Vegas baby: 5* Luxury Suite holiday at The Venetian from £625pp - 5nt stay + direct flights

Live like a high roller, on a pirates budget at one of the Top 15 hotels in Las Vegas; we've found a holiday at the ultra-luxury 5* The Venetian available from as little as £625 per person, based on 2 sharing, for 5 nights in a Luxury Suite and direct flights from London Cheapest dates… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Oh oh Ohio: Flights to Cleveland from £271 return

Pirates, fancy heading to Cleveland in Ohio in the United States, we have come across these great flights for under £300 return. There are a range of dates to choose from spanning September and October, you could even use the flights to see a bit more of the country. Use our flights finder for more… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

7nts in Cyprus this autumn from £229pp - incl. 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, get yourselves a late season treat with 7 nights of island living in gorgeous Cyprus! Our Holiday Finder is offering fine prices on stays at Club Coral View Resort, a 4* property that enjoys great views over the Med. Flights are included from a variety of UK airports. The cheapest options depart in late-September,… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Kos family half board holiday 7nts from £381pp - incl. hotel & flights

Ahoy mateys! The top-rated Michelangelo Resort & Spa in Kos boasts a gorgeous infinity pool scene with a selection of pools to choose from overlooking the stunning blue Aegan Sea. There are in total 2 restaurants, 3 bars and a library lounge here and you've got half board included in your stay. What's more, even… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

What Have Demos Ever Won Part Two : DDD The Straw That Broke The Camels Back ?

After seeing the Flash Demo outside the Spanish embassy in Belgravia, Spanish taxi authorities end Uber strike after licence limits agreed. 

Spanish taxi drivers ended a six-day strike late on Wednesday after the government agreed to set tough limits on licences for online ride-hailing companies including Uber, the latest setback for a company that has faced protests in many countries.

Thousands of taxi drivers across the country had blocked major city streets with their cabs in protest against competition they say works under less restrictive regulations that make it impossible for them to compete.

The government agreed to pass new regulations in September guaranteeing a cap on licences for Uber and similar services at a ratio of just one permit for every 30 taxi permits.

A representative of the ride-hailing services said some taxi drivers had attacked its members during the strike. Spain's taxi association said it condemned all violence.

Ride-hailing services, which offer rides that undercut taxi prices online rather than being hailed in the street, have become increasingly popular worldwide in recent years.

Backed by investors including Goldman Sachs and BlackRock and valued at more than $70 billion (£53.4 billion), Uber views Western Europe as an increasingly important market.

It has pulled out of China, Russia and Southeast Asia, and its future in India, where it is battling local rival Ola, is in question.

London cab drivers are considering bringing a class action suit against Uber after the mobile app was granted a temporary licence renewal to operate in the British capital.

The explosive growth of for-hire vehicles in New York and a rise in suicides by yellow taxi drivers struggling to compete has prompted the municipality to consider capping the services, the first such restriction in the country.

If the new regulation in Spain is not fully enforced by September, taxis would strike again, National Taxi Association president Julio Sanz said in a statement.

The legislation would prompt the layoff of thousands of drivers from Uber and ride-hailing rival Cabify as they currently have 9,000 permits compared with 70,000 for taxis, far from the 30:1 ratio agreed with unions.

The ride-hailing services reported a significant number of attacks against their members by taxi drivers during the strike.

There were "very serious incidents including cars being stoned, cars overturned, gun shots and a great number of drivers treated for stress and bruises," their representative Eduardo Martin said.

The taxi association said its representatives condemned all aggression and violence, and urged members to keep all protests peaceful.

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT :🤣

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Four in five people doubt speed camera effectiveness

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Eighty-three per cent of people doubt the effectiveness of speed cameras because they think drivers only slow down when they pass a device before putting their foot down again.

There also remains a wide held belief that the cameras are there to raise money with 57% of British adults seeing them as revenue generators.And 50% of people believe they do not effectively discourage motorists from offending.Men and older members of the public are those who are most likely to hold negative views towards automated enforcement in general.More than half of people (53%) say there is now a speed camera within ten minutes’ drive of their homes, with Londoners most likely to say there is one close by.The findings come from a survey carried out for the RAC Foundation by Ipsos MORI. The participants were 2,203 members of the Ipsos MORI online panel aged between 16 and 75.Despite concerns about the effectiveness of speed cameras the survey also reveals that there is support for automated road traffic enforcement if it is used for the right reasons.Seventy per cent of people back automated enforcement – be it through the use of fixed speed cameras, average speed cameras, mobile speed cameras, bus lane cameras, red light cameras or box junction cameras – if it leads to a decline in death and injury on the roads.Almost as many people (66%) support the use of technology, such as speed cameras, if it frees up more time for police to deal with other offences.The key to increasing public confidence in automated enforcement could be through greater transparency.More than half (56%) of people believe there would be greater confidence in automated enforcement if there was data published about it, while 54% thought an annual review should be published to increase acceptability.Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:“This survey reveals that we are broadly tolerant of living in a surveillance society with two thirds of those questioned agreeing that camera-based monitoring is more of a force for good in society than for bad.“But when it comes to monitoring of behaviour on the roads we continue to have a complex relationship with cameras.“There remains a suspicion amongst many that the rationale for some cameras is to raise revenue rather than cut congestion or make our roads safer.“We believe the best way to tackle the scepticism about camera deployment is to ensure the data relating to their use is captured comprehensively and published openly so that the relevant authorities, and motorists themselves, can be informed by having the facts speak for themselves.”Previous research by the RAC Foundation found that in 2016, 2.2 million speeding offences were detected in England and Wales.In 2017, 1.2 million drivers attended a speed awareness course.

