Travel News

The shortlist contains an array of compositions, from gorgeous natural landscapes to harsh human environments. The 11th edition of the competition saw a record breaking 320,000 submissions by photographers from more than 200 countries and territories. Pictured, left and bottom right, are two shots of storms across the US taken by Mitch Dobrowner, while top right is an image of woodland in the Balkans taken by Veselin Atanasov.

There are few public swimming pools that can match the new Waterfront Culture Center in Copenhagen for wackiness. When it’s built, bathers will find themselves paddling and drifting among huge brick pyramid structures that are connected by elevated see-through channels, with pools terraced down to the sea. Renderings released for the complex reveal how it has a definite sci-fi feel to it.

Adorable images have been released of a gorilla bonding with her new baby. Western lowland gorilla Shanga, who’s part of a troop at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, gave birth yesterday morning. The pictures show her cuddling her yet-to-be-named little one, who only weighs around three pounds.

For skiers whose top hotel priority is close proximity to the slopes, this is the property for them – because it has a ski slope on its roof. Guests at the Hotel des Horlogers, currently under construction in the Swiss village of Le Brassus, will be able to descend on their skis down a gently sloping path that runs down the roofs of each of its five storeys. This exterior path leads directly to the local ski trails.

Images show a mass of scaffolding around some of the huge buildings under construction and trucks and diggers scattered around the site of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at the Anaheim park, main. The ambitious new attraction is part of a $2billion (£1.43billion) investment by Disney into their theme parks. Once completed (artist's impression inset), it will include approximately 10,000 tons of structural steel and 200,000 square feet of hand-carved rock work.

The 30 James Street Hotel, top left, the former headquarters of Titanic's White Star Line, in Liverpool, was voted number one in Britain in the Travel Republic Hotel Awards 2018. The hotels with the highest customer review score in their region were crowned 'best of the best' by British and Irish holidaymakers. These also included the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando, Florida, top right, Marina Playa in Ibiza, bottom left, and The Mirror in Barcelona, bottom right.

Guests at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island will soon have the chance to sleep with the fishes - but there's nothing at all sinister about it. That's because the swanky resort is opening what is believed to be the world's first-ever undersea villa - and images show that it's potentially going to be one of the most sought-after hotel rooms in the world. It's a two-deck affair, with the lower deck sitting five meters (16ft) beneath the waves. It has a bedroom, living space and bathroom and, of course, swathes of glass so that guests can gaze at the colourful local sea life swimming past, wherever they are in the complex.

They are part of a new exhibition of work by seven international professional travel and nature photographers. They were taken on expedition ship Australis as it navigated the region’s jaw-dropping terrain. Images from the trips with Australis - which specialises in navigating a unique passage through the fjords and channels of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, around Cape Horn and through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel - include photography from award-winning British photographer Nori Jemil. Other contributors include Spanish photographers Andrés Magai and Saúl Santos, Chilean photographer Cristóbal Prado, Jessica Backhaus from Germany, Italian photographer Paolo Petrignani and Stanislas Fautré from France.

An Italian seat manufacturer has unveiled seating that’s so upright passengers using it will practically be standing up. Should any carriers install it, they will be able to cram in more fliers than ever before, in a formation that’s known in the industry as ‘ultra-high density’. The upright seating is called Skyrider 2.0 and was unveiled by manufacturer Aviointeriors at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg recently.

Forget lounging on the beach with a banana daiquiri - the trend now is for extreme travel to the coldest, dangerous and most remote corners of the earth. Here MailOnline Travel rounds up some of the most hair-raisingly extreme holiday experiences out there. Pictured clockwise from top left: Bungee jumping into a volcano; bobsledding in Norway; visiting Chernobyl; diving in the Antarctic and (inset) venturing to the North Pole.

The Association of Photographers is celebrating its 50-year milestone with a major retrospective of some of the world's most iconic pictures by well-known photographers in London. The exhibition in Canary Wharf is being curated by leading photography expert Zelda Cheatle, who has selected images to illustrate the impact, diversity and quality of work of AOP members. Pictured: An image shot in 1969 at Kensington Palace showing Princess Margaret and then husband Lord Snowdon with their young children, Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Armstrong (main), Twiggy (right) and 'L'enfant', better known as Man and Baby, shot by Spencer Rowell for Athena Posters (inset).

Eerie snapshots show how the abandoned 65-acre Dinosaur World in Beaver, Arkansas, has taken on a post-apocalyptic air as the attractions gather dust following its closure after a fire in 2005. An overturned statue, top right, hulking brontosaurus, bottom right, and a glowing green tyrannosaurus rex, top left, are among the most memorable of the 100-odd sculptures standing within the park's walls.

