Guests staying at £695-a-night luxury hotel and spa tell of 'chaos'

EXCLUSIVE: Visitors staying at the Estelle Manor in the leafy village of Eynsham in Oxfordshire were evacuated from their rooms just before 8am yesterday morning after a chemical spilled.

US to offer Boeing 'sweetheart deal', lawyer says

The deal includes a fine, three years of probation and safety audits, according to a lawyer representing the victims of two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes

Sofitel hotel closes; Union to push fight

MANILA, Philippines — The landmark Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila officially shuts down on Monday after 46 years amid safety concerns and an escalating labor dispute. The hotel, last managed by the multinational tourism company Accor SA under its Sofitel brand, bid farewell on its Facebook, thanking guests for memories that “have left an indelible mark on our hearts.” The property, owned by the Government Service Insurance Service (GSIS), was...

Vacation time: the 12 best and 12 worst destinations for LGBTQ travelers

‘Lowkey quarrying?’: Content creator’s beach sand collection draws flak

An online post about taking home sands from Philippine beaches opened conversations about preservation of sands in tourist destinations. A Reddit user on Saturday shared a screengrab of a post of a content creator flaunting the bottles of different sands she has taken home from her travels. “How to display… that’s my problem… and soon, […]

Back to the future: The Centro de Turismo Intramuros opens

A new creative cauldron, the enchanting Centro de Turismo Intramuros, opened its doors recently, to the delight of Manila’s culture and history fans. Conceptualized by the First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, the Center is intended to be a traveler’s very first portal to the Walled City, a nucleus that will give a glimpse of the Philippines’ historic pa...

An annual solo trip reminds me of who I am outside being a mom. Sometimes, I feel guilty for spending the time and money, but it's worth it.

I take an annual trip by myself to reconnect with my identity outside of being a mom. Sometimes I feel guilty, but it worth the time and money.

Nine Amazon travel essentials to buy before your next holiday or trip away

We've compiled a handy list of must-have travel products from Amazon that the majority of people will need

Scene after chemical incident at luxury hotel and country club

A luxury £695-a-night hotel and country club has been forced to shut after a chemical leak created huge plume of fumes leading firefighters to scramble to the scene.

Americans and Japanese take far less time off — but Europeans say they're more 'vacation deprived'

Some 84% of Germans and 69% of French workers said they feel "vacation deprived" even though they take the most days off work, according to an Expedia study.

Glastonbury reveller leaves Brits howling after waving 'Henry Hoover on stick'

People will spend months planning what iconic meme will be on their flag at Glastonbury - but one Brit opted to put a Henry Hoover on the end of their pole instead

UK govt, British Airways sued over 1990 Kuwait hostage crisis

Passengers and crew of a British Airways flight who were taken hostage in Kuwait in 1990 have launched legal action against the UK government and the airline, a law firm said Monday. The action claims that the UK government and the airline "knew the invasion had started" but allowed the flight to land anyway.

2 do's—and 1 don't—of planning a group vacation, from a travel writer who hates group trips

Walker travels five to six times per year, but she's only been on five group trips total.

My husband and I went to an all-inclusive resort. He drinks, and I'm sober, but I didn't feel like I was missing out.

I'm sober and my husband still drinks. I was nervous to go to an all-inclusive resort together on vacation, but we both enjoyed our trip.

China, Kazakhstan upgrade tourism cooperation

BEIJING, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily: The opening ceremony of the Kazakhstan Year of Tourism in China in 2024 was recently held in Beijing. China and Kazakhstan will hold a series of splendid activities throughout the year of tourism, which include art performances and tourism forums. Kazakhstan boasts abundant tourism resources, such as the Shymbulak Ski Resort, Lake Kaindy, Charyn Canyon, the Korgalzhyn State...

Aussie books a guest house, but left stunned by unexpected visitor

An Aussie has has been left stunned after booking a room at a guesthouse and receiving unexpected visitors.

Sheraton Celebrates the Opening of its 100th Hotel in Greater China with the Debut of Sheraton Lanzhou Anning

The new hotel made its debut in the city of the Yellow River with refreshing design, embodying the brand spirit of "The World's Gathering Place" with vibrant energy LANZHOU, China, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy's global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands, today announced the opening of Sheraton Lanzhou Anning in Lanzhou of Gansu province. The opening also marks the 100th Sheraton Hotel in...

