Holiday & Travel

Your TV screen this August is likely to be blanketed with gorgeous helicopter tracking shots of Rio de Janeiro's gorgeous hills, lagoons, bays and beaches, but of course the real Rio has so much more to offer than the standard view from the Christ Statue. Rosie Tobin from South America specialists RealWorld takes a look at some of the ways you could get away from the hype and hustle of the Olympics, and off the beaten track (and field...) in Rio this summer.

Summer 2016 has got off to an exciting start in Macao, as it hit the big screen this month in 'Now You See Me 2', and opened a new waterfront entertainment hub for visitors. It doesn't stop there though, with a number of new luxury hotel openings and a variety of events also scheduled for this summer, including the 'Wushu Masters Challenge' and 28th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, which will see UK team 'Pyro 2000' compete in one of the world's largest and best shows of its kind.

As summer's latest blockbuster 'The Legend Of Tarzan' hits the big screens, providing plenty of travel inspiration for animal-lovers, adventure honeymooners can follow in the footsteps of Tarzan and Jane, and set off deep into the forests of Africa in search of primates. Venture into an ethereal wonderland, track gorillas on foot, and experience the unique animal magic of this destination first-hand.

As travellers increasingly look to experience authentic local cultures, Adriatic Luxury Hotels is paving the way for visitors wanting to get to the heart of this prolific destination with a plethora of unique activities bound to create an “extra-Croatianary” escape on the beautiful Adriatic coast. Located only a short walk away from the ancient city walls of Dubrovnik's Old Town, 5-star Hotel Bellevue is the perfect base for guests to explore Dubrovnik's distinctive landmarks and venture out to find the region's hidden gems.

While Bali is all things to all people, there's no disputing that for many, it's considered THE place to party. Party people, meet Villa Kalyani. With its dance floor, two bars, formal dining room, gourmet chef, rooftop reception terrace, professional DJ booth and indoor/outdoor movie theatre, you've just hit the jackpot. Cry 'Hallelujah', gather your friends and let the good times begin.

Quark Expeditions®, the world leader in polar expedition travel, is celebrating the recent release of its 2017/18 Antarctic expedition schedule with the launch of its Virtual Reality Antarctic Experience and Antarctic VR app. From 1991's first-ever tourism transit of the Northeast Passage, to the first branded Antarctic VR voyage, Quark continues to blaze new trails in polar adventure travel.

Last week, MTV in partnership with the Malta Tourism Authority returned to the island to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Isle of MTV Malta. Valletta’s Il-Fosos Square was once again ignited by knockout performances from Wiz Khalifa, Jess Glynne and Clean Bandit, in addition to a killer closing set from Electro-House heavyweight Steve Aoki. Kicking off the party was local band Airport Impressions who had the tens of thousands of fans moving to their unique blend of Rock and House music.

The Tenerife Tourism Corporation has today announced the launch of its #bigwarmhug campaign to communicate to all British residents that the people of Tenerife are on their side no matter what happens with regards to the United Kingdom's status in the EU. Reaching out to both consumers and the travel trade, the campaign will be primarily promoted via social media channels and will see the local people of Tenerife offering a “big warm hug” to British tourists already on the island, as well as encouraging British residents to engage in the good feeling campaign.

It may be strange to be thinking about Festive Ski just now, particularly before the summer has really got going, and the impact of Brexit has become a bit clearer.   But these two issues are good reasons to have something exciting to really look forward to. Powder Byrne has already experienced a high level of bookings for this period, so for families to be sure they get the best choice of hotels and rooms within, it is recommended to get Festive Skiing holidays booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.  

Described as “nature's greatest experiment” by Sir David Attenborough, the Galápagos Islands offer a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. To celebrate the launch of their brand new Galápagos Odyssey, adventure cruising specialists Aurora Expeditions share their favourite things to do and see in one of the world's wildest archipelagos. Take a geology lesson – hike up Española Island's four-million-year-old volcano, hop on 100-year-old cactus-dotted lava fields on Bartolomé Island or take the 600-metre walkway up to the hills for stunning view of the sea-cooled hot lava formation Pinnacle Rock.

Demand is growing for a new breed of eco-cabin holiday across the UK. Holiday makers are increasingly seeking high quality, sustainable short break accommodation and are favouring providers that genuinely give back to society. Recent findings from Booking.com show that 52% claim that they are likely to favour a destination that can offer a reduced impact on the environment. Forest Holidays has 571 cabins in nine stunning locations across Britain.

Love is in the air as the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba stages its third annual festival celebrating that emotion in all its forms. Now expanded and moved to a new, larger venue, The Love Festival will be staged on July 29-31, offering entertainment across three days instead of two as in previous years. Organisers says this is a festival where it is all about love – love for each other, love for the universe and love of dance music.

The leader of one of the world’s leading resort companies will outline a vision for Caribbean tourism as he sets the tone for the region’s most important tourism gatherings, the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC). The chief executive officer of Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart, will deliver the keynote address at the 14-16 September event in Barbados, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Barbados’ minister of tourism and international transport Richard Sealy announced.

The new home of luxury travel in Martinique, French Coco, opened July 1, 2016, beginning a new era of upscale hospitality in The Isle of Flowers. Expressly designed to blend elegance and comfort with nature and the colorful Creole spirit of Tartane, the small fishing village where the hotel is located, French Coco debuts with a four-star rating and membership in the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels Of The World.

Exclusive five-star Phuket hideaway Paresa is embracing the spirit of one of the Asia's most exciting and colourful events, with a package combining the island's annual Vegetarian Festival with a gourmet Vegetarian tasting menu and classes in Thai vegetarian street cooking. Paresa will also offer a guided tour of the festival in Phuket's 'Old Town' and a visit to a colourful local market accompanied by Paresa's chef to select ingredients for the cookery masterclass.