While sunning yourself on an overseas beach can often be just the ticket, discerning travellers increasingly want to get away from the tourist trail and sample some real culture.
Phuket is famed for its azure seas and white sands, and the Por Tor Hungry Ghost Festival offers holidaymakers the chance to experience a slice of something completely different.
Also known as the “turtle festival,” Por Tor happens in the seventh lunar month of each year and draws on the island’s Chinese Hokkien history
The turtle is a symbol of long life in Chinese culture, and during the festivities families prepare artfully arranged flower designs, candles, foods and fruits to offer at the altar to the ancestors.
This festival takes place from August 21 to September 6 this year and virtually all of the island’s Oriental shrines will participate in the celebrations.
Intrepid travellers can flight out from Heathrow or Gatwick airport and should make their first port of call the market on Ranong Road.
There they’ll get a chance to see lion dances, magic shows, live concerts, cabaret entertainment and learn to expect the unexpected.
Since Ranong Road is close to the market, visitors can try and wide variety of culinary treats prepared for the Por Tor.
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Whale lovers looking to escape the soggy English summer should put aside their Free Willy DVDs and book themselves a flight from Gatwick or Heathrow airport to sunny Sydney, where there is still time to catch the last of this year’s whale watching expeditions.
Humpback whales, famed for their song, travel thousands of kilometres between their winter breeding ground to their summer feeding ground along the East Coast of Australia.
Late October is the time of the year when the humpback whales migrate back to icy Antarctic waters, meaning that the chance to see this breathtaking spectacle will vanish for another year.
Most tours operators are so confident that tourists will get the chance to see these majestic creatures in their natural environment that they offer 100% money back guarantees if there is no marine action.
As well as the humpbacks, the seas and oceans around Australia are home to the southern right whale, bottlenose dolphins and the awe-inspiring blue whale – the largest animal on the planet, capable of growing to almost 100ft in length.
Tours head out from the iconic Sydney Harbour, where tourists can climb the 134 metre tall construction and look out across the city and seascape, while their whale watching achievement can be commemorated with a certificate and stunning photographs of these great beasts.
Newlyweds are being encouraged to consider Kenya as their romantic honeymoon destination by the country’s tourist board.
Officials claim that the East African nation provides an “unforgettable” experience with its combination of 300 miles of beaches and various safari or adventure options on its wildlife-filled plains.
The regional director of the Kenya Tourist Board for the UK and Ireland, Angie Sloan, also picked hot-air balloon rides, seeing the sun set over the Indian Ocean, boat trips at Lake Nakuru and sea-life spotting at the Watamu Marine Reserve as highlights.
She claims that Kenya can be one of the most romantic locations in the world for that first holiday as a married couple, with luxury lodges in national parks, high-end resorts on the coast and boutique hotels in Nairobi all on offer.
The country is being marketed as ideal for nature and wildlife lovers, adventure enthusiasts, outdoor explorers and safari seekers as well as couples who want the rest and relaxation on white sandy beaches that is usually associated with honeymoons.
And with a host of flights available from airports across the UK, including London Heathrow and Gatwick, and a range of deals at different prices, the tourist board is keen to see as many people as possible exploring Kenya on their honeymoon.
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Holidaymakers planning a trip to New Zealand will be interested to hear that a series of concerts, family events and traditional celebrations will be staged in major cities to mark the Maori New Year.
The Matariki Festival is named after the cluster of stars known as the Pleiades which rise just once a year, in late May or early June – mid-winter in New Zealand.
The appearance of the stars signals the beginning of the new year to the Maori as well as the start of a month of celebrations.
The festival, which runs until July 21, includes performances, talks, workshops, readings, exhibitions, films and other events in Auckland, Wellington and other cities around New Zealand.
Visitors heading to New Zealand for the Matariki Festival might also be interested in checking out a major new art exhibition at the Dowse Art Museum in Wellington.
The Solo: Four Wellington Artists show, which features the paintings and works of local artists Matt Hunt, Cat Auburn, Ann Shelton and Ben Buchanan, will run until August 19.
Wellington, which can be reached from major UK airports such as Heathrow and Luton, is best known for its stunning natural scenery and for being the city where the multi Oscar-winning film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed.
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The government of Goa is striving to have the mountainous region known as the Western Ghats listed as a World Heritage site by Unesco, in a move that could boost the area’s tourist industry.
As part of its campaign, the government will aim to obtain the support of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, according to the Times of India.
Environment and Forest Minister Alina Saldanha said World Heritage Site accreditation would help to foster international cooperation in the protection of Goa’s rich forests.
“Besides, there will be immense scope for tourists and researchers who like to visit the area and study the diverse species,” the politician added.
Ms Saldanha states that there are in excess of 1,500 different types of plant and rare animal species in the area of the Western Ghats within Goa.
If the government’s efforts come to fruition, the knowledge that the area is a World Heritage Site will add to the attraction for Britons and encourage more to head off from the country’s major airports such as Heathrow and Stansted to the region.
The Western Ghats mountain range spans a length of 1,600 km and it already boasts Unesco recognition in a number of locations, such as Kerala and Karntaka.
At present there are 962 World Heritage sites in the 157 states around the world.
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British Airways services have restarted between London Heathrow and Northern Ireland after a gap of more than a decade.
The carrier took over the route after recently acquiring its competitor BMI.
