package

With two LA28 ticket drops done and an ever-shrinking number of Olympic seats remaining, some sports fans are looking at a possibility they hadn’t considered before: hospitality packages.

These are combined Olympic experiences — an event ticket paired with upgrades in access and perks, designed by LA28’s official hospitality provider On Location. And they’re not not bargain-basement options. The LA28 hospitality packages start at $400 and run up to $15,000 per person, sometimes more. They’re becoming more tempting to many because they give buyers access to otherwise unavailable seats, bypassing ticket draw lotteries like the one that happened in April and another that wraps up Thursday.

“It’s more than a seat. It’s a seamless way to experience one of the biggest global sporting events,” On Location President Paul Caine has said.

But sports fans have mixed opinions. Some ticket hopefuls scoff at the price tags, which are far higher than the widely promoted $28 tickets that half a million people snagged in the first locals presale. Others warmed up to the offer. In a public LA28 Facebook group, a member named Tara initially described the $1,700-per-person price for a three-hour equestrian event as “robbery” but four days later, announced their decision to “splurge.”

“Crazy expensive but I’m assured of seeing the event that I want, have great seats and food …” Tara wrote. “I know I’ll probably never go to another Olympics so hoping I walk away feeling [that] it was completely worth it and I think I will.”

So are these packages worthwhile? Nobody will know until 2028 and answers will depend on the package, your tax bracket and your level of fandom. Here’s what you get with the hospitality packages and some things to consider.

Do the packages include a ticket to the Games?

Many guests who buy hospitality packages at the 2028 Olympics will get access to lounges. Artist’s portrayal shown here.

(On Location)

Yes, and the offerings include more in-demand sports and sessions than you will find in LA28’s ticket-only sales. Packages that included tickets for artistic gymnastics, diving, swimming and beach volleyball appeared in an Aug. 19 search.

Even when stand-alone tickets are unavailable, hospitality-package tickets are often available because they are handled separately. An On Location spokesperson said that LA28 Hospitality “is the only provider that offers those coveted and exclusive front row seats, private suites, etc. … We have reserved sections in each venue for each sport for hospitality guests, ensuring they have the best vantage points of the event, and they get the best value out of their package.”

For basketball competition, the top seating categories (including most or all courtside seats) have been made available only through hospitality packages.

Veteran ticket-seekers warn, however, that consumers should always make sure they’re satisfied with locations of their hospitality-package seats.

All hospitality packages include tickets to events, their prices varying by event, supply and demand. Also, hospitality-package tickets do not count toward the limit of 12 stand-alone tickets per buyer.

As packages are unveiled and sold, available inventory on the website fluctuates — which means fans can spend a lot of time checking and rechecking.

How much more do packages cost than individual tickets?

A lot more. Seats alone at the 2028 Games can cost anywhere from $28 to north of $500, including a 24% service fee. The most affordable hospitality packages cost $400 and many cost far more.

As of Aug. 19, a hospitality-package shopper could pay $15,000 and up for one ticket to opening ceremonies (July 14, 2028) coupled with eating, drinking and hanging-out privileges in a Premium Lounge at SoFi Stadium before or during the event. (That same $15,000 would cover about eight months’ rent for the average tenant in L.A. County, according the U.S. Census data.)

For $450 and up, a fan could buy a hospitality package for the July 15 elimination round of the men’s and women’s judo competition in L.A. Convention Center Hall 2. Besides a seat, the package includes access to a shared lounge space, a welcome drink, an L.A.-inspired food item and entry to a hospitality pavilion before or after the selected session.

What’s a hospitality pavilion? What are the package tiers?

Hospitality packages for the 2028 Games include access to private lounges and pavilions. Artist’s portrayal shown here.
(On Location)

(On Location)

In the Olympic hospitality pecking order, the premium lounges beat the leisure lounges and the hospitality pavilions, which provide shared havens for followers of multiple sports.

For instance, the Valley Zone Pavilion is “a backyard-inspired oasis” near venues for 3×3 basketball, modern pentathlon, skateboarding, cycling BMX racing and cycling BMX freestyle.

The Carson Zone Pavilion is an open-air setting near the archery, track cycling, hockey, rugby sevens and tennis venues. There are similar pavilions elsewhere, including Long Beach and DTLA, for the multiple sports in those areas.

LA28 organizers say all of those pavilions will be climate-controlled or shaded, featuring “Olympic Games-inspired décor, an L.A.-inspired food item and welcome drink, and additional food and beverages available for purchase.” Those pavilions do not include direct views of each sport.

Similarly, leisure lounges often include one drink and one L.A.-inspired food item but may not have a direct view of competition. Premium lounges often do have direct views of competition and ongoing access to fancier food and drink.

For instance, package purchasers can spend $1,750 per person for seats and Premium Lounge access at the July 23 preliminary beach volleyball competition in Alamitos Beach Stadium. That Premium Lounge is expected to include a second-floor open-air terrace, “continuous food and beverage service,” priority entry and a commemorative gift. For the less-spendy Leisure Lounge version of this experience (one drink, one food item, access to a climate-controlled space at the venue), prices start at $625 per person.

A spokesperson said the LA28 On Location hospitality plan currently includes about 13 premium lounges and nine leisure lounges and hospitality pavilions.

Does that cover all the tiers?

Almost. There’s also a hospitality category that outranks all of the others: the Platinum Access packages, which often include luxury accommodations, private suites and private transport. These packages, which often run into thousands of dollars, attract many celebrities and corporate buyers who see the Games as a chance to butter up clients or reward top performers. (To see Platinum Access prices, you’ll have to sign up and wait for a response from On Location’s Platinum Access Team.)

Will more packages be added?

Yes. As with individual tickets, hospitality packages are being gradually rolled out as 2028 nears.

On July 28, for instance, On Location unveiled a “Follow My Team” package, giving fans a chance at enhanced access to their country’s men’s & women’s basketball matches, allowing big spenders to avoid the scramble for individual event tickets. The packages include games in the Group Phases and Quarterfinals. As of Aug. 19, prices for a basketball package started at $5,250 to follow the USA men’s team, $3,150 to follow the USA women’s team. (According to census figures, the median monthly income per capita in L.A. County is about $3,800.)

More hospitality packages are due to open in August for football (soccer). Hospitality package offers for badminton, cricket and rhythmic gymnastics are due later in the year.

An On Location spokesperson said the company is also putting together hospitality packages for the LA28 Paralympic Games. Stand-alone tickets for those Games also will go on sale in 2027.

Does On Location authorize people to resell hospitality packages the way they can resell tickets?

No, said a spokesperson from On Location.

