Travel

THE UK is home to some breath-takingly beautiful seaside towns.

So its no surprise that each summer, hoards of holidaymakers flock to the coasts to make the most of the sun.

However, visiting these seaside towns in winter can actually be a much better time to go.

Visiting in winter gives you all the time, peace and quiet to enjoy the beauty of these towns – sometimes practically all to yourself.

So whether you’re looking for a big family day out with amusements and plenty to do, or a quaint and scenic spot to enjoy some fish and chips – we’ve rounded up some of the best seaside towns to visit this winter.

Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire

The dramatic cliffs of Robin Hood’s Bay, a small village in North Yorkshire, feel even more magical during the winter.

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Weathered rock faces, continuously battered by a moody sea, and views of windswept countryside create an ambience that would fit in well with an Emily Brontë novel.

Don’t expect stereotypical seaside beauty here.

Instead it’s the ruggedness of the place that makes it special, with asymmetrical houses lining the hilly streets and pokey shops where huge bay windows showcase books and little souvenirs.

Wrap up warm for a ramble along the Cleveland Way coastal path to the neighbouring shores of Whitby before holing up in one of the cosy pubs in front of a roaring fire.

For cracking homemade pub grub, head to the 17th century Smuggler’s Inn, so named because of the region’s history as a smuggling cove, where spirits, tea and tobacco were snuck through cavernous tunnels.

– Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Broadstairs, Kent

Having made the move from London to Kent nearly four years ago, it’s fair to say I’ve explored my fair share of seaside towns.

But one that I always love visiting even in winter is Broadstairs.

The magic of the town comes alive when the crowds have gone, where you can head to The Mermaid for some fish and chips before going to the Charles Dickens for a pint.

It’s even great in the winter if you need to do some early Christmas shopping.

I’ve already half finished my list of presents thanks to the independent stores. Kope + Loko does beautiful clothing behind its coffee shop while Hope by SP is the best for interiors and knick knacks.

Make time for the award-winning,cosy Bar Ingo for some small plates, where even now I don’t understand how a simple fish of mushrooms and butter beans can be one of the best things I’ve eaten.

The fresh glass of Portuguese wine might have perhaps been one of the reasons…

If you don’t want to get the last train, book a stay at the newly-opened Smiths Townhouse, a a trendy yet intimate space that makes you feel like you are staying at your cool mate’s house.

– Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Southwold, Sussex

Southwold always holds a special place in my heart because of the sheer amount of weekends I’ve had there with my family over the years, especially during blustery winter.

The beach is great, but let’s face it when it gets cold, you’re just wanting to go inside

Despite this, it is worth going for a quick stroll to see the multi-coloured beach huts, as well as the traditional amusement arcades.

The town has great shops as well as an Adnams brewery – you can go and experience tastings and tours too.

There are plenty of fish and chip shops throughout the town, but for the best ones head to the Sole Bay Fish Company which is out of the town towards the harbour.

– Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Dartmouth, Devon

Whilst not strictly a ‘seaside’ town, Dartmouth does sit on the coastline in Devon and features pretty beaches.

The waterfront town is full of charm, with cobblestones, streets and wonky buildings.

All centred around a harbour, it is the ideal place for a day trip with everything close together.

Tucked away from the more popular seaside towns of Torquay and Paignton, Dartmouth is a top coastal retreat.

It sits on the banks of the River Dart and its estuary position is ideal for boat trips and cruises that venture from the town to the sea. 

And at Castle Cove, there is a small shingle beach only accessible when the tide is low.

For those who don’t like the crowded beaches and arcades found in seaside towns across the country, Dartmouth is a great alternative.

– Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Seahouses, Northumberland

The vast swathes of sweeping beaches on the Northumbrian coast from Seahouses up to Bamburgh are beautiful at any time of year.

But winter means less crowds and the chance to explore the dramatic coastline on wonderful windswept walks.

This pretty fishing village has a bustling Victorian harbour – enjoy some of the freshest fish and chips at Neptune’s Fish Restaurant.

Seahouses is also a great base for joining boat trips over to the Farne Islands, home to one of the UK’s largest colonies of Atlantic grey seals.

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours has special grey seal cruises with pups born from October to December.

The cruises also offer an insight into the heroism of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper’s daughter who rescued survivors of the SS Forfarshire paddle steamer in 1838.

For a cosy end to a blustery beach walk, enjoy a pint at the Olde Ship Inn that has been serving the community since 1812.

– Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

I was born and raised in this North Norfolk seaside town which surges in popularity in summer – and I can understand why we draw in the crowds!

But in the winter, you can enjoy all the beauty of the town without the chaos that comes with the summer holidays.

Next door to royal favourite Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea has everything you could want for a day at the seaside.

This includes a fishing boat-dotted quay to go crabbing, a high street with independent shops, traditional arcades, a sweeping golden beach, and some of the best fish and chips you’ll ever eat. (Tip from a local – French’s beats Plattens for me!)

I grew up quay jumping with my friends and causing mischief at the annual carnival, which takes over the town with unique music acts, foods, crafts and events.

But one of my favourite and lesser-known parts about my hometown is that you can go alpaca trekking across the marshes.

Book an alpaca trek and bring some apples in your bag, and suddenly you’re having the most unique day out at the seaside!

Plus, the grand Albatross boat that sits on the quayside once used to serve Dutch pancakes – now it’s opening up as a quirky four-room boat B&B.

For me, Wells-next-the-Sea is the best seaside town in Norfolk, with its perfect blend of seaside tradition and quirky character.

– Jenna Stevens, Travel Writer

St Mawes, Cornwall

St Mawes is a bit of a unicorn in terms of Cornish seaside towns – it’s beautiful with great pubs and restaurants, but is hardly ever busy because the windy roads into the centre make it virtually impossible for coaches to get there. 

As a result, the town is a wonderfully peaceful coastal destination, where children can play on the sand while their parents sip their pint in the nearby pub. 

While I love St Mawes in the summer, which is also when I usually visit, it’s also a fantastic winter break thanks to all the places to eat and drink. 

The Rising Sun is great for a lunchtime drink if the sun’s shining, as it beams right down on the front courtyard. 

But the St Mawes Hotel is my favourite pub, with excellent food served too. Bagsie one of the squidgy leather sofas and play a boardgame with views of sea from the balcony and a pint of Cornish cider. 

Plus the kids can catch a movie in the hotel’s own private cinema. 

If you fancy a bracing walk, the Place Ferry takes you over to the SW Coastal Path along the Roseland Peninsula. 

Or alternatively, check out the St Mawes Castle that was built by Henry VIII – which is even more fun on a blustery day.

– Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital

Blackpool, Lancashire

When it comes to the British seaside, Blackpool has a bit of everything.

Sea swimming and sunbathing are off the agenda in winter (for me, anyway) but between September and December is the best time to visit.

The Blackpool illuminations have been running for 140 years and are a staple winter attraction along the seafront.

The streets are decorated with light installations, illuminated trails and even the classic Blackpool trams are kitted out with hundreds of fairy lights. 

The seaside town’s unique attractions are just as fun in the winter months.

You can visit the iconic Blackpool Tower year-round and Blackpool Pleasure Beach is open until the end of November with special Winter Weekends on selected days until March.

You can also ice skate for free on the beach at the Christmas by the Sea village in front of Blackpool Tower. 

However, nothing beats a good fish and chip tea, sitting on a bench on the promenade. It’s what England does best, whatever the weather.

– Helen Wright, Travel Writer

LYING by the pool, white wine in hand, I wonder if the Seaside Palm Beach hotel might be the most beautiful resort I’ve ever stayed in.

In front of me, hundreds of wild palm trees — the tallest I’ve ever seen — sway in the afternoon breeze as canaries sing in the shade below.

The scene marked the start of a calm and relaxed weekend on the tranquil Spanish island of Gran Canaria, where temperatures can easily reach the 20s in the winter months.

Just a four-hour flight from the UK (costing less than £30 each way with easyJet from Luton), this trip was the ultimate warm oasis retreat . . . without the jet lag.

The 5-star hotel, situated on the south east coast in Maspalomas, is a haven of luxury.

The serene spa is home to a new sauna, cold plunge and hydrotherapy suite, where guests have the option to strip off completely for an authentic wellness experience.

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Small but buzzing

While my pal and I weren’t that brave, we did manage to plunge ourselves into the freezing ice bath (a welcome break from the October sunshine) before treating ourselves to a massage (99 euros for one dreamy hour) in the garden rooms, which have views of the botanical plants.

After a quick dip in the pool to wake ourselves up, we headed to the terrace for lunch of prawn caesar salad, calamari and homemade bread, with an ice-cold beer to wash it down.

Unlike most all-inclusive hotels I’ve stayed in, the Palm Beach offers guests the option to order lunch a la carte from the poolside restaurant as opposed to being stuck with just the buffet area, making it a much more intimate and luxurious experience.

Dinner was an equally impressive affair, with both a la carte and buffet options available on different nights.

Highlights included the Italian barbecue, with a homemade pasta station and a selection of fresh meat and fish grilled to order.

Outside of the hotel, local Italian restaurant il PosTo served us a delicious Neapolitan pizza for 18 euros, with a night cap of limoncello on the house.

The strip here is small but buzzing, with sunset beach bars lining the boardwalk, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail with stunning views of the Atlantic ocean.

But the most impressive place we visited had to be the natural wonder of the Maspalomas sand dunes. This protected nature reserve is home to 400 hectares of desert-like dunes and lagoons.

A ten-minute walk from the hotel, it is the perfect place to explore in the early-evening golden hour when the heat of the day has died down.

For those wanting something a little more buzzy, the resort of Puerto Rico is a 20-minute drive south.

Here you’ll find shopping malls, discos and a wider selection of restaurants, as well as dozens of daily boat excursions to explore the local coastline.

For 40 euros, we hopped aboard Spirit of the Seas’ whale and dolphin watching tour — a 2.5-hour excursion with local experts who have worked on the sea here for 25 years.

We weren’t fortunate enough to see any marine mammals, but the company offers visitors a free voucher to go out again if there are no sightings — so it’s worth doing this excursion at the start of your trip to allow time to try again.

The next town along, Mogan, is also well worth a visit.

We paid a visit to the Hotel Cordial Mogan Playa, one of the grandest in the town, which offers day passes for 55 euros per adult and 27.50 euros for kids, including lunch.

The terracotta hotel blocks surround a garden spa featuring luxurious day beds, an outdoor heated hydrotherapy pool, hot tub and hot and cold foot spas.

After enjoying a fresh juice here, we tried the volcanic lava exfoliation treatment inside.

The 40-minute session started with a full-body exfoliation using black sand from the island’s northern beaches, followed by a massage using locally-sourced aromatic oils.

It was the perfect end to a three-day retreat — a break I will definitely want to repeat in the cold, dark winter months.

THERE’S no shortage of brilliant pubs dotted across the UK – and we’ve rounded up some of the very best.

We’ve scoured the UK to find places that are great for kids, have brilliant beer gardens and most importantly – won’t break the bank.

With family-friendly options and some of the most affordable pints in the UK, these pubs tick every box.

From the Scottish Highlands down to Cornish beaches, here’s some of the top picks for pints.

Best for families

Ailean Chraggan, Highlands

When bringing the whole family along to the pub, it’s always a bonus to find yourself in one with cheap children’s meals and plenty of activities to keep the kids busy.

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Luckily, we’ve found pubs all across the UK that cater to kids brilliantly.

Scottish blogger Adele Murray from Aberfeldy recommends a cosy pub in the heart of the Highlands.

“One of my family’s favourite pubs is Ailean Chraggan” she says, a spot known as “The Crags” by locals.

“It’s great for families, with a beer garden and outdoor play area”.

When it comes to food, the kid’s menu is simple and well-priced.

A children’s mac and cheese dish costs £6.25, and garlic ciabatta costs £3.50.

Plus, there’s some delicious and locally-sourced options for adults too.

“The Scottish mussels are delicious and come from the west coast” (£9.50 as a starter, £18.95 as a main).

The Tree House, Ayr

The Tree House in Ayr is also another great option for families.

Their “Little Foodies” offer for kids includes a main, drink and ice cream for only £3.50!

Just make sure you’re visiting between 3 – 5pm if it’s term time, or between 12 – 7pm if it’s during the school holidays.

The Mermaid, Cornwall

Down in the south of England, Sun reader Anne Walton recommends The Mermaid on the beach of Porth, Cornwall.

“You can just put the kids on the beach and watch them while you’re having a drink” she says. “They do a very nice Chicken New Yorker“.

“It’s also great for kids as they serve little meals – it was perfect for my granddaughter who’s only 11 months old”.

Jolly Sailers, Norfolk

Over in East Anglia, the Jolly Sailors in Brancaster Staithe is a fantastic option for families in North Norfolk.

The pub has a massive garden with a wooden playground, colouring and is dog-friendly if you’re coming in from a family beach walk with your pet.

Plus for adults there’s a beach hut bar with a humungous rum menu with delicious rum cocktails that opens up in the summer.

