Travel advice

IT’S 3am at The Red Lion pub in Gatwick Airport and British Gas field engineer Sam Singleton is in a French maid’s outfit, waving a feather duster and clutching a pint of Guinness.

His 17-strong stag group is having the typical pre-flight drinks that have become a rite of passage for Brits jetting off abroad.

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While many pubs are struggling to survive during the cost-of-living crisis, those operating at UK airports are reporting that business is on the up and up.

And it’s not just plentiful food offerings and the sociable atmosphere that are bringing in travellers in droves — terminal pubs remain one of the only places where it is socially acceptable to have a pint at 5am.

Sam, 34, from Crawley, West Sussex, says: “I’m dressed like this because I’m getting married in four weeks to my beautiful fiancee, Erin.

“We’ve had a few drinks and a really good laugh. I couldn’t imagine starting a stag in any other way, to be honest.”

The Sun on Sunday spent 24 hours at JD Wetherspoon’s The Red Lion in Gatwick’s North Terminal to see why Britain’s airside bars are hitting new heights.

This is what we found . . . 

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04:00   

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Nicole Briggs, 29, from    Essex, is heading to the Greek island of Mykonos to celebrate her birthday, wearing a pink cowboy hat and matching sash.

Her pal Danielle Grimes, 30, also from Essex, tells us: “Having drinks at this time is just the law of the airport. It’s the only way to do it.”

On the other side of the pub, siblings Alicia, Adan, 17, and Heart Evanelio, 20, from Medway, Kent, are tucking into an early-morning breakfast before they fly to Basel, Switzerland, with 20 family members.

Alicia, 27, says: “We come here because the food is always good. It’s affordable, comfortable, welcoming and the staff are fantastic.”

05:00   

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 Another stag party has    arrived. Robert, James, Jay, Jimmy and John are in their 30s and from different parts of the UK, but they are all flying to Benidorm.

Robert says: “There will be 28 altogether and we’ve had a fantastic day and night already.”

Jay adds: “We came to Wetherspoons because it’s better value and you know exactly what you are getting.”

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 Actor David Green, 58,    from Brighton, and Sam Peters, 52, from Croydon, South London, clink pint glasses, having only just met.

Sam says: “The Red Lion is very different to the average pub where people are scared to strike up a conversation with strangers. No-one bats an eyelid here.”

07:00    

Factory worker Jay Law,    34, and Sasha Cross, 35, from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, are going to Malta for the weekend.

They eat eggs Benedict and drink coffee with Guinness and a bourbon. Jay says: “It is the rule at airports — have a proper drink with your brew.”

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 Broker Lorna Stevens, 42,    and special educational needs worker Amanda Sargent, 38, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, met in their local pub 20 years ago.

They are drinking pink gin and tonic before flying to Marrakech, and Amanda says: “We always take a photo of ourselves at The Red Lion — the start of the holiday, the obligatory picture.”

09:00   

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Team   leader and    mum- of-two Megan Gardner, 23, from Crawley, West Sussex, does four seven-hour shifts a week at The Red Lion.

She says: “I haven’t a bad word to say about working here — that’s why I’ve been here seven years.”

10:00  

Tasha Clements, 28, from    Horsham, West Sussex, has been a bar worker at The Red Lion for two years.

She says: “Every day someone makes the same joke — ‘It’s five o’clock somewhere!’. And it is.”

11:00  

 Jhonny Da Corte has  been    the pub’s kitchen chief leader for five years. He is overseeing 13 people today.

Venezuelan Jhonny, 30, from West London, says: “We go through around 20,000 eggs per week.

“Our most popular dish in the morning will be our traditional breakfast and, at lunch, burgers take over as the top sellers.”

12:00 

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  Spandau Ballet star Steve Norman has popped into The Red Lion ahead of a gig in Leipzig, Germany, with his new band, The Sleevz.

Over a pint of Doom Bar, he opens up about his ambition to reunite the band.

Steve, 65, says: “It would be great, before one of us pops our clogs, to be in a room together at the very least — and maybe, who knows, do a last farewell tour.”

13:00  

 Dad Zesh Sadique,    46, and    his wife Sadia are en route to Bodrum, Turkey, for four days with their children, Zidane, eight, and Arya, three.

Tucking into fish and chips, Sadia, 37, from London, says: “We came here because there is a great range of food. We’ll be back.”

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Electrician John    Penny, 38,    and his wife Lucy, who live near Crowborough, East Sussex, are celebrating their first child-free holiday in 12 years.

They’re off to sunny Palma, Majorca, and John is celebrating with a pint, while community helper Lucy, 35, is content with a Pepsi.

She says: “We always come here with the kids, too. You order on an app, so it’s easy.”

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Beccie    Simms, 47, and her    nine-year-old neurodivergent twins Poppy and Ethan are having pizza and chips before flying to Crete.

Maternity ward worker Beccie, from Surrey, says: “This suits the twins. It is relaxed and has a great choice of food. The twins are very picky!”

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Portsmouth students    Poppy Davinport, Hannah Wilson and Alice Richardson, all 21, together with Millie Parker, 20, are heading to Majorca.

They are drinking Proseccos, gin and tonics and apple juices. Millie says: “The plan is to get tanned, drink and eat lots of paella.”

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Londoners Olivia Moris-Brown, 19, who works for M&S, and her partner Jason Pham, a 20-year-old insurance broker, are off to Pisa in Italy to celebrate their sixth anniversary.

Tucking into chips and curry sauce, a spicy Korean chicken bowl and fish and chips, Jason says: “We love Spoons, we are fans. The food is always banging.”

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Guinness-drinking Leon    Ojukwu, 43, from East London, and his wife Abbie, 40, are primary school teachers.

They’re celebrating their tenth anniversary in Majorca with kids Esme, eight, and Zac, five. Abbie, who has had a Prosecco, says: “We always come here before a flight.

“Everyone has a smile on their face, the drinks come quickly and you don’t need to dress up.”

19:00   

Ian Gordon, 62, is waiting    for the Inverness flight, heading home to Lhanbryde, Moray, after a work trip.

Tucking into a ham and mushroom pizza, the salmon fisherman says: “The Guinness is good at Wetherspoons.

“I just came back from Iceland — you’re paying at least double for a pint there.”

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Wearing a sparkly hat,    facilities manager Nicola Sandhu is heading to Vilamoura, Portugal, with nine friends for her 40th.

Nicola, from Bexleyheath, Kent, says: “We’ve got wines, Prosecco and lemon spritzes, nachos, fish and chips and an ultimate burger to set our trip off on the right note.”

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Five pint-sipping friends    from Selsey, West Sussex, are en route to party capital Prague in the Czech Republic.

Yet NHS service manager Mike Brooks, chef Ryan O’Hara, builder Riley Evans, all 25, carpenter Jenson Holden, 20, and carer Will Jenkinson, 26, insist they are “going to see the local sights”.

Riley says: “We will be in bed by 10pm, reading our Kindles.”

22:00   

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Teaching assistant Millie Horner and HR worker Bella Caesar, both 21, from Hedge End, Hampshire, are eating chicken strips and are on their third round of vodka lemonade and rum and Coke.

They got here early for their Ibiza flight and Millie says: “It’s a debrief before the main event begins.”

23:00   

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The passengers have all  gone, and now The Red Lion worker Holly Taplin, 19, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, is mopping up after a long shift.

She says: “I am a bar associate, which means I host, clean, serve, make drinks — the whole lot.”

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Ollie Wilcox, 29, from    Crawley, West Sussex, is a shift manager at the pub.

He says: “We stay open until the last flight goes, then we get ready for the morning shift.

“Passengers start coming through at 2am, and by 4am, the pub’s chock-a-block — there is a queue all the way down to WHSmith.”

INDEPENDENT travel agency, InteleTravel, is answering questions about their business practices after The Sun’s investigation shined a light on the true cost of joining their organisation to sell travel.

With glamorous celebrities like Strictly’s Vicky Pattison and TOWIE’s Jess Wright promoting the scheme on their huge social platforms, it was revealed they could be earning over £200,000 as fans sign up to the scheme.

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However, our report showed that almost 90 per cent of people don’t make a single penny working as an Independent Travel Agent (ITA) – with many ending up out of pocket.

Those selling travel through the Vicky’s Vacay team will almost certainly have signed up with recruitment firm, PlaNet Marketing, who are a separate company to InteleTravel.

Even though they are different companies, The Sun could find no way of joining InteleTravel without signing up to PlaNet Marketing and paying an initial fee of £140 and then £30 per month thereafter.

Industry experts TTG, have reported that since The Sun called for clarity on how many Brits are affected negatively by joining the scheme, InteleTravel is now reviewing its partnership with the US-headquartered company that recruits agents on its behalf.

