ripoff

THE price for passenger drop-offs at London’s second busiest airport has jumped 40 percent.

That’s a £3 increase from previous charge of £7 and will apply to all drivers entering the drop off zone, excluding Blue Badge holders.

From today London Gatwick will have the highest drop-off fees in the country thanks to the new £10 charge.

The price has steadily increased over the years since it was first introduced in 2021 and was only £5.

It jumped to £6 in 2024 before being increased to £7 just a year later in May 2025.

“Poor old passengers and drivers are getting another blow to the pocket,” complained travel writer Andy Mossack in an interview with BBC Radio Surrey.

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“It is disgraceful.”

London Gatwick, which is the busiest single runway airport in Europe, said it was “not a decision they took lightly”.

However, it cited reasons such as the “doubling of business rates” as one of the reasons for the increase in cost.

A spokesperson for Gatwick suggested passengers could use the free shuttle bus if they are dropped of in the long stay car park.

They added: “We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations.

“Many local bus routes serve the airport 24  hours a day, seven days a week.”

Drop off fees have also increased at London Heathrow with its drop off fee increasing from £6 to £7 on January 1.

It is also introducing a strict 10-minute drop off time, with drivers charged £80 if they go over.

And London City, the last of the London airports to allow free drop offs, will be introducing a new charge in 2026 as well.

HAVE you ever holidayed in Spain and wondered if you’re saying the right thing or if there’s an easy way to order at a restaurant? One language expert has the answers.

James Smith, who has been teaching Spanish for years and now runs Learn Spanish with James, has revealed to Sun Travel his top tips from ordering food to the lesser-known spots to visit in Spain.

When it comes to speaking Spanish, James says while you might not be an expert (yet), there’s no harm in trying.

Talking to Sun Travel, James said: “People make mistakes in English everyday, but when it’s in a foreign language they worry about sounding silly.

“In Spain they’d just be happy if you try, and you’ll get much better service if you’ve made an effort to speak Spanish with them rather than the expectation for them to speak English – that’s when you start getting free shots to the table.”

Here’s one way to do this in a restaurant, rather than just speaking English more loudly and slowly.

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James explained: “In order to sound quite colloquial, in Spain, you can say ‘me das’ or ‘me pones’ followed by what you want to ask for which is a very Spanish thing.

“It means, ‘can you get me this?’ – in English we’d say ‘can I have?’. On its own if you say it without the context of food it would mean ‘you turn me on’. But you’ll hear it all the time in restaurants and it doesn’t mean that.

“So for example you can say, ‘me pones un café con leche por favor’ – and always remember to say thank you afterwards.”

When it comes to pronouncing words in Spanish, other top tips include pronouncing ‘ll’ like ‘y’ – which will come in handy the next time you order a tasty paella.

Another example is that a ‘z’ is actually a ‘th’ sound and so is the letter ‘c’.

When it comes to holidaying in Spain, most Brits will head to restaurants for fresh seafood and patatas bravas – but there’s one Spanish classic that James warns against ordering a lot of.

James explained: “I would say anywhere you’re going where you have tapas as your main meal, you’re probably going to get ripped off.”

He continued: “You’re meant to have small tapa with a drink – it originates from people trying to stop flies in the alcohol, so they’d give you a ‘tapa’ which means lid in Spanish and put it on top of their glass.

“It’s only meant to be a small dish but now people have jumped on that and charge £15 for tapas when in reality, it was a freebie with a drink. I never have it as a main meal.”

Another sign of an inauthentic restaurant, according to James, is if there are pictures on the menu – or you see Spanish cuisine alongside egg and chips.

If you want some good recommendations but aren’t sure where to find them, then James says just ask.

He told us: “I always ask the hotel staff for a place to go and eat where tourists usually don’t go and they’re more than happy to help you.”

Most Brits head to the likes of Barcelona and Madrid, but aside from the major cities, where would James suggest to visit?

He said: “The Hanging Houses of Cuenca, which are just outside of Madrid. I would say like always look for these kind of day trips when you visit like the main cities.

“Toledo is another one, in the south of Spain, and Cádiz has the best beaches in Spain.”

James has been learning Spanish since he was a child, having taken an interest playing football in rural Spain.

He then studied the language at university before heading off to Buenos Aires and Costa Rica.

Now, he runs Learn Spanish with James suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced speakers – by signing up you can get a free email series with tips on how to learn the language.

Check out Learn Spanish with James and you can also keep up with James on TikTok.

Plus, one travel writer who’s visited 100 countries always goes back to these Spanish islands…

Robin McKelvie has travelled all over the world but reveals the place he goes back to the most are these Spanish islands…

“Despite having travelled to more than 100 countries in my time as a travel writer, the place I always return to is much closer to home. Having first visited the Canary Islands in Spain back in 1998, I’ve been back at least once a year on holiday.

“In Tenerife alone you can party at the world’s second biggest carnival, bash around the world’s best waterpark (Siam Park) and climb a mountain almost three times higher than Britain’s Ben Nevis.

