Out of Africa

Lynn journeys to Livingstone and gets up close and personal with Namibia’s desert elephants

Top 10 Valentine’s breaks

Boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith have sifted through the schmaltz to find Valentine’s packages that will really set hearts aflutter (and won’t involve soggy petals clogging the plughole). Here are 10 hot properties that offer something a little bit different…

Department of Foreign Affairs (Republic Of Ireland)

From the website:

The Mission of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to advance Ireland’s political and economic interests in the European Union and in the wider world, to promote Ireland’s contribution to international peace, security and development both through the European Union and through active participation in international organisations, in particular the United Nations, to protect our citizens abroad, and to pursue reconciliation and partnership on the island of Ireland.

Out of Africa

Lynn journeys to Livingstone and gets up close and personal with Namibia’s desert elephants

The Titanic Anniversary

Some of you may have thought it was in April 2012. It starts today with the anniversary of the launch of the vessel at Harland & Wolff’s shipyard in Belfast and the opening of a new exhibition called TITANICa at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

Hammering the Traveller

Early January means one thing to many travellers. The time of increased rail fares. This year the average increase is 5.8% which is well above the rate of inflation. But that disguises a range of price rises varying from the high to the outrageous for this year train companies can decide which fares go up or not. The government rule is that prices go up by the retail price index plus 1% apart from two lines, Southeastern and West Yorkshire where it is RPI plus 3%.
Passenger Focus, the consumer watchdog covering the railways has pointed out that a Norwich to London anytime return goes up by 14% and Canterbury to London goes by nearly 13%. But Travelmole, the online travel trade e-letter has found that a London monthly fare from Hornsey to Stevenage has gone up by 46.2% from £194.40 to £284.20 which may only be about £90 but is it over £1,000 extra a year to find.

Going global

Heading to Dubai for the kingdom of bling’s shopping festival? Hit the malls by all means, but be sure to get yourself to Global Village where you can shop and eat your way around the world…