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When you fly from a UK airport to anywhere in the world, you will automatically pay Air Passenger Duty (APD). What was in 1994 an extra £10 tax on long-haul flying has soared to, in some cases, an up to an extra £188 per seat.

The UK government makes £2.8 billion from the tax every year – a measure they deem necessary, but one which is increasingly being called into question by airlines, foreign tourist boards and passengers. Many believe that the economy would actually be better served by reducing the tax – through jobs, GDP growth and inbound tourism.
We believe that this isn’t a matter that’s simply a concern for the aviation industry and government to sort out: this issues affects you, as the passenger stuck in the middle of it all. We have therefore written a guide that will tell you how much you are likely to pay on your next flight, ways you could be saving despite the tax and what you can do to make your voice heard on the issue. In this guide, we aim to help you answer these questions, and more:

• How is Air Passenger Duty calculated?
• How much Air Passenger Duty will I pay?
• When is Air Passenger Duty next due to rise?
• Notable Quirks – How to travel 5,500 miles in Band B
• How can I plan my holiday around Air Passenger Duty?
• What can we do about Air Passenger Duty?
• Air Passenger Duty timeline
• Air Passenger Duty Full Infographic

How is Air Passenger Duty calculated?

Air Passenger Duty is levied on all flights departing from UK airports. The amount you will pay per person on top of a ticket depends on two things:

• Which band your destination falls into. There are four in total (A,B,C or D), determined by how far your destination’s capital is from London: at 2,000 mile intervals, the price climbs higher
• The class you’re travelling in – economy class rates can be substantially cheaper. Premium Economy and above is charged at the standard rate, and private aircraft have their own (substantially more expensive) rates

How much Air Passenger Duty will I pay?

As explained above, where you’re going and how you travel affects the amount of tax you will pay. You can travel as far as the north coast of Africa by paying just £13 for an economy class seat – but if you travel just a little further south you’ll have to pay over £50 more. Extra long haul flights (Australia, Argentina) involve a tax of £94 per person for economy travel – and travelling in comfort will be £166 per head. For a four person family, that could be anything up to £664 on the top of an already expensive set of tickets.

The graphic breaks down how much tax you’re paying to fly, until 31 March 2014:

Not sure which band your destination falls under? Have a look at Appendix 1 – Destinations by band over at Hmrc.gov.uk (press Ctrl+F to search. If the country doesn’t appear, it is likely that it is in Band D).

When is Air Passenger Duty next due to rise?

Air Passenger Duty is subject to an annual rise, and short of treasury intervention, these will be the new rates from 1 April 2014:

Notable Quirks – How to travel 5,500 miles in Band B

Because the bands are determined by how close a country’s capital is to our own, some destinations fall into cheaper bands than may be expected:

• The most commonly cited example is the United States, which falls into Band B because Washington D.C. is less than 4,000 miles away. However, the west coast (e.g. Los Angeles) is around 5,500 miles away (Band C)
• Hawaii is comfortably into Band D territory (approximately 7,200 miles away) but as it is legally part of the United States of America, it is considered to be in Band B. This is different to how the rules treat overseas territories (such as the Falkland Islands which falls into Band D)
• Caribbean tourism has been heavily lobbying the UK government citing the above fact – Most of the Caribbean is only around 4,200 to 4,600 miles away from London – most of the US’ landmass is further away than this, but air travel to Caribbean destinations is still taxed with an extra £16 to £32 over US prices
• Russia is so big that it is the only nation the UK government has elected to split in two. Nevertheless, the portion of Russia east of the Ural Mountains is taxed only as Band B. A city like Vladivostok (5,200 miles away) is treated as if it’s closer than neighbouring Band C countries like China and Japan
• Smaller countries still give rise to quirks in the system. Southern Vietnam is further away from London than Cambodia, but because the capital, Hanoi, is in the north, the country edges into Band C

Thankfully, these quirks largely make your flights cheaper than you may expect. Nonetheless, they do undermine a sense of internal consistency in the tax.

