Travel Desk

The Mirror’s Stephen Jones and his wife Charlotte braved taking their five-month-old twins on holiday for the first time – and were blown away by the resort

A few months after our twins were born we were badly in need of a holiday… somewhere distant enough to guarantee sunshine but not so far as to become a nightmare journey with two five-month-olds in tow.

With a flight time of four and a half hours, Gran Canaria seemed ideal. What we didn’t appreciate at the time we booked is how brilliantly accommodating the TUI Blue Orquidea would prove to be for young families. I’m pleased to say that a week there completely reinvigorated us but also changed our expectations of what a family holiday could be.

Like many new parents, we were worried about flying abroad with babies whose very existence is based on a routine of feeding, changing, entertaining and sleeping on repeat. Packing alone felt like preparing for a military expedition but by the time we reached the boarding gate at Gatwick – each pulling a big suitcase and pushing a travel buggy simultaneously – we felt like accomplished war veterans able to deal with any situation.

And after arriving at the hotel in a prebooked taxi transfer of just 20 mins from the airport, all our other worries soon melted away.

Set right on the seafront in Bahia Feliz on Gran Canaria’s sunny south coast, the all-inclusive TUI Blue Gran Canaria immediately radiates a relaxed atmosphere. Instead of loud entertainment and crowded spaces, the resort feels spacious, clean and remarkably calm, something any sleep-deprived parent will appreciate.

Our room was bright, modern and comfortably large enough to accommodate two cots without making us feel as though we were navigating an obstacle course every time we walked across it. Having a balcony overlooking the sea quickly became one of our favourite places to relax after putting the babies to bed each evening. Early mornings with bottles in hand somehow felt a little more manageable while watching the sunrise.

Travelling with babies means your holiday revolves around their schedule rather than your own, but this hotel made that surprisingly easy. Staff couldn’t have been more welcoming, always greeting the twins with smiles and happily offering helpful tips whenever we needed.

Meal times were relaxed and there were wide enough spaces between the tables to manoeuvre the buggies. The buffet restaurant deserves particular praise for its generous choices, meaning nobody should ever struggle to find something they like – from fresh salads and grilled meats to fish, pasta and pizza cooked to order.

Although our twins were far too young to sample the menu themselves, we were able to easily grab things we liked to keep ourselves nourished while we fed them, and families travelling with slightly older babies and toddlers seemed pleased with extensive options.

Of course, five-month-old babies with priorities of bottles, naps and cuddles don’t care so much for infinity pools or cocktail bars, but the hotel’s peaceful surroundings ticked every box.

The swimming pools were spotless, with plenty of comfortable sun loungers available throughout most of the day. We quickly settled into a rhythm that revolved around popping to the air conditioned baby lounge with changing facilities a stone’s throw from the main pool after breakfast for nappy changes, feeds and a play before hitting the loungers. Its sister hotel next door the Playa Feliz, where your wristbands are equally welcome, has a bigger splash pool for toddlers with a huge shade screen and that’s where we spent many of our afternoons.

While you are essentially doing exactly the same as you would be back home looking after newborn twins with the endless cycle of washing bottles, laundry and trying to get them to sleep, those same routines somehow became more enjoyable against a backdrop of palm trees, warm blue skies and the gentle sound of waves.

The childcare offering at a TUI Blue is arguably beyond generous if you choose to get involved. There’s baby and tots club sessions which run twice daily for children aged 0-35 months with gentle play, songs and stories and there’s more lively 45-minute playdate sessions available. The organised Little Splashers or Little Ravers sessions are self-explanatory, but our twins especially enjoyed their visit to a Baby Spa for a sensory-led pampering session with soft music and calming lights they seemed to enjoy as much as the TUI reps holding the session.

Speaking of the TUI reps, you also have the option of leaving your babies with them for a couple of hours while you enjoy some me time on a sun lounger or even pop to the gym or Club Spa, which we both managed to escape to on occasion. The open-air spa pool is actually something of a hidden gem squirreled away at the back of this hotel, but boasting a fantastic array of hydrotherapy jets where you can relax while you gaze out at the Atlantic ocean. There’s a Finnish sauna, Hammam steam room and a sanarium – or you can just pull up a lounger and relax in the sun away from the kids.

A highlight of our week was a meal out at La Taverna a la carte restaurant which is included in the all inclusive package, where they serve a variety of vibrant tapas as you watch the sun go down; in many ways a kind of special evening out we would love but find hard to achieve at home.

We weren’t racing to tick off tourist attractions or planning packed itineraries, if anything we wanted to slow down and enjoy some relative peace in the sunshine, which we achieved in batches daily. We did day trips but we were more than happy to just recline on a lounger by the side of the pool with the babies and switch off.

For any parent wondering if their first overseas holiday with young babies is worth attempting, this hotel provides a reassuring answer. Its combination of comfortable accommodation, welcoming staff, quality food and peaceful atmosphere creates an environment where families genuinely feel supported rather than merely accommodated.

Our first holiday abroad with two five-month-old twins could easily have been unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Thanks to the TUI Blue Gran Canaria, it became unforgettable for exactly the right ones – a sun-soaked reminder that life doesn’t stop when you become parents. It simply changes. We knew that having holidays after having children would be different, what we realised at the TUI Blue Gran Canaria was that it didn’t mean that they shouldn’t be relaxing.

• TUI offers seven-night holidays to Gran Canaria, Spain staying at the 4T TUI BLUE Orquídea on an all-inclusive basis from £900pp, based on 2 adults and 1 child sharing a twin room, flying from London Luton in August, and 23kg luggage per person and transfers included. tui.co.uk
• TUI Musement offers a Gran Canaria’s ‘Little Venice’ – visit Puerto de Mogan by boat from £45 per adult, £28 per child (3-12 years old) and children (0-2) go free. tuimusement.com/uk

This may help reduce a lot of travel stress – especially for families

Some airports across the UK offer perks to passengers to make the start of their trip less stressful – but they often come at an extra cost.

With holidays already expensive, many people skip the add-ons. However, not everyone realises that travellers at London Luton Airport (LLA) can pre-book a security time slot and potentially avoid the worst of the queues for free.

The Airport explains that this option is called “Prebook Security”. It boasts that this is a “FREE service that allows you to skip the security queues by reserving a 30-minute slot ahead of your arrival.”

The service is currently only available to passengers arriving at security between 3am and 3pm. Travellers can book a 30-minute security slot in advance, then on the day follow the “Prebook Security” signs to the dedicated entry point, where a staff member will be on hand to help.

Airport officials further explain: “You can pre-book this service from 4 days before your arrival, right up until 60 minutes before you arrive at security (subject to availability). Booking this service is completely free, does not require any login or registration and is available to all guests.”

Prebook Security is first-come, first-served. You’ll go through the usual checks and will be processed in the order you arrive, along with other pre-booked passengers. If you use Prebook Security, LLA says they cannot guarantee how long it will take to complete security checks through the Airport Security area.

How does Prebook Security work?

1. Book your appointment slot up to 4 days before your travel date.
2. On arrival at the airport, make your way to the security area and scan your boarding card at one of the signposted “Prebook Security” gates.
3. Upon entry to the security area, head to the left where you’ll find signs for “Prebook Security”. A member of our security team will be waiting to welcome you and scan your QR code.
4. You will then be directed to the front of the line.

Children aged four and under don’t need to be included in your group size. Children aged five and over must be included when booking.

To change or cancel your Prebook Security booking, use the “change” or “cancel” option on your booking confirmation page. You can also do this via the links in your confirmation email.

What information is required to pre-book security?

There’s no need to create an account or log in. Passengers should enter their departure date and flight details (destination, airline and flight number), plus group size. People should also provide a name and email address to receive a confirmation email containing a QR code.

If you need to check-in bags, ensure you allow plenty of time for this. The Airport stresses: “Slots are limited and may book up fast, so we recommend booking up to 4 days before your flight.”

If you are late for your appointment, don’t panic too much. The Airport reassures passengers: “Please make sure to arrive 15 minutes before or after your booking time, the QR code will still be valid.”

You can read all about the Prebook Security Terms and Conditions here. You can also read the FAQ via the Airport website here.

EXCLUSIVE: A holidaymaker was left shocked at the behaviour of fellow tourists in Benidorm as people started queueing at 6.30am for sunbeds, leaving her and her family perched on plastic chairs

A fuming mum hit out at “selfish middle-aged fellas” for hogging sunbeds as her family were forced to perch on plastic chairs during their Benidorm holiday.

Annie Redfern went away with partner Declan Nash and seven-year-old daughter Belle Redfern for a 10-night holiday in the popular Spanish resort last month.

They were staying in the hotel made popular by hit ITV sitcom Benidorm, but she slammed the middle-ages blokes who queued for hours before swarming like “ants” for sunbeds.

Annie and her family arrived at Sol Pelicanos Ocas hotel, known as Solana Hotel on the television show, but realised all the sunbeds had already been taking.

She put this down to arriving at the hotel at midday, but the mum was stunned to see people congregating to bag a coveted bed at 6.30am the following morning – despite the pool not opening until 9am.

