Europe Looking East: The Rise of Three Trending Destinations

In the second collaborative piece. OAG and Skyscanner explore three trending destinations in Eastern Europe that could be interesting commercial opportunities: Sofia, Warsaw and Kiev.

Between them, the key Polish, Ukrainian and Bulgarian airports of Warsaw, Kiev and Sofia have added almost 800 flights between last May and May 2017, according to OAG Schedules Analyser. This is a 17% increase in frequencies, accompanied by an 18% increase in seat capacity. 

While new flights, especially from low cost airlines,  stimulate interest from curious travellers about destinations, so too, their interest and the latent demand for travel in underserved markets is a beacon for airlines looking for opportunities to expand and develop air services.

In Eastern Europe we see all of this. Ryanair and Wizz Air are expanding fast and some legacy carriers are looking to grow their networks. At the same time air traveller interest may never have been higher.

Sofia

This Bulgarian gem is steeped in history, and despite perhaps not being as well-known as a holiday destination compared to the country's coastal beach or ski resorts, Sofia's historic charm is starting to be noticed with a marked rise in searches. During 2016, there was a marked rise in popularity from three key regional UK airports to SOF, with the city rising up the trending destinations from Birmingham, Bristol and Glasgow. There trend line for Birmingham has been particularly striking; back in January of 2016, Sofia was only around 190 in the list of destination rankings, but has risen as high as 40th, a jump of around 150 places!

This clearly corresponds to moves into each market by Wizz Air, Ryanair or both, as can be seen in OAG schedule data. Wizz began serving Sofia from Bristol in January 2016, and from Birmingham a couple of months later. Ryanair began to compete with Wizz into Birmingham from September 2016 and they now each offer three flights each weekly.

Glasgow has also been a beneficiary of Ryanair service, with the carrier adding 2 flights a week to Sofia from September last year.

The destination has also been trending in Central Europe with a marked rise in searches from both Cologne and Hamburg over the last year.

Warsaw

The fun-filled, diverse and lively city of Warsaw has been a firm favourite Eastern European destination for a while, but Skyscanner data suggests the city is still trending upward in popularity.

Popularity from Leeds-Bradford to Warsaw remained fairly steady between 2014-2016, but the destination took a major spike over the previous year jumping up from around 100th most popular city search to around 15th! Quite possibly, the Ryanair services from Leeds to Gdansk and Krakow raised visibility of the market and demand for a service to Warsaw was met with Ryanair starting operations to Warsaw Modlin Airport, 40km north of the city centre, in November last year. Meanwhile, the popularity of the city from Birmingham (BHX)  has soared, elevating from around 190th in rank for popularity up to around 70th – a rise of 120 places! 

The two sharp increases in interest correspond, not surprisingly, to the arrival of Wizz Air in September 2015 and Czech Airlines from November 2016.

Kiev

Ukraine's proud capital city plays a key part in the symbolism of the nation. Offering an outdoor haven, with lush greenery in abundance, it's easy to see why this destination may appeal.

Whilst Kiev may not quite be at the dizzy heights of a top 50 trending destination, it is also seeing rises. The Ukrainian capital is gaining in popularity in Scandinavia, entering the top 100 searched for destinations in the middle of last year, while it's trended up over 100 places in the space of two years from Dusseldorf. Perhaps if things keep trending in the way they are now, Kiev could soon be a major Eastern European tourist destination, showing lots of potential.

The arrival of Ryanair in October 2017, a move which was announced a month or two ago, will be a major stimulus to the market. New routes will include flights to Kiev from London, Stockholm and Manchester.

See the full charts and graphs in the article here.

Source: Europe Looking East: The Rise of Three Trending Destinations

Rick Steves: How to plan a European vacation in eight easy steps

Rick Steves 8:04 a.m. ET May 6, 2017

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Paris offers more sights than you'll be able to see in one trip — if you don't climb the towers of Notre Dame this time, save them for your next visit.(Photo: Laura VanDeventer)

The best travelers aren't those with the fattest wallets, but those who take planning seriously. Jack might jet off to Europe as a free spirit, with no real itinerary — and return home full of complaints about how expensive and stressful it all was. Jill, who travels with good information and a detailed day-to-day plan, returns home with rich stories of spontaneous European adventures. It's the classic paradox of good travel: "Winging it" can become a ball-and-chain of too many decisions, too little information, and scant time to relax. Structure rewards a traveler with freedom.

I like to plot my travel details in a chart organized by date. I collect all my reservations, train times and other notes and reminders in one document. As I travel, I can see at a glance where I'll be sleeping a week from now, or what time the train leaves on Saturday. Here's how to create your own vacation plan.

