Blue Islands, the Channel Islands airline, announced a significant plan to restore key lost routes at Southampton Airport today.

Prices start from £34.99 for Guernsey; £39.99 for Jersey; and £49.99 for Manchester and Dublin. All fares now include a generous 23kg hold luggage allowance included in the price. Flights are now on sale at the airline’s new website, www.blueislands.com and all customers are invited to sign up to the airline’s new Blue Skies Club frequent flyer programme.

 Flying in a 70-seat ATR72 in brand new corporate colours,  the airline confirmed four initial routes
 * Southampton-Jersey – daily rising to double daily - from 31 August
 * Southampton-Manchester - daily - from 31 August
 * Southampton-Dublin – four times weekly - from 31 August.
 * Southampton-Guernsey – double daily from 31 August

Many people are disappointed at having their holiday plans disrupted, but the good people of the Czech Republic, supported by their tourist board and national brewery Budweiser Budvar, have launched a scheme to console those who have had to postpone their trip.

Visitors simply upload evidence of their cancelled flights to the special website  and the first five hundred will receive a Care Package delivered directly to their door courtesy of the national brewery. But hurry, two hundred have already been claimed!

The aim is to offer armchair travellers ‘a taste of the Czech Republic’ from the comfort of their own homes amid the current quarantine, with CzechTourism UK & Ireland also asking visitors to pause, not cancel their trips.
 
In addition to the Care Package giveaway, CzechTourism will be unveiling a series of virtual itineraries on their social media channels to encourage ‘armchair travel’, bringing the Czech Republic to travellers whilst they are under quarantine including a 360 degree tour of the Budweiser Budvar brewery in České Budějovice (Budweis), exciting city tours and a host of outdoor adventure activities. The campaign also offers the chance to win a free holiday to those that upload a picture of themselves using the #CheersFromCzech hashtag, courtesy of CzechTourism.

The country has lots to offer visitors. Many are familiar with the capital, Prague, but there is so much more to see for those who venture away from the big city.

“We are grateful for everyone that booked a trip to the Czech Republic, and this is our way of saying thank you, even though they can’t visit right now they can still explore the country through our new virtual itineraries. We look forward to welcoming tourists the minute travel restrictions have been lifted and this is just a small taste of what Czech hospitality is all about.” said Katarina Hobbs, CzechTourism UK & Ireland .

​Beer brewing has a long history in the Czech Republic and the country prides itself on being one of the world’s top beer producers.  The city of České Budějovice was granted the right to brew beer by the Holy Roman Emperor from the 12th Century, with Budweiser Budvar brewing in the town since 1895. The city of Plzen (Pilsen) is also known as home of the first pilsner lager. The Czech Republic is starting to see a new development of the traditional beer industry with the opening of many smaller craft breweries.
 
“As the national brewery of the Czech Republic, we are immensely proud when visitors choose to visit our country. The current situation is a hugely difficult time for the hospitality industry and breweries both in the Czech Republic and across the world, we hope to see tourists visiting to enjoy the rich Czech pub and beer culture again very soon”. Petr Dvořák, Managing Director, Budweiser Budvar National Corporation.

For more information on the Czech Republic, go to ​www.czechtourism.com

​Air Astana has been awarded the best in Central Asia for “Food, Drink and On-Board Entertainment Systems” from APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) at a ceremony held in Singapore on 13th November 2019.

The APEX rating is based on online reviews of passengers and verified by an independent external audit company. In total, more than a million flights by more than 600 airlines around the world were rated on a 5-point scale on seat comfort, on-board service, food and drink, entertainment systems and wi-fi service.
APEX is a European rating agency, which evaluates the levels of passenger service worldwide and is considered one of the most prestigious and reputable ratings organizations in the airline industry.

In September 2019, Air Astana received an APEX 5-star rating amongst major carriers for the second time.

Arena Travel's The River Cruise Line has announced it is launching a new ship, MS Arena, at the end of March 2020. The ship is currently undergoing a major pre-season refurbishment.