In our report, we looked at how likely it is for everyday women and fans of these glamourous celebrities to earn money selling holidays to their friends and family for a small commission.

Social media messaging flaunting a jet-set lifestyle and ability to ‘be your own boss’ is rife on platforms like Instagram.

And it’s not just the celebrities who are at it.

Many ITAs who say they make ‘big money’ from selling travel are, in fact, doing so with an elaborate recreruitment downline.

This means anyone they sign up to their ‘team’ must pay them a commission, as well as the commission to InteleTravel – an ABTA-approved travel agency – on anything they go on to sell.

InteleTravel came under criticism as recruiters for the network, appear to approach people, most-often women and mums, on social media.

Subtle messaging, which some women who spoke to The Sun allege they are trained for, is used to lure new agents in by telling them a glamorous lifestyle can be achieved while on their family holiday.

It’s heavily implied that a huge salary can be achieved while being a full-time mum or working in another job.

A recruiter told our reporter that she earned £27,000 alongside her full time job in a different sector.

Tricia Handley-Hughes, InteleTravel’s UK and Ireland managing director, insisted the agency’s partnership with PlanNet Marketing had “not run its course” but added: “discussions need to take place”.

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Senior industry agents also reacted to the story, calling it “deeply concerning”.

In a article published by trade publication, Travel Weekly, they raised concerns about InteleTravel’s recruitment methods and about the impact of the story on the professional reputation of other agents in the sector.

Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “It’s important to remember the vast majority of travel agents across the UK are highly professional and trustworthy”.

“Being a travel agent is not a hobby. It should never be treated as a casual side hustle to make some extra money”.

While marketing consultant Steve Dunne, chief executive of Digital Drums, said such stories “could push back the reputation of the travel agents a generation”.

A number of InteleTravel agents have reacted to our report in defence of InteleTravel.

They were keen to tell their followers that agents can ‘just sell holidays’ and do not have to sign up to be part of the business responsible for the recruitment of other agents.

James Pirie-Warsop said: “I’ve been with Intele for about two or three years and I’m glad I did [join them]. Yes, there’s a multi-level marketing side, but you don’t have to do it”.

Whilst no-one is forced to recruit a ‘dream team of travel agents’ like Vicky and Jess, official data from the Direct Selling Association reveals that 63 per cent of agents in the sector do go on to build a ‘team’.

InteleTravel’s own figures may differ from the UK wide average, but when asked directlt by The Sun, they declined to comment on the amount their agents earn.

Read our full InteleTravel report here.

Have you been approached to join InteleTravel or asked if you’d like to make money selling travel with a team of like-minded agents? Get in touch with us at

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SMALL details can sometimes lead to the biggest headaches when it comes to air travel.

And when it comes to passenger names on a booking, getting these right is key if you want everything to go smoothly at the airport.

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Airlines have a right to deny boarding to anyone who’s ticket doesn’t match their ID, and some travellers have been denied boarding for failing to correct this ahead of their flight.

So whether you need to correct a typo or transfer a ticket to a different person entirely – here are the name change rules for different airlines, made simple.

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Ryanair

Low-cost airline Ryanair allows changes to names up to 24 hours before a flight’s departure time if processed online, and two hours before if done at the airport desk.

Both of these options will incur a name change fee: £115 on the website and £160 through an agent.

If you notice a minor mistake within 48 hours booking you can correct up to three characters in a name free of charge – but more substantial or later changes will carry a price tag.

Maiden and married names are the exception here.

Ryanair will amend a name at no extra cost if your surname has changed on the document you are using for travel.

Editing a booking to be in someone else’s name is also possible, but not if one of the flights on the booking has already departed (for example, if you are already abroad and trying to make changes for your return flight).

Those name changes that fall within 48 hours of booking and over 24 hours before flying can be made on the Ryanair website or app by clicking ‘Manage this booking’ and selecting ‘Change a name’.

But if you’re already checked in, you’ll need to contact the airline and pay the slightly higher price.

easyJet

easyJet also allows name tweaks, letting passengers correct titles and spelling mistakes of up to three letters without any fee.

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The airline is slightly more lenient than Ryanair with this, as it does not have a time limit of 48 hours after booking.

You can do this on either its website or app under ‘View Bookings’.

Changes of more than three characters or a whole name can also be made, but a fee will be applied per passenger, per flight.

The cost is £60 for online amendments and £65 for going through the customer service team.

And in the event of needing a very last-minute change, easyJet gives you a little more time than Ryanair by allowing requests at the airport desk up to 90 minutes before departure.

Jet2

British airline Jet2 has a more restrictive policy when it comes to name changes.

Only the lead passenger can make edits and absolutely no changes are allowed after check-in.

It does have the same three letter rule as easyJet and Ryanair – allowing minor tweaks for free – but the fee that applies for more major changes can end up being higher.

While amendments made 14 days or more ahead of the flight time only cost £50, changes made after that will cost £150 plus any fare difference since the booking was made.

This means that if the price of your flight has gone up and you request changes just days before your trip, it could be significantly more costly than £150.

Jet2 also does not allow for any name changes within 48 hours of flying, so you have less flexibility.

If you are within the permitted window and wish to go ahead with a change it’s easy to do this through the ‘Manage My Booking’ function on its app or website.

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Vueling

Vueling is fast becoming a popular choice for budget-friendly flights, with many European destinations on its roster.

It also offers different fare options from Basic to Flex.

Name change fees for Vueling are dependent on which you have purchased – if you have a Basic plane ticket, a full name swap will cost you €50 (roughly £43).

And similar to Jet2, you may also be charged the difference if the price of your flight has increased.

However, if you paid for a Flex ticket the total price might be lower as you will only be asked to pay the set change fee, not the fare difference.

Small spelling errors can be corrected at no extra cost up to two hours before flying providing none of the flights in the booking have already been taken.

Adding middle names or second surnames is also free of charge.

This is very important to check as some airlines don’t require middle names for a booking, but Vueling’s policy is that passenger tickets must match their identity documents exactly.

Wizz Air

Passengers can access their Wizz Account and go to ‘Make changes’ if they wish to change a name for their upcoming flight.

Typos of up to three letters are free, while ticket transfers to a new completely name cost €70 (around £61).

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This is allowed up to three hours before departure.

Wizz Air‘s call centre is also on hand for anyone who would prefer to make these changes by phone.

The airline is accommodating when it comes to changing surnames after marriage or divorce and will amend these for free for any passenger that provides the required documentation.

However, its website states that responses to such emails can take up to 30 days, so get in contact as soon as you can if you wish to request this.

British Airways

British Airways differs slightly compared to more budget airlines.

Its tickets are non-transferable, meaning passengers are not able to change an entire name on a booking and will instead need to cancel and re-book the ticket.

This will likely cost significantly more than any flat fee.

However, unlike other carriers, BA has a 24-hour grace period.

Customers have one day to completely cancel their flight free of charge, giving them the option to get a full refund and make a new booking in this time frame.

Free spelling corrections of up to three characters can be made by contacting the BA customer services team.

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HOLIDAY experts have revealed the exact time and date Brits should book their tickets ahead of the August bank holiday to save hundreds of pounds.

It’s not too late to book last-minute flight tickets for holiday trips over the August bank holiday weekend.

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Brits can still find ways to get out of the country that won’t blow the budget for the weekend of August 25.

This includes trips to classic European escapes and hotspots like Disneyland Paris.

Ticket experts have analysed pricing data and industry travel trends.

CEO of AttractionTickets, Oliver Brendon, explained: “It’s easy to assume the early bird always gets the deal.

“In reality, travel companies adjust fares repeatedly based on demand, and we see opportunities appear even in the final days before departure.

“There’s still time to save on last-minute August bank holiday travel if you know when to book.”

Brendon reveals the trick to finding value no matter how late the purchase is made.

Through review of historic pricing, as well as industry reports, Sundays have been found to regularly deliver the lowest average booking prices.

This is because airlines adjust seat availability and prices over the weekend.

Therefore, holidaymakers who plan to book on Sundays can more often find a better deal and pay significantly less than those who book on other days.

Furthermore, Fridays have been found to be time to avoid as it is the time when prices tend to spike due to increasing demand.

A clear morning advantage has also been found through analyses.

Around 6am is when the fresh fares tend to show up, so it is good to get in early before search traffic ramps up into the day.

So those looking to book a getaway from the bank holiday this month should set their alarms for Sunday morning.

Oliver adds 6am on Sunday, August 17 “both sit within the sweet spot before the long weekend and will give you a chance at potentially unlocking better pricing.”

