Our blog
Posted 05 September 2014
Written by Adele Youngs
Shooting in the dark – why a budget is so important
ADVISORY - THIS ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT THE "BUDGET" MONSTER.
DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE OF A NERVOUS DISPOSITION! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED...
William Tell had a tough job. Blindfolded, he had to shoot an apple off his son's head. Missing the apple in any way would lead to a very bad situation, especially for his son. But, to be honest, compared to the situation many of us find ourselves in as peak quoting season hits, sometimes I do envy him! He knew two crucial bits of information – the “what” he was shooting at (the apple) and the “where” it was (on his son's head). Sometimes this is two crucial bits of information more than we have available to us!
We all know that it pays to shop around. The other day our boiler at home stopped working. It needed a new fan. The heating engineer who diagnosed the problem told us the cost of the new fan and the labour needed to fit it would be £320. Obviously we wanted to get more quotes. The second we got (for the fan and labour) was for £275. The third, again for the fan and labour, was for £175. Guess which one we confirmed!
However, again, this is a simple situation – we needed a fan and it needed to be fitted – a job that took 35 minutes, a screwdriver and enough knowledge of how a boiler works to put it in the right place. We took a judgement based on how complicated we thought that the job was, and the required skill of the engineer.
Now, return to the situation of a group quotation. Some of the requests we put together for our partners have over 50 components to them – hotels, meals, concerts, visits, guides, transportation etc. The price of any of these components, as we slot them in to the pricing matrix, can dramatically affect the overall price. So, sometimes we need to ask the dreaded question... “What is the group's budget?”
Sometimes we get an answer - great! But often, the reply is:
“Oh, just give us your best price!”
It's the budget monster - run for your lives!
OH NO! This is our worst nightmare - the "budget" monster. Unlike some companies that just put together the same tour for everyone, we tailor our tours to match what the group wants. But, everything in the quotation has a value, and what a group might want in theory might become something very different when they see the price for it...
The group might want a centrally located 4 star hotel next to the Metro, but their actual budget might be better suited to a 3 star hotel in the outskirts. If we are not given this crucial piece of information, then we will quote on WHAT THEY ASKED FOR, which may or may not be what they can ACTUALLY afford. The result can be a huge waste of time for everyone concerned, our partners and the group included.
We realise that it may not be something that the group themselves are willing to divulge. And sometimes, people do fear that disclosing a budget can lead to a supplier pricing to that budget by inflating their margin, when the costs are actually quite a lot lower.
BUT, none of us are replacing boiler fans – we are creating tour experiences which last a lifetime and therefore we all need to be candid with each other about getting the very best experience that the group can afford. Otherwise, the quest for getting "the best price" could become counter-productive for the group, who ultimately are the ones paying for the trip.
It's a bit like William Tell being told there is a "piece of fruit" he has to shoot at and that it's "somewhere" around him... And then expecting him to hit an apple that he has no idea he is aiming for...
So, as we enter what is, for many, the peak quoting season, we have but one plea: if the group has a budget, please do let us know! Then we can stop the budget monster in his tracks and get back to creating the best tours each group can afford.
Posted 29 April 2014
Written by Sophie Potter. All images ©Sophie Potter/Caroline Grellier
London by boat, cable car and plane in one sunny April afternoon
Live Travel and Tours were recently invited to try out the KPMG Thames Clipper service, the Emirates Airline and the Emirates Aviation Experience, and the British Music Experience at the O2.
At 4pm on an uncharacteristically warm and sunny 9th April afternoon, Caroline, Vici and I climbed aboard a KPMG Thames Clipper at Tower Millennium Pier and headed straight for the rear deck to catch wonderful views of Tower Bridge in the late afternoon sunshine.
The Thames Clipper fleet of 13 climate-controlled catamarans with guaranteed seats, on-board Costa Coffee bars and complimentary newspapers and Wi-Fi has grown from a one-boat operation founded in 1999 to carrying 8,500 passengers per day between 19 piers along the river Thames from Putney to Woolwich.
Tower Bridge
Our smooth and comfortable ride eastward, which usually departs every 20 minutes and lasts 28 minutes, took us under Tower Bridge, past Canary Wharf, below the Emirates Airline, past the Tate and Lyle golden syrup factory and through the Thames Barrier, to finally turn around and dock at Emirates Greenwich Peninsula by the O2 arena. It was a pleasure to view London from a different perspective for once and get a grasp of its physical geography, instead of repeatedly descending and re-emerging from the great, sometimes disorienting, warren that is the London Underground.
