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...