Holiday & Travel

The shortlist for the Family Traveller Awards 2016 has been announced. Acknowledging and congratulating the best of the best in family travel, the Family Traveller Awards is the only event of its kind with 25 categories ranging from Best Long Haul Accommodation to Best Kid's Club and everything in between. Bigger and better than ever for 2016, nominations have increased from 2015's inaugural year with a further seven categories bringing the total number of awards to 25.

Multi-award winning luxury boutique hotel, The Sarojin, is celebrating Thailand's ancient Vegetarian Festival by launching a special “Old Town Purification Package” which will immerse guests in the ancient customs of Takuapa Old Town; in honour of one of the country's most fascinating traditions. The package will take guests on a six-night journey of discovery through first-hand festival experiences, joining the locals as they follow a strict vegetarian diet to purify mind, body and soul.

With lots of shareable, interactive and engaging experiences, daily DJ sessions, concerts, brick-building activities, music workshops, futsal, golf and yoga sessions, virtual reality trips to Denmark and much more, the pavilion is predicted to be a popular hangout.   The striking 300m2 pavilion has been designed by acclaimed Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen Architects. Its simple, light and bright expression is a reference to Nordic architecture and design and to Denmark's maritime history.

Is cabin fever setting in this summer? Children climbing the walls, couples itching for adventure, already tired of Pokémon GO? Then it's the perfect time for a staycation in Kent, The Garden of England. There are some awesome things going on around including Kent Festivals, Family Fun, Big Days Out, History Brought To Life, Rainy Days and Summer Cottages.

All is silent at the spacious Villa Levi - but for birdsong, the rustle of leaves and the hum of cicadas. The ambience is intimate and cosy, but the open design and lush scenery create a back-to-nature experience – albeit cloaked in sheer luxury. This modern eco-villa incorporates recycled wood and intricate stonework to create rich, earthy textures. Furnishings include marble bathtubs, humongous earthenware pots, stone-top tables and striking four-poster beds made of pale wood.

A brand new 3D multimedia extravaganza is landing in Lisbon to accompany the warm summer evenings. The city's stories, places and its people are coming together in 'Faces of Lisbon', an entertaining sound and light show that will be projected onto the façade of Arco da Rua Augusta from 5th to 14th August. Free of charge, 'Faces of Lisbon' will reveal key stories, places and moments in the history of the Portuguese capital through the faces of the city's most symbolic characters, including a fisherwoman, a master pavement maker and a knife sharpener.

Visit South Devon is this week launching a new holiday offers and discount app to help visitors pack a punch with their pound. Offering a one-stop shop for discounts on local accommodation, food and drink, activities and entertainment, the app has been launched at the start of the school holidays to give a boost to last-minute bookings and to help families make the most of their money over the summer holidays.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski is pleased that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have accepted an invitation to visit Yukon this fall. "I look forward to offering a warm Yukon welcome to the Royal Couple," Pasloski said. "The Commissioner of Yukon and I have been working to confirm a Royal visit to the territory, and we are thrilled about today's announcement. A Royal Tour is a unique opportunity to showcase Yukon to the world and I know that Yukoners will make the most of this visit."

Yes, yes it's true! Romantic Germany with its rivers Rhine and Moselle is a paradise for cruise lovers. However there are so many hidden gems to discover worthwhile to stay longer in this diversified region maybe in a castle or even wine barrel? It's summer! Time to shake off that springtime lethargy and set off on new adventures! You may wish to enjoy one of the many prize-winning wines of the region at your leisure, or if you prefer sporting activities and wish to discover "Germany's most beautiful hiking trail in 2015" with a route planner

Tenerife Tourism Corporation's #BigWarmHug campaign has exceeded all expectations in its first week of launch, reaching over two million people on Twitter, nearly 59,000 on Facebook and receiving more than 6,000 'likes' on Instagram in just seven days. The #BigWarmHug campaign was devised to demonstrate the people of Tenerife's love and appreciation for their European friends in the UK, regardless of whether or not the country remains in the EU.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new 'Book with Confidence' campaign, aimed at reassuring guests that a Fred. Olsen cruise holiday offers complete peace of mind. The campaign – which runs until 5th August 2016 – is applicable on all 2017 cruises of five nights' duration and more, and is made up of the three strands.

Birmingham Muslims planning to travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual for the Hajj and Umrah have been urged to check the latest health advice before booking trips. The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is expected to fall between September 9-14 while Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year. In recent years cases of Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have prompted warnings for at-risk groups not to travel to Saudi Arabia but Public Health England (PHE) and National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) do not currently advise any travel restrictions.

With the Olympic Games just weeks away, there's sure to be a surge in popularity for many of the sports featured – and in the glorious setting of Italy's Lake Garda-Veneto, it's possible to enjoy more than 10 of them. And, in September, when the children have returned to school, it's possible to enjoy a three-night, bed-and-breakfast break in Malcesine from just £46.53 per person per night. The charming and scenic Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and is a popular destination for watersports of all kinds.

When it comes to taking the picture-perfect photograph, these truly are high-flyers that can only be experienced in the Canary Islands. Visitors are guaranteed to feel the rush when standing on the edge of an incredible lookout point and enjoy a traveller rite of passage. The archipelago is the perfect environment for travellers' seeking natural beauty at its peak with the added benefit of being able to enjoy the best climate in the world.