Colors: Yellow Color
Colors: Yellow Color

Travel Counsellors, the UK’s leading, independent travel company witnessed another record week, taking as many bookings last week (commencing 17 January) as it did for the whole of January 2021. 

With sales now back to at nearly 90 percent of 2019 levels, Travel Counsellors can report the highest new leisure booking week since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic as UK government scraps all testing requirements for the fully vaccinated.

The Outrigger Surin Beach Resort in Phuket opened at the end of December and is offering a special value added ‘sandbox’ offer, following changes which came into effect 11 January.
 
Destination Phuket is one of four - Phuket, Samui, Krabi and Phangnga - locations in Thailand where vaccinated guests can arrive and spend seven days at leisure exploring a beach destination under the Thai Government’s ‘sandbox’ promotion. After seven days and a negative test, guests can travel to other places in the country.

Hundreds of families across the Philippines in desperate need of help in the aftermath of Typhoon Rai will be receiving essential supplies thanks to a grant of £25,000 to Plan International from the Freemasons.

Freemasonry, through the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), is responding with Plan International to support affected communities at this critical time.

New for 2022, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has launched a collection of healthy recipes from across the island to inspire people who want some inspiration for healthy eating at the start of the year.

The dishes have been created by hotels and independent restaurants and are available around the island.

Rail passengers are being advised of changes to journeys over nine days in February 2022 while essential engineering work takes place at Water Orton in North Warwickshire and Duddeston in Birmingham.

Major alterations to track and lineside drainage will take place between 19 and 27 February as part of long-term improvements to the network, including preparations for HS2 – Britain’s new zero carbon, high-speed railway.

In response to Wednesday’s announcement (5 January) that the UK government is scrapping the pre-departure Covid 19 testing for anyone arriving into England (and Wales), from Friday 7 January and switching the day 2 PCR for a lateral flow, Alistair Rowland, Chief Executive for long-haul tour operator, Blue Bay Travel, and Chair of ABTA, said:

“The scrapping* of the restrictive travel testing measures imposed by the UK government in December, in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, is a relief for the travel industry and great news for holidaymakers.