New Dubai Destination to Provide 'Ultimate Fashion Experience'

Dubai's latest multi-million dollar development is predicted to become a fashion mecca.

Isla Moda (literally "Fashion Island") has been designed by Dubai Infinity Holidays (DIH) and will feature fashion-themed residential villas, haute couture boutiques and luxury hospitality facilities.

Situated off the Dubai coast, travellers to the island will be treated to a concierge to provide them with clothing style advice, as well as a perfumery, makeovers and a design consultation service.

"We think this concept and idyllic location is a perfect match - Isla Moda will be the ultimate all-encompassing fashion experience, providing bespoke shopping, living, dining, and entertaining," remarked Samira Abdulrazzak, chief executive of DIH.

Intended to attract designers and the world's fashion elite, one of the main perks of being a resident on the island is the achievement of VVIP (Very Very Important Person) access to exclusive global fashion events, services and products.

The island's luxury Hotel Moda will have up to 250 rooms and serviced apartments, as well as fashion boutiques for individuals who cannot resist a shopping holiday.

Strip in the Skies With New German Holiday

German holidaymakers will be stripping in the skies this year thanks to a new type of nudist holiday that is being pioneered in the nation.

For just 499 euros (£370) 55 lucky passengers departing from Erfurt will be able to strip off up in the air and stay in their birthday suits until touching down in the Baltic sea resort of Usedom.

Travel agency OssiUrlaub.de started taking bookings for the trip, which is planned for July 5th, last Friday.

Sandra Koehler, a tour rep in the area, told the BBC: "I think people feel free when they are really naked. That's what it is about."

Ms Koehler stressed that passengers would only be able to strip after take-off and, to avoid accidents, no hot drinks will be allowed on board.

Nudism, commonly referred to by Germans as "free body culture", dates back to the 1908s in Germany and nudism colonies have existed in the country for more than a century.

However, the tradition was banned by the Nazis but "blossomed" again after the Second World War especially in eastern Germany where frosty temperatures do not deter die-hard nudists.

Hard to Reach Areas of Spain Have 'Become Accessible'

Hard to reach areas of Spain have been made more accessible by the expansion of low-cost airlines.

Primelocation.com claims that the availability of flights into smaller regional airports in European countries has changed the holiday landscape.

Louise Hall, business director of Primelocation.com, said: "Barcelona and the Costa Brava region as a whole have become more popular with UK [holidaymakers] in the last two to three years."

She added that this trend has also had a positive effect on those considering buying property in previously hard to reach areas.

"Inland Murcia has again proven popular. Mallorca has experienced huge popularity in recent years and has become an expensive jewel with large numbers of properties valued at £1m plus," she added.

British Airways is set to launch new short-haul routes from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports from March 30th, 2008.

The airline will offer flights from Heathrow to Malaga and from Gatwick to Alicante, Faro, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Malaga, Palma and Tunis.

Tourists Advised That 'Kenya Has Calmed'

Kenya has calmed and is open for tourism business in most areas, was the message coming out of a meeting of political leaders this week.

The US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice flew into Nairobi yesterday to attending a briefing with UN secretary-general Kofi Annan about the political situation in the African nation.

After the meeting it was confirmed that all areas throughout the country are now reported to be calm with no recent reports of post-election violence.

Tourist areas in particular are experiencing no "reported problems" and the international hotels in Nairobi and beach resorts at the coast as well as wildlife parks are all business as normal.

Vehicles taking holidaymakers between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru National Park are doing so "without experiencing any problems" as the security situation on the main highways through these towns is now "back to normal".

However, the Kenya Tourism Federation is continuing to monitor the security situation in western Kenya and is advising visitors to steer clear of this region for the time being.

Reports emerged this week that Kenya's tourism industry is gearing itself up for a major marketing campaign to encourage holidaymakers back to the African nation, following the well-publicised political clashes that have occurred in the country.

