Latest news with #Kuoni
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Time Out
This stunning NSW national park is one of the world's most TikTok-famous natural wonders
From Icebergs sunrises to Totti's puffy bread to Pymble's newly-famous Old Baby Cake, Sydney is a mine of TikTokable content. And it turns out, one of the world's most TikTok-famous natural wonders is just outside of our city's walls – with the Greater Blue Mountains area ranking as the 18th most iconic natural wonder in the world, according to the platform. Yep, TikTokers are showing the Blue Mountains to the world. To determine the most TikTok-famous Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, travel site Kuoni analysed content made at or of more than 180 official UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, ranking the most popular TikTok locations. To ensure their results were accurate, the researchers compiled a seed list of all official Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, then tallied up the number of TikTok posts featuring relevant hashtags (including nicknames and common spellings associated with each site). According to the data, the Greater Blue Mountains region is currently the 18th-most TikTok famous natural wonder in the world, the most famous in all of Australia. With its far-reaching valley views, stunning cliffscapes and rich eucalyptus forests, the Blue Mountains has officially secured its spot as a social media favourite – just behind America's Yellowstone National Park, and beating Australian icons including the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru. As of April 2025, 60,132 TikTok posts have been made about the beautiful national park on the western edge of Sydney – literal mountains of content. The most TikTok-famous natural wonders in the world are: Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (Canada) Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (Japan) Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (India) Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (South Africa) Grand Canyon National Park (USA) Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) The Dolomites (Italy) Kilimanjaro National Park (Tanzania) Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil) iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa) Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago (Vietnam) Yosemite National Park (USA) Area de Conservación Guanacaste (Costa Rica) Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (Canada and USA) Chitwan National Park (Nepal) Komodo National Park (Indonesia) Yellowstone National Park (USA) Greater Blue Mountains Area (Australia) Great Smoky Mountains National Park (USA) Everglades National Park (USA)
Telegraph
09-03-2025
- Telegraph
The long-haul summer holidays that are cheaper than a week in the Med
Enjoying a summer holiday in Europe has become almost prohibitively expensive. Flight costs have spiralled while demand for the best hotels and villas, coupled with high inflation, means accommodation prices have soared over the last few years too. Meanwhile, summers are hotter than ever – 2024 was the warmest year on record on the continent. It's therefore no wonder that those with kids are venturing further afield. Tour operator Kuoni reports that long-haul family bookings are significantly up this year, with Mauritius and Thailand among the most popular destinations. With prices to Europe ballooning, far-flung trips suddenly look like better value. There are good deals on packages for 2025, while added perks (such as villa staff or all-inclusive meals) should be factored into any comparisons. Then there's the cost of living on the ground, which remains low in many popular long-haul destinations, including Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Venturing out of Europe can be a risky business in the school summer holidays though. Seasonal weather events – such as the monsoon in India and hurricanes in the Caribbean – are best avoided. Meanwhile temperatures can be unbearable in the Middle East and it's winter in South Africa. 'We know from our Travel Trends report that travellers are seeking value, and these long-haul destinations appear cheaper than usual as they're in their 'off' season which aligns with UK summer. This is reflected in prices for flights and hotels for long-haul destinations, making them more attractive than they are during their 'high' season,' said a spokesperson for the comparison website Skyscanner. 