Travel Desk

The discount chain claims this bag is ‘approved by over 30 airlines’ around the world

A ‘compact’ yet ‘stylish’ travel bag is available at Home Bargains, which the store says could help take the stress and worry of overpacking out of holidaymakers‘ minds this summer. It has been approved to comply with the luggage dimension rules of up to 30 airlines worldwide.

People can pick up the Bordlite Under Seat Cabin Bag in an online sale, down from £14.99 to £5.99 (a 60% saving). Shoppers can choose between black and navy for the same price at Home Bargains.

Describing the travel bag online, the store said: “The Bordlite Under Seat Cabin Bag is a lightweight and compact travel essential, approved by over 30 airlines. With three external pockets and a long shoulder strap, it keeps your journey organised and hassle-free.”

According to the Home Bargains website, the bag measures in at “approximately” 40 x 30 x 20cm. Using the provided dimensions, shoppers can confidently pack and use this underseat bag on a variety of airlines.

Home Bargains claims that “over 30” will approve this for travel, including Ryanair, Wizz Air, EasyJet, Jet2 and British Airways. Because the bag fits in with some of the strictest size guides, it automatically works for airlines that offer slightly larger allowances.

Below is a full list of the 30 airlines which accept this size (or bigger) when booking. In most cases, airlines include a free personal or underseat item within the ticket price – but always double-check with the airline itself before getting caught out with an extra airport fee.

For more Home Bargains deals, click here. Some are online-only, meaning shoppers who shop only at their local store could miss out on certain major deals.

What airlines accept this size bag?

UK & Europe:

1. Ryanair (Up to 40 x 25 x 20cm)
2. Wizz Air (40 x 30 x 20cm exactly)
3. FlyOne (40 x 30 x 20cm exactly)
4. easyJet (Up to 45 x 36 x 20cm)
5. Jet2 (Up to 45 x 36 x 20cm)
6. British Airways (Allows a large cabin bag up to 56 x 45 x 25cm for free)
7. Lufthansa (Up to 40 x 30 x 10cm for personal item, but easily fits their free overhead limit of 55 x 40 x 23cm)
8. Air France / KLM (Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm for personal item, but easily fits their free overhead limit of 55 x 35 x 25cm)
9. Norwegian Air (Up to 38 x 30 x 20cm)
10. Iberia (Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm for personal item / 56 x 45 x 25cm for overhead)
11. TAP Air Portugal (Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm for personal item / 55 x 40 x 20cm for overhead)
12. Aegean Airlines (Up to 40 x 30 x 25cm)
13. Vueling (Up to 40 x 30 x 20cm)
14. Eurowings (Up to 40 x 30 x 25cm)
15. Pegasus Airlines (Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm for personal item / 55 x 40 x 20cm for overhead)
16. SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) (Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm for personal item / 55 x 40 x 23cm for overhead)
17. Swiss International Air Lines (Up to 40 x 30 x 10cm for personal item / 55 x 40 x 23cm for overhead)

Middle East and Asia

1. Emirates (Allows an overhead bag up to 55 x 38 x 20cm for free on all tickets).
2. Qatar Airways (Allows a cabin bag up to 50 x 37 x 25cm for free).
3. Etihad Airways (Allows a cabin bag up to 56 x 36 x 23cm for free).
4. Singapore Airlines (Allows a personal item up to 40 x 30 x 10cm or a main cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20cm)
5. Turkish Airlines (Allows a personal item up to 40 x 30 x 15cm or a main cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 23cm)

American and Transatlantic

1. Delta Air Lines (no specific personal item dimensions, must fit under the seat)
2. United Airlines (Up to 43 x 25 x 22cm)
3. American Airlines (Up to 45 x 35 x 20cm)
4. Air Canada (Up to 43 x 33 x 16cm for personal item / 55 x 40 x 23cm for overhead)
5. JetBlue (Up to 43 x 33 x 20cm)
6. Spirit Airlines (Up to 45 x 35 x 20cm)
7. Frontier Airlines (Up to 45 x 35 x 20cm)
8. WestJet (Up to 41 x 33 x 15cm for personal item / 53 x 38 x 23cm for overhead)

Shoppers can improve their travel days with the £20 B&M product that’s ‘brilliant’ for holidays

B&M is selling a ‘noise-cancelling’ travel product that could be ideal for noisy trains, planes, and buses. Popular for selling budget-friendly essentials, the bargain store could have a new crowd-pleaser for holidaymakers.

The retailer is selling £20 Bluetooth headphones that help shoppers “tune in and block the world out.” Showcasing the Goodmans Noise-Cancelling Metallic Bluetooth Headphones online, B&M told shoppers the headphones are a “brilliant companion for commutes, travel, or working from home.” In recent years, many travellers have started using noise-cancelling headphones to relax and block out background noise.

Prices often range from around £20 to £400 across different brands. However, you don’t have to pay hundreds. Shoppers might be just as happy with the £20 B&M option, which offers 30 hours of playtime when using Active Noise Cancelling and up to 18dB noise reduction, according to B&M. The headphones are available in four colours: blue, pink, black, and silver. The tech also has a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

B&M’s full product description states: “Tune in and block the world out with the Goodmans Noise Cancelling Metallic Headphones. Bluetooth connectivity and Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology make these a brilliant companion for commutes, travel, or working from home.

“ANC reduces unwanted background noise by up to 18dB, so you can focus on your music, calls, or podcasts without interruptions. With 30 hours of playtime with ANC active, you won’t be reaching for a charger anytime soon.

“The metallic-coated earcups give a sleek, stylish finish, while the extra soft cushions and premium padding keep things comfortable over long listening sessions. Earcup controls put volume, ANC mode, track navigation, and power on/off right at your fingertips.”

For shoppers looking for more headphones, B&M also sells SONY Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, on sale for £30. The product description said: “Enjoy immersive and high-quality listening experiences with the WH-CH520 SONY Wireless Bluetooth Headphones.

“Featuring an adjustable headband, soft ear pads, and a lightweight design, the SONY Wireless Bluetooth Headphones can be connected to two devices simultaneously with Multipoint Connection plus Fast Pair and Swift Pair. You can even personalise your sound settings and EQ settings for a personalised listening experience with the Sony Headphones Connect app!”

The description continued: “With up to 50 hours of battery life, you can listen to all your favourite music without worrying about running out of charge, and if your battery is running low, a three-minute quick charge can give you 1.5 hours of listening time.

“The WH-CH520 also has easy button operations, and can even be controlled with your voice, and since connection is easy with Swift Pair and Fast pair, these Sony Headphones are ideal for everyday use.”

The village was once a thriving community, but it was completely submerged to create a reservoir – and visitors can see its haunting memorial today and even spot the buildings if they’re lucky

Once a thriving, proud Welsh-speaking community, this cherished village was entirely abandoned and left to disappear beneath the water without a trace.

The submersion of this much-loved settlement remains a deeply painful topic for those in the surrounding area, who fought with every ounce of strength to preserve their homes. Sadly, their determined efforts proved futile, as the UK government flooded the village entirely to provide water to a considerably larger English city.

In 1965, the village of Capel Celyn, tucked away in the Tryweryn Valley in North Wales, was lost forever when it was left to sink beneath the surface of a vast reservoir. It was a deeply contentious decision, to say the least, driven by the Liverpool Corporation to provide water to Liverpool and the Wirral.

For some, it may have appeared to be little more than a straightforward infrastructure project, but for the vast majority, the implications ran far deeper. The devastation it brought to the local area and the broader Welsh community had a profound political impact, fuelling a significant surge in support for Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru.

The fight for the village

It was in 1955 that the residents of Capel Celyn first discovered their homes had been earmarked for sacrifice to make way for a new reservoir, marking the start of a grueling decade-long struggle. Before long, the villagers banded together, forming what became known as the Capel Celyn Defense Committee, which debated, protested and condemned the scheme across the country and as far as Liverpool.

On several occasions, this led them to march directly to Liverpool to make their opposition unmistakably clear.

