Holiday & Travel

Children and young people in Birmingham with complex medical and specialist needs are set to benefit from a series of action-packed short breaks provided by national deafblind charity, Sense. Sense’s Short Breaks programme has been developed in partnership with Birmingham City Council to give 27 children and young people up to three separate trips away from home over a one year period.

Spring is a time of re-birth in Liguria. Locals walk along tree-lined promenades by the seafront, mountain bikers take to the Ligurian hills, and the air is filled with the scent of festivities and celebrations. Liguria is the heart of Italian cuisine and is famous for its street vendors selling warm focaccia, award-winning pesto and seafood dishes filled with aromatic fresh herbs and seasonal vegetables.

Visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare, the playwright whose work is considered the greatest in the history of English literature. April 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death and Saga guests can stay in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon to trace Shakespeare’s own story.

Sardinia has a remarkable 450 miles of standard and narrow gauge railway so what better way to explore its unspoilt inland and coastal beauty than on board a historic steam train? Heritage rail tour operator The Railway Touring Company has been offering its 'Sardinia and the Emerald Coast' tour for 15 years now and has refined the route to take in all the highlights in a nine day journey around this mountainous Italian island.

From trekking round Mont Blanc to camping in Provence, Nice on a shoestring to the culinary delights of Auvergne, the regions and lifestyle of France were celebrated by an inspirational variety of entries to this year's French Travel Media Awards. The winners were announced at a celebratory evening in the stylish surroundings of Searcy's country-style townhouse in London's fashionable Knightsbridge. 

World-class tourism marketing campaigns, attractions and events have pushed international visitor numbers to a record high in NSW, with 3.4 million overseas visitors spending $8.45 billion in 2015. Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said the data shows the results of the NSW Government's ongoing investment in tourism and major events and promotion of our State to attract even more international visitors.

The St. Regis Bali Resort adds to its accomplishments by winning four award categories in this year's International Hotel Awards. The prestigious international award was announced at the award gala dinner in London where The St. Regis Bali Resort was awarded Best International Resort Hotel, Best Resort Hotel Asia Pacific, Best Large Hotel Indonesia and Best Resort Hotel Indonesia.

More resorts that were a week ago in the path of Cyclone Winston in Fiji's Yasawa and Mamanuca islands are ready to welcome visitors again, backpackers have swapped the beach for the villages where they are helping with the clean up and cruise and resort connection vessels are helping distribute much needed supplies.

When you consider Canada, a plethora of iconic images come to mind. Perhaps foremost are its majestic mountains and emerald green lakes, but consider for a moment experiencing these beautiful vistas away from the bustling tourist trails and combining them with historic 'gold rush' locations, the ethereal display of the Northern Lights and an unimaginable array of wildlife. Canada's Yukon territory is an unspoilt land of breath-taking proportion and a destination of unmistakable beauty.

You now can have the chance to see and snorkel with Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and many other cetaceans in Sri Lanka. The announcement of these new safe and responsible encounters follows shortly after Sir David Attenborough mentioned in a recent interview that one of his regrets was that he had never swum with a blue whale.

A new bespoke tour guide service has launched online, that is changing the tour guide industry and opening up the world of private city tours to everyone. Touriocity specialises in offering affordable, private, bespoke tours in 50+ cities across the world; it is the only website that allows customers to create and book their perfect private tour, tailored to their needs, before they leave for their trip.  

Following the relaxation around pension rules in the UK last year, British aged 55 (the minimum pension age) and over, have caught the travelling bug and are deciding to venture across the world with some of their newly accessible money. The research from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) reveals that almost a million Britons are now considering dipping into their pension pots, with taking a holiday or travelling being the most popular option to spend the money on.

Central America's annual festivals reflect ancient traditions while embracing new modern customs, resulting in fascinating quirky events, including the Mayan River Route Challenge, Feria de la Mascarada, and a Chocolate Festival. Experienced and amateur canoers come together every year to take part in the gruelling Mayan River Route Challenge, the biggest sporting event of the year that runs from east to west along the Macal and Belize Rivers.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced they will visit Bhutan for the first time this Spring as part of a six-day royal visit that will also include several days in India. Kensington Palace has also confirmed an official visit by Prince Harry to Nepal, a destination it's understood he has long wanted to visit after serving with Gurkha troops in Afghanistan. Prince Harry has reportedly asked to see the country's reconstruction efforts after the devastating earthquake in Nepal last April.

Final year university students will soon start planning what to do after graduating. Many will be hoping to spend some time travelling, expanding their horizons and enjoying some care-free time before starting their careers. New this year, and created by popular demand, is an escorted tour of Japan for those on a shoe-string budget. The Dragon Trip's escorted tours to China have already proved popular with students due to their low cost and outstanding itineraries.

The unprecedented increase in passenger numbers recorded over the last five years at Budapest Airport has continued into the New Year, with 13% more passengers travelling through the Hungarian gateway, compared to the first month of 2015. Enhancing the capital city airport’s route development, Ryanair has confirmed the commencement of even more routes from Budapest, by adding a further two services this winter.