How can I plan my holiday around Air Passenger Duty?

While we don’t believe that the existence of Air Passenger duty should get in the way of your quest to see the parts of the world that truly capture your imagination, you may consider actively avoiding the tax if:

• You’re more concerned about visiting a particular region or climate than a specific country
• You’re happy to put off going somewhere in a higher band in the hope that aviation industry lobbying will reduce charges in the future

Please note that the banding quirks we mentioned earlier don’t always have a lot to do with the actual cost of the flights. A flight to Hawaii is still going to cost you a similar amount to most flights to the other side of the world, regardless of the amount of money the UK government are taking.
Instead, we would generally recommend seeing whether neighbouring countries fall within different bands to see whether there’s likely to be any notable savings on your flight. Indeed, it may be worth considering taking a flight to one country, and crossing the border on locally booked transport. We’ve listed a few alternatives that some may consider:

• Caribbean beach holiday alternatives – if all you’re after is sun and sand in a island locale, there are a number of subtropical destinations that may serve as a great alternative. The Azores and Canary islands are in Band A, and Bermuda is the closest you’ll be able to get to the Caribbean without paying for a Band C trip
• African Safari holiday alternatives – Southern and eastern Africa are renowned for their safari experiences, but the vast majority of countries are in Band C. The one exception is Uganda, which proponents call “unspoiled” and “more authentic” than its neighbours, such as Kenya and Tanzania
• South America – Brazil is the southernmost country still within Band C: Chile, Argentina and even the relatively northerly Peru are all in Band D
• The Indian Subcontinent – Pakistan falls into Band B whereas India and Bangladesh are in Band C. Anyone considering a cultural tour of the region may want to consider travelling from Lahore into India via the bus and train services available.
• South-East Asia – Cambodia is surrounded on all sides by Band C nations (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), but is in Band D. Thailand additionally shares a border with Malaysia, and may therefore be the best option for travel around the region.

What can we do about Air Passenger Duty?

Changing your holiday plans to avoid APD isn’t a valid long-term tactic. If you are unhappy with the way you are being taxed, there are other ways of getting your voice heard:

• Sign an E-petition. Currently, the most successful open petition currently has over 32,000 signatures – it has already received a response from the Government but needs a push to 100,000 signatures to be heard again. However, it suggests only the suspension of APD over school holidays
• The existence of the epetitions site doesn’t mean that traditional means of contact with your government aren’t still open – consider contacting your MP to raise your concerns
• Keep a close eye on Afairtaxonflying.org, a site where the aviation industry is coordinating its efforts

The sheer volume of petition signatures, letters to MPs and negative coverage in the national press is in some way disheartening: the current government seems set on maintaining and increasing Air Passenger Duty.

Nevertheless, though APD increases have been curated by all three of the main parties in the past, it’s important to remember that UK government elections are coming in 2015. The louder passengers shout about APD, the more likely that the issue will become part of party manifestos.

Air Passenger Duty timeline

November 1994 – Air Passenger Duty (APD) is introduced by Conservative chancellor Kenneth Clarke as a two band system. Passengers are charged £5 for travel within the UK and EEA, £10 for travelling elsewhere.

November 1997 – New Labour chancellor Gordon Brown doubles APD: passengers are now charged £10 for UK and EEA travel, and £20 for travel elsewhere.

April 2001 – Gordon Brown decides to restructure APD to introduce tiers based on the class traveled in: a reduced rate is introduced for economy travel. EEA travel gains a half-price reduced rate, but rest of world travel actually gains a doubled standard rate – a £40 tax.

Februrary 2007 – In his final year as Chancellor, Gordon Brown announces that APD is to double.

November 2009 – Alistair Darling introduces a four band system based on distance to a country’s capital city in 2000 mile bands.

