Corkboard: our weekly travel news round-up

Climbing the O2 for a new view of London, last-minute escapes and why R�union Island is the new MauritiusEscapismNot only has London's cable car across the Thames just launched, but those for whom vertigo isn't a problem can get another fantastic view of the capital at Up At The O2. Wearing safety harnesses, groups of 15 cross the roof via a 190m walkway suspended between masts, to an observation platform.? �22pp, must be aged over 10, theo2.co.uk/upattheo2Travel trashThe ultimate festival accessory for a group of mates, the Stack-Cups lets you safely stack them, so you can carry six pints at once ? or even 12 if you go for one in each hand.? �12.99 from firebox.comWeird worldClaiming to be the "world's deepest hotel suite", the Cavern Suite at the Grand Canyon Caverns is 60m below ground in a cave accessed by a lift that drops 22 storeys. There are two double bedrooms, living room, library and bathroom. The caverns were declared a bomb shelter in 1961, and stocked by the military in the Cuban missile crisis.? +1 928 422 3223, gccaverns.com, $700 a night for twoWhere's hot now?Budapest (36C) Hungary gets hot in summer, and it's currently pushing the upper 30s. Probably less the time for visiting the thermal baths, and more for taking a pleasure boat ride along the Danube, eating out on the Dunakorz� strip by the river and partying at the late-night bars in the city's gardens. ? lonelyplanet.com/hungary/budapestSummer holidays and last-minute escapesThe island of Gozo, near Malta, has converted farmhouses available through Gozo Farmhouses (0845 604 0035, maltadirect.com/gozo). Try the Heritage Farmhouses, for �599pp including flights from Newcastle on 31 July.Crystal (0871 230 8180, crystalsummer.co.uk) has discounts on lakeside breaks such as a week half-board in a three-star hotel on Lake Garda for �470pp including flights from Manchester, departing 18 July.Trailfinders (020-7368 1200, trailfinders.com) has a three-night break (bookable by phone only) in Marrakech for �339pp, including BA flights from Gatwick, breakfast and transfers, departing up to 15 July. Or book a family adventure in the High Atlas, Marrakech and Essouira with Families Worldwide (0845 051 4567, familiesworldwide.co.uk) which has availability on its group trip departing 22 July, for �339 per child or �359 per adult, including transport, meals, tour guide and accommodation, but not flights.Departing on 12 July, Hayes and Jarvis (0844 415 1918, hayesandjarvis.com) has a seven-night trip to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt at the Grand Rotana, for �549pp B&B including flights from Gatwick.World Expeditions (0800 074 4135, worldexpeditions.co.uk) has two-for-one deals on some trips to Vietnam, or Cambodia and Laos. The Vietnam offer is 12 days departing 8 or 22 July or 12 August, including a hill tribe homestay, beach at Nha Trang, Hanoi and Hoh Chi Minh City, at �1,390 for two. Cambodia and Laos is an 11-day trip to Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang, and the golden Buddhas at Pak Ou, departing 20 July, or 3 or 24 August ? �1,740 for two. Flights not included.Virgin Holidays (0844 557 4321, virginholidays.co.uk) has lots of last-minute long-haul deals. On 4 July, you can get a week in Mauritius, for �950pp, including flights from Gatwick and half-board.The Tour de France is under way, but fans still have chance to see the world's best road cyclists cross the finishing line in Paris at the end of July, with Travelsphere (0800 112 3312, travelsphere.co.uk). Its four-day Paris and Tour de France package, including coach travel from the UK, three nights' B&B, tour guide, and trip to watch the finale, costs �279pp.What's new?Exotic getawayR�union Island in the Indian Ocean has long been popular with the French as an alternative to Mauritius. It offers volcanoes, "aqua-hiking" down natural waterslides, coral reefs and sandy beaches, and now Black Tomato (020-7426 9888, blacktomato.com) is pushing it to the British market in the form of a 10-day luxury holiday, for �3,299pp.Air travelCambridge Airport has introduced a special "wine allowance" for passengers flying back from France's Franche-Comte region with Danube Wings (danubewings.eu, from �85 one-way), which will fly to Dole-Jura on Mondays and Fridays from 27 July. Travellers will be allowed to carry on four bottles each in addition to their hand-luggage allowance and free checked baggage allowance.ComedyA canal boat called the Pleasance Ahoy has just set off from London to travel to the Edinburgh Festival for Tall Tales from the Riverbanks, a series of pop-up comedy gigs and digital events broadcast along the way, featuring comedians including Reginald D. Hunter and Jarred Christmas. Details of the gigs ? to be held in Henley, Oxford, Stone (Staffordshire), Manchester and Glasgow ? will only be revealed shortly before they happen so check at pleasanceahoy.com.Late offersLondonDay tripsguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Lapland holidays Lapland skiing holidays Travel Finland holidays