Spanish

THE washout weather that has plagued the country this year has many of us desperate for some sunshine.

As yet another rain-soaked week awaits, it makes sense to search out some blue skies and warm weather.

With the Easter break a way off, now is the perfect time to head abroad for some vitamin D at decent prices.

Here Head of Travel Lisa Minot picks some great deals on guaranteed sunshine destinations . . . 

THE Canary Island favourite is always a good bet for sun as March arrives, with temperatures averaging in the low 20s.

The family-friendly 4-star Alexandre Gala near Playa de las Americas on the sun-drenched south-west coast has two outdoor pools, one of which is heated year-round.

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As well as a buffet restaurant and two bars, there is a spa and sports facilities.

Its central location means it is close to the beach, bars and restaurants and just 1km from the Siam Park water park.

GO: Seven nights’ half-board at the Alexandre Gala is from £677pp including flights from Birmingham on March 4. See thomascook.com.

WARMING up nicely in March, Cyprus offers average highs of 20C.

Set on the beachfront of Kato Paphos, the 5-star Ivi Mare hotel is designed exclusively for adults.

There are three restaurants — buffet, Mediterranean and Japanese — as well as two bars, two outdoor freshwater pools and an indoor one.

There also a spa with sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi plus treatments for a pamper between sunbathing sessions.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Ivi Mare is from £969pp including flights from Gatwick on March 2 and transfers. See easyjet.com/en/holidays and ivimarepaphos.com.

YOU are guaranteed tropical sunshine on the Caribbean coast of Mexico — and the all-inclusive 5-star AVA Resort Cancun makes the most of it, with all rooms and suites featuring panoramic ocean views.

The 2.8-acre beachfront lagoon is perfect for sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding, while another six pools offer more water fun.

There are nine fine-dining restaurants and eight casual options, including street food and ice cream salons.

There are also bars, cocktail lounges and nightlife venues.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £2,175pp, including flights from Gatwick on March 11 and transfers. See ba.com and avaresortcancun.com.

AGADIR’S beaches are a hit with surfers thanks to the year-round swells.

And with temperatures sizzling in the high 20s around now, there is no better place to kick back on a sunlounger with a beer.

At this time of year, stays at the 5-star Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay are a steal, with luxurious rooms overlooking the ocean, two outdoor pools and a sandy beach just a 1.4km stroll away.

While golf enthusiasts are getting in the swing at the on-site 18-hole course, those seeking relaxation can book in at the Moroccan-themed spa.

GO: Seven nights’ B&B at the Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay is from £449pp with Luton flights on March 10. See loveholidays.co.uk.

ALL you will see from your room is blue at the 4-star Fuerteventura Princess, where four sprawling outdoor pools look on to the ocean.

Lush palm trees, volcanic mountains and hot weather make the island seem like a far-flung tropical escape, yet it is just a four-ish hour flight.

Sample local delights as well as familiar favourites at the buffet restaurant.

There is an outdoor tennis court, table tennis, billiards, volleyball and archery.

GO: Seven nights’ half-board at the Fuerteventura Princess is from £660pp including flights from Luton on March 4. See onthebeach.co.uk.

WITH GORGEOUS beaches and incredible swimming in coral reefs, Marsa Alam is ideal for a last-minute winter sun break.

TUI has new direct flights from Gatwick to the Red Sea resort, making it an easy flight with short transfers.

The 4-star Jaz Grand Marsa has its own private beach with a coral reef, as well as five pools, three of which have sea views.

The spacious grounds feature gardens and water fountains, plus tennis courts.

GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Jaz Grand Marsa is from £666pp including flights from Gatwick on March 15. See tui.co.uk.

MAJORCA is no secret to Brits – it’s a great place for a holiday with its beautiful city, sandy beaches, nightlife and tasty food.

Now, the island has been named one of the ‘hottest destinations to visit in 2026’, and it’s not hard to see why it continues to be firmly on our radar.

The Independent named Majorca one of the ‘hottest’ places to visit this year – and travel company ASmallWorld named Majorca as Spain’s newest ‘It’ island

CEO Zain Richardson said: “What makes Mallorca stand out from other Spanish islands is its sheer diversity.

“You get the bohemian charm of stone-built villages, the buzz of Palma’s restaurants and galleries, and an ever-changing coastline of quiet calas and long sandy beaches, without having to compromise on comfort or style.”

I visited the island’s capital, Palma, myself almost a decade ago now.

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But I’m not surprised that it’s still up there with the most popular holiday destinations for Brits – almost 3.5million of us jet off there each year.

Palma has the perfect blend of city and beach with a busy Old Town full of winding streets with classic high street names and plenty of designer shops.

Passeig del Born, a street that’s also called the ‘Golden Mile’, has lots of luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Bvlgari and Hugo Boss.

I could only window shop, but there are still plenty of other inexpensive shops to be explored.

For sunglasses, check out Óptica Santa Maria Boutique which has some lovely, and reasonably priced frames – along with designer ones of course.

Giovanni L. Gelato Deluxe is another must – it’s Palma’s oldest ice cream parlour with around 80 flavours on offer.

You can easily spot it thanks to its bright red awning and gem embellished ice cream mural outside.

Choosing a flavour was a no-brainer as the brand has award-winning ice cream and was awarded the title for the “World’s Best Pistachio Ice Cream” twice.

I opted for a simple blend of pistachio and vanilla – and it was delicious.

The city is of course framed by its huge 14th-century cathedral on the seafront, and tourists can go inside for around €11 (£9.61).

I find though that you can still appreciate it enough by wandering around the outside.

