Travel News
Out with the Old, in with the New: The London Generation Wave
By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent The latest Office for National Statistics figures for London show more people left the capital than moved in between August 2013 and June 2014, except twenty-somethings, who moved to London in their droves. Some 204,443 people moved into London compared to 273,077 who moved out according to the figures, meaning a net 68,634 people left the capital for the year: 10,414 more than in the same period a year ago. The age bracket which migrated most to the...
The World Cup effect: more tourists than ever visit Brazil
More than 6.4 million foreign tourists visited Brazil in 2014, the largest number ever according to the latest statistics. 217,003 were from the UK, up from 169,732 in 2013. Of course, the 2014 World Cup was the main reason for the 10.6 per cent increase against 2013 figures. View image | gettyimages.com In June, the month during which the World Cup was held, the arrival of international tourists almost tripled, jumping from 350,025 in 2013 to 1,018,876 in 2014. And...
Summer events in the French mountains
The picturesque mountains of France play home to a plethora of world-class events throughout the year, both for participants and spectators. This summer alone has a wide choice events for hardcore cyclists, runners, families, foodies and music-lovers, who'll all find a great activity to punctuate their holidays. Here, we've rounded up this season's selection of unmissable events taking place in the French mountains over the coming months. Tempted? Gastronomy Reblochon Festival, La Clusaz, 9 August 2015: A festival celebrating local...
Record numbers of tourists are visiting Britain in 2015
By Ben Griffin, founder of Great Escapes Wales Breaking all previous records, 10 million overseas visitors came to the UK in just the first four months of the year. This means that we are well on track to see the 6% rise in visitors for 2015 as predicted by the UK’s tourism board. These tourists are a vital part of our economy. It may come as a surprise to those busy complaining about the British weather, but tourism is the...
Brits pick holiday destinations based on popular filming locations
By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent Brits are choosing holidays to countries and landmarks made famous by TV and film, according to new research, with New Zealand, Malta, the USA and Dorset among the most popular destinations. One in four adults now regularly pick where to go on their next holiday based on filming locations used in their favourite TV shows or films. New Zealand, used to film much of The Lord of the Rings came top in the poll of film locations...
The legalities of travelling with families
Between checking everybody’s passport is in date, stocking up on suncream, arranging airport transfers and washing and ironing countless pairs of shorts and t-shirts, there is little time when planning a family holiday to consider what may happen should something go wrong, either before the trip or during. What happens if your youngest falls ill the morning of the flight and no-one can travel? If you arrive at your hotel and it is totally different to the one in the...
Travelodge: 30 Years in Numbers
By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent Travelodge is a hotel chain synonymous with towns and cities across Britain. Booking a city break? Attending a wedding? Away on a business trip? Chances are that we have all stayed in one of their 521 hotels that span across England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Spain at some point. It started with a single customer paying £19.50 for a room in 1985. Now – 110 million visits, 25 million breakfasts and 220,000 abandoned books later –...
Around the World Without Leaving London
By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent An adventurer has traversed the World in record time, without leaving London. Globetrotter Lee Thompson, 32, circumnavigated the globe in 12 hours by 'visiting' ten countries in the capital in only half a day. He created a video documenting his "travels" to Germany, Turkey, Russia, Thailand, India, China, the United States, Jamaica, Ghana and Lebanon. The 32-year-old starts off by telling viewers that the following footage will show his attempt to circle the globe in...
Unruly Escapism ‘on the way out’ For Men
By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent Dressed in bizarre costumes, downing cheap pints of lager and knocking back a variable smorgasbord of alcoholic concoctions in a 'Britain abroad' location, the stereotypical lads holiday has long been a debauched and unruly affair. I remember my first trip away with the boys. 18 years old and spotty faced my friends and I graced the party town of Kardamena in Kos, living the antics that were later documented in the Inbetweeners' hilariously accurate portrayal of...