An estimate $440,000 has been lost during the past two years due to faulty parking machines that didn't bill customers' credit cards!
Audit: $395,000 lost due to faulty Sea-Tac parking machines | Local News | The Seattle Times
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
What not to miss in Cyprus for 2013
With just under a million British visitors choosing the Mediterranean’s third largest island for a holiday last year, Cyprus continues to be a favourite for travellers wanting to enjoy 326 days of sunshine a year, mouth-watering cuisine and charming scenery – all only a four-hour flight away.
With a wide variety of events taking place across the year, there is something for even the most intrepid of travellers in 2013:
ANNUAL CYPRUS MARATHON, PAPHOS (March)
With a temperate climate and varied terrain, Cyprus has long been a popular training ground for athletes and sports enthusiasts, and is a regular haunt of Team GB since the island hosted the group for the 2004 Athens Olympics Games.
So, why not sign-up to the annual Cyprus Marathon? Taking place every March in the Paphos area, the event draws professional and non-professional runners from across the globe, incorporating three different distances – the marathon, half-marathon and the 10 km road race.
Starting at Petra tou Rominou - the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the race offers participants the chance to soak-up the panoramic views from the island’s rugged coastline with a large proportion of the course along the Paphos seafront.
EASTER WEEK CELEBRATIONS (late March)
Easter is one of the most fascinating times to visit Cyprus. While the weather is warm (highs of around 18 degrees) without being too hot, the island’s rich religious and cultural heritage comes to the fore over a two-week period that sees the whole of Cyprus transformed into a buzzing celebration of both new life and ancient traditions.
Highlights include lively flower processions and colourful ceremonies, while food plays central role as mouth-watering feasts of spit-roasted lamb and delicious traditional cheesecakes and breads are prepared on key religious days.
Centuries-old ceremonies still dominate the two weeks and villagers across the island invite visitors to join their ancient customs. Hotels and agro-tourism properties often have special deals around Easter, making it an ideal time to take the family during the school break.
KATAKLYSMOS/WATER FESTIVAL (June)
Hosted on the day known as the day of the Holy Spirit, the annual Kataklysmos (otherwise known as the Water Festival) is celebrated 50 days after the Orthodox Easter.
Kick-starting the summer season, all coastal towns from Larnaca through to Paphos come alive over the bank holiday with boat races, swimming competitions, a series of performances by popular Greek and Cypriot singers and dance troupes, as well as the traditional chatista contest – an off-the-cuff repartee of rhyming songs in the Cypriot dialect. And of course, the all-important throwing of water at each other!
ANNUAL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT THE KOURION THEATRE (July)
Performed on the ancient stage of the stunning Kourion Theatre – one of the most spectacularly located ancient sites in Cyprus, which enjoys an uninterrupted backdrop of Mediterranean sea, the annual Shakespeare Festival is organised by the Performing Arts for Cyprus Charities.
Performances are daily throughout the month of July.
Cyprus is also home to a whole host of historical landmarks, including the Paphos Mosaics – considered to be the finest mosaic in the Eastern Mediterranean - as well as the 10 UNESCO-listed churches.
LIMASSOL WINE FESTIVAL (30 August to 9 September 2013)
With a 5,000-year-old viticulture tradition and as the location of Europe’s earliest vine harvest site, it comes as no surprise that Cyprus is teeming with a unique variety of boutique wineries. The annual Limassol Wine Festival has been one of the island’s highlights for over five decades, and is a chance for visitors and locals alike to take part the traditional custom of grape treading as well as enjoy free wine tastings of some of the region’s finest wines – such the famous Muscat and Commandaria grapes. It is also an opportunity to savour flavours of the local cuisine – such as the fasolia yiahni of haricot beans in a rich tomato sauce, accompanied with fresh onions and freshly cooked bread to soak up the delicious juices; as well as enjoy a variety of concerts and theatrical performances throughout the ten-day festival.
AYIA NAPA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (September)
An annual highlight, the Ayia Napa International Festival is held in the monastery's Seferis Square (Plateia Seferi), in the heart of the town. Bringing the community together year-on-year with traditional Cypriot music and folk dancing, all manner of concerts and an abundance of art exhibitions showcasing Greek legends, mythology and archaeology, it really does showcase an exciting alternative for this thriving town.
