Decode Car Hire Preparing for the 2010 Car Hire Season
Posted November 9, 2009 , comments closed) London With the World Travel Market 2009 almost here, Decode Car Hire is gearing up to release its new plans for 2010. There has been some recent stirrings about Decode Car Hire focusing a lot of its energy into the ever popular social networking markets. With the new Facebook application called Easy Car Hire already available, Decode Car Hire is really trying to bring the cars to the people rather than vice versa. They are also utilizing Twitter to reach a large audience about their worldwide car hire services. A spokesperson from the Decode Car Hire marketing department said, “We are very interested to see what kind of activity we can stimulate through these relatively untapped social mediums. It is really great how they are all linked together and they provide a very low cost solution to our advertising plans.” The spokesperson continued to speak about the Facebook application and how it is the only one of its kind on the internet’s biggest social network page. He acknowledged the accomplishment with some more words about the Facebook application saying, “The idea was simple really, we implemented our application so that millions of Facebook users could search for cars without having to come to our main website. We are also using the Facebook as a customer service medium so that our existing and future customers can contact us.” The customer service reference was enthusiastically emphasized by the Decode spokesperson because he was very anxious to speak about the new project.
Decode Car Hire is planning to step up the customer service aspect of the business to set themselves apart from competing companies. With new satisfaction guarantees ready for 2010, Decode Car Hire really wants to learn from the mistakes of the competition, as well as themselves, to provide the best service in the business. Again the Decode Car Hire spokesperson wanted to really address the new plan by saying this, “We see what people write in forums and we know there is a lot of problems with the aspects of customer service in the car hire business. We are here to fix the problems. We want our customers to feel welcome and respected when they use our company. Our new plans for the 2010 year are going to completely revamp the car hire customer service business and will guarantee the satisfaction of our clients.” He was careful not to reveal the full details of the customer service plans, but he was also very keen on using the phrase “complete transparency.” It sounds as though Decode Car Hire is really putting the customer first when it comes to their car hire services and special offers.
When the clock strikes midnight on January 1st 2010, look for Decode Car Hire to really start ramping up their already good customer service to an unprecedented level. We can also expect to see Decode Car Hire pushing hard through the social markets in an attempt to find customers by different means than simple searches on Google or Yahoo. Decode Car Hire should be a major player in the car hire business come 2010 and with the implementation of the new customer service plans, they should have no trouble securing a lot of satisfied clients.
Best Round-The-World Travel Blogs
Posted October 23, 2009 , comments closedBest Round-The-World Travel Blogs
Here at BootsnAll, we’ve been trying to inspire and help people plan round the world (RTW) trips for over a decade now. We also host thousands of travel blogs ourselves, with many of them being RTW journals and sites. You might already realize that there are so many thousands of travel blogs out there that finding the best of the best is just about impossible, but that hasn’t stopped us from at least trying to point out some excellent sites that we consider to be among the finest.
First off, what makes a great travel blog?
If you are interested in just keeping track of your journey for your own sake and the interests of friends and family, then it’s totally fine to use an existing template and just cover whatever you prefer. But if you want to put together a site that will appeal to people who’ve never met you, it’s a bit more complicated. Everyone has their own preferences, but generally speaking these are the things that will make your site stand out and appeal to a wider group of people:
- Use lots of photos, on almost everything.
- Make sure your site is easy to navigate, so people who enter on any one post can easily find posts on the same topic or different topics.
- Create an “About Me” page that is easy to find (If random readers can’t tell if you are a 22-year-old female backpacker or a 51-year-old man on a temporary retirement, it’s much harder to feel a connection with you).
- Be opinionated.
- Use lots of photos (seriously).
Here are some RTW blogs that we feel stand out:
Gobackpacking.com
This started out as a standard RTW blog written by a guy in Virginia, USA, who spent 20 months on the road, but now it’s being expanded into a helpful resource for independent travelers. It’s nicely designed and easy to read and navigate, but the content itself is the key. His article describing the actual costs of a RTW trip is a great example of the practical advice he dispenses. And it seems he is looking to expand through outside collaborators now too, so check the site if you are interested.
Nomadicmatt.com
If you follow the online travel and social media community, chances are you’ve heard of Nomadic Matt. He’s another who hit the road a few years back and has barely slowed down since. His site is filled with really helpful tips, and he isn’t afraid to be opinionated, which is refreshing. On his site you might miss his actual blog, but it’s worth a look, especially for solid entries like this recent post called Everyone Say I’m Running Away.
