A study by the private bank Cater Allen has show that British travellers are increasingly choosing holidays which offer them new and exciting activities.

The research showed that only one in five British tourists were planning to spend their next holiday relaxing by “doing nothing”.

One of the most popular activities is said to be trekking, with popular holiday destinations including Africa and the Alps. According to the study over a quarter of those questioned said they planned to go walking on their next holiday.

Other popular activities are scuba diving in hotspots such as Sharm el Sheikh or Australia, and snowboarding or even sandboarding.

The research shows that increasingly British travellers are looking for alternatives to the traditional family holiday destinations, and are becoming more adventurous in their choice of holidays.

Many american resorts are aiming to cater for the traditionally non-ski times of year with a range of new and exciting activities such as dogsledding, snowshoeing.

Activities such as kayaking are also highly popular with holidaymakers at holiday locations such as Lake Tahoe, voted number one ski destination by Orbitz in 2007/2008.

Holidaymakers are advised to research their winter holiday destination for non-ski events and activities that will add to their vacation experience.

Non-ski activities also provide travellers with the opportunity to get to know the culture and delights of the area around their chosen destination.

As the UK’s festival season draws to a close those festival lovers looking for more music and fun may wish to try a holiday break in Holland, where the autumn festival season is just getting underway.

The first event on the calendar will appeal to classical music lovers as some of the most talented young musicians from around the globe showcase their talent in performances in the Dutch Capital as part of International Gaudeamus Music Week. The event runs from 1st-7th September.

The very best of Dutch and Flemish Theatre is on offer at 15 venues across Amsterdam as part of the Amsterdam Fringe Festival from 4th -14th September.

The PINT Bokbierfestival, which celebrates its 31st anniversary this year, will run throughout October 2008 at Beurs Van Berlage in Amsterdam. The festival provides beer enthusiasts from all over the world with the opportunity to sample and celebrate the fine art of beer-making.

The Amsterdam Dance Event is said to be Europe’s best conference on dance and electronic music. At night numerous venues across the city showcase talent from all dance genres between October 23rd and 25th 2008. Over 100 international artists, including Armin Van Burren and the UK’s Artful Dodger will keep the party going throughout the night.

According to recent research cruise holidays are defying the rising issue of rising fuel costs by offering some of the cheapest deals for ten years.

P&O cruises claims that its cruise packages are around a third cheaper than they were ten years ago and says that sea travel has never offered better value for money.

The affordability of holidays on cruise liners has made them more attractive to younger holidaymakers and families.

A contributing factor to the falling cost of holiday cruises is the construction of mega-ships which have larger capacities.

A spokeswoman for P&O said that it would be unlikely that the cruise industry would suffer the same fate as the airline industry. She added: “Cruise companies seem to be more resilient to recession”.

The Telegraph has compiled a list of some of the top river cruises around the world which provide travellers with the best and most relaxing way to witness breath-taking scenery and countryside.

A cruise along the Nile between Luxor and Aswan provides cruisers with a deeply cultural experience. Holidaymakers can visit the temples at Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and the temple dedicated to Horus at Edfu.

The attractions of both Moscow and St Petersburg can been enjoyed by cruising along the Volga River and other waterways which connect the two cities.

The Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam are the highlight of a cruise along the Yangtze River in China. Many travellers also choose to spend time in Shanghai before beginning the cruise.

A cruise along the Danube offers a cultural journey through European history, starting from the Hungarian capital of Budapest and sailing through Slovakia, Austria and Germany.

A cruise along the Amazon, the world’s largest river, takes travellers to the picturesque city of Santarem and many other stunning destinations.

Europe’s most popular cruising river, the Rhine, offers plenty of sightseeing opportunities along its 900 mile course, including fairytale castles, medieval towns and the impressive UNESCO World Heritage gothic cathedral in Cologne.

British tourists wishing to embark on a more environmentally-friendly break abroad may wish to head to the popular holiday destination of Italy, where the ancient city of Perugia has declared itself car-free with the completion of its new ‘Mini Metro’.

The hilltop capital city of Umbria with its narrow streets and massive travertine wall that surrounds this Etruscan stronghold was not designed to cope with the influx of vehicles and travellers that its regular jazz and chocolate festivals attract.

At last it seems the local authorities and inhabitants have decided to put an end to the queues of idling coaches and cars waiting for parking spaces and have chosen to put in place a €95 million project to install a light railway.

The line begins at the valley floor and climbs for 3km, winding around the ancient buildings and monuments to finally reach the drop-off point in the historic city centre where visitors can enjoy views of the rolling countryside. The journey lasts only 11 minutes.

With the capacity to transport 72,000 visitors in and out of the city every day, it is understandable that many other Spanish cities are now considering similar projects.

The Canary Islands have always been very popular with European holidaymakers, in particular those from the UK, but now there is an added reason to visit the location.