Annie, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said: “We thought if we’re going to go to Benidorm, we might as well see what the Benidorm hotel is like.

“We arrived there at 11.30am and there were no beds but obviously at that point we just thought it was because it was midday.

“The next morning, I started seeing queues starting at 6.30am, at this point I didn’t even know what time the pool even opened. We had gone down to go and get a latte and there were just loads of people all lining up.

“I can’t believe that’s how you spend your holiday, it’s crazy. You see them go, put a towel on the bed then run off straight to the breakfast then eat the breakfast then run straight back. It was a whole routine.

“What we realised was either wives were sending their husbands or the husbands were just doing it because so many of the line was made up of middle-aged men. It was just like a sea of people.”

Annie posted about her bizarre experience on TikTok and it quickly went viral, racking up more than 192,000 views.

She said the only way to grab a sunbed without joining the huge queue was to wait until people left for their evening meal around 5pm.

The family were instead forced to resort to sitting on plastic chairs when they weren’t playing or in the pool.

Annie admitted Benidorm divides people in the UK “like Marmite”. She said: “You can just go sit at a table and obviously I’ve got a child so we’re always in the pool anyway so I don’t really get much sunbathing.

“It’s selfish. Maybe do it one or two times so you can get a spot or have a day on the sunbeds, but there was one woman and she was at the front every single day.

“They [people queueing] were speed walking and as soon as the guy would come down and open the barrier, it was like ants.”

People online slammed the situation. One wrote: “My idea of hell this is.”

Another commented: “I’d rather go to Blackpool in the winter.” A third said: “I love Benidorm but I would never lose sleep when there’s so much more you can do in Benidorm.”

Sol Pelicanos Ocas hotel was contacted for comment.

Why go now?

A thin peninsula just south of Rotterdam’s centre, Katendrecht was once at the heart of the world’s busiest port, home to continental Europe’s first Chinatown and a lively sailors’ quarter. Its later reputation as a red light district has been shrugged off – part of the city’s wider reinvention in the aftermath of extensive second world war bombing.

Still Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam’s maritime history is very much evident today, with the former headquarters of the Holland-America Line now a hotel just a short hop across the Rijnhaven Bridge. The 2012 opening of this pedestrian and bicycle bridge finally connected cut-off Katendrecht to Wilhelminapier, which was a jumping off point for transatlantic migration, and is today a major cruise terminal, with more than 100 ships departing every year.

The opening of the Fenix museum of migration last year and the reopening of the Nederlands Fotomuseum in a new location here in February have accelerated Katendrecht’s rise in status, following on from the entrepreneurs and creatives who have introduced craft breweries, food halls and design boutiques in recent years.

Former warehouses have been transformed – into the aforementioned museums among other venues – and a lively cultural and arts scene has grown as the neighbourhood has seen new residents rediscover the formerly downtrodden area.

With more big construction projects under way, Katendrecht will be transformed further over the next five years, with apartments, shops, a five-star hotel, an urban beach and, notably, the Rotterdam Centre for Dance, Danshuis, on the horizon.

Where to eat and drink

Deliplein is the place to begin – the tree-lined square lies at the heart of the old sailors’ quarter and houses more than 20 restaurants and bars. Originally home to the first Chinese restaurant in the Netherlands, Delistraat is buzzing from morning to night.

Start at Jordy’s Bakery, where flaky pastries, vegan muffins, sourdough sandwiches and speciality coffees will fuel you for the morning. Across the road in the Fenix atrium, O: Anatolian Café is run by the Michelin-starred chef Maksut Aşkar; on the menu are all-day Turkish breakfasts, meze platters, sandwiches and salads at extremely reasonable prices.

Kaapse Brouwers in the Fenix Food Factory is where the post-work crowd heads. Sit on the terrace, admire the waterfront view and explore its range of more than 20 craft beers on tap – from Belgian blonds and New England IPAs to pilsners and sours. And back on Delistraat, Café de Ouwehoer is a classic old-style pub with a nod to the area’s past – and a huge range of whiskeys to boot.

A few doors down, finish your evening at the small but perfectly formed fine-dining establishment De Matroos en Het Meisje (The Sailor and the Girl), which offers a changing daily menu. With the option of choosing from four to six courses, dependent on season and produce, dishes could be charred carrot, cured Japanese fish, creme fraiche and onion, or chicken breast with mushroom beurre blanc, blackberries and crisped rice.

Cultural experiences

Fenix is the obvious first stop. Funded by the philanthropic foundation Droom en Daad (Dream and Do), the museum of immigration opened last May in a renovated historic warehouse and finally gave Katendrecht a real focal point for visitors.

Formerly part of the world’s largest warehouse for cargo transfer, the museum reflects the fact that millions of migrants arrived at and departed from the port in search of a new life. At its heart is the Tornado, a spectacular mirrored spiral staircase, which offers 360-degree views across the neighbourhood, docks and the city. It symbolises the central theme, with architect Ma Yansong describing it as “a metaphor for the journeys of migrants”.

The industrial space is used sparingly to display photography, art and sculpture that communicate the experience of immigration, movement and displacement of peoples. It’s humbling and moving. The exhibition All Directions features more than 100 artists, with stories of the war in Kyiv and refugee camps in Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as a lifesize New York bus made from fabric.

The Family of Migrants exhibition showcases more than 200 photos from around the world, depicting the story of migration from the late 19th century to the present day. And the Suitcase Labyrinth has about 2,000 donated cases, dating from 1898 to today, with 30 audio stories detailing the unique past of some of them.

Farther down the waterfront, the newly opened Nederlands Fotomuseum is also in a renovated warehouse – formerly used to store coffee from Brazil – and is topped with a modern anodised aluminium structure. Inside, the exposed brick, rough-edged concrete and steel girders offer a striking contrast to the impressive photography on display.

The original museum opened in 2003, and the collection now comprises more than six million negatives, transparencies, prints, photo albums and other archival matter – visitors are encouraged to look in the depots and studios. Every week, thousands of images are digitised and made available online, while old and damaged photography is conserved and restored.

On the first floor, the Gallery of Honour of Dutch Photography showcases 99 distinguished photographs, selected by a group of experts, spanning 1842 to the digital era. And as you go up the central staircase, which leads all the way to the rooftop restaurant, a mosaic of projected images merely hints at the breadth and depth of photography in storage.

Where to shop

In the Bay House development, close to the Nederlands Fotomuseum, there are a number of designer fashion and vintage furniture stores. Selected With Love has “upcycled” clothing, Caesar sells designer menswear, while The Gallery by Collectors Network is a space for numerous independent dealers selling vintage design pieces – Vintage Hoarder, for example, has 1980s Belgian floor lamps, a 1970s French slate table and 1960s Italian dining chairs.

The museum shops offer the best range of unique purchases. Fenix has items created in collaboration with artists and designers as well as chocolates from Rotterdam, slippers from Greece and tea from small family-run plantations in China.

Don’t miss

Verhalenhuis Belvédère is perhaps the best place to get a sense of where Katendrecht has come from. Dating from 1894, the building was originally a cafe then a jazz club – saved from demolition, it became a cultural centre, community hub and exhibition space in 2009.

As part of its cultural programmes, community meals and storytelling events, Belvédère collects and shares the stories of Rotterdam residents, from the first Cape Verdean migrants to Jewish families and Chinese seafarers.

Where to stay

Of Hotel New York’s 72 rooms, the suites in the former offices of the Holland-America Line’s directors, overlooking the Nieuwe Maas river, and the two tower rooms are the ones to book. Rooms from €110.

On the western tip of Katendrecht, the former cruise ship SS Rotterdam is permanently moored and is now a 254-room hotel that retains much of its original styling, with wood panelling throughout, and the public spaces – bars, restaurants, theatre – are like stepping back in time. Tours are available. Rooms from €73. The five-star Eurostars hotel is expected to open in the autumn, next door to the Nederlands Fotomuseum and right by the Rijnhaven metro station, which connects easily to Rotterdam Centraal train station.

The trip was hosted by the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions

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Disneyland’s yearlong, nostalgia-filled 70th anniversary celebration has come to an end. Attention now turns to preserving the resort’s legacy for the next 70 years.

We’re two years removed from the passage of DisneylandForward by the Anaheim City Council, the ambitious multibillion-dollar plan to reimagine and expand the world’s most famous theme park, and questions are now swirling on what’s to come.

Hints can likely be found by looking at what’s already been built, at least at Disney’s international parks. Documentarian Leslie Iwerks did just that with her new film “Disney Worldbuilders,” which will have its premiere this weekend at the all-things-Disney convention D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center and then stream on Disney+ starting Aug. 20.

Iwerks, the director of the recent, and terrific, “Disneyland Handcrafted,” comes from Disney royalty. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, was a legendary animator instrumental in the development of Mickey Mouse. Her father, Don, was a cinematic and special effects wizard who worked on numerous Disney attractions, including the Michael Jackson-starring film “Captain EO.” As a documentarian, Iwerks has explored Disney before as the director of “The Imagineering Story” and has a long career of films that touch on not just Hollywood but also politics and environmental issues.

Leslie Iwerks has dedicated a significant portion of her career to analyzing the Disney theme parks.