Everything-everywhere.com
Gary Arndt brings a fresh perspective to his site. He’s an entrepreneur who has evidently done well enough to afford a life more or less on the road since 2007. Most RTW blogs concentrate on hostel dorms and barely-existent budgets, so it’s nice to read posts by someone who isn’t forced to travel as a backpacker. Gary is also a good writer who has lately become a key player in the travel social media community, including as the host of a new weekly podcast called This Week in Travel. His site also features a stream of great photographs, so it has the distinction of also making our Best Photo Blogs list.
Alittleadrift.com
This site is the work of a 25-year-old Florida native who says she had a “quarter-life crisis” and decided to hit the road in 2008. She’s a good writer who does an excellent job organizing things so the site is easy to navigate, and there are always plenty of great photos too. She also puts together articles that are meant for a broader audience, including her budget tips and declaration that RTW travel can be cheaper than you might realize.
Ottsworld.com
Sherry Ott was in her 30s when she decided the corporate world just wasn’t for her anymore. She traveled around for around two years and has been based in Vietnam for about a year, teaching English. Now she’s on the road again, but she’ll continue to write and try to help others break away from the corporate grind. If you are unsure whether you can or should hit the road yourself, have a look at her section on taking a career break.
Wherethehellismatt.com
You already know this guy, Matt, from his amazingly inspirational and successful videos of him doing the same goofy dance in some of the most picturesque places on earth. His first trip and video got him so much attention that Stride Gum sponsored a second one and then a third one. He’s now been to 80 countries, at last count, and does actually have a proper travel blog/journal on his site, in addition to the videos and such.
Forksandjets.com
Some colleagues and I discovered this one a few months ago, and we were immediately hooked. It’s written by a pair of “amateur foodie traveloguers” who left Los Angeles in 2008 for a nomadic lifestyle, and the moment the page loads you’ll see they also have a definite sense of style. Once you get past that cool retro look and font you’ll notice that the site is filled with great photos and stories on the food and culture everywhere they go. Check out their observations and frustrations with Morocco as a good example.
Nodebtworldtravel.com
Brian described his mission as “One guy’s attempt to travel as far around the world as he cheaply can” and he’s another who has made a name for himself in the online travel social media circles. It’s not so much a travel journal anymore as it is a useful hub for travel information and advice. He’s recently put together an ebook, in which he’s compiled some of his best stuff. One great example of his style is his article discussing just how much can you save by staying in hostels instead of hotels.
Kiwifamily
This is one of the busiest travel blogs hosted here at BootsnAll, and it should be inspirational to anyone thinking about long-term travel with kids. In their own words, this is about “A Kiwi family with eight kids and a grandpa chronicle their pilgrimage from Singapore to London and beyond…..overland all the way.” You don’t see many large families on the road, so it’s interesting to read about some of the unique challenges, like this post from Bulgaria.
Theworldeffect.com
Here’s another one that is new to us, but caught our eye quickly. It’s written by a couple who obviously have a great sense of visual style. Right now they are in Africa and they have posted some of the finest pictures we’ve seen on a travel blog. An excellent example is this fairly recent post from Serengeti National Park.
Livingspree.wordpress.com
This site is also written by a couple who thought about dropping out of the rat race, and then went ahead and did it. They’ve been a lot of places, and this one isn’t the easiest to navigate, but it’s filled with good writing and useful information. Folks thinking about going to Southeast Asia might especially appreciate the way they break down their exact expenses. Particularly interesting is this post called Wish I Knew It Last Month, where they collect their best tips and insights from the road, after plenty of experience.
Roundtheworldticket.com
This one isn’t a RTW blog in the traditional sense, but we’ll forgive that since it’s part of our own travel network. It’s a site that is loaded with RTW-specific advice and resources, and even though it’s not as active as it once was, you’ll still find some interesting stuff here. In particular you might be interested in Places You Should See on your RTW Trip and Not So Obvious Reasons to Go on a RTW trip.
Do you know of any great RTW travel blogs that we didn’t include? There are lots of fantastic sites out there, so if you know of a site that deals with circling the globe, let us know in the comments.
Photo by aranarth on Flickr
Jack the Ripper Tour of London. Boo.
Posted , comments closedEditor’s note: In the run-up to Halloween and All Hallow’s Eve, we thought it would be fun to send Tina on a Jack the Ripper tour of London. Seems like this was a good call - Tina clearly was in the mood for a ghoulish tour of ye olde London towne.
