Spanish airline Iberia has revealed that it is to begin new flights from two Spanish cities to London's City Airport. Offering residents of the UK's capital a quick escape to the sunnier climes of the Mediterranean, the move has come about due to Iberia's code share agreement with British Airways (BA) and will increase London City as a favourable departure location for many.

Acting under a code share with BA subsidiary CityFlyer, Iberia will offer flights to both Barcelona and Madrid. Whilst Iberia already provides 13 daily services between London Heathrow and Madrid, the newest additions will offer city slickers a quick and stress free way of getting out of the metropolis and into the sun of Spain. Putting its IB code on two daily flights from Madrid's Terminal 4 hub, Iberia will provide extra services throughout the week apart from Sunday. Meanwhile an additional daily flight with the IB stamp will fly between Barcelona's Terminal 1 and London City.

The move will increase the services between London and Spain even more, offering tourists and business travellers a range of alternative travel times and flights. In addition to the existing Madrid flights London Heathrow already hosts seven daily flights to Barcelona. But as London City Airport becomes increasingly popular for urban dwellers, the latest additional services will no doubt prove highly poplar with those wanting a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2010 – Just The Flight

Spanish airline Iberia has revealed that it is to begin new flights from two Spanish cities to London's City Airport. Offering residents of the UK's capital a quick escape to the sunnier climes of the Mediterranean, the move has come about due to Iberia's code share agreement with British Airways (BA) and will increase London City as a favourable departure location for many.

Acting under a code share with BA subsidiary CityFlyer, Iberia will offer flights to both Barcelona and Madrid. Whilst Iberia already provides 13 daily services between London Heathrow and Madrid, the newest additions will offer city slickers a quick and stress free way of getting out of the metropolis and into the sun of Spain. Putting its IB code on two daily flights from Madrid's Terminal 4 hub, Iberia will provide extra services throughout the week apart from Sunday. Meanwhile an additional daily flight with the IB stamp will fly between Barcelona's Terminal 1 and London City.

The move will increase the services between London and Spain even more, offering tourists and business travellers a range of alternative travel times and flights. In addition to the existing Madrid flights London Heathrow already hosts seven daily flights to Barcelona. But as London City Airport becomes increasingly popular for urban dwellers, the latest additional services will no doubt prove highly poplar with those wanting a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2010 – Just The Flight

From a zone one London base to a boutique Alpine lodge, Robert Savage finds 10 European hostels to suit backpacker budgets

Backpacking special: see tomorrow’s Guardian Travel

1. The Winston Art Hotel and Hostel, Amsterdam, Holland

With 40 unique rooms styled by local Amsterdam artists, the Winston wouldn’t look out of place on the cover of Wallpaper* magazine. More memorable design themes include bondage, ultra violet and vodka, plus another with life-size robots hanging off the walls. The PVC room even comes with rubber sheets. The beer garden overlooking the comings and goings of a popular red light alleyway may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the complimentary access to the famed Winston Kingdom nightclub next door makes it a steal.

• st-christophers.co.uk/amsterdam-hostels, from £12 a night

2. Euro Youth Hotel, Bad Gastein, Austria

This vintage hotel has been given a new lease of life as a hostel with tidy dormitories for small groups: in other words it isn’t cheap simply because you’re sharing a room with a dozen or so other backpackers. The beer cellar bar stocks some of the heartiest ales from both Austria and Bavaria (it’s only 90 minutes from Munich), while the restaurant serves the oh-so-starchy kartoffelbrot, a hefty potato bread. All rooms have spectacular views of the mountains, the nearby Felsenbad Hot Springs Spa and the Eldorado Dorfgastein paragliding platform. The Euro Youth is also an integral part of a local ski run, with a lift 20m away from the front door. Discounted ski equipment can be hired directly from the hostel.

• euro-youth-hotel.at, B&B from £12 a night. B&B with ski/board and boot hire from £19.50 a night

3. Mosaic House, Prague, Czech Republic

This gleaming new hostel – it opened this May – blends boutique backpacker accommodation with the facilities of the on-site four-star hotel, including a funky bar and an unrivalled location, a short walk from the Charles Bridge. Housed in a former theatre, it has been redesigned incorporating several green features; the airport shuttle runs on cooking oil left over from the restaurant downstairs, they have the Czech Republic’s first grey water recycling unit and a super-computer automatically adjusts heat levels in the rooms based on the number of people it detects.

