Naples, Johannesburg and Lima named world's top foodie havens!
Albania to become new Mediterranean gem while farther north Vilnius is Europe’s cheapest city break!
OVER the years Chalkmarks has spent a lot of time in southern Europe: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Albania and Turkey too, but we haven’t spent much time in northern Europe Norway, Sweden and Finland or Denmark. Heading south is just part of our British psyche, our natural instinct. But we’re seriously missing out, there’s so much up north. It’s full of great surprises and places to visit. Take Denmark’s second city Aarhus with its beach, forest and harbour. Then there’s Norway’s Oslo which sits on a fjord with floating saunas, and one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys. In Stockholm you can challenge yourself to visit all the city’s islands. And Finland, well… it’s the happiest country in the world. We’re rethinking all our trips this year. Just imagine the crowds in Paris this summer for the Olympics, or being in Venice when the mercury hits 40C, even on the Spanish islands where the locals want to crackdown on visitors. To truly escape the holiday pack this year head north. And don’t worry about it being cold, it’s warm and toasty there too. And because they are farther north you can sip cocktails under the midnight sun. If like us it’s travel that dominates your thoughts, here’s this month’s holiday headlines!
Spice of life: Whenever anyone arrives in a new city the first words they utter are … “what we gonna eat then?” Time Out answered that question when it put out its Best Cities for Food guide. Naples, Italy, was crowned No 1 for being the birthplace of pizza. Jo’burg, South Africa, took second place for its huge kota sandwiches, bunny chow and mala mogodu (tripe stew). And third came Lima, Peru – which, let’s be honest Chalkmarks has always ranked as our favourite place in the world for food. We’ve written about it so much… there’s ceviche, lomo saltado, aji de gallina, adobo, chicharron and causa, anticuchos. Also Chifa, which is Peruvian Chinese food – it’s exceptional. Read about it here and here. Here’s Time Out’s list of 20 on MailOnline, with a short crib note on each city! In the UK, Liverpool came 11th overall but took the No 1 spot in the UK for Scouse. It’s the boss!
Calder’s world: Over on ITV’s This Morning sofa, travel whisperer Simon Calder was talking once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list trips. From the top he recommended Norway for the Northern Lights, a Californian Road trip starting in San Francisco and heading south to Los Angeles, an African safari in Namibia for its wild landscapes, Tokyo and Kyoto for its cherry blossom and history, the Amalfi Coast, Italy, with easyJet starting flights from Gatwick in July costing around £150 return. And finally, the Australian Outback by train. Back in the UK, Simon suggested the Isle of Harris and Isle of Lewis in Scotland for the best beaches on the planet. He said they’re “beautiful but parky… and you can still watch This Morning”. Oh brother!
A long summer on the beaches! Protesters have threatened to bring Mallorca’s airport to a standstill in their campaign against mass tourism. They warn they’ll storm the beaches and cause traffic gridlock to block access to the airport and the seaport. The threat came after protests in Mallorca and Menorca over the rise of tourists on the Balearic islands. Reuters and the Majorcan Daily Bulletin have the coverage on the plans to disrupt holidays.
Who dunnit? Authorities in the town of Shizuoka, Japan, who put up a fence – only a week ago – to prevent tourists from taking photos of the glorious Mt Fuji have found eye-level holes in the mesh. They say they will replace the fence with a stronger barrier to block views of the volcano. The Japan Times has the scandal.
No reservations: Hotel rooms in New York have hit $300 (£235) a night due to a shortage of beds. Rates have been pushed up as hotels provide accommodation for migrants. Despite the hike, NYC is expected to see 70 million tourists this year. The Times has the story.
Terminal frustration: French transport minister Patrice Vergriete said he fears there will be problems when the EU’s border checks and visa scheme for British travellers come in on the 6th October. He warned it could “disturb public order”. The introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) would cause chaos at airports and ferry ports as UK passengers will have to submit paperwork and biometric data, which could cause long delays. He said: “I cannot say that we are not working hard to ensure that we are as operational as possible… but I fear problems.” MailOnline has more.
