Recently British Airways added a new utility BA Value Calculator which compares British Airways flight cost with easyJet and Ryanair. BA websites writes”Compare us with those no-frills airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet that add extra charges and we think you’ll be surprised to see what great value our prices offer.”

With the economy in recession, super cheap flights have become a buzzword in the air travel industry. A lot of websites are sporting discount airfares and Travel guide are adding value to customers at times like this.

Low cost airlines have been more than nibbling at British Airways. As per the press release from Ryanair last month “Ryanair, the World’s favourite airline, today (6th July) announced that it carried twice the worldwide traffic of British Airways (the former World’s favourite airline) in June as 5.8million passengers travelled on Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares (up 13%) while BA carried just 2.9 million passenger (down 5%) in June. ”

Ryanair has an even more amazing survey. Its release had said that “over 80,000 (66%) passengers voting in an online poll over the past two weeks said they would stand on short one hour flights if it meant that their fare would be free.

Over 120,000 passengers voted in the poll with 72,000 (60%) agreeing that airline passengers should have a choice of standing on short flights as they already do on buses, trains and underground transport while a minority of 50,000 (42%) said they would stand if they could pay 50% less than seated passengers.”

For the first time in 2009, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is operating cruises from Portsmouth; one of these sailings offers another first – Boudicca cruise BD0927 – Spain & Portugal Iberia cruise, will feature top class entertainment from singing legend Lulu, performing with the Leo Green Experience.

One of the UK’s best-loved stars, Lulu has had a series of massive hit singles across five decades, since her debut single “Shout” – released when she was just 15 – made her an overnight sensation. In addition to a stellar solo singing and acting career, Lulu has toured with some of the best-known names in show business, from The Monkees and The Hollies to The Beach Boys and Elton John. She has also collaborated with other major stars including David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Sting – and most recently sang with Take That on their number one hit single “Relight My Fire.” Truly a national treasure, Lulu is the only female artist to have performed on Top of the Pops in each of the last five decades!

With a fan base that spans the generations, Lulu is one of the best-known voices in pop music – and now, Fred. Olsen luxury cruise guests can enjoy exclusive entertainment from the singing legend that is Lulu.

The cruise ship departs from Portsmouth on 8th November 2009 for ten nights and visits some very cosmopolitan ports including Bilbao, Oporto and Lisbon. Prices are from £737 per person, based on two sharing an inside twin cabin and include all meals and entertainment on board, as well as port taxes – and Lulu will be on board for two nights performing with The Leo Green Experience. A popular jazz saxophonist, Leo also presents a show on jazz FM. Between them they will be performing a tribute to one of America’s most influential music labels – Motown Records. Lulu will be singing many Motown classics as well as her career defining hit, “Shout.”

Nordea’s annual Nordic summer holiday survey shows that households are now prepared to spend more on their holidays than last year and prefer domestic travel. Also, the other Nordic countries have become more popular holiday destinations. Some 64 per cent of Finns will travel in Finland this summer and 12 per cent in the other Nordic countries.

The average holiday budget has increased to 1,600 euros compared to 1,410 euros last year. Regardless of destination Finns plan to spend more this summer than last year. Inhabitants of southern Finland will spend the most, 1,800 euros.

- Bigger holiday budgets are a sign of growing faith in the economy’s recovery. Last summer people cut holiday spending and many begun saving. When the worst-case scenario did not materialise, people are now more willing to spend. The favourable wage trend and declining interest rates mean bigger spending power, says Tarja Svartström, Nordea’s Private Economist.

Over 80 per cent of Finns say their holiday plans are unaffected by the current economic situation. However, for another 15 per cent – especially the age group 18-29 years – the economy has affected holiday plans. Almost half of Finns have saved money for the holidays.

Finns are keener to travel

This year some four out of five Finns will spend at least part of their summer holiday in Finland. There is an increase in the popularity of summer cottage holidays and travelling in Finland: 64 per cent of Finns say they will spend their vacation in the home country, though not at home, compared to 56 per cent last year. Also, more people say they will travel abroad this year; Europe is the chosen destination of 22 per cent of Finns. The other Nordic countries and the Baltics account for 12 and 10 per cent respectively.

The survey at the end of May interviewed about 1,000 Finns between 18 and 65 years of age. This survey was the fourth in a row, covering over 4,000 people in the Nordic countries. The survey was conducted by Synovate on behalf of Nordea.

Disneyland Resort guests can enhance the fun and value of their magical vacation with a special bonus: a free Disney Gift Card to use for food and merchandise purchases during their experience – just by staying at a Disneyland Resort on-site hotel.

