Meet the students
A strange and diverse tribe, students date back to ancient times. They’re out there in their millions but tricky to track down. Find out who they are, where they hang out and the opportunities they offer:
Rockus Maximus
Who are they?
This genus is extremely fond of Pete Doherty, The Killers and regularly reads the NME.
What are they like?
A bit scruffy, they went to university because they’re not quite sure what they want to do in life (apart from headlining Glastonbury, obviously). Also identified as a ‘procrastinator’ (Mintel, 2004).
Where can they be found?
When they’re not downloading the latest Green Day track onto their iPod, they can be found lurking in dingy pubs, scouting Indie record shops to pick up rare promos or renting a DVD. Often nocturnal creatures, fond of smoking – how shall we say? natural remedies, they are among the half of all students who go to rock concerts.
Most likely to:
Wear a Nirvana T-shirt (’It’s history man, my dad loves them!’)
Least likely to:
Listen to The Cheeky Girls.
Marketing opportunities
Rockus Maximus want to know about gigs, CD deals, beer promos, music festivals and where to find cheap Rizlas.
Urbanicus Fashionista
Who are they?
Most likely to be female, this small bird-like creature is set to be a high-achiever. Taking care of mind and body, they are among the 26% of students who take part in some form of sport or exercise at least once a week (Mintel 2004).
What are they like?
Nicely-groomed, with clear, shiny skin, finished with a touch of lip-gloss in the day, but togged-up in their favorite number from the designer sales when they hit the town once a week. They like quality but are thrifty because they fear student debt. They try and budget, shopping around for interest-free credit cards to help manage their finances.
Could be one of Mintel’s ‘planners’ (2004), believing a degree will enhance their career prospects.
Where can they be found?
The gym, cocktail bars, the bookshop, the library, designer stores (just to get ideas) and high street fashion stores.
Most likely to:
Wish they could afford Stella McCartney for Adidas’ designer exercise gear.
Least likely to:
Drink alcopops
Marketing opportunities
Keep Urbanicus Fashionista fully-informed about bargain flights to Thailand, innovative bank accounts, Pilates classes, organic cafes and deals on facials.
Culture Vulturecalus
Who are they?
They are the approximate 30% of students (compared to 17% of non-students) who regularly visit art galleries and exhibitions. (Mintel, 2004)
What are they like?
They are lively and engaging, probably quite noisy, and love discussion and debate about the latest cultural happening. The female of the species may well be among the 15% who attend contemporary dance performances.
Where can they be found?
The cinema, the art gallery, the museum, the theatre or swanning around the cooler summer festivals, such as the Big Chill or Lost Vagueness. Nighttime sees them at a select club night hosted by a small up-and-coming breaks or hip hop label.
Most likely to:
Try to blag their way into the local art gallery’s latest private viewing or urban music event.
Least likely to:
Do the ‘big fish, little fish’ dance on the podium at Ritzy’s nightclub.
Marketing opportunities
Attract this group with two-for-one theatre tickets, art gallery memberships, museum cafe discounts and student cinema offers.
Academius Geriatricus
Who are they?
This breed is the 10% of students that are 21 and are more likely to be male. They could be a Workplace Refugee (Mintel, 2004), who has decided to come to university after working, wanting a degree in order to progress.
What are they like?
On average, they have about £350 more cash over the academic year than younger students. There is a strong chance they have lived in London (DfES, 2002/03).
Where can they be found?
Generally studying at one of the newer universities or working part-time in paid employment. They make the most of their course by researching in the lab, archive centre or library.
Most likely to:
Have their old work suit from Next hanging in the wardrobe and regularly brush their hair and clean their teeth.
Least likely to:
Hang out with the school-leavers in the student union.
Marketing opportunities
Those who market postgraduate courses, bookshop discount days and properties to rent could be targeting this group with their services.
I-am-mad-i-am-icus
Who are they?
They want to get a degree with minimum fuss, while thoroughly enjoying themselves and making the most of the university social scene.
What are they like?
Jolly, nobody’s as nuts or up-for-it as they are, you should have seen them at the clubs in Ibiza or Ayia Napa this summer.
Where can they be found?
Attending every Freshers’ Week event, at the hilarious ’school disco’ in the student union or making the most of cheap shot deals at the local pub chains in town.
Most likely to:
Apply to Big Brother (male) or FHM Magazine’s High Street Honeys (female).
Least likely to:
Be a wallflower.
Marketing opportunities
Freshers’ week events, cheap club entry, novelty condoms and drinks promotions will all attract their attention.
Geekus Spectacalus
Who are they?
