Las Vegas Hotels Deny Conspiring to Artificially Raise Room Rates

Attorneys representing Las Vegas' most prominent hotels argue the lawsuit alleging a conspiracy to keep room rates high lacks a very important piece of evidence — proof of communication between any of the defendants. -Rashaad Jorden

A walk along the River Ribble to a great pub: the Lower Buck, Lancashire

An easy walk on both right and left banks of the Ribble offers an abundance of history – and pubs A small rural village with three pubs is a rare thing, but that’s what Waddington has – and that’s where this walk is heading. My specific target is the Lower Buck, because it’s the “real pub” – focusing on ales and socialising – where the other two have gone for food. That said, on this circular riverside amble along a historic county border you could, with a few short detours, easily have a pint in a different boozer for every mile traversed. Is that because Yorkshire and Lancashire are full of heavy drinkers, or because where there are rivers and bridges there are also inns? We began at Chatburn – we being me and fellow walker, writer and historian Nick Burton. Nick has been a handy guide and friend since I moved to the Ribble Valley a couple of years ago and I knew he’d tramped the Ribble’s paths before. Chatburn is near where I live and since I’m still finding my feet, it made sense to start near home. Continue reading...

Nepal imposes ban on mountain trekking without a guide

The Himalayan country’s tourism board is seeking to boost the employment of mountain guides, increase income from visitors and improve safety Independent trekking is about to be banned from Nepal’s protected mountain regions and national parks, in a move designed to boost employment and increase safety for tourists visiting the country’s Himalayan range. From April all foreign trekkers, whether solo or in a group, must be accompanied by a licensed guide. The announcement was made by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in early March, and applies to cyclists as well as hikers. Continue reading...

Arts, crafts, egg hunts, gardens galore … great UK Easter day trips

From woodland strolls in search of early bluebells to egg hunts, storytelling and sculpture parks, here’s our pick of the best outings All five RHS gardens have giant egg hunts among the April blooms, from delicate violets and alpine pear blossom at Rosemoor in Devon to hellebores and flamboyant camellias at Bridgewater in Salford (garden entry from £12.35 adult, £5.95 child). The daffs are blooming in the Derwent valley, where there’s an Easter egg trail around the Heights of Abraham. Take a cable car up to the wooded clifftop park and explore two underground caverns, nature walks and epic adventure playgrounds (entry from £23.50 adult, £16 child). Arrive by train or bus and get 20% off. Continue reading...

Tell us about a trip off the beaten track in Greece – you could win a holiday voucher

Share details of a favourite Greek escape – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break With its rugged mountainous interior, thousands of islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian seas, incredible ancient sites and endless coastline, Greece is one of Europe’s most alluring destinations. This week, we want your tips on the lesser-known side of the country, beyond the tried and tested hotspots. From under-the-radar archaeological ruins to seldom-visited islands, hidden mainland beaches and remote stone villages, please share your discoveries. Or perhaps it’s a taverna or restaurant full of locals, or a traditional festival. Tell us about your Greek adventure for the chance to win a holiday voucher. Continue reading...

10 of the best Paris hotels with a view

From buzzy rooftop bars taking in the Eiffel Tower to sunsets on the Seine, these are some of the best vantage points looking out over this ‘timeless town’ If it’s views you’re after, it doesn’t get better than Mama Shelter La Défense in Paris’s business district. Yes, it’s a bit further out, but there’s a metro and you can shoot into the centre in 15 minutes. There’s everything here that is signature Mama Shelter: quirky maximalism; watering cans dangling from the ceiling in the restaurant; a faux Louis XIV reception and a buzzy rooftop bar where you can marvel at the sweeping panorama east, taking in the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais and the Champs-Elysées. The breakfast buffet is impressive with a dizzying range of bread, cheese, patisserie, charcuterie, coffee and tea. All in all, absurdly well priced for what’s on offer. Doubles from £96 room-only, mamashelter.com Continue reading...

Berlin welcomes topless female swimmers in victory for activists

Gender equality campaigners celebrate rule change, which affects indoor and outdoor pools When a lifeguard asked police to remove Lotte Mies for bathing topless at her local indoor swimming pool in Berlin it was a move that would inadvertently trigger a rule change allowing all women, including visiting female tourists, the freedom to go topless while swimming in the city. The decision to change clothing rules around swimming in the German capital was made after two women, including Mies, filed complaints about being thrown out or barred from the city’s pools for refusing to cover up, and demanded the same rights as their male counterparts when bathing “oben-ohne” (topless) at the city’s public pools. Continue reading...

