There are quite a few places where you fashion has been mixed with accommodation, such as the Armani Hotel in Dubai, Versace Hotel in Australia and the Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh. Now highstreet fashion too is getting in the mix, and there could be some fashion competition for the Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh, now that Topshop plan to join force with budget hotel chain Travelodge.

A deal has been struck with the retail giant, Arcadia Group to open a hotel that will incorporate a branch of Topshop on the ground floor. Travelodge has announced plans to open a new hotel on Princess Street in Edinburgh and the joint venture with the Acadia Group will see a Topshop situated in the ground floor on the Capitals famous shopping street.

The Travelodge will have 96 and will be companies 13th in the city including one that is currently under construction on Queen Street another on of Edinburgh’s prime shopping streets.  Both of the new hotels are scheduled to open in the summer of 2012, with the creation of at least 40 jobs.

According to Travelodge they have agreed a 35 year lease with Arcadia Group Ltd, which represents a £10m investment. Travelodge’s other hotel on Queen Street which has 85 bedrooms, is being funded by Standard Life Investments and is being built in a vacant office block owned by Standard Life’s UK Property Fund.

The hotel on Princess Street is a Category B listed building and was Scotland’s very first steel frame building. So there is a lot of history there.

Guy Parsons, Travelodge chief executive, said: “Growth in Edinburgh has been one of our major priorities. We have committed around £60m to new hotels in the city in the last few years. The demand for low cost, good quality accommodation in Edinburgh is a growing market and we are still looking to further invest in Scotland’s capital. Arcadia forward funding our new hotel in one of the most prestigious locations in Edinburgh just demonstrates how flexible the Travelodge development model is.”

The new hotel is great news for fashionistas, who will barley have to get out of their beds to go shopping in their favourite highstreet store. Plus it’s a great idea for those staying in the city and find themselves without the right outfit to wear on a night out in Edinburgh. If they are staying in the hotel you will be able to go and get a new frock whilst you’re getting ready, all without leaving the hotel.

However it all could prove too much of a temptation for some and you could find that your cheap room at the Travelodge comes with a heft hidden cost……. Clothes!

Known as ‘Gateway to the Americas’, Miami is a city that attracts people of all ages and persuasions. With its 15 miles of golden beaches and Biscayne Bay, Miami is a sailor’s delight just waiting to be explored.

Miami is home to one of the largest cruise ports in the US and is referred to as the cruise capital of the world. If you are contemplating a cruise, Miami is the perfect destination. The city offers visitors sunny days, thousands of forested acres, beaches and small islands just waiting to be explored.

Miami’s Miracle Mile may be one of the first places visitors will head. Located in Coral Gables, the Miracle Mile is one of the city’s major shopping districts. Do not miss out on seeing the Freedom Tower that was built in 1924 and remains an important landmark. If you have children with you, your holiday should include a day at the Metrozoo, which is one of the best wild animal parks around.

The entire family may enjoy a day at the Seaquarium. This 38-acre park includes majestic killer whales, sea lions, manatees and porpoises. If you still have room for adventure, add the Everglades National Park to your list. The Everglades are in a category of the world’s largest parks that will take you through marshes and swamps. They are home to countless wildlife, including alligators.

Sun worshippers will want to head straight to North Miami Beach where they will quickly discover more than 7 miles of parks and beaches. This area of Miami consists of four small communities, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Sunny Isles, Haulover Beach and Golden Beach.

Royal Caribbean International has always been a cruise company with big plans. The company has released two new ships: Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas and nothing can compare to be bigger than these.

They both weigh a whopping 225,000 tons and can easily carry up to 5,400- They are currently the largest cruise ships afloat.

Royal Caribbean Cruises has also pushed the boundaries of cruise innovation over the past 25 years, being the first to introduce atriums which are found on most modern ships today. Not to mention the huge variety of entertainment features such as ice rinks, water parks, rock walls, zip line, and carousels. The Night time entertainment is also spectacular!

Cruising with Royal Caribbean isn’t the best for the faint-hearted; however, due to their size, you should be able to find a quiet corner somewhere without a problem.

The cabins on the newer ships are incredibly spacious and are continuing to grow, with most fitted with large sliding windows and even balconies!

The food, is mouth-wateringly good and has numerous venues across the ship ranging from dress-up to dress-down so you are sure to find something that fits your tastes.

Even though the cruises on offer are spectacular, you still need to do your homework to ensure that you pick a cruise to suit you!

Royal Caribbean International strives to produce fun-filled and entertainment-focused cruises, suited to all ages; however specifically more suited to those in the 30s to 50s age range. The type of vacation it offers fits everyone from: families and couples to singles looking for an affordable, value for money get away. The cruises have a variety of destinations including: the Caribbean and Alaska from North America and Europe and Canary Islands accessible year round from Southampton on

Malaysia Airlines has banned babies and toddlers from being seated in the first-class sections of its jets. The airline also plans to enforce this to more of its aircrafts if the rule is successful.

