Holiday & Travel

Latest tourism figures from the Maldives show that the destination saw an 11.2% increase in the number of UK travelers who visited in the first six months of 2018, when compared with the same period in 2017. In total, 57,535 UK tourists arrived in the Maldives from January – June 2018, compared with 51,737 in 2017.

With regards to total worldwide tourist arrivals, 93,786 travelers visited the Maldives in June 2018 and this represents an increase of 10% when compared with June 2017, which welcomed 85,222. The first six months of 2018 have seen 726,515 global tourists visit the Maldives, an increase of 10.5% when compared with the same period of last year.

This year the Maldives will further confirm its status as one of the most attractive holiday destinations for UK tourists, with the opening of at least 23 new resorts. The island nation was also recently crowned as the ‘Indian Ocean’s Best Spa Destination’ at the World Spa Awards and as the ‘Best Honeymoon Destination’ at the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Awards.

Commenting on the increase of tourist arrivals, the Maldives’ Minister of Tourism, Hon. Moosa Zameer, said, “We are once again very pleased to see a notable increase in the number of UK and worldwide arrivals to the Maldives. The increase is testament to the country’s world-class tourism industry and with several exciting developments planned for the remaining months of 2018 and into 2019, including the opening of a number of resorts, we look forward to welcoming even more UK tourists to our shores.”

Volcano and lava tourism is nothing new. Tourists have been traveling to active volcanoes for literally hundreds of years to see molten lava as up close and personal as possible. Perhaps the fascination lies in seeing the “insides” of our Earth home with our own eyes. The very core of our planet has made its way to the surface and is bubbling, steaming, and sometimes spewing molten rock in all its glory.

Captivating a corner of the news every day around the globe since May 3 of this year, the activity of Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has had people glued to their electronic devices, while others have made the journey to see the volcanic activity for themselves.

But let’s face it, this is dangerous stuff, this thing called lava. When it breaks through the Earth’s crust, its temperature is anywhere between 1,300 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Rocks have been turned into melted glowing orange, red, and sometimes even white ooze. And the rocks on the surface when caught in an explosion of lava become searing airborne missiles.

Case in point: The ferry full of tourists on Monday off the Pahoa coast of Hawaii Island who were on a trip conducted by Lava Ocean Tours when they were suddenly pelted with burning rocks with one large rock landing on the roof of the watercraft and crashing through to where the passengers were seated. Twenty-three people were injured on that tour.

While the lure is definitely there for tourism, the responsibility of state government agencies to assure safety in the form of keeping a reasonable distance from the volcanic activity is in essence hampering businesses on the island. Ironically, it is healthy business activity that can help to turn around the damage that has been done by Kilauea. Over 500 homes have been destroyed by the current lava paths on the Big Island along with farms, roads, and infrastructure.

Right now, the only way to see the lava is by boat or by air. Businesses on Hawaii island are pressing for a lava viewing site to keep the tourist flow going, because so many of these businesses are dependent on tourism to keep the economy healthy.

Hawaii County’s Director of Research and Development said they have been working on setting up such a site for the past couple of months. This requires meeting with civil defense and scientists to determine a safe location for such a tourist site. And it isn’t just the lava itself that has to be taken into consideration; it’s also about the sulfuric emissions that can cause health issues that have to be factored into where such a location can be developed. It is likely that air filtration masks would need to be provided at a viewing site for visitor use.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was the Aloha state’s most popular tourist attraction, but the recent lava activity has caused access to the park to be closed indefinitely. This is causing tour guides, store merchants, and restaurants to lose business at the rate of 50 to 90% less than normal.

Mountain gorilla trekking though very fantastic and a favorite to many wildlife lovers, the experience is limited to only three countries which are Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo in the whole world. However, even among these limited three destinations, one needs to choose carefully which country is able to give the exceptional uganda gorilla safari experience that suits the traveler’s curiosity about mountain gorilla tracking. Mountain gorillas are endangered and they only survive in the wild, the only chance you have to see them is by trekking into their native forests. Visiting the silent cold ground of a Ugandan forest for an hour can turn out to be one of your greatest life experiences. There are about 900 mountain gorillas in the world today and embarking on a gorilla trekking safaris presents you an opportunity to interact with these amazing and intelligent primates.

