A Lufthansa flight lands in Munich. The airline says a single case of ‘hidden city’ travel cost them more than €2,000. Photograph: Lukas Barth/EPA Airlines are cracking down on a ticketing loophole that can knock thousands of pounds off the cost of travel – but the fight back is only giving more publicity to the advantages of “hidden city” travel. At its most simplistic, hidden city ticketing is when a passenger purchases a ticket to less popular and thus cheaper destination that happens to be routed through a more popular, and thus…
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Toyota Yaris: What the first reviews are saying about the Honda City challenger
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is merely days away from launching its first-ever C2-segmenter in India. Dubbed as the Yaris, the upcoming Toyota sedan is basically a Honda City-Hyundai Verna-Maruti Ciaz adversary that will aim to attract everyone with its long list of features, mini-Corolla Altis looks, and of course, the high brand recognition that Toyota enjoys. So, will it be really easy for the Yaris to outclass its rather formidable rivals? Here’s what some of India’s motoring publications have said about the Yaris in their test drive review reports. Autocar…
Read MoreTravellers, take note: Hong Kong is the world’s top city for international visits
Hong Kong is set to retain its status as the city most visited by international travellers this year in spite of strained relations with mainland China. In a report published on Tuesday, market research firm Euromonitor International said it estimates 25.7 million arrivals in Hong Kong this year, down 3.2% on 2016. The Thai capital Bangkok retains second place, but its popularity has grown faster than Hong Kong’s, with arrivals up 9.5% at 21.3 million. London is Europe’s top city, in third place with 19.8 million arrivals, but the report…
Read MoreOffbeat destination: Old-world charm meets modern-day European city in Bruges
Walking through central Bruges is like a romantic journey into the past. With centuries-old gabled buildings lining a web of canals and cobblestone streets, the vibe is quintessential old-world Europe. Bruges is also one of the most beautiful cities in Western Europe, a place that has been called the Venice of the North. And the best part: you can travel solo. Located about an hour northwest of Brussels, not far from the North Sea, Bruges is the capital of West Flanders in the Flemish region of Belgium. The city was spared…
Read MoreUdaipur travelogue: What to do, where to eat and when to visit the city of lakes
The first sound that greeted you at the arrival lounge of Udaipur’s Maharana Pratap Airport was Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu’s. The flat screen TV, hoisted on a pillar, was playing Pooja Bhatt praying in a temple, and Sanjay Dutt doing what he does best: singing Tumhe Apna Banane Ki Kasam Khai Hai in Sanu’s voice. My mother tugged at my father’s shirt, “You remember the last time we came here? Everyone was playing songs from Sadak. It’s happening again!” Last time was 25 years ago. This was my first visit…
Read MoreThe city that Ahmed built: Which version of Ahmedabad are we prepared to preserve?
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Heritage Walk begins at the Swaminarayan temple in Kalupur. You gather in the early morning in the large open courtyard, flanked on three sides by multi-storeyed haveli buildings. This temple is very different from the elaborate marble temples associated with the sect. Devotees go about their business and pigeons flutter in droves, as the knot of motley tourists heads out into the narrow lanes of Ahmedabad’s old city. The walk meanders through the pols, a form of high-density living accompanied by a highly organised social structure,…
Read MoreTAP to launch flights from London City Airport
Portuguese airline TAP has confirmed it will launch flights from London City Airport to Lisbon on 29 October. The new route will complement existing flights from Heathrow and Gatwick. TAP is the only airline to offer the route between London City, located in the financial heart of the capital, and the cosmopolitan destination of Lisbon, making short breaks and travel for both business and leisure even more convenient for those starting their journey in London. Flights will operate with Embraer 190 aircraft, with seat capacity for 106 passengers, departing London…
Read MoreAlt city guide to Birmingham
Creatively, Birmingham is elusive. Unlike many cities, it does not have an identifiable cultural DNA. It has never asserted itself as a centre of radical art or music. Local creatives offer various reasons why. Some take a quiet pride in that anonymity: “We didn’t shout as loud as people from Manchester, but that’s the nature of the city”, the techno producer Karl O’Connor, aka Regis, once told the Quietus. Over the years that modesty may have become a self-fulfilling prophecy, but, even geographically, Birmingham is not built for self-promotion. This…
Read More10 of the best winter city breaks in Europe: readers’ travel tips
Winning tip: Tobogganing in Zurich The best way to see Zurich is from the top of its own mini mountain, Uetliberg, from where you get a view of the whole city, the lake and the countryside with mountains in the distance. It’s particularly magical in winter when everything is dusted with snow and the toboggan run is open – two miles of downhill fun from Uetliberg to Triemli! You can hop on a direct train from Zurich main station to the mountaintop, which takes just 20 minutes and costs CHF8.60…
Read MoreSir Lenny Henry’s appointment as Birmingham City University chancellor to give young people ‘life-changing opportunities’
His illustrious career has spanned four decades which has seen him play stand-up comedian, charity founder, actor, writer, and blues singer. Now, he can add university chancellor to his CV, a move which is hoped to inspire the students of tomorrow. Birmingham City University (BCU) made the announcement this week that Sir Lenny Henry had visited the campus to start preparing for his five-year term as chancellor. The 57-year-old, who was knighted in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity, said his new role will be…
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