Holiday News - Direct

Heathrow is the least favourite airport, Ryanair the least favourite airline, and mobile phone use on planes is disapproved of, according to a new survey by TripAdvisor.
The favourite airport according to the survey is Schipol International airport in Amsterdam. Holidaymakers surveyed said that a good airport is easy to navigate, has good toilets and […]

People aged over 50 are taking more holidays, according to a new survey by YouGoy for the Post Office. The over-50s desire holidays in New Zealand (44%), Australia (35%), New York (26%) and other far away destinations.
It seems that the higher disposable income is the reason for more holidays, 32% said they had taken […]

Teenagers aged 16 and 17 will no longer need parental consent to get a passport when new passport regulations are imposed on 10 December 2007. The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) said this change will bring passport regulations to the same level as other legal issues regarding teenagers.
IPS also announced new regulations for passports […]

MSC Cruises has made arrangements to have aluminum used onboard its ships in Italy to be collected for recycling. The Italian National Consortium for the collection and recycling of aluminium will make special collections from ships departing from Genoa and Venice.
The cans used for drinks, foil used in cooking, and storage stubs and containers […]

The ten best rural holiday destinations in Europe have been given the “European Destinations of Excellence” (EDEN) Award. Ten countries took part this year, and an EDEN Award was awarded to a destination in each country.
The aim in the EDEN project is to promote European holiday destinations and awarding sustainable forms of tourism.
Commission Vice-President Gunter […]

Passengers at Heathrow airport oppose the usage of mobile phones to check-in to their flights, according to the Passenger Self-Service Survey conducted by SITA earlier this year. The survey was conducted at Atlanta, Hong Kong and Heathrow airports.
In Hong Kong there has been a 16% rise in checking-in with mobile phones. The numbers also showed […]

If you want to be inspired for an idea for a holiday destination or just get glimpse of what the wildlife has to offer, you can visit the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in London.
The exhibition has just opened and will stay open until 27 April 2008. From vibrant landscapes to intimate portraits […]

As of November 6 British Airways will not accept large items such as surfboards, canoes and wind-surfers. The ban has caused anger amongst surfers and the British Surfing Association (BSA) has set up a petition against the airline.
The BSA is urging its 10,000 members to sign the petition and join a new members group in […]

If you are taking a holiday with your family and are looking for the best hotel to stay in, you should take a note of the five best family suites compiled by the Independent. These rooms offer plenty of entertainment for the youngsters, from a tree house to play areas.
Alva Park Resort and Spa, […]

The number of British people taking a holiday in the twin island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has grown steadily this year. The Caribbean nation has attracted over 70,000 Brits so far this year.
In September there was 18% rise in the number of British holidaymakers on the island compared to the previous year. Other months […]

If you’re heading to Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Mumbai or Istanbul before Christmas, you might as well do your Christmas shopping while on holiday.
The Telegraph has compiled a list of top exotic Christmas shopping destinations at Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Mumbai and Istanbul.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has long been the shopping capital of Asia but it is […]

Ski Holiday specialist Ski-Direct reports that Canada is attracting more ski holidaymakers than in previous years. People taking group ski holidays especially are heading to the slopes in Canada, according to analysis of early bookings made at through specialist online ski holiday booking agency www.ski-direct.co.uk
A number of trans-Atlantic airline companies have announced extra services […]

Marriot International has announced that it will expand its presence in Scandinavia in the next six years by opening 15 new hotels in Finland, Sweden and Norway.
The first two hotels to open are Courtyard hotels, Marriot’s largest brand. At nearly 800 properties globally, it ranks as the 13th largest hotel brand in the world.
The new […]

Turkey, Dubai and South Africa have been named as the future top golf holiday destinations by industry specialists.
At the moment most golf holidaymakers head to Spain and Portugal, but the trends in golf holidays are changing.
Over 70 holiday operators and 50 golf course architects were interviewed for two exclusive surveys conducted by KPMG Golf […]

Travel agents at the Elite Travel Conference say their customers do not consider global warming and climate changed when making their holiday plans.
The 170 agents present at the conference in Jerez, Spain took part in a debate on global warming and its effects on holidaymakers’ decisions.
Agents agreed that not many customers even mention climate […]

Virgin Atlantic is opening a new Upper Class Wing at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 next month. The airline says business class passengers will be able to move from limo to lounge in under 10 minutes.
There is a special fast-track security channel at Terminal 3 to get business class passengers through quickly. The Upper […]

To many people gap year is a synonym for travelling. But recent survey by NatWest found that gap year is now more likely to mean taking a year out to work and save money for university, than taking the time off to travel.
School leavers can’t afford to travel around the world taking an extended […]

The Independent has listed the five best hotels by waterfalls. There’s a destination from each of the five continents in the list.
These are the places to go if you want to enjoy breathtaking views:
1. Hotel das Cataratas, Brazil
This 200-room colonial confection is the only hotel within Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park. The falls are […]

The Irish are rejoicing in being named the friendliest place in the world by prestigious British travel guide Lonely Planet.
The 2008 Lonely Planet Bluelist is a guide to holiday destinations around the world.
The guide says: “Centuries of turmoil, conquest, famine and subsequent immigration have certainly taken their toll on the Irish. It has […]

bmi will launch 17 new routes in October to various destinations in the Middle East and Africa. Holidaymakers can fly from Heathrow airport to destinations like Amman in Jordan, Armenian capital Yerevan, Iran’s capital Tehran, and Freetown in Sierra Leone.
Nigel Turner, chief executive of bmi group, said: “These new routes represent the single largest […]