Holiday & Travel

Voluntourism packages are now available to book on the Caribbean island of Dominica in a bid to help with the country's recovery following the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in September. Packages are available to book with Cobra Tours for restoration of one of Dominica's premier tourist attraction sites – The Indian River and Cool Breeze Tours also offers packages to clear segment ten of the Caribbean's first long distance walking trail – the Waitukubuli National Trail. Discover Dominica Authority sees this as the first of a number of initiatives as we rebuild the Nature Island.

Voluntourism on the Indian River

The Indian River is a slow-moving river tranquil river, framed on either side by thick rainforest and wildlife from egrets to crabs, iguanas and hummingbirds. The site for filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, it is popular for rowing boat rides with a stop at 'Cobra's Bush Bar' for juice, snacks and 'The Dynamite,' the signature rum drink.

The Indian River Package is for five nights in either standard or superior accommodation and includes transportation to and from the site and three meals daily.

Voluntourism on Waitukubuli National Trail

The Caribbean's first long distance walking trail covers 115 miles of some of the best hiking in the Caribbean, spanning the communities of Scott's Head in the south, to the Cabrits National Park in the north.

The Waitukubuli National Trail package is suited for groups and individuals who can assist with clearing segment of the trail.  Specific skills needed include use of chainsaws, cutlass and other garden tools.

For hundreds of years Carphin House in Fife has been renowned for its hospitality and now it has opened its doors to visitors who can stay there on an exclusive-use basis.

The nine-bedroom house is beautifully decorated in light airy colours that naturally complement the original antiques, open fires and cosy atmosphere. The public rooms make the house ideal for house parties and boutique weddings with the option of in-house event planners to create the perfect event. Guests can even rent a hot tub for the duration of their stay.

Owner, Ruth Macallan, said:

“Carphin House has long been known for its hospitality and we want to extend a warm welcome to our guests and share this beautiful place with them. This is a stunning house in a beautiful and secluded area and I know everyone of all ages will enjoy using it as a home from home, whether it's a holiday for the extended family, a party to mark a special occasion, a corporate away day or simply a place to get away from it all.”

Carphin House is also able to set up gourmet getaways for its guests with private chefs on hand for those wishing to sample Fife's renowned food and drink. Caterers include Patrick Gilmour, East Neuk Cooks, St Andrews Events Catering, Heritage Portfolio and Derek Noonan. With distilleries like Lindores Abbey and breweries including Eden Mill close by, there will plenty of opportunities to taste the region's tipples too.

Amateur sleuths may also enjoy hosting their own Murder Mystery Weekend with experts, Blue Murder events on hand at the house to arrange everything for guests.

Set in parkland under the famous beauty spot of Norman's Law, visitors will enjoy the mature woodland, gardens and views down the glen towards the picturesque village of Luthrie. Visible through the trees, the triple chimney stacks of the house promise a hidden getaway whilst at the same time being extremely accessible. Carphin House is just an hour from Edinburgh airport and a short distance away from centres like St Andrews, Dundee and Perth.

The mansion was first owned by the Carnegie Family, and was designed and developed by famous architect Sir Robert Lorimer as a place for entertaining and wowing guests of the time, a tradition that the new owners are keen to continue.

LATAM Airlines Group has introduced a new gastronomic concept for economy cabins on its long-haul flights with durations of seven hours or more.

Passengers will receive a new menu with three options for lunch or dinner, which includes a hot dish, vegetarian or a lighter cold option, a drink service and a sweet snack. Two new breakfast choices are also available. In total, the company has created more than 300 new dishes, which will serve an average of 14,000 passengers on 64 flights each day.

The new menu will include Latin American, international and vegetarian dishes ranging from 'Ravioli stuffed with four cheeses with tomato sauce, pesto and mozzarella cheese' and 'Slow cooked rump of beef with truffle mash potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and grilled asparagus' to a 'cold dish of roasted chicken with rice salad and oats, soft curry dressing, cherry tomatoes and mixed leaves' accompanied by desert. Breakfast choices include a 'tortilla filled with cheese, sautéed mushrooms and cherry tomatoes', 'American pancakes with strawberries and cranberry compote' or ´a selection of fresh fruit or yoghurt.'

