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POTTERHEADS will need their wands (and wallets) at the ready as the biggest Harry Potter shop in Europe opens tomorrow.

The enormous store on Oxford Street will be a haven for fans with plenty of photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and Butterbeer treats.

In fact, the shop is so big that it’s the joint biggest Harry Potter store in the world alongside the one already open in New York.

The UK shop will be set across two floors and as visitors first walk into the shop, they’ll be transported to Diagon Alley – the famous shopping street in the franchise.

There will be ‘hidden magical details’ along the way, and you’ll be likely spot familiar stores like Ollivanders Wand Shop and Flourish and Blotts.

Visitors should watch out for the enormous dragon that towers over Gringotts Bank.

At the Leaky Cauldron pub, shoppers can take a break from browsing and enjoy a refreshing pint of Butterbeer.

They will also serve up Butterbeer Ice Cream and other sweet treats.

There are plenty of photo opportunities throughout the store including one inside a full-sized purple Knight Bus – so you’ll feel fully immersed in the action.

Inside the Oxford Street shop will be exclusive merch for sale including a Diagon Alley wand, a Harry Potter Funko Pop and artwork.

There’s also the Hogwarts Bear Ceremony – an interactive experience where fans can ‘celebrate the magic of the Sorting Ceremony’.

It will also sell goodies like knitwear (think Ron’s Weasley’s jumper from the Philosopher’s Stone), as well as gift and even Christmas decorations.

There will be an option to personalise the products too including customised house robes, exclusive trunks and notebooks.

You can even get a Hogwarts Acceptance Letter personalised with your name and address.

The store will join the King’s Cross Shop as the only official Harry Potter retail destinations in the UK.

Celebrating the announcement of the magical new store, Karl Durrant, Warner Bros senior vice-president of worldwide retail, said: “Following the success of our Harry Potter shops around the globe, opening the Harry Potter Shop in London is a truly special milestone.

“We’re incredibly proud to bring the magic back to the city where Harry Potter’s story began.

“There’s no better place to create a destination that celebrates the magic, creativity and storytelling that has captivated generations of fans around the world.

“Step inside and you’ll feel as though you’ve walked straight into Diagon Alley. Every detail has been designed to transport fans into the wizarding world.”

The shop on Oxford Street will open ahead of the new HBO series launching on Christmas Day.

A UK travel company that sells holidays to Turkey, Greece and Portugal has entered administration after nearly four decades.

Wroxham Travel first opened in 1987 as an independent travel agency selling holidays to numerous destinations including UK staycations, short-haul trips and long-haul holidays.

The company also sold ocean and river cruise trips.

However, the Norwich-based company officially closed on October 30.

The company had two high street stores – one in Hoveton and one in Aylsham.

While the impact of the company’s closure isn’t clear, it is expected to primarily affect holidaymakers in the Norfolk and Greater Norwich areas.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said in a statement: “We are sorry to inform you that Wroxham Travel has ceased trading with effect from 30 October 2026.

“We are now treating this as a financial failure.

“If you booked a holiday through Wroxham Travel, the tour operator or principal business with whom Wroxham Travel booked your holiday will be named on your paperwork (or ATOL certificate if it was a flight inclusive holiday; this would be stated on your ATOL certificate under “Who is protecting your trip”).

“To ensure your holiday can continue as planned, you will need to contact the credit control department of your tour operator or other principal travel business with whom you have a contract.

“Your booking should continue as normal, and they will be your direct point of contact.

“Please ensure that you have all your documentation with you, as they may require information from it to assist you.”

LOOKING for a holiday where your cash goes further? These destinations have been revealed as the best value for money.

Skyscanner recently unveiled its list of top spots across the world where the price of flights has dropped the most – and in some cases, hotels too.

At the very top of the Skyscanner list is the city of Bilbao which has seen a 66 per cent drop in flight prices from last year.

It’s a great choice for Brits too as it’s the closest Spanish city to the UK taking less than two hours to get there.

One-way flights to Bilbao can be as little as £20 with with the cost of hotels down by 63 per cent from last year, rooms start from £29 on Booking.com.

If you fancy booking a whole trip, with loveholidays the cost of a seven-night break to Bilbao in April 2027 starts from £42pppn.

As Bilbao is that it doesn’t get as many tourists as lots of other Spanish cities, it’s a lot quieter than its neighbours.

In 2025, just 1.6 million visited Bilbao last year compared to 16 million in Barcelona.

There’s lots to see too like the neighbourhood of Iralabarri which has been compared to Notting Hill thanks to its colourful town houses.

Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey who visited earlier this year suggested heading its top attraction, the Guggenheim Bilbao museum which is filled with modern and contemporary art.

When it comes to food, Kara attempted the art of txikiteo which is where you hop between tapas bars for snacks and drinks.

Kara added: “My number one spot was Cafe Bar Bilbao for its tasty pork sliders, as well as Taberna Ona for freshly sliced Iberian ham. 

“The most famous Bilbao drink is txakoli, a Basque white wine which you can find pretty much anywhere.

“Squeeze into the family-run Taberna Basaras, a tiny bar with barrels for tables and bottles from floor to ceiling, for a hearty glass. You might also spot the locals ordering a mariano, a vermouth “daytime” cocktail that’s lighter than a negroni.”

The second city on the list is Wrocław in Poland which has had a flight price drop of 47 per cent.

One writer who recently visited called it one of Europe’s ‘best-kept city-break secrets‘.

The Polish city has colourful market squares with cobbled streets and tall pastel townhouses.

It’s known as a city of festivals with lots going on throughout the year from films and jazz to classical music.

If you fancy visiting during the festive period, Wroclaw’s Christmas market is one of the largest in Poland.

One-way flights to Wroclaw start from £27.

With loveholidays, a three-night break in the city starts from £149pp or £50pppn.

Another place not far from the UK that has seen a drop in price is Bordeaux in France where air fares have decreased by 34 per cent.

The port city in southwestern France is known for its 18th-century architecture and wine culture.

Make sure to pop into Bassins des Lumières – a former World War Two submarine base which has been transformed into a digital art installation.

If you’re planning a summer holiday next year, a trip to Rhodes in Greece shouldn’t put a dent in your wallet.

The beautiful island is the largest of the Dodecanese and is known for having pretty beach resorts, ancient ruins and it has highs of over 30C in the summertime.

It’s seen a drop in flight prices by 22 per cent and on Skyscanner, one-way tickets are as cheap as £28.

Pula, which is considered the ‘Rome of Croatia‘ came in seventh spot.

The city on the tip of the Istrian Peninsula got its nickname from its ruins – the amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world.

The spot on the Adriatic coast has lots of history and it’s under three hours from the UK too with flights having dropped in price by 20 per cent.

Fez in Morocco came in eighth on the list with a drop of 19 per cent when it comes to flights, which are as cheap as £15.

The city in northern Morocco is known for its vibrant markets and attractions, including its ancient medina.

It’s a popular winter sun city with highs of 20C in November.

For more on Fez, Travel Reporter Jenna Stevens recently visited the city to try out cooking classes and pottery.

For more travel inspiration, Skyscanner has also revealed the 10 holiday destinations that are set to be huge next year.

This includes far-flung Kyrgyzstan to Hurghada in Egypt and pretty Greek islands.

In the 1820s, a young painter left London to live in Shoreham in the west of Kent. In his waterside cottage, Samuel Palmer – remembered now as a key figure of British Romanticism – depicted moonlit cornfields, apple trees bowed under fruit and hills swollen with light. He dubbed the area his Valley of Vision. Two centuries on, Palmer’s own vision of Shoreham – and the surrounding Darent Valley – as a demi-paradise isn’t too far from the canvas.

I’ve lived in the area for five years and can’t quite believe how few people come to Shoreham. It feels like a secret yet is less than an hour from London by train. The village itself sits on the River Darent, remarked on by Edmund Spenser in his poem The Faerie Queene for its gentleness and clear water: “The still Darent, in whose waters cleane, ten thousand fishes play and decke his pleasant streame …”.

This 21-mile chalk stream glides into the Thames from Westerham and can be explored by the scenic waymarked Darent Valley Path. Shoreham is a pretty place. The road into the village drops to a stream under a weeping willow, flanked by two good pubs, and it makes a good base for exploring. Lopsided Tudor chimneys and pastel cottages lean over the lanes, and the Grade I-listed church of St Peter and St Paul keeps watch over the churchyard. It’s no surprise artists still come here to capture Palmer’s magic.

