BA Transatlantic from London City

AV8Tours understands that British Airways is to go ahead with the launch of the first New York flights from London City Airport despite the economic downturn.

Flights are already on sale with the first flights due to take off on September 29.

The new all-business class service launches with a daily return to New York JFK except Saturdays when London City airport is closed, increasing to two flights a day from mid-October.

The aircraft on the route will be a specially configured Airbus A318s, the largest aircraft that can be flown from the Docklands airport.

Fitted with just 32 seats, which convert to fully flat beds, the aircraft will fly across the Atlantic after a refuelling stop at Shannon in Ireland, where passengers will be able to clear US Customs and Immigration.

Return flights from New York will be non-stop, as the aircraft can use JFK's full-length runways and take off with sufficient fuel for the whole transatlantic crossing.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "In the harshest trading environment airlines have experienced, we believe it is more important than ever to embrace the future and innovate. That is what this historic new route is all about. There is real enthusiasm from our customers for this project. This is BA at it's best - stylish, British and ahead of the game. Reviving the BA001 flight number for the first long haul route out of London City could not be more appropriate. Every aspect of this service has been designed to maximise convenience for customers to fly between the world's two biggest business centres - Wall Street and London's extended financial district in the City and Docklands.The UK's first web access on transatlantic flights means that customers can work and keep in touch with the office between London and New York via email and texts. Above all the exclusive service style will bring the feel of a private jet to a business class cabin."

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Florida Bounces Back

Florida has emerged as one of the late booking summer holiday favourites, according to new research.

Bookings to Florida saw a 49% increase on last year at the beginning of June compared to an 8% drop at the start of May.

The US bookings surge has been prompted by the strengthening value of the pound against the dollar, according to the UK's largest independent travel retailer.

The analysis shows that in the same period the pound rose in value against the dollar, from $1.48 to $1.65 (a rise of over 11%).

Av8Tours believes a significant boom in bookings is still to come.

The same effect can also be seen in the eurozone, but with the pound rising only 4% in the same period.

"If the pound continues to rally against foreign currencies, we believe this upward trend will continue."

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Heathrow Express Maintains Service

Heathrow Express maintains service during tube strike. Heathrow Express is to operate as normal during the current 48-hour London Underground strike. The company said trains would continue to run from Paddington station to the airport every 15 minutes between 05.10 and 23.42. Trains call after 15 minutes at Heathrow Central for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 before arriving at Terminal 5 in 21 minutes.

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Airlines Get Wired Up

According to The LA Times, airlines are bringing back wireless Internet service on planes, allowing business tech savvy travelers to check their e-mails, browse the Web and log into their corporate and social networks while in flight.

Now several smaller Internet companies have come up with cheap systems that are working well. AirTran Airways, which has six departures a day at Los Angeles International Airport, said it will equip all of its 136 planes with WiFi by the end of July.

Larger carriers, Delta Air Lines, which operates more than 1,000 planes, and American Airlines, with more than 600 jets, are rolling the service out over the next year.

Under American's system, passengers can begin accessing the Internet with their laptops, smart phones and hand-held PDAs once the plane reaches 10,000 feet.

The fee will be $12.95 for flights longer than three hours and $9.95 for those that are less. Hand-held device users will be charged $7.95 regardless of the flight's length.

Virgin America has also begun offering wireless Internet service on flights between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. as well as on all flights to Boston. The airline expects to have Internet on all flights by summer.

The fee is similar to American, but it also has a red-eye special of $5.95 for those flying across the country late at night.

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Non-Essential Mexico Travel Back On

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has lifted a ban on all but essential travel to Mexico following the swine flu outbreak.

The revised advice comes three weeks after the flu outbreak reached its peak in the country. The latest FCO advice says: "Following a decline in the number of reported new swine influenza cases in Mexico since its peak on 26 April 2009, we no longer advise against all but essential travel."

The revised advice is likely to lead to a resumption of holiday flights to Mexico.

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Industry Reaction to Budget Inaction

The travel industry has reacted with anger and dismay after the Government failed to scrap plans for a rise in Air Passenger Duty. In his Budget announcement last week, the Chancellor Alistair Darling made no reference to the travel tax, which is due to increase in November and again in 2010. Airlines, agents, ABTA and other industry associations had urged the Chancellor to scrap the tax altogether, or at least cancel the second phase of increases. But despite their pleas, and evidence to show the negative impact on the tourism industry, the Government has refused to back down.

"The rise in APD to destinations such as the Caribbean, dependent on tourism, will be as much as 87%, equating to a tax bill of £600 for a family of fourt ravelling to the Caribbean in premium economy in 2010 compared with today's£160.

*Here's how the phased increases will impact travel costs:

For flights to Europe, APD will go up by 10% to £11 and to £12 in 2010. US travellers, the UK's key market for tourism, will see their taxes rise from £40 to £60 in 2010.

For long-haul visitors travelling over 6,000 miles (including Australia, NewZealand and Malaysia, three key inbound markets), taxes will rise from £40 to£85 in 2010.

Business visitors will also be severely affected with taxes for travellers ona ny flights above economy rising to anything up to £170 from 2010.

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Gourmet Menus from Virgin

Virgin America introduces new health-focused, gourmet menus.

Virgin America announced the introduction of new menus that offer guests a selection of healthy and wholesome meal and snack options for the spring travel season. The new menus include an on-demand selection for guests in the Main Cabin and a new seasonal First Class menu designed by world-renowned Chef, Luke Mangan. Both menus are crafted using an assortment of nutritious ingredients, including fresh fruits and vegetables, premium meats and artisan breads and are designed to give travelers more healthy and satisfying options to choose from for their in-flight meals and snacks.

Chef Mangan honed his skills at some of the world's most prestigious restaurants, including the world-famous, three Michelin star Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire. Today, Chef Mangan owns four restaurants around the globe, including South Food + Wine Bar in San Francisco, Salt and World Wine Bar in Tokyo, and Glass Brasserie in Sydney.

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Disney DINING is FREE

September October and November Disney Special Offer.

Book flights with Virgin Atlantic Airlines for 14 nights staying at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter Resorts and get 14 Day Ultimate Tickets and 14 days of Disney Dining FREE.

Prices include transfers on Disneys Magical Express

Family Price from £3499 based on 2 adults and 2 children (2-11). Click here to book.

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Christmas 2009 in Florida

Whether its fly drive, flight and hotel including transfers or flights with villa and minivan, we have the right deal for you.

