Cheap flights, discounted car hire and great rates at over 30,000 hotels are all available at the click of a mouse at www.netflights.com.

If you’re looking to getaway this year, there’s no better place to find your perfect holiday deal. Netflights.com caters for all your travel needs, helping the British public find more than flights, for less.

Top Holiday Offers

Flights to Dubai with Hotel from £629 – Saving £190
www.netflights.com can offer three nights staying at the five star Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai with half board for £629. Price includes return flights with Air France from London Heathrow, return transfers and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures 10th – 30th June 2012. Book by 1st February 2012.

Holidays in Phuket from £669 – Saving £350
www.netflights.com can offer eight nights staying at the three star Seaview Patong Hotel in Phuket with breakfast for £669. Price includes return flights with Singapore Airlines from London Heathrow and Manchester, return transfers and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures 1st – 7th June 2012. Book by 28th February 2012.

Orlando Holidays from £469 – Saving £250
www.netflights.com can offer seven nights staying at an Orlando Private Home on a room only basis for £469. Price includes return flights with Delta Air Lines from London Heathrow and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures 1st – 20th March 2012. Book by 1st February 2012. Price based on six people sharing.

Cheap Flight Offers

Flights to Las Vegas from £423
Price includes return flights with Delta Air Lines from London Gatwick and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures up to 31st March 2012. Book by 2nd February 2012.

Bangkok Flights from £459
Price includes return flights with Sri Lankan Airlines from London Heathrow and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures 10th April – 30th June 2012. Book by 31st January 2012.

Singapore Flights from £474
Price includes return flights with Sri Lankan Airlines from London Heathrow and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures 10th April – 30th June 2012. Book by 31st January 2012.

Flights to Dubai from £331
Price includes return flights with KLM from London Heathrow and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures up to 30th June 2012. Book by 2nd February 2012.

Flights to Johannesburg from £484
Price includes return flights with KLM from London Heathrow and pre-payable taxes. Valid for departures up to 30th June 2012. Book by 2nd February 2012.

Ends

Notes to Editors

About netflights.com

Netflights.com guarantees fantastic offers on flights, hotels, holidays and car hire worldwide. Thousands of discounted airfares from over 135 airlines, reduced rates at over 35,000 hotels, great offers on holidays and car hire are all available at netflights.com, giving customers easy access to all the latest and best travel deals.

Netflights.com is a member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), and every flight and holiday sold is ATOL protected, giving customers full financial protection and complete peace of mind when booking – whether online or over the phone.’

For further information please contact:

For enquiries regarding netflights.com;

Netflights.com Press Office – tel: 01772 525522

pressenquiries@netflights.com

Rhinocarhire.com are expecting high demand on car hire in Cyprus in 2012. With Christmas now a memory, many of us are thinking about booking our summer holidays and the industry is waiting anxiously to see which will be this year’s hot destinations. Rhinocarhire.com is forecasting a big year for Cyprus in 2012 with increased demand for holidays building on an improved end to the 2011 season.

Cyprus has many advantages over its rivals including more dependable weather than Spain or France and a calmer political scene than Greece or Italy. Demand for car hire rises hand in hand with increasing holiday bookings and Rhino are already seeing higher bookings in the summer of 2012 for car hire Paphos and car hire Larnaca.

This year will also see the decision made over which city will represent Cyprus alongside Denmark for the 2017 European City of Culture. The two finalists, Paphos and Nicosia, will be actively promoting their cultural highlights, giving an added boost to tourism and the demand for car hire Cyprus.

Car hire in Cyprus offers great value vehicles from only £6 per day but deals as good as these are likely to become harder to find as the peak season approaches making early booking essential.

Marketing Manager, Phil Partridge, commented, “Cyprus tourism has suffered in recent years as the market became flooded with cheap deals to other countries. Many people who may not have visited Cyprus before or have not holidayed there for many years are now looking at it anew following a concerted campaign by the country’s tourism organisation to promote the improved accommodation and transport facilities and of course the range of things to see and do, many of them unique to the island.

