Holiday & Travel

Greece has seen a 1.3 per cent increase in year-on-year arrivals from all overseas markets between January and August 2016, provisional data released by the Bank of Greece reports. In the first eight months of 2016 Greece welcomed a record number of overseas visitors totalling approximately 17.2 million compared to almost 17 million in the same period last year without including cruise passenger visitors.

Gaya Island Resort marked another important milestone with the official launch of Gaya Island Resort Wildlife Centre on 26 October 2016. Led by Justin Juhun - Senior Resident Naturalist, the team is committed to long-term conservation, raising awareness for sustainable seafood choices, crafting experiences and educational programmes to protect and improve the natural environment for resort guests and future generations to come with the unwavering support of Sabah Parks and local governing bodies.

August and September mean springtime in South Africa and the landscape explodes into a technicolour carpet of wildflowers. Garden lovers can join Saga’s 16-night Wild Flora of the Cape tour to witness how Mother Nature works her magic, as well as visiting botanical gardens, private gardens and game reserves. Three talks are also included to give a full overview of the Cape’s floral wonders.

Barcelona's huge attraction for visitors has had the effect of leaving much of its province, Catalonia, a bit neglected as a travel destination, but a veritable treasure trove of culture, gastronomy, tradition and adventure awaits the visitor here. This is one of the Mediterranean's most richly varied regions offering everything from secret, turquoise coves with beachside restaurants in the summer to excellent skiing in the winter.

Avoid the January blues this year and boost your health and wellbeing with the ultimate holistic escape on ALEXA Private Cruises. Sail through the stunning Indonesian Archipelago, and take in the natural tropical paradise and calming azure waters. Located in one of the most spectacular archipelagos and coral reefs in the world, guests are invited to dive right into this dramatic and beautifully unspoilt destination. Komodo National Park is a World Heritage site in the Flores Sea and consists of the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar; because of its unique geology and volcanic activity, it creates a dramatic backdrop and stunning scenery both above and below water.

Tuesday 1st November sees the start of Arctic Live, BBC Two's new three-part series exploring the world's northernmost wilderness. Presenters Kate Humble, Simon Reeve and Gordon Buchanan will explore the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada and Alaska and broadcast live from the tundra at Churchill, Manitoba, where they'll be on the look-out for polar bears. Around 60 per cent of the world's polar bear population lives in Canada and Churchill is one of the few places inhabited by humans where polar bears can be observed in the wild.

If you're looking for a wildlife holiday, where better than one of the wildest places in the world to see caribou, moose, bears, sheep, birds and hundreds of other northern species? The Yukon is one of North America's major wilderness attractions; close to 80 percent remains pristine wilderness with just over 10 per cent of the territory fully protected. The Yukon has three national parks, six territorial parks and four Canadian Heritage Rivers.

Allow yourself the luxury of an unforgettable Festive Season at The St. Regis Bali Resort as the resort welcomes you to a celebration of festivity, brimming with lights, warmth and seasonal cheer. Pamper friends and family with thoughtful chocolate cookies, pudding, artisanal chocolate pralines, Christmas Stollen and premium wines and send your warmest Holiday Season's Greetings with a personalized hamper. Reflecting the festive spirit at its best, the team at Gourmand Deli can assist you to create a meaningful hamper, featuring the most comprehensive collection of Christmas treats on the island.

Vivid Sydney, one of the most spectacular light shows in the world, is set to impress again when it returns to Sydney for 23 nights from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June 2017. Owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the State Government's Tourism and Major Events agency, Vivid Sydney attracted more than 2.31 million people from around the globe in 2016.

Villa Maya Retreat stretches out along the banks of the Penet River in the beautiful village of Cepaka on Bali's south-western coast. Shaded by natural jungle vegetation and lush tropical gardens, this exclusive paradise is ideal for a time out and time together - for both relaxation and socialising. Balinese design is reflected through the villa's tropical architecture and interiors - just look at the traditional alang-alang thatched living pavilions and poolside bale.

As the nights get longer, and summer now a distant and gloomy 250 days away, a piece of winter sun could be just what the doctor ordered. An increase of Vitamin D and flu avoidance are just some of the benefits holidaymakers can expect from a winter sun break, as Dr Kayat explains, “Winter days in the UK are invariably short, wet and cold.

China is one of the most successful examples of where prioritization of Travel&Tourism in government policy leads to higher income and more jobs, said David Scowsill, President&CEO, World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC). Speaking at the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) in Macau, Scowsill emphasized the power of Travel&Tourism to drive economic growth and create jobs and highlighted the government of the People’s Republic of China’s recognition of this.

Thanks to its extravagant Halloween celebrations and striking autumnal foliage, the USA has been named as the top destination to visit alone this autumn In new data released by travel dating website and app TourBar.com, 9.9% of UK members have named the USA as their top destination for a solo trip this September to November. Following the USA's lead, the most popular short-haul destination for TourBar's UK travellers is Spain (8.5%), thanks to its cooler climate after the sweltering summer months.

One of Tenerife's most popular activities, Sunset and Stars – whereby guests experience a sunset on top of Mount Teide, a Canarian gourmet dinner and a stargazing session – will turn into a top-level gastronomic experience following the announcement that Michelin-starred Chef, Erlantz Gorostiza,  is to join the team. Gorostiza, the only Chef in the Canary Islands with two prestigious Michelin stars, will be designing a brand new menu to make the gastronomic experience an additional “star” of the show.

The Sarojin, one of Thailand's leading luxury resorts, has been named as 'Asia's Leading Boutique Hotel' in this year's World Travel Awards. Announced at the Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony in Vietnam, this globally-recognised award celebrates The Sarojin's ongoing commitment to delivering the highest possible standards for its guests.

Sydney and NSW will turn a delightful shade of blue in late-October and November with the start of the 2016 jacaranda season, signalling one of the most beautiful times of year and a great time to visit. The city's Eastern suburbs, North Shore and CBD will be awash with blooms as will the historic town of Grafton on the NSW North Coast. Grafton is often referred to as the jacaranda capital of Australia, it hosts the annual Grafton Jacaranda Festival, and is home to Australia's largest jacaranda tree, measuring 30 metres high with a six metre circumference and crown of around 36 metres.