Despite their determined efforts, Liverpool councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of pressing ahead with the plans, and in 1957, a private bill backed by Liverpool City Council was brought before Parliament.

All 35 Welsh Members of Parliament who cast their votes opposed the bill, yet it was passed regardless in 1962. Three years on, the village and all its buildings, including people’s homes, were submerged beneath the water.

In total, approximately 800 acres of land were consumed by the reservoir, taking with it the school, the post office, the chapel and the cemetery.

Some 48 people lost their homes out of the 67 who had lived in the valley, with many forced to relocate to entirely unfamiliar areas and rebuild their lives from scratch.

What made this so deeply controversial was the wholesale destruction of a traditional Welsh community, as the village had stood as a living symbol of authentic Welsh culture and its endangered language.

The site today

Visitors continue to flock to the site to this day. During particularly dry periods if the water levels drop enough, you can occasionally spot some of the ruins of the houses, school and post office. One TripAdvisor reviewer described the place as “beautiful but sad”.

They wrote: “This wasn’t my first visit to this beautiful area, but after researching the flooding of the village and being Welsh, we spent more time around where the village once stood.

“There is no doubt the scenery is outstanding, but I also found it to be quite sad; people’s lives were completely upturned, and their entire village was drowned. Well worth a visit, especially if you read the history of the village.”

The reservoir offers a breathtaking backdrop, framed by the gently rolling hills of the valley, and many visitors opt to take a stroll around the area. A memorial chapel stands as a tribute to the village that once existed, offering a place for people to reflect on its history.

One visitor remarked: “Poignant and stunning. The heartbreaking history of this reservoir should never be forgotten.”

There is every chance the village could resurface this year, as it only emerges above the waterline during spells of extreme heat. The ongoing heatwave may cause water levels to drop sufficiently, much as they did in 2018.

A MAJOR airport is closed after a thunderstorm caused damage to air traffic control systems.

All flights are grounded from Bristol Airport, according to traffic monitoring site Inrix.

Passengers are being urged to contact their airline and to check before they travel.

The airport’s website says: “Following the earlier electrical storm, Bristol Airport remains closed to arriving and departing aircraft whilst engineers investigate a fault with Air Traffic Control systems.

“Customers should contact their airline with any specific flight queries.”

It comes as Britain bakes under a red heat warning this week, with temperatures set to soar to 37C.

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The extreme weather is also causing further travel chaos this morning – after thunderstorms and torrential downpours overnight.

Operators are imposing emergency speed restrictions and warning passengers to expect longer journey times.

London’s transport network has been hit hard, with the Circle line suspended and severe delays on the Hammersmith & City line, as well as parts of the District line shut and the Elizabeth line experiencing significant delays.

Services between Heathrow Terminal 4 and Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 are also suspended.

The storms battered the South West of England last night, with hundreds of homes in Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury and Bristol being struck with temporary blackouts.

Meanwhile, passengers in the South East saw delays due to signalling issues.

Southeastern warned: “With ongoing thunderstorms and heavy rain in a number of areas, speed restrictions have been imposed in many places across the network as a precaution.

“Trains are continuing to run on all routes but your journey may take longer than expected.”

It comes after an inferno raged through a suburban home after the roof was reportedly struck by lightning in the Emersons Green area of Bristol.

The Met Office‘s amber extreme heat warning is in force through to Thursday night.

But a second, more extreme red warning comes into force across Wednesday and Thursday for parts of southern England, as well as the Midlands and southern Wales.

From Friday conditions are expected to start turning slightly less intense.

Highs of 33C are still forecast in areas of Eastern England, but the worst of the heat should be beginning to pass.

By the weekend, temperatures are forecast to drop to the mid-20s.

The Sheep’s Head peninsula is clearly a good place to be a skylark. They seem to warble overhead at every turn, singing their little hearts out – and who could blame them? The hills here are high and heathery, the sea breeze is warmed by the Gulf Stream and the edge-of-the-world scenery is a realm of wild green slopes and endless blue Atlantic. If you had to choose a sky to lark in, the one that crowns this County Cork headland is a bona fide wing-quiverer.

The peninsula wows hikers, too. I’ve come to one of the south-westernmost points on the Irish mainland to trek the Sheep’s Head Way, a long-distance trail opened by the local community 30 years ago this summer. It took serious work to complete – more of which later – but it’s a delight. I’m walking the original 55-mile (88km) loop around the peninsula, although a longer, 63-mile option is now considered the official route. The way attracts a fraction of the numbers drawn to the Kerry Way and Dingle Peninsula trail further north, and thanks to its untrammelled paths and rampant, cliff-edged scenery, the rewards are grand, in every sense.

“Ah, you’ll love it,” enthuses Thérése Linehan of Doire Liath B&B in Bantry, having fuelled me with poached eggs and soda bread for breakfast. “People do.” This colour-splashed harbour town, at the landward end of the peninsula, is the route’s start and end point. I’m setting off on a Friday and the waterside square is busy with market stalls: fresh seafood, local artworks, turbo-strength flat whites. A statue of 18th-century revolutionary Wolfe Tone stares out to sea. I dawdle a while in the chilly May sunshine, then walk west.

The early miles wind up into the range of rounded drumlins that form the spine of the peninsula. Wildflowers speckle the gorse verges; boggy paths squelch underfoot. Soon, the views open up. Bantry Bay to the north, Dunmanus Bay to the south and a belt of shaggy-grassed peaks stretching out ahead. Swallows are cavorting in the wind. I turn and see nothing but hills, ridges and sea. Where is everyone?

Despite being almost at the westernmost limits of the European map, the region is no historical hinterland. Folklore holds that Bantry Bay was the place where feet were first planted on Irish soil, in 2680BC. Millennia later, in 1796, the same bay witnessed an attempted landing by a vast French fleet looking to help local resistance forces against English rule, only to be thwarted by storms. I’m luckier with the weather. Today the bay is sun-stippled and marble smooth.

The themes of this first day – near-empty trails, unbridled scenery, spring birdlife and heady history – set the tone for those that follow. The loop walk is traditionally split into five or six days – I’m doing it in five. For the first two, with crags and coastal meadows cascading around me, I pass only sheep. Cuckoos sound from woodland patches, stonechats flit between rocks, squadrons of hooded crows glide overhead. High, lonely stiles come in their dozens; abandoned 1840s stone homesteads stand sentry above the sea.

At one point the trail ascends to a 345m (1,130ft) viewpoint known as Finn McCool’s Seat, where the legendary giant is said to have sat and rested. I do the same, gazing at the peninsulas further north. I don’t know whether, like me, McCool was sapped enough to wolf down two packets of Taytos while he lingered.

There are few settlements on the first half of the anticlockwise route, so prearranged road transfers take me to and from Bantry to the trail on the first two days. The town has the advantage of myriad pubs and restaurants. Ma Murphys bar, 185 years old, does a fine drop of Murphy’s – which often outsells Guinness in these parts – and sets things up nicely for what is arguably the scenic climax (and far and away the busiest part) of the walk, a roller-coaster trek on Day 3 out to the lighthouse on the promontory’s furthest cliffs.

I reach it in early afternoon. The sea is huge and aglitter. Gannets patrol the waves. To the south, across Dunmanus Bay, is Mizen Head, traditionally the last finger of Irish land seen by people sailing to North America. The Sheep’s Head path now spins on its heel and heads east, past a wayside shrine and a tea-and-toasties cafe. Within half an hour the trail is deserted again, its yellow markers leading back into the tussocky green of the hills.

The trail is so well signed that it’s easy to overlook the complexity of shaping a hike around an entire peninsula. The Sheep’s Head Way has an office in the village of Kilcrohane, my base for that night, where I meet local farmer James O’Mahony. Now 82, he was one of the original mid-1990s founders of the trail, along with the late Tom Whitty, a Philadelphian who fell in love with the region. They envisaged a hike that would promote the peninsula’s charms to the full, benefiting not just walkers but local communities. Setting it up, however, required effort.

