The wonderful Amalfi coast is like heavenCredit: Getty – ContributorThe elegant town of Ravello with its cobbled streets lined with pottery and linen shops leading off the main squareCredit: Getty
They adorn tea towels, shirts, skirts, dresses, trousers, and bags galore.
Our base on Travelsphere’s eight-day tour of the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Capri was the charming, laid-back seaside village of Minori, at the excellent family-run 4* Hotel Villa Romana.
Just three miles and a glorious 15- minute boat ride from Amalfi itself, Minori is quieter and classier, with stylish and affordable restaurants and bars.
Surprisingly for a village of its size, Minori has an 18th-century neoclassical domed cathedral. Surrounded by lemon groves, of course.
One of my highlights was walking the Path of Lemons, which connects Minori to the larger neighbouring village of Maiori.
The trek takes around 90 minutes, with an initial climb up several hundred steps and a similar descent.
But the view of the village and sea is spectacular and worth every straining leg sinew.
The beauty of our schedule is that there is still plenty of free time for you to pursue your own holiday agenda.
You’ll get the chance to indulge at Minori’s sumptuous Sal De Riso patisserie or watch the famed limoncello being made at the Liquorificio Mansi Carlo.
Alternatively, stop by at one of Minori’s beachside bars and watch the tide roll in.
But the best place to see the Amalfi Coast is from the sea and the area is served by efficient, reasonably-priced ferry operators.
It is only from the clear blue waters that you fully appreciate the stunning coastline and its tumble-down towns with pastel-coloured houses perched precariously atop majestic cliffs.
Our first trip was to the historic town of Amalfi itself, dramatically set below those same cliffs.
On arrival at Amalfi, we had the freedom to see the town for ourselves.
The main square and its streets were packed with sightseers.
But climb a few steps up one of the alleyways and you will find peace and quiet and cheaper restaurants.
Amalfi Town and beachCredit: GettyThe undoubted gem of the tour was our visit to Pompeii, destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD
A lunch of cured meats and seafood, in cool stone surroundings behind a church, cost £21.50 a head with drinks.
By the time we had finished, the crowds had thinned out at Amalfi’s magnificent medieval cathedral, which holds the remains of St Andrew.
But there was no escaping the crowds at Capri, a gorgeous 90-minute boat trip from Minori.
The island has been home to the international jet set for decades and it’s not difficult to see why.
A walk down to the gardens of Capri Town was followed by a look, from outside anyway, at the amazing designer boutique shops.
A glass of fresh orange and lemon juice from a stall was a cheaper alternative to buying a designer Patek Philippe watch — and then it was time to get our minibus to Anacapri.
This village, with views of the Bay of Naples, is much quieter and more affordable than Capri Town.
We got the chairlift up to the highest point of the island, almost 1,800ft above sea level with a view to die for.
There are optional tour trips to the lively lemon-filled town of Sorrento and the gorgeous cliffside village of Positano.
Or you could take the 45-minute ferry from Minori to Salerno, a bustling coastal city where we had a superb fish lunch at Mama Rosa.
The undoubted gem of the tour was our visit to Pompeii, destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.
The last agonies of victims frozen in time when they suffocated from poison gases are captured in plaster moulds created from their remains.
Sun man Mike Sullivan with a cool lemonadeCredit: SuppliedWalking through stunning lemon orchardsCredit: Getty
It is a powerful experience.
And yet the humanity of this once prosperous and thriving coastal Roman city, discovered in 1748, shines through from the haunting remains.
The municipal buildings, public baths, grand villas, lead pipe water system and amphitheatres paint a picture of an advanced society on which much of our own world today is based.
Our last scheduled trip was to the gorgeous medieval mountainside village of Ravello, with its cobbled streets lined with pottery and linen shops leading off the main square and 11th-century cathedral.
The journey up to the 1,200ft-high village involves navigating hairpin bends with sheer drops below.
It was not a drive I would have relished but in the expert hands of our driver I felt safer than being on the M25.
A delicious lunch followed at the Il Rifugio family-run restaurant in Tramonti, a 15-minute drive from Ravello up into the Lattari “Milk” Mountains — so-named because of the goats which graze there.
