Category Archives: Travel

Travel

Island memory of a golden era

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MacfivenewsTravel December 15, 20203 Minutes

The stunning view over Freshwater Bay on the western side of the Isle of Wight.
Pictures courtesy of Visit Isle of Wight

Bill McCarthy enjoys the delights of the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is host of to one of the largest collections of fossils in Europe and I’m not talking about the ageing relics who flocked there for what was, arguably, the biggest music festival ever in 1970, writes Bill McCarthy

It seems a little incongruous that an island of such relative tranquility could have hosted that Isle of Wight Festival, one of the most famous music events of all time – but a bronze statue of the legendary Jimi Hendrix, who died just weeks after performing there, is a permanent reminder at Freshwater Bay, Dimbola Lodge museum.

After Bob Dylan headlined the 1969 event, the 1970 event is said to have surpassed the numbers attending the legendary Woodstock festival in America, with an estimated 600,000 fans watch over fifty performers were Jimi Hendrix,  The Doors, The Who, Ten Years After, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Joni Mitchell, The Moody Blues, Melanie, Donovan, Free, Leonard Cohen, Jethro Tull and Rory Gallagher’s Taste.

The unexpectedly high attendance levels led, in 1971, to Parliament adding a section to the Isle of Wight County Council Act 1971 preventing overnight open-air gatherings of more than 5,000 people on the island without a special licence from the council.

The Hendrix statue at Dimbola Lodge

A form of that festival continues to this day as do other musical gatherings such as the International Jazz Festival and Bestival. But music fans and other visitors can also take advantage of some of the most stunning coastal vistas and inland green beauty that make up the biggest island of England.

Especially in this time of Covid infections, where the island remains a relatively untouched haven, currently in the lowest lockdown tier.

The Island supports the nationwide ‘Good to Go’ initiative by Visit England, a national criteria set to equip you, our valued visitor, with everything you need to know before, during and after you travel to the Isle of Wight. 

It would have seemed a long way off back in those days, but travel to the island has now become greener.

Having introduced its new environmentally-friendly ferry Victoria of Wight in 2018, Wightlink has introduced a hybrid energy ship that runs partly on electricity. Victoria of Wight offers greener crossings every hour, using at least 17 per cent less fuel than its sister ships. The Isle of Wight is also the seventh area in the UK to be awarded a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, in June 2019. 

The Isle of Wight is ideal for an eco-friendly escape, and with Wightlink visitors can choose to travel by foot, bicycle, or car. For those on foot, Wightlink’s FastCat service takes just 22 minutes and customers can bring their bicycles on board at no extra cost.

For those wanting to bring their eco-friendly electric vehicles to the Island, there are 17 charging stations spread across the Isle of Wight, as well as Wightlink’s own EV charging points at Portsmouth car ferry terminal, Lymington, Fishbourne and Ryde Pier, all part of Wightlink’s Green Agenda.

The island was home to the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, and to Queen Victoria, who built her own residence at Osborne House at East Cowes. It is home to a myriad of wildlife and is one of the richest locations of dinosaur fossils in Europe.

Clockwise from top, funfair at The Needles or seeing them on a boat trip, the garlic farm and the alpaca farm

With its miles of coast it’s no surprise that it is popular with families looking for seaside locations, but it also features picturesque walks and cycleways that offer the tranquility that is often missing in the island’s towns. Initiatives offer a range of fresh air challenges for parents and children to tackle.

Families can set out on foot to find miles of virgin sand, rocky ledges, monster vegetation covering huge expanses of rock pools, flora and fauna rarely found on mainland Britain and even those dinosaur bones and fossils that have been hidden for millions of years. The island is situated between three and five miles from the mainland and is serviced by a number of ferries from various ports.

We travelled from picturesque Lymington to Yarmouth on the western side of the island with Wightlink.

Previously we have travelled from Porstsmouth to Fishbourne, but as we were staying in the quiet, but pretty, Totland Bay, we landed just a couple of miles from our accommodation, the Sentry Mead hotel.

An imposing Victorian house that has been a hotel since the 1930s, the building has 16 individual rooms, the best of which give spectacular views across the Solent.