Neighbouring Otford and Eynsford are minutes on the train (or a short drive). Otford is the antique-hunter’s village, with waterside houses, the ruins of a 16th-century palace and a listed duck house on the pond – check out the labyrinthine Otford Antiques and Collectors Centre. Eynsford has the history: Lullingstone Roman villa with its beautifully preserved painted walls; Lullingstone Castle, favoured by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn; and the ford, ringed by half-timbered houses.

Don’t miss

My top recommendation is cream tea at the Shoreham Aircraft Museum. The valley saw heavy aerial combat in the second world war, and this volunteer-run museum remembers it. You enter through the garden door of artist and proprietor Geoff Nutkins’ home, past overgrown flowerpots, witty hand-painted boards and an antique Hovis sign above a converted bakehouse, now a tearoom frozen in the early 20th century. The delicious puddings and doorstop sandwiches come from Nutkins’ own kitchen. (My Tunisian girlfriend describes it to friends as “exotically English”.) The £5 ticket to the museum buys entry to a lifetime’s collection, plus the story of his work building memorials to lost servicemen from both sides.

Take a hike

Bring comfortable shoes. The beautiful gentle four-mile stretch of the Darent Valley Path from Shoreham to Eynsford suits all abilities, and is as good on a crisp winter day as in July, following the river through empty woodlands and rolling hills. It’s just four minutes by train if you’d rather ride back.

A 20-minute stroll from the churchyard in Shoreham brings you to Castle Farm (five minutes by car), one of the UK’s largest lavender growers. The farm shop, under rafters hung with hops, sells lavender oils, teas and ice-cream made from the harvest. Stock up on a box of gypsy tarts, a Kentish staple made with condensed milk and muscovado sugar. Grab some lavender honey, too (the farm keeps beehives). A coffee shed serves lavender teas and coffees. In summer you can picnic among the rows, à la Provence, or book to join in the harvest.

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Where to eat

In Shoreham stop by The Crown for lunch. This dog-friendly locals’ pub has an intimate dining room and serves hearty, locally sourced classics such as fish and chips and a handmade pie of the day. Portions are large, but leave space for dinner at The Samuel Palmer. The beamed, fire-lit bar serves traditional pub favourites and small plates, while the bright, kid-friendly restaurant at the back presents chef Kieran Farquhar’s elevated seasonal discovery menu at £48 a head. At Mount Vineyard, the on-site restaurant has a pizza menu, and a quaint cafe by the vines serves coffee and handmade pastries.

In Otford try The Bull, with its pretty gardens. In Eynsford, The Malt Shovel is a favourite locally for lunch, with big portions and fair prices.

Where to stay

My pick is White Hill Woods, five minutes’ walk from Shoreham station, which has a log cabin for families (from £150 a night), and a shepherd’s hut for couples and solo travellers (from £100 a night, both two night minimum). There is a heated pool or just relax in the forest. Book ahead, as it’s popular with repeat visitors.

Getting there and around

There is a twice-hourly train from London Blackfriars to the villages, which takes about an hour, and using it to hop between them takes minutes. The Line 2 bus from Swanley to Sevenoaks runs along the road between the villages. Drivers will have no trouble parking, even on weekends.

WINTER is coming – and it’s bringing a whole host of scenic travel destinations with it. 

France’s Strasbourg is top of holidaymakers’ hotlists, according to the latest Tripadvisor Travel Index, while Tromsø in Norway is creeping up the popularity scale. 

The travel report revealed the most up-and-coming holiday spots for this season, based on search data for breaks between November 1 this year and February 28, 2027. 

Here Sophie Swietochowski shares her pick of the most popular holiday packages this winter. 

STRASBOURG, FRANCE 

SO much for Paris — the Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg is just as glorious.

It was named among the top experiences in France in the 2026 Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards.

The city’s Christmas market is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1570, and is home to more than 300 traditional wooden stalls.  

Strasbourg’s Franco-German cuisine is just what you would fancy during the colder months — hearty and comforting.

Think casseroles and lots of potatoes. 

GO: Five nights’ room-only at the 4* Okko Hotels Strasbourg Centre is from £559pp including flights from Luton on December 27.

Save £100 now with code BLKFRIDAY. See easyjet.com/en/holidays. 

TROMSØ, NORWAY 

THIS area, AKA the Gateway to the Arctic, was crowned second most popular spot for this winter.

While its location means that during winter, the sun never rises above the horizon, that doesn’t mean you need to hunker down inside — far from it. 

Among popular activities to try are dog or reindeer sledding, whale watching, snowmobiling, ski touring and fishing in the icy fjords.  

It’s also one of the best spots in the world to catch the Northern Lights in all their colourful glory. 

GO: Five nights’ room-only at the 4* Moxy Tromsø is from £909pp including flights from Gatwick on January 17.

See loveholidays.com. 

GHENT, BELGIUM 

THE nearby hotspots of Bruges and Brussels typically steal the limelight when it comes to winter getaways. 

And that’s just why Ghent should be top of your list.

The fact it is less crowded means you can explore its Gothic and medieval architecture at leisure, although it’s best to do so at night when the intricate alleyways and twisted spires are illuminated by spotlights, giving the spires an even more dramatic appearance against the night sky. 

Ghent’s winter festival, which operates throughout December and into early January, is magical, with a mini ice rink, ferris wheel and rows of stalls that lead from the canal to the central square. 

GO: Seven nights’ room-only at the 3* Hotel Gravensteen is from £489pp including flights from Heathrow on November 26.

See loveholidays.com. 

SAARISELKA, FINLAND 

IF Tromsø’s coastal location doesn’t tickle your fancy, then Saariselka, where earthy pine woodlands are buried in deep powdery snow, just might.  

Make sure to stay in a glass igloo — after all, this is the place where they were popularised. And what a spot for them.  

From your bed, you have high chances of spotting the aurora borealis painted across the night sky.  

Make sure to test out the longest toboggan track in Europe, which stretches 1.8km from the summit of Kaunispaa mountain.

Then warm up those chilled bones in a traditional Finnish sauna. 

GO: Three nights’ B&B at the 3* Holiday Club Saariselka is from £914pp including flights from Gatwick on November 29.

See tui.co.uk. 

CHAMONIX, FRANCE 

A COSY and typically French resort town, Chamonix has maintained its traditional charm, despite having sparked the big ski boom. 

And unlike the purpose-built ski resorts, this town is vast and sprawling, with lots of wooden chalets dotted around.  

While it is a destination that is known for its skiing, there is still plenty else to do in winter.  

Le Pas Dans Le Vide is an awesome glass skywalk, suspended at an altitude of metres, at the summit of Aiguille du Midi.

It gives visitors the thrilling sensation of floating above the spectacular Bossons Glacier.  

There are also ice caves and ice sculptures and you can dig in to some of the best cheesy raclette in the country. 

GO: Seven nights’ self-catering at the 3* Residence Pierre & Vacances La Riviere is from £551pp, including flights from Gatwick on January 2, plus 20kg luggage per person.

See crystalski.co.uk. 

Breakfast burritos are one of L.A.’s most iconic foods and you’ll find the hefty, all-day dish offered at taquerias, Aussie-inspired cafes, French bakeries and everywhere in between, with new entrants frequently unseating former favorites. Restaurant critic Jenn Harris adds a new Long Beach cafe to the county lexicon, with a full menu of breakfast burritos wrapped in Chihuahua-style flour tortillas. At Masa y Taza, you can get your burrito stuffed with red pork chorizo; green chicken chorizo; sauteed nopales and bell pepper confit for a vegan take (vegan tortillas are available upon request); or the classic bacon, egg, potatoes and cheese. Tacos and churro French toast round out the food options, while beverages include a selection of aguas frescas made fresh daily, café de olla, a mocha with Mexican chocolate and specials like a mazapán banana latte.

Mum of two Hannah Britt took her kids to the Mallorcan beach resort this summer, and fell in love with it’s laid back vibe. From historic churches to mini golf, there’s something to do for all ages

Sat on the white sand of Palmanova beach, I watched as my daughters splashed on the shore. I absentmindedly filled and unfilled their bucket and plotted where to go for lunch as they played, the morning sun gently rising high in the sky above us.

I’ll be honest, I’d never heard of Palmanova before this summer. But with its laid back vibe and pristine sandy beaches, it’s time to put it on the map. A compact beach resort town spanning about 2km of coastline in the southwest of Mallorca, it’s a 20 minute car ride from Palma. Known for its clear turquoise waters and welcoming atmosphere, its calm environment appeals to families, couples and older visitors.

