Tarantulas, temples and tall tales: Vietnam to Cambodia on the Mekong river is a soul-stirring delight September 23, 2024 Alexandra Pereira enjoyed profound human connections along the Mekong river On the first night of my journey along the mammoth Mekong ‘mother- water’ River, I watch on aghast as my companion crunches down on a large tarantula. He washes it down with a negroni, a sundowner like no other, and barely makes a sound or [...]
The ultimate weekend in Sussex, with wild swimming, wine and Monet’s lilies September 23, 2024 Sussex’s latest opening has wild swimming – and warm hot tubs, finds Justine Gosling THE WEEKEND: One of the UK’s most diverse counties and easily reached by car or train in under an hour from London, West Sussex spans the coast and the South Downs National Park, encompassing hills, the city of Brighton, harbours, farmland [...]
Viking River Cruises: Record UK profit as sales recover to pre-Covid level September 20, 2024 The UK arm of Viking River Cruises has achieved its highest revenue figure since the Covid-19 pandemic while its profit hit a new record. The London-headquartered division has reported a revenue of £119.9m for 2023, up from the £94m it achieved in 2022, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The last time Viking River [...]
Visit Lake Como in autumn for gorgeous scenery without the crowds September 16, 2024 One of the most extravagant hotels in Europe, Adam Hay Nicholls stays at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on the fringes of Lake Como in best possible season: autumn One of three ‘grande dame’ hotels on northern Italy’s perennially glamorous Lake Como, the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni lives up to its Belle Époque billing in [...]
Why Rhodes in Greece is ideal in autumn, with fewer crowds and plenty of sun September 16, 2024 THE TRIP: The Ixian Grand offers ultimate peace of mind: all inclusive and adults-only. That means no unexpected holiday overspending and no screaming kids by the pool. We stayed in one of the swim-up suites, meaning our room had its own terrace onto an infinity pool, shared with the other suites, and a beachfront view. [...]
Heathrow crowned most connected airport despite recent concerns September 13, 2024 London Heathrow has been crowned the most connected airport in the world despite recent concerns it may be losing ground on international rivals. New analysis from global travel data provider Official Airline Guide (OAG) found the West-London hub topped the charts for the second year running. The figures, which included transfer flights, reveal that Heathrow [...]
WH Smith shares jump on buyback plan after pension buy-out frees up cash September 11, 2024 WH Smith has announced strong revenue growth, driven by a boost in its airport and train station stores and a £50m share buyback programme. It also announced a £85m cash benefit as the result of its pension fund buy-out. Shares in WH Smith rose more than 12 per cent in early trades. Revenue at the [...]
Thomas Cook snapped up by Polish tech firm in £30m buyout September 5, 2024 British travel agency Thomas Cook has been acquired by a Polish tech firm, marking its return to Europe after spending four years under Chinese ownership. The acquisition by eSky, a Katowice-headquartered search engine and reservation system provider for airlines, will see its current owner, Fosun, hand over all but the Chinese arm of the business [...]
Swissport makes first UK profit since 2018 as sales finally recover from Covid September 5, 2024 The UK arm of Swissport has returned to the black for the first time since 2018 as its turnover recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The Cheshire-headquartered division of the aviation services giant also created 1,400 jobs during its latest financial year but its total headcount is still significantly lower than it was in 2019. Swissport has [...]
Ryanair and Wizz Air smash passenger records as summer travel demand booms September 3, 2024 Low-cost rivals Ryanair and Wizz Air reported record passenger numbers in August as travel demand booms in the peak summer period.