The new service will offer a selection of main dishes with increased portion sizes. New serving trays have been designed and implemented to provide a more convenient dining experience with built-in plates replacing small modular dishes on trays.

LATAM conducted test flights where passengers were surveyed about the general flight experience. Dining experience satisfaction scores improved by 28 percentage points with the introduction of the new food concept compared to the previous offering.

The new menus will be implemented on LATAM Airlines' network of flights connecting Europe to Latin America, including those operated by the Boeing 787, 767, 777 and Airbus A350 aircrafts. This new concept is already available on routes to and from Chile and will be rolled out across the company's international network by the end of 2017.

Coinciding with the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, Nicaragua's public and private tourism sectors announced their commitment to sustainability at World Travel Market.

Her Excellency Guisell Morales-Echaverry, The Ambassador of Nicaragua, introduced a presentation by four of the country's private tour companies.

Ricardo Carioni, Head of Country Promotion, outlined Nicaragua's collaboration with a public programme for sustainable tourism, which has resulted in a significant increase in the number of sustainable travellers over recent years.

Three out of the only four Rainforest Alliance Certified Tour Operators in Nicaragua - Careli Tours, Solentiname Tours, Vapues Tours, plus  Detour Travel, recounted their personal journeys to sustainability with initiatives including: recycling, school education programmes, working with cooperatives, artisans and local families and protecting endangered species.

All four companies are members of TOPS (Tour Operators Promoting Sustainability) in Nicaragua. The organisation was founded by Immanuel Zerger, President of TOPS Nicaragua, in 2012 with a mission to promote green activities and CSR actions both environmentally and socially. In addition to six core members, TOPS supports smaller Nicaraguan tour operators to increase their knowledge and proactivity in tourism sustainability. They help develop good practices and train professionals involved in tour operation: guides, transport contractors, local community leaders and providers of food, handicraft, guiding, lodging and suppliers.

TOPS Nicaragua also cooperates actively with local communities all over the country in promoting local heritage, the consumption of local food and handicrafts and hiring local people as guides and assistants.

UNICEF reports that Nicaragua has a population of 5.1 million people, with 53% of the population under 18 years of age. Through education children can help to protect and nurture the environment, and also influence their families and communities.  In response, Careli Tours created the Eco-Schools project, together with Fondo Natura, an annual environmental and educational program. Axel Melchior, General Manager Careli Tours reported, “A month ago 300 children from two participating schools planted a tree in their school yards, while we taught them about the importance of conservation and climate change.”

Jan Jorg Stirk CEO & Founder Vapues Tours pioneered taking groups of travellers to live alongside rural communities in Nicaragua. “Rather than being traditional tourists, they can participate in the community´s daily activities, which in turn allow them to experience the real Nicaragua. The travellers report that what they get out these trips is a unique and unforgettable life experience.”

In addition, Vapues presents an annual "Sustainability Education" program with staff, providers and clients, as well as the immediate community. “For example, each year we go to a local primary school and engage in recreational activities combined with environmental and climate change awareness workshops.”  Stirk commented.

Immanuel Zerger, CEO & Founder, Solentiname Tours - Discover Nicaragua created the "Nicaragua Tourism Map - Traveling Sustainably“ featuring protected areas, private natural reserves, sustainable accommodation and 29 "Points of Life". Each "Point of Life" offers participation in tourism development to cooperatives, artisans and local families; often socially excluded, with low income and single mothers. “This is our way of involving the local community directly into the tourism chain.” Added Zerger.

This year Solentiname suggested staff become "Guardians of Biodiversity". Each one will take personal responsibility for caring and protecting an endangered species from the exceptional biodiversity of Nicaragua. In addition the company intends to plant 1,000 trees in a year to contribute to the production of oxygen and to mitigate climate change.

Laurent Richardier. CEO & Founder of Detour Viajes settled in Nicaragua 26 years ago. He is a French agronomist who decided to travel to Nicaragua in the 1990s while the country was recovering from a Civil War. Upon his arrival in the country, he began working with an NGO that sought to restore the local economy of the Juigalpa area, Chontales.

