Travel reviews

“WHO sang Bat Out Of Hell? Was it: A, Meatballs; B, Tom Jones; C . . . ?”

“A!” shouts my partner Sophie, and I duly push the button.

Speed, you see, is key to this quiz.

But, then again, so is the right answer.

We are aboard Tui’s Aria for its Dutch Delta Discovery sailing, taking in the waterways and canals of the Netherlands and Belgium.

And the quiz we are playing, where each team has a handset to record and time their answers, is just a small part of the nightly entertainment.

BEACH PLEASE

Spanish TUI hotel to reopen next summer for adults only and it’s on the beach

CRUISE NEWS

See Monaco Grand Prix in 2027 during all-inclusive cruise for £2,299 per person

Other fun includes cabaret, themed dance nights and musical bingo. And one of the joys is how laid-back it all is compared to the more glitzy shows of the huge ocean-going liners.

But while Aria, one of Tui’s quaint ships designed specially for river waterways, was significantly smaller than any ocean liner, it wasn’t less comfy.

With 96 cabins and enough room for 200 passengers, it feels spacious throughout.

There are two main communal areas: the bright Observatory Bar & Lounge on deck three, with floor-to-ceiling windows, and Verdastro restaurant below for plentiful breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

There is also a pool, covered at night to become the Reflections Italian restaurant.

The main package is Full Board Plus, which includes three meals a day and selected drinks, including wine and beer, with lunch and dinner.

And although you may not have a choice of restaurant every night, the changing menu covered all tastes, with elegant dishes of beef wellington, artichoke souffle and a fresh catch of the day.

Our cabin was large, with plenty of storage and huge glass doors from which to watch the river banks pass by. A daily joy was throwing back the curtains to see what port we had woken up in.

We began our six-night journey in Amsterdam then stopped in Rotterdam, Veere, Ghent and Antwerp before circling back to our starting point. Our favourite was perhaps Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second city.

It’s built along the river and 99 per cent of the buildings on the north bank were flattened in 15 minutes during a World War Two bombing raid.

It was rebuilt from the Fifties onward and is known for its unusual architecture.

One example is the Cube House development, an eccentric array of 38 bright yellow, cube-shaped houses connected together at stark angles in the sky.

They look like they would be awkward to live in. But don’t just ponder on it from the outside. If you want to find out what it’s like inside, you can tour one for 3.50 euro — and it’s great value.

Aside from the architecture, a major reason Rotterdam delighted Sophie and me was because it was one of the two times we took advantage of the daily guided trips put on by Tui.

The trip was actually a 20-minute taxi boat ride away in Kinderdijk, home to 19 historic windmills from the 1700s.

Now, I knew the Netherlands was famous for windmills, but I was surprised to learn their purpose was not for grinding wheat — but as an ingenious water-management system.

With much of the country reclaimed from marshland, and below sea level, it is prone to flooding when heavy rains swell rivers and overwhelm drainage ditches.

To get round this, the windmills had huge wheels with paddles to scoop out the water from ditches and chuck it into a storage reservoir, which could then be let out into the rivers and sea.

But this aside, they are easy on the eye and it all feels so very Dutch.

If outdoor time is a big selling point for you, then you’ll love Veere in Zeeland (the next call on our trip), which is the region of islands and peninsulas that make up the west of the Netherlands.

If you feel energetic, I’d recommend hiring bikes for a scoot around the very flat landscape. There are lots of cycle lanes, which take you through gorgeous nature reserves and past vast lakes.

You can reward your efforts at the next port of call, Ghent in Belgium, as you sample beer, sausage and cheese on another Tui tour.

Ghent is a medieval gem with cobbled streets lined by fascinating, old-world buildings. It was so easy to immerse ourselves that we almost missed the boat before it set sail.

There’s no need to panic if you struggle to remember those daily timings, though. Tui’s own Navigate app will keep you up to date with the schedule and you can also use it to check menus or book trips.

With our cruise nearing an end, it was back to Amsterdam, a city renowned for its canals and laidback cafes.

You can’t run out of things to do but, in our short time, we opted to visit the Anne Frank Museum. Make sure you book it as soon as you pay for the cruise as you have to reserve weeks in advance.

