Sun Club

THE Sun Travel team have holidayed all over the world, from cheap trips to UK seaside towns to no-expense-spared jaunts to far-flung tropical islands.

But there are a few special, and surprisingly affordable, places that really stand out – including life-changing holidays right here in Britain, and even bucket list trips abroad where you can get PAID to go there.

From interrailing across Europe to backpacking down Australia’s East Coast, here are our top holiday destinations, and how you can recreate them…

Disneyland Paris

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

I’ll always remember the giddy look of excitement on my mum’s face when she said: “We’re almost there” on our trip to France in 2002, when I was 10 years old. 

“We can’t be”, I’d thought, rubbing my eyes. But there it was – Mickey Mouse’s face plastered on a sign at the edge of the road. 

My childhood dream of visiting Disneyland Paris was about to come true and Cinderella’s Castle looked even more spectacular than it had in friends’ pictures.

As we approached the main park’s entrance, a stall selling character backpacks caught my attention – Mum bought me one shaped like Eeyore from Disney’s Winnie the Pooh series.

I soared high above visitors on the Dumbo ride, bounced on the rope bridge near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and devoured ice cream while waiting for my brother and step dad to return from the “scary rides”.

I still feel that same sense of magic and nostalgia when I return to the park today, as an adult. It’s a magic that other theme parks can’t quite capture.

And it’s affordable. Disneyland Paris offer hotel and ticket packages for a three-night stay from £88pp, based on a family of two adults and two children.

Then Eurostar tickets from London direct to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy (which is just a two minute walk to Disneyland Paris) start from around £62 each way.

Camp America: Santa Rosa, California

Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

My sister Emma-Rose and I are both massive fans of US pop culture – from its punk rock bands to its sitcoms… as well as its yellow school buses, fire hydrants, picket fences and mailboxes.

So it was only right that our first solo US adventure as young adults was the ultimate in Americana – 10 weeks at a summer camp and horse ranch in Santa Rosa, California.

Cloverleaf Ranch is a magical place. Think vast, green sports fields where we sprinted through sprinklers, breakfasts of pancakes with syrup, and bunk beds set up in colourful, old-fashioned trailers.

As Camp Counsellors, we taught groups of kids activities like archery, football and animal care. I soon bonded with my groups of four to five year-olds, herding them around camp like a mother duck, and collecting heartfelt drawings and letters which I still have today.

Evenings were spent singing songs and making s’mores by the campfire, taking sunset horse-riding trails, or playing camp-wide games like hide and seek.

My Camp America experience was the all-American adventure of a lifetime – and I’d recommend it to anyone looking to take a gap year or travel their twenties.

Simply set up an account at www.campamerica.co.uk, and once it’s approved, they’ll guide you through sponsorship, visas and camp placement.

Placements typically last between eight to 10 weeks, with camps looking to hire young people who have previously worked with kids or have specialist skills.

Signing up with Camp America costs £489. You also get paid for working at the summer camp, with rates varying between $1,000 – $2,150 (£745 – £1,600) based on your placement.

San Francisco, USA

Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

I’d dreamt of visiting San Francisco for many years but the cost always held me back, until I managed to find a way of doing it all for under £1,000.

I stayed at the Green Tortoise Hostel, which is centrally located in Downtown, as for four nights in a four-bed female dorm in June it costs just £138.88 per person – less than a hotel for one night.

And if you want privacy, hostels are a great compromise—a room with two bunk beds or a double bed costs £324.30 for four nights in June.

When it comes to things to see and do in the city, many activities are free—like visiting the Golden Gate Bridge and its visitor centre, walking down the winding Lombard Street, and wandering the vibrant Haight-Ashbury district with its vintage shops.

If you do spend money on a couple of things, make sure it is SFMOMA (£22.51) the modern art museum and heading to Alcatraz Island (£35.98).

The city often hosts free days too, so check these before heading there.

You can bag a cheap return flight to San Francisco from as little as on £437 on KAYAK.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

Denmark’s Copenhagen is the world’s happiest city that embraces an al fresco lifestyle with outdoor dining – even in winter.

It has outdoor lamps with heated blankets on seats, and warm drinks aplenty from spiced Gløgg – a type of mulled wine – to hot chocolate and tasty baked goods. Honestly, I was surprised at how much I loved it.

The city is so easily walkable and easy to navigate, it also has great shops and even its own theme park – Tivoli Gardens.

I loved the Botanical Gardens too which are completely free and beautiful whichever season you visit.

Nyhavn is a must-see, the bright district with tall colourful houses sits right on the waterfront where boat bars bob on the water.

Flights to Copenhagen can be as little as £14.99 each way with Ryanair, or if you want it all sorted for you, book a city break to Copenhagen with TUI.

A three-night stay at the stylish four-star Scandic Sydhavnen (with return flights included) starts from just £234pp.

Tour of India

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

India has long been on my bucket list as a holiday destination, but was wary to explore it as a young woman by myself.

So one of the safest ways to do it is on a guided tour, and not only do Intrepid have a number of them, but they have a Women’s Expedition where you have a local female guide the entire way as well.

We ticked off all of the famous stops such as the Taj Mahal in Agra, as well a exploring the pink city of Jaipur.

But we also managed to explore local places you wouldn’t just stumble upon without knowing someone.

We stayed in Chandelao Garh, a tiny boutique hotel in a small village where we learned about the art of henna and rangoli, between dips in the pool.

We even managed to enjoy some delicious street food without getting sick, thanks to our amazing guide knowing all the safe spots.

Being able to see a country I had wanted to in years, with a mix of tourist attractions and little known areas, while staying safe? It’s one I’ll be talking about for years to come.

Intrepid’s 13-day Women’s Expedition of India starts from £904pp. You can also lock in a trip with just a £1 deposit!

The trip starts and ends in Delhi. Skyscanner offers return fares from just £270.

The Devon and Cornwall coast

Caroline McGuire, Head Of Travel (Digital)

I love Cornwall and try to visit every summer, and one of my favourite holidays of all time was when I toured the coastline from Ilfracombe to Salcombe in a VW campervan.

My guide for the week was travel writer Daniel Start, in the form of his West Country ‘Wild Guide’ book – which details all of the hidden beaches, rural gems and pubs that are worth visiting in that corner of Britain. 

I visited more than 20 beaches in a week and was stunned at the beauty of the English coast, which can be just as exotic as Ibiza or the Maldives and just as rugged as northern Scotland.

Of course, Cornwall and Devon isn’t just about the coast. They also have fantastic local cuisine and we dined on Cornish pasties, local cider, clotted cream ice cream, huge portions of fish and chips, and crab sandwiches. 

Both Cornwall and Devon are famous for their big-name beaches, but my favourites were dotted among the more remote areas, like Porthcurno beach near Lands’ End.

There are scores of campsites along their coast, and Pitch Up has some of the coolest ones. For example, you could camp at Trevella Holiday Park in Newquay from just £12pn.

To find out more about Daniel Start’s Wild Guide books, click here. 

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

An African safari holiday has been on my bucket list ever since I first watched The Lion King (disclaimer: the film was actually inspired by the landscapes of Kenya in East Africa).

This year, I was finally able to tick it off with an adventure through Kruger National Park.

I’d been heavily researching all the dos and don’ts and was fully prepared to see nothing more exciting than a few fascinating birds and maybe the odd elephant (they’re easy to spot in these parts). 

We saw the Big Five in less than 24 hours, however – even the elusive leopard, skulking through the long grass.

This was mainly due to the expertise of our guides, which emphasises the importance of picking the right lodge or accommodation for your trip. 

Skukuza is a wildlife rich area within the park, so staying in and around this region increases your chances.

Two guides are better than one on game drives, I quickly learned, so pick your lodge accordingly.

I wrote down all of my top safari tips here that are well worth a read before you head off.

British Airways flies from Heathrow to Johannesburg from £598pp return.

Two-person tents at Rhino Walking Safaris Plains Camp start from about £422pp per night, with a minimum stay of two nights, including all meals, walking safaris and game drives.

Orlando, Florida

Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

My kids have been lucky enough to visit Orlando’s theme parks as youngsters, falling in love with Disney characters and Universal’s thrill rides.

But it was the holiday we took to the Sunshine State when they’d all grown up that stands out as one of the best of my life.

With my youngest son Ben turning 21, we booked a mega villa in Kissimmee complete with outdoor pool, games room and cinema snug for a very different look at the family-friendly destination.

Of course, we couldn’t miss out on the theme park fun but with everyone older, it was the terrifying chills of Universal’s Halloween Horror Night that had them screaming.

Eldest Sophie is a horror movie fan and loved every one of the haunted houses.

But with the kids having very different priorities now, there were just as many amazing memories made as middle child and family shopaholic Abbi insisted we fit in some retail therapy at the many malls.

And as well as the park fun, we took time as a family to explore the other side of Orlando, heading to Winter Park, the historic heart of the area on the shores of Lake Osceola for a scenic boat tour followed by a slap up lunch with lashings of craft beers at The Ravenous Pig gastro pub.

We flew out with Virgin Atlantic, who fly daily from Heathrow and Manchester to Orlando. But a top tip for saving is to look at fares to Tampa, around an hour from the theme park capital and often cheaper, with return deals from £516.

Jeeves Florida Rentals has a huge range of villas in Kissimmee with prices from £112 per night.

Australia’s East Coast

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

In 2015, the year I graduated from university, I hatched a plan with my best friends Jade and Megan to backpack along Australia’s east coast.

We kicked things off in Melbourne with a festival on the beach before hiring a car to travel a patch of the Great Ocean Road, eyes peeled to spot koalas in the trees above.

We then travelled along the coast via the Greyhound bus, stopping at Sydney, Byron Bay and the city of Brisbane, where we drank in hostels, our hair windswept and salty from long days on the beach.

Then it was onto the Whitsundays, a stunning archipelago of 74 islands with the brightest white sands and bluest waters I’ve ever seen (they beat the Caribbean, hands down), then on to Magnetic Island to skydive over the Great Barrier Reef and driving around in Barbie-style cars.

Sydney was our hub and I returned here to do a stint of work as a receptionist (thanks to the Working Holiday visa) before our final adventure in Bali.

I returned home after six incredible months, but Jade fell so in love with the climate and lazy, wine-fuelled beach afternoons that she’s been there ever since, now married to an Aussie.

Qantas flies from Heathrow to Sydney from £1,130pp return. East coast passes for the Greyhound bus start from $319pp (£168pp) for seven days to $519pp (£276pp) for 60 days.

Those aged 18-35 can apply for a Working Holiday visa that allows them to travel and work for up to 12 months on the Australian Government website.

Road tripping through the Deep South

Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital

I’ve visited everywhere from Vegas to Texas and Florida to California… but my favourite US holiday has to be a family road trip I took with my mum and sister through the Deep South.

We started out in New Orleans, then headed to Memphis and ended up in Nashville.

In New Orleans, we dined on beignets, Po-boys (a traditional Louisiana sandwich) and the best Bloody Marys I’ve ever drunk, then soaked up the architecture and fascinating history during the day.

At night, we made our way between New Orleans best-know jazz clubs – from Fritzel’s to Preservation Hall.

From there, we drove to Memphis – home of the blues and the birthplace of rock n’roll.

We dined on famous Memphis barbeque food and then went out every evening to listen to live blue music.

Last stop on our journey was Nashville – home of country music.

We spent our daylight hours visiting some of the famous Nashville institutions, like the Country Music Hall Of Fame and the Ryman Auditorium.

After fuelling up on hot chicken, we then spent our nights watching live country – both at the famous Bluebird Cafe and then at a small venue on the outskirts of town, where we paid $8 to see a bluegrass band perform at their album launch.

Ten years and many, many work adventures later, the road trip remains in my top three holidays of all time.

If you’re looking to do similar, I highly recommend booking through Dial A Flight – they sorted out our flights, car hire and much of the accommodation, getting us a big discount on each.

On their website you can find offers like the Southern Belle Fly Drive for 12 nights from £1,825pp.

Eilean Shona, Scotland

Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

For a bucketlist trip without the ned for a passport, try Eilean Shona in the Inner Hebrides which inspired J.M. Barrie’s Neverland in Peter Pan.

You can make your journey to the island part of your experience and holiday as well, by hopping on the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston costing from £50 for a seat or £190 for a room, one way.

Once you reach Fort William, your best bet is to hire a car, which costs about £30 a day.

Eilean Shona is then an hour and 20-minute drive away. You can park in a small car park there before catching the small passenger ferry across to the island.

Because the island is privately owned (by Sir Richard Branson‘s sister) you must stay on the island to visit.

A range of cottages and huts are available, costing from £53.58 per person, per night. There are plenty of cheap cottage options available on airbnb.

IT was like a scene straight out of a rom com when Ryan Thomas popped the question to Lucy Mecklenburgh in Positano, Italy, back in June 2019, less than two years after they started dating – and it seemed like the pair would waste no time throwing a huge celeb wedding.

But almost seven years later, the pair haven’t got anywhere close to an altar, and insiders are now telling The Sun they claim to know the real reason their plans to tie the knot appear to be permanently on ice.

Initially, the official line from the couple- who fell in love in 2017 while filming Channel 4 show Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls – was that their nuptials were delayed due to life getting in the way.

After all, the year after they got engaged, the world shut down due to the Covid pandemic, forcing millions across the globe to shelve their weddings.

The pair also went on to have two kids in quick succession – Roman was born in March 2020, and Lilah arrived in the world in May 2022 – so it was understandable that planning their big day took a backseat.

In 2021, Lucy admitted to OK! Magazine that her wedding plans were “on the backburner”, while she also told fans via her instagram stories that she was “still in the engagement bubble but I can’t wait to start planning.”

However, with Roman now six and Lilah turning four next month, any talk of becoming man and wife appears to have gone silent. 

In fact, sources tell us the couple are perfectly happy being ‘perma-engaged’ and raising their little family rather than being legally bound to each other.

And the reason the nuptials are now unlikely to happen? Well, one insider alleges the delay is down to Lucy’s desire to remain financially independent after Ryan’s previous struggles with money.

In 2013, before the pair met, Ryan was declared bankrupt – despite earning £100,000 a year on Coronation Street at the time. 

He spiralled into debt over an unpaid £40,000 tax bill, and while his bankruptcy is now over, it still casts a shadow in his life.

Just last year, The Sun revealed his company R James Thomas Ltd, which takes in cash from his TV and endorsement work, had just £1 in its accounts.

Annual accounts filed to Companies House show just a solitary quid in the company account for the 12 months to the end of January 2025.

At the time, the books also revealed he owed more than £30,000 of a Covid Bounce Back Loan.

Our source explains: “Lucy comes from money – her dad Paul is very wealthy and has an extensive property portfolio, so she and her two sisters will inherit a lot from him one day. Lucy listens to everything her father says, and she has always been very financially literate.

“She was raised to understand money and be very careful with it, and as soon as she started making money from Towie, her dad taught her to make careful investments.

“Ryan, on the other hand, has admitted to making a lot of mistakes with money and not being financially savvy in the past. As much as Lucy loves him, it wouldn’t be entirely sensible for her to legally bind her finances in with Ryan’s, which would be the case if they were man and wife.

“Of course they share some money, and they have property together, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Lucy has been advised to protect her interests – especially her wellness business RWL, which she has worked her backside off to make the UK’s leading at home health and fitness app. 

“Ryan has worked to claw himself back from his previous money woes, and she is really proud of him, but if he ever got into difficulties again, it could affect her credit rating and have big implications for her own finances if they were married.”

In the UK, while bankruptcy is generally wiped from your credit reports after six years, certain bankruptcy restrictions can last up to 15 years.

Furthermore, if an application asks for your full financial history, the bankruptcy must be disclosed, regardless of how long ago it happened.

Despite Ryan’s previous woes, however, another source close to the situation insists the reason Lucy hasn’t wed Ryan has nothing to do with safeguarding her own assets.

Counters a pal: “It’s not true that Lucy doesn’t want to legally merge her finances with Ryan. The reasons they haven’t got married are because they are both parents of two young kids, have busy careers and also weddings are extortionate. It just hasn’t been a priority for them, they are happy as they are.”

Indeed, a Mecklenburgh- Thomas wedding certainly wouldn’t come cheap. The pair have large families, an array of celebrity friends and aren’t the types to do a no-frills affair in a register office followed by drinks down the local boozer.

“To do something on the scale they want would take a lot of cash, and Lucy and Ryan want to pay for a lot of it themselves. Yes, Lucy’s dad’s very wealthy but Ryan is also a proud man and doesn’t want handouts. He’s worked hard to turn his financial situation around, but he wants to give Lucy the wedding of her dreams and that takes years of hard graft to save for.

“Ultmately, there is no rush either. Neither of them feel the pressure to get hitched. They’re fully committed to each other and really happy – a big fancy wedding is nice but it’s not the priority right now. It will happen one day, and when it does it will be incredible and a day they will never forget.”

And even though Ryan is no longer in the red, other high profile members of his family have also experienced financial difficulties

Both of Ryan’s brothers, Adam and Scott, have felt the sting of their businesses going belly up.

Scott’s health and fitness company Food 4 Thoughts collapsed in 2024, which saw Scott lose £75k of his own money while brother Adam lost his £125k investment.

Aside from this, Adam’s own Manchester restaurant The Spinn went into liquidation that same year, owing £300,000.

Adam also has two other failed businesses: vegan food firm Plant Pizzas Ltd, which was struck off in 2022, and a mobile catering venture which closed.

Our insider explains: “The Thomas boys have all made mistakes in business which have cost them a lot of money. They have big dreams and have invested in each other’s brands, but this has come with financial ramifications.

Our insider continues: “Ultimately, Ryan and Lucy are strong and don’t need money issues coming between them, it’s a stress their relationship doesn’t need.

“Ryan is totally happy too. He is a proud man, so wouldn’t push the issue, but he knows Lucy is fully committed to him and they are happy as they are. As time has gone on, they have realised that being committed to each other is about sharing a home and a family, not a big wedding.

“Like a lot of men, Ryan isn’t overly fussed about a big day anyway. To him, what’s important is having a strong relationship, and that’s what he and Lucy have. He doesn’t care about blowing a load of money on a big wedding either, that seems like a waste of cash to him.”

THE SUN’S £9.50 Hols Agony Aunt, Tracey Kennedy has tried and tested holiday parks across the UK for over 30 years.

Over her decades of staycations, Tracy’s ticked off popular holiday spots from the Isle of Wight, to North Wales, down to Land’s End in Cornwall.

It’s fair to say that Tracy knows her stuff when it comes to UK holiday parks – whether it’s how to bag a bargain break, or find the best free and cheap family attractions whilst you’re away.

Over three decades of staying at holiday parks up and down the UK, Tracy has ranked her top five holiday parks based on accommodation, entertainment and location.

Plus she’s sharing all of the hacks she uses to save while she’s away.

We’ve paired each park with the cheapest deal available online, including three-night breaks for two for under £50.

5. Haven Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Village

“This holiday park is in a lovely seaside town in Somerset, and I like it so much that I’ve been back several times.

“My tip for booking a Haven holiday would be to book a Haven Hideaway package.

“These are the cheapest breaks possible, and can cost just £49pp. I paid just £120 for a full week away on a Haven Hideaway.

“However it’s worth noting that Hideaway holidays don’t come with a Play Pass as the standard breaks do, so make sure to check which activities are included at each Haven park, and which you would have to pay extra for”.

Entertainment and activities

“There’s plenty to do here without paying extra for the add-on activities. This site has a lovely arcade, which is cashless apart from the classic 2p machines.

“I wasn’t too keen on it being cashless at first, but once you’ve got your card and have topped it up with as much or little as you want, it’s easy to use.

“As for the evening entertainment, I went last year and it was really quite good. The comedy is especially great.

“With Haven parks, if you make sure to download the app, about 2 weeks before it’ll tell you which activities you can book if you have the Play Passes.

“But you dont need passes for the arcade or evening entertainment, it’s just for swimming and paid activities. They can be nice to have, but you don’t have to get them”.

Accommodation

“I stayed in a saver caravan, which is the lowest grade, but it still has heating and everything you need.

“I always go for the cheapest I can but that is still nice, and the saver option here is great if you’re looking to stay on a budget“.

Local area

“Burnham is a quiet town, so it can be quite a peaceful place to stay. There’s also a lovely beach and lighthouse in walking distance from the park, as well as a cinema. But mainly this is a great base for exploring.

“Brean is about a 10-minute drive away, and there’s loads to do there. Brean Beach is gorgeous, plus there’s a splash park, Brean Theme Park and an animal farm, so there’s loads to do.

