6 UPDATE


June 2014 Travel News Ferry company backing Glasgow Games team


THE Irish Sea’s leading ferry company is backing Northern Ireland’s elite athletes to bring home medals at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.


As the official ferry partner for Team Northern Ireland, Stena Line will transport athletes onboard their Superfast ships between Belfast and Cairnryan over the coming months as they train and compete in the various arenas and stadiums in Glasgow. The Northern Ireland team includes athletes from sporting disciplines such as boxing, lawn bowls and judo who have all won a place at Glasgow 2014 this summer. Stena Line’s Route Marketing Manager – Irish Sea North, Neil Palmer, said: “Excitement is building for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and we’re delighted to support the team of athletes from Northern Ireland by providing them with essential support. “We are proud to play our role in getting the Team Northern Ireland to Glasgow, via our Belfast to Cairnryan route, safely, on time and refreshed and we’re hoping for lots of medals during the competition, whatever the colour. “Taking part in the Games will surely be the fulfillment of a life-long dream for these athletes and we wish them the best of luck, particularly the Northern Ireland first ever female boxers as this will be the first time they compete in the


history of the Commonwealth Games .” Robert McVeigh, Chair of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council, said: “Our partnership with Stena Line is a real comfort to our athletes as it provides them with an excellent service and a very relaxing way to travel.


“Lots of our competitors have used the service already due to the comfort available onboard and the no baggage restrictions and no outsize baggage charges are great money-savers for our athletes as many have large pieces of luggage and equipment essential for their sport. Plus, the frequency of service offers flexibility to fit with the athletes’ schedules. Supporting athletes


“Our Games Management Team has been making regular trips on Stena Line which is great as they can support the athletes throughout their Commonwealth journey.” Robert added. Stena Line is the market leader on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Ireland to Britain, including the Belfast to Cairnryan, Belfast to Liverpool (Birkenhead), Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Port to Holyhead, and Rosslare to Fishguard routes.


Meanwhile, Stena has created a great-value bikers day-trip fare to Scotland starting at just


£25 for a bike plus rider.


Motorcycle fans can bring their bikes to Cairnryan and enjoy the freedom of having their own transport to enjoy a visit to friends, family or go on a biking tour of the stunning countryside with other motorbike enthusiasts. Whatever the occasion, this great value day trip gives plenty of time to pack in an eventful day away and at a great price.


Neil Palmer, Route Marketing Manager, Stena Line said: “Scotland has lots of motorcycle destinations such as the Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife, Scotland’s National Motorsport Centre for Driving Experience and some of their exciting upcoming events include the British Drifting Championship on June 8th or the Scottish Championship Bike Race on 21-22 June.”


Stunning countryside


“There is so much to see and do for bikers and this Stena Line fare is the perfect low-cost way for them to travel.You’ll be amazed at how much fun you can have and stunning countryside you can see in just one day.”


Bikers can depart from Belfast at 07.30hrs or 11.30hrs and spend the day touring Scotland taking in the fantastic countryside on some of the best biking roads in Europe before returning on either the 19.30hrs or 23.30hrs sailing.


Taking that airport taxi a costly experience...


PACKING A PUNCH: Northern Ireland athlete Alanna Audley-Murphy is pictured with Neil Palmer of Stena Line as the ferry giant backs Northern Ireland’s elite athletes to bring home medals at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. As the official ferry partner for Team Northern Ireland, Stena Line will transport athletes onboard their Superfast ships between Belfast and Cairnryan over the coming months as they train and compete in the various arenas and stadiums in Glasgow


Milan taxi costs 32 times more than one in Sofia F


OR the thousands of Britons heading off on European city breaks in the next few weeks, taking a taxi from the airport to a city centre hotel is usually the most convenient and fastest way to travel. But how much or little are UK travellers paying for this convenience?


New research from travel money specialist No.1 Currency looks at the cost of a taxi ride – not booked in advance – from some of the major airports in Europe to the capital or major city centre.


