OFFICIALS in Italy are cracking down on anyone attempting to bag themselves the best beach spot by leaving items on the sand all week.
From sunloungers to parasols, those caught trying to reserve a space in the morning or late at night could receive a fine over £400.
Officials in Torre del Greco are stopping tourists from reserving spacesCredit: AlamyAnyone caught out could be fined up to £425Credit: Alamy
On a coastal suburb in Naples called Torre del Greco, officials like coastguard staff and police have been removing ‘reserved’ spots.
Tourists have been leaving items on the beach overnight in order to keep their place.
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During a morning sweep of one of the beaches called Laghetto, authorities seized up to 40 items, as reported by The Guardian.
Others have complained that items like sun umbrellas and small tables have been left unattended for days by tourists reserving the space to use later on.
THE UK’S largest regional airline will cease operations at a popular base in a matter of weeks.
Three routes will be axed after the flights were deemed to be “financially unsustainable”.
A major regional airline will axe all routes to and from Dundee Airport later this yearCredit: facebook/@DNDAirportLoganair has made the decision to withdraw the flights after they were deemed ‘financially unsustainable’Credit: Alamy
The airline currently runs flights from Dundee to London twice a day, having swapped from London Stansted to London Heathrow back in 2023.
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However, this route, along with flights to Orkney and Shetland, will end on Friday, October 23.
A Loganair spokesperson said: “Following a review of the route’s long-term viability, Loganair can confirm that its Dundee–London Heathrow service will cease after Friday 23 October, and the operating base will close.
“Earlier this year, we served notice to the stakeholder group behind the Public Service Obligation route after the contract became financially unsustainable.”
The airline revealed that it had “explored alternative options but have not been able to identify a viable way forward that meets the objectives of the PSO while allowing the route to operate sustainably”.
The airline, which was founded by Willie Logan in 1962, has operated flights from the Scottish city for 12 years.
“We are also supporting Dundee-based colleagues and will explore alternative roles across the Loganair network wherever possible,” the airline rep added.
“These decisions reflect the same disciplined, decisive approach that has driven previous improvements in Loganair’s punctuality and resilience, protecting the long-term future of the airline, our people, and the lifeline connectivity we provide to communities across our network.”
When David Lynch moved from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in the summer of 1970, he was stunned by the sunshine that radiated onto the city — the “most beautiful light I’d ever seen in my life,” he wrote with Kristine McKenna in his 2018 memoir “Room to Dream.” In that book, he described his first morning walking out of an apartment on San Vicente Boulevard.
David Lynch in 2016.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“I kept kind of moving around with my arms outstretched and I almost got hit by a car wandering into the street,” he wrote.
That light — and Los Angeles itself — continued to inspire and energize the filmmaker and artist throughout his five-plus decades of calling L.A. home, until his death last year at the age of 78. In “Room to Dream,” he wrote about the “magical street” of Mulholland Drive and all its twists and turns: “It’s really got a history, and if you’re in Los Angeles long enough you start hearing stories about things that have happened on it that get your mind going.” In an interview with the Filmographers, he told the story of how his character in “Twin Peaks” was a name plucked from Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard,” which very well may have been inspired by Wilder’s commute to Paramount that passed the Hollywood streets Gordon and Cole. And the dissolve from Naomi Watts’ face in “Mulholland Drive” to rows of palm trees has become a classic shot for representing his work and his love for the city, hopeful and drenched in his beloved sunlight.
Much like L.A., the artistic legacy of Lynch is difficult to encapsulate — trying to describe his work is like attempting to explain a dream. His films so strongly defied categorization that they necessitated an eponymous term: Lynchian.
The Hollywood Sign, as seen from Beachwood Drive. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Palm trees, which Lynch often used as a symbol in his films, tower above the city. (David McNew / Getty Images)
Unsettling to many, beloved by more, he refused to explain his work, allowing and challenging his audience to parse through it and imbue their own meanings and discoveries. The reward, for him, was in the doing, in taking a daydream and forming it into an idea that he could shape into something real in the world, blending the mundane and the macabre.
Here are some places around L.A. that offer a glimpse into Lynch’s world.
Note: the Lynch compound and all other residential locations mentioned are all private residences, and not to be disturbed.
