Travellers can save 43% on hotel room rates in Ireland in November. Travellers can save 43% on hotel room rates in Ireland in November.


BEWARE OF HIDDEN COSTS

Many clients will be tempted to travel with low-cost airlines when travelling around Europe and Asia, many of which can now be booked by agents on the GDS. However, when flying with carriers such as Ireland’s Ryanair, which has hubs all over Europe, warn clients that while the fare is cheap, things like food on board are extra.

There are also charges for checking in at the counter, checking in luggage for the hold (instead of taking it on board) and for luggage over a certain weight limit.

Budget hotels are culprits of adding hidden costs too. UK publication Business Traveller found that a room at an Easyhotel in London advertised at a rate of £39 per night was misleading. The magazine found the rate only applied to the smallest rooms without a window. Customers are asked to pay £6 extra for a room with a window; £14 extra for a larger room; and a further fee of £5 if they want to hire a TV remote control. If you pay by credit or debit card, there’s a further fee of £1.50.

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PREMIER INN

Premier Inn is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest Dubai hotel to stay in. The UK-based company operates one such limited-service hotel in Dubai Investments Park with a second, in Dubai Silicon Oasis, set to open in May 2009. Rates are just AED 495 (US $135) per night including taxes and service charges and Wi-Fi services. In every Premier Inn in Dubai customers will find:

  •  A comfy king-sized bed
  •  Good quality duvet and pillows
  •  En-suite bathroom with bath and shower and bidet
  •  Shower gel
  •  Air-conditioning
  •  Flat screen 32-inch, remote control TV
  •  Refrigerator
  •  Laptop and valuables safe
  •  Tea and coffee making facilities
  •  Hairdryer
  •  Spacious desk area should you need to work
  •  In-room broadband internet access
  •  Family rooms
  •  Cots (on request)
  •  Smoking and non-smoking rooms
  •  Restaurant and licensed bar
  •  Hot breakfast
  •  24-hour reception

Premier Inn is the biggest hotel chain in the UK (more than 500 properties).

For more information visit www.global.premierinn.com/hotels/

EXPLORE ASIA

Flight prices from the Middle East to Asia are currently quite reasonable due to a number of factors — reduced fuel surcharges, extra capacity and a softening in demand (mainly from Europe). However, agents are probably unaware that once their clients arrive in Asia they can avoid costly domestic and regional fares by flying with one of the many low-cost carriers operating in the region.

They include Air Asia X (www.airasia.com), JetStar Asia (www.jetstarasia.com) and Tiger Airways (www.tigerairways.com).

Kuala Lumpur- based Air Asia X has made no secret of the fact that it plans to fly to the Middle East soon.