Holiday & Travel

This summer you can fly direct from Birmingham with British Airways to the beautiful Spanish destinations of Malaga, Ibiza and Palma Majorca, as well as a brand new flight to the Italian city of Florence.

All flights will operate once a week at weekends, and give you the opportunity to enjoy the roomy interiors of BA’s modern Embraer jet aircraft at fantastic prices.

You will also have the chance to upgrade to a business class experience with the inclusion a Club Europe cabin on all flights, allowing you additional checked baggage allowance, delicious dining with inclusive drinks and free seat selection.

The new 'Escape' collection from the Scandinavian travel specialist aims to enable holidaymakers to emulate the Swedish tradition of escaping the city to relax and recharge at a lakeside hideaway. The three additional holidays include a break for families that mixes city and countryside, a taste of small village life for adults, and a winter experience for all.

Escape – Swedish Family Style! is a seven-night, three-centre family break, visiting Stockholm, a secret private island, and a rural spa hotel. After two nights in the Swedish capital, guests will take a short drive north to Ockelbo in middle Sweden and transfer by boat to a secret private island to spend two nights in a traditional red cottage, Kabin.

Here they will enjoy activities including lake-swimming, canoeing and forest walks, as well as rustling up meals from the recipes and organic ingredients provided. The holiday concludes with three nights at one of Sweden's most famous spa hotels, in the lakeside village of Tällberg in the Dalarna region.

Escape – Little Sweden is a seven-night, three-centre break aimed at adult guests that offers the chance to experience life in a small village, get active in the wild, and dine on delicious locally sourced food. The first two nights will be spent at Stilleben, a stylish B&B housed in a former school in the village of Åmot in middle Sweden.

Activities include riding Icelandic horses, cycling, and the option of a bear safari. Next stop, two nights in Fryksås, in the Dalarna region, a pretty village that's home to a famous collection of 16th-century timber farm buildings. Guests will then move on to enjoy three nights at the spa hotel in Tällberg.

Escape – Swedish Winter Style! is a new, seven-night holiday that makes the most of the snowy landscapes of the Ockelbo region. The break is now available to book for dates throughout February 2018, with a seasonal option for the Christmas and New Year period. Based at Stilleben, guests' days can be spent joining in various activities – from baking, fat-biking and husky-driving to snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice-fishing, with specially organised alternatives and menus for the two festive departures.

In an age where technology is becoming a prominent part of family life, it's important to find time to reconnect with the people who matter the most. This is why Grand American Adventures has developed a series of specific family friendly itineraries designed to enable mums, dads, grandparents and siblings to explore the great outdoors and create everlasting memories together. So, turn all technology off and embrace nature on one of Grand American Adventures' family holidays, where no one will get bored:

See Sloths in the wild on Costa Rica Family Discovery

Sid, the sloth in the popular animated movies Ice Age, made families all over the world fall in the love with these sedentary creatures. One of the many highlights of this tour of the world's 'greenest and happiest' countries, is a visit to the famous Sloth Sanctuary.

On Costa Rica Family Discovery, families will learn about the work that goes into protecting these animals before taking a boat tour to see them in their natural habitat. Families will also search for frogs, butterflies and birds whilst walking around La Paz Waterfall Gardens, spot jungle creatures such as toucans on a river rafting tour, hear animals calls on a night-time walk of Tirimbina Biological Reserve, and search for Capuchin Monkeys in Manuel Antonio National Park.

Waterfalls, wildlife and walking on Canadian Family Discovery

This is the ideal holiday for active families as it includes an exciting Glacier Walk in Athabasca, swimming in mountain lakes, and plenty of hikes in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Those wanting to take the adventure even further will have the opportunity to horse ride through the wilderness of Helmcken Falls, zip-line through the tree-tops in Whistler, or canoe Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park.

Canada has an abundance of wildlife including bears, moose and eagles, all of which can be spotted at any time. There's plenty of time for relaxing too. There are many trails families can take at their leisure and the whole family can unwind with included excursions such as the visit to the Sulphur Mountain Hot Springs.

