Cork is the drinking-man’s city break a short hop from London March 21, 2023 There’s a video doing the rounds of Cillian Murphy being asked where’s the best city to go drinking. Without hesitating he replies ‘Cork’. Filled with rickety old pubs that seem to grow organically from the city’s architecture, like some alcoholic Hogwarts, it’s ideal for a weekend of enthusiastic bar-hopping. Getting there With Cork’s airport a [...]
The Fairmont Royal York Toronto: The business traveller’s dream February 25, 2023 One of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Toronto, the Fairmont Royal York has a discreet “hotel within a hotel” complete with private check-in, executive lounge and butler services. Here’s everything you need to know. THE HOTEL: Located across the street from the CN Tower and Union station, this landmark property opened in 1929 [...]
British Airways: Owner IAG shells out £352m to sweep up remainder of Spanish carrier February 24, 2023 British Airways’ owner International Airlines Group (IAG) will pay €400m (£352m) to Spanish firm Globalia for the remaining 80 per cent stake of its Air Europa carrier. IAG said the move will allow it to tap into the Latin America and Caribbean market as well as to increase ties to Asia. The owner of Britain’s [...]
Tui reduces loss to £135m but warns of threat posed by soaring fuel prices and cost-of-living crisis February 14, 2023 Travel firm Tui has posted a €153m (£135m) loss for the final three months of 2022 as the German company warned of potentially tougher times to come. The Hanover-based firm said the cost-of-living crisis could see demand for its holidays to fall as cash-strapped Europeans cancel trips abroad. Tui warned that the war in Ukraine [...]
Paris on Valentine’s Day a cliché? Not at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée February 13, 2023 THE WEEKEND: Long-stemmed Jacqueminot roses. Flutes of fizzing Feuillatte. Boxes of bonbons by Belgian chocolatiers. A romantic weekend in Paris. You may call it cliché, but I call it classic. Besides, everyone knows Paris is a good idea—especially now, when there are new reasons to pay a visit to the City of Love. THE STAY: [...]
London Heathrow back to its best? 5.4m passengers passed through in January as satisfaction soars February 13, 2023 More than 5.4m people travelled through London’s Heathrow airport this January, marking the busiest start to the year since 2020. Sharp upticks in travelers from Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific region bolstered the London airport’s passenger figures to heights last seen before Covid-19, Heathrow said. The airport also saw customer satisfaction return to [...]
Half-term holiday bonanza: Britons flock abroad with departures soaring 44 per cent February 9, 2023 Britons are capitalising on the first restriction-free February half-term in two years to flock abroad, according to new data. Figures released today by aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that departures during the coming half term are up 44 per cent on last year’s levels, as 15,455 flights are scheduled to take off from UK airports [...]
Antwerp is a top city break just an hour from London February 4, 2023 “I’d be willing to bet there’s no quicker way of getting from the UK to mainland Europe,” said Robert Sinclair, CEO of London City Airport, as we stood on the tarmac at Antwerp Airport. The flight we’d just taken was 40 minutes from tarmac to tarmac, meaning you can leave the City or Canary Wharf [...]
Beyonce Dubai gig at Atlantis The Royal: Inside the world’s most lavish launch January 24, 2023 “There are two types of people in the world. The people that are in Dubai right now. And us.” So went the meme, shared tens of millions of times across the world this weekend. The occasion – as if you haven’t already heard – was the launch of a self-described “icon”, the Atlantis The Royal [...]
Staff shortages could cause summer travel chaos again – and 40 per cent of industry bosses blame Brexit January 11, 2023 Summer 2023 could spell additional trouble for the UK travel industry, with over half of rail and airline operators worrying about future staffing shortages – and almost 40 per cent blaming Brexit. Data published today by software company SAP show that 55 per cent of industry decision makers believe staffing challenges will impact customers’ travel [...]