Best travel Black Friday deals 2025 for cheap flights, holidays, hotels and cruises
Book your next trip now with these Black Friday savings from the likes of Expedia, Emirates, British Airways and more

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Book your next trip now with these Black Friday savings from the likes of Expedia, Emirates, British Airways and more

© Getty Images

Musician Chris Abell of the Lowlane Ramblers takes viewers on a homegrown tour of Kentucky, starting with the places that shaped him. From storied bourbon distilleries and intimate tasting rooms to the iconic bluegrass venues, he traces the roots of the state’s sound and spirit. His journey stops at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in his hometown of Owensboro, where the heritage of the genre lives and breathes.

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The hotel is just the latest flashpoint in a broader rift over East Africa's wildlife tourism industry

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From family stays to relaxing spa breaks, find your perfect hotel stay with these Lanzarote resorts

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These are the best hotels in Edinburgh for a city break, whether you’re ticking off historical landmarks, visiting for the Fringe Festival, traversing the Royal Mile or exploring quirky suburbs

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Book your next trip now with these Black Friday savings from the likes of Expedia, Emirates, British Airways and more

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From elaborately furnished bedrooms to views out onto the canals, these are the best of Amsterdam’s boutique hotels for every type of traveller

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From boutique to budget, these are the best hotels in Valletta to book

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You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy the outstanding beauty of the region and national park – here’s where to stay

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The country is promoting empty itineraries and ‘embracing the silence’

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From Surry Hills wine bars to oysters in the Tweed and Blue Mountains retreats, discover a side of Australia’s New South Wales that most travellers miss

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Exclusive: Both Ryanair and Wizz Air insist they will be first back when the fighting stops, with easyJet planning flights from Gatwick to Kyiv

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Plane Talk: ‘People are going on holiday and want to feel casual – but there are limits’

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The new circular trail spans 100 miles, taking in the River Dart, Dartmoor, the coastline, five estuaries and plenty of woodlands and country lanes. Emma Henderson heads to south Devon to stomp the first section

© Emma Henderson/The Independent
A series of walking festivals and cultural programmes aim to lure visitors to the Algarve’s woodland interiors and pretty villages to help boost tourism year round
‘I never mind doing the same walk over and over again,” said our guide, Joana Almeida, crouching beside a cluster of flowers. “Each time, there are new things – these weren’t here yesterday.” Standing on stems at least two centimetres tall and starring the dirt with white petals, the fact these star of Bethlehem flowers sprung up overnight was a beautiful testament to how quickly things can grow and regenerate in this hilly, inland section of the Algarve, the national forest of Barão de São João. It was also reassuring to learn that in an area swept by forest fires in September, species such as strawberry trees (which are fire-resistant thanks to their low resin content) were beginning to bounce back – alongside highly flammable eucalyptus, which hinders other fire-retardant trees such as oak. Volunteers were being recruited to help with rewilding.
Visitor numbers to the Algarve are growing, with 2024 showing an increase of 2.6% on the previous year – but most arrivals head straight for the beach, despite there being so much more to explore. The shoreline is certainly wild and dramatic but the region is also keen to highlight the appeal of its inland areas. With the development of year-round hiking and cycling trails, plus the introduction of nature festivals, attention is being drawn to these equally compelling landscapes, featuring mountains and dense woodlands. The Algarve Walking Season (AWS) runs a series of five walking festivals with loose themes such as “water” and “archaeology” between November and April. It’s hoped they will inspire visitors year round, boosting the local economy and helping stem the tide of younger generations leaving in search of work.
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© Photograph: Jacek Sopotnicki/Alamy

© Photograph: Jacek Sopotnicki/Alamy

© Photograph: Jacek Sopotnicki/Alamy




APD is set to increase in April 2026 and 2027, with a family of four flying premium economy to Orlando paying over £1,000

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In pursuit of an accessible, overseas adventure, writer Mari Ellis Dunning visited family-friendly Fuerteventura

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