AN improved ‘world class’ airport is set to open on a Caribbean island next year.

Tobago, an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, was named as one of Lonely Planet’s Best Destinations to Travel to in 2025.

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The island’s airport – ANR Robinson International Airport- currently has UK flights, with British Airways flying twice a week.

And next year, it is opening it’s huge new renovation.

Estimated to have cost around $130million (£100million), the expansion includes a new terminal with space for three million passengers a year, three times the current airport capacity.

Larger retail outlets and restaurants, as well as newer improved airport security are also part of the renovation.

The renovation is set to open by March 2025.

 Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram said back in September: “The new airport terminal building and associated infrastructure works project is at this time 74 per cent complete.

“The project has been delayed, bits and pieces with respect to amendments and adjustments. I think it was affected by Covid as well, but the bottom line is, we are well on schedule now.”

The airport first opened in the 1940s although has been expanded since 2004.

Only British Airways has direct international flights from the UK.

The other airlines operating from the airport are Caribbean Airlines, with flights to Port of Spain, New York and Barbados, with Condor having seasonal routes to Frankfurt.

And Tobago is increasingly becoming a holiday destination for Brits, thanks to the direct UK flights with British Airways.

From 2022 to 2023, there was a 32 per cent increase in UK tourists visiting the island.

The island is just 25 miles long and seven miles wide, but has some amazing stretches of sandy beaches.

There is Turtle Beach, where you can see leatherback turtles or visit the UNESCO-listed Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest forest conservation area in the western hemisphere.

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There is even ‘Nylon Pool,’ a shallow coral pool named by Princess Margaret on her honeymoon because the water was as clear as her nylon stockings.

British Airways holidays can be found for £788pp with return UK flights, seven hotel nights and daily breakfast.

Tobago isn’t the only Caribbean island getting a new airport.

Dominica, different from the Dominican Republic, has revealed plans for a ew XCD$1billion (£292million) airport to welcome international flights.

Brits currently have to fly to the island via St Lucia, taking 15 hours.

And Barbuda has opened a new $14million (£10.8million) international airport.

Known for its pink sand beach, it hopes to open up to international commercial flights, currently only operating private jets.

While not in the Caribbean, the island of Bali could soon open a second international airport in the northern region.

With record numbers visiting the island, the second airport hopes to both ease congestion at the current airport and encourage tourism to other parts or Bali.

SITTING in the English Channel, just off the western coast of France, Jersey is known for its sandy beaches and rich history.

While the Channel Island is popular with Brits in the summer, it’s been tipped as a top winter destination thanks to the mild temperatures.

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As the most southerly of the Channel Islands, Jersey benefits from mild weather in the winter, making it slightly warmer than the UK mainland.

According to the island’s tourism board, temperatures in Jersey rarely drop below freezing, ranging between 5C to 8C in the winter instead.

Because of its warmer winters, the Channel Island has been tipped as a top winter destination by a team of travel experts from the travel booking site, Omio.

The travel booking website researched the best locations where holidaymakers could experience a Euro Winter, with St Helier, the capital of Jersey topping the list.

Google searches of St Helier as a winter holiday destination rose 171 per cent compared to last year.

As the island’s capital, there are plenty of activities to do in St Helier – especially if there’s a chill in the air.

One of those is Chocolate Bar Jersey – an independent shop where holidaymakers can purchase handmade chocolate.

Other places to shop include the Liberty Wharf Shopping Centre, a restored Victorian shopping centre that’s home to top brands and cafes, and Voisins Department Store.

Mont Orgueil Castle is another popular attraction to visit in Jersey in the winter.

Bird watching is another popular pastime in the winter, with the best months for bird watching between October and March.

This is because plenty of birds migrate to the island for the winter.

Jersey is also said to be home to a year-round dolphin population, meaning holidaymakers may be able to spot the aquatic creatures in the winter.

Earlier this year, Jersey was named one of the world’s best islands in the Condé Nast Traveller’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Jersey is known for its wide variety of beaches, with its coastline often being compared to more exotic locations like the Caribbean.

Beauport Beach, which is close to St Brelade’s Bay, is described as a hidden gem.

Arriving at the beach is an adventure, with a steep pathway of steps tumbling down from the cliff face from a small car park.

The south side of the beach is surrounded by granite cliffs and is a well-known sun trap, making it an ideal place for a walk.

Plenty of Jersey’s beaches are surrounded by palm trees, giving the island a tropical feel.

The harbour town of St Aubin’s, located on the southwest side of the island between Portelet Bay and St Helier, is another popular destination on the island.

Originally a fishing village, St Aubin’s used to be the island’s economic centre, with the harbour being central to the town’s history.

