A section cyclists can already ride

The Heart of the Greens Loop opened in 2024 and connects Rochester and Pittsfield in central Vermont. It covers 38 miles, approximately 61 km, through the Green Mountains. Narrow trails, known as singletrack, are linked by stretches of quiet back roads. Riders can stop at natural swimming spots and enjoy views across the mountains and White River Valley. The route includes substantial climbing, making fitness an important consideration when planning the trip.

Experienced, fit mountain bikers may complete the loop in a day, but overnight stops allow a less compressed itinerary. The organisers suggest options spread over two or three days, including stays at a forest hut and a yurt. Riders can also extend their journey on neighbouring trail networks. Like other cycling holidays, the trip combines time on the bike with opportunities to explore the places along the route. It also offers a way to try bikepacking, which involves carrying supplies and overnight equipment on a bicycle for a journey lasting several days.

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Forest huts, a yurt and a village inn

Chittenden Brook Hut sits in Green Mountain National Forest, roughly halfway around the loop for those starting in Rochester. Open throughout the year, it accommodates up to 10 guests and provides mattresses, heating and cooking equipment. Visitors bring their own food and sleeping bags. There is no running water, and water collected locally must be treated before use. The nearby Chittenden Brook Campground offers another overnight option for travellers carrying camping equipment.

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Spikehorn Yurt lies around 2.5 trail miles, or 4 km, from downtown Rochester. A yurt is a round structure with a frame and a fabric covering. This one sleeps six and has a small kitchen, a two-burner cooktop and a wood stove. It is available for summer and early autumn stays, and guests must bring drinking water because the property has no reliable supply. For more conventional accommodation, the Stable Inn in Rochester occupies a restored timber building dating from the 1840s. It offers rooms with private or shared bathrooms, shared kitchens and access to restaurants in the village.

Connecting communities along the way

The wider Velomont plan links 36 existing trail networks and takes travellers directly into villages. These stops would allow cyclists to buy supplies, eat locally and stay overnight between stretches of forest riding. Equipped huts are also intended to reduce the amount of camping equipment visitors need to carry. The organisers want to make trips into remote areas easier to arrange, with several access points allowing travellers to choose shorter sections. However, overnight facilities do not remove the physical demands of mountain biking.

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A comparable approach can be seen on the Trans Dinarica cycling route through eight Balkan countries. Its stages connect rural landscapes with places to eat and sleep. The route was developed with accommodation providers and local cycling specialists, helping travellers plan stops along their journey. While its terrain and accommodation differ from Vermont’s, it provides another example of a cycling route designed to bring visitors into communities beyond major tourist centres.

What still needs to be built

The Velomont’s development plans include 30 new huts and five new hostels in town centres. Construction is also intended to provide employment and training for young adults. The organisers say the project could help conserve up to 214,000 acres, approximately 86,600 hectares, of currently unprotected land. They describe the completed network as potentially the largest trail system supported by huts in the United States. The project is expected to be completed between 2031 and 2036, depending on funding.

L’article Vermont is developing a 780 km mountain biking trail with forest huts est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. York, England

In York, a ghost can be a souvenir as well as the subject of a frightening story. The York Ghost Merchants, a shop selling small ghost sculptures, organises Ghost Week, which runs from 24 October to 1 November this year. Its programme includes storytelling, creative workshops and a Gothic tea dance in York Cemetery Chapel. Visitors can also join the free Little York Ghost Hunt on selected evenings, searching for miniature figures hidden around the city. It gives you a reason to look twice into those shadowy corners. Finding something you can take home is considerably more reassuring than meeting an actual ghost.

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2. Dublin, Ireland

Dublin has a strong claim on Halloween visitors: this is the birthplace of Bram Stoker, the author who gave the world Dracula. The city celebrates that connection with the Bram Stoker Festival, running from 23 to 26 October 2026. The programme includes theatre, literary discussions and a parade, with events for families as well as fans of darker stories. It offers a chance to explore the writer’s legacy beyond the familiar image of a vampire in a cape. For a quieter encounter with the past, Glasnevin Cemetery offers a different perspective on the city through the lives of those buried there.

