As with any city of such scale, the tourists are easily spotted as the ones with their necks arched skywards. Upon entering the hotel where I would be staying, my manners escaped me. I found myself distracted by the unfamiliar surroundings and completely unprepared for the hand pumping displays of hospitality and welcome I was greeted with.

This was not to be the last time I would be humbled by the manners of Chicago’s residents. Sure I had read that the people of Chicago more than any other US city are renowned for their high service, but isn’t “friendly locals” just a mandatory phrase of any tourist brochure? Apparently in Chicago, manners really do count.

On my first night in the city I was keen to sample the increased measures of an American style cocktail. I betrayed my location and opted for a Manhattan, an uncomplicated whiskey based welcome. The Signature Rooms’ cocktail bar on the 9th floor of the John Hancock Tower showed the city at midnight in all its glory. In contrast to the ancient, disorganised, organically formed street plans of UK cities, the US style block system spans out in neat, ordered bolts of straight golden light in every direction like a circuit board across the flat planes of the mid-west landscape.

Surrounded by many examples of Chicago’s gift to the wider world (the mighty skyscraper) there is only one tower that really threatens our vantage point’s dominance, America’s tallest building, the Willis Tower (formally The Sears Tower).

We moved on, through Buddy Guy’s and then to Kingston Mines to get our fix of real Chicago blues. Featuring a stream of acts rotating across two stages I got a brief feel for how commonplace genuinely tight, fluent and tasteful blues playing must be in Chicago, I was floored by some of the musicianship on display in this city.

Where to stay?

Situated in the recently erected Aqua Tower on North Columbus Drive, I made my base in the newly opened Radisson Blu. Its exterior has attracted awards and plaudits for its distinctive scaly casing while the inside theme of the hotel combines elegant and uncomplicated style with the striking steel and exposed brick décor of the lobby, reflecting the ‘city that works’ industrial heritage.

My room had a stylish and classic feel with great views over Lake Michigan. From my window I could see the garden area built into the skyscraper, with its running track for those who don’t want to jog through unfamiliar streets. I mostly ate in the hotel’s excellent restaurant and noted how it manages to attract outside custom from locals, as well as guests of the hotel.

What to see?

As with many galleries of such scope and quality, you will never have enough time to do the Art Institute of Chicago justice in one visit, such is the array of work on display. Even harder to believe is that what you see is only a small percentage of the total collection owned and continually rotated by the institute.

Iconic pieces by Van Gogh sit alongside Monet and Picasso, only slightly diminished by the sight of those attempting to capture the moment with flash photography. Despite the big names on display, the gallery throws up surprises at every turn, an unexpected highlight for me being a suitably grotesque painting of Dorian Gray from the 1945 movie.

However, I would advise planning your route a little, to make sure you leave time for everything you really want to see.

The Shedd Aquarium on Chicago’s Museum Campus will melt the heart of even the most hardened sceptic. Wetsuit up and step alongside the magnificent Beluga whales, feed them fresh fish, stroke their soft, bulbous foreheads and play well practised games with these gentle giants. Quite how a 2,000 pound chunk of grinning whale can be so adorable may become clear.

If like me you’re short of time, one of the best ways I found to see a great amount of the city is by riding on the back of a two-wheeled improbably balanced Segway. We spent the morning with the Absolutely Chicago Segway Tour, racing along the wide sidewalks, passing the ice skaters in Millennium Park, past the football grounds of Solider Field, learning the names of the city’s most prominent skyscrapers and listening to tales of Chicago gangsters of the 1920s as we looped endlessly around Buckingham Fountain.

My favourite part

This won’t be for everyone, but just 15 minutes northwest off the central “L” loop of the city, the bohemian district of Bucktown offers a side to this great city that may be welcome to those not attracted to the spectacle and scale of Bloomingdales or Macys on State Street.

Running alongside Milwaukee Street I found a close community of small galleries, independent bars and vintage shops with scruffy names like Buffalo and Recycle. Shopping in the area was easy and relaxed, with every shop owner open to haggling and reaching a selling price that left both of us feeling satisfied. I stopped for a coffee and relived my childhood in the 80s themed Wormhole Café, unashamedly marvelling at the replica Delorean parked in the front window.

