Greetings from the futuristic Berlin Hauptbahnhof station

Late summer greetings from the magnificent train station of Berlin Hauptbahnhof, which has the appearance of a futuristic universal travel centre, with its tubular glass lifts, its array of stainless steel moving stairways feeding multiple levels and a healthy selection of services.

Most trains appear to operate to a time precisioned and extremely well organised stress free system, without any evasive security checks whatsoever. The whole experience for the traveller is fluid, hassle free and convenient. So why is it that travel through an airport these days is so inconvenient, stressful and sometimes leaves one with a degrading feeling?

Trains carry hundreds of passengers, they frequently cover cross border routes, the main terminals cater for thousands of people and yet no intrusive or security or paranoia about liquids exists. 

I am not campaigning for more security in train stations; on the contrary, I am saying we have gone too far in airports and I am calling for a more intelligent, less intrusive, sensible big picture approach. Everytime we succumb and are fearful enough to build a fortress somewhere like an airport, the terrorists have won another battle and they gain free publicity of fear. The loser is the average man or woman that through the hyped up fear factor allows Governments to erode general liberty and freedom (the very thing they are supposed to protect) and the cost in addition to all that extra inconvenience has to be swallowed.

The average innocent traveller in reality can do little to improve their plight at airports to reverse the trend, as authorities seem not to care about the consumer in this case. 

Subsequently, the average innocent traveller is left with one realistic option in the form of damage limitation, by navigating through security at airports, following the path of least resistance.

Greetings from London, New York, Tampa and Miami

Just arrived back from Cyprus from a twin vacation in both the UK and US, having visited the cities of London, New York, Tampa and Miami. I expected to see droves of people in masks due to the Swine Flu, however I saw only one mask in summer calm on the streets, despite disappointing weather in the northern cities. Nevertheless, there were many outbreaks of Swine Flu in many summer camps across the US, especially in Maine and we can all expect a massive outbreak of the Flu in Autumn.

Taking a vacation to a city in the summer may seem like an odd concept upon first analysis, although when one studies the matter deeper there is much to gain. Firstly in London and New York, many of the residents vacate the city for their summer beach retreats and the business activity slows down significantly, hence the streets are calmer and the best rates can be obtained in quality Hotels, particularly so for the business variety. There is entertainment in the form of Musicals, concerts, local festivals and a host of summer activities. Meanwhile the beaches are overly packed, expensive and best left for June or September / October.

This brings us neatly to our feature article this week, which focuses on “the counter flow concept” meaning doing the opposite of the masses. Its an interesting theory that many Perpetual Travellers practice to their benefit, so I trust that you will enjoy reading. 

Greetings from London Heathrow

Greetings from an overcrowded and tired Terminal 3 at London Heathrow! With all the hype and attention on Terminal 4 and 5 in recent years, the others are looking worse for wear. In particular Terminals 1 and 2 have reached the point of no return, as they cannot be patched up any more. The new Spanish operator that bought BAA are bargaining with the British Government to invest in combining Terminals 1 and 2 (completely new development) in exchange for a third Runway. The environmentalists and locals will love that!

So if you are not flying with BA (see new BA article) and you are going to the older Terminals of Heathrow, expect a crowded, low ceiling feeling and rough around the edges experience.

Grant Holmes
Editor
Perpetual Traveller

What makes Munich Airport popular?

Hot summer 09 greetings from a mild Munich Airport, a facility that is reported to be one of Europe's best. So what makes this airport so popular? 

Is it the bright shiny granite looking floors or the Germanic organisation? The long efficient Schindler walkways maybe or the rather unique retail area that includes a SPA, Sex Shop and high street type boutiques in the mix? Perhaps its the presence of window to window light filled glass, featuring glass fronted shops, a cluster of Camel sponsored glass Smoking cubicles (highly frequented and no Flu masks in here) and glass backed Cafes.