“You’ve also got Cheddar Gorge a half-hour drive away. You can of course try loads of cheese, but there’s really fascinating caves and clifftop walks there, too.

“If you’re willing to drive a bit further, about 40 minutes, you can also visit Wells. There’s loads of medieval historic sites there, like Wells Cathedral as well as the Palace and gardens”.

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a four-night stay in a saver caravan with a Haven Hideaways deal from £49, based on two adults sharing. This deal also comes with a low-deposit option from £30.

4. Riverside Holiday Village, Bleadon, Weston-super-Mare

“I went to this holiday park last year for my 50th, and had such a fantastic time. I have lots of memories coming here with parents, and now I get to bring my kids!

“One of the best things about this park is where it’s located. It’s less than 10 minutes from Weston-super-Mare‘s seafront”.

Entertainment and activities

“This is quite a small site, but it does have a good arcade, restaurant, and entertainment performances.

“There’s no costume characters for the kids, but if you visit in peak season, there’s a pretty packed activity schedule that keeps them busy.

“It’s a very relaxing site if you prefer a peaceful holiday. There’s a beautiful lake to walk around, and you can pop out into Weston whenever you’d like”.

Accommodation

“We stayed in a large Gold caravan, which doesn’t work out to be too expensive once you split the cost between a group of people.

“We paid £650 total, and the Gold caravans can sleep up to six people, so that works out at around £109pp – which isn’t bad at all for a full seven days during the summer holidays.

“We had wrap-around decking which is lovely to sit on and enjoy your coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening.

“I recommend going as a large group and splitting costs so you can try out the nicer accommodation. This is one of the parks where I’d say it’s worth it”.

Local area

“The surrounding area, Bleadon, is very quiet. There’s just a couple of cosy pubs.

“But if you want a proper day out, then you should drive or catch the bus into Weston-super-Mare itself.

“There’s loads of things to do in Weston. If you want to stick to free things to do, Weston Museum is a great one and has activities for kids.

“Visiting the Grand Pier is a full day out itself – there is a small charge of £2, which is the same for both adults and kids.

“There’s lots of cost-friendly places to eat on the pier, like chip shops, a Costa and a Tiffany’s.

“My favourite though is Revo Kitchen. It’s inside the old Sea Life centre and it has 360-degree views of the sea. It’s dog-friendly, and does amazing, family-friendly food.

“It’s easy to spend the whole day at just the pier. There’s a ball pit, arcade games, fun house, ghost train – loads to do.

“Obviously it can be costly, but there are great-value wristbands available for kids to go on unlimited rides.”

“The Little Kids wristband, with unlimited rides suitable for younger children, costs £15 and lasts all day. The Big Kids wristband costs £20.

“There is also an Ultimate wristband available for £30, which includes unlimited rounds of golf and go-kart races.

“You don’t have to pay the entry fee cost of £2 for those with wristbands. You can buy the wristbands for the Grand Pier ahead of time online“.

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a three-night stay at Riverside Holiday Village in a Purn Gold WF caravan from £169, based on two adults sharing. This deal also offers a low deposit option of £25.

3. Martin Mere Holiday Village, Blackpool

“This park is around 10 minutes’ drive into Blackpool, and there is so much to do there for families.

“They have also just had a major upgrade, with a brand-new restaurant, a refreshed Show Bar, and an expanded arcade added”.

Entertainment and activities

“It’s all about the entertainment with Haven. And the best part is that most of it is free.

“There’s an outdoor pool and lazy river, and you can book inflatables for your little ones to use.

“They’ve got plenty of fun things for families with kids like a climbing wall and a giant football dartboard.

“You’ve also got Linked Bingo at 5:15pm every evening, which sometimes has massive cash prizes.

“They’re also adding four new kids shows ready for summer this year”.

Accommodation

“The caravans are spacious, clean and have everything you need. Even the saver caravans are tremendous value for what you get.

“What I like about the accommodation here is that most caravans are only a short walk to the entertainment, which is great if you stay up late”.

Local area

“There is absolutely loads to do in Blackpool. You can even see the tower flashing its lights at night from the park.

“Blackpool can be as cheap or expensive as you like, but I’ve been going for years and found some good ways to save money.

“One of the best-value places to go is Coral Island Arcade, which has a restaurant where kids eat free.

“Once you’re at Coral Island, make sure to pick up any free leaflets that are there. They often have vouchers inside for discounted attractions.

“We picked one up and got a free go on the camel derby – so always look out for leaflets before you book something!

“Some of my other favourite things to do are going up into the tower, where there’s an arcade, the dungeons and a circus inside the tower itself.

“Then of course you’ve got Pleasure Beach – but if you know you want to go, book ahead of time online.

“That way you can pay £30 for entry rather than £60 on the day.

“If you’re wanting to save money on ticking off the paid attractions, there’s a new card where you can do them all for a fixed price called The Blackpool Pass.”

“The Blackpool Pass starts from £35 and includes unlimited entry to eight Blackpool attractions: Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, Blackpool Tower Eye, Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Blackpool Tower Circus, Gruffalo and Friends Clubhouse and Peter Rabbit: Explore and Play.

“You can expect to save up to 70 per cent on attractions compared to booking individually.”

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a four-night stay in a saver caravan with a Haven Hideaways deal from £49, based on two adults sharing.

This deal also comes with a low-deposit option of £30.

2. Lyons Robin Hood, Rhyl, North Wales

“This site is really up-to-date. It’s recently undergone a £1.5m makeover, with all the new developments set to be fully done in May 2026, ready for your summer holiday!

“Some of my favourite things about this park are the enthusiastic entertainment staff, as well as the food – I always really look forward to the food when holidaying here!”

Entertainment and activities

“The pool here is so good that my youngest went swimming every single day. It has a brand-new splash zone, three super slides and even a spa for the adults.

“It’s just had activities like go-karting added to the list of things to do, and there’s new sports courts and trampolines.

“I last went at Halloween and it was just absolutely fantastic, but the entertainment is great year-round too.

“The costume characters come out to meet the kids – all the info on who is coming out when is listed on the wall, so you can meet the characters, comedians and singers.”

Accommodation

“The standard caravans here are slightly different to other holiday parks, for example like at a Haven resort.

“Their highest-ranking option is a platinum. We’ve stayed in platinum and it’s lovely. We had a little bit of a balcony that we had our coffee and drinks on.

“I’ve stayed in three levels of accommodation here, and I liked all of them. Each caravan was clean and spacious, with multiple big bedrooms, so you can’t go wrong here no matter what your budget is.

“I usually like to bring my own food to save money, however the food here is just lovely and definitely worth the money!

“We had cod and chips (£6.95) from the on-site chip shop here and really enjoyed it – in fact, we had it twice because it was that good! Food here is also really good value for money”.

Local area

“There’s a beautiful beach just across the road from the park, just remember to bring some snacks, as there’s no cafe or shop to buy food.

“You might see seals here – we saw some on my last visit and I was so excited.

“You can see them bobbing around in the sea, it’s nice to see them out in the open compared to an aquarium.

“Rhyl is just 5 minutes away, and there’s loads to do there. Shops, a massive marine lake, and my favourite – a little train that takes you around.

“Lots of people go crabbing, too…we caught some massive ones!

“A trip into Rhyl could be a free day out if you planned for it. Pack a picnic, wander through its streets, plus there’s even a free attraction: Rhyl Museum and Arts Centre.

“The only thing you would have to pay extra for if you wanted to would be the train, which costs £4 per adult and £3 per child.”

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a three-night stay at Lyons Robin Hood in a Bronze three-bedroom caravan from £111.30, based on two adults sharing.

Lyons Robin Hood is also available at Sun Hols from £9.50, where a break for four people can cost as little as £38.

1. Lower Hyde, Isle of Wight

“The best holiday park I’ve ever been to is Lower Hyde on the Isle of Wight – that is my firm favourite.

“I’ve returned several times because my family and I really liked it. I like everything about the park.

“There’s loads to do on site itself, it’s actually one of the only sites where we didn’t mind spending the entire day there.

“There’s plenty of nature trails around the park, and there’s also an adventure park on site.

“Lower Hyde also have a restaurant with really good pub-style food called The Barnhouse, plus they also have little food huts such as the Thunderbird Chicken shack and an ice cream parlour.

“They’ve just had a new outdoor bar open up, too.”

Entertainment and activities

“The entertainment teams are top-quality at Lower Hyde and plenty is free compared to other parks.

“I like the archery in the daytime, plus there’s a great pool to make use of, too.

“I watched some brilliant entertainment there last year.

“In the evenings, the entertainment starts off with discos and character meet and greets for the younger kids, with their own show.

“Then there’s some great bingo, followed by an adult game show.

“Later in the evening there’s more acts from visiting acts such as comedians or magicians, or a performance from the entertainment team.

“There’s then a disco until midnight, so you can stay there all night, if you fancy it.”

Accommodation

“I’ve stayed in both chalets and caravans, and the caravans are top-notch, very cosy and warm.

“The accommodation is in a really nice quiet area. There is a little bit of a hill walking down, so do let the site know if that’s an issue if you plan to visit”.

Local area

“The must-visit spot nearby is Shanklin. There’s lots of little artisan shops, and it’s not a far walk, about a 10-minute walk into the centre.

“If you walk further, it takes you into Shanklin Old Village. There’s a lovely little restaurant there called The Crab, with beautiful seafood.

“There is also the famous old thatched cottage from all the postcards. Not only is it lovely to look at, but it does afternoon tea inside (from £7.95).

“There’s also Shanklin Chine, a wooded coastal ravine that is the oldest attraction on the island.

“If you wanted to visit, then you can loop right down to the beach afterwards and make your way back up – that’s the perfect day out.

“Some of my favourite things to do in the area are keep an eye out for red squirrels on nature walks, and go stargazing at night – the Isle of Wight has clear skies where you can see the stars”.

Bag a cheap stay

You can book a three-night stay at Parkdean Lower Hyde in a Bronze three-bedroom caravan from £99, based on two adults sharing.

Parkdean Lower Hyde is also available at Sun Hols from £9.50, where a break for four people can cost as little as £38.

How Tracy saves extra on her holidays

As ouur Hols From £9.50 Agony Aunt, Tracy Kennedy has several tips and tricks up her sleeve when it comes to saving money on your staycations.

Here is exactly what Tracy does to prepare ahead of time and save on her holidays, as well as her top tips for saving whilst you’re away.

She told us: “One of the most cost effective things you can do is cook your own meals.

“I’d make a note of some easy, cost-effective meals that are quick to make so you can get it done and get out and enjoy your holiday.

“I like to pack an essentials box of non-perishable food bits with me, like packets of rice, pasta, and tinned food – just make sure you don’t forget to bring a tin opener, too.

“I also bring a small amount of washing up liquid and cleaning products in little travel bottles so we don’t have to buy full-sized ones. This really helps with the shopping, especially if you’re on a budget.

“Then when you do go shopping, all you have to do is buy the fresh stuff like bread, milk and butter.

“I like to slowly buy bits to add to my box in the months before my holiday, as it spreads the cost out and saves you spending too much in the expensive on-site supermarkets when you arrive.

“Once you’re prepared with food and cleaning supplies, it’s time to start thinking ahead on how to save on attractions.

“Before I go anywhere, I make sure to Google everything there is to do nearby. Especially for days out. See if there are any two for one ticket offers at local attractions, or even places that are free to visit.

“Especially during holidays like Easter, as nearby attractions will often have free events for kids like Easter egg hunts.

“When I visited Prestatyn in North Wales, I did my research ahead of time and found free pottery classes for kids, so we spent an afternoon doing that.

“Also check the National Trust website as well as English Heritage, because sometimes they offer free days out, too. Also check Sun Superdays and Sun Club offers, too!

“If you’re staying at a seaside resort, you can easily spend an entire day out on the coast for free. Check which dates you are there have good weather, and plan to pack a picnic, walk along the promenade, go for a swim.

“Sometimes there will be free children’s Punch and Judy shows, or local festivals – always Google the area and search on local Facebook groups in case there are events whilst you’re there.

“If you’re going as a couple or friends, it can be nice to explore local towns with cheap public transport.

My friend and I visited Lyons Robin Hood last year, and planned to go to Llandudno.

“We bought a £6.50 day saver ticket, jumped on a bus with Llandudno as the final stop and sat on the top deck at the front, and the views we had were absolutely amazing.”

“You can get family saver tickets too if there are more of you, then you can go out for the day, get a great view of the local towns and all you have to buy is the bus ticket. It’s a nice, cheap day out for all of the family.

“Similarly, I planned a cheap day out at the coast a few years ago in Newquay, Cornwall.

“We visited all the local beaches, walked to Lands End, and I planned a walk past the hotel where the Roald Dahl film The Witches was made.

“We also drove out to Port Isaac, and walked around where Doc Martin was filmed. All you have to do in these places is pay for is parking and bring your own food.

Then you can just walk around and see all of these really cool filming locations, and that costs you nothing!

“Definitely research the area before you go to see if any movies or TV shows were filmed there”.

COLEEN ROONEY will mark her 40th birthday today with a series of celebrations at her £20million Cheshire mansion.

But the hundreds of bottles of champers on ice this weekend are far from the only corks she will be popping this year.

Mum-of-four Coleen — wife of former Manchester United superstar Wayne — has big plans in the pipeline — with one pal telling The Sun: “She’s entering her powerful era.”

With a seven-figure Primark deal and a fly-on-the wall Disney documentary already in the bag, insiders say the 2024 I’m A Celebrity runner-up is dreaming big.

One friend explained: “Coleen’s sons are growing up fast and she is excited about the opportunities ­coming her way.

For a long time her primary focus was being a mum to her four boys. She is the backbone of their household, a constant for her sons and for Wayne.

“But now they’re growing up — the boys somewhat more than Wayne at times — Coleen is ready to reclaim some of herself.

“Going into I’m A Celebrity was a great way for her to dip her toe into the water. She loved it and it was obvious the nation still has a ­massive soft spot for her.

“Coleen said she would take a break after that to work out her next move.

“Turning 40 and with loads of exciting things coming her way, she’s entering this powerful new era.”

Coleen will celebrate today with Wayne and their sons, budding Man Utd footballer Kai, 16, Klay, 12, Kit, ten, and eight-year-old Cass.

She will then throw a huge bash for her closest friends and family.

An enormous white marquee has been erected in the 50-acre grounds of their home, previously dubbed “Morrisons mansion” because of its vast size and appearance.

‘A good knees-up’

Wayne’s footballer pals, including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and ­Darren Fletcher, are all on the guest list, along with Coleen’s Wag chums such as Annie Kilner and Abbey Clancy.

“I’m looking forward to it, I love a birthday and a celebration,” Coleen said ahead of her bash.

“I have decided to enjoy a couple of different celebrations with family and friends over the year, and with my birthday falling over Easter weekend, some friends are away — so any opportunity to extend the ­celebrations…”

Caterers and staff will keep the party running smoothly, with insiders saying no expense has been spared.

“Coleen loves a good knees-up,” another pal explained.

“She can afford a lovely lifestyle and everything at the party will be classy and beautifully done. But for her, plenty of booze, good music and her family is all she will want.

There’s going to be live music and you can guarantee Wayne will be getting up on the microphone

Pal

“There’s going to be live music and you can guarantee Wayne will be getting up on the microphone.

“He loves to sing and will be keen to give everyone a tune or two.”

Those close to Coleen say eyes will be kept on Wayne following a rather embarrassing boozy night out before the Brit Awards in February.

Photographs and videos from a posh bar in Manchester obtained by The Sun showed Wayne struggling to do up his trousers after he spent time chatting with a mystery woman.

He was later seen leaving the venue at 3.45am and getting into a car alone to head home.

At the time, pals close to Coleen said they were furious at his behaviour, which came in the same week Coleen was launching her Primark clothing collection.

Branding Wayne an “idiot”, one seethed: “It’s upsetting to see Wayne acting this way because it takes the spotlight away from her.”

After dating Wayne since she was 16 years old, Coleen is well-versed in facing down his antics. She has stuck by him through every crisis in their marriage — including visits to sex workers in 2004 and 2009 and being charged with drink-driving in 2017.

In recent years Wayne has curbed his wayward ways, but has still had his share of controversial moments.

Turning 40 and with loads of exciting things coming her way, she’s entering this powerful new era

In 2020 he allegedly poked fun about his lack of a sex life, while the following year he was ­photographed fast asleep in a hotel room chair while three women struck comic poses around him.

“If Coleen is the angel then Wayne has definitely always been the devil on her shoulder,” one friend joked.

“Her friends think she’s the ­strongest woman out there for ­putting up with everything that Wayne has done. It takes a certain kind of woman to tolerate that behaviour and live with it. But Coleen has always just asked for honesty. 

“The only time I think she’d draw the line is with anything that could affect her children.

“Her four boys are Coleen’s world. And when it comes to her kids, she is like a lioness with her cubs.

“Wayne absolutely knows that. She is just as fiercely protective over him too, to be honest. Coleen comes across as soft on the surface but she’s got balls of steel. No one would mess with her.”

Coleen herself confessed she was used to Wayne’s poor decision making and said she stuck with him for love.

She told British Vogue: “We’ve had our ups and downs. Obviously everybody knows. It’s been hard to go through it in the public eye but there has always been true love there.

“If the love is gone then, it’s pointless. But if not, you’ve got something to work for.”

Coleen added: “We’ve never backed away from it. We own it.

‘Cheering her on’

“I remember having a conversation about this with someone and I said, ‘Well, do you know what your wife gets up to every day and night? At least I know what my husband is doing!’

“It might not be good, but I know. People lie to themselves.”

Coleen first came into the public eye when Wayne burst on to the scene as a teenager at Everton — and she was famously photographed in her school uniform aged 16 in 2003. 

Her fashion choices saw her becoming a regular at high-end Liverpool boutique Cricket, once dubbed the “unofficial footballers’ wives headquarters” for how often she and other local Wags, including ­Steven Gerrard’s wife Alex, shopped there.

But it was at the 2006 World Cup at Baden-Baden in Germany that Coleen cemented her status as one of our favourite Wags alongside Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham.

Coleen comes across as soft on the surface but she’s got balls of steel. No one would mess with her

Friend

In that same year she teamed up with Asda as the face of its George clothing brand, before kicking off a lucrative deal with Littlewoods four years later for her own range.

It is expected that Disney TV ­cameras will capture parts of Coleen’s birthday celebrations, with the family opening the doors of their home for a fly-on-the-wall series. 

Simply called The Rooneys, the three-parter has filmed both Wayne and Coleen, while also shadowing Coleen as she worked with Primark on her clothing line.

Insiders say the big plan for Coleen is to help make her star shine brighter.

Undeniably, she now has the opportunity to bring in the bigger pay packets.

Her deal with Primark was worth millions, while further lucrative deals have been coming in thick and fast.

Meanwhile, Wayne has struggled as a manager. He left Plymouth Argyle after seven months in charge, and was sacked by Birmingham City after just 83 days.

He now has regular gigs as a pundit on Match Of The Day but, as one pal puts it, that is not going to sustain their lifestyle.

“Coleen is the golden ticket for the family now,” a friend explained.

“Wayne was the breadwinner for so long and now the roles have started to slowly reverse.

“To put it bluntly, Coleen is very marketable. She is popular, unproblematic and relatable. Her ­decision to create an affordable brand with Primark shows that.

“Watching her next steps is going to be really interesting. Everyone who knows and loves Coleen is cheering her on and wants her to succeed.

“This is just the beginning for Coleen. Now you just have to sit back and watch her rise.

“We just hope Wayne catches on and keeps himself in line.”

HE IS the working class boy from Wales who conquered Hollywood as Sir Elton John in Rocketman.

She’s the Louisiana-born Baywatch actress whose reality TV family want to be the next Kardashians.

Together, Taron Egerton and Brooks Nader have become showbusiness’s hottest couple with their very public displays of affection.

But behind the steamy snogs, Taron’s inner circle is sounding the alarm.

For I can reveal, that the 36-year-old Kingsman heartthrob’s prestige acting career could be spectacularly derailed by the chaotic circus of Brooks’s life, and her ferociously protective, camera-hungry family.

As my insider warned: “This could all end in disaster. He doesn’t know what he has gotten himself into. She will eat him alive.”

Ambitious Brooks, 29, who grew up in America’s deep south, moved to New York in 2016 and rose to fame after winning the Sports Illustrated’s Swim Search model casting call.

She has since gone through a divorce, had a sizzling romance – and messy breakup – with her partner on Dancing with the Stars, and scored her own reality television show Love Thy Nader.

But it is not just one Nader Taron has to contend with.