The secret annex that hid Anne and her family from the Nazis is accessed through a doorway concealed by a movable bookcase. It is a sombre experience climbing into the hideout but a powerful reminder of one of history’s greatest terrors.

It left us feeling even more grateful for the evening feast we were about to tuck into back on board Aria.

A cheeseboard was a definite — I just wonder if they have any Meatloaf.

DEEP in the forest, I’m watching tiny, rare frogs swimming and croaking (more of a weird squeak, really) in a flooded chamber at ancient Roman city, Bouthroton.

This is not what I expected in “the Maldives of Europe”.

Apparently someone, somewhere posted online a couple of years ago that Albania has some fabulous beaches with turquoise water like the Indian Ocean paradise islands, and the nickname stuck.

I’d long been intrigued by what was a communist totalitarian state until the mid-Nineties and had thought of it more as “the North Korea of Europe”!

So when I was on holiday in nearby Corfu, and discovered full-day tours operated, I jumped at the chance to see for myself.

The good-value trips are run by Tui-owned Musement and mine started at 7.30am with a 30-minute coach transfer from the hotel to the port, then a 75-minute ferry across to beach resort Sarandë in Albania, a coach pick-up there and a few hours of guided sightseeing.

BEACH PLEASE

Spanish TUI hotel to reopen next summer for adults only and it’s on the beach

SET SAIL

Our top winter cruise holiday deals – Carribbean sun & Xmas markets from £675pp

After a coffee pitstop, the coach headed south to the uncrowded, unspoilt Butrint archaeological site and its surrounding national park.

I’d heard of Butrint’s large lake but was not aware of its history, with human habitation here dating back thousands of years.

However, this visit took my group back to a “mere” 800 BC and the Unesco-listed ruins of Bouthroton founded by Greeks and taken over by Romans.

There’s a lot of walking on rough tracks in the forest and a fair few steps, so trainers are best.

Enthusiastic guide Lindita was a mine of information about the ancient forum, amphitheatre, public baths, aqueduct and almost 3,200ft of encircling walls, up to 23ft high.

A 4th-century earthquake affected sea levels, and the city was finally abandoned in the Middle Ages, with high tides causing flooding – but creating a habitat for those noisy little Greek water frogs and cute terrapins.

On to the adjacent national park, with Lindita explaining about the lake (actually a lagoon), which is linked to the sea by a 1.6-mile channel.

The rich birdlife includes the magnificently-named short-toed snake eagle while the mussels in the lake are hailed as Europe’s best.

Before the ferry back to Corfu, we had a brief photo stop at Sarandë’s Lëkurësi Castle – on an 800ft hill with outstanding views – and time for a chilled Albanian beer at a seafront bar.

The downside? It’s a 12 hour-plus day, with an agonising 2hr 10min journey back from the port to my hotel as other guests were dropped off. Still, I saw a lot of Corfu.

And while my included lunch was OK, I’ve never been on any excursion where water is not provided.

On the bus back to Sarandë – and from the ferry – I did spot some lovely beaches, but is Albania “the Maldives of Europe”? Hmm, not atoll. And there is a huge amount of unsightly hotel construction around Sarande and nearby Ksamil.

But the trip is an enjoyable, insightful taste of Albania and I’d definitely think about a holiday there. Maybe I’d even get to see a short-toed snake eagle.

Albania day trip from Crete, from £67pp plus port tax of 20Euros pp.

I NEVER ever thought I’d be into geology – but after a week on a nature reserve in Tenerife, I’m officially an earth geek.

Admittedly, the ice-cold margaritas served inside the tranquil oasis of Barcelo Tenerife oiled my educational rediscovery of the island’s natural wonders, but now I am well and truly hooked.

My last memory of visiting Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, was marred by an over-excited, elderly sailor who threatened to throw my beloved teddy bear into the path of an approaching pod of pilot whales when I was only eight years old.

But after touching down 31 years later, I rediscovered my love for it.

The Barcelo Tenerife, my home for the trip, is set within 124 acres of almost untouched land in the San Blas Environmental Reserve — and it fully takes advantage of its rural surroundings.

It’s not just the decor that sets the tone for rustic Tenerife — guests at the resort can book a guided tour through the reserve that will showcase the best of Tenerife’s wild scenery.