“There’s no crown land in Ireland, it’s all freehold,” explains James, speaking softly in a thick Cork accent. “We had 265 different landowners to speak to, all on the route. Some of the farmers couldn’t believe their land might appeal to hikers. They’d say, ‘Why would anyone want to walk my old hill?’” He chuckles. “One of the aims was also to keep our old pathways alive. Lots of them were funeral paths, mass paths, church paths. That was very important.”

The trail took 18 months to complete. While never overcrowded, it has won wide recognition, including a European Destination of Excellence Award in 2009 for “respecting its protected environment while meeting the needs of local residents and visitors”. All landowners on the route still receive an upkeep payment from the government’s rural affairs department, a committee of volunteers oversees the trail and a small, grant-funded team of workers is tasked with maintaining it.

The next day, I’m back on the trail. The 11-mile stretch from Kilcrohane to Durrus, my last staging post before a final day’s walk back to Bantry, is as all-enfolding as all that’s come before. There are historical gems – including a bronze age stone circle and the ruins of a bardic school that, by some local accounts, can claim to be one of Europe’s oldest universities – and more of those coastal views.

There’s a feeling you get when you complete a long-distance trail, a sweet fatigue that holds a sense of the miles walked. This is a special corner of a special county, and the trail that snakes its way around the peninsula – soggy in places, steep in others, but rarely less than spectacular – is one to be celebrated.

The trip was provided by Tourism Ireland and Ireland Walk Bike Hike, which offers seven-day Sheep’s Head Way sel-guided packages, with five days of hiking, B&B accommodation, transfers and luggage transfers from €885. Five-day packages also available. For more information on the Sheep’s Head Way, visit thesheepsheadway.com

Earlier on Monday evening, he Met Office announced a thunderstorm warning for several regions across the UK on Monday night, spanning from 5pm to 9pm.

While the weather alert has since expired, communities across south West England are still reeling in the wake of wild storms and flash flooding.

Who did the warning cover? The weather alert applied to parts of East of England, London and South East England, South West England.

What was the full alert? A Yellow weather warning is in effect, continuing until Monday 9pm. The forecast indicates frequent lightning strikes and heavy rain in the impacted regions.

A Met Office forecaster said, in a statement issued alongside the urgent weather alert earlier this evening (June 22): “An area of thunderstorms moving east across the area will bring a spell of frequent lightning, gusty winds, torrential rain, and a few places, hail.

The storms will be moving quickly reducing the potential for widespread large amounts of rain, but there is a few places could see 20-25 mm of rainfall in a short period in the most active storms, which could bring some brief flooding.

“The majority of impacts are likely to come from other hazards however, such as lightning striking buildings and causing power cuts, difficult driving conditions in heavy rain, and some localised damage to vulnerable structures by strong wind gusts or hail.”

This digital news digest primarily commemorates June Day in Newfoundland and Labrador, a holiday honoring the 1497 arrival of explorer John Cabot in North America. The text explains that while historical debates exist regarding his exact landing point, the governments of Canada and the United Kingdom eventually recognized Cape Bonavista as the official site. Beyond this historical focus, the publication serves as a current events roundup for June 22, 2026, featuring headlines on global sports and international politics. Notable entries include Egypt’s victory in the World Cup and updates regarding a factory explosion in Qatar. By blending regional heritage with modern breaking news, the source pr … 

“Do you have an extra ticket?” a man shouted outside SoFi Stadium last Thursday.

The World Cup has been drawing fans from around the globe. But for many, getting a seat in the stadium has come at a steep price.

Some were lucky enough to nab $400 to $500 tickets through official World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to catch the action IRL. Tickets for the upcoming USA versus Turkey match were selling for more than $1,400 on resale sites.

The demand has been so high that authorities have been warning fans about how to avoid ticket scams.

As crowds flocked into the stadium, we asked attendees about how much they paid to get into the most-watched sporting event in the world. Here’s what they shared.

Their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellano, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera of Orange County

Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellanos, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera sport Mexico gear.

How much did you pay for your tickets?

Diana: We don’t want to say because I don’t want our parents to know.

*Whispers* We paid retail. It was like $500 per ticket. For Father’s Day, we wanted to make sure he got to enjoy it.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Castellano: We went in ‘86 in Mexico, ‘94 in Pasadena and now here. We’re excited because I want to enjoy it with my kids. If we didn’t come, I would’ve been sad because they need to see how it is.

Diana: Now, it’s our turn. Even though [today’s match] is not our country, we still had to come and experience it. We’ll watch our team play later on the big screen.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Diana: Work, but that doesn’t matter. This is more important. Time with family.

Luis Jr.: Sleep. [Laughs]

Diana: It’s Thursday. We’re out here watching the game, we’re drinking, so there’s no complaints.

Was it worth it?

Diana: Absolutely. No matter what happens today. The fact that we’re here, it’s already a success.

Tell me about your outfit. You’re rocking Paisaboys, an L.A. brand.

Diana: I got the Paisaboys shirt on, repping. I know they have a collaboration with Nike. I got my Nike shoes on and I’m just ready to have a good time. My mom sewed her top last night. She wanted to add a little touch to it.

Angelica: Yes! This is an old, old, old jacket.

Diana: My dad’s outfit is sponsored by me. All Adidas, Father’s Day gift.

Luis Sr.: I got lucky this year.

Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell of Washington, D.C.

Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell.

How much did you pay for tickets?

Harrell: We went to two games: USA versus Paraguay [in Los Angeles] and Senegal versus France in New Jersey/New York.

Chapman: The L.A. tickets were way more expensive. We bought them presale for like $1,940, but the [seats] were still very high in the arena and the resale prices are actually cheaper than the ones we bought on presale. It’s horrible. [Laughs]

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

Chapman: This is my first men’s World Cup. I went to the women’s World Cup in Australia a couple years ago. The last time the U.S. had a men’s World Cup here was like forever ago. We’re probably not going to have another in our lifetime, so I really wanted to make sure we had a chance to go to some games.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Harrell: We’re moving the day we get back, so we were packing until the moment we got here. Some of this gear was last-minute purchasing in order to make that work. Also, we took a six-hour plane ride, middle seats. We really committed to get here. We got cat sitters, we both took days off from work, the whole thing.

Was it worth it?

Chapman: Yeah, just for the experience. It’s more money than we would’ve wanted to pay but yeah.

Harrell: We bought the tickets like a year and a half ago, so it’s been on the calendar forever. We ended up getting to bring my brother and his best friend to celebrate his 40th birthday, so it sort just worked out for all of us.

Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage of Los Angeles

Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Cambage: Nothing. Sorry.

Samimi: We were blessed.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Cambage: This is my first fútbol game ever. I wanted to come cause it’s L.A. Yay sports! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let’s get out there and get into it.

Samimi: I’m born and raised in L.A. so I’m happy to see the World Cup here.

Tell me about your outfit inspiration.

Samimi: I’m wearing Honor the Gift, Russell Westbrook’s brand, a Nike top, my shorts are from a random boutique in L.A. and Jordan shoes.

Cambage: I just went crazy at the Nike store. I’m not gonna lie. We just came from the Nike store. I’m reppin’ USA today. Yes, I am Australian, but I do live in America and USA is AUS. [Laughs]

Kenan Sahbaz of St. Louis and family

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans cheer on their team.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

I got mine directly through the FIFA website. We paid $500 a piece. I brought my son, my cousins and their kids.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Sahbaz: This is our very first World Cup. It’s a historic event for our very small country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a huge accomplishment in the past 12 years. This is going to be the first time we’ve made it here again. We’ve got a really good squad and I think we can do some amazing things for our country. This is a time when we really need some support and joy in the country, and no better way to do it than at the World Cup.

Who’s your favorite player?