For each city, taxi journeys were ranked by pounds per km, as some airport to city centre transfers were much longer in terms of distance, hence generally more expensive. The results revealed huge differences in price, with the cost of a round trip taxi from the airport adding as much as £140 onto the cost of a holiday or weekend break.


Ranking by £ per km, Copenhagen, in Denmark, is the most expensive airport-city centre taxi transfer in Europe. Although the


journey by road from Copenhagen airport to the city centre is only 8km, the average fare registering on the meter is £33.33, which equates to £4.17 per km. That means a round trip will set travellers back almost £70.


The next most expensive taxi journey by £ per km is Geneva, in Switzerland, to the centre of Geneva. Again the journey is relatively short, only 6km, but will set travellers back an average of £22.11 or £3.68 per km. On price alone, the 46km taxi ride from Milan’s Malpensa airport to the city centre is the priciest, costing an eye-watering £70.25. That means a round trip will cost on average £140. Milan is closely followed by Oslo’s Gardermoen airport to the centre of Oslo, which will leave holidaymakers out of pocket by the princely sum of £67.77 or just over £135 to and from the airport.


East European cities are not surprisingly some of the cheapest place to visit when it comes to the cost of taking a taxi from the airport. Sofia airport to the centre of Sofia,


Holiday weather updates


WITH festival season and summer’s utterly British events - sporting and the English ‘social’ calendar - on the horizon, the Met Office releases improvements to its mobile website and app, to ensure the weather doesn’t get the better of your chosen event.


Hourly forecasts are now available for the first two days of the Met Office’s five day forecasting period - and forecasts available every three- hours for days three to five. This new service means you won’t be caught out with a sudden rainstorm at Glastonbury or an expected heat wave during Glyndebourne. For festival goers heading abroad - perhaps to Soundwave in Croatia or to the Montreal Jazz Festival, five- day weather forecasts for international locations are now available on the Met Office mobile and desktop sites.


Derek Ryall, Head of the Public Weather Service says, “Accurate, consistent and localised forecasts available from all devices – these were the priorities highlighted when we asked what improvements users wanted to see during the year and we listened!


“With the new range of improvements to our mobile app, mobile website and main website, users can now access up to the minute information that will help to keep them prepared and safe when out and about this summer.” The Met Office is the UK’s National Weather Service, providing 24x7 world-renowned scientific excellence in weather, climate and environmental forecasts and severe weather warnings for the protection of life and property. www.metoffice.gov.uk


will set you back just £2.12 for the 10km journey, or £0.21 per km. While, Bucharest’s Otopeni Airport to Bucharest central is just £4.67 or £0.27 per km for the 17km taxi ride. In terms of price per km, a taxi ride from Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport to the centre of Istanbul is actually the best value, with the 25km trip costing an average of £4.65 or £0.19 per km.


Although Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport is 43km from the city centre, the average taxi fare is £31.51, working out at just £0.73 per km. Simon Phillips, Head of Retail for No 1 Currency said: “Taking a taxi from the airport is not the cheapest option compared to taking the train or bus, but for Brits heading away to Europe in the next


few weeks it is generally the most convenient. Whether you’ve visited your European destination before or not, if you’re away for a short period of time, you want to get to your hotel as quickly as possible, with little or no hassle.


“Our research reveals there is a wide variation in the cost of a taxi depending on which European city you’re visiting. Even though the pound is almost three per cent stronger against the euro compared to 12 months ago, this is still an extra cost that could make a large dent in your holiday budget if you’re not careful or prepared.


“If the airport to city centre taxi ride is particularly expensive, like in Milan, then taking the bus or train may be the better or only option.”


Airport supports local charity


Deborah Harris, PR Manager of Belfast International Airport, is pic- tured above with Short Strand resident Jean O’Neill at the Age NI Day Centre situated in East Belfast’s state of the art Skainos Centre. Age NI are one of the beneficiaries of the Airport’s charity fund which gives donations to local charities and projects. Deborah said: Age NI are an inspirational charity and Belfast International Airport is de- lighted to be able to support them in the work they do”


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