Next door, the Gardens of S’Hort del Rei (The King’s Orchard) at the foot of Royal Palace of La Almudaina is a lovely spot where you can find some shade – and it wasn’t busy either.

As for where to stay, I set up base at the Hipotels Gran Playa de Palma which is tucked behind the promenade at Playa de Palma – around 20-minutes outside of the city centre.

The hotel has two outdoor pools, three bars, two buffet restaurants and entertainment during the evening.

As much as I enjoy a fly and flop holiday, I do love some activity outside of the hotel, and here was a great spot.

The hotel was a short walk to the beach, and the promenade filled with cafes, restaurants and plenty of places to pick up a bucket and spade.

The beach has soft golden sand and while there are sun loungers which you can hire out for a fee, there’s plenty of space if you want to simply sit on a towel too.

One of my favourite spots was Levita Café where I ended up stopping in most days for a rosé sangria which set me back €6.50 (£5).

If you’re so inclined, it’s also near one of Majorca’s biggest clubs, MegaPark.

I didn’t venture inside, but it’s known for having a huge open-air disco, a large beer garden, and a show stage.

Even though our hotel was just a five-minute walk-away, I never heard any noise from the club.

While there are party opportunities dotted around the island, it’s becoming more welcoming for those who aren’t there to seek out the party lifestyle.

It’s been reported that local authorities are tightening rules on party boats and noisy beach activities.

When it comes to money, Majorca isn’t the cheapest place, it’s not hugely expensive either.

According to Numbeo, you can pick up a local beer for £3.49 and coffee for £2.51.

If you want to see more of the island outside of Palma, then some other top-rated spots include the Tramuntana region with huge mountain ranges.

Some of the best beaches in the country include Cala Mondragó which is within the Mondragó Natural Park – but there are plenty to choose from as the island has over 200 of them.

As for when’s best to head to the island, it can vary as this week there are highs of 21C and plenty of sunshine, but there is a risk of rain.

Personally, I’d head there in springtime – May, April and June are generally dry with lots of sun without being too hot.

In peak months like July and August, temperatures can reach the mid-30s.

Flights won’t set you back too much either, in April, you can fly from Birmingham and London Stansted from £15 with Ryanair.

And you’ll be setting down in two and a half hours from the UK.

Here are top eats in Majorca from experts…

Tour guides Georgiana Paun, Michelle van der Werff, Emily Himmer, 30, and travel agent Tomas Nanak, share their top Majorca tips…

Georgiana said: “Las Olas is a family restaurant located on the beachfront in Santa Ponsa on the west of the island, with incredible views.

“You can enjoy all kinds of Mediterranean food while watching the sun go down over the bay of Santa Ponsa.

“Choose between their fish, seafood, paellas and meat dishes, as well as a variety of delicious tapas made with local market products.”

Michelle and Emily said: “One of our local favourites is Toque de Queda in central Palma, because of its fresh, healthy cuisine served in a cosy ‘living room’ atmosphere.

“The laid-back vibe and delicious local dishes make it a perfect place for an easy evening out, with Balearic charcuterie boards from 14 euros, and fish tapas from 9 euros.”

Tomas said: “Bar Esperanza in Ses Covetes has great Mediterranean food, with tapas from 4 euros, while Organic on Cala Marsal beach offers the best brunch on the island, with hearty Spanish breakfasts from 12.50 euros.

“If you’re looking for delicious tapas, head to Babbo Portocolom with views of the harbour on the southeast side of the island, with dishes from 7.50 euros, or S’Arrosería in Colonia de San Jordi has the best paella – from 18 euros.”

For more of the top places to visit this year this European city with 3,000 hours of sunshine a year has been named the best destination to visit in 2026.

And here are the bucket list 2026 holidays you should go on for every month of the year.

RYANAIR has warned it’s planning on axing even MORE routes to Spain next year.

This comes after the budget airline announced it would be cutting 1.2million seats from popular destinations this summer.

Ryanair has already revealed that this year it plans to axe over a million seats to certain Spanish routes, with some routes being cut down.

Others could be axed completely – and there could be more to come.

This is in response to Aena – the state-controlled airport operator in the country – increasing its fees for airlines.

The operator has proposed an increase in passenger fees, meaning airlines would be paying 21 per cent more from 2027 to 2031.

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CEO of Ryanair, Eddie Wilson has now said: “Next winter we will make further cuts to regional airport services and I remind you that our total traffic in Spain for this summer will only grow by 0.5 per cent compared to 9 per cent in Italy, 11 per cent in Morocco or 20 per cent in Poland.”

He added: “Aena’s proposal to increase fares by 21 per cent is regrettable, but not surprising, as this airport monopoly has a history of applying the highest fares at the expense of traffic development, especially at Spain’s regional airports, which are 70 per cent empty.”

Eddie Wilson continued to say that if the fees were to be increased it would “make even the most popular airports in Spain uncompetitive.”

He said that Ryanair’s aircraft would end up going to “other places in Europe where rates are more competitive” instead.

Ryanair isn’t the only airline hitting back at the proposals from Aena.

According to Business Travel News Europe, “‘airline groups are objecting to proposed increases” and have called for an “annual reduction in the fees.”

Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s regional vice president for Europe, called AENA’s proposed level of increases “unsustainable and unrealistic”.

After the proposals were announced, Ryanair last year revealed cancellations of its routes to Vigo and Santiago.

The airline is also reducing its capacity at Santander, the Canary Islands, and Zaragoza.

It is also significantly scaling back its operations at Santiago de Compostela.

Elsewhere in Spain, Ryanair is halting all flights to Asturias and Vigo, and the base in Jerez will remain closed in 2026.

