holidays

IT’S been a long, hot summer and it isn’t over yet – but if you’ve already spent a fortune entertaining the kids, you don’t need to spend anymore money to enjoy the rest of it.

Across this month, kids under the age of 16 can travel on local buses for free, and what makes it even better is that there are a number of UK bus routes that happen to head to top attractions that are also free.

Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said: “We know how hard it can be for families to enjoy their time together as they face persistent cost of living pressures.

“That’s why this summer, we’re giving families room to breathe as children can hop on the bus for free as part of our Great British Summer Savings scheme, which is also giving money off attractions and restaurants, as well as cheaper train fares.

“From beaches to iconic historical sights, there’s loads of beautiful attractions kids can get to for free.

“We want everyone to enjoy their summer holidays, and by taking action, we hope no one misses out on the small plans that make life more fun.”

Here are some of the Department for Transport‘s best spots you can head to for free…

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England, stretches across 73 miles and was a barrier built by the Roman Empire.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that visitors can visit for free.

Key spots to explore along the wall include Walltown Crags, where you’ll see stones snaking along the Whin Sill cliffs.

There of course is the section where you can see the stump of the famous Sycamore Gap tree as well.

If you want to see a breathtaking view, head to Winshields Wall, which is the highest point along the entire wall.

And for history lovers, there’s Poltross Burn Milecastle, which is one of the best-preserved remaining small forts from the Roman Empire.

Bus to catch: Go North East AD122

Northumberland Coast

The Northumberland Coast stretches for more than 30 miles, meaning there is plenty to explore.

One great spot is Embleton Bay & Low Newton, which is a crescent-shaped beach with sand dunes, overlooked by the remains of Dunstanburgh Castle.

Or for a more family-friendly beach head to Beadnell Bay, where you will find golden sand and a number of water sports activities.

You could also head to Amble, which has a working harbor where you will find restaurants selling fresh, local seafood.

Bus to catch: Arriva Northumbria X18

Lake District (Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere)

Or you could head to the heart of the Lake District where you will find Windermere, Ambleside, and Grasmere.

You will be able to explore England‘s largest lake, where you can see pretty cottages and head off on scenic walks.

Drop by Windermere town where you will find Victorian stone buildings as well as cosy bakeries and unique independent shops.

In Ambleside, on the other hand, you can head off on a 10-minute walk to Stock Gyhll Force, which is a dramatic 70 metre waterfall in the middle of woodland.

Bus to catch: Stagecoach Cumbria & Lancashire 555 or 599

Peak District National Park (Bakewell/Castleton area)

Instead, you could head to the Peak District National Park to the Bakewell and Castleton areas, in the centre of the National Park.

Around here you will find historic market towns, riverside walks and amazing hiking routes.

One spot to visit is Bakewell, which is the largest town in the Peak District National Park.

The town sits on the River Wye and is known for hosting bustling outdoor markets – just make sure to grab some famous Bakewell Pudding before you leave.

Bus to catch: High Peak 199 or 272

Stratford-upon-Avon

Literary fans can head to the home of Shakespeare – Stratford-upon-Avon – where they will find a historic market town.

Have a gander around the town and look at the quaint Tudor architecture, before relaxing in Bancroft Gardens.

You can visit where Shakespeare is buried in Holy Trinity Church.

And for a bit of history mixed with retail therapy, pop down Henley Street which is completely pedestrianised with antiques stores and cosy boutiques.

Bus to catch: Stagecoach X18

Seven Sisters Country Park

In East Sussex, you can head to Seven Sisters Country Park with breathtaking coastal views making it the ideal spot for coastal walks.

You’ll see the seven chalk cliffs which were formed by ancient river valleys.

Tie a visit to the famous viewpoint near Seaford Head in to your walk as well, where you will spot the Coastguards Cottages.

This is also a great spot for spotting birdlife, including kestrels and egrets.

Bus to catch: Brighton & Hove buses 12 or 12A or 12X

New Forest National Park

Found mostly in Hampshire, the New Forest National Park sprawls across a staggering 219sqm.

The park boasts historic woodlands as well as free-roaming ponies.

Across the park, you can also head to a number of quaint villages.

For example, in Lyndhurst – which is often dubbed the ‘capital’ of the forest – you’ll find cosy shops and the New Forest Centre.

Bus to catch: morebus X3 or X6

Eastbourne

In East Sussex, you could head to Eastbourne – a much loved seaside town.

Often thought to be the sunniest place in the UK, you can venture to the Victorian pier where you will find arcades and slot machines.

Then stop by the beach, which if you head to during low tide, you might be lucky enough to find some fossils.

Before leaving, grab some fish and chips or an ice cream from one of the many beach shacks.

Bus to catch: Coaster 12

Lands End

What better place to go than the most westerly point of England?

The famous headland at Land’s End, Cornwall, is a great spot for coastal walks as well as taking in the views of staggering 61-metre cliffs.

On clear days, you’ll even be able to see across towards the Isles of Scilly.

Make sure you snap a pic of the kids with the distance signpost before you leave.

Bus to catch: Go Cornwall bus 1A

York Railway Museum

In York, you could visit the National Railway Museum – the largest railway museum in the world.

Ideal for kids, it is open each day from 10am to 5pm and inside there

There are around 100 locomotives in the museum and a number of interactive zones too.

After exploring the museum, have a wander around York and admire the pretty architecture.

Bus to catch: First York 59

Ashmolean Museum

In Oxford, you can explore the city and then head to the Ashmolean Museum.

It is the world’s second university museum and Britain’s oldest public museum.

You can spend hours exploring art and archaeology collections including Egyptian mummies.

Another fascinating item to look out for is Guy Fawkes’s lantern from the 1605 Gunpowder Plot.

Bus to catch: Stagecoach 2

Durham Cathedral

Head to Durham and explore the city’s cathedral, which was built back in 1093.

The cathedral forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Durham Castle.

Inside, you can see ribbed stone vaulting and grand 6.6metre high columns.

The cathedral was even a filming spot on the Harry Potter series.

Bus to catch: Gateshead Central Taxis 40 or 40A, or 40C

White Cliffs of Dover

In Kent, you could visit the White Cliffs of Dover.

While the nearest bus does drop you around a mile away, it makes the ideal day walk to see the white cliffs that formed 100million years ago.

On a clear day you might even be able to see France.

The recently opened King Charles III England Coast Path also runs past the cliffs.

Bus to catch: Stagecoach South East 93

Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park in Devon is home to hundreds of towering granite tors that once used to be molten magma in the Earth‘s crust.

Today, the National Park is the ideal place to go on scenic hikes.

One accessible spot is Haytor, which is about a 15-minute walk from a visitor centre.

Make sure to look out for Dartmoor ponies too.

Bus to catch: Stagecoach South West 1 or 38 or 118

Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary

Who doesn’t love a donkey?

Well, at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary in Devon you can see more than 200 of them.

The site is also home to a number of activities including a maze for kids to explore.

And if you get hungry, there is an onsite cafe for a nibble.

Bus to catch: AMVT 899 or Stagecoach South West 9A

To see the full list of operators and attractions you could visit via the bus, head to the Gov.uk website.

BEACHGOERS are being warned to stop trying to visit closed UK beach.

Local authorities have said that a number of Brits have been putting themselves in danger by ignoring signs at a beach that has been closed for two months.

Selwicks Bay near Flamborough Lighthouse in Yorkshire has been closed for several weeks now after an inspection revealed that steps down the cliff side were damaged.

Since the closure, there has been a barrier at the entrance of the steps.

Now the local council is urging visitors to not climb over the barrier or ignore signs near the beach.

Councillor Nick Coultish, the council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure, tourism and planning, said in a statement: “We don’t want to restrict access to this beach, but these steps are in a dangerous condition, so we had no choice but to close them.

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“Please don’t ignore the barrier and closure signs, because there is a real risk that someone could get seriously hurt if the steps give way.

“This won’t be a quick repair, unfortunately. The damage means we may have to rebuild them.

“We look forward to reopening these steps when they are made safe, but until then please don’t use them.”

The steps are the only way to reach the beach, so until new steps are built the beach will remain closed.

The spot is also popular with paddle boarders and the council is concerned that they could become stranded or have to turn back as there isn’t a way to get up from the beach.

Engineers are currently planning a solution for the beach, but the council has said this may take some time.

Irish airline Ryanair has reiterated its controversial stance on what passengers should not wear on their planes – after one passenger attempted to bend the ‘rule’

There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable on a flight, knowing there’s nothing you can do about it. Wearing jeans is often regarded as an air travel faux pas as the tightness of the material can cause problems when the body swells slightly during low cabin pressure.

Ryanair has frequently warned against wearing denim on board, saying that tight waistbands and stiff leg material squeezes your body, which can cut off good blood flow if you are sitting still for hours. Recent passenger Pam Booth recently sought advice over her choice of outfit, which prompted a damning response from the Irish airline.

“What you got to say about this Ryanair?” Pam asked on Twitter alongside a snap of her attire. “Technically they aren’t jeans.”

Ryanair simply declared in reply: “They’re worse.” Pam’s photo revealed she had opted for denim shorts for her journey, cut just above the knee.

If you’re wearing shorts then your bare thighs and calves could be pressed against the seat fabric for hours. And aircraft seats are turned around fast – while they are cleaned, they’re not deep-sanitised between every passenger, so you’re increasing exposure to sweat, skin cells, crumbs and microbes left behind.

Last month, Ryanair shared an “important” message to those wearing jeans, having previously threatened to introduce a “denim fee” for travellers not adhering to this guidance.

“Important Travel Announcement,” the company posted, accompanied by three images of a Ryanair aircraft in the sky, zoomed in to reveal various details. The first two showed a Ryanair plane soaring through the air, with a brilliant blue sky visible in the background. However, the third image displayed a banner trailing from the rear of the aircraft.

The message was short and sweet. It simply read: “Stop travelling in jeans.”

Ryanair also took to TikTok in July to share a similar message. The airline shared a video of a plane with the Ryanair logo descending over turquoise waters before landing at what appears to be Corfu airport.

Celebratory music is heard playing over the clip, followed by a voice saying the classic phrase many passengers will have heard before: “Thank you for flying Ryanair. It’s 2026, let’s stop travelling in jeans please.”

The recommendation is shared by AAA Club Alliance, who state online: “A stiff denim waistband isn’t ideal when you’ll be sitting in a small, cramped seat for hours.

“Jeans can quickly get uncomfortable, which can put a damper on your entire travel experience. Plus, wearing tight jeans can actually increase your risk of deep vein thrombus (DVT) which are blood clots in the leg, so stiff, tight pants should be avoided.”

The advice continues: “Instead of jeans, opt for a stretchy pant. While sweatpants and leggings can be a great option, if you want to up your game, try trousers with drawstring or an elastic waist.

“Styles in light fabrics, like cotton, or that curl up in a jogger style, are great for a long-haul flight. Or, if you love your jeans, try a relaxed boyfriend cut or other style with decent stretch.”

THE next host of Eurovision has been announced and it is a super cheap spot for beach holidays.

Burgas in Bulgaria will host Eurovision 2027 between May 12 and 15, 2027.

Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green said: “[Burgas] is a vibrant, welcoming city on the Black Sea with a strong musical and cultural identity, and it has the ambition, infrastructure and passion needed to welcome the Eurovision family.

“For the first Eurovision Song Contest ever to be held in Bulgaria, we want to create something that feels truly Bulgarian while also being unmistakably Eurovision – a celebration that brings people together through music.”

Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth largest city and from the UK costs as little as £18 per way to fly there direct from London Luton, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.

When in the city, make sure to head to the Sea Garden, which is a large coastal park that runs along the edge of the Black Sea.

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You can walk along paths through the park stopping off at quaint cafes along the way.

There’s also Burgas Pier, which stretches nearly 300 metres into the sea from the garden.

If you fancy a shopping spree then head to Aleksandrovska and Bogoridi Streets, where you will find most of the shops alongside street performers.

For something a little more relaxing, head slightly out of the city to Lake Atanasovsko and The Pink Mud Baths – this is a hypersaline lagoon known for its pink waters where you can just float.

Make sure to head to the many beaches as well, including Central Burgas Beach with soft, golden sand.

One recent visitor said: “Beautiful beach, very clean, sand is darker. You have shallow water for like 20 metres from the land.

“It is pretty accessible and not many tourists are there so it is not busy and not crowded.

“Great looking I would recommend to anyone who wants a clean beach and not very crowded and which is really close to bus and train station.”

If you fancy a pint, a beer will set you back around £1.70 from a bar – though if you head to the supermarket, it will cost you just 80p.

The average price for a hotel in Burgas ranges from around £40 per night to £104 per night.

Options include the Grand Hotel & SPA Primoretz, which is the only five-star hotel in Burgas.

The hotel sits right by Black Sea Beach and opened in 1959.

Despite its luxury rating, a room costs from as little as £110 per night.

Alternatively, you could stay at the Burgas Beach Resort, which has a range of studio, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments.

At the resort there is also an outdoor infinity pool alongside a board games room and playground.

Rooms at the Burgas Beach Resort cost from £70 per night.

Package holidays are cheap too, with seven-nights in Burgas at the Bulgaria Hotel including breakfast and flying from London Luton between September 29 and October 6 costs £389 per person.

It is the only Spanish airport on the official new list – issues could regularly last for two hours or more

Brits jetting off to a Spanish holiday hotspot in August should pay attention to a new official airport update. Spanish media reports say that Palma Airport will be operating beyond its capacity for 18 days throughout August, according to an official analysis – for more than two hours on 10 occasions.

It has been reported that the airport in Mallorca is the only Spanish airport featured on a list of airports where Eurocontrol – the central organisation for coordination and planning of air traffic control for all of Europe – has identified mismatches between predicted demand and available capacity during August and September.

The list also features several Greek airports – Athens, Corfu, Heraklion, Kos, and Chania – alongside Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen and London’s Gatwick. As a result, Palma Airport faces an extremely busy August, Spanish media reports claim. According to Eurocontrol forecasts, it will surpass its operational capacity on 18 days, more than half the month.

On 10 of those occasions, the excess demand will stretch beyond two consecutive hours, while on the remaining eight, it will be concentrated within two-hour windows, Eurocontrol says. The capacity for Palma is set to stand at roughly 74 movements per hour, comprising approximately 33 arrivals and 40 departures, the agency says. During particular time slots, the anticipated flight demand will outstrip the number of operations the system can accommodate, says Eurocontrol.

Eurocontrol says the forecasts do not mean airports will be overwhelmed. Yet they say their analysis aims to identify periods when high concentration of flights may require measures to regulate traffic flow.

El Diario reports that the European agency projects that demand will also surpass the airport’s capacity at least eight times between September 1 and 27, with three instances stretching beyond two consecutive hours and five lasting two hours. Yet airport operator Aena has told media in the country that under no circumstances has Palma Airport been operated “beyond its declared capacity”. They say that if demand ever exceeds the established airspace capacity due to an unforeseen event, such as storms or regulatory measures, not all operations are permitted to take place simultaneously.

In such cases, they say air traffic control regulates the flow of flights through various traffic management and sequencing measures. Sources at the airport have also told Spanish media that a major overhaul there has resulted in a larger security checkpoint featuring hand luggage screening machines that do away with the need to remove liquids and electronic devices, as well as “more efficient routes throughout all areas, including the one dedicated to inter-island passengers”.

Eurocontrol said in its assessment of Europe-wide air traffic: “July 2026 set new records for air traffic. The EUROCONTROL area recorded its highest ever monthly traffic, with over 1.13 million flights and a peak of 37,659 flights on Friday 24 July. Worldwide, commercial aviation also reached an all-time high of 153,359 flights on 23 July.

“On average, capacity among the busiest 10 carriers remained stable compared to the previous week.” The update comes as tourists heading to Spain and other EU nations face the prospect of lengthy queues this summer at airports. The EU rolled out its Entry/Exit System (EES) in April, which requires passengers from the UK and other non-EU countries to register their fingerprints, photograph and personal details upon their first arrival. This has resulted in lengthy hold-ups for countless passengers.

EES delays lead to big increase in waiting times at EU airports

The Financial Times reported this month that peak waiting times at two major European airports – Munich and Frankfurt – have doubled this summer compared with the same period last year, following the EU’s chaotic rollout of its new electronic border system. Mallorca is amongst the many airports where significant delays have been reported on multiple occasions throughout the year..

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said the system should be moved online. “Only the Europeans would invent s*** like this,” he told investors last month, adding that the airline had witnessed substantial queues at around 15 airports.

The scorching temperatures are also heaping further pressure on the airport, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin. The publication reported that Palma Airport workers are once again demanding the immediate reopening of the airport canteen.

Staff say the facility is essential as somewhere they can eat and take refuge from the sweltering summer heat. The Balearic Government has urged airport operator Aena to reopen the venue as swiftly as possible.

Reports suggest that officials believe Aena is currently working to adapt the premises with the aim of getting the canteen back up and running in the near future.

HEADING to a theme park heaving with school trips in a heatwave is not anyone’s idea of fun.

But I’ve found the perfect shady spot with unique rides and attractions that will keep you cool all summer long.

GreenWood Family Park in between Bangor and Caernarfon in North Wales has just been snapped up by buyer Wood Family Group after going on the market for £1.25m earlier this year.

It doesn’t surprise me – having recently visited, we had a fantastic family day out in the forest.

We were pedalling, paddling and playing in the dappled light beneath the trees in this woodland of wonder, with paths winding here, there and everywhere and something new to discover in every nook and cranny.

It’s green by name and green by nature here, with a rollercoaster powered by people and the UKs first solar-powered water ride among the eco attractions.

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As you arrive, you’re getting a cawr-some glimpse of what’s to come, with a quirky metal giant (cawr in Welsh) greeting you on the path to the ticket office.

It was lovely to hear youngsters chatting away in Welsh and switching between their two native languages with ease.

Despite the gaggles of youngsters, we never had to queue for long for any of the attractions and, because of the clever layout, it felt bustling but not overcrowded.

GreenWood is firmly rooted in its surroundings, with bilingual signage, nods to local legends and a fantastic use of the forest landscape, from a river course low down where water pools to playframes and rides capitalising on slopes and gravity.

That’s how the Green Dragon rollercoaster works – you climb up a gentle hill to enter a funincular carriage next to the start point of the rollercoaster.

As the funicular then descends full of passengers, its weight hoists the empty rollercoaster back up to the top of its track.

Then the funicular passengers exit at the bottom of the slope, use a second path to get back up to the top, climb into the rollercoaster and whizz through the trees at speed. It’s an incredibly clever design – fun and physics combined! 

There’s loads of attractions here that are entirely people-powered.

My boys loved the moon karts, with double and single seaters to pedal around a track.

The Enchanted River Ride is great for all the family as you hop into a flat-bottomed boat to paddle around a course, with dangling ropes to grab along the way for extra propulsion if needed.

The Forest Glider is a 75m snow tubing slope where riders carry their own ring up to the top to set off.

Meanwhile the Solar Splash uses the sun’s energy to power its water chutes, with riders setting off from a 12m tower with views over Snowdonia.

There’s also plenty of play areas for little ones to let off steam – my favourite was the Giant’s Quest, set in one corner of the woodland.

The boys also loved the jumping pillow and the chance to have a go at archery, under the watchful eye of an expert instructor.

We grabbed a bite to eat in the oak-framed WoodBarn cafe, which has a large soft play extending up into its eaves and lots of natural light streaming in through its skylights.

Kids’ meals even have £1 off over the summer, so staples like sausage and chips plus a juice carton are less than £7.

Day tickets start from £21.50 for adults (or anyone over 1m) while anyone under £1m pays from £8.65.

If you’re heading from further afield and want a couple of days at the park, there’s a glamping site with tipis that can accommodate up to six people, with unlimited park access and a communal kitchen to make meals.

Overnight stays for a family of four during the summer holidays cost from £220 midweek and £260 at weekends. 

Park entry this summer is £84.85 for a family of four.

You’ll certainly want to take your clan to GreenWood – I can’t wait to return and check out what the new owners do with this woodland wonder, with the promise of new rides, attractions, play experiences and guest facilities on the cards.

From ancient sites home to centuries of fascinating history to breathtaking natural wonders, here are some of the most magical places to visit on home shores

Summer holiday season may soon be coming to an end, but for those already mourning their time abroad, staying on UK shores doesn’t have to mean a return to the mundane. There are countless places to discover tucked away in all corners of the country that rival holiday destinations overseas with their stunning scenery and fascinating history.

If Brits are seeking inspiration on where to visit next to stave off those post-summer holiday blues, our travel experts have picked out some lesser-known destinations across the UK that are sure to impress. The list below includes five of the top-rated attractions that are branded ‘hidden gems’ on TripAdvisor, with each having earned glowing reviews from visitors.

Our experts have also included tour options from the travel experiences website Viator, for visitors who want to take their excursions to the next level and tick off several beauty spots and historical sites in one day. These tours rank among the highest rated in the area, earning praise from participants for their organisation and informative guides.

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Viator offers flexible booking options, such as 24-hour cancellation and the option to reserve now and pay later, Meanwhile, the app allows travellers to manage all their bookings in one place and search for things to do nearby.

From the ancient Roman ruins of northern England to a one-of-a-kind village in Wales, here are five places to put on your travel list for the remainder of 2026. As well as uncovering hidden gem places, several of the tours found by our travel writers include stop-offs at some of the UK’s most iconic sites too, from Stonehenge to the Giant’s Causeway.

Tour the UK’s hidden gems

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Vindolanda, Northumberland, England

Hidden in the Northumberland countryside is one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in all of Europe. Vindolanda was once a key military post along the famous Hadrian’s Wall, with its ancient ruins still visible today alongside an on-site museum displaying some of the fascinating finds that have been unearthed, including the Vindolanda Writing Tablets – the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain.

Take a tour: For a day trip delving into the rich history of Northumberland, a top-rated option on Viator is the Hadrian’s Wall and The Borders Tour from Edinburgh. Priced from £88 per person, this 10.5-hour tour begins in Edinburgh before crossing the border into the awe-inspiring Hadrian’s Wall country to stop off at several historical sites, from an Augustinian abbey to a Victorian spa town.

Operated by Rabbie’s Trail Burners, this tour has been praised as a “very interesting and engaging experience” in reviews, with several participants praising their guide as “very knowledgeable”. While one reviewer thought that the tour felt “a bit rushed” and another fed back that they would have “loved more time at Vindolanda”, multiple others said they had “plenty of time at each stop”.

The price of this tour includes admission to the Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum. For those organising their own trip to this part of Northumberland, tickets are available to buy online via the Vindolanda Charitable Trust.

Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England

Dubbed the “prettiest village in England”, Castle Combe ranks highly on TripAdvisor’s list of the country’s best hidden gems. A trip to this tiny picture-perfect village feels like stepping back in time, as it has changed very little over the centuries, with its honey-coloured cottages nestled in a woodland valley.

Visit Wiltshire notes that the village is “vulnerable to the pressures of over-tourism” due to its small size, and is therefore not an all-day destination. A visit is best taken as part of a wider tour, with plenty of options available on Viator that include stop-offs at other must-visit spots in this picturesque part of England.

Take a tour: One of the most highly rated options on Viator is the Private Tour to Stonehenge, Bath and The Cotswolds. Lasting around 10 hours, this tour doesn’t come cheap with prices starting from £1,100 per group of up to seven people, but it does check off multiple bucket-list worthy destinations, from the iconic Stonehenge to the Roman Baths, making it a dream for lovers of history and idyllic scenery.

Run by Tailored Tours, this excursion has been branded an “enriching experience” in reviews, with participants having high praise for the “vast and in-depth knowledge” of their guide. In fact, with nearly 200 reviews, it has received five-star ratings exclusively, with others describing it as “a perfect mix of fun, historical and beautiful”, although one person noted that they “wish we’d had more time to explore Bath”.

The price of this tour does not include admission to Stonehenge. Anyone planning their own visit to the world-famous prehistoric monument can book tickets via English Heritage, which also includes admission to an exhibition housing more than 250 artefacts discovered in the landscape.

Portmeirion Village, Gwynedd, Wales

Over in Wales, the number one hidden gem attraction according to Tripadvisor rankings is the spectacular Portmeirion Village. This unique tourist village will have visitors thinking they’ve travelled to the Italian Riviera with its colourful buildings and ornamental gardens, with shops, cafés, tea-rooms and restaurants too.

Take a tour: Travellers can explore the treasures of North Wales with the Portmeirion, Castles and Snowdonia Tour, a top-rated option on Viator that embarks from Llandudno on a drive along the one-way road of the Great Orme headland with its spectacular mountain drop off into the sea. Alongside a visit to Portmeirion, tourists will stop off at the medieval castle towns of Conwy and Caernarfon, before driving through part of the Snowdonia National Park for a chance to experience its breathtaking scenery from mountains to waterfalls.

Operated by Adventure Tour Snowdonia, the action-packed day has been hailed as an “insightful” trip offering “a great taste of North Wales” and “a great way to see the Snowdonia area without a car”. One reviewer remarked that “the three longer stops felt a bit too long”, while someone else thought that “some spots did not feel worthy of time”, although a different participant said they “enjoyed every moment”.

This tour is priced from £65 per person and is a full day lasting around nine hours. Meanwhile, tourists who want to turn a visit to Portmeirion Village into a holiday have a choice of hotels and self-catering cottages in the village itself for a one-of-a-kind retreat, from the striking Castell Deudraeth to the characterful Village Rooms.

Dean Village, Edinburgh, Scotland

Up in Scotland, Dean Village in Edinburgh takes the top spot when it comes to hidden gems to discover in the country, rated by visitors on TripAdvisor. An ancient settlement with roots dating back to the 12th century, this cherished beauty spot offers a tranquil retreat at the heart of the city, steeped in fascinating history.

Take a tour: Offering the chance to fully experience this hidden gem with the help of expert local insight is the Dean Village Circus Lane Walking Tour with a Local, which is priced from £18 per person and comes recommended by 100% of reviewers on Viator. Following a visit to Dean Village, this two-hour tour will lead to the New Town of Edinburgh, followed by the Water of Leith Walkway, before finishing at Circus Lane – the so-called ‘most Instagrammable lane in Edinburgh’.

Run by Local Eyes Tours, this walk has impressed participants with no ratings below four stars and reviews praising it as “very informative” and “picturesque”. Although multiple reviewers named the “flat, clear walking surfaces” as a bonus, one reviewer advised: “You’ll be in the weather elements, so bring a jacket and an umbrella or a waterproof coat. There might be a little bit of mud.”

For more tours exploring Edinburgh and wider Scotland, the award-winning Rabbie’s Tours offers more than 30 options, travelling to beauty spots such as Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and the Isle of Skye.

Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

And finally, Northern Ireland’s top hidden gem according to TripAdvisor reviews is the majestic ruins of Dunluce Castle. Described as “one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles” by Discover Northern Ireland, its remains date from the 16th and 17th centuries, with its position on the coastal cliffs of County Antrim making it an all the more dramatic sight.

Take a tour: For a tour that includes Dunluce Castle alongside several more of Northern Ireland’s most awe-inspiring sites, one option that comes highly rated by participants is the Giant’s Causeway Sightseeing Day Tour from Belfast. Lasting around nine hours and priced from £30 per person, this tour offers magnificent views of the Giant’s Causeway, plenty of photo stops along the Antrim Coastal Road, and the chance to learn all about the history of Northern Ireland.

Operated by Citysightseeing Belfast, participants said they loved the “amazing scenery” and “knowledgeable” guides, saying the Giant’s Causeway was “spectacular to see in person”. One reviewer described Dunluce Castle as “beautiful and majestic”, although one person felt that they spent “a little too much time on the bus”.

The National Trust also offers Giant’s Causeway experiences available to book, including a five-mile guided cliff hike along the coastline, and seasonal events such as twilight tours.

FORGET fighting for a sunbed in Benidorm – some of Europe’s best-value beach holidays are hiding in resorts most Brits couldn’t point to on a map.

They’ve got all the essential boxes ticked: guaranteed summer sun, proper hotel pools and beaches within flip-flop-walking distance – and because they aren’t popular tourist traps, you can enjoy the peace and quiet, too.

This is because they’re tucked away in Albania, Montenegro, Poland and lesser-known corners of Croatia, so they haven’t yet attracted the overwhelming crowds – or the eye-watering price tags – of the Mediterranean’s usual suspects.

I’ve been digging through our live On the Beach booking data to track down eight overlooked resorts quietly cleaning up with savvy British travellers.

Some serve as much better-value alternatives to Croatia’s expensive hotspots, while others offer five-star luxury for less than you’d pay for a basic three-star elsewhere.

Here are the eight resort names to get on your radar – before everyone else catches on…

1. Durres, Albania

If you’ve heard anything about Albania’s coast recently, it was probably about Ksamil and the increasingly trendy Riviera down south.

But Durrës, sitting on the Adriatic coast, is so much easier to reach and feels much more like a classic, hassle-free package resort.

Its coastline is lined with wide sand, beach bars and modern hotels, while the town itself packs in a Roman amphitheatre, Byzantine walls and a 15th-century Venetian tower.

This means there’s actual culture to explore when you’re not working on the tan.

Plus, it sits just 30km from Tirana Airport, so you don’t waste half your first day stuck on a transfer bus crawling across the mountains.

Our booking data shows holidaymakers paid an average of just £382pp for a five-night stay here over the last 12 months – working out to an absolute steal at £76 per person, per night.

A standout hotel to book is the four-star Bleart Hotel, a family-run beachfront spot featuring its own private sand, a massive outdoor pool and sea-view rooms.

And I found a deal here for a five-night B&B stay from £235pp, flying direct from London Luton on September 30.

Albania deal

Bleart Hotel, Durres

• Five nights
• Bed & Breakfast
• Return Luton flights

From £235pp. BOOK HERE

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

2. Tucepi, Croatia

You can be forgiven if you haven’t heard of Tucepi before, let alone know how to pronounce it (full disclosure, I had to Google it twice).

Tucked along Croatia’s Makarska Riviera, this little gem is sandwiched between the crystal-clear Adriatic and the towering Biokovo mountains.

It gives you the exact same views people spend an absolute fortune chasing down in Dubrovnik, minus the cruise-ship crowds and extortionate bar tabs.

You get a long, pine-shaded promenade, waterfront konobas (local tavernas) and an immaculate pebble beach, with the livelier hub of Makarska sitting just down the coast.

Our numbers show that, in 2026, Brits paid an average of £469pp for a six-night holiday here over the past year (£78 per person, per night).

If you fancy it, look at the four-star Bluesun Hotel Alga, which sits just 100 metres from the sea with mountain views behind it.

It boasts five separate swimming pools, a kids’ club and two playgrounds, making it one of the best value family setups on the coast.

And I clocked a five-night B&B stay here from £330pp, flying from London Luton on September 30.

Croatia deal

Blueson Hotel Alga, Tucepi

• Five nights
• Bed & Breakfast
• Return Luton flights

From £330pp. BOOK HERE

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

3. Golem, Albania

Golem is what happens when you take Albania’s dirt-cheap local prices and pair them with a fully loaded, modern beach-resort strip.

Sitting six miles south of Durres, it serves up miles of soft sand backed by beach clubs, seafood spots and modern hotel blocks.

The water is remarkably shallow and calm, making it a dream for families with young kids.

Even better, Tirana Airport is a painless 40-minute transfer away.

It’s livelier than Albania‘s smaller fishing villages, but that just means you’ve actually got options once you step outside the hotel gates.

Our booking data shows guests spent an average of £335pp for a four-night break here over the last year, making holidays just £84 per person, per night.

The four-star Albanian Star Hotel sits right on Golem Beach with its own private lounger section, an outdoor pool and sea-view balconies.

You can grab a five-night B&B package from £285pp, flying direct from London Luton on September 30.

Albania deal

Albanian Star Hotel, Golem

• Five nights
• Bed & Breakfast
• Return Luton flights

From £285pp. BOOK HERE

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

4. Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Herceg Novi sits right at the entrance of Bay of Kotor, where the mountains drop straight into deep blue water and a historic old town tumbles down to the coast.

It looks like an ultra-exclusive luxury hideaway, but the price tag tells a completely different story.

You’ve got waterfront restaurants, hidden swimming coves, and the long Pet Danica promenade linking it to neighbouring resorts.

You can easily catch boat trips around the bay or explore the famous Kotor without paying the eye-watering hotel rates in the centre.

Despite the high-end views, our average booking here came in at £455pp for five nights – just £88 per person, per night.

To do it in proper style, check out the five-star Carine Hotel Kumbor Superior.

It sits right on the water with a private beach, indoor and outdoor pools, a luxury spa and a full all-inclusive setup – meaning those five-star views won’t come with a terrifying bar bill at check-out.

You can book a five-night all-inclusive break here from £425pp, flying from Manchester on October 23.

Montengro deal

Carine Hotel Kumbor Supeior, Hercig Novi

• Five nights
• All inclusive
• Return Manchester flights

From £425pp. BOOK HERE

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

5. Gdansk, Poland

Gdańsk is famous for its cobbled streets, colourful townhouses and craft beer spots along the Motława River – but almost nobody in the UK realises it doubles as a proper beach resort in the summer.

The city boasts long, wide Baltic sand beaches like Brzezno and Jelitkowo, reachable via a quick tram ride from the historic centre.

It delivers a brilliant holiday hybrid: spend your mornings exploring medieval architecture, your afternoons lounging on the beach and your evenings eating fresh seafood by the river.

From May to September the weather gets really warm, while prices remain almost absurdly cheap compared to the Med.

Our booking data has Gdansk averaging just £246pp per trip, making it one of the single cheapest destinations in our database.

A great base is the three-star Hotel Number One by Grano.

It puts you right near the Old Town and gives guests access to the Grano Life wellness centre, complete with an indoor pool, jacuzzi and saunas.

You can secure a five-night room-only stay here from just £220pp, flying from London Stansted on September 19.

Poland deal

Hotel Number One by Grano, Gdansk

• Five nights
• Room only
• Return Stansted flights

From £220pp. BOOK HERE

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

6. Sopot, Poland

If you think Poland is only good for a winter city break, Sopot completely dismantles that myth.

Sitting just down the coast from Gdańsk, this is a proper, glamorous Baltic seaside resort featuring grand spa hotels, wide beaches and Europe’s longest wooden pier stretching out into the sea.

The main pedestrianised boulevard, Monte Cassino, is packed with open-air cafes, cocktail bars and restaurants, giving it a buzzing, high-end atmosphere after dark.

You can easily hop on the local coastal train to explore Gdansk, giving you a beach break and a world-class city break in one go.

And Brits paid an average of just £190pp for a break here, taking the absolute lowest price crown on our board.

To go all-out, look at the five-star Haffner Hotel & Spa.

It sits 250 metres from the sand with an indoor pool, spa and a private beach area in summer.

You can bag a five-night room-only stay at this luxury hotel from £395pp, flying direct from London Stansted on September 28.

Poland deal

Haffner Hotel & Spa, Sopot

• Five nights
• Room only
• Return Stansted flights

From £396pp. BOOK HERE

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

7. Igalo, Montenegro

Sitting right next door to Herceg Novi, Igalo swaps the historic fortress vibe for a much more relaxed, traditional beach-resort atmosphere.

It’s known for being a wellness hub thanks to its natural mineral waters and therapeutic mud flats.

The resort itself has a long, managed beach with warm, shallow water, backed by a flat promenade lined with family-run cafes.

You can stroll along the coastal path into Herceg Novi’s old town or use the harbour as a launchpad for boat trips around the Bay of Kotor.

Our booking data shows holidaymakers paid an average of £563pp for a five-night stay here, which equates to a very reasonable £110 per person, per night.

If I were booking, I’d go for the four-star Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa.

It has its own private beach club, two outdoor pools and an indoor pool filled directly with natural mineral water.

A five-night B&B package starts from £370pp, flying from London Stansted on September 28.

Montengro deal

Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa, Igalo

• Five nights
• Bed & Breakfast
• Return Stansted flights

From £370pp. BOOK HERE

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

8. Split, Croatia

Split itself isn’t a secret obviously, but far too many travellers treat it as a hub to visit the islands – despite that being a massive missed trick. 

Stay a while and enjoy ancient Roman palaces in the morning before cooling off with a swim in the Adriatic (chased by a cocktail on the palm-lined promenade).

The newly redeveloped Znjan seafront has given the city a proper beach-resort complex, complete with landscaped pebble bays, lounge bars and playgrounds.

While it came in as the highest-priced destination in this data group – averaging £744pp for a five-night stay (£155 per night) – it still delivers a premium combination of culture and coast that few places can match.

The four-star Amphora hotel sits directly on Znjan Beach, boasting three swimming pools, a spa and a rooftop lounge bar overlooking the sea.

And you can lock in a five-night B&B stay here from £430pp, flying direct from London Luton on October 17.

Croatia deal

Amphora Hotel, Split

• Five nights
• Bed & Breakfast
• Return Luton flights

From £430pp. BOOK HERE

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

LOOKING for some last minute action-packed family days out this summer?

Luckily, top UK theme parks are teaming up with giants like Minecraft, Formula 1 and Pokémon for amazing events that you and the family to get stuck into.

Whether your little ones want to hunt down real-life Minecraft Mobs, build LEGO Poké Balls or ride record-breaking coasters after dark, you still have time to do all of the above this summer.

Here’s the top events across UK theme parks that STILL have plenty of availability in August, from as little as £19 per person.

Alton Towers

Minecraft Meet the Mobs event: until August 28

If you’ve got any Minecraft fans in the family, you’ll want to bring them along to the Meet the Mobs event at Alton Towers.

Families can explore the theme park in an entirely new light as Creepers, axolotls, baby pandas and more roam the park ready to pose for pictures. And yes – you can meet the Minecraft movie-famous Chicken Jockey.

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There’s also an adorable Baby Mob Trail which takes you through memorable scenes and terrains from the movie and game. Complete the trail, and you’ll even get a baby axolotl hat to take home.

Not only this, but there’s even Minecraft-themed food and drink to enjoy, plus an arts and crafts zone to take a breather.

Book a day to ticket to Alton Towers from £32.13pp

Legoland Windsor Resort

Lego Festival and Pokémon collaboration: until August 31

Think everything you get from a fully-fledged festival – headline performances, chill zones, live music and more – but fully designed for kids. And throw in a whole bunch of Lego bricks.

Not only is there live shows and brick building zones here, but there’s also a new-for-2026 Pokémon play zone.

Here you get an interactive Pokémon Trainer experience, before building your own Lego Poké Ball as well as plenty of other themed activities.

You can even grab a family photo with Lego Pikachu for the memories.

Plus, for any Formula 1 fans, there’s also a new F1 Thrill Zone, where you can take on the Lego Brick Stop Challenge as you build against the clock.

Throw into the mix designing, building and racing your own F1 car, and you’ve got yourself a pretty action-packed day out at the Lego Festival.

Book a day to ticket to Legoland Windsor Resort from £29.75pp

Thorpe Park

Thorpe Park Lates: Summer Sounds: 14, 15, 21 and 22 August

Make the most of summer’s bright, sunny evenings with Thorpe Park Lates, where you can ride coasters up until 9pm in August.

Not only can you stay out later, but the theme park also hosts live DJ sets, so you’ll have a soundtrack to your late night rides.

Tackle the record-breaking Hyperia, go from 0-80mph in under 2 seconds on Stealth, or reach speeds of nearly 60mph on The Swarm.

If high-intensity coasters aren’t your thing, there’s bumper cars, teacups, a 4D cinema and plenty more attractions to spend your evening drifting between.

Book a day to ticket to Thorpe Park from £35

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Late Night rides with fireworks and summer shows: until August 29

End the night with a bang at Blackpool Pleasure Beach with their Late Night Riding and Fireworks nights.

Here you can ride famous coasters like the Big Dipper and The Big One into the night, before grabbing a hot drink to watch the fireworks to put a finish to a fun-filled day.

The fireworks begin at 10pm, with an epic backdrop of massive rollercoasters and the familiar Blackpool seaside skyline.

There’s also entertainment shows running until the end of summer. One of which is the Evolution of Magic (£14) where you can watch an interactive magic show from Britain’s Got Talent-famous illusionists, Craig Christian and Elizabeth Best.

Book a day to ticket to Blackpool Pleasure Beach from £29

Gulliver’s Land

Summer Soundwaves: until September 1

Gulliver’s Land are bringing the festival feeling to Milton Keynes, with a packed live DJ schedule throughout the rest of the summer.

DJ Leonard’s Rides and Vibes sees Leonard the lion leading dance parties throughout the park, plus Buddy’s Buccaneer Boogie brings the pirate tunes.

And that’s not all – there’s also K-Pop Karousel events where you can learn dance routines and take part in karaoke, plus you can spin under the lights at Dodge’s Disco Dodgems.

When you’re not stopping to sing and dance at one of the park’s many parties, there’s rides like the Jungle Falls waterslide and The Wriggler caterpillar kids coaster, plus a dinosaur trail and farmyard to explore.

Book a day to ticket to Gulliver’s Land from £12.50

Prices correct at the time of publication.

A MAJOR international airport is about to undergo two decades of change with a massive expansion.

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Australia dates back to 1919 making it one of the oldest international airports in the world.

And it has revealed its Master Plan 2045 that will completely transform the airport.

Over two decades, the AUD$6billion (£3.1billion) project will completely overhaul the airport including expanding the international terminal, as well as redeveloping two domestic terminals.

There will be two new gates at the international terminal, as well as 12 new ‘swing gates’ at the domestic terminals, which can also be used for international aircraft depending on demand.

There will also be a new concourse between the domestic T2 and T3 terminals, which is where the new ‘swing gates’ will be, allowing the area to be transformed for international departures.

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At the international terminal (T1), travellers will also find additional baggage reclaims and new gate lounges.

Tech upgrades at the airport, which will be finished by the end of this year, include a $200million (£104million) update to T2 Domestic Terminal with new security scanners and self-service bag drops.

Flights at the airport are set to increase as well, from around 75,000 currently per year to 130,000 by 2045.

As a result, international passengers are expected to double from around 16million per year today, to 36.4million in 2045.

There will also be a new hotel which will add 200 to 500 rooms near T1 and between 500 and 900 elsewhere at the airport.

Across the entire airport, there will be a number of new shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and potentially even a pub too.

According to the planning documents, there will be “amusement centres” and “entertainment facilities” as well.

By 2045, the airport aims to handle 72.6million passengers a year – compared to the 42.5million passengers today.

It will be the airport’s largest terminal transformation since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “Approval of Sydney Airport Master Plan 2045 provides a clear pathway to plan for future demand and invest in the infrastructure Sydney will need over the next two decades.

“As Australia’s international gateway, this plan ensures we can continue supporting tourism, trade, investment and jobs while delivering the capacity needed for future generations.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said: “Kingsford Smith is Australia’s busiest airport, it must remain fit for the future.

“Airports aren’t artworks, they’re constantly evolving to become more efficient and improve the passenger experience, and this new Master Plan maps out the airport’s plan to do just that.

“As demand grows, a modern Kingsford Smith will remain crucial to transport, tourism and industry across New South Wales and the nation.”

A MAJOR budget airline is facing travel chaos as staff promise to walk out THIS weekend.

EasyJet cabin crew in France are vowing to walk out due to rota arrangements and working conditions.

A strike notice was issued for August 7 to September 2 which means staff can walk out at any time during that period.

However, 48 hours notice must be given.

And now the strike dates have been announced for August 15 and 16.

Airports facing disruptions include Lyon, Nice, Paris Orly, Bordeaux and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

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A spokesperson for ⁠easyJet told Sun Travel: “We are extremely disappointed that unions representing our France-based cabin crew have announced plans for industrial action on 15 and 16 August, outside any formal negotiation process and despite our offer of adjustments to tackle their concerns.

“Given we have planned negotiations in September, we call on the unions to call off this opportunistic action at this important time of the year for our customers.

“We are sorry for the impact the unnecessary action will have on our customers.

“We will do all we can to minimise disruption. Customers whose flights are affected will be informed directly and will be offered options including a free transfer or a refund.

“We advise customers travelling to or from France on 15 and 16 August to check the status of their flight via our Flight Tracker.”

In a statement from the group of unions said: “Any flight cancellations or disruptions resulting ​from these days of action will be solely attributable to easyJet, which has chosen not to give a ​serious response to the repeated warnings from ​trade unions over the past months.”

A previous strike notice was suspended due to wildfires in the Gironde region.

The unions said at the time: “For nearly a year, the unions have been warning easyJet management about the continuous deterioration of cabin crew working conditions: chronic schedule instability, last-minute changes, imposed trip patterns, particularly burdensome rotations, and a total lack of protective measures.”

Morning meals in Southern California restaurants link us to so many cultures and flavors: Taiwanese sticky rice fan tuan, Salvadoran huevos picados con loroco, fatteh hummus in Van Nuys, catfish and grits in Inglewood, blueberry pancakes with extra butter in Hollywood.

But to narrow L.A.’s essential daybreak dishes down to one icon? It is, without question, the breakfast burrito.

The origins of burritos, meals wrapped in flour tortillas for breakfast or otherwise, trace most reliably to Sonora, Mexico’s northwestern state where wheat has been cultivated since the 1500s. California’s Mexican foundations made the burrito’s presence in L.A. inevitable, though its omnipresence was surely sped along by California entrepreneur Duane Roberts, who introduced the frozen burrito for fast-food chains to heat and sell in 1956 — after he’d already found success supplying the original McDonald’s in San Bernardino with burger patties.

Discussions of the mid-20th-century industrial food complex are relevant here. If any one ingredient, beyond the all-important egg, defines our modern tastes in breakfast burritos, it is the inclusion of the Tater Tot, capitalized after Ore-Ida (now owned by Kraft Heinz) engineered the fried puffs from potato scraps in 1953 and trademarked the term.

Our tastes for breakfast burritos have only increased since the pandemic. Many newer businesses spun out of 2020-era pop-ups or at-home tinkering — and nearly all of them crunch with a telltale fluffy-crispness. Tater tots are now to the L.A. breakfast burrito what rice is to the Bay Area Mission-style burrito.

Still, many styles express themselves in our foil-wrapped torpedoes: Some are canvases for individual creative expression, some innovations that graft global cuisines, some basic energy bombs to fuel the day.

And yes, rising prices led to a viral argument about a $20 burrito in the summer 2026 political discourse. Among the following suggestions, you can find a $3.99 egg, potato and cheese burrito served from a takeout window in Atwater Village and a $26 knife-and-fork burrito stuffed with short-rib meat in Hancock Park; a majority is in the mid-range between $12 and $17.

To build your own best-of breakfast burrito list, you can always start with stalwarts like Cottage Corner in Burbank and Lucky Boy in Pasadena. These 16 favorites span businesses that have been open for six months to several decades. The regional options are overwhelming, and the mix is always fluctuating. (A Pasadena standout, BBAD, recently changed ownership and the quality plummeted, hopefully temporarily.) It’s hard to consider this roundup anything more than a continual work in progress.

Fresh off a two-month stint filming the eighth season of Peacock’s “Love Island USA” in Fiji, Ariana Madix is happy to be back in her own space.

In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.

“I’ve been back and forth and all over the place so much lately,” says Madix from her Los Angeles home. “I’m very excited about all the things that I’m doing with my house. Just little things like I got a new front door. I’m in a nesting phase, I guess, because I’ve been gone for so long.”

The television personality and actor, who made her Broadway debut in “Chicago” in 2024 after capturing attention on Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules,” recently scored her first Emmy for hosting the wildly popular dating competition show “Love Island USA.” She finds that her summers in Fiji, the show’s filming location, always leave her with a fresh perspective.

“Going back multiple seasons, I see people who are so much younger than me be able to be so honest and forthright with how they feel and what they want,” says Madix. “I just think about back when I was their age, how scared I was all the time to make people mad. I admire them so much for that because it’s hard. I think that they are really brave and it inspires me to be brave.”

With the “Love Island USA” reunion set to air Aug. 31 on Peacock, Madix is enjoying every minute of her downtime. Back in Los Angeles where she’s lived for nearly two decades, her perfect Sunday involves a trip to the barn to ride horses, strolling through the neighborhood she first called home and hitting a club where people actually dance.

10 a.m.: Make a quick breakfast at home

I’m a sleepy person. I can sleep forever, so I have to set a time and be like, we’re going to do something. So I’m getting up at 10 a.m. I feel like that still gives me time to sleep in and feel like I’m still having a relaxing day, but it’s still early enough to do stuff. My breakfast is pretty boring. I just make egg whites at the house. I enjoy breakfast food a lot, but if I want to have an eventful fun day, I need to just get the breakfast out of the way and get some caffeine in me. Because if I dillydally for too long, I’m here all day. I’ll either make an iced Americano with a little bit of almond milk or a cold brew. I don’t do anything hot. It’s against my religion that I made up [laughs].

11 a.m.: Head to the barn to ride horses

I’d get out to the barn in Burbank to go horseback riding. Doing something outdoors, whether it’s riding, going on a hike or literally just touching grass, is a good way to start your day, I feel. Especially in L.A. where we’re spoiled with beautiful weather all the time. I’ve been riding since I was 6 years old. When I lived in New York, it wasn’t something that I really had access to or the funds for, so there was a period of time where I wasn’t riding and I felt like I was really missing that part of myself.

We’re really blessed to have access to riding in L.A. I had my own horse, but he recently retired so he lives in the mountains now, living his best life. So if my trainer has horses that need to be ridden for their own exercise, they’ll put me on one of those.

1 p.m.: Visit my old stomping grounds in Los Feliz

After that, I gotta go home, shower, change and then I gotta eat. I’d go to Los Feliz for some tacos and go for a walk. This is going to sound corny, but I recently tried Guac Daddy with my boyfriend, Dan. We each got like two or three tacos, so we could try a bunch and it was good. Afterward, we’re definitely going to Skylight [Books]. I love the section of the store that has all of the big photography books. I could flip through so many of them, so that’s where I’m going to post up for a little bit, hopefully with an iced coffee in hand. I saw something on TikTok where someone said our need for a walk-around beverage is emotionally regulating, so I think that’s a key part of this whole experience.

5 p.m.: Take a power nap before grabbing drinks at a rooftop

I think this is about the time where I need a nap, especially if I’m going to continue doing other things. If I can get a good power nap in, I’m ready to transition into more nighttime vibes. I want to try to be out of the house having a little sunset drink and I want to be somewhere with a good view of the sunset. There are some really cute rooftop spots in the Beverly Hills area. Gemma at the Waldorf Astoria has a really cute rooftop. That’s a good place to have a nice mezcal margarita and watch the sunset. My best friend, Logan, and I like to go somewhere where we say we’re gonna “eat with a fork.” There’s different levels to this. We might get an order of Parmesan fries or have a fish moment like crudo or a fish taco. Something that feels fresh that goes along with the vibe. I’d be here for a couple of hours with Dan and my friends Logan [Cochran], Dayna [Kathan] and Katie [Maloney].

7:30 p.m.: Play old-school games at the Neon Retro Arcade

Dan and I recently had a Sunday Funday in Pasadena. We went to this arcade bar called Neon Retro. I love a good pinball machine. They have all these old-school games like the old NBA game and old shooting games. Now that we’re adults and we can get unlimited [tokens], you actually can play long enough to beat some of these games. [Laughs] It’s a lot more satisfying than when we were kids and you’d play once, you’d die and then that’s it. We might get some candy to really feel the arcade vibes. It’s definitely a beer moment though.

10 p.m.: Dance at Club Tee Gee ‘til they kick us out

This is where things diverge because I’d maybe go catch a movie at CityWalk. Or if we’re feeling freaky, we could go to Club Tee Gee in Atwater for some dancing, to really have fun and feel like tomorrow’s not Monday. They always have really good music. I actually celebrated my birthday there a few years ago, which was really fun. They have glitter on the ceiling, which sets the tone immediately, and a lot of big-name DJs who will do secret sets there. It’s a place where people actually go to dance, which I enjoy. It’s not just standing around and looking at people.

2:30 a.m.: Order food off Postmates, then pass out

We’re staying at Club Tee Gee till close, till they kick us out. Then we’re catching a Lyft home and potentially ordering some food off Postmates. I’ve said tacos throughout the day, but I still want them [again] regardless. I think we’re spoiled in L.A. and there’s so many good ones, so I don’t have a favorite. I kind of just go everywhere. If not tacos, I’ll maybe be craving some Thai food. Then I’m passing out right afterward.

The family were on holiday in Turkey at the time of the incident

Two brothers were left covered in cuts after a steam room door shattered while they were on a package holiday in Turkey. The children were 16 and 11 at the time and were staying with their parents at the five-star Green Nature Diamond Hotel in Marmaris, Dalaman, on a 10-day break.

CCTV footage showed the moment the glass door shattered as the children left the steam room. Both suffered cuts to their feet, legs and arms and were treated by a doctor at the hotel.

Jet2Holidays initially denied liability for the incident but later agreed to pay the family £7,000 in compensation following a legal claim. The boys’ father, from Harrogate, North Yorks, said the family had been in their hotel room when the older boy returned from the spa.

He said: “We were in the hotel room when the eldest burst into the room. “He was limping, and there was blood everywhere. When we got down there, it just looked like carnage. The door had exploded, and there was blood and glass all over the place.

“Luckily, there was a doctor on site, and he managed to patch them up, but I wanted answers, and the manager was nowhere to be seen. There were no apologies, no nothing.

“When I got to see the CCTV when we were still on holiday, the first thing the receptionist did was put the USB stick in her pocket and said I couldn’t have it. I didn’t know what to do. I got hold of the British Embassy in Turkey, and this woman jumped in a taxi and came to get the footage.

“But then the hotel said she couldn’t have it unless she was with the police. But then she came back with a police officer, and they still wouldn’t hand it over. So, I did a bit of research, and I told them it was my data, it was my children, and there was no one else in the footage, so you need to send it to us.

“Eventually it arrived, but it came after 10 months of pushing and pushing and pushing. I’m glad it did, though, because I’m 100% certain that massively helped us in the process.”

He claims the incident continued to affect the family long after they returned home. The dad added: “It was scary, and we didn’t go on a package holiday for four years because of what happened, and the kids are still concerned about going through glass doors.

“You trust your tour operator to keep you safe. Jet2Holidays let us down.”

Hudgell Solicitors launched a damages claim on behalf of the family, with representatives for Jet2Holidays initially denying liability for the accident and the injuries suffered abroad. After the father finally secured the CCTV footage, Jet2Holidays’ legal representatives agreed to a combined compensation package of £7,000.

Anne Thomson, a senior litigation executive at Hudgell Solicitors and an accident abroad legal specialist, said: “The two boys suffered mild injuries, but this must have been a terrifying experience that stayed with them for a long time. The CCTV footage makes for especially uncomfortable viewing and underscores just how fortunate the brothers were to have avoided serious injury.

“We were disappointed with Jet2Holidays’ lackadaisical approach to genuine demand for answers, just as we were with the hotel’s baffling decision to not surrender the footage for so long. Under ‘2018 Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations’, it is implied that Jet2 exercise reasonable care and skill, not least by ensuring the safety and well-being of their customers.

“This did not happen. They eventually made a satisfactory out-of-court settlement, but we hope lessons have been learned to ensure potentially frightful incidents like this are eradicated in hotels with which they are associated.”

The family said the experience also changed their attitude towards holidaying abroad. The father added: “I can’t thank Anne enough. She kept going and going and going and continually kept reassuring me that this wouldn’t be going to court.

“I didn’t have a clue what to do about making a claim with something like this, but Anne made everything very straightforward. What happened to my lads has hopefully helped raise awareness that big companies like Jet2 need to be held accountable when they are in the wrong.

“They might try to delay and get away with it, but the truth always comes out.”

Jet2Holidays said: “We would like to reiterate how sorry we are about this incident.”

The company added that it had reached a settlement in relation to an incident which occurred in 2022.

A EUROPEAN airport has been forced to close for the third day in a row as a volcano eruption continues to disrupt thousands of passengers.

Flights at Catania Airport in Sicily, Italy, will now be suspended until at least early Saturday due to ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing volcanic eruption.

Over the course of this week hundreds of flights have been cancelled with further flights diverted to neighbouring airport Palermo.

The airport has been closed for three days now, with flights disrupted over the past seven days.

In the latest update on its website, the airport states: “Due to Mount Etna’s eruptive activity, the closure of Sector C1 and B3 has been extended, resulting in the suspension of departures and arrivals until 2:00 AM on August 15.

“Passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport.

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“Further updates will follow in the coming hours.”

Flights cancelled today include:

• 10:50am easyJet service to Bristol Airport
• 11:45am easyJet service to Edinburgh Airport
• 12:15pm easyJet service to London Gatwick
• 12:30pm BA Euroflyer service to London Gatwick

In total, nine flights to the UK are cancelled today as well as nine flights from the UK due to arrive at Catania.

Over the past days, more than 700 flights have been cancelled.

Families have also been left stranded at the airport, with videos on social media showing how some passengers have resorted to sleeping on luggage belts at the airport.

The impact has spread further than the Sicilian airport as well, with Malta International Airport forced to cancel 19 flights earlier this week too.

People got up at 6.30am on their holidays to stand in line for a picture opportunity

The grim reality of a tourist hotspot has been exposed as ‘thousands’ of holidaymakers were filmed queueing for an Instagram picture at 6.30am. Tayyba Adeel woke up early to secure a cinematic sunrise snap on her trip abroad.

Unfortunately, it seems like every other visitor on the holiday island had the same idea. The Brit was left stunned after joining a queue of ‘thousands’ of tourists waiting to get a picture in front of the iconic blue dome.

According to Tayyba, tourists flooded the streets of Santorini, known for its whitewashed cave houses, blue-domed churches, and vibrant sunsets. Santorini sees around 3.4m visitors every year – with the huge number of travellers creating long queues for the perfect holiday photo.

Posting the clip online, the video racked up over 110,000 views. Tayyba said: “The famous Santorini blue dome photo spot at 6.30am. The whole internet got the same travel tip. Social media ruined it (Santorini). You only see people without noticing the beauty of the place.”

The footage shows Tayyba walking up the huge line, where she claimed ‘thousands’ of tourists waited. One woman in her wedding dress with her photographer was also sitting waiting for her turn to get her dream snap.

Members of the public have slammed the long queues. One viewer said: “I’d be p*ssed if this was outside my home or rental.”

Another commenter said: “What a waste of a holiday.”

One other person added: “People are so embarrassing.”

Another viewer said: “This makes me never want to go to Santorini. Why do people just ruin everything for likes on social media.”

One person commented: “Surely there’s a better way to spend your time on holiday than that?”

Holidaymakers are being warned of new rules around spending cash in popular hotspots which are set to be implemented by next summer

While many Brits use debit, credit, or travel money cards when they go on holiday, for some, cash is still king no matter where they go in the world.

But new plans from the European Central Bank (ECB) could see a digital equivalent to physical cash being introduced, and the first step, a cash payment limit in Euros, is set to be enforced as of next summer.

As reported by Majorca Daily News, as part of the move to a digital Euro, the cash payment limit of €10,000 (about £8,500) will be introduced in Spain as of July 10, 2027. It’ll apply to all commercial transactions for goods and services, and can’t be bypassed by making lots of smaller transactions, as linked cash payments will be treated as a single payment under the law.

For transactions between €3,000 and €10,000, merchants will be obliged to verify the customer’s identity before they pay in cash. This ensures that all financial transactions can be linked to individuals, even if cash is used, and aims to prevent money laundering. This could affect Brits looking to pay for hotels or car hire in cash.

EU countries will be able to set their own limits, and France has already confirmed for its own taxpayers the maximum amount will be just €1,000, but for holidaymakers it’ll be €15,000, about £12,800.

Banks in the EU will continue to monitor unusual deposits at cash points, and will also need to report transactions of over €3,000 where large banknotes are used. While it’s unlikely that the average tourist would ever carry this amount, there is also a limit on the amount of cash someone can carry in public when in Spain which is €100,000, about £85,500. which is to deter criminal activities and terrorism.

If you’re travelling between countries, even if you’re within the Schengen area, you’ll need to declare any amounts over €10,000 to customs when you arrive.

The digital Euro plan would create a central bank digital currency (CBDC) overseen by the ECB. It would offer a digital alternative to physical cash, and mean people could make on and off-line purchases free of charge with their Euros stored on a card or mobile app.

A rollout is planned for 2029, and aims to reduce reliance on US payment systems such as Visa and Mastercard. In Russia, huge numbers of people were left unable to make payments when the firms pulled out of the country due to the war with Ukraine, and Europe wants to avoid using US firms for banking functions in a time of political instability.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde claimed in a Euronews interview that the move to a digital Euro isn’t about scrapping cash and coins or monitoring citizens, saying: “Cash will not go away, it will be rejuvenated”.

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

Late summer hiking in the Austrian Alps

Haldensee is a clear, sparkling cold lake located at the bottom of the Tannheimer Tal valley in the Austrian Alps (about 90 miles south-west of Munich). We visited last year, just when summer was on its way out, and it was too cold to skinny-dip in the lake (unless you were very brave). Nonetheless, if you’re a hiker, a ski lift takes you up into the Allgäu Alps where you can walk through dense forest to Bad Kissinger Hütte serving refreshing apfelschorle, warming soups and seasonal bakes to refuel for the journey downhill. When going down, we were accompanied by tinkling cattle, ambling along the mountain-side springs, which made the experience so much more memorable.
Kovida

Mountain tracks of Lake Garda, Italy

Northern Lake Garda, where the mountains tower above the lake, is one huge adventure playground: walking, cycling, climbing, boat trips and all manner of watersports on the lake. There are castles, waterfalls and valley cycle trails. The old Ponale mountain road might be the pick for cycling (best on ebike) and walking. It winds through tunnels and clings to the rock with spectacular views over the lake. At Ponale Alto enjoy a hearty pasta dish washed down with a local beer or wine, before returning downhill all the way.
Dave Thomas

Swiss bliss near Mont Blanc

Skip the crowds of Chamonix and spend a week at La Fouly, in south-west Switzerland. Some walking routes are busy (it is a hub for the famous Tour du Mont Blanc walk) but there are plenty of walks to choose from, many of which are not on the main trail. Walk to the Lacs de Fenêtre, where you can hear the gurgling burps of rock ptarmigans at first light, and the shrieks of marmots as you descend back down into the valley. We camped by cool, fast-flowing rivers at Camping des Glaciers in La Fouly.
Daniel

Meadows and cowbells in Slovenia

The loudest sound in Slovenia’s Logar Valley is usually a cowbell. A narrow road runs through flower-filled meadows to the foot of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, but it’s best explored on foot or by bike, stopping at the little farms that sell homemade cheese and apple juice. Follow the easy trail to the 90-metre Rinka waterfall, then linger over lunch at one of the mountain inns to enjoy the view. I stayed overnight in a family-run guesthouse, and by early evening the day visitors had gone, leaving the valley almost silent except for swallows and grazing cattle.
Susanna C

Dragonflies and lilies on Italy’s secret lake

The spring-fed Lago di Monate, between the much larger lakes of Maggiore and di Varese, has possibly the freshest swimming water in Italy, chiefly because of its longstanding ban on motorboats. You can hire paddleboards to cross the calm surface to vast lily beds, blooming in summer and alive with dragonflies. The grassy beach with sunbeds and umbrellas at Il Coppale is very reasonable with evening meal (fresh fish, naturally) on their terrace at about €25 with a view over the lake to the Alps.
Tim Leadbetter

Alpine ambience in Bavaria

Looking for a reasonable budget autumnal trip, a search on the usual sites led us to Bavaria, and the outdoorsy town of Ruhpolding. Alpine atmosphere was immediately delivered, with a charming unpretentious ambience. There is a really impressive waterpark and cool blue lakes, such as Lödensee and Weitsee. Hikes through classical Alpine scenery took us to an alm, a mountain refuge in high meadows where local milk and beer was served with platters of meat and cheese. A little further away the huge Chiemsee gave us a day at the beach. A stop in Munich on the way back allowed us to visit the excellent BMW museum, part of which is free.
Brian Lowry

Cycling the Velosud this summer was the perfect trip to the mountains without having to cycle up or down them. We spent two weeks leisurely following the signposted route in the foothills of the Pyrenees, often alongside rivers, with mountain views every day. It’s all either traffic-free or on very quiet roads, and passes by spa towns such as Salies-du-Salat, the beautiful Foix and Mirepoix, and lovely, low-key but well equipped campsites (always with swimming pool, aperitif and morning croissants).
Rowan

A cross-border trek on the Camino Francés

I’ve walked close to 2,000km of the Camino de Santiago, traversing Spain from the Pyrenees to the Galician coast and following the crashing waves of the Atlantic Portuguese coast in northern Portugal. One of the most stunning stretches of the Camino Francés (part of the Camino de Santiago) takes you from the French Pyrenean town of St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to the Spanish village of Roncesvalles. It’s a very tough climb, but it’s well worth the effort. In the early morning mist, as you approach the border with Spain, the panoramic views from above the cloud line will take your breath away. A truly spectacular experience.
Stephen Taylor

Tuscany’s wild side

It’s amazing that the Alpi Apuane are not better known. This raw, jagged cluster of marble peaks forms a dramatic backdrop to the bucket-and-spade beaches of northern Tuscany. These mountains are laced with challenging trails, including the multi-day Via Vandelli, linking Modena to the coast. The valleys shelter quiet, refreshing streams and half-forgotten villages. Above the treeline, the hiker is rewarded with expansive views of the mountains, the sea, and the surreal marble quarries hewn from the mountainsides. This is the wild side of Tuscany.
Robert

Winning tip: The Vosges mountains by train

The Vosges mountains in eastern France are made up of forest-covered rounded peaks called ballons, and are accessible by train. The line between Colmar and Metzeral provides easy access into the Wormsa valley, where forest paths climb past streams to the peaceful Lac du Fischboedle, surrounded by trees. From there you can climb the third highest mountain in the Vosges, Hohneck (1,363 metres), for sweeping views towards the Alps. The food in the region is delicious, especially tarte flambée (flammekueche), a traditional thin flatbread topped with creme fraiche, onions and bacon.
Hannah

Disney California Adventure is on the verge of a transformation. The 25-year-old next-door neighbor to the Disneyland Resort will be doubling the size of its Avengers Campus in the coming months.

Farther down the road will be the arrival of an “Avatar”-inspired area in the current Hollywood Land corner of the park. Walt Disney Imagineering, the arm of the company dedicated to theme park experiences, revealed a detailed model an “Avatar” water ride destined for the park at its all-things-Disney convention D23.

The miniature shows the ride snaking around the Disneyland Monorail, and reveals a landscape that will fully transform the look and tone of California Adventure. It’s green, it’s lush, it’s a little rustic and it looks as if a mini rainforest will be slotted into the park.

A model of the forthcoming “Avatar”-inspired area includes a monorail in a lush forest.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times )

The “Avatar” model is just one part of expansive booth dedicated to what’s currently in development at Disney’s global parks. The centerpiece of the D23 area is no doubt a model of Piston Peak, a “Cars”-inspired land coming to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, which, in contrast to Anaheim’s Cars Land, takes on the feel of a woody town nestled next to a national park.

Elsewhere, Imagineering has revealed a look at the soon-to-be remodeled Avengers Campus, which is deep in development on two new attractions that will effectively double the size of the area. The two attractions will different drastically in style.

One is a previously announced ride featuring the Avengers in battle across the multiverse with King Thanos. At a media preview on Thursday, Disney didn’t show off much of the attraction, Avengers Infinity Defense, but expect a dark ride that will emphasize 3D screens in a battle across quickly changing locales.

A look at the expanded Avengers Campus Disney California Adventure shown at D23. Two additional rides are currently under construction.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times )

The other, Stark Flight Lab, is pitched as a testing of new Avengers technology. It’s an amusement-park-like thrill ride, in which guests will sit in two-person pods and then attach to a mechanical arm that will lift them into the air and attempt to simulate sensations of flight.

“It’s going to be definitely thrilling,” said Emily “Emo” O’Brien, an Imagineer who helps lead creative direction of the Disneyland Resort.

Timetables for the completed Avengers Campus and the “Avatar” expansion were not yet detailed, although the Marvel additions are widely seen as not far off. Disney is expected to reveal more info on both projects, as well as a “Coco”-inspired boat ride coming to the park, at a Saturday evening presentation.

Concept art of an “Avatar”-inspired attraction coming to Disney California Adventure.

(20th Century / Disneyland Resort)

The addition of “Avatar” is especially notable as it veers the park, one that began with a mission to reflect our Golden State, into further realms of fantasy. Cars Land, for instance, could be read, in part, as an exploration of Southern California car culture and an ode to Route 66.

An especially noteworthy aspect of the “Avatar” model was the appearance of the ride to be visible outside of its grand show building, as guests walking through the park will be able to glimpse its boats gliding past them. A model of the ride vehicles appears to show six rows that can accommodate five or six guests per row.

The boats are flanked by cascading waterfalls, and mountains that appear to curve in on themselves. An assortment of mystical critters dot the landscape. Speculation is the attraction will be utilize an updated version of the ride system found in Shanghai Disneyland’s rousing Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

“Over its 25 years it has significantly changed, especially at the time we brought in Cars Land and reimagined Buena Vista Street,” O’Brien said of California Adventure. “I think it’s a park that stands on its own now. It’s grown up.”

Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.

Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter.

Ride on,

Todd Martens

P.S.

Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride comes out every Tuesday, but we occasionally publish special editions (like this one!) when we have breaking theme park news. Make sure you’ve signed up to be the first to know.

Given the resilience and diversity of our local mosquito population and our warming climate, Los Angeles doesn’t really have an easily defined mosquito season.

That was one of my biggest takeaways — and bummers — from my conversation with Chris Barker, an epidemiology professor at UC Davis who has studied mosquitoes for almost 30 years, including at his lab.

“I hate to say it, but there are mosquitoes year-round,” Barker said, “and in Southern California in particular, many of your mosquitoes are active year-round, and they don’t go through a reproductive pause, so they’re really just waiting on conditions to be right for biting and for development. In that sense, the warmer [weather], the better for the mosquitoes, and the worse it is for us.”

For this week’s edition of The Wild, our weekly outdoors newsletter, I spoke to Barker about how hikers can best avoid nature’s rudest insect this summer. I wanted to understand what common misconceptions hikers have about mosquitoes, any behavioral changes we can make and what types of trails are most likely to have active mosquito populations. (Spoiler alert: It’s a lot of them.)

First, let’s quickly discuss the mosquitoes that you will find in Southern California, as Barker emphasized to me that we shouldn’t just imagine mosquitoes as one bloodthirsty monolith.

“There are many species of mosquitoes that exhibit a wide range of behaviors, and some species never bite people,” Barker said. “Knowing just a little bit of mosquito biology can help a hiker know when and” where to hike.

Types of mosquitoes found around L.A. hiking trails

In California, there are more than 50 species of mosquitoes, living from below sea level in the desert to above 10,000 feet in our mountains, according to the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Thankfully, our local population is smaller than that and includes:

• Three mosquitoes in the Aedes genus: Often dubbed “ankle biters,” the black-and-white-striped female aedes mosquitoes bite during the day, often around the legs, often multiple times; the most prevalent in Southern California, Aedes aegypti, generally lives where people are, as it depends heavily on manmade water sources to lay its eggs; different species are vectors for different diseases, including Aedes aegypti, which can carry dengue fever.
• Six mosquitoes in the Culex genus: Adults are most active from dusk to dawn; they prefer to bite birds but will bite humans; otherwise, they will rest in cool, shaded dense vegetation; the Southern house mosquito in this genus can transmit West Nile.

Culex mosquitoes bite at dawn and dusk and tend to feed off birds. The Southern house mosquito in this genus can transmit West Nile.

(Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District)

• Anopheles franciscanus: Living in warm sunny pools with algae; not known to carry disease in California; peak biting during dusk and dawn; included in this list to make us all feel a little better, just in case you worry as much as your local outdoors journalist about mosquito-borne diseases.
• Ochlerotatus sierrensis: Also known as “western treehole mosquitoes,” these little jerks lay their eggs in tree holes, especially oaks, laurels and eucalyptus, and emerge in spring, ready to unapologetically ruin your backpacking trip; these mosquitoes will bite in the day and evening, but are especially active at dusk.
• Ochlerotatus washinoi: Also known as “woodland pond mosquitoes,” which makes them sound more charming than they are, these aggressive daytime biters are typically found in floodwater habitats in early spring; not known to carry disease in California.

A quick 101 on West Nile virus

Outside of an itchy bite or, in rare cases, a severe allergic reaction, the most significant health threat that mosquitoes pose to hikers around L.A. is West Nile virus.

West Nile virus is typically contracted by humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people infected with the virus, an estimated 80%, never know it, because they don’t get sick. About 20% of those infected experience flu-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Less than 1% develop serious illnesses that affect the central nervous system and usually require hospitalization.

Similar to the lack of clarity around who develops long COVID, scientists have yet to identify why certain people develop serious neurological conditions from West Nile. Advanced age, especially in people 65 and older, is thought to play a role, given that with age, the body’s immune system is slower to respond to threats, according to the National Library of Medicine. Other risk factors are thought to include being male; having diabetes, heart disease or chronic kidney disease; or being immunocompromised, according to research.

In recent years, reported West Nile human cases have typically peaked in early September, according to data analyzed by the L.A. County Department of Public Health. This year, West Nile has been detected in traps and in dead birds across L.A., but especially in Cerritos and Long Beach, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District.

Given all that we know now about our local mosquito population and risks, let’s discuss Barker’s tips and tricks for how hikers can best avoid getting bit.

How L.A. hikers can best avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes

People walk in and around the Arroyo Seco.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

1. Consider what water source is near.

I personally love hiking along the Arroyo Seco or San Gabriel River, where it’s often shady and cooler than other parts of Angeles National Forest. Unfortunately, mosquitoes love those areas too.

Mosquitoes prefer standing water, but not permanent water, Barker said. For certain species, this could be a segment of the river where the water has stopped flowing, leaving a nice warm pool for mama mosquitoes to lay their eggs, or even a small puddle.

“When I go hiking … especially in the mountains, I always look in the rock homes next to the streams that have captured snow melt water as it recedes,” Barker said. “Those rock holes keep water through much of the summer, and if you look in those rock holes, you often see hundreds or thousands of mosquitoes in individual rock holes. They’re the immatures that are still developing and will come out and eventually bite people and other animals in the area.”

I was honestly happier before I knew that.

2. Consider the day’s forecast and its effect on mosquito behavior.

“Often these mosquitoes are biting from late afternoon into early evening — so all the times we love to be outdoors,” Barker said.

Like us, mosquitoes are most active when temperatures are warm but not extremely hot. “On our hot days in the summer, mosquitoes will wait until the late afternoon, evening or even morning periods to bite instead of the hottest part of the day,” Barker said.

That said, if there’s a light breeze or it is windy, you’re far less likely to get bitten, as mosquitoes are thought to only fly up to 1 to 1.5 mph.

Dunsmore Canyon in Glendale.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

3. Take extra precautions on morning and evening hikes.

Mosquitoes are often most active during these time periods — the ideal summer hiking time. As such, Barker advised hikers to wear baggy light-colored pants and hiking shirts, so that you will remain cool enough under the sun but your skin will be more protected.

You can also pre-spray your clothing with Permethrin, an insecticide that kills and repels mosquitoes.

An Aedes mosquito, commonly called an ankle biter, prefers humans over animals. While Aedes can carry dengue, they do not transmit West Nile virus.

(Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District)

4. Reapply mosquito repellent.

I generally set a timer for around 50 minutes when out hiking to remind myself to reapply sunscreen, but I rarely remember to reapply bug repellent.

“Most people do kind of a one-and-done application and happily go off and hike, and if you hike for hours, especially if you’re using repellent with either a lower DEET concentration or some other alternatives, you often have to reapply those at more frequent intervals,” Barker said.

Mosquitoes inside a storage container are tested after capture by public health workers for West Nile virus. This particular station is in Pacoima.

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

DEET has long been found to be a highly effective mosquito repellent, but as I reported back in 2024, DEET has a perception problem. Unlike some repellents, it isn’t naturally occurring, which has caused some members of the public to take pause.

“They want something that’s natural. They forget that strychnine [and] ricin are all natural products,” said Walter S. Leal, a UC Davis distinguished professor in molecular and cellular biology, in a 2024 interview, referencing poisons derived from plants. “Being natural does not necessarily mean it is good, and being synthetic doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad.”

Additionally, people often incorrectly associate DEET with the banned insecticide DDT. “This is a big mistake,” Leal said. “There is no chemical similarity between the two.”

The view from a bench at a lookout point near the Saddle Peak Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

5. Try coastal hikes to avoid mosquitoes.

“Coastal environments sometimes have fewer mosquitoes,” Barker said. “In L.A., you have that strong temperature gradient as you move away from the ocean, and things get warmer in the inland areas. Cooler areas slow mosquito development, and you tend to have fewer mosquitoes right along the coast.”

This excludes areas near tidal marshes, like the Ballona and Los Cerritos wetlands, where certain mosquitoes can become “quite numerous” if not controlled by local vector agencies.

The Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Marina del Rey in 2023.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The coastal breeze also helps hikes along the ocean — like several routes you’ll find in the Santa Monica Mountains or Palos Verdes Peninsula — have fewer mosquitoes.

“And some of the coastal mosquitoes fly inland to find their blood meal hosts before they come back and lay eggs,” Barker said. “So right along the coast is not a bad place to be from a mosquito-biting perspective.”

Did somebody say Type-O Tuesday?

A Joshua Tree and rocks are lit up by the sunrise at Jumbo Rocks Campground in Joshua Tree National Park.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

6. If weather allows, hike in the desert to avoid mosquitoes.

“There is no real escape from mosquitoes, I would say, except possibly in the deserts in areas with less water,” Barker said. “That’s your best escape in California.”

If you head out to Joshua Tree, this generally means hiking before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m., as you will otherwise almost certainly get overheated.

7. Be mindful when taking breaks.

It’s harder for mosquitoes to bite you when you’re moving or when there’s a breeze. Keep an eye out when taking breaks, as this will more likely be the time you get bitten. And often where we like to take breaks is where mosquitoes also like to rest.

A field sample of mosquitoes that could carry West Nile virus is seen at offices of the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health in Hemet.

(David McNew / Getty Images)

“Mosquitoes do tend to rest in areas with vegetation or other vertical structures that protect them from harsh conditions like direct sunlight or strong winds,” Barker said. “The female mosquitoes also search for their blood meal hosts in those areas, which include us.

“Unfortunately for us,” Barker added, “they like a lot of the same areas we do.”

3 things to do

A group of hikers at a Just Trek event.

(Victor Martinez)

1. Celebrate community in Malibu
Just Trek, a local hiking community, will host its seven-year anniversary party at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in Malibu. The group will take a two-mile hike and then hang out at a local beach near a seafood restaurant. Donations appreciated. Register at partiful.com.

2. Behold native botany in L.A.
The L.A. Parks Foundation will host From Trail to Seed, a botany-focused nature walk, from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Fern Canyon Trail in Griffith Park. Botanist Terry Huang and park ecologist Ryan Kinzel will lead the group as they take a moderately challenging route through the park. $20 donation requested. Register at los-angeles-parks-foundation.givecloud.co.

3. Use your nature skills in Baldwin Hills
The Nature Nexus Institute needs volunteers from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday for a habitat restoration event in the Baldwin Hills. Volunteers must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. The work site will include traversing uneven terrain. Learn more at the institute’s Instagram page.

The must-read

Jackie the eagle.

(Friends of Big Bear Valley)

Jackie, arguably the world’s most famous bald eagle mama, died Monday morning after a mysterious illness that veterinarians at the Ojai Raptor Center worked hard to combat. She was 14. Jackie and her mate Shadow transformed into avian all-stars after Friends of Big Bear Valley installed live cameras of their nest. Millions of people across the world tuned in to witness the two eagles raise their young and live their lives in our local mountains. That included Anny Liu of Altadena, who started watching Jackie and Shadow and their little eaglets after losing her community to the Eaton fire in 2025. “Jackie and her family gave me hope and gave me giggles and smiles that I thought were lost with the fires,” Liu wrote to The Times via a reader callout. “My heart felt lighter when I watched her even to this day as we try to rebuild. Never in my life did I expect an eagle would help me so much emotionally and mentally.”

May we continue to allow ourselves to feel these deep connections with our animal neighbors, as it leads to us wanting to protect their homes and, in turn, protect our world.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

Do you want to help repair damage from the devastating fire that burned across Santa Rosa Island? The California Institute of Environmental Studies needs volunteers to help implement emergency fire recovery work on the island, including rolling erosion control wattles on steep slopes to better protect the Torrey Pine forest from erosion caused by winter rains. To learn more, you can email Destinee Rabelo, the center’s restoration ecologist field lead, by using the email linked in the organization’s Instagram post. Have fun out there!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

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%.

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

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.

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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

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

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

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

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

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.

AND just like that, the solar eclipse is over… until next year where you can see another in several European destinations.

The solar eclipse will return on August 2 next year, with some European destinations getting a total eclipse, including Spain again.

Alongside Spain, Gibraltar, Tunisia, Morocco and eight other countries will also experience a total solar eclipse.

Meanwhile, the UK will once again see a partial eclipse.

Unlike yesterday’s celestial event, this solar eclipse will take place in the morning in most destinations.

But the hype caused by yesterday’s event is already creating hype for next year’s.

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Gibraltar, for example, you can fly from the UK for between £170 and £190 return, on average.

Looking at flights for next year around the solar eclipse, prices are already rocketing.

If you were to head out on July 29 and return on August 3, direct flights from Manchester will set you back at least £453 return and £739 return from London.

Alter the dates slightly and it is still expensive – flying out on July 30 and returning on August 4 will set you back at least £419 direct from London.

Even if you flew out the day before and then headed home straight after the eclipse, you’ll be set back around £400 for direct flights.

Adele Cooke, Senior Consumer Reporter and Consumer Champion at The Sun, who is from Gibraltar, said: “The next eclipse may still be a year away but Gibraltar is already buzzing with excitement.

“The total eclipse will be visible over Gibraltar and the uninterrupted views over the Strait make it a great place to watch the event.

“The eclipse will be visible for a full four minutes, one of the longest durations of anywhere in the world.

“Friends and family have already booked their flights home to be there on August 2 and prices are already climbing.

“But there’s no need to worry about missing out.

“There are dozens of flights from the UK to Malaga every day, and the Spanish airport is just an hour and a half’s drive from Gibraltar.

“Set up price alerts now so you’ll be notified when prices drop.
Meanwhile, website GibStay.com can help you find affordable accommodation.

“If accommodation in Gibraltar is out of your price range then consider staying in one of the nearby towns and driving down for the event.

“Estepona, Soto Grande and Tarifa are all around an hour’s drive away.

“You could book a villa and make a week of it.

“In August temperatures in southern Spain average between 21 and 28 degrees, while the region gets less than 8mm of rainfall for the entire month.”

For Spain, major cities and locations that will be under the path of totality include Cadiz, Malaga and the coast of Almeria and Granada in southern Spain.

If heading to Cadiz, you’ll need to head to Jerez Airport, which is about a 40-minute drive from the city centre.

Direct return flights for the days around the solar eclipse to Jerez Airport from London are already around £495.

This is still more than the average £170 to £350 return trip to the city usually costs in August.

Malaga seems to be one of the only destinations that hasn’t risen… yet.

Average direct return flights to Malaga from the UK in August usually cost £170 to £270.

There are currently direct flights still available heading out at the end of July and returning on August 3 for £187.

There are currently lots of hotels available for affordable prices too.

You don’t have to go to Spain though, you could fly to Morocco instead for £230 return.

Here’s the full list of countries you could head to where there will be a full solar eclipse on August 2:

• Algeria
• British Indian Ocean
• Egypt
• Gibraltar
• Libya
• Morocco
• Saudi Arabia
• Somalia
• Spain
• Sudan
• Tunisia
• Yemen

Most of these destinations will experience a total eclipse mid morning on August 2.