April 2011 – George Osborne considers various paths of APD reform but ultimately rejects them and announces further price rises across all four bands

April 2012 – Now an annual event, further price rises come into effect.

April 2013 – Once again, prices rise. Additionally, the chancellor introduces a higher rate specifically to penalise private jets: aircrafts weighing more than 20 tonnes but having fewer than 19 seats.

April 2014 – Further rises have already been defined for the 2014/15 financial year:

[Source: BATA.uk.com, Hmrc.gov.uk and Abta.com]

APD Infographic

Air Passenger Duty Information – An infographic by the team at Air Passenger Duty Information by GoSimply

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The Northern Lights are one of nature’s most beautiful displays, mystical and hypnotising, giving the appearance of another worldly presence. Swirling colours sweeping, like a living, breathing, giant painting that fills the sky. Photographs of this cerebral piercing show do not do it justice. Seeing it in its full glory, right there before you is the only way to fully experience it. The colours will leave you stunned, a brand new visual experience. I can explain only so far, as words only restrict describing this profound spectacle.

The best place to see the incredible Aurora Borealis A.K.A the Northern Lights, is above the Arctic Circle in the majestic country of Norway. The best time to see them is between the Autumn and Winter equinox (September to March 21^st) when it is dark from 6pm to 1pm.

There are lots of destinations to choose from, so here is a guide to the best spots-

Lofoten Islands

These islands are a prime example of Norway’s dramatic landscapes. Sheer towering mountains like giant fangs, topped with glacier ice twinkling like a mischievous winking eye high in the sky. Already perfection seemingly un-improvable, Aurora Borealis manages to do just that.

A good place to start when on the island is to visit the Polar Light Centre in the town of Laukvik. Here you can see an amazing 3D presentation of the lights, where you are given full scientific explanations, and you can ask any questions you wish. You will also be advised where best to view the real thing. This is a nice precursor to actually seeing Aurora Borealis, making even more meaningful.

North Cape

The Northern Light belt hits at Lofoten Islands, then covers all the way up to North Cape, which is right up on the same latitude as Greenland. This means from here you see the lights from the other end. This means you will experience alternative patterns evoking a slightly different mood, but it will still be just as ethereal and intense.

A popular thing to do is hike the mighty snow covered cliffs, but you must be careful and make sure you know your daylight hours from the night

Tromsø

This is the popular tourist destination town, and there are numerous ‘Aurora Tours’, where you will be taken to the best spots to see the lights. These tours are great value for money, but you have to remember seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed. It all depends on the weather and the magnitude of the polls. However, the tours operators are honest and have the experience to know if it is worth going or not.

Wherever you go to see them, if you do manage to catch a glimpse of this evocative dance of nature, it is an experience you will never forget. Norway is the most likely place to see the lights in the world, and a stunning country to visit nonetheless.

The next stop on our fantasy Christmas break is Mexico. The Mexicans celebrate Christmas from December the 16^th to January 6^th, and it is a jam packed festive season.  Mexico is a vast country with so many destinations, and so much to do! Here are some of the best places in this amazing country to spend your Christmas.

Mexico City

The thriving bustling capital city becomes a tinsel town, Christmas bonanza during the festive period. Expect lots of street parties with lots of traditional Mariachi bands, and plenty of markets selling traditional craftwork. You will see huge traditional Christian displays with reindeers, blown up biblical images, and lots of singing and dancing!

The bars in the Condesa and Roma neighbourhoods have a really nice bustling, warm Christmas atmosphere whilst retaining a true Mexican feel, expect plenty of Tequila!

Oaxaca

I would recommend Mexico City anytime apart from Christmas Eve due to it having some of the biggest traffic jams known to man. The local people will all be trying to get to the traditional late night Christmas Eve meal which is an important family custom.

Instead take the 2 hour drive to Oaxaca. Try to do so by daylight, due to the fact that you will be driving through some incredible volcanic landscapes that you wouldn’t want to miss out on being able to see. You can actually see the Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes during this amazing drive.