Please try out SPECIAL OFFERS section of the website for more details.

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Comfort Suites at Comfy Prices

The Comfort Suites Universal South is an Orlando hotel near SeaWorld Orlando. The Comfort Suites® Universal South is conveniently located just minutes from Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld Orlando, Wet 'n Wild water park and Walt Disney World. Located just two miles from the Orange County Convention Center, this Orlando hotel is also conveniently located near Belz Factory Outlet World shopping center and the famous International Drive.

Special amenities and services include free deluxe continental breakfast, free shuttle service to Universal Studios Florida and SeaWorld Orlando, free weekday newspaper, free coffee and an on-site ATM machine.

The Comfort Suites Universal South provides business travelers with free high-speed Internet access in all rooms and access to copy and fax services. Enjoy the tropically landscaped courtyard complete with outdoor heated pool, hot tub, kiddie pool and poolside bar and grill, serving food and beverages daily. More......

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Villas at Tarpon Springs

Known as the 'Sponge Capital of the World' Tarpon Springs is often considered one of Florida's most interesting small towns. The 'Sponge Capital' tag came from the Greek immigrants that settled here in the last 19th century and harvested the sponges which grew in abundance off shore. Fascinatingly, today almost one third of the entire population still descend from the original Greek settlers.
The winding Spring Bayou Creek runs just south of Tarpon and is bordered by towering oak trees and grand Victorian homes, combined with the smaller initmate buildings alongside the docks help to make this one of the most picturesque towns in the state.
The lively dock area forms the central hub of Tarpon Springs, here you will find a very lively, carnival style atmosphere with quaint old buildings home to a host of souvernir shops and Greek family restaurants. Along the town's main street you find a long line of antiuque shops and art galleries. At the Cultural Center, you can pick up directions for a walking/bus tour of this historic district. More.....

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Easter 2010 Special Offers

Are you planning ahead? Are you thinking about Easter 2010 and that extra special trip to Florida?

We have some very special holidays and prices for you to consider. Whether you want a flight and car, a hotel and transfer included, or a luxury break in a private villa...we have just the price for you. Fly drive prices start from just £499 per person...so please click through for more.

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Sirata Beach Resort on the Gulf

With its pastel colors, wrought-iron details, and architectural features, the oceanfront Sirata Beach Resort has a Mediterranean feel. This family-owned and operated resort offers a cordial and efficient welcome to its guests, whether they're visiting for a family vacation, a conference, or a wedding on the waterfall terrace.

In addition to the adjacent white-sand beach, guests choose from three outdoor splash pools and two spa tubs. Water-sports rentals are available, as are oceanfront hammocks for less active pursuits. Dining options include a Caribbean-inspired grill, a steakhouse, and two beachfront bars. An on-site shop sells groceries, sundries, and souvenirs.

Seven miles away, the 250-acre Boyd Hill Nature Park offers three miles of nature trails and boardwalks. Park wildlife includes alligators, turtles, American coots, otters, ospreys, bald eagles, and frigate birds. There are four aquariums, an observation beehive, and guided nature walks.Located on St. Pete Beach, the 12-acre Sirata Beach Resort offers numerous on-site recreational opportunities, as well as water-sports rentals and offshore excursions (surcharges).

Mangrove Grille specializes in Caribbean-style cuisine, and two beach bars provide light fare and live weekend entertainment. MORE......

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Villas at Regal Palms

REGAL PALMS is an outstanding resort style community located on the US27 situated between Highway 192 and I4 giving easy access to all Orlando has to offer. The resort features superb onsite facilities which include an amazing Tropical Pool Area complete with ‘lazy river’ and water slide, a Club House, featuring a restaurant, bar and games room, a Gymnasium, Health Spa complex, Tennis Courts and Children’s Pay Area. The resort is also adjacent to the renowned Highlands Reserve 18 hole Golf Course.

Townhouses offering 4 bedroom/3.5 bathroom or 3 bedroom/3 bathroom are available. Both offer luxury accommodation, beautifully furnished and fully equipped. These executive homes provide you with the independence of a home with the advantage of a host of ‘on the door step’ facilities. Not far away from Walt Disney World Resort and within easy reach of bars, restaurants, shoppings malls and supermarkets - Regal Palms Townhomes are situated adjacent to the Highlands Reserve Golf Club.

Boasting a large tropical swimming pavilion with waterslide, waterfall and lazy river, health spa and regular shuttles to the attractions, the 3 and 4 bedroom town homes have fully-equipped kitchens, spacious living and dining areas with patio and a garden tub in the master bedroom. MORE.........

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Scrap APD

The UK is being urged to take a lead from the Dutch government and scrap Air Passenger Duty.

The call came from ABTA which claimed that as the UK enters a severe recession APD will "exacerbate the problems already being encountered by the aviation and tourist industries with significant falls in passenger numbers".

The announcement by the Dutch government that it plans to scrap its airport tax as part of its economic support measures will have the added effect of encouraging airlines to bypass the UK and re-route to Dutch airports with further damage to the UK's economy, ABTA claims.

The Industry has called for a planned rise in the tax this autumn to be abandoned at the very least.

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La Costa Condos Gulf Coast

Anna Maria Island offers a unique flavour of the real old Florida and yet, is close to all the style and attractions of Sarasota and St Armands Circle. The white sandy beaches run for over 7 miles and feature some great beachfront dining opportunities, ranging from family style restaurants to the more elegant, with their own specialist a la carte menus. Anna Maria has two main shopping centres with Publix and other main high street stores.

There are over 20 golf courses within 25 minutes drive. For the family there is a Cinema, Bowling Alley and a wider choice of supermarkets in Bradenton which is just 8 miles away. There is huge choice of watersports available. La Costa is a beachfront condo with a screened balcony offering fantastic views over the beach, and spectacular sunsets. It has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a sofa bed in the lounge area. The master bedroom has a vanity area with wash basin. Use of the safe can be arranged for a small fee. MORE.....

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Jamaica Royale Apartments

Nestled on the fine, white, powdersoft sands of Siesta Key, the Jamaica Royale apartments are a pleasant stroll away from the Siesta Key Village Shopping area with its range of intimate fine dining restaurants, designer shops and stores with downtown Sarasota a 10-minute drive away.

Siesta Key has been regularly voted one of America's top ten beach resorts during the last ten years and it's unique quartz ultra-fine soft sand remains cool even on the hottest of days.Three heated freshwater pools overlook the Gulf of Mexico and the 2-bedroom tower apartments each come with fully equipped kitchen and private patios, perfect for sipping cocktails and enjoying the fabulous sunsets. MORE......