She also has a brood of high-flying sisters who all live together in Manhattan and keep a watchful eye on their big sis.

Dubbed the “Wannabe Kardashians”, Brooks and her photogenic sisters – Sarah Jane, Grace Ann, and Mary Holland – became smash hit reality stars when their show launched last year on Disney+.

If his relationship with Brooks hits a speedbump, Taron won’t just be dealing with a private heartbreak – he’ll be dealing with the wrath of the sisters and a Hulu camera crew capturing every excruciating detail.

As one insider summarised the situation: “Who knows if this is happily ever after. But it could spectacularly backfire for Taron if things get messy. The Nader sisters are brutal and unafraid to play dirty to protect their own.”

The Louisiana-raised siblings swapped the country for the bright lights of New York and Los Angeles, and they absolutely do not take prisoners.

In the first season of their show, which quickly became a guilty pleasure for millions of viewers, the sisters famously tore shreds into Brooks’s exes.

This could all end in disaster. He doesn’t know what he has gotten himself into. She will eat him alive

Insider

They had choice, cutting words for her former husband, advertising executive Billy Haire, whom she divorced in 2024, with Brook herself saying she married him “for rent purposes”.

When she was asked on a chat show what she thought about her ex remarrying, Brooks remarked: “Which ex?”

But the sisters saved their unfiltered venom for her Dancing With the Stars partner and ex-boyfriend, Gleb Savchenko.

The pair met when they were partnered on the dance show, and sister Grace Ann revealed they hit it right from the off.

‘Highly dangerous tightrope’

She explained in eye-watering detail: “I can tell you firsthand, every time I visited Brooks’ trailer, the trailer was shaking — every single time.”

But Brooks’s whirlwind fling with the Russian dancer imploded months later, but made great reality television.

The sisters discovered he had left his phone in their flat and quickly went about searching the device while being filmed for the series.

Brooks said they were “shocked” by what they found. She said on the episode: “All these screenshots of my boobs. What the f— is this? There’s like a million girls in here. This is a week ago.”

She then found a contact labeled “Threesome girl, Joshua Tree,” and broke down in tears.

Gleb vehemently denied the allegations, but the truth hardly mattered once the Nader sisters went to war.

They cornered him both on-screen and off, acting as Brooks’s personal attack dogs.

Brooks later admitted that watching herself “crying on the bathroom floor” over the split was the hardest part of filming the show,

But she also issued a chilling warning to anyone who might doubt her family’s investigative skills, proudly claiming: “My sisters are my sources.”

With these glamorous private investigators, any misstep Taron makes is guaranteed to end up in the next season.

Reality television thrives on conflict, and the Nader sisters know exactly how to deliver it

Insider

This is exactly why Hollywood insiders are so nervous for the Welsh actor. A-list directors and prestige studios often shy away from actors embroiled in reality TV circus acts.

My insider added: “By aligning himself with a star whose life, heartbreak, and family drama are filmed for public consumption, Taron is stepping onto a highly dangerous tightrope. Reality television thrives on conflict, and the Nader sisters know exactly how to deliver it.”

But he does not seem deterred. The pair have been painting California red over the last week, looking thoroughly besotted with one another.

Since The Sun revealed earlier this week that they were dating, they’ve been spotted holding hands outside luxury steakhouses and grabbing intimate drinks at Shutters on the Beach.

Yet, as the romance heats up, there are dark whispers in Hollywood, with some questioning the authenticity of the sudden pairing.

A more cynical insider even suggested that the highly photographed romance might be a well-orchestrated PR stunt designed to mutually boost their profiles.

‘Extremely ambitious’

Taron, despite his undeniable talent, has slipped off the radar slightly since his meteoric run with Rocketman and the Apple TV+ prison drama Black Bird.

Meanwhile, Brooks is “extremely ambitious” and “desperate” to cement her burgeoning reality TV empire.

Still a source told The Sun, Taron is “very keen” on the swimwear model, but this highly public romance is a stark departure from his roots.

Born in Birkenhead but raised in the quiet seaside town of Aberystwyth, small-town boy Taron has until now kept his private life discreet.

When he burst onto the scene as a council estate rebel turned superspy in Kingsman: The Secret Service, he was praised for his grounded nature.

He dated assistant director Emily Thomas for six years, keeping the romance strictly low-key and away from red carpets before they quietly parted ways.

He later had a brief, under-the-radar Hollywood romance with actress Chloe Bennet that quietly fizzled out in 2025.

However, the famously cheeky star hasn’t been entirely mute about his romantic preferences or his prowess as a boyfriend in past interviews.

Speaking to Andy Cohen, Taron confessed he wasn’t looking for a specific body type, laughing as he admitted his actual preference.

He joked “I’m probably more of an a** man… I’ve got a big butt. Quite a big round butt. When we’re walking away hand-in-hand as a couple, it’s not going to look right [if she doesn’t]. It won’t work.”

He even doubled down while reading thirsty fan tweets online during a promotional tour, cheekily declaring to the camera, “I’m quite proud of my a**, actually.”

And when he does fall for someone, he falls incredibly hard.

Recalling a romantic gesture for his ex, Emily, he once revealed, “When my girlfriend and I first got together, I took her to Claridge’s hotel in London, and I had them deliver a necklace to the room.”

He has confidently described himself in the past as an “attentive, thorough, enthusiastic” lover.

But all the attentive enthusiasm in the world might not be enough to shield him from the Nader family.

AT 36, Millie Mackintosh is navigating divorce for the second time in her life, after her seemingly fairytale marriage to Hugo Taylor collapsed earlier this year.

It’s the latest hurdle after a difficult few years, which has seen the star quit drinking and come to terms with an ADHD and anxiety diagnosis, which she had previously numbed with booze and prescription drugs. As she faces the pitfalls of divorce, insiders tell us why she has been left worrying about money and the lengths she’s gone to, to protect herself.

After seven years of marriage, Millie and Hugo, who are parents to Sienna, five, and Aurelia, four, filed for divorce earlier this month. The pair are yet to comment on the break-up but insiders suggested that Millie’s massive lifestyle overhaul played a part in the decision.

Suddenly, Millie, who is worth roughly £6million from her various business ventures over the years, went from a shared income with Hugo, who runs a luxury eyewear company, to fending for herself once again.

Hugo is thought to be worth around £4million – he launched luxury eyewear brand Taylor Morris off the back of his MIC fame, and it’s been a huge hit with the likes of everyone from David Gandy to the Beckhams.

An insider explained: “Millie has always made her own money; she didn’t rely on Hugo, but it is, of course, very different when there are two people instead of just one.

“Almost overnight, friends noticed a huge difference in her spending habits. Suddenly, she started to cut back and seemed to be really thinking about what she was buying.

“She’s worked so hard for what she’s created, and it’s terrifying not knowing what will happen. It’s causing her crippling anxiety.

“It’s very surprising to see someone like Millie fretting about money, but like any couple who has separated, it’s a shock to the system, and it will take time and effort working out how she will maintain her current lifestyle.”

Most people know Millie as one of the original cast members of Made In Chelsea – the reality show about some of London’s wealthiest 20-somethings.

She was billed as a chocolate heiress when she first burst onto the scene in 2011, but was determined to be known as more than that. 

Her great-great-grandfather, John, was a Victorian entrepreneur, known as the Toffee King, who created Mackintosh’s sweet company.

A generation later, her great-grandfather and his brother invented Quality Street, which Brits know and love today, but they sold it in 1988.

Millie insisted: “People severely overestimate how wealthy I am.

“I’m routinely referred to as the heir to the Quality Street fortune, as though I hit 21 and inherited millions. If only.

“It’s not as if I get a cut every time someone eats a toffee. My family sold the business years ago. I’m comfortable, but I don’t live a flash life.”

Millie, real name Camilla, definitely has a comfortable life – her parents, Nigel and Georgina, brought her up in a  £1.4million townhouse in Bath.

And as soon as she was old enough, Millie started working. She was a waitress at first and was working in Space NK when she was approached about her place on MIC when she was just 21. 

She famously dated Hugo on the show, but then met and fell in love with rapper Professor Green. They married in  2013 and split in 2016.

It was a rocky relationship, with Pro Green — real name Stephen Manderson — recently admitting that he had nearly “called off” their nuptials, but they had both felt “pressured” to go through with it.

A decade on from the split, Millie and Pro have reconnected and have bonded over both being diagnosed with ADHD in recent years.

Speaking on Jamie Laing’s Great Company podcast last October, Pro branded her “beautiful”, but added that the pair were toxic for one another at the time of their marriage, describing it as a “trauma bond”.

In another interview, he admitted their quickie divorce had been costly for him.

He told John Bishop: “You know what they say about divorce, it’s expensive, you know why? Because it’s worth it.

“I can’t stop working right now, my mortgage isn’t paid, I am not a house owner. The bank own my house, I own a percentage of it depending on where it sits in the market.”

The summer after their split, she rekindled things with Hugo, and it looked like they would last forever.

Second marriage split

News of their split came as a surprise, but insiders have suggested the writing had been on the wall for some time.

Millie had changed a lot in recent years – she has been open about her massive lifestyle overhaul after quitting drinking in 2022, then dealing with the ADHD and anxiety she had previously numbed with booze and prescription drugs.

What’s more, she revealed last year that, having grappled with her sexuality, she had finally admitted to herself and Hugo that she was also attracted to women.

The pair have now both appointed legal teams and have quietly started divorce proceedings.

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

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

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

They want the divorce to go through as painlessly as possible

Pal

Millie has always been a grafter – she swiftly turned her reality TV fame into an online following as an influencer, which paved the way for many after her.

She launched her own fashion brand in 2014, proudly saying at the time: “I invested my own money into setting it up.

“I own it, I model it, and they’re my designs. So I would say, yeah, I’ve kind of created my dream.”

But by 2018, the dream was over, and she lost £178,000 of her own money when the company became unsustainable.

It didn’t stop her, though, and she transformed into a lifestyle influencer, with brand deals popping up left, right and centre.

Our insider says: “Don’t be surprised if you see more and more collaborations on Millie’s social media. Her arms are very open to any opportunities that come her way.”

She even wrote a book – Bad Drunk – about her boozing issues.

She has been sober now for over three years and admitted that one of the ways she realised it was such a problem was the fact that it was “stealing her money”.

It hasn’t been an easy road to being financially secure, and the work/life juggle has proved tricky at times since she became a mum.

As a self-employed woman, Millie went back to work just three months after Sienna’s birth and, while it was difficult, she believes it was the best thing for her.

She says she gets up at the crack of dawn to get a head start on emails and tasks.

She explained: “Since becoming a mother, I really want to get the most out of work.

“Your time is your most valuable thing.

“I get up at 5am so I feel I can start my day early enough to get everything I need to do, done.”

She admits she got the “balance wrong” at first when it came to juggling work with kids.

“It weighed on me quite a lot,” she says.

“So I was actually doing some work around this in therapy, and I figured out that my weeks weren’t structured in a way that was beneficial for me and my mental health.

“I had to change the balance.

“And I now have blocked out time in my diary every week, and the kids know that I won’t be working in that time.”

The juggle has no doubt been even harder since her split from Hugo, and just a few days ago, she candidly spoke about her fears, saying: “I think recently I have found it really hard to know how to show up online because of things I’ve got going on in my personal life that I am not going to share online.

“But because I do usually share so much of my life, I felt like this gap, this resistance to posting and like letting you guys in.”

Millie certainly seems to be well aware that sharing her life with fans is helping to pay her bills at the moment, but just how much she will share is yet to be seen.

One thing is for certain, though, with her divorce looming, there is likely to be another very big bill on its way. 

IF you’re wondering where the next big holiday trend is coming from, I can save you some time.

It’s not a brand new destination, and it’s not somewhere “undiscovered”.

It’s the places your parents went in the 90s.

I spend most of my time looking at holiday booking data, and this one trend keeps jumping out.

A whole wave of classic British package holiday resorts are making a serious comeback in 2026.

And the reason is simple: they’re still ridiculously good value.

From Europe to Africa, here are my top 10 cheap holiday spots that are booming again… and the deals you can get right now.

10. Skanes, Tunisia

Skanes is a proper throwback to 90s package holidays – big beachfront hotels, short transfers, and everything centred around the resort.

And now, it’s having one of the biggest comebacks I’ve seen in the data, with bookings to Tunisia up massively again heading into 2026.

I found a really strong all-inclusive deal here – 7 nights at the 4* Hotel Liberty Resort, flying from London Southend (16–23 Aug 2026), from £535pp for a family of four. That’s roughly £76pp per night, and crucially, it’s all-inclusive.

What makes this one work is how family-friendly it is – big pool areas, loads going on for kids, and everything included, so you’re not constantly spending.

And the reason it’s this cheap is simple. Tunisia is still rebuilding demand, so hotels are pricing low to win Brits back. Which means right now, you’re getting proper beachfront value for a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere.

9. Calpe, Costa Blanca, Spain

Calpe was huge with British tourists in the 80s and early 90s – classic Spanish seaside, big beaches and that iconic rock backdrop.

Now it’s trending again in 2026, as people look for more relaxed, less chaotic alternatives to bigger resorts.

I found a great-value summer deal – 7 nights at the 4* AR Diamante Beach, flying from Bournemouth (3–10 Aug 2026), from £588pp for a family of four. That’s about £84pp per night, on a bed & breakfast basis.

This hotel stands out because it feels a bit more premium than your typical Costa Blanca stay – big modern rooms, great pool area, and close to the beach without being chaotic.

It’s cheaper because it’s not trying to be flashy or all-inclusive heavy. And for families, that works – because you can eat out cheaply and control your spending instead.

8. Hurghada, Egypt

Hurghada was unbelievably popular in the 2000s all-inclusive boom, thanks to massive resorts, guaranteed heat and loads included in the price.

And now it’s properly back again, with bookings climbing fast into 2026.

This one’s properly eye-opening – 7 nights at the 4* Royal Lagoons Aqua Park Resort & Spa, flying from Belfast (22–29 Aug 2026), from £668pp for a family of four. That’s around £95pp per night, and it’s all-inclusive.

What makes it great for families is the waterpark setup with slides, multiple pools and enough going on to keep kids busy all week without leaving the hotel.

This is why Egypt is flying with Brits right now, despite its proximity to the Iran conflict. Because once you arrive, everything’s covered.

Flights are longer, which keeps demand slightly lower, but for families, that means ridiculous value for what you get.

7. Hammamet, Tunisia

Hammamet was one of the classic British beach holidays of the 90s – long sandy beaches, big hotels and loads of all-inclusive resorts.

Just like Skanes, it’s seeing a massive resurgence heading into 2026.

I spotted this while digging through peak summer prices – 7 nights at the 4* Houda Yasmine Hammamet, flying from London Southend (23–30 Aug 2026), from £553pp for a family of four. That’s about £79pp per night, and it’s all-inclusive.

It’s a proper classic family hotel with a massive pool, entertainment, and everything geared around easy, no-stress holidays.

Again, the price comes down to perception catching up with reality.

The hotels are good, the weather’s great – but demand hasn’t fully returned yet. So you’re benefiting from that gap.

6. Salou, Costa Dorada, Spain

Salou was massive with British families in the 90s and early 2000s with beaches, family hotels and PortAventura right next door.

And now it’s flying back again in 2026 as families rediscover how easy it is.

I couldn’t ignore this deal – 7 nights at the 4* 4R Playa Park, flying from Birmingham (21–28 Aug 2026), from £408pp for a family of four. That’s just £58pp per night, on a bed & breakfast basis.

This is exactly what Salou does well: simple, well-located hotels with good pools and easy access to everything – and at a really great price too.

And it’s such great value because you’re not paying for extras upfront.

But in Salou, that’s ideal – everything locally is affordable, so you can build your own budget holiday.

5. Torremolinos, Costa del Sol, Spain

Torremolinos is where the British package holiday basically started back in the 60s and 70s.

And in 2026, it’s trending hard again thanks to how easy and reliable it is.

I found a really solid summer option here – 7 nights at the 4* Hotel Apartamentos Bajondillo, flying from Bournemouth (22–29 Aug 2026), from £518pp for a family of four. That’s about £74pp per night, on a self-catering basis.

What makes this one great is the location, as it sits right on the beachfront, with loads nearby, and perfect if you want flexibility with food and spending.

It’s not the cheapest on the list, but you’re paying for convenience – short transfer, loads to do, and no surprises.

4. Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain

Benidorm was the capital of British holidays in the 80s and 90s, and now a whole new generation is discovering it.

Bookings are up again in 2026, especially with younger families and couples.

I found this cracking value deal – 7 nights at the 3* Terralta Apartments, flying from Dublin (23–30 Aug 2026), from £403pp for a family of four. That’s roughly £58pp per night, on a self-catering basis.

It’s ideal for families too, as it’s home to spacious apartments, a big pool, and a quieter location just outside the main strip.

And this one’s cheap simply because Benidorm is built for volume: loads of apartments, loads of competition – which keeps prices low.

Best part is, once you’re there, everything else is cheap too.

3. Sousse, Tunisia

Sousse has always been one of Tunisia’s most popular beach resorts – big hotels, great beaches and loads of all-inclusive options.

And just like the rest of Tunisia, it’s seeing a huge comeback into 2026.

One of the best-value all-inclusive deals I found – 7 nights at the 4* El Ksar Resort & Thalasso, flying from London Southend (16–23 Aug 2026), from £583pp for a family of four. That’s about £83pp per night, and it’s all-inclusive.

This is exactly what families want – beachfront setting, slides, big pool areas and everything included from day one.

This is where the value really shows.

Because when everything’s included, you’re not constantly spending – which makes it one of the easiest holidays to budget for.

2. El Arenal, Majorca, Spain

El Arenal was massive in the charter flight era – big beach, loads of hotels and right next to Palma.

And now Majorca, and El Arenal in particular, is firmly back on the rise again in 2026.

I found a peak summer Majorca deal that really stood out – 7 nights at the 3* BLUESEA Costa Verde, flying from Bournemouth (19–26 Aug 2026), from £580pp for a family of four. That’s about £83pp per night, and it’s all-inclusive.

What makes this one work is simplicity – good pool, food included, and a no-frills base in a super easy destination.

It’s slightly pricier because Majorca never really goes out of demand.

But you’re paying for ease – short flight, reliable weather and a destination that just works.

1. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Sharm El Sheikh was one of the BIGGEST British holiday hotspots of the 2000s.

And now it’s making the biggest comeback of all destinations worldwide heading into 2026.

And this is where the value really hits home – 7 nights at the 4* Xperience Saint George Homestay, flying from London Luton (5–12 Aug 2026), from £650pp for a family of four. That’s around £93pp per night, and it’s all-inclusive, in great hotel, with guaranteed heat.

This hotel is built for proper relaxation with multiple pools, loads of food options and everything set up so you barely need to leave. Just turn up, pay for nothing, and leave rested, relaxed and tanned.

And the reason it’s such good value, even in the summer holidays, is simple.

Flights have only relatively recently come back at scale, so demand is still catching up. But the hotels are still world-class.

Which means right now, you’re getting proper 4* all-inclusive… for less than most self-catering holidays in Europe.

THE price of holidays has skyrocketed in recent weeks, partially due to the rising cost of fuel.

But even in the school holidays, your summer getaway doesn’t have to break the bank as we’ve found some incredible deals to the top tourist destinations.

We’ve scoured the internet to find the best resorts you can stay in for less this summer, and the best part is, they don’t compromise on comfort, location or activities.

Many of these resorts are set smack-bang on the beach, and each price is calculated with an all-inclusive package, meaning there’s no need to spend any extra cash on dining out.

Here are 20 of the best all-inclusive resorts to escape to this summer, with top picks from the Greek islands, Ibiza, Tenerife and more.

Magic Cristal Park, Benidorm

Magic Cristal Park is a top pick for a Benidorm break, especially with its ‘ultra all-inclusive’ offer.

While the standard all-inclusive is already generous, this upgrade includes premium drinks and even a beachfront brunch.

Plus, if you’re staying for four nights or more, you’ll get a range of excursions thrown in for free.

You can choose from the Medieval Magic Robin Hood Challenge, the Princesses and Knights show, and a trip to a live magic show.

And if you stay for at least seven nights, you’ll even get entry to Terra Natura Animal Park and Aqua Natura Water Park included.

This all-inclusive paradise is a massive win for families who want an action-packed holiday without the extra costs that come with excursions.

TUI offer a 5-night stay from 17 August, including return flights from Glasgow from £490pp.

AQI Aqua Mirage Club, Marrakech, Morocco

With its own water park, wave machine and a selection of slides, this resort in Morocco‘s Marrakech is loved by families.

