Ethical travel, Glasgow to Seoul flights, and the Scotland Gin Trail: Travel agenda
Where to go and what to know
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Following the death of a British holidaymaker while on an elephant-back trek in Thailand earlier this week, ResponsibleTravel.com is urging travellers to consider the ethics of such trips. You can read a piece the firm's founder, Justin Francis, wrote for The Independent on Sunday on his argument against the practice at bit.ly/elephantbacktrek
WeHo wheels
West Hollywood, described as the most “bikeable” place in the Greater Los Angeles area, will introduce a bike-share scheme in the spring. Around 150 GPS-enabled bikes will be available for rent from 20 self-service stations dotted around the district.
HK hideaway
A new boutique bolt-hole has opened in Hong Kong. Located in the Yau Ma Tei neighbourhood of Kowloon, the design-led Hotel Stage offers simply-designed rooms decorated in neutral tones, and deluxe rooms have views across the city. Doubles from £109 per night.
Park life
The newest addition to the Las Vegas Strip will open on 4 April. The Park, an outdoor promenade and food and entertainment complex that is part of the MGM Grand, will feature restaurants (including a branch of burger joint Shake Shack), waterfalls and LED light show. It will be located between the Monte Carlo and New York-New York hotels.
Korea move
This summer will see seasonal flights take off from Glasgow to Seoul – the first direct air link between Scotland and the South Korean capital. The national carrier, Korean Air, along with its sister company Hanjin Travel, will launch the first of three weekly charter flights on 5 August.
Fjords ahoy
Norwegian Cruise Line will launch itineraries departing from the UK next year for the first time since 2010. Available to book from next month, the first departures from Southampton are in May 2017; passengers can choose from voyages to Western Europe or the Norwegian fjords.
Iran away
British Airways will resume direct flights to Tehran this summer, having suspended the service in October 2012. Flights to the Iranian capital from Heathrow Terminal 5 will operate six times a week from 14 July, before increasing to daily in the winter.
Drink up
Swap Scotch for a different tipple on the new Scotland Gin Trail. Available as a downloadable map, the trail features 12 locations, from the Highlands and Islands to Glasgow and Edinburgh, where visitors can learn more about the spirit from craft distillers and city gin bars. Scotland produces about 70 per cent of the UK's gin.
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