Brits 'to take more short breaks this year'
There has been an increase in demand for short breaks among consumers this year, according to a survey of 15,000 people carried out by the British Travel Awards (BTA).
In its most recent poll, the organisation found that plans to take trips of a shorter duration as well as a main holiday have increased by three per cent.
The results also showed a five per cent increase in the number of people intending to take domestic breaks.
Lorraine Barnes Burton, chief executive of the BTA, said that the survey underlined the strength of demand for holidays among British consumers, despite the recent recession.
"It would appear that for 2010 the main annual holiday will not be sacrificed, as 27 per cent said they would reduce costs elsewhere rather than forego their main annual holiday, with others suggesting they would reduce holiday budgets," she said.
"Indeed, only seven per cent of consumers said they would not travel in 2010 if budgets got too tight."
Travellers looking for a convenient but exciting getaway this year can take city breaks in Barcelona, Paris, Rome and other European hotspots.
Click here to book your ideal Barcelona city break
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See relics from Tutankhamun's funeral on a New York city break
City breaks in New York will offer the opportunity for travellers to visit an eerie but fascinating exhibition this year.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host a display of relics from Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun's funeral from March 16th to September 6th.
American businessman and excavator Theodore Davis discovered the artefacts in 1907 and donated them to the Metropolitan Museum two years later.
Among the items that were buried near Tutankhamun's tomb around 1327 BC are bags of sawdust used in the embalming process, pottery vessels from the funeral meal, linen sheets and bandages.
People taking city breaks in New York will be able to see all of these objects in the exhibition, as well as a sculpture of the head of Tutankhamun and paintings representing funerary rituals.
Modern art enthusiasts can visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art between April 27th and August 1st to see an exhibition celebrating the work of Pablo Picasso.
Click here to book your ideal city break in New York
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Continental named most admired US airline
Continental has been named the most admired US airline for the ninth year in a row in a list published by Fortune magazine.
Every year, the publication produces a run-down of the most respected commercial organisations around the world.
Singapore Airlines was named the most admired company of all in the aviation sector, narrowly ahead of Continental.
The American carrier - which operates daily flights to New York from London Heathrow - was ranked top for people management.
Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman and chief executive officer, said: "Continental's working-together culture helps us deliver our industry-leading service and outstanding product.
"I'm proud and honoured to see my co-workers' hard work recognised."
Other carriers to feature in Fortune's top ten include the Lufthansa and Air France-KLM groups and British Airways.
Continental recently announced that it would be offering the option for its economy passengers to buy seats with extra leg room at check-in, a provision that could prove popular among people catching flights to New York.
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Discover Frederic Chopin on a Warsaw city break
People taking city breaks in Warsaw this year will be able to visit a new museum dedicated to Frederic Chopin.
The attraction has been opened in Poland's capital city to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth.
Travellers enjoying Warsaw city breaks will be able to see a variety of historic items representing Chopin's life and work, including diaries and other personal possessions, manuscripts, musical scores and correspondence.
The museum is located in an old building that has been at the centre of a refurbishment project since 2005.
Alicja Knast, curator of the Chopin Museum, said: "We want the museum to be a universal, inspiring and thoughtful place, corresponding at the same time with the individual needs of the visitors."
She added: "I strongly believe that this goal can be achieved, primarily because it is essential to create a museum for the 21st century that gives credit to Chopin's genius."
People taking city breaks in Warsaw can explore four floors at the museum, each of which will offer a different perspective on the composer's life and work.
Click here to book your ideal Warsaw city break
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See a blockbuster match on a Madrid city break
Football fans will be arranging city breaks in Madrid next month to see one of the biggest games in club football.
Real Madrid will take on Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital on April 11th.
Those who are miraculously able to obtain tickets will be treated to a spectacular display of football by two bitter rivals who boast arguably the world's two best players among their ranks - Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid and Lionel Messi for Barcelona.
The majority of people enjoying Madrid city breaks next month will not have tickets for the game itself, but will still be able to enjoy the unique atmosphere that emerges around the time of this fixture every year.
Madrid currently lead La Liga but are level on points with defending champions Barcelona.
The side based in Spain's capital will be seeking revenge in next month's meeting, having lost 1-0 to Barca at the Camp Nou in November.
Click here to book your ideal Madrid city break
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City break visitors urged to see all of Paris
Travellers planning city breaks in Paris have been encouraged to look beyond the French capital's famous attractions and explore some of its lesser-known aspects.
Veronique Potelet Anty at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau said that multiple visits to the destination allow travellers to take in more diverse and fulfilling experiences.
"For those that come for the first time, obviously they want to see the Eiffel Tower and the main attractions, but for those who have come to Paris a few times, there are really good offerings," she said.
Ms Potelet Anty offered a number of examples, including behind-the-scenes visits to theatres and gastronomy tours.