On top of that the staff are naturally friendly and the hotel offers excellent food in a cosy and relaxed atmosphere. A nice touch is the complimentary coffee that is available from late afternoon onwards.

From the seaside atmosphere of Ryde to miles of mostly unpopulated downland, the island is surprisingly diverse. Try an offbeat trip to the island’s garlic farm. Here you can try all types of garlic and they even offer a garlic beer.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway takes visitors back to the golden age of steam. Be prepared for queues though, this is a very busy attraction.

For those who love spectacular scenery the imposing Needles rocks are worth seeing, but be prepared for a walk. When the kids have tired with that the Needles theme park virtually next door offers plenty of rides for them to let off steam. The alpaca farm is also worth a visit

So much to do and see. The relics who attended that momentous festival in 1970 probably didn’t know what they were missing.­

* Bill travelled to the Isle of Wight with Wightlink. For hotel information, visit www.sentrymead.co.uk

Travel

Virtual Larnaka tour before a dream trip

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The impressive facade of the Palm Beach Hotel in Larnaka

Cyprus by Bill McCarthy

After a number of false starts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, one of the top hotels in the popular Cyprus resort of Larnaka is gearing up to open in April.

With great news on the vaccine front the four-star Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows is gearing up to welcome visitors back to the island after a major refurbishment.

A family-friendly hotel that caters for all types of holiday requirements, conferences and even weddings.

But before the expected flood of visitors in the spring, the resort is offering a virtual experience to potential visitors with a series of ‘cultural walks’ around Larnaka city.

All the sights can be effortlessly discovered at home via the new ‘Larnaka Cultural Walk Virtual 360°’ project.

The innovative virtual tour showcases 30 of Larnaka city’s most popular and significant landmarks and places of interest; split into three categories: seafront and town centre; archaeology and museums, and culture and nature. In the same way that visitors would choose a route and sights on a physical walk, anyone can custom create their own virtual tour by logging to http://culturalwalk.virtuallarnakaregion.com/

Combining vibrant visual material with additional information and facts on places of interest, this virtual tour is very simple to take. After clicking on a chosen sight,  navigate the image from all angles to enjoy a complete 360° view with extra aerial views also available for some sights.

A VR option for mobile device users adds further dimension to the tour.

The virtual tour is another way to connect with Larnaka, especially for the many UK repeater guests that could not travel to these shores this year. It is also ideal for those travellers planning a trip for the first time and looking to familiarise themselves with the most popular areas, or wishing to prepare a list of what they would most like to see when they arrive in Larnaka.

Experience the tour by visiting: http://culturalwalk.virtuallarnakaregion.com/

The tour will give a taste of the area renowned for  its beautiful sandy beaches, azure blue warm waters and imposing mountains.

Cyprus has been lusted after by settlers and conquerers for centuries, sitting as it does at the crossroads of the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.

With its fantastic sunny climate and links to to the UK, it’s a magnet for sun seekers in the summer months. The coronavirus pandemic however has played havoc with this, disrupting travel and tourism worldwide.

  • The bustling main Laranaka beach area
  • Historical statues can viewed online
  • The Palm Beach Hotel pool area
  • St Lazarus Church, which houses the tomb of the saint

Lesser known than the usual tourist playgrounds is Larnaka, an ancient capital of the island and an area steeped in history and tradition.

Our trip could be described as a winter break and we dropped lucky with the late winter weather, with almost unbroken sunshine.

We flew in to Larnaca airport and had a pleasant surprise with having only a 20-minute drive to the Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows.

A family-friendly hotel that caters for all types of holiday requirements, conferences and even weddings.

It has an imposing presence with four floors of rooms facing the well-tended gardens to the front and the same at the rear of the hotel, with rooms overlooking the sea.

As the name implies there is also a mini complex of bungalows in the garden area, which can offer B&B and half-board, popular with families.

The bungalows too, have their own separate bar area. The rear of the hotel is just yards from the sea front and boasts a large pool and any number of sunbeds. Other facilities include a gym, indoor pool, plus the new Palm Spa opened in 2019 and conference facilities.

