bikinis

A savvy traveller decided to use a very unique hack to stow some extra hand luggage on her return flight – and the flight attendants didn’t even bat an eyelid

A clever hack involving undergarments has gone viral after one traveller revealed how she “stuffed” her bra before a Wizz Air flight – saving her a fortune on baggage costs.

The cost of adding extra baggage onto flights can sometimes be more expensive than the ticket itself – with restrictions getting tighter on hand luggage.

Budget airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet notoriously make last-minute checks at the gate – sometimes resulting in extra fees for those who are slightly over the limit. But one woman has revealed a clever trick for sneaking in extra clothes – and it’s all in her bra.

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Chelsea Dickenson was flying home from Lisbon with Wizz Air who only allow a tiny 40 x 30 x 20cm cabin bag for free.

And while she managed the outbound flight fine, she wanted to try out the clever hack for her return journey. Just before her flight, she bagged herself a giant bra – that was not her size – for less than £5 from a local shop.

“I’d never seen anyone use a bra for this purpose. And the logic was solid: airlines weigh and measure your bag, not your body. My coat pockets had been carrying overflow snacks and chargers for years, so why not give my chest a piece of the action too?,” she told the Metro.

After making it through security, she headed straight to the toilets to get changed into her bra – surprisingly fitting a lot of clothes inside.

“On the day of my flight, I wasn’t about to stroll through security looking like I’d got a Portuguese breast enlargement – this was about getting through the scales and bag sizers,” she explained.

Chelsea stuffed the bra with her gym kit, a bikini, and a fishing vest. But one thing she hadn’t prepared for was the intense heat the extra padding would provide.

“It was like a private heat wave,” she wrote. Her boyfriend James also found the sight amusing.

At the gate, the flight attendants didn’t bat an eyelid and let them board the plane smoothly. But while it worked, she admits she wouldn’t do it again and would opt for less invasive options.

Top packing hacks to avoid extra baggage fees

1. Roll your clothes

Rolling clothes like T-shirts, jeans and dresses can save a lot of space in hand luggage thanks to making the items more compact compared to simply folding.

2. Packing cubes

Investing in packing cubes can save space – especially those that are vacuum packed meaning you can get rid of excess air and flat pack your clothes with ease.

3. Wear bulky items

On the plane, opt to wear your more bulky items like coats, jackets, hoodies or tracksuits. While you might be warm layering clothes, you can always remove them onboard and stow them in the overhead lockers.

4. Place heavy items at the bottom of hand luggage

Strategically packing can save a lot of space, with heavy items helping to keep the bag’s structure while offering more room for lighter items on top.

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Brits heading on summer holidays to the likes of Italy and Spain are being warned of strict dress code rules especially when it comes to wearing swimwear in public

Brits planning to hit the beach or pool on their holidays may want to take note of some strict swimwear rules, or risk a potential £425 fine for wearing their bikinis.

In recent years, a number of holiday hotspots including Italy and Spain have clamped down on dress codes for both locals and tourists, when it comes to bikinis and swim shorts.

Italian hotspot Sorrento has banned the wearing of swimwear outside of beaches and pools, with authorities arguing that the move upholds public decency and respect for locals. The rules have been in place since 2022, and anyone flouting the restrictions could face a fine of up to €500 (approximately £425). It comes as Brits have been issued a stark warning about the habit that could land them a prison sentence while abroad.

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It’s worth noting that you’re not going to get a fine if you’re walking around your hotel or beach club, or if you’re on the beach itself. The crackdown is in place to stop people then heading out to the town and trying to enter shops and restaurants in just their swimming attire. The ban doesn’t just apply to swimwear; it also applies to visitors who walk around the town topless.

It’s not just Sorrento that has this dress code in place. For tourists heading on Spain holidays to the likes of Barcelona and Majorca, similar restrictions apply. People can only wear their swimwear on the beach or poolside, but if they head out to the towns then they could be slapped with a fine. In Barcelona that can be up to £260, while in Majorca that can be up to £500. Like Sorrento, this also applies to men walking around topless.

