Ive

The Mirror’s Stephen Jones and his wife Charlotte braved taking their five-month-old twins on holiday for the first time – and were blown away by the resort

A few months after our twins were born we were badly in need of a holiday… somewhere distant enough to guarantee sunshine but not so far as to become a nightmare journey with two five-month-olds in tow.

With a flight time of four and a half hours, Gran Canaria seemed ideal. What we didn’t appreciate at the time we booked is how brilliantly accommodating the TUI Blue Orquidea would prove to be for young families. I’m pleased to say that a week there completely reinvigorated us but also changed our expectations of what a family holiday could be.

Like many new parents, we were worried about flying abroad with babies whose very existence is based on a routine of feeding, changing, entertaining and sleeping on repeat. Packing alone felt like preparing for a military expedition but by the time we reached the boarding gate at Gatwick – each pulling a big suitcase and pushing a travel buggy simultaneously – we felt like accomplished war veterans able to deal with any situation.

And after arriving at the hotel in a prebooked taxi transfer of just 20 mins from the airport, all our other worries soon melted away.

Set right on the seafront in Bahia Feliz on Gran Canaria’s sunny south coast, the all-inclusive TUI Blue Gran Canaria immediately radiates a relaxed atmosphere. Instead of loud entertainment and crowded spaces, the resort feels spacious, clean and remarkably calm, something any sleep-deprived parent will appreciate.

Our room was bright, modern and comfortably large enough to accommodate two cots without making us feel as though we were navigating an obstacle course every time we walked across it. Having a balcony overlooking the sea quickly became one of our favourite places to relax after putting the babies to bed each evening. Early mornings with bottles in hand somehow felt a little more manageable while watching the sunrise.

Travelling with babies means your holiday revolves around their schedule rather than your own, but this hotel made that surprisingly easy. Staff couldn’t have been more welcoming, always greeting the twins with smiles and happily offering helpful tips whenever we needed.

Meal times were relaxed and there were wide enough spaces between the tables to manoeuvre the buggies. The buffet restaurant deserves particular praise for its generous choices, meaning nobody should ever struggle to find something they like – from fresh salads and grilled meats to fish, pasta and pizza cooked to order.

Although our twins were far too young to sample the menu themselves, we were able to easily grab things we liked to keep ourselves nourished while we fed them, and families travelling with slightly older babies and toddlers seemed pleased with extensive options.

Of course, five-month-old babies with priorities of bottles, naps and cuddles don’t care so much for infinity pools or cocktail bars, but the hotel’s peaceful surroundings ticked every box.

The swimming pools were spotless, with plenty of comfortable sun loungers available throughout most of the day. We quickly settled into a rhythm that revolved around popping to the air conditioned baby lounge with changing facilities a stone’s throw from the main pool after breakfast for nappy changes, feeds and a play before hitting the loungers. Its sister hotel next door the Playa Feliz, where your wristbands are equally welcome, has a bigger splash pool for toddlers with a huge shade screen and that’s where we spent many of our afternoons.

While you are essentially doing exactly the same as you would be back home looking after newborn twins with the endless cycle of washing bottles, laundry and trying to get them to sleep, those same routines somehow became more enjoyable against a backdrop of palm trees, warm blue skies and the gentle sound of waves.

The childcare offering at a TUI Blue is arguably beyond generous if you choose to get involved. There’s baby and tots club sessions which run twice daily for children aged 0-35 months with gentle play, songs and stories and there’s more lively 45-minute playdate sessions available. The organised Little Splashers or Little Ravers sessions are self-explanatory, but our twins especially enjoyed their visit to a Baby Spa for a sensory-led pampering session with soft music and calming lights they seemed to enjoy as much as the TUI reps holding the session.

Speaking of the TUI reps, you also have the option of leaving your babies with them for a couple of hours while you enjoy some me time on a sun lounger or even pop to the gym or Club Spa, which we both managed to escape to on occasion. The open-air spa pool is actually something of a hidden gem squirreled away at the back of this hotel, but boasting a fantastic array of hydrotherapy jets where you can relax while you gaze out at the Atlantic ocean. There’s a Finnish sauna, Hammam steam room and a sanarium – or you can just pull up a lounger and relax in the sun away from the kids.

A highlight of our week was a meal out at La Taverna a la carte restaurant which is included in the all inclusive package, where they serve a variety of vibrant tapas as you watch the sun go down; in many ways a kind of special evening out we would love but find hard to achieve at home.

We weren’t racing to tick off tourist attractions or planning packed itineraries, if anything we wanted to slow down and enjoy some relative peace in the sunshine, which we achieved in batches daily. We did day trips but we were more than happy to just recline on a lounger by the side of the pool with the babies and switch off.

For any parent wondering if their first overseas holiday with young babies is worth attempting, this hotel provides a reassuring answer. Its combination of comfortable accommodation, welcoming staff, quality food and peaceful atmosphere creates an environment where families genuinely feel supported rather than merely accommodated.

Our first holiday abroad with two five-month-old twins could easily have been unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. Thanks to the TUI Blue Gran Canaria, it became unforgettable for exactly the right ones – a sun-soaked reminder that life doesn’t stop when you become parents. It simply changes. We knew that having holidays after having children would be different, what we realised at the TUI Blue Gran Canaria was that it didn’t mean that they shouldn’t be relaxing.

• TUI offers seven-night holidays to Gran Canaria, Spain staying at the 4T TUI BLUE Orquídea on an all-inclusive basis from £900pp, based on 2 adults and 1 child sharing a twin room, flying from London Luton in August, and 23kg luggage per person and transfers included. tui.co.uk
• TUI Musement offers a Gran Canaria’s ‘Little Venice’ – visit Puerto de Mogan by boat from £45 per adult, £28 per child (3-12 years old) and children (0-2) go free. tuimusement.com/uk

A Ryanair passenger has hit out at the airline after she was forced to pay a £75 oversized bag fee for a suitcase she claims to have used ‘more than 30 times’ over the last seven years

A Ryanair passenger claims she was forced to pay a £75 fee at the airport terminal for a bag she has travelled fine with ‘more than 30 times’. The flyer, named Laura, shared her frustration on X after the unexpected luggage charge.

Laura, who had been flying through Manchester Airport, posted: “Hey @Ryanair I want a refund for the £75 that the absolute jobsworth at Manchester Airport this afternoon took from me for an ‘oversized’ bag i’ve used and never had an issue with on this exact journey maybe 30+ times over the last seven years.” She included a photograph showing the bag apparently fitting into the 40 x 30 x 20 cm slot which is permitted.

In a follow-up to her initial post, she explained: “I asked a staff member, ‘have the measurements changed recently?’ and they said no, but that the enforcement was more stringent.”

One person responded: “This happened to me last year! Baring in mind I’ve just come back from a holiday 2 weeks before and had no problems.

“Their argument was that it was sticking out (being too wide). It wasn’t at all and is the same as yours is in the picture. Poor behaviour.”

Another user chimed in: “You’re so right, they’re trying to get money as much as they can, I had to buy a new bag as the one I’ve been using for the last 14 years is ‘too big’ and they also made me pay. They want to take money as much as possible.”

A third also added: “I hate that but there is no winning. The only way I found is to ask for the measure and have them measure it, if it checks out then it’s fine if not, then it’s on you.”

Not everyone was sympathetic, however, with some siding with Ryanair over the bag’s size. One user wrote: “The depth of your suitcase goes over the line that clearly says too big. What makes you think you are entitled to this over the other millions of passengers who don’t do this?”.

Another commented: “Looks like you owe Ryanair £2,250 for those 30 flights. Double it if they were returns.”

While one user simply stated: “It’s oversized.”

Several others urged Laura to switch airlines if she was unhappy with Ryanair’s policies.

She responded, however: “Unfortunately they’re the only airline operating on that route.”

A representative for Ryanair said: “This passenger booked a Regular Fare for this flight from Manchester to Göteborg Landvetter (Aug 4), which allowed them to carry a small personal bag and 10kg cabin bag measuring up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm onboard.

“As this passenger’s cabin bag exceeded the permitted size, she was correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee by the gate agent at Manchester Airport.”

What are Ryanair’s baggage fees?

Ryanair’s baggage fees vary dynamically depending on the route, date of travel, and when you purchase the allowance. Buying baggage online during your initial flight booking is always the cheapest option.

Cabin and hand luggage fees

Every passenger is allowed one small personal item for free (e.g., laptop bag, small backpack) that must fit under the seat in front of you (max 40 x 20 x 25 cm).

Priority and 2 cabin bags: Allows you to bring the free small bag plus a 10kg overhead cabin bag (max 55 x 40 x 20 cm).

• When booking flight: €/£6 to €/£36
• Added post-booking / at airport

Gate baggage fee: If your non-priority cabin bag is oversized at the gate, it will be placed in the hold for a fee of €/£50 to €/£69.99.

Checked baggage fees

• 10kg checked bag – €/£9.49 – €/£44.99 during initial booking, €/£23.99 – €/£44.99 post-booking/at airport
• 20kg checked bag – €/£18.99 – €/£59.99 during initial booking, €/£39.99 – €/£59.99 post-booking/at airport
• 23kg checked bag – €/£29.99 – €/£80.99 during initial booking, €/£54.00 – €/£97.00 post-booking/at airport

A dad whose son has been missing since 1988 told his story on ITV’s This Morning

A father has told how his life became “a living nightmare” after his 15-year-old son vanished without a trace.

Lee Boxell was last seen on September 10, 1988 after he left his home in Sutton, south west London, to meet a friend. He was seen on the High Street in the town that day, but there have been no confirmed sightings since.

Police have theorised that Lee could have been killed after stepping in to stop or threatening to report an assault in the grounds of a church where an unofficial youth club took place.

Appearing on ITV‘s This Morning, his dad Peter Boxell shared how the family were “panic-stricken” and went through their “worst nightmare” after Lee didn’t come home that day.

“It was just like a living nightmare from then on,” he said. “I think it’s every person’s, every family member, every parent’s worst nightmare. And for us, it was a living nightmare.”

He told hosts Josie Gibson and Paddy McGuinness: “We couldn’t sleep for weeks after that. We thought, we didn’t want to miss a phone call or a knock on the door if Lee could come home.”

Paddy asked how Peter had carried on through the years, and he replied: “Well, we’ve been essentially living in limbo, not knowing what’s happened to our son, Lee. And we desperately want to know what happened to him. I mean, I’m old now. I’m 80. His mother’s a few years older than me.

“Most of Lee’s relatives have passed on. And he has a sister who desperately wants to know what happened to him. And she has her own children. So Lee’s now got a niece and a nephew. They know all about Lee. And they want to know what happened to Lee.”

Asked what he thought had happened, Peter said: “I think that the police’s theory is correct, that Lee went to the unofficial youth club at the back of the church in the graveyard at St Dunstan’s in Cheam. And I think he went there, maybe only once.

“And I think he may have seen something, some criminal activity going on. Maybe he saw somebody assaulting a child there. And he would either have gone to the aid of that child or he would have gone for help.

“And I’m only guessing. I just think that the adults who were carrying out that crime may have tried to silence Lee. They may have unintentionally killed him. I don’t know, but I think they may have killed him. That’s what I think has happened.”

Josie also read out a comment from the Met, saying: “They have said, ‘We’ve never stopped our investigation into what happened to Lee. And it remains ongoing within the Met’s cold case team.

“We would urge anyone who did not feel able to speak to police in the past to come forward and tell us what they know. If you can help, whether anonymously or otherwise, please, please, please get in touch’.”

This Morning airs on ITV at 10am on weekdays.

A family trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida can be notoriously expensive, but a travel expert who’s visited almost 50 times in the last six years has a money-saving hack

An avid Disney World Resort fan has been to the popular park a whopping 48 times, and during that time, he’s uncovered nifty travel hacks that can help families save hundreds.

Those who have been to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will know how expensive a holiday can be, and those who haven’t will have heard about its hefty price tag. From flights, hotels, theme park passes, restaurants, and all the additional extras, it can quickly add up, with trips to ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’ costing anything from £1,500 to £4,000 per person.

For a family of four, that could amount to anything from £4,000 to more than £10,000 for a 10-night trip. It certainly doesn’t come cheap, but for many, it’s a bucketlist holiday that’s well worth forking out for, and there are ample ways to help keep the costs down.

One of the best-known ways to save some serious cash is to book the cheapest available flights and opt for budget-friendly hotels outside the resort but close enough to travel back and forth each day. Yet, there’s another nifty money-saving tip that Disney expert Mark Patterson highly recommends to anyone planning a trip.

Matt, who has been to Florida’s Disney World Resort a whopping 48 times in the last six years for work and pleasure, told the Mirror: “All the restaurants at Disney are expensive, so the hotels I like have a kitchenette with a stove and a full-size fridge, so you can buy food and cook it.

“You can then take it into the park with you, and that can save a lot of money. Even if you just take two meals in for the family, that can save you easily $100 (£74.71) to $200 (£149.42) per day.”

Booking a hotel room or resort with a kitchenette to make meals for the day isn’t the only way to save some extra cash. The travel expert who lives in Southern California advised holidaymakers to book a hotel that offers free breakfast to help avoid hidden costs that can quickly add up to hundreds.

And there’s one area he recommends for that budget-friendly hotel with a free breakfast. “The Flamingo Crossings area is my favourite, it’s newer, and the hotels are all new, and they all have free breakfast. They offer good, reasonable prices there.”

However, he noted that, due to its location, visitors have to drive, get a lift, or take a shuttle bus to the park each day. Yet, with free breakfast included, it might be well worth travelling a little further to help cut costs.

Matt certainly knows what he’s talking about, having stayed at 36 different hotels during his trips to Disney World. He also aims for an average hotel price of around $100 (£74.71) to $200 (£149.42) per night to make it more affordable, while looking out for any hidden fees.

Another area he recommends is Disney Springs. He said: “The Disney Springs area has a range of hotels, right there within walking distance to the shopping area, and it’s where pretty much everybody goes to eat at night. It gets very busy and popular, so being able to walk to that is very handy.

“However, the bad thing about that, or something you have to trade off, is that only one of the hotels offers a free breakfast; all the others you have to pay for. So I might get a hotel for around $100 (£74.71) per night, but will then have to pay for breakfast, which is $28 (£20.92), along with paying for parking, which can be around $25 (£18.68) and a resort fee of around $40 (£29.88).

“So it can literally double the price of what I thought I was going to pay. Disney Springs area is great, but you’ve got those little hidden fees.”

Mark documents his many trips to Walt Disney World Resort on his website, DDadBudget, with various pieces of advice to fellow fans.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

After devouring 13 series and over a decade of Love Island, one glaring problem has become clear: Each series there is a female villain, pitted against the others… but who is really to blame?

Love Island is almost over and with that, the 2026 summer of love (or influencers building their brand in a Spanish villa) has come to an end. Every time it happens, I am left devastated by the loss of the ITV2 show, despite complaining to anyone who would listen about how angry that year’s season made me.

My love for the show and the bereavement I feel when its gone has not only had me going back and watching the seasons I was too young to watch the first time, but had me watching them again and again. One thing has become clear – our female villains are often born when men misstep and aren’t allowed to bounce back in the same way.

We keep entering an era where our bad girls are pitted against each other until they are relegated to the depths of obscurity after the show ends and not even allowed to be iconic anymore.

Yes, these woman’s actions are often undeniably bad. But compared to those of the men around them, who get redemption arcs, huge social media followings and get to continue working within the Love Island world, the women’s punishments rise to the top of villain lists seem unbefitting of their crimes. To illustrate my point, here is a timeline of the seasons and who their biggest villains are…

Series 1 – Naomi Ball

Bombshell Naomi is largely considered the biggest villain from the first series that aired when Love Island was rebooted. She was sharp-tongued and her confrontations with Jess Hayes were one of the reasons the latter girl won the series with Max Morley.

Her intense rivalry with Jess was was fuelled by a love triangle between the two and Josh Ritchie, especially when Josh dumped Naomi for not being willing to sleep with him.

He then brazenly asked: “Do I now carry on with Jess, get my end away, have a good three-weeks sh*gging, or do I start something with Naomi, where something can be long term and something maybe outside of the villa but not have sex, not have as much of a laugh? It’s a genuine penis/head dilemma.”

With a love interest like that, who needs enemies? Though Naomi still consistently crops up as the Villain of Series One, Josh has gone on to redeem himself on All Stars.

Series 2 – Olivia Buckland

Thankfully, Olivia is now mostly beloved, but for years after her series was released, she was painted by fans as manipulative and mean. She was blamed for Javi Shephard and Dan Lukakis fighting over her, even though that’s the nature of the game. She was blamed for hurting Dan when Terry Walsh came along, even though they’d only known each other three days by that point.

Worst of all, she was blamed for sleeping with Rykard Jenkins when he was getting close to Rachel Fenton, when it was Rykard who was pursuing a relationship, not Olivia. Olivia was not only free from any romantic attachments, she was in a couple with Rykard.

Olivia was able to regroup and rebuild after Love Island, especially since she and now husband Alex Bowen stayed together. The same cannot be said for all the women on this list.

Series 3 – Jonny Mitchell

Series three is the first where our main villain is a man. Jonny arrived on day four and was in a couple with Camilla Thurlow for most of his time on the show. Whilst in a couple, he clashed with Camilla, telling her that he thought feminists “believe in inequality” and would feel emasculated if a woman tried to pay on a date.

Jonny then went on to make Camilla cry by dumping her for Tyla Carr – and he wasn’t even going to be honest about it. Very manly, macho Jonny was too chicken to be upfront and instead decided to try and do a gradual fade out instead, until he was forced to fess up by Dom Lever. And yet, while Naomi never got her redemption and Olivia had to wait until after the show, Jonny ended his run on the series on good terms with everyone.

Series 4 – Adam Collard and Megan Barton-Hanson

Love Island has never known a villain like Adam Collard. He moved from girl to girl to girl and blamed some of them for “pushing him away” and into the arms of another. When he accused Rosie Williams of being jealous of his connection with Zara McDermott, he smirked as she cried in front of him and Women’s Aid came out with a statement against him.

Despite Adam sparking a huge national conversation about gaslighting, he was brought back for series eight, in which he was given the opportunity to prove himself a good guy after all.

Meanwhile, Megan, who also moved from guy to guy but without gaslighting them, was also labelled a villain and constantly shamed by the public for her career as a stripper.

Series 5 – Michael Griffiths

Michael is another instant where the villain ultimately crowned the winner. Prior to coming back from Casa Amor with another girl, his partner Amber Gill wasn’t viewed favourably by the public. But when he not only played away at Casa but then started calling her “childish” for being upset, Michael became the bad guy and Amber became a champion.

Since the show ended, Michael has gone down in history as one of the most iconic islanders. He spawned the ‘Destiny’s Childish’ memes, in which people who seem like players on the show are all put in a group with Michael. It’s helped him get roles on Celebrity Ex on the Beach, Eating with my Ex and MTV’s Living the Dream. He has been rewarded for his actions, in a way the women on this list rarely are.

Series 6 – Connor Durman and Rebecca Gormley

Connor had everyone talking during the first winter Love Island with his rather questionable behaviour. To the shock of his partner Sophie Piper, he bragged about having a threesome with a girl and her housemate after a first date in a game of Truth or Lie. When Sophie made a joke about it, Connor then folded his arms and backed away, telling a confused-looking Sophie “You hate me tonight. You’re hating me.”

And when she tried to keep things light, he angrily insisted, “You’re digging me out already, you are,” leaving fans begging her to head for the hills. Despite this, its Rebecca that fans remember as a villain. She a rivalry with Siannise Fudge over her interest in Luke Trotman, a storyline that is not uncommon on this show and yet was enough to make Rebecca a villain.

Series 7 – Faye Winter

Faye has received the most Love Island complaints in the show’s history after yelling at Teddy Soares. The argument followed the first ever Movie Night, in which Teddy was seen having a flirty exchange during Casa Amor.

The public knew the clips were taken out of context and that Teddy had been faithful to Faye. 25,000 complaints were made to Ofcom and Faye’s family had to release a statement, reminding the public that the show was edited for entertainment.

Faye received online abuse and death threats after the incident. What makes it so infuriating is that much of the public were angry with Faye for reacting to Teddy’s actions as they knew the clip was taken out of context and fumed that she should have known he was a good guy. To summarise: Fans who knew what Faye had seen wasn’t the whole truth were angry with her for reacting to it rather than those who took the clips out of context.

Series 8 – Tasha Ghouri

Tasha’s series was largely defined by both Islanders and the public deciding she was stringing her partner Andrew Le Page along. She was subjected to constant online vitriol about how she was just waiting around for someone else to sweep her off her feet, and using Andrew to stay safe.

Yet when it came to Casa, it was Andrew who played away. “I licked her t*t, or whatever,” he told Tasha after being forced to come clean about his bedroom antics with Coco Lodge. Notably, Andrew wasn’t as hated for actually doing something as Tasha was for what people thought she wanted to.

Series 9 – Olivia Hawkins

Olivia was branded as a villain after clashing with several islanders, particularly those she had coupled up with before like Kai Fagan and Tom Clare. She was branded as messy and a hypocrite for being upset with Kai for recoupling in Casa, even though she’d done the same.

By the time she joined series two of All Stars, Olivia was so known as a villain that she had to hit back at the title, telling the Mirror that she thought it was “tiring”. She was called a bad guy again when she clashed with Grace Jackson, catching heat despite no longer being on the show anymore. She has since seemed to prefer sticking to a quiet life away from reality TV and I’m not sure anyone can blame her.

Series 10 – Molly Marsh

Molly was villainised after being honest with partner Mitch Taylor. Her crime was telling him that she wanted to talk to other people just days into knowing each other. From then, both Mitch and Jess Harding accused her of using him and being two-faced… despite the fact that she’d been upfront about her feelings.

This was the start of the Love Island “divides”. In series since, we’ve seen time and time again how there is a divide among the girls as they are pitted against each other by the men and form two camps. This time it was Molly vs Jess, a battle that Jess ultimately won, as she won the whole series.

The hate Molly received has since been viewed as unwarranted, and Molly has faded into the background of many Love Island conversations, while Mitch, whose behaviour towards Molly was very possessive, has become one of the show’s icons.

Series 11 – Harriett Blackmore

Harriett Blackmore, much like Olivia Hawkins, was labelled a villain and a drama queen when she clashed with Ciaran Davies. But why did they clash? Well, just before, Harriett had told Ciaran, whom she had been coupled up with since the start, that he was her top boy.

After that, he took Nicole Samuel to the Hideaway, leaving Harriett in tears. Was Ciaran a bad guy for this? Of course not! Our sweet Welshman made it to the final of the show.

Series 12 – Meg Moore and Helena Ford

This was a season filled with villains. Meg Moore and Helena Ford were two of the biggest, with fans slamming Meg for her rude and aggressive attitude towards girls her partner Dejon Noel-Williams was talking to and Helena for constantly going after boys Shakira Kahn and Toni Laites were talking to.

Though neither behaved well, Meg’s behaviour often came amid Dejon telling her that the girls were obsessed with him and that he wasn’t open to getting to know them, even though he was. Similarly, Helena’s came as Harry Cooksley and Harrison Solomon both told her that she was their number one.

The behaviour of all three men caught the attention of the public, who slammed them as toxic. Dejon undeniably came off the worst and seems to have shrunk back from the limelight, but despite this, the season became about the divide between the girls. It was defined by Shakira and Toni’s camp vs Meg and Helena’s.

Helena did appear on All Stars, hoping for a redemption. So did Harrison, even though Women’s Aid had put out a statement about his behaviour. Since both shows, Helena and Meg have faded away, while Harrison and Harry have both gained a huge social media following for their Love Island commentary.

Series 13 – Every woman on the show

Then we have series 13. In this series, pretty much every woman has been villainised at some point, often when a man was also involved and received much less hate.

Priya Jaswal was demonised for saying Samraj Toor’s behaviour was “pathetic”, even though he was also attacking her and never apologised. Jasmine Muller was hated on for her interactions with Kavan Murphy, when his brother Aidan kept stirring the pot and again when it was Kavan who brought someone else back from Casa Amor.

Lola Deal and Julia Majchrzak have both received hate amid their feud, which was all started by Sean Fitzgerald’s conversations with people in Casa Amor. Elicia Chadwick has also been on the public’s bad side for her reaction to Aidan picking Priya, despite him having kissed his way up her body while on their date.

Even former Islanders turned debriefers Shakira, Toni and Yasmin Pettet have received more hate this season than the men on the show. And if this doesn’t summarise the modern divide between men and women, I don’t know what does. Men think they can get away with anything, while women have to micromanage every emotion so as not to come off wrong.

No wonder, when men’s bad behaviour is caught on camera and still excused, while the slightest comment or odd look from a woman is enough to make her the nation’s most hated.

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Michelle Baker has lived in Benidorm for most of her life and the Brit has now opened up about a new scam that targets female tourists in the Spanish holiday hotspot

A British mum who has called Benidorm home for over 42 years has warned holidaymakers about a new scam that targets women.

Michelle Baker is married to a Spaniard and she has raised their children in the popular resort where she used to run a newspaper for Brits. However, she now keeps travellers updated by sharing tips and information on her Benidormforever Facebook page.

But her most recent post was a more serious one. Sh explained: “Statistically Benidorm is a very safe resort, however, like any busy city there are opportunists waiting to rob you.”

She then said to follow the obvious precautions like keeping your valuables close and your suitcase in sight — before naming the scams actively taking place this summer.

New scam

Michelle labelled this scam the “selfie steal” and she explained: “This is a new one and targets women mostly. A couple asks you to take a photo… they’re all smiles and overly friendly… then they ask you to get into their selfie.”

The Benidorm expert advised that this was the point where you must decline — before explaining the dangers of not doing so.

She continued: “Once up close they’ll deftly grab your goodies, purse, phone watch and jewellery and you won’t feel a thing.”

Phone theft

She said phone theft was the “number one crime” in Benidorm at the moment and that modern smartphones are being sold for significant prices on the black market, especially if they are unlocked.

Michelle warned that distracting tactics were used to make the crime non-violent and painless and that most are simply swiped from tables.

However, she warned: “But recently thieves are getting smarter; they want your phone unlocked so typically they’ll approach you while you’re scrolling and tell you they are lost and ask to use Google Maps on your phone.”

She said never to hand your phone over and that thieves will take it quickly before passing it on to someone in a waiting car who will change your password, spend your money and ultimately ruin your trip.

‘The Peamen’

The mum said this was the most famous scam that has been going on for years in Benidorm and despite being so well known, she said people still fall for it.

It involves a man hiding a pea under a cup, moving the cups around, and then encouraging you to bet on which one contains the pea.

A couple (who are playing and in on the scam) win and because you can see where it is you then take a risk. According to Michelle, you will then win the first round before losing the rest.

She added: “They won’t let you get away until you’re skint and you’ll find it very intimidating and scary… just walk on by.”

‘Mugger Huggers’

This one targets men, and involves an attractive woman walking up to you and asking whether she knows you, before extending her arms out for a hug.

If you hug her back, she will have your phone and wallet in a flash, and you will often not notice until she is gone.

Michelle said there was an extended version to this sinister scam depending on how drunk you are where the woman will offer to come back to your room.

“She’ll drug you and clear you out of everything of any value and you won’t be the first or the last,” Michelle added.

Michelle has lived in Benidorm for most of her life and said she was always willing to share the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly.

However, in a message to Brits flying over this summer, she added: “I don’t want to scare you as Benidorm is really very safe.”

She added that people on holiday often let their guard down and it was better to be aware of the above scams before the holiday even begins.

Jon Bon Jovi’s “Forever” tour stop was cut short after the singer said he needed to cool it.

Nearing the end of his nine-show residency at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, the 64-year-old rock icon apologized to fans when he had to pull the plug nearly an hour early.

Just before launching into “Livin’ on a Prayer,” he told the audience in a raspy voice, “I am the most grateful man in the world right now because I know I’m letting you down, and it’s not like me to do that. I feel f— great, but I’m gonna do one more song. I’m gonna need your help. I might have to cool it because I’m f— hurt.”

He performed the 1986 megahit, with the audience belting the chorus in his place toward the end. Bon Jovi then said, “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go. Stay tuned.”

“I’ve got to cool it,” he continued. “It’s just not going to get any better. Don’t throw away your ticket stubs. I’m gonna figure something out, OK? Just hold onto it, we’ll figure out how to reschedule.”

Bon Jovi embraced his band mates in a group hug before heading off stage.

Representatives for the “Bad Medicine” rocker told The Times that the concert ran for 90 minutes before ending.

“Jon Bon Jovi spoke from stage and told fans he has been battling a sinus infection, which led to the show’s early ending,” the statement continued. “As part of the Bon Jovi residency at Madison Square Garden, Jon has said numerous times that it has been a joy to return to live shows for the band.”

Bon Jovi’s “Forever” tour is the first since the namesake frontman had surgery to repair a vocal cord injury in 2022.

The tour kicked off July 7 at the New York City venue and then will head overseas for a series of international stadium dates, including stops at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on Aug. 28, Croke Park in Dublin on Aug. 30, and a three-night stand at Wembley Stadium in London on Sept. 4, 6 and 9.

In 2024, Bon Jovi spoke on a Hulu panel in support of his docuseries “Thank You, Goodnight” and revealed that one of his vocal cords was “atrophying.”

“I pride myself on having been a true vocalist,” the musician said. “I’ve sung with Pavarotti. I know how to sing. I’ve studied the craft for 40 years. I’m not a stylist who just barks and howls. I know how to sing.”

“So when God was taking away my ability, and I couldn’t understand why — I jokingly have said the only thing that’s ever been up my nose is my finger — you know, so there’s no reason for any of this,” he added.

The same year, he told The Times that his voice was a “work in progress.”

“I’m an athlete coming back from an injury — Kobe Bryant with his Achilles torn off. Before I got on the plane this morning, I was at vocal therapy. The goal is 2½ hours a night, four nights a week,” he said.

In June, he told People that he was fully recovered. “It was longer than I’d ever expected, but it had to be right. We never lost faith.”

NOT many things are more rewarding than the first gulp of a crisp, cold pint on a sunny day.

And it’s even better when that pint only sets you back £1.69 – less than the price of the £1.80 bus ticket getting you there.

We all know Wetherspoons is home to some of the cheapest pints in the UK – but unless you want a Worthington’s Creamflow Ale or Ruddles, you’ll be paying more.

But I recently headed to one of the UK’s most famous seaside towns of Blackpool.

And lo and behold, not long after arriving, I had a pint in hand that claims to be the cheapest in the entire country.

The Ardwick sits a road back from the main promenade in Blackpool, not far from all the main sights including Blackpool Tower and the three piers.

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You can pick up a cold crisp pint of John Smith’s, Foster’s, Strongbow and Murphy’s all day long on Thursdays for the tiny price of £1.69.

That’s less than the price of a bus ticket from the train station to the pub which costs £1.80.

Even if you visit on a different day of the week, the pint will only set you back £1.90 – still a steal.

Sipping on my John Smith’s, I somewhat expected it to be lukewarm and not the nicest, but it was one of the coolest pints I had.

The average price of a pint in the UK today is around £5.50, soaring past £6.50 in the capital.

The Ardwick’s Thursday prices are actually more in line with what you’d spend on a pint three decades ago.

The average price of a pint of beer in the UK in 1996 cost between £1.68 and £1.73.

And it’s not just the prices that are a throwback to the 90s…

Classic pub betting machines and dartboards lined the walls of the drinking establishment and the carpet has a nostalgic paisley pattern straight out of your gran’s living room.

It even has the odd historic stain here and there.

The traditional wooden bar is stacked with spirits too.

You’ll also find a number of TV screens around the pub broadcasting live sports and a pool table for a bit of competitive fun.

And if you want to soak up the sunshine, you can head to the outdoor beer garden.

Though, you’ll have to head elsewhere for food as the boozer doesn’t serve any grub apart from behind-the-bar packets of crisps.

But with plenty of spots nearby serving chips for under a fiver, you could spend less than a tenner on your day out.

Overall, the watering hole has the classic pub vibe with chatty locals and football fans glued to the match being broadcast on the screens.

Though, if you prefer a bar vibe and happen to not be visiting on a Thursday and want to pay less than £1.90, head to Tommy Cutler’s just a one-minute walk away where you can grab a pint for £1.75.

After enjoying your pint, make sure to head to Blackpool Beach which stretches on for miles and features golden sand.

It is a great beach for the family to enjoy a day building sandcastles or even heading for a swim, and thanks to being so big, even when it is busy there is plenty of space.

A travel enthusiast who has been to airports around the world claims that one in Europe is the hub he’d never want to fly through again, despite it being named the best in the continent

A college student who has visited over 60 countries, passing through 90 airports along the way, has revealed his list of the five worst places to fly.

Theo, who posts as theoandtheglobe on TikTok, is a 22-year-old travel enthusiast who has made hundreds of videos documenting his trips, racking up over 47,800 followers on the platform in the process. But despite his deep love of travel, there are certain airports he would avoid in the future.

And topping his list is an airport that’s a major hub in Europe, with many Brits passing through to visit the City of Love or just to catch connecting flights. Theo started his list with: “First, Charles de Gaulle. CDG in Paris. I mean, pretty obvious and easy. It’s just a super chaotic airport, really inconvenient to fly through, and not fun.”

Theo’s comments come despite the Parisian hub being named the Best Airport in Europe in the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards. The airport gets mixed reviews online. One passenger said: “CDG airport is located in the suburbs of Paris. Despite being one of Europe’s busiest transportation hubs, I found it a bit weird. Immigration and customs procedures are manual and there are few counters, resulting in long wait times.”

But one happy traveller wrote: “I’ve travelled quite a bit to many airports and this one has to be the largest. It’s quite beautiful for the most part with impressive architectural features, various well-thought-out amenities, and shops and restaurants all over the place.”

Theo continued his list of airports that left him unimpressed, saying: “Second is Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Super far from the city, terrible location, and the way they do security is the worst of any airport I go through, I’ve been through or flown through.

“It’s literally like, they do security at the start of a set of 10 gates, but there’s only one person working at the security. The person in front of me brought a full bottle of water and it took like 10 minutes, and I almost missed my flight. A very weird, inconvenient way to do security.”

“Third is Hong Kong. This airport is too reliant on modern technology. If you have a problem with your passport or boarding pass or anything, you have to wait way too long to see [a person]. There’s basically no employees here. It’s just kinda like a giant modern building, that happens to be an airport, and there’s no one working there.”

Continuing his list, Theo put Delhi fourth.

“This is for two reasons. Delhi actually is a really nice building and a really nice airport, but the two reasons are they check your documents outside of the airport. And it’s actual soldiers. I know it’s their job, but why are they holding freaking AK-47s? Why are they checking my documents to get into the airport? Pretty ridiculous.”

He added: “And the second reason is to go through security. You need to take out every single wire. You need to take out all your phone chargers, all your portable chargers, all your AirPods. It’s everything. It’s ridiculous if I’m being honest and security takes way too long.”

He finished his list by saying: “Last but not least is Bogota airport, and this airport is just not prepared for the people it gets. Avianca makes it a big hub of people transiting through from North America to South America. And you can tell the airport is just not meant or built for that at all. It’s a pretty bad building in my opinion.”

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

AS the Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, I’ve certainly racked up the countries, hitting 60 this year.

This has included some insanely beautiful islands along the way, some of which you might not have heard of.

When it comes to island holidays, there is a strict criteria I always look for.

Stunning beaches and beautiful blue waters are obviously a must.

However, I also want a mix of relaxation and adventure, not just one or the other – after all, I want my hiking offset with a sunlounger cocktail.

So here are my top 11 picks I think everyone should visit, ranging from established Spanish islands to barely-known ones further afield.

Holbox

While Tulum and Cancun are great holiday destinations in Mexico, let me pitch you Isla Holbox. It’s a two-hour bus from the airport, followed by a quick ferry ride – but it is worth the trip.

Expect no cars, only golf buggies, people playing live music and dancing into the night and brightly graffitied coffee shops and taco stands.

White sandy beaches, palm trees and slightly dodgy electricity… but it truly makes you feel like you’re a million miles away from the world.

You can get some insanely beautiful hotels to stay in for really cheap as well – try Alcobas Del Mar which is from £30 a night, with an indoor pool. Flights to Cancun start from £507 return.

Tenerife

Sometimes, all you want is a beautiful fly and flop hotel resort – enter Tenerife.

Of course, the Spanish island has its iconic Siam waterpark, named the best in the world for years, its volcanic beaches and crazy Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival every year.

But I went there to celebrate in style for my 30th, and was sold by the pink Ritz Carlton Abama hotel (complete with a hidden beach you can only get to by land train).

I never left thanks to its Villa Ambassadors who are on call for your every need, from better pillows to booking massages.

If you’re looking for that hallowed 1 euro holiday pint you’ll be searching for a while as most of the cheap bars have put their prices up to a minimum of 1.50 (£1.30) euros a pint now – to find these deals, head to the strip in Los Cristianos, Playa De Las Americas and Costa Adeje.

Not every holiday has to be an adventure, and I came away being so relaxed I almost missed my flight back. Deals can be found for £839 each for a seven-night and flight package, via loveholidays.

Mauritius

If you asked me where the best sunsets are found in the world, I’d say Mauritius, an African island which had gorgeous bright pink skies every night.

Yet I was transported to Dubai thanks to the hotel rooftop infinity pools, Bora Bora from the thatched lobbies and Maldives for its overwater restaurants. That’s before exploring the beautiful history via L’Aventure du Sucre, and some rum cocktails at the beach bars….

It’s the kind of island where you never want to leave your resort, with friendly locals always cracking jokes as you laze by the pool.

You can fly directly there with Air Mauritius from £536 return, while you can easily find seven-night package holidays for under £1,000pp.

Ria Formosa

Don’t overlook Faro as a holiday destination, despite it being the gateway to the Algarve – it is home to some tiny, crowd-free islands in Ria Formosa, that only locals know about.

Ilha Deserta is just a few euros and 20 minutes by boat, where its golden sands are compared to the Caribbean of Portugal. The only thing on it? The fabulous Estamine restaurant, serving fresh fish and local wine.

Or there is Isla Armona, with a few more local houses and cafes, and is just as quiet to visit, along with islands Cabanas, Culatra and Tavira.

You’ll have to stay back on the mainland, with Faro hotels from around £80 a night. Flights to Faro start from £30 return with Ryanair.

Naifaru

At this point, the Maldives is on everyone’s bucket list, but there is a way to see the real side of the country, outside of the resorts.

I went on a day trip to Naifaru, where I met rehabilitated turtles at Atoll Marine Center that were injured from boats, as well as learned more about the local way of life from the people themselves.

Of course, if you want luxury you have a lot of options on nearby islands – if you want a larger, more established resort, opt for Atmosphere Kanifushi, while a smaller and more intimate resort is something like VARU by Atmosphere.

Deals for the Maldives are insanely cheap right now – loveholidays has some for as little as £1,179pp for a seven-night and return flight package.

Crete

Trying to name the best Greek island when there are hundreds to choose from seems like an impossible task. But the largest of them all sold itself as the perfect places for both couples and families.

I explored two sides of Crete, with Numo Ierapetra going up there as one of my favourite hotels. Adults-only, live DJ pool sessions, quiet beach and fantastic breakfast buffet – all boxes ticked.

Or head to the other side of the island and swap Chania for the Venetian city of Rethimno, where I hopped between cafes and trendy shops, as well as the tiny village of Margarites known for its ceramics.

Flights to Crete with easyJet are around £56 return, while stays at Numo Ierapetra start from £137 a night.

Sri Lanka

Mix palm-tree lined beaches with the best cup of tea in the world, and you’ll find Sri Lanka. It’s the size of Ireland, so it’s easy to get around, but with an insane amount of things to do.

Catch some waves at Weligama Beach, followed by an elephant safari in Yala, ending on some of the best – albeit spicy – curries of your life. Make sure to spark up a conversation with the locals, where it won’t take long to get onto the topic of cricket.

Hotels are crazy cheap – as little as £25 a night – but it has some of the world’s best hotels for a relatively reasonable price given the quality, like Jetwing Vil Uyana (from £271) or Cape Weligama (from £364).

Or keep it simple with a package deal with On The Beach from £870pp.

St Kitts

If you like hiking volcanos, paragliding in bright blue waters and ziplines through the jungle – St Kitts is the island for you.

Adventure tourism is a huge thing here. Think horse riding, jet skis, snorkelling and buggy rentals, which are the tip of the iceberg of what you can do there.

Although it still has its beautiful beach bars serving cheap cocktails and tasty lobster, alongside live reggae music.

Even better? You can fly there directly with British Airways, with return flights from £420pp. Hotels start from £68 a night, although most tend to sit around £100-£140.

Iceland

Sometimes you don’t want a sweaty, overly-hot holiday – which is where Iceland comes in. Even as a hot-weather girly, I was left in awe of the island’s natural landscape.

I spent my mornings in the famous Blue Lagoon, before getting cosy with a hot chocolate in front of my hotel fire.

Crazy geysers, rocky road trips, Northern Lights – it felt like I was going back in time to a more basic, rural way of living.

You can do it on a budget if you know where to look. Icelandair have a “Just the Basics” package trip from £421 which is return flights and two nights at a hotel.

Puerto Rico

If there is one island that surprised me in how much I loved it, it was Puerto Rico. While it’s popular with Americans, Brits often overlook it as a holiday destination, most likely because it requires a stopover flight.

It was a fascinating mix of American and Caribbean culture, where Medalla Light Beers were just £2.50 chased by great-value pork sandwiches to soak it all up. A tour of the Casa Barcardi distillery includes a lot of cocktails along the way too…

Definitely get a boat trip to Flamenco Beach, frequently classed as one of the best in the world, with the unique feature of a WW2 US army tank stranded on the shoreline, as well as a visit to El Yunque National Forest to see the glowing bioluminescent waters.

Don’t expect super cheap hotels, but you can find some guesthouses for under £100 a night. Return flights start from £610.

Turks & Caicos

Turks & Caicos is no longer as easy to get to, after Virgin Atlantic scrapped flights there – but it is 100 per cent worth the trip.

It’s a place for lazy days spent at resorts. All I did was explore sunrises on Grace Bay (another world’s best beach), kayak in glass-bottomed boats alongside chilled turtles, and drink alcohol on floating pontoons.

Don’t even try to compare it to its nearby neighbours of Jamaica and Barbados – it feels worlds away when it comes to the paradisical island.

Seven-night holidays start from £1,159pp with loveholidays.

Vernon Kay said he’s “loved working” on BBC Radio 2 as he jokingly started thinking about his exit from the broadcaster, after an on-air blunder led to him uttering a rude word by mistake

Vernon Kay said he’s “loved working” on BBC Radio 2 after an awkward mishap led to a warning from his colleague. His gaffe could be heard on yesterday’s broadcast of his mid-morning BBC Radio 2 show (July 14), as he revealed the contents of a message regarding a particular brand of footwear.

As he read it out, “Crocs” came out sounding uncomfortably close to a very different word, which would be inappropriate to utter on the airwaves, and the result was an immediate on-air .

Reading the message aloud, Vernon said: “Hey, Vern. I wear Crocs with socks. And they’re proper, not proper c***s…Crocs”, in a gaffe that sent the studio into fits of laughter.

He continued: “Oh, clip that. Clip that. I want that on my…not my highlights, my lowlights”. Barely able to contain his laughter, Vernon pressed on: “I hope you have got proper…Crocs, cos if you’ve not got proper Crocs, then you’re gonna be in trouble.”

His co-star, BBC Radio 2’s travel news presenter Ellie Brennan, mischievously cautioned: “You are gonna be in trouble.” Vernon then quipped: “I hope my Crocs work cos at our age, you never know.” As the hilarity ensued, his colleague chimed in with “especially with socks on”.

Vernon cheekily fired back: “No, keep your socks on; it’s safer.” As the pair struggled to get the show back on track, he jested: “I’ve loved working here. Thanks very much. Had a great time.”

The radio mishap also follows fresh attention on Vernon’s personal life after Tess Daly was photographed at the Wimbledon final wearing her wedding rings, despite the pair recently confirming their separation.

Their split was made public in May, with the TV stars clarifying that there’s no bad blood between them.

Back in September 2003, Vernon and Tess married at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Horwich. They’ve since had two daughters — Phoebe and Amber — and confirmed via Instagram that they’ve decided to split, saying the separation is amicable.

The statement read: “After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.”

It continued: “This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us.

“We remain great friends and most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.

“There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together.” The pair signed off by saying they wouldn’t be saying anything else publicly.

But on Sunday (July 12), Tess was spotted arriving at the All England Lawn Tennis Club for Wimbledon, where she was her still wearing her rings despite the sad news.

ONE travel expert who has lived in 25 different countries has revealed the one destination that trumps them all.

The Turquoise Coast in Turkey has it all from year-round sunshine to cheap hotels with huge swimming pools, and plenty of restaurants.

Gary Cook, a TUI retail agent, explained: “I’ve worked everywhere, but I keep coming back to Turkey – particularly the Antalya region and Marmaris on the Turquoise Coast.”

He’s racked up 17 trips to Turkey since working in Marmaris over 30 years ago.

“It’s got everything you might want – stunning beaches, such as the Turunc Beach, incredible history, amazing food.

“With an amazing selection of all-inclusive resorts, you can enjoy the views, sip on a cocktail and not have to worry about paying extra while you’re there.”

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It’s no secret that the Turquoise Coast with destinations like Marmaris and Antalya is a hit with Brits thanks to its cheap prices and short four-hour flight from the UK.

While Antalya has golden sands and is famous for its huge waterpark, The Land of Legends Theme Park, Gary really recommends Marmaris.

Gary added: “Marmaris offers a completely different vibe – a large beach dotted with bars and restaurants.

“A promenade stretching down to the old town with its markets and bazaars, plus a cosmopolitan harbour. The bay is absolutely stunning, especially at sunrise.”

When it comes to where to eat out, Gary recommends Nil, a fish restaurant on the Marina or Mehmet Ocakbasi for authentic Turkish food.

When it comes to shopping, the newly renovated Marmaris Bazaar is the place to be.

When it comes to booking, you don’t have to wait until the summer seasons as Gary explains that “even the winters are mild”.

“Whether you want to go in the school holidays or off-season, you are sure to get your fix of sun.”

Although the season runs from April through to October, Gary calls it a year-round destination with mild winters.

While it’s not necessarily ‘hot’ in the months of November to March, it can still see highs of 17C – much warmer than it is in the UK.

Gary even has hotel suggestions, including some of his favourites.

TUI BLUE Side

Found in Antalya, the TUI BLUE Side has a huge swimming pool, three restaurants, and five bars.

Gary said: “This adults-only hotel is smaller and modern with loads of activities. The pool area has luxury sunbeds spread, and there is a beautiful sandy beach club and jetty.

“Hop on a local bus to Side’s historical centre where you’ll find the Temple of Apollo – one of those rare places where time seems to pause, set dramatically at the edge of the Mediterranean.”

A seven-night trip to TUI BLUE Side can be booked from £632pp – or £90pppn.

Trendy Lara

With its big swimming pool, plenty of waterslides and evening entertainment – the Trendy Lara is an ideal family destination.

Gary describes it as a “modern hotel” with a “great selection of restaurants, pools and activities for all ages”.

Lara Beach is also right on your doorstep.

A family of four heading abroad during the school holidays in August 2027 for a seven-night stay can book the Trendy Lara from £1,327pp – or £189pppn.

Liberty Lara

The Antalya hotel sits right by a beach – it comes with a few pools, a private pier and has plenty of food and drink spots.

Gary calls it a “beautiful hotel, with the most amazing service and food.”

It’s close to Lara Beach and is in a great central location perfect for exploring.

An all-inclusive seven-night break for two at the Liberty Lara can be booked from £530pp – or £76pppn.

TUI BLUE Grand Azur

Found in Marmaris, this hotel is another by the beach with a promenade just a short walk away.

It has a freshwater pool surrounded by sunloungers as well as a tennis court, and fitness classes.

Gary confessed it’s his “absolute favourite hotel in Turkey” with great customer service and a private beach.

An all-inclusive seven-night stay at the TUI BLUE Grand Azur starts from £615pp – or £87.85ppn.

Vernon Kay and close friend Paddy McGuinness appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox together on Friday night

A Celebrity Gogglebox star opened up about his health condition on Friday’s episode.

Vernon Kay revealed that he suffers from a foot condition that is a “massive issue” for him. The star opened up about his health condition during Friday’s (July 10) episode of the Channel 4 hit show as he returned to our TV screens alongside his close friend Paddy McGuinness.

Just moments before sharing their hilarious reactions to the week’s top TV shows and films, Vernon announced that he suffers from Morton’s neuroma, a nerve disorder that impacts the third and fourth toes.

According to the NHS, the condition involves a “thickening of tissue” surrounding a nerve in the foot. It typically causes a sharp, burning pain in the ball of the foot, often with tingling or numbness in the toes.

Some sufferers report feeling like they are constantly treading on a small pebble. Speaking to Paddy, he said: “I’ve got a massive issue with my left one [toe].”

The BBC Radio 2 presenter then revealed: “I’ve got Morton’s neuroma, I can’t feel my left toe. All the nerve endings on my toes – I can’t feel my toes.”

Paddy was in disbelief as he pointed to Vernon’s toe and asked: “What, that one?” Vernon lifted his leg and replied: “Yeah, squeeze as hard as you can.”

Paddy was keen to find out if Vernon really couldn’t feel pain in his feet as he squeezed Vernon’s toes as hard as he could.

Turning to his close pal Vernon, who didn’t flinch, Paddy asked: “You can’t feel that?” Vernon confirmed: “Nope. Nothing.”

While Morton’s neuroma can often be eased by resting or taking ibuprofen, some people may need to see their GP or a foot specialist. Vernon previously stumbled upon a foot specialist at a local service station by chance.

Speaking on his Radio 2 show, he revealed: “So yesterday I was at the services, I was charging the electric car, and I was struggling a little bit with the machine that actually does it, I was faffing around.

“There’s no instructions, it just assumes that you know how to do it, and I didn’t. I didn’t know how to pay, I didn’t know how to get it started.

“Anyway, we got there in the end and this gentleman who was parked in the bay next door to my car wound down his window and said, ‘Hi Vernon,’ I said, ‘How are you?’ We shook hands, he said, ‘You alright there? You struggling?’ I said, ‘A little bit, I think it’s working now’.

“When we said that it went [buzzing noise] and then it started to charge my car. We got chatting away, ‘Where you going? Blah blah blah.’ Said, ‘I’m going just down the road but I’ve run out of energy so I’m just topping up my car’. ‘Brilliant, what do you do for a living?’ ‘I’m a foot specialist’”.

Celebrity Gogglebox airs Friday nights from 9pm on Channel 4.

Rebekah sold her car and put all her clothes on Vinted to raise enough for an open-ended trip

A woman saved £18,000 in just seven months to travel the world – by selling her wardrobe on Vinted. Rebekah Swatton, 26, has spent the past seven months aggressively saving for an open-ended trip abroad after a previous journey forced her to rethink her relationship with money and possessions.

Her outlook on life changed dramatically after the sudden death of her boyfriend from a cardiac arrest five years ago, an experience she says made her realise that “nothing in life is certain”. Last March, she embarked on a six-month backpacking adventure across Australia, Africa, and Asia, taking a sabbatical from her job at Lloyds Banking Group.

But when she returned to the UK in September, she says she was struck by how little she actually needed the possessions waiting for her at home. That realisation sparked a drastic lifestyle change.

Rebekah sold her car, worked up to 20 hours of overtime each week and cleared out the majority of her wardrobe on Vinted – ultimately building up savings of £18,000 for her next trip to South America. Rebekah, from Powick, Worcestershire, said: “I had been away for so long that when I came back I realised I had been living without any of these extra material things happier than I was living with them.”

Rebekah began saving in 2022 following the sudden death of her boyfriend of six months, who passed away from an undiagnosed underlying heart condition. Rebekah said: “It really made me wake up and I felt that nothing is certain going forwards. I’d gone straight from college into career mode without thinking.

“I’d always said I wanted to travel and this really catalysed my first trip, as I want to live my life to the fullest.”

Last March, Rebekah set off on a six-month backpacking adventure, travelling through Australia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya, and Tanzania. When she returned, Rebekah decided to completely change the direction of her life and pursue travelling full time.

She said: “It was such an amazing time. I really enjoyed feeling free and experiencing new things each day. But once I got back and realised I wanted a change, I decided next time I left I would leave my job permanently and not return to the UK for at least a few years.”

With that commitment in mind, Rebekah knew she would need to build up substantial savings to support herself on an open-ended trip with no fixed return date. Rebekah said: “Since I’ve been back, I’ve been living with my parents, which of course helps keep outgoings down.

“I have been working my £30,000 banking job full time plus an extra 15 to 20 hours over time each week. I sold over 200 items on Vinted, from clothing to accessories to random trinkets and also sold my car for £2,500.

“This, plus working 60 hour weeks and living with my parents, meant I saved nearly £20k for the next time I leave the country.”

Rebekah has booked a flight to Guatemala for the first week of May, with plans to travel through South America from there. She said: “I’ve planned out the first couple months of my trip with flights and loose accommodation.

“But I know over the next six months I want to travel through Guatemala, Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.”

One solo traveller who often shares tips and clips from his overseas adventures with his online followers has named the five cities he’d ‘never go back to if his life depended on it’

Many people are often looking for new places to explore if they’re planning to go travelling, whether that be alone or in a group. However, one solo traveller who says he’s been to 60 countries has advised against the places you definitely shouldn’t go – according to him.

Lucas Brancatisano, who is known as @alocalguide_ on Instagram, often shares travel tips, experiences and clips from his overseas adventures with his 6,300 followers on the site. In one of his latest reels, he named the five cities he’s visited during his travels that he’d ‘never go back to if his life depended on it’.

1. New Delhi, India

Lucas described the Indian capital as a ‘whole new level of overstimulation’, saying that there’s pollution, noise, busses, horns and cows on the road, and claims that the sky is ‘filled with smog’.

He exclaimed: “It’s not for me, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.

“The rest of India in parts is absolutely lovely, but New Delhi… not for me.”

2. León, Nicaragua

The solo traveller described León as “sweaty and dangerous at night”. Lucas said Nicaragua itself is fantastic and he had a “great time” there in 2024, but that he just didn’t enjoy going to León. “I’ll never go back,” he said.

3. Oia, Santorini

Lucas exclaimed: “This place is my definition of hell,” as he describe the holiday spot.

He added: “In summer, getting sunburnt, 1,000 selfie sticks with everyone getting the same sunset photo.

“You can just look at it online, you don’t have to go and get a photo of it.

“Don’t go there, you’ll have a really bad time.”

4. Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Lucas said he went to Phnom Penh in Cambodia “a long time ago”, but said that when he went there, all he remembers is a very built up city with lots of tyre shops and “not much going on”.

He added: “I could be wrong, and please let me know in the comment if I am wrong, because Phnom Penh maybe I would go back to.

5. Benidorm, Spain

The traveller descried Benidorm as “hell”, adding: “If you find yourself there and you’re not British, you’re in hell.

Lucas said there’s English breakfasts on every single menu there and loads of British people “rolling around”, as well as “pasty skin everywhere”, saying that it’s just “not a very nice place”.

He added: “If you’re in Spain and you’re going to Benidorm, you need tor rethink all the life choices you’ve made up to that point, because your’e in the wrong spot.”

Concluding his reel, Lucas exclaimed: “That’s my list, there’s not many I wouldn’t go back to, but they are five of them.”

Despite the post racking up more than 6,000 likes, some people had differing views.

One person wrote: “Will definitely go back to León in Nicaragua.”

While another added: “I was in Phnom Penh last year. It was very cool. Great riverside markets, river cruise, pubs and restaurants, temples. Beauty everywhere.”

A third chimed in: “I loved Oia!”

While a fourth added: “Benidorm to Brits is Cancun to Americans.”

A fifth chimed in: “Went to India, New Delhi, 10 years ago; the taxi just dropped me off in the city centre and left. I was so overwhelmed with everything going on that I sat down on the footpath and started to cry, a cow came out of nowhere and started to eat a cardboard box beside me.

“Locals stopped and started pointing at me and taking photos. Weirdest and best travel story I think I have, would I do it again? Hell ya haha.”

I’m Laurie Ochoa, general manager of L.A. Times Food, with a packed summer vacation edition of Tasting Notes.

On a roll

The sourdough-enhanced interior of the cinnamon bun at Daegens in Oslo, Norway.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Norway is not only the land of the Viking Row, one of the most captivating national fandom displays to emerge during this year’s World Cup — and certain to be seen when Erling Haaland and the Martin Ødegaard-led team battle five-time champs Brazil. Norway is also home to one of the world’s greatest cinnamon rolls.

Until I went to Oslo recently, the best cinnamon roll I’d ever eaten was in Chicago — at the venerable Swedish-American diner Ann Sather, where a milky sugar glaze used to be drizzled onto the still-warm, pillowy pastry right at the table. (These days the rolls are glazed in the kitchen after they’re baked.)

Los Angeles, of course, also has show-stopping cinnamon rolls. This spring, Food senior editor Danielle Dorsey, with help from Stephanie Breijo, Jenn Harris and Angela Osorio, put together a guide to 11 of L.A.’s most intriguing cinnamon rolls, including the hip-hop-inspired over-the-top creations at All About the Cinnamon, the sweet-savory buns with honey and sesame seeds at Modu and the tallboy “cinnamon goo”-filled rolls topped with caramel-toffee sauce from SweetBoy. Harris also recommends the especially decadent cinnamon roll served during brunch at Baltaire in Brentwood, where the cake-size roll is wheeled out on a cart and “slathered with frosting at the table.”

In Oslo, however, I discovered a cinnamon bun that stripped away the excess and let the essence of the spiced dough reveal itself.

Daegens, a tiny cafe and bakery hidden away in Oslo’s pretty Lilleborg neighborhood, is run by Anta Stinnerbom, a young entrepreneur who spent several months sharpening his coffee knowledge and barista skills at the acclaimed roastery Tim Wendelboe and is now deep into his explorations of sourdough baking. It’s the sourdough, in fact, that gives the Daegens cinnamon bun its character.

Baker and barista Anta Stinnerbom at his Daegens cafe in Oslo.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Even more than Stinnerbom’s cardamom bun — which some praise as the best in Oslo — the more elemental cinnamon notes, enhanced with lemon zest and juice, allow the sourdough’s multifaceted dimensions to come through. Not just tang, but the taste of time.

When you can’t decide between Anta Stinnerbom’s cardamom bun, front, or cinnamon bun at Daegens in Oslo … get both.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

Daegens’ BMO (bolle med ost), which the Oslo bakery makes with a good seeded sourdough roll topped with fresh butter and cheese.

(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)

The discovery of a great sourdough cinnamon bun is just one of the reasons I love to travel.

Lately, I’ve been absorbed in the world of Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard, both for his most recent novel, “The School of Night,” which features a grand-scale narcissist captured in a Faustian downfall, and for “So Much Longing in So Little Space,” which documents the author’s search for the meaning of art through his encounters with the work of Edvard Munch. At Oslo’s boldly vertical, 13-story Munch museum and Bergen’s more contemplative Munch collection at the Kode museum’s Rasmus Meyer galleries, I was able to see for myself the wild stylistic leaps taken by the artist before and after “The Scream,” including the paintings he did for the women’s cafeteria at Oslo’s Freia chocolate factory.

But it was only after the first of many good meals in Oslo that I started to get a feel for the city. As I wrote in the introduction to our new collection of summer vacation dining guides, traveling with an eater’s mindset gives us a deeper understanding of places we’ve read about in cookbooks and novels or seen in movies and paintings. Wandering markets, eating at food stalls, sitting among locals and fellow travelers at the restaurants that embody a city or its surrounding countryside … these are the ways we absorb the rhythm of a place. Its flavors and ways of living are revealed to us over dinner or even a simple morning coffee accompanied by a beautifully baked cinnamon bun.

If you go …

(Giacomo Bagnara / For The Times)

For those of us lucky enough to write about food for a living, each vacation is a chance to add one more spot on our individualized maps of the world’s great places to eat. And this year, we’re sharing our personal maps and notes on places we’ve loved during our wanderings with readers.

Restaurant critic Bill Addison explored Melbourne, whose “modern dining moment,” he says, “derives from the immigrant communities that have rooted in the city since its founding,” making it “innately familiar to Angelenos, and also something wholly distinct to experience.” Then he shared 25 Melbourne restaurants, coffee shops and bars that showed the ambition of its dining scene.

(Photo illustration by Los Angeles Times)

Addison, restaurant critic Jenn Harris, deputy food editor Betty Hallock and I shared a personal list of 33 Paris restaurants and bars we love. Reporter Stephanie Breijo and senior food editor Danielle Dorsey wrote about their 15 favorite London pubs, food halls and bake shops. Addison and Hallock detail 17 splendid Tokyo dining suggestions. I detail 9 reasons Michelin-ignored Lima is one of the world’s greatest restaurant cities and came back from Hong Kong with 10 great eating experiences. And food editor Daniel Hernandez filed three reports from Mexico: an updated guide to 17 new and old favorites in Mexico City, a to-do list for exploring often-overlooked Colima, Mexico’s smallest state, and a fascinating look at how palm wine from Colima is at the heart of “a flourishing culinary movement rooted in its 250 years of trade with the Philippines.”

Given that these suggestions are not meant to be definitive — they are our personal favorites — we know that there are many other worthy places to explore. We’d love to hear from you if you have your own personal picks. We’ve built a form for entering your favorites from around the world and will publish the results in the coming weeks.

And if you’re staying closer to home, check Danielle Dorsey and Stephanie Breijo’s guide to the 23 best new L.A. bars, Dorsey’s choices for the best new L.A. rooftops for drinking and eating and the entire food team’s picks for 50 essential L.A. dining experiences.

We’ve also introduced a new way to save your favorite recommendations and build your own custom guides. Times senior product manager Jeff Poirier explains the new feature, which includes maps and is as simple to use as hitting the “save” button on any individual entry.

Introducing …

Los Angeles Times cooking editor Cody Reiss

(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times )

We are thrilled to introduce our new cooking editor Cody Reiss, who learned most of what he knows about cooking professionally at Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Cafe in Berkeley and did time behind the counter at Murray’s Cheese in New York. He also had a part in Eva Victor‘s “Sorry, Baby” and played himself in the very funny “narrative cooking short” “Breakfast for Liz.” Read more about Cody in his hello to readers, which describes the teaching approach he’s aiming for in the food videos he’ll be doing. And check out the videos he released this week on why you should throw away your salt shaker and how to cut a tomato. Finally, with Cody taking over our Cooking Newsletter — which is moving from Sundays to Fridays so that you can have more time to plan your weekend cooking — now is an excellent time to sign up for the free weekly dispatch if you’re not already a subscriber. This week, he provides two crucial lessons on salt and why you might be using it wrong.

Chilaquiles heaven

Chilaquiles, molletes and salsas at Taquearte in Pico Rivera.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Restaurant critic Jenn Harris’ latest review is about Pico Rivera’s Taquearte, which happens to be one of my favorite places to get chilaquiles and a loaded Mexico City-style taco campechano, which made our 101 Best L.A. Tacos list. I first heard about Taquearte from my mom and her friend Pablo. (She went to high school in Pico Rivera and lives in nearby Whittier.) Harris bookmarked the place when Eater’s Bill Esparza wrote about the chilaquiles as L.A.’s best. Harris wholeheartedly agrees and loved how “the chips … were noticeably thin, delicate but sturdy enough to retain their crunch. They hovered in a magical state of limbo between wet and dry, crisp and wilted.”

More restaurants recommendations: 7 L.A. spots for bandeja paisa, Colombia’s classic lunch platter by Angela Osorio, 9 great places to try Midwest-style tavern pizza in L.A. by Kelly Dobkin and the best places to eat and drink in July, according to our Food writers.

The loss of two trailblazers

Chef Joshua Gil, pictured January 17, 2024.

(Tharini Shanmugarajah)

Joshua Gil, who “helped recontextualize and reimagine Mexican food in L.A.,” as reporter Stephanie Breijo wrote, died last week after a four-year fight with cancer.

Gil, who is credited with helping the late Joe Miller‘s now-closed Joe’s Restaurant in Venice gain a Michelin star, and went on to co-found the much-missed Tacos Punta Cabras and Hamburguesas Punta Cabras, as well as the pop-up Supper Liberation Front, established the Alta California restaurants Mírame in Beverly Hills, which closed in 2023, and the still-running Mírate in Los Feliz, which Gil left after a legal dispute. He also established the rooftop raw bar Mother of Pearl, which is closed at the moment, and the teppanyaki restaurant Maison Kasai, both at the downtown L.A. dining collection Level 8.

In an extensive story about Gil opening the now-closed Three Flames in the midst of cancer treatment and his drive to continue mentoring chefs, such as Macheen‘s Jonathan Perez, he told Breijo, “I’m a very stubborn a—. I like telling people, ‘I’m Mexican. I don’t know how to give up.’”

Chef Katsuya Uechi in 2016 at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Brentwood location of Katsuya.

(Michael Kovac / Getty Images for Katsuya)

Late last week, we also got word that Katsuya Uechi, the sushi master whose name has become synonymous with the global Katsuya brand, has died at the age of 67.

“The Okinawa-born chef altered the DNA of the L.A. sushi scene with his innovative, genre-bending creations,” writes Melody Xu of the chef who first came to prominence for many L.A. diners at Sushi Katsu-ya in Studio City, which he opened in 1997. “Spicy tuna crispy rice, which he debuted in the early 2000s, has since become a modern staple in sushi restaurants across the U.S.”

Also …

Amid the puestas of Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles.

(Etienne Laurent/For The Times)

• Many were hoping that the World Cup would provide an incentive for downtown Los Angeles’ city leaders and other stakeholders to invest in the area’s infrastructure. But it’s sobering to read reporter Angela Osorio’s look at the sad state of downtown’s once-bustling Olvera Street — with even taquito mecca Cielito Lindo facing a precarious financial situation that has left it shuttered … we hope only temporarily.
• Melody Xu talked with the owners of some of L.A.’s prominent Venezuelan restaurants about how they are connecting people and fundraising for survivors of the twin earthquakes. At publication time, the parents of Full Arepas’ Kelly Montano, writes Xu, “who were on vacation in La Guaira when the quakes happened, [were] among the more than 40,600 people still unaccounted for.”
• “For the first time in its history,” writes Stephanie Breijo, the Michelin Guide awarded a Mexican restaurant three stars.” That honor went to Val Cantú‘s Californios in San Francisco. Breijo has all of the news from the announcement of Michelin’s California guide, including the new two-star designation for Los Angeles’ Kato.
• More from Breijo: As the Boyle Heights fire burned, restaurants depended on which way the wind blew.
• The legal fight over who can sell a white nectarine variety, reports Claire Rush, led central California farmer Cesar Mora to give away more than 100,000 pounds of the fruit.
• And Hailey Branson-Potts has the story of the beer queen of Mendocino County, Lost Coast Brewery’s Barbara Groom, one of the country’s first female microbrew owners, who turns 80 this year.

Why Milos is unforgettable

We first noticed Milos as we travelled home from Crete, flying directly above it and deciding that was where we must go next. It didn’t disappoint. The island was calm, peaceful and strikingly beautiful. Milos isn’t well known, but it should be; the true home of the Aphrodite of Melos, displayed in the Louvre, Paris as the Venus de Milo. The northern coast was spectacular, shaped by volcanic activity and particularly picturesque. Sarakiniko is the perfect stop for photographs with its white rock. Truly an unforgettable trip.
Chris Rimell

Chasing waterfalls on the Pelion peninsula

We visited the incredibly beautiful Pelion peninsula in east, central Greece, and based ourselves in the tiny town of Damouchari, staying at the Kastro Studios above the village shop with a prime position overlooking the harbour and a one-minute walk to the white pebble beach. We swam in the harbour and off the beach, snorkelling with interesting fish and crustaceans, and took a very hot walk (take plenty of water) along the coast to the Fakistra beach where we cooled off under a waterfall and my daughter spent the afternoon doing handstands in the sea. Our walks included eating home-cooked meals at tiny roadside restaurants and drinking very strong coffee under a 1,000-year-old plane tree in a village square. A perfect, slow and really memorable trip full of exploration and fun.
Layla Astley

Beach boat trips on Symi

Getting the ferry from hectic Rhodes, we had heard that something special was waiting for us on Symi. Tucked away just off the Turkish coastline, this hidden little island in the Dodecanese was the perfect place to switch off for a week. Every day was a different boat trip to a new beach, such as Marathounda Bay, with its free-ranging goats searching for scraps between the sunbeds and stones. However, the true highlights were the shaded tavernas found on the edge of each shore where we refreshed ourselves to our hearts’ content with seafood, salad and a cold Mythos.
Steve

Strolling around Venetian palazzos on Syros

Syros – the administrative capital of the Cyclades – is a wonderful place. Between relaxed strolls around Venetian palazzos (large houses) and swimming off the rocks in Ermoupoli, we got a bus to the other side of the island to Galissas beach. Here, after asking locals, we made an anecdotal map and hiked to Agios Stefanos, a chapel in a cave almost in the sea. Watching the sunset there was a magical experience. The story goes that a fisher was saved here from being dragged under the sea by a giant octopus, after praying to Saint Stephen, and so he built this chapel to thank him.
Rosie

The healing power of Hydra

After my mum, June, died, our family decided to go somewhere warm of heart and chose Hydra in the Saronic Gulf, off the east coast of the Peloponnese. Still rumpled from our flight, we took a ferry from Piraeus and sailed off towards a kindly family hotel, the Hydroussa. A tiny, car-free island with a long history was explored in an afternoon. We mostly just took dips (in the clearest seas I’ve ever swum in), read, ate, remembered and gently healed.
Dawn

An archaeological gem near Preveza

The little-known archaeological site of ancient Kassopi was one highlight of our visit to the charming little port of Preveza, on the central west coast. The mountainside was drowning in wildflowers, and the bees, butterflies and lizards were our only companions – apart from the warden who seemed agreeably surprised to see us. We had the entire site to ourselves and wandering through the remains of the city and its third-century BC theatre, with an azure sea in the background, was an unforgettably romantic and quintessentially Greek experience. Later that day, we went dolphin-watching in the Ambracian Gulf, followed by wonderful Preveza prawns for dinner.
Gerald Willmore

Back in time on Antiparos

Most guidebooks recommend doing a day trip to Antiparos from Paros, its much bigger neighbour, but we stayed for five days – the best decision of our trip to the Cyclades. Like stepping back decades into a much less-touristed Greece, the island has a modest beauty and peaceful aura that charmed and calmed us. We stayed in Statheros Garden and enjoyed morning dips in the turquoise waters at Panagia beach, just a few metres away. Paros is only a few minutes away by ferry so there’s plenty of scope for exploring beyond beautiful Antiparos Town and Sifneiko bay.
Alice

Amorgos is as epic as in the Big Blue

The Big Blue is a film I have watched countless times and seeing the 11th-century monastery of Amorgos rise out of the rock face as Eric Serra’s soundtrack kicks in has stayed with me. Seeing it in real life when I travelled to this most charming of Greek islands was truly unforgettable.
Ed Simpson

A true adventure on Kefalonia and Ithaca

As a boy, I went to Kefalonia with my parents and stayed in the fishing village of Fiskardo in the north. Beautiful beaches, fantastic food and sun aplenty, yet a highlight for me was hiring a small motorboat with my father and darting across the bay to the island of Ithaca. We may have got a little carried away exploring, leading to us running out of fuel and having to be rescued! Nevertheless, it was a true adventure. My father passed in 2022, and our speedboat adventure is a memory I hold dear to this day.
Dan Law-Jones

Winning tip: wildlife deep in the Vikos gorge

We’ve just returned from a road trip in beautiful northern Greece, a highlight of which was the awe-inspiring Vikos gorge – the deepest gorge in Europe by ratio of depth to width. We frequently saw tortoises trundling along on our hiking route through the gorge, and also had a brief encounter with a horned viper (one of Europe’s most venomous snakes), underlining the array of wild creatures that are resident here, which include brown bears, wolves, Egyptian vultures and wild boar. We enjoyed the tranquility of the Voidomatis Springs, a crystal clear pool at the bottom of the gorge. It’s a perfect place for a dip if you’re feeling brave – the water is a bracing 4-7C year round!
Beatrice

Our Mirror writer Georgia Reina discovers Portugal’s Alentejo region and its world-class food, wine and slow living

When you picture Portuguese getaways, you’re almost certainly thinking of city escapes in Lisbon or the golden sandy shores of the Algarve. However, if you’re after a holiday that combines sun-drenched heritage with a chilled-out, easygoing vibe — not to mention exceptional wine — the true gem lies an hour and a half inland.

You may not have come across Alentejo yet, but next year the region’s historic centre, the town of Évora, will claim the spotlight as the European Capital of Culture. It delivers the perfect small-town appeal with a rustic flavour.

Wandering its cobbled lanes, I instantly sensed it’s the lively sort of place where everyone appears to know each other, effortlessly swapping banter across open windows and sunlit squares.

There is a philosophy in Alentejo, an idea the locals embrace, called vagar. Literally meaning ‘to drift’, it’s the deeply rooted Portuguese practice of slow living.

Vagar is about taking things easy, relishing a leisurely lunch, enjoying a fine glass of red, and allowing the day to unfold without any frantic urgency. It became the spirit of our trip.

Where to stay

In the town centre, I stayed at the five-star M’ar De Ar Aqueduto, a contemporary design hotel set within a 16th-century palace. It has a captivating history, with a former life as a medical facility and monks residing just across the lane.

Its standout feature is the stunning garden pool, positioned directly beneath the soaring stone arches of the city’s renowned aqueduct. A short drive from town in Viana do Alentejo, Moagem Industrial Lodge is a masterclass in industrial-chic design.

Set within a converted historic grain mill, the property preserves its original machinery and rustic character while providing entirely modern comforts. An ideal place to embrace the region’s more relaxed rhythm.

Discovering the city

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The architecture of Évora is a tribute to its history, with treasures around every corner. The city is awash with brilliant white buildings designed to deflect the Iberian sun, adorned with striking yellow and blue (a traditional choice intended to repel evil spirits, though it apparently also works as a natural insecticide).

History effortlessly blends into contemporary life; nowhere more evident than at the Aqueduto da Água de Prata (Silver Water Aqueduct). This 12km wonder has homes, cafés, and shops cleverly tucked into the narrow spaces beneath its soaring stone arches.

At the city’s highest point sits the iconic 1st-century Roman Temple – formerly the ancient city centre. Yet Évora’s Roman heritage is also concealed right beneath your feet.

As we entered the grand, iron-framed City Hall, we uncovered the Roman bath complex – discovered during renovations in 1987 and beautifully preserved within the municipal building. But no visit is truly complete without experiencing Évora’s most bizarre attraction: the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos).

Constructed by 17th-century Franciscan monks, its walls and columns are carefully adorned with thousands of human skulls and shin bones. Standing there, taking it all in, was a powerful reminder of mortality I won’t ever forget.

Eat, drink, be merry

Évora’s culinary scene is renowned – local produce refined through generations of tradition. We began with an icon – doces conventuais (convent sweets).

Born from a 16th-century sugar boom originating in Brazil, inventive nuns blended sugar with egg yolks to create indulgent delicacies like Pão de Rala. On the savoury front, I don’t need to suggest a specific restaurant – the streets are packed with charming trattorias to choose from.

At virtually all of them, the highlight is pork – not just in main courses (succulent suckling pig), but even in puddings, where crispy, salty crackling is combined with sweetness – and it simply works. Complete your meal with Queijo de Évora, a sharp sheep’s milk cheese, or enjoy a glass of Marquês de Borba Late Harvest – now my go-to dessert wine.

What really places Évora and Alentejo on the international stage, though, is its wine. If you can schedule your trip around the Évora Wine Festival in late May, you’re in for an absolute delight (although tastings are on offer throughout the year).

The festival transforms the historic squares into vibrant celebrations with crowds enjoying rich, fruity reds and sunshine whites. During my tastings, I absolutely adored the Comenda Grande Rosé – a wonderfully dry, balanced wine with intense raspberry aromas and a crisp acidity that virtually demands to be enjoyed on a sun-drenched terrace.

The striking Quinta do Quetzal ‘Arte’ Red completely captivated me too, with its intricate blend of wild berries and rich spices, which complements pork dishes superbly. For a white, the lively Porta da Ravessa is pure Alentejo sunshine bottled, delivering an incredibly fresh, tropical burst of citrus that serves as the perfect local aperitif.

It is this remarkable, authentic viniculture that continues to cement the region’s standing as an absolute essential destination for food lovers and wine enthusiasts alike.

Beyond the city walls

Venturing beyond Évora for a day excursion, I’d suggest making the journey up to the medieval village of Monsaraz. Sitting high atop a hilltop overlooking the Spanish frontier, this ancient, walled museum-village appears frozen in time.

It boasts narrow, twisting lanes bordered by striking slate and whitewashed houses, all converging towards a magnificent 14th-century castle constructed by King Dinis. Strolling along its peaceful ramparts provides panoramic vistas across the golden Alentejo plains and the glistening waters of the Alqueva reservoir beneath – an ideal spot to embrace the purposeless wandering of Portuguese vagar at sunset.

How to book

For further details and inspiration, visit www.visitalentejo.pt. Overnight stays at Mar de Ar Aqueduto Hotel start from £120 for two, see mardearhotels.com. To explore the wine route, visit www.vinhosdoalentejo.pt.

OFF THE coast of Northumberland is a “pint-sized island” where you’re more likely to spot a cute seal than a local.

Holy Island, also called Lindisfarne, is often overlooked as a holiday destination.

However, we spoke to tour guide Patrick Norris who has visited hundreds of times, and raved about the nature of the island.

In fact there’s so much wildlife that it has even 6,000 seals to its 150 permanent residents.

Patrick, who hosts guided tours across the Pilgrim’s Walk to the island, told us: “The Atlantic grey seals haul out on the sandbars during the summer and sit and shout – they can be really noisy.

“Bottlenose dolphins are regularly seen too, and there’s the occasional minke whale that passes through the harbour.

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“Porpoises are regular visitors to the offshore areas around Holy Island too.

“For birds, the Farne Islands are the best place to visit as they are home to around 200,000 summer seabirds.

“The puffins and pretty much all the seabirds nesting on the Farnes are only there really from mid-April to mid-August.”

You can see the Farne Islands from Holy Island, and the best way to see them is on a boat trip from Seahouses Harbour.

Northumberland is also known for its beautiful coastline and has some of the best beaches in the country, like Bamburgh, and Patrick tells us that Holy Island is no exception.

He said: “The white sandy beaches are well hidden on the eastern and northern shoreline.”

Patrick added: “To get to them you’ve got to go beyond the castle, walk to Emmanuel Head and head down.

“They’re small, hidden beaches and not many people go to them either so they’re usually quiet.”

While it was once a religious place, hence the name, Holy Island has recently become all the more popular – along with its huge castle, it has pubs, cafes and even a distillery.

Patrick told us: “I’m a regular at all of them, there are three pubs, The Ship Inn, The Manor House and The Crown and Anchor – all are lovely.

“There are three cafes, Chare Ends, 1st Class Food which is also a post office, and then there’s one of my favourites, Pilgrims Coffee.

“I love it there because they roast their own coffee in the garden and serve it in the cafe, the food and atmosphere there are great too.

“There’s a new one that’s just opened as well called Causeway Cafe, it’s inside the former Coastguard station – I’m yet to visit it.

“There’s a distillery too, and winery where you can buy locally made mead.”

Holy Island is tidal and so is only accessible at certain times of the day, so Patrick advise visitors to take precautions when visiting.

He said: “I’d seriously consider going with a guide for those who want to walk Pilgrim’s Way.

“It’s a path across the bay, which dates back 1,400 years or so and is marked by a line of poles.

“But if you have a young family and a car full stuff then you can just drive over – there is a car park on the island.”

“As it’s a tidal island you must look at the safe crossing times before you go – one of my bugbears is there people talk about tide times but these vary.

“Visitors have to follow the safe crossing times.”

You can check the safe crossing times here.

Both the path and causeway will flood with water twice a day – cars have even been stranded in the water, but Patrick assures us that this is very rare.

He added “the hardest conversation will be with your insurance company.”

When it comes to the best time to visit, Patrick says you’ll see all sorts year-round.

He told us: “In the summertime the pubs, cafes and shops are full. Just be prepared in July and August for it to be busy – it won’t be a peaceful retreat.

“But between September and October it is, it’s fantastic.

“You can see the sites in four hours, see the old buildings, head to the castle, grab a good coffee, and the wildlife is amazing. Right now the meadows are overflowing with wildflowers.

“Don’t miss Emmanuel Head either, it’s a huge white pyramid which is a daymark and the first on the English coast.

“There’s a nice walk out to it, and you might even spot dolphins along the way.”

WHILE Cornwall is one of the most popular destinations to visit in the UK – especially in the summer – there are still some spots that tourists are yet to discover.

As a Cornish local, I’ve seen it all, meaning I know just the places to avoid the crowds this summer.

Here are my top five spots to visit where you’ll spot more locals than holidaymakers.

1. Nanjizal Beach

Located on the south of Land’s End, Nanjizal Bay has been named by Sunsail as the second most secluded beach in the world.

Its rock pools and archways surround clear blue waters.

This beach truly does feel picture perfect. It’s remoteness, with no toilets, cafes or parking for miles, is what leaves room for its untouched natural beauty to shine.

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To get there, take a walk along the South West Coast path.

Make sure you check the tide times before you arrive, so you are not left with no beach in sight.

If you’ve walked this far, an extra 20 minute stroll to Sennen Cove feels worth it.

This is home to The Old Success Inn, selling great food with an even better view.

2. St Nectans Glen

Cornwall is not just expansive beaches, although social media does make it out to be. St Nectans Glen is the perfect spot for nature lover’s looking for something tranquil, serene and relaxing.

Located in a remote valley hidden behind the main road, this woodland walk is most known for its 60-feet tall waterfall.

When you reach it, it feels more like a fairytale than a typical English countryside. It is half an hour walk to get down their, so get your walking boots on.

Less than a 10 minute drive away is the village of Tintagel, home to the legendary King Arthur where you can learn a thing or two at the local shops, or even walk to Tintagel Castle and see the history for yourself.

3. Crackington Haven

One of my favourite hidden spots local to my village is Crackington Haven, just off the A39 between Boscastle and Bude.

Known for its rock pools and interesting coastal walks, the beach offers the best of both worlds: pebbled at the top with gorgeous white sands at the bottom.

If you’re a surfer, visiting Crackington is definitely one for you, considered the best surf around for locals, especially on big wave days.

Stop by The Coombe Barton Inn and enjoy some traditional pub grub or a perfect pint sat along the wall.

4. Fox Cove

Tucked behind the Roseland heritage coasts, Fox Cove is a secluded beach with access definitely on the more challenging side.

The path down to the cliff is long, but the spectacular views make it all worth your while.

It is a peak spot for swimmers and bodyboarders, but make sure you pay attention to the Cornwall Tide Times before you start your journey.

Just a short drive away, or a slightly longer coastal path hike, is the town of Padstow, amous for its Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth restaurants.

5. The Lost Gardens of Heligan

For me, this wins bonus points for the nostalgia.

I have been going to The Lost Gardens of Heligan for years with my family, and some of my most fond memories of growing up in Cornwall took place here.

I’m not entirely sure how I would describe it simply,  but it is a combination of history, beautiful gardens, livestock and activities to keep the children entertained.

Entry is somewhat expensive, but if you are looking for a day out in Cornwall, this is a no brainer.

LEE Andrews has shared wild new claims about his gunpoint arrest as he insisted it was the “most horrific place” he ever seen.

Katie Price’s husband claimed earlier this week that he had been “captured at gunpoint” and “slapped around” during his ordeal before his wife saved him.

Lee was released from Dubai’s notorious Al Awir prison on Friday and he has now shared a new account of what happened on social media.

The self-proclaimed businessman claimed: “I will say it one more time, the national guard who took me in the beginning, they had guns and they don’t register you as being arrested.

“They can just take you and hold you, which is what happened.

“Anywhere in the world you go to an airport, they have guns patrolling the boarder and they took me and not in the best way either.

“It wasn’t the best experience and from there they held me in state security, so I was transfered to a jail, which was the worst f***ing horrendous place I’ve ever seen and then into a mainstream.”

Earlier today, Lee hit out at Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid for mocking him on yesterday’s show.

Calling for her to be sacked after she “rolled her eyes” at him live on air, Lee has even vowed to sit down with the host on live TV.

Taking to Instagram, Lee hit back as he said: “What is Susanna Reid rolling her eyes at?

“I’m not gonna comment on that, because obviously I’ll get onto the sofa with Katie at some point and we’ll thrash it out.

“And she can be as forthcoming as she likes.”

He then claimed Susanna is “prejudging” him unfairly.

“But to actually judge me without any evidence, calling me a conman, she should lose her job for that,” he fumed, calling for her axe from the breakfast programme.

Lee continued to say that she had “no solid evidence other than an ex coming forward”.

After being banged up and “missing” for seven weeks, Lee was released from Dubai’s notorious Al Awir prison on Friday.

Katie quickly jetted back to Dubai from the UK over the weekend to see her other half and they shared an emotional reunion on Sunday evening.

Upon his return to social media, Lee claimed he was “captured at gunpoint” before being accused of spying.

Despite Lee’s espionage claims, it was widely speculated that he was actually locked up for fraud.

TOM Holland has finally confirmed he and Zendaya are married after months of speculation.

A number of AI-generated wedding pics took the Internet by storm earlier this year sparking an ‘are they/aren’t they?’ frenzy.

In a new interview with Esquire UK, the Spider-Man star, 30, was asked if he needed to address the viral images with his family in case they awkwardly felt they’d been left out.

He said: “No, because they were all there…That’s all you’ll get on that.”

While he wouldn’t go into any more detail on the A-list couple’s wedding, he was happy to speak about the relationship more generally and how he is the “happiest I’ve ever been”.

He said: “Our business can present very stressful situations and it’s really nice to have a bedrock of a relationship that will stand the test of time.

stamp of approval

Zendaya flashes side-boob and shows off new tattoo tribute to Tom Holland

‘AT EASE’

Zendaya shares moment she knew Tom Holland was The One but won’t confirm wedding

“We can support each other in ways that only we can, because only we understand really what it’s like to live this life, and I think that is such a luxury, because I just don’t understand how I would be able to have anything like that with anyone else.

“So, for me, I found my person. She’s my best friend, and I’m the happiest I have ever been when I’m with her, but I have also never felt so supported and safe, ever. Period.”

The nuptials have been a not so well kept secret for some time.

Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach said in March that the pair were husband and wife at the Actor Awards.

He told Access Hollywood: “The wedding has already happened. You missed it.”

When asked to spill more details by the reporter, the stylist laughed and said: “It’s very true.”

The same month she was seen wearing a wedding band at the 19th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood.

The A-list pair reportedly got engaged between Christmas 2024 and New Year, in one of Zendaya’s family homes in the US.

Tom popped the question in a romantic and intimate setting, sources told TMZ at the time.

The English actor reportedly asked Zendaya’s dad, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, for his blessing months before the proposal but waited until the time was right to get down on one knee.

Although they didn’t announce their engagement, during a panel event a reporter called Zendaya Tom’s “girlfriend”, to which the actor corrected them and said: “Fiancée.”

In January 2025, Zendaya was pictured wearing a huge £500,000 diamond ring by Jessica McCormack.

Tom and Zendaya first met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016.

After years of speculation about their relationship, the pair finally confirmed their romance in 2021 after they were photographed kissing in Los Angeles.

While the couple has kept their relationship mostly under wraps, Tom previously opened up about Zendaya’s support during his sobriety journey.

Speaking in October 2024, the actor said throughout his journey his girlfriend showed an “overwhelming sense of support.”

“I realised who my real friends were,” Tom told TV host Michael Strahan.

“And getting an overwhelming sense of support from them and enjoying a nightlife experience with them without the pressure of having a drink was a beautiful experience.”

This year they will appear on the big screen twice together, firstly in Christopher Nolan’s historical epic The Odyssey and later in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.