It’s no wonder millions of tourists also lust after this pearl of the Mediterranean as a holiday destination

Wi-fi is free throughout the hotel and there are tea and coffee making facilities to all rooms. Even as winter moves into spring you can laze around by the pool, take a dip in the sea, or join the joggers and cyclists up and the down the path between hotel and beach.

For those tying the knot, an island paradise is the ideal spot and the hotel host ceremonies at its own on-site chapel, the Chapel of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena, which can host weddings of Orthodox and Anglican denominations., or civil ceremonies on or near the beach, under a marquee, just a few steps from the Mediterranean. 

Planet Weddings is a fully bonded specialist UK tour operator with a wedding special offer at the Palm Beach. 

Exploring the island is a must and it is possible, you can join one of the many free excursions offered by a syndicate of hotels, the local tourist board and attractions.

There is so much to see on the island, from the spectacular Troodos mountains, to the spectacular beaches, archaeological and cultural sites, so hiring a car is a good idea.

At the hotel we stayed B&B, but snacks can be bought at the hotel throughout the day and the evening meal is certainly worth a try.

Alternatively there are many fine restaurants in Larnaca itself, just a 10-minute drive away or with a group of shops, bars and restaurants opposite the hotel.

The town of Larnaca has a swish beachfront and plush marina while shoppers can find many well known stores on the two main shopping streets, local markets, museums and art galleries.

For a snack, try Alasia a small cafe bar on the seafront, which serves excellent Cypriot food.

Also worth visiting is the medieval fort, built by the Ottomans and used as a prison by the British and the spectacular ninth century St Lazarus Church, right in the heart of the town, which houses the tomb of the saint.

Travel facts

• For information on the hotel, contact Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows www.palmbeachotel.com

• Flights with daily scheduled BA from Heathrow, plus easyjet ( www.easyjet.com) with regional departures and a holiday division that features the Palm Beach Hotel and Bungalows. For general  tourism information on Cyprus visit https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/  

Travel

UK Travel

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A taste of the high life

The picturesque harbour at Ramsgate

Ramsgate by Bill McCarthy

Crashing a Spitfire on landing is not my finest hour. Luckily it was in a flight simulator at an aircraft museum and I was so agonisingly near the the perfect flight after an extraordinary few days in Kent, but more on that later. 

Ramsgate may not trip from the lips as a must seaside destination for Midlanders, but it a fascinating place with a history of famous sons and daughters as evidenced by a plethora of blue plaques and somewhere to seriously consider once the pandemic has subsided. 

The celebrities who have lived or worked in the Kent town include Elizabeth Fry, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, John Le Mesurier, and artist Vincent Van Gogh, who taught in the town. 

It was also significant during the Second World War and has the only royal harbour in the country (a status granted by George IV in 1821) and some of the finest hotels and dining. 

One of these, the Royal Harbour Hotel, proved the perfect base for all things Ramsgate, a town also famous for the part it played in in the rescue of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. 

The hotel is divided across three Georgian-style buildings with 27 individually styled rooms, most with spectacular sea views and easy access to all amenities. The hotel is a mix of quaint and modern with quirky old furniture melded with ultra-modern bathrooms. 

An iconic wartime Spitfire at the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum 

Memorabilia is everywhere, celebrating the town’s seafaring heritage. Our bedroom, with a view over the harbour, featured a four poster bed, complimentary bottles of water and biscuits.

For extra comfort, there were also couple of armchairs and even a TV above the bath. 

In the main hotel, there are a couple of sitting rooms one, with honesty bar, roaring fires and an eclectic mix of vinyl records to play on the vintage record player. 

A truly relaxing atmosphere in a superbly comfortable environment. 

Fine dining is offered in the hotel’s two restaurants, the Empire Room, which is in a basement part of the complex and The Little Ships, just a short walk down the seafront. Having eaten in both, it is fair to say that one is excellent and the other outstanding. You will need to visit to make your own mind up. 

The men behind them are hotelier James Thomas and Michelin-trained chef Craig Mather who have put together imaginative and competitively priced menus for both venues, whether the more expensive a la carte or cheaper set menus. 

The Empire Room is decorated with red walls and furnished with Victorian and Georgian wooden tables and chairs, original Empire magazine covers on the walls and history books on library shelves. 