It was a dark and blustery day in this dirty old town. Time was ripe to do something dangerous, weird and sinister. Well, perhaps I would just go and listen to something like that. I love all the crazy stories of London – if you have read Dickens you will know it have always been a throbbing hub of criminality and destitution. It still often feels that way as many of the buildings are remnants of times gone by, good and bad.
London’s full of nutters
So looking to satisfy my craving, I was able to get onto a tour which both intrigued and scared me… ye olde Jack the Ripper tour of London. I was a bit early for it, so I went and hung out at Trafalgar Square, which was super entertaining, and the entertainment was free! I tried taking photos of people taking photos of people on big black lions; also I tried to photograph a fella on a plinth dressed as a Raj and throwing about a vampire on a fishing pole.
Jack the Ripper tour of London? Don’t be scared.
This last statement may require explanation. And if it does not, you might want to consult a doctor. But the Raj man…This is all part of the fourth plinth project of Trafalgar Square – which has been empty for some time, and normally has on it commissioned projects. Well, the one at the moment is Antony Gormley’s “One and Other”, which allows people two hours to do whatever they like on the plinth. Some are very odd, and some are beautiful and interesting and some…well, downright bizarro. (Sadly the project ended October 14, so you just missed it!)
Jack the Ripper, it’s a mindset thing
Now I know some people who are well into this kind of thing – serial killers and the like. Well not really me – I have already worked in Mental Health, and some of my friends are a bit mad, so I don’t feel the need to get to know insanity any further.
However, there are those among us who love this kind of stuff; love getting into the mindset, or just the mystery of these kinds of events and people. And our host for the evening was evidently one such type. Full of vim, vigour and a good Scottish accent to heighten the senses, our guide John started off fairly quietly and ended with a good bang. We took a bus to the area where all of the attacks occurred, and started on our macabre journey. Starting at the (other) St Paul’s church, John described how it would have been then, and set the scene for our grim tour.
We trolled down these alleyways and backstreets, I would assume to avoid the crowds. The area where the Ripper was doing his bloody business is now a pumping hobo chic area that has lots of students, designers, hipsters (and, on Sundays, the Spitlefields Markets). But prior to this, the area was a run-down dingy place where everyone worked pretty hard for their coin, and a lot of people were still struggling to make ends meet.
Dim, dark, foggy, shivery
We began in Puma Lane, which is fairly narrow and haunting even during the day time. I enjoyed John’s descriptions, and his encouragement to imagine how it was back then. Now, I have read some reviews of this tour, and some people have been a bit persnickety about the ‘imagine’ parts of it.
The Ten Bells pub, one of Jack’s former haunts
Really, I just feel sorry that those people who obviously don’t have enough imagination. I was really drawn into the moment…for these streets really would be ominous. There was no electric bulbs at that time, and in some places not even the gas lamps. So when you put together the old brick buildings and the idea of dim, dark and foggy streets…oooh, shivery!
Now as you go through the streets and get your tour, some passersby do throw in comments and try to have a listen in. I know, because I sometimes do it, too. (Don’t hate me.) This just makes you concentrate more on what is being said. It can be quite intense this tour, because it was a grisly rampage the fellow went on; at one point after a description a girl had to have a wee sit down. So that is why the host asked for doctors and nurses in the audience. I must say, the Ripper did quite a nasty job on all of his victims, and it could be a little churning for those on the sensitive side.
But overall, it is not the physical act which is focussed on, but the psychology of the attacker. Of the cunning and skills he had to possess, and the mystery as to why he was never caught. The Ripper dubbed himself in a letter, and carried on his way for quite some time in these dank streets of east London.
Eating & drinking in the Ripper’s footsteps
Thankfully, there is a break in the middle of the tour, where you can grab a drink or a bite to eat. Now, if you are cluey, you can go down to the pub The Ten Bells, which is really a central part of the Ripper story. Inside, is quite cozy and well heeled, and does not retain what I would think the really hardcore working-class-pub feel of what it once was. But that is kind of this whole area. But take a beer during the break at this pub, and you will get to have the full experience, if you can imagine how it would have been over a century ago. Grime on the walls, everything pretty smelly, and beer in tankards with wenches a-plenty.
So we were on the last leg of the tour, the final victim and her story, which funnily enough started at the Ten Bells. We visited where her house would have been and heard the story, which was admittedly quite gory. And the best thing I liked about this part was one of the audience members who was eating ice cream while listening to the wicked and bloody tale. I commented, and she replied ‘oh I don’t mind, I’m a nurse’. Now I understand my sister a lot more (she is also a nurse).