This sprawling resort lets you soak up the North African sunshine with a much more spacious, out-of-town feel than the smaller hotels in the city centre.

This resort has everything you’ll need for your summer holiday in one spot.

You can spend days tackling the on-site waterpark with its own water castle, or hitting the tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

When it comes to food and drink, the all-inclusive buffet is a real international spread. Food ranges from traditional tagines to grilled meats and refreshing salads.

And if you want to dive into the famous buzz of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, this hotel offers a free shuttle service, with the city’s vibrant souks just 20 minutes’ away.

TUI offer a 5-night stay from 30 July, including return flights from London Stansted from £551pp.

Sol Tenerife

Playa de las Américas is Tenerife‘s undisputed capital of fun, and this hotel puts you right on its front porch.

The volcanic shoreline of Playa de Troya is just four minutes away, while the Veronicas Strip begins almost exactly where the hotel grounds end.

This resort is ideal for those who want to jump between a sun lounger and a dance floor without needing a taxi in between.

With August temperatures averaging a reliable 28C to 31C, there’ll be plenty of sunbathing opportunities – plus you can count on the three onsite pools to cool down.

The all-inclusive offer includes a constant rotation of international dishes at the buffet, plus a poolside bar with extra snacks and drinks.

For a change of scenery, Siam Park is a seven-minute drive away, offering some of the country’s most thrilling water slides.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 24 August, including return flights from Glasgow Prestwick from £499pp.

Corona Roja Aparthotel, Gran Canaria

This budget-friendly base sits in Gran Canaria’s ever-popular Playa del Ingles.

This resort offers comfortable apartments with kitchenettes, but the all-inclusive option means you can skip the cooking and stick to the buffet restaurant and poolside bar.

Playa del Ingles is a hit with Brits for its combination of golden beaches, buzzing nightlife, and watersports ranging from parasailing to sunset cruises.

The main Playa del Ingles beach boasts nearly two miles of flat, golden sands that are perfect for families, whilst the nearby Maspalomas has a desert-like landscape with rolling dunes.

And with all-inclusive, week-long summer stays for less than £400pp, this is a great-value spot for those who want to be close to the action.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 15 July including return flights from Bournemouth from £360pp.

Globales Montemar, Ibiza

Globales Montemar sits on a quieter side of Ibiza, meaning you can soak up the island’s stunning natural beauty away from the party crowds.

Tucked away behind a pine-covered hillside, this resort feels like a real island escape, offering both hill and sea views.

Here you’re just a 10-minute stroll from a stunning, horseshoe-shaped bay where the waters are clear, calm and shallow.

The resort itself is all about easy-going family fun. There’s a large pool that curves around the resort, surrounded by plenty of sunbeds, plus a kids and families-only zone.

You can fill your boots at the buffet restaurant, which serves up a mix of local and international dishes, and grab a midday snack or an ice cream from the poolside bar.

It’s an excellent choice if you want to experience Ibiza in a family-friendly spot surrounded by stunning scenery.

TUI offer a 5-night stay from 25 July, including return flights from London Stansted from £505pp.

Archipel Monastir, Tunisia

This glamorous Tunisian hotel offers everything from luxurious spa treatments and a hammam, to an exciting sports programme including tennis, volleyball and archery.

Plus, it’s fit for families, with spacious and comfortable rooms and suites which house up to four beds.

The coastal city of Monastir is ideal for those who like to take in the local history on holiday, with a medina, fortress and ancient ruins to explore.

There’s plenty of impressive sights like the preserved Ribat of Monastir, as well as the grand marble patterns and domes of the Habib Bourguiba Mausoleum.

And Monastir isn’t short of beautiful beaches, either. The Archipel Monastir hotel sits directly on a golden beach, so you’re just steps away from a swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

On the Beach offers a 7-night stay from 1 July including return flights from Bristol from £370pp.

Clover Magic Park Beach, Alanya, Antalya, Turkey

This four-star Turkish resort offers jam-packed all-inclusive holidays that are pretty hard to say no to.

Sat smack-bang on the beach in Antalya‘s Konakli, this resort has all the family summer holiday essentials: a giant pool, water slides, plus evening entertainment and nightclub access for the grown-ups.

Here you can help yourself to an extensive buffet breakfast, various international options at lunch and dinner, and plenty of poolside drinks and snacks.

Outside of the resort, Konakli offers boat trips to Turtle Beach, plus the exciting Alanya Aquapark is just a 15-minute drive away.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 9 August, including return flights from Edinburgh from £419pp

Rodos Star, Rhodes, Greece

Perched on a hill with views over the Aegean Sea, this family-run hotel is highly rated for its welcoming atmosphere.

Families make use of the outdoor pool and kids’ pool, and enjoy settling down to evening entertainment three times a week – including live music, Greek dancing and disco nights.

Rodos Star is just a five-minute walk from the traditional village of Afandou, one of the largest in Rhodes.

This pretty village is full of traditional beachfront tavernas, as well as plenty of shops selling handmade souvenirs.

And if you prefer pebble beaches that won’t leave you coming home with sand in your pockets for weeks, you’re in luck.

Here you’re close to the pebbled portion of the four-mile long Afandou Beach with the typical turquoise waters that make the Greek islands famous.

TUI offer a 7-night stay from 16 August including return flights from Glasgow from £770pp.

Blue Sea Interpalace, Tenerife

This four-star hillside retreat in Tenerife consistently rates high among families.

It’s a challenge for kids to get bored here when there’s mini golf, a kids club, an outdoor playground and a packed evening entertainment programme to pick from.

There are 234 rooms in this resort, each of which come with all the necessary amenities such as air-con, flat-screen TVs and a minibar.

The rest of the resort also has that classic all-inclusive holiday in the Canaries feel – with a large outdoor pool surrounded by loungers, a big buffet restaurant and several sports courts.

Head out into the local area of Puerto de la Cruz to explore volcanic black sand beaches, stroll its picturesque harbour and discover the ruins of an 18th century fort.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 15 August, including return flights from Edinburgh from £449pp.

Selenium Hotel, Antalya, Turkey

The Selenium Hotel in sunny Antalya is the perfect base for those who want to be in the heart of the action with plenty of activities.

There’s water sports galore down on the seafront, with diving, water-skiing, jet-skiing, pedal boats and banana boats ready and waiting for you to take a spin.

Plus, you can also explore nearby coastal paths by bicycle or horse back, both of which can be arranged by the hotel. There’s also a golf course 20 minutes’ drive away in Belek.

Equally, if you’re just after a fly and flop kind of holiday, this hotel is suitable for you, too.

There’s a pool with plenty of parasols and loungers to lay back and relax on, as well as a sand beach just a few minutes walk away.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 1 July including return flights from London Gatwick from £375pp

Hotel Club Jandia Princess, Fuerteventura

If you’re looking for a family mega-resort just steps from the beach and boasting toasty 27C to 30C July temperatures, this pick in Fuerteventura is the one for you.

The huge resort is perched right above the stunning Playa de Esquinzo, so you’re never more than a short stroll from the water.

Hotel Club Jandia Princess is set up like a small village, with low-rise buildings scattered among palm trees and six different swimming pools.

Stays here are all about variety: entertainment spans from DJ nights to bingo and live sports screenings, whilst the wide range of sports on offer include water polo, rifle shooting and shuffleboard.

There are plenty of unique things to do in the local area, too, such as meeting goats at the nearby farm and going whale-watching on local catamaran trips.

TUI offer a 5-night stay from 21 July, including return flights from Bournemouth from £498pp.

MIX Peymar, Majorca

Set just steps from the sea in sunny S’Illot, Majorca, the MIX Peymar hotel is a stunning choice for couples and families alike.

Spend days soaking up rays on the beach of Platja de S’Illot, or splashing around in the hotel’s outdoor pool and dedicated kids’ pool.

And with temperatures in S’Illot averaging a scorching 32C in August, you’ll certainly want to take a dip to cool off.

When things cool down in the evenings, there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy within walking distance.

Plus the pretty promenade and and Blue Flag beaches of resort town Cala Millor are only a five-minute drive away.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 2 August, including return flights from Glasgow Prestwick from £479pp.

TUI SUNEO Lagomonte, Majorca

TUI SUNEO Lagomonte is a Majorcan resort that delivers something you don’t see every day.

This hotel’s standout feature is a mini private island with its own pool and bar in the middle of the lake beside the main building.

The rest of the resort feels modern, spacious, and built for easy-going family getaways.

There’s a massive main pool with a dedicated zone for kids, plus sports like darts, aerobics, table tennis and aqua gym classes to keep you entertained during the day.

Plus the all-inclusive buffet here is a real winner, serving up classics like pancakes and English breakfasts, through to freshly-grilled meats and fish at dinner time.

When you fancy a change of scenery, a free shuttle bus will whisk you down to a golden stretch of Alcudian beach in minutes.

TUI offer a 5-night stay from 13 August, including return flights from Glasgow Prestwick from £434pp.

Hotel Terramar Calella, Costa Brava

If you’re after a Costa Brava break that puts you in the prime spot for both beach days and buzzy nights out, Hotel Terramar is your best bet.

The location is the real winner here, putting you right between the popular promenade and the golden sands of Platja Gran, the area’s largest beach.

Days here look like morning sea swims, followed by afternoons spent lazing by the pool and sunset drinks at a local bar.

But because this is an all-inclusive stay, there’s no need to spend money on food and drink outside of the hotel if you don’t want to.

Meals are included, plus the Cafe Bar is stocked with drinks and snacks.

And with a lively atmosphere and bars stocked with local spirits, it’s a great-value base for a straightforward bucket-and-spade break.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 22 July including return flights from Bristol from £545pp.

Ereza Apartamentos Los Hibiscos, Lanzarote

This adults-only escape to Lanzarote is the perfect pick for couples.

These apartments are clean and bright, but the pool area is the real winner here – with a sun deck ideal for a peaceful afternoon with a book and cocktail in hand.

Even though it’s an apartment complex, you can still go all-inclusive. Here, you get the best of both worlds: a self-contained base with all the amenities, plus your meals, snacks and drinks thrown in.

The complex sits in Puerto del Carmen, where popular beaches Playa Grande and Playa Pocillos offer access to the sapphire waters of the Atlantic.

There’s plenty to do here, including scuba diving and jet skiing stations along the seafront, as well as a bustling Friday market at market square Plaza Varadero.

Plus, the nearby promenade Avenida de las Playas is packed with pubs, bars and clubs to dance the night away.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 3 July including return flights from Edinburgh from £349pp.

Sun Club El Dorado, Majorca

For an all-inclusive Majorcan getaway that won’t blow the budget, Sun Club El Dorado is a top choice.

Tucked away from the busy tourist strip, this is a top choice for a more secluded escape with breathing room to soak up the scenery.

But this quieter location doesn’t lack in things to do. Here you can spend your morning on the tennis courts or having a go at archery, before cooling off in one of the three massive pools.

If you bring the kids along, the onsite water slide and non-stop entertainment will be sure to keep them busy.

And after a full day of being active, you can head to the buffet to fill your plate and soak up those sunset views.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 24 August including return flights from Edinburgh from £419pp.

Aes Club Hotel, Dalaman, Turkey

If you’re wanting to swap the busy beachfront resorts for more of a pretty rural getaway, Aes Club Hotel in the Turkish village of Ovacik is a standout choice.

Tucked away near the base of Mount Babadağ, this hotel swaps the busy seafront for a peaceful mountain landscape.

Although if you fancy a sea swim, you’re only a short (and free) shuttle bus ride away from the Blue Lagoon of Oludeniz.

This hotel has a sleek pool area for all-day lounging, a spa for a proper Turkish scrub, and an entertainment programme that runs from day through to night.

Whether you want to enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains, or head out into nearby Hisarönü for drinks and dancing, this is a brilliant Turkish base for a bit of me-time.

TUI offer a 7-night stay from 13 August including return flights from Aberdeen from £765pp. This deal includes one free child’s place.

Apartamentos LIVVO Morromar, Lanzarote

These apartments in Lanzarote‘s Matagorda come with kitchenettes, cosy seating areas, plus your choice of balcony or terrace.

Each spacious apartment can sleep up to four people, making an ideal choice for small groups seeking an easy-going sun holiday.

There’s two large, heated outdoor pools in the apartment complex to enjoy, plus a kids club, playground, games room, and both an evening and daytime entertainment schedule.

Three meals a day are served in the buffet restaurant, while the pool bar opens from midday onwards for snacks, and even a late breakfast if you’ve had a lie-in.

The apartments are just a 10-minute walk from the closest beach in Matagorda, where calm waters lap over soft, golden sands.

TUI offer a 7-night stay from 13 August including return flights from Glasgow from £603pp.

El Pueblo Tamlelt, Agadir, Morocco

Set in 11 acres of tropical gardens and just steps from the beach, El Pueblo Tamlelt is a slice of Moroccan paradise.

The resort is just 15 minutes from the airport, so you can soon be on a sun lounger shortly after landing.

And with temperatures reaching 30C in July, Agadir is a reliable pick for summer sun.

The resort has 363 modern rooms, all featuring a balcony or terrace overlooking the grounds or the sea.

Plus when you go all-inclusive, you’ll enjoy three buffet meals a day, as well as snacks like pizza and burgers at the poolside bar.

If you want to get out and explore the area, Agadir centre is a 10-minute drive away.

Or you can head to the Agadir Oufella Ruins for panoramic views of the city from an impressive mountain-top fortress.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 1 July including return flights from Manchester from £355pp.

Clipper Affiliated by FERGUS, Lloret de Mar

The centrally-located Clipper Affiliated by FERGUS is a practical and comfortable base to explore Costa Brava’s coastal treasure.

From here, it’s only a nine-minute walk to Lloret de Mar beach, which is a mile in length and popular with Brits for its lively atmosphere.

This laid-back hotel has a sun-soaked pool area with a snack bar made for lazy afternoons, plus rooms that provide a clean, simple retreat after a day of exploring.

And with a stress-free all-inclusive package, you can fill up on burgers, chips and salad at the buffet – and save your euros for the local boutiques.

You’re only a two-minute walk away from the Old Town of Lloret de Mar, where narrow streets dotted with bars lead to the lively Town Hall Square.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 2 August including return flights from Leeds Bradford from £379pp.

IT has felt like the longest-running showbiz break-up of all time.

Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne have been on and off, and on ‘make or break’ holidays, countless times in their eight-year marriage. But last night we revealed they’ve split again, with friends insisting the EastEnders star has finally accepted there’s no future. Now insiders have revealed what is really going on behind closed doors.

Source insists: “They don’t want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing it hasn’t worked.

“They’ve always tried their utmost to play happy families, no matter what’s going on behind closed doors.”

That’s because the role of Dan‘s wife will be a tough one to leave behind for the actress who has always protected the ex-Towie star – even if it meant she was cruelly labelled a “doormat” by trolls.

While the mum of two hasn’t put a foot wrong throughout their 13-year relationship, time and time again she’s been embarrassed by cheating scandals and crisis talks.

Now I can reveal why 33-year-old Jacqueline has stood by her man for far longer than many others would have been able to suffer.

On-screen as Albert Square’s bolshy Lauren Branning, she’s seen her womanising dad Max (played by Jake Wood) bed more than 20 women – often in lurid affairs, including his own son’s fiancée.

But away from the scripted soap, Jacqueline is the product of a long-lasting marriage, with her mum, Selina and dad John Jossa celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary last year.

But it’s been far from smooth sailing despite their enduring marriage.

Two years after joining EastEnders at 17, Jacqueline “wept” as her dad John, then 58, was jailed for four years at the Old Bailey for stealing nearly £500,000 of taxpayers’ money.

Just like her mum, who stood by her husband, Jacqueline also remained loyal to Dan when he was sacked from The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 after allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend Megan, and claiming she was “his property”, when Jacqueline was pregnant with their first daughter, Ella.

Jacqueline only spoke out about the alleged incident once, in which she said she had reprimanded him and would “never fully forgive him”, while Dan admitted: “I mean I said stupid things, I take full responsibility of it and you learn from your mistakes.”

I’m told Jacqueline looks up to both her parents, especially her mum.

In 2014, she credited her mum as her idol, saying, “She’s not just the strongest woman but the strongest person I know. She does everything for our family. Everything”.

Crucially, Selina has taught her that you have to fight to save a marriage – after suffering her fair share of ups and downs throughout her 45-year relationship.

So when Jacqueline said “until death do us part” in her vows to Dan, she meant it.

Like she’s been loyal to EastEnders – being cast as a teenager and returning five years later after taking a break to have a family – Jacqueline has stood by Dan throughout the darkest of times.

She has also kept their marriage problems as private as possible.

Her mum, however, has sometimes seemingly hinted at a strained relationship with her son-in-law.

When the marriage had hit the rocks in previous years, Selina had gone so far as to unfollow Dan on social media.

If she’s happy, we’re happy. We’ll always be there for Jac no matter what anyway.

Mum Selina

Commenting in 2019, when Jaqueline appeared on I’m A Celebrity, Jacqueline’s sister Katrina cautiously told OK!: “We don’t get involved in their relationship, but we’re happy if Jacqueline is happy. Everything seems great at the moment.”

While Selina added: “If she’s happy, we’re happy. We’ll always be there for Jac no matter what anyway.”

‘Quietly quitting’

I believe Jacqueline has recently found herself again after returning to EastEnders.

Five years away, bringing up her family meant she understandably became more reliant on Dan.

But she is living a much more independent, free and happy life, knowing her worth.

Living separate lives recently has given Jacqueline the space she needs while in a positive mindset to work out her future.

It’s claimed former Towie star Dan moved out permanently last month into the house he was said to have bought behind Jac’s back in 2024.

His “secret” Essex pad came to light after the on-off couple announced last March that they had split. The following month, they appeared to rekindle their marriage on a “make or break” family holiday to Mexico.

In a surprise plot twist, friends say Dan has experienced doubts about going through with the divorce — but Jacqueline stood her ground.

A source close to Dan told The Sun last night: “Everyone knows they’ve had their troubles, but after spending some time apart this year, they’ve decided to make the split permanent.

“Their two daughters are their main priority.”

In recent weeks, the couple had unfollowed each other on social media.

However, when approached by The Sun about their marriage ending, the pair re-followed one another.

Jac’s pal said: “It feels too good to be true that she’s finally seen the light, but they’ve both been telling friends it’s over.

“It seemed impossible, but she’s starting to accept not being Dan’s wife and just Jacqueline.

“Her confidence has come flooding back and she’s happier than she’s been in a long time. Jacqueline’s also throwing herself in to work and enjoying every moment being the best mum she can be.

“Life is short — she’s determined not to waste it.”

Jacqueline might not be ready to share with the world that it’s over with Dan, but she’s been “quietly quitting” the marriage over the last few months – and friends hope this time, she’ll finally go through with it.

IT was supposed to be her happy ending, but just months after the death of her beloved father, Kelly Osbourne has been left mourning again.

From the outside, Kelly’s split from fiancé Sid Wilson looked like a cruel twist in increasingly fragile star’s life, but those close to Kelly have now shed some light on her apparently shock decision to end things with the Slipknot keyboard player, telling me what really sparked the break-up.

An insider explained: “After her dad Ozzy died it put everything into perspective, the main thing being, she’s realised how she wants to be treated, and what she deserves.

“Things haven’t been right for a while and she realised she needs to prioritise herself.

“She’s so fragile because of everything that’s gone on with her father and is in need of something more. She didn’t want to pour into cups that don’t pour into hers.”

She’s realised how she wants to be treated, and what she deserves.

Insider

Kelly, who shares three-year-old son Sidney with the rocker, has been spending a lot of time in the UK following Ozzy’s death in July last year, having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019.

More than ever she became her mum Sharon’s rock as they navigate this incredibly difficult time, but it’s taken its toll on Kelly. 

Her latest appearances have sparked concern not just from her fans but those close to her. 

The once bubbly looking star has drastically shrunk in size, which has led to her being called gaunt and some even saying she ‘looks like a dead body’.

My insider added: “Kelly is of course aware she looks different but has found the trolling really tough.

“Her friends have really rallied around her and are determined to make sure she is ok. Of course everyone is doing what they can to help her be happy and healthy. They are providing the light in all the dark at the moment. The last thing anyone wants is for her to lose any more weight.

“It’s a worrying time for everyone but the fact that Kelly has taken the step to end her engagement suggests she is ready to move on and start really living again.”

Concerns were raised following her appearance at the Brit Awards with mum Sharon, as dad Ozzy was honoured posthumously.