This timing tip comes from expert insights and data-driven research from travel and ticketing platforms.

It also focused on last-minute booking trends by travellers in the UK.

The advise follows suggestions from CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, who said flights could also be booked cheaper in the first two months of the year.

Winter months are believed to be the best time of the year to find cheap air fares, as well as just before the peak of school holidays.

Another study looked in to the best time to book flights for certain destinations.

For Faro in Portugal, the cheapest flights for the summer holidays were found to be just five weeks before travelling.

And for long-haul flights like to New York, the best time was found to be June to book for an August vacation.

A HAIR removal specialist has warned travelers not to get a wax immediately before boarding a flight, as it could lead to painful skin problems that might spoil the start of a holiday.

Timca Pruijt, hair removal expert from Laser Hair Removalo, says the conditions inside aircraft cabins can worsen post-wax skin irritation, causing redness, increased sensitivity and potential infection risks.

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She noted that many people book last-minute beauty treatments just before flying abroad, without considering how the aircraft environment might affect freshly waxed skin.

Cabin air is extra dry

“To avoid condensation, cabin humidity is reduced dramatically to anywhere between 10% and 20%, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s latest Aviation Weather Handbook.

“This is much lower than what your skin is used to, which is ideally between 30% and 50%, based on guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency,” Pruijt explains.

“We can easily feel our lips chapping, our nose drying and our eyes getting itchy, but we rarely remember our skin is suffering too.”

She explains that newly waxed skin will have its protective hair layer removed, and tiny pores are left open and exposed.

“After waxing, your skin needs time to recover and close those open pores. The ultra-dry cabin air draws moisture from your skin at the worst possible time – right when it needs hydration to heal properly,” she adds.

“People often forget that waxing is not just hair removal; it is quite traumatic for the skin. You are pulling hair from the root and removing a thin layer of skin cells in the process,” she says. 

Pruijt also points out that the stress of travelling, along with changes in temperature between air-conditioned airports, hot tarmacs and cool cabins, puts additional strain on your skin’s ability to recover.

Your Skin Needs At Least 48 Hours to Heal

According to Pruijt, sitting in a confined space for hours with compromised skin creates ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply, potentially leading to spots, rashes, or even infections.

For holidaymakers who still want to be hair-free on arrival, she recommends planning beauty treatments carefully.

“Preparation is the only way you can avoid complications from waxing. This means booking your appointments well ahead and applying moisturizers before leaving the house for the airport.”

“Get your waxing done at least 48 hours before your flight. This gives your skin adequate time to recover and those open pores to close,” she advises.

She also suggests applying a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer before the flight to create a protective barrier.

Airports can be bacteria breeding ground for freshly waxed skin

“Our hands contact multiple surfaces in airports, planes, taxis, buses, and cafes. We then inevitably touch our skin with those hands, breeding with bacteria.

“You can use hand sanitizer generously and often, but bacteria are on surfaces you might sit on or accidentally touch.

“While you cannot exactly cover a waxed upper lip or brow, you could swap shorts for loose trousers and tank tops for airy, long-sleeved shirts to give your fragile skin an extra layer of protection from unsanitary surfaces and your own contaminated hands.”

The expert noted that wearing loose, comfortable clothing on the flight is essential if you have recently had a wax, particularly for sensitive areas.

“Tight clothing creates friction and traps heat and moisture, which can lead to irritation or folliculitis, when your hair follicles become inflamed,” she explains. “Opt for cotton for avoid sweating and maximize your skin’s ability to breathe.”

Last-minute waxing can cause rashes

If you are used to waxing as your preferred hair removal method, you may be reluctant to consider alternatives or combinations thereof.

“Many travelers now opt for a waxing appointment a few days before their flight and pack a small razor for touch-ups if needed during their holiday,” she says.

“If you travel often or want longer-lasting results, treatments like laser hair removal might be worth considering. Unlike waxing, once a course of laser treatments is complete, there is no need to worry about last-minute hair removal before flights.

“Ultimately, if it is too late to plan more permanent hair removal options, your best bet is packing a good old set of fresh razors and, importantly, a new loofah or gentle brush to exfoliate your sensitive, sun-bathed skin before shaving,” Pruijt notes.

“You are better off putting in the extra effort of shaving daily than walking around with a waxed, sore rash you cannot control your entire vacation.”

Sun exposure can damage sensitive skin

Pruijt also advises taking extra care with sun exposure after both waxing and flying.

“Newly waxed or dehydrated skin makes you more susceptible to sun damage.

“You should avoid applying sunscreen on freshly irritated skin, which is why, if you do need to step out the following 24 hours, cover your skin with clothing rather than sunscreen, depending on the area. Wear trousers, long-sleeved tops, a wide-brimmed hat and trainers.

“Make sure you are extra vigilant with sunscreen once you reach your destination,” she warns.”

THE MOST expensive seaside town in Britain has been “abandoned” by tourists with the implementation of an outrageous new parking fee.

It means visitors have to pay a daily parking price of £10.

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The coastal town of Salcombe in Devon has had a new parking charge of £10 introduced for day-trippers.

Locals also are required to pay £8 per day for parking, if they have the annual £5 permit.

This has triggered outrage, a notable drop in visitors according to residents.

One local business owner, Beck Gordon who owns a cafe and fishmonger’s, said: “In terms of day-trippers, if you talk about more local people, they definitely don’t come any more.”

Beck added: “It’s quieter generally.

“The parking’s definitely an issue.”

She pointed to the “absolutely ridiculous” fact that it is cheaper to get a weekly parking ticket that costs £25 or £50 than pay the car park fees, which would add up to £70.

Another cafe manager in the area revealed spending £120 of her earnings just on parking.

Salcombe was recently dubbed the most expensive seaside town in the UK, with average house prices of around £1.2 million in 2022.

Lloyds, however, revealed they did tumble by 22 per cent in the Devon hotspot to £970,657 in 2022.

It is known for its high concentration of second homes, which constitute 60 per cent of its housing stock, which are being hit by double council tax.

Despite having some of the UK’s best seafood, and being a small fishing village, it receives hardly any tourists anymore.

Councillor Julian Brazil, who is in charge of community services at the local council, stated: “We’d like to do everything to help the tourism trade and we have kept our car parking charges as competitive as possible.

“Residents of the South Hams can benefit from our discounted resident parking scheme.”

 “Many workers in Salcombe have benefited from our competitive parking permits, which offer significantly lower long-term parking compared to our pay-on-the-day rates.”

He added: “Be under no illusion, we don’t want to increase prices, but this is the best choice for us under the circumstances we find ourselves in.”

According to Brazil, the prices have been frozen for four years, and visitors are just being asked to contribute to public services.

Anti-tourist measures have been seen to be sweeping hotspots across the UK and Europe.

Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or banning new hotels.

Earlier in the year, the Greater Manchester Mayor suggested that an existing optional fee in some Manchester city centre hotels should be replaced with a compulsory charge for visitors.

A NEW road side in France this summer is threatening to impose a huge fine for holidaymakers if they break its key rule.

Travellers to the country’s capital may come across the sign when driving in Paris, and it should not be ignored.

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A fine of £118 awaits motorists breaking the rules of the sign, which features a white diamond on a blue background.

The sign can be seen on the eight lane Boulevard Périphérique around Paris, which is used by around one million vehicles each day.

The symbol on it signifies that the left-hand lane can only be used for vehicles with passengers.

Motorists caught driving alone in these lanes on the road’s cameras will be issued automatic fines.

It is being used in a bid to restrict car use in the capital, following changes in recent years to the Boulevard by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Another measure was introduced last year, which reduced the speed limit to 30mph on the 22-mile motorway.

Four filling stations along the stretch of road were also banned from selling diesel fuel.

However, the latest road rule incurs a costly bill if not followed, requiring a payment €135, equating to around £117.50.

A new control system was installed on May 2, and put live to ensure compliance with the rules.

The system involves hi-tech computer-assisted video enforcement (VAO) which monitors vehicles in the far left lanes at all times.

It can capture the number of people in each car through artificial intelligence cameras.

The recordings of vehicles considered to be breach the rules are then sent to a human agent for verification, who can then issue motorists abusing the rules with a fine.

Signs and enforcement for the new carpool only lanes on the ring road also started at the beginning of May.

They aim to encourage commuters to travel into the city in groups of at least two, hoping to reduce congestion and emissions from vehicles.

The car sharing lanes are on the far left of the four-lane carriageway in both directions of what is one of the busiest ring roads in Europe.

These exclusive lanes were initially introduced for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games last summer, designated for athletes and staff to use as priority vehicles accessing the city.

