IT’S BAD news for travellers heading to a popular European city as its airport is set to close for an ENTIRE month.
Naples Capodichino Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in Italy, will be closed for all of November to carry out major works.
Around €30million (£25.1million) of the €250million (£209.2million) project will focus on the runway with a complete refurbishment.
A second terminal for non-Schengen flights, which would include flights to the UK, will also be built.
Across the entire airport, there will be new aircraft stands, as well as a new area for cargo and logistics.
The airport will get a new hotel, with road links and underground connections as well.
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And the overall airport will be modernised to allow for increased passenger numbers.
Currently 13million travellers use the airport each year, but this is set to rise to 17.3million by 2035.
The area surrounding the airport will also be redeveloped.
All the changes being made will allow the airport to use higher-capacity aircraft, which means more passengers at the airport.
Naples Airport website states: “Naples Airport will be closed in November 2026 for extensive and planned runway upgrades, in compliance with stringent industry regulations and in line with GESAC’s priority commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards.”
Current airlines that fly to the airport include easyJet from London Gatwick and Ryanair from London Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh.
During the closure, travellers will need to head to the new Salerno-Pontecagnano Airport.
Gesac, the company managing the Naples airport, has launched a shuttle bus between Naples Piazza Garibaldi and Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport to help travellers get to the airport.
There will be eight services in each direction, each day and costs €12 (£10.04) per person.
Alternatively, you can get the train from Naples Central to Salerno for £5 per way.
Naples airport will then reopen on November 30.
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A MAJOR train operator has issued a travel warning for Brits planning to travel next month.
Great Western Railway has confirmed that all trains will be cancelled at London Paddington for one of the busiest weekends this year.
The London station – which is the third busiest in the UK – will close to passengers from Saturday 28-29.
With this being the weekend of Black Friday, there are fears this could cause huge problems for anyone travelling to the capital for shopping.
According to GWR, all high speed services to and from Bristol and South Wales will instead go to London Euston.
Trains will also not call at Reading or Didcot Parkway, with replacement buses running between places like Ealing Broadway and Slough.
The Night Riviera Sleeper from London to Penzance will depart from London Euston instead.
And passengers heading to London Heathrow have been warned as well.
Heathrow Express trains and the Elizabeth line will also not be operating from London Paddington.
The closure is due to huge £28million upgrade plans, which will affect other routes for the rest of the year.
The train operator warns: “Journey times to and from London will be considerably extended
“Passengers are strongly advised to check their journey before travelling, especially when travelling later in the day, to ensure that their whole journey is still possible.”
GWR Operations Director Richard Rowland added: “Although trains won’t run into London Paddington for a short period, we’ve worked closely with Network Rail and our industry partners to put alternative routes in place, including GWR services from London Euston, and connections via Waterloo and Marylebone.
“This does however mean some journeys may take longer than usual; so we ask anyone travelling to or from London during this period to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
It isn’t the only train station set to undergo huge works in the next few months.
No trains will be running at Birmingham New Street from December 24 to 28 while the station undergoes a £13million upgrade.
A PICTURE tells a thousand words. But how about a thousand pictures?
If the camera roll from our trip to Butlin’s is anything to go by, it tells of a jam-packed, non-stop, rip-roaring, grin-inducing, memory-filled festive-as-anything time of it.
My two pre-teen daughters, husband and I hadn’t been to Butlin’s before but we were keen to hurl ourselves stocking-first into the resort’s Christmas spirit.
We decided that whatever the weather (pouring rain was forecast all weekend) we were going to have as much sparkly, festive Santa-filled fun as one still-believing family could in a single weekend.
And boy, did we meet our match at Butlin’s Bognor Regis. Arriving on a Friday after a long day, our Christmas spirits were a little on the low side.
But after the all-inclusive buffet, the magical call of the Bingo Bango hosts at the Reds venue (and a welcome glass of wine) I could feel my shoulders loosening and a smile spreading across my face.
And once the Silent Disco got going — with a choice of hard house or Christmas hits — I couldn’t stop beaming.
And judging by the hols snaps, it stayed there the whole time.
We quickly discovered you could almost divide the resort into two.
There were the non-Christmassy activities — an incredible VR arcade, escape rooms of various types and the excitement of Laser Quest where we all shot each other repeatedly.
And then everything else.
Christmas arts and crafts? Tick. Puppet Castle’s Christmouse Wonderland? Shockingly blue panto Snow White And Her Magnificent Friends? A skyline ‘snowstorm’ involving singing reindeer? Tick, tick, tick.
And when you’ve raised a couple of true believers — expectations at Christmas events tend to be high.
But Father Christmas’ Express Delivery didn’t disappoint.
The world’s most famous Redcoat was ready to meet and greet our two in a grotto that could’ve been in a high-end department store.
There was a naughty or nice wheel, children’s letters to Santa whirring round the ceiling and elves busily spreading Christmas cheer.
Once the girls’ handwritten letters to Santa had been delivered through suction tubes, we were whizzed up in a lift through the snow to meet the big man himself — who had twinkly eyes and decent bants.
