Tripwrite – Travel Articles

Continental 757 Takes off from Bristol Airport

Although UK’s Bristol Airport provides direct flights to only two US destinations many travellers are using the extensive Continental Airlines network to reach onward destinations within the United States and beyond.

The top five business traveller destinations from Bristol airport were: Houston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Cleveland during 2008.

The most popular destinations for leisure passengers were Orlando, Las Vegas, Boston, San Francisco and Tampa.

Continental airlines has a long and interesting history extending back over 70 years after having been formed, in 1934, by Walter T.Varney and Louis Mueller. In 1936 40% of the company was sold to Robert Six who went on to head the company for an incredible 40 years. It was Robert Six who, in 1937, changed the company name to Continental Airlines and moved the company headquarters from El Paso to Denver in the same year.

During the war years Continental Airlines were responsible for the maintenance of B-17 flying fortresses and B-29 super fortresses at their Denver modifications center. Their pacific experience led to the formation of Air Micronesia. During the 1970s Continental airline’s list of destinations increased significantly including the introduction of new routes from Los Angeles to New Zealand and Australia. Continental Airlines’ list of destination airports extends way beyond the boundaries of North America and includes over 500 airports worldwide.

The Continental Airlines service flying between Bristol and New York has made it easy for travellers to book onward flights. Around 50% of the travellers flying from Bristol have used the Continental airlines network to reach their final destinations after picking up a connecting flight in New York. Since its introduction over three years ago in May 2005 the New York service has carried over 250,000 passengers.

The Continental airlines network makes planning and booking a business or pleasure trip completely hassle free. And the convenience of starting out from Bristol is, for many travellers, an added bonus.

For some great savings always book your Bristol airport parking space in advance. And why not take advantage of one of the many excellent Bristol airport hotels?

The great thing about Gatwick Airport is that getting to London couldn’t be easier! Travelling to and from London to Gatwick is a piece of cake! Just forty five kilometres away, driving from London is a straightforward matter of taking the M25, the M23 then the A23.

If you’re not planning to run about in your Gatwick Airport rental car journeying to and from London from Gatwick Airport is easy with various modes of transport to suit your requirements. Linked to London by train, the Gatwick Express rail service takes about thirty minutes and brings you into Victoria Station. Alternatively, the Thameslink runs every fifteen minutes delivering you to any station you prefer on the line. Additionally, there is a National Express coach service into London. For connection purposes, you ought to leave at least an hour and a half for the journey.

If you have a yearning for ancient castles, quintessentially English seaside towns and sprawling country estates, look no further than the area surrounding Gatwick. More than just an airport location, Gatwick is within easy reach of London as well as close to numerous tourist attractions.

Drive your Gatwick Airport hire car down to one of the jewels in Gatwick’s crown, the award-winning beach of Littlehampton. Here you’ll engage with a countryside so tranquil English and a seaside so quintessentially English, you may never want to leave! Up for something a little livelier, then off you drive to nearby cosmopolitan Brighton. There may not be a sandy beach, but between the Pavillion, the nightclubs and designer shops, you will cope I’m sure! The life and soul of the south coast, Brighton is popular for memorable Hen nights!

For incredible scenery, architecture and sublime gardens zip off over to Elizabethan Parham House and Gardens, Petworth House and Park and all about the countryside of Storrington. Eleventh century Arundel Castle is situated here as are the nearby Wetlands reserve.

It makes sense that there is a good road network between Bournemouth and the rest of the UK because it is so popular. It is no effort getting from your front door to your luxury Bournemouth hotel (unless you pick the last Bank Holiday of August to set off!) I often feel sorry for the people who have to trudge along that solitary A30 across to Cornwall. Oh its a long drive and at times seems as though it will never end, but what you get for your trouble more than makes up for it!

No long and winding roads down to Bournemouth thank goodness, even from London, the roads are efficient (with no sense of winding at all), its is just a matter of the M3, A31 (for a bit) then the M27. I like to call it, ‘short shrift’ driving. This is good news if you want to drive your hire car around as many local attractions as possible for they are usually really well signposted and easily reached. As a stark contrast, in Cornwall, everywhere you want to travel to seems to be situated in the back of beyond. I don’t necessarily mean this as a bad thing, no offence meant all you Cornwall fans. While Bournemouth offers a weekend break with no fuss, Cornwall provides an adventurous sojourn with bags of the unusual and the unexpected thrown in for good measure. If I had more than a weekend on my hands, Cornwall could tempt me once more along her long and winding A30 trail!

Southampton is situated in the south of England in the county of Hampshire. It is an interesting medieval city that is packed with sights and attractions. A busy port is found at Southampton where the Mayflower and the Titanic set sail many years ago. Boating enthusiasts flock to Southampton for the maritime history, the marina and sightings of the Queen Mary 2.

Maritime history buffs tend to head over to Southampton’s Town Quay for the memorial of the Pilgrim Fathers setting sail for the New World. Take a drive (if you choose to hire a car in Southampton for your stay) over to Andrews Park where a memorial for the Titanic is situated. Setting sail on its maiden voyage in 1912, it was never to reach its destination and many people were lost to the sea. To Southampton this was a devastating horror for the five hundred or so of cruise liner’s crew consisted of the local townsfolk.

Any great city worth its salt, has an intriguing Old Town district to visit and Prague is no different. No trip to beautiful Prague could ever be complete without an indulgent stroll about the Old Town otherwise known as the Stare Mesto.

Take your time with the Stare Mesto, this part of town has survived for many years and should be savoured rather than gobbled up. It is when you slow down your pace that the truly incredible architecture features reveal themselves to you!

Many of the popular sights are closely situated so better to leave the Prague Airport hire car behind and make the most of sightseeing a la ‘Shanksey’s Pony!’

A touristy area, Stare Mesto is generously endowed with nice places to eat and drink. Over at the Old Town Square is the fabulous Astronomical Clock which dates back to the fifteenth century. People from all round the world gather to watch the clock chime on the hour. A big attraction in Prague, if you miss it, you will probably always regret it!