Classic diners, especially Bob’s Big Boy Burbank
Lynch would often to go to Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank to meet with creative collaborators, or simply sit and think
(Jill Connelly / For The Times)
Lynch was fond of the straightforwardness of a diner, and he considered them to be ideal for creative thinking and work meetings. In his book “Catching the Big Fish,” he said: “I’d have a milkshake and sit and think. There’s a safety in thinking in a diner. You can have your coffee or your milkshake, and you can go off into strange dark areas, and always come back to the safety of the diner.”
One of the most viscerally terrifying scenes of “Mulholland Drive” takes place behind the dumpster at the abandoned Caesar’s diner in Gardena. And he liked having meals with his family at what is now the Denny’s in Gower Gulch, a place where aspiring cowboy actors once congregated. But the most significant diner in Lynch’s legacy is Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank. He spoke of going to Bob’s almost every day from the mid-’70s until the early ’80s. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Lynch claimed he saw a man at the counter who inspired the Frank Booth character in “Blue Velvet.”
Signs of Lynch at Bob’s Big Boy: His headshot displayed alongside actors Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern; a milkshake at the counter.(Stephanie Breijo / Los Angeles Times)
Lynch’s order included a chocolate milkshake and coffee, the cold sugar and caffeine fueling his ideas. He believed 2:30 p.m. was the perfect time to order the milkshake, specifically ”after the lunch rush when the machine had enough time to chill, the silver goblet would be frosted when it arrives at the table, and the ice cream is almost like butter, like cold butter, it’s almost solid, and it has specks of chocolate in it, and it almost gets a frost on it when it arrives,” he said in a conversation with the Filmosophers.
Today there is a framed photo of Lynch over the door of the Burbank location, indicating that his love for the restaurant was mutual. After his death, Bob’s became the de facto location for fans needing to pay homage to the beloved director, piled high with tributes of cigarettes, cans of Coke, donuts, slices of pie and tear-stained letters of gratitude.
Franklin Canyon Park
Leaves illuminated by sunlight under a canopy of trees in Franklin Canyon.
(Blake Fagan / For The Times)
Franklin Canyon Park was once a summer retreat for the Doheny family, who built a Spanish-style home at the base of the canyon in the 1930s. The 605 acres were purchased by the National Park Service in 1981.
A frame overlooks the water in Franklin Canyon, which stood in for many interstitial woodsy scenes in “Twin Peaks.”
(Blake Fagan / For The Times)
The mysterious woods are an essential element in Lynch’s world of “Twin Peaks.” While the pilot for the TV drama and the film prequel “Fire Walk With Me” were filmed in Washington (and there’s lots of scenic footage from the Pacific Northwest throughout the series), much of the show was filmed on Southern California soundstages. And for the many interstitial scenes in the woods, Franklin Canyon and its lush forest stood in. Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost opened an esoteric window to prime-time viewers with the concept of the Black Lodge. The filming location of its entrance, known as Glastonbury Grove in the show, is in Franklin Canyon Park.
Doheny landmarks
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Lynch stated that “everybody is a detective and the unknown is a magnet.” He invited his audiences to look at a door and investigate what lurks behind it. This philosophy ties to his connections with an L.A. legacy, one that contains its own mysteries and contrasts: the Doheny family and its historic properties:
The Doheny Mansion
Glimpses of the Doheny Mansion, clockwise from left: the music room; a stained glass sky light; a sculpture adorns a table in the Pompeian Room.(Blake Fagan / For The Times)
The sprawling and opulent Doheny Mansion, now part of the Mt. St. Mary’s campus, was built in 1899 by architects Theodore Eisen and Sumner Hunt. Patriarch and oil baron Ed Doheny and wife Estelle acquired the home in 1901 and the Doheny family made it their home for nearly 60 years. Lynch used the mansion as the home for Laura Dern’s character in his 2006 film “Inland Empire,” and also filmed an Armani commercial there in the 1990s.
Greystone Mansion
The central courtyard at the Greystone Mansion.