Its fort is another highlight, with holidaymakers able to reach the structure at low tide.  

Jersey is a paradise for food lovers – with the island making the most of its local produce like Jersey royal potatoes, Jersey milk, and seafood.

Jersey milk is used to make butter and ice-cream, which is available from many of the island’s cafes and beaches.

The Michelin-starred restaurant – Bohemia Bar & Restaurant at The Club Hotel & Spa in St Helier is one of Jersey’s top offerings.

With its chic atmosphere, bright linen-clad tables, dark wood walls, and modern European cuisine made with local, seasonal, and fresh ingredients, the restaurant has held on to a Michelin star for 20 consecutive years.

Other awards under its belt include four AA Rosettes and a place in the top 1,000 restaurants in the world by LA LISTE in 2022.

The island can be a budget-friendly holiday destination depending on the type of accommodation and activities you choose.

There’s a variety of budget-friendly accommodation options, including guesthouses, B&Bs, and Airbnbs.

Holidaymakers can save money by exploring Jersey on foot thanks to the compact size of the island.

The easiest way to reach Jersey is via ferry or plane, depending on where you live on the UK mainland.

Condor Voyager is a high-speed ferry from Poole to St Helier that takes about four hours. A standard car trip for two can cost from £75 per person each way.

Commodore Clipper is a conventional ferry from Portsmouth to St. Helier that takes about 10 hours and 20 minutes. The average price for a foot passenger is £206, and the average price for a car is £436.

And EasyJet offers cheap flights to Jersey starting from £26.99 in November.

Meanwhile, these are six secret holiday spots in Europe.

And this French holiday spot has been described as “unfairly overlooked”.

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THE Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire has been used as a backdrop for several blockbuster films thanks to its ancient woodland.

Managed by The National Trust since 1926, the Ashridge Estate is part of the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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The National Trust still uses livestock to help maintain the diverse habitats, with foresters felling timber to keep the woodland healthy.

With its beech and oak woodlands, fields of bluebells in the spring, and roaming fallow deer, the 5,000-acre site has proved a master in conjuring up wonderful settings.

Disney films such as Angelina Jolie‘s Maleficent and the musical fantasy Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and James Corden, were all shot in the ancient woodland.

Fantasy movies like Stardust and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire were also filmed in the forest.

And if Ashridge Estate is good enough for Hollywood stars and big-name productions, then it is certainly somewhere Brits should visit for a day out.

This National Trust walk gives some of the best of the autumn colours in the less-trodden areas of the beautiful Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire.

The 5,000-acre site is home to over 80 miles of pathways, with navigation website Komoot listing 19 different walks – although there are probably many more.

One of those is the Ashridge Estate Boundary Trail – North, a circular walk through the northern half of the site where ramblers pass through Ivinghoe Beacon and Incombe Hole.

A huge draw for visitors is the deer that roam on the historic estate.

The deer were introduced in the 13th century by Edmund Earl of Cornwall who founded a monastery on the site where Ashridge House now stands.

A deer park was created next to the monastery, with the woodland creatures remaining on the site for hundreds of years.

Nowadays, deer roam freely on the huge site, with three different species on the site, including Fallow deer, Muntjac deer and Red deer.

Ashridge Estate is also known for its bluebells, with the flowering attracting large numbers of visitors each year.

The blooming date for bluebells varies depending on the weather, but they’re usually visible in April and May.

Dockey Wood is the best place to view bluebells in Ashridge Estate, with visitors charged a small entry fee of £3.50 to visit last year.

Bridgewater Monument, which is currently closed for conservation works, is set to reopen in Spring 2025.

Before its closure, 15,000 visitors would climb its 172 steps to the viewing platform every year.

From the viewing platform, visitors can see Wembley Stadium and Canary Wharf on a clear day.

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Pitstone Windmill is another top attraction to visit in the woodland.

It’s thought to be one of the oldest post mills in Britain, with visitors able to explore its inside and learn how it works.

Pitstone Windmill is set to reopen in May for the summer season.

There’s also a visitor centre on-site, with a plant shop and a second-hand bookshop, and a cafe on the site.

Ashridge Estate has a 4.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from hundreds of reviews.

One person wrote: “The Ashridge Estate covers a large area, and there are plenty of walks to explore.”

“There is some really beautiful scenery to enjoy so have your phone or camera ready to capture what you see”

Another person added: “Stunning gardens and a lovely tea room. There is so much to explore that you would want to spend a day here if the weather is good.”

Ashridge Estate is free to enter, with the ancient forest open throughout the year.

It’s a 90-minute drive from London.

Meanwhile, these camping etiquette mistakes will make other campers hate you.

And these are the best campsites to visit in the UK.