Other axed routes last year include those to French airports like Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg.

However, Ryanair will restart routes to Bergerac in March with flights being bookable until the end of October 2026.

In response to possible tax increases in Belgium, Ryanair has said that 1.1million seats will be axed across Charleroi Airport this year.

This will be followed by another 1.1million in 2027.

Charleroi City Council is set to introduce a €3 per passenger tax from April 2026.

And the Belgium government is set to increase the passenger tax from €2 to €10 by January 2027.

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With Ryanair axing flights across Europe this year – Morocco could become even more affordable in the coming years…

This means that your trip to Tenerife could become more expensive – and if so, you should take a look at Morocco instead.

Cities around the North African country could be set to get cheaper flights as Ryanair has said that the capacity removed from Spanish airports will be reallocated to more competitive European markets, including Morocco.

There are plenty of options like Marrakesh, Agadir, Rabat or Essaouira.

Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, went on a trip earlier this year and said: “I’ve spent a wonderful long weekend in Marrakech and the city is as exciting as ever.

“We were sunbathing on the roof of our riad in the Medina in glorious 22 degree temperatures – and I loved the amazing desert landscapes just 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the souks.

“Tourism is booming in the city and while the streets are as colourful and chaotic as ever, the influx of visitors has brought some gorgeous new bars, restaurants and stunning hotels.“

For more on holidays, check out Morocco’s capital city that’s an ‘understated seaside gem’ and far less crowded than Marrakesh.

Plus, here’s the best time of day to book flights down to the exact MINUTE – and how it can save you hundreds on your holiday.

BARCELONA is a fun city to visit, but have you heard about its cool neighbour?

El Poblenou sits just outside Barcelona in Spain but has far fewer crowds.

It was named one of the coolest neighbourhood by Time Out back in 2024.

And according to Meet Barcelona, the area is known as ‘Catalan Manchester‘ what with the industrial factories that remain.

The name emerged at the start of the 20th century, when textile factories and engineering plants filled the area and played a vital part in Barcelona‘s industrialisation.

During the 60s and 70s, the local government decided that having an industrial area so close to the city wasn’t the best and moved it further away.

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Many of the factories became empty until a revamp plan called ’22@’ revitalised the area to what it is today.

When it comes to visiting today, the trendy neighbourhood has fewer of the factories it once used to – though chimneys still litter the skyline – and instead lots of cosy cafes and vibrant tapas bars.

The neighbourhood even has its own Rambla, a pedestrian-friendly street modelled on the famous one in the Old City.

Much quieter than the one in central Barcelona, it stretches from Diagonal Mar shopping centre to Avinguda Diagonal to the seaside.

This is where you will then find Platja de la Nova Mar Bella – a popular Mediterranean beach.

The beach stretches for 420 metres and boasts golden sand.

In fact, it was revitalised for the 1992 Olympic Games and is today known for its calm, shallow waters.

If you happen to be in the neighbourhood during the first weekend of the month, then head to Palo Alto Market where you will find an array of street food as well as fashion and homeware stalls.

Spread across three galleries, the market also has outdoor stages with live music throughout the day.

There’s also Can Framis Museum, which is home to an array of Catalan artworks from the 1960s to present day.

Though it might seem morbid, you can also explore Cementiri de Poblenou, which is a sprawling cemetery with artistic tombs including a winged skeleton that is known as the ‘Kiss of Death’.

If you happen to be in the area during the first part of July, you will be able to visit La Fira del Poblenou – also known as Poblenou Craft Beer Festival – which is a three-day festival with 45 to 50 brewers, street food stalls and live music.

Ciutadella Park then sits just outside the neighbourhood, which is a park that opened back in the late 1800s and features a zoo, boating lake, museums and walking trails inside.

Flights to Barcelona cost as little as £13 each way in April.

To get from the airport to the neighbourhood, it’s a 20 minute drive or 50 minutes on public transport.

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Epic train journey starts in London then passes through Paris, leading travellers to a beach in Spain with golden sand and a lively atmosphere

A stunning nine-hour rail journey that begins with the Eurostar in London and concludes on a breathtaking beach in Spain is sure to leave you mesmerised. The thrilling train adventure sets off from St Pancras station in London, whisking you away to the picturesque La Zurriola beach, nestled in the city of San Sebastián (Donostia) in Spain.

This charming beach is famed for its idyllic surroundings, golden shores, and superb surfing conditions, making it a favourite spot for both locals and holidaymakers. To reach this scenic beach in San Sebastián from London by rail, you’ll need to first board the Eurostar train from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord.

This leg of the journey takes roughly two hours and 15 minutes. From Paris, passengers can then jump onto a TGV train bound for Hendaye, which will take around five to six hours, reports the Express.

Upon reaching San Sebastián’s train station, you can opt for a bus or taxi ride to La Zurriola beach.

The beach is situated in the Gros district, which is within strolling distance from the train station, but it might be more practical to take a brief bus or taxi trip, particularly if you’re laden with luggage.

One visitor reviewed the seaside location on TripAdvisor, writing: “Visiting San Sebastián was truly unforgettable, especially with the breath-taking view of the Atlantic Ocean.

“The coastline is stunning, just a short walk from downtown, where you can surf, swim, or simply relax and soak in the soothing sounds of waves crashing on the shore.”

The beach boasts a vibrant ambience with a bustling promenade peppered with bars, eateries, and shops, creating a lively hub of activity.

The official tourism website for the region, San Sebastián Turismoa, described the area on their website: “The promenade running round the beach from Sagüés to the Kursaal ‘cubes’ continues on its way round Monte Urgull and along the Paseo Nuevo to end at the Peine del Viento sculpture on the Concha Bay.