August 03, 2018 at 11:30AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Early bird 2019: 4* Costa Dorada half board holiday 7nts from £365pp - incl. flights & hotel

Arrr early-birds! Next up we are sending you to sunny Costa Dorada. You'll be staying at the 4* Palas Pineda Hotel in a lovely beachfront setting just a short walk to the water and with several pools and a spa at your disposal. This deal is for 2019 with a lot of availability spanning April… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Berlin break from £146pp - incl. flights & 2nts lush hotel w/spa

We all know Berlin is a fine city to eat, drink and be merry, but sometimes pirates need a bit of pampering. The gorgeously 5* Titanic Gendarmenmarkt is an urban refuge (complete with lush spa), situated right in the centre of Berlin. Book with Expedia and flights are included. The cheapest options depart in October,… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Deluxe 5* Dubai escape in brand new hotel on The Palm: 5nts w/ flights & more from £549pp

Pirates, it's time to talk all things Dubai. Surround yourself in 5* luxury this summer at the brand new 5* Royal Central Hotel which is located on the iconic Palm Resort. You and your favourite shipmate will lavish your 5 night stay here enjoying incredible views over the water from the on site pool. During… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Traffic volume in Britain at all time high according to data

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Traffic volume in Britain is at an all-time high. According to the latest data released 327.1 billion miles were driven in 2017 showing an increase of 1.3% on the previous 12 months.Year-on-year:

car traffic was up 1.1%;van traffic up 2.7%,lorry traffic up 1.2%

More than a fifth (21%) of all vehicle miles were driven on motorways even though they account for only 1% of the total road length in the country.In England, the Strategic Road Network, operated by Highways England and comprising motorways and major A roads, saw 34% of all motorised traffic even though it accounts for only 2.4% of the English network.The Department for Transport says the long-term rise in road traffic since 1949 has “largely been due to an increasing number of licensed vehicles, although there have been fluctuations in average annual mileage.”The DfT adds that: “Over the long term, the relative cost of purchasing a motor vehicle has decreased, and this has contributed to increases in car ownership.“According to the National Travel Survey, only 14% of British households had access to a car in 1951, versus 77% in 2016. Scope for further growth in ownership remains as, in 2016, 44% of households in the lowest income quintile were without access to a car.”Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:“You could see the increase in traffic, especially the extra van and lorry mileage, as a sign of a resilient and growing economy, but it also underlines the need for sustained investment in our roads.“National and local highways have never been so busy and the result of so much use is easy to see in the form of potholes and ruts.“We need consistent, long-term funding to ensure routes are adequately maintained and can stand up to the pressure.”

August 03, 2018 at 08:14AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* all inclusive Halkidiki holiday from £365pp - 7nts beachfront hotel & flights

Pirates, 5* and all inclusive together can usually be quite expensive so we are super excited to share this holiday in Halkidiki we have found staying in a 5* hotel on, you guessed it, an all inclusive board basis. The weather in Halkidiki in October should be a toasty 19° - get booking to grab… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Live the 5* life in Costa Rica: 14nts all inclusive from £883pp incl. flights, hotel, bags & more

Central America is calling Pirates and at this price, you'd be a fool not to answer it! Set your sights on Costa Rica this autumn and indulge in the 5* surroundings of the Riu Guanacaste Hotel. It is here that you will be able to spend a full 2 weeks making the most of the… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxury 5* Majorca escape 4nts from £373pp - incl. flights, hotel & breakfast

Arrr pirates! Grab some Balearic sunshine this autumn with this good value for money luxury holiday we've spotted. You'll be staying in style at the 5* Blau Privilege Porto Petro Beach Resort & Spa situated just 2 minutes from the beach offering a whole host of great facilities, with breakfast included in your stay. Oh,… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

If you thought that airport journeys in London Taxis were the most expensive in Europe, think again

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There is a belief by some that the cost for passengers travelling from London's Heathrow Airport into the centre of the capital, in a licensed London taxi, is the highest in Europe.