GET IN THE PICTURE!
Something in the air: En route from Doha to Dublin passengers were severely shaken about in another case of extreme turbulence. This came days after a British man was killed and 40 people hospitalised on board a flight from Heathrow to Singapore when their plane dropped 178 ft (54 metres) in 4.6 seconds, in what’s known as clear-air turbulence. On Sunday a Qatar Airways flight plunged 7,000ft (2,000 metres) as it flew over Turkey. Twelve people were injured and eventually the plane landed safely. Sky News has the story.
Speaking of which: A preliminary report found the Singapore Airlines flight had caused such a strong G-force when it lost altitude, passengers were thrown on to the ceiling. Chalkmarks reported on this last month. Putting safety first, the airline said it will stop serving the in-flight meal when the captain puts on the seatbelt sign. It said: “In addition to the suspension of hot beverage service when the seatbelt sign is on, the meal service will also be suspended.” The Guardian has more.
Elsewhere: Greater Bay Airlines went further announcing it would ask all passengers to fasten seatbelts during the whole flight starting immediately.
What’s happening: While it felt like they had hit a mountain, the Singapore Airlines plane in fact hit clear-air turbulence which is invisible. We all know what turbulence feels like when the plane starts to shake so why was this so severe? Almost a year ago Chalkmarks reported how scientists at the University of Reading confirmed that planes were experiencing more turbulence due to climate change. They said flights across the Atlantic had seen an increase in shaking by 55 per cent. They added how increased temperatures can disrupt the jet stream suddenly causing the plane to move around more. They also predicted a more turbulent future. Sky News had the study.
Please read the safety information: Aviation consultant John Strickland told PA that turbulence is different across the world. He said: “The South Atlantic, Africa and the Bay of Bengal are all places that spring to mind where there’s a greater incidence. It can never be taken lightly when airlines recommend you keep the seatbelt loosely fastened throughout the flight.”
How to avoid turbulence: Fly at night! When the sun goes down, the wind changes less, say experts.
Flight plan: The May Bank Holiday Friday was the busiest day at UK airports since the pandemic with two flights taking off every single minute. The top destinations were Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma, Alicante (for Benidorm *see below) and Malaga. The Independent had the news.
Cinderella will go to the ball: The fairytale Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire, has reopened following much needed restoration after years of rain damage. Said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle, the pink palace opened yesterday. STV has the news.
Off the ground: The UK’s longest rope bridge has opened in Wareham, Dorset. The 164ft (50 metres) bridge is 33ft (10 metres) above the ground offering a tree-top view of the Blue Pool Nature Reserve below. Bournemouth Echo has more.
To anywhere: Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said flight prices should remain lower than expected this year due to a “recessionary feel” around Europe. He said: “We put that down to lack of consumer spending, consumer confidence, higher interest rates we think that will repair later on this year when interest rates begin to fall off and people begin to realise they have a bit more money in their pockets.” According to The Sun some of its mid-week flights have already been discounted to £17 in a bid to fill planes.
Eat out: We’ve all grabbed a seat outside to enjoy a drink or a meal under the sun, especially in Italy. But authorities in Rome and Milan say they were tired of their streets being turned into outdoor restaurants. Chalkmarks didn’t see that one coming! As pandemic restrictions eased, the Italian government allowed more tables and chairs outside on pavements, and now the licensing rules were extended. But locals and councillors say they’ve had enough of the noise and they can’t park their cars. Not everyone was angry though. Restaurants weren’t complaining and neither were diners. The MailOnline had the story.
Stay away: Mount Fuji authorities have clamped down on the numbers of hikers who can walk up Japan’s most famous volcano – many climbing to watch the sunrise. From 1st July to 10th September they’re allowing just 4,000 visitors a day – that’ll be 3,000 booked in advance and 1,000 available slots on the day.
