Wednesday 31 January 2018

A relaxed start to your journey

LUFTHANSA passengers will now be able to start their journey feeling more relaxed: From now on, they will benefit from an automatic check-in procedure for all flights within Germany and to destinations in Europe. 

The boarding pass for flights booked up to 24 hours before departure will then be sent automatically to the passenger 23 hours before departure – with no need for any manual check-in. This saves time and makes travel preparations easier. 

In order to use this new service, the Lufthansa customers only have to deposit their personal details in their Miles & More account or Lufthansa iD profile.

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Rest your head in Denmark

ALREADY world-renowned as a centre for Scandinavian design and architecture, #Copenhagen is in the middle of a hotel boom. By 2020, the Danish capital will have some 22,500 hotel rooms, compared with the 15,000 rooms it had in 2010. 

Proving that #Denmark continues to be one of Europe’s hottest destinations, the latest hotel openings not only showcase the best Denmark has to offer, but provide a unique chance to stay in some incredible surroundings – from beautifully restored historic buildings to the former coal crane in the Copenhagen’s Nordhavn harbour that has been transformed into the most innovative and luxurious private retreat.


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On the runway . . . .

TUI the UK’s largest holiday brand, has today announced it has added an additional weekly flight to the popular Greek island of Kos and Turkish destination of Dalaman for summer 2018 operating out of Bristol Airport.

As well as the additional flights to Kos and Dalaman residents from in and around Bristol now have a wider choice of destinations to choose from when booking their holidays this summer with new routes to Hurghada in Egypt and Skiathos in Greece already on sale.


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Tuesday 30 January 2018

Discover the delights of India

FOR the first time, MSC Cruises will offer its guests cruises to India from Dubai. Guests will call at bustling Abu Dhabi, followed by the serene and picturesque Muscat, before crossing the Arabian Sea and calling in Mumbai – the front door to #India. Teeming with energy and excitement, Mumbai is a place where cultures collide. Lose yourself in some of the grandest colonial architecture India has to offer, or take a cool-dive into the many bazaars and hidden temples around every corner. And your Indian experience is not just limited to Mumbai. The voyage also offers chances to escape from it all whilst watching the sun go down across the uninterrupted stretch of golden beaches in Goa, as well as the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Mangalore. 


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Making a splash in Cyprus

CYPRUS top tourist destination, WaterWorld Water Park which was ranked the #1 in Europe and #14 in the world is set to open its doors for the summer in April 2018. 

The Ancient Greek themed water park, located in Ayia Napa, features mythical rides and attractions, restaurants and souvenir shops. The largest themed water park in Europe, WaterWorld Water Park provides a day of fun for the entire family. Take a relaxing dip in Aphrodite’s Baths or, if you’re a risk-taker, dare to take the plunge on the Drop to Atlantis. 

WaterWorld also offers unique water park experiences with their Thea VIP Suite, a private cabana and hot tub overlooking the park or their Hygeia fish spa where visitors can dip their feet in a tub of fish and receive a fish pedicure. 

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Paris celebrates 2017 visitor numbers

AFTER a year in 2016 that was strongly affected by the repercussions of the attacks of 2015 and 2016, #Paris has recovered with unparalleled dynamism in 2017.

In September 2017, overall cumulative hotel arrivals for the previous 12 months in Grand Paris surpassed the record registered in 2012, reaching 23.1 million hotel arrivals. And according to our forecasts, the calendar year 2017 should see growth in tourism numbers of between 10% and 12% compared to 2016 and between 5% and 7% compared to 2015, surpassing 23 million arrivals in hotels for the first time.



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Monday 29 January 2018

Queensland emerges as a leader in sport tourism

NEW research shows #Queensland has emerged as a global leader in fitness and wellness tourism, with a report released by the government revealing what drives the world’s most #active travelers to ‘bucket list’ endurance events across the state. 

The Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland supports a line-up of 17 world-class endurance events stretching from the Gold Coast to Tropical North Queensland and covering everything from triathlon to multi-sport challenges, running, mountain biking and cycling events and ocean swims.

In the countdown to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, Acting Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development Shannon Fentiman said the state was proud of its reputation as Australia’s endurance event capital.

Endurance events supported by the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar can be accessed here: www.queensland.com/events/endurance-events

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Interactive investigation



THE Mob Museum in Nevada which is the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announces February 14, 2018 as the opening date for its major first-floor renovation, which includes a brand-new exhibition space called Organized Crime Today.