A new luxury resort, the Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, has been developed on the island of Tenerife, and is the new flagship resort of the Spanish hotel group Sol Meliá. The company has been one of the leading providers of luxury accommodation for over 50 years.

The new resort is situated on the southwest coast of Tenerife with stunning oceanic and mountain views. The complex offers six ocean-front garden villas with their own terraces, private pools and Balinese beds. In addition the luxury hotel rooms have excellent ultra modern facilities.

The hotel’s exclusive boutique, RedLevel, is only open to adult clients and a dedicated concierge desk and team of personal butlers cater for all the guests’ requirements.

Outside the hotel boasts lush exotic gardens and a very special feature, a 270m saltwater Infinity Pool. The exquisite pool is bordered by one of Europe’s largest manmade beaches, providing the guests with plenty of space to relax in the sun.

The resort’s Yhi Spa has an endless list of luxury treatments and services to indulge in ranging from massages to herbal steam baths and all in a calming atmosphere to take visitors away from the stresses of everyday life.

Families are welcome at the hotel with a large play area and sports and leisure activities to keep the younger guests entertained. Family concierges are also available to look after you during your visit.

With the euro at a record high against the pound many UK holidaymakers are being forced to tighten their belts, particularly when it comes to their holiday budgets.

According to a report by the Times Onlne the French Riviera is an excellent holiday destination for those seeking excellent cuisine, entertainment and accommodation on a budget.

During the summer the area offers a variety of different festivals including the International Fireworks Festival and the costumed troubadours at the Mornas’ Marché Médievale. For those seeking to get back to nature Provence offers stunning nature reserves with no entry fee. The 70,000-hectare Mercantour National Park is one such reserve.

Marseille’s fascinating Musée Cantini offers visitors a more cultural experience, while fans of author Dan Brown can visit La Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Ste-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume and get a feel for the background of the Da Vinci Code.

The region also offers a wide variety of affordable accommodation from camping to hostels and cheap hotels to suit every budget.

Research by Holiday Which? magazine has shown that cruise holidays are no longer considered to be the holiday choice of the over-50s.

Millions of British holidaymakers are said to have opted for a holiday cruise this year with a further increase expected next year.

The widening cruise market is attracting families and younger travellers, with newly weds in particular choosing a holiday on board a cruise liner for their honeymoon.

Claire Lilley, from Holiday Which? explained: “If you look in the trade press, the number of new cruise ships being launched this year is phenomenal really. And these are massive ships being launched in the UK alone.”

Recent research shows that family city breaks are experiencing a strong revival amongst UK travellers looking to spend more quality time with their loved ones.

Many holidaymakers are opting to take their families to more cultural destinations that offer something for both the adults and the children, rather than more traditional, child-focused family breaks such as theme park visits.

Some of the most popular city break destinations include France, the Channel Islands, Ireland and Holland.

Destinations such as New York and Amsterdam are reportedly very popular with UK travellers wishing to have a short city break as well as a main holiday each year.

While New York’s popularity may be due to the current strength of the pound against the dollar, other popular, far-flung city destinations include Cairo and Sydney.

The normally quiet Spanish village of Bunol has literally been painted red during the town’s annual Tomatina festival.

Thousands of people from all around the world arrived at the town for the festival during which around 100,000 kilograms of ripe tomatoes were thrown, leaving the revellers and town saturated in pulp and juice.

The festival, which reportedly dates back to a food fight between youths in the mid-1940s, traditionally concludes with the participants washing themselves clean in the nearby river while the local fire brigade hoses down the streets.

The festival is very popular with younger holidaymakers, particularly backpackers and gap-year travellers.

The 65th Venice International Film Festival starts on 27th August and will open with the world premiere of ‘Burn After Reading’ by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film’s star-studded cast includes George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

There is hot competition for the festival’s famous Golden Lion award for best film, with nominations including a feature-length animation from Hayao Miyazaki, the director of ‘Spirited Away’, and Jonathan Demme’s ‘Rachel Getting Married’.

Other categories at the festival include the Orizzonti section which looks at new trends in cinema, and the Corto Cortissimo competition for the best international short film.

There will also be a special screening of classic Italian films entitled ‘These Phantoms: Italian Cinema Rediscovered (1946-1975)’.

According to recent research holidays in America are more popular than ever with European travellers, in particular with holidaymakers from the UK and Germany.

One of the main reasons sited for this boom in popularity is the current exchange rate of the Euro against the American dollar. This has seen a boost in tourism and shopping in the States.
The US Office of Travel and Tourism Industries reported a massive 12 % increase for the first five months of 2008 compared with the same period last year.

“It’s been very positive this year because of the value of the dollar related to the Euro. The travel to New York has been exponentially up,” said Jon Moore, Vice President of Marketing and E-Commerce at the Marriott Hotels. “Our business is up as much as 50 percent over last year in New York, and about 15 percent to 25 percent in the other cities.”

For holidaymakers looking for something a bit different travelbite has compiled a list of the top up-and-coming travel destinations.

