Which of these 20 travel April Fool stories is the real deal?

The Your Hols team’s inboxes have been deluged with emails trying to catch us out with their travel April Fool stories this week. Some of them are appallingly bad, but others border on the believable and had us checking to make sure we weren’t being double bluffed. 

As a result, we’ve decided to publish the lot… and to test your mettle, we’ve also thrown what we think is a real story into the mix.

So, which fake story do you think is the best? And can you spot the Real Deal? If you can spot it, vote in the poll below … and tweet your guesses with #AprilFoolRealDeal

April Fool 1

Reach new heights in Paris

Fancy an adrenaline rush? Escorted tour provider Leger Holidays are launching Ex(treme)cursions – a selection of incredibly daring activities that include abseiling the Eiffel Tower in Paris, base jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, flying above the Austrian Alps in a state-of-the-art wingsuit and sky boarding on Lake Garda.
See Leger Holidays

April Fool 2

Has Nessie had a Canadian Affair?

Climbers taking snaps of themselves on Toronto’s high-rise Edge Walk around the top of the CN Tower were in for a surprise this week when they took a look at their holiday snaps once back on the ground. The group, who were travelling with tour company Canadian Affair seem to have inadvertently photographed the Loch Ness Monster swimming around in Lake Ontario. How Nessie managed to cross the Atlantic remains a mystery…

April Fool 3

Egged on in Edinburgh

Anyone who’s visited Edinburgh’s The Real Mary King’s Close will know just how spooky a visit to the warren of hidden streets can be… well they just got spookier. Redevelopment works at the site have revealed a series of fossilised pastel-colours eggs hidden in its darkest depths. General manager Craig Miller said, “This wasn’t what we were expecting to find at the bottom of the Close but the discovery in itself is both seasonally and archaeologically intriguing.”

Go Ape

Go Ape! on a Segway

You are going to have even more courage for Go Ape’s latest challenge. The award-winning forest adventure company is launching the Tree Top Segway. The thrilling new challenge on a self-balancing electric Segway combines the company’s Tree Top Adventure and Forest Segway tours. Tim Collins, Chief Tree Top Segway Engineer told Your-Hols: “Our visitors love our original Tree Trop Adventures. They also love our Forest Segway experience. So we thought we’d combine the two into one epic experience!”

April Fool 5

Yappy yurts and grrr-eat glamping

With dogs being increasingly seen as one of the family, most people now want to take them on holiday – and as a result, posh camping experts Pitchup.com are launching hounds’ havens. Specialist facilities will include tents, tipis and yurts for your four-legged friends with pets’ TVs, spa treatments and showers. There’ll even be a “speed mating” for those wanting to find a holiday romance.

April Fool 6

Sawday’s spoof busted

We all like unusual places to stay but booking into a watering can, dog house, bird table or beehive is pushing it a bit.
Bristol-based travel company Sawday’s has revealed that they’ve been including spoof places in their guide Special Places to Stay in the UK & Europe 2015. Some people have taken the gags in good faith – but others have taken less kindly. One irate lady banished her guide to the skip and said: “I haven’t been here but you may want to remove this place, it really doesn’t fit with your otherwise excellent collection.”

April Fool 7

Is this idea half-baked?

You might think so, but we think it’s superb: Dover-Calais ferry operator MyFerryLink is launching a croissant specially-designed for left-handed people. The croissant is the brainchild of chef Pauline Yolec who discovered that by amending the shape of a croissant to give it a teardrop appearance, the natural sweet, buttery flavours became much more pronounced – but only to left-handed people. She said: “I thought it must just be a strange coincidence. But I did some research and found there were actually studies showing how balance can dramatically affect taste, meaning that certain foods are simply not as flavoursome if eaten with your left hand.” The croissant goes on sale on Good Friday.

