Barcelona V Manchester United

Congratulations to Manchester United on reaching the 2009 Champions League in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico on Wedneday May 27th. It has been much publicised how the airlines have hiked ticket prices in anticpation of high demand from supporters to fly to Rome. Prices as high as £800-£1000 pounds have been reported for direct flights to Rome on so called “budget airlines”. Once you are there you still have the task of getting transport to your hotel or to the Stadium. The Olimpico stadium is an approximate €50 taxi ride from the Ciampino Airport in Rome and €35 from the Leonardo De Vinci Airport.

It seems people are prepared to pay these prices as flights are fast becoming fully booked. There does still seem to be options to fly indirect via the likes of Madrid, Amsterdam and other major European cities at a lower cost. Many of the flight comparison websites such as skyscanner and travelsupermarket reported a massive increase in searches for flights to Rome once the final whistle had blown between Arsenal and Man Utd in the semi final.

If you have tickets for the final at the  Olimpico Stadium or simply want to travel to Rome to soak up the atmosphere the other option is to drive from the UK. The distance from Manchester to Rome is a mere 1366 miles!  With four people rotating the driving shift whilst the others slept you could cover this distance in under 24 hours. The cost to take the car on the Eurotunnel is £108 leaving on Tuesday 26th May so this option although potentially tiring is definitely the most economical.

To help you navigate to Rome we are offering sat nav hire at a discount of 15%. To receive this discount simply book a TomTom for Europe and type UEFA into the promotional code box.

Guide to driving in Germany http://bit.ly/OuPba

Germany’s Autobahn motorway system is a dream for driving enthusiasts. With well maintained and uncomplicated roads as well as efficient and co-operative drivers make driving in Germany a pleasure. As with any country there are simple rules and laws to follow for your safety so read on to find out more…..

The minimum age to drive in Germany is 18 and don’t forget to take your driving licence to prove it. Cars drive on the right and pass on the left and seatbelts must be worn by all passengers. Children under the age of 12 or shorter than 1.5m are not permitted to ride in the front unless they use an approved safety seat or harness but if there an active airbag in the front then safety seats are not permitted. Doors must be kept unlocked while driving to help a rescue in case of an accident, if you are hiring a car then let the rental company check this out. Many cars these days have settings where the doors automatically lock when mobile which must be switched off. Vehicles must carry a warning triangle and first aid kit.

On the spot fines are issued by the Police in Germany and if you are caught short of cash they can impound your car. If you are fined because your hire car is not supplied with the neccessary safety equipment do not worry. Pay the fine and the Police will issue a receipt and your car hire company will reimburse you. Car rental companies always try to ensure that all the relevant equipment is supplied but at busy times of the year this may not be possible.

Speed cameras are rife in Germany so be aware. If your car is supplied with a sat nav or you bring one with you then most of them come with speed camera warnings and this option must be disabled. If you are driving a rental car and are caught by a camera then the ticket will be sent to your car rental company who will notify the Police and the fine will be forwarded to you. Non EU residents regularly have their cases dropped but this isn’t to be relied upon.

Speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows:

Within urban areas -  50kph or 31mph

Outside urban areas – 100kph or 62mph

Autobahns and expressways – 130kph or 81mph. This is a recommended speed limit but there is no general speed limit for cars or motorcycles.

The penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol in Germany are harsh. Heavy penalties are given and can include a suspension of your licence. Penalties are enforced with anyone demonstrating a blood alcohol limit as low as 0.03. Considering the high alcohol content found in most German beers it is recommended that you do not drive if you have drunk any alcohol.

Further information:

The use of mobile phones whilst driving is not permitted. Mobile phones may be used only if parked with the engine turned off or if it is hands free.

If involved in an accident then you must stop immediately, this also applies to any people in a vehicle not involved in the accident but could act as a witness. If anyone is injured then the Police and Ambulance service can be contacted from a telephone or mobile by dialling 112 or on Autobahns the nearest emergency telephone may be used. It is the law that first aid is given to any of the injured persons, your First Aid Kit will come in handy.

If involved in the accident you must exchange information with the other driver/s such as your licence, passport, insurance details and if applicable your rental information. As a tourist it would be suggested that you contact the Police so they can take a report which will help protect you from any future problems.

Finally, we would recommend that a GPS or Sat Nav would help you navigate around Germany and let you concentrate on driving safely without the added worry of navigating as well. If you don’t have a Sat Nav then you can hire a Sat nav for Germany from this website. Our prices are approximately 50% cheaper than hiring one from a car rental company and a lot cheaper than buying mapping that you might not need to use again.

For upmarket camping holidays: http://bit.ly/C6xLz

We are proud to announce we have recently partnered with Thomson Al Fresco holidays. Thomson offer luxury mobile home holidays with 45 parcs across Europe including France, Spain, Italy, Croatia and the Netherlands. The parcs offer an excellent alternative to either staying in a draughty tent or a poky hotel room. Simply put, the parcs offer an upmarket camping experience. The luxury mobile homes consist of 2 to 3 bedrooms with spacious living areas, air conditioning, modern kitchen areas and power showers. Outside the home you have your own private decked veranda to enjoy Al Fresco living!

The parcs offer excellent facilities including large outdoor swimming pools, water parks, children play centres, eateries, gyms, spas and entertainment. Al Fresco holidays are also ideal for couples as well as families and selected parcs feature an Al Fresco kids club.  In school term time the parcs are naturally quieter and provide an excellent base to relax and visit the surrounding areas which are full of history and stunning scenery.

There are many ways to travel to the parcs either by road and ferry, rail or by air and Thomson Al Fresco will assist you with all your travel requirements. For those who choose to drive we are offering Al Fresco customers the opportunity to hire a sat nav from us at a specially discounted rate to enable finding the parcs even easier.

The Thomson Al Fresco website is full of information about the parcs and has an online booking facility.