The latest sales figures from the online travel specialist show thousands of British tourists visited the Eurasian destination this month.

Disappointing British weather has prompted a deluge of last minute holidays, with visitors to the Turkish destination of Dalaman up 31% and Bodrum up 27% on last year.

Egypt’s sunny climes and all-inclusive deals have also drawn a flurry of British tourists this month, with bookings at popular Sharm El Sheikh resort up 21% on summer 2008.

Simon Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at On the Beach comments, “Whilst many destinations are finding August a relatively slow month, other non-Euro destinations are reaping the benefits. We expect September to be a good time to book a last minute holiday.”

Source:worldtravelguide.net

A survey from travel agent Thomson and First Choice shows that 80% of the population are intending to take a holiday next year, with nearly half of the 1,000 people asked saying that they would use the recession to enjoy accommodation typically beyond their means by nabbing a 5-star hotel for 3- or 4-star prices.

The number of people intending to purchase all-inclusive holidays has also risen, from 10% to 16%.

While 24% say they are looking to spend more money on next year’s break, travellers are also keen to take advantage of the current dip in long-haul flight prices, with 23% saying they are looking to buy longer flights at short-haul prices.

Source:worldtravelguide.net

The cost of checking in a bag online will go up from £10 to £15, and at the airport from £20 to £30.

The fee for sports equipment will also rise, from £30 to £40 if booked online and £50 if paid at the airport.

However, the no-frills airline is also changing its baggage policy to allow passengers to carry up to two bags of 15kg (33lbs) each, before incurring excess baggage charges of £15 a kilogram.

Ryanair defended the charges which, it said, enabled the airline to keep fares low.

“These baggage fees are all avoidable by all passengers who choose to travel with carry-on luggage only,” said a spokesman for the airline. “Over 70% of Ryanair passengers will be totally unaffected by these changes as they already travel with just one carry-on bag, which is free of charge.”

It is the latest airline to either increase luggage charges or cut the number of bags passengers can take on board free of charge in recent months.

British Airways and a number of transatlantic carriers recently announced that passengers will only be allowed to carry one holding bag for free, with additional items costing just over £30, with the exact amount varying with each airline.

Similar restrictions are operated on short-haul flights by all airlines, although budget carriers charge more for luggage while trying to keep the cost of the ticket itself low.

Source:worldtravelguide.net

The short video shows the former Baywatch actress sporting skimpy hotpants, knee-high boots, an unbuttoned security guard’s shirt and a large baton.

Posing as airport security, the curvaceous blonde undresses passengers who are wearing fur, leather and animal products.

CNN Airport Network, which manages the public video screens in US airports, said the ad will not be aired on airport screens “because children make up part of the demographic at airports”.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) aims to air the ad on in-flight entertainment systems.

Source:worldtravelguide.net

Keiichi Iwasaki, 36, originally left for a short ride from his home in Japan. But he enjoyed himself so much he caught a ferry to South Korea, and since then has travelled the world on his favourite Raleigh Shopper bicycle.

He has been robbed by pirates, arrested in India, almost died when he was attacked by a rabid dog in Tibet, and nearly married in Nepal.

But he also climbed Mount Everest and taken a dip in the Ganges River in India.

Mr Iwasaki, from Maebashi, Japan, said that he is funding his travels by performing magic tricks in the street.

The intrepid traveller added that only his ”strong will” has kept him going.

”Most travellers and adventurers need money but instead of giving up an opportunity to travel the world I want to clarify that dreams can come true if you have a strong will,” he said.

”I didn’t want to use airplanes because I wanted to see and feel everything with my own skin.”

Mr Iwasaki is currently in Switzerland waiting to climb Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc.

Following this he plans to cycle through Africa and both Americas, before making his way back to Japan for the first time in over a decade, and write a book about his trip.

Source:worldtravelguide.net