Category : Travel Advice

Traveling through any airport can be a daunting experience, especially with the increased security measures now in place. Here are ten simple tips that we hope will help make your journey more enjoyable:

1) Try to check the status of your flight before leaving home. This can generally be done online but you may have been provided with a freephone telephone number to call for status updates.

2) Be prepared for airport security checks. This means avoid wearing metal (in underwear, as jewelry, belt buckles etc.) Wearing metal will be detected by security scanners and you’ll be required to remove the metal items before being rescanned. Small items of jewelry (earrings, rings, necklaces) will not set off the security alarms.

3) Book as much as you can in advance. If you need to use airport parking facilities, book in advance. If you will need car hire at your destination, book in advance. And if you will need hotel accommodation either before your flight or at your destination, always book in advance. You’ll get the best prices and avoid disappointment.

4) Always arrive early. Gone are the days when you could turn up at the airport just 15 minutes before your flight. These days you need to arrive early. For domestic flights within the UK you will need to arrive at least one hour before your flight. For flights to European destinations two hours is generally enough time and for inter-continental flights you will need to arrive at least three hours before your flight. Always check the arrival requirements with your airline and don’t be late.

5) Pack sensibly. Don’t pack anything dangerous (fireworks, drugs, knives). Always refer to the detailed instructions provided by your airline regarding items that are permissible in your luggage and hand luggage.

6) Print your boarding pass in advance. Many airlines today allow you to check in and print your boarding pass in advance, online. This will potentially save considerable time at the airport so make sure you do this before leaving home.

7) Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Never wear overly tight clothing, high heels or tight-fitting shoes. You need to be comfortable on your flight and your feet are likely to swell so be sure to wear comfortable attire.

8 ) Eat before leaving home. Airport food can be expensive so save some money by eating properly before leaving home. You may also like to find out what will be served on your flight and, if necessary, bring your own snacks.

9) Remove any undeveloped film from your luggage. Make certain to remove any undeveloped film (with a speed of 800 or higher) from your baggage for hand checking. All other film and digital cameras are safe to pass through the x-ray machine.

10) Insure your gadgets. These days many of us travel with several valuable electronic gadgets. Mobile phones, laptops, PDAs and iPods are common. As well as travel insurance it is a good idea that you get yourself some gadget insurance cover for these valuable items. Its also a good idea to backup all of your valuable contact details and data before leaving home, just in case the worst should happen.

Hopefully these suggestions will help you to have a safe, successful and enjoyable trip.

Jetsetters from the Midlands can now enjoy jumbo jet flights from Birmingham to Athens courtesy of Hellenic Imperial Airways and Birmingham International Airport.

The Greek airline will operate a Boeing 747-200 aircraft with 450 seats, and the flights will have onward connections to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Talal Abureyal, Chariman of Hellenic Imperial Airways, said:  “Birmingham is our first UK airport and we are very excited about launching services in the Midlands. Athens, which is our HQ, is not currently served from Birmingham so we expect that our flights will be welcomed by those travelling for business and leisure, in particular those visiting friends and relatives.”

The new flights are sure to be popular with not only Athens-bound travellers, but also those heading for Saudi Arabia, and with Birmingham Airport parking priced as low as around £30* for a week when you pre-book there’s no need to rely on a taxi or a friend to get you to the airport.

* 1 week’s Birmingham Airport parking commencing 08/26/09.

Do you fancy leaving behind the unpredictable English weather and jetting off to sunnier climes?  Well, you’re in luck.   easyJet is offering outstanding deals on flights from Bristol Airport to the sunny Algarve this summer, making it hard to resist a getaway to the sandy beaches of southern Portugal.

Faro, the Algarve’s capital, offers something for almost everyone.  The old part of the city is still surrounded by Roman walls, and there are also plenty of shops and restaurants to explore.  Of course, if relaxing in the sun is more to your liking, you can make the short trip to Albufeira and laze about on the sand to your heart’s content.  If you’re a golfer, you’ll enjoy choosing from many top-quality courses like Castro Marim Golf, which is situated on rolling hills close to the border with Spain.

To make the deal even sweeter, you can also get one week’s parking at Bristol Silver Zone parking from just £35.99 in August*, meaning you can realise even more savings and concentrate on chilling out and having fun instead of worrying about costs.

* 1 week’s Bristol Airport parking commencing 05/08/09. Price subject to change.

The heat is on, and most of us are looking to get out in the sunshine and enjoy the summer weather before it passes us by.

You might think that all you can afford is having mates round for a back garden bar-b-que, or maybe just the odd afternoon on the balcony laying on the barcalounger, but there are superb travel deals to be had if you know where to look.