River cruising continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry and this investment reflects the growing interest in river cruise holidays. 

The ship will sail the Dutch waterways, , Moselle, Rhine and Danube as far as the Black Sea and its 'push-style' engines will allow it to sail overnight while its passengers enjoy a peaceful sleep.

Each spacious cabin has floor-to-ceiling windows, French balconies, flat screen TVs and free wi-fi. Basic fares include flights, transfers and all meals whilst the 'premium package', costing from £20 per passenger per night, will add a drinks package, a 10% discount on excursions and free use of the wellness suite.

Guests will also enjoy the bright and spacious Panorama Restaurant, the Ambassadors Lounge and an open sun deck.

MS Arena can accommodate up to 180 guests who must be at least fourteen years of age. The company also offers a price guarantee to ensure that, once booked, you will not find anyone on board who has paid a lower price for the same accommodation.

​The Omega Speedmaster Professional, known affectionately as the Moon Watch, is the world’s most widely travelled watch. It is also probably the only piece of space travel equipment available in shops for the general public to buy.
 
In 1962, NASA began the search for a wristwatch that could be worn by the Gemini and Apollo astronauts so they could time space walks and other ‘extra-vehicular activity’. They purchased a number of watches from a variety of manufacturers which had to be waterproof, shockproof and anit-magnetic. They also subjected them to a series of tests that included violent acceleration, vibration and extreme changes in temperature.
 
Only one watch, the Omega Speedmaster Professional, purchased over the counter from a jewellery shop in Houston, survived all the tests. In 1965, with the launch of the first Gemini flight, the watch became part of the astrunauts’ standard equipment. Worn on a Velcro strap outside the space suite, it was worn by astronaut Edward White on the first ever space walk.

Astronauts often wore two watches, one showing mission elapsed time and the other showing Greenwich Mean Time or the time in Houston or Moscow.
 
Whilst the watches were popular with astronauts who often wore them on a daily basis, American watch makers attempted to persuade NASA to use their products. This even resulted in a Senate hearing, but to no avail.
 
On the historic Apollo 11 flight the watch timed the two hours and forty minutes that Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong spent on the surface of the moon. It is believed that due to a failure in the Lunar Module, Neil Armstrong left his watch behind as a back-up so it was Buzz Aldrin’s watch that made it to the lunar surface.
 
Disaster struck in 1970 on the Apollo 13 mission, which was also scheduled for a moon landing. Two days into the mission an explosion left the Command Module without electrical power and the crew of three were forced to transfer to the lunar module and start up its support and navigation systems. The lunar module was supposed to support two men for two days but there were three astronauts and they were four days from home. 

Because of lack of power the astronauts had to shut down all electrical equipment except for the radio, which was on receive only. As they rounded the moon and headed for home, James Lovell, the mission commander, used his watch to time the thrusts required to get them home safely.

​As the pressure increased on NASA to use American equipment, in August 1972 NASA invited companies to submit products for testing. In order to comply with the ‘Buy America’ rules, Omega had the watch cases made in Michigan and the crystal ‘glass’ was installed there before the watch and crystal were sent to Switzerland where the movements were added. After exhaustive tests, once again the Omega product proved faultless.
 
In 1975, when American astronauts met their Russian counterparts in space, their historic handshakes were marked by the fact that both crews were wearing the same watches. Later the Russians also selected the Omega watch to be supplied to all cosmonauts.
 
Despite the advances in technology and improvements in reliability, the Speedmaster Professional is still the only watch that bears the stamp on the reverse “Flight Qualified by NASA for all Manned Space Missions"
 
I know, I wear mine every day.

More astronaut images

​Built specifically for the British market, Saga’s first new ship, Spirit of Discovery, was christened in Dover on 5th July by her godmother, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. It was the first ship to be named in Dover for over a decade. Registered in London it proudly flies the Red Ensign.
 