(Blake Fagan / For The Times)
In the 1970s, Lynch was a fellow at the newly founded American Film Institute, based at Greystone Mansion at the time. He eventually took over the mansion’s stables, converting them into a production studio and occasionally (and illegally) living there while he filmed his debut feature, “Eraserhead.” He slept in the room that became the bedroom for the character Henry. “I’d lock myself in there in such a way that from the outside it looked as if no one could possibly be inside,” Lynch said in Mark Altman’s 1990 book “Twin Peaks: Behind The Scenes.” “We’d put these special blankets up on the walls to deaden the sound for shooting and it was quiet.”
Scenes from the Greystone Mansion.(Blake Fagan / For The Times)
Greystone Mansion carried an air of secrecy in itself. Built in 1928 by Gordon Kaufmann, and a gift from Edward Doheny to his son Ned and his family, the stately Tudor Revival was home to a horrific tragedy. Months after moving in, Ned and his lifelong friend and personal secretary, Hugh Plunkett, were found in a guest bedroom, victims of a murder-suicide. While their motives were never defined for certain, the accepted belief was the tragedy was tied to their involvement in the Teapot Dome political corruption scandal and Plunkett’s looming testimony that could’ve implicated the Dohenys.
The city of Beverly Hills purchased the grand manor in 1965 and installed an underground reservoir, and leased the property to the newly formed American Film Institute in 1969 for $1 a year, with the agreement that the school would maintain the property. Greystone was dedicated as a public park in 1971 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
L.A.’s Transcendental Meditation centers
After moving to Los Angeles, Lynch started visiting the Spiritual Regeneration Movement Center in Santa Monica and it altered his life. Here he learned the methods of Transcendental Meditation, developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with the focus of seeking enlightenment. His first meditation session was July 1, 1973, and from there, he practiced twice a day, every single day.
“Before I started meditating I worried that doing it would make me lose my edge, and I didn’t want to lose the fire to make stuff,” Lynch wrote in “Room to Dream.” “I found out it gives you more fire to make stuff and more happiness in the doing and way more of an edge. People think anger is an edge, but anger is a weakness that poisons you and the environment around you.”
Lynch became a staunch devotee of Transcendental Meditation and spoke about the positive effects he believed it could have for everyone, particularly veterans, those suffering from PTSD and women who have survived violence. He started the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace in 2005 to offer children throughout the world the opportunity to learn to meditate. The foundation recommends several Transcendental Meditation centers in Los Angeles, including the center on Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz.
The Pink House, David Lynch’s compound in Hollywood Hills and his final resting place at Hollywood Forever
The historic Tower Theater, built in 1927, was converted into the Apple Tower Theatre.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
On screen, Lynch loved the old glamour of Los Angeles — the majestic Tower Theater in downtown Los Angeles was used in “Mulholland Drive,” “Inland Empire” and “Twin Peaks: The Return.” His characters lived in equally memorable spaces, with the women of “Mulholland Drive” going from the grandeur of the Il Borghese apartments (architect Charles Gault, 1929) to meet tragic endings in the fairy-tale-esque “Snow White” apartments (architect Ben Sherwood, 1931) that are believed to have also inspired Walt Disney. (It’s worth noting that this theater has been refurbished into an Apple store. A beautiful achievement of preservation work, but it’s hard not to see the consumer-driven sleekness and think about a theme in Lynch’s work: the terrors lurking inside a changing America.)
Personally, Lynch loved modern architecture, and experienced love at first sight with the home he purchased in the mid-’80s in the Hollywood Hills. The Pink House, as Lynch referred to it, was designed by Lloyd Wright Jr. for writer Beverly Johnson in 1963. Lynch commissioned Eric Wright (Lloyd’s son and Frank Lloyd Wright’s grandson) to add a pool and pool house in 1991. He told the Wall Street Journal that he preferred Lloyd Wright’s work over his father’s, explaining, “Lloyd Wright is more minimal. More pure. But just as beautiful.”
The house is semi-secluded against a lush hill, beneath the actual Mulholland Drive, and has a subtle chevron pattern detail that runs throughout the house, similar to the floor of the “Twin Peaks” red room. Lynch loved this house and spent much of his time in Los Angeles here, particularly in his later years. He gradually added two neighboring properties to form what would become the Lynch compound.
