Travel Desk

Writer Ali Graves renewed her vows after 20 years, on the most luxurious Caribbean island with her 3 kids in tow

You’d be forgiven for thinking that holidaying with the kids means giving up luxurious touches for standard family friendly resorts – complete with watered down cocktails and mediocre rooms – but you’d be wrong, as I was about to discover.

A very comfortable nine-hour flight with British Airways, across the Atlantic to the Beaches resort in Turks & Caicos soon blew that theory out the window for me. We travelled as a family of five and despite the ages in our party (ranging from 12 to 46), there was one universal expression as we set sandy foot onto property… wide-opened mouths of delight.

Our first taste of the Turks & Caicos

White sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters and a perfect, 28ºC breeze quickly told us that we had truly landed in paradise.

Beaches is a sister resort to Sandals and offers all the same luxurious amenities, but with a bonus – they’re family-friendly, so the little ones can come too. This isn’t their own spot, there’s another Beaches in Jamaica, too.

Turks & Caicos is made up of 40 islands and cays (small, sandy islets) but only nine are inhabited. Providenciales Island is the main centre, with our hotel located at the western end Grace Bay Beach – 12 miles known as the most beautiful white sand beach in the world. It borders the Princess Alexandra National Park and, for ocean lovers, it’s the perfect spot for snorkelling by Bight Reef Coral Gardens.

The perfect place to say ‘I do’ – again

Of course an island this beautiful is also a perfect destination for a wedding, honeymoon or – as my husband and I did – a Retying the Knot ceremony. We celebrated our 20-year anniversary while visiting and it was a privilege to mark this in style, and with staff so loving and attentive, there was nowhere more perfect.

We arranged this ahead of visiting and throughout the lead up, the lovely wedding team – especially Erika and Maureen – stayed in touch to arrange flowers, photographers and music choices, cake flavours and cocktails.

We chose a dreamy beach location, and the pictures are the best souvenir ever. I was pregnant on our first honeymoon so you could say I’d waited 20 years for my island cocktail! To sip on those exotic flavours while falling in love all over again, with our children by our side, was nothing short of heavenly.

From family adventures to adults-only relaxing

But this island is not just for weddings and newlyweds. In fact, who you’re here with – whether you’re a couple, a family with little ones or teens – will help you decide where is best to stay on site. The resort is split into five ‘villages’ – Key West Village (where we stayed in a plush two-storey, two bed concierge suite), Caribbean Village, Italian Village, French Village and new from last month, Treasure Beach Village. Each has their own ‘personality’ from family-style fun with quizzes, dance competitions, a swim-up bar and water aerobics in the Italian Village, to smaller, intimate pools and a quieter vibe in Key West, including adults-only pools and jacuzzi spots. Treasure Beach packs quite the luxurious punch with an infinity pool that drops into picturesque views of the Atlantic and fine dining options.

Luxury options at the restaurants

Beaches is all-inclusive, covering food, drink entertainment and water sports. And the food is exceptional, with something for every palate. If you fancy chilli cheese dogs, fries and pizzas washed down with a snow cone then you’re covered, but if sushi, steaks and lobster with fine island wine are more your vibe then it’s all here.

I have two tips on the food front. First, don’t miss the only restaurant you’ll need to book: Kimonos. This Teppanyaki-style, interactive dining experience is so much fun, with singing chefs and electric energy, and the meats are exceptional, too. Our personal favourite though, was Pinta in Treasure Beach Village which offered a worldwide cuisine menu – the pork belly poke bowl, roast pumpkin tacos and apricot rum punch will live rent free in my head for years to come.

Try the resort coffee too – Jamaican Blue Mountain. It’s cultivated in the high-altitude Blue Mountains and it’s a spectacular wake-up call at breakfast.

Red Lane Spa is located in two places on the resort – in Key West and in French Village – and is a paradise within paradise. My daughter and I chose tropical facials and left floating, with scents of mango and pineapple, and a bag of treats to bring home, too.

How to book this Turks & Caicos resort

Seven nights at Beaches Turks & Caicos in a Two Bedroom Concierge Suite costs from £7,449 per adult and £1,025 per child, based on two adults and two children under 12 sharing, including all-inclusive accommodation, concierge service, return flights, resort transfers, kids clubs, waterpark access and more. To book, call 0800 597 0002 or visit www.beaches.co.uk.

Situated along the UK coast is a county brimming with quintessential British villages and an array of scenic walking routes, and the most hygienic soft play centre for little ones

A beautiful UK county with ample walking routes and picturesque villages has the ‘cleanest soft play’ centre.

Soft play centres, with their cushioned equipment, ball pits, mats, slides and climbing frames, are not only a great way to keep young children entertained, but they also support their development. Children can improve their social skills, enhance their coordination, and develop physical movement while stimulating imagination and creativity in a fun, safe and secure environment.

So it’s no wonder that soft play is popular among parents and their little ones. Yet parents not only want to ensure the soft play is suitable for their child, but also want to know it’s hygienic before planning a visit.

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Luckily, the outdoor play specialists at Outdoor Toys have uncovered the cleanest soft play centres across 20 of the most popular UK counties, and there’s one that stood out from them all. Somerset ranked as the most hygienic soft play, according to the toy experts’ analysis of Tripadvisor reviews.

The experts revealed that fewer than 4 in 100 reviews mentioned hygiene issues at Somerset’s soft plays. Instead, unsanitary reviews made up just a mere 3.9% of all feedback on TripAdvisor, and parents praised the “clean and airy” environment at Space Adventurers Indoor Play in Taunton.

Other highly rated centres in Somerset include Play Haven SoftPlay, Ocean Adventurers Soft Play, and Safari Tots. But it’s not just the children’s play centres that warrant a visit to the county.

Somerset is packed with picture-perfect villages and picture-postcard landscapes, set against rolling hills, patchwork fields, dramatic gorges, coastal shores and ancient woodlands. Thanks to its acres of lush landscapes, the county is famously home to Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, and when the festival isn’t on, it offers ample walking opportunities, including to the summit of Glastonbury Tor.

Dunster is considered one of the prettiest villages in Somerset, with its preserved medieval architecture, more than 200 listed buildings and 17th-century Yarn Market, nestled within Exmoor National Park. There’s also the picturesque village of Selworthy, with its array of thatched cottages, All Saints Church, and scenic walking routes to Selworthy Beacon, a hill and Marilyn of Exmoor, which offer panoramic views across the coast.

There’s also the small village of Allerford, with its whitewashed thatched cottages and 15th-century packhorse bridge, located on the edge of Exmoor National Park. As well as the historic village of Mells, which has often been dubbed one of the prettiest in the UK, thanks to its ‘chocolate-box’ charm, with honey-coloured houses and walks along the Wadbury Valley and Mells River.

So why not combine a trip to the cleanest soft play centre with exploring the stunning vistas of Somerset? And with its position along the coast, you could even spend a day at the seaside during the warmer months.

Top 10 regions with the cleanest play areas

1. Somerset

• Total reviews: 908
• Unsanitary reviews: 35
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 3.9%

2. South Yorkshire

• Total reviews: 1,040
• Unsanitary reviews: 57
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 5.5%

3. Lancashire

• Total reviews: 1,106
• Unsanitary reviews: 65
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 5.9%

4. Greater Manchester

• Total reviews: 1,344
• Unsanitary reviews: 87
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 6.5%

5. Nottinghamshire

• Total reviews: 401
• Unsanitary reviews: 33
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 8.2%

6. Essex

• Total reviews: 1019
• Unsanitary reviews: 87
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 8.5%

7. Hampshire

• Total reviews: 1,020
• Unsanitary reviews: 96
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 9.4%

8. Lincolnshire

• Total reviews: 564
• Unsanitary reviews: 55
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 9.8%

9. North Yorkshire

• Total reviews: 457
• Unsanitary reviews: 50
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 10.9%

10. West Midlands

• Total reviews: 447
• Unsanitary reviews: 49
• Unsanitary reviews (%): 11.0%

Kim May, Creative Arts Therapist at ISP Fostering, revealed the benefits of soft play centres for young children. She told the Outdoor Toys team: “Spending time in play centres helps children to embrace the play and imagination stages of their development and is beneficial for socialisation and the development of physical and cognitive skills.

“When children are in their most infant years, development is about harnessing imagination and mobility skills, and lots of what they learn is through sensory experiences – soft play can positively contribute to this. For children under four years old in particular, they rely on their sensory memory a lot (taste, touch, sound, feel, and sight). Even if a child is too small to physically move or interact with toys or a play area, they are still learning and developing through their senses.”

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

Everyone craves a spa weekend getaway, but this destination is just a short flight away from the UK and it’s so worth the visit. People even claimed it’s quite “underrated”

Ditch the pricey spa breaks here in the UK and hop on a flight to this unmissable European city instead. If you’re on the hunt for a relaxing weekend retreat, then you’re in for a treat.

A spa weekend can work wonders, not only for your mental health but also for your body, offering deep relaxation, stress relief and improved sleep quality. Now, travellers are singing the praises of one European destination that boasts an “unbelievable” spa complete with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as water slides.

