Coach Outlets Store Online

For those who are new to the concept of cycling holidays and are unsure as to which country to pick, then we recommend Austria as a starting point; the routes here are less daunting than Azerbaijan, with less uphill pedalling than the Alps, yet still offer some beautiful sights.

The best cycling paths and roads in Europe:

The bike paths in Austria are some of the best in the world; the most impressive are located along the Danube, between Vienna and Passau. This particular pathway tends to get quite busy during the weekends, especially during the summer months. However, it’s easy to understand why, given that it is traffic free, well organised (paved and signed), flat and surrounded by some stunning scenery.

According to the cycling tour specialist Headwater, when you cycle along this path you’ll never be too far away from the amenities you need, including bike repair shops, cafes, camping sites, hotels and hostels. Whilst this is certainly one of the busiest paths in the country, there are similar ones dotted around Austria that provide a safe and easy way to explore the countryside by bike.

Even if you somehow tire of the bike paths here, there’s no need to fear a cycle on the roads, as drivers in Austrian are renowned for their awareness of cyclists. Moreover, the road surfaces are exceptionally clean and well maintained and for those who don’t find the idea of busy roads appealing, there is an abundance of quiet country roads with pretty scenery, including those by the lakes of the south and the Tyrol Mountains. Around this area, there are also a number of spa towns, wherein you can find facilities in which to rest your aching limbs, by taking a long soak in a mud bath or simply relaxing in a sauna.

Weather and cuisine:
There are, of course, many other reasons why people opt to visit Austria for their cycling tours, aside from the fact that the cycling paths are excellent. The climate is ideal for this particular activity; neither too hot nor too cold at any time of the year, you needn’t worry about getting frostbite or sunstroke when you take a trip on an Austrian cycling route.

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a delicious snack or meal after a few hours spent cycling, as you really feel as if you have earned your treat; Austria, famed for its incredible cakes and aromatic coffee, is the perfect place in which to indulge. The beer here is excellent too and there’s certainly enough variety in terms of cuisine to keep anyone happy, regardless of their culinary preferences.

Practical considerations:

It’s worth noting that Austria can be quite an expensive place and so for those who are on a tight budget, camping is a great option, as there are plenty of sites that have all the facilities you could possibly need and are safe and clean. However, if you feel like splurging, Austria does have some very beautiful hotels too. There are also plenty of budget supermarkets in which to stock up on food for those lunch time picnics.
AUTHOR BIO:

Josephine Landry writes regularly for several of the most prestigious travel websites and blogs. She loves to go on walking and cycling tours using travel companies such as Headwater and writes about her adventures upon her return.

The Air Lanka livery also relies heavily on European expatriate technicians and pilots in its workforce of 2,650. Ninety per cent of its employees are Sri Lankans. The airline’s fleet is flown by seven Sri Lankan captains and 20 expatriates while 23 nationals are first officers.

Captain Wikramanayake is one of the most experienced pilots in Asian aviation. After 15 years as a pilot for Air Ceylon he left in the 1960s ­tired of the day-to-day problems of the airline. Taking a position as a pilot for an executive BAC 1-11 he soon went on to Air Siam in 1972 where he flew Boeing 707s and 747s as well as the Airbus A300. In 1977 he joined Singapore Airlines where he was a Jumbo captain for two years until he left to take the reins at the new Air Lanka.

Despite his personal success as a pilot Captain Wikrama­nayake is in no hurry to nationalise his staff too quickly. “No one gets hired or promoted by Air Lanka unless they can do the job.

“There is no room for deadwood.”

The Great Circle-Cathay style

Cathay Pacific can take you to the largest number of destinations in the Far East, and has an expand­ing network in the Middle East, Europe and North America. Their association with the  Middle East goes back to 1976 and its commit­ment to the region has resulted. in a steady growth and increasing presence in the area.

 In Bahrain, Cathay Pacific now offers eight flights a week to London and Hong Kong, and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi offers convenient departures to Bombay, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Further, Cathay Pacific has recently introduced three non-stop 747 services a week, from Dhahran to Hong Kong and back.  Cathay has introduced a variety of products to meet passengers’ needs. For the holiday traveller, Cathay offers package holiday tours (Discovery Tours) providing a marvellous oppor­tunity to explore the Far East.

Discovery Tour prices cover round trip economy class tickets, 20 Kg bag­gage allownace, hotel accommodation, round trip transfers between airport and hotels, sightseeing tours, and a full daily breakfast. Further, the Great Circle Fare, which was introduced by Cathay, permits stops in Hong Kong and London before returning to the Gulf.

For those wishing to go round the world, Cathay Pacific have now com­bined the networks of Pan Am, North­west Orient, Canadian Pacific, Lufth­ansa and Air New Zealand to give you the biggest choice of destinations on the Round the World Tour.

Besides expanding its international network and providing various pro­ducts for the consumer, Cathay is regularly updating its product.

The popular Marco Polo business class was introduced on its entire L1011 Super-TriStar fleet in October, 1983.

To further aid the business traveller, Cathay have recently introduced the executive travel service, offering hotel booking, flight reservations and car hire with just one phone call.

Besides the above passenger ser­vices, Cathay is also involved in the cargo business and its 747 freighter aircraft serves Abu Dhabi twice a week, going to Frankfurt and Hong Kong.