There are other European holiday spots where dress codes are in place. For example, tourists heading to Greece have been warned to consider the shoes they wear carefully.

At historic sites including the Acropolis in Athens, shoes such as high heels are banned because they can damage the landmarks. The ban has been in place since 2009 as part of preservation efforts.

In fact, a statement on the Acropolis website explains: “Most types of shoes are allowed at the Acropolis, except for high heels that have been forbidden in 2009 at all of Greece’s ancient monuments. The ban was put in in place due to the damage that the sharp soles were adding to Greece’s ancient sites.” If you want to visit and you’re wearing heels, you could risk being denied entry to the site. Rule-breakers face fines of around €900 (£771).

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A British holidaymaker has claimed she was sexually assaulted while parasailing in Sousse, Tunisia.

Michelle Wilson, 52, from Southport, Merseyside, says the parasail operator pressed himself against her and groped her mid-air during what should have been a thrilling ride.

Michelle had planned to go on a tandem parasail flight with a friend, but was told it was too windy in Tunisia that day and they would have to fly separately, each accompanied by an operator.

She said her friend went up first “and had a great time, with no problems”, noting there was plenty of distance between her friend and the operator.

However, Michelle’s own experience was very different.

The mum-of-three said:

“I could feel the back of my bikini bottoms being pulled and he was pulling the strap. He must have been tightening the harness to get me closer. His legs straddled around me, he had one hand up on the parachute, the other wasn’t. Then I felt him touch my leg.”

She continued: “He was groping me and moving back and forth into me and talking to me in Arabic. I felt him pressing against me. I kept arching my back.

“I felt violated and dirty and was scared. He was only a young lad, maybe around 20. It was a horrible experience and I was really scared. I felt helpless hanging in the air.”

Michelle burst into tears after landing and reported the incident to the water sports centre’s manager before going to the local police.

The £6,000 easyJet package holiday had been booked for Michelle, her 17-year-old daughter, her 16-year-old twin boys, and her daughter’s 17-year-old friend.

However, she said she felt unable to enjoy the rest of the trip after what happened.

She added: “As women you expect a bit of banter from men in these countries, but this wasn’t banter, it was a sexual assault.”

Michelle believes her alleged attacker has since been arrested, and that both her insurance firm and the Foreign Office are now involved in the case.

An easyJet spokesperson said:

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers is a priority, and we are continuing to support Ms Wilson. We are also liaising closely with our hotel partner to look into the reports.”

Brits heading on summer holidays to the likes of Spain and Italy are being warned of a little-known rule that could actually see them face hefty fines in popular holiday hotspots

If you’re planning a summer holiday abroad, then you may want to consider packing an extra beach or poolside cover-up in your suitcase – or you could face a hefty fine.

That’s because over in Italy, tourists and locals are banned from wearing swimwear outside of beaches and pools. In holiday hotspots such as the Amalfi Coast and specifically Sorrento, anyone caught breaking this rule could end up having to pay a charge.

Travel experts at Tiger.co.uk have warned: “Despite the sunny weather, Italy has banned the wearing of swimwear outside of beaches and pools in a bid to uphold public decency and respect for locals. In the popular destinations of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, tourists caught breaking this rule can face fines of up to €500.”

It’s worth noting that the rules also apply to anyone walking around the town topless. Of course, there are exceptions; for example, if you’re at a beachclub or staying in a hotel with direct beach access, you’re not going to be fined as you make your way back to your cabana or your room.

READ MORE: Brits warned they could be hit with £210 fines for reserving sunbeds in Spain

The measures are in place for public spaces, and predominantly aimed at tourists who are wandering into the town and going to shops and restaurants without changing out of their swimwear.

The rules aren’t particularly new; in Sorrento, the swimwear ban has been in place since 2022. At the time, the town’s then Mayor Coppola said the crackdown came because people walking around in bikinis or topless were “seen by the majority of people as contrary to decorum and to the decency that characterises civilised cohabitation”.

He added: “The continuation of this situation, as well as causing discomfort and unease in the resident population and among visitors, could lead to a negative judgment on the quality of life in our town, with consequences for its image and for tourism.”

