new concept travel europe

Announcing the Hot List Winners of 2024

By CNT Editors

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants , and cruise ships , a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech, or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List hotel winners for 2024.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

North Island Okavango

Angama Amboseli

Jannah Lamu

Farasha Farmhouse , Marrakech

Kozo Kigali

Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island — Seychelles

SOUTH AFRICA

Nikkei Cape Town

Molori Mashuma , Mana Pools National Park

Pemako Punakha

Regent Hong Kong

Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur

Naar , Darwa

Papa's , Mumbai

Cap Karoso , Sumba

Further , Bali

Locavore NXT Bali

Le Pristine Tokyo

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza

Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park , Tokyo

Shinta Mani Mustang - A Bensley Collection , Jomsom

SOUTH KOREA

JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa

Pot Au Phở , Ho Chi Minh

Le Foote , Sydney

Southern Ocean Lodge , Kangaroo Island

Sun Ranch , Byron Bay

MIDDLE EAST

Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain

SAUDI ARABIA

Six Senses Southern Dunes , Umluj

The St. Regis Riyadh

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Guild , Dubai

SIRO One Za'abeel, Dubai

Soul Kitchen , Dubai

The Lana, Dorchester Collection , Dubai

Koan , Copenhagen

Hotel Maria , Helsinki

1 Place Vendôme , Paris

The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel , Cannes

Datil , Paris

Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin , Paris

La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin , Cognac

Rosewood Munich

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino

Monument , Athens

One&Only Aesthesis , Athens

Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll

Bulgari Hotel Roma , Rome

Trattoria del Ciumbia , Milan

Hotel La Palma , Capri

La Roqqa , Porto Ercole

Nolinski Venezia , Venice

Palazzo Roma , Rome

Saporium , Florence

Hotel Violino d’Oro , Venice

Mamula Island

NETHERLANDS

De Durgerdam , Amsterdam

Canalha , Lisbon

Andreu Genestra , Mallorca

Barro , Ávila

César Lanzarote , Lanzarote

Hotel Corazón , Mallorca

Grand Hotel Son Net , Mallorca

Palacio Arriluce , Getxo

Son Vell Menorca , Menorca

The Peninsula Istanbul

UNITED KINGDOM

Broadwick Soho , London

Chishuru , London

The Devonshire , London

Chelsea Townhouse, London

Estelle Manor , Cotswolds

Fish Shop , Ballater

Raffles London at The OWO

Colima 71 , Mexico City

Maizajo Mexico City

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel , Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya EDITION

The St. Regis Kanai Resort , Riviera Maya

SOUTH AMERICA

Casa Lucía , Buenos Aires

Trescha , Buenos Aires

Oseille , Rio de Janiero

99 Restaurante, Santiago

Our Habitas Atacama , San Pedro de Atacama

Puqio , Arequipa

THE CARIBBEAN

Silversands Beach House

UNITED STATES

The Celestine , New Orleans

Dawn Ranch , Sonoma, California

The Fifth Avenue Hotel , New York

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

The Georgian , Santa Monica, California

The Global Ambassador , Phoenix

Hotel Bardo, Savannah

Ilis , New York

Kiln , San Francisco

Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort , Kona, Hawaii

Maty's , Miami

Warren Street Hotel , New York

Yess , Los Angeles

World Voyager, Atlas Ocean Voyages

CRUISE SHIPS

Silver Nova , Silversea

Norwegian Viva

Seven Seas Grandeur , Regent Seven Seas Grandeur

Oceania Vista

World Voyager , Atlas Ocean Voyages

Scenic Eclipse II

Emerald Sakara

Celebrity Ascent

Seabourn Pursuit

Icon of the Seas , Royal Caribbean

MSC Euribia

Viking Aton

Resilient Lady , Virgin Voyages

This story appears in Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List issue. Never miss an issue when you subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

• Cine suntem
• Corporate Travel

Precizam ca frecventa actualizarii informatiilor oferite depinde de ritmul adoptarii masurilor de raspuns la evolutia epidemiei de catre autoritatile locale si nationale ale fiecarui stat.

Tinand cont de reglementarile impuse de autoritatile romane si in acord cu masurile stricte de siguranta pe care le-am adoptat, operam, in prezent, cu o echipa redusa, dar complet functionala, capabila sa acopere toate nevoile operationale.

Vă încurajăm ca, in situatia in care raspunsul nostru intarzie sa apara, sa accesati contactele dedicate contului dumneavoastra, urmand sa acordam prioritate solicitarii primite.

Întotdeauna la dispoziția dumneavoastra! Ramaneti sanatosi si in siguranță!

We continue to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we are dedicated to keeping our clients and travelers safe and informed with the latest updates on COVID-19.

Please note that available information and responses by governments, airlines, and other travel suppliers are being rapidly updated. This is becoming more frequent as local and national authorities respond to coronavirus developments around the world.

Following government’s regulations and the strict safety measures, we are currently operating with a fully functional but reduced team covering all operational needs.

Some delays in our responses may occur and we encourage you to reach out via your account dedicated contacts, and we will prioritize your request.

Always at your service! Keep safe and healthy!