GOAT & BOAT

See Lionel Messi with Inter Miami ticket and Caribbean cruise from just £1,649

CRUISE NEWS

See Monaco Grand Prix in 2027 during all-inclusive cruise for £2,299 per person

During my two-hour or so trek through the fascinating landscapes, I touched stone formed by molten lava as well as compressed volcanic ash, a type of rock that created the foundations of the island after the (still active) Mount Teide volcano erupted millions of years ago.

It was one of the best experiences I’ve had — and reminded me that this gorgeous island offers so much more than just sun-drenched beaches and cocktails by the pool.

Make sure to try and catch a look at Teide on your flight in — the mountain top peeps out above the clouds.

While it is still active, the last eruption happened in 1909 and there’s nothing to suggest it’s going to happen again in the next 100 years or so, so visitors need not panic.

When it comes to history, the mighty volcano isn’t all the island has to boast about, though.

Travellers visiting the San Blas Environmental Reserve can observe the archaeological remains of the Guanches, an indigenous community who first inhabited the islands.

Fans of The Lord Of The Rings will also recognise many of the rocky pastures as sets from the show.

It’s well worth exploring this striking landscape — if you can tear yourself away from the seven luxurious swimming pools at the hotel.

The Barcelo Tenerife manages to exude luxury without stomping on thousands of years of history — as the incredible scenery has been incorporated into the hotel’s earthy design.

The beauty of the land is seen in every inch of the hotel, from the terracotta plant pots on the terraces to its clay-coloured buildings.

Barcelo Tenerife also prides itself on its eco-friendly ethos, with sustainability built in, not tacked on — and walking through the building, you feel immersed in the natural environment.

Along with solar power energy, the hotel relies on energy-efficient lighting and ethical food supplies.

And with a 500,000-square-metre nature reserve on your doorstep, you could walk a different route every day and still feel like you have explored more of Tenerife than anyone else.

The food options include an impressive and tasty buffet for breakfast, while fine-dining restaurant La Dolce Vita Trattoria brings a taste of Italy while using superb Spanish produce.

Creamy burrata served with locally-reared beef carpaccio was a highlight, as was a tasting menu inside the Arrozante Restaurant — where I had a truly wonderful paella.

The hotel is a five-star — and worth it — but if you fancy spending a little more, upgrading to the Royal Level is worth saving your cash for.

A private pool and access to a premium bar and restaurant give you a chance to live the high life without breaking the bank too much (from just £160 per night).

Rooms have a slightly more elevated feel to them, too, with chic, sandy-toned furnishings inspired by the nature reserve and fabulous views of the ocean.

But the hotel is so well proportioned and the nature reserve so vast, I don’t think you could ever feel cramped, even during the high season.

Now is the best time to visit, too, with the weather in the UK finally taking a rather more drizzly turn, announcing the official arrival of autumn.

In Tenerife, by contrast, temperatures tend to stay balmy throughout this time of year — with highs of 26C in October perfect for both sunbathing and exploring the island — and even into winter.

My helpful hotel guide informed me that Tenerife has only had five days of rain in the last four years, so the sunshine is pretty much guaranteed.

It’s a go-to destination for winter sun and I, for one, am sold.

See you again in November, Tenerife — and this time, I’ll be bringing along my walking boots.

SEEING the Northern Lights tops many a traveller’s bucket list.

The problem is, they can be elusive and costly to find and because they are at the whim of nature, there are never any guarantees . . . until now, that is.

There is a new Northern Lights Train in Norway which promises to take you where there’s a greater chance of spotting the Aurora Borealis than ever before. It costs £115pp and looks so good I booked a ticket.

Meeting point: Narvik Station, high in the Arctic Circle. Waiting on Platform 1 is a four-carriage train, guide Lill and buckets of white stuff. It’s been snowing non-stop from thick, heavy clouds.

Spotting the Aurora normally requires a clear sky, so these conditions are far from ideal. Do we really have a chance of seeing them? Lill consults an app and smiles. “Yes,” she says.

I’m nonetheless sceptical as I hop on board.

FJORD FIESTA

I tried the Nordic cruise with dog-sledding, Northern Lights and cable cars

WINTER WONDERLAND

My night in Arctic igloo where you can watch the Northern Lights in bed

The three-hour experience includes a 90-minute stop in the Arctic wilderness and, as the train pulls off, lights are dimmed to better see the Aurora.