I found great conversation and even better tacos in the aptly named Big Star Mexican restaurant on North Damen Street before a whistle-stop tour of some of the area’s bars as I struggled to follow the Chicago Bears NFL game. Chicago may already be singled out for its manners, but this area in particular had a comfortable, approachable community, the feel of a town within a city.

As I headed to the airport with the skyline behind me growing smaller in the distance, I bemoaned the short length of my stay. But three nights was more than enough to whet my appetite, I lapped up the last remaining touches of American hospitality in the departure lounge and vowed to return as soon as is realistically possible. How could I not? As one local described the city one morning “New York with a smile”.

Gaz was a guest of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel (0800 374 411/www.radissonblu.com) offers doubles from £128 per night (two sharing), room only, or £151 per night (two sharing), B&B.  http://www.radissonblu.com/aquahotel-chicago

Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau: 0207 367 0944/ www.choosechicago.com

Instead, pocket more than £500 by shopping around and following our advice below – that’s a good sum to put towards your next break. In fact, according to some TravelSupermarket research, it’s close to the £642.60 figure the average Brit plans to spend on their main summer holiday this year.

Order holiday money in advance and save £159.89

While you might be savvy when it comes to shopping around for hotel deals and you scrutinise every extra charge when booking flights, it might surprise you that substantial savings can be made when it comes to buying your holiday cash.

If you always leave buying your holiday spends until the day before you travel, or even until you’re at the airport before you board the plane, you’re not alone. In a recent poll by MoneySupermarket, only one-in-five of you (21%) said you buy your travel money online and shop around for it in advance.

But purchasing your money in this way can result in significant savings. For example, we compared rates when buying €1,500. This amount bought through the leading online provider, FairFX, would cost you £1,220.60. However, the same amount would cost £1,380.49 if you turned up at Thomas Cook in Manchester Airport without pre-booking. That’s a whopping difference of £159.89 – and FairFX offer free home delivery on orders of more than £750.

If, however, you’ve left it right until the last minute and your only option is to buy your spends at the airport, nip online before you set off and pre-order your cash as it’s not too late to save. We looked into pre-ordering €1,500 from Thomas Cook at Manchester Airport, and found that it would cost £1,239.67 – that’s a saving of £140.82 on just turning up.

Pre-order your hire car and save £130.49

Whether you are travelling as a family and want a convenient way to transport you and all of your belongings around or if you are going away as a couple and want the freedom to explore your destination, having a car can make all of the difference on holiday.

Again, shopping around in advance can help you to secure the lowest price and it can also ensure that you get the make and model you need rather than turning up and having limited, if any, options.

We looked online for medium family cars with a pick-up from Malaga Airport over the June half term and found prices from £77.72 for the week on TravelSupermarket’s car hire comparison service through Argus Car Hire. This compares to Hertz’s walk-up price of £208.21 for a family car over the same week and offers a huge saving of £130.49.

Shop around for your travel insurance and save £78.78

Travel insurance may not be the most exciting part of a holiday, but it is essential and can protect you should anything go wrong during your trip. Read some case studies that show how vital it can be here.

Insurance needn’t cost you a fortune and shopping around can uncover very similar policies for less. For example, a single trip family travel insurance policy to cover a holiday to Turkey over the June half term would cost £90.88 if taken out with the Post Office. However, a quick search on MoneySupermarket’s travel insurance channel surfaced a single trip family travel insurance policy to cover a holiday to Turkey for just £12.10 with Virgin Money. That’s a difference of £78.78.

And, if you travel a few times a year, further savings could be made by taking out an annual rather than several single-trip policies.

Pre-book your airport parking spot and save £65.30

If you are driving to the airport and need to leave your car there while you are away, don’t throw money away at the last hurdle by paying over the odds for your parking space.

Use a comparison service such as TravelSupermarket’s airport parking channel to find the lowest prices and enjoy the ease of turning up with an allocated parking spot. For example, we found a space at Heathrow for eight days (June 2 – June 9) over the June half term for £72.30 when pre-booked through TravelSupermarket. This compares to the long-stay drive-up price of £137.60 and results in a saving of £65.30.

Know your baggage limits and save as much as £140 in charges

More and more people are fighting back against charges for hold luggage and are being savvy by travelling with hand luggage only. But don’t assume that, because you have travelled hand-luggage only before, you know what your allowances are –  each airline is different. For example, British Airways allow passengers to take hand luggage of up to 56cmx45cmx25cm and 23kg in weight plus a laptop or handbag up to 45cmx36cmx20cm in size.