The trolls were particularly vicious, and Kelly hit back to “defend herself”,. In a  message to her 4.4 million followers she wrote: “There is a special kind of cruelty in harming someone who is clearly going through something.

“Kicking me while I’m down, doubting my pain, spreading my struggles as gossip, and turning your back when I need support and love most.

‘Hardest time’

“None of it proves strength; it only reveals a profound absence of compassion and character.

“I’m currently going through the hardest time in my life. I should not even have to defend myself. But I won’t sit here and allow myself to be dehumanised in such a way.”

Kelly and Sid first met in 1999 at Ozzfest, a music festival founded by her parents.

They were friends for over two decades before their relationship turned romantic at the end of 2021. It seemed like the perfect match.

On Valentine’s Day in 2022, Kelly gushed: “After 23 years of friendship, I can’t believe where we have ended up. You are my best friend, my soulmate, and I am so deeply in love with you, Sidney George Wilson.”

They welcomed their son Sid in January, 2023 and being a mother changed everything for Kelly.

But cracks started to show between the pair and Kelly later recalled they had the “biggest fight” shortly after Sid was born.

I can never ever forgive him for that.

Kelly on her biggest row with Sid

She said on The Osbournes podcast: “I wanted our son to have both of our last names, and [Sid] wouldn’t let me, and we had a huge fight.”

“I feel that I was forced into doing something that I didn’t want to do. I can never ever forgive him for that, but we can move on.” 

They started to have couple’s therapy – there were some  “eye opening conversations” and eventually they agreed to change their son’s last name to feature both Osborne and Wilson.

Kelly explained: “We both made our child so he should have both of our last names. Not one is more important than the other.”

Meanwhile Ozzy was becoming increasingly unwell. He returned to the UK to perform for one more time and live out his final days at his beloved family home – a Grade-II listed Georgian mansion in Buckinghamshire.

Kelly, her brother Jack and older sister Amy spent most of their childhood in the UK, where they attended several private schools before moving to LA and starring in their hit reality show The Osbournes.

It was at Ozzy’s last ever Black Sabbath gig at Villa Park in July of last year that Sid proposed – with her whole family around her. 

Sid pulled out all the stops and proposed to Kelly with a bespoke custom-designed ring from Los Angeles based jewellers, Mouawad.

He designed the ring with the team through various one-on-one meetings in order to ensure it was right for Kelly.

Sid chose to curate a dazzling 18K yellow gold ring adorned with both white and yellow diamonds, as well as citrine accents.

The centrepiece is a stunning 2.5 carat round brilliant-cut diamond with the ring being nicknamed the Honeybee – Kelly’s personal nickname.

It couldn’t be missed on Kelly’s tiny hands but in recent weeks, the bling was absent as she came to terms with her decision.

Kelly, who is currently still in the UK, is said to still be on speaking terms with Sid – who is based in the US and is determined to co-parent their son as best as possible. 

Moving on?

For the time being anyway she plans to stay by her mum’s side, and with Sid not yet starting school, there’s no immediate decision needed about where to live.

Sharon is said to still be undecided about whether she’ll remain in the UK – although Ozzy is buried in the grounds of the family home. 

We previously told how Sharon is currently playing to split her time evenly between her historic UK home, Welders, and a new apartment in Los Angeles, spending “half the year at least” on the sun-drenched West Coast. 

If Kelly and young Sid join her or set up home for good in the UK, is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure though, Kelly has found her voice and she won’t let decisions be made on her behalf. 

IF you’re dreaming of white sands and turquoise tides but don’t want to overspend, it’s time to break out of your comfort zone.

While the likes of stunning Mykonos and Ibiza may have you hiding from your bank account, there are a handful of affordable luxury gems that are waiting just a short flight away. Here, the Sun’s travel team reveals the bargain buys – including resorts that offer a five-star feel without the excessive price tag.

We’ve found lesser-known options that are often quieter than their overcrowded neighbours.

From volcanic Greek islands with moon-like landscapes, to unspoiled Adriatic villages where a beer costs less than £2, these are the best-kept secrets of the Mediterranean and beyond.

Whether you want to trek across Tunisian beaches on a camel or sip cocktails at an Albanian beach club, these are the top under-the-radar resorts for 2026 – where you can bag an escape for as little as £75pp.

Milos, Greece

If you love the look of the Greek Islands but want to dodge the eye-watering prices of Mykonos or Santorini, Milos is the island for you.

This volcanic gem sits in the Aegean Sea and offers some of the most surreal landscapes in Europe, all whilst maintaining that laid-back Greek holiday atmosphere.

Flights to Milos (via a quick connection in Athens) take around 4 hours in total.

Return flights start at £119. You can book the whole flight – with connections included – on Skyscanner to save you the hassle of planning.

Or you can also hop on a ferry over from mainland Greece, with flights from London to Athens starting at just £26.37 each way with budget airline Ryanair.

Visit the island during the peak summer months of July and August, and you’ll find temperatures sitting at a glorious 30C.

Although Milos is a lesser-visited island, it’s famed for its coastline – specifically Sarakiniko Beach.

Here, bone-white volcanic rock looks more like the surface of the moon than a typical beach, making it one of the island’s most Instagrammable spots.

For something more secluded, head to the fishing village of Firopotamos, where tiny syrmata (brightly-coloured boat garages) sit on the water’s edge.

You can spend your days swimming in sapphire-blue rock pools or snorkelling the sea caves of Kleftiko, an old pirate hideout only accessible by boat.

Plus, going out to eat in Milos is a dream for those on a budget compared to those visiting its more famous neighbours.

You can pick up massive, authentic gyros from a local taverna for as little as €5 (£4.30), or sit back with a cold local beer for around €3.50 (£3.02).

While Milos feels exclusive and high-end, it remains surprisingly affordable – so you can experience that Mamma Mia lifestyle without the celebrity price tag.

Lastminute.com offers a 4-night stay in the beautiful, bright white Tsakanos Home, including breakfast (and return flights from London Stansted) from £303pp.

Ischia, Italy

Want Positano without the price tag? Consider visiting Ischia, known as the Green Island of Italy.

Spend days strolling past pastel-coloured traditional houses and through blooming botanical gardens, or hop on boat trips to explore hidden coves.

Temperatures average 26C in July and August, and sit comfortably in the early 20’s during the shoulder seasons.

The easiest way to get to Ischia is to fly to Naples (starting at £14.99 each way with Ryanair) and then hop on the ultra-fast hydrofoil ferry.

Once you arrive, there’s endless amounts of unique history to explore and coastline to wander.

This volcanic island even has its own hot springs that bubble up at the island’s longest and most popular beach, Maronti Beach.

And if that’s not unique enough, there’s plenty more interesting beaches to choose from.

Cartaromana Beach has its own real-life Atlantis in the form of a sunken city called Aenaria made up of Roman ruins.

And for a historical afternoon out, head to the medieval Aragonese Castle to see the old prisons and stone bridges that overlook a vast blue bay.

It’s famously hard to find a bad meal in Italy, and the island of Ischia is no exception.

A portion of arancini can cost you as little as €3 (£2.59), and you can find local beers from €4 (£3.45).

Plus there are plenty of affordable package holiday options available to this underrated island.

First Choice offers a 7-night stay with breakfast at the Costa Citara Hotel, including return flights from Birmingham, from £483pp.

Ksamil, Albania

Albania is the recent breakout star of budget holiday destinations, but many Brits still haven’t caught on to this unspoiled coastal village.

Ksamil is a resort in southern Albania that offers a real slice of Mediterranean paradise set on the idyllic Ionian Sea.

Just three hours’ flight from the UK, Ksamil sees 300 days of sunshine per year, and temperatures peak at a scorching 34C in the summer months.

With its near-luminous blue waters and rocky coves covered in lush greenery, Ksamil could easily be mistaken for a luxurious Greek island resort.

One of the resort’s best beaches is Plazhi Ksamil, a popular choice for its picturesque wooden jetty where boats wait to taxi you off to the remote Ksamil islands.

But if you truly want somewhere remote and undisturbed, take the coastal walk down to Pulebardha Beach.

If you don’t mind pebbles instead of sand, this is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.

In Ksamil, sitting down to a cocktail at a beachside bar can feel like experiencing a high-end Mykonos resort for a fraction of the price.

Cocktails here can cost you as little as 350 LEK (around £3.16), and beers as little as 180 LEK (£1.62).

Poda Beach Bar has a posh beach club feel, with day beds, a wooden sea swing, as well as live music and DJs taking over a stretch of white sand.

The village’s top eateries include grill houses such as Restaurant Grill & Pizza Palma, as well as top seafood spot The Mussel House.

The latter offers some of the freshest local shellfish in the area, with thousands of raving 5-star reviews online.

One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, sautéed mussels, will cost you just 550 LEK (£4.96).

And as for accommodation, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to affordable options.

You can book a three-night self-catering stay in a sea view villa, including return flights from London Luton, for as little as £75pp on Lastminute.com.

Ulcinj, Montenegro

Think the Med is getting too expensive? Montenegro is here to prove you wrong.

Montenegro’s dramatic coastline blends impressive mountains with warm turquoise waters, plus your pick of near-endless sandy coves to explore.

And whilst the crowds head to the busy Bay of Kotor, savvy travellers are heading south to Ulcinj.

Ulcinj is an ultra-affordable Mediterranean destination, and it doesn’t compromise on the beautiful nature, either.

Flights to Podgorica, the nearest airport, average just 2 hours and 50 minutes from London – and can cost as little as £18 each way with Wizz Air.

Ulcinj is also one of the country’s oldest residential areas, so there are plenty of historical sites to visit, such as the ancient Ulcinj Castle and the charming narrow streets of the Old Town.

The best time to visit Ulcinj is between May and September, with July being the hottest month with temperatures reaching 31C.

And if you’re simply looking to laze on a lounger and soak up the sunshine, head to Long Beach.

As the name suggests, this shoreline stretches for miles – eight miles, to be exact.

This beach has soft sands and shallow, sapphire waters, perfect for paddling with children if taking a family holiday.

Alternatively, Small Beach is tucked in a crescent-shaped cove, overlooked by the impressive Ulcinj Castle.

And other than sightseeing and sunbathing, Ulcinj has plenty of other unique things to do.

Head to the Ulcinj Salina, a giant nature park, to spot wild flamingos for free, or visit Lake Skadar (the largest in the Balkans) to rent a kayak.

Local staple foods include priganice, which are doughnut-like fritters eaten at breakfast, and baklava, a sweet pastry often enjoyed with coffee.

These delights cost as little as €1-2 from markets and cafes. Plus, when they’re paired with a cappuccino, which averages a cost of just €1.97 in Montenegro, how can you say no?

And when it comes to booking your trip, holiday packages to Ulcinj are very affordable.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay with breakfast at the swanky Hotel Continental Ulcinj (which includes return flights from London Stansted) from just £299 per person.

Djerba Island, Tunisia

Sun-drenched Djerba is a palm tree-lined island off the coast of Tunisia, where Mediterranean and North African influences meet to make postcard-perfect seaside villages.

Flights from London to Djerba average three and a half hours, ideal for those who want that far-flung holiday feel without the long flight.

Visit the island in its warmest months, July and August, and you can enjoy temperatures that reach up to 33C.

Here you can stroll through whitewashed fishing villages, colourful markets and neighbourhoods decorated with mosaics and street art.

Or simply laze under straw umbrellas on the shores of Sidi Mahrez beach, taking the occasional dip in its turquoise waters.

And if you want to enjoy Djerba’s beautiful beaches by trekking across their white sands via camel, you can do that here.

For a more lively day out, head to Houmt Souk (known as the market neighbourhood) for colourful souks backed by an impressive fortress.

Or head to the north-eastern coast of the island to try out water sports like parasailing and kite-surfing.

Local food is both affordable and delicious, and you can grab local delicacies like couscous from markets for around 10.20 DT (£2.60) per meal.

Plus, the average beer in Tunisia will cost you only 5 DT (£1.28) and a cappuccino will set you back just 2.63 DT (67p).

Tunisia is renowned for its affordable all-inclusive hotels, and the resorts on Djerba Island are no exception.

TUI offer week-long, all-inclusive stays at the four-star Palm Beach Djerba (including return flights from London Luton) from just £395pp.

Aljezur, Portugal

For a taste of the “wild side” of the Algarve that remains distant from the major tourist spots, look no further than Aljezur.

Tucked away in the Costa Vicentina Natural Park on Portugal’s rugged west coast, this market town is worlds away from the high-rise resorts of the south.

Flights to Faro from the UK take around 2 hours and 50 minutes, and can cost as little as £14.99 each way with Ryanair.

From there, it’s a scenic 75-minute drive into a landscape of jagged cliffs and desert-like sands.

Summer temperatures here peak at 28C in July, whilst the south coast can feel sweltering, Aljezur enjoys a cooling Atlantic breeze.

Aljezur is the capital of Portugal’s surf scene, centred around the stunning Arrifana Beach, a crescent of soft sands sheltered by dramatic black cliffs.

Another beautiful beach option is Monte Clérigo, which has a coastal village vibe with colourful houses perched right above the shore.

Amoreira Beach, on the other hand, features a unique river mouth that’s calm and ideal for paddling with kids.

Despite its trendy surfing reputation, Aljezur is surprisingly wallet-friendly.

You can grab a hearty Prato do Dia (plate of the day) featuring fresh grilled seafood for around €10 (£8.62) at a traditional tasca.

A local beer will cost you about €2.50 (£2.16), and a coffee from a local cafe can be found for just €1.20 (£1.03).

Between the castle ruins, dramatic cliffs and endless amount of hidden beaches, Aljezur offers a taste of Portugal‘s beautifully rugged coastline for a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere in the Algarve.

Expedia offer a 7-night stay including breakfast at the aptly-named Utopia from just £403pp.

THE Sun’s travel team are sharing the holiday destinations they’ll be heading to this summer to help you find the best deals to get away for less.

To do this, we have rounded up our absolute favourite spots for summer 2026, including family-friendly holiday parks, sunny Spanish resorts and the very best in cruises.

Whether you’re hunting for a cheap UK break or a dreamy island retreat, we’ve got your travel inspiration for 2026 sorted.

From Skegness to Seoul, here’s where the Sun Travel team recommend – and are actually heading to – as the weather hots up.

Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel – Digital

UK holiday – Butlin’s, Skegness

I am ashamed to say that in my nine years as a travel editor at The Sun, I’ve not yet made it to Butlin’s.

Well, not after this summer. I’m heading to their Skegness resort with a school mum and our kids, in the seaside holiday park’s 90th birthday year.

I’m not sure who is more excited – the adults or the kids.

My parents were camping-in-France-type people, so I never did any of the UK holiday parks growing up.

But now I have a kid of my own, the idea of free fairground rides, water slides and TV-quality evening entertainment is deeply appealing.  

I’m particularly looking forward to the Masked Singer Live, and my son is very excited about the Maximum Pro Wrestling.

Plus, we’ve got the all-inclusive drinks package, which means we can sip on a cold wine and natter while the children tire themselves out with all the activities.

Given we’ve got the dining package too, it’ll be interesting to see quite how much we can see, do and eat in a 3-night break, without spending any extra money.

They’ve got 3-night breaks in May half term from £188 and the school summer holidays from £207.

Medium haul break – Bodrum, Turkey

I’ve managed to visit a new part of Turkey each year since Covid ended, ranging from Istanbul and Izmir to the Turquoise Coast, and this year I’m ticking Bodrum off the list.

Turkey is one of my favourite countries to visit with my seven-year-old.

For a start, the food is so kid-friendly that eating out is a dream. Halloumi, olives, flatbreads, hummus, baklava… what’s not to love?

Plus, they’ve really nailed the all-inclusive hotel experience.

This year, we’re staying at the Titanic Luxury Collection Bodrum – a five-star property on the Pina Peninsula with 11 restaurants and its own white-sand beach.

Week-long, all-inclusive stays at this five-star resort start from £910pp with On the Beach.

Short haul break – Eurocamp: Les Prairies De La Mer Resort, France

Kate Moss, Elton John, Beyonce and Leonardo DiCaprio all love St Tropez, and it’s about to become even better-known soon, as the next White Lotus TV show is being filmed there.

But just 15 minutes down the road is Les Prairies De La Mer Resort  – one of Eurocamp’s top holiday parks that they rate as five stars. 

But when we fancy a bit of the A-List lifestyle, it’s super easy and cheap to get to either St Tropez or St Maxime

Forget Club 55 and superyachts, here it’s all about the park’s own beachfront cafe, mini golf and the two pools.

Oh, and an early morning walk to the on-site supermarket for freshly baked croissants. 

But when we fancy a bit of the A-List lifestyle, it’s super easy and cheap to get to either St Tropez or St Maxime.

They’ve got 7-night breaks in May half term from £1,707 and school summer holidays from £2,349.

Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter

British seaside – Suffolk, UK

As much as I love going abroad, sometimes you can’t beat a British summer.

I’ll be visiting Suffolk later this year to explore its seaside towns and hopefully enjoy some sunshine along the way too.

I’ll head to Aldeburgh first to see its colourful homes and stretching shingle beach.

I’ll try a Noon Tart too – it’s a local delicacy, essentially it’s a savoury pastry made from smoked haddock, smoked cheddar cheese, cream, eggs, and mustard in a flaky pastry.

Half an hour away from Aldeburgh is Framlingham Castle, which was Ed Sheeran’s inspiration for his song ‘Castle on the Hill’.

Neighbouring seaside towns include Thopeness and I might even stop by my favourite place along the Suffolk coast, Southwold.

I’ve been going to Southwold for years, playing games at the arcades, crabbing off the pier and popping into its independent shops along the high street.

I’ll be staying at The Brudenell Hotel, which sits on the seafront of Aldeburgh, and offers rooms from £137 per night.

Short haul sunshine – Menorca, Spain

Lots of Brits head to the Spanish islands during the summer – and I hope to be one of them, although I’m going to one that has fewer crowds.

The island of Menorca, next to the well-known Majorca, welcomes much fewer tourists each year, making it an ideal place to relax – it’s even been called “Ibiza’s chilled-out sister”.

It’s easy to navigate too, as it’s much smaller, so it has short airport transfers, and is generally cheaper.

I’ve got my eye on Cala Macarella, a beach on the south of the island with white cliffs and turquoise waters.

Another spot that I’ve been told about is Cova d’en Xoroi, which is a bar that’s built into caves on the cliffs.

During the day, it’s a chilled bar, and in the evening, it holds sunset sessions with live music.

To make it easier, the likes of TUI and Jet2 organise package holidays.

You can book a 7-night room-only break at Menorca’s Colina Village from £262.26pp with TUI.

English adventure – Jurassic Coast, UK

In my 28 years of living in the UK, I’ve never taken a stroll along the Jurassic Coast, which is why I intend to head there this summer for a weekend away (at least).

Chesil Beach near Weymouth is the longest in the UK, stretching for 18 miles from West Bay to the Isle of Portland.

And I hope to walk the beach and stop by The Cove House Inn on the north of the Isle of Portland, which was named as one of the best beachside boozers last year by Big 7 Travel.

Lots of visitors compliment the views from the pub, which sits on the promenade, and some have even spotted dolphins and whales in the water there too.

Of course, the famous Durdle Door is another stop high up on my list, as is Kimmeridge Bay.

Premier Inn’s Weymouth hotel offers spacious, comfy rooms from just £57 per night.

Lisa Minot – Head of Travel

Short haul success – Malaga, Spain

I’m heading to the southern Spanish gem of Malaga in early June for a long weekend.

The city ticks all the boxes when it comes to an easy-to-reach, reliably sunny destination that can combine a quick cultural hit with fabulous food and a captivating coastline. 

And travelling in early June, hopefully, will mean fewer crowds while still benefiting from warm sunshine.

I’ll be ticking off big hitters like the Picasso Museum and the 11th-century Alcazaba palace, but also on the agenda will be some serious relaxation.

I’m staying 20 minutes from the city centre at the Higueron Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, set between the Mediterranean and the Mijas mountains.

Its rooftop pool and terraces will be perfect for sunbathing and cocktail sipping, and there’s a spa and superb sports facilities for some proper me-time too.

The glamorous hotel offers breaks from £184 per night, but its budget-friendly little sister, the Hilton Garden Inn Malaga, also makes for a fantastic stay from £95 per night.

French fancy – Bormes Les Mimosas, Cote d’Azur

It will come as no surprise to those who know me that, yet again, my priority this summer will be spending time with family and friends at my own caravan in the South of France. 

I’ve visited Camp du Domaine in Bormes les Mimosas almost every year for the last 50 years, and this summer will be no different.

