAROMETER 2009: NON-EUROZONE CITIES

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Source:  Post Office. Data relates to 25 March 2009 exchange rates. 

² Post Office year-on-year currency comparison: 

³ Heritage attractions and leading art galleries suggested by tourist offices of participating countries: 

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⁴ Post Office research into the cheapest weekend flight prices available for travel over the weekend of 24^th-26^th April at the time of research (March 2009).  Copenhagen had the lowest return fare of £41.98 (low cost carrier departing from Stansted).

Tags: Eurozone, Holiday, Holiday Transportation, Hotel, The Post Office, Travel

In the good old days, when the words credit crunch had yet to be invented, it was the done thing to aspire to the best method of travel possible and the best holidays.

It was de rigeur to be seen flaunting your wealth and this was especially evident when flying. Airlines made it very clear that for those enduring the ‘walk of shame’ through the sumptuous luxury of the business cabin into the cramped cattle pen conditions of economy, flying was about spending your hard earnt money on the best seats. Okay, all those on the bucket airlines didn’t really care where they sat, even on the wing, as long as they did so at the least cost, but at least there are no other classes to show you up.

Also, travel destinations were all about being pampered; going to exotic locations, preferably as near to the sea as possible and having to hand international 18-hole golf courses for the men and with beauty salons for the women.

It was the time of the travel ego, when money was spent on giving yourself a treat and letting everyone else know that you were doing just that. It was the personification of hedonism and summed up the start of the 21st century.

Now, with world economies crashing with greater frequency than Eddie the Eagle, a new phrase has been coined by the travel industry: recession chic.

In the true sense of the ingenuity of the human race, people are trying to make the best from having to make their money go further.

Leading the way are the Americans and the trend for getting a better deal for holidays has been spotted at a New York travel show, where people are said to be on the hunt not only for bargains, but for a chance to show an heightened awareness of the new world order.

Those in the industry attending the travel show say their customers are not only considering how much their dwindling savings will buy them, but also how they can show that the important things in their lives, such as family, their health, or the environment, can in someway be accommodated when booking their holidays.

And for those holiday destinations that offer guilt-free pampering to those wiling to pay for it, they are worried that people will spurn their enticements and go for something more akin to the recession chic experience.

And to try and cope with this development, many of the more luxurious resorts are trying tone down their top end holidays with chances of doing good. Therefore, in certain destinations, such as Central America, Asia and the Far East, travellers are encouraged to participate in conservation and social projects.

In one such project holiday-makers are given the chance to purchase a book for a village that has no library. And not only purchase the book, but also deliver it in person and talk to the villagers themselves.

It’s almost a case of social guilt offsetting. So you can not only now offset your carbon footprint, you can also now offset your conscience.

Another company has hit upon a novel idea of ‘Laid Off, Take Off’, possibly a pretty sad reflection of the hard times people face. Simply, when you get made redundant, take some time off. Whether that’s a good use of their money remains to be seen, but, maybe it’s a good an idea as any.

So, when booking your holiday, remember now that its cool to be cost conscious and maybe, as you walk down the plane to cattle class, you can hold your head up high with a new sense of superiority.

Tags: Holiday, Holiday Activities, Holiday Transportation, Hotel, Package Holidays, Thomas Cook, Travel, Travel Insurance

The Jumbo has reached middle-age; its 40 years old this year.

But far from showing it’s age; there’s still life in the old dog yet, with the next version, the 747-800, about to be launched in 2010. And to think that it has taken forty years for a true competitor to try and fill the Jumbo’s shoes, in the shape of the Superjumbo, the Airbus A380, is testament to Boeing’s engineering skills.

And when you talk about the Jumbo, you have to use superlatives. The main one being that the 1,525 Jumbos ordered have collectively clocked up around 42 billion nautical miles. That’s the equivalent of having flown to the moon and back 100,000 times, having made approximately 17 million flights.

The first Boeing 747 flexed its wings over Washington State in 1969 and enjoyed around 75 minutes in the air. It was called City of Everett, the place where it was built, and it carried the hopes of the Boeing company. Repeated funding exercises have been needed to get the cash needed to build the Jumbo and observers at the time had said that had it proved a white elephant (an appropriate simile), it would have been the end of the Boeing Company. The Jumbo proved anything but a white elephant, and it has been one of the world’s greatest products.

In 1970 the first commercially equipped 747, decked out in the colours of the now defunct airline Pan-Am, was christened by the then First Lady of the U.S. Pat Nixon and made its first commercial flight on 22 January, 1970.

The Jumbo had a number of aviation firsts. It was the first commercial airliner to have twin aisles and provide the passenger with a sense of roominess. It was also the first to have an upper deck and gave the marketing men a chance to show first class passengers leaning against a top deck bar enjoying a mid-flight drink.

