summer

SCHOOL’S out for summer. And if you’re one of the many strapped-for-cash Brits who has yet to book their family getaway, listen up.

The Algarve is the cheapest holiday destination for families in 2026 offering bargain food and drinks among other holiday essentials.

The Portuguese resort was crowned the most budget-friendly of 22 European holiday destinations in The Post Office Travel Money’s annual Family Holiday Costs Barometer.

Conducted in partnership with TUI, the research looked into the average price of ten typical getaway items for a family of four in some of the most popular short-haul holiday destinations.

These items included a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer/lager, a can of cola, a glass of wine, a large bottle of water, sun cream, insect repellent, children’s pizza or pasta, a two-course lunch for two adults and a three-course family meal with wine and soft drinks.

Overall, the Algarve was shown to be the least damaging to wallets with a total cost of £139.65 for all the above items.

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

This is a 2.7 per cent dip in overall costs from the previous year, pushing the sun-soaked region ahead of Bulgaria’s notoriously affordable Sunny Beach on the budget scale.

Sunny Beach still came in second place overall, however, despite a staggering 9.3 per cent hike in costs since 2025, with all ten holiday items coming in at a total of £142.16 — just a few quid more than the Algarve.

It is still the most affordable place for a meal out, though.

According to the research, dinner for a family of four will set the average holidaymaker back around £73, compared with £78 in the Algarve.

In general, the report looks promising for Brits who love Spain’s gorgeous costas and islands, too.

On the whole, the country was shown to be widely affordable with six destinations making it into the top ten most budget-friendly regions for 2026.

The Canary isle of Lanzarote came in third place with overall costs of £147.42.

It was shown to be the cheapest spot for both a bottle of beer (£2.18) and adult lunch (£15.73), although some items like sun cream were found to be a bit more pricey.

Menorca, the Costa Brava and Tenerife came in fourth, fifth and sixth place on the list, with overall holiday item costs of £151.28, £155.02 and £158.31 respectively.

Each of these Spanish hot spots is new to the barometer for 2026, with TUI reporting increased demand for these destinations and Western Europe on a whole this year.

In all three holiday regions, a glass of wine was shown to be under £4 on average, with tipples in the Costa Brava and Tenerife costing less than they would in the Algarve.

On the other hand, if you’re a family with multiple hungry mouths to feed, you may want to set your sights on Marmaris, which came in seventh place overall.

According to the report, this Turkish destination has the most affordable kids meals of all 22 spots, setting holidaymakers back £10.24 on average for pizza or pasta for two kids.

That’s over £3 cheaper than in the winning budget destination, the Algarve, and could make a huge difference on a week-long getaway.

Completing the top ten chart are Spain’s Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, plus Paphos in Cyprus, coming in eighth, ninth and tenth place respectively with barometer costs of £163.17, £173.41 and £177.18.

Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: “It is more important than ever to do some research before heading off on your holiday to inform how much holiday cash you’ll need for meals, drinks and other tourist staples.

“For those families who haven’t already booked and are looking for a late deal, the low resort prices in Portugal and Spain make these countries great value for money, while Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts are strong contenders, too.”

At the opposite end of the scale, Italy’s Sorrento appeared to be the most expensive of all 22 destinations, with all ten of the holiday essentials costing £268.23 in total — almost double the price of the same items in the Algarve.

Holidaymakers visiting this Italian gem would be shelling out around £5.68 for a bottle of beer, £4.37 for a cup of coffee and a staggering £150.28 for a three-course family meal. Mamma Mia!

ACROSS the globe are lots of beautiful islands with incredible beaches, jungles, even mountains – and I’ve been lucky enough to visit the world’s best.

Off the coast of Thailand, Koh Samui is a tropical paradise with inexpensive luxury hotels along with cheap restaurants and cocktails for a few quid.

It was recently crowned the ‘Best Island in the World’ by Travel + Leisure.

Hundreds of thousands of readers voted for their top island destination to form the list of the 25 best.

Koh Samui took the crown and was praised for its “array of elevated accommodations, luscious jungles, and roaring waterfalls—has become a leading destination for self-care.”

While I can’t say I went to Koh Samui for self-care per se, I did feel incredibly relaxed when checking into one of its many gorgeous resorts.

SAVE BIG

UK theme parks and attractions offering FREE return visits and 89p kids tickets

HOT RIGHT NOW

Wowcher holiday and hotel deals – from UK spa breaks to trips abroad for £99

During my stay last August, I checked into the beautiful the Anantara Lawana on the northeastern side of the island.

It did give serious White Lotus vibes, and with good reason as the cast of series three actually filmed bar scenes in its Singing Bird Lounge.

The five-star hotel is reasonably priced as well considering just how beautiful it is.

A seven-night stay for two at the Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort with Expedia starts from £1,131.24 or £95pppn.

This is in a Deluxe Lawana room with breakfast included, a garden view and a beautiful outdoor balcony.

However, you can actually book an Anantara Pool Suite – which has its own private plunge pool and an outdoor rain shower for an extra £160.

The resort itself has its own beach which, while it’s not private, was incredibly quiet with sunloungers dotted about.

I found it to be perfect for a paddle after a long day in the sun as the sandbank made it incredibly shallow.

The hotel also has a spa and daily activities like sunrise yoga – there’s plenty to choose from at the buffet breakfast too which comes with an impressive ocean view.

When it comes to dinner, the on-site restaurants have lots of tasty meals like pineapple fried rice – which is served in an actual pineapple and Mai Tai cocktails.

While Koh Samui does have elements of luxury, I would say that venturing outside of these hotels is a whole other adventure.

It’s not the peaceful retreat you see in The White Lotus – instead, it’s scruffy and a tad chaotic with locals darting along the road in mopeds, hectic food markets and late night beach parties.

But having the best of both worlds is what makes it so brilliant.

Tucked away along the bustling streets are tiny restaurants with sticky tables and handmade menus serving up Pad Thai and spicy tom yum soup, with cocktails for £2.

Bars are constantly advertising happy hour too – so quite often I could even bag two drinks for this price.

One of the restaurants I popped into was a five-minute walk from the hotel, and while it didn’t look like much – in fact it still had Christmas decorations up in August, the food was delicious.

Mango sticky rice is a Thai staple and could be picked up all over the island for as little as £1.65.

Food wasn’t the only cheap thing I found on the island – for anyone wanting an authentic Thai massage, these were as little as £6 for an hour.

The island is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches too with either golden or powdery white sand and bright blue waters.

Chaweng is one of the most popular — but there are many pockets of coast where you’ll find secret sandy spots and likely be the only people around.

Other popular spots include Lamai Beach, Choeng Mon Beach and Thongtakian Beach.

From Koh Samui, it’s easy to visit other beautiful spots too like Koh Nangyuan, Koh Tao and the Instagram-worthy Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Here’s the full list of the ‘best islands in the world’…

Here are Travel + Leisure’s best islands in the world – and their scores out of 100…

1. Koh Samui – 95.64
2. Maldives – 95.38
3. Galapagos Islands – 94.99
4. Bali – 93.20
5. Phuket – 93.18
6. Seychelles – 92.95
7. Fiji – 92.71
8. Sri Lanka – 92.67
9. Dominica – 91.87
10. Zanzibar – 91.83
11. Golden Isles – 91.59
12. Sardinia – 91.57
13. Skye and the Hebrides – 91.17
14. Malta – 91.00
15. Grenada – 90.36
16. Madeira – 90.33
17. Azores – 90.18
18. Maui – 89.70
19. Sicily – 89.53
20. Milos – 89.50
21. Virgin Gorda – 89.43
22. Crete – 89.39
23. Vieques – 89.38
24. Paros – 89.33
25. Kauai – 89.16

A BRAND new aquapark is coming to a UK town just in time for the summer holidays.

The attraction spans 150 acres and will be open until the autumn.

The massive new attraction features everything from slides and climbing walls to balance beams and splash zones.

Opening from today (Saturday, July 18), the inflatable waterpark will be running until autumn.

It is located at Hinchingbrooke Country Park in Cambridgeshire and is set to open daily for the rest of the summer.

Visitors aged six and over can pre-book online, with tickets costing £19 per person.

WAVE REVIEWS

Ultimate guide to the UK’s best holiday county with top beaches & £9.50 hols

SUN SPOT

10 best Haven holiday parks revealed with Spoons pubs, water parks & own beaches

This price includes entry, as well as a buoyancy aid, helmet, and wetsuit hire.

Helmets and wetsuits are optional, however, participants must wear a buoyancy aid regardless of swimming ability.

Ticket-holders can visit the park anytime 10am to 5pm, with each session lasting an hour.

The new inflatable is part of a larger ongoing investment into Hinchingbrooke Country Park, improving its leisure activities and encouraging more visitors to the park’s large natural surroundings.