Hidalgo, who has launched various anti-car measures for the city, confirmed they would remain after the conclusion of the games, and instead be used for car sharing in peak congestion hours.

These hours 7am to 10:30am and 4pm to 8pm on weekdays.

On weekends and public holidays, all lanes are open to any vehicle.

Public transport operators, emergency service vehicles, taxis, and cars for people with reduced mobility are also permitted to use the carpool lanes at any time.

President of Automobile Association, Edmund King, told the Daily Mail: “Britons driving to Paris this summer might be forgiven for not understanding a new addition to French road signs – the diamond with a blue background. 

“Some might think it is a sign to the ‘diamond district’ in Paris, which is around Place Vendôme and Rue de la Paix, but it is not – it is a sign denoting a car sharing lane.”

THIS is the shocking moment a Virgin Atlantic passenger hurled abuse at a hostess he threatened to “gang rape and set alight”

Disturbing footage shows Salman Iftikhar, 37, tell stewardess Angie Walsh she would be attacked in her hotel after landing.

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He spouted his vile rant after downing champagne on an eight-hour flight from London Heathrow to Lahore on February 7 2023.

Iftikhar said Ms Walsh would be taken from her hotel room, gang raped and set on fire.

Another passenger, who filmed the shocking scenes, can be heard saying “holy s–t”.

Iftikhar repeatedly accuses Ms Walsh of being a racist and says: “You called me a p-ki in front of everybody.”

The 37-year-old had been flying with his wife and three children, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Prosecuting, Abdul Kapadia, said: “During the defendant’s first meal service, the defendant was seen helping himself to ice, leaning over the bar he was drinking at, and taking ice with his hands.

“When told to stop, the defendant became irate, and started to film cabin crew with his phone, telling them: ‘Do not tell me what to do you b***h.

“When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: ‘Don’t tell me what to do you racist f***ing b***h. I know where you are from in Cardiff.”

Staff alerted the pilot and the seat belt signs were turned on, which only aggravated Iftikhar more.

He continued to call Ms Walsh a “f***ing b***h” before his escalating behaviour sparked a possible flight diversion to Turkey.

“The defendant was informed of this possible diversion, to which he replied: ‘I don’t care. F–it, go to Turkey. I have contacts,” the prosecutor told the court.

“The defendant then sat down, but his aggressive behaviour continued.

“His wife was ashamed. His three children were also on-board,
and other crew members were called to assist, but the defendant continued shouting and swearing.

“He was slurring his words, with his voice raised.

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“He shouted at the cabin crew: ‘Do you know who I am?’

“The defendant’s wife went to the food bar and tried to talk to cabin crew, but the defendant pushed his wife away, and shouted at her not to talk to crew.”

He grabbed one flight attendant, called Tommy Merchant, and threatened him with a fight.

‘YOU WILL BE DEAD’

The out-of-control passenger then told cabin crew he would blow up the floor of their hotel.

“The defendant knew the specific hotel, but also the hotel room numbers, and threatened the cabin crew with this,” Mr Kapadia told the court.

“He told Ms Walsh: ‘You will be dead on the floor of your hotel’.

“Iftikhar shouted at Ms Walsh and said: ‘The white sheep sh**ging b***h will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear.

“He told Ms Walsh: ‘You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang raped and set on fire’.”

His violent rant unfolded in front of his wife and three young children – who were brought to tears.

Iftikhar was arrested at his £900,000 detached home in Iver, Bucks, on March 16, 2024.

‘IT HAS BROKEN ME’

In an impact statement, Ms Walsh said she was forced to take off 14 months and the altercation “changed my life enormously”.

“I can’t quite believe that one passenger has had this much of an impact on my, my job, my career and my life,” she said.

“I am a strong brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job. I am well known within the company.

“But I had to take 14 months off work. 

“I have been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years. I was working when all flights were grounded on 9/11, and I’ve even flown into a warzone. But this incident has broken me.

“But I don’t feel strong enough anymore. I was abused for eight hours and 15 mins. It has broken me. It was a very personal attack.

“I was doing everything in my power to protect passengers and the crew from him. I felt exposed and vulnerable, especially as we were 39,000 feet in the air. There was nowhere for me to go.

“There was one moment where I felt I could not cope. I went into the cockpit and had a meltdown. I said to the captain I don’t know what to do. 

“Even the threat of diverting the plane to Turkey or Baku, Azerbaijan, had no effect.

“I was traumatised by the threat of being gang raped.

“Never in my entire career flying for 37 years have I not been sure what to do.

“I have had the best career in the world for 37 years. But he has taken that away from me.”

He told Ms Walsh: ‘You will be dead on the floor of your hotel’

Prosecutor Abdul Kapadia

Iftikhar, of Iver, Bucks, admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment, in relation to Ms Walsh.

He was cleared of assault by beating and threats to kill in relation to Mr Merchant.

Ben Walker-Nolan, defending, said Iftikhar was suffering from “amnesia blood loss” at the time.

Mr Walker-Nolan added: “Although there were over 100 incidents over the course of eight hours, the most serious, including threats to kill, were limited.

“The defendant has buried his head in the sand for a long period, and expressed regret.

“He has a long standing drug and alcohol problem which he has not addressed for many years.

“He is a successful businessman who employs a lot of people.”

THUG JAILED

Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008 and failing to stop and possession of cannabis in 2021.

Judge Ms Recorder Annabel Darlow KC said: “Your threats to kill were made in the presence of children, specifically your three young children. 

“These were threats made with significant violence. 

“Your children had to be comforted by cabin crew staff while you made those threats.

“Ms Walsh has given up a job which she has loved for 14 months, but thankfully has now returned to work.

“This was a sustained incident which involved repeated racist abuse to Ms Walsh.

“You have a lengthy and appalling record of misconduct. You have not addressed the underlying cause of this for many years, that is your drug and alcohol problem.

“Given your lifestyle and your ability to earn money, your harm and risk has not moved.

“This was an appalling incident which has caused long lasting and devastating consequences.”

Iftikhar cried in the dock as he was jailed for 15 months.

His LinkedIn profile stated that he was the director and founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match.

Virgin Atlantic was contacted for comment.

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DUNELM has slashed to half price off an “absolutely brilliant” suitcase that is perfect for flights this summer.

It comes in a range of sized that can be put under the seat, in the overhead locker, or as checked-in luggage.

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The Elements Two-Tone Hard Shell Suitcase be bought for £17.50 to £25, depending on the size, which is down from £35 to £50 at Dunelm.

They come in two colourways, an Olive green, or Fuschia, making the suitcase easy to spot on the conveyor belt.

There are three size options, from the smallest “cabin” size, to medium and large.

The suitcase includes four spinner wheels, that can be used with a push button trolley system.

It comes in a strong hard shell, with sturdy handles and zip insert that has an elastic clip closure to hold your belongings in place.

The product dimensions are H 55cm x W 40cm x D 20cm, at 2.5kg for the cabin case.

This means it can be taken on as a free, small carry-on bag that fits under the seat on EasyJet and BA flights, or in the overhead locker on Ryanair and Jet2 flights.

The medium case measures H 67cm x W 44.5cm x D 25cm, at 3.1kg.

And the large case is H 76cm x W 50cm x D 28.5cm, weighing 3.8kg.

The dimensions are particularly important to note, after a leaked email showed staff across major airports in the UK would receive payments for every bag confiscated from easyJet passengers ahead of boarding.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has also considered bigger bonuses for staff who identify passengers with oversized bags.

The suitcase from Dunelm received an overall rating of 4.3 stars from customers.

One reviewer described it has an “absolutely brilliant case and so light to carry.

Another raved: “Loved my suitcase with the bright colours couldn’t miss it on the belt!

“It’s easy to push along and the inside is great too, I had a lot of looks and people saying what lovely colours.”

It comes as Dunelm also knocked 50 per cent off one of its fancy garden decor ornaments.

The Artificial Boxwood Ball Tree has now been slashed to £24.50 from its original price of £49.

The retailer has also been providing great bargains on furniture, scanning for up to 90 per cent off.

One bar stool was priced down to £10.32 from £103.20.

A WOMAN who thought she was going on a romantic cruise with her partner was left stunned after she realised what was really going on.

Robyn-Jay was looking forward to her 10-day cruise, but that excitement quickly faded when she realised many of the holiday makers were swingers.

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Taking to TikTok to share her story, she explained that she and her partner went to the ship’s nightclub on the first night as they tried to settle in and get their bearings.

That’s when things began to take a turn and as they decided to sit in a booth and people watch when a man came up to them to ask if they “wanted a third”, Robyn-Jay claimed.

But the strange encounters didn’t end there, as on the second night Robyn-Jay claimed a woman called their room and tried to hook up with the couple, despite having never met them before.

