ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE NEW TRAVEL LANGUAGE??

What?? is there a language called “Travel Language”

If this is your reaction when you read this topic, then keep on reading…. who knows, it may help you to be a cool parent your kids can brag.

Depending on travel trends and marketing spins travel industry comes up with new words. Actually these are made-up words. You may want to pull your hair after hearing some words and there could be a chance with time some words may go to Oxford dictionary.

Staycation

Funny ! this has two meanings… Some says that without going out of your home (may be to your garden) and staying at home is the meaning of this. Basically you will not go to work and do other household work. Hire a house keeper and get deliveries.

The other meaning is staying at home and visiting local attractions. Getting to know your hometown better. Explore every corner of your town while staying at home. No need to spend money on hotel accommodation and on Airport Parking

Momcation

Ladies night out!! not really. but close… when all the mommies leave their kids and the home with their husbands and go on a vacation you call it “momcation” Can you ladies really trust your husbands to not to turn house up side down??

Brocation

This could be a similar to Poker nights guys have. Ladies are not allowed and what really happens only they k now. Let’s say bunch of guys get together and go on a holiday or even for a weekend you can use this word.

Bracation

Why all the fun has to be for guys? Girls can too have fun either shopping, spa days, cocktail night. All girl things.

Spacation

There are vacations people go for Spas. You spend the whole holiday in spa resorts getting various treatments done. These vacation’s involves lot of relaxations, heating healthy food, meditation, yoga session.

Celebrecation

No, it’s not a magic spell that comes from an ancient book. It’s any holiday that you take to celebrate a special occasion or achievement. Quite a mouthful, don’t you think?

Oblication

Have you ever go on a holiday at least for couple of days that you didn’t want to go but had to? A wedding out of town? family unions?

Weddingmoon

This is not a fiction but a reality. A weddingmoon happens when you do a destination wedding and spend your honeymoon at the same city.

Babymoon

Before delivering the baby when a couple goes for a vacation to spend time as a couple and to relax – Babymoon happens.

New words keeps adding in to the dictionary in the world of travel. Some of those words hilarious and some are endearing.

What do you actually think? You have a new word ? Share with us.

Dos and Don’ts When You Drop Off Vehicle – Airport Parking

1. Confirmation or Reference Number

If you have booked pre-paid airport parking then you should have the confirmation along with the parking instructions. Note down the reference/print or have it in your mobile.

2. Drivers Contact Number

You have the option to print the confirmation and bring it but it is easy to have a copy in your mobile (email) or you can add the driver’s number to your contact list.

3. Name of the car park

If you book your airport parking online through an agent make sure to take down the name of the car park. This will be clearly mentioned on your booking confirmation.

4. Directions to the Meeting point or the car park

If you have booked meet & greet airport parking then driver will meet you at the airport and this designated places will differ from one airport to the other. Also the different car parks have different clearance from the relevant airport. Therefore make sure to have the directions to the meeting point.

If you have booked park & ride airport parking then you need the directions to the car park as you will be driving to park the vehicle.

5. Be alert on traffic updates

Check the road conditions, traffic updates before you drive to the airport. Some roads may close due to constructions or there can be traffic so you may have to take alternative routes which can take more time. Delay in arriving at the airport late will delay in handing over the vehicle to the driver and eventually you may missed your flight.

At the time of the booking, you give an approximate time so a driver will be allocated for you. If you delay to arrive then he/she may not be available to pick your car as he/she may be collecting another vehicle. Remember that you need to catch your flight.

6. Fully Charge phone

You are required to contact the car park/driver on your way as per the procedure mentioned in your booking confirmation. If you running late, coming early, or you need to get directions to the meeting point, then you will be making few calls. Therefore make sure to charge your phone fully or have a spare phone battery which is fully charged.

7. Change of money

If you book park and ride then you may be charged shuttle bus and most of the time it no more than £ 5 per person so you need to have change money. If you book meet & greet then there may be an entry fee to be paid when you enter the airport. Make sure you clarify with the car park as sometimes this fee is already included in the charges so you may not have to pay again.