With a wide variety of events taking place across the year, there is something for even the most intrepid of travellers in 2013:
ANNUAL CYPRUS MARATHON, PAPHOS (March)
With a temperate climate and varied terrain, Cyprus has long been a popular training ground for athletes and sports enthusiasts, and is a regular haunt of Team GB since the island hosted the group for the 2004 Athens Olympics Games.
So, why not sign-up to the annual Cyprus Marathon? Taking place every March in the Paphos area, the event draws professional and non-professional runners from across the globe, incorporating three different distances – the marathon, half-marathon and the 10 km road race.
Starting at Petra tou Rominou - the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the race offers participants the chance to soak-up the panoramic views from the island’s rugged coastline with a large proportion of the course along the Paphos seafront.
EASTER WEEK CELEBRATIONS (late March)
Easter is one of the most fascinating times to visit Cyprus. While the weather is warm (highs of around 18 degrees) without being too hot, the island’s rich religious and cultural heritage comes to the fore over a two-week period that sees the whole of Cyprus transformed into a buzzing celebration of both new life and ancient traditions.
Highlights include lively flower processions and colourful ceremonies, while food plays central role as mouth-watering feasts of spit-roasted lamb and delicious traditional cheesecakes and breads are prepared on key religious days.
Centuries-old ceremonies still dominate the two weeks and villagers across the island invite visitors to join their ancient customs. Hotels and agro-tourism properties often have special deals around Easter, making it an ideal time to take the family during the school break.
KATAKLYSMOS/WATER FESTIVAL (June)
Hosted on the day known as the day of the Holy Spirit, the annual Kataklysmos (otherwise known as the Water Festival) is celebrated 50 days after the Orthodox Easter.
Kick-starting the summer season, all coastal towns from Larnaca through to Paphos come alive over the bank holiday with boat races, swimming competitions, a series of performances by popular Greek and Cypriot singers and dance troupes, as well as the traditional chatista contest – an off-the-cuff repartee of rhyming songs in the Cypriot dialect. And of course, the all-important throwing of water at each other!
ANNUAL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT THE KOURION THEATRE (July)
Performed on the ancient stage of the stunning Kourion Theatre – one of the most spectacularly located ancient sites in Cyprus, which enjoys an uninterrupted backdrop of Mediterranean sea, the annual Shakespeare Festival is organised by the Performing Arts for Cyprus Charities.
Performances are daily throughout the month of July.
Cyprus is also home to a whole host of historical landmarks, including the Paphos Mosaics – considered to be the finest mosaic in the Eastern Mediterranean - as well as the 10 UNESCO-listed churches.
LIMASSOL WINE FESTIVAL (30 August to 9 September 2013)
With a 5,000-year-old viticulture tradition and as the location of Europe’s earliest vine harvest site, it comes as no surprise that Cyprus is teeming with a unique variety of boutique wineries. The annual Limassol Wine Festival has been one of the island’s highlights for over five decades, and is a chance for visitors and locals alike to take part the traditional custom of grape treading as well as enjoy free wine tastings of some of the region’s finest wines – such the famous Muscat and Commandaria grapes. It is also an opportunity to savour flavours of the local cuisine – such as the fasolia yiahni of haricot beans in a rich tomato sauce, accompanied with fresh onions and freshly cooked bread to soak up the delicious juices; as well as enjoy a variety of concerts and theatrical performances throughout the ten-day festival.
AYIA NAPA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL (September)
An annual highlight, the Ayia Napa International Festival is held in the monastery's Seferis Square (Plateia Seferi), in the heart of the town. Bringing the community together year-on-year with traditional Cypriot music and folk dancing, all manner of concerts and an abundance of art exhibitions showcasing Greek legends, mythology and archaeology, it really does showcase an exciting alternative for this thriving town.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Fake reviews - hotels and restaurants to be named and shamed
Hotels and restaurants that write their own glowing reviews are to be named and shamed in a move, which could lead to loss of revenue and irreparable damage.