The destination in question is Bucharest, Romania. In a viral TikTok video, a popular travel account told followers to pay a visit to Therme Bucharest – and for very good reason.

In the TikTok clip shared with its 27,200 followers, the video opened with: “A cheap underrated European city break you need to visit.”

It continued: “No joke, I genuinely believe that a trip to this European spa can be cheaper than going to one in the UK nowadays.

“Therme Bucharest is located in Romania and honestly is one of the most underrated city breaks.

“The city itself is absolutely gorgeous and the spa is unbelievable. They have indoor bars, outdoor bars, the most gorgeous botanical interior, face mask that you can use, temples, aqua aerobics, saunas, water slides, it’s honestly massive.”

What does the spa offer?

Therme Bucharest offers three unique experiences to “suit your desires”.

Galaxy: Perfect for family entertainment as it boasts 1.7km of exhilarating water slides, a wave pool and interactive activities for all ages. This is the sole area where children aged 3-14 are allowed.

The Palm: An adults-only pool featuring a retractable roof, mineral pools, hydromassage beds, a pool bar, plus indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces.

Elysium: After a premium experience? This relaxation zone provides thematic saunas, a wide array of wellness therapies, bespoke spa treatments and fine dining experiences.

If you’re planning a visit, ensure you bring your swimsuit, flip-flops and a towel. You can pop to the shop for any essentials.

Ticket prices vary from £20-£50 per adult, roughly 100-250 RON. This depends on the length of your visit, 3 hours, 4 hours or a full day, plus the number of zones accessed (Galaxy, Palm or Elysium).

Spa tickets typically start around £22-£24 for basic access, with extra costs for sauna packages or full-day access.

How much do flights cost?

Amid the ongoing travel disruption around the world, flights from the UK to Bucharest generally cost around £40-£100 for budget airlines like Ryanair or Wizz Air, if you’re departing from London.

Nevertheless, average return prices are often near £169, with premium or last-minute flights potentially higher. Direct flight time is approximately 3 hours 10 minutes.

The discount chain is stocking the ‘perfect travel companion’ for jetsetters

Holidaymakers across the country are counting down the days until the summer holidays. With the school holidays fast approaching, many families are preparing for their upcoming trips. High street stores are also stocking travel essentials in anticipation of the surge of travellers.

From cabin bags to packing cubes, shoppers will likely notice an influx of luggage accessories on shelves. Home Bargains is no exception. The retailer is selling various travel items, including one 99p accessory that could give you ‘peace of mind during your adventures.’

Home Bargains is stocking a pack of two TravelShop Combination Locks described by the retailer as ‘the perfect travel companion.’ The retailer says: “Keep your belongings safe on the go with the TravelShop Combination Locks in stunning pink!

“This durable two-pack features a simple three-digit combination, making them the perfect travel companion for peace of mind during your adventures.

“Secure your belongings with ease and peace of mind wherever you go with Combination Locks Two Pack. Crafted with durability and security in mind, Combination locks are the perfect travel companion for safeguarding your valuables during your adventures.”

Shoppers can choose between several colours. The sets are offered in pink, blue, and green. For customers looking for an alternative, Home Bargains also sells a £2.49 TravelShop TSA Padlock.

The description says: “Keep your belongings safe on your travels with the TravelShop TSA Padlock in sleek silver! This simple yet effective three-digit padlock gives you peace of mind, letting you focus on making memories instead of worrying about security.”

Other travel accessories sold online at Home Bargains include travel bottles, pouch organisers, laundry bags, and travel-sized toiletries. For example, the store sells a £4.99 Travel Hanging Organiser, which is designed to help passengers ‘stay organised on the go’.

The description claims: “Stay organised on the go with the Travel Hanging Organiser from the Simple family, featuring 24 mesh pockets and four hooks for versatile, compact storage wherever your holiday takes you.”

There’s also a set of three Travel Mesh Pouch Organisers for £1.99. The description says: “Keep your travel essentials organised with this lightweight three-pack of pink mesh pouches in small, medium, and large sizes—perfect for hassle-free packing on the go.” According to the description, the small bag measures 25 x 20cm, the medium bag measures 30 x 25cm, and the large bag measures 35 x 30cm.

Home Bargains sells products online for home delivery. However, customers who don’t want to pay for delivery may prefer to check their local store for stock. Customers can find their nearest location here.

It’s best known for its mighty concrete jungle, but Chris Granet discovers Hong Kong’s greener side, with forested peaks to hike and pristine coastline and islands to explore

The sunshine glittered off the jade waters as we chugged gently out of the busy harbour. Surrounding us were dozens of traditional fishing boats, like the one I was on. Surrounding them was a horizon full of hills, soaring out of the sea and carpeted in lush forests.

Our destination was Sharp Island in the distance, a tiny coral-encircled gem that could’ve been Thailand, Vietnam, or any remote region of Southeast Asia. Surprisingly, I was in Hong Kong. I say that surprisingly because when you think of Hong Kong, you think of the typical Asian megacity. Dense urban living. High-rises and hustle. Manic traffic and neon nightscapes. All of which are true of Hong Kong, and fantastic to experience, but what most people don’t realise is that you can also get off the beaten track within minutes and find pristine nature and beaches.

Formed by supervolcanic eruptions, the territory comprises 430 subtropical square miles across 263 islands, endless peninsulas, and swathes of craggy mainland. Nestled at the heart of this is the main Hong Kong Island and city, which for me has to be one of the world’s best cities for natural settings. However, it’s far from remote – it’s the fourth most densely populated region in the world, with 7.5 million residents. Everywhere you look in the city are tightly packed groves of skinny tenement blocks. It’s like nowhere I’ve ever seen. “We have very little flat land here,” explained our guide. “Most of it is made from demolished hills or reclaimed from the sea – we have to build upwards, not outwards.” But this also means 53% of the land is still forest, with 40% designated as country parks.

The quickest way to experience this would be to journey up Victoria Peak, which stretches up behind the city but is usually obscured by the vertiginous towers. We headed over to the Peak Circle Walk, which gently loops around the summit, on a stroll that encompassed tranquil woodlands and cinematic views of the world-famous skyline and bay below. Magnificent. If you want to avoid the crowds, then there are several trails back down to the city, which are made all the more pretty in the evening once the towers start turning on their technicolored light shows. Hong Kong Island’s southern side is another quick escape into nature, with curving coastal roads, low-rise neighbourhoods, cute coves, and those ubiquitous jungled hills.

It was a gloriously sunny day when I walked the Dragon’s Back trail on the most southeastern peninsula. The name is attributed to the ridge rolling between gentle peaks that resembles the mythical creature’s spine, tumbling down to a bay on one side, and the sea on the other. Despite it being November, it felt like summer as we then made our way down through the woodlands to Big Wave Bay, a glorious golden arc of sand that’s just one of over 100 beaches in the territory. We sat and had a light lunch and a glass of vino in the shade of an outdoor cafe while watching the surfers ride the crashing waves. Bliss.

Nearby, giant Lantau Island has plenty of options. Connected to the mainland by bridges, it’s home to the massive airport – but I took a different sky ride in the glass-bottomed Ngong Ping 360 cable car. It whisked us up and away from a generic concrete suburb over swathes of that lush greenery to the lofty Po Lin Buddhist monastery. The walk from the cable car terminal to the monastery was lined on both sides with tourist shops – not quite the spirit of immaterialism Siddhartha had intended, but handy for those, like me, in need of another coffee. The ornately pretty monastery is famous for its large seated Buddha statue, which we reached via a long flight of stairs as breathtaking as the panoramic views at its summit. On the coastline nearby is the picturesque fishing village of Tai O, with scores of ramshackle wooden houses precariously propped up on stilts on the sides of a little estuary. It was all very quiet as we wandered its maze of backstreets, feeling a hundred miles and years from Hong Kong city. But it perked up as we reached its busier center, and at The Crossing Boat restaurant overlooking the river, we sat at a spinning table and shared a sizzling seafood lunch. Prawn, scallops and fish all locally caught, plus an array of Cantonese stir fries.

If you want proper pristine, then head up to the 58 square mile Hong Kong Unesco Global Geopark on a wild peninsula, with a cluster of islands fanning out from the mainland. It’s the epicentre of the volcanic drama that shaped the region, sculpting surreal honeycombed sea caves, hexagonal rock columns and sheer cliffs, softened over the eons by ocean erosion and dusted with white sand beaches. Truly spectacular. It’s here that Sharp Island is located. It’s easily accessible from the chirpy tourist town of Sai Kung, with its busy harbourfront heaving with seafood restaurants and boat crews clamouring to offer you tours and rides to the many destinations around the Geopark. The usual price for a return ticket to Sharp Island is 50-60 Hong Kong dollars per person (approx £6), but our group of six paid 150HKD pp (approx £15pp) as we chartered the whole boat. Said boat was a little wooden fishing vessel, like most of the others in the harbour, all prettily painted in nautical blues and greens.