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3. Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania comes with a Halloween reputation that needs little introduction, but there is more to the region than plastic fangs. Bran Castle is its most recognisable vampire attraction, with towers and a rocky setting that help explain its popular association with Dracula. The connection needs a little care, though: Count Dracula is a fictional character, and Bram Stoker never visited Romania. The castle’s appeal lies in the mix of history and vampire legend. Beyond Bran, the medieval streets of Brașov and autumn forests of the Carpathian Mountains offer plenty of reasons to extend the trip. You can leave the cape in your suitcase for those outings.

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4. Bruges, Belgium

Bruges does not need to cover every building in cobwebs to create a Halloween setting. Its medieval streets and canals provide the atmosphere, particularly when explored after dark. Night tours introduce visitors to local legends and the more unsettling stories behind the city’s romantic appearance. Among them is a tale of a water ghost associated with the Lake of Love, giving that reassuring name a rather different meaning. Travellers who prefer museum displays to ghost stories can visit the Torture Museum, although its subject matter makes this a less gentle option. Afterwards, returning to the lights of the city’s squares may feel especially welcome.

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5. Prague, Czech Republic

In Prague, even the clock has a reminder that your time is running out. A skeleton representing Death forms part of the Astronomical Clock’s mechanical display, alongside its procession of apostles. Elsewhere, the city’s stories draw on alchemy, a historical practice that mixed early experiments with beliefs about transforming metals and discovering the secrets of life. For an excursion outside Prague, visitors can explore the folklore surrounding Houska Castle, north of the city. According to legend, its chapel covers an opening to hell, supposedly sealing dangerous creatures beneath the building. That is a supernatural story rather than an established account of its construction, but it certainly gives visitors something to think about while looking at the floor.

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6. Derry, Northern Ireland

Derry is an option for travellers who would rather join the Halloween celebrations than spend the evening waiting for something to jump out at them. Its annual festival brings performances, costumes and illuminated displays into the streets, with activities designed for different ages. Celtic folklore helps shape the celebrations, giving the spectacle a connection to the season’s older traditions. The carnival parade takes place on 31 October, turning Halloween night into a shared city celebration. Families can look for suitable activities in the programme, while groups of friends have an excuse to make dressing up part of the trip. Here, the other visitors are as much a part of the atmosphere as the setting.

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7. Copenhagen, Denmark

For those whose ideal Halloween involves more pumpkins than nightmares, Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens offers a gentler starting point. Its Halloween season runs from 2 October to 1 November 2026, combining autumn decorations with the historic amusement park’s rides and seasonal stalls. It suits a visit built around browsing, eating and enjoying the displays, with a few rides between stops. After dark, the Tivoli Lake becomes the setting for Halloween Illuminations, a show combining lasers, fire, smoke and water with music. The evening spectacle gives visitors a reason to stay beyond daylight, even if haunted corridors hold little appeal.

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Choosing where to go depends on what you want from a Halloween break. York, Dublin and Derry offer organised celebrations, while Transylvania and Prague invite visitors to explore the places behind enduring legends. Bruges lends itself to an atmospheric evening walk, and Copenhagen combines seasonal displays with amusement park entertainment. Check individual event dates and booking requirements before travelling, as some celebrations take place before Halloween itself. The hardest decision may be whether to pack a costume or leave room for a ghost souvenir.

L’article Ghost hunts and vampire legends: Seven European escapes for Halloween 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The accommodation is a bothy, a simple cottage or shelter, with a living area heated by a solid-fuel stove. Inside, there is a raised, open-plan sleeping area and a separate bathroom with a shower, wash basin and toilet facilities. However, the building has no connection to mains electricity. According to the estate agent managing the sale, previous owners used a small wind turbine and diesel generator, but buyers would need to arrange their own power supply. Anyone hoping to upgrade the accommodation would also need the necessary planning permission and other approvals.

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Beyond the building, Hildasay has a rugged coastline, two freshwater lochs, the Scottish term for lakes, and gently rising ground. Its highest point reaches approximately 32 metres, with views across the surrounding sea and islands. Birdlife changes with the seasons, while the shores also offer opportunities to observe coastal and marine wildlife. “Its scale and unspoilt character create a genuine sense of escape, with open landscapes and uninterrupted views across the surrounding waters,” said a spokesperson for Kelvin Anderson estate agents. The landscape is a central part of the island’s appeal, with its open spaces contrasting with the modest accommodation.

Hildasay was once home to a small working community, with around 30 residents recorded in 1891. Granite quarrying and herring curing, the process of preserving fish with salt, were important local industries. Workers extracted the island’s distinctive red-green granite and transported it to the harbour along a purpose-built railway. According to the estate agent, the stone was shipped to destinations reportedly as far away as Australia. Large abandoned granite blocks and traces of the railway remain visible, showing how different the island’s landscape would have looked when these industries were active.