The naming event was held at a garden party on the quayside where the ship was moored awaiting its first paying guests. Normally a sea of concrete, the quay was transformed into a large lawn, covered in grass brought down from Yorkshire. Around five hundred guests enjoyed delightful food, accompanied by Hush Heath English sparkling wine. A jeroboam of the same vintage was later used in the naming ceremony.

​On display at the garden party was a six foot long cake (top picture) in the shape of the ship, prepared by chocolatier Mark Tilling. The Duchess’s first duty was to cut the cake, whilst Esther Rantzen looked on. The Duchess is patron, and Esther is the founder of The Silver Line which provides a 24-hour telephone service for older people who are feeling lonely or isolated. It is also Saga’s first national charity partner.
 
Once seated for the formal events, guests were entertained by the Band of the Royal Marines Collingwood and the Morriston Orpheus Choir before the Duchess stepped up and performed the official naming ceremony.

Bucking the trend for ever larger ships, and with a nod to the problems of over-tourism, Saga’s boutique ship holds just 999 passengers. No longer do passengers have to choose between inside, outside and balcony cabins as all the cabins on Spirit of Discovery have balconies and over one hundred are designated for single use.

​The ship's decor is muted and it seems Saga has played it safe in terms on not wanting to upset its many loyal and regular clients. For some it may have been a little too safe and perhaps the decor of Discovery's sister ship, Spirit of Adventure, which comes into service in 2020 will be a little more, shall we say, Adventurous? Let's wait and see.

One thing's certain, however, Saga has raised the  bar in terms of boutique cruising and these new ships will be a big hit with clients old and new.

The Brits go to Tuscany in the summer; the Italians go to Elba. 

Looks like the Italians are on to a good thing!

One of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets, the Tuscan island of Elba is the perfect destination for an Autumn walking holiday, as the summer crowds have long departed and the temperature has dropped to a comfortable level. It is also when the Tuscany Walking Festival takes places allowing participants to discover the natural and historic treasures of the island free (or, in some cases, a few Euros).

If visitors travel in September and October, they have the chance to join one of the Tuscany Walking Festival events, whether it’s a hike to the English Fort built in 1700, a moonlit silent walk appreciating “mindfully” the late night smells and sounds of Marciana, watching the annual bird migration or keeping fit with Elba No Limits as they take participants on a walk incorporating an open-air gym session, there really is something for visitors with every kind of interest.

​‘It’s like a Mediterranean village’, I said as the taxi passed through the entrance to Windjammer Landing, the unique resort hotel in St Lucia, and I spotted the Mediterranean roof-tiled buildings. Indeed, that is how its designer wanted it to look and it certainly worked.
 
Situated at Labrelotte Bay on the north west coast of St Lucia, stunning Windjammer Landing is built on the side of a hill on an island where peaks rise to over three thousand feet, It’s a delightful mix of hotel room and villa accommodation offering guests the option of self catering with breakfast, or all-inclusive. The A I package covers all meals at its five restaurants, wines by the glass as well as cocktails and premium spirits. It also includes motorised and non-motorised water sports as well as kids’ clubs and tennis clinics.

​Home for my stay was a gorgeous two-bedroom villa at the top of the hill with stunning views out to sea from the patio and pool. The villa included two bathrooms, a large and comfortably-furnished lounge and a huge kitchen-diner with American-size cooker, microwave, fridge freezer, washing machine, tumble drier, a comprehensive range of kitchen appliances and loads of crockery and cutlery. I could easily have moved in on a permanent basis!

​A fleet of air-conditioned shuttle vehicles is available on demand to save guests negotiating the steep roads leading down to reception and the beach. Next to reception is a sun-lounger area and pools for those that don’t want a dip in the sea.
 
Lining the beach are a number of restaurants. Light and airy Dragonfly is where breakfast is served as well as dinner and, on Tuesdays a great Caribbean buffet, whilst Jammer’s offers casual lunch and dinner as well as a welcome and shady bar. Along the beach past the ice-cream parlour I discovered Embers.  It’s a great place for lunch in the shade and offers a menu ranging from light bites to substantial meals. 