I sat perched at its front basking in the high sun for the 15 minutes it took to chug over to the little island’s southern tip. There, our surly boatman dropped us off, then made his way to the northern tip, where he collected us up later. We hiked the 1.5 mile long trail, a ridge walk similar to Dragon’s Back, offering more postcard-worthy views. Branching off Sharp’s northwestern shore is its Instagram-famed bar of shingle and rock that connects it to Kiu Tau islet. It’s only visible during low tide and was sadly in the process of being re-swallowed by the sea as we arrived.

Further offshore are plenty of snorkelling opportunities as, incredibly, Hong Kong is home to more coral species than the entire Caribbean combined, as well as over a quarter of all of China’s marine biodiversity.

Back at Sai Kung harbour, we indulged in more sizzling seafood, with hearty dishes big enough to share, like the fully stacked braised crab roe and shrimp casserole, at a reasonable £10 a pop. Very nice indeed. As I sat digesting our meal, staring out to sea and watching the Saturday afternoon crowds ambling through the sunshine, it was easy to forget that I was still in the midst of a roaring megametropolis.

BOOK THE HOLIDAY

Cathay Pacific flies direct to Hong Kong from London, from £549 return. Book at cathaypacific.com Dorsett Wan Chai has doubles from £113 per night with breakfast. Dorsett Kai Tak has doubles from £115 per night with breakfast. Both hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to major transport hubs, shopping, and dining destinations. Find out more and book at dorsetthotels.com

Find out more at discoverhongkong.com

This package offers a family of four the chance to experience on of Gulliver’s four theme parks and includes tickets to the park, entertainment, and an overnight stay for less than £25-a-head

Keeping the kids entertained can be a costly undertaking, but this deal offers families not only a fun day at a theme park, but also a memorable overnight stay, all for less than £100.

Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, who have four locations in Milton Keynes, Warrington, Matlock Bath, and Rotherham, are now offering a ‘1 Night Saver’ package on selected dates that comes in at £99 for a family of four. The package includes tickets to the park, so families get access to all the rides, attractions, and entertainment for the day.

The cost also includes an overnight stay in select themed family accommodation, with access to the resort’s facilities and activities for even more fun for all ages. Families can book these overnight packages on selected Friday dates throughout 2026, with park access on the Saturday after you check out.

The package can be booked at www.gulliversfun.co.uk, where families can also browse the fun accommodation options available to them. Depending on the park and availability, these can include family-sized double suites, western-themed dens, fairy hideouts, and dino dens, so no matter what the kids are into, there’s an accommodation option they’ll find thrilling.

If you’re looking for different dates, it’s also worth checking out Wowcher’s Gulliver’s deals, which include school holiday dates. Packages start from £159 for tickets and overnight accommodation, and options include stays in Jungle Cabins and dinosaur-themed Lost World dens.

Facilities and attractions also vary by resort, but as an example its Warrington park features rides such as a wooden rollercoaster, pirate ship, log flume, and lots of other fun themed attractions for all the family. Look out for themed events such as Princess and Pirates weekend where kids can meet characters that they love.

If you don’t have a Gulliver’s near you, many other theme parks across the UK also offer short break packages. Paultons Park, known for being the home of Peppa Pig world, is offering short breaks from £177 per family. This includes a second free day in the park for the family, free parking, and breakfast.

Alton Towers is also currently running a Spring Sale where those who stay overnight get a second day free. Alton Towers packages include free parking, 9-hole golf, and breakfast. Guests can also add a waterpark pass to their booking, allowing them to enjoy even more family fun during their stay. You can find out more on the Alton Towers short breaks website.

Other parks operated by Merlin are also offering a similar deal, including Chessington, Thorpe Park, and LEGOLAND. Many resorts also offer additional entertainment and perks to guests, making for the ultimate family sleepover.

Find out more about Gulliver’s deals, check availability and book short breaks at www.gulliversfun.co.uk.

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

Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Brits

Now that warmer weather is finally arriving, many of us are casting our eyes towards the summer months and planning holidays. Spain remains the most sought-after destination for British travellers, with millions descending on the European nation each year, eager to soak up the sunshine, lounge on its beaches and sample the local food.

When heading abroad, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with any local laws or regulations you’ll need to abide by during your stay. And if Spain is on your radar this year, there’s one balcony rule you might not be aware of.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) routinely issues travel guidance for Brits venturing to more than 220 countries and territories across the globe. Within its extensive advice for Spain, the FCDO makes specific mention of balconies.

While balconies are great for offering a view and giving guests a spot to unwind in the open air, holidaymakers are expected to conduct themselves appropriately. FCDO guidance for Spain reads: “Hotels and other establishments will evict you if you behave dangerously on balconies. You could also get a fine.”

Those heading to Spain are also reminded that they must produce ID if requested by a police officer. The FCDO adds: “This includes the Guardia Civil and national, regional and local police forces.

“The police have the right to hold you at a police station until they have confirmed your identity. Ignoring direct requests of a police officer can be considered as ‘disobedience’, which is a criminal offence.”

Luxury hotel designer Tatiana Sheveleva, who has worked with brands such as The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis, has been involved in some remarkable projects and knows a thing or two about hospitality

A luxury hotel designer has revealed the key feature in every room that guests might miss, but it can make a huge difference.

Tatiana Sheveleva, originally from Kazakhstan but living in Toronto, Canada, has been a luxury hospitality designer, including for hotels, resorts and yachts, for 15 years and runs her company, Chapi Design. During her creative career, she’s worked on incredible projects with major brands, including St. Regis Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, and The Luxury Collection.

These projects have taken Tatiana all over the world, designing interiors for hotels and resorts in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Antigua, Orlando, Nashville, and Toronto. She’s even designed a luxury yacht for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Luminara, which boasts 226 suites with private terraces, five restaurants, seven bars, and a wine vault.

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One of Tatiana’s most recent projects was for St. Regis in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, which was completed last year. “I like to do big properties, and everything we design [at Chapi Design] is custom-made,” Tatiana told the Mirror, “I have been very fortunate to work on different properties around the world.

“But it’s still so surreal for me that I’m working on the most amazing properties in the world, even though I have been doing this for 15 years.”

With a wealth of expertise on luxury interior designs, Tatiana revealed that there’s one key element in every hotel room that guests regularly miss.

The designer said: “The most money is spent on the headboard. Typically, it’s the most expensive piece as it’s often a feature. How you design the headboard depends on the bed’s location, and it can be a strong element of the project’s narrative.”

Tatiana revealed another important feature of any hotel room. “I would say the bathroom, believe it or not. It always gives the guests a good impression, and it’s the first place they go when they check into the room.

“The bathroom area is important. If you design a very unique layout for the washroom, people will start to talk about it. In the washroom, you can create something very sculptural and unique.

“If you are successful enough to create this interesting washroom, first of all, people will be spending more time there, they will have a bath and feel more relaxed. And actually, we spend a lot of our time in there.”

She added: “The light in the bathroom should be accommodating for different scenarios, bright enough to put on make-up but cosy and romantic at the same time. For me, every single washroom I design is very unique.”

Another feature of a hotel room that Tatania argues warrants attention is the bed.

“The mattress has to be comfortable, and the bedding. Also, there might be special glasses by the bedside table; it’s these details,” she said.

The designer likes to add a special feature inside the closet, such as interesting wallpaper, a splash of color, or a pretty stone.

“That’s a unique element you don’t notice right away, but you notice it after,” she added.

For Tatiana, the joy of the job comes from travelling and working with different people. She said: “The whole process is quite fun, and during this process, you get to meet a lot of interesting people who are passionate about projects. I also like to investigate new locations and new countries, because when I was in Kazakhstan, I didn’t really travel much. So, my first project for St. Regis was in Mexico, and it was my dream to go there.

“Mexico has a very unique culture, it’s very colourful, there’s amazing food, and they use alot of bright colours – there’s a lot of celebrations. It was very different, and I was very excited about that. The Dominican Republic is the same. It’s very comfortable, the people and land, it’s very nice.”

And her travels aren’t stopping anytime soon. Tatiana is currently working on mega interior design projects for St. Regis in Costa Rica, The Luxury Collection Hotel in Mexico, and Luxury Hotels in Peru and Antigua, and some projects can take as long as six years to complete.

You can read more about Tatiana’s projects on the Chapi Design website. You can also follow their Instagram page.

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

Far less well-known or visited than many other cities in the UK, but a real gem.

It’s the 12th most-visited city in Britain for overnight stays, according to official tourism data — below Brighton, Oxford, Bristol and Bath. To me, this means a lot of people are missing out on what is one of the finest places in the UK to live and spend time.

This has my home city for nearly 30 years and I can’t think of another I’d rather live in. London has its eye-popping palaces, Manchester has its world-famous football stadiums, Oxford and Cambridge have their iconic universities. But what Cardiff lacks in headline-grabbing tourist sites it makes up for in culture and pretty, atmospheric suburbs where you can live like a local regardless of where you’re from. It is also one of the greenest cities in the UK – and one of the most walkable. This is why I think Cardiff is a match for any city in the UK and a totally unique experience.

One of Europe’s greenest cities

Cardiff is consistently ranked among the greenest cities in the UK and Europe and has also topped a Europe-wide poll on the best cities for families with young children to live.

