Latest news with #Ionian
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Europe's best country to visit in 2025 has Maldives-like coast and ancient city
The world's best countries to visit in 2025 have been ranked with one gorgeous European destination taking the top spot - and it's got heaps for Brits to explore The world's best country to visit in 2025 has been revealed, and it boasts some incredible Maldives -worthy beaches, not to mention it's easy for Brits to visit on a budget as it's in Europe. Albania has been emerging as must-visit holiday destination in recent yers, and now travel insiders have ranked it as the top spot that's 'preserved from mass tourism, authentic and affordable', closely followed by Colombia and Laos. The travel experts at HelloSafe, who conducted the study, explained: "Among the top-rated European destinations in 2025, Albania stands out with its still largely unexplored mountainous landscapes, Ionian beaches and excellent value for money." According to the research, the best months to visit are between May and September, which isn't surprising considering this is when the country boasts some enviable hot and sunny weather, with temperatures reaching an average of 32-33C across July and August. There's so much to see and do across the country, but the team flagged that if you're only going to visit one area, make it the "preserved valley of Theth, nestled in the heart of the Albanian Alps". Theth itself is a small village that looks like it's straight out of a storybook, thanks to the lush green valley that surrounds it, complete with ethereal waterfalls and colourful flowers. Hikers will definitely want to don some sturdy boots and take on many of the countless trails that weave through the landscape, with some Instagram-worthy views. For those after more social media fodder, the small coastal village of Ksamil is worth having on your radar. Dubbed 'Europe's answer to the Maldives', it boasts plenty of incredible white beaches and crystal-clear waters, while the Ksamil Islands can be reached by boat or even by kayak if you fancy a day trip. (It's also just a 30-minute ferry ride from Corfu if you want to add a Greek island to the itinerary!). Meanwhile, the 'Stone City' of Gjirokastër is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its 'rare examples of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period'. This citadel town, along with Berat which is part of the site, looks like it belongs in a film set with the ancient ruins, historic churches and dense green surroundings. For those who prefer a city break, the Albanian capital, Tirana, is sure to tick all of the boxes. Boasting an enviable nightlife, plenty of restaurants and heaps of museums to explore, the city also has a plethora of attractions to fill up the itinerary whether that's taking in the mountain views from the cable car, discovering the Cold War bunkers, or taking a guided walking tour of all of the incredible street art nestled across the city. If you want to visit Albania, one of the easiest routes is to fly direct to Tirana, with airlines including Wizz Air and Ryanair offering a range of options from the UK, with fares starting from £19.99 each way (excluding luggage fees).
The Age
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
The 10 coolest new things happening in air travel
Qatar's Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha recently unveiled two new concourses at the Qatar Airlines base. Officially opened in March, Concourse D and E add 51,000 square metres of terminal space and 17 new aircraft contact gates, which means improved passenger connectivity and almost 1000 fewer bus transfers between aircraft and the terminal each day. Separated by the airport's indoor tropical garden, The Orchard, the new concourses are accessible by train from the check-in area or a short walk. The expansion was crucial since Doha's airport was facing capacity constraints. It positions Doha as a major Middle East hub alongside Dubai and Istanbul. See Albania on the runway Albania's coastal city of Vlora will soon have an international airport, expected to open in time for the summer crowds. Able to land wide-bodied aircraft on its 3.2 kilometre runway, the airport will handle up to 2 million passengers a year in its initial phase. It unlocks Albania's southern regions and the impact on the local economy and tourism is expected to be significant, providing easy access to one of the last stretches of Europe's Adriatic and Ionian coastlines that has seen relatively few tourists. It's also controversial since the location, inside Narta Lagoon, a protected ecological zone, violates Albania's global agreements and will also disrupt migratory birds that rely on the lagoon. See Virgin and Qatar buddy-up Virgin Australia will begin long-haul flights to Doha starting in June. The non-stop flights will operate from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to the Qatari capital, aboard aircraft wet-leased from Qatar Airways, which means the Middle East carrier will provide aircraft and crew for the VA flights. This is a win for travellers, with more flights aboard a leading international carrier bringing increased competition to one-stop routes to European cities, and possibly exerting downward pressure on ticket prices. It also sidesteps the limitations our government had placed on Qatar Airways under the bilateral aviation agreement. See Qantas keeps Perth to Paris Qantas has maintained its non-stop flights between Perth and Paris, which began in July 2024 to provide speedy access for Aussie sports lovers heading for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The airline is currently operating three flights a week on the 17-hour route, just one fewer than during the Paris Olympics. Flights depart Perth on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 19.35, arriving in the French capital in time for croissants at 06:45 the following morning. This is the second non-stop flight between Australia and Europe, following Qantas' Perth-London service which launched in 2018. See Fly closer to the Taj Delhi's Noida International Airport will