BransonVMU

Sir Richard heads… to Branson

Sir Richard Branson is expanding his empire again by opening a second US hotel in the town of Branson, Missouri. The Virgin boss decided on the move after discovering the town – famous for sell-out shows by the like of Andy Williams, The Osmonds and Dolly Parton – was founded by his great-great uncle, Reuben S Branson – the original all-American entrepreneur.
Sir Richard told YourHols: “With such a deep family connection to Branson, Missouri, I’m delighted Virgin Hotels has chosen to expand its Midwest offering, and open a property in the city my great-great uncle built.”
The British tycoon’s 
Virgin Holidays brand already offers trips to the city, so the new hotel is a logical next step. Branson also told us that in honour of the Dolly Parton connection, Virgin Atlantic’s latest plane will be called Jolene.

April Fool 9

Painting Paris red, white and blue

This will be a sight to see – a red, white and blue River Seine. Avalon Waterways has been given permission to colour the water to celebrate Bastille Day as one of its vessels sets sail from the French capital on its Paris to Normandy river cruise on July 14. This does, of course, follow Chicago which colours its river bright green on St Patrick’s Day.

April Fool 10

Fancy a one-night STAnder?

Youth and student travel company STA Travel is to do its bit for holiday relations – by launching an online dating platform and mobile app. The service will allow single people from all over the world to view the profiles of other vetted travellers, safely meet up with fellow backpackers abroad, and see where their ‘matches’ are and what trips they’re doing. In addition, STA Travel will block out discounted spaces on scheduled flights, hop-on hop-off buses and adventure trips – solely for single STAnder travellers.
Customer Relations Director Una Niteonly said “We’ve been flirting with the idea of an online dating platform for our travellers for some time and we’re overjoyed to launch STAnder onto the global backpacking dating scene!”

April Fool 11

See the new Royal baby

This has to be a coup for leading ticket provider Attraction Tickets Direct – they are offering 10 exclusive tickets to see the new royal baby! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second childat the end of April and the new baby will be presented to the world when they leave the Lindo Wing at London’s St Mary’s Hospital.
In an exclusive partnership with authorities, ATD is offering VIP seating for up to 10 people in front of the press pen amongst the hundreds of photographers, reporters and well-wishers. Tickets are priced at £500 per person and include a chauffeur pick-up and a 12 hour advance warning to prevent time spent waiting at the hospital.

gameofthrones

Afternoon tea fit for Kings Landing

A hotel in Northern Ireland is launching an afternoon tea – dedicated to the smash TV series Game of Thrones. The new tea at Ballygally Castle has tasty treats inspired by the fantasy lands of Winterfell, Iron Islands, Kings Landing or Stormlands – including Lannister egg Rolls,  Baratheon Bread, Jon Snow Cakes and Dothraki Trifle with mini Dragon’s eggs.
Game of Thrones is filmed throughout Northern Ireland including scenes shot at the Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour, Larrybane, Antrim plateau, Castle Ward, Inch Abbey and Downhill Strand.
Norman McBride, general manager of Ballygallly Castle on the Antrim coast, said:  “Our delicious afternoon tea just got better as we’ve added a little Game of Thrones magic to our selection of sumptuous edibles.”

naked ski

Ski in the buff

April brings the warmer weather and fabulous spring skiing conditions – so what better way to take advantage by stripping off. On the last day of the skiing season, hundreds gather in Aprilscherz a small village in the Alps to ‘Ski Naturally’. Snow specialists Ski Weekends are offering a package trip to Aprilscherz for the event. It will cost just £199 for two nights’ accommodation with a two-day lift pass. Includes flights and transfers.

warwickcastle

You need a nose for this job

Need a job? Warwick Castle is looking for a bottom-class poo grader to run the Ploppy Shop in its Horrible Histories Mediaeval Mayhem village which portrays the sights, sounds and smells of yesteryear. The successful applicant must be able to grade poop and blend the very best examples into poo-fume or eau de toilet for visitors to ‘enjoy’.
General Manager Geoff Spooner, says: “Horrible Histories returns to Warwick Castle this spring and to ensure it’s as life-like and accurate as possible, we are looking to hire an expert poo grader. We want someone who’s not afraid to get down and dirty, who can muck in and get on with the job. We’re not fooling around – this is a serious job, with rewards for the right candidate.”