BBC’s Race Across the World stirs Canadian hopes of UK tourist boom

British viewers are showing an interest in travelling to Canada after launch of reality show’s third series Canada’s tourism industry this week expressed hopes for a rise in UK visitors after the third series of BBC’s Race Across the World launched in the UK to rave reviews. The reality show, in which five couples travel 10,000 miles (16,000km) from one side of Canada to another on a shoestring and without flying, could be a boon to the country’s recovering tourism sector. Arrivals were down 40% in 2022 from their high in 2019, but there are hopes for an increase with UK viewers inspired by the epic scenery and charmed by helpful Canadians. Continue reading...

Primrose-fringed lanes, orchids and cake: readers’ favourite UK spring walks

From the wild Irish Sea coast of Bangor to the crocus fields of Berkshire, our tipsters experience the joy of the spring awakening. Scroll down for the winning tip Deep in the ancient woodlands at Hever Castle and Gardens, you smell the wild garlic before you see the pretty white flowers grouped beneath trees with fresh lime-coloured fringes signalling their new spring growth. Rare telamonius plenus daffodils (from the 17th century) surprise you as you walk deeper into the woodland, but come mid-April, the bluebells are the real stars of the trail that meanders across the estate near Edenbridge in west Kent, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Dogs are welcome and you can enjoy a picnic as you extend your walk by taking the path around the lake. Access to gardens from £17.50 adult, but there are also walks in the surrounding woods on the Eden Valley path towards more Tudor homes at Chiddingstone and Penshurst. Vicki Rimmer Continue reading...

The Impact of Dubai Loosening Up on Alcohol to Boost Tourism May Have Its Limits

Although other destinations in the Middle East and North Africa may not consider making more alcohol accessible as a key part of their tourism strategies, they'll surely notice if it helps Dubai boosts visitor numbers. -Rashaad Jorden

An arty weekend in … north Norfolk

Discover Rachel Whiteread and Henry Moore in a PM’s parkland, Emin and Freud in the pub, and a picture-postcard beach Make the trip for … North Norfolk is peppered with grand houses with impressive art collections. Houghton Hall near King’s Lynn, which was built for Robert Walpole in the 1720s, is no stuffy stately home. Its parkland is a treasure trove of modern sculpture by Rachel Whiteread, Anish Kapoor, Henry Moore and more. Some large-scale pieces are in full view, but many others are hidden. Armed with a numbered map, visitors search mazes, walled gardens and woods to track down the artworks – so it’s great fun for kids, too. The first sculpture to be commissioned, one of James Turrell’s Skyspaces, created in 2000, is still one of the most impressive, while Jeppe Hein’s Waterflame is mesmerising. This year, Sean Scully has a sculpture exhibition in the grounds, plus paintings in the house and the Contemporary Gallery (23 April-29 October, adult from £20/under-18s free). There is also an exhibition of artists and makers based in East Anglia, East to East, and a model soldier museum. The house itself is a Palladian mansion with sumptuous state rooms. Continue reading...

Bhutan Offers Duty-Free Gold to Offset Tourism Fee Impact

Bhutan is looking for the Midas touch for its tourism, quite literally. But will that make price-sensitive tourists disregard the otherwise high tourism fees? -Peden Doma Bhutia

On the trail of the other Saint Francis in Italy’s deep south

A new series of long-distance hikes in Calabria take in captivating scenery and the legacy and legends of eco-conscious Francis of Paola, the first recorded vegan A new sculpture appeared in a square in the town of Paola, Calabria, in April last year. It’s not the usual man on a horse, or even anything with legs; it’s a many-times-lifesize trout in grey stone – all fins, bulgy eyes and pout. The unusual monument was erected to commemorate a miracle performed by the town’s patron saint, Francis. (He was actually made a saint in 1519, but Covid delayed the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of his canonisation.) This Saint Francis followed in the spiritual – and, for a time, literal – footsteps of his better-known predecessor, Francis of Assisi, but dialled up his reverence for the natural world and became one of the first recorded vegans. Continue reading...