After we’ve rattled past Narvik’s fjord and suspension bridge, a fellow passenger points excitedly at the window. Outside, a green plume is painting the sky.

Well I never — our first sighting.

From here, we climb north into the mountains towards the Swedish border. This historic track was built in 1902 and is still used to transport iron ore from Sweden’s Kiruna mines to the port of Narvik and beyond.

Our destination is Katterat — a remote, 373m-high (1,224ft) outpost accessible only by train or foot.

There’s no light pollution or civilisation and, thanks to its altitude, the sky is usually clear here when elsewhere else it’s not.

Once we’ve arrived and descended on to the platform, nobody budges — we’re too busy looking up.

Streaking overhead are bands of green criss-crossing a starlit sky.

Necks crane, photos are taken and the excitement is palpable. A trail leads to a makeshift camp where there are snowshoes to try, fires to warm hands and an indigenous Sami tent called a “lavvu” for shelter, with hot drinks, biscuits and sausages.

Despite the sub-zero temperatures (it’s -20C), nobody cares about warming up because we’re all too fixated on the sky show.

One moment the aurora shines to the right, the next to the left.

They come, they go; they fade, they flare; they keep us guessing, eyes peeled. It’s a magical night.

This train is one of many ways to chase the Northern Lights but there’s still magic to be found when the Green Lady plays shy.

On an excursion with Arctic Moments the next night, we sip hot chocolate and toast cinnamon buns on a fire in a Narnia wonderland.

No Aurora but happy memories with photos included in the package.

Narvik’s also a superb base for other adventures. There’s downhill skiing — it’s hosting the 2029 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships — as well as cross-country skiing, considered Norway’s national sport.

I give it a go but it’s harder than it looks — even on flat terrain.

There are also historical links. A fierce World War Two naval battle was fought and lost in Narvik in 1940 — Norway was occupied by Germany afterwards — and the town’s War Museum tells this story.

A new boat excursion even sends a drone underwater so you can see the shipwrecks on the ocean floor.

Narvik has everything from self-catering apartments to hotels offering Scandi-style breakfasts — think herring and smoked salmon — to the deluxe glass cabins of Camp 291, which cling to the mountainside.

This is my favourite accommodation, with superb fjord views.

Hiring a car allows you to explore even further. Polar Park is home to lynxes, musk oxen, moose and wolves. I’m taught how to howl and, amazingly, they howl back.

Best of all is the Arctic fox experience. You get to feed them but be prepared — they’re playful and love nothing more than clambering all over you.

For a final treat, I head to Narvik’s floating Arctic Sauna where a hole and a ladder lead directly from the heat into the chilly sea.

But the ultimate thrill is the Aurora Borealis. Travellers have been trying to find the best and most reliable way to see them.

Norway’s Northern Lights Train may just be the coolest way to do just that.

DID you know that Buckingham Palace has its own cinema, post office and even a mini bank?

I didn’t. Nor did the handful of punters and their kids behind me, who were now all gawping with fascination at the extravagant building from their shiny bus seats.

Claim 25% off children’s tickets for the The Original London Kids Tour

The royal premises is certainly a spectacular sight to behold with its grand curved arches and towering bronze statue.

And we’ve got one of the best views in town: from the upper deck of an open-roofed London bus.

The Original’s London Kids Bus Tour may be aimed at youngsters, but there are enough juicy facts in there to keep adults hooked on their guide’s every word as they tour the capital’s most recognisable landmarks.

And right now Sun readers can save 25% on children’s tickets by clicking here, with ages two and under going free.

GET A ROOM

13 London hotels we love for UNDER £100- all-inclusives & bargain suites

SAIL ON

I tried the Thames dining cruise with two courses & London’s top landmarks for £38

In just under an hour, my niece and I had ticked off Big Ben, Downing Street, the London Eye, and of course the residence of King Charles. 

His Majesty wasn’t at home, though. “You can tell from the flag’s position,” our guide explains. “If it’s flying high, he’s in the building.”

That’s one fact I did know.

We also learned the stories behind the four grand lion statues in Trafalgar square and how Nelson’s Column was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, hundreds of years ago.

Facts were cleverly sandwiched between fun sightseeing tasks for kids, like spotting the golden pineapples on top of Lambeth Bridge.

