Holiday & Travel

Comprised of 33 islands, Bahrain is the understated pearl of the Arabian Gulf wrapped within striking desert dunes and clear turquoise waters, awash with vibrant traditional souks rich in colour and ancient heritage.  A destination with so much to offer, guests can enjoy a desert barbeque, discover secrets of the Dilmun era at The Digs at Saar, lose themselves in the meandering lanes of the Gold Souk or dine at the famous King Fahad Causeway, linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

With spring just around the corner, the almond trees that surround Castell Son Claret in Mallorca are about to burst into life and transform the countryside beyond this luxury retreat and former castle, flooding the senses with the scent of blossom and the sight of acres of white flowers. To celebrate this beautiful time of year, the 38-room hotel is offering special packages valid for stays from when the hotel reopens for the season on 6th February 2017 through to the end of March 2017, including an Almond Blossom package and a 3-for2 offer.

A U.S road trip with a loved one is the perfect romantic adventure this Valentine's Day. Driving along some of the world's most spectacular coastlines, lazy days on sun-kissed beaches, nights snuggled up in cosy cabins in the heart of awe-inspiring forests and enjoying a taste of old-world Americana, will make for a truly unique, romantic break. Explore the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado and head to the town of Loveland which plays host to the nation's biggest Valentine's festival.

With 2017 looking to be the year of mental health awareness, Health and Fitness Travel, have launched The Mental Makeover Retreat in Italy. Led by international master of mind-improvement and celebrity coach; Steve McKeown, this ground-breaking wellness retreat launches this June and September held at the luxurious Ti Sana Detox Retreat & Spa near Milan and Lake Como, with more destinations and dates to follow.

Throughout February, luxury 5* hotel The Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island will be giving love-birds the chance to fly away to their own private island for an unforgettable Valentine's experience. Named as 'The Most Romantic Hotel in Britain' by The Sunday Times and 'One of the Most Romantic Hotels in the UK' by The Telegraph, the exclusive destination set in 350-acre private island off the west coast of Scotland is celebrating the most romantic holiday of the year with a whole month dedicated to love.

Dedicated to fearless couples wanting to celebrate love in the lush setting of Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico's Pacific coast, Casa Velas stages an unforgettable experience mixing love and food at 46-metre up in the sky. Whilst taking in the breathtaking views of the property's on-site golf course and beautifully polished grounds, Banderas Bay and Sierra Madre Mountains, guests will enjoy a three-course gourmet dinner designed by top chefs, including Mikel Alonso and Bruno Oteiza, disciples of Spanish superstar Juan Arzak and owners of Biko in Mexico City, regularly among the top 50 restaurants in the world on the San Pellegrino list.

Scotland is a land of contradictions: from the bright sunshine hitting a Highland hillside in the spring; to the dark and gruesome history of Edinburgh's Royal Mile.  Romantic Scotland is hardly a new concept in the 21st century… but it could get decidedly darker. Glasgow is reputedly the final resting place of St Valentine; as well as some blood-thirsty vampires.   And many people love a Scottish ceilidh wedding; as well as a spooky story. 

As the Chinese New Year turns to the Year of the Rooster, new research from Wendy Wu Tours reveals that while 90 per cent of British holidaymakers have never been to the Great Wall of China, visiting a World Heritage Site or one of the new Modern Wonders of the World such as The Great Wall is at the top of a bucket list for 60 per cent.

Wedding ceremonies in Samoa are legally recognised worldwide, with many of the hotels, resorts and tour operators offering wedding and honeymoon packages with in-house wedding coordinators. They will also be able to assist with the application forms for a marriage license which must be filed fourteen days prior to the wedding with the local Justice Department.

Specialist Tour Operator Best Served has launched a brand new dedicated Best Served Canada programme for 2017, featuring an exciting range of self drive holidays and escorted tours across this beautiful country. Commenting, Lorna Curry, Product Manager, says 'What better timing to launch our new programme to Canada than to coincide with the 150 year celebrations that will be taking place across the country this year."

With the January blues well and truly sinking in, now is the perfect time to book a luxury all-inclusive family holiday to the Maldives for the upcoming February half term holiday. A range of exciting luxury family packages are available during the February half term, including a seven night all-inclusive package at Kurumba Maldives. Also on offer is a seven night all-inclusive package at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, a seven night all-inclusive package at Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, and a seven night all-inclusive package at Amari Havodda Maldives.

With guaranteed sun, authentic Arabian culture, luxury indulgence and adventure activities abound, it's no surprise that Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE's northernmost emirate, continues to grow as a premier tourism destination. Riding that momentum, Ras Al Khaimah will continue to rise in the minds of discerning travellers, thanks to ongoing development of new tourism attractions and a full calendar of events. Read on to discover what's new and hot in the destination for 2017 and beyond:

Brits are going crazy for staycations according to Sykes Cottages, who have announced a 32% increase on domestic holiday bookings in January 2017 versus last year. The Lake District in particular is proving popular with customers, with bookings up 67%. Wales is following closely with a 40% increase. Graham Donoghue, CEO at Sykes Cottages said: “We're seeing holidays in the UK fly off the shelf this January with greater demand than ever before."

Tenerife's highly-anticipated and famous Carnival is to take on a Caribbean theme in 2017. Buccaneer hats, feathered parrots, eyepatches and any pirate related items will all be welcome as the Canary Island pays tribute to all things Caribbean, with the main event scheduled between 19th February to 5th March. The Santa Cruz Carnival is the island's largest and most anticipated festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to Tenerife's capital city every year.

The opening of international flights to Gan airport, adjacent to Addu township in the south of the Maldives, has opened a new era for the region – providing an alternative transportation offering that can save travellers valuable vacation time. 
On 1 December SriLankan Airlines started flying from Colombo to the upgraded Gan airport, formerly a UK Royal Air Force refilling base until 1976 when it became a domestic airport. SriLankan Airlines now departs Colombo for Gan four times a week using a 150-seat Airbus 320.