Guests who stay at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels – Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa – receive a Disney Gift Card — $50 for a two-night stay, $100 for a three- night stay, or $150 for a four-night stay. The gift cards are provided upon check-in and available for use at any of the Disney-owned restaurants and stores located inside Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks, Disneyland Resort hotels and Downtown Disney. Travel must be completed by April 30.

Whether it’s discovering whimsical Disney art at the Disneyland Hotel, stepping back in time to the golden days of California beachfronts at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel or indulging the senses at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, staying at any of the Resort hotels provides the Disney magic from check-in to check-out. Guests are steps away from two of the world’s most famous theme parks and a vibrant dining and entertainment district.

Hotel guests also receive special benefits including “Magic Mornings,” an exclusive early entry program for hotel guests into Fantasyland and Tomorrowland to enjoy popular attractions such as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and King Arthur Carrousel. In addition, guests are treated to up close and personal character greetings in the Disneyland Hotel lobby and can start each morning with an entertaining Disney Character breakfast at either property.

Hotel guests can also add a little character to their stay by reserving “Character Quarters” at the Disneyland Hotel. The new Character Quarters are connecting kids’ rooms which feature two twin beds, flat screen televisions, vibrant furnishings, flooring and amenities created with Mickey Mouse and Disney Princess themes. By reserving a regular guest room with an attached Character Quarters room, guests are guaranteed connecting rooms, a popular request from families traveling with young children.

To add even more magic to their Disneyland Resort stay, adult guests can play like a kid with the “Everyone Plays for the Kid’s Price” ticket program. The special winter and spring program features three-day or longer Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets, good for admission to both theme parks.

Zagat Survey has released the results of its 2009 Hawaii Survey, which includes ratings and reviews of the finest restaurants, hotels, attractions, golf courses, nightspots and shops on the islands. As with all Zagat surveys, the ratings and reviews are based on the opinions of local consumers – 4,149 in total.

Feeling the Pinch: When asked what effect the weakening economy has had on their dining habits, 34% of surveyors report eating out less, 36% say they eat at less expensive places, and 40% are being more sensitive to menu prices. Roughly 34% are cutting back on appetizers, desserts, and alcohol.

“No industry, including the hospitality industry, is immune to the current economic crisis, said Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. “While we wait for a return of consumer confidence, there is good news for travelers: we are seeing more value-added offers in Hawaii, even at the top hotels, and dining prices are below the U.S. average.”

Top Restaurants: Oahu is cited by 87% of respondents as having the best dining, and 29% say Waikiki is the best neighborhood for restaurants. Half of the Survey’s top 20 eateries are on Oahu, including the No. 1 for Food, Alan Wong’s, which serves Hawaii Regional cuisine. Gourmands gush that Wong’s food is “prepared to perfection” and “artfully presented”. Evidence of its “outstanding” fare, this year’s Most Popular Restaurant is Roy’s, with multiple locations around the state.

Dollars and Cents: According to the survey, the average cost of a meal in Hawaii is $33.18, which is just below the national average of $34.03, and a relative bargain compared to San Francisco ($38.70), New York ($40.78) or Las Vegas ($44.44). As for tipping, Hawaiians give an average of 18.4% compared to the national average of 19%.

Keep It Local: On par with national trends, 62% of surveyors say they are willing to spend more for sustainably raised ingredients, while 48% say it’s important that the food they eat be locally grown or raised. Happily, most of the islands’ restaurants focus on farm-to-table fare using area produce and fresh fish.

Service: When asked what irritates them most, 77% of surveyors cite poor service. Complaints about food, prices, noise, crowding and parking cumulatively only amount to 23%. Two restaurants that were voted No. 1 for Service on their respective islands, the Big Island’s Pahu i’a and Maui’s Ferraro’s, both happen to be in Four Seasons resorts.

Top Hotels and Resorts: With an overall score of 28 out of 30, the Big Island Four Seasons was voted Hawaii’s Top Hotel. Following closely behind is another Four Seasons, in Maui. These two hotels are also the top two large resorts nationally according to Zagat’s 2009 Top US Hotels, Resorts and Spas guide. Showing its dominance, the Four Seasons Koele and the Four Seasons Manele Bay, both in Lanai, ranked 3 and 5. Of the top 5 Hawaii hotels, only the Halekulani is outside the Four Seasons chain.

They Like The Nightlife: Hawaii’s night owls spend an average of $52.87 on an evening out, with 38% preferring a venue with live Hawaiian music, 34% choosing a cocktail lounge and 31% a neighborhood bar. The Survey’s Most Popular nightlife venue Duke’s Canoe Club in Waikiki, and the No. 1 spot for Appeal, Waikiki’s upscale lounge House Without A Key, feature local performers. Surveyors don’t buy the specialty cocktail trend (33% say it’s “an excuse to charge more”) or bottle service (48% call it “a rip-off”).