*prices based on 7 days rental of mini class vehicle during February 2012 – prices correct at time of going to press and subject to availability.

About Rhinocarhire.com
Rhinocarhire.com launched in June 2008 and quickly made an impact in the online car hire market. Voted ‘Best Car Hire Website 2010′ at the Travolution Awards, Rhinocarhire.com has established itself among the leading car hire websites. It offers car hire in over 20,000 locations worldwide, including all the major airports and cities.

Comparing car hire rates with over 550 leading suppliers, Rhinocarhire.com offers the lowest prices to its customers, backed up by a dedicated customer support network in the UK. With supplementary services such as UK Airport Parking and over 6,000 pages of useful travel guides and information Rhinocarhire.com offer more than just low prices on car hire.

For further information or to book car hire please visit www.rhinocarhire.com.

Media Contact

Phil Partridge
T: 0203 384 3580
media@rhinocarhire.com

January 04, 2011

Good news travels well: Tesco Compare is delighted to announce that it has teamed up with theidol.com, giving customers a fresh proposition and providers to find travel insurance deals.

The provider has already enjoyed a working relationship with Tesco Compare since 2009, delivering the life insurance comparison service. For those wanting to ‘get away from it all’ in the New Year, there will be the chance to search for different travel insurance quotes with the aim of saving money.

Peter Burgess, theidol.com’s Marketing Director, says: “We are more than happy to be working with Tesco Compare on a wider level, having already enjoyed a successful relationship for nearly three years. Our business recognises the comparison site as being part of a big brand. We believe we can offer new opportunities for those searching for competitive premiums.”

Search leading travel insurance brands…

Under the new provider, customers will be able to search over 20 travel insurers – many of which are leading brands. Theidol.com believes it can offer customers one of the most advanced travel insurance quote services available on the market today.

Vikki Macleod, Tesco Compare’s Commercial Director, said: “We are committed to ensuring customers have innovative ways to compare products. Working closer with theidol.com, this time for travel insurance, will demonstrate our dedication to giving customers a new choice. The provider is recognised in the industry and we look forward to working with them more comprehensively.”

The comparison service also allows customers to adjust the cover value for individual features in the quote results using a handy slide function – including, for example, aspects such as baggage cover, cancellation and curtailment, medical expenses and airline insolvency (scheduled airline failure).

A wide range of travel insurance cover to compare…

Through the provider, Tesco Compare can introduce customers to travel insurance for many areas, including personal and family cover, senior citizens, backpackers, business travellers, cruises, pre-existing medical conditions, winter sports activities and cover for people up to age 99.

Vikki Macleod summed up by saying: “Ultimately the new comparison service will help customers search for value for money travel insurance. The development marks an exciting new chapter for Tesco Compare to work closer with its partners. In turn, customers can search across a new choice of products to find a deal suited to their needs.”

Want to get away this winter? Why not search for cover via http://www.tescocompare.com/travel-insurance.shtml

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For media enquiries please contact:

Andy Moore, 0131-203-5515, or andy.moore@tescobank.com

Notes to editors:

Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited (trading as Tesco Compare) is part of the Tesco Personal Finance Group Limited, the financial services arm of the UK’s number one supermarket chain, which is fully owned by the Tesco Group. Tesco Personal Finance Compare Limited, registered in Scotland No.318925. Interpoint Building, 22 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The Financial Services Authority does not regulate loans, credit cards, telecoms or utilities.

Tesco Compare

• Tesco Compare is a comparison site, based in the UK. Since our launch in 2007, our business activities have extended to facilitate the introduction of a wide range of comparison services.
• Our own principal comparison services are for car and home insurance to which we compare over 60 and 20 providers respectively.
• Products compared by third party suppliers include: Money (credit cards, loans, mortgages, current accounts and savings accounts). Insurance (business, life, van, motorbike, travel and health). Utilities (broadband, mobile broadband, home phone, digital TV and gas & electricity). We also provide customers with links to pet and breakdown insurance providers.
• Our aim is to introduce customers to fair prices and deals from a range of leading brands.
• We believe that comparison sites should be about more than just the lowest price so our comprehensive comparison service helps you search and compare a wide range of products and providers by feature as well as price.