U.S. plans to seek guilty plea from Boeing over fatal 737 Max crashes

The U.S. is expected to seek a guilty plea and offer Boeing a deal over the fatal 737 Max crashes, victims' family members said Sunday.

'Tourist tax' on hold as hotels appeal

Hoteliers criticise the £2 levy on hotel guests intended to replace council support for tourism.

How to avoid AI travel scams for your next vacation

Booking your next vacation has never been easier, thanks to the latest technologies. However, some scheming individuals are using these to launch AI travel scams. These are conventional travel schemes like fake websites and listings that fool people into sharing personal information and funds. However, they gained AI-enabled upgrades that make them harder to detect. READ: Avoiding online love scams Fortunately, becoming aware of such schemes is...

Curse of the sunseekers: Tourists who died or vanished in Brit holiday hotspots

For most of the millions of Brits who go abroad each year, they come back to the UK with memories of carefree days and sun-soaked beaches - but a small number will never make it home

Documentary recalls one of the worst plane crashes ever

Airport meet and greet parking company 'stole' customers' cars

EXCLUSIVE: Blue Circle parking was operating in Birmingham, Luton and Heathrow airports before closing down in April leaving customers stranded in the rain.

Instant karma as man kicks hotel door before walking up to reception

A man was caught on camera kicking in the door to a Marriott hotel. The video shows him shattering the glass with punches before kicking the door multiple times.

Japan is cheap

Many of my friends and family members have been going to Japan lately. They are all agog saying that their trips to Japan are so cheap. The reason for this is the steep depreciation of the Japanese yen. This makes everything from the Michelin-starred meals to luxury cosmetics a steal for tourists. But while visitors are reveling in the bargain bonanza, Japanese finance officials, importers and international investors are grappling with the...

How to make your outdoor space more private

With the warmer weather, it's natural that we wish to enjoy our outdoor spaces. What we don't appreciate, however, are the prying eyes of neighbors and strangers alike. Making sure your patio, balcony, or backyard has enough privacy is key to creating a relaxing outdoor space. Whether you live in a dense urban area, the suburbs with neighbors on the other side of the fence, or even in a more secluded area in the countryside, your outdoor space should feel like an undisturbed oasis. So, how do you create your own hidden sanctuary? From plants to privacy screens and outdoor curtains, click on for a range of ideas that can help you out!

Heritage buses are just the ticket for web gallery

Graham Croucher explains why classic buses have been a life-long obsession.

Plaque to remember two famous visitors to house

The Old Stone House in Leek was visited by John Wesley and William Morris.

Charge foreign British Museum visitors and share Elgin Marbles, former boss says

Charge foreign British Museum visitors and share Elgin Marbles, former boss says - Sir Mark Jones said that ‘some of the buildings are in a poor state’ and money is needed to repair the institution.

Best British lager to sip during the Euros

Best British lager to sip during the Euros - Wave the flag for Britain with the best lagers brewed right here on home turf

Oslo could become a top travel destination after an unconventional but hilarious tourism ad goes viral

A tourism campaign ad for Norway that is full of "Norwegian self-irony" has gained millions of views. But will it bring in more visitors?

Picturesque mountain town becomes hotspot for America's migrant boom

A picturesque Montana city has become an unexpected hotspot for America's migrant boom, sparking a backlash from a group of hard-right residents.

Glastonbury clear-up to rid sea of rubbish from Worthy Farm begins

Thousands of revellers leaving Worthy Farm in Somerset have been urged to take all their belongings and tidy their campsite.

Agoda shares top five international city destinations for the first half of 2024

SINGAPORE, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tokyo emerged as the most popular international city destination for the first half of 2024, according to digital travel platform Agoda. The travel insights further reveal the popularity of Bangkok, Osaka, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur, as destinations that follow behind Tokyo to round out the top five. Top Five International Destinations of the First Half of 2024 - Agoda 1 Tokyo 2 Bangkok 3 Osaka 4 Seoul 5...

First Lady back from 3-day UAE visit

MANILA, Philippines — First Lady Liza Marcos on Sunday shared on social media her trip to the United Arab Emirates, where she is on a supposed three-day working visit to explore areas of cooperation between the Philippines and the UAE. In an instagram post, Mrs. Marcos said the Philippine delegation and the UAE government tackled areas where they could enhance cooperation, such as culture, arts and heritage. “Her Highness Sheikha Salama bint...

