Holiday & Travel

Global Destinations Day, a global conference on sustainable tourism, will be taking place in Ljubljana from 27 to 28 September 2016. This flagship green destinations event will bring together leading global experts in sustainable development and green tourism, opinion leaders, representatives of destinations, associations, hoteliers and tourist operators who strive for sustainable development in tourism. 

The increasing trend for uploading unique imagery onto social media has led to many holidaymakers planning their trips around Instagram-worthy destinations. The Canary Islands are high on the list of places to visit in 2016 thanks to an incredible variety of distinctive photographic backdrops.  This May alone, there has been an increase of 16.3% of British visitors flying to The Canary Islands.

With the potential for laws to tighten further around travelling in school term time it's now even tougher for teachers and families to take an exotic break in the school holidays and enjoy a different cultural experience. Summer holiday price hikes of more than 50% in some cases could spur families and teachers to explore alternative ways to holiday that make their money go the extra mile. 

Port of Spain, a city known for its year-round festivals, aesthetic highlights and pulsating energy will celebrate its 102nd Anniversary in the month of June 2016 with a series of activities reflecting the over-arching theme - ‘A City in Positive Transition.’ In 1914, Port of Spain recaptured its municipal rights, moving from a town board to City Corporation. Through the patronage of His Worship the Mayor Keron Valentine, the celebration kicked off with the Bert Allette 5K Run/Walk on June 5 and culminates with the annual awards ceremony on June 26 at the City Hall Auditorium in Port of Spain.

Pebble Art, Rockpool Explorer, Sea Shanty Sundays, Boats Ahoy & Storytelling with Something For All The Family! From ancient cobbles to castle walls, through time and tide St Michael's Mount is beckoning. Situated just 400 yards off Mount's Bay in Marazion, St Michael's Mount is an iconic Cornish landmark and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the South West. During the school holidays from 3 July to 26 August, St Michael's Mount is the place to be! 

Astronomy enthusiasts of all ages can discover the spectacular Australian outback sky at Ayers Rock Resort's upcoming Uluru Astronomy Weekend on 26-28 August 2016. Now in its third year, the popular event is run in partnership with the Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) and will be hosted by respected science journalist and ABC radio broadcaster Robyn Williams, as well as leading astronomers.

Selected from tens of thousands of applicants, London-based snapchatter Naila Abbasova is demonstrating to potential travelers how to make the most of travelling via WOW air through the airline's 'Snaptraveler' programme. Naila and three other individuals were hand-picked for the job of travelling to four different WOW air destinations and will be documenting their journey on the airline's snapchat account (wow-air), each giving a personal insight into the destinations they visit.

If you have plans to visit Asia this year, discover the hidden gems of AKARYN Hotel Group in destinations throughout Thailand. The award-winning collection of boutique 5-star properties pride themselves on being off the beaten track, combining outstanding locations, luxurious facilities and the most attentive of service.

Head to Sweden this 'Midsommar' to celebrate the longest day of the year with independent tailor-made tour operator Best Served Scandinavia and join the country's biggest festival apart from Christmas. Taking place on 25th June, the festival is often regarded as the best part of the year.  In a country with such dark winters and relatively short summers, the light and the warmth of summer is certainly cause for celebration. 

For travellers who wish to book an Antarctic voyage and follow in the 'foot steps' of legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton this coming winter, 2016/17 marking the 100th anniversary of Shackleton's remarkable expedition, Antarctica, the last great bastion of exploration and home of the 7th Continent, is an unforgettable experience with deep history, rich wildlife and unique and priceless sights.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary, Ngala Lodge is a small, luxurious property in Fajara, which has gained recognition as one of The Gambia's finest hotels. Receiving the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years, this privately owned property has grown from its former glory as a colonial mansion to a magnificent, boutique style property. Comprising 24 luxury suites and set in lush tropical gardens, mesmerising views are in abundance from its cliff top position overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Up, up, up to the Penthouse above the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and under the starlit canopy of the vast Pacific Ocean lies a brand new oasis of timeless sophistication and glamorous intimacy. Santa Monica's venerable Hotel Shangri-La has relaunched its iconic open-air rooftop bar – the only one to boast 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean – with a chic makeover to make the interiors as alluring as its guests.

From the Macy's Firework Show over the East River to the Big Bay Boom Fireworks Show in San Diego, over-the-top July 4th celebrations occur across this great nation. Don't forget the Lone Star State when writing your Fourth of July roundups. Let freedom ring as the largest 4th of July fireworks show in North Texas lights up the sky, lasting approximately 28-minutes.  

Opening the doors to an unparalleled, immersive dining experience, M6m, the brand-new underwater restaurant at OZEN by Atmosphere will be the first underwater restaurant within the South Malé Atoll and the first in the Maldives to be included on an all-inclusive plan when it opens on July 15. An open sea venue that's truly a world away, M6m (acronym for 'Minus 6 Meters'), is the result of painstaking planning, conceptualization and detailed design, with a focus on protecting the environment and the delicate, world-renowned aquatic life in the Maldives.

British Airways and Winair have announced they will offer a cost effective, same-day route from London to Dominica, via Antigua. The new route will mean that British travellers can leave the UK at 10:30 GMT and be in the hidden island paradise of Dominica with a rum punch in their hand by 18:30 local time.

From its world class nightlife and entertainment to its living Portuguese-Chinese culture, Macao is one of Asia's most exciting and fascinating destinations. While its neighbour Hong Kong is only 40 miles away, Macao can more than hold its own when it comes to out-of-this-world choices for a drink with a view.