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Indigo introduces six new direct flights! Check routes and other details

In order to bolster its international connectivity, IndiGo has announced that it will start six new daily direct flights. These new routes will also include a direct flight from Bengaluru to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from March 29 this year. Not only this, the airline company also plans to start a new route from Mumbai to Kathmandu in Nepal starting June 25. A flight between Chennai and Sri Lanka (Colombo) will also be started with effect from March 1. The new routes under the scheme include Aizawl to Agartala and Gorakhpur to Prayagraj and vice-versa. These services are expected to be functional from February 29, 2020. The airlines currently have a fleet of 250 aircraft. It also offers 1,500 flights daily and offers its services across 62 domestic destinations along with 23

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There is a luxury houseboat doing the rounds on Kerala backwaters

Kerala houseboat experience has changed for the better, thanks to Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, and its luxury backwater experience. The first-of-its-kind luxury houseboat is going to elevate your experience here, giving you stupendous views of the surrounding area. The luxury experience is possible in a floating mansion that was built for INR 3 crore, and is called Nattika. The houseboat can be booked for half day, or full day cruises through the scenic backwaters of Mulavukad, Moolampilly, Vaduthala, Chittoor, and Kadamakkudy to Eloor. A total of ten guests are allowed aboard the luxury houseboat, which has two bedrooms. Nattika is actually licensed to carry 40 passengers, but it is going to offer cruise for two families for now, each with a maximum of four members.Then there is the joy of trying some of the very best local delicacies in the houseboat, and as we all know that Kerala cuisine is supremely diverse, this will be a fantastic treat for people who love to eat.

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Travel Green: Discover Some Of The World’s Best Eco-Friendly Hotels

Low-impact travel and luxury can coexist thanks to an ever-expanding list of properties striving to respect their guest’s desire for environmentally friendly accommodation. Here’s a look at some of the world’s top sustainable hotels. Camp Glenorchy, New Zealand It’s New Zealand’s first net-zero energy accommodation. The property uses 50% less energy and water than comparable resorts and also relies on earth-friendly amenities like a solar garden, smart lighting, solar panels and an advanced onsite energy and water management system. Adding to Camp Glenorchy’s environmental allure is its incredible natural surroundings between the Humboldt and Richardson Mountain range. Pikaia Lodge, Ecuador Explore the iconic natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands from eco-luxurious Pikaia Lodge. The carbon-neutral property uses alternative energy resources and has an outstanding social responsibility program. Recyclable, eco-friendly building materials were sourced for its construction. The property also uses only biodegradable cleaning products and hotel water is heated through the use of solar panels. Discovery Rottnest Island, Australia Protecting wildlife and maintaining a low environmental impact are key concerns for Rottnest, which carefully limits development.The hotel offers a one-of-a-kind, low-impact glamping experience on gorgeous Pinky’s Beach. The elegant eco-tents are made from sustainable materials that rely on air-flow rather than air conditioning for ventilation. The property also harvests rainwater for reuse. To exist in harmony with its surroundings and ensure fauna like the quokkas can roam freely, there are no fences or boundries around the hotel. Fogo Island Inn, Canada Set on one of Canada’s most striking islands, the Inn is a community-friendly initiative and 100% of the operating surpluses are reinvested into the community to help the people of Fogo Island prosper. Additionally, the architecture and operational systems have been designed to meet the highest levels of energy efficiency and conservation within a luxury setting. Collected rainwater is filtered for use in toilets, laundry and appliances and solar panels supply hot water. Local suppliers for food and materials are used wherever possible, and the furniture is handcrafted and produced at the Inn’s Woodshop, which employs local craftspeople. Even the incredible quilts in each guest room are made by Island quilters. Salinda Resort, Vietnam The hotel organizes a ‘beach clean’ day once a month where staff and guests join to remove garbage from the beaches and surrounding neighborhoods. The hotel also prioritizes sustainable design in both its structures and surrounding landscape with a focus on biodegradable and renewable building materials. The property has also replaced plastic room keys with wood, shampoo containers with ceramic and uses LED lighting. Aquila Eco Lodges, Australia Eco Tourism Australia, Aquila is a verdant retreat for families and travelers of all ages. The property generates power and deals with all waste on site. Additionally, the resort has a rain water collection program, as well as a worm-based composting system to return nutrients back to the environment. Inside, guests will find low-wattage appliances and lighting, non-toxic paint, natural oil finishes and flushing compost toilet systems all designed to ensure an ozone-friendly experience. Soneva Fushi, Maldives Soneva Fushi is an eco-pioneer among resorts in the Maldives. It recycles 90% of its waste on-site at its own Eco Centro recycling plant as part of its "Waste-to-Wealth" program, which transforms waste into new products. Food waste from the resort's restaurants is composted to create nutrient-rich soil for the vegetable gardens. Soneva is also working with local government to open recycling facilities and introduce the resort's "Waste-to-Wealth" concept to three neighboring islands, which would help support local communities to reduce plastic consumption. The program also aims to educate local kids about waste and respect for the ocean, as well as teach locals to swim and surf. Blue Waters Resort & Spa, Antigua The property implemented plastic-reducing initiatives by installing refillable water stations throughout the resort and introduced complimentary BPA-free water bottles for guests. Other sustainability measures include growing fresh produce on-site, recycling and providing suitable food waste to local farmers for animal feed. The hotel’s most recent eco-effort is the launch of its proprietary bath amenity brand, Neem Avenue, which will eliminate approximately 55,000 single-use miniatures within a year. Petit St Vincent, St. Vincent & The Grenadines The property uses a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis desalination plant to processes ocean water to supply fresh drinking water. The hotel also bottles its own drinking water using reusable glass bottles, to prevent the need to import bottled water. Much of the produce served at the resort’s restaurants are harvested from its local organic garden. Recently, the property started a coral restoration and reef monitoring project with help from the Philip Stephenson Foundation and CLEAR Caribbean. Capella Ubud, Bali Hidden in Ubud’s lush rainforest, hugged by rice paddy fields and the Wos River, lies this incredible tented camp sanctuary. No tree was cut during the construction of the resort. The property also has a no single-use plastic policy and offers the local surrounding villages an educational program that focuses on a sustainable approach to waste management and eliminating plastic. Capella Ubud also has a variety of sustainability focused scholarships programs for the local village’s youths. Heckfield Place, England This Georgian Manor estate, nestled in the heart of Hampshire’s Jane Austen country, is set on 400 acres of sustainable farmland. The estate’s farm abides by bio-dynamic principles, and its lush gardens and orchards form the base of celebrated chef Skye Gyngell’s extraordinary cuisine. The farm also supports pigs, sheep and chickens and relies on its own biomass energy center to power the hotel’s water and central heating.

