A new holiday concept has been launched by luxury hotel chain Ritz-Carlton.

The Give Back Getaways scheme allows vacationers to get involved in local ecological and humanitarian projects during their holidays, the Daily Telegraph reports.

For example, those staying in the chain’s luxury hotel in Berlin are given the opportunity to help out in the local Sonnenhof children’s hospital, as well as enjoying the city’s tourist hotspots.

Bruce Himelstein, vice president at Ritz-Carlton, commented: “All our hotels are involved in their own local projects.

“Now we’re giving our guests the chance to join us in some of the work we do.”

Sue Stephenson, who runs the programme, added: “The whole scheme has grown out of the interest guests have already shown in helping with local projects - they’ve already joined us informally in projects in New Orleans, Sarasota, Ellis Island and Alcatraz.”

Further information about the various Give Back Getaways on offer can be found at the luxury hotel group’s website, ritzcarlton.com.

Fans of luxury hotels are sure to be in evidence in Dubai this holiday season, the Independent reports.

The town represents a “dizzying” variety of attractions - and will soon boast the world’s tallest building.

Currently under construction, the Burj Dubai is anticipated to finish up at over 800 metres tall - over four times the height of London’s ‘Gherkin’ tower.

Elsewhere in the city, part of the United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s biggest building booms is underway.

Seven-star luxury hotels such as the spectacular “sail-shaped” Burj Al-Arab have sprung up from the desert in recent years, contrasting markedly with some of the peninsula’s best beaches.

In town, luxury hotel the Chelsea Tower not only provides deluxe service for guests, but is the 14th-tallest residential building in the world - higher than any building in the UK.

Higher still is the nearby Emirates Hotel - part of a twin tower scheme which exceeds the height of the Eiffel Tower.

People taking their vacations at luxury hotels in Borneo should not pass up the opportunity to go snorkelling, the Times reports.

In particular, the island of Palu Lankayan near Sandakan was recommended, due to its having been designated a Marine Protected Area by the Malaysian government.

This means that the area has been specially reserved for eco-tourism - as major developments will not be allowed nearby in order to protect local wildlife and encourage sustainability.

Accessible by a 90 minute boat trip from the town, the island is “renowned for lush vegetation, stunning white beaches, but most of all, for diving”, the report adds.

Sea animals, fauna and shipwrecks are all in close proximity - and can be explored via organised diving tours.

Animal-watchers can also study sea turtles on the island, as it is a nesting place for the green turtle and hawksbill turtle species.

Hatchlings are released by locals between the months of May and September.

Tourists who wish to stay on Palu Lankayan itself, rather than in a luxury hotel nearby, can also take one of the 16 chalets and two bungalows on the island.

Rocco Forte’s The Augustine In Prague Opens Its DoorsThe Rocco Forte Collection is delighted to confirm that its twelfth property, The Augustine, opened today (14 May 2009) in Prague. The 101-bedroom hotel has been created from a set of seven buildings, many of which have historical significance, including the 13th century Augustinian St Thomas’s Monastery, after which the hotel is named.  Several practicing monks still live in a separate part of the monastery, adjacent to the hotel grounds. 

Conveniently located in Prague’s picturesque Malá Strana district, The Augustine, the quintessence of Prague’s history, character and beauty is close to the majestic Prague Castle, the Wallenstein Garden, the famous Charles Bridge and within easy reach of the city’s many colourful tourist attractions, making it an ideal choice for business and leisure travellers. The design of the interiors was accomplished by the London-based design company RDD, together with Olga Polizzi, The Rocco Forte Collection’s Director of Design. The hotel is also in close proximity to Prague’s commercial district and Prague’s Ruzyne International Airport is a 30-minute drive away.

The 101-bedroom property including 16 suites has been created from seven buildings, many of which have historical significance, including the 13th century Augustinian St. Thomas’s Monastery, after which the hotel is named. Several practicing monks still live in a separate part of the monastery, adjacent to the hotel grounds.
The guests may benefit from the direct access to the neighboring St. Thomas’s Church and exclusive rental of the adjacent Wallenstein Garden for the ultimate summer events and wedding receptions.

You may have noticed over the past few months that the Drake & Cavendish Luxury Hotel guide had been watered down with a collection of… well, how do we say this… not so luxury hotels! Our aim was to provide alternatives during these tough economic times. The good news is that the luxury hotel market has been busy providing great luxury hotel deals and going above our expectations to keep us all coming back to stay with them… on the back of this trend by the luxury hotel industry, we have now removed all those ‘wanabe’ luxury hotels and are now back to only providing you with the very best luxury hotels throughout the world.