You’ll also find events with live sea shanty music, quizzes, festivals and bouncy castles depending on when you visit – Easter family fun days are particularly great for kids.

There’s also a beach hut serving ice cream flavours that kids go crazy for, from bright-blue bubble gum to the swirly pink “unicorn” flavour.

Food is super affordable, with the “Little Sailors” menu offering tomato pasta with cheese for £6.25 or a sizeable kids margherita for £6.95.

Brewdog, London

And if you’re in or around London, Sun Head of Digital Travel Caroline McGuire found the capital’s most family-friendly pub.

Brewdog at London Waterloo station has a massive slide and duckpin bowling lanes inside.

There’s a great kids menu with cheap pizza and chicken nugget meals, and even an in-house ice cream van.

Best for cheap eats

The Beck, Mablethorpe

There’s nothing worse than strolling into an unassuming pub only to be faced with a menu showing £20 mains and £7 pints.

Sometimes all you want is a pit-stop for some cheap and cheerful pub grub and a drink.

Sun reader Linda McDonnell recommends The Beck in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire.

“They do a carvery every day throughout the year and it’s great value, especially for kids” she says (under-twos can eat for just £3).

When it comes to carvery there’s three tiers, and they’re all cheap: costing £8.99 for a small portion, £9.99 for medium and just £13.99 to go large.

“They also have lots of special offers” she says, “like two-for-one meals.”

The Two Tubs, Bury

And if you’re after a cheap pint, Bury in Greater Manchester was found to be the cheapest town to buy a beer in England.

The average cost of a pint here is just £2.75, compared to the national average of £5.17.

One of the best pubs to visit in this area is The Two Tubs, a family-run joint that won a ‘Community Hero’ award in hospitality due to its welcoming atmosphere and great prices.

They even offer a free hot meal and a shot of port for serving soldiers and veterans on “Military Monday”.

The only catch is that they don’t serve any food here – the focus is on having a cheap pint and a good time relaxing or watching sports.

The Sandringham, Hull

Another cheap option would be in Hull – where the average cost of a pint is just £3.68.

The Sandringham on Paragon Street offers a pint of Carling for just £3.10, serving beers cheaper than Wetherspoons.

The pub was opened in 2024 by ex-lorry driver Lee Cunningham, who has made it his mission to pull cheap pints for the people.

Best with beer gardens

The Old Mill, Perthshire

Sitting outside and sipping on a well-poured pint is a pretty unbeatable feeling.

And luckily across the UK we’ve got some pretty spots to sit outdoors, no matter the weather.

Christopher Hill, an Administration Manager from Tummel Valley Holiday Park in Perthshire has a few great picks in Pitlochry.

“My favourites are The Old Mill Inn, Victoria’s and The Auld Smiddy Inn” he says.

“The Old Mill has a great setting, with a watermill outside and a nice beer garden“.

The Woolpack Inn, Romney Marsh

Over in Suffolk, Sun reader Nora Hinds recommends visiting The Woolpack Inn in Romney Marsh.

“Their food is good but they have a wonderful garden. If it’s a nice day we tend to go there on our way down and stop for lunch” she says.

“I’ve had their fish pie that is really good. The grilled salmon fillet is also delicious” (costing £16.95).

Church House Inn, Devon

Plus, Sun travel reporter (and Devon local) Cyann Fielding recommends the beer garden at the Church House Inn in Devon.

“The Inn has a wide variety of beverages and also hosts regular events and themed nights” she says.

“The village green is also located just across the road for a nice stroll”.

Tickled Trout, Wye

Meanwhile, the Tickled Trout in the village of Wye in Ashford has outdoor seating overlooking a pretty river.

It’s a quaint 400 year-old pub with a cosy wooden-beamed interior, and it serves up some great seafood.

Visit in the summer for some amazing live music too.

Best traditional pubs

The Treguth Inn, Cornwall

Putting your finger on what makes a “good” pub is often down to its traditional atmosphere.

Sun reader Anne Walton from Newport in Wales, suggests visiting The Treguth Inn – a coastal spot in Holywell Bay, Cornwall.

“It’s a very local, old thatched pub with a great atmosphere” she said.

“It’s very cosy, dog-friendly and they do nice food. We used to go to their Wednesday Quiz Nights.”

The Cinque Ports Arms, Rye

Over in Rye, East Sussex, Sun reader Nora Hinds recommends The Cinque Ports Arms.

The traditional pub is close to the harbour, and is a great spot for all with its tasty local ales, family-friendly atmosphere and sports games showing on the TV.

Visitors can tuck into a delicious cod and chips for just £14.50, or a warming pie of the day for £11.95.

“It’s always been a friendly pub,” Nora says.

The Axe and Cleaver, Lincolnshire

Over in North Somercotes, Lincolnshire, Joanne Green recommends The Axe and Cleaver.

The pub is close to Parkdean’s Sunnydale holiday park, where Joanne is General Manager.

It has well-priced food, and even offers a “pie and pint night” on Thursdays where you can grab the meal and a drink for just £12.95.

The Railway Inn, Brynowen

Over in Brynowen in Wales, reader Ian Peabody from Newark suggests visiting The Railway Inn.

“It’s very welcoming and feels like a local pub” he said.

And if you’re staying at the nearby Parkdean Resorts Brynowen, it’s just a 10-minute walk.

“There’s also the Victoria Inn, which is popular with a lot of people going there to eat. It’s dog friendly and backs onto Borth Beach“.

“IF you go above 50mph, a monkey will jump out and give you a speeding ticket.”

I have been warned, but it certainly feels like I’m going that fast as I whizz through the jungle on a zipline.

Thankfully the monkeys keep to themselves, although you’ll often see them popping out from the trees while in St Kitts.

The Caribbean island is definitely one for the adventure-seekers. At least that’s what I’m told as I zoom down The Boss zipline, speeding through the tree canopies around me.

My grin is ear to ear as I throw my hands out, flying along like a bird. When I come back to earth with a massive spring cushioning my fast fall, I’m sad it’s over — but there’s so much more to come.

Next up is hiking the live volcano Mount Liamuiga. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as the six-hour trek is up 2,000ft, with the majority of it scrabbling up rocks and tree roots.

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Even as someone relatively fit, it was a battle of my will to get all the way up.

Thankfully, the view was worth it as I overlooked the grassy crater while perched on the edge of a rock. Even the hazy clouds covering the top couldn’t stop me feeling proud of the achievement.

But those clouds soon turned into some of the heaviest rain our guide said he’d seen outside of hurricane season.

Those tropical storms that just last an hour? Not this one.

The already treacherous walk down was made all the harder when the steep route was turned into a waterfall.

Soaked in minutes, it’s no surprise I walked (slid) down to the bottom in half the time it took to go up. I was only too grateful for the very deep tissue massage waiting for me at the beautiful Belle Monte Hotel at the end.

But if you are desperate for that knockout island view, there is a much easier way to get it.

At the very south of the island is Cockleshell Beach, home to all of the island’s top watersports. And it’s how I found myself 60ft in the air during my first attempt at parasailing.

The view from up there let me see both St Kitts and its neighbouring island, Nevis, uninterrupted, as my pro captain sped along the waves.
Evening smores

And I spotted his cheeky grin as he dunked us in the water “accidentally” when bringing us back to the boat.

Evening smores

Most of our travel went through the middle of the island, where the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea meet.

On the Atlantic side is the St Kitts Marriott Resort, which overlooks a sandy beach. The rooms are simple, but large, so more than enough room to spread out.

And the rest of the hotel will keep you occupied, with a huge central pool complete with swim-up bar, volleyball nets and enough sun loungers for everyone.

There’s also tennis courts, ice-cream parlours, shops and the island’s only casino.

Make sure to check the board for activities too — we missed the live bands but managed some evening smores over the outdoor fire pit.

While you can eat at the hotel restaurants, most resorts in St Kitts aren’t all-inclusive.

It’s a good thing, though, with amazing diners dotted throughout the island.

There is Shipwreck, a pirate-like bar on Frigate Bay that serves the best jerk chicken and rice I’ve ever had.

Or head to Rock Lobster for a beautifully rich lobster thermidor.

Or for something fancier there is Carambola, with a huge fresh sushi bar as well as delicious surf and turf.

But I barely scratched the surface when it comes to island thrills.

There’s snorkelling and catamarans, beach horse-riding, jet skis and even retro train rides.

“It’s an island where you can do something different every day,” my boat captain tells me during an impromptu sailing lesson.

After a week of ziplining, hiking and paragliding, it might just be the first holiday I came home fitter from than when I left.

AFTER a long flight, the first thing you may want to do is take a nice hot shower to freshen up – but experts have warned against it.

Planes can be germy, with their enclosed spaces and recycled air conditioning.

Sitting in one spot for hours can leave you feeling pretty grimy once you land – and many look forward to jumping straight into the shower.

But experts have warned that taking a hot shower directly after a flight could be a bad idea.

This is because your skin becomes very dry onboard an aircraft, and having a hot shower can make matters even worse.

Dermatologist Cristina Psomadakis told CN Traveller exactly how planes dry out our skin.

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“Humidity levels really drop in planes and recirculated air can contribute to overall dryness of our skin”.

In fact, the humidity levels onboard can drop extremely low.

Airplane cabins often have a humidity of around 20 per ent compared to the 40-60 per cent we are used to on the ground.

This is because outside air at 30,000 feet contains almost no moisture.

Therefore when it’s pulled into the cabin and pressurised, it stays dry.

The air is then recirculated within the cabin – without any extra moisture being added back in.

This can lead to your skin feeling more dry than usual.

If you then jump straight into a hot shower, this can dry your skin out even more.

Not only do hot showers post-flight dry out your skin, they can also come with a host of other problems.

One of which is that they can increase your chance of getting acne, explains aesthetician Rhea Souhleris Grous to Apartment Therapy.

They said: “Because dryness triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, hot water can worsen preexisting acne or cause a breakout”.

Hot water can break down natural oils and kill your skin’s good bacteria, which “play a major role in keeping moisture in – and the bad stuff out”.

To help beat the feeling of “airplane skin“, you can treat it onboard instead of relying on your post-flight shower.

To retain your skin’s moisture levels, experts recommend treating your skin both onboard and also ahead of time.

“To best take care of your skin on a plane, follow a hydrating skincare routine before and during the flight” said celebrity skincare expert Sarah Akram to Vogue.

“Avoid touching your face frequently, and reapply moisturiser and face mist periodically”.

“Also, avoid heavy makeup as it can contribute to dryness and clog pores.”

Your skincare routine could include packing a small bottle of nourishing moisturiser, a moisturising sheet mask, and drinking plenty of water onboard.

And if you like a salty snack from the trolley when flying, it’s even more important to keep hydrated.

“Top this off with reduced water intake and salty foods and it can lead to really dehydrated, parched skin” said dermatologist Cristina.

So next time you’re travelling by air, make sure to drink plenty of water before, during and after your flight.

The recommended amount of water for adults is two litres per day – but it is a good idea to increase your intake on days you’ll be flying.

Qantas customer service manager Travys Carinci flies on average 59,952 miles per month – and swears by drinking plenty of water.

“I start my day with a pint of water before my coffee and try to drink 2.5 litres of water every day” he told CN Traveller.

So if you are set on having a shower after your flight, turn the temperature down to lukewarm or cold – and you won’t strip as much moisture from your skin.

Ever wondered what happens if you forget to put your window up during take-off or landing? One flight attendant explained the purpose behind the important safety precaution

Travelling on a plane comes with plenty of safety precautions, like going through security and putting your phone on airplane mode. While it can be nerve-wracking for people to remember these steps, there is a cabin crew to remind you along the way.

Now when you’re about to take-off, flight attendants usually have a checklist to tick off before the plane enters the runway. You must have your seats in a upright position, as well as armrests down. But one crucial part of safety is making sure your blinds are up during take-off and landing, so have you ever wondered what happens if you forget?

In a Reddit post, one person asked: “Why do you have to have the windows up for landing sometimes? This is something I’ve always wondered and I had no clue who to ask!”

Well the reason for having your windows up is quite simple – it’s in case of an emergency.

That’s because if you need to evacuate, you won’t be able to see if the engine is on fire, or there’s any hazard which means you can’t evacuate out of that side.

A flight attendant said: “In case something goes wrong a passenger can see it and alert the flight crew. It also has to do with safety. If you crash upon take-off inside a dark plane, the light could be blinding upon evacuating.”

Putting your window shades up during take-off and landing is for critical safety reasons as it also allows crew and passengers to see external hazards.

It’s also done for quick assessments to help your eyes adjust to light for a faster emergency exit and allows emergency services to see inside the cabin if needed.

Often flight attendants require your blinds to be up during take-off and landing. At night, shades stay open (with cabin lights dimmed) so emergency services outside can see in, meanwhile in the day, it’s so your eyes adjust.

What other safety precautions are there during take-off and landing?