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10 of the best sleeper trains in Europe

Night train services are having a renaissance, thanks to renewed investment from operators, amid the need to fly less, here are the best sleeper trains in Europe. Stockholm to Narvik The country that’s home to Greta Thunberg and that coined the term flygskam (flight shame) has plans to introduce new sleeper routes this year. New connections from Malmö will be welcomed but for many Swedes nothing can beat the 20-hour odyssey from their capital’s Central Station across the wilderness of the Arctic Circle and on to the Norwegian town of Narvik. Berths from €83 Milan to Palermo This route offers the unusual: a chance to be on a train that boards a ferry – to cross the Strait of Messina. It’s also a special experience to travel from Italy’s industrial, artistic northern cities to the tip of the beautiful rural south. Italian sleepers are not known for hotel-like touches so prepare for a rustic experience on this route. Berths from €60 Paris to Rome The French Thello night train goes from the City of Light across the Alps to Milan (for onward connections on Trenitalia for Rome) and then various stops to Venice. It offers an affordable alternative for journeys you may otherwise think to take by plane. Start a journey with a drink at the Gare de Lyon’s famous Le Train Bleu, share a picnic and stories with fellow passengers before turning in for a comfortable sleep – and then get ready to jump off in Milan as dawn breaks. There is a connection to be made here but arrival at Termini is still by 10am. Berths from €30 Nice to Moscow If unsure about all those days spent doing the Trans-Siberian, get just a taste on Europe’s longest sleeper train. Leaving Nice on a Sunday morning, travel via Berlin and an extensive stop at Brest in Belarus (for visa checks and to change to Russian gauge) to arrive in Moscow in time for lunch on Tuesday. Follow the Union Flag and then International Routes, berths from £250 Brussels to Vienna The most recent route to be added to the Nightjet service, this sleeper offers good links from the UK via the Eurostar to Vienna, travelling twice weekly, depart Brussels with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, then enjoy a comfortable bed and arrive at 7.27am. Berths from €60 Madrid to Lisbon Known as Trenhotel Lusitania, the “train hotel” is an efficient and eco-friendly way to travel between these two capitals. It departs at 9.45pm and arrives at Lisbon’s Gare do Oriente at 7.30am.The cafe-bar is a convivial place to meet fellow travellers and can serve up a hot dish and a glass of vinho verde, which may help with the bumpy night’s sleep ahead. Berths from €34 Zurich to Hamburg Austrian Railways (ÖBB) has managed to deliver smooth, fast and comfortable Nightjet journeys since it launched its sleeper service in late 2016. The Nightjet network spreads across Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, but this is one of the only routes offering double-decker rolling stock. Berths from €60 Helsinki to Rovaniemi This sleeper is often referred to as the Santa Claus Express. Children under 10 travel free, cars can be taken on the train and the train is a double-decker. Run by the Finnish operator VR, the journey begins in the art-deco magnificence of Helsinki Central Station and over 12 hours whisks its way towards Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. The route runs all year and advance booking is essential. Berths from €48 Budapest to Bucharest Budapest’s Keleti station, where this sleeper originates, leaves the utilitarian terminus crowd behind with its grand facade, high ceilings and sense of space and light.The sleeper arrangements are pretty standard and note there may be no restaurant car until you reach Romania. Berths from £45 London Paddington to Penzance The UK currently has two regular sleeper services from London: the Night Riviera to Cornwall and the Caledonian Sleeper to Scotland. Great Western Railway (GWR) operates the Night Riviera, which has recently been refurbished to feature charging points, hotel-quality duvets and hanging space, plus airline-style seats in the seated carriages.Throughout the night it’s possible to disembark at 14 stops, from Taunton to Penzance, and from where sea connections go to the Isles of Scilly. Berths from £50