​Another great discovery was 96 degrees, a circular bar just along the beach from Embers and ideal for guests looking for a quiet drink and a break from the hot sun. It’s one of those friendly bars where guests quickly fall into conversation with others whilst enjoying a cool beer or cocktail. 

Just up the hill from reception I enjoyed an authentic Italian dinner at Papa Don’s, rightly popular with guests and again served by the ubiquitous air-conditioned shuttles.
 
In the unlikely event that it decides to rain for longer than a few minutes, the hotel has a comfortable seating area and a library stocked with good books. There’s also a shop, Windmart, where guests can stock up on things they need to save leaving the resort. 

With a spa, gym, tennis courts, water sports and kids’ club, there’s plenty to keep guests of all ages occupied, and a range of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. What more could you want!

Noting a growing awareness of the benefits of digital detox and an appetite for travellers to switch off from the digital world,  IHG Hotels announces that four of its hotels in the UK will be introducing a free library service to encourage guests to put down their phone and instead indulge in a book by a local author.

Launching in time for the May half term break, 27th May, books will be available at four properties across the UK. Located in the lobby of each hotel, the library will feature a selection of books written by local authors, poets and playwrights which guests can borrow for free when they stay at one of the participating properties. In addition to the books, information about the local authors will be on display to provide guests with more information about the writers.

The following hotels will be participating in the scheme, each one featuring its famous local authors. They are

Holiday Inn Express® Edinburgh: J.K Rowling, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kate Atkinson, Muriel Spark and Robert Burns

voco™ St. David’s Cardiff: Roald Dahl, Ken Follett, Rosie Harrison, Jon Ronson and Dylan Thomas​

Staybridge Suites London- Vauxhall: Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, George Orwell, Sir Arther Conan Doyle and Zadie Smith

Hotel Indigo® Stratford upon Avon: William Shakespeare

Karan Khanna, IHG's Managing Director for UK & Ireland said,  “Our guests are our main priority and we are committed to ensuring they get the best experience when they stay with us. In a world where, technology and staying connected is key, it is also important for guests to feel they can fully unwind and relax. This offer will enable guests to escape the digital world and truly immerse themselves in the literary world of some of the UK’s best loved writers.”

Last week the British Ambassador to Argentina, Mark Kent, welcomed visitors to his official residence, the Madero Unzue Palace in Buenos Aires. 

Rated as one of the most beautiful British diplomatic residences in the world, the Palace is listed as part of Argentina's national heritage.  

​Built between 1914 and 1917 under the direction of British architects Walter Bassett-Smith and Bertie Collcut, the Palace was originally designed to be the family residence of Carlos María Madero and Sara Unzué Baudrix. However, following the death of Carlos and his wife, the property was put up for sale. It was bought by the British Government in 1945. In 1946, parts of the Palace were renovated in anticipation of the Ambassador’s occupancy, including the façade facing the back garden and an imperial staircase from the first floor. 

The British residence showcases one of the most important collections of English furniture in Buenos Aires. The garden is home to a large number of native trees and shrubs and features part of the wall of the property that had previously occupied the lot, owned by the Hale family. On his visit in 1966, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, planted a tree and laid a foundation stone in the garden.

Today, the British diplomatic residency is inhabited by Mark Kent and his wife and is used for a number of different cultural events, official visits and other functions associated with British diplomatic activity in Argentina. The palace has received many important figures in its time, including members of the British royal family such as Princess Anne, Princess Diana of Wales, and Prince Harry, as well as musician Sir Tom Jones, rock n’ roll legends the Rolling Stones, and many more.

​With 13 suite ships in Europe and two in Asia, Avalon,  recommended by Good Housekeeping and Which? magazines, is leading the way in bringing new levels of comfort and guest experiences to river cruising.  Three new classes of shore excursions are being introduced in 2020.