Nicaragua was awarded the Sustainable and Responsible Tourism Destination of 2017 in the U.K. by LATA”. The country is the 2nd fastest growing destination in the entire American continent, 8th in the world.  In total there were 1.5 million visitors in 2016, (with 16,923 coming from the UK) and a current 28.4% growth rate in 2017. It has also been classified as the safest country for visitors in Central America and the second safest in Latin America.

Good news for smokers and nonsmokers alike: two more smoking lounges have just been added in the security (transit) zone of Terminal 2 at Frankfurt Airport. These comfortable, modern facilities are ideal for getting away from the hustle and bustle and enjoying a relaxed smoke before continuing one’s journey – after all, smoking is prohibited on all flights and everywhere else inside the terminals as well. Nonsmokers benefit too, because the lounges are equipped with powerful ventilation systems that prevent any smoke from escaping into the rest of the terminal building, including the directly adjacent areas.

Planned and designed in cooperation with Media Frankfurt GmbH, the two new smoking lounges increase the total in Terminal 2 to four. All of them feature a stylish decor and include comfortable seating to ensure a pleasant experience. They are never locked and can be used any time of the day of the night.

There are a total of 14 smoking lounges in Terminals 1 and 2. For more information, go to: www.frankfurt-airport.com

The airport’s operator, Fraport AG, is committed to serving travelers and meeting their individual needs and wishes, in keeping with the slogan “Gute Reise! We make it happen”. It therefore works nonstop to provide new services and facilities to make the already good customer experience at Germany’s largest airport even better.

Start 2018 on a high by seeing in the New Year in the British Airways i360 pod, 450ft above Brighton, singing Auld Lang Syne with a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine in your hand.

At ground level, the British Airways i360 beach building will be decked in lights, and as you arrive at the start of the night our team will welcome you with a celebratory drink. After mingling for a while, settle down at your beautifully decorated table for an elegant five-course meal. The menu, created by our award-winning partners Heritage Portfolio, includes Braised Featherblade of Beef, delicious vegetarian alternatives and a melt-in-the-mouth Chocolate Globe to finish.

Before taking to the skies, hit the dance floor and celebrate the best of 2017 as our DJ rocks the beach building with current and vintage tunes.

At 11.45pm, you'll be handed a glass of Nyetimber sparkling wine as you board the British Airways i360 pod for an exclusive midnight flight.

Enjoy a moment of reflection as the pod glides gently up to 450ft and the night time views unfold around you. The excitement will build as you reach the top of the tower and start the countdown midnight: Happy New Year!

Back in the beach building, the party will continue with DJ music until 2am and a late bar.

Its slogan is 'Experiences are our Luxury' and encountering the mesmerising and diverse aquatic life as seen on the BBC's Blue Planet II, is within reach at Alphonse Island, Seychelles. Guests of Alphonse Island can experience the fascinating marine environment, as seen on Blue Planet II on a first-hand basis.

Guests can swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean and encounter shoals of assorted, vibrantly coloured fish of varying species, Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Spinner Dolphins and Humpback Whales all in their natural environment. These unique experiences with marine life make Alphonse Island nothing short of spectacular!

Alphonse Island is located 400km from the mainland of Mahe and is considered one of the most pristine and unspoilt outer islands in the Seychelles. Its raw beauty and remote location attract large numbers and sizes of fish and marine mammals, giving guests the opportunity to encounter a fascinating aquatic environment with the island's own marine biologist and partake in their own Blue Planet II experience.

The warm tropical waters of Alphonse Island reveal a vibrant array of coral and fish as far as the eye can see.  Forests of giant gorgonian sea fans, sea whips and black corals can be viewed along the precipitous drop-off and the incredible hard coral formations on the plateau are a magnificent sight to behold! The highlights of diving in the waters surrounding Alphonse Island include the chance to see Manta ray and squadrons of Eagle ray, the 'Wolf Pack' of hundreds of Bluefin trevally and associates patrolling or even attacking prey on the reef. Groups of Bumphead parrotfish, schools of batfish numbering in the hundreds as well as interesting animal behaviour such as nesting triggerfish can be viewed.