A new book from Lonely Planet called Amazing Architecture: A Spotter's Guide has revealed 120 of the world's greatest human constructions and where to see them. The book explores classic must-see buildings, old favourites and intriguing constructions. Pictured: The unique basket-shaped building that formerly belonged to the Longaberger Company in Newark, Ohio (main); the bizarre cube houses in Rotterdam in the Netherlands designed by Piet Blom (top right); the Habitat 67 housing complex in Montreal, Canada (top left), and the 'little crooked house' shopping centre in Sopot, Poland (bottom left). Pictured bottom right is the The Museum of Contemporary Art in Niteroi near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The person the squirrel is nestled with in the clip is Elena Ermakova from Novosibirsk, Russia, who reportedly took her in as a baby after she fell out of her nest and was abandoned. She is now a member of the family and even, apparently, has her own shelf in the fridge. Her hobbies include hiding nuts in all sorts of places around the house – such as jacket pockets and in flower pots - and chewing anything within reach.

The seaside resort on the UK's south coast came top of the International Hipster Index, which ranks cities against key indicators of ‘hipsterdom’ such as vegan cafes, coffee shops and tattoo parlours. Despite missing out on the top spot, America boasts the most hipster places in the ranking overall, stealing 16 of the spots in the top 20. Pictured are Brighton, top left, Portland, top right, Salt Lake City, bottom left, and Seattle, bottom right.

The gong was awarded to Anantara Kihavah following a poll by Luxury Travel Advisor. The contest saw 121,000 votes cast online, with Anantara Kihavah taking 45,385. The hotel said in a statement: ‘Designed by Maldivian architects Group X Design Associates, Anantara Kihavah offers the luxury of solitude against the world’s most stunning backdrop. Natural materials and motifs inspired by Maldivian heritage fuse to create laidback luxury.'

TV presenter Tim Wonnacott revisited the historic destination and found the place 'bewitching'. It was home and prison for Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte until he died aged 51 in 1821. Pictured is the wild interior of the island (main), the house that Napoleon lived in until his death (top right), and 'fascinating' Jamestown (bottom right).

For 90 years Airstream has been making iconic 'silver bullet' aluminum trailers. But now, in a first for the renowned Ohio-based manufacturer, it has released a fiberglass travel trailer. 'Nest by Airstream' costs $45,000 and represents a new chapter in the company's remarkable story. It's the first Nest trailer to be released since Airstream acquired the company in March 2016. 'There's really nothing else like it,' said Airstream President and CEO, Bob Wheeler. 'Nest acknowledges Airstream's lasting legacy, while anticipating a new potential for outdoor adventure.'

These are the stunning winning entries in the 15th annual Smithsonian.com Photo Contest. This year judges received over 48,000 submissions from photographers in 155 countries and territories. Among the winners is a shot of incense makers in Vietnam, top left, a crest of a wave in California, top right, market workers eating breakfast in Vietnam, bottom left, and sheep in Poland, bottom right.

It’s not easy to reach the former silver mining town of Real de Catorce, but if you’re a fan of isolated, Wild West-style ghost towns, then it’s worth the effort. The tiny Mexican village, which sits 2,743 metres (9,000ft) up in the Sierra de Catorce range in San Luis Potosi state, attracts hardy travellers keen to experience its eerie energy and Westworld ambience. To reach it means a drive up a hair-raisingly steep 17-mile cobblestone road and a journey along a narrow 1.5-mile-long tunnel (bottom right). Austrian student Georg Kirchtag went there recently to live out his childhood dream of being a cowboy and told MailOnline Travel all about the time-warp experience.

They may just look like your average horseboxes used to transport animals around the country. But these vintage trucks are actually quirky holiday homes that have been transformed into three rooms that can be rented for £79 per night. The unusual rooms are located in the grounds of Georgian manor Brooks Country House, which lies in the beautiful Pengethley Park, near Ross-on-Wye.

The Irish runway (top left) claimed the top spot in a recent poll of air travellers and experts with many passengers praising the stunning views it offers of the rugged Atlantic coastline. One voter wrote: 'You fly in low...and sweep out over an emerald sea with the perma-white froth of the Wild Atlantic Way, lashing the many tiny rocky islands in a turquoise sea.' It saw off competition from other airports including Barra in Scotland, Nice, Queenstown in New Zealand and Saba in the Netherlands Antilles.

The annual competition, which attracts thousand of entries, launched earlier this month and aims to honour photographers whose work shows the world through travel and exploration. Eligible contestants can submit their entries into three categories: nature, people and cities, and there is no limit on submissions. Some of the early entries include,a rhino in Kenya, top left, blossom in Japan, top right, shepherds in the Himalayas, bottom left, and a rainbow over the Grand Canyon, bottom right.