Kids: Džeko.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Sahbaz: A lot. Work. Time. We were initially going to go on vacation to the Bahamas, but I asked him either the Bahamas or the World Cup. So when we found out that we made it, it was the World Cup. We canceled everything else. We even went to the qualifiers in Wales and that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well. There was just no way we were going to miss it.

Was it worth it?

Sahbaz: 100%. Win or lose, we still win today.

Daniel Henriquez and David Njenga of Seattle

David Njenga, left, sports Kenya gear, while Daniel Henriquez cheers for El Salvador.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Henriquez: This match was $500 each. We bought it in like October of last year.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Njenga: Because this is the World Cup. You have to go to a World Cup. This is my second one. I was in Qatar for the last World Cup.

Henriquez: The energy! World Cup baby!

Njenga: There’s people from all over the world. We are all assembled here to enjoy this moment.

Henriquez: This is what happens when all the world comes together. This is our utopia. We all love each other. We’re all here for one thing, to support our country.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Njenga: My job. I have to be at work right now, but I took the day off. I don’t mind.

Henriquez: I’m a nurse for the fire department. My boss was awesome. She gave me a day off. I love my boss Nancy. Go Nancy!

Was it worth it?

Njenga: It is worth every penny. It’s not even the money. It’s the experience. After this, we head to San Francisco for another game.

Henriquez: Then we’re heading to Vancouver and then we have another game in Seattle.

Njenga: We’re going to six games [in total]. Our Houston tickets were the cheapest. They were about $400.

Cindy Vazquez of Grenada Hills

Cindy Vazquez Zavala reps Mexico with her outfit.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

It was free.99. Shh!

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

This is my first World Cup. The Jordan team invited me to attend this game, so lucky me. That’s why I’m wearing Jordans today. I’m in the industry so they invited a few employees from neighborhood stores to come.

Tell us about your outfit inspiration.

Today there’s a Mexico game, so I still gotta rep even though I’m attending this match [Switzerland versus Bosnia and Herzegovina]. The outfit is a Nike T90 jersey and my lace is from Amazon. I got the little [soccer] ball, the little World Cup and teddy bear from the gas station. I needed it.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I actually had to request PTO to attend, but the store is still running without me. Right after this game, I actually have to jet back. I work at Feature, which is a sneaker boutique in Studio City. S/O Feature for allowing me to come here!

Fabian Almiron of Spain

Fabian Almiron, originally from Paraguay but currently living in Spain, rides Metro to the game.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

I paid $1,100 for the first game [June 12], $290 for the Turkey game [June 19] and the last game with Australia was $170 [June 25].

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

This is my first World Cup. I live in Spain, but I’m rooting for Paraguay. I’m very excited to be seeing them participate after 16 years.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I used like 20 to 25 days of vacation time to come see the World Cup.

Was it worth it?

Yes!

Sunny Kwong, Sam Mallari, Antonio Evangelista, Michael Evangelista of San Diego and Los Angeles

Antonio Evangelista, Sam Mallari, Michael Evangelista and Sunny Kwong are decked out in Bosnia and Herzegovina gear.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Michael: We paid $400 each. We got lucky with the last chance lottery. They released the tickets a few months ago.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Michael: We’re rooting for Bosnia this time. This is our first World Cup.

Antonio: It’s a lifelong dream. I’ve loved the sport ever since I was in the Philippines.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Michael: Most of us had the day off. I worked in the morning at like 6 a.m. and then I’m going to work afterward. I really wanted to carve out time to be there.

Mallari: I took time off because this is my first soccer game ever and I wanted to experience the World Cup with true fans.

Was it worth it?

Michael: 100%. It’s honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s been awesome to be here with my dad. We watched the last World Cup finals and we were literally in tears. I know he’s been playing soccer ever since he was in the Philippines military.

Antonio: 20 years.

Becky Clift of Orange County and William Wagner of San Diego

Colleagues William Wagner and Becky Clift sport traditional festival inspired outfits to cheer on Switzerland.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Clift: They were gifted to us.

Wagner: We’re a fortunate group.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

Clift: The World Cup in America is super fun, so we wanted to support it and be a part of it. This was the game that we got tickets for, so we decided to dress up a little bit and have some fun.

Wagner: We’re both soccer people. We both speak the world’s language, so we’re happy to be a part of it here.

Tell me about your outfit inspiration.

Wagner: I have a very close Swiss friend who was equipped for this. One quick phone call and here I am.

Clift: Then I had to get mine so I could support.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Wagner: A full day of work. We’re both engineers. We know each other through work.

Was it worth it?

Wagner: We’ll find out.

Clift: Heck yeah!

Jorge Morales of Topanga

Jorge Morales holds out a ball he got at the World Cup opener in Mexico City.

How much did you pay for tickets?

It was between $800 to $900 for my USA versus Paraguay tickets. I bought them through Seat Geek.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

I wanted to experience it not just in Los Angeles, but I also wanted to experience it in Mexico. I’m going to three games in Los Angeles and four in Mexico City. Going to my first World Cup in Mexico City was a whole different ballgame. Mexico played in their home country and they won. It was like pandemonium. Even though it was raining over there at the time, it was still a lot of fun. Everyone was hugging each other. I’m looking at you, New York Knicks fans. [Laughs]

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I’m used to traveling, so I’m like this ain’t nothing. I just wanted to experience a World Cup game and the fact that it’s in three countries, you’re not going to experience that any other time. It’s the one and only World Cup where you’re going to see three countries hosting it.

Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness of San Diego

Switzerland fans Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Ian: $450 per ticket.

Alexi: We won the ticket lottery. That’s the only way ‘cause the resale is expensive.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Marcella: This is our first World Cup!

Ian: I was at the Switzerland versus Qatar game. Similar outfit. We got it dialed this time. Lots of fun. Tough ending, but what are you going to do?

Luke: We wanted to support Switzerland. Everyone in the family is Swiss. It’s fun to go to a World Cup game. We were just excited to get tickets. I think it’s a great way for the family to spend time together and a good excuse to get out of work.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Luke: Time off work. Time to come here. We drove up here. I don’t think we gave up much. We just enjoy being here.

Ian: $450.

Alexi: And we woke up at 5 a.m., so that we could come up here and spend the day together.

Was it worth it?

All: Yes!

Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic, Armin Kapic of Los Angeles

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic and Armin Kapic.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Nordin: $3,000. We’re like literally on the field.

Anja: $450. In L.A., we got it like that.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Anja: This is our second time ever qualifying for the World Cup. We are so proud to be here and support our country today.

Nordin: I mean, look around. Why would you not want to be here today?

Armin: We’re hoping for the win!

All: 2-0!

Bendicht Hügli and Lucia Grajales of Mexico City

Lucia Grajales and Bendicht Hugli, both currently living in Mexico City, hold a Swiss flag.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Hügli: The ticket was $650. That’s stealing. That’s robbery. When I went in ‘86, I think the tickets were 10% of the price I paid for this year.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Hügli: I had some business in San Diego. I saw Switzerland is going to be here, so let’s hit it and break the bank to get tickets. I went to the World Cup in Mexico City in ’86. I saw 12 games. I’m going to one this time.

Was it worth it?

Hügli: We’ll see. If Switzerland plays lousy, then I’m going to be pissed, but I think they’ll do better than in the first game.

Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia of Washington, D.C.

Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia root for Paraguay.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Isidoro: I think it was around $500 per ticket. Again, we were very lucky because Paraguay was the first game.

Flavia: It was early bird without knowing who was going to play.

Isidoro: We’re also going to the Paraguay versus Turkey game in San Francisco and the third one in Mexico City.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

Flavia: We’re rooting for Paraguay. I’m from Paraguay, born and raised.

Isidoro: This is my second World Cup. I went to the one in Qatar. We were very excited about it. Actually, we were very lucky too because we bought Paraguay’s tickets when they were selling them blank. So we just bought the three tickets for Paraguay before knowing the group stage and then it turned out to be in the U.S., so it was awesome.