The International Airline Group (IAG), which owns BA, now has increased control over Heathrow landing slots due to the deal.
Businesses in Northern Ireland, along with globe trotters, are regular users of the George Best Belfast City Airport to Heathrow route.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said: “I am delighted today to see the British Airways colours back in Belfast.
“I publicly committed to serving Belfast if we acquired additional runway slots at Heathrow and the acquisition of BMI has given us the perfect opportunity to make that happen.”
Mr Walsh said BA saw just how important the London Heathrow to Northern Ireland link was to the economy in the country.
“Belfast is now part of our global network so this is good news for the economy,” Mr Walsh added.
“It will provide much needed access to key global markets, supporting more inward investment and jobs.”
The schedule’s summer service will remain at six daily return flights, but BA will increase the regularity of flights from October in its winter schedule, adding one more service each day.
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Experiencing New York is something most people want to do at least once in their lifetime, but research has shown you have to pay a high price for the privilege.
Whether it’s enjoying the Big Apple’s alluring boutiques, savouring the views at the top of the Empire State Building or taking a stroll through Central Park, there is a reason for everyone to head to the airport with great excitement.
But although you would expect the cost of seeing Spiderman: Turn off the Dark on Broadway, or eating out at Planet Hollywood in Times Square to cost a pretty penny, the findings also show that ‘the city that never sleeps’ has the highest hotel room rates among the most fashionable locations.
Hotels.com has revealed that the average room prices in New York rose by 4% to £173 in 2011, while Berlin – which is the most affordable top fashion city – saw rates fall by 3% to just £73.
Following the Big Apple, which has been made famous by much-loved shows such as Friends and Sex in the City, was Singapore, which saw prices rise by 11% to £136.
London, which is easily accessed via Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted airports by overseas tourists, was the fifth most expensive location.
The capital’s average hotel room rate climbed by 1% to £115 in 2011.
Los Angeles (£111), Barcelona (£104) and Tokyo (£102) all had cheaper rates than London last year.
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Holidaymakers who think twice about trip destinations could be rewarded with savings of up to £450, research suggests.
A survey carried out by Post Office Travel Money revealed that although people perceive countries like Spain and Turkey to be best value, money actually goes a lot further in countries such as Portugal and Bulgaria.
Based on a one-week summer break for two, including the cost of meals and drinks out, Bulgaria was a better deal than Spain, offering this package for £955 compared to a bill of £1,088.
Meanwhile, Croatia emerged as a surprisingly dear destination with a one week holiday likely to cost two people a hefty £1,361.
The same length of stay would cost just £904 in Portugal.
Many of the holidaymakers surveyed wrongly believed that heading to Turkey or Spain from the airport was their best bet, with only 15% in the know about the benefits of vacations in Bulgaria, whose capital Sofia is easily accessible from Stansted or Heathrow.
Andrew Brown, head of Post Office Travel Money said: “We always advise people to take all holiday costs into account when choosing a destination and this research shows why that is so important.
“In tough times, it is hard to stay loyal when there are big savings to be made by swapping to a destination that is over a third cheaper.”
Aerospace company BAE Systems has announced it is trialling pilotless flights in Britain using its Jetstream aircraft.
The company said that unmanned flights could play a role in search-and-rescue operations and also help to detect volcanic ash cloud.
There will be two pilots on board during the test flights to ensure a smooth take-off and landing, but the aircraft will be flown by a computer as soon as it is airborne.
BAE Systems said its Jetstream aircraft have highly sophisticated computer systems that can recognise weather conditions and avoid collisions with other planes. In case of an emergency, the systems can also identify a safe place for the aircraft to land.
BAE Systems spokesman Simon Shrouder said: “Everyone has to be satisfied that this plane can fly safely and land safely.
“Once confidence in the aircraft grows, it could be used for such things as coastal patrols, search-and-rescue missions and checking out possible volcanic ash clouds.”
The company hopes that the trials will convince the Civil Aviation Authority and air traffic control service providers that UAVs (uninhabited air vehicles) can be used safely in British airspace.
Successful trials could even lead to the introduction of unmanned passenger flights in the UK, the company said, although it is likely to take many years before passengers at Heathrow or Stansted airports will be able to board a pilotless flight.
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Holidays to Greece have not been affected by the country’s economic crisis, with four million Britons heading to the country this summer.
Foreign exchange company Travelex said the number of Britons travelling to Greece could be double the average number of two million, with travel agents reporting that all-inclusive bookings were up by a third over the last two weeks.
Tour operators have cut prices for Greek trips, and the survey shows that many are setting off on holiday to Greece from airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick due to the strengthening of the pound against the Euro.
A fifth said they were “not concerned at all” about a possible collapse of the euro, with the majority saying they were just “mildly concerned”.
However, almost half of all people polled believe the euro will collapse in Greece, with the majority saying they expect it to happen before the end of the summer.
But this does not seem to put people off travelling, with fewer than 2% cancelling a pre-booked trip to the country, while a further 47% said they would not change their travel plans whatever happens.
Elvin Eldic of Travelex said that Britons are “more concerned about bagging a bargain”, adding: “We’d urge Brits to not only take a mixture of cash and a prepaid card but also to take the time to check the terms and conditions of their travel insurance when booking a holiday or travelling to Greece.”
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