The new travel service from by Gosimply.com provides travellers with a lot more than simply price comparisons for airport parking, hotels, lounges and car hire.

Gosimply are giving travellers an abundance of additional services that make the whole process of travel-planning a lot simpler. They provide access to their complete database of customer reviews enabling prospective clients to read what others have to say without having to scour the internet for this invaluable information. The reviews are completely unedited and exactly as provided by previous customers. This should give customers a clear indication that they are dealing with an honest organisation who have confidence in the quality of their services.

They go on to provide realistic recommendations based upon the typical requirements of different types of travellers. If you are travelling on business you only have to glance at their recommendations for business travellers and you can be sure that their suggestions will meet your needs.

Even in the area of price comparison they go that little bit further by providing details of all charges involved, including those often annoying, hidden credit card charges. They provide the widest choice of car parks at all 26 UK airports and over 200 airport hotels along with easy access to international car hire and airport lounges.

In addition they offer customers 10% discount on a variety of popular travel insurance policies. The savings made can often be enough to cover the airport parking charges.

As many travellers are now beginning to watch their spending more closely it’s good to find an organisation who are going that little bit further to provide complete, honest and accurate information that will help people make the most informed and economical choices.

For Gatwick Parking visit http://www.gosimply.com/

The new Gosimply.com website, packed with impartial reviews and advice for travellers, is already proving to be an invaluable resource for those using Heathrow airport.

An informal survey has indicated that travellers are particularly impressed by the money saving advice and recommendations provided for Heathrow airport hotels. Many have said that they were unaware that booking both their hotel accommodation and airport car parking as a package could provide such significant savings.

Others have said how they have found the recommended hotels a great time saver. Rather than spend valuable time making comparisons they have been able to follow the suggestions from Gosimply confident in the knowledge that they are getting a good deal on a quality Heathrow hotel.

The all new Gosimply.com website is proving to be a powerful and popular travel resource with sensible money saving suggestions presented in a user-friendly easy-to-use format.

Gone are the days of simply turning up at the airport and with minimal time and fuss, simply boarding the plane and waiting for take off. As with any journey, a little research and planning can go a long way to easing the stress of the trip to the airport and enhancing the enjoyment of your holiday or business trip.

Rather than dreading the pre destination part of the journey between front door and the aircraft seat, why not make it an enjoyable part of the overall experience so that you arrive at your destination refreshed and relaxed. Start your holiday from the moment you leave home with the help of these simple tips.

Picking the best airlines

Especially important if you’re embarking on a long haul flight, the varying differences in legroom and standards of service can make all the difference. With a little research on websites like www.airlinequality.com you can read extensive customer reviews that can help you decide on which airline is best for you.

Online Check-In

Some airlines now offer this service that allows you to check-in online and in some instances, enable you to pick your own seat. Online check-in facilities do vary between airlines and are normally on a first come, first served basis. Check-in is usually available up to 24 hours in advance but rules and terms can vary so it’s always best to double check when booking your trip.

Flight Upgrades

Although high end upgrades can be expensive, some standard and last minute upgrades can be had for a much more palatable surcharge of around £15.00*. Upgrades are well worth looking into especially on Long haul flights as a relatively small surcharge can bring about a big difference in the standards of comfort and enjoyment of your flight.

Booking a seat with a view

Enjoyed by most first time or seasoned travellers, a window seat truly does give you a window to the world. Operated by Trip Advisor, www.seatguru.com provides a guide to the best seating on all of the main airlines. Simply select an airline and aircraft type for a detailed seating plan and a handy guide on the seat position.

Getting to and from the airport

Probably one of those things that people leave to the last minute. For those who intend to drive to the airport, this is rarely a problem with the extensive range of cheap and affordable airport car parking deals either at or near to the airport. Alternatives include either getting a friend or relative to pick you up and drop you off although this can be inconvenient with early morning or late night flights. Using public transport such as buses and trains can be a viable means of getting to the airport. Service operating times and the cost of some journeys however may exceed the cost and benifits of travelling by car. Whatever means of transport to the airport you decide on, it’s always best to plan well in advance and allow extra time for potential delays.

A good time to fly

Not always an option for all but if possible, try to avoid booking flights that are on school and bank holidays. Statistically, mid-week flights are usually less crowded than weekend flights with Mondays actually being the busiest flying day of the week. With a little research and planning, £££’s can be saved on flights if booked on less popular dates and times.