soon be seeing its first commercial flights. Located at Jewar, close to the Delhi-Agra Yamuna Expressway and about a 90-minute drive south of New Delhi, the new airport will take some of the load off the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Barely a month after it sees its first domestic flights, the airport expects its first international flights from June 25. Some international carriers have announced intentions to fly into the new airport, including Singapore Airlines. See Adelaide non-stop to the US Starting December 11 United Airlines will offer flights between Adelaide and San Francisco, the first ever non-stop flights between the South Australian capital and the US. United will operate the 15-hour flight as a thrice-weekly seasonal service until March 2026, with the option to increase frequency as demand grows. When the new flight launches, United will be the only airline flying non-stop to the US from four Australia capitals: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as Adelaide. See Greenland surge Greenland is suddenly hot property, and the island's Nuuk International Airport, opened last November, is attracting an ever-increasing number of international flights. Nuuk currently has non-stop flights from Newark in the US, Iceland's Reykjavik, Iqaluit in Canada and from Copenhagen, Aalborg and Billund in Denmark. It's a signal that the island is opening up for tourism and some of its isolated communities are experiencing a surge in visitor numbers, but greater accessibility will bring changes to Greenland that might shake its very foundations. See Cathay Pacific's smart Aria suites Loading Airlines' business class seats are in a constant state of one-upmanship and Cathay Pacific has recently introduced a few refinements to the Aria Suite seats currently being rolled out in its Boeing 777-300ER cabins. As well as an ethically sourced wool blanket for the luxurious lie-flat bed, a personal storage compartment with an embroidered inlay tray and a choice of seat modes that includes Relax, Work or Sleep, the suite's 61centimetre in-flight entertainment screen allows passengers to check loo availability without leaving their seat. See
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The 10 coolest new things happening in air travel
Qatar's Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha recently unveiled two new concourses at the Qatar Airlines base. Officially opened in March, Concourse D and E add 51,000 square metres of terminal space and 17 new aircraft contact gates, which means improved passenger connectivity and almost 1000 fewer bus transfers between aircraft and the terminal each day. Separated by the airport's indoor tropical garden, The Orchard, the new concourses are accessible by train from the check-in area or a short walk. The expansion was crucial since Doha's airport was facing capacity constraints. It positions Doha as a major Middle East hub alongside Dubai and Istanbul. See Albania on the runway Albania's coastal city of Vlora will soon have an international airport, expected to open in time for the summer crowds. Able to land wide-bodied aircraft on its 3.2 kilometre runway, the airport will handle up to 2 million passengers a year in its initial phase. It unlocks Albania's southern regions and the impact on the local economy and tourism is expected to be significant, providing easy access to one of the last stretches of Europe's Adriatic and Ionian coastlines that has seen relatively few tourists. It's also controversial since the location, inside Narta Lagoon, a protected ecological zone, violates Albania's global agreements and will also disrupt migratory birds that rely on the lagoon. See Virgin and Qatar buddy-up Virgin Australia will begin long-haul flights to Doha starting in June. The non-stop flights will operate from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to the Qatari capital, aboard aircraft wet-leased from Qatar Airways, which means the Middle East carrier will provide aircraft and crew for the VA flights. This is a win for travellers, with more flights aboard a leading international carrier bringing increased competition to one-stop routes to European cities, and possibly exerting downward pressure on ticket prices. It also sidesteps the limitations our government had placed on Qatar Airways under the bilateral aviation agreement. See Qantas keeps Perth to Paris Qantas has maintained its non-stop flights between Perth and Paris, which began in July 2024 to provide speedy access for Aussie sports lovers heading for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The airline is currently operating three flights a week on the 17-hour route, just one fewer than during the Paris Olympics. Flights depart Perth on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 19.35, arriving in the French capital in time for croissants at 06:45 the following morning. This is the second non-stop flight between Australia and Europe, following Qantas' Perth-London service which launched in 2018. See Fly closer to the Taj Delhi's Noida International Airport will soon be seeing its first commercial flights. Located at Jewar, close to the Delhi-Agra Yamuna Expressway and about a 90-minute drive south of New Delhi, the new airport will take some of the load off the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Barely a month after it sees its first domestic flights, the airport expects its first international flights from June 25. Some international carriers have announced intentions to fly into the new airport, including Singapore Airlines. See Adelaide non-stop to the US Starting December 11 United Airlines will offer flights between Adelaide and San Francisco, the first ever non-stop flights between the South Australian capital and the US. United will operate the 15-hour flight as a thrice-weekly seasonal service until March 2026, with the option to increase frequency as demand grows. When the new flight launches, United will be the only airline flying non-stop to the US from four Australia capitals: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as well as Adelaide. See Greenland surge