The jewel in the crown of Cardiff’s green spaces is the vast green space that starts in the heart of the city centre and takes you all the way to the outskirts of the city and beyond. You can walk from Cardiff Castle in the city centre for six miles, sticking close to the River Taff most of the way, to Castell Coch outside the city without leaving a park or nature reserve (you can even explore a secret overgrown graveyard on the way). That’s well over twice the length of New York City’s Central Park. The city’s Bute Park and the adjoining Llandaff Fields alone make up for 2.3 miles of this, around the same length as the world famous feature in Manhattan.

In spring, the blossom trees here are alive with whites and pinks, while in autumn they’ll pop with rusty reds and oranges. In summer, you can sit down and watch a game of cricket taking place, or even have a game of padel or tennis yourself in excellently-maintained courts.

Other gems are Cefn Onn Park, a grade 2-listed historic park on the city’s northern fringes which is an oasis of calm full of native and exotic trees set within an intimate valley. Or there’s Forest Farm on the banks of the Taff, where habitats include woodland, scrub, hay meadow, ponds and marshland and you can still see sections of the historic former Glamorganshire Canal and the restored Melingriffith waterpump, both relics of the city’s industrial past.

On the city’s western edge is one of the world’s most unique museums: St Fagans National Museum of History is like a walk through a rural village in which one or two buildings from recent centuries have survived. The buildings here have all been dismantled from their original locations across Wales and painstakingly rebuilt here. You can have a pint in the rebuilt Vulcan pub.

There’s a 17th century farmhouse from mid Wales, an 18th century chapel from rural west Wales and a terrace of six workers’ homes, each dated to a different year between 1805 and 1985. It’s a stunning place, free to enter and easily reachable by bus.

Walkable

Given its abundance of green space, it’s no surprise that Cardiff is also a very walkable city. But it’s not just the parks and nature reserves that are a joy to walk in and around. From the city centre, it will take you about half an hour along a very simple route to walk to the seafront Cardiff Bay and you could easily spend a day exploring that area on foot. What is today known as Cardiff Bay was previously known as the Docks or Tiger Bay and is the reason the city exists in its current form. Cardiff was a small town before the industrial revolution, when it exploded in size and population to become not just the biggest town in Wales but the biggest coal port in the world.

But by the 1980s it had become a neglected wasteland of derelict docks, mudflats and poor housing. A decade on and Europe’s largest waterfront development in the 1990s created a barrage, a huge freshwater lake and complex of restaurants, shops and bars which now make it a major draw.

Historic buildings from Cardiff’s industrial era like the pilotage office, pierhead building, coal exchange and Norwegian church still exist amid the more modern developments and walking the entire length of the barrage, with the city skyline on one side and the Bristol Channel on the other is a lovely way to spend time in the open air.

Half an hour on foot in the other direction from the city centre is the sought-after suburb of Pontcanna, where you’ll find a concentration of welcoming pubs and restaurants, including a handful of the best you’ll find in Wales all within a 10-minute walk of each other. The well-heeled Cathedral Road is a lovely street to stroll down, where the large three-storey houses remind you of the city’s historic wealth.

Food and drink

Speaking of food and drink, Cardiff has seen a revolution in this area in recent years. Lamented as recently as 10 years ago by a leading food critic as a city with a desolate food scene (he even said the best place to go for food was Cardiff Central so you could catch a train to Bristol), that is a hot take not even the most cynical of critics could claim today. There are superb places to eat in the city centre and every suburb, ranging from Michelin-starred to street food.

It’s impossible to mention them all here but here are a few stand-outs (go here for a full list of the 40 best places to eat in the city). In Pontcanna, Gorse won a Michelin star within a few months of opening, becoming the city’s first restaurant to ever get a star. Practically next door is Thomas, also comfortably one of the best restaurants in the city. And a few doors down you’ll get a great and affordable lunch at Milkwood. A stone’s throw from here is Heaney’s, another extremely accomplished restaurant serving impeccable food, and Sonder, a friendly, neighbourhood restaurant with a fine lunch and dinner menu.

In the Rhiwbina area of Cardiff (like Pontcanna, also a place with a small town within a city vibe) you’ll find Mesen, a small plates restaurant specialising in sharing dishes cooked over charcoal where I was served the best-tasting dish I’d eaten in years.

Or head to the Victoria Park area, where you’ll find unbelievable cakes at Let Them See Cake, delicious small plates at Hiraeth, cheese platters at The Welsh Cheese Company, tremendous burgers at Burger Boyz, Pakistani breakfasts and lunches at Maasi’s and exquisite breads and pastries at Pettigrew, all next door to one another.

Cardiff’s got a strong Italian restaurant culture. Casanova, Cafe Citta and Bacareto in the city centre are all excellent choices, as is the more informal Calabrisella in Canton. Its Indian restaurants are great too, with Purple Poppadom and Cinnamon Tree among the pick of the bunch.

In the city centre, Pasture serves the best steak in the city, while sister venue Parallel is also brilliant. Asador 44 and its sister restaurant Bar 44, both Spanish-influenced restaurants, are also among the best in the centre. The best food pub is The Heathcock in Llandaff. Speaking of pubs, the best in the city centre are The City Arms and The Old Arcade. You’re also spoilt for choice for trendier bars, like The Dead Canary and secret underground bar Nightshade.

Lastly, Cardiff Market is a brilliant place to try a wide variety of delicious street food, from deep fried gnocchi at Dirty Gnocchi to Keralan fried chicken at Tukka Tuk, pizza at Ffwrnes and Greek wraps at Ya Souvlaki. But don’t miss the Welshcakes, a Welsh classic, at Cardiff Bakestones.

Things to see

While it may not have tourist attractions at the level of London’s Buckingham Palace, Edinburgh’s Castle or Bath’s Roman baths, there are still plenty of attractions well worth a look. Top of the list is Cardiff Castle in the heart of the city. This site has been in use for 2,000 years from Roman soldiers to Norman conquerors and Victorian visionaries – and today you’ll see rock and pop stars performing there. Today it’s a fascinating mix of the Norman keep at its heart (with great views over the city from the top) and the lavishly decorated Gothic revival residence. Its huge, walled outdoor space hosts concerts and festivals.

Across the road from the castle, you’ll find the Principality Stadium, often hailed the best sporting stadium in the world despite being well over 20 years old. The 74,500-seater stadium is where the Wales men’s national rugby team play their home games and there are few experiences on Earth like hearing that crowd sing the Welsh national anthem.

Its position right in the heart of the city makes it a favourite among visiting fans too, who don’t have to find their way to the outskirts of cities as is the case with so many major stadiums. It also hosts concerts from megastars like Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and Oasis.

Cardiff has its fair share of chain stores but its Victorian arcades are a shopping experience not to be missed. Ditch the chains and head into these six beautiful arcades packed with independent shops and places to eat.

On the outskirts of the city, but accessible by bike along the riverside path, the Taff Trail, is Castell Coch (Red Castle) perched among forest on a hill. It’s often called a “fairy tale castle” for its looks, having been built by the third Marquess of Bute, then the world’s richest man. And you shouldn’t miss St Fagans National Museum of History, mentioned above. Just outside the museum, now a field, was the site of the Battle of St Fagans, the last big battle of the long-running English Civil War. Between 300 and 700 people died in the battle.

If you’re willing to travel around 45 minutes out of the city, you’ll find some of the most beautiful scenery Wales has to offer, from the country’s second highest mountain at Pen-y-Fan in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park to the Jurassic coast at beaches like Southerndown and Monknash.

Culture and history

First things first: Cardiff is the capital of Wales so you are in a country with a culture and language that is distinct from the rest of the UK. You’ll hear plenty of Welsh being spoken and lots of signs are bilingual. It’s also a very friendly city – in 2023, Cardiff was ranked the UK’s friendliest city in a reader survey by popular travel magazine Condé Nast.

The city’s history is fascinating. If you arrive by train into the city’s central train station, you won’t see the sea at all. But, incredibly, this is where the sea used to reach at high tide and buildings here were once swept away by a storm (and possibly even a tsunami) in the 17th century. If you find yourself walking along the city centre Westgate Street, you might be staggered to learn that this street was once the River Taff before its direction was forcibly changed by the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Large ships would dock here and there is a mid-19th century record of a fisherman catching a salmon near where the Royal Hotel is today.

If you do happen to call into Cardiff Market for a bite to eat, bear in mind that where you’re enjoying your slice of pizza is where people were hanged and burned at the stake. And if you walk the path that runs from the back entrance of Cardiff Market to Working Street, look down and you’ll see numbers on the paving slabs. The numbers refer to burial vaults underneath the ground. The path was built right through the church graveyard so people could access the market easily, gaining the nickname ‘Dead Man’s Alley’. For more on Cardiff’s history, go here.

Places to stay

As a large city, you’re not short of places to stay in Cardiff so this is just a short selection of hotels. Voco St David’s Cardiff is a luxury hotel and spa located right on the waterfront of Cardiff Bay and within walking distance of the Wales Millennium Centre.

