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If you’re looking for alternatives to Benidorm, there’s a destination that’s becoming increasingly popular with Brits who are seeking sunshine, inexpensive pints, and lively nightlife

Benidorm is the perfect choice of destination if you like a lively atmosphere, plenty of beach space, and clubs within walking distance of your hotel. However, in recent years, many tourists have been looking for alternatives to the Spanish town, and if you’re bored of Beni, there’s another fun destination about 3.5 hours from the UK.

Sunny Beach in Bulgaria has many similarities to Benidorm. Both resorts were developed in the 1960s with the package holiday boom, and Sunny Beach’s promenade with its high rise hotels could easily be mistaken for Benidorm’s Levante Beach area.

However, with some tourists complaining about Benidorm prices in recent years, Sunny Beach offers a cheaper alternative. YouTuber Travel with Col made a video of some of Sunny Beach’s prices in June of last year and showed deals such as two cocktails for £4.60, and beers for £1.50.

As the name implies, Sunny Beach sits on a long stretch of sandy coast. The Blue Flag beach is about six miles long, and there are quieter spots to be found for those who want to relax or enjoy more of a family-friendly atmosphere. The sand gently slopes into the Black Sea, and waters are shallow, clear, and calm, ideal for swimming or snorkelling.

Central Beach is at the heart of the action, and along the coast is a huge number of beach bars, nightclubs, and large hotels. By day, you’ll see people lounging on sunbeds with cocktails and enjoying DJ sets, while at night, the clubs are packed with people dancing until dawn. Many clubs open until five or six am, just as the sun comes up, but some spots such as Cacao Beach open 24-hours a day, so the party never stops.

Inland, the town is a tourist haven, full of shops selling beachwear, a market with lots of colourful stalls, and inexpensive fast food joints. You’ll find restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, as well as a few Bulgarian places where you can try Balkan dishes. Sunny Beach Amusement Park is popular with families, offering fairground rides and rollercoasters, while the Action Aquapark has pools, slides, and a lazy river.

Most Brits arrive via Burgas Airport, which has seasonal connections with airlines including easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, and Wizz Air. It’s about half an hour from Sunny Beach, and has good public transport connections.

READ MORE: Ibiza and Majorca could end up restricting tourist numbers under radical plansREAD MORE: Tourists flock to UK’s ‘lost city’ to see hidden gem – only to find it’s a toilet

It’s worth taking a day trip to Burgas to explore this historic Bulgarian city. Attractions include The Sea Garden, famous for its pier which looks a lot like something you’d see at the British seaside. Dino Park is an amusement park with animatronic dinosaurs, allowing you to feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and there’s the vast Mall Galleria where you’ll find lots of popular European chains.

Finish your day with a boat trip to St. Anastasia Island. Dating back to medieval times, this tiny 2.5 acre island has a monastery, museum, and historic lighthouse to explore.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

The forthcoming HBO show promises to do justice to the BAFTA award-winning source material that already has a global fanbase.

HBO has confirmed that it’s adapting a beloved fantasy video game series for the small screen.

The American cable network will be adapting the acclaimed video game Baldur’s Gate 3, which is set in the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons.

Baldur’s Gate 3 bagged game of the year at the 2024 BAFTA Game Awards, along with four other wins, cementing its status in the video games world. The video game has also been widely praised by players since it came out with the HBO series expected to grow its fanbase.

One fan gave a glowing review on Metacritic: “Absolutely beautiful game.”

They added in their critique: “I have around 200 hours now spent on this game and i’m still discovering more on my 3rd and 4th play throughs.”

While a second user posted an equally positive review: “The best new age RPG ever made. It perfectly encapsulates the scenery and feel of DND on the scale of a major video game release.

“The sheer amounts of decisions, both big and small, a player can make is both overwhelming and beautiful.”

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A third declared: “Masterpiece, best CRPG in the history of gaming, even so as we didnt have a great CRPG since Dragon Age 2 o Mass Effect 2 [sic].”

Yet another wrote: “Despite the odd bugs and broken quests, an exceptional game. This player of video games for 5 decades waited so long for something so rich and realistic.”

The drama series will be spearheaded by The Last of Us’ co-creator and Chernobyl writer Craig Mazin, who is confirmed to be writing, showrunning and executive producing the TV iteration.