“This spectacular city walk covers around six kilometres and offers spectacular sea views and delightful resting spots along the way.

“From the Zurriola, you can also make your way up to Monte Ulía, a green area only a moment’s walk from the city centre. A former look-out point for whales, Monte Ulía is the city’s best hillwalking option and follows part of the coastal route on the Way of Saint James.”

La Zurriola is renowned for being a top-notch surfing location in Europe. The beach regularly experiences powerful swells from the Bay of Biscay, drawing in surfers ranging from novices to seasoned pros.

Surf schools and hire shops are on hand to accommodate visitors keen to ride the waves or pick up the sport.

Beyond surfing, La Zurriola offers the chance to partake in other water sports such as bodyboarding and paddleboarding. The beach also occasionally plays host to beach volleyball tournaments and other leisure activities.

The most affordable ticket from St Pancras for 29 April currently stands at roughly £67 on Trainline.

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WITH the rain in the UK seeming relentless, why not head somewhere next week with sunny weather and cheap flights?

Across the first half of next week, Tenerife in Spain will be hitting temperatures of up to 29C.

And you could fly out from Manchester this Sunday at 2:35pm arriving in Tenerife at 7:20pm, for £24 one way.

Or you could head off from Bristol Airport at 8:05am and arrive in Tenerife at 12:15pm on Sunday, for £23 one way.

If you are based near Leeds Airport, there are flights this Saturday and Sunday for £32 one way.

There’s also a flight from Newcastle Airport at 8:40am arriving in Tenerife at 1:30pm on Sunday, for £24 one way.

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If you are London-based, you can travel from London Stansted Airport for £31 one way on Monday.

When it comes to enjoying the sun on the island, Tenerife isn’t short of beaches to soak up some rays.

Rick Cosgrove, a local and a professional compere at many of the island’s bars, told Sun Travel: “I love both Puerto Colon and Fanabe beaches.

“These two coves are next to each other in Costa Adeje in the south of the island, and are ideal for beach lovers.

“Puerto Colon has a lot more going on, as it’s next to the marina and all sea excursions in the south tend to depart from here, so there is a plethora of bars, cafes and restaurants to serve your needs.

“If you find Puerto Colon too busy, then neighbouring mile-long Fanabe beach is a little more relaxed with quieter beach clubs along the edge.”

One of the beach clubs on Fanabe beach is Le Club, which is known for having live DJs and hosting watersports activities.

Nearby is also Aqualand Costa Adeje – a waterpark with kamikazes and twister racer slides.

The waterpark has even recently opened a new kids’ pool, splash tower and Pelican Bay, which is an area with waterslides, water arches and waterfalls.

Aqualand Costa Adeje costs £27.93 per person to visit.

Alternatively, you could head to Playa de las Vistas in Los Cristianos.

It’s a popular Blue Flag beach that stretches 850 metres long and is known for having clear and calm waters.

Then along the promenade are a number of restaurants, bars and shops to explore.

If you do fancy a bite to eat, then Rick recommends Chicagos.

He said: “It’s an American style sports bar serving ribs and burgers. (Burgers from £7.86 and ribs from £10.48)

“In Los Cristianos, The Star of Bengal does fantastic curries (mains from £6.99 and £2.62 pints), and the Mongolian BBQ Restaurant has an all-you-can-eat buffet that’s cooked in front of you, for around £13.10 per person.”

If you fancy heading to a quieter beach, then opt for Playa san Juan or Las Galletas beach.

Both feature black sand and are great for escaping the crowds.

And if you want to experience some of the local culture, make sure to head to La Laguna, which is a UNESCO-listed city with colonial architecture.

It’s located on the north side of the island and was created back in the 15th century.

Today, visitors can explore a number of churches and religious buildings in the Old Town.

If you’re more of an outdoorsy person, then head to Teide National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with volcanic landscapes, lava fields and Mount Teide – the ideal spot for picturesque views of the island and stargazing.

There are many places you can stay on the island with availability for next week.

For example, you could stay at Hotel Regency Country Club for £136 a night for four people.

Or head to 4Dreams Hotel Chimisay for just £72 a night for four people.

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FANS of Spain will be happy to hear that TUI has launched new holidays to the Spanish city closest to the UK.

Taking less than two hours to fly to, Bilbao is the largest city in Spain‘s Basque Country.

And now it will be getting new TUI holidays this spring.

The city used to be an industrial port before it was later transformed into a modern city with unique architecture.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one example of the interesting architecture in the city.

It was designed by Frank Gehry and inside visitors can expect 20 galleries full of art.

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Make sure when visiting to see Jeff Koons’ Puppy, which is the world’s biggest flower statue with more than 38,000 flowers that are even changed twice a year.

The museum costs £13.10 per person to visit.

Whilst visiting, you should also head to Casco Viejo, which is the city’s medieval old town and is filled with shops, cafes and the Santiago Cathedral.

It is a great spot for food lovers as there are lots of restaurants and bars offering pintxos (small snack dish) along with txikitos (small glasses of wine).

Pintxos usually cost from £1.80.

Of course, whilst you are in the city, take a stroll along the Nervion River to see views of Zubizuri Bridge, Iberdrola Tower and the San Mames Stadium.

Spain‘s famous Rioja region is also nearby, so wine lovers can head off on a day trip to tour one of the historic wineries and have a taste of the local wine.

If you want to see the city from a different angle, then head on the Funicular de Artxanda and you will travel to the top of Mount Artxanda, which has amazing panoramic views of the city.