Should people wait for more tickets to become available in 2027, explore the resale market, or spring for a hospitality package now?

That depends on many variables — how much you’re willing to spend, how eager/desperate you are to see a particular sport, how you feel about dealing with the resale market.

LA28 organizers have said more stand-alone tickets will become available in 2027, not through lotteries but first-come, first-served sales.

They have also authorized AXS and Eventim as the “official” marketplace for secondary (resale) tickets, beginning some time in 2027. Organizers have also said that Ticketmaster and Sports Illustrated Tickets will have “verified resale” status.

With so much unknown about availability and pricing in 2027, many have chosen to hold off on any Olympic purchases. Yet for those who can afford it, buying a hospitality package may bring peace of mind. As Tara wrote on Facebook: “I just didn’t want to wait and miss out.”

A U.S. Air Force’s new EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare jet made an appearance near the Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave on Tuesday. The flight was part of a large presence of U.S. and NATO reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft and Polish ground forces arrayed near the strategic Baltic Sea salient bordering Poland and Lithuania. This took place place against the backdrop of growing concerns about increasing Russian aggression in the region – including a growing fears of a potential limited action against a NATO member and concerning Russian naval operations in the Baltic Sea. However, NATO is downplaying the aerial mission as routine and not a reaction to any particular event.

“On 18 August 2026, NATO deployed a specialized reconnaissance and electronic warfare flight package over the Baltic Sea near the Kaliningrad Oblast,” a Polish military official told TWZ on Wednesday. “This operation involved the deployment of a rare US EA-37B ‘Compass Call II’ electronic warfare aircraft, relocated from Greece to Powidz in Poland, which operated alongside an E-3 AWACS and an ARTEMIS II surveillance plane.”

The Polish military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational details, declined to offer further information about the role of the Polish ground forces, how many there were, or how they were equipped.

A NATO official on Wednesday clarified to us that the activity, which is ongoing, is allied in nature and controlled by the U.S., not NATO. We have reached out to U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE) for additional details.

After open-source flight trackers noticed the increased air activity near Kaliningrad on Tuesday, we reached out to NATO spokesman Col. Marty O’Donnell for comment.

“NATO is a defensive Alliance and Allies are constantly honing their defensive abilities,” he explained. “The Allied activity today in the Baltic region involving U.S. and Norwegian fighter aircraft, Polish ground forces, a NATO E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS), and more, which is being overseen by the U.S., is one example of this approach.”

NATO aircraft operating near Kaliningrad is not a unique circumstance. The enclave – separated from Russia and ensconced between two NATO nations and the Baltic Sea – is a key Russian military outpost, hosting an array of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, anti-ship missiles, several squadrons of tactical jets and thousands of troops.It has also been a notorious hub of disruptive Russian electronic warfare activity itself.

However, having an EA-37B operating over the area is of note. This was reportedly the first time one of these highly specialized jets appeared near the enclave. Online flight trackers showed it flying orbits in Polish airspace near Kaliningrad for nearly two hours on Tuesday.

A heavily modified Gulfstream G550 business jet, the aircraft leverages the Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) configuration developed first for the Israel Defense Forces. The jet packs powerful active electronically scanned arrays is designed to provide critical stand-off jamming support, including against enemy radars and communications systems. The EA-37B also has a secondary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) function given its ability to spot, track, and geolocate various types of emitters.

The Air Force is planning to procure 10 of these jets to replace the aging and ever smaller fleet of turboprop EC-130H Compass Call planes, of which only four remain. The 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron flew the first training sortie for the EA-37B on May 2, 2025, and flew its first combat missions during the Operation Epic Fury war against Iran.

The Compass Call is one of, if not the world’s most power airborne EW platform and blinding and deafening Russian forces in the enclave would be critical to minimizing any military impact that capabilities based there could have in a contingency.

As we noted earlier in this story, though NATO is downplaying the activity, it comes amid growing concerns about Russian actions in the region and against the backdrop of the still raging war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, the Russian frigate Admiral Kasatonov escorted the Russian Floating Storage/Production ship Portovyy through the Baltics, according to The Telegraph. It was the second such transit of a Russian warship in the region in recent weeks and part of Moscow’s increasing efforts to protect its energy shipments in the wake of seizures of its shadow fleet vessels by European authorities, the independent Russian The Insider news outlet noted.

IT’S easy to spend a crazy amount of money on holidays. But it doesn’t have to be that way – you just have to know where to look.

Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Forget paying hundreds of pounds just to fight over sunbeds in overpriced resorts like Ibiza and Mykonos – THIS is where to go instead.

We’ve found holiday destinations that give you the same glorious sunshine, golden sand beaches and gorgeous hotels for much, much less.

Think 86p beers, £3 cocktails, flights under 15 quid and entire holidays for the cost of a family meal out.

From dirt-cheap Portugal holidays to five-star Turkish getaways, here’s the foreign holiday destinations where your cash stretches the furthest.

The Algarve, Portugal

Brits looking for maximum bang for their buck this summer should set their sights on The Algarve.

This golden section of Portuguese coastline was crowned Europe’s best-value beach destination in the 2026 Post Office Family Holiday report.

The report compared a list of common holiday costs in 22 European destinations, looking at the price of things like meals out, drinks and everyday holiday items – and The Algarve came out on top.

This cheap holiday hotspot boasts affordable family-friendly hotels plus plenty of cheap flights from airports across the UK.

You can book a flight to Faro for only £14.99 each way with Ryanair, from airports such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and London Stansted.

And according to Wise’s Cost of Living report, a meal out for two here can cost as little as £8.55, while a beer can cost you as little as 86p.

The destination boasts dramatic cliff-backed beaches perfect for exploring by kayak or paddle-board, such as Praia da Marinha with its famous limestone arches, and Benagil Beach with a circular ‘hole in the roof’ cave.

Whether you’re planning to hit the strip in bustling Albufeira or sip cheap coffees in charming coastal towns, your spending money will stretch miles further in this Portuguese region.

Book a holiday: The Algarve

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Golden Club Cabanas in Tavira has a giant outdoor pool lined by palm trees that looks like a tropical oasis.

Here you’re close to the Ria Formosa natural park, where you can go kayaking, bird-watching over the salt marshes, or simply find a beach bar to enjoy a cocktail with a view.

We found a seven night self-catering stay from September 19, with return flights from London Stansted, for £195pp.

BOOK HERE

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast

Holidays to Turkey are looking remarkably cheap this summer, hitting rock-bottom prices that almost look too good to be true.

The good news is, they’re not – and there’s good reason as to why holidays to Turkey are currently so cheap.

