UK Airport Parking
Airport parking in the UK can be expensive if you just turn up at the car park without having made a reservation. Cost savings of up to 60% are not unusual when you are able to pre-book your airport parking space.
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The trouble is that there is so much confusion online with airport parking on who can offer the best price and solution that meets the users needs. There appears to be a large number of websites offering various parking solutions. In truth there are only a small number of direct operators, but there are many operator partners that you can use to pre-book your airport parking.
Table For Downloads
This situation is common within the travel industry. There are relatively few major booking systems in comparison to the number of on and offline businesses connecting to and using them as their backend operation. Successful operations are able to add value to the booking process for the consumers. Some of the operator partners for airport parking include airlines, hotel chains and dedicated parking websites.
The Airport Parking Guide aims to offer the "best choice of available car parks at airports across the UK" and have developed their own price and information comparison system. The search results are colour coded for easy identification of on site, off site or meet and greet parking.
Using data from five of the main direct discount operators, for a given set of times and dates, the guide will return a choice of available car parks along with links to more in depth information.
The Airport Parking Guide in collaboration with BCP has recently made available for download, PDF guides for Gatwick and Heathrow airports. These are the first in a planned series of airport guides to be released by the Airport Parking Guide.
Over 200 car park options are contained within their database from around 100 or more car parks. The four parking brokers used to compare information and prices are BCP, APH, FHR and Holiday Extras. These operators account for the majority of all online and offline pre-booking of UK airport parking.
Each operator has their own strengths, but comparing the solutions of all four ensures that the Airport Parking Guide is able to add value to the website visitor. It is often in the detail that one makes a choice and the guide presents impartial information on all the car parks offered.
Stephen Thomas is a developer and writer for a number of online travel websites, including the Airport Parking Guide where you can compare prices and information on airport parking throughout the UK.
Eclectic Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina is located in the Triangle Region of North Carolina. It is called the triangle because the three main cities of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill make up the principle locales of the region. Naturally, when you draw a line from city to city a triangle shape emerges.
Home to the University of North Carolina, this Tarheel town is charming. Walk the streets and you will see that pedestrians and cyclists have the right of way while the shops reflect the character and wealth of the community. Indeed, per capita income in Chapel Hill is the highest in the state fueled by the highly regarded state university and local businesses particularly those based in the Research Triangle Park.
The university itself is rated at or near the top when it comes to public universities. With sixteen libraries on campus, you can 'do research' for over two weeks and still not see the entire campus. Founded in the late 1700s UNC at Chapel Hill resembles an Ivy League school in looks as well as reputation. Tour the grounds and you will see carefully maintained buildings dating back hundreds of years as well as modern structures for student housing and sports facilities. Indeed, the UNC Men's basketball team is the most recent national champion which gives Chapel Hill an especially warm spotlight from national media.
When walking the streets of Chapel Hill, you will note a nice mix of business establishments including taverns, bars, the ubiquitous coffee shop, memorabilia shops, galleries, etc. There is plenty of parking right in the center of town, so you need not walk far to take in all that this thriving university town has to offer.
Charleston, South Carolina: City of Charm
Charleston, SC is a place where Scarlett O'Hara would feel welcome as would any modern day persona. The city is warm, inviting, and above all else -- historic.
When locals talk about South of Broad they are talking about the heart of the city. This area dates back several hundred years and features the row houses that made the city famous, the houses of worship that anchor the city [did you know that one of the first synagogues built in the US is in Charleston?], and the people who give the city its charm.
The city is best observed on foot. Or, by horse drawn buggy. Make sure you have a comfortable pair of shoes on and, if visiting in the summer, expect to be soaked in sweat! Bring plenty of fresh water and dress lightly. Enjoy the guided tours or simply purchase a map and take a tour yourself. Note the confederate building, Rainbow Row, the Battery, College of Charleston, and every point in between. Make sure that you eat at one of the fine dining establishments; you will rave over the seafood! Note the oaks and observe the Spanish Moss on the trees.
Other areas of interest nearby include Magnolia Gardens, Fort Sumter, the Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, John's Island and Santee. Hilton Head Island is one hour to the south and the state capital, Columbia, is a two hour trip northwest on Interstate 26.
Wonderful Wildwood, New Jersey
The Jersey Shore boasts some of the most crowded vacation destinations going. However, one popular resort, The Wildwoods, is truly a happening place and well worth the trip despite the crowds.
Much of this venerable beach community took off in the 1950s with the opening up of the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. Many of the hotels still gracing the area still reflect that fifties look: tail fins, big hair, Elvis, and more. Old hotels with a bit of tackiness to be sure, but still a fun place to check out.
The boardwalk is a two mile trek laced with all kinds of stores selling saltwater taffy, t-shirts, trinkets, games, rides, junk food, you name it. If you don't like to walk, tram cars will take you to the end or to any point in between. Soon, you will hear the familiar "watch the tram car" recording emanating from the cars and all you have to do is flag one down, hop on, and you're off.
The beach is free, by the way. And, it is very wide particularly by NJ standards. Most people familiar with the Jersey Shore know that many beaches are razor thin. This beach has sand added to it constantly and naturally by compliant tidal waters; it is at least 1/4 mile from boardwalk to surf [in low tide, that is].
Wildwood now boasts a convention center built on the beach and new rides jutting out from its piers. Historic Cape May, home to more than 600 Victorian houses, is only four miles to the South and a great place to visit when you tire of the boardwalk scene. Atlantic City is one hour to the north and is a frequent side trip destination, especially on rainy days. Alternatively, you can also escape to the county zoo for the day in the town of Cape May Court House.
