Travelers and the travel industry are taking stock and making plans.
For anyone who has been thinking about visiting London and other destinations in the United Kingdom, tour and travel agents will advise that you must go now.
"In the short term, it will be business as usual, except tourists will probably get an even better value now than they have in decades," says Jack Ezon of luxury leisure travel agency Ovation Vacations.
The British pound took a beating after Thursday's vote, and is hovering at trading levels lower than they've been in the past 30 years.
The fluctuations led the Thomas Cook travel company and some banks to temporarily suspend foreign currency exchanges.
But wherever the pound settles, U.S. visitors to the United Kingdom for now, anyway will get a lot more for their travel dollars, especially in London, a traditionally expensive city for visitors.
"There is no better time to visit the U.K.," Ezon said. "Prices are now 10 to 15 percent lower than last week and 30 percent lower than two years ago. Go now and go for that better room while you can afford it."
Attraction admissions, hotel stays, meals, shopping and other purchases are at least 10 percent cheaper now, said George Hobica of Airfarewatchdog.com, noting that now is a good time to buy pounds for any upcoming trips.
And "if you pre-booked a hotel or other land arrangements, check to see if you can rebook at a better price now that exchange rates have been hammered," he added.
Although many airline stocks dipped in the wake of the Brexit decision, airfares to the U.K. currently aren't expected to spike and, in fact, may dip deeper as well, experts said.
"One reason airfares from the U.S. to Europe have gone down so much this year is because they're not coming over here," Hobica said.
And because now "fewer Europeans and Brits will visit the U.S. than ever, expect airfares from the U.S. to Europe and Britain to go even lower," he added. "The day after the Brexit vote, we saw airfares to London on Virgin Atlantic and other airlines for fall travel reduced to $500 round-trip."
Those deals-savvy buyers willing to book a ticket a few months ahead may find even better fares.
While the U.K. market currently only represents 10 percent of WOW Air's business, the Icelandic discount carrier has been aggressively expanding the number of U.S. cities it serves with rock-bottom — sometimes $199 one-way — fares to Europe.
"Market uncertainties have also put pressure on oil prices, which we think remain in the current range for some time," said Skuli Mogensen, WOW Air founder. That's "allowing us to continue to offer these great fares."
The United Kingdom may not officially leave the European Union for at least two years, so for now, many travel plans and strategies, such as using London as a travel hub, can stay the same.
"Today, you can travel from London to Paris without going through immigration, and taking the Eurostar is as simple as commuting from New York to Washington," said Ezon of Ovation Travel.
But, he warned, once the U.K. breaks from the EU, "you'll most likely have to go through immigration and customs between borders. And that will make it a lot more cumbersome and time consuming."
While the world mulls over the impact of the British vote to exit the European Union, travelers and the travel industry are taking stock and making plans.
In the short term, it will be business as usual, except tourists will probably get an even better value now than they have in decades, said Jack Ezon of luxury leisure travel agency Ovation Vacations.
The British pound took a beating after Thursday's vote, and is hovering at trading levels lower than they've been in the past 30 years.
The fluctuations led the Thomas Cook travel company and some banks to temporarily suspend foreign currency exchanges.
But wherever the pound settles, U.S. visitors to the United Kingdom — for now, anyway — will get a lot more for their travel dollars, especially in London, a traditionally expensive city for visitors.
"There is no better time to visit the U.K.," Ezon said. "Prices are now 10 to 15 percent lower than last week and 30 percent lower than two years ago. Go now — and go for that better room while you can afford it."
Attraction admissions, hotel stays, meals, shopping and other purchases are at least 10 percent cheaper now, said George Hobica of Airfarewatchdog.com, noting that now is a good time to buy pounds for any upcoming trips.
And "if you pre-booked a hotel or other land arrangements, check to see if you can rebook at a better price now that exchange rates have been hammered," he added.
Although many airline stocks dipped in the wake of the Brexit decision, airfares to the U.K. currently aren't expected to spike and, in fact, may dip deeper as well, experts said.
"One reason airfares from the U.S. to Europe have gone down so much this year (already) is because they're not coming over here," Hobica said.
And because now "fewer Europeans and Brits will visit the U.S. than ever, expect airfares from the U.S. to Europe and Britain to go even lower," he added. "The day after the Brexit vote, we saw airfares to London on Virgin Atlantic and other airlines for fall travel reduced to $500 round-trip."
Those deals-savvy buyers willing to book a ticket a few months ahead may find even better fares.
While the U.K. market currently only represents 10 percent of WOW Air's business, the Icelandic discount carrier has been aggressively expanding the number of U.S. cities it serves with rock-bottom — sometimes $199 one-way — fares to Europe.
"Market uncertainties have also put pressure on oil prices, which we think remain in the current range for some time," said Skuli Mogensen, WOW Air founder. That's "allowing us to continue to offer these great fares."
