Holiday & Travel

Puffin Fest, Scotland's celebration of the iconic puffin, returns to the Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, for the third consecutive year from 20 to 30 May. During the 10-day festival, the award-winning visitor attraction will host a family-friendly programme of activities, aimed at inspiring locals and visitors alike to learn more about the 'clowns of the sea', while also highlighting the importance of conserving and protecting Scotland's seabirds for future generations.

There is good news afoot for travellers who want to discover the unspoiled charm, spectacular scenery and adventure pursuits of the Caribbean destination of St. Kitts.  Until 17 May 2016, British Airways is offering huge savings on holidays to St. Kitts. Whether visiting the island for the first time or returning, now is the time to check out St Kitts for options available before it's too late. 

The VOLT Festival,  29 June – 2 July 2016 winner of the Best-Medium Sized Festival in 2015, takes place in Sopron close to the Austrian border in Hungary. It's easily reached by train from Budapest and this year's line-up includes Iron Maiden, The Prodigy, Damien Rice, Stereo MC's and Slayer. The festival attracts around 100,000 people each year and has become one of the most popular and diverse festivals in Europe.

Guernsey is set to welcome a new visitor attraction - its own Petit Train - from the end of May 2016. The on road train service will tour sites in a 35 minute narrated circuit operating from the island's capital, St Peter Port. Although initially aimed at cruise liner passengers, the train is expected to appeal to all visitors of the island and is set to become a staple of the island's character before long.

With the advantage of being just a short journey from the UK, the charming village of Samoëns in the heart of the French Alps boasts a wealth of pursuits, such as paragliding, mountain biking and hiking for lovers of the great outdoors. This summer, the traditional village is encouraging all those looking to embrace mountain air, stunning scenery and authentic French culture to discover Samoëns.

For an early start to the busy summer season, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority New York Office has launched a compelling new marketing campaign called ‘Get to Happy’. The premise of this campaign is driven by statistically proven data that states positive vacations lead to increased happiness. The promotion will target consumers and travel agents and highlight all the “happy” attributes Antigua and Barbuda has to offer which will in turn entice visitors to book a trip to the destination this summer and fall.

Yukon is a destination of unparalleled scenic beauty that captivates its visitors under the spell of the midnight sun and the dance of northern lights. It's a land that provides Larger than Life experiences distinguished by culture and its vast, wide-open spaces and the freedom inspired by the unending, pristine wilderness. If you have an adventurer's spirit, a love of nature and a passion for exploration, Yukon should be at the top of your holiday destination list.

TravMedia UK has announced that next year's IMM, the travel and tourism industry's leading single-day event for the media, will take place on 13 March 2017. The showpiece event connecting journalists with travel industry PR professionals has already attracted a flood of early bookings. Once again IMM's home is QEII Centre, the largest dedicated conference and exhibition space in central London.

Caribbean Airlines announced the launch of its “Happiest Ultimate Moments” – H.U.M campaign, designed to create “positive vibes” and deliver added value to customers travelling during the months of June and September 2016. A special H.U.M. Pass will be offered to all regional and international passengers, who can then enjoy special discounts with Caribbean Airlines’ retail partners throughout the airlines’ network.

Visitors can play their way through half-term at Eden with a wide range of oversized, retro and traditional games to entertain all ages from May 28 to June 5. There will be a giant selection of hands-on games for friends and family to work together, play together, share memories of their favourite gaming experiences and most importantly, have fun. Younger ones can explore the many play areas, hidden nooks and crannies that Eden's gardens have to offer and even play a game or two of hide and seek.

Northern Ireland's landscape has long been used for Game of Thrones medieval set and this year is no different even adding a few more places to the checklist for tourists to re-enact their favourite moments. With 21 locations, Bunk Campers 7 day driving route bridges the gap between fantasy and reality allowing sightseers to visit the magical worlds of Westeros across Northern Ireland.

The new One Liberty Observation Deck, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree views of Philadelphia, will join the Philadelphia CityPASS® program. Located on the 57th floor of One Liberty Place skyscraper, the observation deck soars 883 feet (269 m) above street level.

In a salute and tribute to the “unconquered” spirit of wounded warriors from around the world, Experience Kissimmee has signed on to be the official tourism supporter of the Invictus Games 2016. The Prince Harry-inspired Invictus Games will attract about 500 athletes from 15 nations competing at ESPN Wide World of Sports located in Kissimmee, May 8-12. 

Northumberland is beautiful at any given time. From the chocolate-box perfection of the coast in summer to the haunting beauty of the windswept moorland in winter, you're guaranteed to see something different with each visit. But Spring is a special time when the county bursts into life, wildlife returns and we can look toward the warm summer months.  Make the most of it with plenty of events across both Bank Holiday weekends in May.

The Canary Islands' natural wonders provide the ideal setting for the most demanding competitions on the international sporting agenda, which will take place on the Archipelago over the coming months. The Canarian mountains provide a scenic yet challenging backdrop, incorporating leafy forests, volcanic terrain and clean island seas.

It's now even easier to take off for a long weekend of culture, fine food, eye-catching architecture and excellent shopping, travelling with British Airways on their new flight from London Heathrow to Billund Airport just South of the European Capital of Culture 2017, Aarhus. Launching on 3rd May 2016, the service offers 11 weekly flights. These are in addition to the flights currently offered from London City Airport and Manchester to Billund through the airline's franchise partner Sun-Air.