More recently, Hildasay became known through the story of Chris Lewis, who was walking the UK coastline when the pandemic interrupted his journey. He had been staying in a tent on Shetland’s mainland when lockdown restrictions began. Lewis was given permission to move into the island’s accommodation with his dog Jet and spent around three months there. His stay later featured in his book, Finding Hildasay: How One Man Walked the UK’s Coastline and Found Hope and Happiness. The book brought wider attention to an island that had long lost its permanent community.

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Hildasay follows other Scottish islands previously advertised for sale, although the facilities included have varied considerably. In 2022, Pladda was listed for €350,000, with a five-bedroom house, a helipad and a lighthouse dating from the 1790s. Its accommodation nevertheless needed renovation before it could be lived in again. A year earlier, Càrn Deas in the Summer Isles was advertised from €59,000, but had no housing, water supply or electricity. Both listings illustrate why an island’s asking price tells only part of the story about what a buyer would take on.

L’article Scottish island goes on sale for €414,000, but what would living there involve? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The proposed departure tax is under public consultation until 29 October 2026, with no confirmed implementation date. Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit said it could be collected through airline tickets rather than paid separately at the airport. He described the proposal as reviving a levy previously set at 500 baht (€13) around two decades ago. Lavaron argued that people who can afford overseas travel have greater ability to absorb the additional expense. Potential uses for the proceeds include promoting domestic tourism and funding travel insurance or emergency medical coverage. The government is seeking more income after years of budget deficits, meaning it has repeatedly spent more than it receives.

Tourist entry fee would fund safety and insurance, Suphajee says The proposed 450-baht entry fee for foreign tourists would fund visitor safety, insurance and improvements to underfunded attractions, Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said, outlining her reasons for backing the charge. Suphajee, a former chief executive of hotel group Dusit Thani, said many countries collect similar fees. She instructed agencies to establish transparent collection and spending rules before public consultation and Cabinet consideration. The reported draft exempts work-permit holders and several other categories but lists no blanket exemption for long-term or multiple-entry visa holders. Paying for a multiple-entry visa would therefore not, by itself, appear to remove the obligation to pay the separate tourist fee. Under the draft, one payment would cover repeat entries within 30 days, subject to the linked insurance coverage. Entries after that period could attract another charge. The fee and its exemptions remain subject to final approval. #Thailand #ค่าเหยียบแผ่นดิน

— Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer) October 9, 2026

The separate arrival fee of 450 baht (€12) could be introduced in the first quarter of 2027, subject to Cabinet approval and legal procedures. It would initially apply to eligible foreign visitors entering Thailand by air, with collection from land and sea arrivals postponed for one year. Revenue would support visitor insurance, safety measures and tourism destination development. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun instructed officials on 9 October to establish clear rules for collecting and spending the money before submitting the proposal to Cabinet. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said more than 80% of respondents supported the fee in a recent online public consultation.

Both proposals are separate from the existing Passenger Service Charge, an airport fee generally included in ticket prices. Airports of Thailand increased that charge for international departures from 730 baht (€19) to 1,120 baht (€30) on 20 June 2026. It applies at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai airports. If both new measures take effect, an eligible foreign tourist using one of these airports could face combined charges of 2,570 baht (€68). Of that total, 1,450 baht (€39) would represent new costs, while the airport charge is already payable. For four travellers subject to all three charges, the total would reach 10,280 baht (€274).

Tourism industry groups have warned that the additional costs could weaken Thailand’s appeal against competing destinations. The Thai Travel Agents Association said the departure tax could reduce passenger numbers, lead airlines to cut frequencies and ultimately harm inbound tourism. It also warned that this would conflict with Thailand’s ambition to become a regional aviation hub. The country welcomed around 24 million foreign tourists through 10 October, down 4% compared with the same period a year earlier. That remains well below the nearly 40 million arrivals recorded in 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects approximately 33 million foreign visitors this year, compared with 32.97 million in 2025.

DEPARTURE TAX CONTROVERSY: The Association of Thai Travel Agents has asked the Finance Ministry to stop pushing a draft 1,000-baht tax on air departures, arguing the charge would raise the cost of leaving Thailand for Thais and foreigners before anyone has measured what it would do to flights, jobs and spending.