Executive member for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene, Cllr Julie Kerr, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing this exciting new attraction to Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

“It’s a fantastic addition for residents and visitors alike, and part of our ongoing commitment to improving and evolving the park to enhance leisure and outdoor opportunities for users now and in the future.”

Walk through sunflowers in Gower

At the westernmost tip of the Gower peninsula, Rhossili Bay is a gloriously wide sweep of sand, backed by dunes and licked with waves perfect for bodyboarding and surfing. Wild ponies graze on the southern headland, while walkers time their trip across to the serpent-like Worm’s Head promontory to not get cut off by the tide.

In summer there’s an added draw: 100,000 sunflowers. A 20-minute walk from the Worm’s Head National Trust car park, the flowers hit their peak from late July into August. Across the site there are pick-your-own fields, a trail to follow between wooden animal structures and giant swings (for the photo ops as much as the fun).
Entry to the sunflowers £4 weekdays, £4.50 weekends, rhossilisunflowers.co.uk

Fabulous forest play in Dorset

Deep in the woods at Moors Valley country park are giant ant nests and snake pits, huge hawks and spiders, all stars of Forestry England’s play trail. It wiggles for a mile through the trees with tunnels to crawl through, slides to whiz down and crocodile-shaped balancing beams. There’s also the inclusive beehive with double-width slide and quiet areas for those requiring less stimulation.

New for this year is Woodland Rhapsody, a musical play structure with gravel-filled rain makers and drums to bang, and the Timber area, which tells the story of a forester’s job, with pulleys to sort seeds, timber tangles to climb and a big wooden harvester with steering wheel and levers to operate.
Free (car parking charges apply), moors-valley.co.uk

A wine (and wildlife) hike in the Surrey Hills

Wine hikes, with scenic trails linking vineyards, are often associated with mainland Europe, but here’s a great English alternative, using the North Downs Way.

Start at Albury Vineyard (take the 32 bus from Guildford train station), where the self-guided wildlife walk through the vines passes bat and barn owl boxes, bug hotels, beehives, wildflower meadows and a pond. It’s then a seven-mile stomp to Denbies Wine Estate to board the vineyard “train”, the carriages hooked up to the back of a Land Rover. Other shorter walking loops start and end at Denbies Estate, passing artist James Tunnard’s wavy wooden seat, Radius, and up Denbies Hillside, which is alive with butterflies and wild orchids – the perfect picnic spot.
Albury Vineyard wildlife walk: free (suggested donation £10 a group to Surrey Wildlife Trust), alburyvineyard.com. Denbies vineyard train tour: £12.50 adults, £6.95 children, denbies.co.uk

Spot dolphins in the Moray Firth

About 200 bottlenose dolphins live in the waters north of Inverness, the most northerly colony in the world. They are a hardy bunch, hunting and swimming around the Moray Firth and beyond all year, but sightings of them throwing fish and leaping from the water are more frequent in the summer months.

The Scottish Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay is not only a good place to get the binoculars out (there are plenty to borrow – keep an eye out for ospreys, seals and otters, too), but also a hub of marine learning. Housed in a former 18th-century fishing station, there are tours of the old ice house, an interactive dolphin exhibition with live wildlife cameras, plus river rambles and nature-themed holiday clubs during the Scottish school summer holidays.
Free, holiday clubs £1.50-£3 per child, dolphincentre.whales.org

Celebrate David Hockney in West Yorkshire

The late David Hockney’s oil painting Salts Mill depicted the building’s Victorian facade glowing orange and the Yorkshire hillsides glinting emerald green. It was a present for Jonathan Silver, Hockney’s friend, who transformed this former textile mill into a cultural hub, and it hangs in the entrance to the building.

Upstairs there are more of Hockney’s works in the 20 Flowers for 2025 and Some Bigger Pictures exhibition, which runs until January 2027. It’s a free, inspiring space – perhaps pick up a sketch book and paints in the shop afterwards. Plus there are burgers and pizzas at Salts Diner for lunch, the Peace Museum (also inside the mill) to potter around, and a lovely walk along the canal to Bingley.
Free, saltsmill.org.uk

Visit the Quentin Blake centre in London

Revered illustrator Quentin Blake has been championing a museum of his craft for 20 years, and in June, aged 93, he opened the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, a permanent home for the art form in an 18th-century waterworks in Clerkenwell. Blake is most famous for his scribbly style, as seen in his illustrations for Roald Dahl’s stories, but all kinds of work is celebrated here, from comics to graphic murals. Plenty is free to wander: a library in the former Engine House, a cafe in the Boiler House, as well as the gardens.

Paid exhibitions delve into Blake’s extensive archive and spotlight contemporary illustrators. Budding artists can try out fabric painting and printmaking at the Creative Studio during the summer holidays (Wednesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm).
Exhibition: £15 adults, £6 children, under-5s free, family tickets from £23 (1 adult + 3 children), qbcentre.org.uk

Count butterflies on the Hampshire Downs

The wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation predicts it’s going to be a bumper summer, thanks in part to a massive migration of painted lady butterflies from Africa. Its Big Butterfly Count runs until 9 August – the world’s largest butterfly survey – and last year 125,000 citizen scientists each spent 15 minutes outside noting numbers of butterflies and moths.

The organisation’s Magdalen Hill Down nature reserve on a chalk hillside just outside Winchester would be a good place to count – 46 hectares of chalk grassland, wildflower meadows and woodland, which are home to butterflies such as the adonis blue, chalk hill blue and brown argus.
Free, butterfly-conservation.org

Monastic life on a Pembrokeshire island

The first monks arrived on Caldey Island off Pembrokeshire’s south coast in the sixth century. Today, the Cistercian order are as well known for their chocolate and lavender perfume-making as for their vow of nightly silence (with no unnecessary speech during the day). It’s 20 minutes by boat from Tenby to this peaceful escape, where paths wind through woodland and along cliffs to the working lighthouse, soft sands of Priory Beach and a chocolate and fudge kitchen.

This summer, there’s a new natural play area and the Monastic Story Hall, which charts the island’s history and explores monastic life, as well as highlighting the unique wildlife here, which includes red squirrels, hedgehogs, seals and Manx shearwaters.
Adults £24.95, children £12.95 (under-4s free), family (2 adults + 2 children) £64.95, caldeyislandwales.com

Watch history come to life in County Durham

Each summer, on Saturday evenings in Bishop Auckland, Boudicca battles against the Romans. Vikings invade, knights joust and a full-size steam locomotive chugs across a 7.5-acre stage as part of Kynren – An Epic Tale of England. With a 1,000-strong cast, the outdoor show whips through 2,000 years of history, and now has an equally dramatic daytime counterpart, Kynren – The Storied Lands.

The five daily shows offer a journey through time and legend, with immersive re-enactments and live-action storytelling, featuring swooping birds of prey, charging horses, ancient monsters from the deep, a Viking village and a maze-like Victorian imaginarium.
From £30 adults, £20 children, 18 July-12 September, kynren.com

A bat safari by punt in Cambridge

Bats might have their big moment at Halloween, but the best time to see them fluttering around is the height of summer, just after sunset. One of the most atmospheric ways is on a Bat Safari Punting tour along the River Cam. The trips take place every Friday and Saturday evening in summer – departure times vary depending on dusk. Run by the local wildlife trust (with 50% of ticket sales going towards its work), guides use bat detectors to listen for the clicks and squeaks from pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bats along the riverbanks of Grantchester Meadows. In late July and early August there’s a chance to see the mothers and pups in tandem flight in the night sky.
Family row for two £63, three £73, scudamores.com

Take a dip along the Thames

There has been talk of floating lidos and river swimming in London for years, and this summer a spot at Ham, in the west, became the capital’s first designated bathing water area on the Thames.

Elsewhere in London, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf opened a 50-metre six-lane pool in June, bobbing in Eden Dock and designed for swimming lengths, though over-8s who are strong swimmers are welcome. Plus, there’s a summer programme of free open-air cinema, mini golf and other fun around Canary Wharf for afterwards. For younger children, the free Royal Docks Summer Splash at Royal Victoria Dock has a paddling pool, deckchairs and sandpits.
Sea Lanes: pay-per swim £10, sealanescanarywharf.co.uk. Summer Splash: free, 24 July–16 August, royaldocks.london

Waterworld in Staffordshire

North-east of Birmingham, Cliff Lakes is part of a series of human-made lakes along the River Tame, formed from former gravel pits and sand quarries. Today, the tranquil waters are home to a host of activities: open water swimming lanes (popular with training triathletes), boating and wakeboarding, a paddleboarding school and the UK’s largest aqua park with floating assault courses. The newest challenge this summer is the X Tower, a 12-metre-tall inflatable with six slides – four with kickers to send thrill-seekers high into the air before splashdown (age 12 and over). There’s a dedicated kids park for younger water babies, while Aqua Chimp is a high ropes course suspended above the water.
£25pp (over-6s) including parking, wetsuit, aqua socks and buoyancy aid, clifflakes.co.uk

Henry Moore in London and Hertfordshire

Henry Moore and his wife, Irina, moved to rural Hertfordshire from London in 1940 after their home was damaged in the Blitz. For the next 46 years the sculptor worked at Hoglands, creating some of his best-known works. The farmhouse and outbuilding studios have been preserved as the Henry Moore Studio & Gardens, his huge works sitting, as he envisioned them, among the lawns, orchards and woodlands. This year, the Sheep Field Barn reopened as a gallery with hands-on spaces for messy monoprinting sessions and collaborative sculpture workshops.

