Travel News

Soon you will be able to stay where the party is at in Manchester at a new sleek hotel facility.

The complex is the brainchild of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and West Properties UK.

The pair will converge on Manchester city centre to open the facility in 2010, complete with chopper pad.

Guests will be offered helicopter tours of the city as well as concert tickets to the hottest shows in town.

W Manchester will have 160 bedrooms, a spa, gym, store and restaurant.

Other developments include a 4,000 sq ft ballroom and 3,000 sq ft of meeting space.

The hotel is being designed by Ian Simpson, who designed award-winning Hilton Tower.

President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Europe, Africa and the Middle East Roeland Vos said: "This eye catching new hotel will not only energise the city's landscape, but will also give our guests a stylish, new alternative in the chic, modern city of Manchester."

The building will be round the corner from the best hotels in Manchester.

New additions to W Hotels are set to be built in Bali and Koh Samui.

The W brand's first ski resort will go up in Vieques and Verbier, the company said.

For some it's dark, dirty and smelly, for others it's simply a means of getting from A to B, but for others it is epitomised by the Roundel – the symbol of the London Underground which is now recognised worldwide.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of this weird and wonderful landmark logo, 100 artists have been commissioned to create art work inspired by the renowned design.

Names like Yinka Shonibare, Bob and Roberta Smith, Cornelia Parker, Thomas Helbig, Jeremy Deller, Catherine Yass, Pae White, Roger Hiorns and Matthew Higgs will be creating their takes on the circular design.

Posters advertising the show have been designed by Liam Gillick with opportunities for travellers to join in various activities to mark the centenary.

The first piece of work will go on display in the Underground on Friday, but all 100 works of art will be on display between October 8th and 30th at Rochelle School in Shoreditch, which is well known for supporting artists' education.

Health of Art of the Underground Tamsin Dillon said: "The ambition for this project is to open the doors to a broad spectrum of interpretations of the famous Tube brand, aiming to be both a celebration of its heritage and a vision for its future."

The best hotels in London are accessible from all over the tube station network, but be sure to pay a visit to the big wheel or London Eye, which affords spectacular views of the capital city.

Easyjet is offering a new flight destination – the 400th route on sale.

Travellers will now be able to fly with the low-cost airline to Istanbul from Gatwick, its fourth route to be added this season.

And the company expects 100,000 people to travel on the new route this year.

In total easyjet flies to 51 destinations from the London airport.

But the Turkish city is expected to be the jewel in the crown for visitors who want to learn more about the Ottoman empire.

Istanbul is steeped in history with marvellous artefacts and architectural wonders.

Make sure you cram time in to visit the Basilica Cistern that appeared in James Bond movie From Russia With Love.

It is a series of watery tunnels used to transport goods through Constantinople amid pillars of marble.

Lying right next to the Basilica Cistern is the Hagia Sophia, which is considered to be the epitome of Byzantine architecture.

It was created in the AD 500s as a basilica and was later turned into a mosque.

There are plenty of cheap hotels in Istanbul and now there are cheap flights too – starting from £35.99 one-way from Gatwick.

Parisian attractions have just become more accessible for low-budget travellers, as Ryanair opened a new route from Liverpool and East Midlands.

To celebrate the launch of new flights to Beauvais Airport in Paris, the company is charging £10 a ticket for passengers who book to travel in October or November this week.

Forget the spring, Paris is lovely at autumn-time, says the Parisian tourist office, when attractions are less crowded and amenities less expensive.

The best hotels in Paris could become cheaper, making the likes of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc du Triomphe and the Moulin Rouge in Pigalle more accessible.

Hundreds of artists' work goes on display at the Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain in the capital from October 23rd to 26th.

La Louvre will host some of the art work while the Grand Palais will host other elements.

Ryanair has six million £10 tickets for anyone who books until Sunday and promises no hidden fees.

It is also launching £26.99 deals from London Stanstead to promote its other new route to Agadir in Morocco between the same dates.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said: "These new routes from Liverpool, East Midlands and Stansted will bring Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and the promise of no fuel surcharge ever to those planning a break in the beautiful city of Paris."

The Sky Lounge is the veritable cherry on the cake at the Hotel Continentale in Florence, according to the Guardian.

From the top of medieval Consorti Tower, you can see views of the River Arno, and in October the special water festival, from this rooftop level.

The Arno Festival is held every year to raise money for the river defences after it burst its banks in one of the worst disasters the city had ever seen in 1966.

Thousands of people lost their businesses and homes and were forced to move to higher ground until the city came to their rescue.

Now high land is only salvation for those that want a breath of fresh air and a chance to meet the super trendy locals.

An example of the opulence that greets you at this city bar can be seen from the hotel packages.

There's the chance to sample the cocktails in one of the relaxing mental spaces on the mezzanine level, claims the hotel, after private transfer from the airport or railway.

This is followed by a full buffet breakfast, included with complimentary healthy snacks in the three-night special luxury deal.

It is located near many of the other best hotels in Florence in the Ponte Vecchio part of the city.

Opening hours are from 11:00 local time until 00:00.