'However, travellers visiting these long-haul destinations during off-season should keep in mind that they may experience seasonal tropical weather patterns.' With that in mind, where is worth considering? We've crunched the data to come up with the best options and set them out below. For a boutique getaway Living costs are down in Sri Lanka. The Post Office's annual Long Haul Holiday Report found that they'd fallen by 14.8 per cent year on year during 2024. It makes the island an even better choice for a holiday in boutique-style accommodation, because it comes with a plethora of small hotels and villas that seem to have jumped from the pages of glossy magazines (minus the extortionate prices). August is a good time to go. It's far less hectic than peak winter season, with temperatures in the high 20s. And, though there are likely to be some dramatic downpours between the sunshine, that equals a lush landscape scented with frangipani and glossy with foliage. Hidden away on a slice of south western coast bordered by overblown jungle and palm-backed beach, some of the boho-style villas at Sama Retreats come with private pools. Nearby, there are plenty of activities to tempt older kids, from kayaking through the mangroves to exploring temples and spotting monkeys and porcupines in the rainforest. A week costs £2,296 B&B for a family of four in the summer holidays via SriLankan Airways has flights from London-Colombo from £950pp. In 2025, demand is high for similar accommodation in Europe. Only one per cent of hotel rooms with private pools are available in Crete during the last week of August according to – and it's reflected in holiday prices. They're almost double those at Sama Retreats for equivalent accommodation: a week at Elounda Palm Hotel & Suites in a connecting family suite with private pool costs £4,203. For fantastic family hotels Mauritius is one of Kuoni's top picks for summer holidays with kids in tow. 'It is particularly good value and has cooler summer temperatures so appeals to families,' said its spokesperson. It may be winter on the island during August, but that can be a bonus for those not used to the heat: expect highs of around 25 degrees with some overcast days (though it's always warm enough for a splash in the pool). One of the attractions is a profusion of family-friendly hotels, with multiple pools, kids clubs and calm, sandy beaches. These can be pricey, but local chain Attitude has three and four-star offerings dotted around the island which offer better value, as well as one of Mauritius's most inventive set-ups for children. In the north, at the edge of a lagoon, Zilwa Attitude comes with bright family rooms, a spa that's open to all ages and pirate-themed treasure hunts just offshore on the island of Gran Zil. Kuoni has a week's all-inclusive for a family of four for £6,244, including flights from Gatwick, during August (0800 092 4444, Note that it's worth looking at a few different airports to find the best value: the cost of this holiday soared by almost £2,000 when we looked at alternative flights from Heathrow or Manchester. For a basic fly-and-flop With a flight time of around eight hours, Cape Verde is sometimes classed as mid-haul, which puts it on par with Dubai or Egypt. Unlike these two, however, it's pleasantly hot rather than unbearably sweltering in summer: expect temperatures in the high 20s. August marks the start of the rainy season but, as the islands have a dry climate, that should only mean a few short showers. Post-pandemic, this group of African islands is making efforts to get on the tourist radar. In summer 2025, the Royal Horizon Ponta Sino opens a few steps from the sprawl of sand at Kite Beach, with kids clubs, two pools and a profusion of bars and restaurants. It's all you need for a fly-and-flop trip and a week with EasyJet holidays costs from £4,726 all-inclusive. In Europe, the prices for similar hotels skyrocket in summer as families make for the seaside. The cheapest similar offering we could find in Cyprus, for example, is the far less glitzy (but same star-rated) Venus Beach Hotel in Paphos at £4,615 – where it's likely to be a little more sticky because summer temperatures on the island can soar to 37 degrees. All other available Cyprus options were more expensive than the Cape Verde holiday, rising to an eye-watering £8,625 for a week at the Atlantica Mare Village Paphos. For adventure The rainy season puts India and Thailand out of the picture for summer, but central Vietnam stays dry and warm with temperatures hovering between the late 20s and early 30s. It's a country that's been increasing in popularity post-pandemic so prices are going up, but Hoi An still placed