After taking in the spectacular view of the sea, and sampling local wines, we were then driven to a small local vineyard to see how it was produced.
All too soon it was time for the journey home from Naples Airport, with its abundance of lemon gifts and souvenirs.
Fortunately, you don’t get a hangover from vitamin C.
GO: AMALFI COAST
GETTING / STAYING THERE: Travelsphere’s eight-day escorted tour of the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Capri starts in Naples and visits Amalfi, Capri, Minori, Sorrento, Pompeii, Positano, Ravello and the Amalfi Hills.
Seven nights is from £1,699pp, including return flights from London, overseas transfers, seven nights’ half-board in a 4* hotel, select meals and a welcome drink as well as Travelsphere holiday director and specialist local guide.
THE best beaches in Europe have been revealed and the number one spot is a beautiful escape with super cheap flights.
Dubbed one of Portugal’s ‘Sunset Beaches’, Monte Clérigo sits in the Algarve region, but is much quieter than other crowded resorts.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Monte Clerigo Beach has been declared the best in EuropeCredit: AlamyIt has sweeping golden sands and is much lesser-known then other Algarve resortsCredit: Alamy
Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.
The Algarve draws in millions of Brits every year wanting to explore its golden sand beaches and bask in its glorious sunshine.
It’s most popular resorts include Albufeira, Vilamoura and Alvor – but that’s not where you’ll find the best beach.
Tucked away on the western coast is Praia de Monte Clérigo which has just been declared the best beach in all of Europe by European Best Destinations.
Beaches across Europe are assessed on aspects like natural beauty to water quality, family-friendliness, available activities, accommodation and overall atmosphere.
The 30 highest-rated beaches are then submitted to an international panel of travellers and tourism enthusiasts who vote to find the ‘Best Beaches in Europe 2026′.
Monte Clérigo Beach was described the beach as having ‘golden cliffs’ and ‘wild Atlantic landscapes’.
The ‘wildness’ of the coastal spot comes from the fact that it forms part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park where there’s lots of greenery and plenty of hiking routes.
The beach also has fine sand, low-tide rock pools, is ideal for surfing, and its nearby town of Aljezur is filled with colourful cottages some of which sit up on the cliffside.
Monte Clérigo is considered one of Portugal’s best ‘Sunset Beaches’ too.
Monte Clérigo is considered one of Portugal’s best ‘Sunset BeachesCredit: Alamy
Thanks to its position on the western coast, beachgoers have a clear view of the sun as it sets looking like it sinks into the ocean.
One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Stunning beach on rugged coastline. Visited several times. Away from hectic tourist resorts. This beach is beautiful. It’s well worth waiting for some sunset photos!”
Another added: “I discovered another beautiful beach on the southwest coast of Portugal. Pristine and unspoiled is how I’d describe the place.”
Right on the sands is Restaurant O Sargo which has live music every Friday night and is popular with locals and visitors who enjoy fresh seafood and watch the sunset in the evening.
The beach is easily reachable from the UK – you could be there in five hoursCredit: Alamy
Faro International Airport is an hour and a half drive away from the beach, so from the UK you could be sunbathing on the beach in under five hours.
One-way flights are as little as £13.99 in June flying from London Luton with Wizz Air.
Other beaches that secured a spot on the list were Voutoumi Beach in Antipaxos which came in second place.
Elafonisi Beach which is a rare pink beach in Crete came in fourth place.
One beach in Norway even made it onto the list, Kvalvika Beach has bright blue waters and is backed by enormous mountains – certainly making it one of the most beautiful.
The ‘smart’ holiday hack went viral on social media after a family used it on their recent trip
Travel fans loved the ‘genius’ idea (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
A family has gone viral after using what’s been described as the ‘ultimate’ travel hack to simplify their holiday. The ‘smart’ method could be ideal for anyone visiting crowded tourist areas.
According to Clarissa Hen, who posts on TikTok under the username @Clarhens, her family used AirTags to keep track of each other during a recent day out in Japan. Sharing a video of the ‘genius’ hack in action, Clarissa wrote: “Ultimate travel hack: Put airtags on everyone before going to crowded tourist traps.”
