August 2010

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News Search

• 31/08/2010 -

  Rises in air tax will harm tourism in the Caribbean

  ABTA is calling on holidaymakers to write to their MPs to stop the increase in air tax, which is due to go up in November 2010. ABTA believes the air tax increases will have a detrimental effect on tourism, particularly tourism in the Caribbean. From November, travellers will have to pay an extra £25 on air tax on flights to the Caribbean. And those that book seats with extra legroom will have to pay double.

• 27/08/2010 -

  Become a wildlife volunteer at a Costa Rican sloth sanctuary

  Many people travel abroad to experience a new country as a wildlife volunteer, but it can be difficult to find a project that is affordable. If you don't book directly with an organisation, then you end up paying a lot more than you need to.

• 26/08/2010 -

  Festa Major kicks off in Vilafranca del Penedes for bank holiday weekend

  Just 60km from Barcelona, the town of Vilafranca del Penedes will be playing host to Festa Major this bank holiday weekend, from 29 August to 2 September. Holidaymakers attending Festa Major could get a real insight into Catalonian culture.

• 25/08/2010 -

  Last chance to visit Sandsation in Berlin this August bank holiday

  Sandsation is a sand sculpture festival that invites sand artists from all over the world to take part. Artists from the USA, Canada, India and many other countries bring their carving skills to the Sandsation stage. This year's festival began on 6 June and it will draw to a close this August bank holiday weekend on Sunday.

• 24/08/2010 -

  Dutch teenager sets sail around the world

  A 14 year old Dutch teenager, Laura Dekker, has set sail around the world on a little boat called Guppy. The teen is determined to break the record as the youngest person to navigate the globe alone.

• 23/08/2010 -

  Gap year travel gets a boost thanks to fierce university competition

  STA Travel, a holiday firm that specialises in gap year travel, has reported a distinct rise in the number of young people taking gap years. Recent reports have revealed that many A-level students weren't able to secure university places, encouraging them to take a gap year instead. Gap year travel has also experienced a rise amongst older people - STA Travel has reported a whopping 250% increase in sales.

• 20/08/2010 -

  Phuket holidays lead Thai tourism recovery

  The number of travellers taking Phuket holidays surged in the first part of this year. Numbers were up by 28% on last year's figures. Hotel occupancy has been greater this year and the average room prices are down, making Phuket holidays more affordable.

• 19/08/2010 -

  Take part in the coolest marathon on earth - the Polar Circle Marathon!

  Every year runners from all over the world take part in a half or full marathon at the polar circle. This year's Polar Circle Marathon is taking place on 23 October 2010. The course runs through Kangerlussuaq and across the Greenland icecap. Imagine running your next marathon on ice!

• 18/08/2010 -

  Kiss Flights becomes the third travel company to go bust this summer

  Already this summer, the travel industry has had to deal with the collapse of two holiday providers, Goldtrail and Sun4U. Now a third travel company, Kiss Flights, has ceased trading. Around 70,000 holidaymakers that have booked with Kiss Flights now face uncertainty. Kiss Flights specialised in budget holidays to Greece, Egypt, Turkey and the Canary Isles.

• 17/08/2010 -

  La Tomatina hits the streets of Bunyol on 25 August

  The date is set for one of Europe's most famous festivals - La Tomatina. On 25 August locals and visitors will take to the streets of Bunyol in Spain, armed with juicy tomatoes. When the first shot it fired, the red mush will begin to fly! Over the course of two hours, tons of tomatoes are hurled in all directions, creating a red mess of the streets, and special trucks cart the ammunition into the melee.

• 16/08/2010 -

  Which? Legal Service poll reveals 1 in 10 Brits make holiday complaints

  A survey carried out by Which? Legal Services has revealed that many of us Brits aren't afraid to make holiday complaints. But when we do complain, we are often disappointed with the way our complaints are handled.

• 13/08/2010 -

  Holiday firm Sun4U goes bust leaving 1,200 customers stranded abroad

  Earlier this summer, thousands of holidaymakers were disrupted by the collapse of Goldtrail in July, a holiday firm that specialised in packages to Greece and Turkey. Hoteliers in Greece and Turkey demanded payment from customers who had already paid for their holiday through Goldtrail.

• 12/08/2010 -

  Colosseum in Rome gears up to open its creepy underground passageways

  The Colosseum in Rome is one of the must see sites for anyone on holiday in the city. Its grand crumbling facade is an iconic image of Rome, and every year, around 4 million visitors arrive to explore its ancient interior where blood, sweat and tears were shed centuries ago.

• 11/08/2010 -

  Brits can benefit from bargain basement last minute holiday bookings

  Volcanic ash, the global economic downturn and strikes by airline workers in Europe have made some Brits hesitant to book holidays abroad. Also, the relatively warm summer weather in Britain has encouraged many of us to opt for a 'staycation' this summer.

• 10/08/2010 -

  Young Brits are being lured by the prospect of dream jobs in Australia

  Last year, Ben Southall was the envy of us Brits when he won the 'Best Job in the World' competition to become the caretaker of the beautiful Hamilton Island. His experience wasn't all plain sailing and they worked him to the ground, but he still managed to have an unforgettable time. The idea behind the competition was to raise awareness of tourism in Australia and it did just that - 34,000 people applied for the dream job.

• 09/08/2010 -

  Brits must pay to go on holiday in the USA

  From next month, Britons wishing to go on holiday in the USA will have to pay a fee for electronic visas. The electronic visas, which are applied for through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta), were introduced for European travellers in January 2009, and they're currently free. The fee will come into play on 8 September.

• 06/08/2010 -

  Visit an American festival that's out of this world!

  Americans are renowned for being eccentric! If you are planning a trip to the States this summer, why not take part in a weird and wonderful American festival to kick start your holiday?

• 05/08/2010 -

  Travel advisory for holidays in Sri Lanka lifted by Foreign Office

  After decades of civil unrest, the war in Sri Lanka finally came to an end a year ago, and last week, the Foreign Office lifted its last remaining travel advisory for the country. There is no longer an advisory for the four northern districts of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Vavuniya. But to travel to these places, you must obtain consent from the Sri Lankan government. This rule also applies to Jaffna.

• 04/08/2010 -

  Tourists visiting Vatican City are told to cover up

  St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City has always enforced a strict dress code, but now people visiting St Peter's Square are also being asked to dress more conservatively. Tourists that turn up with bare shoulders and legs are being turned away. Some tourists visiting Vatican City have been forced to buy long trousers or scarves from the local shops in order to gain entrance.

• 03/08/2010 -

  The Icarus Cup is a high flying French festival not to be missed!

  If you are planning a trip to France this September, then you might want to check out the Icarus Cup Free-Flying Festival, which is taking place on 16-19 September in Saint-Hillaire du Touvet.

• 02/08/2010 -

  Further threats could affect tourists wanting to travel to Greece

  Last week, tourists and locals in Greece were affected by fuel shortages when thousands of tankers went on strike - they were protesting against changes to licensing laws. The situation started to go back to normal last night and fuel should be flowing freely from today. However, a new threat could prevent more tourists from wanting to travel to Greece.