Win a luxury stay on the Amalfi Coast

Perched on a cliff edge over the Gulf of Salerno, Monastero Santa Rosa is one of the finest hotels along Italy’s Amalfi Coast. The 17th-century building, originally a monastery, has been lovingly restored into a boutique hotel by its American owner who fell in love with it while sailing off the coast .
It consist of 20 guest rooms and suites – all with sea views – a restaurant, infinity pool, stunning, landscaped gardens, a historic herb garden and a private 12th-century chapel. Each of the bedrooms is named after one of the herbs grown in the garden and features antiques hand-picked by the owner herself.
There is also a spectacular spa that has been created within a labyrinth of historic monastic spaces and outdoor pavilions. The Thermal Suite includes a vaulted Tepidarium with heated benches and whirlpool footbaths, a herbal steam room, a crushed ice fountain, sauna and hydrotherapy pool.
Finally, the hotel’s Ristorante features cuisine from the Campania region, including fresh seafood, locally produced olive oil and organically grown vegetables and herbs. The prize is a two-night stay for two, half-board, at Monastero Santa Rosa in Amalfi, including return flights from London.

To find out more, visit monasterosantarosa.com
We are also offering the chance to win one of 21 other holidays, in partnership with the luxury-travel PR consultancy PCC, collectively worth £175,000.
The prizes include
A stay on a superyacht
A two-night stay on a superyacht in the south of France through Edmiston (edmiston.com). Worth up to £50,000.
A week in Cyprus
A week at the Anassa hotel in Cyprus, including return flights, with Scott Dunn (scottdunn.com). Worth up to £10,000.
Galapagos cruise
A seven-night all-inclusive cruise around the Galapagos with Silversea (silversea.com). Worth up to £15,000.
Business class trip to Malaysia
Business-class return flights and two-night stay in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines (malaysiaairlines.com) and Grand Hyatt (kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com). Worth up to £10,000.
Barefoot luxury in Pemba
Seven nights’ half-board at Fundu Lagoon in the island Pemba (fundulagoon.com), including return flights with Kenya Airways (kenyairways.com). Worth up to £6,500.
Indian adventure
Seven-night trip to India with Ampersand Travel (ampersandtravel.com), including stays at the Leela Palaces in Delhi and Udaipur and return flights. Worth up to £6,000.
Kenyan safari
A five-night safari in Kenya with The Safari Collection (thesafaricollection.com), including stays at the Giraffe Manor in Nairobi and Solio Lodge in Laikipia and return flights. Worth up to £10,000.
Luxurious Marrakesh
Three nights at the five-star Palais Namaskar (palaisnamaskar.com), situated between the Atlas Mountains and the Djebilet Hills, including return flights. Worth up to £4,000.
Stay at Le Bristol in Paris
Three nights at Le Bristol in Paris (lebristolparis.com), the first hotel in France to be awarded “palace” status, including return Eurostar tickets to Paris. Worth up to £3,500.
Spa break in Baden-Baden
Three nights at the dramatic Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden (brenners.com) on the edge of the Black Forest, including return flights. Worth up to £4,000.
Château Saint-Martin in Vence
A three-night stay at Château Saint-Martin in Vence, one of the most beautiful hotels in the south of France, including return flights. Worth up to £4,000.
St Barts break
Five nights’ half board at the Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France (isle-de-france.com), located on one of the finest stretches of sand in the French West Indies, including return flights. Worth up to £8,000.
Luxurious stay in Lech, Austria
Two nights’ half board at Kristiania in Lech (kristiania.at), one of Europe’s best ski retreats, including return flights. Worth up to £3,000.
A stay in the Cotswolds
Five nights in a beautiful lakeside house at Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds (lowermillestate.com), including spa access and a meal cooked by a renowned local chef. Worth up to £2,000.
A week in Bali
Seven nights’ half board in Bali with stays at Alila Villas Uluwatu and Alila Villas Soori (alilahotels.com) – which both overlook the ocean and are set amid beautiful landscapes – including return flights and transfers. Worth up to £8,000.
Five nights in the Maldives
Five nights at the opulent Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa (maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com), including all flights and speedboat transfers. Worth up to £6,000.
Indian escape
Five nights’ half board at the impressive ITC Grand Chola in Chennai (itchotels.in), with its Kaya Kalp spa, including return flights. Worth up to £6,000.
French Alpine ski holiday
A week self-catering in an apartment in the French Alps with Powder White (powderwhite.com), one of Britain’s leading independent ski operators. Worth up to £1,500.
Amalfi Coast boutique hotel
Two nights at the boutique Monastero Santa Rosa (monasterosantarosa.com), a former 17th-century monastery perched on a cliff edge, including return flights. Worth up to £3,000.
Free tapas for a year
Eat free for a year at Camino San Pablo and Copa de Cava restaurants (camino.uk.com) in London, which offer lively atmosphere and authentic Spanish food and drink. Worth up to £4,800.
Stay at Swinton Park Hotel
Three nights’ half board at Swinton Park in the Yorkshire Dales (swintonpark.com), a castle hotel set in 20,000 acres, including return train tickets to Thirsk. Worth up to £2,000.
How to enter
Tell us about your favourite travel companies, hotels and destinations. You'll need to leave your name and contact details to enter the prize draw. Click here to complete our Travel Awards survey.