1. Decide where you want to go and create a budget. Do your research to create a wish list, using the most up-to-date guidebooks, travel apps and websites. (Be aware than many publications and websites are ad-supported, so their information may be biased. Also, crowd-sourced sites can give information distorted by bad or corrupt consumer comments.) Outline anticipated expenses, allowing for airfare, transportation within your destination, room and board, sightseeing and entertainment, and miscellaneous costs.

2. Establish a route and timeline. Figure out a logical geographical order and trip length. Consider how weather, crowds, geography, time of day and your personal travel style will affect your plan. Balance big, intense cities with cozy small-town stops. For example, pair Vienna with the Danube River Valley, London with the Cotswolds, and Paris with the Loire Valley.

3. Decide on the cities you'll fly in and out of. Flying into one city and out of another is usually more efficient and economical (when you consider the time spent returning needlessly to your starting point) than booking a round-trip flight. Think carefully about which cities make the most sense as a first stop or a finale. If you'll be renting a car, take full advantage of picking up and dropping off in different cities (keep in mind that in bigger cities you don't want a car).

4. Figure out other transportation. Base this not solely on cost, but by what's best for your ideal trip. Study the many ways of getting from point A to point B — whether flying, riding the rails, driving, biking or hiking. For example, train travel is often more economical for solo travelers, while renting a car saves money if you're with a small group.

5. Make a rough itinerary. On your chart, write in the number of days you'd like to stay in each place — knowing you'll probably have to trim it later. I recommend minimizing hotel changes to save time and money — and to better get to know the town. One-night stops are less efficient than stays of two or more nights. Take advantage of weekends to stretch your time and minimize lost work days. Websites like Rome2Rio make estimating travel time easy.

Balance out visits to hectic big cities by also spending time in tranquil villages like Beilstein, in Germany's Mosel Valley. (Photo: Rick Steves)

6. Adjust by cutting, streamlining or adding to fit your timeline or budget. If two destinations are equally important to you but you don't have time or money for both, cut the place that takes the most time, hassle or expense to reach. Don't try to do everything on one trip. Be thankful that you can never exhaust Europe of what it has to offer. Assume you will return.

7. Fine-tune your itinerary. Study your guidebook and get advice from friends or fellow travelers. Be sure crucial sights are open the day you'll be in town. Remember that many restaurants and sights close one day of the week (often a weekday). And many of the most important sights now require or highly advise reservations in advance (easy to get online). Note that if you're flying from the United States to Europe you'll generally arrive the day after you fly out.

8. Organize and share your itinerary. Whether you want to meet up with friends along the way, let family members know where you'll be, or just corral all your travel details in one place, make an itinerary chart (for example, as a Word document) so that you can easily share your plans. Tools such as TripIt can also help; using your confirmation emails, the app creates an itinerary — with maps, directions and recommendations — that you can access and share from your smartphone.

Planning is always worth the effort: Anticipating obstacles, knowing your options, and living within your budget are fundamental to a good trip. Now you're ready to enjoy the freedom that rewards good planners and turn your travel dreams into smooth and affordable reality.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.

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Source: Rick Steves: How to plan a European vacation in eight easy steps

How to Travel to Europe on a Budget

How to Travel to Europe on a BudgetForwardForwardForwardForwardForwardForwardForwardForwardForwardSearch

After ten plus trips and over 20 countries visited, we're sharing our favorite tips for how to travel to Europe on a budget. - Kids Are A Trip

Tips for Traveling to Europe for the First Time with Your Kids

Taking your kids to Europe for the first time? Here's my advice, based on 15+ European trips with my kids over 10 years.

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5 Favorite Cities to Visit in Europe with Kids!

Travel Info!! 5 Favorite Cities to See in Europe WITH Kids!!

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Top 8 Best Family Holiday Destinations in Europe: http://www.wheressharon.com/europe-with-kids/best-family-holiday-destinations-in-europe/

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Best Itineraries for a Week in Europe with Kids: Part 2

Five more of our top itinerary ideas for a week in Europe with kids

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40 Tips for Travelling in Europe with Kids

Travelling in Europe with your kids soon? Here are 40 amazing travel tips to help you have the best possible family vacation in Europe.

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Best Vacations for Kids in Europe: Our Top 10

Looking for the best vacations for kids in Europe? From Granada to Tuscany, we share with you kid-friendly destinations, and the best hotels for families.

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Complete packing list for Europe with kids especially for people who like a carry on only packing list http://www.wheressharon.com/planning-family-travel/packing-for-europe-in-summer-carry-on-only-packing-list/

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10 Tough Things About Travelling in Europe with Kids (And How to Make It Easier)

Travelling in Europe with kids isn't always easy. There are some aspects which are tough but we've found solutions to almost all the difficulties we faced while on a family vacation to Europe with small children.

