Dubai’s bus network should be a much more attractive transport method for getting around the city now that 350 air-conditioned bus shelters have been installed.

Around 250 transit locations in and around Dubai now have the cooled shelters, including Deira, Qusais, Al Wasl and Jumeirah.

This new initiative is as a result of a cooperative between Dubai’s government organisations including their road and transport authority, and also a company called Right Angle Media, the company behind these air-conditioned bus shelters.

Right Angle Media’s director of operations, Jim Davies, said:

“Our commitment to providing world-class public transport amenities for commuters and tourists alike remains on top of our agenda.  We aim to make travelling in Dubai more convenient, safe and comfortable.”

Dubai is basically a desert city, getting extremely hot at particular times of the year, and is located in the United Arab Emirates to the east of the Arabian peninsula.

Most hotels and indoor areas do have air conditioning, however, if people wish to explore the city in more detail, the best times to visit are between September and May in order to avoid any uncomfortable high temperatures.

The survey from moneysupermarket.com discovered that those holidaymakers aged over 60 are the most likely category to find love on holiday.  One in five over 60 tied the knot with their holiday partner.

Over a third of Brits have had a holiday fling during a holiday abroad but almost half said that the relationship ended with the holiday.

The best place for romance abroad seems to be Europe with approximately a third of holiday relationships happening on a visit to Europe.  It was no surprise to find that Paris was the number one European destination for finding love abroad.  Close runners up included Majorca, Tenerife, Barcelona and Rome.

Peter Gerrard of moneysupermarket.com said:

“For all those looking for fun and love in the sun, the chances of a holiday romance look pretty good.  It seems the over-60s are hopeless romantics and it’s great to know that you are never too old to find love.”

So you never know, perhaps cheap holidays are not the best way to find love.  To search for a richer holiday romance, perhaps luxury holidays are a better bet.

The last twelve months has seen Virgin Atlantic’s premium passenger figures increase by around 22 per cent.  The airline claims it took market share from other rival airline carriers, such as British Airways.

The total number of passengers increased to 5.7 million in 2007-2008.  This was an increase of about 7.6 per cent.  In the same time period, Virgin Atlantic increased its number of worldwide flight destinations to thirty.

Locations such as Nairobi, Mauritius and Chicago were available from London Heathrow whilst flights from Gatwick to Kingston were launched.

The President of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson, commented:

“It’s ironic that just as regulators are breaking up one monopoly – BAA – British Airways and American Airlines are trying to create another.  Our results prove that consumers want choice on transatlantic routes. Unless the regulators block the proposed BA/AA monopoly, consumers will lose out – and they’ll pay higher ticket prices for the privilege.”

The new financial year of 2008-2009 has started well for the airline as the first-quarter sales were up by around 16 per cent compared to a year earlier.

The facility has been under redevelopment since November 2007 until April 2008.

The modern lounge can hold a maximum of 75 passengers now, including a VIP section consisting of 11 seats and another 64 seats located in the main lounge.

There are several amenities such as LCD televisions, stereos, internet access, food and drink areas and a carry-on baggage holding area.

The lounge has a new maximum capacity for 75 passengers, including 11 seats in the VIP section and 64 seats in the main lounge.

Thai’s Airways’ managing director of ground customer services, Wanporn Wibooncharoenkitja, said:

“Thai always places great importance on providing services to passengers that extend maximum convenience and greater comfort.  With the relaunch of Thai’s Royal Silk lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, passengers can enjoy the facilities, products and services offered in the lounge, where they can relax or work, based on their travel requirements.”

The new lounge will be open to customers of Thai Airways travelling via business class and also premium class passengers with Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.

San Clemente is a town approximately 240 km south of the country’s capital, Santiago, and is known as a bit of a hotspot for ‘extraterrestrial activity’.

The new UFO trail is 30 km long and takes in a site where apparently alien craft has visited.  It also includes a number of lookout spots that are ideal for scanning the sky for flying saucers.

The tourism organisation for Chile, Sernatur, has backed the initiative.  The director of the service, Oscar Santelices, says:

“We support the creation of this UFO trail because experts say that it is a “hot zone” for watchers.”

Researchers for extraterrestrial phenomena have reported literally hundreds of UFO sightings in the town of San Clemente from the mid-1990’s to date.

El Enladrillado is one of the more popular sports in the area and is a 2,300 metre high volcanic block area, claimed to be a UFO landing pad.

Perhaps this UFO trail will attract much more tourism to the area.