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Indian Creek Villas

Indian Creek is the big new addition to our Orlando villa portfolio. Already an established vacation home resort and an extremely popular resort with British holidaymakers for a number of years.
Located in the much sought after Splendid China area, guests are just short 5 minute drive from shops and restaurants and just over 10 minutes from the Disney theme parks. You won’t find quite the range of on-site amenities of Emerald Island but in most cases the villas here are at least equal in standard, yet much lower in price.
It’s very difficult to come up with a reason not to stay at Indian Creek. If you want a high spec pool home with a choice of size and option to upgrade in a location just minutes from shops and restaurants then this is the place for you.
Expect bright, imaginative décor and furnishings, spacious interiors and well maintained gardens, and, the prices are much lower than normally charged for villas in this area. A very friendly resort, ideal for families. MORE.....

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Indian Pointe Villas

Indian Pointe is an ideal choice for guests looking for a convenient Kissimmee location, a peaceful countryside setting and a great value vacation home. The resort is located on the east side of Disney in central Kissimmee, an extremely relaxed area a good few miles from the noise, traffic, hustle and bustle of Highway 192.

The villas of Indian Pointe are extremely well maintained (similar in standard to the homes at Bass Lake), have always been very popular and quite possibly represent some of the best value rental villas in the whole Orlando area.

Slightly more expensive than our ‘Disney Area’ properties but if you prefer to know exactly where you will be staying then Indian Pointe is an excellent choice. MORE.....

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Brits Keep Going to USA

International visits to the USA set new records. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a record 58 million international visitors traveled to the United States during 2008, an increase of nearly four percent over 2007. U.S. Visits from Western Europe, 12.2million visitors, was up 12 percent for the year and accounted for 48 percent of overseas arrivals.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom were up more than one percent for the year. Visitors from the United Kingdom accounted for 37 percent of all Western European arrivals.

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Villas at Tuscan Ridge

Of all the villa developments we sell (there’s many, many more than listed on this site), do we have a favourite? Yes we do! Tuscan Ridge. It’s not the closest resort to Disney, doesn’t have the on-site amenities of Emerald Island and isn’t built around an award winning golf course like Highlands Reserve…basically we just love the villas.

Tuscan Ridge is a very new development of upmarket, executive villas approximately 15 minutes drive west of the Disney theme parks on US Highway 27. The villas here are very plush and furnishings have been upgraded in every home, in fact these are easily some of the best rental properties we have seen in the Orlando area.

The estate itself is very peaceful and immaculately maintained; the villas are surrounded by rolling orange groves.

If you are happy with a location within 20 minutes of Walt Disney World and if your priority is a guaranteed upmarket, executive villa rather than a resort pool, golf or kid’s playground (there are tennis courts) then Tuscan Ridge is a very good choice.

Many of the homes have additional upgrades such as spa, additional TVs or music systems and a high percentage have a private outlook from the pool over conservation or the orange groves.

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Villas at Southern Dunes

Southern Dunes is one of the most established, popular and well known villa developments in the whole Orlando area. A gated community of high spec homes situated around the prestigious Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club.

Though this is an ideal location for anyone with a passion for golf, it is not simply a golfer's paradise. The resort offers a huge range of high quality vacation properties from 3 Bedrooms through to 7 Bedrooms and a range of on-site amenities to keep every member of the family happy.

As well as the 18 hole Championship golf course with clubhouse, restaurant, bar and shop, guests at Southern Dunes have access to 3 communal swimming pools, a gym, 2 tennis courts, volleyball court, children's playground and extensive walking and jogging trails. Another major attraction is the 24 hour Wallmart Superstore and choice of restaurants and takeaways right outside the resort's entrance...........more

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Disneyland uses Cooking Oil

Disneyland Resort has proved its commitment towards the environment by implementing two innovative moves, which have both resulted in a reduction of carbon dioxide emission in the air. The particular move includes recycling of cooking oil to power the Disneyland Railroad steam trains and the Mark Twain riverboat. The green drive also includes using natural gas to fuel its guest trams.

As the move helps the resort to save 200,000 gallons of petroleum every year and bring down pollution by 80%, the oil used for The Disneyland Railroad and the Mark Twain Riverboat is the same cooking oil used to make the French fries.

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Windsor Hills in Kissimmee

Windsor Hills is the newest addition to our growing range of 'resort style' self catering vacation developments. The developers have tried to market Windsor Hills as Orlando's first 5 Star vacation homes resort and in our opinion they have come pretty close. The general look and feel is exceptional, the landscaping is immaculate and the design of the communal areas is very plush. Read more.........

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Best Public Golf Course in Orlando

Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge; two of the finest public golf courses Orlando Florida has to offer.

If you are looking for the best golf in Orlando, FL and want to know who has the finest course layouts, conditions and facilities, look no further than Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge. For the golf fanatic, it has everything - 36 holes per day, first class instruction, first class driving range. Two championship courses, a 9 hole short course, several onsite instruction schools and the largest driving range and practice facility in America are all there.

You do not have to be a great player to enjoy Orange County National; you just have to Love Golf! A Lot of golf!

In fact Orange County National has 45 fabulous holes, on 922 beautiful acres of unspoiled rolling terrain. Pure Golf, the way it was meant to be played, in peace and tranquility with nothing to distract your game except the rugged natural beauty of your surroundings. You will feel a million miles from anywhere; yet will be just a few miles from Disney, the convention center and all the entertainment Orlando has to offer.

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Club la Vela in Panama City

Club La Vela in Panama City, Florida, is not only the largest nightclub in the USA, it is also one of the trendiest and most respected nightclubs in the world. This nightclub continuously reinvents itself to stay on the cutting edge of entertainment and club life.

By doing so Club La Vela adds new theme rooms on a yearly basis to its already huge arsenal of onsite clubs all of which are located under one roof! Each theme room has its own atmosphere, ambience, feel, and audience. You'll find Hip-Hop, Bootie, and High-Energy Dance fans in the THUNDERDOME, Club La Vela's largest multi-story theme room featuring a sound system you can feel in your chest, and a lightshow like no other in North America!

If you're into techno-music, the UNDERGROUND, NIGHTGALLERY, & GALAXY ROOM are for you as thousands of people dance to the unifying beats, Chicago Hard House, Jungle, and Break Beats spun by internationally renown DJ's and producers. Live Music fans feast their appetite for some incredible live Rock in the ROCK ARENA where the country's hottest touring bands tear up the stage.