Kew Gardens in London is having its own Moore moment, displaying 30 of his sculptures for Henry Moore: Monumental Nature (until 31 January 2027), with a family trail including prompts for sketching and games.
Henry Moore Studio & Gardens: £23 adults, £11 children, under-5s free, family tickets from £38, henry-moore.org. Kew Gardens: £24 adults, £2 children, under-4s free, kew.org

See osprey fledglings in Mid Wales

Ospreys disappeared from the UK in 1916, the victims of persecution and egg-collecting, but populations have been slowly recovering since the 1950s. In Wales there are now five breeding pairs that return each year to lay their eggs after wintering in west Africa. Telyn and Idris, one of these pairs, are now raising three chicks, which hatched at the end of May, at the Dyfi Osprey Project outside Machynlleth.

The centre’s YouTube channel has more than 20,000 subscribers following their progress. At the Cors Dyfi nature reserve, visitors get a front-row seat – the observatory tower less than 200 metres from the nest, and this summer those chicks will begin to fly, then learn to hunt for themselves.
Adults £8, children £4, dyfiospreyproject.com

Biking in Robin Hood country

Forestry England’s Sherwood Pines is an activity-filled corner of Sherwood Forest, north Nottinghamshire, more popular these days with mountain bikers than merry men. The 1,336-hectare (3,300-acre) woods has a network of trails for all abilities: advanced dirt jumps, single track downhills filled with berms and rollers, and the four-mile Maid Marion family loop for gentle off-road cycling (bike hire available). The new Pedal and Play trail allows the next generation of freeriders to learn on three loops of increasing skill, including one wide enough for adaptive bike users. King John’s Castle with its wobbly bridge, climbing tree and dungeon, is opposite for a post-pedal play.
Free (parking charges apply), forestryengland.uk/sherwood-pines

A tidal swimming pool tour on the Fife coast

In the early 20th century, tidal pools were all the rage as bathers discovered the health benefits of salt water. Up and down the coast rugged lidos were created, which fill with seawater at high tide, offering a sheltered swim away from waves and currents. The pools at St Monans, Pittenweem and Cellardyke sit on the Fife coast and have been revamped in recent years by community-driven projects. Start at boulder-edged St Monans; then at Pittenweem add a round of mini golf which funds the pool’s upkeep; and after finishing at Cellardyke have wood-fired pizza and coffee. This stretch of East Neuk is strung with pretty fishing villages (each with top-notch fish and chips) linked by the beautiful Fife Coastal Path.
Free, cellardyketidalpool.com, thewestbraes.co.uk, St Monans

Cosmic land art in Dumfries and Galloway

A 400m-long path lined with giant standing stones cuts north to south across the gently rolling hillsides of southern Scotland. This isn’t the mysterious work of Neolithic man, but of American visionary land artist Charles Jencks.

The pathway splits his Crawick Multiverse down the middle: on one side are the spiralling mounds of the Milky Way and Andromeda; on the other, a semicircle of trees, boulders and rusted scrap collide in jagged formations, representing the birth of a billion new stars as galaxies slam into each other. The 22-hectare site was an abandoned opencast mine, and Jencks turned tonnes of excavated earth and rock into an otherworldly sculptural installation.
Adults £8.50, children £5, crawickmultiverse.co.uk

Surf on a Blue Flag beach in North Shields

Each year the Blue Flag awards (or equivalent Scotland Beach awards) recognise the cleanest, safest, most environmentally well-managed stretches of coast in the UK. In 2026, 144 made the cut, from the gorgeous curve of Gyllyngvase Beach near Falmouth to the remote Sands of Breckon in Shetland.

Among them is the dune-backed, mile-long Tynemouth Longsands, the north-east’s year-round surf hub, 50 minutes from Newcastle on the metro. Both Longsands Surf School and Tynemouth Surf Co offer board hire and lessons for all ages, and in summer the swell is also dotted with kayakers and paddleboarders. Head to Longsands Fish Kitchen for fish and chips after.
Tynemouth Surf Co, kids’ lessons from £15 for 1.5 hours. Longsands Surf School, kids’ lessons from £22.50 for two hours.

Springwatch in County Fermanagh

BBC’s Springwatch had a new home this year with Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan broadcasting live for the first time in Northern Ireland at the National Trust’s Crom Estate. Set along the shores of Upper Lough Erne, this is one of Ireland’s most important nature conservation areas, with a tapestry of habitats: ancient oak-tangled woodlands, reed-fringed wetlands and flower-filled meadows.

The programme followed the estate’s red squirrels, pine martens, otters and birds of prey across its 810 hectares, and throughout the summer young wildlife watchers can borrow a tracker pack to find some of the animals themselves. For older children there are guided canoeing sessions on the lough (over-12s), or hire a rowing boat for all the family to mess about on the water.
Adults £9.50, children £4.75 (under-5s free), nationaltrust.org.uk

Thrills and red squirrels in the Cairngorms

The Cairngorms national park is great for outdoor adventures of all kinds. Head to the Landmark Forest Adventure Park near Carrbridge for action-packed attractions from a high-ropes course to a bouncy aerial net challenge, treetop trails, a water raft ride and a 10-metre climbing wall. Away from the high-tempo thrills, spot red squirrels among the Scots pines and climb the 105 steps of the forest tower to survey the Highland scenery through the telescope at the top.
Adults from £31, children from £29 (under-3s free), landmarkpark.co.uk

Universal Studios Hollywood has long been slated to have the biggest theme park opening of 2026 with its new high-speed coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. But with no officially announced opening date, questions have started to intensify and rumors have begun to swirl as to what may be causing the park to go radio silent on what is expected to be its centerpiece attraction.

According to Universal, there is no need for concern.

Yet speculation has zeroed in on the potential noise of the coaster as being a problem for residents of the nearby of Toluca Lake. Rumors were fueled Friday by Fox 11 Los Angeles reporting, via a since-deleted post on social media network X that Hollywood Drift’s opening had been delayed at least until the end of year due to neighborhood complaints. Videos of audible screams of riders on the coaster have gone viral in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for Universal said reports that the coaster’s opening is postponed until the end of 2026 are “not accurate” and disputed the notion that the coaster has been delayed. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the spokesperson said, is still on target to open before the end of summer.

“We expect to announce an opening date soon,” read an official statement from the company. “The information online is incorrect.”

The summer season lasts through the end of September. The park begins its popular fall Halloween Horror Nights on Sept. 3. Tickets for the latter are currently on sale, and Universal is promising access to Hollywood Drift for those who purchase its line-skipping express pass, which starts at $259.

Sources familiar with the coaster’s operations have also disputed the notion that noise is a cause for the coaster having not yet opened, instead pointing to more routine mechanical issues that have arisen during its test and adjustment phase. One theme park insider, however, stressed that when Hollywood Drift does open, it will likely be considered a “top-5, or top-10 coaster, in the world.”

The view of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is unique in that it is a 72 mph ride with vehicles created to rotate 360 degrees through multiple inversions. Designed to mimic the feel of stunt cars, its four-seated vehicles will twist and turn through banks in the track in an effort to create a drifting sensation.

Universal’s own website earlier this summer posted June 26 as an opening date, and while that was once the targeted launch, the date was quickly removed from the site. Universal began hosting media for walkthroughs of the coaster in May.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift has been in the works for than a decade. Built essentially on a cliff between the park’s upper and lower lots, the ride’s existence is a feat of engineering, and Universal has described it as among the most intense attractions in its global park portfolio.

Before land was moved, Universal began a series of tests to track how noise would travel through the surrounding neighborhood. Universal placed speakers on the old special effects and stunt buildings to see how ride screams traveled down the hill.

Ultimately, the tracks would be complemented with multiple sound walls and shields, the latter clear structures designed to block coaster rumbles and audience screams. And because the cars can rotate 360 degrees, Universal can in theory direct rider yells away from the studio below and the neighborhood nearby. The actual track has been filled with pea gravel, designed to minimize noise from any reverberations.

“It’s incredibly quiet,” said Jon Corfino, the lead creative at Universal Studios Hollywood. “We were able to do that by putting materials inside portions of the track to deaden the sound. I’m not sure we would have needed it, but it was important to do the right thing. It’s pea gravel and rocks. It’s quieter than I ever thought it was going to be.”