(Iwerks & Co. / Disney+)

If I had any concerns about the future of Disneyland, watching ‘Worldbuilders” helped ease them. That’s in part because the film makes it clear that the Disneyland template was pretty firmly set in place 70 years ago by park patriarch Walt Disney.

While it’s entirely possible for theme park spaces to jump the shark, so to speak, especially when they focus too much on marketing or re-creating familiar film and television moments (see, say, San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure), “Worldbuilders” zeroes in on the parks’ enduring mission of being places of play. The film features interviews with the likes of Pixar chief Pete Docter, “Frozen” mastermind Jennifer Lee, Marvel maestro Kevin Feige and “Avatar” creator James Cameron, who collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to turn their cinematic universes into physical spaces for fans to interact with.

“I’m always blown away at the audacity of Walt saying, ‘I’m going to create the happiest place on Earth,’ and thinking that could actually be a business model,” Iwerks tells me.

“And what I learned about these filmmakers is that they were all inspired by the Disney parks,” she continues. “Unbeknownst to me, they had a spark going to a Disney theme park. It excited their imagination.”

“Frozen” co-director Jennifer Lee poses with a robotic Olaf at Disneyland Paris in a scene from Leslie Iwerks’ new film “Worldbuilders.”

(Roger Do Minh / Disney+ / Iwerks & Co.)

You see it in Shanghai’s “Zootopia”-inspired land, with its oversize benches that hide parking spaces for critter vehicles beneath. It’s an area full of movement, with puppets and animatronics gracing nearly every structure, aiming to capture wonder and silliness as much as it is the world of the film, which Iwerks notes was unexpectedly inspired by the original Disneyland. It’s present, too, in the “Frozen” area of Disneyland Paris, which seeks to reference and modernize the Disney fairy tale, using imagery of castles and magic not to symbolize happily ever after but familial and friendship bonds.

“All these lands allow you to explore, and allow yourself to be free, to play, to be whimsical,” Iwerks says. “They allow yourself to get out of your own ‘daily frets,’ as Walt called them. There are a lot of technologies vying for attention today, such as cellphones and gaming and lots of things, but there is something tangible about walking through a Disney park that is irreplaceable. That is that tangible sense of play that you can see, you can touch and you can smell. These are visceral memories that stay with us as human beings throughout our entire lifetime.”

Could either “Zootopia” or “Frozen” make its way to Disneyland? Neither, I believe, would be out of place, but there’s a special delicacy when adding to Walt’s original park. Even with the passage of DisneylandForward, land isn’t limitless. Expansion should be thought about not just for the next decade, but the next 50, leaving space for new stories yet untold. To place “Avatar” in Disney California Adventure is a definitive statement that the audiences of 2060 will want to hang with the Na’vi as much as those of 2030.

Thus, a wide-angle approach is best. When Pandora — the World of Avatar was built in Animal Kingdom at Florida’s Walt Disney World, it was done so with a thesis on themes of conservation and environmentalism more so than a focus on any of the film’s characters. Disney California Adventure’s own Cars Land is a love letter to Route 66 and roadside Americana as it much as it is an ode to the Disney/Pixar films.

At D23 in 2024, Disney released concept art of an “Avatar”-inspired attraction said to be coming to Disney California Adventure.

(20th Century / Disneyland Resort)

“Worldbuilders” makes it clear that as much as Disney’s parks have stayed the same, how we build themed lands has changed. Gone, for instance, are the big tent ideas of Frontierland, Adventureland and Fantasyland. Theme park designers today take a more targeted approach, bringing to life fully realized cinematic worlds such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or the aforementioned Cars Land. That’s not necessarily a negative. Galaxy’s Edge, for instance, succeeds because it’s a not a point-by-point re-creation of any locale seen in the films. Instead, it’s a place we can visit, and create our own tales.

It’s a reminder, for instance, that Disneyland, despite the prices, the crowds, the marketing or whatever hang-up one may find, endures because it allows us to, well, play. To be a little silly. And that was the lesson of Iwerks’ “Worldbuilders.”

“It’s about original thinking,” Iwerks says, when asked whether she believes it’s important to continually document the Disney theme parks. “So much of Imagineering is focused on original thinking. People can be really smart, but it doesn’t mean they’re an original thinker. One of the greatest things in the world is to create something out of nothing.”

We may arrive at a “Frozen” land wanting to see Anna, Elsa or, especially, the robotic Olaf, but we remember it because it gave us permission to imagine an alternate, more fanciful reality. Thus, it’s a treatise that it is not the intellectual property that makes Disneyland unique; it’s the belief in a more communal, playful world.

Speaking of D23 …

Theme park fans should get ready for some news this weekend.

Expect updates and details on previously announced — and well into development projects — such as Disney California Adventure’s “Coco” boat ride and two Marvel attractions, which will effectively double that park’s Avengers Campus. The centerpiece of the latter is a ride featuring many of the Avengers in battle across the multiverse with King Thanos.

The attraction, first announced in 2019, was given a name at 2024’s D23, Avengers Infinity Defense, and it will feature locations such as the Black Panther nation of Wakanda, Asgard and New York City. Early looks have it leaning heavily on visual effects interspersed with physical sets, but expect a deeper unveiling this weekend.

A recent photo of construction at Disney California Adventure’s Avengers Campus, where two attractions are under development.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Longer-term, fans are eager for word on what’s planned with the “Avatar” franchise, previously announced to take over part of the Hollywood-themed section of the park currently home to a “Monsters, Inc.” family dark ride. That attraction, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, is slated to close in 2027 to make way for the Cameron-created franchise. There’s been some chatter, most of it online-driven and unsubstantiated, that Disney would pivot from “Avatar” to instead center “Zootopia,” but I’m not convinced. Clarity will arrive in the coming days.

I’ll refrain from diving too heavily into rumors, but expect at least one longer-term hint at a bigger swing, hopefully, for instance, the reimagined plans for what is currently the Toy Story Lot, as well as nearer-term updates on Disneyland’s post-70th entertainment. Fans, of course, will forever be hoping for Walt Disney Imagineering, the division of the company responsible for theme park experiences, to unveil that it is remaking Tomorrowland, which, while home to many a popular attraction, is also stuck with a number of underutilized buildings. While I encourage optimism and dreaming as much as any Disney parks fan, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Disneyland fans, however, may have to come to grips with the fact that some of the most exciting updates will be centered on Florida’s Walt Disney World. Imagineering is expected to at long last detail the attractions coming to the Magic Kingdom’s hotly-anticipated Villain’s Land. Also of note, a reveal of the “Encanto” attraction plotted soon for Animal Kingdom.

This week in SoCal theme parks

Key issues remain in union contract talks between the Walt Disney Co. and its parade, show and costumed characters.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

• A dispute in contract talks. Disneyland employees behind its parade, show and costumed characters have been negotiating their first union contract with the Walt Disney Co. since October 2024. The two sides remain apart on a number of key issues. Disney’s proposal to the roughly 1,700 workers represented by Actors’ Equity omits paid parental leave and cuts paid holidays from 12 to 11, according to an April 6 email reviewed by The Times. Disney says no benefits are being cut because the unit organized in 2024 and the talks are setting first-contract terms rather than modifying an existing agreement. Times Business writers Wendy Lee and Samantha Masunaga have more on the negotiations.
• New sound barriers coming to Hollywood Drift, says councilmember. Universal Studios Hollywood appears to be taking steps to address noise complaints regarding its new high-speed, outdoor roller coaster. The office of L.A. City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian stated the theme park will install two additional sound barriers to mitigate the sound of rider screams on its new ride Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which have been described by nearby residents as “disturbing” and “untenable.” Nazarian’s office made the announcement Monday evening on social media. A Universal Studios Hollywood spokesperson has not yet responded to a request for comment.
• Montezooma’s is now open! Knott’s Berry Farm’s four-year overhaul of Montezooma’s Revenge into Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress has reached its conclusion. The historic ride began welcoming guests late last week. Look for a report on the remodeled attraction here soon.
• Attendance at Disney parks is up. The Walt Disney Co. noted in its recent earnings call that attendance at its domestic parks for the three-month period that ended June 27 is up 3% over the comparable period last year. International visits remain a challenge, but the company noted that summer promotions helped fuel the increase, especially at Florida’s Walt Disney World.
• Cheap! A full year of Knott’s! At a time when it seems like everything is getting more expensive, Knott’s Berry Farm is currently running a heavy sale on 2027 season passes. Through Sept. 7, a base level pass is just $99, down from its non-sale price of $215. A “gold pass,” which also includes admission to Six Flags Magic Mountain, is currently $129, down from $240. while a “prestige pass,” which includes parking and a number of other perks, is $329, down from $399.
• Slash is back at Halloween Horror Nights. Guns ‘N Roses guitar slinger Slash is a staple at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, and is returning to create a soundtrack for a haunted house this year. Slash is providing music for a house titled ‘“Killceañera: Music by Slash,” an original maze that flips the script on a teenage rite of passage. Here, a 15-year-old girl seeks revenge on those who have wronged her. Halloween Horror Nights begins Sept. 3.