Ouxaca is very different to Mexico City, here you will be able to take a deep breath and be able to relax. You can get involved in some of the local traditions such as the Danza De La Pluma on the 16^th of December, where lots of different indigenous groups come together to perform various dances on the Church steps. Also, a strange as it may sound the ‘Night of the Radishes’ is a real experience. This occurs on Christmas Eve and involves a multitude of intricate art made entirely out of radishes. You can expect some true masterpieces and an almighty celebration.

San Cristóbal de las Casas

The main city in the state of Chiapas, this is a fantastic winter destination. Following the political unrest during the 1990’s with the uprising of the Zapatista farmers, today this charming colonial town couldn’t be more peaceful.

The city of San Cristóbal de las Casas is surrounded by autonomous indigenous villages, stunning churches, natural wonders such as the Sumider Canyon, and Mayan Ruins. You can expect a more traditional Christmas here where you will get to see some truly local traditions. It has a slightly cooler climate than Mexico City, but still lovely and warm in comparison to the UK!

It is an amazing experience to spend a special time like Christmas somewhere completely different, be it with family, group, as a couple or on your own. Mexico at Christmas is a truly unforgettable experience never to be forgotten.

As part of our aspiration series, we explore the prospect of travelling to Asia for that special Christmas getaway.

If you been a frequent visitor to the Thai islands over the past 20 years, you’ll have seen the fast paced changes that a lot of the popular islands, such as Koh Samui and Koh Tao, have gone through. From a few huts spread along the beach, to fancy private resorts and multi-tower casinos; things developed quite rapidly once the Thai islands became a major tourist attraction.

For those of you wanting to find your very own slice of personal paradise and missed the boat when the Thai islands were still left untouched – there are still options available to you close by.

The wonderful country that is Cambodia, boasts a number of simply picture perfect islands along it’s south coast, that are all located within the Gulf of Thailand. Thousands of miles of untouched white sands, warm clear sparkling turquoise waters and heaps of tropical jungle for you to spot all manner of exotic birds and wildlife in.

Koh Rong is one of the most upcoming islands in the area and still yet has only 15 or so guesthouses, bars and restaurants in total.

What to do there?

Koh Rong is the perfect place for diving and snorkeling in the dry season (Nov-June) due to the great visibility. It even has it’s own dive centre where you can go for practise dives or earn your PADI qualification.

Along with diving there are lots of activities to do on Koh Rong such as; jungle trekking, wildlife spotting, kayaking, sailing, fishing, beach hopping and of course just kicking back in your hammock and shooting the breeze with the locals – Koh Rong is a perfect tropical paradise you’ll just want to spend forever in.

Where to stay?

As previously mentioned there around 15 guesthouses and accommodation options on the main strip for you to choose from.

All budgets are catered for with dorm beds at ‘Bunna’s place’ going for around $3-6 a night (depending on the season) with luxury private bungalows in places such as ‘Paradise’ going for around $25 a night. There are a few mid-range options too at places such as ‘Coco’s’ and ‘Bamboo’ which are all located on the main stretch where the ferry drops you when you arrive.

How to get there?

The best way to get out to the islands and Koh Rong is via the port town Sihnoukville. You’ll be able to buy a open return ticket for $10 in low season (June/Sept) and $20 in high season (Oct/ May) from any travel agency in the Serendipity Beach area.

Important things to remember

There are NO ATMs on the island or ways of getting cash out, apart from going back to the mainland (Sihnoukville). Make sure you have more than enough money wise, before setting off.

If you do fancy a wonder in the jungle, REMEMBER to stick to the set out path, wear sensible clothing/footwear and ALWAYS tell your hostel where you heading before you set out. It is the jungle, so you have to keep your wits about you and watch out for snakes etc.