The site tumbles down pine-clad hills to its own gorgeous sandy beach, and days will be spent relaxing on those soft sands, swimming in the warm waters and cooking up a storm with the purchases bought in local markets, from fresh fish to ripe Provencale tomatoes and of course, the odd rose!

Set between Toulon and St Tropez, it’s a great site for those who have their own van or camper, but there are bungalows for rent too.

Another good bet nearby is the Eurocamp sites in Grimaldi and Frejus.

A basic pitch at Camp du Domaine starts from £28.50 per night, with options for one-bedroom bungalows starting from £60 per night. See campdudomaine.com.

Long haul leave – Seoul, South Korea

I’m making my first trip to the current global capital of cool, Seoul, as Virgin Atlantic launch new direct services.

With all things K-culture from the massive success of K-pop to the likes of Squid Game and BTS, the city promises an irresistible blend of ancient palaces, surprising green spaces and intoxicating 24/7 high-tech culture.

Of course, top of the list will be visiting Olive Young, Korea’s biggest beauty store for skincare essentials.

But I’ll also find time to wander and window-shop in the wealthy neighbourhood of Gangnam, famously mocked in original K-pop star PSY’s signature tune.

And then there’s the exciting food scene – from spicy street food to Korean barbecue, I can’t wait to indulge!

Virgin Atlantic flights to Seoul start from £757 return.

Once you’re in Seoul, there are plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options.

A night at the glitzy Moxy Seoul Insadong starts from £100 per room, whilst backpackers love the H HOSTEL Itaewon (from £23) with its social rooftop bar.

Jenna Stevens – Travel Reporter

British break – Cley next the Sea, Norfolk

I’m lucky enough to say that heading back home for me is like going on holiday.

North Norfolk is brimming with picturesque seaside towns and quaint fishing villages, so many that I’m yet to set foot in them all, despite growing up there.

This summer I’ll be heading east along the coastline to Cley next the Sea, a charming coastal village known for its seal trips, pretty marshland and its Grade II-listed windmill facing the sea.

Overnight stays are best taken in cosy pubs with rooms, which are abundant in the area

I’m looking forward to getting stuck into harvesting fresh samphire from the shores, then washing off my wellies and heading out to local restaurants to sample the seafood.

Cley is also home to quaint pottery shops and art galleries with work from local artists. Plus, the coastal walking routes are perfect for twitchers who want to spot species like marsh harriers and bitterns.

Overnight stays are best taken in cosy pubs with rooms, which are abundant in the area.

This makes evenings effortlessly easy, as you only have to head upstairs to retire after spending the night sipping Norfolk ales and chatting with locals.

Although if you want something truly special, you can choose to stay inside Cley Windmill itself.

Inside the mill, there’s a unique circular sitting room, decorated with antique furniture and an open fire, plus a dining room dating back to 1713.

Pair this with upper-floor bedrooms looking over the marshes, and you’ve got yourself a truly unforgettable staycation.

B&B stays at Cley Windmill start from £184 per night.

Or if you prefer a more rustic stay, you can go lakeside glamping close to Cley Marshes Visitor Centre from just £40 per night.

Euro city-break – Barcelona, Spain

Despite being one of Spain’s number one fans, I’ve somehow never made it to buzzy Barcelona.

I’m looking forward to heading there this summer to soak up the coastal city’s high-energy feel, whether its by boat trip, bicycle or bar-hopping.

This year marks Gaudi’s centenary: the anniversary of 100 years since the death of the famous architect.

To celebrate, the streets of Barcelona will be alive with various street celebrations, concerts and exhibitions taking place throughout the year.

Plus, the construction on the Sagrada Familia is set to wrap up in 2026, and with the completion of a spire back in February, the church building officially became the tallest in the world.

To add to the celebrations, Barcelona has been named the World Capital of Architecture this year.

Not only is there the impressive Sagrada Familia to admire, but I’m looking forward to ticking off Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, too.

Throw in some Spanish wine tasting and plans to eat my body weight in jamon and patatas bravas, and it’s fair to say I’m excited to finally experience Barcelona this summer.

City breaks to Barcelona are a very affordable option if you’re looking for a weekend away in Europe. TUI offer a 2-night stay in June at Hotel Acta Voraport hotel from just £266pp, and that’s with return flights included!

Southern Europe scorcher – Quinta do Lago, The Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve has long been a popular destination for Brits seeking sunshine, and I’m excited to head to the sporty resort of Quinta do Lago to catch some rays myself.

If you’re a fan of golfing with gorgeous coastal views, it doesn’t get much better than Quinta do Lago.

The North, South and Laranjal golf courses are renowned for their manicured, championship-grade greens.

In fact, the South golf course at Quinta do Lago has hosted the Portuguese Open no fewer than eight times.

Plus, the sporty adults’ playground offers more than just golf, too.

Whether you’re into pilates, padel or Portuguese cuisine, there’s something for everyone.

I’m very much looking forward to rewarding myself for the workouts with a frozen cocktail and lazing out on the golden sands of Quinta do Lago beach.

A top hotel on the resort that balances stylishness and affordability is The Magnolia Hotel, which offers rooms from £138 per night.

Jenna Stevens, Travel Reporter

Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter

Train trip – Disneyland Paris

A theme park is a great option for a weekend away, and that is exactly what I am planning with Disneyland Paris.

By the end of March, Disneyland Paris will have opened its newest land: World of Frozen.

Now, I may be 25, but nothing excites me more than seeing Olaf come to life, waddling around and making his cute chuckles.

The new land is meant to look just like the Arendelle Kingdom as well, so I am excited to feel as if I am stepping into the movie itself.

One of Disneyland Paris’ biggest appeals is its proximity to the UK and the ease of travel there.

I will take the Eurostar from London St Pancras, which alleviates the stress often felt when travelling through an airport.

By making this trip a weekend break, I don’t have to take any annual leave, so it is a win-win.

You can book a 3-night stay at the Staycity Aparthotels Marne La Vallee from just £229pp on Loveholidays – it’s only seven minutes from the attraction, and it has its own outdoor pool to cool off in, too.

Atlantic adventure – The Bay Area, California, USA

I’m no newbie when it comes to California, having visited San Francisco twice, Yosemite and Los Angeles.

But I stand by the fact that the American state is one of the most exciting and diverse places to explore.

This summer, I will focus on the Bay Area, which comprises regions bordering San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay.

The different regions include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and San Francisco.

For this trip, I will focus on Marin — home to one of America’s 10 National Seashores — and Santa Clara, where you will find Silicon Valley and San Jose.

When people think of California, they often imagine LA and San Francisco, perhaps with chic surfer dudes.

However, this trip will focus on exploring the hidden parts of the Bay Area, including the location where George Lucas created Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

You can bag return flights to San Francisco from just £444 on Skyscanner, the cheapest deals are often found flying with SWISS airline.

Scottish summer – Glasgow, Scotland

Over the past few years, I have visited several destinations in Scotland and have to admit, they are to date some of the best places I have travelled to across the entire globe.

Scotland’s landscape is like nowhere else, and its cities are full of fascinating history and architecture.

That’s why this summer I will be heading to Glasgow. I haven’t visited before, so I am super excited to see how it compares to Edinburgh.

Glasgow Cathedral and Botanic Gardens are definitely at the top of my list of places to check out.

What is even better about this trip is that train operator Lumo has just launched a route from London to Glasgow – so no extra luggage costs for me!

Glasgow is full of affordable accommodation options, such as the ever-reliable easyHotel Glasgow City Centre from just £43 per night.

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Medium haul trip – Marrakech, Morocco

Despite being known for its affordable flights, easyJet has recently launched its new Luxury Collection holiday offerings.

So I’ll be trying it out for myself on a trip to Morocco, spending a few days in Marrakech. 

I haven’t been to the city since 2018, and even then, it was on a budget, so I am excited to see the fancier side of it with a stay at the famous La Mamounia.

However, that won’t stop me from trying to hunt out a bargain in the souks, in the form of pretty kitchen bowls and candle holders.

And with 3 hr 40-minute flights and 25C weather in April? Sign me up!

You can fly to Marrakech from London from just £19.99 each way with easyJet.

Long haul adventure – East coast of Thailand

Twenty-one-year-old Kara’s biggest adventure was travelling to Asia, her first stop being a month exploring the popular Thai islands.

I’m as surprised as you are that, 12 years later, I have yet to return to the beautiful country.

So this summer, I have made it my mission to explore the parts that I forgot about as a budget traveller.

This time, I will be heading to the east coast, forgoing Bangkok and Chiang Mai for the nightlife of Pattaya.

Not only that, but my trip will also take me to Koh Chang, right by the Cambodia border.

Said to be less crowded and like going back to Thailand decades ago – I’ll be gorging on £1 Pad Thai and cheap Singha beers.

There’s plenty of luxurious hotels for affordable prices in Thailand, especially in Pattaya. Easy Planet Pattaya offers rooms from just £15 per night!

Eurotrip – Bilbao, Spain

My love of a Spanish city was only further proven last year, after falling for both Seville and Madrid after spending a long weekend in each.

So this year I’m taking myself to Bilbao for a long weekend.

It is one of the closest Spanish cities to the UK – flights are just 1hr45 – and TUI has recently launched new city break packages too.

Great tapas will be on the menu, with some of the finest in Spain, as well as soaking up some culture at the famous Guggenheim Museum.

You can visit Bilbao with TUI for a 3-night city break staying at the Occidental Bilbao from just £280pp, including return flights.

Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Holiday at sea – Oceania Allura Cruise

I experienced Oceania’s glamorous Allura when she first debuted in the Med last year.

I loved her sleek cocktail bars and quality restaurants so much that I’m considering returning for a voyage in the coming months – only this time it’ll be for longer.

This summer, the 1,200-passenger vessel will be cruising between the Greek isles, sun-drenched shores of Croatia and bustling port cities in Turkey.

And with the temperatures likely to sizzle in the low 30s, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to take advantage of its sun decks.

Either flopped on one of the huge daybeds with an icy margarita, by the main pool or – my personal favourite spot – in the mellow spa at the back of the ship where you can watch the engines carve a foamy path in the sea.

In the evening, I’ll be making a beeline for Jacques, Oceania’s famous French restaurant that dishes up classics of beef tartare and wobbly cheese souffles.

I’ll be washing it down with a good bottle of red, obviously – just as the French would – before following it up with a dirty martini in Martinis.

I’ll take mine with Grey Goose, please.

A Greek island tour on Oceania’s Allura starts from £1,979 per guest for a 7-day voyage.

The most affordable Oceania cruise currently is a 7-day voyage from Rome to Barcelona, from £942 per guest.

American adventure – New York, USA

I could never tire of New York City. The Big Apple is a destination that will welcome you with open arms, whatever the weather – and one that feels endlessly full of possibilities.

I’ve returned almost every year for the past five years, and each time, I’ve experienced something new.

Things move at a fast pace, and museums, restaurants and attractions are opening on a weekly basis, making this city a revolving door of fun.

Sadly, many experiences here will burn a hole in your wallet, but there are ways of cutting back on spending.

Oyster happy hours are top on my list for summer, where participating restaurants serve up the fishy, and normally rather pricey, snack for around $1 a pop.

I’ll be scouring discount site Today Tix (todaytix.com) for bargain, last-minute tickets to Broadway shows.

And as for exploring? Some of the best activities in NYC are free.

Who can resist a stroll around Central Park? This lush, green space is so vast that it took me an hour to find my way out and back onto the urban streets on my first visit.

There are also free museum days, while trips to famous department stores like Macy’s needn’t cost you a penny.

That is, unless you fall in love with a stylish handbag or pair of shoes…

On the Beach offer week-long trips to New York, including return flights and a stay at a hotel in in Times Square, from £1,085pp.

British break – Salcombe, Devon, UK

I’m already counting down the days until I return to the South West coast of England.

Cornwall is my usual haunt, and I know its windswept coastlines, sandy bays and rugged walking trails like the back of my hand.

So, I’m mixing things up a little this summer and moving a fraction to the east, where a gorgeous holiday home in Devon’s Salcombe is awaiting my arrival.

The scenery will be familiar, but – note to self – it’s cream first, then jam, on this side of the border.

On top of jaw-dropping views, Salcombe promises scenic adventures on the water.

The destination is a renowned sailing hotspot, hosting various dinghy races throughout the summer.

Boats can be hired for private excursions with or without a skipper, depending on your experience and knowledge.

The harbour town is also home to a rather charming gin distillery, which hosts tours and tasting sessions from £50pp.

Don’t fancy gin? There’s rum, too.

You can book a stay at The Sloop Inn, a charming 14th-century seaside pub with rooms, from just £88 per night.

NO ONE could ever have imagined that little Maura Higgins from a sleepy Irish town would go on to be one of the country’s most famous exports.

Not least her sisters – Becki and Louise –  who have sat watching her meteoric rise to fame from the peripheries. There are few relationships closer than that of siblings, but what happens when celebrity gets in the way? Here, we take a look at their now very complicated dynamic – and reveal why Maura’s decision to miss Louise’s wedding had a lasting impact and how imitation isn’t always the highest form of flattery when it comes to Becki.

When Maura, now 35, chose to apply for Love Island, she already knew her older sister Louise was getting married that summer.

Astonishingly, fitness instructor Louise, 38, gave her blessing for her to miss her big day – but whisperings at the time suggested not everyone in the family agreed with the move.

She made it very clear what her intentions were when she chose fame over Louise’s wedding.

It was certainly risky, but it paid off massively. From the very first moment Maura appeared on screen in 2019 on Love Island, her family – which also includes her brother, who has never been named publicly – realised life would never be the same again.

An insider explained: “Maura was from a very tight-knit family and grew up in a place where everyone knew everyone. When she became well known, of course, things changed. 

“At times, she’s not always been able to support her sisters as much as she would like. She made it very clear what her intentions were when she chose fame over Louise’s wedding.

“Louise has spent years just trying to get on with her life, while Becki has been hanging off her coattails, desperate for even some semblance of her success.

“Like all sisters, there is a level of competitiveness and jealousy that just doesn’t exist in other relationships. It’s fair to say it’s very complicated.”

Today, Maura is a huge star both in the UK and in America – rubbing shoulders with A-listers and really putting her home town of Longford on the map in a way no one could ever have dreamed of.

But it has meant Maura has missed out on a series of huge life events – most notably her sister’s wedding.

When Louise walked down the aisle with long term fiance Mark Kelly at a private ceremony at Abbeyshrule Church, outside Ballymahon, Maura was busy cementing herself in the Love Island hall of fame.

Even Maura’s ex-boyfriend, James Finnegan, attended the big day, having grown very close to the family.

A source told us at the time: “Louise got engaged in 2016, and the wedding was planned over a year ago. So Maura would have known that when she applied for Love Island.

“But Maura and Louise are very close, and her sister fully supports her decision to go on Love Island.

“In fact, she’s happy for Maura and is delighted she’s been given an amazing opportunity to find love and further her career.”

Louise made the decision to distance herself from the limelight as much as possible at that time.

Mimicking Maura

But Becki, Maura’s younger sister, who is now 31, grabbed the chance of fame with both hands.

She chatted about Maura whenever she got the chance and even appeared on Virgin Media One’s Ireland AM for a fashion segment. 

Maura was delighted, gushing that she was “so proud”.

She started joining Maura on nights out and built up her own social media presence.

Becki, however, has never quite managed to break into the limelight fully – despite her best efforts. She regularly posts images of herself glammed up for a night out and clearly shares Maura’s same cheeky sense of humour, judging by some of her more risky posts.

She has just 3.5k followers but has still managed to land herself a few paid ads here and there. 

‘Scared and alone’

As Maura’s fame grew, her schedule became busier and busier – she moved to London and her once close relationship with her sisters felt the strain.

Maura has said she felt “scared” and “very alone” during that period of her life.

It wasn’t long until Becki and Louise stopped posting publicly about their sister – they couldn’t keep up with her endless achievements.

Maura tried to get back to see Louise’s children as much as possible and is particularly close to her niece Isabelle. While she may not always be around, she made sure she was there for Isabelle’s first Holy Communion in 2024, calling her a “best friend for life”.

When she found out her nephew, believed to be her brother’s son, was being bullied in 2022, she showed up at his school to pick him up – no doubt scaring the bullies off for good. 

Maura was very close to her siblings while growing up, and their bond became even tighter when her parents, Sharon and Seamus, split up.

The break-up was a defining moment in all their lives.

In an interview with Married At First Sight relationship expert Paul C Brunson‘s podcast We Need To Talk, she talked about a moment her mum collapsed at the family home, following her split with her dad.

Maura candidly said: “It was a very nasty break-up and a lot went on, like, things I would never want to talk about because I wouldn’t want to be saying things about my mum or dad.”

She added: “When the break-up happened, my mum was trying to keep a roof over four kids and herself, and we were all in school, it was very, very hard and I remember seeing my mum struggle a lot.”

Maura continued: “She had a nervous breakdown, she collapsed in the kitchen in front of all of us and only my older sister, she was a lot older at the time, she knew how to like put her on her side and call the ambulance.

“I don’t know why I remember this, but I remember, mammy has a rare blood type and my older sister knew to say that to the paramedics.”

Cutting contact

After appearing on Love Island, Maura ended up cutting all contact with her dad, which is said to have left him blindsided.

She explained: “My dad spoke to me not very nice. I’m not saying it was just a bit of an argument. It was horrendous where I physically couldn’t breathe after the phone call.

“I thought to myself, ‘I wouldn’t let a partner talk to me like that. I wouldn’t let a friend talk to me like that. I’m not going to let my dad talk to me like that’.

“But also, I think if I dig deep, I don’t think I’ve ever forgiven my dad for not being there for me when my best friend passed away. And he wasn’t there for me.”

Maura and her sister’s close friend, Andrew Rowan, died aged 26 in a crash when his motorbike collided with three cars in 2017.

The sisters were bonded by the horror. Tragically, Becki suffered more heartache when another close friend passed away at the start of the year.

As she laid him to rest on January 23rd, Maura was in New York filming The Drew Barrymore Show.

It was a real sign of just how far apart their lives had become. Maura’s future is no doubt going to be bright – but what part, if any, her sisters will play isn’t as clear. 

I SPEND a lot of my time looking at holiday prices – comparing deals, breaking down packages, and figuring out where the strange little pricing tricks are hiding.

There’s one trend I keep seeing again and again. In some family resorts, it can actually work out cheaper to stay as an adult and a child than as one adult on their own.

That’s not because flights suddenly get cheaper, but because the hotel part of the package drops in price.

It sounds odd, but when you look at how hotels price their rooms, it starts to make sense.

Why does this strange holiday pricing trick happen? The main reason is something called a single supplement.

Most hotel rooms are priced for two people sharing, so when just one person stays, hotels often increase the price to make up for the empty bed.

Solo travellers can end up paying a hidden surcharge, but when you add a child, the pricing works differently.

Family resorts – especially in places like Turkey, Spain and Greece – are built around rooms designed for two adults and a child, and children usually cost hotels less to accommodate.

They often sleep on sofa beds, eat smaller portions and have discounted all-inclusive rates.

Because of that, hotels often price children very cheaply – and sometimes the total hotel cost actually drops compared with a solo booking.

Hotels are usually happy with this because families tend to spend more around the resort, from drinks and snacks to activities and excursions.

So, filling a room with an adult and a child can be more valuable than one guest travelling alone, which occasionally leads to the strange situation where bringing a child makes the hotel portion of the holiday cheaper.

When I looked at the data, I found several resorts where this pricing quirk shows up.

I compared the price of a 7-night stay as a solo traveller versus the cost when bringing one child at a variety of holiday resorts.

Here are some of the best examples, and the biggest savings of up to £698.

Labranda Targa Club Aquapark, Marrakech

Average saving: £30

Just outside Marrakech, Labranda Targa Club Aquapark combines Moroccan sunshine with a proper family-friendly resort setup.

Kids get water slides and splash pools, while adults can explore the markets and gardens of the city nearby.

And the pricing still shows a small advantage, with adult and child bookings averaging £30 cheaper for a 7-night stay than solo travellers.

BLUESEA Puerto Caleta, Fuerteventura

Average saving: £43

Located in Caleta de Fuste, Puerto Caleta is a relaxed apartment complex perfect for an adult and child beach holiday.

You’ve got sandy beaches, boat trips and plenty of restaurants right on your doorstep.

When I priced it up, holidays average a £43 saving for an adult and child per 7-night stay compared with travelling alone.

Sol Barbados, Majorca

Average saving: £45

Sol Barbados in Magaluf is one of the most family-friendly resorts in Majorca.

There’s a huge waterpark-style pool area, kids’ entertainment and easy access to the beach.