Members of the Kenya Tourism Board will attend the annual International Tourism Exchange ITB in Germany next month to kick-start their campaign.

Britain is a Key Short-Break Destination

Britain has been described as a "key short-break destination" by a leading tourism body this week.

VisitBritain made the claim, highlighting Edinburgh, in particular, as a favourite with holidaymakers in the UK, especially those from the US.

Elliot Frisby, corporate PR manager for VisitBritain, said: "Domestic tourism has changed so much in the last five or ten years, and people who have not visited [Britain] in the last five years will find it a very different experience now."

He added that many parents also indulge in what he described as "nostalgia tourism", where mums and dads share destinations they went to as a youth with their children.

Cumbria and the Lake District were named as popular destinations outside of London for holidaymakers in the UK.

However, VisitBritain also highlighted Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh as top city-break locations.

According to VisitBritain, tourism is Britain's fifth largest industry, worth £85 billion and employing 2.1 million people.

Call Your Car Insurer Before Going on Holiday

Holidaymakers have been advised this week to call their car insurers before heading off on their travels.

The AA warns holidaymakers that they need to check whether they will be comprehensively covered when driving abroad.

Ian Crowder, public relations manager for the AA, said: "If you have car insurance of any sort in a European country, you are automatically covered by law for the minimum legal requirement in the country you are visiting - usually third party only."

He added that this means if a holidaymaker was to hit another car or property or cause injury, their insurer would only meet the third party's costs, not their own.

If holidaymakers are covered, the AA advises them to ask for a European Accident Claim Form, which gives basic information in a range of languages, to enable them to gather the names, addresses and insurance details of the other parties involved.

According to the RAC Foundation, three million British motorists head to the continent by ferry and the channel tunnel every year.

Furthermore, the foundation claims that UK motorists who drive to Spain or Portugal are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than they are at home.

A Baby on Board Doesn't Have to Ground a Pregnant Party

Having a baby on board doesn't necessarily have to ground a pregnant woman, says one industry expert.

According to the Royal College of Midwives there is no definitive list of dos and don'ts for a pregnant woman travelling by air and each case should be assessed on an individual basis.

Janet Fyle, professional policy advisor for the Royal College of Midwives, said: "You cannot just say that a pregnant woman can travel until whatever time, you have to look at the possibilities.

"Some airlines say they will admit pregnant women up to a certain number of weeks and usually they want the midwife or doctor to give confirmation that she is fit."

However, Janet warned that there have been cases where medical certificates have been given saying people can travel and then they've gone up in the air and bled and sued the midwife or doctor.

British Airways (BA) states on its website that for "uncomplicated single pregnancies" the airline restricts travel beyond the end of the 36th week.

For twins, triplets and other multiple births BA takes this limit back to the end of the 32nd week.

After a woman's pregnancy has entered the 28th week the airline requires that the pregnant party carries a letter from their midwife or doctor stating that the pregnancy is uncomplicated and confirming the expected date of delivery.

Two Week Holidays Face Extinction

The traditional two week holiday is dying out, according to a new survey released this week.

Holiday Inn's research reveals that a whopping 52 per cent of Brits will not be taking a two week summer holiday this year, as they are struggling to find enough time and money to spend going away with their nearest and dearest.

Spokesman for Holiday Inn, Chris Hale, said: "Over the past few years, we've seen a huge surge in the number of people booking into Holiday Inns for short breaks.

"Gone are the bad old days when people would save all year for their annual two week summer holiday at the busiest and most expensive period – we're much too savvy nowadays."

According to Holiday Inn, the average family now takes four short breaks per year and spends around £349.11 for a weekend away.

Of the 5,000 people polled, 24 per cent said they had been priced out of taking holidays during the school breaks.

In related news, the Royal College of Midwives has advised pregnant women this week that having a baby on board does not necessarily mean they have to stay grounded during the holiday season.

The college says that each pregnancy should be assessed individually before a decision is made whether or not to take to the skies.