© 2016 - 2022 New Concept Travel. Independently Owned and Operated By Concept Consult & Prospect SRL

International Climate & Tourism Partners

New Concept Travel, Hong Kong, China

New Concept Travel was founded by Bernard Bialylew who has 40 years’ experience in the Travel and Tourism industry and Malcolm Lindop whose achievements in the UK travel scene have been outstanding.

We were colleagues and are now friends and partners and our philosophy is to provide land services to Travel Agents around the world at the utmost level of service and at the most competitive costs. All our staff have long experience in all the Far Eastern markets, our coordinators in Europe speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Bahasa Malaysia, very soon Thai and of course English. Our head office in Hong Kong is the doorway to the world.

Our staff having an average of 20 years in the industry, having worked together for decades. The team is very tightly knit and responds very fast to all queries. Along with our Hong Kong head office and our London support office, we also have a sales office in Jakarta and sales managers in Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur.

We are looking to expand our sales teams in other locations. In the spirit of a one stop shop we currently cover 236 destinations. Far from being a jack of all trades, each partner has been selected as a major power in their own area with proven quality/price ratio able to satisfy the most demanding of customers.

by Bernard Bialylew

www.new-concept.travel

[email protected]

+852 3468 5888

Share this:

Leave a reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Hotels + Resorts

Europe's Most Spectacular New Hotel Is Set in a Former WWII Railway Station

High in the mountains between Spain and France, a long-neglected train station has become an opulent hotel.

Simon Willis is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. For the magazine he has crisscrossed Europe, Asia and Latin America. Particularly drawn to remote places, he has filed features from Patagonia, Laos and the Southern Ocean among other destinations.

Denisse Ariana Pérez

A few years ago , I was flicking through a magazine when I saw a photo essay about abandoned train stations. They were images of sublime squalor. The grand Greco-Roman columns of Michigan Central Station in Detroit were covered with graffiti. The Art Deco posters on the walls of the St.-Martin Métro in Paris were gradually peeling away. But the most haunting place in the collection was Estación Canfranc, high in the Spanish Pyrenees.

From the outside, this 790-foot-long Beaux-Arts palace looked like it had been transplanted from a fashionable Parisian boulevard. When it was completed in 1925, Canfranc was the second-largest rail station in Europe, after the one in Leipzig, Germany. Inside, the structure had cathedral-like proportions, as though it had been erected not merely to facilitate train travel but to worship it. Huge arched windows let in shafts of beneficent light. The ticket counter could almost pass for an altar. But by the time the photo essay was published, the congregation was long gone. The building closed in 1970 and had been empty ever since. Its vaulted ceiling was slowly moldering, and the floor was covered in dust and debris.

Related: This Little-known Wine Region Is a Hidden Gem of Spain — and It Has a Gorgeous New Luxury Hotel

Now the travelers are back. One recent afternoon I arrived in Canfranc to check in to the station, which has been transformed into one of Europe’s most spectacular new hotels. Its scale and grandeur are incongruous, given that Canfranc is a remote mountain hamlet near the border of Spain and France. The town, which sits in a narrow valley enclosed by steep, forested slopes, has a population of only 600. 

After the station closed, Canfranc lured only a trickle of adventure lovers, drawn by glorious summer hiking and two tiny ski resorts farther up the valley. But today, the hotel is a destination in itself. The renovation is the work of the Barceló Hotel Group, who took over the derelict building in 2021. The Spanish firm has given the place a train-centric revamp that balances old-world glamour with contemporary style. As I checked in, I stood gaping at the old ticket hall, which now serves as the hotel lobby. Its polished wooden beams shone with a deep luster, and the ornate plasterwork on the walls was as clean and white as confectioner’s sugar.

When it was completed in 1925, Canfranc was the second-largest rail station in Europe, after the one in Leipzig, Germany. Inside, the structure had cathedral-like proportions, as though it had been erected not merely to facilitate train travel but to worship it.

In the station’s locomotive heyday, its north and south wings were occupied, respectively, by French and Spanish customs officials. Now the southern wing houses a bar and restaurant tricked out in Art Deco shades of green and gold; the bar is illuminated by pendant lamps that resemble train wheels. In the rooms, antique station windows have been refurbished as quirky wall art.

Yet the hotel’s brand of nostalgic luxury is only one reason to visit; the other is its history. The village of Canfranc may be tiny and remote, but its border location has given it an outsize strategic importance for centuries. The evidence is everywhere. After I arrived at the hotel I headed outside and looked north up the valley. Perched on a ridge high above me was a 16th-century fortress that the Spanish rebuilt after Napoleon’s invasion in 1808; they wanted to defend against another possible incursion through this mountain pass. At the other end I could see concrete bunkers, erected for the same reason by the Franco regime in 1944. As well as being a luxurious stop on the route between Paris and Madrid, the station has played a prominent role in the valley’s history of intrigue and espionage. 

Later that afternoon, I met with Ana Badino and Marcelo Boveri, an Argentine couple who moved from Madrid to the Canfranc region in 2020 to enjoy a quieter life in the mountains. Since then, they have immersed themselves in the station’s extraordinary history and now run tours around the valley.

