Two in a row for Continental
Continental has been named Airline of the Year for the second year running. It also won the best business class trophy at the OAG awards, based on a survey of frequent travellers. Continental is the first US airline to win the overall award, but the honour comes at a difficult time for the company. In February the company's directors announced they were taking a 30 per cent pay cut in a bid to slash costs, and it was revealed the airline was losing $1.5 million (£800,000) a day.
In previous years Virgin Atlantic has won the award five times, and British Airways four times. This year's best airport was Singapore Changi.
New giant of the seas takes shape
At the other end of the spectrum from the cheap and cheerful Easycruise, details of what will be the world's biggest passenger ship have been released. Freedom of the Seas, being built by Royal Caribbean International, will be 10,000 tons bigger than Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Among its facilities are two whirlpool baths sticking out from either side of the ship on the top deck, thus suspending bathers 112 feet above the sea. The ship will accommodate 3,600 passengers and 1,360 crew and is due to enter service next year. It also boasts an ice rink, climbing wall and presidential suite for 14 people.
Protect your gadgets
Ninety per cent of travel insurance companies surveyed by the Post Office failed to offer enough cover to protect hi-tech luggage. They limited claims per item to £300 when laptops and camcorders are often worth £1,000 each. Post offices now offer their own cover of £1,000 per item (08457 223344; www.postoffice.co.uk).
Fly West, young man
Weekends in Cornwall need not involve traffic jams after 12 June when BmiBaby begins flying from Birmingham and Durham Tees airports to Newquay.
Toast English wine
Taste the best vintages of English wine at Tylney Hall (01256 764881; www.tylneyhall.com) Hotel, Hampshire, from 28 May to 5 June.
Women-only breaks
The Independent Traveller (01628 522772; www.independenttraveller.co.uk) has launched women-only trips to Morocco, Nepal, South Africa, Zambia, Canada, Bali, Hong Kong and India.