From our mooring point at North Greenwich Pier it was a very short two to three minute walk along the riverside to the entrance of the Emirates Airline.
The O2 and the pier
Upon entering the Emirates Airline boarding and landing halls we were greeted by a very large screen projecting videos of Londoners waving vigorously at us. Although this was a nice touch for our first journey, reminiscent of being waved off at an airport, I imagine that seeing the same faces grinning slightly over-enthusiastically at you every morning and evening might become slightly irritating for the every-day commuter.
The cable car is boarded in the same way as at a ski resort – a car moves around a belt and passengers wait for its doors to open before stepping inside. The Emirates-branded cars are designed to hold up to 10 people each on two plush bench seats. Standing during the journey is not permitted. I got the impression, travelling in a car with five other people, that travelling in a group of 10 would feel uncomfortably crowded but eight would be fine. In any case, one is given a choice of who to travel with when boarding and nobody is made to cram in together.
The Emirates Airline
The Emirates Airline transports passengers 90 metres above the River Thames. The gradient of ascent and descent is fairly steep but in no way results in a shaky or unnerving ride. The most notable feature of our flight was how quiet, smooth and peaceful the journey was – I could easily have fallen asleep as we cruised along in the warm sunshine were it not for the fascinating commentary on the view and nearby landmarks which we received from a member of staff. We were told, for example, that the measurements of the Emirates Airline were designed to accommodate the wind clearance for tall ships travelling down the River Thames but also the take-off and landing path of planes travelling into and out of London City Airport, an exciting spectacle that was observed twice during our “360” journey. The informative, attractive, well-designed and high quality 'In-flight Guides' given to us before we boarded, similar in style to those given out at the EDF Energy London Eye, highlighted the main sights to look out for on the horizon including the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Old Royal Naval College, the Shard, Canary Wharf, the Olympic Stadium and ArcelorMittal Orbit, the Siemens Crystal, ExCel London, the Tate and Lyle golden syrup factory, the Thames Barrier, London City Airport and the (rather unmissable) O2 arena.
The O2 arena
Although our views of the O2 arena, Canary Wharf and London Airport were magnificent, views of Central London were rather marred by distance and by the effect of the setting sun casting a sort of 'haze' over everything. The only things close enough for me to make out clearly were the 'urban wastelands' and construction sites along the eastern River Thames.
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Views from the Emirates Airline
The calibre of the panorama from the Emirates Airline, the UK's first and only urban cable car experience, is somewhat inferior to that of the EDF Energy London Eye, however, as the Emirates Airline is a TfL public transportation service and not an official tourist attraction, the low cost of the Emirates Airline tickets make it a far preferable option for groups seeking an exciting, unique and low-cost experience in London.
The Emirates Airline is a fantastic way to travel to and from the O2 arena for concerts or its vast array of restaurants, and is very well connected to the rest of London, with the DLR and Jubilee line only a two-minute walk away from the terminals.
In my opinion, it is worth a ride on the Emirates Airline solely to benefit from the very reasonably-priced 'Full Experience' ticket which includes entry to the Emirates Aviation Experience, situated at Emirates Greenwich Peninsula (on the south bank). Although this attraction is quite small in size, it contains something for people of all ages and levels of aviation knowledge to enjoy. Visitors are given a wrist band to wear which they can link to a personal online account. The wrist band can be scanned at each 'terminal' within the attraction so that game scores, photographs etc. can later be shared with friends and family via email or social media.
The full-sized nose and cockpit of an Airbus A380 which greets visitors on entry to the Emirates Aviation Experience is not only striking but also very interactive. Inside the nose, on the ground floor, is a 270-degree surround cinema depicting the experience of a suitcase after it has been dropped off at check-in, right through to its emergence on the luggage belt of the arrivals hall. I had always wondered what happened to my suitcase after I left it to fend for itself in the underbellies of various airports and this was my chance to find out as the short film showcased Dubai's baggage handling system from the suitcase's perspective. The floor of the standing-room-only cinema judders each time the suitcase is shown falling onto a conveyor belt or being moved by a baggage handler. I did not spot any warnings about this feature and, although I found it to be a fun touch, I would not recommend it for the infirm, those of a very nervous disposition or anybody who is generally unsteady on their feet. The upper floor of the nose contains an interactive model of the Airbus A380 cockpit.