• mosaichouse.com, from £7 a night

4. Balmer’s Herberge, Interlaken, Switzerland

Balmer’s Herberge was Switzerland’s first youth hostel and it’s full of helpful freebies that turn an Alpine trip into a stress-free dream. This boutique base is a two-hour train ride from Zurich and straddles two great lakes. It offers travellers private lodges, free bike tours, complimentary Wi-Fi, and paragliding tuition, and the receptionists can arrange trips to the mountain tops where you can eat fondue in outdoor hot tubs, watching the sun set over the glacier fed waters of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Staff can also help biking enthusiasts attempt the infamous Interlaken-Faulhorn-Meiringen cycling challenge.

• balmers.com, from £14 a night

5. The Village, London, United Kingdom

This central London hostel near London Bridge is not boutique by any measure but it is dirt cheap, and the little-known Belushi’s comedy club at the back attracts a number of big names, all eager to test drive new material on an international crowd. Michael McIntyre, Jo Brand and Lenny Henry have entertained budget travellers here over the years. Famed DJs of yesteryear, like Dane Bowers and Boy George, even play the adjoining basement bar. Throw in a few chandeliers, a location a few minutes’ walk from the London Eye and a female only floor, and there you have it: a bed in zone one for little more than a tenner and all the entertainment you can handle.

• st-christophers.co.uk, from £11.90 per night

6. St Christopher’s Hostel, Newquay, United Kingdom

This cliff-top retreat favoured by surf enthusiasts occupies a great spot above Towan beach. People stay here just for the bargain surf tuition, but if you don’t fancy a dip the hostel still has plenty of bonuses, not least the panoramic bar overlooking the Atlantic. The hostel is also a convenient base for exploring the area, such as King Arthur’s Tintagel Castle and the nearby Eden Project. Prices increase during peak season and summer weekends, but even then a dorm bed won’t break the bank.

• bedsandbars.com, from £10 per night. The Escape Surf School (escapesurfschool.co.uk), surf packages from £60 a night (two nights’ B&B and two surf lessons).

7. Yoho International Hostel, Salzburg, Austria

All bargain beds come with certain conditions and at Salzburg’s Yoho it’s The Sound of Music – playing on loop at reception, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Singing nuns aside, this is a hostel where you wake up to awe inspiring mountain views, chocolate box chalets and the caffeine-laced aroma of street-corner breakfast bars. The complimentary shot of Vogelbeer schnapps always goes down a treat at the bar, and bargain hunters will love the €3 all-you-can-eat dinnertime buffet. The organised mountain tours of Wolfgang Lake, an hour away from Salzburg, give visitors a rare close-up of the space-age Red Bull headquarters, for a heavily discounted rate. Just ask at reception.

• yoho.at, from £14.80 a night

8. Oasis Backpackers’ Mansion, Lisbon, Portugal

This secluded little hostel is on the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, a hillside spot with great views over the Tagus river estuary. The proximity of Bairro Alto, known as the Soho of Lisbon, might not be a plus point for everyone – but the top nosh served up at the patio garden restaurant has universal appeal. The staff at this mansion conversion also dish out free Portuguese lessons, complimentary Wi-Fi and Skype phones, not to mention directions to nearby beaches yet to be marked on the tourist trail. Oasis also throws in a laundry service for good measure: they may even iron your socks if you ask nicely.

• oasislisboa.com, from £12 a night

9. Cat’s Hostel, Madrid, Spain

Cat’s Hostel is in a 17th-century palace in the centre of Madrid, a few minutes walk from the botanical gardens and the buzzing Puerta del Sol square. Depending on the season, £12 will bag you a bed in either the four- or 14-person dormitory, plus a plateful of complimentary paella on Saturdays and free beer on Wednesdays. Another big draw at Cat’s is the mosaic-tiled courtyard at the heart of the hostel: a popular spot where travellers relax on the giant pillows that surround the fountain, bubbling away under the stained glass ceiling.

• catshostel.com, from £12 a night

10. The Pink Palace, Corfu, Greece

This is a rare find on the European hostel scene. Imagine a hillside dotted with olive trees overlooking sandy Agios Gordios beach, where crystal clear water shimmers in the tranquil bay. Now factor in a balcony attached to every room, free breakfast, a complimentary three-course dinner every evening, an open-air Jacuzzi and a free transfer service between the hostel and Corfu Town, 15 minutes away. Finally, bear in mind that there’s a private beach two minutes from your bed,and all for under £15 a night. Any downsides? The Pink Palace is the only hostel on our list to be overtly “for the kids”, and it books up fast.

• thepinkpalace.com, from £14.80 a night

• All prices apply to dorm beds

Millions of people will not be able to afford to fly unless the Government
stops hiking aviation taxes, the chief executive of British Airways has
warned.

British Airways has revealed that it is to launch additional services to the popular Mexican retreat of Cancun. Starting later this year the direct flights from London Gatwick will allow tourists to flee the British winter for warmer climes.

Whilst BA remains in the media spotlight due to difficulties with industrial action the firm has announced positive news with the addition of two new services from London Gatwick to Cancun starting in November. Using their Boeing 777 which incorporates economy, business and first class services, the route will allow travellers to reach their destination in approximately 11 hours. Meanwhile with a range of cabin class options open for flyers individuals can find something to suit their need whether travelling to the city for business or pleasure.

BA's Richard Tams, head of sales for the UK and Ireland, expressed that the company was delighted to be able to offer the service which will provide the only direct flights to Cancun from a scheduled airline. He added that such a service ensures continued expansion of the generous long haul network operating out of Gatwick airport for both economy and business travellers.

It is particular good news to UK travellers after BA chief Willie Walsh recently revealed that the cancellation of plans for a 3rd Heathrow runway meant that some operations may expand in Madrid instead of Britain. However, with focus remaining on UK operations and the first Cancun flight departing 3rd November individuals looking for a warmer winter may opt to explore Mexico as their next destination.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2010 – Just The Flight

With the summer months just around the corner both those in Pamplona and around the world will be preparing for one of Spain’s most notorious festivals. Whilst proving highly controversial in the modern day over the welfare of the animals used the San Fermin, or Pamplona bull running festival, remains a traditional Spanish festival that attracts thousands of tourists every year.

With a large number of flights direct to Pamplona from the UK including those offered by Iberia, quick travel to the city is easy. Flying directly from London Heathrow individuals can fly out for this extraordinary festival which begins on the 6th July and lasts a week, or choose to incorporate the festivities into a wider Spanish holiday. Starting in the city square of Pamplona thousands of people await the mayor’s official announcement of the festivities before a number of bulls are released into the streets with those involved looking to outrun the beasts without being hurt. Beginning as long ago as the 13th century the tradition has become host to a larger spectacular of dancing, music and wider celebrations than simply the bull running, allowing tourists to enjoy the Spanish culture and immerse themselves in a week of excitement.

With Spain remaining an ever popular destination for tourists many combine such events with a longer holiday, taking advantage of cheaper flights to Madrid before traveling to Pamplona. But remember to get their early, with bull runs beginning at 8am each day of the festival, an early alarm call will be needed to ensure a good and safe view.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2010 – Just The Flight

People planning holidays in Spain this year will be offered a preview of some of the experiences on offer in the country at a festival in London.

A Taste of Spain will be held on Regent Street in the heart of England’s capital city on June 6th.

The festival will feature a range of events and entertainment providing visitors with an insight into Spanish culture, many of which will be themed around sport.

There will be a dedicated ‘hall of Spain‘ where guests can go on a journey through 80 years of sporting history, while Formula 1 fans can take on the challenge of changing a tyre against the clock or completing a lap of Barcelona’s Montmelo circuit in a simulator.

Other attractions on offer will include a golf game offering a representation of a course in Madrid and a Scalextric track based on a site in Valencia.

People with a passion for food will be able to sample a variety of dishes at Taste of Spain, from Andalucian ‘gazpacho’ to ‘jamon’ from Aragon.

Spain is the leading overseas holiday destination for British travellers, with more than 13 million people visiting the country in 2009.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2009 – Just The Flight

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has criticised European governments for their response to the eruption of a volcano in Iceland last week, which created a cloud of ash that has drifted south across the continent.

Almost all flights to and from the UK have been suspended since last Thursday (April 15th) and restrictions remain in place today at a number of major European travel hubs, including Frankfurt, Paris, Rome and Madrid.

Iata director general Giovanni Bisignani said governments had shown a "lack of leadership" and failed to carry out proper risk assessments or consultations.

He also pointed out that the European economy is suffering billions of dollars worth of lost business as a result of the aviation lockdown.

"Governments must place greater urgency and focus on how and when we can safely reopen Europe’s skies," Mr Bisignani added.

"This means decisions based on risk management, facts and utilising operational procedures that maintain safety."

The Iata director was commenting after the announcement that EU transport ministers are to take part in an emergency video conference to discuss how to resolve the crisis.

Cheap Flights and Travel News – © 2009 – Just The Flight

Watch a small-scale Pamplona bull run, eat strawberries on an antique steam train or stay in a hotel in a former bullring

Chilled city break, Valladolid

Fed up with show-off cities? Spend a weekend in Valladolid, the capital of the vast Castilla-León region, where people live very well indeed, but choose not to brag about it. It’s surrounded by vineyards, so there’s no danger of being served a dodgy glass of wine. It also has some of the best tapas bars in Spain, such as Los Zagales (Pasión 13, +34 983 380892) which regularly wins awards.
The central Melia Recoletos Boutique Hotel (+34 983 216200) has doubles from €90.
Annie Bennett, Madrid expert for the travel website simonseeks.com

Take the Strawberry Train, Aranjuez

The second-oldest railway line in Spain, inaugurated by Isabel II in 1851, linked Madrid with the town of Aranjuez, a favourite getaway for the Spanish monarchy since the 1500s. Latterly an official route, it’s now the Tren de la Fresa line. The early-20th-century carriages of an antique Mikado steam train welcome visitors, who are served strawberries and given an “informative strawberry lesson” by staff in period dress during the hour-long journey. Buy tickets at Atocha train station (adult €26, child €18). These include a tour of the Royal Palace and its lush gardens, and entrance to the Museo de Falúas, a display of ancient royal pleasure boats.
+39 902 228822. Stay at Hostal Castilla (+39 91 891 2627) in Aranjuez.
Stephanie Hills, travel writer and one-time resident of Madrid

Visit the interred kings, near Madrid

The Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial houses works by El Greco, Dürer, Titian, Zurbarán and Hieronymus Bosch – a library to inspire lust in any bibliophile. The cloister glows beneath Titian’s San Lorenzo fresco, and, eek, houses the Pudrería, the room where royal bodies are, to this day, preserved in salt and limestone for 30 years before being entombed in the connecting Panteón Real. The Pudrería is closed, but you can visit the Panteón, where all the Spanish kings are interred in dim green tombs in a spooky circular chamber.
The Hotel Botánico (+34 918 907879) has a peaceful terrace and shrubbery garden. SH

Eat slow food, Guadalajara

Near the medieval village of Sigüenza, in Guadalajara, the Molino de Alcuneza (+34 949 391501, doubles from €115), is a converted 14th-century flour mill, with meals by slow-food chef Samuel Moreno. Further east, Cuenca is quietly becoming a bit of a foodie destination. Famous for its “hanging houses” built into the side of a gorge, the town is a mind-boggling mix of convents, abstract art venues, and interesting restaurants. Chef José Ignacio Herráiz trained at El Bulli and is now at the helm at Raff (+34 969 690855, Federico García Lorca 3), where he has reinvented the rather heavy local cuisine. The 17th-century El Convento del Giraldo (+34 969 232700, doubles from €145 for two nights) is right in the old town. SH

Escape to the mountains, La Pedriza, near Madrid

If you’re in Madrid and fancy getting out of the city to the mountains, head for the hidden valley of La Pedriza (the Rockery), a geological gem of huge, bare granite mountains that is a delight for rock climbers and walkers alike. A limited number of cars are allowed in each day. Take a walk along one of the valley’s many trails, swim in the river Manzanares (the one that runs through Madrid), and enjoy a beer at one of the chiringuitos (cabaña bars).
Javier Bartolomé, co-founder of Away From the Crowds (+34 618 219449), a specialist tour operator offering activity holidays in Spain. See also guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/jul/19/spain.madrid.adventure

Fiestas in the Ribera del Duero wine region, Valladolid

Not as well-known but probably better-quality wine than Rioja are the Ribera del Duero wines, that get their name from the Duero river. The heart of the wine-growing region is the town of Peñafiel, which has an attractive castle and medieval plaza. If you come during the fiestas (14-18 August) you can also enjoy a small-scale version of Pamplona’s San Fermín, running the bulls down to the plaza – one of the oldest in Spain – while people crowd the balconies to watch the corridas.
JB

Stay in a bullring hotel, Castilla-La Mancha

For an unusual break in the south of Castilla-La Mancha, book a room at the Plaza de Toros hotel in the old town of Almadén (+34 926 264333, doubles from €60), situated in an old bullring. The town’s old mercury mine recently opened to the public (+34 926 265002). A third of all the mercury mined in the world came from here, and it played a key role in Spain’s history. AB

Mountain adventure, Avila

The Circo de Gredos is a circle of glacial mountains south of Avila with a lagoon in the middle. From the Plataforma de Gredos that is the end of the road from Hoyos del Espino, it’s a two-hour walk. You can sleep in the managed refuge, the Refugio de Elola, and walk back the next day, or stay an extra night to hike the highest mountain of the range, the 2,592m Almanzor. +34 920 207576. JB

Eat ham in a mountain village, Salamanca

Only 80km from the university city of Salamanca, in the foothills of the Bejar mountains, the charming village of Candelario is full of steep, cobbled streets with water channels on each side. The big stone houses with balconies have at least three floors – in the old days, the top one would be used to cure chorizo and ham. The dry air of this part of Spain is ideal for the finest jamón serrano, called pata negra. Hotel Cinco Castanos (+34 923 413204, candelariohotel.com, doubles from €60). JB

Swim under a Roman bridge, Sierra de Gredos

If you’re looking for a special swim, make your way to the sleepy village of Navacepeda de Tormes, in the Sierra de Gredos in Castilla y Leon, two-and-a-half hours from Madrid, and ask where to find the river pools under the Roman bridge. Swimming in the fresh water of the river Tormes and looking up at the Roman bridge that has the thinnest top I have ever seen (you wonder how people can still walk across it) is a lovely experience, particularly for children. JB

Mountain villages, Guadarrama

Madrid isn’t just Spain’s capital city, it’s a region in its own right. New rural tourism company Rustical Travel (+34 91 3013086) has some gorgeous houses on its books in the village of Alameda in the Guadarrama mountains in the north of the region. A two-bedroom cottage starts at €660 for a week, while larger houses, ideal for two families or a group of friends, are available from €1,000. You can go hiking, mountain biking or birdwatching right from the village, but there’s lots more to see and do within half an hour’s drive, and Madrid is just over an hour away. AB

The best flamenco in Madrid

If you fancy a bit of flamenco but want the real thing, I recommend you go toCasa Patas. This old bar/restaurant, with a stage in the back, is situated in the Lavapiés district, where many gipsy families live. The area is full of flamenco schools and this place has performances every evening around midnight at the small back stage. The flamenco you see here is the real thing, rather than a light mix aimed at tourists. AB

Classical music and candles in Pedraza, Segovia

In the first or second weekend in July, superb classical music concerts are held in the main square of the medieval village of Pedraza. The cobbled streets are illuminated with thousands of small candles. Booking hotel and concert tickets in advance is essential. Details at conciertospedraza.com. Buy tickets on +34 921 466070. Hotel La Posada de Don Mariano (+34 921 509 886, hoteldonmariano.com has doubles from €89). AB

Live music and dance, festivals and food

Deafening decibel levels herald the beginning of summer in Madrid, with the Rock In Rio festival (4, 5, 6, 11 and 14 June). It takes place in a vast purpose-built outdoor venue to the south of the city, and this year’s confirmed headline acts include Rihanna, Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Rage Against The Machine, Motörhead, Metallica, Bon Jovi, McFly, Amy MacDonald and John Mayer.

The Feria del Libro book fair runs from 28 May to 13 June in the Retiro Park. Stalls are hosted by more than 200 bookshops, with appearances by dozens of major Spanish and international writers. You wouldn’t believe how crowded it gets, like a big, open-air party. There are bars at regular intervals, too – this is Madrid, after all.

The La Latina and Lavapiés neighbourhoods in the old town are packed with pavement cafes, such as old favourite El Viajero (Plaza de la Cebada 11, +34 91 366 9064), with tables on pavement and roof. For fabulous views, check out Gaudeamus, the bar on the roof terrace of the Open University building (Edificio Escuelas Pías, Calle Tribulete 14, +34 91 52 82 594). In the second week of August the surprisingly untouristy San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma festivals take place in these areas, when locals get out the bunting, dress up in traditional Madrileño costumes and have a non-stop knees-up, with lots of free concerts, parades and kids’ activities.

The Veranos de la Villa programme runs throughout June and July, with free or reasonably priced film, theatre, dance and musical events at outdoor venues across the city. The Radisson Blu hotel (Calle Moratin 52, Plaza de Platerias Martinez, +34 91 524 2626, doubles from €185), across the road from the Prado, opened three months ago. Rooms have huge black-and-white photographs of Madrid on the walls, and the Cask restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients. The NH Palacio del Conde de Tepa is opening in June in an early 19th-century neoclassical residence just off Plaza Santa Ana, with a branch of Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero’s tapas bar, Estado Puro.
Annie Bennett, Madrid expert for the travel website simonseeks.com