Arlo Hotels Decides Bigger Is Better Than Small

Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at Arlo's shift to bigger rooms sizes, Montana tourism TikTok, and hotels' cultural managers. -Rashaad Jorden

From Berlin to Brussels, the night train renaissance gathers speed with the new European Sleeper

The latest capital-to-capital sleeper is one of Europe’s most eagerly awaited new routes – and connects London to Berlin in 16 hours In the beer gardens of Berlin, night trains are a conversation topic almost as hot as how to get the Berghain bouncers to let you into their nightclub. (“Be a single man, be ‘alright’-looking, don’t smile,” I’m told.) I’m in Prater Biergarten – the German capital’s oldest beer garden – reconnecting with a friend over pilsner and pretzels with butter injected into them. When I tell him I’m here to take the first European Sleeper to Brussels, perhaps the most hyped new route in the night train resurgence, he says he’s riding the same train next month. He tells me he feels guilty about taking loads of flights recently, so wants a less climate-crippling option. Plus, he says, “On a night train you can chill and just start drinking.” Continue reading...

Thailand Saw 1 Million Chinese Visitors From January to Mid-May

China's reopening has been a huge boon for tourism throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region, and destinations like Thailand are getting a major economic boost from Beijing finally easing its enormously strict travel restrictions. -Rashaad Jorden

Five European city breaks for art and culture on a budget

From classical opera in Kraków to outdoor sculpture in San Sebastián, here’s where to find great art, music and film without breaking the bank Across the Øresund strait from Copenhagen, Sweden’s most southerly and culturally diverse city has developed into the region’s art and music hub with an opera house, concert hall, its own symphony orchestra, a museum complex and a contemporary art scene. It’s also close to sandy beaches, has a dockland which is still gritty, and pleasant canals. Continue reading...

Amsterdam Mayor Acts to Decrease Tourism Nuisance in Red Light District

The initiative by Femke Halsema is a push towards improving conditions for sex workers and reducing crime and excessive use of drugs and alcohol. -Srividya Kalyanaraman

‘Astonishing, luminous beauty’: readers’ cultural highlights in Europe

The secrets to ancient Greek innovations, art in its rightful place, and gorgeous statues and views from Dublin to Albania Commissioned in the early 1600s by the Order of St John in Malta, Caravaggio’s masterpiece, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, has been hung in St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta, ever since. It is rare to view a painting in the space intended by the artist, in this case the Oratory, a place of prayer, rather than the modern exhibition hall. And so it felt an enormous privilege to experience this masterpiece, which is immense – 520 x 370cm – along with Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome Writing in the silence of the Oratory, and all for €15. Sara Godfrey Continue reading...

Qatar Airways Chief ‘Skeptical’ About 2050 Deadline for Net-Zero Emissions

Aviation's ability to reach its net-zero emissions goal by 2050 is a complex and challenging task. It demands significant advancements in technology, fuel supply, and industry-wide cooperation. In light of these formidable obstacles, the Qatar Airways Chief Executive's outlook is both understandable and warranted. -Peden Doma Bhutia

K-pop tourism: how Tossa de Mar became a hot spot

After a Korean TV series and pop videos were shot at the Costa Brava town, Asian daytrippers have been flocking there to take photos – but it’s not the first time celebrities have boosted its tourist figures The 9 o’clock bus from Barcelona to the Costa Brava resort of Tossa de Mar is packed, mostly with young Asian women. Seventy-five minutes later they make straight for the Forat del Dimoni (Devil’s Hole), a small gap in the old city wall, where they queue to take each other’s pictures in a variety of poses. After that they post their pictures, take a stroll around town, eat lunch, then take the bus back to the city. Continue reading...

Tell us about a great retreat – you could win a holiday voucher

Share details of a retreat you’ve visited in the UK or Europe – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break Whether it means going to a peaceful place, walking for wellbeing or heading to a retreat, it is important to have some time out. So whether you like to pamper yourself at yoga classes in Spain or have meditated in the Cornish countryside, we would like to hear about how you get your wellness fix. We are particular interested in any tips on wellness retreats that welcome men too – the value of global wellness has grown rapidly yet few breaks are targeted at men. Continue reading...