Angkor Wat Locals Removed to Make Way for Tourists

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Angkor Wat relocations, travel agents’ beef with American Air, and Aegean Air’s strong earnings. -Rashaad Jorden

New VisitBritain CEO Wants Visitors to Explore Beyond London

VisitBritain is focused on promoting the country's lesser-known sites, but CEO Patricia Yates acknowledges a big challenge it faces is getting people to understand there's a lot more to the island than London. -Rashaad Jorden

Rome Is Investing Big on a Redo Ahead of Major Events

"Faded glory" is not what any destination wants to hear about itself. The Eternal City is looking to upgrade infrastructure and spiff itself up to become an even bigger draw on the world stage. It starts with a $14 billion plan. -Tom Lowry

Visitors to the UK’s leading attractions down 25% on pre-Covid numbers

Perfect storm of Covid, Brexit, energy prices and cost of living crisis blamed for disappointing figures Visitor numbers at the UK’s leading attractions are still almost a quarter lower than before the pandemic, thanks to a perfect storm of Covid, Brexit, energy prices and the wider financial crisis, according to the sector’s trade body. Figures published on Friday by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions show that while the number of visits to its sites rose by 69% in 2022 compared with the year before, this was still 23% lower than in 2019. Continue reading...

Six of Ireland’s best traditional pubs

The classic Irish bar, whose hallmarks evoke the qualities of an earlier era, has been in steady decline – but recently its future has started to look a little brighter There’s more to traditional Irish bars than their vernacular design or their location on almost every street corner and village green in Ireland. Behind their distinctive facades is an elusive character that has barely changed over the centuries: the rustle of the newspaper on a Sunday afternoon, the banter from the bartender or the gentle thud of a perfectly drawn pint of stout on solid, time-smoothed timber. Yet, they have never been at greater risk. Despite thwarting the epidemic of McPubs on Irish shores, or even the arrival of global chains with localised shamrock branding, the traditional pub is in steady decline with over 21% of premises having closed since 2005. However, their future has recently started looking a little brighter. In 2022, the Cobblestone Bar in Dublin scored a minor victory against the big guys by successfully battling developers’ plans to turn it into a hotel. Continue reading...

6 Travel Innovations We’ve Covered: Did They Live Up to the Promise?

While some of the tech advances Skift featured over the years may not have lived up to expectations yet, others are poised to play an even bigger role in the travel industry in years to come. Check out this list. -Rashaad Jorden

Turkey Summer Travel Demand Spikes From Earthquake Slump

Turkey is eyeing $56 billion in tourism revenue this year, with Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa joint-venture carrier SunExpress now optimistic about summer travel demand. -Selene Brophy

Accor Debuts Global Subscription Card

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Accor's updated loyalty program, India's restored e-visas for Saudi travelers, and next-gen self-guided tours. -Rashaad Jorden

Travel Isn’t Ready for the Return of Chinese Tourists

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at outbound Chinese travel, the boom in hospitality hiring, and Travelport’s purchase of Deem. -Rashaad Jorden

Skift India Daily: Google Search Pages for Darjeeling Hotels Hacked by Fraudsters

The fast-paced growth of online travel bookings makes the tourism industry a ripe target for cybercriminals. Stakeholders must therefore deploy strategies and tools to guard the sector against data breaches and malicious attacks. -Amrita Ghosh

We took the kids to Corsica without flying – by adding three days of adventure

A thrilling tour of the mountainous island – with two small boys in tow – takes in beaches, culture and dramatic scenery It’s changed again!” the seven-year-old says as we hit the snowline at about 1,400 metres. He’s impressed that such a small island can contain so much. The mountains close in and the road bends sharpen; we’ve only been in the car for an hour, but this morning’s beach feels a long way away. The constantly shifting scenery keeps restlessness at bay – no mean feat with a seven- and a nine-year-old in the back seats. Lying between mainland France and Italy in the Ligurian Sea, and often referred to as the Île de Beauté, Corsica is renowned for its geographic variety: two-thirds of the island is a crumpled mass of granite peaks, torrents and valleys formed 250 million years ago. Continue reading...