— The Pattaya News Thailand (@The_PattayaNews) October 9, 2026

The debate comes alongside Thailand’s wider shift towards higher-spending visitors under its 2027 tourism strategy. The plan aims to increase tourism revenue by at least 5% compared with 2026 and spread visitors more evenly between established and emerging destinations. “The Year of Transformation is a clear commitment to reshape Thai tourism around quality, value and long-term competitiveness,” said Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool. Wellness, food, nature and luxury experiences are among its priorities. These ambitions provide context for the revenue debate, although the proposed taxes have not been presented as measures within that strategy.

Visitors are also navigating changes to Thailand’s visa-free stay rules. From 15 September 2026, the allowance for affected passport holders was reduced from 60 to 30 days. Belgium and Luxembourg are among the countries covered by the shorter allowance, according to the Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels. Travellers who entered before the change retain the period of stay previously granted to them. Those planning longer visits can explore visa options, including the Destination Thailand Visa for eligible applicants.

L’article Thailand considers new arrival and departure taxes that could cost tourists €39 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The ranking was compiled through a vote among subscribers to European Best Destinations’ newsletter. A total of 11,614 people participated over 33 days, with each respondent allowed to select up to three destinations. They chose from a shortlist of 64 places, including 20 capitals and 44 other destinations, selected by independent travel journalists. The ten destinations receiving the most votes made the final ranking.

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In central Sofia, visitors can explore the remains of Serdica, the city’s ancient Roman predecessor, before walking towards Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The cathedral’s golden domes are among the capital’s best-known landmarks. Art lovers can visit Kvadrat 500, part of Bulgaria’s National Gallery, while the Regional History Museum occupies the former Central Mineral Baths. On the outskirts, Boyana Church adds another period of history to the itinerary. Its UNESCO-listed buildings contain frescoes, paintings applied to walls, dating from 1259.

Beyond the main attractions, the guide encourages visitors to explore markets, cafés and places serving Bulgarian wine. Sofia’s official tourism website provides a wine map identifying shops, bars and restaurants where local wines can be tasted or bought. Cultural events offer another reason to visit, including the Sofia International Film Festival, traditionally held in spring. In summer, the A to JazZ festival brings outdoor performances to South Park II. Travellers planning around either event should check the organisers’ calendars for 2027 dates. Vitosha offers a different setting for part of the trip, with forest trails and mountain views, although routes should be chosen according to the season and conditions.

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The city’s first place comes alongside a separate nomination for European Capital of Tourism 2027. That competition assesses areas including accessibility, sustainability, digital development and cultural heritage. Unlike the city break ranking, its shortlist was drawn up through expert assessment rather than a subscriber vote. “For us, it is an external assessment of the work done by the entire tourism ecosystem of Sofia,” said Anton Penev, director of Sofia Municipality’s Tourism Municipal Enterprise, about that nomination. The shortlisted cities are due to present their proposals to a European jury in Brussels on 18 and 19 November 2026.

Elsewhere in the city break ranking, second-placed Lisbon is highlighted for its neighbourhoods, Portuguese food and viewpoints overlooking the city and river. Its cultural attractions include contemporary art at MAC/CCB and evenings of fado, a Portuguese musical tradition associated with expressive singing. Copenhagen takes third place, with design, cycling and neighbourhood restaurants central to its appeal. Cannes follows in fourth, combining the Croisette seafront promenade with the old quarter of Le Suquet and Forville market. Fifth-placed Basel offers museums, contemporary architecture and time beside the Rhine. Bristol ranks sixth, with street art, live music and independent food businesses around Wapping Wharf among its attractions.

Leuven takes seventh place, bringing a Belgian destination into the top ten. The guide highlights its university atmosphere and manageable size, as well as its selection, with East Brabant as European Capital of Culture for 2030. Milan follows in eighth place, offering galleries in Brera and evenings beside the Navigli canals. Ninth-placed Calpe, on Spain’s Costa Blanca, brings a coastal option to the selection, with its old town and the prominent Peñón de Ifach rock. Verona completes the ranking in tenth place, with its historic centre, walks along the Adige River and opera performances at the Arena during the season.