Flavia: We were hoping it would be on the East Coast because that’s where we live and it ended up being on the other side of the country, but we already had the tickets and we really wanted to go to a game, so we flew. We’re coming straight from the airport. We have our 5-month-old baby who is at the hotel with my mom.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Isidoro: I guess time with our daughter. Even though it’s only going to be a few hours, we miss her a lot. She’s very tiny. Every [moment] is precious with her.

Was it worth it?

Isidoro: Yes, even though it’s a few hours and hopefully Paraguay will pull it off.

Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles

Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles.

How much did you pay for tickets?

For the USA versus Paraguay ticket, I think I paid like $1,800, and for another match, I think I paid about $1,020, so a little less. I think that’s when the prices started to go down.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

I’ve always wanted to go. I missed my chance to go to Brazil in 2014. I really wanted to go, but I had just taken a huge trip to Asia, so I couldn’t really go. I didn’t have any money left and I’ve been thinking about the World Cup being here since it was awarded to the U.S. I was really bummed out when it was awarded to Qatar instead of the U.S. and also instead of Australia. I’m really excited about it. It feels unreal.

What does it mean for the World Cup to be in your hometown?

It means so much. I remember when they had it here in ‘94. I didn’t get a chance to go to any of the games, but the energy that you feel around the city is like next level. The events they’ve been hosting are so awesome. You get to meet more people from other walks of life and other countries.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I just pretty much had to pick up more debt, but I get points so it’ll help fly somewhere. Also, debt disappears when you die so they can try coming after me for that World Cup money, but they never will. [Laughs]

Was it worth it?

I looked at the price and was like, “It’ll never be this cheap in my life, ever.” It’s only ever going to go up, and, hey, it’s in my backyard.

THE mercury is rising as the UK and Europe sizzle through a second June heatwave, with temperatures soaring to over 40C.

The increasingly fierce heat has prompted a new trend and, of course, an obligatory trendy moniker – the COOL-CATION.

Increasingly, those of us who suffer in the heat are seeking out holidays where the sun shines but the degrees stay sensible.

Here, Lisa Minot, suggests six of the best holiday destinations abroad that escape the heat but still score highly in summer . . . 

FOR beach breaks, Portugal’s Costa Verde, in the north of the country, is an ideal choice.

While there’s still plenty of sunshine, the Atlantic breezes mean cooler temperatures than the Algarve.

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It’s also a green haven — think verdant forests and vineyards producing the popular Vinho Verde wine.

Solmar Villas has 30 villas in the region including Casa do Casal.

Sleeping four, this chic, modern villa includes a private pool.

Seven nights’ self-catering is from £697pp, based on four sharing, including flights from Gatwick on July 12.

See solmarvillas.com.

CLOSE to the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is the cooler alternative to Lake Como, offering watersports and hiking accompanied by a refreshing Alpine breeze.

Newmarket Holidays has a great tour that includes excursions around the lake, combined with Croatia’s Istrian Riviera and the glorious Plitvice National Park.

With expert guides, visit Rovinj on the coast and the remarkable Lim Fjord.

The eight-day trip includes flights, four excursions and 14 meals.

Prices start from £1,324pp.

For further details, visit newmarketholidays.co.uk.

GET the best of all worlds with a visit to this gorgeous little Swedish city.

With summer temperatures typically from 20C to 23C, it has a laid-back coastal feel with sandy beaches, waterfront dining and easy links to Danish capital Copenhagen, via the Oresund Bridge.

There’s sea-swimming and saunas, of course, plus pretty streets with traditional architecture.

The UNITY Malmo hotel is a ten-minute walk from the city centre and a great base.

Three nights’ B&B is from £391pp including flights from Gatwick on July 5.

See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

SESTRIERE, ITALY

SPORTY types need not break a sweat this summer with a stay at Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere in Italy’s Piedmont region.

With its refreshing Alpine climate — it was built for the 2006 Winter Olympics — there’s plenty to keep fitness fans busy in summer with 19 different activities including biking, hiking and golf, plus two pools.

And with everything included, you can sit back and relax.

Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £1,827pp including flights from Heathrow on July 11 and transfers.

See clubmed.co.uk/r/pragelato-sestriere/w or call 03453 676767.

THIS capital city offers the chance to combine a cultural break with beach fun.

There are 15 public beaches within the city’s limits, three of which hold Blue Flag awards — Balsys and Valakampiai I and II.

With cooler, Nordic summers, temperatures rarely rise above 23C but there are still plenty of places to enjoy some sunshine with many of the city’s beaches having changing cabins, barbecue zones and sports courts.

Explore the Old Town with a three-night stay at the 3* Panorama Hotel from £239pp including flights from Stansted on July 1.

See loveholidays.com.

THERE’S no problem cooling off in Finland — the country has some 188,000 lakes, the majority in its stunning Lakeland region.

Explore a few on a self-drive holiday with with Best Served Scandinavia, taking in lakes, rivers, canals and forests.

The trip starts with two nights in Helsinki before heading into Lakeland to make the most of the long summer days with time for swimming, fishing and canoeing.

Eight nights is from £1,950pp including return flights, B&B accommodation, seven days’ car hire, two lunches, excursions and a sightseeing cruise.

See best-served.co.uk.

THE most beautiful pubs in the UK have been revealed – ranging from historic inns to more modern upgrades.

The winners were named in Camra’s Pub Design Awards, across a number of different categories.

The Historic England Conservation Award was given to the pub which “carefully preserved the pub’s historical architectural features“.

Coming out on top is Woodman in Birmingham, which dates back to 1897 when it was a public house for Ansells Brewery,

Since then, it has undergone a £300k renovation back in 2024, which saw the restoration of the Victorian tile walls as well as the woodwork throughout.

It is also right by Old Curzon Street Station, part of the new HS2 line which will open in 2030.

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Two winners were named for the Conversion to Pub Use award, which is for buildings that were not originally built as pubs.

One of the winners is Blue Stoops in London, which used to be a wine bar.

Found near Notting Hill Gate Station, it has been turned into a pub by Allsopp’s Brewery and since its opening, people have raved about the food menu as well as the atmosphere.

The pub is a joint winner with St Peter’s Tavern in Liverpool, which is a converted Roman Catholic Church.

Much of the grand interiors remain, including the Lady Chapel and original alter.

The Leyton Engineer pub in London won the Refurbishment Award.

It originally opened in 2012 as a pop up pub for the Olympics, taking over Leyton Town Hall, and reopened in 2024 after a huge revamp.

And the Community Local Award went to Lord Southampton in London, which was praised for being a space for local groups.

Pub Design Awards judging panel chair Andrew Davison said: “In these troubled times, the pub still has a key role to play in our communities, and those who are working to conserve, repair and renovate them should rightfully be applauded.

“The Pub Design Awards recognise the extraordinary amount of effort, the imagination and design, plus high-quality craftsmanship which have gone into all of these projects”

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England, added: “Pubs continue to be cherished historic spaces for people across the country.

“Each pub is distinct, telling the story of the community they stand within and continue to serve.”

EUROPE’s best airlines have been named and a major one in the UK was named the winner.

Virgin Atlantic came in top for the best airlines in Europe in this year’s Airline Passenger Experience (APEX) awards.

The awards are based on passenger feedback, with millions of people anonymoulsy rating their flights across four categories.

APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader said: “Passenger feedback remains one of the clearest indicators of how airlines are delivering on the experiences travelers value most.”

Virgin has also launched two new flight routes this summer, to bucket list holiday destinations.

The airline’s first ever flights to South Korea took off earlier this year – and we were one of the first to join.

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Otherwise new flights to Phuket will be starting later this year as well.

Other APEX winners included Turkish Airlines for both entertainment and food and drinks, while KLM won for Best Cabin Service.

Best Seat Comfort went to Finnair, and Best WiFi went to airBaltic.

Sadly, UK airlines missed out in the overall global categories, with Korean Air named Best Cabin Service, while Emirates won for Best Entertainment.

Qatar Airways took Best Food & Beverage while Eva Air had Best Seat Comfort.