For dinner, check out Mercado de la Ribera, which is Europe’s largest covered market serving fresh food.

Temperatures in the summer hit around 26C with lots of sunshine.

What’s even better is that Bilbao is only a short flight from the UK, taking just two hours.

With TUI, travellers can fly to Bilbao from Bristol, London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester Airports.

Two night breaks with return UK flights can be found for just £127pp when travelling next month.

TUI’s commercial director Chris Logan said: ”Bilbao offers a truly special city break.

“With incredible art, fantastic food and beautiful scenery all in one trip, it’s ideal for customers who want the authentic taste of Spain.

“Outside peak summer, it’s fantastic value too with great hotels, unforgettable experiences and some of the best food in the country, all in a walkable city.”

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BRITS will have to carry a little more cash with them on holiday if they want to lounge about on this resort’s beautiful beaches.

The popular Spanish resort of Palma in Majorca has hiked the price of its sunbeds and parasols this summer.

Majorca has always been a popular destination with Brits – it sees between 2.3 to 3.6million tourists each year.

Holidaymakers flock to the island for sunshine in the peak months with daytime highs ranging from 25C up to highs of 40C.

The capital of the Spanish resort, Palma, is known for its huge cathedral, pretty streets filled with ice cream shops and boutiques as well as its beautiful beaches.

Now, local media has revealed that the price of sunloungers on some of Palma’s most popular beach spots has been upped to as much as £60 per day.

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Sunbed and umbrella prices will rise substantially from 2026 – the daily rate for both items will increase to €10 (£8.66), up from €6 (£5.20) in 2019.

Meanwhile, premium loungers will climb from €30 to €45 (almost £40) per day.

However, a picture on the sands of Cala Major reveals prices of premium loungers are as high as €70 (£60.87).

One of the few items to avoid a rise is the foldable canvas parasol, which remains at €30 (£26.12).

Along with the rise in cost of sunloungers, the number of them has actually been reduced.

In mid-2025, the Palma de Mallorca council announced it was planning to remove nearly 1,700 sun loungers from its beaches by 2026.

This is to increase free space for locals and address complaints about overtourism.

The reduction of sunbeds will be on Palma’s four main beaches; Playa de Palma, Cala Major, Ciutat Jardi and Cala Stancia.

The one with the largest reduction will be on Playa de Palma – the number of sunbeds will decrease from 6,000 to 4,436.

Another of its beaches, Can Pere Antoni, which isn’t managed by Palma council, will also have its sunbeds reduced from 200 to 94.

According to Mallorca Zeitung, the council also plans to let beachgoers reserve loungers and umbrellas via an online app by 2027.

Plus, one writer said they found the best kept secret in Majorca which was right by my hotel.

And this Balearic resort town is billing itself as a great winter sun destination – with £15 flights & 25C highs.

IN the south of Spain is a sandy strait with palm-tree lined promenades and high rise hotels that looks like Florida.

You’ll find La Manga less than an hour away from Murcia – and it even has its own salt water lagoon where you can take a mud bath.

La Manga is a 13 mile long strip of sand which offers a ‘two seas experience’.

One being the actual Mediterranean Sea, the other the Mar Menor.

Visitors have compared La Manga to Florida thanks to it’s thin sandbank as well as sunny weather and high rise apartment buildings.

With its bright blue seas, it especially looks like parts around West Palm Beach and even Miami.

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La Manga de Mar Menor literally means ‘The Sandbar of the Minor Sea’ – and the strait splits the Mediterranean Sea from Mar Menor lagoon – the biggest salt water lagoon in Europe.

The lagoon has also been referred to as the ‘Spanish Dead Sea’.

This is because the lagoon has healing mud – visitors smear it all over their bodies and its said to have properties that are good for damaged skin and arthritis pain.

The water is shallow year round and is a popular spot for sailing.

Swimming is allowed at certain times of the year, but there are occasions when the water is off limits – like when there are jellyfish spotted in there.

La Manga is a great spot for holiday makers looking for sunshine too.

Due to its position, it gets a Mediterranean climate and over 300 days of sunshine a year.

This week, while the UK is sitting under 10C – La Manga is enjoying highs of 19C.

Peak months of July and August can see average highs of 30C and no rainfall.

It’s a hit with visitors too, one wrote on Tripadvisor: “It’s just a splendid destination! Beautiful climate, warm water on the “mar menor” side and warm on the “mar major” side and a place not very touristic so perfect for a holiday.”

Another added: “Perfect in every way, walk around the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, and enjoy its mood and tranquility.”

Hotels on La Manga aren’t expensive either – you can stay for 5 nights in April at the Poseidon La Manga Hotel & Spa from £36.10pppn.

All rooms have air conditioning, TV and private bathroom – in the hotel there’s a spa with a sauna, steam room, gym, hot tub and experience showers.

There’s also a buffet restaurant and cafe-bar.

Outside of the hotels are plenty of beach bars like El Parador del Mar Menor which sits at the very end of the strait.

A popular restaurant is Maloca which serves up Mediterranean dishes like clams, mussels, tuna, or cod with grilled vegetables with one visitor saying “it was spectacular, and nothing expensive!”

The closest airport is Murcia which is two and a half hours from the UK – plus a 30 minute drive.

At this time of year you can get direct flights to Murcia from Birmingham from £15.

For more on Spain discover this resort you’ve NEVER heard of – where locals holiday and hotels start at £28 a night.

And one top travel mum influencer reveals her best cheap, family-friendly hotels – and one is in Spain.

A few months back, a discussion broke out in the De Los chat about whether or not Bad Bunny would win album of the year at the 68th Grammy Awards for his LP “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

I was firmly in the “yes” camp from the day the nominations were announced and I was right!