The Health Spa at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate is delighted to be named the Best Hotel Spa in this year’s Irish Tatler Spa Awards.

Set in 1300 acres of unspoilt countryside, Farnham Estate Health Spa at the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel in Cavan is one of Ireland’s most popular spa retreats, and one of only sixteen Fáilte Ireland designated ‘Resort Spas’ throughout the country.

Irish Tatler judges at the ceremony in the Westin Hotel, Dublin said they were bowled over by the generous size of the luxurious spa which covers a massive 40,000 sq. ft. and encompasses the Water Mint Thermal Suite with Aroma Steam Bath, Kneipp Walk, Laconium, Ice Fountain, Reflexology Foot Basins, and experience showers, as well as the Indoor and Outdoor Infinity Hydrotherapy swimming pool, 19 treatment rooms, relaxation and chill out areas and a large spa restaurant serving healthy and wholesome food.

They were also impressed by the “expert therapists at hand to pamper clients with YonKa spa treatments” and recognised the great value offers available.

“Thanks to its sheer size, the Health Spa at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate is a retreat to get lost in for an entire day,” said the judges. “And with flotation and hydrotherapy treatments starting at just €25, Farnham gets an extra nod for providing great return on minimal investment.”

The Health Spa’s Manager Erinn Cracknell is thrilled with the award. “Everyone at the Health Spa in Farnham Estate works so hard to ensure that our guests and visitors have wonderfully relaxing pampering experience. Winning this award means that we are achieving our goal to provide a truly special spa treat for everyone who walks through our doors, and we will be sure to continue to do so.”

For more information on the fantastic spa, Cavan hotels special offers and Cavan accommodation packages available at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate visit www.farnhamestate.ie.

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About Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts:

Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its “Yes I Can!” spirit of service and the “100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee”. September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio – the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes almost 250 hotels either in operation or under development and more than 58,000 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including hotel Cavan Ireland.

PR Contact:

Christine Reiter,
Senior Director Corporate Communication,
The Rezidor Hotel Group
Avenue Du Bourget 44
B-1130 Brüssel
Belgien
+32 2 702 9331
www.radissonblu.com

Premier Inn, the UK’s biggest budget hotel chain, has revealed new research* that shows work stress is getting so high across the UK that work is dominating the public’s sleep, with a third of Brits saying they dream about work over anything else.

The poll revealed that heavy workloads, long hours and conflicts with colleagues mean nightly dreams are dominated by office politics.

According to the research one in three Brits dream about work when they are stressed in their job and a quarter of the nation stated that they always dream about a colleague if there was a conflict with them earlier that day. For some Brits working life is never far from their minds, with just over 20% admitting they regularly dream about their boss.

Premier Inn asked 2,000 Brits about their dream patterns and the research found that 20% of Brits dream more if they are under pressure or stressed while 50% admitted to dreaming more about their colleagues than celebrities, demonstrating that it is increasingly difficult to forget about work.

The poll found that the average person dreams most nights, with only 12% saying they don’t dream. But dreams often leave people confused, with 52% of Brits saying their dreams do not make sense and 60% wishing they could know what their dreams mean.

A spokesperson for Premier Inn said: “Work is a huge part of everyday life and for the majority of us we spend more time there than anywhere else, so it’s not surprising that issues and tensions we have during the day are reflected in the types of dreams we are having.

“It is really important to try and unwind after a hard day at work, but that is easier said than done if something is playing on your mind so we recommend a short weekend break to get away from it all to help switch off.”

Davina MacKail, Dream Expert said: “This poll shows that whether we are asleep or awake a problem with a colleague or stress at work can really affect us.