Thailand 'most Popular' for gap Years

Thousands of students opened their A-Level results yesterday, and Abta, the travel association, estimates that around 24,000 of them will spend much or all of the next 12 months overseas.
It reported that Thailand was proving to be the most popular choice among school leavers, followed by Australia, the US and South Africa.
Other favourites were Peru, popular with those hoping to tackle the Inca Trail; Vietnam, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ha Long Bay, Hoi An and Mỹ Son; and Brazil, famous for beaches, jungle treks, and sprawling cities. India, New Zealand, and Fiji completed the top ten.
Abta suggested that rising tuition fees had encouraged more young Britons to take a gap year, adding that several of its members had reported a rise in bookings compared to last year.
Victoria Bacon, head of communications at Abta, said: “Gap years have become even more popular among British teenagers since the rise in tuition fees in 2012 and increased competition for graduate jobs, with many students now looking to travel experiences to help make their gap year stand out on the CV.
“There is now an incredible choice of activities and destinations to support young travellers in developing and learning new skills,” she added. “It’s very important that if you’re planning a gap year, you research your options thoroughly: talk to a travel professional, who will be able to offer you advice about destinations and experiences; check travel advice with Abta and the Foreign Office and always book with a reputable company.”
To help those students considering a year out, Telegraph Travel has compiled its annual Gap 100, featuring our pick of the most trustworthy gap year travel companies and websites.
We’ve also published a list of ten essential questions to ask when organising your trip, and several case studies from recently returned gap year travellers (see below).
Telegraph Travel’s gap year coverage
The gap year 100
Browse our annual directory of the best gap year travel companies, whether you're looking to learn a skill or language, volunteer, work, or simply embark on a great adventure.
Essential questions
What questions should someone planning a gap year ask before committing to a project?
How voluntourism changed my life
Wycliffe Sande, born into poverty in Uganda and orphaned at 13, explains how a volunteering project transformed his fortunes.
Gap year case study: learning a language
Felix Legge relives his experiences of learning Russian in Moscow.
Gap year case study: on the anti-poaching patrol
William Oborne describes working with rangers in Zimbabwe as part of a programme to protect rhinos from poachers.
Gap year case study: a sponsored career break
Alex Ball talks about taking a sponsored career break that saw him visiting various companies while travelling around America.
Gap year case study: training to be a ski instructor
Jenny Beard discusses her time training to be a ski instructor in the French Alps, and teaching skiing in Japan.
Gap year case study: volunteering in Uganda
Oli Denton describes his time volunteering and playing rugby in Uganda for the Lessons for Life Foundation.