WHEN it comes to beautiful hiking destinations, not many places beat Italy – but there is one top spot with some strict rules.

The Cinque Terre National Park in Italy spans 15sqm in the north of the country.

Home to over 75 miles of hiking trails, it is a popular spot due to its breathtaking landscapes and coastal location.

And while it is open to the public to explore, there is a major rule you need to be aware of.

Nowhere on the park’s marked hiking trails are you allowed to wear flip flops.

This includes backless sandals and shoes with smooth soles.

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In fact, any shoes deemed unsuitable for the trails – along with flip flop and sandals – could score you a fine of between €50 (£43.15) to €2,500 (£2,157.31).

Staff across the park, as well as guards, can carry out checks including stopping visitors to check they have the right footwear.

If you don’t have the right footwear, you could get fined on the spot or not be allowed to use the trails.

One trail where flip flops are banned is the famous Blue Path, which connects all five villages in the park.

The path takes between five and eight hours to walk from end-to-end, or longer if you want to explore the villages.

To do the Blue Path, you will usually need a Cinque Terre Card, which gives you access to the trails as well as local shuttle buses and museum discounts.

Flip flops are allowed in some areas though, including the villages in the park – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The park isn’t the only spot in Italy where you can’t wear flip flops though.

In Capri, a law that was created back in the 1960s bans people from wearing noisy shoes.

This includes flip flops, as well as squeaky sandals and even wooden clogs.

FOR the past eight years I’ve wasted hours on busy, overpriced trains, travelling between London and my hometown of Devon.

But I recently discovered I could skip the sweaty crowds and do the journey in my sleep for the same price.

While you might have heard of the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland, I bet you aren’t familiar with Great Western Railway’s Riviera Sleeper from London to Cornwall.

The full journey from London to Penzance in Cornwall takes eight hours overnight, compared to the daytime five hour journey.

With the normal route being popular (and often packed with chaotic carriages where I arrive home disheveled and sweaty) I thought I would opt for the overnight option to Devon instead.

It takes just over five hours compared to my usual 2hr30, departing at 11:45pm and arriving at 5am.

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I booked the cheapest seats on offer, paying £47.50 with a railcard, although the cheapest without a railcard is £43.

This got me an upright seat – if I had opted for a sleeper berth with a single or twin cabin, this would have set me back an extra £49 or £59, respectively, on top of the ticket price.

(Although for my journey, I couldn’t find any for less than £200).

The major benefit of booking a cabin is that you can use the fancy lounges – which have showers – at Paddington, Penzance, and Truro, with breakfast also included onboard.

I, however, was not one of the lucky ones, and instead boarded my seat shortly after arriving at London Paddington Train Station at around 11pm.

The train itself is weirdly clean – quite different from your standard daytime Great Western Railway train – and devoid of the usual crowds as well.

Replacing the loud beeping mechanical doors are retro-style doors you need to lean out of the window to open.

Then it comes to the part I was both dreading and anticipating – the seats.

The operator claims they are similar to airline seats and at first glance, look a lot nicer than what you find on Ryanair.

But when it comes to the actual comfort – I think I would have preferred a budget flight middle seat.

It felt like sitting on a stack of squashed cardboard boxes, and bizarrely even more uncomfortable than the daytime GWR seats.

The head rest is annoyingly high, and the promise of extra legroom was unfounded.

Just the same as a daytime carriage you get a tray table, and then you’ll find plug and USB sockets by your feet.

Additions that you don’t get on the daytime trains include an overhead reading light and swish curtain on the window.

So, how did I sleep? Well, I didn’t.

I simply couldn’t get comfortable as the seats are too small to lie across comfortably.

The minutes I did manage to get some sleep was when I put my feet on the seat next to me, I was quickly awoken by someones shouting “FEET” as they walked through the cabin.

I may be just 5″1, but the headrest didn’t help either – I knocked my head a few times just fidgeting and ended up slumping down in my seat to avoid it.

And all of this is without mentioning the disruption of passengers boarding at half-midnight, with the football playing on their phones at full volume.

Even though I saved money compared to a cabin, I definitely would only book this seat again if it was a last resort – I’d rather just stick to the daytime trains (which even in the noise I manage to get quick naps on).

There was one perk to trying this overnight train, however.

My train got into Exeter St David’s around 4:37am and because this was the stop before mine, I was starting to stir.

I also knew what was coming – a section of the track which I believe is home to the most beautiful train journey in the UK.

From Exeter, the train runs past Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth with beaches and red cliffs on the left side of the train.

And at this time in the morning, a beautiful summer sunrise adds washes of orange, red and yellow.

While getting up early to see this might not be attractive and of course it depends on the time of year you are on the sleeper train, I would definitely recommend it.

The sea was perfectly calm, with only a couple of people entertaining their dogs on the beach, the sand was untouched and the water reflecting all the bright colours of the sky made it look like something from a postcard.

It almost made the seriously uncomfortable seat worth it… almost.

Cruise passengers who dock for the day in Barcelona now face having to pay a hefty fee per passenger per day, as the mayor looks to slash the number of short-stay cruise visitors to zero

Barcelona’s city council has approved plans to triple the amount that cruise passengers pay when they take a day trip to the popular city break hotspot.

The levy for cruise ship passengers will be hiked from €8 to €24 per passenger. In addition, a €6 regional tourist tax is already payable to visitors who spend less than 12 hours in Barcelona, which means the cost of setting foot in the capital for cruise passengers will rise to €30 per person, just under £26.

The hike is part of Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni’s plans to slash cruise tourism to the Catalan city according to cruise news outlet Deep Arrival.

Barcelona welcomed around 16 million visitors in 2025, 3.99 million of which were cruise passengers, with campaigners claiming that the influx puts a strain on public services and leads to overcrowding during the peak summer months. The tax increase is aimed at discouraging cruises from visiting the city completely, rather than just reducing overall numbers.

In July 2025, the city’s council approved plans to gradually increase the levy paid by cruise passengers gradually over four years, but reports within cruise trade publications indicate that this timeline could be sped up, and higher charges could be implemented as soon as 2027.

Cruises that begin or end in Barcelona would not be charged this increased fee, as these sailings are seen to have a postive impact on the city compared to day trips. A report on the sustainability of cruises on the city showed that day trippers from cruises spent an average of 5.7 hours in the city, and mostly visited popular attractions as as the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.

Last year, Barcelona cut the number of cruise terminals from seven to five, and began to reroute larger cruise ships away from the most central ports, which now prioritise smaller boats and local marine traffic.

It’s not just cruise passengers who’ll pay higher fees in Barcelona. As of April 1, general accommodation tourist taxes have also increased, making them among the highest in Europe. Visitors pay both a regional and a municipal surcharge, meaning the total tourist tax ranges from €7 to €12 per person per night (approximately £6 to £10.38).

Barcelona has been at the heart of the overtourism protests sweeping Spain, and in June 2025 the city hit the headlines as protestors marched through the streets holding signs with slogans such as “Your Airbnb used to be my home”, and people sitting on outside terraces were squirted with water pistols.

Further protests are expected this summer from groups such as Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism More Life), including protests in Palma, Majorca set for July 26 to coincide with the start of school holiday season.

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

THE longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK is due to open at an adventure park this summer.

Families will be able to enjoy the new attraction just as the school holidays kick off.

Spanning 315ft, Fossil Falls in Norfolk is even bigger than the 288ft-long Forest Tubing experience, which opened at Heaton Park’s Zip World in May.

Fossil Falls will be officially opened by Matty Campbell, better known as TV Gladiator Bionic.

Matty will cut the ribbon to the ride at ROARR! Dinosaur Park in Lenwade on July 18.

The launch of the mega ride will kick off the summer holidays with an action-packed day for families, who will also have the chance to meet the star.

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Ben Francis, park director at ROARR!, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Matty here to open Fossil Falls.