According to Robyn-Jay, the woman needed to know their room number, which they didn’t share, to be able to call, which made the couple feel uneasy.

The pair said they could also hear couples from other rooms on the ship shouting at each other from their balconies.

“It’s not that they were friends, they were trying to arrange hook ups,” she said in the viral video.

But it was what allegedly happened next that drew the line for the holidaymaker.

She explained that one night she got all dressed up to enjoy some of the entertainment the cruise put on.

After finding a quiet place to sit with her partner, Robyn-Jay claimed she noticed a man sat at another tabled was staring at her.

“This was something different, this was a whole other level. I felt so uncomfortable in my skin, it really gives you that horrible feeling inside,” she said.

That’s when the man, who was sat with his wife, allegedly bent down to try and look up Robyn-Jay’s skirt.

She went on to explain that her partner, William, soon noticed and called the man out on his behaviour before he got up and left with his wife.

The holidaymaker went on to claim that she even saw an older man act inappropriately towards a young girl on the ship and he was overly touchy with her.

“I just really think [cruises are] a place for a bit of lawlessness and I think people go there knowing that and I honestly dread to think what goes on in the eyes of other people,” she said.

After sharing her experience, people chimed in to share their experiences on cruise ships, and many thought Robyn-Jay got unlucky.

“I’ve just been on a Marella Cruise and never experienced anything like this,” one person said.

And a second agreed: “Been on a few cruises – not my experience,” they commented on the video.

“This could have happened absolutely anywhere, it’s not because you were on a cruise. It’s also completely common knowledge that cruises are swinger’s paradise,” someone else wrote.

And someone who claimed to work for a cruise company added: “This is a well known thing on some cruise ships.

“Unfortunately you have experienced some awful behaviour and some people should understand that not everyone’s a swinger. Not all cruise lines behave like this.”

DRIVERS have been warned to brace for summer holiday chaos as a UK seaside hotspot is hit with months of road closures.

The Cornwall town will see significant travel disruption over the next four months as part of a gas work upgrade.

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The £110,000 gas work upgrade will start in the Marlborough Crescent area of Falmouth later this month.

Utility company Wales & West said the upgrade work should be completed by mid November.

They said: “The gas emergency and pipeline service is starting the work on 24 July and, barring any engineering difficulties, it will finish by mid-November. 

“The works are essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations.”

Traffic management will be in place throughout after the company liaised with Cornwall Council to plan the work.

The road closures will include:

• A closure on Tregenver Road from the junction ‘Access to Garages and Rear of 16 to 25 Tregenver Road’ to the junction of Dracaena Avenue (July 24 – August 8)
• A closure on Penmere Hill between the junctions of Kings Avenue and Tregenver Road (July 24 – August 8)
• Rolling two/three-way lights starting on Penmere Road leading onto Theydon Road (August 4 – 29)
• Rolling road closure on Theydon Road, from the junction of Penmere Hill to the junction of Margaret Place and Marlborough Grove to the junction Marlborough Avenue (September 8 – November 14)

Further traffic management will also be required between September and November.

Wales & West Utilities Natalie Raphael is managing this work and said: “We have been working with the council to plan these essential works. We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.

“We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Cornwall. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.”

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales.

Another busy road near one of Britain’s best beaches is also still currently closed as it undergoes 14 weeks of works.

For those travelling to Bournemouth from Walkford, they will need to follow a diversion route while a dodgy pipe is replaced.

A finish date for the works has not been confirmed, but the 14 week closure should bring us to the end of August.

And if you’re hitting the roads for your summer holidays this year, drivers have been warned about making a deadly mistake over the holidays.

Motorists have been urged to take regular stops on their long journeys after analysis revealed a steep rise in fatigue-related crashes during the summer months.

National Highways issued the advice and warned that driver tiredness can lead to “dangerous mistakes”.

Drivers have been urged by the agency to plan breaks that go “beyond quick pit stops”.

They suggest activities such as exploring a nearby tourist attraction or beauty spot to ensure drivers are alert before they get back behind the wheel.

A FIRST-TIME mum dreading flying with her baby daughter has shared how she got through it without any tears

Lala, from Germany, took to social media to share her genius parenting hack just in time for any summer holidays you have planned.

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And the best part is that the travel hack costs just 45p.

In the clip, Lala and her partner could be seen boarding the plane with their baby asleep in her mum’s arms.

She said: “This was her very first flight and we timed it perfectly with her nap. She slept right through takeoff but eventually she woke up.”

So how did the parents keep her entertained for the three hour flight? Lettuce.

Lala said they often give their tot lettuce when they’re trying to eat in peace, so decided to try it on the plane.

“It always keeps her occupied for so long. And I thought, if it works at home, why would it not work on a plane?” she explained.

Like most kids, her daughter was obsessed with tearing things up and trying to put them in her mouth.

“Like bread, paper, tissue, anything. But bread is way too messy, like there are crumbs everywhere,” she explained. And with paper or tissue, we always have to keep an eye on her that she doesn’t eat it. But lettuce?

“Lettuce is genius. It has a really fun texture and it’s not messy at all. And it’s safe if she decides to munch on it. Not just safe, but it’s actually a really refreshing and healthy snack for her.”

“This kept her occupied almost the entire flight.”

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While Lala’s easy travel hack was worth giving a go, it’s worth noting that some airlines may not let you bring it on, depending on what country you are flying to.

Others may not let you bring it into the country when you land so you’ll have to chuck it away.

But that won’t matter too much as the hack costs just 45p as two heads of lettuce cost 90p from Waitrose.

The clip quickly went viral on her TikTok account @lalaleluu with over 1.7 million views and 267k likes.

Plenty of parents took to the comments thanking her for the advice.

One person wrote: “Wow this is genius. About to take my baby on her first flight alone and I might try this.”

Another commented: “I have a 14 hour flight with my baby next month. I’ll just bring a whole field.”

“You, Lala, have just unlocked a whole new toy for all of us mums out there thank you,” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “This is some next level parenting!! Bravo!!”

“Genius idea,” claimed a fifth

Someone else added: “This is such a good idea!!”

EUROSTAR passengers were stuck for up to seven hours yesterday after two people were hit by trains.

The operator warned that delays and disruptions will continue into this morning.

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Trains in both directions between London St Pancras International and Gare Du Nord in Paris were either cancelled or delayed for hours.

It followed two separate fatalities, the first between Lille and Paris and around 5pm.

The second person was hit between Lille and Arras, according to local media.

Eurostar posted on X this morning to say trains will be running, but there area a “few cancellations” and “a lot of passengers travelling”.

“So the situation might still be difficult.”

Yesterday, there were massive queues at both the UK and French railway stations.

Many furious passengers who were stuck for hours took to social media to demand compensation.

One train, due to leave London at 2.31pm, was supposed to arrive at 5.57pm.

But it was delayed for four hours and didn’t get in until nearly 10pm.

Another frustrated passenger said they were on a train from London to Paris but they were stuck on it for seven hours.

Naomi Sanger, from Snodland, told KentOnline she boarded the 4.31pm at Gare Du Nord but it never left and she was left stranded at the station.

She posted on X that the food and drinks supply was running out, and the air con was not working.

In a statement on X, Eurostar said: “Due to a person struck by a train near Lille Europe, we are expecting delays and cancellations to our services this evening.

“We advise changing your journey for a different travel date.”

On Wednesday, Eurostar travellers were also hit by delays after a person was hit on the rails in France.

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EMERGING from a carpet shop in Iran’s beautiful and ancient city of Esfahan, I was engulfed by a group of jostling young men.

Like a desert mirage, as quickly as they had arrived they were gone.

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Patting myself down, a zip on my trouser pocket was undone.

My passport was gone.

And this so-called Axis of Evil nation had no British Embassy to get a replacement.

Hands trembling uncontrollably, my adrenalin-induced sweat of fear smelt like cat’s urine.

There can be few more hazardous places on Earth for a journalist without papers — and an entry stamp — than the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Years later Barry Rosen — a US embassy worker held hostage there in 1979 — told me how his interrogation played out.

With a rifle pressed to his temple, Barry was told he had ten seconds to admit he was a spy.

As the grim countdown began, the New Yorker wrestled with the dilemma of either being perceived as a traitor to his country or leaving his kids fatherless.

“On the count of five I relented,” Barry told me.

“I signed the false confession, distraught and ­completely ashamed.”

Barry would eventually return to his loved ones in the US after 444 days in captivity.

Britons are high-value hostages for the regime.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Iran for six years on trumped-up charges of plotting to topple the Iranian government.

She was finally released when Britain paid a £400million outstanding debt to Iran.