Travel Etymology 2014

The origin of the word "travel" is most likely lost to history. The term "travel" may originate from the Old French word travail.[3] According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the first known use of the word travel was in the 14th century. It also states that the word comes from Middle English travailen, travelen (which means to torment, labor, strive, journey) and earlier from Old French travailler (which means to work strenuously, toil). In English we still occasionally use the words travail and travails, which mean struggle. According to Simon Winchester in his book The Best Travelers' Tales (2004), the words travel and travail both share an even more ancient root: a Roman instrument of torture called the tripalium (in Latin it means "three stakes", as in to impale). This link is fascinating given the extreme difficulty of travel in ancient times. Also note the torturous connotation of the word "travailler." Today, travel may or may not be much easier depending upon the destination you choose (i.e., Mt. Everest, the Amazon rainforest), how you plan to get there (tour bus, cruise ship, or oxcart), and whether or not you decide to "rough it (see extreme tourism and adventure travel). "There's a big difference between simply being a tourist and being a true world traveler," notes travel writer Michael Kasum.

Emirates Palace celebrates Eid at Ramadan Pavilion

The month long celebration of Ramadan has come to a close in the Middle East, with Emirates Palace welcoming guests to an Eid ceremony at a specially constructed pavilion to mark the occasion.The custom built pavilion sits on hundreds of square metres of ground, overlooking the beach on one side and stunning façade of the hotel on the other, and incorporated the existing 12- metre-high palm trees and grand fountain of the palace terrace.Thousands of guests visited during the holy month, with hundreds more enjoying the spectacle during Eid.Emirates Palace, the icon of Emirati hospitality in the UAE, this year partnered with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Wahat Al Zawiya to create a special Ramadan experience for residents and guests.

Alexander Schneider, Emirates Palace hotel manager said: “After providing a limited Ramadan experience in 2012, Emirates Palace decided this year to create an out-of-this-world venue for residents and guests that truly reflects the legendary Emirati hospitality.”The elegant design of the Ramadan pavilion incorporated the signature gold and traditional Mashribiya details of Emirates Palace in a light and airy space.Comfortable seating spread throughout the pavilion created cosy enclaves to enjoy time with friends and family throughout the holy month.

Built as an iconic landmark showcasing Arabian culture and hospitality at its finest, Emirates Palace, managed by Kempinski, has created an enviable niche in luxury hospitality, welcoming world leaders, celebrities, global business travellers and leisure guests with a truly memorable and unique experience, luxurious contemporary facilities and amenities in comfortable and traditional Arabian surroundings with personalized world class service.

Situated on a 1.3 km stretch of private white pristine beach and on 100 hectares of manicured lawns and lush landscaped gardens, Emirates Palace comprises 394 luxury rooms and suites and a variety of award winning dining options.The resort’s leisure facilities include two intricately landscaped swimming pools one to refresh and relax and one perfectly designed for adventure and family fun, an Anantara spa, tennis courts, and a state of the art fitness centre.

Fraport reports fifth airline operating A380 into Frankfurt

An Airbus A380 with the blue-red-white tail fin of British Airways (BA) landed at Frankfurt airport (FRA) last Friday. The reason being, British Airways is launching this aircraft type into its long-haul route network. It is the first of twelve A380 aircraft to be delivered to BA. “I am very happy to welcome passengers on the Frankfurt-London route flying on our brand new A 380 aircraft. The implementation and handling is running according to plan and we thank Frankfurt Airport for this,” says Katja Selle, Regional Commercial Manager, Central and East Europe, British Airways. The airline is flying this short-haul route, Heathrow-Frankfurt, for a limited period of time.

“The fact that British Airways flies the A380 to Frankfurt shows that we have a good reputation as a reliable partner for airlines. With timely investments in our infrastructure, we have successfully laid the foundation for the operation of the A380 in Frankfurt and strengthened our position as a major hub airport”, says Peter Schmitz, Chief Operations Officer of Fraport AG.

In 2005 Frankfurt was the first airport worldwide to be “A380 compatible”. It was not only that the first landing of the A380 prototype at a civilian airport was conducted here - but the licensing for ground handling and evacuation of the largest aircraft worldwide also took place at FRA.

British Airways is the fifth airline to operate an A380 into Frankfurt Airport, after Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and Thai Airways. The airline is a long-standing customer of Frankfurt Airport. It commenced service back in 1938 under the banner of Imperial Airways.

