Yesterday saw Chancellor George Osbourne bring some good news for the travel industry in this year’s budget. It was announced that Air Passenger Duty (APD) will not be increasing this year. Osbourne told how he will be delaying the increase until next year due to the heavy rises in tax last year.

It was also confirmed that talks will be starting today regarding the system of distance banding used for the tax. These talks will review the “rather arbitrary nature of the banding system which appears to consider the Caribbean to be further away than parts of the US and Hawaii,” he commented.

APD will now be extended to private jets too so that APD taxation does not have to be increased. He said “the wealthiest should not escape the tax the ordinary holidaymaker has to pay.” The hefty rise in last year’s duty and the increasing cost pressures on families was the reason behind the delay in the APD rise.

Osbourne further added that he wanted to replace APD with a per plane duty. However current international laws permit this, and so the UK government will now be working to change this law.

What did you make of Chancellor George Osbourne’s 2011 budget? Are you happy with the freeze in APD or do you think better changes should have been made instead? Let us know your opinions by leaving your comments below.

The royal wedding date has been set… The 29^th of April 2011, this day has also been declared a bank holiday.

A number of destinations are expected to benefit a boost in sales as a result of the royal couple to be. Kenya was where William proposed to Kate and due to the enhanced publicity from the engagement, will this destination start to see an increase in tourism?

Kenya provides both relaxing coastal holidays and fantastic safaris in world famous national parks.

Also expected to see an incline is the Seychelles where the couple have spent some time together, as well as Switzerland where they have enjoyed skiing holidays.

The Seychelles provide a high standard of accommodation and facilities and is the perfect destination to relax and revitalise. With some islands small enough to walk around in 30 minutes it is the perfect destination place to escape the stresses of everyday life, providing a tranquil haven. 

 If you are looking to book your Ski holiday or a relaxing escape then enquire with Holidays Please and we will ensure you have a royal time!

For a bit of Friday fun we got talking in the office about where we would travel to on a dream holiday, if we had endless amounts of money. Personally I’ve always wanted to visit the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu. Set 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andean Mountain Range. Discovered in 1911, the ruins of the village completely fascinate me (along with thousands of people). Therefore I can’t wait to experience the hidden ruins of Machu Picchu…

I asked all my colleagues in the office, who are  a particularly well travelled bunch, where they would most like to visit, and got these responses.

 Lauren – Would stay in the Constance Halaveli Resort in the Maldives. The resort offers a complete privacy, with access to a private beach and plunge pool.

Becky – Initially reeled off a long round the world trip, before settling on the idea of going to Florida and staying in an exclusive hotel.

Anna – Would go to Dubai for 2 weeks and stay in the Jumeirah in the Royal Suite.

Katie – South America on the Blue Train then relax in luxury on the beaches of Mozambique.

Jodie – Antarctica to see the whales and penguins.

Linda – Would go on a round the world trip

Jamie – New Zealand from top to bottom

Sonia – Bali with the family

Clarissa – This is a good one! Necker Island (owned by Richard Branson) where you can hire the whole island!

So go on, let your imagination get the better of you, where would you choose to go?

The Cayman Islands recently hosted a fashion shoot for beach wear label Heidi Klein. The Cayman Islands provide a naturally beautiful back drop for a photo shoot. A play ground for the rich and famous, this destination provides complete luxury.  The famous seven mile beach is a destination which you really can’t help but marvel over.  Founders of the label, Heidi Gosman and Penny Klein, were said to stay at the Ritz Carlton. The beautiful Rum Point was also used in the shoot.

The Cayman Islands will soon be celebrating Pirate week from November 11 – 21, this is a fantastic festival, where the Cayman culture is celebrated through live music, street games, parades and fireworks. The week starts in the capital George Town. The festival continues through the week with heritage days across all of the islands. 

 Holidays Please provides fantastic holidays to the Cayman Islands, providing you with advice and knowledge about the best places to stay and best times to visit. Enquire now and a member of the team will be in touch.

Delegates at the 11th annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development were advised to promote heritage tourism and geo-tourism to help sustain their unique landscapes and attractions. As we all know the Caribbean boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches with pristine white sandy beaches and calm turquoise waters for us all to enjoy. However the Caribbean Conference announced that the islands need to be preserved as climate change and tourism could cause devastating effects. Climate change experts from the University of Oxford highlighted how a one-metre rise in sea level could swallow up the beach in front of Barbados’s Sandy Lane.