Focusing on the modernization and evolution of organized crime in the present day. Two new experiential spaces include the Use of Force Training Experience and Crime Lab, which join the Museum’s already robust experiential platform, focusing on methods employed by law enforcement to apprehend and prosecute criminals and their organizations.

The Mob Museum offers a provocative, contemporary look at these topics through hundreds of artifacts and immersive storylines. Whether you like it or not, this is American history. 

Since opening in 2012, The Mob Museum has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 U.S. Museums,” one of Las Vegas Weekly’s “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History,” one of USA Today’s “12 Can’t Miss U.S. Museum Exhibits,” “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times, one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by Fox News and Budget Travel magazine, “Best Museum” by Nevada Magazine and is a multi-year winner of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” rankings.

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The Vikings are coming

VIKING Sun, the newest addition to Viking’s industry-leading ocean fleet, is visiting Australian shores on its 141-day world cruise from Miami to London next month. It will be the first time in the company’s 20-year history that a Viking Ship will visit Australia.

Viking will begin home-porting from Sydney in December 2018, with Viking Orion spending three months of the year cruising between Sydney and Auckland. “Previously guests had to fly to Europe to experience Viking,” says Michelle Black, Viking Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand “We’re thrilled that Australians will be able to experience the Viking difference right from their doorstep, exploring the natural wonders and dynamic cities in our own backyard.”


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Sunday 28 January 2018

Hotel Openings

THE first Grand Hyatt hotel in the Philippines has opened . The Grand Hyatt Manila hotel tops the tallest skyscraper in the Philippines at 1,043 feet, offering breathtaking and unobstructed panoramic views of the Makati skyline and Manila Bay.

Located at the crossroads of the financial, commercial and entertainment districts of Taguig, Bonifacio Global City, the hotel offers superior service, first-class accommodations and an abundance of options within a multicultural backdrop of dramatic architecture and innovative design.

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Most popular activites in Portugal

THE most popular activities in 2017 were the boat trips, with the trips to Benagil caves being the favourite choice. Located between Carvoeiro and Armação de Pêra, Benagil’s beautiful sea cave is listed in the world’s “Top 10 Coolest Caves” according to the American online newspaper The Huffington Post. Benagil’s cave is actually one of many caves along Lagoa’s coastline but is certainly the most stunning, attracting thousands of visitors. Algarve Fun also provides boat visits to Benagil and other caves from 20 euros per person.

Also kayaking and snorkeling activities have grown in popularity in 2017 with a younger, active and sporty demographic of tourist being attracted to the Algarve for its challenging activities that combine sports and the sea. On Algarve Fun’s website you’ll find kayaking and other activities available along all the Algarve coast. 

Since the company's foundation in 2014, the most popular attractions in Algarve still are the water/theme parks, boat tours and increasingly so watersports. Albufeira is still the busiest city for tourism but the west coast and Lagos is also growing in popularity especially for outdoor pursuits such as hiking, biking and other adventurous activities.


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Now showing: Amazon Prime Video on board Eurostar

EUROSTAR, the high-speed rail service linking the UK and mainland Europe, will be unveiling a range of critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video content on board its fleet of e320 trains via the new app.

#Eurostar will be the first transport operator in Europe to feature Prime Video on board, free for all passengers to enjoy as they speed across the Channel.

Launching on Eurostar’s state-of-the-art fleet of e320 trains, travellers can view a range of Amazon’s top original drama, comedy and kids TV shows from Prime Video, simply by using their own device to connect to the free on-board wifi and the new app. The new programmes will add to Eurostar’s existing line-up of over 300 hours of TV shows and films.


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Saturday 27 January 2018

Heathrow offers prize for green aviation ideas

UK businesses and organisations are being invited to apply for Heathrow’s first Sustainable Innovation Prize submitting ideas on how to address the environmental challenges of airports and the aviation industry.

The winning entry of the Sustainable Innovation Prize will be awarded £20,000 and the green light to develop their idea, earning the opportunity to use Heathrow as a ‘live laboratory.’ Here they will be able to trial and develop their winning concept and gain exposure to Heathrow’s operation and partners in the process.

This launch of the Sustainable Innovation Prize coincides with activity marking the anniversary of the Heathrow 2.0 - the airport’s plan for sustainable growth. The prize will further Heathrow’s ambitions to make its business a centre of excellence for aviation sustainability, reducing the airport’s social and environmental impacts, while maximising the economic opportunities in the UK.