Other features of the Emirates Aviation Experience include a model standard-class Emirates cabin where visitors can sit and watch short, factual films about 'mysterious' aspects of the aviation industry, for example how live TV is streamed to planes in flight; a mobile, half-scale model of a Rolls Royce Trent 800 plane engine made from 165,000 Lego bricks, a virtual wind tunnel and the 'Turnaround' game which challenges visitors to take a plane through all of the necessary preparations from landing to take-off against a time limit. Unfortunately, the game's touch screen was frustratingly unresponsive to drag-and-drops so I got a very low score – perhaps it simply needed a clean after a full day's use.
The star feature of the Emirates Aviation Experience is the Airbus A380/Boeing 777 flight simulators. Visitors can book a 30-minute session in the cockpit of an Airbus A380 or Boeing 777, which includes full instruction from a member of staff, a choice of airports and flight scenarios, and a souvenir boarding card with details of the chosen flight to take home. No prior flying experience is required and the 30 minute session can be shared between members of a family or small group. I was extremely impressed by the authenticity of the view from the cockpit, and also a little bit jealous, whilst observing a colleague try out a Boeing 777. At £45.00 per 30 minutes, this is not an experience which all visitors will be able to afford. Although it would be difficult to learn very much in the time, I think it would be better if one of the four simulators was free to use for five to ten minutes so that everyone at least gets to try one out.
The Emirates Aviation Experience offers a well-stocked gift shop with Emirates-branded souvenirs and handy gadgets for the habitual traveller, and a café to recover from the jet lag!
The British Music Experience - AMENDMENT. SINCE WRITING THIS ARTICLE, THE BME HAS CLOSED PENDING FINDING A NEW LONDON HOME SOON...
The British Music Experience, situated inside the O2 arena, contains over 3,000 images, 600 video clips, 3,000 artist videos and more than 600 items of artist and music memorabilia showcasing the glorious history of British popular music, including John Lennon's glasses, Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress and Freddie Mercury's jacket and trousers, among many other things. Inside 'The Core', visitors can learn about the history of music broadcasting and playback methods since the 1920s, examine the 'music magic' that has happened in their home town, explore a 'virtual record box' and learn one of 12 dance crazes from the past 70 years including the Twist, the Locomotion, Voguing or even Rave Dancing. In the 'Interactive Studio', visitors can learn to play Gibson guitars, Slingerland drums, Baldwin digital pianos, or even record themselves singing in the Sennheiser-sponsored vocal booth. Step-by-step video tuition is provided by artists such as KT Tunstall and Blur.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
KPMG Thames Clippers
Prices
- Standard Single Commuter ticket: Adults - £6.50, Children under 15 years - £3.25
- Return Commuter ticket: Adults - £12.00, Children under 15 years - £6.00
- 'River Roamer' ticket for 'hop-on/hop-off' travel from 09.00 – 00.00 on the day of purchase: Adults - £15.00, Children under 15 years - £7.50, or Family Ticket (two adults & up to three children) - £32.50
- Under 5s - FREE
- Discounts available for PAYG and Student Oyster Card holders, Freedom Card holders and TfL Travelcard holders
- Group bookings: 10+ people receive a 10% discount on Standard and River Roamer fares
- Special rates available: Hilton Ferry service, 'Tate to Tate' and Cross River services
- Tickets can be purchased online, at the ferry port or on board
More info and timetables: KPMG Thames Clippers - http://www.thamesclippers.com/
Emirates Airline
Opening hours
- 07:00 – 20:00 weekdays (Oct – Mar), 07:00 – 21:00 (Apr - Sep)
- 08:00 – 20:00 on Saturdays (Oct – Mar), 08:00 – 21:00 (Apr - Sep)
- 09:00 – 20:00 on Sundays (Oct – Mar), 09:00 – 21:00 (Apr – Sep)
- Extended to 00:00 on certain days of the year
- May have to close temporarily in the event of very strong winds
Journey Time
- 5 minutes between 07:00 and 09:00, and 17:00 – 18:30
- 10 minutes at all other times
- 20 minutes round trip
Prices
- Single cash fare: Adults - £4.30, Children up to 15 years - £2.20
- Single Oyster Card/TfL Travelcard fare: Adults - £3.20, Children up to 15 years - £1.20
- “360” round trip cash fare: Adults - £8.60, Children up to 15 years - £4.40
- “360” round trip Osyter/TfL Travelcard fare: Adults - £6.40, Children up to 15 years - £3.20
- 'Multi Journey Boarding Pass' worth 10 single journeys: £16.00
- Journey price for Oyster Card holders making more than 5 journeys per week: Adults - £1.60, Children up to 15 years - £0.80, Under 5s FREE
Combined ticket - “360” or return trip on the Emirates Airline & Emirates Aviation Experience: Adults - £10.00, Children up to 15 years - £6.00
More info: Emirates Airline – www.emiratesairline.co.uk
Emirates Aviation Experience
Opening hours
- Monday – Sunday, 10:00 – 18:00
- (Café and Shop, 09:00 – 18:00)
Prices
- Adults 12 years and over - £3.00
- Children under 12 - £1.50
Combined ticket - “360” or return trip on the Emirates Airline & Emirates Aviation Experience:
Adults 12 years and over - £10.00, Children under 12 - £6.00
More info: Emirates Aviation Experience - http://www.aviation-experience.com/
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| Stonehenge | New Visitor Centre |
After a two-hour drive from central London, our group disembarked at a separate coach park which also features a dedicated group kiosk. Tickets and audioguides were distributed there. The visitor centre, made of grey glass, steel and timber, is only a few minutes' walk away. On arrival, visitors have the choice to depart straight away for the stones or to explore the exhibition centre.