Mexico City Airport Reopens After Volcanic Ash Disruption

You can't blame any airlines for these flight disruptions. -Dennis Schaal

Asylum seekers ‘abused and intimidated by staff in Home Office hotels’

Workers for subcontractor Serco have spoken about a culture of ‘institutional abuse’ by management at five hotels in and around Liverpool Asylum seekers staying at Home Office hotels in and around Liverpool are alleged to have been harassed, humiliated and subjected to verbal and emotional abuse from senior hotel staff, according to an investigation for the Observer. Sources working for the Home Office subcontractor Serco have described what they believe is a culture of “institutional abuse” at five Merseyside hotels, including the Suites hotel in Knowsley, where violent far-right protests took place in February. Sources include current and former contractors recruited to work in Home Office hotels for Serco. Continue reading...

Turn off your email, get the packing right – and never, ever play Monopoly: 15 tips for a happy holiday

Here’s how to master the art of holidaying, whoever you’re going away with “All mammals get aggressive when crowded,” says clinical psychologist Linda Blair. “Save money on long-distance travel and invest instead in generously sized accommodation where you won’t be on top of each other. Everyone needs a place to retreat to – it’s how you keep stress levels down.” Continue reading...

American and JetBlue Must End Partnership After Court Ruling

Without the American alliance, JetBlue's argument that it needs Spirit Airlines to compete is all the more valid. But the courts may see it differently. -Edward Russell

Budget Travelers Slow Down Chinese Domestic Travel Recovery

As world travel slowly recovers from the pandemic, domestic travel in China remains subdued thanks to underlying weakness in household consumption and rising prices. -Srividya Kalyanaraman

‘An unforgettable feast’: readers’ favourite restaurants in Europe

Brilliant tortilla, amazing pasta, wonderful risotto and delectable vegan small plates feature among our tipsters’ tasty experiences on the continent Set in an old merchants’ house built with Dutch bricks in the old town of Gdańsk, Goldwasser restaurant offers unique Jack Daniel’s-sauced steaks with superb four-course menus including lobster cream soup and mango surprise dessert for 340 złoty (£65). The dark-wooden panelled interior with cosy nooks and crannies is dimly lit with red velvet decor and views across the Motlawa river over to the Old Granary building. Some rooms in this historic building are available for overnight stays. Rita Continue reading...

‘The music moved me to tears’: falling in love with Albania

After visiting 17 countries for his latest book, our writer leaves his heart in Albania – ‘a country of knotty history, boundless hospitality and infinite surprises’ Over the past four years, I have travelled to 17 countries for my book Goodbye Eastern Europe. In it, I try to chart a vanished eastern Europe, one in which cultural multiplicity and religious tolerance were the rule, rather than the exception. Albania was one of only a few places in which that legacy was not a memory but a living reality. Seeing it in action gave me hope, not just for the Balkans, but for Europe as a whole. I felt trepidation before my first visit there in 2019. You could chalk that up to what the Bulgarian scholar Maria Todorova called “nested Balkanisms”: the tendency of every eastern European country to regard itself as the golden mean, and look at its neighbours (especially to the south and east) with suspicion. I’m Polish, and I’ve been travelling through the region long enough to have experienced every kind of basic material discomfort. But I’m also old enough to remember images broadcast from Albania after the fall of communism and the civil war that swept over the country in 1997. Even though much time has passed since then, I wasn’t sure what I would find. Continue reading...

Singapore Airlines Posts First Full-Year Profit in 3 Years

China's reopening should inject more momentum into Singapore Airlines' financials. -Dennis Schaal

Share a tip on your favourite coastal walk – you could win a holiday voucher

Tell us about a great route in the UK or Europe – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break We all know walking is good for body, mind and soul. Add views of the sea into the mix and it’s even better. We want to hear about your favourite coastal hikes in the UK and Europe. Whether it’s a multi-day hike in a wild landscape or a saunter along the beach at sunset, tell us about what makes your chosen walk special and about any highlights en route. If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words that will be judged for the competition. Continue reading...