Down the road The Little Ships is a more contemporary affair, a kind of continental restaurant come bistro/cafe, with modern furnishings and open plan kitchen. 

Both offer varied menus, with the Little Ships seafood a particular delight. Having chosen squid, admittedly not something I would eat on a regular basis, it was by far the best I have ever tasted, while the seafood linguini was nearly as good.

My wife, in customary fashion, went with the meat and got stuck into a pork chop the size of a dinner plate. I know that doesn’t sound exotic, (there are more exotic dishes), but the food is truly exceptional and served imaginatively. Incidentally, both restaurants score highly with Tripadvisor. 

The award-winning Empire Room offers a slightly different menu and the Kentish loin of beef proved a real winner for me in what is a charming and atmospheric dining experience, while the other half went for a meal I thought she would have at the other place, shoulder of lamb. 

You could wax lyrical about both restaurants, suffice to say both offer fantastic food with first class service. Out and about, the Ramsgate Tunnels are really a must visit.  A labyrinth of tunnels criss-crossing the town, built during the war, that became shelters for many and home for some. 

A guided tour gives an understanding of what life was like during the the Blitz, while Margate and Broadstairs are just a few miles away 

Down the road is the RAF Manston History Museum, where you can lose yourself with the history of ancient and modern aircraft and get an understanding of the 100-year plus history of the RAF with some fantastic exhibits. 

Just across the car park is the Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum, which concentrates on the iconic aircraft that won the Battle of Britain and, returning to the beginning, where you can take a virtual flight, or crash a Spitfire, in an exhilarating flying experience. Worth every penny of the £30 on a special few days 

Fact file 

Visitors at the extensive wartime tunnels complex at Ramsgate
Business, Travel

Airline capacity halved over winter

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A leading airline has warned that its winter capacity for 2020/21 will be halved as a result of the Covid pandemic.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chairman Philip Meeson expects the airline and operator’s winter capacity to be half that of last year owing to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus crisis.
Jet2 placed around 80 per cent of its UK staff on furlough during the six months to September 30.
The business this November disclosed a pre-tax loss of £119.3 million for the six months to 30 September, down from a £337 million profit during the same period last year.

Operational profit, meanwhile, fell from £365.1 million to a £111.2 million loss during what Jet2 described as a period of “unprecedented operational and financial challenges” during which it was forced to ground much of its fleet from mid-March through to mid-July.
“Few could have foreseen the prolonged impact of the pandemic,” said Mr Meeson. “Jet2 plc has adapted quickly to the challenges by taking considered, but decisive actions to bolster liquidity, minimise losses and reduce cash burn.”

Mr Meeson said Jet2’s “disciplined approach” to flying capacity, which involved focusing on profitable routes and bringing them to market quickly when travel restrictions permitted, had allowed the business to deliver a better result than forecast back in mid-May.
Looking ahead to the winter, Mr Meeson said he anticipated winter 2020/21 seat capacity would be approximately 50 per cent less than winter 2019/20, adding with travel advice uncertain, forward bookings would likely continue to come with a “pronounced” shorter lead time than in previous years.


He said: “As is typical for the business, further losses are to be expected in the second half of the financial year as we ready ourselves operationally for the proposed summer 2021 flying programme,” said Mr Meeson. “In addition, the ability to fly in the short term remains uncertain, as UK government guidance currently restricts international travel except in limited circumstances until at least 3 December.”
Jet2 plc’s half-year report reveals the extent of the business’s efforts to preserve liquidity and control cash burn: it placed around 80 per cent of UK staff on furlough under the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and tapped similar schemes for overseas workers; froze recruitment and discretionary spending; and cancelled 12 summer-only third-party leased aircraft.
Staff were also asked to take a pay cut, while performance-related bonuses for the year ending 31 March 2020 and the firm’s discretionary colleague profit share scheme were not paid.
Passenger numbers, though, fell from 10.07 million in 2019 to just 0.99 million on an average load factor of 69 per cent, down from 93.1 per cent. However, Jet2’s proportion of package holiday customers increased as a percentage of those who did travel during the six months to 30 September.
On refunds, Meeson said Jet2 had taken “great pride” in refunding customers promptly, and paid tribute to the airline and operator’s virtual contact centre, customer service and social media teams for their “tireless” work, which he added was duly recognised by the CAA in its airline refund investigation.