third in the Post Office's 2024 list of best-value long-haul destinations. Adventurous families will find the cost of exploring far cheaper than in Europe. A four-hour fishing expedition and cooking class, including shopping for ingredients in a local market, costs from £23pp through Viator, while a basket boat trip along the Thu Bon river starts at £4pp: compare that to a similar cooking activity in Taormina, Sicily, from £80pp and a two-hour boat trip to Isola Bella from £46pp. If you prefer your activities included, opt for a family-focused itinerary such as Rickshaw Travel's 12-night Culture, Crafts and Castaway Shores trip, which has been specially designed for the summer holidays. Costing £1,725pp excluding flights, it comes with junk boat trips, street food tours, a day with a local family in Hue, a cookery class in Hanoi and time on the beach to finish (01273 322398). Explore's week-long Family Activity Holiday in Sicily may be slightly cheaper at £1,555pp, but it's also significantly shorter. For brilliant beaches Europe's best beaches are often trimmed in its most expensive accommodation (think Mallorca, Ibiza and Sardinia). Things are different on Mexico's Riviera Maya, where 120km of coastline means there's enough powdery sand for everyone, from beach bungalow dwellers to five-star luxury seekers. In summer, that sand is home to turtle hatchlings while whale sharks swim offshore. It makes it the best time to see the local wildlife, while there's plenty more to see among the region's Mayan temples and cool inland cenotes. Go as early in the holidays as possible though: Caribbean hurricane season intensifies in August and September and, though the very worst of the weather rarely hits this coast, it can cause tropical storms. A profusion of hotels working with big tour operators (who also run charter flights) help keep costs down in the region. For 2025, there are good deals with Tui, including a week at the four-star Catalonia Yucatan Beach in Mexico for £1,159pp all-inclusive, including flights (020 3451 2688). A similarly-rated all-inclusive holiday in Mallorca, at Iberostar Cala Domingos comes in at £1,180pp.
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- Telegraph
The 15 best places to have an alcohol-free holiday
Whether it's a poolside piña colada, an ice-tinkling aperitivo or an 8am pint in an airport Wetherspoons, for many of us, a holiday doesn't start until there's a drink in your hand. At least, that's the wisdom that has long-fuelled Britons' notorious thirst for booze while travelling, and maybe – just maybe – has also stoked our rock-bottom reputation abroad. But times are changing. These days, Dry January is de rigueur, '0 per cent' wine is filling the booze aisles, and social media is awash with rosy-cheeked #soberlife selfies. So far, so Gen Z, you might think – but you'd be wrong. 'This isn't limited to the younger generation,' says Anna Donaghey, an alcohol mindset coach and the host of The Big Drink Rethink podcast. 'People of all ages, including those in midlife and retirement – who've traditionally been the heaviest-drinking demographic – are exploring a sober or sober-curious lifestyle.' Objectively, there are many reasons to ditch the booze: health, pregnancy, religion, recovery, finances… or simply wanting to avoid something that officially raises your chance of a grisly end. But it's hard, especially on holiday: Kuoni's Teetotal Travelling Report found that more than a quarter of us (27 per cent) feel pressure to drink while abroad, despite our best intentions. But for the sober-curious and teetotallers alike, the following holidays and hotels offer freedom from the pressure to imbibe. They're proudly alcohol-free, offering everything you could wish for from a getaway – minus the hangover. You might even return home fresh-faced and energised, wondering why it took you so long to stuff the status quo. Best for… reformed wine lovers Germany AF Wine Tour – Hooked On Travel Alcohol-free wine isn't what it used to be – thank goodness. Even premium producers are developing saintly versions of their wines, using new de-alcoholisation processes and blending to create sophisticated flavour profiles. Departing from Frankfurt and heading south to Stuttgart and Munich, Hooked On Travel's seven-night Germany AF Wine Tour will visit four vineyards for boozeless tastings – plus alcohol-free beer tasting, pretzel making and three-course dinners with 0 per cent wine pairings. According to organisers, it's the world's first alcohol-free wine tasting holiday. Best for… if your partner isn't so virtuous