www.uk-2-usa.com Newsletter 9

August 2003

 Welcome to the 9th www.uk-2-usa.com monthly newsletter.

Augusts newsletter, a little late and a little less in it. Time has been limited for me to produce this months offering, but normal service will be resumed next month. This newsletter will update you with any recent USA travel information I have come across and uk-2-usa.com web site changes that have occurred in the last month. All feedback is gratefully received about style or content. Click here to send me suggestions for improvements, additions or even things to avoid in future newsletters. This newsletter will be available via e-mail, on the web site or via the associated online uk-2-usa travel discussion group

In next months edition I will have a feature on Las Vegas so if you have any questions or if you would like to contribute your own comments/experience/anecdotes, click here

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Current deals / ideas

Detroit Jazz festival
The 24th Detroit International Jazzfest is on offer starting August 30 and ending September 1st. It's North America's largest free jazz festival. That's right, free. All the music is open to the public without charge. The festival meets expenses by selling food, drink, and merchandise. If you're mad for jazz and planning a trip to the USA it's worth rerouting to get to Detroit the last weekend in August.

Gardeners in Florida If you are in Florida looking for some shade and solitude and a break from the hectic whirl of Orlando and the theme parks, check out Washington Oaks Gardens State Park at 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd in Palm Coast, Florida. It's a short drive from Daytona and should be on the must-see list for avid gardeners, if you've ever wondered what would happen if the principle of English formal garden design were transferred to a tropical climate, here's your chance to take a look. The park covers over four hundred acres and in addition to the formal gardens has a protected beach dune system with coquina rock formations. At low tide you'll be able to observe shore birds feeding in the tidal pools. The park's interpretative center has ample information about the area wildlife and plant life. Picnic areas are available. While there are nature trails, this gem of a park is suited for the stroller who wants to stop and smell the abundant flowers. The gardens were originally designed for a private home and today are often used for weddings. Roses, camellias, and azaleas feature prominently in the garden design. The park is two miles south of Marineland.

Off the beten track in Idaho
For the 'Real America', how about Wagon days in Ketchum Idaho. Covered wagons, a Main street shootout, BBQ's and live music sum up this Old West event--a tradition since 1958. The Big Hitch parade is the longest non-motorized parade in the Northwest.

New York Shopping Breaks in November
If you've had your holidays, your thoughts may stray towards Christmas. How about 3 nights at the Metropolitan Hotel, New York with return flights from Heathrow on British Airways from only £420 per person based on 2 sharing excluding airport tax of £64 per person and travel insurance.

Or upgrade to the New York Hilton & Towers from only £525 per person based on 2 sharing excluding airport tax of £64 per person and travel insurance. Contact North America Travel Service



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USA travel news and tips

In last months newsletter I told you about how new USA immigration rules are coming in that will effect you if you have children on your own passeport. The changes are actually much further reaching than I reported last month. See the recent advice from KLM regarding entry into the USA below

NEW DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES

Please be advised that there will be a change in the documentation requirements for passengers entering and transiting the United States effective 01 October 2003. From this date all passengers travelling to and from the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are required to hold a machine readable passport (MRP).

Any person who is a citizen of a VWP eligible country eg: UK and who's passport is not machine readable will need to obtain a U.S. non-immigrant visa prior to arrival. This applies to all persons including infants and children. Children who have been added to a parent's passport will also be required to have a MRP issued in their own name or have a U.S. visa issued to them affixed into the passport in which their name appears.

This law will be fully implemented on 01 October 2003.

Increases in airport security
The Transportation Security Administration offers a bit of advice to make it easier for you and your baggage to get through the screening when you travel to the USA:

Contradictory news for troubled United airlines
July was United airlines best ever load factor month beating the previous best ever in June. Load factor is the % of seats full and Julys figure was 82.9%.

Although the increased load factor is good news for United, it was achieved with a drop in passenger numbers from a year ago because of an even bigger cut in the number of flights. Losses were smaller than the previous quarter but still the biggest in the US air industry.



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USA flight price survey

The following table shows the latest comparison between the three internet companies featured on the site. All prices were obtained from the search facilities accessed via the website. The quotes are for a return adult fare on 17th September 2003 returning on 24th September 2003 and are inclusive of tax.