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Best Itineraries for a Week in Europe with Kids: Part 1

Our favorite 1-week itineraries in Europe with kids

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Source: How to Travel to Europe on a Budget

EE to scrap roaming charges across 47 European destinations from the middle of June

EE is to scrap billing UK customers extra charges for using their phones across 47 European destinations.

The mobile giant said roaming charges will be ditched from 15 June.

The move comes as the European Commission has forced mobile operators to bin roaming charges across the all EU member states on the same date.

Read more: Ofcom slaps EE with £2.7m fine for overcharging thousands of customers

Last month, Vodafone announced plans to also go above and beyond what will be required be European regulators. It scrapped roaming charges across 40 countries.

EE chief executive Marc Allera said: "Our customers want to be able to stay connected whether they're travelling around the UK or abroad.

"We go further to provide our customers with 4G in more places across the UK than any other operator, and we're offering inclusive roaming in more destinations as well – so our customers can stay in touch whether they're lying on a beach in the Mediterranean, checking out the latest restaurants in New York, or hiking in New Zealand."

EU countries

Austria, Azores ,Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar (UK), Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Poland, Portugal, Reunion Islands, Romania, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French), San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and Vatican City.

European Economic Areas

Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein

Other destinations

Switzerland, Monaco, Isle of Man, Jersey & Guernsey

Read more: A UK mobile operator has just scrapped roaming charges across 40 countries

Source: EE to scrap roaming charges across 47 European destinations from the middle of June

Portier Technologies Expands Services to Europe with Derby Hotels Collection Partnership

Barcelona-based Claris Hotel & Spa 5* GL is first European property to offer Portier Technologies' custom hotel smartphones and editorial services

Portier Technologies Corporation, a provider of mobile guest services for luxury hotels, announced today the company's expansion to Europe and service partnership with leading hotelier, Derby Hotels Collection. Barcelona-based Claris Hotel & Spa 5* GL was the first property selected for launch, in which Portier Technologies' custom smartphones and guest services platform are now available hotel-wide.

Portier phones include hotspot connectivity, allowing guests to bypass data roaming fees or the expense and inconvenience of installing a local SIM card. Portier devices directly communicate with hotel systems—allowing guests to communicate directly with hotel staff, and to discover and book services on property or while exploring Barcelona.

Portier phone at The Claris Hotel, Barcelona

Complementing the technology is Portier's local art, cultural and entertainment reporting available exclusively to Portier-enabled hotels. This coverage is exemplified by the launch of a daily bulletin titled "Radar," which reports on local experiences and happenings taking place.

"By partnering with Portier, we are able to address many of the requests we receive from guests, all in one solution," stated Joaquim Clos, CEO of Derby Hotels Collection. "We're pleased with the added value services Portier provides, and how their editorial coverage provides unique Barcelona experiences for our guests."

Barcelona to serve as Portier's European headquartersWith additional major European travel destinations planned for launch across 2017 and beyond, Portier Technologies has selected Barcelona for the company's European headquarters. "In addition to access to talent, Barcelona's longstanding presence of local artists, designers, neighborhood food markets and more is a delight for all senses and serves as a perfect backdrop for our editorial ambitions," states Mark Pope, Co-Founder of Portier Technologies. "Our aim is to present hotel guests with a daily array of local experiences, and we feel that this direction will also positively impact the wider Barcelona community."

Portier Technologies has received the support from the Government of Catalonia, through Catalonia Trade & Investment, dedicated to attract foreign investment into Catalonia.

About Portier Technologies

Portier Technologies is a provider of mobile guest solutions that serves the luxury hospitality market. The Portier service offering is built around a call-enabled 4G smartphone placed in every guest room, and the devices are customized for each hotel property, keeping guests connected to the hotel during their entire stay. Guests can engage with a hotel's concierge and guest services department anytime, anywhere, whether they are in the hotel or exploring the city.

Built for the needs of today's international tourists, Portier devices offer guests a luxurious balance of personalized guest services and elegant technology. The devices also provide guests with access to the best and most useful cultural and local entertainment coverage, written and curated exclusively for the well-traveled guest and updated daily by local experts.

By combining usefulness, quality and taste, the Portier device is an essential tool for the sophisticated traveler—and an essential tool for the hotel wanting to stay engaged with their customers.

For more information about Portier Technologies, please contact Mark Pope at +1.201.220.9269 or mark@goportier.com www.goportier.com

Click here to view the original news article.

Source: Portier Technologies Expands Services to Europe with Derby Hotels Collection Partnership

U.S. Terror Alert Warns Citizens Travelling to Europe Can Expect Attacks at Any Time

REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

by Virginia Hale2 May 20170

2 May, 20172 May, 2017

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The State Department cited terror attacks in Britain, France, and Sweden as evidence of Islamic State's ability "to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe".

Stating the threat will heighten during the summer travel season, the U.S. warned "tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities" are particular targets for jihadis wanting to carry out attacks.

