To celebrate the clash between England and France on the rugby pitch on March 20th, Lagrange have taken 20% off two night stays over that weekend in their Paris apartments. Two nights based on two sharing a self-catering studio apartment at the Les Rives de Seine property, arriving on either the Friday or Saturday night, is now only £94 per person – ideal for rugby fans who want to enjoy the match in Paris or anyone looking for an affordable weekend away in one of the greatest cities in the world.

Les Rives de Seine is a brand new property and part of the Lagrange City range offering self-catering apartments in city locations throughout France. Located in the Parisian district of Boulogne-Billancourt the apartments can be found at the end of Metro line 9, approximately fifteen minutes from the Eiffel Tower, in the heart of an exciting new business and residential development. More information on the property can be found at www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk.

The price of £95 per person for a two night stay is for accommodation only. Self-drive packages can be booked for an additional £69, whilst prices for the return Eurostar can be supplied on request. For reservations and more information customers should call 020 7371 6111 or email info@lagrange-holidays.co.uk.

Lagrange are the self-catering specialists to France, operating in the UK for over 25 years, with accommodation across the French coasts, countryside and mountains. In addition to city apartments the summer 2010 programme has something to suit all styles and budgets, from apartments on the Côte d’Azur to villas with private pools, or holiday homes in Brittany and the Loire Valley. Accommodation can be booked alone, or with self-drive or rail packages at a supplement. For a copy of the new brochure, or for reservations clients should call 020 7371 6111 or visit www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk.

Great Rail Journeys has turned to alternative services to protect their customers’ festive breaks during the disruption to Eurostar services.

Coaches and ferries have been brought into service to get tour groups to the continent to continue their holiday by rail, as well as to bring home-bound passengers back to the UK. Some customers have even been flown to join their festive breaks in Europe.

“Our Commercial and operations teams have worked tirelessly since Friday 17 December when the first Eurostar cancellations were made,” says Commercial Director David Gaster.

“Even with the cancelled Eurostar services, we have managed to provide almost 400 customers with their festive holidays over the last two days and will continue to use alternative means of transport until Eurostar services resume.”

Flybe, the UK’s biggest domestic airline and one of Europe’s largest regional airlines, has today – due to strengthening demand – further increased capacity on its services to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle to assist stranded Eurostar passengers between now and Christmas.

In addition to having already laid on larger aircraft from both Birmingham and Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, growing demand has resulted in the airline upgrading capacity on another four flights tomorrow, namely BE1251/2 Southampton-Paris-Southampton and BE7031/2 Birmingham-Paris-Birmingham.

Commenting on the increasing demand, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter says: “Flybe is committed to ensuring that as many stranded Eurostar passengers as possible are able to complete their journeys. It is especially important at this time of the year when people are travelling to be with friends and loved ones over the festive period. Despite the weather challenges being thrown at us also at the present time, we are pulling out all the stops to make sure that people reach their destinations as quickly and without as little added inconvenience as possible.

“Although there are extra seats now available, they are selling quickly, so we would advise people to book as soon as possible on www.flybe.com
to avoid further disappointment.”

Flybe, the UK’s biggest domestic airline and one of Europe’s largest regional airlines, has today – due to strengthening demand – further increased capacity on its services to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle to assist stranded Eurostar passengers between now and Christmas.

In addition to having already laid on larger aircraft from both Birmingham and Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, growing demand has resulted in the airline upgrading capacity on another four flights tomorrow, namely BE1251/2 Southampton-Paris-Southampton and BE7031/2 Birmingham-Paris-Birmingham.

Commenting on the increasing demand, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter says: “Flybe is committed to ensuring that as many stranded Eurostar passengers as possible are able to complete their journeys. It is especially important at this time of the year when people are travelling to be with friends and loved ones over the festive period. Despite the weather challenges being thrown at us also at the present time, we are pulling out all the stops to make sure that people reach their destinations as quickly and without as little added inconvenience as possible.

“Although there are extra seats now available, they are selling quickly, so we would advise people to book as soon as possible on www.flybe.com
to avoid further disappointment.”

Related articles by Zemanta

• Detroit terror attack: striking similarities with British shoebomber Richard Reid (telegraph.co.uk)

Flybe, the UK’s biggest domestic airline and one of Europe’s largest regional airlines, has stepped into the breach again; increasing capacity on its services to assist stranded Eurostar passengers over Christmas.

Flybe have laid on larger aircraft from both Birmingham and Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for the next four days in the run up to the holidays.

Commenting on the increased capacity, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter said: “Flybe understands how important it is to get travellers to their destination over Christmas. We pride ourselves on being able to respond when the chips are down. We did so when the Channel Tunnel was closed by fire last year and we’re proud to be doing so again after Eurostar’s condensation problems. There are a limited number of extra tickets available and to avoid further disappointment; I would advise passengers to book as soon as possible on www.flybe.com

· CLIMATE CHAMPIONS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD TO START THEIR JOURNEY FROM London

· UIC TRAIN TO COPENHAGEN TO SHOWCASE SUSTAINABLE RAIL TRAVEL

Eurostar, the high-speed provider of carbon neutral journeys between the UK and the continent, will on Friday 4 December take environmental campaigners, delegates and environmental journalists to Brussels to meet the UIC ‘Climate Express’ train to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen (COP 15).