“At Alphonse Island, we are passionate about land and marine conservation and protecting the environment. We hope that Blue Planet II will raise awareness of the fascinating and magnificent aquatic life that exists within the oceans and will ultimately lead to people being more mindful with regards to taking significant steps to protect the marine habitat.” Comments Keith Rose Innes, Managing Director of Alphonse Island.

Alphonse Island Dive Centre offers a full suite of PADI courses from Discover Scuba diving to Divemaster.  Advanced divers can develop new skill sets all endorsed by the world leading training agency the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).  These include PADI Underwater Naturalist, PADI Deep Diver, PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy, PADI Digital Underwater Imaging, AWARE Shark Conservation, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, AWARE Dive Against Debris, AWARE Specialist and AWARE Fish Identification. The Dive Centre offers exclusive dives to families where children from the age of 8 can experience the wonders of scuba diving with their parents. For those who do not wish to dive the depths of the Indian Ocean, Alphonse Island offers guests the opportunity to view the magnificent array of aquatic life with daily snorkelling boat trips.

Green Globe recently recertified Bay Gardens Inn, Bay Gardens Hotel and Bay Gardens Beach Resort situated in Saint Lucia in the West Indies.

Sanovnik Destang, Executive Director at Bay Gardens Resorts, said: “As a locally owned and operated chain of resorts, it’s very important to us to maintain, sustain and achieve key sustainable initiatives that will not only benefit us but our island and our people. We are fully committed to continuing and developing new sustainability initiatives in order to do our part for the environment we all share and benefit from.”

Green efforts at all three properties have concentrated on increased efficiency in resource consumption, and the development of environmental and community initiatives that have resulted in positive outcomes for guests, local residents and staff.

Electricity usage is now managed by a metering system that monitors overall consumption in accommodation, dining areas and departments. With this data, areas of high consumption are pinpointed and energy saving measures put in place to decrease usage. This includes the changeover of refrigerators and other appliances to equipment with energy star ratings. In addition, there has been a substantial reduction in energy usage by 20% as a result of changing incandescent lighting to LED lighting and occupancy sensors to inverter AC units. Energy consumption used for lighting at the property has also dropped from 9w to 5w per LED bulb.

The island properties focus on water conservation and limiting waste volume in order to reduce their footprint and protect their unique geographical location. Showerheads and aerators in all guest rooms and public washrooms have been replaced with low flow water fixtures. The flow rate of showerheads is now 1.5 gallons per minute as compared to 2.5 gallons per minute. Furthermore, in line with waste management strategies, the resorts use biodegradable takeaway boxes instead of styrofoam thereby reducing the amount of garbage transferred to landfill.

Bay Gardens Resorts assist in spearheading connections between local farmers and hotels through the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism’s VACH program. The aim of the Virtual Agricultural Clearing House program is to stimulate economic activity within the region. The VACH operates on a Whatsapp platform to provide information on the availability of local crops to hotels, restaurants and food and beverage distributers.

Bay Gardens Resorts strive to organize meaningful community initiatives that will assist those in need. Over the past year, the properties continued to work with their adopted elementary school. Staff helped with planting a new school garden, assisting with building repairs such as paint touch ups and providing children with a healthy breakfast.

The Green Team have also been busy coordinating various environmental initiatives. On Earth Day this year, the team along with other staff members planted cherry trees, carambola, sugar cane, different varieties of mangoes, oranges and more in the kitchen garden for use in resort restaurants.

Pottermania is back! From its humble beginnings as an idea born on a train journey, and laid to paper in a small café in Edinburgh, the first book in the Harry Potter series sparked a global phenomenon. 20 years on, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone has sold over 450 million copies worldwide, in 79 languages, inspired a major movie franchise, a spellbinding theatre production, and a number of thrilling sightseeing experiences.

Yesterday the British Library has launched a dedicated exhibition called Harry Potter: A History of Magic, and Evan Evans, London's largest sightseeing company, which specialises in city tours and out-of-town excursions, has launched a brand new specially-themed walking tour, Harry Potter Film Locations. So what better way to get your Hogwarts fix than enjoy a wizard-themed day out in London?!

