Travel digest

The Turkish low‑cost carrier Pegasus announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Czech airline Smartwings together with its parent company Czech Airlines. The transaction, valued at €154 million, will be carried out through the investment vehicle Prague City Air.

According to a statement from Pegasus, the ownership change is expected to be completed within the next twelve

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences New Orleans is preparing a festive programme for the 2025 holiday season, featuring new décor, special menus and family‑friendly events.

New Christmas Day Brunch – The River Ballroom will host a buffet brunch with live jazz by the Joe Gelini Jazz Band, a visit from Santa, seafood displays, carving stations, made‑to‑order pasta, a children’s “little

During the 2025 holiday season Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai invites guests to a unique culinary collaboration between Chef Alex Moranda of NAYUU and Chef Kazu Miyata of the two‑Michelin‑starred New York restaurant Odo.

The partnership will be showcased at NAYUU, the resort’s signature restaurant, with a four‑hands dinner available from 25 – 29 December 2025 and a special New Year’s

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto welcomes guests to celebrate the holiday season with refined experiences set in the vibrant Yorkville district.

Until 31 December 2025, visitors can add personal notes to the “Notes of Kindness” tree in the lobby, creating a festive display of goodwill. The hotel also continues its ninth‑year Private Residences

Two‑time James Beard Award winner Chef Gavin Kaysen introduces his first restaurant outside Minnesota – The Merchant Room – at the newly opened Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort. Situated beside the bright lobby, the brasserie blends New American cuisine with the relaxed elegance of historic Old Florida, and features an outdoor terrace with sweeping Gulf views.

Although Sarajevo functions as the political and cultural heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its position as the capital is not backed by a strong administrative system.

The city is organized as a local government unit made up of four municipalities that possess limited competences, CE Report cites FENA.

Urban development and communal infrastructure are supervised

At the Lao‑Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference held in Vientiane on 3 December 2025, officials announced that the first railway linking Laos with Vietnam will commence construction in 2026, with the line expected to be operational by 2030.

The corridor will run from the Laotian capital, Vientiane, to Vietnam’s Vung Ang seaport in Hà Tĩnh province, providing Laos with its

The Maldives has again been recognised as a top global tourism destination, receiving the titles of World’s Leading Destination 2025 – its sixth straight win – and World’s Leading Green Destination 2025, its second consecutive award, at the World Travel Awards Grand Final held in Bahrain.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards are considered the most prestigious accolades in

Meyyafushi Maldives, a newly launched five‑star premium all‑inclusive boutique resort, has added a unique sporting attraction: the first permanent overwater padel tennis court worldwide.

Floating above the crystal‑clear lagoon of Lhaviyani Atoll, the court offers guests the chance to enjoy a game while surrounded by uninterrupted ocean views and the gentle sounds of waves. The

At Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, the local gastronomy is presented as a living expression of the islands’ culture and traditions. Central to this approach is the iconic rolled tuna curry known as Kandu Kukulhu, a dish that epitomises Maldivian flavor.

The resort incorporates this classic recipe into its weekly cooking workshops, giving visitors a hands‑on experience of the ingredients,

Salvamont, the Romanian mountain rescue service, has published a set of recommendations for the upcoming ski season as ski areas prepare to open.

Visitors should select ski equipment that matches their technical specifications, binding settings, body weight and skill level. At the beginning of the season, skiers are urged to start cautiously, allowing time to readjust after the off‑season

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff in Johannesburg has officially opened its new Destination Lobby and Lobby Lounge, marking the final stage of a multi‑year refurbishment that began in 2023. The project, backed by a US$25 million investment, was carried out in partnership with owners ASB Hospitality and Hotel Properties Limited.

The new spaces are intended to serve as the city’s largest

Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis will undertake a multi‑million‑dollar renovation of its award‑winning spa, slated to reopen in late April 2026. The redesign, created with DesignAgency, will be guided by the concept of the Four Elements – Earth, Water, Air and Fire – shaping both visual aesthetics and the guest journey.

The new space will feature natural materials, organic textures

Sixteen Croatian tourism companies together with around forty industry representatives are presenting the nation's high‑end travel products at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) held in Cannes.

The showcase, reported by HINA and relayed by CE Report, aims to attract affluent travelers and travel professionals to Croatia’s exclusive destinations.

The ILTM

In an exclusive e‑mail interview, Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, Press Officer for the Competitiveness Councils of the Council of the European Union, explained the most recent amendments to the EU Package Travel Directive.

The updated text expands the notion of “package travel” to cover certain consecutive bookings or “click‑through” reservations

On 22 November 2025, the Belize Tourism Board celebrated the 2025 edition of the National Tourism Awards at the Lord Ashcroft Centre in Belize City. The gala recognised outstanding contributions across the country’s tourism sector, from frontline staff to sustainable operators.

Belize is a hotspot for ornithologists, offering more than 500 bird species across diverse habitats. Even travelers who don’t usually plan bird‑watching trips can enjoy short, low‑impact outings to spot remarkable feathered residents. Below are five locations that provide excellent opportunities for bird‑watching.

This expansive protected area in western

Vientiane is unusually lively this week, with flags and makeshift T‑shirt stalls lining the streets as the nation prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, founded on 2 December 1975.

Despite the official celebrations, many young Lao feel little connection to the historic events. “We learn the dates at school, but they rarely shape

During a two‑day state visit to Vientiane from 1 to 2 December, Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam signed twelve bilateral agreements with Laos, aimed at deepening cooperation in defence, security, trade and regional development.

The accords include a 2026‑2027 defence and security plan that will enhance joint border management and support the construction of the Lao‑Vietnam

The United States has temporarily halted the processing of immigration applications—including green‑card and naturalisation requests—from 19 countries, with Laos among those listed. The pause is part of a sweeping security review triggered by a recent shooting in Washington that was linked to an Afghan asylum recipient.

The freeze affects all USCIS‑handled green‑card and citizenship