Mountain gorillas are found in only four habitats within the three countries including in the dense vegetation of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and the other three parks share borders are within the Virunga Conservation area comprising of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

The population of mountain gorillas has greatly increased from 254 that were left in the world by 1981 to about 1004 estimated to be in the jungle today. Thanks to the intense international conservation efforts that have been undertaken to help in the increase of these animals. Mountain gorillas cannot survive in captivity and therefore the only way to see them is by trekking to their natural habitat in their misty cloud forests that can reach 14,763 feet altitudes.

Below are some five guiding reasons to make Uganda your perfect mountain gorilla trekking destination

Highest Number of Mountain Gorillas

Uganda has got this number of mountain gorillas within her two gorilla trekking spots of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. When it comes to the mountain gorillas within the parks of the Virunga conservation area, they don’t respect political borders and therefore the populations within the three border-sharing parks are relatively fluid but still Uganda has got an edge given that Bwindi alone has half of the world’s mountain gorillas whose families are permanent in this habitat. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is also known as “The place of darkness” due to its dense canopies with her montane and lowland forests sitting on 128 square miles. Due to its incredible biodiversity and the large number of endangered species, the region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park may not have the vastness and gorilla variety of Bwindi but boasts full accounts of 13 square miles with three of the major eight Virunga peaks including Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura and Mount Sabyinyo.

Cheap and Affordable Gorilla Permits

The conservation and protection of the gorillas in Uganda to promote tourism is evidenced right from the price and accessibility regulations. Regulations enforce limited daily accessibility of gorillas in the parks to ensure that gorillas stay wild and healthy in their habitat. The cost of gorilla permits in Uganda is 600 usd for foreign non-residents, 500 usd for foreign residents and 250,000 shs for East Africans paid all year round. This makes Uganda gorilla tours far more affordable when compared to gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda that are being sold at $1,500 throughout the year.

Support local people to prevent Gorilla habitat Destruction

Gorillas are facing a big threat of habitat destruction to human activities mainly farming and settlement de to increased poverty and high population in the adjacent communities. There are various channels through which trekkers can contribute to the communities they visit. One of the most popular one is by hiring a reformed porter who is a local resident and a former poacher. The porter will help you through the difficult and unpredictable landscape in the park and they also guide trekkers through River crossings and the steep, muddy slopes. Another option is to take part in the community-led activities like village walks and cultural tours that are steered by young adults in Bwindi who get trained in hospitality through rigorous classes and practical work experience.

At Mgahinga gorilla national park, the elders of the Batwa tribe take the visitors through a forest tour along the Batwa trail. During this tour, the elders explain to the visitors how their forest-dwelling tribe used the forest plants for food and medicine and exhibiting their former hunting skills.

Enjoy Adventurous Experience

The terrain in Southwestern Uganda is characterized by terraced hills and rolling volcanic slopes that are not for the faint of heart to climb. Taking on such a challenging terrain while on your Uganda gorilla trekking safari can turnout to be an adventure of your lifetime. Reaching the gorillas is very unpredictable and requires hard work since they don’t stay at a particular place for their visitors to find them. You are likely to navigate uphill and downhill and go through thick tangles of vine, thorns and roots. Don’t forget that the impenetrable forest is only accessible by foot with no clear paths, signs and no directions. The park rangers and guides always carry machetes to clear the passages. However after all this hard work, the reward outweighs all the hustles encountered and you quickly realize that the challenge was worthy taking.