L’article Sofia tops Europe’s city break ranking for 2027 ahead of Lisbon and Copenhagen est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Finland introduced its own restrictions on non-essential Russian travel in 2022 and now wants other countries to follow. The Schengen area allows travel between participating European countries without routine internal border checks. A standard Schengen visa generally allows its holder to visit several countries during the same trip, subject to entry conditions and national restrictions. This means the effects of a visa decision can extend beyond the country issuing it. “It is not right that Russians can travel to Europe to enjoy the way of life and freedoms here while their country bombs the homes of Ukrainians,” wrote Valtonen. Finland’s foreign ministry says Schengen countries granted Russians close to 500,000 tourist visas in 2025. 

We must stop issuing tourist visas for Russian citizens across the EU. I have invited other EU Member States to join a letter addressed to the European Commission. I am calling for a complete EU ban on Russian tourist visas for as long as Russia continues its war of aggression. It is not right that Russians can travel to Europe to enjoy the way of life and freedoms here while their country bombs the homes of Ukrainians. Issuing visas to Russians for non-essential travel was banned in Finland already in 2022. The same must finally happen at the EU level. I am also calling for a ban on Schengen visas to Putin’s inner circle, visa restrictions for Russian athletes, and the effective implementation of the visa ban on Russian combatants. The EU must act together. https://t.co/y8eYYNu1lw

— Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen) October 12, 2026

Beyond tourism, Finland wants binding visa restrictions targeting President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and people supporting individuals or organisations under EU sanctions. Another request concerns Russian athletes and sports team members with close ties to the Russian government. Their return to international competitions has become a further point of political disagreement. Helsinki also wants effective implementation of restrictions on current and former Russian combatants. Finland’s foreign ministry describes that measure as agreed by EU member states during the summer, although the arrangements for putting it into practice remain an issue.

Security concerns have added urgency to the debate over who receives permission to enter Europe. An alleged drone bomb plot in Germany in August reportedly involved a Russian passport holder who had entered using an Italian tourist visa. The reported case has intensified concern about how visas issued in one Schengen country can affect security elsewhere. It has also increased pressure on governments that continue to issue tourist visas to Russian citizens. Finland’s proposals seek both broader restrictions on holiday travel and targeted measures against people considered a security risk.

Finland is urging the EU to completely stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. PM Petteri Orpo will propose it at next week’s European Council, citing sabotage fears. The EU issued 800,000 such visas last year; Finland issued none. Finland already stopped issuing them in 2022 and closed its Russian land border in December 2023. #Finland #EU #Russia #TouristVisas #VisaBan #PetteriOrpo #EuropeanCouncil #BorderClosure #SabotageThreat #Sanctions #Snnfinland

— SNN Finland (@snnfinalnd) October 10, 2026

The EU has already made Russian travel more difficult through tighter rules on Schengen visas, introduced in November 2025. Those measures restricted access to multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals applying in Russia, requiring most affected travellers to make a fresh application for each journey. Some exceptions remained, including for certain family members and transport workers. Existing valid multiple-entry visas were not automatically cancelled by that decision. The changes followed the suspension of the EU’s visa facilitation agreement with Russia in 2022, which made applications more expensive and complicated. Finland’s latest proposal would go further by stopping visas for tourism altogether. 

However, European countries have remained divided over Russian visa restrictions. Finland and several countries close to Russia have pressed for tougher measures, while France, Italy and Spain have opposed previous attempts to introduce a tourist visa ban. France has previously defended continued contact with Russian citizens, arguing that cultural exchanges and personal ties can support dialogue. That position distinguishes the Russian government from its population, including civil society and opponents of the war. Finland is now seeking wider support for restrictions that would apply consistently across the bloc. 

One option under discussion is a German proposal for visas with limited territorial validity, allowing travel only within specified countries. Valtonen would support this approach as an interim measure. Finland also wants the European Commission to propose changes to the EU Visa Code, which sets the rules for short-stay visas. The aim is to allow binding restrictions to be imposed more quickly when relations with another country deteriorate severely on political or security grounds. The Commission is expected to present a proposal in January 2027 addressing visa-related threats from hostile countries.

L’article Finland calls for EU-wide ban on Russian tourist visas est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Visitor figures suggest a growing number of people are returning, although they should not all be understood as foreign holidaymakers. Government data put tourist arrivals at 3.52 million in the first half of 2026, more than double the figure recorded a year earlier. Of that total, 2.13 million were Syrian expatriates, meaning Syrians living outside the country. Around 660,000 visitors came from Arab countries, while approximately 720,000 came from other countries. Syrians abroad therefore accounted for about three-fifths of the reported total, underlining their importance to the recovery.