Until the 20th century, this corner of northern Spain was seen as poor and backward. The main economic activity was smuggling: alcohol and cigarettes went from Spain to France, and clothes, clocks, tea, and embroidery went the other way. But the locals wanted more opportunity than contraband provided, and the government wanted to take this roguish part of the country and turn it into a legitimate, modern commercial hub. So in 1912, the government commissioned the station as a statement of ambition and advancement. Fernando Ramírez de Dampierre, a Madrid-born engineer, was hired to design it. Both the president of France and the king of Spain were present at the inauguration ceremony in 1928.

For a few years, life in Canfranc was full of commercial activity. Daily trains from Portugal delivered port wine, cocoa, and coffee imported from Brazil. Industrial goods like coal and aluminum arrived from France. Badino and Boveri pointed out the rusted, obsolete cranes behind the station; they once loaded and unloaded this cargo. 

But when war broke out in 1939, everything changed. As Bodina and Boveri explained, the head of the station’s French customs department was a man named Albert Le Lay. He was more than a mere border official. He was a vital member of the French resistance who used his position at the station to help Jews and allied fighters fleeing persecution and capture in Germany and Vichy France. Now remembered as an Oskar Schindler–like figure, Le Lay provided these fugitives with forged papers to help them cross into Spain and on to Portugal. From there they traveled to safety. The identities of Le Lay’s beneficiaries are hard to trace, but according to some historians, those who passed through Canfranc included Max Ernst and Peggy Guggenheim.

Bodina and Boveri led me a little farther down the valley, which is still crisscrossed by old railway lines. Eventually we came to a row of derelict warehouses, their heavy wooden doors bent and buckled from decades of neglect, their roofs full of holes where high winds had ripped the tiles away. Through the gaps we peered into the dark interiors. In one of the buildings, in 2000, a cache of Nazi paperwork was found that listed items the Germans had moved through Canfranc after the Gestapo occupied the station in 1942. They included looted gold bars and opium.

His job as a customs official gave Le Lay the cover he needed to continue his resistance work. He would receive information from agents masquerading as passengers as they arrived at the station. From there, messages were transported by a network of spies down the train line to Zaragoza, the nearest city. Canfranc, then, was a crucial node in a pan-European network of spies that helped disrupt the German war machine.

Like many travelers to Canfranc today, I arrived via the airport in Zaragoza, the regional capital. Zaragoza is an underrated destination compared with Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville. Following the Umayyad invasion from North Africa in the eighth century, it became a major city in the north of Muslim Spain. At its center is a Moorish fortress, the Aljafería Palace, which is built in a magnificent architectural fusion of European and Islamic styles known as Mudejar. On the bank of the Erbo River, which courses through Zaragoza, stands a monumental Baroque basilica whose central dome is surrounded by four towers. But for me, the biggest lure was the opportunity to admire the art of the area’s most famous son, Francisco Goya.

After spending the night at the NH Collection Gran Hotel de Zaragoza, I walked over to the Goya Museum. It’s a small institution that packs a big punch. The star attractions are Goya’s etchings, displayed in a large, crepuscular room that protects these delicate artworks from light damage.

Goya’s etchings rank among his strangest and most personal pieces. “Los Caprichos,” a series of 80 prints, is a pitch-black satire on religious hypocrisy, corruption, and superstition. These images feature grotesque goblins dressed as clergymen; a donkey in an aristocrat’s silk coat studying his family tree; a woman pulling teeth from the mouth of a hanged man to be used as lucky charms. In another series, “The Disasters of War,” the devilish comedy of “Los Caprichos ” is replaced by documentary horror. The etchings captured the violence of conflicts like the Peninsular War, which ravaged Spain between 1808 and 1814.

From Zaragoza I drove two hours across the tinder-dry plains of northern Spain to Jaca, a compact city with a Romanesque cathedral. It dates from the 11th century, when the king of Aragon decided to turn his territory into a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, 500 miles to the west. Pilgrimage was good business: you had to be wealthy to take several months off work and pay your way across Europe. Jaca did well from the foot traffic. In the Middle Ages, the road outside the cathedral passed 16 shoe shops.

Related: How To Plan the Perfect Trip To Madrid

After a meal of venison carpaccio at a small restaurant, La Cocina, I drove into the mountains to Canfranc. Having been cooped up in the car, I wanted to explore the landscape, so the following morning I met up with Fernando Garrido, a wiry mountain guide with silver hair and a deep tan. Garrido, a partner in a Jaca-based company, Aragon Aventura, is a serious mountaineer. For 30 years he has held the world record for spending the most time at high altitude: he stayed, alone, for two months straight on the summit of Mount Aconcagua, in Argentina, at an altitude of more than 22,000 feet. 

Thankfully, our plan was more down to earth. It was a blue and shimmering Sunday, and we decided to head to Ordesa & Mount Perdido National Park, a 90-minute drive southeast of Canfranc. We hiked into a deep canyon, following the course of a river that had been reduced to a slow trickle by a two-month drought. The canyon’s sheer limestone walls rose almost 3,000 feet, and birds of prey circled on the thermals. 

Yet the hotel’s brand of nostalgic luxury is only one reason to visit; the other is its history. The village of Canfranc may be tiny and remote, but its border location has given it an outsize strategic importance for centuries. The evidence is everywhere.