“Having a real-life Gladiator launch our longest ever ride feels like the perfect fit – both are all about excitement, energy, and family fun.

“At 107 metres, Fossil Falls is the longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK and we can’t wait for families to experience it.”

The ride is part of a £250,000 investment in the park, which already features attractions such as Dippy’s Splash Zone.

Other attractions include Predator High Ropes, and Dinomite, billed as Norfolk’s largest indoor play area.

All attractions are included in the price of entry.

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Spanish media are reporting six-hour queues could hit this summer at airports. The Majorca Daily Bulletin said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said the European Union’s new digital border system is going to come under major strain.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational across the Schengen Area since April 10. Two months in, it is producing long lines, missed flights, and growing alarm across the travel industry. Airports Council International Europe said that waits of up to three and a half hours have already been recorded during peak periods. The six-hour figure is IATA’s projection for the busiest summer months.

Budget airlines from the UK Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2 have all warned of missed departures, disrupted schedules, and rising operational costs. Ryanair passengers who need to use its airport check-in or bag-drop services will be required to finish the process 20 minutes earlier.

The airline announced it will close the services an hour before the scheduled departure of a flight – compared with 40 minutes currently – to give passengers more time to get through security and passport checks. This will reduce the “very small number of passengers” who miss their flight while stuck in queues, the carrier added.

Ryanair’s website says passengers who fail to check in on time “may be denied boarding without refund”. The new policy will be in place from November 10. Passengers will still able to check in online until two hours before departure.

Jet2 check-in desks open exactly 3 hours before scheduled departure and will not open any earlier, even with the new EES (EU Entry/Exit System) checks. It is advised not to arrive at the airport earlier than this, as early arrivals may be asked to wait to prevent congestion

The airline said: “There may be longer wait times than usual when you arrive in destination and before your flight back to the UK. We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but unfortunately this is outside of our control.”

The UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air has warned British holidaymakers to arrive at European airports three hours before their flight home departs due to lengthy queues caused by new border checks.

Wizz Air’s UK managing director Yvonne Moynihan said: “When you land in the destination airport, there might be queues, so you should bring a portable charger or water,” she said.

Because EES information has to be verified when people leave, she also highlighted the risk of queues before flights back to the UK. “Because there is another passport check…that’s where we see that people have, again, experienced longer waiting times than anticipated,” she said.

She said usual advice is to get to the airport two hours ahead of your flight – “but in these circumstances, we are advising three hours”.

easyJet said: “Airports across Europe may experience longer waiting times at passport control due to the new European Entry/Exit System (EES). This could mean you need to have your biometrics taken at border checks, including the scanning of facial images and fingerprints.”

Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warned up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in spending could be lost if delays of three hours or more become routine. The findings come from a May 2026 survey of 2,512 travelers in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. About one-third said regular three-to-four-hour waits would make them much less likely to visit the Schengen Area, or stop them from visiting altogether. British travellers are the most sensitive, with 39% saying that they would be much less likely to travel. The figure is 33% for Americans and Canadians and 27% for Australians.

Awareness is another problem. More than half of those surveyed (55%) had heard little or nothing about EES, and 49% do not know what the border will require of them. In one incident, more than 100 passengers reportedly missed a flight from Milan to Manchester after getting stuck in passport queues. Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2 have all warned of missed departures, disrupted schedules, and rising operational costs.

A HISTORIC UK pier that links to a tiny island is set to become a new tourist attraction following a 30-year closure.

Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare has been closed to the public since 1994 due to safety concerns.

And now the Grade-II listed Victorian pier has been reconnected to the mainland for the first time in years, as part of a £20million project to reopen the pier.

It is the UK’s only pier that connects to an island – Birnbeck Island.

The pier regeneration is also part of a wider £44million project that includes the renovation of the 1888 boathouse, clock tower and landside pavilion as well.

Other derelict buildings by the pier include the Grade II Listed Toll House and its extension, which are known locally as the ‘shell shop’.

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Both will be restored and reopened as well as an information point with exhibitions.

The pier is expected to reopen in summer 2027.

And when it does, there will be a new lifeboat station and visitor centre.

Historically, the pier used to be a transport hub as well as a tourist destination before being used as a weapons testing site during World War II.

As for the island, there used to be a theme park there with a small railway and water chute.

Many locals have taken to social media to share their excitement for the pier reopening, saying it’s “excellent news“.

As heatwaves become an increasingly common feature of European summers, more of us are looking to cooler, northern coastlines for our seaside holidays. From the traditional seaside towns of Germany, northern France and the Netherlands, to the long sandy beaches of the Baltic coast and the islands of Scandinavia, we’d love to hear about your favourite cooler coastal breaks in Europe.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

The competition closes on Monday 29 June at 10am BST

Have a look at our past winners and other tips

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Travel expert said he has been doing this for ‘literally years’

A travel expert has revealed a “genius” hack that holidaymakers can use to dodge paying for seats on Ryanair and other airlines.

Rob Adcock regularly posts travel videos to his 141,000 Instagram followers, and in a recent clip he shared a tip he has been using for “literally years” to cut costs when flying. In the video, Rob asked: “Does everyone do this Ryanair seat hack or am I an actual genius? [Get] a better seat and it will not cost you a single penny.”

Rob recommends checking in “as normal” and selecting the free, randomly-allocated seat option, rather than forking out to choose where you sit. He continued: “Check-in closes online two hours before the flight departs so just before that go back into the app, click manage booking, then go to add or change seats. Then it’s going to show you a map of all the empty seats that are on the flight. Remember those seats.”

You should then close the app without paying for anything extra or changing your seat. Rob added: “Then when you get on the plane go and find those seats that you saw that were empty – ideally a full row or extra leg room – and just brazenly sit in it, safe in the knowledge that that seat is empty.”

Rob revealed he has been pulling off this trick for “literally years”, adding: “The flight attendant has never once asked me for my seat number. Just be careful of the front five or back five rows on the plane. Sometimes they check people for weight distribution so stay away from those.”

Although the video focused on Ryanair, he noted in the post’s caption that the trick can be applied to other airlines too, writing: “Best case? Extra leg room. Empty row. Window seat. No stranger falling asleep on your shoulder.

“Worst case? You go back to your original seat and carry on with your life. This obviously won’t magically create business class on a full flight… but for budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air, it’s honestly elite behaviour.”

Both Ryanair and Wizz Air were contacted for a response but had yet to reply at the time of publication. An easyJet spokesperson, however, commented: “We allocate seats for free and also provide the customers with the option to choose a specific seat when booking for a small fee.

“While we require customers to sit in their allocated seats for safety reasons, should customers like to move after take-off, our crew will be happy to help.”

WITH temperatures hitting 38C across the UK this week, you’ll want to know about the top spots to soak up the sun with a refreshing tipple.

So why not head to a pub right by the beach with a beer garden looking out at the sea? We’ve rounded up 15 of the best.

Fortune of War, Brighton

Found in the popular seaside city of Brighton is the Fortune of War with a large outdoor terrace right on the beach promenade.

The boozer often has late night entertainment including live music events and it’s easy to get to as well – it’s also only 12 minutes from Brighton Train Station.

Founder’s Arms, London

Thought a London pub couldn’t be on a beach? You’re wrong. The Founder’s Arms, between the Tate and Blackfriars Station, sat on the Thames has its own small beach.

While technically not a beachfront, if you catch the tide at the right time, a smallsliverr of golden sand appears next to the pub.

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The Old Neptune, Whitstable

Punters who have visited The Old Neptune in Whitstable often note how it feels like you are abroad thanks to its sprawling pub garden looking out to sea.

What makes this spot even better? It often hosts events, including live music sessions.

Zetland Arms, Kingsdown

Also in Kent you’ll find the Zetland Arms, which sits on Kingsdown Beach.

Visitors can sit in the garden with their feet in the shingle and on a clear day might even be lucky enough to see the White Cliffs of Dover or even France.