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift isn’t the only notable coaster slated to open in Southern California this year. Buena Park’s Knott’s Berry Farm initially intended to launch its reimagined Montezooma’s Revenge, now known as Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress, on Monday. Late last night, the park indefinitely delayed its public unveiling, with a spokesperson citing additional fine-tuning that surfaced during its final days of testing.

The delay is not expected to be a prolonged one.

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding and look forward to welcoming media and guests in the coming days when we can showcase the attraction exactly as intended,” read a statement from the park. Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress has been in development for the past four years.

Research highlights the vast difference between the same holiday items – from a cup of coffee to a meal out – between summer destinations popular with UK families

Families after a bargain break this summer should head to the Algarve, research found.

Portugal’s ever popular hotspot emerged as cheapest once holidaymakers get to their destination.

The research by Post Office Travel Money looked at 10 things tourist typically shell out on, including a three course family meal, lunch for two, through to suncream, a cup of coffee, and insect repellent. The results revealed a near £130 difference between the cheapest and the most expensive amount 22 destinations included, which could really stack up for a typical family over the course of a week or longer.

The Algarve came out top, with the 10 items costing £139.65, and 2.7% less than a year ago.

Next cheapest was Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, where the same came to £142.16, with the Canary Islands, Menorca and Spain’s Costa Brava making up the remainder of the top five where travellers’ money will go the furthest.

At the other of the scale, the most expensive among the 22 destinations included was Sorrento in Italy, with the 10 purchases costing £268. Families should expect to shell out a whopping £150 for a meal, compared with £88 on the Algarve.

The Post Office Travel Money Family Holiday Report was published in the week that many schools in England break up for the summer holiday

Echoing past years, prices varied by as much as 92% across the 22 destinations surveyed. There are also big differences between resorts in the same country.

In Greece, for example, the barometer totals ranged from £181 in Kos to £222 in Crete.

And while a cup of coffee in Sorrento can typically set tourists back £4.37, four hours across the country in Puglia it is £1.14, according to the report.

Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, which accounts for one-in-four UK currency

transactions, said: “We found big variations in costs between the European resorts surveyed, which means it is more important than ever to do some research before heading off on your holiday to inform how much holiday cash you’ll need for meals, drinks and other tourist staples. For those families who haven’t already booked and are looking for a late deal, the low resort prices in Portugal and Spain make these countries great value for money, while Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts are strong contenders too.”

1. Algarve, Portugal £139.65

2. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria £142.16

3. Canary Islands £147.42

4. Menorca £151.28

5. Costa Brava, Spain £155.02

6. Canary Islands £158.31

7. Marmaris, Turkey £158.33

8. Costa del Sol, Spain £163.17

9. Costa Blanca £173.41

10. Paphos, Cyprus £177.18

11. Sliema, Malta £181.21

12. Kos, Greece £181.38

13. Rhodes, Greece £186.10

14. Porec, Croatia £199.68

15. Puglia, Italy £203.05

16. Corfu, Greece £204.34

17. Zadar, Croatia £211.90

18. Ibiza £211.90

19. Majorca £219.65

20. Crete, Greece £211.57

21. Funchal, Madeira £260

22. Sorrento, Italy £268.23

LeBron James didn’t have a speech prepared.

“I’m just speaking to y’all from the heart,” the NBA’s all-time leading scorer told the audience Thursday night at the Time 100 Sports gala in New York.

In James’ heart and on his mind at that moment was his oldest son Bronny James, who nearly three years ago suffered sudden cardiac arrest as an 18-year-old rising freshman while practicing with the USC basketball team. He later was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect but eventually was able to resume his basketball career.

James and his son ended up becoming Lakers teammates for two seasons before the 23-year veteran became a free agent this summer. Bronny James is entering his third season with the Lakers after contract became fully guaranteed earlier this month.

“Obviously, if it wasn’t for the coaching staff and the medical team and everybody at USC being there in a timely fashion, we’d possibly be sitting here without our oldest son,” said James “So thank you to everybody and all the efforts when it comes to cardiac arrest.”

In June, Time magazine released its inaugural issue highlighting the 100 most influential people in sports, with James on the cover as “athlete of the century.”

James was one of the featured speakers at the gala honoring those individuals, as were fellow Time 100 Sports list members New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, Olympic gold medalist skater Alysa Liu, Invictus Games founder Prince Harry and women’s soccer legend Alex Morgan.

Savy King and Damar Hamlin speak onstage during the Time 100 Sports gala July 16 in New York.

(Jemal Countess / Getty Images for TIME)

Earlier in the evening, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Angel City FC defender Savy King gave a presentation on their experiences as athletes who suffered cardiac arrest while playing in games for their respective teams.

Like Bronny James, they were both young athletes at the time of their incidents — Hamlin was 24; King was 20 — and both were fortunate to have trained medical staff members on hand to perform CPR and use defribulators to save their lives.

Their message hit home for James.

“Guys, take that serious,” he said. “If you got kids in elementary, you got kids in middle school, kids in high school, colleges. Make sure they have these devices available where you can get them, practice them. It’s very important, super, super important. Obviously, we know how important it is to our family, so we’re a big advocate of that.”

AS a travel writer and a mum of a seven-year-old boy who frequently solo parents on trips abroad, there is no gadget or toy that makes my life easier when travelling than the Yoto player. 

From plane journeys to passport control queues, coach transfers to quiet moments by the pool that allow me to read a few pages of my long-ignored book, the little machine is worth its weight in gold. 

But let’s face it, they aren’t cheap. The Mini Yoto Player costs £59.99 and then you have to pay around £7.99 to £9.99 for every story card.

Still well worth it, in my opinion, but a pain on the purse strings nonetheless. 

So it’s music to my ears, and doubtless millions of other parents to learn that Yoto have released seven hours of free audiobooks for kids this summer holidays, which they’re calling their ‘summer travel audio collections.’ 

Created for kids ages 3-14 and divided into two themed listening experiences – On the Road and A World of Adventure – the collection blends stories, music and educational content curated specifically for travel days.

Read More On Family Travel

HOL YES

Huge changes to flight rights from kids seats to cabin bags but only on some planes

SAVE BIG

UK theme parks and attractions offering FREE return visits and 89p kids tickets

The On the Road collection includes: Journey Jams – upbeat music for family singalongs and long drives for kids aged 3-10, Biggest Ideas: Garrett Morgan, Inventor of the Traffic Signal – that introduces kids to the inventor behind traffic lights for kids aged 6-10, and Yoto Classics: The Wind in the Willows  for kids aged 8-14. 

The A World of Adventure collection includes: 5-Minute Stories from Around the World – bite-sized global tales for kids aged 4-7, Songs for Little Explorers – playful music and discovery-themed songs for kids aged 3-10, and Yoto Classics: Treasure Island – the classic pirate adventure reworked for younger listeners, for kids aged 8-14.

Yoto Content Director, Jess Tarrant said: “Travelling with kids can be a lot of fun, but it can also be overwhelming. We know parents are constantly looking for ways to keep kids entertained while reducing screen fatigue during long travel days. 

“Yoto was built for moments exactly like this: helping kids stay engaged, curious, and independent whether they’re in the backseat, at the airport gate, or winding down after a busy day of adventure.”

Yoto’s free summer travel playlist collections are available until September 1 through the Yoto App.

Yoto also has a new free Daily Draw Along collection, themed around rail and holidays, in partnership with Trainline.

The Draw Along collection acts like a creative travel companion for children, with each episode guiding them through a different scene inspired by trains, holidays and the things they might spot along the way.

Young travellers can design their own dream train or an under-the-sea train, head off on a mountain trail or a rollercoaster adventure.

Available until September 1 via the Discover section of the free Yoto app, the collection features 12 guided drawing episodes.

They’re inspired by what children may see or experience as they travel, and you don’t even need a Yoto player to use these guides.

POKÉMON fans better listen up as there is about to be a shedload of attractions across the UK for you.

This summer, National Trust‘s Summer of Play will feature at 142 locations across the UK, with 27 featuring Pokemon Play Zones.

In each Pokémon Play Zone, visitors can take part in Pokémon challenges, as well as Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution (where a Pokémon can become more powerful) trails at 15 locations.

If you have Pokémon Go, there are also specific National Trust Pokéstops and Gyms to find.

At a select number of locations, families will be able to book Pikachu meet and greets too.

At all of the National Trust’s 142 Summer of Play locations, families will be able to pick up a Pokémon x National Trust sticker book too.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

STAYCAY

Our travel experts’ best-kept-secret UK holiday spots for summer – from £37 a night

The experiences are all included with your admission and there is no need to pre-book.

At Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, for example, visitors can enter the Pokémon Play Zone, where they will find a straw bale maze arena to practise their training moves before taking on five themed challenges.