After more festive fun in the North Pool (the huge indoor swimming pool), it was a short walk back to our home, Butlin’s Ocean Hotel. Our family room was a decent size with a balcony. It was clean, comfortable and had a good bed.
We’d opted for the hotel dining plan, giving us breakfast and dinner in the Kaleidoscope restaurant.
It goes without saying my girls were delighted by the beige buffet — hoovering up pizzas, hot dogs and chips.
There were pastas, curries, a roast and themed nights — and a salad bar for something lighter.
For lunch, you’ll find more high street faves from Burger King and Papa Johns to SOHO Coffee.
And there was just as much variety when it came to entertainment.
From gameshow bonanzas to tribute acts and singalongs, it never stopped.
And if you need some fresh air, the fairground stays open with bumper cars, an old fashioned helter skelter, waltzer and a chair-o-plane.
The best part? The fairground is all free. And our take home after the festive weekend?
We went into Butlin’s blind, but now we have seen the twinkling, tinselly light.
GETTING/STAYING THERE: A four-night Christmas Festive Wonderland break is from £41.
Four nights at Ocean Hotel start at £77, from Nov 23.
EATING/DRINKING THERE: All-inclusive drinks packages £25.95 per adult and £10.50 per child (age six to 14) per day.
Unlimited breakfast and dinner £25.95 per adult, per day, £15.50 per child (age six to 14) and £7.25 (two to five) per day.
IF you’re after an insanely affordable holiday, then there is a fantastic travel website you need to know about.
Opodo offers flights, hotels, car hire and package holiday deals for prices that will make you do a double take.
We’ve found hotels in Marrakech from £16, return flights to Barcelona from £21 and even entire Tenerife holidays from £147pp, to name but a few.
So whether you’re looking to book a family holiday, a couples getaway or even a solo travel retreat, here’s our round-up of the best Opodo deals right now.
Hop on a two-and-a-half-hour flight over to Alicante to soak up some rays on a stunning stretch of Spanish coast, with sizzling highs of 25°C in October.
Postiguet is the main beach here, sitting at the foot of Mount Benacantil and watched over by Santa Barbara Castle.
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Once you’re done topping up your tan, you can hike up to the spectacular castle to soak up panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline for free.
With package deals from £117pp, a quick sunny Spanish getaway might be closer than you’d think.
You do not need to spend a fortune to visit Rome, with Opodo’s package holiday deals starting from £119pp.
Rome is a giant, open-air museum where simply wandering the cobbled streets to toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain or marvel at the Pantheon costs absolutely nothing.
Plus if you time your trip to include the first Sunday of the month, visits to state museums, attractions and even the Colosseum offer free entry.
Head across the river to the buzzing Trastevere neighbourhood for authentic €3 pizza by the slice and €5 Aperol Spritzes.
Here’s our selection of bargain flights we found with Opodo Prime
If you’re signed up to Opodo Prime, you can bag super cheap flights like the ones we’ve found below.
Opodo Prime plans start from £8.99 a month and can save you hundreds per year on flights, hotels and more.
Faro – from £22 return
Milan – from £31 return
Barcelona – from £21 return
Paris – from £46 return
Madrid – from £39 return
Amsterdam – from £89 return
Ibiza – from £37 return
Geneva – from £55 return
Tenerife is a classic, affordable winter sun destination, with highs of 26°C in October and still sitting at toasty highs of 24°C in November.
The flight is only four hours from the UK for these sunny temperatures, and once you’re there, there are loads of ways to enjoy all that sunshine.
Stroll the sweeping volcanic beaches of Costa Adeje, enjoy €3 tapas in traditional tavernas or go whale watching on an unforgettable boat tour.
Make sure to check out Siam Park, a paradise for waterpark fans which has been crowned the world’s No.1 waterpark for 10 consecutive years by Tripadvisor.
Ancient historical sites, snazzy rooftop bars, amazing Greek food – Athens is an underrated choice when it comes to city breaks.
The famous Acropolis of Athens is a must-visit. To stretch your cash, buy a €30 combo ticket which gets you into seven major archaeological sites.
When it comes to cheap eats, you can grab some delicious pork or chicken gyros stuffed with chips and tzatziki for around €3, before hitting the bars for a €2 Mythos beer.
This deal includes a stay at the Sparta Team Hotel, which is only a 12-minute taxi ride or 20-minute walk away from the Acropolis.
Here’s our selection of bargain hotels we found on Opodo (prices per night)
Enjoy a chic getaway to the French Capital with friends or your partner for under £100 each.
Take in the city with strolls along the Seine, or venture to the cobbled hills of Montmartre to take in sweeping views of the city from the Sacre-Coeur basilica.
For a budget-friendly feast, skip the expensive restaurants and hit up a local boulangerie. Grab a fresh baguette, a wedge of creamy brie, and a cheap bottle of supermarket wine for a delicious Parisian picnic.
Book yourself a £92 package getaway or a £46 return flight with Opodo, and you can say Bonjour to your next bargain escape.
Prices correct at the time of publication.
