Travel News Page 636
KAYAK is calling it: 2025 will be the Year of Long-Haul, Bucket List Trips
Travelers, get ready to flex those passports in 2025. According to data from KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, two-thirds of all flight searches on the platform for 2025 are for international flights. And the good news? International airfare in 2025 is cheaper than last year. The even better news? Flights to KAYAK’s #1 trending region for 2025 travel, Asia, are the cheapest they’ve been in 3 years on average.
Family-Friendly Perks and Huge Discounts Highlight Princess Cruises’ ‘Come Aboard Sale
Princess Cruises, the most iconic cruise brand in the world, today unveiled its Come Aboard Sale, offering fantastic savings on cruises across the globe. Now is the perfect time to plan a dream vacation with up to 40% off cruise fares, free room upgrades, $99 deposits, and free sailings for 3rd and 4th guests in the same stateroom. The Come Aboard Sale runs through February 28, 2025, and promises something for everyone, with incredible perks on select 2025, 2026 and 2027 cruises, including*:
Discover the wonders of China in unparalleled style
Embark on a journey where the journey itself becomes a destination of grandeur - welcome to the Glamour Train, China’s premier rail tourism brand. With an exciting route expansion in 2025, discover China’s breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures, from the frosty northeast to the sunny southwest. Guided by the philosophy that “the train is the destination”, we meticulously design each experience to ensure your journey is as spectacular as the scenery, with 24/7 butler service and family-like hospitality.
La Palma Is Ready to Party With Celestial Year-Round Festivities
La Palma island is all set to stage vibrant fiestas in the new year, including the showstopper, STARMUS Festival boasting a line-up of luminaries and Nobel laurates from 25 – 29 April 2025. The island comes alive with a variety of wonders across ancient forests, storied cities and steep sensations kicking off with the ‘Los Indianos’ carnival, a melting pot of cultures and culinary kudos.
Set Sail on a Multi-Generational Family Arctic Adventure in 2025
With the demand for multi-generational family trips set to rise in 2025 and a stronger focus on creating shared, meaningful travel experiences*, Secret Atlas is offering families the opportunity to enjoy a transformative adventure on an Expedition Micro Yacht Charter to the Arctic. Families of up to 12 guests can learn in-the-field from local expert biology, geology and wildlife guides and enjoy experiences personalised to the group’s specific interests and needs. Inspire young minds following in the footsteps of famous explorers and dinosaurs while visiting the most remote corners of the Arctic region including Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Greenland and Northern Norway.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS OPENS NEW GATEWAY TO KENYA WITH LAUNCH OF NAIROBI FLIGHTS
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, celebrated the launch of its new service to Nairobi on Sunday, 15 December 2024, marking the airline’s latest milestone in a remarkable year of network expansion. Operating through the state-of-the-art Zayed International Airport, the service creates a vital connection between the UAE’s capital and one of Africa’s most dynamic cities.
Chloë Sevigny Stars in W Hotels ‘Hotel Tales’
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, today announces its new global series, Hotel Tales. Shot in an editorial-documentary style, the series reveals the untold stories and epic moments that can happen only at W Hotels. Written by Hacks (MAX) writer and comedian Pat Regan, each guest’s stay immerses viewers in their individual W Hotels experiences with the one-of-a-kind vibe of ‘you just had to be there’ and extending the invitation of ‘next time, be there’ for guests to experience firsthand.
Discover Quito’s most incredible cycling route Pululahua - Yunguilla
Pululahua, a name that means ‘Cloud of water or fog’ in Quechua, is a volcano located just 30 minutes outside Quito. One of the best spots for mountain biking in the area, this volcano is the only one in the country designated as a ‘Geobotanical Reserve’ for its geological and biological diversity. It remains a potentially active volcano, and its crater is one of the few inhabited ones worldwide. The climate is temperate, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 27 °C (32 to 80 °F). During the dry season (June to September), high temperatures are common, although rain is always a possibility. Bringing enough water, food, sunscreen and insect repellent is essential.
Princess Resorts to Develop Jamaica’s First Casino
The US$400 million Princess Resorts with 1,005-rooms and several overwater suites, will add another dimension to Jamaica’s tourism industry next year with the development of the country’s first casino since licensing legislation was approved in June 2010, following the enactment of the Casino Gaming Act in March that year. Making the announcement at the official opening of Princess Grand Jamaica and Princess Senses The Mangrove on December 12, 2024, Managing Director, Enrico Pezzoli said “these two resorts promise to elevate Jamaica’s all-inclusive experience and draw more tourists to our shores than ever before.”
Emirates honours its Arabic heritage ahead of World Arabic Language Day
As the world’s largest international airline serving 140 destinations globally, Emirates welcomes the unique opportunity to present the Arabic language to more than 52 million diverse customers. Ahead of UNESCO’s World Arabic Language Day on 18 December, Emirates highlights the array of Arabic language services available to customers, thousands of Arabic speaking cabin crew, and the wealth and breadth of rich Arabic language content available on its inflight entertainment system – ice.
China Airlines to Introduce Upgraded A350 Cabins in 2027
China Airlines, a Taiwan-based carrier, announced recently that Airbus has been contracted to provide integration and technical services for the retrofit of fifteen A350 aircraft. China Airlines is committed to providing travelers with the best sky service and the all-new A350 cabin, which launches in 2027, will feature the same Oriental aesthetic of the current cabins, creating an emotional connection with travelers while strengthening the China Airlines brand. The new cabin design will deliver an unparalleled flying experience.
SWISS to receive five further Airbus A350s
SWISS is to receive five further new Airbus A350-900 aircraft from 2027 onwards, in addition to the five which it already has on order. The new SWISS Airbus A350 fleet will be gradually delivered – complete with the new ‘SWISS Senses’ cabin interior – between summer 2025 and the end of 2031. Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to take delivery of more new long-haul aircraft. In addition to the five Airbus A350-900s which are already on order, the airline is to receive five more of the advanced long-haul twinjet, as part of an overall investment by the Lufthansa Group.