8. Arriving late or early than your scheduled time.

You need to keep the car park (driver) informed of the late or early arrival. A driver will be expecting you at the meeting point and if you fail to inform the change then he/she will be busy with the next arrival and you may have to wait or not be able to hand over the vehicle at all. If you keep them informed of the change then they can adjust accordingly. This may not guarantee a smooth process but at least you can minimize the waiting time.

9. All vehicles must be roadworthy and have valid Road Tax and MOT

10. Check the vehicle

Before you hand over the car keys and the vehicle to the driver, check the vehicle for any damages or dents. The driver will also do an inspection and noted down so check the receipt to make sure all are correctly documented. If you are leaving any valuables in the vehicle then get a receipt from the driver for the items but its recommendable not to leave any in the car.

Merry Parking

HOW TO PREVENTING YOURSELF FROM LOSING YOUR LUGGAGE

Everyone body travel wither its holiday in overseas, road trip with your friends or just a friendly visit to your relatives who lives far away.

Its fun, adventures and even relaxing.

However it’s a disaster if you loose your possessions specially when you travel abroad. You may be in a city where you have not flown before and would have packed all the essentials and comforts you need in this new destination.

Let’s see how we can avoid missing or stolen luggage when you travel abroad.

Be at the airport having ample of time to check in

Do not assume how busy the departure terminal is, be there at least couple of hours prior to departure time.  Then the baggage handlers have plenty of time to load your baggages to your flight and less mistakes would happen when they do not need to rush.

When you try to check in at the last minute you tend to misplace your belongings specially when you carry more than 2 luggages.

Take some photos of your luggage.

Once you pack your luggage take some photos of those and make sure you email those images to you or to a friend. In case if you loose your phone along with the luggage you can always access the emails to retrieve the images of your missing or stolen luggage. This could be crucial evidence if someone has stolen your luggage and claiming them as theirs.

Also its much easier to show the photos than describing it to the airport staff to find it and bring them back to you.

Remove old Tags and stickers

When you are taking a luggage to the airport make sure you remove all the old tags and stickers pasted by the airlines of your previous trip. If not there is a chance that these old tags can confuse airport staff, and sending the bags to a different airline. You do not want the luggage to be in Berlin when you are flying to Rome.

List everything that is inside your luggage.

Make a list of every single thing that is inside your luggage, however small or big they may be. The airline may ask for some proof when your luggage goes missing, and having a list of the stuff in there to prove that the luggage is yours can save you a lot of time and effort.

Personalized your luggage

It may be not easy to purchase a very unique and distinguished luggage unless you go for a tailor made or a limited edition collection. Therefore try as much as possible to give a distinct look which can be easily recognizable by you among many badges in the belt.

This will eliminate the possibilities of someone else collecting your baggage assuming its theirs.

Get luggage insurance.

If you wish you can pay the extra fee and get the luggage insurance.

When you are check-in request the airline staff to insure your belongings and follow the steps they ask you to do.

If you travel quite often then have a scale at your home to weigh the baggage so you know that there is no excess baggage. If you are willing to pay for the extra weight then no problem. If not you can put all the extras in your own car rather than throwing out. Book your airport parking with Merry Parking and drive to the airport in your own vehicle.

HOW TO FLY IN BUSINESS CLASS FOR LESS

If you have not flew in Business Class then let me tell you this;

You feel very energetic, refreshed, relaxed when you finally arrive at the destination rather trying to rush out of the aircraft for more space when you fly in economy class.

There is a dramatic impact on how you feel, end of the journey and you are looking forward for the next trip.