The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, said: “There’s never been a better time to grab a bargain break to Turkey.

“With uncertainty over the Middle East conflict, holidaymakers have been looking at the Western Med over the Eastern Mediterranean destinations like Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt.

“But everything is operating normally in all three countries – Foreign Office travel advice has not changed and it is perfectly safe to visit.

“But the reticence of some has led to a fall in demand and with that, prices have started tumbling too.

“On the ground, everything remains the same – only the prices you’ll pay are very attractive as hoteliers and tour operators tempt us to travel.

“With beautiful Mediterranean coastal resorts offering great value, now is the time to grab yourself a sunshine bargain.”

Key spots on the Turkish Riviera that balance bargain prices with beautiful views include Marmaris, with its long seafront promenade, and Bodrum, often dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey.

Book a holiday: Turkey

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The Solivia Hotel is a sprawling five-star property in Antalya, with a Blue Flag private beach and four swimming pools.

The food and drink is all inclusive done right. There’s an extensive buffet in the main restaurant, plus a beach snack bar, pool bar, unlimited ice cream hour and Turkish coffee on tap.

Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Solivia Hotel, with return flights from London Luton, from £555pp.

BOOK HERE

Bulgaria

89p beers, £279 all inclusive holidays and flights under £15 – how could you go wrong?

Bulgaria is one of the most budget-friendly holiday options out there for Brits, and the Bourgas Area was even named the cheapest all inclusive holiday destination in 2026 by Travel Supermarket.

Furthermore, the country continues to appear year after year as a top affordable destination for families in the Post Office Family Holiday Report.

Plus, according to data from Wise, a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant averages £8.82, a cappuccino just 88p, and a beer as little as 89p.

You can even find cheap flights to spots like Plovdiv, Sofia and Burgas from £18 each way on Skyscanner.

Now you know just how cheap this holiday hotspot is – where abouts should you actually stay?

Sunny Beach continues to reign as one of the most affordable spots, with bargain waterparks and hotels, plus a nightlife scene where prices have barely budged.

But there’s a lot more to Bulgaria than Sunny Beach.

If you want a quieter beach break, Sozopol’s golden sands and wooden townhouses offer a far more relaxed feel than Sunny Beach – without bumping up the price tag.

Just 15 minutes outside of Sunny Beach, Nessebar boasts a UNESCO-protected old town with cobbled streets and ancient ruins, plus romantic cliffside dining where meals cost a fraction of Mediterranean prices.

Prefer a city break? Sofia and Plovdiv are excellent choices. Sofia boasts dirt-cheap metro rides, grand architecture, and bargain nightlife, while Plovdiv’s trendy Kapana district lets you sip 88p coffees surrounded by ancient Roman ruins.

Book a holiday: Bulgaria

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The Sunny Day Club hotel is an ideal spot for families, sitting in a quieter, northern patch of Sunny Beach.

The buzzy bars, shops and restaurants of Sunny Beach are just a short bus ride away, with a convenient bus stop directly outside the hotel.

Book a seven-night, room-only stay at Sunny Day Club from September 17, with return flights from London Luton, from £179pp.

BOOK HERE

Albanian Riviera

If you’re craving vibey beach clubs, cheap cocktails, white sands and glimmering turquoise waters – Albania‘s your best bet.

This underrated holiday destination has jaw-dropping coastlines, dirt-cheap drinks, and a five-star feel without the price tag.

And it’s worth booking yourself a holiday here before too many people catch on, too.

Ksamil has even been called the “Maldives of Europe” thanks to its powdery white sands, crystal-clear lagoons, and plush beach clubs.

Another affordable spot is Durres, which is packed with boujee beach clubs and bars.

Head to Sunset Bar for front-row seats to the Adriatic coast and cocktails for a dirt-cheap 300 LEK (£2.75).

Here you can kick back on plush striped sofas, sip a cocktail, and soak in the legendary local sunsets.

Another cheap cocktail bar that actually feels high-end is Illyrian Garden, which has a 360-degree rooftop garden serving drinks from 500 LEK (£4.60).

Book a holiday: Albania

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The 5-star Royal G Max hotel has a private stretch of soft sand beach, a large spa with a sauna and hot tub, plus several swimming pools.

If you like a sun lounger holiday where you can lazily drift between the pool and the sea in a glamorous setting, this is it.

Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at Royal G Max from October 13, with return flights from London Luton, from £449pp.

BOOK HERE

Agadir, Morocco

Agadir bagged the top spot as the cheapest destination for a seven-night summer holiday in 2026, according to research from Loveholidays.

The holiday booking site analysed package deals running between June 1 and August 31, with the Moroccan hotspot coming out on top.

According to their booking data, week-long holidays here averaged just £230 per person for a week away.

Agadir is a sunshine-drenched resort guaranteeing year-round heat, plus a six-mile stretch of beach and a vibrant old town bustling with colourful souks.

It’ s an extraordinarily cheap option thanks to plenty of budget airline routes and affordable package holiday deals from sites like Loveholidays and On the Beach.

Plus you can book a flight to Agadir from as little as £20.99 each way with Ryanair.

On top of wallet-friendly flights and accommodation, Morocco’s low local cost of living means dining out, watersports, and day trips can cost a fraction of the price compared to traditional European hotspots.

The average price of a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant here, according to Wise, is only £3.99.

Book a holiday: Agadir

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For a stress-free family getaway, stay in an apartment at the Appart Hotel Igoudar.

Enjoy a spacious apartment with a well-stocked kitchenette and private terrace, and spend days soaking up the sun on a lounger and taking dips in the outdoor pool.

The building is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture and makes for both a relaxing and authentic Moroccan stay.

Loveholidays offer a five-night, room-only stay at the Appart Hotel Igoudar from September 27, including return flights from London Stansted, for £129pp.

BOOK HERE

Costa Blanca, Spain

Spain‘s Costa Blanca remains a reliably cheap option for a sunny holiday abroad – plus the quick and easy 2.5 hour flight goes by in a flash.

Spots like Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura are traditional Spanish towns where costs stay low.

Guardamar has a 6.8 mile-long, white sand beach, while Torrevieja is home to bubblegum-pink salt lakes like the Laguna Rosa and Blue Flag beaches like the palm-lined stretch of Los Naufragos.

But it wouldn’t be the Costa Blanca without Benidorm, which continues to reign as the final boss of budget breaks.

Holiday Expert Rob Brooks ranks Benidorm among the top destinations for Brits to bag a cheap holiday – and a cheap beer, too.

He said: “If there’s one destination refusing to let the £1 pint disappear quietly, it’s Benidorm.