Or even my favourite the Viennese Sausages with bread for 4.90 euro and the Napcab a little safe sanctuary of privacy. The Napcab is in essence a cubicle in the middle of gate H32 with a bed, screen, table, Internet connection, atmospheric lighting and of course a glass door! It costs 10 euro per hour from 10pm - 6am, then 15 euro outside these times (minimum consumption 30 euro). It is a neat little idea and could prove to be a great alternative to the VIP Lounge. I also like the little details at Munich airport, like the picture of a fly inside the porcelain urinal! At first sight you think its real, then when you realise they all have a fly in the same spot, it helps you aim! 

Munich airport is not all perfect though and there are some down sides too, which makes one wonder how it figures so well. For start there is a touch of LHR Terminal 1, with that low cieling feeling. There are no escalators for people with flight connections that have to change levels. The shops are varied but few in number and many close at 9pm, which I consider far too early. Even Cafes close early and they tend to be under-staffed, often leaving uncleared dirty tables and queues. 

Nevertheless Munich overall scores well and its nice to see something different to the usual cloning that takes place at airports, so well done Munich for that!

Grant Holmes

Editor

Greetings from Oroklini

Greetings from the village of Oroklini where the summer is in full swing and the weather is Habanero HOT! An Irish friend of mine visiting the area said that going outside here is like walking into a massive Hairdryer!

Traditionally July marks the beginning of the PEAK TOURISM SEASON across most parts of our fascinating planet. Naturally, in the climate of a recession destinations and resorts in all corners of the world are expecting the worst, however best estimates forecast a 7 – 10% decrease in Tourism overall. If that holds true in times of a depression that many media channels report as the worst since the second world war, the impact on Tourism will not be quite so dramatic as expected.

There will of course be winners and losers in the great summer escape. In particular resorts with non-euro currencies are expected to do well this year or destinations with excellent value for money. Tourism is also expected to GO LOCAL, whereby families will choose to vacation in their own country for a change. Some destinations are taking a proactive approach such as Larnaka that leads our Worldwide Events table in July with a plethora of Events, concerts and activities.

Enjoy July wherever you choose to be!

Grant Holmes

Greetings from Vienna Airport

Greetings from Vienna Airport where red is the colour. Here they take Security seriously and for some non Schengen flight the Passport Passport control is at the gate, along with a second security check and 3 checks of ones Boarding card. 

On the topic of security at airports, which is a process that few people like and all experienced travellers know could be handled more intelligently so as not to alienate passengers, we are often asked how can one make the experience a little smoother.

Well to start with what you actual wear when dressing to be processed through airport security can make a difference. Here are some tips...

WHAT YOU WEAR
1) Avoid wearing a belt, so that you do not have to put it on and off again in public within confined. All your efforts should be focussed on retrieving your personal items. Wear elasticated trousers or closer fitting trousers. 

2) Carry a light empty pouch (preferably with a zip) then place your watch, rings, bracelets, coins and metal items inside so that a) you don't lose anything b) everything is in one place and c) you can put the items back on in a more comfortable place away from the confinement and hassle of the security area.

3) Always wear a Jacket or Blazer, which has many uses, such as somewhere to hold your Passport and Boarding card, a pocket to place your pouch in and other potential valuables such as a Smart phone or sunglasses in the top pocket.

4) SHOES: Do not wear shoes with metal buckles to avoid taking them off. In the event you are forced to take your shoes off (many airport authorities insist) then always wear your most comfortable slip on shoes to avoid having to untie and tie up again your shoes in a confined public space, with other people pushing you from behind to move on. 

The above information will be contained within a Security report coming soon to Perpetual Traveller.

Greetings from the Flower Festival of Larnaka

Greetings from Larnaka, where the Anthestiria Flower Festival took place last weeked, which is a celebration of spring and nature's rebirth. What a pleasure it was to see the parade of flower floats and locals carrying beautiful, fresh flowers along Larnaka's attractive seafront promenade.

The festivities date back to ancient Greek times, when feasts were organised in Athens every four years to honour the god of theatre and parties, Dionysus. Anthestiria were also the festivals of souls, plants and flowers, celebrating the rebirth of man and nature. The word Anthestiria derives from the Greek word anthos, meaning flower.

Meanwhile, our lead Perpetual Traveller article this week is to place Budget airlines on the spotlight and we will ask “How far can Ryanair go?” with their extra charges that is! La Dolce Vita focuses on Canada, whilst we have more from Aviation Security, Hypo Global, Global Security and Cyprus Events.

