El Al has refused to confirm whether its purchase of four new short-haul jets is a signal that it is about to launch a low-cost service to Europe.

Industry insiders believe Israel’s national carrier is preparing to exploit the Open Skies agreement between Israel and the EU when it commences in April 2014.

I never thought I would say this, but British travellers can finally look forward to cheaper fares to Israel. This is because after eight years of negotiations, and incessant lobbying by former Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov, an Israel-European Union open skies agreement was signed last month.

On any other day it would have been difficult not to notice the charm of the black volcanic landscape and the contrasting low-rise white-washed towns of Lanzarote. But as I drove along hilly roads from Playa Blanca in the south through Arecife, the capital, and on to the hillside village of Nazaret in the north, I hardly noticed the chain of multi-hued mountains that snake from end to end.

El Al has suspended its flights "until further notice".

All flights between Britain and Israel have been cancelled.

The disruption follows a decision by workers at El Al, Arkia, and Israir airlines to begin an "open-ended" strike yesterday, with the Histadrut labour union supporting them.

It is possible to combine your love for food with celebration and sunshine.

Let's face it, it's great to enjoy the cultures of different countries, but even better to enjoy them on a full stomach.

Here are a few of the best for you to sample.

Giant Omelette Festival, Louisiana, USA

With so many millionaires crammed into its 0.78 square miles, its awesome architecture, improbable number of spotlessly-lush parks and one of the smallest royals-to-commoners ratios in the world, you'd be forgiven for thinking Monaco is something dreamt up as a vehicle for a Grace Kelly film.

There is no more spectacular image than a parade of elephants on a mission to find a watering hole within a seemingly infinite landscape. Almost as impressive is the sight of giraffes around acacia trees reaching for the highest, freshest twigs and leaves to snack on.

On the way up, all I could see were the clouds.They were blurring the view of the peak, but as we edged closer the scene began to look a little spooky as the silhouette of the mountain-top restaurant, Tête de Solaise, began to emerge through the misty white.

After a day skiing on Val d’Isère’s slopes. I admit to imbibing more than a soupçon of apres-ski sustenance, yet I was still cold. As activities levels and temperatures dropped well below freezing, by the time I got back to Le Chardon chalet (one of five that comprise the Chardon Mountain Lodges) I just wanted to thaw quickly.

If there is one thing that sends me hurtling back to childhood it is travelling with my mother. But she needed a break, and a five-night cruise sailing from Tilbury (no stressful airports) to Amsterdam, Rouen and Antwerp, seemed to fit the bill. And I thought I would take the risk and tag along.

Try as I might to dodge those yawningly early morning flights, I occasionally have to concede defeat. Just last week I was forced to catch an 8am plane from Heathrow to Zurich.

Ten Euros - that’s how much the rickshaw fare was from the Arc de Triomphe to our hotel. It was a little expensive for a four-minute ride but we went for it anyway.

Somewhere in South Korea is a young woman who was named Leah, after my daughter. When we met on a sunny Friday morning in Seoul she said her “English name” was Eileen, adding that she wanted to change her Western moniker because it sounded like “alien.” Could I suggest an alternative?

It was only a short stay in Santa Monica and so for me, the beach beckoned. This resort hotel is located on Ocean Avenue where the beach is just 59 feet away and hit the spot.