As seen in the post, everyone received a lanyard with their own AirTag, making it easier to find each other after they were finished exploring. The idea caught the attention of social media users.
The video went viral, racking up over one million views and more than 50,000 likes. In her caption, Clarissa asked viewers if they thought the hack was ‘smart or extra’.
Explaining why her family gave it a go, she wrote: “When everyone has the attention span of a goldfish, airtags are key!!! No need to worry about someone’s phone dying or them not replying/answering (like my dad and sister) you can just track them like lost luggage lol.”
In response, TikTok users were quick to share their thoughts. While not everyone was convinced, several viewers loved the idea. Someone commented: “We just have meeting spots when we break up and come back together at the same place.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Another social media user said: “Me and my friends shared our google maps locations and it was so helpful.” A different response read: “Use the Life360 app!! It’s free and it is super accurate! Used it to find my friends when we went to Japan.”
Meanwhile, a commenter wrote: “But if y’all have iPhones you wouldn’t need AirTags, just saying.” But Clarissa replied: “Yes we have our phone locations on too but iPhone batteries can run out within the day and cell service isn’t always reliable so AirTags are a great alternative!”
Other social media users loved the hack. A fan of the idea commented: “Needed this for all my aunties.” Another reply said: “Genius.” Someone else wrote: “Very smart.” More praise read: “I love this!”
A viewer shared: “That’s literally what I did with my family in Japan so I can freely roam around.” Meanwhile, a commenter replied: “Wait!!!! This is so smart! I gotta do this with my family at Disney.”
Clarissa said: “Right!?? Soo useful lol we all lost each other then I tracked them down.” Someone else claimed: “Save those for Tokyo Disney if you’re going. I got lost TWICE for HOURS both times and I was just trying to find a place to pee.”
A travel content creator has shared a simple two-second trick to help keep your belongings safe
The tip could help tourists keep their belongings safe (stock photo)(Image: Getty)
A globetrotter has left social media users amazed after revealing her “genius” tip to help keep her possessions safe. In a viral TikTok post, @Charlottenorth demonstrated a two-second trick for fashioning a “makeshift lock” for your handbag.
The “smart” concept impressed viewers, with some branding it “the best hack.” The method is “so simple”, as you’ll only need one item to try it. As seen in the viral clip, Charlotte recommended using a claw clip to “lock” bags. Commenters also suggested using carabiners for the same effect.
In her post, Charlotte wrote: “How to lock your bag when travelling – I might just be dumb but I figured this out halfway through my trip and it felt revolutionary.” She then demonstrated the method, which saw her feed a hair clip through the zip and then clip it to her bag’s strap to create a “makeshift lock.”
Viewers loved the idea, with the footage gaining over 100k likes. One impressed viewer said: “I love this omg how smart!!” A second posted: “So simple yet genius!” Another fan of the idea wrote: “That’s so smart omg!! Thanks for sharing!”
A fourth commenter echoed: “This is so smart!!” Charlotte replied: “Honestly felt so much better walking round crowded areas like this!!!”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Sharing a similar idea, someone else said: “I’ve been doing this with a carabiner and it’s perfect when I travel!!” A different reply read: “Been doing this for a year and it’s the best hack!!” Another social media user shared: “I always do this! Looks cute and my stuff is safe.”
Keen to try the idea, a fan said: “Ohhhhhh! I think I’ll do this for my upcoming Italy trip this summer!” Yet another fan wrote: “Ohhh, I might do this for our summer euro trip.”
Issuing advice on pickpocketing, the Metropolitan Police’s website states: “Remember, having a zipped bag doesn’t mean you’re totally safe. Thieves have been known to walk behind victims while slowly unzipping bags. Yes, they can be that bold. So, never underestimate a pickpocket.”
The webpage also includes dos and don’ts to help keep your belongings safe. The tips include carrying bags in front of you or diagonally across your chest and concealing your wallet in a buttoned or zipped pocket.
When travelling, the advice is to separate your wallet and phone and keep the contact numbers of family in case your phone is stolen. The guidance recommends opting for a purse that’s difficult to open.
People are also advised not to leave bags hanging on the back of a chair, attached to a pushchair, or out of sight on the floor when they visit cafes and restaurants. Pickpockets can target people in these areas.