Ryanair, on the other hand, have a strict policy of one piece of hand luggage per person with maximum dimensions of 55cmx40cmx20cm weighing up to 10kg. This includes handbags and laptops. If you go over this limit, you face a hefty fee of £50 to put your oversized bag into the hold.

If you do want to take a bag to place in the hold, it really pays to be organised and to check it in online in advance. The price of checking your first 15kg bag in with Ryanair in high season on a flight to the Canary Islands would be £30. However, if you just turned up to the airport and asked to check this bag in, you would be charged a hefty £120. That’s four times the price.

Other ways to save

The savings above already total £574.45, but if you want to hold on to even more of your hard-earned cash, some other ways to save include:

• Avoid expensive airline food and instead take a packed lunch and treats for all of the family. While security restrictions mean you won’t be able to take your own drinks from home, you could still save money by buying drinks from the shops in the airport before you board.
• Before you go away, check whether your normal credit or debit card is suitable for use abroad as most aren’t and will result in you paying over the odds when withdrawing cash or buying items. Compare cards designed for overseas use on MoneySupermarket to find the best option for you.
• Another option is to take out a prepaid card. Read more here.
• Similarly, check how much it will cost to make phone calls or use the internet on your mobile phone while you are away. You don’t want to be left with an unwelcome and unexpectedly steep bill when you get home.

Please note: All rates and deals were correct as of May 9, 2012.

The Eastern & Oriental Express, SE Asia

This journey between Singapore and Bangkok combines style and luxury inside the carriages with rainforest and mountain views of Malaysia and Thailand outside.

Img: Train chartering & Private rail cars

Qingzang Railway, China

The journey from Xining to Lhasa on China’s Qingzang Railway traverses the Tanggula Pass at over 16000 ft in the air – making this the highest-elevated railway in the world.

Img: Wikimedia

The Orient Express, London to Venice

Relive the golden age of rail travel on the Orient Express route from London to Venice. Vintage Pullman and Continental trains used to transport passengers bring home the Agatha Christie feel.

Img: Jay cross

Glacier Express, Switzerland

Connecting Swiss ski resorts Zermatt and St. Moritz, the Glacier Express loops around the stunning ice-capped mountains of the Valais and Graubunden.

Img: Martha de Jong-Lantink

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, India

Travel on this World Heritage Site railway between New Jalpaiguri–Darjeeling for eye-popping views of the world’s third highest peak, Kanchenjunga.

Img: timabbott

Wanna take an epic train journey? Win a pair of 10-day European rail passes every day between 9th – 18th May on the HostelBookers Facebook page.

But the sheer size of the U.S. can make it hard to decide exactly what to see.

As a former U.S. tour guide, I’ve driven cross-country more times than I care to admit… and after tens of thousands of miles on the road, I’m sharing with you a simple three-week road trip that takes you from San Francisco to New Orléans.

Ready to hit the road? Then let’s go…

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco is a hit among local and foreign tourists alike. And why not? It’s an incredible collection of rolling hills, trolley cars, sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and some of the best food on the west coast.

It’s a great place to start your road trip, but consider yourself warned: people do leave their hearts in San Francisco!

What to see/do: Take a tour at Alcatraz. This small island in the bay used to be a penal colony and you can still tour the prison to this day. The boat ride out there provides excellent views of San Francisco’s skyline, while the prison itself has not changed much over the years.

Walking along the Golden Gate bridge is another favorite. It should take you less than an hour and give you views of the city on one side and the Pacific on the other. Highly recommended.

If you’ve never seen redwoods – some of the tallest and oldest trees in the world – head out to Muir Woods, where you can walk among these giant trees in near silence.

Then check out San Francisco’s many neighborhoods: Chinatown, Nob Hill and North Beach are among my personal favorites.

What to skip: Fisherman’s Wharf is for the tourists only.

Photo credit: Mark Heard

Yosemite National Park, CA

Yosemite is the first place in the United States set aside as protected land (by Abraham Lincoln in 1864).

