Archive for June, 2009

Big Chill Festival Zombie Record Attempt

June 28th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Festival Guides

Film makers are hoping to record the largest official gathering of zombies at this year’s Big Chill Music Festival.

Festival-goers at the Big Chill in Ledbury on 6th August have been asked to be extras in “I spit on your rave”, a collaboration between WARP films and Film4.

People have been asked to arrive in costume for filming but make up will be on hand to get that authentic zombie look!

1,227 people took part in the largest official “zombie walk” so far in Nottingham in 2008 but at this year’s Big Chill Festival at Eastnor Castle in Ledbury they hope to smash this and get into the Guinness Book of Records as the “Most Amount of Zombies Captured on Camera”.

This year’s Big Chill Festival runs from 6th – 9th August with a line up including Andy Askins, Annie Nightingale, Basement Jaxx, Jazzie B, Marina and the Diamonds, Orbital and Wonky Pop to name but a few.

If you going along to the Big Chill make sure you’ve got your Festival Day Survival Kit or if you’re lucky enough to be there for the 3 days, your Festival Weekend Survival Kit and travel size toiletries.

Ryanair to close baggage check-in at Airports

June 24th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Air Travel

Ryanair have announced that it plans to end all passenger baggage check-in at the airports from which it operates next year.

From October the airline will still allow baggage to be checked in for the hold but will make significant charges for the “service”.

Ryanair have already introduced a totally online check-in system, where passengers print out boarding passes at home. If they forget, it costs £40 to have it reissued at the airport. They then check their baggage in for the hold at a “bag drop” at the airport.

Under the latest plan, passengers will be allowed to carry more bags through security (two or more, according to the respective airports’ rules) to the aircraft. They would then leave all but one bag at the aircraft steps, possibly paying £5 per bag for each placed in the hold.

“What it means is no more waiting at the carousel, no more losing your bags, no more wasting your life in over-priced airport terminals. You can bring unlimited bags as long as you can get them through security.” Mr O’Leary said.

Obviously this move also benefits the airline. Ryanair believes the move could save them £26 million a year, as they would need just one baggage handler per plane instead of five.

This will have a major impact on what passengers can actually pack in their baggage for their holiday, as all their travel size toiletries will now be subject to the airport security regulations for the carriage of liquids.

Luton Airport to charge £1 to drop off passengers

June 21st, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Air Travel

London Luton Airport (LLA), who saw their passenger numbers increase to over 10 million in 2008, are introducing a new range of charges for access and parking at the airport from July 1st 2009.

The most contentious of which is that they will begin charging drivers £1 to drop off passengers from July 1st. In order to use the Priority Set Down Area, you will have to pay a £1 charge for 10 minutes, although the vehicle cannot be left unattended at any time during this period.

However, there are still other options available for pick up and drop off parking for motorists from both the Mid Term and Short Term Airport Car Parks.

In the Airport’s Mid Term Car Park, you can park for free for up to 60 minutes and use the free bus service to and from the airport terminal. The buses depart every 10 minutes and the journey takes around 2 minutes.

In the Airport’s Short Term Car Park, you will be able to park for up to 15 minutes for £2.50 or up to 30 minutes for £4.50. Blue Badge holders will be able to use dedicated disabled parking bays free of charge for up to 60 minutes. The airport terminal is around a 4 minute walk from this car park.

Luton Airport already charges £1 for the use of luggage trolleys and if you need a clear plastic bag to take to take liquids through security that will cost you another £1.

Just to emphasise the case that “time is money” at Luton Airport, you can also pay £3 to use a “priority lane” to get “fast tracked” through security.

Whatever Airport you plan to depart from for this years summer holiday make sure you’ve got all your travel size toiletries and liquids in a clear plastic bag ready to go through security. It will save you time and hassle, as well as avoiding Luton Airport’s £1 charge for a plastic bag!

New Clarins travel size kits for Men and Women

June 17th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Air Travel

The new Clarins “Well-Being Stop-Over” kits focus on moisturising the skin, to counter the effects of jet lag, dehydration and fatigue that flying can cause. There is one set for women and one set for men.

Clarins has provided Air France with amenity kits for Air France First and Business Class travellers since 2004 but will now provide travel size kits for general in flight purchase.

Each set will retail at €29 and contains four travel size, security-friendly skincare products in a clear zip topped plastic bag which are said to provide all the moisture that your skin needs both during and after flying.

In addition, with the purchase of each set, travellers will receive a special 10% discount coupon valid for treatments and massages at selected Clarins outlets.

Clarins Travel Size Kits

Clarins Travel Size Kits

The “Well-Being Stop-Over Women” set contains a 30ml HydraQuench Cream, a 50ml Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, a 15ml Colour Quench Lip Balm and a 100ml Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser.

The “Well-Being Stop-Over Men” set contains a 50ml Moisture Balm, a 20ml Active Hand Care, a Lip Guard and a 30ml Active Face Wash.

Before you fly you might want to check out our Travel Size Clarins range or bag an even better bargain with a Clarins Trousse for dry skin or Clarins Trousse for combination skin.

