Types of trip
Cruise your way to a bargain break this summer
Leading boating holiday specialist the Le Boat group is offering 14 night holidays for the price of 10 nights for all cruising holidays taken in 2008. This special offer is available on boating holidays in France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England.
Join the grape and olive pickers for a taste of Tuscany
Savour the true taste of Tuscany on a harvest-time holiday where visitors can help gather – and sample – the cream of Chianti’s crop of wine and olive oil. The picturesque hill village of Barberino Val d’Elsa is famous as much for its wine and cold-pressed olive oil as it is for its beautifully-preserved medieval centre.
Visit Hungary for the Budapest Grand Prix
Experience the thrills of Formula One racing with three days of motor sport action from 31 July until 3 August 2008 at Budapest’s Hungaroring circuit. This circuit is only a few kilometres to the south of the city centre and the Budapest Grand Prix offers the ideal opportunity for motor sport fans to enjoy a city break in one of Europe’s prettiest capital cities, whilst catching one of the most exciting Formula One races live.
Big game viewing in Kenya accessible to the whole family
The ‘greatest wildlife show on earth’ is about to begin, as the migration season gets underway in Kenya. From July through to October, over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle start their pilgrimage in search of food and water – closely tracked by Africa’s great predators, including lions, cheetahs and leopards. Specialist tour operator, Africa Sky, has some exceptional safari packages during 2008 offering couples and families alike first-hand experience of the very best that Kenya’s wildlife has to offer.
Family fun on the high seas
Thinking up ways to keep children entertained while travelling to a holiday destination can be hard for parents…there are only so many games of ‘I Spy’ that can be played on one journey! However, families travelling with Irish Ferries’ on either the Ulysses or Dublin Swift - the two ships on the Holyhead/Dublin route – will benefit from extra ‘crew’ in the form of children’s entertainers who will keep the youngsters amused with balloon modelling, face painting and general clowning around.
Winchester warms up for the 34th Hat Fair
This week sees the arrival of the 34th Hat Fair - hatfair.co.uk, the UK’s longest running street theatre festival, which begins on Thursday 3rd July and runs for four fun filled days through to Sunday 6th July. The festival is jam-packed with hundreds of breathtaking performances from over 200 national and international artists taking place throughout Winchester’s ancient streets. Every performance is free to view for all, though donations are welcome.
Escape the summer holiday madness in Esbjerg
Make the most of your time this summer and enjoy a mini cruise break to Denmark with DFDS Seaways this summer from only £79pp. Sail to Esbjerg from Harwich on a DFDS Seaways cruise ferry and explore the coastal town of Esbjerg – travel on selected dates in July and August and save over 30%. Experience 2 nights onboard the Dana Sirena – with great restaurants, comfy ensuite cabins, and even a watch on demand film collection you can enjoy from your own cabin.
Photography competition reveals the world of underwater
The World of Underwater Images photography competition will be held for the fourth year, this year, from the 10th to 15th of November, 2008 at the Isrotel Yam Suf Hotel in Eilat, Israel. New categories will be added this year, such as: The Best 5 Images, The Best Color Print, Humour, Ecology & Nature Care, Wrecks, Video Clip and a Beginners’ category.
Brits risk £58 million a month in card charges abroad
Research launched today by Travelex reveals consumers are still relying on credit and debit cards abroad, last month Brits risked £58 million in extra charges at ATMs and in retail outlets abroad. This is the equivalent of sending 20,000 families of four on a week-long holiday to the Med.
New service offers passport pictures online
An online service (paspic.com), which lets people take their own passport pictures at home, is making it far easier for travellers to get their pictures approved by the Passport Agency. Currently, 14% of all passport applications are rejected because the accompanying photos don’t meet the stringent biometric standards required by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). But having a passport photo rejected can result in frustration and costly delays, particularly for travellers who have to cancel a trip because of a late passport.
South Tyrol – The coolest hotspot for summer
Nestled in the Italian Alps between Verona and Innsbruck, the bilingual province of South Tyrol will witness a number of new hotels and attractions this summer. Visitors can luxuriate in hay baths in contemporary surroundings, celebrate the anniversary of Reinhold Messner's oxygen tank-free ascent of Mount Everest, indulge in a five-course culinary experience or worship with the Pope in Bressanone.
Flemish festival fever
As Glastonbury slowly smoulders out, Flanders starts to warm up to a whole programme of concerts this summer. Some top billing international acts are set to perform in various rock/pop and jazz concerts all over the region. One of the most famous of the acts include Rock Werchter which is set to kick off at the beginning of July, include stars such as Mika, Duffy, KT Tunstall and Babyshambles to name just a few.
Its Miami Spa Month
Renowned for its award-winning luxury spas, Miami is launching its first ever Miami Spa Month in July 2008. Over 20 of Miami’s best spas including Spa V at Hotel Victor and The Spa at The Mandarin Hotel, will offer $99 treatments – representing savings of at least 50 per cent on usual prices.
EU Directive provides boost for medical tourism
The EU Proposal for a Directive on patient’s rights in cross border healthcare (to be announced on Wednesday 2 July) provides an added stimulus to the already growing number of medical tourists who seek hospital treatment elsewhere in the European Union.
Read the book, seen the film, now book the holiday
As well as starring two of the hottest names in Hollywood Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller, The Edge of Love has turned the spotlight on some of the most beautiful scenery in Wales. Dylan Thomas, probably Wales’s best-known poet, is said to have based his famous play Under Milk Wood on the stunning harbour of New Quay in Cardigan Bay. And that is where many of the scenes in the just-released film were shot.