Travel

Athens: A city steeped in history and culture

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The heritage of the classical era is still evident with ancient monuments, the most famous of all being the Acropolis. Pictures: @mtravelspr
Travel by Bill McCarthy

It’s the city that never sleeps, or so it seems, the home of modern civilisation, home of the Acropolis and Parthenon, and the home of a million taxis – I don’t think I have ever seen so many, even in New York.

Athens is a wonderful city, steeped in history, alive with culture and with a diverse and as it seemed to us, young, population. 

The birthplace of democracy, it is often referred to as the cradle of western civilisation and is one of world’s oldest cities, its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years. 

A stunning night view of the Acropolis from Athens city centre 

Classical Athens was a centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum. 

It seems hard to believe Greece itself was in such dire straits and needing a bailout just a few short years ago, and now, like the rest of the world, is suffering from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic.

But this teeming thriving metropolis sitting on the edge of the Mediterranean and Aegean sea bounced back from the financial crisis and will certainly recover from the pandemic.

The bustling Monastiraki Square is a busy shopping and leisure centre 

We spent two memorable days the heart of the city at the Athens Tiare Hotel, on historic Omonia Square, a central as you can get in Athens and the oldest square in the city 

The hotel stands proudly overlooking Omonia, also known as Concord Square. The hotel is within easy reach of landmarks, museums, cultural centres, wining and dining, shopping and anything you may desire. 

A two-minute walk from the city’s subway, you can buy a 10 Euro ticket from the airport and arrive at the square via one change on metro in around 40 minutes. 

From here most of the major attractions are within easy reach, even walking distance for this wishing burn off the excess calories from the excellent Greek street food. 

The 10-storey hotel dominates the square and offers various accommodation, from comfort through to family and executive quality rooms. All have been refurbished and our deluxe room featured comfortable king-size bed, huge wall mounted flat-screen TV, drink making facilities and a state of the art bathroom with high end power shower with massaging jets. 

Exceptional comfort. 

A De-luxe room with city view is comprehensively equipped 

We stayed on B&B basis, with breakfast served in the cafe-style Artensis restaurant on the mezzanine floor. It offers a comfortable ambiance, offering a chic, modern dining area, with a fantastic view over the square. 

Other facilities include free computer and printer use at the business centre, small library and fitness centre as well as a ground floor lobby lounge and bar with outside area, that also proved popular with passers-by, stopping off for a coffee or early evening tipple. 

Importantly the whole building was spotlessly clean for our visit with the staff courteous and helpful. You can see why it would be equally popular with tourists and business users. 

The cafe-style restaurant overlooking the main square 

Within minutes you can take a journey through ancient civilisation to the modern days, and enjoy landmarks, museums, cultural and government centres, shopping and an impressive flea market. 

The heritage of the classical era is still evident seemingly everywhere in the city, represented by ancient monuments and works of art, the most famous of all being the Acropolis and Parthenon, considered a key landmark of early Western civilisation. Other archaeologically important sites such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch and the Tower of the Winds are nearby.

An informative and comprehensive view of the city can be had on one of the many open top city tour buses. A multi-lingual commentary gives passengers all the information about the city and its origins. 

A spectacular view of Athens from the Acropolis 

The metro also takes you in two stops to Syntagma Square with many cultural and civic buildings nearby the very heart of Athens, and to Monastiraki Square, the historic core of the city, which is jam packed with shops, open air stalls and that flea market. This station also features ancient Greek ruins, while the metro itself can take you even further afield to the historic Port of Piraeus, one of the trading hubs linking Europe with Africa and Asia. 

Be prepared for a real hike however if you decide to visit the Acropolis of Athens on foot. The word acropolis means the highest point and there are many others in Greece. 

It is the home of several ancient ruins, including the most famous of all, the Parthenon, a former temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, who the people of Athens considered their patron. Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the peak of its power. 