As like the Thai islands, it’s becoming less and less of a secret of how beautiful and amazing the Cambodian Islands are…so get your taste of real, untouched, tropical island beauty now before the mega malls get built!

Escape the rain and cold before it becomes too unbearable whilst you can! As right now Cambodia is coming into its summer/dry season with highs of 80-90c daily!

Passengers heading to Heathrow using Meet & Greet parking are being charged an estimated £2.3m extra a year because the airport has imposed a surcharge of £5.60 on each car using an off-site airport service.

The charge, which adds around 12% to the typical parking costs for three days, is a flat-fee added to cover the cost of charges being levied on all off-airport Meet & Greet services for the use of forecourts at drop-off and designated collection areas within the short-term car parks. The fee has also started to be added to Stansted Meet & Greet off-airport services from December.

It means it is more important than ever for customers to get the best deal on airport parking.

You can avoid this additional charge by using the BAA Official Valet Parking service, but given this is one of the most expensive available, you would not really be saving anything. It just seems a shame that people are facing this hike in fees at a time when everyone is strapped for cash.

The fees were first added to car parking services back in the summer of last year, but have largely flown below the radar because the extra fee is usually included in the quoted prices that customers pay.

Based on our independent customer reviews on-site, BAA’s own Official Valet Parking Service has an 89% rating, behind six other providers – including the award-winning MBW Meet and Greet Parking and Heathrow Sky Super Saver both reaching a satisfaction rating of 90% or more.

These Meet & Greet services are typically used for trips of between three and eight days, so both holidaymakers, those looking for a romantic weekend away, and business travellers will be affected.

Heathrow’s figures released this month showed its retail income, which includes parking charges for both Heathrow and Stansted, had grown from £518.6m in 2011 to £541.7m in 2012.

With the current gloomy outlook for a struggling global economy, and the threat of more difficult times ahead, thoughts of treating the love of your life to a Valentines Day weekend away may bring about a worrying shiver down the spine and a dull ache in the pocket.

Fear not, businesses are doing everything they can in this economic downturn to entice a sale with knock down prices and bonus incentives. Eith the prospect of finding a bargain weekend away you’ll not only get in the good books but could also save a packet on the pre-recession prices.

Stuck for getaway ideas? Here’s 5 popular Valentines getaway destinations:-

• Amsterdam (Netherlands) – is the Dutch capital city of love. With romantic boat tours on over 165 canals, you can sit back and take in some of the 1281 beautiful bridges and tall houses along the waterways. Dine in candle-lit before relaxing at one of the cities many bars and cafes.
• Bath (UK) – Bath is an architecturally elegant city which is listed as a World Heritage site. Though named after the roman bath houses for which it was famous, these days you can only visit the ancient Roman Bath house for historic reasons. Couples can still get into hot water in the Thermae Bath Spa, which offers immersion in Britain’s only naturally heated waters. Massage treatments and the chance to look out over the city from the open air balcony pool are also available.
• Galway (Ireland) – Galway is nicked named Ireland’s cultural heart, and renowned for its vibrant lifestyle, numerous festivals and art galleries. Situated on Ireland’s rugged west coast, it’s a great city for lively couples with traditional live music abound in cosy pubs – perfect for a romantic Irish jig.
• Bruges (Belgium) – Architecturally beautiful, no couple could fail to be impressed by Bruges. Nicknamed “The Venice of the North”, the medieval maze of cobbled streets, canals and squares offers the perfect romantic getaway. This pretty and perfectly preserved example of a medieval settlement is also a haven for choc-o-holics – visit the Choco-Story museum which tells the tale of chocolate with free samples along the tour.
• Istanbul (Turkey) – perhaps not the first city that comes to the minds of amorous couples, nether the less, Turkey’s intoxicating capital has a very romantic side too. An astonishingly beautiful city, spread over seven hills and surrounded by water, take a tour across the mighty Bosphorus, the straits that separate Europe and Asia, then sample a delicious meze platter for two.

