Malcolm Oakley left his 24-year career as an aircraft engineer at a well-known British airline to run www.halftermdates.co.uk.
The website highlights all the school-term dates in the UK, Ireland, France and Australia. By having all this important information in one place, budget-minded travellers can be sure they’re travelling at the cheapest time and families can ensure that they’re not missing valuable term time (or competing for the cheapest time to visit Disney World with other families).
Halftermdates.co.uk also provides free, useful advice on all things related to school holidays and half-term breaks.
Cheapflights: What do you always do when you travel – any routine procedures?
Malcolm Oakley: Whenever I travel, I always make sure that my travel essentials are packed in my hand luggage. On several occasions on business travel I have arrived at my destination minus my suitcase and I always make sure these days that I have packed some clean underwear and a spare t-shirt in my hand luggage!
The other routines would be making sure all my travel docs are where I can find them! It sounds simple, but it’s amazing how many people you see in the security queue frantically trying to find their passport or boarding card. I keep them all together and am probably a little OCD at times!
CF: What is your travel pet peeve?
MO: My travel pet peeve is probably similar to a lot of other people’s. I cannot understand why people suddenly leap up the moment an aircraft has come to a halt on the stand and then stand for the next ten minutes half-crouched under the lockers. I stay seated and let the mayhem die down. Believe me, the baggage handlers are not going to rush around unloading your bag first just because they saw you standing up in the aisle of the aircraft!
Let’s not even talk about those people who suddenly recline their seat when you are still eating your meal. Those people tend to get the seat shoved firmly forwards when it happens to me. Having worked as an engineer on aircraft for many years it does not take much to shove someone upright!
CF: What is your favourite kind of trip (preferences, romantic, city, beach etc)?
MO: I think as we get older our expectations of a trip changes. When I was younger it was hot beaches and sitting by the pool all day. That was Nirvana for me. Nowadays I’m more into exploring the great outdoors. I love scenery and, for me, a road trip through stunning landscapes is something I now seek from a trip.
I’ve realised that there is so much of the world, and even the UK, that I have yet to explore and that’s something I really do hope to change. I’m living close to the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland at the moment and venture up them a few times a month now, just for the views.
CF: Best destination you have ever been to and why?
MO: Without doubt, the best destination I have been to so far was Melbourne, Australia. As a motor-racing fan, the race track at Phillip Island, just south of Melbourne, was awesome too.
Melbourne is still such a young, vibrant city. The city centre is very clean and the Australians are very very friendly to Poms! Melbourne has so much to offer people; the waterfront is gorgeous with modern skyscrapers that fit in with the older decor.
It is a city that people take pride in. Even the cheap, youth hostel-type accommodation was clean and basic, but you always felt at ease even during the evenings. Melbourne is less frantic than perhaps Sydney or New York and should certainly be on your list of places to visit at least once in a lifetime.
CF: Where in the world offers the best value for money?
MO: That’s a tricky question as a lot of my travel was for company business and therefore I was lucky enough not to have to pay all the bills. At the moment, with currency the way it is, a lot can depend on whether you are paying with Sterling, Dollars or Euros.
I’m a great fan of the UK as a travel destination, but, like any world destination, London and other major UK cities can seem very, very expensive.
I never found Spain to be expensive and my trip to Melbourne (excluding flights) was not a bank breaker once I had arrived.
CF: Where would you pay to stay? Is there anywhere you think offers great value and a great deal?
MO: I would pay to stay in a hotel in Yellowstone National Park in the US. I have never been, but without a doubt that is somewhere I would pay a premium for a room with a view!
As for great value and great deals, you will find a lot of holiday accommodation in the USA at a reduced rate outside of the main holiday seasons. If you can plan a trip well in advance and avoid the obvious peak summer seasons you should bag some fantastic room deals.
CF: What is the best airport you have flown from and is there a tip to make this airport experience great?
MO: Heathrow Airport (with the new Terminal 5) is an example of how a modern airport should be, though recently the security screening queues have been very long. That proves, however, that security is being taken very seriously.
Heathrow is undergoing a real modernisation and should be a major player for years to come.
CF: When you fly, is there a tip you can share to make the experience a great one?
MO: Drink plenty of water. The air in the aircraft cabin is very dry; it’s a bit like having the aircon turned on in the car for hours on end. If you can avoid drinking alcohol you will feel better too after a long flight. Also loose-fitting clothes are another essential tip. I wear my comfortable trainers, comfortable jeans and make sure my warmer jacket is not in the baggage hold.
CF: If there was one travel nightmare trip, where would it be and what would it involve?
MO: Living in Ireland means I use the Irish Sea ferries quite a lot, for me a nightmare trip is a very rough crossing surrounded by crying babies and adults being ill. At least with a large ferry you can walk to quieter areas, but there is not a lot you can do about the waves breaking eight decks up!
I don’t float so well, so a rough sea is not on the list of fun travel trips!
(Image: Mooganic)