Any part of the world the Business class tickets are much expensive and its considered Luxury which can be afford by few. Our team at Merry Parking – Meet & Greet Airport Parking have listed, how you can enjoy this luxury at a minimal cost.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

If you have not travelled in Business Class ever and want to experience then book your trip to the next state or city with your domestic airline. Rather than taking the train, coach or even traveling by your own vehicle. The domestic flights are cheaper compare to international flight prices and the Business Class tickets are fairly cheaper and affordable.

REDEEM YOUR FLY MILES

If you have used a one airline for all your flights then you would have earned loyalty points which are redeemable. Collect these points and redeem to book Business Class tickets. If the points are not enough then you can pay the balance by cash or credit but the amount you actually spend is much less as you are not paying the whole price.

LUCKY DUCKY

Some airlines upgrade their frequent flyers air tickets if there are availability in the Business Class. For you to benefit on this then you better be the first passenger to check in. If you are flying because of a special occasion such as Honeymoon, Celebrate a birthday, mention these and let your travel agent know so they could pass on this information to your airline.

DISCOUNTED RATES/OFFERS

Time to time airlines are giving away discounted rates, or members only booking periods. Wait for these promotional emails and plan your trip. If you are benefiting discounted rates and why not book the Business Class. Do not compare the economy class tickets on this as it will remind you how cheap the economy class ticket after the discounted rates. Straight away check the Business class tickets as you are getting a discounted rate.

MIXED CLASS AIR TICKETS

Perhaps you may have not heard of this type of tickets but it exists. If you are taking an international flight which has one or more transits then you can request your airline to give you a mixed class ticket. This way you can fly part of your journey in Business class and the rest in Economy class. You are not paying for the whole flight a higher price and you can choose which part of the journey you can afford to book the Business Class.

Hope these tricks will give the opportunity to book your Business class tickets and help you reduce stress on your next holiday. There are other ways to relax and enjoy your trip. Why not book airport parking and drive to the airport at your leisure. No need to adjust your time as per public transport or beg your neighbour/friend to drop you to the airport. Choose our Airport Parking facilities at below airports.

Heathrow Meet and Greet Airport Parking (serve all 5 Terminals)

Gatwick Meet and Greet Airport Parking (serve all 2 Terminals)

Luton Meet and Greet Airport Parking

Bristol Meet and Greet Airport Parking

Manchester Meet and Greet Airport Parking (Serve all 3 Terminals)

Stansted Meet and Greet/Park and Ride Airport Parking

Liverpool Meet and Greet/Park and Ride Airport Parking

Southend Meet and Greet/Park and Ride Airport Parking

Birmingham Meet and Greet Airport Parking

CONSIDER THESE BEFORE YOU BUY THE TRAVEL INSURANCE.

It’s the beginning of the end of the year and all of you may have already planned your holidays or may be waiting for the year end bonus to go on a holiday.

There is lot to organize, Air ticket, Hotel Accommodation, Airport Parking, Car Rental, Airport Lounge, etc… What about “Travel Insurance”? This may not be the most exiting part of the holiday but the most important and essential matter. Expect the unexpected. So be ready for things to go wrong and let the insurance ease off the trouble for you.

Do not just be satisfied with any insurance policy your travel agent or your airline company or your credit card merchant, offers sometimes free of charge.

Cover your expensive items!

Check what are the items in your luggage covered by the insurer. They may mentioned such equipments such as cameras, laptops, iPad, covered but there would restrict by having a capped amount. Perhaps it will say you need to upgrade for a premium policy to cover such items. Read carefully and clarify with the insurance agent to see whether the equipments you take are covered by the insurance policy.

Medical Expense

This is the most important things a traveller should look for. You may be going to a destination you have not gone before so there is a chance of encountering new things you have not experience before. Therefore look for the coverage of such and also whether it covers the pre-existing medical conditions.

Rent a car Excess

If you are planning on renting a car instead of taking public transport then check whether your rent a car is covered  by the same policy.

Holiday Activities

The place you are going for the holiday may offer adventurous activities such as elephant riding, Kayaking, moped rides, fence fighting. Incase you get injured by any of these activities, better to know that your insurance cover provide for such activities.

