Holiday tips tricks and hacks

It’s your FINAL chance to book a £9.50 holiday this year

RIGHT now there are hundreds of holidays available to book over at the £9.50 Holiday website.

But if you want to bag one you’ll have to move fast, as this is the final £9.50 Holiday sale of the year – and they’re going quick.

There’s plenty of activities for mini thrill-seekers at Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay Credit: parkdean resorts cayton bay

Unlock the hols by signing up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month / £12 per year

The breaks listed on the website are for autumn holidays this year, or to book ahead for 2027. This means you could bag a stay at your favourite £9.50 holiday park for next year before anyone else.

How to book one? Don’t worry if you haven’t been collecting code words from the paper – you can gain immediate access to these holidays by signing up to Sun Club.

Simply click here to sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month (or £12 for an entire year) and you’ll unlock the final £9.50 holiday deals of the year.

Here’s a round-up of some of the most exciting and popular UK holiday parks which you can book now.

Read more on £9.50 holidays

GO SEA

Top £9.50 holiday parks on sale NOW with £10m upgrades, waterparks & private beaches


ACT NOW

Perfect £9.50 Hols for autumn on sale NOW – with beaches, cosy pubs & indoor pools

Parkdean Resorts Kessingland Beach

You could bag a stay at Parkdean Resorts Kessingland Beach Credit: Tripadvisor

Sitting on a sandy stretch of Suffolk shoreline, Kessingland Beach Holiday Park offers easy access to a beautiful beach and lush woodlands beyond.

Whether you’re heading out for a family bike ride or taking a bucket and spade to the golden sands on your doorstep, this holiday park is in a pretty unbeatable location.

If you fancy a day trip, the historic Somerleyton Hall and Gardens is just a short drive away, where you can stroll through manicured grounds and take on a classic hedge maze.

Southwold pier is also nearby, lined with amusements and ice cream shops.

Hayling Island Holiday Park

Hayling Island Holiday Park is available to book with The Sun’s £9.50 Holidays Credit: Booking.com

Just east of Portsmouth, this holiday park on Hayling Island is surrounded by sprawling beaches and quirky surprises that truly set it apart from other parks.

Beyond the staple adventure playground and splash zones, families can tackle a Wipeout inflatable course, play a few rounds of disc golf, or put their pets to the test on the ‘Tough Mutter’ dog agility track.

After dark, the on-site entertainment dials up the fun with high-energy Glow Show DJ battles and dedicated Queen tribute nights.

To truly pamper the family, book one of the luxury caravans and end your action-packed days by sinking into a bubbling private hot tub.

Unlock the hols by signing up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month / £12 per year

Skirlington Coast

Skirlington Coast holiday park has a brand new lido and festival gardens area Credit: Skirlington Coast

With a recent £10m cash injection, Skirlington Coast is the perfect pick to book ahead for next summer.

One exciting new addition is the ‘Festival Gardens’ – a brightly decorated, fairy-lit outdoor zone which is perfect for kicking back with a cocktail on a summer evening.

Add a brand-new lido to the mix, sheltered by a yellow-striped canopy and surrounded by colorful beach huts and loungers, and you’ve got the ultimate seaside holiday vibe on-site.

Indoors, you’ll find a pool with a kids’ splash zone, a sauna and hot tub for grown-ups, plus new activities like axe throwing and a mini bike pump track.

How to book your £9.50 holiday

There are FIVE ways to book our Hols From £9.50:

  1. Book with Sun Club: Join Sun Club for £1.99 a month by clicking here. Then go to the Sun Club Offers hub (here) and find the Hols from £9.50 deal. Booking opens on Sunday, August 23.
  2. Book with Codewords: Simply collect two codewords printed in The Sun daily from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Then enter them on the £9.50 holiday website to unlock booking from Sunday, August 23. 
  3. Book with Sun Savers: Download the Sun Savers app or register at sunsavers.co.uk. Then go to the ‘Offers’ section of Sun Savers and click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Hols From £9.50’ page. Collect two Sun Savers codes from those printed at the bottom of the Sun Savers page in the newspaper from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Then enter or scan the codes on Sun Savers to unlock booking from Sunday, August 23.
  4. Book by post: Collect two of the codewords printed in The Sun each day from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Cut the codeword out and send it back with the booking form – found in paper on Saturday, August 22 or online at club950.co.uk.
  5. Book with The Sun Digital Newspaper: Sign up to The Sun Digital Newspaper at thesun.co.uk/newspaper. Then download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk, log in to Sun Savers with your Sun account details (the same email and password you use for your Digital Newspaper) and enjoy automatic access to Hols, without the need to collect Sun Savers codes daily. Booking opens on Sunday, August 23.

St Ives Bay Beach Resort

Unwind in your private hot tub at St Ives Bay Beach Resort Credit: Tripadvisor

This £9.50 holiday park delivers a glamorous Cornish coastal escape on a budget and you can upgrade a standard holiday home to a glass-roofed ‘Stargazer’ caravan, a cozy luxury pod, or a sprawling sea-view family lodge.

The beach is just steps away when you want to unwind by the waves, plus there’s plenty of unique activities for kids like Nerf wars, disc golf and an open-air cinema.

If the weather turns, there’s an indoor heated pool, arcade, and lively evening entertainment to keep everybody entertained.

Plus, you’re perfectly positioned here for a day trip into St Ives to explore its postcard-perfect harbour and maze of independent art boutiques.

Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay

Cayton Bay Holiday Park in North Yorkshire has plenty of activities on offer Credit: Parkdean Resort / Cayton Bay Holiday Park

Sitting a stone’s throw from Scarborough and Filey Beach, this North Yorkshire resort is the ultimate pick for outdoors-y, thrill-seeking families.

Beyond the sprawling swimming pool, there’s activities like high ropes, hoverboards, and bumper zorbs.

Accommodation comes as cosy caravans and luxury lodges, and if you’re feeling ultra-fancy, you can opt for a glam lodge with a hot tub.

Furthermore, family-favourite theme park Flamingo Land is around 40 minutes drive away.

5 more £9.50 holiday parks to book

Here’s 5 more holiday parks you can book ahead for next year or book in for autumn.

Parkdean Resorts Landguard, Isle of Wight

A stay at this action-packed Parkdean resort gives you two holiday parks for the price of one! Stay in one of the site’s quiet, cosy wooden lodges, then head over to the sister park to make use of their facilities. Landguard is only a stone’s throw from Parkdean Lower Hyde, where guests can enjoy double the fun and double the facilities between both parks.

Parkdean Resorts Thorness Bay

This park sits within woodlands overlooking the sea, with plenty of coastal trails and walks on its doorstep. But its peaceful location doesn’t mean you’re short on things to do here – kids can zip down the waterslide into an indoor heated pool, or burn off their energy on the adventure playground or sports courts.

Park Holidays UK Bowland Fell, Yorkshire

If you want a relaxed break centred around getting outdoors, this is the pick for you. This park sits at the edge of 130 acres of Bowland forest, giving you direct access to endless woodland trails. Plus, this park sits within a dark sky reserve, meaning stargazing here is particularly spectacular.

Parkdean Resorts Sandford, Dorset

Step straight from your accommodation into Wareham Forest’s pine-scented trails, or go deer-spotting at nearby RSPB Arne. For off-site adventures, the iconic Corfe Castle ruins and world-famous Jurassic Coast are just a short drive away.

Trecco Bay, Porthcawl

As the UK’s largest holiday park, Trecco Bay houses a massive indoor Splashland, a full-sized bowling alley, an arcade, and a soft play area and much, much more. There’s over 2,000 caravans and lodges here, ranging from affordable, comfy caravans to luxurious lodges with hot tubs.

Source link

The £1 travel hack that unlocks £59 holidays + FREE food & drinks at the airport, luxury lounge access and more

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Mature businessman texting on phone in hotel room, Image 2 shows Barwoman preparing drinks in a bar, Image 3 shows Business people at lunch

THIS travel club can save you a whole lot of money when going on holiday – and Sun readers can try it out for just £1.

Ever wanted to swap those noisy airport cafes and hard airport seats for somewhere a little more comfy and relaxed, where free food and drink is flowing?

Swap the overcrowded airport seating for glam lounges with unlimited food and drink Credit: Getty

Try Travelzoo for 30 days for £1

For £1, you could bypass the airport chaos entirely and kick back in a stylish, comfy airport lounge with ice-cold drinks, super-fast Wi-Fi and somewhere to put your feet up

Travelzoo are a money-saving club where members can bag a load of travel benefits, including free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed.

The membership costs £30 for the year, which is already a steal.

But Sun readers can bag a 30 day free trial for only £1 by clicking here.

Read more on travel hacks

BED IN

The disgusting hotel room item I learned to love and 9 more surprising travel hacks


HACK IT

We’ve tested popular social media travel hacks – ones that work and ones to AVOID

So before your next holiday, you could be chilling in an airport lounge with bottomless food and drinks (including alcohol) in exchange for that quid rattling around in your pocket.

We all know the dreaded feeling. You’ve dragged your bags through the terminal, braved the queues, and finally made it to the gate – only to look up at the screen and see the dreaded words: DELAYED.

Suddenly, you’re searching for a seat in a packed airport terminal, clutching a soggy-yet-expensive airport sandwich.

But if you’re a Travelzoo member, you get access to over 1,600 lounges across 500+ airports in more than 100 countries.

The way this works is simple. When your flight is delayed by one hour or more, you get airport lounge tickets automatically sent to you by email or text.

Inside these stylish lounges you’ll find things like private and comfy seating, free Wi-Fi and charging points, and even showers, desks and sleep pods in some locations.

Complimentary drinks even include alcohol across some of the airport lounges Credit: Getty

Try Travelzoo for 30 days for £1

You’ll also get complimentary food and drink, which includes alcohol.

So even if your flight is delayed for multiple hours, you know you’ll have access to good-quality food, drinks and even somewhere to nap.

“As soon as I got the delay notification from Delta, I received an email with lounge pass PDFs” writes one Travelzoo member, Holly.

“Our flight ended up being delayed six times and the lounge pass was a lifesaver.

“This lounge had free food, drinks, snacks, Wi-Fi, showers, etc. It was worth it!”.

Another member, Angela, said she used it at London Heathrow after a delayed flight saga.

She said: “Travelzoo notified me of our delay and sent vouchers to a lounge that was way better than the one my credit card had.”

Usually, access to these airport lounges would require an elite membership status with an airline, or an expensive day pass.

However you can access these lounges with Travelzoo no matter who you are flying with, even with economy class tickets.

Flight delays are made much easier when you have somewhere comfortable to sit and relax Credit: Getty

Airport lounge day passed typically cost between £30 – £40, whereas a Travelzoo membership costs £30 for an entire year.

That means just one delayed flight would justify the cost of an entire year’s membership.

You could easily spend over £30 on meals and drinks for the family in the airport Wetherspoons, but instead you’ll have your own less-crowded, more comfy zone with access to all the snacks and drinks you’ll need.

Best of all, you can register up to three travel companions on your itinerary for free – meaning your family or mates get the VIP treatment right alongside you.

Travelzoo members don’t just get airport lounge benefits – they also get access to super cheap holidays.

There are members-only sales and hand-picked holiday deals that give members access to some of the best holiday bargains out there.

For example, members can bag Benidorm package holidays for £179pp, a two-night staycation for two in Northumberland for £89, or a charming English inn stay for £59.

Members will be alerted when flash holiday sales go live, and can bag these exclusive discounts before anyone else.

How to register for lounge access

Once you’re signed up to Travelzoo by clicking here, follow these steps:

  • Visit airportlounge.travelzoo.com and register your flight at least 24 hours before departure
  • Enter your flight number, travel date, and passenger details. You can register up to 3 travel companions on the same itinerary.
  • Each flight leg requires a separate registration (roundtrips and connections need individual entries).
  • If your flight is officially delayed by 1+ hour, you’ll automatically receive QR-code vouchers via email and text with participating lounge options.

Note: Cancelled flights or flights rescheduled to the next day do not qualify.

Sun readers can try Travelzoo for 30 days for just £1 by clicking the button below.

Try Travelzoo for 30 days for £1

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

Sunny European city breaks that are cheaper than a big night out… with £14 flights, £8.50 dinner & JUGS of wine for £3

YOU don’t need a huge holiday budget to jet off on an amazing European city break.

With flights from £13.99 each way and hotel rooms from under £40 a night, a weekend escape to Spain, Italy, or France can easily cost less than a big night out at home.

Lyon is known as the food capital of France – and there are plenty of inexpensive dining options Credit: Getty
Collage of travel items including a plane, sunscreen, passport, suitcase, and plane tickets, advertising The Sun's travel Instagram account.

Whether you fancy sipping €3 (£2.50) wine by the river in Porto, grabbing fresh beachside tapas in Malaga, or drinking in views from a 360-degree rotating bar in Tirana, you can do it all while on a budget.

Here are the best bargain European city breaks you can book right now for under £18 a flight, with ridiculously cheap hotel stays to match.

Lyon, France

Bag a cheap city break to Lyon where you can sip a drink on a floating bar at the River Banks, wander Renaissance-era cobblestone streets in Old Lyon, and sample some of the best food in France.

Known as the food capital of France, it isn’t hard to find somewhere good to eat here – even on a budget.

Head to Marronniers Street at lunchtime and take your pick of Bouchons, which are traditional, local restaurants serving high-quality authentic meals for as little as €10 (£8.50).

You can fly to Lyon with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way. Sometimes the return flight from Lyon can be as low as £13.99.

The People Lyon offers rooms from £37 a night. The building used to be a secondary school, and has now become a vibrant spot for people to sit and enjoy views of the Fourvière Basilica.

Milan, Italy

Milan makes for an affordable city break with £14.99 flights and plenty of free sights Credit: Getty

While famous for high fashion and luxury, Milan is surprisingly easy to do on a budget if you know where to look.

The city’s aperitivo culture is ideal for inexpensive light snacking and drinking – especially in the vibrant, canal-side district of Navigli.

Soak up world-class architecture for free by wandering through the mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, admiring Sforzesco Castle, and of course taking in the views of the famous Milan Cathedral.

With super cheap flights, an affordable metro system and plenty to do for free once you’re there, you can book a city break to Milan knowing it won’t dent your wallet.

You can fly to Milan with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

The Glam Hotel Milano has rooms from £50 a night, and is a modern hotel directly opposite the train station.

Malaga, Spain

Soak up the views of Malaga from the Gibralfaro viewpoint Credit: Getty

Far more than a typical getaway to the Costa del Sol, Malaga is a vibrant, sun-soaked city full of Andalusian culture.

Dining out is wonderfully cheap, with beachside bars serving fresh sardine skewers for only a few euros, alongside plenty of low-cost tapas spots.

Sightseeing costs next to nothing thanks to free Sunday afternoon entry to art museums and historic sites like the Alcazaba fortress.

Pair that with beach days and scenic hikes to the Gibralfaro viewpoint, and you’ve got yourself a very affordable few days away.

You can fly to Malaga with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way.

Rooms at funky capsule hotel Futurotel Malaga start from £59.

Porto, Portugal

Enjoy jugs of wine in Porto for as little as €3.50 in local neighbourhood tascas Credit: Getty

Cheap wine, unique architecture, amazing city viewpoints – Porto is the ideal pick for a walkable city break packed with affordable things to do.

Spend a day strolling through the Ribeira District where medieval colourful houses and charming cafes line the riverfront.

Another top free sight is to watch the sun set behind the huge steel Dom Luis I Bridge from the Jardmin do Morro, to the sound of local street musicians.

As for cheap wine, pop into neighbourhood tascas for a bite to eat and a drink – here you can enjoy local wine by the jug for €3.50 (£3)!

You can fly to Porto with Ryanair from as little as £13.99 each way.

The ever-reliable ibis budget Porto Gaia has rooms from £55 a night.

Tirana, Albania

Tirana in Albania is fully of cheap and quirky things to do, including a bunker turned underground art museum Credit: Alamy

Tirana is easily one of Europe’s most underrated and budget-friendly capitals, buzzing with pastel-painted buildings and an amazing coffee culture.

You can explore giant, Communist-era nuclear bunkers turned underground art museums at Bunk’Art, or catch a cheap cable car ride up Mount Dajti for sweeping views across the valley.

Nights are best spent in the trendy Blloku district – a neighbourhood once off-limits to locals as it was an restricted zone for communist regime leaders – now it’s open to everyone with lively cocktail lounges and traditional grill houses that serve up dishes and drinks for pocket change.

You can fly to Tirana with Wizz Air from £17.99 each way.

The four-star Sky Hotel Tirana has rooms from £38 per night, and is home to the largest rotating bar in the Balkans.

The revolving rooftop bar completes a 360° turn every hour, giving you sweeping city and mountain views alongside your meal.

Dublin, Ireland

Take a quick weekend break to Dublin with a £14.99 Ryanair flight Credit: Getty

When you can hop over to Dublin on a £14.99 hour-long flight, this might just be the quickest and easiest city break to tick off in a weekend.