Camp out in America's National Parks on Western Family Discovery

This family favourite allows travellers to enjoy nature at its finest. Experience the best of western USA's national parks across four states, and camp beneath the vast open skies Highlights include a tour of the backroads of Monument Valley by a Navajo guide, hiking the Grand Canyon, cycling whilst wildlife spotting in Yosemite, and wading through The Narrows at Emerald Pool in Zion National Park.

Building on Hull's success as 2017 UK City of Culture, a newly-launched TransPennine Express 'North of England Rover Ticket' is offering visitors a chance to explore four famous northern cities on a cultural voyage of discovery.

Starting in the 'gateway' city of Hull, the brand new 'ticket-to-ride' gives four days of unlimited rail travel between Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool on a ticket that is valid for eight days.

To help visitors make the most of the value for money North of England Rover, suggested itineraries also offer some top tips for city culture, from Liverpool's Beatles Story and Tate Liverpool to Manchester's Lowry and Bridgewater Hall and Leeds' Henry Moore Institute and Royal Armouries.

Suggestions also cover events in the four cities right through the year, from music festivals to literary celebrations and award-winning markets to new stage productions, offering visitors a chance to compile their perfect northern cities tour.

It's no coincidence that the North of England Rover Ticket has been unveiled in 2017 - the year when Hull is able to offer its visitors 365 vibrant days of culture during its reign as the UK City of Culture.

But with so many galleries, exhibitions, events and festivals to enjoy across some of the UK's liveliest cities, visitors are being given four days of unlimited travel over eight days – allowing visitors plenty of time in each of the partner cities before heading back to Hull.

The sixth and final episode of BBC Two's Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby series to be broadcast on Monday 8th May features the famous ICEHOTEL in Swedish Lapland.  Constructed from scratch every year for the winter season, this year for the first time, the hotel will be open outside of the winter months with the launch of ICEHOTEL 365 making it the first all year-round ice accommodation in the world.

Located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, this ever-evolving hotel – with rooms built entirely of ice - is the original ICEHOTEL in Sweden and one of the most unique places to stay in the world.  Rooms are harvested from blocks of snow and ice from the River Torne at Jukkasjärvi in the far north of Sweden, and crafted by artists, architects, sculptors and ice experts.  A night spent at the ICEHOTEL is like no other. The rooms and suites are made entirely from ice and a thick mattress and thermal sleeping bag are vital with the temperature a somewhat distracting -5°outside of the warm cosy sleeping bag.

The newly opened ICEHOTEL 365 is a permanent structure offering the experience of sleeping on ice year-round.  Unlike the seasonal ICEHOTEL which melts in spring, ICEHOTEL 365 uses solar technology under its domed roof which is covered in grass and wild flowers. Maintained at sub-zero temperatures by solar power, the interior of ICEHOTEL 365 is just like the winter one, complete with icebar, art gallery and 20 suites, some of which have warm en-suite bathrooms (by way of a clever airlock corridor between the room and suite).  The unique experience in summer offering a night in an ice room even when it is warm outside can be combined with the tranquility of nature and activities such as cycling, river rafting, stand up paddle boarding, ice sculpting and fishing under the sun, which does not set for 50 consecutive days during summer.

The Philippines’ Mactan Island, located in Cebu, is renowned for its world-class diving and historical significance. Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is located in the heart of Mactan Island and a perfect locale from which to launch dive adventures, visit nearby islands as well as explore historical sites such as Magellan’s Cross, Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and Mactan Shrine.

First certified by Green Globe in 2013, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu has once again demonstrated its sustainability credentials with an impressive compliance score of 83%.

The hotel’s Green Team coordinates all sustainability initiatives and leads the properties’ effective communication strategies, ensuring all departments are achieving optimal performance.

