THIS valley might look like your average spot in Switzerland with towering mountains and pretty chalet adorned villages – but it has a whopping 72 waterfalls.
It’s called Lauterbrunnen which literally translates to ‘loud springs’ after the crashing sound of falling water.
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The little-known valley in Switzerland has 72 waterfallsCredit: AlamyThe Staubbachfall Waterfall is almost as tall as the Shard in LondonCredit: Alamy
It’s known for its car-free mountain villages filled with pretty chalets and shops – but what draws visitors to it is the sheer amount of cascading waterfalls, of which there are over 70.
One of the largest and most well-known is the Staubbachfall Waterfall, which sits in the village of Lauterbrunnen – named after the valley.
It’s 297metres tall and is the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland.
In perspective, this is almost as high as London’s Shard, which stands at 309metres tall.
There are lots of viewpoints to see the Staubbachfall Waterfall, and those who want to get up close and personal can take the small path to the foot of the falls.
During the summertime, the falls are illuminated in the evenings.
Another waterfall is called Mürrenbachfall, which is even taller, and the water falls from a height of 417 metres.
There’s also the Trümmelbach Falls which a series of 10 unique underground waterfalls – and the largest of their kind Europe.
These impressive waterfalls have made their way through a mountain valley over thousands of years.
Visitors can see them on man-made paths, which are ticketed and cost around £15.
Thanks to its position at the base of the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen is also a sought out ski destination.
As part of the Jungfrau Ski Region, it’s a great place to hit the slopes with 275km of runs and 40 ski lifts.
The best time to visit depends on whether you want to see the waterfalls in all their spring glory, or explore the village in time for ski season.
For those who want to take advantage of hiking, visit between June and September.
Or for a winter wonderland experience, go between January and February.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley sits at the bottom of the Swiss AlpsCredit: Alamy
Unsurprisingly, visitors have described it as “breathtaking” and like “stepping into a storybook”.
The valley has also been compared to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
And it could have been the inspiration for the author, who visited in 1911.
Not only can you explore the village of Lauterbrunnen by foot, you can also see it and its neighbouring villages by cableway.
Just opposite the main train station is a 100 person cableway that runs from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren.
In just four minutes it climbs 686 metres and has been said to have “breathtaking views.”
Other nearby mountain villages are Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald and Stechelberg.
If you’re looking for staycation inspiration, this Dorset holiday park is packed with family-friendly facilities. Even in high season, there’s no need to fight for space on the beach as it has its own private stretch.
The holiday park is just steps from a private beach(Image: Hoseasons)
An independently owned holiday park could be the perfect spot for an Easter break or May half-term staycation thanks to its facilities that include a private beach.
Set on Dorset’s spectacular Jurassic Coast, Freshwater Beach Holiday Park has rolling green hills on one side and a vast, unspoilt beach on the other. It sits on a flat spot with direct access to its own private beach with fine shingle that gives it a golden hue. Follow the beach north, and you’ll reach West Bay Cliffs, while to the south, the River Bride crosses the beach as it flows out to sea.
Just steps from the sand are some of the park’s comfortable caravans, and you can pick from luxury mobile homes that have uninterrupted sea views, or simple, modern options in the heart of the park.
If you prefer to bring your own tent, motorhome, or campervan, then there are grass and hard-standing pitches available. Facilities include electricity, water, showers, and WiFi, so you have everything you need.
At the heart of the park is the Jurassic Fun Centre, where guests can enjoy heated indoor and outdoor pools with splash parks and lots of fun features. There’s also a 10-pin bowling alley, restaurant, and bar, so there’s plenty to enjoy right on-site.
A short walk away is the charming Dorset village of Burton Bradstock, where you’ll find a couple of traditional pubs and lots of pretty stone cottages. There’s also West Bay, just a few minutes’ drive away, a small harbour town on the mouth of the River Brit, which is especially popular in the summer months. It has a traditional seaside feel, with fish and chip shops, cosy cafés, and a beach cove that has fine shingle and seas calm enough for swimming in the right conditions.
The South West Coastal Path runs close to the park, meaning there’s lots of incredible coastal scenery right on Freshwater’s doorstep. The area is also full of interesting National Trust sites such as Coney’s Castle, ancient hillforts surrounded by green hills and unspoilt countryside, and Golden Cap, a hilly coastal walk that rewards walkers with views across Lyme Bay to Dartmoor on clear days.
Mapperton House, Gardens & Wildlands are a must-visit for history buffs and lovers of nature. This Jacobean manor opens its doors on selected dates, so you can tour its ornate rooms. Its formal gardens include an arboretum and orangery, while its wildlands cover over 1,000 acres, bursting with wildflowers, birds, and deer.
Camping and touring pitches at Freshwater Beach Holiday Park start at £34 a night and hardstanding pitches from £40 a night. Holiday homes start from £210 for three nights based on two adults sharing. Find out more and book online via Freshwater Beach’s official website.
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A lesser-known Spanish resort is shaping up to be one of the more affordable escapes, with £3 pints and £15 flights, combined with its allure of reliable sunshine and dramatic landscapes
This Spanish region offers a sun-soaked getaway with a cheaper price tag(Image: First Choice/2015 lunamarina/Shutterstock)
A beautiful Spanish region that enjoys a tropical climate is ‘cheaper than Costa del Sol’ with £3 pints and £15 flights, just three hours from the UK.
Costa del Sol is a popular tourist destination, with the city of Marbella attracting thousands of holidaymakers each year, yet it’s not always the cheapest. While there are more affordable areas to visit in Costa del Sol, there’s another beautiful resort in Spain while worth exploring, and it could save you almost £300.
Known as the ‘desert coast’, Costa de Almería offers almost year-round sunshine and is one of the driest climates on the continent, so you’ll rarely need to worry about the weather. With stunning volcanic beaches, azure waters and desert landscapes, it’s a haven for travellers seeking a quieter escape from the tourist crowds.
Often overlooked by Brits, Costa de Almería has been hailed by the experts at First Choice as “significantly cheaper than Spain’s main holiday hotspots”. First Choice found that a seven-night stay at the four-star Best Oasis Tropical hotel in Almería during early May costs £281 per person, including flights – that’s around £290 cheaper per couple than a similar break in the Costa del Sol.
The travel experts also found that a beer could set you back just £3 (€3.50) in Almería, compared to the holiday hotspots of Marbella, which could cost as much as £5.19 (€6) per beer.
They also found that a three-course meal for two in Almería would typically cost between £25 (€30) and £30 (€35). This is in stark contrast to the same meal in Marbella, which could range from £51 (€60) to £86 (€100), saving around £61 (€70) per meal in Almería, and a total of £427 (€493) during a seven-night stay.
If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Costa de Almería welcomes more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and only sees around 26 days of rainfall a year. It also receives 93 per cent less rain in May than the Costa del Sol, averaging just 1mm compared to 15mm.
Thanks to its location near the Tabernas Desert, the experts at First Choice say the region enjoys a warmer climate and sun-soaked rays “weeks before neighbouring areas.” Alongside its tropical climate and cost-cutting benefits, Almería offers plenty to explore, including diverse landscapes and golden-sand beaches.
The protected Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is well worth a visit, with its volcanic cliffs, hidden coves and some of the most picturesque Spanish beaches. There’s also the stunning Tabernas Desert to explore on a guided day tour, as well as the charming whitewashed hilltop village of Mojácar.
Some may recognise Mojácar, which was famously used as the backdrop for major Hollywood movies, including Indiana Jones, as well as the hit TV series Game of Thrones. For film buffs, there’s the opportunity to visit the preserved Wild West film set of MiniHollywood Oasys, with shows and attractions, to feel as though you’ve stepped directly into Indiana Jones.
As a lesser-known destination compared to the Costa del Sol, there are few high-rise hotels towering over the beach, and quieter beaches, so you’ll often be able to find the perfect sun-soaked spot. What’s more, flights from London Stansted to Almería start from as little as £15 one-way, according to Sky Scanner.
Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice, said: “Costa Almería quietly delivers some of the most reliable spring sunshine in mainland Europe, yet it hasn’t caught up in price. That gap between weather and cost is what makes it stand out”
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WHEN I told my friends about my recent European getaway, many met me with two questions in quick succession: firstly, “Where?” and then pointedly “Why?”
I’m not surprised. I hadn’t heard of the city – a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London – until I decided to whisk my wife away on a romantic weekend there. What I found was meals out for less than £10, posh Airbnbs for only £50-a-night, and drinks at about half the price we pay at home.
This European city is like something from a fairytaleCredit: GettyA view of it’s famous city gateCredit: AlamyAnd it boasts a stunning castleCredit: Alamy
In recent years, we’ve had weekend breaks in Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Lisbon, Rome and Amsterdam – but they can often feel too big to truly explore over a weekend.
Add in long airport journey times, expensive hotels and pricey restaurants, and you come home knackered and empty pocketed.
Increasingly, I’ve found that it’s simply more enjoyable to head somewhere smaller: instead of Paris, try Toulouse; instead of Barcelona, try Grenada. So, when we decided on a trip to Poland, we picked a trip to Lublin, rather than Warsaw or Krakow.
We wanted to go on a “couple weekend” – like a date night for married people, but conducted over 48 hours somewhere well away from home.
Except for Vienna, all our previous minibreaks were in Western Europe – this time, we wanted something more exotic, perhaps to the East or North.
Plus, we were seriously skint. Anything in Scandinavia was prohibitively expensive.
One friend had just been to the chic Arctic Circle town of Tromso in Norway and warned: “For even a very average bottle of wine in a bog standard restaurant you are looking at eighty quid”.
I thought he must have mis-typed, but no, that number did indeed have a Y on the end – eighty.
So Norway was out. Sweden and Finland didn’t sound much better when it came to price.
So when a friend suggested an affordable alternative, Poland, I was interested. Which is how we came to settle on Lublin.
In the east of the country, with a population of around 327,000, Lublin is closer to the border with Ukraine than the capital, Warsaw.
The city featured prominently in one of our favourite films of last year, A Real Pain, which won Kieran Culkin a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
It came across as both fascinating and charming.
We then found we could get a smart Airbnb double room in the heart of this pretty city for £50 a night – and return flights out of Luton on Wizz Air for just £37 each. Sold!
Lublin is a tiny airport – just four gates – so easy and quick to navigate, then there’s a little single carriage tram-like train to ferry you very cheaply the few miles into the city to find that double room.
Our rental was an absolute steal for the price: views from two large windows looking directly at the dramatic castle with ramparts that dominate the old town, and it also features as a backdrop in A Real Pain
The Market Place in the old town, Mandragora restaurantCredit: AlamyJust outside Lublin is a concentration camp, Majdanek, where 78,000 diedCredit: John SturgisAn Airbnb double room in the heart of the city cost £50 a night and return flights out of Luton on Wizz Air cost £37Credit: John Sturgis
A bottle here for the price of a glass there
The food and drink were a steal too; the wine in particular was a lot, lot cheaper than you’d find in the UK.
A bottle here for the price of a glass there.
In both restaurants, the food was less than half the price for something comparable at home – generous mains for under a tenner.
In fact, everything from Uber rides to gallery tickets seemed to have this “less than half” aspect, which left us thinking it might be even more financially advantageous to simply move here.
Lublin was beautiful, intense, constantly interesting and surprisingly romantic- but also very, very cheap – perfect for the couple with no money.
Even though Lublin is the largest city in eastern Poland, there are far fewer crowds than Krakow, making it the ideal family destination too.
The movie A Real Pain – starring Jesse Eisenberg, pictured, – is set in LublinCredit: YouTubeChurch in front of apartment buildings in Lublin, PolandCredit: Alamy
Of course, we wanted to check out the locations features in A Real Pain too.
The film, a mix of comedy and tragedy, told the story of two cousins, Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg, visiting the city where their Jewish grandmother had grown up before being caught up in – and narrowly escaping – the Holocaust.
That historic atrocity looms large in Lublin.
Until 1939, the city was one of the great Jewish centres in all of Europe, comparable to Oxford for its cultural reach.
First, we headed to the Old Jewish Cemetery – but it was closed for the sabbath so we could only peer in at the atmospheric stone monuments.
At a hotel around the corner, a travel group leader told me that the building had been the largest Jewish academy in the world when it opened in 1930.
But barely a decade later, its entire library burned in what is now the hotel carpark and its students were systematically slaughtered.
Just outside Lublin is a concentration camp, Majdanek, where 78,000 died.
But of course, it wasn’t just Polish Jews who were murdered.
Outside that cemetery, for example, a sign proclaimed: “This place is hallowed by the blood of Poles, prisoners of Lublin Castle, executed by the Nazis on 23 December 1939.”
The fairytale castle we were looking at from our room had a dark past.
The other film location we tried was a restaurant, Mandragora, in the old town, where Culkin’s character plays the piano.
On our visit to this delightfully old-fashioned place, there was also music, from a small band with accordion, fiddle and clarinet that seemed to give a pre-war atmosphere.
Even more retro-atmospheric was a restaurant not in the film, Zaczarowana, where a gothic interior of shadows, black curtains and candlelight made it feel like we were on the set of some composite film mash-up of the Frankenstein and Dracula stories.
Like travelling back in time
There’s lots to see in the city too.
If travelling with kids, you can head to the Open Air Village Museum, which is an immersive museum with historic farmhouses and of course, farm animals too.
There’s also a water fountain and light show in Litewski Square to watch in awe.
In the Old Town you will find pastel coloured houses, neatly lined up and there is also the castle – one of the oldest royal castles in the country – which has great views across the city.
Lublin, Poland, is a great destination for a cheap breakCredit: John Sturgis
According to Backpack Adventures, it is even like “travelling back in time” with a number of gates leading onto narrow alleys.
The city has over 150 trolleybuses to get around the city, which were introduced back in 1953.
And it is the perfect time to visit, as the city has been named one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2029.
Hungry? Head to U Szewca in the Old Town, where you an discover a pub with sport-themed rooms, pizza for just £6 and Bolognese for around £7.50, and a beer for about £4.25.
When it comes to grabbing something to drink, head to Nocny Portier where you will find “upside-down pot plants, absurd monkey portraiture and terrific cocktails from a movie-inspired menu”, according to The Times.
You even need a password to head downstairs to the speakeasy and once inside, you will be able to grab a cocktail for just £6 delivered on a toy railway.