Home to More Other Primates

Uganda is one of the favorite destinations for primate-lovers. Mgahinga has not only got gorillas, it is also a home to another endangered species, the golden monkey. High up in the bamboo forests is where you can find these furry, comical monkeys. Unlike gorilla trekking, tracking golden monkey is less challenging though the searching process for these sister primates is very similar. Bwindi has got more primates that include L’hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabays and blue monkeys. Uganda’s other national parks also provide a safe home to a variety of primates like the dominance of chimpanzees at Kibale Forest National Park, Patas monkeys are common at Murchison falls National Park where as Queen Elizabeth National Park has got numerous blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys. In addition to primates, Ugandan parks have also got a huge number of non-primates like lions, Leopards, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, just to mention a few.

The above lucrative factors are to guide you to a fantastic and unforgettable gorilla tracking experience in Uganda. They are further supported and confirmed by the unfavorable gorilla trekking factors in the neighboring countries like security-entangled Virunga national park of DRC and the unaffordable Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda with highly priced gorilla permits.

New figures from VisitBritain show double-digit growth in visits and spend last year from China, the world’s most valuable outbound market, with visits up 29% on 2016 to a record 337,000 and spending of £694 million, up 35%.

Visits from the US, the UK’s most valuable market for tourism spend, grew 13% to 3.9 million in 2017, the highest since 2000. Visitors from the US spent a record £3.6 billion, up 9%.

Records were set for visits and spend from the GCC and India. There were 562,000 visits from India, up 35% with visitors spending a record £454 million. There were a record 812,000 inbound visits from the GCC in 2017, up 5%, with spend up 55% to a record £2.2 billion.

There were 1.1 million visits from Australia in 2017, up 11%, with spending of £1.2 billion, up 13%.

BRITS’ ideal beach is a constant 25C, bans salesmen flogging local crafts, comes with free Wi-Fi, has parasols fitted with phone chargers and MUST be a location that looks good on Instagram.

New research shows nearly 60% of Brits take a beach holiday abroad once a year with more blokes (70%) loving a beach holiday than women (54%) - and when a quarter of Millennials hit the beach they spend over FIVE HOURS a day updating their social media profiles.

But the reality of a holiday by the sea means Brits have a whole range of beach bugbears, including sand getting in your food and phone, other people invading your territory and having nowhere to store your valuables.

So Travel Republic has provided a guide to combating Brits’ beach nightmares that shows why you should never head to the sea without a nappy, talcum powder and a fitted bedsheet.

The survey shows that 18-24-year-olds spend an average of 1.9 hours per day updating social media on the beach while those aged 35-44 are glued to their phones for 1.6 hours – and a third (35%) of Millennials say free Wi-Fi makes the perfect beach

Men on average spend twice as long as women on social media when on the beach, with blokes spending two hours updating their profile compared to one hour for women.

When comparing men and women’s reasons for going to the beach, more men like that it is family friendly (28%), there are lots of sports activities (27%) and enjoy the atmosphere of people around them (18%). More women like the chance to relax and being able to dip in the cool water (60%) and the guaranteed sun (42%).

Women had more gripes about the beach than men, with the top five complaints being: Litter (61%); nowhere safe to leave belongings (46%); people shaking sandy towels over you (40%); other people sitting right next to you even though there is loads of room (40%) and sand in your food (38%).

Whilst a sandy beach is the ideal location for Brits, the sand is also their biggest pet peeve, with 25% grumbling about sand getting stuck on you when you apply sun cream, sand getting too hot to walk on (27%), people shaking their sandy towels at you (29%) and sand going in their food (33%) as their biggest beach annoyances.

Travel Republic’s beach hacks include storing valuables in a nappy – as nobody would think to look in one - removing excess sand from your feet with talcum powder and staking out your territory on the beach using a fitted bed sheet as well as more tips to make your beach holiday as relaxed as possible

Travel expert Frank Brehany said: “The Travel Republic survey certainly rings a lot of bells, in particular people parking themselves next to you when there are so many spaces nearby, to being able to enjoy different zones on the beach to suit your mood! When I go to the beach I also enjoy being able to log-in to a resort’s wi-fi, but for many people, that either only feeds the addiction of being online, or worse, not being able to disconnect from the office.

“My recent trip to a beach certainly delivered many of the bonuses but also some downsides. I was particularly struck by groups of young people in their 20’s, unable to prise their mobile device from their hands, even when they are in the sea!

“Whilst we were surrounded by sand dunes, an azure sea and acres of pine forests, the silent tapping and squinting was all too evident, which led to me to ask; why?

“Whilst it’s great to be connected, my advice is simple; people at home don’t want to be updated every 10 minutes, break the habit and go digital-free for 4/5 hours because your holiday experience will be all the richer for engaging in those delicious surroundings! Who knows, you might be able to strike off something from that holiday bucket list; then you’ll have something interesting to talk about?”

Brits said that, on average, 25C is the perfect temperature at the beach with a quarter saying traditional fish ‘n’ chips is the ideal beach picnic.

When asked to pick an item that they could not go to the beach without, 26% said a hat and glasses, with 17% going for water or snacks – but seven per cent of Millennials said they would forsake all those for a selfie stick.

Brits are most likely to spend their beach time reading (43%) snoozing (43%), people watching (37%), paddling in the waves (34%) and listening to music (23%).

Vietnam Airlines has been certified with a 4-star airline rating by prestigious international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. This is the third consecutive year that Vietnam Airlines has achieved this accolade as the airline continues to deliver an outstanding flying experience for all its customers.

The Skytrax rating is based on comprehensive evaluation programmes conducted across Vietnam Airlines services. The flag carrier has been undergoing a significant transformation to develop every aspect of the business- from on-ground to inflight services. Achieving Skytrax 4-star international rating places Vietnam Airlines in esteemed company alongside many of the world's premium airlines, including Air France, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, KLM and Qantas. The thorough Skytrax evaluation provide the airline a foundation to continue to invest and meet customers' expectations throughout every aspect of the business.

This year, Vietnam Airlines is taking great strides to focus on service quality as the core feature of the business, in order to meet the increasing requirements of customers. Vietnam Airlines also prides itself on the cultural touchpoints which are deeply embedded in all the flag carrier's products and services. From the celebrated national dish, “Pho”, to distinctive seasonal fruits such as lychee and longan, Vietnamese cuisine is a hallmark on all Vietnam Airlines flights. Additionally, newly-designed Business Class tableware for Japanese meals on all Japan routes represents a harmonious combination of Japanese and Vietnamese culture, with the familiar “Lotus” brand image and pink Lotus appearing on each piece.

Earlier this year, Vietnam Airlines appointed celebrity chef, Luke Nguyen, as its Global Cuisine Ambassador. Together with Vietnam Airlines' culinary team, Luke will reimagine the in-flight menus, drawing inspiration and influences from the rich Vietnamese culture and cuisine around the world. Luke will create eight regional dishes for the Business Class menu inspired by his travels across Vietnam. This partnership comes from a shared ethos of respecting cultural values by designing, preparing and presenting authentic Vietnamese flavors in harmony with on-board dishes.

Vietnam Airlines also continues to provide enhanced service standards across all cabin types, and dedicated check-in counters for priority passengers. The airline has implemented separate check-in counters for Business Class and Premium Economy passengers and LotuSmiles members. Premium Economy is available on routes between Vietnam and Japan, Australia and Western Europe, while Business Class is offered on international flights to the UK, France, Germany, Australia and Russia, with new pajamas, blankets and bed linen, providing extra comfort and a luxurious experience for long-haul journeys. Enhancements to the airline's duty free shopping have also contributed greatly to improving the customer experience.

Customer satisfaction is Vietnam Airlines' greatest source of pride. The airline's efforts to enable innovation and development have been recognized by international and national communities through a series of prestigious awards. In 2017, Vietnam Airlines was awarded the 'Asia Pacific Airline of the Year' by CAPA; as well as 'World's Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class' and 'World's Leading Cultural Airline' in the World Travel Awards.

Boeing and Goshawk Aviation Limited. announced an order for 20 737 MAX airplanes at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow. The order, valued at $2.3 billion according to current list prices, marks the first time the aircraft lessor has purchased jets directly from Boeing.

“Placing direct order is a critical part of Goshawk’s overall growth strategy and we are pleased to have finalized our order with Boeing. The 737 MAX family is one of the best-in-class, modern and in-demand narrow-body aircraft with latest technologies which fit well with our focus,” said Brian Cheng, Chairman of Goshawk Aviation Limited and Executive Director of NWS Holdings Limited. “We believe the MAX’s double-digit fuel efficiency improvement, combined with longer range and market-leading reliability, will strengthen our portfolio and help us continue to deliver world-class, tailored solutions to our customers.”

The airplanes, previously listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website, are sold to Goshawk Aviation Limited. Goshawk is based in Dublin, Ireland, and is expected to have an owned, managed and committed fleet of over 220 airplanes, including the direct order placed with Boeing.

“We are delighted that Goshawk, with their world-class aircraft leasing team, has selected to expand their portfolio and business model with the 737 MAX. This is a great validation for our Boeing team and the 737 MAX family,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president, Commercial Sales & Marketing, The Boeing Company. “With rising demand for narrowbody jets, we are confident that the unmatched economics and capabilities of the 737 MAX will position Goshawk for success and growth.”

Goshawk selected the MAX 8 variant. In a standard two-class configuration, the airplane carries 162 to 178 passengers and flies up to 3,550 nautical miles (6,570 kilometers). The airplane provides a 14-percent fuel efficiency gain compared to its predecessor, and 8 percent better than its competition.

The 737 MAX family achieves superior fuel efficiency and range through the latest CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets, and other improvements. The jet also features the signature Boeing Sky Interior and large flight deck displays.

This fall, take a break in Kissimmee where thrills await around every corner, festive traditions take center stage, and home never feels too far away. While the crowds calm and the weather cools, here are all the fear-inducing adventures, family-friendly happenings, and newest additions coming this season to sunny Kissimmee.

Halloween Happenings

Only treats await at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, taking place select nights from Aug. 17 - Oct. 31 at Magic Kingdom Park. This happy haunting is full of special sweets, grinning ghosts, eerie entertainment, and Disney Characters in their spookiest garbs. This year's special-ticket event will feature a few surprises, as special lighting and effects give a new spin to the Mad Tea Party and a new soundtrack and special effects transform Space Mountain. Plus, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular show at Cinderella Castle will return— just in time for the film's 25th anniversary.

Scream through scenes from classic horror movies and cringe-worthy TV shows, and even original concepts, at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort. Taking place select nights from Sept. 14 - Nov. 3, the world's premier Halloween event will spotlight horrors of the '80s, including a haunted house inspired by Netflix's sci-fi thriller “Stranger Things.” In its 28th year, the event will feature scare zones, live shows, access to some of the resort's most popular attractions, and 10 haunted houses—more than ever before.

Weekends from Sept. 22 - Oct. 28, enjoy an ocean of Halloween fun for the whole family at SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular. During this daytime event meet everyone's favorite Sesame Street friends and whimsical sea creatures, enjoy spectacularly spooky live shows, and trick-or-treat throughout the park.

For friendly Halloween hijinks head to LEGOLAND Florida Resort for Brick or Treat, select nights Oct. 6-31. This spooky, and a little kooky, event features trick-or-treating, seasonal Halloween shows, giant LEGO models, special meet-and-greets with LEGO Halloween characters, and a special firework spectacular.

A ghoulish good time awaits at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center during Goblins & Giggles Getaway Weekends. During select weekends in October, the resort will offer plenty of Halloween fun and frights for the whole family.

Brighton's vibrant streets provide a huge range of amazing places to explore.

There are the family friendly arcades, beaches and museums, the Brighton pier, which has been a favourite attraction in the seaside resort since the Victorian era and the towering i360 providing a panoramic view across the county and the hustle and bustle of Brighton city centre.