But if I’m being honest, I had my doubts that it would happen until the second that presenter Harry Styles called out the Puerto Rican singer’s name Sunday night.

Those in the “no” camp — who were still rooting for him to win — had history in their favor. It’s so rare for any major awards show, but especially the Grammys, to recognize artists at the peak of their powers. It’s almost as if these voting bodies feel that some (usually Black) artists must go through a weird humiliation ritual before being deemed worthy.

In 2015, Beyoncé’s self-titled LP lost album of the year in favor of Beck’s “Morning Phase.” She was overlooked again when Adele won album of the year for “25” over her seminal album “Lemonade” at the 59th Grammy Awards. Her club classic “Renaissance” also missed out on the top prize in 2023, with Styles’ “Harry’s House” taking home the award.

Rapper Macklemore won the rap album Grammy over Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. City” at the 56th iteration of the award ceremony. At the 2016 Grammys, Lamar’s deeply layered LP “To Pimp a Butterfly” lost album of the year to Taylor Swift’s “1989.” Mumford & Sons’ “Babel” won album of the year in 2013 over Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange.”

The anti-Blackness in the Recording Academy — the voting body that chooses Grammy winners — cannot be understated.

But in a rare move the voters, which included the Latin Grammy Awards’ voting body for the first time this year, chose the album that actually reflected the cultural zeitgeist.

Really it was less so that I believed Bad Bunny would win as much as I felt that he needed to win.

The past year has been exceedingly trying for the Latinx community as Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have been conducted throughout the country. It has oftentimes felt as though being Latinx — looking a certain way, speaking Spanish, having certain names — is a crime. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen videos of or heard heartbreaking stories of Latinx people being separated from their families, harassed or even killed due to activities of federal agents.

So even if it was just a moment of recognition for Bad Bunny, I had a lot riding on one win for Latinx people. A win for an album that is unapologetically in Spanish, explored ideas of resistance toward colonization and dared to be joyful, would mean something to me.

When he won, I had the same reaction as him. I couldn’t believe it and I cried — genuine tears in my Latina eyes.

It felt like an acknowledgment that Latinx people exist and matter. I was also moved when he explicitly shouted out immigrant and Latinx communities. There was just something that felt radical, too, in him giving the majority of his acceptance speech in Spanish.

De Los writer Andrea Flores also had faith in Bad Bunny’s Grammys viability from the very beginning.

“I knew Bad Bunny was going to win big at the Grammy Awards the moment he released this album,” she told me. “Bad Bunny made music for Puerto Rico, and the world listened.”

“I cried when I saw that Bad Bunny won album of the year. For me, it felt like sweet vindication for Latinx artists — reggaetoneros, more specifically — who have long been ignored, and at times vilified, by mainstream media for so many years. But what made me even more emotional was seeing posts on X showing Bad Bunny in 2016 as a bag boy at a local Puerto Rican supermarket. He looks familiar in that picture, like a cousin, brother or childhood friend. That was only 10 years ago. It’s proof to me that so much can change if you believe in your art and in yourself.”

It’s weird that a Latinx artist from an American colony is the most powerful cultural figure in the country at the same time that Latinx people face the most tenuous situation in the U.S. that I’ve seen in my life.

When Bad Bunny takes the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, I wish he’d get up there and call out ICE again on an even-bigger stage or do some kind of spectacular act of protest against the vile political class that has always and continues to push through discriminatory policies against non-white communities.

It’d be awesome if that happens, but even if it doesn’t, there will still be something profoundly radical about him simply being there and performing exclusively in Spanish.

(Jackie Rivera / For The Times; Martina Ibáñez-Baldor / Los Angeles Times)

The latest on Trump’s immigration enforcement

(Joel Angel Juarez / Getty Images)

After killing two U.S. citizens, forcibly extracting immigrants and using force against protestors, some 700 federal agents are being pulled out of Minnesota. About 2,000 officers will remain in the state, White House border czar Tom Homan said early this week.

On Tuesday, immigration officers in Minneapolis pulled their guns on and arrested protestors who were trailing their vehicles, the AP reported.

Meanwhile, my colleague Gavin J. Quinton reported that the Senate isn’t “anywhere close” to reaching an agreement on ICE funding, as Democrats demand “nonnegotiable” ICE reforms.

In some good news, Liam Conejo Ramos — the 5-year-old from Minnesota who was famously photographed wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack while detained by ICE agents — and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were released from a detention facility in Dilley, Texas and are back home in Minnesota.

The duo was released thanks to a ruling from the U.S. District Judge Fred Biery.

“[T]he case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children,” the judge wrote in his ruling.

Stories we read this week that we think you should read

Unless otherwise noted, stories below were published by the Los Angeles Times.

Politics and Immigration

Arts, culture and entertainment

Latin America

Spain is filled with beautiful destinations, but are often packed with tourists — but now Brits can fly to one Spanish city without fighting through the hustle and bustle

A breathtaking Spanish city could be yours to discover — for just the cost of a £13 flight.

Spain has a slew of destinations that are filled with amazing history, phenomenal beaches and great natural trails. However, this often comes at the cost of being inundated by tourists trying to capture their own private moment.

But now, a new destination has opened up for Brits to explore the glorious Spanish sun, without the need for wrangling through swathes of holidaymakers trying to take the perfect picture. The hidden gem also sits right on the Mediterranean coast, making it an unspoilt beauty, but still close to other holiday hotspots.

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Castellón de la Plana is a small city sitting just inland of Spain’s Costa de Valencia. With a population of just over 174,000 people, the city is often dwarfed by its popular neighbours, including Benidorm, Valencia, and even Barcelona further along the coast.

