Holiday Cottages in France? Why not take Eurostar?

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Are you looking to travel to France this year? Are you considering one of our holiday cottages in France?

Well the good news is, if you decide to travel by Eurostar, you will be in good company, as they have reported a good start to the year.

Sales revenue is up 7% to just over £210 million up from £197 million in the first quarter of 2011.

The increase, has been driven by an increase in leisure travel, as business travel has not really seen any growth, compared to 2011 levels. With flights not getting any cheaper and the added taxes of so-called “low-cost” airlines, passengers are now looking further afield and high-speed rail options, as Eurostar are offering highly competitive fares for example to Amsterdam.

The Chief Executive of Eurostar, Nicolas Petrovic said:

“The year got off to a strong start with sales revenues and passenger numbers on the up. Our core destinations continue to be a big draw for passengers but we have also seen particularly good take-up of our Amsterdam fares as passengers are increasingly keen to try out new leisure destinations by high speed rail…”

Of course as the Olympics approaches, Eurostar is also playing a key part of bringing spectators to London, to make the event a truly international celebration!

Late availability holidays in France

Posted on April 30, 2012 by jill

Last Minute France Holiday Cottages

We are well into Spring now and our advertisers report being busy taking bookings for the coming season. We are delighted to have welcomed so many new advertisers recently and are very excited to display some more beautiful properties.

We are also pleased with our increasing visitor numbers to Last Minute France and we are appearing on the first page of Google for late availability in the regions we advertise properties in at present. This is very good news.

There is much to do and see throughout the country in May, so why not plan a trip to one of the many great events during your stay! Here are just a few…….
Take time out at the Festival of Gardens at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, which open on the 25th April and run through to mid October. 32 hectares of wonders to be explored at your own pace.
If tennis is your passion stop off for the French Open, at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, May 27th – 10th June.
Enjoy the Jazz Sous les Pommiers Festival at Coutances, Normandy. This festival offers over 100 concerts plus street activities, and concerts in bars. May 12th – 19th. Not to be missed!
The 19th National Rally of 2CV Clubs of France is being held at Chateaubriant, Loire-Atlantique from May 16th – 20th. The rally attracts enthusiasts from all over France and Europe.
Celebrate the Gaillac Spring Festival, in the Midi-Pyrenees with concerts and wine tasting in the town of Gaillac from 18th – 20th May. Why not visit the Wine Route; just follow the road signs to visit the vineyards and tasting vaults. Perfect!

As usual there are lots of great offers from our advertisers for the coming months, a few of which we shall share with you, but please do take a look at the site to view them all!

Do like us on our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. This way we can keep in touch, get to know you a bit better and, if you are an advertiser, help to promote your news and offers.

Email any news and special offers into us from time to time and we will do our best to promote them for you.

Holiday Cottage in France? Take the EHIC and travel insurance!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Do you have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) ? We were quite alarmed to read this week that nearly 60 percent of Brits believe that the EHIC entitles them to free emergency medical care anywhere in Europe! Some even believe that by having the EHIC, they no longer require any sort of travel insurance for medical purposes!

Many of you are wanting to escape the Olympics this summer and head over to France to hire a holiday cottage, but beware, make sure you have adequate travel insurance in place too.

While the EHIC allows you the same level of state medical care provided to the eligible nationals of the country – do not assume every country is like the NHS – it is not!

In France a patient may be expected to pay the full consultation fee with a doctor, but will only have 70 percent of the cost reimbursed later. Also, an overnight stay in hospital will result in a contribution too.

Do not assume either that in an emergency you will be taken to a state hospital – it may be private and the EHIC will bring you no cover at all. When looking for a holiday cottage in France, it is vital you have adequate health insurance!

Air travel rising costs hitting Brits and encouraging “local” holidays

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

TripAdvisor, the popular travel review site has released its annual flights survey. The results, unsurprisingly show that British travellers are more than ever concerned about the ever-increasing price of air travel. Items such as APD (Air Passenger Duty), high fares and all the necessary add-ons that low-cost carriers add on are now taking their toll.

A TripAdvisor spokesperson said:

“This year’s results reveal a general worry about the expense of flying, whether it’s APD, cynicism around ‘low-cost’ carriers or simply the significant price tag of a flight…”

APD has risen by more than double the rate of inflation, with the UK now paying the highest aviation tax in the world. Nearly 70 percent of Brits said the rise in APD will impact their choice of travel plans.

The other major concern was the popular low-cost airlines, who are now being perceived as “not so low-cost”. Just over 75 percent of Brits believe that low-cost airlines no longer deserve the title, by the time that additional charges, taxes and fees are added to the final price.

This all points to a massive increase in demand for holiday makers taking up offers of holiday cottages across the UK and also closer to home such as holiday cottages in France this summer, so please take a look now and get your summer plans finalised.

Holiday Cottage News: Enjoy England with Android App

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

VisitEngland has launched a new Android version of the already popular “Enjoy England” app. This free app provides over 1,000 ideas which are kept up-to-date for destinations and attractions across the country, depending on your location.

This new app is ideal for those with a smartphone, who are now able to plan their perfect holiday in England even more easily than before.

Included in this new version is a QR code readers, which allow users to scan barcodes and access further information while out and about.

It is extremely easy to use, and users can personalise their settings to allow for a variety of budgets, locations and “must-see” things to do.