• Seatbelt: Passengers must make sure their seatbelt is fastened and even when the sign is off, it’s best to keep it buckled.
• Seat position: Make sure your seat is in a full upright position
• Tray table: Put it away securely
• Electronics: All devices must be switched off or on airplane mode
• Attention: Watch the safety video and demo
• Exits: Revise your nearest exits in the case of an emergency
• Shoes: Keep footwear on to protect your feet from debris
• Window shades: Keep them open for visibility
• Baggage: Make sure carry-ons are stowed away properly

THE turkey leftovers are nearly finished and the Christmas tree might be looking past its best.

While we have still got all the fun of New Year’s Eve this week, our thoughts will no doubt be turning to something we can look forward to in 2026.

And, of course, that has to be a holiday.

Travel companies are going all out this year to encourage us to get planning and there are some great deals to be had in their New Year sales.

Lisa Minot takes a look at some of the bargains to be bagged before Big Ben’s chimes usher in 2026.

British Airways

BRITISH Airways and BA Holidays’ January sale offers savings on trips to some of its most-searched holiday destinations in 2025, including New York, Orlando, Dubai, the Maldives and Barbados.

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With 2026 marking the centenary of America’s Route 66 and the World Cup kicking off, there are return flights from £411 to Los Angeles, £427 to San Francisco and £439 to Miami.

Flights to Dubai start from £449 and Cancun from £482.

British Airways Holidays has seven-night packages to European destinations including Malaga, the Algarve, Malta and Majorca from £299pp.

And for a cheeky city break, there are deals in hot spots including Barcelona, Nice and Venice from £199pp.

There are also discounted holidays to the US, with Florida and Los Angeles from £599pp.

Deals include seven nights’ room-only at the 4H Pestana Alvor Beach Villas in Alvor, Portugal, from £299pp including Gatwick flights on dates in March and 23kg luggage.

Or seven nights’ room-only at 3.5H The STRAT Hotel, Casino and Tower in Las Vegas from £649pp including Heathrow flights on select dates in November.

To book, go to ba.com/sale.

Virgin Atlantic

THERE are savings of up to £120 per couple and £210 for a family of four on Virgin Holidays packages to the Caribbean, Orlando and Tampa with a low deposit of just £75pp.

Deals include 14 nights’ room-only at the Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando from £908pp including Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow on March 4, 2026.

There are also holidays to new route Cancun in Mexico, with seven nights’ B&B at The Fives Downtown Hotel from £1,086pp including Virgin flights from Heathrow on September 19, 2026.

In Virgin Atlantic’s sale there are return flights to New York from £373 on select dates in February 2026, as well as return fares to Phuket in Thailand from £648pp on selected departure dates in October 2026.

You can also get return flights to Cape Town, South Africa, from £729pp on selected dates in January and February 2026.

See virginatlantic.com.

TUI

TOUR giant TUI is touting its biggest sale ever with up to £500 off holidays, zero deposits with direct debits to spread the cost and thousands of free kids’ places in the school holidays.

There are flexible departures from more than 20 local airports and hundreds of free room upgrades.

The sale offers savings of ten per cent with the code SALE up to a maximum saving of £500 as long as you download the TUI app and create an account.

As well as land-based holidays, there is up to £300 off TUI River Cruises when you spend over £3,500, or £200 off if you spend over £2,500 on sailings departing between March 2026 and the end of October 2027.

The deal is valid on sailings of five nights or longer on Europe’s River Rhine, Douro or Danube and River Nile in Egypt.

Or you can head long- haul to the Caribbean with seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 5H Riu Negril in Jamaica.

It costs from £1,420pp including flights from Gatwick on June 16, 20kg hold luggage and transfers.

To book, go to tui.co.uk.

Jet 2

THE UK’s largest tour operator is sharing the love with £100 off ALL holidays booked in its sale, with a low deposit of just £25 needed to lock in a great deal.

The sale, running until January 12, also includes 20 per cent off all flight-only bookings on jet2.com, including on one-way flights.

All package holiday deals include 22kg luggage, 10kg hand luggage, under-seat bag, return transfers, plus ABTA and ATOL protection.

There are millions of free child places, as well as pay monthly plans to spread the cost.

Deals are available on more than 75 destinations across Europe, the Med, North Africa and the Canary Islands.

Offers include seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 3H Club Mac Alcudia Resort and Waterpark in Majorca from £579pp with flights from Leeds Bradford on April 18.

And seven nights’ B&B at the 3H Hotel La Barracuda, Costa del Sol, from £389pp including flights from Stansted on February 27.

See jet2holidays.com.

easyJet

THE Big Orange Sale from easyJet holidays is promising up to £400 off city breaks and beach escapes.

Holidaymakers can get £50 off a minimum spend of £500, £100 off an £800 minimum, £150 off a minimum of £1,500, £300 off a £3,000 minimum spend and £400 off a £4,000 spend with the code BIGSALE.

The deal is valid on 8,000 hand-picked hotels in more than 100 destinations in Europe and North Africa, from popular cities including Amsterdam and Prague, and beach spots from the Canaries to Cape Verde.

All holidays include flights and hotels, and beach packages also come with a 23kg luggage allowance and transfers.

Deals include four nights’ room-only at the 3H Espresso City Centre in Amsterdam from £227pp including flights from Southend on February 1.

And seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H Valeria Dar Atlas Resort in Marrakech from £435pp including flights from Liverpool on February 5, with 23kg luggage and transfers.

Book with a £60 deposit at easyjet.com/en/holidays.

IF you are itching to book a holiday next year but want to try somewhere new, you’re in luck.

All of the airlines in the UK have expanded their list of destinations with lots of new places to fly to in 2026.

From little-known paradise islands to fairytale Europe city breaks, here’s a round-up of the best new routes launching in 2026.

Short and mid-haul

easyJet – Rome, Ljubljana, Reus, Thessaloniki

easyJet has introduced four new routes for next summer, to destinations in Spain, Greece, Italy and Slovenia.

The major airline flies from 22 airports in the UK to a whopping 130+ destinations.

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Holidaymakers will be able to fly from Birmingham to Rome Fiumicino to explore one of the world’s most popular capital cities.

Flights start from March 5, 2026, and run four times a week.

The new route from Edinburgh to Ljubljana in Slovenia will be Scotland’s only direct connection to the country.

Ljubljana is a fairytale-like city with castle views and pretty cafe-lined riverbanks.

Flights will start on the Easter weekend of April 4 and operate twice a week.

Travellers from Bristol will be able to fly to Reus, Spain and Thessaloniki, Greece.

Reus is an overlooked Spanish city with modern buildings and golden sand beaches.

Flights will operate twice a week, beginning June 25.

Thessaloniki is a port city packed with historical ruins, markets and a busy nightlife scene.

The airline has also introduced 11 new routes from Newcastle Airport.

easyJet will now fly to destinations such as Nice, Corfu and Rhodes from its Northern base.

Jet2 – La Palma, Samos and Sicily

The airline flies from 13 airports across the UK to over 75 destinations.

And Jet2 are adding three new destinations for 2026: La Palma, Samos and Sicily.

La Palma is one of Spain’s Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa, known for their luscious landscapes and year-round warmth.

It’s a lesser-known island which is visited less frequently than its neighbours Tenerife and Lanzarote.

Passengers can fly to the island from London Stansted or Manchester airport from April 2026, with twice weekly flights taking off on Mondays and Fridays.

Samos on the other hand is a dreamy Greek island, with the new flights from May 2026.

It’s a laid-back spot with quiet villages and unspoilt beaches, and will be Jet2’s 15th new Greek destination airport.

Flights will run from Manchester and London Stansted twice weekly.

The airline will also be flying to Palermo, Sicily from May 2026.

Sicily’s capital is known for its glittering mosaics, street food culture and pretty Arab architecture.

Flights to Palermo will depart from Manchester and Newcastle, as well as Birmingham.

Long-haul

British Airways – St Louis, US

In April 2026, British Airways will begin flying to St. Louis in Missouri.

The new route will become the only direct flight to the city from the UK.

St. Louis is known for its blues, jazz and baseball culture – providing a real slice of Americana for UK travellers visiting the states.

The launch of the route even coincides with the 100th anniversary of Route 66 – the legendary highway which St. Louis sits on.

The flight will run four times a week throughout the airline’s summer season.

Virgin Atlantic – Phuket and Seoul

Virgin Atlantic is expanding their destinations with new routes to Phuket in Thailand and Seoul in South Korea.

Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island, known for its beautiful white sand beaches with turquoise waters.

It’s also popular with young travellers and backpackers, with plenty of beach parties, temples and jungles to explore.

Flights to Phuket will operate three times a week seasonally from London Heathrow – and will begin running from October 2026.

In contrast, Seoul is an ultra-modern city known for its neon nightlife and futuristic skyscrapers.

Plus, fans of shows like KPop Demon Hunters will be pleased.

Seoul is paradise for fans of K-Pop and K-Dramas – home to megastar bands like BTS and Blackpink.

Daily direct flights will launch on March 29, 2026.

If you’re looking to book your summer getaway for next year then look no further, as the cheapest holiday destination has been revealed and it’s a stunning Spanish region

A popular Spanish region with white sand beaches and pristine blue water has been named as the cheapest summer holiday destination for 2026.

As we look to book our summer getaways for next year, Which? has compared the prices of 5,393 package holidays from Jet2holidays and easyJet Holidays to reveal the most affordable options. This was based on a seven-night stay, including flights, departing around August 2, with two people sharing a room with various board types.

Following their extensive research, the experts found that Costa Blanca, along Spain’s Mediterranean coastline, was the most budget-friendly option for a holiday deal next year. For a stay in Costa Blanca during the height of summer, Which? discovered that it would cost, on average, £864 per person for a seven-night package.

This is partly due to its popular and affordable seaside resort of Benidorm, which has often been dubbed the ‘New York of the Mediterranean’ or the ‘Spanish Las Vegas’. Benidorm is undeniably appealing with its sprawling golden sand beaches and turquoise waters, while its cheap drinks, lively nightlife, family entertainment and towering buildings only add to its unique allure.

In its research, Which? found that Benidorm offered some of the cheapest holidays from £535 per person for a week’s self-catering at the two-star Playamar apartments. Meanwhile, an all-inclusive option at the four-star Flamingo Beach Resort, featuring three outdoor pools, would cost £886pp with EasyJet Holidays.

But there’s much more to Costa Blanca than Benidorm, with quieter Spanish areas away from the tourist crowds. One option is the charming and picturesque hilltop town of Altea, offering sensational views over the Mediterranean, with room-only options available for £ 1,033 per person at the luxurious five-star SH Villa Gadea.

Costa Blanca was the only destination Which? found to be less than £900 for a week’s stay in August. Elsewhere in the research, the second most affordable package holiday was revealed as Tuscany, nestled in the heart of Italy.

Tuscany is renowned for its rolling hills, Renaissance masterpieces, and iconic cities such as Florence, Siena, and Pisa. A week-long stay in this captivating Italian region would set you back £929 per person, inclusive of flights and accommodation.

Coming in third on the list of budget-friendly summer escapes is the breathtaking Agadir coast in Morocco, famed for its expansive sandy beaches and status as a prime resort destination. With an abundance of accommodation choices along the coastline, centred around beach days, a stay here would amount to £946pp.

According to Which?, six of the top ten cheapest holiday destinations for 2026 are located in Spain, with Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria among them. Additionally, Zante in Greece, celebrated for its crystal-clear waters, lush landscapes and vibrant nightlife, also secured a spot in the top 10.

Here are the cheapest package holiday destinations for 2026, as outlined by Which? The results show the average price, per person, for a seven-night package stay.

1. Costa Blanca, Spain – £864
2. Tuscany, Italy – £929
3. Agadir coast, Morocco – £946
4. Dalaman area, Turkey – £1,048
5. Tenerife, Canary Islands – £1,073
6. Fuerteventura, Canary Islands – £1,119
7. Gran Canaria, Canary Islands – £1,121
8. Costa Brava, Spain – £1,125
9. Costa Dorada, Spain – £1,133
10. Zante, Greece – £1,142

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

As millions prepare to travel in and out of the UK this winter, a mattress expert has shared the luggage mistake that could bring bedbugs home from your holiday

As millions gear up for winter travel in and out of the UK, it’s not just souvenirs that could be making the journey back home.

Recent reports have highlighted a burgeoning bedbug epidemic, with infestations having surged by 62%. Google searches for ‘how to check for bedbugs’ have shot up, seeing a whopping increase of over 500% in the last 30 days, as infestations typically spike during the peak travel and festive season in winter.

Fortunately, a mattress expert has compiled a guide on how to spot early signs of a bedbug invasion and shared easy steps to help curb the spread of these blood-thirsty critters while globetrotting this winter. Mattress specialist Sharon Robson from Mattress Online is dishing out her expert advice on keeping bedbugs at bay this winter. Sharon explains: “Bedbugs thrive in areas where lots of people are coming and going, they also favour warm and humid conditions, which means there’s a higher chance of returning from warmer climates with bed bugs. From hotels, hostels, and holiday rentals to public transport, it’s crucial to know how to spot a potential infestation to prevent bringing any unwanted souvenirs back from your trip.”