Kids had to use their noggins, too, to answer age-appropriate quiz questions such as: “What’s the name of that big clock over there?”

Claim 25% off children’s tickets for the The Original London Kids Tour

I’ll give you one guess as to where our guide was pointing. 

And just as we were gazing up at the mighty Big Ben he roared into action, bellowing his tuneful chime. 

That’s the other brilliant thing about these tours, each one is perfectly-timed to include key moments like this.

On top of Big Ben’s gong, we heard the merry jingle from Fortnum & Mason’s grand clock on Piccadilly and watched from a distance as visitors piled into pods on the mighty London Eye.

“That is SO high,” my niece squealed, pointing excitedly at the big wheel.

This monument is actually taller than Big Ben, our guide highlights. Those trivia facts just keep on coming.

When we clamber off after an exhilarating hour, a free activity booklet will keep kids faces from going sour.

It’s loaded with mini tasks like spot the difference, word searches and dot-to-dots, all leaning on their new-found knowledge of the capital.

Something to keep them busy while parents grab a coffee.

I can’t think of a better way to see the sights, either, than from the comfort of a classic red double-decker (don’t panic, the upper deck is partially roofed for when the weather takes a turn).

There’s plenty of space on board, too.

We were visiting on a maximum-capacity day and there were still lots of free seats scattered around.

At £24pp it’s cracking value, too. And now you can bag yourself an even bigger discount, with 25% off children’s tickets.

The best part? You can also claim seven other freebies as part of the offer.

Your ticket for The Original Tour also includes a Hop-On Hop-Off River Thames cruise, where you can soak up the sights from the water.

Plus you’ll get access to six self-guided walking tours via The Original Tour’s partner app.

That’s three ways to see London for the price of one – all of which are child-friendly, hassle-free and put together by experts.

Claim 25% off children’s tickets for the The Original London Kids Tour

Prices correct at the time of publication.

RECREATING your favourite childhood holiday doesn’t mean you have to pay modern, inflated prices.

From £9.50 stays in Great Yarmouth to £15 per night Cotswolds holidays, the Sun Travel team’s favourite childhood escapes remain remarkably cheap today. Bargains span across Europe too, with £16 flight deals and £18 per night South of France stays.

Even famously-pricey trips like Disneyland Paris can be had for a fraction of the cost by opting for off-site hotels instead of forking out thousands on on-site stays.

Here are Sun Travel’s favourite childhood holidays where the prices have barely budged and exactly how to book them right now.

Disneyland Paris

Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill

The first time I ventured into magical Disneyland Paris, I was four years old and it was in the depths of winter, so covered in snow.

But it goes down as one of my favourite holidays, getting to go on the rides and meet my favourite characters (according to my parents anyway as I can’t remember most of it).

But let’s face it, Disneyland Paris isn’t the cheapest spot to go on holiday. However there are ways to keep the cost down.

The first is choosing accommodation wisely. Rather than staying at one of the hotels on the park which are incredible, but also quite pricey, stay outside and take the train in.

Marne-la-Vallée train station is right outside the gates to the park and just a few minutes on foot to the Disney Village, and off-site accommodation often operates shuttle buses to the theme park too.

When planning accommodation, keep in mind that a room with a kitchenette will seriously cut costs too – as you won’t have to fork out for pricey park food.

For instance, StayCity aparthotels have family studios for up to four people from €299 (£259) for two nights – the rooms come with their own kitchen and the hotel has an outdoor pool, plus it’s just a free 8-minute shuttle ride to Disneyland Paris.

This means you can stock up food for breakfast, packed lunch and dinner at the local supermarket.

Or if you want to stick around at the park in the evening, check out some of the lower cost options like Hakuna Matata where you can get an adult meal for €16 (£13.67) and a kids’ plate from €10 (£8.54).

When it comes to booking travel, Eurostar offers children between 4-11 30 per cent off the price of peak travel and a discount of up to 50 per cent on off-peak travel tickets when booking with an adult.

We found a two-night stay at the Grand Magic Hotel Marne La Vallée in a family room for £410 – from there it’s a six-minute drive to Disneyland (there are regular shuttle buses). Click here to book.

Over the same two-night period, a stay at the Disney Hotel New York The Art of Marvel works out to £2,287 or £285.88pppn.