The journey will begin at London St Pancras International, where there will be an official send off with dancers from India and a brass quintet from the Royal College of Music.

The group will then travel on to Brussels where they will meet up with around 400 fellow travellers from across Europe, to continue their journey on the Climate Express the morning of Saturday 5 December.

Richard Brown, CEO of Eurostar who is also joining the UIC train to Copenhagen said:

“The journey to Copenhagen will be a crucial part of the build-up to COP15. Travellers will have the opportunity to take part in an ‘on-track’ conference focussing on the rail industry’s role in tackling climate change. It is great that the Climate Express offers the opportunity for conversation and debate, before it reaches Copenhagen and in advance of the arrival any World Leaders. ”

Also travelling with Richard Brown will be a group of 25 young people from the British Councils’ ‘Climate Champions’ programme. Selected from 3000 members, the group will have the chance to meet their official delegations at COP 15 itself and call for an ambitious and binding international agreement to reduce carbon emission at COP 15.

Head of the British Council Climate Change programme, Dr David Viner said:

“This conference is a crucial milestone in the global effort to reduce the rapid rate of climate change. There is an imperative to act now as it is this and future generations who will inherit the legacy and the full impact of global climate change that we are witnessing today. That is why the British Council is working to support young people to lead by example and make a real difference at a local level. Copenhagen is now an opportunity for our Climate Champions to take their message to the heart of the debate and make their voices heard at the top table. I am delighted that these passionate and committed young people are having the chance to make their voice heard on their journey to Copenhagen.”

As a company, Eurostar promotes the sustainability of high speed rail through its Tread Lightly plan which has the aim of reducing the rail provider’s actual CO2 emissions by 35% by 2012. The initiative is supported through a partnership with Friends of the Earth. The green campaign group has rallied 250 campaigners who will travel to Copenhagen with Eurostar on Friday 11 December. The campaign will flood the streets with people – calling for a strong and fair agreement to tackle climate change.

EUROSTAR PRESS PHOTOCALL NOTICE

What:

A UK send off for travellers joining the UIC ‘Climate Express’ from Brussels to COP 15 in Copenhagen. There will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs on the platforms at St Pancras International.

Interviews:

The British Council ‘Climate Champions’, Richard Brown, CEO of Eurostar and International Climate Campaigner from Friends of the Earth, Tom Picken.

When: Friday 4 December, 16h15 (The group will leave on Eurostar for Brussels at 1727).

Where:

Report to the Eurostar Group Welcome Desk, opposite check-in at St Pancras International station.

Members of the media who are not travelling will need to pre-register with the Eurostar Press Office on Tel: ++ 44 (0) 20 7843 5400 or on press.office@eurostar.co.uk.

Media will need to have passports for ID purposes. TV crews please note that boom microphones are not permitted on

platforms at St Pancras International

Note to editors:

1. Since Eurostar returned to full service in February 2009, punctuality levels have remained high with 95% of trains arriving on time.

2. Eurostar provides high-speed rail journeys between St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.

3. Eurostar connects with domestic services in the UK and provides onward connections to destinations across mainland Europe. Travellers can buy connecting fares to the Continent from more than 200 stations with return fares from £63, including brighton from £71 and Edinburgh from £92.

4. Under its Tread Lightly environmental plan, Eurostar has set a target of reducing its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 35% per traveller journey by 2012. Because emissions cannot yet be eliminated, Eurostar is also the world’s first train operator to make all journeys carbon neutral, at no extra cost to travellers.

5. Eurostar and Friends of the Earth are working together in the UK on Eurostar’s Tread Lightly initiative and Friends of the Earth’s climate campaign. To find out more about Friends of the Earth visit www.friendsoftheearth.co.uk.

6. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.

7. Eurostar is an entirely separate business from Eurotunnel. Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, whilst Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.

8. To book tickets or for more travel information, please visit www.eurostar.com

or call 08705 186 186.

No services Christmas Day

· Eurostar services will not be affected by engineering work

· Direct day ski services to the French Alps starts Saturday 19 December

· Direct night ski services to the French Alps starts 1 January

Eurostar, the high-speed provider of carbon neutral journeys between UK and the continent, will operate normally over the Christmas and New Year period and will not be affected by engineering work. As in previous years, services will be stopping earlier on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December and on New Year’s Eve, Thursday 31 December and starting later in the morning on Friday 1 January.

No Eurostar services will be operating on Christmas Day.