Essaouria, Morocco offers a quiet costal fishing village setting for an authentic local experience. It boasts a beautiful beach and stunning architecture to cater for all tastes.

The bustling markets of the southern city of Aswan in Egypt and its close proximity to the african boarder gives travellers the opportunity for a varied holiday experience, with major attractions including the Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple.

Bratislava’s affordability and beauty are making it increasingly popular with travellers wishing to immerse themselves in the rich culture and Mediterranean feel.

The ancient Japanese capital Kyoto is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and is famous for its excellent cuisine and colourful festivals.

Puerto, Iguazu, in Argentina offers visitors the delights of the Iguazu national park and renowned Iguazu Falls. This exciting city is an excellent central point for travellers, as it shares boarders with Paraguay and Brazil.

The historical colonial city of Liningstone, Zambia is an ideal destination for holidaymakers seeking adventure with the Zambesi River offering fantastic opportuinities for white-water rafting, cruises, bungee jumping and much much more.

Popular with the locals, the seaside village of Cascais, Portugal offers a peaceful getaway from the more cosmopolitan city of Lisbon only 30km away. The resort offers a wide range of beach sports and activities.

With more museums than any other city in the world and steeped in medieval architecture and history the croatian city of Zagreb is the ideal destination for those seeking a cultural holiday.

Xi’an, China is surrounded by mountains and rivers and offers tourists a pleasing blend of culture and history.

The lively and diverse city of Amman, Jordan is an excellent destination for those wishing to learn more about the culture and background of this intriguing country.

The use of mobile phones on UK passenger aircraft may soon be given the go-ahead after an investigation by Ofcom.

UK aircraft operators wishing to permit their passengers to use their mobiles and other such radio equipment during a flight will be able to obtain a licence from Ofcom.

However recent research suggests that the vast majority of British travellers are against the move, preferring a more peaceful, relaxing flight free from catchy ringtones and loud conversations.

By January a new form of security check will be required for travellers planning a holiday in the US but who do not need a visa. Holidaymakers can now register online for special security screening which will replace the previously used green paper forms.

The new Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA) is one of a line of measures in a move towards a more modern, paperless system.

From 12th January all visitors to the US, children included, will have to have an approved ESTA in order to enter the country.

The system will be free of charge and once registered, travellers will be able to visit the US for a period of two years.

For more information visit www.dhs.gov

The more advanced, adrenalin-driven skiers travelling to the picturesque skiing resort of Chamonix will soon be able to put their skills to the test thanks to a new initiative from the British Alpine Ski School.

The ski school will be offering an exciting new range of courses including backcountry and performance skiing programmes for next winter.

BASS has been providing a high quality service of ski lessons to both visitors and residents of the holiday resort for over four years. The school also works together with other local providers. Director Derek Tate explains: “our clients benefit from some of the best professionals in their field and our partners get to develop & invest in their own business. A real win-win situation for all concerned.”

The courses are led by a qualified ski instructor and an experienced mountain guide, providing skiers with both technical skiing tuition and the knowledge of how to enjoy the sport safely in the Chamonix Valley environment.

This seasons courses from BASS include;
- Pre-season Performance Course in Hintertux, Austria
- Mountaineers’ Off Piste Courses in Chamonix, France
- Backcountry Courses in Chamonix, France
- Weekend Off Piste Courses in Chamonix, France

Holidaymakers opting for a skiing holiday may soon be able to make their experience even safer. The “Flash Avalanche”, a new avalanche safety system used largely by off piste skiers, is about to come onto the market.

The new concept provides an alternative to the previously very popular avalanche beacons. The selling point of the new product is four cords which are only released in the event of an avalanche occurring. The 10m red polyester cords disperse out around the skier who then follows a cord to the surface. The “Flash Avalanche”, weighing a mere 220 grams and worn on the wrist, will be available in September 2008.

Other such products include the avalanche ball, a spring loaded ball with cord which is worn on the skiers rucksack.

For more information visit: www.flash-avalanche.com

The popular ski resort of Alpbach in southern Austria now has a new reservoir to enhance the snowmaking capacity of the system already in place.

At a cost of four million Euros the new Jochanger reservoir will eliminate the need to use high energy compressors for snowmaking. Instead using natural water pressure it will serve the snow making equipment of both Albach and its neighbouring resort Reith.

10km of new pipelines have been installed in addition to the new reservoir and a new pumping station has been installed higher on the pistes in the Wiedersbergerhorn area with extra care taken to preserve the natural environment of the location

Turkey has recently been highlighted for its wide variety of attractions to suit all ages and tastes.

Traditionally considered to be mainly a destination for those wanting to play golf and soak up the local history, Turkey is now being praised for its excellent nightlife and wide selection of accommodation to suit smaller budgets and those seeking a luxury experience.

With excellent communications, beautiful coastline and picturesque towns and villages steeped in history and culture it is easy to understand why Turkey’s popularity with UK holidaymakers is booming.