Visiting Zanzibar for the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony, Breaking Travel News editor Chris O’Toole here takes a tour of historic capital, Stone Town. A fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa, the destination has maintained its urban fabric and contains many fine buildings that reflect its particular culture.

As an urban retreat, Hotel Atlantis by Giardino seamlessly unites the luxury of a five-star superior city hotel with the natural surroundings of its green and peaceful location at the foot of the Üetliberg mountain. Here Mona Marti visits the freshly renovated property for Breaking Travel News and is whisked back a glamorous age when it was a stage for international guests and a meeting place for Zurich locals.

Visiting the exquisitely resorted Ashford Castle over the Easter weekend, Breaking Travel News editor calls into the beautiful new spa. With its fairy-tale setting, range of treatments and state-of-the art facilities, the location is the final piece of the jigsaw for this one-of-a-kind property.

Travelling with work is one of those things which simply comes with life in the modern age. While you may not be able to take time off between meetings to see the signs on the majority of these trips, the occasional trip to the other side of the world can sometimes warrant taking a day or two’s annual leave, giving yourself a quick and impromptu holiday along the way. If you’re looking for a little R&R before you head back to the office, here are the top places in the US.

In a guest editorial from Chris Dix, chief operating officer, Europe and the Americas at VFS Global, Breaking Travel News here examines how efficient visa processes are the hidden ingredient to economic growth.

Liverpool’s John Lennon airport may be famous for naming itself after a global sensation and cultural icon but it might soon boast another claim to fame: delightfully short wait times. It’s all thanks to the introduction of Fast Track security Kiosks from Cammax Limited which will allow passengers to bypass the normal wait times typically found at large, congested airports. These customisable kiosks can be outfitted to do a number of things, including printing receipts and entry tickets, and are able to receive a variety of different payments, including debit and credit cards with chip and pins; contactless cards; in addition to smart cards.