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Times
5 hours ago
- Times
A week on the Amalfi Coast in August for £532pp? Here's how
With its Mediterranean sunsets, beach clubs and exquisite gelati, Sorrento is a delight in August. Hot sunny days in the early 30s are perfect for exploring more of Amalfi's coastline on boat trips to surrounding islands or for swimming in the town's natural cove and snorkelling in the nearby Punta Campanella Marine Reserve. There are also plenty of easily reached historic sites and a lively old town full of restaurants for alfresco lunches on days off the water. Prices soar in August's peak season, but the Amalfi Coast can still be affordable if you stay just outside Sorrento's centre at the Hotel Villa Igea Sorrento. Seven nights' B&B, including flights from Stansted with Ryanair, costs £532pp with Thomas Cook, departing on August 27, or you can upgrade to half-board for an extra £212pp for the week. A small under-seat bag is included or check in a 20kg suitcase for an additional £75 return. Naples airport is about an hour from Sorrento and taxis cost at least £80, but an hourly bus runs to Sorrento's railway station (£11; where you can take the same company's blue or orange line bus to Capo di Sorrento, right outside the hotel (£1). The three-star hotel overlooks the Bay of Naples and has a smart white marble lobby and 60 bright, buttercup-yellow rooms with tiled floors and traditional carved wooden beds. Some have sea views. There's a seasonal outdoor pool, an all-day snack bar and a restaurant serving dinner. It's a 40-minute walk to the centre of Sorrento but there's also a free shuttle bus. • Read our full guide Amalfi The turquoise natural pool at Bagni Regina Giovanna, on the site of a ruined 1st-century Roman villa, is a 15-minute stroll from the hotel. The town's main beach, Spiaggia di Sorrento, is a five-minute drive and lined with beach clubs providing loungers and plenty of Aperol. In Sorrento's old town, stroll the main square, Piazza Tasso, then wander the cobbled side streets to stock up on leather gloves, limoncello and hand-painted ceramics. Pop into the 11th-century Basilica di Sant'Antonino, home to the tomb of Sorrento's patron saint, and ogle the elaborate frescoes at the 15th-century Palazzo Sedil Dominova (both free entry). The nearby Museo Correale di Terranova houses a vast art collection donated by a noble Neapolitan family, including Roman artefacts discovered in the town itself (£13; Afterwards, people-watch over seafood pasta on the patio at Da Gigino (mains from £7; Via degli Archi) then finish with artisan ice cream at Fresco Sorrento (cones from £2; • 23 of the best things to do on the Amalfi coast The Unesco-listed ancient Roman city of Pompeii (from £15 entry; is 40 minutes away by train (£21 return; while ferries to the island of Capri run regularly from Sorrento's Marina Piccola port (£36 return; You can visit the best snorkelling sites at the protected marine reserve on a boat trip with a marine biologist on board (£50; • Return Stansted-Naples flights, departing on August 27• Seven nights' B&B at Hotel Villa Igea ( If you're inspired to visit Sorrento and have more to spend, you could try… This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Perfectly placed for day trips, Hotel Michelangelo is two minutes' walk from Sorrento's railway station on the main shopping street, Corso Italia. The salmon-pink four-star property is built around a 16th-century tower and has an outdoor swimming pool, a bar with live piano music and a roof terrace with views of the Bay of Naples. A restaurant serves dishes from the Sorrentine Peninsula and has a patio overlooking the pool. Simply decorated rooms feature terracotta-tiled floors, floor-to-ceiling windows and pale blue soft furnishings. Most have balconies and one recently renovated modern suite has its own hot tub. Details Seven nights' B&B from £1,000pp, including flights ( • 25 of the best hotels on the Amalfi coast It's all about the views at the four-star Grand Hotel President which looks out over the Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius and the Sorrento coast from its hilltop perch. A glass-walled cocktail bar, rooftop sun terrace, outdoor pool and main restaurant all make the most of the panoramic location. There's also a small fitness centre and spa with Turkish bath and whirlpool, while flower-filled gardens are ideal for sunset strolls. Rooms have ornate Vietri-style tiling, inlaid wooden furniture and warm touches of peach, lemon and sea-blue. The centre of Sorrento is two miles away and a free shuttle service is provided. Details Seven nights' B&B from £1,438pp, including flights and hold luggage ( • The in-the-know Amalfi coastal spots that don't cost the earth
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Cook Travel Becomes Trailblazer, Accepting Bitcoin for Tours and Airline Tickets