Upstairs, the newest theme room, PENTHOUSE LOUNGE, offers premium spirits, modern decor, plush seating, and private seating areas.

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Cocoa Beach for Jazz

Heidi's Jazz Club has been the number one hangout for jazz lovers and jazz musicians on Florida's Space Coast since Heidi and Eddie opened the club in 1992. It features live music every Tuesday through Sunday with featured performers on selected Friday and Saturday evenings and Heidi's Open Jam Session every Sunday evening starting at 7 PM.

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Laugh Away at Sak Comedy Lab

Nestled inside the Centropex II parking garage in downtown Orlando, SAK Comedy Lab offers up some of the funniest improvised comedy in the Central Florida area. Show themes change regularly and a variety of nationally and internationally recognized comedians are often featured creating a unique experience each time you visit.

All shows are family friendly but may border on a PG-13 rating with certain puns or innuendos. Adults, teens and children will find humour in the shows. Audience participation is encouraged and for special occasions (birthday, anniversary) you can even request to be part of the show.

Some snacks are served along with non-alcoholic drinks.

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Continental Airlines Gets Top Honours

Continental Airlines announced that it was again rated the top airline on FORTUNE magazine's annual airline industry list of World's Most Admired Companies. This is the sixth consecutive year that Continental has topped that list.

The rankings are determined in a survey of corporate and airline executives, boards of directors and industry analysts. Companies are evaluated according to the following criteria: quality of products/services, global competitiveness, people management, quality of management, social responsibility, innovation, use of corporate assets, financial soundness and long-term investment.

Additionally, Continental was ranked among the top ten companies for management quality across all industries on the Fortune World's Most Admired Companies survey.

The results are from the magazine's March 16th, 2009, issue.

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Spend On Your Holiday

More than three quarters of people plan to spend at least as much as last year on their holiday in 2009 despite the recession, a new study shows.

The YouGov poll of more than 2,100 people, found that even during the credit crunch 78% of 45-54 year olds aim to spend as much if not more on their holiday this year. Nearly a third plan to spend more, while less than one in four (22%) expect to spend less, the research found.

But the poll also identified that cutting back on second holidays and short breaks was one way people are making sure they can afford a main break away. Asked what they would be prepared to spend less on to pay for a holiday, 29% picked second breaks. But almost half (49%) would go without designer clothes, latest gadgets (43%) or evenings out (43%).

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Spend a Penny Will Cost 1 GBP

Budget airline Ryanair could soon be charging customers £1 to spend a penny if plans to install pay-for-use toilets go ahead. The Irish carrier, which consistently looks for ways it can charge customers for extras on top of the basic ticket price, has insisted the charge won't risk passengers being caught short as nobody "has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound".

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door so that people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny in future." "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound." "We're all about finding ways of raising discretionary revenue so we can keepl owering the cost of air travel," he said.

Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers. Last week, Ryanair announced it was to shut all check-in desks at airports and have passengers check in online instead. Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: "Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it. "However, this highlights Ryanair's continuing obsession with lowering costs and passing these savings on in the form of lower fares. "Ancillary revenues, all of which are avoidable, help to reduce the cost of flying Ryanair and passengers using train and bus stations are already accustomed to paying to use the toilet so why not on airplanes? "Not everyone uses the toilet on board one of our flights but those that do could help to reduce airfares for all passengers." What do you think?

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Virgin Atlantic is a Superbrand

Virgin Atlantic has been named the strongest brand in the Travel & Leisure sector of Business Superbrands 2009, while British Airways fell 28 places in the survey. Virgin moved up from 28th place in 2008 to 25th place overall, while BA plummeted from 8th to 36th.

The nine highest rating airline brands are as follows. Their ranking in the overall survey is in brackets.

1. VIRGIN ATLANTIC (25)
2. BRITISH AIRWAYS (36)
3. EMIRATES (68)
4. SINGAPORE AIRLINES (78)
5. EASYJET (308)
6. QATAR AIRWAYS (318)
7. BMI (413)
8. SWISS (430)
9. FLYBE (454)

Internet giant Google secured top ranking overall for the second year in a row. The survey of the UK's strongest business brands, compiled by The Centre for Brand Analysis, is based on votes on by an independent and voluntary Expert Council and more than 1,500 individual business professionals.

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How About Miami

Have you ever thought about a holiday break in Miami? How about one week staying in the Days Hotel Thunderbird Beach Resort for a knock down price of £579 per person based on 2 adults sharing.........and what's more you can fly direct from UK to Miami...now that is what we call a bargain. Click here to book.

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Complete Family Disney Package

The perfect family holiday for 2 Adults and 2 Children is surely in Orlando visiting Disney attractions. Imagine the fun the kids will have and the memories you will bring away from this dream holiday in florida. It is even more of a must-do event if you know that you can buy this holiday at a knock-down price.

We are offering you a 14 night holiday in Orlando, staying at any All Star Disney Resort and including airport transfers and a 14 Day Ultimate Ticket. What a bargain! Simply click here to book. Prices are from just £799 per adult, £699 per child and are valid for dates between 19th April 2009 and 1st October 2009.

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New York Special Offers

We have some very special offers for New York City Breaks to tempt you with.

Direct scheduled flights to New York. 3 nights at the 3* Ameritania Hotel from £449 per person.

Direct scheduled flights to New York. 3 nights at the 4* Doubletree Metropolitan by Hilton from £499 per person.

Direct scheduled flights to New York. 3 nights at the 5* Intercontinental Barclay from £569 per person.

Go on...treat yourself to a city break courtesy of FloridaDiscountHolidays

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Sarasota Beach Secrets

The beaches of Sarasota are one of Florida's best kept secrets. Head west across Ringling Causeway (State Route 780) then cross Bird Key, Coon Key and the glittering St. Armands Circle, home to an upscale shopping district known locally as "our Rodeo Drive." Finally, when you can go west no further, you've reached the three-mile Lido Key situated just north of Siesta Key on the Gulf of Mexico. The gulf-facing coast of Lido Key is one long, uninterrupted beach.

The beaches: The three beaches start at Big Pass with South Lido Beach which is a 100-acre nature preserve with a small beach — just under 650 feet. The main beach is simply called Lido beach. Just a half mile west of St. Armands Circle, there is over 3,100 feet of beachfront (a heated swimming pool) and lots of parking. North Lido Beach features 3,000 feet of secluded shore, with little parking and no lifeguards or facilities.