“People love to moan that the strip isn’t as cheap as it used to be, and to be fair, they’re almost right.

“But every time I go looking for a proper value holiday, Benidorm still cleans up – and there’s one legendary venue everyone mentions: Uncle Ron’s.

“They’re famously flying the flag for the €1 pint long after everyone else moved on, making it the ultimate first pitstop to prove the old-school Benidorm spirit is alive and kicking.”

Book a holiday: Costa Blanca

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What kid would say no to a pirate island-themed mega resort in sunny Spain?

The Magic Pirates Island Resort in Benidorm has a mega kids pool called Battleship Lagoon, with play boats and jets, plus more relaxed pools for grown-ups with hot tubs and Balinese beds.

Best of all, a stay here gives you free unlimited entry to the Aqua Natura waterpark right next door, as well as free access to Terra Natura Zoo.

Book a five night stay with breakfast from October 10, including return flights from London Luton, for £287pp. (Kids stay free – restrictions apply).

BOOK HERE

FORGET boring B&B stays – weekend getaways just got a lot more exciting.

Best Western have put together loads of unique “GEM packages“, which include not just your hotel stay – but food, drinks and quirky activities and attractions, too.

These value-packed package deals that bundle everything from private hot tubs with free-flowing Prosecco to psychic readings into one price.

Whether you’re wanting the ultimate girls’ night in or a couples’ Peak District hiking break, these staycation deals do all the planning for you.

Peak District adventure stay

Explore the great outdoors in comfort with this GEM stay at Mosborough Hall Hotel.

Here all your meals will be taken care of, including breakfast, a two-course dinner, plus a packed lunch to take out with you on your adventures.

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You’ll also be given a hiking map packed with trails to explore, plus free flask refills of hot drinks to keep you energised and hydrated.

With everything taken care of, all that’s left for you to do is get out into nature and soak up the beautiful sights around you.

Some of the top walking trails nearby include Mosborough and Eckington Woods, as well as the bluebell-dotted Moss Valley Trails.

Return back to Darcy’s restaurant and grab a well-deserved drink from the hotel’s cocktail bar, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful weekend away.

Book the Peak District stay at the Mosborough Hall Hotel from £113.80 per night

The “Ultimate Girls’ Night In’ staycation

You and your best mates, a hot tub lodge, flowing Prosecco and takeaway for dinner – what’s not to love?

The Ultimate Girls’ Night In Package at Brackenborough Lakes does what it says on the tin, and provides the perfect recipe for a girly staycation.

Brackenborough Lakes & Resort is a peaceful hideaway close to the historic market town of Louth. On-site there’s a bar and restaurant, plus evening entertainment like music tribute acts.

This package includes an overnight stay in a modern lodge with a stylish interior, plus decking and an outdoor hot tub overlooking the serene lake.

That’s not all – you’ll get THREE chilled bottles of Prosecco upon arrival, £15 takeaway credit per person, and a continental breakfast of bacon baps, fruit, pastries, juice and more delivered right to your door.

Book the Ultimate Girls Night In package in Louth from £89pp

Indulgent Yorkshire Cream Tea break

Two nights in a Victorian countryside hotel, Cream Tea, two-course dinners, wine, breakfast and even a packed lunch? This Yorkshire break is truly indulgent.

Upon arrival to The Craiglands Hotel, you’ll be treated to Cream Tea with scones and your choice of tea or coffee in the hotel Brasserie.

Then it’s time to explore the grounds or simply rest up in the room before sitting down to a two-course dinner with a seasonal, locally-sourced menu. Plus you’ll get to celebrate your getaway with a free bottle of wine or Prosecco.

Enjoy a Full English in the morning and grab your packed lunch to go, ready for a day of exploring Ilkley Moor or the Yorkshire Dales.

Then it’s back in time for dinner again, before lazily rolling out of bed with included late check-out in the morning. Dreamy.

Book the Indulgent Yorkshire Break package from £150 per night

Mind-blowing Clairvoyant stay in Bradford

If you’re into all things psychics and mediums, you’ll want to book onto this unique Evening with a Clairvoyant stay in Bradford.

Enjoy a two-course meal and free tickets to an event with Steven Holbrook, one of the UK’s top clairvoyants with thousands of Facebook followers.

During the event, Steven shares messages and connections with audience members in a goosebumps-inducing experience.

Then simply retire to your comfy room in the Bradford Guide Post Hotel, before waking up to a cooked breakfast to start your day.

Book the Clairvoyant Stay package from £111.48 per night

Click here to browse even more GEM package deals including tennis, golf and 80’s disco weekend breaks.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

THERE’S no doubt that Spanish islands are popular and soon you will be able to fly to one with British Airways for the first time, from the UK’s biggest airport.

BA is launching flights between London Heathrow Airport and Fuerteventura Airport in the Canary Islands from winter 2026.

Starting December 13, the flights will take off twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.

Thursday departures will leave Heathrow at 7:05am, arriving into Fuerteventura at 11:30am.

The return flight will then leave Fuerteventura at 12:30pm and arrive back at Heathrow at 4:50pm.

Then the Sunday departure will take off at 10:05am from Heathrow and return from Fuerteventura at 3:40pm.

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The route will replace British Airways‘ Euroflyer route which was planned between London Gatwick Airport and Fuerteventura.

And it will be the first time the airline flies direct to the destination from Heathrow.

Fuerteventura boasts more than 3,000 hours of sunshine every year and compared to the other popular Canary Islands spots such as Tenerife and Lanzarote, it is more affordable.

In fact, Fuerteventura holiday packages can be between 30 per cent and 40 per cent cheaper during peak periods compared to higher-demand spots, like Tenerife.

Fuerteventura is the Canary Islands’ second largest island and when exploring you can head to a number of beaches including Sotavento Beach and Playa de Cofete.

If with the family, there is also Acua Water Park, which boasts a number of waterslides as well as a wave pool and a lazy river.

The island is home to Corralejo Natural Park too, which is ideal for keen hikers wanting to discover the volcanic landscape.

WASHINGTON — The House adopted a Republican-only $95-billion budget proposal Wednesday, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities over objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts in a final push before the midterm elections.

House Republicans were divided over the plan, with conservatives wary because there are no offsetting budget cuts. But Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) plunged ahead, viewing the go-it-alone process as the best chance to usher President Trump’s priorities through the split Congress, despite skepticism in the Senate.

The vote tally was 216-214, with two Republicans and one independent joining Democrats in opposition.

“Just bullets and bombs to finish the job,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), the chairman of the Budget Committee.

Democrats argued the money should be spent at home, particularly on efforts to lower costs for Americans.