As we walked, Garrido pointed out the fajas, the narrow paths that run along the cliff edges. Looking at the thin lines they traced across the rock, I couldn’t help thinking about those wartime refugees I had heard about in Canfranc. During the German occupation, the route became more perilous, and despite Le Lay’s help, many were arrested at the station. In hopes of avoiding the authorities, thousands walked across the Pyrenees on foot, clinging to these narrow, cliff-edge paths as they searched for safety.

That night, I sat down to dinner at Canfranc Estación’s Restaurant Internacional, which is run by Eduardo Salanova and Ana Acín. Chef Salanova’s food is a fusion of local ingredients and avant-garde presentation. That evening’s 15-course tasting menu included foie gras with strawberries, local caviar, a terrine poached in mulled wine, and sous-vide eggs. (Another restaurant, Canfranc Express, opened after my visit in a restored train car outside the hotel, and has since been awarded a Michelin star.)

As I ate, a fog descended over the valley and a gentle rain began to fall. Through the window I could see the silhouettes of Canfranc’s old cargo warehouses and, beyond them, the wooded hillsides. Sitting there in the warm glow, I thought back to the stories my Argentine guides had told me — about the secret agents running messages through this building, about the villagers sewing notes into the linings of their clothes to protect them from the Gestapo. The setting was worthy of a wartime spy thriller, and as I sat in the opulent dining room I imagined myself waiting not for my dessert to arrive but for a tap on the shoulder from a clandestine contact bearing important papers and, along with them, a chance of freedom. 

Where to Stay

Canfranc estación, a royal hideaway hotel.

This spectacular mountain hotel is worth a trip in itself. Tours of the property and the surrounding valley can be arranged through the concierge.

NH Collection Gran Hotel De Zaragoza

Previous guests at this imposing hotel in the center of town include Walt Disney and Ernest Hemingway. Stop by the excellent restaurant, La Ontina, for seasonal dishes like braised white asparagus.

Where to Eat

Jaca la cocina.

A small but stylish restaurant in Jaca that serves regional dishes like venison carpaccio and olla jacetana, a stew of beans and pork.

Aragon Aventura

Fernando Garrido, my hiking guide, co-owns this Jaca-based adventure company . He offers walking excursions as well as a range of other mountain activities, including canyoning and snowshoeing.

Goya Museum

This small museum in Zaragoza has the world’s finest collection of Goya’s etchings.

Pirineo Esencial

Knowledgeable guides Ana Badino and Marcelo Boveri offer tours of Canfranc and the surrounding valley .

A version of this story first appeared in the May 2024 issue of  Travel + Leisure  under the headline "Full Speed Ahead."

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

A brand new train route connecting some of Europe’s most exciting cities is launching next year

Founders of Dutch operator GoVolta hope to launch services by May 2025

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more new train services launching in Europe , another comes along. But looking at the plans from this new Dutch operator, we certainly aren’t complaining. 

Rail company GoVolta, described by its founders Hessel Winkelman and Maarten Bastian as the ‘easyJet of the rails’, is set to start a handful of new services from Amsterdam in spring next year. 

According to The Man in Seat 61 , GoVolta has plans for a daily Amsterdam- Berlin and a daily Amsterdam- Copenhagen service, plus a Amsterdam-Basel service three times a week. Railtech.com says the company aims to launch trains to these in May, June and July 2025 respectively. There are plans for a route to Paris , too, but those have been postponed until at least 2026. 

However, it isn’t just the destinations we’re excited about – these services are set to be super budget-friendly. Unlike the high-speed services from major rail companies like Eurostar, GoVolta’s fleet will run at a regular speed. 

While that obviously means the journey times will be longer (the Amsterdam-Berlin trip is estimated to take around eight hours compared to Deutsche Bahn’s six) it also means this’ll be a much cheaper option. A standard second-class seat could cost less than €10 (£8.56, $10.70), meaning it’s around 70 percent cheaper than a Eurostar ticket. 

What’s more, there’ll be plenty of those cheap seats available. Originally there were going to be 55  under-€10 tickets per train; now, there will be 110. 

GoVolta has plans to start selling tickets this October. Stay tuned for more updates!  And in the meantime, why not have a look at this list of all the European sleeper trains we’re most excited to try this year ?

Did you see that Venice’s new tourist tax has officially launched ?

Plus: These are the cheapest European package holidays for summer 2024 . 

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news.

• Liv Kelly Contributing Writer

Share the story

An email you’ll actually love

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

• Malcolm Lindop
• You are here: »
• Lindop " href="http://swiftconsultancy.htlogics.com/"> Malcolm Lindop »

Director, Swift Travel Consultancy Ltd

• Join me on Linkedin

About Malcolm

Malcolm is a CEO, entrepreneur, B2B business owner & specialist in product acquisition, negotiation and international purchasing – he also has proven director/NED experience across fast-paced travel industry environments and his commercial knowledge is matched only by his international outlook and global contact list. Prior to Swift Travel Consultancy and his current engagements with AC Group and New Concept Travel, he led the purchasing division of Jac Travel and UK/Ireland contracting for Tracoin, expanding both team & the contracted hotel base to record highs, and creating growth opportunities for the wider business as a result. Malcolm’s early career was spent at Gulliver’s Travel Associates (GTA) where he spent 9 years building a formidable reputation as a senior buyer in London, UK & Europe. Malcolm has a remarkable depth of knowledge of Middle Eastern, Asian & US markets, and was instrumental in the opening of company offices in such diverse global hotspots as Hong Kong, Dubai, Orlando & London.