Glastonbury Festival Travel Size Toiletries Top 10

June 13th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Festival Guides

No – it’s not a new band headlining at the Glastonbury Festival!

With less than two weeks to go before the Glastonbury Festival starts, it’s our pick of the top ten travel size toiletries you can get to save valuable space when you pack your rucksack for your camping trip to Glastonbury.

With nearly a million of us enjoying this years “sell-out” Festival season you can’t start planning your trip to Glastonbury early enough and make sure you’ve got your travel size toiletries in advance.

  1. Simple Travel Size Companion Mini Set – 4 travel size toiletries inside a clear plastic zip lock bag. Perfect skincare for the Festival in a tiny wash bag.
  2. Carex Travel Size Hand Gel with Aloe Vera – The tiny travel size 50ml bottle provides up to 100 applications and kills 99.9% of bacteria without needing soap and water.
  3. Nuage Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Spray – A slim line 25ml travel size deodorant that gives you 24 hour protection for the (hopefully) hot days and warm nights.
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Fathers Day Gift Vouchers

June 12th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Air Travel

Get Rid Of The Old Folks And Party

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, suggested that teenagers get rid of embarrassing parents and party this summer by snapping up one of Ryanair’s Father’s Day Gift Vouchers which are available from just €25 on www.ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s Father’s Day gift vouchers are the ideal gift for those who think that Mom and Dad could do with a relaxing holiday -  or simply those who really need a break from their parents. Ryanair’s gift vouchers can be redeemed online for a relaxing week in the sun or great value city break on Ryanair’s 850 routes across 26 countries.

The Father’s Day vouchers are available until Sunday 21st June 2009.

If you still need something special for Dad for Father’s Day check out the great travel size toiletries or Father’s Day Special Offers at our online shop.

Tube Strike goes ahead

June 8th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Travel News

London Mayor Boris Johnson this afternoon unveiled emergency measures to keep London moving as the 48-hour London Tube strike looks set to go ahead.

The strike is due to begin at 7pm on Tuesday 9th June and will bring the London Underground to a halt on Wednesday and Thursday, with normal service due to be restored on Friday 12th June.

The London Underground, affectionately known as the Tube, is used by around 3.5 million passengers a day and its closure will have a huge impact on the whole of public transport services across London.

The Mayor has unveiled plans to cope with the additional “surge” in passenger numbers for the rest of the network as follows:

Buses – London buses operate around 700 routes with services being boosted by up to 100 extra buses on key routes on strike days.

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Hampton Court Festival

June 4th, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Festival Guides

Hampton Court Palace Festival 2nd – 13th June

In a truly unique setting, the historic Hampton Court Palace courtyard plays host to some of the biggest names from the world of music to bring an eclectic mix of concerts over 10 nights in June.

There is no better setting on a warm summer night for some of the world’s leading musicians to provide an unforgettable experience.

If you can get there early enough why not pre-order one of Carluccio’s picnics and relax and enjoy it in Hampton Court Palace’s stunning 17th Century Gardens before the concert.

The free car park opens at 5pm and the Palace Gardens open at 5:30pm for you to enjoy the surroundings and picnic. The Palace Courtyard opens at 6:30pm so you can take your seats before the performances which begin at 7:15pm or 9pm.

Tuesday and Wednesday saw stunning performances from Jose Carreras, Faryl Smith and Jools Holland, with the rest of the 2009 line up as follows:

  • Thursday 4th June – Russell Watson
  • Friday 5th June – Level 42
  • Saturday 6th June – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
  • Tuesday 9th June – Beverley Knight and Lemar
  • Wednesday 10th June – James Morrison
  • Thursday 11th June – RPO’s Best of Broadway with Rachel Tucker
  • Friday 12th June – Jools Holland
  • Saturday 13th June – Beethoven Festival Finale

If you’re planning to make a full day of it and visit London make sure you check out one of our iPod Tube Maps and the London City Visitors Kit.

For more information on booking and travel visit the Hampton Court Palace Festival site.

Top 10 Travel Size Gifts for Fathers Day

June 2nd, 2009 by Rob | Filed in Travel Guides UK

Looking for a gift for Dad on Fathers Day and do not want to by yet another tie? Why not try some travel size toiletries?

Fathers Day falls on the 21st June this year and is always celebrated on the third Sunday in June in UK, USA and Canada. So time is running out – only a couple of weeks to go!

Buying Dad a Fathers Day gift is always a tricky problem though! Exactly what do buy him apart from the usual socks, hankies and ties? Well, here are our Top 10 suggestions for Fathers Day Gifts for you to choose from. These travel size toiletries and accessories are ideal for Dad to slip into his laptop bag or suit bag for when he is on his travels:

  1. Davidoff Silver Shadow Mens Travel Kit – A Davidoff toiletries bag containing a Silver Shadow EDT and After Shave Balm.
  2. Wallet Size Bottle Opener – This credit card size stainless steel bottle opener is a must for every Dad’s wallet.
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