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| Coach park and group ticket kiosk | Exhibition |
Until last December, visitors had to rely on the comments from the audioguide or their guide to get some information about the monument. The exhibition centre now provides an insight on the history of Stonehenge, the lives of the people who built it, the techniques they used and presents a few of the theories around the mystery of the stones.
Entering the building, visitors find themselves in a dark room surrounded by videoscreens showing timelapse footage of Stonehenge through the ages and the seasons. After watching the sun setting from the centre of this virtual stone circle, it is time to discover the permanent exhibition. The centrepiece of the exhibition is the skeleton of a man who was buried there about 5,500 years ago, proving that the Salisbury Plain was already a special place long before the first stones were erected. Visitors also have the possibility to admire tools and everyday life objects used by the people who lived in the area at the time Stonehenge was built. A recreation of a Neolithic village (which should be finished by the end of January 2014) will soon complete the visit.
The visitor centre is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the stone circle itself. Visitors can take advantage of regular free shuttles or walk to the stones. Since the opening of the new facilities, there have been some comments from people complaining about the queues to get on the shuttle bus. The new booking system which will be introduced in February should help minimize congestion as visitors will have to reserve tickets in advance and will be allocated a time slot to enter the site. But, on the day of my visit, I did not have to wait more than a couple of minutes before being able to board an almost empty bus which took me to the stone circle in less than ten minutes.
In the midst of all these recent changes, Stonehenge remains the majestic and magnificent monument that has captivated millions of visitors for years. Unlike the 1968 visitor centre, the new building and car parks are invisible from the stone circle, leaving the view unspoilt. Visitors follow a path that goes around the stones while listening to comments on an audioguide. Returning to the exhibition centre can be done again by foot or by shuttle bus.
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| Shuttle bus queue, and shop | Cafe |
No 21st Century visitor centre is complete without a shop and a cafe. This one is no exception and there is an opportunity to buy various souvenirs ranging from magnets to books, board games and jewellery. The cafe offers a selection of sandwiches, salads and sweets to go. However, there was already a small queue on this quiet January day and it will be very busy in high season, so we would advise groups to plan a lunch stop in nearby Salisbury instead.
An hour used to be more than enough to explore the site but I found myself running back to the coach at the end of our two and half hour visit and I did not particularly take my time (except maybe in the shop when I was wondering whether I could wear a "Stonehenge Rocks!" hoodie http://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/EnglishHeritage/_Stonehenge_Rocks_Hoody/288641/Stonehenge%20Rocks!%20Hoody and still be in compliance with the Live Travel and Tours dress code...).
Was it worth it? Yes. The new visitor centre definitely brings something extra to what is still one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world.
To sum up:
What has changed :
- Enhanced visitor experience with new exhibits and modern facilities
- Advanced reservation with a specific time slot compulsory
- A longer visit : minimum 2.5 hours needed
- Price increased from £ 9.00 to £14.90 for an adult ticket
What has not :
- The Stones : 5,000 years old, still going!
- Stonehenge remains a key attraction for groups travelling to the UK
Other resources:
www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25412430
By Caroline Grellier. All images copyright of Caroline Grellier.