Malcolm is a keen veteran footballer, loyal Arsenal fan and avid gig-goer, sometimes all on the same day. He lives in North London with his family.

Major Achievements

• In partnership with Rob Russell led Management Buy-Out at AC Tours, leading to fourfold income growth over following 3-year period
• Established Dubai, Hong Kong & Orlando in-market purchasing structures/teams at Jac, with resulting accelerated regional growth.
• Co-founded New Concept Travel in partnership with Bernard Bialyew, based in Hong Kong, delivering high volume group business globally from SE Asian markets.
• Led acquisition and merger of 3 separate Tour Operator businesses.
• Significant internationalisation experience launching  – from scratch – new markets and products across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, setting up infrastructure and teams in key strategic regional hubs to stimulate new growth.
• Unparalleled knowledge of Incoming businesses – specifically destination marketing, product curation and Itinerary planning in the UK.
• 15+ years of setting international purchasing strategies & delivering best outcomes to align with demand.
• Successful negotiation of commercial agreements during large scale high demand events, such as London 2012 Olympics and 1998 France World Cup.
• Strong track record of leading teams through both tremendous growth, but also restructuring, rebuilding and change after 9/11, Gulf Wars & economic crashes.
• Impeccable network of C-Suite contacts at Hotels, Chains and DMCs globally.

Career History Summary:

• Co-owner & Director, New Concept Travel, 2018-Current
• Joint CEO, AC Group, 2015-2020
• Jac Travel Head of Global Contracting, 2005-2015
• Senior Contracts Manager– UK & Ireland, Tracoin Services Ltd, 2003-2005
• Senior Contracts Manager, Gulliver’s Travel Associates, 1998-2003
• Reservations Supervisor, Gulliver’s Travel Associates, 1997-1998
• FIT Reservations Exec, Gulliver’s Travel Associates, 1993-1996

Copyright © 2020 Swift Travel Consultancy Limited

• Specialist Skill Sets
• Stuart Ellis

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

The most exciting new train journeys across Europe for 2024

Letting the train take the strain is about to become much easier, thanks to a flurry of exciting new rail routes connecting various european hotspots. tamara hinson tracks down the current hot tickets for slow-travel fans, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

I t’s getting increasingly easy to travel around Europe flight-free, thanks to a host of new train routes launching at a time when certain governments are going all out to reduce aviation-related emissions. France, for example, has banned domestic flights where rail journeys of less than two and a half hours are possible, and the EU plans to double its spending on high-speed rail by 2030.

New routes launching in 2024 range from inter-city services making twin-centre holidays in Europe a breeze to sleeper trains putting top ski resorts in easy reach of cities such as Amsterdam. On this occasion, our focus is on routes between destinations on the continent, although new rail connections will soon benefit those of us in the UK – Eurostar rival Evolyn recently announced plans to launch a high-speed Channel Tunnel rail service between London St Pancras and Paris Nord in 2025.

Here are the current hot tickets for anyone planning to ride the rails in 2024.

Read more on rail travel :

• The most unforgettable train journeys around the world
• All aboard the new train route exploring Mexico’s Mayan heartlands
• Is this the age of the overnight sleeper train?

Brussels to Prague with European Sleeper

Launch date: 25 march 2024.

European Sleeper’s night train service from Brussels launched in early 2023 but rail infrastructure work meant it could only reach Germany’s capital – until now. From March 2024 it will run from Brussels to Prague , with a journey time of around 15 hours and stops in Amsterdam and Berlin . Keep an eye out for more European Sleeper routes – including ones between the Netherlands and the French Alps, and Amsterdam and Barcelona – in 2025. A word of warning – don’t expect turndown services and chocolates on your pillow. There are three classes of cabin, and the trains are best described as pre-loved – European Sleeper has relied largely on decommissioned train carriages which have been given a quick spruce-up and brought back to life. On the plus side, the company has promised new trains – and perhaps even a chocolate on your pillow – in the near future.

Berlin to Paris with ÖBB Nightjet

Launch date: 11 december 2023.

If a decommissioned German train carriage doesn’t do it for you, this next option might sound more appealing. In early December 2023 ÖBB Nightjet launched its new Berlin to Paris route, which operates three times a week and stops in Strasbourg, eastern France . Cabin options range from a seat in a standard compartment to slick bunkbed couchettes with room for up to six people and, at the top end, mini cabins for solos and couples. It’s also worth noting that ÖBB Nightjet plans to turn the route into a daily one in late 2024.

Amsterdam to Austria via Germany with TUI’s Ski Express

Launch date: 23 december 2023.