“More than half of the nation stated that their dreams don’t make sense so I have worked with Premier Inn to compile a Dream Dictionary to help dreamers to understand why they dream what they do and what those dreams mean.”

The Premier Inn dream dictionary is available on the Premier Inn website at www.premierinn.com and the Premier Inn Facebook page, located at www.facebook.com/premierinn.

Premier Inn offers all guests the unique ‘Good Night Guarantee’ which means if customers are not 100% satisfied with their stay at any of the company’s hotels they will get a full refund.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

*The research was carried out by One Poll amongst 2000 UK adults in November 2011

Award-winning Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel brand with over 600 budget hotels and more than 46,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland.  Premier Inn bedrooms feature en-suite bathrooms, TV with Freeview, and WiFi internet access. All Premier Inns feature a bar and restaurant; situated inside the hotel or adjacent, offering a wide range of food choices.

Premier Inn is open in Dubai and India. On a domestic front, Premier Inn aims to be the largest provider of budget hotels in London (within the M25) by 2012.

Premier Inn supports WaterAid, the international charity whose mission is to overcome poverty by enabling the world’s poorest people to gain access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education. To date Premier Inn has raised £1m for the charity.

PR Contact:

Vanessa Lee
Frank PR
3rd Floor
Centro 4
20-23 Mandela Street
London
NW1 0DU
0207 693 6999
www.premierinn.com

Q3 Marketplace Report from HomeAway.co.uk reveals Spain as top destination for summer 2011 and growth in rentals market in Thailand and Dubai

Report highlights:

• More Brits than ever opt for Spain as their top summer destination
• Dubai and Thailand see considerable increases in holiday rental supply
• 70% of holiday home owners will not increase their rental rates despite council tax increase
• Holiday rentals are top choice for Christmas holidays

The latest figures from www.HomeAway.co.uk, the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, show Spain was the most popular destination for summer holidays in 2011. In terms of the number of booking enquiries for breaks in Q3 2011, Malaga Province and Majorca claimed first and second place, followed by Ibiza in sixth place.

There was also a clear preference towards short-haul breaks, with nine out of the top ten destinations for summer 2011 holidays being either in the UK, or within a three hour flight distance.

For further details, read the full report page 3

Investment opportunities in Dubai and Thailand

Dubai and Thailand both experienced a considerable growth in property listings on HomeAway.co.uk in Q3 2011, increasing the number of holiday rentals available to holidaymakers in these destinations. Dubai was the third best performing destination, with a 46% year on year increase in listings. Growth in interest from holidaymakers was also strong; the region saw a massive 86% year-on-year increase in booking enquiries on HomeAway.co.uk during Q3 2011 compared to Q3 2010.

Thailand also performed very well in terms of inventory growth on HomeAway.co.uk, with a 43% year-on-year increase in listings, which suggests a growing number of Brits are investing in this developing property market. Booking enquiries from holidaymakers also grew by a steady 32%.

For further details, read the full report page 5

Impact of council tax increase on holiday home owners

Following the Government’s announcement to end council tax benefits for second home owners, HomeAway.co.uk asked holiday home owners advertising on its site how this might affect their rental rates. The good news for holidaymakers is that almost 70% of those surveyed said they didn’t intend to change their rates, however one in ten indicated they may have to increase rates by up to 10% to cover higher costs.

However, despite the difficult economic climate, almost one in five owners is thinking of buying another property in the next three years, according to research conducted by HomeAway.co.uk. The survey showed 80% would use the additional property for short term rentals, which suggests holiday rentals are still seen as a sound investment in uncertain times.

For further details, read the full report page 6

Holiday rentals, top choice for Christmas holidays

According to a recent holidaymaker survey conducted by HomeAway.co.uk, 11% of people are planning to go away on holiday this Christmas and 46% will opt for a holiday rental versus 31% for a hotel. A cosy cottage or farmhouse with roaring log fire would be the ideal Christmas holiday home for most people (38%), closely followed by a luxurious villa with pool (32%).