For an adult travelling with a child, it’s a simple sun-and-pool holiday – and the pricing shows an average saving of around £45 for a 7-night stay compared to booking solo.

Staycity Aparthotels, near Disneyland Paris

Average saving: £60

City breaks can show the same pattern too.

At Staycity Aparthotels near Disneyland Paris, you’re just minutes from the Disney parks, which makes it ideal for an adult taking a child on their first big theme park trip.

And the pricing structure means the average holiday can come out around £60 cheaper for a 7-night stay when you book as an adult and child instead of travelling alone.

Oludeniz Beach Resort by Z Hotels, Dalaman

Average saving: £81

Oludeniz Beach Resort sits right by one of Turkey’s most famous beaches – the stunning Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz.

It’s an easygoing, all-inclusive resort where an adult and child can spend the day swimming, exploring the beach or watching the paragliders drift down from the mountains.

And package bookings for this hotel show an average saving of £81 for a 7-night stay when adding a child versus travelling solo.

Gran Castillo Tagoro, Lanzarote

Average saving: £212

This five-star resort in Lanzarote is practically designed for family holidays.

Gran Castillo Tagoro has dedicated kids zones, family pools and incredible views over the volcanic coastline near Playa Blanca.

For an adult and child travelling together, it’s the perfect mix of relaxation and activities.

Bookings here show an average saving of around £212 when bringing a child for a 7-night stay compared with a solo holiday.

Golden Port Salou & Spa, Costa Dorada

Average saving: £251

In Spain, Golden Port Salou & Spa is a brilliant base for an adult and child holiday.

It’s close to the beaches of Salou and just minutes from PortAventura theme park, which makes it perfect for a trip packed with rides, waterparks and ice cream stops.

Thanks to family-friendly pricing, the average holiday price drops by about £251 per 7-night stay when a child is added to the booking.

Rixos Radamis Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Average saving: £279

If you’re looking for something more luxury, Rixos Radamis in Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most impressive resorts in Egypt.

Huge pools, beach access on the Red Sea, kids clubs and endless all-inclusive food options make it a dream for families.

And the pricing structure here means an adult travelling with a child can save around £279 for a 7-night break on average compared with booking the same trip alone.

Auramar Beach Resort, Algarve

Average saving: £349

Over in Portugal, Auramar Beach Resort sits right above the cliffs near Albufeira with incredible sea views.

It’s a laid-back all-inclusive hotel where an adult and child can spend the day between the beach, the pools and the buffet before watching the sunset over the Atlantic.

Because it’s built for families, adding a child actually brings the average holiday price down by around £349 for a 7-night break compared with travelling solo.

Eftalia Blue, Antalya

Average saving: £698

One of the biggest differences I found was at Eftalia Blue on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

This is a classic big Turkish all-inclusive resort with huge pools, slides, and easy access to the famous Eftalia Island beach complex.

For an adult and child travelling together, it’s ideal – kids get waterparks and entertainment all day while parents can relax by the pool or head down to the beach.

And the pricing quirk here is huge, with holidays averaging almost £700 cheaper for an adult and child for a 7-night stay compared to travelling alone.

Here’s my key takeaways for travellers.

I should make it clear: holidays aren’t always cheaper with kids.

Flights are still one of your biggest spends, and plenty of hotels price things normally.

But when you start digging through package holiday deals, you occasionally find this strange pricing quirk.

Because of single supplements and heavily discounted child rates, this is one of those travel industry secrets you only really notice when you spend your days digging through holiday data.

MAY half term is creeping up fast, but there’s good news for families – you can still get a bargain all-inclusive holiday booked in.

And you can enjoy those lazy beach days and create lasting memories for less than you’d think.

We’ve scoured the internet to find these bargain all-inclusive deals, with prices from just £259pp. Plus, some of them include free kids’ places, too.

That’s your whole holiday with flights, hotels, food, drinks and more all wrapped up into one.

Think waterslides and kids’ clubs for the little ones, poolside cocktails and spas for the grown-ups, plus beaches just minutes away.

All of these holiday deals are during the May half term week, plus a few that utilise the school inset days either side of the week-long break.

From luxurious resorts in Turkey and Tunisia to action-packed hotels in Spain and Greece, these budget-friendly breaks will see you swapping grey skies for sunshine. All prices correct at time of publication.

Belpoint Beach Hotel, Antalya, Turkey

The Belpoint Beach Hotel in Beldibi, Antalya is surrounded by the forests of the Toros Mountains, giving your outdoor swim a pretty impressive backdrop.

With a pool decorated with colourful parasols and a waterslide, this pretty resort also has plenty to do indoors, including a sauna and a Turkish bath to unwind in.

This no-frills all-inclusive provides buffet dining, evening discos and sports like volleyball and basketball.

Plus, there’s easy access to the coast and its pine-backed beaches, ideal if you’re after an outdoors-y holiday where time is spent outside, soaking up the sun.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 25 May, including return flights from London Stansted from £319pp. The foreign office advises that Turkey is generally safe for travel amid the ongoing conflict in Iran – and flights are running as usual.

Izola Paradise, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria

This four-star stay is set amid the buzz of Bulgaria‘s largest holiday resort, Sunny Beach.

Expect temperatures in the low 20s in May, plus a family-friendly atmosphere with a kids’ club, outdoor playground and games room.

Whether you spend the days playing table tennis, darts and billiards, or simply lazing on a lounger between trips to the poolside bar, this is a cheap and cheerful choice for an all-inclusive holiday.

Plus, nearby Sunny Beach sees stretches of golden sand flanked by a strip of cheap-eating spots and bars that come alive at night, making it one of Europe’s best-value spots for a sunshine break.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 27 May, including return flights from London Luton from £319pp.

El Mouradi Hammamet, Tunisia

Set in the seaside resort of Yasmine Hammamet, this hotel is built for families with its own kids’ pool, waterslides, plus a spa with a sauna and steam bath for the adults.

This resort is buzzing with entertainment, sports and activities all through the day and in to the night – including everything from archery and aqua fit classes to an on-site nightclub.

Rooms are bright and modern, equipped with the essentials for a relaxed stay. Plus varied buffet dining keeps things easy for families and groups while providing for even the fussiest of eaters.

A five minute walk takes you to Carthage Land theme park, while the marina, Medina and seafront promenade are all close enough for evening strolls.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from Bristol from £449pp.

El Pueblo Tamlelt, Agadir, Morocco

El Pueblo Tamelt in Morocco‘s Agadir is surrounded by 11 acres of luscious gardens, and is just steps away from the beach.

And with Agadir reaching highs of 26C in May, this is a top pick if you’re looking for somewhere to sunbathe this half term.

The huge resort has 363 rooms, each with a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea or gardens.

All-inclusive food includes three daily meals in the main buffet restaurant, as well as drinks and snacks such as pizza, hot dogs and burgers at the pizzeria snack bar.

If you fancy getting out and exploring, the town centre is a 10 minute drive away and packed with souks, cafés and restaurants.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 25 May including return flights from London Stansted from £335pp.

Terramar Calella, Costa Brava, Spain

Terramar Calella puts you right in the thick of the action of Costa Brava‘s Calella, with the beach on one side and the buzzing promenade on the other.

Here, days start with sea swims and end with sunset drinks. Platja Gran Calella is the area’s largest beach, and here it’s right on your doorstep.

This hotel is ideal if you want the classic Costa Brava experience without the extra fuss.

Expect clean and simple rooms, burgers, meats and salads at the buffet, and bars stocked with local spirits.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 26 May including return flights from £259pp.

Sun Club El Dorado, Majorca

With its palm tree-lined pool and Mediterranean backdrop, it’s a miracle this Majorca resort is so affordable.

Expect a classic family holiday feel – where days revolve around soaking up the Spanish sunshine, chilling by the spacious pool and sipping on frozen cocktails.

Set away from the busier resorts, it’s a good option if you’re after a more out-of-the-way escape with plenty of room to relax and soak up the scenery.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from Glasgow from £319pp.

El Mouradi Cap Mahdia, Tunisia

El Mouradi Cap Mahdia sits on one of Tunisia’s finest white-sand beaches: Plage Mahdia.

This Moorish-style resort is a hit with families thanks to its giant sapphire pool, and a non-stop kids’ club that keeps the little ones entertained daily.

With buffet meals, snack bars and local drinks on tap, plus 263 air-conditioned rooms including larger options for families, this hotel offers a classic all-inclusive experience.

Plus with the beach on your doorstep, and the historic charms of Mahdia’s old town just a 10-minute drive away, it’s an ideal spot to set up base for both swimming and sightseeing.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from Edinburgh from £399pp.

Sun Star Beach, Mahmutlar, Turkey

With its own private stretch of sand in sunny Antalya, the four-star Sun Star Beach is a fantastic value pick.

This traditional all-inclusive features a sprawling outdoor pool with its own water slide, four bars, and a restaurant with both buffet and à la carte dining options.

Plus there’s a relaxing spa and Turkish bath with massage treatments available for when you want a break from soaking up the rays.

With the vibrant shops and bars of Mahmutlar right on your doorstep, it’s a brilliant base to soak up the local buzz before heading back for a sunset cocktail by the pool.

Plus the kids-go-free offer when you book with Loveholidays truly sweetens the deal.

Loveholidays offer a 7-night stay from 25 May including return flights from Glasgow from £319pp. This offer includes free-child stays.

Santa Susanna Resort, Costa Brava, Spain

A disco bar, free transport to the beach, a thriving kids’ club and hilarious entertainment – what’s not to like about the Santa Susanna Resort?

Just half-an-hour’s drive from Girona-Costa Brava airport, you’ll find this buzzing family holiday resort.

Highlights of this hotel include a spacious swimming pool, a kid-friendly splash pool with a waterslide, and nights packed with live music, karaoke and kids’ discos.

And if you’re not yet convinced, this deal comes with one-free-child stay.

On the Beach offer a 5-night stay from 23 May including return flights from Glasgow Prestwick from £365pp. This offer includes one free child’s place.

Club Munamar Resort, Dalaman, Turkey

This budget-friendly base in the Dalaman resort area of Turkey offers a classic fly-and-flop vibe if you’re seeking some last-minute sun.

With four outdoor swimming pools, clean and comfy rooms and easy access to the town and beaches of Icmeler, this resort is a solid choice for a sunshine break.

If you do take the five-minute drive into nearby Icmeler, you’ll find beaches with clear, shallow waters, and a quieter atmosphere than the nearby Marmaris.

Loveholidays offer a 5-night stay from 23 May including return flights from London Gatwick from £369pp.

Villamarina Club, Salou, Spain

Sunny Salou sits in the low 20s in May, meaning you won’t have to travel far to catch some rays this spring.

Family fun is the name of the game at Hotel Villamarina Club. This hotel has a lively, child-friendly atmosphere with two pools, a kids’ club, and all-inclusive guests benefit from free entry to a disco.

A seven-minute drive takes you to Salou beach, where turquoise water laps at soft golden sands.

Plus, PortAventura World is only a 10-minute drive away, where there are rides and rollercoasters galore.

On the Beach offer a 7-night stay from 25 May including return flights from London Stansted from £470pp.

Tuntas Beach Hotel Altinkum, Bodrum, Turkey

Located in luxurious Bodrum, the Tuntas Beach Hotel Altinkum is a popular hotel with a parasol and lounger-dotted beach on its doorstep.

And with horse-riding, water sports and live music all available close to the resort, you won’t get stuck looking for things to do.

Rooms are kitted out with all the necessities like air-con, hair dryers and a telly, plus the buffet meals included as part of the all-inclusive package are switched up each night.

Plus with weather reaching highs of 27C in May, it’s safe to say you’ll be able to make the most of that gorgeous Bodrum beach outside the hotel.

On the Beach offer a 6-night stay from 25 May including return flights from London Gatwick from £410pp.

Corona Roja Aparthotel, Gran Canaria

The Corona Roja Aparthotel sits on Gran Canaria‘s Playa del Ingles, one of the most popular beach resorts among Brits – and for good reason.

The area offers a mix of brilliant beaches, buzzing nightlife and adventure activities all in one place.

Whether you’re the type to set off parasailing or prefer a sunset catamaran trip, there’s plenty on offer in this lively resort town.

And the Corona Roja Aparthotel is a budget-friendly base to do it all from.

Although the comfy apartments come with a handy kitchenette, the all-inclusive package includes access to a buffet restaurant and pool bar to save you doing the cooking.

On the Beach offer a 5-night stay from 23 May including return flights from £315pp.

Gouves Bay Hotel, Crete

Gouves Bay Hotel keeps things simple on a sunny Greek island location right by the sea.

This hotel has a relaxed, family-friendly feel with two pools, a kids’ club and easy all-inclusive dining.

And if you fancy a change of atmosphere, Gouves’ bars and tavernas are just a short walk away for your choice of evening drinks with a view.

Heraklion airport is only about 15 minutes drive away, so airport transfers are quick and painless.

Plus, Hersonissos is a 10 minute drive away for nightlife and waterparks, while Heraklion town and the historic Knossos ruins are 20 minutes away.

Thomas Cook offer a 5-night stay from 26 May including return flights from Glasgow from £574pp.

Paloma Family Club, Bodrum, Turkey

As the name suggests, the Paloma Family Club caters to all things fun and families.

Kids can cool off from the Turkish heat in a dedicated splash pool with its own waterslide, or grab an ice lolly at the poolside snack bar.

Nearby Bitez Beach is one of Bodrum‘s finest, with clear, shallow waters for little ones to paddle in, and reserved sunbeds and parasols for hotel guests.

There’s family entertainment to enjoy twice a week, but if you fancy getting out and trying something new, the nearby resort towns of Gumbet and Bodrum are well worth a wander around.

easyJet Holidays offer a 7-night stay from 24 May including return flights from London Gatwick from £633pp. This offer includes one free child’s place.

WHEN Gaz Beadle and Emma McVey announced their split in 2023, their fans were shocked. 

Geordie Shore lothario Gaz had always described the model, who he had two children with, as his ‘rock’. But, just months after she underwent heart surgery, Gaz announced their eight-year relationship was over. Now, insiders tell us tension has been bubbling behind the scenes.

Things are said to have reached boiling point after Gaz announced he was expecting a baby with his new girlfriend, Maia, 13 years his junior.  

Our insider says: “Gaz and Emma have both moved on and are in happy, loving relationships with new people.

“But fans have noticed there is a level of competitiveness between them, and they seem to be trying to outdo each other.

“Emma got engaged, and then Gary announced he was having a baby. It was a huge shock and very eye-opening.

“She feels like she has a very small group of loyal friends, and exactly who they are has become very clear since her split from Gary.”

It’s certainly not the first time Emma has been blindsided by Gaz – she was shocked when he announced they had split during a Q&A with fans.

He casually revealed they had split three weeks prior and insisted there was no bad blood between the couple, who share kids Chester, eight, and Primrose, six.

Sources said Emma felt it was ‘unfair’ and was keen to announce it to her own followers herself.

She didn’t shy away from how hard the breakup was, in contrast to Gaz’s laissez-faire attitude.

In a heartbreaking post, she told her followers: “It’s been really hard for me and the kids to be separated. There’s been a lot of crying on FaceTime, which really breaks my heart.

“I’ve been numb and focusing on my children while still trying to work. I’ve honestly not known what to say. I’m hoping this will get easier in time.

“Sending so much love to anyone going through something similar, and thank you so much to everyone who has been checking in on me.”

If Gary took them to the park, the next week Emma took them to a theme park

Our insider

And when she moved on with a new man and a fan accused her of being unfaithful, she shot back with a jibe that appeared to be aimed at Gary: “I was unfaithful? What with someone I met 7 months after my separation? No darlin, you clearly have NO IDEA who was unfaithful.”

Our insider continued: “There was tension from the get-go but they masked it pretty well. They both doted on their kids whenever they had them, but fans noticed how they often posted competing snaps. If Gary took them to the park, the next week Emma took them to a theme park.”

Cheating allegations

Emma and Gaz first started dating in 2016, but just a year later, they called time on their relationship, with Emma accusing Gaz of cheating and dumping her by text.

She ranted: “When he’s been filming Geordie Shore, he decided to send me a TEXT ending things, telling me to move my stuff out of OUR home that I furnished and paid for without explanation.

“After begging me to go to Australia with him and making me leave my career, I still find out he still managed to cheat on me throughout our relationship and continually lie.”

But the pair reconciled, and in 2017, they announced they were having a baby. Their son Chester was born in January 2018, and their second child, a daughter named Primrose, was born in December 2019.

Gary popped the question while she was pregnant with baby number two – the whole thing was filmed.

They tied the knot in 2021 in front of 90 guests and their kids in Cheshire.

Bedding 1000 women

Gary appeared to be a very different man – his wild Geordie Shore days were well in the past.

He once boasted about sleeping with over 1000 women – his tumultuous relationship with Charlotte Crosby was well documented – but after quitting the show in 2017, he turned his life around. 

He told us previously: “My life couldn’t be more different.

“My DM’s have changed dramatically, I can tell you that. It’s gone from mum’s wanting to shag me to mums and dads talking about colic, acid reflux, nappies, and bath toys.

“I had ten-years of partying and doing whatever I wanted. I was so used to life being all about me then I had a baby and quickly realised life wasn’t about me anymore.”

It wasn’t an easy time for any of them, as Emma suffered a series of debilitating health issues 

The model, who once dated Towie’s Mario Falcone, had no idea she’d been born with three holes in her heart until a monitor was fitted following her second pregnancy.

She’d suffered years of seizures, exhaustion and fainting episodes – but while the diagnosis was illuminating, medics were cautious about operating because Emma is also battling ulcerative colitis.

The condition, which affects roughly one in 420 in the UK, causes ulcers and inflammation in the digestive tract.

The steroid treatment used to treat it can lead to bone loss and breakage, which doctors warned could stop Emma’s bones from fusing back together.

I thought, ‘I’m going to get put to sleep and I’m not coming back out’.

Emma, on her heart surgery

Around Christmas time of 2023, her tricuspid valve – the valve between the two right chambers of the heart – further deteriorated, and the decision was made to proceed with the op in spite of the risks.

She later said: “I knew in surgery I’d be connected to a heart machine that would be keeping me alive while my heart was stopped, and I kept thinking, ‘They’re not going to be able to start my heart again’. 

“I thought, ‘I’m going to get put to sleep, and I’m not coming back out’.”

It was a life-changing experience for all the family, and made their split even more surprising. 

It wasn’t long until they both moved on, though. Emma started dating electrician James Staszewsky, and he became a huge part of her life and that of the kids as they set up home. 

Gary had a brief romance with pro golf star Charley Hull, before falling for student Maia.

In what some felt was a dig at influencer Emma, Gary gushed about Maia:  “I like how she’s got a normal job. Like, she got in at 8 o’clock this morning after leaving at half past 7 last night… 13 hours. She’s doing it again tonight, it’s inspirational.

“It almost brings me down a peg and I think that’s why I’m getting more normal and normal.

“I just love to pop to the pub for a bit of food and a walk with the dog, cutting the grass, like, I’ve become quite a normal boring person.”

The romances both came under fire and in a very surprising move they joined forces once again in order to issue a lengthy statement in which they addressed their marriage ending and the attention their new romances had gained.

‘One team’

Gaz hit back to insist they are “really good friends” and that they are both “happy and happy for one another” despite being in “new relationships”.

He added: “Both of us are in new relationships and we all get along well, and we can say we are so proud of ourselves to be able to all stay as one team.”

We’re told it was a brief period of calm for all parties involved but it wasn’t long that changed.

Gaz’s baby news was said to be one of those moments that rocked the boat.

Only a couple of years ago, Gaz had told The Sun he wouldn’t be having more kids, he said: “Two is hard enough. I think if you asked us before we may have said three but that was before we realised how hard it is.

“If we had two boys or two girls, then maybe it would be different but we have one of each, which is perfect.”

A baby bombshell

In a post last week, Gary told fans that nursing graduate Maia, 24, was pregnant.

He told fans: He wrote: “We’ve been keeping a little secret…

“Baby Beadle, you are so loved already.”

He recently returned to Geordie Shore after eight years away, though in a far cry from his wild days on the show he did it all sober.

He insisted that Maia won’t be joining the show because she has her own career, but with a baby on the way that could all change.

Friends are hoping it might put a stop to the one-upman ship.

They tell the Sun: “Everyone knows having a baby changes everything.

“They both have their happy ever afters now and can concentrate on that, and of course, the kids they share.

“There is room for them both to enjoy the limelight, without having to compete.”