Unlike its high-energy and boisterous neighbour Magaluf, which is a short drive away along the coast, Palmanova is much quieter at night and focuses on laid-back evening entertainment like casual dining, live music, and quiz or tribute nights. Or so I heard. With two small children in tow the only nightlife on the agenda for me was a kids’ disco. But more on that later…

Lunch, I decided from my spot on the sand, was to be at Turtle Beach, a popular Mediterranean hotspot with a pretty view out over the sea. The restaurant welcomes children with open arms, and the sandy-toed vibe is the perfect co-parent for a mum travelling solo.

The menu had something to please both my six year old and my two year old, with BBQ and grill classics like juicy gourmet burgers, sizzling steaks, ribs and slow-smoked brisket. Once we’d polished off tacos, served to everyone’s delight on decorative turtles, and at least for me washed down with a crisp Aperol spritz, it was time to explore.

Palmanova bridges the gap between tranquil and lively, with plenty to keep little ones occupied. The Big Blue Diving company offers paddleboards, wakeboards, and scuba diving sessions for the nautically intrepid. We, however, opted for Golf Fantasia, where we played a terrible game of golf while marvelling at the real fish and turtles in the lagoons, plus birds in the garden.

Having all embarrassed ourselves, we walked along the Passeig de Mar to shop for magnets and trinkets. We then wandered to Corazón Helado, for what Tripadvisor promised was the best ice cream in town. The bright little cafe serves homemade gelato, waffles, coffee and fresh smoothies. My six year old chose strawberry, my two year old vanilla and I pistachio. They were all delicious.

Next, to beat the heat we slipped into Sant Llorenç church. Where architecture meets artistic heritage, it was designed by Josep Ferragut Pons and features works by Miquel Salvá, Aleix Llull, and Jean Osterlynck, alongside a striking Saint Lawrence mural by sculptor Horacio de Eguía. Small yet serene and with a surprising amount to see inside, it’s well worth a visit when tired of the beach.

Leaving the church, and with the late afternoon sun beating down, it was time to retreat to our hotel. We were staying at the Zafiro Palace Palmanova, a five star want-for-nothing complex – and the jewel in Palmanova’s crown.

From the moment you enter, guests – especially little ones – are treated like royalty. Staff remember drinks orders and names, despite the size of the hotel. The grounds are well kept and with shaded walkways ideal for pram naps. A handy back gate leads to Palmanova beach in minutes.

Rooms are immaculate and chicly decorated, all with balconies or terraces and some with hot tubs. We were lucky enough to have a swim-up suite, meaning we could roll out of bed and into the water at a moment’s notice. This was a huge win with two small children, as I had all the entertainment I needed on my doorstep. A secure boltable gate ensured safety and peace of mind too.

But you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to pools at Zafiro Palace Palmanova. Two large kids pools sit towards the back of the property with slides and a massive bouncy pillow, while several main pools sit in the middle of the complex, with a swim up bar for the thirsty and pool games for the energetic.

When hungry, food was sublime, with plenty on offer for even the fussiest little ones. The best flat white was to be found in the bar. As I sat that evening watching the girls dance at the kids’ disco, I had already plotted our return.

*Nightly rates at Zafiro Palace Palmanova start from €438 per night with All Inclusive Redefined

The 57-year-old crossed jungles and frozen seas before an emotional homecoming in Hull, northern England.

A British adventurer has completed a 28-year walking journey around the world, arriving at his childhood home after travelling some 50,000km (31,070 miles) across jungles, frozen seas and international borders.

Karl Bushby, 57, was embraced by his mother, Angela, outside her terraced house in Hull, northern England, on Monday, beneath a banner reading “Welcome Home Son”.

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Hundreds of cheering supporters had welcomed him in the city centre before he made the final stretch home.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he joked to the crowd. “Is that it, is it done?”

Bushby began what became known as his Goliath Expedition in Punta Arenas, southern Chile, in November 1998, carrying a tent, a few hundred dollars and a cheap plastic camera.

His goal was to reach his home city by an unbroken route, without using motorised transport to advance his journey.

The route took him north through the Americas, across the ice of the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia, and onwards through Mongolia and China. He later swam across the Caspian Sea before continuing towards Europe.

Along the way, he negotiated the dense jungle of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, was detained after entering Russia, and faced repeated visa and funding problems.

The global financial crisis in 2008 cost him major sponsors, adding to delays that stretched what he had expected to be a 12-year journey into 28 years.

Last month, he finally swam across the English Channel, clearing the last major obstacle before beginning the final walk home.

“They say it takes a village, but literally it took a world to get me here,” he said as he arrived in Hull. “The kindness of strangers, so many, from individuals to nation-states, to get me back here today. I didn’t do this alone. There was a big team. The biggest team. Earth.”

A feature-length documentary about his journey is in production, while Bushby plans to begin a speaking tour around England in the coming weeks.

ILULISSAT, Greenland — Greenland has opened a new international airport, seeking to lure visitors from around the world as the Arctic island looks toward eventual independence from Denmark.

The inaugural international flight between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ilulissat, Greenland Thursday was part of the island government’s efforts to grow its tourism industry to boost and diversify an economy still reliant on fishing.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the new airport as “one of the biggest investments” in the island’s history. Nielsen was one of 169 passengers on Thursday’s 4.5-hour flight on an Airbus A330neo. An Associated Press journalist also took the flight, operated by government-owned Air Greenland, as part of a trip organized by tourism agency Visit Greenland, for this story.

“If Greenland wants to be independent, we need to have a strong foundation, both economically and in terms of industry and business,” Nielsen told the AP before the plane departed.

The strategic island, home to roughly 56,000 people, has been a focus of President Trump since his first term, when he initially expressed his desire to acquire Greenland. His repeated threats to seize the territory from Denmark, a NATO ally, during his second term prompted months of tensions with other NATO allies. In September, Trump signed an agreement with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

“There’s no doubt that it has been a shadow over the entire Kingdom of Denmark, but especially Greenland,” said Danish Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard, who also took the inaugural flight. “The opening of this new international airport marks, I think, hope and optimism.”

New international airports seek to lure new visitors

Ilulissat, known as the “City of Icebergs,” sits along the island’s western coast and is home to some 5,000 people. Greenland’s third-largest city is also one of the island’s most-visited destinations. More than 342 miles north of the capital, Nuuk, its tourism offerings range from sled dog tours to icefjord cruises in picturesque Disko Bay, known for its towering icebergs.

Previously, travelers reaching Ilulissat had to arrive by cruise ship, take a small plane from Iceland or fly to one of Greenland’s international hubs and connect to smaller aircraft. There are no road connections from other big towns.

For decades, Greenland’s main international aviation gateways were former U.S. military air bases, distant echoes of World War II, in Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq. Locals and international visitors had to land there before catching smaller aircraft to the island’s major towns, including Ilulissat and Nuuk. That changed in late 2024, when an international airport opened in Nuuk.

United Airlines last year began a new seasonal route between Nuuk and Newark, New Jersey. The inaugural flight was the first direct from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline.

The Ilulissat airport, meanwhile, has a 53,820 square feet terminal and a new 1.37-mile runway, long enough to accommodate larger passenger aircraft. Air Greenland has committed to as many as six weekly flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat during next year’s peak summer months, and Icelandair will also fly large jets from its Keflavik hub. Jens R. Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, said the company is also hoping to lure airlines in the U.S. and mainland Europe to serve Ilulissat.

“It’s quite wonderful that you can go directly right now,” said Kirsten Berthelsen, a 35-year-old Ilulissat resident and student who booked a ticket for Thursday’s flight without realizing it was the inaugural service. “Sometimes it’s quite difficult to travel from Nuuk and to other countries.”

Tourism boom remains elusive

While the number of international visitors to Greenland has grown by at least 65% since 2018, reaching almost 150,000 in 2024, the expected travel boom has yet to materialize. In 2024, tourism accounted for less than 5% of the territory’s GDP. Infrastructure, including hotel capacity, remains limited.

Aalborg University associate professor Carina Ren, who specializes in Arctic tourism, said some U.S. tourists were even deterred from visiting the island because of the recent Trump standoff, with a few canceling their flights.

“I’ve heard of people canceling their bookings, but also others canceling because they were afraid that perhaps they would not be welcomed,” she said, adding that many Americans still visit, particularly on cruise ships.

Even so, there are some local concerns about mass tourism and potential damage to Greenland’s fragile nature.

Palle Jerimiassen, a former regional mayor, said he fears the city’s environment, population and infrastructure may be overwhelmed by too many visitors.

“How many can we invite?” he said. “We are welcoming all the tourists, it’s a possibility to earn some new money.”

He added: “But we have to be careful.”

Brooks writes for the Associated Press.

FROM festive discos to free Santa meets – there are lots of reasons to book a Butlin’s break this Christmas.

