It’s that time of year again when TripAdvisor report their ‘Travellers’ Choice awards. In this post we’ll take a look at the category ‘Luxury Hotels in the World’

1	Golden Well (U Zlate Studne), Prague, Czech Republic Rating: 5 star The Golden Well Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel Prague enjoying one of the best locations in the city. With only 17 rooms and 2 suites all reflecting the buildings rich heritage the Golden Well is a firm favourite. 99% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
2	Britania Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal Rating: 4 star Hotel Britania is a pure Boutique Art Deco hotel in the historic center of Lisbon. The only surviving original Art Deco hotel in Lisbon, with a touch of modern whimsical nuances! 99% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
3	Alchymist Residence Nosticova, Prague, Czech Republic Rating: 5 star The Alchymist Hotel Residence in the beautiful city of Prague, is a historic retreat with a very personal touch. The building represents the Renaissance of a glorious Baroque landmark, “U Jesizek Palace” 99% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
4	Los Altos De Eros Rating: unrated Tamarindo, Costa Rica 98% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
5	Quay Grand Suites Sydney, Sydney, Australia Rating: 5 star Enjoy the comforts of all-suite luxury at Sydney’s ultimate harbour-front address. Set majestically on the eastern shore of Circular Quay, the superbly located Quay Grand offers guests spectacular views of Sydney’s famous harbour. 98% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
6	Rudding Park Hotel Rating: unrated Harrogate, United Kingdom 97% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
7	Aria Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic Rating: 5 star The Aria Hotel is a luxurious five star Prague hotel inspired by the beauty of music. This central Prague boutique hotel is composed of 52 rooms and suites dedicated to a specific style of music or to a particular artist or composer. 97% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
8	French Quarter Inn Rating: 4 star Charleston, South Carolina 96% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
9	Finca Hotel Son Palou Rating: 4 star Orient, Spain 97% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel
10	Hotel Villa Ducale Rating: 4 star Taormina, Italy 95% of TripAdvisor reviewers recommend this hotel

Music-loving holiday makers will be travelling to festivals in Europe this summer, the Independent reports.

The newspaper recommends a visit to the White Nights Festival in the Russian cultural capital of St Petersburg - which offers high-end opera and ballet in the fabulous setting of the city’s Mariinsky theatre.

Culture vultures wishing to sample the festival’s showpiece – a brand new production of Puccini’s Tosca – have until July 27th to catch a performance.

Jazz fans are also set to descend on the Greek resort of Sani – one of the hosts of the three-day Jazz on the Hill festival in mid-July.

Performers already booked for the pretty eco-friendly tourist hotspot include Chucho Valdes, Roberto Fonseca and Omar Sosa.

For those who like their music a little more up to date, Japan’s three-day Fuji Rock festival – which begins on July 25th – is also proving popular.

Acts set to take the stage at the Maeba ski resort near Tokyo include My Bloody Valentine, CSS and the Breeders.

Eager to brush off the damning stigma of ruin that Hurricane Katrina brought to New Orleans, the city’s tourism officials are urging visitors back once again.

Pre-Katrina, New Orleans was one of most intriguing tourist destinations in the US offering its own unique blend of different cultures, music and attractions.

But the return of high-profile events such as the Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the NBA all-star game are set to return the city to its former prominence as a luxury holiday destination.

According to a spokesperson for the Tourism Marketing Corp, Lea Sinclair, officials feel as if they have turned their fortunes around.

She told the Houston Chronicle: “One of the biggest things we’re seeing now is, making sure people understand that it’s OK to come and visit and have fun, because you’re helping the people who are still struggling.”

Officials have invested $5.7 million in a tourist campaign to entitled Come Out and Play in a bid to build on the consecutive increases in tourist figures since 2006.

In 2007 alone, the number of visitors almost doubled to 7.1 million compared to the previous year. This rise will no doubt encourage luxury hotel developers considering investing in the city.

Travellers having surgery abroad have been advised to extend their trip.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson, Jason Wakeford notes that some luxury hotel time can be the difference between making a full recovery and returning with problems.

Research by the CAA claims that 514 emergency calls made by UK airlines in 2007 were due to medical conditions, resulting in 58 diversions.

But Mr Wakeford notes that while most conditions are unlikely to cause problems, a delayed trip in which to indulge in a luxury holiday is advisable as a safety measure.

He said: “After day surgery, if you have had that abroad, you may want to delay your return trip to give yourself some extra time to recover.”

CAA guidelines note that reduced barometric pressure and jet lag can all complicate the effects of medication and contribute to travellers’ thrombosis.

Guidelines also advise a prolonged delay of air travel following major surgery, particularly cardiovascular intervention.

Over-50s tourists are shunning traditional luxury holidays abroad and are keen to take a more active route, new research has revealed.

