Australia accommodates everyone’s idea of a perfect holiday, from four-year-olds to grannies, reports Pippa Jacks
Read the full story »America or Asia? Sardinia or Spain? St Andrews or St David’s? Better bars or better beaches? Whatever you’re planning, our suggestions will help
Travel need to know, money saving tips and contacts for consumer advice, to help you make the most of your holiday
This section is reserved for our travel related rants and moans. We’d love to hear what’s bothering you too so feel free to add your thoughts!
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Contains information on changes that might affect both short and long term travel plans, plus all the latest travel news and views
Consumer reviews site, Qype, has revealed the consumer’s pick of the UK’s best gardens, ahead of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next week (May 22-26).
The mysterious Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall – whose 200 acres include a lush sub-tropical jungle, ancient woodlands and a fascinating wildlife project, came out on top according to reviews posted on Qype.co.uk over the last six months. “This place is amazing. Jurassic Park meets modern day gardens. Great for the whole family,” wrote one reviewer.

The Mysterious Lost Gardens of Heligan
The list also features established favourites such as Kew Gardens and Kensington Gardens in London. However they were beaten to second and third place respectively by the less well-known Horniman Museum & Gardens in Forest Hill and Edinburgh’s world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden.
“It’s fantastic to see the Lost Gardens of Heligan recognised by Qype reviewers. It is one of the most interesting, original gardens in the UK and their conservation projects have clearly made a big impression with their visitors,” commented Richard Dennys, Qype’s chief marketing officer.
Qype’s Top 10 UK Gardens
1) The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St. Austell, Cornwall
2) Horniman Museum & Gardens, Forest Hill, London
3) Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh
4) Kew Gardens, Kew, London
5) Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, London
6) Belfast Botanic Gardens, Belfast
7) St Ann’s Well Gardens, Hove
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham
9) RHS Garden Wisley, Woking
10) Bodnant Garden, Colwyn Bay
Earlier this week the UK’s Immigration Minister, Damian Green, appeared before the British parliament’s Home Affairs Committee to answer questions about queues at passport control in Heathrow Airport
The political tremors of 2011 didn’t do much to help Egypt’s reputation as a holiday destination. However political tensions aside, Angela Torpey finds there’s lots to love about Luxor – the site of ancient Thebes. Read Angela’s article on Luxor on a budget, here
The writer and poet Gertrude Stein, who was born in Oakland, once remarked about her California birthplace: “Oakland? There’s no there, there.” Fast forward to today and few would agree with Gertrude
Research shows over two thirds of Brits not affected at all by £3m advertising campaign
The majority of travellers (40 per cent) don’t want to be held up for more than half an hour passing through check-in and airport security, according to the results of a new poll
The pound is at one of its strongest points for two years, allowing UK holidaymakers to gain up to 18 per cent more for their money in holiday destinations around the world. Yet many continue to throw £s down the drain
Britain’s economy may be in recession, but its currency is flying high. The Pound has strengthened against a basket of international currencies
So Olympic organisers, Locog, have done a U turn and declared that babies and infants under 12 months will be allowed free entry into London Olympic venues – provided they are seated on their parent’s lap
It may only be Wednesday but here at CD-Traveller towers, we already have our quote of the week. Take a bow US actor, Zach Braff
I ask the question because last week Visit Britain published provisional 2011 figures for international tourism to the UK. It showed that Wales received just 880,000 visitors which is roughly what it was the year before.
So what was the effect of the Ryder Cup being held in Wales?
Nearly a year after the passage of same-sex marriage in New York, NYC & Company is encouraging travel to the five boroughs over a two-month period beginning in June
Strong pound encourages Brits to snap up foreign currency in April
Holiday bookings rise with water levels following wettest April in 100 years
Hands up who wants to win a pair of first class Eurostar tickets? Campaign for Better Transport is offering people the chance to win a pair of first class Eurostar tickets by sharing their everyday public transport stories
From May to September at venues along the 95 miles of Jurassic Coast from Exmouth to Studland Bay, towns and communities will be participating in and enjoying a wide range of events to celebrate England’s only natural World Heritage Site. It is billed as the greatest ‘rock’ festival in the history of the world.
Last Monday the new regulations for bonding came into force. Now a report from MP’s on the Transport Select Committee welcomes what has been introduced but says it doesn’t go far enough. In fact, in some places, the report is very critical of the government.
As I said yesterday, in all the discussions about the delays in border entry queues at airports very little has been suggested as a way of resolving the problem. The announcement yesterday of eighty more staff is not a solution merely a sticking plaster. As passenger numbers grow, an alternative method of screening and checking passengers is needed.
CD-Traveller tells you what’s hot and what’s not in the travel world. This month Bhutan and the Black Sea resort of Batuni get the thumbs up, but readers are advised to avoid the Big Apple’s JFK airport
More and more Brits are refusing to leave their precious pets home alone, when they go on their hols. According to recent research, 25 per cent of UK adult pet owners are prepared to pay the same amount as an extra adult on holiday, just to take their pet with them
In the last couple of weeks or so, the spotlight has turned on the lengthening queues at passport control as you re-enter the UK. In particular it seems to have taken much longer at Heathrow and Gatwick. Indignation, whipped up in particular by The Daily Telegraph, has led to some MP’s saying that “something must be done.”
Thanks to shows such as the Real Housewives and MTV’s Laguna Beach which see skinny socialites and rich kids cruise up and down the Californian coast in their porsches, you don’t immediately think of California as a green destination
Some readers might have spotted that I have been travelling recently. For 12 days I have lived out of a small, carry-on wheelie case. But as I picked up things it grew fatter. So I checked it in as hold baggage something I rarely do. And guess what? It didn’t keep up with me so I have been shopping for the necessities.
Afternoon tea in establishments including The Ritz and London’s Lanesborough have been slated by Which?, who have declared they are among Britain’s most expensive for consumers
Want to start a conversation in California? Don’t bother discussing the weather. All you need to do is mention menus
Chiang Mai’s signature dish is a creamy, spicy Thai comfort curry with noodles two ways
The introduction of extra charges for overweight fliers would be welcomed, a new survey has found
What if you had a sugar-sprinkled, deep-fried pastry dipped into hot chocolate for breakfast every morning? Getting out of bed sure would be a whole lot easier