‘We snaked between mountains and the Mediterranean’: readers’ favourite European train journeys

Our tipsters recall the gorgeous scenery and off-the-beaten-track towns on rail journeys from the Arctic Circle to the Peloponnese. Scroll down to see the winning tip and enter the competition to win a Coolstays break I recently took the sleeper train between Amsterdam and Vienna. On the way, I had a compartment to myself until the early hours when I was woken by a couple with a 10-month-old baby, who wanted to know if I would rooms so they could have their own compartment. The guard said this wasn’t possible but I did volunteer the top bunk so that the dad could easily exit the room and look after the baby. The rest of the journey involved him going out in the corridor to walk around with the child. That’s the fun of sleeper trains – you don’t know who you’ll meet! I shared with a research engineer on the way back. Oh, and Vienna was amazing too. Mark Continue reading...

Heathrow told to cut passenger charges in move that could lower fares

Decision by Civil Aviation Authority comes despite airport having argued for higher fees Heathrow airport has been ordered to cut passenger charges by about 20% next year after airlines convinced the regulator to reassess its proposals, an outcome that could contribute to lower fares. The decision by the UK regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was described as “making no sense” by Heathrow, which had sought to charge much higher fees to airlines to fund baggage handling, security and other costs. Continue reading...

‘It can be transformative’: walking the Pennines with Queer Out Here

Groups like this West Yorkshire LGBTQ+ rambling society are great for health – mental and physical – and provide a reassuring way to meet new people It doesn’t take long to spot Queer Out Here, an LGBTQ+ walking group, as I stride up to Hebden Bridge station. There’s a Pride flag hung on a picnic bench, where a cluster of people have gathered. The location is appropriate: this West Yorkshire town is sometimes referred to as “the lesbian capital of the UK”. The 2021 census, meanwhile, cemented Hebden Bridge’s status as a rural hub for the LGBTQ+ community more generally: it revealed that 9% of its residents are lesbian, gay or bisexual – around three times the national average. From the off, the atmosphere is friendly. I’m greeted by Ben Beckwith, who is leading today’s seven-and-a-half-mile route up Stoodley Pike, a 400-metre hill in the south Pennines. After introductions, we set off in overcast weather, with Beckwith setting a gentle pace along the canal path. There are almost 30 of us; some have come with friends while others are here to meet new people in the LGBTQ+ community. Continue reading...

Wild women: the rise of all-female outdoor activity groups

On international women’s day, we celebrate the grassroots groups giving women the confidence to enjoy the great outdoors It was a little after midnight when I heard footsteps approaching my bivvy bag. Normally when wild camping, a sound like this would cause me to sink further into my sleeping bag, hoping I wouldn’t be seen. Yet that night, sleeping on a hillside on the western escarpment of the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire, there was no need – or indeed chance – to remain hidden. I was surrounded by six other women in bivvies, giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “girl’s night out”. As an adventurer and ardent solo wild camper, I have for more than 15 years been voluntarily plunging myself into the wilderness – in the UK and overseas – alone. I have never needed company on adventures. I’m not afraid of the dark, or worried about going for a pee in the middle of the night. Sleeping out solo doesn’t scare me. But wild camping in a group – especially a group of other women – terrified me. Continue reading...

‘It’s still as beautiful as ever’: the changing face of the French Alps

The reality of the climate crisis is that Chamonix valley’s glaciers are shrinking, though tourist guides and their clients are finding ways to help and adapt The Glacier du Tour sits on top of the mountain like a cresting wave frozen in time. From the nursery slopes of La Vormaine, to a soundtrack of playful shrieks, laughter and skis swishing through the slush, I admire its blueish hue and jagged blocks of ice, while lamenting how much it has retreated since I lived here 23 years ago. The Mont Blanc massif is one of the most densely glaciated areas in the Alps and in the Chamonix valley, glaciers are visible from almost every vantage point, including each of the town’s four main ski areas: Le Brévent, La Flégère, Grands Montets and Le Tour (which includes the beginner slopes of La Vormaine). Continue reading...

Share a tip on a UK spring walk – you could win a £200 holiday voucher

Tell us about a favourite walk that heralds the arrival of spring – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break It might not feel like it this week, but spring is just around the corner and the UK countryside will soon be bursting into colour. Whether it’s a walk through a carpet of bluebells in local woodland, fields of wildflowers or a stroll through a dale scented with wild garlic, we want to know about your favourite spring walk. If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words that will be judged for the competition. Keep your tip to about 100 words Continue reading...

