Visitors to the largest airport in the United Kingdom should be prepared for packed crowds. London's Heathrow recently broke a 12-month record with over 81 million passengers flying through the airport. Heathrow also had its busiest May ever, with 7.2 million passengers. It's the first time May numbers have ever surpassed seven million. “Supporting 81 [million] journeys doesn’t just help families to make wonderful holiday memories, importantly it is about the vital trade and business links a hub like Heathrow creates for the UK’s economy,” Heathrow’s CEO Thomas Woldbye said in a release. Heading into the summer travel season, London has been top of the charts for international bookings. For example, Chase Travel shared their most booked destinations internationally, and London took the top spot, followed by Paris, Tokyo, Rome, and Cancun. The airport expects to break more records this summer, estimating it will see roughly 30 million pass through.
This Sunny Coastline Is Europe’s Cheapest Destination, Per New Ranking
25.05.2024 - 12:37 / forbes.com
Booking a beach vacation along one of Europe’s most attractive coastlines comes with a surprisingly reasonable price tag this year. According to the UK Post Office’s annual holiday money report, costs in this cliff-lined, golden sand destination have gone down compared to last year.
The report compares the prices of eight items typically purchased by travelers—a three-course meal for two with wine, a cup of coffee, a bottle of local beer, a can of cola, a glass of wine, a bottle of still water, suncream and insect repellent—to come up with the ranking.
The report found that the cheapest European destination for 2024 is Portugal’s Algarve—placing it 5th in the world rankings. Food and drink prices along the idyllic coastline are particularly low. The area has the cheapest cup of coffee of all the places studied at £0.88 ($1.12) while a three-course meal for two with wine will set you back just £39 ($49) and a glass of wine at a bar only £1.76 ($2.24).
Two other seaside destinations come in second and third place. Turkey’s Marmaris and Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach were both in the world’s top three for 2023 but have fallen due to rising costs as restaurants and bars face soaring inflation.
The Algarve is Portugal’s coastal stage set. The 150-kilometer shoreline is a series of rocky promontories jutting out to sea, sensational cliff formations and secluded coves. There’s a real variety of lifestyles here, too. If you want to splash in the sea with aquatic activities, head to Lagos. This port town of pretty pastel and tiled houses with mosaic-paved streets is also a hotspot for nightlife.
For all-night partying and all-day sunbathing, Albufeira is a good bet while those looking for a quieter escape should consider Sagres, Carrapeteira or Ferragudo. If you want to explore the rocky playground, take a boat tour or kayak to a dome-shaped cavern at Benagil with an indoor beach lit by an oculus in the roof. For pure relaxation, float in the ‘Portuguese Dead Sea’ in the nature reserve just outside Castro Marim. At the outdoor wellness center, you can also lather yourself in salt mud rich with 80 different minerals.
You can get around the Algarve cheaply (and sustainably) using trains and buses. The coastline is serviced by a rail route running between Lagos in the east and Vila Real de Santo António in the west. You can hop off at Portimão, Tunes, Faro and Tavira. The coast is also connected by train to Lisbon. For other destinations, the local Vamus Algarve buses are on hand. These connect key towns like Lagos and Albufeira to Faro airport and there are also sightseeing services for some cliff-side panoramas.
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British Airways has long been the largest European carrier serving the U.S., and now, the airline wants to make itself even more relevant to your travel plans.
This South Pacific Carrier Will Be Oneworld’s Newest Member Airline
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A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
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I’ll never forget when I was in Istanbul. I was in the famous bazaar, where every single vendor there offered me delicious apple tea – to entice me to make a purchase – and where you could find mountains and mountains of boxes of Turkey’s famous candy. Turkish Delight or “Lokum” as it's known in Turkey, is a delicate flavored jelly candy that is ubiquitous in the country. You will typically find it scented with rosewater or cinnamon, orange, vanilla or bergamot.
Demand for Summer travel in Europe recovers, says ForwardKeys
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This June In Boston: The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Makes Its Annual Return
Renowned for its high-end dining scene, sophisticated hotels and world-renowned higher education institutions, Boston offers a particularly idyllic escape on the eastern edge of New England—but this historic city is no stranger to high-speed thrills as well. This June, Boston is set to welcome the return of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, an annual event that unites 24 individuals in an effort to achieve the maximum amount of points and earn the coveted King Kahekili Trophy. And while Boston is in good company with its fellow participating cities, it serves as the sole host in all of the United States, providing visitors with an opportunity to witness a truly unique event taking place right on New England soil.
Skyscanner launches Savvy Search - its new generative AI travel planning tool
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Yuppi Group leverages Turkish destination specialism to launch B2B hotel platform Pax2Night
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Deepak Chopra aboard SH Diana in New York as Swan Hellenic announces two new “Explore & Restore” cruises in Brazil
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