The United Kingdom may not officially leave the European Union for at least two years, so for now, many travel plans and strategies, such as using London as a travel hub, can stay the same.
"Today, you can travel from London to Paris without going through immigration, and taking the Eurostar is as simple as commuting from New York to Washington," said Ezon of Ovation Travel.
But, he warned, once the U.K. breaks from the EU, "you'll most likely have to go through immigration and customs between borders. And that will make it a lot more cumbersome and time consuming."
The day after the Brexit vote, we saw airfares to London for fall travel reduced to $500 round-trip.
After the U.K.-EU breakup, Ezon worries that hotel rates, tour and car driver rates, food costs and other travel expenses may rise in Britain if non-British citizens end up losing their service industry jobs and the cost of labor rises.
That's all the more reason to make travel plans now, he said and don't just limit yourself to the United Kingdom.
"Hotel occupancy and rates will likely decline in markets that rely heavily on British business but trade in another currency," said Ezon, "So think Barbados, Maldives, Dubai.
Some travelers and travel companies are already making their move.
"We're buying lots of pounds," tweeted Jonathan Epstein, of Celebrated Experiences, which books luxury travel to the U.K., Ireland and Italy.
"Just booked a trip to Belfast, where it is 10 percent cheaper than before Brexit," Kendall Creighton of the travelers' rights group FlyersRights, posted on Twitter.
"Other EU sights were high on the wish-list, including Amsterdam, Belgium, Stockholm, the Alps and Transylvania. But we're taking full advantage of this sale."
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label Eurostar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eurostar. Show all posts
Sunday, 26 June 2016
Sunday, 15 November 2015
FRANCE: How Terror Attacks Will Affect Paris
For the second time in a year, the capital of the world’s leading tourist nation has been the scene of coordinated mass murders. The latest atrocity in Paris has traumatised the city and its people, and has profound implications for travellers. As security on all forms of transport is stepped up, tens of thousands of tourists and business travellers have been leaving the city.
In the longer term, the combined effect of the two massacres in Paris this year could change the face of tourism in the capital and beyond.
Travel to and from France has not stopped. What the president meant was that full border controls would be established on the land frontiers with its neighbours, with passports or ID cards instituted for travel from Schengen countries by road and rail. These checks were actually being temporarily introduced for a month, as part of the security precautions head of the UN Climate Change Conference starting on 30 November. They may now be extended.
Some Metro stations near the massacre locations are closed, and RER (suburban train) and many bus services are disrupted. Security has been stepped up at transport terminals, notably the city’s airports and main train stations, and on trains; in August there was an attempted terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-Paris high-speed train.
Eurostar services through the Channel between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras are operating normally, but passengers are advised to check in an hour before departure, instead of the usual 30 minutes. Random searches of other rail passengers may be instituted.
Eurostar train services and most flights are operating more or less normally, and operators are offering flexibility to passengers keen to leave - switching them to immediate departures when seats are available.
For those booked to travel to Paris this weekend, and in some cases on Monday and Tuesday, operators are allowing passengers to postpone journeys or switch to alternative destinations without penalty.
Air France says flights will operate as normally as possible, but warns: “Departure and arrival delays are to be expected following the reinforcement of controls at the borders by the authorities.” Passengers booked to travel this weekend on Air France are allowed free postponements to 22 November; if you wish to postpone your trip beyond that date, or change your destination, you can get a voucher valid for one year on Air France or KLM. easyJet says: “Our schedule will operate normally.” However, passengers are advised to “allow extra time for security checking due to security measure reinforcement”. Passengers booked to travel on Saturday or Sunday can call easyJet customer service on 0330 365 5000 to rebook flights for alternative dates or cancel for a full refund.
Vueling, the third-largest airline in Paris, has deployed extra staff and is offering flexibility to change flights for next three days.
British Airways says anyone booked to travel to Paris up to 17 November will be able to delay their flight to another day in the next two weeks (up to 28 November), or re-book to an alternative destination.
Flybe says: “Any customer who is travelling today or tomorrow (i.e.14/15 November 2015) and who doesn't wish to now do so may rebook a later date to any alternative destination or obtain a credit note for future travel by the calling Flybe Customer Contact Centre on 0371 700 2000 (from outside the UK +44 1392 683 152).”
Services are running normally. Eurotunnel says: “Currently, border controls have been strengthened.” It is a similar picture at the ports. Increased security and tighter border controls could cause some delays.
The Foreign Office has set up an emergency number, 020 7008 1500, though clearly at this stage information is confused and patchy.
On Saturday many public venues were closed, and for the next few days the capital will be in mourning, along with the rest of France. Many tourists may feel they could be trespassing on the grief of the city in mourning.