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Top Hotel Trends to be Witnessed in 2018

THE top 3 trends to be witnessed in the upcoming year according to Weekly Hotels, a leading extended stay hotel search engine are:

1. Extended stay will be increased
2. Extended stay hotels will gain popularity
3. Booking through mobile devices will be more popular

According to a survey conducted by Hipmunk, "72% of increase in traveling by Millennials; 55% Millennials extended the business trip for additional leisure and recreation time. There are 38% Millennials who travel more than Gen X or elderly people. These survey statistics and the trends noticed on the portal Weekly Hotels, it is clear that this year will experience a spike in the number of extended stay travelers than past years."

Among all available lodging options, the extended stay hotels won the race in becoming the most favorite accommodation option for many. This is because of a wide array of amenities offered by the extended stay hotels at affordable and cheap weekly rates. The extended stay hotels provide much more comfort and fun than rental apartments or traditional hotels to these travelers on extended stays. That’s why there was more than a 325% increase in booking of extended stay hotels in the past year. This is a clear sign that the extended stay hotels are more popular among the travelers.

According to the collected user pattern, 8 out of 10 bookings are made using a mobile device, i.e., Smartphone. It means people are using Smartphone and tablet more to book a room or an apartment for their next trip. Furthermore, the ratio of advanced booking than on-the-spot booking has been increased terrifically in the past few years. People like to book themselves and the required facilities well in advance. They are not only booking the rooms, but also book breakfast and other required amenities during their stay. This creates a clear necessity of having a mobile friendly portal for hoteliers.


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Upgrade your airline

EMIRATES, the Best Airline in the World and Best Economy Class according to the 2017 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, released its latest marketing campaign to promote travel on its award-winning Economy class. Emirates’ latest ads feature a series of characters who try to wrangle a seat upgrade at an unnamed airline’s check-in counter. 

Each spot ends with the ultimate tip for travellers: “Don’t upgrade your seat, upgrade your airline. Fly Emirates.”

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Friday 26 January 2018

The world's most scenic regatta

MORE than 250 sailors representing 21 nationalities have signed-up for the iconic The Bay Regatta held January 31 to February, 2018 in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces. 

A four day travelling regatta around Phang Nga Bay that stops at a different anchorage each evening for a party under-the-stars, The Bay Regatta is famous for visiting some of the region’s best beachfront spots. Often referred to as the “fun regatta” and the “world’s most scenic regatta”, it is a regatta like no other and one that attracts the serious and less serious racers. 

“The Bay Regatta’s route is unique. While most regattas head to open water, we race around the islands and why wouldn’t you when you have the spectacular scenery of Phang Nga Bay on your doorstep?” commented Ms. Kae Wattana, Managing Director of organisers Regattas Asia.


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Indians Seek Experiential Travel in 2018

THE Indian millennial traveler is willing to spend more for enriching trips. The year 2017 also saw an increase in Indians who want staycations, preferring the local interactions that such stays offer. More and more Indians are taking to experiential travel with a focus on offbeat destinations. Using Trippin Traveller’s data based on its customers, more Indian millennials are choosing experiences over packaged sightseeing tours.

The most popular destinations for 2017 included Cambodia and Vietnam internationally and Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand in #India. For 2018, upcoming travel interests include Laos, which has a vibrant backpacker scene, Israel, which has a fascinating combination of history and modernity, and Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland in India.

Among other interesting statistics, rural travel is fast gaining popularity with substantial development expected in rural tourism in 2018 and beyond. Trippin Traveller’s data found that Indians in the age group of 30-45 years were most likely to ask for and undertake rural travel to offbeat places in India.


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Numbers up on international tourists



OFFICIAL
statistics released show that in the first nine months of 2017 there were a record 12.7 million visits to English regions outside London, up 4% compared to the same period in 2016.

International visitors spent £6.1 billion across England’s regions during this period.

There were also 909,000 overseas visits to Wales from January to September last year, up 6% compared to the same time in 2016, and visitors spent £337 million.

In Scotland, overseas visits increased 14% to 2.6 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same time in 2016, with overseas visitors spending £1.8 billion.


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Thursday 25 January 2018

Winning Formula for Hotel Cheval

HOTEL Cheval, California has announced it has been recognized as the overall winner in the Top 25 Small Hotels in the United States category of the 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for Hotels, ranking first out of 25.