The city’s newest luxury hotel is the Parkgate Hotel, right in the city centre, has a range of opulent rooms and suites and a sophisticated restaurant and bar. The Angel Hotel is a classic Victorian building in the city centre. And there are plenty of popular and reliable chains like Marriott, Leonardo and Hilton.

From popular beach resorts to bustling European cities, language experts reveal the holiday destinations that British tourists commonly mispronounce — plus how to say them correctly

Brits are passionate about their overseas holidays. One advantage of living in the UK is having Europe right on our doorstep – yet many people may be completely unaware of how to pronounce their chosen destination correctly.

Linguistic specialists at the learning app Preply have compiled a list of locations Brits most frequently mispronounce. If you’re arranging a trip to any of these spots, verify your pronunciation using Preply’s handy guide (below). Mastering the correct pronunciation of your dream destination could help you avoid embarrassment while you’re there, reports the Express.

Cannes, France

The pronunciation of this glamorous French resort continues to catch people out. Many Brits naturally pronounce the final “s” or insert an additional syllable, but it’s actually a quick single syllable “kan”.

Phuket, Thailand

This stunning island getaway is incredibly popular among British holidaymakers but remains consistently mispronounced. The spelling can be deceptive, but the proper pronunciation is much simpler, beginning with a soft “p” to create “poo-ket”.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Renowned for its pastel-coloured buildings and picturesque harbours, this beautiful Italian coastal stretch welcomes millions of visitors annually, and countless people are getting it wrong.

Don’t rely on English pronunciation rules; instead, follow Italian conventions, starting with “cheen-kweh” and finishing with a rolled “teh-rreh”.

Kraków, Poland

This Polish city is regularly mispronounced. The main error is overemphasising the “ow” ending, when it ought to be a gentler “kov”.

Ibiza, Spain

It may be among the UK’s most beloved party destinations, but that hasn’t protected it from mispronunciation. Numerous people continue to overpronounce the “z” when it should actually be a gentle “th” sound.

Lagos, Portugal

This Algarve holiday favourite is frequently mispronounced by visitors. English speakers tend to pronounce it phonetically, whereas in Portuguese, the ending features a gentler “sh” sound, creating “lah-gosh”.

Budapest, Hungary

Common mispronunciation: “Buda-pest”

Hungary’s capital presents difficulties due to its misleading spelling. The proper pronunciation replaces the hard “pest” with a gentler “pesht”.

Barcelona, Spain

Despite Barcelona being an exceptionally popular tourist destination, many continue to anglicise the name. In Spanish, the “c” is pronounced “th”.

Marylebone, London

Despite being on British home turf, many people still struggle to pronounce certain locations. Marylebone is among these places. Instead of pronouncing it phonetically, it’s shortened to “Mar-li-bone”.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland’s capital represents a classic stumbling block for tourists, who frequently over-enunciate every letter while attempting to get it correct. In practice, locals adopt a considerably more casual approach, dropping the ending completely and keeping it brief and low-key: “Edin-bruh.”

A flight attendant has shared several plane safety tips that could make your next trip more comfortable – including the one item you should absolutely never wear

You could be picking up all sorts of germs by wearing the wrong clothes on a flight.

When travelling by plane, whether it’s for a work trip or holiday, you usually want to be as comfortable as possible. No matter how long your flight is, sitting in a cramped space surrounded by strangers isn’t ideal, so you normally want to make sure your outfit is something you can feel relaxed in for at least a few hours, if not longer.

But one flight attendant has said there’s one thing you should absolutely never wear on a plane, regardless of how comfortable you think it is. Charity Moore is a flight attendant who regularly posts travel tips on social media, and in a recent video, she shared several things she wishes more people did on flights.

Among her tips, Charity said there’s one thing you should absolutely never wear on a plane, as it puts your body in direct contact with the seats – which aren’t always the most hygienic things to be sitting on.

1. Wear the right clothes

Charity insisted you should never wear anything that exposes your legs on a plane, including shorts and skirts. She advocated for wearing trousers at all times, because she’s seen some “diabolical” things happen on plane seats that aren’t always cleaned as thoroughly as you might like.

She said: “I am letting you know, from a flight attendant, the amount of things I have seen on the seat. Wear pants. Shorts, skirts, dresses, absolutely not. Wear full pants. None of your skin should be touching that seat. I don’t care if you come on board and disinfect it. Nope, nope, nope. Wear full pants. Trust me, I have seen some diabolical things.”

2. Disinfect the seatbelts

The flight attendant also said that while she often sees passengers using antibacterial wipes on things like the tray table, she hardly ever sees anyone clean the seatbelt – which she believes is the most important part.

She explained: “You guys all come on board with your little Clorox wipes and your little disinfectants, and you start wiping everything down. That little tray table in front of you [and] the back of your seat. I don’t really get why you’re wiping the back of your seat, because if you’re wearing clothes, nothing really touches that.

“What you should be wiping that nobody wipes is that seatbelt. The metal part, because everybody touches it, but also you should be wiping the fabric part of the seatbelt, because everybody pulls on that. The amount of throw up, baby vomit, bodily fluids, liquids that have spilt, and random stuff that ends up on those seatbelts. Wipe them down, babe.”

3. Exercise proper toilet hygiene

Charity claimed that not enough passengers have proper toilet etiquette when using the bathroom on a plane. This includes washing your hands once you’ve done your business, making sure you flush the toilet, and even closing the door behind you once you’re finished.

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While these might seem like obvious things you would do after any toilet visit, whether it’s on a plane or not, the flight attendant insisted a large portion of passengers don’t do them.

She also said if you’ve taken your shoes off at your seat to make yourself more comfortable, you should not go to the toilet without putting your shoes back on.

The attendant noted: “It is never ever water on the floor in the lav. And your socks are like two big sponges.”

4. Bring food

Charity’s final piece of advice is to bring food with you. She said it’s a “huge misconception” that you can’t bring food through security, and encouraged people to bring snacks or even a fully prepared meal with them to help them survive their plane journey.

In the UK, food items and powders are allowed in your hand luggage, but may obstruct images on X-ray machines, so your bags might need to be checked again manually by security, which could cause you delays.

You are generally not allowed to bring liquid or gel-like foods such as soup, sauces, jams, and yoghurts in your hand luggage, and may not be able to bring certain fresh produce, like fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy, across some international borders, so always make sure you check the rules before you fly.

In most cases, you will be able to bring snack boxes with things like sweets, chocolate, and crisps onto a flight. You should usually avoid packing nuts into your snack box, as you may be asked not to open these if a passenger has an allergy.

FOR a simple stay in the city, The Resident Victoria is the place to be, being right in the middle of London.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Where is The Resident Victoria?

The hotel is just steps from Buckingham Palace, so royal family fans can head straight to it.

Being right by Victoria Station as well, it means you can easily hop into central London or even easily get to London airports including Gatwick and Heathrow?

What is the hotel like?

Just one of four in London – with another in Liverpool and Edinburgh – the hotel itself is simply but classy.

What are the rooms like?

The 73-room hotel ranges from single person rooms to deluxe rooms with super king beds.

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Each room is classy but simple, with everything you’d expect as well as extras that make them ideal for longer stays.

This means mini kitchenettes that have fridges and microwaves, as well as crockery, glassware and coffee machines.

Working desks make them ideal for anyone travelling for business too.

Lots of the interior is from British designers, such as fabrics from the Isle of Bute and and furniture made in West London.

I loved the bathrooms which had loads of mirrors – often forgotten about in hotels – and complimentary toiletries and towels.

Rooms start from £184 per night.

What is there to eat and drink there?

There’s no restaurant here so you’ll have to go out for dinner.

Thankfully you’re spoilt for choice, although I recommend the Market Hall with a range of food stands inside to keep even fussy eaters happy.

For breakfast, you can order delivery to your room with things like pastries on the menu from the Drinks & Snacks menu.

Or you can ask to have your fridge filled with groceries, again at an additional cost.

Make sure to stay in the evenings at the hotel – they have complimentary wine hours.

What else?

There’s not gyms or spas at the hotel, but the reception is open 24 hours.

Use the hotel as a base to explore the area as you couldn’t be bettered located.

Is it family friendly?

The hotel welcomes families with the Deluxe rooms sleeping up to four and the Superior sleeping up to three.

Is it accessible?

Yes, the hotel has a number of accessible rooms.

The provided text from the Occasional Digest primarily details the history and significance of Concord Day in Niger, an annual public holiday observed on April 24th. This commemoration marks the 1995 Peace Accord signed in Burkina Faso, which sought to end violent uprisings led by Tuareg and Toubou rebels against the national government. Beyond the historical context of the rebellion and the symbolic “Flame of Peace” ceremony, the source offers a snapshot of global affairs in April 2026. Included are various news briefs covering international conflicts, economic data such as exchange rates, and corporate updates regarding artificial intelligence. Collectively, the material serves … 

DO YOU WISH you could live out the Mamma Mia dream on a remote island, away from cars, pollution and social media?

Well, in Greece you can, as one island is offering to pay people to move there.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

Antikythera is a small, eight-square-mile island found between Crete and the Peloponnese and is home to only 24 permanent residents.

One recent visitor even described it as “a small, peaceful planet that moves at its own unique pace”.