This groundbreaking move positions Cook Travel as the only major travel agency to embrace cryptocurrency for travel services NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, June 28, 2025 / / -- Cook Travel will now accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for premium tours and airline tickets. This groundbreaking move positions Cook Travel as the only major travel agency to embrace cryptocurrency for travel services, offering clients a modern way to book travel experiences. As a spinoff from the renowned Thomas Cook and a former American Express Representative Excellence Award winner, Cook Travel has specialized in discount First and business-class travel since 1983. New York Times: ' (Cook Travel)… are both reputable consolidators.' Wall Street Journal: 'Established discount travel agencies like Cook Travel… save clients money by passing along volume discounts and finding novel routing options.' Consumer Reports: 'recently offered a nonstop business-class fare for over 40 percent off.' Over the last five decades, the agency has remained steadfastly committed to providing customers with exceptional concierge service at discounted rates, leveraging savings from consolidator fares and tour packages offered by most major airlines. This unique approach allows Cook Travel to provide significant savings on luxurious travel options, including tours, cruises, and Business Class airline tickets. 'We are thrilled to be at the forefront of the travel industry by accepting Bitcoin,' said Molly O'Brian, spokesperson. 'This is not just about staying current with payment trends; it's about providing our clients with flexible and secure payment options that cater to evolving preferences.' 'Beyond flexible, cutting-edge payment options, we've noticed our First and Business class customers increasingly want to deal with a human being. Not with an AI bot or a complicated, spammy booking engine,' O'Brien observes. In an era where person-to-person service is disappearing, Cook distinguishes itself by assigning every customer an individual luxury travel specialist at no cost. Clients can expect a concierge experience without the hassle of dealing with pesky long wait times and irritating elevator music. The days of hour-long holds are over when dealing with Cook Travel, which also proudly boasts no hidden booking fees. With its commitment to customer satisfaction and innovation, Cook Travel continues to offer luxury for less for discerning clients. 'Our clients are really smart,' O'Brien gushes. 'They keep us on our toes, they're hungry for deals, and now, by accepting Bitcoin and other cybercurrencies, our agency is not only enhancing its service offerings but also setting a new standard in the travel industry.' About Cook Travel Founded in 1983, Cook Travel specializes in discounted First and Business Class travel. As a spinoff from Thomas Cook, the agency has established itself as a leader in luxury travel services, ensuring each client receives personalized attention from dedicated travel consultants. Cook Travel offers a wide range of travel options, including tours, cruises, and airline tickets, all at competitive prices. To learn more, Cook Travel call 800-435-8776 or visit [email protected]. In Europe email [email protected]. **Media Contact:** Blake Cordoves 917 514 6958 [email protected] ### END ### Blake cordoves Cook Travel +1 800-435-8776 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
A gunman massacred tourists on a beach. Ten years later, they're coming back
On a hot June day in 2015, a man dressed in black walked along the beach outside the five-star Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse. It was almost noon, peak sunbathing time, and he was carrying a parasol. Nobody paid him much attention. Over the next 30 minutes, Seifeddine Rezgui rampaged with the Kalashnikov assault rifle that had been hidden in the parasol, shooting indiscriminately into crowds of tourists and anyone who crossed his path. By the time he was killed by Tunisian security forces, 23-year-old Rezgui had murdered 38 people and left another 39 wounded. Of the dead, 30 were British. It was the biggest loss of British life to terrorism since the 7/7 bombings in London in July 2005. For Tunisians and the tourism they rely on, it was devastating. 'The attack fully destroyed it as a destination. All the airlines pulled out, nobody wanted to go,' Nicholas Smith, Holidays Digital Director at Thomas Cook and eSky Group, tells Metro. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Before Sousse, tourism accounted for around 14% of Tunisia's GDP, employing almost half a million people from a population of 11 million. Confidence in the sector had been shaken three months before, when two Tunisian suicide attackers killed 22 tourists at the Bardo museum in the capital, Tunis. After the massacre in Sousse, a resort town where 90% of residents worked in tourism, directly or indirectly, it collapsed. Tour operators across the UK, Ireland and Europe suspended charters, spelling the end of Tunisia as a package holiday destination for years. After the Foreign Office advised against travel, hotels and restaurants that relied on footfall from foreigners were forced to close, and local heroes who formed human shields to save guests from Rezgui's bullets lost their jobs. The town, residents said, felt like it was dying. 'Everyone had a hard time,' says content creator Hamza Jabri, 33. 'Some started selling things on the street, others had to get help from their family or their neighbours. People had to find new ways to support themselves.' In 2014, the year before the attacks, 430,000 British tourists visited Tunisia. In 2017, there were 28,000. It was almost three years after Rezgui opened fire before travel operators cautiously returned. While the Tunisian government provided support payments and training to help the unemployed find new jobs, Covid dealt a double blow to a region already on its knees. 'It was a tough time, but people did their best to keep going,' Hamza says, resolutely. And today, against the odds, the future looks bright. Flights have resumed, and budget behemoths like easyJet are luring budget-conscious travellers with attractively priced packages. Luxury is accessible, with five-star hotels offering rooms for a fraction of the price you'd pay in Greece or Turkey. In 2024, Tunisia welcomed 10.25 million visitors; put in context, Morocco saw 17 million and Egypt 15.7 million. Like it does for dozens of countries, the Foreign Office still advises against travel to parts of Tunisia (mostly near the border with Libya). However, British officials say the country has made huge progress in counter-terrorism since the 2015 attacks, and Nicholas has seen proof in holiday spots such as Djerba, Sousse and Port El Kantaoui. 