Children parenting and family life

SCROLL through Instagram for five minutes and you’ll feel like the worst parent.

There’s Sky Brown, the Olympic skateboard prodigy whose British dad Stuart had her surfing and skateboarding before she could spell.

And toddler Aubrin Sage, who started snowboarding Washington’s Cascade Mountains at 18 months.

My feed is basically a highlight reel of super-parents raising mini athletes while I’m celebrating that my daughter ate a vegetable.

The pressure is real. And it’s been amped up in light of the Winter Olympics.

So when I heard about La Rosiere – a French Alps resort that takes kids as young as 18 months – I saw my chance.

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Time to turn my 20-month-old Lena into the next big thing on snow.

La Rosiere doesn’t mess about. Its ESF ski school’s Galopins Club had Lena on a snowboard-sled hybrid that looked utterly adorable.

Between snow play sessions they kept the kids busy with crafts and stories. Half-day or full-day options with lunch meant I could hit the slopes guilt-free.

Founded by shepherds in the 1960s, the resort has somehow kept its cosy village vibe while going all-in on the family market.

The revamped beginner zone at Les Eucherts features a toddler-friendly four-seater chair lift and a covered mountain picnic area – genius for when your hangry three-year-old has a meltdown in ski boots.

For families, here’s where La Rosiere gets clever. Its X-periences pass costs £59 extra on top of a six-day ski pass but throws in ice skating, cinema, laser tag, paintball, and something called X’treme Luge that sounds like it should come with a waiver.

Evolution 2, the resort’s adventure school gets kids playing at being ski patrol, opening slopes, and doing outdoor escape games.

While Lena was learning not to face-plant, I got to explore the Espace San Bernardo area – 96 miles linking La Rosiere with Italy’s La Thuile.

The new Mont Valaisan lift opens up serious back country at 2,800 metres, and I lucked out with blue-sky powder days.

The south-facing slopes make for sun-soaked days with stunning views of the Haute Tarentaise valley.

And with 80 per cent of the slopes above 1,850m, snow conditions were fantastic throughout our stay.
Time of her life

My base at Lodge Hemera (booked through Peak Retreats) was ski-in, ski-out luxury with a kitchen that saved my family a fortune.

On the nights we didn’t feel like cooking, we went to Le Comptoir, a family-friendly bar with great pizza.

Did Lena become the next Shaun White? Not exactly. She spent more time eating snow than shredding it.

But La Rosiere delivered: World-class childcare that let me remember why I love snowboarding, while my toddler had the time of her life playing in the snow.

So no, I won’t be posting videos of my prodigy daughter doing backflips.

But at least I can say we tried – and I got a decent ski holiday out of it. In the Instagram parenting Olympics, I see that as a win

AS an ignorant southerner, I barely believed the idyllic world I had seen on TV of Cumbria’s lakes, valleys and mountains could truly exist here in Britain.

And even as I gazed across the shimmering Ullswater lake, with the sun setting over the trees, I had to pinch myself.

I was so mesmerised I even tried to get the kids (aged five and seven) to stop fighting with sticks to take in the view with me. It didn’t work.

Even if it was a slightly different holiday to the one we’d taken in 2017BK (Before Kids), the 328-mile journey from East Sussex to the Lake District sure was worth it.

The drive even felt like part of the adventure, travelling in Skoda’s fully electric 2025 Elroq SportLine 85, complete with heated seats.

We only needed to stop to charge once, which gave us a welcome coffee and toilet break.

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Forty minutes and about £40 later we were off again, weaving past rolling hills, dry stone walls and flocks of curious sheep.

Our home for the next few nights was a cottage in picturesque Sedbergh, on the border of the Lakes and Yorkshire Dales.

Our home for the next few nights was a cottage in picturesque Sedbergh, on the border of the Lakes and Yorkshire Dales.

Known as England’s official “Book Town”, thanks to the high number of book shops here, its Emmerdale-esque scenery inspired my first attempt to get my children to “just look at the views”.

But like all later efforts to get them to marvel at, arguably, Britain’s greatest natural landscapes, it failed miserably.

I was told by my son that “I don’t really do views, I prefer doing things, like knee slides”.

Fair enough, and luckily for him there was plenty to keep him and his sister happy other than the scenery.

There’s lots for adults too, not least the food.

Cumbria claims to have the most Michelin stars outside of London, but my partner and I left the fine dining for a trip without youngsters.

Cumbria claims to have the most Michelin stars outside of London, but my partner and I left the fine dining for a trip without youngsters.

Instead, we spoiled ourselves in top-notch pubs, enjoying delicious, hearty grub.

Our local, The Dalesman, dished up beautiful pies by a roaring fire.

And the nearby Black Bull cooked up a stupendous full English and the biggest bacon sandwich I’ve ever seen, setting us up nicely for a day exploring.

Choosing where to eat is almost as important as picking which lake or waterfall to visit.

But while the Elroq features a smart windscreen display and huge navigation screen, I didn’t find cruising around narrow country lanes on a dark night that much fun.

They didn’t waste a penny on tarmac when they built the roads.

So we were lucky the 17th century Punch Bowl Inn in Crosthwaite was nearby and that its renowned cheese souffle lived up to the billing.

We also made use of the brilliant local produce by raiding the nearby Meat Hook butchers for fire-side steak and sausages at home.

While our electric Skoda may be the future of travel, we still enjoyed heading back in time with an unmissable trip on the steam train from Haverthwaite to Lakeside.

It is a great way to see some of the area and we combined it with a boat ride up the mighty Lake Windermere to Bowness where, once again, the views are jaw-dropping.

Bustling Bowness boasts a huge choice of pubs and shops, but we spent the afternoon in the magical, and reasonably priced, World Of Beatrix Potter Attraction.

As well as a Peter Rabbit cafe selling home-made cakes and afternoon tea, there is a free activity trail and interactive videos showing yet more cracking Lake District views, except on a screen.

The kids loved completing the puzzles about Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Co.

And while that kept their little minds entertained, the best way to burn off energy was climbing through the trees and adventure playgrounds of Brookhole on Windermere.

There, you can brave tree-top adventures in Zip World, try axe-throwing or take a boat out on the lake, among other activities.

We left there with the kids suitably exhausted and ready for an eight-hour drive home.

Luckily, they slept the entire way, tucked up in the back of the car, while I soaked up the last of those views.

WE all know Americans do things a lot bigger than in the UK – from fast food to drink sizes – and it goes for play areas too.

One in the US the size of a football pitch has caught the eye of Brits who say they’d love to see one open in the UK.

Called The Fun Station Cedar Falls, the enormous play area stretches across 70,000 square feet and is the state of Iowa‘s largest indoor adventure park.

It has over 20 attractions from zip lines to trampolines, an obstacle course, laser tag, racing slides, bowling alleys and fairground rides.

There’s a multi-level play maze, seven climbing walls as high as 22ft, a high-ropes course at 55ft, an arcade with 35 video arcade games where players can win prizes.

There’s food on-site too from a salad bar, to a cafe and fizzy drink station.

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It’s popular with local parents who say that their kids “love to climb for hours here”.

With a video doing the rounds on Facebook, it’s even caught the attention of UK residents with one even saying “wish we had this in the UK”.

For UK parents, one parent in the comments suggested heading to Riverside Hub in Northampton.

One writer Catherine Lofthouse visited the attraction that has the UK’s largest playframe across four floors, which they called ‘soft play on steroids’.

Catherine said: “Laser tag, crazy golf, two climbing poles, go-karts and even arcade machines all included in the price.

“The main issue is keeping an eye on all your children as they head off in opposite directions to make the most of everything on offer.

“While the youngest was taking a spin on the carousel, my middle son was clambering up the two 10m climbing poles, one in the shape of an oak tree and the other a beanstalk, in the centre of the hub.”

There are also Fun Stations in the UK – but these are owned by a different company.

In cities like Birmingham, Leeds and Milton Keynes, there are Fun Stations that are more like arcades.

It’s packed with immersive and action-packed video and VR games, along with carnival games where visitors can win top prizes like iPads and headphones.

Some destinations even have dodgems, mini bowling, laser tag, escape rooms and mini golf.

For more on play areas, here are five of the UK’s biggest indoor soft plays to escape the rainy weather with huge climbing frames and drop slides.

And here is a huge new wooden play attraction that’s set to open at a historic English house with den building, zip lines and racing slides.

THE Cotswolds is already a great place to visit, but nearby is a farm that parents are raving about as a great day out,

Millets Farm opened back in 1952, originally as a dairy farm.

Now, the farm is home to multiple attractions including a play barn, Maize Maze and Farmyard Golf.

The attraction is split into pre-booked activities and no pre-booking required activities.

For example, you could head off on the Millets Animal Walkway, where visitors will see a number of farm animals including goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, birds and alpacas.

The play area also doesn’t need pre-booking and has a mix of swings, slides, climbing frames and more.

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There are also token-operated ride-on tractors, diggers and a crane which little ones can go on.

One token costs £1.75, three tokens cost £4.50 and five tokens cost £6.

If the weather isn’t rainy, you can also check out the 10 acre Phoebe Wood, where there are a number of woodland walks.

There are then several activities you have to book ahead for, such as Sprouts Play Barn with a four-lane wavy cow slide, 360 tunnel, a ‘mini Millets farmers market’ with seven soft role-play areas, a sports court and an area for under five-year-olds.

One recent visitor said: “This has to be the best soft play in Oxfordshire, it’s absolutely huge and offers a great variety of activities and play equipment for a wide age range.

“There’s a little baby area at the front, and then lots of fun for bigger kids on the higher levels.”

Another visitor added: “The soft play was the best we have ever been to (and we have been to A LOT).

“Every section was clean, looked brand new and so well thought out.

“It’s huge with four floors and the under fives section is also the biggest I’ve seen.”

Included in the Sprouts admission tickets, you also get access to the outdoor play area which has slides, beams and water play.

There’s also an 18-hole farm themed adventure golf course that you can book.

If you want something that is a little bit more of a thrill, head on the carousel, Ferris Wheel or Jungle Thriller, which all cost £3 a turn.

However, at the moment only the carousel is open until the spring, when other attractions at the park will reopen.

The attraction also hosts a number of events, such as Phil’s Magic Mania Show and Tweedy’s Massive Circus.

