Holiday & Travel

Astronomy enthusiasts of all ages can discover the spectacular Australian outback sky at Ayers Rock Resort's upcoming Uluru Astronomy Weekend on 26-28 August 2016. Now in its third year, the popular event is run in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) and will be hosted by respected science journalist and ABC radio broadcaster Robyn Williams, as well as leading astronomers.

Selected from tens of thousands of applicants, London-based snapchatter Naila Abbasova is demonstrating to potential travelers how to make the most of travelling via WOW air through the airline's 'Snaptraveler' programme. Naila and three other individuals were hand-picked for the job of travelling to four different WOW air destinations and will be documenting their journey on the airline's snapchat account (wow-air), each giving a personal insight into the destinations they visit.

If you have plans to visit Asia this year, discover the hidden gems of AKARYN Hotel Group in destinations throughout Thailand. The award-winning collection of boutique 5-star properties pride themselves on being off the beaten track, combining outstanding locations, luxurious facilities and the most attentive of service.

Head to Sweden this 'Midsommar' to celebrate the longest day of the year with independent tailor-made tour operator Best Served Scandinavia and join the country's biggest festival apart from Christmas. Taking place on 25th June, the festival is often regarded as the best part of the year.  In a country with such dark winters and relatively short summers, the light and the warmth of summer is certainly cause for celebration. 

For travellers who wish to book an Antarctic voyage and follow in the 'foot steps' of legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton this coming winter, 2016/17 marking the 100th anniversary of Shackleton's remarkable expedition, Antarctica, the last great bastion of exploration and home of the 7th Continent, is an unforgettable experience with deep history, rich wildlife and unique and priceless sights.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary, Ngala Lodge is a small, luxurious property in Fajara, which has gained recognition as one of The Gambia's finest hotels. Receiving the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years, this privately owned property has grown from its former glory as a colonial mansion to a magnificent, boutique style property. Comprising 24 luxury suites and set in lush tropical gardens, mesmerising views are in abundance from its cliff top position overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Up, up, up to the Penthouse above the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and under the starlit canopy of the vast Pacific Ocean lies a brand new oasis of timeless sophistication and glamorous intimacy. Santa Monica's venerable Hotel Shangri-La has relaunched its iconic open-air rooftop bar – the only one to boast 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean – with a chic makeover to make the interiors as alluring as its guests.

From the Macy's Firework Show over the East River to the Big Bay Boom Fireworks Show in San Diego, over-the-top July 4th celebrations occur across this great nation. Don't forget the Lone Star State when writing your Fourth of July roundups. Let freedom ring as the largest 4th of July fireworks show in North Texas lights up the sky, lasting approximately 28-minutes.  

Opening the doors to an unparalleled, immersive dining experience, M6m, the brand-new underwater restaurant at OZEN by Atmosphere will be the first underwater restaurant within the South Malé Atoll and the first in the Maldives to be included on an all-inclusive plan when it opens on July 15. An open sea venue that's truly a world away, M6m (acronym for 'Minus 6 Meters'), is the result of painstaking planning, conceptualization and detailed design, with a focus on protecting the environment and the delicate, world-renowned aquatic life in the Maldives.

British Airways and Winair have announced they will offer a cost effective, same-day route from London to Dominica, via Antigua. The new route will mean that British travellers can leave the UK at 10:30 GMT and be in the hidden island paradise of Dominica with a rum punch in their hand by 18:30 local time.

From its world class nightlife and entertainment to its living Portuguese-Chinese culture, Macao is one of Asia's most exciting and fascinating destinations. While its neighbour Hong Kong is only 40 miles away, Macao can more than hold its own when it comes to out-of-this-world choices for a drink with a view.

POP is set to become not just a new airline, not just the only airline currently to fly non-stop from the UK to two of India’s key secondary cities – Amritsar (Punjab) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) - but an airline with a new unique business model. POP is a new, low-cost, long-haul airline with a social conscience that will meet the demand of the growing visiting friends and relatives (VFR) market as well as the expanding leisure-tourism and business sectors.

Regularly featuring in travel awards as the must-visit European destination and a perennial favourite with tourists seeking la dolce Vita, Italy is again proving to be a very popular place to visit in 2016. So the question is how to escape the tourist hordes this summer yet still enjoy Italy's alluring scenery, history and gastronomic delights? The best answer is to take a walking holiday where the paths and trails lead away from the over-crowded tourist hot-spots to give a more authentic experience and a sense of Italy's true cultural and regional diversity.

One of the jewels in the UK's cultural crown, Bath's Roman Baths will be opening until 10pm during July and August for a special season of Torchlit Summer Evenings. The Roman Baths take on a magical atmosphere once the sun goes down, the crowds disappear and the flickering torches are lit.

An adventure to seek out Manni the Mud Monster, a barbeque party in the great outdoors and pony rides – this year, the BIG Family will sweep you off on an exciting summer holiday. New this year is the Serlespark in Mieders. Right next to the mountain station Koppeneck, the new Serlespark theme park and world of relaxation ensures that the whole family gets to enjoy a variety of activities on the mountain.

Sydney, Australia is awash with colour this evening as more than 90 light installations light up the city for the annual Vivid Sydney festival, projecting colourful art on the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and throughout the city. Vivid Sydney runs for 23 nights until 18 June 2016. Vivid Sydney is the world's largest festival of light, music and ideas.