And the holiday park has just announced two new shows this year as well.

Santa himself will be in his festive grotto at all three Butlin’s resorts as the Father Christmas Express Delivery returns for 2026 – and it’s included in the price.

During the 30-minute experience, families will take a magical journey in a lift to Santa’s grotto where they’ll write their Christmas Day wish list.

Of course, children will get to meet, chat and have a photo with Father Christmas too.

New for this year at all three resorts are two festive shows, the first being a live band playing classic Christmas tunes with a rock twist.

The second will be the Robbie Williams tribute show Rock DJ who will play his biggest hits.

Across the parks will also be two weekly pantomime performances of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Also included in all breaks are festive arts and crafts sessions, Christmas-themed pool parties, discos, Christmas film showings and character photoshoots.

Not to mention all the usual perks too like access to the Splash Waterworld pools, the rides at the fairground, SKYPARK playgrounds in Minehead and Skegness, and the Skyline Gang Soft Play centre in Bognor Regis.

The year-round Butlin’s entertainment will continue like Peppa Pig-Nic Celebration featuring Evie Pig and Animals and Mythical Beasts.   

Four-night Christmas Festive Wonderland breaks start from £39 which works out to just £10 per person.

These Festive Wonderland Breaks can be booked between November 23 and December 30.

For those who fancy a break over December 25, there’s an option to book the Christmas Day Breaks.

These can be booked between December 23 and December 27 and start from £184 or £46pp.

It doesn’t stop there either with New Year Breaks available to book too.

These will take place between December 30 to January 2 with prices from £313 or £79pp.

Mike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s, said: “As we wrap up an incredible year of celebrating our 90th birthday, we’re ending it on a festive high.

“The most wonderful time of the year is made extra special at Butlin’s, with non-stop festive shows and activities, all included in the price of breaks. 

“While most families will be heading to the sofas after their Christmas lunch, our guests can whizz down the slides at Splash Waterworld. Where else can you swap your Christmas jumper for a swimsuit on Christmas Day?

“There’s no better place for a well-earned festive getaway, and we can’t wait to welcome thousands of guests across our three resorts.” 

For those who want to guarantee no extra costs, Butlin’s also offers all-inclusive packages.

Dining plans with unlimited breakfast and dinner start from £25.95 per adult, per day, £15.50 per child (6-14), per day and £7.25 per child (2-5), per day.

All Inclusive drinks packages with a range of unlimited Costa Coffee, alcoholic and soft drinks start from £25.95 per adult, per day, £10.50 per child (6-14), per day and free for under 5’s.

Wondering if it’s worth the cost? One Travel Writer tested out the drinks package to see what she could get in one day from Prosecco to beer and Costa Coffee.

IMAGINE kicking off your holiday with unlimited Prosecco, a buffet meal, and a pre-flight massage.

And you can have it all without forking out thousands on a First Class flight.

Save 20% on Priority Pass across 1,900+ airport lounges

The secret to bypassing the chaotic departure boards and securing this VIP treatment is being a Priority Pass membership.

And right now, savvy Sun readers can slash 20 per cent off their first year by clicking here.

While the rest of the terminal fights over a single plug socket and pays premium prices for a meal deal, you could be enjoying some bottomless bubbles, or catching up on sleep in a private nap pod.

Priority Pass covers more than 1,900 airport lounges worldwide, including Escape, Aspire and No.1 Skylife lounges.

Whether you’re flying out of London, Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands or another UK airport, you’re more than likely covered, as the membership covers 85 per cent of the world’s top 100 airports.

Inside these stylish lounges, you’ll be able to rest on much comfier seating, and enjoy free food and drinks, including free alcoholic drinks.

The VIP treatment extends beyond the lounge buffet – you can even bag a free spa treatment.

At airports with Be Relax spas, you can grab a free fresh manicure or relaxing massage before boarding if you’re a Standard Plus member or above.

Plus at some airports you can even catch up on rest inside a nap pod, or take a shower to freshen up before your flight.

A year’s Standard membership normally costs £69 a year, but our 20 per cent discount brings that down to £55.

Save 20% on Priority Pass across 1,900+ airport lounges

With a Standard pass, you simply pay a flat £24 fee each time you choose to use a lounge.

When you factor in the meals, Wi-Fi and free-flowing alcoholic drinks, that entry fee easily pays for itself when compared to an expensive airport restaurant.

On top of all that, Priority Pass members even get their workouts sorted for them with a free fitness app.

Members get completely free access to the WithU Fitness app, which normally costs £79.99 a year.

It gives you personalised audio coaching and workout programmes that you can use at the hotel gym, by the pool and when you get home.

Save 20% on Priority Pass across 1,900+ airport lounges

Prices correct at the time of publication.

Some cities take on that extra sparkle in winter offering a warm welcome as temperatures drop and nights draw in. We want to know your favourite city in Europe to visit at this time of year and what makes it special. Perhaps it’s somewhere with an atmospheric old town and plentiful cosy cafes. Maybe you discovered somewhere with particularly fabulous shopping that merits a pre-Christmas trip, or perhaps you found a city that impressed with its fun winter activities, from ice skating to snowy walks.

The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.

Keep your tip to about 100 words

If you have a relevant photo, do send it in – but it’s your words we will be judging for the competition.

We’re sorry, but for legal reasons you must be a UK resident to enter this competition.

The competition closes on Monday 9 November at 10am GMT

Have a look at our past winners and other tips

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A HUGE new attraction with six immersive zones including a ride and even a waterpark is set to open in Europe.

Called Dracula Land, the theme park has been dubbed Transylvanian Disneyland and is set to be built at the cost of €1billion (£835million).

Plans are still in early stages to build Dracula Land in Bucharest which is one of the cheapest cities in Romania.

It hopes to one day be “the largest entertainment, retail, and technology destination on the continent, transforming the country into a new global entertainment hub“.

It will have everything from a theme park and waterpark to spa, shops, arena, hotels and a tech hub – all of which will be within six themed zones.

The first is the Moonlit District which will be the point of entry for guests where they’ll step through onto the main street.

Rides include a Flying Theatre and a Transylvanian Railway, as well as carousels, drone shows and a Legend of Vlad walkthrough experience

The main street which will have shops and dining will remain open into the evening.

The Family Kingdom will have an immersive zone where visitors can meet ‘legendary figures’ from vampires to ghouls.

It will also have a dark ride, 4D cinema, bat ride, toddler play zone and live entertainment.

The Transylvania area will ‘bring the legendary land of Dracula to life’.

Here there are plans for a water ride, dark ride set in a forest, a mountain coaster as well as a village playground and market.

Dracula’s Castle will be at the very centre of the theme park. Surrounded by a lake, it will have a maze, ancient ruins and dining in the Great Hall.

The Port of New Orleans is inspired by Mardi Gras and will be French-inspired.

There will be dining on a riverboat, as well as rides, shops and a werewolf coaster.

London Town will be familiar to Brits as it will transform into a busy street with red telephone boxes.

There will be plenty of shopping for souvenirs, with Victorian London inspirations as well as a theatre, horse and carriage ride and “vampire hunter training”.

Outside of the theme park will also be a waterpark and thermal spa, which will have 30 water attractions including what it claims will be one of Europe‘s biggest wave pools.

On-site are set to be three hotels, the four-star Dracula Grand Hotel, a three-star plus Dracula Family Hotel and the three-star Dracula Hotel.

Together, there will be space for 1,200 rooms.

Other facilities include an artificial ski slope for winter sports, a racing track, motor park and tech hub.

There’s also plans for an arena which will be the ‘most immersive’ in southeastern Europe.

It will have 22,500 seats for concerts, festivals and sporting competitions.

Dracula Land will also have its own “metaverse” with DraculaCoin native tokens which can be used across the digital and physical ‘metaverse’ world.

Dragoș Dobrescu, founder of Dracula Land, said: “Dracula Land brings together everything I’ve learned in real estate: discipline, rigor, vision, and the ability to keep complex teams with very different specializations together. 

“But more importantly, it adds a story that gives meaning to every square meter built. 

“For me, Dracula Land is a national project—a symbol that Romania can and must build landmarks, not just buildings or simple real estate projects.”

Currently, the master plan for the first phase is being finalised, and negotiations with investors are ongoing, so there are no details on when it could open.

Although when it does, the good news for Brits is that flights to Bucharest are cheap with return flights for as little as £45.

The Canary Islands are facing an overtourism crisis, with locals protesting over sewage-polluted beaches, soaring housing costs and water shortages following a record 18.4 million visitors

Canary Islands residents are warning that their communities are being pushed to breaking point as record visitor numbers put pressure on housing, water supplies and sewage systems.

