simon

The travel expert previously shared his recommendations for a gorgeous yet affordable European summer holiday, and one place is well worth a visit.

If you’re still to book your holiday for 2026, Simon Calder is on hand to help with suggestions on where to go. The travel expert has previously spoken out about his favourite affordable spots to take a trip, and they’re all gorgeous too.

Simon highlighted Portugal, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania as some of the most stunning yet affordable holiday destinations. He said: “In Western Europe, it has to be Portugal and in Eastern Europe, Bulgaria – obviously a very popular package holiday destination.”

In fact, according to research in 2023 by holiday specialists Jersey Island Holidays, Montenegro topped the charts as Europe’s most affordable destination, reports the Express. Although this was a few years ago, the destination still remains very affordable.

For example, Brits can secure a seven-night break in an all-inclusive four-star resort in Herceg Novi next month for £419pp, including flights, according to Love Holidays.

The Iberostar Waves Slavija hotel, which is right by the beach, will only set you back £409 for seven nights — excellent value for money.

It’s cheap when you’re actually there too. According to Cost of Living, the average price of a beer in Montenegro is €2.50, which is around £2.15.

The average pizza costs €12, whereas pasta and meat dishes come in at around €15, according to Porto Montenegro. Flights in April start at just £16 one-way from Gatwick Airport.

But Simon Calder isn’t the only one singing the praises of this holiday destination, as travel bloggers at Wander-lush crowned Montenegro Europe’s most “underrated nation”.

Kotor Bay stands out as one of Montenegro’s most spectacular locations, and conveniently for tourists, the nearest city and airport is Podgorica.

The experts highlighted that whilst Kotor ranks among the most striking towns on Kotor Bay, if they “had to choose the most beautiful place in Montenegro overall, it would be the harbour town of Perast”.

Travel experts at Starsinsider agreed, declaring that Montenegro “is the most underrated jewel of the Mediterranean”.

In Podgorica, one of the top attractions is Saborni Hram Hristovog Vaskrsenja, a “beautiful and very impressive” church that’s “absolutely worth visiting”, according to some travellers on Tripadvisor.

Kotor Bay has earned praise on the platform as “the best coastal road in the world” and a “beautiful and peaceful” destination for a getaway.

“We fell in love with Montenegro. The water is so clear, the mountains come down to the water, and it’s stunning scenery.

“That said, what I love about it is that it’s so unspoiled. I sure hope it can stay that way. So peaceful and lovely,” one person shared in a review.

He has just returned from the UAE with crucial advice

A travel expert has issued a warning to individuals with flights booked to or from the Middle East. The alert comes as tensions continue in the area, with Israel and the US maintaining their strikes on Iran which commenced over a fortnight ago.

Iran continues to hit back with drone and missile attacks on several neighbouring and nearby nations. This resulted in Dubai, a major hub for international travel and home to the world’s busiest airport, temporarily closing its airspace for the second time in 48 hours due to strikes in the vicinity.

Simon Calder, a journalist with the Independent, has just returned from the United Arab Emirates. He provided an update on the current situation for those flying to or from the Middle East, including passengers transiting through the region en route to other destinations.

He stated: “I’ve just arrived at London Heathrow Terminal 4 after a fairly normal flight from Abu Dhabi on Etihad. What wasn’t normal was just how quiet it was when I arrived. Terminal 4, the main hub for the Middle East from London, is frankly a bit of a ghost town. Many of the flights that you would normally expect to see multiple departures on Qatar Airways to Doha and on Etihad to Abu Dhabi are not flying, and there’s also, for instance, Gulf Air based in Bahrain who are not going there.

“Having said that, there’s perhaps more flights than you might expect, given that, for example, Qatar and the UAE are on the Foreign Office no-go list. There’s a departure this evening to Abu Dhabi on Etihad and one a little later on Qatar Airways overnight to Doha. As well as that, El Al is going out to Tel Aviv. Now, you might have heard that the airspace in Israel is closed; well, it kind of is, but if you’ve got permission, and El Al certainly has, then you can go in.

“And finally, Gulf Air is flying from here later on today, but not to the normal destination of Bahrain. Instead, it’s going to Dammam, which is very close by in Saudi Arabia, from where passengers can travel to that island quite happily over the causeway. But bear in mind that the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain are all on the Foreign Office no-go list. If you choose to ignore that advice, then it’s likely your travel insurance will not be valid.

