Make more of your jubilee

Please find below an article written by Rebecca Irani of ViaMichelin UK on how to make more of motoring over the Jubilee weekend by using online mapping guides. Make more of your Jubilee Travel plans -consult the Travel Oracle before you go It's hot, you're in the car, traffic is slowing down and you realise that you've taken the wrong turning. As the Jubilee weekend approaches and you finalise the plans for your break away, the thought of beginning bank holiday weekend with a long car journey can be really stressful. But, according to our "Travel Oracle", there is a way to have happier, more enjoyable motoring- by taking a few simple planning steps. The time available for a bank holiday break away is so precious that often motoring can seem that it is just not worth the hassle. Why drive when there is a risk that heavy traffic around the bank holiday and the stress of getting lost or arguing about directions and arriving late could spoil your holiday. Rebecca Irani from ViaMichelin UK, the online fully comprehensive guide for the British motorist (www.viamichelin.co.uk), thinks she knows the secret to make motoring in the UK over this Jubilee break a happier experience. Her answer is to perform an easy simple 'travel check' on your trip to make the most of your motoring. She says: "There are some very simple things you can do before beginning any car journey which will make the whole experience far more pleasant. Before you go, spend time planning the route to take which best fits your needs, whether it's the quickest or via a pub or restaurant. Use online maps and route planners for the most up to date maps and instant, easy to read route plans. When you are in the car, have the detailed route plan along with a map of the areas you'll be travelling through printed off and in the car. This means that should you get lost or if you need to find an alternative route during the journey, you can do so easily and so avoid any panic". Planning a journey in any detail can feel unnecessary when you are driving in the UK, as you may feel familiar with the UK road network or be driving to a destination that you go to every bank holiday. But, by performing a 'travel check' and consulting travel guides or planning your route online you can make every drive more enjoyable, turning the journey to your final holiday destination into an extra part of your holiday break. Rebecca continues: "Even if the journey is one you make every year why not adapt your route either to use a different road or to go via a restaurant or attraction. This way you'll be interested in the journey and will take the time to stop, and enjoy the changes of scenery along the way. The cheapest and least time consuming way to making more of your drive is to use an online guide book to find out what you can take in along your journey." By finding out which areas you'll pass through and consulting guides to you can find out what you can see and do on the way. If you are going to be travelling with a carload of children, then why not find out if there is a park or museum you can take in on the way? That way the driver has the chance to have a break, while the kids are able to use up the restless energy that they'll be building up whilst sitting in the back. Alternately, if it is just you and a partner travelling over the bank holiday, why not impress by going to a really special restaurant or diverting to take in a beautiful view on the way to your destination. To find out where these attractions are, consulting an online guide can be the most efficient way to find out what can be seen on your route, above all because these guides are continually updated. If you're on a lengthy journey, you may even wish to consider stopping overnight at a hotel so you are fresh when you arrive at your destination. Our Travel "Oracle''s final tip is to spend a bit of time ensuring you know what may be ahead: "Part of any check on your journey are up-to- date weather forecasts all along the route of your journey as well as at your destination. This way you'll be prepared as best you can and will be able to make the best use of precious holiday time, taking the best route to your chosen holiday destination which avoids traffic hotspots and takes into account the weather ahead". So take our Travel Oracle's advice and this Jubilee weekend make every drive a holiday break away! Background Information on ViaMichelin Rebecca Irani is UK marketing and communications manager of ViaMichelin UK, the fully comprehensive travel guide which offers online route planning, maps, hotels restaurants, sights and weather information for the UK and 42 countries across Europe, along with an online magazine. ViaMichelin is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michelin Group. ViaMichelin designs, develops and markets digital travel products and services for European road users. Drawing upon Michelin's centennial expertise in the travel world, this new activity, launched this year, is intended for leisure and business users alike. ViaMichelin provides a full range of services (maps, route plans, hotels, restaurants, traffic information, tourist information) which can be accessed on a variety of media: Internet (www.ViaMichelin.co.uk), mobile phones, PCs (with CD- ROMs), on-board navigation systems and personal digital assistants. For more information on ViaMichelin: contact-uk@viamichelin.com The 'Travel Oracle's Tips: « Plan the roads that you will take online and have the printed route plan handy in the car, along with a map so that you can find an alternative route « Find out traffic and weather information for the route before you set out, so you'll know what is ahead « Use online travel guides, and check out what you can see on the way « Have a drink or snack handy in the car to stop passengers and the driver from overheating Keep small change in the car for a phone call just in case anything goes wrong and a mobile phone is unavailable Travel Facts: « Britons drive 50 million miles each year on 1,675 miles of motorway. « In 1998 27 million holidays were taken in Britain, compared to 29 million taken abroad « There are half a million traffic jams a year, a rate of 10 000 a week Source: British Tourist Authority, The Independent. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/30/20020530BIT01410/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/30/20020530BIT01410/wkr0002.pdf