Rhinos return to Zimbabwe and a new kind of safari starts to take shape

Near the Hwange national park, a reintroduction project protects animals, attracts tourists and ensures locals aren’t neglected Inside a stockade of tall wooden stakes, cattle are waiting to be let out for the day. Golden sunlight stutters through the acacia trees and lights up the homestead beyond, a large, bare-earth courtyard containing five neatly thatched mud-walled buildings. Hygiene Moyo, 75, and her teenage granddaughter Lucricia live here, just outside one of Zimbabwe’s largest and most important national parks, Hwange. They take me to greet their favourite animal, Booster the bull, who comes trotting across the enclosure when called, pushing his nose forward to be scratched. Ten new calves mill around in a separate inner stockade, eagerly waiting to be reunited with their mothers. Not all of the herd, however, are present. Since the start of the year three cows have been killed by hyenas. Continue reading...

A coastal Kent walk under chalk cliffs to a great pub: The George and Heart, Margate

Starting in Dickens’ Broadstairs, this walk takes in the spectacular bays of Thanet’s eastern tip For nearly a year now, I’ve been ticking off stretches along the Kent coast. Dover to Folkestone brought dramatic scenery, but noisy traffic on a major road running along much of the route. Whitstable to Herne Bay was more tranquil, though the landscape was less impressive. This route – a nearly six-mile stretch from Broadstairs to Margate – is, I think, the best so far, with no traffic and impressive surroundings. This walk should only be done at low tide as parts of the route aren’t accessible otherwise. There is also a danger of being cut off by the sea, so it’s important to check the tide times. (At high tide it can be done along the top of the cliffs instead, though it’s less dramatic.) Broadstairs is a 90-minute high-speed train ride from London St Pancras. Continue reading...

Pole to Pole: 10 brilliant things to do in Poland

Buzzy cities offer museums of croissants or codebreaking, plus there are mountains, lakes and beaches – and piles of glorious food I have a massive soft spot for Poznań, not least because I used to work in a fish and chip shop in the city. Poznań’s virtues include its vibrant old town; its lakes; its dancing goats (two mechanical billies make an appearance daily at noon atop the town hall, butting heads 12 times to mark the time); its Rogalowe (croissant) Museum (the city’s sweet treat is the St Martin’s croissant, filled with white poppy seeds); and the Enigma Cipher Centre (which sheds light on the vital role Polish codebreakers played in hampering the Nazis). Continue reading...

I had a job in a chippie after a month and was in love after six weeks: my brilliant year in Poland

Working in a fish and chip shop, learning to drink vodka and buying underwear by the kilo … our writer found much to revel in during an impromptu year in Poland In the winter of 2016, a few months before the Brexit referendum, I decided to move to Poland. I thought it best to get out there while I still could, before my liberty to earn the minimum wage in 20-odd countries was irrevocably lost. I can’t say it was love at first sight. It was too cold for that. It’s not easy to fall head over heels at -4C. When I boarded the bus outside Poznań airport, I shared with the driver the only phrase I had mastered on my journey from Luton. Kocham cie. I love you. The driver’s reply was to raise an eyebrow, shake his head and usher me on board. It was an auspicious beginning. Continue reading...

‘A sandbar peninsula surrounded by crystal clear water and clean beaches’: readers’ highlights of Poland

Spectacular architecture, art and wilderness feature among our readers’ favourite encounters . Scroll down for the winning tip and to send us your own The relative remoteness of Zamość, a south-eastern town (only a few buses and trains each day from Lublin), makes the surprise of emerging onto its extraordinary Rynek square even more delightful. Set on an important trading route, with ornate Armenian merchant houses painted yellow, red and blue, the square and surrounding streets were designed by Venetian Renaissance architect Bernardo Morando. Sip a beer on the square on a summer evening, or if you are there in December a nearby square is full of bathtubs containing carp for sale (the Polish Christmas delicacy of choice). Edward Continue reading...