The British Library's ticketed exhibition features rare books, manuscripts and magical objects, capturing the traditions of folklore and magic which are at the heart of the Harry Potter stories. Visitors can marvel at original drafts and drawings by J.K. Rowling and illustrator Jim Kay, both on display for the first time.

Evan Evans' half day tour transports Muggles into the magical world of Harry Potter as they discover the London locations that played starring roles in the film series and inspired the books. Stand in the footsteps of the world's most famous wizard at the entrance to the Ministry of Magic, stroll through the alleyways that inspired Diagon Alley and see the very spot where Death Eaters destroyed the Millennium Bridge. Visitors will then try their luck at getting onto the famous Platform 9¾ as the tour concludes. This two and a half hour morning tour is the perfect way for avid “Potterheads” to explore the capital.

This week the UK's number one holiday company, Thomson, became the world's biggest travel company, TUI, bringing six decades of experience and knowledge to an aligned, global brand with the unique capability to offer unrivalled choice and flexibility.

To mark the transition TUI has unveiled a ground breaking new prototype that reveals how customers could be using their subconscious to choose holidays in just a few years' time.

Developed exclusively by world leaders in the field of facial coding and emotion measurement, Realeyes, the futuristic 'Destination U' prototype is a first of its kind, innovative way for holidaymakers to choose a trip that matches their emotional needs. It uses sophisticated facial coding and emotion measurement technology to trigger imaginations and tap into the subconscious. A unique algorithm computes every subtle facial response to a rapid series of evocative moving images of destinations and experiences, and uses that data to calculate a 'perfect holiday' prescription.

Known as 'la isla bonita' (the pretty island), La Palma is also recognised by UNESCO as an official Starlight Reserve and boasts the highest quality night sky for stargazers to observe the countless stars from its mountainous terrain.

Found on the island at an altitude of 2,420m, The Observatory of El Roque de Los Muchachos, referred to as the 'Balcony to the Stars', is one of the three best observatories on earth, and home to the largest optical telescope in the world. Being above the cloud level for more than 300 days a year enables visitors to experience incomparable astronomy as well as mesmerizing views of the surrounding landscapes.

Visitors to La Palma can take part in a wide range of stargazing activities. From independent hikes from Roque de Los Muchachos (2,426 m) along the rim of the Caldera crater – the ideal place to enjoy sunset, dusk and the night sky - to overnight stays in romantic rural cottages.

Local stargazing companies on the island offer a variety of authentic stargazing activities from astronomical dinners under the stars combining the hypnotizing night sky with traditional Canarian cuisine, to themed nights such as 'Moon and Wine' nights, including guided tours of the Teneguía wine cellar, captivating talks about the process of the night grape harvest under the moonlight and tastings of the best Teneguía wines.

Flights to La Palma are available with EasyJet from London Gatwick and with Thomson from Manchester and London Gatwick.

After damages sustained during Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose in September 2017, the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in Dutch St. Maarten will reopen to commercial flights on October 10, 2017. SXM is a critical airport for much of the Caribbean, and its return to active service will bring much-needed aid and tourism back to St. Maarten as well as neighboring islands.

Delta Airlines, Seaborne, Pawa Dominicana, Insel Air, and Winair will resume service at SXM on Oct. 10. Seaborne will be code sharing with American Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta. Additional airlines will announce their service in the coming days.

“While damages to our airport are extensive, we are incredibly pleased with the progress made to repair it,” said Director of Tourism Rolando Brison. “St. Maarten is both a friendly island and a resilient one, and we are excited to share our island with the world once again.”

The airport will reopen in a phased approach. Employees of SXM and volunteers have worked tirelessly, their dedication resulting in the reopening of the airport’s two smaller terminals. The main terminal is currently under repair, and its reopening anticipated mid-2018.

“My friends, trust in the process,” said Minister of Tourism Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher in an official statement. “Adversity gives birth to opportunity and struggle builds character: St. Maarten will rise again, better and stronger. ”

Additional information about the airport and tourism recovery efforts will be released as soon as it becomes available.