The best thing I ate at the parks this week

The fish and chips from Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby at Downtown Disney.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

I admit, Downtown Disney’s Gordon Ramsay at the Carnaby is growing on me, especially if one can get seated on the outdoor bar patio, which is far more welcoming than the pub’s indoor bar. I found the latter a little cold and unwelcoming, but the back patio is more lively, especially with pennant race baseball on its big screen TV. I finished a recent Disneyland day with the Carnaby’s fish and chips, which is essentially one giant piece of cod with fries and “mushy peas.” It’s pricey, at $33, but it’s also incredibly hefty and filling. It’s certainly the strongest fish and chips on Disneyland property, and sea salt-infused batter was so crisp and rich that it almost felt wrong to slather the fish in tartar sauce. I couldn’t quite place my finger on the flavor — I’ve read that Ramsay’s fish and chips recipe includes custard powder — but there was a burnt buttery tone that was far from dry. I’ll be back.

Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.

Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter.

Ride on,

Todd Martens

P.S.

Stay tuned to Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride this week for all the big Disney parks news from D23. Saturday evening Disney will be hosting a panel at the Honda Center to reveal new details on attractions coming to its theme parks around the world, and I’ll be there delivering breaking coverage straight to your inbox.

Also, say hi if you see me wandering the Anaheim Convention Center. I’ll have Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride stickers to share.

A MAJOR airport renovation has forced thousands of flights to be cancelled or diverted until the end of the year.

Runway 4 at Paris-Orly Airport in France, will be closed from now until December 17 for extensive repair works.

During this period, the runway will be closed forcing around 3,000 flights to be cancelled or diverted to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

This works out to around 750 flights a month affected.

Any passengers due to travel to the airport between now and late autumn will need to check with their airline if their flight is still running.

And, where applicable, travellers will either be offered to rebook to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or to receive a refund.

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Budget airline easyJet has confirmed that it was asked to cancel flights from August 10 to October 24, with passengers offered alternative flights.

UK flights to and from the airport, usually operated by easyJet and Air France, include Newcastle, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

In an official statement on the airport’s website, it says: “During the work on the runway at Paris-Orly, some flights will be transferred to Paris-Charles de Gaulle from 10 August to 17 December 2026.

“Before you travel, check the flight information provided by Paris Aéroport and view real-time updates on your departure or arrival terminal.”

The main airlines impacted include Air Algérie, KM Malta Airlines, RAM, Pegasus, Iberia and Tunisair.

Works at the airport include renovating the pavements, upgrading lighting and improving the aircraft stands.

Paris- Orly and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are at opposite sides of Paris, taking around 45 minutes in the car or just over an hour on the train to get between the two.

The UK’s best staycation destinations for EV owners have been revealed – spanning Cornwall to the Highlands.

The UK’s best staycation destinations are Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Scottish Highlands, according to EV owners, because of their easy-access charging points. EV charging point company Fastned polled motorists to get their say on which destination appealed to most.

Top of the list is the UK’s southernmost county, Cornwall, which is home to the scenic likes of St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance, Land’s End, and a stunning shoreline. The Cotswolds, another heavily rural area, came second, while the vast Scottish Highlands secured third spot. Norfolk, the Kent Coast and County Durham also feature in the top 10, along with the Suffolk Coast and the North East Coast.

The research of 2000 drivers, including 1,000 purely EV drivers, found nearly nine in 10 (87%) have or would travel to a staycation destination using an electric vehicle.

Eight in 10 EV motorists in particular are confident the UK’s public charging infrastructure would now enable them to complete a long-distance journey in the eco-friendly form of transport.

It also emerged 51% have a greater inclination to holiday within the UK now than they did five years ago, with last weekend (August 7) the weekend those polled were most likely to begin their main summer getaway this year.

Tom Hurst, UK country director for the EV charging network powered by 100% green energy, said: “We wanted to explore how travel habits are shifting gears for UK motorists, including EV drivers, from where people are heading to what makes a great staycation destination, and what’s powering the next generation of road trips.

“Across mainland Europe, ‘Black Weekend’ or ‘Black Saturday’ describes the moment millions of people hit the roads for their summer getaway. Think ‘Black Friday’, but for summer travel.

“We wanted to find out whether Britain is developing its own version and how EV drivers are helping shape a new era of electric travel. As more people switch to electric, understanding journeys will be key to the UK’s transition.”

The study also found 56% have consciously moved towards a lifestyle more traditionally associated with countries like Spain, France, Monaco and Italy.

Exactly four in 10 eat outdoors more frequently than they used to, while more than a quarter (26%) have adopted a slower pace of life.

Around three in 10 (28%) now take more time to enjoy and savour meals and 37% like spending more time outdoors and enjoying their surroundings.

Carried out through OnePoll, the research found 90% of EV drivers are solidly behind ultra-rapid charging, which enables motorists to charge their vehicle up to 300 miles in 20 minutes – as they can get to the countryside or coastal areas faster.

Tom Hurst, spokesperson for Fastned, which has 39 hubs and over 420 ultra-rapid chargers across the UK, added: “We’re seeing more people embrace staycations, longer road trips and electric vehicles as a more sustainable and indeed accessible way to travel.

“We also wanted to understand whether those trends are beginning to converge, and how they’re changing the way people in the UK think about summer journeys.

“With fast charging available near all of the staycation destinations featured in our research, drivers can spend less time worrying about where and how long it’ll take to charge and more time enjoying the journey.

“After all, the best road trips aren’t about standing still; they’re about where the road takes you next.”

Top 10 best staycation destinations for EV owners

1. Cornwall – e.g. St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance, Land’s End
2. Cotswolds – e.g. Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bibury
3. Scotland / Gateway to the Highlands – e.g. Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
4. Norfolk – e.g. North Norfolk Coast, Hunstanton, Wells-next-the-Sea, Sandringham
5. North East England – e.g. Northumberland, Bamburgh, Alnwick, Holy Island
6. Kent Coast – e.g. White Cliffs of Dover, Deal, Folkestone, Sandwich
7. North East Coast – e.g. Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Newcastle
8. Suffolk Coast – e.g. Aldeburgh, Southwold, Woodbridge
9. County Durham – e.g. Durham City, Beamish Museum, North Pennines
10. West London – e.g. Windsor, Richmond, Kew Gardens

THE UK isn’t short of pretty market towns, but while everyone else is fighting for parking in Cornwall or the Cotswolds, there’s a gorgeous alternative without the massive crowds.

Tavistock in Devon is a historic market town sat on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

And it has a rather big claim to fame…

The town is where the cream tea was invented, with the earliest recording of the tradition dated to 11th century at Tavistock Abbey.

And, to put the decades-long debate to an end, the monks that created the cream tea in fact did put the cream first and then the jam.

There are so many spots in the town to grab a cream tea but my personal favourite is Café Liaison, where you can sit with your cream tea overlooking the Churchyard and former Cloisters of the Abbey.

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The town itself is a UNESCO World Heritage town, due to the town’s medieval tin mining history as well as 19th century copper and metal production.

Wandering around the town, you’ll notice all the buildings are made of dark grey stone.

You might also spot some Dartmoor granite in the buildings as well.

One top building to spot is the Town Hall, which is in the heart of the town

Make sure to visit the ancient Pannier Market too, which was granted its Royal Charter in 1105.

Inside, you will find traders selling all sorts of different items, that change depending on the day of the week.

For example, on Tuesdays you will find antiques and collectables, whereas on Fridays you will find locally produced goods.

Across the town, you’ll also find a wealth of quaint independent shops.

Make sure to head into Book Stop to pick up a read and check out Inside Out which is the ideal place for gifts.

Depending on when you are visiting, you could also explore the Farmer’s Market which takes place each month on the second and fourth Saturdays.

For a tipple, drop into The Market Inn – inside you will find cosy fire places, maybe some pooches, a friendly atmosphere and delicious pub grub.

And of course, Dartmoor is on your doorstep – which, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated places to visit in the UK.

You can explore towering tors as well as meet numerous Dartmoor ponies.

Just outside of the main town, you can stay at Harford Bridge Park campsite and caravan park.

This is no usual campsite though…

Instead, you pitch your tent right next to the River Tavy – which runs through the holiday park and is gentle and shallow.

When I used to visit the campsite as a child along with my family, we would make sure to have a pitch right next to the river.

Then, in the blazing sun, my sister and I would put up our camping chairs directly in the river and sit with our feet in the water.

It is ideal for families who want to explore Dartmoor but want a few more facilities than wild camping.

On the site there is a heated toilet block as well as hot showers and a laundry room.

If you have forgotten anything, there is also a shop onsite, as well as a games, TV and book room, children’s play park with seesaws and climbing frames and a tennis court.

Dogs are welcome too, with a sprawling meadow for them to roam in.

Make sure to book a ‘grass riverside’ pitch, which costs £24 per night for two people without electricity, working out at just £12 per person.

If you are a family of four, the pitch will set you back £44 per night – working out at £11 per person, per night.

WHETHER you’re on a fly and flop break or sight-seeing adventure, it’s only natural to want more out of a holiday.

TUI has revealed one trick that lets you visit three countries in one day – and there’s no queueing up at the airport either.