“Tourist, go home!”, “Your paradise, our suffering” and “Even the Canarians have their limits” are among the slogans shouted at recent protests against overtourism across the Spanish archipelago.

The islands welcomed a record 18.4 million visitors last year, compared with 15.1 million seven years ago, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted travel, according to the National Institute of Statistics. That means an extra 3.3 million visitors needing food, water and accommodation in an island chain with 2.2 million permanent residents. In 2009, visitor numbers stood at 10 million.

Development journalist Ava Hughes says the boom is taking a toll on residents and returning holidaymakers alike, reports the Daily Star.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

“Tenerife is currently trapped in a high-volume, low-value cycle that is alienating its most loyal visitors while simultaneously radicalising the local population against the very industry that provides 35% of their GDP,” she said. She described “viral images of high-rise construction looming over crowded beaches” as “symptoms of a systemic failure in the island’s infrastructure”.

“The primary grievance for many returning travellers is the feeling of being ‘sardined’ into a concrete jungle. When a visitor pays thousands of pounds for a sea view and instead spends their week staring at the rusted cranes of a half-finished luxury resort or the back of another tourist’s parasol, the value proposition evaporates. This isn’t a case of ‘fussy’ travellers; it is a rational response to a product that no longer matches its price tag,” Ava added.

The growth in tourism has been accompanied by a major expansion in accommodation. One estimate puts the number of operating hotels across the Canary Islands at 593, with approximately 265,000 tourist beds.

For Daniasa Curbelo, a young activist who grew up in a disadvantaged family in a small rural village in Tenerife, the changes are deeply personal. She remembers a local beach free of holidaymakers, with pristine water. Today, it is crowded for much of the year.

“Because of social media, no place has remained a secret from tourists,” she told IS.

Like many young Canarians, Daniasa cannot afford to rent a home as tourism and the expanding hotel sector push up costs. Meanwhile, water supplies and waste systems are struggling to keep pace with demand. “Sewer pipes are breaking into the sea and beaches are being closed. Our islands are on the verge of collapse,” she said.

In Tenerife alone, Playa de El Médano, Playa del Socorro, Playa Jardín, Playa de Leocadio Machado, La Jaquita and Tabaiba Area Beach have all been closed this year because of sewage contamination in the sea. By one estimate, tourists use six times as much water as locals, adding to pressure on supplies and farms across the islands.

John Dale Beckley, founder of sustainability platform CanaryGreen.org, told Fodor’s: “Tenerife has been under an official water emergency, but honestly, on the ground, we’re not feeling a ‘water emergency’ at all. People are still showering, watering gardens, filling swimming pools, everything as normal.”

Yet tourism remains central to the islands’ economy, directly accounting for 35% to 40% of GDP. For some residents, its continued growth feels unavoidable.

“The bad part is that everything is tourism,” local resident Jorge told Sage. “The neighborhoods—as we see—are being destroyed.”

Canarian authorities have introduced a “Zero Growth” hotel policy restricting new hotel construction licences in an effort to manage expansion. This year’s visitor total is expected to remain broadly in line with 2025, rather than continuing the increases seen in previous years.

Alongside those restrictions, investment is shifting towards more expensive, upmarket holidays. Last year, €1.039 billion was invested in Canarian hotel developments, more than in any other region of Spain. Much of that money has gone towards turning ageing two- and three-star hotels into luxury accommodation.

According to EY Parthenon reports, 44 new hotels and luxury extensions are expected by 2028, adding 6,395 rooms. The developments include a €700 million masterplan in Gran Canaria intended to deliver five new premium hotels over the coming years. As the market moves upmarket, budget accommodation is becoming harder to find. The Hotel Price Index shows room rates rose by 65% in the five years to 2023. More recently, the average hotel room price across the islands increased by 4.3% from 2025 to 2026, reaching €131.94 a night.

Travelling to the islands is also becoming more expensive. Jet kerosene alone now costs roughly €84.60 per passenger each way on typical routes from London airports to Gran Canaria, partly because of the fuel price surge triggered by the US and Israeli invasion of Iran.

Travel publication Fodor’s has placed the Canary Islands on its ‘No List’, highlighting destinations holidaymakers should consider avoiding.

Campaign group Asociación Tinerfeña de Amigos de la Naturaleza has also warned about the pressures facing the archipelago.

“The continuous arrival of new residents—mainly Europeans—worsens overpopulation, environmental degradation, and land occupation, given the islands’ very limited space. Essential resources like water are also being pushed to their limits,” the group said.

“We are losing our identity, culture, and, ultimately, our right to exist as a community. Tourism has become unlimited, mass-oriented, and largely low-cost party tourism that doesn’t come to truly discover the islands, but to consume a fake backdrop.”

The Canary Islands tourist board has been contacted for comment.

A NEW set of rules is coming into play from tomorrow for anyone heading to the States.

It comes as the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

Brits travelling to or through the States will have to sign a waiver to confirm they have not recently been to the Congo as a form of prevention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said anyone ‘willfully providing false or misleading information may lead to criminal fines and imprisonment’.

Brits need to either physically or digitally sign a statement stating that they have not been in the Congo within 21 days of flying into the US.

Taking a connecting flight through an airport in the Congo still counts as being present in the country.

This is the case even for those who don’t leave the airport or even the plane during this time.

The order only applies to air travel, not land or sea travel.

The waiver can be completed by printing and signing the PDF from the CDC and handing it to the airline at check in.

Some airlines may have the declaration electronically for those who check in online.

For example, Delta said that passengers may complete the form upon check in via the app.

The rules look to vary airline to airline, so it’s advised to check the individual website and contact them for clarification if necessary.

As of October 27, the CDC said there havebeen moree than 10,200 Ebola cases in the Congo and nearly 5,000 deaths.

According to local news, there are currently no reports of an outbreak in the US.

It also adds that the chance of it spreading to the US is low, but that prevention is still necessary.

The new waiver rules will come into play from November 3 – there are more details on the CDC website.

This location is a living slice of British history, featuring one of the last chippies in the world still cooking in beef dripping over coal-fired 1950s fryers

If you are sick of endless notifications and modern life, this sprawling northern village offers the ultimate escape – complete with a legendary, coal-fired chippy.

A quaint northern location has been heavily praised online for its “insane” chip shop and its unique ability to take visitors on a genuine journey back in time.

Beamish, a sprawling, 350-acre open-air museum nestled in the County Durham countryside. Designed to offer an authentic window into northern England’s past, the “living” museum is packed with period-accurate shops, traditional eateries, Georgian gardens, and vintage transport, drawing hundreds of thousands of eager tourists every single year.

According to the official Beamish website, the world-famous attraction brings history to life across several dedicated exhibits, including an 1820s Pockerley setup, a 1900s Town and Pit Village, and 1950s farm areas.

To keep the historical illusion absolutely bulletproof, you will never catch any of the in-character actors sneaking a glance at a smartphone, either.

Combined with the notoriously patchy mobile signal across the sprawling site, visitors agree this enforced digital detox is actually a massive bonus, allowing them to completely unplug and fully immerse themselves in the Edwardian experience.

Using a clever combination of authentic reconstructions and meticulously relocated historical structures, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the past – right down to the food.

There’s a vintage sweet shop that attracts long lines, as well as a legendary chip shop that guests can’t get enough of.

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Inside Davy’s Fried Fish Shop

Food content creator Robbie Thompson made the trip to the preserved settlement to try the local grub. During his visit, he stopped by the celebrated Davy’s Fried Fish Shop, which is widely recognised for its fiercely traditional cooking techniques.

Nestled in the attraction’s 1900s Pit Village, the beloved chippy operates exactly as a traditional Edwardian takeaway would. There are no modern fryers or cheap vegetable oils in sight.

Instead, staff in period dress serve up piping-hot, golden-battered fish and chunky chips cooked the old-fashioned way – bubbling away in rich beef dripping over authentic, coal-fired ranges.

The intensely flavoursome, crispy results routinely draw massive queues of hungry tourists, and Robbie was quick to sing its praises.

In a video tour of the chippy and the surrounding town, the TikToker told his followers: “This is the fish and chip shop trapped in time – one of the last in the world that uses coal to heat the original 1950s fryers, with fish and chips cooked in beef dripping.”

Praising the wider village, he continued: “The sweet shop makes candy by hand, the bakery makes the same cakes as a century ago. There’s no mobile phone reception up here, so people actually have to talk to each other. A slice of England unchanged. It’s one of the most incredible fish and chips, it’s Davy’s in Beamish.”