Greenland is suddenly hot property, and the island's Nuuk International Airport, opened last November, is attracting an ever-increasing number of international flights. Nuuk currently has non-stop flights from Newark in the US, Iceland's Reykjavik, Iqaluit in Canada and from Copenhagen, Aalborg and Billund in Denmark. It's a signal that the island is opening up for tourism and some of its isolated communities are experiencing a surge in visitor numbers, but greater accessibility will bring changes to Greenland that might shake its very foundations. See Cathay Pacific's smart Aria suites Loading Airlines' business class seats are in a constant state of one-upmanship and Cathay Pacific has recently introduced a few refinements to the Aria Suite seats currently being rolled out in its Boeing 777-300ER cabins. As well as an ethically sourced wool blanket for the luxurious lie-flat bed, a personal storage compartment with an embroidered inlay tray and a choice of seat modes that includes Relax, Work or Sleep, the suite's 61centimetre in-flight entertainment screen allows passengers to check loo availability without leaving their seat. See
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Europe's beautiful little island is frozen in time but reaches 28C in June
The Greek island of Meganisi is one of the country's Ionian islands, and is situated just off the coast of Lefkada. The island is widely acclaimed with many lauding its "unspoilt" beauty A breathtaking European island has defied the march of time, remaining virtually untouched in a country brimming with tourists. Meganisi, nestled among Greece's Ionian islands, lies off the west coast near Lefkada. Despite welcoming over 200,000 visitors annually, nearly 100 times its local population of around 2,300 permanent residents, Meganisi remains a "hidden" gem compared to its more frequented Ionian counterparts. The island's pristine beauty is widely acclaimed, with many lauding its "unspoilt" environment. Situated away from Greece's bustling tourist hubs, there's no motorway ferrying crowds to Meganisi, reports the Express. Access is limited to a car ferry from Lefkada, setting sail from Nidri port. The scarcity of traffic means that Meganisi's inhabitants live free from the influence of large-scale private developments and enterprises catering to tourists. Consequently, the island lacks the amenities that have popularised other destinations – such as nightclubs and bars. Meganisi, which enjoys temperatures around 28C in June, boasts quaint hotels, tiny shops, and intimate beaches where jostling for sun loungers is unheard of. Travel writer Nancy Roberts cherishes the lack of these commercial trappings, asserting they contribute to the island's unique charm. In her review for Map and Family, she emphasises that the allure of Meganisi lies in its tranquil retreat. She stated: "These days there isn't a lot happening on Meganisi – and that is the whole point of visiting. "It's a quiet little island community. But it also happens to have a fringe of lovely small beaches, dazzling blue seas and glorious Greek weather. "It's the perfect place to not do very much at all."
News18
19-05-2025
- News18
Beyond Turkey And Azerbaijan, Check These 5 Stunning And Culturally Rich Destinations
Last Updated: As calls for boycotting Turkey and Azerbaijan gain momentum, take a look at these five countries that offer a beautiful blend of culture, beauty, and affordability. Following Turkey and Azerbaijan's support for Pakistan after India's Operation Sindoor, the calls to boycott these two countries have gained momentum on social media. Due to these geopolitical concerns, Indian travellers are turning their eyes to alternative gems in the region. If you're looking to broaden your horizons with rich culture, stunning landscapes, and affordable travel, consider these five countries that offer unforgettable experiences. Georgia Nestled in the Caucasus, Georgia is a breathtaking mix of ancient history, dramatic mountain scenery, and vibrant urban life. Its capital, Tbilisi, is famous for its charming old town, sulphur baths, and eclectic architecture. Adventure seekers can explore the Caucasus Mountains with trekking, skiing, or visits to historic monasteries like Gergeti Trinity. Georgia's world-class wines and hearty cuisine add to the appeal, making it a perfect destination for food lovers and culture buffs alike. Kazakhstan Spanning vast steppe lands and rugged mountains, Kazakhstan offers a diverse travel experience blending modern cities with nomadic heritage. Almaty, the former capital, is a vibrant cultural hub surrounded by natural beauty, including the stunning Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon. For history enthusiasts, the Silk Road legacy is alive in cities like Turkestan. Kazakhstan's expanding tourism infrastructure and low travel costs make it an intriguing choice for adventurous travellers seeking something off the beaten path. Albania Tucked away in the Balkans, Albania is one of Europe's best-kept secrets. With pristine beaches along the Ionian and Adriatic seas, ancient ruins from Greek and Roman times, and a rugged mountainous interior, Albania is perfect for explorers who crave diversity. Tirana's colourful streets and lively café culture contrast beautifully with UNESCO-listed sites like Butrint and the charming town of Gjirokastër. A jewel of the ancient Silk Road, Uzbekistan beckons with its remarkable Islamic architecture, bustling bazaars, and rich cultural traditions. Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva offer a glimpse into a bygone era with grand madrasas, mosques, and mausoleums. The country is investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, making it increasingly accessible while remaining remarkably affordable. Portugal Portugal, with its fairytale castles, stunning coastline, and vibrant architecture, is steadily climbing the list of top travel destinations. From the historic charm of Lisbon to the artistic vibe of Porto, the country offers a rich blend of culture, cuisine, and scenic beauty. What makes it even more appealing is its affordability. First Published:
