Category: International

British Airways, the UK based airline, will be offering double the number of flights between Dublin and London Heathrow airport in its 2012-2013 winter schedule.

The route was earlier operated by British Midland International (bmi) airline, and was recently acquired by UK-based airline holding company and parent company of British Airline, International Airlines Group (IAG).

British Airline has announced its winter 2012 schedule and a new timetable, offering increased daily services to Dublin – from four to eight return flights. The new schedule will be effective from October 28, 2012. The route will be operated using 150-seater A319 aircraft.

Simon Daly, the airline sales manager in Ireland, said, ‘I am delighted to see the British Airways colours back in Dublin after an absence of 20 years. We appreciate the importance of air links to London and are pleased to announce that less than two months after taking over this route, we are now able to respond to customer demand and increase capacity.

Our improved schedule also sees us adding a new early morning departure time from Dublin which will mean that passengers will be able to extend their working day should they need to.

In addition, it offers both business and leisure passengers greater choice in terms of connections to our extensive global network at London Heathrow bringing destinations on the world map closer to Ireland, benefiting Irish businesses, tourism and Ireland as a whole.’

The airline is offering all-inclusive fares, with a 23kg baggage allowance, complimentary online check-in, and choice of seats.

The Hague is also a relatively small city. Residents can reach most of their destinations in 20 minutes and cycling from one end of the city to the other takes around 45 minutes. It is certainly an easy, healthy and environmentally-friendly option for getting about in The Hague with its more than 250 kilometres of bicycle paths.Those who have lived here for some time will find that it is often faster to travel about by bicycle than by car. In fact, the bicycle messenger company, Fiets Koerier Den Haag, is regularly hired to transport medical samples, such as body parts, between the local hospitals. For the newcomer, cycling in the city can be daunting; one is not sure where to go and what the correct cycling behaviour is. Once you have tried cycling in this city, you will realise it really is quite straightforward. Some information so that you may “get on your bike” and go.

The Municipality of The Hague is working to get as many of its suppliers as possible to switch to electric cars. The Switzerland-based Schindler Group, a global provider of elevators, escalators and related services, is one of the first companies in The Hague to switch to a more sustainable fleet of vehicles. The new cars will be used starting at the end of September 2012 for servicing and maintaining lifts and escalators in municipal buildings. The Municipality of The Hague is working hard to become a CO2-neutral city by 2040. Sustainable vehicles, energy-efficient buildings and the use of renewable energy should contribute to reducing CO2 emissions

The Hague will get a new cultural centre for music, dance, events and gatherings called the Spuiforum. The new building will be constructed on the Spuiplein where the Dr Anton Philipszaal and Lucent Danstheater now stand. Both buildings are in urgent need of a makeover. The Nederlands Dans Theater, Residentie Orkest and Royal Conservatoire will all make their home in the new Spuiforum . Professionals, upcoming talent and amateurs will work side by side and together under one roof. The Hague Municipal Council will take a definite vote on the plans in November 2012. Thereafter the architectural design will be finalised. Residents of The Hague are invited to voice their opinion on the building’s design. The plans for the Spuiforum are significant in that The Hague Municipal Executive has decided to make a large-scale investment in the city. The construction and realisation of the building is budgeted at € 181 million, which is € 80 million less than in the original plan. The municipality will finance 75% of the total construction costs.

Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre is uniquely located in the city centre, next to the water and at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge. The 263 air-conditioned rooms are comfortably furnished, including all the mod cons you might expect. The rooms in the Panorama Towers contain contemporary furniture designed by Montis and contemporary lighting designed by Artemide and Foscarini. The hotel has 25 Hästens Junior Suites with private saunas or Sunshowers, which incorporate facilities that enable you to tan while having a shower. The hotel also has wireless internet and a Health Centre with swimming pool and sauna. There is ample parking opposite the hotel in the Erasmus car park. The metro station and tram stop are right outside the door and there is a jetty for party boats. Spido harbour tours and the Maritime Museum are located nearby.

The dark winter months in Rotterdam will be illuminated with a new and special event. For China Light Rotterdam the Park at the Euromast will be transformed into a magical paradise from 7 December 2012 to 17 February 2013. For this unique light spectacle 40 Chinese artists will build over 35 luminous and moving figures; fairytale characters, flowers and other impressive buildings.

Every day between 4pm and 10.30pm visitors can marvel at a 100 meter long dragon and a replica of the Temple of Heaven. Feel the magical culture of China. Walking between the enchanting objects with special light and sound effects, visitors will imagine themselves in this particular country. Shows with Chinese music, demonstrations and workshops turn a visit into a full evening program. China Light Rotterdam will be the largest Chinese light event that ever took place in Europe.

You can travel to Schiphol Amsterdam Airport from Rotterdam Central Station in just 45 minutes by regular intercity train service. And the journey time is reduced to just 26 minutes if you take the Fyra from NS Hispeed train service. The Thalys train services also provide extremely easy and convenient connections to Rotterdam from European cities including Antwerp (30 minutes), Brussels (71 minutes) and Paris (156 minutes), up to ten times a day. Travellers from the UK can take the Eurostar to Brussels and transfer to the Thalys there. Intercity trains from throughout the Netherlands naturally also stop at Rotterdam Central Station.

Beurs WTC offers an impressive setting for conferences and events. Many diverse shops, the Beurs-WTC Business Center, the Beurs-WTC Congress Center, WTC Club Rotterdam and the WTC Art Gallery are all located in and around this striking building, which is worth a visit in itself. Beurs WTC can accommodate all types of events. The thirty rooms in the Congress Center vary in size, ambience and layout, offering capacity for between 10 and 1,000 people. Beurs WTC also offers comprehensive packages that include accommodation, technical facilities and host services, and provides assistance throughout the entire process, from start to finish. Beurs WTC Congress Center is located in the business heart of Rotterdam and can be accessed easily both by public transport and car.

Explore Rotterdam on the go with the Rotterdam app on your mobile phone. This mobile city guide highlights the very best that the city has to offer, from attractions and museums to hotels, restaurants and shops. It includes an offline city map and a dynamic events calendar to discover what you can see & do. NEW: Discover Rotterdam with the surprising walking tours guiding you to unique locations in the city. These step-by-step tours include pictures, audio and video. There are four themed tours: Highlights, Architecture, Art & Culture and Shopping.

To download the free Rotterdam app go to m.rotterdam.info/download or text ‘Rotterdam’ to 5040. All tours start at city promotion centre ROTTERDAM.INFO in the city centre. Here you can also pick up city maps and various brochures.

The hotel on board the ss Rotterdam is the city’s most authentic hotel. The ss Rotterdam was the most prestigious flagship of the Holland-America Line; she sailed out on many world tours and cruises between 1959 and 2000.

Her permanent berth at the third Katendrechtse Hoofd is a prominent attraction from the water and the Erasmus Bridge, and the rooms on this 4 star hotel tell the story of the ship’s original 1950s style, many elements of which have been maintained in the current design. The rooms have been designed using three unusual themes – Original, Manhattan and Bahamas – and the facilities are completely modernised. The ship can be used as a unique location for short business breaks or a base for discovering the city. Sleeping on board the ss Rotterdam entails exploring the horizon and broadening your outlook. There are 600 parking spaces on the quay.