Mazin said in a statement, as per Deadline, “After putting nearly 1000 hours into the incredible world of Baldur’s Gate 3 , it is a dream come true to be able to continue the story that Larian and Wizards of The Coast created.

“I am a devoted fan of D&D and the brilliant way that Swen Vincke and his gifted team adapted it.”

“I can’t wait to help bring Baldur’s Gate and all of its incredible characters to life with as much respect and love as we can, and I’m deeply grateful to Gabe Marano and his team at Hasbro for entrusting me with this incredibly important property.”

The Baldur’s Gate TV show is slated to be a continuation of the games and will focus on the story after Baldur’s Gate 3, with existing and new characters reeling from the events of the latest game.

This means that the show won’t be tied to the video games and can take its own direction and tell a story in its own right.

This is a sharp contrast to The Last of Us, which directly adapted the video game’s storyline as well as building upon the existing world.

Indeed The Last of Us’ second season was met with a far more muted response to the universally lauded first outing led by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.

The Last of Us is going to be ending with its third and final season, with Mazin recently paid tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara, who played therapist Gail in the post-apocalyptic drama.

HBO previously confirmed in 2025 that showrunner Neil Druckmann would be stepping away from the drama to focus on his existing commitments to his video game company Naughty Dog.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, this “high-octane” action film with Jason Statham proved so popular it was then followed by a 2009 sequel.

An “adrenaline-fueled” action film has been praised as one of Jason Statham‘s best, and it’s now available on ITVX.

Crank, released in 2006, stars Jason Statham as Chev Chelios, a Los Angeles hitman poisoned with a synthetic drug that kills him if his heart rate drops. To survive, he must keep his adrenaline flowing through constant, violent and chaotic actions while tracking down his enemies.

It is a fast-paced film described to be like a “video game” in style, which sees action star Statham at his best as he performs all of his own fight and car stunts.

The film stars Statham in one of his typical roles as an action star, alongside Amy Smart as Eve Lydon, Jose Pablo Cantillo as Ricky Verona, Carlos Sanz as Carlito, and Dwight Yoakam as Doc Miles.

The film was considered a huge success and performed well at the box office, as it grossed $42.9 million (around £31.6 million) worldwide against a $12 million (about £.8.8 million) budget.

Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the film proved so popular it was then followed by a 2009 sequel, Crank: High Voltage.

On film and TV ratings website Rotten Tomatoes, it scored a moderate 62% but fans have still said it’s worth a watch. One review wrote: “Crank is a relentless, high-octane action film that thrives on its breakneck pacing, jump cuts, and kinetic cinematography – all of which are seamlessly integrated into the storytelling. As a genre piece designed to deliver a near-constant dopamine rush, it excels, offering a uniquely immersive and adrenaline-fueled experience.”

A second posted: “Extremely fast-paced and action-packed psychedelic movie that really feels like a (very effective) parody of the state of modern entertainment.”

A third said: “This is a good film. Jason Statham is great and the rest of the cast is good too. The action is wild. Worth a watch if you’re a fan of Statham.”

A fourth added: “This movie is ridiculous but that is what made it a good, fun movie. It’s high-octane and over-the-top scenes made the movie such a joy to watch.”

A fifth said: “Relentlessly paced and full of ‘whoa’ moments – Crank might just be the peak Statham movie. An outlandish one vs 100 action flick that was popularised in the 80s works better here with the wink and nod to the audience that the movie is in on the gag as well.”

Another wrote: “It’s ridiculous, but highly entertaining and funny.” Another shared: “This is pure 00s action. I loved it but it took me a hot minute to appreciate the style. I can see why people wouldn’t enjoy this film but if you want an action film that doesn’t take itself seriously and has some laugh-out-loud moments, Cranks delivers.”

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An annual plan costs £59.99 – equal to £4.99 per month – after a seven-day free trial.

Crank is available on ITVX now.

An “addictive” musical set more than 70 years ago is now free to watch at the click of a button.

Musical fanatics can now stream a film that’s been dubbed “absolutely amazing”, and it’s not the beloved Dirty Dancing.

The charismatic 1980s romantic comedy, Dirty Dancing, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, will be broadcast tonight, Sunday, February 8, at 6.55pm on ITV2.