While Temple Bar is certainly worth a visit to walk its pretty cobbled streets and grab a pic outside the famous red pub, save your pint of Guinness for elsewhere.

Head to South William Street to find cheaper beer at spots like Pygmalion and Grogan’s, where all the atmosphere comes from taking your pint back out into the street to listen to buskers.

For an affordable yet delicious lunch, head to Pablo Picante. Dublin has a huge burrito culture, and this Mexican chain offers well-stuffed wraps that will keep you full all day from €10.75 (£9.20).

You can fly to Dublin with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

Stay at the Wetherspoons-owned Keaven’s Port Hotel from £82 per night. The hotel sits on Camden Street, which packed with some of the city’s best bars, pubs and clubs.

Alicante, Spain

Alicante in Spain sees 300 days of sunshine per year Credit: Getty

With year-round warmth and 300 days of sunshine per year, Alicante is a solid bet when it comes to booking a sunny Spanish city break.

Spend your days wandering the whitewashed, flower-filled lanes of Barrio Santa Cruz, or taking in sweeping Mediterranean views from the hilltop Santa Barbara Castle for free.

Eating well can be remarkably cheap if you visit Mercado Central for fresh tapas, or tuck into authentic regional paellas at backstreet neighbourhood bars.

You can fly to Alicante with Ryanair from £14.99 each way.

You can book a stay at the Travelodge Alicante Puerto from £39 per night, which is conveniently located a short walk from Alicante Harbour and the Explanada de España.



Source link

All the biggest and best £9.50 holiday parks on sale NOW

BOOKING is open to secure your 2027 £9.50 holiday before anyone else.

Hundreds of new breaks across £9.50 holiday parks have landed on The Sun’s £9.50 Holidays website – including autumn getaways and dates you can pre-book for 2027.

Skirlington Coast is a £9.50 holiday park that underwent a multi-million pound makeover this year Credit: Skirlington Coast

Unlock the hols by signing up to Sun Club – for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Haven’t been collecting codes from the paper? Don’t worry – you can instantly unlock the holidays by signing up to Sun Club.

Simply sign up to Sun Club and you will gain access to a special Offers Page, where you can access the new £9.50 holidays instantly.

Sun Club membership costs £1.99 per month (or £12 for the year), and also includes benefits like two-for-one attraction tickets, free darts and horse racing tickets, and freebies like books, skincare kits and more.

We’ve rounded up popular £9.50 holiday parks that have had major glow-ups recently, plus picks like the largest holiday park in the UK and resorts packed with kids’ activities.

Read more on £9.50 holidays

DIVE IN

Inside the £9.50 holiday park with a £10m upgrade – with a NEW waterpark and lido


WAVE REVIEWS

Ultimate guide to the UK’s best holiday county with top beaches & £9.50 hols

Seal Bay is a £9.50 holiday park with beachfront pods, private hot tubs and a surfing simulator Credit: Destination Selsey

Seal Bay Resort, Selsey

Crowned as the most popular £9.50 holiday park last year, Seal Bay is one of the most action-packed resorts on England‘s south coast.

Its £18 million ‘White Horse‘ complex is home to a large entertainment venue, multi-level soft play, sports courts, an arcade, bowling, an outdoor pool and more rolled into one action-packed zone.

Not to mention this park has its own mile-long stretch of private beach. On a clear day, you can see the Isle of Wight from across the water.

Forget a standard swimming pool – this park boasts a massive indoor water complex complete with a surf simulator, plus an outdoor lido for sunny days.

The park is built like a mini village, with plenty of shops and amenities on each corner, meaning you can easily spend an entire week here without ever needing to leave the gates.

Unlock the hols by signing up to Sun Club – for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Skirlington Coast holiday park has a brand new lido, waterpark and festival gardens area Credit: Skirlington Coast

Skirlington Coast, Yorkshire

Sitting atop rugged East Yorkshire cliffs, Skirlington Leisure Park offers sweeping sea views and direct access to beautiful beaches.

This park recently received a £10 million cash injection, with a brand new waterpark, lido and activities like axe throwing and a mini bike pump track introduced this year.

The waterpark spans both indoor and outdoor areas, centred around two large swimming pools.

Indoors, kids can splash about under the umbrella-shaped water feature, while grown-ups can unwind in the sauna or hot tub.

The large outdoor lido is the perfect place to cool off on a sunny day, but if the weather does take a turn, it is sheltered by a large yellow-striped roof.

Next to the lido there are plenty of colourful deck chairs, parasols, loungers and even some beach huts that give the area that seaside holiday feel.

The lido and outdoor waterpark sit in the Festival Gardens area, a brand new section of the holiday park which is filled with brightly-coloured decorations and pretty fairy lights.

Unity Beach has a newly-upgraded waterpark plus a huge free-entry theme park next door Credit: Pitch Up

Unity Beach

Following a major £10 million refurbishment, Unity Beach now has a new lido, waterpark and festival gardens.

There’s also plans to upgrade the site’s entertainment complex with a new showbar that will seat over 1,000, so securing your £9.50 holiday for next year now gives you the best chances of seeing all these new upgrades in-person.

The site’s waterpark pairs indoor and outdoor splash zones with high-speed flumes and rubber-ring rides.

Just next door, guests can access Brean Theme Park, which is the UK’s largest free-to-enter theme park. It packs in over 40 rides, ranging from white-knuckle rollercoasters to classic bumper cars.

Best of all, seven miles of open sand at Brean Sands sit directly opposite the resort grounds.

How to book your £9.50 holiday

There are FIVE ways to book our Hols From £9.50:

  1. Book with Sun Club: Join Sun Club for £1.99 a month by clicking here. Then go to the Sun Club Offers hub (here) and find the Hols from £9.50 deal. You do not need to collect any codewords or Sun Savers codes. Booking opens at midnight on Sunday, August 23.
  2. Book with Codewords: Simply collect two codewords printed in The Sun daily from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Then enter them on the £9.50 holiday website to unlock booking from Sunday, August 23. 
  3. Book with Sun Savers: Download the Sun Savers app or register at sunsavers.co.uk. Then go to the ‘Offers’ section of Sun Savers and click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Hols From £9.50’ page. Collect two Sun Savers codes from those printed at the bottom of the Sun Savers page in the newspaper from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Then enter or scan the codes on Sun Savers to unlock booking from Sunday, August 23.
  4. Book by post: Collect two of the codewords printed in The Sun each day from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Cut the codeword out and send it back with the booking form – found in paper on Saturday, August 22 or online at club950.co.uk.
  5. Book with The Sun Digital Newspaper: Sign up to The Sun Digital Newspaper at thesun.co.uk/newspaper. Then download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk, log in to Sun Savers with your Sun account details (the same email and password you use for your Digital Newspaper) and enjoy automatic access to Hols, without the need to collect Sun Savers codes daily. Booking opens on Sunday, August 23.

Billing Aquadrome is one of the most popular £9.50 Holiday parks with loads to do for kids Credit: meadow bay

Billing Aquadrome, Northampton

Sprawling across 235 acres of lakes and countryside in Northamptonshire, Billing Aquadrome is designed to keep even hard-to-please teenagers off their phones.

Where else can kids feed alpacas, ride on a BMX pump track, learn TikTok dances, and ride a miniature railway all in one afternoon?

Kids can go full Total Wipeout on the lake’s massive inflatable obstacle course, while younger ones get stuck into slime-making and outdoor survival workshops.

When the sun goes down, the outdoor cinema becomes a popular spot with its open-air cinema screenings, plus there’s also silent discos and live shows in a giant outdoor amphitheatre.

Refuelling the family is easy thanks to loaded burgers at Smash’d Town and sweet snacks from the Bak’D & Swirls dessert shop.

To top it all off, you can fall asleep right on the water’s edge by booking a stay in a cosy lakeside pod.

Parkdean Resorts Trecco Bay, Porthcawl

Trecco Bay is the UK’s largest holiday park, and is also one of the biggest in Europe Credit: Parkdean Resorts

As the UK’s biggest holiday park – and one of the largest in Europe – Trecco Bay is a colossal coastal playground.

Sitting in the seaside town of Porthcawl, here you’ve got a classic promenade, a seaside funfair, and a choice of stunning Blue Flag beaches right on your doorstep.

But there’s no need to leave site when you’ve got a NERF gun battlefield, bumper zorbing, pirate-themed crazy golf, and a Make a Bear station and more to pick from.

Plus the pool complex has high-powered aqua jets that twist you through the water, as well as inflatable jet skis and mini aqua paddler boats for little ones.

Even the pickiest of eaters can find something here, with top-tier high-street brands like Burger King, Papa Johns, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, and Costa Coffee ready to refuel the whole family.

Unlock the hols by signing up to Sun Club – for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Sunny Golden Sands in Rhyl sits on the North Wales coast, near Llandudno Credit: Alamy

Golden Sands, Rhyl

Golden Sands Holiday Park in the seaside town of Rhyl is the ideal base to explore North Wales.

This park puts you within short driving distance of legendary castles such as Gwyrch and Bodelwyddan, plus there’s beautiful nature spots like Dyserth Waterfall on your doorstep.

When you aren’t out exploring, on-site there’s a heated indoor pool, arcades, a sports court, plus a soft play area.

Plus there’s plenty of activities that kids will love such as slime workshops and NERF gun battles.

Grab some dinner from the site’s traditional fish and chip shop before settling down to watch the live entertainment kick off in the evening.

The fantastic evening entertainment includes family-friendly live shows, glow parties, bingo nights and mini discos.

Newquay Bay Holidar Park gives you direct access to the glorious Cornish coast Credit: Alamy

Newquay Bay Holiday Resort

Newquay Bay is one of the fancier holiday parks available with Hols from £9.50, and feels more like an expensive coastal retreat.

Take a dip in its serene indoor and outdoor heated pools, or take lessons with the on-site surf school, prepping you to hit the waves at nearby Porth beach.

If you fancy a pamper, there’s a hair and beauty salon, alongside a sauna and steam room to truly unwind.

You can even walk across the beach’s narrow footbridge to Porth Island to explore an ancient Iron Age fort, before grabbing a pint at The Mermaid Inn, which sits directly on the beach.

Unlock the hols by signing up to Sun Club – for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Source link

This weekend is your LAST CHANCE to bag a £9.50 Holiday this year

THIS weekend will be the last chance for Sun readers to book a £9.50 holiday this year.

There are still plenty of bargains to be booked with The Sun’s £9.50 holidays – and you’ll get first pick if you’re a Sun Club member.

Holiday parks such as Golden Coast will be available to book this weekend with £9.50 Holidays Credit: golden coast devon

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Traditionally, Sun readers collect codes in the newspaper to enter onto the Hols from £9.50 website to unlock access to booking.

But if you’re a Sun Club member, there’s no need to collect any codes – you’ll get automatic access earlier than those collecting codes

Sun Club Members can skip collecting codes in the paper and go straight to the booking page to bag a last-minute break at their choice of park.

Members can access the hols from midnight on Sunday, August 23, whereas those collecting codes in the paper will have to wait until the morning to purchase a paper to collect their final codeword.

DIVE IN

Inside the £9.50 holiday park with a £10m upgrade – with a NEW waterpark and lido


OLDE WORLD

World-class beaches, mountains & monsters make Scotland an unforgettable holiday

Here’s how to book a £9.50 holiday with Sun Club:

  1. Sign up to Sun Club by clicking here.
  2. Once you’re signed up, head to the Sun Club offers hub- or click here.
  3. Gain automatic access to the booking your hols from midnight on Sunday, August 23.

Booking opens on Sunday, August 23 and closes on September 21.

However, you’ll want to be logged on and ready as soon as it opens, so that you can bag the holiday park you want before it sells out.

The Sun’s £9.50 Holiday Agony Aunt Tracy Kennedy recommends using the ‘Midnight Service’ trick to bag your holiday.

This means being logged on and ready with the parks and dates you want in mind from around 11:55pm on Saturday night, so that once it hits midnight you can go straight to booking.

Some popular UK parks with new dates available include Parkdean Resorts’ Kessingland Beach, Trecco Bay, Camber Sands and Vauxhall in Great Yarmouth.

You can also book a Park Holidays resort like Sand le Mere or Lossiemouth, as well as Lyons resorts like Sunnysands or stay at Hendra and Unity Beach.

There are even European breaks available at resorts in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

There will be Park Holidays resorts available to book for this autumn or for next year Credit: park holidays uk

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

How to book your £9.50 holiday

There are FIVE ways to book our Hols From £9.50:

  1. Book with Sun Club: Join Sun Club for £1.99 a month by clicking here. Then go to the Sun Club Offers hub (here) and find the Hols from £9.50 deal. You do not need to collect any codewords or Sun Savers codes. Booking opens at midnight on Sunday, August 23.
  2. Book with Codewords: Simply collect two codewords printed in The Sun daily from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Then enter them on the £9.50 holiday website to unlock booking from Sunday, August 23. 
  3. Book with Sun Savers: Download the Sun Savers app or register at sunsavers.co.uk. Then go to the ‘Offers’ section of Sun Savers and click ‘Start Collecting’ on the ‘Hols From £9.50’ page. Collect two Sun Savers codes from those printed at the bottom of the Sun Savers page in the newspaper from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Then enter or scan the codes on Sun Savers to unlock booking from Sunday, August 23.
  4. Book by post: Collect two of the codewords printed in The Sun each day from Saturday, August 22 to Friday, August 28. Cut the codeword out and send it back with the booking form – found in paper on Saturday, August 22 or online at club950.co.uk.
  5. Book with The Sun Digital Newspaper: Sign up to The Sun Digital Newspaper at thesun.co.uk/newspaper. Then download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk, log in to Sun Savers with your Sun account details (the same email and password you use for your Digital Newspaper) and enjoy automatic access to Hols, without the need to collect Sun Savers codes daily. Booking opens on Sunday, August 23.

These parks still have availability to book a break this autumn, so whether you’re looking to jet off abroad for some last-minute sun, or book a cosy UK Halloween break, the choice is yours.

You can even book ahead and secure a holiday for next year, which is a nifty trick to avoid the January £9.50 holiday rush.

Signing up to Sun Club costs £1.99 per month or £12 per year.

Not only does it make booking your £9.50 holiday a lot easier, but there are plenty more benefits and freebies exclusive to Sun Club members.

Savvy Sun Club member (and Queen of the £9.50 holiday) Tracy Kennedy saved nearly £1,000 in one year on family hols and days out by being a Sun Club member.

This is because being a member gets you discounts on attractions, holidays, and there are even some freebie goodies thrown in there, too.

Sun Club members can currently bag 2-for-1 Diggerland tickets, four free tickets to the races per year and free goodies like skincare kits and audio books.

Once you’re a member, check out the Offers Hub to see the full list of goodies you can claim.

Parkdean Resorts Highfield Grange is among the parks to have new dates added from this weekend Credit: Parkdean Holidays

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Source link

We found the BEST last minute Loveholidays deals with infinity pools and 5-star hotels

FANCY a last minute escape to somewhere hot and sunny?

Thankfully, you could be cocktail in-hand and toes in the sand sooner than you’d think, as there’s loads of absolute bargains on Loveholidays.

Bag a last minute break to the Algarve with a stay at Rocamar Exclusive Hotel and Spa Credit: Love Holidays

We’ve found some seriously affordable week-long breaks to glamorous resorts in Spain, Turkey, the Canary Islands and Morocco for as little as £129pp.

Here’s a roundup of the top last minute deals we found. All the deals below are for seven night stays, and include your return flights.

Costa Brava

Loveholidays offer a week-long stay at Odissea Park from only £229pp Credit: Love Holidays

With a speedy two hour flight and the sunshine sitting in the mid 20’s well into the autumn, Costa Brava is the perfect no-fuss pick for a sunny holiday.

Visit the resort of Tossa de Mar to see a medieval castle overlooking turquoise waters, or stay in Santa Susanna for easy access to Water World and Levante Beach.

Read more on Loveholidays

BAG A BARGAIN

Loveholidays last minute deals – with week-long breaks from £149pp


NOVEL IDEA

Loveholidays’ new ‘novel coat’ that fits 48 books as Brits admit they overpack

We found a week-long stay at Odissea Park hotel for only £229pp – this four-star stay has a sleek design, is perfect for families and is just steps from the sea.

Or click here to browse all last minute holidays to Costa Brava.

Bag a seven night stay at Odissea Park for £229pp in October

Dalaman, Turkey

You can bag a stay at the 5* Green Forest Holiday Village in Turkey for only £369pp Credit: Love Holidays

For a great value stay on Turkey‘s gorgeous Turquoise Coast, book yourself a holiday to Dalaman.

We found a bargain break in Olu Deniz, a beach resort that is famous for its glowing blue lagoon and sports like paragliding.

The deal includes your flights plus a five star stay at Green Forest Holiday Village, a relaxing resort with sea and mountain views with its own spa.

Or click here to browse all last minute holidays to Dalaman.

Book a seven night stay at Green Forest Holiday Village from £369pp in September

Gran Canaria

Servatur Terrazamar Suite & Sunsuite sits in the popular resort of Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria Credit: Loveholidays

For reliable year-round sunshine and a coastline lined with affordable resorts and friendly tapas bars, go for Gran Canaria.