Back to nature: Nature trails run through each park. The southern trail runs along a sandy-soiled coastal ridge with a thick growth of Australian pines. Along the northern trail, you'll discover a mangrove swamp (with a canoe trail) and tidal swamp forest. The north beach has been kept in a wild state for the birds and other wildlife. Nude sunbathing was allowed as late as the 1980s and it is said that although it is illegal, it still goes on.

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Marathon in Florida Keys

Marathon is positioned in the heart of the Florida Keys in fact just about in the middle of the Florida Keys island chain. The area of Marathon consists of many Keys or islands starting with Long Key, the Conch Keys, Duck Key, Grassy Key, Boot Key, Crawl Key and Pigeon Key. Marathon is separated from the Lower Florida Keys on the south end by the Seven Mile Bridge. This bridge is famous and has been seen in many movies and is host to the Seven Mile Bridge Run each year.
Long Key is the place to visit for a beautiful park like setting with many opportunities to fish, kayak, camp or simply just relax on the beach. There are plenty of quaint guest accommodations between Long Key and Marathon Key. Duck Key is home of the Hawk's Cay Resort & Marina and is a great place to hold corporate meetings. Grassy Key is the closest to Marathon Key and the Dolphin Research Center is there. This is a great attraction in Marathon offering a day long learning experience for adults and children. Learn all about the bottle nose dolphin and even swim with them in a limited session at the Research Center.
Marathon is a quaint place to take a very relaxing vacation. There are many great amentities including some great restaurants that serve fresh seafood and some good shopping with many gifts and crafts from local artists. Marathon has some very nice communities including Key Colony Beach and Sombrero Beach.

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Things to do in Naples

The southwestern Florida city of Naples is known for its views of the ocean and its outstanding culture. Here are some of the most popular things to do and see during your holiday in naples.
Old Naples historic downtown area. This is a favorite spot for locals and visitors to the city. This downtown area offers lots of places to shop and eat, as well as a great place just to hang out and enjoy the city. You definitely want to stop here and walk in a few of the galleries portraying local artists and have a bite to eat in this part of town.
Naples Pier. This is another favorite among visitors to Naples. The pier offers a breathtaking view of the water from the shore. This is also a great place to take a stroll and simply enjoy the scenery. The pier is along 12th Avenue South.
Naples Nature Center. This is a great place to learn about the wildlife and floral heritage of southwestern Florida. The center is run by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and offers an exciting peak at the wildlife and plants that call this part of the state home. Part of the center is home to the Museum of Natural History, a place where you can learn why different parts of nature must work together in Southwest Florida in order for all to thrive.
Caribbean Gardens. This is a great place for you to see the finest in animal and nature in the region. The park showcases animals and how they live naturally in the wild. You can take a guided tour of the park through the islands and waterways that make up the facility. This is truly something you need to see if you're in the area. The Caribbean Gardens is at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road.
Briggs Nature Center. This is a great place for watching birds. Here you can learn all about just about any bird that lives in southwestern Florida. There is a bird platform that allows you to look through telescopes and spy on birds while they're in their natural environments. This center is in Rookery Bay just south of Naples.

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Things to do in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has an extensive Art and Entertainment district that runs east to west along Las Olas Blvd, from the beach to the heart of the city. This is where you'll find the Broward Center for the Performing Arts as well as the "Elbow Room", which was featured in 'Where the Boys Are". In March, the city also hosts the annual Langerado music festival, where everything from Rap to Reggae is welcomed. As for dinning, dancing and shopping, be sure to check out the trendy Riverfront.

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Gay Travel in Fort Lauderdale

The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) is set to hold its 2011 convention in Fort Lauderdale, bringing 1,200 attendees into the area for four nights. The city beat Philadelphia and Chicago as part of a competitive bidding process. The IGLTA is based in FortLauderdale, which hosted the group's first convention in 2002.

In a press release, Broward County Vice Mayor Ken Keechl, who the bureau described as the highest-ranking elected, openly gay official in Florida, said: "Our county, with vibrant 'gayborhoods' including Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors, has been a top-rated destination within the gay and lesbianc ommunity for more than a decade, and I know that it will be a place that IGLTA attendees will want to return to time and time again."

The bureau said its presentation to IGLTA leaders was themed "Lauderdale Unleashed," signifying the city's emergence as a global gay and lesbian destination.

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Man Calls 911 For Lemonade

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities said a man, 66, was arrested after calling 911 on Saturday to complain that a fast food restaurant ran out of lemonade. After a drive-through employee failed to respond to the man's threat of contacting the police, the irate diner called 911, a police report alleges.

He spent about 5 minutes talking to the 911 operator about his complaint. Boynton Beach said the man was charged with abuse of 911 communication.

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Explore the Vizcaya Museum

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was formerly a vacation estate built in 1916 by the wealthy agricultural industrialist, John Deering. The main house was designed to mimic an Italian villa that had been lived in for generations. Its interior rivals that of the finest European castles and housed inside its walls are an extraordinary assembly of fine art and luxurious furnishings. The estate’s ten acres of gardens are equally as impressive and the historic Vizcaya Village will enjoy significant renovations. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is located at 3521 S. Miami Avenue and is open daily from 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. You won’t regret adding this stunning estate to your list of things to do in Miami, Florida.

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Hollywood Beach Boardwalk

One of the most popular things to do in Miami, Florida for visitors is to hang out at the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, where miles of beaches and walking trails allow for relaxing strolls, bike rides and hours of people watching. Find a mix of cafes and bars, and dine at one of the boardwalk’s restaurants. There is a thriving beach theatre at the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, featuring the “Theatre Under the Stars” concert series on Monday nights. Hollywood is located between North Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale along Highway 1.

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Visit the Cape Florida Lighthouse

Part of beautiful Key Biscayne’s Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, the picturesque lighthouse is a welcome visit for maritime enthusiasts looking for things to do in Miami Florida. It was built in 1825, making it the oldest building found in southern Florida. You can explore the lighthouse on your own or join one of the guided tours. Enjoy a relaxing moment in the Lighthouse Café and take advantage of the nearby Cape Florida beach. Cape Florida is open from dawn to dusk, with lighthouse tours offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily.

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Silver Spurs Rodeo in Orlando

Grab your cowboy boots and go for some great family fun at the Silver Spurs Rodeo. Events such as bull riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and barrel racing, along with crowd-pleasing cowboy clowns, will all take place at every show.
Rodeo fans can enjoy some exciting rides for themselves after the rodeo, at the annual Osceola County Fair, located right next door to the Silver Spurs Rodeo. The fair features exciting amusement rides and games for all ages. Adults and kids will receive a FREE admission to the Osceola County Fair with the purchase of a Silver Spurs Rodeo ticket.