The Bluff Inn, Cornwall

Run by Haven and found in one of their holiday parks, you can visit the Wetherspoons pub, The Bluff Inn, which overlooks Bluff Beach.

The pub garden has views across the sea and is just a short walk from the sand itself.

The Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate

You can’t really go wrong with a Spoons pub, and when it has a rooftop right next to the beach, what are you waiting for?

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey has visited and said: “The Royal Victoria Pavilion, now a Grade-II listed building, was originally a concert hall and was said to have been inspired by the Little Theatre in Versailles.”

Brewers Fayre Inn on the Quay, Devon

Slap- bang in the middle of two beaches, The Inn on The Quay is a great family-friendly pub right next to the UK’s biggest outdoor waterpark.

If you want a pub with plenty to do, then this is definitely the spot – one of the beaches is dog-friendly too in case you have your furry friend with you.

Velvet Coaster, Blackpool

Another Spoons spot is the Velvet Coaster in Blackpool, with just a road between it and the beach and is even often named one of the most beautiful Spoons in the country.

In addition to the beach, you will also find Blackpool’s South Pier next door and Pleasure Beach just a short walk away.

Port William, Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall

Sitting right above Trebarwith Beach in Cornwall, you’ll find Port William.

The site is home to a restaurant and hotel as well as the pub, but it is the perfect place to sit with a pint overlooking the beach.

The Gloucester, Weymouth

With Weymouth Beach just across the road, there could not be a more ideal spot for a pint after a sunbathing session on the sand.

Outside, you will find a large outdoor patio and garden area, right on the Esplanade.

Bridport Arms, Bridport

With sand surrounding the pub, Bridport Arms is a great spot to enjoy a tipple before or after heading to the beach.

The garden overlooks the harbour and beach and dogs are allowed too.

The Anchor Inn, Seatown

Found in the hamlet of Seatown in Dorset, The Anchor Inn has accumulated many awards over the past years including in 2021 for the Best Destination Pub in Dorset & Somerset.

Head down to the beaches for some fossil hunting too, as the area is known for being on the Jurassic Coastline.

Ty Coch Inn, Wales

Over in Wales, you could head to the Tŷ Coch Inn in the village of Porthdinllaen.

Boasting views across the Irish Sea, the watering hole has the beach on its doorstep.

The Coble Inn, Newbiggin-by-the-sea

The Coble Inn sits right by the sea with views of the stretching coast and the entire pub is dog-friendly (you might even spot the resident dog).

As for outside, you can grab a tipple and sit on a terrace which overlooks the harbour and beach.

The Ship Inn, Elie and Earlsferry, Scotland

Around an hour from Edinburgh, you can head to one of Scotland‘s most famous seaside pubs.

The Ship Inn overlooks Elie Bay and is also known for hosting cricket matches right on the sand when the tide is out.

The next match takes place on July 5.

A New Zealand expat and his Spanish wife, who share travel guides about Spain on YouTube, have named one city as their top destination

Perched on a narrow strip of land encircled by the Atlantic Ocean lies Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, which one expat living in Spain is urging visitors to make time for. The capital of the Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, the city is over 3,000-years-old and dotted with remarkable ancient buildings gazing out over the breathtaking blue waters that surround it.

New Zealand expat James and his Spanish wife Yoly, who both reside in Spain, have made it their mission to help others experience Spain on a deeper level through the travel guides they share on their YouTube channel @spainrevealed. They spotlighted the magnificent city of Cádiz as their “number one place to visit” on any trip to Spain, reports the Express.

“You see this city deep in the southwest of Spain on this impossibly small spit of land is the most magical city in Spain according to me,” said James.

Indeed, the expat fell so deeply in love with the region that he has long dreamed of living there for a period. He even goes as far as suggesting it would be a “crime to visit Spain without seeing Cádiz”, a sentiment his wife Yoly wholeheartedly echoes, describing such an omission as “unforgivable”.

James places the city’s rich history at the very top of his list of favourite things about Cádiz, with traces of its remarkable past visible at virtually every corner.

“There’s almost a sense that Cádiz has so much history that it can’t keep up it can’t keep it in check and all of these historic buildings are being beaten by the weather that comes off the Atlantic so it’s a challenge to keep these buildings in a state of good repair,” he said.

“And for better or worse what that does mean is that these historic parts of Cádiz have this gritty authenticity to them.”

Centuries-old buildings and cobbled streets are dotted throughout the city’s various districts, known in Spain as barrios, including El Pópulo, La Viña, and Santa María. El Pópulo is the city’s most ancient quarter, situated at the gateway to the historical centre, nestled between the Town Hall and the Cathedral.

It is widely regarded as the true medieval heart of the city, with roots stretching back to the 13th century.

The promenade is another unmissable attraction, where visitors can stroll along and take in the city’s breathtaking scenery, including the shimmering golden dome of the cathedral.

The Cathedral itself ranks amongst the most iconic landmarks in Cádiz, blending baroque and neoclassical architectural styles. Visitors can even embark on tours to oft-overlooked sections of the cathedral, including its crypts.

Plaza de las Flores is a charming square flanked by an array of cafés serving up local delicacies such as churros and fried fish, while Mercado Central buzzes with stalls brimming with locally-sourced produce.

While the millennia-old heritage forms a significant part of the fabric of Cádiz, the city has also welcomed modernity, as evidenced by the contemporary Parador de Cádiz.

The hotel first opened its doors in 2013 and boasts a stunning outdoor swimming pool with Atlantic views as its backdrop.

Flights from London to Cádiz take around two hours and 45 minutes with the nearest airport to the city is Jerez. From there it takes 45 minutes to drive with flights starting from £67.

One particular route was also named the least punctual with the airline, as Birmingham to the Greek party hotspot of Zante had an average delay of 46 minutes

A popular airline amongst British holidaymakers has been ranked among the worst for punctuality — and it isn’t easyJet, Ryanair, BA or Jet2. Budget carriers easyJet and Ryanair occasionally face criticism from passengers for a whole host of reasons, yet timekeeping doesn’t appear to be one of their shortcomings.

An airline that also offers package holidays widely favoured by Brits has apparently earned a reputation for poor punctuality.

TUI Airways has landed fifth on a list of the five worst airlines for UK flight delays, with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data revealing an average delay of 20 minutes and 24 seconds last year.

One particular route was singled out as the least punctual of all — Birmingham to the Greek party island of Zante — with an average hold-up of 46 minutes. Operating out of more than 20 UK airports, the carrier is owned by TUI Group.

Aage Dunhaupt, from TUI Group, told the Mail that “minimising delays remains a top priority”, noting that TUI Airways runs flights “wherever possible, even if they are delayed, rather than cancelling them”.

He said: “If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly. However, this would come at the expense of our customers.”

Air India was ranked the worst performer for the second year running, with average delays exceeding 36 minutes, while Scandinavian Airlines topped the table as the most punctual, averaging a mere eight minutes.

Taking second spot for the poorest performance was Blue Islands, which ceased trading at the end of last year, followed by TAP Air Portugal and Saudia.

On a more positive note, average delays have fallen from 18 minutes, 18 seconds in 2024 to 14 minutes, 48 seconds.

A spokesperson for trade body Airlines UK told ITV: “The vast majority of UK airline flights depart on time and CAA data shows customer satisfaction levels are at an all-time high.

“Most delays are the result of issues that are entirely outside airline control, such as adverse weather, forced reductions in the number of planes that are able to land and take off each hour, and industrial action.”

They added: “When these delays do occur, airlines work hard to support customers and get them where they need to be as quickly as possible.”

This follows a flight attendant revealing her top five “basic” habits she “absolutely loves” to see passengers doing. Taking to TikTok, she started by saying: “When you take your headphones out as I walk up to your row.

“Instant respect. You see me. I see you. We’re already besties.”

Her other habits were paying attention during announcements, offering a smile and a sincere thank you, keeping shoes on, and not treating the plane like your living room.

She added: “It’s really that simple. Kindness + awareness + basic hygiene = elite passenger status.”