This year, the awards celebrate hotel winners in 10 categories. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice hotels winners are remarkable service, value and quality. 

2018 Awards won by Hotel Cheval include: #1 Small Hotel in the United States #8 Small Hotel in the World #8 Romance Hotel in the United States


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Picture Credit: Pintrest

Bib Gourmand France celebrates over 644 restaurants

MICHELIN has unveiled the new Bib Gourmand selection for #France - the inspectors’ favourite establishments chosen for their very good value for money.

644 restaurants have been distinguished this year, including 105 new ones in every region of France. With its exceptionally rich terroir, its culture of eating well and the know-how of its chefs handed down from generation to generation, France has more Bib Gourmand restaurants than any other country in the world. 

The MICHELIN guide Bib Gourmand France 2018 is available from February 5 17.90 euros.

www.restaurant.michelin.fr.

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An unlikely social media sensation



A lone tree that grew from a fence post in the South Island of New Zealand has become an unlikely social media sensation. The straggly crack willow tree on the shores of Lake Wanaka is thought to be at least 80 years old and is attracting photographers from around the world, keen for the perfect shot.

Amateur and professional photographers gather on the shores of Lake Wanaka at dawn and dusk to photograph the “most photogenic tree in the world”. The tree even has its own dedicated Facebook page and has been featured in international publications such as The Guardian and The Sydney Morning Herald. The hashtag #thatwanakatree has been used more than 13,000 times on Instagram.

The tree is the focus of photography tours and people pose naked beside it, have their wedding photographs taken in front of it or meditate beneath it.


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Wednesday 24 January 2018

Sit back and relax . . .

NEW Zealand’s original and most successful wine festival, the Marlborough Food and Wine Festival February 10 combines quality wine, gourmet food and live music. 

Sample the crisp sauvignon blanc that the region is famous for and enjoy entertainment from some of New Zealand’s top performers on one of the wine region's oldest and most beautiful vineyards, Brancott Heritage Estate.

Marlborough Food and Wine Festival


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Portugal: Europe's fastest growing destination



PORTUGESE tourism achieved one of the best European performances in 2017. The World Tourism Organization revealed that #Portugal is Europe’s fastest-growing #destination. During 2017 Portugal received in total more than 2300 prizes and distinctions!

In fact, it was such a good year that Portugal was the country receiving the most awards - 37 to be precise - at the World Travel Awards, the most prestigious of tourism awards. Including the “Europe’s Leading Tourism Destination” but also Europe’s Leading Cruise Port (Lisbon), Europe’s Leading Island Destination (Madeira Islands) and Europe’s Leading Beach Destination (Algarve). Turismo de Portugal was also considered “Europe’s Leading Tourist Board”. These 37 Oscars of Tourism, reinforce the position of Portugal as the third most peaceful country in the world and the 14th most competitive country.

In 2017 visitor numbers should exceed 21 million coming from over 134 different nationalities in 2017.

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When in Hungary . . . visit the zoo

THE Budapest Zoo, built in 1866, is the oldest and largest zoo park in Hungary. Until the 1950s, it was the sole zoo park of the country. Its 11-hectare territory has been declared a natural preserve area in 1986. The park features 3,500 species of plants and 750 animal species.

A major renovation began in 1990, resulting in nearly all species getting their modern, spacious habitats. There are quite a few works of art on the territory of the Zoo; the two most significant of these are the Elephant House and the main entrance to the Zoo, built in Art Nouveau style. 

For children the Zoo has a special section where the cubs of some species may be fondled and fed with special food. There are also signs in Braille along with statuettes to touch for the blind. The roads and the animal houses can be accessed by wheelchair.


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Tuesday 23 January 2018

In the mood for love

FOUR Seasons hotels across Europe are getting in the mood for love ahead of the year’s Valentine’s Day with a host of offers and packages bound to set hearts racing. Couples can indulge in a Secret Dinner in a Florentine palazzo, a Sweet Valentine experience in Milan, or warm their hearts with romance in Russia with offers in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Four Seasons Hotel Moscow is turning up the heat this February with a unique Valentine’s Day offer to keep lovers cosy on a Russian winter night. On the evening of February 14, just one lucky couple will have exclusive access to the Hotel’s Amnis Spa, Moscow’s largest, for an evening of romantic relaxation. To begin their special journey, the couple can choose any 85-minute treatment from the Spa menu to enjoy wherever they wish in Moscow’s largest Spa – the entire space and all of its facilities are reserved just for them.