Camping in the Ardeche

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

As childhood games go, it wasn’t the most exciting. Flip Flop Harbour – as we sisters named it – consisted of attaching string to our flip flops then creating a very impressive stone harbour to sail our ‘boats’ in and out of.

Our ‘harbour’ was actually on the banks of the Ardeche River in the South of France and as children, this was our little piece of paradise.

The river itself sits at the heart of an astonishing landscape of dramatic limestone gorges, dense oak forests and ancient stone villages.

The river winds through the Ardeche Gorges – an 18 mile canyon of pale grey cliffs that lead to its most stunning point, the Pont d’Arc, a 54-metre-high natural stone arch that spans the turquoise river.

We stayed at Camping des Cigales at St Martin D’Ardeche. Facilities weren’t the priority, as long as we had a shower block to wash off the day’s adventures and a small shop to spend our pocket money on ice creams, we were happy.

Walking across the vast suspension bridge from the campsite into St Martin D’Ardeche, you could get right down to the water’s edge at the Grain de Sel beach.

It was the hours spent swimming in the clear, sparkling waters, white river rafting through the rushing waters and simply sunbathing at the water’s edge.

Things haven’t changed much to this day.

You can still enjoy camping at the same site, with just 26 pitches now for tents or campervans with the addition of modern glamping huts and lodges to enjoy as well.

And it doesn’t come at a huge cost. In peak season, a pitch for two adults for the night is just £18. Click here to book.

Great Yarmouth

Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski

If I concentrate hard enough, I can still hear the screams from the rickety rollercoaster and smell the toasted sugar wafting from the candy floss machine on Great Yarmouth’s pier.

My brother, step sister and I would tease ourselves by strolling past the sweet stalls daily, just to get a whiff, despite knowing full well that this was reserved as a last-day-of-holiday treat.

We’d try to savour it, but candy floss is hardly a snack that can be relished – a fizzle on the tongue and then it’s gone.

The memories of Yarmouth’s fun in the late 90s and early 2000s very much remain, though.

We’d have spent that morning on the seafront, putting all our might into building the biggest sand castle on the beach, plunging into the sea every thirty minutes or so with whatever float Mum had bought us from the promenade.

Back then, there were no pink flamingo inflatables, it was rubber rings only for us – although we did (successfully) campaign for the smiley-faced orca one year.

Another year, I saved up all my pocket money to splurge on a personalised hairbrush I’d seen at the market. The wooden frame had been embellished with sequins and a large glitter-shaped ‘S’ – it became the envy of my classmates on my return to school.

Rainy days were no bother. These were spent at the penny slot machines in the arcade, followed by vinegar-doused chips and a show at the pier – special mention to the 2003 Chuckle Brothers performance.

We would stay in a caravan each year, but I couldn’t tell you where. Back then I didn’t care, I was too focused on whether I’d win at the claw machine (I never did).

But if you want to book an affordable getaway to Yarmouth, you can stay at Parkdean Resorts’ Vauxhall Holiday Park with The Sun’s Hols from £9.50.

The holiday park recently received a multi-million pound makeover with a new sports bar, fairground golf, Bear Grylls-themed escape rooms, upgraded soft play and more. Click here to book.

Alcudia, Majorca

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

You know that annual family holiday abroad – the spot you return to year after year – to that very same hotel that you love?

For me and my family, that was a trip to TUI’S Hotel BQ Delfin Azul in Alcudia.

I loved holidaying there as a kid. Getting up on stage and making friends at the kids mini disco, playing mermaids in the pool, singing ‘Choco Choco Chocolate’ to my heart’s content.

My sisters and I would get our hair braided, and I’d soon be begging my parents for a souvenir to remember our holiday. My eyes lit up for spotty flamenco dresses and castanets, or anything with ‘I love Majorca‘ or a dolphin plastered over it.

My granddad, on the other hand, loved loading up on desserts at the all-inclusive buffet, and relaxing on a lounger with a newspaper in peace and quiet until we came back. He still visits year after year, and very much looks forward to that buffet spread!

When it comes to Spanish resorts, Alcudia is a near-perfect pick for families of all ages.

Exploring the Old Town and Roman Ruins of Pollentia keeps parents and history buffs happy, whilst Hidropark Alcudia has waterslides and trampolines adored by kids. This hotel is only a 12-minute walk from the waterpark.