For further details, read the full report page 7

DOWNLOAD THE FULL 7-PAGE REPORT

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About HomeAway UK

HomeAway UK operates the two market-leading websites HomeAway.co.uk (www.HomeAway.co.uk) and Owners Direct (www.OwnersDirect.co.uk), founded respectively in 1996 and 1997. HomeAway.co.uk is the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, listing over 250,000 self-catering properties worldwide. HomeAway.co.uk offers independent guest reviews and OwnersDirect.co.uk offers owner profiles for increased peace of mind.

About HomeAway, Inc.

HomeAway is the world leader of the online holiday rentals market, representing over 625,000 property listings across more than 145 countries. The company has contributed significantly to the popularity of the holiday rentals industry, making it easier than ever for both owners to advertise and profit from their second homes and for millions of holidaymakers to find the perfect holiday rental. HomeAway operates sites in 11 European countries and the market-leading sites in the USA and Brazil.

Media contacts:

Sarah Chambers / Anca Popa
HomeAway.co.uk
020 3513 0734 / 020 3513 0801
schambers@homeaway.co.uk
apopa@homeaway.co.uk

- Warning comes over concerns that people think they are uninsurable because they are ‘too old’ -

A new tier of travellers aged 75 and over are finding themselves pigeonholed as ‘uninsurable’ by insurers, resulting in a greater risk of people travelling without adequate insurance, warns AllClear Travel.

Figures suggest that the number of elderly people making trips abroad is rising, with the number of travellers over 75 insured by AllClear increasing by 15%for worldwide trips (and 13% for Europe) from 2009 to 2010. However, with estimates from Which? that one in four providers are refusing to cover people in their 60s and above, there is a concern that some may decide to travel regardless of insurance, with potentially disastrous consequences.

“The elderly are approaching well-known and previously highly regarded insurers and are being turned away,” according to Mike Rutherford, Chairman of AllClear, “often after many hours of frustration on the telephone or online, simply because they no longer meet the insurer’s underwriting criteria.

“Our research indicates that maximum age limits are being lowered by many providers, and the danger is that elderly people start to believe that they are ‘uninsurable’. This could mean they either don’t travel at all, or worse, they travel without cover and find themselves dangerously at risk of financial ruin if they do fall ill abroad.”

Insurers avoid covering older travellers because statistically they are more likely to make a claim; Mike concedes that the likelihood of a traveller over 75 making a claim on medical grounds (and this claim being of a higher value) is considerable. Figures show that in 2010 there was one claim for every 26 travellers insured by AllClear for those in the 75–84 age group, and this ratio rose to one in every 21 for those who were 85 or upwards. This is compared to one in 69 for travellers under the age of 55 in the same period.

Examples of claims values settled by AllClear in the past two years include medical expense claims of £49,000 for a trip to the USA for a 79-year-old, and another for £30,000 for an 84-year-old travelling to Spain. “These give an indication of how much an uninsured traveller risks if they are taken ill abroad,” Mike says.

“You can go to sleep the night before your 75th birthday as an ‘acceptable risk’ for your travel underwriter and wake up the next morning ‘unacceptable’ – how can that be right? Why are insurers refusing to write policies for the very people who need them most?”

With the appropriate medical screening and close analysis of claims history the real risk can be assessed and premiums set based on the individual’s health and age: “We have successfully insured a number of 99 year olds,” he says. “What is required is a specialist approach with underwriters who actually understand the risk they are taking on, rather than a faceless ‘tick box’ culture that so often ends with ‘the computer says no’.

“We believe everyone has a fundamental right to travel, regardless of age. Being old or having a medical condition should not make you uninsurable.”

The 15% increase in travellers aged 75 and older buying worldwide single trip policies indicates that more people are opting for more exotic or long haul holidays. “If this is indicative of current travel trends there could be more horror stories of uninsured people incurring hefty medical bills in the coming months as the winter sun season begins,” Mike concludes.

Visit: www.allcleartravel.co.uk

For further information please contact Gravity London – Iona McIntyre or Sean Feast on 0207 330 8888 (emails: imcintyre@gravitylondon.com and sfeast@gravitylondon.com).