Syria welcomed 3.52 million visitors in the first half of 2026, up 111% year-on-year, Tourism Minister Mazen Al-Salhani said. Syria is now focusing on tourism investment, hotels, jobs and digital payments under its Syria 2030 vision. https://t.co/qzUnNCjyb9

— Tamir Hussein | Reporting Syria (@timtams83) September 28, 2026

Some of the proposed developments extend far beyond individual hotels. UAE developer Eagle Hills signed a framework agreement with Syria on 5 October for a 10 million square metre development in Damascus and a 4.3 million square metre project in coastal Latakia. Such an agreement establishes a basis for cooperation, rather than marking the completion of a project. Financial details were not disclosed. Eagle Hills chairman Mohamed Alabbar said Emaar, which is working on a separate Damascus development, could also participate in the two projects. Another UAE developer, Arada, has announced plans for a $7 billion project in the country.

Hotel operators are considering both new buildings and conversions of existing properties. Accor is in advanced negotiations for two projects, according to Duncan O’Rourke, its chief executive for the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Wyndham is examining opportunities in Damascus and coastal destinations. “Very soon, I’m confident that we’re going to announce our first signing in Syria,” said Dimitris Manikis, Wyndham’s president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Minor Hotels is also considering opportunities, including converting historic Damascus buildings into boutique hotels, generally smaller properties with an individual character. Traditional homes in the capital have already operated as locally run boutique hotels for decades.

Air connections are another part of the recovery, with Qatar Airways and flydubai serving Syria through their Gulf hubs. On 7 October, Etihad Airways announced plans to increase its Damascus service from four flights a week to a daily operation. These connections could help visitors reach the country through established international networks. However, Travel Tomorrow’s September report on continuing Middle East flight disruption despite reopened airspace explained that airlines were restoring services at different speeds. An open airport or reopened airspace does not automatically mean every airline has resumed its routes.

Security remains a significant challenge alongside the investment announcements. Syria continues to experience outbreaks of violence, and the US State Department still advises American citizens against travelling there. President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought closer relations with Western countries and investment from abroad to support reconstruction. Yet interest from developers does not remove the risks facing visitors or the difficulties involved in delivering major projects. Some communities in the suburbs of Damascus have also protested against large developments announced by the government.

Practical barriers include paying for services and bringing existing accommodation up to standard. Visa and Mastercard announced plans to launch operations in Syria in September, but electronic payments remain limited to certain foreign bank cards at specific locations. The World Bank estimated Syria’s reconstruction costs at $216 billion in 2025, including $75 billion for residential buildings and $59 billion for non-residential structures. Those figures cover the country’s wider rebuilding needs, rather than tourism alone. “The challenge with the market, it’s been basically off the grid for many years. So the (hotel) inventory that’s existing is very tired,” said Amir Golbarg, Minor Hotels’ chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa.

L’article Global hotel groups eye Syria expansion as tourism sector rebuilds est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

De Kleine Schorre was founded in 2001, when growing grapes for quality wine in the Netherlands still attracted scepticism. Its location on Schouwen-Duiveland exposed the vineyard to salty winds and the region’s heavy clay soil. Over the following years, the estate developed its wine production and established a partnership with KLM. The airline began serving its wines in 2006, introducing passengers on international routes to a less familiar wine-producing country.

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Today, the winery supplies wines made from grape varieties including Rivaner, Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc. Passengers can find its wines in World Business Class from September to November, with limited production restricting their availability. “It is an enormous honor for our wine estate to become part of KLM’s miniature house collection,” said Johan van de Velde, owner of De Kleine Schorre. He described the miniature as recognition of the work built up over the estate’s first 25 years. The choice also gives KLM another way to introduce passengers to a Dutch producer whose products they may encounter during their flight.

The winery’s miniature joins a tradition that began in 1952, when KLM started giving passengers small ceramic houses. The blue-and-white models reproduce notable buildings, allowing travellers to take home a small piece of architectural heritage. They contain genever, a traditional Dutch spirit flavoured with juniper, with Bols supplying the filling since the 1990s. Although many models represent Amsterdam buildings, the collection also includes landmarks elsewhere in the Netherlands and beyond.

