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Saskia O'Donoghue

Travel News

Thailand to slash visa-free stays for tourists

Holidaymakers from more than 90 countries could soon face shorter visa-free stays in Thailand, as officials move to curb crimes involving foreign nationals despite tourism remaining vital to the country’s economy.

Travel News

Dutch travel groups launch air tax campaign over flight cost fears

Netherlands-based travel firms are urging the Dutch government to rethink steep aviation tax rises they say could price ordinary families out of holidays and push travellers to airports across the border.

Destinations

Which European countries attract the most tourists?

The traditional hotspots continue to dominate European travel despite overtourism protests, with new figures revealing where hundreds of millions of travellers are spending their holidays across the continent.

Travel News

Grief travel is booming as mourners turn to healing retreats

From Greek spa retreats to psychedelic healing breaks in Jamaica, a growing number of travellers are booking grief-focused getaways to process loss, trauma and heartbreak away from everyday life.

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Travel News

The world’s best destinations for ‘dusking’ trips

'Dusking', the trend encouraging people to slow down and watch the sunset, is taking off, and a new ranking has revealed the world’s best destinations to experience it, from Santorini and Bali to the Amalfi Coast and the Maldives.

Destinations

Portugal launches app for hidden river beaches

The free River Beaches app maps more than 130 inland swimming spots across Portugal, as travellers increasingly swap crowded coastal resorts for quieter freshwater escapes in mountains and forests.

Destinations

The world’s best places for cold-water dips revealed

Travellers are ditching heated pools for icy lakes and wild swims, as a new global ranking reveals the world’s most invigorating cold-water destinations.

Travel News

Europe shut out of world’s best airline rankings

Asian and Middle Eastern carriers have once again dominated Skytrax’s prestigious 5-star airline rankings, with no European airline earning a place among the world’s top-rated operators.

Destinations

Revealed: The world’s best walking cities

Rome, Madrid and Budapest are among the European hotspots leading a new global ranking of the best cities to explore on foot, while destinations across Asia and Latin America rapidly climb the list.

Destinations

From London to Athens: Europe’s best cities for day trips revealed

New research has revealed the European cities that travellers most frequently use as bases for day trips, from London escapes to Stonehenge and Bath to island visits from Athens and wine tours from Florence.

Travel News

US waives $15,000 visa bond fees for some World Cup fans

The Trump administration is suspending controversial visa bond payments of up to $15,000 (€12,800) for some World Cup supporters travelling to the US after concerns the rules could damage attendance at the 2026 tournament.

Destinations

Liverpool beyond The Beatles: Why now is the time to visit

From a new music heritage trail to a summer packed with live gigs and easy escapes, Liverpool offers a mix of culture, coastline and contemporary energy.

Travel News

Dublin to Belfast rail journeys set for major speed boost

A major investment in the Enterprise rail service will bring new trains, faster journey times and more frequent departures between Dublin and Belfast, with the upgraded cross-border route set to launch by 2028.

Moments

The world’s most beautiful spas, ranked by eye-tracking research

A novel eye-tracking study has revealed the world’s most visually striking spas, showing how setting and design can shape the way we relax just as much as the treatments themselves.

Residences

Luxury brand Nobu heads to the English countryside

Nobu is launching its first UK countryside retreat, bringing a hotel, spa, restaurant and branded residences to rural Rutland in a major shift away from its usual city-centre hotspots.

Travel News

German tourist wins €900 in ‘sunbed wars’ case

A tourist has won compensation after claiming towel-hogging guests made sun loungers impossible to use on a Greek holiday – and the ruling could spell trouble for resorts that fail to tackle the “sunbed wars”.

Travel News

Airport habits exposed: The behaviours travellers hate most

From queue-jumping to seat-hogging, a new global survey reveals the airport habits that annoy passengers most, alongside how early we really arrive and which boarding style we fall into.

Residences

Luxurious Villa San Michele hotel reopens above Florence

After an 18-month renovation, Belmond’s Villa San Michele has reopened in the hills above Florence with refreshed rooms, a new Guerlain spa and upgraded gardens, offering a quieter, more considered take on luxury just outside the city.

Travel News

Jet fuel crisis: Airlines cut 13,000 flights and two million seats

Airlines across the world have cut thousands of May flights and scaled back capacity as the jet fuel shortage begins to bite, raising the risk of disruption for families travelling over the half term break.

Travel News

Pilots wanted for $100k role, but they won’t leave the ground

British Airways is recruiting experienced wide-body pilots to taxi aircraft between terminals at Chicago O’Hare, for one of the most unusual aviation jobs out there, offering a decent salary without ever taking off.

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