It works particularly well if you’re booked at a TUI hotel, called the TUI BLUE Kalamota Island which is on an island off the coast of Dubrovnik in Croatia.

Not only is it off the coast of Croatia, it’s right beside both Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This is where TUI comes in – if you book with TUI Musement it offers full day tours and experiences of the neighbouring countries which don’t require any flying.

In some cases they can even pick you up from your hotel.

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One day trip to Montenegro starts off in Perast with a visit to the island of the Lady of the Rocks before heading off to Kotor.

There’s a guided tour as well as free time where guests can explore the sites in their own time – these start from £79pp.

There are more options if you start away from the hotel in Dubrovnik – for example a full day trip from Dubrovnik to Montenegro starts from £52pp.

It includes a drive through Zupa Dubrovacka and Konavle valleys and along the picturesque Bay of Kotor.

This is followed by a visit to a charming fishing village called Perast and then hop onboard a boat to reach the island of Lady of the Rocks.

There’s then a tour of the Old Town of Kotor before returning to Dubrovnik.

You can also book a tour to explore some of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Dubrovnik without having to fly.

One experience heads to the city of Mostar and the beautiful Kravica Waterfalls from £41pp.

The full day trip starts at the waterfalls where visitors can even have a quick dip in the water.

Then it goes onto Mostar to wander about the city, see the famous Old Bridge before heading to the village of Počitelj.

If you want to book a stay in the TUI BLUE Kalamota Island this year, there are still holidays available from £718pp.

This is for an all-inclusive break from October 11-18 in a double room with a balcony or terrace including return flights from Birmingham Airport.

The hotel is adults-only with a white pebble beach, swimming pool and the island itself is traffic free.

TUI BLUE Kalamota Island Experience Manager Kelebek Canbulat said: “Guests can wake up on a peaceful island, head out on a TUI Musement experience to Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, and be back in the evening for dinner by the sea.

“It gives customers the best of both worlds. They can explore multiple countries during their stay, but still enjoy the comfort, ease and relaxation of having one hotel base.”

Hotel guests labelled ‘vultures’ as they ‘shoved and barged people’ for sunbeds at a Spanish holiday hotspot, with ‘grown men jumping walls’ and ‘throwing towels over heads’

A British holidaymaker was left stunned during her Spanish getaway as the notorious sunbed wars erupted each morning.

Jetting off abroad is meant to be a relaxing escape, ditching the everyday bustle for days spent lounging around a pool under the Mediterranean sun. Yet, if you’re staying at a hotel or resort in a European holiday hotspot, you might find yourself scrambling for that sought-after sun lounger.

Since the summer holidays kicked off last month, footage has been flooding social media of tourists queuing in hotel lobbies in the early hours of the morning, before racing to secure their sunbeds by frantically throwing down their towels. It’s become a brutal game of run-and-grab, and holidaymakers will go to extreme lengths to get their hands on a coveted sunbed.

Lisa Smith saw the madness unfold during a week’s holiday at the four-star Dorada Palace in the Spanish coastal resort town of Salou. “This happened every day, people would start queuing from 8am, sometimes put chairs near the doors until more people came, then the chairs got moved,” she exclusively told The Mirror.

“It was mad watching them because they were all so focused on that door, waiting for it to be open. Once the door was open, they went crazy, they just ran, jumped over walls, threw towels over people’s heads, just so they could claim a bed first.”

Following frantic scenes, Lisa said: “Some people slipped, so instead of helping someone up, they would jump over them. It was like an Olympic sport to them. They would high-five each other when they secured a bed. It was extremely embarrassing to watch.

“They weren’t bothered that people were filming them. People stood on their balconies with their phones out, ready to film them, and they would see them and laugh, as they didn’t care.”

While staying at the Dorada Palace, Lisa recorded two videos of the sunbed chaos unfolding in the morning and shared them both on TikTok (@lisasmith274). The videos quickly went viral, securing more than 2 million views collectively, as they showed hectic scenes of holidaymakers desperately racing outside with their towels in hand and towards the prized sunbeds.

In one video, she captioned: “Never seen nothing like it… Grown men jumping walls to get their beds.”

Even when Lisa attempted to move a sunbed, she received an unhappy response from a fellow holidaymaker. “One day, when we were getting a bed, we secured one, then I saw one in the distance, so I decided to drag it over to where the other one was, and this person threw their towel on it whilst I was moving it,” Lisa explained.

“I looked at them and said, ‘I’m moving the bed, you can’t do that’, I’ve actually got hold of it, I refused to give him the bed, so I continued to pull it across. They were vultures, in my opinion. They shoved and barged people for the beds.”

And after all that stress, some holidaymakers didn’t even make the most of their sun lounger, which they fought so hard to secure. “They would leave their sunbeds for hours before returning,” Lisa revealed. “We did move them ourselves in the end, and there were nine of us, and we only had two beds – the rest were chairs.”

Would you run to secure a hotel sunbed in the morning? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

THE UK’s best staycation destinations are Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Scottish Highlands, according to EV owners, thanks to their easy-access charging points.

EV charging point company Fastned polled motorists to get their say on which destination appealed to most.

Top of the list is the UK’s southernmost county, Cornwall, which is home to the likes of St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance, Land’s End, and a stunning shoreline.

The Cotswolds, another heavily rural area, came second, while the vast Scottish Highlands secured third spot.

Norfolk, the Kent Coast and County Durham also feature in the top 10, along with the Suffolk Coast and the North East Coast.

The research of 2000 drivers, including 1,000 purely EV drivers, found 87 per cent have or would travel to a staycation destination using an electric vehicle.

While 81 per cent of EV motorists in particular are confident the UK’s public charging infrastructure would now enable them to complete a long-distance journey in the eco-friendly form of transport.

It also emerged 51 per cent have a greater inclination to holiday within the UK now than they did five years ago, with last weekend (August 7) the weekend those polled were most likely to begin their main summer getaway this year.

Tom Hurst, UK country director for the EV charging network powered by 100 per cent green energy, said: “We wanted to explore how travel habits are shifting gears for UK motorists, including EV drivers, from where people are heading to what makes a great staycation destination, and what’s powering the next generation of road trips.

“Across mainland Europe, ‘Black Weekend’ or ‘Black Saturday’ describes the moment millions of people hit the roads for their summer getaway. Think ‘Black Friday’, but for summer travel.

“We wanted to find out whether Britain is developing its own version and how EV drivers are helping shape a new era of electric travel. As more people switch to electric, understanding journeys will be key to the UK’s transition.”

The study also found 56 per cent have consciously moved towards a lifestyle more traditionally associated with countries like Spain, France, Monaco and Italy.

With 40 per cent eating outdoors more frequently than they used to, while 26 per cent have adopted a slower pace of life.

Around three in 10 (28 per cent) now take more time to enjoy and savour meals and 37 per cent like spending more time outdoors and enjoying their surroundings.

Carried out through OnePoll, the research found 90 per cent of EV drivers are solidly behind ultra-rapid charging, which enables motorists to charge their vehicle up to 300 miles in 20 minutes – as they can get to the countryside or coastal areas quicker.

Tom Hurst, spokesperson for Fastned, which has 39 hubs and over 420 ultra-rapid chargers across the UK, added: “We’re seeing more people embrace staycations, longer road trips and electric vehicles as a more sustainable and indeed accessible way to travel.

“We also wanted to understand whether those trends are beginning to converge, and how they’re changing the way people in the UK think about summer journeys.

“With fast charging available near all of the staycation destinations featured in our research, drivers can spend less time worrying about where and how long it’ll take to charge and more time enjoying the journey.

“After all, the best road trips aren’t about standing still; they’re about where the road takes you next.”

TOURISTS in Spain are being urged to be cautious tomorrow when the rare solar eclipse takes place.

Anyone travelling to Spain or within Spain where you will be able to see the full solar eclipse, is being warned that there is a high risk of forest fires.

Six million people are expected to be travelling around the country to see the solar eclipse, across 660 official viewing spots.

And around half a million tourists are expected to travel to Spain for the rare event, with campsites across the country being booked out.

The roads are set to be busier too with around 1.5million journeys expected to be taken in the areas where you can see the eclipse fully.

According to The Olive Press, in Aragon for example, the eclipse will be fully visible and around 15,000 people are expected to camp the night in four spots in the area.

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In fact, around 70 per cent of Spain’s rental motorhomes, camper vans and caravans have already been booked for the eclipse period.

As a result, several regions are on high alert of wildfires while the solar eclipse takes place, especially as temperatures are expected to reach 40C in parts of Spain tomorrow.

Authorities are warning that the countryside is particularly at risk, warning tourists and locals to not light fires and park on dry grass.

People are also not allowed to park on hard shoulders, have barbeques or have fireworks.

As a precaution, the natural parks and rural footpaths in the Valencia region have all been closed too.

Spots like Madrid, Zaragoza, Bilbao and Valencia will see a 99.9 per cent eclipse.

According to The Guardian, environment minister, Sara Aagesen, said: “The vegetation is extraordinarily dry and the smallest spark or carelessness could lead to devastating forest fires.”