An Energy Audit Team, composed of representatives from all major departments, carries out weekly energy audits in all areas. The team quickly corrects and highlights incorrect practices and procedures as well as unnecessary wastage of power and other resources. LED lights are installed in guest rooms, guest floor corridors and ballrooms. Also, motion sensors are installed in restrooms to help reduce power consumption.

The latest highbred water heater technology is being used. This technology has proven to be more energy-efficient than well-known heat pump systems, consuming less than half the power usage. In addition, the system is 90% maintenance-free and has no refrigeration component, meaning a more ozone-friendly result.

As part of its “Green Options”, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu has a catering services program that purchases locally sourced ingredients and organic food products. Not only does this enhance the guests’ experience of Filipino cuisine, but also provides an opportunity to help local farmers and suppliers.

Within its community, the hotel has adopted the local learning center, CARE – Cordova Alternative Resource of Education. A lunch program is regularly conducted to feed the school’s children who come from families living in poverty. To bring joy to the CARE students, a Christmas Party with gift-giving was held at the end of last year in partnership with the Department of Tourism who were represented by current and former Miss Cebu Tourism winners and contestants. And to further support CARE, the hotel’s Departmental Team Building Day will be utilized as a one-day repair and re-painting campaign for the school’s facilities.

Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is conscious to reduce and reuse resources wherever possible. To reduce the use of potable water, rainwater is collected and along with treated wastewater, is used for flushing in restrooms.

A Material Recovery Facility has been established to reduce waste by segregation and collection of all recyclables, including: PET mineral water bottles, discarded cartons, old newspapers and magazines and high value plastics. These recycled materials earn revenue, which will be used for community outreach programs in the future.

Visit Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu, one of the most scenic destinations in the Philippines. Ideally located 6 kilometers from Mactan Cebu International Airport, this 5-star Mediterranean-inspired beachfront hotel, with 245 rooms and suites, offers contemporary style with a fun and fresh appeal for both leisure and business travelers. Offering an array of choices from deluxe rooms to suite, event spaces, wellness and leisure activities, entertainment and culinary delights, this hip and happening property is the most ideal choice to jumpstart your Cebu sojourn.

Malta is already firmly on the map as a must-visit destination for its beautiful beaches, delicious cuisine and abundance of history and culture. With improvements to inter-island transport, new hotels on the horizon and exciting festivals such as the Isle of MTV and Malta Jazz Festival, the island looks set to become even bigger and better than before.

Campbell Gray property Phoenicia Malta has reopened following an extensive €15 million refurbishment, confirming its status as one of the most luxurious and sought after hotels on the island. Located in Floriana, just outside the capital of Valletta, all 136 bedrooms and the Grand Ballroom have been upgraded, in addition to a new outdoor infinity pool and re-designed grounds and terraces across the hotel. August 2017 will see the unveiling of the new Café Phoenicia, featuring a beautiful outdoor terrace overlooking the Bastian Walls, Renzo Piano’s City Gate and the Triton’s Fountain, whist the health club and spa will open in late 2017.

As one of the quietest destinations in Europe, Scotland is the perfect place to enjoy some peace and calm. In fact, the recent Scotland Visitor Survey, commissioned by VisitScotland, revealed that almost a quarter of visitors' holiday in Scotland to 'get away from it all.'

A growing interest in our physical and mental health has led to increased interest in wellbeing tourism as holidaymakers embrace the chance to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

So, whether it's a desire to de-stress or a craving for calm, Scotland's stunning vistas, wild open mountains and hushed hideaways make it the ideal location to unwind in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Five-star visitor attraction Dynamic Earth will take visitors on a journey through the cosmos this Bank Holiday, with an immersive theatre experience.

From 29 April – 1 May, visitors can learn all about British astronaut Tim Peake's Principia mission to the International Space Station in the Cosmos Planetarium – a state of the art, fully digital 360° pop up dome.

Once inside the dome, visitors will fly up to the International Space Station on a Soyuz rocket to dock with the station, then explore some of the modules to learn how Tim, and the other astronauts, live and work in space – all from the comfort of their seat. Educational and fun, the film also includes launch footage of the Principia mission.

