Alton Towers comes out tops

USING search volume data from Google, travel website, The Tourist Trail has published a list of the top 20 most searched for UK attractions in 2018, and the results may surprise you.

Whilst over half of the top 20 attractions were based in London, the top spot went to an attraction much further outside the capital. In fact, only two out of the top five went to London attractions, with the number one spot going to Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire.

Since opening in 1980, Alton Towers has evolved into a large resort with a range of attractions, including a theme park, a waterpark, several hotels, and even a spa.

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Picture Credit: david.nikonvscanon Alton Towers: Rita Queen of Speed via photopin

The Louvre crowned as France’s top tourist spot

THE world’s largest art museum the Louvre hosted a record breaking 10.2 million visitors in 2018, up from 25% the previous year, with the Eiffel Tower coming in second place.

The historic museum is home to many renowned pieces such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Théodore Géricault's 19th century masterpiece the Raft of the Medusa, not forgetting many antiquities and sculptures.

Frances’ tourism industry took a sharp decline after terrorist attacks claimed 230 lives between 2015 and 2016, but figures have recently increased, with #Paris once again becoming a European hotspot for tourists.

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High above the Las Vegas Strip

ON the first day of 2019, superheroes went sky-high to become the first to fly into 2019, high above The LINQ Promenade on the brand-new FLY LINQ, the first and only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip.

FLY LINQ Fast Facts:

• The $20 million FLY LINQ is the first and only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip.
• Developed by the team behind High Roller, the world's tallest observation wheel.
• 10 side-by-side ziplines, capable of simultaneously launching all riders. 
• Height of launch tower: 114 feet or 14 stories.
• Height of landing tower: 54 feet or more than five stories.
• Positions to fly: seated or superhero (prone).
• Length of each zipline: 1,121 feet.
• Length of time: the ride takes approximately 35 to 45 seconds.
• Average speed: 35 MPH.

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Roaring to life in the Blue Mountains

SCENIC World Blue Mountains is a private, family owned tourist attraction located in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, about 100 kilometres west of Sydney. 

Their new attraction, Dinosaur Valley has opened, bringing the ancient rainforest to life with prehistoric dinosaurs, daily events and family fun from November 1 – January 28.

Marking the first event of its kind in the Blue Mountains, Dinosaur Valley will take visitors on a journey through time to explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs among towering Jurassic rainforest.

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A tour of the Vatican before sunrise

FOR the first time, travellers can experience the Vatican – the most-booked attraction on TripAdvisor – in quiet solitude, before sunrise, and before it opens to the public. The #Vatican is famously popular, with travellers waiting up to 4 hours during peak season. 

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest provider of bookable experiences, is giving travellers a look at its new ‘Waking up the Vatican’ tour. The tour is available now and allows a small number of travellers to join the ‘Clavigero’, the Vatican key holder, as he unlocks the doors to the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s rooms, the Galleries, and more, hours before these iconic sites open to the public.

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Break free from Madame Tussaud's San Francisco

MADAME Tussaud's San Francisco brings the world’s most famous prison escape to life in its new “Alcatraz – The Breakout” escape room, the first in the brand’s 250-year history. Themed after the infamous 1962 escape, the experience has opened on Fisherman’s Wharf, just one mere mile from where it all took place – Alcatraz Island. 

Step back to 1962 and follow in the nefarious footsteps of three Alcatraz criminals, Clarence Anglin, John Anglin and Frank Morris, who escaped from America’s most notorious prison. You’ll only have 60 minutes to break out, crack the code and solve the puzzles before the guards catch you.

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Hop on and hop off in Hanoi

THE first double-decker bus was put into service on May 30 with hop-on and hop-off at 13 stops, running through 25 streets and taking tourists to 30 attractions in the capital city of #Hanoi, Vietnam.

Each bus has 80 seats and is equipped with modern technology, including the GPS system, free Wifi, USB gates, refrigerator, a TV screen and safety cameras.

An automatic narration system in various languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean is also installed in the buses, giving visitors an overall insight of over 30 most typical tourist attractions of the city.

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Celebrate the Royal Wedding with free entry

TO celebrate the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Madame Tussauds Sydney is offering free entry to guests with the same first names as the bride and groom to-be for the weekend of May 19-20.

Guests named Harry and Meghan (of any spelling) who visit Madame Tussauds Sydney on the weekend of the Royal wedding can claim free entry to the Darling Harbour attraction on presentation of photographic ID at the ticket desk.

www.madametussauds.com.au

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Kuélap Citadel recognised as 2018 hotspot

PERU's Kuelap Fortress was named as the winner of the ‘far and away overseas attraction’ award by the readers of National Geographic Traveller, whilst the Wall Street Journal recently featured Kuelap as number three in its top 10 'hot destinations'. 