Clumber Park will also have football, cricket, sensory play and creative sessions.

Or at Dunham Massey in Cheshire, there are giant deckchairs to chill out on as well as lawn games and circus skills workshops.

You can try out different Mega Evolution Pokémon activities including striking your best Pokémon pose and attempting ‘the floor is lava’.

Other activities that are part of the Summer of Play include bug hunting, den building and team races.

Carl Greenman, the National Trust’s Programming and Production Manager, said: “There’s such a natural fit between Pokémon and Summer of Play — both are about encouraging families to have fun together and explore the world around them.

“By bringing a globally loved brand, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, into the places we care for, we’re helping more families discover them as spaces for play, adventure and shared experiences.”

FEW pics of celebs make me green with envy like their holiday snaps. 

The likes of Beyonce, Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss lounging on a cool boat in the Med while I sweat off my suncream on a sandy beach towel onshore, really make me question my career choices in life. 

But it turns out, you don’t need to be an A-Lister to get a taste of the high-life. 

On my recent trip to the South of France I discovered Samboat, a website that’s essentially the AirBnB of boats, which lets you hire people’s personal luxury speedboats and yachts for the day. 

What it means in practice is that rich people can lease out their boats when they’re not using them, for some extra cash. 

Samboat does have locations in the UK with boats on offer, but it really comes into its own in places like the French Riviera, where there are loads of millionaires with boats lying idle in the marina. 

Read More On Boat Holidays

SAIL AWAY

New floating yacht hotel opening in the UK that makes you feel like a celeb

GET OUT MOOR

I went on a family narrow boat holiday with UK countryside and pub stops

After scouring the website for the best boat for my mum friend and I, plus our three seven-year-old boys, I decided upon a Jeanneau Merry Fisher 900 Cruiser motorboat – massive at 9m long – that could fit up to 12 people. 

It was HUGE. With a large shaded area for lunches, an enormous bow that was bigger than my living room at home, and even an indoor living room downstairs. 

Because they have so many boats in the region, we were able to pick one that was just 10 minutes drive from our campsite, in Port Grimaud. 

The plan had originally been to moor somewhere around midday and grab lunch at a beachfront restaurant, much like Kate Moss and co. do when they disembark their yachts for magnums or rose and seafood towers at Club 55. 

But our skipper suggested our time would be much better spent picnicking on the water in a secluded bay, so we stocked up on supplies at the marina supermarket (turns out marina supermarkets that service posh boat owners are LOVELY – we got freshly-baked pastries, perfectly ripe brie, some very nice rose wine and plenty more goodies before setting out). 

And thank goodness he had put his foot down, because there was no way we would have got our boys off that boat with the promise of a boring restaurant meal. 

Instead, they loaded up on madeleine cakes and cheetos, while intermittently jumping off the side to ‘wash their hands’ of the cheesy crisps. 

There was one hair-raising moment where we discovered there wasn’t a bottle opener onboard for our wine, which meant a swim to one of the other posh boats in the bay to beg for a bottle opener – but hey, it’s all part of the fun, right? 

And our amenable neighbours had been curious who the people on the big boat blasting ‘Crazy Frog’ three times in a row were anyway. 

I’ve always considered boat day to be the best day on holiday – seeing the shoreline from the sea, getting some proper breeze and jumping into crystal-clear, deep water is always the perfect way to spend several hours. 

But when you join a group boat trip, that inevitably means a lot of waiting around and limited space to kick back and relax. 

With our own boat, we could set the pace. Which meant snail’s pace. 

We spent six hours in that cute little bay, floating on inflatables, practising our diving and snorkeling over the marine forests. 

Then on the way back, our skipper took us into St Tropez’s marina, to ogle the enormous billionaire’s yachts and grab an ice cream from the famous Barbarac on the marina promenade. 

Watching my son take in the beauty of the famous seaside town as we cruised into the port on the bow of the boat was a perfect holiday moment. 

Then we were dropped back to our local port, in time for a fish and chip supper. 

Hiring your own boat isn’t cheap. 

The prices for our particular boat start at 913 euros (£776) for the day, including the skipper, plus you have to pay for fuel, which worked out around 300 euros (£255). 

But if you filled the boat, that would work out at around 100 euros (£85) per person for the whole day, and there are plenty of boats on the website that work out much cheaper.

And when we arrived back in the UK after our holiday, the one memory we’ve not stopped talking about was boat day. 

I’d swap out several pricey attractions on land for eight hours of bliss at sea, where I can pretend I’m VB on her summer break (minus the designer holiday wardrobe) .

Ryanair has released a statement claiming that 16 airports in Europe will create “long queues for UK families” as the school summer holidays loom and airports face their busiest time of year

Ryanair has released a strongly-worded statement claiming that “UK families face hours of extra queues as EU EES chaos continues”, naming 16 airports where “passengers are experiencing significant delays”.

The budget airline called for an emergency extension and flexibility in implementing the Entry/Exit System (EES), warning that without action families heading off on their summer holidays would face long waits. These delays would affect passengers no matter what airline they flew with.

Its statement read: “Ryanair today [July 15] warned millions of UK families travelling to Europe this summer to prepare for lengthy passport queues and airport delays caused by the EU’s failed Entry/Exit System (EES), which continues to create disruption months after its introduction.

“With schools now breaking for summer and passenger volumes reaching peak levels, the failed EES rollout is going to cause unnecessary delays and long queues for UK families.”

It claimed: “Ryanair has identified a number of recurring EES hotspots where passengers are experiencing significant delays due to slow processing times and excessive passport control queues on both arrivals and departures.”

The statement went on to name airports including both beach and city break destinations. This included family-friendly holiday hotspots such as Lanzarote, Tenerife South, Alicante, and Malaga, alongside destinations including Milan and Verona.

Ryanair went on to claim these airports suffered from similar issues, saying: “Months after EES went live, many airports still do not have fully functioning self-service kiosks in place, while border staffing levels and infrastructure remain inadequate to process peak passenger volumes. The result is avoidable delays, longer queues and unnecessary stress for UK passengers travelling during the busiest holiday period of the year.”

The airline gave advice to families heading off on their holidays soon, continuing: “Ryanair is advising UK passengers travelling to and from non-Schengen destinations, or transiting through affected European airports, to allow extra time for their journey and be prepared for extended waits at passport control, where EES checks may require passport scanning, fingerprint capture and facial image verification.”

Neal McMahon, Ryanair’s chief operations officer, said in a statement: “Families heading away for a well-earned summer holiday should be thinking about suitcases, suncream and sangria, not standing in passport queues for hours. The reality is that the EES system isn’t working properly and families are paying the price for a system that does not work months after launch. Passengers should not be the testing ground for unfished border infrastructure.

“We support calls from EU Member States to urgently extend the EES flexibilities. This will give airports and border authorities the time to improve the infrastructure, fix the broken devices and hire more staff so that families can travel through Europe without disruption.”

Full list of airports Ryanair named for ‘significant delays’

1. Lisbon
2. Tenerife South
3. Madrid
4. Lanzarote
5. Alicante
6. Malaga
7. Milan Bergamo
8. Milan Malpensa
9. Verona
10. Paris Beauvais
11. Berlin
12. Cologne
13. Frankfurt Hahn
14. Krakow
15. Budapest

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

IF YOU are visiting Greece this summer, then you need to be aware of a major problem happening across several islands.

Seven Greek islands have announced that they are struggling with water supply following hot weather.

The island of Astypalaia is currently relying on bottled water for drinking, with this being the second driest season since 2020.

And this is then worsened in the peak season when the population rises from the 1,400 permanent residents to around 32,000 to 70,000 tourists.

As a result, local authorities have introduced emergency measures which include blocking irrigation for farmers.

Other islands that have declared an emergency include Alonnisos, Leros, Karpathos, Patmos, Symi and Tinos.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

As a result of the shortage of water across the islands, the Greek Government is committing €15million (£12.8million) for water infrastructure across nine islands.

It comes as experts also have warned that rising temperatures across the world could worsen water shortages by 2049.

A number of hotels across the islands are already taking measures to reduce the amount of water used.

For example, one hotel in Chora is offering guests €5 (£4.25) vouchers if they do not use the cleaning services each day.

Earlier this, Corfu also announced water shortages, particularly due to tourism leading to four times as much water consumption.

The Netherlands announced this week that they are experiencing a water crisis as well, though also confirmed that it does not impact drinking water.

SUNLOUNGER hogging is on the rise – but one spot in Spain is cracking down on it by fining holidaymakers.

These rules are being enforced by the Calpe Town Council, which affects the Costa Blanca.

Local authorities in the Spanish resort have the right to remove sunbeds, towels and parasols put on beaches before 9.30am.

Anyone who faces having their belongings taken away – they will have to pay to get them back and could face a fine of up to €250 (£216).

