Munich tapped the keg on Saturday for the world's biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest, with six million revellers expected. The celebration of traditional Bavarian culture with its oompah music and beloved frothy beverage kicked off when Mayor Dieter Reiter opened the first beer barrel with two mallet blows and offered a toast to a 'peaceful' Oktoberfest. Organisers will be praying the light mood continues however, with Munich struggling to deal with numbers of refugees who are being housed in temporary shelters in the city. Laila Noeth, the Muenchner Kindl Oktoberfest female patron (pictured right), sang on stage during the opening day to welcome visitors. The masses then rushed to get their hands on the €10 jugs of traditional German beer.
Now THAT'S a first impression: The world's most spectacular hotel lobbies that feature a sea of fountains, brightly coloured forests and stunning chandeliers
From the grand Palazzo Parigi in Milan (bottom right), to the gold leaf adorned Burj Al Arab in Dubai (top left) to the flower-filled atrium at Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas (top right), these lobbies grab guests' attention in style. And none is more eye-catching than the Reverie in Saigon, Vietnam (bottom right) and the Ice Hotel in Sweden (centre).
La Dolce Vita: Oozing timeless glamour, STUNNING photographs of Italy's golden era reveal why the country was an A-lister favourite even in the 1950s
Capturing the enduring charm of the Mediterranean gem, this series of candid images from the 1950's showcases a lively mix of day-to-day life and cinematic inspiration. Legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren (bottom right) is pictured on set and the collection shows that holidaymakers have long flocked to the glamorous hotspots of Venice and Positano.
From Walter White's meth-cooking café in Istanbul to Batman burgers in Malaysia: The world's weirdest TV inspired tourist spots
Take your coffee in a chemical beaker served by baristas in yellow boiler suits at Walter's Coffee in Istanbul (bottom right), eat Batman Burgers at DC Comics Superheroes cafes in a series of Asian venues (top right), or down a cocktail sitting next to a life-sized tardis at The Way Station bar, Brooklyn (left). These are the weirdest TV-themed attractions.
Take a lifetime's worth of holidays... in one year: For £220,000 you can tick off all four corners of the globe on luxury private jets including visits to Easter Island and Hawaii
For the very first time, four of the world's most luxurious private jet tours are being offered in one exceptional year-package - where the lucky buyer can see every corner of the globe. The tour includes from Hawaii (top right), beautiful Easter Island (bottom left), Mumbai (top left) and Bora Bora (bottom right). The tour offers private jets commissioned by Four Seasons, Private Jet Tours, Captain's Choice and Abercrombie & Kent.
Why you should open your luggage on the bathroom floor and put paper over the peephole in the door: The hotel secrets EVERY guest should know
Inside the Rugby World cup teams' luxury hotels - where the only things they'll need to tackle are 'pillow menus' and spa options
Spas, jacuzzis and rooms with 'pillow menus' await the top teams. England will be checking into the elegant Pennyhill Park in Surrey (top left), while Ireland head to Celtic Manor, Newport (top right), ahead of their game against France in October. New Zealand will stay at Lensbury Resort in Middlesex (bottom right) and Wales will head to Vale Resort, Glamorgan, to play at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff (bottom left).
A 24-carat gold facial, cryotherapy chambers and a snow room on a cruise ship: Inside the luxurious spas voted best in the world
Spas in the Middle East, Asia and Europe dominated the list of big winners at the first annual World Spa Awards, which were voted on by the public and industry professionals. Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi (top right) won for its 24-carat gold radiance facial (inset), while Italy's Forte Village Resort was recognised for its seawater treatments (top left). Other winners included Norwegian Cruise Line's Mandara Spa, which has a snow room (bottom left), and Six Senses Con Dao, set in Vietnam's dramatic Lo Voi Mountains (bottom right).
Is this the best job in the world? Travel writer lands role reviewing glamorous parties in locations including LA, Amsterdam and New York
Jonathan Thompson, 36, from Chichester, West Sussex, will be the envy of his friends after securing one of the world's most desirable jobs - and he's could even get the opportunity to meet the likes of Beyonce and Taylor Swift. He won a talent search, as well as the all-expenses paid job, he'll get $25,000 worth of luxury furniture from design company Timothy Oulton and a further $200 every working day.
Helipads, hot tubs and en-suite staterooms: Inside the most expensive superyachts for sale at the Monaco Yacht Show where asking prices reach £51MILLION
More than 120 of the priciest private vessels in the world will be on show over four days at historic Port Hercule, starting on September 23. The 25th edition of the event in glamorous Monaco brings together manufacturers, owners, buyers and enthusiasts at what is considered the most prestigious pleasure boat show in the world. With more than 33,000 people expected to attend, these are some of the most expensive vessels for sale.