That novel idea was eventually dropped when the airlines realised that a 37,000 feet high bar was not a good use of space. Nowadays most Jumbo’s use the three-class system (between 350 to 400 seats) and put their pampered first-class passengers in the nose of the Jumbo, with the upper deck for business class (or sometimes economy, in those Jumbos exploited for maximum seating capacity) and the economy passengers in the main cabin.

The pilots also have their cockpit at the upper end of the upper deck, meaning that they had to be re-trained to not only fly such a larger aircraft, but one where they are positioned so far off the ground. And it was not only the pilots that had to change. Airport runways had to be widened and lengthened; taxi-ways had to be strengthened, and, terminal buildings made larger to accommodate the bigger aircraft and their larger loads of passengers.

The 747 also introduced the concept of ‘big fan’ engines. Such was the power needed to get the Jumbo in the air, that it was only possible after a leap-forward in jet-engine technology. Not only did they become more efficient, they became huge, having to collect as much air as possible to force along the engine, which was then mixed with aviation spirit, before being ignited and creating the thrust necessary to lift tonnes of metal into the air. And such is the size of a modern turbo fan jet engine, that you could fit a fuselage of a 737 into the front of it.

But, for the airlines, the Jumbo was not about remarkable engineering, or the beauty of the aircraft’s design; for them, it all comes down to economics. The Jumbo offered lots of seats and that meant lots more passengers on each flight. Of course, the downside is that the more seats you have and the more you can’t possibly fill it, then the more money you will lose.

So whilst the airlines were salivating at the thought of getting more passengers on board, they were also worried if the travel industry could stand that increase in numbers of people wishing to fly. They needn’t have worried, because apart from the times when recession has blighted the world economy (such as the various oil crises), the Jumbo has done much to stimulate air travel, opening up the market by allowing airlines to lower fares.

In the broadest terms, a commercial airliner with 400 seats does not cost twice as much to run as one with half the number of seats. The effect is that the cost per seat on a large aircraft is reduced over its smaller counterparts, so once airlines realised there were major economies of scale to be achieved, then fares came down (not only because they could, but they had to to increase the market size) and modern aviation as we know it now, was away.

And few aircraft have played such a part in modern culture. The Jumbo has played a starring role in many movies, novels and songs.

Whether the pretender, the A380 Superjumbo will prove such a hit with people’s imagination, remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, the good old Jumbo is set to be around for many decades to come.

Tags: Holiday, Holiday Activities, Holiday Transportation, Hotel, Jumbo, Jumbo Jet, Package Holidays, Thomas Cook, Travel, Travel Insurance

Rarely is anyone too broke for a break these days.

The travel industry is so competitive that as long as you are a bit canny and are prepared to be patient, and spend a bit of time on the internet, then whatever your budget, you can get some time away from it all.

Firstly, and this is most important, do your research online and once you’ve find the ideal package, remember to book online as well.

Most top travel companies run very good web-sites and encourage the users to make use of their automated systems. This is why online prices can be so low, because a computer takes over most of the booking process.

And another tip, if you’re looking for a really cheap break, then get a package that includes says flights, hotel and if you can’t get a good deal on the food thrown in (full board), then go for the self-catering option. That takes many of the variables away and allows you to budget properly. You have one set price (including your self-catering cost element) and that can be saved up and then used to buy your holiday.

Take a case in point. The cheap, no-frills airlines make a big fuss of their seat sales. One such airline offered hundreds of seats at only a token 1p. Superb you might think, free flying, and even when offered with no taxes, there are a number of hidden extras, such as an online booking fee and a check-in luggage charge, which means that your 1p ticket can quickly be £10.

Okay, £10 is still not had, but lets say you pop off to some European location for £10. You tend to land in some remote airport which then requires transport (often expensive) to get you to a decent sized town, or City, to stay at a hotel. But bear in mind that hotels are expensive if booked by an individual traveller. And eating in such hotels can be very expensive if not booked through a travel company, who get the best rates because they book in bulk. So, by the time you’ve enjoyed your 1p, suddenly £10 flight, you might end up paying hundreds of ponds for a very mediocre break.

Just as an aside, someone worked out that with a 1p flight, if you booked using a VISA Electron card (which often does not incur an online charge) and didn’t take any luggage for the hold, and minimal hand-luggage, then your 1p could actually only cost you 1p. Mind you, that’s quite a lot of sacrifice for a holiday flight!

So, unless you are confident in matching your very cheap flight with a very cheap resort/hotel package, and it can be done with a little effort, then go for the whole package which includes flights and resort.