There are a number of seasonal events at the farm as well, such as pick your own flowers.

Visitors can explore around 8000 dahlias planted around a bright pink double-decker bus during the summer months.

The site also has a big garden centre, that sells items for both gardeners and non-gardeners.

One recent visitor said: “Such a delightful garden centre to wander around.

“They have everything you can imagine, for any budget. Even a cafe if you need a little break.

“I could have spent all afternoon there.”

When it comes to eating, the attraction has several spots to grab a bite.

For example, there is The Farmhouse Kitchen Restaurant which has both indoor and outdoor seating.

If you fancy an ice cream, head to the Snack Shack.

There there’s also The Food at Webbs restaurant, which can be found inside the garden centre and offers homemade meals.

And if you want to make your stay a bit longer or more special, then head to Wellness at Millets for a beauty treatment.

For more UK farms with family activities, here are six UK farm stays inspired by Clarkson’s Farm from remote cottages to Highland cow petting.

Plus, the English campsite named best farm attraction in the UK reveals new kid’s playground and glamping.

A KIDS attraction based on a popular bunny character has closed its doors just a few years after opening.

The Peter Rabbit Explore & Play attraction in Blackpool has stopped taking bookings and revealed that it won’t reopen in 2026.

The experience that cost £1million to set up first opened in 2022 as one of Merlin Entertainments’ attractions.

Inside was a chance for children to step into the world of Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter’s other characters.

There were interactive play areas, like Jeremy Fisher’s Pond which was a sensory area with musical instruments.

At Mr McGregor’s Garden were fun slides and tunnels. Mr Bouncer’s Invention Workshop was filled with hosepipe telephones and even x-ray glasses for looking into the vegetable garden.

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At The Burrow, kids could help set the table for dinner, and even transform into one of the Peter Rabbit family.

Inside the Secret Tree house were the ‘real’ Peter Rabbit and Lily Bobtail so children could meet the characters.

However, in November 2025, the attraction closed its doors and hasn’t reopened since.

The website is still up and running, but visitors are unable to make bookings.

A spokesperson for Blackpool Tourism Ltd told local media: “We can confirm that Peter Rabbit™: Explore and Play closed in November and will not reopen for the 2026 season.

“The attraction sits within the same building as Madame Tussauds Blackpool, which we have operated since August.

“Since taking over, we have been reviewing refurbishment options for Madame Tussauds and are considering a number of options for the future use of the space.”

If little ones still want to explore the world of Peter Rabbit, there are a few other themed-attractions dotted around the country.

One is found at Willows Farm in St Albans where children can explore the Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground, watch live shows and meet the characters.

It also has funfair rides, adventure play, tractor ride and farmyard animals – day tickets start rom £13.95.

Flamingo Land, which last year was named the best value theme park for attractions, also has a Peter Rabbit adventure.

There’s a Secret Treehouse, Benjamin Bunny’s Treetop Trail, Jeremy Fisher’s musical pond, and children can try their hand at painting at Pig Robinson’s Farm.

Mr Tod’s Lair has secret passages and there’s a character meet and greet too.

Flamingo Land theme park reopens on March 21, 2026 with tickets starting from £29.

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TREAT the kids to a fantastic half-term day out this week without breaking the bank.

There are superb free and low-cost events across the UK promising a lot of laughs at festivals, farms, forests, castles and animal parks. Trisha Harbord has selected a dazzling dozen.

FESTIVAL FUN

WITH a name like Super Duper, it is bound to be a great family festival.

For four days in half-term, Manchester is transformed into a giant playground with free activities in public spaces, cultural venues and landmark destinations such as the Central Library and Great Northern Warehouse.

There is storytelling with CBeebies, crafts, dancing, music workshops, shows and sports. Get a photo beside a Formula 1 car, or try the Lego workshop.

There will also be a carnival with a Victorian carousel and stalls, in St Ann’s Square.

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GO: From February 18-21. Free. See visitmanchester.com

MARITIME MARVEL

EXPLORE 300 years of fascinating maritime heritage for free.

Pick up a pass from Portsmouth Historic Quarter’s Visitor Centre to access the boathouse, exhibitions and beautiful gardens.

Fantastic artwork installations include the new Standing With Giants — silhouettes of military figures, including Winston Churchill — to celebrate wartime sacrifice.

You can also see iconic vessels including the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, currently docked here.

GO: Free. See portsmouthhq.org.

BRICK SAFARI

THERE’S a new destination for Lego fans — Longleat Safari Park.

The Wiltshire estate is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a Brick Week, including tiny versions of animals, from lorikeets to giraffes.

Families can build creatures, structures, trees or plants, to become part of the brick safari.

Longleat’s Scott Ashman said: “It’s 60 years since the first drive-through safari outside of Africa.

“The brick safari will grow throughout the week.”

Enjoy adventure playgrounds, the railway or lake’s jungle cruise before driving to meet the real animals.

GO: Until February 22. Adult from £39.95, children £29.95, under-threes free. See longleat.co.uk.

FABULOUS FORESTS

RAIN or shine, get the kids outside with Forestry England.

There are trails, cycle courses, play areas and stargazing in woodlands across the country, including Hicks Lodge, Leics; Gisburn Forest, Lancs; and Kent’s Jeskyns Community Woodland.

A highlight is the Room On The Broom trail, based on Julia Donaldson’s famous story, at sites across the country, with themed activities to help the witch find her hat and wand.

An adventure pack costs £4 and includes a lanyard, stickers and spell cards.

Many forests also have a Gruffalo orienteering course, with giant sculptures littered among the trees.

GO: For free and low-cost events, see forestryengland.uk.

HORSING AROUND

MARVEL at the magnificent 100ft horse head sculptures that are the pride and joy of Falkirk.

The Helix: Home Of The Kelpies offers tours to learn about the engineering and how they represent the country’s history and industry, with horses having played a huge role in the development of the area.

There are exhibitions about the steel horse heads — the largest in the world.

And the surrounding Helix parkland has an adventure zone and splash play.

It is also perfect for walking and cycling.

GO: Tour for adult £8.50, child £3.50 (free with an adult ticket), under-fives free. See thehelix.co.uk.

ANIMAL KINGDOMS

LET the kids play at being vets, with a third off zoo tickets.

Vets In Action runs throughout this week at London Zoo and Whipsnade, Beds.

Youngsters will be shown how to do a health check on real animals while practising on cuddly toys.

At London, they will join a rescue mission to save precious Darwin’s frogs from extinction.

And at Whipsnade — a 600-acre site with 11,000 animals — kids can learn about the conservation and well-being of the chimpanzees.

GO: Until February 22. Adult tickets from £29 and children £20.30, under-threes free. Use code WEB30 at londonzoo.org and whipsnadezoo.org.

ADVENTURE TRAILS

NATIONAL Trust properties have a huge selection of events for little outdoor adventurers.

Croft Castle, near Leominster in Herefordshire, has a Wildlife Detectives trail where kids track down clues among the trees.

The 17th century manor house, complete with turrets and towers, has a secret garden and play area with rope swings and balance beams among 1,500 acres of parkland.

There is a welly hunt at Charlecote Park, Warks; orienteering at Wentworth Castle, South Yorks, and a Winnie the Pooh exhibition at Nymans, West Sussex.

GO: Croft Castle family ticket costs from £42.50. Detective trail with a prize costs £3. See nationaltrust.org.uk.

MAGICAL RESORT

HAVE a spell-binding time in Blackpool as the resort bursts into life for the February Festival of Circus and Magic.

There are free spectacular shows, live performances and hands-on workshops for four days at venues including the Blackpool Tower.

Street entertainers roaming through the town centre include singer Elton

Wrong driving a white piano. Try your hand at puppetry and circus skills.

Last year’s Britain’s Got Talent winner, magician Harry Moulding, headlines a show at the Pleasure Beach Resort.

GO: From February 19-22. Festival free. Harry’s show from £12.50. See visitblackpool.com/febfest.

PERFECT PASS

PACK in a host of attractions in York, there is something for all the family.

Most famous sights are just a short walk from one another and you can take your pick from 35 with a one-day pass.

They include the 7th century Minster — one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals — the Jorvik Viking Centre, which is a fascinating journey back in time, and The Cocoa Works — a yummy lesson in chocolate-making.

Why not take a sightseeing tour down the River Ouse to hear about York’s history with City Cruises?

GO: A day’s Visit York Pass costs from £65 per adult, child £40. See yorkpass.com.

BARGAIN GARDENS

HERE is an offer you can’t refuse — pay what you can afford to enjoy a major attraction.

Throughout February, Cornwall’s Lost Gardens of Heligan, which normally cost £28 an adult and £12.50 a child, are letting families choose their own admission price.

The Neon Jungle roller rink is a highlight this half-term — skate to a playlist of retro hits.

Meet the Home Farm animals, including piglets, goats and donkeys, take part in question-time sessions and try horse tail-braiding. There’s a shop and cafe, too.

GO: Skate session £10. See heligan.com.

CUT PRICE FUN

BUTLIN’S is slashing day visit prices until February 26. There is 20 per cent off at Minehead and Skegness, and ten per cent off at Bognor Regis.

Families have access to the Skyline Pavilion at all resorts, with a packed schedule of shows and activities including Dino Expo, where kids come face-to-face with pre-historic predators.

There are fairground rides, Splash Waterworld pools with slides and flumes, football, plus arts and crafts sessions.

Bognor Regis has a four-storey soft play centre for 200 children, and the sister parks have playgrounds with climbing towers and trampolines.

GO: Adult day pass now costs from £29, child £12. See butlins.com.

CUDDLY ENCOUNTERS

IT always feels like spring is on its way at a lambing festival.

Get up close to the cuddly newborns at Park Hall Countryside Experience, Shrops, and, if you are lucky, see a birth.

The team will be on hand to educate youngsters on the new arrivals.

There are lots of other animals too including ponies, pigs, alpacas and chinchillas, on the farm near Oswestry.

And there are fun activities galore, with indoor play areas, science and music rooms, tractor and barrel train rides, go-karts, an adventure course and a 130ft zip wire.

GO: Until February 22. Ticket £14.95. See parkhallfarm.co.uk.

HAVING travelled to 41 countries, as well as presented travel shows including A Place in the Sun, its safe to say I’ve learned a few money saving tricks along the way.