Here’s wishing you a colorful week!

Grant Holmes 
Eitor
Perpetual Traveller

Greetings from Incredible India!

Greetings from the Indian Culinary Academy in Hyderabad, a city of 10 million inhabitants that is widely known for its exceptional Chefs, Doctors, Dentists and IT experts. 

It is therefore no surprise that the cuisine in the city is varied with spices and of a high quality. Meanwhile, Medical Tourism is growing fast in Hyderabad with emphasis on cosmetic and essential operative surgery, which takes place in Hospitals that are akin to 5 star Hotels with high quality services and exceptional Medical care, all at a fraction of the cost in the west. Indian Surgeons tend to get more practice with a growing population, which contributes to their competence. 

The outsourcing trade and IT in general has taken a turn for the worse of late, as a consequence of the global recession. In particular the Satyam IT Company account manipulation with Real Estate, caused their bankrupty only 6 months ago and resulted in the loss of around 25,000 jobs.

Elections are now taking place in India, which is the worlds oldest and largest democracy. With around 16,000 candidates to choose from for the election, its no wonder that the process takes a complete month. India is a BRIC country and an emerging super-power, so these elections are important to future development. Let's trust that everything passes peacefully in the country that will have 1.6 billion people in 2020.

Happy May Day

Grant Homes
Editor
Perpetual Traveller 

Will the Island of Love reunite?

Greetings from the the Republic of Cyprus where clear signs of summer are in the air and I have already reverted to wearing short sleeve shirts.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the divide in Northern Cyprus last weekend elections were held. The resounding winners were the UBP, spearheaded by Dervis Eroglu, who was actually a former Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’. His party won 44.06% of the vote, giving them an outright majority in the 50-seat parliament. With contrasting fortunes, the ruling Republican Turkish Party (CTP) who are aligned with the current Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, took just 29.25% of the vote, thus becoming an early Political consequence of public discontentment due to a weakend economy in addition to the perception of ongoing international isolation.

Subsequently, this vote was nothing short of significant defeat for the CTP and also personally for the credibility of Talat, who only last year proactively started peace talks with the Cypriot Republic leader President Demetris Christofias.

The UBP advocates a two-state settlement on Cyprus and are reported to be at odds with the present federal model now being discussed by Talat and Christofias. As UDP party now controls parliament, it may give Talat less room for manoeuvre in the existing complex talks that are filled with emotion and delicate topics.

Talat did make a statement that the peace talks would not be affected and the UBP said it did not seek to scupper negotiations. However, clearly there is concern, especially as the UDP have already requested more direct involvement in the process.

A source in the UBP said: "We are most definitely going to send a representative to the talks with Talat, and this is something that Talat has accepted." Diplomats say the Talat-Christofias talks offer a glimmer of hope that the conflict can be resolved. They are both viewed as moderates and are ideologically rooted in the left.

Greek Cypriots want a deal to be an evolution of the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus they run, rather than the union of two states. The events of the weekend could well affect the outcome of talks and the future of the the divided Island. Cyprus has so much Tourism potential and if the Island is unified it may once again rise to be the king of the Mediterranean.  

Happy World Day!

Grant Holmes
Editor, Perpetual Traveller

Greetings from Exotic Manila

Exotic greetings from Manila, otherwise known as the American capital of Asia. Its here in the Philippines that the greatest national export is actually people, which is not surprising with their excellent service attitude and work ethic. There are approximately 3 million overseas workers, however thousands of Philippino's are returning home after in their droves after being laid off in the Middle East (especially Dubai), Macao and other parts of the world. The demand from the Cruise Industry is lowering too and once again its becoming a recruiters market. By Government law, each Philppino is required to send home at least 80% of their salary. This ruling, along with Visa processing. Documentation, airport taxes, Certification on necessary training and tax on recruitment / handling agencies helps to drive the national economy. Subsequently the country feels this global recession in different ways to us in the west.