Cathal O’Connell chief executive bmi regional

When British Midland International was finally subsumed into International Airlines Group, owners of British Airways, in 2012 it was by no means clear that offshoot bmi regional would be able to make it on its own. Yet a little over a year later the airline has established itself as a niche carrier, offering scheduled passenger services across the UK and Europe. As chief executive Cathal O’Connell explains to Breaking Travel News: “The hardest task we faced at the offset was telling people we still exist. With International Airlines Group taking over bmi, there is a misconception bmi regional is no longer in operation. However, this is obviously not the case.” Perhaps airline passengers could be forgiven for their mistake. bmi baby, a smaller subsidiary in the BMI stable, could not be saved and was closed down on September 10th 2012. In contrast, canny management and investment from Sector Aviation Holdings, a private company operated by the Bond Family behind Bond Offshore Helicopters, saved the larger bmi regional. A new airline was born, with new management, a new owner and a significantly increased network; up from 11 to 23 routes in summer 2013. But it was not easy, with bmi regional having to undergo a period of incubation while BMI was incorporated into International Airlines Group.

 The entire infrastructure that was used – offices, IT services, call centres, and everything else that was needed to run an airline – was provided by BMI. Following the sale, bmi regional had to rebuild all of these facilities, which is what the airline worked on for the first six months after its move until its re-launch as a standalone company in October last year. “We needed to identify what systems we needed, who we could acquire those systems from, and what staff we would need in order to make those systems run effectively. “Over time we developed a completely new infrastructure,” continues O’Connell. “We now have a new headquarters at East Midlands Airport, while operations and engineering remains in Aberdeen; having created 100 jobs over the past year, in addition to saving 300 which were on the block following the sale to IAG.” What emerged is now a materially different operation from the one that was acquired a year ago.

 This summer bmi regional operates 450 flights a week to eight countries, flying 18 aircraft - all Embraer 145 or Embraer 135 jets – and operating out of a series of regional bases, at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, East Midlands Airport and Bristol. Routes are also now focused on point-to-point services after being recalibrated away from feeder traffic needed for the former BMI parent. “The hangover from the bmi Group meant bmi regional was offering flights to Star Alliance hubs, including Frankfurt, Brussels and Copenhagen, which no longer made economic sense to the new carrier,” adds O’Connell. “All of our European routes were operating as feeder routes to Star Alliance members.

 “When we left Star Alliance the economics, not to mention the need, for these routes, disappeared.” So where to fly now? “We asked ourselves, now have these aircraft what can we do with them that makes more sense than what they are doing now?” continued O’Connell. “We recognised the aircraft we had were suited to very high frequency routes, so we looked at various markets and established those which were underserved. “We were looking for those which initially had a strong business demand, those with major companies which require the links bmi regional could provide. “We then examined the leisure opportunity on the same route, and where these two combined we considered a route; a whole range of opportunities.” A good example would be Airbus, which has a major facility in Bristol, which requires connections to Hamburg and its facilities there. Both Bristol and Hamburg are also established tourist destinations, making it a viable route for bmi regional. The carrier also has a fairly significant, and growing, non-scheduled service carrying VIPs, music groups, and sports teams to destinations around the country. But O’Connell is also quick to point out this is now low-cost carrier cherry picking routes.

 “We offer both business and economy fares – all catering onboard is free, as well as baggage carriage – the airline remains a full service carrier. “We offer the services flag-carriers offered a few years ago, and in many cases services people have forgotten about. “We aim to take the hassle out of travel,” he explains. bmi regional also owns the rights to the BMI brand, and could revert to that name, but this is not on the agenda at present. Growth instead is coming from new routes and improvements to the onboard offering. bmi regional is working on healthy options for onboard eating for example, maximising the experience for passengers. “We have also put in place a marketing campaign which tells people, yes, we do still exist,” jokes O’Connell. “We have also changed perceptions. Yes, we are a business airline, but we also offer leisure services.

 “We have more new routes in the pipeline, not just departing from the UK, but also within Europe. “We now fly into the major airports, but less for connections – our passengers now tend to be flying to their destinations, rather than toward an onward flight. “That said, looking at codeshare agreements with global carriers to offer more opportunity to our passengers. “This is good for us, and for them, offering regional airports to international passengers.” Just a year in bmi regional has established itself as a viable carrier, no mean feat in troubling times. With competition getting tighter all the time it might be a bumpy ride yet, but the carrier is certainly pointed in the right direction.