The Great Saunter is an annual 32 mile walk around Manhatten’s edge. The pace is steady, but not too fast and most of the route is fairly flat. Whatever the weather the event goes ahead and walkers tend to keep to the waterside as much as possible, though the trail does also run through 20 of the city’s parks.

The walk begins at 7.30am at South Street Seaport (corner of Fulton and Water Streets) and ends in the same place at 7.30pm for a celebration as the moon rises over Brooklyn.  And you don’t even have to do the whole course as there are various points at which you can meet up with the Saunter on its way round.

Any European airline can now fly to the US from anywhere in the EU. Previously, airlines had to fly from their home countries, so British Airways could only fly to the US from airports in the UK, Lufthansa from airports in Germany and so on. Now, the airlines can fly from any airport so Air France could fly directly from Madrid to New York, or British Airways from Berlin to Chicago. And of course, any US airline can now fly to any EU airport.

But with limited availability of new slots at the major airports of the US and EU and the increasing cost of fuel, the impact for tourists may not be seen for some time. The deal was supposed to increase competition and lower prices for travellers but it remains to be seen how quickly either will happen.

The Alps offer a fantastic summer holiday with clean mountain air, lush green countryside, beautiful fresh water lakes and of course plenty of warmth and sunshine. Best of all perhaps there are no annoying French ski instructors to be found anywhere in sight!

For the energetic tourist, it’s a great time of year to go hiking, especially as many of the chair lifts, cable cars and gondolas that shuttle skiers up the slopes also run in the summer. With a well-maintained network of hiking paths, mountain huts and cafes there’s plenty for both the serious walker and amateur rambler to enjoy.

If you prefer your travel a little faster then there are plenty of options to mountain bike or horse ride. Climbers are of course well-catered for, but you can also enjoy paragliding, balloon rides and the world’s highest dry luge at Pfingstegg and the world’s longest at Pradaschier.

Tenerife is the largest of the islands with a dormant volcano and mountain range splitting the island in two. The south is warmer and drier, and hence more popular with tourists, and the north greener and cooler.

Gran Canaria has the largest population and like Tenerife is split into a warmer south and greener north thanks to a central mountain range. Shoppers head to Las Palmas, beach lovers to Maspolmas and the fishing villages of Puerto Rico, Puerto de Morgan and Pasito Blanco offer picture-postcard views.

Lanzarote has the darkest landscape as a result of the islands volcanic orgins and also the finest sand on the beaches. The National Park of Timanfaya is a must for any visit to the island with stunning scenery.

Fuertaventura is popular with golfers and has the longest beaches of any of the islands, including a 4 mile stretch of golden sand between the towns of Jandia and Pajara.

The remaining three islands of La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro have less developed tourist accommodation and attractions but are still worth visiting

Virgin Trains reported that rail works and the Channel Tunnel are being “well-used” and increasingly seen as a greener and more convenient way to travel.

Philippa Richardson, Communications Manager for Virgin Trains, said: “More and more people are choosing rail services as a means to get to destinations they might have previously gone to by car or plane.”

Eurostar has recently launched a high-speed rail service from London St Pancras to Paris that offers a reduced journey time of just two hours and 15 minutes. And with high-speed trains available from Paris to the south of France, the number of tourists using rail services and seeking high quality holiday rental property is expected to continue to expand.