Page 10 - europe

UK & IRELAND

UK & IRELAND

Whether it’s history, family, picturesque countryside or the latest fashion trends, the United Kingdom offers something for all.
A holiday destination just waiting to be explored or revisited.

England

So many sites to see and explore all within easy reach. From Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, to beautiful thatched cottage villages in the
Cotswolds. Football games at Old Trafford or shows at London’s West End. Walk in the footsteps of the latest Princess at Westminster Abbey or view the balcony
of the famous ‘two kisses’. The diversity of things to see or do is enormous.

Scotland

Famous for its historic castles, traditional Highland games and beautiful lochs, the place for stylish shopping, fantastic food & drink. Go behind the scenes at
whisky distilleries, or plan a family-friendly day out around free attractions including charming castles and country houses, fascinating museums and friendly
wildlife parks. There are a multitude of other things to see in Scotland including visiting the stunning variety of hills and lochs, you may even get a glimpse of the
Loch Ness Monster, Nessie!

Wales

Offering much beauty with its dramatic coastlines, rolling moorlands and sweeping mountains, many a national park is waiting to be explored, complimented by
over 400 castles steeped in history. Cardiff, the Welsh capital offers everything from cafés to castles.

Republic of Ireland

The Emerald Isle, as it’s known, is very inviting, with the Blarney Stone to kiss and Guinness to drink. Dublin, being the Irish capital, is famous for the Guinness
Storehouse, U2, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, and the world famous Riverdance.

Northern Ireland

Only 136 kilometres in length and 112 kilometres wide this small country has made its mark. Famous for politics, history, religion and natural beauty, its most
famous attraction is the Giants Causeway, said to be where giants walked. Did you know that the HMS Titanic was built here? A must see is the Titanica Museum
in Belfast.

Average Temperature

Travel tips London Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Dublin 2-7 3-10 12-22 5-19
Edinburgh 2-9 4-16 10-20 4-18
Max Temp °C 1-7 2-14 9-18 4-16
24 24 24 24

What travel documents do I need? VAT on services such as hotels, restaurants or car hire cannot be reclaimed. VAT
cannot be claimed back once you have returned to New Zealand.
On arrival in the UK, New Zealand visitors only need a valid passport to establish
identity and nationality and can stay in Britain for six months when on holiday (check Note: Visitors leaving Britain for a final destination within the European Union are not eligible to receive VAT
details with your Travel Agent). Travellers also need to have sufficient means of refunds.
support to maintain and accommodate themselves and hold a return ticket back to
their departure point or another onward destination. How much should I tip?
Some restaurant bills include a service charge. Where a service charge is not
Do I need medical insurance? included, it is customary to leave a tip of 10-15% of the bill.

Yes! New Zealand nationals who become ill while in Britain are eligible for free What can I expect from UK Hotels?
emergency treatment in the A & E departments of National Health Service hospitals • Hotels in the United Kingdom & Europe are of a different standard to New Zealand
because of a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK. However it is strongly
recommended that you obtain adequate medical insurance, as you would still have to equivalently priced hotels. It is expected that rooms will not be as large as hotels in
pay for prescriptions and dental treatment. New Zealand.
• Not all hotels will have porters or Lifts. Some lifts will not reach all floors of the hotel
Can I claim back VAT? – please enquire about this at the time of booking, if it is a concern.
• As a lot of buildings are registered as ‘Listed Heritage Buildings’ room sizes can
Value Added Tax (VAT) is currently set at 20%. If applicable, the appropriate form vary greatly and it is not unusual to have a small room.
for the claim-back scheme is completed in full at the time of purchase. You will then • Many hotels are in buildings that may be up to several centuries old. Although this
be asked to produce the form and the goods for inspection when you leave the adds to the charm and atmosphere, it may affect the number of modern amenities
European Union. It is advisable to contact the airline or shipping company in advance available.
if you are reclaiming VAT on goods not in your hand luggage. • Single rooms may only offer one single bed. If you specifically require a room with a
double bed for single use, the double room rate may apply.
Please note that not all shops operate the Retail Export Scheme (look for a sign near
the entrance) and those that do often have a minimum purchase price. You may also Climate
be charged an administration fee. The other main restriction is that you must reclaim Whatever the season, the United Kingdom weather can change from day to day. It is
VAT within 3 months from the end of the month in which the goods were purchased. a good idea to pack a waterproof jacket and an umbrella. The chart above gives you
the average temperature range in degrees celcius.

10