BodyHoliday Saint Lucia – Cap Estate, St Lucia Though it's one of the Caribbean's leading wellness resorts, BodyHoliday does serve alcohol – but without the drink-drink-drink ethos of most all-inclusives. So if you're on a health kick but your other half isn't, there's no need for anyone to curb their enthusiasm for vice or virtue. Still, with daily 50-minute massages, a BodyScience health analysis and everything from guided nature walks to tai-chi included in the room rate, your partner might lose their appetite for hangovers. Kuoni offers seven nights all-inclusive from £3,349pp in May, including flights; Best for… guilt-free après ski Bramble Ski chalets – Switzerland, Austria, France Luxury chalet operator Bramble Ski was early to #soberlife, partnering with spirit-substitute brand Seedlip in 2020, to produce alcohol-free cocktails for its catered retreats. Five years later, its teetotal après ski is in high demand, featuring the likes of 'Alpine Favourite' (garden herbs, wild strawberry) and 'Petite Abricot' (orange, ginger and apricot). The drinks menu is served in selected Bramble chalets, such as the Christiania Penthouse (sleeps 14) in Zermatt, Switzerland. Seven nights full-board from CHF41,490 (£36,639) – around £2,600pp – excluding flights; Best for… family fun in the sun Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara – Doha, Qatar Forget the stereotype of Qatar's skyscrapers and shopping malls: Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara is a 20-minute boat ride from the city, with a long sandy beach, enormous infinity pool and accommodation ranging from huge rooms to overwater villas. It's popular with Qataris, so no alcohol is served, and the family-friendly facilities are superb: from paddleboarding and mini-golf, to a splash park, high-ropes course and kids' club. Thomas Cook offers seven nights B&B from £1,294pp, travelling on Sep 20; Best for… cruising with a clear head Princess Cruises This March, Princess Cruises will become the world's first major cruise line to offer a standalone non-alcoholic bar menu across all of its sailings. The Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection will feature 0 per cent spirits by Lyre's, Kylie Minogue's Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé, and a booze-free version of Lewis Hamilton's Almave tequila created exclusively for the line. For a dose of spring sunshine, a seven-day Spain and France cruise on Sky Princess – round trip from Southampton – costs from £1,027pp, departing March 23; Best for… a sober staycation Grove of Narberth – Pembrokeshire, Wales In Pembrokeshire's glorious countryside, Grove of Narberth gave its head sommelier a challenge: to create virgin pairings for its four-AA-Rosette restaurant. Rather than relying on sweet mixers and sodas, Cathryn Bell uses locally grown cold-pressed fruits and vegetables as a base, and deploys herbs, teas and spices for tannins and flavour. While alcohol is served in the hotel, these novel creations elevate its fine-dining experience – with the likes of Pembrokeshire seaweed rivalling red wine's umami, and Japanese yuzu complementing a rich bouillabaisse. Best for… a full-body reset Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort – Ubud, Bali Betwixt paddy fields and virgin jungle, this low-rise resort blends seamlessly into Ubud's wild landscape – with light-flooded suites, a palm-shaded infinity pool and beautifully breezy yoga shala. It's the kind of setting that inspires good behaviour, so the hotel's alcohol-free policy doesn't feel like a hardship, and nor does its vegan cuisine. It's currently in a soft-opening phase, due to fully launch in July – just in time for Bali's loveliest season, when the weather is warm but dry. Best for… sociable solo women Sobertopia retreats – Andalucia, Spain Exclusively for women aged over 18, Sobertopia's small-group retreats in southern Spain have all the fun of a sociable girls' trip but without the booze. Expect daily yoga sessions, paddleboarding, a private pool, guided meditation and full-board dining by a local chef – with around 10 fellow guests, many of whom are solos. The trips are run by California-based Isabel van Zuilen, who has been alcohol-free since 2021. Sobertopia's three-day gathering in June (priced €1,295/£1,080) is currently fully booked, but you can register to join the waiting list and be informed about future retreats; Best for… winter sun without the headache The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel – Dubai, UAE Dubai may have a reputation for excess, but The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel bucks the trend: it's booze-free throughout, with nutrition-focused dining and spa treatments ranging from detox wraps to cryotherapy. It's located on the Palm's outer crescent (though still just 30 minutes from Dubai Mall), so your 0 per cent sundowners will be enlivened by views of millionaires' yachts and Dubai Marina's skyscrapers. Travel Republic has seven-night packages from £2,047pp, travelling in October, including flights and B&B accommodation; Best for… booze-free beach bliss The Barefoot Eco Hotel – Hanimaadhoo, Maldives With its long, forest-fringed beach, sea-view rooms and thriving house reef, The Barefoot Eco Hotel is full of Maldivian charms – and it's also free of temptation. Only hotels on otherwise-uninhabited Maldives islands may serve alcohol, so this retreat on the northernmost tip of Hanimaadhoo – which has a population of around 2,600 – is teetotal (though it does have a floating Boat Bar moored off-shore, reached by speedboat, if your willpower falters.) Rooh Travel offers nine nights from £892pp, departing in September, including transfers and breakfast but excluding flights; Best for… an abstinent adventure Banyan Tree Alula – Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia There's no temptation to imbibe in Saudi, as the entire country is alcohol-free. With its spectacular Petra-style rock carvings and ocean of pristine ochre desert, the Unesco-listed region of Al-Ula is the ideal first-timer's destination. Stay at Banyan Tree Alula in the Ashar Valley: a Bedouin-inspired camp with a five-star twist, featuring a mountain-view infinity pool, lavish tented villas and experiences including hot air ballooning, hiking and stargazing. Best At Travel offers five nights from £1,799pp, including flights and B&B accommodation; Best for… the full detox Santani Wellness Resort – Kandy, Sri Lanka Yoga classes at sunrise, thermal salt baths on tap, dining menus designed to wean you off sugar, caffeine and booze – that's how Santani Wellness Resort does all-inclusive. Tucked away in the hills near Kandy, central Sri Lanka, this wellness retreat features a three-tiered spa with Ayurveda-inspired treatments, plus a handful of mountain-view chalets. It doesn't serve alcohol, but does allow BYO. Timbuktu Travel offers seven-night packages from £3,300pp departing this autumn – including private transfers, meals, drinks and selected activities such as yoga, hiking and guided meditation; Best for… a sober-curious weekend Tudor Farmhouse Hotel – Clearwell, Forest of Dean The virgin drinks menu at Gloucestershire's Tudor Farmhouse puts many other boutique hotels to shame. Co-owner Hari Fell gave up alcohol many years ago, and her passion for 0 per cent drinks shines through – encompassing wines, beers and convincing mocktails. The hotel also runs booze-free weekend breaks year-round, which include B&B accommodation with dinner, two mocktails, a bottle of alcohol-free wine every evening and a mocktail-making hamper to take home. While the wider hotel isn't alcohol-free, the bartenders won't bat an eyelid when you order a No-groni. Two-night NoLo Breaks from £260 per person; Best for… a booze-free city break Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet – Istanbul, Turkey In Istanbul's old quarter, Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet is dripping with Ottoman opulence: all voluptuous marble archways, intricate tilework mosaics and a traditional Turkish hammam. It's also a short walk from the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar, with an indoor pool and gender-segregated spa to enjoy when you're not out and about. In short, it's a fabulously stylish city-break base – and is completely alcohol free. Up on its rooftop, Zeferan pairs authentic Turkish and Azerbaijani cuisine with panoramic views of Sultanahmet and the Marmara Sea. Preferred Hotels offers rooms from £264 per night, including breakfast; Best for… AA-friendly all-inclusive Sober Alaska: The Last Frontier cruise – Alaska, USA Sober Vacations runs 'buy-outs' of big beach resorts and cruise ships on set dates, meaning that all of your fellow travellers will be teetotal too – with no alcohol served anywhere. This strict ethos makes the trips great for those in formal addiction recovery and their families, and there's a strong sense of community amid the predominantly American participants. As well as an all-inclusive retreat in Mexico and a Rhône river cruise, the company's 2025 programme includes a seven-night cruise of Alaska featuring 12-step workshops, whale-watching trips and inspirational speakers.