One great way to uncover the hidden secrets of all these locations and have a lot of fun at the same time is with a self-guided Treasure Trail.

Designed for all ages from six to 106, there are 3 Treasure Trails to choose from in Brighton with exciting locations like 'Brighton Lanes & North Laine', 'Brighton Seafront' and 'Brighton Cultural Quarter'.

Explore the Brighton seafront on the Treasure Hunt Trail taking in the Palace Pier. Solve the whodunit on a Murder Mystery Trail in the Cultural quarter from the Pavilion Gardens and through the Regency heritage sights of the City or crack the code and complete the Spy Mission Trail which takes you through the Lanes – the arty, funky side of Brighton following the bustling grid of streets.

Jade Mountain resort is the number one hotel in St. Lucia, according to readers of the influential Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine, which also placed its sister hotel Anse Chastanet in the top five on the island.

According to the magazine's 2018 World's Best Awards, the renowned resorts took the first and third place, respectively, on the island of St. Lucia, and second and sixth spots, respectively, in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas category. Additionally, Jade Mountain was ranked among the Top 100 Hotels in the World.

Respected travel editor Jacqueline Gifford explained that every year for the World's Best Awards survey T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe - to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels are rated on their facilities, location, service, food and overall value.

This year's list spans 12 countries and territories, including St. Bart's, Aruba, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Anguilla. "But St. Lucia took home the most winning hotels," she explained, five to be exact, including honeymoon mainstays Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Resort, whose open-air rooms wowed visitors. "The service, private beach, and views were incredible," remarked one honeymooner of Jade Mountain, which sits higher up on the hill from Anse Chastanet. "We hope to go back for our 10th anniversary."

"We would like to extend special thanks to Travel + Leisure's readers who have once again recognized that small, luxury, sustainability and top St. Lucian service make a formidable combination," said Karolin Troubetzkoy, the resorts' executive director, who recently recognized her own team for their consistent pursuit of excellence in the hospitality industry.

Troubetzkoy congratulated St. Lucian hotels Ladera Resort, Cap Maison and Marigot Bay Resort & Marina for making the Top 25 list as well as Frangipani Beach Resort in Anguilla for taking the top spot in the region.

Jade Mountain was named number 56 in the world while Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, in Indonesia ranked in first place.

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has celebrated the first anniversary of its service to Manchester Airport, after operating the route for just over a year.

Following the success of the route, Oman Air started operating a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Manchester-Muscat service as of 1 July. The Dreamliner offers guests travelling from Manchester more space and equally more comfort, whilst onboard. Oman Air’s outstanding aircraft provides state of the art in-flight entertainment systems, individual seatback screens, audio and video on demand and live satellite TV.

To mark the celebration, Oman Air UK management including Kelpesh Patel, Oman Air Interim Country Manager, and Feysal Nagi Oman Air District Sales Manager as well as key members of Manchester Airport held celebrations at the Oman Air gate. The festivities also marked Manchester Airport’s 80th anniversary.

Guests were welcomed to branded cupcakes, entertainment and balloons. Speeches were made by Kelpesh Patel (Oman Air) and Nicola McMullen (Manchester Airport) before flight WY106 headed to Muscat’s award-winning passenger terminal.

With the route operating for over a year, the Manchester service connects business and leisure travellers from the region to a myriad of destinations. This includes the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Indian subcontinent providing guests with more choice and easy connections, via the airline’s hub in Muscat.

Julian Carr, Aviation Director for Manchester Airport, said: “It’s fantastic to see Oman Air celebrating their one year anniversary at the airport.  Their flights to Muscat and their connections beyond to Africa, Asia and India have proved hugely popular with 22million people in our catchment area.  We’re looking forward to working with them to build on their successful first year.”

Kelpesh Patel, Interim Country Manager UK & Ireland, Oman Air, said: “Oman Air has had a fantastic year flying on the Manchester-Muscat service and we couldn’t be happier with the support Manchester Airport has shown to Oman Air. I look forward to cementing our partnership with Manchester Airport, and working together to further establish Oman as one of the airline’s key destinations from the North of England.”