And the local church is inviting people to move to the island.

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Not only will those who move there be paid €500 (£433.49) a month for three years, they will also be given a newly built house to live in.

Of course, there are a couple of catches including that you must be a family with four children and you must have a skill or work in trade, such as fishing.

This is because the scheme is aiming to grow the island’s population as well as its economy.

To apply, you will need to contact the local council.

As for life on the island, it couldn’t be further from other tourist hotspots in Greece.

The entire island remains untouched and boasts natural, rugged beaches and to get to it, you’ll have to hop on a two-hour ferry from Kythera.

Once you reach the island’s port, you’ll see white houses and chapels, as well as a statue dedicated to a diver who discovered a bronze man, underwater, just off of the island.

The statue is believed to date back to between the first and second centuries and one of the divers mistook it for a heap of rotten corpses.

Today, you can see the statue in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece.

While there isn’t much to do on the island, as you’d expect with Greece it does boast beautiful beaches.

One beach found near the port is Paralia Potamos Beach, which according to local reports, is about 80metres long, with pebbles and clear water.

A recent visitor commented: “Peaceful beach on a peaceful, charming little island.”

Another beach you can head to on the island is Xiropotamos, which is about a 20-minute walk from the port and is bigger than Paralia Potamos.

Across the rest of the island you’ll find ancient ruins, with the Greek Ministry of Culture often carrying out excavations on the island.

There’s also a number of small chapels and ruined windmills and just off its coast there’s a shipwreck that dates to around 82BC where parts of a mechanism thought to be the world’s first computer were found.

If you get hungry, there’s only one place to eat on the island – Strato’s Corner – which is run by one of the locals and sells typical Greek dishes as well as local goat and fish caught off of the island.

When it comes to shopping, the island has only one food store which doubles as a coffee shop, where you’ll often find the locals hanging out.

If you don’t fancy living on the island but do want to visit, there is a small hostel as well with 15 rooms.

And if you do travel to the island, make sure to head there on August 17 when the island celebrates its patron saint – Saint Myron.

The celebrations bring about 1,000 people to the island, where they enjoy a festival.

In addition to the ferry from Kythera, there is also a small airport in Kythera with flights to Athens, which take about an hour each way.

Or you can also catch a boat trip from the island to Crete or Athens, though these services are less regular.

For more inspiration on Greek holidays, here are our top five Greek islands with white-washed houses and pretty beaches as Emily in Paris heads to Greece.

Plus, forget Mykonos and Santorini – TUI says these four less-popular Greek islands are set to be huge in 2026.

EASYJET is adding a host of new routes from six airports to beautiful cities and sun-filled islands.

Holiday goers can travel via nine new stops from autumn time from Luton, Belfast, Birmingham, Southampton and Easyjet’s new base in Newcastle.

Package holidays will be introduced on the services include:

• Birmingham to Agadir
• Belfast International to Rome
• Belfast International to Sharm El Sheikh
• Luton to Ljubljana
• Southend to Budapest
• Newcastle to Fuerteventura
• Newcastle to Reykjavik
• Newcastle to Krakow
• Southampton to Paris.

Flights going from Newcastle to Fuerteventura will start on October 25, and operate twice a week – on Thursdays and Sundays.

On the same day, new routes from Southampton to Paris Charles de Gaulle start twice a week.

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The following day, services to Krakow will begin with departures on Mondays and Fridays every week.

On October 25 and 26, travellers can go from Belfast International Airport to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesdays and Sundays, as well as to Rome on Mondays and Fridays.

Anyone wanting to visit Reykjavik, Iceland, can travel from Newcastle from October 27 twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Easyjet’s Luton-Ljubljana flights start on October 26 three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The same day, the Southend-Budapest route also starts twice a week on Mondays and Fridays.

In an exciting update for Birmingham, the route to coastal city Agadir, in Morocco, will start on October 27. They will depart twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The new flights, which include fares of £23.99, have significantly expanded the airline’s network from the north of England, and enabled more direct services to popular leisure and city destinations.

The airline’s UK country manager, Kevin Doyle, said: “Whether they’re looking for winter sun, or a weekend away in some of Europe’s most iconic capitals, this new batch of routes further expands the range of exciting destinations available for our customers to choose from at affordable prices.”

MOVE over London, there’s a new ‘it’ city on the UK scene and it has cheap travel, cowboy dancing and a super cute mascot.

This year, Glasgow is being talked about a lot and it isn’t without good reason…

The city was recently named one of Time Out’s best cities to visit in Europe this year, ranking fourth.

And the Scottish city is currently undergoing a massive £20million revamp of its city centre square – George Square.

Dating back to 1781, the square was named after George III and will reopen to the public this September with a completely new look.

Though, the famous statues of poet Robert Burns and novelist Sir Walter Scott will remain.

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Overall, the square will become more walkable and green, with Norwegian maple trees and cherry trees, rain gardens, event spaces, and new seating areas.

The square’s renovation is set to be completed by late August and will then open to the public in September.

Having recently visited the city, it isn’t the only exciting thing going on…

Often overshadowed by the capital Edinburgh, Glasgow has a lot to see and do.

Close to George Square, you can stay at the AC Marriott Hotel from £80 a night, which is a super modern hotel with sleek interiors and a chilled vibe.

The best thing about the hotel though is that it looks out at the incredible architecture of the City Chambers.

If you love a bit of retail therapy, make sure to head to Barras Market on a Saturday or Sunday.

The giant sprawling market has all sorts of antique and second-hand gems including minimalistic chairs and ornate teapots – I highly recommend EARTH.er, a travel bag maker that began in Tai O, Hong Kong but is now based in Glasgow.

And if you are a lover of all things western, head to Cowpeople for authentic cowboy boots and fringed leather jackets.

In between the different market buildings, you will find a number of different food and drink vans.

The one with the super-long queue is the viral Eight Coffee Co, which serves some of the most unusual blends I’ve ever seen.

Think cereal milk matcha, complete with cream and lucky charms.

The queue might appear long but goes quickly, and trust me, it is worth waiting the 20 minutes for.

Just outside the market, drop by Ho Lee Fook – another viral spot but this time for a pork tonkatsu sandwich that takes three days to make (and it is huge!).

The Hong Kong food spot is in a former newsagent’s hatch and translates to “good, wealth and luck”.

Of course, Scotland is well-known for its whisky so make sure to head to a local distillery.

Down on the River Clyde, you’ll find The Clydeside Distillery where you can go on a tour led by a guide and try a flight of five different whiskies accompanied by five chocolates that magically change the taste of each drink.

It costs £39 per person and lasts around an hour and 20 minutes.

Rather uniquely, Glasgow’s night scene transports you to deep south America.

Buck’s Bar is great for famished visitors, with giant chicken burgers and a true Texan vibe inside.

A couple of doors down, you’ll find Maggie’s Rock n’ Rodeo – and it is as fun as it sounds.

A small crowd shuffled around the dancefloor, performing a number of different line dances to a live country singer – what could be more fun?

“Who doesn’t love a hoedown?” shouts Garry King, the vibrant drag host who brings the confidence and dancing skills out of everyone.

And if you are feeling brave (unlike me who was still feeling the weight of my giant Buck’s Bar burger in my stomach), you can hop on the mechanical bull and try lasting longer than just a few seconds…

If you want to head out of the city centre for the day, hop on a train to Pollokshaws West Station costing only £3 return for adults and £1 for kids.

In fact, all day, every day, kids can travel on ScotRail for £1 when travelling with an adult.

Outside the station you can then catch a free shuttle bus to Pollok Country Park where you’ll find a herd of Highland Cows (often referred to as Scotland‘s mascot) and visit the Burrell Collection, home to a Cézanne painting and one of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker statues.

But if you don’t feel like venturing outside the city, go to the Botanic Gardens to get your dose of green space.

Home to several glasshouses and Kibble Palace, the free attraction is a great spot for enjoying a bit of nature (and a tropical rainforest) in the heart of the city.

Down from the Botanic Gardens, you will also find Glasgow’s West End, which is often named one of the ‘coolest neighbourhoods’ in the UK.

Make sure to drop by Ashton Lane – a cobbled street with cosy restaurants and bars.

If you are not done with quaint lanes, make sure to head to the Finnieston area as well, where you will find Hidden Lane, which is full of local artists, designers, and even a tarot reader.

A short walk from Hidden Lane and you will find Civerinos – a fantastic pizza restaurant.

Opt for the sweet potato and truffle pizza for under £20 – it is huge, and you won’t be disappointed.

For dessert, drop by Fat Sal’s – an Italian ice cream parlour with a Scottish twist.

A scoop costs a few quid and flavours are constantly rotating, though if they have the Scottish tablet one available, it is a creamy, heavenly dream.

Continue the night at The Park Bar, for a traditional and historic Scottish pub dating back to 1895 with live traditional music often including an accordion player.

History and art lovers should head to the free-to-visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which opened over 100 years ago.

Inside there are 22 galleries home to animals, Ancient Egyptian artefacts, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh – a famous Scottish architect and designer.

To get to the city, Lumo recently launched a direct route from London to Glasgow that costs as little as £33.10 per way.