And as a mum trying to pinch the pennies on a family holiday, I realised two huge mistakes people make when it came to booking hotels – and it saved me hundreds.

A big way to save money is hotel hopping – and this isn’t just for the luxury travellers and celebrities.

The money hack means you can save if instead of one hotel for a week, you try two.

This works by booking the more expensive place midweek, as this is when rates are lower.

You then move to the cheaper hotel when prices go up, which is usually at the weekend.

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I realised this when travelling as a family of four, in Göcek, Turkey.

The small marina town is full of expensive boutique hotels, so prices can easily spiral when trying to find space for both parents and kids.

Instead, we split our Turkey trip between Dalaman and Göcek, as midweek, we spotted a suite in a five-star area for £105 a night, hundreds cheaper than a weekend stay.

But don’t just stop there as it isn’t the only way to get a bargain.

We saved even more by calling the hotel, rather than just clicking the book button.

When I call a hotel, I don’t haggle — I just ask one simple question: “What’s the best price you can do if we book direct?”

After chatting to them, not only did they drop the price from £105 to £80 a night, but they also threw in free breakfast for all four of us, which would cost £15 each per night.

Over five nights, that alone would have added up fast.

In the end we paid just £400 for five nights midweek, while the exact same suite at the weekend would have cost £200 a night alone.

Had we stayed on for the full week, the total would have jumped sharply — for the same room.

So instead, we packed up and moved on, and got a mini-adventure out of it.

Once you realise hotel prices change by the night, you stop booking holidays by the week and start booking them properly.

We used the same approach in Spain, where we booked a five-star hotel on the Costa del Sol midweek, then a smaller hotel in Cádiz at the weekend for £95 a night.

ONE EXTRA HACK: “five-star location” without five-star prices

We also save money by staying in an apartment or Airbnb in a five-star area, instead of an all-inclusive resort.

For a family of four, we found an apartment to fit us all for £110 a night, compared to a nearby resort suite which was £280 a night.

We travel as a family of four for 12 weeks of the year and It’s the one habit that’s saved our family the most money — and given us our best memories.

IT was when my eight-year-old son Reggie returned to our table – holding a plate of 20 Turkish delights and grinning from ear to ear – that I caved in.

“OK, we are on holiday,” I said as he merrily dished them out to his twin brother Teddie and 12-year-old sister Frankie-Beau.

In fairness, my wife Kayleigh and I had hardly set an example, because the 5-star Liberty Lykia family resort in Oludeniz, on the south-west coast of Turkey, is an all- inclusive foodies’ fantasyland.

Its huge main restaurant offers more than 100 options at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and snacks throughout the day.

On several evenings of our seven-day stay we opted to dine at one of the six sensational paid-for a la carte restaurants, starting from just €5 per child, while watching the sun set across the Mediterranean Sea.

The star of the show was an interactive, flame-fuelled, theatrical dinner of lobster and steak at the open-grill Teppanyaki.

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At the outdoor Pinara Turkish restaurant, you even get a side order of belly dancing.

And all that is just, well, for starters.

A selection of snack shacks, including a well-stocked patisserie, will tempt you throughout the day.

And there’s self-serve draft beer and wine beside the pools and the private beach.

The biggest of the many bars, Apollon, at the heart of the resort, serves more than 30 indulgent cocktails, 24/7.

Thankfully you can easily burn off the over-indulgence.

Within the 400-acre resort, which is set in a tranquil cove among pine forests and overlooked by the majestic Babadag Mountain, are tennis, padel and sandy volleyball courts, an archery area, mini-golf course, ping-pong tables, a climbing wall and two AstroTurf football pitches.

There’s also a gym and exercise classes, as well as all manner of watersports.

Look up in the sky at any time of day and you will be mesmerised by paragliders drifting down to the hotel’s landing strip.

But don’t worry, there’s no need to strap the kids in for the ride, as their every whim can be taken care of at the brilliantly welcoming and free Mini Club, which has endless activities for all age groups.

There’s even a free babysitting service.

With the young’uns entertained, we enjoyed a few hours at the more peaceful adults-only pool and bar.

There you’ll find the luxurious Ocean Spa, where you can pamper yourself with a massage while you gaze out at the Turquoise Coast, so-called because of the striking clear-blue sea. W

hen we were then finally ready to reunite with the family, we headed to the beautiful beach area designed for youngsters, complete with a wave breaker made from rocks and stones.

But the jewel in Liberty Lykia’s crown is its very own waterpark — aptly called Children’s Paradise, with its numerous slides for kids and adults.

It’s a truly vast resort, set into the hilly mountainside.

Steps are steep but there are plenty of slopes and more than enough lifts.

And if little legs are tired after a long day of thrills, on-site shuttle buses taxi you around.

You can even call reception for a golf buggy to take you to and from your room day or night.

Bands and DJs

Our room was a modern sea-view Deluxe Family Suite with walk-in shower, air-conditioning, a superking-sized bed, two single beds and a sofa bed.

The free mini bar is restocked daily so you can enjoy a drink on the balcony.

We were just a two-minute walk from the resort’s main square — a beautiful Mediterranean plaza with a wine bar, shops selling clothes, trainers, sunglasses and souvenirs, an arcade, a craft coffee shop and a boutique for handbags and shoes.

After the sun sets, the main swimming pool hosts illuminated remote-controlled boats, and the stunning outdoor amphitheatre delivers an impressive variety of West End-like productions.

The main square is the lively entertainment venue for bands and DJs taking to the stage until midnight.

It’s not quiet, so do request a room a little farther away if you have very young children.

For anyone who wants to keep the party going, there’s an underground nightclub open until 2am.

And you can stagger out into the nearby snack bar that’s open until 7.30am if, somehow, you are still hungry.

After a week of family fun and feasting in the sun, none of our clothes fit — and the dentist will have some choice words for our kids.

But we left with the wonderful aftertaste of a holiday that was, in the words of my daughter, one big Turkish delight.

FEBRUARY half term is just around the corner, and if you’re wanting to get out and enjoy some family quality time – we’ve got the list for you.

Especially if you’re looking for days out that won’t hurt the bank account, as these festivals, castles and railway days out are all under a tenner.

We’ve rounded up the biggest and best February half term events for families across the UK.

And with entry from just £1 – or even totally free – you’ll be smiling just as much as the kids.

Yorkshire Games Festival, Bradford

Taking place from the 11 – 22 February 2026, the Yorkshire Games Festival will take place at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

This family-friendly gaming festival is full of free activities and fully hands-on. It’s packed with real gameplay, workshops and group activities – as well as talks from big names in gaming.

Activities include an interactive comedy gaming show, an interactive videogame-making workshop, and a big screen where attendees can join a round of Nintendo’s Mario Party Jamboree.

Plus, there’s dark and cosy gaming corners away from the noise for those who wish to play in a peaceful setting.

Make sure to book your free museum admission ticket in advance before dropping into sessions or reserving your slot for events online.

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, Shropshire

Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings are running a free craft activities program this February half term.

Kids can get stuck into arts and crafts, using linen and rag rug techniques to make dolls, friendship bracelets, badges and more.

The activities will take place in the Stables and Smithy rooms, and are suitable for ages five to eleven.

You can drop in for the arts and crafts between 10am – 3pm on Monday 16, Tuesday 17 and Friday 20 February.

If you also want to view the mill exhibitions during your visit, tickets cost £8 per adult and £4.50 per child, with under fives going free.

English Heritage even have a free printable Adventurer’s Checklist online that you can bring along, which children can colour in as they go.

Imagine Children’s Festival, London Southbank Centre

London’s Southbank Centre are hosting a huge children’s festival this February half term.

Between the 11 – 21 February, the Imagine Festival will host nearly 40 children’s events – many of which are free to take part in.

Free activities include dance and theatre shows, live music dance-alongs, and a free family trail called “Architecture Explorers”.

There’s also a Hip Hop Half Term free dance event on 20 February, and a Toasty Tots toddler event on 13 February.

Plus there’s paid events for under £10, like access to the indoor Replay playground for £7.50.

Most free events do not require pre-booking, but to book a ticketed event or see all of the events on offer, head to the Imagine Festival website.

Animal Adventures and Paddington Bear at Cardiff Castle, Wales

On the 16 and 17 of February, Cardiff Castle are running an Animal Adventures event to kick off half term.

This educational event allows kids of all ages to get up close to unique creatures including snakes and insects, whilst learning facts all about the species.

There’s also a special Paddington Bear statue at the castle up until September 2026, which is one of 23 unique sculptures that have popped up across the UK.

Admission tickets to Animal Adventures cost just £7.50. Slots are available between 10:15 and 16:30 and must be booked online on the Cardiff Castle website.

Horsey Half Term at Windsor Castle, Berkshire

If you receive Universal Credit, you can enjoy £1 entry to Windsor Castle this February half term – and take part in a creative celebration of all things equine.

Between the 14 – 22 February, Windsor Castle are hosting horse-themed arts and crafts events to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Horse.

Windsor Castle is already a top attraction for horse lovers, being home to Royal Mews that house the Royal Family‘s horses when riding at Windsor, as well as many ornate carriages.

To celebrate the year of the fire horse, arts and crafts activities will be available in the castle’s Learning Centre. You can also pick up a free children’s trail sheet to fill in during your visit.

There’s even a giant colourful Dream Horse sculpture on display, made of recycled materials from racecourses.

The £1 entry tickets are available for those who receive Universal Credit and other named benefits, which you can check online.

Moomin Trail and castle crafts at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

Fans of Moominvalley can enjoy a magical trail through Bodiam Castle this February half term.

Start by grabbing a Moomin trail sheet, then wander through a fairy-tale path littered with characters, games and activities.

The trail takes place inside the castle itself, so no need to worry about dressing for the outdoors.

The trail itself costs just £2 to take part in, however you must also have admission tickets to the castle.

There’s also arts and crafts activities on offer this half term, such as decorating your own wooden knight’s shield or painting a ceramic dragon flowerpot.

If taking part in the arts and crafts, the items available to decorate cost between £2 – £5.

The Moomin trail is open until 8 March, whilst arts and crafts are available between 14 – 22 February.

Admission to Bodiam Castle is discounted for families. A family ticket for one adult and three children costs just £18 (£4.50pp). Under fives go free.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar trail at Osterley Gardens, Middlesex

Fans young and old of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar will enjoy this themed trail through the stately gardens of Osterley in Middlesex.