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A CITY not far from the UK has been named a top destination to visit in 2025 – and there are big plans there for tourists.

Cork made the top 25 destinations named by National Geographic as places to visit next year.

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The Irish city is easy to get to – flights from the UK take just over an hour from both London and regional airports such as Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.

It was also once the the home city of actor Cillian Murphy, Jonathon Rhys Meyers and Graham Norton.

And the city has revealed its huge five-year tourist plan to encourage more people to visit.

One of those is a new Cork lido, with the 50m heated outdoor swimming pool currently in plans.

Blarney Castle’s gardens will be revamped, with hopes to reopen the 600-year-old Barryscourt Castle to the public.

Roches Point Lighthouse also want reopen, while accommodation could open at Ballycotton Lighthouse.

Spike Island – dubbed Ireland‘s Alcatraz – could get more ferry routes,

Coastal pathways, a visitor attraction at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, festivals and and outdoor spaces at the Docklands are also included in the plans.

More hotels, cultural areas and food experiences to make it the country’s food capital have also been mentioned.

Aileen Murray and Derry Cronin, Cork City, Harbour and East Cork DEDP co-chairs said:”This plan sets out the actions, priorities and future investment for the area, by focusing on increasing the value of tourism, growing the appeal of the destination and increasing visitor spend.

“The actions within this plan will ultimately strengthen the local communities living in these areas.”

The Irish Sun’s Roisin Phelan went to Cobh herself and explained why its such a top destination.

She wrote: “Once called Queenstown, hundreds of people were saved off the coast after the ship Lusitania bound for Liverpool was torpedoed by a German submarine.

“The Titanic Experience Cobh is located in the centre of Cobh, in the original White Star Line ticket office, where hundreds of people bought their tickets for the ship in 1912.

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“For something more lighthearted, visitors can enjoy a walk down the promenade and a glance at all the colourful buildings of the town.

“You can sometimes even spot dolphins swimming in pods through the harbour.”

Make sure to catch the Dursey Island Cable Car too, when in Cork.

And if staying, there is the fancy The Address, with the hotel dating back to 1872 when used as a military hospital, or a new Premier Inn and Moxy which both opened this year.

Also in Cork is Kinsale, dubbed the Irish Riviera with multicoloured houses that look like Italy.

Or there is the small seaside town of Youghal with soft white sand.

This week, York will welcome creative industry leaders from around the world as the city celebrates ten years of being a UNESCO City of Media Arts.

York is one of 26 cities globally to have won the City of Media Arts designation and the only city in the UK to hold the title.

The tenth anniversary coincides with the 14th annual Aesthetica Short Film Festival, which showcases and brings together the world’s independent film, VR and gaming industry.

In addition, the city will mark this milestone with York’s first-ever UNESCO EXPO, bringing together leading media arts cities from across Europe, including Braga (Portugal), Linz (Austria), and Oulu (Finland) to explore how UNESCO designation has driven cultural investment and sparked creative opportunities.

The festival, taking place in venues across the city from 6-10 November, will see attendees and participants from over 60 countries arrive in York, with industry leaders from world-famous organisations like the New York Times, Aardman and Ridley Scott Associates sharing their expertise through workshops and panel discussions.

Claire Foale, Interim Director of City Development, said:

“On behalf of the council, I’d like to warmly welcome delegates from across the world to York – a city that blends a rich sense of history with a forward-looking and innovative spirit, making it one of the UK’s most exciting places for creative investment.

“We’re delighted to have supported this year’s festival through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, enabling Aesthetica to make cutting-edge culture accessible and open for all to enjoy.

“We’re encouraging residents and visitors alike to get involved with the festival and enjoy the world-class talent and creativity on show in our city this week.”

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MANCHESTER Airport’s revamped private terminal – called Aether – opened its doors for the first time to passengers this week.

The Sun was the first newspaper invited to experience the luxury
concept, which costs from £90 to £170 per person. So is it worth the
money?

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The last time I arrived at Manchester Airport, it was peak summer season.

My cabbie dumped us outside terminal 2 as quickly as possible, no doubt keen to dodge any “drop-off” parking charges.

We hauled our own luggage to check-in, went through security and spent the next couple of hours enjoying some food and a drink in the £34-a-head Escape Lounge.

The grub was decent and the bar well-stocked, but it was very busy.

This time I am expecting a very different experience.

I arrive at Aether and park outside and walk towards a trendy, modern-looking building where I am greeted by name by two smartly dressed members of staff.

They show me into the building and I am offered the chance to leave my bags with them.

I only have a cabin-sized rucksack but if I had checked baggage there
are two machines which spit out the necessary labels and you can forget about them until you land at your destination.