'The tourism board has done a lot to repair its image,' he says. 'They've spent a lot of money to make guests feel safe.' More Trending Most of that investment has been on security. But do people want to holiday in a place swarming with armed security and gendarmerie on jet skis patrolling the shore? 'Look, there's been a push for visible security, and there is some, but it's subtle,' says Smith. 'You can still get out and about, you're not locked up in a resort.' Tunisia clocked a record start to 2025, with a surge in year-on-year visitors from January to April, and Tunisians are thrilled to see them returning. 'Tourism is not just coming back, it's evolving,' says Hamza. 'I see more people returning every year, and now they're looking for authentic experiences, not just beach holidays.' MORE: 'Neo-nazi' teen wanted to go on 'terrorist rampage inspired by Jo Cox murder' MORE: Sleeper cells are lurking in the UK — experts reveal how worried we should be MORE: Is it safe to travel to Egypt? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice after Iran strikes US airbase
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Thomas Cook launches WhatsApp Calling support for Forex services
Thomas Cook has launched WhatsApp Calling support for its Forex prepaid card customers. This new feature allows customers to connect directly with Thomas Cook's team through a WhatsApp voice call on +91 8879142236 the existing number of its widely adopted WhatsApp Bot services. The new WhatsApp calling feature is integrated into Thomas Cook's Forex WhatsApp Bot, supporting a comprehensive suite of self-service options, including checking balances, downloading statements, generating card PINs, and managing card limits and channels. The WhatsApp Calling feature adds additional benefits: real-time, human support - globally. Customers can now speak directly with Thomas Cook's Forex specialists any time, using WhatsApp - eliminating the need to procure local phone sim cards or dial toll-free numbers.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Ryanair's challenge to Covid-19 aid for German airline Condor rejected by European court
A legal challenge by Ryanair against the European Commission's approval of Covid-19 aid granted by Germany to charter airline Condor has been dismissed by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Two loans were granted by German bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau and accompanied by a State guarantee in 2020 after the pandemic restrictions grounded air travel. The move was later approved by the European Commission. The loans consisted of a total nominal amount of €400 million, while the aid element amounted to €144.1 million. At the time of the first decision, the two loans amounted to a total of €550 million with the aid element was €267.1 million. Condor was part of the Thomas Cook Group, which collapsed in 2019, forcing the airline to file for insolvency. Those proceedings were extended to April 2020 when an investor lined up to rescue the airline pulled out of the deal. READ MORE Ryanair's action argued the commission failed to take into account the damage caused to Condor's business by its own insolvency when it ruled that the aid from the German state did not breach EU law. Following that action, the General Court of the European Union annulled the commission's decision to allow the aid the following year, but suspended its ruling pending a further decision by officials. [ An EU court has halted a German bid to give €550 million state aid to airline Condor following a challenge by Irish carrier Ryanair. Opens in new window ] On Wednesday, the court dismissed the action, and said the fact that Condor is in difficulty and has received rescue and restructuring aid 'does not prevent it from also receiving aid in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic'. The court rejected Ryanair's evidence contesting the commission's view that Germany's aid to the airline was compatible with EU law as it was meant to compensate Condor for damage caused by natural disasters and exceptional circumstances. Bobby Healy on why Manna drone delivery could be the 'biggest technology company in the world for its space' Listen | 67:08 'Ryanair has not demonstrated that the commission should have had doubts as to the direct causal link between the travel restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and the damage suffered by Condor,' it said. The court said Condor was a 'sound and viable' undertaking whose difficulties were linked to those of its parent company. 'The commission could therefore expect the investors to express an interest in its purchase,' it said. [ Ryanair's O'Leary got €3.8 million pay package last year Opens in new window ] It also rejected Ryanair's argument that the European Commission failed to ensure the aid at issue compensated only the costs generated by the travel restrictions linked to the pandemic and not the costs associated with Condor's pre-existing difficulties. Similarly, Ryanair's arguments alleging the commission failed to take into consideration a potential risk of double compensation as a result of the rescue aid from which Condor previously benefited were rejected. Ryanair also failed to demonstrate that the aid at issue is discriminatory in relation to other airlines operating in Germany, in particular Ryanair itself.
