READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Flights ++ Airports ++ New routes
SLEEP AND FLY
EARLY flight from Heathrow? Then check into the justopened Hilton Garden Inn hotel which is connected to Terminal Two by a walkway, putting guests minutes from the departure gates. Rooms cost from £80 during the Hilton Summer Sale — book by August 19 for stays up to January 6 2020. ( hgi.com)
CANADA CALLING
AIR TRANSAT has launched early-bird winter fares starting at £327 return per person from Gatwick to Toronto — a good excuse to pop over for Christmas shopping or to catch the Winterlicious food festival from January 31 to February 7, 2020. Reservations before July 23 for travel November 1 to April 30, 2020. ( airtransat. co.uk, seetorontonow.com)
MOROCCO BOUND
THOMAS Cook Airlines will start flying from Gatwick to Marrakesh (right) on November 1 with one-way fares from £39.99 per person including 8kg hand luggage allowance. Stay in the medina at Riad Africa which has a roof terrace, cookery school and spa. Double rooms cost from £81 with breakfast. ( thomascookairlines.com, riadafrica.com)
NIGHT FLIGHT
PRIVATE jet charter specialist PrivateFly has compiled an entertaining list of aircraft that have found a second life as quirky accommodation. Options range from a Seventies Lockheed Jetstar in Pembrokeshire to a twobed treehouse in Costa Rica, made from a converted airliner, and a Boeing 747 that’s a 33 room ‘Jumbo Hostel’ in Stockholm. ( privatefly.com/jethotels)
WHALE OF A TIME
FANCY swimming with whale sharks? That’s one of the thrills in Los Cabos on Mexico’s Pacific Coast which can be reached on direct flights from November 7 flying with Tui Airways from Gatwick. A seven-night package staying at the Riu Santa Fe resort costs from £1,025 allinclusive per person including transfers. ( tui.co.uk)
IN-FLIGHT READING
FAMILIES flying with easyJet this summer should look out for children’s books placed in the middle seat pocket as part of ‘flybraries’ project with publisher HarperCollins, which aims to encourage reading on holiday. Titles include Paddington Abroad, about the much-loved bear’s travels. ( easyjet.com)
TAKE A SEAT
PASSENGERS with Vietnam Airlines can choose where they sit from the moment of booking. The airline has special premium economy fares from Heathrow to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from £1,183 return per person, available until December 31. ( vietnamairlines.com).