Friday 20 July 2012

Swiss Government continue to take measures to maintain a weak Franc

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has retained a strong stance in terms of its national currency the Franc. The Franc has performed particularly well when pitched against the Euro in recent times, so the SNB has taken measures on a number of occasions to maintain the currency as weak as possible, to stimulate the country’s exports.

The Bank has mainly been focusing on the exchange rate with the Euro, as this region is the one where most Swiss export transactions take place. The price floor in the EUR/CHF currency pair at the present time is seen to be at around the 1.20 mark. Prices have been around this region (with very low volatility levels) for a long time this year.

However, people involved in the market of selling positions have impacted on this price floor, as the Swiss Franc, brief though it was, rose above the 1.20 when up against the Euro. It briefly brought the credibility of the central bank into question and raised the idea that we could see other price floor breaches in the future.

But how can traders foresee and predict future price activity in the EUR/CHF currency pair? A key area to keep your eye open for the direct commentary from the SNB leadership, this could provide some clues on the future policy strategies that could well be enabled.

Perpetual Travellers and peple that wish to hedge or diversify, traditionally hold Swiss Francs as a safe haven currency, especially during difficult economic times. However, the above news may be something to consider or think twice about this strategy. Swiss Francs are certainly stable and cannot be considered risky, but in the light of this news the currency may not hold a strong value like it did in the past, due to the actions of the SNB. Still, many believe that Swiss FRancs are better than euros and safer in the long run than GPB Sterling and U Dollars.

Thursday 19 July 2012

10 Top Sizzling Summer Worldwide Events in August

As you will soon see, the UK is the place to be this August! With the London 2012 Olympics, Reading & Leeds Festivals (replacing Glastonbury at the top of the UK festival chart) and Notting Hill Carnival, which is the largest celebration of its kind in Europe. Also hot on events this August is Scotland, or more specifically Edinburgh. With the Festival Fringe and International Festival, buy a kilt and head on down to Edinburgh!

Although, if you want to go to a festival with guaranteed sun (none in the UK), then head on over to Larnaca, Cyprus for SummerLand Festival 2012 where you can party on the beach for 2 full days.

Fancy something a bit more relaxed? Chill out in the moonlight at Boston’s Moonlight Festival, a Chinese celebration that people all over the world come to see year after year. Another option is going to Sicily, Italy for the Catania Tango Festival, where you can simply bask in the location and ambience of the town, or tango the night away. Alternatively wildly throw tomatoes at the La Tomatina Festival in Buñol, Spain. The choice is yours!

Here is a quick guide to the World's Top 10 events this August 2012:










London 2012 Olympic Games, London, England

Where? London, England
When? 27th July - 12th August 2012

Probably the most talked about event happening in the world right now. The Summer Olympic and Paralympic games return to London for the first time since 1948. As you can imagine, it’s been a long time coming, so we expect something special! There will be an opening ceremony show in Hyde Park on the 27th of July with the likes of Paolo Nutini, Duran Duran, Snow Patrol and Stereophonics. This will coincide with the opening ceremony in the Olympic stadium where Sir Paul Mccartney will close the ceremony.

The Summer olympics are officially the games of the “XXX Olympiad” and it’s more commonly known as “London 2012”. The city of London has built many fantastic state of the art brand new complexes for different sports such as handball, swimming and diving.

The football will be held in the national Wembley stadium, and the new Olympic stadium (which cost £486 million), will be sold to either West-Ham-United, or Tottenham Hotspur football club (tender process still ongoing). If the latter win the bid, they would retain the stadiums 80,000 capacity, which would keep its status of the 3rd largest stadium in England behind Wembley (90,000), and Twickenham (82,000). However, if West Ham were to win the bid, then the capacity would be reduced to 60,000.

Further information: www.london2012.com

V Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire, England

Where? Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire, England                                    When? 18th - 19th August 2012

V Festival is a two-day music festival that is held simultaneously in Chelmsford and Staffordshire. Although predominantly rock music, the festival books a wide range of acts and is probably the most likely amongst UK festivals to book more mainstream pop acts each year.

Festival goers can take their pick from 4 stages throughout the day, the main stage, the ‘Glee club comedy’ tent and 2 more unspecified stages. The lineup for 2012 includes The Stone Roses, The Killers, Snow Patrol, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Nicki Minaj, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, David Guetta, Keane, Tom Jones, Nero and Example.

Further information: www.vfestival.com

SummerLand festival, Larnaca, Cyprus

Where? Larnaca, Cyprus
When? 10 & 11 August 2012

MAD CY and DJ Radio proudly present: SummerLand Festival 2012. Held at the Palm lined Beach of Finikoudes in Larnaca, the SummerLand boasts two full days of electronic dance music, and a promise of two days on the beach that you will remember for the rest of your life!

Further information: www.summerland-festival.com

Notting Hill Carnival, London, England


Where? London, England
When? 26th - 27th August 2012

Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, Notting Hill Carnival is the largest celebration of its kind in Europe. Started as a local festival set up by the West Indian immigrants of the area it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.

With scores of massive sound systems, many spectacular floats and, of course, the traditional steel drum bands, plus hundreds of stalls lining the streets; this is probably London’s most exciting annual event!