I would eventually get out — more on how later — after staying with an extraordinarily kind Iranian man who put me up in his apartment and tempered my nerves with some rocket-fuel home brew.

Today — with Iran’s tyrannical regime in Israeli and US crosshairs — I cast my mind back to the welcoming people I met while travelling this ancient land.

These folk loathe rule by the hardline ayatollahs and long for a time less than 50 years ago when women wore miniskirts in capital Tehran, the hair bouncing on their shoulders.

I had arrived in Iran — successor state of the Persian Empire — in 2012 with the idea of travelling from Tehran to Persepolis, a millennia-old desert ruin once the centrepiece of its civilisation.

On the way I’d talk to ordinary people to try and understand what made this land tick.

Did they really think Britain was the cursed Little Satan?

‘GREAT SATAN’

On landing in Tehran — a high-rise city of 9.8million shrouded by mountains — fleets of white taxis honked their way through the city’s awful traffic.

In the pollution-choked centre, I was struck by the number of women walking around with white plasters on their noses.

Tehran has been called the nose job capital of the world.

Women here also face a daily battle over what they can wear in public, with checks made by the dreaded Basij militia network.

Yet many were wearing their head scarves pulled back to reveal dyed blonde hair, while their overcoats were colourful and figure-hugging.

Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, when the Shah — or king — Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was toppled and replaced by hardline cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic dress has been strictly enforced.

Alcohol was banned, protests stifled and unmarried couples prevented from meeting in public.

Today, the internet is censored and the regime attempts to scramble satellite TV signals.

Near the Taleghani Metro station is the old American embassy — known here as “the nest of spies” — its walls daubed with murals and slogans decrying the so-called Great Satan.

Months after the revolution, students stormed the embassy compound and took 66 Americans hostage.

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A disastrous and aborted US rescue mission the following year — when eight servicemen were killed in a helicopter crash — badly damaged US president Jimmy Carter’s reputation.

The lingering stigma of that failure was perhaps a factor in why Donald Trump took his time before deciding to unleash American firepower on Iran.

In Palestine Square — in the heart of Tehran — beats a Doomsday Clock predicting Israel’s end by the year 2040. The regime put it there in 2017.

It helps explain why Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, senior nuclear scientists and top brass last week.

Nearby, I visited the British embassy compound, its gateway overlooked by lion and unicorn statues.

Around six months before my visit, diplomats had fled as a frenzied mob of Iran- ian “students” storm- ed the building and ransacked offices.

It would remain shuttered for nearly four years.

The rioters — who were chanting “Death To England” — were in fact state-sponsored Basij thugs.

It is the same sinister paramilitary force that is responsible for the policing of morals in this hardline Shi’ite Muslim state, including the wearing of the hijab or headscarf.

Yet these repressive goons are far from representative of the beating heart of this oil-rich nation.

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A short stroll away in the teeming Grand Bazaar, women shoppers, in the all- covering black cloak-like chador, were out looking for bargains.

But surprisingly, Union Jack-patterned knickers and bra combos were on sale on at least three stalls.

American stars and stripes underwear was also available in several shops.

One black-clad shopper in her thirties told me: “The underwear is very popular.

“We have nothing against your country.”

The message that the lingerie worn under the chadors sent out was clear: Knickers to the hardliners.

Indeed, as a metaphor for things being very different under the surface in Iran, it couldn’t be bettered.

Another stall sold Manchester United bath towels in a nation where the Premier League is avidly followed.

“We don’t hate Britain,” a 26-year-old Red Devils-mad taxi driver told me.

“Far from it.

“We admire your freedom.”

After a few days in Tehran I took a shared taxi on the five-hour, 280-mile journey to Iran’s third largest city Esfahan.

It’s home to an exquisite square overlooked by the imposing aquamarine dome of Shah Mosque, regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture.

The city’s outskirts are also home to one of the largest uranium enrichment facilities in the country.

‘EVERYBODY BREWS THEIR OWN NOW’

Terrified that Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon to make good on its doomsday prophecy, the site was pummeled by more than two dozen US Tomahawk cruise missiles on Sunday morning.

I had checked into a largely empty hotel in the city centre which had no safe for valuables.

That evening I went out shopping for a Persian rug.

Warily passing some soldiers in the street, I was dismayed to see them beckon me over.

Yet they simply wanted a selfie alongside a rare Western traveller.

Emerging with my new carpet, I was heading for an electronics store bearing a fake Apple logo when I was surrounded by pickpockets.

Now passportless, I was petrified about being stopped by police and asked to produce my documents.

I then remembered meeting some Iranian migrants in Calais who had told me they used to work as smugglers, trekking over the mountains from Iran to Turkey with some contraband alcohol in backpacks.

Finding an internet cafe to research the journey, a man started using the computer next to me to watch porn.

The idea of attempting to walk alone over rugged mountains seemed more hazardous than another internet suggestion — go to another country’s embassy and throw myself at their mercy.

Travelling back to Tehran I attempted to check into a hotel but the receptionist insisted I needed to show my passport.

When I explained my predicament, he told me: “I’ll phone the police and they’ll sort this out.”

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I told him I needed to collect my luggage then scarpered.

Knowing no one in the country, a contact then put me in touch with someone who could put me up.

The grey-haired father lived alone in a ramshackle flat and said I was welcome to the sofa.

“I was jailed for protesting against the Shah when he ruled,” he told me.

“Now I wish I hadn’t bothered.

“This regime is far worse.

“We have far less freedom now.”

Deciding the Dutch would be most amenable to a stricken Brit, I tried their embassy but it was closed for holidays.

So I went to the Danes instead.

They took my details and I was told to return the following day.

Presented with a paper Danish temporary passport 24 hours later, I profusely thanked the embassy staff for making me an honorary viking.

Taking a cab to the airport, I checked my bag on the flight then queued up at immigration dreaming of a glass of red on the plane.

A bearded border guard disdainfully looked at my Danish passport, sniffing as he tossed it away: “No good, no ministry stamp.”

It was back to my new friend’s sofa to watch subtitled TV, including shows with Jamie Oliver and James May.

The former prisoner — raising a glass of home-distilled spirits — revealed: “Twice every year the police go upon the roof and smash up all our satellite dishes.

“But we simply go out and buy some more.

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“There’s a saying here that the regime closed down thousands of brewers during the revolution but created a million more.

“Everybody brews their own now.”

After two days queuing at the relevant Iranian ministry — and praying that they wouldn’t google my identity — I finally got my stamp.

My plane banked over the vast mausoleum built to house Khomeini’s remains as it headed west.

One after another, most of the women on the flight removed their head scarves, then their restrictive chadors.

Settling with a glass of wine, I hoped one day to return to this fascinating land under better circumstances.

Now, with the ayatollahs’ regime perhaps at threat of being toppled, I may one day make it to Persepolis.

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BRITS jetting off to Europe for their summer holidays could risk losing cash if they pick the wrong time to buy the currency.

When heading abroad, it is not uncommon for many holiday-goers to exchange cash into the currency of the country they are travelling to.

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But when you convert cash from one currency to another, you could end up getting more money in exchange or in some instances less.

Factors such as inflation and the economic stability of a country can impact how much a currency is worth.

Currently, the Great British Pound (GBP) is worth more than the Euro, a popular holiday destination for many Brits.

So for example, if you had £100 and exchanged it you would get €116 in return.

While UK holiday goers currently get more money back when they swap their cash for Euros, returns have been better in previous years.

Back in 2024, £1 was worth €1.18.

Tony Redondo, founder of Cosomos Currency Exchange told The Sun that factors such as “soft UK economic data” and “rising geo-political tensions” is pushing the Pound to Euro exchange rate lower.

Inflation fell to 3.4% in the 12 months to May, raising expectations the Bank of England could cut interest rates tomorrow, June 19.

This can lower the value of the Pound as investors seek to get higher returns elsewhere.

With this in mind, Tony said that holiday goers heading to Europe before the end of the month, should buy Euros “soon”.

He said: “It might be best to buy soon to protect from any further possible downside.”

But the money expert said that those not travelling until the end of school holidays have no need to panic.

He said: “A calculated gamble would be to wait it out as the world moves at such a pace nowadays, that hopefully, the Pound has time to recover.  

“After all, in 17 out of the last 20 years, the Pound has gone up in value against the Euro in either July or August. “

It is worth noting that exchange rates can go up and down, so it is worth checking online currency converters to see how much you can get.

MORE HOLIDAY MONEY HACKS

When heading abroad there are a few hacks to ensure you don’t end up losing money.

Customers should avoid exchanging money at the airport as they tend to have higher fees due as they cater to a captive market.

Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “If you have a holiday booked and want to make the most of current rates.