Britain's first astronaut, and national treasure, Tim Peake, visited the attraction last autumn as part of a UK-wide tour, to meet with fans and answer questions on his time in space.

Eilidh Massie, marketing manager at Dynamic Earth, commented: “After the excitement of Tim's visit last year, we're really pleased to be able to bring him back to Dynamic Earth, albeit in digital form! His work inspires so many of our visitors and we think this amazing 360 film will get even more youngsters interested in space.”

Tickets to the film are free with entry to Dynamic Earth and can be booked on the day. Other space themed activities at Dynamic Earth over the Bank Holiday weekend include colouring and craft activities and a fun space hunt through the galleries. Plus, young visitors can take a little bit of the action home with them, with a free space poster.

On top of the space activities, regular Dynamic Earth features include Scotland's only permanent 4D cinema, a real iceberg, a bone-shaking earthquake and the Deep Time Machine which takes visitors billions of years back in time.

Gone are the days when a significant birthday or wedding anniversary was marked with a gold watch or a diamond ring. Today the entire family can look forward to celebrating together on their dream holiday.  With a special occasion to celebrate, there's no better way than taking a once in a life time holiday with family and friends.

Since 2015, Turquoise Holidays has seen a 400% increase in holidays booked with the sole purpose of celebrating an anniversary or special occasion. It is no coincidence that their luxury family holiday sales have also gone through the roof, as children, grandparents, extended family members  and even close friends are now invariably included in the multi-generational trip to mark a silver or gold wedding anniversary, a 40th or 50th birthday, the last family holiday or retirement.

Catherine Blanks, long established senior travel specialist with Turquoise, is heading up the new Special Occasions & Anniversaries Division which features on the tour operator's website, along with a suggestion of handpicked hotels and tours that will roll out the red carpet and lay on the wow factor to suit any modern day family celebration.

With many years of experience in arranging luxury holidays for Turquoise clients, no one is more skilled than Catherine at putting on a celebration holiday. She says: “I love creating bespoke and original itineraries to inspire and wow our clients. It's the little details and the attention we put into every holiday which makes us so unique, and my little black book is full of the world's very best hotel managers, concierge desks, wildlife guides and yacht captains. The unusual and different are my forte.  After all who doesn't love a wonderful surprise - especially when it involves a holiday surrounded by their nearest and dearest.”

Visit Cornwall is now officially calling summer early! On May 1st, Visit Cornwall and its members are launching 'Cornish Summer Time' (CST) which starts six weeks earlier than 'official' British Summer Time. A spectacular campaign that celebrates everything amazing about the naturally early summer lifestyle in Cornwall is set to roll out across the UK with amazing accommodation and entertainment offers for those who want to beat the crowds to the UK's multi-times favourite UK holiday destination.

In Cornwall, summer has always (un)officially kicked off on May 1st. For centuries, the Cornish have been celebrating the arrival of summer in Cornwall with the world famous May Day Oby Oss Festival that takes place annually in Padstow on May 1st.  The summer heralding continues on May 8th as Helston is decked out with bluebells, gorse and laurel leaves as part of Helston Flora Day to celebrate the end of winter and mark the arrival of the new vitality and fertility with the trees and flowers bursting into life.

The warmer micro-climate means locals and visitors hit the coast path, gardens and especially the beach, jumping in the swell and stretching their bare legs long before the rest of the country. Cornwall enjoys an extended summer period which enables locals and visitors alike to take full advantage of an unrivalled outdoor living lifestyle from May 1st to  October 1st if not longer.

With this in mind, on May 1st 2017 and alongside its members, Visit Cornwall has created a super colourful set of deals for visitors and tourists to set their calendars and get down to the UK's favourite destination for the ultimate short break or holiday. Visitors can fast-track their summer and indulge in exciting outdoor activities such as stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, outdoor culture experiences, surfing, wild swimming, fishing, foraging, alfresco dining as well as the perennial delights of walking along the coast and visiting the great range of heritage properties, villages and towns.

Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, Malcolm Bell says, “With the exciting new proclamation of CST, we are simply maximising what is already instinctively there, and spreading the word to Cornwall and fans of outdoor summer living across the nation. We're really excited about the launch of Cornish Summer Time this year and are delighted that our members have jumped on board to provide compelling offers to drive the campaign.”

Malcolm continues, “May and June tend to be quieter months in Cornwall, yet they are some, if not the best months of the year to be in the UK's number one holiday region. Epic panoramic coast and beach views, sunrises and candy coloured sunsets make for an Instagrammer's paradise and we are encouraging social media users to get involved and share their images using the hashtag #CST.”

Official figures show a record-breaking start to the year for inbound tourism to Britain. Today’s figures show that a new record has been set for inbound visits to the UK in the first two months of the year with 5.2 million visits, up 6% on the same period last year. Overseas visitors spent a record £2.7 billion in January and February, up 11% on the previous year.

Qatar Airways has become the first airline in the world to achieve compliance with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Resolution 753 at its hub in Hamad International Airport (HIA).

The resolution requires the airline to track every piece of baggage from the start of the journey all the way through to its finish. The certification has been achieved thanks to the airline’s Baggage Management System (“HAQIBA”) developed in-house, as well as its seamless real time integration with the Qatar Airways website and mobile app.

Qatar Airways offers real time updates on checked baggage through the “Track My Bags” feature on its website and mobile app, providing passengers with a truly hassle-free baggage experience. The mobile app provides real time notification to passengers with relevant updates on the bag, as well as the ability to retrieve the details on need basis using “My Trips”.

The information includes various stages of the baggage handling process such as check-in, transfer, arrival, as well as reference to bag tags and baggage belt. This information guides passengers during the journey and provides insight into any instance of delayed or lost baggage. The HAQIBA system enables Qatar Airways’ staff to proactively manage the delayed bags to provide an optimized handling process.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our careful attention to our passengers’ baggage, from the beginning of their journey all the way through to its finish, is yet another indication of the importance we place on customer experience. We have proactively taken steps to align our baggage management systems with IATA’s requirements. As a result, we are delighted that the association has declared Qatar Airways the first airline worldwide to become certified for end-to-end tracking for our hub at Hamad International Airport.”

New research from leading escorted tour operator Intrepid Travel highlights a trend towards gastronomy and authentic culinary experiences becoming the most important part of a holiday for Brits. Intrepid Travel has unveiled that a staggering 71% of Brits believe it is important to eat local dishes while on holiday and almost 40% spend up to five hours researching where to eat whilst on holiday. Almost 50% of those surveyed regard eating local dishes as 'important' and more than half believe guided group tours provide more authentic experiences. As Brits continue to place food at the top of their holiday agenda, Intrepid is adding to its dynamic range of Real Foodie Adventures with new tours in South Korea, Southern Italy, Portugal and Galicia, with the first departures from April.

The new tours offer authentic, mouth-watering experiences by pairing the classic grassroots Intrepid Travel style with a special food focus, uncovering the world's most exciting food cultures, whether its sharing a traditional meal with Buddhist monks in South Korea or sampling organic mozzarella di bufala direct from the source in Italy. An increasing number of Brits are recognising that these small group tours using knowledgeable local guides allow for culinary experiences that wouldn't be possible if travelling alone. The Intrepid survey results underline this as it emerges that 61% of Brits have joined guided group tours because it gives them access to places they wouldn't see on their own and more than a quarter (27%) have joined a group tour as they wanted an authentic experience. Interestingly it is millennials who are putting the most value on eating local dishes on holiday and experiencing culinary culture, contrary to recent reports that it is this generation who are to blame for food wastage. 45% of respondents who said they were 'likely' to book a holiday around food were in the 25-34 year old category, followed closely by the 16-24 year old category at 39%. To further highlight this trend, 40% of those who said they dedicate time to researching where they eat on holiday are in the 16-24 year old category, seconded by the 25-34 year old category.