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Airboat Rides in Boggy Creek

Boggy Creek airboat rides are held at Boggy Creek and are for the thrillseeker amonst you.

Once on board its a great thrill ride as you go skidding and sliding forwards, and side ways lifting you out of the water and through the tall swampy grass with the loud noise of the air behind you. You will be given goggles to wear as the boat goes so fast that with the wind in your eyes it would be hard to see anything with out the goggles.

You may see all kinds of fish, birds; snakes even alligators if you are lucky. Mornings are the best time to go to see the local wild life as it is most active at that time of day. The airboat ride takes about 30 mins to 1 hour depending on the guide you get and how busy they are but it is well worth a visit.

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Balloon Rides Over Orlando

A spectacular hot air balloon ride over Orlando is a unique experience, particularly if it is taken at sunrise.

Flights operate 7 days a week, 365 days a year at sunrise, weather permitting. The inflation of the balloon takes around 20 minutes, after which you will be airborne!

The balloon flight time is approx 1 hour and can become your most memorable event during your holiday in Orlando.

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Free Flight Upgrades

We would like to announce an American Airlines upgrade promotion that is available to all customers now.

A free American Airlines' upgrade promotion from business to first class is being offered via UK agents including AV8Tours.(tel:0870 990 8310).

It is valid for customers booking and completing travel to select US destinations from Heathrow on eligible business class fares by April 1.

The upgrade is subject to availability on either the inbound or outboundsector. Additionally, up to 100,000 A Advantage bonus frequent flyer miles can be earned when passengers fly at least two return trips on qualifying fares between Heathrow, Manchester or Dublin and the US by March 31st 2009

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Fishing in Islamorada

A fishing trip to Islamorada can be the experience of a lifetime and one that you simply must enjoy during your holiday in Florida. Many anglers rate the fishing in Islamorada as some of the best in the world. The rich waters of the Gulfstream current and the bait schools of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary produce an incredible year round fishery. It is time you came to see for yourself what is waiting for you in Islamorada, the Sport Fishing Capital of the World and Florida Keys Fishing gem.

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Bowling at Aloma is Best

In a recent poll, Aloma Bowl East was voted the best bowling experience in Orlando. Why? Well that is because it has something for everyone:

Stadium Comfort - This is the largest bowling alley in the area, with 32 lanes, plenty of stadium seating in the stands, a full-service bar and Pizza Hut Express inside.

Gutterball Groovin' - Aloma Bowl East sets its pin-smashing action to plenty of pulsating--read loud--dance hall faves. The computerized scoring and sounds adds to the techno feel.

Easy to Cheat - A real bonus for novice bowlers: Aloma East's lanes feature an automatic gutter bumper. Just push a button and the gutter ball becomes a thing of history.

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Miami MetroZoo is a Must

Considered one of the best zoos America, Miami MetroZoo has a climate that allows it to keep a wide variety of animals from Asia, Australia and Africa. One of the first free-range zoos in the country, the exhibits are entirely cageless. Animals are grouped according to their geographic territory and animals that live together peacefully in the wild are placed in exhibits together. Other animals in the area are separated by moats. Looking out across the African plains, for example, you see the animals apparently co-mingling much as you would on a safari. The trees, foliage and even soil mimic as closely as possible the native habitat of the animals.

Among the newest members of the zoo are the critically endangered baby addux "Abacus" and a critically endangered baby black rhino. You can also see white tigers, gibbons, Cuban crocodiles and a komodo dragon, as well as the regular lions, tigers and bears. The coolest animal stunt is the painting elephant - a real elephant, armed with a paintbrush and easel, creating a masterpiece! The new Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station (open daily from 11AM-4PM) allows you to climb up and see a giraffe eye-to-eye. For a $2 fee, you'll have the opportunity to reach out and feed these graceful creatures. They'll take the food right out of your hand!

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Old Money For Sale

A new store has recently opened in Palm Beach featuring a showroom full of money!

The Grand Opening of Arcade Currency Palace occurred last Saturday night. Inside the store are glass cases full of old money dating back to the 1860's. Some of the coins and notes are worth more than $50 million dollars.

The storeowners call it a way to preserve history, but also an investment. You can buy the old money or invest and watch your money grow.

There are only two other showrooms like it in the world. One in Tarpon Springs near Tampa and the other in Turkey.

You can visit the store on the island from Monday - Saturday : 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Heathrow 3rd Runway

Approval for a third runway at Heathrow was given by the government yesterday.

The highly controversial plans were approved along with a range of measures designed to limit the environmental impact through strict controls on noise and pollution.

However the decision is expected to prompt a legal challenge from environmental groups opposed to expansion of the London hub.

The plans will result in the demolition of a village to increase capacity at congested Heathrow, with five years of construction work expected to start in 2015.

Airlines, unions and business leaders welcomed the long-awaited and delayed approval which also includes a possible a new high speed rail link.

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New US Customs Rules In Force

New US Customs rules come into force next week. Travellers planning to visit the US under the visa waiver scheme must comply with new US Customs regulations from January 12th 2009.

You will need to register online with the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) before departure at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. You will have to provide information usually provided by completing a form onboard the plane, or that most countries already collect at their borders.

AV8Tours is advising passengers to go online or telephone us to obtain an ESTA that is valid for two years. We are warning customers to apply for an ESTA well in advance of scheduled departure or you may face a delay to your journey.

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First Night in St Petersburg

Celebrate the new year in style by visiting St. Petersburg as the city rings in the New Year with music, lights, dance, fire, bubbles, stories, creative fun, fireworks and much more!

Spend New Year's Eve around downtown with First Night St. Petersburg 2009 – Florida's largest First Night Celebration. Stroll the waterfront and throughout downtown to sample the festivities in lots of special places. Sample the arts and culture with family, friends and fireworks.

First Night St. Petersburg celebrates its 16th Annual New Year's Eve celebration of the arts from 5:00 p.m. to midnight at multiple venues in downtown St. Petersburg. Family-oriented festivities with music stages, entertainment, drama, dance, games, art, fireworks and more.

First Night St. Petersburg started in 1993, led by a group of citizens interested in creating a diverse community event for St. Petersburg. The intent of First Night is to provide an opportunity for St. Petersburg to celebrate entering the New Year together and to celebrate the many performing and visual arts, individuals and organizations in the community – as well as the artist in all of us.