Oman Air is currently undergoing an exciting fleet and network expansion programme, which will see the airline operate up to 62 aircraft to around 60 destinations by 2022. Oman Air’s fleet currently consists of four Boeing 787-8, three 787-9 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 21 Boeing 737-800, four Embraer 175s, and three Boeing 737 MAX.  By the end of 2018 Oman Air will have taken delivery of five new MAX aircraft and three 787-9s. By 2022, Oman Air’s total fleet size is expected to be around 70.

The 105th Tour De France kicks off this weekend and is one of the most gruelling sporting events in the world, covering more than 2,000 miles through France. However, you don't have to be an elite athlete to cycle through this wonderful country. AmaWaterways offer plenty of opportunities for guests to explore on two wheels and are currently offering savings of 25% off selected Summer 2018 itineraries - meaning keen cyclists can explore for less.

AmaWaterways was the first river cruise line to add a fleet of bicycles on their European Ships, enabling guests to independently explore the historic Normandy coast, the rolling hills and vast vineyards of Bordeaux or picture-perfect landscapes of Provence.

For a more structured day, complimentary cycling excursions are offered to suit a range of fitness levels. Favourites include cycling past fairy tale chateaux in the Gironde Estuary, following in the footsteps of the Santiago Pilgrims & exploring the Saint Emilion and Pomerol vineyards.

Back on-board, guests can cool off in the whirlpool, enjoy a massage or simply relax and watch the world go by – while the ship transports them to their next cycling adventure.

The Eden Project will be hosting the ultimate space adventure holiday this summer (July 21 to September 2) starring a mission to Mars, mini-golf on Mercury and a daring slide down the surface of a moon.

Expedition Space is an all-new programme of intergalactic activities taking place across Eden throughout the school summer holidays with plenty to do in all weathers.

Everyone will have the chance to go on an extra-terrestrial holiday of a lifetime including planet-hopping, meeting alien friends and enjoying out-of-this-world fun such as moon buggy driving and a mind-blowing new virtual reality experience.

A big highlight will be Mission to Mars, where space explorers can climb aboard a rocket and blast into orbit while enjoying spectacular views of the Moon en-route.

The journey takes off from the Stage and will showcase the wonders of our stars and galaxies before culminating in a dramatic landing on the Red Planet.

Passengers can see the majesty of Mars and find out from a resident Martian expert what it would be like to live in this barren landscape.

The planet-hopping continues with a bucket list of activities including mini-golf on the cratered surface of Mercury, caving on Saturn's rocky moon Titan, and a lunar driving test on a Renault Zoe slot-car buggy. These activities will all take place in Eden's Arena, Orchard and outdoor gardens.

Thrill-seekers of all ages can bump, bounce and whizz down the icy slopes of Jupiter's smallest moon Europa on a daring slide located on the Arena hillside.

Back on Earth, in a new family show, visitors will be able to 'meet a local' in the form of a friendly alien who will give everyone the lowdown on space travel.

There will be daily space storytelling by Eden narrators and space-themed entertainment shows in the Mediterranean Biome.

A bespoke new virtual reality experience will take intrepid visitors on a thrilling trip across the fiery surface of Venus. Participants wearing headsets will have their real-life steps tracked and replicated in both virtual and augmented experiences while they traverse the planet's volcanic surface.

Gordon Seabright, Chief Executive of the Eden Project, said: “We're so excited to be launching our all-new adventure programme Expedition Space at Eden this summer.

“If you've ever wondered what it would be like to go on holiday to space, then climb aboard our Mission to Mars, try your hand at golf on Mercury or whizz down our huge slope from Jupiter.

“Expedition Space is going to be a fabulous celebration of our solar system with extra-terrestrial activities taking place throughout Eden - including in our stunning outdoor gardens - to suit sunny days, rainy days and every kind of space traveller.”

