Thomas Cook and Co-Op Travel to merge

The Competition Commission (CC) has cleared a merger between struggling Thomas Cook's UK retail business and those of the Co-operative group and Midlands Co-operative Society, to create the country's biggest retail travel operation.

The deal will bring together three of the biggest travel agents on the high street. Thomas Cook currently has 780 stores, while the Co-op has 360 travel shops and the Midlands 100.

"The CC has concluded that... customers are unlikely to suffer from significantly higher prices or reduced choice as a result of the joint venture." 

Rival TUI Travel, which owns the Thomson and First Choice chains, has fared better in recent times.

Thomas Cook plans to conduct its tour operator business separately from the joint venture.

New photos uploaded to Flickr

A selection of photographs taken in and around Camp de Mar in July of this year (2011) have been uploaded to our Flickr photostream. They include views of the resort, local bars and restaurants, and the new apartments being built. More information can be found in the latest review here.

Holidays 4 U goes into administration

With more than 12,000 holidaymakers currently abroad, Brighton-based Holidays 4 U, which also traded as Aegean Flights, has gone into administration.

The Foreign Office said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are trying to ensure that all customers are able to fly home as planned.

To whoever borrowed the Scrabble...

To whoever borrowed the second Scrabble set donated by www.camp-de-mar.info to the Playa hotel, we would like to say 'Thank you for spoiling it for everybody else!"

The hotel's original set is now down to 96 letters and is therefore unplayable.