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An Arabian Nights Christmas

Imagine 60 magnificent Arabian Nights horses and a cast of more than 40 holiday characters! Then imagine they are joined by spectacular pyrotechnics, snow, special sets and breathtaking holiday costumes to create a winter wonderland fit for a prince and princess. Appearances by toy soldiers, horse-riding elves, gingerbread men and sugarplum fairies add to the holiday cheer at Arabian Nights in Orlando.

Acrobatic elves, dancing reindeer, sugar plum fairies, a disbelieving sultan, a determined princess with her genie, plus more magic than you can shake your wand at. Put it all together and you have a holiday show with all the romance and excitement only Arabian Nights can bring to life.

The show is choreographed to the holiday music of Andy Williams, Hillary Duff, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Brenda Lee, Jimmy Buffett, Little Texas, Lone Star, The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and many more. So....why not try out Arabian Nights this Christmas.

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SeaWorld at Christmas

The Seafire Inn at SeaWorld celebrates the Christmas season in Hawaiian style with the Makahiki Christmas Luau. You can enjoy the festive celebrations with authentic Christmas music, costumes and dances including a special rendition of "O Holy Night". The fun continues nightly until Jan. 4th.

SeaWorld also offers an array of festive shows and seasonal additions. Guests can join Shamu for the holidays during "Shamu Christmas ... Miracles." This captivating show helps guests celebrate the holiday season as a time filled with hope and peace and just possibly, miracles. The 22-minute production comes to life daily at Shamu Stadium. Guests may also witness a winter wonder as snow flurries descend from up above, and jewels of water and light adorn the night during the "Christmastide" holiday fountain show.....a seasonal spectacular where water seemingly dances to the beat of Christmas music.

"Mistify," a nighttime finale runs from Dec. 26th - 30th, and takes place on SeaWorld's center lake and features larger-than-life marine creatures on 60-foot mist screens, 100-foot fountains, flames on water and dazzling fireworks.

Families will enjoy strolling through the Waterfront's array of gift shops and restaurants all while listening to the joyful tunes of singers, musical quartets and the "Sizzlin' Pianos" show that ignite the spirit of the season. Through Christmas, stores and restaurants will remain open until 7 p.m. during weekdays and 8 p.m. during weekends. The park will remain open until 10 p.m.

This holiday season, guests are invited to jump aboard The Polar Express Experience for a magical trip to the North Pole. SeaWorld's Wild Arctic transforms into a thrilling expedition to the fabled Santa Town. Recreating classic scenes from the movie in a multi-sensory experience, this unique experience immerses guests with lighting, scent, sound and motion to transport them into the spirit of the season.

At the Waterfront, nightly snow flurries descend upon guests. Carolers make a joyful noise while the little ones share their holiday wishes with Father Christmas. Guests in search of that perfect gift can visit any of the area's assortment of gift shops.

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Cruising in Florida

After an action packed florida vacation how about adding a relaxing cruise to your itinerary, and with 4 cruise ports to choose from your departure point will never be far away. With a selection of 4, 5, 7, 10 & 14 night duration cruises there is something to please everyone. Cruises depart from Port Canaveral, Tampa, Miami and Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale).

A cruise combines convenience, variety, fun and great value for money. Don't forget you will be waking up to a diiferent destination on a daily basis and will only have to unpack once. With today's ships resembling small cities there is so much to see and do whilst at sea, you have the option to do as much or as little as you want. Nothing beats a cruise for incredible value, you'll visit multiple destinations and so much is included, from dining to entertainment, that you may be tempted to make every holiday a cruise.

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Las Vegas Special Offers

Fancy spending some time at the Bellagio, the Venetian, Mandalay Bay or Cesaer's Palace in Las Vegas? We have some special offer holidays available at knockout prices. Simply click here and fill out our on-line enquiry form to find out more.

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Harry P. Leu Gardens

The Harry P. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical garden on the shores of Lake Rowena that offers a serene respite from the theme-park razzle-dazzle. Paths lead through giant camphors, moss-draped oaks, palms, cicadas, and camellias -- the latter represented by one of the world's largest collections: 50 species and some 2,000 plants that bloom from October through March.

There are 75 varieties of roses in the site's formal gardens, as well as orchids, azaleas, desert plants, and colorful annuals and perennials. The attraction also has palm, bamboo, and butterfly gardens.

Businessman Harry P. Leu, who donated his 49-acre estate to the city in the 1960s, created the gardens. There are guided tours of his house and the gardens, built in 1888, on the hour and half-hour (at least 3 weeks advance registration required). The interior has Victorian, Chippendale, and Empire furnishings and pieces of art. It takes about 2 hours to see the house and gardens.

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More Virgin Flights From Manchester

Virgin Atlantic has announced a long haul leisure boost for passengers wanting to cross the 'pond' from Manchester.......the airline is expanding services from Manchester to Orlando.

An additional Sunday departure between Manchester and Orlando will operate between April 26th and November 8th, using a Boeing 747-400. This will give travellers a choice of up to ten flights a week to the Florida holiday destination.

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Inaugural Travel to America

Inaugural Travel Set to Reach Record High .

Whilst the recent presidential election marked the end of a long and twisted campaign trail, it may not be the last record-breaking activity in the Presidential campaign.

Experts predict that the 56th Presidential Inauguration ceremony and related activities on and around Jan. 20th 2009 could attract an unprecedented number of visitors to the Washington, D.C. area.

The nation's capital is one of the most historically rich destinations in America, and there are dozens of museums, monuments and historical sites ..

For example, AV8Tours travel experts recommend that for your holiday in USA:
Watching the inauguration parade along Pennsylvania Ave. where no tickets are required.
Booking a hotel close to a Metro stop to reduce travel time and avoid crowded streets .
Looking for hotels outside the D.C. city limits where there may be lower prices and more vacancy.
Booking tickets for attractions online in advance to ensure your space and avoid standing in line.

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United Airlines to USA

United Airlines brings back Denver flights.

United Airlines is reinstating its daily non-stop London Heathrow to Denver flights for next summer.

These flights will also connect to Orlando, giving extra availability next summer.

The service, introduced for the first time this summer, was suspended for the winter season.

It will be re-launched, using a Boeing 777, on March 29 and will operate until October 24th 2009.

Great news for those of you planning your holiday to USA.