Rail route of the month: in the footsteps of railway pioneers through Austria

Our slow travel expert reflects on a milestone in early railway history as she takes the Railjet from Salzburg to Vienna Most travellers from Britain bound for the 1873 World Fair in Vienna would have had their first encounter with Austria in Salzburg, whence it was an easy onward journey to Vienna. In those days, the fastest train was the lunchtime express from Salzburg, which chugged to the Austrian capital in just under eight hours. Times have changed. A glance at Table 950 in the March 2023 European Rail Timetable shows three direct trains each hour from Salzburg to Vienna, all taking under three hours for the 200-mile journey. It’s a fine ride – every bit as engaging today as it was when Thomas Cook’s clients, clutching their hotel coupons and pocket timetables, made their way to the World Fair. Continue reading...

The wonders of the Weald: glorious places to visit in Kent

The historic houses, stunning gardens, vineyards and arboreal treasures of this verdant county make for a perfect English escape Kent is home to some of the England’s most famous gardens, notably Sissinghurst, created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in the 1930s. Laid out as a series of “rooms”, it has become an icon of garden design, with different sections unfolding around the 16th-century castle. Stroll through the rose garden, admire the white garden and climb the tower for a bird’s-eye view, before dipping into the exhibition on Sackville-West’s life and work. Afterwards, check into the Milk House on the high street, a charming former coaching inn with four bedrooms and a welcoming bar and restaurant. Doubles from £90 B&B; themilkhouse.co.uk Continue reading...

20 of the best budget beach holidays in Europe

From camping by the Black Sea to a cool Portuguese surf house, these great places to stay across Europe start at just £50 a week in summer All prices are the cheapest available (at the time of going to press) for July/August and calculated on maximum occupancy Continue reading...

‘You’ll have your own cove’: readers’ favourite budget beach stays in Europe

From a pine-shaded eco-resort in Croatia to a campsite in Portugal, our tipsters share their favourite breaks • Scroll down to see the winning tip and enter the competition to win a Coolstays break Albania might not be the first place that springs to mind for a beach holiday, but the resorts just half an hour from Tirana offer golden sands, calm seas and cheap hotels. The long sweep of the crescent-shaped coastline offers all-day sun and Albania’s opening up, after years of restrictions, helps keep prices competitive, especially once you convert your pounds to the local leks. A cheap option to get there is to fly into Corfu then take a ferry over for about €20 each way. We based ourselves in Dhërmi where you can try a different beach every day. A picnic basket for four costs around £20 and lunch at a nice restaurant starts from £8. Nigel Cox Continue reading...

National Geographic Traveller Photography Awards 2023 – the winners

The best mages from the magazine’s annual competition, with categories for travel, wildlife, urban settings, people, food, landscape and portfolio Continue reading...

Expedia’s Plans for Vrbo

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Expedia’s Vrbo plans, expanding Chicago tourism, and surfing in Morocco. -Jason Clampet

From book butlers to library sleepovers: 10 great UK places to stay for book lovers

To celebrate World Book Day we’ve picked 10 lovely literary retreats for bookworms Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden is the ultimate destination for those who like to wind down with a bedtime story. Founded by William Gladstone, the former British prime minister, in 1894, the Grade I-listed library is now home to 250,000 works, some 32,000 of them shuttled there in a wheelbarrow by Gladstone himself – at the age of 85 – from Hawarden castle. Run as a charity, the property is the UK’s only residential library, with 26 bedrooms and a bistro as well as those hallowed reading rooms. Doubles from £135, B&B, with various discounts for students, clergy and members of the Society of Authors, gladstoneslibrary.org Continue reading...

Share a tip on a favourite gallery – you could win a £200 holiday voucher

Tell us about a great arty hotspot in the UK – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break It’s always a thrill to stumble across a hidden gallery or artist’s workshop on holiday. Whether it’s a jewellery designer’s studio that welcomes visitors, a cafe that doubles as a gallery for local artists, or an under-the-radar exhibition space for exciting new talent, we want to know what you’ve discovered on your travels in the UK. Perhaps you bought something you’ve treasured ever since, or perhaps you just popped in for a quick browse – but tell us where it was and why you loved it. If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words that will be judged for the competition. Continue reading...