A “Twin Peaks” coffee cup that was gifted to David Lynch by a fan.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP)
When filming began on “Lost Highway,” he struggled to find the right location for the home of the lead characters, Fred and Renee Madison. This set piece would be crucial to building their sense of dread. Lynch then had an idea: He would use the Brutalist structure in his compound. He transformed the interior and altered the exterior windows, making it difficult for the characters to see the dangers circling outside. “Some people open windows of houses, but I like interiors and don’t care about windows,” Lynch wrote in “Room to Dream.” “I like to go deeper into a house and find things underneath things.”
For the next two decades, the compound was Lynch’s dream space where he could create anything he imagined, including his 2000s-era daily weather reports for local radio stations and his website, a hobby he revived during 2020. Homebound the last few years because of emphysema, he was forced to relocate during the Sunset fire in January 2025, and died shortly after. David Lynch’s final resting place is at Hollywood Forever, across from the Fairbanks Lawn where movies are shown, under the stars.
Jet2 issued an alert on Tuesday(Image: Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Jet2 has issued a warning to holidaymakers who have booked a certain type of hotel room, amid a very busy summer for international travel.
The operator took to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday morning (August 18) to share some important safety guidance with those who will be staying in a hotel room with a balcony. Jet2 said: “Booked a hotel with a balcony? Follow the safety advice, avoid risky behaviour and keep an eye on friends who might be unsteady.
“Hotels can fine or evict you for unsafe behaviour – and your insurance might not cover balcony incidents. One slip can change everything.”
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reminds travellers that Brits have been seriously injured, or killed, after falling from hotel balconies while abroad. Many falls involve alcohol and people are urged not to try to jump from balcony to balcony, or to climb up to get into their room from the balcony.
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Holidaymakers should also never jump from a balcony into a swimming pool. FCDO guidance for Spain adds that hotels and other establishments “will evict you if you behave dangerously on balconies”. You could also get a fine.
The FCDO advises Brits heading abroad not to take any unnecessary risks around balconies or other elevated areas, especially while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “If you are staying in a room with a balcony, follow the safety advice at the hotel or apartment, and watch out for friends who may be at risk.”
In certain areas, you could face a fine or be thrown out of your hotel if you are found to be acting irresponsibly around balconies. Your travel insurance provider may not pay out for incidents that occur on a balcony or if you were under the influence of drink or drugs when the incident took place.
MORE Brits are facing problems at the border in Europe, with many being stopped and facing even longer queues – and it could affect thousands.
The new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric checks from Brits, has been in place since April.
Brits are now required to register their biometrics with EESCredit: AlamyThe requirement has already resulted in long queues at multiple airportsCredit: Alamy
But a new report from The Telegraph has found that those with ‘faded fingerprints’ are being rejected by the machines – a problem associated with older passengers.
One 80-year-old woman told the publication how EES failed to recognise her fingerprints on a trip to Palma in Majorca.
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Angela Evans said: “I tried several times, on different machines and with assistance from a member of staff, but to no avail. My fingerprints would not register.
“I suspect this is because of my age – 80 – and that my fingers are probably worn smooth and not ‘ridgy’ enough to record.”
Another holidaymaker, Barbara, struggled to register her fingerprints at Salzburg Airport.
After holding up a “long line of passengers”, Barbara said she discovered she has “no fingerprints”.
Both women had to then see a member of airport staff and queue to have their passports manually stamped.
Another older couple couldn’t get through the EES gates at Naples Airport and had to join a queue that was so long it went outside the terminal.
After waiting for two hours and missing their transfer pick up, the couple were seen by a member of staff but said they were “put off flying” as a result.
While fingerprints don’t technically ‘fade’, they do change as skin loses its elasticity with age.
Older travellers have experienced issues getting through EESCredit: Alamy
The surface is then less defined and harder for digital scanners to read.
It’s not the first issue to come with the introduction of EES.
AN ICONIC landmark could return to a UK seaside resort after more than a decade.
Councillors will decide next month whether to bring back the staggering 164ft attraction.
The seaside attraction may appear once more in time for summer next yearCredit: getty
The Brighton Wheel could make an appearance back on Brighton‘s seafront, following a council cabinet meeting on September 17.
Brighton and Hove City Council will decide whether to award a 25-year lease to reinstate the iconic landmark back to its original site on Madeira Drive.