Happy snapper: Daredevil model dices with death in extraordinary underwater face-to-face photo shoot with CROCODILE
A fearless daredevil came face-to-face with a four metre long American crocodile in an extraordinary photo-shoot. Italian thrill-seeker Roberta Mancino fulfilled a long-held dream by swimming with the reptiles in the Gulf of Mexico. Travelling 30 miles from the coast to a lagoon in the middle of the Banco Chinchorro - home to roughly 700 of the reptiles - Mancino was keen to learn about their behaviour.
Tug-of-war on the deck, glamorous balls and the first gymnasium at sea (with men working out in suits): Fascinating photos reveal life on board early cruise ships
The development of steam ships in the 19th century led to ever more luxurious vessels taking wealthy guests on glamorous breaks. From taking part in deck tennis to wooden horse racing in the evenings, guests on board these elite liners would dress to the nines during their time on the seven seas. One of the leaders in modern cruise holidays was P&O; Cruises, which started advertising tours to destinations such as Gibraltar, Athens and Malta, from Southampton in 1844.
The call of the wild: Man takes his part-wolf best friend, Loki, on incredible outdoor adventures (gaining the Wolfdog over 378k Instagram followers)
A hybrid of a Siberian husky, Malamute and Arctic Wolf, two-year old Loki, and his owner Kelly Lund (pictured) from Colorado love nothing more than sharing incredible outdoor adventures together. Determined to give his faithful pet the exercise and outdoor lifestyle the Wolfdog requires, Lund is passionate about letting Loki roam free in some of the most dramatic natural locations around and has captured these moments on film. Together they have explored mountain passes, lakes and snowy landscapes, strengthening their bond, all without a leash.
Now that's a walkabout! Meet the man who travelled 75,500km around the world on FOOT during an epic 11-year odyssey crossing six continents (using 54 pairs of shoes)
Canadian Jean Beliveau's 11-year walk is believed to be the world's longest uninterrupted circumnavigation on foot. He slept in jail cells in South Africa, found friendship with gang members in Guatemala and suffered the intense loneliness and stifling heat of the Australian outback. Leaving his wife, children and grandchildren behind, he shares the highs and lows of his odyssey with MailOnline Travel.
Welcome aboard the Saharan Express: How poverty-stricken Mauritanians journey hundreds of miles through the scorching desert... on a cargo train full of iron ore
Michal Huniewicz, 31, documented the 700-kilometre journey across Mauritania - a country crippled by poverty, slavery and terrorism - on the world's longest cargo train. Sat on top of about 84 tones of rusty red ore, the software developer and his friend Ammar encountered brutal weather conditions and scenes of immense poverty as they wound their way through the desert on the open-top carriage.
Could you shoot the cover for National Geographic? Iconic magazine calls for talented photographers to accept the challenge (and here are the STUNNING entries so far)
From kayaking through the majesty of a Norwegian fjord at dusk (right) to riding over Myanmar's dawn mist in a hot air balloon (centre) and climbing Vietnam's rice terrace (left) these are just some of the breathtaking moments captured on film by talented photographers across the globe. They are part of a gallery of submissions by skilful shutterbugs who are hoping that their image will be chosen to appear on the cover of the prestigious National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Brace yourself for a VERY cold winter: Forecasters warn recent bad weather could be start of most powerful El Nino phenomenon since 1950
Ruff and ready: Cute Instagram pictures show dogs enjoying the great outdoors on camping trips with their owners
Instead of man's best friend being left behind during holidays, the adorable Camping With Dogs Instagram shows pets and humans having fun together on spectacular camping trips. From witnessing spectacular sunsets to cuddling up with their owners by a campfire and sleeping in tents - the incredible pictures show the canine's having the time of their lives. Although some need a few creature comforts in the morning. The 'Camping with Dogs' account was started by Nashville's Ryan Carter this year, and has gained a huge social media following.
How safe is YOUR holiday? From deadly spiders to venomous snakes, the lethal creatures that could be lurking near your hotel (and what to do if they attack)
These are the dangerous animals and insects that tourists could encounter on their holiday, from deadly spiders and killer sharks to lethal jelly fish and giant hornets. Here MailOnline Travel maps out where they live and, with the help of wildlife TV presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff, reveals how much risk they really pose - and the steps to take in the event of an attack.
