YOMAG - Travel - Holidays - good to know 1

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Holidays - good to know 1

Příbor 1. 02. 2007

A holiday, enjoy yourself ...

The world is a book, and those who don´t travel, read only a page. We may run, walk stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

Continuing on from the quotation above --- what is actually my idea of a good holiday? It´s relaxation on a peaceful beach with a group of people I love. Moreover it´s a time when people have a rest and they don´t have to think about their job. On holiday we like to switch off, so we can enjoy ourselves. Travel agencies make certain kinds of suggestions for holidays various brochures and catalogues. Have you ever thought about what information they really give us in this way? I tried to study them and then that to think deeper about my choice.

Firstly, I would like to describe the HOTEL SAVOY which is located on the edge of the resort Lloret de Mar in Costa Brava and is offered by the travel agency Firo Tour. The transport is organized by air and the average price for half-board accommodation for 11 nights is 574 Euros for an adult and 422 Euros for a child. Regrettably, travel insurance isn´t included in the price. You may also have to pay a supplementary fee. The price seems to be very eye-catching, but it doesn‘t includes airport and security taxes and the fuel fee. In this catalogue there isn´t any information about how far the hotel is from the airport and how long you have to sit on a bus to reach the place. The brochure also tells you that the beach is only 100m from the hotel and the centre of entertainment is 15 minutes’ walk.

And what can I find out about about the accommodation from the brochure? It has a common room with a TV, a bar, a restaurant, a garden. There is also a swimming-pool which is provided with parasols and deckchairs. The guests’ rooms are air-cobditioned and they come with a TV as well as a bathroom and toilet.

The second choice is the small and quiet HOTEL WINDSOR with a familiar atmosphere and it´s offered by the travel agency Emma. The beach is 150 m from the hotel. The Hotel Windsor is also located just 50 m from the historical centre of Tossa. In addition, it offers rooms with balconies. Within the hotel complex there is also a swimming-pool and terraces, each of which is equipped with parasols and deckchairs. On the down side, however, the brochure does not tell you if there are toilets and bathrooms in every room. The price for 11 nights is 500 Euros travelling by air, 458 Euros travelling in a combination by air and bus, and 370s Euro by bus. The price includes transport taxes and travel insurance. Breakfast is also included within the price but you can pay for half or full board if you want. And how much will that cost? Unfortunately, information about prices in restaurants are not provided.

To help compare pluses and minuses of different holiday location, the third choice I have made is the HOTEL MARITIM in the resort of Calella. Stays at this hotel are offered by the travel agency Exim tours. As for accommodation, the catalogue infoms us about double-bedrooms with 1 or 2 extra beds, equipped with telephones, balconies, a toilet and a bathroom. Furthermore, there is a restaurant, a bar, a snack bar, and a hairdresser’s, as well as table-tennis, a sauna, gym and snooker/pool table. There is also a swimming-pool which has parasols and deckchairs for the use of the hotel’s guests. The price for 11 nights, half-board accommodation (including the flight) is 643 Euros for an adult, 166 Euros for 1. child and 433 Euros for the 2nd child in the extra bed. The price of teh holiday doesn´t include airport and security taxes, visas fees and the obligatory extra payment for travel insurance.

To sum up my “research”, on one hand I could express my initial enthusiasm because the price (which the customer is always interested in) is quite acceptable. On the other hand, the brochures have raised some important questiosn about the holidays: Is the hotel over-crowded How is transport from the airport organized? Are the transport buses equipped with air - conditioning? How long does the bus journey to the hotel take? Is it comfortable to sit on a bus? Furthemore, in the chures supplied by the travel agencies you can´t find information about the state of beaches, whether or not you are guaranteed to find a free place without any stress? In conclusion, it´s better to know as much about your hotel, the resort and how you’re going to get there as you possibly can. Consequently you can easily avoid unpleasant situations. And finally, make sure you enjoy your holiday!