Captioning the viral clip, he added: “Insane chippy stuck in history. Absolute scenes.”

“The best you will ever eat”

TikTok users were swift to flood the comments with their own rave reviews of the living museum and its famous food.

One gushed: “Beamish museum – if you’ve not yet been then go, it’s brilliant, them chips and fish best ever.”

Another agreed: crowning the meal the “best fish and chips [they] have ever had.”

A third nostalgic viewer reminisced: “We went on a school trip to Beamish when I was about 10. Loved it! I’m 57 now.”

Others were heavily drawn to the village’s lack of signal. One said: “Wonder if no mobile reception is a specific tactic. What a world with no mobiles and social media.”

The overall vibe of the historic settlement left many viewers wanting to pack their bags for good, with one begging: “Make the WHOLE of the UK like this.”

Another joked: “Not me Googling if people live here, in an attempt to escape modern society.”

RYANAIR is changing its luggage rules from next week – and it’s not good news if you leave checking in bags until the last minute.

From November 10, the airline will close its bag drop off service one hour before departure.

Currently, passengers can drop their bags 40 minutes beforehand – so they’ll be losing 20 minutes.

Ryanair announced this change in April adding that it will give passengers 20 per cent more time to get through security and passport control.

It will mean that those checking in a bag will need to arrive at desks earlier than before.

The change in rules does not affect passengers who are not checking in a bag.

Ryanair CMO, Dara Brady, said: “From Tue, 10 Nov, bag drop services at all Ryanair airports will close 60 minutes before scheduled departure, instead of the current 40 minutes.

“This small change will give the 20 per cent of Ryanair passengers who check in a bag, more time to clear airport security and passport control queues and get to their departure gate before boarding begins, particularly during busy travel periods when airport queues can be longer.

“We remind passengers using airport bag drop services to arrive at the airport in good time and ensure they have checked in and dropped their bags before check-in and bag drop closes 60 minutes before departure.

“The remaining 80 per cent of passengers who check in online and do not check in a bag are unaffected by this change.”

It comes after Ryanair has dropped its hidden charges for families in June.

Ryanair said that there will be free parent and child seats available together in the rear of its planes for families.

For adults travelling with children who choose this new seating option, they will be told of their seat allocation after they have checked in for their flight.

WHEN someone tells me holidays have got more expensive, my first question is usually: where are you looking?

Because holidays – and winter sun ones especially – don’t always come with the steep price tag… if you know where to look.

Even on the same island, holidaymakers can end up paying more in one resort while spending less in another.

And knowing which names to put into the search box can make all the difference.

So I’ve been digging through the booking data, comparing this winter with the winter before, to find the destinations where holidaymakers actually paid less on average.

From Tenerife, to Egypt, to long-haul luxury in Mexico – I’ve found a holiday alternative in every destination where the prices are considerably lower right now, compared to how much they were last year.

And with up to 18 per cent slashed off the price of a five-night stay, there’s no excuse not to consider a little pre-Christmas getaway…

10. El Medano, Tenerife – 1% less

El Medano earns its name for offering a completely different flavour of Tenerife.

Beach and water sports are a big deal here, making it a good option for someone who likes an active seaside holiday alongside the usual eating, relaxing and enjoying being away.

I’d put it on the shortlist if you want the beach to be the centre of the trip, with plenty of opportunity to get outside.

The average amount paid here edged down one per cent year on year, with a small dip in the nightly average too.

The deal I found is at Hotel KN Arenas del Mar Beach & Spa, a four-star, adults-only hotel with a pool overlooking the sea.

It’s a five night Bed & Breakfast break from £315pp, including direct return flights from Manchester on December 14, 2026 – a perfect pre-Christmas seaside break.

9. Matagorda, Lanzarote – 2% less

Matagorda is somewhere I’d suggest for a simple, classic Lanzarote beach break – the long stretch of golden sand gives you the perfect starting point for a winter holiday.

The average amount paid here dipped two per cent, keeping spending down between the two winters.

That’s a result, especially when you consider Playa Blanca – also on Lanzarote – saw average costs rise seven per cent.

For someone who already likes Lanzarote, Matagorda is another name worth checking before deciding where to stay.

The deal I found is five nights’ Self Catering at San Marcial from £200pp, including direct return flights from Bristol on December 12, 2026.

There’s a pool for spending time around the accommodation, while the self-catering basis gives you control over the food budget.

This means popping to the local supermarket – one of my favourite things to do on holiday – for your food, while having the option to eat out without feeling like you are wasting a meal at the hotel.

And at just £400 for two people, including flights, you’ve got a very tempting starting price for a winter escape.

8. Makadi Bay, Egypt – 6% less

Makadi Bay is one I’d check out for a Hurghada holiday this year, and it’s perfect for a holiday where leaving the hotel isn’t top of your list between cocktails and swimming.

Think time by the pool, trips down to the beach and making the most of having your main meals sorted if you choose all inclusive.

It suits the sort of break where getting extremely comfortable for a week is the whole plan.

And the average amount paid here between winters fell six per cent.

What makes that especially sweet is the contrast with Hurghada itself, where holidaymakers paid nine per cent more on average.

It’s just another example of why I’d always compare individual resort areas rather than searching for one destination and assuming the job is done.

The deal I found is at the five-star Stella Beach Resort & Spa Makadi Bay: a five night all inclusive stay from £415pp, including direct return flights from London Luton on December 12, 2026.

Five-star accommodation, all inclusive and flights for £83 per person per night across the package? That deserves real consideration, even from me.

7. Sharm El Sheikh (town) – 6% less

Sharm El Sheikh is one I regularly consider when someone asks for a winter holiday recommendation.

There’s a massive choice of resorts, with an endless coast of gorgeous beaches right on your doorstep.

The booking figures make this result particularly interesting – Brits paid six per cent less on average, year on year.

And, I should say, this was a spot attracting substantially more bookings compared to the year before. Yet still, the average costs came down.

The deal I found is five nights, all inclusive at Amwaj Oyoun Hotel and Resort from £345pp, including direct return flights from London Gatwick on December 6, 2026.

It’s a five-star hotel with a massive pool area, and it’s the sort of place where I’d happily build my day around which pool and which restaurant I’m liking the look of.

That’s £690 for two people, with flights, accommodation, meals and drinks covered.

Remind me why we spend winter in the UK again?

6. Nuevo Horizonte, Fuerteventura – 7% less

Nuevo Horizonte, also known as Costa de Antigua, is a useful name to know if you’re keen to get away this winter for a good price.

It’s on Fuerteventura’s east coast, close to Caleta de Fuste, and I’d consider it for a relaxed holiday with plenty of warmth.

For a budget-conscious trip, I’d look closely at apartment options.

This means more control over your spending by having breakfast in your apartment, keeping beers in the fridge and choosing when to eat out.

This had the lowest average amount paid of anywhere on the list, with holidaymakers spending seven per cent less on average than the winter before.

The deal I found is five nights self catering at Elba Lucia Sport & Suite Hotel from £200pp, including direct return flights from Newcastle on December 12, 2026.

There’s a large pool area to enjoy, and as mentioned, the self-catering basis lets you decide how much of the holiday involves eating in or heading out.

Five nights in Fuerteventura for £400 for two, including flights, is a very sweet deal to have on your radar.

5. Playa del Carmen, Mexico – 8% less

If you’re thinking about a bigger, flashier winter escape, this is the spot I’d pay close attention to.

Playa del Carmen puts Mexico’s Caribbean coast on this shortlist, with plenty of beach time and the option to explore the Riviera Maya.

However, I would always look particularly closely at what the hotel includes here.

On a longer trip, an all inclusive package can cover a substantial part of your holiday spending before you arrive.

The average amount paid fell eight per cent, which meant a reduction of over £170 per person on average – the largest cash decrease on this list.

For two people, the difference between those averages was more than £350.

The deal I found is ten nights all inclusive at the five-star Bluebay Grand Esmeralda from £1,250pp, including direct return flights from London Gatwick on December 2, 2026.

That gives you a longer stay to settle into, with your main meals and selected drinks already part of the booking – a tantalising way to spend the run-up to Christmas.

4. Om El Sid, Sharm El Sheikh – 8% less

Om El Sid is one of my favourite parts of Egypt.

The area is known for its coral reefs and snorkelling, giving you something rather more interesting to look at than the bottom of a swimming pool.

For me, that’s a good reason to be specific about where in Sharm you stay – the location and beach access can become a major part of what makes the hotel worth booking.

Holidaymakers paid eight per cent less on average here too.

