Winter holidays, Irish festivals and electric scooters

Sun and beach holidays are of course the most popular this winter, but what kind of travel comes second and third? Why are electric scooters banned in Madrid? And what festivals are taking over Ireland this winter? It's travel news time again! We're still in Brussels and we'll tell you more about the Belgian capital soon.

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How Swedes are travelling this winter

Almost half of all Swedes (46 percent) are planning a holiday trip abroad during autumn or winter 2018-2019, according to a press release from Ticket. Most (23 per cent) are away for a week, and 15 per cent are travelling for 1-2 weeks. This is the type of trip Swedes choose:

1. Sun and sea holiday (43 %)
2. Metropolitan travel (36 %)
3. Ski trip (18 %)
4. Adventure trip (13 %)
5. Training trip (6 %)
6. Cruise (5 %)
7. Other type of trip (21 %)

Electric scooters banned in Madrid

Have you seen the Voi electric scooters that have taken over Stockholm and other European cities this autumn? According to DiGITAL magazine, the Madrid government is now rejecting companies that want to rent out electric scooters, throwing Sweden's Voi and two other companies out of the market.

The city argues that the companies have not done enough to inform customers about how the bikes can be used. Operators have the option to reapply for a licence "at any time", Madrid City Hall said in a statement.

Ireland is full of festivals this winter

In Ireland, you can experience at least five exciting festivals this winter:

• YuleFest in Kilkenny (23 November - 6 January) offers music, food, crafts and entertainment.
• New Year Festival in Dublin (31 December) will take place for the seventh time, with 'Lights Midnight Moment'.
• Tradfest 2019 Dublin (23-27 January) is Ireland's largest traditional music festival.
• Glow - Christmas celebrations in Cork  (30 November - 6 January) is a folk festival with lights, sounds, attractions and food stalls.
• Waterford's Winterval  (17 November - 23 December) brings Ireland's oldest city to life with a Christmas market, light show and 'Winterval on ice'.

Endangered eel on sale for Christmas

The eel is a critically endangered species, yet two out of three fish shops sell eels at Christmas, according to a new survey by WWF. It is often argued that eels are farmed and therefore not threatened. WWF argues that this argument does not hold water. "Farmed eels are young wild-caught eels that are held in captivity and fed to grow large. It comes from the same endangered stock. No eel can reproduce in captivity", says Karin Glaumann. These sell eels according to the study:

• Fish shops: 67 per cent
• Restaurants: 12 per cent
• Food chains: 8 per cent
• Shipping companies: None
• Wholesalers/dryers: None

Sweden's comedy elite at Dalhalla 17 August

For one evening in November, Sweden's comedy elite gathered in Stockholm for a packed humour show. The success is described as a fact, and the comedians now reveal that the Humorkalaset will come to Dalhalla in the summer of 2019.

Some of the comedians involved are Johan Glans, Özz Nûjen, Ann Westin, Jesper Rönndahl, Marika Carlsson and Hasse Brontén, along with several newer stars. The Humorkalaset in Dalhalla is arranged by ROA and tickets were released on 6 December at Humorkalaset.se.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Environmental villain, competition and self-driving hotel rooms

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