She also encouraged people planning city breaks in Paris to visit some local museums.
"We have more than 140 museums in Paris," the spokeswoman said.
"Obviously people will go possibly to the Louvre but then the City Hall of Paris for example owns around 50 museums, which are really tiny … and they're free and have permanent collections."
Click here to book your ideal Paris city break
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Celebrate fantastic film on a Brussels city break
Movie fans who like nothing more than being spooked can arrange a Brussels city break this year to attend a festival in the Belgian capital.
The 28th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival will be held at the Tour and Taxis centre from April 8th to 20th.
Every year, the festival programme brings together a series of events that showcase and celebrate movies in the horror and science fiction genres, including screenings, premieres, retrospectives and more.
People with an interest in Japanese animation should arrange their Brussels city breaks around April 18th to attend the festival's celebration of the art form, which will include a market, competitions and showings of anime films.
The full programme for this year's Fantastic Film Festival is set to be revealed later this month.
Travellers taking city breaks in Brussels should head to the centre of the capital to visit the Tour and Taxis centre, which hosts regular events and also houses restaurants and other facilities.
Click here to book your ideal Brussels city break
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Qatar Airways plans major expansion in flight network
Qatar Airways has revealed that it is planning a major network expansion over the coming years to offer a more extensive range of flights to its passengers.
The carrier revealed that its global network is expected to grow from 86 to 120 destinations by 2013, while its fleet is also set to expand to 120 aircraft over the same period.
Qatar Airways' fleet has doubled in size over the past five years, with the airline recently taking delivery of its 80th plane - a Boeing 777 ER.
The jet will be deployed on long-haul flights from Doha, Qatar.
Akbar Al Baker, the airline's chief executive officer, said: "Just five years ago, Qatar Airways operated 40 aircraft. Today our fleet has doubled in size to 80 aircraft.
"As our fleet increases, we are able to raise capacity on existing services and introduce new routes, which is continuing as planned despite the industry facing challenges amid the current global economic climate."
Qatar Airways recently increased the frequency of its flights to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Bali in Indonesia from Doha.
Click here to book your flights to Kuala Lumpur
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City breaks 'to prove popular among Brits this year'
City breaks look set to prove a popular travel option among Brits during the coming year, a new survey suggests.
Lloyds TSB polled over 2,000 UK consumers to identify trends for the travel and tourism industry in 2010.
Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents who will be travelling this year said they are planning to take a city break, meaning this type of trip is the second most popular option after sun and beach holidays (45 per cent).
City breaks in Lisbon could prove a popular option among the 60 per cent of Brits who, according to the survey, will be holidaying in Europe this year.
Twelve per cent of people will be heading to a destination in America, while five per cent have plans for a trip to Africa.
Lloyds TSB found that nearly 60 per cent of Britons have their eye on an overseas break in 2010, bucking the trend for 'staycations' that emerged last year.
Travellers can arrange city breaks in Lisbon to visit local attractions such as the neighbourhood of Belem, which is home to several historic monuments.
Click here to book your ideal Lisbon city break
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Extra leg room to be sold on Continental flights
Economy class passengers catching flights with Continental Airlines this year will have the option to pay a little extra for some added comfort.
The carrier announced that, from March 17th, it will offer the option for customers to purchase premium seat assignments at check-in.
Passengers who appreciate extra space will therefore be able to guarantee a place in an unreserved economy class seat offering more leg room.
Continental also offers a OnePass Elite frequent flyer programme that allows members to assign themselves more spacious seats without charge.
Jim Compton, the airline's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said: "Our customers want more choices.
"Seats with additional leg room are higher-value seats and we want to offer them to customers who recognise that value."
Continental recently introduced a mobile boarding facility to its services from London Heathrow, which will be available to travellers catching flights to New York City and Houston.
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Codeshare deal to improve Switzerland flights
British travellers are expected to see the benefit of a new codeshare agreement between bmi and Swiss, which will see the carriers cooperate on all flights to Switzerland from the UK.
Bmi will codeshare with Swiss, which is also part of the Lufthansa group, on services from London City, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh airports.
The deal will allow the British carrier to offer fares on flights to Zurich, Geneva and Basel.
People travelling from the UK will be able to use the services to connect to Swiss' international network from the airline's home country, which includes flights to 76 destinations.
Katherine Gershon, bmi's sales and marketing director, said: "Our new codeshare agreement with Swiss is in response to demand and will provide significant benefits to customers, opening up the beautiful country of Switzerland.
"The alliance will mean our customers will have the opportunity to travel on new services between our key departure points, Switzerland and beyond."
Effective immediately, the deal joins bmi's codeshare agreements with other carriers such as Aegean Airlines, Continental and Brussels Airlines.
Click here to book your flights to Switzerland
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