Imagine if what once was our beautiful honeymoon or holiday destination becomes drowned under the Caribbean Ocean. Many holiday companies are already doing their bit to help sustain the Caribbean by promoting “green” behaviour such as using less water and energy in their resort and hotels as well as aiding local agriculture. So lets all do our bit too, next time you take a holiday to the stunning Caribbean let’s keep it stunning by being environmentally friendly in what ever way we can. We at Holidays Please offer great Caribbean holidays and Caribbean honeymoons to cater for everyone in a sustainable yet enjoyable way so why not book yours today.

Watchdog Which? Holiday has announced Air New Zealand (86%) as the top airline with travellers in terms of cleanliness, food and drinks and in-flight entertainment. Singapore Airlines (85%) followed closely behind. The popularity poll also declared that the UK’s main charter airlines performed poorly. Thomas Cook Airlines (37%) was bottom of the chart with Monarch and Thomson Airways being in the bottom four too. Flybe waved the flag for the UK as the top UK airline with an overall satisfaction of 62% making it 8th in the ranking.
 
The Which? Holiday survey shows the importance a high quality service, user-friendly online booking processes and friendly staff has on customers. To make your next holiday a high class experience for you to enjoy the way you want, feel free to make an enquiry with Holidays Please. Our dedicated holiday experts will be delighted to help you book the latest luxury holidays at the best value.

I think it’s a huge irony that the credit crunch has presented us with the opportunity to live a life like a millionaire. Why?

Because luxury tour operators at the moment are really conscious of the credit crunch and have dropped the prices on some of the best hotels in the world. They are paranoid about filling their allocation this year and  I have seen luxury holidays discounted by over £5,500 per couple, which is simply amazing!

You can live like the rich and famous for a fraction of the price.

We have found that these holidays are being booked like never before. As I write this our sales are 48% up for the year with our average booking value having increased by almost 10% compared to the same period last year. Why is this?

Well I think if you are in a good job on a variable mortgage then you are likely to have more disposable income now than ever before. As long as your job is secure there is no reason for you not to be spending as usual?

In fact with with people earning so little in interest in savings accounts they might feel they might as well be spending it. Saving as much as 30% on a holiday could be a wise investment … not to mention fun!

To see what I mean visit luxury holidays or holiday deals.

People planning a holiday to Dubai may be interested to move beyond the modern glamour of the city and explore its history as a trading port, an author has suggested.
 
According to Lara Dunston, author of DK Eyewitness Dubai, the city’s “rich heritage” is steeped in the Bedouin tradition of hospitality.
 
Historically, she said, “travellers of all kinds” have come to the city to trade their wares for several centuries.
 
She added that this tradition continues today – with English families, Australian backpackers and Russian holidaymakers among the many people who take a holiday in Dubai each year.
 
Ms Dunston added that the glitz and glamour of the city is “just one aspect” and there is much to do and see beyond the shops.
 
Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce marketing claimed last month that the country hosts an estimated 700,000 tourists from Ireland and the UK each year.
 
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell spent time in the city during the festive season last year with her daughter, Bluebell.
 
Previous figures published last spring suggested that 6.95 million people from around the world stayed in hotels in Dubai during their visit to the city.
 
August, November, December, February and March were named as the five most popular months to take a holiday in Dubai.

More people are seeking something slightly different for their honeymoon in order to have a great experience and to have something to tell their friends about upon their return.

This is according to an article on the Travel Counsellors website, which points out that while traditional favourites such as the Seychelles and Paris will always be popular, other holiday destinations are now rising into the limelight for people looking to share their first luxury holiday together as a married couple.

Sicily could be one option for newlyweds on the lookout for something different – the article points out that it is “rich in history and culture”, as well as having some of the finest wines in Italy.

Meanwhile, looking further afield, the Dominican Republic is often overlooked by many people who choose Caribbean destinations such as Barbados or Jamaica.

However, Travel Counsellors points out that the Dominican Republic is one of the less busy islands, so could present the perfect opportunity for a romantic, secluded getaway.

“Dominica does offer some amazing walking, snorkelling and incredible natural beauty,” the website attests.

According to Andrea DeLucia, writer and editor of TravelSavvy, Venice is also continuing to be as popular for honeymoons.

Some 20 million tourists visit the city each year, including those looking for a romantic ride on the gondolas.