The pre-Inca Kuelap Fortress was built and developed at an altitude of over 3,000 meters between the 6th and 16th centuries by the Chachapoyas people and is the largest stone structure in South America. It was rediscovered in 1843 and declared a cultural heritage site in 2003. 

The ruins of the pre-Inca city of Kuelap became more accessible earlier this year with the opening of a £18.5 million cable car in March 2017. The cable car takes just 20 minutes and is expected to increase tourist numbers significantly in the years to come. 

www.peru.travel

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Fun-filled destinations

THE World’s Most Fun-filled #Destinations explored a range of metrics from the number of amusement parks to the number of bars and restaurants, whilst taking into consideration the square km of these destinations. The Top 5 countries that should be on your bucket list include: 

The Netherlands – While also the number one for culture, the Netherlands boasts a huge array of museums and concert halls. 

Cyprus – With 188 national attractions, 31 casinos and 32 museums, Cyprus was not overlooked in terms of its flow of culture and entertainment. 

Belgium – Despite its small size, Belgium ranks third with 295 national attractions, 50 museums and 45 amusement, animal and water parks. 

United Kingdom – From concert halls and art galleries to Michelin Star restaurants and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there’s a lot of culture to explore across the UK. 

Germany– With the second highest number of Amusement, Animal and Water Parks, Germany has plenty of fun to throw yourself into.

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Paddington's Pop-Up London unveiled ahead of movie launch

FIVE spectacular pop-up book installations featuring Michael Bond’s much-loved bear will appear at iconic landmarks and attractions across #London from Monday 23 October – 3 December 2017, ahead of the film’s eagerly awaited release in UK Cinemas on 10 November 2017.

In PADDINGTON 2, #Paddington discovers an exceptional pop-up book in Mr Gruber’s antique store. Taking inspiration from this, these five stunning free attractions will be open for everyone to enjoy, with installations appearing across the Capital and featuring some of London’s most famous landmarks: Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus. The pop-ups will appear at the following popular tourist spots: Peter’s Hill (St Paul’s), Tower Bridge, Paddington Station, Peninsula Square (The O2) and Bankside (Tate Modern).

Families coming to London this half term will be able to discover Paddington’s Pop-Up London, which will lead them on a treasure hunt across the city, as they journey from pop-up book to pop-up book to discover a secret word. They will then be able to enter a competition on www.visitlondon.com/paddington2 to win a Paddington Afternoon tea journey for all the family, aboard the iconic Belmond British Pullman train.

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Skip to the front

THE world´s longest queues to get into popular attractions in destinations all over the globe have been identified by TripAdvisor, where travelers would have to wait in line for up to 4 hours during peak season to access. To show travelers how to save time and avoid the queue, the travel site has highlighted bookable Skip the Line tours at those attractions with the longest lines and shares a list of the Top 10 Most booked Skip the Line tours in the world. 

• London Eye 
• Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums 
• Colosseum, Rome 
• Catacombs, Paris  
• Eiffel Tower, Paris 
• St. Peter´s Basilica, Vatican City 
• Tower of London 
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam 
• Empire State Building, New York 
• Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

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Stay to Get Away in Trinidad & Tobago

THE launch of this year’s “STAY TO GET AWAY: ADVENTURE BEGINS AT HOME” campaign was held at the House of Angostura in Laventille and will run from July 01-August 31.

Citizens of #Trinidad & #Tobago now have over thirty five (35) tour packages and accommodation properties on offer in Trinidad and Tobago that will whet the appetite of even the most seasoned traveller.

The concept of STAY TO GET AWAY: ADVENTURE BEGINS AT HOME gives residents an opportunity to experience local tourist sites and attractions as an alternative to vacationing overseas. In times of severe economic downturn as well as during off season tourism months of June to September, support of the stakeholders becomes critical in ensuring the survival of the local tourism sector.

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Play London

PLAY London with Mr Bean is an interactive mobile Match-3 game with geo-location features, starring an animated Mr Bean character visiting scores of tourist attractions in central and outer #London. 

Launching later this year on iOS and Android the game will engage with visitors to the city and help them discover London’s hidden tourist gems, and the city’s cultural and foodie highlights. It will feature hidden treasures and great offers that can be found all over the city.

By spending time playing the game, players will be able to pick up vouchers which they can then cash in for discounts when they holiday in London and find great offers on locations around the city. Discounts may include free Wi-Fi, or money off hotel room rates and at famous visitor attractions.

www.play.london

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TripAdvisor Announces World's Top Landmarks With Travelers' Choice Awards

THE awards honor 706 landmarks in 82 countries.

