longhaul

I’ve bought, tried out and travelled with dozens of suitcases over the years, but I couldn’t believe the quality of this one – it’s so lightweight and easy to push

As a travel editor of over 10 years, I should know a thing or two about packing – and while admittedly I’ve yet to master the art of travelling light, I like to think that I know which suitcases are the best.

I’ve owned and used lots of different sizes and from different brands over the years, including Antler, American Tourister and Away, but the latest I’ve tried has impressed me the most.

After seemingly constantly seeing all the most stylish and jet-set travellers raving about Briggs & Riley luggage, I got my hands on the brand’s Torq Large Hardside Spinner – and it proven to be the best suitcase I’ve ever used.

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Although fairly standard in design, inside this suitcase seems incredibly spacious, with no chunky mechanisms or parts of its structure taking up the precious packing area (although I do swear by packing cubes to maximise the space). It’s split 70/30 between each side, meaning the lid won’t be too heavy to close – something that’s not always thought about.

Other nice touches include a crease-resisting suit holder, a handle that’s long enough even for someone tall like me, and the ability to have your initials added onto a subtle section on the front for free.

Once packed and setting off on my travels, however, what impressed me the most was just how easily it manoeuvred – it’s so lightweight and the 360-degree ball-bearing spinner wheels glided like a dream across the floor, and in fact if seemed as if you barely needed to touch it to get it moving. For this reason I think this case would be an excellent choice for anyone with back or shoulder issues, as it really requires very little effort to pull or push.

At £599 for a medium and £679 for a large, these suitcases are certainly an investment, but Briggs & Riley luggage all comes with a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if yours breaks or is damaged – even by an airline – the brand will repair it for free – you don’t even need to provide proof of purchase. This means that you genuinely may only need to buy one suitcase in your lifetime.

If this is a little out of your budget, however, I also own and can vouch for Antler’s Large Suitcase, £255; although not quite as high quality as Briggs & Riley’s, it has served me well on many a travel.

Alternatively there are some bargain ones to be found on Amazon. This medium Amazon Basics one comes in five colours, starts from £59.49 and has thousands of five star reviews, while this ATX Luggage one is even cheaper currently at £50.99.

New research suggests that British travellers are forgoing their beloved summer hotspots like Greece and Spain in favour of more far-flung destinations like Thailand

According to new research, some key non-European destinations have enticed Brits away from their typical hotspots this summer.

While Italy, Spain and Greece continue to deal with the repercussions of over-tourism, British travellers are casting their holiday sight further abroad. Virgin Media O2 data suggests that visitors to Spain have dropped by about 9% year-on-year, with anti-tourism protests potentially giving British holidaymakers pause.

Visits to Greece and Portugal are also down by 7% and 5% respectively, the data suggests. Destinations like Thailand, Canada and the US are on British travel radars this year.

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Visits to France were even eclipsed by those of the US this summer, which brought in 17% of British travellers compared to France’s 14%. Canada now accounts for 9% of trips from the UK and the United Arab Emirates has enjoyed 8% of the British tourist allocation.

Thailand and Australia both earned 5% of visitors, which may have to do with The White Lotus effect. In fact, the TV series drove so much tourism to Thailand that it threatened to bury one of the paradise islands.

The exceptionally hot weather in the UK this summer could have also influenced why Brits didn’t feel the need to storm their sunny EU holiday destinations.

When it comes to last-minute getaways however, the data shows that convenience is still a top priority for British holidaymakers. Resorts that are a short-haul flight away still saw the biggest influx of travellers. Almost 38% of Brits will take late breaks to Spain while Greece will see 25% and Italy 23%.

Christian Hindennach, chief commercial officer at Virgin Media O2 said of the latest research: “As Brits explore new holiday spots beyond Europe, we’re proud to keep them connected wherever they may roam.

He continues: “From last-minute trips to far-flung adventures, we’re committed to keeping our customers connected without the worry of hidden fees, so they can focus on enjoying their time away.”

That said, months of active overtourism demonstrations across Spain in particular has been bad news for tourism revenue in some parts of the country.

A once busy Spanish city is now “dead” as Brits have reportedly abandoned the destination for other holiday spots.. Footage has surfaced online showing the area’s completely deserted streets.

Laura, who goes by lauratravelvlogs on TikTok, has been chronicling some stark changes in Barcelona this year, having resided there herself for over two years. She noted a significant drop in visitor numbers and, for months, she’s been posting videos of Spain’s vacant streets, silent roads and empty beaches to illustrate the drastic shift in the country’s tourism landscape.

In a recent video featuring eerily quiet roads, Laura questioned: “Sorry, no one can argue that these roads leading up to the beach were not packed in 2023?”

There are certain seats on a plane that could become a nightmare on a long haul flight according to a travel expert – who shared her top tips when it comes to plane seat selection

When going on a long haul flight – experts urge people to never select these certain seats if they want a smooth journey. Flying long haul can already be hard, and it can be made even worse if you choose the wrong seat.

A travel expert has shared some of her top tips when it comes to where to sit on a plan for comfort, sleep quality and less disruptions on a long flight as poor sleep selection can make jet lag worse and leave people exhausted before their holiday has even started.

While people may think the window seat on the end row is the ideal spot for some peace and quiet, tucked away at the back – Dawn Morwood, Co-Director of Cheap Deals Away said “it’s actually a recipe for a miserable flight”.

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That back corner window seat might seem like the prime spot when you’re scrolling through the seat map, but it’s actually where comfort goes to die, the expert revealed. Located next to the toilets and galley, it will cause sleep disrupting problems,

“The biggest issue is the constant foot traffic,” Dawn said. “You’ve got passengers queuing for the loo right beside you, flight attendants rushing back and forth with trolleys, and people stretching their legs in the aisle. It never stops.” These seats also don’t recline because there’s a wall directly behind them. On a 10-hour flight to Asia or an 8-hour journey to the States, that upright position becomes torture for your back and makes proper sleep nearly impossible.

Dawn’s expert tips for choosing the perfect long-haul seat

Pick your sweet spot wisely

The best seats are typically in the middle section of the aircraft, she advised, away from both the busy front galley and the chaotic rear area. “Look for seats around rows 6-15 on most wide-body aircraft,” advised Dawn. “You’re far enough from the action but still have easy access to facilities when needed.”

Avoid the bathroom zone

Never book within three rows of any lavatory. The queues, smells and constant activity will make your journey miserable. Check the aircraft’s seat map carefully before selecting.

Choose your side strategically

“If you’re flying eastbound for a daytime arrival, pick a seat on the right side of the plane to avoid the sun streaming through your window during the final hours,” Dawn suggested. “For westbound flights, sit on the left side.”

Consider the exit rows carefully

While exit row seats offer extra legroom, they come with restrictions. You can’t store anything under the seat in front during takeoff and landing, and these seats often don’t recline.

Book early for best selection

“The golden rule is simple – book as early as possible,” says Dawn. “Airlines release their best seats to early bookers, and you’ll have the widest choice of positions.”

The expert said that while the back corner window seat might look appealing on the booking page, “you’ll regret it the moment you try to get comfortable,” and added: “Poor seat selection not only impacts your flight, but your entire trip. If you can’t sleep properly on the plane, you’ll arrive with worse jet lag, feeling cranky and tired. Your first few days of holiday are essentially written off while you recover.”

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Travelling on long-haul flights is never a pleasant experience – but there are a few things I always pack with me to try and make the journey a little easier

At the tender age of three, my family and I uprooted from our Northampton home to start a new life in New Zealand. Despite growing up on the other side of the globe, with all my extended family back in England, I became well-acquainted with the 24-hour plane journey required for family visits.

This mammoth trip was undertaken every four years until I relocated back to England last year. Now, as a travel reporter, I frequently find myself jet-setting around the world; and the knowledge gained from doing so has been invaluable to my career.

There’s no sugar-coating it – long-haul economy class flights are far from enjoyable, especially for someone who is nearly six feet tall like me. The conditions are cramped, dry, dirty, and often dark.

However, there are a few essentials I always pack to make the ordeal slightly more bearable.

My long-haul flight essentials

Silk scarf

The air in long-haul flights can be incredibly dry, causing discomfort to your nose, mouth, and eyes. To combat this, if I’m attempting to get some shut-eye, I drape a silk scarf over my face, serving as both an eye mask and face mask.

Breathing through the silk helps humidify the air, making it less irritating to breathe, and also prevents the sensitive skin around my nose from drying out. You might attract a few curious glances, but trust me, it’s worth it.

Headphones

My headphones are Bluetooth-enabled, but they also come with a connecting cable that can convert them into wired ones. This is compatible with most in-flight entertainment systems, allowing me to enjoy films with excellent sound quality.

This is an absolute must-have for me, especially during long-haul flights that can last up to 16 hours. The complimentary headphones provided at takeoff are often of poor quality and lack sufficient padding, making them uncomfortable to use for extended periods.

Earplugs

I swear by Loop earplugs as they’re comfortable, stay put in my ears, and effectively block out the majority of the noise associated with air travel, which makes sleeping a little easier

Toiletries

Carrying wet wipes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, and some moisturiser can make a world of difference in helping you feel somewhat refreshed.

Just remember never to brush your teeth using the water from the aeroplane bathroom – it’s not the cleanest. I usually wait until my layover before heading to the airport bathrooms for a quick freshen-up.

Knowing that I’m relatively clean makes the second leg of the flight much more bearable. I always ensure I have a spare pair of underwear and socks to change into, and if there’s room, I bring an extra shirt as well, because accidents do happen.

Slippers

Having slippers on hand makes trips to the bathroom or getting up to stretch your legs a lot easier and hygienic. Never venture to an aeroplane bathroom barefoot or in socks. It’s gross and completely avoidable.

Long-haul flights can be a bit of a drag, but they don’t have to be utterly unbearable. These minor adjustments can transform a dreadful journey into a tolerable one, and personally, I wouldn’t dream of travelling without them.