The story of the endlessly hungry creature is bought to life through educational activities, plus a trail accessible via paper sheet or QR code.

The trail itself is free to take part in, although you must have admission tickets to Osterley Gardens. It is recommended for ages three to six.

Plus to keep with the insect theme, there’s also a Zoolab Animal Encounter event, where you can meet with millipedes, spiders and more.

Admission to the gardens costs £10 for adults and £5 for children, with under fives going free.

Seven Stories, Newcastle

Seven Stories is an attraction and National Centre for Children’s Books, which is free to enter and full of exciting exhibitions and galleries.

Throughout February, families will be able to visit the free Elmer and Friends exhibition, which centres around the colourful patchwork elephant.

There is also a free exhibition on Mog, the Forgetful Cat which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Judith Kerr.

During the February half term, the centre will also be running daily story-time sessions every hour from 10:30am.

The sessions cost an additional £3.50 per child with adults sitting in for free, however the 3:30pm story time sessions are always free.

The story times are best suited to children under eight, and should be booked in advance on the Seven Stories website.

London Museum Docklands: Viking exhibition

There’s a completely free Viking-themed exhibition running from 14 – 20 February at the London Museum Docklands.

Kids can decorate a Viking shield biscuit, sit in on storytelling sessions, and create digital designs on a tablet – plus there’s a sensory play area for babies, too.

There’s also arts and crafts available such as making Viking brooches and moulding your own Roman pot.

Plus the rest of the main galleries and exhibitions are free and open to all, and include immersive Victorian streets and a unique mud-larking zone.

Whilst all of the activities are free, some require booking in advance online.

Harewood House Family Takeover, West Yorkshire

From 16 – 22 February 2026, Harewood House in West Yorkshire is undergoing the House Family Takeover.

This event will see the house filled with colourful, interactive play zones and historical characters to immerse you in Harewood’s history.

Other activities taking place include Welly Walks and relaxed arts and crafts sessions for SEND children.

The Family Takeover events are included in the cost of your day ticket, which should be purchased online in advance.

A family ticket for two adults and two children starts at £33, costing just £8.25pp to enter. However prices can vary depending on the date you choose to visit.

Leeds Storytelling Festival

Running from 14 February – 8 March 2026, the Leeds Storytelling Festival will take over the city for three weeks of theatre, readings, workshops and family trails.

One of the events taking place during the festival is the CBeebies Read and Rave at Leeds Central Library, a free event recommended for families with children under five.

Other fun options include Story Explorers face painting and crafts, and a family-friendly Ask an Astronaut Q&A with NASA’s Meganne Christian.

Most of the events at the festival are free, however you should check online if the events you want to attend need to be pre-booked.

Horniman Museum: Octonauts Trail and Underwater Adventures, London

Starting on February 13 and running all the way through until November, you can take part in a brand new exhibition at the Horniman Museum.

Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures is a new interactive exhibition which includes climbing aboard a submarine and crawling through shipwrecks.

There’s plenty of interactive and hands-on elements to this underwater adventure, plus there’s Octonauts themed activities and fun facts along the way, too.

Adult tickets cost £9.80 and children’s cost £7. A family ticket for four costs £27, or if you’re receiving Universal Credit you can enter for just £2. Book in advance online.

Colne Valley Railway, Essex

For a cheap half term activity that train-lovers will enjoy, head to Colney Valley Railway in Essex.

On the 15, 18 and 21 February 2026, the railway are offering the Kids for a Quid scheme, where families can enjoy free parking and unlimited train rides on a heritage steam train – with kids tickets for just £1.

The steam and diesel railway is a family and dog-friendly attraction close to Sible Hedingham in Essex.

Hop aboard a restored railway coach or wagon and enjoy views of the Essex countryside. The round trip takes about 15 minutes, with trains running every 30 minutes.

All children are given an activity sheet upon arrival, plus there’s also a large model railway on site, as well as a cafe with cosy seating and hot food.

A family ticket for two adults and three children usually costs £33.00, working out at £6.60 each.

But with the Kids for a Quid offer you’ll get it even cheaper, with the same family visit costing just £27, or £5.40 each.

To get the offer, head to the Railway’s website to pre-book and enter the code ‘KIDQUID26’.

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire

The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu is running a “Hands-on History” event this February half term.

From the 14 – 22nd of February, families can follow an immersive, card-collecting trail through the museum, stopping to jump into plenty of fun tasks.

Activities along the way include getting hands-on with motoring mechanics in Jack Tucker’s Garage, as well as hopping aboard a replica 1912 London bus and quizzing the driver on all things transport.

There’s also plenty more to see here, like a limited-time collaboration with Disney and Pixar’s Cars until April 12.

Although adult tickets cost £27 and kids cost £16.65 (0 – three go free), there is a trick to make visiting the museum cheaper.

If you add on Gift Aid to your ticket when booking online (an extra 25%), you’ll receive a free annual pass to the National Motor Museum.

This means that after paying for your initial entry, you can return as many times as you want throughout the year for free – which can easily work out at under £10 per visit if you make the most of your pass!

ODEON and Vue discounted cinema tickets, nationwide

Vue Cinemas‘ Mighty Mornings deal offers cinema tickets for just £2.49 for children aged four to eleven, plus the same reduced rate applies to the adults accompanying them.

Mighty Mornings takes place every day during the school holidays from 10am, and offers a range of family-friendly films to pick from that all ages will enjoy.

Alternatively, ODEON offer ODEON Kids screenings with tickets from just £1.

ODEON Kids screenings run every day during the school holidays, however availability depends on your chosen cinema location and can be checked online.

Films to look forward to in the 2026 February half term include Sony Pictures’ GOAT and Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up.

DID you know the first package holiday was actually in the UK, nearly 200 years ago?

My boys aged 13, 11 and six are all big steam train fans and we’ve had some amazing days out on heritage railways around the country. 

But what we didn’t realise riding the rails here in the Midlands, is that we were retracing a route that replicates the one chosen by package holiday pioneer Thomas Cook for his first ever excursion, some 185 years ago.

The stretch of track he used became so popular in Victorian times that a new line was eventually built to get passengers about, and you can still board heritage trains on the Great Central Railway today.

Nowadays, holidays offered by tour operators are all about flying abroad, fun in the sun and food and drink on tap.

But back then, a train trip between Leicester and Loughborough launched the concept of paying once and having all your needs met.

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About 500 passengers paid a shilling each for the trip, which included travel, refreshments and entertainment from a brass band.

Booze was a no-no as Thomas Cook and his first tourists were part of the temperance movement – it’s safe to say that things have moved on a bit since that first package holiday in 1841…

One thing that remains the same is that the Great Central Railway still offers a great family-friendly day out, with steam and diesel trains running on its eight-mile line between Leicester North and Loughborough.

If you’re looking for something to do over February halfterm, it’s the perfect option as it’s fantastic fun in all weathers and for all generations.

It’s lovely getting all cosy inside an old-fashioned carriage, enjoying the great British countryside passing by your window.

Some of our best trips have actually been on rainy days as the train tracks run alongside fields, woodland and even Swithland Reservoir so there is lots of wildlife to spot, without getting wet.

There are several old stations en route where you can hop on and off to enjoy kids’ activities, model railways, cafes and lots of heritage touches that bring the golden age of rail travel back to life.

Kids can ride for a quid at some points throughout the year and last year there was also a cut-price ticket for locals, so if you time your visit right or live nearby, you can bag a bargain day out.

There’s a couple of things you’ll want to bear in mind if you do decide to head to the Great Central Railway.

It’s not open every day so check out the website to find which trains are running when and for ticket prices, which can change depending on the season and what’s on offer.

There are special events throughout the year, including character appearances from family favourites like Paw Patrol or the Snowman.

Parking at Loughborough is on the road outside the station, so it can be tricky to find a space on busy days.

We usually head to Quorn to catch the train up and down the line from there, as it’s got a big car park and often has kids activities in its marquee. The other two stations also have parking.

There’s a small branch line to Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre, which only occasionally has trains running on it.

But if you can time your visit to coincide with the branch line being open, the heritage centre itself is well worth a visit, with a playground, den-building, woodland trails, a narrow gauge railway where you can take a short ride and a model train track where visitors can have a go at the controls for Thomas the Tank Engine or one of his friends.

It’s exciting times for the Great Central Railway, which is in the middle of a multimillion pound project to reconnect two stretches of track.

passengers will be able to travel on heritage trains for 18 miles between Nottingham and Leicester North for the first time since the line was axed in the 1960s and a small part of the track was built over.

So it’s full steam ahead for this half term and beyond.

SNOOP Dogg’s 11-month-old granddaughter has tragically died – as daughter Cori Broadus says ‘I lost the love of my life’.

Cori revealed the news that her daughter Codi Dreaux died on Monday, just 20 days after her release from the NICU.

Cori had welcomed Codi – her first child with photographer fiance Wayne Duece – in February last year.

But Codi was born three months prematurely, and spent the first months of her life in the NICU before being discharged at the beginning of January.

Cori, 26, had excitedly announced “She’s home” on January 6 in an Instagram post, but now she has shared the devastating news that Cori has passed away.

She posted a black and white picture of her holding her baby daughter as she looked down and smiled at her.

Alongside it she wrote: “Monday, I lost the love of my life. My Codi.”

She also reshared her post about Codi coming home and wrote: “20 days later?! dawg im sick.”

Wayne also shared a post to his Instagram Stories on Saturday, which showed Codi gazing up at him as he cradled her.

He wrote: “I been the saddest since u left me Codi Dreaux. But I know u at peace. Daddy will always love you.”

Meanwhile, one of Codi’s nurses also shared a heartbreaking post, which Cori reposted.

It showed a black and white video of a crib and mobile hanging over it, with the caption: “I been sad for 6 days straight. Being a nurse has its ups and downs and this is the biggest down I ever experienced.

“It was such a pleasure being mybabygirls nurse. I gave her one last bath told her I loved her and didn’t even know I was getting her ready for Heaven.”

Cori is the youngest of Snoop’s three daughters with his wife of 28 years, Shante Broadus.

She was diagnosed with Lupus when she was six, and suffered a stroke in early 2024, which made her pregnancy high risk.