Reviews and referrals count for an average of 70% of a company's new business. Traditionally, these referrals are made word of mouth, customer-to-customer. However, in today's technology-savvy world, reviews and referrals are made and found online.
Mark Hall, Managing Director at GotJuice.co.uk, an online reputation management consultancy that specialises in reviews commented: "Until recently it has been made very easy for opportunist business owners to enhance their company's online reputation by simply writing fake positive reviews and asking friends and family to do likewise without any repercussion.
"This, of course, amounts to nothing but fraudulent behaviour, but was seen as an easy route to not only enhance their own reputation but also - for some - as a way to harm their competitors by posting fake negative reviews about them.
"With advancements in technology, review platforms have started to launch new initiatives to rid their sites of fake reviews and name the guilty in the process. Yelp are the first to roll out the technology and it is expected that Tripadvisor and other major review platforms will follow suit shortly."
"Review sites such as Yelp, Qype and Tripadvisor can be brilliant platforms to help consumers with purchase decisions. By crowd sourcing public opinions, you can build up a realistic view on whether you want to use the company or not.
"This only works if the reviewers are honest and objective. Any business that writes it's own glowing reviews or pays people to do this undermines the credibility of these sites and pulls the wool over the eyes of potential customers. This is why review platforms such as Yelp, who have already taken previous steps to keep their platform free from spam by adding filters that removed questionable reviews from the calculation of the star rating, has now gone one step further in the fight against fake reviews.
"If a review site finds evidence that an establishment such as a hotel, restaurant, tradesman or any other business has added their own reviews or paid for reviews, they will have a 'mark of shame' added to their profile for the whole world to see.
Sophisticated detection methods include:
"Of course," says Hall, "the review platforms are not going to tell you everything they are looking out for.
"Our advice is simple: Don't write fake reviews, don't pay for fake reviews, don't bribe or beg for reviews - good or bad - about anyone."
Reviews and referrals count for an average of 70% of a company's new business. Traditionally, these referrals are made word of mouth, customer-to-customer. However, in today's technology-savvy world, reviews and referrals are made and found online.
Mark Hall, Managing Director at GotJuice.co.uk, an online reputation management consultancy that specialises in reviews commented: "Until recently it has been made very easy for opportunist business owners to enhance their company's online reputation by simply writing fake positive reviews and asking friends and family to do likewise without any repercussion.
"This, of course, amounts to nothing but fraudulent behaviour, but was seen as an easy route to not only enhance their own reputation but also - for some - as a way to harm their competitors by posting fake negative reviews about them.
"With advancements in technology, review platforms have started to launch new initiatives to rid their sites of fake reviews and name the guilty in the process. Yelp are the first to roll out the technology and it is expected that Tripadvisor and other major review platforms will follow suit shortly."
"Review sites such as Yelp, Qype and Tripadvisor can be brilliant platforms to help consumers with purchase decisions. By crowd sourcing public opinions, you can build up a realistic view on whether you want to use the company or not.
"This only works if the reviewers are honest and objective. Any business that writes it's own glowing reviews or pays people to do this undermines the credibility of these sites and pulls the wool over the eyes of potential customers. This is why review platforms such as Yelp, who have already taken previous steps to keep their platform free from spam by adding filters that removed questionable reviews from the calculation of the star rating, has now gone one step further in the fight against fake reviews.
"If a review site finds evidence that an establishment such as a hotel, restaurant, tradesman or any other business has added their own reviews or paid for reviews, they will have a 'mark of shame' added to their profile for the whole world to see.
Sophisticated detection methods include:
- An algorithm that is capable of detecting fake or deceptive reviews. When people are lying, this changes the way they use language. This algorithm automatically spots and flags this
- If a profile is not completed in full, then it could be flagged as a dummy account
- If you only have a small number of reviews built up over a set time period and nothing after, then you will be flagged
- If multiple reviews are submitted or have been submitted from the same IP address then you will be flagged
"Of course," says Hall, "the review platforms are not going to tell you everything they are looking out for.
"Our advice is simple: Don't write fake reviews, don't pay for fake reviews, don't bribe or beg for reviews - good or bad - about anyone."