Local and regional airports

Many airlines now operate services from some of the smaller local and regional airports. Although there may not always be a flight to your destination within the required time frame, it’s always worth checking. Why travel potentially hundreds of miles to one of the major national airports like Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton or Manchester when there maybe a suitable flight from one of the smaller regional airports potentially saving time, hassle and money.

Start your holiday early

No one enjoys the prospect of a long drive to the airport late at night or in the early ours of the morning followed by hours of waiting at the airport terminal. Chances are that by the time you arrive at your destination, you’ll be tired and harassed and looking forward to a rest. An easy and affordable way of avoiding this scenario might be to book an overnight stay at one of the many airport hotels at or near to the airport. With prices starting from as little £30.00* with full access to a range of hotel facilities, you can add a whole new dimension to your holiday by waking up refreshed, relaxed and usually just a matter of minutes from the airport terminal.

Airport Lounges

Often thought of as something that only executives or celebrities use, airport lounges are in fact a facility that is available to anyone. Usually costing in the region of £15 to £20* per person, the airport lounge admission price usually includes access to a range of complimentary snacks, soft drinks, newspapers, magazines and more. Facilities on offer can vary from lounge to lounge but some also include free alcoholic beverages and internet access in the price. Airport lounges provide an opportunity for you to relax and unwind in a less stressful environment with some great home comforts like sofas and TV.

Travelling light

Turning up at the airport with excess luggage can cause no end of problems for you, your travelling partners, family or friends. To avoid potentially expensive excess luggage charges or the prospect of emptying everyones cases in an attempt to re-distribute the load, pack carefully. Only take what is really necessary, you’ll be surprised at the amount of things that people will pack that they don’t really need. Check the luggage weight restrictions of the airline well in advance and prior to departure just incase they have changed. Weigh your cases prior to leaving for the airport and make sure that the scales you use are accurate. Never go right up to the maximum weight allowance on your own scales and allow for a margin of error, if your scales are understated by just a couple of pounds you’re likely to face an excess luggage charge at the airport.

By following some or all of these simple tips, you can help to make your travel experience that little more enjoyable and a little less stressful. For further information, the latest deals and to compare airport parking, hotels and airport lounges visit www.simplyextras.co.uk. Further advice and information on BAA operated airports such as Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, can be found at www.baa.com or alternatively by phone on 0870 8502825.

Your views and travel experiences

If you have any interesting stories or helpful travel tips, why not let us know?

* Prices shown and marked give an approximation of the costs involved. Prices of airport services are based on date and time of travel, airport concerned, car park, hotel or lounge operator and service availability at the time of booking.

Whilst flying can be slightly more complicated for the disabled traveller most airlines and airports are perfectly equipped and ready to make every journey easy and enjoyable.

Planning is the key, whether disabled or not. There are always lots of things to consider including:

• Vaccinations suitable for your intended trip
• Medication and any special equipment needs
• Medical insurance and how to get medical assistance if needed
• Travel insurance that covers any specialist equipment
• Any special transportation requirements that you may have
• Dietary requirements for the flight and your destination hotels
• Availability of appropriate disabled toilet facilities
• Suitability of any rented transport

Before booking your flight you should check that the airline provides any assistance that you may require and be certain to find out if this costs extra. Ensure that you pre-book any assistance that you may require to be certain that it is ready when and where you need it.

Parking for disabled travellers is often provided conveniently close to the airport terminal buildings. For example, when parking at Aberdeen Airport disabled travellers can pre-book either long stay or short stay parking, but both are actually in the same conveniently located car park near to the airport terminal building.

For most disabled travellers a safe and enjoyable journey can be guaranteed with a little forethought and preparation.

For more information visit: Flying with Disability

Monarch airlines have condemned the high aircraft parking fees that are being charged at Luton Airport. Luton Airport currently charges £7,000 a day for each aircraft that is parked at the airport for more than 48 hours in comparison to the £1,000 per day charged at Manchester airport.

Monarch’s managing director Tim Jeans said that Luton Borough Council, the owners of Luton Airport were not investing the money made back into the development of the airport. Mr Jeans went on to claim that the agreement between the airport operators and the council did not give a provision or commitment for the development of the infrastructure at the airport.

Mr Jeans went on to say that “The lack of vision on the part of the council is a crying shame” and that “the terms of the franchise make it more advantageous for it to sweat the assets than to invest in the airport. “The council should recognise its position as part of the London airport system and stop looking at creaming off £2 per plane that takes off.”