The eco-friendly property, called Jill Strawbale House, which can accommodate up to five guests, sits on an elevated position in Strontain near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. As well as featuring floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views over Loch Sunart and the Morvern Hills, the house has sliding glass doors leading onto a balcony. A spiral staircase gives access to the large lower deck, where there's a hot tub, and dining and seating areas with a chimenea. There is also a telescope for star-gazing and wildlife spotting. The straw (inset), is used as the main form of insulation in the house, which exports five times more power than it imports.

Kieran Murray, who lives in New York, bought the six-inch monster, who he’s named Ryan Godzilling, from a comic book store in Chicago for $8. They’ve since travelled the world together - and Ryan has taken centre stage in every holiday shot. He’s climbed Big Ben, posed on Abbey Road and hung out with New York’s finest.

Forget turning left, or climbing to the top deck – soon the glamorous place to be on an aircraft will be the cargo deck. That’s because airlines will soon be able to fit out the cargo decks of their Airbus planes with sleeping births. The European manufacturer has announced that carriers will be able to choose from a range of sleeper compartment configurations in the holds of A330 aircraft (inset) by 2020 – and that it’s also looking to offer this feature on the A350 XWB.

Potential winners enter by buying a ticket online for $10 (£7.50) using either cash or a crypto currency and one entrant will be drawn at random to win one of the resorts dotted across the globe. Among the properties set to be raffled off by British-based company WinThis.Life include Eden Island in the Seychelles, left, Sway Tower in Hampshire, right, and the Lizards and Leaves resort in Costa Rica, inset.

Law-abiding citizens can experience what life is really like in jail in this one-of-a-kind prison-themed hotel. Penny Rope Bed Chamber in Margate, Kent, allows guests to pay for the pleasure of spending a night behind bars. The hotel has been built into the former cold store of a Grade II listed property in the town and costs as little as £75 per night. Pictures of the unusual hotel show the exterior of the quirky chamber, which is kept under lock and key by a traditional, heavy-duty prison door that comes complete with classic black bars. But there is no lack of comfort at Penny Rope, future inmates will be pleased to hear.

Airbnb certainly has an unrivalled choice of places and properties, from a nuclear bunker to a Pyrenean treehouse, converted jet and remodeled double-decker bus. Here’s our top ten…

Parents know that travelling with a baby is never easy - not least because it's impossible to pack light. So mums and dads may well find themselves cooing over a new six-in-one suitcase that isn't just a handy piece of regular luggage, but can be transformed into a bassinet (bottom right), changing table (bottom left), a raised baby seat (top right), a rocker baby seat and even a bathtub (top left). This Swiss Army Knife of the luggage world, made by French firm Canailles Dream, is called La Multi and isn't cheap at 599 euros ($642/£522), but some might feel like shelling out if it means bringing holiday stress levels down.

The US-hub saw off competition from Beijing and Dubai to retain the title after almost 104million passengers passed through in 2017, in figures revealed by Airports Council International. Tokyo's Haneda airport was ranked fourth after seeing a 6.5 per cent increase in passengers to 85.4million. It narrowly beat fifth place Los Angeles, which saw 84.5million travellers in 2017.

From gazing at hippos to watching the Indian Ocean lap towards your doorstep, these stunning hotel views don't require you to move from your bed. MailOnline Travel has scoured the world to find some of the best spots to wake up at, including the Royal Lancaster London (top left), the Loisaba Star Beds in Kenya (top right), the OZEN by Atmosphere resort in the Maldives (bottom right) and the Iso Syöte Hotel in Finland (bottom left).

If you're into trains and dining out, then these railway restaurants are certainly on the right track. MailOnline Travel has scoured the world for eateries housed inside old train carriages, with quirky spots in India, New York and Paris coming into signal. Pictured, from top left, clockwise: Le Wagon Bleu in Paris, The Spotgate Inn in England, the train diner at 1880 Town in South Dakota and the Sahib Sindh Sultan in India.

If you've always dreamed of witnessing the world's highest mountains in all of their glory then keep scrolling now. Professional adventurer Jack Wheeler - who has visited every country in the world and broke world records for being the first to skydive on the North Pole and for being the youngest to climb the Matterhorn at just 14 years old - now runs expeditions around the world, with one of his most popular tours taking passengers through the Himalayas by helicopter. Pictured from top left, clockwise: Makalu, the Annapurna Sanctuary, views towards Dhaulagiri Base Camp and a chopper swooping in to land at Everest Base Camp.

A heart-wrenching photography series captures the plight of refugees in Paris, with whole families living in the streets. French photographer Vladimir Antaki started investigating the migrant crisis in his hometown last October in a bid to capture the 'faces of men, women and children that the public doesn’t want to see'. His project, titled Family Portraits, shows peopled from Kosovo, Romania, Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria and Syria who have fled their country for political or economic reasons.