And it’s not just a warning about early morning starts either.

Items left unattended for more than three hours could also be taken away.

ISLE GO

Why Maldives holidays are cheaper than EVER – with crazy bargains from £1,437pp

COAST EFFECTIVE

Best UK family theme & waterparks with cheap stays from just £3pp a night

The measures are there to improve safety, cleanliness and access during peak season when beaches are at their busiest.

The rules aren’t new, having come into play two years ago.

At the time, a spokesman said in a statement on X: “This measure prohibits the indiscriminate occupation of the public domain, especially the beach, with items such as chairs, hammocks and parasols at the start of the day.

“These bad habits make it difficult to clean the beaches.

“The by-law establishes that all these items and others installed on the beaches before 9.30am can be removed and the owners reported.

“It also states that those umbrellas, chairs or hammocks that are left for more than three hours without the presence of their owners throughout the day may be removed and transferred to a municipal depot.”

Calpe is a popular spot in Alicante with sweeping beaches that have golden sand and bright blue Mediterranean waters.

Some of the most popular beaches are Playa de Levante, also known as La Fossa, and Playa Arenal-Bol.

AN airline has temporarily axed one of its routes until the end of August.

Skybus has announced there will be no services between Newquay and St Mary’s Airport on the Scilly Isles with existing customers being rerouted.

Passengers received the news yesterday of the cancellations with Skybus.

The airline explained the route has been suspended due to “a combination of a shortage of both aircraft and qualified pilots”.

Skybus continued to say: “We have explored every available option to maintain the Newquay service, but with a limited fleet and crew availability, we would be unable to operate the route reliably throughout the remainder of the summer.

“Our priority is to provide certainty for our passengers.

COAST EFFECTIVE

Best UK family theme & waterparks with cheap stays from just £3pp a night

DIVE IN

Mega waterpark hotels with EVERYTHING you ever wanted & all inclusive from £189pp

“We want to assure passengers booked to travel between Newquay and St Mary’s, you will be transferred onto a Skybus flight departing from Land’s End Airport on the same date.”

They said that by “concentrating” available aircraft and crews on services from Land’s End they can “provide greater reliability and reduce the risk of further disruption during the peak travel period.”

Customers will be contacted soon with dates for alternative flights.

They will also be offered free parking at Land’s End Airport, a refund of any fare difference between their original and revised flights, and a voucher to spend at the airport café.

Skybus operates year-round to the Isles of Scilly, but only from Land’s End Airport – and flights take about 20 minutes.

Flights from Newquay and Exeter usually operate seasonally between late March to October.

The Exeter route will continue as normal.

Avanti West Coast has partnered with Family Holiday Charity to offer free family train tickets to vulnerable families, supporting summer holiday breaks at destinations on the West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow and Edinburgh

A rail operator is offering free travel to vulnerable families so they can enjoy a holiday this summer.

Avanti West Coast has revealed it’s teamed up with Family Holiday Charity to enable breaks at destinations along the West Coast Main Line, which runs from London through to Glasgow and Edinburgh via the West Midlands and north-west England.

The getaways will be made available to families facing challenges including financial struggles, bereavement, caring duties, housing insecurity and domestic abuse.

Avanti West Coast customer experience director Kathryn O’Brien said the firm is “really proud” to help families embark on holidays they “may otherwise not have the chance” to experience.

OPINION

She continued: “We serve many picturesque towns and seaside destinations along the West Coast Main Line that will be the perfect destination for the families to enjoy new experiences and escapism from their day-to-day reality.

“The trips will offer something that many could take for granted – the opportunity to nurture relationships, create memories and reconnect with one another.”

Family Holiday Charity depends on referrals from sources such as social workers and the NHS to identify people it can assist.

Rob Parkinson, chief executive of Family Holiday Charity, said: “While many of the families we support have not been on a holiday before, it will also be the case that some have never travelled together by rail.

“Providing new experiences and opportunities to make enduring memories is central to what we do as a charity, and so we’re very excited to be working with Avanti West Coast on this summer pilot project.”

Avanti West Coast confirmed it will initially assist six families with summer holiday travel, calling the trial a “first for the rail industry”.

Family Holiday Charity’s mission is to help “families’ children who have never seen the sea, for teenagers who can’t remember when they last saw their mum smile. For parents having to choose between a day out and a new pair of school shoes. For young carers, kinship carers, families facing illness isolation and bereavement.”

Its philosophy is that holidays open up new possibilities and provide a time to reconnect, to try new things, and to make happy memories together.

The charity’s website features stories of those it has helped, as well as details on how you can support it.

One family who received help is Tobi’s. The 12-year-old has Takayasu arteritis, a type of vasculitis that causes inflammation in his blood vessels, damaging his large arteries. It’s treatable but not curable. He’s had two major heart surgeries this past year and life has been so hectic. If Tobi has to go to the hospital, all his family have to go.

“We could be there for months at a time, with Lanny commuting from the hospital to his school. At one point, Tobi was going in every three days for blood transfusions and he missed three years of school,” his mum Fathimas said.

Family Holiday Charity paid for Tobi, his siblings and mum to stay at the seaside in Essex.

“We were so happy to hear it was near the sea. We all love the beach and it reminded us of our days in Ghana. We hugged each other as we started making plans. I checked how far Clacton-on-Sea was from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital by train, just to be sure we could get there quickly if we had to. That helped ease my mind,” Fathimas said.

RYANAIR has warned that holidaymakers flying to airports in 16 popular destinations should expect lengthy queues.

New entry rules have caused difficulty for passengers, with some missing flights and waiting hours in passport queues.

Millions of Brits heading on holiday this summer should expect huge queues in some of Europe‘s most popular airports.

Since the introduction of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) in April, passengers have had to wait hours in passport queues, struggle with broken machines, and even miss flights.

Months later, no self-service kiosks have been installed, meaning border staff have hit capacity and are unable to process high numbers of passengers.

EES is an automated IT system for registering non-EU holidaymakers travelling for a short stay, requiring checks each time they cross the border of Schengen region destinations.

FLIGHT-LY IMPULSIVE

Last-minute Europe weekend breaks under £210pp – using NO annual leave

SUMMER STAPLES

All the clothes, shoes, bags & items  you SHOULDN’T wear on planes

The move aimed to make border checks more efficient than when standard passport stamps are used, making border crossing easier and faster

Now, however, Europe‘s most popular airline, Ryanair, has asked for EES flexibility to be extended until 2028 to let airports operate efficiently before the full rollout begins.

Chief operations officer at Ryanair, Neal McMahon, said: “We support calls from EU Member States to urgently extend the EES flexibilities.

“This will give airports and border authorities the time to improve the infrastructure, fix the broken devices and hire more staff so that families can travel through Europe without disruption.”

The major airline has pointed out 16 airports that it calls “recurring EES hotspots”, which have consistently flagged excessive delays due to slow processing.

Locations, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Alicante and Malaga, are all popular destinations for Brits in peak summer holiday season.

Major city break airports, such as Madrid, Krakow, Budapest, Berlin, and Paris Beavouis, have equally been impacted by the changes.

The listed destinations are not the only places impacted by queues – 150 passengers reportedly missed flights from Toulouse, France due to queues of up to 500 people, as well as 50 in a similar case from Athens.

Ryanair bosses have advised travellers to allow extra time on their journey and be prepared for extended waits when EES checks require passport scanning, fingerprint capture and facial image verification.

McMahon continued: “Families heading away for a well-earned summer holiday should be thinking about suitcases, suncream and sangria, not standing in passport queues for hours.

“The reality is that the EES system isn’t working properly and families are paying the price for a system that does not work months after launch. 

“Passengers should not be the testing ground for unfished border infrastructure.”

Brits with holidays booked this year to Europe could risk facing issues entering Europe if they don’t check a number on their passport well in advance

Schools across the UK will close for the six-week summer holiday, and thousands of families will be taking the opportunity to spend time together abroad during the peak travel season. However, a travel insurance specialist has issued an alert urging people to check a specific number on their passports before they jet away to avoid risk of being refused entry to Europe.

Travellers with passports issued before 2018 are being warned that they could face issues entering Europe if they don’t check a specific number, thanks to a ’10-year passport rule’. New analysis from Saga Travel Insurance found that the EU and Schengen ’10-year passport rule’ was the most discussed passport concern among travellers on Reddit, with discussions amassing 35,417 upvotes across the platform.

The Schengen area is a group of 29 European countries where travellers can move between countries without routine passport checks. It includes popular holiday destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal.

Michelle Cooper, Director of Saga Travel Insurance, said: “EU and Schengen countries require passports to be less than 10 years old on the day of entry. While all new passports last exactly ten years, passports issued before 2018 remain valid for 10 years and nine months.