Invest in hard-shell suitcases

Sharon’s top tip is a simple one: invest in hard-shell suitcases. She cautions that soft-sided luggage offers numerous hidden nesting spots for bedbugs, potentially heightening your risk of unknowingly carting them back from your travels, reports the Express. Bedbugs have a preference for rough or porous surfaces, making hard-shell luggage with its sleek, solid surfaces a challenging environment for them. This type of luggage is not only more difficult for bedbugs to latch onto, but it’s also simpler to inspect and disinfect, making it a worthwhile investment if you’re worried about these unwanted visitors.

Elevate your luggage (literally)

Upon reaching your accommodation, it’s recommended to raise your luggage above carpets and away from walls. Hold off on unpacking your suitcase on the bed until you’ve had the chance to check for signs of bedbugs. Make use of metal luggage racks or position your case on a solid surface such as a table or desk.

Early warning signs to look out for

There are several tell-tale warning signs that your hotel room might be infested with bedbugs, so before you settle in, give your room a quick inspection. Stay vigilant for sweet, musty smells, which could suggest a large infestation. Also keep an eye out for black or rust-coloured stains on bedding and mattresses. Finally, watch out for empty, brown shells or flat, oval brown shapes, which could be the bugs themselves.

Try the credit card trick

For a more comprehensive inspection, try the credit card trick. Bedbugs often hide in narrow spaces like mattress seams, labels, and tufts. A credit card can be a handy tool for inspecting tight spots like mattress piping, bedframe corners, and any crevices. Simply press the card gently and scrape along the seams to check for bugs and eggs.

Wash and dry clothes on high heat as soon as you come back

If you’re still concerned about potential exposure to bedbugs during your travels, the first thing to do when you get home is to wash all your clothes in hot water. Position your luggage on a hard surface such as a bathroom or laundry room floor and unpack directly into the washing machine. Wash your clothes on a hot cycle and dry them on high heat for 30-60 minutes to kill any live bugs or eggs.

Ditchling and Plumpton, East Sussex

Distance 7 miles
Duration 5 hours
Start/finish Ditchling village car park

A pub walk is, as everyone knows, the best kind of ramble, and this tranquil circular walk up on to the South Downs boasts not one inn, but three. Ditchling – the start and end point of the walk – has two pubs, the White Horse and the Bull, alongside 36 buildings dating from the 1500s to 1800s. Most notable is Wings Place, gifted to Anne of Cleves in her divorce settlement from Henry VIII in 1540.

Within a couple of minutes’ walk from the heart of the village, you’re in open fields. Head right out of the car park and look for a right turn, signposted “to the Downs”. With the church spire behind you, the path leads diagonally into leafy woodland, before heading south towards Underhill Lane, and the steep climb up to Ditchling Beacon.

The Beacon is a pull (248 metres), but the view is spectacular: south to Brighton and the silvery wastes of the English Channel, north across the Sussex Weald to Ashdown Forest and the Surrey Hills. Walk east along the South Downs Way, before an unmade road takes you downhill, directly into the welcoming arms of the Half Moon at Plumpton.

Of all the pubs in the area, the Half Moon is my favourite: independent, ungentrified and supportive of local producers. Order a glass of Plumpton Estate wine and check out the pub’s famous painting of dozens of its regulars, including Raymond Briggs and Jimmy Page, done over a nine-month period in 1979. Sunday lunches are hearty roasts, with good vegan options (two/three courses, £24.95/£29.95), alongside a local catch of the day and homemade pies.

The good news is that the second half of the walk is flat. Well-signed paths skirt the grounds of Plumpton College, before heading back across fields and past My Little Farm, a new community smallholding. Once at the bridleway, turn back to see a forested “V” of beech, fir and lime trees on the side of the hill, planted in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. I always sneak a peak through the gates at Streat Place, an elegant Elizabethan manor house, before the final, straight-line stretch across open fields to Ditchling – where a choice of pubs awaits.
Annabelle Thorpe

Highgate to Little Venice, London

Distance: 8 miles
Duration: 3½ hours
Start Highgate tube station
Finish The Prince Alfred, Maida Vale

Starting at Highgate tube station, follow Southwood Lane into Highgate village, noting the former home of Mary Kingsley, a Victorian explorer who had the chutzpah to chat up cannibals in the Amazon. At Pond Square, admire the array of London plane trees (planted in bulk across the city because they could handle the pollution), before proceeding south down Swain’s Lane to Highgate Cemetery (adults £10) to pay your respects to Bob Hoskins (made films), George Michael (made music) and Karl Marx (made a terrible fuss about the exploitation of workers).

Cut through Oakeshott Avenue – a distinctive street of mock-Tudor mansions – to Hampstead Heath, where you should resist the temptation to have a dip in the men’s pond (Mum, I’m talking to you), and instead continue west until you hit upon East Heath Road. From here, wiggle north-west to Well Walk, where you’ll find the erstwhile abodes of JB Priestley and John Constable, as well as the Wells Tavern, a good spot to get some liquid on board. Follow Well Walk west until it splits, at which point err right on to Flask Walk, which you should follow to its terminus.

You’re in Hampstead village now, which is either good or bad depending on your disposition. Meander south-east to Belsize village, where it’s possible to rest your legs or get a bagel from Roni’s. Continue south on Belsize Park Gardens (the composer Frederick Delius lived at No 44) before doing a quick left-right on to Primrose Gardens, about as attractive an oval of terraced housing as you’re liable to find.

In Primrose Hill village itself, you’ll find the former homes of Sylvia Plath (opposite Chalcot Square) and Friedrich Engels (opposite Le Tea Cosy). Climb to the summit of the village’s eponymous mound, exit the park on its west side then proceed along St Edmund’s Terrace to St John’s Wood High Street, where even the charity shops are flogging designer gear for serious dough.

You’re now a stone’s throw from the zebra crossing on Abbey Road made famous by the Beatles, upon which you should absolutely take your time posing, because the motorists love it. Follow Hall Road to Hamilton Terrace, at the southern end of which you’ll find the former gaff of Joseph Bazalgette, who scored brownie points with Londoners by designing the city’s sewer system. Cross Maida Vale and enter Little Venice, a concentration of canals that probably doesn’t warrant its moniker. Follow the aromas of ale and roast beef to the Prince Alfred, where dinner awaits. The pub is an absolute beauty, worth a visit for its vintage interior alone. Bottoms up! (Or down, rather …)
Ben Aitken

Bath, Somerset

Distance 10 miles
Duration 5 hours
Start/finish Bath Abbey

Bath is a city lost in the countryside, an urban blip in a hug of hills. Even standing in the heart of its Georgian gorgeousness, those green billows beckon you out. So I turn my back on the Abbey, step on the Cotswold Way marker stone by its hefty doors, and walk away.

This National Trail starts (or ends) in Bath, and provides the finest route out of town. It’s tricky, picking out the waymarks amid the Christmas market crowds, but eventually I duck down Quiet Street and then pass the city’s greatest hits: Queen Square, The Circus, the sweeping Royal Crescent, resplendent in low winter light.

As the trail winds westward and up – and there’s a lot of up to come – the tourists thin. I skirt Royal Victoria Park, nod to the golfers on High Common and drop into Weston village. Here, the Cotswolds proper start to rise.

I’ve walked and run this route a hundred times, but still … how is this sylvan promenade so close to a city? I feel my lungs expand; I want to sing to the sheep, to the rolling slopes, to the hump of Kelston Roundhill, with its wig of winter-naked trees. Best is Prospect Stile, from where you can see Bath, the Mendips, even Wales. And it’s never better than now: blush pink on a crisp winter afternoon, as if embarrassed by its own good looks.

The Cotswold Way heads left here. Instead, I veer right across the racecourse and around the cirque beneath Beckford’s Tower – a gilt-topped monument to Georgian eccentricity, open most winter weekends. Nearby, a footpath leads left to Lansdown Road, and to the hillside Hare & Hounds.

This 17th-century inn is a great summer pub: it has Bath’s best beer garden, looking across the winsome Charlcombe valley. With a thick coat, you could still nurse a pint of Proper Job outside. Fortunately, it also has a full wall of mullioned windows. I opt to enjoy the view from inside, where a real fire crackles and good roasts are served.

I’ve walked seven miles now, and could bus back to town. But instead I backtrack to the trail below Beckford’s, continuing to walk. The views remain superb. And this way I can wind through salubrious backstreets that deliver peak Bath-ness minus the crowds – not least Lansdown Crescent, a rival to the Royal. Eventually, I make it back to the abbey, this time walking towards its exquisite west front, but still with an eye to the hills beyond.
Sarah Baxter

Broadway Tower, the Cotswolds

Distance 4 miles
Duration 2½ hours
Start/finish War memorial, Broadway High Street

The dog’s tail is wagging hard. We’ve brought her to Broadway on a chilly Saturday afternoon – a time she usually saves for snoring belly up – and there are canines at every turn. Pugs leaving coffee shops, beagles eyeing up knitwear boutiques, terriers cooing over the 16th-century limestone architecture. The dog owners of south-east Worcestershire are out in force, although as visitors our goal lies elsewhere. We’re heading for the hills.

Broadway is well named. Some Cotswolds honeypots feel hemmed in, but the wide, handsome high street has a calming sense of space, especially in lesser-visited winter. A rich history too: the Beaker people, the Romans, medieval wool traders, TikTok influencers – all have passed through Broadway, pulled in different ways by the rolling countryside.

It’s what’s drawn us, too. We’re walking an official National Trails circular route, meaning decent signage, loads of puddly kissing gates and big, billowing views. We exit the high street on to a footpath. The escarpment to the south is topped by the turreted silhouette of Broadway Tower, our end goal. Green landscapes swell around us.

The first section is an easy ramble across grassy meadows, and ridge and furrow undulations, before the path leads upwards along a thigh-sapping avenue of sycamores. Higher now, we cross more tussocky fields as the panoramas open up. Visible far to the west is the spine of the Malvern Hills. The sky is blue. The wind is cold and mud scented. The dog is in heaven.

The complex around the tower arrives suddenly, complete with a cafe and playground. The tower itself – a hexagonal structure built as a folly in the 1790s – is the second highest point in the Cotswolds. Designer William Morris came here regularly to draw inspiration. A patchwork of towns and farmland spills out below us; Birmingham is a speck on the blustery horizon.

The Cotswold Way descends steeply back into Broadway and we make for the 17th-century Crown & Trumpet. A 35-year mainstay in the Good Beer Guide, it’s a short wander off the main drag and something of a rarity in these parts: in place of chichi decor it has an open fire, framed beer mats and a well-trodden carpet. Pints of Shagweaver and bowls of cheesy chips hit the spot. And the dog? Ready for that snooze.
Ben Lerwill

Burnley to Worston via Pendle Hill, Lancashire

Distance 11½ miles
Duration 6 hours
Start Burnley
Finish Calf’s Head, Worston

In this corner of east Lancashire, Pendle Hill – an outlier of the Pennine spine – separates industrial and agricultural, built-up and empty, the urban working-class from the rural upper-middles. Burnley, the start point, is known for coal as well as cotton, football and cricket, not to mention gay rights and Benedictine liqueur.

Take the Burnley Way to the banks of the Calder, the river that powered and watered the early mills. From here, follow the Pendle Way to Higham, which gets you on to the southern slopes of Pendle Hill. Sheep, dry-stone walls and steep climbs take over. A zigzagging route takes you up to Newchurch in Pendle, a tiny hamlet perched on a tight bend in the road. St Mary’s church has an “eye of god” on its tower to deter evil spirits, and a tomb by the rear wall bears the name of one Ellin Nutter. The 1651 date could make her a relative of Alice Nutter, who was hanged after the Lancaster witch trials.

This area is marked as the Forest of Pendle on maps. A former royal chase, it was later used for vaccaries (pastures for cows). Note the recurrence of “booth” in local placenames, alluding to the huts used by herdsmen. Look south for views over the chain of towns that grew up around yarn and cloth. From left (east) to right (west), there’s Barrowford, Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley, Accrington, Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn – to name only the larger places. For residents of all, Pendle Hill and the nearby West Pennine Moors are the main recreational spaces, airy heights that in the smoky old days provided respite for lungs and legs.

The 557-metre climb to the trig point at the top of Pendle Hill goes via Fell Wood, between the two Ogden reservoirs and along Boar Clough – clough is another local word, used for a steep-sided ravine. Barley Moor opens out here, hopefully with a few peewits or even a hawk battling the westerlies. From the trig, it’s a breezy saunter across the mesa-like top of the hill, now with views north to the Yorkshire Three Peaks and Bowland Fells, to drop down to Worston from the Pile of Stones on Pendle Moor.

You’ve passed pub options already – at Higham and Barley – but the Calf’s Head is a well-liked, well-run village pub all on its own in Worston. There’s a single small snug with three tables and an open fire, and more tables – for food or drink – in the pub lounge and in an annexe. If the weather’s fine, the beer garden is a real beauty. Timothy Taylor’s and local Moorhouse’s ales are generally available. The menu is massive; I rate the seafood sharing board, hot pot and plate pie.

