New service for holidaymakers

FROM SUMMER next year holidaymakers flying on First Choice Airways from Gatwick airport will be able to check in their luggage at the NCP Flightpath Long Stay North Terminal car park. Passengers will then be able to catch the first available transfer bus and go directly to passport control. The offer is available in any First Choice travel agent or call first4extras on 0870 608 7086.

Greek options

DIRECT Greece has released an early edition of the summer 2005 brochure due to increased demand for holidays in the Greek Islands. Holidays start at £189 per adult and £79 per child. For a copy call 0870 191 9091.

Flights go east

FLIGHTS to the increasingly popular eastern European area are among new services this autumn announced by budget airlines.

EasyJet is to start daily services from Luton to Bratislava in Slovakia on December 8, with single fares starting from £22.99. EasyJet is also to fly from Luton to Turin starting on October 13, and will start Stansted-Valencia services on November 3, Stansted to Almeria in Spain on November 11 and Bristol to Madrid on October 31.

Morocco first

VFB Holidays has introduced its first dedicated Morocco brochure which includes independent short breaks and two-centre holidays, small group escorted tours and independent touring holidays with a chauffeur driven car.

Call 01242 240 310 for information.

New winter sites

WINTER sports holiday experts Neilson has launched its Ski &Snowboard brochure for 2004/05 complete with new destinations such as Copper Mountain, Colorado, and Olso, Norway.

'Pseudo singles' taking breaks

Britons are enjoying flirty weekend breaks - without their partners - according to a survey.

Nearly a quarter of Britons in a relationship have been on a UK break without their partner in the last three years, with 35% of them preferring to holiday with friends.

Men were twice as likely as women to flirt with someone on these single sex breaks, the new survey from Teletext Holidays found.

Wanting to relive their single days was given as an explanation by 16%, while 25% craved a break from their other half and 52% needed to escape the routine of daily life.

More than three in five of married people said they preferred to go on a UK trip with their partner as opposed to their friends.

Top ten locations for pseudo singles' UK Breaks are London (32%); Blackpool (20%); Brighton (18%); Manchester (14%); and Edinburgh (14%); Dublin (14%); Bournemouth (10%); Liverpool (9%); Birmingham (8%); and Leeds (8%).

Hotel hunt is on

The hunt is on for resourceful receptionists, charming chambermaids and willing waiters.

The search is being made by an RAC team of hotel inspectors, with prizes for the winners.

It's part of celebrations marking 100 years of RAC Hotel Services recommending quality hotels to their members and the wider travelling public.

"This is a one-off to identify and record individuals who live and breathe the highest contemporary standards in offering quality hospitality," said RAC Hotel Services spokesman David Sims.

"Whether it's a manager, a receptionist, a chambermaid or room attendant, a waiter or waitress, one of the bar staff, a concierge or a chef, we're tracking down some of the absolute best in the UK and Ireland."

The RAC Hospitality Industry Stars will be announced at the end of the year.

Winter Waymark

WAYMARK Holidays has launched its winter brochure for 2004/05. The brochure includes 10 new holidays with an expanded independent holidays section. Visit www.waymarkholidays.com