It also stops at Newcastle and Edinburgh on the way.

For more inspiration on where to travel to in the UK, staycations are set for record high this year, so here are the top spots on our wish list from trendy beach resorts to historic cities.

Plus, there’s an overlooked English county with some of Britain’s best pubs and beaches.

Government spoke out to passengers booked with carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and Wizz Airs amid fears of fuel supply disruption and potential flight cancellations

The Government this afternoon issued a statement to passengers across the UK amid growing concerns over jet fuel shortages and the prospect of flight cancellations. The Department for Transport stepped in to respond following warnings from the European Union.

EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said this week: “Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets.”

He added: “Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there. [Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

Earlier today, President Trump suggested the Iran situation could drag on for weeks, stating he ‘wouldn’t rush’ a deal. The DfT then issued direct guidance to passengers booked with carriers including Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet and British Airways.

It said: “There is no current need for passengers to change their travel plans. UK airlines buy jet fuel in advance, and airports maintain stocks to support their resilience. The government is working closely with the aviation industry to monitor risks and minimise disruption to passengers.”

“If your flight is cancelled, you have clear legal rights, including the right to a full refund or re-routing. Read this factsheet for the full picture on the current situation and what it means for you.”

Is there a shortage of jet fuel in the UK?

DtT said: “UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel. It is typically bought in advance, with airports and their suppliers keeping stocks of bunkered fuel to support their resilience.”

Do you need to change your travel plans?

Officials explained: “There is no current need to change upcoming travel plans. Government regularly meets with industry to monitor risks, understand pressures and ensure clear communication with passengers, should circumstances change.

“We recognise that families may be concerned, and that aviation and tourism businesses are operating in challenging global conditions. We are working hand‑in‑hand with industry to help flights keep operating.

“We advise passengers to continue checking with their airlines before they travel, and to check the FCDO travel advice for the latest updates. You should also ensure you have appropriate travel insurance.”

How is the government protecting passengers?

Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to either a full refund or to be booked onto an alternative flight if you:

• depart from an airport in the UK on any airline
• arrive at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline
• arrive at an airport in the EU on a UK airline

For more information about your rights, you can:

What is government doing?

The UK Government said: “Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, we have been closely monitoring UK jet fuel stocks and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to ensure passengers keep moving and businesses are supported.

“We continue to plan for a range of contingencies, while focusing on securing a long lasting and workable solution to get shipping flowing freely again through the Strait of Hormuz.”

How are airlines being supported?

In terms of carriers the DfT said: “At some UK airports, airlines are given scheduled times known as ‘slots’ in which to take off or land.

“Under normal rules, airlines must use at least 80% of their allocated slots during a season to keep them for the following year. If they fall below this threshold, those slots can be reassigned to another airline. This is known as the ‘use it or lose it’ rule.

“Airport Coordination Limited, the independent body that manages slot allocation at UK airports, has updated its guidance so that airlines will not lose their slots if fuel shortages prevent them from flying. Airlines can now apply for an exemption from the ‘use it or lose it’ rule in these circumstances.

“This means airlines can focus on minimising disruption for passengers, rather than feeling pressure to operate flights purely to protect their slots.”

Travel expert Simon Calder has explored the latest challenges facing UK airlines and passengers amid jet fuel shortages caused by the Iran war

Travel expert Simon Calder has released an update on his podcast about what to do should your flight be suddenly cancelled amid worldwide jet fuel shortages. The highly regarded travel journalist – well known for his frequent TV appearances and contributions to the Independent – has spoken with a prominent industry figure after seeing ‘so many people getting in touch feeling anxious about their holidays.’

He noted that many people were even contemplating whether to stay in England for their holidays. His remarks come as the Iran war continues to rumble on. The conflict, which began on February 28, has restricted the flow of oil and gas across the globe, placing pressure on markets and driving up the cost of jet fuel for airlines, reports the Liverpool Echo.

This week, jet fuel shortages have emerged as a significant concern, as statements from senior industry figures have sparked worry amongst ordinary travellers about the potential impact on their holidays this year. Dan Jorgensen, the EU energy commissioner, this week said: “Unfortunately, it’s very likely that many people’s holidays will be affected, either by flight cancellations or very, very expensive tickets. Even if we do everything we can do, if the jet fuel is not there, then it’s not there.”

Speaking on his podcast on Thursday, April 23, Simon began by saying: “You might be more inclined to stay in England because of all the headlines we’ve been seeing over the past couple of days. For example, Lufthansa of Germany said they were cancelling 20,000 flights.

“I’ve had so many people getting in touch feeling anxious about their holidays when I would hope they would be looking forward to them with great anticipation.” To tackle this, he spoke with Ted Wake, managing director of Kirker Holidays.

Simon put the question to him: “So just suppose I have booked a Kirker holiday. I’m maybe going to some of the great cities in Germany. Amazing cultural treasures to be found. And I’m flying maybe from Birmingham, from Edinburgh, from Glasgow, and suddenly Lufthansa cancels my flight. What do you do then as a tour operator?”

Ted responded: “We would find the nearest flight which would provide a sensible, practical alternative. We would liaise with the client about whether or not it was convenient for them and, if they’re in agreement, Kirker would pick up the tab for any logistical costs that have been incurred.

“There are occasions where tour operators like us might extend the client’s stay by an additional night and we might pick up the tab for that. But if you have booked through an ATOL-protected tour operator and the tour operator is mindful to nurture long-term relationships, it is in our interest to iron out the creases in that way.

“And you have mentioned some regional services there and it may be the case that Lufthansa cancel 1 or 2 of those but there will often be alternative flights, perhaps with a different carrier, and Kirker would pick up the tab for that as well as manage the logistical research in terms of what alternative flight could be suitable to ensure that people have a fabulous holiday.”

Ted’s remarks come just days after EU official Mr Jorgensen cautioned: “[Currently] it is primarily a crisis of prices and not yet a crisis of supply, but unfortunately we cannot be sure to prevent a crisis of supply, especially on jet fuel in the future, if the crisis continues.”

The International Energy Agency has similarly advised that severe supply disruptions could materialise within the next five or six weeks. It was against this backdrop that Simon addressed passenger concerns here in the UK.

Jet fuel flight cancellations and the EES

Ted highlighted that airlines are currently grappling with two distinct challenges – the jet fuel shortage and the new EES system. This system – the Entry/Exit System (EES) – is a new digital border arrangement that introduces additional checks for British travellers heading to numerous European destinations.

It launched this month. On your first visit following the change to a country within the so-called Schengen area (which encompasses many EU nations), you may be required to create a digital record upon arrival at an airport. You may be required to submit your fingerprints and have your photograph taken. The system has resulted in significant delays for some UK travellers since its introduction.

Ted discussed the jet fuel challenges confronting airlines and what this means for everyday passengers across the UK. He said: “I think Lufthansa has got a very comprehensive schedule. Twenty thousand flights isn’t a drop in the ocean but it’s a relatively small number if you look at the overall picture.

“I think other airlines within the UK market will be doing something similar. You might argue that it is a sensible logistical profit management exercise as well as a jet fuel situation, but I don’t see it having a major impact on consumers and if you book through a tour operator – of course, Simon, you tell your readers all the time and indeed your listeners for that matter – if you book through a tour operator, it’s a tour operator’s responsility to iron out all the creases so the consumer is not adversely impacted by the change.”

You can tune in to the podcast here.

A MAJOR train station in England has announced its closure over a busy bank holiday weekend.

Passengers are urged to plan their journeys ahead as the station will be shut.

One of the North West‘s busiest stations will be closed over the early May bank holiday.

Liverpool Lime Street station will stop its overground services on Sunday, May 3, and into the morning of Monday, May 4.

Engineers will be carrying out major upgrade works around the station during the closure.

Along with replacing outdated signalling infrastructure in the Edge Hill area, workers will be maintaining overhead power cables and track points.

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This means that overground lines in and out of Lime Street will be disrupted.

Paul Owen, Liverpool area director for Network Rail, said: “We would like to thank passengers for their patience while this vital work takes place.

“Replacing older signalling infrastructure with new equipment will reduce disruption on the railway and create smoother, more reliable journeys.”

Local Merseyrail trains will continue to run while other routes will be diverted or replaced by bus.

Travellers are advised to check with their train operator or on the National Rail Enquiries website for the latest information.

Passengers should allow extra time for travel and expect delays or changes to their journeys.

A pilot who has flown more than 750 times has revealed there’s one European city which is a ‘tremendous destination’ that’s well worth visiting – and flights start from £26.99

A pilot who has flown more than 750 times and visited more than 50 countries in just four years has revealed the European city that holidaymakers miss.

When it comes to booking a sun-soaked getaway, many of us are on the lookout for those destinations that go a little under the radar. Whether it’s to escape the onslaught of tourist crowds, packed attractions and lengthy queues, or to simply wander around a quieter location and explore somewhere new.

There’s a catalogue of beautiful European cities, brimming with charm and character, that are well worth venturing beyond the typical holiday hotspots. Yet, it’s not always easy to know where to go. But luckily for us, Wizz Air pilot Tom Copestake knows exactly what destination he’d recommend to holidaymakers.