Embarking on a Sustainable Journey with Hi-MO X6 in Nakagawa Village- One of "the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan"

NAGANO, Japan, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned as one of "the most beautiful villages in Japan", the quaint Nakagawa village is home to LONGi Hi-MO X6 solar panels, shining atop the Nakagawa Shopping Center Ciao. The union of solar power and tourism is setting an eco-friendly future, as the village transitions towards facilities energized by renewable resources. ( Picture from BIG・INTEC Co., Ltd.) Nakagawa Shopping Center Ciao, a unique...

Plus-sized TikTok star ranks UK airlines from best to worst on comfort for larger passengers, with verdicts on British Airways, Tui, Ryanair and easyJet

Becky Price, who posts airline reviews on her TikTok channel under the username @xBeckyPricex, rated each of the four airlines on comfort, seat size, width of aisle and more...

I stayed in Britain's cheapest hotel for £16 a night - I'd go again

George Redfern, 21, from Wirral, Merseyside, opted to stay at the Coco Beach Hotel in Blackpool, Lancashire earlier this month in spite of its lowly two-star rating on Booking.com.

Paris Hilton's battle against boarding schools

I won’t fly QR again; Nvidia on a blitz

I will not fly Qatar Airways (QR) anymore. Neither will I recommend it to anyone. It has failed multiple times to honor its commitments. The money part may matter, but the broken promises matter most. A year ago, on July 18, 2023, I arrived from Europe via Doha on QR 928. When I claimed my Rimowa luggage, I noticed that one wheel was dangling, almost totally detached. I immediately reported this to the QR office at the Ninoy Aquino International...

China offers foreign permanent residents of Hong Kong, Macau five-year visas

BEIJING (Reuters) - Foreigners who are permanent residents of Hong Kong and Macau and are looking to visit mainland China can apply for multiple-entry travel visas with validity of five years, China's National Immigration Administration said on Monday. From July 10, foreign permanent residents of the two Chinese-ruled cities will be eligible to apply for such visas to enter the mainland,

Travel warning as Severn bridge and tunnel to shut

Commuters and tourists warned as busiest routes between Wales and England to close for upgrade work.

UTS secures its place in world top 100 rankings

SYDNEY, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has climbed to the 88th spot in the QS World University Ranking, achieving a new high and securing its position as one of the world's top universities. The UTS campus sits within the thriving tech central hub in the heart of Sydney. UTS Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew Parfitt, thanked the work of UTS staff, and said the impressive results reflect the...

What Is Mobile Passport Control, and Is It Right for You?

What is Mobile Passport Control and is it right for you? Experts weigh in on the pros and cons of using the travel app.

Why a guide has been slammed over videos promoting Blue Mountains

An adventure guide has been accused of promoting a dangerous walking trail at one of Australia's most popular tourist hotspots, located west of Sydney.

AirAsia offers flights as low as P15 until July 7

Get your 2025 travel plans started because there's another seat sale for you. Local budget airline AirAsia announced that they are offering fares to select domestic and international destinations for as low as P15 when they fly from Manila, Cebu, and Clark. Those coming from Manila can enjoy P15 one-way base fares to Kalibo, Iloilo, Roxas City, Pue...

VinHMS Ramps Up Global Expansion with Strategic Acquisition

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VinHMS - an innovator in hospitality technology, has been actively pursuing its strategic plans for international expansion. Established in December 2018 as a member of Vingroup, VinHMS specializes in providing high-quality technology products, and aims to optimize business operations for enterprises. After 5 years of establishment, VinHMS is actively expanding its presence in the domestic...

Japan imposes new fees on Mount Fuji climbers to limit tourists

By Tom Bateman FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan (Reuters) -Park rangers on Japan's sacred Mount Fuji officially started this year's climbing season about 90 minutes before sunrise on Monday, levying new trail fees and limiting hiker numbers to curb overcrowding. At 3 a.m., officials opened a newly installed gate at a station placed just over halfway up the 3,776-meter (12,388-ft) peak that is a symbol of

Tree-less canopy walkway shines spotlight on Hungary graft

It should have been a forest canopy walkway -- but instead it is a bridge above an expanse of saplings and open fields. But as inflation pushed up prices, Filemon decided to cut down the forest and sell the wood to finance the work -- resulting in the canopy-less walkway.

Deal reached in WestJet strike but travel disruptions still expected for Canadian airline

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers over the Canada Day long weekend. WestJet said late Sunday there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service. In its own news release, the Airplane Mechanics Fraternal Association urged its members to return to work...