myguideTravel are the experts for travel to a growing number of destinations which currently include Ireland, Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), New England and Poland. With offices in Skibbereen, Blaenavon, Boston, Glasgow and Krakow, we create with our Guests and partners, the best holiday and vacation experiences, using knowledgeable passionate local guides. Recognising the ever changing landscape in the world of travel, CEO Conor B. Buckley and his team will share their observations and experiences in this Blog. Read on to learn about their insights...
A report on RTE states how the CEO of Ireland based airline Ryanair (Europe’s largest air carrier) forsees major changes in the airline industry in the short term future.
Here’s what he had to say:
Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary says he believes in the next five years all European airlines will have merged with the big five airlines.
He said there would be no independent airlines such as Aer Lingus.
Mr O’Leary was appearing before the Joint Committee on Transport, which is considering air access to regions outside Dublin and fuel increase charges.
‘It would be better for Aer Lingus to be owned by a man from Mullingar who guarantees no fuel surcharges, than some anonymous person in Frankfurt or Paris’, he said.
In the current climate it’s easy to forget why we travel. However, if you have about 4 1/2 minutes to spare, I think I can remind you why we will always want to experience the joy of travel.
Matt - he tongue in cheek describes himself as “a 31-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut” has danced his way around the world for the last number of years. This is no riverdance. His dancing technique can be best described as watching an octopus falling out of a telephone box.
However, combined with hauntingly beautiful lyrics there is something hypnotic about it. He visits a number of myguideTravel favourites such as
It may be a very small village in northern Donegal, but Ballyliffin Golf Club will certainly put this village on the world Golfing map this coming weekend when it hosts the Irish Seniors Open from Thursday to Sunday. According to the European Tour, this year’s event will be contested by the strongest field in the event’s 12 year history.
Among the competitors are last year’s winner Constantino Rocca and 2008 Wales Seniors Open runner up Ian Woosnam along with Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance from Scotland, Seji Ebihara of Japan, Carl Mason of England and Des Smyth, Eamonn D’Arcy, Denis O’Sullivan and Joe McDermott of Ireland.
Woosnam and Lyle are Seniors Rookies, both reaching the 50 mark this year and have shown considerable form to date.
You may say that I am biased but I believe that Ireland is probably one of the best places on planet earth for a vacation or holiday. Ireland will never provide us with the sunshine and balmy days of Florida or Italy but nobody travels to Ireland for that type of experience. When the sun shines it’s a very welcome added bonus and gives the wonderful features of the real Ireland an even better ambiance.
If only to boost my view, last week I read an article in the New York Times where DAN BARRY (the NYTimes This Land columnist) shares an experience that confirms Ireland as a destination not to be missed
A recent article in The Independent in London described Ryanair’s low cost air-fares as ‘flights of fancy’.
“Buying a ticket from Ryanair’s website is an experience that leaves me enraged,” the journalist writes. “Although the front page flashes adverts about free or low-cost flights, the starting price no longer bears any resemblance to how much you’ll finally end up paying.”
I am a fan of Michael O’Leary and what he has achieved but at this stage I am coming to the conclusion that the notion of “low fares” with Ryanair is fast becoming no more than a myth.
On Friday, May 9, 2008, myguideTravel was a sponsor of the annual ICCUSA (New England chapter) Emerald Award Gala Ball held at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston. ICCUSA is the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the USA
and is a non-profit business networking organization with a focus on Ireland. ICCUSA is nationwide in the US and each major city has its own chapter. ICCUSA’s goal is to foster business relationships and economic exchanges between the US and Ireland in a variety of ways, including a breakfast speaking series, charitable fund raising and an annual trade mission.
I classify myself as an aviation enthusiast so it was with great interest that I recently read about the launch of a new commerical air service for the island of Mull in Scotland. Usually, launching a new air service is met with a mixed response depending upon which side of the environmental protection issue you stand on. This new service, however, is a bit different. Loch Lommond Seaplanes is to serve the Hebridean Isle ofMull from the city center of Glasgow with the quest of resuming commerically viable sea plane service. The service is to be operated by Cessna Aircraft that will leave little impact on the environment and make use of existing infrastructure. The flight will be a delight for frequent visitors to the islands as it will turn a 4 hour trip on country roads and ferry in a relaxing flight that lasts about a half hour. Alas, there is one drawback: flights are seasonal and will only operate during the summer schedule.
These past few days have been a reckoning for the aviation industry as no less than three air carriers have gone belly up, with a few more probably to follow. Apparently, the environment to operate an airline now is pretty tough, with rising fuel prices and a softening economy exacerbating other factors such as aircraft efficiency and labor costs to the point where several carriers have just shut their doors without warning and at least one more (Champion Air) plans to do so shortly.
I recently started reading Reuters travel picks and must say that I find it very informative.
Their most recent top ten is of Trains around the world and while the number 1 is probably no surprise, there are certainly some interesting listings. The real point to note is that it is not just the fastest speed that qualifies a train for the top 10 list.
Living in Ireland I rarely travel by train but when in Continantal Europe I always enjoy traversing the countryside by train.
Reuters list is as follows:
1. TGV, France
2. Japan Railways Group, Japan
3. Eurostar, England
4. ICE/NachtZug, Germany
5. TAV, Italy
6. Russian Railways, Russia
7. KTX, South Korea
8. AVE, Spain
9. Great Southern Rail Limited, Australia
10. VR, Finland
As we approach the traditional feast day of Ireland’s patron Saint, Patrick, on March 17, it is interesting to note that in 2008 the religious celebration of it was moved by the Church to Saturday, March 15 to avoid a conflict with the start of Holy Week. Arguably one of the most famous saints (along with probably Saint Nicholas and Saint Valentine), Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide in both religious and secular fashion. Even though Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, the first public celebration of his feast day was actually organized by the Charitable Irish Society in Boston and held in 1737. Today, celebration of the day has turned into a week long affair in Dublin with parades, parties, dancing and much more. Indeed, most of the world has embraced the day and added to it in their own special way. Nevertheless, it remains the quintessential Irish day of celebration by the Irish, Ireland’s diaspora and the Irish for a day.
I recently started reading 
surprise, there are certainly some interesting listings. The real point to note is that it is not just the fastest speed that qualifies a train for the top 10 list.