WHEN I told my friends about my recent European getaway, many met me with two questions in quick succession: firstly, “Where?” and then pointedly “Why?”

I’m not surprised. I hadn’t heard of the city – a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London – until I decided to whisk my wife away on a romantic weekend there. What I found was meals out for less than £10, posh Airbnbs for only £50-a-night, and drinks at about half the price we pay at home.

In recent years, we’ve had weekend breaks in Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Lisbon, Rome and Amsterdam – but they can often feel too big to truly explore over a weekend.

Add in long airport journey times, expensive hotels and pricey restaurants, and you come home knackered and empty pocketed.

Increasingly, I’ve found that it’s simply more enjoyable to head somewhere smaller: instead of Paris, try Toulouse; instead of Barcelona, try Grenada. So, when we decided on a trip to Poland, we picked a trip to Lublin, rather than Warsaw or Krakow.

We wanted to go on a “couple weekend” – like a date night for married people, but conducted over 48 hours somewhere well away from home. 

Except for Vienna, all our previous minibreaks were in Western Europe – this time, we wanted something more exotic, perhaps to the East or North. 

Plus, we were seriously skint.  Anything in Scandinavia was prohibitively expensive.

One friend had just been to the chic Arctic Circle town of Tromso in Norway and warned: “For even a very average bottle of wine in a bog standard restaurant you are looking at eighty quid”.

I thought he must have mis-typed, but no, that number did indeed have a Y on the end – eighty.

So Norway was out. Sweden and Finland didn’t sound much better when it came to price. 

So when a friend suggested an affordable alternative, Poland, I was interested. Which is how we came to settle on Lublin.

In the east of the country, with a population of around 327,000, Lublin is closer to the border with Ukraine than the capital, Warsaw. 

The city featured prominently in one of our favourite films of last year, A Real Pain, which won Kieran Culkin a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

It came across as both fascinating and charming. 

We then found we could get a smart Airbnb double room in the heart of this pretty city for £50 a night – and return flights out of Luton on Wizz Air for just £37 each. Sold!

Lublin is a tiny airport – just four gates – so easy and quick to navigate, then there’s a little single carriage tram-like train to ferry you very cheaply the few miles into the city to find that double room. 

Our rental was an absolute steal for the price: views from two large windows looking directly at the dramatic castle with ramparts that dominate the old town, and it also features as a backdrop in A Real Pain

A bottle here for the price of a glass there

The food and drink were a steal too; the wine in particular was a lot, lot cheaper than you’d find in the UK.

A bottle here for the price of a glass there.

In both restaurants, the food was less than half the price for something comparable at home – generous mains for under a tenner.

In fact, everything from Uber rides to gallery tickets seemed to have this “less than half” aspect, which left us thinking it might be even more financially advantageous to simply move here.  

Lublin was beautiful, intense, constantly interesting and surprisingly romantic- but also very, very cheap – perfect for the couple with no money. 

Even though Lublin is the largest city in eastern Poland, there are far fewer crowds than Krakow, making it the ideal family destination too.

Of course, we wanted to check out the locations features in A Real Pain too.

The film, a mix of comedy and tragedy, told the story of two cousins, Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg, visiting the city where their Jewish grandmother had grown up before being caught up in – and narrowly escaping – the Holocaust. 

That historic atrocity looms large in Lublin.

Until 1939, the city was one of the great Jewish centres in all of Europe, comparable to Oxford for its cultural reach.

First, we headed to the Old Jewish Cemetery – but it was closed for the sabbath so we could only peer in at the atmospheric stone monuments.

At a hotel around the corner, a travel group leader told me that the building had been the largest Jewish academy in the world when it opened in 1930.

But barely a decade later, its entire library burned in what is now the hotel carpark and its students were systematically slaughtered. 

Just outside Lublin is a concentration camp, Majdanek, where 78,000 died.

But of course, it wasn’t just Polish Jews who were murdered.

Outside that cemetery, for example, a sign proclaimed: “This place is hallowed by the blood of Poles, prisoners of Lublin Castle, executed by the Nazis on 23 December 1939.”

The fairytale castle we were looking at from our room had a dark past. 

The other film location we tried was a restaurant, Mandragora, in the old town, where Culkin’s character plays the piano.

On our visit to this delightfully old-fashioned place, there was also music, from a small band with accordion, fiddle and clarinet that seemed to give a pre-war atmosphere.

Even more retro-atmospheric was a restaurant not in the film, Zaczarowana, where a gothic interior of shadows, black curtains and candlelight made it feel like we were on the set of some composite film mash-up of the Frankenstein and Dracula stories.

Like travelling back in time

There’s lots to see in the city too.

If travelling with kids, you can head to the Open Air Village Museum, which is an immersive museum with historic farmhouses and of course, farm animals too.

There’s also a water fountain and light show in Litewski Square to watch in awe.

In the Old Town you will find pastel coloured houses, neatly lined up and there is also the castle – one of the oldest royal castles in the country – which has great views across the city.

According to Backpack Adventures, it is even like “travelling back in time” with a number of gates leading onto narrow alleys.

The city has over 150 trolleybuses to get around the city, which were introduced back in 1953.

And it is the perfect time to visit, as the city has been named one of Europe’s Capitals of Culture for 2029.

Hungry? Head to U Szewca in the Old Town, where you an discover a pub with sport-themed rooms, pizza for just £6 and Bolognese for around £7.50, and a beer for about £4.25.

When it comes to grabbing something to drink, head to Nocny Portier where you will find “upside-down pot plants, absurd monkey portraiture and terrific cocktails from a movie-inspired menu”, according to The Times.

You even need a password to head downstairs to the speakeasy and once inside, you will be able to grab a cocktail for just £6 delivered on a toy railway.

For more cheap European getaways, these are the cheapest European cities to fly to this year according to the experts – with loads of flights from £15.

Plus, these are Europe’s top 20 cheapest beach resorts.

SINCE I started working in travel at some of the UK’s top holiday firms, I’ve visited more than 200 hotels.

Some were impressive, some were expensive, and some try very hard to be both. But only a small handful earned a perfect 5/5 from me.

And I don’t give that score lightly. But these places are better than some five-star properties I’ve visited.

I’m not marking purely on marble floors or how many à la carte restaurants there are. I’m looking at something much simpler: does this hotel genuinely deliver for what you pay?

Because I hate overspending on holidays.

So for 2026, I’ve picked one hotel in each destination that I personally rated 5/5. Not because they’re the most luxurious in the country – but because they’re the best at what they do.

And I’ve checked current prices to see if they’re still stacking up. Here’s what I found.

Turkey – Grand Aquarium, Dalaman

Turkey is full of huge, ultra-luxury resorts. Grand Aquarium isn’t that, and that’s exactly why I love it.

It’s apartment-style, spacious and calm. The pool area feels relaxed, the rooms are generous, and the whole place is easy to navigate. When I stayed, what stood out wasn’t extravagance – it was how smooth everything felt.

There’s super-friendly staff, the place is spotless and it’s a relaxed, family-feel atmosphere.

For 9-16 June 2026, flying from London Gatwick, self-catering is currently pricing from £195 per person.

For early summer in Dalaman at a hotel I’ve personally rated 5/5, that’s excellent value. It’s the sort of price that makes Turkey feel like a very smart move again.

Canaries – Bakour Lanzarote Splash

If you want value in the Canaries, this is hard to beat.

Bakour Lanzarote Splash is all-inclusive as standard, and what I like is that it doesn’t feel like everything good is an extra. Waterpark, entertainment, food – it all feels included in the experience, not bolted on.

Because it’s Lanzarote, flight prices tend to stay reasonable year-round. That keeps the overall package price sensible even when demand rises.

For May 2026 (4-11 May), flying from Bristol, all-inclusive, it’s currently pricing from £413 per person.

For an all-inclusive with those facilities, in Lanzarote, that’s very competitive. For families especially, you’re getting a lot of hotel for that number.

Mainland Spain – L’Azure, Costa Brava

L’Azure manages to feel modern and stylish while still working brilliantly for families.

There’s a rooftop adults-only pool, which means parents can genuinely switch off for an hour. Downstairs, the family areas are lively but not overwhelming.

When you compare it to other Costa Brava hotels in the same bracket, it often comes in at a better price for noticeably better room quality.

For 2-9 June 2026 flying from Bournemouth, room-only is pricing from £373 per person. For a hotel of this finish and quality on the Costa Brava in June, that’s strong. You’re getting something that feels premium without paying luxury-brand money.

Egypt – Edge by Rotana Sea Beach, Sharm el Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh surprised me – and this hotel was a big part of that.

Edge by Rotana Sea Beach gives you scale and proper all-inclusive facilities without the usual hidden extras. Multiple pools, beach access, good dining – but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

What makes it really strong value is context: compared to Caribbean or Indian Ocean resorts offering similar sunshine and facilities, Egypt remains far more affordable.

For 26 November-3 December 2026 flying from London Luton, all-inclusive is currently from £333 per person.

For winter sun, guaranteed warmth and a full resort set-up, that’s seriously competitive. You’d pay far more for a similar experience in the Caribbean.

This is one of those hotels where you leave thinking, “That was worth it.”

Majorca – Sea Club Mediterranean Resort, Alcudia

The Balearics can feel tight for space in peak season, but Sea Club doesn’t.

It’s spread out, relaxed and well organised. There’s plenty going on, but it never feels cramped. The buffet is varied, the layout makes sense, and it runs like clockwork.

For May 2026 (2-9 May) flying from London Stansted, self-catering is pricing from £208 per person.

For Majorca, in early season sunshine, at a hotel of this size and quality, that’s excellent value. It’s often cheaper than smaller hotels nearby with fewer facilities.

It’s not flashy – it just gets absolutely everything right.

Greece – Mitsis Rodos Village, Rhodes

Rhodes has some excellent hotels, but Mitsis Rodos Village stands out for consistency.

It’s a proper all-inclusive with strong service, varied dining and a setting that makes the most of the coastline. The grounds are well kept, the atmosphere feels polished but not stiff, and everything runs efficiently.

Mitsis as a brand tends to cost a little more on paper, but you see where the money goes. Service levels are high, and repeat bookings are common – which is always a good sign.

For 12-20 May 2026 flying from London Gatwick, all-inclusive is currently from £323 per person.

For eight nights in Rhodes at a hotel of this standard, that’s impressive. It feels like five-star treatment without a five-star bill.

Morocco – Iberostar Waves Founty Beach, Agadir

Agadir offers beachfront Morocco without the chaos of a city break, and Iberostar Waves Founty Beach is a brilliant base.

It’s right on the sand, modern without being over-the-top, and has a layout that feels calm rather than crowded.

Compared to some Marrakech resorts inland, you’re getting beach access, sea views and space – often at a better overall package price.

It delivers atmosphere and sunshine without unnecessary extras inflating the cost.

For 30 November-7 December 2026 flying from London Luton, all-inclusive is currently from £398 per person. For winter sun on the beach, with strong reviews behind it, that’s very competitive.

Cyprus – Anesis Hotel, Ayia Napa

Anesis Hotel proves you don’t need a giant resort to have a great holiday.

It’s centrally located in Ayia Napa, walking distance to beaches, restaurants and shops, which removes the need for taxis or long treks in the heat.

The hotel itself is modern, clean and well run. The service is spot on, and the atmosphere is friendly rather than frantic.

For the price you typically pay in this part of Cyprus, it feels fair – and often better value than newer hotels charging more for less.

For 13-20 October 2026 flying from London Luton, bed & breakfast is pricing from £380 per person.

For Cyprus in late-season sunshine, that’s fair value for a well-located base that genuinely delivers.

Portugal – Muthu Clube Praia da Oura, the Algarve

The Algarve can get expensive in summer. Muthu Clube Praia da Oura is a smarter way to do it.

It sits close enough to Albufeira’s buzz if you want it, but far enough away to relax properly. Apartment-style accommodation keeps things flexible, and the sea views here are genuinely strong.

When I stayed, what struck me was how much location you’re getting for the price. You’re near the beach, near the nightlife, but not paying top-tier five-star rates.

For 29 September-6 October 2026 flying from London Luton, self-catering is currently from £268 per person.

For Algarve sunshine at that time of year, that’s unbelievable value .

Tunisia – Sahara Beach Aquapark Resort, Monastir

Tunisia is one of the most underrated value destinations in the world.

Sahara Beach Aquapark Resort is a big, energetic, family-focused property with multiple pools, slides and beachfront access. It’s unapologetically fun.

What makes it 5/5 for value is scale, because you’re getting huge resort facilities and reliable sunshine at a price point that undercuts much of southern Europe.

For 5-12 May 2026 flying from London Gatwick, all-inclusive is currently from £393 per person.

So, for families who want proper all-inclusive without stretching the budget too far, this is one of the smartest bookings on the map.

FEW got on the wrong side of drug lord Pablo Escobar and lived to tell the tale – let alone survived him putting out a contract on their life.

But Godfather actor Gianni Russo, 82, is no ordinary bloke. He was employed by some of America’s most notorious Mafia kingpins and sensationally claimed Marilyn Monroe took his virginity. Now, he reveals the astonishing story of how he went from mob notoriety to Hollywood fame – and how he escaped death in the process.

The New Yorker’s blockbuster life began dramatically when he nearly died aged six from polio, only surviving thanks to an experimental vaccine trial that cured him but led to the deaths of half of the patients on the hospital ward.

After a lengthy five-year recovery, Russo started out selling ballpoint pens on the streets of New York aged 13.

It was here that he first crossed paths with Frank Costello, a mob boss from the Luciano crime family, who offered him work. 

This induction into the mob world would lead to him becoming pally with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Monroe and Al Pacino, as well as bagging acting roles including in the first two Godfather films, Rush Hour 2 and Red Dragon. 

And it was his portrayal of Carlo Rizzi, the abusive husband of Connie Corleone, in the first Godfather movie that would save his life in the unlikeliest fashion.

Surviving “King of Cocaine” Escobar’s wrath – after surrendering himself to the Colombian drug lord and being interrogated in a prison cell three floors underneath his mansion – was among Russo’s biggest feats.

Escobar had put a hit out on the actor after he shot dead Lorenzo Morales, a hitman from his Medellin Cartel, in a 1988 Las Vegas nightclub.

The fatal altercation came after Morales stabbed a woman he had taken to dinner at Russo’s venue and then slashed the Godfather star’s face with a broken champagne bottle.

Russo tells The Sun: “He spins around and goes for my throat. Fortunately I react, I was agile enough, but he cuts me on my jawline, which required 81 stitches, and I’m bleeding.

“I said, ‘Look what you did to my shirt.’ He cut me but I’m worried about my shirt. I just wanted to get my hand on my gun and as soon as I did, I put the gun at his forehead.

“I told him, ‘Now go out the door’. He said, ‘F*** you’. I shot him… The cops came and took me to the hospital.”

Russo wasn’t charged with the killing due to it being ruled a justifiable homicide by the Nevada District Attorney’s Office.

But he knew he was a wanted man when Morales was revealed to be part of the Medellin Cartel.

Despite knowing he was unlikely to return, Russo travelled to a church in Colombia to meet face-to-face with the drug lord – a meeting arranged by mobster John Gotti, head of New York’s Gambino crime family. 

Russo adds: “Understand one thing, Escobar believed in killing your pets, your children, your family, and you last. I wasn’t going to let that happen.” 

Seconds after greeting Escobar, he was hit from behind and woke up in the cartel lord’s famous “mansion prison”, which he had built to avoid extradition to the US for drug charges.

“I was strapped to a chair, the stench was unbelievable,” Russo says. 

“I thought I was hallucinating. [Escobar] had a book in his hands. The book was ‘Making Of The Godfather’. He said to me, ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were Carlo in The Godfather? I loved that movie.’”

In a Hollywood-style twist, Escobar instructed his associate to clean-up Russo, treat his injuries and take him to his dining room, where the Colombian would later probe: ‘Why did you come here?’

Russo replied: ‘What would you have done if someone was going to kill your daughter? I had to come here. Kill me now and leave my family alone.’

He continues: “He walks towards me, I don’t know if he was going to cut off my head or what, but he kissed me. He said, ‘They don’t make men like us anymore. Go home, I’ll handle this’. 

“So, we sat down, had dinner, we talked, it was amazing. But he was a frightening man.”

Russo bagged his role in The Godfather after serving as a liaison between Paramount Studios and the Colombo crime family, who had threatened to stop the film’s production through their vice-like control over the unions.

He recalls petitioning crime boss Joe Colombo, who objected to the movie because it “basically identified every Italian as a gangster”, by telling him: “Listen, we can make a lot of money from this.” 

Eventually, Russo talked him around and was given the role of Carlo in the iconic 1972 movie “as my reward”.

Not everyone was happy he got the part, including Marlon Brando. The legendary star, who played Don Vito Corleone, was desperate to succeed in his “comeback film” and wanted everything to be perfect.

“When he found out that I wasn’t even an actor, he tried to get me fired,” Russo said. “I worked that out with him and we became friends.”

Similarly, Russo says co-star James Caan, who played Sonny Corleone, “hated me from day one” because of his corrupt connections. 

Caan also believed he lost out on the role of Michael Corleone to Al Pacino because of Russo and his mobster allies.

John Gotti rival

By the time Russo starred in The Godfather, he had already made a fortune from criminal activities.

He was sitting on an estimated £1.5million fortune, having worked as a ‘messenger’ for mafia families and run multiple crooked businesses including casinos.

Russo was taken under mobster Frank Costello’s wing out of respect for his Sicilian uncles, who had helped to send the Mafia crime families over to America and were hanged for their criminal activities.

He says being “given so much respect so early on” angered future Gambino crime boss Gotti, who was then a “hijacker, earning big money” and desperate to become a ‘made’ man.

Was I upset? No. I’d just had sex with America’s hottest movie star and sex symbol.

Gianni Russo

Russo’s biggest money-spinner was laundering “hundreds of millions of dollars” skimmed from casinos and other illegal businesses through the Vatican Bank with the help of a corrupt bishop in the 1970s.

Then came his big screen debut in The Godfather, which changed his life forever and was a film that “the mob loved”. 

Russo says: “The Godfather was my first film. I was young, I was making big money and with my ego, I wanted to become an actor.

“The movie premiere was like a dream come true for me because 10 years earlier I was selling ballpoint pens to people and now I was in the biggest movie ever in the world.”

‘Marilyn taught me everything’

Fame, coupled with Russo’s mob connections, led to a series of high-profile celebrity romances. He would go on to father 13 children with 10 different women.

He dated I Say A Little Prayer singer Dionne Warwick in the 1980s, the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor and Cabaret star Liza Minnelli.

“I really like Liza, I couldn’t say anything bad about her, she’s just fun, enjoys life,” Russo said through laughter.

But perhaps his most famous dalliance came earlier with Marilyn Monroe, then 33, who he sensationally alleged took his virginity when he was 15. 

Gianna was working at a hair salon in New York and says the Some Like It Hot star always requested him to wash her hair. 

He claims one day Marilyn’s advisors invited him to her suite in the Waldorf Hotel and they bonked for the entire weekend, leaving him struggling to walk after . 

Russo recalled her standing in her messy room, which he compared to “like the set of a disaster movie”.

She was holding a flute of champagne, wearing just a towel which she promptly dropped and invited him to join her in the bath. 

“My heart was pounding,” he said. “Like an idiot, I covered my eyes, which made her laugh.

“I began undressing, praying I wouldn’t trip over my pants and fall on my ass, and then entered the tub. I’ll be ­honest, I had no idea what to do, or what she expected.

“We wound up in bed for the entire weekend, climbing out only when needed. It was my first ­experience of room service, and it added to the fantastic experience.”

The one issue was that Russo was just 15 years old – but the actor had no regrets, even boasting “she taught me everything I know” and he felt like “the luckiest boy alive”.

He said: “If it had happened today, I think she’d be arrested and my parents would have tried to get some cash out of it… Was I upset? No. I’d just had sex with America’s hottest movie star and sex symbol.”

Russo has lived a life few could imagine – he’s hung out with everyone from Pope John Paul II to Donald Trump.

He dubs himself “the Hollywood Godfather” but despite the title and his murky past, he insists: “I was never in the mob but I was around it and was friends with some of the big names.

“They (police) tried to tie me to the mob but I never got a traffic ticket let alone association.”

Russo has released multiple books and is currently touring the UK and Ireland as part of a one-man theatre show, which reveals all about his colourful life and how his film debut was a seismic moment for him. 

He adds: “The Godfather changed my life. I don’t know what my life would be without The Godfather. It’s still changing my life now.”

Russo Russo’s new book Mafia Secrets Untold Tales From The Hollywood Godfather is out now.