From Worston, it’s a short walk to Clitheroe for onward trains and buses. Take care crossing the A59. If you want a longer walk, you can avoid the busy carriageway altogether by taking a loop along West Lane and through the villages of Downham and Chatburn, which have three more pubs between them.
Chris Moss

St Mawgan and Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Distance 5.4 miles
Duration 2 hours
Start/finish The Falcon Inn, St Mawgan

I’m climbing up the coast path away from Mawgan Porth beach on the north Cornwall coast, the golden sands and swirling seas way below. Gulls wheel overhead and the wind whips my face, but I’m glad for the breeze after the exertion of the hill. Ahead, I make out the rocky outcrop of Griffin’s Point, an iron age cliff fort with views south to Watergate Bay and Newquay beyond. This is where I turn inland, leaving behind the dramatic sea stacks of Bedruthan Steps and heading east to return to the village of St Mawgan.

It’s around the halfway point of one of my favourite circular walks in Cornwall, a 5.4-mile loop that takes in a wide variety of terrain, from coastal sections and sheep-speckled fields to woodlands scattered with streams, pines and badger setts.

You could start and end at Mawgan Porth, but I like to begin in St Mawgan, parking on the road outside The Falcon Inn. From here, I follow the river north-west then cross a bridge, passing the acers and azaleas of the Japanese Garden (closed in winter) and a row of cottages with quaint names such as the Mouse House.

Forking left, I’m on to the public footpath signposted towards Mawgan Porth. After Windsor Mill, a settlement dating back to the middle ages, I cross a stile and follow the path through the trees, the River Menalhyl trickling to my left. The track quickly turns rugged underfoot, with exposed tree roots and leaves that make a satisfying crunch with each step.

Beneath the trees, some with orange lichen on their trunks, others with stubborn hawthorn berries still clinging to branches, there’s shelter from the elements; a blissful contrast to the bracing sea breeze I’m about to experience on that coast path.

After around half an hour on the coast, I turn inland for a final stretch through fields and across streams. I return to the Falcon via the St Mawgan churchyard, pausing at the memorial to 10 men who died from hypothermia on a boat that drifted ashore near Watergate Bay in December 1846.

I wonder if any of those men frequented this 16th-century inn, which is under new ownership this winter but has kept a traditional feel, with its original fireplace, exposed beams and dark wooden bar. I join the locals enjoying pints of ale from the pub’s own microbrewery in Penryn. It’s a warm, welcome respite after miles walking through the Cornish winter elements.
Ellie Ross

Bakewell to Little Longstone, Peak District

Distance 3 miles
Duration 1½ hours
Start Bath Gardens, Bakewell Square
Finish The Packhorse Inn, Little Longstone

“Walk and pub?” Growing up in the Peak District, these two things were never mutually exclusive. You can keep your Gore-Tex-clad scrambles, your emergency crampons, your Wainwright “bagging” and Three Peaks conquering. I’m worn out just thinking about all that. Give me a route I can do in an hour and a half, that’s manageable with a hangover or an unruly toddler or, God forbid, both. Give me a route where the scenery is quietly breathtaking and ever-changing but I can do it in a pair of beaten-up trainers.

Give me a route that ends in a fantastic pub, where I can fill my belly with lovingly cooked local produce and slake my thirst on local ale. Earwig on a mix of day-trippers and local “characters” rubbing along just fine in front of one of three roaring fires. Give me the walk from Bakewell to the Packhorse in Little Longstone.

I’ve done this walk so many times I can practically hear the footsteps from different phases of my life ringing out from the pavement as we set off from Bath Gardens and leave the Rutland Arms Hotel (the “birthplace” of the original Bakewell pudding – the tart followed later, just so you know and don’t mortally embarrass yourself when you visit) and the bustling market town behind. Tracing the A6 road out past the Lambton Larder cafe and pretty Georgian houses, we cross the River Wye at the stone bridge on the right, just past the fire station. We head straight on past Lumford House, with its blue plaque for Richard Arkwright Jr, whose inventor and industrialist old man was kind of a big deal in these parts.

A brief incline brings us out above the town and the show-off panoramic views to the imposing woods above Chatsworth and the fields down towards Hassop and Ashford-in-the-Water, beautifully pockmarked with wild pink heather. A few years ago, I proposed in the field of canary yellow rapeseed blazing in the far distance. Today, my bovine-phobic wife pushes me forward as a human shield as we take the left fork of the footpath into a field of cows that stare at us like the locals from the pub scene in An American Werewolf in London.

We cross a stile into a wooded stretch and emerge at a field full of sheep (less foreboding, apparently) and the road heading into Great Longstone. Following the public footpath over a stone stile to the left brings us out into an almost laughably bucolic field of beech and sycamore trees. We skirt around the village of Great Longstone and into Little Longstone, with its red phone box and Bertie Bassett-inspired well dressing. The Packhorse Inn sits on the right, complete with a sign that says “Kids, dogs and muddy boots, welcome”. We don’t have any of those things today but we do, crucially, have a thirst on.

“Walk and pub?” An unbeatable combination.
James Wallace

Newport to Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

Distance 11.3 miles
Duration 6 hours
Start Newport
Finish The Ship Inn, Fishguard

The A487 is not one of Britain’s most celebrated highways. In one stretch, it’s reduced to a single-track squeeze that requires drivers to sneak around a blind corner and pray no one is coming the other way. And what is the source of this nasty constriction that cannot be removed? A wonderful little pub called the Ship Inn. Hemmed in by a wooded hill behind, the fishing boat-speckled sea in front and that crow-black trunk road, it is no wonder that the front door is of the sliding variety. If it opened outwards, the tailback would block Pembrokeshire.

Serving good beer surrounded by nautical memorabilia, polished wood and black-and-white photographs of drinkers down the ages, the Ship in Lower Town, Fishguard, has hosted some famous drinkers in its time. One face stands out from the fading photos: Richard Burton, at the peak of his thespian career, barrelling down that single-track snicket, his eye on the front door of the pub, no doubt thirsting for a pint of Double Dragon. Burton was in town for the 1971 filming of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood.

Our walk to reach this watering hole starts up the coast at the pretty village of Newport (the pub is cash-only so use the ATM here), then follows the Wales Coast Path. Almost immediately, the flavour of the route is apparent: a big, banging seascape filled with jagged rocks, epic cliffs and roaring seas. Even the signs seem to have an extra robustness about them: “Keep to the Path. Cliffs Kill” screams one and, more mysteriously, “Caution. Deep Animal Holes Ahead” reads another.

The route rolls along, passing several fine coves before tackling Dinas Mawr, a formidable headland. In 1954, this dramatic coastal feature was used in the filming of Moby Dick, starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab. Three-masted ships like Ahab’s Pequod were once a common sight along here, until the great storm of 1859 wrecked many of them. At the sea’s edge in Cwm-yr-Eglwys, I search the ruined churchyard of St Brynach’s and find tombstones for the mariner John Harries and Thomas Laugharne, master of the schooner Eliza. That may have been the Eliza that got smashed up on the Llŷn peninsula. One other casualty of the 1859 storm was the church itself, of which only one wall survives.

It was to New Quay, on this stretch of coast, that Dylan Thomas moved in 1944, finding inspiration for unforgettable characters such as the lascivious fisher Nogood Boyo and Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard, so house-proud that the sun must wipe its shoes before sneaking through her chintz curtains. Burton was a slam dunk to narrate both the 1954 BBC radio play and the 1971 film.

I pass the ruined Fishguard Fort and its cannon, last fired during the abortive French invasion of 1797, then reach the pub as it opens (4pm on Saturday and Sunday, 5pm Wednesday to Friday). There are only snacks, but the beer is good and the decor satisfyingly unchanged since Burton sat in here boozing with Peter O’Toole, their Daimlers parked down by the quayside. Elizabeth Taylor did not show her face, although local legend has Burton on the payphone, ordering Hollywood’s finest to “get her fat arse down to Pembrokeshire”. They were divorced three years later, remarried, then divorced again after two more.
Kevin Rushby

Edinburgh to Leith via the Water of Leith

Distance 4.7 miles
Duration 2 hours (with option to extend)
Start National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
Finish Leith

The Water of Leith Walkway follows its namesake river from Balerno, near the Pentland Hills, through the heart of Edinburgh to Leith, the city’s historic port district, where it meets the sea. This walk follows the final stretch.

In the grounds of Modern One on Belford Road – one of Scotland’s national art galleries – visit the crescent lakes of Charles Jencks’s Landform, then head to the left corner of the car park, passing a Henry Moore sculpture. Double iron gates lead to steps descending to the Water of Leith. Cross the footbridge and turn left, look for a figure of a man in the river, the first of four of Antony Gormley’s 6 Times figures that are visible on this walk. The path is marked throughout by small brown signs. Some sections offer step-free alternatives: for the most interesting landscape, stick to the riverbanks.

The path winds through Dean Village, once an industrial slum, now one of Edinburgh’s most incongruous and enchanting neighbourhoods. The half-timbered cottages look more Bavarian than Scottish. Look out for Well Court, an imposing red-brick building, a rare example of Arts and Crafts style in Edinburgh, commissioned by the owner of the Scotsman newspaper in the 1880s to house local workers. Walk under the high arches of Thomas Telford’s 1832 Dean Bridge towards St Bernard’s Well, a pretty Roman-style folly with a statue of Hygeia, the ancient Greek goddess of health.

Arriving in Stockbridge, perhaps pause in one of its excellent cafes, before crossing Deanhaugh Road to steep steps where the route continues. This section curves around some of Edinburgh’s distinctive “colony houses”, built for artisans and skilled workers between 1850 and 1910. Ahead you’ll see the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – add a loop if you have time (free entry, donations welcome).

Otherwise, the path forks right to follow the river. At a junction signed for Rocheid Path, keep right to steep steps to Brandon Terrace. Cross to Warriston Road, a high walkway built as part of flood defences. From here, the route skirts the wooded edges of St Mark’s Park to the wildlife-rich Coalie Park – keep an eye out for more Gormleys and, if you’re lucky, kingfishers.

Our walk ends in Leith, where the river widens and is dotted with restaurants, bars and delis. For a cosy pub lunch head to the Roseleaf, a welcoming family-run pub, with excellent home-cooked food. The cullen skink is legendary and the all-day big breakfast, served in a sizzling skillet, is hard to beat.
Ailsa Sheldon

Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, to Seaton Sluice, Northumberland

Distance 3 miles
Duration 2 hours
Start Lido di Meo’s beach shack
Finish The Delaval Arms

Two Octobers ago, a storm turned Whitley Bay seafront into a hazardous foam party, then dragged about a metre of sand out to sea. Whenever I return home, once or twice a year, I still do a double-take every time I see the sunken beach and marvel at the newly exposed sandstone, ripe sea glass and pebbles of coal. I’m always on the hunt for a few standout pieces to add to my shelf of beach finds back in my landlocked Madrid apartment.

On a still, sunny morning at low tide, the shoreline glitters with wildness. I spot a crab strutting along the water’s edge, then burying itself alongside looping sandworms. Crows survey the scene just as closely, before zigzagging between the rocks in search of their salty prey. I look out to sea and see a creche of gull chicks bobbing up and down on the gentle waves, flying off in fright when a seal pops up for air. I look inland and tune into an orchestra of speckled starlings chirrupping around the Lido di Meo beach shack and begin my walk north up the sand, the mild sun warming my back.

At low tide, a good stretch of this route can be done on the beach. When the sand runs out, simply head up to the promenade and let the footpath guide you onward to St Mary’s Lighthouse, on its own tiny island and accessible only at low tide. I’ve always wished there was a pub on this poetic rocky outcrop, but that would have brought this pub-bound winter story to an abrupt end, missing arguably the best bit.

Leave the island, climb up to the clifftops and catch your breath while enjoying a panoramic view of the lighthouse below, interrupted only by fluffy coastal grasses bowing in the North Sea gusts. Check the tide times and, if you get it right, you can watch the water engulf the path to St Mary’s Island, rendering it an offshore Northumbrian outpost until low tide returns.

From here, almost every northbound footpath leads you to the Delaval Arms, a Grade II-listed building dating back to 1748 and the first pub you’ll encounter as you cross into Northumberland. Over the years, the pub’s interior has been modernised yet has never lost its cosy charm. The brass‑railed bar, log fire and dark wood‑panelled walls and ceilings still anchor the snug rooms, while colourful soft furnishings and a lively menu have brought it gracefully up to date.

The old sandstone building sits a coal pebble’s throw from the border with North Tyneside, so I settle in beside the log fire, wine in hand, and reflect on how my ancestors once fought over the very land where I now sit in complete comfort.
Leah Pattem

Llanthony Priory, Bannau Brycheiniog

Distance 6 miles
Duration 3 hours
Start/finish Llanthony Priory

Llanthony Priory, nestled in the Vale of Ewyas, makes for an enticing base to explore the Black Mountains, here in the easternmost part of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons).

The priory was founded in the early years of the 12th century by William de Lacy, a Norman knight who was said to have been so taken with this remote location that he immediately renounced the way of the sword for the life of a hermit. Some stories suggest he was inspired by Dewi Sant (Saint David), who sought tranquillity in this same place in the sixth century.