I am then taken into the Aether lounge, which unusually for airports
is an oasis of peacefulness and calm.

Indeed during the three hours I spent in the terminal, the attentive
staff outnumber the guests – and apparently that remains the plan.

The helpful manager Suzanne explains they hope for no more than a
dozen or so customers every hour, so the space never feels busy.

The friendly head chef pops out to say hello and we discuss the food
menu on offer, which has been curated by legendary Manchester chef Adam Reid, who is a double winner of TV programme Great British Menu and is chef patron at Manchester’s acclaimed restaurant The French.

Like most northerners, I start with a cup of tea and have a little
wander to the window, where a huge Airbus A330 slowly taxis along the runway.

The thick glass windows ensure none of the engine noise comes through, so business customers can get on with some work undisturbed after logging onto the wifi.

Unlike other lounges, Aether also welcomes guests who are not travelling, so families wishing to enjoy a long goodbye can use their services.

While I wait, I have a poke around and check out the drinks on offer.

A good selection of red and white wines along with bottles of Asahi,
Corona and Moretti lager and a fridge packed with champagne.

The usual soft drinks – Coke, fruit juices and still and sparkling
water are all on offer too.

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The toilets get the luxury touch too with Molton Brown soap and hand lotion, gold taps and large mirrors.

Onto the food. First up is a plate of vegetable crisps on a bed of pea puree which was very moreish, and should be served with a spoon so no pea is left behind.

Then a hefty chunk of malt loaf with whipped beef butter, some
beautiful cold ham, smoked salmon and a pickled vegetable garnish.

After my guest arrived, we asked the chef to give us a little
something of all the main courses on offer.

Reading them on the menu, they don’t sound too filling – a crumpet
topped with shrimp and tomato butter, Mincemeat gravy on toasted malt loaf and a rye bread rarebit with mushroom and walnut
ketchup.

All were delicious and of restaurant quality.

The portions were hearty and by the time we’d had a desert Crumble
bowl with this season’s stewed fruit and three good-sized pieces of
cheese and crackers, we were stuffed.

If I was getting on a plane after the food, I would not need to pay £5
for a small box of Pringles or £10 for a stone-cold toastie.

Infact, I’m not sure I would need to eat again.

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Staff in the lounge know which flight you are booked on, and monitor the departure board for you until they feel it’s time for you to pass through the private security lane.

The room is next door – and while rules prevent it from being
photographed – the body scanning equipment is state of the art and the lack of other passengers ensure there is no queuing.

Once through, you are handed a fresh bottle of water (as you are now airside) and escorted to a waiting BMW i7. A driver then takes you along the tarmac to your gate, with the furthest gate being a maximum of 20 minutes drive away.

A staff member then escorts you to the gate where your boarding pass is checked by gate staff and you board the plane.

As I had no flight booked, I couldn’t experience the BMW, but I did
get to sit in one outside and can confirm its the first car I have
seen with a drop down TV screen and Netflix available.

So after all the glitz and glamour, how much does Aether cost and is
it worth it?

Entry level is £90 for the ‘Express’ – for those with just cabin bags,
it provides access to go straight through the private terminal’s
security – thus avoiding the queues, and getting chauffeured straight to your plane.

Then from £150 per person, you get all that plus inclusive alcoholic
and soft drinks, and an a la carte menu and refreshments.

For £170, it works for check-in bags too, which clear security and are then taken to your plane for you. You can also choose to book in for both legs of your journey.

Guests planning on booking a checked bag package will need to be
flying with a partner airline, which includes British Airways and
Cathay Pacific, while all other passengers are able to book the cabin
bag only options.

Non-travelling guests can also enjoy the dining experience from £40pp.

Prior to experiencing Aether, I was sceptical about the cost.

As a married dad of two, it’s unlikely I would spend £680 extra so my
family can experience Aether on our next package summer holiday.

I mentioned the terminal to my elderly parents as my dad is a nervous flyer, and his response was “Where do I sign up?”.

Some travellers don’t mind the hustle and bustle of a busy airport and love nothing more than a pint in the airport pub to kickstart their trip.

But if I were travelling with my wife for a weekend away, it would be
a great way to make the airport experience more enjoyable and a £30
budget airline flight to somewhere more bearable.

Aether is also likely to be popular with travellers who have mobility
issues as has no stairs and every aspect of it – food, drink, toilets,
security – is just a few yards walk.

Business passengers are also likely to enjoy its benefits given the
wifi is unlimited and quick to access, and parts of the lounge can be
partitioned off for more privacy.

Will it be a success? I think so – and we’ll know if it has been as
more Aether lounges are likely to pop up at airports around the world.

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