“If you have an older passport, make sure you check both the issue date and expiry date before travelling to avoid problems at the border.” Michelle warns that passengers travelling with these 10-year and nine-month passports may face issues travelling in Europe if they’re in the final nine months of their passport.”

More tha

The analysis also found that more than three-quarters (80%) of holidaymakers are unaware that different countries have different passport validity requirements, according to Saga Travel Insurance’s survey. Meanwhile, half (50%) believe that every country requires a passport to have six months remaining before travel.

Michelle said: “It’s important to check the specific rules of the country you’re travelling to so that you know how long you need to keep your passport. Some destinations require three months remaining on your passport, while others require six months.

“If you travel to a country without enough time left on your passport, there is a possibility you’ll be denied entry into the country. This could be by your airline, before flying, or by border security, once you reach your destination. If you’re denied boarding or refused entry because your passport doesn’t meet those rules, travel insurance is unlikely to cover costs such as cancelled accommodation, missed flights or return travel expenses.

“This is because the responsibility typically sits with the traveller to ensure their passport meets the entry requirements of the country they’re visiting. That’s why checking your passport carefully before travelling is one of the most important things you can do before a holiday.”

Frequent flyers could be turned away for not having enough blank passport pages

Some countries require travellers to have a minimum number of blank pages remaining in their passports for stamps and visas. Michelle says: “People can sometimes focus entirely on expiry dates and forget to check how many blank pages they have left, but some destinations can refuse entry if there isn’t enough room for official stamps or visa documentation.

“If you’re a frequent traveller, you should regularly check how many blank pages you have remaining in your passport before booking a trip. You might also benefit from purchasing a passport with additional blank pages.

“As travel systems evolve, including the gradual rollout of digital border systems such as the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), physical passport stamping may become less common. But for now, requirements can still vary depending on destination and border process.”

What should you do if you lose your passport?

One in 20 (5%) Brits have needed an emergency replacement passport before travelling, according to Saga Travel Insurance’s survey. And, one in 25 (4%) have cancelled a holiday because they couldn’t find their passport before departure.

Michelle says: “If you lose your passport before travelling, you can apply for a one-week fast-track application. This is an in-person application that requires an appointment, so it’s important to factor in booking availability – as well as the additional cost. It’s £76 more than a standard passport but means you should still be able to go on holiday.

“If you lose your passport while abroad, you should report this to the HM Passport Office as soon as possible. You will also need to apply for an emergency travel document online so that you can travel home. You’ll typically need a valid digital passport photo, your phone number, an email address, and a debit or credit card to make the £125 payment.

“If the loss of your passport means that you need to delay or rearrange your journey home, travel insurance may be able to help with some of the associated costs depending on your policy. Check your insurance documents and contact your insurer as soon as possible to understand your next steps.”

Brits warned over new ETIAS travel checks for Europe

From late 2026, British travellers visiting most European countries will need to apply for a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) before travelling. The new system is similar to the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme and will apply to visa-exempt travellers visiting 30 European countries for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Michelle says: “Travellers may not realise that visiting Europe will soon involve an additional pre-travel authorisation step. From late 2026, British holidaymakers will need to apply for ETIAS approval before travelling to many popular European destinations. The authorisation will be linked directly to your passport, meaning travellers could be denied boarding if their ETIAS details don’t match their travel document or if the authorisation has expired.

“Most ETIAS applications are expected to be processed within minutes, but it could take longer if additional checks are required. Holidaymakers should apply well in advance of departure to avoid last-minute disruptions.”

She added: “Similar systems already exist elsewhere. For example, UK travellers visiting the United States must apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) before departure. These systems are becoming more common globally, so it’s important to check requirements for each destination well ahead of travel.

“As with passport validity rules, people are responsible for making sure they have the correct travel authorisation before they leave the country. If someone is unable to travel because they failed to obtain valid ETIAS or ESTA approval, travel insurance is unlikely to cover costs associated with denied boarding or cancelled trips.”

Experts have warned parts of Southern Europe could exceed 50C this summer or next, with holidaymakers urged to rethink holiday destinations or could be forced to spend their vacation indoors

A sweltering 50C heatwave could hit parts of Europe as experts warned British holidaymakers to prepare for dangerous conditions this summer.

Holidaymakers heading to the Mediterranean have been warned temperatures could soar to 50C, with experts saying the record-breaking heat seen across southern Europe may only be the beginning. Large parts of Spain have already endured temperatures of 44C in recent days, while the heat has fuelled wildfires across Spain and France, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

Professor Bill McGuire, Emeritus Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at UCL said even hotter weather could be yet to come. He said: “It would be no surprise if 50C was exceeded, either later this summer or next year, when the heating impact of the unprecedented El Niño building in the Pacific will be at its greatest.”

He urged anyone travelling to the Mediterranean to be prepared to spend far more time indoors than they might have planned. He told the Daily Mail: “I wouldn’t say that they would be a total write-off, but I think holidaymakers will need to be prepared to spend a lot of time in air-conditioned hotel rooms, due to it simply being too hot to do anything outside.”

The highest air temperature ever officially recorded in Europe is 48.8C, set in Sicily in 2021. Before that, the record stood at 48C, recorded in Elefsina and Athens in 1977.

Professor Hanna Cloke, Regius Professor of Meteorology and Climate Science at the University of Reading, said parts of Spain and Portugal could see temperatures climb into the high 40s. She said: “Temperatures in the high 40s are possible in the hottest parts of Spain and Portugal. And where humidity is high it can feel even hotter than that, well above what the thermometer says. That’s the kind of heat that kills.”

She urged holidaymakers to take extra care if temperatures continued to climb. She said: “The old and vulnerable need to be very careful; keeping out of the sun and drinking plenty of water, as they can easily suffer and become ill in 40C+ temperatures.”

Professor McGuire said there was “no doubt whatsoever” climate change was driving the extreme heat. He said: “Europe is heating faster than any other continent as we continue to add more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere every year – equivalent to the weight of 800,000 Titanics.

“The average temperature of Europe is now more than 2°C hotter than it was 100 years ago, and high temperature extremes are going up even faster. Heatwaves are getting hotter and longer, and taking many thousands of lives every year.

“But this isn’t the new normal, this is just the beginning. Summers across the Mediterranean region are just going to keep on getting hotter as long as we continue to do next to nothing in terms of reining in carbon emissions.”

THE summer holidays are about to start with families getting ready to jet off on their well-deserved holidays.

When it comes to flying you might be surprised to know there are items that you strictly should not be wearing, or taking, on a flight.

Clothing

Comfy clothing is key when it comes to travelling – but some items of clothing that fall under this category are ones you shouldn’t wear

Leggings, for example, are a no go.

Christine Negroni, who released a book on the world’s most mysterious air disasters, shared with Sun Travel that when it comes to fires onboard a flight, leggings could leave you with terrible scars.

She said: “Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.

ISLE GO

Why Maldives holidays are cheaper than EVER – with crazy bargains from £1,437pp

COAST EFFECTIVE

Best UK family theme & waterparks with cheap stays from just £3pp a night

“I’d advise wearing cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibres.”

Anything that restricts blood flow is also not advisable – particularly for long journeys.

The vein specialist at Metro Vein Centers told the Huffington Post: “Wearing restrictive garments such as skinny jeans that are too tight reduces blood’s ability to flow into and out of the legs.”

This, combined with sitting for long periods of time, can cause blood to pool in the legs, which increasing the chances of thrombosis – a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein of the leg.

To be safe, it’s advisable to wear non-restrictive clothing, like trousers, skirts, shorts or dresses that have an elastic waistband.

Any clothing with swear words or offensive slogans could see you asked to cover up before boarding too.

Holidaymakers who are flying to a hot destination are encouraged to dress “modestly”.

So no wearing a bikini or swim trunks before getting to your destination.

Shoes

For any fan of flip flops, these aren’t advisable to wear onboard a flight – again, for health and safety reasons.

Former cabin crew member Tony Kuna commented on Quora: “During an emergency, all sorts of debris and unpleasant ground surfaces will block your way towards the exit, as well as outside the aircraft.”

“If your feet [aren’t] properly covered, you’ll have a hard time making your way to safety.”

Sitting in the same category are high heels – as these won’t be easy to wear in an emergency.

For more on what to wear – here are the travel bags, plane outfits and accessories we love that start from 99p.

Bags

There’s fewer rules when it comes to bags – apart from make sure they comply with the measurements of the airline.

But to give yourself full comfort, it’s advisable to take a less rigid bag with you if it’s going under the seat.

Having a stiff bag, like a basket or weave one, will restrict your own legroom as it can’t be compressed.

Other items

It might be tempting to pop your contact lenses in before a flight to avoid the faff of glasses.

But the dry environment on a flight really isn’t suitable.

On the London Vision Clinic website, it explains: “With the average humidity on planes coming in as low as 20 per cent, our skin and eyes can dry out pretty quickly.