Commonly translated from the Latin as ‘geek’ this academia lover probably excels at maths or science. They were always expected to go to university as the next logical step and so fit into Mintel’s category ‘Production Liners’ (2004).
What are they like?
Very shy around potential mating partners, not too hot on the old fashion sense, but always happy to explain the latest techno-wizardry to a fellow student.
Where can they be found?
More likely to be a student at the ‘older universities’, go to the cinema, sci-fi conventions or the student dating agency.
Most likely to:
Remember how to do long division.
Least likely to:
Enjoy extreme sports.
Marketing opportunities
Geekus spectaculus loves a gadget, computer fair, book sale or extra-curricular lecture event.
November 29, 2009
Meet The Students
November 28, 2009
AA Island Map Ibiza & Formentera: 1:50000 (AA Island Maps) [Folded Map] (Map)
A detailed, large-scale map showing extensive tourist and leisure information, places of interest, footpaths and hiking trails together with inset plans for the main towns on the island. Useful road information and classifications with distances, cycle routes together with beaches and water sports are featured along with national parks and nature reserves. The map is available in three or more language keys.
Spain Leads 2008 Tourist Race
Before the days of the internet, as soon as Christmas Day was over the advertising campaigns for summer holidays would appear on British television.
Millions would book their holidays in January, and many would pay weekly or monthly to their local travel agent so by the time it came to take their summer holiday, it had been paid off and it was just spending money to take care of.
Old habits die hard it seems, as despite late deals and instant access on the internet to hundreds of thousands of holidays, nearly half of the British population still book their holiday in the first two months of the year.
‘It’s a habit the country got into over a couple of decades’, one UK based group of travel sites try to explain, ‘And it continues today despite the fact that the cost of an average holiday compared to salaries is way down on when the internet wasn’t around for the mass market to access.’
How long the January and February frenzy continues is anyone’s guess, but as even more of the population gets online and time online increases, the holiday bookings Brits make should become more spread out over the year, and with late deals often available the booking peak might shift from early in the year to the early May and June summer months.
Interesting statistics have been released by one of the UK’s leading holiday companies for the bookings they took in the first weeks of 2008, and it suggests the British love affair with Spain shows no sign of slowing down.
Top searched destination was the Spanish island of Majorca. Majorca is one of the longest established tourist destinations in the world, and has had a tourist board for over a hundred years. Their tourist board has helped ensured the island has remained a British favourite for generations.
Today Majorca receives more than six million visitors annually, yet ninety five percent of her tourists concentrate in only five percent of its territory. Less developed areas of this elegant island are ripe for new development and prime property commands a great premium. Majorca is now also successfully selling holidays away from the coast in traditional areas not known for tourism.
Ibiza, well known in Europe for younger tourists and night clubs which feature visiting and resident British DJ’s, is a neighbouring island of Majorca and also makes the top five most booked holiday destinations in the early weeks of 2008.
The Spanish Canary Islands also feature among the most booked holiday destinations, with Tenerife and Gran Canaria being the second and third most popular areas.
Another Canary Island, Lanzarote, was the fourth most searched holiday destination, but Lanzarote is a popular winter getaway and as well as summer bookings would have benifitted from Britons looking for a winter holiday.
Lanzarote maintains relatively constant temperatures and sees low annual rainfall. Few days are lost to weather-related problems due to this environment, which offers the premium atmosphere for technical improvements and beneficial training. In addition to these benefits, the winds are good and steady in the Canary Islands due to the north-east trade winds, which also bring cooler air in the summers to Lanzarote.
If bookings continue in similar patterns throughout the year, Spain and her islands will be again the destination of choice for the British.
Visit Majorca For A Holiday
Anyone thinking of visiting Majorca or Mallorca as it is also known would not be disappointed. This beautiful island is one of three, Ibiza and Menorca being the other two, combined called the Balearic Islands. Palma is the capital of Majorca and is the capital of the Balearic Islands.
The people here are extremely friendly and love children. Many celebrities choose to own a property here, not surprising with it being drenched in Mediterranean sunshine. The hottest months being July and August, temperatures averaging thirty-three degrees centigrade. Ideal holidays for families and couples just wanting to relax. There are lots of hotels now doing short break stays i.e. three four and five night stays, ideal to recharge your batteries! Majorca truly does hold something for everyone. Horse riding, golf, water sports, pirates adventure and much more.
Majorca is famous for its leather industries and is great to shop for shoes, handbags wallets and belts. Lots of bargains to be had, especially at the famous markets where you can do a lot of bartering with the stallholders. Great Fun!
Marineland is a not to be missed experience, the dolphin show here is really amazing. For a more human splash about visit Aqualand, awesome!