The deal I found is a five night all inclusive break at Old Vic Sharm Resort & Spa from £295pp, including direct return flights from Newcastle on December 9, 2026.

The hotel has a gorgeous pool if you don’t fancy a snorkel, and the all inclusive basis means your meals and drinks are covered while you’re there.

That’s £590 for two people, including flights – or £59 per person per night across the package.

So you’re bagging five nights away with a huge chunk of the everyday spending sorted. It’s easily one of the best deals I’ve spotted all year!

3. Golf del Sur, Tenerife – 9% less

Golf del Sur is worth a look if you fancy a much slower-than-usual Tenerife holiday, particularly if you like the idea of spending plenty of time enjoying your hotel.

And, as the name rather helpfully suggests, golfers have an obvious reason to take a closer look.

The area’s course combines volcanic scenery with Atlantic views, making a round here a very different proposition from searching for your ball in a wet British hedge.

But I’d also consider the area for a straightforward week of pool time, leisurely meals and a change of scenery.

The average cost here fell nine per cent, giving you another Tenerife name worth comparing when you’re searching.

The deal I found is five nights’ Bed & Breakfast at Grand Muthu Golf Plaza Hotel & Spa from £250pp, including direct return flights from Liverpool on December 13, 2026.

With breakfast included, you’ve got the first meal of the day sorted before you’ve had to make any meaningful decisions.

That’s £500 for two people for five nights away, including flights – I’d happily start planning around that.

2. Playa de la Arena, Tenerife – 13% less

Playa de la Arena is another spot in Tenerife that gives you something different to what you’d expect.

The black-sand beach is the centrepiece here, with places to eat nearby and lovely sunset views towards La Gomera.

Holidaymakers paid 13 per cent less on average.

This is the largest fall among the three Tenerife resorts on this list.

The deal I found is five nights including Bed & Breakfast at Sholeo Lodges Los Gigantes from £250pp, including direct return flights from London Stansted on December 5, 2026.

It’s an adults-recommended hotel so perfect if you want a break without any kids splashing you from the pool.

It comes high recommended too, with a very impressive 4.7 out of 5 Tripadvisor score.

Breakfast sorted, five nights in Tenerife and flights for £500 for two – hard to argue with that. 

1. Las Palmas, Gran Canaria – 18% less

Las Palmas gives you two very good reasons to get on a plane: a proper city break and a beach holiday in the same place.

You’ve got the restaurants, cafés and everyday life of Gran Canaria’s capital, alongside Las Canteras – a long city beach with a promenade made for chilled-out walks and stopping for something to eat.

I’d recommend it to someone who wants winter sunshine but also likes having plenty on the doorstep.

By that, I mean each in the morning, lunch somewhere different and an afternoon where the world is your oyster.

And handily, this was the biggest mover in my analysis with Brits paying a whopping 18 per cent less on average!

The deal I found is five nights self catering at URBANSEA Holiday Homes from £245pp, including direct return flights from Manchester on December 10, 2026.

I like the self-catering option for this sort of trip because you can sort some meals and drinks yourself, leaving more spending money for trying different places around the city.

That’s £490 for two people, including flights, for five nights combining Gran Canaria with a city break. My pick of the bunch!

Need to know

HM Passport Office has reissued guidance on the two-year rule

All you need to know as HM Passport Office reminds of two-year UK passport rule:

• HM Passport Office has issued a reminder about the two-year rule that applies when someone needs to confirm a passport applicant’s identity.
• The requirement applies when applying for a new passport for a child or adult, renewing a child’s passport, or replacing a lost, stolen or damaged document.
• In a post on X, formerly Twitter, HMPO clarified that “a referee must have known the person applying for at least 2 years and confirm their identity”.
• Referees must be at least 18, live in the UK and hold a British or Irish passport. They must know the applicant as a friend, neighbour or colleague – not solely through a professional relationship – and work in, or be retired from, a “recognised profession”.
• Some examples of a recognised profession include: accountant, councillor, teacher or lecturer, barrister, journalist, and dentist. An extensive list can be found here
• You cannot verify someone’s identity if you’re related by birth or marriage; are in a relationship with them or share a home; you’re employed by HM Passport Office; you’re employed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) on British citizenship or right of abode applications; or if you’re a medical professional – unless you know the individual requesting this well (for instance, you’re a close friend).
• For a child’s application, the two-year rule applies to the adult making the application.

READ THE FULL STORY: Two-year British passport rule you may not know about

It started with one house for £12,000

A couple who couldn’t afford to buy a house in the UK bought an entire French hamlet for £26,000.

Yip Ward and Paul Mappley, both 52, were living in a caravan in Tunbridge Wells when their friends offered them a chance to buy the property in Normandy. They went out to visit the home in Normandy and bought it straight away for £12,000 – funded by selling their belongings, including an old tractor of Paul’s.

Since then, the couple have snapped up the adjacent buildings and now own seven cottages, two barns, a workshop, a cider press, two traditional bread ovens and various other outbuildings – all for £14,000. They began restoring the hamlet building by building in 2020 and have now spent around £100,000 so far – completing the original cottage, which is a holiday rental, alongside a horsebox they brought from the UK that is “booked out”.

Restoration work

They have made their dreams a reality through fundraising efforts by their followers on social media and are set to have their second cottage complete by summer 2027. The pair reckon they have saved more than £100,000 doing the bulk of the work themselves with the help of builder friend Ian, 62.

Yip said: “People always say how did you find the village and it’s not that we were looking, it was a chance meeting with a friend who had got a place and was selling it. We definitely see it as the planets aligned.

“We went and sought out a wreck that had been abandoned 30 years ago and pieced it together. We’re really cracking on now.

“We say to ourselves we can’t believe this whole place is ours. Coming from where we come from, I don’t think the gratitude for being here will ever run out. It blows my mind.”

How they got started

The sellers had changed their minds about the property due to the huge amount of restoration work that needed to be done when they offered it to Yip and Paul. With the rules in France meaning they did not need to hand over the entire sum for eight months after purchase, they set to work during Covid, earning money through their jobs as landscape gardeners to seal the deal.

They even documented their restoration journey and appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Help! We Bought A French Village!’. Husband Paul said they were now in “full restoration mode” after working for years to transform their hamlet, called La Buslière.

He said: “I can’t express to you enough that, apart from cottages one and two, the other three cottages were covered, the whole roof in ivy. They were literally being swallowed by nature.

“We’re saving so much money doing it ourselves. We’ve got a friend we met here; he’s been in the trade for 47 years in building restoration and stuff.

“We knew of him and in 2019 he did repairs on cottage one. He did the roof repairs, minor works and then we didn’t see him for four years and he, unbeknownst to us, was watching our YouTube channel.

“We had a massive two-tonne roof thing that needed to come out as it was rotten on one end. We didn’t have anyone, machinery or money and we were sharing on YouTube saying ‘we don’t know what to do’.

“He saw this video and arrived one day and said ‘come on boys let’s get this beam out’. For the first six months he worked for no payment.”

Earning money

The couple are now able to pay Ian £1,000 weekly through the money they earn on YouTube.

Paul said: “We have five people turning up every single day to donate things – they bring bits of furniture or materials for the roof. I can’t tell you what a community we’ve built somehow.

“Every week we’re donated £400 worth of materials for free we can use. All of this saves us so much money.

“For example one side of the roof of cottage three was really bad and we were quoted £13,000 to fix it and we did it for £2,000 because we did it ourselves.

“We saved £11,000 just on one side of a roof. Take that per cottage doing it ourselves, that’s £22,000 per cottage, seven cottages, which is instantly saving us over £100,000.”

The couple plan, once they have all been restored, to try out and live in every single cottage in their hamlet.

Yip said: “People say ‘once all seven cottages are done you’ll rake it in’. That’s what a capitalist would say.

“We don’t want it to be a metropolis. Every single guest who stays here says they can’t believe how quiet it is.

“There is no light pollution, it’s a fantastic place and we don’t want to ruin it with seven cottages populated with people. The other buildings we’ll turn into workshop spaces.

“We’d like to do summer fairs here and markets. Once a month we’d like to do an outdoor cinema and do pizza making – we have two original pizza ovens.

“There won’t be things like TVs in the cottages. There won’t be UPVC windows. It’s an exciting, amazing place and we want to make sure people are transported back.”

You can follow Paul and Yip’s restoration journey on YouTube @helpweboughtafrenchvillage.

Looking over the edge of the snow-smoothed canyon down to dark rushing water, we thought we saw a moose or a reindeer, but it could have been a rock. The light was fading fast so it was hard to tell. It was time to turn back; we didn’t want to get lost in the wood, or fall into the river. By the time we’d retraced our steps to Abisko, the blue world had turned to black and dust-like snowflakes whirled around the little village. Back in our hotel room after our expedition, I looked at my phone – it was only 2pm!