“Republicans plan to spend tens of billions of dollars on Trump’s failed war in Iran,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic caucus, said this week. “Think about what we could spend with these resources instead.”

Congress is at a standstill over the U.S. war against Iran — unable to stop Trump’s military strikes, but not having authorized the use of American military force — and politically torn over having to provide billions of taxpayer dollars to pay for it. Most Americans disapprove of Trump’s Iran strategy, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.

The budget battle comes as Trump attended the dignified transfer of four service members killed in the Middle East, bringing the military death toll to 18. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators at a fiery hearing this week that the Pentagon is running short of cash, despite a massive $150 billion one-time allotment in last year’s big budget bill.

Even as the House action advanced the resolution, Johnson’s strategy faces uncertainty in the Senate.

The package has $60 billion for the Pentagon and $13 billion for other national security needs, $12 billion for farmers struggling under Trump’s tariffs and $10 billion for voting law changes aligned with the SAVE America Act and proof-of-citizenship requirements that are Trump’s top priority.

Republicans are relying on the budget reconciliation process, which enables approval on a majority vote in Congress, bypassing the Senate’s ability to filibuster the measure to stall or kill it.

Once rare, the reconciliation process is now Johnson’s preferred strategy for pushing proposals through Congress. It’s the way Republicans approved Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill last summer and funded Homeland Security this year over Democrats’ refusal to fund Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

“No matter how you feel about current events, these funds are necessary to ensure our fighting forces remain ready, our troops are paid and our nation is safe,” said Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said, “Republicans have literally ripped food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans to sustain the Trump war machine.”

Among those opposed was Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, a former Republican turned independent who said he felt any war funding bill should be bipartisan. He also wanted to ensure Congress had a “much higher level of involvement” in bringing the war to an end, and he said this proposal did not set that process in motion.

Republicans Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio also voted against.

This is the third time GOP leaders have relied on reconciliation, dubbing this version 3.0, and it’s a lengthy process. If the House approves the budget resolution, it next goes to the Senate for a round-the-clock session to consider politically tough amendments — something senators would rather avoid in an election year.

The budget resolution sets out instructions for the various committees to draft legislation, which Johnson hopes could be done this summer, with final voting on the package once lawmakers return after the August recess.

Senators pan House’s budget and have their own ideas

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has been noncommittal on the House package that also divides his own GOP majority, with some Republican senators preferring more money for the military and others demanding the costs be offset with cuts elsewhere.

“We’ll see,” Thune said this week.

Thune’s focus, at the moment, is avoiding another government shutdown. He wants the Senate to approve a stopgap funding measure, called a continuing resolution, to provide routine government funding before lawmakers leave for the summer break.

If senators are unable to reach agreement on government funding, Thune has said he may hold onto the House’s budget resolution and use it later in the fall as a way to push the resolution through the Senate over objections. He wants to prevent a federal shutdown when current funds expire on Sept. 30.

“It’s a possibility that, if necessary, we could pull that budget resolution passed by the House and use it to fund government,” Thune said. “I hope that’s not necessary.”

Thune has also clashed with Trump over the president’s push for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voting. The measure, while popular among Trump’s most ardent supporters, does not have enough support among Senate Republicans for passage.

It’s already against the law for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and experts warn the proposed new rules could make it more difficult for eligible Americans to cast ballots.

Mascaro writes for the Associated Press.

Bournemouth have agreed an initial fee of £21.4m rising to £25.7m with add-ons for Elche striker Alvaro Rodriguez.

The 21-year-old is set to complete his medical and sign a five-year deal at the Vitality Stadium on Monday.

Real Madrid will receive 50% of any transfer fee for the Uruguay youth international, who is also eligible to represent Spain, after selling him to their La Liga rivals last summer.

Bournemouth are looking to strengthen their squad after qualifying for the Europa League with a record Premier League finish under Andoni Iraola, who left to become Liverpool manager.

Former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund boss Marco Rose has succeeded Iraola, with the Cherries targeting a striker and a left-sided centre-back this summer.

Any striker signing would provide competition and support for Evanilson, while the club are also open to selling Turkey forward Enes Unal for the right price.

Bournemouth are hoping for a more stable summer than last year, when three of the club’s first-choice back four and their starting goalkeeper departed.

Several clubs have expressed an interest in midfielder Alex Scott, who is reported to be valued at about £80m.

However, club sources insist he is not for sale despite enquiries from Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Bournemouth hope Scott will sign a new contract on improved terms, potentially including an agreement that would allow him to leave in the future for a predetermined fee, similar to the arrangement that preceded Antoine Semenyo’s move to Manchester City for a fee in the region of £65m in January.

They have also finalised their pre-season tour in the last 24 hours, announcing games against St Pauli and Augsburg in Austria, along with Real Betis and Mainz away in an effort to get used to European trips, with Genoa also facing the Cherries at their training ground this summer.

June 24 (Asia Today) — Economic benefits are emerging as a potential deciding factor in Canada’s competition to acquire a new submarine fleet, with South Korea promoting a broad industrial cooperation package to counter a larger economic-impact proposal from Germany.

Canada is preparing to select a preferred bidder for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, a program worth as much as 60 trillion won ($39.2 billion).

German shipbuilder TKMS and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean are the two qualified suppliers remaining in the competition.

Canadian Secretary of State for Defense Procurement Stephen Fuhr said this week that both proposals meet the Royal Canadian Navy’s requirements, according to industry officials.

With the technical assessment effectively completed, the economic and industrial benefits offered by each bidder could become increasingly important in the final evaluation.

Based on publicly disclosed projections, TKMS appears to have proposed the larger economic contribution.

The German company said its proposal could generate 160 billion Canadian dollars in economic activity and add 86 billion Canadian dollars to Canada’s gross domestic product over the life of the program.

It also projected employment totaling more than 650,000 job-years.

Hanwha Ocean said South Korea’s proposal could support more than 22,500 Canadian jobs annually, equivalent to more than 400,000 job-years, and generate approximately 94.1 billion Canadian dollars in cumulative GDP contributions.

Industry officials said the scale and feasibility of the proposed partnerships may be more important than a direct comparison of headline figures.

Hanwha Ocean has established partnerships with more than 100 Canadian companies, universities and other organizations.

HD Hyundai Group has proposed several billion dollars in cooperation across the energy, commercial shipbuilding and naval sectors.

Hyundai Motor Group is also supporting the broader South Korean proposal through Project Beaver, an initiative intended to establish a hydrogen mobility ecosystem in Canada.

The effort is part of a government-backed package that seeks to position South Korea as a long-term industrial and security partner rather than simply a submarine supplier.

