Holiday & Travel

Cunard has added UK regional airport departures to its popular 2016 Mediterranean season programme. Flight departures from Birmingham and Bournemouth are available - with no regional supplement - on selected seven-night Mediterranean voyages on board Queen Victoria this summer.

Herm, Jethou and The Humps (a collection of sandbanks off the north-east corner of Herm), part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the English Channel, have been formally designated as a Ramsar site under The Convention on Wetlands. The announcement coincided with World Wetlands Day on 2nd February, which is marked each year to promote the importance of wetlands, not only for wildlife but also for local economies.

From 20th-26th March 2016, Central America will come alive with colourful processions and festivities in celebration of the 'Semana Santa', or Easter week, the most important religious holiday of the year. Catholicism is the predominant religion in Central America however each country is upheld by its own indigenous traditions that are kept alive throughout the holiday.

Jurys Inn Birmingham scooped the award for ‘Hotel of the Year’ at the 2016 WOW! Awards.  Hosted at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham, the awards ceremony is a leading international platform for the celebration and recognition of employees delivering outstanding customer service.

This work of literary nonfiction by Yannis Andricopoulos, former political journalist, author and co-founder of the legendary Skyros Holidays, takes the reader on a fascinating journey through history, politics and ideas on the strength of his own personal experiences in Greece and England, the countries he views respectively as mother and wife.

What could be more romantic than gazing up at thousands of stars with the one you love? From romantic retreats for two in a Dark Sky Friendly cottage to 'stars & spa' breaks and stargazing evenings, discover the wonder of the night sky this Valentine's Day.  To help you, we've rounded up some of the best ways to enjoy the skies above Northumberland in February.

Green is no longer a trend. For a growing number of responsible tourists, it's a way of life. Hotel ICON, a luxury hotel in Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui East district, follows this philosophy and has introduced a plethora of eco-initiatives to meet the expectations of today's eco-friendly traveller. From electric transportation options, to oxygen producing indoor gardens, Hotel ICON offers the very latest eco-innovations and technologies. Even guests who enter unconcerned by their carbon footprint will leave inspired to go green.

To commemorate the upcoming 50th anniversary of England's World Cup glory in July 2016, the five-star Royal Garden Hotel, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has created a bespoke room package for football fanatics to relive a Golden Moment of sporting history.

Tristan Auer, a prevailing force in the design world, famed for his stellar line up of work on the Hotel de Crillon and the Hotel Les Bains amongst others, has worked his magic on the renowned Cotton House Hotel on Mustique. Having been closed for two months for a full refurbishment of The Great Room and The Verandah Restaurant, this picture perfect Caribbean chic boutique hotel has been restored to it's rightful place at the heart of the island.

Love is in the air at luxury boutique The Sarojin, with the five-star resort revealing its 'Thai Rituals of Romance' to lure lovebirds this Valentine's Day. Designed to bring couples closer to Thailand, as well as to one another, those staying on 14 February can enjoy a day of cultural immersion as they discover ancient rituals and timeless Thai traditions of romance. During their day of discovery, couples will visit a traditional Thai temple to receive 'a Buddhist blessing of love' from a local monk.

British tourists will now receive a two year, multi-entry, visa to China as part of a new agreement between the two countries. This has replaced the single entry one year tourist visa. It will enable visitors from the UK to make multiple trips to China for longer periods.

In the traditionally busy sales period of January and February, people from the West Midlands are running the risk of missing out on holiday deals, such as low deposits, big discounts and free child places. New research by ABTA, The Travel Association, has shown that people in the West Midlands are less likely than the rest of the country to book holidays early. Only 20% of people booked earlier in 2015 than they did the previous year, compared to 29% nationally.

Leaders in world tourism will come together for the second time on February 4-6 in Istanbul. As part of the World Tourism Forum, 100 leading experts in the industry - will participate in the summit as speakers, with 7,000 attendees expected at the İstanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center. A main topic on the summit agenda is Africa, the new market of the industry.

If the King of Bohemia, Charles IV, were alive today, where do you think he would go and what would he show tourists in Prague? In 2016 it will be 700 years from the birth of Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor (1316–1378), one of the most eminent personalities of European history. Which places in Prague would His Royal Majesty show you, if he took on the role of your tour guide?

The glass viewing pod for British Airways i360, conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, was completed on Brighton beach, making way for the last phase of construction before the world's tallest moving observation attraction opens this summer. The construction team attached the final segment to the 162 metre tower earlier this afternoon, forming a breathtaking futuristic glass viewing pod which is ten times bigger than the capsules on the London Eye and can hold up to 200 people. 

As the Original Murder Mystery Weekend marks its 35 year anniversary in 2016, it has seen 126 complex plots and over 10,000 murders, as well as being credited with kick-starting the murder mystery phenomenon which is now enjoyed globally. Invented in 1981 by Joy Swift MBE, the original murder mystery weekend has satisfied more than 150,000 guests.