And rightfully so. It’s quite possibly the most beautiful place you’ll ever see: a stunning collection of granite domes, redwood forests, alpine meadows, lakes and glaciers can be seen in less than an hour’s drive through the park.

What to see/do: Most people just visit Yosemite Valley, and hike up to Half Dome (a granite dome sliced in half by glaciers) and Yosemite Falls (the highest waterfall in North America).

Both are excellent and highly recommended. But you don’t want to just stay in the valley. Venture out to Tuolumne Meadows, a collection of alpine meadows and high elevation lakes. Best part? There are way less people up here.

Photo credit: bumeister1

Bryce Canyon National Park, UT

I believe the Grand Canyon is the most overrated National Park in America… and Bryce Canyon the most underrated. Fortunately, you can stop here for a few days and enjoy its startling collection of hoodoos – large, orange, rocky outcrops nestled deep in the valley below – without the “grand” crowds of that other canyon.

What to see/do: Bryce Canyon offers two must-see attractions. The first are the hoodoos. You can hike down into the valley and follow any number of interconnected trails to admire these outcrops up close.

The second – and lesser known – is its night sky. Because of its remote location and high elevation, Bryce Canyon has some of the clearest night skies anywhere in North America. Sign up for a free astronomy class at the visitor’s center (believe me, it’s really worth it).

Bonus stop: Zion National Park – located just a few hours from Bryce – is also well worth a visit if you’ve got time. Explore the Narrows (where you hike up through a river canyon) or climb to the top of Angel’s Landing.

Word to wise, though: Zion gets really hot from June – early September.

Photo credit: fortherock

Austin, TX

Texas is one thing. Austin is entirely another. The Live Music Capital of the World offers more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the world.

Add to that excellent BBQ and southern hospitality and you’ve got an excellent stop midway through your road trip.

What to see/do:  Music is Austin’s biggest draw. Head down Sixth Street where every other bar pumps out high quality blues, rock and jazz. Alternatively, walk down to the Warehouse District for a more laid back atmosphere.

What to eat: Tacos are very popular in Austin… but the real deal here is barbecue. Head out to the Salt Lick in Driftwood (just 30 minutes from Austin by car) for live music, killer BBQ and a friendly outdoor atmosphere. Oh, you can bring your own booze, too!

Photo credit: jonl

New Orléans, LA

I’m going to make a bold claim. I’ve been to New York, Paris, Rome, Delhi, Singapore… and New Orléans has better food than all of them.

Known as “The City That Care Forgot” New Orléans definitely cares about food. A lot. It’s a steaming collection of French, African, Spanish and Caribbean cuisines.

What to see/do: You’re gonna want to eat everything. Head to Café du Monde for beignets (French doughnuts) and chicory coffee for breakfast. Then walk down to the Acme Oyster for (you guessed it) a wide variety of fresh and fried oysters. Afterwards, head either to Tommie’s – a high priced and oh-so-delicious restaurant – or grab a muffaletta (ham, cheese and olive sandwich) just about anywhere.

Then it’s of to Bourbon Street and the rest of the French Quarter for a night of drinks, jazz and debauchery.

This three week road trip shows you a side of the US most people don’t really plan on seeing. It also blends cities with the outdoors and gives a varied glimpse into the American south.

Photo credit: prayitno

Enjoy your trip!

About the Author: Adam Costa is Editor in Chief of Editor in Chief of Trekity.com, a travel site which helps you find, plan and share your next adventure. He is also the co-founder of Travel Blogger Academy.

This Sunday’s episode sees Simon starting off his journey in the south of Kenya, so to whet your appetite, read five reasons to visit the east African country below.

For safaris to spot the ‘Big 5′

Elephants at a watering hole

Kenya is a firm favourite for holidaymakers looking for a safari experience. If wildlife spotting sounds like a dream trip to you, pack your binoculars and a good camera, and keep your eyes peeled for the Big 5 – lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards and rhinos.

Mount Kenya at sunrise

From the rugged landscape in the country’s national parks and the white-sand beaches on the Indian Ocean to the imposing snow-capped Mount Kenya, Kenya’s diverse landscape is sure to impress holidaymakers.

For the beautiful beaches

A white-sand beach near Mombasa

Whether you want a relaxing few days at the end of a safari holiday or to spend two tranquil weeks basking in the sun on Kenya’s white-sandy beaches, you’ll soon unwind next to the Indian Ocean in a resort such as Mombasa or Malindi.