So after the final story, we piled back in the bus, and John went through the theories of the time as to who the killer was, for he was never caught. I liked the one about the bonny Prince someone or other. We disembarked from the bus, assured by host and driver that the streets of London really are very safe and to have a lovely night. In fact a bloody marvellous night (pun intended).
-Tina Grace
Planning a tour? Browse Viator’s things to do in London, including London walking & biking tours such as the Jack the Ripper tour of London.
Carrentals.co.uk Reports Bumper Summer Season
Posted , comments closed) Car hire comparison site Carrentals.co.uk is reporting a 38% year on year increase in its summer bookings, (1 June 31st August), and a corresponding 72% increase in revenue, despite the difficult and unpredictable economic climate.
The company, which compares car hire deals from over 35 rental companies including Alamo, Budget, Holiday Autos and Sixt, says the biggest increases were seen in a number of European locations including Valencia, Cagliari, Gerona and Glasgow airports.
Gareth Robinson, Managing Director of www.carrentals.co.uksays: “Despite concerns over the tourism market at the start of the year, our strategy has seen our sales performance outstrip targets across the board. All of our target locations have delivered booking volumes significantly up on last year’s figures, showing the demand that still exists in the market.”
Carrentals.co.uk, a previous winner of the Travolution Awards, and nominated again this year, has continued to show major growth since it re-launched as a comparison site in 2007. It has achieved strong profit growth year-on-year in the last two years, and is on track for a record financial performance this year, which ends in Jan 2010.
Gareth adds: “I believe that our carefully-managed expansion plans, coupled with a dedicated and experienced team behind us is now showing real bottom-line benefits, and I am very encouraged by the upwards revision of our year end forecasts.”
Carrentals.co.uk’s top rental locations for summer 2009 include Alicante, Faro, Malaga, London, Majorca, Barcelona and Dublin.
“The site is successful because it works for both suppliers and customers,” adds Gareth. “Suppliers know they are getting a fair deal because of its cost-peracquisition (CPA) approach, meaning they only pay for an actual booking, while customers have grown to trust us for the low prices and range of rental companies we offer.
“The travel market is very competitive, meaning companies will only be successful if they offer an easy to use, effective and price sensitive service. We’re proud of the results we’ve achieved, but we know there’s still a lot more potential in the market so the coming year will be focused on building our service further and looking at new sectors where our approach can have an impact.”
About Carrentals.co.uk
www.carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies.
In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. Using the latest technology the Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 35 different car hire websites, providing an impartial comparison of the best prices available in over 9,000 locations.
Car Hire Suppliers searched include Alamo, Budget, EasyCar, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty, with the Carrentals.co.uk technology quickly comparing prices and allowing customers to refine their search by car type.
The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.
In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards. To book or for further information visit www.carrentals.co.uk
Media Contact
Debbie Williams
Context
T: 01625 511966
F: 01625 511967
carrentals@contextpr.co.uk
www.contextpr.co.uk
www.cruise.co.uk Wins ‘Best Cruise Agent’ in Europe for the Second Consecutive Year
Posted , comments closed) www.cruise.co.uk is celebrating success once again at the European Travel Awards with its second consecutive win in the Specialist Cruise Agent Category.
The great and good of the European travel industry gathered on Saturday night at the Marriott Prais D’El Rey Resort, just north of Lisbon, Portugal to see the best of European travel vie for success across a number of different categories. The European Awards form part of the World Travel Awards, the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after awards for the global travel and tourism industry. The awards celebrate excellence across customer service, innovation and creativity and are generally regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the global travel industry.
Commenting on the unique achievement, Seamus Conlon, Managing Director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award for the second consecutive year. We feel this recognises our superior service, higher cruise discounts, and the vast amounts of cruise related information we have on www.cruise.co.uk; over 7000 past passenger photos and over 100,000 cruise related question and answers, the complete Berlitz Guide to Cruising, online and free for all to read.
“This award comes at time when the market for cruises continues to grow and we welcome the recognition by our customers, our peers and those who use our website to research their cruise holiday. Last year alone our site had over four million visits and is now the UK’s largest cruise website for people researching a cruise. This is great example of a British company now leading the new developing online cruise market.”
www.CRUISE.co.uk has ALSO been nominated for the World Cruise Travel Agent 2009 which will be held on 8 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, when World Awards will be announced.”