Mission impossible: Venice’s tourist tax has been branded a failure after it introduced the €5 (£4.29) entrance fee, which started in May to deter tourists. Critics say even more day trippers had turned up to see the floating city, its canals and St Mark’s Square. But city councillor Simone Venturini, sensibly, said it was too early to call it after just a few weeks. Currently, the fee is only payable during weekends including Italian national holidays. The Independent picked this one up.
Absolutely buzzing! Chalkmarks did it again. This time our photo made the Mail+ pictures of the day (see above) – and if that wasn’t enough, it was turned into a jigsaw puzzle. Wanna have a go? Play here!
Fetch your tickets: US pet company Bark flew its first dog-friendly flight across America, complete with inflight treats such as barkaccinos. Known as Bark Air, it aims to fly pups in first-class style as opposed to in the hold. Its maiden flight flew from New York to Los Angeles was sold out. A route is planned from New York to London, although tickets will cost £6,000. Reuters has the footage.
Travelling to Paris: Eurostar is spending £8.5million to revamp its check-in area at St Pancras. It is building 49 self-service, border-facility kiosks at the station where Britons will scan their own tickets, passports, give their finger prints and answer four questions about their travels ahead of the new EU visa rules Entry/Exit System (EES) expected some time later this year. Eurostar insisted passengers will experience a “seamless and stress-free journey” despite the extra checks. The i has the story.
Landing soon: Tui is looking to make Albania its next big Mediterranean holiday destination. Speaking to travel whisperer Simon Calder, Sebastian Ebel, boss of Europe’s biggest holiday firm, let slip: “I’m a big fan of Albania and I think we should and could do more. It’s on our agenda to look at it. I think the prospect is huge and I wouldn’t be surprised if we start a significant programme there.”
Spreading the gospel: Chalkmarks already called this trend last year when stunning beach photos tagged the “Maldives of Europe” went viral. The stats showed Albania was the fastest growing tourist hotspot in Europe in summer 2023 according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Tirana was also reporting huge numbers of visitors and the travel pages lapped it up with headlines such as “Caribbean of Europe” and “Little Italy”.
Why Albania: It has the triple: that’s sun, sea and savings – it’s very pretty and it’s pretty cheap out there. Two scoops of gelato cost 100 lekë (pronounced lek), that’s 80p! It was still glorious summer in Sarande with temperatures hitting 30C when Chalkmarks went in September. We had flown in and reported live from the beaches. Here’s why Albania is the best place you’ve never been!
Stop the planes: Passengers could face flight cancellations this summer following the ongoing crisis with Boeing aircraft. There’s been growing concerns over the safety of the planes after a door blew out of an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Some aircraft have been taken out of service which has left the industry scrambling for planes to fulfil their summer timetables. There are also fears over the delivery of new aircraft in time for the summer months. The Mail Online has more.
Hook us up! Vilnius has been named the cheapest city break in Europe by Post Office Travel Money. Lisbon came second. The boffins have calculated that two nights’ in a three-star hotel cost £237 in the Lithuanian capital and £264 in the Portuguese city. In contrast a weekend away in Amsterdam will set you back £669 and two nights in Belfast £629, which was dearer than Venice which came in at £582. Mail Online has more.
Have you seen our pictures: Our fantastic travel photos, which capture some of our favourite destinations around the world, are now available for sale on Alamy. Woohoo!
Lovely Lisbon: Holding our pint-sized cocktails high, we carefully make our way on to the cobbles where the night is getting well and truly underway. There are hundreds of revellers who have crowded into a nook of Lisbon to let their hair down and get their groove on. Yet despite the never-ending number of bars in the heart of Portugal’s capital city, the real party is in the street… down the road and around the corner. The alfresco scene just goes on and on. Nobody really shouts about this westernmost corner of Europe compared to the Algarve known for its beaches and energetic party scene. But Lisbon boasts a year-round Mediterranean climate, has its own stunning coastline and offers a nightlife that can be surprisingly sweaty, noisy and crowded. See here for the full experience.