Take one example which is a seven night self-catering package to Tenerife, which includes flights from a U.K. regional airport with studio bedroom accommodation in some Spanish style villas close to the seafront, restaurants and bars. In May, this would cost only around £250 per person.

Also consider a City break, which can offer an intensive get-away-from-it-all travel experience for little money.

Two nights in Prague for example, staying in a City-centre two-star hotel in a guestroom sleeping up to five people in a family room, can be had for just over £200, including flights from a regional U.K. airport. Great value for all concerned.

So, if you think about it, you’re never really too broke for a break.

Tags: Holiday, Holiday Activities, Holiday Transportation, Holidays, Hotel, Thomas Cook

Jurys Inn Nottingham is situated in the middle of the city centre a few minutes walk away from Nottingham’s Central train station. This hotel literally is in the centre of everything; it is a short walk away from the bars, pubs, clubs and shops and other central attractions.

The Jurys Inn Nottingham hotel has an Innfusion restaurant, Inntro bar, meeting rooms, Wi-Fi, 24 hour reception along with security and public parking nearby. This hotel can cater for three adults in one room, or two adults and two children sharing. The rooms are airy and very relaxing.

Each of the rooms comes with a hairdryer, air conditioning, a multi-channel TV with 24 hour news channels and broadband internet access. Tea and coffee is complimentary for all guests.

Nottingham is famous as the City of Caves; you can discover a whole new area underneath the city in the original caves that the Anglo-Saxons created. These caves or tunnels were created for people to escape and take shelter from the city above. The caves were nearly destroyed by the recent shopping centre that was built but local residents fought to save them.

Nottingham Castle is also popular amongst visitors to the city. This magnificent castle was first built by William the Conqueror nearly a thousand years ago in 1068. William Cavendish transformed the original castle into the Ducal Mansion that it is today. The Mansion is also home to a museum and an art gallery, a shop and a medieval recreational area for children.

Jurys Inn Nottingham currently has two offers running until the end of 2008. The first is the “Internet Special”; if you book your stay online during 2008 you can take advantage of rooms priced from £59.

The second offer is the “Book Now Save Later” offer. If you book your stay within 30 days you can take advantage of rooms from £54. These offers are subject to availability so book now to avoid disappointment.

Tags: Hotel, Hotel Review, Jurys Inn, Jurys Inn Nottingham, Nottingham, Travel

Jurys Inn Heathrow is located next to Hatton Cross tube station which is one tube stop away from this busy airport. You can also “Park and Fly”, this package includes one night’s accommodation along with parking too. You will need to select “Park N’ Fly” when booking your stay. For an 8 day package prices start from £89 and 15 day packages are priced from £115.

The hotel has an Innfusion restaurant, Inntro bar, Il Barista, on-site car parking, a gift shop, Wi-Fi, laundry and dry-cleaning services and live information screens in the hotel.

Each of the guest rooms comes with a hairdryer, air conditioning, a telephone, Wi-Fi and Satellite TV with 24 hour news channels and pay per view movies. Each guest room comes with free tea and coffee.

It’s everything you need from a hotel the day before you jet off on your holidays!

Jurys Inn Heathrow also has two offers available at the moment. The first is the “Internet Special” which is valid until the end of 2008. Book your stay at this hotel online and you can benefit from rooms priced from £55 per night.

The second offer is the “Book Now Save Later” offer, if you book your stay within 30 days in advance then you can benefit from rooms priced from just £52. This offer is also valid until the end of 2008. Ensure you book now to avoid disappointment. The two offers are subject to availability.

Tags: Hotel, Hotel Review, Jurys Inn Heathrow, Travel

This Jurys Inn hotel is located just north of central London in a chic area called Islington. The hotel is easily accessible from central London via Underground and is also very close to Kings Cross train station.

The Jurys Inn Islington hotel has an Innfusion restaurant, Inn pub, laundry and dry cleaning services, Wi-Fi, meeting rooms and public parking which is close to the hotel. All of the rooms at this hotel are non-smoking.

There are 229 standard rooms at the Islington Jurys hotel which are all complete with Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, air conditioning, a work desk and a multi channel Satellite TV with 24 hour news channels. Tea and coffee is free for all guests at this hotel.

If you are looking to visit London then this Islington hotel is the ideal location to stay. Harrods is a huge department store that is located in Knightsbridge. It covers 4.5 acres and is a shopping experience for anyone new to the city! Harrods sells everything from womenswear, menswear, items for the home, food, wine and sports equipment just to name a few.

You could also visit Madame Tussauds which London is so famous for amongst visitors to the city. Madame Tussauds is home to hundreds of different wax-work models. The models have been based on real people such as Princess Diana, David Beckham, Ant and Dec and many more. Visit Madame Tussauds for a fun day out! Ensure you take lots of photos of you with your favourite celebrities!