Hugely popular, even in early May literally thousands were queuing to see the iconic landmark. At 20 euro, it is a price worth paying for surely must be one of the wonders of the ancient world.

As said earlier, it is quite a hike up the hill from the city centre, but buses and taxis, would cut that journey by two thirds. 

A fantastic thriving capital city with a terrific transport infrastructure. Everything is near at hand and one of the most important historical and archaeologically important sites in the world. I would go again. 

Lifestyle, Travel

Cyprus cleans up to welcome tourists

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Vaccine brings hope of return to normal

With hopes a new vaccine offering hope of a return to near normal for tourism, the spectacular island of Cyprus is making sure it retains its attraction during the winter months.

This a big clean-up with dozens of volunteers,  took place at the historic town of Larnaca in preparation for the anticipated return of tourism in 2021.

 The initiative was organised Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), which was established in 2006, with the goal to promote the development of sustainable approach to tourism in Cyprus.

A group of volunteers collected around 1.5 tonnes of garbage from Larnaka Marina and the Fishing Shelter, including bicycles, cutlery, fans, batteries and tyres.

The clean-up also focussed on waste from one of the area’s most popular and beautiful attractions, McKenzie Beach, with the majority of rubbish being cigarette butts and plastic straws.

The campaign was organised by CSTI (@CySustTourism) and the Larnaka Tourism Board with the support of Larnaka Municipality and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

 Tributes were paid  to 60 volunteers and the diving and watersports centres that participated.

For those wishing  to know about travelling to Cyprus, visit http://visitcyprus.com for more information or Larnaka Tourism at larnakaregion.com and @LarnakaRegion.

Travel

Enjoy life off the beaten track in Crete

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Trekking through the beautiful Cretan countryside, with spectacular mountain scenery in the background

A specialist tour operator is one of the leading companies for tailor-made holidays to Cyprus and Greece and offers a comprehensive list of locations, including the beautiful, most southernmost Greek island of Crete.

To help make a choice of the starting and finishing in places off the beaten track, Planet Holidays.co.uk, in association with tourist board incrediblecrete.gr, is offering to help you plan a tailor-made escape here for 2021, hopefully at the end of the coronavirus crisis.

The tourist board says for those who “wish they lived in Crete”, we tell them: “Visit Crete and let us make your vacations a life-time experience”

The board adds: “The cradle of European Civilization – the Island of Crete and its genuinely friendly people, welcome you and wish you a wonderful stay,

“Some will be visiting for the first time, whilst others have now become regulars, but either way, we promise you a truly memorable Mediterranean travelling experience.

“Whether your visit is for relaxation or to explore and discover the many well known and countless hidden treasures of Crete, you will not be disappointed by the diversity of the landscape – the rugged mountains, the endless beaches and the turquoise seas, the many cities, towns and villages, and stunning countryside.”

Tour operator Planet Holidays offers a wide range of luxury villas, hotels, self catering studios and apartments, villas with pools, last minute hotel deals, all inclusive and spa hotels and we can also include private resort transfers. So whether you want a last minute escape to warmer climes or to book something that is as individual as you are, then call Planet Holidays for a chat on 01438 841 270.

Both Directors, Harry & Mathilde have decades of experience and with the ‘local’ knowledge of their representatives on Crete, means you’ll receive the best advice and best recommendations for a memorable holiday.

The firm says: “With internet connections being as good as those back here in UK, you could be forgiven for being sustainable in your travels during Covid times and opt to stay in Crete that little bit longer, as you continue to work from your ‘home from home’ and soak up local culture too.So whether you want a last minute weekend break or a cheap travel deal, book with planet-holidays.co.uk”

Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica. It bounds the southern border of the Aegean sea. Crete lies approximately 160 km (99 mi) south of the Greek mainland.

Its capital and largest city is Heraklion, located on the north shore of the island. As of 2011, the region had a population of 623,065. The Dodecanese are located to the northeast of Crete, while the Cyclades are situated to the north, separated by the Sea of Crete. The Peloponnese is to the region’s northwest.

Humans have inhabited the island since at least 130,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic age. Crete was the centre of Europe’s first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 2700 to 1420 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece.

Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.