Natural Beauties: Not surprisingly, beaches are a favorite aspect of the islands according to 60% of respondents. Some 57% of surveyors say the natural landscape is what they love the most about Hawaii, and they vote the state’s most dramatic natural attraction, the Big Island’s Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, No. 1 for Appeal.

Name Brand Bonanza: A wave of retail has washed over Oahu, with expansions at several major complexes. Ala Moana Center, already the largest open-air mall and filled with international designers, added a new wing and the state’s first Nordstrom’s department store. Nine of the Top 10 stores (ranked by Quality of merchandise) are found in Ala Moana. Meanwhile, Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian Center finished a refurb, adding apparel-maker Marciano, watch retailer Tourneau, and spiffed-up branches of Bulgari, Fendi, Hermes, Juicy Couture and LeSportsac. For new sites of local labels such as apparel retailer Blue Ginger, jeweler Na Hoku and Mana Hawaii, specializing in authentic, locally made gifts, check out the Waikiki Beach Walk.

FORE! : Golfers tip their visors to Maui’s Kapalua Plantation, naming the site of the 2009 PGA Tour season opener Hawaii’s Top Course. Meanwhile, duffers look forward to several re-openings in the coming year, including the reworking of two Jack Nicklaus runs at the Lihue Kauai Lagoons and the newly re-opened Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Mauna Kea course at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

The Guide in Detail: Ratings and reviews of Hawaii’s restaurants, hotels, nightspots, attractions, and shops can be found in the new guidebook as well as online at ZAGAT.com and via the award-winning mobile website, ZAGAT.mobi. The guide also breaks out venues by neighborhood and special features (including Noteworthy Newcomers, People Watching, Teen Appeal and Views) and includes maps of each island. The 2009 Hawaii Travel guide ($13.95) was edited by Donna Marino Wilkins, along with locally based writers Wanda Adams, Jeanette Foster, Jason Genegabus, Napua Leong, Stacy Pope, Paula Rath, and local consultant Lynn Cook. The guide is available at all major bookstores, through ZAGAT.com, or by calling toll free 888-371-5440. A summary and stat sheets with additional survey questions and full rankings of restaurants and establishments by location are available upon request.

Known as the “burgundy bible,” Zagat Survey is the world’s most trusted source for information about where to eat, drink, stay and play around the globe, and as such has become a symbol of quality. Zagat Survey rates and reviews airlines, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, movies, music, golf, resorts, shopping, spas, and a range of other entertainment categories in over 100 countries and has been lauded as the “most up-to-date, comprehensive and reliable guides ever published” and as “a necessity second only to a valid credit card.” Zagat content is available in print, on the Web, on the Palm and Windows Mobile operating systems, on BlackBerry, on mobile phones, and on TV.

2009 marks the 40th Anniversary of one of the most recognizable and enduring state tourism slogans, “Virginia is for Lovers.” Launched in 1969 amidst peace demonstrations and Woodstock, the official state tourism slogan promotes a love of life and a passion for travel. The anniversary will be celebrated with sweepstakes, events, travel deals and more throughout 2009.

Originally created by Martin & Woltz Inc., a Richmond-based advertising agency, the campaign, which started out as “Virginia is for history lovers,” “Virginia is for beach lovers,” and “Virginia is for mountain lovers,” was soon shortened to “Virginia is for Lovers” – implying that whatever visitors loved most about a vacation destination, they could find in Virginia.

Today, “Virginia is for Lovers” continues to be the official state travel slogan and is amplified by the state’s Live Passionately campaign. The Live Passionately campaign strengthens the connection between the slogan and Virginia’s appeal as a rewarding and enriching destination where travelers live out their passions for history, heritage, music, wine and more.

The spirit of Virginia is for Lovers – Live Passionately is captured in Virginia’s new Portraits of Passion. These portraits are of real Virginians – outdoor guides, wine makers, musicians and more – whose passion for history, music, wine, outdoor adventure and life make Virginia a rewarding travel destination.

Whether it’s surfing at Virginia Beach, exploring the Civil War trails, hiking in the Appalachian Mountains, or tasting wine at one of the state’s nearly 140 wineries, Virginia offers something for everyone. Complementing Virginia’s diverse scenery is an abundance of dining, shopping, art and culture, not to mention a full spectrum of monthly festivals that keep the state buzzing with ‘don’t miss’ events. The dynamic range of accommodation offerings includes world-class five-star resorts, quaint bed-and-breakfast inns, major hotel chains, and RV parks and campgrounds.