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Emirates offers free hotel stay and complimentary visa for Dubai stopover

Dhaka : Emirates is offering free hotel stay for two nights and complimentary 96-hour visas to visit Dubai for all those travelling via its home base en route to Europe, the Americas and Africa. The offer is valid for bookings made between February 11 and February 24, 2020 for travel between February 20 and March 31, 2020. Fares to Europe during this promotional period start at just USD 927 to London, inclusive of taxes. Saeed Abdulla Miran, Area Manager, Emirates Bangla-desh said, "This is the perfect time to visit Dubai, with its pleasant weather, and the many cultural, culinary and sporting events. The iconic hotels partnering with us are perfectly located, offering easy access to some of Dubai's most exciting attractions. Travellers can combine this attractive money-saving offer to experience the diverse offerings in Dubai and the seamless world-class travel experience offered by Emirates." For Economy Class passengers, the offer includes two complimentary nights stay at a Rove or equivalent hotels. First, Business or mixed class passengers will be entitled to two complimentary nights stay at Address Sky Views or Address Fountain Views or equivalent. Complimentary night stays are on room-only basis and subject to availability. First and Business Class passengers can ride in luxury with Emirates' chauffeur drive facility for airport transfers. Travellers to Dubai can download and use Skywards Everyday, a location-based app that gives members the power to earn Skywards Miles anytime, every day at their favourite retail, entertainment and dining outlets across the UAE across 1,000+ outlets and 250 brands. Members can also use Cash Plus Miles offer for more savings in buying tickets and many more. Emirates' customers can look forward to world-class hospitality from the airline's multinational cabin crew, while enjoying regionally inspired and international cuisine prepared by world-class gourmet chefs in Dubai. Emirates' inflight entertainment system ice provides customers with an unmatched selection of 4,500 channels of on demand entertainment, including several channels with popular Bangladeshi movies. Playlist syncing allows customers to browse the extensive content on offer, create personalised playlists based on their preferences ahead of their flight, and sync it to their seats once on board, using the Emirates App. Emirates' travellers in all classes can enjoy up to 20MB Wi-Fi data to remain constantly connected to their relatives and friends. Emirates operates thrice daily from Dhaka with modern wide-body Boeing 777s. From March 29, 2020, the airline is all set to launch its fourth daily service offering even more flexibility in flight choice. Customers travelling from Dhaka can enjoy convenient connections from Dubai to over 150 destinations across the globe.

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Turkey named world's 6th most favorite tourism destination in 2019

Having hosted the highest number of tourists ever in 2019, Turkey became the sixth most visited country in the world, according to recently revealed figures by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Accordingly, it managed to welcome over 52 million visitors last year, a 14% increase year-on-year. The rate made Turkey the 14th country with the highest year-on-year growth. The new tourism strategy targets over 75 million tourists and $65 billion in tourism revenue by 2023, the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. The figures were revised from 50 million tourists and $50 billion in tourism income. Meanwhile, France remained the most-visited country with more than 90 million tourists followed by Spain and the United States, which had 83.8 and 78.7 million arrivals respectively, according to UNWTO figures. China and Italy also made it to the top five with both receiving over 60 million visitors. While the rankings in the most-visited countries list remained mostly the same, there were some surprise entrants to the fastest-growing destinations. According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), tourism revenues in Turkey hit $34.5 billion last year, a record high. This is a 17% increase compared with the sector's revenue of $29.5 billion in 2018. The organization cited geopolitical and social tensions, regional uncertainties such as Brexit and Hong Kong protests, and the global economic slowdown as the main contributors to the slower growth. Presenting the new figures, the body's intelligence chief, Sandra Carvao said: "This is a growth that we can consider strong because it is within the historical average, but we see a slight slowdown compared to the last two years. But it should be noted that the last two years have been really exceptional with a growth that was not normal." The UNWTO predicted global tourism will grow by 3%-4% this year, buoyed by major sporting and cultural events such as the Tokyo Olympics in Japan. The organization also cited the economic slowdown in many key issuing markets such as Germany and the collapse of Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel firm, and of several other low-cost airlines in Europe had contributed to the slowdown in the sector last year.

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