READ MORE: Travel expert issues holiday ‘rise’ warning as jet fuel price surges 70 per centREAD MORE: Simon Calder issues update for anyone flying with Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways

Unsurprisingly, the conflict has impacted international travel in numerous ways. Not only have passenger numbers and flights passing through the Middle East declined dramatically, but neighbouring countries favoured by Brits seeking spring sunshine, including Cyprus and Turkey, have also experienced a fall in visitor numbers.

Conversely, nations to the west boasting milder weather, including Spain and Portugal, have witnessed a surge in reservations – as has the Caribbean. The situation has not only left thousands of British holidaymakers stuck in the Middle East, but many are also anxious about their upcoming travel arrangements.

The Association of British Insurers attempted to address these worries with the following statement when questioned about whether insurance will cover the cancellation of a trip to the Middle East due to concerns over the conflict.

It stated: “As the situation evolves, we can understand why people may be reconsidering their future plans to travel to the region. If you wish to cancel your trip, contact your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator in the first instance. They may be able to rebook parts of your trip or offer a refund.

“Travel insurance may not cover cancellations linked to the conflict, depending on your policy’s terms, any war exclusions, and when you bought it. Policies differ, and insurers may take different approaches, so it’s important to check with your insurer to understand what’s covered.”

THEY have amassed a legion of teen followers after becoming the next big boyband.

But it seems December 10 have also managed to make a fan out of Spice Girl Geri Halliwel.

This week, Biz on Sunday’s Emily caught up with the lads — Cruz, Danny, Hendrick, Sean, John, Josh and Nicolas — following the release of their latest single, Angel.

They revealed they were starstruck when Ginger Spice popped into their rehearsal at a West London studio last month, accompanied by her husband Christian Horner’s daughter.

Asked about their celebrity fans, Danny said: “The legend that is Geri Halliwell and her step-daughter came to the rehearsal studio to watch our set. They had wanted to come to our London show, but were due to be away when it was on, so we invited them to our rehearsals.

“Geri was like a pocket rocket. Petite and loads of personality.

SOUR GRAPES

X Factor star takes swipe at Simon Cowell’s boyband December 10 after Brits

TEN OUT OF TEN

December 10 backed by Brit pop star who is secretly guiding their career

“We couldn’t believe we met a Spice Girl!

“She gave excellent advice, including to always enjoy the moment.

“Geri was super kind and gave us all a bag of gifts, including little speakers we always use on our phones.”

Sean said: “She showed up to rehearsals before the show and gave us advice. She’s really cool.”

Hendrik added: “The advice that she gave was, ‘That laugh that you have in your band as a group — try and keep that laugh and enjoy it’.

“That was the main advice that came across.”

December 10 found fame on Simon Cowell’s Netflix show The Next Act last year and have amassed millions of followers on social media.

Last month, they attended their first Brit Awards, in Manchester, and have told how they brushed shoulders with singers Lola Young and Sam Fender, as well as Happy Mondays maracas player Bez.

Cruz said: “I was partying with Bez in the DJ booth — he is funny. He and I have got to go to Ibiza one day.”

To celebrate Mother’s Day, the boys have been treating their mums after receiving their first big pay cheque.

Hendrik said: “I have been saving money to try and finish my mum and dad’s house. They have been wanting to finish it for years.”

Despite the global stardom that awaits, it sounds like the boys are keeping their feet on the ground.

SIMON ‘PROUD’ OF LADS

DECEMBER 10 have revealed how their mentor Simon Cowell was proud of them after their sold-out London show.

The music mogul and his fiancee Lauren Silverman attended their gig at the O2 Academy Islington, in North London, last month.

Band member Nicolas said: “He really enjoyed that we incorporated instruments into the live show, and when he spoke to us, that was one of the main things that made him really happy and proud.”

John added: “He has also always said that he just wants great songs. Over the past few months that we have been recording music, we have been working towards that.”

And the boys reckon it still feels surreal seeing thousands of teenagers queuing to hear them play.

Nicolas said: “I wouldn’t say it’s overwhelming, it’s more of a strange feeling, because the first show was a bit of a shock.

“It is a feeling for me, personally, that I don’t think I will get used to.”