The Independent
20-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Long-haul holiday bookings now more popular than ever, travel firms report
Holiday companies are reporting a sharp rise in demand for long-haul breaks because prices are often 'more cost-effective' than visiting European alternatives. Surrey-based luxury travel brand Kuoni reported that long-haul bookings for the year ahead are 14 per cent higher than at the same point in 2024. It attributed this to strong sales for people seeking 'winter sun, family adventures or multi-centre escapes'. Among Kuoni's most popular long-haul destinations are the Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa. Kuoni managing director Mark Duguid said: 'We've had a terrific start to the year with a real breadth of destinations around the world selling well. 'It's clear that long-haul is really winning out right now for lots of different reasons. 'Value shines through as a common theme,' he said. 'Vietnam is a good example of somewhere which is leading the way with experience and adventure travel, with contrasting bustling cities, food, culture and fabulous beaches which creates an ultra-special trip but at affordable prices.' Online package holiday company Thomas Cook also reported a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in long-haul bookings. A spokesman said there is particularly strong demand for breaks in faraway locations in the summer, because the price of these bookings is 'comparable to holidays in the Med'. He added: 'Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore a new country.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said: 'This year we've seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across our agency partners, with demand accelerating as we moved from January into February. 'Interestingly, many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the Far East where local costs remain attractive.
The Guardian
18-02-2025
- The Guardian
Holiday firms reporting surge in demand for long-haul breaks
Holiday companies are reporting a surge in demand for long-haul breaks amid claims that the likes of Thailand and Vietnam are now often 'more cost-effective' than visiting traditional European favourites. On Tuesday, travel brand Kuoni said long-haul bookings for the year ahead were 14% higher than at the same point in 2024. Meanwhile, online package holiday company Thomas Cook reported a 10% year-on-year increase in long-haul bookings. Kuoni said it was seeing a particular interest in 'experience-led trips' that included things such as wildlife encounters, cookery classes and a focus on wellbeing. Among the firm's most popular long-haul destinations were the Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa. Kuoni UK's managing director, Mark Duguid, said it had enjoyed a 'terrific' start to the year, 'with a real breadth of destinations around the world selling well', adding: 'It's clear that long-haul is really winning out right now, for lots of different reasons.' However long-haul flights have long been criticised for their significant environmental impact relating to the amount of carbon emissions they generate. Value for money came through as a common theme for the current popularity, and Vietnam was highlighted as 'a good example of somewhere which is leading the way with experience and adventure travel', with its cities, food, culture and beaches combining to create special trips 'at affordable prices'. At Thomas Cook, a spokesperson said that when it came to the summer months in particular, the price of breaks in faraway locations was often 'comparable to holidays in the Med, so people are willing to head further afield and try somewhere new with their holiday spend'. This renewed enthusiasm for travelling farther afield may also be linked to tax changes on pensions announced in last October's budget, which led to predictions that some older people were likely to withdraw more of their pension cash and spend it on holidays and other big-ticket items in order to reduce the value of their estate. Thomas Cook said one of the big 'winners' was the US, especially New York, Florida and Las Vegas. At the time of writing, the firm was selling seven-night packages to Las Vegas including return flights from London for under £550 per person. The spokesperson added: 'Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore a new country.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said that so far this year it had seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across its agency partners, with demand accelerating in the last few weeks. 'Many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the far east, where local costs remain attractive,' she said. The popularity of shows such as The White Lotus, whose current third season is set in Thailand, and ITV's Love Island All Stars, filmed in South Africa, would fuel fresh interest in these destinations for 2025 holidays, she added. It was announced in last October's budget that unspent money left in a pension plan after an individual's death will be included in inheritance tax calculations from April 2027. That led to claims in some quarters that this 'tax grab' could backfire, with Ros Altmann, a former pensions minister, quoted as saying that the policy created a 'huge incentive' to spend money rather than save it.