Cancellation Cover

Even though we plan our holiday well in advance by getting the best deals and promotions, some family emergence or a sickness can cause you to cancel the whole trip or postpone to a later date.

If you have taken advantage of Non Refundable tickets/offers then your travel agent will not be able to offer at least a partial refund. But having a cancellation cover you will be able to recover some money.

GIVE MORE TIME TO YOUR SELF THIS HOLIDAY. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN DO…

Plan the holiday without waiting book your flights, hotel to the last minute. If stress is starting to take a toll on you even before you start the holiday, then it’s not going to be a holiday. You will be more stressed and the holiday is gonna add in to that.

Check out the these list of things to do, whenever you need some R & R .

1. Full Body Massage 

Do a research and find out whether there is a Spa in the hotel you have booked. If not , then you can find out or ask the hotel staff to recommend a good Spa for you. Make an appointment before you go so you wont be disappointed if they send you back if they are fully booked.

Go for a Full Body treatment which includes hot stone massage, Spa baths and body warps that will rejuvenate dry and tired skin. Say goodbye to sore mussels, backaches.  If you are going for with your partner then check whether they have specially packages for couples. Share the moment with your special one or a friend.

2. Homestay or countryside stay 

Get away from the hustle bustle of the city and book a stay in a countryside or there are plenty of people who offer their homes for foreigners. Book one of these for few days and breathe fresh air and enjoy the simple life style away from all hectic things around you back at home.

3. Join a vineyard tour 

For a relaxing/romantic trip, check out there are any vineyards in the place you are planning to visit. There’s nothing more relaxing than rolling hills, green meadows, lots of fresh air, and a good ‘ol glass of wine.

Start your day right with a big breakfast at the hotel or at a cafe. Then head to the vineyard tour. Learn more about the history of the town and the vineyard while tasting its finest wines. Have your lunch at the vineyard and request them to pack your lunch so you can have a picnic.

Whether you’re craving for a change in pace and scenery or a soothing body massage, you’ll never run out of amazing destinations to check out. So book your holiday now and give yourself a much-needed break.

If you need to fly out to any destination, book your cheap airport parking now with Merry Parking and enjoy a stress-free holiday.

NEVER DO THESE IN AN AIRPLANE

There are obvious things not to do on a plane or anywhere if you want to be the odd person in the place. Here we put together best practices when you are flying.

1. Sleeping through takeoff or landing

If you ever flown before then you have experience the air pressure around you changes. Sometimes your ears hurts for a while until the fight lands or once its in the air. If you sleep during this process then you will feel the pain more. What you need to do is adjust the pressure rather than sleep.

You can chew a gum, suck on lollies or even yawn. If not this could lead to an eardrum damage, infection or a slight hearing loss.

2. Sleeping in the flight when its day time at your landing destination 

You will find it difficult to adjust to the time zone if you sleep through out the flight. Adjust your watch to match the time in your landing destination as you board the flight. Then match the activities to the time.

3. Walking around barefoot

It feels good to walk around barefoot in the flight and specially if it’s a long one. However its not recommended and if you ask a flight attendant they will tell you not to do so. The carpets are full of leftover food and all kind of garbage.

4. Not having enough liquids

Your body loses moisture at high altitudes and in side flights as the air is so dry. Drink lot of liquids and do not ever turn down a refill when its offered.

5. Avoid Alcohol

Better avoid alcohol while flying as it will dehydrate you and cam mess with your sleep quality. Also you might have a hangover that makes your journey irritable.

6. Gulping tea and coffee

The tea and coffee made inside the planes cannot be very hygienic. The attendants use the tap water available in the plane. This water contains coliform. For some of you the bacteria can mess with your immune system. Stick to bottle water, fruit juice.

7. Don’t eat food once it falls on your tray

Even though the ground staff cleans the trays, you will never know how well they clean. Transit flights do not get enough time to so it’s always better to leave the food if it falls on the table.