Travelling to the Arctic Circle in winter had always been a dream, but when I realised the sun wouldn’t get above the horizon on my holiday, it made me twitchy. I usually pack my limited annual leave as tightly as I pack my working life. I was already using up three days’ holiday travelling by train from London to Abisko. How would I make the most of my time there with barely any daylight?

My partner and I chose to stop in this small village in Swedish Lapland almost by chance, when we researched the most northerly stops on the train line between Stockholm and Narvik. Abisko looked on the map like a tiny enclave surrounded by lakes and mountains. Reading more about it, we found that it was home to the Abisko blue hole – a unique microclimate where the geography creates frequent clear skies, making it one of the most reliable places on Earth to see the aurora borealis.

After a blur of cities and sleeper trains, we arrived at Abisko Ostra, a tiny station comprising just one low platform and a glass shelter over the exit door, at 11am. We jumped down from the high step of the carriage into soft, deep snow, our feet creating the only imprints on the length of the walkway. White mist hung all around us, and the couple of buildings we could see were fading into the sky. Apart from the icy train tracks cutting a sharp black detail, everything in the landscape appeared icing soft.

We walked along an empty road that curved up to the Abisko Mountain Lodge, one of a handful of accommodation options we had found online. Our room wasn’t quite ready, so we spent a while in the hotel’s warm, firelit bar watching people change into their outdoor gear then disappear into the cold. Knowing that darkness would soon set in, I was itching to get outside as well – while we could still see our surroundings.

By the time we were salopetted up, thick clouds had made the white world grey, but it was still everything my Christmas-film-loving inner child had imagined. The path we followed was lined with low lights glowing yellow against the white landscape, guiding us among houses with bright windows illuminating the dusk. We followed our phone map towards a viewpoint by a river. It was only half an hour’s walk, but in the deep snow it seemed much longer, and felt like walking through a thick white cloud.

We had expected to spend the day exploring. Instead, we’d somehow finished our outing before the afternoon had properly begun. Feeling the luxury of time stretching out, we made tea in our room and read for a while, but we still had plenty of time before dinner, so we went for a few rounds in the sauna.

In the restaurant later, we heard an excited murmur among the diners. The aurora! We rushed out, wearing the clothes we’d been eating dinner in, and watched the green glow, our feet growing more and more numb. But the night was still young, so we got back into our cold-weather gear and walked up a path to higher ground where a family were making snow angels while watching nature’s light show. Their enthusiasm added to our excitement, and we found ourselves not wanting to look away from the dancing sky in case it got better or brighter. Our initial walk to the canyon felt like days ago but we’d only arrived 12 hours earlier.

The next day, after a long and leisurely breakfast of pickled herring, gherkins and lots of delicious rye bread, we hiked a few hours along the bank of Lake Torneträsk. The snow on the path was compact enough for us to explore in our hiking boots, but we saw a few adventurous groups snowshoeing through the wilderness. We followed a narrow path through bare silver birches weighed down with bulbous drifts, until we found a picnic spot near a frozen waterfall, where we enjoyed some provisions we’d squirreled away from the generous breakfast.

I did a double-take as I looked back at the way we had come. The sunrise-like colour seemed to be glowing in exactly the same way as when we’d set off, hours before. Unable to tell if it was morning or afternoon, I felt my sense of time opening up. The sun remained below the horizon, but its colourful glow hung in the sky for hours. The pinks and oranges slowly brightened, lingered, then imperceptibly began to fade. The ideas of dawn, midday and evening began to fade, too.

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From the waterfall, we walked up to a high viewpoint and ate flapjacks as we watched the hidden sun cast a last ray of deep orange towards the horizon. We warmed up with hot chocolate in the Abisko Turiststation hotel, drying snow-damp clothes on a radiator before heading back into the cold. The stars were out by then – in the mid-afternoon. We took the long path back to the village and headed through the misty gloom towards the red neon sign and strip-light interior of the supermarket to stock up on snacks for the next day’s train journey.

The supermarket was designed for people likely to get snowed in, with lots of produce for sale in bulk, but we found delicious jars of pickled herring, cloudberry jam and more of the region’s dense rye bread to tide us over, along with a squeezy tube of cheese spread from the surprisingly varied range that covered almost a whole aisle. Back at our hotel, we had another sauna, then dinner, before a beer in the cosy hotel bar. Then we headed outside again. It had been dark for hours, but it was still only early evening.

We were due to take a cable car up to Abisko Sky Station, a mountain viewpoint 900 metres (nearly 3,000ft) above sea level, but high winds meant the 20-minute cable car journey was too dangerous, so our evening’s plans changed shape. Our guide took us to an outcrop above Lake Torneträsk, where we got another spectacular show of the aurora, complete with shooting stars, courtesy of the Geminids. I have no idea how long we stood there, admiring the sky. I’d stopped trying to fit the holiday into my idea of what should be done when.

Later, we warmed up with reindeer soup in a building shaped like a traditional Sámi lávvu, a conical structure with a central fire for warmth and light. Our guide told us some of the myths and legends surrounding the aurora: that the lights were ancestors dancing, or a fox spirit running through the sky with snow attached to its tail. He also showed us the best forecasting apps to use, like the Aurora Buddy and My Aurora, and what all the bars on the various graphs meant. The northern lights lit the darkest part of our walk home.

I came to Abisko worrying that darkness would take something away from my trip, but instead it removed the boundaries that normally suggest what I should be doing when. When the distinction between night and day dissolved, there unexpectedly seemed to be more holiday in front of me. It felt like a surprisingly liberating way to travel.

WE ALL have our travel preferences but did you know there are some items you should absolutely not wear on a plane?

Whether it is for your health or safety on the plane, there are actually several items you should avoid wearing on your flight.

While you might want to wear your favourite pieces from your wardrobe, it might actually increase your chances of becoming unwell or injured in an emergency.

Flight cabin crew have also warned against certain items. So here’s your breakdown on what not to wear on a flight.

Flip flops & heels

A number of flight attendants have warned against wearing flip flops on flights as they don’t provide your feet with any comfort.

Plus, other passengers don’t want to see your toes – or smell your feet.

More importantly, flip flops are not good in an emergency.

If you need to get off the plane in the dark, people might slip on loose flop flops.

Plus, they aren’t practical for when you are off the plane.

The same goes for high heels – instead, you should wear comfortable and practical shoes.

Jewellery

Another item you should avoid wearing on a flight is jewellery.

This is because it can snag on items and possibly even puncture an emergency slide.

Also, you wouldn’t want to lose valuable jewellery – so it is better to keep jewellery safe in your luggage or even at home.

Anything constricting

You want to be comfortable on a flight, so wearing tight clothing is already a bad idea.

But it is actually bad for you as well.

Tight clothing can restrict blood circulation, which is vital for avoiding deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

DVT is when a blood clot forms in a vein, usually in the legs, hence why the only constricting item you should wear on a flight is compression socks.

This also includes tight underwear, as it could dig into your skin,

Dr Rachel Ward previously told The Sun: “The main blood vessels supplying and draining our legs pass together in the groin area.

“If you have tight underwear, when in a sitting position for a prolonged period, it will add extra pressure to these vessels and worsen leg swelling and leg numbness and tingling.”

Leggings

Christine Negroni, who released a book on the world’s most mysterious air disasters, previously told Sun Travel that when it comes to fires onboard a flight, leggings could leave you with terrible scars.

She said: “Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.

“I’d advise wearing cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibres.”

Contact lenses

If you are used to wearing contact lenses, you might not realise that you should stick to your glasses for a flight.

The dry environment in a plane cabin isn’t great for your eyes, and if you are wearing contact lenses, they will become dry.

On the London Vision Clinic website, it states: “With the average humidity on planes coming in as low as 20 per cent, our skin and eyes can dry out pretty quickly.

“Combine this with the moisture-sapping effects of contact lenses, and you can have a real recipe for disaster on your hands.”

As a result, keeping your contact lenses in could cause you to have itchy or irritated eyes and could result in “distorted vision”.

Shorts or short skirts

If you are travelling somewhere warm, there is the temptation to wear shorts or a skirt.

However, TikTok user Tommy Cimato has warned against wearing bottoms that end above the knee in a viral video.

This is because the chairs on planes aren’t regularly cleaned.

He said: “Don’t or try not to wear shorts when you’re on a plane.

“You never know how clean it’s gonna be, so if you have pants [trousers], you’re going to have fewer germs.”