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Since 1994, the number of houses in the main collection has matched the airline’s age. A new model is unveiled each year on 7 October, KLM’s anniversary. Previous editions have included Villa Rameau in Leiden and Amsterdam’s house on three canals, known as Het Huis aan de Drie Grachten. Zeeland already had two buildings in the collection before the winery’s arrival. These are house No. 6 in Middelburg and house No. 22 in Veere.

Alongside its annual numbered series, KLM also creates special editions. Earlier in 2026, it unveiled a miniature of The New York Historical Museum building to mark 80 years of flights between Amsterdam and New York. Other special models have included Amsterdam’s Royal Palace and the Frans Hals Museum. These editions are separate from the houses normally distributed on flights. Collectors can use the KLM Houses app to record the models they own, add notes and learn about the buildings behind them.

Beyond the miniature house unveiling, the anniversary event also brought news about onboard internet access. KLM announced plans to introduce Starlink’s satellite-based Wi-Fi on intercontinental flights from mid-2027. The airline aims to complete the rollout across its intercontinental fleet by mid-2028. Access will be free for members of Flying Blue, its frequent flyer programme, across all cabin classes. Membership is free, so passengers will not need business class tickets to use the service.

The announcement follows KLM’s introduction of free Wi-Fi on European flights from January 2026. That service uses technology from satellite communications company Viasat and also requires a Flying Blue account. The European rollout began with around half of the aircraft operating those routes equipped for the service. KLM said it would extend coverage to all its Airbus A321neo and Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, alongside selected Boeing 737-800s, in the coming years.

L’article KLM unveils 107th Delft Blue house honouring Dutch winery est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The top spot went to Štajerska in Slovenia, followed by Italy’s Langhe–Roero–Monferrato and Spain’s Ribeira Sacra. The selection spans seven countries, offering ideas for trips that combine wine tasting with local food, history and time in the countryside.

The top 12 wine regions in Europe for 2027

1. Štajerska, Slovenia
2. Langhe–Roero–Monferrato, Italy
3. Ribeira Sacra, Spain
4. Kamptal, Austria
5. Chianti Rufina, Italy
6. Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, France
7. Etna, Italy
8. Saumur and Anjou, France
9. Wachau, Austria
10. Valle d’Aosta, Italy
11. Alentejo, Portugal
12. Naoussa, Greece

Why Štajerska took first place

Štajerska’s wine heritage connects historic towns with vineyards and cellars that preserve centuries of local knowledge. In Maribor, a vine more than 450 years old is recognised as the world’s oldest. Wine cellars extend beneath the city centre, while vineyards cover the surrounding hills. Nearby Ptuj has another link to the past: its historic wine cellar preserves Zlata trta, a 1917 vintage described as Slovenia’s oldest preserved wine. Gornja Radgona adds a different chapter to the region’s history, as the place where Slovenia’s first sparkling wine was produced in 1852. These sites give visitors several ways to explore how winemaking developed in the region.

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Beyond the towns, roads connect family wineries, hillside villages and vineyard terraces. One of the most recognisable sights is the heart-shaped bend at Špičnik, where the road curves between rows of vines. In Jeruzalem Slovenija, sunny slopes and cool nights provide conditions for white grape varieties such as Šipon. Haloze offers a steeper landscape, with vineyards planted across demanding hillsides. Visitors may also notice wooden structures called klopotci, which use wind to create noise and scare birds away from the grapes. Tastings range from historic urban cellars to estates surrounded by vineyards, allowing travellers to experience different parts of the region’s wine culture.

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Italy and Spain take second and third

Second-placed Langhe–Roero–Monferrato lies in Piedmont in northwestern Italy, where vineyards share the landscape with hazelnut groves, castles and villages. Its wine heritage includes Barolo and Barbaresco, both made from the Nebbiolo red grape variety. Other varieties grown here include Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato, giving visitors a broader range of wines to discover. Food is an equally strong part of the attraction, with local cheeses, hazelnuts and Alba’s white truffles accompanying the region’s wines. European Best Destinations highlights autumn as a particularly appealing time to visit, when truffles and changing vineyard colours add to the experience.

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Ribeira Sacra, in Galicia in northwestern Spain, took third place with a landscape shaped by the Sil and Miño river canyons. Vines grow on narrow terraces cut into steep hillsides, making the setting a central part of a visit. Mencía, the region’s main red grape variety, produces aromatic wines influenced by the altitude and slate soils. Small wineries and ancient monasteries provide stops between tastings and walks. Travellers can also explore the river landscape by boat or follow hiking routes through the area, combining wine visits with time outdoors.