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
6 tips to help you sleep when travelling
Long distance travel can be very tiring. For starters, if you're flying, you don't get chance to lie down, unless of course you can afford to fly first class.
Even getting comfortable in a seat on the aircraft can be difficult. And if you do manage to find a comfortable position, getting to sleep is going to prove even harder.
If you’re about to jet off to sunnier climes and the thought of spending several hours on a plane without any sleep fills you with dread then check out these top tips for sleeping whilst travelling:
Even getting comfortable in a seat on the aircraft can be difficult. And if you do manage to find a comfortable position, getting to sleep is going to prove even harder.
If you’re about to jet off to sunnier climes and the thought of spending several hours on a plane without any sleep fills you with dread then check out these top tips for sleeping whilst travelling:
- Wear something comfortable
Dress for comfort when flying. Wear loose clothing, nothing tight, and wear natural fabrics such as cotton rather than polyester. Wear layers so that it's easy to remove an item of clothing if you get too hot, or add an extra layer if you find you are getting cold.You can't possibly get comfortable and sleep if your clothes are too tight and restrictive. - Request a blanket
Most night flights offer a blanket to passengers but check before you fly, so that you can take your own onboard if required. If your airline provides them, then once you have boarded ask one of the air stewards if you can have a blanket. - Travel pillows
A pillow will support your head and make it easier to get comfortable. If you know you can't sleep without one, invest in a travel pillow. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, or wear a thick jumper on board so that you can roll it up and use it as a pillow. - Music
Load your MP3 or iPod with your favorite relaxing music to help you to relax and get in the mood for sleep. - Avoid caffeine
Avoid caffeine for a few hours before your flight - if you are flying in the evening it’s probably worth avoiding tea and coffee from midday. Don't forget to exclude caffeinated fizzy drinks too. - Watch what you eat
Don't overdo the amount you eat in the airport before your flight. Feeling uncomfortably full won't help you get a good night's sleep, especially on an airplane. If you are having a bite to eat at the airport, go for a lighter option.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Cheap holiday destinations
The Euro crisis is having a great impact on the exchange rates with the price of Sterling on a 19-month high against the Euro.
With the pound buying more Euros this year perhaps a holiday in Europe would be a cheap option?
According to The Post Office Travel Money annual report, Brits can make their money stretch furthest in Bulgaria.
The Post Office report compares the same top ten shopping list, purchased all over the World in popular holiday hot spots, including items such as larger, sun cream and a meal out for two.
Last year’s winner was Spain, with the shopping list coming in at £42.15 but this year, in 2012 the very same shopping list came in at £56.84, a 35% increase on last year’s figure.
This year’s winner for the cheapest shopping list was Bulgaria, at just £23.70 – cheaper by 4% compared to last year. The country boasts many beautiful beach resorts along the Black Sea, making it a serious contender for the British holiday market.
This year in Turkey the £ will buy around 14% more lira than it did this time last year – its shopping list of ten products came out at £54.22, a staggering 22% less than last year.
Portugal came in at the third cheapest, at £54.46 but still this figure saw an increase of 10% compared to this time last year.
Further afield, Orlando in Florida, was a tad on the pricey side too, at £69.41.
Croatia, often considered to be an undiscovered and therefore cheaper holiday destination, was actually found to be the most expensive of all the countries compared, at £73.65.
However, these drops in prices for food stuffs in resort doesn’t sadly mean for a ‘cheap’ getaway. Popular resorts in Spain, Portugal and Greece are actually more expensive now than they have been for years. Whilst the short haul destinations fare better with regards to APD taxes, resorts are making up for lack of funds by charging more.
Thinking about a UK ‘stay-cation’? Think again, your shopping basket will be even more expensive - the same items were purchased in Brighton for a whopping £79.25!
If you’re looking to get away for a break this year then it seems you should forget the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations in the UK and instead consider a week or two in Bulgaria. Bulgaria takes just 2.5 hours flight time from London, and flights are available from all of the main airlines including easyJet, BA, Monarch and Ryanair.