She gave birth to Codi when she was just 25 weeks along, but when Codi was six months old and in the NICU, she told Us Weekly her baby girl was “feisty”.

She said: “Codi just has so much character. The doctors and nurses always tell me: ‘Your baby got her mind. She’s smart. She’s alert.

“‘She knows what’s going on. She can hear. She can see. Yeah, the circumstances are not what you thought they would be, but it could be worse.’

“That girl is just a sweet little firecracker.”

NINETIES classic Cotton Eye Joe blasts out of the speakers as my kids Poppy, six, and Raffy, four, attempt their first ever ski tricks on the “Indian piste”, gliding past cartoon figures and over obstacles like they’ve been skiing for years.

In fact, it’s only their second day. 

And I’ve got Stacey Solomon to thank for this golden memory.

It’s been nine years since I last wore a pair of skis, but watching Stacey and her gang hitting the mountains in BBC1’s Stacey & Joe made me crave a family ski experience.

So we’re on a four-night break with Ski Weekends, in the buzzing French village of Les Gets.

Chalet Girl

Newly spruced-up Chalet Marjorie, with its alpine decor, makes for a brilliant base, just five minutes’ walk from the ski lifts and a 70-minute drive from Geneva airport.

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With table football, a dinky hammam and a large hot tub, we have everything we need post-ski.

The kids share a bunk-bed room, husband Andy and I cosy up in a double, and there’s a piping-hot power shower for our aching muscles.

Each afternoon, showstopper cakes baked by sous-chef Emily welcome us home, while chef Markus rustles up an early kids’ tea, before presenting three courses of treats such as cheesy tartiflette, duck à l’orange and brioche pud for the grown-ups.

Conversation (and wine) flow between guests – this chalet sleeps up to 42 – and sharing stories of skiing triumphs and life’s adversities at the end of the day is special.

We hire boots and skis from Désiré Sport, just seconds from the gondola.

Staff here help the children each morning with huge smiles, and welcome us back each evening with mulled wine.

After two lessons with the lovely (and incredibly patient) Guglielmo, an Italian ski instructor from Maison Sport, the kids are confident enough to join us even higher up the mountain.

Riding the chairlift up above the clouds in prep to race down a stunning tree-lined run together, my heart swells with pride.

These children, who are usually first to complain back home that their legs are tired or that they’re cold, are lapping up every moment in this incredible landscape.

But while Les Gets is part of the mega Portes du Soleil ski area – home to more than 600km of pistes – we’re very happy to take things easy, grabbing cream-laden hot chocolates, £4.50, from Télébar du Mont Blanc, and spending afternoons enjoying the snow in so many other ways.

Sister Sledge

Handily, L’Aprèski Bar sits at the bottom of the slopes and serves up a stonkingly good soundtrack and cracking cocktails next to one of the resort’s sledging spots.

So, as Poppy and Raffy race each other down on sledges borrowed from the chalet, Andy and I toast them with an Aperol Spritz, £10.50 (Bellevue-lesgets.com).

Another afternoon, we stop by the 1.1km-long 4 Season Alpine Coaster, which can hit speeds of almost 25mph.

Opened less than two years ago, it’s ridiculously good fun and the kids beg to ride it again immediately.

Rides cost £8 per sledge (Lesgets.com).

Lungs full of alpine air and kids full of a new kind of confidence, we’ve all adored exploring the mountain and celebrating each other’s wins.

Give me family adventures in Mother Nature’s playground over a theme park any day.

AH, Ibiza. Those heady days of raving until dawn, no kids, and a lot of cocktails.

Take. Me. Back.

Well actually, two kids, slightly less dancing and a few less Espresso Martinis later, Tui might just have done it.

We’d tried once before, when our daughters were three and six, with less success, but with Lyla and Martha now 10 and 12, could we have finally hit the sweet spot?

Tui’s Holiday Village Seaview Ibiza is designed for kids, there’s no doubt about it.

With the busiest entertainment, sports and club programme I’ve ever come across, there’s literally about one hour in the day (after breakfast, before 10am) that they’re not catered for.

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Along with an onsite water park, three pools, snooker tables, an aerial walk, table tennis, arcades, paddle boarding and kayaking, there are also kids’ clubs, and stage, swimming and football academies.

There’s plenty of daytime fun and free games around the resort, too.

And all that is before an entire evening of child-friendly entertainment that begins as the pools close at 6pm.

In fact, it’s so busy, there’s a whole app devoted to the hotel, where you can book slots in advance for anything and everything your children could want to do on holiday.

As you squinted in the sunshine from your sunlounger (which, happily, the resort doesn’t let you reserve with your towel until after 8am) it was almost like watching a group of excitable Oompa Loompas rushing around Willy Wonka’s factory.

But instead of chocolate, they were squealing about the variety of fun they could have.

Although, it’s worth pointing out that as part of the all-inclusive, you can help yourself to free ice creams and afternoon cakes — so it pretty much is like Wonka’s factory.

Children zoomed around the resort, which is like a mini city — and because it felt so safe, my girls could dash between pools and the snack bar unaccompanied, while my husband David and I watched from the loungers.

We had to accompany the girls to the waterpark until we decided that as they were such good swimmers, and there were almost as many lifeguards as kids, we didn’t need to.

‘But what about the adults?’ I selfishly asked myself as we arrived, and I saw what the girls had in store.

Well, that’s exactly where Tui has played its trump card.

Favourite nights ever

Research conducted last year found that 60 per cent of parents miss their child-free clubbing days (like me) and regularly relive them with family kitchen discos (yes I do).

Inspired by this, Holiday Villages called on the youngest ever DJ duo — the brilliantly named Half Punk — to grace the island and give families enjoying their first summer holiday weekend a night to remember.

When I heard that the pair were 12 and 10, I wondered if they were actually going to DJ or just play at it.

But lo and behold. To mark 25 years since their namesakes Daft Punk released One More Time, the two properly mixed.

I’m not sure the hordes of children standing staring at the front fully embraced the old-school house music blaring out by the two helmeted youngsters — but the parents certainly did.

Eyes shut in ecstasy and arms were held aloft as confetti cannons blasted, glow sticks shimmered and the bass speakers reverberated around the resort.

You could instantly spot the old ravers who had allowed themselves to be taken back to those carefree days of thumping tunes and dancing like no one was watching.

And then after, a silent disco got all the youngsters involved again — wide-eyed at the adults belting out chart-toppers and throwing shapes like loons.

I’m not sure there’s anything better than properly dancing with your children on a dancefloor — and as we finally sank into our beds, we all decided it had been one of our favourite nights abroad ever.

And don’t think the fun stopped there. We also managed to get up the energy for a Neon Nights disco and an Ibiza Sunset dance while we were there.

The resort is right next to the beautiful sandy Port Des Torrent beach — with ­pedalos for hire and tavernas to relax in while watching the fabulous Ibiza sunsets.

We were lucky enough to get invited on a Meet The Sea boat trip, which aims to educate kids about the oceans.

Having sailed out to just off an uninhabited island, you snorkel with a marine specialist, who teaches you why the sea is nothing to be scared of.

He’ll even pick up sea anemones and cucumbers from the sea bed and let you hold them, while back on board the chef cooks paella. It’s a truly magical experience.

Plus, you’re just across the bay from San Antonio, so if you do feel the urge for nightclubs, you’re literally a bus ride away.

The hotel’s buffet restaurant was also ­perfect for the pickiest of eaters, with every kind of food a child could possibly ask for, and theme nights as well, so it didn’t get too samey.

You also get two free meals per week at the speciality restaurants, with Italian, American and grill options.

And as for the reps, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone more smiley and enthusiastic, even as they did the dance routine to Bruno Mars’ APT for the 19th time that day.

Like Butlins on steroids, I knew Tui had hit its mark when our eldest daughter, without any word of a lie, turned to me and said: “This is better than the Maldives.”

TAKING that dream trip to the white sand beaches of Florida, Africa or the Caribbean may seem out of reach – but dream trips don’t have to cost the world.

Don’t believe us? We’ve dug deep to find some of the flashiest long haul holiday deals around which are so cheap you’d be forgiven for presuming you’re jetting much closer to home – including Mexico, Jamaica and even Thailand.

We’ve scoured holiday company sites to find some of the cheapest long haul holidays out there – all of which are seven nights and include your flights in the price.

So whether you want to sip from a fresh coconut on the beaches of Mexico, or spend the week in a circus-themed hotel in Las Vegas, these are some of the hottest deals you can snag for some long-haul sun.

Florida, USA – £479pp (kids stay free)

The Ramada By Wyndham Hotel & Water Park is heaven for families – a colourful holiday resort with its own waterpark, right in the heart of Florida.

There’s 180 comfortable rooms, including family-sized options – plus each comes with its own rainfall shower.

There’s loungers and a hot tub for relaxation time, plus you’ve got your pick of waterslides and a lazy river to drift along in, too.

Kissimmee sits south of Orlando, and the city is only a 25-minute drive to Walt Disney World and a 30-minute drive to Universal Orlando Resort.

And to top it all off, this hotel offers FREE child stays for ages 0 – 17.

Loveholidays offer seven nights’ room-only stay for £479pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Makadi Bay, Egypt – £403pp

Serenity Alma Resort is easily spotted from the coastline of Makadi Bay, with its giant castle structure overlooking a waterpark and theme park.

The hotel’s attached theme park, Luna Park, is complete with dodgems, a merry-go-round and a kids’ coaster – meaning you won’t have to leave the resort for a fun-filled day out.

Choose to dine in the hotel’s Italian, Mexican, Moroccan, Turkish, Asian or Indian à la carte restaurants – or head to the main restaurant for a classic buffet dinner.

Add two large pools and a private beach into the mix, and this castle hotel really starts to feel like a fairy tale come true.

The resort is based in Makadi Bay, Egypt, where you can snorkel the bright reefs of the Red Sea, or take a trip out to Makadi Water World.

First Choice offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay for £403pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – £449pp

You could spend the week in a luxurious 5-star adults-only hotel in Dubai for just £449pp.

The Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences boasts an on-site bowling alley, basketball court, a fully-equipped gym, plus a steam bath and sauna to retire to.

But perhaps the best feature of this hotel is its large outdoor pool facing the glimmering city skyline.