Before you jet off on any more holidays this year, it’s worth knowing this simple hack that could make you feel a lot more comfortable whilst on a flight.

Flying isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely helps to know there’s an exciting holiday waiting on the other side – or the comforting return home.

Planes can be a stressful environment, and this is especially true if you feel like you don’t have enough room. Unless you pay for it, or you’re sitting in the emergency exit seats, a roomy seat on a flight is quite rare.

However, if you’re going on holiday abroad soon and are dreading the thought of hours stuck in the cabin with nowhere to put your legs, one simple trick could help to make things a lot more comfortable for you – and it’s so easy.

The consumer experts at Which? recently shared a helpful Instagram post detailing exactly what flyers need to do to secure that bit of extra legroom – which can truly make all the difference.

They said: “Want more legroom on a flight? Just sit on the right.”

How to get more legroom on a plane

“Take Ryanair for example. Almost all of their planes are Boeing 737s. So choosing seats D, E and F in rows 3-15 will give you the most legroom,” they said.

“With easyJet, meanwhile, you should choose seats D, E or F in rows 3-13, if you’re flying on their Airbus A321neo. It will give you an extra inch of legroom compared to sitting in rows 6-17 on the left-hand side of the plane”

It’s worth noting that while it won’t turn economy into a business-class level seat, every centimetre counts – especially if you’re tall, or you’re travelling on a long-haul flight.

The experts added: “All planes are different, so it’s always worth checking before you book.”

How to check your plane before a flight

If you want to see which seat is going to be best in terms of legroom before you

Just go to Google Flights, type in your destination and dates, and the aircraft model should appear. You can then use the website AeroLopa to find a map of your plane with all of its dimensions, and get those seats booked up fast.

How to stay comfortable on a flight

As well as booking a seat on the right-hand side, there are several other things you can do to remain comfortable while you fly. Frequent flyers have taken to the Travel page on Reddit to share their best tips with others who may be anxious.

One person wrote: “Take the window seat if you plan to sleep. Take the aisle seat if you want to stretch and walk. The exit seats are always nice, but they cost extra. Watch movies, hydrate and try to avoid alcohol.”

Another said: “Don’t be afraid to get up from your seat and walk or stand. I find that noise-cancelling headphones are essential, as is a hoodie, neck hollow or a foot rest.”

And a third noted: “Compression socks and aisle seat. You can stay hydrated and not have to worry about disturbing the others in your row. Also, go for walks. Don’t be annoying to other passengers, but you can got stand for a bit by the bathrooms. 12 hours seems a lot, but you’ll be fine as long as you don’t focus on that.”

We all know the classic Seven Wonders of the World, but Lonely Planet has now revealed its most ‘Secret Wonders of the World’.

From bright thermal spas to haunting bell towers and oddly-named villages, these are nine of the most incredible spots either natural and manmade.

Pamukkale-Hierapolis, Turkey

When it comes to natural wonders, one of those highlighted by Lonely Planet is Pamukkale-Hierapolis in southwestern Turkey.

The striking thermal springs have white rocks with bright turquoise water and waterfalls.

Visitors can actually swim in part of Pamukkale in the man-made Cleopatra Pool.

In some parts you can walk through or even wade through the water.

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Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, China

Another colourful spot is Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in Gansu, China.

The mountainous site is full of bright colours from green to pink and orange that has formed over millions of years.

Around the geopark are dedicated paths and platforms so you can see the mountains in all their glory.

One of the best times to visit is during the wet season between May and September – the combination of rain and the sunrise or sunset make the colours more vivid.

Beehive Huts, Ireland

One secret wonder is much closer to the UK as it’s found on the south-west coast of Ireland.

Beehive Huts, or clochán, date back to the 8th century, thought to once be used to store grain or shelter against storms.

Lots are easy to visit with many on the Dingle Peninsula with views across the coastline.

Some of the most easily accessible are the Fahan Beehive Huts which cost around €3 (£2.56) to enter.

Campanile de Curon, Italy

Another is Campanile de Curon, a bell tower in the middle of a lake in Italy.

It’s actually on the site of a sunken village which was flooded when three lakes merged into one.

It submerged the village of Curon Venosta leaving only the bell tower to be seen.

In the winter when the lake freezes over, it’s possible to walk over to it.

Chiricahua National Monument, USA

The Chiricahua National Monument is an enormous site made up of towers of balanced rocks.

Across 12,000 acres, the protected area in Arizona is known as a ‘wonderland of rocks’.

The area is open to visitors who want to explore its creeks, volcanic formations, and grottoes.

Most head to see Big Balanced Rock which, as the name suggest, s is a large rock that is perched on a narrow pedestal in a way that doesn’t look possible.

Chicken, Alaska

Found deep in Alaska is a former gold rush village called Chicken – and it even has a huge chicken Mr. Eggee as the mascot.

The village got its name back in the 1900s when workers could not agree on the spelling of ptarmigan, a bird found in the local area.

Instead, they settled on chicken, and now the village even holds a Chickenstock music festival with live folk music and plenty do the chicken dance.

The village is accessible between April and September as in winter its connecting highway closes due to extreme weather like heavy snow.

Völklinger Hütte, Germany

Some of the man-made secret wonders include the Völklinger Ironworks, in Germany, which looks more like something from a steampunk film.

Found in the south-west of the country, these are the world’s only fully preserved ironworks from what was considered the “Golden Age” of the iron and steel industry.

It’s no longer in use and is actually a museum and gallery space with entry from €17 (£14.52).

There are regular exhibitions and tours of the ironworks too.

Quinta da Regaleira Wells, Portugal

Just a few hours away from the UK in Sintra, Portugal is Quinta da Regaleira Wells.

The well is made up of two staircases across nine levels, they are found beneath the UNESCO-protected Quinta da Regaleira.

Unlike traditional wells, these don’t hold any water but were rather used for secret Masonic ceremonies.

For anyone heading to Lisbon, it’s a 35-minute drive away – you need to buy a ticket and can either do a guided or self-guided tour of the site.

Moray, Peru

Another man-made secret wonder is Moray in Peru which are deep carved circles with steps – essentially like an amphitheatre.

It’s in the Sacred Valley region around 11,500 feet above sea level.

It was built by the Inca Empire between the 15th and early 16th centuries believed to be used to experiment with agriculture at the time.

For those who want to visit, you have to buy a tourist ticket which covers 16 historical sites across Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

For the full 385 Secret Wonders of the World check out the book at shop.lonelyplanet.com.

DISRUPTION is continuing to cause problems for Brits heading to a major UK airport today.

If you are flying from London Heathrow Airport today you might want to check your travel route before you head off.

It comes after a tunnel at the airport has closed, leaving only one open for trains to head through.

A water leak forced the closure between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport and today, Elizabeth Line services running through the tunnel are facing severe delays.

Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and the airport are impacted, with just two running per hour instead of four.

Cancellations and delays are expected until the end of the day

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Tickets are being accepted across the Piccadilly Line as well as numerous different buses.

In a statement on Heathrow Airport’s website, it says: “Due to a partial tunnel closure, the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line are operating a reduced service to/from Heathrow.

“The Piccadilly line is operating as normal. Pre-paid Heathrow Express tickets will be accepted on the Elizabeth Line.

“Please allow extra time for your journey. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Delays and cancellations also occurred yesterday.

There were also warnings in place for those travelling to Gatwick Airport due to local wildfires.

CHESSINGTON has reopened to guests – after being forced to cancel all tickets yesterday at the last minute.

The UK theme park announced just an hour into its opening that it would be closing, after a Thames Water outage in the area.

Due to this, the theme park wasn’t able to reopen.

In a statement issues yesterday, Chessington said: “Thank you to our guests for your patience and understanding”.

Anyone who had tickets yesterday is covered under the Return Promise.

This allows anyone affected to go back to the park at a later date, free of charge.

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However, anyone who wants a refund will have to contact the park directly.

Many families were left fuming yesterday, with many paying for train tickets and hotels as well.

One dad called it “utter shambles” as many were forced to wait outside of the gate, while another said they had spent “hundreds on an overnight stay and fast passes”.

Anyone who has travel insurance is likely to be covered, or if you paid with a credit card.

Under Section 75, any purchases made on a credit card between £100 and £30,000 are covered, which includes holiday cancellations.

A spokesperson told The Sun yesterday: “Following confirmation from Thames Water that water supply to the local area has been restored after a burst pipe, Chessington World of Adventures Resort will reopen tomorrow as normal.”

BOTTOMLESS wine at a London hotel, £1 happy hour oysters in Manchester and a £9.50 beachfront resort in Cornwall…

That might look like a misprint – but these are just a handful of the hidden bargains sitting right on our doorsteps, proving you don’t have to go abroad to get a sensational deal on a holiday.

If you know where to look, you can get beautiful countryside cottages, free-flowing drinks and more on your UK staycation – some of which come with change from a tenner.

Here’s our pick of the top budget-friendly UK stays our Sun Travel team swears by right now…

The Alan – Manchester

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

If you want a bargain stay that feels like you’re getting much more for your money, then head up north.

