Publisher Fuel has spotlighted 150 of the best Soviet hotels in its latest book, Socialist Hotels, a photographic project by Elena Amabili that traces the state-sponsored holiday industry in the former Eastern Bloc
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Socialist Hotels is the first photography book to focus solely on the architecture of hospitality in Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet landscape. These state-constructed buildings were used by visiting government workers and ordinary citizens. Today they are a fascinating legacy of a social and cultural idiosyncrasy.
HILTON has revealed 10 new locations are set to come to the UK – and one is coming to a major capital city.
The new hotels will form part of the chain’s “value-focused” brand.
Ten new hotels, operating under the Spark by Hilton brand, are set to come to major railway stations, stadiums, motorways and visitor attractions across the UK.
The locations, confirmed to open in Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster – among others will add a total of 672 rooms to Hilton’s portfolio.
Created with “value” in mind, the sites will provide reliable, comfortable and affordable accommodation.
Exact dates of completion and room rates are yet to be confirmed, however the company said the new locations could open as early as late 2026 through to 2028.
Paul Blackmore, vice-president of development for the UK and Ireland at Hilton, said: “With nearly 700 rooms in the pipeline, including the brand’s first hotel in Wales, Spark continues to gain momentum.”
Launched in 2023, Spark by Hilton operates more than 275 hotels worldwide, with more than 200 properties in development.
The budget conscious “premium economy” brand was designed to provide a reliable and value-driven stay at an accessible price point.
The 10 properties have been signed through an agreement between Hilton and UK hotel owner and operator AG Hotels Group.
An additional 53-room property in Dunfermline, Scotland is scheduled to launch in late 2026.
However this is set to operate separately from the 10 hotels included in the latest agreement.
FINDING a family holiday that actually lives up to the glossy brochure pictures is rare – especially one that’s also affordable.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you by tracking down some of the top-rated resorts on Tripadvisor that also have incredibly cheap package deals.
Whether you’re booking ahead for winter sun in Egypt and Tunisia, or wanting massive family aquaparks in Turkey and Spain, we’ve got you covered.
And these aren’t just ordinary hotels – we’ve found a video game-themed resort in Spain with an on-site retro arcade, and a hotel on the sunny Turkish Turquoise Coast with a whopping 13 waterslides.
All of these hotels have an average rating of 4 out of 5 approval rating or above on Tripadvisor, and offer all inclusive weeks away for under £500pp.
Here’s our pick of top-rated breaks based on a family of four staying 7 nights all inclusive, from as little as £299pp.
With a solid 4.5/5 rating on Tripadvisor, it’s safe to say many guests leave happy after a holiday at the Happy Life Village.
This hotel sits on Egypt’s Red Sea, home to a huge coral reef which you can explore by scuba diving or snorkelling.
This resort is built to keep families happy, with waterslides and a children’s pool for the kids to make a splash, as well as a relaxing spa for parents to unwind.
One happy holidaymaker left a gleaming Tripadvisor review, writing: “It’s possibly the best holiday I’ve ever had. Out of many”.
“The facilities – pools, bar, restaurant, beach are amazing in my opinion. And the big one for me – right off the beach, corals as far as I can swim both sides. Kilometres! Stunning snorkelling. I love this hotel”.
We found a deal for a seven night, all inclusive break from October 25, with return flights from Edinburgh, for £469pp.
Fancy zipping down a waterslide into a crystal clear pool, which offers sweeping views of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast?
The Orka Sunlife Resort Hotel & Aquapark sits in Olu Deniz, a Turkish hotspot home to beautiful beaches and the Blue Lagoon, where water glows almost luminously blue.
The hotel itself has five pools, 13 waterslides, and an all-day entertainment program to keep little ones entertained.
The hotel has a 4.3/5 rating on Tripadvisor, with one guest writing: “The hotel was beautiful, we loved everything, the shows, activities, everything was perfect, we had so much fun.”
Another praised the entertainment staff, writing that the “Atmosphere at this hotel is absolutely amazing the entertainment team made my holiday they are wonderful and work really hard to entertain the guests”.
We found a deal for a seven night, all inclusive stay from October 27 with return flights from London from £479pp.
As Spain’s first video game-themed hotel, it’s safe to say it’s near-impossible for kids to get bored here.
Hotel Magic Games sits in Spain‘s Costa Del Azahar, a beautiful stretch of coastline known as the Orange Blossom Coast. Here, you can stroll through quiet pine-backed beaches or visit the medieval Papa Luna Castle.
For days spent at the hotel, explore the on-site video game museum, dine in the themed Pixel Buffet Restaurant, float past giant dragons at the on-site waterpark and tackle old school arcade games in the massive Magic Play Zone.
When night rolls around, head back to your immersive, gaming-themed room – complete with comfy gaming chairs, chessboards and glowing neon lights.
This hotel has a comfortable 4.1/5 rating on Tripadvisor, and is the top-rated stay in the Oropesa Del Mar area.
On the Beach offer a seven night, all inclusive break from October 25, with return flights from London, for £333pp.
With an outstanding 4.7/5 rating on Tripadvisor, the Gravity Sahl Hasheesh is certainly an impressive place to stay.
This five-star family resort boasts seven pools, an on-site aqua park, a private beach and a full-service spa.
Come evening, the resort lights up with live entertainment and a popular on-site nightclub.
One Tripadvisor review reads “From the very first moment, it was clear that this hotel in Hurghada offers an outstanding level of luxury and truly deserves more than five stars”.
“The hotel has a lot to offer for children and adults, making it perfect for families and couples. The pools are beautiful and well-maintained, and the beach is very clean with a lovely private pier.”
Loveholidays offer a seven night, all inclusive stay from October 27 with return flights from Edinburgh, from £489pp.
Rated 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor, the Grand Uysal Beach Hotel is a reliable pick for families looking for an action-packed Turkey holiday.
Here there’s several pools with a kids zone surrounded by waterslides, plus there’s even an underground tunnel that leads you straight out to the beach.
One Tripadvisor guest praised the hotel’s friendly staff, writing “The active and consistent work of the staff and the deliciousness of the food were among the most important things we noticed”.
“The entire place was also very clean, which is due to the discipline of the staff; they were always active and smiling. We would love to come again with my family”.
Loveholidays offer a week-long, all inclusive package break from £299pp in November.
With temperatures still sitting comfortably in the 20s, it’s an absolute steal for families with pre-schoolers or older teens who aren’t tied to term times.
If you’re looking for a family holiday with plenty of activities for the kids, Hotel Le Sultan is a top pick.
Here you can play tennis, go catamaran sailing, practice archery and even go horse riding at the hotel’s very own equestrian centre.
The hotel has a 4.5/5 rating on Tripadvisor, with over 5,000 reviews.
One review reads “We had a wonderful stay at the Hotel Sultan in Hammamet. The hotel is very beautiful, the staff friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was simply wonderful”.
“We would especially like to highlight the kids club. Our children had a lot of fun there and were well taken care of”.
EasyJet holidays offer a week-long, all inclusive package break from £341pp in November, when temperatures are still hitting 23C.
Bettiah, India – Neyaz Miya was adjusting a kitchen handle. Mehadi Hassan was fixing a bracket for a bed.
They were at different construction sites – Miya in a half‑constructed home, a little higher up the hill, while Hassan was on the ground floor of Ganesh Hotel, closer to the Trishuli River that flowed through Syafrubesi, a bustling market town near the Nepal‑Tibet border, now wiped off the map by the August 26 flash floods.
More than 1,200 bodies have been recovered since then, at least 4,000 people remain missing, and more than 13,000 have been rescued.
“First came the terrifying loud sound. Then the ground trembled, and dark clouds descended upon us,” recalls 34‑year‑old Miya, who ran further up the hill with his phone and slippers that morning, five or six others running alongside him.
Hassan, lower on the slope, did not wait to reach for his slippers or his phone. He just ran, climbing a narrow, stair‑like path, up the hill, stopping only when he reached roughly 60 metres (200ft) above the road.
At some point, Miya and Hassan found each other. Around them were 60 to 70 other survivors who had also gathered high up on the hill.
A decade earlier, Miya had arrived in Syafrubesi as a carpenter. Three years later, he brought Hassan with him – both men from Bihar’s Bettiah district. Over the years, they built the town’s interiors – sofas, beds, almirahs, and kitchens for hotels and homes.
On that Wednesday morning, they watched all of that washed away. The multi‑storey hotels where they had worked – Red Panda, Garden Hotel, Buddha Hotel, Sunrise Hotel – were all swallowed by the flood.
“The town was gone in a blink,” Miya recounts, now sitting in his home in Turhapatti village of Bihar, India, just across the Nepal border. “There were only three kinds of people who survived that day: Those who were out of town, those who were at work and managed to run, and those who lived a little higher up the hill.”
Based on what he witnessed, Miya says only a few hundred people in Syafrubesi, a town that had a population of 2,271 in the 2011 census, likely survived.
Miya and Hasan are among them. Three of their close friends and colleagues, also migrant workers from Bihar, are not.
When the floods reached Syafrubesi, the men were already at work: Their shifts began at seven in the morning.
“To start at seven, we would wake up at four or five,” Miya recalls. They would leave with empty stomachs and were fed tea with doughnuts or biscuits at the construction site by building owners. Their first break came at 11am, when they returned to the rented one‑room space (3,500 Nepali rupees or $23 a month) that housed five to seven migrants at a time.
On the morning of August 26, they left for work alongside 34‑year‑old Arman Ansari, 20‑year‑old Samir Ansari, and 52‑year‑old Mukhtar Ansari, all migrants from Miya’s Turhapatti village.
In the rented room, two teenage boys, Arman’s 14‑year‑old son, Salman Alam, and his friend Shibu Alam, 17, remained asleep. They had come a month earlier to visit the hills.
“My father had cooked meat bhaat (rice with meat),” Salman recounts. He was waiting for his father to return at 11am so they could eat together.
Arman, his father, was working beside Hassan on the ground floor, pasting sunmica onto the same bed. Samir and Mukhtar were on the top floor of the Full Moon Hotel.
When Hassan ran out of the under-construction building and up the hill, he believed Arman was behind him. But by the time Hassan and Miya met higher up, there was no sign of the other three: Arman, Samir and Mukhtar.
Miya and Hassan found the boys, Salman and Shibu, terrified, on the hill. “Salman was crying, howling and searching for his father,” Hassan said.
The flood, which came with a high speed, took half an hour to recede. Soon, helicopters started hovering above them, airlifting the critically injured.
The four of them – Miya, Hassan and the boys – walked down the hill on foot to search for the three missing in the debris. They found nothing but sludge. Miya’s furniture-cutting tools and machines, worth 80,000 Nepali rupees ($530), were buried in the debris.
When they got back to their room, perched high on a slope, they found that it had survived.
But the army had taken charge, and soldiers herded survivors away from tenements near the river. “They said it [the flood] might come again,” Miya recalls.
They slept that night in a government school building in a village, he says. “At night, we were given daal bhat (rice and daal), and we wrapped ourselves in tarpaulin and slept.”
The next morning, a helicopter took them to another village. From there, another helicopter carried them to an army compound in a town. In the evening, they teamed up with five other migrants and hired an SUV to reach Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, each paying 3,500 rupees ($23).
The next morning, on August 28, they hired another SUV, which charged them 950 rupees ($6) each for a distance of 290km (180 miles) to Birgunj, a town on the India-Nepal border. They then crossed the border on foot before boarding buses for their villages.
It wasn’t the homecoming Indian migrants who work in Nepal usually plan.
Turhapatti is among thousands of villages tucked along the 1,715km (1,066-mile) stretch of the India-Nepal border, where generations have crossed back and forth in search of work.
The two countries share an open border, and on both sides, especially in Bihar, the bond is known as a roti-beti ka rishta (a relationship of food and daughters), alluding to ties of livelihoods and matrimonial kinship. People live, work, and marry across the border.
Kathmandu is as close to Turhapatti as is Patna, the capital of Bihar. Per its 2021 Population and Housing Census, Nepal had 700,000 foreign-born residents, 97 percent of them from India.
Miya and Hassan say the wages for a carpenter or a mason on the Indian side are between 600-700 rupees, while for the same work in Nepal, wages are about 900 rupees. That drives migrant workers from India over the border into Nepal.
Nepal, for its part, is facing a major out-migration crisis — its per capita income is the lowest in South Asia, barring Afghanistan, and hundreds of thousands of young men and women leave each year to find work elsewhere. This creates a demand for migrant workers from Bihar, India’s poorest state that lies just across the border.
In Turhapatti, Miya owns only 0.03 hectares (0.06 acres), not enough to feed his family of six children, wife and parents. In recent years, he transitioned from being a carpenter to a contractor, which allowed him to bring in more workers from Bihar.
He had been sending 30,000 Indian rupees ($315) back to his family every month.
Hassan has even less back home: He inherited a 6×8-metre (20×25ft) room from his father and no agricultural land. “There is no regular daily work here,” he says. He would send 15,000 Indian rupees ($157) home from Nepal each month for his wife and four children.
Their story echoes in most homes in Turhapatti. The village had a population of 16,000 people in the 2011 census, India’s latest one. In nearly every household, men have left to work in other parts of India and abroad as carpenters, masons, or labourers mixing cement and sand into mortar.
The destinations are Kashmir, where close to 700 men from the village work; Nepal, with nearly 600; and thousands scattered across Indian cities: Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai. About 100 men have migrated to Dubai, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The houses they built in Turhapatti stand in stark contrast to those of those who remain in India. The marble-fronted and iron-gated homes belong to men working in the Gulf, while semi-permanent dwellings belong to those who stayed behind.
Migrants in Nepal fall in between: Miya has been able to raise a brick house.
This economic reality is what drove Arman Ansari to Syafrubesi. On July 26, Arman left for Nepal with Samir and Mukhtar. Arman’s son and his friend Shubu went with the three adults; the teenagers were on a trip to the hills.
Now, Arman’s brother-in-law. Jameel Miya, a carpenter in Kathmandu, scours the city’s hospitals for Arman’s body, telling authorities that his brother-in-law’s right hand and chest had deep scars, cut by shards of glass when he was young.
Arman’s wife, Sahrun Khatun, has only her last phone call with Arman to hold on to. They spoke two hours before the floods swept him away. “He was about to get his wages on September 1 and return home,” she says.
Salman, who had tagged along with his father to see the hills, hasn’t been able to sleep since the flood.
“The moment I close my eyes, I feel the flood is coming for me,” he says.
Mukhtar’s family lives a few lanes away.
Since the floods, Kasmun Khatun, Mukhtar’s wife, has been glued to the internet for any news of her missing husband. Joining her in that remote search are her daughter Asmana (18) and son Sadre Alam (14).
Her eldest son, Osama, 25, a tailor in Kathmandu, has been busy searching for his father in city hospitals.
“After waiting for a week and watching the videos, I submitted my DNA samples,” he says over a phone call. Osama manages to send home 6,000 rupees ($63), but that is no longer enough – his mother needs eye surgery that has already been delayed and cannot be put off much longer.
“The guardian has gone, all of a sudden,” he says, referring to his father.
At the far edge of Turhapatti stands the home of Samir Ansari, the youngest among the missing migrants and youngest of his five migrant brothers.
The Ganesh Hotel project he was working on was only three days from completion.
“He said he found another site to work on,” recalls his father, Hasmuddin Miya, remembering their last phone call on the evening of August 25.
Samir was a mason who specialised in marble tiles, a skill he had learned in Kashmir while working under his elder brothers at construction sites.
The three families are preparing to host a bhoj, the funeral feast – a custom of feeding hundreds of people – having given up on hope.
Meanwhile, the two survivors, Miya and Hassan, are already making calls to find work again. This time, their search turns towards Nepal’s plains. They pledge never to return to the hills.
“My whole body shivers at the thought of going there,” says Hassan.
FINDING a brilliant UK hotel that is stylish, comfortable and in a top location for under £100 can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Luckily, we’ve scoured Tripadvisor‘s UK hotel data to find incredible Brit hotels that are top-rated and budget-friendly.
All of these UK hotels are winners of the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice award, which puts them in the top 10 per cent of listings on the site based on real guests’ rankings and reviews.
Plus they all have a 4.5/5 rating or over, as well as an average nightly rate of below £100.
We found everything from forest hotels with roaming wild ponies to secret Scottish ‘gaming rooms’ with video-game cheat codes etched into the furniture.
From retro American-style motels to seaside escapes with cabaret entertainment, here are ten of Tripadvisor’s top-rated and affordable UK hotels.
If you’re into all-American style diners and neon-lit motels, you’ll love a stay at Mollie’s.
Just off the M5 at Cribbs Causeway, this retro hotel is hard to miss, with its glowing red sign and zig-zag shaped exterior.
Inside you’ll find a classic diner, with shiny tiled floors, booth seating and a swanky bar, with plenty of stools to sit and sink back a bottled beer.
After chowing down on your burger, hot dog or steak (best washed down with a milkshake, of course) head upstairs to a modern room with scandi-style wooden decor, warm lights and crisp, white linen.
Each room comes with fancy rainfall showers, high-end Cowshed toiletries, fluffy towels, and Dyson hairdryers. You can even borrow some GHD straighteners from reception.
The hotel is rated 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor, with many praising how comfortable it is to stay in.
One reviewer even remarked: “If I could take the bed home with me, I’d be tempted!”
You can book a stay from £68 on Booking.com.
This swanky Scottish hotel is set inside a former 19th-century mill, but has been decorated with a modern twist.
Industrial touches like brick walls and iron columns still remain, but inside you’ll find modern, quirky themed rooms.
The Dundee Cake room is decorated with marmalade in mind, while the Comic Room has decorations inspired by “Black Bob” – a comic about a Scottish Border Collie.
Perhaps the coolest part is the Gaming Room, where there are books about Dundee’s rich video game history.
There are even secret GTA codes are hidden within its walls, a nod to the fact that popular game Grand Theft Auto was invented in the city.
You can book a stay from £56 on Booking.com.
If you want to explore Oxford without entirely draining your bank account, easyHotel Oxford is a wallet-friendly budget, no-frills pick.
You won’t find fancy hotel bars or luxurious extras here. Instead, it offers exactly what it says on the tin: a clean, practical, and easy place to crash after a day of sightseeing.
The hotel offers clean and comfortable double and twin rooms, but if you want the absolute cheapest rate possible, you can opt for a windowless room.
That way you can secure a room from as little as £26 a night during off-peak times.
When you’re ready to explore Oxford, there’s a bus stop right outside the hotel that will whisk you straight into the city centre and the university colleges in around 10 minutes.
You can currently book a room from £31.50 per night on the easyHotel website.
The Telegraph Hotel is the #1 ranked hotel in Coventry on Tripadvisor, with a score of 4.5/5 stars.
Once the home of the Coventry Evening Telegraph paper, this building now serves as a stylish hotel, with plenty of nods to its journalistic past.
Inside you’ll find a glamorous, marble-floored lobby with emerald green plush sofas and warm golden chandeliers.
You may spot typewriters, old newspapers, pigeonholes, photos of the original 1960’s newsroom dotted around inside.
Rooms are spacious and on-theme with black and white artwork and those same emerald-coloured chairs.
Rooms start from £65 per night on Trip.com.
Named after the Lake District’s Melbreak fell which you can see from the property, this family-run hotel offers a friendly base right on the border of the rugged Western Lake District and Cumbrian coast.
Rooms come with big comfy beds, traditional wooden furnishings, and plenty of space to unpack after a long day of hiking.
They come with all the essentials like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and en-suite bathrooms. Many of the executive rooms offer gorgeous, sweeping views over the surrounding countryside.
After spending the day exploring the nearby peaks, head to the hotel‘s conservatory restaurant for generous portions of hearty pub classics.
For a relaxed drink, the cosy lounge bar is the perfect spot to sink into a leather chair with a pint of local Cumbrian ale.
Plus stunning spots like Ennerdale Water, Bassenthwaite Lake, and the market town of Cockermouth are all less than a 20-minute drive away.
Rooms are available from £79 on Booking.com.
The Templestowe Hotel in Torquay delivers big on old school seaside town charm – plus it has a whopping 4.7/5 stars on Tripadvisor.
The excellent evening entertainment includes a massive ballroom and dance floor, plus a stage where you’ll find nightly acts such as cabaret, singers, dancers and comedians.
When it comes to food and drink, forget tiny tasting menus – this hotel is all about generous portions of classic British meals.
You can expect hearty multi-course dinners featuring roast meats, pies, and comforting puddings – plus a traditional cooked breakfast each morning to set you up for the day.
One Tripadvisor reviewer commented: “The entertainment was very good every night”, and that there is “a free bar from 19.00 – 23.00” where “there was never a long queue & you just had to return your empty glasses to get another drink & show your room card”.
Another said: “Great atmosphere. Entertainment was at a very high standard. Great content. A great hotel for the more mature people.”
You can book a stay from £93 per night on Booking.com.
This country house hotel is tucked into Hampshire’s New Forest, where you’ll find endless pretty woodland walks and might even bump into a few of the forest’s 5,000 free-roaming wild ponies.
Originally built as a royal hunting lodge in the 1750s, this woodland retreat makes for the ideal countryside escape to return to to take off your muddy boots and laze back by the log fire.
There are 17 bedrooms here, including options with grand four-poster beds and dog-friendly options.
For food and drink you can tuck into some tender lamb or a juicy steak, or sit down to a delicious, homemade afternoon tea with a view of the hotel gardens.
With an impressive 4.5/5 star rating on Tripadvisor, one guest commented “it was a pleasant surprise to find such an idyllic little country house tucked away within the cattle grids and Forest”.
Another said “Our room was lovely. A walk across the back lawn through a gate takes you into the forest where we experienced several horses galloping together, into the shade of the trees.”
You can book a room from £80 per night on Booking.com.
Once a historic 16th-century coaching inn, The Crown Hotel in Boroughbridge is full of historic charm.
This cosy Yorkshire hotel has low oak beams, roaring fires and comfy rooms with tartan furnishings.
But the best thing about this hotel is the on-site leisure club, where you’ll find a heated indoor pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna and gym to unwind in.
Once you’re suitably relaxed, head to the hotel’s traditional bar and restaurant where you can tuck into pub classics like fish and chips, washed down with a pint of local Black Sheep ale.
The hotel sits on the doorstep of the spectacular North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. Plus you’re also just a 20-minute drive from Harrogate, the cathedral city of Ripon, and the family-friendly rides at Lightwater Valley.
Rooms start from £74 per night on Hotels.com.
If you’re looking for a cheap and convenient pitstop that feels significantly cooler than your average roadside hotel, the Super 8 by Wyndham is a top pick.
This is an American budget brand’s first foray into the UK, which arrived at the Chester motorway services in 2023.
But forget the dingy US motel stereotype – this place feels slick, modern and boasts fancy rooms that punch high above their price tag.
Rooms have sleek wooden finishes, mustard yellow details and cityscape artwork that reflects the brand’s American roots.
You also get brilliant tech upgrades that you wouldn’t typically expect from a motorway stay, including large smart TVs, ultra-fast free Wi-Fi, and plenty of USB ports.
The en-suite bathrooms are spotless and feature large walk-in power showers to wake you up before you hit the road again.
But this hotel isn’t just a pit-stop for road-trippers. It’s a 10-minute drive from shopping at Cheshire Oaks, plus Chester Zoo and Chester city are easily accessible from here for a day out.
Rooms are available from £38 per night on Expedia.
This hotel in the village of Ainley Top in Huddersfield is in the prime position for exploring the Peaks (only 20 minutes’ drive), plus you can easily nip into Halifax to visit the Piece Hall or the interactive Eureka! children’s museum.
The hotel has a bright, modern and airy feel, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows which let the sunlight pour through and look out to well-manicured gardens.
There are 113 rooms here, which have recently been refurbished with sapphire blue, brick and wood decor.
When you’ve spent the day stomping across the Peak District, you won’t want fussy fine dining. Thankfully, here you’ll find familiar favourites like pizzas, chicken and chips plus that all-important buffet breakfast.
And for when you need to unwind, there’s an underground health club complete with a fully equipped gym, sauna, and steam room.
You can book a stay from £45 on Hotels.com.
THINK Travelodge stays are just for a quick pitstop? Think again.
Britain’s popular budget hotel chain actually has many hotels in some of the most spectacular corners of the UK, putting amazing adventures right at your doorstep.
From waking up at the foot of Ben Nevis to sleeping a stone’s throw from the oldest occupied castle in the world, we’ve hunted down 10 of the most breathtaking Travelodge stays across the country.
With rooms starting from just £25 a night, here are the epic mountain, island, and seaside getaways that prove you don’t need to fork out for a fantastic UK getaway.
Imagine waking up at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, without paying a penny of premium for the privilege.
This Travelodge is in the proper Highlands, with Glen Nevis on your doorstep and Loch Linnhe glimmering nearby.
Plus the Glenfinnan Viaduct (yes, the Harry Potter one that the Hogwarts Express chugs over) is just up the road.
Did you know that Fort William is the Outdoor Capital of the UK?
This means you’re steps from world-class walking, climbing and mountain biking with a stay at this budget base.
Most hotels wouldn’t dream of charging this little for views like this, but that’s where the reliable Travelodge steps in.
Burford is one of the UK’s most idyllic villages, with its honey-coloured stone cottages and pretty high street that tumbles down to the River Windrush.
You’d expect to pay boutique B&B prices for a base this pretty, but here you’re staying in the heart of the Cotswolds for less than a train ticket.
With rolling countryside, beautiful churches and chocolate box charm surrounding you on every side, it’s the kind of setting people would pay a fortune to photograph.
With a stay at this Travelodge, you simply walk out the front door straight into it.
Staying here puts you three minutes’ walk from Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. You can even see it from some of the rooms.
Here you’re a genuine stone’s throw from royal history, plus Windsor & Eton Central station is right next door for an easy hop into London.
Staying this close to a royal residence for under £30 a night is most certainly a bargain.
In fact, even the ticket to the castle costs more than your hotel (£32 for adults when booked online). But if you want to keep it free, the town’s cobbled streets and riverside walks are all on your doorstep.
Kendal is your gateway into the Lake District, England‘s largest national park packed with dramatic landscapes. Here, fells, lakes and stone walls can be seen within minutes of checking in.
History lovers can wander over to Sizergh Castle or Kendal Castle, both a short walk away.
This is a national park that pulls in visitors from across the globe, yet you can base yourself here for less than the cost of a meal out.
It’s an unbeatable base for anyone wanting a slice of that classic Lakes scenery.
This stay drops you right at the edge of Snowdonia National Park, with Mount Snowdon itself and the pretty village of Portmeirion both within easy reach.
Porthmadog is also home to a historic narrow-gauge steam railway, a proper slice of Welsh heritage.
Castles, coastline and mountains all sit within a short drive, making it one of the most scenically-stacked locations on this list.
Few budget stays put you this deep inside a national park. At £25 a night, it’s one of the best-value bases in Wales.
Sleeping in Shakespeare’s hometown is an amazing experience, whether you’re in a fancy hotel or budget – so you might as well save the money and go for the affordable option.
Stratford-upon-Avon’s thatched cottages, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the famous playwright’s birthplace are all within walking distance of this hotel.
Warwick Castle, one of England’s most spectacular medieval fortresses, is only a short drive away too.
And with stays from £29 a night, history buffs and theatre fans are getting some serious bang for their buck here.
This hotel looks straight out over Blackpool’s famous seafront, with views of the Tower and all three piers from the promenade.
Soak up the British seaside holiday nostalgia with visits to the beach, arcades, fairground, and by tucking into a chippy tea for dinner.
From the action-packed tower to the rides at Pleasure Beach, you’ve got a ton of entertainment within walking distance.
Plus you get jaw-dropping views of Blackpool‘s famous skyline, which has been newly-transformed by Aviktas, the theme park’s massive new gyro swing ride.
With a stay at this seaside Travelodge, you’ve got a long sandy beach, Victorian pier and scenic seafront all within easy reach.
There’s even hovercraft and ferry terminals in Ryde to make it super easy to get there from Portsmouth or Southsea.
The Isle of Wight has a totally different pace to the mainland, with secret sandy coves and sleepy, postcard-perfect villages. And Ryde makes for the ideal budget-friendly base.
For £25 a night, an island staycation suddenly feels a lot more accessible.
Hayle sits right on Cornwall’s dramatic north coast, with the golden sands of Hayle Towans and the wider St Ives Bay just minutes away.
This stretch of coastline looks less like your typical British beach and more like somewhere abroad, with its turquoise water and wild dunes.
St Ives itself, with its museums and galleries, pretty harbour and historic lighthouse, is only a short hop down the road.
Cornish staycations usually come with a hefty price tag, but this is a rare budget way in.
Llandudno combines Victorian seaside charm with a breathtaking mountain backdrop – and there’s an impressive historical site on your doorstep here, too.
Days here are best spent strolling the elegant pier, or riding the cable car up the Great Orme headland for spectacular views over Snowdonia’s peaks.
This hotel is only 13 minutes’ drive from Conwy Castle, one of the UK’s best-preserved medieval castles built in the 13th century.
It’s rare to stay somewhere with such impressive landscapes and historical sites sandwiched together, but its even more rare when you can stay there for as little as £35 a night!
ON most holidays the hotel is just the place you sleep between the actual highlights found in the local area.
You dump your bags, find the pool, and spend the rest of the week trekking out to beaches, theme parks, waterparks and attractions that cost an extra small fortune in entry tickets.
But as a holiday expert who’s worked in travel for years now, I’ve got a bank of places where the hotel is THE main event.
We’re talking lodges where elephants wander past your balcony, a futuristic hotel built directly across an active Formula 1 circuit and a full-blown Wild West town with hyper-coasters right outside your bedroom door.
Best of all, you can book the flights, accommodation and headline experience in a single package.
Here are six stays where checking in feels like buying a front-row ticket to something massive.
Magic Natura isn’t just ‘near’ a wildlife park – the entire resort is actually in Terra Natura Benidorm.
You stay in wooden, Polynesian-style lodges scattered across the landscape, with private wooden terraces looking straight into enclosures filled with elephants, rhinos and big cats.
Sitting outside your room with a morning brew watching an elephant amble past is basically breakfast with Sir David Attenborough…minus Sir David Attenborough, I assume.
Hotel guests get free, direct access to both Terra Natura and the neighbouring Aqua Natura waterpark, which packs in massive multi-lane slides, splash zones and animal keeper talks.
It completely eliminates the daily trek between different attractions because the zoo, waterpark, and hotel are all in the same place.
And I tracked down a 5-night bed and breakfast stay here from £263pp, flying direct from London Luton on 5 October.
Book a 5 night bed-and-breakfast stay at Magic Natura Animal Waterpark and Polynesian Lodge Resort from 5 October, with return flights from London Luton, for £263pp.
Lots of hotels overlook race circuits but the W Abu Dhabi is built directly on top of one.
The futuristic glass structure spans the Yas Marina Circuit, with the actual Formula 1 track running straight beneath the hotel building.
Your balcony, the main pool deck, and the restaurants look directly down onto the tarmac, meaning even outside Grand Prix weekends you’ll regularly see supercars testing or track-day drivers tearing past below your room.
On selected evenings, the circuit runs the free TrainYAS programme, opening the track to the public.
You can literally jog or walk an entire lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit, pass straight underneath your own hotel, and then head upstairs for a buffet breakfast.
Good luck finding a Travelodge that offers that.
You’re also sitting right on Yas Island, which means Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and Yas Waterworld are right on your doorstep.
Outside of Grand Prix week, the prices drop significantly, and I found a 7-night bed and breakfast holiday here from £640pp, including return flights from London Stansted on 9 September.
Book a 7 night bed-and-breakfast stay at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island from 9 September, with return flights from London Stansted, for £640pp.
Most music-themed hotels slap a framed guitar on the lobby wall and call it a day.
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella lets you order an actual Fender guitar, bass or a Crosley vinyl turntable straight to your room through their complimentary Sound of Your Stay programme.
The guitars come with high-spec headphones, which is a very thoughtful touch for both aspiring rock stars and everyone staying in the room next door.
The music theme runs right through the property, from live acoustic sets and proper jazz bands to poolside DJ sessions that feel genuinely curated rather than an animator playing cheesy pop tunes beside the buffet.
It’s strictly Adults Only, sits right near the Puerto Banús marina and features two distinct pool zones – one built for day parties, and a quiet one built for recovering from them.
And the best part is, you don’t need a rock star’s bank balance to book it either.
I spotted a 5-night bed and breakfast holiday from £353pp, with direct flights from London Gatwick on 31 October.
Book a 5 night bed-and-breakfast stay at Hard Rock Hotel Marbella from 31 October, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £353pp.
Hotel Gold River recreates a full 19th-century American gold-rush town, complete with timber storefronts, an authentic saloon, a sheriff’s office, and rooms set inside Wild West-style buildings.
And at this hotel, you are literally sleeping inside PortAventura World, with a private hotel entrance dropping you straight into the park.
PortAventura packs six themed lands and world-class rollercoasters, including the massive Shambhala and the stomach-churning Furius Baco.
Younger kids get the dedicated SesamoAventura Sesame Street land, while Ferrari Land sits right next door.
The biggest win for families here though is pure convenience: you can enter the park, pop back to your room for a siesta or a swim, and head back out for the evening shows without paying for daily parking or coach transfers.
When you consider that park tickets are bundled into the package, the price is borderline ridiculous.
I found 5 nights room-only with direct flights from Birmingham on 4 October for just £255pp. Bargain.
Book a 5 night room-only stay at PortAventura Hotel Gold River from 4 October, with return flights from Birmingham and theme park tickets included, for £255pp.
Haydarpasha Palace looks like someone took a historic European railway station, an Ottoman palace and a family theme park, then decided there was absolutely no reason not to mash them all together.
This massive 5-star resort features multi-lane waterslides, bowling alleys, kids’ clubs and its own seasonal funfair complete with a Ferris wheel and bumper cars inside the grounds.
Because it’s a fully all-inclusive set-up, all your food, drinks and most of the entertainment are wrapped into the upfront cost.
The hotel links directly to its private sandy beach via an underground tunnel beneath the coastal road, meaning families can easily spend a full week here without ever running out of things to do or leaving the resort perimeter.
You can grab a 5-night all inclusive stay here from £348pp, including direct flights from London Gatwick on 31 October.
Book a 5 night all-inclusive stay at Haydarpasha Palace from 31 October, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £348pp.
Standard ‘hotel entertainment‘ usually means a mini-disco and someone from the animation team attempting a questionable tribute act.
Rixos operates in an entirely different universe.
Across their Sharm El Sheikh resorts, the brand hosts legitimate festival-grade productions, touring international DJs and headline pop stars – Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez have both performed exclusive concerts for Rixos guests.
Even during an ordinary week, the scale of entertainment is massive.
Alongside nightly stage shows and live bands, the resort includes a huge on-site waterpark, multiple swimming pools, a private coral reef beach and over a dozen speciality restaurants and bars – as part of its premium all-inclusive offering.
And I found a 5-night all inclusive break here from £505pp, with direct flights from London Gatwick on 7 December.
Book a 5 night all-inclusive stay at Rixos Premium Seagate from 7 December, with return flights from London Gatwick, for £505pp. Secure your holiday with a £19pp deposit.
ALL-inclusive package holidays aren’t just for families squabbling over sunloungers – they also make great places for big group birthdays or stag and hen parties.
But as anyone who’s ever tried to organise one knows, finding a decent resort property that actually accepts group bookings without slapping you with ridiculous restrictions is an absolute nightmare.
That’s where being a Holiday Expert – like me – comes in handy.
Because I’ve studied the destinations, heard the inside track on the best deals and personally stayed in over 200 hotels across the world as a couple, solo, family and – most importantly – as part of a big group of rowdy Brits (my personal fave).
So using all that experience, I’ve found eight of the best group-friendly all-inclusive properties that give you massive value inside the hotel gates, with all of meals and drinks included to remove any arguments or maths over who is paying for dinner.
Not only that, but they put you within staggering distance of cheap local bars – and are complete with poolside sunbeds on standby, for when last night’s decisions catch up with you.
Read on for some inspiration for where to next book your mates’ holiday.
Prices correct at time of publication.
You don’t take a group of mates to Benidorm for a quiet retreat.
The Dynastic Hotel sits right in the heart of the lively Levante district, putting you a stone’s throw from the beach and surrounded by cabaret bars, sports pubs, and the legendary English Square.
Pints in the surrounding back-street bars are regularly advertised for as little as €1 (86p), making it an absolute goldmine for budget nights out.
And groups LOVE the Dynastic’s indoor spa and heated pool complex.
If someone in the group is suffering from a catastrophic hangover, you can retreat into the quiet, subterranean hydrotherapy circuit for a few hours to reboot before the evening session begins. Thank me later.
You can grab a three-night all inclusive stay here from £305pp, flying direct from London Luton on May 17, 2027.
If your group’s single requirement is “put us where the action is,” this is arguably the best-placed hotel on the entire list.
It sits right on the edge of Praia da Oura beach and is literally two minutes’ walk from Albufeira’s famous Strip – a neon mile of karaoke joints, sports bars and open-air clubs.
When I stayed, I’d jump into places like Wild & Co, Matt’s Bar and Liberto’s, where happy-hour cocktails can cost between €5 (£4.28) – €6 (£5.13), although head to sports bars for local beers from €3 (£2.57).
The standout feature here is that the property features a massive, elevated oceanfront sun terrace that steps directly down onto the sand.
It means you and your mates can load up on free all inclusive drinks from the pool bar and take them straight out to look over the Atlantic without spending a single euro on seafront bar prices.
And I found a three-night all inclusive break from £290pp, flying direct from London Stansted on May 2, 2027.
Lloret de Mar has been hosting big group trips for decades, and it remains one of the cheapest party enclaves in Europe – with shots in local spots frequently advertised for less than a quid.
The BLUESEA Montevista Hawai gives you a great pool set-up, buffet dining and multiple bars roughly a ten-minute stroll from the beach and main strip.
This is where where legendary late-night haunts like Disco Tropics and Moef Gaga keep things moving until sunrise.
The key perk at this hotel is its position slightly set back from the main strip noise.
You get all the rowdy benefits of Lloret’s legendary club scene by night, but the hotel courtyard itself stays remarkably calm during the day, giving your group an actual chance to sleep off the night before in peace.
And this is the cheapest deal on my entire list, because you can lock in three nights all inclusive here for just – wait for it – £175pp.
If your crew wants guaranteed sunshine paired with a proper night out, this is the move.
Las Piramides sits right in central Las Americas, surrounded by Supermercados, sports bars and walking-distance access to both the Veronicas Strip and the Starco Centre.
The intense competition between local bars means 2-for-1 drink deals and free shot tokens are everywhere.
And an underrated perk for groups staying here is the fact that you’re getting an apartment to yourselves.
Having separate living rooms and private balconies means your group has a proper central base to congregate and pre-drink before heading out, rather than trying to cram six people onto a couple of single beds in a standard hotel room.
I tracked down a three-night all inclusive group holiday from £365pp, flying direct from Manchester on May 10, 2027.
Malta is a brilliant option for groups who want a buzzing nightlife scene without the wall-to-wall mega-club vibes in places like Ibiza.
The Qawra Palace sits right on the seafront with the waterfront pubs of Qawra and Bugibba Square stretching out right along the coastal path.
Local watering holes like Fat Harry’s Pub and the Royale Barrel Bistro run aggressive 2-for-1 happy hours and cheap pint-and-burger deals straight through the afternoon.
And I can guarantee that your group will love this hotel’s rooftop pool deck.
It gives you and your mates panoramic sea views over St Paul’s Bay while you make the most of the all inclusive bar, giving your trip a high-end, luxury-resort feel for a basic budget price.
You can book a three-night all inclusive stay here from £338pp, flying direct from Liverpool on May 11. 2027.
Palma Nova in Majorca gives you the ultimate group compromise: a stunning beach by day, and walking-distance access to the famous party zone in neighbouring Magaluf by night.
And the Sol Palmanova hotel features outdoor pools, high-energy daytime sports activities and a massive buffet footprint to fuel up before a night out.
The killer feature for groups here is the hotel’s special late-breakfast service.
Unlike standard rigid hotels that shut their morning buffets at 9.30am sharp, the schedule here caters brilliantly to late risers.
So nobody in your group has to miss out on hot food just because they stayed out past 3am…
While searching for deals, I clocked a four-night all inclusive stay here from £340pp, flying direct from London Stansted on May 3, 2027.
While Salou is famous for theme parks by day, the resort flips into a massive party hub after dark.
With over 250 bars and 11 nightclubs packed into the resort, pint prices sit comfortably under £3.
The Ponient Dorada Palace sits a short walk from the main nightlife drag along Avinguda de Carles Buïgas, where spots like Danny Boy Irish Bar, Chaplins and Tropical Salou keep the energy high.
And this is another hotel with a rooftop pool section – only this time it’s adults-only.
It’s also equipped with loungers and a private bar, allowing your group to escape the family noise at the main pool deck and enjoy a sunbathing session overlooking the town.
You can grab a three-night all inclusive package from £250pp, flying direct from Birmingham on May 3, 2027.
Puerto del Carmen is perfect for groups who want a buzzing atmosphere centred around live-music pubs, sports bars, and tavernas rather than multi-storey nightclubs.
BLUESEA Los Fiscos sits elevated just above the historic Old Town, putting you within an easy downhill stroll of both the harbour bars and the lively Avenida de las Playas strip.
Because the poolside bar terrace is all inclusive, sure, but also gives the group sweeping views straight out across the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s an unbeatable spot to grab your free all inclusive afternoon drinks while watching the boats come into the marina below.
Perhaps a hotel for the more sophisticated groups among us… If they’re out there?
I found a three-night all inclusive stay from £260pp, flying direct from London Stansted on May 2, 2027.
DUST off those cowboy boots and grab your glitter as fans across the globe wave goodbye to country music sensation Dolly Parton.
The star passed away last week, aged 80, but her legend lives on in the US.
Sophie Swietochowski shares her top Dolly holidays in Nashville, the Great Smoky Mountains and beyond.
DOLLY got busy in her 80th year and Nashville was her focus, with the star launching a host of new attractions.
The 245-room SongTeller Hotel opens a week on|Monday.
Fans can raise a glass to the country hero in one of two live music venues, Parton’s Live and Jolene’s – try a Dirt Road Martini – Dolly’s favourite.
On the third floor of the hotel, Dolly’s Life Of Many Colors Museum opens on September 29, with exhibits that explore her writing career and bold fashion choices.
Swing by Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, south of Nashville.
The roadside venue has classic Tennessee barbecue, trucker facilities and a live music venue.
GO: Bon Voyage has a five-night stay at SongTeller Hotel from £1,995pp with flights on September 14. See bon-voyage.co.uk or call 0800 316 0194.
THIS ticks off two of Dolly’s biggest loves – the great open road and Tennessee.
Start in Nashville, where she made a name for herself as a high school grad, before heading to Jackson and Memphis.
After a stop in Chattanooga, there’s the Great Smoky Mountains and Dolly’s hometown of Sevierville, which has the Pines Theatre where she performed aged ten.
A must is her theme park Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, which has a replica of her childhood home.
GO: A 14-night Tennessee Music Pathway trip costs from £1,995pp including flights and car hire. See americaasyoulikeit.com.
TENNESSEE may be the legend’s home state, but Texas is where Parton made her big early film hit.
Dolly was nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her performance as Mona Stangley in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, above – shot in various locations throughout the Lone Star state.
Start in Austin, where the film premiered, then head to Hallettsville, a quaint Texan town that was used as a backdrop, and end in La Grange, which inspired the movie’s story.
She also performed some of her biggest gigs here, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – a must-visit while you’re in town.
GO: A five-night holiday with BA flights to Austin, returning from Dallas plus car hire; three nights at the Hilton Garden Inn Austin and two nights at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Dallas is from £1,875pp. See americaasyoulikeit.com.
THOSE keen to delve into the full musical story of America’s South should set their sights on this bucket-list Tennessee tour.
Alongside the must-visit Dolly destinations of Nashville and Pigeon Forge, you will explore Memphis, home to Elvis’s Graceland and Sun Studio, which has welcomed some of the most famous faces in American musical history.
Chattanooga and the equally legendary recording studio, Muscle Shoals, is also on the list, as is a stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa, a proper country-themed hotel with roaring fireplaces and guitars hanging from the wall.
GO: The 14-night trip costs from £3,409pp including flights in November, accommodation and intermediate car hire with insurance.
Free airport lounge pass also included. See northamericatravelservice.com or call 0333 323 9033.
WANT to add some sunshine and guaranteed R&R to your break?
Head to Panama City Beach in Florida, a place Dolly said she “always loved” for its white sand and emerald water.
When you’re not kicking back on a sun lounger, try the Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show – founded by Parton herself.
There are sister sites in Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach.
The show was co-written by Dolly, too, and it’s a laugh.
The arena has a lagoon and two pirate ships, as well as acrobats performing aerial stunts.
During the show, you gorge on four courses of classic Southern grub.
GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach is from £1,089pp, based on four sharing.
Price includes Heathrow return flights, car hire and tickets for Pirates Voyage dinner show. See purelytravel.co.uk or call 0844 80 444 80.
WHEN most of us check into a hotel, it’s likely to have a restaurant, a spa and a bar – but around the globe are some VERY luxurious ones with suites costing as much as £30k per night.
In a new Channel 4 series, First Dates star Fred Sirieix heads behind the scenes to see what exactly makes these hotels the best of the best.
In the show called Fred‘s Ultimate Hotel, the charming maître d’ explores four hotels; The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh, The Royal Madikwe Lodge in South Africa, Les Barmes de l’Ours in France and Raffles Hotel in Singapore.
All of the hotels are five-star with Michelin-star dining and experiences that make them a step above the rest.
Thanks to his history of working in hospitality, Fred can definitely make a judgement on whether these hotels live up to expectation.
Fred explained: “I’ve been doing this work from the age of 15 in hotels and restaurants – so I speak the lingo.
“Observing them, being a guest and then behind the scenes and working with the people there because this is all I’ve done all my life – and I wanted to see if these hotels were actually ultimate and why.”
Not only does Fred check-in at the hotels as a guest but he also goes behind the scenes as concierge and even bar staff – so here are the best ones he explored.
The first stop is at The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh which is owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
It has 53 private riads with gardens, courtyard patio, roof terrace, swimming pools, hammams and each comes with a personal butler.
Fred said: “The most incredible thing is that this hotel was built from scratch and this started from the back of the house.
“They created the most efficient hotel, it’s aerodynamic – it’s like Formula 1 it makes for such fast service.
Fred continued: “I was an easy customer for the butler, by 6 o’clock I told him I was OK. I can call room service or make my own coffee from the machine in my room – but some customers use the butler for 18-hours a day.”
“These are the Premier League of hotels – and the way to be the best is to not say no. You have to deliver – they are working at the highest level.”
The Royal Mansour in Marrakesh ranked 13th globally and Best Hotel in Africa at the World’s 50 Best Hotels Awards last year.
Sounds incredible, right? If you’re looking to stay, you might need to start saving now as the top suite, the Grand Riad, costs over £30,000 per night.
The next stop on his trip is safe to say one of Fred’s best, and possibly worst emotional experiences, at The Royal Madikwe Lodge in South Africa.
Fred explained: “The Royal Madikwe, out of all the places I have been in the world, I have never felt so emotional throughout.
“From the moment I arrived, I started to cry. It was so emotional – I almost died in the bush, sandwiched between an elephant and two rhinos.”
Luckily bush ranger Ernie came to Fred’s rescue: “He saved my life because of how he dealt with the situation.”
“The staff there were on another level – it was very touching. It was very different as well like when I was in the bush with Ernie because it was a very responsible job.”
The most expensive accommodation at The Royal Madikwe Lodge is The Sovereign House which racks up to £6,000 per night.
It sits by a well-travelled elephant path so guests are likely to see the creatures from the comfort of their room.
It has room for six guests across three spacious bedrooms, with a glass wine cellar, plunge pool and private boma.
Tucked way in the French ski resort of Val-d’sère is the five-star luxury Les Barmes de l’Ours.
It’s safe to say that Fred, who was born and raised in France, had high hopes and luckily, they delivered.
Fred said: “These people are the embodiment of French hospitality – it’s a dying art that people do not practice anymore.
“From the moment I arrived, I was so impressed. It’s rare in life when you’re really impressed in life and you see excellence in people who want to do a good job.
“One thing about these hotels is that the five-star standard must be everywhere. If you’re walking down a corridor and you cross a member of staff – they must see, smile and say hello before you do that to them.”
The hotel in the mountains has North American-style lodges, alpine chalets and even contemporary lofts.
It’s the only hotel to sit at the foot of Face de Bellevarde – a black run which has a vertical drop of 850metres.
With the hotel guests can fly in via private helicopter and arrange paragliding flights from the slopes, it also has a two-lane bowling alley.
Here, the Bear Suite is the most expensive at over £3,500 per night – it has a private Jacuzzi, sauna, hammam and balcony overlooking the mountains.
When a hotel has former guests like Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Princess Kate, and Elizabeth Taylor – you know it’s going to be amazing.
Raffles Hotel in Singapore is found on 1 Beach Road, the colonial-style hotel is surrounded by lush gardens and it has a huge rooftop pool.
It’s the birthplace of the Singapore Sling cocktail which was invented at its Long Bar where Fred attempts to create the drink himself.
Its suites all have high ceilings with separate living areas. Guests get 24-hour butler service – and it’s in a league of its own with personalised itinerary and service.
Fred said the special touches from his butler makes the experience extra special.
He explained: “I arrived on Father’s Day and the butler there looked me up before I arrived.
“They prepared a Father’s Day card for me with pictures of my children and left it in the room – it was so special. I thought wow, this is a touch above the rest.”
Raffles Hotel started off as a 10-bedroom bungalow before being expanded into the grand hotel it is now with 115 suites.
The Presidential Suite in Raffles Hotel Singapore costs around £12,000 per night.
Fred’s Ultimate Hotel starts 31st August at 8pm on Channel 4.
HOW does quad-biking through the wild Sahara desert sound, or dolphin-spotting at sunset?
Or perhaps you are more of a lavish spa dweller, who dreams of whiling away your holiday hours on a massage bed being gently pummelled by hot stones?
In the millionaire’s playground of El Gouna, you can do all this and more.
And best of all, here you can live the champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget.
El Gouna, around 25 miles from Egypt’s Hurghada airport, literally translates as The Lagoon — and it’s not hard to see why.
The luxury town is made up of 36 islands with more than six miles of scenic coastline and lagoons interwoven throughout.
There’s so much water surrounding the gorgeous hotels that some visitors have even compared it to the Maldives.
But it’s much more vast and far less isolated.
With four marinas, over 100 shops and restaurants, two championship golf courses and 18 international hotel resorts and chains, it’s impossible to get bored here.
And the town is still expanding at a rapid rate.
El Gouna only came into existence in the 1980s when billionaire entrepreneur Samih Sawiris decided to transform what was then just a vast area of desert into an area his family and friends could enjoy.
Fast-forward to today and the peaceful spot is the perfect winter sun escape for Brits.
It’s just a short five-hour or so flight from the UK and even in January, temperatures hit 23C.
El Gouna, just a 30-minute drive from Hurghada and with security checks at the town’s few entrances, is also one of the safest destinations in Egypt for tourists.
Entry is only granted for hotel guests, staff and visitors with dinner reservations, so you can stroll back to your hotel in safety.
You can take your pick of luxury hotels within the gates — although the highlight for me was The Chedi.
This 5* luxury resort has its own private beach, luxurious spa and multiple restaurants — including Japanese eatery, Nihon — among its 82 suites and rooms.
A short walk from the lobby will take you to various idyllic sunbathing spots, with the beach just steps away from the pools.
And if you get restless on a sunbed, The Chedi has paddleboards and kayaks for guests to take into the Red Sea, as well as fun beach games like volleyball.
The luxurious rooms come with an affordable price tag compared to similar 5* hotels in Europe, if you’d rather save those pennies to splurge on excursions, check in to the 4* Cook’s Club instead.
While it doesn’t quite match The Chedi in terms of room size, it certainly has the monopoly on water space with a huge pool and beach area offering direct access to its own private lagoon.
Regular live music poolside caters for the younger crowd of 18 to 30-somethings, but if you prefer an even livelier atmosphere, El Gouna’s town centre is right on your doorstep.
The hotel’s hearty breakfast buffet — which includes an omelette station — has enough grub to soak up any hangover, plus the baristas here can whip up an excellent brew.
But it’s well worth pottering into town when you get the chance.
The newest restaurant, La Botanica, has a farm-to-table concept serving elegant dishes of beef carpaccio and lobster.
If it’s the wow factor you’re after though, head to The Steigenberger Tower where you can soak up 360-degree views of the resort.
Everything looks especially gorgeous at sunset.
And when you’re not indulging in fancy food or a five-star massage, the list of action-packed activities are endless.
Alex Safaris does an incredible quad-biking excursion that will send you hurtling over dunes to a traditional Bedouin camp.
Here, visitors can dabble in shisha and other traditional experiences.
And if you’ve always dreamed of spotting wild dolphins, they’re in abundance here and you’ll be spoilt for choice with boat tours.
Apparently, El Gouna’s unofficial motto is: “You’ll never want to leave.”
And with such affordable prices and so much to see and do, I can’t help but agree.
GETTING THERE: easyJet flies from London Luton, London Gatwick, Birmingham and other UK airports from £121.99 each way.
See easyjet.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms with breakfast at Cook’s Club El Gouna cost from £143 per night in November.
See cooksclub.com.
Stays at The Chedi El Gouna cost from £384 in November.
OUT & ABOUT: A desert quad-biking excursion costs from £57pp.
A dolphin catamaran trip is from £56pp.
Book at elgouna.com.
EUROPEAN city breaks can easily break the bank.
One museum, two cups of coffee and a short taxi ride in Paris or Rome can have your banking app in the red before you have even considered lunch.
But, in Bulgaria’s capital, the grandest sight has a golden dome and a whole day on public transport costs a startlingly low £1.70.
Say “dobŭr den” (good day in the local lingo) to Sofia, a leafy, lively city, which is a brilliant value getaway still slipping under too many Brits’ radar.
I have been all over Europe, the US and the Gulf states and yet when it comes to the deal of the century, there is one country that stands head and shoulders above the rest — and that’s budget-friendly Bulgaria.
For proof, the latest Eurostat data showed Bulgaria has the lowest overall consumer prices in the EU, with hotels and restaurants around 48 per cent below the average.
In short, Sofia is a city where your holiday money can stretch almost as far as the eye can see.
Do not mistake the price tag for a lack of star power, though.
The mighty Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, all green copper and glittering gold, has that wow factor.
From there, you can stroll past grand old buildings, pavement cafes and Vitosha Boulevard, which stretches toward the mountain of the same name, rising in the distance like a blockbuster backdrop.
I checked into the magnificent Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia — a luxurious 5* retreat with 400 rooms and apartments, plus an amazing spa centre, gym and four themed restaurants and a one-of-a-kind Sky Bar, overlooking the city.
All that luxury would set you back upwards of £300 in one of Europe’s big-hitting capitals like Paris. But this was less than half that cost.
As part of the hotel complex, there is also a casino, the Palms Royale, which offers classic games such as roulette, poker, blackjack and modern slot machines as well as its own 24-hour restaurant and an upmarket Asian eatery.
Casino owner Milo Borissov, who is keen to welcome more British visitors, tells me: “We attract customers from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
“Over half are weekend tourists who come specifically for the high-class service and games that the casino offers, combined with the restaurants, and the modern hotel accommodation.”
If you are out of luck at the casino, all is not lost, for Bulgaria also has some of the lowest prices in Europe for public transport, clothing, food, alcohol (you can still find a beer for about £1.50) and tobacco.
So where should you head first? St Petka of the Saddlers is a tiny, single-nave church partly sunk into the ground beside the bigger city sights.
It is so modest you could almost miss it, but make sure you don’t.
Standing on the site of an earlier Roman religious building, it preserves murals from several centuries. Duck inside and you can swap traffic noise for candlelit calm in seconds.
After this, head towards the former Central Mineral Baths.
Bring a reusable bottle: a restored marble fountain by the baths delivers warm mineral water from the city’s historic springs.
It is the sort of pleasingly simple freebie that makes you feel you have joined the locals, not just ticked off a landmark.
For another bit of time travel, go down to the Serdika area and take a lingering look around.
Roman-era Sofia is not sealed behind a museum door here — archaeological remains including excavated streets and ancient basilicas are right in the heart of town.
The cleverest hidden stop, though, is the Eighties-style Red Flat, on Ivan Denkoglu Street.
This is not a dusty museum. It is an interactive, four-room apartment that lets visitors touch, poke about and listen their way through the everyday life of a Bulgarian family in the Communist era. It’s an educational eye-opener.
For lunch, skip the obvious international chains and go on a mini food crawl.
Browse the Women’s Market for colourful stalls of fruit and veg plus ceramics and souvenirs, then seek out a Bulgarian cafe for home-cooked delicacies, such as banistra (cheese pastry) and kyufte (spiced, grilled minced meat rolls).
Then finish off your day with a glass of local wine or coffee in one of the side streets.
In fact, why not stretch to two? With prices this low, you’d be mad not to.
GETTING THERE: Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Sofia from £18.99 each way.
See ryanair.com.
STAYING THERE: Double rooms at the 5* Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia are from around £146pp per night.
IF you want to stay at some of the best hotels in the world – check out these five resorts.
All of these spots were recognised at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026 with spaces still available this year and affordable stays.
Starting strong, this hotel was voted as the Best Hotel – TUI UK & Ireland thanks to its high praise from guests noting its friendly staff and chilled atmosphere.
Inside the adults-only hotel, guests can dine at two à la carte restaurants – both are on the first-floor which has panoramic sea views.
Or check out the spa which comes with its own roof terrace with treatments on offer.
Side itself is a 20-minute walk along the promenade, which will get you there where you can explore its Roman ruins and restaurant-lined harbour.
The Hotel Fariones in Lanzarote came out on top for being TUI’s best hotel in the Spain and Portugal category.
It boasts two pools, three restaurants and direct access to the Playa Grande Beach.
Just a short walk away, you can discover Puerto Del Carmen’s Old Town where you will find a selection of restaurants and bars.
In the summer season there’s usually live music in the evenings.
If you’re looking for a beach break in Greece, then check out Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel and Suites.
It was named the best hotel in the Cyprus and Greece category and comes with its own private beach, along with two restaurants.
There are also two outdoor freshwater pools, an indoor pool, a whirlpool and a spa.
The hotel sits on a cliff-top so be prepared for some breathtaking views across the bay.
TUI Magic Life Sarigerme has been named the best family-friendly hotel – and it’s not surprising.
The hotel has five swimming pools, seven bars and four restaurants – all of which sit on the beachfront.
The hotel is just a 20-minute drive from Dalaman but also right by Sarigerme Beach, which is a large, sprawling beach loved by locals for kitesurfing.
There’s also a packed entertainment programme with parties and live music as well as dedicated areas for those over 16.
Nestled away in Torbole, Lake Garda, is Hotel Caravel, which was declared the Best Hotel Northern and Central Europe.
Rooms have mountain views and make sure to take a dip in the pool, surrounded by greenery.
The hotel team are cycling specialists so simply hire a bike and they will recommend the best lakeside routes or mountain biking trails.
Included in the stay is a Trentino Guest and Garda Guest card which allows for free public transport and discounts into local attractions and experiences.
Prices correct at the time of publication.