But if you’ve had your fill of Baby and her watermelon, there’s another classic musical available to stream for free.

This 1950s-set musical has been hailed as a “true classic”, with one fan declaring it as “one of those films that I can watch over and over – and I do.”

Another concurred: “An absolute classic. The songs are addicting- hate they don’t make movies like this anymore”, while a third enthused: “This film will always remain as one of my all time favourites!”

The iconic 1978 film Grease tells the tale of high school sweethearts, bad boy Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and wholesome Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John), who fall head over heels during a summer romance.

However, their love story hits a snag when they realise they attend the same school and face social pressures from the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies.

With unforgettable tunes like You’re the One That I Want, Hopelessly Devoted To You, Summer Nights and Grease Lightnin’, it’s no surprise that the original soundtrack is one of the best-selling albums of all time, shifting more than 30 million copies worldwide.

The iconic film Grease, starring Saturday Night Fever’s John Travolta as Danny and the late Australian star of Xanadu, Olivia Newton-John, is now available to stream for free on ITVX.

Fans have been effusive in their praise for the classic movie. One viewer took to IMDb to gush: “Absolutely amazing.”

They continued: “It’s no wonder that the Grease soundtrack is the best selling musical soundtrack ever. (It sure is brilliant.) Grease really is the word. It’s fantastic. 10/10.”

Another fan agreed, stating: “Grease, of course, is based on the Broadway play and is a superb film version”.

A third viewer hailed the cast as “superb”, while another enthused: “Grease is a timeless classic that will have you singing and dancing by the end of the movie.”

Grease can be streamed on ITVX.

A noughties dramedy that fans describe as ‘a truly magical experience’ has just landed on Netflix

Netflix has quietly added a cult classic drama that picked up the coveted Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2004.

The streaming giant has a huge catalogue of Academy Award winners and Lost in Translation is worth adding to your weekend watchlist.

The 2003 dramedy was written and directed by Sofia Coppola, daughter of famed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather). It follows an unlikely friendship between American strangers Bob (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson).

The pair first meet in Tokyo, where fading movie star Bob is due to film a Japanese whiskey commercial. Meanwhile, Charlotte is a conflicted newlywed visiting alongside her celebrity-photographer husband.

After meeting at their hotel bar, the pair discover they have more in common than they expected. From there, the film dives into important themes such as alienation and the importance of human connection.

The dramedy was an instant hit with critics, earning four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Leading Actor (for Murray). Ultimately, Coppola took home the screenplay prize.

It also earned a near-perfect 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics praised: “Effectively balancing humour and subtle pathos, Sofia Coppola crafts a moving, melancholy story that serves as a showcase for both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.”

Viewers were equally impressed, though they awarded the drama a less-impressive 85% score.

One fan raved: “The movie is a masterpiece in every sense. Nothing wanting. If you want to learn about movie making, or just enjoy something purely brilliant, this is it. A work of art.”

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Someone else echoed the praise: “A hypnotically sweet and tender movie that’s quiet, but grows on you and makes you never want to leave its presence.”

While a third said: “One of the most real and raw movies I have ever seen, Coppola tells a beautiful tale of simple human connection, unlikely friends, and loneliness. This movie is wonderful and thoughtful from start to finish. Deciding never to watch it would be a mistake.”

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Yet another moviegoer gushed: “A truly magical experience. Concise, yet meaningful, dialogues where you have to read between the lines to uncover their true depth.

“Simple, yet touching, story that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Breath-taking visuals that complement the story. In fact, the main character IS indeed the city of Tokyo that unites two wandering lonely souls.”

Lost in Translation is streaming now on Netflix

Netflix has added a historical drama based on the true story and viewers have been captivated

Netflix has quietly dropped a historical drama rooted in real events, and true crime enthusiasts are already singing its praises. The streaming giant has added this Italian post-war thriller, which chronicles the life of Toni Chichiarelli (portrayed by Pietro Castellitto).

The gifted artist scrapes by creating street portraits in Rome during Italy’s tumultuous Years of Lead. This period witnessed widespread chaos fuelled by political violence from both neo-fascist groups and far-left extremists.

Time Magazine noted: “Toni’s amoral ambition leads to a life of forgery, producing perfect replicas of paintings for his gallery owner girlfriend Donata (Giulia Michelini) and other lucrative jobs for the Banda della Magliana, a criminal organization stretching its wings in Rome, with the charismatic Balbo (Edoardo Pesce) taking the forger under his wing.”

This ambitious production, amongst Netflix’s collection of fact-based films, has earned acclaim for its meticulous period detail, with reviewers highlighting the authenticity of everything from vehicles to wardrobes and soundtrack. Viewers have branded it a compelling blend of political suspense and gangster drama.

The Netflix offering is titled The Big Fake, and supporters have flocked to IMDb reviews encouraging others to give it a watch.

Pjames10 praised it as “excellent”, revealing: “I don’t want to give anything away, but the movie took some nice twists and turns. It had some filmic serendipities that, rather than distracting, only helped to reveal how our hero has led a charmed life on the periphery of legitimacy and criminality. I was sucked in, and it held my attention the entire time.”

2B-10101010 branded it “amazing”, continuing: “Intrigue, emotion, story, actors, this movie has it all. It starts a bit slow but after the initial introduction, you get to know the characters and story and you want to see more, you want to feel like you are in the movie, it’s a captivating story with a bit of flair. Maybe one of the best European movies! Give it a chance, it’s worth seeing.”

Luuthaiquangkhai awarded the film nine out of 10 stars, commending its distinctive atmosphere.

They explained: “I came in expecting a heist/criminal movie, ends up watching a Historical drama that is very much unlike any other things. They have a good story to tell, a firm set of characters with clear individual values and motivations.”

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Over on Rotten Tomatoes, Giulia S enthused: “Amazing plot. Great character. Great Atmosphere. I really enjoy it!” Anthousa P declared: “Finally a movie for readers of good literature. Where the story matters less than how it is told. Lovely photography, solid acting, good steady pace, interesting musical background.”

Lucas P declared: “An absolute masterpiece of a movie with a spectacular twist at the end. This is a must-watch.”

The genuine Antonio Chichiarelli was an expert in deception, and his talents extended far beyond painting. Born in Abruzzo in 1948, he made his way to Rome possessing a skill “so dangerous it made him a protected asset for the most powerful entities in Italy”, according to The Viewers Perspective.

The Big Fake is on Netflix.

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The 2023 film follows childhood friends coming to terms with a devastating loss

A touching drama that kept viewers glued to their screens has landed on BBC iPlayer just in time for your midweek viewing.

First hitting screens in 2023, Kindling marked writer-director Connor O’Hara’s feature film debut.

Though he was a fresh face in the industry, O’Hara worked with an impressive cast including Sex Education’s George Somner and fellow Netflix actress Mia McKenna-Bruce (Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials).

The heartfelt drama follows a group of young men who return to their hometown for one last summer with their terminally ill friend, Sid (Somner).

Coming to terms with his mortality, Sid creates a plan to make the summer unforgettable. He gathers his friends and tasks each of them with finding an item that connects their group to either love, home, friends, family or location.

As a science nerd, Sid plans on burning every beloved item to immortalise his memory in the form of particles lingering in the atmosphere.

As you can expect, the film dives into heavy themes including grief and terminal illness. But it also explores uplifting topics such as the importance of friendship.

Although Kindling didn’t capture much attention upon its debut, fans who caught it were completely captivated.

Taking to Rotten Tomatoes, one viewer praised: “Very touching film with some fantastic performances by such a young cast! The filmmakers did a great job of handling such complex subject matter without it feeling heavy-handed. I hope more people see this film!”

Meanwhile an IMDb user dubbed it as “a classic in every way,” before adding: “Kindling kept me glued to the screen in a trance.”

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A third viewer shared their own glowing review: “Overall, Kindling is a touching and beautifully made film that will leave you feeling grateful for the people in your life. It is a celebration of life and friendship, and a reminder to cherish every moment we have. Highly recommended.”

While a Letterboxd user enthused: “One of those deeper films about real friendship, love and loss. This in many ways is about how loss affects the individuals, the friends, family members and an outsider. Thought provoking, sad, happy and very real. A film which needs to be watched more than once.”

However, someone else warned: “Be prepared to cry if you’re gonna watch this.”

Kindling is streaming now on BBC iPlayer