‘I sat with my lairdly cup of tea’: how a derelict Scottish tower was turned into a Landmark Trust retreat

Just three years ago Fairburn Tower, near Inverness, was a roofless wreck. Now it has been restored to its former renaissance glory and is available as a holiday let “The day will come when the Mackenzies of Fairburn shall lose their entire possessions … Their castle shall become uninhabited, desolate and forsaken, and a cow shall give birth to a calf in the uppermost chamber of Fairburn Tower.” So prophesied Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche, Scotland’s own Nostradamus, back in the 17th century. Located amid farmland a pleasant five-mile stroll from Muir of Ord station in the Scottish Highlands – just half an hour’s drive north-west of Inverness – Fairburn Tower has had a remarkable turnaround in its fortunes. Only three years ago, it was just as Fiosaiche predicted: a roofless, floorless wreck, the cracks running up its walls threatening to bring the whole edifice crashing down once and for all. That’s when the building conservation charity the Landmark Trust intervened. A phalanx of highly skilled craftspeople set to work, restoring the tower to the time of the Stewarts and the glories of the Scottish renaissance. The walls were repaired; the floors, roof, casement windows and spiral staircase reinstalled; and the bartizans (overhanging turrets) reconstructed. Finally, a pink limed-based harl was applied, giving the whole structure the look of a rosy sunset (or, if you prefer, sunrise), as if it had leapt straight out of a Sir Walter Scott novel. Now available as a holiday let for four, it’s occasionally open to the public to visit too – for the first time this Sunday (and it’s free). Continue reading...

Ryanair Wins Legal Challenge Against Lufthansa’s State Bailout

Lufthansa has already repaid the money, but the ruling could affect future state bailouts. -Justin Dawes

‘It’s all about freedom and adventure’: five of the best bikepacking routes in Scotland

A cyclist who circumnavigated the globe says Scotland takes some beating because of its access-all-areas freedom It’s not just the rolling hills or rugged coastline that make Scotland a haven for bikepacking, says round-the-world cyclist Markus Stitz. “It’s the access rights which let you explore it all.” Bikepacking is an evolution of cycle touring which involves heading out on a multi-day ride with everything you’ll need to spend the night strapped to your bike. Scotland’s access rights, which turn 20 this year, make wild camping legal – and so bikepacking has boomed. Continue reading...

‘The cycling was a breeze’: following the Seine through Normandy

The Seine à Vélo cycle route follows minor roads to major attractions, including a medieval chateau, Monet’s garden and Rouen cathedral “And then cannibalism ensued.” My guide around the mighty Château Gaillard in Normandy delivered this line with commendable insouciance. To be fair, there was so much violence in his recounting of the history of Richard the Lionheart’s castle up to that point that villagers eating each other while trapped in a dry moat during a siege came as little surprise. Continue reading...

Tourist Boat Capsizes in Kerala, India Killing 22 People

At least 22 people including children died when an overcrowded double-decker tourist boat capsized in an estuary in southern India, authorities said. Some passengers managed to jump off and swim to safety when the converted fishing vessel overturned in the waterway near the town of Tanur in Kerala state late on Sunday, one survivor said. […]

The wild side of north-east England: wonderful walks, beautiful beaches and cool campsites and perfect pubs

The author of a new guide to Northumberland, the North York Moors and Pennines shares her favourite places to visit and things to do Simonside Hills, Northumberland Continue reading...

Perfectly natural: 10 of the best wild stays in the UK

From a log cabin adrift on a lake to a campsite that runs down to the sea, these boltholes specialise in splendid isolation Take it easy at this slow-living sanctuary among the soaring Scots pines of the Cairngorms national park. A clutch of eco-friendly cabins, a safari tent and a tiny campsite allow adventurers to hole up across these six wild acres in any way they wish, but the hidden gem here is the Woodsman, a wooden cabin for two with mammoth views of the mountains from the porch. There’s a wood-fired hot tub and a sauna available for guests to book, or practise your downward dog with daily yoga sessions. Cabins from £134 per night, minimum 3 nights, lazyduck.co.uk Continue reading...

‘Who’d have thought it?’: north Devon named UK’s first world surfing reserve

Eighteen miles of coastline win formal protection, joining 11 sites globally including Malibu and Santa Cruz When an Atlantic swell is up, staff at the Beach cafe at Downend, on the north Devon coast, prepare to be rushed off their feet. “Everyone heads in, no matter whether it’s rain or shine,” said the owner, Colette Brooks. From the cafe, where they serve a warming Sri Lankan curry on weekend evenings, Brooks has a front-row view of Croyde beach, which at low tide can produce barrelling waves. “I love to watch the surfers out there,” she said. “It’s a brilliant spot.” Continue reading...