Germany is also offering substantial government and industrial support.

TKMS has emphasized its cooperation with Norway, which is jointly developing and acquiring Type 212CD submarines with Germany.

Norway has offered to share experience involving submarine design and maintenance, repair and overhaul systems.

The German proposal also highlights the benefits of integrating Canada into an existing supply and support network among North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies.

Sustainment carries greatest weight

Canada’s evaluation structure places the greatest emphasis on the ability to support the submarines throughout their operational lives.

Sustainment accounts for 50% of the assessment, while the submarine platform itself represents 20%.

Financial considerations account for 15%, with strategic and economic partnerships making up the remaining 15%.

The weighting indicates that Canada’s primary concern is not simply acquiring advanced submarines but ensuring that it can operate and maintain them reliably for several decades.

Some industry observers have cautioned that excessive attention to economic projections could distract from the program’s core defense objectives.

Both South Korea and Germany have proposed major investments, local partnerships and job-creation plans.

Critics say an escalating competition over economic promises could transform a military procurement decision into a broader contest for foreign investment.

The figures presented by the bidders are also based on different assumptions, industries and time periods, making direct comparisons difficult.

The projected employment numbers may include jobs supported for multiple years rather than distinct permanent positions.

“The technological capabilities, delivery competitiveness and industrial cooperation package offered by South Korean shipbuilders are clear strengths,” a South Korean shipbuilding industry official said.

“Both countries are making an all-out effort, so it remains difficult to predict the outcome before the final decision.”

South Korea stresses delivery and industrial ties

Hanwha Ocean is offering a Canadian version of its KSS-III submarine, a platform developed for and operated by the South Korean Navy.

South Korea has emphasized its shipbuilding capacity and ability to deliver vessels within Canada’s accelerated timetable.

The proposal also includes Canadian participation in construction, maintenance, technology development and supply chains extending beyond the submarine program.

South Korean companies have pursued cooperation with Canadian businesses in steel, automotive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy and critical minerals.

The package is intended to demonstrate that selecting Hanwha Ocean would produce economic benefits across multiple regions and industries in Canada.

TKMS, meanwhile, is offering a submarine supported by the German and Norwegian governments and an established European defense network.

Its proposal stresses operational compatibility with NATO allies, shared training and access to a multinational submarine supply chain.

Canada is expected to announce its preferred approach between late June and early July. Industry officials said a decision could come as early as this week.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260624010008524

June 23 (UPI) — Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a sweeping bipartisan housing package that seeks to lower housing costs and expand homeownership access, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

The House voted 358-32 in favor of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Tuesday night, with 41 lawmakers not voting.

On Monday, the Senate passed the bill in a similarly overwhelming 85-5 outcome.

“This bill speaks to the real change that our constituents have been demanding, where everyone can afford a dignified place to call home, where tenants are protected and where working Americans can finally get ahead,” Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., ranking member of the House Committee on Financial Services, said from the House floor on Tuesday.

The vote follows months of haggling over the bill’s content by the House and Senate and Democrats and Republicans. In the end, the sweeping bill includes more than 60 pieces of legislation, 36 of which were sponsored by bipartisan lawmakers, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The bill aims to increase housing supply while lowering costs, limiting corporate and institutional ownership for rental purposes and expanding financing for lower-income individuals.

Provisions target bureaucracy to hasten development while seeking to modernize federal housing programs and banking regulations to expand local lending and offer incentives to local governments that prioritize more housing.

Habitat for Humanity, the global nonprofit aimed at helping families build homes, applauded the legislation’s passage on Tuesday, saying it “will bring homeownership within reach for more Americans by tackling longstanding barriers in the housing system.”

“With the passage of this major legislative package, Congress has demonstrated strong, bipartisan leadership by coming to an agreement and taking a critical step in addressing the nation’s housing affordability challenge,” Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer at Habitat for Humanity International, said in a statement.

The steeply divided Congress came together to pass legislation as the United States faces what some have called a housing affordability crisis.

The United States is facing a housing shortage that is disproportionately affecting lower-income individuals.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States is experiencing a shortage of 7.2 million affordable units for low-income renters, with only 35 such rental homes in existence for every 100 low-income renter households.

The nonprofit said extremely low-income renters face the shortage in every state.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., described the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act as “transformational legislation” that will “help the housing affordability problem, reduce regulations so builders can build, limit institutional investing in the housing market and bring the American Dream back into reach for millions of young and working families.”

“Congress is paving a path back to homeownership for American families who have been locked out for far too long,” he said in a social media statement Tuesday night.

THE thought of going on holiday alone may fill many with terror but if you’re struggling to find a travel companion, a solo travel specialist is the perfect solution.

Friendship Travel, which creates sociable breaks for solo travellers, offers trips across the globe, from snowboarding in France to safaris in Kenya, Nile cruises, walking tours, pottery-painting experiences and book-reading breaks.

You can even just flake out on a Caribbean beach.

I’m just back from a watercolour painting week in Olhao, a fishing town in Portugal’s Algarve region.

I have a husband and two grown-up kids who could travel with me, but none of them shares my love of art.

So a week-long retreat with budding painters, coached by an experienced artist, sounded perfect.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

It’s only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Gatwick to Faro in Portugal, so I passed the time reading Plein Air Painting With Watercolours by Grahame Booth, our tutor for the week.

As I flipped through the glossy pages of stunning step-by-step landscapes, I wondered if I would be able to paint as well as he could. Spoiler alert: I would not.

I’d been nervous about travelling alone, but flying solo was so peaceful that the only time I missed having a companion was when I had to drag my 23kg suitcase (included in the trip) off the baggage carousel.

After a 20-minute transfer, I arrived at Casa Rosa, a pretty boutique hotel on a quiet side street near the market and harbour.

It has en-suite bedrooms, plunge pool, sauna, sun terrace, and fully equipped artists’ studio.

On the first night, all the guests were due to meet over dinner in the dining room.

I had my last moment of panic before I left my room that evening, picturing myself either being an immediate outcast or swallowed up by a group of misfits.

But I was wrong on both counts.

There were ten of us, ranging in age from early 20s to mid-80s.

Eight women (including me), Jasper, a very posh elderly gentleman from Dublin, and Grahame, our tutor.

Over the wine and three-course meal (included in the price), we all bonded and shared our reasons for travelling solo.

Some, like Jasper and Kate — a cool, retired film producer from Florida who was travelling with her daughter Liz — were widowed and wanted to spend time with fellow art-lovers.