Further information: www.mynottinghill.co.uk

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland

Where? Edinburgh, Scotland
When? 3rd - 27th August 2012

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival on the planet. It is a celebration of the best performances and entertainment acts from a range of different countries across the world. The Festival is an ‘open-access’ festival, which means if you have a show to perform, and somewhere to perform it, your on the bill.

The Festival itself actually has no part in producing any of the performances. They simply advertise, and rely on the thousands of individuals from across our planet to put on a show.

Further information: www.edfringe.com

La Tomatina Festival, Buñol, Spain


Where? Buñol, Spain
When? 29th August 2012

The sunny Mediterranean city of Valencia in Spain is world-renowned for its tasty and succulent oranges. And just thirty miles away is Buñol, another town just as famous for its produce. But its notoriety comes from the locals' habit of wearing the produce as well as tasting it: every year, Buñol hosts La Tomatina, the world's largest vegetable fight. Situated only 30 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean Sea, and well-connected by motorway and rail to Madrid and Valencia, this charming town erupts into a fiery blaze of tomato-hurling on the last Wednesday of every August.

The "batalla" takes place during a week-long celebration filled with ongoing festivities and with even greater anticipation for the monstrous tomato battle that serves as the culmination of the week's events. Plus, last year's La Tomatina festival saw the birth of The La Tomatina After Party! 2,000 people, cheap booze and dancing in the streets. The after party takes place at The Valencia Modern Arts Museum, however, if you are allergic to tomatoes, please, do not go.

Further information: www.spanish-fiestas.com

Reading & Leeds Festival, Reading/Leeds, England

  
Where? Reading/Leeds, England
When? 24th - 26th August 2012


With no Glastonbury this year due a shortage of portaloos because of the Olympics, Reading and Leeds look like the biggest festivals in the UK this year! The festival started back in 1989 and was seen as rivalry to the likes of Glastonbury and The Isle Of Wight Festival. In 1999 Leeds Festival was born, as the northern Reading Festival and became the sister festival of Reading.

The crowd is mainly young, but there are always an array of different people of different ages. It is renowned for having huge acts play way down the bill when they are fairly unknown, then having the same band headline when they are massive (Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Muse, The Maccabees). The lineup for 2012 includes: The Cure, Kasabian, Foo Fighters, The Maccabees, At The Drive In, Metronomy, Foster The People, The Black Keys, Justice, SBTRKT and Florence and The Machine.

Further Information: www.readingfestival.co.uk

August Moon Festival, Boston, United States


Where? Boston, United States
When? 12th August 2012


Also known as the 'Moon Festival', The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival commemorates a 14th-century uprising against the Mongols. Plans for the revolt were smuggled to like minded sympathizers inside small cakes. Today cakes made from ground lotus and sesame seed paste known as 'moon cakes' are typically eaten as part of the celebrations.

Many families travel to vantage points for moon-watching parties. Boston's Chinatown is the third largest Chinese neighborhood in the country so festivities are usually busy, and very lively.

Further Information: www.bostonusa.com

Catania Tango Festival, Catania, Italy


Where? Catania, Italy
When? 11th - 19th August 2012

Based in the adorable town Catania in Sicily, when it comes to festivals, the location does not get much better than this! The 9 day festival features Tango nights, shows, music and “Milonga by Moonlight”. This festival is not just for Tango lovers, the key to this Festival is its location, atmosphere and ambience. This festival provides all of the above, and more. So get on your dancing shoes!

Further Information: www.cataniatangofestival.com

Friday 6 July 2012

Ryanair set to charge passengers extra taxes on prepaid Spanish flights

Ryanair recently sent an email to already booked and confirmed passengers travelling to and from Spain, which read something like this... 

RYANAIR LETTER
Dear Customer,

The Spanish 2012 budget was passed into law on Saturday 30 June, as a result all airlines are obliged, with effect from 1 July onwards to collect increased Spanish airport departure taxes from all passengers booked on flights after that date.

It appears that the increased Spanish airport departure tax may also apply retrospectively to customers who booked flights before the 2nd July 2012 and are travelling from the 1st July onwards.

In accordance with Ryanair's General Terms and Conditions of Travel (Article 4.2.2) we hereby advise passengers that we may be forced to debit passengers for the increased airport departure tax imposed by the Spanish government for all flights departing from Spain which were booked before the 2nd July 2012 for travel from the 1st July 2012 onwards.

Once the Spanish authorities confirm whether the increased airport departure tax applies retrospectively (as set out above), Ryanair will notify passengers by email of the additional charges applicable to their pre 2nd July booking. Passengers not wishing to accept the additional tax will have the option to cancel their flight and receive a full refund.

N.B. All new flight bookings departing from Spanish airports made on or after the 2nd July are not affected by this retrospective clause as the increased departure tax has already been included in the purchased flight price.

Ryanair Holdings plc (Company No. 249885) / Ryanair Ltd. (Company No. 104547).
Registered in the Republic of Ireland. With registered address Corporate Head Office, Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

END OF LETTER

The obvious questions that arise from this are...
  1. Can an airline charged already paid and confirmed passengers more money for a flight than what was already agreed and paid, despite the small print?
  2. What damage will this do to Spanish Tourism? In other words, perhaps the authorities will gain some more taxes, but the country may well lose a number of Tourists at the same time, which is their main economy. 
We encorage all the feedback from Perpetual Traveller readers.

 

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