"In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks," the State Department noted, warning: "U.S. citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations."

According to the alert, "terrorist sympathisers or self-radicalised extremists" could carry out attacks at any time, with no warning.

It said: "Terrorists persist in employing a variety of tactics, including firearms, explosives, using vehicles as ramming devices, and sharp-edged weapons that are difficult to detect prior to an attack."

In March, Islamic convert Khalid Masood mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stabbed a policeman in a terrorist spree killing five people. And last week, armed police arrested a terror suspect, named as Khalid Mohamed Omar Ali, as he headed towards Downing Street with a bag packed with knives.

Breitbart London reported how Germany has plummeted down to 51st for "safety and security" in the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, the World Economic Forum's (WEF) biannual report measuring how "tourism-friendly" economies are. The country now sits between the Gambia and Nepal in the list of 136 countries.

"The overall sense of safety among business travelers across Germany has fallen," said WEF spokesman Georg Schmitt, who explained that the risk of terrorism is playing on tourists' minds.

Germany isn't alone in having experienced a marked decline of its reputation as a safe tourist destination, according to Schmitt.

"Germany has slipped further than most, but the same trend can be seen in almost all western European countries," he told Die Welt.

Source: U.S. Terror Alert Warns Citizens Travelling to Europe Can Expect Attacks at Any Time

These are the best holiday destinations in Europe for 2017

TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Destination awards have been revealed.

The eagerly-anticipated batch of gongs from the widely-used reviews website is the go-to for many a holidaymaker.

Thousands will jet off from Coventry and Warwickshire for a summer jaunt in the coming months.

But where should you head to?

London features at the top of the list, beating the likes of Paris, Rome and Barcelona to be named the best European destination of 2017.

Read More

The Tower of London, Big Ben and the London Eye are just some of the city's attractions that proved to be a major hit with the millions of visitors who left reviews on TripAdvisor .

Closely following were Paris, Crete and Rome, which also continue to be firm favourites for those wanting a mix of culture, delicious food and breathtaking sights.

We reveal some of the best accommodation if you're on a budget...

1. London London Eye

Not only does the Second Nest Thames View offer spectacular panoramics of the London skyline from all of the rooms, but it also makes for the ultimate group getaway.

Prices from £400 per night for the whole apartment. Click here to book .

2. Paris A view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower

Rue du Four makes for a charming stay if you're on a romantic break in Paris thanks to its cosy interiors.

Prices from £128 per night, based on two people sharing.

Click here to book .

3. Rome Rome

The Rainbow Penthouse lives up to its name thanks to its colourful interiors.

Prices from £63 per night.

Click here to book .

4. Crete

Tucked away in a 16th-century building in the Chania region of Greece's biggest island sits Giotas Studio Chania .

Prices from £126 per night.

Click here to book .

5. Barcelona Barcelona (Photo: Groupon)

Loft Picasso is located in the heart of the popular Born district, renowned for being a bustling quarter slightly removed from overcrowded tourist hotspots.

Click here to book .

6. Prague Charles Bridge in Prague

Art Nouveau is a contemporary apartment tucked away in a historic building near the Vltava river, and a short walk from the eye-catching 'Dancing House'.

There are two bedrooms but the apartment comfortably sleeps up to seven, while the kitchen and dining room make it an ideal home away from home.

Prices from £80 per night.

Click here to book .

7. Istanbul Istanbul in Turkey.

St Petersburg A short walk from the majestic Galata tower, Galata Retro is located on the quieter side of a lively street that's packed with cafés, bars, restaurants and art galleries.

The flat boasts two spacious bedrooms so it's ideal if you're travelling as a family or with friends, and there's a balcony and large seating area perfect for socialising at the end of a busy day.

Prices from £138 per night. Click here to book .

8. St Petersburg

Nestled in the city centre, the Home of Happiness has three bedrooms, one of which has bunk beds so it's well suited to families travelling with kids.

Located on the main shopping street of St Petersburg, it's tucked away on the top floor of a building so it's actually pretty peaceful - and with a metro station just a 10-minute walk away, it's ideal if you're looking to venture further afield in your adventures.

Prices from £91 a night. Click here to book .

9. Lisbon Lisbon

Literally on the steps up to the breathtaking Lisbon Castle, you won't have to go far to get unrivalled views of Lisbon when you're staying at Loft at Baixa/Chiado in Lisboa .

Prices from £50 a night. Click here to book .

10. Amsterdam Amsterdam in the Netherlands: PA Photo/Sander Baks

Couples looking for a quiet retreat are sure to be huge fans of the Bed and Boat , a houseboat moored on Amsterdam's tranquil waters, with a snug terrace ideal for sipping on a glass of wine and taking in the sunset.

Prices from £71 per night. Click here to book .

Source: These are the best holiday destinations in Europe for 2017