The wildfire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in southern Spain, and has forced hotels and bars to be evacuated as well as several beach resorts
Emergency services have been deployed to the scene in rural Spain(Image: @X)
Holidaymakers and residents have been forced to flee beach resorts across southern Spain after a rapidly spreading wildfire broke out close to the popular coastal town of Tarifa in Cadiz, Andalusia.
The inferno started at approximately 4pm on Tuesday when flames erupted from a motorhome at Torre de la Pena campsite, quickly racing across the drought-stricken, mountainous landscape and threatening residential areas, campsites, and tourist hotspots.
Fierce winds have intensified the blaze, shrouding neighbouring beaches in thick black smoke and forcing authorities to close the N-340 highway between Las Pinas and Pedro Valiente, the Mirror reports.
Emergency crews, including five helicopters, two water-bombing aircraft, a coordination plane, and multiple ground teams, are battling against the flames.
Multiple caravans have already been destroyed by the fire, whilst venues including the Wawa Hotel and popular beachside bars known as chiringuitos have been forced to evacuate.
Authorities have confirmed no injuries have occurred so far.
Tarifa’s Mayor Jose Antonio Santos told La Sexta that the blaze represents “the fastest-spreading fire I’ve ever seen”, describing the circumstances as “unprecedented” for the region.
Local publication Europa Sur has confirmed that restaurants and hotels across roughly 3km from La Pena to Casas de Porros have been evacuated, reports the Irish Mirror.
Beachgoers have received urgent warnings, whilst Algeciras Mayor Jose Ignacio Landaluce has pledged support for the emergency response.
The public is being urged to avoid The vicinity, particularly as key access routes are still shut.
The fire is dangerously close to the Estrecho Natural Park, and precautions are being taken to protect nearby communities, including Valdevaqueros. INFOCA, the Andalusian wildfire response agency, is leading coordination efforts on the ground.
Operations at Gibraltar Airport – the closest airport just 48km away – remain unaffected, with all scheduled flights running on time.
This recent blaze follows a string of wildfires across the Iberian Peninsula, including a significant one near Madrid last month. Officials throughout Spain and Portugal remain on high alert as the ongoing extreme summer heat and dry conditions pose a serious wildfire risk.
Thailand Welcomes Agoda’s Debut Merchandise Store Featuring Exclusive Travel-Inspired Lifestyle Products That Celebrate The Spirit Of Exploration And Everyday Adventure
Home»ASIA» Thailand Welcomes Agoda’s Debut Merchandise Store Featuring Exclusive Travel-Inspired Lifestyle Products That Celebrate The Spirit Of Exploration And Everyday Adventure
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Agoda has officially launched its first-ever merchandise store in Thailand. Available exclusively on leading e-commerce platforms Shopee and Lazada, this store offers a carefully curated collection of travel-inspired lifestyle products. From functional accessories to stylish apparel, each item is designed to capture the essence of exploration and adventure, making travel a part of everyday life. This new retail venture not only enhances Agoda’s connection with its community but also allows Thai consumers to embrace the spirit of travel—whether they are preparing for their next trip or simply adding a touch of wanderlust to their daily routine.
Agoda Enters Retail with Travel-Inspired Lifestyle Store in Thailand
Agoda, the globally recognized digital travel platform, has taken a significant leap into the world of retail by unveiling its first-ever merchandise store. Available exclusively on leading e-commerce platforms Shopee and Lazada in Thailand, this new retail venture allows Agoda fans and travel enthusiasts to shop for branded lifestyle products that embody the essence of travel.
This innovative move marks a notable evolution in Agoda’s brand strategy. While the company has long been synonymous with hotel and flight bookings, it now aims to build a deeper emotional connection with its customers through a lifestyle product line. The Agoda Swag Store introduces a new dimension to the brand—one that merges travel passion with everyday living.
Curated Travel-Inspired Merchandise Collection
The launch features a thoughtfully selected range of lifestyle products designed for both frequent travelers and fans of the Agoda brand. Shoppers can choose from functional yet trendy items such as:
Branded T-shirts
Stylish mugs
Soft eye masks
Cosmetic pouches
For those always on the move, Agoda offers practical travel accessories including:
Luggage straps and tags
Durable travel covers
A vacuum compression travel backpack
A hands-free carry-on sling
The innovative Hydrate & Scroll 2-in-1 water bottle that doubles as a phone stand
Each item has been carefully designed to enhance travel experiences while promoting a sense of personal style and brand connection.
Launch Offers to Boost Accessibility
In celebration of the Agoda Swag Store’s debut, shoppers can enjoy special introductory deals with discounts reaching as high as 60%. This introductory offer aims to make the merchandise accessible to a wider range of shoppers, encouraging more people to engage with the Agoda lifestyle.
The company’s broader vision is not just to sell products, but to integrate the spirit of travel into everyday life. Through this retail expansion, Agoda hopes to connect with individuals who view travel not just as an occasional activity, but as part of who they are.
Fast, Reliable Delivery with DPX
Agoda has partnered with DPX, a trusted logistics provider, to ensure that all orders are fulfilled quickly and efficiently across Thailand. Most deliveries are completed within 1–2 business days, and many orders are eligible for free shipping depending on platform-specific promotions.
This efficient delivery model enhances the customer experience, ensuring that travelers and shoppers alike receive their products with minimal delay—just in time for their next journey or lifestyle upgrade.
Expanding Brand Engagement Beyond Bookings
The launch of Agoda’s merchandise store reflects a wider strategy to build lasting relationships with customers. By offering tangible branded products, Agoda reinforces its visibility in the daily lives of its users, going beyond the digital touchpoints of its booking platform.