According to a survey by Alliance & Leicester, one fifth of those polled see turning 50 as an opportunity to try new and exiting challenges.

But while one in ten claim to feel fit enough to run a marathon, other thrill seekers are not likely to be satisfied until they have had a luxury holiday that offers some extra adventure.

Commenting on the survey, current account manager at the lender, Emma Walker, explained that it is no surprise over-50s don’t see age as a barrier.

She said: “More and more over 50s are fit and active well into the later stages of life, so it is no surprise that physically challenging activities such as skydiving and mountain climbing are also on the to-do list.”

Other to-do list additions for over-50s tourists include scuba diving and 4×4 off-road driving. Check out all of the Drake & Cavendish Holiday Ideas.

British consumers facing tough economic conditions at home are still planning to go on holiday, new research from Tui Travel shows.

The firm, which owns Thomson and First Choice in the UK, claimed today that sales over the past six weeks were nine per cent up on the same period in 2007.

Winter holiday bookings also showed a 15 per cent increase, the Guardian reports.

In recent months, the global credit crunch has seen a general economic slowdown and house price inflation coming to a dead halt.

Inflation is also on the up – with a new benchmark pegging the current annual rate at three per cent today.

Tui chief executive Peter Long said: “We see no evidence of deteriorating consumer sentiment in our booking patterns, in the average holiday duration booked, average selling price or cancellation rates.

“This confirms our research that the annual holiday is an important component of the family budget.”

Tips and hints on how to avoid wasting money while on holiday have been provided by the Independent newspaper.

Travellers to luxury hotels and other UK tourists are advised to take into account the present exchange rate between sterling and the local currency before they change money prior to the trip.

Speaking to the newspaper, Martyn Hocking at Which? added: “Don’t wait until the last minute to buy your foreign currency, as exchange rates at airport bureaux de change are generally not as good as those on the high street or online.”

Once at the destination, tourists are also recommended to carry their money in more than one form – such as cash, cards and traveller’s cheques.

However, card users are advised that 2.75 per cent “loading fees” are added to overseas transactions by some providers.

These firms should also be told of the holiday beforehand, Mr Hocking added.

“In a bid to tackle fraud, your provider may query any foreign transactions or cancel your card – so talk to them before you go on holiday, telling them where you are travelling to and how long you will be away.”

All-inclusive holidays vary enormously from provider to provider, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has pointed out.

Activity holidays including sporting activities, vacations focussing on the family and beach breaks targeted at couples are all covered by the all-inclusive umbrella, spokesperson Frances Tuke said.

Recent research from youtravel.com shows that the sector is growing in the UK – with a 70 per cent rise in bookings tracked between March and April.

Halifax Travel Insurance has also found that 2.5 million Britons take a package holiday each year.

Ms Tuke commented: “There’s no such thing as a typical all inclusive holiday because they do have different markets.”

She added: “There’s a family market – you tend to have water sports thrown in, its full board, you have food, your drinks will be paid for, and some have things like ice-cream [included] as well. Then you have other kinds of all inclusive holidays, like Sandals, and Beaches, which tends to appeal to the couples market.”

Parents planning a holiday for the upcoming half term break will pay extra for the journeys, new research from Abbey shows.

Luxury hotels and other breaks to Spain and Portugal are to carry a 39 per cent premium for the trip – a figure which increases to 78 per cent for US holiday camps.

Abbey found that the average family journey to Spain over the half term will cost £348 – while week-long trips to Cyprus and the Algarve are to cost £439 and £553 respectively.

All three figures are inflated for the half term period, the financial services firm said.

Callum Gibson at Abbey commented: “For many families money is tighter than ever this year, so every penny counts.

“There are a number of ways to keep costs down on foreign holidays such as booking in advance to get the best deal, shopping around for the best price on foreign currency, taking a credit card on holidays that saves you money on foreign exchange fees and putting your holiday on a zero per cent credit card where appropriate.”

A rise in British tourists visiting Spain is expected despite the pound flagging againstthe euro, a Spanish tourism chief has claimed.

Ignacia Vasallo of the Turespana Spanish Tourist Board said he believes the country will remain a popular tourist destination during 2008, reports the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Predicting a two per cent rise in visitors this summer, he said Spain was still one of the cheapest eurozone destinations and claimed certain slight price increases were not going to turn people away.

He stated: “While the credit crunch may persuade British consumers to put off selling the house or buying a new car, it will not deter them from going on holiday this year.”

With 10.7 million tourists having visited Spain already during the first quarter of 2008, it appears the country may indeed be in for a bumper year.

Visitors to Spain can choose between laid back breaks at one of the many beach resorts along the country’s Mediterranean coastline, or cultural trips to historic cities such as Barcelona and the capital city Madrid.