Types of trip
Bookings spike as Brits look Christmas getaways
A leading holiday home rentals website has reported a 20 per cent increase in bookings, despite the UK’s struggling economy and reduced consumer spending. Bookings for UK destinations are also on the rise as families look for locations to spend Christmas and New Year without breaking the bank.
Luxurious festive getaways in Devon
Imagine celebrating Christmas or New Year in a stunning Victorian mansion complete with roaring fires, breathtaking estuary views and enough room for all your family or friends. Salcombe Holiday Homes (salcombe.com) specialises in large, luxury properties, which are available to rent over the festive period.
Jamaica steps up sustainable-tourism initiatives
Globally known and admired for its pristine beaches, relaxing environment and world-class attractions, Jamaica is keen to let the world know sustainable tourism is high on the agenda. The idyllic Caribbean island boasts developed sustainable tourism initiatives that focus on community programmes, eco-friendly attractions and socially responsible accommodation offerings.
A gift for the globetrotter in your life
From bee hives to jungle jam, gift giving is about to get sweeter with a new partnership between The Travel Foundation, the sustainable tourism charity, and GlobalGiving.co.uk. Visit globalgiving.co.uk/travel to find a list of the Travel Foundation’s destination-based charity projects which are a perfect present for a globetrotting friend or family-member.
Maximise your snowy mountain experience
Adventurous souls who fancy a break from the pistes should ditch their skis for a day and check out some of the other exciting winter activities the mountains have to offer.
Krakow – A real Christmas cracker
The Polish city has appeared in a list of Europe’s top 20 festive markets compiled by The Times. The newspaper described Krakow as “a gem of a city” with “stunning architecture” where you can do your Christmas shopping in the most gorgeous of settings.
Covent Garden will ‘Delight’ visitors this Christmas
This winter, Covent Garden launches Christmas Delight – a unique programme of entertainment and music events, offering something that will charm and delight everyone, from the conscientious consumer, to the Christmas enthusiast, to the thrill seeker and thrifty spender.
Holidaymakers staying closer to home in 2009
Hoburne Holiday Parks this week reveals a 200 per cent increase in advance booking figures as a growing number of families choose a UK-tion – a holiday in the UK - over a break abroad next year.
Celebrate 2009 with Eurocamp in Amsterdam
If you find yourself in Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve, you’re in for a treat. The city’s streets are filled with people, who have come to enjoy the air of excitement that is New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam.
TV turns on family rows at Christmas
Despite Christmas traditionally being a time of cheer and goodwill, research released today by Holiday Inn has found that many people experience a festive season fraught with disagreements and rows.
Chilean wine tours in 30 seconds
Wine tasting tours to an array of Chilean wineries can now be booked directly via a recently-launched website. Turisvino.com is the first site that brings together thirty Chilean wineries from ten different valleys, from up and coming Bio Bio Valley in the South via the world famous Maipo region with its spectacular reds, to the Aconcagua region in the North, whose dramatic mountain setting makes for successful organic winegrowing.
Sao Luis, capital of culture and reggae
The city of São Luís was recently declared Brazilian Capital of Culture for 2009 by the International Bureau of Capitals of Culture (IBOCC). It was selected by a jury composed of representatives from the Brazilian Culture and Tourism Ministries, from previous cultural capitals and from the bureau itself.
Follow John Sargeant to Panama
Fans of the hit TV series Strictly Come Dancing can now choose to follow the lead of their favourite celebrities by either taking a John Sargeant-style cruise through the Panama Canal or learning to dance like the professionals in Argentina, thanks to specialist itineraries from Journey Latin America.
An affordable way to explore top Canadian ski destinations
Traditionally a major challenge for skiers and snowboarders exploring Canada was negotiating the vast distances between breathtaking snow destinations.
Walking in magical Madagascar
Walking specialist operator, Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, has just launched a new holiday to Madagascar as part of extensive global portfolio (250 destinations in 70 countries).