This is a perfect app for anyone renting a holiday cottage in Devon or across other areas of the country, where you may be stuck for ideas of what to do with the kids, or if the weather should not follow the forecast!

Furthermore, it is expected that an app will be released to cover those “must-not-miss” aspects of holidaying in France, so those of you considering using Last Minute Cottages for a holiday cottage in France, will find this news of use.

Holiday Cottage ‘Staycations’ on the increase

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Welcome to the latest blog from Last Minute Cottages – Holiday Cottages in France & Holiday Cottages Devon.

It has been revealed that sales of UK breaks are increasing and selling at nearly 10% higher than the same period last year. The reasoning is thought to be down the UK being under the spotlight during 2012, with the Olympics, the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic.

VisitEngland are also promoting the UK as an ideal holiday cottage destination, as they are showcasing the advantages of a UK holiday then the hassle of going abroad.

With the Olympics fast approaching, holiday cottages near London are still some of the most popular, however holiday cottages across the UK are being inundated with request and enquiries from all corners of the globe, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Holiday Cottages News: London hotels 3rd most expensive in Europe!

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Welcome to the latest blog from Last Minute Cottages – Holiday Cottages in Devon & Holiday Cottages in France.

It’s been announced that hotel prices in many European cities have increased since the beginning of the year. Hotel.info has provided the data, which is showing that London has had an average rise already this year of 6.58%.

London is currently ranking 3rd for the most expensive hotels in Europe, behind only Oslo and Moscow coming top. This was the highest increase seen across Europe. However, when looking worldwide, the picture was different.

Sydney was the most expensive with a whopping 19% increase on February 2011.

This is good news for all of you who may be considering letting out your holiday cottage, be it in Devon, Dorset or even in France. With hotels running at an all-time high, cost wise, it would be prudent to offer your holiday cottage up for rent with Last Minute Cottages.

Our Holiday Cottages cover the whole of the UK and now France too, we know we are the ideal fit for your holiday cottage! Get in touch with us now, our contact details are here.

Holiday Cottages News: 700% Up for Olympics

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Welcome to Last Minute Cottages – Holiday Cottages Devon and Holiday Cottages near London.

The Olympics are five months away, however holiday cottages near London for July and August are receiving nearly 700% more bookings than the same period last year. Furthermore it is expected that many more international tourists will start finalising their plans for the Olympics “season”, so enquiries are expected to remain hot!

A tourist specialist said:

“Many owners advertising properties have reported that they are already completely booked up, with rents between 70% to 200% higher than standard rates typically being achieved. Even with these higher rates, rentals still provide unrivalled value for money when compared to local hotels. It is little wonder London homeowners are experiencing record demand…”

So clearly the time is now if you want to book up that holiday cottage in and around London for the summer, as time is fast running out, and last minute availability could be at a premium given the exciting times the Olympics are going to bring to the UK.

Get listed now and get your property rented out ready for the summer, while this golden Olympics opportunity lasts!

Holiday Cottages France: Flag flying for tourism boost

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Welcome to the latest Last Minute Cottages Blog – Holiday Cottages in France, and Holiday Cottages in Devon.

It was well publicised that our friends in France were disappointed when the 2012 Olympic Games were awarded to London. However, the councillor in-charge of the port town – Calais, France was delighted.

Dominique Dupilet started building facilities and sports centres and seven years later, having spent over 100 million euros of investment, 24 teams have signed up to train during 2012 and it is expected that many tourists interested in holiday cottages in France will stay in the area and take the Eurostar to the Olympic Games.

“For the duration of the Olympic Games, we’re going to be a suburb of London…

…What better way to enjoy the fun than to head away from London, he said, and sample the cultural and gastronomic delights of northern France?”

There is a shared history between Calais and Britain, which makes this arrangement less strange then some may think. Calais was captured in the “Hundred Years’ War” by the English for over 200 years before it was taken back by the French in 1558. The heritage of England is still visible throughout – especially the Cheddar cheese which is very much on sale still!

Overall, this year is a very exciting time for many in the Holiday Cottage France world and of course there are plenty of Holiday Cottages that Last Minute Cottages provide across Devon, Dorset and the UK too, so book now!

Holiday Cottages News: Eurostar bumper bookings increase over half-term

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Last Minute Cottages

Welcome to the latest blog from Last Minute Cottages – Holiday Cottages in Devon & Holiday Cottages in France.

Holiday Cottage rentals on both side of the English Channel have received a boost over the half-term period, which has been confirmed by Eurostar who have seen a leap in bookings for the same period.

Eurostar, the high-speed rail passenger service between the UK and mainland Europe, carried over 10 percent more passengers than the same holiday period from last year.

Nearly 250,000 tourists will be using the service. It is thought a combination of attractive prices, Valentines Day and the current weather conditions made this a very successful week!

It is thought the Eurostar Plus scheme which launched in 2010 adds extra value to their leisure travellers.

The Commercial Director at Eurostar said:

This has been one of our busiest February half-term weeks for several years. School holidays are always popular, but our service is particularly busy this year…

Now we are through the half-time rush, it is time to make sure you have your availability calendar up to date, and if you are still yet to sign up with us at Last Minute Cottages, then please view take a look through our site for example – Holiday Cottages in France.