Meanwhile, according to IATA, the Airline Industry is in serious crisis and it does not take an economist to work out why. The world banking crisis is making the risk of a major airline failure more likely because carriers will not be able to access funding for a rescue if they fall into trouble. The situation is so dire that the Director General of IATA."Airlines actually said “we are now in a very weak situation - they (Airlines) have debt of $170 billion so we are in a much worst position - we don't have cash,". It appears that its only a matter of time before another Airline or two goes down.

Changing the focus to the brighter topic of the “Top Ten” Events around the world in April. Hypo Global takes a quick look at the G20 from the perspective of BRIC countries and we have more from La Dolce Vita and Cyprus Events.

Grant Holmes, Editor Perpetual Traveller 

Greetings from Larnaka Airport

Greetings from Larnaka Airport, where construction of the new state of the art facility is bang on schedule for a November 2009 delivery. The current Terminal is like an old aircraft shed in comparison and it most pleasing to see that Larnaka and Cyprus as a whole will be propelled into the 21st Century with a grand new Terminal Building that features a shining glass front and is capable for handling 7.5 million air passengers per year. On a related topic, more good news came from the Cyprus Tourism Organization with their recent proactive decision to lower Government commission interests, which in turn will cause a decrease in the airport fees. This decision was actually long overdue, but welcome all the same, let’s hope that there is still time to gain new air traffic business. We urge the Airport Operator Hermes to make a similar gesture, in order to lower Airport fees further and allow Cyprus to compete on a level playing field with the nearby airports. 

Meanwhile not so far away in Arabia, a symbolic event occurred at the end of last week, when 5 British Tourists, 2 American and 1 Canadian traveled to Iraq in the capacity of Tourists! They stayed at the remodeled Sheraton Baghdad. Needless to say they could not find any insurance for the trip, however they did book with a courageous Tour Operator. Of course access to some of the sites involved long security checks and the tourists did claim to hear bombs going off overnight, although they commented that overall they felt reasonably safe. This has been a long time coming for Baghdad, which used to be the Paris of Arabia. 

Perpetual Traveller this week focuses on Desperate Times for Desperate Measures in the Airline Industry featuring some of the tricks they are resorting to in order to counter the current crisis and expected downturn of passengers for the coming summer. The most alarming of which is charging to use the toilet in-flight! Hypo Global gives you my best advice for Surviving when lost in the Jungle. La Dolce Vita features the important seaport on the Aegean Sea of Smyrna and we bring all the latest security updates on Aviation and around the globe through Hypo Global. 

Grant Holmes
Editor, Perpetual Traveller

Greetings from Cyprus Airways flight to Milan

Perpetual Traveller Greetings from the air on board a Cyprus Airways flight from Larnaka - Rome (FCO) - Milan (MXP), which is a new double drop service. Who said that Business class is all but dead in Europe? Despite the fact the plane is a little tired, the food and service is really quite reasonable. Well done to state-owned Cyprus Airways who also bucked the Aviation trend in Europe by making a 2008 post tax profit of 1.7 million euro. 

The Republic of Cyprus receives around 2.4 million tourists annually of which Cyprus Airways carries around 1 million making their aviation contribution critical to the country. Cyprus like all other Tourist destinations is apprehensive about the coming summer, as no one knows for sure how many in the western world will take a vacation in this widely reported year of gloom. 

I’m bound for my Hotel room the security of which is the theme for Perpetual Traveller this week. Hotel Security is becoming an increasingly important consideration, especially in view of the unfortunate Mumbai attacks, so we dedicate this issue to top security tops. Meanwhile, the other thing we do not seem to be able to predict much in advance is the weather. Hypo Global features a fascinating common guide to Global Warming, which spells our in simple terms the main challenge of our age. La Dolce Vita offers an insight to Barcelona.

Green Greetings from the Troodos Mountains

Green Greetings from the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus, which was the centre of activity this past Bank Holiday weekend on the Island. Monday was a National Holiday in Cyprus called "Green Day" whereby traditionally families and loved ones go for a picnic in the parks and rural areas of the country with special emphasis on the Troodos Mountains region. Sadly Monday was a grey day, which has been the norm in this winter of unusually (at least in recent times) frequent rainfall, which is in stark contrasts to the two previous years of virtual drought and water shortages. On the bright side, this means that at least the mountains were Green on "Green Monday", even if the sun did not appear too often, so you can’t have it all! What truly fascinates me is all the Cypriot families rushing to see the snow in the mini ski resort at the peak of the Troodos Mountains. They travel from all parts of the Island just to catch a glimpse of the crisp snow and the children seem to view this like something from another planet. 