May Day, May Day: Having a good time in Dorset will cost more money from 1st July. Visitors staying in big hotels in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will pay a tourist tax of £2 a night. The plan is to grow tourism in these areas with the money going towards staging big events. The BBC has more.
Palace gossip: 100 years of royal family portraits taken by famous photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, Andy Warhol and Rankin are going on display at Buckingham Palace. The exhibition at the Kings Gallery includes never-seen-before images and also those of popular royals with Paolo Roversi’s picture of the Princess Diana taken to mark her 40th birthday. PA Media has the story.
Real escape: According to Advantage Travel Partnership, which represents 20 per cent of agents, there’s been a boost in bookings to flee the chilly weather. Kelly Cookes, the group’s chief commercial officer, said: “We’ve had a mix of people who have been looking at the weather for this weekend and booking super last-minute as well as people who are planning something for later in the month. But across the board demand is really strong, up 10 per cent on last year.” The Times has the story.
TRAVEL LIKE AN AGENT!
The pain in Spain: Airfares between UK and its favourite holiday destination Spain is up 40 per cent. Mabrian, a travel data company, says the average budget fare to Espaňa is now £156! Ever taken the ferry? We have! Which is cheaper? Flight or ferry?
Awkward: Qantas has been fined £62.9 million for selling flights it had already cancelled during the pandemic. Boss Vanessa Hudson said: “We know many of our customers were affected by our failure to provide cancellation notifications in a timely manner and we are sincerely sorry.” The BBC has more.
Competition for Eurostar: The Man in Seat 66 wants to see more competition in the Channel Tunnel to help bring prices down. As the Chunnel turns 30, train geek Mark Smith (sorry to blow his cover) said: “We know that competition will keep a lid on those prices. We might see some extra destinations. The obvious one is Germany. A direct train to Cologne would be wonderful if they could find the space to put terminal facilities there.”
That’s priceless: Just when everything’s getting more expensive, even the cost of free things is going up! The iconic Brighton Pier is charging a £1 admission (from Saturday 25th May). First opened in 1899, it’s had a recent history of fire and neglect. With the promise of fun in its restaurants, bars and arcades the money will go to help pay for the pier’s upkeep and maintenance. The BBC has the story.
All at sea: Stockholm is a capital city of 14 islands built around Lake Mälaren. For a whistle-stop run down, the city is divided into neighbourhoods, and Gamla stan is its 13th century medieval heart made up of three islands: Stadsholmen, Riddarholmen and Helgeandsholmen. Here you’ll find the Royal Palace, Parliament Building, The Prime Minister’s home, Sager House, and City Hall where they feast after the Nobel Prizes have been handed out. You’ll also come across the Rune stone carving, the narrowest street, Mårten Trotzigs gränd, and the tiny statue Järnpojke or Iron Boy. Finish on Plaza Stortorget filled with its mustard-coloured buildings that are the backdrop to many holiday snaps. It’s filled with cafes and people sitting out on the pavement. Even though this is northern Europe, the Swedish capital can get super hot in July. With the sun beating down, it’s Scandi eye-candy. Oooh, hot dogs!
MEEP MEEP!
The view from Southampton: Cunard’s stunning Queen Anne sailed into Southampton last month evening ahead of its maiden voyage to Lisbon. Thousands lined the dockside as the £500 million luxury liner, which took five years to build was welcomed with a water salute. Chalkmarks’s favourite cruise expert Kathy Taylor was on board – click here for the full Cruise Lowdown.