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British Airways uncovers mixed feelings


AN
online study by British Airways reveals that on average, Hong Kong people had three holidays abroad in 2017, and over half of them said their holidays had lasted five to nine days on average. Three trips abroad may seem like a lot, but in fact this figure is in line with the global average, with respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and South Africa also reporting that they had taken three trips during last year. Countries where respondents had more trips abroad than anyone else include Singapore (4 trips), UAE (6 trips), India (7 trips) and Japan (8 trips). However, respondents from the UK were on the bottom of the list, saying they only had two holiday trips abroad in 2017.

Hongkongers have their minds wired to work on holidays  - the purpose of going on a holiday is to relax and to recharge. However, the study shows that people haven’t had a long enough break to let their minds go offline as 63 per cent said that they felt like they had not properly switched off after coming back from a holiday. 

Busy bees not making the most of their holiday allowance - the study also shows that 63 per cent of employed adults have had left over holiday allowance at the end of the year. The main reasons include that they were too busy at work to take time-off, are saving them up for a holiday or were not able to take their holiday at certain times of the year. Guilt also comes into play as 12 per cent said they feel guilty for using up all of their holiday allowance. 

Hong Kong people do not mind going back to where they’ve visited before. 64 per cent of the respondents have gone back to the same holiday destinations for up to five times and 20 per cent said that they have been back to the same places for more than six to 10 times already. 

Lastly, when asked what type of holiday they would like to take in 2018, 65 per cent said they preferred city breaks and beach holidays in Europe, followed by Asian cultural breaks (53%).

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Airside Andy lands in London City Airport

AIRSIDE Andy has teamed with London City Airport to launch the very first Airside Andy dedicated children’s play area. Located in the Western Pier of the airport, this area opened last month and is designed for families travelling with young children.

Designed for children aged 3 – 8. Airside Andy is free to play, with in-app purchases and memberships available to enhance the in-game experience. It is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO), built exclusively for tablet and mobile and available through iTunes and Google Play, where kids can explore the busy world of the airport, and learn to manage short term and long term goals.

The star feature of this space is the Airside Andy play-tech pod. This is designed to look like a mini baggage carousel, complete with two tablets which are attached to suitcases. Each of these tablets are loaded with 21 games, including the Airside Andy game itself.


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Monday 22 January 2018

New travel opportunities for pet owners and animal lovers

EASYJET, Europe’s leading airline has teamed up with international house and pet sitting business, TrustedHousesitters, to form a partnership that will make it easier for pet owners and animal lovers to travel - and to explore Europe in a different way.

easyJet customers will be able to choose a free house sitter for their pet or find free accommodation as a house and pet sitter when booking flights on easyJet.com. The service is due to launch early in 2018.

The move follows a survey of easyJet customers that revealed how the majority of pet owners would travel more if they had better access to pet care.

Of the customers surveyed, 58%** said they would travel more often if they had more satisfactory pet care solutions. Among those who found that owning pets made travelling more difficult, 62%** said that either the cost of pet care or concern for pet welfare prevented them from going away more often.

easyJet will enable pet owners to match with verified members of the TrustedHousesitters online community to look after their homes, while animal lovers will be able to explore Europe, looking after pets in unique accommodation, when booking on www.easyJet.com.


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Australian Maritime Museum to offer Chinese language tours

TO celebrate Chinese New Year 2018, the Australian National Maritime Museum is launching a new, specially-designed product to welcome its Chinese visitors, the Endeavour Highlights Tour. From 1 February – 28 February 2018, the museum will offer Chinese language guided tours of the museum’s main galleries, exhibitions and attractions.

To be delivered in Mandarin, the tours will run three times per day, seven days per week and will feature a visit to Captain Cook’s Endeavour replica, moored at the museum on iconic Darling Harbour. They will also include guided tours of a range of compelling exhibitions including Passengers (Australia’s immigration story by sea), Navigators (a showcase of Australia’s relationship with Asia and Europe, featuring maritime navigation instruments, charts and maps) and Gapu-Monuk Saltwater (the museum’s recently opened Indigenous exhibition exploring the landmark sea rights case of North-East Arnhem land). 

Visitors on these tours will also have a photo opportunity on board the Endeavour with a 18th Century Captain’s hat, ideal for sharing on WeChat. And, in keeping with this year’s Chinese zodiac Year of the Dog, they will also have the chance to meet the museum’s resident canine, Bailey Haggarty, famous for chasing the seagulls from the museum’s ships and wharves.