“Don’t wait to buy your travel money at the airport as you will pay a premium – and never pay for your currency with a credit card as paying on plastic means you’ll be charged a ‘cash advance fee’.

This fee is charged on ATM withdrawals but also on transactions such as online gambling and buying foreign currency.

You should also be aware that banks tend to charge customers a fee for using their debit or credit card abroad.

For example, NatWest charges customers a 2.75% fee for spending your debit card abroad.

That would add a £1.16 charge to the cost of a jacket which cost £42.16.

But some banks don’t charge you for spending abroad.

For example, Monzo does not charge its customers foreign transaction fees nor does First Direct.

DIVE in to scrumptious staycays in England’s eastern counties.

From beautiful beaches in North Norfolk to stunning sustenance in Suffolk, we have it covered.

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The Nest Farmhouse, King’s Lynn

Beauty Writer Mia Lyndon and boyfriend Jamie found vineyards and seafood feasts in Norfolk.

THE PAD

Tucked away in the rolling fields of North Norfolk, guests are greeted with fizz from neighbouring Cobble Hill Winery at this former barn.

Rooms are bang-on theme with farmhouse-chic decor – ours had a vintage tub, dried flowers, distressed furniture and a spacious balcony from which green vistas extend as far as the eye can see.

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Fragrant home-made negronis made from a concoction of aged local spirits and spices, £14, are literally on tap from a miniature barrel in the homely bar.

Then tuck into rich bone marrow and crunchy focaccia, £12, followed by tender local Old Spot pork chop, £28, and barbecued cabbage smothered in a tangy, buttery anchovy dressing, £5.

Fluffy doughnuts dunked in toffee sauce, £10, are the perfect pud, and we splashed out on a bottle of local Cobble Hill Bacchus Reserve, £55.

Birdsong will wake you for an alfresco brekkie of local cheese, cured meats and trout, while you watch ducks bob about in the pond.

EXPLORE

Spy deer in the lush 667 acres of the palatial 18th-century Holkham Estate, before ogling rich tapestries, marble sculptures and the lavish guest rooms where Queen Victoria once slept.

Entry costs from £24 per person (Holkham.co.uk). Later, spot seals frolicking in the surf from the sweeping sand dunes of Holkham Beach.

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The neighbouring town of Wells-next-the-Sea is postcard-pretty – duck into The Old Station for whimsical ceramics that are made on-site, before sipping on local Crisp Eastern Gold, £2.55 for a half pint, on the rooftop deck at The Globe Inn (Theglobeatwells.co.uk).

REFUEL

Norfolk is renowned for crab, so tuck into a platter at family-run Wells Crab House and feast on creamy dressed crab, crayfish, oak-smoked salmon, juicy prawns, tangy cockles and rollmops, plus indulgent potato salad – £44 for two people.

Sip cucumber and apple coolers, £5, as you go (Wellscrabhouse.co.uk).

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Meanwhile, in cobble-stoned King’s Lynn, devour giant slabs of buttery ginger cake, £2.50, from indie cafe Norbury’s (Instagram.com/norburysfinefoods).

Then plump for dinner by candlelight at Grade-II-listed The Bank House, a stylish eatery on the banks of the River Ouse.

Order Pineapple Fogs, a blend of honey-lime juice, pineapple and tonic, £5, and savour flaky cod and seafood chowder with mussels, squid and prawn, £22.50 (Thebankhouse.co.uk).

DON’T MISS

Knowledgeable David at Burn Valley Vineyard (which has near-identical soil to the Champagne region), is the perfect host for wine-tasting, £25 a person.

You’ll get to swig six wines – our fave was sweet, acidic Solaris 2023 – before wandering around the vineyard to see where they’re grown (Burnvalleyvineyard.co.uk).

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BOOK IT

B&B at Nest Farmhouse costs from £160 per night (Nestfarmhouse.co.uk).

The Crown and Castle, Orford

Writer Sasha Cunningham and husband Grant checked into a foodie haven on Suffolk’s coast.

THE PAD

Nestled in the sleepy town of Orford, you’ll find 21 newly refurbished rooms and an intimate two-AA-Rosette restaurant.

Our bright and spacious deluxe sea-view room had amazing glimpses of Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, plus a large bath, rainfall shower, Temple Spa toiletries and cosy armchairs.

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Grab an Aperol Spritz, £9, or a pint of Mosaic lager, £5, before digging into dishes such as the spectacular soy-cured monkfish with glass noodles and sesame, £28.

Mains such as beef blade and fillet on a bed of spelt, celeriac and mushrooms, £32, won’t disappoint, either.

EXPLORE

You’re just over the road from 12th-century Orford Castle, which is well worth a visit for both the views from its tower and its captivating audio guide, £8.10 per adult (English-heritage.org.uk).

Or take a wander down to the River Ore – pick the distance and difficulty of your walk by scanning the hotel’s handy QR codes.

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Be sure to book your visit to the nature reserve in advance, from £4.50 per adult (Nationaltrust.org.uk).

Once used during WW2 for atomic bomb testing, it’s now home to many species of birds and a colony of 200 grey seals.

REFUEL

Share the griddled fish selection of prawns, squid, sardines and mussels brushed with garlic oil, from £19.50, at Butley Orford Oysterage, a short stroll from your bed (Pinneysoforford.co.uk).

Or hunt out Two Magpies Bakery in the nearby pastel-coloured seaside town of Aldeburgh for rich hot chocolate, £3.45 – it’s the perfect drink for a walk by the beach, where you can snap the giant scallop sculpture (Twomagpiesbakery.co.uk).

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Later, join a tour of Fishers Gin Distillery for tastings with a sea view, £35 for a 90-minute tour (Fishersgin.com).

DON’T MISS

Stop by Orford’s Pump Street Bakery for bear-claw almond frangipane pastries, £4.50 – just go early before they sell out (Pumpstreetchocolate.com).

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BOOK IT

Double rooms cost from £145 B&B (Crownandcastle.co.uk).

The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds

Fashion Assistant Emily Regan, boyfriend Harry and dog Ragnar enjoyed history and booze in Suffolk’s charming market town.

THE PAD

This central Georgian hotel – once a favourite of Charles Dickens – blends vintage furnishings with modern touches.

Book a Copper Room for a king-size bed, free-standing copper bath and a picturesque view of Abbey Gate.

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Then dig into mouth-watering Surrey Farm 10oz sirloin with peppercorn sauce, £34, in the hotel’s lively Eaterie.

Finish with chocolate crémeux, honeycomb and brownie ice cream, £8.50, and a pornstar martini, £14.

Come breakfast, a full English, plus sausage bites for Ragnar, were winners, and there are plenty of other doggy treats and toys on hand, too.

EXPLORE

A five-minute stroll away you’ll find St Edmundsbury Cathedral (Stedscathedral.org) and St Mary’s Church, with its hammer-beam angel roof (Stmaryschurchbse.org).

But to really learn more about the town’s history, join a walking tour around Abbey Gardens and the ruins of an 11th-century monastery, £10 per person for 90 minutes (Burystedmundstourguides.org).

Gift hunters should head to The Parsley Pot with its cute ceramics (Theparsleypot.com), while dogs will love scampering through the scenic woodlands of Nowton Park (Westsuffolk.gov.uk).

REFUEL

For mid-morning pick-me-ups, No.5 Angel Hill has excellent home-made sausage rolls, £4.95, and iced lattes, £3.90 (Fiveangelhill.co.uk).

Discover the town’s hop history on Greene King’s brewery tour – or just lunch on beef and ale pie for under a tenner at its Beer Cafe.

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Tours cost £20 per person (Greeneking.co.uk).

Named the smallest pub in Britain, The Nutshell has some of the quirkiest artefacts on display (Thenutshellpub.co.uk), while a 25-minute drive away,

The Swan at Lavenham serves up a cracking Sunday roast, £28 for two courses (Theswanatlavenham.co.uk).

DON’T MISS

Sip a glass of English vino, £6.50, and enjoy a live gig, if you’re lucky, at The Wine Cellar (Thewinecellarbse.co.uk).

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BOOK IT

Double rooms cost from £157 a night (Theangel.co.uk).

Plan your trip at Visit-burystedmunds.co.uk.

A SIMPLE holiday error could see a host of benefits including Universal Credit and PIP stopped.

You may even have to pay back any overpaid money and in a worse case scenario an up to £5,000 penalty too.

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Going abroad is classed as a change in circumstances which must be reported to the office that pays your benefits.

If you do not, it may be reduced or stopped and you could be told to pay back any overpaid amounts.

If you are found to have deliberately not reported going abroad, it is classed as benefit fraud and you could be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty of between £350 and £5,000.