Mob of 'irresponsible' tourists slammed for preventing endangered sea turtles from laying their eggs at wildlife refuge
Tourists stood in the olive ridley sea turtles' way and even placed children on top of them to snap keepsake photos, causing many of the creatures to return to the sea without laying their eggs on a Costa Rican beach. Ostional Wildlife Refuge, in northwestern Guanacaste, is a protected area and the only place in the world where locals are legally permitted to harvest the first wave of eggs (inset) for consumption or sale.
How to beat the autumn blues: 25 events guaranteed to make you forget summer is over
It may seem like summer is over, but there are a whole array of autumn events waiting to be enjoyed. Join 350,000 fans flocking to Amsterdam Dance Event (centre) or unwind at Center Parcs (bottom right) which boasts River Rapids. From world class surfing in Snowdonia (top left) to the Color Run (top right) and even Europe's longest inflatable slide (bottom left), here are 25 ways to keep the autumn blues at bay.
See them before they're gone: The stunning photos of glistening icebergs in glacial lake threatened by climate change
Belgian photographer Wim Denijs has had a soft spot for Iceland since the volcanic eruptions in 2010, and his latest series of mesmerising snaps has revealed the beauty of Jökulsárlón lake. The stunning images show icebergs in a number of distinct colours - from milky white to bright blue (inset) - although the photographer fears the future of Iceland's deepest lake is in doubt due to climate change.
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- Lederhosen, low-cut blouses and LOTS of beer! Six million people expected to pack out Munich as Germany celebrates 182nd Oktoberfest
- Drunk passengers could be BANNED from flying after a spike in rowdy airborne incidents including brawls, sabotage and fliers setting each other's hair on fire
- An Inspector Calls: Golf, grouse and gourmet dinner at a Baronial pile in the Scottish Borders
- Tourist dies after falling down steps at the Taj Mahal 'while trying to take a selfie'
- A boozy break in the Lakes? That's the spirit as new distillery creates chance to enjoy home-grown English tipple
- 'Stay away from row 24, we're going to be sick everywhere': Six women flying to Barcelona on a hen party kicked off easyJet plane at Gatwick for being 'too drunk to fly'
- American beauty: A journey by tall ship exploring the presidential playground along New England's glitzy coastline
- From Walter White's meth-cooking café in Istanbul to Batman burgers in Malaysia: The world's weirdest TV inspired tourist spots
- Now THAT'S a first impression: The world's most spectacular hotel lobbies that feature a sea of fountains, brightly coloured forests and stunning chandeliers
- Diving into shark-infested waters: What swimming with the fearsome predators 60ft below the waves in Tahiti is REALLY like... and no, you don't get a safety cage
- The secret to a great holiday in Ibiza? Go in September, avoid one resort in particular like the plague and leave late-night clubs to those who are too young to know better
- Perth, the unlikely hipster hotspot: A guide to the coolest boho bars and hot hotels in Western Australia's capital city
- Offerings to the god Osiris found hidden beneath ancient Sudanese pyramids: 2,000-year-old structures marked Kushite graves
- EasyJet makes holidaymaker pay excess baggage to take his mother's belongings home after she suffered a stroke in Spain
- Rare snubfin dolphin spotted 'smiling' and playing in the water off the coast in Queensland
- The experts' survival guide to flying with children: How to cope with your seat being kicked, in-flight tantrums and whether you should intervene if you hear a baby crying
- Want a holiday that's good for your conscience? The countries that need money from tourists the most include Spain, Iceland and the Maldives
- Concorde set to return to the skies: Supersonic jet may be used for charter flights by 2019
- Take a lifetime's worth of holidays... in one year: For £220,000 you can tick off all four corners of the globe on luxury private jets including visits to Easter Island and Hawaii
- Inside the Rugby World cup teams' luxury hotels - where the only things they'll need to tackle are 'pillow menus' and spa options
- Bogs can be beautiful too: Incredible pictures of mystical 8,000-year-old Latvian swamp in the morning mist
- A 24-carat gold facial, cryotherapy chambers and a snow room on a cruise ship: Inside the luxurious spas voted best in the world
- Is this the best job in the world? Travel writer lands role reviewing glamorous parties in locations including LA, Amsterdam and New York
- Tug-of-war on the deck, glamorous balls and the first gymnasium at sea (with men working out in suits): Fascinating photos reveal life on board early cruise ships
- Revealed: What happens to your physical and mental health if you don't take enough holiday (take note the 56% of Americans who didn't go on vacation last year)