Predominately a catholic country you will find lots of historic churches, a must to visit are the Palma Cathedral and Bellver Castle. From Palma you can take a train ride to Soller, take in the beautiful scenery. The Caves of Drac are also a not to be missed experience, situated close to Cala dor.
Most of the holiday resorts do speak English however, if you decide to explore this fantastic isle, it would be advantageous to speak a little Spanish as the rural areas and villages are pure Spanish.
The nightlife on the island can be anything from a flamingo floorshow, live band concerts to the lively discos, some with open-air dance floors.
There is only one airport, Palma airport, so listed below are the approximate travel times to some of the popular resorts although there are plenty more to visit.. Hope this can be of some help.
Northern Majorca
Alcudia eighty minutes
Can Picafort ninety minutes
Playa de Muro eighty-five minutes
Puerto Pollensa ninety minutes
Southern Majorca
Palma Nova forty minutes
Magaluf forty minutes
Santa Ponsa forty-five minutes
San Agustin thirty-five minutes
Eastern Majorca
Cala dor ninety minutes
Portl Cristo ninety-five minutes
Calas de Mallorca ninety minutes
Cala Domingos ninety minutes
November 27, 2009
Seeing Stars this Summer – Celebrity Holiday Hotspots
If you’re going on holiday this summer, remember to pack your best knickers. Celebrities are everywhere these days and you never know when you might find yourself building a sand castle with P Diddy or sharing an ice lolly with Elton. If you’re not sure where to start your search for a star, here’s a short guide to some top celebrity holiday hangouts.
The French Riviera is a perennial favourite of the rich and famous. A-listers and wannabes flock to Cannes during the annual film festival to sip champagne aboard luxury yachts. St Tropez draws the celebrity elite throughout the season with Pamela Anderson, Elton John, P Diddy, Liz Hurley and Donatella Versace regularly resting and playing. If you’re into day-glo tans and white jeans, this is your home from home.
On a slightly less vulgar theme, the Balearic Islands attract celeb royalty. Hollywood heros, supermodels, fashionistas and rock gods head to hideaways in Ibiza and Majorca year after year. Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Jade Jagger, Fat Boy Slim, Sting, Elle McPherson, Matthew Williamson, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Liam Gallagher, John Paul Gaultier, Paris Hilton and P Diddy are all regulars. Head to these hot Spanish islands if you like things cool and stylish.
There’s at least one big reason to go to Lake Como…gorgeous George. Mr Clooney owns a villa on the lake where the big Hollywood names holiday and it is possible that you’ll catch George in his speedos. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes also married in this region. So if you appreciate good food, fine wine and spectacular scenery as well as star spotting then book your seat to bella Italia.
The Caribbean is a magnet to millionaires, with Mick Jagger, the Beckhams, Tiger Woods, Britney and Sting regularly recuperating in the luxury resorts of Antigua and Barbados. British entrepreneur Richard Branson owns his very own island, Necker, in the British Virgin Islands, which can be rented out for just $46,000 a night. Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson have all stayed here so if you’re feeling flush and looking for some posh privacy it could be for you.
Mecca to premiership footballers and their WAGs is the United Arab Emirate of Dubai in the Middle East. Over the last five years, politicians, CEOs, sports stars and Hollywood hotties have visited the glitzy hotels and snapped up property here. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Rod Stewart, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods and Richard Branson have been seen enjoying the shopping, sunshine and beaches. Strictly for fans of blinging man-made glamour.
Miami, Florida is again attracting A-list party people with its Latin beats, Art Deco architecture, super-cool shopping and sizzling beaches. Shakira, Jessica Alba, Matt Damon, Enrique Iglesias, Bono, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Lopez have all been known to enjoy the South Beach scene, with some owning homes here. Forget the Golden Girls and pack your party feet.
If globetrotting isn’t for you, you might like to book a week in sunny Southwold, England. You could be lucky enough to bump into Gordon Brown eating his fish and chips. The Prime Minister is taking his family to the Suffolk seaside town this summer.
Strikes In Spain Hit Holiday Resorts
With a strike in Spain over rising fuel costs hitting hotels and supermarkets in popular holiday resorts in June, the Spanish holiday industry could be releived that the British often book their holidays months in advance.
Before the days of the internet, as soon as Christmas Day was over the advertising campaigns for summer holidays would appear on British television.
Millions would book their holidays in January, and many would pay weekly or monthly to their local travel agent so by the time it came to take their summer holiday, it had been paid off and it was just spending money to take care of.
Old habits die hard it seems, as despite late deals and instant access on the internet to hundreds of thousands of holidays, nearly half of the British population still book their holiday in the first two months of the year.