For the weather

A lion basks in the Kenyan sun

Kenya’s beaches are made even more idyllic by the county’s high temperatures and year-round sunshine. While the weather can vary across the country, the best conditions are generally in January and February when the country is at its hottest and driest – temperatures tend to hover in the early 30s. The wettest months tend to be April and May.

For the culture and art

Why not take home some colourful African textiles?

On any trip to Kenya, be sure to watch a dance troupe perform, to listen to some African music or to look at the local artwork, sculptures and textiles. And, if you like what you see, visit a local market or shop and take a souvenir home with you – don’t forget to haggle though!

Before you plan any trip to the country, take a look at the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice.

You don’t have to go abroad to get the most out of a watersports activity. The UK offers a fantastic choice of watersports activities, no matter if you head to the coast or if you go inland, there is something for everyone. Hitting the water is always a great laugh, especially if you are away with the lads and you’ve had a blast the night before.

Watersports can be appreciated and enjoyed much more if you’re with a group, that’s why the popularity in the activity is ever increasing.Watersport themed stag weekends are up by 11.47% on 2011 figures. Even though popular stag do activities like go karting and paintballing remain popular, groups are looking at different type activities to enjoy during their stag weekend. In most cases, no experience is necessary as its quite funny if you’re all experiencing it for the first time.

Cornwall

Cornwall is a huge destination for watersport activities, there are a host of towns that offer a variety of activities. But there is a contrast of conditions on the West coast compared to the East coast. If you’re looking to take part in surfing, then there is no better place to go than Cornwall.

Newquay is regarded as the home of surfing in the UK and is also a great stag weekend destination. Fistral Beach is the premier surfing beach which offers great swell and surfing conditions. The summer is the best time to visit Newquay as the town plays host to many top surfing competitions and events, most notably Relentless Boardmasters – Europe’s only surf, skate and music festival which takes place in 8-12^th August. Zapcat racing is also a great spectacle to watch. Again located off of Fistral Beach, Zapcat racing offers great entertainment and a chance for you to watch Formula 1’s equivalent on the sea. Best of all, Newquay is set up to host stag parties with its great selection of accommodation, restaurants, bars and other activities. For ready made packages go to StagWeb.

Woolacoombe 

Located up the coast is the North Devon seaside town of Woolacoombe. The town is set back from the huge award winning 3 mile sandy beach that dominates the coastline. Surfing is very popular at this town and is ideal if you and the lads are trying it for the first time. The town itself is a great promotion of why Britain is a fabulous place to visit. Woolacoombe offers a nice selection of quaint pubs, restaurants and accommodation.

Bournemouth

Along the South Coast is the large coastal town of Bournemouth. The town is a favourite UK stag weekend destination with stag parties and not forgetting holiday makers, but what it should be recognised for is its great selection of watersports. The town is dominated by its long golden sandy beach that stretches right along the Jurassic Coast. As well as activities like White Water Ribbing, Wind Surfing and Ringos, Bournemouth is very popular for Coasteering. For those of you who aren’t aware of the activity, Coasteering is a top group and stag activity which is both exhilarating and adventurous. It involves exploring the coastline for caves, climbing up cliffs, and plunging into the sea.

Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is an absolute diamond, not just due to its shape, but because of what the Island offers. Many people may know that the Isle of Wight holds a well known music festival every year, but it is also a stunning island that holds great watersport activities. The 60 mile coastline offers award winning sandy beaches which are ideal if you want to try your hand at surfing and beach sports. But the Isle of Wight is most famous across the world for its Sailing. Many top sailors use the Island as a training base and test their skills against the waters that surround the Island. So why not consider trying your hand at sailing for your next Isle of Wight stag do.

For more information regarding a watersports stag weekend activity, go to stagweb.co.uk or call 0845 130 5225.

