Holiday & Travel

The countdown to Christmas has officially begun so make sure you have the inside scoop on the very best places take family and friends for an unforgettable festive season. Visitors to Kent will be spoiled for choice when it comes to fun-filled days out, super shopping, places to party and stunning winter scenery. And residents will be amazed at just how much there is to see and do on their doorstep this year - from Dickensian markets and sparkling castles, to ice skating and a festive world record attempt!

Feeling Wanderlust? When it comes to sheer choice of places to stay, Booking.com now reports 30 categories of accommodations, including vacation homes, boats, igloos, tree houses, guest houses, farm stays, apartments and more. More than 70% of the total properties available to book on Booking.com are actually from all of the categories beyond the traditional hotel, including apartments and chalets!

In the same month that saw the one millionth person log-on to the Northumberland tourist information website visitnorthumberland.com, Northumberland have swept the board at the 2015 North East England Tourism Awards, and then scooped Silver at the prestigious British Travel Awards. It is a great result for Northumberland - a county sometimes known as England's last 'hidden gem' - proving that the county is considered amongst the top visitor destinations in the UK.

The 2015 Tourism Eminent Achiever Award in Africa went to Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, and this is a sign of appreciation for one's work said the Minister. Minister Alain St.Ange added another prestigious accolade to his already impressive collection, when he was last week awarded the Eminent Achiever Award in Africa.

The world's tallest moving observation tower, currently being built on Brighton seafront, was today named British Airways i360. The airline has signed a five-year deal, which includes full naming rights, with the developers of the Brighton beach attraction which has been conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects. Standing at 162 meters high, the i360 will be the world's first vertical cable car and the world's most slender tower.

Winter is here! Cortina d'Ampezzo opens early due to the superb snow conditions, with the official launch coming next week in typically cool, chic Italian style, bringing five days of fashion, aperitifs and music throughout the town.

YHA (England and Wales) is holding its own Black Friday sale – Black Friday Flash - on 27 November 2016. It is offering 33% off dorms and rooms at 25 of its most popular Youth Hostels, including Eden Project, St Briavels Castle, Treyarnon Bay, Brighton, Cardiff Central and Snowdon Pen y Pass, for stays between 27 November and 30 December.

Taiwan is blessed with an abundance of hot springs and a bounty of irresistible fine cuisine. To celebrate this, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is hosting its annual Hot Spring and Fine-Cuisine Festival from October through to 31st February. The festival invites visitors to take advantage of the holistic benefits of the naturally occurring hot springs whilst indulging in the best of Taiwanese fresh cuisine.

Frazzled parents looking for a winter sun destination where their children can find fun and frolics should be turning to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba where youngsters go top of the class. Across the sun-drenched island, hotels and resorts make great efforts to ensure their smaller guests are given a big welcome.

Analysis of the use of the Instagram hashtag #NoFilter to see where people statistically use it most has brought some surprising results. Their number one pick? The Bahamas! According to BuzzFeed, which reported the findings, it’s not surprising due to the popularity of the destination and its natural beauty.

If the dark nights have left you longing for summer sunshine but you don't want to compromise on your winter skiing holiday then a 'Ski and Sun' holiday package is a clever alternative. Already popular with honeymooners, what could be more exhilarating than spending a week on the slopes followed by a week chilling out on the beach.

The much anticipated annual Top 10 destination list from Lonely Planet is a list of the top countries the Lonely Planet team believe should be on everyone's wish list for the coming year. They selected Botswana No.1 because it is 'wild Africa at its best'. The list which was published at the end of October heaps praise on Botswana, which celebrates 50 years of independence in 2016 and has grown to be one of the most exclusive safari destinations in Africa.

The launch of a brand new luxury glamping site set in a valley surrounded by pine forests in rural Slovenia is beautifully positioned beneath a slope of evergreen pine trees and is made up of ten tented lodges (each sleeping four people) with a private deck and an outdoor hot tub. Inside you will find chic furnishings, double beds, en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning to give a distinct touch of luxury.

Blenheim Palace has announced that it is set to open all year round, excluding Christmas Day, from 2016. Since opening to the public on 1st April 1950 Blenheim Palace has opened on a seasonal basis, closing for the winter to allow for staff to undertake the annual deep clean. However next year, from its opening on 13th February, Blenheim Palace will remain open to the public all year.

The world's highest “figure-eight” Ferris wheel, the Golden Reel, opened in Macau this week at the brand new, cinema-themed Studio City resort in a star-studded launch.  If you are a fan of heights, it is the latest in a series of “sky high” experiences that can be enjoyed in Macau.

The Landings St. Lucia won a 2015 Orbitz Worldwide "Best in Stay" award as a top-rated hotel in St. Lucia. The 2015 "Best in Stay" Awards honor nearly 400 top-rated hotels in 125 popular destinations based on reviews by Orbitz Worldwide consumer brand (Orbitz.com, ebookers, and HotelClub) customers.