Author: News Team

The new tax could hit Britons that own holiday homes in France with thousands a year. The property tax would see the French government charge on any home that is rented out for the year. This is likely to affect as many as 200,000 Brits that own second homes in France. When renting out a holiday home during the time when it’s not used, Brits will be charged 20 per cent of it annual rental value. However there is a loop-hole, if the home owner rents their property out for the whole year with a local letting agent they will…

Stag parties for the husband-to-be may not be as romantic as a marriage proposal on bended knee but they’re almost as important a part of the nuptial tradition. The low cost of air flights right now makes it possible for the groom and his gang to party hardy in places where their money will stretch the furthest – like Budapest Hungary. At first the Pearl of the Danube may seem like an unlikely spot for a stag party, but it’s come a long way since the grey days of the oppressive Communist regime. With dozens of dance clubs and casinos…

British Airways is conducting a verification flight to help determine procedures to continue flying in accordance with risk assessment methodology developed by ICAO, the global aviation governing body, over the last 12 months. The flight will produce data that should help the understanding of the limitations of the models being used to forecast ash dispersal. The flight, by a British Airways Airbus A320, departed from Manchester airport this evening to fly toward the Newcastle area and then over Glasgow and Edinburgh before heading south and arriving at London Heathrow. The aircraft, and its flight performance, will then be subject to…

With next week’s Chelsea Flower Show completely sold out, all is not lost if you have been left without a ticket to London’s most prestigious event. Why not consider an early summer holiday and take some inspiration from some of the world’s most beautiful gardens and recreate that relaxed ‘holiday feel’ in your own back yard. So whether your greens fingered or not, take a look at these “blooming marvelous” Thomas Cook holidays to help inspire your very own exotic garden makeover. South Africa – Cape Town Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Whether for a casual stroll, more strenuous walk or lazy…

They were, in some ways, like any other newly-arrived guest at the Maldives: blinking in the sudden golden sunlight, easing their way across the soft, warm sand, and heading instinctively for the sparkling ocean. These were, however, not tourists, but newly-hatched sea turtles that emerged to the delight and wonder of staff and guests at the Centara Grand Island Resort&Spa. To the great surprise of everyone on the island, which is located in the South Ari Atoll, the mother turtle had come ashore in the early hours of March 15, dug a hole in the sand with her flippers, and…

Put a smile on dad’s face on June 19 with a Father’s Day treat to remember, such as a trip to his favourite sporting occasion or an activity-packed holiday abroad. SPORTING EVENTS European F1 Grand Prix – Flanked with beautiful beaches, the European F1 Grand Prix in Valencia is a great treat for fathers with a passion for fast cars. Built harbour-side to rival Monaco but with a fiesta atmosphere, cars rarely leave the waterfront and even cross over the canal on a swing bridge before passing through the historic fish market. Just a short flight from the UK, Valencia…

For a taste of a very British tradition, head down to the Cotswolds for the Tetbury Woolsack Races on the upcoming spring bank holiday. The action takes place on Monday May 30th, with the town holding a street fair to celebrate the hard work of competitors and a huge number of spectators cheering on those involved. While official races have only been running for about 30 years, it is believed that the practice of pacing up the hill in Tetbury carrying a woolsack has been going on since the 17th century. In a statement, the organisers of the event explained:…

One local hotel is reporting a record breaking, recession busting month for April. The award winning Maynard hotel and restaurant has never been busier, welcoming many new customers through its doors and reporting a fully booked restaurant and accommodation, together with a growing list of weddings and enquiries for new weddings. While the management of the hotel is delighted with the levels of interest being expressed in The Maynard, the debate is underway to identify what has led to this sudden, welcome increase in demand. “Given the run of Bank Holidays, a Royal Wedding and a recession, we were braced…

With just two weeks to go before the next long weekend, the UK’s leading website for flight price search and comparison provides travellers with new ways to be inspired in the search for their next short break. With a world of destination choices including flights to Lanzarote, Rome, and other European spots, the site can help customers narrow down the options for their next trip. “Having polled different star signs internally to uncover their travel personality, we found that while individual tastes may vary in general, the ideal destination choices that were made shared many of the same characteristics as their…

The best spring weather for decades has resulted in one of the worst bouts of hay fever in recent years with sufferers creating extra high demand for relief sprays and medicines. While the extra sunshine and lack of the traditional spring cold snaps have led to a 20-year record strawberry harvest the extra pollen being created has caused havoc for the UK’s estimated 10-11 million hay fever sufferers. Since the beginning of March Tesco pharmacies have seen a 40 per cent increase on the same time last period year in sales of relief tablets and sprays. Demand is overwhelmingly strong…