However, the city is brimming with culture and history, being the fourth-largest city in the region. The town has been mentioned in history books as far back as 1233, when it was taken over by a Spanish king, and has since built up an impressive history, filled with castles and stunning panoramic views, all with 30 °C temperatures at the height of summer.

Being located close to the sea, the city boasts access to the stunning Islas Columbretes Natural Park, where tourists can take in the amazing natural landscapes. With huge sea stacks and rock formations coming out of the sea, the panoramic views are like no other in Spain itself.

Back on dry land, travellers looking to get stuck into the hustle and bustle of daily life can get lost strolling through the Mercado Central, filled with locals selling their best produce. Seafood is in plenty of supply, with customers often queuing around the markets to get fresh quality goods, including food and drinks.

But if the market chaos is too much, the city also boasts a number of quiet, peaceful plazas that show how locals live their lives. Places such as the Plaça Major offer spots for people-watching, whilst taking in the breathtaking architecture of the local cathedral and other prominent buildings.

Beaches are also dotted around the city, with the songs such as the Playa del Pinar and Playa El Gurugu being the perfect spots to catch the sunrise over the horizon of the Med.

Food and drink are also staples of the city’s thriving life, as there are a host of bars and restaurants offering traditional meals for a reasonable price. Modern history is also covered, with the Refugio Antiaereo air-raid shelter now serving as a museum, adding an extra quirk to the Spanish diamond.

British tourists are now able to catch a flight to Castellón de la Plana, after Ryanair officially connected London Stanstead Airport to Castellón Airport, based some 30 kilometres away from the city itself. The cost of the flights themselves are also incredibly cheap, with the cheapest one-way flight to the Spanish getaway coming in at £13 this month.

The airport can also serve as a great gateway to the rest of the Valencia region, with holiday hotspots such as Valencia City, Alicante, and Benidorm easily accessible. The price of flights also do not fluctuate that much, meaning a cheap flight to Spain is always guaranteed.

Following Bad Bunny’s landmark album of the year win at the 68th Grammy Awards for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Ricky Martin penned a letter of appreciation to commemorate the moment.

In an opinion piece for the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día published Tuesday, the Boricua hitmaker said Bad Bunny’s accomplishment stirred deep feelings within him.

“Benito, brother, seeing you win three Grammy Awards, one of them for album of the year, with a production entirely in Spanish, touched me deeply,” Martin wrote. “Not only as an artist, but as a Puerto Rican who has walked stages around the world carrying his language, his accent and his history.”

In addition to becoming the first all-Spanish album of the year winner, the “Nuevayol” artist took home the Grammy Awards for música urbana album and global music performance for the track “EoO” on Sunday.

Martin further called Bad Bunny’s achievement a “human” and “cultural” win, lauding him for not bending to the will of anyone who tried to change his sound in any way.

“You won without changing the color of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico,” Martin wrote. “You stayed true to your language, your rhythms and your authentic narrative.”

Martin, who first broke out as a solo musical act in the mid-’90s, became an international superstar off the back of his Spanish-language hits including 1995’s “María,” 1998’s “Vuelve” and “Perdido Sin Ti.”

He reached a new strata of stardom after his track “La Copa de Vida” was used as the official anthem for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. That song charted in over 60 countries and was translated into English. He landed his biggest hit with “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” which was the lead single from his 1999 self-titled English album.

When accepting his album of the year award Sunday night, Bad Bunny addressed the crowd predominantly in Spanish and spoke of the strugglesof the immigrant experience.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” he said in English.

“Puerto Rico, believe me when I say that we are so much bigger than 100 by 35 and there is nothing that exists that we can’t accomplish,” the “Dakiti” artist said in Spanish. “Thank God, thank you to the academy, thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my whole career. To all the people who worked on this album. Thank you, Mami, for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico. I love you.”

The 54-year-old singer also showed love to Bad Bunny for using his platform to show solidarity for vulnerable communities.

“What touched me most about seeing you on the Grammys stage was the audience’s silence when you spoke,” Martin wrote. “When you defended the immigrant community, when you called out a system that persecutes and separates, you spoke from a place I know very well where fear and hope coexist, where millions live between languages, borders and deferred dreams.”

Martin concluded his letter by thanking Bad Bunny for reminding him and showing other Puerto Ricans that there is power in being true and authentic to yourself.

“This achievement is for a generation to whom you taught that their identity is non-negotiable and that success is not at odds with authenticity,” Martin wrote.

“This was for Puerto Ricans, for all our Latino brothers and sisters who dream in Spanish, for those crossing seas and borders wearing their cultures like a flag. From the heart, from one Boricua to another, with respect and love, I thank you for reminding us that when one of ours succeeds, we all succeed.”

Who’s ready for a Minions happy dance?

Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté said Tuesday that he may be able to skate his Minions-themed program at the Olympics after all. He shared on Instagram that Universal is allowing him to use the music from its popular animated franchise for the “special occasion” and said he is working to clear the remaining hurdles.

“There are still a couple things to be tied up with the other 2 musics of the program but we are so close to accomplishing it!” Guarino Sabaté wrote in his update thanking his supporters. “I’m so happy to see that the minions hitting Olympic ice is becoming real again!! I’ll keep you posted!”

A six-time Spanish national champion, Guarino Sabaté said on Monday that he had been informed Friday — exactly a week before the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Games — that the medley of “Minions” music he had skated to, while dressed in blue overalls and a yellow shirt, through the entirety of the season could not be used at the Olympics due to copyright issues. This meant that Guarino Sabaté, who had been set to make his Olympics debut with his Minions-themed short program on Feb. 10, would need to change his plans last minute. How bananas.