1. Visit the Melbourne Aquarium: The Aquarium is chockfull of exciting exhibits to explore – perfect for kids who like to see something different and new! The place has a great child-friendly feel, with many areas of the Aquarium offering interactive facilities. It’s located on Southbank and tickets can be bought at the door.
2. Melbourne Zoo: Located just north of the CBD, the Melbourne Zoo is a fantastic place to take the kids to see some of their favourite animals up close and personal. From Elephants to Penguins, Bears to Tigers, the Zoo is sure to have a range of interesting enclosures for your child to immerse themselves in.
3. Scienceworks: Located west of the CBD, Scienceworks is the epitome of interaction for kids. It’s a place to stimulate the mind and let your imagination run wild, with exhibits encompassing fun and interactive features to help your kids learn and grow.
4. Luna Park: Located in St. Kilda just south of the CBD, Luna Park is a Melbourne icon. Full of rollercoasters, arcades and stalls, there are rides available to suit any age group. You can’t miss it – just look for the big smiling face!
5. Melbourne Ice House: Situated in the Docklands, the Ice House provides a chilly haven for kids to skate away the day. There are a number of themed nights on offer as well as learn-to-skate sessions for beginners.
6. Collingwood Children’s Farm: If you’re looking for something a bit different to the Aquarium, the Collingwood Children’s Farm has a range of farmyard animals on show for kids to interact with. A market is also available on site showcasing a great range of produce to buy.
7. Puffing Billy: It might not be as close to the CBD as other attractions, but the Puffing Billy is something young kids shouldn’t miss out on. The train runs through the Dandenong Ranges, allowing children to ride an old fashioned steam train – just like Thomas & Friends!
8. A Horse Drawn Carriage around Melbourne: Scattered throughout the CBD you’ll find a number of horse drawn carriages available to take you on a tour of the city. It’s a great novelty that kids will love.
9. Australian Centre for the Moving Image: Situated in Federation Square, ACMI showcases a history of Australia’s best film, television and digital ventures. Lots of videos to watch and interact with to keep the kids entertained.
10. National Sport Museum at the MCG: If your child is mad about sport, then the National Sport Museum at the MCG is the perfect fit. They’ll be able to see some of their favourite sporting icons and participate in some fun exhibitions.

Keiran Spencer is the director of sales and marketing at Punthill Melbourne serviced apartments

But what are these changes and how will they affect you?

What is ATOL?

ATOL is a financial protection scheme which was first introduced in 1973 by the CAA. All travel companies in the UK selling package holidays and flights are required to hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) which is granted by the CAA.

If you book an ATOL-protected package holiday and the company who sold it to you were to collapse – either while you were away or before you travelled – you would be covered and wouldn’t lose any money. You would be brought home by the CAA at the end of your normal holiday period if you were away at the time of the collapse and, if a future booking were affected, you could apply for a refund via the CAA.

Why does there need to be a change?

The way that we book holidays has really changed since the ATOL scheme was first introduced. More holidaymakers now book their trips without an agent – recent research by TravelSupermarket found that almost a third of holidaymakers (32%) now take a DIY approach to booking a holiday – and many agents now offer travel arrangements with separate flights, accommodation and car hire all from different suppliers. This means that the ‘holiday’ booked is not considered to be a package holiday and is not covered under the terms of the original ATOL scheme.

High-profile collapses of companies such as XL.com and Goldtrail left thousands of people out of pocket due to the way their ‘holidays’ had been put together by travel suppliers.

Holidaymakers are also, understandably, confused about which holidays are protected and the changes are designed to both increase the number of protected trips and to make it clearer to consumers what is covered and what is not.

What are the changes and what do they mean for me?

Flight-Plus

A new type of ATOL cover was introduced on April 30 called Flight-Plus. This is designed to cover the huge number of holidays where a flight is booked separately and accommodation or car hire is added to the booking.

Flight-Plus is predicted to cover between five and 10million more holidays per year than the previous ATOL scheme alone which is great news for holidaymakers. It will cover travel arrangements booked with travel suppliers face-to-face, by phone or online.

TravelSupermarket’s travel expert, Bob Atkinson, said: “With the revised ATOL reforms taking effect from April 30, we finally have some great news for millions of British holidaymakers. The Flight-Plus scheme will ensure that the holiday monies of millions more holidaymakers will now come under the ATOL protection scheme when they buy flights and accommodation that are essentially a ‘package’ holiday.”

Watch Bob outlining the changes in our video ‘ATOL changes: Is my holiday covered?‘

Are there any instances when I won’t be covered?

Despite this extra level of protection being in place, there are still exceptions and it is important to check whether you are covered while you are booking.