Monarch airlines said that they are currently looking at other airports to use as a fifth base for when it takes delivery of a new Airbus A321 that is due for delivery in August.

A spokeswoman for Luton Airport said that high aircraft parking charges had been set by the airport authority to discourage airlines from keeping aircraft at the airport. It’s claimed that this was necessary to prevent airlines from parking aircraft for long periods when not in operation which in turn could cause congestion at the airport during peak times. Travellers will undoubtedly be relieved that the airport authority doesn’t charge the same rates for Luton Airport car parking.

Ryanair have announced plans for a multi-million pound expansion into Scotland that could bring about a significant boost to tourism in the area. With the planned 19 routes that will operate to and from Edinburgh Airport, Ryanair predicts that the new services will attract more than 1.2 million extra passengers a year to Scotland.

With Glasgow Prestwick Airport being their first, Edinburgh airport will be Ryanair’s second base of operation in Scotland and their 27th in Europe.

The airline claims that the expansion of operations in the Scottish sector will indirectly create up to 1,200 jobs in Edinburgh and the East Scotland areas. Inevitably, with the creation of new routes and services comes a greater demand for additional ground based operations such as Airport car parking and Hotels at or near to Edinburgh Airport. This demand for additional services is likely to bring an economic boost and jobs to the local and surrounding areas.

Sean Coyle, Ryanair’s director of finance, said “Our 19 routes will deliver significant economic benefits for Edinburgh by capitalising on Scotland’s huge tourism potential and making it cheaper and easier than ever before to get here.”

From November 5th, the German carrier Air Berlin will start a twice daily service from Stansted airport to Munich with a one flight service on each day at the weekend.

Air Berlins country manager for the UK and Ireland, Titus Johnson, stated that the new route was formed after demand for the route from customers.

With fares starting from £24 one-way, including taxes, Stansted departures will be at 08:20 and 19:15 hours daily with one flight departing on Saturdays at 08:20 and another flight on Sunday departing at 19:15 hours.

With the ever growing popularity and number of airport lounges, there has never been a greater choice for travellers.

In a recent article by the Telegraph online, Jeffery Mills was given the enviable task of scouting the worlds airports to find and name his top 10 luxury airport lounges.

When searching for airport lounges, there are a number of web sites that take the hard work out of the process by providing easy to use search facilities. Once the country and airport required have been selected, these systems will return details of availability and pricing along with an option to book online in advance, saving on the normal ‘turn up’ daily rates.

One of the more well known sites for this is Simplylounges.co.uk, with a database of over 130 airport lounges in around 40 countries, this easy to use site provides instant access to the worlds airport lounge net work, including some of those highlighted by Jeffery Mills in his worlds top ten luxury lounges.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of the virgin group of companies, has been given the go ahead to launch a new Virgin America airline. The inaugural flight will take off from the operations home base in San Francisco to New Yorks JFK airport by mid-summer although no date has been yet confirmed.

The go ahead was finally confirmed after nearly 18 months of negotiations between Virgin and the US competition authorities, a further condition of approval was that Sir Branson limited his interest in the new venture to 25% with the remaining share being owned by US investment banks.

Within the first year of startup, Virgin America is aiming to offer flights to 10 cities within the US including Washington, Las Vegas and San Diego growing to 30 destinations by 2012. Further routes under consideration for future operations currently include Boston, Orlando, Atlanta and New Orleans.

Virgin America hopes to build on the reputation of the virgin group as well as providing a service that betters the conventional US carriers, part of the new operation will be the inclusion of first class cabins on the new services.

BMI has pledged to retain Manchester airport as a key part of its network of services. With eleven routes that include flights from Manchester to Barbados, Las Vegas, Chicago and Antigua, BMI says that it sees Manchester as a vital part of its ongoing expansion program.

With the signing of the open skies deal between the UK, Europe and the united states, BMI may now opt to fly from Heathrow to the US, BMI chairman Sir Michael Bishop went on to say that such a decision however would not effect the Manchester operation.

As a member of the Star Alliance, the Chicago route is of particular importance to BMI as the city is a major hub for fellow member United Airlines. Although BMI intends to continue providing long-haul service from Manchester in the future, it has admitted that the number of opportunities for long haul services from the airport are limited.

In addition to the existing services that operate to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, a new Lyon service that operates from London Heathrow airport has been added by BMI Regional.