How Much do I pay in Taxes on my Holiday Flight ?

It’s an interesting question and the answer is far from simple. Much as I loathe the US practice of adding tax on after the sticker price so everything costs more than you expect, at least it is transparent. That makes it difficult to put up taxes by stealth.

Sadly the British Government has other ideas !! Back in 2005, Gordon Brown introduced Air Passenger Duty (APD) as a green tax at £5 for European flights and £20 for Long Haul flights in Economy and double for premium cabin classes. He got away with it as the APD is lost in the overall cost of your flight ticket or holiday.

So two years later he quietly doubled it and so it has gone on – APD has increased by an astonishing 140% over the past four years – more if you travel in the premium cabin classes. It’s now a very unfair, tax theoretically based on distance but in practice full of anomalies. London to Honolulu (17 hours) is taxed at £130 in a premium cabin whereas London – Cancun (11 Hours) is a whopping £162.

Next month APD goes up again – your cheeky week in Gran Canaria on easyJet will net Mr Osborne £13 but Cape Town would be £81 and if Sydney Mardi Gras appeals, prepare to form out £92 and that’s in Economy. Fancy a treat and a bit more space on a long flight, and Sydney is now costing you £184 in APD Tax.

So there it is – APD: a tax on all our dreams

Rainbow Reykjavik

Last weekend saw Alan and I jetting north west for three hours to Iceland to join in with the Rainbow Reykjavik festival. Amro Bear insisted on coming along too but he found a bottle of the hard stuff so we didn't see too much of him !!

For many years now the Gay & Lesbian Community in Iceland have run a very succesful and popular Gay Pride Event attracting more than 100,000 visitors each year. The 2012 event is 8 -12 August and Amro still has some availability. Now, the same team had arranged Rainbow Reykjavic as a winter event and what a success it was. Gay boyz and girlz from all over the US, Canada and Europe joined together for three days of concerts, parties and sightseeing.

The Golden Circle is a fascinating day trip to the east of the capital that travels across lava fields and skirts several volcanoe craters before arriving at Gulfoss Waterfall. For me, this was one of the most spectacular waterfalls I have seen mainly because of its shear size. The fact that it was winter with the snow and ice giving the spray and falls a magical feel also helped.

Nearby is the community of Geysirs. It's a good spot to stop for lunch before walking amongst the spouting bursts of steam and bubbling ponds that are so fascinating to watch. Finally it was on to the Continental Divide where the tectonic plates are gently pulling the continents of Europe and America further apart.



Then there is the Blue Lagoon - a real treat. Billed as a thermal spa, this is a giant natural lake around three feet deep filled with naturally heated mineral water that bubbles up from the ground and gives temperatures around 30degs C. It's quite strange getting undressed and then running from the changing room to the pool wearing only swim trunks in temperatures below freezing to then plunge into the warm water. We went as dusk fell and the drizzle of rain being blown onto our faces was soon warmed by the swim-up bar.

The Blue Lagoon is the most famous spa, and being conveniently located between the airport and the Reykjavik for either on arrival or on departure visits, it is very popular and a must do. However, Iceland has many thermal pools with six in Reykjavik alone - one being particularly popular with the gay community. Many of the countryside communities also have thermal baths and it is even possible to discover them, literally, in the middle of nowhere !!

It is also worth spending some time wandering around the narrow streets of Reykjavik - Europe's most northerly capital or along the seashore to the small port. There is a wide range of bars, restaurants and boutique shops many selling local clothes such as sweaters and outdoor wear at much lower prices than at home. The Hallgrímskirkja Church is Iceland's tallest building and a trip in the elevator to the top of the tower to enjoy the magnificent views over the city should not be missed. Also don't miss the many small museums that tell the story of Iceland's past including the National Museum and Saga Museum.

Iceland in winter makes a great weekend destination. The people welcome visitors as long lost friends and the vibrant gay scene in Reykjavik is easy to discover and join. Once horrendously expensive, the recent economic problems have made Iceland a lot more affordable compared to a few years ago with overall costs no more than in, say, London. Direct flights are now available from Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton or Manchester and Glasgow also helping to keep down the costs.

Gay Group Cruises

Last October Alan and I went on Gay Group Cruise – a group of gay men on an otherwise straight cruise. We chose this as we had been on several cruises but had found them very heterosexual. The prospect of sitting down to dinner night after night with the same straight couples was, at the very least not what we wanted for a holiday, and was also somewhat tedious.

Equally, we found the prospect of spending a week on one of the 5000+ American ships that are especially chartered for gay travellers somewhat intimidating and the very US centric entertainment was equally not to our liking.

So when a flyer arrived in the Amro Office from one of our suppliers offering a really good price on a Gay Group Cruise from Rome to the Holy Land & Eastern Mediterranean, we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed.

Firstly the ship was the Celebrity Silhouette launched only a few weeks beforehand and only on her fifth cruise. We had a veranda cabin with concierge service which meant little niceties such as bathrobes and slippers, 5pm canapés and a bottle of fizz to welcome us plus daily fresh fruit and flowers. Definitely extras worth the small additional payment. The veranda meant we could lie in bed with the door open hearing the waves beneath us as well as having a private place to sunbathe. Just make sure you choose the side of the ship that will face south for most of your cruise to ensure you get the most sun.

And so it was with some trepidation we approached the first evening’s Welcome Party to meet our fellow gay group travellers - a mix of around 30 guys aged from mid 30’s to late 70’s from all over the US and Europe, many of whom were experienced group travellers. A glass or two of fizz soon loosened tongues and by the time we went down to dinner we felt we were long-lost friends. With so many places to eat on the Silhouette, we didn’t join the group for dinner every evening or indeed what became the ritual gathering in the Martini Bar an hour or so beforehand but it was nice to know that it was there.

Besides three or four informal parties during the cruise, the group also enjoyed some specially arranged shore excursions. In Tel Aviv, we visited a gay artist’s studio, had lunch in the Gay Community Centre and then crashed out on the gay beach and the sight of four gay men trying to synchroswim in the Dead Sea the next day will remain with me for a long time to come.

So a Gay Group Cruise – nothing too organised, nothing too pressured. Just new gay friends to meet and chat with when you want and your own time when you don’t. An increasingly popular option and all for no more than the regular cruise price. Why not check out all our cruises on the Amro Website.