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Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Tom said: “I flew into Bilbao about two weeks ago – it’s a tremendous destination on the north coast. It was surrounded by what looked like amazing mountains or hills for hiking. I think there’s a lot of good walking in northern Spain.”

He continued: “I spoke to the ground handling agent in Bilbao, and he said how beautiful the area was and how we needed to stay and go exploring. There’s a place called San Sebastiá just down the road from Bilbao, which is apparently an amazing place to go and have a look at.”

Bilbao is a vibrant and colourful port city in northern Spain, with towering green mountains and a winding river valley running through its core. It’s known for its Basque heritage, innovative architecture, and world-class art.

Its most famous landmark is the curved Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, known for its contemporary art exhibitions and the ‘Puppy’ statue that towers over the city. Yet, against its ultramodern architecture, there’s the historic old town of Casco Viejo, which is made up of ancient medieval streets, the grand Santiago Cathedral, and Mercado de la Ribera – one of Europe’s largest covered food markets.

The city has a renowned food scene, with its local tapas, known as pintxos, being a notable highlight, alongside its selection of fresh seafood. Bilbao is also packed with lively bars, buzzing restaurants and cafés, so visitors can savour the flavours of its incredible cuisine, and soak up its vibrant atmosphere.

Aside from visiting the Guggenheim Museum, notable attractions include the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao, Zubizuri Bridge, also known as the ‘White Bridge’, and Artxanda Funicular, a mountain cable car offering breathtaking views. Nearby is also the Bizkaia Bridge, the world’s first to carry people and traffic on a high suspended gondola, and it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

And it might just be the perfect time to visit, as Wizz Air launched new routes from London Luton to Bilbao this year, with flights starting from £26.99. They also welcomed a flurry of new Spanish routes, including to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and Seville.

Sharing a closer insight into his job as a pilot, after recommending Bilbao, Tom acknowledged: “This is a customer service job that happens to be in the aviation industry, and I love the fact that each of the thousands of passengers I’ve flown has a story and a reason to travel.

“It might be for fun, to see family, or we have people who might be working in different countries. It’s really cool, and I love that so much.” He humbly added: “This job is a privilege”.

For more information on Wizz Air flights, or to book your next getaway, visit their website.

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

THERE’S no better feeling than sipping a glass of sangria under the blazing sun, while relaxing on the Spanish coastline.

Except this time, I was paying in pounds in and I’d taken a train instead of a plane to get there.

Because I was on the Sunshine Coast of Essex, which is often compared to Spain thanks to it being one of the sunniest, driest spots in the country.

According to the annual Which? seaside towns survey, August average highs are 21C, while water temperatures are 18C.

Even rainfall is low, with just 45mm in Frinton-on-Sea.

So I headed to the Essex Sunshine Coast for an Easter getaway to see how this unsung seaside staycay compares to its continental cousin.

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I’ll be honest, I had no idea that England had its own version of the Costa del Sol until recently, although has been dubbed this for at least a quarter of a century.

Other than the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and East Devon, we don’t seem to have many named coastlines in this country, unlike places like Portugal, where every bit of seafront has an exotic name.

And if I’d taken a guess at where in the country the Sunshine Coast might be, I’d probably have gone for a much-touted tourist hotspot like Cornwall or Norfolk rather than this coastal corner not far from the capital.

But with new staycay stats showing that foreign trips are off the cards for many of us this year, holidaymakers looking to swap sangria for sticks of rock might actually be wowed by just what is on offer.

We visited on the warmest week of the year so far and temperatures here hit 22C, with blazing sunshine for most of our stay, so the area really did live up to its name for us. 

But what I really loved about exploring the Essex seaside is the sheer variety of experiences on one relatively small stretch of coast, bookended by Brightlingsea in the south and Harwich in the north.

If you drove direct between the two, it would only take half an hour, although following the meandering coastline obviously increases the distance.

So it’s pretty impressive that you can find something for all staycay styles here, whether you prefer caravan parks with full-on family fun, charming cottages set by quiet beaches in calm countryside or hotels and a bit of history and heritage.

Some stretches feel like going back in time to seaside holidays of the past.

My husband spent his childhood summers staying in a caravan at Walton-on-the-Naze, renowned for its rows of colourful beach huts that have been here for more than a century.

Watching our boys exploring the shallow slope of Eastcliff Beach, not much seems to have changed over the years, with visitors still combing the sand for the prehistoric shark teeth that have always been found in abundance here.

Frinton, just a few miles away, is another timeless coastal classic, with its sleepy air of seaside chic.

A couple of years ago, we stayed at Haven Orchards on Point Clear, where you can catch a ferry for the three-minute trip across the harbour to Brightlingsea.

Even though we were surrounded by caravans and chalets, walking on the shingly shoreline felt like we were miles away from the madding crowds.

We even stumbled across the hidden gem that is the East Essex Aviation Museum, chock-a-block with airplane artefacts, inside one of the Napoleonic martello towers, a circular coastal defence that is a feature of this area.

Of course, you’ve always got the hustle and bustle of Clacton if you want a bit more of a kiss-me-quick vibe with its pier packed with rides and attractions.

Plus it’s incredibly easy to get to – trains from London’s Liverpool Street station to Clacton-on-Sea take from 1 hour 26 minutes, with one-way advance tickets available from £12.60

But there’s so much more to the Sunshine Coast than the Costa del Clacton.

We’ve still got the two towns that mark either end of this coastline to explore on our next visit – Brightlingsea has a lovely lido run by volunteers, while Harwich offers seal-spotting trips from its charming Ha’penny Pier.

There’s lots of ideas of where to visit at essex-sunshine-coast.org.uk

Ironically, for a county made famous in The Only Way is Essex for being a bit brash and loud, I found the best bits of the Sunshine Coast are a little bit understated, like the Naze tower and nature reserve near Walton.

If you’re after an unsung spot for your summer staycay, you really can’t go wrong with catching the rays at the Naze and making the most of our very own Sunshine Coast.

Budget airline Ryanair has suggested a controversial new fee targeting one type of passengers on early morning flights – and the idea has divided opinion among travellers

Budget airlines such as Ryanair are often an excellent choice if you need to travel across the UK and Europe without emptying your bank account for the ticket fee. However, they frequently impose a range of ‘hidden’ charges should you wish to add special extras to your standard ticket.

From airport check-in charges for travellers who don’t check in online, to amending the name on your booking, or missing your flight, it all carries an additional cost that can add up quickly. And Ryanair is no stranger to threatening to bring in further fees, as they regularly turn to social media to float ‘ideas’ for new passenger charges – though these seldom become reality.

Potential new charges that have been shared on their social media channels include a denim fee for travellers who choose to wear jeans while on the aircraft, to a ‘toilet use’ charge. The possibilities, it appears, are genuinely limitless – and frequently prompt mixed reactions from passengers who are swift to devise ‘hacks’ to dodge the various fees.

Now, the carrier has unveiled what could be one of its most controversial proposals yet – charging talkative passengers on early morning flights. The company turned to Facebook to float the concept in a tongue-in-cheek message.

“We’ll be charging yappers on our 6am flights very soon,” they posted. Despite how absurd it may appear, some travellers seemed entirely supportive, as they were keen for a peaceful and quiet flight when having to board early. One user wrote: “A charge we can all stand by.”

Another chimed in: “Here’s a deal, if we get on board and say we don’t want a scratch card, then we are left in peace for the rest of the flight by your in-air street traders who do most of the yapping.”

Ryanair is well known for selling scratch cards on its flights, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.

However, others were quick to turn on the airline, questioning whether this fee would also apply to the cabin crew themselves. One user hit back, asking: “Does that include the ones yapping on the PA system about scratch cards and duty free?”

“That would be your crew selling us perfumes first thing in the morning,” another user added.

Ryanair fees to be aware of

While Ryanair frequently pokes fun at its own extra charges, there are some very real fees that passengers ought to familiarise themselves with – as being caught off guard could land you with a steep bill at the departure gate.

Failing to check in online means you can expect to be charged £55/€55 to ‘cover the extra cost’ of checking in at the Ryanair desk. If your flight is departing from Spain, however, this drops to £30/€30. Instead, travellers are urged to check in for their flights via the Ryanair app or website prior to arriving at the airport. Those who have pre-booked a seat can check in up to 60 days before a scheduled departure, while others may check in 24 hours before a flight. Generally, check-in closes two hours before departure.

You’ll also need to ensure your luggage meets the size requirements for cabin bags, as this is where numerous passengers come unstuck, finding themselves hit with a £60 fee per bag. Previously, bags had to be 40x25x20cm, but as of last year, passengers can bring a bag of up to 40x30x20cm. This small item can be a laptop bag, handbag, rucksack, or any item that fits within the dimensions to fit under the seat in front of you.

For an additional charge, which differs depending on route and availability, passengers can bring a second cabin bag of up to 10kg in weight. This bag can be up to 55x40x20cm in size and passengers will need to be able to load this into the overhead locker themselves without any assistance from the cabin crew.

For more information about Ryanair’s extra fees, you can read more on their website.