Gran Canaria has some incredible landscapes, too, from the rolling sand dunes of Maspalomas to the volcanic rocks of Roque Nublo.

The popular resort of Puerto Rico is packed with water sports, vibrant nightlife and even dolphin-watching by the shore.

We found a deal for a stay at the stunning Servatur Terrazamar Suite & Sunsuite, where their sprawling outdoor pool is framed by dramatic mountains.

Bag a seven night stay at Servatur Terrazamar Suite & Sunsuite from £369pp in September

The Algarve, Portugal

The adults-only Rocamar Exclusive Hotel and Spa in The Algarve has a rooftop infinity pool Credit: Love Holidays

The amazing Algarve is home to endless golden sand beaches, stunning sea caves and plenty of family-friendly attractions.

Albufeira offers the ideal sun-soaked getaway, with a colourful, cobblestone Old Town, affordable boat trips and amazing local seafood.

We found a steal of a stay at the four star Rocamar Exclusive Hotel and Spa in October.

This adults-only hotel sits in Albufeira’s charming Old Town, and has a rooftop infinity pool facing out to sea.

Book a seven night stay at Rocamar Exclusive Hotel and Spa from £429pp

Or click here to browse all last minute holidays to The Algarve.

Marrakech

We found a week-long holiday to Marrakech for only £129pp with Loveholidays Credit: Getty

You only need to hop on a three and a half hour flight to soon be enjoying 30°C September sunshine in Marrakech.

Spend your days shopping in the labyrinthine of souks, wandering through lush gardens or sipping sweet mint tea on a rooftop terrace.

By night, the legendary Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is the place to be, filled with street performers, musicians, and the mouth-watering smell of street food.

We found a deal for a week-long stay in a comfortable Moroccan apartment for an incredible £129pp, which includes return flights.

Book a seven night stay at Locanda Residence Marrakech from £129pp in September

Plus Loveholidays have a Best Price Promise, which means that if you find the same holiday elsewhere for over £10 less than their price, they’ll refund you the difference – and pay you an extra fiver per person.

To browse more last minute holiday deals to places like France, Italy, Greece, Egypt and more, click below.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

Cheap holiday destinations that give you the MOST for your money with 86p beers, £15 flights & £129pp package breaks

IT’S easy to spend a crazy amount of money on holidays. But it doesn’t have to be that way – you just have to know where to look.

Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Forget paying hundreds of pounds just to fight over sunbeds in overpriced resorts like Ibiza and Mykonos – THIS is where to go instead.

The Algarve is the cheapest destination for a family holiday in 2026, according to a Post Office report Credit: Getty
Albania offers cheap holidays in stunning resorts like Ksamil and Durres Credit: Getty

We’ve found holiday destinations that give you the same glorious sunshine, golden sand beaches and gorgeous hotels for much, much less.

Think 86p beers, £3 cocktails, flights under 15 quid and entire holidays for the cost of a family meal out.

From dirt-cheap Portugal holidays to five-star Turkish getaways, here’s the foreign holiday destinations where your cash stretches the furthest.

The Algarve, Portugal

Brits looking for maximum bang for their buck this summer should set their sights on The Algarve.

This golden section of Portuguese coastline was crowned Europe’s best-value beach destination in the 2026 Post Office Family Holiday report.

The report compared a list of common holiday costs in 22 European destinations, looking at the price of things like meals out, drinks and everyday holiday items – and The Algarve came out on top.

This cheap holiday hotspot boasts affordable family-friendly hotels plus plenty of cheap flights from airports across the UK.

You can book a flight to Faro for only £14.99 each way with Ryanair, from airports such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and London Stansted.

And according to Wise’s Cost of Living report, a meal out for two here can cost as little as £8.55, while a beer can cost you as little as 86p.

The destination boasts dramatic cliff-backed beaches perfect for exploring by kayak or paddle-board, such as Praia da Marinha with its famous limestone arches, and Benagil Beach with a circular ‘hole in the roof’ cave.

Whether you’re planning to hit the strip in bustling Albufeira or sip cheap coffees in charming coastal towns, your spending money will stretch miles further in this Portuguese region.

Book a holiday: The Algarve

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Golden Club Cabanas in Tavira has a giant outdoor pool lined by palm trees that looks like a tropical oasis.

Here you’re close to the Ria Formosa natural park, where you can go kayaking, bird-watching over the salt marshes, or simply find a beach bar to enjoy a cocktail with a view.

We found a seven night self-catering stay from September 19, with return flights from London Stansted, for £195pp.

BOOK HERE

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast

Antalya is just one stunning destination on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast Credit: Getty

Holidays to Turkey are looking remarkably cheap this summer, hitting rock-bottom prices that almost look too good to be true.

The good news is, they’re not – and there’s good reason as to why holidays to Turkey are currently so cheap.

The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, said: “There’s never been a better time to grab a bargain break to Turkey.

“With uncertainty over the Middle East conflict, holidaymakers have been looking at the Western Med over the Eastern Mediterranean destinations like Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt.

“But everything is operating normally in all three countries – Foreign Office travel advice has not changed and it is perfectly safe to visit.

“But the reticence of some has led to a fall in demand and with that, prices have started tumbling too.

“On the ground, everything remains the same – only the prices you’ll pay are very attractive as hoteliers and tour operators tempt us to travel.

“With beautiful Mediterranean coastal resorts offering great value, now is the time to grab yourself a sunshine bargain.”

Key spots on the Turkish Riviera that balance bargain prices with beautiful views include Marmaris, with its long seafront promenade, and Bodrum, often dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey.

Book a holiday: Turkey

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

The Solivia Hotel is a sprawling five-star property in Antalya, with a Blue Flag private beach and four swimming pools.

The food and drink is all inclusive done right. There’s an extensive buffet in the main restaurant, plus a beach snack bar, pool bar, unlimited ice cream hour and Turkish coffee on tap.

Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Solivia Hotel, with return flights from London Luton, from £555pp.

BOOK HERE

Bulgaria

Sunny Beach in Bulgaria remains a reliable pick for a cheap holiday – but there’s plenty more to Bulgaria Credit: Alamy

89p beers, £279 all inclusive holidays and flights under £15 – how could you go wrong?

Bulgaria is one of the most budget-friendly holiday options out there for Brits, and the Bourgas Area was even named the cheapest all inclusive holiday destination in 2026 by Travel Supermarket.

Furthermore, the country continues to appear year after year as a top affordable destination for families in the Post Office Family Holiday Report.

Plus, according to data from Wise, a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant averages £8.82, a cappuccino just 88p, and a beer as little as 89p.

You can even find cheap flights to spots like Plovdiv, Sofia and Burgas from £18 each way on Skyscanner.

Now you know just how cheap this holiday hotspot is – where abouts should you actually stay?

Sunny Beach continues to reign as one of the most affordable spots, with bargain waterparks and hotels, plus a nightlife scene where prices have barely budged.

But there’s a lot more to Bulgaria than Sunny Beach.

If you want a quieter beach break, Sozopol’s golden sands and wooden townhouses offer a far more relaxed feel than Sunny Beach – without bumping up the price tag.

Just 15 minutes outside of Sunny Beach, Nessebar boasts a UNESCO-protected old town with cobbled streets and ancient ruins, plus romantic cliffside dining where meals cost a fraction of Mediterranean prices.

Prefer a city break? Sofia and Plovdiv are excellent choices. Sofia boasts dirt-cheap metro rides, grand architecture, and bargain nightlife, while Plovdiv’s trendy Kapana district lets you sip 88p coffees surrounded by ancient Roman ruins.

Book a holiday: Bulgaria

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

The Sunny Day Club hotel is an ideal spot for families, sitting in a quieter, northern patch of Sunny Beach.

The buzzy bars, shops and restaurants of Sunny Beach are just a short bus ride away, with a convenient bus stop directly outside the hotel.

Book a seven-night, room-only stay at Sunny Day Club from September 17, with return flights from London Luton, from £179pp.

BOOK HERE

Albanian Riviera

Albania has been called “The Maldives of Europe” thanks to its bright turquoise waters Credit: Getty

If you’re craving vibey beach clubs, cheap cocktails, white sands and glimmering turquoise waters – Albania‘s your best bet.

This underrated holiday destination has jaw-dropping coastlines, dirt-cheap drinks, and a five-star feel without the price tag.

And it’s worth booking yourself a holiday here before too many people catch on, too.

Ksamil has even been called the “Maldives of Europe” thanks to its powdery white sands, crystal-clear lagoons, and plush beach clubs.

Another affordable spot is Durres, which is packed with boujee beach clubs and bars.

Head to Sunset Bar for front-row seats to the Adriatic coast and cocktails for a dirt-cheap 300 LEK (£2.75).

Here you can kick back on plush striped sofas, sip a cocktail, and soak in the legendary local sunsets.

Another cheap cocktail bar that actually feels high-end is Illyrian Garden, which has a 360-degree rooftop garden serving drinks from 500 LEK (£4.60).

Book a holiday: Albania

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

The 5-star Royal G Max hotel has a private stretch of soft sand beach, a large spa with a sauna and hot tub, plus several swimming pools.

If you like a sun lounger holiday where you can lazily drift between the pool and the sea in a glamorous setting, this is it.

Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at Royal G Max from October 13, with return flights from London Luton, from £449pp.

BOOK HERE

Agadir, Morocco

Week-long holidays to Agadir average just £230, according to Loveholidays booking data Credit: Getty

Agadir bagged the top spot as the cheapest destination for a seven-night summer holiday in 2026, according to research from Loveholidays.

The holiday booking site analysed package deals running between June 1 and August 31, with the Moroccan hotspot coming out on top.

According to their booking data, week-long holidays here averaged just £230 per person for a week away.

Agadir is a sunshine-drenched resort guaranteeing year-round heat, plus a six-mile stretch of beach and a vibrant old town bustling with colourful souks.

It’ s an extraordinarily cheap option thanks to plenty of budget airline routes and affordable package holiday deals from sites like Loveholidays and On the Beach.

Plus you can book a flight to Agadir from as little as £20.99 each way with Ryanair.

On top of wallet-friendly flights and accommodation, Morocco’s low local cost of living means dining out, watersports, and day trips can cost a fraction of the price compared to traditional European hotspots.

The average price of a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant here, according to Wise, is only £3.99.

Book a holiday: Agadir

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

For a stress-free family getaway, stay in an apartment at the Appart Hotel Igoudar.

Enjoy a spacious apartment with a well-stocked kitchenette and private terrace, and spend days soaking up the sun on a lounger and taking dips in the outdoor pool.

The building is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture and makes for both a relaxing and authentic Moroccan stay.

Loveholidays offer a five-night, room-only stay at the Appart Hotel Igoudar from September 27, including return flights from London Stansted, for £129pp.

BOOK HERE

Costa Blanca, Spain

You could visit the pink saltwater lagoon of Torrevieja on a trip to Spain’s Costa Blanca Credit: Getty

Spain‘s Costa Blanca remains a reliably cheap option for a sunny holiday abroad – plus the quick and easy 2.5 hour flight goes by in a flash.

Spots like Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura are traditional Spanish towns where costs stay low.

Guardamar has a 6.8 mile-long, white sand beach, while Torrevieja is home to bubblegum-pink salt lakes like the Laguna Rosa and Blue Flag beaches like the palm-lined stretch of Los Naufragos.

But it wouldn’t be the Costa Blanca without Benidorm, which continues to reign as the final boss of budget breaks.

Holiday Expert Rob Brooks ranks Benidorm among the top destinations for Brits to bag a cheap holiday – and a cheap beer, too.

He said: “If there’s one destination refusing to let the £1 pint disappear quietly, it’s Benidorm.

People love to moan that the strip isn’t as cheap as it used to be, and to be fair, they’re almost right.

But every time I go looking for a proper value holiday, Benidorm still cleans up – and there’s one legendary venue everyone mentions: Uncle Ron’s.

They’re famously flying the flag for the €1 pint long after everyone else moved on, making it the ultimate first pitstop to prove the old-school Benidorm spirit is alive and kicking.”

Book a holiday: Costa Blanca

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

What kid would say no to a pirate island-themed mega resort in sunny Spain?

The Magic Pirates Island Resort in Benidorm has a mega kids pool called Battleship Lagoon, with play boats and jets, plus more relaxed pools for grown-ups with hot tubs and Balinese beds.

Best of all, a stay here gives you free unlimited entry to the Aqua Natura waterpark right next door, as well as free access to Terra Natura Zoo.

Book a five night stay with breakfast from October 10, including return flights from London Luton, for £287pp. (Kids stay free – restrictions apply).

BOOK HERE

Source link

Wowcher beach holiday deals from £99

YOU don’t need a celebrity budget to jet off to Europe’s most stunning beach destinations.

We’ve scoured Wowcher‘s holiday deals to find the best beach breaks with return flights included, slashing prices by up to 56%.

You can bag a holiday to Menorca for £179pp with the Wowcher offer we found Credit: Getty

Whether you fancy living the high life at a five-star resort in Mykonos, floating in a rooftop infinity pool in Malta, or soaking up the sun on Turkey‘s Turquoise Coast, we’ve got you.

Here are the top sunny stays you can book right now from £99pp – before they sell out.

Malta – £99

Wowcher offers a stay at the Solana Hotel & Spa in Malta from £99 Credit: Wowcher

With this gem of a deal, you can soak up the Malta sunshine from this four-star hotel’s rooftop infinity pool for under £100pp – saving up to 46% off full-price.

This stylish spot has sweeping views over the Mediterranean, plus a spa to unwind in and multiple bars and restaurants to pick from.

Read more on beach holidays

SCHOOL’S OUT

Cheap August beach holidays under £290pp with 30C heat and short flights


HOL YES

Cheapest summer for holidays in YEARS – with August breaks still on sale for £188pp

The hotel sits in the charming hilltop village of Mellieha, which is home to Malta’s longest sandy beach and historical landmarks like the 17th-century St. Agatha’s Red Tower.

The deal also comes with return flights from your pick of London Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend, London City & Manchester airports, plus you can pick the number of nights you stay.

Book a 4* holiday to Malta with return flights included from £99pp

5* Algarve holiday – £99

Stay at the five star Wine & Books by the Sea Algarve Resort from £99pp Credit: Wowcher

Bag a beachfront break to Portugal with this £99 stay at a luxurious 5* hotel in The Algarve, saving up to 56% off full-price breaks.

The glamorous resort, named Wine & Books by the Sea, boasts a huge, glimmering outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees and bright white parasols.

Indoors, the Library Spa has a heated indoor pool and offers treatments like aromatherapy massages and soothing facials.

When you fancy exploring the local area, this resort sits in Portugal‘s Reserva Natural dos Salgados, where wildlife like flamingos wander the wetlands.

Book a 5* holiday to The Algarve with return flights included from £99pp

Antalya – £159

You can book a holiday to Turkey’s Turquoise Coast from £159pp with this Wowcher offer Credit: Getty

Antalya’s Citrus Park Hotel has everything you’d want in a Turkey holiday – comfy sea view rooms, a huge hotel breakfast spread, and the golden sands of Konyaalti Beach a short walk away.

This hotel comes with some pretty amazing views, sitting on the beachfront and framed by dramatic mountains.

Just a short walk away you’ll find a promenade lined with bars, cafes, souvenir shops and water sports stations.

You can save 30% on the holiday with this Wowcher offer, which also includes breakfast during your stay and return flights from London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh or Manchester.

Book a holiday to Antalya with return flights included from £159pp

Fuerteventura – £179

The Hotel Livvo Corralejo Beach is just steps away from the seafront in sunny Fuerteventura Credit: Getty

This 4* Fuerteventura hotel places you right in the heart of the action.

There’s white sands just steps away and a plethora of beachfront bars and restaurants.

There’s a huge swimming pool here with a dedicated kids section, plenty of loungers, plus a poolside bar serving up fruity cocktails.

The hotel is a short stroll from Corralejo Harbour, where you can hop on a ferry to the island of Lobos, or even take a day-trip to Lanzarote.

Book a 4* holiday to Fuerteventura with return flights included from £179pp

Mykonos 5* – £299

Bag a five star break to Mykonos from £299pp with this Wowcher offer Credit: Getty

A 5* holiday to Mykonos sounds like something only celebs can afford. But this Wowcher offer means you can book one for under £300.

The offer includes a stay at Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa, home to its own private beach, gourmet restaurants and infinity pool facing the sea.

Here you’re also perfectly positioned to explore the best of Mykonos – with its white windmills, Mykonos Town and Little Venice all nearby.

This offer can save you up to 22% off full price, giving you some extra cash in your pocket to hit the island’s stylish bars and clubs.

Book a 5* holiday to Mykonos with return flights included from £299pp

Menorca – £179

Book a trip to Menorca from £179pp with this Wowcher offer Credit: Wowcher

Majorca’s quieter sister island Menorca offers all the same stunning beaches and scenery – but in a more relaxed, peaceful setting,

This Wowcher bargain includes flights plus a stay in the beachfront Aparthotel Sol Parc, surrounded by scenic pine woodlands.

Here you’ll get a spacious apartment plus access to multiple swimming pools and sports facilities like beach volleyball, mini golf, basketball and a tennis court.

Even better, you can walk directly out of the building onto the beach where there’s clear waters to paddle in and a restaurant overlooking the sea.

Book a holiday to Menorca with return flights included from £179pp

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

All-inclusive resorts going dirt-cheap for VERY LAST-MINUTE summer holidays from £315pp

THERE’S last-minute, and then there’s “I could be sitting on a sun lounger by next Wednesday” last-minute.

Well, we’re at that exact point in late summer when airline and hotel booking engines do some very interesting things.

Stay at Maspalomas Oasis Club, Gran Canaria from £373pp Credit: Trip Advisor/Maspalomas Oasis Club Management

Flights with remaining empty seats need filling, hotels want their final unoccupied rooms gone, and package prices are suddenly sitting far below where they were just a few weeks ago.

So, I’ve been digging through our live booking data to track down the destinations offering the absolute cheapest last-minute summer holidays on the board.

These aren’t bottom-of-the-barrel options either, by the way.

Every deal below includes return flights, accommodation, food and drinks, with these particular all-inclusive holidays starting from just £315 per person.

Here’s the breakdown from number eight down to the single cheapest steal on the map.

You’ll need to move fast though, because these departures are all within the next two weeks.

8. Skanes, Tunisia (from £430pp)

Hotel Liberty Resort in Skanes sits between the resorts of Monastir and Sousse Credit: Trip Advisor/ Hotel Liberty Resort in Skanes management

If you want guaranteed August heat and a fully-loaded hotel setup without paying top dollar, Skanes is the place to look.

This purpose-built coastal strip sits directly between Monastir and Sousse, meaning the resorts come with massive swimming pools, palm gardens, and access to sandy beaches.

It’s quieter than the major Tunisian city hubs, but our recent booking data shows holidaymakers have been landing stays here for an average of £82.86 per person, per night – in the school holidays!

You can lock in a five-night, all-inclusive stay at the four-star Hotel Liberty Resort from 22 August, with return flights from Cardiff, for just £430pp.

The property is a brilliant family base with a massive outdoor pool network, but the real insider win here is the hotel’s private, free return shuttle down to their dedicated beach plot.

It means you can swap the poolside lounger for the sea in under three minutes without doing a hot, dusty trek in the August heat.

Book a holiday: Skanes

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Hotel Liberty Resort from 22 August, with return flights from Cardiff, for £430pp.

BOOK HERE

Rob found a deal for a stay at the Hawaii Hotel in Marmaris for £75.43pppn Credit: Trip Advisor/Hawaii Hotel Management

7. Marmaris, Turkey (from £408pp)

Marmaris came in as the second-cheapest resort overall, averaging just £75.43 per person, per night for extreme last-minute bookings this summer.

It remains one of Turkey’s best all-rounders because it caters to every type of traveller – whether your sightseeing limit is walking from your lounger to the snack bar, or you want a buzzing marina, waterfront seafood spots, and boat trips around the pine-clad bay.

I tracked down a five-night, all-inclusive package at the four-star Hawaii Hotel, flying from Birmingham on 21 August, for just £408pp.

The hotel sits right on its own section of shingle beach, but the standout feature here is easily the location.

Because it sits right on the border of the main seafront promenade, you can enjoy a quiet, self-contained resort atmosphere during the day and walk straight out into the bustling town centre after dinner without ever needing a taxi.

Book a holiday: Marmaris

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Hawaii Hotel from 21 August, with return flights from Birmingham, for £408pp.

BOOK HERE

Bag a stay at Yunona in Sunny Beach with return flights included for £378pp Credit: Trip Advisor/Yunona Management

6. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria (from £378pp)

Sunny Beach has built its entire reputation on being dirt cheap, and the latest figures show it still thoroughly earns that crown.

Recent breaks have been averaging just £76.90 per person, per night, making it the third-cheapest resort in my research.

And in Sunny Beach, its broad, sandy beach stretches for miles, packed with waterparks, family attractions, and beachfront bars.

You can bag a five-night, all-inclusive stay at the three-star Yunona from 20 August, flying direct from Manchester, for just £378pp.

Getting five full days of accommodation, food, and drinks – plus flights included – for under £400 in peak August is nuts.

And at Yunona, I love the sheltered design – because despite sitting right in the heart of the resort near the main attractions, the pool area is entirely enclosed by the hotel block, creating a surprisingly quiet and relaxed sanctuary away from the main strip’s noise.

Book a holiday: Sunny Beach

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Yunona from 20 August, with return flights from Manchester, for £378pp.

BOOK HERE

Playa del Ingles is one of Gran Canaria’s liveliest spots Credit: Trip Advisor/Green Field Management

5. Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria (from £373pp)

Playa del Ingles serves up reliable sunshine all year-round, but summer is when I think it’s at its best.

It’s one of Gran Canaria’s liveliest spots, boasting a huge beach, sprawling shopping centres, and the famous Maspalomas sand dunes right on your doorstep.

While my data shows the resort averaging as little as £83.43 per person, per night, live deals offer a way to beat that average significantly.

I found a five-night, all-inclusive deal at the Green Field aparthotel, flying from Bristol on 19 August, for £373pp.

That works out to £74.60 per person, per night – nearly £9 below the resort average.

What makes this three-star property a standout for me is the apartments – every unit comes with its own kitchenette and a wide private balcony, giving you a proper, spacious living area to retreat to rather than feeling crammed into a standard hotel room.

Book a holiday: Playa del Ingles

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Green Field from 19 August, with return flights from Bristol, for £373pp.

BOOK HERE

Stay at Club Munamar Beach Resort in Iclemer from £74pp per night Credit: Trip Advisor/Club Munamar Beach Resort Management

4. Icmeler, Turkey (from £370pp)

Icmeler is the calmer, considerably greener neighbor to Marmaris.

The resort wraps around a sheltered bay, surrounded by mountains, with a beach, canal, and quiet seafront tavernas.

While our booking data shows travellers currently paying an average of £79.43 per person, per night here, live availability drops well below that baseline – even when you’re looking at the very last-minute.

I clocked a five-night, all-inclusive break at the four-star Club Munamar Beach Resort, flying from Bristol on 19 August, for £370pp – bringing the nightly cost down to just £74 per person.

The hotel features three separate pool zones, an excellent entertainment team, and its own private beach section.

They even provide reserved sunbeds and shades exclusively for guests, saving you from paying daily commercial beach fees down on the main shore.

Book a holiday: Icmeler

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Club Munamar Beach Resort from 19 August, with return flights from Bristol, for £370pp.

BOOK HERE

You can bag a five-night, all-inclusive break at the Maspalomas Oasis Club from £340pp Credit: Trip Advisor/Maspalomas Oasis Club Management

3. Maspalomas, Gran Canaria (from £340pp)

Maspalomas actually registered as the most expensive of these eight resorts in the recent booking data, averaging £89.43 per person, per night.

However, hunting through live availability reveals a massive price loophole that completely flips that narrative.

You can lock in a five-night, all-inclusive package at the Maspalomas Oasis Club, departing Bristol on 19 August, for £340pp.

That slashes the daily price down to just £68 per person, per night – more than £21 below the resort average.

The property itself is a low-rise, bungalow-style complex in the quiet Campo Internacional area. 

And the apartments even have a duplex layout – instead of sharing corridors in a noisy multi-story block, you get your own self-contained bungalow with a private ground-floor terrace surrounding the pool.

Book a holiday: Maspalomas

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Maspalomas Oasis Club from 19 August, with return flights from Bristol, for £340pp.

BOOK HERE

Book a five-night stay at BLUESEA Los Fiscos, Puerto del Carmen from £338pp Credit: Trip Advisor/BLUESEA Los Fiscos Management

2. Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote (from £338pp)

Puerto del Carmen came in as the absolute cheapest overall resort for super-last-minute holidays, with guests paying an average of just £73.15 per person, per night, according to the data.

That’s remarkable value given that Lanzarote is one of the most reliable options for guaranteed weather in Europe.

I even spotted a five-night, all-inclusive holiday at the three-star BLUESEA Los Fiscos, flying direct from Manchester on 22 August, for £338pp – coming out at just £67.60 per person, per night.

And this place is an apartment-style hotel tucked into the hillside above the old town.

The absolute best feature here is the elevated panoramic terrace, Because it sits above the main harbour, the pool bar serves up sweeping, uninterrupted views across the Atlantic Ocean while you grab an evening drink. Beauty.

Book a holiday: Puerto del Carmen

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at BLUESEA Los Fiscos from 22 August, with return flights from Manchester, for £338pp.

BOOK HERE

Majestic Hotel and Spa in Zante is close to the Zakynthos Marine Park and traditional tavernas Credit: Trip Advisor/Majestic Hotel and Spa Management

1. Laganas, Zante (from £315pp)

Laganas takes the number one spot on our board for the absolute cheapest complete holiday package.

While it’s famous for its nightlife strip, move away from the main strip and you’ll find the protected Zakynthos Marine Park, traditional tavernas, and excellent boat trips out to spot loggerhead turtles.

While average bookings sit at £87.62 per person, per night, the live deals reveal a massive price drop that you can take advantage of.

You can secure a five-night, all-inclusive stay at the four-star Majestic Hotel and Spa, flying from Bristol on 19 August, for just £315pp.

That works out to a rock-bottom £63 per person, per night for return flights, accommodation, and all your food and drinks in peak August.

The hotel sits right in the heart of the action, featuring a massive central pool deck and an on-site spa, making it the ultimate budget launchpad for anyone wanting to be right in the center of the resort energy.

Book a holiday: Zante

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a five-night, all-inclusive stay at Majestic Hotel and Spa from 19 August, with return flights from Bristol, for £315pp.

BOOK HERE

Source link

Best holiday parks you can still book for £7.71pp as UK to hit 38C

WITH temperatures soaring towards 38C this week, a holiday close to home can feel like being abroad.

And when there’s UK holiday parks with plenty of last-minute summer availability, there’s no better time to set off on a cheeky spontaneous staycation.

Book a last-minute family holiday to make the most of the sunshine Credit: Getty
Collage of travel items including a plane, sunscreen, passport, suitcase, and plane tickets, advertising The Sun's travel Instagram account.

If you bag one of these last-minute offers, you could be cooling off in giant waterparks, floating down lazy rivers, or feeling the sand between your toes on the beach.

And with prices tumbling to entice holidaymakers, you can bag an action-packed family break from as little as £7.71 per person a night so here’s our pick of the best last-minute bargain holidays you can book right now – before they all sell out.

Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire

You have a golden sand beach on your doorstep with a stay at Cleethorpes Beach holiday park Credit: Alamy

If you’re looking for a last-minute getaway with loads to do for the kids, this park has plenty of excitement on-site. It’s also ideal for a dip in the sea, thanks to its direct beach access.

Sunny days are best spent cooling off at the outdoor splash park, dropping a line in the peaceful fishing lake, or tackling pedal go-karts and mini golf outdoors.

Read more on holiday parks

PIER IN

The UK’s largest pier opens new fancy holiday park with lodges right on the lake


BARGAIN ALERT

You can stay at these award-winning UK holiday parks from £2.88pp per night

For bigger thrills, kids can scale the giant climbing wall or battle it out in the NERF training camp.

Feeding the family is easy too, thanks to Slim Chickens, Papa Johns, Burger King, and even its very own on-site Wetherspoons pub.

Last-minute three night break in a Bronze caravan sleeping eight for £185 total, working out to just £7.71pp per night.

Todber Valley Holiday Park, Lancashire

Get into the outdoors at Haven’s Todber Valley Holiday Park Credit: Trip Advisor/Haven’s Todber Valley Management

Fancy a last-minute getaway to a relaxing holiday resort with two national parks on your doorstep?

Todber Valley sits in Clitheroe, where caravans are surrounded by nothing but rolling hills and greenery.

But if you do fancy a slice of history, you’ve got Clitheroe Castle and Museum just under 20 minutes’ drive away.

For kids, there’s an outdoor adventure playground and sports courts to burn off energy, and for grown-ups there’s a pub with a pretty beer garden that’s perfect for enjoying the sunshine.

Three night break for six people in a Bronze caravan for £313, working out to £17.39pp per night.

Combe Haven, Sussex

Spin around the giant Space Bowl flume at Combe Haven Credit: Haven

Set in sunny St Leonards-on-Sea, this Sussex park centers around an epic waterpark complex with a lazy river and a giant Space Bowl flume

Out of the water, you can test your aim with archery coaching, tackle Footgolf, or scale the massive climbing wall.

For dinner, tuck into a proper chippy tea at Cook’s Fish and Chips, then head to The Saxon Bar for evening drinks with sea views.

Plus historic Hastings is just 15 minutes away – ideal for exploring its famous castle and delving into the underground caves at Smuggler’s Adventure.

Three night break for four people in a Saver caravan for £279 total, working out to £23.25pp per night.

Craig Tara, Scotland

Make a splash at Splashaway Bay at Craig Tara to cool off from the heat Credit: Caravan Lodge Holidays

Perched on the dramatic Ayrshire coast, Craig Tara is one of the biggest Haven holiday parks in the UK.

This seaside spot delivers non-stop action no matter what the weather is doing. The star attraction is Splashaway Bay – one of Scotland’s largest indoor waterparks – with multi-lane slides, thrill flumes, a lazy river, and a toddler splash zone.

Indoors, the massive Airspace sports hall keeps the momentum going with climbing walls, soft play, a golf simulator, and electronic target walls.

Outdoors, at the Lighthouse Harbour Adventure Village, you can brave an aerial ropes course or take the plunge on the six metre-high ‘The Jump’.

Last-minute three night break in a saver caravan sleeping six people for £339 total, working out to £18.83pp per night.

Butlin’s

There are last-minute summer breaks going at Butlin’s from £22.50pp per night Credit: Free for editorial use

Butlin’s have a selection of last-minute breaks for the remainder of the summer holidays that can cost you as little as £22.50pp per night.

There are three and four night breaks available across all three locations – Skegness, Minehead and Bognor Regis.

Included in the price you’ll get waterpark and fairground access, as well as daytime activities like soft play, football and arts and crafts.

Plus you’ll be able to catch one of this summer’s exclusive shows before they end for the season, including performances from Diversity, The Masked Singer and Maximum Pro Wrestling shows.

We found one three night break at Minehead, including access to Diversity and The Masked Singer shows, for £269 total, or £22.42pp per night.

Prices correct at the time of publication.



Source link

The UK’s BEST value hotel package deals

FORGET boring B&B stays – weekend getaways just got a lot more exciting.

Best Western have put together loads of unique “GEM packages“, which include not just your hotel stay – but food, drinks and quirky activities and attractions, too.

This Peak District stay comes with breakfast, dinner, a packed lunch, hiking trails and flask refills Credit: Getty

These value-packed package deals that bundle everything from private hot tubs with free-flowing Prosecco to psychic readings into one price.

Whether you’re wanting the ultimate girls’ night in or a couples’ Peak District hiking break, these staycation deals do all the planning for you.

Peak District adventure stay

Explore the great outdoors in comfort with this GEM stay at Mosborough Hall Hotel.

Here all your meals will be taken care of, including breakfast, a two-course dinner, plus a packed lunch to take out with you on your adventures.

BEST VALUE BREAKS

Best value UK hotels this summer with FREE breakfast and seaside spas


BAG A BREAK

UK hotel deals with FREE breakfast, golf breaks, spa stays and 80’s discos

You’ll also be given a hiking map packed with trails to explore, plus free flask refills of hot drinks to keep you energised and hydrated.

With everything taken care of, all that’s left for you to do is get out into nature and soak up the beautiful sights around you.

Some of the top walking trails nearby include Mosborough and Eckington Woods, as well as the bluebell-dotted Moss Valley Trails.

Return back to Darcy’s restaurant and grab a well-deserved drink from the hotel’s cocktail bar, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful weekend away.

Book the Peak District stay at the Mosborough Hall Hotel from £113.80 per night

The “Ultimate Girls’ Night In’ staycation

The Ultimate Girls Night In package includes three bottles of Prosecco upon arrival Credit: bestwestern.co.uk
Inside the modern lodges at Brackenborough Lakes Credit: bestwestern.co.uk

You and your best mates, a hot tub lodge, flowing Prosecco and takeaway for dinner – what’s not to love?

The Ultimate Girls’ Night In Package at Brackenborough Lakes does what it says on the tin, and provides the perfect recipe for a girly staycation.

Brackenborough Lakes & Resort is a peaceful hideaway close to the historic market town of Louth. On-site there’s a bar and restaurant, plus evening entertainment like music tribute acts.

This package includes an overnight stay in a modern lodge with a stylish interior, plus decking and an outdoor hot tub overlooking the serene lake.

That’s not all – you’ll get THREE chilled bottles of Prosecco upon arrival, £15 takeaway credit per person, and a continental breakfast of bacon baps, fruit, pastries, juice and more delivered right to your door.

Book the Ultimate Girls Night In package in Louth from £89pp

Indulgent Yorkshire Cream Tea break

Sit down to a traditional Cream Tea at The Craiglands Hotel Credit: Google maps / The Craiglands Hotel, Sure Hotel

Two nights in a Victorian countryside hotel, Cream Tea, two-course dinners, wine, breakfast and even a packed lunch? This Yorkshire break is truly indulgent.

Upon arrival to The Craiglands Hotel, you’ll be treated to Cream Tea with scones and your choice of tea or coffee in the hotel Brasserie.

Then it’s time to explore the grounds or simply rest up in the room before sitting down to a two-course dinner with a seasonal, locally-sourced menu. Plus you’ll get to celebrate your getaway with a free bottle of wine or Prosecco.

Enjoy a Full English in the morning and grab your packed lunch to go, ready for a day of exploring Ilkley Moor or the Yorkshire Dales.

Then it’s back in time for dinner again, before lazily rolling out of bed with included late check-out in the morning. Dreamy.

Book the Indulgent Yorkshire Break package from £150 per night

Mind-blowing Clairvoyant stay in Bradford

Attend a mind-blowing evening with a clairvoyant before settling down at Bradford Post Hotel Credit: Google maps

If you’re into all things psychics and mediums, you’ll want to book onto this unique Evening with a Clairvoyant stay in Bradford.

Enjoy a two-course meal and free tickets to an event with Steven Holbrook, one of the UK’s top clairvoyants with thousands of Facebook followers.

During the event, Steven shares messages and connections with audience members in a goosebumps-inducing experience.

Then simply retire to your comfy room in the Bradford Guide Post Hotel, before waking up to a cooked breakfast to start your day.

Book the Clairvoyant Stay package from £111.48 per night

Click here to browse even more GEM package deals including tennis, golf and 80’s disco weekend breaks.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

The best UK budget stays from £9.50pp

BOTTOMLESS wine at a London hotel, £1 happy hour oysters in Manchester and a £9.50 beachfront resort in Cornwall…

That might look like a misprint – but these are just a handful of the hidden bargains sitting right on our doorsteps, proving you don’t have to go abroad to get a sensational deal on a holiday.

Stay at swanky city hotel The Alan in Manchester from £29 per person, per night Credit: The Alan Hotel

If you know where to look, you can get beautiful countryside cottages, free-flowing drinks and more on your UK staycation – some of which come with change from a tenner.

Here’s our pick of the top budget-friendly UK stays our Sun Travel team swears by right now…

The Alan – Manchester

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

If you want a bargain stay that feels like you’re getting much more for your money, then head up north.

One of my favourite hotels in Manchester is The Alan, a stunning design-led boutique venue that wouldn’t be out of place in an interiors magazine.

Think plaster-coloured walls, brass shower features and stone coffee tables.

It’s built into a Grade-II listed warehouse, and entering the lobby you’re met with a gorgeous airy space and a boujie restaurant (try the £1 oysters during their happy hour).

My room was so beautifully designed with a contrast of chrome metal chairs to warm green bedspreads, that I came away with new ideas for my own bedroom back home…

It is also leaning into tech with a Google Nest “smart concierge” on hand to help with reception queries, as well as Bluetooth speakers and smart TVs with Chromecast.

And it’s right in the middle of the city, so you can’t get much more central.

The best part? Rooms start from £58 a night.

Book a stay

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Rooms at The Alan start from £58 per night, working out to £29 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

A stay at Z Hotels Gloucester Place comes with 24-hour unlimited access to food and drinksCredit: Refer to source

Z Hotels Gloucester Place – London

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

When you think of an all-inclusive, you might think of a glamorous resort on the shores of Tenerife – but I recently discovered a chic all-inclusive in the heart of London.

With hotels in the capital often overpriced, a trip can easily empty your wallet.

Z Hotels Gloucester Place is a great budget option, with spacious en suite rooms available at a snip of the cost of pricier venues.

The best part though is definitely the food and drink offering – if you book a “Z Club room”, exclusively at the Gloucester Place hotel, each feature a king-size bed with all drinks and food included.

In a small kitchen-dining area, you can grab hot drinks 24/7 as well as a range of snacks such as macaroons, brownies, flapjacks, and pots of tiramisu.

You can help yourself to soft drinks including Fanta and ask the host for wine – which is bottomless.

There’s also a menu you can order from, which featured wide choice of sandwiches and salads.

The food was simple, but it was all tasty and reminded me of the sandwiches and cakes I usually pick up in one of London’s many hipster coffee shops.

Book your stay – Z Hotels Gloucester Place, London

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Z Club rooms at The Z Hotel Gloucester Place cost from £110 per night – which is £55 per person per night.

BOOK HERE

Norfolk Hideaways have hundreds of holiday cottages, apartments and beachfront pods across the coastline Credit: Norfolk Hideaways Cottages

Norfolk Hideaways – North Norfolk coast

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

One of my favourite ways to score serious savings on a staycation is by renting a holiday cottage and splitting the cost between a group of mates.

There’s nothing better than kicking back at a gorgeous house in a stunning seaside town for a fraction of the cost of a hotel room – plus you’ll have way more space.

Hailing from Norfolk I may be biased here – but I think the best place to rent out a holiday cottage is along the North Norfolk coast.

Norfolk Hideaways have cottages in pretty seaside towns like Wells-next-the-Sea, Old Hunstanton and Brancaster, to name but a few.

There are stays of all sizes, ideal for family holidays, couples’ staycations, big friend group getaways plus dog-friendly options.

You can even filter your search by walking holidays, fishing holidays, or places with cosy log burners, pools or hot tubs.

Plus there’s often offers on, such as four nights for the price of three or last-minute deals.

I found an offer for a stay in Thornham – one of North Norfolk’s most underrated seaside villages with a gorgeous, pinewood-backed beach – which worked out to be just £11pp.

Book your stay – Norfolk Hideaways

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Eaton Cottage in Thornham sleeps up to seven, and has a gorgeous sun terrace, large garden dotted with fruit trees plus a bright and airy sitting room and rustic countryside kitchen.

Book a week away from £510, working out to £11 per person, per night with a full house.

BOOK HERE

Mollie’s Motel in Oxford is a budget-friendly, American-style stay with an on-site diner serving milkshakes and hot dogsCredit: Not known clear with Picture Desk

Mollie’s Motel – Oxford

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

A motel would probably be the last place you’d think of for a luxury break – especially if you’ve ever watched an American horror film.

Mollie’s is most definitely the exception, though. This sophisticated chain opened its first motel in Oxfordshire in 2019, promising an America-inspired roadside experience, but with a lot more glamour.

And while the classy Scandi decor may scream luxury (the brand was once operated by chic members club Soho House), the £70 per night price tag does not.

Rooms are homely, with ultra-comfy beds and sleek furnishings, plus there’s an onsite diner offering hearty burgers, hot dogs and hard shakes loaded with vodka, bourbon or rum and topped with whipped cream.

Smart TVs and junk food make the place perfect for a cosy movie night – just no American horror films!

Book your stay – Mollie’s Motel, Oxford

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Stays at Mollie’s Motel start from £81 per night, working out to £40.50 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

Bag yourself an affordable holiday to trendy Folkestone in Kent with a stay at the London & Paris Hotel Credit: Getty

London & Paris Hotel – Folkestone

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

What better way is there than to wake up to the sounds of sea waves crashing, with the beach right around the corner.

In the uber-trendy seaside town of Folkestone is the boutique London & Paris Hotel.

With just 11 rooms, every single one has a sea view room overlooking the boats in the harbour.

Think quintessential beachy vibes but upgraded – chic striped headboards and rich green and blue interiors.

You can also upgrade to a breakfast hamper, although save some space in your stomach for the award-winning chippie around the corner.

Or head into town for some of the best tapas at El Cortador Tapas Bar.

Who needs Spain when you have the Kent Riviera?

Rooms start from £128. See londonandparishotel.co.uk

Book your stay – London & Paris Hotel

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Stays at London & Paris Hotel in Folkestone start at £128 per night, which is £61 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

Stay at Ashworth House near Chipping Norton for an incredible £39 per person, per night Credit: Air BNB

Ashworth House – near Chipping Norton

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

A value stay in the Cotswolds might be pretty hard to come by, but Ashworth House near Chipping Norton costs as little as £39 per person, per night.

The beautiful bolthole retreat sleeps up to 12 people, including one bedroom on the ground floor – ideal for those with accessibility needs.

Tucked in the village of Leafield near Burford, it truly is a hidden Cotswolds gem.

The huge house and garden are backed by fields, forming stunning views of the rolling countryside and giving lots of opportunities for walks with furry friends (who are welcome in the house).

The kitchen is the real hub of the house – it is light and airy and makes the ultimate hosting space with a large dining table as well as a breakfast bar.

The house is also just a short drive from top attractions like Blenheim Palace should you want to explore the area.

Book your stay – Ashworth House

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Stays at Ashworth House start from as little as £39 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

St Ives Bay Beach Resort in Cornwall feels far more luxurious than your average holiday park Credit: st ives bay beach resort

St Ives Bay Beach Resort – Cornwall

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

Overlooking a three-mile stretch of golden sand, St Ives Bay Beach Resort in Cornwall is a dreamy destination for a glam beach holiday on a budget.

Here you can stay in glass-roofed Stargazer caravan, a cosy luxury pod, or a spacious sea-view lodge perfect for families.

The beach is just steps away, and even has its own surf school if you want to fully dive into the Cornish lifestyle.

There’s also plenty of action-packed activities for kids, ranging from disc golf and Nerf wars to snuggling up for an evening movie at the open-air cinema.

Rainy days are equally well catered for thanks to an indoor pool, a classic amusement arcade, and indoor entertainment like bingo, karaoke, and live DJ sets.

Beyond the resort grounds, a day trip into St Ives is an absolute must-do.

The town has a postcard-perfect harbour and charming, artsy streets to stroll lined with quirky independent shops.

Book your holiday – St Ives Bay Beach Resort

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

St Ives Bay Beach Resort is just one of hundreds of holiday parks available with The Sun’s Holidays from £9.50.

These holidays start from as little as £9.50pp, but prices vary if you choose to upgrade your accommodation type.

BOOK HERE

Yotel London City is a great pick for sweeping skyline views – but Yotelpad is an even cheaper option Credit: Yotel

Yotel – London

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Did you know the budget hotel chain Yotel was inspired by first class airline travel?

One of my favourite cheap hotel brands, offers guests the chance to be first class passengers on an economy budget…

I love their hotels not just for their central location but clever compact rooms.

Reclining beds mean you have more space until you hunker down for the night, and small compartments tucked away in every corner create plenty of room for your stuff.

Yotel London City has some fantastic skyline views but if you want a cheaper option, Yotelpad has rooms under £90 a night.

If you choose not to get your rooms refreshed by housekeeping, you can also save money off at the restaurant and bar.

And if you’d like to try a room with a spaceship feel, try Yotelair at London Gatwick Airport.. you won’t be disappointed.

Book your holiday – Yotel, London

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Rooms at Yotelpad start from £87 a night, or £43.50 per person, per night.

BOOK HERE

Source link

The common tourist traps abroad that Brits admit they’ve fallen for

An Airalo "Tourist Trap" activation with an oversized croissant and €15 price tag near the Tower Bridge.

More than a fifth of holidaymakers have fallen into tourist traps while abroad

More than a fifth of holidaymakers have fallen into tourist traps while holidaying abroad, with victims losing an average of £200.

An Airalo "Tourist Trap" activation with an oversized croissant and €15 price tag near the Tower Bridge.
Airalo launched an activation in London, creating a ‘Tourist Trap’ featuring overpriced croissants with the price tag of €15 to warn passers-by of the bait faced on holiday Credit: Simon Jacobs/PinPep

A survey of 2,000 adults who have been on holiday abroad found a further 27 per cent have knowingly been ripped off or overcharged while on holiday.

The most common include overpriced food and drinks sold at tourist hotspots, taxi rides, hidden fees when using card machines, being charged more than locals at restaurants, and fake tour guides.

As a result, 49 per cent are now more cautious when spending money or booking activities abroad compared to five years ago.

The research was commissioned by the eSIM platform Airalo, which offers mobile data coverage in more than 200 destinations around the world.

Matteo Papa, growth director (Europe & CIS), said: “Falling victim to a tourist trap can put a dampener on, and in some cases a financial strain on, a dream holiday.

“While some traps can seem harmless at first, the costs can quickly add up and leave travellers feeling frustrated or out of pocket.

“Doing a little research before you travel, checking reviews, and staying connected while you’re on the go can help holidaymakers make more informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

“Being aware of the most common rip-off tactics in your destination can go a long way towards helping you enjoy a smoother, more stress-free trip.”

The study also found having reliable internet access makes 69 per cent feel safer when travelling abroad, with 21 per cent typically ‘always’ connected to the internet or mobile data when on holiday.

Almost half (46 per cent) said without internet access they wouldn’t be able to contact friends or family, while others would be unable to navigate unfamiliar areas (40 per cent), and or access tickets and bookings (29 per cent).

Collage of three smartphone screens showing the Airalo e-sim app interface.
To help holidaymakers dodge additional costs this summer, the brand is offering new users 20 per cent off sitewide data plans with the code ‘CROISSANT’, ensuring travellers stay connected and protected Credit: Airalo

When it came to the top things holidaymakers worry about when going abroad, having a medical emergency or accident was at the top of the list.

However, missing flights (47 per cent), losing luggage (45 per cent), and food poisoning (38 per cent) also ranked highly.

It also emerged 52 per cent believe rip-offs in popular overseas holiday destinations are getting worse each year.

But to prevent being ripped off while on holiday, 50 per cent have avoided carrying large amounts of cash, while 37 per cent have only used licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.

And 39 per cent believe younger generations are just as likely as older ones to be tricked into spending more money while on holiday abroad.

Of those who took part in the study, via OnePoll.com, 65 per cent now think they would be confident in spotting a tourist trap before falling victim to it.

Airalo launched an activation in London, creating a ‘Tourist Trap’ featuring overpriced croissants with the price tag of €15 to warn passers-by of the bait faced on holiday.

To help holidaymakers dodge additional costs this summer, the brand is offering new users 20 per cent off sitewide data plans with the code ‘CROISSANT’, ensuring travellers stay connected and protected.

A spokesperson for the brand added: “Even seasoned travellers can be caught out when they’re unfamiliar with local customs, prices, or payment methods.

“Taking a few simple precautions before and during your trip can make a real difference, helping you feel more confident when making purchases or booking experiences.

“Ultimately, being prepared means you can spend less time worrying about unexpected costs and more time enjoying everything your destination has to offer.”

TOURIST TRAPS HOLIDAYMAKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ABROAD:

1. Food, drinks, and merchandise sold at inflated prices because of a location’s captive audience
2. Overpriced taxi rides or taxi drivers taking deliberately longer routes to increase the fare
3. Hidden charges while eating out (e.g. paying for ‘complimentary bread’ left on the table)
4. Expensive local souvenirs which turn out to be cheaply mass-produced
5. Being charged more than a local would be in a restaurant
6. Card machines or ATMs secretly applying large hidden conversion fees
7. ‘Free’ gifts or bracelets which later require payment
8. Tour guide rip-offs (i.e. paying a premium for a low-quality tour)
9. Tourist photo scams (e.g. being charged unexpectedly for photos)
10. Paying for unsolicited ‘help’ with luggage at airports or train stations

Source link

10 destinations that are up to 55% CHEAPER than the average summer holiday this year

IF you’re still sitting on the fence about booking a late summer holiday, there’s no need to panic… just yet.

I’ve pulled the data on thousands of package holiday bookings to see exactly where still has availability this summer and, more importantly, where the biggest savings are.

Holiday expert Rob Brooks has found holiday destinations where you can save up to 55% on a summer break Credit: Rob Brooks
Collage of travel items including a plane, sunscreen, passport, suitcase, and plane tickets, advertising The Sun's travel Instagram account.

And despite all the headlines about holiday prices skyrocketing, there are still massive pockets of value sitting up for grabs.

So I’ve rounded up the top ten spots where holidaymakers are consistently paying hundreds of pounds less than the summer holiday average – which, for a standard seven-night family package, comes in at £3,487.

If you want to maximise your sunshine per pound, these are the resorts that should be top of your search list – starting from £268 per person for a five-night holiday.

Albufeira, Portugal

The Algarve rarely screams cheap these days, but Albufeira continues to be a major exception to the rule, with booking data currently coming in around seven per cent cheaper than the summer average.

And despite that, you still get the stunning golden cliffs and old town character without the premium price tags found further down the coast.

This complex has three (yes, three) pool bars, and they serve up proper Portuguese piri-piri chicken baskets right to your sunbed – also saving you from paying inflated tourist rates on the main strip for lunch.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book in for five nights at the ChoroMar Apartments, flying direct from Southampton on 22 August, from £283pp on a self-catering basis.

BOOK HERE

Marmaris, Turkey

Summer holidays to Marmaris in Turkey are averaging 18% cheaper than the usual summer booking price Credit: Getty

Turkey is a reliable workhorse for summer value, and Marmaris is averaging 18 per cent below the overall summer booking price.

It packs in long seafront promenades, cheap dining, and mountain backdrops pretty effortlessly.

The Grand Villa Sol Apart is a property highly-rated by return guests, and my favourite feature here is the hotel’s huge pool and waterslide.

It’s just the right size to keep the kids entertained for hours, but because the pool bar is set up right beside it, you can keep a direct eye on them with a cold drink in hand without having to constantly stand up or chase them around a massive, chaotic waterpark.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria

Visit Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria for a sunny summer holiday from £350pp Credit: Alamy

Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria is a brilliant shout for late summer because the resort is entirely built into a steep, horseshoe valley.

It completely shelters the beaches from the high-summer Atlantic winds, guaranteeing hot, calm weather every single day.

And the best bit: the data has this one sitting at 19 per cent cheaper than the summer average.

The Roslara Apartments are an absolute steal, with a clever layout featuring a stepped, hillside design, meaning that every single apartment gets a massive, private sun balcony that isn’t overlooked by your neighbours.

It essentially gives you your own premium sunbathing deck, looking down over the central pool area, for a basic budget price.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book in for five nights at the Roslara Apartments from £350pp, flying direct from Manchester on 22 August on a self-catering basis.

BOOK HERE

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife is a destination offering some of the biggest summer savings Credit: Getty

While most people looking at Tenerife automatically head for the crowded beaches down south.

Puerto de la Cruz on the north coast is where the real value sits, with bookings coming in 34 per cent below average for summer holidays.

You get an authentic Canarian city feel, volcanic black sand beaches, and much lusher, tropical scenery.

The four-star BLUESEA Costa Jardin & Spa is a certified winner in my book, with beautiful subtropical gardens that completely surround the pool.

Plus, the slides that drop right into the main outdoor pool give you a proper, family resort experience for an absolute steal during peak August.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Stay at the Apartamentos LIVVO Oasis in Lanzarote’s Puerto del Carmen from £308pp Credit: Getty

Lanzarote is a safe bet all year round, but Puerto del Carmen is currently throwing a massive curveball in the data, with average costs sitting 36% below the summer 2026 average.

It’s an established, reliable favourite that simply refuses to hike its rates like other resorts in the Canaries.

The Apartamentos LIVVO Oasis is a tranquil spot to stay, and is just a short stroll from the picturesque old town.

The bungalows here wrap directly around a beautifully quiet, palm-shaded courtyard, meaning you can step straight out of your patio doors and into the water without navigating sterile hotel corridors or busy lifts.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Benidorm, Costa Blanca

Book a holiday to Benidorm from £285pp this August Credit: Getty

People love to turn their noses up at Benidorm, which is a massive mistake if you love a bargain summer holiday.

The intense competition between the hundreds of hotels here keeps the rates ruthlessly competitive, driving bookings 35 per cent below the average summer holiday price.

The Milord’s Suites are an absolute gem, sitting right on the border of the Old Town and Levante beach.

I absolutely love their rooftop sun terrace – it’s a completely quiet, adult-friendly escape from the busy streets below, and serves up panoramic views of the castle lookout point.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Calella, Costa Brava

Bag a cheap stay at beautiful Calella in Costa Brava for £315pp this August Credit: Getty

The Costa Brava is easily one of Spain‘s most scenic, rugged coastlines, and Calella is the ultimate value gateway if you want wide, sandy beaches and a relaxed Spanish atmosphere for 41 per cent less than the summer average.

The GHT Balmes Hotel is a massive family favourite, with a specialised bike hire and outdoor adventure station.

They even provide secure storage and free local trail maps, making it incredibly easy to explore the hidden, pine-backed coves of the surrounding national park that standard tourists never manage to find.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

San Antonio, Ibiza

Soak up the buzz of San Antonio, in Ibiza, this summer with a holiday 43 per cent off the summer average Credit: Alamy

Ibiza usually makes people think of VIP beach clubs and losing your life savings on a round of drinks, but San Antonio operates as a brilliant value loophole if you time it right.

Bookings here are looking at 43% below the seasonal average.

The Vibra San Marino Aparthotel has a beautifully sleek, minimalist look, but the standout feature is its partnership with the local sunset water taxis.

You can catch a cheap boat shuttle directly from the hotel’s private jetty straight across the bay to the iconic sunset strip, entirely cutting out expensive island taxi fares.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Fuengirola, Costa del Sol

Fuengirola holidays this summer are up to 45 per cent cheaper than the average summer holiday Credit: Getty

Fuengirola is a brilliant all-rounder with huge beaches and cheap, direct train links straight from Malaga Airport.

And right now, it’s cleaning up on summer holidays – averaging an incredible 45 per cent cheaper than the average summer holiday.

I spotted a bargain room-only deal for the BLUESEA Miramar Fuengirola, which is within walking distance of buzzing bars, restaurants and seafront shops.

And room-only here is fine, because you’ll want to eat out in the local tapas bars anyway.

But the secret weapon at this hotel is the massive indoor heated pool and wellness zone – if you want a quick break from the intense August sun, you can retreat into a chilled, high-spec indoor spa for zero extra charge.

Book your holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Cabo Blanco, Majorca

Holiday Expert Rob Brooks recommends a trip to Cabo Blanco in Majorca Credit: Getty

While the masses fight for sunbeds in Alcudia or Magaluf, Cabo Blanco is where the smart money lands in Majorca.

This quieter stretch of southern Majorca serves up rugged cliffs and dramatic sea views for a whopping 55 per cent less than the overall summer average.

I even managed to dig out a five-night all inclusive holiday for £353pp, at the Sun Club El Dorado.

Landing a full all-Inclusive package in Majorca during peak August for that money is borderline ridiculous.

This resort even has a private ranch and horse-riding trails integrated into the grounds, which gives the whole complex a rustic, expansive country club feel that you’d easily pay double for anywhere else on the island.

Book a holiday

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue



Source link

We found the coolest Premier Inns across the UK with the best views and neon cocktail bars

YOU know what you’re getting with a stay at a Premier Inn.

Big, comfy white and purple beds. A nice telly. A clean and simple room with all the basic bits you’ll need. A solid breakfast in the morning.

These reliable Premier Inn hotels are in some of the UK’s most beautiful locations Credit: Premier Inn

But did you know that there are some UK Premier Inns across the UK that feel a lot more like a high-end stay?

We’ve selected the Premier Inn locations that well and truly push the boat out, with Grade-II listed beautiful buildings, pink neon cocktail lounges, and even views of Big Ben right outside your window.

Far from cookie-cutter hotel rooms, these standout spots deliver the very best in location, architecture, history and unbeatable views without the boutique price tag.

With stays starting from just £35 a night, here are the coolest Premier Inns in the UK you can book right now.

BAG A BREAK

UK hotel deals with FREE breakfast, golf breaks, spa stays and 80’s discos


BEST VALUE BREAKS

Best value UK hotels this summer with FREE breakfast and seaside spas

London County Hall

Premier Inn’s London County Hall location is just steps from top sights like the London Eye Credit: Premier Inn

This may be London‘s coolest Premier Inn location.

Here you’ll sleep inside a Grade-II listed historic building which is mightily impressive from the outside – but inside, it’s those familiar purple theming and giant white, comfy beds we all love.

Look out the window and see Big Ben staring at you from across the water, plus you’ve got the London Eye a two-minute walk away.

Book a room at Premier Inn London County Hall from £82 per night

Bath City Centre

Stay at Premier Inn Bath City Centre and visit the famous Roman Baths Credit: Alamy

Stay smack-bang in the middle of Bath’s beautiful old town, just 10 minutes from Bath Spa station and Pulteney Bridge.

Spend the day exploring the famous Roman Baths and Thermae Spa, and settle down for the evening at the Trinity pub just opposite the hotel.

Attached to this location you’ll find the Bar + Block steak restaurant, where you can tuck into a juicy ribeye or sirloin and are only steps away from jumping into bed afterwards.

Book a room at Premier Inn Bath City Centre from £43 per night

Liverpool Albert Dock

Premier Inn’s Liverpool Albert Dock location is the ideal spot to stay in to explore the city Credit: Getty

Stay inside a historic warehouse in Liverpool with this gem of a Premier Inn.

The building is a converted 19th-century Grade-I-listed warehouse, and is only a 20 minute walk from Lime Street.

Here you’re right next door to The Beatles Story, where you can immerse yourself in the world of The Beatles and delve into the famous musicians’ lives.

Book a room at Premier Inn Liverpool Albert Dock from £45.40 per night

Bognor Regis

The newly-opened Premier Inn Bognor Regis has a glamorous cocktail lounge and sea view rooms Credit: Premier Inn

Think Premier Inn, but boujee enough to post on Instagram.

The hotel chain have opened up a new location with fancy Premier Plus rooms right on the seafront of this popular coastal town.

Staying at the new hotel also gives you access to its glamorous lounge ‘The Social’, decked out with pink and neon decor, offering late night food and 2-for-1 cocktails.

Book a room at Premier Inn Bognor Regis from £35 per night

Cardiff Bay, Wales

This Cardiff Bay stay is close to family-friendly attractions like Techniquest Credit: Getty

The Senedd building and Millennium Centre both stand tall across the shimmering water from this well-placed stay.

This is Cardiff at its most photogenic – right on the harbour, with views of the city’s most impressive buildings, plus plenty of waterfront bars and restaurants on your doorstep.

It’s only an eight minute walk from here to amazing science museum Techniquest – so if you’ve got little ones in-tow, make sure to spend an afternoon here.

Book a room at Premier Inn Cardiff Bay from £47 per night

York City Centre

Explore York’s medieval city walls with a stay at Premier Inn: York City Centre Credit: Getty

Is there anything better than the comfort of a Premier Inn tucked inside medieval city walls?

Get the best of both worlds with this York location – the modern comforts of a familiar hotel with attractions like The Shambles and York Minster just steps away.

Other great attractions within walking distance include the free National Railway Museum as well as the immersive JORVIK Viking Centre.

Book a room at Premier Inn York City Centre from £69 per night

Fort William, Scotland

The Fort William location is the ideal spot to stay in if you are hiking up Ben Nevis Credit: Getty

Ben Nevis looms large over this location, providing the perfect, comfortable retreat for hikers to return to.

Tackle the summit via the mountain track, or take it easy and take the gondola up to the top for a hot chocolate with incredible views at the friendly cafe.

It’s a proper, budget-friendly base for a trip to one of the most breathtaking spots in the UK. You’re also only five minutes’ walk from the train station, making for easy travel.

Book a room at Premier Inn Fort William from £49 per night

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

Wowcher £99 Mystery Holiday now has BETTER odds than ever

IMAGINE sunbathing on the white sand beaches of Barbados, or watching the sun set with a cocktail in Bali… and you paid less than £100.

The Wowcher £99 Mystery Holiday has long been an exciting way to travel, with a lucky dip of over 100 destinations.

The odds of landing a trip to places like The Maldives with a £99 Wowcher holiday have increased by 33% Credit: Getty

But a mystery trip doesn’t have to only mean a city break or European destination.

You could actually land yourself an incredible long-haul holiday to places like the Caribbean and New York.

There are even hols to far-flung spots like Thailand, Japan, Costa Rica and The Bahamas available, too.

The odds of landing a long-haul holiday have now increased, with Tier 1 holiday odds up by 33% and Tier 2 odds up by 67%.

HOT RIGHT NOW

Wowcher holiday and hotel deals – from UK spa breaks to trips abroad for £99


OH WOW

Wowcher launches £99pp Christmas Market Mystery Holiday – with Disneyland & New York

This means that your chance of landing that once in a lifetime holiday are higher than ever.

So what are these tiers? Wowcher Mystery Holidays are split up into Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 destinations.

You are assigned assigned a holiday from one of these tiers through a randomised draw.

Tier 1 offers luxury and long haul holidays while Tier 2 offers three and four night package and all inclusive holidays. Tier 3 is for two-night city or beach breaks.

Tier 1 odds are now up 33% – meaning you are more likely than ever to land a luxurious, long haul holiday.

Tier 2 odds are up 67% – meaning you are also more likely than before to land a package or all inclusive holiday.

Tier 1 destinations include Miami, The Bahamas, Thailand, Bali and more Credit: Alamy

Which holidays could I land in the draw?

Here are all the destinations split up into Tiers 1, 2 and 3.

Tier 1 Holidays (up 33%)

Seven-night, 4* hotel breaks available in:

  • The Maldives, Thailand, Bali, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Japan, Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Jamaica, St Lucia, Mauritius, Costa Rica, Cape Town, South Korea, Puerto Rico, Tampa, Chicago, Washington, Calgary, Bermuda, and The Bahamas.
  • Three night, 4* breaks in: New York, Toronto and Boston
  • Or a five-night, 4* break in Miami.

Tier 2 Holidays (up 67%)

Four-night breaks with breakfast in:

  • Venice & Lake Como, Prague & Budapest, Rome & Venice, Lisbon & Barcelona.

Three nights (varying all inclusive or B&B basis) in:

  • Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Benidorm, Sicily, The Algarve, Turkey, Zante, Santorini, Rhodes, Halkidiki, Corfu, Crete, Malta.

Plus the following special package breaks:

  • 3 Night Disneyland Paris Holiday with park tickets & breakfast
  • 3 Night Iceland with Northern Lights & breakfast
  • 3 Night Holiday to Swiss Alps Bernina Express Rail Tour from Milan
  • 3 Night Holiday to Geneva Chocolate & Cheese Train Experience
  • 3 Night Rome City Break B&B with Vatican Tour & breakfast
  • 3 Night Athens City Break B&B with Acropolis Tour & breakfast

Tier 3 Holidays

Two night city or beach breaks available in:

  • Madeira, Vienna, Brussels, Zadar, Prague, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Bratislava, Tallinn, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Bremen, Athens, Budapest, Dublin, Rome, Venice, Naples, Bologna, Lake Garda, Lake Como, Florence, Pisa, Verona, Milan, Trieste, Bari, Riga, Vilnius, Luxembourg, Agadir, Marrakech, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Krakow, Warsaw, Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Bucharest, Barcelona, Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa Dorada, Costa Del Sol, Malaga, Alicante, Salou, Palma, Seville, Valencia, Madrid, Mallorca, Ibiza, Sicily, Malta, Katowice, Cinque Terre, Salzburg, Tirana, Rimini, Sorrento, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Belgrade, Kaunas, Wroclaw, Bilbao, Santander, Benidorm, Marseilles, Cannes, Lyon, Nantes, Nuremberg, Gdansk, Helsinki, Geneva, Brindisi, Bergamo, Genoa, Turin, Corfu, Crete, Istanbul, Sofia, Varna, Sunny Beach.

Click here to book yourself a £99 Wowcher holiday.

So how does it work when you actually book one?

When you book your holiday, you get to choose the exact dates that work for you – so no need to worry about not being able to get the time off.

You also get to pick the UK region you would like to fly from, so you won’t have to trek across the country to another airport.

And if you don’t land the holiday you were hoping for? No problem.

You’ll still enjoy a two night break at minimum with return flights included, staying in at least a three-star hotel – which is well worth the money itself!

And when you’re floating along in a gondola in Venice, posing with the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or chilling on the beach in Barcelona for only £99…

You can’t complain, even if you do bag somewhere closer to home.

You could bag a trip to New York with a £99 Wowcher Mystery Holiday Credit: Getty

Source link

Nine cheap glam hotels abroad that SHOULD be five star

IF I’ve learned one thing working in travel it’s this – you don’t need to drop a month’s wages on a five-star hotel to bag a five-star holiday.

In fact, some of the absolute best properties I’ve tracked down across Europe officially carry just three stars next to their name – despite thousands of guests rating them significantly higher than luxury resorts costing double the money.

Holiday Expert Rob Brooks has found luxurious hotels abroad that offer dirt cheap holidays Credit: Rob Brooks

The secret is simple: hotel star ratings aren’t customer review scores.

Stars are handed out based on rigid facility checklists – whether a property has a 24-hour concierge, three extra restaurants, a spa, or a lift.

They tell you nothing about whether the rooms are spotless, the breakfast is incredible, or the staff remember your coffee order by day two.

When I’m not lucky enough to be travelling in my day job, I spend my days buried in live price sheets and customer feedback – so here I’ve had a dig through my three-star database to find the absolute hidden gems, most of which I’ve sampled myself.

These aren’t sprawling mega resorts, but each one completely over-delivers for its price point.

Here are nine elite three-star properties where you can bag a week away from as little as £54 pp.

9. Yannis Hotel, Corfu

Bag a glamorous break in Corfu from £500pp and soak up the vibrant scenery Credit: Getty

The Yannis Hotel sits among 15 acres of lush hillside gardens just above Ipsos, placing you a easy five-minute walk from the sand while keeping you away from the beachfront noise.

It officially holds three stars, but the overall footprint feels much higher end, featuring a pool deck that looks out across ancient olive groves toward the Ionian Sea – and guests rate it an impressive 4.2/5 on Tripadvisor.

You can lock in a seven-night stay here for two from £500pp, including direct flights from London Stansted on September 22 and breakfast each morning – working out at an absurd £71.43pp per night for flights, hotel, and food.

The standout feature for me at this place, weirdly, is their on-site organic vegetable patch. Trust me on this one, though.

The kitchen chef harvests fresh tomatoes, herbs, and figs directly from the hotel gardens every morning to serve up in the poolside Greek taverna, giving you proper, farm-to-table dining on a basic budget package.

Book a holiday: Corfu

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay at the Yannis Hotel with breakfast from September 22, including direct flights from London Stansted, from £500pp.

BOOK HERE

8. Osiris Ibiza, Ibiza

The adults-only Osiris hotel in San Antonio has a rooftop sunset deck and glam outdoor pool area Credit: On the Beach

If you assume San Antonio is wall-to-wall club noise and zero sleep, the Osiris will completely change your mind.

This family-run, adults-only gem sits quietly in San Antonio Bay right across from Es Pouet Beach.

Its minimalist white architecture and boutique pool terrace look far more high-end than budget, earning it a staggering 4.6/5 Tripadvisor rating.

I found a seven-night stay here from £525pp, with direct flights from Bristol on September 16 including breakfast. That breaks down to just £75pp per night.

The killer insider feature here though is the hotel’s private rooftop sunset deck.

While thousands of tourists fight for overcrowded, expensive seats at Café Mambo down the road, guests at the Osiris can bring their own drinks up to the hotel’s elevated terrace and watch the iconic Ibiza sunset in complete peace. Bliss.

Book a holiday: Ibiza

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay at Osiris Ibiza from £525pp, with direct flights from Bristol on September 16 including breakfast.

BOOK HERE

7. Oykun Hotel, Turkey

Rob found a stay in Dalaman, Turkey for a week for £435pp Credit: Alamy

The Oykun Hotel on Calis Beach is the exact kind of property people miss out on when they lazily filter their search engines to “four stars and above.”

On paper, it’s a straightforward Turkish hotel with two pools and a traditional hamam, but it boasts a massive 4.6/5 score across 900+ reviews because the family running it treats returning guests like gold.

I tracked down a week here from £435pp, including direct flights from London Gatwick on September 2 and daily breakfast, coming in at £62pp per night.

And at the Oykun you’re incredibly close to the local water taxi jetty – which is a bit of a gamechanger on a holiday here.

Rather than paying for hot, crowded buses into Fethiye, you can step straight out of the hotel gardens onto a wooden riverboat that cruises you across the bay directly into the historic Old Town for pocket change.

Book a holiday: Turkey

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a stay at the Oykun Hotel from September 2, including breakfast and return flights from London Gatwick, from £435pp.

BOOK HERE

6. Zephyros Hotel, Santorini

Holiday among the rich and famous in Santorini from £380pp Credit: Getty

Santorini is notorious for charging eye-watering prices for cliffside cave suites, but you don’t need an infinity pool to experience the island.

The Zephyros Hotel in Kamari is a gorgeous three-star property built in traditional Cycladic style, with whitewashed walls, blue shutters, and a central pool framed by palm trees – plus it holds a brilliant 4.6/5 Tripadvisor rating.

You can grab seven nights here from £380pp, with direct flights from London Gatwick on September 30 including breakfast.

At £54pp per night with flights, it really is an unbelievable value loophole.

At this hotel you can spend your days lounging on Kamari’s black-sand beach for pennies, then, to push the savings even further, you can even hop on the local 15-minute express bus straight up to Oia for the famous caldera views, completely bypassing the hotel tax.

Book a holiday: Santorini

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay at the Zephyros Hotel from September 30, including return flights from London Gatwick, for £380pp.

BOOK HERE

5. Alfagar Village, Portugal

Stay in a spacious apartment with an ocean view balcony at Alfagar Village in Portugal Credit: On the Beach

Alfagar Village is easily one of the hardest properties on this list to believe is rated three stars.

It sits on the cliffside above the Algarve coast, featuring direct, private steps carved into the red rock that lead straight down onto Santa Eulália Beach.

It holds a 4.3/5 rating from over 1,100 reviews, which is no mean feat in Portugal.

I clocked seven nights here from £505pp, including direct flights from London Stansted on September 30.

The deal is self-catering, but the apartments come with huge ocean-view balconies and full kitchen setups.

The real trick at this place though is that guests get complete, free access to the entire neighbouring 4-star Alfagar resort complex, meaning you can use their massive sports courts, heated indoor pools, and multi-lane waterpark flumes while paying basic three-star rates.

That’s a proper three-star-price for a four-star-holiday hack.

Book a holiday: Albufeira

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay at the Alfagar Village, including direct flights from London Stansted on September 30, from £505pp.

BOOK HERE

4. Dom Jose Beach Hotel, Portugal

Stay in the Dom Jose Beach Hotel in Portugal for sweeping views over the sea Credit: On the Beach

The Dom Jose Beach Hotel sits directly on Quarteira’s paved seaside promenade, and is home to a sleek, contemporary pool deck that looks straight out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Inside, the rooms feature modern, high-spec design, helping it bag a near-perfect 4.7/5 rating on Tripadvisor. Seriously impressive.

You can lock in a seven-night stay from £655pp, including direct flights from Bristol on September 28 and daily breakfast.

While it sits at the higher end of this list at £94pp per night, it easily outperforms the £150-a-night chain hotels nearby.

Plus, when you see the hotel’s private, wooden deck built directly on the sand – equipped with reserved wind-screened loungers – you’ll see why it’s worth that little bit extra.

You can step straight off your breakfast terrace onto your private sunbed without ever dealing with public beach crowds.

Book a holiday: The Algarve

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay with breakfast at the Dom Jose Beach Hotel from September 28, including return flights from Bristol, from £655pp.

BOOK HERE

3. Hotel Abrat, Ibiza

Occupying one of the best spots in Ibiza, Hotel Abrat is tucked away on the quieter, scenic northern edge of the resort near Caló des Moro beach.

Recent refurbs have left its sea-view pool deck looking like a gorgeous five-star property, backing up its strong 4.2/5 Tripadvisor score.

I found a seven-night stay here from £470pp, with direct flights from London Southend on September 30 including breakfast.

And the best thing, for me, about staying at the Abrat is the coastal walking path directly behind the gardens.

It runs along the rocky coastline to a series of pristine, hidden swimming coves where the water is crystal clear. A real hidden gem of a find.

Book a holiday: Ibiza

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay at Hotel Abrat, with direct flights from London Southend on September 30 including breakfast, from £455pp

BOOK HERE

2. Hotel Valentina, Malta

Hotel Valentina averages a 4.7/5 star score on Tripadvisor and even has a rooftop pool Credit: On the Beach

If you want a hotel that pulls off a flawless five-star impersonation, Hotel Valentina in St Julian’s is the answer.

This place features boujee, bold contemporary interiors and a stunning rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline.

Just take a look yourself and it’s easy to see exactly why it boasts a massive 4.7/5 Tripadvisor rating across 2,600+ reviews (one of the highest rating-to-ratings ratios in all of Europe!)

I spotted seven nights here from £510pp, including direct flights from London Stansted on September 25 on a room-only basis (£73pp per night).

But the secret weapon at the Valentina is its partnership with the high-end Avenue Restaurant next door.

Hotel guests get exclusive priority seating and discounts at one of the best dining spots in St Julian’s, giving you a boutique, luxury lifestyle package without the luxury price tag. Total hack.

Book a holiday: Malta

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night room-only stay at Hotel Valentina, including direct flights from London Stansted on September 25, from £500pp.

BOOK HERE

1. Velamar Boutique Hotel, Portugal

Bag a seven night stat at the Velamar Boutique Hotel in Albufeira for £425pp, including flights Credit: On the Beach

Located in Olhos de Agua just on the outskirts of Albufeira, Velamar Boutique Hotel focuses on minimum guest numbers and maximum hospitality – which is why it tops the charts on my value scoreboard.

Its gardens, modern rooms, and peaceful outdoor pool create a calm, boutique feel geared toward couples – and it holds a fantastic 4.5/5 Tripadvisor score.

You can grab seven nights here from £425pp, including flights from London on September 22 with breakfast included (less than £61pp per night!)

The hotel even runs a seamless, direct connection down to the quieter Maria Luísa beach, allowing you to spend your days on one of the Algarve’s most beautiful, sheltered coves without ever having to worry about car parking or expensive taxis.

Book a holiday: Albufeira

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book a seven-night stay with breakfast, including flights from London on September 22, from £425pp.

BOOK HERE

Source link

Turkey’s version of St Tropez is 43% CHEAPER but just as glam

IF you want to live like an A-lister on your next holiday without paying eye-watering French Riviera prices, you’ll want to check out this Turkish hotspot.

Dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey, Bodrum delivers boutique beach clubs, yacht-packed marinas, and turquoise bays on a budget.

Bag yourself a boujee break in Bodrum for nearly half the cost of a St Tropez holiday Credit: Getty

The best part? Holidays here can cost you hundreds of pounds less when compared to its French rival.

According to travel experts at First Choice, holidaymakers who swap St Tropez for Bodrum can save an impressive £440 per person on their trip, which is 43% cheaper.

This is based on comparing a seven-night, all inclusive stay at the four-star Bodrum Holiday Resort and Spa with a week-long stay at the four-star Hôtel Brin d’Azur in St Tropez.

While the St Tropez holiday would cost you £951pp, the Bodrum holiday would cost just £590pp.

Read more on Turkey holidays

TURK NOTE

‘Turkish Disneyland’ opens new waterland with 14 slides and stays are VERY cheap


GO ALL IN

Turkey has crazy cheap all-inclusive holidays this summer – 7 nights from £329pp

And if you’re on a tighter budget, you can even bag yourself a break from £313pp with First Choice.

The holiday savings don’t stop when you land, either.

A three-course meal for two in Bodrum sets you back roughly €46 (£39) compared to €68 (£58) in St Tropez.

Local beers are also more than 50% cheaper, making going out for food and drink around one third cheaper overall.

Everything you’d be looking for in St Tropez – a glamorous waterfront, celeb-spotting, fancy bars and beach clubs – can also be found in Bodrum.

Famous figures including Kate Moss and even Royal Family members have been spotted strolling its glamorous streets.

Book in for a holiday at Bodrum Holiday Resort and Spa with First Choice from £481pp Credit: First Choice

Beyond the glam beach clubs and sunset cocktails, Bodrum packs in world-class history.

Visitors can explore the ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Or you could wander medieval Bodrum Castle, built using stones salvaged from the ancient tomb itself.

Late summer and early autumn are prime times to visit for prices, temperatures and beating the crowds.

Average temperatures sit around a warm 29°C in September, meaning you can soak up the sunshine long after the peak summer rush has passed.

For the ultimate day trip, you can even tick off two countries in one holiday.

Daily ferries zip across the Aegean to the Greek island of Kos in under an hour for just €35 (£30) return – meaning you could eat your breakfast in Turkey and dinner in Greece.

Alternatively, hop aboard a traditional wooden boat at the harbour to sail around hidden coves and quiet swimming spots, giving you a taste of the glitzy sailing life for a fraction of the cost.

The glamorous Turkish resort of Bodrum has been dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey Credit: Getty

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

People are going wild about ‘absolutely brilliant’ suitcase hack that gets you two checked in for the price of one

A CLEVER suitcase trick has gone viral on TikTok which will get you two checked suitcases for the price of one.

Travellers have called it a huge “new life hack.”

An open suitcase packed with colorful clothes.
Travellers are loving a handy suitcase hack that is going viral on TikTok Credit: Getty
A person demonstrating how to pack one suitcase inside a larger suitcase, with text explaining this travel hack.
The trick involves placing a packed suitcase inside an empty suitcase to save on baggage fees Credit: Unknown

For those looking to save on pesky baggage fees, TikTok may have just found the answer.

A user has posted a video to the social media site giving holidaymakers a sneaky travel hack for those planning on bringing back a mountain of holiday souvenirs and shopping.

The viral trick involves placing a large packed suitcase inside an empty one.

Zip them both up, check them into hold luggage and you’ve managed to take away two bags for the price of one.

DON’T FORGET

15 MUST-HAVE Amazon travel items that you’ll need for your holiday – from 79p


PLANE PAIN

Travellers are more likely to get a train between cities than fly, poll finds

Travellers can then fill the empty suitcases with a host of holiday purchases and bring the two bags back on the return flight, ideal for those heading on long-distance trips.

You will obviously need to pay for both suitcases on your return, but you’ll have scrimped some cash on the outbound flight.

It also means you won’t need to buy an extra suitcase during your trip if you already had spares at home.

However, an even handier hack has emerged online for those looking to max out their holiday packing.

Pop a smaller packed suitcase inside a large suitcase for your outbound flight.

On the return, you can check in the larger suitcases filled to the brim with new purchases and souvenirs, and keep the smaller bag as your free carry- on bag.

The result is only having to pay for one checked bag on each flight.

Fans of the popular hack poured praise on the social media platform.

“This is absolutely freakin’ brilliant,” wrote one user.

Another added: “Doing this for years, saves you space in the big suitcase and gives you extra space once you use it as a carry-on the way back.”

“This is a great idea because I have about 55 suitcases from each time I had to buy an extra one,” said another.

Another said: “Oh my god new life hack unlocked.”

A savvy packing hack has also been doing the rounds on social media, helping shoppers whittle down their wardrobe into just nine essential items.

The trick means you can save on baggage fees by only bringing one free hand luggage bag.

Source link

Sun-drenched holiday destinations with £1.50 pints, free attractions and stays from £8.62pp

IF you’re dreaming of a sun-soaked getaway without blowing through your savings, we’ve got good news.

While some popular hotspots, like Mykonos and Positano, often charge eye-watering prices, there are plenty of lesser-known, wallet-friendly spots in Europe and beyond for a sunny getaway.

And, with pints from £1.50, plus free attractions that the whole family will love, you don’t need a huge budget to enjoy your time abroad.

Whether you want White Lotus vibes in a cheap spot in Sicily, sun-drenched Spanish cities, or French countryside spots where local wines cost €2.50, we’ve got you covered.

Here are the Sun Travel team’s favourite cheap and sunny holiday destinations to book right now.

Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

Fuengirola is a city on the Costa del Sol in the province of Malaga, Spain Credit: Getty

Yearning for the glitz and glam of the Spanish celeb magnet that is Marbella but don’t have the dosh?

Just half an hour along the coast, fabulous Fuengirola offers the same sun-soaked shores without the A-lister prices.

You’re guaranteed sizzling sunshine – more than 300 days a year – and the 7km stretch of wide, golden sands leading down to gently-shelving, family-friendly waters is the star of the show.

Los Boliches Beach is a Blue Flag-clean favourite and you’ll be paying far less than in other Mediterranean beach resorts for sunbeds, with prices from just £12 a day for two loungers and a sun shade.

All along the coast are chiringuitos – beachside bars – serving up cheap plates of grilled sardines on skewers for just a few euros, and a pint of chilled beer will set you back around £4.

Shopaholics should save their pennies for the sprawling Tuesday Street Market – one of the largest on the coast – with bargain leather bags, clothes and souvenirs.

Book a holiday: Fuengirola

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Sporty types will love the Higueron Hotel Malaga – Curio Collection by Hilton – that sits in the hills above Fuengirola and Benalmadena.

As well as a stunning rooftop infinity pool and restaurant, there’s multiple padel, tennis and beach volleyball courts to keep you fit and healthy as well as a stunning spa.

And when you’re saving on going out to eat and drink, and for all of the activities, why not spend the extra cash on somewhere nice to stay?

Rooms start at £233 per night.

BOOK HERE

Tirana, Albania

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Reporter Cyann Fielding recommends a visit to Skanderbeg Square in Tirana Credit: Alamy

When you think of a sunny destination, your first thought probably isn’t Albania, let alone its capital Tirana.

But in fact, the city can reach 35C in July and is one of the sunniest cities in Europe with more than 2,500 hours of sunshine each year.

So there really couldn’t be a better holiday spot to sit back and sink a refreshing pint. It won’t even set you back much either, costing as little as £1.50.

One thing I really love about the city is it still feels completely undiscovered by Brits, lacking crowds and the typical souvenir shops on each corner that tend to come with that.

In the heart of the city, visit Skanderbeg Square, where you’ll be able to get a clear view of the surrounding architecture – a mix of traditional Albanian villas and Soviet grey concrete buildings.

If you want to earn your pint, climb the city’s very own pyramid, which has spectacular views of the mountains that border the capital.

Make sure to also look out for ‘pillbox’ bunkers which are littered across the city – many of which have been turned into vibrant and quirky bars and cafes.

Book a holiday: Tirana

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Hilton Garden Inn Tirana has stays from £87 per night during the school summer holidays.

BOOK HERE

Occitanie, France

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

Pretty Occitanie in France offers €2.50 (£2.13) glasses of wine and £33 return flights Credit: Alamy

This jaw-dropping region in southern France is crammed with off-grid holiday spots, and petite villages that showcase authentic French history, cuisine and mannerisms… By that, I mean brush up on your linguistic skills before venturing into the rural parts.

Your efforts attempting to blend in with the locals will be rewarded with shockingly affordable food and drink of the highest quality – the French, after all, are the master innovators in the winemaking industry.

Head to the historic commune of Albi, where a glass of house wine will set you back around €2.50 – it’s good stuff, too.

The “Red City” has some of the most gorgeous medieval streets, with some immaculate palace gardens that are completely free to explore.

It’s best to fly into Toulouse so that you can pop over to some of the gorgeous villages nearby.

Saint Cirq Lapopie is frequently voted one of the most beautiful in France and it’s not hard to see why, with cobbled streets and wonky cafes that feel stereotypically French.

Book a holiday: Occitanie

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Ryanair flies from Stansted to Toulouse from £33 return.

The ibis Styles Albi Centre Le Theatro has rooms from €87 (around £75) per night, which works out to £37.50pp per night.

BOOK HERE

Seville, Spain

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Seville in Spain offers reliable heat and sunshine – plus plenty of spots for authentic Spanish food Credit: Getty

As one of Spain‘s most southern cities, you can always expect great weather in Seville (outside of summer of course – unless you like 40C days).

When it comes to wining and dining, you’re spoilt for choice, so I’d recommend trying a Secret Food Tour (from £65) which takes you around the local-loved spots. I had everything from churros and vermouth to pig cheeks and omelette along the way.

If you want a quick, cheap breakfast, go to Bar Alfalfa for a coffee and tomato toast for a few euros, or have a drink at El Rinconcillo, the city’s oldest bar.

The city is famed for its flamenco, but rather than forking out for a show, I simply headed to the parks where you can usually catch a live street performance for free.

Instead, save your money to see the city’s two top attractions – the moorish Royal Alcazar Palace and Cathedral de Sevilla, the world’s largest gothic church.

Book a holiday: Seville

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue.

Stay in the Only U hotel, where rooms can start from as little as £120 a night. It feels much fancier than the price thanks to its private heated swimming pool, on-site florist, bakery and chic bedrooms.

BOOK HERE

Cefalu, Sicily

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

Stunning Cefalu offers White Lotus luxury vibes on a budget, says Sun Head of Travel Lisa Minot Credit: Getty

Want White Lotus vibes on a budget?

Sicily’s coastal seaside resort of Cefalu has the same stunning coastline that featured in the smash hit show.

While the hotel scenes were shot at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina, the opening beach scenes and swimming spots were filmed at Spiaggia di Cefalu in the town itself.

There’s a broad stretch of golden sands backed by a maze of cobbled streets and hidden lanes full of medieval architecture.

While meals in the restaurants in town are still great value, for a real bargain, do as the locals and pick up some street food to eat on the beach.

Arancini – deep fried risotto balls stuffed with ragu – or sfincione – thick slices of Sicilian pizza – will cost between £1 and £3.50.

Seeing the historic sites also won’t cost a lot. Head to the Piazza del Duomo to admire the twin-towered Norman cathedral – entry to admire its stunning mosaics is free.

And for just £4.30 you can hike up the craggy mountain of La Rocca that looms over the town and be rewarded for your efforts with jaw-dropping, picture-postcard views across the entire coastline.

Book a holiday: Cefalu

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

The Palazzo Villelmi in Cefalu’s Old Town is right on Piazza del Duomo, facing the Cathedral and just 150 metres from the beach. Rooms from £154 per night.

BOOK HERE

Maspalomas, Gran Canaria

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

Sun Travel’s Sophie Swietochowski recommends a visit to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands Credit: Getty

Seeking something cheap and cheerful with guaranteed sun? Few places fit the bill better than Gran Canaria.

The Spanish island’s proximity to the northwest coast of Africa (around 150 kilometers) means that balmy temperatures are practically guaranteed year round, especially in the south of the island, with the northern mountains acting as a protective barrier.

While it may not initially spring to mind as a budget destination, you can find some incredible value package offers.

Its popularity among Brits means that you’ll have your pick of deals with a huge variety of tour operators to pick from and some competitive prices.

A package holiday is exactly what you should book when heading here, too, as its resorts are completely geared up for fly and flop holidaymakers.

The last time I visited, I splashed out on an all-inclusive deal so that I could have pina coladas delivered to my sunlounger on a rotating basis, flopping between the pool and restaurants, barely lifting a finger. Talk about R&R.

Book a holiday: Maspalomas

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Seven nights’ B&B at the 4* Sunprime Atlantic View starts from £369pp, including flights from Stansted on September 30.

BOOK HERE

Lake Garda, Italy

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Visit Lake Garda in Italy for hot temperatures, cheap stays and plenty of family attractions Credit: Getty

Italy will always have a fond place in my heart and when it comes to Lake Garda it has everything you could wish for, for a sunny family holiday.

In the 28C July heat, the lake is the perfect place to head for a swim which you can do from a number of beautiful beaches dotted around the perimeter, including Jamaica Beach.

If I had to pick one spot in particular around the lake that is really special, it would be Limone – a small cliff side town known for its historic lemon houses, waterfront promenade looking out at the clear lake, tonnes of citrus trees and even lemon-themed shops.

Make sure to head to Spiaggia Tifu beach in the town, which has lots of nearby amenities and calm waters making it ideal for families.

You can also hop on a ferry ride to a number of other villages and towns that sit around the lake.

And thanks to the abundance of restaurants and cafes around the lake, it won’t be hard to find a pretty spot to enjoy a pint, which will cost you around £4.20.

Book a holiday: Lake Garda

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

Book in for a five-night stay for four at Eurocamp’s hu Altomincio Village for four from £172.40 total, which works out to £8.62pp per night.

BOOK HERE

Milan, Italy

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Stroll for free through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade in Milan Credit: Alamy

The Italian city of Milan often gets a bad rap when compared to the likes of Rome, Florence and Venice – but you can still find some less-touristy gems if you know where to look.

Of course, you have to visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is free and one of the world’s oldest shopping arcades, as well as the famous Duomo.

But after this, leave the main city centre for Navigli, a canal-side neighbourhood lined with restaurants and cafes and crisscrossed by arched bridges.

Iter is a great bar with friendly staff and fantastic wine, while the nearby Pizza AM is cheap and cheerful (and comes with a free glass of fizz).

Film buffs should head to Bar Luce, a retro-style cafe designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson.

Book a holiday: Milan

If you click on a link in this box, we will earn affiliate revenue

NYX Hotel Milan is a great, affordable option. It has a lobby bar DJ and rooftop terrace, and stays from £131 per night.

BOOK HERE

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Source link

15 MUST-HAVE travel items on Amazon that you won’t want to forget for your holiday

HEADING off on holiday this year? Then you’ll want to make sure you’re stocked up on all the essentials.

We’ve rounded up 15 of the top travel items you may have forgotten to pack for your holiday.

We’ve rounded up the top travel essentials you’ll want to bring on your summer holiday Credit: Getty
Collage of travel items including a plane, sunscreen, passport, suitcase, and plane tickets, advertising The Sun's travel Instagram account.

And with all of them easily available on Amazon, you’ll be able to bag these last-minute buys quickly before you jet off.

From travel products that will save you 50% more room in your suitcase to a gadget that can save you hundreds at the airport, here’s those last-minute buys you won’t want to forget.

Sleep headphones – £12.34 (44% off)

These soft sleep headphones make listening to music much more comfortable, particularly when you are trying to sleep.

Built in are two mini speakers that connect to Bluetooth, saving you that horrible discomfort that comes with traditional headphones.

Read more on travel products

PLANE BAD

Common travel item forcing planes to divert & experts say it will get WORSE


HEADS UP

Disney fans are racing to Dunelm for ‘super soft’ travel essential that’s now £2

Underseat cabin bag – £16.99

This perfect underseat cabin bag will become your best friend on flights.

Plain black, collapsible and barrel-shaped, this bag is designed to slide perfectly into those pesky luggage-sizers at the airport gates.

Save yourself the extra baggage fee and come prepared.

Waterproof mobile phone pouch – £5.98

Keep your phone bone-dry and your hands free with this handy waterproof pouch.

If you’re splashing in the sea or jumping on a paddle board, your tech will stay safe from splashes.

The touch-sensitive screen means you can still snap selfies, too.

This power bank from Amazon is perfect for camping or taking to festivals Credit: Amazon

Power bank – £16.93 (15% off)

We’ve found the ultimate power bank for travel.

At a whopping 27,000mAh, it can fully charge an iPhone 4.5 times.

It sits right under the 100Wh capacity limit set by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, so you can bring it onboard in your carry-on with no fuss (just double check your airline allows power banks).

Whether you’re bringing it along to a festival, a theme park, camping or on an adventure abroad, it’s well worth having this life-saver power bank to hand.

Eye mask – £5.99 (25% off)

Trying to sleep on a brightly-lit plane is next to impossible, but napping becomes much easier with one of these.

Eye masks can be useful when travelling with kids who need to sleep, as they block out all the light and distractions.

This 3D padded one is ultra-comfortable and blocks out any annoying light.

Car emergency kit – £25.99

Taking your car abroad this year? To comply with European regulations, you’ll need to ensure you’re travelling with all the right equipment.

Luckily, this handy kit has pretty much everything you’ll need.

Included is a warning triangle, hi-vis vest, tow rope, jumper leads, first aid kit and more.

Save yourself hundreds on extra baggage fees by weighing your luggage with this transportable scale Credit: Amazon

Portable luggage scale – £5.99

This portable luggage scale helps travellers avoid extortionate airport fees by letting you easily weigh your suitcases both before jetting off and on your return trip when you’ve done too much holiday shopping.

Study and simple to use, the handy gadget has earned nearly 27,000 mostly five-star reviews from shoppers.

The scale costs £5.99, but could save you hundreds on baggage fees – making it an inexpensive essential for stress-free travel.

Compression packing cubes – £19.99

These compression packing cubes squeeze your clothes down to save up to 50% of your suitcase space.

Designed with durable double-stitching and smooth zips, they even have a dedicated waterproof section to separate wet gear from dry outfits.

Hailed by reviewers as a ‘game-changer’, they also keep your luggage neatly organised so you’ll never have to rummage through your suitcase again.

Shampoo bar – £2.95

Packing your liquids bag often feels like an impossible challenge of fitting a million skincare and make-up items into one tiny pouch.

And once you’ve got your mascara, concealer, foundation and perfume in there, suddenly there’s no more room for your actual shower essentials.

So instead of trying to squeeze in shampoo from home or buying a large bottle abroad, try packing a solid shampoo bar.

These won’t affect your liquids allowance, which is especially great when you’re travelling with hand luggage only.

Watch your favourite movies on your phone with this plane phone holder Credit: Amazon

Toothbrush head covers – £2.49 (50p each)

If you’re someone who chucks their toothbrush into their bag or suitcase and hopes for the best, you’ll want to check this one out.

There’s nothing worse than a grimy toothbrush. And when you’re travelling, it’s hard to protect those bristles and keep them clean from other items in your bag.

And if you’re getting your toothbrush out on the plane or leaving it on the side in your hotel bathroom, you won’t want to think about all the germs that can get to it.

Luckily, Amazon sell a pack of five toothbrush caps for £2.49, working out to around 50p each.

5 more travel essentials to add to your basket

Worldwide travel adaptor – £14.98 BUY HERE

Mobile phone holder for flights – £8.48 BUY HERE

Mini flexible phone tripod – £8.30 BUY HERE

Mosquito repellent bracelets – £8.89 BUY HERE

Mini refillable perfume bottle – £4.98 BUY HERE

Prices correct at the time of publication.



Source link

You can stay at these award-winning UK holiday parks from £2.88pp per night

YOU don’t need to spend a small fortune to treat the family to a stay at a top holiday park.

These award-winning parks are packed with indoor waterparks, loads of kids activities, coastal views and top quality entertainment.

Thornwick Bay holiday park in East Yorkshire has top quality family entertainment Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Collage of travel items including a plane, sunscreen, passport, suitcase, and plane tickets, advertising The Sun's travel Instagram account.

Plus we found deals for families of up to six for as little as £2.88pp per night.

So whether you’re looking for a staycation in Scotland, an escape to Essex, or a beach break in North Wales, these top-rated resorts deliver non-stop family fun.

Orchards Holiday Village, Clacton-on-Sea

This AA four-star rated Clacton-on-Sea park has an indoor and outdoor pool, mini Segways, a nine-hole golf course, and a summer Football Fun Factory – and that’s just the start.

Put your spare 2p coins to good use in the arcade, or head off on a bike trail for quiet afternoon cycling along the fishing lake.

Read more on holiday parks

BRANCH OUT

Five-star holiday park that’s a ‘cheaper Center Parcs’ to open huge attraction


PARK UP

Epic UK holiday parks with waterparks, theme parks & Spoons pubs from £3pp a night

Then settle down by grabbing some familiar eats from Papa Johns, Burger King, or the park’s own pub, The Mash and Barrel.

Just 17 minutes away, Clacton Pavilion adds extra thrills with exciting live shows and more than 20 rides. You can grab an unlimited ride wristband for £12.99.

The cheapest deal we found was for a four-night break for four people in November for £49 total, working out to just £3.06pp per night.

Click the button below to browse last-minute summer breaks or to book ahead for quieter seasons.

Book a stay at Orchards Holiday Village from £49

Thornwick Bay, Yorkshire

Splash about in the huge indoor waterpark at Thornwick Bay Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk

East Yorkshire’s Thornwick Bay holiday park is ideal for outdoors-y families, with its very own private lake where you can hire pedalos, go kayaking, or try stand-up paddleboarding.

Indoors you’ll find a spacious swimming pool with a multi-lane waterslide, plus an action-packed Activity Barn with climbing walls, archery coaching, and slime workshops.

On sunny mornings, little explorers can hunt for fossils and explore the sea caves down at the bay.

When it’s time to refuel, there’s takeaway favourites like Chopstix noodles, plus sit-down dining options like the Lighthouse Bar & Restaurant. Just make sure to save room for dessert from Bertie’s Ice Cream.

With the dramatic Flamborough Headland’s moss-topped cliffs and breathtaking beaches on your doorstep, there’s endless options for things to do at this coastal holiday park.

It even won the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award last summer, and is rated a five-star holiday park by AA.

We found a four-night stay for four people in September for £49 total, which works out to £3.06pp per night.

Check holiday dates and caravan options by clicking the button below.

Book a stay at Thornwick Bay from £49

Craig Tara, Ayrshire, Scotland

Splashaway Bay at Craig Tara is one of the largest holiday parks in Scotland Credit: Haven

Race down neon-lit slides and flumes at Splashaway Bay – one of Scotland’s largest indoor waterparks – which sits inside Craig Tara holiday park.

Outside of the amazing waterpark, kids can burn off energy at the Adventure Village, where there are aerial ropes courses and a giant six-metre high platform called ‘The Jump’.

Plus with dedicated sensory rooms for toddlers and a huge soft play hall, every single age group is catered to.

With plenty of indoor and outdoor activities, Craig Tara delivers the ultimate weather-proof staycation where a bout of rain could never dampen your holiday.

The cheapest deal we found was for a four-night stay for six people in September for £69 total, which is just £2.88pp per night.

Click below to browse holiday dates and caravan options.

Book a stay at Craig Tara holiday park from £69

Golden Sands, Rhyl

Golden Sands in Rhyl has caravans and chalets overlooking the sea shore Credit: Away Resorts

Set right in the pretty seaside town of Rhyl, Golden Sands Holiday Park makes a brilliant base for exploring North Wales, and has collected awards from sites such as Hoseasons.

You can easily reach spots like Dyserth Waterfall and historic Gwrych Castle in just a short drive, plus Rhyl itself has its own miniature railway and golden beach.

Back on site, kids can burn off energy with NERF gun battles, an outdoor adventure playground and soft play, or splash around in the indoor pool.

This park also has fantastic evening entertainment, with family-friendly live shows, glow parties, bingo nights and mini discos.

We found a deal for a three-night stay in a comfort chalet sleeping five in September for £157, working out to £10.47pp per night.

Click below to browse dates and book yourself in for a staycation.

Book a stay at Golden Sands from £157

Combe Haven, Sussex

Take a spin in the massive Space Bowl flume at Combe Haven holiday park Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk

In sunny St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex, this lively resort is perfect for making a splash, with a huge water complex including a lazy river and a giant Space Bowl flume.

On-site activities range from archery coaching and footgolf to a giant climbing wall.

Head to Cook’s Fish and Chips for a chippy tea, and sea view drinks at The Saxon Bar to unwind in the evenings.

You’re also just 15 minutes from historic Hastings, where you can explore historic Hastings Castle and the underground caves of the Smuggler’s Adventure.

The cheapest deal we found was for a four night stay for six people in September for £69 total, working out at £2.88pp per night.

Click the button below to browse holiday dates, including last-minute summer breaks.

Book a stay at Combe Haven from £69.

Prices correct at the time of publication.



Source link