How about instead of the balcony you were laying on a sandy beach by the sea?  Jet2.com is offering last minute flights from Leeds Bradford Airport down to fantastic Newquay for as little as £2.99 each way, making it even harder to resist a little fun in the sun.

And the savings don’t stop with your flight when you consider that on-airport parking at Leeds Bradford Airport in the Long Stay car park can be pre-booked for as little as £34.99 for a week in August, not to mention all the last minute deals to be had at hotels, B&B’s and self-catering cottages in Newquay.

The flight deals end very soon, so don’t put it off…treat yourself to some time in the sunshine this summer.

Getting the whole family organised for a summer holiday can be a challenge at the best of times, and the task of getting everyone out the door and to the airport on time can make the start of your holiday more stressful than it needs to be.

You can avoid a last-minute rush by pre-booking one of our airport hotels, which just might offer better value than you think.  Some research suggests that a majority of travellers believe family hotel rooms cost up to twice as much as they actually do.  For example, you can get a family room at a 3-star Gatwick Airport hotel for only £45.00 in July*.  If you require parking while you’re away, you can add however many days you need to your room package and enjoy outstanding savings – you may even get your airport hotel with parking as a package deal for less than the cost of parking alone!

So why not eliminate a stress-filled pre-flight routine this year and book your family into an airport hotel the evening before your departure?  One look at our offers and you’ll see why smart people like you always GoSimply.

*Current price based on family room (2 adults, 2 children) for 1 night at Gatwick Russ Hill Hotel on 07/07/09.

Whilst getting my partner ready to travel for the second time this month, he said he had to change the way he packed as on the last trip he was asked to ditch his toiletries and was given a little clear plastic bag (cost about 35p) and was asked to throw away many of his items such as face wash etc as they were more than the allowed amount of liquid etc per item, which he did, much to his dismay.

Not only that, but he also had to ‘re-adjust’ the size of the bag he was taking on board as hand luggage as this was to carry his clothes and shoes as well as his toiletries. There is a size suggestion however. When flying with just hand luggage the acceptable size is around 22” length x 14” width x 9” height. This is the size they prefer and that you’re less likely to have rejected!

For taking your shampoo, gel and toothpaste etc, the recommendation is to make sure each individual container must have a capacity of no greater than 100ml. They must be carried separately in a single transparent, re-sealable plastic bag. which must be no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8in x 8in) and all items must fit inside so that it closes securely.

(There are however exceptions to these rules for example if you have a baby and need to take formula, breast milk etc or need medication – then you will need to declare this at the security checkpoint).

So for those of you wishing to travel with just hand luggage, please check before you fly with your airline, what the sizes and weights you are allowed to take on board with you. Also the advised amount for your toiletries bag (clear plastic of course!).

So ladies, next time YOU are thinking of travelling with just hand luggage and couldn’t live without your make-up bag, check in advance on what you can take on board, I know I will!

The UK is home to some of the busiest airports anywhere, and all of those travellers want to make sure their holidays start off as smoothly as possible.  Some will book a pre-flight stay at an airport hotel, or make sure they find the best deal on airport parking.  Sometimes, though, overlooking certain things during preparations can result in a major headache later on.

An expired tax disc can cause airport parking headaches!

For instance, did you know that virtually all airport car parks will turn away vehicles if they are not displaying a valid tax disc?  This is especially true of Meet and Greet parking operators, whose employees would be driving your vehicle illegally out on the road.  If you’re turned away at your pre-booked car park, you might be able to find another one in time to make your flight, but you’ll be incurring additional expense before you’ve even left the ground.  That’s not to mention the stress you’ll be putting on yourself…not the ideal way to start a relaxing holiday!

Be sure to check back in with us at the gosimply blog on a regular basis, as we’ll be offering more handy travel tips as the summer months approach to help make your holiday one to remember.

Travelling with your family? Dreading the thought of keeping the kids happy whilst getting them packed and up in the early hours? As every parent knows, travelling with young children can be a headache, especially if you have a long journey to and from the airport combined with an early flight.

gosimply.com can take that headache away.

Many hotels include Breakfast

Why not stay at an airport hotel before your flight? No rushing around trying to get the kids ready and no early morning drive with the ‘are we there yet?’ every 2 minutes!

Get a good nights sleep and the whole family can wake up refreshed and ready to go.

Many hotels include on-site airport parking and offer short transfers directly to the airport. No fuss and no worries of motorway delays, heavy traffic or trying to find a place to park the day of your flight.

The great news is, it’s not as expensive as you might think:

• Family room prices from just £56*
• Combine a hotel with airport parking from £78**

NO fuss, NO rush, just a great start to your holiday a day early

*Family room at the Gatwick Ramada hotel on Feb 13th 2009   ** 8 days parking and overnight stay at Gatwick Airport on Feb 13th 2009. Prices correct at time of publication.