Today, the priory is just a ruined shell, but the allure of Llanthony, flanked by steep glacial ridges, endures. Particularly energetic walkers like to embrace the 16-mile loop out along Offa’s Dyke Path to Hay Bluff and Lord Hereford’s Knob, before tracking back along the Cambrian Way trail. I, however, have a more modest tramp in mind – a 6-mile circular walk that will get me back to the priory’s Cellar Bar just in time for lunch (served from 12.30pm to 2pm on weekends during the winter months). With its whitewashed vaulted stone ceilings and wooden benches, this snug will provide a cosy reward for whatever the Welsh weather may have in mind.

My route embraces the tough stuff first – a short but sharp ascent following the Beacons Way walking trail up Cwm Bwchel to Bâl Bach (a lower section of the 607-metre Bâl Mawr). Viewing the route from Llanthony, you may be tempted to head straight to the pub. Don’t be put off, though, because the views from the top of the ridgeway are a more than sufficient reward for the climb you’ve undertaken. It’s a clear day and the nearby peaks of Sugar Loaf and Skirrid Fawr stand out against the blue-and-white clouded sky. Above Llanthony Priory, on the other side of the valley, a long treeless ridgeway connects Hatterrall Hill with Hay Bluff. Further up the Vale of Ewyas lies Capel-y-Ffin, once the summer grange for the canons of the priory. It was here that beatnik poet Allen Ginsberg wrote his acid-enabled Wales Visitation – his neo-romantic riff on Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey.

From Bâl Bach, I follow the Cambrian Way south until I reach a sharp left fork into Coed Tŷ Canol. Down in the western valley lies Saint Issui in Patricio, a medieval church named after another hermit holy man and renowned for its 10th-century font and intricately carved 15th-century wooden screen. A detour to Saint Issui is tempting, but will have to wait for another walk. This morning, it’s time to descend off the ridgeway following forestry tracks and woodland paths back to Llanthony. A little over three hours after I began, I emerge from Llanthony Wood into open fields and the stone facade of the priory comes into view. A pint of Felinfoel Double Dragon beckons. Surely Ginsberg, and maybe even William de Lacy, would approve.
Matthew Yeomans

The 5-star resort has won Europe’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort at the World Travel Awards for the second year running, and lucky guests can enjoy a wide range of facilities that include a whopping 10 pools

A luxury hotel nestled on a peninsula in Corfu has grabbed the title of Europe’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort at the World Travel Awards for the second year running.

Ikos Odisia bagged the prestigious award in 2024 and has won again in 2025 for its resort situated on the tranquil eastern coast of the island, within the serene Dassia Bay area. Considering this modern resort only welcomed its first guests in 2023, it’s quite an achievement. So, what sets this all-inclusive holiday apart from the rest?

When you’re holidaying at an all-inclusive resort, a top-notch pool is a must-have, and Ikos Odisia doesn’t disappoint with a staggering 10 heated outdoor pools to pick from. There’s also a splash pool for the little ones and an indoor pool in the spa area.

And if you prefer your own space, rooms with private pools are on offer, including brand new three and four-bedroom villas set to launch in summer 2026, reports the Express.

Once you’ve claimed your sunlounger, you can simply sit back and bask in the sunshine, with towel service and waiting staff on hand to deliver your chosen cocktail. The same high standard of service extends to the hotel’s sandy beach, decked out with cushioned loungers and parasols, ensuring you can settle in comfortably after a refreshing dip in the azure sea.

Another spot to relax is the resort’s opulent spa, which boasts a thermal suite featuring a sauna and steam bath, a spa pool with stunning sea views, and an array of high-end treatments. If you’re holidaying with little ones and fancy some peace, kids’ clubs are on hand for children aged six months and up, offering both morning and afternoon sessions.

For those under four, there’s an additional charge for the creche. However, for 4-12-year-olds, the kids’ club is part of the package and provides a vast selection of activities to keep them entertained all day.

Guests can also book activities like paddleboarding, yoga classes, tennis, or a round of golf. Complimentary bike hire is available if you fancy exploring the peninsula, and the resort can organise electric car hire should you wish to venture further afield.

Dassia boasts numerous stunning beaches, offering popular activities from sailing to water skiing, so it’s well worth taking some time to explore.

When it comes to all-inclusive dining, many might envision chaotic buffets, but at Ikos Odisia, you’re spoilt for choice. While a Mediterranean buffet is available for all-day dining, there are also seven à la carte restaurants serving a diverse range of cuisine, including Greek, Spanish, Peruvian, and Asian options, complemented by an impressive premium wine list.

Naturally, it’s always nice to venture out from the resort in the evenings to sample some local cuisine. As part of your all-inclusive package, you can take advantage of the Dine Out option at three local restaurants. This allows you to experience the local cuisine and soak up the town’s atmosphere without any additional cost.

As dusk falls, why not pop into one of the resort’s cocktail bars for a pre-dinner drink?

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The hotel also offers a variety of entertainment options, ranging from live music to fireworks displays, as well as beach parties to fully embrace those balmy summer nights. For more information about Ikos Odisia and to make a booking, visit their official website.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The world’s longest suspension bridge is currently in Turkey but a new record could be held if the government in Italy gets its way with its hugely ambitious Messina Bridge project

The world’s longest suspension bridge has been given the green light – and it could prove hugely popular with Brits. Just four months ago, the Italian government’s plans to build the longest suspension bridge in the world was approve. It would connect the mainland region of Calabria to Sicily.

However, a lot can happen in that time. The controversial Messina Bridge project, which would cost a staggering £11.7bn, faced a huge stumbling back last month, meaning it is once again on hold. But more on that shortly.

If the bridge ever gets built along the Strait of Messina, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni still intends, it would be a hugely ambitious infrastructure challenge that has been talked about in Italy for decades.

The colossal bridge, consisting of two towers stretching 400-metres (1,300 feet), would span an incredible 3.3km (2.05 miles). Three lanes of traffic would sit either side of two railway lines in the middle.

It would be particularly welcomed by Brits travelling in Italy, because it would cut their journey to Sicily to just ten minutes, compared to taking the ferry, which can take a lot longer than the 30 minutes crossing when you factor in the immense queuing at peak times.

Speaking earlier this year, Meloni said: “It is not an easy task but we consider it an investment in Italy’s present and future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense.”

Transport minister Matteo Salvini spoke in August that the goal was to have it built between 2032 and 2033. He also boasted that 120,000 jobs a year would be created, something he said would bring economic growth to the poor regions of Sicilia and Calabria, which is on the tip of Italy’s boot.

Rome was given the approval for the project in August after years of the plans being scrapped. One of the biggest reasons plans have been halted historically was concerns of mafia fraud, including worries about taxpayers’ money being siphoned off by the Sicilian and Calabrian gangsters.

Other concerns have repeatedly been raised about environmental damage, cost and safety, and given the region is one of the most seismically active areas in the Mediterranean, designers promised the Strait of Messina Bridge would be able to withstand earthquakes.

However, last month, yet another setback was reported, after an Italian court ruled the bridge would go against EU environmental and tender rules.

The Court of Auditors ruling concluded: “The assumptions regarding the various ‘reasons of public interest’ are not validated by technical bodies and are not supported by adequate documentation.”

But the Italian government is refusing to give up and has vowed to review the ruling carefully and continue with its ambitions of making the bridge a reality.

As well as still having to convince the Italian Court of Auditors and both national and EU environmental agencies, there would also be pushback from the 4,000 residents who live either side of the Strait.

Their homes would be at risk of demolition and this could mean legal challenges regarding having to abandon their properties.

As it stands, the current world’s longest suspension bridge is the 915 Canakkale Bridge in Turkey – which connects Asia to Europe and takes six minutes to cross.

Construction across the passage of water (Dardanelles Strait) started in 2017 and it only became open to the public three years ago. Journey times have been cut by up to 93%.

This means 90-minute ferry trips can be avoided by using the bridge that starts in Gelibolu, Turkey, which is based on the European side of the country, to the Asian town of Lapseki.

A British travel expert has shared the location of what she believes to be the most beautiful place on Earth, advising others of five things to know before planning a visit to the breathtaking scenery

Following her visit to what she hailed as the “most beautiful place on Earth”, a travel expert has compiled a list of five essential pointers for anyone wanting to experience this breathtaking destination themselves. Emma Ansley Knight turned to TikTok after returning from the Brazil-Argentina border in South America, describing her journey as “such a bucket list moment”.

“Literally felt a tear come down my face when I stood over the Devil’s Throat waterfall for the first time,” she added. “Just amazing how powerful nature can be.” She went on to explain that the Brazilian side of her destination offers roughly a 1.5km walk with “beautiful panoramic views” of the cascades, which she suggests tackling first.

“Someone said that from the Brazilian side you can see the falls, and from the Argentinian side you can feel the falls, which I thought was a great way of describing it,” Emma said. The Argentinian side is quite different, however, featuring multiple walking routes and providing more of a “full day experience”, she added.

Her destination? Iguazu Falls. Also referred to as Iguaçu Falls, it sits on the Iguazu River and forms part of the world’s largest waterfall network.

“If you want to see the falls at their absolute fullest, you are best off going in the rainy season, which is roughly between November and March,” Emma advised.

“We went in December and just before that it had rained so much that the flow of the falls was five times higher than usual.”

She went on to describe the Devil’s Throat, the most impressive cascade at Iguazu Falls. “You can see the water thundering down it from the Brazilian side,” she said.

“And on the Argentinian side, you can head along a walkway and stand pretty much right at the top of it – and wow, what an experience that was.”

Regarding accommodation options, Emma outlined several choices. “On the Brazil side, you have Foz do Iguaçu, which is where we stayed. And on the Argentina side there’s Puerto Iguazu – and if your budget allows, you can even stay in the National Park itself.”

Emma concluded by reminding visitors that crossing from one side of the falls to the other requires passing through border control, meaning you must make sure you have your passport with you.

Iguazu National Park achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1986 due to its exceptional natural splendour. Its website advises: “The semicircular waterfall at the heart of this site is some 80m high and 2,700m in diameter and is situated on a basaltic line spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil.

“Made up of many cascades producing vast sprays of water, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The surrounding subtropical rainforest has over 2,000 species of vascular plants and is home to the typical wildlife of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and caymans.”

To get to the destination from Brazil, you can catch a flight from either Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro to the local airport, Aeropuerto Internacional de Foz do Iguaçu. The journey from Rio takes roughly two hours, while flights from Sao Paulo shave off about 15 minutes.

Alternatively, if you’re travelling from Buenos Aires in Argentina, you can fly directly to the Aeropuerto Internacional de Puerto Iguazu. This flight is slightly quicker, clocking in at around one hour and 50 minutes.

More than 40 million Americans under winter storm warnings or weather advisories as heavy snow expected.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled and delayed in the United States due to winter storm Devin, airline monitoring website FlightAware reports, dealing a blow to air travel during peak holiday time.

A total of 1,581 flights “within, into or out of the” US were cancelled and 6,883 delayed as of 4pm US Eastern Time (21:00 GMT) on Friday, according to FlightAware, which describes itself as the world’s largest flight tracking data company.

The delays and cancellations came as the US National Weather ⁠Service warned of winter storm Devin causing “hazardous travel conditions” and heavy snow forecast across parts of the Midwest and northeast.

More than 40 million Americans were under winter storm warnings or weather advisories on Friday, plus another 30 million under flood or storm advisories in California, where a so-called atmospheric river has brought a deluge of rain.

New York City, the largest US city, was bracing for up to 250mm (10 inches) of snow overnight on Friday, the most expected in four years. Temperatures were forecast to drop into the weekend when an Arctic blast is expected to swoop down from Canada.

New York’s John F Kennedy airport, ⁠Newark Liberty international airport and LaGuardia airport warned travellers of potential delays or cancellations. More than half of the flight cancellations and delays took place at these three airports, according to FlightAware.

JetBlue Airways cancelled 225 flights on Friday, the most among the US carriers, closely followed by Delta Air Lines, which cancelled 212 flights. Republic Airways cancelled 157 flights, while 146 were cancelled by American Airlines and 97 by United Airlines.

“Due to winter storm Devin, JetBlue has cancelled approximately 350 flights today and tomorrow, primarily in the Northeast where JetBlue has a large operation,” a JetBlue spokesperson told the Reuters news agency.

On the US West Coast, powerful winter storms brought the wettest Christmas season to Southern California in 54 years.

There was still a risk of more flash flooding and mudslides on Friday despite slackening rain around Los Angeles, the National Weather Service warned.

Firefighters rescued more than 100 people on Thursday in Los Angeles County, with one helicopter pulling 21 people from stranded cars, officials said.

Surrounded by a stunning coastline, the UK has some breathtaking beaches to visit – here are five of the best hotels to stay at which make the most of their magical seaside locations

If you are dreaming of escaping the chaos of everyday modern life but don’t want to travel abroad, the UK has some idyllic beaches and beautiful coastline destinations to explore.