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Originally opened in 2011, the 164ft attraction operated until May 2016.
Following the expiration of its lease, the wheel was subsequently dismantled to make way for the development of the i360.
Now, the firm behind the Brighton Zip & Daltons Venue has proposed to re-install the wheel, while maintaining the current zip-line attraction in operation.
If approved, the firm will seek to have the wheel up and running by next summer.
Brighton & Hove City Councillor, David McGregor, said the return of the iconic landmark would “bring new energy” to the seafront.
McGregor said: “Brighton became Brighton because people came here to have fun by the sea.
“That’s part of our identity, and we should be ambitious about what a great seaside city looks like for the next generation.”
During its five-year run, developers of the Brighton Wheel believed more than 250,000 visitors would ride the landmark each year.
On what should have been a fun-packed summer holiday turned into a ‘nightmare’ after a family of six were ‘abandoned on the streets’ and told ‘we have no rooms for you’
09:40, 18 Aug 2026Updated 14:56, 18 Aug 2026
Yasmin has visited Turkey on numerous occassions(Image: Handout)
A mum-of-four has been left ‘devastated’ after what was meant to be a cherished family holiday turned into a ‘nightmare’, after they felt “abandoned on the streets”.
Yasmin Kauser, who hails from Stratford-upon-Avon, had been looking forward to spending some quality time with her four children, aged 4, 12, 14 and 18, and her husband during their annual trip abroad in August. For the occasion, she booked a 10-night package holiday to Turkey through Loveholidays for £4,863, and was set to stay at a four-star hotel.
Following a lengthy journey from the UK, the family of six arrived at their pre-booked hotel in Alanya, Turkey, at around 2am. “We were knackered, we just wanted to go to bed, and the children were sleeping everywhere,” Yasmin exclusively told the Mirror.
But there was an unexpected issue with their hotel reservation. “We were told there were no rooms available for us.”
She outlined: “We remained at the hotel until around 5:30am, when, after I became increasingly frustrated and distressed, they eventually provided just one room for six people instead of the two rooms that had been booked.”
Yasmin says she repeatedly contacted Loveholidays, before the family was “given arrangements to move to a five-star resort”. The family made their way to the resort on the second day of their holiday, around half an hour’s drive away. “I hadn’t slept the night before, and I was exhausted. I’m only human, and I was breaking down because I was that tired, and the kids were very tired.”
‘There are no rooms’
However, when they turned up at the next resort, there was another issue. “At the resort, we waited for around an hour, only to be told that they had no rooms for us,” Yasmin alleged. “I said to them, ‘But we’ve got a reservation from Loveholidays, and they said, ‘There are no rooms’, so you’ve got to leave the hotel’.
She continued: “At around 3pm, I was left with my children on the road with our luggage and without access to suitable toilet facilities or accommodation. We were sitting outside the hotel; everybody was walking out, and we were like homeless people – we were abandoned.”
Yasmin was in touch with Loveholidays to explain the situation, and in an email, the company advised the family to “wait inside the hotel lobby for their safety and the safety of their children”, and said they were working on the issue as a “matter of urgency”.
The mum of four recalled: “I wasn’t panicking as it was around 3pm, the weather was nice, we had some water and snacks from the shop, so we just sat out there.” Although Yasmin added that it was around 40C, and when it got to 9pm, that’s when things became worrying.
“As it started to get dark, I started to panic, thinking, what are we going to do. We’ve got the children, and it was peak season.”
She claimed: “We remained without accommodation until around 11pm. My sister in the UK eventually contacted the emergency number on our behalf. After a further wait of around two hours, Loveholidays arranged emergency accommodation at a three-star hotel.”
Yasmin said that when her sister reached out to Loveholidays, they said they had emailed Yasmin earlier in the day, but the mum claims she never received it. She had told the firm that she was switching between a standard SIM and an eSIM, and the travel company said they tried to rectify the situation promptly.
Yet, they went to the third hotel in the hope of securing a room for their holiday.
“Not knowing what the hotel was like, but being so long on the street, I was just thinking we just need to get into some accommodation and have a roof over our heads”, Yasmin said. “We had to take another taxi to this hotel and eventually received two rooms at around 1am.”
