UK Ferry Tickets

Imagine holidaying in a pod or flying across the Atlantic with over 500 other people in the world’s largest airline.

It may not seem that enticing, but this is how many of us will be holidaying in the future, according to so-called experts.

Airbus is developing the new A380 aircraft, with a wingspan of 262 feet and the ability to carry 555 people, which will be launched next year. The manufacturer claims it will offer more legroom and better standards of comfort than currently available, but it won’t be for everyone. The aircraft is so big that only a handful of airports can accommodate it – Heathrow alone is investing £450 million reconstructing a terminal to handle the huge aircraft.

Experts accept that people also want choice. So even if the Airbus A380 becomes popular, smaller planes, ships and trains will also increasingly be used, particularly for shorter journeys.

Meanwhile, a Future Holiday Forum organised by Thomson Holidays predicted the hotel of the future will be a fully transportable super pod with a disposable waste unit and rooms of varying sizes which can be dismantled.

The idea was first mooted last year, but I was recently given an update on the forum and heard how rooms will have ‘active’ walls and floors, so you can change the scenery, depending upon your mood. Presumably the decor will normally be light and bright for people on holiday.

By 2020, 60 will be the new 40 with some super active ‘mature’ holidaymakers taking frequent trips and dashing round as many sights as possible. Perhaps the nation of obese youngsters which the Government has recently been telling us about will be flat out in the sun while their parents and grandparents are partying.

Are you an active older holidaymaker?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Thursday, February 3rd, 2005