For example, Flight-Plus only applies if you book your flight with accommodation and/or car hire within 24 hours of each other. So, if you were to book your flight one day then request to book a hotel or car hire the next you would be covered. If, however, you were to wait a week to request your car hire or hotel you would not be covered.

The hotel that you add on also needs to be overseas and not an airport hotel in the UK, and Flight-Plus only covers trips beginning in the UK – but not holidays with UK travel only. To be covered, your trip also needs to last for at least 24 hours.

Further exclusions from the scheme include business travel arrangements made through a corporate supplier and self-built DIY trips. And IMPORTANTLY, sales made through airline websites are not included in the scheme such as a flight only sale or a flight and hotel sale on sites including ba.com, easyjet.co.uk and Ryanair.co.uk.

Clarity

The changes are also designed to make it clearer to holidaymakers on what is covered under ATOL regulations and what isn’t. All retailers have the responsibility to explain this during the booking process. If they don’t, make sure that you ask.

ATOL certificates

From October 1, it will be even clearer whether your break is covered under the ATOL scheme as it will become compulsory for travel providers to issue a certificate when a trip is booked detailing what is covered and what isn’t.

To speed up claims and to help holidaymakers, information will also be given at the booking stage on what to do if a company collapses and each certificate will have a unique reference number.

Some travel companies are ready to issue these certificates now while others won’t start issuing them until the cut-off date in October.

Should I change the way that I book holidays?

Although these changes are a step forward and will result in millions more holidaymakers being protected, it’s still important to follow the three golden rules of booking travel to make sure you are protected. These are:

• Where possible, book an ATOL or Flight-Plus protected holiday and if you are not sure whether your holiday is covered, ask. And don’t assume that as the company you book with holds an ATOL, your specific arrangements are covered under this.
• Always pay with VISA or Mastercard debit card to be covered by charge back protection or by pay by credit card to receive protection under the Consumer Credit Directive for purchases over £100.
• If you are unable to book a holiday that has ATOL protection, make sure you take out a travel insurance policy with end supplier failure included. This will protect you from losing money should a company collapse affecting any part of your holiday and will often allow you to re-book the failed element without paying the additional costs.

The only way to get to the Gilis is by boat. From the east coast of Bali it will take you around an hour by ferry.  If you happen to be in Lombok, Indonesia, it is just a 5 minutes boat trip to this 3 island lazy beach paradise.  The largest island – 7 km around the coast – by the name Gili Trawangan is the most visited.

Basically Gili has three things to offer, scuba diving and snorkeling, beach relaxation and exploring the little town of Gili Trawangan that comes to life at sunset.

Explore Gili Trawangan town

The fact there are no cars or motorbikes on the island and all transport are excluded to horses and bicycles contribute to the laid back atmosphere in Gili Trawangan. The lazy salesman along the coastal road that greets you with a “brother” or “mate” and don’t seem to care too much about making a sale, is definitely another contributing factor.  To top off the laid back feel, Bob Marley seems to be on repeat on most of the beach bars cd-players.

At night the town comes a little more to life, especially if you are there on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, which are the days the party crowds come out. As the sun sets the local fishermen presents the catch of the day from small stalls in the little town marked square. You just pick what you like and they will prepare it on the barbeque for you. If table cloths and candle lights is more your style, several beachfront restaurants have similar offers.  For the really adventurous, some of the bars offer “trips to the moon”. The way to get there is apparently through a drink mixed with “magic mushrooms” that grows on the left behinds from the local cows. For those who prefer to stay on the island, cold bintangs – Indonesia’s preferred beer – can be found everywhere. It probably won’t get you to the moon, but they seem to have a soothing effect after a day on the beach. (A word of warning is in place here. Indonesian drugs laws are very, strict, so my advice would be to stick with the bintangs)

Relax on the paradise like Gili beaches

The beaches on Gili looks like something straight out of a luxury travel magazine. The water is blue and crystal clear and the sand is white. You find excellent beaches almost everywhere on the island as long as you stay away from the area where the ferries arrive and take off. If you are looking for our own private piece of tropic beach you can rent a bike and go exploring. Another more romantic option is to hire one of the horse carriages to take you to a beach out of town. Sunset lovers should consider a west side beach and stay out until the sun goes down into the Bali Sea, while enjoying an ice cold fruit shake. A good pick could be the avocado shake, which besides tasting much better than it sounds, also comes with the added bonus of increasing fertility.