Accommodation comes as spacious pink and gold apartments with kitchenettes, flatscreen TVs and breathtaking views over the city skyline or vast blue creek.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for just £449pp, including return flights from London Stansted.

Las Vegas, USA – £509pp

Circus Circus in Las Vegas is more than a hotel – it’s a casino and theme park, too.

Step inside the Big Top, and you’ll find a stage with circus acts, an arcade and roller coaster rides, as well as two pools and a splash park.

The best rides at this hotel include the Canyon Blaster, with the world’s only indoor double loop, and a ride simply named “Chaos” which is just as unpredictable as it sounds.

Plus this hotel is set smack bang on the Las Vegas strip, right in the middle of the action.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £509pp, including return flights from London Heathrow.

Tululm, Mexico – £429pp

Mexico’s Tulum is a blissful coastal town on the Caribbean Coast, with some of the best beaches in Mexico.

Spots such as Paradise Beach and Playa Santa Fe almost don’t look real, with vibrant green palms overlooking turquoise waters and sugar-white sand.

Plus beaches such as Playa Pescadores and Playa Ruinas are right by Mayan ruins and archaeological sites, so you can combine your historical sightseeing with swimming and sunbathing, all in one day.

The Oyo Hotel Palma Real is a budget-friendly base that’s only a 25-minute drive from the beach and the fascinating Mayan Ruins.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £429pp, including return flights from Birmingham.

Bangkok, Thailand – £509pp

Visiting Thailand just became a whole lot cheaper, with this package hotel and flights deal costing just £509pp with Loveholidays.

This city blends world-class nightlife with ornate temples and peaceful manicured parks.

Spend your days strolling or boating down Thailand’s “River of Kings”, the Chao Phraya River, to see remarkable temples such as Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.

As the sun sets, head towards Sukhumvit for trendy rooftop bars and street food at the cosy mini food market Soi 38.

Plus, staying at the King One Suvarnabhumi gives you a budget-friendly base to return to with air-conditioned rooms and spacious beds.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £509pp, including return flights from London Heathrow.

Chicago, USA – £449pp

Home of the world’s first skyscraper, house music, and of course the deep dish pizza – you’ll find a real slice of Americana in Chicago.

Top sights here include the famous “bean” of Milennium Park (or the Cloud Gate sculpture) and the Centennial Wheel, which comes with views over the city and Lake Michigan.

A stay at the four-star Chicago Hotel Collection – Magnificent Mile doesn’t disappoint, with rooftop igloo seating and a 24-hour gym.

Here you’re only steps away from shopping on State Street, and the mall located inside of a skyscraper – Water Tower Place.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £449pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Bavaro, Dominican Republic – £539pp

The Dominican Republic’s Bavaro is a 10-mile strip of beach lined with action-packed resorts and luxurious hotels.

Facing the calm, crystal waters of the Caribbean Sea, Hotel Capriccio Mare has the exterior of a bright white island villa.

The hotel’s position on Bavaro’s coastline is perfect for exploring the popular resort town of Punta Cana.

Whether its strolling the sands to grab a fresh coconut with a straw, or venturing out on a catamaran trip to Saona Island, this dreamy Caribbean resort is not one to miss.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £539pp, including return flights from Manchester.

Hurghada, Egypt – £397pp

Egypt‘s Hurghada sees year-round sun and temperatures reaching the mid-20s during British winter time.

To make the most of the sunny weather, there’s beaches like the trendy El Gouna and the peaceful Mahmya Beach to laze out on.

And for the adventurous type, there’s desert safaris and snorkelling on offer – plus Makadi Water World always keeps kids happy.

The Palm Inn hotel is just a 5-minute walk to the closest beach, where there’s kite-surfing and boat trips available.

First Choice offer a 7-night stay with breakfast at the Palm Inn Hotel for £397pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Orlando, Florida, USA – £469pp

Spending a week in Orlando with flights and accommodation included for under £500pp is quite the steal.

Especially when the hotel is just steps from Florida Mall and only 14 minutes’ drive from Disney World.

The Garnet Inn & Suites, Orlando is a clean and conveniently-located place to stay, with its own palm-lined pool and a tasty Colombian grill restaurant right next door.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay with breakfast for £469pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Negril, Jamaica – £609pp

The “Capital of Casual” of Negril, Jamaica sits at on the western tip of the paradisaical island.

Famously frequented by the likes of Bob Marley and The Rolling Stones, this easy-going resort town makes for an idyllic escape.

Here you’ll find the Seven Mile Beach, where visitors roam the sands via horseback and explore the seas by snorkel.

There are day-trip opportunities to swim through the tunnels of Joseph’s Cave, plus daytime party cruises to let loose out on the water.

Plus a stay at Samsara on the Cliffs situates you right by beachfront smoothie stalls and reggae bars.

On the Beach offer a 7-night room-only stay for £830pp, including return flights from Manchester.

Ocean City, Maryland, USA – £469pp (kids stay free)

This beachfront mega resort in USA‘s Maryland boasts plenty of exciting activities, with outdoor and indoor options perfect for all weather.

The Hilton Garden Inn Ocean City Oceanfront contains a games room, casino, fitness studios and more.

Outdoors, there’s sports courts as well as sailing and jet-ski options.

A 2-minute walk brings you to Ocean City Boardwalk, where you’ll find an American take on a seaside promenade with food stalls and carnival rides.

There’s also a beach volleyball courts, a skate park and tandem bikes available to stay active whilst making the most of Maryland’s coast.

Plus here you can bring up to two children aged 18 and under to stay for free, when sharing a family room.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £469pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Cancun, Mexico – £449pp

Cancun is a classic long haul holiday destination, famous for its blend of blissful beaches and fascinating historical sites.

One of the most popular beaches is Playa Langosta, which has shallow waters perfect for families to wade into.

Playa Tortugas is a livelier option, with plenty of activities like snorkelling and bungee jumping available.

Plus you can tick off one of the New Seven Wonders of the World whilst you’re there, and take a day’s excursion to visit Chichen Itza.

A stay at the Departamentos Villas Capdeviel gives you a roomy apartment to return to after a day’s exploring.

First Choice offer a 7-night room-only stay for £449pp, including return flights from Birmingham.

New Jersey, USA – £479pp (kids stay free)

New York‘s neighbour state New Jersey has plenty to see and do across its near-130 miles.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk is the oldest and longest oceanfront boardwalk in the world – and you’ll find it dotted with everything from waterparks to world-renowned casinos.

Top attractions to stop at along the way include the Steel Pier Amusement Park and stopping to admire the grand Absecon Lighthouse.

Over in Cape May you’ll find one of the state’s prettiest seaside resorts, where romantic streets are lined with giant Victorian houses, each brightly painted and decorated with picket fence-white balconies.

The Travelodge by Wyndham Absecon Atlantic City is a comfortable option, close to top Atlantic City casinos including Golden Nugget and Borgada.

Or if you’re planning a more family-oriented trip, kids can stay for free (applies to up to two children under 18).

Plus it’s only one-and-a-half-hour’s drive away from New York City if you’re looking to tick off a visit to the Big Apple on your trip to the states.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night room-only stay for £479pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

The Gambia – £589pp

The Gambia offers incredible value stays in stunning coastal landscapes.

With dry, bright days and temperatures averaging 32°C during British winter, this escape is made even better by the zero-hour time difference.

Whether you want to kayak your way through mangroves or lounge on the sand, this region caters to both adventurers and sun-seekers.

Baboon Islands is a must-visit to spot wildlife including chimpanzees, hippos and crocodiles.

Or take a trip to Kololi for a buzzing resort atmosphere filled with clubs, traditional music, and beachside barbecues.

First Choice offer a 7-night stay with breakfast for £589pp, including return flights from Manchester.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt – £660pp (kids stay free)

The Coral Sea Aqua Club is home to a waterpark, wave pool, lazy river and plenty more to splash about in to cool off from the Egyptian heat.

And when you’re not spending time zipping down waterslides or lounging by the two giant pools, there’s an action-packed entertainment programme to make the most of.

Whether you spend your nights dancing at the mini discos and singing along to live music, or heading out to explore the glowing markets of nearby El-Khan – you’ll be spoilt for choice with things to do.

Plus this hotel is part of TUI‘s Free Kid’s Place offer, where one free kid’s place is available per two paying adults at select resorts.

TUI offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay for £660pp, including return flights from London Gatwick.

Prices correct at the time of writing.

BEFORE making his most ambitious album Cosmic Opera Act I, Labrinth reached a crossroads: Was he chasing fame or authenticity?

He says: “Am I on a journey to be famous or am I on another journey where creative fulfilment doesn’t always mean being super-successful?”

The album, he explains, came from choosing the latter — and finally being at peace with that decision.

Labrinth has had hits and won major awards since being discovered and signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco label in 2010.

I thought it was weird that I wasn’t obsessed with awards and accolades, and I questioned if I was in the right industry

Labrinth

These include MOBO and Brit Awards for collaborations with Tinie Tempah, an Ivor Novello, an Emmy for his Euphoria soundtrack, alongside Grammy nominations for work with The Weeknd, Beyonce and Billie Eilish.

Chatting on a video call from a studio in LA, the singer and producer says: “There were moments in my career where I found myself more focused on novelty and gold.

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“There are artists who want to be at the Grammys in three years — that’s their focus. They want to be successful and famous within a certain time and organise all of that in their head.

“For me, I was more focused on the music than the fame. I’d be obsessed with a guitar sounding like a Chuck Berry record and I started to question if I was in the right place. Should I be chasing success?

“I thought it was weird that I wasn’t obsessed with awards and accolades, and I questioned if I was in the right industry.”

On his recent single, the hip-hop confessional Implosion, Labrinth says: “I was losing my mind. It was ripping away from my ego.

“When you taste success, it’s an addictive drug, and you don’t know you’re obsessed. It’s chasing dopamine. You don’t know you’re addicted until you try to pull away.

“If you need success to be validated or to be fulfilled, then there’s something wrong. And that’s where the implosion for me was. I needed to evolve beyond these urges and needs. Then I got an ADHD diagnosis and everything made sense.”

That was two years ago, when the artist born Timothy McKenzie finally got an answer that explained his behaviour.

He says: “I was lucky and went to see a doctor in the US.

“It can take months, even years, to get answers. I went to see Dr Amen, who is a celebrity doctor, and he did a scan of my brain.

