Which place boasts the better beach: Bournemouth or Ibiza? Somewhat surprisingly the Dorset resort has been beaten Ibiza – plus the likes of Benidorm and Gran Canaria – in a list of Europe’s top beaches!

I’m sure you all remember what today is.
No?
It’s the first day of the great M25 tour offering.
Lucky day trippers who were picked up from Worthing and Brighton have been entertained on the coach trip organised by Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company. And what delights will they have seen?

Hands up if you use your smart phone when overseas? That’s most of us then, but beware: keeping in touch with family, friends and colleagues back home can cost thousands of pounds….

I’ve just booked a return trip to California. The cost? £162. Yes, I kid you not, that is the price of an airline ticket on British Airways. Except that it’s not. The ticket might be that price but all the other extras and taxes and surcharges bring it up to £541.89.

Yesterday – being Mother’s Day and all – I took the old dear to the cinema to see The Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Loosely adapted from Deborah Moggach’s novel, These Foolish Things, John Madden’s film sees a group of pensioners (including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson) move to India for a magnitude of reasons

“Why go all the way to Bondi when you can come to Bridlington?” remarks Rupert Grint. The Harry Potter star features – alongside Stephen Fry and Downtown Abbey’s Michelle Dockery – in the new £4million government backed ‘Holidays at Home’ scheme.

Two days before the start of English Tourism week, Visit England launched a multi- million pound TV campaign. he same day ABTA, Association of British Travel Agents, wrote to the government bemoaning the “lop-sided” support of domestic tourism and that this promotion was a misuse of government money.

It’s what Harry Potter fans around the world have been waiting for: on March 31, the hugely anticipated Warner Bros Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter will open at Watford’s Leaveseden studios.

California’s Mojave Desert is magical at this time of year when wildflower season is in full swing, writes Donna McCrohan Rosenthal

Friends and family are beginning to book tickets for this summer’s slew of festivals. I flattered they thought to invite me along, but as regular readers of CD-Traveller will know: I am not a fan of festivals.

Years ago, the chairman’s wife, royalty or another dignitary used to launch ships. But with so many cruise ships afloat, launches don’t get noticed by the media. Now the rage is to christen them and have an entertainment ‘A’ lister do it instead.

Flying can be fun- unless that is you’re sat next to the flight neighbour from hell (for 10 of the worst travelling companions check out http://www.cd-traveller.com/2009/12/11/the-worlds-worst-flying-companions/).

However help could soon be at hand: Dutch airline, KLM. and Malaysian airlines are already testing a new programme that allows passengers to pick their in-flight neighbours by evaluating Facebook and LinkedIn profiles before take-off and other airlines are expected to follow suit.

Read this month’s ‘What’s hot’ feature? Then you’ll know that Croydon – one of the areas worst hit theLondon riots last year – has become an unlikely tourism hotspot.

On the occasion of St David’s Day, here are five things you really ought to know about the Welsh festival

Yesterday we told you how glossy travel brochures could soon be consigned to the bin.

But if my experience today is anything to go by, it is not brochures but travel guides by the like of Lonely Planet at al that could be on their way out.

Tui Travel’s distribution and online director, Nick Longman, has gone on record as saying that travel companies could soon become completely brochure free – as more and more Brits choose and book a trip online, rather than through a glossy brochure.

Ryanair – the airline that everyone loves to hate – has been rapped by the Advertising Standards Agency over its latest newspaper campaign.

Last week we learnt that Westminster council’s licensing committee was mulling over whether rule against open-air concerts in Hyde Park.

York won’t be imposing a tax on tourists after council chiefs confirmed they do not have the powers to introduce it.

Looking to get as far away from wintry Britain as possible? A cruise could be the way to go.

Whether you’re new to cruising and need help planning your first voyage or are seasoned cruiser searching for inspiration for your next holiday at sea, don’t miss The Cruise Show at London’s Olympia from March 24-25.

Colin Barrow – the much lampooned former leader of Westminster council – might have departed but the Tory council still seems to be hell bent on causing controversy.

Carnival kicks off in Rio this Saturday and Jane has the low-down on what is arguably the greatest show on earth.

But if a break in Brazil isn’t on the cards this month, you can still get into the carnival spirit by giving zumba – the Latin rhythm driven dance craze beloved by Victoria Beckham and Michelle Obama and a whole host of other celebs – a go.

As regular readers of CD-Traveller will know, I returned to the UK last summer after a stint overseas.While out living in the far east, the metro was one of my Beijing bete noirs and I thought (owing to the crowded carriages) for good reason. But after the tube chaos that has ensued in London over the last week or so, Beijing’s subway system is one I would kill for.

Roses rule on Valentine’s Day. Acknowledged as the universal symbol of love, they account for 75 percent of the arrangements sold in local flower shops throughout February.

’s that time again when the media loves to tell us that airports will be busy, roads will have jams and the ferries will be full to bursting point. Yes the great half-tern getaway begins today. But are that many of us trying to escape the snow and the cold?

VisitBritain is asking MPs across the country to nominate an attraction in their constituency, that overseas tourists should visit in 2012. The challenge to the nation’s politicians is part of the tourism agency’s ‘Share Your GREAT Britain’ campaign, aimed at enticing overseas visitors.

Cheapflights.co.uk has identified key traits and practices of individuals, based on their smart phone choice!

The results of a recent survey which saw more than 700 people take part, suggests that iPhone users are the most romantic, Android users the most adventurous and Blackberry users the biggest spenders on holiday.

The CD-Traveller team dug ours out days ago, but if you haven’t already done now is the time to start searching for your scarves and thermals. Forecasters have warned that snow is on its way this weekend, as Arctic conditions tighten their grip across the country