British Airways opens their new 300 seat Galleries Club Lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 today. The lounge is open to the airline’s First, Club World and Club Europe passengers as well as Gold and Silver members of BA’s Executive Club frequent flyer programme travelling to Barcelona, Helsinki, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga and Vienna.

Situated in Zone F of the terminal’s departures concourse, the lounge includes a bar, wine gallery, coffee house, club deli, work and entertainment zone, kids zone and guest services.

British Airways has also announced that a Galleries First Lounge and Elemis Travel Spa will open later in 2009 when long-haul services move into Terminal 3.

Following “hot on the heels” of Ryanair’s “May Madness” cheap flights offer, easyJet have announced they are making up to 200,000 seats available at incredible prices for an early summer getaway.

Up to 100,000 cheap easyJet flights are available from only £15.99 as long as you book by the 12th May.

Only yesterday Ryanair launched it’s “May Madness” cheap flights offer with 75% off its lowest fares.

This releases 1 Million “May Madness” seats for travel in May, June and early July, where some of the summer madness is resulting in seats going for as little as £2.50. However, you must book before midnight 10th May.

Remember that with the budget “no frills” airlines,  more often as not, the “seat” is literally all you get on your flight ! Check the terms and conditions very carefully to see exactly what is, and what is not, included in the price of your flight.

So if you want some in flight entertainment – take your iPod, and if you want an eye mask and ear plugs you had better buy them beforehand. Of course you can always go a little “upmarket” and bring along your own personal flight bag full of goodies for the flight.

Well it’s here at last ! According to Met Office forecasters, the UK is “odds on for a barbecue summer”.

Temperatures are forecast to be warmer than average this summer across the whole of UK, sometimes topping a “sizzling” 30C.

Although the “odd” heavy downpours cannot be ruled out, rainfall should be “near or below average” for the three months of summer.

To make sure that the only thing “sizzling” is the food on the BBQ, it’s even more important to use appropriate sun protection. There is a whole range of Sun Care Sprays and Lotions to choose from but perhaps some of the best products are the “once a day” lotions.

Typically a “once a day” lotion does “what it says on the tin”. For example Riemann P20 gives up to 10 hours protection from just one application. So even if the day looks as though it will not be a scorcher and you do not intend to take any sun lotion with you, it’s worth applying a “once a day” lotion if you’re going to be out and about for the day.

It’s not worth being caught out!

With the steady growth of Swine Flu cases being reported in the UK, up to 28 so far today, the Government is starting to mobilise the support infrastructure in readiness for a possible increase in both the number and severity of cases.

Every household in the country will have a leaflet through their door giving information on the disease and what to do in the event of someone showing symptoms.

However, perhaps the best “old fashioned advice” is that “prevention is better than cure”, as one of the key messages in the leaflet is on page 8 as follows:

Q: WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS AGAINST FLU?

A: The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to follow good hygiene practices. These will help to slow the spread of the virus and will be the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and others from infection.  When you cough or sneeze it is especially important to follow the rules of good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs:

• Always carry tissues
• Use clean tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
• Bin the tissues after one use
• Wash your hands with soap and hot water or a sanitiser gel often

There’s a simple way to remember this:

CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT.

That is where our range of anti-bacterial hand wipes and hand sanitiser gels come to the fore. These pocket size / handbag size hygiene products will provide the peace of mind that you can clean your hands wherever and whenever you want – without the need for soap and water. They come in a range of packs and sizes, so see which ones are the best fit for you:

Carex Travel Size Hand Gel, Carex Travel Size Hand Gel with Aloe Vera, Cuticura Anti-Bacterial Hand Hygiene Lotion, Anti-Bacterial Hand Wipes, Hygienics Anti-Bacterial Moisturising Hand Gel

The Government leaflet can be downloaded here  Swine Flu Information Leaflet

From 12 January 2009, British travellers flying to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) need to register their details online with the US government.

Once you have registered, your details will be valid for two years, or as long as your passport remains unexpired (whichever is shorter).

Registering your Advance Passenger Information (API)

Your airline will usually ask you to supply the passenger details found on the machine-readable page of your passport (that is the page containing your photograph). You may be asked for your:

• full name
• date of birth
• gender
• passport number
• country that issued your passport
• date of passport expiration

You may also be asked for additional information – such as the address of your first night’s stay.

In most cases, if you do not provide your API in the time required, you may not be allowed to travel.

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With our Festival Weekend Survival Kit in your hand, the only other thing you will need is the Festival Dates for 2009, so here they are:

• Glastonbury Festival – Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th June. With over 40 different venues from the impressive and majestic Pyramid Stage to the small stages in cafes. The line ups include top acts such as Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, Editors, The Gossip, The Feeling, KT Tunstall, The Subways, Kate Nash, Jay-Z, Amy Winehouse, Manu Chao, The Raconteurs, James Blunt, Crowded House, The Verve, Leonard Cohen, Goldfrapp, Neil Diamond, John Mayer and many many more.
• Reading Festival – Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August. The ultimate August Bank Holiday weekend extravaganza in the South with a stunning line up including bands such as Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Radio Head, Kaiser Cheifs, The Prodigy, Block Party, Placebo, Maximo Park, Fall Out Boy, Ian Brown, Vampire Weekend, Deftones, The Courteneers, Brandnew and many more.
• Leeds Festival – Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August. The ultimate August Bank Holiday weekend extravaganza in the North with a stunning line up including bands such as Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Radio Head, Kaiser Cheifs, The Prodigy, Block Party, Placebo, Maximo Park, Fall Out Boy, Ian Brown, Vampire Weekend, Deftones, The Courteneers, Brandnew and many more.

Don’t forget to be “sun aware” and take your sun protection! If you do not want the hassle of carrying a bottle of sun lotion around with you try one of our stylish Piz Buin Sunbands available in 3 cool colours.

Mexico Travel Advice Summary from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Below is the latest summary advice from the UK FCO for British Citizens considering travel to Mexico.

In line with the Government’s initiative to improve standards of personal hygeine in public you may also want to consider carrying and regularly using our travel sized mini bottles of Hygienics Anti-Bacterial Moisturising Hand Gel.

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 5.  See the WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html for further details.
• We are now advising against all but essential travel to Mexico.
• Routine Consular and all Visa Services at the Embassy in Mexico City have been suspended until further notice.  British Nationals in Mexico, who have an urgent consular issue should call the Embassy on (01 55) 5242 8500 for assistance.
• British nationals resident in or visiting Mexico may wish to consider whether they should remain in Mexico at this time.
• British Nationals should continue to follow local advice on precautions to take to avoid exposure to the influenza.
• Cases of swine influenza have been reported in Mexico City and a number of other locations across the country.  Travellers should consult a doctor immediately if they show signs of flu-like symptoms.

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The following is a guide to the security requirements for all passengers departing from UK airports and also provides some advice that will help passengers pass through the security search point as quickly as possible.

Key points to remember:

• The maximum size for items of hand luggage is 56cm x 45cm x 25cm per bag. However, some airlines apply their own policies governing the number of items of hand baggage which may be taken in to the aircraft cabin.
• Before departing for the airport it is best to check with your airline on the cabin baggage arrangements or restrictions for your particular journey.
• Where possible, put all liquid items in your hold baggage. This includes water and other drinks, creams, sprays, pastes and gels.
• Liquids, gels and aerosols are only allowed in individual containers of 100ml or less. All containers must fit easily into one, transparent, re-sealable bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm (eg a freezer bag).

Airport Security Bag

The majority of the products that we sell online at our Travel Size Toiletries shop are specifically selected with these requirements in mind.