Tengku Azmil , Malaysia Airlines CEO, says that the rule is being enforced due to complaints from first-class passengers about crying infants.

Azmil explained to an Australian Business Travel reporter via Twitter that the first-class passengers complain as they “spend money on 1st class and can’t sleep due to crying infants.”

The business traveller noted that Malaysia Airlines’ 747-400s fly long-haul routes between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, London and Amsterdam. As the A380s, the airline expects to take delivery of its first one next June, according Bernama (the Malaysian news agency.)Azmil told Bernama that the A380 will be the “best Malaysia Airlines would have on its fleet.”

The business traveller explains Malaysian Airlines will configure its A380s “with 508 seats , which is 50 more than Qantas and second only to Lufthansa and Air France in maxing out the super-jumbo’s capacity.”

Russia is an enormous country.  Covering a staggering one-sixth of the world’s landmass, and straddling both Asia and Europe, it covers eight time zones.  It has a mighty reputation, dominating much of 20th century international politics, and two of its most well known cities, St Petersburg and Moscow, offer much to the visitor to scratch beneath the surface and understand the country’s recent history. 

St Petersburg is a testament to its Tsarist past, which looked to emulate the predominant European powers at the time in its architecture and establish a name for itself in its own right as a cultural hub.  In fact, the whole city was lauded to be the ‘Paris of the East’.  The Hermitage museum is a fine example of just that, bearing more than just a passing resemblance to the Palace of Versailles and containing works of great masters such as Van Gogh and Matisse. 

On the other hand, Moscow, though now fully westernised – with the obligatory McDonald’s restaurants spotted here and there, although the signs are written in Cyrillic – still retains an air of the beating heart of communism, housing iconic and awe-inspiring buildings such as The Kremlin and St Basil’s Church.  The Lenin Mausoleum is a major tourist attraction and draws huge crowds every morning, both tourists and Russians alike.

Russia was somewhat of an enigma in recent history.  However, as time heals the rifts of the Cold War this is a fascinating country to discover, on the doorstep of Europe.

For those who like to escape the UK when they go on holiday, why not try a cruise holiday? Cruise holidays are no longer reserved for retirees or those with lots of money, in fact many cruise lines are actively focusing on families, couples and even solo travellers now. There are so many different cruise holidays available now, you will be able to find something to suit your travelling needs.

Those looking for love: If you want to spend your holiday with the one you love, whether it’s for your honeymoon, anniversary or just because, then you cruise holiday on a smaller ship maybe what you’re looking for. Even the major cruise lines offer cruises on smaller, more intimate lines that visit destinations all over the world. On-board you will receive a more personal service and won’t feel overwhelmed by a large number of travellers, perfect for a romantic holiday.

A Family affair: Over recent years, major cruise lines have also started reaching out to families as a target audience; larger vessels such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas have found a way to target all travellers including families, by providing a whole range of activities on board to keep everyone, of every age happy. Full childcare programmes are also offered on board many ships so if parents want a break then they can have one safe in the knowledge their children are being looked after by trained personnel. Other lines, such as the Disney Cruise line specifically look towards providing entertainment for families and are ideal for younger children and even adults, enchanted by the magic of Disney.

Cruise holidays aren’t only defined by the cruise ship, thy are also defined by the destinations they go to, no other holiday offers you the opportunity  to hope around country to country with such ease, visiting top destinations. When docked you jump back onto dry land and explore the ports, you can also enjoy guided tours provided by the cruise line, where you can enjoy learn about the area you have stopped in, enjoy exotic cuisine, and interact with people of different ethnicities. You can enjoy all this without having to worry about how you get there and back, and how you get around, because with a cruise holiday all this is done for you.

You would think that a cruise holiday would be an expensive affair, considering all you get, however there are lots of great cheap cruises available, so you don’t have to stretch your wallet if you don’t want to, however if you do have the cash to flash, well then that opens up a whole another cruise holiday experience………

Before booking a holiday many people check out reviews of the accommodation they are planning on staying at to make sure there are no hidden nasty surprises and to make sure the accommodation is as good as it boasts on websites and brochures. Tripadvisor is the most popular review site and hotels from all around the world are featured, reviews on the site can make or break a hotel. So it’s no wonder some less than acceptable hotels are looking to undo any negative reviews on Tripadvisor with glowing reports, even if they may not be true.

Some guests have been bribed with cash or cut-price rooms in exchange for good reviews, so far around thirty properties around the world have been blacklisted because of their suspicious reviews. There seems to be a bit of a black market for good reviews on hotels and accommodation that isn’t up to scratch. The Office of Fair Trading said it would investigate if they receive any direct complaints. For the best part, Tripadvisor, will red flag any hotels that they consider have been placing, overly enthusiastic reviews on their site that could have been ‘interfered’ with. However it can be quite hard to tell considering there are nearly 45million reviews on the site.