​Classic offers guests the opportunity to explore the history and culture of the region, Discover allows guests to get hands-on experience of things such as cooking and painting, whilst Active enables guests to explore by biking, canoeing and hiking the area. There is an ‘adventure host’ on each ship who holds stock of useful items such as maps, Nordic walking poles and so on.

​Avalon’s cabins are unique in the industry. The beds face the window so guests can enjoy the view before they get up, and the windows open to turn the entire cabin into a virtual balcony. This layout also means that bathrooms are bigger and even offer ‘his and hers’ towels and L’Occitane toiletries. There are also mattress and pillow menus to enhance guest comfort.
​
In the main restaurant the majority of tables start out as tables for two but, should you wish to dine with new-found friends, they can be pushed together to accommodate larger groups. Dining times are also flexible between 7.00pm and 8.30pm and there is the option of chilling out in the Panorama Buffet and enjoying all the items from the main dining room menu, along with a few unique extras. 

​With all this great food around, perhaps it’s as well each ship has a fitness room to augment the daily excursions.

​Avalon is clearly looking to stay ahead of the game. 

​It’s not unusual to find meals where each course is paired with a different wine, but it was very refreshing to have lunch with Visit Flanders on Wednesday where each of the five courses was paired with a different beer – and such amazing flavours too.
 
Chef Didier Boudeaux, owner of Maison D in the delightful town of Ronse, was responsible for the brilliant paired menu. Pre-lunch drinks consisted of a choice of ‘Champagne’ beers and an appetiser of eel, cauliflower and leek. The beer was served in a wine glass, as were all the other beers we enjoyed over lunch. Once we were seated, a further appetiser of marinated veal, turnip and sheep’s cheese was served.

​For starters we enjoyed lobster, potato, spinach and white asparagus, paired with a delightful St Bernadus Tripel. This was followed by a main course of pigeon, green asparagus, wild garlic and pointed white cabbage, washed down with Kwaremont.
 
A selection of cheese followed, with apple and pear chutney, and finally desert of cremeux of café noir, served with a chocolate beer that tasted like iced coffee. Chef Boudeaux even produced some home-made petit fours including madeleines, chocolate peanut delights and orange macaroons.

​It was a delicious meal and if this is what visitors to Flanders can expect, I’ll be booking a seat on Eurostar very soon!

​With basic wedding packages costing between £1200 and £2400, it’s getting more and more popular.  One cruise line now organises around 1500 a year, so they’ve had plenty of practice. 

There are dedicated staff, both ashore and on board, to organise the event for you. All you have to do is to decide what you want, then relax and enjoy days and nights of pure luxury while they make sure it all happens.
 
Performing marriages is one of the Captain’s most pleasurable duties, and if you decide to go it alone, two of his senior officers will be honoured to act as witnesses. Weddings take place on sea days when the ship is sailing in international waters and the wedding legally takes place where the ship is registered. 

​the ceremony itself, champagne, a cake, photography and a commemorative marriage certificate, as your legal certificate may take a short time to reach you.

​Each cruise line has its own version of the offering with some extras included. However, you can add items to suit yourself and the cruise lines have special brochures detailing what’s available.

​Cruise lines offering weddings at sea include P&O, Cunard, Princess,  Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, who provided these images.

Many kids love having their faces painted but the idea is not limited to youngsters. According to aviation magazine Flight Global the trend has been going on for some years.

Most recently Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, painted one of its aircraft to look like a Snow Leopard. The animals are indigenous to Kazakhstan and the airline wanted to publicise the threat to the endangered species.

Here are some other examples shown in the feature.

You can read the full feature on the Flight Global website and see the top ten designs here

On Thursday the Scottish football team lost 3-0 to Kazakhstan - not their best performance.

Whilst there, a group of Scottish supporters were entertained with music and dancing by children at a school for autistic kids

The generous supporters donated £10,000 to the school. Don't anyone dare say the Scots are mean!