Suns

THE Sun’s fabulous Holidays from £9.50 has been providing our army of readers with the best bargain breaks around.

And for more than 26 years I have been heading up Travel at The Sun, determined to search out those great value stays across the UK and Europe.

In that time I’ve picked up some great tips and tricks for making your £9.50 break even better without splashing the cash.

Here’s my top tips…

Bring your own

Save on hiring equipment by bringing your own.

The price for bedding and towel packs can soon add up for a family, so pack a bag full of duvets, sheets, towels, tea towels from home.

Read more on budget travel

SUMMER SIGHTS

10 travel tips and essentials for your 2025 summer getaway

TAKE OFF

My ultimate budget travel checklist – all the tricks to save HUNDREDS on flights

If you need a cot or highchair, consider bringing those from home or borrowing from family or friends.

For those spring and autumn breaks, don’t forget a cheap fleece blanket or two for cosying up on the sofa.

I always pack a large plastic box full of basic cleaning supplies and store cupboard essentials.

Start with washing up liquid, cloths, surface spray, bin bags and loo roll.

For store cupboard basics, I decant tea bags, coffee and sugar into re-sealable plastic bags and add in herbs, spices, sauces, pasta, cereal and snacks from home to save on pricey last-minute shopping on site or at petrol stations.

Plan your meals in advance to avoid the temptation to splurge on takeaways.

I always batch-cook and freeze a bolognese that can then be cooked up for a first-night easy meal and then turned into a chilli for the following day, with the addition of some spices and kidney beans.

Both can be padded out with some garlic bread and salad to make substantial meals.  

For days out and on the beach, it pays to be prepared in advance and avoid having to shop last minute.

I always freeze bottles of water and cartons of fruit juice so they can cool down packed lunches in an insulated cool bag.

To avoid soggy sandwiches, I bring part-baked baguettes and fniish cooking them in the caravan, adding hearty fillings like ham or cheese.

Pack a small tub of salad bits – cucumber, tomatoes, carrots – that you can add to your sandwiches at the last minute.

Think about other often-forgotten bits that can add up if you leave home without them.

Put together a basic first aid kit with plasters, painkillers and other relevant meds.

It’s also a good idea to create a tech kit with all your necessary chargers and cables all packed up in a case or bag to avoid having to shell out again.

Prep for success – make a list of everything you will need to pack and tick it off as you go along!

Getting there for less

Check to see if you have enough supermarket loyalty points to fill up the tank for free.

To avoid pricey motorway petrol stations, use fuel price apps like PetrolPrices.com that you can download for free to work out the cheapest ways to fill up along the way with real-time updates on fuel prices.

Pack a picnic for the journey and load up a multi-compartment snack box with sweet and savoury treats to keep the kids filled up – and amused – enroute.

You can pick them up online from just £5. 

If taking the train, check if you could save with family railcards, split tickets and family or group savers and always book as far in advance and off-peak.

It’s also a great way to save on attractions once you get to your destination.

Travel by national rail and you can get 2-for-1 tickets on a host of attractions across the country via daysoutguide.co.uk.

The deal includes theme parks, museums, parks, gardens and more. All you have to do is book through the website and travel by train.

Coach travel will be one of the cheapest ways you can get to your £9.50 holiday park.

Check out National Express or Flixbus for bargain fares if booked in advance.

A coach from London to Bristol typically costs around £32 one way by train, a coach will cost from just £3.90 for the same journey.

A coach from Manchester to Blackpool costs from £4.80. See nationalexpress.com or flixbus.com. 

Perfect park life

Build your days around the activities that are included in your chosen park, from swimming slots and kids clubs to playgrounds, nature trails and included entertainment.

Research in advance exactly what you can enjoy for free in the park and anchor your days around those.

Check if there are any special activities when you are on site.

Then do some online checks and fill in the gaps with free fun in the local area from beaches and coastal walks to playgrounds, splash parks, local museums and libraries’ kids activities. 

Don’t forget to pack some fun for those inevitable rainy days from board games and packs of cards to colouring books and stickers.

Wi-fi on parks in coastal or country areas can also sometimes be slow or expensive to upgrade to.

Download films, playlists and kids programmes at home so you’ve got it there for the journey and occasional tablet time on holiday.

Bringing a football, buckets and spades and scooters from home also saves on renting them or buying them onsite.

And don’t forget swimming goggles, armbands, spare swimwear and a bag to transport all your gear in – the prices in pool shops are always notoriously high.

Kids can’t get enough of arcades but these can soon start costing a fortune if you aren’t prepared.

Give each child a bag or envelope daily with a set allowance of coins and stress that when it’s gone, it’s gone. 

THE Sun’s Head Of Travel Lisa Minot has taken thousands of holidays with her children in her 26 years on the job – from top cruises to 5-star hotels.

But, here she reveals why the holiday park break is one of the best-loved trips among their family.

“But mum, he’s just sleeping!” We’re holidaying near Kimmeridge Bay on Dorset’s Jurassic coast, and four-year-old Ben has caught his first ever fish – a tiny grey minnow netted in the rockpools on the beach.

It’s now floating ominously upside down in a plastic bucket but Ben is convinced Fred – as he has been named – is just having a little nap.

So begin the negotiations.

Mum reckons Fred will be just fine sitting in his bucket on the decking. Ben thinks he’d be happier in his bedroom in the mobile home.

Read more on UK holiday parks

SEA YOU THERE

The Sun’s favourite hotels, holiday parks, cottages & campsites in Cornwall

PARK UP

One of the UK’s most popular holiday parks reveals mega £50million expansion

It was a tense stand-off. And if I am honest, I can’t say Ben didn’t get his own way.

The bucket spent a few hours sitting alongside all the other treasures a four-year-old can pick up on a British beach – broken shells, many odd shaped, interesting rocks and of course, the treasure of sand glass jewels.

So Fred the fish remained inside until Ben had fallen into a happy, worn-out slumber, before being carefully relocated outside in his bucket coffin.

Thankfully, the next day dawned bright and within an hour Ben had forgotten his fishy friend and moved on to searching for ancient sea creatures, entranced by the idea of fossil hunting on Chesil beach.

It’s one of hundreds of incredible memories I have of exploring the beauty of the British coast and countryside with my kids from UK holiday parks.

As a travel editor, my very lucky children got to explore some wonderfully exotic destinations.

From sunny Spain to the beaches of the Caribbean, they got to road-test some amazing family holidays and jetted off on planes decades before I’d flown for the first time myself.

But I am sure the first-time experiences and excitement they had on our breaks at UK holiday parks remain among some of their most vivid memories.

For them, it represented a freedom they never had in our suburban, city neighbourhood.

At home, there was no opportunity for them to ride bikes on quiet country roads.

I would never have even dreamed of allowing them to pop to the local shops alone.

And yet, within the safety of a UK holiday park there were those very first steps of freedom that they could take, with us helicopter parents safe in the knowledge they were never far away and in a fabulous, family-friendly environment.

A £9.50 park gave us the opportunity to holiday as a family without the hassle. 

All manner of toys, bikes and balls would be tossed into the back of the car, alongside wellies and swimmers to cover all bases of a British holiday.

With just a few hours to reach the coast, we’d be unpacking in our little holiday home in the time it would normally take just to get through an airport.

All kids are fascinated with new spaces and a holiday home where they could race between bedrooms bagging the best beds, open unknown cupboard doors and marvel at a very different view from the cosy lounge window was completely intoxicating.

After a quick supper in the van, and with Mum and Dad ready for a drink, it was on to the excitement of the show bar where the kids could explore and we could indulge in a tipple or two.

Of course, the lure of the bright lights of the arcades was another wonder they were simply unable to resist. 

Handfuls of two pence pieces would be studiously posted into sing-song penny pushing machines while Mum and Dad carefully explained their pocket money would last a lot longer there than going for broke on the grab machines.

Garlands of winning tickets would be wrapped around their necks before being carefully counted out at the end of the night to see if they could claim a prize.

The swimming pools meant water fun.

My daughter Abbi’s grin of delight as she bounced confidently on the inflatable obstacle course is as vivid in my head as the day she finally completed the challenge.

Taking the kids out of their comfort zones – challenging them to scale that climbing wall, or bounce higher than they’d ever reached on the bungee trampoline – were celebrated long after we’d got back home.

As they got older, the bikes got bigger and the kids were able to explore the quiet park roads, make friends at the kids’ clubs and get that first taste of holiday experiences without mum and dad watching over them every second.

Throughout their childhood, we ticked off a host of the best of British coastlines, from the piers and promenades of Bournemouth and Great Yarmouth to the beaches of Devon, Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Jersey.

Every one of those trips gave us all memories that would last a lifetime.

Now I’m just waiting for the day I can bring my own grandchildren on more marvellous British adventures. 

CORNWALL has long been a favourite among UK holiday destinations, thanks to its stunning beaches, fascinating history and natural inland beauty.

So if you’re considering cooking a trip tot he popular South West county this year, take a look at some of our favourite local stays in recent years.

How The Sun’s travel team reviews accommodation

This list includes Cornish hotels, holiday parks, cottages and campsites our team has visited and fallen in love with.

Some journalists have travelled with their families while others have journeyed solo.

When it comes to picking our favourites we account for everything from costs to location, design, hospitality and more.

We don’t just look at what’s trending but those little-known gems that will stay with you in the years to come.

WEE BARGAIN

Beachfront property in Cornwall is selling for just £20k – but there’s a catch

AWAY WE GO

Best dates to bag cheap staycations in 2024 revealed

And to keep this article fresh with the latest accommodation we will regularly update it.

Best places to stay in Cornwall

Best luxury holiday home

8 Woodlands, Newquay

A retreat so large it could fit a family of eight, the adequately named 8 Woodlands towers over a stunning and quiet estuary.

Perched on top of a cliff, this mammoth contemporary holiday home was the ideal country escape for our beauty editor Tara Ledden.

Even with seven of her nearest and dearest with her, there was never a shortage of space.

Just 30 seconds from the back door, they could dip their toes in the sandy estuary bed or pump up a paddleboard (also provided) and brave the waters.

The surrounding nature is not the only luxury this stay has to offer – the pad comes with a lush garden complete with its own hot tub and barbecue.

Embellished with coastal-inspired interiors, families will be fully equipped with a kitchen, dining area, Smart TVs, Sonos speakers and child safety gates on each of the three floors.

The holiday home is not as remote as its views suggest – visitors can reach Newquay’s high street with just a five-minute drive or walk for 20 minutes.

Best holiday park for families with dogs

Parbola Holiday Park, Hayle

There’s no more authentic family stay in Cornwall than at Parbola Holiday Park.

Hugged by 16 acres of woodland and located just a ten-minute drive from Hayle Town, this stay gives holidaymakers the best of both worlds – a peaceful rural haven and a plethora of activities.

Writing for The Sun, Kate Jackson and Irfan Cemal described Parbola Holiday Park as perfect for families.

Highlights for their children included the heated outdoor swimming pool, a box of balls and bats to borrow and the Safari Tent, a place equipped with board games and books.

Meanwhile, the adults enjoyed the small but appreciated touches such as a package of tea, milk and delicious Cornish biscuits as they arrived or the wood-fired pizza fan that visits every Monday.

And to add to the list of this holiday park‘s many charms, Parbola is also dog-friendly.

Speaking about her stay Kate said: “The Parbola holiday park in Cornwall caters for people like us.”

Parbola offers the best of both worlds. Away from the usual hotspots, five miles inland from the north coast, it provides a haven that, despite its obvious popularity, was always peaceful.”

Best hotel for food

St Tudy Inn, St Tudy

After an action-packed day on your feet, The St Tudy Inn is the perfect spot to sit back by a roaring fire and enjoy some heart-warming grub.

With the appearance of a traditional 16th-century stone cottage, many would not assume that some diners travel over 40 minutes to just eathere.

During her visit, writer for The Sun Julia Richardson relished in dishes cooked by head chef James Lean, who used to work for Gordon Ramsey.

Expect exquisite sea-themed cuisine such as hake, cuttlefish and chorizo stew or steamed mussels.

And food is not the only thing this cosy Cornish pub has to offer – just across the car park, a converted barn holds four charming rooms paired with tartan bedspreads and patterned cushions.

Best hotel in Newquay

Newquay Beach Hotel, Newquay

Named Beached Front Hotel of the Year in South-West England 2024 by Travel & Hospitality Awards, the boutique stay rests just opposite Newquay‘s main beach – Tolcarne.

It’s here that our boxing reporter Wally Downes Jr relaxed after a stop at the Newquay Zoo.

With stellar beach views and an art deco interior – this stay is a feast for the eyes, from the designer velvet scallop chairs to the geometric glass.

And if you’re looking to grab a bite to eat, you will not be left hungry.

Newquay Beach Hotels offers numerous classic dishes as well as a fully stocked cocktail bar.

A nice extra is the Abangamba playroom for the kids.

Best holiday cottage for families

Bosinver Farm Cottages, Trelowth

You might be tempted to stick to Cornwall’s coasts but its inland valleys are just as impressive as its cliffs.

Tucked away between the quaint town of St Austell and the seaside village of Mevagissey is this hidden gem.

Here you’ll find Bosinver’s Farm Cottage – a set of 20 luxury self-catering cottages full of magical Cornish spirit.

The cute accommodation Features Writer Emma Pietras stayed in was made of straw and wood bales and its beams were taken from an old hospital – all of which added to the location’s timeless feel.

Paired with a hot tub and stunning valley views this is the perfect place to kick back and relax.

A particular highlight is the £475 worth of included activities such as a pool, animal feeding, pony rides, and outdoor and indoor play.

It is no surprise that these pads won Visit England’s Best Family-Friendly Accommodation in 2017.

In her review, Pietras had this to say: “As a mum to a toddler, previous holidays have been far from stress-free, but when you’re surrounded by 35 acres of meadows, landscaped gardens and woodland, it’s hard not to feel relaxed.”

It feels as if the owners have thought of every little detail.”

Best hotel with a sea view

Polurrian on the Lizard, Mullion

The Polurrian on the Lizard was once the vacation spot of Winston Churchill.

More recently this beautiful piece of history was visited by The Sun writer Ellie Ross who dubbed it as ‘one of Cornwall’s best kept secrets’.

With its glamorous white exterior looming over the lizard peninsula, this enchanting stay boasts a secluded beach and sea views so good you might feel like you are in a movie.

The 1890s hotel also comes along with a tennis court clifftop garden, playground and even indoor and outdoor pools.

A great way to watch the sunset over the sea is at its dog-friendly restaurant which serves everything from fish and chips to wood-fired pizza.

And according to Ellie, the cocktails were a standout.

Best spa hotel

Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, Newquay

With views that rival the Maldives or the Caribbean, Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa overlooks one of Newquay’s more private beaches.

Visitors will feel worlds away sipping speciality cocktails at the hotel’s Bay Bar – a spot particularly good for watching the sunset.

This adults-only hotel is where Sun writer Simon Copeland spent two tranquil nights.

And that was in part credit to Fistral Beach Hotel’s luxurious spa that offered rejuvenating treatments he said “wouldn’t be out of place in some Balinese temple”.

All spa day packages included a pool, steam room, hot tub, sauna and refreshments.

Equally as lavish as the spa is the hotel’s beautifully presented food that nods to Cornish cuisine with innovative twists.

Best spot for camping

Trevornick Holiday Park, Holywell

While Cornwall’s buccaneering pirates and smugglers are long gone, the spirit of adventure can still be found in camping.

At least that’s what one of our writers found out on their trip to Trevornick Holiday Park.

Located on Cornwall’s north coast, you can set up a tent not far from Holywell’s pristine sandy beach.

Or if wrestling with a tent is off-putting, Trevornick Holiday Park also offers readymade tents.

These come fully equipped with lights, and even a fridge and TV.

Expect action-packed fun, as this holiday park not only includes a pool and spa but also a golf course, soft play centre, arcade and even a surf school.

As our writer soon realised: “The only problem was there simply wasn’t time to do everything the park had to offer.

“But it’s such a treasure that, like pirate ghosts, we’re sure to return.”

Best spot for glamping

Tremeer Farm, Lanteglos-by-fowey

A more unconventional retreat but nevertheless more rewarding, Tremeer Farm is the ideal spot to return to basics.

Expect jaw-dropping nature, animals, playing games, an open fire, and a clear night sky.

And together with the elegant white 18th-century Mongolian-style yurts to sleep in, you might never want to leave.

Tremeer Farm’s owners have thought of everything – from a hot tub to a kitchen equipped with cooking basics, a hammock, BBQ, fire pit and even a cosy wood-burning stove.

As The Sun Online Travel found out there is no better way to immerse yourself in Cornwall’s beauty.

If you have a car, the stay is just a stone’s throw away from the untouched fishing village of Polperro and otherworldly Lantivet Bay

Although travelling to Cornwall during its peak season is a no-brainer, we also recommend visiting this gorgeous peninsula in the winter.

Cornwall has a reputation for being a expensive destination – here we break down how you can visit on a budget thanks to our Hols from £9.50.

PHOENIX — It’s not the lineups, the injuries or necessarily the system. The cause of the Lakers’ defensive demise is a thousand little decisions gone wrong.

“It comes down to just making the choice,” coach JJ Redick said after the Lakers gave up 132 points in a blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. “It’s making the choice. There’s shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can’t. It’s just a choice and there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not gonna make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of ‘em correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”

Coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Lakers (19-9) are ranked 28th in defensive rating in the last 14 games entering a Christmas Day showcase against the Houston Rockets at 5 p.m. PST at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers, without any individual shutdown defenders, need a perfectly executed team defense to compete. But 15 different starting lineups in 28 games has delayed some of the team’s ability to build continuity. The Lakers have had their full complement of 14 standard contract players for two games.

Forward Rui Hachimura (groin) and Luka Doncic (leg) could return Thursday. Guard Gabe Vincent, one of the team’s top defensive options on the perimeter, will miss his fourth game with lower-back soreness. Center Jaxson Hayes tweaked his left ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s loss and didn’t return.

The Rockets (17-10) limp into the Christmas Day blockbuster with their own struggles. The team thought to be one of the few who could challenge Oklahoma City in the West has lost five of its last seven games. Three of the losses were in overtime and four came against teams currently out of the play-in picture, including Tuesday’s loss to the Clippers.

Led by Kevin Durant’s 25.2 points, the Rockets are a statistical anomaly in the sped up, possession-maximizing modern NBA. They have the third-ranked offense in the league despite being one of the slowest. They shoot the fewest three-pointers per game, but make them at a 40% clip that ranks second, and dominate the glass with NBA-leading 48.7 rebounds and 16.1 offensive rebounds per game.

Houston’s physicality and expertise on the boards could be especially worrisome for a team that still has to consciously choose defense on a possession-by-possession basis instead of consistently living up to a standard of playing hard.

“There’s really no defense, no scheme we can do when we’re giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments like we are, our [opponents] are getting wherever they want on the court,” guard Marcus Smart said after Tuesday’s loss. “And there’s no help, there’s no resistance, there’s no urgency. … It’s on us.”

The Suns grabbed 12 offensive rebounds against the Lakers on 35 missed shots, an offensive rebounding rate of 34.3%. After the Suns scored a three-pointer by twice grabbing offensive rebounds off tipped balls, Lakers players had an animated discussion in a timeout with Smart was gesturing toward center Deandre Ayton about tipping rebounds. Ayton, who finished with 10 rebounds and 12 points, and Smart ended the timeout with a high-five.

“[I need to] just continue to talk to guys, even though sometimes they might not want to hear it,” said Smart, a free-agent addition the Lakers coveted for his leadership and tenacity on defense. “Especially when we losing, nobody wants to hear it, myself included, but also understand that it’s integral for us to hear those things, to see and to be able to talk to one another and figure it out as players on the court, because we’re the ones out there.”

Redick intentionally built in moments for players to connect and communicate during every timeout this season before coaches speak. The strategy was meant to encourage players to take a larger leadership role. “Championship communication” was one of the team’s three pillars.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, left, foulds Clippers guard James Harden on a layup during their game Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Along with “championship shape,” Redick also asked his team to build “championship habits.” Living up to the mantras is easier said than done.

“It’s not the easy choice,” Redick said. “It’s human nature. … We do it on a daily basis. We make easy choices cause it’s comfortable. Comfortable doesn’t win.”

PHOENIX — Austin Reaves returned from a left calf strain that sidelined him for three games, but the Lakers’ second-leading scorer did nothing to fix the team’s most glaring weakness.

The Lakers’ defense collapsed in a 132-108 loss to the Suns on Tuesday at Mortgage Matchup Center, giving up a season-high field goal percentage (59%) and tying their mark for most points allowed in a loss this season. Led by a combined 17-for-29 shooting from star guard Devin Booker (21 points) and Dillon Brooks (25 points), the Suns easily eclipsed the 56.5% they shot against the Lakers on Dec. 1.

“The theme with our team again is like these young teams that move, we just can’t move,” said coach JJ Redick, whose team is 1-2 against the Suns (16-13). “So it’s like we’re stuck in mud.”

The Lakers (19-9) remain in the top half of the competitive Western Conference, but with blowout losses to Atlanta, Oklahoma City and San Antonio, L.A. is clinging to a plus-1.1 in point differential. They lost consecutive games for the first time Tuesday and limped into a marquee Christmas Day matchup against the Houston Rockets with a multitude of injuries.

Playing without Luka Doncic, who is day to day with a left leg contusion he sustained Saturday against the Clippers, LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points on seven-for-14 shooting. Deandre Ayton had a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double while Reaves came off the bench for the first time in two seasons and scored 17 points with two assists and three turnovers.

Redick said Reaves was not on an official minutes restriction after his weeklong absence, but that the team would monitor his workload “in real time.”

“It’s hard for me to start, at the rotation that Bron has, for me to stay around that 20-25 minute mark,” said Reaves, who played 21 minutes and 46 seconds. “So [coming off the bench] got brought up in my shooting time. I said I was open to whatever. Definitely felt weird coming off the bench, but it’s basketball at the end of the day.”

Calf injuries, even the most minor, have been major concerns for the NBA since three stars suffered Achilles tendon tears during last season’s playoffs. Reaves, who carried the team during the early part of a season that has featured injury absences from James and Doncic, led the team in minutes per game. His 775 minutes entering Tuesday were second-most on the team behind Rui Hachimura. The Japanese forward missed his second consecutive game with right groin soreness.

Lakers star Lebron James puts up a shot against the Suns on Tuesday night. James finished with 23 points.

(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

When asked whether Reaves needed a physical reset after carrying such a large load, Redick acknowledged a break may have been necessary.

Reaves looked out of sorts when he entered with 5:23 remaining in the first quarter. He fumbled the handoff on his first touch coming off a screen. When he tried to thread bounce passes through tiny windows, the ball was kicked away or deflected. He got attacked on defense and gave up consecutive driving layups to Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea.

Bouyea had 14 points off the bench, including a layup over Marcus Smart, who failed to draw a charge call, in the third quarter. While Smart laid in the key appealing to officials, Bouyea didn’t hesitate to leap over the Lakers’ guard and score. The Lakers fell behind by as many as 29 in the third quarter, and Redick quietly waved the white flag with 5:22 remaining in the third when he put reserve forward Maxi Kleber and rookie Adou Thiero onto the floor.

The Phoenix crowd started to file out in bunches with seven minutes remaining when the lead reached 30.

Even courtside seats were empty in the final minutes. Brooks took advantage, sitting in a courtside seat on the baseline as Thiero stepped to the free throw line with 1:16 remaining. Brooks waved his arms as a distraction. Thiero split his two shots.

Etc.

Center Jaxson Hayes left the game with left ankle soreness in the second quarter and didn’t return.. Redick said it was an aggravation of a previous injury suffered last week.