"These iconic sights are cultural and historical touchstones for visitors across the globe," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "Summer is the perfect time for travelers to plan a visit to one of these landmarks. To enhance the experience at many of these signature places, visitors can book tours on TripAdvisor that offer unique perspectives or special VIP access."

Top 10 Landmarks in the World:

1.   Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia
2.   Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3.   Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba - Cordoba, Spain
4.   St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican City, Italy
5.   Taj Mahal - Agra, India
6.   Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - St. Petersburg, Russia
7.   Great Wall at Mutianyu - Beijing, China
8.   Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu, Peru
9.   Plaza de Espana - Seville, Spain
10. Duomo di Milano - Milan, Italy

For the complete list of the 2017 Travelers' Choice Landmarks winners, as well as reviews and candid traveler photos, go to: www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Landmarks


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Slovenia: Postojna Cave

POSTOJNA Cave is known for its unique forms of stalactites and stalagmites and is one of the most diverse cave systems in the world. It is the most visited attraction in #Slovenia, wowing visitors with the beauty and magnificence of its underground halls and the extent of its tunnels for two centuries.

In August 2016, Postojna Cave delighted the world with the information that its divers had discovered new underground tunnels, which extended the cave system by 3.5 kilometres. 

The Cave is once again updating the map of the 24,120-metre-long cave system and marking the missing parts on the map of the subterranean course of the River Pivka. After each new discovery, the scientists and the general public can easily understand the magic of the karst underworld and the achievements of the cavers. Due to their efforts the Postojna Cave system is even longer, following the waterways that are otherwise known only to the cave-dwelling olms.

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New Public Garden for Holyroodhouse

THE Royal Collection Trust has announced plans to make a new public garden at the Palace of #Holyroodhouse in #Edinburgh, inspired by the 17th-century physic garden that was once within the Palace grounds.

The original garden, created to teach students about the medicinal properties of plants and to provide pharmacists with fresh materials, was the first of its kind in Scotland and the second botanic garden to be established in Britain. The origins of today's Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh can be traced back to this historic Palace garden.

The garden will be created in the 2,500m² area behind the Abbey Strand buildings, which by the end of 2018 will house a new Learning Centre. At the same time, the Palace's Forecourt will be opened up to the public. Each of these projects is part of Future Programme, the £10-million investment by Royal Collection Trust to transform the experience of visiting Edinburgh's Royal Palace.

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TripAdvisor Reveals Top Trending U.S. Attractions For Spring

TRIPADVISOR the travel planning and booking site has announced the results of its Seasonal Attractions Trend Index providing travelers with insight into the hottest attractions for spring, based on year-over-year search activity on TripAdvisor. The seasonal index reveals the top 25 U.S. attractions with the greatest increase in traveler interest, offering inspiration and highlighting amazing activities and tours that can be booked to get the most out of any upcoming trip. 

"This spring, U.S. travelers have shown increased interest in nature and parks as well as sights and landmarks, particularly in the western part of the country," said Brooke Ferencsik, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.  "TripAdvisor Attractions provide travelers with the tools to book a tour best suited for their preferences."

Top Ten:

1. The Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, Tennessee

2. New York Tour1 - New York City, New Tork

3. DC Trails - Washington DC, District of Colombia

4. Kualoa - Kaneohe, Hawaii

5. High Roller - Las Vegas, Nevada

6. Gran Canyon South Rim - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

7. Antelope Canyon - Page, Arizona

8. Disney California Adventure Park - Anaheim, California

9. Havasu Falls - Supai, Arizona

10. Garden of the Gods - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Last Minute Mother's Day Treats

FOR mothers not much in to pampering or afternoon tea scrap the traditional Mother’s Day routine and head to Haynes International Motor Museum for the perfect alternative experience (26 March). 

Give your mum the opportunity to feel the wind in her hair as she jumps behind the wheel of a Bentley or goes for a spin in a Ferrari off the track and out on the open road.

The pre-planned route takes you off track onto main roads and lasts 15-20 minutes with a briefing beforehand and time for photographs afterwards.

Prices start at £79.

www.haynesmotormuseum.com/events/mothers-day-dream-car-drives

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Malta's Azure Window disappears

WHAT nature gave she also took away, on March 8 one of Malta's leading tourist attractions was destroyed in a storm.

The #AzureWindow a 28-metre-tall limestone natural arch on the island of #Gozo in #Malta was located in Dwejra Bay and was one of Malta's major tourist attractions. 

The arch, together with other natural features in the area, has appeared in a number of international films and media productions.

Will it be rebuilt as a man-made replica?

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