Hong Kong Tourism Benefited From Return of Mainland China Visitors in March

Hong Kong's retail sales in March recorded nearly a 41 percent increase from the previous year, with a significant boom in tourism and visitor spending contributing factors. -Andres Buenahora

‘Chips to die for’: readers’ favourite UK seaside towns

The cries of gulls serenade our tipsters as they promenade past funfairs, stripy beach huts and ice-cream shops from Cornwall to Aberdeen. Scroll down for the winning tip and to send in your own Rame peninsula. Tiny beach, endless sea. There’s a seafront pub right there in Kingsand, the Devonport, just up the steps, serving delicious food – or you can just sit outside and look at the sunset. We went to Kingsand for our very first holiday together, my then-lover and I. I booked at short notice – the guesthouse we stayed in has since been put up for sale. We played guitar on the beach and got roped into a sea shanty singalong with the locals. We went back about 10 years later – same beach, same gorgeous yellow house on the beach, same pub. Children were playing on the beach who wouldn’t have been born yet when we had last come. It was special. Ewa Szypula Continue reading...

Airbnb goes back to basics with renewed focus on private room rentals

New features on app to encourage travellers to consider renting single rooms rather than whole properties Airbnb is going back to its roots, the company has announced, with a renewed focus on renting out single rooms to travellers concerned about cost-of-living increases. Labelled Airbnb Rooms, the short-term rental app will launch a range of features designed to encourage travellers to consider renting a single room in a house to save money and have new experiences on the move. Continue reading...

Rail route of the month: tracking St Olav from Sweden to Norway

Our slow travel expert train-hops coast to coast from Sundsvall to Trondheim, following a pilgrim trail based on the life of the 11th-century king Religious purists probably assert that a pilgrimage requires walking rather than taking a train. I wasn’t inclined to spend three weeks walking to Trondheim. So I decided to give the train a shot, showing up one morning at Sundsvall railway station in Sweden for a solo three-day pilgrimage by rail. The railway from Sundsvall to Trondheim casts a 287 miles (463km) thread across central Scandinavia, for long stretches paralleling the pilgrim trail known as St Olavsleden (St Olav’s Way). Whether by train or on foot, this is a gorgeous transect through a deeply rural region. The route extends from the Swedish shore of the Gulf of Bothnia to Norway’s Trondheim Fjord, where St Olav’s Way ends at Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral. Continue reading...

Why did I have to fly from London to Belfast to get a new UK passport?

I was forced to make a stressful journey to the only office where I could get an appointment in a strike * Briton with valid passport barred from flight over Brexit rules Discovering you urgently need a new passport during a lengthy Passport Office strike is bad news. Normally you can apply for a fast-track passport that can be collected within a week, or use the online premium service that can turn one around for you in a couple of days, but not when a quarter of Passport Office staff stop working for five weeks. For me, the consequence of this was discovering I would have to take a flight from London, where I live, to Belfast to pick up my new passport. There were no appointments in England. And even though I was paying top dollar (£193.50 compared with £155 for fast-track or £82.50 for the normal service), the soonest in-person appointment I could get was 19 days later, on Tuesday 25 April. With work trips to Dubai and then Nice in the next couple of weeks, getting my new passport was a matter of urgency. Continue reading...

10 of the UK’s best dog-friendly hotels and resorts

Raise the woof: dog-friendly hotels worth barking about Make the most of Cornwall’s spectacular coastal scenery with a stay at St Michael’s, set in leafy sub-tropical gardens with lovely views towards idyllic Gylly Beach. The location makes for easy early morning and sunset walks on the sand, and dogs are welcomed with pet beds, towels, treats and a doggie guide to local attractions. The Brasserie on the Bay serves up the best local fish and seafood with gorgeous sea views, while the Garden Kitchen offers more informal meals. Pets aren’t allowed in the dining areas or the spa and health club, although they are welcome in the arrival lounge – and until the end of May, pets stay free. Doubles from £149 B&B, £20 per dog per night; stmichaelsresort.com Continue reading...