WIN A SIGNED T-SHIRT

DECEMBER 10 have signed a T-shirt exclusively for one lucky Biz on Sunday reader.

For your chance to win the prize, email sunday features @the-sun. co.uk by March 26.

For T&Cs, visit thesun.co.uk.

HE HAZ TO SEE MATES

HE is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, but Harry Styles says he had to change his mindset so he did not become a recluse.

He explained: “When you shut out a lot of the things that are assumed can be negative, you also just unconsciously shut out a ton of positive things.

“It can be hard to go to a bar and hang out with friends because there’s maybe people who would act [in a certain] way.

“There’s also incredible people that you can meet in that bar – that you also shut yourself off from.”

He added on SiriusXM: “I was having some experiences where I was meeting some really great people that were kind of really planting the seed of, like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to shut myself off from this world’.”

It comes as his record Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally has topped the albums chart, while his track American Girls is No1 in the singles rundown.

Meanwhile, Harry’s singles Aperture and Ready, Steady, Go! are also top five.

It is truly Harry’s year.

DENISE GOES BIG

DENISE VAN OUTEN and Johnny Vaughan are creating a new Big Breakfast-style TV show 25 years after the original was axed.

I can reveal the pair, who presented the Channel 4 show in the Nineties, are working on a new format set to shake up TV schedules.

Denise said: “In my new touring show [An Evening With Denise], of all the things I’ve done, The Big Breakfast section gets the biggest reaction. I think people are still craving that chaos and the fun – we’ve lost it.”

She added: “I’m working on something with Johnny, it’s going to have that feel to it. It’s all come from the show and speaking to people. I was like, ‘Oh, people are missing this, they want this’.”

I cannot wait.

YOU’RE SO ROUGE, CHRISTINA

CHRISTINA AGUILERA was red hot on stage in this basque and matching gloves.

The US hitmaker teamed them with thigh-skimming black boots in Austin, Texas, as she headlined the Coca-Cola Sips & Sounds Music Festival.

Highlights included a performance of her 2001 hit Lady Marmalade, from film Moulin Rouge!, as fireworks lit up the sky.

MAYA’S VILLA TO VILLAIN

MAYA JAMA has revealed what her dream movie role would be – and it’s not what you might expect.

The Love Island host, who is set to star in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix crime-comedy The Gentlemen, said: “I’ve always said I don’t want to be what people expect me to be on camera.

“I’d want to be the complete opposite to that . . . so a monster or a mean, evil person. A villain maybe would be nice.”

DIVORCE NO2 FOR MILLIE

MADE In Chelsea couple Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor have filed for divorce, I can reveal.

The pair, who married in 2018, have both appointed legal teams and have quietly started proceedings.

Reality star turned author Millie, who has two daughters with entrepreneur Hugo, has been through the process before, having split from rapper Professor Green, who she was married to from 2013 to 2016.

A pal said: “Fans will be sad to hear that their relationship is really over, but the pair just want a clean break.

“Millie and Hugo are committed to co-parenting their two young children and keeping everything stable. They are still very amicable with each other and have a lot of respect for one another.

“They want the divorce to go through as painlessly as possible and are focusing on work in the meantime.”

Professor Green has a son with model and actress Karima McAdams, who he dated for five years after splitting with Millie.

Now, he is back in touch with Millie and said: “There’s no resentment in me. She is gorgeous. We were not good for each other at that time.

“We spoke about our mutual diagnosis (ADHD) and our kids.”

MOLLY AND TOM IN SPANISH LOVE AISLE

THEY met on Love Island: All Stars in South Africa, but Molly Smith and Tom Clare are set to tie the knot in Majorca – home of the original dating show’s villa.

The couple are eyeing up Son Marroig, a stunning, 17th century, clifftop temple on the Spanish island for their summer nuptials.

The venue is popular among celebrities, with Pixie Geldof, weatherman Alex Beresford and Man City defender Nathan Ake all having held their ceremonies there.

A source said: “Majorca is a stunning destination for a wedding and there is plenty of privacy on the island. Many of the buildings are difficult to access by road and it has a secluded feel.

“There is guaranteed sun and it offers a beautiful backdrop with the most stunning sunsets.”

Tom and Molly do a weekly podcast called NearlyWeds and post regular vlogs about their planning.

Congrats guys . . . 