‘It’s a habit the country got into over a couple of decades’, one UK based group of travel sites try to explain, ‘And it continues today despite the fact that the cost of an average holiday compared to salaries is way down on when the internet wasn’t around to the mass market.’
How long the January and February frenzy continues is anyone’s guess, but as even more of the population gets online and time online increases, the holiday bookings Brits make should become more spread out over the year, and with late deals often available the booking peak might shift from early in the year to the early May and June summer months.
Interesting statistics have been released by one of the UK’s leading holiday companies for the bookings they took in the first weeks of 2008, and it suggests the British love affair with Spain shows no sign of slowing down.
Top searched destination was the Spanish island of Majorca. Majorca is one of the longest established tourist destinations in the world, and has had a tourist board for over a hundred years. Their tourist board has ensured the island has remained a British favourite for generations.
Today, Majorca receives more than six million visitors annually, yet ninety five percent of her tourists concentrate in only five percent of its territory. Less developed areas of this elegant island are ripe for new development and prime property commands a great premium. Majorca is now also successfully selling holidays away from the coast in traditional areas not known for tourism.
Ibiza, well known in Europe for a younger tourists and night clubs which feature visiting and resident British DJ’s, is a neighbouring island of Majorca and also makes the top five most booked holiday destinations in the early weeks of 2008.
The Spanish Canary Islands also feature among the most booked holiday destinations, with Tenerife and Gran Canaria being the second and third most popular areas.
Another Canary Island, Lanzarote, was the fourth most searched holiday destination, but Lanzarote is a popular winter getaway and as well as summer bookings would have benifitted from Britons looking for a winter holiday.
Lanzarote maintains relatively constant temperatures and sees low annual rainfall. Few days are lost to weather-related problems due to this environment, which offers the premium atmosphere for technical improvements and beneficial training. In addition to these benefits, the winds are good and steady in the Canary Islands due to the north-east trade winds, which also bring cooler air in the summers to Lanzarote.
If bookings continue in similar patterns throughout the year, Spain and her islands will be again the destination of choice for the British.
November 26, 2009
Luxury Island Hotels
Traveling is the most thrilling experience that one can have especially if you are traveling to one of those beautiful islands that we can usually see only on T.V. But you can have a hard time to decide where you want to go since they all look like paradise on earth. The exclusive resorts are located on island locations and the most beautiful environments in the world. The luxury island hotels mentioned here in are some of the best getaways in the world.
Aguas de Ibiza Lifestyle and Spa
This resort is a very personal interpretation of what luxury should be all about and it interprets hospitality. It gives pleasure to every one who visits there.
Amandari
Amandari has just thirty suites surrounded by long grasses and palm trees, where sweeping views of the verdant valley get unfurled before your eyes.
Amankila
Amankila, means `peaceful hill’ in Sanskrit. It is built along the contours of an escarpment between two headlands in East Bali and is stunningly luxurious.
Amanpuri
In Sanskrit Amanpuri means ‘place of peace’ and this exquisite hotel is indeed retreat of tranquility. IT embraces the beauty of Thai culture and the service, cuisine and facilities are unparalleled.
Amelia Island Hotel Plantation
Amelia Island Plantation is a 1350 acre property. It has four 18-hole championship golf courses & 23 clay tennis courts which also feature a health and fitness center, award-winning youth programs, fine shops, a full service spa and excellent choices of dining options as well.
Apollo Hotel Jersey (Channel Islands)
The Apollo Jersey is basically a modern four-floor hotel which is built around a garden courtyard and pool. It located in the centre of St Helier, 500 meters from the main shopping street. There are 85 guestrooms with a bright décor which is patterned with fabrics and modern furnishings.
Atlantis Beach Tower Resort Hotel Paradise Island The Atlantis Beach Tower Resort is a perfect place for you to reside if you are looking for an ideal holiday destination in Paradise Island and explore the surrounding areas. The Resort is situated on the easternmost end of Atlantis.