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Your ATOL Protected Holiday

Florida Discount holidays is a member of the Travel Trust Association. This means that you can book your holiday secure in the knowledge that Travel Trust Association will protect you in the unlikely event of a member becoming insolvent.

Should we for any reason financially fail or cease trading, the Travel Trust Association will liaise with suppliers and Tour Operators to ensure that your holiday goes ahead unaffected. If for any reason this is not possible, the TTA will administer a claim for a refund of money that you have paid to a member for your holiday.

How does Travel Trust Association provide 100% financial protection for me?

Every Travel Trust Association member deposits your money into the Trust Account. A Trust Account is a bank account designated to hold customers' money. Your money remains in the Trust Account and is supervised by an appointed Trustee who is either a banker, chartered or certified accountant or a solicitor.

Both the Travel Trust Association members AND the Trustee are required to authorise payments from the Trust Account. In addition to being held in trust, you also have a financial guarantee from the Travel Trust Association. TTA will guarantee the financial obligation of its Members up to a maximum of any one passenger of £11,000. So if you paid £2000 we guarantee we will reimburse the loss of the £2000, where it is not available for you from the Trust Account. Therefore, the Trust Account plus the guarantee will ensure that all the money which you have paid is safely protected and available to reimburse monies paid.

When you make a booking, you will be supplied with a guarantee certificate - you can see the terms of our guarantee on the Travel Trust website www.traveltrust.co.uk/guarantee.

Should the TTA member become insolvent, in most instances your money will still be held within the TTA member's Trust Account by the designated Trustee, and available to pay for your holiday. If because of fraud or dishonesty the money is not there, then the guarantee is available to reimburse your loss. In some cases your holiday may continue as the providers or suppliers have already been paid. Where you have only paid a deposit and still have an outstanding balance, your holiday may be unaffected and by paying the balance your holiday will continue as planned. Where possible, attempts will be made to ensure that you can carry on with your original holiday arrangements.

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Electronic System for Travel Authorisation

With effect from January 12th, 2009, any Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers will be required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S.A. under the VWP.

ESTA is now accessible online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ for citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries.This modern system enhances the security of the VWP and will allow the U.S.A. government to continue and expand the VWP, which allows visitors from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for business or pleasure for 90 days or less without first obtaining a visa.

What is the Electronic System for Travel Authorization? The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the VWP. It requires the same information as the paper I-94W form that VWP travelers currently fill out en route to the U.S.A.

Why is a travel authorization via ESTA soon required for VWP travelers? Recently enacted U.S. legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to implement an electronic travel authorization system and other measures to enhance the security of the VWP. ESTA adds another layer of security that allows DHS to determine, in advance of travel, whether an individual is eligible to travel to the United States under the VWP and whether such travel poses a law enforcement or security risk.

Who will need to submit an electronic travel authorization? All nationals or citizens of visa waiver countries who plan to travel to the U.S. for temporary business or pleasure without a visa will need this authorization to travel prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship.

How do you apply for authorization to travel to the U.S.? To apply for travel authorization, please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. Answer all required questions and submit your application for travel authorization.

When will travelers be required to obtain pre-travel authorization? All travelers will be required to obtain a travel authorization via ESTA to travel under the VWP as of January 12, 2009.

When should you start using this Web tool? The ESTA Web site is already operational, and the U.S. government recommends all those eligible to travel to the U.S. under the VWP to begin using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization this autumn. An approved travel authorization via ESTA will be mandatory as of January 12th, 2009 for travel to the U.S.A. under the VWP. All responses must be provided in English.

Can someone else apply for me if I don’t have access to the Internet? Yes, a friend, relative, or your travel agent or operator, or other third parties may file an application on your behalf.

What information does a traveler need in order to complete the travel authorization form? The traveler must provide biographical data including name,birth date, and passport and travel information, as well as answers to questions regarding eligibility to travel under the VWP. Again, all answers must be submitted in English.

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Delta and Northwest Airlines Merge

The Northwest Airlines name will go following completion of its merger with Delta Air Lines. The combined carrier will carry the Delta name and be based at its headquarters in Atlanta.

The merged airline will serve more than 375 cites worldwide - more than any other airline - with approximately 75,000 employees handling more than 170 million passengers a year.

The merger will occur through an integration process over the next 12-24 months after being cleared by the US Department of Justice. Passengers have been advised to continue to check-in and do business directly with the airline operating their flight just as they did before the merger.

As a combined company, Delta will maintain all its hubs at Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, and Tokyo-Narita - each of which will benefit from improved global connectivity.

The deal is expected to generate $2 billion or more in annual revenue and cost savings from more effective aircraft utilisation, a more comprehensive and diversified route system, and cost cuts from reduced overhead and improved operational efficiency.

The company expects to incur one-time cash costs not exceeding $600 million to integrate the two airlines.

"It has a best-in-class cost structure and strong liquidity balance that better positions the company to adapt to the weakening global economy," a statement said.

CEO Richard Anderson said: "Delta is combining the best of two industry leaders to create a premier global airline that will be unmatched in the scope and level of service we offer our customers.

"As we have been proving, this is a different type of merger for the industry thanks to the complementary nature of the two airlines and the calibre of the people who will make this the most successful merger in airline history.

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British Airways Cuts Fuel Surcharges

British Airways has followed Virgin Atlantic in cutting its fuel surcharges as airline passengers finally benefit from the fall in the cost of oil. The reduction will bring down the cost of a return trip to long-distance destinations such as Los Angeles by up to £26 for economy passengers, bringing the levy down to £192. Shorter trips such as New York will cost £20 less, with the surcharge falling to £136.

These cuts, which are the same as those announced by Virgin, will mean that passengers in the slightly more spacious World Traveller Plus cabin will get more modest reductions. The £10 cut on trips to destinations like New York, will bring the fuel surcharge down to £166 for return trips. While the levy on journeys over nine hours will be £229, £13 less than before.

However the surcharges levied on business and first class passengers will be unchanged as will those on anyone travelling on shorter flights.

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Virgin Atlantic Cuts Fuel Surcharges

British airline Virgin Atlantic said it has cut its passenger fuel surcharges following the drop in oil prices.

From 2300 GMT on Wednesday 15th October, Virgin Atlantic will reduce the charge by up to 13 pounds per passenger, depending on the destination and class of cabin, the airline announced.

Passengers travelling on longer flights in economy class will benefit from the full 13-pound cut, taking the charge to 96 pounds.

Passengers travelling in premium economy class will pay five pounds less on shorter flights and 6.50 pounds less on longer flights.

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