If you’re jetting away for a romantic break, why not enhance the experience further by starting your Valentines trip with an overnight airport hotel stay before your flight. With deals on airport hotels and big savings available on airport parking, you could even indulge further by enjoying an airport lounge stay from just £13.50 while waiting for your flight.

Unless you’re a Venetian gondolier, you probably don’t push the boat out every day – but at gosimply.com, we believe in treating yourself whenever you can. With that in mind we’re bringing you top class theatre tickets at bottom end prices.

If you believe in the importance of keeping romance alive, or have a mate who deserves a special night out…heck, even if YOU haven’t painted the town red for far too long, we have some show-stopping theatre ticket offers so that you can dive headfirst into the glitz and glamour of London’s West End.

With more than 75 different shows to choose from, including productions such as Grease, Mamma Mia!, Legally Blond and Wicked, there’s no shortage of choice. With prices starting from as little as £12.50 per person, it could even be cheaper than a night out at the pub!

Dine and show

Make your evening a little bit more special,with one of our dine and show offers. You’ll enjoy a terrific meal in addition to some of the finest entertainment in the world – what could be better? Well, how about if we tell you that the price of many ‘dine and show’ packages is actually cheaper than the stand alone show ticket prices? We know. Madness.

Next time you’re contemplating a take-away in front of the TV or a drink or 5 at the pub, think again. Let gosimply introduce a third option to the equation and add a little spark to your evening with our amazing selection of theatre tickets.

We always appreciate it whenever a bona fide money-saving expert recommends gosimply.com (by that, we mean money-saving experts that aren’t biased towards companies that “support” his website) – so we’re over the moon that the guardian.co.uk gave us their royal seal of approval in a recent travel write up.

In the recent article, “Where to park and not get taken for a ride”, Marc Lockley, writer of guardian.co.uk’s money-saving column, The Negotiator, recommended to his readers that they “keep checking gosimply.com” to find the best available prices for airport car parking.

Marc also noted that we had the best price for Manchester Airport parking, which was a lovely thing to announce, but won’t be a surprise to our loyal customers.

The savviest travellers know that paying standard gate prices at airport car parks is not the best idea when you’re trying to stay within budget. Pre-booking your parking at the airport will not only be easier on your wallet, but guarantee your space, too. Remember also that the sooner you book, the more you’re likely to save.

We’re dedicated to providing travellers with the very best service on all of the products we offer, so next time you want the cheapest airport parking, be sure to take an expert’s advice and book it in advance with gosimply.com.

Building on the success of our one-stop travel services, we’re proud to announce that gosimply.com is moving into pastures new with the exciting introduction of over 5,000 experience days across the UK.

gosimply.com compares the best of the best experience days in one simple search, from bungee jumping to rally driving, wine tasting to fun-filled family days out. Discover what’s on in your local area with the easy-to-use distance filter, or if you’re in the market for something a little unique, choose from one of the lifestyle experiences that gosimply.com has to offer.

When it comes to birthdays, anniversaries or any special day for that matter, you can also purchase experiences in the form of gift vouchers. Better still, (and our personal favourite), why not join them and make the day even more enjoyable and special!

With experience days starting from as little as £35, make a lasting memory that can be shared and enjoyed with friends and family for years to come.

The twilight of another year is almost upon us, but with Christmas at the forefront of everyone’s minds, New Year’s celebrations are often a last minute thought. With that in mind, we’ve prepared a simple hit list to ensure you start your New Year with a bang.