Whether someone is packing for a vacation, sipping coffee at home, or organizing travel essentials, these lifestyle products serve as constant reminders of Agoda’s commitment to making travel more seamless, stylish, and inspiring.
How to Shop the Agoda Swag Store
Thai consumers can explore the full range of Agoda’s lifestyle merchandise by simply searching for “Agoda” on Shopee or Lazada. Both platforms feature the complete collection, updated deals, and shipping options to suit a variety of customer needs.
This new shopping experience not only reflects Agoda’s innovative brand vision but also showcases its commitment to adapting to evolving customer expectations. As travel continues to blend with lifestyle, Agoda’s retail debut sets the tone for a new kind of brand engagement—one that brings the adventure home.
In conclusion, Thailand is the launchpad for Agoda’s debut merchandise store, offering travel-inspired lifestyle products that celebrate exploration and adventure. Available exclusively on Shopee and Lazada, the collection blends style with practicality for everyday travelers.
“Love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage,” Sinatra crooned. Not exactly a current choice, but the song does drift to mind when asked about the merits of a bush-n-beach vacation—because that is one slam-dunk combination. Spending time in Africa’s primordial wilderness areas is always an eye-opener, from the ethereal sight of a valley filigreed in spider webs made visible by dawn’s dew to watching a leopard cuff a hyena as her cub scrambles up a tree, or pied kingfishers diving into reed-fringed pools deep with hippos. You never forget your first safari, and if you’ve booked in the right place, it’s unlikely to be the last. That said, the daily regime—from predawn wake-up calls to postprandial fireside chats—can be tiring. So following it up with a powder-soft beach—the lapping of a warm Indian ocean acting as your evening lullaby—is a pretty perfect ending. But where on this vast continent would you land? Here are some of our favorite safari-and-beach trip ideas that combine the best of both.
Singita Sasakwa is built in the style of a stately manor house, and is perched on a hillock with expansive views of the Serengeti.
Courtesy Singita Sasakawa
Grumeti Serengeti, Tanzania | Mnemba Island Zanzibar, Tanzania
Bush
Grumeti, in Tanzania’s western Serengeti, is archetypal Africa: savannah plains with flat-topped acacias under big blue skies—always gorgeous, always secluded, regardless of when you visit in the migration cycle. It’s also where you’ll find Singita Sabora Tented Camp, arguably the most opulent and romantic tented camp in Africa, and easily combined with Singita Sasakwa Lodge. A game-drive distance away, Sasakwa is perched on a hillock with expansive views; a lovely contrast with Sabora, and Singita’s mycelium-style service means the team here already know whether you prefer sparkling or still, cheese or dessert, sauvignon or chardonnay.
Beach
Just three clicks off the northeastern coast of fast-developing Zanzibar, Mnemba is long feted the most romantic beach lodge in East Africa, and a huge overhaul in 2024 has only cemented this. Its 12 “bandas”—all-natural cocoons privately located in the casuarina forest’s cool depths; tiny duiker antelopes foraging as you make your way along private pathways to a startlingly white beach—are hard to leave. And with modern conveniences, fabulous snacks, and a butler at your service, you really don’t have to.
Connectivity: Coastal Air offer an easy ride from Grumeti airstrip to Stone Town airport; you’ll likely stop to pick up passengers but there’s no disembarking, and should get there in three hours. From here andBeyond will be waiting to whisk you across to the north-east coast—a 1.5-hour drive at the most followed by a quick 10-minute boat ride.
More worth considering: Completely overhauled in 2022, andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti offers the kind of accommodation and service one expects from this class-act outfit, and combining it with more of their Tanzania or Kenya camps (all great) can offer significant savings. And keep an eye on Laba Grumeti Art Lodge. A contemporary-chic take on the tented camp, filled with contemporary artworks by 10 African artists, vintage Land Rovers adapted to run on diesel, ethanol and electric, elevated views, and no shortage of modern conveniences, it opens September 2025. Pair this with Zanzibar Sunrise, a perennial Zanzibar favorite, with its prime position overlooking a lush garden-beach cove, the best on Zanzibar’s east coast. Or head north to Matemwe, where the rustic-romantic Zanzibar Sunrise comprises 14 barefoot-chic-Crusoe-castaway bungalows, built right on the beach.
Time + Tide’s Tsara Komba on Nosy Komba, a forested mountain-island just a short boat ride from Nosy Be, is a bucket-list experience.
Time and Tide
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia | Nose Be Archipelago, Madagascar
Bush
Named after the broad expanse of water that flows along its southern boundary, under pillowed clouds and crepuscular skies, South Luangwa National Park offers great game viewing (Zambia’s largest populations of lions; one of the highest leopard densities in Africa) alongside gorgeous landscapes, negligible visitor numbers, and one of the continent’s best walking experiences. It’s a true immersion in untrammeled wilderness, walking between any of Time + Tide’s camps—each only two to four hours apart, while luggage is transferred by road. Do opt to spend at least one night sleeping under the stars.
Beach
Combining the best of the Indian ocean—floating above a kaleidoscope of fish; swimming with turtles—with fascinating wildlife in the verdant forests (lemurs; chameleons; boa constrictors!), the Nose Be archipelago offers ‘bush and beach’ in one, and is relatively undeveloped and totally unmarred by tourism. Lucky then, to find one of the most special lodges on the continent: Time + Tide’s Tsara Komba on Nosy Komba, a forested mountain-island just a short boat ride from Nosy Be. Comprising eight timber cocoons, thatched roofs peeking out the lushly landscaped hillside overlooking a crescent of sand, the glittering ocean backdropped by the green hills of the mainland, the water warm, and calm—it is simply idyllic.