“Combine this with the moisture-sapping effects of contact lenses, and you can have a real recipe for disaster on your hands.”

Wearing contact lenses on flights can cause itchy, irritated eyes and can even result in “distorted vision”.

Of course, don’t forget to pack your power bank in your hand luggage rather than a checked in bag.

The lithium in portable chargers mean that they pose a risk of overheating and even catching fire.

As a result, there has been a ban on having power banks in hold luggage since 2016.

Airlines ask passengers to take portable power banks in hand luggage, but they strictly cannot be used during a flight.

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl was stranded in Rome and missed six weeks of school because of confusing new passport rules.

The new dual nationality rules meant that she was unable to return home for over a month.

The British girl had been visiting her grandmother in Italy in April of this year.

When it was time to return home, she was turned away at the airport because she didn’t have a valid British passport.

The new passport rules that came into play in February mean that British nationals have to carry a valid British passport to return to the UK – they can no longer use their foreign passport.

An alternative is to have a “certificate of entitlement” costing £589.

COAST EFFECTIVE

Best UK family theme & waterparks with cheap stays from just £3pp a night

DIVE IN

Mega waterpark hotels with EVERYTHING you ever wanted & all inclusive from £189pp

Rowan Somerville, the father of the 15-year-old stranded in Rome, sought help from the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

But he told The Guardian: “The embassy, the Home Office and the Foreign Office bounced us from one to another.

“They are playing with people’s lives, a child’s education. It is loathsome.”

Rowan Somerville said that the Home Office couldn’t give his daughter a temporary passport because she didn’t have a British passport in the first place.

The girl’s school and local MP Joe Powell contacted the Home Office and the FCDO who eventually issued an emergency travel document.

Joe Powell said that “changes to Home Office rules resulted in her being stuck in Rome and missing six weeks of school.”

Joe Powell added: “Thankfully, we were able to help and she’s now at home and back in school, but unfortunately this was not an isolated case.”

A Home Office spokesperson told Sun Travel: “This individual was granted an Emergency Travel Document in May, enabling them to return to the UK.

“We also remained in contact regarding a passport application, and once the required information was received and checks were concluded, a passport was issued within eight days.

“Since 25 February 2026, all dual British citizens have needed to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK.

“Without one, carriers cannot verify British citizenship, which may lead to delays or refused boarding.” were concluded, a passport was issued within eight days.”

There are thought to be as many as 1.2million people who can no longer use their foreign passport to enter the country.

Despite the rules being outlined on the Gov.uk website, they are continuing to catch people out.

In another case, a woman who has lived in the UK for 28 years, but had been staying in Copenhagen attempted to return to the UK with her six-week- old and 23-month-old for a friend’s wedding.

But the family was refused boarding because her two children only had Danish passports which meant they didn’t have valid travel documents for returning to the UK.

As if the college sports world weren’t crazy enough with roster limitations and rising numbers in the transfer portal, a new trend that isn’t really new but is accelerating involves coaches telling players they will have little chance to play as motivation for the player to leave and open up a roster spot.

That’s how a coach escapes bad publicity for chasing off a player. But maybe the coach is being honest in their evaluation? It’s all part of the strange happenings taking place.

Check out social media to see the growing number of high school and junior college players suddenly searching for new schools this summer by saying, “My recruitment is back open” or announcing an “involuntary decommitment.”

Just this week, Ole Miss is facing criticism after a longtime high school baseball commit from Iowa who has been battling cancer for three years, Brett Harris, said he had his baseball scholarship pulled.

College baseball, in particular, is being disrupted. Members from the high school class of 2027 are being forced to reopen their recruitment as schools take into consideration a new NCAA rule giving players five years of eligibility across five years.

Braden Ruiz, a Mater Dei High graduate who played shortstop at Cypress College, signed with Oregon last January. Last month he asked for his release from Oregon.

“It was the vibe I was getting,” Ruiz said. “They said I could still go up there and give it a shot. The conversations were they didn’t seem interested as before. I decided to decommit. The coach who recruited me ended up leaving Oregon a week later.”

Ruiz played with a hamstring injury at Cypress College last season.

“It’s all about performance,” he said. “If you’re not performing, it makes the coaches think differently.”

Ruiz has come to understand how college sports has become a business.

“They pretty much can do whatever they want,” he said. “They can pull your offer or in the conversations tell you you’re not wanted anymore. But it’s part of their job. They need to win to keep their job.”

Mater Dei coach Richard Mercado said he’s advising parents and players “if a school is giving out NIL money, it’s a business. You’re not going there to be friends with the coach. It’s a business relationship. They have to win immediately and with limited roster spots. They can’t be wrong.”

Players being pushed away to open a scholarship spot is not new. It’s happened in all sports. College baseball coaches have been engaged in a balancing act for years. Remember the days when Division I schools were limited to 11.7 scholarships. Players were being given partial scholarships and coaches had to project who might leave or stay after the amateur draft. Now college programs can offer full scholarships (think SEC), but rosters dropped to a maximum 34 players last season, forcing coaches to revise and regroup.

Add the impact of no more transfer restrictions and it’s understandable there’s uncertainty. The word loyalty is going to cease to exist in many programs.

So what’s the advice to players and parents?

Betting on yourself still works. If someone doesn’t want you, find someone who does.

“Everybody’s journey is different,” Ruiz said. “You can commit early or late. I would say people who commit now will make it on campus. Their past season was probably good. People performing better more recently have a better chance of playing.”

Do research to find programs that stick with old-fashioned rules and commitments and maybe mention academics.

On Thursday, Ruiz signed with New Mexico State. He’s one of the fortunate ones finding a school with a roster opening this summer before Saturday’s amateur draft begins. He’ll have three years of eligibility left. He’s finally healthy and can’t wait for the day he gets to play against Oregon.

If he becomes a standout, who knows, maybe the Ducks will want him again in this new world of college athletics.

“The portal is crazy,” Ruiz has concluded.

FANCY a last-minute break? You aren’t the only one. Holiday Hypermarket has found that one in five Brits are booking trips just two weeks before jetting off.

And there are plenty of great holiday deals too – and we’ve found some holidays all under £300pp.

Seven Hills Camping & Village, Italy

Set in the Italian countryside is Seven Hills Camping & Village which has bungalow-style accommodation.

It has an outdoor freshwater swimming pool and a sun terrace for soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine.

For food and drink, head to one of the three restaurants, café or poolside snack bar.

A seven-night stay including flights departing from Liverpool Airport to Rome Ciampino on July 27 returning on August 3 will set you back just £209pp.

Hotel Abades Benacazón, Spain

This beautiful hotel is a sophisticated retreat in the Aljarafe region.

COAST EFFECTIVE

Best UK family theme & waterparks with cheap stays from just £3pp a night

DIVE IN

Mega waterpark hotels with EVERYTHING you ever wanted & all inclusive from £189pp

It has a fresh swimming pool with a sun terrace surrounded by sun loungers and parasols.

The rooms are modern, great for relaxing in after exploring the city of Seville which is a 15-minute drive away.

A seven-night stay including flights departing from Leeds Bradford to Jerez on July 26 returning on August 2 will set you back just £239pp.

Exe Sevilla Macarena, Spain

The Exe Sevilla is a four-star hotel in historic Macarena district of Seville directly opposite the historic Macarena Basilica.

It has a rooftop pool open during the warmer months and a poolside bar too.

The hotel can arrange bike rental to explore the area and set up guests on organised tours of Seville.

A seven-night stay including flights departing from London Luton to Seville on July 28 returning on August 4 will set you back just £289pp.

Maxwell Holiday Club, Turkey

Maxwell Holiday Club is a retreat in Marmaris on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast.

From the swimming pool to evening entertainment, there’s plenty for guests to do.

All rooms come with a private balcony with outdoor seating so the weather can be enjoyed well into the evening.

A five-night stay including flights departing from London Gatwick to Dalaman on July 20 returning on August 4 will set you back just £289pp.

Trabukos Beach Complex, Greece

Found on the main strip of Kavos in Corfu is the adults-only Trabukos Beach Complex.

It’s close to the city centre and within walking distance from lots of bars and nightclubs.

The hotel itself has a pretty swimming pool, and some of the spacious rooms have their own balcony.

A five-night stay including flights departing from Manchester Airport to Corfu Airport on July 27 returning on August 1 will set you back just £260pp.

Hotel Cappelli, Italy

Hotel Cappelli in Tuscany is labelled the ‘go-to spot for a chilled-out city break‘.

There’s an outdoor pool, terrace, lush garden and when it’s time to eat, Ristorante Giulio serves up classic Italian dishes.

If the Italian heat gets too much, there a cosy TV lounge inside.

A five-night stay including flights departing from Stansted Airport to Pisa on July 30 returning on August 4 will set you back just £245pp – including breakfast.

*Prices correct at the time of publication