5 Factors to Keep in Mind While Choosing Holiday Villas in Spain
Spain – the name conjures up images of wild beauty of Andalucía, the excitement of bull fighting and the sunny beaches of Ibiza. It has always been and still is one of the favourite tourist destinations. If you are planning to visit this wonderful country, it is better that you go for rented holiday villas rather than booking a hotel room.Why holiday villas are better than a hotel If you are planning to stay for a long time, and you are with a group of friends/family members, then there are reasons galore as to why you should go for villas in Spain. A rented villa will give you more freedom and privacy while charging almost half of what a decent hotel charges exclusively for accommodation. But that does not mean that you go and hire the first holiday villa that comes to your notice, whether online or in Spain itself. There are some guidelines and tips that will help you avoid a disastrous holiday. Keep these 5 factors in mind while choosing holiday villas in Spain.First and foremost, verify the location of the villa. Thanks to ‘Google Map’, it is now possible to see a whole city, its roads and main attraction without even setting foot in the place! So if you have narrowed down your choice to some select villas in Spain, look up ‘Google Map’ with their addresses. See where they are situated and what amenities and attractions are nearby. If you are visiting any of the fabulous beaches of Spain, find out how far the villas are from the nearest beach. There are many instances of fraud where people have rented villas in Spain only to find that the villa does not exist at all! So to avoid that, it is better that you go through reputed sites that list holiday villas. Look up the website to attain physical addresses and telephone numbers of the villa owners and avoid those that do not provide one. Remember, going cheap is not always a good idea. So beware of sites that offer unbelievably low rates and do not ask for security deposits, even if you are a foreign tourist!Be clear from the very beginning of what is included and what is not in the contract while you are hiring villas in Spain. Will there be a change of towels? Are the applications in kitchen free-of-charge? Is once-in-a-while housekeeping-on-demand included in the additional charges? – these are the questions that you should ask before hiring a villa in Spain.Also be clear about the mode of payment. Any genuine owner of villas in Spain will insist on bank transfer or credit card payment. In both cases, the sellers are identifiable and so if there is any problem, you will know who to contact. Lastly, while you are looking for villas in Spain, ask if the owner or the site that has the listed properties is offering a contact person on location or not. Despite perfect planning, things may get out of hand and in such cases, it is always better to know a local professional or individual to seek help from.Spain has so many things to offer to her visitors that it is better that you go for a long holiday instead of a short trip. And in such a scenario, nothing is better than a rented holiday villa as a residential option in Spain.
November 25, 2009
Pacha Ibiza [CD] [Box set]
CD Description
Ibiza’s legendary club and lifestyle brand, Pacha, returns with a triple CD of upfront tracks from this summer’s season mixed by their residents… Highlights include David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland – “When Love Takes Over”, Basement Jaxx – “Raindrops”, Pitbull – “I Know You Want Me”, Empire Of The Sun – “We Are The People”, Deadmau5 & Kaskade – “I Remember”, Paul van Dyk – “For An Angel 2009″; the list is long and distinguished!
Spanish Holidays Off To Flying Start For 2007
With fresh challenges every year from new and old competitors to take away market share, Spain increased her number of visitors in the first couple of months of 2007 for what could be a good year for a country that has been the favourite destination for Europeans for nearly fifty years.
The visitor numbers were so good that it broke new records for Spain, with 4 per cent more holiday makers in January 2007 compared to 2007, and a total of 2.8 million tourists overall.
The most popular area of Spain was off the mainland, the Canary Islands.
The Canary Islands consist of Tenerife, Fueteventura, Lanzarote and Gran Ganaria. The Canaries enjoy good weather in the winter months due to her geographical location near Africa, and Many British, Dutch and German tourists take villa and hotel holidays for a week November to mid March.
The Costa del Sol, a perennial favourite of the British seeking a winter sunshne break surprisingly saw a near 5 per cent dip in UK visitor numbers, but overall enjoyed a near 6 per cent increase in tourists.
The Balearic Islands recorded a rise in visitors of just over 1 per cent.
The Balearics consist of Menorca (the smallest island), Majorca and Ibiza. The small rise compared to the Canary Islands isn’t too much of a surprise as Menorca has a season that traditionally is at its peak early May to end September, but is now trying to extend that from mid April to mid October.
Majorca
Majorca is hoping to boost visitor numbers this summer by increasing the level of competition at the island’s SuperYacht Cup. As well as drawing extra tourists for the event itself it adds an extra attraction for those holidaymakers already on the island, adding to the possibility of a return visit in future years – and with more destinations to choose from in recent years repeat visitors has become an important strategy in tourist locations.
As part of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has welcomed many visitors back to live full time on the island. Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Mallorca.
Property prices in Mallorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too on Mallorca.
Menorca has just the one golf course, recently extended to eighteen holes, and is located in Son Park, which has a choice of hotels, apartments and villas for holiday makers.
The cost of flying to Mallorca has come down in recent years from most European countries due to low cost airlines, especially in the island’s core tourist areas of the United Kingdom and Germany, and last year easyJet started direct flights from London’s Gatwick Airport to the sister island of Menorca, as well as serving Mallorca itself.
Despite competition from other destinantions, Mallorca looks set to remain a favourite holiday spot for some time to come.