The origins of Green Monday comes from the first day of Lent. It is a day of joy, laughter and vegetarian picnics. Green Monday is followed by a fifty day fasting period, during which Christians prepare themselves to receive the Redeemer, shunning meat and dairy products and living on a purely vegetarian diet.

Happy Green week!

Grant Holmes 
Editor
Perpetual Traveller 

Greetings from Venizelos airport, Athens

Interim greetings from the transit area of Venizelos airport in Athens, where I encountered some positive developments that I would like to share with you.

Mindful of the best in class global Airport review that we covered as a Perpetual Traveller feature article last week, it comes to me as a pleasant surprise to see some welcome pro-traveller changes at the airport that serves Athens, which was built at the beginning of the new millennium. 

At last free WiFi has been organized to compliment the free Internet stand alone computer podiums. This makes Athens (ATH) one of the few significant and proactive airports in the whole of Europe that provides comprehensive free Internet access. May the rest of Europe follow this lead?

Moreover, a large area of e-checkin desks has been provided for in the departures hall, which permits any passenger to check-in online with a host of participating airlines that permit and enable an online check-in service. The same facility allows online reservations and bookings through the Internet connections also. This is a leap forward in passenger facilities and a convenient common marketing tool for cooperating airlines.

I think it is also appropriate to compliment the Athens Venizelos airport on their passenger friendly information services. First and fore-most, despite being a modern airport the lovable rotating flaps of the mega display boards (like a train station) grace the departures area and provide a nostalgic element for passengers blended with the new design. This is complimented by numerous clear to view trendy flat screens dotted all over the airport. The Information Desk has brightened up too with an interesting Power Message "Don't Guess - Be our Guest!”. This service seemed to be better manned than before and some service training must have taken place. There are also numerous information boards with leaflets providing for free maps of Athens city and the airport itself, promotions of the Shopping Price Guarantee and encouragement to give your view.

There is a lot to like about Athens Airport these days which includes...
• Quality train connection to the city.
• The level of cleanliness.
• Free Airport Archaeological museum.
• An environmental information centre.
• 24 hour Pharmacy.
• A quality Hair Salon / Beauty Centre.
• Enhanced variety of Shopping.
• A quality Business centre.
• Local Shops and brands blended with international Duty Free.
• Improved Restaurant facilities. 
• Plenty of places to take an excellent coffee.
• A host of VIP Lounges, some with bed facilities (catering for Priority Pass too).
• Free Airport quality travel Magazine called 2board.

So keep up the good work Athens Venizelos and try to stop the strikes this year and have a word with the remaining unfriendly security staff.

Grant Holmes
Editor 
Perpetual Traveller

Greetings from Cyprus Airways

Perpetual Traveller Greetings from the air on board a Cyprus Airways flight CY from Larnaka - Rome (FCO) - Milan (MXP), which is a new double drop service. Who said that Business class is all but dead in Europe? Despite the fact the plane is a little tired, the food and service is really quite reasonable. Well done to state-owned Cyprus Airways who also bucked the Aviation trend in Europe by making a 2008 post tax profit of 1.7 million euro. 

The Republic of Cyprus receives around 2.4 million tourists annually of which Cyprus Airways carries around 1 million making their aviation contribution critical to the country. Cyprus like all other Tourist destinations is apprehensive about the coming summer, as no one knows for sure how many in the western world will take a vacation in this widely reported year of gloom. 

I’m bound for my Hotel room the security of which is the theme for Perpetual Traveller this week. Hotel Security is becoming an increasingly important consideration, especially in view of the unfortunate Mumbai attacks, so we dedicate this issue to top security tops. Meanwhile, the other thing we do not seem to be able to predict much in advance is the weather. Hypo Global features a fascinating common guide to Global Warming, which spells our in simple terms the main challenge of our age. La Dolce Vita offers an insight to Barcelona.

By Grant Holmes