Apri Fool 12

This holiday is smoking

Nick Anstead, Owner of Riad Africa (above), a smart riad in the heart of the Marrakech Medina, is launching ‘Smoking Weekends’.
Nick says: “As a 100-Capstan Full Strength-a-day man myself, I feel total sympathy for British Smokers who have to stand outside pubs and restaurants in the freezing cold and rain just to enjoy a simple ‘tube of delight’.
“But in Morocco, you can smoke to your heart’s content, even in restaurants. It’s like Britain in the good old days. I have decided that for two weekends a year, I am going to only accept bookings from smokers, preferably heavy ones.
“There will be plenty of ashtrays to go around and a free packet of fags and a Riad Africa-branded lighter for every guest.”

April Fool 14

Print your own campsite

Canvas Holidays is celebrating its 50th anniversary by creating the first ever 3D printed campsite, available for bookings from today. The new 3D site is just outside Paris … and guests will be able to create completely bespoke accommodation for their stay. Standard templates include a 3D printed tent, static caravan, woodland lodge or even a modern apartment-style complex. Guests can then expand these blueprints to fit their individual needs. Prices start from £202 per week for a family of two adults and up to four children staying in a 3D printed tent.

wow air

Electric plane takes off

WOW air, Iceland’s low-cost airline, has partnered with aeronautical developers SpaceCraftOne to launch the world’s first electric passenger plane.
The ground-breaking aircraft will be propelled by electric engines fuelled by solar cells fitted atop the fuselage, supplemented by batteries fitted in the wings. Much like hybrid vehicles, the electric aircraft will be quieter allowing passengers to sleep on overnight flights.
“We are super excited about not only offering the lowest airfares across the Atlantic, but now also being at the forefront of introducing the aircraft of the future,” says WOW air Founder and CEO Skúli Mogensen.

April Fool

Big five becomes big six 

South African Tourism has today announced that it has  invited the Brits’ beloved Meerkat to join the famous group –  the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros.

April Fool

Get set to go skinny nipping

Having dead skin nibbled off your feet by having a piscine pedicure is one thing – but now an Indian Ocean resort is offering a whole body exfoliation – by crabs.
The bizarre treatment is being offered at the Chaaya Blue Hotel, in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, by travel company Exodus.
Wildlife guide and photographer Paul Goldstein said: “The calm Indian Ocean off Trincomalee was the venue for a marine safari, but I was not expecting the wildlife to be so active on shore! This crab treatment, or ‘skinny nipping’ as it is called by tourists and local people alike, is really catching on and I was astonished by it.”

THOMAS COOK THEME PARK V6

 

Thomas Cook World to launch

Holiday company Thomas Cook is to launch a new theme park in 2016 to mark the company’s 175th anniversary.
Thomas Cook World will be built on land just outside the historical town of Loughborough – the original destination to which Thomas Cook operated his first ever holiday experience in 1841 from Leicester by train.  It is set to feature various ‘Lands’ based on the company’s most popular holiday concepts and brands, such as SENTIDO, SunConnect and Club 18-30.
“I am delighted to be leading Thomas Cook’s efforts to bring a taste of our holidays abroad to the UK,” said Sir Phil Tafter, Head of Attraction & Theme Park Development, Thomas Cook Group.  “With a pioneering heritage of offering differentiated experiences to suit all tastes and budget’s, the all-new Thomas Cook World attraction will offer a genuine UK alternative to a sunshine break abroad.”
Lands will include Club Classics with rides inspired by Club 18-30 holidays and waterpark Aquamania Wet & Wild.

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