“La Graciosa could be on a different planet. There are no tarmac roads, nevermind an airport.

“It’s a brilliant escape from the modern world, hiking and
cycling around rough tracks, up volcanoes and out to windswept beaches.

“Lanzarote and Gran Canaria boast Michelin star restaurants and foodies flock to Tenerife to dine at eight Michelin star restaurants.

“Tenerife boasts more Michelin stars than Wales and the Royal Hideaway Corales Resort has more stars than any hotel in Spain with four!

“And Tenerife just keeps winning stars. This year Il Bocconcino snared one. As a Scot I know when hiking is brilliant. Tenerife has massive variety, as does Gran Canaria, but my top tip is La Palma.

“I hiked around what the Canarios call ‘La Isla Bonita’ with Ramble
Worldwide earlier this year. It was a joy soaring with our friendly group of largely British retirees up volcanoes, through thick forests and down to the cobalt Atlantic.”

For more on Spain, one presenter from A Place In The Sun moved to the Costa del Sol where she spends evenings on the beach – but there’s a catch.

Plus, check out the 15 holiday habits Brits need to ditch from dodgy sangrias to pints of lager.

The 2026 World Cup will be held across three countries, and there’s one city using its stadium, which has been named the cheapest destination to visit, with affordable hotels

Football fans are gearing up for a major sporting event as the 2026 World Cup is just months away, and one of the major talking points is price.

England fans were left facing prices starting at £200 for the Group opener with Croatia and over £4,000 for a World Cup final seat, before FIFA made a small concession this week. The footballing body released a new set of cut-price World Cup tickets in the wake of the backlash, now guaranteeing a range of tickets at a fixed cost of £45 for every game at next summer’s tournament.

The cost of travel to the United States, Mexico, or Canada, and the eye-watering price of accommodation once there, means a trip is beyond the means of many hardcore football supporters, even if they manage to obtain one of the cheap tickets.

Happily, there is one host city in particular that bucks the hefty price-tag trend.

Monterrey in Mexico has been named the most affordable host destination to visit during the World Cup. According to Expedia’s Fan Travel Outlook which looked at Hotels.com data, the average daily rate of a hotel in Monterrey is £179, making it the most affordable of all the World Cup hosts.

At its stunning Estadio BBVA stadium, where the Cerro de la Silla mountain hangs over the pitch, four matches will be played. Teams including Tunisia, Japan, South Africa and South Korea will take to the turf.

On match days next June, there are some great deals to be had in Monterrey. They include:

• MV Suites, book on Hotels.com from £42 a night, a double room three miles from the stadium
• Loft MN960 Mty, book on Hotels.com from £83 per night for a room with two double beds in a city centre apartment
• Ibis Monterrey Valle, book on Hotels.com from £387 per night for one standard double room
• Autentico Monterrey, book on Hotels.com from £279 per night for one standard room that sleeps two
• Best Western Plus Monterrey Colon, book on Hotels.com from £320 per night for one standard room that sleeps four

The average hotel room cost in Monterrey is in stark contrast to the cost of a hotel in Vancouver, is currently setting back the average fan £475 for a one night stay.

Monterrey is set against the backdrop of the majestic Sierra Madre mountains, with the addition of parks like Chipinque, making it an ideal destination for hiking, biking, or taking a stroll around the nearby waterfalls. The city itself is modern, with a major industrial and business hub; yet, its culture and food scene, boasting local cuisine, is not to be missed.

Elsewhere, visitors can take advantage of the shopping opportunities at various outlets, explore museums like MARCO, and stroll through the vibrant streets. However, with sprawling landscapes and mountains surrounding Monterrey, the outdoor activities and hiking opportunities may be just what you need.

Mexico City was also named the best value for money during the World Cup. So if you’re hoping to catch a game and save some extra money, these, along with Monterrey, could be your best option.

Head of Expedia Group brands public relations, Melanie Fish, said: “The moment team draws were made, fans swarmed the Expedia app to make travel plans, with football-crazed nations like England leading the front line.

“Expedia’s Fan Travel Outlook is here to help fans come for football, stay for more: road-trip between host cities, fly into alternative airports, don’t forget holiday homes for extra space and use Expedia’s price tracking tool to score the amazing deals.

“The majority of host cities are seeing a surge in searches and prices. Some hotels closest to the stadiums are expected to sell out, so fans who want to make the trip should book sooner rather than later. If your plans aren’t set yet, use the Hotels.com Free Cancellation filter to secure a refundable rate before your options run out.”

For more information or to book your trip for the World Cup next year, you can visit the Expedia or Hotels.com websites.

The 2026 World Cup will kick off on June 11, as 48 football teams compete for their chance to win the coveted trophy for their country, with the final match scheduled for July 19. The World Cup will take place across 16 stadiums, spread across three destinations: 11 in the United States, two in Canada and three in Mexico.

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