However, at which point you have to report going abroad varies based on the benefit you are receiving.

For example, you don’t have to report going abroad if you’re on Attendance Allowance (AA) and going away for less than four weeks.

If you do need to report going abroad, you need to tell your local Jobcentre Plus or the office that pays your benefit.

This is the full list of benefits where you may have to report going abroad this summer:

• Universal Credit
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• PIP
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
• Maternity Allowance
• Child Benefit
• Guardian’s Allowance

Here are the rules on reporting going abroad for the major benefits.

Universal Credit

If you’re on Universal Credit, you can stay abroad for one month and carry on receiving payments.

You still have to tell your work coach you’re going away and have to carry on meeting the conditions of your claim.

For example, if you are in the intensive work group and have to spend a minimum amount of hours per week looking for a job, you have to continue doing this.

There are exceptions to the one-month rule though – such as if a “close relative” dies while you are abroad and it is not deemed reasonable for you to return to the UK.

Meanwhile, you can carry on claiming Universal Credit for up to six months if you have gone abroad for medical treatment.

You can report going away on holiday by signing in via your Universal Credit account.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

If you are on New Style or income-based JSA you must report if you are leaving Great Britain for any length of time.

You can let the Government know you are going away by calling the JSA helpline on 0800 169 0310.

You can also write to the Jobcentre Plus office that pays your JSA.

You can find your nearest office by using its online branch locator.

PIP and DLA

You have to tell the DWP if you are on Personal Independence payments (PIP) Or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and going away for more than four weeks.

You have to tell the Government the date you are leaving the country, how long you are going away for and which country you plan to visit.

You also need to tell the DWP why you plan to go abroad.

You can call the Disability Service Centre on 0800 121 4433 to inform them you are going away if you are on PIP or DLA.

Attendance Allowance

Like with PIP and DLA, you have to tell the DWP if you plan to go abroad for more than four weeks and are on AA.

You can claim AA for up to 13 weeks while abroad, or 26 weeks if you’re going away for medical treatment.

Carer’s Allowance

If you are on Carer’s Allowance, you can go away for up to four weeks over a six-month period while still receiving the benefit.

But you still have to report this or risk having to pay back your entitlement or paying a fine.

You can report going away via the Government’s website or by calling the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297.

Pension Credit

You can claim Pension Credit for up to four weeks if you are abroad.

This is extended to eight weeks if the absence is due to the death of your partner or a child.

However, you still need to report going abroad.

You can do this via the Government’s website or by calling the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 731 0469.

Housing Benefit

You can usually only carry on claiming Housing Benefit for up to four weeks if you go abroad.

Like with Pension Credit, you can carry on receiving it for eight weeks if you have to go abroad because a close relative has died.

But you should contact the Benefits Service on 020 7364 5000 to let them know you’re going away.

You might also be able to via your local council’s website. You can find your local council by using the Government’s online locator tool.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

A TOP European theme park is welcoming a new premium hotel that looks like it’s out of Wes Anderson’s world.

Dutch theme park Efteling will be opening a new hotel this summer called the Efteling Grand Hotel.

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The theme park is already well known for its fairytale theme, with one TikToker – The Travel Mum – dubbing it “better and cheaper than Disneyland”.

The new addition to the attraction will be the first hotel located within the theme park itself and will open on August 1.

The hotel will be themed around a traditional grand dame hotel with stories woven into the design throughout, appearing like a Wes Anderson story.

There will be digital check-in, valet parking and luggage handling, upon arrival.

A bellhop and Efteling’s two princesses will guests in the lobby, where the air will also be infused with the hotel’s signature fragrance.

The hotel will be spread across seven floors offering 140 rooms and suites, with a total of 644 beds.

The biggest room will be able to host six people.

The hotel rooms will also overlook the park with different views of the Aquanura water show the House of the Dive Senses entrance, the Fairytale Forest or the Pardoes Promenade Lane.

All of the rooms include breakfast at Brasserie 7 and half an hour of early access to the park before it opens to the public.

Other features of the rooms include each one having an Efteling Grand Hotel fairytale book.

The lower ground floor of the hotel will have a swimming pool – availabel only to hotel guests – with spa facilities including a steam room, sauna and massage room.

There will also be a multifunctional serenity room where guests can unwind, pray or meditate.

The hotel will have two restaurants with Brasserie 7 located on the ground floor and Restaurant-Bar Mystique on the first floor.

While Brasserie 7 will serve up a range of classic dishes – which include seven ‘magical’ ingredients such as princess tears and snow from Mother Holle – Restaurant-Bar Mystique will offer a more premium dining experience.

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Each table will be decorated with edible decorations and the restaurant will be open to the public, as well as park and hotel guests.

Café Biscuit will also be a part of the hotel, where baristas will serve coffee and the signature Grand Hotel biscuit.

Plans have also been revealed for incredible new 240-room hotel with huge swimming lake, golf and spa near to iconic racetrack.

Plus, a huge new Premier Inn will open near major airport and will be the largest of its kind in the north of UK.

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TRAVEL lovers have been lapping up a big brand cabin bag that’s even more penny-pinching than Primark’s own version.

There’s nothing worse than getting caught out by militant measures – and here’s the answer.

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To avoid paying for an overpriced cabin bag, shoppers have been going potty for the Robert Dyas Underseat Cabin Bag.

Available in black/red, it comes in at a savvy £7.99 and is ideal for short breaks or business trips.

The travel companion is priced even lower than Primark’s £12 Underseat Bag.

High Quality Cabin Carry on Holdall Bag Duffel Under Seat. Additional sleeve section on the back to fit over trolley case handles. Adjustable shoulder strap and top carry handle.

Happy customers reviewed online: “Great bag to take on plane.”

A second added: “Underseat travel bag. Perfect size to use when travelling. Strong bag, easy to fold and store away.”

A third praised: “Looks good and roomy, ideal to take onboard a plane and lots of compartments for important stuff.”

“Perfect lightweight bag, just what I wanted,” applauded a fourth.

“Excellent quality and value,” wrote another.

“Very good. Correct dimensions for small bag to take as cabin bag. Love it!” penned another.

“Very sturdy, great quality bag. Amazing price. Perfect for Ryanair‘s ridiculously stringent sizing policy. Managed to ram more into it than I envisaged,” advised a fifth.

All Ryanair passengers can bring a small personal bag on board but this must fit under the seat in front of you.

All over-sized cabin bags will be refused at the boarding gate, or where available put in the hold for a fee.

Anyone wanting to bring another bag, you’ll need to upgrade and pay extra for priority and two cabin bags or checked baggage.

Many angry passengers have been caught out by Ryanair’s strict baggage allowance for flights.

However, the Robert Dyas lightweight bag has a 20L capacity with dimensions H:25 x W:40 x D:5 cm and fits perfectly under the seat.

With a front zip for passports and essentials, it features carry grab handles with an adjustable shoulder strap.

Made from strong polyester, it also offers a one year guarantee.

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GREECE’S biggest island is getting a huge new £422million airport.

Heraklion, on the island of Crete, is currently preparing for a new airport in Kastelli which is scheduled to open in February 2027.

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According to the New Heraklion International Airport, the new airport will serve 10million passengers each year, after opening.

This number will then rise to 18million after some time.

There will be 19 boarding gates, eight of which will be of combined use for Schengen and Non-Schengen flights.

There will be space for 27 aircraft and also a terminal building with five levels of retail space and permanent exhibition areas.

A masterplan map also shows an area shaded in purple that suggest future retail space.

In addition, the airport is due to be one of the biggest in the country and when it opens it will replace the existing Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport in Heraklion.

Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport opened back in 1937, however, it can only accommodate eight million passengers a year.

Kastelli International Airport is being built to handle the growing number of tourists heading to Greece each year.

The airport will be located a 25-minute drive away from Heraklion, which is the largest city on the island.

In total, the airport is expected to cost €500million (£422million) to build and generate a total of 7,500 jobs in the area as well as a further 37,000 indirect jobs.

In addition, the new airport is expected to give new life to Crete’s tourism.

According to Tornos News, the new airport will create a number of new roads and contain one runway which stretches 3,200 metres long with one parallel aircraft movement taxiway,

A trial launch of of the airport will take place next summer, before a full opening in 2027.

Currently, airlines including easyJet, Jet2 and British Airways fly to Crete.

These are likely to move to the new airport when it opens.

And there are a number of other new exciting airports opening around the world.

A new £25billion mega airport is also opening in Europe to ‘take on Heathrow and Dubai’ with 65milllion passengers.

Plus, one of the world’s busiest airports reveals plans for new £7billion mega terminal with 50million more passengers.

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