Thursday 24 December and Thursday 31 December 2009

London – Paris:

- last departure at 16.55 (9042)

London – Lille – Brussels:

- last departure at 17h27 (9150)

Paris – London

- last departure at 18.13 (9051)

Brussels – London

- last departure at 17.59 (9153)

Lille – London

- last departure at 18:35 (9153)

Friday 1 January 2010

London – Paris

- first departure at 08.02 (9008)

London – Lille – Brussels

- first departure at 08.27 (9120)

Paris – London

- first departure at 08.07 (9011)

Brussels – London

- first departure at 09.29 (9119)

The direct ski services to the French Alps (Moutiers, Aime la Plagne, Bourg St Maurice) from St Pancras International and Ashford International will start on:-

Direct ski day service: Saturday 19 December – London 10.00 (9092)

Direct ski night service: Friday 1 January – London 20.31 (9096)

· No services Christmas Day

· Eurostar services will not be affected by engineering work

· Direct day ski services to the French Alps starts Saturday 19 December

· Direct night ski services to the French Alps starts 1 January

Eurostar, the high-speed provider of carbon neutral journeys between UK and the continent, will operate normally over the Christmas and New Year period and will not be affected by engineering work. As in previous years, services will be stopping earlier on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December and on New Year’s Eve, Thursday 31 December and starting later in the morning on Friday 1 January.

No Eurostar services will be operating on Christmas Day.

Thursday 24 December and Thursday 31 December 2009

London – Paris:

- last departure at 16.55 (9042)

London – Lille – Brussels:

- last departure at 17h27 (9150)

Paris – London

- last departure at 18.13 (9051)

Brussels – London

- last departure at 17.59 (9153)

Lille – London

- last departure at 18:35 (9153)

Friday 1 January 2010

London – Paris

- first departure at 08.02 (9008)

London – Lille – Brussels

- first departure at 08.27 (9120)

Paris – London

- first departure at 08.07 (9011)

Brussels – London

- first departure at 09.29 (9119)

The direct ski services to the French Alps (Moutiers, Aime la Plagne, Bourg St Maurice) from St Pancras International and Ashford International will start on:-

Direct ski day service: Saturday 19 December – London 10.00 (9092)

Direct ski night service: Friday 1 January – London 20.31 (9096)

Family friendly ‘Sunparks’ launches into the UK market with holiday villages in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands!

Family holiday village specialist Sunparks has officially launched in the UK market. Sunparks operates eight holiday villages based in Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany. The holiday villages, all located in Europe offer villa and hotel accommodation and are specifically aimed at families with young children. They are also easily accessible from the UK via Eurostar, ferry and air.

The Sunparks brand has been running for over 20 years in Europe and has recently become part of the European accommodation specialist Pierre & Vacances Group. Sunparks is well known throughout Europe for operating all-weather, year-round holiday villages that offer a wide range of outdoor activities and indoor facilities for the whole family. Four of the villages are located in Belgium, two in the Netherlands and two in Germany.

The villages all act as a good base for exploring the surrounding regions. For example, the De Haan aan zee village in Belgium is only 20 kilometres from Bruges, whilst Zandvoort aan zee village is located on the Dutch coast just 40-minutes from the centre of Amsterdam. Each village also has a dedicated tourist information centre, the ‘Tourist Guide’, which provides in-depth information and event listings for each region, including top tips for cultural, gastronomic, shopping and recreational activities. Some of the holiday villages, including De Haan aan zee in Belgium and Sunparks Nordseeküste in Germany, have also recently been refurbished.

All Sunparks properties offer flexible arrival dates and holiday lengths ranging from two nights to two weeks. Twenty percent discounts apply for young families with children under twelve years of age, and those aged 55 and over. Early booking discounts also apply. Prices start from €399 per week for a four person villa, or €239 for a four night midweek break.

For more information on Sunparks, please visit: http://www.sunparks.co.uk

Family holiday village specialist Sunparks has officially launched in the UK market. Sunparks operates eight holiday villages based in Belgium, the Netherlands and western Germany. The villages offer villa and hotel accommodation and are specifically aimed at families with young children. They are also easily accessible from the UK via Eurostar, ferry and air.

The Sunparks brand has been running for over 20 years in Europe and has recently become part of the European accommodation specialist Pierre & Vacances Group. Sunparks is well known throughout Europe for operating all-weather, year-round holiday villages that offer a wide range of outdoor activities and indoor facilities for the whole family. Four of the villages are located in Belgium, two in the Netherlands and two in Germany.

The villages all act as a good base for exploring the surrounding regions. For example, the De Haan aan zee village in Belgium is only 20 kilometres from Bruges, whilst Zandvoort aan zee village is located on the Dutch coast just 40-minutes from the centre of Amsterdam. Each village also has a dedicated tourist information centre, the ‘Tourist Guide’, which provides in-depth information and event listings for each region, including top tips for cultural, gastronomic, shopping and recreational activities. Some of the holiday villages, including De Haan aan zee in Belgium and Sunparks Nordseeküste in Germany, have also recently been refurbished.

All Sunparks properties offer flexible arrival dates and holiday lengths ranging from two nights to two weeks. Twenty percent discounts apply for young families with children under twelve years of age, and those aged 55 and over. Early booking discounts also apply. Prices start from €399 per week for a four person villa, or €239 for a four night midweek break.

For more information on Sunparks, please visit: http://www.sunparks.co.uk