I am sure all of you still remember that Heathrow (along with Glasgow) Airport was (fairly) recently a target of terrorists. And this was the reason why security was heightened. As expected, many air travelers complained about the long lines at the airport. Delays with checking in, as many have reported, were due to the lack of staff and/or incompetence of those (staff) who were present. Personally, I do not mind the extra security measures in place. I'd rather be late than dead, I always say. However, “complainers” do have a point. With the situation that Heathrow and all the other airports in the UK are facing, it surely would ease the traffic if they hire more people who are trained to handle the job. Now… should you find yourself with a valid complaint about the performance of staff or process of work in UK airports, you can head for UK Airport Delays site to air your grievances. Set up by Travel Counsellors, UK Airport Delays plan to keep a tally of complaints about UK airports and see if the delays are unnecessary. They aim to raise awareness about the current problem and to use the statistics to lobby the government on the need to do something about it. UK Airport Delays is also a great source of information to would-be air travelers. The site can give you an idea before your flight on how long you may have to wait at your airport of origin. It's a great initiative, imo.Recommended Read:Travel Rant's advice on how to get through airpot security faster (more…)

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I haven’t put up any new links for a while, but here are a few sites I’ve been visiting:

Irish (why aren’t there more?!): Eat me Drink me - Good mix. No post since September, so hopefully won’t go away! ~ Fabulous Food Trails - Name says it all! ~ Well Done Filet – Musings of a Belfast waiter & his partner ~ Humble Housewife - Keeps getting better

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Fall and winter flights to Brussels are on sale from US Airways. Fares start at $571 round-trip.

I found lower fares for each of the routes I compared. Bmi beat US Airways’ fares for Chicago and Washington, D.C., departures, while Air France had a lower New York fare. Iberia topped US Airways for travel from Miami, and US Airways itself offered a lower fare on the Boston route. Meanwhile, Air France, Alitalia, American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, Northwest, and US Airways itself all had lower prices from San Francisco. Shop around before you book to ensure you get the best deal for your route.

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Holiday Inn offers many different types of online discounts. Here are some of the best:

The dealsInternet rates come with a best rate guarantee. This means that if you find a lower rate on another site, Holiday Inn will honor that rate plus give you a 10-percent discount.Love hot, steaming breakfast? Best-4-Breakfast rates include up to $20 per room breakfast credit for the hotel restaurant per night.WebSaver Rates can also save money. While you must pre-pay, and your reservation cannot be changed or canceled, you can save up to 15-percent on regular rates.If you’re traveling to Europe at the last minute, be sure to check the Hot Dates, Cool Rates section of the InterContinental Hotels Group website (of which Holiday Inn is a part). In addition to various Holiday Inn properties, it also includes deals for InterContinental and Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts.

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Also referred to as White Night in English, Nuit Blanche is an all-night cultural festival held yearly in Paris. It usually starts from sundown until sunrise every first Saturday and Sunday of October. Due to its success in the city of lights, similar festivals are now being held in many other cities all over the world In Europe, you can take part of White Night Festival in Berlin, Brussels, Madrid and Rome, among others. Apart from art exhibits, performances (with several stages put up all over the White Night festival location) and food kiosks, participants can also enjoy free (or cheaper) admission to museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions. Rome is up next. La Notte Bianca will start on the night of September 7 this year. Shops, restaurants, musuems and theaters will be open until 6am. Note that the center will be closed to traffic. Public transportation, though, will be open all night and will only cost you €1.
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This new release and first book by South African author Sihle Khumalo, details his travels from Cape to Cairo by public transport.

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