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Myanmar Magic

SANCTUM Inle is nestled on the banks of one of Myanmar's most compelling destinations, the storied Inle Lake renowned for its legendary one-legged rowers, floating gardens, and stilted wooden homes.

The 94-room resort has been named among the Top 50 Resorts in Asia in Condé Nast Traveler's 2017 Readers' Choice Awards. In 2016, Sanctum Inle was recognised by Agoda's Customer Review Awards for 2016 with an overall score of 9.3.

The resort has been recognised among Condé Nast Traveler's 2017 Readers Choice Awards' 'Top Resorts in Asia' category and has also been selected for inclusion on Condé Nast Traveler India's Hot List of Best New Hotels in the World for 2017.
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Sunday 21 January 2018

Historical Hotels USA

HISTORIC Hotels of America is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels. Historic Hotels of America has more than 300 historic hotels that have all faithfully maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity in the United States of America, including 46 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Hotels range in age from 246 years to 52 years old and the oldest dates back to 1771. Seven of the 20 historic hotels are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and one has been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark.

The 20 historic hotels inducted in 2017 represent independent hotels, brands, and collections from across the U.S. from 13 different states:

  • Publick House Historic Inn* (1771) Sturbridge, Massachusetts
  • Inn at Willow Grove* (1778) Orange, Virginia
  • The Cotton Sail Hotel (1852) Savannah, Georgia
  • The Sherman (1852) Batesville, Indiana
  • Penn Wells Hotel (1869) Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
  • Antrim 1844* (1844) Taneytown, Maryland
  • Hotel del Coronado** (1888) Coronado, California
  • Hyatt at the Bellevue* (1904) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica (1912) Utica, New York
  • The Virginian Lynchburg, Curio Collection by Hilton (1913) Lynchburg, Virginia
  • Water’s Edge Resort and Spa (1920s) Westbrook, Connecticut
  • Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica (1921) Santa Monica, California
  • Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (1922) Syracuse, New York
  • Fairmont Olympic* (1924) Seattle, Washington
  • Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square (1925) Washington, D.C.
  • The Queensbury Hotel (1926) Glens Falls, New York
  • Hotel Saranac, Curio Collection by Hilton (1927) Saranac Lake, New York
  • The Statler (1956) Dallas, Texas
  • Alpenhof Lodge* (1965) Teton Village, Wyoming
  • The Graham Georgetown (1965) Washington, D.C.


Six of the historic hotels are adaptive reuse projects that have involved converting some or all of a historic building to a hotel. Originally, these buildings were built for another purpose in their history. Examples include buildings originally built as a historic synagogue, a cotton warehouse, a furniture factory, office building, a manor house and school house.



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Pop-Up private beach in Lorient Bay

LINKED to the legendary service provided at Eden Rock – St Barths the Eden Rock Villa Rental has recently upgraded its villa features to accommodate guests following Hurricane Irma and Eden Rock – St Barths’ temporary closure, scheduled to reopen late 2018. New features include access to the new pop-up private beach in Lorient Bay, featuring a beach menu, and on-beach spa services.

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Saturday 20 January 2018

Double up down under

TWO of Western Sydney’s acclaimed entertainment venues have come together to offer visitors a Best of the West Pass. 

Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside, home to the world’s largest collection of native Australian animals and water theme park, Wet’n’Wild Sydney in Prospect will deliver the best of Western #Sydney in one high value pass priced at only $129.00 for adults. 

The passes are on sale now at both venues and their websites and are valid for 12 months for Featherdale and through until the end of April at Wet’n’Wild Sydney.

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Green is the colour of Berlin

BERLIN is a green experience beyond the city limits . There are also green highlights to be found in the five municipalities that are conveniently connected to the city, such as Schlosspark, Stadtkirche and Orangerie in Altlandsberg, the Schlosspark and Gutshof in Fredersdorf, the Lenné Park in Hoppegarten or the Architectural Trail and the Museum Park in Rüdersdorf. 

The "Peter Joseph Lenné - Gardens, Parks, Cityscapes" app shows you the way to the most beautiful gardens, parks and cityscapes of Peter Joseph Lenné in your area. At the heart of this app is the multimedia tour of Schlosspark Glienicke. A comprehensive portrait of Peter Joseph Lenné (1789-1866), an overview of the most important gardens, parks and urban landscapes in Germany as well as a timeline are also included.

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