Treat yourself to a well-deserved break at a spot Queen Victoria compared to a scene from a fairytale ballet, try your luck at dolphin and seal spotting or relax in acres of subtropical gardens above a sandy cove before snorkelling in crystal clear waters.

From balmy Cornwall and sunny Devon to the remote Isle of Harris via Snowdonia National Park, the new Good Hotel Guide shared with us this year’s five Editor’s Choice picks for the best seaside hotels, which offer something for everyone.

With ‘all the comforts one could possibly desire’, the Ashworth family’s much-loved hotel stands in two-acre subtropical gardens above sandy Carne Beach in the unspoilt National Trust landscape of the Roseland Peninsula. Appealing to guests of all ages, with its country-house comforts and timeless charms, it is perfect for multi-generational family stays. The well-trained, friendly staff ‘make it so special’ say Guide readers.

The least-pricey country-view bedrooms have comfy seating and such pleasing touches as fresh flowers and fruit, magazines, a Roberts radio and Penhaligon bath products. Facilities include a lounge, drawing room, sun lounge, bar, library, conservatory and gym, plus indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and croquet. There is a lift, and public rooms have access for a wheelchair user. Days can be spent building sandcastles, investigating rock pools, snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, walking the Southwest Coast Path or waterborne exploration aboard the hotel’s motor launch Alice Rose.

You can dine à la carte in the Quarterdeck seafood brasserie, on the terrace, or in the dining room from a five-course fixed-price menu, where silver service, and hors d’oeuvres and cheese trolleys hark back to a more civilised age, and “being able to choose from a sumptuous selection of puds is true luxury”. They serve cream teas (of course), a cracking Sunday lunch, and early supper for children under seven. Dogs are allowed in the bedrooms and gardens, and Carne is one of the few beaches locally that permits dogs all year round, though be sure to follow the Canine Code.

Country-view doubles from £406.

Walls of windows afford glorious Atlantic views from Emma Stratton’s fun hotel on the clifftop above a sheltered, sandy beach with caves and rockpools. Built in the Californian Modern style, with Scandi-inspired interiors, it was launched by Emma’s father, a farmer and engineer, in 1959, and, while evolving with the decades, it still reflects his passion for sustainability.

This is very much a child-friendly family affair with spacious sea and countryside-facing bedrooms, some sleeping three or four. In a separate building, apartment suites for four to six guests have a separate bedroom or bunkroom for the kids, a living area and a Juliet balcony or a patio (choose a ground-floor apartment and the dog can come too). Two-hour sessions for children under five are offered in the play-space crèche, with a kids’ club for over-fives, so parents have a bit of a breathing space, perhaps for spa treatments, wellness classes or a steep in the hot tub in the sensory spa garden.

An all-day menu in the Wild Café caters to every taste, with nibbles, salads, sandwiches, pies and grills, moules frites, fish and chips, risotto… Adults can sip cocktails in the bar and on the terrace, with wine tastings and sophisticated dining in Ogo restaurant. Menus reflect the hotel’s values of locality and seasonality, with such dishes as whole lemon sole with mussel butter, rock samphire and elderflower caper sauce; Mora Farm roasted cabbage with smoked potato, Cornish gouda and potato skins. Walk the Coast Path to sharpen your appetite.

B&B doubles from £129 .

Centred on a cosy, beamed pub in a stunning situation above Babbacombe Beach, Lana de Savary’s dog-friendly spa hotel is a resort in its own right. “It’s a beautiful spot,” noted Queen Victoria as she sketched the scene from offshore, “…red cliffs and rocks with wooded hills like Italy and reminding one of a ballet or play where nymphs appear – such rocks and grottoes, with the deepest sea on which there was no ripple.”

The descent by road is a little hairy but there are moorings for yachting folk who come by water. Guests have a choice of ten coastal-chic inn rooms and suites, some for a family, as well as eight beach huts, beach suites and fishermen’s cottages. All rooms have a mesmerising sea view and are supplied with an espresso machine, a decanter of sloe gin, and Temple Spa bath products, and have a private terrace or balcony from which to spot dolphins and wave to Sammy the seal. The Shell Suite has a kitchenette, log burner and patio. Beach huts have a mezzanine bedroom, a waterfall shower, bifold doors to a decking area. Check for late availability for surprisingly low prices.

Dinner in the scenic restaurant might include Brixham crab and mussels, steak and ale pie, fish and chips, courgette pappardelle with smoked mozzarella and wild-garlic pesto. When the sun shines, they host lobster barbecues with live music, and days can be spent paddleboarding, sea kayaking, on mackerel fishing trips and generally messing about in boats.

B&B doubles from £175.

Perennially popular with readers, some of whom will have known it from childhood, this long-established hotel, in a hillside location, set back from the road, was founded at the dawn of the Edwardian era and received its first paying guests in 1904. Originally a somewhat eccentric mock-Tudor-cum-château edifice, for more than a century it was owned by the Cave family, who expanded and modernised it, with a 1960s facelift, and the addition of an extra floor in the 2000s. So it was that, when they sold it in October 2025, BLS UK Hotels acquired not just a hotel but a legacy of good will, and the new owners are pledged to retain the same staff and same values. This will be important to a faithful following who want continuity not fad and fashion, home comforts not hipster vibes.

The location is “fabulous”, overlooking golf course, dunes and sandy beach. The amenities are excellent, with three sea-view lounges for afternoon tea, a tennis court, nine-hole golf course, heated indoor swimming pool and spa bath. Dogs and kids are welcome. Spacious bedrooms, some for a family, with sea or hillside views, are decorated in coastal colours and have ample seating.

You can order from a lounge menu, while, in the restaurant (dress code smart casual), the menu features such dishes as garlic and thyme roast chicken with thyme jus, beef medallions with wild mushrooms and café de Paris butter, baked Mediterranean vegetable and goat’s cheese cannelloni.

B&B double from £270.

Forget promenades and bandstands, crowded beaches and candy floss, amusement arcades and bucket-and-spade shops – only Machair and sheep-grazed pasture lie between Patricia and Tim Martin’s Georgian manse and the Atlantic, in this sublime, end-of-the-world location on the Isle of Harris, against a backdrop of heather-clad hills. It provides the cosy ambience you want after outdoorsy days of hiking, wildlife spotting, swimming, surfing and sailing, with a library and first-floor drawing room where you can take afternoon tea by an open fire.

Maud the pug, Brodie the spaniel and moggies Mister and Wee Hamish are quite amenable to sharing the library, but drawing-room and dining rooms are out of bounds for visiting hounds, who are charged at just £25 a stay (maximum two). Bedrooms (three in an annexe) are traditional cottage style with patterned wallpapers, solid wood furniture and pretty china. All have views of garden, beach or hills; two have sitting areas with sofa and wrap-around windows.

An early supper is laid on for children before guests gather convivially for drinks and a set-price dinner of such sophisticated dishes as langoustine bisque with rouille and smoked scallop mayonnaise; roast quail and porcini risotto. A separate menu for vegans and vegetarians might include timbale of ratatouille, red pepper sabayon; Puy lentil, fennel and celeriac casserole, Strathdon blue cheese, honey and truffle vinaigrette. A hearty breakfast brings freshly squeezed orange juice, organic porridge with cream, Stornoway kipper, a full Scottish. They’re closed now until April, so look (and book) ahead.

Doubles, B&B, £315 per night for stays of 2 or 3 nights.

Dec. 26 (UPI) — Winter Storm Devin is slowing road traffic and impacting flights amid post-holiday travel in the Great Lakes and Northeast, while torrential rain and localized flooding are affecting travel in California.

Airlines for America estimated a record 52.6 million airline passengers from Dec. 19 through Jan. 5, with Friday and Saturday seeing the most, CNBC reported.

The record number of flight passengers means a large number of passengers will be affected by flight cancellations and delays due to the stormy weather.

A total of 5,902 flights were delayed and 1,865 canceled so far at U.S. airports as of 5 p.m. EST on Friday, according to FlightAware.

The airport affected the most is John F. Kennedy International, with 153 outbound flights canceled and 143 delayed, and another 220 inbound flights canceled and 67 delayed and affecting about 45% of inbound and outbound flights.

Newark Liberty International in New Jersey has 104 outbound flights canceled and 163 delayed, and 140 inbound flights are canceled and 98 delayed.

New York City’s LaGuardia Airport also has a significant number of flights impacted, with 87 outbound flights canceled and 97 delayed, and 153 inbound flights canceled and 43 delayed.

The airlines most impacted are Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Republic and Southwest, but virtually all airlines have scheduled flights affected, so travelers are advised to check well ahead and watch for updates before traveling to respective airports.

AAA earlier forecast 109.5 million people would travel more than 50 miles by car to reach their holiday destinations over Christmas, millions of whom could encounter very poor driving conditions while heading home.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain in the Northeast and Great Lakes have triggered an ice storm warning in central and western Pennsylvania, while southern New York and the Tri-State area are subject to a winter storm warning into Saturday.

Stormy weather also continues in Southern California and along the West Coast, with heavy rainfall causing flooding, mudslides and debris flows in low-lying areas and snowstorms at higher elevations.

IF you’re ready to look ahead to 2026 and start planning your family trips for spring and summer, you might be looking at big names like Butlin’s, Haven and Eurocamp.

My family of five has had some great breaks at all three, but prices can quickly add up – especially if you need to travel during the school holidays. So how can you bag a bargain and get away for less?

Here’s my top tips for shaving some money off your booking, so you’ll have more cash to splash when you’re on your break. 

Before you book

There’s a few tricks of the trade that work across all three brands, whether you are sucker for a staycay or fancy a foreign foray.

The first thing to do is to check out any discount schemes available to you, to to see what savings they offer. 

A Blue Light Card, which is available to teachers, emergency services and military personnel, offers money off holidays at Butlin’s, Haven and Eurocamp.

Costing £5 for two years, I usually save about £20 to £30 per break, which all adds up if you’re going on a few getaways over the course of the year. 

If you have roadside cover with the AA or are in a scheme like Kids Pass, they often have holiday discounts – including £50 off at Haven currently.

Cashback sites like Quidco or Topcashback are also a great way to claw back a bit of holiday cash.

By signing up to one of these websites, you get a percentage of your spend back by clicking through a link to book at Butlin’s, Haven or Eurocamp.

You can also sometimes get an added bonus on top, especially during sales periods like Black Friday or the January sales.

I’ve had a payout of almost £50 on a Butlin’s booking before, although it can take several months for cashback to be tracked and appear in your account, so this method isn’t instant as an upfront discount.

Supermarket loyalty schemes partner with some holiday chains and are a good way of making money you spend on your food shop work harder for you.

If you’ve saved a stash of Tesco Clubcard points, these can be converted into vouchers to use at either Eurocamp or Butlin’s and are worth double what they would be if spent in store.

So if you’ve got £10 of points, you’ll get a voucher worth £20 to spend.

Bear in mind that using Clubcard vouchers can tie you in to paying the list price for your holiday, so you do need to be a bit savvy and work out if a discount code would save you more than your Clubcard points are worth.

If you don’t shop at Tesco, you could collect Nectar points when you’re booking with Eurocamp and those points can then be spent on Eurostar or British Airways to travel abroad at a later date.

Price promises and spreading the cost

There’s lots to be said for booking early and spreading the cost of your holidays, whichever of the big names you’re using.

I’m currently paying a bit each month towards holidays at both Haven and Butlin’s in 2026, because both of them have a price promise that means you’ll get money back if your holiday costs less at a later date.

You do need to keep checking to see if you’ve bagged the best price, but if you’ve booked direct and find your holiday cheaper on either Haven or Butlin’s websites, they will refund you the difference.

I’ve seen some people enjoy payouts of hundreds of pounds using the price promise, so it is worth keeping an eye out in the run-up to your break.

If you’re booking Eurocamp, you can also pay in instalments.

If you book for 2026 before the end of January, you’ll put down a 15 per cent deposit when booking, then pay 10 per cent when you reach 150 days before your departure.

The remainder is then split in two payments at three months before your break and 56 days before departure.

Return guests can get a discount, particularly if you’re booking more than one break in the same season, so that’s worth a look before you book.

Saving big bucks at Butlin’s

There’s lots of ways to save at Butlin’s, so you just need to give yourself time to look at all the options and pick which one is right for you.

With three sites (at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness) and lots of different types of accommodation, including room-only and self-catering, there can be a huge disparity in prices for the same week, depending on your destination.

I also find it’s worth checking out the last-minute deals at Butlin’s, as the prices do drop as you get closer to the departure date. 

But if you like to get a booking in your diary sooner rather than later, you can make the most of the repeat booking discount while on site or within 30 days of a recent stay at Butlin’s.

My Haven holiday hacks

Once you’ve booked a break, it does pay to keep checking the offers section of the website to see what comes up, particularly before the Haven holiday season starts up in March. 

There’s been great deals by bulk-buying activities or food and drink in recent years, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Haven introduces this year. 

My favourite from recent trips was a bulk-buy bundle where you got the cheapest session free if you spent £45 or more on activities in one go. 

That meant that if you booked three spaces on a £20 activity, you would actually only end up paying £40, as one of the spaces would be free. 