If you're looking to immerse yourself in nature, then an unusual hotel on a remote island in the Caribbean aims to tick that box. Le Domaine des Bulles, which is situated on Île Petite Grenade off Martinique, features four bedrooms housed in bubble-like sleeping pods. The spacious domed structures are transparent, allowing guests to gaze at the stars or leafy surroundings from the comfort of their beds.

The public transport system in the Swedish capital is often referred to as one of the world's longest galleries with 90 of the 100 stations displaying colourful public works of art. Now over one million trips are taken on the Stockholm Metro everyday with most passengers able to appreciate the public art. Pictured are stations T-Centraalen, top left, Stadion, top right and Kungsträdgården, bottom.

Scientists have discovered a 100 acre island off the coast of Georgia which was carved by last autumn's deadly Hurricane Irma. The furious storm ripped through the Atlantic last September, leaving a trail of destruction behind. And recently-recorded drone footage reveals that the strong winds - which reached a high of 185mph - helped shift a sand bar to create a new isolated piece of land which has been christened Little Blackbeard Island.

Shots exposing the age of excess in Dubai and touching portraits of shunned LGBTQ residents in South Korea, are among the winning images that have been announced in the 2018 ZEISS Photography Awards.The contest , now it its third year, challenged photographers to tell 'untold stories' through the use of imagery. Pictured from top left, clockwise: Body building in India by British photographer Mark Leaver, excess in Dubai by Belgian photographer Nick Hannes, acts of Americanism by U.S. photographer Sarah Blesener and being LGBTQ in South Korea by Gowun Lee.

Never-seen-before timelapse footage reveals what it takes to build a mega cruise liner, with lengths of steel painstakingly moved into place and hours of welding to make the vessel fit for the water. The two-minute-17 second film shows the construction of MSC Cruises' new mammoth boat, the MSC Bellissima, at a shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. To start the 4,500- passenger ship - which is costing around £700 million to build - is just a couple of decks high, but gradually the sped up clip shows how engineers work around the clock to add more rows of cabins with the help of cranes.

The infographics show how early pioneers in the British Isles left their mark through county place names that are still in place today and reflect Roman, Celtic and Anglo Saxon language. One interesting translation is Cornwall, which literally means 'People of the Horn. While in Northern Ireland, Derry can be translated into Oak Grove, and in Wales, Denbighshire literally means Little Fortress.

The self-built prototype, called Trailer, is located in Bath and also has a spacious interior with an open plan room taking up the whole ground floor while a ladder leads to a second living space. The building is designed to be legally transported on public highways and has been made using recycled materials including doors from a skip and scavenged insulation.

Swapping champagne glasses for plastic beakers and glossy magazines for board games, one luxury hotel in Singapore is offering a range of suites specially geared towards children. The five-star Shangri-La Hotel Singapore has five rooms which have been decorated in different themes for their pint-sized guests, with inspiration including 'safari' (pictured bottom right), 'space' (top right), 'castle' (top left), 'treetop' and 'underwater' (bottom left). The rooms, which average £815 (1,500 Singapore dollar) a night, include a range of child-friendly perks such as kids TV, stuffed toys, specialised bath products and miniature bathrobes.

Vertigo-inducing photos have emerged of a pro skier bombing down a terrifyingly-steep slope in Italy. Markus Eder, who lives in Austria, appears to be a small dot on the near-vertical run found in the Italian alpine commune of Alagna Valsesia. Hurtling along at high speed, the nimble sportsman had to navigate his way down the narrow snowy pass, avoiding the craggy rock sides.

New hotel, Cherry Twins, in Kiev, Ukraine, offers seven different themed-rooms, developed with the help of sexologists, with hopes of encouraging guests to explore their most erotic fantasies. Pictured: the 50 Shades of Grey-inspired Domination Room (left), the Torture Room (top right) and the Medical Room (bottom left).

Ted Thornhill is pleasantly surprised by Johannesburg's hipster credentials. For instance, excellent eateries such as Marble and Che (bottom right), the latter serving up a steak sandwich of his dreams. He is just as taken with Richard Branson's nearby luxury safari lodge, Ulusaba (the other three pictures). Here he explains the joys of combining an urban safari with a truly wild one...

EXCLUSIVE. Rare pictures have emerged of Concorde in a hangar at London Heathrow after it returned from its maiden voyage to Bahrain in the Middle East in 1976. What makes them extra remarkable is that they were taken by someone who snuck into the hangar dressed as an engineer. In her disguise, Rosalind Griffiths, who was 20 at the time, excitedly posed next to the history-making supersonic airliner and snapped the cockpit and cabin.

It seems that Rich McCor’s imagination knows no limits. He’s the paper artist and photographer who creates intricate cut-outs to re-imagine landscapes around the world. And his latest work is as brilliant as ever. MailOnline first reported on his work in 2015 – and he’s still producing superbly crafted scenes, as these images show.