Ferry company Stena Line has been working with Dr Roger Mugford, an animal psychologist, and using research from the RSPCA.  Their findings show that those pets left in boarding kennels, and even with family and friends, are prone to suffer mental distress.

Travellers are being urged to consider a pet friendly holiday.

A spokesperson for Stena Line said:

“We are keen to encourage the trade to educate holidaymakers on taking their pets with them and persuade them to do so…We also want to help people to ensure that their pet travels as safely as possible, so we have asked Dr Mugford to work with us to devise a set of simple travel safety guidelines.”

Dr Mugford went on to explain:

“Left in unfamiliar environments pets have been known to reach levels of depression that verge on hysteria.  The travel industry needs to educate travellers on the ‘viable alternative’ of holidaying with pets, which can be “stress-free and enjoyable for everyone.”

Many ferry companies offer onboard kennels for those travellers who wish to take their pets on holiday with them, and there are many pet friendly holidays available not only in the UK but in Europe too.

However, it does mean that those people searching for cheap holidays would have to budget for an extra little holidaymaker.

According to The Associated Press, officials in Egypt believe that banning the peddlers will improve the tourist experience visiting the Giza Pyramids.

The improvement project was started around seven years ago and is estimated to cost $26 million.

Egypt’s chief archaeologistm, Zahi Hawass, said:

“It was a zoo. Now we are protecting the tourists and the ancient monuments”

The Giza Pyramids are one of the Wonders of the World. Along with banning peddlers from the area, the security has also been improved. A 12 mile long fence has been built, complete with alarms, cameras and motion detectors.

The fence has been built 13 feet high to stop tourists from climbing on the pyramids, which are approximately 5,000 years old.

A new brick entrance has been built for tourists. The gates are equipped with X-ray machines, CCTV cameras and metal detectors.

There are still more improvements to be made yet, including a cafeteria, a visitor centre, bookshop and new lighting system. There will also be an area designated for camel and horse rides.

Team GB is scheduled to land back on English soil on Bank Holiday Monday, the 25th August.

According to the BBC, both gold and silver medallists will be flying back club class and the multi-gold medallists, Chris How, Rebecca Adlington and Badley Wiggins will have a special treat and will receive a return journey in first class.

To recognise their ‘startling success’, the nose of the BA plane that flies them back from Beijing will be painted gold.  British Airways Willie Walsh said:

“Team GB has led the opposition home in event after event at these golden Olympics. It is right that a gold nose cone should adorn the aircraft that brings the team home to the UK. We salute our Olympians.”

To paint the plane’s nose gold is not an easy task and was a challenge for BA’s engineering team because paint cannot, for safety reasons, be metallic.  However, British Airways has found a silicone-based gold paint that will meet safety standards.

The new advertising campaign will include eight different television commercials, each lasting forty seconds, and some online activity.  The campaign will start on the 7th September.

The promotion will feature the tagline ‘What do you say UK?’ and will show British travellers in New Zealand, visiting main tourist attractions and talking about the experience.

The Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand, George Hickton, stated that they hope the campaign will make the prospect of visiting New Zealand more achievable for British holidaymakers.

He said:

“While the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign has helped New Zealand stay a very aspirational holiday for the British, the new campaign will give consumers a reason to come now.”

From January to June 2008, more than 290,000 visitors from the UK arrived in New Zealand, making the UK its second largest tourist market.

Flights to cities in New Zealand such as Auckland or Wellington are available from major UK airports and include the likes of Qantas and Air New Zealand.

The title was accepted earlier this week by Bob Winter, Glasgow’s Lord Provost.  It was presented at a ceremonial lunch by the director general of Unesco, Koichiro Matsuura.

Almost twenty years ago, the city of Glasgow held the title of European capital of culture.

Mr Winter said:

“It is wonderful to be accepting the Unesco City of Music Award on behalf of Glasgow.  I am thrilled that Glasgow’s rich and varied musical heritage has been recognised by Unesco. We embrace the award on behalf of our talented musicians and composers whose work has contributed to our great city being given the permanent prestige of being a City of Music.”

There are many musical venues in Glasgow such as the Barrowland Ballroom and the Royal Concert Hall.  In the average week there are around 127 musical events.

Unesco has recognised many cities in its Creative Cities network for their contribution and promotion of literature, music, arts and many other fields.  Other cities in the Unesco Creative Cities network include Montreal, Seville, Buenos Aires and Berlin.