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It’s not just in Italy where these types of regulations are in force. In the likes of Barcelona, people are also asked to stick to the beach if they want to wander around in swimwear, with fines of approximately £260 for rule-breakers. Meanwhile the island of Majorca also requests that people stick to beaches and pools, with fines of up to £500 for those who flout the regulations.

Those aren’t the only beach rules that Brits heading on Spain holidays should take note of. The Tiger team added: “In popular areas of Spain like Barcelona and Costa Blanca, tourists can now be fined €250 for reserving sunbeds, meaning waking up early to bag a spot for you and the family is no longer allowed. This rule was introduced following numerous complaints about sunbeds being reserved for hours with no one in sight.”

The rules came into force last year in a move to stop beachgoers from reserving spots with towels and sunbeds, only to leave them unoccupied for hours at a time. On already-crowded beaches, this only leaves others having to fight for space or giving up.

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EXCLUSIVE: Love Island 2025 star Alima Gagigo has opened up about the extraordinary moment she delivered her baby sister at home – and she’s determined to make a difference in the villa

Love Island stunner Alima Gagigo is already making headlines – and not just for her villa debut. In a story that’s as jaw-dropping as it is heartwarming, the 23-year-old Londoner has revealed she once delivered her baby sister at home using a shoelace to tie the umbilical cord.

The incident happened in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, ahead of the brand new series kicking off on Monday June 9, Alima shared the extraordinary moment that proved she’s not just reality TV-ready – she’s resilient under pressure, too.

“Yeah! It was back in January 2020. My sister’s a COVID baby,” she said. “It was just me and my mum at home, and the labour was 15 minutes. I had to tie the umbilical cord with a shoelace while on the phone with paramedics. It was scary but amazing looking back.”

Alima is a wealth management client services executive living in Glasgow. Now, the educated beauty is swapping emergency home births for bikinis and bombshell drama in the sun-soaked Love Island villa, and she’s determined to make a difference while doing it. Representation, she says, is front and centre.

“100%. When I watched the show last year, seeing girls like Whitney made a difference,” Alima told us. “If I can be that person this year, it could give confidence to others who might want to go on the show in the future. Representation really matters.”

Alima, who describes her hair plans as “glueless wigs – closures instead of frontals,” is stepping into the ITV2 spotlight following in the footsteps of fan favourite love island star Whitney Adebayo, who starred on the 10th series joining as a bombshell. And it turns out Whitney’s already showing love for her fellow Islander.

“I actually didn’t know that – this is the first time I’m hearing it!” she said when told of Whitney’s online support. “I follow her and absolutely loved her journey. As another dark-skinned woman, I could really relate. Maybe she supports me because she knows what I might be going through.”

The support from her circle has also been overwhelming, with her family cheering her on from the sidelines.

“Everyone’s buzzing! Friends and family are super excited. My mum was especially excited – taking pictures and everything when she dropped me at the airport!”

And while Love Island’s latest season is already making headlines – ITV bosses recently confirmed they won’t shy away from showing sex on screen if it happens – Alima admits she is “going to stay true to myself.”

“On the outside, I don’t really do that kind of thing, so I don’t think I’ll be getting up to much in the villa either.”

That down-to-earth energy is exactly what fans are already loving. Alima, who says she’s “not really anxious” about how she’ll be perceived as a Black woman on the show, is focused on being authentic.

“Seeing girls like Whitney and Mimii [Ngulube] last year who were themselves and came across amazing gave me confidence,” she added. “I want to be fully myself, regardless of stereotypes.”

She’s not afraid to laugh either – especially when it comes to her biggest dating ick.

“Honestly, if someone rapped or sang to me and it was bad – I wouldn’t know what to say. If it’s good, then fair enough, but if not…awkward!”

As the 2025 series kicks off with a fresh group of hopefuls and more drama promised than ever before, Alima is clearly more than ready to hit the villa.

Catch Love Island every night at 9pm from Monday 9 June on ITV2 and ITVX

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