“He could literally point things out like where I’d hit my head when I was ten. He did a real deep dive into how my brain works. And after that, it allowed me to be a lot more forgiving with myself.”

The idea for Cosmic Opera Act I came from the inner turmoil Labrinth had experienced with his mental health in the entertainment business while trying to define his own success plus his love for films like Star Wars.

“I still haven’t been to an opera — I know that sounds insane,” he says with a laugh.

“The opera is connected to drama and deep emotion.

“Then the cosmic part was after reading an article which said there are as many connections in our brain as there are stars in our universe.

“So that was the perspective of the title — with mental health the subject.

“I’ve always been a fan of opera from a distance, and I’ve always enjoyed the idea of exploring it.

“Also, I grew up with films from the Eighties like Indiana Jones and Star Wars. Those film scores stuck in my mind and I wanted to make an album that incorporated and explored their sound.

“Of course, me working in film and TV pushed me further into that direction.”

I wrote that song to show how I had evolved from the pain and confusion about my dad. I looked at myself as being a mini Luke Skywalker coming out of his demons

Labrinth

Labrinth’s love of Star Wars was also the inspiration behind one of the many standout songs on the album, S.W.M.F. (Star Wars Motherf***er), the singer feeling at peace with his demons.

It was a battle that helped him agree to soundtracking the Christmas John Lewis advert, a remake of 1990 rave classic Where Love Lives with original vocalist Alison Limerick.

“The John Lewis song was the finish line of dealing with demons for me — which was my relationship with my father.

“The John Lewis storyline was about a father and son’s relationship, so me doing the ad was like me saying, ‘Hey, Dad, I get it’.”

He adds: “Our relationship wasn’t great. My dad, who has passed, was violent and not present. He’d had a horrible childhood with an extremely violent stepfather, and that affected the way he was a father to me.

“I saw him occasionally. He was a bit of a ladies’ man, and I don’t think he knew how to be present enough for me as a kid. He didn’t do stuff like taking me to the park or giving me advice.

“Also, he was violent with me, trying to knock me for six when I was very young.

“So I had to face those demons and it made me think about my own anger or frustration. But when I look back, I feel pity for him, because he didn’t have the tools that I have today.

“It was the same with ADHD — I wanted to understand my brain and the way it works, so that I could be the best father I can be to my three young kids. And, in that journey, it made me think of my dad compared to my relationship with my kids and the moments they needed me — because I never had that.

“So I wrote that song to show how I had evolved from the pain and confusion about my dad. I looked at myself as being a mini Luke Skywalker coming out of his demons.”

God Spoke is a special gospel-influenced track inspired by Labrinth’s struggles with religion.

He says: “I grew up very religious. My grandad is a reverend and my mum is a devout Christian. She came over for Christmas to be with her grandkids, and we had loads of talks about religion.

I had a really bad temper. I would be kicked out of class all the time and I’d end up in the music room

Labrinth

“I’m spiritual, but I don’t follow a practice. I have all the respect for those who do follow a religion but I see God as unlimited and infinite and in a lot more places than a room or a structure — that’s why, to me, it’s bigger than one religion or one place.

“So God Spoke is like a homage to my grandad. When I was a kid, a lot of people would come to church for redemption. So I wrote that I’m at the end of being the old me, and I’m ready to grow and morph into the new me.”

Burn out

Labrinth says music was his saviour as a child and he would spend hours making music after being excluded.

“I got in a lot of trouble at school,” he says.

“I had a really bad temper. I would be kicked out of class all the time and I’d end up in the music room.

“Eventually it got to the point where I would get in trouble purposely, just so I could go there, because it was the easiest place for me to be, and the most peaceful.”

Labrinth says there is still not enough help with artists and their mental health in the entertainment industry.

He says: “RSD — Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria — is associated with ADHD and there are many artists in the music industry with this.

“Artists don’t learn how to manage their careers or their mental health. When they get a deal, they can burn out because they don’t have the tools to support the way their brain works.

“A lot of artists can end up in drug abuse, because they don’t have the skills to deal with a song not working.

“There isn’t a support system in the music industry — and it’s needed.”

In April Labrinth will take Cosmic Opera Act I to Coachella festival in California.

He says: “I am still working on how that looks, because it’s not cheap to do what is on the record. But I have big ideas and big visions for how I want to present the music and what I want to explore sonically.”

The Hackney-born star last played the festival in 2023 and was the talk of the weekend, with surprise guests Billie Eilish and Zendaya — in her first live show in over seven years, performing I’m Tired and All For Us from Euphoria on the second weekend.

“Zendaya was not planned at all,” says Labrinth. “Billie was the first week but Zendaya, who was on a film set, said she couldn’t make it.

“Then she called me to say she was going to Vegas to watch Usher and would be passing by. So it was literally last minute.”

Labrinth is looking forward to working on the score for Euphoria season three because Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has joined the show’s production team.

He says: “The show is special because it speaks to the language of this era. That’s what inspired me.

“And this time, having Hans Zimmer involved — an experienced genius — makes a difference. I’ve always wanted to work with him, so this is my chance to do so.

If I could work with anyone next I’d say David Attenborough

Labrinth

“Gladiator was the film that got me on to Hans, and True Romance is another I love.

“He and Beyonce picked my song [Spirit] for Lion King so then I was like, ‘Well, I need to meet this guy’. It seems like life is trying to pull us together.”

Labrinth has learned a lot from working with superstars.

He says: “Beyonce has been a fan for a long time, because she’s checked out a lot of my records. She’s very kind, and treats people with respect, and is a real professional.

“Abel [The Weeknd] was like an animal in the studio. He knows what he wants and then it goes crazy when he releases something.

“If I could work with anyone next I’d say David Attenborough. I know he’s not a musician, but I love his voice and I’ve always wanted to put him on a record. Morgan Freeman and him — their voices are musical instruments to me.

“But next I’m in London working with Skepta. The UK has some special artists and I’m dying to get over there to perform.”

LABRINTH Cosmic Opera Act I

★★★★☆

FROM playing music out loud to putting your feet on the seats – travelling by train in the UK can be an infuriating experience.

But I’ve found a new frustrating trend – reserved carriages for school groups.

As someone who regularly commutes to London by train, I already have the daily battle of finding a seat, especially one with a table.

But I’ve noticed a recent surge in entire carriages being booked by teachers ahead of taking entire classes into London for the day.

According to Southeastern: “If your group is at least 30 people, we can look into reserving a carriage for you, although it may not always be possible during busier periods.

“Reserved carriages will generally be at the rear of a train, and will be marked with labels in the windows and on the doors stating that the carriage is reserved for your group.

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“There isn’t a charge for reserving a carriage.”

While this may sound grumpy at first – after all, who wants to try and find 30 seats for school kids – my complaint comes with both the timing and space.

My train is regularly a four-carriage train until later in the journey.

Not only that, but as a commuter train, seats cannot be reserved until other train operators, so most seats are find-as-you-get-on.

So with a whole carriage taken up by a school, it ends up making these other busy carriages already a lot more chaotic.

A poor train conductor had the awkward task of kicking everyone already sitting in the carriage before the reserved time out onto the platform as they waited for an attachment

Not only that, but many of them are being booked for the morning commute, often around 9am.

In my opinion, there should be blocked out times to allow weary office-dwellers their last chance of respite before having to be stuck staring at a computer for nine hours.

At least there is one upside – I know which carriage to actively avoid unless I want to be subjected to streams of TikTok videos being played out loud next to me.

However, the Sun’s Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire backs reserved carriages.

She said: “As a school mum who has been on a lot of class trips in recent years, I think this decision by the train company to reserve an entire carriage for the kids is genius. 

“Herding a group of children on and off transport through London – one of the world’s busiest cities – is a nightmare. 

“Will you get them all in one carriage? Will one get left behind? Will they all get seats?

“Will the ‘other’ members of the public get annoyed with the exceptionally loud noise that accompanies 30-plus kids on a day out? 

“This allows them to make sure all of the children travel safely, while causing minimal issues for other passengers. 

“It’s so smart, I’m considering suggesting it to my child’s school next time that I accompany them on a trip.”

A train company recently launched adult-only carriages.

And here’s a converted train carriage you can spend the night in.

YOU might think a holiday city break with the entire family would be an expensive staycation – but I’ve found a cheap way to do it.

My family of five stays in a different UK city or town every February half-term for less than £50, thanks to a cheap-as-chips offer from the Youth Hostel Association.

What we especially love about our little break away is that we can get a room in a beautiful building in a luxury location for very little money.

Family rooms and cabins are already pretty affordable at this time of year anyway and the annual YHA January Sale discount code takes an extra 20 per cent off, which makes it incredible value for money.

The deal is still running and covers February half-term and the Easter holidays, so you can take a trip to city, countryside or coastal hostels during the school holidays for next to nothing. 

We love a city break at this time of year as it’s the perfect way to while away the grey days. Generally there are very few tourists about and we can normally find lots of free stuff to do indoors at museums and the like. 

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My favourite was when we stayed at YHA Chester Trafford Hall a couple of years ago, as that was the perfect blend of city and countryside.

It was glorious to be greeted by a carpet of snowdrops as we arrived at the hostel, an old Georgian mansion set in lovely grounds.

You can hop on the bus nearby to get into the city centre in less than half an hour and go for a wander through the historic streets, taking in Roman ruins and the Rows, covered wooden walkways that allow access to shops at first-floor and street level, a famous feature of the city since medieval times. 

Our family room only cost £29.25 (£5.85pppn) and another great element of a hostel stay is that there’s generally a self-catering kitchen, a restaurant where kids eat for £1 and a games room.

We can choose whether to cook for ourselves or order from the restaurant menu and the boys have somewhere to entertain themselves while waiting for food.

It’s lovely staying somewhere that’s got a bit of character and seeing a historic building given a new lease of life for the 21st century.

And it’s great to chat to other guests using the communal areas and pick up tips for where to visit next.

This February, we’re heading for Canterbury to stay in a cosy log cabin for just £34 a night for the five of us – which works out at £6.80 each.

We can’t wait to check out the sights, including the historic cathedral, and hopefully head to the Kent coast if the weather is okay.

It was a bit of a toss up between Canterbury and staying at the iconic Albert Docks in Liverpool for just £28 for a room for four people.