What may come to the surprise of many is that nothing could be further from the truth.

After factoring in the distance from the airport to the city centre, as well as the metered fare, the results may surprise you.

The top ten most expensive journeys from an airport to a city centre are listed as follows:

1. Geneva Airport, Switzerland, to the city centre is 3.72 miles and costs £30. This equates to £8.07 per mile.

2. Zurich Airport, Switzerland, to the city centre is 7.46 miles and costs £53.45. This equates to £7.17 per mile.

3. Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, to the city centre is 4.97 miles and costs £35.62. This equates to £7.16 per mile.

4. Nice Airport, France, to the city centre is 4.35 miles and costs £28.50. This equates to £6.56 per mile.

5. Düsseldorf Airport, Germany, to the city centre is 5.6 miles and costs £24.94. This equates to £4.46 per mile.

6. Brussels Airport, Belgium, to the city centre is 9.32 miles and costs £40.08. This equates to £4.30 per mile.

7. Palma Airport, Majorca, to the city centre is 6.22 miles and costs £26.72. This equates to £4.30 per mile.

8. London Heathrow Airport (terminals 1,2 and 3), UK, to the city centre is 16.78 miles and costs £70. This equates to £4.17 per mile.

9. Hamburg Airport, Germany, to the city centre is 6.84 miles and costs £26.72. This equates to £3.92 per mile.

10. Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to the city centre is 10.56 miles and costs £40.08. This equates to £3.80 per mile.

The statistics used here are all approximations, there are many variables to consider such as time of travel, traffic conditions and of course distance.

The statistics are part of a wider report compiled by Airmundo.com into taxi costs from airports to cities around Europe, with the cheapest fares being dominated by Turkey and Russia.

August 02, 2018 at 08:25PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Perky Portugal: 4nts in 5* luxury from £201pp incl. flights & breakfast

Pirates, pack for Portugal with 4 nights at the glorious 5* Salgados Palace in the Algarve from £201pp including breakfast & flights. This classic holiday spot is sure to provide a trip to remember - soak up that 5* luxury. Holiday details Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter stays possible) Example date: 12th … jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Grand 5* Tuscany seaside break 3nts from £186pp - incl. flights, hotel, breakfast & extras

Ahoy mateys! Tuscany is up next and a stay at the impressive 5* Grand Hotel Palazzo MGallery by Sofitel in Livorno on the seaside (just 15 minutes by train from Pisa airport.) It is set in a historical 19th century building with that classic Italian old world elegance, offering panoramic sea-views, fine dining and a… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Gdansk mini break from £86pp - 2nts 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, we have put together this great little trip to Gdansk in Poland staying for 2 nights based on 2 sharing. We found some cheap flights and teamed them with a cool 4* hotel to make this nice little mini break. How to book: You are required to make payments on different booking sites by… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super funky spring break in Malaga: 4nts B&B from £361pp incl. flights & hotel w/ rooftop pool

Looking for a 2019 holiday with flair and pizazz? Well, look no further than the 4* Room Mate hotel in the heart of Malaga. This funky hotel boasts a top location, only a few minutes away from the beach and bars that make this area of Spain so infamous! If you don't fancy walking anywhere,… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Demo-listen. Spanish Taxi protests force through ride-hailing regulations

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Six days of relentless protests by Spains nationwide Taxi drivers has finally come to an end with government officials agreeing to push through capping regulations on VTC vehicles (private hire vehicles) that will see only 1 licence being granted per every 30 traditional Taxi licenses.

Ride-hailing firms Uber and Cabify use VTC licenses to operate and will now be forced to slow down their driver recruitment.

Spain's Development Minister said in a press release ;

"what we plan is to improve regulation, as the sector asks us, and with this gesture return to normality to maintain the dialogue with the necessary trust, which we must generate in order to arbitrate this initiative, in which we need the concurrence of the different administrations, essential to be able to elaborate our work well ".

The new regulations were originally proposed and set to be implemented but we're not seen through by the industry regulations, sparking the recent protests.

Demonstrations were initiated by Taxi drivers in Barcelona, and in an amazing show of solidarity, Taxi drivers from Madrid and other parts of Spain began to protest. Six days of persistence has seen traditional Taxi drivers finally get what they were originally promised ; a fair playing field. (Images: Twitter @eoghangilmartin)

August 02, 2018 at 06:31PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Moroccan marvels: 5nts 5* break in Marrakech from £195 incl. breakfast & flights

Pirates, set off for one of Morocco's hidden gems: the beautifully designed 5* Fellah Hotel in Marrakech with 5 nights from £195pp including breakfast & flights. The stunning hotel has a 20,000-book library, pool and hammam, and is a short drive from the bustle of Marrakech's medina. Holiday details Travel duration: 5 nights (longer or… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT