Loveholidays

A ‘NOVEL coat’ has been launched which holds 48 books in 12 compartments

How’s this for a book jacket – a ‘novel coat’ has been launched to help travellers who want to take their beach reads on holiday.

Modelled by Sunday Times Best Seller and TV personality, Charlotte Crosby, the unusual outerwear has a total of 12 compartments on the front and the back.

The coat has enough space to carry 48 books at once, in a cheeky nod to getting around suitcases full of holiday clothes, many of which will come home unworn anyway.

It was released by loveholidays to encourage people to pick up a book on their travels, after the National Literacy Trust reported reading rates are at a 20-year low.

The tongue-in-cheek coat comes after a poll of 2,000 UK holidaymakers found 27 per cent of items packed for a trip are never actually worn.

Meanwhile 57 per cent overpack by filling their bag up to the brim with clothes every single time – and more than a quarter (26 per cent) take too many pairs of shoes on holiday.

Charlotte Crosby said: “I’m absolutely made up with this coat, I love it. I can carry all my holiday reads and all the outfits I’ve planned for my trip.

“Reading is a key part of my holiday, but I am also a serial over-packer and have to sit on my suitcase to zip it up every time as I take too many clothes with me.

“With this coat I’ll never have to worry about leaving enough space for my books ever again.”

Al Murray, a spokesperson for online travel agent, loveholidays, which also commissioned the research, said: “It’s easy to stuff your suitcase with too many clothes – leaving less room for the things that matter, like that bestselling thriller you’ve been dreaming of reading by the pool.

“For many, a good book is the perfect way to truly switch off, so making space for a few great reads can make all the difference to a relaxing escape.”

The study went on to find the reasons for overpacking include those ‘just in case outfits’ that never get worn (62 per cent) and unexpected weather (52 per cent).

Two in 10 of those polled by OnePoll reckon they never seem to leave enough room in their luggage for books.

Of those who don’t prioritise books when packing, 23 per cent said they didn’t think they were as essential as other items, and the same number didn’t think they will have enough time to read while away.

Despite this, among those who enjoy reading on their travels, 61 per cent said it relaxes them deeply, and 49 per cent credit having no time pressure and it being a screen-free joy.

Exactly one in 10 of those that take books on holidays don’t read as much as they’d like while they’re away.

Since 31 per cent of them struggle to find quiet time or space to read, 30 per cent end up spending time with family or friends instead and 28 per cent get distracted by their phone or social media.

bPlus 18 per cent of all travellers admitted they would take more novels abroad if they had more space in their suitcase.

Al Murray added: “So many holidaymakers love to read but just don’t end up getting to read as many books as they’d like while on their travels.

“And with people admitting they stuff too many things in their cases that they don’t even need while they’re away, it’s a fun reminder to pack smarter and make space for the stories that help turn a good holiday into a great one.”

TOP 25 HOLIDAY READS:

1.    The Thursday Murder Club
2.    The Time Traveller’s Wife
3.    Where the Crawdads Sing
4.    The Housemaid
5.    The Couple Next Door
6.    It Ends With Us
7.    The Holiday
8.    The Alchemist
9.    Me Before You
10.  One Day
11.  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
12.  Normal People
13.  The Midnight Library
14.  The Road Trip
15.  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
16.  Big Little Lies
17.  The Island
18.  The Secret Life of Bees
19.  Lessons in Chemistry
20.  It Starts With Us
21.  Daisy Jones and The Six
22.  The Satsuma Complex
23.  Crazy Rich Asians
24.  My Brilliant Friend
25.  Rachel’s Holiday

THE conflict in the Middle East has resulted in thousands of cancelled holidays and it’s set to continue.

loveholidays has now announced it won’t be selling any of its package holidays to the likes of Qatar and Dubai until June 2026.

loveholidays, which offers affordable breaks all over the globe, is not selling package holidays to the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar or Jordan that leave in March, April or May 2026.

It has also cancelled a number of holidays set to depart in May.

On its website, loveholidays said: “We’ve made the decision to cancel all holidays departing up to and including 10 May 2026 to countries currently on the FCDO ‘all but essential travel’ list (UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Riyadh).

“This includes holidays with a connecting flight via one of these countries.”

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It continued: “If you are due to travel or transit through these destinations after May 10, please rest assured that we will contact you directly if there is any impact to your holiday.”

In more detail, loveholidays said that flights operating with airline KLM to these destinations between May 11-17 have been cancelled, with refunds being processed.

It added that those flying with Qatar Airways between May 11 and June 15 have the option of cancelling their flights for a full refund.

Customers flying to or via Dubai, Doha, Amman or Bahrain on a British Airways flight between May 11-31 also have the option to cancel for a full refund.

A loveholidays spokesperson told Sun Travel: “We want to give customers with holidays to or transiting through the Middle East in the coming weeks as much certainty as possible and the flexibility to make alternative travel plans.

“Due to ongoing disruption affecting travel to the region, we have now cancelled and refunded all holidays to and transiting through the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain and Riyadh up to and including 10 May.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation closely with the FCDO and our airline partners, who are finalising their operational plans for the coming months.”

Meanwhile, On the Beach has cancelled holidays to the UAE that depart up to April 15 with breaks afterwards being monitored.

It’s not just holiday companies that are cancelling holidays, as flights are also being axed due to the rising cost of fuel caused by the conflict.

United Airlines was the latest to confirm that it would be cutting five per cent of flights in the second and third quarters of 2026.

With up to 5,000 flights a month – working out to around 4,000 domestic and 800 international routes – this means it affects around 250 flights a month.

It’s set to last until the end of summer, meaning thousands of passengers will be affected.

Other airlines cutting back on flights include Air New Zealand and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS).

Some UK airlines are less affected for now because they have secured some of their fuel at a fixed price for a certain amount of time.

These include Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

For more information on travel insurance and your airline rights during the crisis, Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot explains what you can do.

And if you still want to travel – here’s where prices for all-inclusive deals are an absolute bargain with some 70 per cent cheaper.