One of my favourite hotels in Manchester is The Alan, a stunning design-led boutique venue that wouldn’t be out of place in an interiors magazine.

Think plaster-coloured walls, brass shower features and stone coffee tables.

It’s built into a Grade-II listed warehouse, and entering the lobby you’re met with a gorgeous airy space and a boujie restaurant (try the £1 oysters during their happy hour).

My room was so beautifully designed with a contrast of chrome metal chairs to warm green bedspreads, that I came away with new ideas for my own bedroom back home…

It is also leaning into tech with a Google Nest “smart concierge” on hand to help with reception queries, as well as Bluetooth speakers and smart TVs with Chromecast.

And it’s right in the middle of the city, so you can’t get much more central.

The best part? Rooms start from £58 a night.

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Rooms at The Alan start from £58 per night, working out to £29 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

Z Hotels Gloucester Place – London

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

When you think of an all-inclusive, you might think of a glamorous resort on the shores of Tenerife – but I recently discovered a chic all-inclusive in the heart of London.

With hotels in the capital often overpriced, a trip can easily empty your wallet.

Z Hotels Gloucester Place is a great budget option, with spacious en suite rooms available at a snip of the cost of pricier venues.

The best part though is definitely the food and drink offering – if you book a “Z Club room”, exclusively at the Gloucester Place hotel, each feature a king-size bed with all drinks and food included.

In a small kitchen-dining area, you can grab hot drinks 24/7 as well as a range of snacks such as macaroons, brownies, flapjacks, and pots of tiramisu.

You can help yourself to soft drinks including Fanta and ask the host for wine – which is bottomless.

There’s also a menu you can order from, which featured wide choice of sandwiches and salads.

The food was simple, but it was all tasty and reminded me of the sandwiches and cakes I usually pick up in one of London’s many hipster coffee shops.

Book your stay – Z Hotels Gloucester Place, London

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Z Club rooms at The Z Hotel Gloucester Place cost from £110 per night – which is £55 per person per night.

BOOK HERE

Norfolk Hideaways – North Norfolk coast

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

One of my favourite ways to score serious savings on a staycation is by renting a holiday cottage and splitting the cost between a group of mates.

There’s nothing better than kicking back at a gorgeous house in a stunning seaside town for a fraction of the cost of a hotel room – plus you’ll have way more space.

Hailing from Norfolk I may be biased here – but I think the best place to rent out a holiday cottage is along the North Norfolk coast.

Norfolk Hideaways have cottages in pretty seaside towns like Wells-next-the-Sea, Old Hunstanton and Brancaster, to name but a few.

There are stays of all sizes, ideal for family holidays, couples’ staycations, big friend group getaways plus dog-friendly options.

You can even filter your search by walking holidays, fishing holidays, or places with cosy log burners, pools or hot tubs.

Plus there’s often offers on, such as four nights for the price of three or last-minute deals.

I found an offer for a stay in Thornham – one of North Norfolk’s most underrated seaside villages with a gorgeous, pinewood-backed beach – which worked out to be just £11pp.

Book your stay – Norfolk Hideaways

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Eaton Cottage in Thornham sleeps up to seven, and has a gorgeous sun terrace, large garden dotted with fruit trees plus a bright and airy sitting room and rustic countryside kitchen.

Book a week away from £510, working out to £11 per person, per night with a full house.

BOOK HERE

Mollie’s Motel – Oxford

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

A motel would probably be the last place you’d think of for a luxury break – especially if you’ve ever watched an American horror film.

Mollie’s is most definitely the exception, though. This sophisticated chain opened its first motel in Oxfordshire in 2019, promising an America-inspired roadside experience, but with a lot more glamour.

And while the classy Scandi decor may scream luxury (the brand was once operated by chic members club Soho House), the £70 per night price tag does not.

Rooms are homely, with ultra-comfy beds and sleek furnishings, plus there’s an onsite diner offering hearty burgers, hot dogs and hard shakes loaded with vodka, bourbon or rum and topped with whipped cream.

Smart TVs and junk food make the place perfect for a cosy movie night – just no American horror films!

Book your stay – Mollie’s Motel, Oxford

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Stays at Mollie’s Motel start from £81 per night, working out to £40.50 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

London & Paris Hotel – Folkestone

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

What better way is there than to wake up to the sounds of sea waves crashing, with the beach right around the corner.

In the uber-trendy seaside town of Folkestone is the boutique London & Paris Hotel.

With just 11 rooms, every single one has a sea view room overlooking the boats in the harbour.

Think quintessential beachy vibes but upgraded – chic striped headboards and rich green and blue interiors.

You can also upgrade to a breakfast hamper, although save some space in your stomach for the award-winning chippie around the corner.

Or head into town for some of the best tapas at El Cortador Tapas Bar.

Who needs Spain when you have the Kent Riviera?

Rooms start from £128. See londonandparishotel.co.uk

Book your stay – London & Paris Hotel

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Stays at London & Paris Hotel in Folkestone start at £128 per night, which is £61 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

Ashworth House – near Chipping Norton

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

A value stay in the Cotswolds might be pretty hard to come by, but Ashworth House near Chipping Norton costs as little as £39 per person, per night.

The beautiful bolthole retreat sleeps up to 12 people, including one bedroom on the ground floor – ideal for those with accessibility needs.

Tucked in the village of Leafield near Burford, it truly is a hidden Cotswolds gem.

The huge house and garden are backed by fields, forming stunning views of the rolling countryside and giving lots of opportunities for walks with furry friends (who are welcome in the house).

The kitchen is the real hub of the house – it is light and airy and makes the ultimate hosting space with a large dining table as well as a breakfast bar.

The house is also just a short drive from top attractions like Blenheim Palace should you want to explore the area.

Book your stay – Ashworth House

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Stays at Ashworth House start from as little as £39 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

St Ives Bay Beach Resort – Cornwall

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Overlooking a three-mile stretch of golden sand, St Ives Bay Beach Resort in Cornwall is a dreamy destination for a glam beach holiday on a budget.

Here you can stay in glass-roofed Stargazer caravan, a cosy luxury pod, or a spacious sea-view lodge perfect for families.

The beach is just steps away, and even has its own surf school if you want to fully dive into the Cornish lifestyle.

There’s also plenty of action-packed activities for kids, ranging from disc golf and Nerf wars to snuggling up for an evening movie at the open-air cinema.

Rainy days are equally well catered for thanks to an indoor pool, a classic amusement arcade, and indoor entertainment like bingo, karaoke, and live DJ sets.

Beyond the resort grounds, a day trip into St Ives is an absolute must-do.

The town has a postcard-perfect harbour and charming, artsy streets to stroll lined with quirky independent shops.

Book your holiday – St Ives Bay Beach Resort

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St Ives Bay Beach Resort is just one of hundreds of holiday parks available with The Sun’s Holidays from £9.50.

These holidays start from as little as £9.50pp, but prices vary if you choose to upgrade your accommodation type.

BOOK HERE

Yotel – London

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Did you know the budget hotel chain Yotel was inspired by first class airline travel?

One of my favourite cheap hotel brands, offers guests the chance to be first class passengers on an economy budget…

I love their hotels not just for their central location but clever compact rooms.

Reclining beds mean you have more space until you hunker down for the night, and small compartments tucked away in every corner create plenty of room for your stuff.

Yotel London City has some fantastic skyline views but if you want a cheaper option, Yotelpad has rooms under £90 a night.

If you choose not to get your rooms refreshed by housekeeping, you can also save money off at the restaurant and bar.

And if you’d like to try a room with a spaceship feel, try Yotelair at London Gatwick Airport.. you won’t be disappointed.

Book your holiday – Yotel, London

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Rooms at Yotelpad start from £87 a night, or £43.50 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

DISRUPTION is continuing to cause problems in Italy, after days of flight cancellations.

Flights at Catania Airport in Sicily were expected to restart yesterday, but there are further delays as ash caused by the eruption of Mount Etna continue to drift into the airspace.

Arrivals at Catania Airport were initially suspended until 5pm yesterday – but this has been extended until 7pm (6pm UK time) today.

A few departures are permitted to take-off at the airport, but only from runway 08.

On FlightRadar24, most departures remain cancelled with more scheduled to take-off after midday.

One easyJet flight to London Gatwick scheduled for 10.35am has been cancelled.

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And a flight to London Gatwick with British Airways this evening at 7.55pm has also been cancelled.

However, a Ryanair flight to London Stansted is scheduled for departure at 11.10am.

There has been disruption since Saturday at Catania Airport after an eruption on the volcano.

One Brit travelling home from Sicily over the weekend wrote on X: “Had a superb holiday in Sicily.

“Getting home was interesting.. Catania flight cancelled due to Etna → 3hr taxi to Palermo → flight cancelled → slept at airport → Rome → taxi to Naples → Gatwick → taxi to Luton. Only a day late but very happy to be back at the nest.”

Palermo Airport, Sicily’s other major airport on the northwest coast, remains unaffected, with flights operating as scheduled.

‘Young tourist’ tests positive as all people using health centres will have to wear face masks to cut spread

An alert has been issued after a hotspot much loved by UK tourists was hit by an outbreak of measles, with a young tourist testing positive. The Public Health Surveillance Service has detected at least six people affected by a measles outbreak in Mallorca, the Balearic Regional Ministry of Health has reported in a statement.