Back in 2009 a company in New York was fined £200,000 for posting fake consumer reviews.

When embarking on a family holiday, the most popular destination once you arrive is likely to be the beach. The sight of golden sand and refreshing blue sea is alluring enough, but it is important to understand that the children’s initial excitement will soon fade and once this happens you need to be prepared with a host of games and activities.

A bucket and spade may appear to be a very simple and traditional idea, but they enable children to dig large holes to play in and give them the chance to flex their creative muscle building sandcastles and other structures (and burying Dad in the sand, of course).

Buying a bat and ball game upon your arrival is cheap and might just provide many highlights to look back on from your holiday. The wooden bats and small ball are ideal for use on the beach, allowing children and parents to play together at low cost.

If you arrive at the beach without a lilo or rubber ring you might consider this for your next purchase.  They are relatively cheap, easy to inflate and can be used to sunbathe on as well as their main purpose of lying on to float in the sea.

The beach is an excellent environment for children and if you are prepared with a few simple games and activities it will keep them entertained for the duration of your holiday.

Cunard is a name famous for luxury cruising, which is not surprising considering  its luxurious ships have be sailing across the Atlantic and around the world for 180 years.

The world’s newest fleet of ships follows in the wake of the greatest ocean-liners including: Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and her successor the QE2. There is debate as to whether or not the new line-up can compare against the elegance and success of its spectacular ancestors. There is no doubt however, that cruising with Cunard still matches up to that original quality. This is probably why cruise holidays are gaining popularity year on year.

The three ships (150,000 ton Queen Mary 2, 90,000 ton Queen Victoria and 92,000 ton Queen Elizabeth) are modern ocean liners which capture practically as well as all of today’s state-of-the-art comforts and amenities. Cunard favors expensive, classy décor and most definitely cannot be described as ‘tacky’ unlike some of the other modern ships from other cruise companies.

Cunard still upholds the classic traditions of the grand ocean voyage. Believing that the journey should be even more magnificent than the destination, Cunard provides a wide range of comfortable and spacious rooms, all with flat screen TVs and tea-making facilities, as well as all the other technologies which you would expect.  The boats provide a huge variety of dining options, with restaurants allocated according to cabin grade.

Cunard also pushes the boat out when it comes to entertainment, with activities ranging from exiting shows to nightclubs, lounges and pubs with karaoke- for those excellent singers amongst you. Children are no longer a hassle as Cunard also ensures that the kids are well catered for. The dress code varies from smart casual to black tie emphasizing the classiness of the trip.

In conclusion, Cunard provides Elegant days, glamorous nights. On a typical seven-night cruise you can expect three formal evenings, two semi-formal evenings and two elegant casual evenings. The cruise is suited for all ages and if a relaxing night is what you’re after, why not leave your children with are top nannies, sit back, let your hair down and relax? There are a variety of destinations that the ships travel to including: Mediterranean, Baltic and Norwegian Fjords, Caribbean, transatlantic and world cruises. Most ships sail out from Southampton, located in the UK.  There are a lot of cruise deals available, so all of this can be provided to you from prices as low as £399 ranging to around £131,499! What a bargain!

Cunard Fleet

A campaign has been started by First Choice, owned by TUI, the world’s leading international leisure travel group. The campaign is against low-cost competitors to promote itself as “value for money.” The campaign precisely compares its own holiday offers with the low-cost price of EasyJet’s holiday packages and follows the launch of its sister brand Thomson Holidays’ ‘There’s no comparison’ campaign last week.

The campaign suggests that the airline EasyJet, uses boring and ordinary hotels as its hotels in its ‘holiday packages,’ creates chaos at boarding times and provides extremely poor customer service.

The movement has been named “Big on frills, low on price” and has been launched today. The latest First Choice campaign is launching in famous newspapers: the Metro and Daily Star today and will run across other national newspapers over the weekend with further adverts online and via e-mail.

The campaign has five key messages: promoting the exclusivity of First Choice’s holidays to “action-packed” resorts, Holiday Villages and SplashWorld,; allocated seating on its flights; the presence of in-resort Holiday Advisors available 24/7; ‘thousands‘ of free child places in the holiday packages and an amazing 40 years‘ experience!

Jeremy Ellis, head of marketing, TUI UK & Ireland, said: “Consumers are looking for certainty and reassurance, and our brand tracking is showing significant growth in consumer confidence for package holidays where everything’s taken care of. This is First Choice’s heartland. We see a great opportunity to capitalise on this trend by demonstrating the advantages of going with First Choice rather than trying to cut corners with low cost carriers.”

First Choice became the first conventional holiday operator in the UK to only sell all-inclusive holidays, in April.