Following the atrocities committed in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005, visitors were swiftly back, and welcomed for their show of solidarity in the face of terrorism. Certainly anyone planning a December break in the city should plan to carry on as normal - though they should be prepared to find a heavy security presence in the city.
Paris will remain one of the most-visited cities in the world. However, the nature of big, open cities means that future attacks cannot be ruled out. Security at national monuments and tourist sites throughout France was already tight following the Charlie Hebdo massacre and will be stepped up still further. The existing rules on identity checks are likely to be more tightly enforced. Visitors may be asked to prove their identity when asked or within four hours at a police station.
In the longer term, France and other Schengen countries are likely to reintroduce permanent passport and ID checks in a bid to have more control over their borders.
The cause of the loss of 224 lives in that tragedy is still not certain, but it could have been an act of terrorism; in the wake of the crash, British airlines are not allowed to fly passengers to Sharm el Sheikh. Yet despite these appalling, high-profile events the risk profile for most travellers is unaffected; a large majority of the British travellers who sadly lose their lives abroad are killed on the roads or are victims of accidents in water
In the longer term, the combined effect of the two massacres in Paris this year could change the face of tourism in the capital and beyond.
Travel to and from France has not stopped. What the president meant was that full border controls would be established on the land frontiers with its neighbours, with passports or ID cards instituted for travel from Schengen countries by road and rail. These checks were actually being temporarily introduced for a month, as part of the security precautions head of the UN Climate Change Conference starting on 30 November. They may now be extended.
Some Metro stations near the massacre locations are closed, and RER (suburban train) and many bus services are disrupted. Security has been stepped up at transport terminals, notably the city’s airports and main train stations, and on trains; in August there was an attempted terrorist attack on an Amsterdam-Paris high-speed train.
Eurostar services through the Channel between Paris Gare du Nord and London St Pancras are operating normally, but passengers are advised to check in an hour before departure, instead of the usual 30 minutes. Random searches of other rail passengers may be instituted.
Eurostar train services and most flights are operating more or less normally, and operators are offering flexibility to passengers keen to leave - switching them to immediate departures when seats are available.
For those booked to travel to Paris this weekend, and in some cases on Monday and Tuesday, operators are allowing passengers to postpone journeys or switch to alternative destinations without penalty.
Air France says flights will operate as normally as possible, but warns: “Departure and arrival delays are to be expected following the reinforcement of controls at the borders by the authorities.” Passengers booked to travel this weekend on Air France are allowed free postponements to 22 November; if you wish to postpone your trip beyond that date, or change your destination, you can get a voucher valid for one year on Air France or KLM. easyJet says: “Our schedule will operate normally.” However, passengers are advised to “allow extra time for security checking due to security measure reinforcement”. Passengers booked to travel on Saturday or Sunday can call easyJet customer service on 0330 365 5000 to rebook flights for alternative dates or cancel for a full refund.
Vueling, the third-largest airline in Paris, has deployed extra staff and is offering flexibility to change flights for next three days.
British Airways says anyone booked to travel to Paris up to 17 November will be able to delay their flight to another day in the next two weeks (up to 28 November), or re-book to an alternative destination.
Flybe says: “Any customer who is travelling today or tomorrow (i.e.14/15 November 2015) and who doesn't wish to now do so may rebook a later date to any alternative destination or obtain a credit note for future travel by the calling Flybe Customer Contact Centre on 0371 700 2000 (from outside the UK +44 1392 683 152).”
Services are running normally. Eurotunnel says: “Currently, border controls have been strengthened.” It is a similar picture at the ports. Increased security and tighter border controls could cause some delays.
The Foreign Office has set up an emergency number, 020 7008 1500, though clearly at this stage information is confused and patchy.
On Saturday many public venues were closed, and for the next few days the capital will be in mourning, along with the rest of France. Many tourists may feel they could be trespassing on the grief of the city in mourning.
Following the atrocities committed in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005, visitors were swiftly back, and welcomed for their show of solidarity in the face of terrorism. Certainly anyone planning a December break in the city should plan to carry on as normal - though they should be prepared to find a heavy security presence in the city.
Paris will remain one of the most-visited cities in the world. However, the nature of big, open cities means that future attacks cannot be ruled out. Security at national monuments and tourist sites throughout France was already tight following the Charlie Hebdo massacre and will be stepped up still further. The existing rules on identity checks are likely to be more tightly enforced. Visitors may be asked to prove their identity when asked or within four hours at a police station.
In the longer term, France and other Schengen countries are likely to reintroduce permanent passport and ID checks in a bid to have more control over their borders.
The cause of the loss of 224 lives in that tragedy is still not certain, but it could have been an act of terrorism; in the wake of the crash, British airlines are not allowed to fly passengers to Sharm el Sheikh. Yet despite these appalling, high-profile events the risk profile for most travellers is unaffected; a large majority of the British travellers who sadly lose their lives abroad are killed on the roads or are victims of accidents in water
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