Holiday & Travel

The Lake District is picturesque all year round, but on a crisp winter's day when the mountains are snow-capped it really is truly magical. From Christmas shopping experiences to jolly events and concerts, there is plenty going on in the area this festive season.

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa Maldives is excited to welcome German Michelin star chef Marco D'Andrea, who will be in-residence at the resort later this month for a twenty day period. Christoph Pentzlin, Hideaway's executive chef, will be working alongside the celebrity chef to create a range of new exciting menus and experiences including a signature afternoon tea, a new desert journey and exclusively prepared 4 Hands eight course dinner menu.

Voted number one country to visit in 2017 by Lonely Planet magazine, Canada is ever -popular notwithstanding Brexit and the recent US election result. Frontier Canada is celebrating Canada's 150th birthday in some style with some all-inclusive packages with built-in added value so that clients know in advance exactly what their costs will be. Choose Canada for 2017.

Booking data at beach holiday specialist On the Beach has revealed the Canary Islands as the most popular destination for sun seekers this winter sun season, with Tenerife the most popular island. Research has revealed bookings to the Canary Islands are up 6% this winter sun season compared to last with Lanzarote the second most popular destinations this winter season. Alicante, located in the ever-popular Costa Blanca region of Spain is the third most popular destination this winter season, followed by Majorca and the Portuguese Algarve region.

Celebrating 20 years of incredible tailor-made skiing holidays, the team at Ski Safari is well-versed when it comes to recommending resorts based on a skier's ability. Every member of the team is passionate about snow sports, and the three resorts mentioned below are ideal for budding enthusiasts keen to make the transition from snowploughing down green slopes to carving around red runs, and even summoning up the courage to try a black (or ungroomed) piste.

British holidaymakers risk travelling in severe weather, and potentially spoiling their vacations, by not checking the weather conditions of their destination during their travel times prior to booking a holiday, reveals new research from travel insurance specialist Columbus Direct. Despite being obsessed with the weather as a nation, 9.1 million (22%) holidaymakers do not consider potential weather hazards when making holiday bookings. 

Greece has seen a 1.3 per cent increase in year-on-year arrivals from all overseas markets between January and August 2016, provisional data released by the Bank of Greece reports. In the first eight months of 2016 Greece welcomed a record number of overseas visitors totalling approximately 17.2 million compared to almost 17 million in the same period last year without including cruise passenger visitors.

Gaya Island Resort marked another important milestone with the official launch of Gaya Island Resort Wildlife Centre on 26 October 2016. Led by Justin Juhun - Senior Resident Naturalist, the team is committed to long-term conservation, raising awareness for sustainable seafood choices, crafting experiences and educational programmes to protect and improve the natural environment for resort guests and future generations to come with the unwavering support of Sabah Parks and local governing bodies.

August and September mean springtime in South Africa and the landscape explodes into a technicolour carpet of wildflowers. Garden lovers can join Saga’s 16-night Wild Flora of the Cape tour to witness how Mother Nature works her magic, as well as visiting botanical gardens, private gardens and game reserves. Three talks are also included to give a full overview of the Cape’s floral wonders.

Barcelona's huge attraction for visitors has had the effect of leaving much of its province, Catalonia, a bit neglected as a travel destination, but a veritable treasure trove of culture, gastronomy, tradition and adventure awaits the visitor here. This is one of the Mediterranean's most richly varied regions offering everything from secret, turquoise coves with beachside restaurants in the summer to excellent skiing in the winter.

Avoid the January blues this year and boost your health and wellbeing with the ultimate holistic escape on ALEXA Private Cruises. Sail through the stunning Indonesian Archipelago, and take in the natural tropical paradise and calming azure waters. Located in one of the most spectacular archipelagos and coral reefs in the world, guests are invited to dive right into this dramatic and beautifully unspoilt destination. Komodo National Park is a World Heritage site in the Flores Sea and consists of the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar; because of its unique geology and volcanic activity, it creates a dramatic backdrop and stunning scenery both above and below water.

Tuesday 1st November sees the start of Arctic Live, BBC Two's new three-part series exploring the world's northernmost wilderness. Presenters Kate Humble, Simon Reeve and Gordon Buchanan will explore the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada and Alaska and broadcast live from the tundra at Churchill, Manitoba, where they'll be on the look-out for polar bears. Around 60 per cent of the world's polar bear population lives in Canada and Churchill is one of the few places inhabited by humans where polar bears can be observed in the wild.

If you're looking for a wildlife holiday, where better than one of the wildest places in the world to see caribou, moose, bears, sheep, birds and hundreds of other northern species? The Yukon is one of North America's major wilderness attractions; close to 80 percent remains pristine wilderness with just over 10 per cent of the territory fully protected. The Yukon has three national parks, six territorial parks and four Canadian Heritage Rivers.

Allow yourself the luxury of an unforgettable Festive Season at The St. Regis Bali Resort as the resort welcomes you to a celebration of festivity, brimming with lights, warmth and seasonal cheer. Pamper friends and family with thoughtful chocolate cookies, pudding, artisanal chocolate pralines, Christmas Stollen and premium wines and send your warmest Holiday Season's Greetings with a personalized hamper. Reflecting the festive spirit at its best, the team at Gourmand Deli can assist you to create a meaningful hamper, featuring the most comprehensive collection of Christmas treats on the island.

Vivid Sydney, one of the most spectacular light shows in the world, is set to impress again when it returns to Sydney for 23 nights from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June 2017. Owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the State Government's Tourism and Major Events agency, Vivid Sydney attracted more than 2.31 million people from around the globe in 2016.

Villa Maya Retreat stretches out along the banks of the Penet River in the beautiful village of Cepaka on Bali's south-western coast. Shaded by natural jungle vegetation and lush tropical gardens, this exclusive paradise is ideal for a time out and time together - for both relaxation and socialising. Balinese design is reflected through the villa's tropical architecture and interiors - just look at the traditional alang-alang thatched living pavilions and poolside bale.