For more information, visit https://www.planet-holidays.co.uk/

Business, Rail, Transport

Public transport under pressure

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Parking pattern shows Sutton commuters deserting public transport

Commuters in Sutton Coldfield are deserting public transport new research from online parking platform YourParkingSpace.co.uk indicates.

Analysis of its latest booking data, which advertises available parking spaces at train stations across the town and in city centre locations near to offices and work places, reveals a clear drop for the former in favour of the latter.

Indeed, a comparison of a variety of station car parks compared to city centre car parks, show that bookings at train stations via the online parking platform are down 46 per cent while in city centres they are up 19 per cent. 

Both these figures are for bookings in September compared to pre-lockdown in February.

Harrison Woods, managing director at YourParkingSpace.co.uk, said: “Historically, train stations are one of our most popular locations but our research indicates a shift away from these as bookings for empty parking spaces has declined significantly.

“However, this is in stark contrast to empty parking spaces in town and city centre locations, which show a considerable rise in demand, most likely as more people now drive to their workplace.”

For example, bookings via YourParkingSpace.co.uk at normally busy stations such as Ebbsfleet International Station are down 59 per cent, bookings at Ashford International Station are down 45 per cent, bookings at York Station are down 36 per cent and bookings at Aylesbury Station down 66 per cent.

However, bookings for city centre car parks have boomed. For example, in Brighton city centre it has risen by a massive 98 per cent, in Edinburgh it is up 43 per cent and in London up 28 per cent.

The new research also appears to confirm the results of a survey carried out by YourParkingSpace.co.uk at the beginning of lockdown when half of those surveyed said they were less likely to use public transport.

The survey of 3,000 people also discovered that four-in-ten people were more likely to drive.

In fact, other independent research has highlighted that road congestion is now higher in certain areas than it was last year while there has also been millions fewer train journeys.

Harrison added: “Where we work, and how we commute to work, has fundamentally changed. While lots of people are still working from home, many of those venturing to the office are avoiding the train and trying to get as close as possible to the workplace using their own vehicle.”

To learn more about YourParkingSpace.co.uk, or to pre-book an empty parking space in a city centre location, visit www.yourparkingspace.co.uk

Rail, Transport

Slump in railway journeys

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Rail travellers and commuters in Sutton Coldfield say they have noticed a huge drop off in train journeys during the pandemic.

Rail passenger journeys in Great Britain fell to the lowest levels last seen in the mid-nineteenth century, official statistics from the Office of Rail and Road have revealed.

Commuters have noticed the change at stations across the town.

Office worker Dave Johnson, from Four Oaks, who works near Cenentary Square said: “It’s really eerie on the train at times after being packed in like sardines on the rush hour commute. Parking is also a breeze, particularly at Blake Street. It’s a shame this has happened under such tragic circumstances.

Nationally, 35 million journeys are estimated to have been made in the first quarter of 2020-21 (April to June 2020). This is a decrease of more than 400 million compared to the same quarter last year, highlighting the severe effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on passenger numbers.

More journeys were recorded in London and the South East compared to the rest of the country. Govia Thameslink Railway recorded 7.5 million passenger journeys this quarter, the most of any operator.

Recent estimates published by the Department for Transport show that current national rail use was predicted to be 32% of what would be expected on an equivalent day.

Graham Richards, Director of Railway Planning and Performance at the Office of Rail and Road, said:

“This unprecedented fall in passenger numbers, the largest on record to levels last seen in the mid-nineteenth century, has clearly had an impact on both rail usage and also ticketing revenue.

“These figures include the period of lockdown and reassuringly we’re now seeing passenger numbers slowly increase. ORR has worked closely with the industry, and continues to do so, to ensure the necessary health and safety advice and guidance is in place.

“Rail is one of the safest ways to travel and our inspectors continue to monitor the reality on the ground to ensure people have the confidence that they can travel safely.”

Total passenger revenue in Great Britain was £184 million in 2020-21 Q1. This equates to 6.9% of the £2.7 billion in 2019-20 Q1.

Anytime/Peak tickets accounted for 24.1% of all passenger revenue this quarter – the lowest share for such tickets in any quarter since the time series began in 2010-11.