We can also announce the launch of a new hotel project called Complete Hotel Guide (CHG). The Complete Hotel Guide Project is an open source human edited directory of all of the worlds hotels. With your help the CHG Project aims to catalogue and index every hotel worldwide showing full contact details and website addresses. More information will be available on www.completehotelguide.com

Online booking of holidays is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, the Daily Telegraph reports.

According to research from internet pollsters Ciao Surveys, 58 per cent of travellers prefer to book their trips through the internet.

However, just 21 per cent go to a vacations retailer such as a travel agent - with the rest using the telephone.

Ciao Surveys also found that 59 per cent of Britons take “one or more” leisure trips per year.

Reasons for going on holiday were also explored by the firm - which found that 56 per cent of people go away for “sun and relaxation” and 45 per cent take trips for “sightseeing”.

Meanwhile, 33 per cent did so to “enjoy comfort and fine dining” - and 14 per cent of people hoped for a “life changing experience” while on holiday.

Popular destinations uncovered by Ciao Surveys included Australia (preferred by 25 per cent of poll respondents) and North America (20 per cent) - both areas where luxury hotels are commonplace.

Britain’s holidaymakers are passing up airports in favour of travelling abroad by train, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Figures from the British Airports Authority (BAA) show that, last month, four of its seven UK airports operated fewer flights than they did in March last year.

This follows several years of steady increases, the report adds - and comes despite a traditionally flights-boosting early Easter.

“The figures have not been materially inflated by the earlier Easter this year,” a BAA spokesman claimed.

“Although the Bank Holidays occurred in March, it is expected that the bulk of the travel associated with Easter will coincide with the school holidays which, in most of the country, fall in April.”

Meanwhile, international train operator Eurostar posted an impressive 21 per cent year-on-year rise in passenger numbers for the past three months.

Nearly 2.2 million passengers were found to have travelled the Chunnel from January to March.

Extreme swimmers can take a dip in the most spectacular pool in the world during their African holiday, the Times report.

The swimming spot is located in the small natural pool above the Victoria Falls on the Zambia/Zimbabwe border - just above a sheer 110 metre drop.

While bathing in the pool is near-impossible for most of the year, in the dry season the flow of the Zambezi river is slow enough to make it relatively safe.

However, the so-called Devil’s Pool is open to only the most committed swimmers - being accessible following a treacherous three-hour walk to the edge of the falls.

Bather Francisc Stugren, who recently swam in the pool, commented: “Being in the Devil’s Pool is a serious adrenaline rush.

“If you jump in it adds to the excitement but you can also get in gently. It’s great fun. Some people enjoy it quietly, swimming, looking and thinking, while others just keep screaming.”

Canny holidaymakers looking to avoid losing out on the pound’s current weakness against the Euro have been issued with some sage advice.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents, the latest currency fluctuation could result in an additional £120 on top of a £1,000 holiday when compared to last year.

However responding to these figures last week, the Post Office advised Britons to consider holidaying in Bulgaria and Turkey where their money is likely to go further.

Research by the firm on the cost of a basket of ten holiday items including drinks, meals and sun cream, identified Bulgaria as the best value for money destination in Europe, followed by Turkey and Croatia.

Meanwhile, travellers who do not mind paying top dollar - or should that be pound? - for a trip of pure indulgence should perhaps head to Switzerland, where sterling is now worth less than two francs.

“We believe that holidaymakers will be smarter about where they choose to go this year,” the Post Office’s Helen Warburton said.

“Prices vary quite significantly within Europe so people will be looking to visit countries where a lower cost of living will offer them more for their pound.”

Luxury dining is guaranteed at a Costa Brava eatery that has just been awarded the title of the best restaurant in the world for the third consecutive year.

Ferran Adria and his Roses restaurant El Bulli have been given the top award in the 2008 San Pellegrino world’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, organised by Restaurant magazine.

Adria’s unique style of laboratory cooking in which parmesan cheese is shaped like spaghetti and carrots served as foam has boasted Spain’s ratings in the global gastronomic hierarchy.

Paul Wootton, editor of Restaurant magazine, Farron Adria deserved the award for the third successive year. “He offers such an extraordinary eating experience in his restaurant and what is also important the service and the setting are top notch.”

El Bulli’s constantly evolving menu has been described as “the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet”.

Spain also features highly in the top ten with Andoni Luis Adruriz and his Mugaritz restaurant in San Sebastian in fourth position.

Votes for this year’s award winners were cast by some 700 top chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and restaurant critics.

Drake & Cavendish Luxury Hotels will soon be adding a hotel restaurant guide… keep checking back for the latest updates