editors

THE Sun’s fabulous Holidays from £9.50 has been providing our army of readers with the best bargain breaks around.

And for more than 26 years I have been heading up Travel at The Sun, determined to search out those great value stays across the UK and Europe.

In that time I’ve picked up some great tips and tricks for making your £9.50 break even better without splashing the cash.

Here’s my top tips…

Bring your own

Save on hiring equipment by bringing your own.

The price for bedding and towel packs can soon add up for a family, so pack a bag full of duvets, sheets, towels, tea towels from home.

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If you need a cot or highchair, consider bringing those from home or borrowing from family or friends.

For those spring and autumn breaks, don’t forget a cheap fleece blanket or two for cosying up on the sofa.

I always pack a large plastic box full of basic cleaning supplies and store cupboard essentials.

Start with washing up liquid, cloths, surface spray, bin bags and loo roll.

For store cupboard basics, I decant tea bags, coffee and sugar into re-sealable plastic bags and add in herbs, spices, sauces, pasta, cereal and snacks from home to save on pricey last-minute shopping on site or at petrol stations.

Plan your meals in advance to avoid the temptation to splurge on takeaways.

I always batch-cook and freeze a bolognese that can then be cooked up for a first-night easy meal and then turned into a chilli for the following day, with the addition of some spices and kidney beans.

Both can be padded out with some garlic bread and salad to make substantial meals.  

For days out and on the beach, it pays to be prepared in advance and avoid having to shop last minute.

I always freeze bottles of water and cartons of fruit juice so they can cool down packed lunches in an insulated cool bag.

To avoid soggy sandwiches, I bring part-baked baguettes and fniish cooking them in the caravan, adding hearty fillings like ham or cheese.

Pack a small tub of salad bits – cucumber, tomatoes, carrots – that you can add to your sandwiches at the last minute.

Think about other often-forgotten bits that can add up if you leave home without them.

Put together a basic first aid kit with plasters, painkillers and other relevant meds.

It’s also a good idea to create a tech kit with all your necessary chargers and cables all packed up in a case or bag to avoid having to shell out again.

Prep for success – make a list of everything you will need to pack and tick it off as you go along!

Getting there for less

Check to see if you have enough supermarket loyalty points to fill up the tank for free.

To avoid pricey motorway petrol stations, use fuel price apps like PetrolPrices.com that you can download for free to work out the cheapest ways to fill up along the way with real-time updates on fuel prices.

Pack a picnic for the journey and load up a multi-compartment snack box with sweet and savoury treats to keep the kids filled up – and amused – enroute.

You can pick them up online from just £5. 

If taking the train, check if you could save with family railcards, split tickets and family or group savers and always book as far in advance and off-peak.

It’s also a great way to save on attractions once you get to your destination.

Travel by national rail and you can get 2-for-1 tickets on a host of attractions across the country via daysoutguide.co.uk.

The deal includes theme parks, museums, parks, gardens and more. All you have to do is book through the website and travel by train.

Coach travel will be one of the cheapest ways you can get to your £9.50 holiday park.

Check out National Express or Flixbus for bargain fares if booked in advance.

A coach from London to Bristol typically costs around £32 one way by train, a coach will cost from just £3.90 for the same journey.

A coach from Manchester to Blackpool costs from £4.80. See nationalexpress.com or flixbus.com. 

Perfect park life

Build your days around the activities that are included in your chosen park, from swimming slots and kids clubs to playgrounds, nature trails and included entertainment.

Research in advance exactly what you can enjoy for free in the park and anchor your days around those.

Check if there are any special activities when you are on site.

Then do some online checks and fill in the gaps with free fun in the local area from beaches and coastal walks to playgrounds, splash parks, local museums and libraries’ kids activities. 

Don’t forget to pack some fun for those inevitable rainy days from board games and packs of cards to colouring books and stickers.

Wi-fi on parks in coastal or country areas can also sometimes be slow or expensive to upgrade to.

Download films, playlists and kids programmes at home so you’ve got it there for the journey and occasional tablet time on holiday.

Bringing a football, buckets and spades and scooters from home also saves on renting them or buying them onsite.

And don’t forget swimming goggles, armbands, spare swimwear and a bag to transport all your gear in – the prices in pool shops are always notoriously high.

Kids can’t get enough of arcades but these can soon start costing a fortune if you aren’t prepared.

Give each child a bag or envelope daily with a set allowance of coins and stress that when it’s gone, it’s gone. 

Her Missing Son Returns In Her Dreams 

“I enjoyed editing several stories this year, but this one stayed with me because of how Sabiqah narrated it with an intimate voice that draws you directly into the woman’s inner world: the dreams, the dread, the relentless memory of her child. 

The writing does more than tell a personal story; it brings the national crisis of missing persons in Nigeria into sharp, human focus. The storytelling lets the reader feel the ache without forcing it, turning one woman’s sorrow into something universally recognisable and impossible to look away from.”

– Johnstone Kpilaakaa, Sub-editor and head of standards.

Widowed by Boko Haram, Swept by Floods, but She Refused to Sink

“It was written by Abdulkareem Haruna; therefore, there was almost no serious work from my side. It’s best for me because it tells a story of resilience. The story of a woman who could have abandoned everything and buried herself in despair, but she refused to be drowned in the abyss of two big tragedies: the Boko Haram war and a natural disaster.”

– Aliyu Dahiru, Head of the Extremism and Radicalism desk

From Elephants to Warthogs: The Shadow Wildlife Trade Financing Boko Haram in Nigeria

“One thing I love about this story is the adrenaline of promptness and emergency it gave while editing it. We were working on a tight deadline, and it needed to be delivered excellently. The reporter, Al-amin Umar, made this a lot easier because he understood his role and did it to the best of his ability. He followed guidelines religiously and ensured the story came out well. The subject matter was also crazy to probe within limited time and resources. But we pulled it through regardless. It’s a story worth celebrating.” 

– Ibrahim Adeyemi, Investigations Editor

Displaced People with Disabilities Face Severe Struggles in Borno Camps 

“Disabled people’s stories are usually underreported, especially those in IDP camps. This story, by Abubakar Mukhtar Abba, is very in-depth and takes us on a journey into what it means to be displaced and disabled in an unaccommodating environment. It pointed out their struggles with accessibility and how that impacts their health and the community generally, highlighting why accessibility is a fundamental right and benefits society in general. It also shows how a lack of inclusion pushes disabled people away from camps, causing social, environmental and health problems due to how they are excluded from society. 

This story brings those at the fringes of society into the spotlight while maintaining their full humanity and dignity.”

– Hauwa Abubakar Saleh, Assistant Editor, Features Desk

The Intersection Between Healthcare and Loyalty to Terror Groups 

“We are still finding out the ways lives have been affected following the USAID suspension. I find this story particularly enlightening because it shows us how everything affects everything, you do not readily think loyalty to a terror group intersects with healthcare.”

— Shade Mary-Ann Olaoye, Audience Growth and Engagement Editor