There have also been some fantastic food and drink offers, including a preloaded card that you could use in the bars and restaurants, which was topped up by an extra 10 per cent if you bought it before your break. 

I’ll be keeping an eye out in the next month or so to see if either of those offers return this year in time for my summer staycay.

Saving your euros at Eurocamp

We’ve had some lovely trips abroad to holiday parks in the Netherlands, Spain and France, but Eurocamp is just one way of booking these sites. 

It’s worth considering whether you can get a better deal by booking direct with the individual park or if you’d prefer to pay a bit extra for some of the perks that come with a Eurocamp booking.

This includes extras such as a holiday rep who speaks English or the ability to change your dates, destination or accommodation once you’ve booked.

We enjoyed an October half-term stay at Duinrell in the Netherlands a few years ago and only paid £80 for the week.

But we did discover that you had to pay extra to get into the swimming pool on site.

So it may have been better to book direct with Duinrell, as then entry to the waterpark would have been included and we could have chosen from tents, caravans and lodges for our accommodation. 

Another top tip is to check out the Sun £9.50 holidays abroad, which we made the most of when we had younger children and were still travelling a lot in term time.

While we booked through the Sun, the actual booking is then passed to a holiday provider like Eurocamp if you’re going abroad or Parkdean if you’re staying in the UK.

So you can sometimes get the same accommodation and facilities as you would for a Eurocamp holiday but for a fraction of the price, if you pick a break where you only pay £9.50 per person without any added extras. 

Bear in mind that you sometimes need to pay extra to add bed linen or towels to your booking abroad.

You can bring your own if you don’t want to pay, but that’s only really an option if you’re traveling by car and not by plane, when you’re trying to keep luggage to a minimum.

So whether you off to the summer sun abroad or you’re on a Brit bucket-and-spade break, now could be the perfect time to get your family getaway booked for 2026, whatever your budget.

The city has cosy cabins, scenic walks and the chance to explore connected islands.

If you’re on the hunt for a snug winter weekend escape, the UK offers an abundance of options. With so many stunning locations to choose from, it can be quite the task to decide.

From vibrant cities to ancient woodlands and charming villages, the UK is brimming with beautiful spots. However, one location has been singled out as the ideal winter retreat.

The team at Go Outdoors have recently unveiled their top choices for a winter escapade, and the favourite is a delightful blend of urban and rural attractions that cater to all tastes.

Using data on snowfall, woodland walks, cosy pubs with log fires, and cabins, they’ve ranked the top UK adventure destinations – and the Scottish city of Inverness has emerged as the champion.

Boasting over 200 winter cabins and a wealth of breathtaking walking trails, it’s not hard to see why Inverness clinched the top spot.

One of the most favoured walks is the Inverness Castle and River Circular, which guides you on a stunning 4.5km journey through some of Scotland’s most majestic landscapes, reports the Express.

During your hour-and-a-half stroll, you’ll also pass by the iconic Inverness Castle, nestled in the city centre.

Inverness even provides the opportunity for island hopping – without ever having to leave the city.

The Ness Islands are a chain of islands in the river, all interconnected by beautiful Victorian-era footbridges.

You can start on one side of the riverbank and end up on the other, meandering through the islands and spotting sculptures along the way. It’s the perfect way to spend a wintry day exploring.

Though Inverness is a small city that’s easy to navigate, it also serves as an excellent base for exploring the wider Highlands.

Just beyond the city limits, you’ll find the renowned Loch Ness, home to its elusive, legendary creature – perhaps you’ll be the lucky one to spot her.

EVER wondered the tips and tricks that cabin crew have picked up along the way as they travel the world for a living?

After all, no one knows the ins and outs of travelling smart better than cabin crew.

From reusable fashion choices to tiny gadgets that make life on the go easier, these are the 12 essentials that cabin crew always pack.

And the best part? Some of these essentials are under £1.

Shampoo bar

Here’s a handy tip to max out your liquid items allowance.

If you’re travelling with hand luggage only, swapping out liquids for solids can make all the difference.

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Experts told Bristol Live it’s worth switching to “solid products like shampoo bars, toothpaste tablets, and deodorant sticks to maximise your liquid allowance.”

Not only do they save space and hassle at airport security, but they also last longer and are spill-proof — perfect for stress-free packing.

It’s also ideal for longer trips, since one bar can last for dozens of washes.

This shampoo bar from Foamie is only 50p.

Packing cubes

Take a look inside any crew member’s luggage and you’ll almost always find this one item: packing cubes.

Packing cubes can save you a ton of extra space in your suitcase.

And if you opt for compression packing cubes, some can save you up to 60% more room!

These lightweight organisers also keep your belongings neatly separated, so you can find what you need without tearing through your suitcase.

Many frequent flyers swear by them for maximising space and keeping outfits wrinkle-free.

They’re also a lifesaver if your bag gets opened at security; everything stays tidy and contained.

Once you’ve tried them, you’ll never go back to chaotic suitcase stuffing.

This set from Primark is particularly stylish, and at only £8 you’re paying £1 per cube.

Compression socks and sleeves

Carin Ryan, with 10 years as cabin crew and six million air miles under her belt, revealed that compression sleeves are the “biggest game changer” when flying.

“Think about the extra walking, unfamiliar sleeping accommodations, and cramped airplane seats all working together to make for miserable body aches and pains on your trip” she said in Travel and Leisure.

“Circulation is your best friend in helping alleviate everything that ails you”.

Compression sleeves improve your circulation by supporting the blood flow in your body.

“Compression sleeves are great as a preventative measure or to put on after a long day exploring.”

These funky compression socks from Koala Socks look just like regular socks, and are only £8.99.

Portable kettle

Have you ever heard of a portable kettle? Well, now you have!

Flight attendant Krystal (@krystal_lilian) shared the item as one of her must-haves in a TikTok post.

“Trip is cancelled without these” she writes.

A portable kettle might sound like a niche gadget, but once you’ve travelled with one, you’ll never look back.

They’re perfect for tea or coffee lovers, guaranteeing you can have a proper cuppa wherever you are.

Hotel kettles can be questionable at best, with some travellers even using them to wash their underwear.

They’re often compact and lightweight, as many models fold down to save space in your luggage and boil just enough water for one or two cups.

It’s also a great option for campers, road trippers, or anyone who likes the comfort of a hot drink before bed.

This collapsible option from Amazon is just £7.98.

Sewing kit

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re packing, but a small sewing kit can be a real life saver.

easyJet cabin manager Dave Morris always makes sure to bring one.

“I always pack a travel sewing kit — you never know when a needle and thread will save the day,” he told Condé Nast Traveller.

“Safety pins are incredibly useful too. They can replace a broken zip pull, add extra security to a bag, or even help rethread the drawstring on a hoodie.”

Whether it’s a popped button before dinner or a torn hem in your favourite dress, bringing a sewing kit can spare you the stress of a wardrobe malfunction abroad.

Look for a compact version with needles, thread, scissors and pins – it takes up barely any space, but can fix just about anything in a pinch.

This one from Waitrose is only £4 and is a handy addition to your packing list.

Portable cutlery

Flight attendant Amy Cooper (@amycooperxoxo) listed a reusable knife and fork as part of her “crew essentials” in a post on TikTok.

Reusable travel cutlery might not sound like an essential, but it’s one of those items you’ll be thankful for time and again.

Whether you’re grabbing a supermarket salad during a layover, or picnicking on the beach – portable cutlery saves many a situation.

Most sets come neatly packed in a small case, so they won’t make a mess in your bag.

Plus they’re easy to rinse and reuse throughout your trip.

This £1.49 set from Wilko is the perfect size.

Multi-purpose scarf

Finnair cabin crew member Elina Poutanen suggests keeping it simple when packing to save yourself from overpacking.

Especially as many people now travel with cabin luggage only, it’s important to make sure that you choose the clothes you pack carefully.

“Clothes with multiple purposes are the best because you can wear them many times and for many occasions” she says.

Elina recommends “A big scarf that can be worn as a beach cover-up during the day and in the evening when it gets chilly”.

This £3.99 option from Amazon wouldn’t look amiss as a beach skirt or stylish scarf.

Travel extension lead

A travel extension lead is one of those unglamorous but genius essentials that makes travels so much easier.

Cabin crew member Heather (@onlyheather) shared this to be one her essentials with followers on TikTok.

With hotel rooms often short on plug sockets (or worse tucked behind furniture) having your own mini extension lead is a life-saver.

Being able to charge all your devices in one spot is a luxury you’ll thank yourself for later.

Many travel-friendly versions come with multiple USB ports and universal adapters, so you can power your phone, laptop, and camera all at once.

It’s especially handy for long-haul travellers juggling several gadgets or sharing a room with others.

At £3.99 from Argos, this small addition to your packing list will save you a lot of hassle.

Neck pillow

Though it seems like an obvious choice, far too many people still travel without a neck pillow.

“Neck pillows are great for long flights or any flights where you’re stuck in a middle seat” says ex-flight attendant Arina Bloom in Business Insider.

“Once you use one, you’ll never go back. It’s so much more comfortable to fall asleep — plus it saves you from accidentally waking up on your neighbor’s shoulder”.

Just make sure to buy one ahead of time to avoid expensive airport options.

This one from Flying Tiger is made of memory foam and has its own clip to attach to your luggage – and it’s only a tenner.

Mini lint roller

Virgin Atlantic crew member Sophie Firth (@sophie.firth) shared a peek inside her cabin crew topper bag with her followers on TikTok.

Sophie packs a mini lint roller, to make sure her uniform is looking spic and span at all times.

There’s nothing worse than having dust and hairs cling to your clothing, especially when needing to remain polished and presentable as possible.

A mini travel-size lint roller can be purchased for £2.89 on Amazon.

Sophie also packs a mini travel hot water bottle as she explains she is “always cold, especially in crew rest”.

Electrolytes sachet

easyJet cabin crew member Sasha Anthony (@sailwithsasha) swears by electrolyte sachets when flying.

Airplane cabins are notoriously dehydrating and the low humidity levels can leave you feeling tired, sluggish, and jet-lagged after you land.

Mixing an electrolyte sachet into your water mid-flight helps to replenish essential minerals, and keep you hydrated through the dry air and caffeine.

It’s a simple trick that keeps your energy up and your skin feeling fresher when you land.

Pop a few sachets in your bag and you’ll arrive feeling far more human – especially after a long-haul flight.

These sachets from ViDrate are 8 for £5, plenty to get you through multiple flights.

Perfume decanter

Ever wished you could bring your favourite perfume away with you, but you simply have no space for it in your luggage?

A perfume decanter is the ultimate hack for bringing your favourite scent, without lugging around a heavy bottle.

Flight attendant Nicola Findlay (@nicolafindlay_) even shared it in her “must have items” on TikTok.

“We still want to smell sweet without bringing the whole bottle” she says.

These pocket-sized bottles let you transfer a small amount of perfume into a sleek, travel-friendly container that fits easily in your hand luggage.

They help you stay within the 100ml liquid limit whilst still smelling your best.

They’re also perfect to pop in your handbag for refreshing after a long flight or before dinner.

This option from Temu is only 93p, and is easy to attach to your perfume bottle to fill up.

NEW strict customs laws have gone into effect, allowing government officials to request tourists’ DNA in some cases.

The new biometric data collection started on December 26, just ahead of the new year. 

The new rule targets non-citizens entering or leaving the US, according to government documents seen by Reuters. 

Travelers will now be subjected to facial recognition photos at the airport to help match them against existing records.

Those facial recognition pictures will be stored for up to 75 years, according to the documents. 

Under the new law, Department of Homeland Security officials may request additional biometric information, including fingerprints or DNA, from non-citizens.

The updated security measures are meant to “deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency,” according to the government.

The new biometric rules would also remove any age restrictions on facial recognition, meaning that any foreigner is now subject to the biometric measures.

Up until now, there were restrictions on who could be scanned using facial recognition.

Travelers under 14 years old and those over 79 years old were exempt from those requirements.

Biometric data has been collected from foreign visitors for years, but now the government is pushing to collect more information to tighten border security.

The new rules expand what officials are legally allowed to ask for. 

Select visitors planning to stay in the US for more than 29 days are now required to pay a $30 fee.

Those who refuse to pay the fee and be fingerprinted could be hit with a $5,000 fine.

The new rules come one day before one of the busiest travel days of the year, according to United Airlines. 

The popular airline said that December 27 is expected to be a record-breaking day in the winter travel season.

Travelers should brace for longer security lines and make sure everything they have complies with TSA rules and restrictions. 

“You will probably be waiting an extra-long time in the security line this Christmas,” Air passenger rights expert Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of SkyRefund, warned.

“There are going to be many more people than normal carrying much more stuff than usual for the Christmas season, both of which result in longer security waits.”

Most importantly, Danailov urged travelers to “check the TSA’s website” before they fly.

“Unfortunately for Christmas travellers, this scrutiny also extends to wrapped goods,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what you have wrapped, or how nicely, the TSA will unwrap anything to get a good look at it and are not always gentle in the process.”