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Austria and Tuscany complete the top five

Austria’s Kamptal finished fourth, with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner among its leading white grape varieties. Around the town of Langenlois, historic family estates sit alongside contemporary wineries. Vineyard trails offer opportunities to explore the countryside between cellar visits. Traditional wine taverns, known as Heurige, bring together local wines and food. The region’s combination of established winemaking traditions and modern architecture gives visitors more to explore than tasting rooms alone.

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Fifth place went to Chianti Rufina, a small wine area northeast of Florence in Tuscany. Its vineyards extend into the Apennine foothills, where cooler conditions and higher elevations influence wines made from Sangiovese grapes. Visitors can combine tastings with walks through vineyards, olive groves and nearby villages. Accommodation includes agriturismi, or farm stays, which offer a base in the countryside. Florence’s proximity also makes it possible to include both the city and the surrounding wine area in one trip.

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From Slovenia’s historic cellars to Galicia’s steep vineyard terraces, the ranking highlights how varied a European wine trip can be. The appeal extends beyond the glass to the landscapes, food and communities that give each region its character.

L’article Which European wine regions should be on the radar in 2027? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Reducing carbon emissions remains central, alongside preparing for climate change, managing local environmental impacts, reusing resources and protecting nature. Transport, accessibility, staff and local communities also feature in the strategy. “But true sustainability means much more than just addressing carbon,” said Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe. The updated framework reflects the wider pressures facing airports, including energy costs, extreme weather and expectations from passengers and nearby residents. It encourages operators to consider these issues when planning investments and managing their businesses, rather than treating sustainability as a separate reporting task.

A key part of the strategy is a four-stage framework called Comply, Embed, Advance and Pioneer. The first stage focuses on meeting legal requirements and establishing a starting point against which progress can be measured. The second brings sustainability into daily operations and planning, while the third involves more ambitious targets and measurable results. The fourth encourages airports to lead changes across the wider sector. Before choosing actions, operators are advised to assess their environmental and community impacts, alongside external risks to their businesses. They should also consider what passengers, employees, local authorities and shareholders need. An accompanying toolkit helps airports assess their position in each area and track improvements.

For carbon emissions, the strategy sets out actions ranging from measuring energy use to investing in renewable electricity and cleaner vehicles. It also encourages cooperation with airlines and other businesses whose emissions fall outside an airport operator’s direct control. According to ACI Europe, 328 airports now have public net zero roadmaps, covering nearly 83% of European passenger traffic. More than 100 are targeting net zero by 2030 or earlier. However, the sector’s net zero commitment concerns operations under airport control, including fuel use and purchased electricity. It does not mean that flights using those airports are emissions-free.

Climate adaptation receives its own set of actions, recognising that airports must also prepare for floods, heat and storms. Suggested first steps include identifying weather risks, reviewing insurance and updating plans for keeping operations running during disruption. Airports further along are encouraged to assess vulnerable infrastructure and include climate risks in investment decisions. The framework also recommends longer-term adaptation plans as part of airport development. Other sections address noise, air quality, waste and water use, alongside protecting habitats on airport land. For example, the report highlights plans at Eindhoven Airport to reuse terminal materials and collect rainwater for toilets. These illustrate resource management measures already being developed, rather than projects launched by the strategy.

For passengers and staff, the framework recommends clearer public transport information and measures that encourage alternatives to private car journeys. Further actions include working with transport authorities to improve rail and bus connections and developing journey planners. Accessibility recommendations include programmes for people with disabilities that may not be immediately visible. Brussels Airport’s travel planner and virtual walkthroughs feature as existing examples of efforts to improve journeys. The people and community section also covers staff training, wellbeing, local recruitment and engagement with nearby residents. Suggested measures of progress include employee satisfaction, training hours and community satisfaction.

The strategy also sets out guidance for checking results and avoiding greenwashing, meaning environmental claims that are misleading or unsupported. Its suggested performance measures allow airports to track changes across all seven areas. Operators are advised to distinguish actual emissions reductions from carbon offsetting, which involves supporting projects elsewhere to compensate for emissions. The document calls for independent verification before airports describe themselves as carbon neutral. It also recommends that loans and other financing linked to sustainability use specific, measurable targets with clear deadlines.

L’article ACI Europe launches airport sustainability strategy that goes beyond carbon emissions est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.