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The
Great Call of China |
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If you are thinking of
China best to plan well in advance.
See our dedicated web pages on China!
Chinese bus drivers to keep cool with water bowls
A bus company
in China has launched a novel new way to give their passengers a
smoother ride - by hanging bowls of water next to their drivers. The
concept, devised by the Longxiang Public Bus Company in Changsha, in
Hunan province, means that bus drivers must drive gently to avoid
spilling any water. Drivers are expected to ensure the bowls are still
full when they finish their shift, the Xiaoxiang Morning Post reported. |
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Scottish Bagpipes Rescue Vienna Tours |
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Tour operators
in Vienna have been deterring pesky rodents with bagpipes, protecting
tourists from rat bites.
Third Man Tours was forced to close after rats proved to be a nuisance,
but has since reopened thanks to the instrument.
“We get rid of
the rats by taking a bagpipe player down with us, and they sound really
great in the catacombs that tunnel all under the city,” said Third Man
Tours boss Peter |
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Dublin Sights: |
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If in Dublin, be sure to see one of Ireland’s most
famous attractions: the Guinness Storehouse. Built in 1904, this
impressive building was originally created to house the Guinness
fermentation process before becoming a famous tourist attraction in
2000. On the first floor of the
Storehouse, visitors will learn how Guinness is made
from a master brewer, before heading over to the Tasting Laboratory
for a few refreshing samples. Then onto the second floor which
houses a collection of the various Guinness advertising campaigns as
well as brand memorabilia. The Storehouse’s other floors provide a
variety of interactive exhibits and displays, however no one should
miss the Gravity Bar on the 7th floor. Here, you will be spoiled
with a complimentary pint of Guinness while you take in the
panoramic views of Dublin.
Guinness Storehouse
St James's Gate
Dublin 8
Tel: + 353 1 408 4800
Website:
www.guinness-storehouse.com
Another great site to visit is the impressive Dublin
Castle. Free with the Dublin Pass, this bastion, built between 1208
and 1220, represents some of the oldest surviving architecture in
the city. When touring the castle, be sure to explore the record
tower as well as the excavated site, where an early Viking fortress
once stood.
Dublin Castle
Palace Street, (off Dame Street,)
Dublin 2
Phone: +353 (0)1 677-7129
Website:
http://www.dublincastle.ie
My final recommendation is for all the art lovers out
there. Head over to Merrion Square West, and take a gander around
the National Gallery of Ireland. This fantastic museum has over
2,000 works to enjoy. Though there is an emphasis on Irish portraits
and landscapes, all major European schools are represented!
National Gallery of Ireland
Merrion Square West,
Dublin 2,
Phone: +353 (0)1 661-5133
Website:
http://www.nationalgallery.ie |
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Global survey looks at airline reward seat availability |
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Virgin Blue is the best Australian airline at making reward
seats available to its customers, according to a new survey. ezRez Software
and the IdeaWorks Company this week launched an annual guide for
understanding and maximizing loyalty marketing.
Virgin Blue finished in fourth place overall in a survey topped by Southwest
Airlines in the United States.
Jay Sorensen, president, IdeaWorks Company said,“ They (FFPs) may all sound
the same, but they’re not. Some frequent flier programs make good on their
promise, to customers and the sponsoring airline. “Others create as much
trouble as they do benefit for customers and for the airline.”
Sorensen said loyalty marketing programmes have become a crucial tool to
reach the best customers, encourage consumer retention, and generate
millions in revenue. “The most popular such tools are frequent flier
programmes, and managing member expectations has become an airline marketing
skill as important as planning routes or choosing fares.
“Reward seat availability is a key measurement the best customers use to
assess the value of a frequent flier program. “When seats are lacking,
consumers grumble in protest to friends, co-workers, and members of the
media. Perhaps just behind a la carte fees, reward seat shortages have
become the number one complaint among savvy travelers worldwide."
Sorensen added, “When seats are plentiful, the love is returned many times
over as consumers brag about their good fortune and heap praise for the gift
of travel received from a favoured airline.”
Sorensen said the distinction between top ranked programmes and those "most
stingy with reward seats is significant".
The survey results
Overall Reward Availability
1 Southwest 99.3%
2 Air Berlin 98.6%
3 Air Canada 93.6%
4 Virgin Blue 90.0%
5 Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian 85.7%
6 Singapore Airlines 77.1%
7 Iberia 76.4%
8 Alaska Airlines 75.0%
9 Jet Airways 72.9%
10 Qantas 72.9%
11 Continental Airlines 71.4%
12 United Airlines 68.6%
13. AirTran Airways 67.9%
14 Cathay Pacific 67.1%
15 British Airways 65.0%
16 SAS Scandinavian 64.3%
17 American Airlines 57.9%
18 AirFrance/KLM 56.4%
19 Emirates 36.4%
20 Turkish Airlines 35.3%
21 Delta Air Lines 12.9%
22 US Airways 10.7%
IdeaWorks made 6,160 booking queries at the websites of 22 frequent flier
programs during February and March 2010. Travel dates spanned June through
October 2010; 10 long-haul routes and 10 city pairs under 2,500 miles were
checked to assess reward seat availability.
• Article courtesy of TravelMole Asia/Pacific |
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