The cheery yellow creatures are a signature of Universal and Illumination’s “Despicable Me” film franchise. NBCUniversal owns the U.S. media rights to the Olympics.

“Finding out about this … so close to the most important competition of my life, was incredibly disappointing,” Guarino Sabaté wrote in his post sharing the initial news. “This season I competed with my Minions short program to bring joy and playful style to the ice while still meeting every required element to show that skating as a male Olympic figure skater can be fun. … Nevertheless, I will face this challenge head on and do my best to make the best of it.”

The Olympian said then that he had followed the proper procedures and submitted his music through the International Skating Union’s recommended rights clearance system in August. The situation has brought to attention to the complexities of music licensing and how it affects artistic sports like figure skating. Contemporary music is not in the public domain and skaters are responsible for clearing their own music.

For now, fans will just have to remain hopeful that Guarino Sabaté’s dream of bringing joyous Minion mayhem to the Olympic ice will come true in the end.

Bad Bunny’s “Débi Tirar Más Fotos” was named album of the year at Sunday night’s 68th Grammy Awards — the first time a Spanish-language LP has won the Recording Academy’s most prestigious prize.

Bunny delivered the speech primarily in Spanish.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams,” he said as the audience rose to its feet.

“Puerto Rico, believe me when I say that we are so much bigger than 100 by 35 and there is nothing that exists that we can’t accomplish,” he said in Spanish. “Thank God, thank you to the academy, thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my whole career. To all the people who worked on this album. Thank you, mami, for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico. I love you.”

“For all the people who have lost a loved one and even then have had to continue moving forward and continue with so much strength, this award is for you all.”

Intricately arranged with the sounds of the singer and rapper’s native Puerto Rico, “Débi Tirar Más Fotos” was released to rave reviews in January 2025 and quickly reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Last summer, Bad Bunny supported the project with a 30-date concert residency at San Juan’s José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum; he followed that with the announcement of a world tour that avoided the United States, in part, he told I-D magazine, because of his concern that immigration agents might turn up at shows.

Prior to Sunday’s win, “Débi Tirar Más Fotos” — the title translates in English to “I Should Have Taken More Photos” — was named album of the year at November’s Latin Grammy Awards. Next weekend, Bad Bunny (whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) will headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.

He won earlier in the night for música urbana album and global music performance.

The other LPs nominated for album of the year were Justin Bieber’s “Swag,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out,” Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem,” Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX,” Leon Thomas’ “Mutt” and Tyler, the Creator’s “Chromakopia.”

In 2025, Beyoncé took the prize with “Cowboy Carter.”

The islands are just a 45-minute ferry from mainland Spain and yet are almost completely unknown by UK holidaymakers despite the area’s natural beauty which includes a beach named the best in the world

Most Brits are well-acquainted with the Balearic and Canary Islands. Each year, millions jet off to bask in the sunshine across Spanish island destinations like Tenerife, Lanzarote, Majorca, and Ibiza.

However, what many don’t know is that these aren’t Spain’s only islands. There is an archipelago that welcomes barely any tourists, despite sitting just off the mainland coast, and most UK tourists won’t have heard of them.

The Cíes Islands are a 45-minute ferry journey from Vigo city in northwestern Spain. This archipelago is made up of three main islands: Monteagudo (North Island), Do Faro (Middle Island), and San Martiño (South Island).

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Monteagudo and Do Faro are linked by a 1,200-metre stretch of sand, featuring a lagoon on one side and the Atlantic on the other, reports the Express.

Don’t turn up expecting to find luxury resorts. These islands remain virtually uninhabited, with the sole facilities being a modest shop and a handful of restaurants. Most visitors stay for just a few hours, trekking between the two larger islands via rocky trails and enjoying the tranquil, pristine coastline.

Throughout peak season, which is Easter through May and September, daily visitor quotas are capped at 1,800, requiring visitors to book advance permits before boarding ferries. Outside of peak periods, just 450 people can visit daily.

The stretch of sand linking two of the islands is called Rodas, and this hidden treasure was crowned the world’s best beach by The Guardian. The publication described the islands: “Their nickname – the Maldives or Seychelles of Spain – gives a clear indication of what to expect: gorgeous white beaches, turquoise waters … in other words, your average untouched paradise.”

Walking remains the islands’ most popular pastime, boasting many spectacular coastal trails and reasonably straightforward routes to explore. Scuba diving offers another brilliant opportunity to soak up the Cíes Islands’ natural splendour.

Being part of Islas Atlánticas National Park means the local wildlife is protected, so divers require a permit, and visitor numbers are carefully controlled.

For those wanting to extend their stay beyond a single day, there’s a beautiful campsite perched above the lagoon with sweeping ocean views. You can reserve a ready-pitched tent complete with proper beds and enjoy stargazing after dark without artificial light interference, whilst having the beaches to yourself once day-trippers leave.

Camping Islas Cíes offers essential amenities – everything you need for your visit, from a snack bar to heated showers. There’s also a children’s club packed with entertaining activities, whilst kayaking and snorkelling expeditions can be arranged to help you discover more of the islands.

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Whilst Monteagudo and Do Faro boast regular ferry connections, the most southerly of the Cíes Islands, San Martiño, is only accessible by hiring a private boat. Any boats intending to drop anchor here require a special licence, but it’s well worth the effort if you can get onto a tour, as it’s incredibly tranquil and boasts pristine sandy shores and palm trees, creating the feeling of being in the Caribbean.

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