When compared with the flight prices for the previous months you can clearly see the seasonal effect on prices with the total average return fare for June being £399.77, for July being £557.94, for August being £577 and now September at £418.

These prices are for a return adult fare including all taxes departing on 17th September, returning on 24th September.

An additional company - Expedia (at the suggestion of a newsletter reader) also features in this months survey and they came straight in in first place just pipping Travel4less. Ebookers who almost swept the board last time for the cheapest flights just came in with one cheapest flight this time.

This survey yet again gives the message to shop around for the best bargain because the cheapest company for one route is probably not the cheapest company for a different route when you look at all the surveys. This months survey shows how to get savings of £24 per adult flying London to Orlando, £45 London to Denver, £38 London to San Francisco, £37 Manchester to Orlando, £26 Manchester to Denver and £37 per adult Manchester to San Francisco !


Route

 expedia prices
 travel4less prices
 e-bookers prices
 opodo prices
London
to
Orlando		 £ 416
Delta Airlines		 £ 392
American Airlines		 £ 405
Continental Airlines		 £ 405
Continetal Airlines
London
to
Denver		 £ 392
Northwest		 £ 406
Northwest		 £ 430
United Airlines		 £ 385
Northwest
London
to
San Francisco		 £ 393
Northwest		 £ 406
Northwest		 £ 430
United Airlines		 £ 431
Continental
Manchester
to
Orlando		 £ 397
US Airways		 £ 399
US Air		 £ 405
United Airlines		 £ 430
British Midland
Manchester
to
Denver		 £ 445
US Airways		 £ 459
American Airlines		 £ 433
United Airlines		 £ 445
US Airways
Manchester
to
San Francisco		 £ 418
Air France		 £ 424
Air France		 £ 433
United Airlines		 £ 455
British Midland
Totals for
all 6 flights		 £ 2,461 £ 2,486 £ 2,536 £ 2,551



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Web site updates/news


This list details the site changes in the last calendar month. A few more changes this month, but stand by for next month when if all goes to plan the site will have a major re-vamp.

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Web site facts and figures

I obviously have a keen interest in how many people choose to visit uk-2-usa.com. On the long term view, the trend is steadily upwards. However, over the short term, it does fluctuate wildly from day to day and week to week.

July turned out to be the 2nd best month ever for site visitors pushing June into 3rd best. There were 3,850 visitors to the site just pipping Junes total.

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uk-2-usa.com Competition

Back in newsletter 4, I offered a free guidebook to one of the newsletter readers. I received 3 entries so the winner had a 1 in 3 chance of winning, pretty good odds for a free book.

Last month I thought it was time for another competition and so a DK eyewitness travel guide to Southwest USA & Las Vegas was offered as the prize for offering improvement suggestions. The lucky winner was Bryan Lodge. It was really hard luck for Janet the only other entrant to the competition who missed out on the draw from the flat cap. Better luck next time Janet !

There are a couple of morals to this story
(a) I dont get much return for offering a free book (5 ideas from 2 entrants this time, 3 pieces of feedback the first time) and
(b) Anybody who does enter has a very good chance of winning

Undeterred by the almost complete and total spontaneous outburst of indifference to these competitions, I'll get another book this month and have another prize draw/competition in next months newsletter.

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Future Newsletters

Please give me your feedback about what you would like to see in future editions of this newsletter. I will develop the format based on feedback from readers. Click here to send me suggestions for improvements, additions or even things to avoid in future newsletters.

This is written in HTML format to make it more interactive than a simple text message. If this causes problems with your e-mail programme, please let me know by clicking here and including a brief description of the problem. This assumes that you can read this of course !

Well, thats it for the edition number 9. I look forwards to receiving comments to help me to develop based on your feedback. I didn't receive any comments following Julys newsletter save the competition entrants, does that mean it was perfect ? - I think not, come on and give me your views.

Happy USA travelling

UK



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About uk-2-usa

www.uk-2-usa.com is a privately owned website. It was written to share the authors passion for travel to the USA. It is none commercial in nature with all information and advice being freely given. Although commission is made on any holidays sold through the site.

There is an associated online travel group which is also free to join where a message board allows members to share experiences, ask questions and also quiz some of our American members about their country. You may subscribe by clicking the link below.

Click to subscribe to uk2usa
Or you can look without joining by clicking here.

You can e-mail with any questions here.




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