The best time to go to the Wildwoods is during July and August as the water temperatures can be too cold before that time. Still, most hotels have outdoor heated pools which you may prefer to salt water.
The resort is changing as many old buildings are being torn down and replaced by condos. Preservationists are attempting to maintain the family welcoming theme of the resort, so it remains to be seen what the resort's future will be. In the meantime, grab a beach towel and your sunblock and head over to wonderful, Wildwood, NJ!
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Traveling to Pennsylania Dutch Country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is somewhat like taking a trip back in time. Long inhabited by the Amish who are actually Germans, the area is checkered by family farms where the men still work with horse and plow, the women bake everything from scratch, and families get around by horse drawn carriage.
While there, you can purchase homemade goods including jellies and jams; blankets and pillows; wood carvings; handmade furniture; outdoor items including birdhouses; and so much more. Try the fudge... YUM! Sit down for a traditional Amish meal served family style. You will share a long table with complete strangers while being waited upon by pretty maidens. Savor the tender meats, homemade noodles, gravy laden mashed potatoes, and breads and pies that will be part of your dining experience.
Located between Harrisburg and Philadelphia, the area is seeing a building boom. Some of the Amish are moving away, but many do remain. Lodging is very reasonable and more than likely you will stay at an Amish run establishment.
The Amish are a quiet, thrifty people possessing a good business acumen. Many sincerely revere Almighty God and it shows more in their mannerisms than in their dress which has changed little over the centuries.
Lively Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey is New York City in a bag. Well, not really! Located just 12 miles west of Manhattan, the town has the look and feel of New York without the crowds, pollution, or prices. Well, maybe they DO have the prices. Home to Montclair State University, the town attracts the upper crust as well as the poor. With just 8 square miles and 40,000 residents the town is bustling from end to end. Parks can be found throughout and the seasonal festivals are a blast. May in Montclair is a popular event as well as is their Farmer's Market, Art in the Park, etc. Other destinations around the township worth a look include: the Montclair Art Musuem, churches, shopping and more. If you like a good bagel, go to Watchung Plaza in the center of the township. While there, you will find plenty of ethnic eateries as well as the typical greasy spoon. The town isn't cheap, so expect to spend your money! Enjoy the antiques, art shops, galleries, and second hand stores too. Montclair is located in Essex County and is adjacent to Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Verona, and the Oranges.
How and Why You Can Save Money by Buying Your Airfare Online
Let*s start with an explanation of Online Airfares. It is important to note that in the airline business, as well as with most any another business enterprise, there are three distinct tiers of sellers in the marketplace.
First of course is the major domestic and international airline carriers.
Next, you will find the airfare wholesalers, who are often referred to as consolidators. The consolidator buys empty seats from the airline, and they resell those seats to travel
resellers.
Unless you buy a seat on a flight directly from the airline, then you are often buying from a travel reseller, which sometimes takes the form of your local, neighborhood travel agent.
Of course, the airline would prefer to sell you your seat directly, because they will get to keep all of the markup for themselves, thereby increasing their profit margins. But the
system has been set up in this way to assure the airline that they will be able to fill all of their seats.
Let*s face it, empty seats generate zero revenue. The airlines figure that they would rather discount some seats than to fly half full. When the airlines sell seats to consolidators, they often do so for as much as 70% of off the regular published airfare prices! Since the discounts are so deep, there are a lot of consolidators willing to jump in and sell seats for the airlines. Imagine that.
This means that the person in seat 2B might have actually paid twice as much for his ticket as did the person in seat 2C! This is because the person in seat 2C was willing to shop around for a better price, whereas the person in seat 2B just called the airline and bought his ticket at the regular rate.
It actually happens everyday where a shopper will find a ticket for half of what they would expect to pay for the ticket, but by the time they get to the checkout screen, the ticket has already been sold. In some cases, the shopper had the chance to buy directly from the consolidator instead of from the reseller/agent who is trying to beat them to the punch.
This is also the reason that if you shop for an airline ticket online, you might find the same ticket at five different sites at five different prices. Let*s face it, all of the consolidators have their own defined markup on the tickets they sell, and each of the resellers/agents also have their own markup on your ticket. Everyone needs to make a profit, right?
But, some companies charge a higher markup, while others charge a lower markup. Whereas the big consolidators might charge a $150 or $200 markup on the tickets they sell, there are other consolidators like that charge only a $50 markup on a resold ticket.
Before you actually buy your ticket, we would stronly suggest for you to shop around and try to see all of the sites that resell airfare, be it consolidators or resellers, and see for yourself who has the best prices.
We believe that you should always get the best price you can get for airfare; that is why we wanted to share with you how the system works. The more you know, the more likely you will be able to save your hard earned money for the really important things such as extra gifts, shows, and other activities.
One last word on this topic. Some websites that you visit mightactually be affiliate resellers. The hard lesson about affiliates is that they do not always have quick and efficient customer support, and they may not be able to change or cancel your ticket, if you need them to do so.
There are many quick and efficient ways you can check a site to see if you are on an affiliate site. I am listing two of those methods below. Be aware of these things when you are ready to buy from a site, so that you don*t buy your airfare from an affiliate reseller.
1. If you mouse over a link, you will see the URL of the link in the bottom of your Internet Explorer browser window. If it is different from the URL that appears in your Address Bar at the top of your Internet Explorer browser window, then you will know that you are on an affiliate site.
2. If you mouse over a link, and you see the URL in the bottom of your Internet Explorer browser window and that URL has a question mark in it, then you will know that you are on an affiliate site.
In conclusion, we do encourage you to shop around and find the best rates on airfare. We only ask that along the way, you stop at our site to see if we can actually beat our competition on airfare prices. You might be glad you did.
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