An insulating container for hot drinks or the like, comprising: a) a generally frusto-conical cup body, the cup body having an inner surface and an outer surface; b) a generally frusto-conical shell, the shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; and c) the cup body is seated within the shell so as to define there between a gap; wherein i) a thermo-sealable plastic coating is coated on at least one of the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the cup body; ii) the outer surface of the cup body and the inner surface of the shell are in contact along a contact path located near the upper edge of the shell, said plastic coating disposed along said contact path; iii) the shell is directly bonded to the cup body by said plastic coating wherein such a bond is only locally formed within said contact path and is localized by non-bonding parts of the contact path; and iv) the cup body has a radially outwardly extending annular shoulder formed near the upper end thereof and the contact path is located substantially at said shoulder, said gap being formed below said shoulder and the width of the gap extending from the shoulder being defined by the radial width of the shoulder, wherein the cup body is of generally cylindrical shape above said shoulder and the upper end of the cup body terminates in an outwardly rolled curl, the upper end of the shell seating under said curl. a) a generally frusto-conical cup body, the cup body having an inner surface and an outer surface; b) a generally frusto-conical shell, the shell having an inner surface and an outer surface; and c) the cup body is seated within the shell so as to define there between a gap; wherein i) a thermo-sealable plastic coating is coated on at least one of the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the cup body; ii) the outer surface of the cup body and the inner surface of the shell are in contact along a contact path located near the upper edge of the shell, said plastic coating disposed along said contact path; iii) the shell is directly bonded to the cup body by said plastic coating wherein such a bond is only locally formed within said contact path and is localized by non-bonding parts of the contact path; and iv) the cup body has a radially outwardly extending annular shoulder formed near the upper end thereof and the contact path is located substantially at said shoulder, said gap being formed below said shoulder and the width of the gap extending from the shoulder being defined by the radial width of the shoulder, wherein the cup body is of generally cylindrical shape above said shoulder and the upper end of the cup body terminates in an outwardly rolled curl, the upper end of the shell seating under said curl. i) a thermo-sealable plastic coating is coated on at least one of the inner surface of the shell and the outer surface of the cup body; ii) the outer surface of the cup body and the inner surface of the shell are in contact along a contact path located near the upper edge of the shell, said plastic coating disposed along said contact path; iii) the shell is directly bonded to the cup body by said plastic coating wherein such a bond is only locally formed within said contact path and is localized by non-bonding parts of the contact path; and iv) the cup body has a radially outwardly extending annular shoulder formed near the upper end thereof and the contact path is located substantially at said shoulder, said gap being formed below said shoulder and the width of the gap extending from the shoulder being defined by the radial width of the shoulder, wherein the cup body is of generally cylindrical shape above said shoulder and the upper end of the cup body terminates in an outwardly rolled curl, the upper end of the shell seating under said curl.