Holiday & Travel

It's no secret that the long awaited live action release of Walt Disney's classic love story Beauty and The Beast will be hitting theatres on March the 17th. At Unique Home Stays it's not the talking candelabras and teacups, nor the enchanted, fading rose that captures attention, it is that wondrous castle in all its majesty that makes this particular romance an unforgettable tale, as old as time.

The combination of almost record snowfall and the new Delta Airlines non-stop flight from London Heathrow to Salt Lake City has been the catalyst to a massive increase in British skiers visiting Park City. In the last week alone another 42 inches/ 106 cm of fresh snow has fallen for skiers of all disciplines to enjoy. The Delta non-stop flight, which operates four days every week during the winter ski season, has helped see visitors from the UK more than double in number since last season.

Elite Island Resorts is  welcoming back one of the UK's top Puffin books illustrators for an adults Sketch Club on Palm Island Grenandines this September. Sketch Palm Island will take place September 5-9 inclusive and is free of charge  for guests.  One of the 15 places can be reserved when booking a Palm Island holiday with a tour operator or, if places remain, upon check in.

Guided by the Chinese 'Yin and Yang' principle that opposing forces are interconnected, complementary and inseparable in our lives, Villa Yang is the vacation retreat to rejuvenate body and soul. Hidden in Phuket's 'Millionaires' Mile', Villa Yang allures people with its splendid Thai architecture, Andaman sea views from every corner, walls of designer paintings, crystal chandeliers and cool dark granite floors. This four-bedroom pool villa is simply stunning.

VisitBritain is gearing up to host its largest ever global tourism trade event to promote destination Britain to the world. Now in its third year ‘ExploreGB’ is heading south to Brighton. More than 400 international buyers from 40 countries will do business with 430 travel industry suppliers from across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland at the event being held from Thursday 2 March to Friday 3 March at the Brighton Centre.

Five-star Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel, located in Tenerife’s upmarket resort of Costa Adeje, has again been chosen as the base for the beginning of the new series of The Only Way is Essex. Following the success of their first stay in 2015, the production team chose the Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel due to its idyllic backdrops, superb facilities and enviable location.

The Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, has made a proposal for Mauritius to look at the possibility of having daily flights between the two islands. This was during the courtesy call of the Mauritian Minister for Ocean Economy Marine Resources Fisheries and Shipping, Remdut Koonjoo, on Minister Loustau-Lalanne. Minister Loustau-Lalanne said air connectivity between Seychelles and Mauritius is vital, and there is a need to increase the flights between the two destinations.

La casa verde, a sustainable Ecuadorian eco guesthouse and lodge, is up for grabs via the “WIN the Lifestyle” sales promotion! With the purchase of e-book, Back to Earth (USD$29), purchasers are automatically entered to win full legal ownership of the award-winning hotel, located in one of the hottest tourist destinations in Baños, Ecuador.

Underlining its position as one of the world's top beach holiday destinations, the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba has now scooped major global awards. Millions of international tourists have voted the island's Eagle Beach third best in the world and runner-up in the Caribbean in the 2017 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.  'It's a fantastic accolade,' commented Joanna Walding, UK & Ireland manager for the Aruba Tourism Authority.

From 20th – 27th March 2017, the seven countries of Central America will be awash with colourful processions, street parties and festivities in celebration of the famous 'Semana Santa' or Easter Week. Easter in Central America bears similarities to the religious festivals held in Spain that were carried over to the region over 500 years ago. However, celebrations in each country are underpinned by their own indigenous influences and make visiting Central America during Semana Santa an enriching experience.

Green Globe has welcomed Hyatt Ziva Cancun to its collection of certified resorts in Mexico. Hyatt Ziva Cancun is the first Hyatt property in Mexico to be certified for its sustainable operations and management. Alexandre de Brouwer, Director General, Hyatt Ziva Cancun said, “We are very proud to have been awarded with the Green Globe certification. As part of the tourism industry and as human beings we have been blessed by Mother Nature and should preserve it for future generations.

Airbnb has taken centre stage of the travel industry with its recent launch of shiny, Netflix-like, local experiences. While great, these trips typically only give guests a short period of time (one day, two evenings, three partial days, etc.) with the local host. This leaves guests with a wonderful, but limited, taste of the local culture. While a short dose of local culture might be enough for some, those wanting a deeper immersion should look to a learning holiday provider for their cultural experience.

The Eden Project has been granted planning permission for a new 109-bedroom on-site hotel. The £8.5 million hotel has been designed to blend into the countryside and have high standards of accessibility, energy-efficiency and sustainability. Its striking, unconventional design features prominent timber poles, cladding the outside of its two blocks. Eden plans to start construction in late 2017 and open the hotel in April 2018. It is estimated that 35-40 new jobs will be created for the hotel.

Official figures released by the Tenerife Tourism Corporation show that the largest of the Canary Islands welcomed a total of 2,049,093 visitors from the UK last year – a 16.1% upsurge compared to 2015 – and the highest number ever recorded. The UK market retains its prevailing position as the largest source market to Tenerife, accounting for 36.6% of all visitors to the island.

Portugal has committed to partnering with the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. The commitment was presented to UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, during his recent official visit to Portugal. Among the initiatives to celebrate the Year, Portugal is promoting the rehabilitation of historical buildings in the interior of the country and routes through natural areas.

As the cold days persist, outdoor accommodation specialist Pitchup.com has revealed the most 'hygge' holiday sites in Europe. Pronounced "hoo-gah", the Danish lifestyle concept is all about finding happiness and comfort in life's simple pleasures and making you feel calm, relaxed and cosy. A perfect remedy to the UK's long and frequent cold spells, the art of hygge has been sweeping the nation. Think cosy fires, cuddly blankets, the glow of candles and hearty food.