Of course if shopping is what you are interested in then London is the right place to be! Oxford Street is Europe’s biggest high street with over 300 shops. Bars, restaurants and cafes are just a short walk away from this bustling street.

Tags: Hotel, Hotel Review, Islington, Jurys Inn, Jurys Inn Islington, Travel

Jurys Inn Newcastle is located on Scotswood Road which is a few minutes walk from the main shopping area in the city centre. The hotel is in the finest location whether you are visiting the city for business purposes or leisure.

This Jurys Inn hotel has an Innfusion restaurant, Innto bar and Il Barista coffee bar. It also has Wi-Fi, a laundry and dry cleaning service, 24 hour reception, meeting rooms and public parking close to the hotel.

The in-room amenities include Broadband internet, Satellite TV with 24 hour news channels, a hairdryer and free tea and coffee.

Newcastle is the ideal place to visit if it is entertainment you are looking for! Newcastle is famous for hen and stag weekends away. The Gate in the city centre is the home to lots of different pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants too! You are guaranteed a fun-packed evening if you visit The Gate. The Quayside is quite similar to The Gate in the fact that there are lots of different restaurants, bars and clubs here.

Jurys Inn Newcastle currently has two discounts available at the moment; the first is their “Sunday/Monday” deal. If you book a stay at this hotel on a Sunday and Monday you can purchase rooms from just £63 per night. This offer is valid until the end of 2008.

The second discount is the “Internet Special” rate, if you book your stay online you can purchase rooms from just £63 per night; this offer is valid until 30th November 2009. The two offers are subject to availability.

Tags: Hotel, Hotel Review, Jurys Inn, Jurys Inn Newcastle, Newcastle, Travel

Jurys Inn Milton Keynes is located in the heart of the city centre. There are many reasons to visit Milton Keynes; shopping, skiing, rock climbing, bird watching, cycling, etc.

Jurys Inn Milton Keynes has an Innfusion restaurant, Inntro bar, Il Barista coffee bar, Wi-Fi, laundry and dry cleaning facilities, meeting rooms, and parking available near the hotel.

This hotel has a number of rooms which include a hairdryer, air conditioning, Broadband, Satellite TV with 24 hour news channels. Tea and coffee is complimentary to all guests.

Milton Keynes is famous for its in-door ski slopes, Sno!zone opened it’s doors in 2001 and has had many millions of visitors already. Not only do they offer skiing but also tobogganing, snowboarding and the Ice Slide. There are some fantastic packages available for families too. Sno!zone also caters for children’s parties, group bookings, schools, corporate days and many other functions. You are guaranteed a fantastic day out for all the family here.

You can also visit the longest shopping centre here in Milton Keynes which is known as thecentre:mk, it is home to lots of different shops from the normal high street shops, small boutiques and family run businesses. Or visit the chic Midsummer Place for even more shops!

You must try and visit the farm shops for something a little bit different; they produce wine, cheeses, bread, meats, jams, pies and much more delicious food.

Take advantage of the discounted rate Jurys Inn Milton Keynes are currently offering; if you book your stay 30 days in advance then you can benefit from the “Book Now, Save Later” offer, you can purchase a room from just £51 per night during 2008.

Tags: Hotel, Hotel Review, Jurys Inn, Jurys Inn Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, Travel

Galway is situated on the West coast of Ireland with the Jurys Inn Galway hotel located on Quay Street in the city centre.

This Jurys Inn hotel offers the finest budget accommodation in the city of Galway. The hotel has an Innfusion restaurant, Inn pub, laundry and dry cleaning services and local public parking.

The in-room amenities include a telephone, hairdryer, Broadband internet access, Satellite TV along-with 24 hour news channels and complimentary tea and coffee. Most rooms are non-smoking although smoking rooms can be requested.

Galway is an historic city with fantastic scenery! Along with being beautiful Galway also has great shops, restaurants, festivals and theatres. The Aran Islands are located off the western coast from Galway and is easily accessible from Galway Docks via ferry. These islands are a walker’s heaven; you can either walk around the island to take in the beautiful views or by pony or mini bus. The islands are also home to rare flowers and animals and magnificently shaped cliffs and tranquil beaches.

Galway Races is a fantastic place to visit in Galway – your adrenaline will be running high on this day out with non-stop action and heart-stopping race finishes! The races will entertain avid horse racing fans and even amateurs who have never visited a race track before.

Jurys Inn Galway has an “Internet Special” offer available. Throughout 2008 if you book your stay online you can take advantage of rooms from €94. This is subject to availability so ensure you book now to avoid any disappointment.

Tags: Galway, Holiday, Hotel, Hotel Review, Jurys Inn, Travel