Others, like Oonagh, a glamorous ex-pat living in Portugal, and Pauline, an outgoing Irish woman who runs her own craft shop, had husbands at home who weren’t keen on painting.

Sue, one of the younger guests, runs art classes online and wanted to pick up new techniques.

It was a fun, chatty group, and as I crashed out in my enormous double bed at 10pm, sipping from the complimentary flask of herbal tea that had appeared on my bedside table, I felt I was among friends.

The week followed an easy routine.

Every morning we’d all meet at 8.30am and eat a buffet-style breakfast together at a long, sunny table outside on the terrace.

There were warm pastries, oats, local honey, cold meats and cheeses, fresh coffee and juice.

To give you an idea of the quality of the food, the jeans I wore flying over to Portugal wouldn’t button up for the journey home.

Then we’d gather up our art materials and Grahame would lead us to a variety of local beauty spots and attempt to teach us how to sketch and paint outdoors.

He is a very funny teacher, who’d regularly offer down-to-earth advice like, “If you can’t draw cars, don’t!” or, “If it looks right when it’s wet, then it’s wrong”.

We all sat behind him, watching in awe as his brush rapidly covered his paper in sloshy, brisk marks that eventually became the bustling outdoor cafe, a calm church or the fish market.

At lunchtime we were left to our own devices and I took to escaping for a Sagres (the local beer) to boost my confidence for the afternoons, when we’d paint our own pictures.

We could either paint out on the streets — where passers-by would pause next to my sketchbook and shoot confused looks between my picture and the landscape I was failing to recreate — or upstairs at the hotel’s own studio.

The three-course dinner each night featured local dishes including quiches, pork, soups and barbecued fish.

The hotel happily catered to the vegetarians and gluten-free guests, as well.

On two nights we went out as a group to a restaurant, and treated locals to a medley of Les Mis songs as we walked back to the hotel.

There was lots of free time to go shopping. Olhao is famous for its hand-made cork, ceramics and mosaics, and one day we all took a boat trip over to Culatra Island.

On the last evening, Grahame organised a critique of everyone’s work.

My nerves returned and I expected him to either set fire to my sketchbook or suggest I book myself on to Friendship Travel’s other activity holidays (pottery painting, perhaps, or book reading), but he was shockingly positive.

And then we had a riotous and boozy last dinner together, with a talent show organised by Pauline.

It’s a week I’d gladly repeat.

The service from Friendship Travel was kind and personal, and I felt supported every minute of the trip.

Mind you, it was lovely to see my husband waiting for me in arrivals — so I could finally stop dragging my own case.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans will look to get nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement over the finish line Tuesday, enough to fund a pair of Homeland Security agencies through the next three years and the rest of President Donald Trump’s time in office.

Speaker Mike Johnson will need near perfect attendance and unity on his side to complete weeks of action on the bill. The legislation got sidetracked when Republicans sought to include $1 billion for enhanced security on the White House grounds, including for Trump’s new ballroom, and the Trump administration tried to create a nearly $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies of the president who claim they have been unjustly investigated and prosecuted. Those proposals proved politically toxic and were scrapped.

Now, the bill is focused entirely on immigration enforcement, a topic that Republicans have treated as a defining issue between the two major political parties and one they hope will carry them to victory in this year’s midterm elections. The bill provides $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion for the Border Patrol and another $5 billion to cover unforeseen costs, fueling Trump’s deportation agenda.

“It’s long overdue,” said Johnson, R-La., of the bill. “We have to fund border security and immigration enforcement, and it’s sad that Republicans have to do it on our own.”

Funding accelerates Trump’s deportation agenda

The funding comes on top of the nearly $140 billion that the Republican-controlled Congress gave ICE and Customs and Border Protection last year as part of Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill.

Democrats objected to giving the agencies more money without significant changes in the way they operate after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. For example, Democrats insisted that agents be required to display their ID badges during enforcement operations and that they get a judicial warrant before entering private property. Instead, the funding will come with virtually no strings attached.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed his party would oppose the package.

“We believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people – not give ICE another $70 billion blank check so that they can unleash brutality on American citizens and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities,” said Jeffries of New York.

Homeland Security faced longest shutdown in history

The package is the result of a monthslong standoff in Congress after Democrats refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of the immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other American cities, leading to the longest shutdown in agency history.

Negotiations had been underway with the White House to alter ICE operations as Democrats were demanding. When those negotiations failed, Republicans turned to a complicated procedural maneuver to get around the filibuster and pass the immigration funding with no Democratic votes.

If approved, the package would next go to Trump for his signature, all but assuring an essentially uninterrupted flow of funds for his immigration enforcement and deportation agenda into 2029.

The Senate completed its work on the legislation last week during an all-night session that extended into the early morning hours Friday. The final 52-47 vote on the bill was nearly party line, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska the only Republican to oppose it.

Money comes at pivotal time for immigration agenda

The money will come at a pivotal time for the Department of Homeland Security, which is under new leadership after Trump replaced Kristi Noem with new Secretary Markwayne Mullin in March.

While Mullin has vowed to keep the department out of the headlines, the administration is under pressure from anti-immigration advocates to deliver on Trump’s campaign promise of the largest deportation operation in American history.

So far, the administration has not hit its goal of 1 million deportations a year, but Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has promised more to come, including hinting at immigration enforcement actions in New York, the nation’s biggest city, which is heavily Democratic.

At the same time, the administration is making it more difficult for legal immigrants to remain in the U.S. by working to end Temporary Protective Status, changing the processes for obtaining green cards and leaving some Dreamers — the young people who were brought illegally to the U.S. as children — reporting delays in renewing their status, which allows them to stay and work.

Tight vote ahead

On the House side, Johnson has little margin for error. Republicans can afford to lose only a couple of votes if every lawmaker is present. GOP leadership opted to avoid any hiccups and sent lawmakers home last week rather than take up the bill early Friday once the Senate had completed its all-nighter.

The bill is just a slim package, without the hundreds of pages of details and directives that typically come from Congress when it provides funding for agencies.

Leading up to the vote, Democrats portrayed DHS as an agency that has used its new resources to buy private jets for its leadership, warehouse immigrants in deplorable conditions and attack U.S. citizens.

“To give these rogue agencies another $70 billion now when they still have $100 billion in the bank from last year would implicate all of us in the escalating corruption and shameful actions of this department,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking Democratic member on the House Judiciary Committee.

Republicans countered that they were fulfilling their duty to safeguard the nation and support the men and women charged with enforcing the law.

“Democrats can say whatever they want, but what it’s about is public safety. What’s it about is keeping Americans safe,” said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn.

Freking and Mascaro write for the Associated Press.