The patients have been treated at the same hospital, as their cases are linked, although the source of the infection does not originate from the healthcare setting and has therefore been classified as a community outbreak. To try to clamp down on the outbreak all people using health centres will have to wear face masks.

The epidemiological investigation has determined that the first case was that of a young child on holiday who attended the paediatric A&E department at Son Espases University Hospital on July 19. The secondary cases began to show symptoms at the end of July. The Majorca Daily Bulletin has only just reported on the outbreak. No information has yet been released on the nationality of the tourist.

Five of the six people affected by the outbreak have not been vaccinated against measles, whilst there is no record of vaccination for the sixth. The Directorate-General for Public Health, in coordination with IBSalut Balearic health service and in accordance with the protocols of the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, has activated a monitoring and control plan that includes immediate prevention and protection measures to contain the outbreak.

Public Health service in Majorca said it is carrying out contact tracing and has asked close contacts of those infected to monitor their health closely for 23 days following exposure, particularly those who are unvaccinated.

In addition, it has issued an internal recommendation for the use of FFP2 face masks in all healthcare settings as a priority measure for the prevention, protection and control of the outbreak, as well as mandatory self-monitoring for symptoms and a review of the vaccination status of all staff at health centres and hospitals in Mallorca.

The Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro site said: “Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, with potentially serious, life-threatening complications. Travel remains an important risk factor for the international spread of measles.

“Measles is spread by airborne or droplet (coughing, sneezing, drops from mouth/nose) transmission. Initial symptoms can include fever, runny nose, red, sore eyes (conjunctivitis) and cough. A rash usually then appears after a few days. This starts on the face/head and then spreads over the body, arms and legs in three to four days. People are infectious from the day symptoms first appear to four days after the rash starts. The incubation period (time from exposure to measles virus to symptoms starting) is about ten days but can be between seven and 18 days.”

Complications of measles infection can include otitis media (ear infections), diarrhoea, pneumonia and convulsions (fits). Rarely, encephalitis (brain inflammation) or sub-acute sclerosing pan-encephalitis (fatal late onset brain inflammation) can occur. Risk of death from measles complications is age-related and is higher for children younger than one year and adults. Measles can be more severe in immunosuppressed individuals and during pregnancy, and increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm delivery.

It added: “Travellers with no history of measles infection or who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated may be at risk from measles when visiting countries reporting cases, especially if staying with friends or family and mixing with local people.”

All UK travellers should make sure they are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) or measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (MMRV) vaccines, according to current UK recommendations.

The company advised them to leave the apartment immediately

A couple were forced to flee their Airbnb after they found hidden cameras pointed directly at their bed. Donna and Raymond Nunn had travelled to Madrid, Spain on a “bucket-list” trip to celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary this month.

When they first arrived at the apartment in Lavapies, a central suburb of Madrid, on August 3, 2026 they noticed a motion sensor in the living room pointed towards the front door. There were no flashing lights so they decided to not worry.

The following day while Donna, 62, was out sightseeing Raymond, 87, noticed a camera in the bedroom facing the bed with a green light flashing. The couple reached out to Airbnb for advice and were told to leave the apartment immediately, but it was 8pm so they were forced to stay overnight until they could safely find another place to stay the following day.

Donna and Raymond, who was in the Royal Artillery for 25 years, left in the morning for an apartment two hours south of Madrid. Donna, a pensioner originally from Kent, said: “We live in Spain but we were going to Madrid as a bucket-list trip that we’ve wanted to do for ages and to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary this month.

“We booked in March and had a typical conversation with the host who planned to meet us there. When we first arrived, the host was nowhere to be found but instructed us via webchat as to how to get into the property.

“When we finally made it inside the apartment, we noticed the camera in the living room as it was facing us as we walked in, but there were no lights on it so we presumed it was off. However we didn’t notice the camera in the bedroom until the next day after we had already slept in the bed.

“I was out sightseeing but my husband is less mobile so stayed at home and he noticed the light in the camera was flickering. The light wasn’t on the day before so I think it was one that can be remotely turned on and off when the host wants. We were extremely frightened by the discovery.

“The camera was about four inches in length and tucked in the corner, but pointed directly towards the bed. It can’t have been there for security reasons. It felt like we were being watched inside what should have been a safe and private space.”

Donna said the couple were terrified and contacted Airbnb straight away on August 4. She said: “We were both shaking when we realised, and reached out to Airbnb. They told us to leave immediately which made us even more worried.

“It was about 8 o’clock at night by that point so it was too late for us to move and we couldn’t find another place close by. Raymond took the camera off the wall and turned it around but it was horrifying. We managed to book another place a couple of hours away, which was nice but meant that we couldn’t finish the sightseeing.

“It’s a shame because we will never go back to Madrid now because of this.”

The couple left the Airbnb on August 5, 2026 just two days after they arrived for the anniversary trip. In 2024, Airbnb introduced a worldwide ban on the use of security cameras inside rental properties following a consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts.

The rules allow the use of doorbell cameras and noise monitors in common areas, but these have to be disclosed on the property’s listing page. Airbnb have taken the listing off of the website and Donna and Raymond have received a full refund for the trip and the rebooking.

An Airbnb spokesperson said: “We have issued a full refund to the guest and have suspended the listing while we conduct a further investigation into this matter. In 2024, we banned all indoor security cameras in listings regardless of where they are placed, or whether they are deactivated during guest stays. In the rare event of a violation of our policy on security cameras we take appropriate action, which can include removing listings and users from Airbnb.

“Stays reserved through Airbnb are overwhelmingly defined by positive experiences, and we take any reports of issues made to us seriously.”

Ryanair has urged plane passengers to stop packing a common toiletry in their hand luggage. It’s advice worth listening to if you want to avoid potential problems at the airport

With summer now upon us, it’s pretty standard to dream of sun, sea and sand, but before any of that comes packing and making sure your luggage is sorted correctly is absolutely vital. Budget carrier Ryanair often keeps travellers up to date with their advice.

Now with more families booking time away in the summer holidays, the airline issued guidance regarding a common bathroom item that should be kept out of hand luggage if you want to sail through airport security. It’s crucial to follow this advice as ignoring it could land you in some bother at the airport. The issue recently sparked debate on Reddit after a baffled traveller raised questions about the rules governing what’s permitted in carry-on baggage.

This isn’t the first time that crucial travel guidance has been brought to people’s attention either. Just a few months back, important information was also shared regarding hand luggage regulations.

Reddit Debate over Loose Blades vs Safety Razors in Carry-On Bags

Posting on Reddit, one user wrote: “I recently started using safety razors and I was wondering if I could carry mine with one blade inside or a packet of blades. I don’t have a checked bag, only the carry-on.

“Previously I was always able to bring disposable razors with the blades stored in the plastic compartment. In the General terms and Conditions, Ryanair says safety razors are allowed but, I asked the support and, even though he wasn’t anywhere specific to answer my query, he said that sharp objects are not allowed.

“So, if I bring the safety razor with me with a blade in it, the worst that can happen is they are just going to remove the razor and give me the head/handle (enclosure thing) back?”

The question sparked a heated discussion online, with one person observing: “Safety razor will be fine. Really comes more down to the airport you are going through, not the airline, and even then it also comes down to the individual person you deal with.”

Another chimed in: “OP (original poster) is not asking about safety razors per se. He’s asking about the blades, which are definitely prohibited items. Someone intent on causing harm could quite easily unscrew the razor and use the blade or spare blades as weapons.”

A third person argued: “NO, you cannot. Razor blades, including straight razor blades and replacement blades, are prohibited items because they could be used as weapons.

“However, as you said, fixed cartridge razors (disposable razors) generally are allowed in carry-on luggage. Safety razors (with blades in a plastic head) also are usually permitted in carry-on luggage. But NOT the type where you can unscrew the head and extract the blade.”

For regular flyers who habitually pack razors — and there are plenty — it appears there are specific regulations that need to be observed. Complete details can be found on the Ryanair website.

Official Ryanair Cabin Rules for Disposable Razors and Prohibited Blades

The official guidance states: “The following items must not be carried on board, but may be carried as part of your checked baggage. Objects with a sharp point or sharp edge capable of being used to cause serious injury, including razors and razor blades (except safety or disposable razors with enclosed blades and razor heads held in plastic compartments).”

The website also outlined every other item banned from cabin bags. While individual airlines may operate slightly varying policies, there are broadly accepted standard rules that all passengers are expected to adhere to.

Although not all razors are forbidden in hand luggage, certain types are prohibited. Most airlines permit disposable razors, cartridge razors and electric shavers/epilators to be brought into the cabin.

However, traditional safety razors, cut-throat razors and individual razor blades are generally not permitted in the passenger cabin and must be stowed in hold luggage, owing to their exceptionally sharp nature.

Should security staff deem them a potential threat, they hold the power to seize them, and this simple oversight could leave you facing unnecessary delays at the airport. In short, it’s a packing mistake you’ll want to avoid at all costs.