Sea turtle guaranteed Scuba diving and snorkeling

Snorkeling equipment can be rented everywhere on the island and there are plenty of dive operators to pick from. If sea turtles and colorful fish is what you are after, it doesn’t have to be more advanced than snorkeling from off the coast. Sea turtle spotting is almost guaranteed if you are at the right spot. Just ask some of the locals and they will let you know where to go.

If you want to dive with sharks, manta rays or other exotic sea creatures the Gilis have plenty of options.  All you have to do is to get your scuba gear on and pick the dive site among the more than 20 well known dive sites in the surrounding waters, which suits you skill level and appetite for adventure.

A good way to end a day underwater is in one of the bars or café´s in the dive centers. Here you can share your dive stories with equal minded and experience how the sharks encountered seems to grow at the same speed the empty beer bottles fills the table.

Stefan Russel  is co-founder of Vilondo luxury villas that rents out luxury villas in Bali.

Well today I got that excitement in spades as I was one of the first to go on board the brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner on its tour of Europe here at Manchester Airport.

Thomson Airways, part of the TUI group, will be the first airline to receive the new revolutionary jets next year when they commence services from Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and East Midlands to Orlando and Cancun. Holidaymakers with the Thomson and First Choice brands will be able to enjoy these brand new planes as they jet off to the Sunshine State or to the Caribbean Waters off the Mexican coast. And let me say now, the customer experience on board will get your holiday off to an amazing start on this amazing plane.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner

So, what is so special about the Dreamliner?

Let’s start with the entrance on board. The design is like a mini lobby with a welcoming feel and a high ceiling. The cabin opens up to reveal comfy seating and you are struck by the appearance of the space due to wonderful soft lighting, a minimum of six feet of headroom and the striking windows. These windows are huge – nearly three times bigger than those you are used to and they allow everyone the chance of a great view from the plane. There’s even been thought put into how the seats are positioned to ensure you can actually see out rather than be looking at a wall.

And, check this out…. Forget grubby blinds on the windows, you can adjust the light through your window at the touch of a button by electronically dimming the view. The lighting can also be adjusted during the flight to cope with jetlag, helping you feel better on long flights. Seating is in 3-3-3 formation in Economy Club with a pitch of 33 or 34 inches – way better than BA, Virgin and Monarch currently offer. And, for a small premium, there is even a Premium Club cabin with 38 inches of legroom and a 2-3-2 layout. The aisles are wider too making the cabin feel truly spacious.

Other great features include the overhead bins which allow everyone the chance to store their bag up top with ease and the luxury toilets which are also far bigger than normal – so there’s plenty of room to freshen up or to look after baby at changing time.

Bob Atkinson on board

Thomson also plan to install an entertainment system that will give you up to 35 movies, 40 hours of TV and the ability to listen to music from up to 100 different CDs. You can even plug in your own iPods, iPhones, and iPads to watch your personalised entertainment on the seat back screens and even share photos with your fellow travel companions.

But where this plane will really impress is in the way it works. Say goodbye to arriving tired with jetlag; the mood lighting and a brand new cabin pressure system which delivers greater levels of oxygen to passengers sees to that. The plane is remarkably quiet as well – up to 60% quieter than many jets in the air today whether you are on board or under the flight path. And there is a brand new air filtration system which not only cleans the air of particles but also removes odours as well.

Finally, this is a clever plane and those who worry about turbulence will be pleased to know that there are sensors on board that adjust the pressure in the cabin. The result is a smoother ride for nervous passengers and for those who suffer from motion sickness.

I won’t go on about carbon fibre technology, fuel efficiency, new engines and in-flight technology that makes this plane so state of the art. You just want to know where you can go on it eh?

So where next? With Orlando and Cancun as the kick off destinations, will TUI add any other of its long-haul routes such as the Caribbean, Goa, Kenya and the Maldives? Or could we see new non-stop routes to Thailand, the Pacific Coast of Mexico or South Africa? All of these are trailed in the launch literature today but it’s still a guessing game.

Thomson want  you to tell them where you think they should be flying. Click here and vote now.

My choice? Cape Town, Perth and Bali please!