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Bob's
UK and Ireland Travel Blog
Please see also
my TPI
Blog.
Started July 2009
I would like to begin this blog with an introduction and
explanation. I hope to share with you my personal
'voyage of discovery' that has been my life's travels.
I will include within this my travel experiences in UK
and Ireland which is the main focus of the blog.
There is much more
that I have not seen than what
I have. I intend,
God willing, to continue exploring this
wonderful world that He has given us to enjoy and to
display His glory in creation.
That statement should
tell you where I'm coming from.
I know that it is a sentiment that not all will share. I
would not entertain any kind of presumption to ask
you to conform to my belief system. On the contrary,
I would merely ask that you permit me to express mine
and to make room in your's for me to do so. I was
brought up in a society where religious tolerance was a
rare commodity. It therefore has become, to me, a very
precious one. Isn't it strange that the things upon which
we place most worth are the things in least supply? Like
many from the celtic races, I tend to be a bit of a
philosopher at times. I have to admit that I am also
somewhat of a hypocrite at times. If this shows in my
writings, please forgive me. I think it was Socrates who
said, "I am not a hipocrite, because I know I am a
hipocrite." Like me, Socrates knew how to premptively
avoid criticism!
Let me start with my first remembrances of my travels.
Having been born in Nottingham, England, to Scottish
parents, my first three years were spent there. I have
vague memories of visiting the seaside resort of Mable-
thorpe, Yorkshire, where I had a donkey ride on the
beach. Also of outings on the Yorkshire Moors. Odly,
I have no memories of Nottingham and the Robin Hood
thing. I do remember that there was a railway line near
our home and my folks frequently telling the story of me
having a favourite saying that seemed to amuse people...
"Puff trains go there on Sundays!" (Said with a rather
English accent.)
Sept. 8th. 2009
Just had a successful day in Calgary last Saturday at the
Highland Games.
My wife, Susan, went with me and she
is so good with people! The weather was great and we
didn't have to fight the wind, for a change.
On 23rd. I head for the 'ould sod' with Tourism Ireland.
It looks like being a busy week with them, seeing round
southeast Ireland and Dublin. This is a part of Ireland I
haven't visited before, so I'm looing forward to adding
another string to my bow. The itinerary covers a lot
of ground and the hotels we stay in are all 5*. I just
hope I can keep up. In November I have a week in the
sun with Signature Vacations who are guesting me in
Mexico. We stay at two resorts (both 5*) on the Riviera
Maya. I will report back on the trips afterwards.
Aug. 5th. 2009
Came across an interesting article you might want to read.
By SUSAN STELLIN
Published: August 3, 2009
If you dreaded sitting down at your computer the last
time
you made travel arrangements or felt frustrated by all the
time and effort it took to sort through pages of results for
flights and hotels, join the crowd.
A new report, by Forrester
Research, found that far from
embracing the do-it-yourself era, many consumers were
fed up with the complicated process of planning and
booking travel.
“What we’ve seen is growing frustration,”
said Henry H. Harteveldt, a Forrester travel analyst.
“Consumers see other Web sites becoming easier to use
- retail Web sites, banking Web sites, media Web sites.
But travel is treading water as a category. There are very
few travel companies that are really looking to improve
the planning and booking process.” (this one does!)
Instead, customers are forced to figure out extra fees,
wade through fine print and understand industry terms like
the difference between a deluxe and a standard room, in
addition to educating themselves about destinations, flights
and hotels, Mr. Harteveldt said.
“Travel companies expect
the consumer to behave like a travel agent,” he explained.
“The question I always
ask these guys is, ‘Could your
mother-in-law use your Web site without having to call you
for help?’ The answer is always “no.”
In fact, Mr.
Harteveldt said a growing number of consumers appeared
to be interested in using an offline travel agency, if they
could find one.
“The fact that there are more people now
who would consider using a good offline travel agent is
telling me people are saying, ‘Enough
already,’ ” he said.
Britcanada.com
is built on the principles of personalised
service
and information delivery. We know how valuable
good
service is, and how scarce it can be.
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