Tag: travel

Airports…and their changing faces

Gordon Dalgleish

I recently journeyed back to the UK for a few days in the weeks before Xmas. Remarkably as I transferred in London Heathrow from T4 to T1, I was the only passenger on the transfer bus! For anyone familiar with the Heathrow experience you will realize this is an anomoly. It was eerily quiet in places…deserted hallways, lonesome staff and quiet security checks! Upon my return I found the following article from an Irish newspaper.
 

About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him on Google+

SHARE

Old Loans Inn – Re-opening

Mhairi

The newly re-opened Loans Inn offers a retreat in the picturesque village of Loans (located on the outskirts of Troon). After many years of renovating the original building, proprietors Malcolm and Karen Simpson made the decision to close in October 2008 to permit the massive £1.8 million redevelopment to take place.

An authentic 18thCentury Scottish Coaching Inn, the hotel is based in the centre of Ayrshire literally minutes away from Royal Troon Golf Club and a mere 45-minute drive to Turnberry; a fantastic location for the keen golfer and valuable alternative where staying at Turnberry is not an option.

null

The hotel has maintained the original stone walls and impressive coal-burning fires while styling the building with modern Scottish décor. The new design compliments the traditional country pub whilst showcasing the impressive new restaurant, outdoor terrace/beer garden and 20 uniquely-designed rooms. Each bedroom has been named after an Ayrshire-based golf course (including Prestwick, Turnberry and Dundonald) while the main master-suite was named after Stuart Cink; winner of the 2009 Open Championship at The Ailsa Course at Turnberry.

In addition to the features we’d all expect from a newly renovated 4-star hotel, it also offers a state-of-the-art media centre which allows you to plug in your digital camera and view the day’s golfing shots – or your photos of the Scottish landscape – on your TV. Also, while enjoying a power shower, your MP3 player can be connected into a socket in the bathroom allowing you to enjoy your own musical preferences while winding down after a day on the course.

A terrific accommodation whatever your budget!

SHARE

Luggage Strategy

Gordon Dalgleish
As airlines look for every revenue opportunity, it is time to rethink your strategy on various topics;
Checked luggage for domestic travel – A lower weight limit (50lbs per item) is becoming more common and rigidly enforced. Coupled with a fee to check luggage and the idea of paying an airline to possibly lose your luggage is less appealing than ever….I rarely check my luggage domestically but rely on UPS (or Luggage Forward for more complex trips) to handle my shipping needs. The cost is competitive and with what the airlines charge, you can track your luggage…and they rarely lose it. Check in online before departing for the airport and the only line you stand in is for security. Even as a premium flyer when airlines waive baggage fees, I think you will be quite satisfied with the small inconvenience of planning ahead, on your schedule….rather than standing in various lines…on the airlines schedule!
You will be surprised how quickly UPS can deliver packages via their ground service. I can ship golf clubs (approx 17lbs) from Wilmington, NC to Philadelphia in 2 days for $11.
When you ship your luggage include a return label for the homeward journey and enjoy the same convenience in reverse. It works wonders and will take some stress of your game.
International shipping with customs requirements and cost is far more complicated and expensive.

 

About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him on Google+

SHARE

So where is your favorite golf course?

Gordon Dalgleish

The title is an often asked question of me and the simple fact of the matter is that I am not a favorites type person. Every golf course has it’s pluses; some more than others.

So if you do not have a favorite, how do you measure quality of experience.

As hard as it is, the challenge is to isolate yourself from the people you are with as invariably they have an impact on your enjoyment. Pointers I look for in no particular order would include;

Welcome of golf staff – are they trained by the airlines or a premium grocery store

Smoothness of golf operation – do your clubs get onto your cart or to your caddy with no apparent effort? or do you have to look out for yourself

Is there sufficient signage to get you to where you need to be? range, #1 tee, etc?

Is the golf course playable (challenging without wearing you down)?

Are the greens good and generally the playing conditions closer to excellent than average?

Does the golf course move at a steady pace that is enjoyable, i.e. no slow groups which the golf staff do not address

If you could answer all of the above affirmatively you are well on your way to a favorite course. Next time you play be sure to be playing with friends if you did not on your initial round.
 

About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him on Google+

SHARE

Frequent Flyer Strategy

Gordon Dalgleish

For a number of years I made the serious error of thinking it was wise to accumulate frequent flyer miles…bad idea. Think of mileage as a depreciating asset….a car you bought yesterday….they only have one way to go. Use your miles as and when you accumulate then. I have found Randy Petersen’s newsletter very helpful and insightful (www.firstclassflyer.com) as he provide updated news and analysis of the best mileage accrual and usage opportunities.

Personally I believe the Starwood American Express card is the best affinity credit card as you can transfer points to virtually any airline program from Starwood while the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG.com) program remains the very best of it’s kind. The math is simple. Spend or otherwise accumulate 25,000 points with an airline and you MAY get a domestic economy seat (subject to restricted inventory). For the same 25,000 Starwood points you can either use your miles for an airline seat or enjoy a number of hotel nights.

 

About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him on

SHARE