I’ve been visiting this northern powerhouse since I was a child and I love the warm Scouse welcome we always get when we go back.

So if you want to follow in the footsteps of the Beatles or take a ferry across the Mersey, this could be the perfect base for you. 

YHA Manchester also has £40 rooms for a family of five and its canalside location is just a 15-minute walk from the city centre.

One year, we took a trip to YHA Bath, another gorgeous Georgian villa a walk or bus ride away from the city centre.

Bath can get pretty crowded once the weather warms up so going in February is perfect if you don’t want too much hustle and bustle. A stay in a family room there is £72 during half-term.

Using a youth hostel as a base can also be a really affordable way to visit the capital over in the holidays. We stayed in a log cabin at YHA Lee Valley one February, which is next to Cheshunt railway station, where trains stop en route to Liverpool Street.

It was slightly surreal waking up in a nature reserve surrounded by birdsong and then being in the heart of the city within half an hour. The best London deal I’ve spotted for this half-term is at YHA Earls Court, where a six-bed family room costs just £48.

If you’re not a fan of city breaks, the January sale discount code also works for lots of the Lake District hostels and other countryside locations, which often have outdoor cabins and glamping options as well as family rooms. 

We visit YHA Stratford-upon-Avon most years to stay in the deluxe camping pods behind the main building.

They’ve got a little kitchenette and a built-in shower room with toilet, so the pods are a lovely place to get a bit of peace and quiet, before heading into town to enjoy some of the tourist hotspots before they get busy later in the year.

We’ve stayed for less than £20 a night for all of us before, but this half-term, the pods cost £48 using the sale code.

You really can’t beat a YHA stay if you want to bag a bargain and take the family away for a night in half-term for next to nothing. 

For more budget stays here are the UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks, B&Bs and pubs from just £22 a night.

And if you’re heading abroad – here are the most popular hotels in the loveholidays sale with rooftop pools and beautiful beaches… and holidays from £149.

STANDING barefoot in the soft white sand, with her husband’s arm wrapped around her and her baby daughter crawling at her feet, Michelle Keegan couldn’t keep the huge smile from her face.

It was a moment she had been looking forward to for years, but her joy wasn’t felt by others. “How dare the wealthy actress bag a £2,000-a-night trip for free?” raged the Essex mums online. Here, we can reveal what Michelle really thinks about the cruel whispers – and how her next steps are likely to cause even more upset.

While it was back to work for most people, Michelle, 38, kicked off January with a trip to Abu Dhabi alongside husband Mark Wright and nine-month-old daughter Palma.

The couple, who are worth an estimated £20m, stayed at the lavish Rixos Premium in Saadiyat Island, but they didn’t pay a penny for the stay.

It got locals back in Britain, who have got to know Michelle since she moved into her £3.5m mansion in Essex, talking – and not in a good way. 

A source explained: “Local mums are incredibly jealous of the trip and the fact she got it for free. They feel like she is really out of touch and showing off something rotten by plastering it all over social media. They are used to it from Mark, but not her.”

And her outraged Instagram followers rushed to express their upset, with one person questioning: “Lovely, could you not have gifted it to a family who could never afford the experience??”

While another ranted: “Makes me mad when these celebs get free holidays, pay for your own, it’s not as if they can’t afford it.”

And someone else added:  “Dripping with expensive Cartier jewellery but won’t pay for holidays, work on their house, stuff for their baby. Before you mega fans jump on me, no this isn’t jealousy, it’s pure greed and materialism.”

But insiders tell us that Michelle has “had enough of the constant whispering and bitching from these so-called Essex wives and the trolls”.

They added: “These women are obsessed with her because they want to be her –  they’re jealous, plain and simple.

“They watch everything she does because they wish they could be as beautiful and famous as her, then sit around slagging her off just because Michelle is too busy to be their friend.

“They have misinterpreted it as a total snub, so they sit around gossiping about her to try to make themselves feel better about their sad little lives. 

“Michelle has tried to keep her head down and ignore it. It was really hurtful when she first started to hear about this, and she was upset about it for a while, but now she’s reached the point where she’s not hiding her feelings anymore.

“She’s made a conscious decision not to dim her shine just because other people can’t handle it.”

And while in the past she might have shied away from sharing pictures from her trip, Michelle uploaded a whole carousel of images last week in what those close to her are calling a show of defiance.

Appearing toned and tanned, the Our Girl actress looked incredibly put together in every snap. Everything was perfect, down to her pristine white outfits – and it left other mums feeling she was “rubbing her extravagant lifestyle in their faces”.

‘Sticking two fingers up’

Insiders tell us that Michelle finds it particularly grating that the nasty comments come from people who sit at home and do nothing all day.

She is a hugely successful actress, who built her career up from the ground up, with our source explaining: “People see the glamour and think it all came easy, they see Michelle on TV and think she’s soft, but Michelle’s tougher than people think. 

“She’s thick-skinned, she’s ballsy, and she’s done biting her tongue to keep the peace. She’s now sticking two fingers up at them all.”

It’s certainly not the first time the couple have raised eyebrows with their freebies.

Indeed, when they wed in May 2015, they included no less than 38 plugs for wedding freebies in a Hello! magazine interview. In the ten years since, their careers have gone from strength to strength.

Michelle is one of the UK’s most in-demand actresses thanks to roles in Brassic and Netflix hit Fool Me Once, while Mark has gone from reality star to radio DJ and TV presenter. 

Last year, Michelle landed a six-figure advertising deal to become the new face of Sky, and she’ll next be seen in ITV thriller The Blame alongside Douglas Booth. 

Freebies galore

It’s also thought the actress raked in a staggering £441,082 while pregnant with daughter Palma, bringing her net worth to more than £4 million.

But when they purchased their dream home in Essex, their huge wealth didn’t stop them from pulling in a few favours here and there. 

They tagged in a staircase designer when showing off their “mind-blowing” stairs, and Mark gushed he was “so happy” with his “beautiful” bathroom tiles.

A panelling company was also plugged for their gym upgrade, and their dining room appeared to be completely gifted, all of which sparked upset amongst social media users, and when they covered their mansion in fairy lights at Christmas, locals branded them “distasteful” and “tacky”.

But the couple are undeterred, and we can reveal they have big plans for 2026, which might cause even more upset. 

Our insider said: “Michelle and Mark are already planning more holidays and are looking to buy more houses. They would love to go to the Maldives this year and back to Dubai; they also both want to get out to America.

“They have recently been talking about how they would love to buy a holiday cottage in the Cotswolds for them and their families because they love Soho Farmhouse, and they want to be closer to that. 

“They see it as the ultimate status symbol, and to live just around the corner from the Beckhams is something Mark really likes the idea of.”

It’s unlikely to be a popular move, with Cotswolds’ locals already complaining about the number of out-of-towners who have moved in.

The couple already have a property in Majorca and are thought to own a number of other places in the UK. While many Brits are struggling to pay even one mortgage, showing off properties tends to cause upset and won’t do anything for claims they are out of touch. 

Michelle isn’t bragging, she’s just living her life loudly and unapologetically now

Last year, Mark and Michelle were forced to reevaluate their lives after their sprawling Essex home was broken into.

Michelle, who was heavily pregnant with daughter Palma at the time, and Mark were forced to lock themselves in a bedroom when masked raiders broke in.

The incident had a lasting impact on Michelle, who is said to have laid down strict rules about their use of social media – pictures of Palma’s face have been banned, and they will no longer be sharing pictures from inside their home. 

Michelle has also apparently adopted supermodel Kate Moss‘ “never complain and never explain” motto, so she isn’t doing any interviews or offering any comments about her private life or Palma.

But it seems she’s determined not to let the trolls and her negative experience with the house ruin things for her entirely. 

Our source is adamant, saying: “Michelle isn’t bragging, she’s just living her life loudly and unapologetically now. And if that makes the gossip worse, so be it.

“They have lots of big plans on the horizon, and they won’t keep it secret from fans or their haters; they’ll be posting it all on Instagram.”

CONTROVERSIAL new plans are being introduced in a European country which bans kids from certain train carriages.

Rail operator SNCF has unveiled a new ‘Optimum’ carriage on its high-speed Inoui trains where during the week, there’s a ban on children.

It’s described it as a “high-quality travel experience” and is generally for commuters who want quiet before heading into the office.

Optimum class is a dedicated first class carriage, with reclining seats, individual power outlets, reading lights, free Wi-Fi and winged headrests.

Online details add that “to ensure maximum comfort in the dedicated space, children are not permitted”.

The carriage will always be at the end of the train which will stop passengers from walking through the Optimum dedicated area so it will remain quiet.

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The ticket also includes use of TGV INOUI lounges in stations which have high performing Wi-Fi, drinks, an entertainment portal as well as newspapers and magazines.

The Optimum carriage is only available on SNCF’s main Inoui brand of express trains, which run across France and into Germany and Luxembourg.

And the ticket is also only an option from Monday to Friday – during the weekends every carriage is open to passengers of all ages.

And tickets don’t come cheap, A one-way journey from Paris to Lyon taking just over two hours is regularly priced at €56 (£48.63).

But with Optimum tickets it’s €180 (£156.31).

Not everyone is onboard with the decision though.

On the French news outlet, BFM, the French high commissioner for children, Sarah El Hairy, described the child-free ban as “shocking”.

The podcast Les Adultes de demain also said that “a red line has been crossed” and the the company shouldn’t be excluding children.

In its response to criticism, SNCF pointed out that the Optimum carriage forms less than 8 per cent of the total capacity of a TGV InOui train.

While this may be a first for rail, it isn’t for the skies as some airlines have introduced dedicated child-free zones in recent years.

Corendon Airlines has ‘Only Adult’ zones for travellers over the age of 16 on flights between Amsterdam and Curaçao.

Scoot Airlines has its own ‘Scoot-in-Silence’ section which is is a child-free zone for those 12 and under in the forward economy cabin of Scoot’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

And AirAsia X has a “Quiet Zone” on certain long-haul flights which is a, child-free area for passengers aged 12 – usually this area is in the first seven rows of economy class.

IndiGo is another airline that has under-12-free zones.

For more, here’s a new high-speed train that will connect two European capitals in just three hours.

Plus, take a look inside UK’s new £2bn high speed trains with underseat luggage storage and the ‘most comfortable seats ever’.