Getting to Austria’s ski slopes will become even easier this winter, thanks to TUI’s new Ski Express service, which connects Amsterdam with Austria via Cologne and Frankfurt. Cabin options range from economy to comfort private – book one of these and perks include a sink (OK, not necessarily the most exciting of amenities, admittedly) and steward service. But a word of warning for those prone to missing their stop – if you’re Austria-bound, it’s worth remembering that the train splits in the Austrian city of Wörgl, before serving two different skiing hotspots: Austria’s Tyrol and Salzburger Land regions.

Liège to Maastricht via Aachen with Arriva, SNCB and NS

Launch date: december 2023.

This particular train, which will operate a tri-country route between Belgium , the Netherlands and Germany , and is a collaboration between three train companies, has been a long time coming. The route was unveiled in 2019 but Belgian authorities scuppered plans for it to pass through the country due to safety concerns – more specifically, the insistence that all trains would need a European safety system known as ETCS. It’s finally being rolled out in December 2023, and Liège and Aachen’s status as major hubs for high speed trains means the service will make it much easier for travellers to access a large number of additional cities, including Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Brussels and Paris.

Brussels to Amsterdam with SNCB and NS

Launch date: december 2024.

Full disclosure – this one has been around for a while, but its status as one of Europe ’s most popular train routes is the reason train companies Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and Belgian carrier SNCB have announced the number of services will be doubled this time next year. New trains have also been ordered for the route, and fewer stops on the additional services launching in December 2024 will mean shorter journey times. Passengers can expect to travel between the two cities in just under two hours, slashing 45 minutes off the current travel time.

Rome to Cortina d’Ampezzo with FS Treni Turistici Italiani

Launch date: 15 december 2023.

Getting to Italy’s powder stashes is much easier from winter 2023, thanks to a new night train which connects Rome with Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of Italy’s most snow-sure ski resorts. Cabin options on this new route range from single-bed cabins to six-person sleepers, and the train has a dining car and bar. The 220-bed sleeper train will leave Rome at 9.40pm every Friday, arriving in Calalzo, a short bus ride from Cortina d’Ampezzo, at around 8am the next morning (this early start is why we suggest resisting grappa-fuelled all-nighters at the train’s bar).

Paris to Madrid with FS Italiane Group

Launch date: late 2024.

The exact launch date of this new service is yet to be confirmed, although we know it’s currently due to launch in late 2024 and will be run by Italy’s national state-owned railway, Trenitalia – a subsidiary of FS Italiane Group. Trenitalia’s high-speed Frecciarossa (meaning red arrow) trains will be used for the route and with a top speed of 249mph, it’s thought journey times will come in at just under seven hours. Brioche for breakfast and torrijas at tea time? Sounds like a no-brainer.

Northern and southern Italy with Orient Express

First, to clear things up: this particular Orient Express isn’t the Orient Express company which became Belmond in 2014 but a separate entity (owned by hotel behemoths Accor) which specialises in luxury trains and will soon branch out into hotels.  Confused? Us too. But back to the important stuff. Orient Express will launch a new seriously luxurious train, La Dolce Vita , in 2024. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed, but there will be six routes on offer and this luxury train line won’t be about high-speed train travel , but about carefully curated itineraries which meander between destinations in northern and southern Italy, including Rome and Venice , where the Orient Express group will unveil its first hotels in 2024.

Read more on our selection of rail trips

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

Founding Member

Visit duesseldorf, ole friedrich, germany, miss razan hawwa, courtyard by marriott burlington, ontario, mudi astuti, strategi komunikasi utama, jakarta, indonesia, caribbean office of trade & industrial development limited, christopher byneal, trinidad & tobago, bangladesh international hotel association, h.m. hakim ali, dhaka, bangladesh, ambis university: dr. alžbeta kiráľová, prague, czech republic, honeymoons and get-a-way, nancy barkley, north wales, pa, usa, rudolf herrmann, penang, malaysia, prof. geoffrey lipman, sunx, brussels, belgiu, & malta, protected: frank szczepanski, ivdiagnostics, hi, usa, tarita davenock, travel for all, nanaimo, bc, canada, protected: raju arasaratnam, jetwing travels pvt ltd, colombo, sri lanka, juergen steinmetz, travelnewsgroup, hi, usa, dr. peter tarlow, safertourism, tx, usa, dr. taleb rifai, jordan, hon.edmund bartlett, jamaica, alain st. ange, seychelles, protected: tom jenkins, european tourism association (etoa) , uk, ministry of tourism and wildlife-kenya, h.e. hon. najib balala, nairobi, kenya           , vijay poonoosamy, singapore.

New Concept Travel, Bernard Bialylew,, Hong Kong, SAR China

http://www.new-concept.travel | [email protected] | +85255096088

A veteran of the Travel & Tourism Industry for over 40 years. Starting as a tour leader, director, then CEO. The vast experience of running a business, opening offices, marketing strategies, and purchasing negotiations. I believe if one buys well, one will sell well. After 18 years in the leading Independent Wholesale Tour Operator, Gullivers Travel Associates (GTA) as CEO APAC we built Asia from nearly nothing to a $300m Empire based in Hong Kong. For 5 years was called by the board of Director to be the interim Group Managing Director in London while our Chairman recovered from a Stroke. Learned invaluable lessons on a more global perspective. We were the first Western Tour Operator to be granted a Travel Agent License by the then CNTA (China National Travel Administration). We sold GTA in 2005 and I “retired” from the industry to dedicate myself to humanitarian causes, animal welfare, preserving the environment, and children’s education. Finally, the call from the industry was too strong, and came back end of 2018 with my brand new outfit: New Concept Travel.