Important message for anyone with a package holiday booked

Travel expert Simon Calder has shared important advice for anyone with a package holiday booked, as people are being urged to act ‘as soon as possible’. His message comes ahead of the peak travel season, and as new research by Citizens Advice has revealed that four million people have faced issues with their package holiday over the last year.

On today’s (June 8) episode of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, TV host Kate Garraway spoke to correspondent Nick Dixon about the findings. He said: “The complaints that we’ve been hearing about were involving all-inclusive holidays, with many saying they just didn’t ultimately match up to the glossy brochures we see online, or indeed at the travel agents.

“Citizens Advice say that they found 33% of holiday-related complaints ultimately were about things like poor quality hotels, bad food, facilities being unavailable as well – 19% down to customer service.” He added: “Things like long waits on the phone, complaints ignored and administration errors, and 25% of complaints ultimately led to stress, anxiety or upset.

“And if your dream holiday does turn into a wee bit of a nightmare, there are steps you can take… Many of us with these kinds of complaints about our holidays end up trying to fight for compensation, which is why it is so important to keep a record of everything just in case to have any chance of getting money back.”

British travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder then spoke to viewers, sharing a crucial message for those with a package holiday, especially if they encounter problems during their trip. He urged holidaymakers to act ‘immediately’.

He said: “If you get to your destination and things aren’t right, maybe there’s a problem with your room, maybe the facilities are simply not as described, then you have to give the travel company immediate notice and allow them the opportunity to sort things out.”

How can I claim compensation for a holiday?

Reporting a problem right away is a legal concept called “mitigating your losses”. If you don’t allow the travel provider to address the room or facilities issue while you’re there, you could really hurt your chances of receiving a full refund or compensation.

Citizens Advice says: “If you’re still on holiday, tell the company or travel agent about the problem as soon as possible. You might be able to get it sorted quicker – like if there’s a problem with the room. If you don’t say anything until you get home, you might get less compensation or none at all.”

The person you need to contact depends on how you arranged your holiday. If you went for a package holiday, reach out to the customer service team of the tour operator you chose.

However, if you organised it yourself or set up a linked travel arrangement, you should contact the accommodation or service provider directly, such as the hotel or the company offering excursions. Make sure you include:

• your booking reference
• clear details of what went wrong
• copies any evidence you have – like photos
• copies of receipts
• how much compensation you want

Citizens Advice adds: “It’s a good idea to send the letter by registered post and keep a copy, so you have proof that the holiday company received it. You can also email them – some of them have online forms. Keep a copy of what you send. If the company makes you an offer that you think is too low, you can ask for more. They might come back to you with a higher offer.”

Of the complaints made to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, 42% involved all-inclusive packages abroad

More than four million people had problems with a package holiday in the past year, a survey for Citizens Advice suggests. The survey found 76% of adults had been on a package holiday before, and 34% of them had experienced a problem. Some 8% had suffered an issue within the last 12 months specifically, equating to an estimated four million travellers, it said.

The charity said it received about 14 complaints a day about package holidays, including issues such as unexpected changes to the hotel, denied refunds, and poor customer service. Of the 3,500 package holiday complaints made to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service in the past year, 42% involved all-inclusive packages abroad.

A third of complaints (33%) related to the quality of the holiday falling short of the agreed deal, such as hotels being misdescribed, bad food or unavailable facilities. Customer service failures made up 19% of complaints, including long waits on the phone, ignored complaints and administration errors made by firms.

As a result, one in four of those who experienced an issue with a package holiday (25%) said they suffered stress, anxiety or upset, while 17% had to pay extra for daily expenses. Citizens Advice encouraged holidaymakers to check what protections were included within their booking.

One complainant, Zorana, a semi-retired NHS doctor from north-east England, reported spending £6,300 on an all-inclusive, seven-night trip to Lanzarote with her daughter through a UK holiday operator. Torrential rain on the second day resulted in “nightmare” flooding, leaving hotel guests without electricity, water, food or internet.

However the woman said she received no on-site support from their operator, causing them considerable stress. Zorana, 66, said: “We spent the morning on the beach and planned the sauna for later. But when we were eating lunch the rain started and didn’t stop.

“By the time we got to the spa, the hotel told us we couldn’t go in because it was flooded. Half an hour later the electricity had gone. Without electricity, everything stopped. There was no more internet and no more water because the pumps were not working.

“We all gathered in the hotel lobby, to hear what was going on. It was the weekend and reps from all the other travel companies were there, talking with people, reassuring them, giving them information. Some were already distributed to other places. We asked, ‘Where is our rep?’ And we were told he doesn’t work on weekends.

“We were very angry. Hotel staff told us our travel company was always a problem and never helped people. We came home after five days and I started to chase the travel company for a refund. But the customer service adviser said they can’t deal with it because compensation was offered. But their offer was not adequate.

“I mentioned the lack of support, the delay, the value of the holiday, that I had to find and pay for another hotel, and because of this it was reasonable that they should give me all my money back. I feel a victim twice over because I had the stress of our holiday being ruined, and then months of trying to get compensation.”

Citizens Advice consumer spokeswoman Jane Parsons said: “Too often, people are left stressed and disappointed when their dream holidays are spoiled because they’re not getting what they paid for. To make matters worse, they’re having to spend a lot of time and effort trying to resolve issues, sometimes with no luck.

“A record of any issues that occur and evidence should be kept – like clear details of what went wrong and when, photos and receipts. If something goes wrong with your holiday you might be able to get compensation from the company you booked with. You should tell them about any issues as soon as possible – if you don’t say anything until you get home you might get less compensation, or none at all.”

Chartered Trading Standards Institute chief executive John Herriman said: “This research highlights the real impact poor practice in the travel sector can have on consumers, specifically the problems for consumers booking holidays online, particularly through social media.

Left out of pocket

“Too many people are left out of pocket or dealing with stress when holidays don’t meet what was promised. What should be a time to relax and unwind can turn into the opposite. While it’s vital consumers understand their rights, check the protections included and keep clear records if something goes wrong, businesses must meet their legal obligations and ensure they deliver the standard of service people have paid for – and resolve issues raised quickly.

“Strong consumer protection depends on both informed consumers and responsible traders.”

Consumers are entitled to compensation for a holiday if it was lower in value than the one booked, spending extra money was required because of a problem, a large part of the booked services were not provided, something goes wrong that causes distress or disappointment or if the holiday was completely ruined.

Yonder surveyed 2,018 adults between April 17-19 about their experiences with package holidays, including problems. Respondents were asked to exclude issues outside the operator’s control, like geopolitical events or natural disasters.