Fireworks at home have a become big business. Once no more than a few mini rockets and sparklers, some displays now give official events a run for their money. If you’ve got the space (our research boffins recommend a minimum safe distance of 25 feet from the firework action), here’s how you can have some firework fun without blowing up your wallet:

The best parties start with a good invite

First impressions count, even if it is your Blue Peter best! The more organised the party sounds the more likely people will respond. Apart from stating a clear time of when your “doors open”, and what time you’re starting the fireworks we’ve got a couple of suggestions:

• Bring a “banger”. Although it’s pretty standard to turn up with your favourite tipple, asking your friends to bring along a firework as well will go a long way to getting a big display out of a small budget.
• Hold a competition. It adds an air of excitement and will encourage people to join in. The guest with the brightest or noisiest firework could win some cinema vouchers, or a bottle of bubbly.
• Cater for everyone. Not everyone loves the bright lights and noise of fireworks, so let your guests know that you’ve got a games room for their enjoyment (personally, we go for a bit of karoake).
• Invite your neighbours. Give them prior notice of the party so even if they can’t or don’t want to attend, it will give them pre-warning to batten down the hatches and make sure that any pets are safe and sound indoors.

Home Sweet Home (and how to keep it that way!)

A house full of indoor guests is one thing, but bringing the outdoors in could mean muddy boots and wet overcoats, making things rather messy. Follow these simple tips to get your house ship-shape for the party of the year!

• Hide your breakables. You and your party guests will likely be wrapped up in warm jackets and wooly scarfs, and we seem to have this funny habit of not knowing how much room we take up. Avoid “brushing past” and knocking over any breakables by placing them upstairs in a safe place (the valuables that is, not the guests).
• Protect your carpets. The cheapest way is to use some cardboard. It may not look attractive, but it will save your floor from muddy footprints and a dreaded “mulled wine incident”.
• Get covered. If you don’t have a marquee, see if one of your friends has one that you can put outside. It’s a great way to keep people dry whilst allowing you to cater outside. Alternatively, go down your local B&Q or Homebase and grab some transparent tarpaulin to fashion a make do shelter. That way people can still look up through the roof and watch the fireworks.
• Cater near the garden or outside. It keeps things simple, and this is where most of the action is. Weather permitting you won’t need a canopy, but if you opt to cater outside and there is a chance of rain see “get covered” above.
• Spud-u-like and Cheenz! Jacket potatoes with beans and cheese is a simple and cheap yet satisfying way to cater for the masses. Be adventurous and cook a spicy chilli to warm your guests palette.
• Hot chocolate, Mulled wine, Tea and Coffee. If you have more than 10 guests it may be worth hiring a large volume hot drinks dispenser – the perfect way to serve your hot drinks in an instant.

How to set up your garden for fireworks

If you are lucky enough to have the space to hold a fireworks display, some basic planning and precautions should be taken to minimize the risk of damage and, more importantly, injury.

• Wear goggles or safety glasses. There’s every chance a “dud” firework could suddenly re-ignite at any point. Eyes are vulnerable, so it’s important to make sure that they’re well-protected. You’re unlikely to win any fashion awards, but it’s a small price to pay.
• Have some buckets of water ready. Strategically place them around the garden. Not all fireworks fully detonate; don’t take it for granted that they have. Make sure that every firework that appears to be dormant is dropped into a bucket or large container of water and left there to soak.
• Get some wet towels on standby. Hopefully these won’t be needed, but if someone is unfortunate enough to be hit by a spark or stray firework, having these ready can save valuable seconds and help prevent serious injury.
• Tie a Safety Line across the width of the garden as a tangible barrier to seperate the safe area and the danger zone. This is a good way to prevent a crowd of people moving too far forward to get a better view of ground-based fireworks.
• Grab a hose pipe. A good way to prevent any stray sparks from causing a fire in the first place is to give everything a good soaking before the display starts.
• Basic First Aid is a good idea, do some quick reading up on how to treat minor burns. If anything does happen, some good on-the-spot first aid can reduce the severity of a burn, giving it a better chance to heal quickly.

Happy New Year!

No matter what you decide or where you land up this New Years Eve, the important thing is to be close to those that mean the most to you, have fun and dream of all the possibilities that the New Year could bring. So from the gosimply.com team, have a very happy Christmas and a safe and memorable Happy New Year.