It’s also remained a super affordable part of Majorca to visit, with a meal from the menu del dia at restaurants along the Bellevue Strip costing only around €10 (£8.70).

In fact, you can stay seven nights at this exact hotel with TUI from £457pp, which includes your return flights. For a week away under £500pp, that’s an absolute bargain. Click here to book.

Cotswolds Caravan Holiday

Head of Travel, Lisa Minot

It was the summer of 1976 – the last great heatwave. The unique, baking hot conditions saw an invasion of ladybirds.

And in an idyllic little bit of the Cotswolds I can vividly remember clutching an old Quality Street sweet tin, filled to the brim with the bright red bugs we’d collected on our adventures.

As a family, we’d spend many weekends in our caravan at a working farm at Grafton, a tiny historic hamlet between Clanfield and Bampton in Oxfordshire.

The farmers, Mr and Mrs Wooliams, ran a Classified Location (CL) for caravans called Grafton Hive – essentially a field that would host no more than five caravans.

The facilities were minimal – somewhere to fill up our water carrier and empty our waste. But for us as youngsters from London’s suburbia, this was pure heaven.

We had the freedom to explore the farm, riding our bikes across fields and exploring tiny streams and ancient woodland.

Mum would rustle up eggs and bacon in the caravan in the morning. Lunch or dinner was chicken in a basket at the local pub.

While Grafton Hive no longer runs as a CL there is still an alternative very close at Friars Court Island.

Part of the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s CL offering, this unique little site sits on a three-acre island with the river Thames to the south and a backwater to the north.

Sitting right on the river front, the field allows up to five caravans and you can even launch dinghies and paddle boards from the riverbank as well as fish.

Prices start from just £15 per night for a caravan and all occupants. Click here to book.

Lake District – Lake Windermere

Travel Reporter, Alice Penwill

Staycations might be on the rise again, but when I was a kid it made up the majority of my summer holidays.

Trips to the often wet and wild Lake District in the summer holidays are ones I’ll always remember.

From feeding the birds at Lake Windemere to sitting at the bottom of a hill eating sandwiches in the car because it was too rainy to outside or on the other extreme, hiking up hills in the scorching sun.

If we were feeling flush, there was also a chance to get out onto the water at Lake Windermere on one of its boat cruises or water sports activities.

Or for those who are fans of Peter Rabbit, it’s close to the World of Beatrix Potter too.

One of the best ways to keep things cheap is a long walk to see the views from Orrest Head – make sure to take a picnic to keep everyone happy.

In my opinion, no trip to the Lake District is complete without a cosy cabin because let’s face it, the weather can be very up and down.

The Rowan Lodge in Cumbria is perfect for a family of four, it’s a great place to be amongst nature and it’s near both Ambleside and Windermere.

A four-night break in October starts from £383, working out to £24 per person per night. Click here to book.

Carcasonne

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Like many families growing up in the 90s, my rare holiday abroad was only ever to France every few years.

One that we still talk about to this day was our trip to Carcassonne, complete with all the troubles you’d expect of a multi-generational trip.

There was the car sickness from me and my sister (that my dad always forgot about before piling us into a 13-hour car journey), there was the lack of electrics in our villa after we arrived, and of course all of us being bitten to shreds by mosquitoes.

But despite all that, it was still one of those great holidays where we spent the days eating baguettes and exotic snacks from the local store, or playing volleyball in the pool followed by a game of cards.

While I can’t remember the exact villa we stayed at – I was barely a teenager after all – it remains a great affordable option for larger families wanting some R&R.

You can get private homes with a swimming pool for as little as £948 in September for an entire week – that works out to £33 each a night. Click here to book.

Or you can splash out and stay in some beautiful private houses on the grounds of medieval castles or glamorous apartments, if you’re happy dropping a few thousand.

(Just maybe skip the car journey if you have car-sick kids – while not an option in the 90s, Ryanair have gloriously cheap £16 flights to Carcassonne Airport from the UK).

FINDING a London hotel room that isn’t the size of a shoe box and is actually affordable can be a real challenge.

Luckily, I’ve done my research and have found an underrated hotel that hides a secret bargain.

This stay offers suite-sized rooms for a very reasonable £65 – which is less than what you’d pay for those broom cupboard-sized rooms in the city centre.