Gatwick Express is currently running a 15% off return journeys offer, if you buy your ticket online – just in time for Christmas.

Adding an extra 5% to their already existing offer of 10% off tickets that are booked online, this offer is available now until midnight on 3rd January and can be booked online up to 12 weeks in advance (before travel).

This extra gift is perfect to fit in the pocket of any Gatwick Airport traveler and will help ease the pennies to go towards Christmas gifts to family and friends.

Visit www.gatwickexpress.com for more information and to purchase tickets online.

-ends-

For more press information, please contact Stephen or Zoe at SRF on 01252 850540, or email zoe@communicationmatters.co.uk

Gatwick Express

Gatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air service between Victoria station and Gatwick Airport departs every 15 minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes.  For more information, please visit www.gatwickexpress.com

Gatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air link between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, has created new roles to enhance their customer service provision at the stations. Research has revealed that customers want interaction with staff at the station more than any other point in their journey.

The new customer service hosts will provide the highest level of service to further assist customers with buying tickets, providing information, manning the gateline, and ensuring the Gatwick Express is the first choice for rail passengers to and from the airport. This will increase customer interaction and provide more opportunities for our passengers to speak to staff and get the most up to date information.

Monica Vincze will be one of the new Gatwick Express Customer Service Hosts when he starts on 11 December and as he explains: “I really enjoy working with the public and the Gatwick Express brand has an international reputation for providing excellent customer service so this new role is a great opportunity for me to demonstrate my skills in helping passengers.”

Caroline Jarvis, Customer Service Manager for Gatwick Express said: “Our customer base includes first time visitors to the country as well as experienced, frequent travellers but we know all of our customers want the opportunity to ask a question when they most need assistance. The Customer Service Hosts will be hand to provide advice or support to our customers and help in delivering our vision to make every journey better.”

-ends-

For more press information, please contact Stephen or Zoe at SRF on 01252 850540, or email zoe@communicationmatters.co.uk

Gatwick Express

Gatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air service between Victoria station and Gatwick Airport departs every 15 minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes.  For more information, please visit www.gatwickexpress.com

Working closely with National Schools Partnership (NSP) to incorporate the innovative ‘Eco-traveller’ programme into the National Curriculum, Thomson and First Choice’ssustainable tourism key messages have reached over 1,000 schools across the UK and more than 140,000 children.

The Eco-traveller programme which was launched in June this year, includes a series of activity sheets with teacher notes and an online quiz game for use in the classroom and at home. All these teaching aids are designed to teach primary school children at Key Stage two (aged seven to 11) about the steps that they can take to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Activity sheets on destinations such as Kenya encourage the children to think laterally about ecosystems and the needs of animals and humans, whilst spotting the problems that could be caused by climate change in communities around the world. The children also learn about the issues that holiday destinations could face, with a detailed look at the sustainable tourism projects that Thomson and First Choice are involved in.

School pupils have been learning about recycling, reducing water usage and packing lightly when going on holiday – they also had the opportunity to enter a competition by outlining their ‘green’ pledge in a bid to win a family holiday courtesy of Thomson and First Choice. Four pupils from across the UK were awarded the prize for their hard work.

Christian Cull, Director of Communications for Thomson and First Choice, said:

“We have had really positive feedback from pupils, parents and teachers and want to continue the Eco-traveller project into next year. This activity goes some way towards fulfilling one of our ‘Holidays Forever’ commitments: engaging half a million children in sustainable tourism. We also know that our customers want to travel with a tour operator that cares about the environment, so this is a really important area for us to continue to review and improve on. ”

There were four winners overall from across the UK, each winning a £2,000 holiday voucher.

Notes to editors:

The full 20 sustainable commitments are available on the Holidays Forever website here: www.holidaysforever.co.uk and details on the Eco-Traveller project can be found here: www.holidaysforever.co.uk/ecotraveller.

For more information and images please email pressoffice@thomson.co.uk