Don't forget when you book your holiday to book all the essential extras like currency, travel insurance and your airport parking - why not try meet and greet parking this year for the most convenient type of airport parking.
With the pound buying more Euros this year perhaps a holiday in Europe would be a cheap option?
According to The Post Office Travel Money annual report, Brits can make their money stretch furthest in Bulgaria.
The Post Office report compares the same top ten shopping list, purchased all over the World in popular holiday hot spots, including items such as larger, sun cream and a meal out for two.
Last year’s winner was Spain, with the shopping list coming in at £42.15 but this year, in 2012 the very same shopping list came in at £56.84, a 35% increase on last year’s figure.
This year’s winner for the cheapest shopping list was Bulgaria, at just £23.70 – cheaper by 4% compared to last year. The country boasts many beautiful beach resorts along the Black Sea, making it a serious contender for the British holiday market.
This year in Turkey the £ will buy around 14% more lira than it did this time last year – its shopping list of ten products came out at £54.22, a staggering 22% less than last year.
Portugal came in at the third cheapest, at £54.46 but still this figure saw an increase of 10% compared to this time last year.
Further afield, Orlando in Florida, was a tad on the pricey side too, at £69.41.
Croatia, often considered to be an undiscovered and therefore cheaper holiday destination, was actually found to be the most expensive of all the countries compared, at £73.65.
However, these drops in prices for food stuffs in resort doesn’t sadly mean for a ‘cheap’ getaway. Popular resorts in Spain, Portugal and Greece are actually more expensive now than they have been for years. Whilst the short haul destinations fare better with regards to APD taxes, resorts are making up for lack of funds by charging more.
Thinking about a UK ‘stay-cation’? Think again, your shopping basket will be even more expensive - the same items were purchased in Brighton for a whopping £79.25!
If you’re looking to get away for a break this year then it seems you should forget the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations in the UK and instead consider a week or two in Bulgaria. Bulgaria takes just 2.5 hours flight time from London, and flights are available from all of the main airlines including easyJet, BA, Monarch and Ryanair.
Don't forget when you book your holiday to book all the essential extras like currency, travel insurance and your airport parking - why not try meet and greet parking this year for the most convenient type of airport parking.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Which? report: book airport parking early
Which? magazine has recently published a report on airport parking, identifying the dos and don'ts of how to get the best possible price when booking your holiday parking.
The report highlights how expensive gate prices can be when compared with booking in advance - as much as three times the price of pre-booked airport parking.
According to the Which? report, 36% of travellers drive themselves to the airport. And without pre-booking, these travellers can leave themselves ‘vulnerable’ to costly parking charges.
The report cites Heathrow Airport’s own car parking with prices of around £120 per week when arriving without a booking. Booking in advance is a much cheaper option and the sooner you book parking the cheaper it is likely to be - much the same as budget airline ticket prices.
Following the publication of the report, Gatwick meet and greet parking company, Help-Me-Park, issued the following tips for booking the cheapest airport parking:
The report highlights how expensive gate prices can be when compared with booking in advance - as much as three times the price of pre-booked airport parking.
According to the Which? report, 36% of travellers drive themselves to the airport. And without pre-booking, these travellers can leave themselves ‘vulnerable’ to costly parking charges.
The report cites Heathrow Airport’s own car parking with prices of around £120 per week when arriving without a booking. Booking in advance is a much cheaper option and the sooner you book parking the cheaper it is likely to be - much the same as budget airline ticket prices.
Following the publication of the report, Gatwick meet and greet parking company, Help-Me-Park, issued the following tips for booking the cheapest airport parking:
- Book the airport parking the moment the travel plans have been confirmed. This secures a company’s best price, not to mention the peace of mind that the parking is booked; and that’s one less thing to worry about!
- Another top tip from Help-Me-Park.com is always to book your airport car parking online, again this is cheaper than making same booking over the phone
- Combine this – booking online and in advance - for the very best price
- Always make sure the company you are booking your valet parking with is a reputable and reliable operator
- Ensure the company provides fully insured, mature and experienced drivers
- Always make sure the parking operator provides a land line contact number and 24/7 contact number.
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