Not only that, but the hotel has great connections into Central London, plus has attractions like the Minecraft Experience and The Legend of the Titanic exhibition less than 10 minutes away.

Throw in unlimited free ferry rides across the river to Canary Wharf, and it might just be the best-kept budget hotel hack in the capital.

Here’s everything you need to know about a&o London Docklands Riverside.

Read more on cheap hotels

TOP MARKS

Dirt cheap hotels in 7 top holiday destinations that guests actually RAVE about

GOOG TIP!

Trick to get cheap hotel stays revealed by Google with new price drop feature

Where is a&o London Docklands Riverside?

a&o London Docklands Riverside is in Rotherhithe, which sits directly opposite swanky London finance district Canary Wharf.

A stay here even comes with free ferry tickets to cross over the river and reach Canary Wharf in a matter of minutes.

You can take the ferry as many times as you’d like during your stay. Ferries come every 15-20 minutes, and run daily until around 11pm.

The easiest way to get to the hotel via public transport is by taking the underground to Canada Water, and then walking around 10 minutes to reach the hotel.

What is the hotel like?

This is a no faff, no-frills spot which makes for the perfect budget-friendly base on a trip to London.

The building is a restored 17th century wharf warehouse, bringing a touch of the area’s maritime history to your stay – but all of the amenities here are super modern.

Everything here is designed for efficiency – the check-in process is quick and easy, there are vending machines throughout with snacks, drinks and toiletries, and reception are on-hand 24 hours a day to help.

There’s an indoor bar and lounge area, plus an outdoor ‘Urban Beach’ bar with plenty of parasol-topped tables for soaking up the sun in the warmer weather.

What are the rooms like?

This London stay offers the ultimate room hack – entire suite-sized rooms from just £65 per night.

a&o London Docklands Riverside used to be a Hilton Doubletree hotel, however since a&o took over ownership, you can snag a large room for a shockingly low price.

This is because some rooms here which were once sold as King Junior Suites are now being sold for the price of a regular double room.

This means that you could bag an entire suite with a big double bed, lounge area with a sofa, desk to work from and even a balcony overlooking the Thames for just £65 per night.

That works out to only £32.50pp per night (almost unheard of for a Central London hotel).

Prices vary depending on the time of year you visit, so if you want to bag this price, make sure to look for off-peak season stays such as weekdays in the winter.

As this accommodation is owned by a&o hostels, there are actually dorm rooms on offer here, too.

If you’re a seasoned traveller that doesn’t mind sharing a room, you could bag a stay here from as little as £19 per night – perfect if you just want a place to crash after a concert or event.

What is there to eat and drink?

Breakfast here is served buffet-style with all the usual suspects – eggs, sausage, bacon, cereals – plus a pancake machine with Nutella and maple syrup.

It’s definitely worth heading out into the city to grab lunch and dinner, as London is full of amazing restaurants inspired by all sorts of cuisines.

Cross the river into Canary Wharf and you’ll soon spot Big Easy – a huge, American-style BBQ restaurant that sits on top of the underground station, with huge neon signage that reflects onto the water below.

Here you can feast on steak, ribs, fries, corn on the cob and more, all lathered in thick barbecue sauce. Messy, but so delicious.

What else is there to do there?

When you’re out in Canary Wharf, make sure to book in a session at Fairgame.

Head towards the giant yellow rubber duck on the waterfront and behind it you’ll find a playground for grown-ups.

Inside there’s street food-style stalls, a bar serving crazy cocktails and, most importantly, loads of fairground-style games like whack-a-mole and basketball hoop-shooting.

If you’ve got kids with you, or just fancy a wholesome day out, hop on the DLR to Mudchute Farm.

Here you’ll find a farm with a surreal feel, where you can see alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens and more grazing grasses backed by London skyscrapers.

There’s even a community garden on-site where you can get stuck in and lend a hand planting flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Is it family friendly?

a&o London Docklands Riverside is family-friendly, with private, family-sized rooms and even pram hire from reception.

The hotel also has dog-friendly rooms, with a fee of £13 per pet per day.

Is the hotel accessible?

The hotel is accessible with step-free access onto the property and elevators to reach the rooms.

Make sure to mention any specific needs you may have upon booking.