- Skulls in saucepans, pigeons down trousers and a pet chicken: The strangest things passengers have tried to sneak through airport security revealed
- Helipads, hot tubs and en-suite staterooms: Inside the most expensive superyachts for sale at the Monaco Yacht Show where asking prices reach £51MILLION
- The rise of churchyard tourism: New guide promotes Britain's 30,000 cemeteries as perfect places to get in touch with nature
- Every little helps! Baggage fees and other extra charges made airlines £21BILLION last year
- The call of the wild: Man takes his part-wolf best friend, Loki, on incredible outdoor adventures (gaining the Wolfdog over 378k Instagram followers)
- Daredevil model dices with death in extraordinary underwater face-to-face photo shoot with CROCODILE
- Say goodbye to boring holiday photos! New camera scours the internet for images of famous landmarks - and locks down the shutter to stop tourists adding to the pile
- Why you should open your luggage on the bathroom floor and put paper over the peephole in the door: The hotel secrets EVERY guest should know
- Now that's a walkabout! Meet the man who travelled 75,500km around the world on FOOT during an epic 11-year odyssey crossing six continents (using 54 pairs of shoes)
- The moment oxygen masks dropped down on Ryanair flight from Greece to the Netherlands that saw plane with 160 passengers on board divert to Germany
- Posing naked by a landmark, using a selfie-stick and making glaring factual errors on social media: The most annoying tourist habits revealed
- Forget sleeping pills or hypnosis! SEX may be the best way to cure a fear of flying, says therapist
- Incredibly bizarre CCTV footage catches a DEER smashing through a glass window of a hotel and running wild in the laundry room
- Ruff and ready: Cute Instagram pictures show dogs enjoying the great outdoors on camping trips with their owners
- BREAKING NEWS: At least five climbers killed and two missing after avalanche in the French Alps
- Photographer films heart-stopping moment he balances on ledge 60 storeys above New York's Times Square
- Inside the 'Zoo from Hell': A schoolboy kicks a frightened monkey's tiny metal cage as a crocodile languishes in a concrete pool of its own urine, fed on dead dogs
- That's a high-wire act! Amazing drone footage shows Chinese engineers converting a 980ft wooden bridge into a terrifying GLASS walkway above a 590ft canyon
- Amazing moment a humpback whale breaches the water and leaps over kayakers - narrowly avoiding crushing them
- Pictured: The £9.9million superyacht that ran aground as a violent storm battered an idyllic Greek island with high winds and massive waves
- There's no time to laze by lovely lake Geneva - so get your skates on! Skiers tend to roar past in their 4x4s in winter, missing out on one of Switzerland's prized assets - Lausanne.
- See them before they're gone: The stunning photos of glistening icebergs in glacial lake threatened by climate change
- How safe is YOUR holiday destination from these animals? From deadly spiders to venomous snakes, the lethal creatures that could be lurking near your hotel (and what to do if they attack)
- Mob of 'irresponsible' tourists slammed for preventing endangered sea turtles from laying their eggs at wildlife refuge
- Exotic life of the kings of Benin: The land where subjects believe royals have superpowers and become invisible at night
- From ghost town to tourism hot spot: Inside the rebirth of Mexico's 'Puebla Magico,' where The Mask of Zorro was filmed
- How to beat the autumn blues: 25 events guaranteed to make you forget summer is over
- Photographer launches search for mystery mystery couple he pictured kissing at the top of waterfall after 'proposal' at Mount Rainier National Park
- Melbourne man Jonathan Crowden, 21, 'killed by lightning' in the Grand Canyon while hiking alone
- Adorable newborn rhino rolls around in hay and bonds with her mother Umqali... as poachers threaten to wipe out her species
- Could you shoot the cover for National Geographic? Iconic magazine calls for talented photographers to accept the challenge (and here are the STUNNING entries so far)
- 'Moongate' entrances and stunning views of Canada's most famous landmark: Inside the five-star hotel where George Clooney and Johnny Depp hang out at the Toronto film festival
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Pictured: Windscreen of car smashed by metal pieces of plane's jet engine that rained down as aircraft declared an emergency
- Inside Eurostar's newly refurbished trains that feature illuminated drink holders, free WiFi and seatback mirrors
- Only the adventurous need apply: Hunt is on to fill polar explorer vacancy with perks of the job including diving beneath icy lakes, scaling frozen waterfalls and chasing the Northern Lights
- Dozens of tourists evacuated after Japan's Mount Aso erupts, sending huge plume of volcanic ash one MILE into the sky
- Here comes autumn! Torrential rain, gale force winds and even FLOODS set to sweep Britain - toppling trees and causing road chaos