Rebuilding travel will be a long and tedious process. The group business as we know it will take even longer as people will shy away from sitting in coaches with 30 strangers. The FIT, specially packaged FIT will be the way to restart.

Why packaged and not dynamic? Because fixed packaged can be controlled more tightly for health protocols, easier for seniors or noncomputer educated people to handle rather than search many separate elements from a tour and buy from companies totally detached from one’s life. Safety will push people to go back more to buying travel face to face. At least for a while.

Hotel only will be bought online still but the savvy consumer, as well as air tickets, there is space for every type of business. We shall strive to offer safe packages at very good value following all the demanding protocols of the host country and more. We demand our suppliers to be forthcoming on their steps to comply with all procedures to make a tour safe. Be it GIT or FIT.

Condé Nast Traveler

The Best New Hotels in Europe and the UK: 2024 Hot List

Posted: April 24, 2024 | Last updated: April 24, 2024

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants, and cruise ships, a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech, or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List's European winners for 2024.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This story appears in Condé Nast Traveler 's Hot List issue. Never miss out when you subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler .

Sign up to receive the latest news, expert tips, and inspiration on all things travel

Broadwick Soho — London, United Kingdom

Bulgari Hotel Roma — Rome

The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel — France

César Lanzarote — Lanzarote, Spain

Chelsea Townhouse — London, United Kingdom

Hotel Corazón — Mallorca, Spain

De Durgerdam — Amsterdam, Netherlands

Estelle Manor — Cotswolds, United Kingdom

Grand Hotel Son Net — Mallorca, Spain

Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll — Iceland

1, Place Vendôme — Paris

Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin — Paris

Hotel Maria — Helsinki, Finland

La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin — Cognac, France

Hotel La Palma — Capri, Italy

La Roqqa — Porto Ercole, Italy

Mamula Island — Montenegro

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino — Greece

Monument — Athens, Greece

Nolinski Venezia — Venice, Italy

One&Only Aesthesis — Athens, Greece

Palacio Arriluce — Getxo, Spain

Palazzo Roma — Rome

The Peninsula Istanbul

The Peninsula, London

Raffles London at The OWO

Son Vell Menorca — Spain

Rosewood Munich — Germany

Hotel Violino d’Oro — Venice, Italy

More for you.

‘A big mistake’: Ex-Trump White House lawyer reacts to Trump’s mention of Charlottesville

28 celebrities you probably did not know are nonbinary

Spacecraft spots "spiders" scattered across surface of Mars

Scientists have discovered the maximum age a human can live to

Kevin Porter Jr. Is Currently Playing In Greece For $10K Just One Year After Losing Majority Of $82.5 Million Contract

Map reveals best places to live in the US if nuclear war breaks out

See the UK destroyer crew that scored the Royal Navy's first missile kill since the Gulf War

What 50 music icons looked like at the very start of their careers

Republicans Given Ultimatum About Trump

Should you leave your laptop plugged in all the time?

Scientists finally confirm what lies inside the Moon

Netflix’s new movie trailer slammed as ‘AI propaganda’

A $100,000 salary no longer buys you a middle-class lifestyle. Here’s why it costs so much more now.

Housing Price Drop Likely In these 20 Cities

Jeff Bezos says work-life balance is a 'debilitating phrase,' and that work and life are actually a circle

The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim – Release Date, Cast, Plot, And More Info

'10-foot-tall people' discovered by archaeologists in Nevada cave

'We were sold this unachievable dream': Georgia woman explains the 'broken' system that has young Americans fearing for their futures. Is this narrative right?

10 of the best things coming to Netflix next month

Winners & losers from opening night of the NFL Draft

Enrolment form information saved.

Enrolment record has been deleted successfully.

NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL LIMITED

• Package Tour (Wholesale/Tour Operator)
• MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions)
• Hotel Reservation
• Longhaul (e.g.: America / Europe / Africa / Australia and New Zealand)
• Japan / Korea / Southeast Asia / India
• Mainland China / Taiwan

New Concept Travel (Europe) Ltd

• Last Updated: {page_last_updated}
• {company_category}
• Company No. 13680233

Comprehensive Business Report

• What's included in this report?
• Credit Scores & Limits
• CCJ's, Gazette Notices & Charges
• All Director and Secretaries Information
• 5 Year Financial Accounts
• Shareholders & Group Structure
• Contact Data & Trading Addresses
• 7 Day Money Back Guarantee
• Includes Downloadable Report [ View Sample ]

Stay updated with New Concept Travel (Europe) Ltd

Upgrade to view Credit Score and Limit

Upgrade to view Shareholders

Upgrade to view Group Structure

Register for our newsletter

Destinations overview -> Europe

Great Trips

Featured Destinations

Carolyn A. Celorier Enterprises Inc, DBA Travel Concepts. Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved.

NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD

NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD is an active private limited company , incorporated on 14 October 2021 . The nature of the business is Tour operator activities . The company's registered office is on Gloucester Gardens, Barnet . The company's accounts were last made up to 31 October 2023 , are next due on 31 July 2025 , and fall under the accounts category: Micro Entity . NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD has no previous names. The company has no mortgage charges, outstanding or otherwise.

Company Information

Registered office, confirmation statement, nature of business (sic codes), company name history.

• Current Director
• Gives occupation as TOUR OPERATOR
• Usually resident in UNITED KINGDOM
• Usually resident in ENGLAND

Shareholders

• Owns between 25% and 50% of the shares.
• Holds between 25% and 50% of the voting rights.
• Has the right to appoint and remove directors.

Connections

• MS NOREEN DOHERTY
• MR MALCOLM JAMES LINDOP

NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD: Maps

Maps show the location of the postcode of the registered office, EN4 0QN.

More Companies in EN4 0QN

Other companies with registered offices in EN4 0QN :

• SWIFT TRAVEL CONSULTANCY LIMITED
• AA MANAGEMENT(UK) LTD
• ST OPTICAL SERVICES LIMITED
• MJL TRAVEL LIMITED

• Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right (2024)
• Contains Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and Database right (2024)
• Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right (2024)
• Data produced by Land Registry © Crown copyright (2024)
• Contains Environment Agency data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
• Everything else © GetTheData Publishing Limited (2024)

GetTheData.com is owned and operated by GetTheData Publishing Limited. Company Number: 11075184 · Registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: Advantage, 87 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire, England, RG1 7SN

By accessing our site you agree to us using cookies, and sharing information about your use of our site, in accordance with our privacy policy .

Company Records Privacy Notice

Cookies on Companies House services

We use some essential cookies to make our services work.

We'd also like to use analytics cookies so we can understand how you use our services and to make improvements.

You've accepted analytics cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You've rejected analytics cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

We use cookies to make our services work and collect analytics information. To accept or reject analytics cookies, turn on JavaScript in your browser settings and reload this page.

Please press ENTER to search

NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD

Company number 13680233

• Company Overview for NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD (13680233)
• Filing history for NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD (13680233)
• People for NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD (13680233)
• More for NEW CONCEPT TRAVEL (EUROPE) LTD (13680233)

Filter by category

• Tata Steel share price
• 165.85 -1.04%
• Kotak Mahindra Bank share price
• 1,608.40 -2.11%
• Wipro share price
• 464.65 0.79%
• ITC share price
• 439.95 0.56%
• Tech Mahindra share price
• 1,277.45 7.34%

New Schengen Visa rules: Know changes in travel, insurance trends; senior citizens visiting Europe shoots up by 100%

New schengen visa rules ushered in significant changes in travel and insurance trends, with those aged 70 and above visiting schengen destinations doubling. in the upcoming season, 82% of travellers to europe will visit france, switzerland, italy, germany, netherlands, and spain..

New Schengen Visa rules have resulted in a doubling of Europe-bound senior citizens, a survey by insurance broker Policybazaar.com revealed. The new Schengen Visa rules, announced on April 18, have also spurred significant changes in travel insurance trends over the past few days, including a 3-4 per cent surge in users who booked travel insurance policies, as per the Policybazaar survey.

Travellers to Schengen destinations aged 70 and above have doubled compared with last year's figures. A significant rise in travellers declaring pre-existing diseases was also noted.

The most sought-after add-ons for travel insurance included coverage for baggage or loss of belongings, trip cancellation, adventure sports coverage, and pre-existing disease (PED) coverage, as per the report.

Also read: New Schengen visa rules for Indians: This is how you can get multi-entry two-year visa for 29 European countries

Manas Kapoor, business head of Travel Insurance at Policybazaar.com, pointed out a surge among Europe-bound travellers who booked long-term travel insurance, after the new visa rules came into effect.

The survey noted a 3-4 per cent surge in users who booked travel insurance policies for travels that exceeded 45 days in April 2024. “This trend is expected to rise further due to the relaxed visa norms," Manas Kapoor pointed out.

In the upcoming summer season, 82 per cent of Indian travellers to European countries will be visiting popular destinations like France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, according to the survey.

The survey found a 15 per cent rise in travellers to Europe who declared pre-existing conditions including Diabetes and Hypertension, compared with last year's figures.

Also read: Indians can now apply for multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity. Check details

But a 40% plunge was recorded in number of travellers buying travel insurance products in Euros.

The new Schengen visa regime entails a stark departure from previous rules. Previously, Indians who wished to travel to one or more European countries were granted Schengen visas for a maximum of three months.

Also read: Schengen visa fee hike: Here’s how costly your trip to Europe can get

Under the new regime, Indians will be granted Schengen visas for two years, thus facilitating their entry to any of the 29 European countries multiple times. This two-year validity is further extendable by 5 years under the ‘cascade regime’. This means Indian tourists can travel and stay in any of these European countries as visa-free nationals for a longer period.

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world 🌏 Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Wait for it…

Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. It'll just take a moment.

You are just one step away from creating your watchlist!

Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.

Your session has expired, please login again.

Congratulations!

You are now subscribed to our newsletters. In case you can’t find any email from our side, please check the spam folder.

Subscribe to continue

This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp