Travel advice

‘Riverfront bars and cosy pubs

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows The fishing village of Boscastle, with whitewashed stone cottages along the River Valency, Image 2 shows Village of Boscastle in Cornwall, England with buildings lining a river, Image 3 shows The Wellington Mill and the Wellington Hotel, prominent stone buildings in the Cornish village of Boscastle, with a red telephone booth on the street

OUR Spotlight On column takes an in-depth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as some lesser known spots.

This week we’re shining the spotlight on Boscastle, a small village buried deep in a valley on the north coast of Cornwall.

Boscastle is a pretty Cornish village – with links to witchcraftCredit: Alamy
It is nicknamed the UK’s SalemCredit: Getty

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor, recently visited and said: “This charming village was labelled the UKs version of Salem, Massachusetts, by an American travel guide.

“And it’s not just the eerily moody scenery where raucous waves collide with the cliffside that makes this place so spooky.

“Boscastle has strong historical links to the art of witchcraft with witches supposedly selling the wind to sailors by tying knots in ropes – you can learn all about that at the Witchcraft Museum (more on that below).

Here are some of the other top tips of things to do and where to stay.

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MUST SEE

The area may seem pristine and peaceful today, but in 2024 severe flash flooding wreaked havoc on Boscastle, tearing through buildings and causing an estimated £50million worth of damage.

It’s not hard to see how the devastation was caused when you take a short stroll to the harbour wall blowhole, otherwise known as The Devil’s Bellows.

The natural phenomenon is best observed an hour either side of low tide from a walking path along the coast, near Penally Point.

The blowhole effect is created when crashing water from a ferocious sea is forced through a small cavernous tunnel, before being spurted out the other end.

BEST VIEW

Walks are plentiful in this part of the world, with many coastal routes passing straight through Boscastle.

Less than a 30-minute stroll from the village centre, you’ll find Pentargon Waterfall.

Not only is the view of the waterfall impressive on its own, the surrounding fields are spectacular too. The high position gives you a great vantage point.

HIDDEN GEM

Tucked behind the National Trust Cafe sits a diddy museum entirely dedicated to witchcraft – and although its position in the village is hidden, its story is well known across Cornwall.

Crammed full of bizarre artefacts from jarred pigs heads to voodoo dolls of infamous dictators, the attraction is both extremely bizarre and wildly fascinating,

The museum was first opened in 1960, but has dramatically expanded its collection since then. You’ll retrace the tales of olden day witches and their links to tarot, and unearth spells and potions including charms to make a person more fertile.

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The Rocket Store is reason enough to visit Boscastle on any Cornwall holiday.

Overlooking the flowing River Valency, it stars in the Michelin Guide – although some are hoping it may earn its first Michelin star soon, so you best get down there before it fills out.

The restaurant is tiny and the menu changes every day according to what seafood has been caught that morning.

Oysters feature regularly, dressed in citrus-y sauces (these cost three for £10 last year). Smaller plates and veggies normally cost £15 and under while larger meatier plates of hake or lamb can cost between £25 to £30.

Think local produce served in an unfussy setting.

BEST BAR

On a sunny day, few spots are better for an ice-cold pint than The Wellington, whose raised outdoor decking area is set just back from the river.

If you’re not much of a booze drinker, head to Boscastle farm shop, instead, which does a cracking cuppa, served alongside glorious views.

HOTEL PICK

The Wellington pub has a small number of boutique and handsomely decorated bedrooms which were renovated only last year.

The place has a cosy, rural atmosphere, thanks to large padded armchairs and tartan bedding with plump cushions scattered about the place.

Possibly the best thing about it is knowing that bed lies only a few paces from the bar.

Rooms cost from £145 per night on a B&B basis. See wellingtonhotelboscastle.com.

The Wellington Castle is a popular place to stayCredit: Alamy
The village is small but worth a day tripCredit: Alamy

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European theme park you won’t have heard of reveals huge £78million expansion plans and you can fly there for £14

A DUTCH theme park with six themed lands has announced a £78million makeover – and most Brits won’t have hear of it.

Toverland amusement park in the Netherlands is planning a massive transformation that will allow guests to stay onsite for the first time.

Toverland theme park in the Netherlands features six lands and around 40 rides and showsCredit: Toverland
And now the theme park has just announced a £78million expansion projectCredit: Toverland
As part of the project, the theme park will build permanent accommodation – something the park doesn’t have at the momentCredit: Toverland

Located in the town of Sevenum – about 40 minutes from the city of Eindhoven – over the coming years the park will carry out several new projects.

The first focus will be new permanent accommodation for guests – something the park doesn’t currently have – in Ithaka, which is a land based on ancient Greece.

There are also plans to build a new attraction on the site of the park’s Maximus’ Blitz Bahn ride, although little else is know about it at the moment.

Port Laguna, which is the Mediterranean-themed entrance to the park and the central hub, is also set to get its first ride which will be a large-scale dark ride.

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The theme park has already started building the Clubhuis which will be a new office space for employees.

According to Blooloop, a spokesperson for the park said: “Toverland is constantly evolving, as are the exact details of the various projects.

“We will therefore announce more information at a later date.”

The theme park is made up of six themed areas in total including Avalon, Port Laguna, Magische Vallei, Ithaka, Wunderwald and Land van Toos.

Across these areas there are around 40 attractions and shows.

Avalon has a medieval theme throughout, with a family drop-tower ride, water playground and winged rollercoaster.

Magische Vallei is all about magic and in this land you will find a water ride, launch rollercoaster and a spinning rollercoaster.

In the land of Ithaka, which is based on ancient Greece, there is a wooden rollercoaster and swing boat ride.

As the central hub, Port Laguna appears like a harbour town with a main promenade past souvenir shops and restaurants.

This is also the land where most of the interactive experiences and shows take place.

There will be a new dark ride too in the Port Laguna landCredit: Alamy

The land of Wunderwald is then both indoors and outdoors and based on an adventure through Austria‘s mountains.

Rides include a log flume ride, a fun house and an electric bobsled run.

Last but not least, Land van Toos is an indoor playground that inspires imaginative play with rollercoasters for smaller children, interactive experiences and a climbing mountain.

Across the park a number of shows take place each day.

Starting from April 18, there will be the ‘Epic battle for the Pearl’, which features a large pirate ship with a pool where the pirates jump and dive into, from a height of 25 metres.

There’s also Katara – a magical water fountain show – with music and lights.

The theme park is currently only open at the weekends and on Wednesdays but from March 28 it will be open everyday 10am to 6pm.

Off-peak tickets usually cost €43 (£37.35) per adult and child over 140cm tall and peak tickets then cost €44.50 (£38.65).

The theme park is about 40 minutes from the city of EindhovenCredit: Toverland

Though, these prices are reduced to €37.50 (£32.57), if you book online more than seven days in advance.

For children between 90cm and 140cm tall, tickets cost €36 (£31.27) but if you book online more than seven days in advance this price drops to €29 (£25.19).

Children under 90cm tall then go free, as do anyone who is celebrating their birthday on the day of visiting.

The easiest way to get to Toverland is by flying to Eindhoven.

The cheapest flights to Eindhoven from the UK include from London Stansted for £14 one-way or Manchester for £15 one-way.

Then it takes about 40 minutes to drive from Eindhoven Airport to Toverland theme park.

In other theme park news, you can get a year’s free entry to 20 of UK’s top theme parks and attractions for less than cost of one chocolate bar a week.

Plus, a UK theme park is getting the world’s first Hey Duggee themed hotel rooms this year.

Flights to Eindhoven cost as little as £14 per wayCredit: Toverland

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Travel influencer NonStop Dan slammed after claiming he’s ‘stranded’ by Iran war

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Non Stop Dan, Image 2 shows Non Stop Dan

TRAVEL influencer NonStop Dan is being slammed online after claiming he’s unable to get home from Singapore due to the Iran war, when economy seats were still available on flights.

The popular YouTuber boasts over 1million subscribers and is known for frequently flying around the world.

NonStop Dan made a comment that really didn’t fly with his followersCredit: Youtube/Nonstop Dan
He claimed he couldn’t travel home because of the Iran war, despite tickets in economy still being available to purchaseCredit: Youtube/Nonstop Dan

However, the star received no sympathy after his latest video went live as viewers called him out for actually being able to get home if he were willing to book a cheaper flight.

The video begins with Dan saying him and his friend Alex are “stranded in Asia” like millions of other travellers are going to be.

He was en route to Bali from Singapore, but he claimed he was unable to keep travelling or get home due to the war in Iran.

However, towards the end of the video Dan noted how there were still “a few flights left in economy”.

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He very clearly said: “There are a few flights left in economy but even those are selling fast.”

Fans took to the video’s comments section to call out the discrepancy, unable to believe he considered himself as stranded just because he wasn’t willing to fly outside of first class.

One viewer said: “Absolutely hilarious that Dan would rather wait two weeks in Singapore without seeing his family rather than dealing with the horror of travelling economy.”

Dan is a professional airline reviewerCredit: Instagram/thenonstopdan

Another said: “You’re saying I would rather stay in a luxury hotel than fly economy.”

A third added: “Swallow your pride and take economy this one time.”

A forth user joked: “My thoughts are with the premium passengers and those in danger of flying economy.”

NonStop Dan, otherwise known as Daniel Goz, first started travelling at the age of 12, and decided to turn his passion for it into a career.

He predominantly reviews different airlines around the world, having flown with over 160 different ones to date.

Though he mostly flies first and business class based on his history of reviews.

Alongside these reviews, Dan provides his fanbase with travel tips as well as tricks on how to make the most out of your points and air miles.

He holds a bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences combined with General Studies and Humanities from Minerva University.

Minerva is an unconventional place of study which sees its students travel to multiple different countries during their course.

It achieves this through partnering with lots of other institutions worldwide and offering multiple study abroad-style programmes.

He tends to only review airlines while flying in first or business classCredit: Instagram/thenonstopdan
He’s travelled with over 160 airlines globally to dateCredit: Instagram/thenonstopdan

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Major UK airport to get new £30million upgrade with more shops, seating and even a ‘hidden speakeasy bar’

WORK has officially begun on a major expansion project at a regional airport in the UK.

Bristol Airport has started its £30million upgrade with a new two-floor extension to connect the existing terminal and the departure gates.

Bristol Airport has started work on its £30million upgradeCredit: Farrans

The airport upgrade will include 17 new shops and restaurants including premium brands and a hidden speakeasy bar in the terminal.

Overall floor space at the airport will nearly double (45 per cent increase) as well.

In the newly created floor space, there will be more seating as well as the new ‘island’ shops, meaning shops will not just be at the edges of the terminal.

When it comes to arrivals, there will be a new reclaim area with an additional baggage carousel.

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When it comes to accessibility, the assisted travel lounge will double in size with new tables.

It will be located near the middle of the departure lounge and also have accessible toilets and a changing places facility.

A baby feeding room will be added as well.

Accessibility will be improved to the immigration area too, with new stairs and lifts.

The transformation to the airport is set to take place over the next three years and is part of a wider £400million investment plan to transform passenger experience at the airport.

By the end of it, the airport will be able to cater for up to 12million passengers, up from 10million currently.

The airport already has completed a number of improvements as well, such as “next generation security” and a new Public Transport Interchange with bus stops, bus bays, a car park and a larger M&S supermarket.

The departure lounge also has a new executive lounge called Escape.

Andrew Goodenough, Infrastructure Director at Bristol Airport said: “We have ambitious plans to transform our customer experience over the next couple of years, and we really appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding while all of these massive improvements are taking place.”

There will be 17 new shops as well as a ‘hidden speakeasy bar’Credit: Farrans

Gerard McNamee, Project Manager at Farrans – the building and engineering firm carrying out the works at the airport – said: “This is an exciting project which will be completed in a live environment in which all passenger routes need to remain open at all times.”

Last year, the airport announced how as part of its upgrade, it hopes to offer flights to the east coast of America and the Middle East in the future.

The airport is also planning to increase the number of flights from 85,990 per year to 100,000, which would mean an additional 35 flights per day in the peak season.

While the airport is planning to keep its night restrictions, it does want to increase night flights to 1,000 a year, which would mean four per night in the peak season.

In other airport news, a major airport could become the second biggest in the UK thanks to huge expansion plans.

Plus, these are the best and worst airports in the UK – with a regional airport coming in number one.

The project is expected to take three years to completeCredit: Farrans

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The real truth about £14 flights so cheap airlines LOSE money

WE’VE all seen the headline of £14 flights plastered across airline websites, social media and publications – but what does a £14 flight actually look like and can you really get it for that price?

When it comes to booking a holiday, we all love a bargain.

Budget airlines often show cheap flights as low as £14 on social media and websitesCredit: Getty

And in the UK we aren’t short of budget airlines to choose from, such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air.

But the reality is that airlines actually often lose money on £14 flights if you book them without extras.

This is because the flight tends to be listed at cost or below cost to entice people in to go on the website.

According to The Flight Club, Ryanair has previously claimed that each passenger costs them about €34 (£29.55) to fly each way, excluding fuel.

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Broken down, this is about €8 (£6.95) for staff, €8 (£6.95) for airport and handling costs, €6 (£5.21) for travelling in the air space, €8 (£6.95) for aircraft ownership and maintenance and €4 (£3.48) for other expenses.

On the other hand, Wizz Air’s costs are around €52 (£45.19) per passenger per flight and easyJet’s are around €79 (£68.66) (again, both excluding fuel).

When looking at flights, once on an airline’s website you can get hooked in and before you know it you’re adding a return flight and luggage adding up to a figure far from that original £14 fare.

At the moment, the cheapest flight available is with Wizz Air to Gdansk in Poland, costing just £13.99 one-way.

But this is just one of a myriad of ‘cheap’ flights.

Other Wizz Air options include Seville in Spain for £19.99 one-way, or Barcelona and Valencia – also both in Spain – return flights for £40 each.

EasyJet has the second cheapest flight on offer, which is to Nice in France, costing £14.49 one-way.

Other cheap easyJet options include Fuerteventura in Spain for £16.99, Innsbruck in Austria for £16.99, Palma de Mallorca in Spain for £16.99 and Pisa in Italy for £16.99 – all one-way flights.

Ryanair then comes in a touch more expensive, with flights to to Alicante and Barcelona in Spain starting from £14.99 one-way.

The main issue with these flights from the offset? All of them except a handful fly out from London airports.

For those who don’t live in or near the capital, this is where your first additional cost will come in.

Either you spend money travelling to the London airports or you opt to fly from your local airport, but at the sacrifice of your ticket being more expensive.

The second cost on top of the flight price are add-ons.

And whilst these flights do exist, there are a lot of caveatsCredit: Getty

These include things like cabin bags and hold luggage.

For example, to add cabin luggage to each a Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair flight it would cost around an additional £32.97, £17.20 and £43.98 per person, per flight respectively.

These additional costs do also include standard seat selection and ‘speedy’ boarding for each airline.

Though if you want extra legroom, then again that will come at a price.

So if you intended to take anything more than a handbag, your flight will already be costing you a lot more.

Another issue is getting a flight back.

While one-way flights can be a bargain, prices tend to rise when you book a return.

For Gdansk, for example, the return leg costs around £28.99.

For example, they will mainly be from London AirportsCredit: Alamy

So the basic flight costs you more like £42 and with cabin luggage it would sit more around the £75 return mark.

One way to get around this is by having flexible holiday dates, as then you can choose the day with the cheapest return flight.

Other hidden costs include checking in at the airport, which Wizz Air charges €40 (£34.78) to do – more than double the price of the actual flight!

If you are travelling light and able to fit your stuff into a small bag (45cm x 36cm x 20cm for easyJet or 40cm x 30cm x 20cm for Wizz Air and Ryanair), then the cheap flights are worth it.

One centimetre bigger than this though, and it could cost you an additional £70 at the gate.

But if you do choose to fly with just a handbag that fits under the seat in front of you, then perhaps opt for easyJet to make the most of those extra few centimetres allowance.

On the other hand, if you are travelling as a family with extra luggage, who want to sit together and have fixed holiday dates, then maybe this isn’t the best offer.

If we take the £75 per person price for return flights to Gdansk as an example, a family of four, with two children aged over two (under twos don’t need their own plane seat), you could be looking at £300 for return flights.

Sometimes package holidays can be better value for moneyCredit: Alamy

And that’s before your hotel booking.

The better option for families is to book a package holiday that includes flights.

For example, you could stay in a sea view studio at Albatros Family Hotel in Salou, Costa Dorada in Spain for four nights, flying from London Gatwick on April 20 with four 10kg cabin bags and four 22kg hold suitcases and airport transfers for £573 total or just £143 each.

And for that price, you get hold luggage, which if you booked on a flight separately, it would cost you even more.

Of course, with a holiday package you also get peace of mind in case of things going wrong, as you’ll have ATOL Protection, which helps in cases of your travel operator going bust.

The bottom line?

If you are travelling with a backpack, and live near an airport, go for it.

For those who like to pack more or are travelling as a family, perhaps book a package to avoid the headache.

For more flight tips, here are the new 2026 travel hacks you need to know about.

Plus, our travel team’s best tips for flying with budget airlines from ‘free’ legroom seats to a cheap food hack.

Though if you travel with just a backpack, then cheap flights will work for youCredit: The Sun

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Major airlines STILL cancelling flights across Middle East

MORE than a thousand flights are still being cancelled a day due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Countries in the Middle East – such as the UAE, Qatar and Oman – have been dragged into the crisis since last week.

An Emirates airplane, with German tourists evacuated from the Middle East, arrives from Dubai at Frankfurt Airport.
Some flights from the Middle East are restarting – but most operations are still suspendedCredit: Reuters

And despite some relief flights now operating, thousands of Brits are still facing cancelled flights.

According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, 2,263 across the world have been cancelled today.

This includes more than 100 flights to and from the UK today, with 53 departing flights and 54 arriving flights.

The majority are to the UAE, so Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with Qatar, Israel, Bahrain and Kuwait.

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They warned: “We anticipate cancellations will continue for at least a week, as reported by the airlines.”

Emirates, who operate out of Dubai, is still suspending operations, said they were offering a “reduced flight schedule until further notice”.

They warned: “These flights are open for booking, and we are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority.

“Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.”

Anyone without a confirmed flight booking is being warned not to travel to the airport.

Qatar Airways has still suspended flights from Doha due to the closure of the Qatari airspace, with another update tomorrow at 6am.

Some limited relief flights are being operated from Muscat to Europe, including a flight to London Heathrow.

However the airline also warns: “Passengers are kindly requested not to proceed to the airport unless they have received an official notification from Qatar Airways for these flights.”

All Etihad Airways flights are suspended until at least 6am tomorrow.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has launched some limited repositioning and repatriation flights, which has include the UK.

British Airways says they are “unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv”.

Some limited routes are operating from Muscat.

Virgin Atlantic has relaunched flights from Dubai and Riyadh.

The Sun’s Travel Expert has answered all of your other travel questions.

We’ve also explained the latest safety advice for Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt.

British Airways planes parked at Palma de Mallorca airport.
British Airways is still unable to operate flightsCredit: Splash

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Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now? Latest holiday safety advice and flight update

THE ongoing Iran crisis has resulted in a number of new travel warnings for some popular holiday destinations.

Here is everything you need to know about a holiday to Egypt right now.

A marina in Hurghada, Egypt, with numerous boats and a mosque with two minarets.
We explain everything to know about travelling to Egypt right nowCredit: Alamy

Is Egypt safe to travel to?

The tourist resorts of Egypt are currently safe to travel to which includes Sharm el Sheikh, Marsa Alam and Hurghada.

There are some parts of Egypt which the UK Foreign Office advises against travelling to.

All travel to the the border of Libya is banned, as is the area near the Israel border.

All but essential travel is in place in other areas of Egypt, including:

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  • Northern part of South Sinai
  • Eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate
  • Western Desert

However, the tourist resorts as well as Cairo – home to the pyramids – and Luxor are still safe to travel to right now.

Do keep an eye on the travel advice, as it can change at short notice.

They warn “there is a heightened risk of regional tension. Escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts.”

Are flights to Egypt affected?

Flights to Egypt have not been affected by the Iran crisis.

Brits travelling from the UK to parts of Egypt on the safe list are not being affected.

Some flights from the Middle East to Egypt, such as from Dubai to Doha, are still being disrupted.

However, this wont affected anyone travelling to Egypt from the UK.

What if I have a holiday to Egypt booked?

Package holidays to Egypt are currently unaffected by the Iran crisis.

As Egypt is deemed safe to travel to, tour operators are not obligated to give you a refund if you decide to cancel.

You will be left out of pocket if you decide not to travel to Egypt.

Some cruise companies have cancelled upcoming routes out of caution due to the ongoing conflict.

Viking has cancelled its Nile River cruises until the end of March, along with Avalon Waterways.

And Intrepid has cancelled all Egypt trips up until the end of March.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explains: “It is very understandable that travellers would be a little nervous of the proximity of Egypt to the current crisis.

“However, Hurghada and Marsa Alam are hundreds of miles away from the conflict zone and holidays there should not be impacted at all.

“I had tipped Egypt as one of the stand-out destinations for British travellers to enjoy 5* luxury at great value prices this year.

“I travelled to Luxor, Hurghada and Marsa Alam in February and could not have felt safer with the Egyptians taking security very seriously.”

Lisa also answered all of your other holiday and travel questions here.

Beach with straw umbrellas and palm trees on the Red Sea in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.
Most holidays are still going ahead to EgyptCredit: Alamy

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Is Cyprus safe to travel to? Latest holiday advice after flights cancelled following Iran strike

CYPRUS is one of the European countries that has been drawn into the Iran crisis.

Flights were cancelled earlier this week after a drone strike from Iran hit an RAF base, resulting in a major airport being temporarily evacuated.

Aerial view of the coastline and city architecture of Larnaca, Cyprus, with a marina full of boats.
Everything you need to know about travel to Cyprus right nowCredit: Alamy

Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Cyprus right now.

Is Cyprus safe to travel to?

Cyprus is still on the safe travel list, with no areas deemed too dangerous for travel.

However, there is some updated advice following the RAF base attack.

The UK Foreign Office website currently states: “On March 2, 2026, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed a suspected drone impact at RAF Akrotiri.

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“British nationals in the Sovereign Base Areas should follow instructions from the Sovereign Base Areas Administration British Bases Cyprus Facebook British nationals in the Republic of Cyprus should follow any instructions from Cypriot local authorities.”

This is mainly for Brits living in the area, rather than tourists in the resorts of Larnaca and Paphos.

The latest travel advice for the rest of Cyprus states: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.”

Are flights to Cyprus affected?

Some flights to Cyprus have been cancelled in recent days.

EasyJet and British Airways cancelled a number of flights from the UK on Monday and Tuesday.

Today, easyJet cancelled four flights from the UK today – London Gatwick flight to Larnaca, as well as flights from BristolManchester and Edinburgh to Paphos.

TUI cancelled four flights to Cyprus, affecting flights from BournemouthEast Midlands, and Cardiff to Paphos.

A TUI spokesperson told Sun Travel: “In light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, we have taken the decision to cancel the four TUI Airways flights scheduled to travel to Cyprus on March 4.

British Airways cancelled its London Heathrow flight to Larnaca today as well.

Brits with flights later this week should keep on eye on the current status as they could still be cancelled at short notice.

What if I have a holiday booked to Cyprus?

With travel still deemed safe in Cyprus, holidays are still going ahead.

If you decide to cancel, you will be left out of pocket as tour operators are under no obligation to issue a refund.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot said: “Only if the advice were to change, would your travel company have to offer you the chance to amend your travel to a different date or offer you a full refund.

“We have had lots of questions about holidays to Cyprus – both Larnaca and Paphos, later in June, July and September and the advice really remains the same.

“Unless you have paid a minimal deposit, you should continue to make payments.

“If you cancel now you could lose money – and discover that holidays are significantly more expensive when you look to book again.”

“What is important is to make sure you have bought good travel insurance NOW to cover you in the run up to your holiday dates. A lot can happen in the coming months.”

The Sun’s Head of Travel has answered some other questions regarding holidays right now.

Aerial view of Limassol city, Cyprus, showing the coastline, sea, and architecture.
Cyprus holidays are still going ahead, although some flights have been cancelledCredit: Alamy

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United Airlines enforces new ‘headphone’ rule for ALL passengers

FLYING with United Airlines should be more peaceful after it vowed to boot off selfish passengers who refuse to wear headphones.

Travelers have applauded the rule change after being infuriated by audio blasting from fellow flyers binge-watching videos.

United Airlines is taking a stronger stand against annoying passengers who blast their personal devices in cabins – without headphonesCredit: Getty
United Airlines wants passengers to stop listening to personal electronic devices without headphonesCredit: Getty

In what is believed to be an industry-first, the carrier has issued a permanent flying ban policy over noise in cabins, according to travel sources.

United Airlines updated its contract of carriage last month to include a section on listening to personal electronic devices.

It now warns that passengers who refuse to don headphones while listening to audio or watching video can be removed from the aircraft.

The threat comes under its “breach of contract of carriage – failure by passenger to comply with the rules of the contract of carriage” section.

United said it could “remove passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

UA also stated it had the “right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis.”

The warning was published under rule 21 – one of 30 rules published for passengers, including service complaints and baggage policies.

“The contract of carriage was updated Feb. 27 to add the headphone language,” a spokeswoman confirmed to The U.S. Sun today.

She said it followed last year’s introduction of Starlink Wi-Fi with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens.

“We’ve always encouraged customers to use headphones when listening to audio content,” she added.

“And our Wi-Fi rules already remind customers to use headphones.

“With the expansion of Starlink, it seemed like a good time to make that even clearer by adding it to the contract of carriage.”

United Airlines is trying to make flyers act in a more respectful way towards fellow passengersCredit: AFP

United had “quietly amended its contract of carriage,” commented CBS News yesterday.

“It’s usually only a small number of folks on airplanes who are making noise by not using headphones, so this is a graceful way to handle those folks,” said travel expert Scott Keyes.

He told the broadcaster that he didn’t know of any other major U.S. airline with a similar rule.

Those snubbing the headphone rule could be permanently banned from flying with United AirlinesCredit: Getty

United Airlines’ strong line has been widely applauded by flyers and travel experts.

“Some flyers have become such inconsiderate pigs,” said one man.

“If you’re one of those a***holes that blasts audio from your phone without headphones, United Airlines might just ban you from their flight,” warned another on social media.

“This is a rule I can get behind!” wrote one thrilled passenger.

“The sheer volume of people who seem to think I want to hear their phone conversations/video/music in public spaces is only growing.”

United Airlines to ban passengers who don’t wear headphones

The new rule targets travelers using personal electronic devices

Rule 21 Refusal of Transport:

“UA shall have the right to refuse transport on a permanent or temporary basis or shall have the right to remove from the aircraft at any point, any passenger for the following reasons:

“Breach of contract of carriage – failure by passenger to comply with the rules of the contract of carriage.

“Passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content.”

Source: United Airlines

One travel writer, Johnny Jet, said it was one of his “pet peeves.”

He said it had become a “widespread habit” that is “inconsiderate.”

United’s “revised language specifically includes passengers who fail to use headphones,” he noted.

The rule is aimed at flyers who “violate a basic form of etiquette and common courtesy,” reported Simple Flying.

The travel website added that many carriers – including American Airlines – have quiet cabin policies.

But, the difference with United Airlines’ stance is that it’s the first to ban travelers without headphones who blast audio from their devices.

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Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now? Latest holiday advice and flight news amid Iran crisis

WITH the current ongoing Iran crisis, Brits are quite fairly worried about their upcoming holidays.

Concerns have risen over the safety of Turkey, after NATO was forced to shoot down a missile in Turkish airspace earlier today, resulting in debris falling in the Dortyol district.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, with its large dome and six minarets, overlooking the water.
Here is everything you need to know about Turkey holidaysCredit: Alamy

Here is everything you need to know if you have any travel to Turkey this year.

Is Turkey safe to travel to?

Yes, most of Turkey is still considered safe to travel to.

The only parts of Turkey that the UK Foreign Office warns against is the border of Syria, which is along the east of the country.

It warns: “FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.”

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However, most Brits visit the west coast of Turkey, particularly the seaside resorts, which are hundreds of miles away.

The only advice currently for the rest of Turkey is: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.”

Do keep an eye on the latest travel advice on the government website here.

Are flights to Turkey cancelled?

No, flights to Turkey are being unaffected for anyone travelling from the UK to Turkey.

Some flights coming from the Middle East, such as from Dubai and Doha, are likely to be affected to Turkey right now.

However, Brits travelling from Britain will still be able to fly to Turkey without cancellations caused by the Iran crisis.

What if I have a holiday booked to Turkey?

If you have a holiday booked, you will not be able to cancel it without being left out of pocket.

As Turkey is safe to travel, you will not be given your money back if you choose not to travel.

Holidays to all tourist destinations in Turkey are still be going ahead.

This includes destinations such as Istanbul, Bodrum, Antalya and Fethiye.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explains: “As the advice is that it is safe to travel, tour operators and airlines are under no obligation to offer you a refund if you choose not to travel.

“While some people may feel uneasy, the distances involved mean it is extremely unlikely that anything would impact your holiday.

“With all package holidays, you have enhanced protection should the situation change.

“If the Foreign Office changes its advice to all but essential travel, you will have extra rights to a refund or amended date.

“But right now, that is not necessary as trips to the popular Mediterranean Turkish resorts are safe.”

The Sun’s Head of Travel has answered some other questions regarding holidays right now.

Aerial view of Kumlubuk beach in Marmaris with the sea, mountains, and several boats.
Turkey holidays remain safe right nowCredit: Alamy

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Airlines FINALLY restart limited flights from the Middle East after five days of chaos

A NUMBER of airlines are starting to relaunch limited flights back to the UK from the Middle East.

Thousands of flights have been cancelled in recent days following the US-Iran conflict, which affected destinations such as Dubai and Doha.

Flights remain cancelled although airlines are starting limited repatriation routesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Some passengers have returned to the UK from Abu DhabiCredit: PA

This lead to the closure of both major airports and, being major flight hubs, resulted in hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded abroad.

While some parts of the airspace are still closed, some airlines have confirmed a few flights will start taking off.

Emirates, one of the worst affected airlines being based in Dubai, confirmed a “limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights” will take off today.

This includes seven flights to the UK, to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh.

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However, they warned that this was for passengers with earlier bookings.

Otherwise the airline warned: “All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 12pm UAE time on March 4, due to airspace closures across the region. 

“Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified directly by Emirates, or hold a confirmed booking for these flights.”

Virgin Atlantic has also launched relaunched flight from Dubai and Riyadh back to the UK.

They said: “Following our latest assessments and in line with guidance from international aviation authorities, some of our flights are now operating in the region.”

And Etihad confirmed that some repositioning and repatriation flights had taken.

But they also warned that flights were suspended until at least 2pm on March 5.

British Airways is yet to restart flights from the Middle East.

Qatar Airways confirmed flights from Doha are yet to relaunch, with another update to take place on Friday.

They confirmed: “Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

“Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace.

“A further update will be provided on March 6 by 9am Doha time (6am UTC).”

Despite this, hundreds of thousands of people are still stranded abroad.

Tourists in destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bali are being forced to look at alternative routes home due to the ongoing Dubai and Doha closures.

The Sun’s Head of Travel explains your rights if affected by the cancellations

Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, said:

For passengers meant to be flying in or out of the region, your rights depend on whether you were flying directly in or out of the UK or EU or if you are flying with an UK or EU airline.

Those who are will not get compensation as it is not the fault of the airline but they do have a duty of care to look after impacted passengers – depending on the length of the delay that could include food and drink, a means of communicating and if necessary, overnight accommodation.

Those flying on non-UK or EU carriers may find their rights are slightly different if they are not on a direct flight to the UK as different rules apply and you may not be provided with the same assistance.

They are, however, expected to offer you the right to a refund or another flight in the case of cancellations.

As well as those directly impacted by cancelled flights, the closure of so much of the Middle Eastern airspace will mean even more congestion on alternative routes that could impact flights across the globe.

For those due to travel in the coming days, staying in contact with your airline and checking before travelling to the airport is essential as schedules may change at short notice.

The Sun’s Head of Travel answered all of your questions about any holidays you have planned.

We’ve also explained if you are covered by travel insurance if caught up in the chaos.

Most flights are cancelled until at least tomorrowCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Our Travel Expert answers YOUR questions on flights and holidays amid Iran crisis

HUNDREDS of you, Sun Readers, have reached out to us about your holidays concerns because of the ongoing Iran crisis.

So our Travel Expert – Head of Travel, Lisa Minot – is answering them all for you.

We’ve answered all of your holiday questions from trips to Cyprus, Greece and Egypt to what to do if travelling via DubaiCredit: Alamy

From whether Greece is safe to whether you can cancel your holiday for a refund, here is everything you need to know.

We are going to Cyprus in June and the balance is due by March 17, should we still pay it?

Although many Sun readers are concerned about their holidays to Cyprus following on from the attack on the RAF airbase on the island and the cancellation of flights from British Airways, easyJet and TUI, currently the UK Foreign Office has not issued any warnings about travel to the island.

Unlike the UAE, where the current advises against all but essential travel, Cyprus remains on the safe to travel list.

If you do not pay the balance of your holiday, you face losing the money you have paid to your travel provider so far.

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If the advice were to change, your travel company would have to offer you the chance to amend your travel to a different date or offer you a full refund.

We have had lots of questions about holidays to Cyprus – both Larnaca and Paphos, later in June, July and September and the advice really remains the same.

Unless you have paid a minimal deposit, you should continue to make payments. If you cancel now you could lose money – and discover that holidays are significantly more expensive when you look to book again.

What is important is to make sure you have bought good travel insurance NOW to cover you in the run up to your holiday dates. A lot can happen in the coming months.

Take the time to enquire about what you would be covered for in terms of delays and cancellations as these can vary from policy to policy.

Will this affect holidays in Egypt? We’re due to fly there in May for our honeymoon

While it is very understandable that travellers would be a little nervous of the proximity of Egypt to the current crisis, the popular Egyptian Red Sea resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Hurgahda and Marsa Alam as well as the majority of Egypt including ancient cities of Cairo and Luxor are NOT under any Foreign Office travel ban.

While no one can predict what is going to happen in the region, it is currently considered safe to travel to these destinations and your tour operator or airline is under no obligation to refund you if you chose not to travel. 

Hurghada and Marsa Alam are hundreds of miles away from the conflict zone and holidays there should not be impacted at all.

I had tipped Egypt as one of the stand-out destinations for British travellers to enjoy 5* luxury at great value prices this year.

Increased flights from the UK and an ever greater number of new luxury resorts mean it still offers guaranteed sunshine for all budgets.

I travelled to Luxor, Hurghada and Marsa Alam in February and could not have felt safer with the Egyptians taking security very seriously.

Is Greece safe to travel, being so close to Turkey?

Yes Greece is safe to travel to – and is not under any UK Foreign Office travel warnings.

The main popular tourist resorts in both Greece and Turkey are many thousands of miles from the current problems in the Middle East.

If you choose to cancel a holiday you have already made payments on you will NOT get your money back as your travel company is under no legal obligation to refund you.

A refund is only triggered if the Foreign Office advises against all travel or all but essential travel.

Again, ensuring you have fully comprehensive travel insurance from the moment you make your booking is really important to give you added protection in the run up to your trip. 

We’ve had questions from Sun readers looking at trips to Corfu and Rhodes this summer – they should be reassured that the chance of holidays to these islands being impacted, while not impossible, is extremely unlikely.

Greece remains safe to travel to, with holidays and flights not affectedCredit: Alamy

Will travel disruption escalate to the Canary Islands travel from the UK?

While nothing can be guaranteed in these extraordinary times, there is nothing whatsoever to lead me to think that the current crisis will have any impact at all on holidays to the Canary Islands from the UK.

It is understandable that people are worried about the situation, but all of the Canary Islands – along with the rest of Spain – remain on the Foreign Office’s safe to travel list and there is no indication this will change at all. 

There is not any worry about international travel as a whole at the moment and airlines and tour operators take the safety and security of their passengers extremely seriously. 

There should be no issues with travel this summer, where lots of Sun readers are looking forward to holidays.

Are Turkey resorts affected? We have a holiday booked for half-term

No – at present Turkey is not impacted at all by the current situation.

While there are Foreign Office bans on travel to the border between Turkey and Syria, the entire rest of the country is safe to travel to.

The popular coastal resorts of Dalaman, Bodrum, Antalya, Side, Marmaris and more are many thousands of miles from the conflict zone.

As the advice is that it is safe to travel, tour operators and airlines are under no obligation to offer you a refund if you choose not to travel. If you decide to cancel your trip, you will lose any money you have paid.

While some people may feel uneasy, the distances involved mean it is extremely unlikely that anything would impact your holiday.

With all package holidays, you have enhanced protection should the situation change.

If the Foreign Office changes its advice to all but essential travel, you will have extra rights to a refund or amended date.

But right now, that is not necessary as trips to the popular Mediterranean Turkish resorts are safe.

We am due to fly to Dubai March 12-18, having paid £6,000 for a package through Emirates. Do you know where I stand with cancelling?

With the huge popularity of holidays to Dubai – more than 1.47MILLION British travellers headed to the Emirate in 2025 – the Foreign Office now advising against all but essential travel will have a huge impact on those with upcoming holidays.

As the situation remains so uncertain, airlines and travel companies are dealing with upcoming bookings on a rolling basis – prioritising those who are due to travel soonest first.

As of today, passengers with bookings up to March 10 can request a refund directly from Emirates via an online form – and you should expect to receive that refund within a week.

But as your holiday doesn’t depart until March 12 you will have to contact Emirates directly to see if they will allow you to amend your booking or get a refund.

I totally appreciate that this is going to be challenging with many hundreds of thousands of travellers looking to rebook flights and holidays.

Right now, British Airways Holidays are offering rebooking options for those travelling up to March 8 to request a refund.

Those travelling up to March 15 can change their holiday dates or destination free of charge if they depart before March 29.

If you amend to a holiday that is more expensive, you’ll have to pay the difference. If it is cheaper, BA will refund you the difference.

Those travelling after March 15 can change their booking up to 14 days before travel for a fee of £100 or if within 14 days of travel for a fee of £500. 

Virgin Atlantic Holidays has the same options in place for the same dates.

 If you have bought travel insurance – and I really do recommend everyone does this from the MOMENT they book their holiday – it would be a good idea to contact them as well to see if there is anything you can claim for.

Anyone with holidays from April onwards, I recommend keeping an eye on the current travel advice, but do not cancel holidays unless you want to be out of pocket.

Emirates passengers travelling via Dubai in the upcoming days will be contactedCredit: Reuters

My daughter is due to return from Mauritius via Dubai on March 5 with Emirates Airlines. Will this be possible & what are her options?

Emirates has only suspended flights until midnight on March 4.

However this is likely to be extended as they are currently only operating repatriation flights for passengers who are stranded in Dubai.

It is advised for your daughter to contact Emirates and see if there is an alternative way to travel home.

Emirates must provide her with an alternative flight home, or a refund.

However, be aware that if she accepts a refund, your daughter will have to pay for her own alternative flight home which might be quicker, but much more expensive and she will not be able to claim the difference back from Emirates.

Air Mauritius offers direct flights from Mauritius to UK, otherwise airlines with non-Dubai stopovers include Air France (stopover in Paris) and Lufthansa (stopover in Frankfurt).

I have a long-haul holiday planned later this year, stopping in the Middle East. Should I cancel my trip or find another airline?

We have had lots of questions from you about upcoming holidays with stopovers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar – seeing as they’re huge hub airports for Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, this isn’t surprising.

This includes destinations such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bali, China, Vietnam, Australia and Pakistan. 

If you have partly paid for your holidays for any of the above destinations, you must still pay the remaining balance or you will be left out of pocket.

It is only if the UK Foreign Office advises against any travel to these destinations that you will be able to cancel a holiday for a refund.

Unless you are travelling in the next few days, it is likely the holidays will still go ahead.

 If you are wary of booking a stop over in the Middle East, then other popular destinations include Singapore, with Singapore Airlines, or Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific and Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.

I’m confused about the government advice and where travel companies stand – surely a holiday shouldn’t be classed as “essential travel”?

I appreciate the travel warnings can be slightly confusing, so I’ll break them down for you.

There are two travel warnings from the UK Foreign Office – “against all but essential travel” and “against all travel”.

If the advice is against all travel, package holiday companies and airlines have to give you a refund.

If the advice is against all but essential travel the legal standing is a little more complicated. 

However, most travel companies will offer to refund or amend your booking as they recognise they will not be able to provide you with the trip you purchased due to exceptional circumstances.

Most holidays in Europe – including Spain and Greece – are unaffectedCredit: Getty

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These are TUI’s most-loved hotels in Spain, Turkey and Greece for 2026

THINKING of booking a holiday? Well, it’s perfect timing as TUI has just announced its most-loved hotels across the world.

Over 13,000 hotels have been assessed with only those achieving top Customer Satisfaction Scores being considered for the awards.

TUI Blue Barut Andiz has been named the best hotel by BritsCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The adults-only hotel is in Side, TürkiyeCredit: Cezare White Photography – http://www.c

And coming out on top for UK holidaymakers, is TUI Blue Barut Andiz in Türkiye.

Located in the town of Side, the adults-only hotel scored the highest guest ratings across the entire TUI portfolio.

UK travellers noted how the hotel has friendly staff, brilliant food and a chilled, child-free setting.

Inside the hotel, guests can dine at two à la carte restaurants on a first-floor terrace whilst looking out at the sea.

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When booking via TUI, you’ll get one free visit to the hotel’s signature à la carte restaurant – the Culinarium – which specialises in seafood and hosts themed evenings.

As for bars, you can enjoy the orange glow of the evening at the Sunset Bar or enjoy a tipple by the water at the Meltem Pool Bar.

Need some caffeine? Well, you can head to Thea’s Coffee Shop for ice cream, desserts and of course, hot drinks.

The hotel also boasts a spa with a Turkish bath and a mix of solo and couples treatment rooms.

This year the hotel is celebrating 10 years since opening and as a result, throughout this summer will be hosting a number of celebratory fitness sessions, food experiences, live music events, silent discos and parties.

Fitness sessions include BLUEfit, which are outdoor instructor-led sessions including Aqua Board classes, Pilates and yoga.

Around the hotel, you can head to the beach, which is just a few minutes’ walk away.

And Side’s old town is also not too far, where you can explore Roman ruins with glass walkways that sit over dug-out ruins.

If you want to discover artefacts that have been found during the excavations in the old town, then head to Side Museum, which costs £4.36 per person to visit.

A seven-night all-inclusive stay for two people in a double room with a balcony this April costs from £1,389.32.

Other hotels that won an award include Hotel Fariones in LanzaroteCredit: BRUTO_ESTUDIO
It won the award in the best hotel in Spain and Portugal categoryCredit: BRUTO_ESTUDIO
TUI Magic Life Sarigerme was named the best hotel for families

Perhaps you are wanting to go on holiday with the family though? Then look at TUI Magic Life Sarigerme, which has been named the best family-friendly hotel.

Also located in Türkiye, the hotel features five swimming pools, seven bars and four restaurants – all sat on the beachfront.

The hotel is just a 20-minute drive from Dalaman but also right by Sarigerme Beach, which is a large, sprawling beach loved by locals for kitesurfing.

There is even a watersports centre on the beach if you want to try out kitesurfing for yourself.

An all-inclusive seven-night stay for two adults this April in a double room costs from £1,383.68.

Fancy heading to Greece? Well, Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel and Suites has been named the best hotel in the Cyprus and Greece category.

The best TUI hotels – Regional and lifestyle categories

  • Best Hotel Northern & Central Europe: Hotel Caravel
  • Best Hotel Spain & Portugal: Hotel Fariones
  • Best Hotel Greece & Cyprus: Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites
  • Best Hotel Türkiye & Balkans: TUI BLUE Barut Andiz
  • Best Hotel Middle East & Africa: Steigenberger Resort Alaya
  • Best Hotel Asia & Indian Ocean: ROBINSON NOONU
  • Best Hotel Americas: Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancún
  • Best Hotel Family Friendly: TUI MAGIC LIFE Sarigerme
  • Best Hotel Food & Gastronomy: Liberty Hotels Lykia Adults Only 
  • Best Hotel Customer Service: Mike’s Hotel & Apartments

With its own private beach, there are two restaurants to pick from as well, serving traditional Mediterranean dishes.

There are two outdoor freshwater pools, an indoor pool and even a whirlpool.

Over the summer months, the hotel usually also puts on entertainment such as live music.

Two adults can stay for seven-nights on a bed and breakfast basis this May from £2,114.82 in a double room with a sea view.

And if you are thinking about heading to Spain, you might want to book in to Hotel Fariones in Lanzarote.

The hotel came out on top for the best in Spain and Portugal category and boasts two pools, three restaurants and direct access to the Playa Grande Beach.

Just a short walk away, you can discover Puerto Del Carmen’s Old Town where you will find a selection of restaurants and bars.

A seven-night break for two adults this May costs from £2,509.14, on a bed and breakfast basis in a double room with a sea view.

For more inspiration on hotels in Europe to book, here’s Europe’s number one beach hotel with a huge pool and sea-view suites.

Plus, Europe’s biggest hotel is in a VERY surprising part of the UK – with 1,630 rooms.

TUI global recognitions awards

  • Sustainability Award: Lagoon Attitude Mauritius
  • Best Boutique Hotel Globally: Lindos Blu Luxury Hotel & Suites
  • Best Large Hotel Globally: TUI BLUE Sarigerme Park
  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Abel Matutes Tur

The hotel is also in Türkiye and features five pools

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20 destinations where Foreign Office is warning Brits NOT to travel

FROM political conflicts to natural disasters, British nationals have been advised against visiting a number of countries.

And with the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the Foreign Office’s has issued a number of updates to its “do not travel” advice.

Hand holding a black British blue passport, issued after Brexit.
British nationals are advised to steer clear of 76 no-go zones across the globe (stock image)Credit: Alamy

Travel warnings are in place for 76 destinations for British nationals, with some advice only applying to specified areas of the named country.

The FCDO has also outlined countries, or parts of countries where only “essential travel” is advised.

The Foreign Office clarified: “Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision.

“You may have urgent family or business commitments which you need to attend to.

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“Only you can make an informed decision based on your own individual circumstances and the risks.”

In general, travelling to a country or region where the advice is against all but essential travel will also invalidate most travel insurance policies.

Countries with updated travel warnings

Afghanistan

While Afghanistan was already classified as a no-travel destination by the FCDO, its website flagged that there is “new information about heightened tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan”.

British nationals are advised: “You should not travel to Afghanistan. The security situation is volatile and tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have previously resulted in violent clashes in border regions.”

The warning described travel throughout the country as “extremely dangerous”, noting that “a number of border crossings are not currently open”.

It also flagged a “heightened risk of British nationals being detained”, with the potential of “years of imprisonment” and “extrememly limited support” from the FCDO.

Armenia (certain areas)

The FCDO also advises against all travel to regions surrounding the Armenia-Azerbaijan border due to tensions between the nations.

Azerbaijan (certain areas)

As well as avoiding the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, the FCDO advises British nationals against all but essential travel to southwestern Azerbaijan.

Bahrain

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Bahrain and is also encouraging Britons currently in the country to register their presence.

Egypt (certain areas)

All travel to Egyptian zones near Israel as well as the Egypt-Libya border should be avoided.

The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to Egypt’s Western Desert.

Warnings are not currently in place for popular holiday destinations such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada.

Iran

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Iran, with “regional escalation posing significant security risks”.

The latest update advises British nationals already in Iran to “carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying”.

The FCDO warned: “British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention.

“Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.”

Iraq

Iraq is also on the FCDO’s “do not travel” list, with British nationals warned of a “significant risk of further escalation”, with the situation described as “fast-moving and unpredictable”.

Israel

The FCDO now advises against all travel to Israel, with British nationals currently in the nation told to register their location and follow local guidance.

Jordan

British nationals are advised against all but essential travel to Jordan, while any area located within 3km (approximately 1.8 miles) of the Jordan-Syria border should be avoided entirely.

Kuwait

All but essential travel should also be avoided to Kuwait, with the FCDO advising British nationals already in the country to immediately shelter in place “due to reported missile attacks”.

“Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel, and follow instructions from the local authorities,” the Foreign Office said in its official update.

Lebanon

The FCDO advises against all travel to the borders between Lebanon-Syria and Lebanon-Israel.

Meanwhile, all travel to certain areas of Beirut should also be avoided, while the rest of the country should be avoided unless travel is essential.

Oman (certain areas)

A shelter in place warning is in place for Brits currently in specific regions of Oman, specificially the city of Duqm and surrounding areas.

British nationals currently visiting Salalah, or within 100km, are advised to leave as soon as possible “if commercial means allow” and to follow the advice of local authorities.

Pakistan (certain areas)

The FCDO advises against all travel within 10 miles of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with a comprehensive list of areas to avoid in the region.

All but essential travel is also recommended within five miles of the Pakistan-India Border Area.

Palestine

All travel to Palestine is not advised, with British nationals encouraged to register their presence in the country.

Qatar

The FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to Qatar, with immediate shelter in place warnings for British nationals “due to reported missile attacks”.

Saudi Arabia (certain areas)

British nationals are urged to steer clear of areas within 80km (roughly 50 miles) of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border region.

Britons currently in Saudi Arabia are currently adised to “immediately shelter in place”.

Syria

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Syria, warning regional escalation posing “significant security risks”, leading to travel disruption.

Turkey (certain areas)

The zone within 10km (just over six miles) of the Turkey-Syria border should be avoided, according to the FCDO.

But all other areas, including tourist areas like Istanbul and Bodrum are considered safe to visit.

Yemen

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Yemen, telling British nationals: “If you’re in Yemen, you should leave immediately.”

And as of March 3, the FCDO is not advising against travel to Cyprus after strikes at an RAF base in Akrotiri.

British nationals in the Republic of Cyprus are advised to “follow any instructions from Cypriot local authorities”.

Scroll down for the full list of countries on the Foreign Office’s “do not travel” list.

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More flights cancelled with hundreds of thousands still stranded abroad in fourth day of airspace closures

FLIGHTS are continuing to be cancelled as the travel chaos caused by the Middle East conflict enters a fourth day.

Limited flights were permitted to take off last night, which included an Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to London.

Flights are continuing to be cancelled today across the Middle EastCredit: AFP
Airlines are warning passengers not to travel to the airport unless contactedCredit: Reuters

However the majority of airlines have confirmed that most flights remain cancelled.

According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, around 73 flights are scheduled from the UK to the Middle East, working out to nearly 25,000 passengers affected today.

Emirates, which operates out of Dubai, confirmed that “limited flights” took off yesterday.

However, this was only for passengers with earlier bookings, and only those who are being contacted by Emirates.

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They warned: “Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified.

“All other flights remain suspended until further notice.”

Etihad also operated limited flights yesterday across Asia and Europe, which included a flight to London.

However, most scheduled flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until at least 2pm tomorrow.

In a statement, it confirmed: “Passengers should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad Airways and advised to do so.”

Qatar Airways confirmed this morning that flight operations were “still suspended due to the closure of the Qatari airspace”.

It added: “Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace.

“A further update will be provided on March 4 by 9am Doha time.”

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled its Dubai to London flight today but has not yet confirmed any cancellations tomorrow.

And British Airways said they have “cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East”.

Most airlines are allowing passengers to ask for a full refund, or can move their flights to a later date without any additiona charge.

Yesterday, the General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE – in a very rare move – confirmed that the state would cover all accommodation and hosting costs for stranded passengers.

Most airports remain closed in the UAE and Qatar due to the airspace closuresCredit: Reuters

The Sun’s Head of Travel explains your rights if affected by the cancellations

Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, said:

For passengers meant to be flying in or out of the region, your rights depend on whether you were flying directly in or out of the UK or EU or if you are flying with an UK or EU airline.

Those who are will not get compensation as it is not the fault of the airline but they do have a duty of care to look after impacted passengers – depending on the length of the delay that could include food and drink, a means of communicating and if necessary, overnight accommodation.

Those flying on non-UK or EU carriers may find their rights are slightly different if they are not on a direct flight to the UK as different rules apply and you may not be provided with the same assistance.

They are, however, expected to offer you the right to a refund or another flight in the case of cancellations.

As well as those directly impacted by cancelled flights, the closure of so much of the Middle Eastern airspace will mean even more congestion on alternative routes that could impact flights across the globe.

For those due to travel in the coming days, staying in contact with your airline and checking before travelling to the airport is essential as schedules may change at short notice.

This means anyone still stuck in Dubai or Abu Dhabi will be able to stay at hotels free of charge, as well as not pay for any additional costs like food and drink.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explains everything to do know about travelling to the Middle East right now.

Emirates and Etihad operated limited flights yesterday but the majority have been suspendedCredit: Getty

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14 of the best holiday parks in the UK from £19 a night

TELLY viewers have been delighting in the trials and tribulations of actor Danny Dyer and his Love Islander daughter Dani as they invest in, and manage, a holiday caravan park.

The Dyers’ Caravan Park, on Sky, is filmed at the Priory Hill site on Kent’s Isle of Sheppey – and has seen increased interest in park life, reports staycation giant Hoseasons.

Danny Dyer and daughter Dani invest in, and manage, a holiday caravan park in The Dyer’s Caravan ParkCredit: © Sky UK Limited
We have rounded up 14 of the best holiday parks in the UK for all types of breaksCredit: Supplied

It says bookings are up 29 per cent for pet-friendly breaks, and nine per cent for couples.

So where to book your break?

Lisa Minot suggests the perfect parks for all types . . . 

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BEST FOR BEACHES

Sun Haven Holiday Park in Cornwall is just outside Newquay’s famous bayCredit: Supplied

SUN HAVEN HOLIDAY PARK, CORNWALL: Featuring a “secret” woodland path leading to dog-friendly Mawgan Porth Beach, above, 15 minutes away, this holiday park just outside Newquay’s famous bay is perfect for a seaside break.

It’s a surfer’s paradise and is just a short drive from the waves of Fistral Beach.

You can choose between holiday homes, rustic shepherd’s huts and modern, luxury lodges. Prices start from £322 for seven nights.

NORTH SHORE HOLIDAY PARK, SKEGNESS: This park is perfectly positioned just a ten-minute stroll from Skegness’ Blue Flag sands and its lively pier.

On site, families can enjoy an 18-hole pitch-and-putt, tennis courts and a classic arcade as well as the park’s very own pub.

There are apartments, caravans and lodges to stay in. Prices start from £165 for seven nights.

BEST FOR FAMILIES

Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Devon has a private beachCredit: Supplied

LADRAM BAY HOLIDAY PARK, DEVON: Having been family-run for 75 years, Ladram Bay, knows what a multi-generational getaway should be.

It’s won awards, not just for its knockout activities, which includes the Fae & Flurry interactive dragon show, and adventure golf, but also its modern static caravans, some of which come with hot tubs.

There is a private beach, too, for rockpooling and kayaking. From £305 for seven nights.

RIVERSIDE HOLIDAY VILLAGE, SOMERSET: An absolute haven for young nature lovers, tucked away in the village of Bleadon, Riverside has walking trails galore on its doorstep.

There’s also an on-site fishing lake.

Meanwhile, big kids will love the indoor heated swimming pool with a splash pool for younger tots, the amusement arcade, a convenience shop and two adventure playgrounds.

Prices from £325 for seven nights.

BEST FOR COUPLES

Crake Valle in the Lake District has a number of quaint two-person lodgesCredit: Supplied

CRAKE VALLEY, LAKE DISTRICT: Few regions in the UK offer views more breathtaking than the Lakes – and at Crake Valley couples will be blown away by the spectacular setting, above Coniston Water and backed by craggy fells.

There are a number of quaint two-person lodges, which come with log burners and hot tubs ideal for stargazing under the sparkling sky.

Prices from £409 for seven nights.

MULLION COVE COASTAL RETREAT, CORNWALL: Couples can hunker down in the one-bedroom Porthleven Premier lodges which feature French doors leading on to a spacious decking area complete with sunken Jacuzzi.

Tucked away just above Cornwall’s Mullion Cove, the secluded setting makes for a great off-grid escape where you can while away the hours with a book, or watch the sun set.

Prices from £295 for seven nights.

BEST FOR WATERPARK FUN

Tropical Waterworld has twirling waterslides and splash zonesCredit: Parkdean Resorts

VAUXHALL HOLIDAY PARK, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK: Tropical Waterworld, is undoubtedly the shining star of this action-packed holiday park, kitted out with twirling waterslides and splash zones that will get adrenaline junkies’ hearts pumping.

Kids will love the treehouse adventure playground, jungle golf and mini golf.

Satisfy little tummies with fish and chips, pizza, fried chicken and ice cream. From £139 for seven nights.

TRELAWNE MANOR, CORNWALL: Waterslide, lake or pool?

You can take your pick at this Cornish gem, set in the grounds of a stately home in Looe.

The outdoor pool, with whooshing flume, is so large that it never gets too crowded.

Kids can have a play on the amusements while adults enjoy a game of snooker or take to the tennis courts.

Lodges and caravans are airy and modern. Prices from £122 for seven nights.

BEST FOR WALKING

Lee Valley in Hertfordshire is surrounded by picturesque countrysideCredit: Supplied

SUNNYVALE HOLIDAY PARK, PEMBROKESHIRE: This site sits at the gate-way to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, ideal for exploring rugged cliff-top trails and hidden coves.

It’s also within easy reach of treks in the Snowdonia National Park and along historic Offa’s Dyke Path.

With a variety of nearby walking routes, from gentle seaside strolls and waterfall treks to longer, more challenging mountain trails, it’s ideal for all abilities.

From £446 for seven nights.

LEE VALLEY, HERTFORDSHIRE: Close to the bright lights of London, this holiday park is set within a 10,000-acre park surrounded by picturesque countryside here and in Essex.

There are miles of flat, accessible riverside paths, above.

Perfect for all generations and direct access to forest trails and cycling routes.

A mix of lodges and caravans to choose from, too. Prices from £339 for seven nights.

BEST FOR PETS

Wayfind Pennant Park in north Wales has dedicated paths coastal trails for dog-walkingCredit: Supplied

WAYFIND PENNANT PARK, NORTH WALES: This haven near the coast has views of the Dee Estuary and dedicated paths coastal trails for dog-walking.

Lodges, feature fully enclosed decking and include a Dog Welcome Pack with bowls and treats.

The resort also offers weekly events including live music and quizzes.

Prices start from £359 for seven nights.

SANDYMOUTH HOLIDAY RESORT, NORTH CORNWALL: This park also welcomes dogs and is close to the expansive, pooch-friendly sands of Sandymouth Bay.

Surrounded by miles of coastal walking trails and open countryside, there’s also lots for the humans to keep themselves amused, from watersports and swimming pools, to sports courts and evening entertainment.

Prices from £179 for seven nights.

BEST FOR ACTIVITIES

Finlake Resort & Spa, Devon offers the perfect mix of peaceful nature and all-action funCredit: Supplied

DARWIN FOREST, PEAK DISTRICT: This woodland escape on the edge of the Peak District combines award-winning facilities with miles of scenic trails for walking and cycling.

After a hike, unwind in the spa or indoor swimming pool.

Other action-packed fun ranges from archery and mini-golf, to pickleball and scavenger hunts.

With Alton Towers nearby, it’s ideal for family adventures. From £635 for seven nights.

Finlake Resort & Spa, Devon: Set within 130 acres of woodland, this park offers the perfect mix of peaceful nature and all-action fun.

Holidaymakers can fill their days with everything from fencing, archery and horse riding to fishing, tennis and even sea scooters.

There’s a luxury spa and fitness complex as well as indoor and outdoor pools with flume rides and children’s water playground. From £229 for seven nights.

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Thousands of UK holidaymakers caught in Iran crisis with pitiful passenger rights

DUE to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, many Brits will find their holiday plans postponed or cancelled.

From those who are stranded in the UAE or supposed to be heading abroad, what does the conflict mean when it comes to travel insurance and your airline rights?

UK travellers have very different rights depending on who they booked their trip withCredit: tawanlubfah
Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot explains your travel insurance rightsCredit: Dan Charity

Well, UK travellers stranded across the globe or due to fly via the Middle East in the coming days have very different rights depending on who they booked their trip with.

Those who booked flights with a non UK or EU airline like Emirates, Etihad or Qatar and were travelling from a destination outside the UK via the Middle Eastern hubs have limited rights compared to those who are travelling with a UK or EU airline or flying directly in or out of the UK.

UK passenger rights mean airlines have a duty of care to provide you with food and drink while you are delayed as well as a way to communicate by email or phone and overnight hotels and transfers if needed. 

Under these same rights, the airline must get you to your destination as soon as is possible, even if that involves a different airline.

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However, those travelling on non UK or EU flights from elsewhere in the world to the big hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar do not get the same rights.

This could be someone travelling from Thailand back to the UK via Dubai that is now stranded in Thailand as flights have been cancelled and the airspace is closed.

Airlines in this case MUST get you to your destination as soon as possible but there is no legal right to meals, accommodation or communication.

They also must provide you with a refund if you choose not to travel but beware of this option. The minute you accept a refund, the airline has no duty of care to you and no obligation to re-route you.

You would then need to book new flights yourself, which may be significantly more expensive. Travel insurance would not cover the difference between a refunded ticket and a new booking.

Despite this, the General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE have – in a very rare move – confirmed that the state would be covering all accommodation and hosting costs for stranded passengers.

Of course, this only applies to Brits who are stranded in the UAE, so the likes of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Due to its location many holidaymakers will pass through the likes of Dubai or Doha before travelling onwards during an indirect journey.

In fact more than half a million travellers head through the hubs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha every day.

For Brits, many long-haul flights to destinations like Thailand, Australia and South Africa generally stop in these airports.

Due the ongoing conflict, the airspace has been closed, as have the airports in Dubai and Doha.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is starting up very limited flights with Etihad Airways.

Lots of holidaymakers will stopover in the UAE during a long-haul flightCredit: Alamy

Tim Riley, MD of travel insurer True Traveller and chairman of the UK Travel Industry Association, which represents all the major UK insurers, has advice for impacted travellers.

He explained that while airlines have an obligation to re-route passengers, they cannot override certain situations.

Tim said: “The primary issue in the current situation is airspace closures and the inability to leave the country.

“Travel insurance cannot override government airspace restrictions or operate repatriation flights.

“Airlines have a legal obligation to re-route passengers to their final destination once services resume, whether on their own aircraft or with an alternative carrier.”

Airlines are releasing statements on imminent trips, and head here for the latest updates on flights and holidays.

Here are the top 10 indirect flights via Dubai with Emirates…

These are the top routes used by Brits that stop via Dubai…

  1. London (LHR/LGW) – Dubai – Bangkok
  2. Manchester – Dubai – Phuket
  3. London (LHR) – Dubai – Sydney
  4. London (LHR/LGW) – Dubai – Melbourne
  5. Manchester – Dubai – Singapore
  6. London (LHR) – Dubai – Mauritius
  7. Glasgow – Dubai – Bali
  8. London (LHR) – Dubai – Tokyo
  9. Birmingham – Dubai – Cape Town
  10. London (LHR) – Dubai – Colombo

Here are the top 10 indirect flights via Doha with Qatar Airways…

These are the top routes that stop via Doha …

  1. London (LHR) – Doha – Bangkok
  2. Manchester – Doha – Manila
  3. London (LHR/LGW) – Doha – Denpasar/Bali
  4. London (LHR) – Doha – Sydney
  5. Manchester – Doha – Phuket
  6. London (LHR) – Doha – Male
  7. Edinburgh – Doha – Kuala Lumpur
  8. London (LHR) – Doha – Ho Chi Minh City
  9. Manchester – Doha – Colombo
  10. London (LHR) – Doha – Perth

Here’s where you’ll find information on Cyprus airport which was evacuated as easyJet and British Airways among 60 flights to cancel.

And for staycations, here’s the beautiful UK holiday hotspot with shipwrecks, seals and horseshoe-shaped waterfalls.

Travel insurance rights rights vary depending on who travellers booked their trip withCredit: Tatiana Sviridova

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From Thailand to the Maldives

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Aerial view of a tropical coastline in Phuket, Thailand, with a sandy beach, turquoise water, lush green rainforest, and distant mountains, Image 2 shows Stranded passengers wait at Velana International Airport due to flight cancellations, Image 3 shows Passengers waiting inside Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan, Thailand, due to flight cancellations

ONGOING escalations in the Middle East have seen thousands of flights cancelled in recent days, leaving even more stranded.

While the majority of those affected are in Dubai, along with Doha and Abu Dhabi, the airspace closure has had a knock-on effect to other countries.

Other destinations outside of the Middle East have also seen flight cancellationsCredit: EPA

Dubai‘s main airport is not just one of the world’s busiest, but is a major hub which connects Europe to long-haul destinations in Africa and Asia.

Not only that, but airlines that were due to fly over the airspace may be forced to cancel or reroute flights.

Here are some of the other destinations that have also been affected by the US-Iran crisis, outside of the Middle East.

Thailand

Tourists heading to Thailand have been caught up in the flight cancellations as well.

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Local media reported 59 international flights cancelled in recent days, either to the Middle East or via the airspace.

Thailand has already looked into offering support by hotels and food for those stuck at the airport, with plans for special travel packages for those still unable to fly.

Despite this, direct flights such as with Norse Airways to Bangkok are still operating later this week.

Others on social media said they were having to fly via other routes such as South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Another said: “Fly Oman Air – We just flew them yesterday from Phuket to Muscat to London”.

And Thailand is still deemed safe to travel to, excluding the areas on the Malaysia and Cambodia border.

Maldives

The Maldives is also seeing flight cancellations, especially those to and from Europe.

European tourism makes up half of the annual visitor numbers, with the majority of flights being via the Middle East.

Around 28 flights were cancelled over the weekend, affecting more than 5,000 passengers.

One person wrote on TikTok: “We’ve had to rebook our Emirates flight and we are going from the Maldives to Shanghai to then get back to London”.

Direct flights can still operate with Virgin Atlantic although these might now take longer.

The Maldives is still on the safe travel list.

Passengers have been left stranded in the Maldives tooCredit: AFP

Bali

Brits heading to Bali would have most likely travelled via the Middle East.

However, more than 15 flights have been cancelled since the weekend, affecting flights from Bali via Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.

Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport’s Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi said: “As of Monday afternoon, a total of 15 international flights have been cancelled.”

Brits will instead have to look at flying via other hubs such as Singapore, with Singapore Airlines, or via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines.

Stranded tourists are saying they are booking flights via Shanghai instead, or to fly via Australia and Los Angeles.

Bali remains safe to travel to.

Sri Lanka

Tourists have also been left stuck in Sri Lanka due to the Middle East cancellations.

SriLankan Airlines has cancelled 10 flights to the Middle East due “the continued closure of airspace in certain parts of the Middle East.”

These were due to fly to Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh, and Kuwait.

Some passengers aid they were stuck in Colombo Airport, while others said they were having to fly via Bangkok instead.

SriLankan Airlines does operate a direct route from London once a day, which still appears to be in operation.

All of Sri Lanka remains on the safe travel list.

Australia

One of the main flight routes between the UK and Australia is via Dubai, which has resulted in many flight cancellations.

As many as 115,000 Australians are thought to be currently stranded in the Middle East right now.

Nearly 30 flights were left stuck at airports across Australia yesterday, with mainly planned to fly to Doha or Dubai.

Alternative routes include going via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong, or flying directly to Perth.

However, flights are likely to take longer due to rerouting to avoid the airspace.

There are no travel warnings in place for Australia.

Egypt

Egypt holidays and flights remain unaffected, with routes from the UK not flying over the Middle East airspace closure.

There are travel bans in place across Egypt, mainly across the Libya and Israel border.

However, the tourist destinations of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada remain safe to travel to.

Turkey

Turkey also remains unaffected as flights from the UK do not go over the Middle Eastern airspace.

The majority of Turkey remains safe to travel to, excluding the border with Syria.

Thailand is a popular destination for Brits – yet flights have also been affectedCredit: Getty

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I visited the picturesque seaside town with the best fish and chip shop in the UK

WHITBY – with a fascinating history spanning sailors to vampires, a dramatic coastal path, and the very best in pints and scampi… it takes a lot to beat this coastal gem.

And now, the pretty seaside destination has also been announced as the home of the best fish and chips in the UK.

Whitby is home to the best fish and chips shop in the UKCredit: Alamy
Trenchers of Whitby won the Restaurant of the Year title at the National Fish and Chips Awards 2026Credit: Alamy

Trenchers of Whitby secured the Restaurant of the Year title at the National Fish and Chips Awards 2026.

The awards are known as the ‘Oscars‘ of the fish and chip industry and recognise excellence, sustainability, quality and outstanding customer service, across the UK.

The restaurant can be found in the centre of Whitby, and you can either sit down or take away.

If you were heading to the restaurant you can opt for plaice with chipped potatoes, lemon and homemade tartare sauce for £20.95.

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If you fancy something more classic, there is cod with chipped potatoes, lemon and homemade tartare sauce in three sizes: small for £15.95; medium for £19.95 and large for £21.95.

Then for takeaway, you could grab cod and chips, haddock and chips or scampi and chips all for £13.50 each.

There’s a children’s menu as well.

A visit to Whitby ticks off all the British seaside classics, although there is so much more to the historic fishing town than you’d find in a traditional day out.

In my trip to the North Yorkshire town, I ticked off all the staple activities. A Mr Whippy enjoyed by the harbour, spare change spent in Funland’s Amusements, and fish and chips for tea.

Plus my stroll along the sands, backed by spectacular moss-green cliffs, was an ideal way to soak up those breath-taking views of the rugged Yorkshire coast.

One of the things that makes Whitby stand out amongst other seaside spots is its connection to a famous explorer.

The Captain Cook Museum ‘House on the Harbour’ is a must-visit – it was where a young James Cook was an apprentice to Captain John Walker, aged 17, in 1746.

This is where I spent the afternoon, having a nosy inside the 17th century rooms where the explorer used to live.

There’s also a Captain Cook boat tour on offer at the harbour, telling you all about the life of the famous explorer – with plenty of breaks for sea shanties to stomp and sing along to.

The town is full of lovely places to exploreCredit: Jenna Stevens
For example, you could head off on a beach walkCredit: Alamy

But once I’d had my fill of cosy boltholes, battered foods and beach walks, what intrigued me the most about the town was its connection to Dracula.

You can see the Gothic Whitby Abbey from across the harbour, keeping watch over the town from its clifftop perch.

I could feel the eeriness just laying eyes on the ruins – it was as if for a moment I could picture Count Dracula lurking somewhere within.

Dracula writer Bram Stoker visited Whitby in 1890, where he was immediately struck by the dramatic Gothic ruins that loom over the pretty coastal town.

Stoker then read up on folklore in the town’s public library, and was filled with inspiration to write the classic text – and the rest is history.

Today the town celebrates its Dracula connection, with themed walking tours, a Dracula Experience centre and there’s even been theatre productions held in the abbey ruins.

In fact, to celebrate 125 years since the novel’s publication, English Heritage broke a Guinness World Record back in 2022 for the largest gathering of people dressed as vampires (1,369, to be exact!).

Or visited the ruined abbey mentioned in DraculaCredit: Alamy

You can even walk the famous Whitby 199 steps – the very same which a sinister black dog dashes up to announce Dracula’s arrival in Whitby in the famous book.

Walking them in the daytime felt much more scenic than spooky, with views of red-roofed cottages and blooming Red Valerian flowers peeking out with each step.

The steps lead you to the 12th century St Mary’s Church, which is well worth a visit for its panoramic views over the bay – particularly at sunset.

If you like a coastal walk, there’s a portion of the Cleveland Way coastal path with spectacular views that passes through the town.

And if you walk far south enough along the Cleveland Way coastal path from Whitby (or take a 15-minute drive), you’ll wind up in Robin Hood’s Bay.

Exploring the fairytale streets that back the bay is an absolute must as well.

And there’s lots of cobbled alleys around the town tooCredit: Getty

Here, narrow cobbled alleys are dotted with charming gift shops and tiny pubs which wind down the steep hillside, leading you down to the sea.

Sat with a pint at the Bay Hotel, I watched a fisherman play fetch with his Border Collie at the water’s edge – and realised that this pretty coastline truly is something straight out of a storybook.

To make matters even more magical, the following day was spent exploring the nearby waterfalls of Goathland and the Mallyan Spout – just a 20-minute drive from Whitby.

So if you’re after a seaside escape that feels both traditionally British yet has a touch of fairytale magic – set off on a trip to Whitby.

If you are wanting to explore more places with top fish and chip spots, here’s a map of Britain’s top 10 fish and chip shops – did your local make the list?

Plus, last summer, travel reporter Cyann Fielding, visited the seaside town with the UK’s best fish and chips.

And just 20 minutes away, you can see the waterfalls of Goathland and the Mallyan SpoutCredit: Getty

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I’m the Sun’s Travel Expert

PASSENGERS across the globe are facing travel chaos as the escalating attacks and closure of airspace impact millions.

More than half a MILLION passengers would usually pass through the major hub airports of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha every day – and are now unable to travel.

Thousands of passengers have been left stranded abroad by the ongoing airspace closures and US-Iran conflictCredit: Reuters
Dubai is one of the world’s busiest airportsCredit: Alamy

The conflict has even brought those travelling to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus into the situation this morning – with the drone attack on the RAF Akrotiri British airbase forcing the evacuation of Paphos Airport, and more than 60 flights cancelled this week.

The government is thought to be drawing up plans for a mass evacuation of those more than 50,000 holidaymakers trapped in Dubai and neighbouring countries.

But the impact of the attacks means more than 360,000 passengers due to travel on flights and holidays via the Middle Eastern hubs across this week have now seen their plans thrown into chaos.

With the Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel to the UAE (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Qatar and Bahrain as well as Israel and Lebanon, millions more are potentially looking at their holiday plans being impacted.

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Here is everything you need to know from flights and cruises to package holidays and travel insurance.

What if I have a package holiday booked?

The UK FCDO advice change means customers have a right to cancel a package holiday (with a full refund) where there are extraordinary circumstances at the place of destination.

That will impact tour operators who had booked passengers on flights via the UAE or Qatar to destinations beyond including Asia, Australia and India.

For example, loveholidays has cancelled all holidays to the affected areas in the Middle East where travel is now banned, up until March 7.

A spokesperson said: “In line with the FCDO’s current guidance, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel and refund all holidays to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain departing up to and including 8 March.”

Brits on package holidays in destinations like Thailand, Bali and Maldives are also being caught up in the cancellations, especially if the flights were due to fly via the Middle East.

Package holiday providers have an obligation to book you on the next available flight home, even if it means going indirectly via another country.

What does it mean if you have booked flights?

For passengers meant to be flying in or out of the region, your rights depend on whether you were flying directly in or out of the UK or EU or if you are flying with an UK or EU airline.

Those who are will not get compensation as it is not the fault of the airline, BUT they do have a duty of care to look after impacted passengers.

Depending on the length of the delay, that could include food and drink, a means of communicating and overnight accommodation.

Those flying on non-UK or EU carriers may find their rights are slightly different if they are not on a direct flight to the UK – different rules apply and you may not be provided with the same assistance.

For example, someone travelling from Mauritius to London with a non-UK or EU traveller via Dubai who has completed the first leg of their journey to Dubai but not yet been able to leave the country does not have the same rights.

While so far airlines like Emirates have been issuing hotel vouchers, there is no legal requirement to provide assistance.

They are, however, expected to offer you the right to a refund or another flight in the case of cancellations.

What about cruises?

The worsening situation in the Middle East is not just impacting those on land in the UAE and Qatar but cruise passengers.

Six cruise ships are stuck in ports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, unable to sail to safer waters without entering the Strait of Hormutz.

Among them is the MSC Euribia, which was due to depart from Doha on March 1 but remains in Dubai, where it was scheduled to visit last Friday and Saturday.

The ship is capable of carrying more than 6,000 passengers and those onboard have been told to shelter in place.

TUI has two ships in the region, Mein Schiff 4 in Abu Dhabi and Mein Schiff 5 in Doha – both were due to depart on seven night cruises on Saturday.

Celestyal cruises has two ships in the region – the 1,260-guest Celestyal Journey in Doha and the 1,360-guest Celestyal Discover in Dubai. Both ships remain in port waiting to leave.

Assistance will be provided to all impacted guests, and cruisers on cancelled sailings will receive full refunds or a future cruise credit to reschedule.

Are you covered by your travel insurance?

If you have travel insurance, it may be possible to claim for expenses incurred because of the situation. 

Tim Riley, MD of travel insurer True Traveller and Chairman of the UK Travel Insurance Association representing all the major UK travel insurers says: “Standard travel insurance policies do not cover war, hostile acts, civil war, military action, invasions or similar large-scale conflict events.

“However, travellers are still covered for claims that are unrelated to the conflict itself.

“For example, if someone becomes ill, has an accident not connected to hostilities, or experiences lost or stolen baggage, those claims would typically be handled in line with the normal terms and conditions of their policy.

“The primary issue in the current situation is airspace closures and the inability to leave the country.

“Travel insurance cannot override government airspace restrictions or operate repatriation flights.

“Airlines have a legal obligation to re-route passengers to their final destination once services resume, whether on their own aircraft or with an alternative carrier.”

However, he warned against accepting an airline refund if your flight is cancelled – as this leaves you on your own.

He added: “Accepting a refund effectively ends the airline’s duty of care, leaving the traveller responsible for arranging and paying for new flights themselves – which are likely to be significantly more expensive.

“Travel insurance will not cover the difference in cost between a refunded ticket and a new booking.”

Anyone with plans to fly to the UAE – or over it – will be affected at the momentCredit: Alamy

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Thousands more flights and holidays cancelled amid ongoing Middle East crisis as ALL travel to UAE banned

THE ongoing crisis in the Middle East has left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded abroad – with the situation not looking likely to improve.

The conflict between the US and Iran has had a knock-on affect across other destinations in the region, including the UAE.

Dubai Airport has grounded all flights due to the airspace closureCredit: AFP
Passengers have been left stranded abroad, including thousands of BritsCredit: Reuters

This has led to all airspace in the region being closed, with both Dubai Airport and a luxury hotel hit over the weekend.

And yesterday the UK Foreign Office advised against all non-essential travel across the UAE.

With Dubai Airport being one of the busiest in the world – as many as 2,500 flights a day – this means thousands of people are being affected.

As many as 94,000 Brits are thought to be still stranded abroad, with the Foreign Office working a rescue mission.

stuck in dubai

Vicky Pattison and Love Island star stranded in Dubai as flights cancelled


TRAVEL ALERT

UK flights to & from Middle East suspended until Monday after Iran airstrikes

According to Cirium, around 5,340 flights across the Middle East have been cancelled this week.

There are 539 flights scheduled from the UK to the Middle East this week which works out to 180,000 seats.

UK-based aviation consultant John Strickland called the disruption “unprecedented” – with it being a similar chaos level of the Covid pandemic.

He told the Press Association: “We’ve had other conflicts in the region, but not, I think, really in the scale of military conflict or scale of activity that we have now with the Gulf carriers.”

So here is everything you need to know about the airlines and tour operators cancelling flights to and from the UK, as well as until when.

British Airways

British Airways has cancelled a number of flights to the Middle East, which includes from London Heathrow to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Amman.

They aid in a statement: “We have cancelled flights to Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv up to and including the 03 March and today’s Larnaca service.

We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East.

“Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”

They added: “If you are due to fly between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv up to and including 15 March you can change your flight date free of charge to travel on or before 29 March.

“Customers travelling up to and including 8 March may also request a full refund.”

Virgin Atlantic

A number of Virgin Atlantic flights have been cancelled, with others rerouted.

The airline states: “Due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, we have rerouted some of our flights and taken the decision to cancel some of our upcoming services between London Heathrow and Dubai, as well as services between London Heathrow and Riyadh.”

Four have already been cancelled, with one to Dubai and one to Riyadh today also cancelled from London Heathrow.

They also said: “We are actively reviewing our flying programme each day and doing everything we reasonably can to minimise disruption.

“Our teams are identifying alternative solutions, securing available capacity and rebooking customers wherever possible, while ensuring safety remains our absolute priority.”

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled more flights to the Middle East todayCredit: Getty

Emirates

Emirates has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai until at least tomorrow, although this is likely to be extended.

In a statement, they said: “Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500hrs UAE time on Tuesday, 3 March.

“We urge all customers to check flight status before proceeding to the airport.”

Passengers affected are being given two options – one being to rebook on another flight to the intended destination by March 20.

Or, passengers can get a full refund – although if you are already on holiday, this means they no longer have a duty of care for you when it comes to booking your flight home.

Qatar Airways

The airline, based out of Qatar, has cancelled all flights to and from Doha.

The airline said: “Qatar Airways flights to, and from, Doha have been temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.”

This is likely to affect passengers using Doha as a base for connections, with it operating flights across Asia.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways flights are affected to and from Abu Dhabi.

The airline said: “Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad Airways’ operations, and all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Monday 2 March.”

Passengers can either rebook for free up until March 18, if travelling up until March 7.

Anyone travelling up until tomorrow can request a refund.

Etihad Airways have suspended flights to and from Abu DhabiCredit: Alamy

TUI

Brits with TUI holidays booked will also be affected, especially if flying to or via the UAE.

This is likely to affect holidays to Dubai, as well as to Thailand, Vietnam and Jordan.

The TUI website currently states: “Due to Airspace restrictions in parts of the region, some flights to and from the UK have been impacted and may experience delays and cancellations.”

The Sun has contacted TUI for additional comment.

The Sun’s Head of Travel explains your rights

Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, said:

For passengers meant to be flying in or out of the region, your rights depend on whether you were flying directly in or out of the UK or EU or if you are flying with an UK or EU airline.

Those who are will not get compensation as it is not the fault of the airline but they do have a duty of care to look after impacted passengers – depending on the length of the delay that could include food and drink, a means of communicating and if necessary, overnight accommodation.

Those flying on non-UK or EU carriers may find their rights are slightly different if they are not on a direct flight to the UK as different rules apply and you may not be provided with the same assistance.

They are, however, expected to offer you the right to a refund or another flight in the case of cancellations.

As well as those directly impacted by cancelled flights, the closure of so much of the Middle Eastern airspace will mean even more congestion on alternative routes that could impact flights across the globe.

For those due to travel in the coming days, staying in contact with your airline and checking before travelling to the airport is essential as schedules may change at short notice.

Loveholidays

Loveholidays is also cancelling holidays to any of the affected areas, which includes the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.

They said in a statement: “We’re aware of the developing situation in parts of the Middle East and understand that you may be concerned about how this could affect your holiday.

“The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its advice and is now advising against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates (UAE) – including Dubai and Abu Dhabi – Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar.

“As a result, holidays and connecting flights due to travel to these destinations will be impacted while this advice remains in place.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel all holidays to or via impacted areas of the Middle East departing up to and including 7 March 2026.

“Our team is starting to process full refunds for these holidays and will contact you directly.”

Anyone already in these destinations is advised to contact their airline.

Brits should contact their airlines if they have flights to any of the affected destinationsCredit: Reuters

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Cyprus airport evacuated as easyJet and British Airways among 60 flights to island cancelled over Iran attacks

A NUMBER of airlines have cancelled flights from the UK to Cyprus after the evacuation of Paphos Airport.

More than 60 flights to and from Cyprus airports have been cancelled this week after the runway at major British RAF base in Cyprus was struck by an Iranian drone.

The exterior of Larnaca International Airport's main terminal building, with passengers entering and exiting.
More than 60 flights have been cancelled to and from CyprusCredit: Alamy

This includes 42 flights to Larnaca, and 18 flights to Paphos, according to Hermes Airport who operates them both.

Local media previously reported that all easyJet flights were cancelled between the UK and Cyprus until Thursday, however the airline confirmed just three have been cancelled so far today.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “Due to the events overnight affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, as a precaution, three return flights between Paphos and Larnaca and the UK today will not be operating.

“Flights from March 3 are currently operating as planned but we would advise customers due to travel to and from Cyprus over the coming days to check our flight tracker for the latest information.

GROUNDED

Thousands more flights and holidays cancelled as all travel to UAE banned

“We are doing all we can to minimise the impact for our customers and are providing options for rebooking including on other airlines or a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.

“The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority and we continue to closely monitor the security situation in the region.”

British Airways has also cancelled a Larnaca flight today.

They said in a statement: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East.

“Safety is always our top priority, and we’re contacting our customers to advise them of their travel options.”

While no casualties were reported in the attack , the base is moving families and temporarily relocating non-essential staff.

Three British schools on the island have also been closed with immediate effect.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “The safety of our personnel and their families is our absolute priority.

“Our base and personnel continue to operate as normal protecting the safety of Britain and our interests.”

EasyJet flies to both Paphos and Larnaca in Cyprus from several UK airports including London Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol.

Hundreds of other flights have been cancelled today as air travel continues to experience disruption caused the conflict in the Middle East.

Dubai Airport – one of the world’s busiest with up to 2,500 flights a day – remains closed for the third day running.

British Airways has cancelled a number of flights to the Middle East, which includes from London Heathrow to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Amman.

A number of Virgin Atlantic flights have been cancelled to the UAE, with others rerouted.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways passengers are also all facing cancelled flights.

As many as 94,000 Brits are thought to be still stranded abroad, with the Foreign Office working a rescue mission.

Aerial view of Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus with planes parked at the terminal and a highway and landscape in the background.
EasyJet and BA have cancelled flights this week to CyprusCredit: Alamy

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