- Incredible photographs show abandoned shopping mall covered in snow, rain and overgrown weeds as it succumbs to the changing seasons
- Leap of faith: Tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims take holy dip at India's Kumbh Mela royal bath festival
- Would you CHOOSE to spend a night jail? Ohio prison converted into a B&B offers guests a stay behind bars
- World's biggest man-made wave is created by Dutch scientists hoping to help save the low-lying country from devastating floods
- The heartwarming moment a rescue team save the life of a baby humpback whale after it was trapped in fishing lines
- Britain faces an invasion of venomous false widow spiders as warm conditions herald a population boom
- Small wonder: Ultimate relaxation in the lovingly restored Palazzo Radomiri on the beguiling coastline of Montenegro
- Bubble trouble: Foam machine malfunction at Toronto Pearson International Airport spills 'two football fields' worth of suds
- Inside the bizarre Bangkok aircraft graveyard where families live among the decaying passenger jets and survive by collecting and selling scrap metal
- Wipe out! GoPro captures the incredible moment a clumsy DOLPHIN body slams a paddle boarder sharing his wave
- Painted lady, 23, attacked by crazed woman in Times Square who called her a 'nasty wh**e' before punching her in the face
- 'It feels like you are on the edge of the world': The Pub Landlord comedian Al Murray finds an oasis of calm and lives like a Sultan on a Marrakech city break
- Wild West wandering: How a road trip in the heart of America is spellbinding (if you can avoid the bison along the way)
- Live and let Thai: Travel to Thailand to have a Bond style journey sailing past 007's iconic island, made famous by Roger Moore
- From Amazon adventures to a safari in West Africa: The top fly-cruises on offer for travellers short on time
- The Crafty Traveller: The web pioneers who are making the world accessible to everyone, regardless of any disability
- From soaking up the luxury to souking up the sights: A tale of two Moroccos
- Horse-lover's haven: Riding high with the dashing gauchos of Golega in Portugal at their annual 10-day equine festival
- Meow we're talking! Instagram account from cat lover proves that outdoor adventures are not just for dogs...and you CAN take your feline friend along as well!
- Students who lost their GoPro when using a balloon to send it 98,000ft high get camera back TWO YEARS later after hiker hands in footage - revealing breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon
- From model aeroplanes and shimmering chandeliers, to life-size wooden animals: A regal stay in a quirky French chateau
- Take a whistle-stop tour of the golden era of train travel: Pictures aboard the Orient-Express reveal the nostalgic glamour of 1950s journey
- An Inspector Calls: The Wellington is impeccable, with resident chickens and a lawn like Centre Court
- Iconic Tower Of London poppies inspire a new audience as they are installed at a disused Northumberland colliery
- Feel the force: Star Wars invasion at Disney World pulls plug on Osborne family dancing lights after 20 year reign as iconic attraction
- From a tour round the prison Nelson Mandela spent 18 years, by a fellow inmate, to spectacular Table Mountain views: Why you should escape to Cape Town
- Celebrity central: Why Marylebone has become one of the world's hottest new playgrounds with A-listers flocking to its boutique hotel, bars and restaurants
- A taste of the Orient in the heart of Catalonia: Personal butlers, a secret garden and a rooftop pool overlooking a Gaudi masterpiece...no wonder this luxury hotel is a hit with A-listers
- Up close and personal: TV presenter Raul de Molina encounters the endangered mountain gorillas of Uganda and explores the country's remote villages
- Say hello, offer them some food and stay out of the aisles: Flight attendants reveal the things YOU can do to get the best service from them
- Shire delight! Inside the £140,000 underground holiday home that looks like it belongs in Lord of the Rings
- Planes abandoned on the runway, caved-in ceilings and a terminal destroyed by war: The creepiest 'ghost' airports in the world
- How easy is it to break into your hotel safe? Shocking video shows security expert breaking into locked box in SECONDS
- Kings of cool: KISS FM DJs Tough Love give their ultimate insider tips on the best places to stay and play in Berlin - the city they say has Europe's hottest music scene
- Is this FINALLY the answer to avoiding jet lag? The 'calculator' that tells you how to shift your body clock and beat groggy feelings
- A lost world... found! Spectacular images reveal breathtaking beauty and enormous size of a newly discovered cave in Vietnam
- A terrifying 90-degree drop and twists inspired by fighter jets: Theme park reveals plans for tallest, fastest and longest dive roller coaster in the world (and footage shows just how scary it will be)
- So THIS is what they get up to when you've gone: The cabin crew craze to clamber into overhead bins for Instagram pictures