This week's travel agenda: Unusual flight routes and where to sleep up a tree

Where to go and what to know

Sleep in a hammock in Champagny en Vanoise National Park (Charlie Delhumeau)

The road to Stansted
National Express launches new routes to Stansted Airport today, stopping at Paddington, Waterloo and Southwark. It will now operate four lines to the Essex airport: from Victoria via Waterloo and Southwark; Portman Square via Paddington, St John’s Wood and Golders Green; Bethnal Green via Liverpool Street and Mile End; and direct from Stratford. Fares start at £5 one way. nationalexpress.com

Sleep in a tree
Spend a night up a tree in France’s Champagny en Vanoise National Park. A qualified instructor will give you a lesson in tree-climbing before you put on a harness and clip into safety lines amid the treetops, where you can take in views of La Plagne. You then have the option to sleep in a hammock 12-15 metres above ground. A three-hour tree-climbing session costs from £20pp, overnight stay £28pp extra; available 2-4 August. lecorce-sensible.com

Polish connection
Wizz Air has found a Polish airport not currently served from the UK - and will launch flights from Luton to Olsztyn-Mazury on 18 June. The airport, in the country’s north-east, offers access to the Mazury (the Polish lake district), as well as the “Wolf’s Lair”, which was Hitler’s East Prussia HQ - and location for a wartime attempt to assassinate the Führer. To read The Independent’s story on this location, visit bit.ly/WolfsLair.

Free canal boating
The Canal & River Trust is offering free trips on skippered narrowboats this Sunday at 19 locations across England and Wales. Organised together with Drifters Waterway Holidays, the taster sessions don’t require booking. canalrivertrust.org.uk

American airport wait
Reader Colin Harwood reports: “Just returned from Las Vegas McCarran airport, where it took 1 hr 15 mins to get through security.” He warns: “Passengers need to allow sufficient time.” For the latest predicted waiting times for all major US airports, visit bit.ly/WaitTime.

China link
Gatwick gets a new link to two cities you possibly have never considered as touirist destinations. From late June, Tianjin Airlines is flying twice a week to Tianjin via Chongqing. Tianjin is a low-cost alternative to Beijing and China’s north-east, while the south-west city of Chongqing is close to Chengdu. tianjin-air.com

Get Twizy on the Isle of Wight
Red Funnel has launched Twizy electric car hire packages for foot passengers travelling to the Isle of Wight. They include ferry travel from Southampton to West Cowes, a two-seater Twizy waiting on arrival, and a satnav. Prices start at £49 for one person for one day (add £9 for an extra person), with deals including travel to East Cowes due to be added later. Charging points are located around the island. redfunnel.co.uk/twizy

New hotel for Palma
Nakar Hotel has opened in central Palma de Mallorca. The 57 rooms are designed in a modern, minimalist style and feature techy touches such as smart TV and automated lighting. As well as a bar and restaurant there is a spa and a rooftop infinity pool with views of the cathedral and the bay. nakarhotel.com