EX-PM SNAPS GEM OF A SHOT

GEMMA COLLINS posed with an unlikely fan at the Cheltenham races this week – as I am told that former PM David Cameron asked for a photo.

And reality favourite Gemma was only too happy to oblige David and wife Samantha in the Royal Box.

A source said: “Gemma was honoured that David asked her for a picture. They chatted about politics and her fondness of current Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.”

Chuffed Gemma quickly shared the snap with her 2.2million Instagram followers.

She wrote: “It was lovely to be in the Royal Box and have a good chat with David Cameron and his lovely wife. We spoke politics and . . . what we were going to bet on next.”

Gemma, who is a face of bookmaker Paddy Power, won a mighty impressive £20,000 at Cheltenham – and £5,000 off just one bet.

The GC was spotted shouting, “I’m loaded” as she basked in her glory alongside stars including Danny Dyer and Peter Crouch.

Next year, I am asking Gemma for tips.

Simon Calder gave his thoughts on when travel disruption will start to ease following the strikes on Iran

A travel expert has shared his views on when ‘people will be able to travel again’ as the Middle East conflict continues to escalate. Journalist Simon Calder, who specialises in travel, discussed the crisis and its impact on worldwide travel.

American and Israeli strikes on Iran are approaching the end of their second week, with no resolution in sight. Travel to the Middle East remains limited, with airlines cutting back on the number of flights to and from the area.

Countries such as Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates serve as vital transport hubs for destinations including Asia and Australasia. The outbreak of hostilities has left hundreds of thousands of travellers stuck.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Calder offered his perspective on when travel might become more straightforward. He said: “We’ve already seen missiles sent to Turkey and attacks on Cyprus. Now, personally, I think the chances of anything happening to a tourist in Turkey or Cyprus are microscopically low, but I also know that people are rebooking away. They’re going to the western Mediterranean – typically Spain and Portugal – because they believe they will be safer there.

“If you’re flying from the UK to a holiday spot such as Turkey or Cyprus and that flight is cancelled, then, fortunately, air passenger rights rules are squarely on your side. The airline that cancels the flight has to get you to your destination as soon as possible, regardless of the cost. And if you can’t get there immediately, the airline has to provide meals and accommodation, if necessary, before you are able to get to your destination.

“The Foreign Office warns against travel to Kuwait, to Bahrain, to Qatar and, crucially, to the UAE, home to the busiest hub in the world: Dubai International Airport. But I’m also predicting that, actually, that ruling is going to lift fairly quickly, and people will be able to travel again.”

Flights are still operating through Dubai International Airport, despite two Iranian drones injuring four people after exploding at the facility. The Dubai Media Office, which releases statements on behalf of the city-state’s government, confirmed flights are continuing, and that the attack caused ‘minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national’.

Officials have been attempting to restore its flight schedule, though the airport has been targeted amid the conflict. The war has created uncertainty for travellers with flights booked in the coming weeks, prompting Mr Calder to offer his guidance on what passengers should do.

READ MORE: Iran war travel expert Simon Calder issues Emirates ‘flights will be resuming’ updateREAD MORE: Martin Lewis explains ‘safe thing to do’ ahead of April 1 price change

“If your flight is due to go, I’d say, a week or more from now, well, all you can do is just hope that it goes ahead,” he stated. “If you’re going imminently and you do not know if your trip is running, well, the basic news is that if you go to Abu Dhabi, to Dubai, to Doha, you will be going against Foreign Office advice. So, be aware of that; your travel insurance will be invalidated.

“I’ve got some skin in the game. I am booked to fly out on Saturday night from Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, through to Abu Dhabi and connect onwards to London. Now, at the moment, along with many, many other travellers, I’m absolutely promised the flight will go ahead as normal, and I trust that it will. But I simply do not know.

“At the moment, I’m definitely not cancelling my flight because, well, bluntly, if you cancel the flight – which is what the airlines would really like you to do – you will simply be removing yourself from the problem. If, like me, you’re booked in a few days’ time and you do have a bit of flexibility, then absolutely keep your booking open.

“If you go for a refund, first of all, the airline will be delighted because you’ll be a problem that’s removed from their cares and, secondly, you could find yourself paying three times, five times, 10 times as much to get back. Much better to remain a problem for the airline; they’ve got to get you where you need to be.”