Turning the tide: Cruising is shaping up to be the holiday must-have of 2024. More than 35 million people will set sail this year – a record. Get the Guinness out! Plus we can expect 14 brand new ships. Already we’ve seen the largest ever – the $2 billion Icon of the Seas by Royal Caribbean – which can carry almost 8,000 people. Last month it was Cunard’s Queen Anne, which can carry 3,000 passengers. We asked Kathy: “What’s created this cruise boom?”. She said: “They’re good value for money – you have all your meals, some will include drinks. Plus, no-fly cruises are popular (this is where your trip starts and ends at the same port). They’re also good for getting a taste of a destination which you can go back to another time.” Here’s the full interview with Chalkmarks.
New airport for Dubai: Dubai International Airport is moving 28 miles away to an empty desert Al Maktoum in a £28 billion move over 10 years. It’ll have five runaways and 400 gates and create one of the largest international terminals in the world. Ambitions are high. Billionaire ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed said: “Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub and its new global centre.” Travel Weekly has the story.
Cheap sleep: Premier Inn has been wrapped on the knuckles for advertising rooms in Edinburgh “from only £35 per night”. A wannabe guest said they couldn’t find any at that price so they complained. Premier Inn insisted there were 377 rooms available at £35. The Advertising Standards Authority said it wasn’t enough and that “a significant proportion” of rooms needed to be available at £35. Premier Inn said rooms had sold so quickly they hadn’t updated the pricing. Sky News has the details.
In the meantime: Mona Lisa could be on the move. Ahead of the Olympics in Paris next month, the Louvre is considering moving the world’s most famous portrait into a room of her own in anticipation of huge crowds. Bosses say they can do better than offering visitors a two-hour queue for an eight second viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting. The Guardian has the story.
Have you seen our pictures: Kapow! Another picture sold – so happy. We’re on a roll. This time it was the City pages of the Daily Mail that showcased our work! If you look very closely our name is very teeny tiny but we are credited. We’d like to thank everyone…! Check out more of our pix and buy too – they’re here for sale on Alamy. ¥€$! #smallwins!
Don’t stop me now: We’ve having such a good time, We’re on a golf buggy. We’re having a ball. Welcome to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. I’m driving around this absolute gem of a Caribbean island at 12mph. By rights it’s a hideous idea that we’re cruising along the Rueda Medina Malecon past wide sandy beaches on this golf cart. But everyone’s doing it. It’s not a super car but it’s a super idea. These pocket rockets will get you up to North Beach in no time. And as North Beach ranks among the 10 best beaches in the world, we want to get up there for sunset. There are hundreds of these buggies on this tiny Mexican island and they’re super easy to find – the minute you step off the ferry from Cancún. Is it safe? Not when we’re around. Where to go if you don’t know!
Best Museums 2024: What do the Craven Museum, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Manchester Museum, National Portrait Gallery and the Young V&A all have in common? They have been shortlisted for museum of the year. We’ll hear who wins the £120,000 prize money on 10th July. The BBC has the full list.
Black Forest gateau: Getting a coffee in a forest to sit and enjoy the nature sounds perfect but it’s kicked off a big row. The introduction of food trucks in the New Forest that will sell hot drinks and a slice of cake has been approved by Forestry England – but it has met with fears it will turn into a theme park. There are also concerns visitors might start feeding the ponies and cattle that roam freely – and if the animals hurt someone the owner can be sued for thousands. Commoners Defence Association chair, Andrew Parry-Norton, said: “We are obviously very, very concerned about the interaction between the stock and the visitors. We don’t want it turn into a theme park. People should enjoy it, but in its natural state.” MailOnline has more.
Go loco: More trains than ever will be under one roof at the same time at the Locomotion museum at New Hall in Shildon, County Durham. There are now 99 trains from steam locomotives, hand-powered track inspection machines, freight wagons, snow ploughs and an armoured vehicle on tracks on display. Sarah Price, head of the museum, said it’ll give “visitors the chance to find out more about the railways and the North East’s railway heritage”. The exhibition at the North East’s biggest visitor attractions opened on Friday 24th May. The BBC has more.
TRAVEL, SHE WROTE!