All activities, with the exception of the virtual reality experience, are included in the standard admission price. The virtual reality experience will cost £5 per person. For more details or to buy tickets, see www.edenproject.com.

Expedition Space is part of Invisible Worlds, a major new permanent exhibition that reveals the world beyond our senses. Its centrepiece in Eden's Core building is ∞ Blue (Infinity Blue), a spectacular new 8.5m sculpture that blows vapour rings.

This summer, holiday makers can take advantage of a new promotion from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

Launching this week and running until 30 September, the Summer of Discovery is the island's biggest and most interactive summer promotion ever. A prize draw of £7,500 is up for grabs for anyone visiting Saint Lucia this season. 25 iconic sites and attractions have been chosen and to enter, holidaymakers need to capture a selfie at one of the locations.

Tropical sun seekers can also save up to 60% on their holiday accommodation in Saint Lucia. With 12 tour operators taking part, including Tropical Sky, Trailfinders, LetsGo2, Caribtours, Elegant Resorts, The Villa Collection, Inspiring Travel Company, The Holiday Place, Tropic Breeze, Caribbean Warehouse, BestAtTravel and Luxury Holidays Direct, there is a range of holidays on offer to suit all budgets and tastes.

To participate in the Summer of Discovery prize draw, visitors must follow @travelsaintlucia on their Instagram and Facebook feeds; visit a minimum of five out of the 25 locations and capture a selfie at each location. The photos must be posted with the hashtag #summerofdiscovery, plus the hashtag for each location. Finally, they need to tag @travelsaintlucia in the photo. One of the selfies must be at the property where the guest is staying. For every location-based selfie posted beyond the five minimum, participants will receive an additional entry in the prize-draw.

In addition, the promotion features the new “Holiday Travel Guarantee.” The “Holiday Travel Guarantee” has been adopted by a number of properties on island and means that booked guests will not forfeit their trip as a result of adverse weather but be allowed to defer their holiday to a later date.

Getting to Saint Lucia is easy with daily direct flights available from London Gatwick Airport and from Manchester in the winter. Saint Lucia is the ideal choice for couples, families and groups looking for a tropical sun getaway. Holiday makers can visit the iconic twin peaks, the Pitons; soak in the soothing Sulphur Springs mud baths or jump around the Splash Island Water Park, the Caribbean's first open-water sports park.

The True Blue Bay Boutique resort in Grenada has launched the True Sleep Wellness Retreat to help people to wind down from their busy lives and the demands of a hyper connected world to achieve deep, restful sleep. The retreat, running from 10 to 17 October, encompasses exercise, diet and healing delivered through yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, Feng Shui and healthy eating.

The retreats will be led by yoga therapist, Malaika Brooks- Smith-Lowe; yoga teacher, May Fakhre; and Master Level Feng Shui Consultant, Wendy Yawching.

Morning yoga and meditation sessions at the resort's Sankalpa yoga studio provide a gentle start to the day. No previous experience of yoga or meditation is required.

Breakfast is followed by a series of informative workshops. The Ayurveda workshop explores the ancient Indian healing system and how herbal treatments, diet, and yogic breathing can help people to unwind, quiet the mind and fall into a deep rejuvenating night's sleep.

Wendy Yawching will advise on how to create the ideal environment to encourage a good night's sleep using the ancient Chinese principles of Feng Shui.

The retreat also includes a look at how food and drink can improve the quality of sleep. The herbal tea workshop taps into Grenada's traditional practice of using 'bush' teas made using indigenous herbs to promote good health and cure ailments. And bush teas will be served as bedtime drinks.

A rituals workshop will help participants create a bedtime routine that can be followed once they get back home.

In the afternoons there is plenty of time for a well-earned siesta or relaxation at True Blue Bay. Away from the resort there is plenty to see and do in Grenada, including many cocoa plantations and chocolate factories, the spice market or the House of Chocolate in the capital St George's or lush, unspoilt nature.