‘Strong smell of urine and mould’
While they successfully obtained rooms, Yasmin was left disheartened. “One of the rooms was effectively a small box room with no windows and was in a condition that I found extremely distressing. There was a strong smell of urine and mould, and I struggled to breathe comfortably in the room,” she said.
Yasmin said she struggled to sleep “in the mess” and, early the next morning, got back in touch with Loveholidays about their accommodation. She claimed: “During the conversation, I was told that they had provided me with ‘shelter’. I was subsequently left in the emergency accommodation for the remainder of the holiday, despite repeatedly raising my concerns.” The family were later moved to another room during their stay at the hotel.
After hearing that Yasmin was dissatisfied with the alternative accommodation, Love Holidays offered her £1,015.99 in compensation for the inconvenience. In addition, they offered the family the option to relocate to an upgraded five-star hotel on an all-inclusive basis, but despite ongoing attempts to reach Yasmin on multiple platforms, they never received a response.
Yasmin said: “I don’t know if I was more tired before I left the UK or after the trip. I was in survival mode all the way through. We should have just stayed at home. This has been the worst experience in my life.”
A Loveholidays spokesperson told the Mirror: “We are very sorry that Ms Kauser’s experience fell below our usual high standards, and are investigating the issues she faced with the relevant hotel suppliers as a matter of urgency.“Our On Holiday Support team worked hard to put things right for Ms Kauser during her holiday, including an offer of cash compensation and a relocation to an upgraded five-star property. Despite several attempts to contact Ms Kauser, we did not receive a response to either of these offers or our subsequent communications and, as a result, we were unfortunately unable to put these solutions in place during her holiday.“We are contacting Ms Kauser to apologise for the stress and inconvenience caused and offer a full refund of her holiday.”
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
A MAJOR European airport continues to be impacted by a volcanic eruption.
Catania Airport in Sicily, Italy has has faced hundreds of cancellations and delays, as well as a multi-day closure over the past week.
Mount Etna on Sicily has now been erupting for over a weekCredit: Splash
It has since issued yet another travel warning this morning as Mount Etna continues to cause travel disruption.
In the latest statement on the airport’s website, it says: “Due to Etna’s eruptive activity, the closure of the airspace corresponding to Sector B1 has been extended.
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“Arriving flight operations have been restored to 12 aircraft per hour until 6:00 PM today, 18 August.
“There are no restrictions on departures. Passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport.
The Malm Whale at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum is the only stuffed blue whale in the world, and it’s also once of Europe’s strangest tourist attractions
The whale is open to visitors on special occasions
Roughly 100 years ago, a young Swedish couple ruined it for the rest of us.
They were caught, trousers down, in the belly of the world’s only stuffed blue whale. Not quite the sex-positive Scandinavia it is today, the scandal led officials to snap its vast, gaping jaw shut, bringing an end to the days of ready access to the 16m long sea mammal.
“We must be content with the fact that it was two citizens of our own city that enjoyed this privilege,” the director of Gothenburg’s Natural History Museum said at the time, finding a silver lining in the moral outrage.
Although my efforts to track down the descendants of a couple that, I’d wager, are history’s only to have sex in a cetacean have so far failed, on a recent trip to Gothenburg, I fulfilled a long-held ambition to get inside a magnificent exhibit that remains the only real blue whale on display anywhere in the world.
“We only open it on special occasions, such as election days, because the Swedish word for vote (val) is the same for the word for whale (val),” explained Stefen Örgårdm the museum’s current director, as we walked up wooden steps into the whale’s mouth.
On special occasions such as Christmas, when Santa hands out presents from inside the tum, the top jaw is cranked open in an unnatural but convenient way, allowing tall Nordic visitors to enter without bumping their heads, then move on into the belly.
It’s more of a local village hall than Jonah in there, the organs having long been stripped and placed in barrels of ethanol kept in the museum’s cellar. Two wooden benches running beneath simple drapery have taken their place. We looked out through the baleen-trimmed jaws of the leviathan as Stefen told me of the coming autumn’s new exhibition on unloved city animals and why we should reappraise them.
Today, blue whales are among the most beloved of all animals. Mysterious, elegant and massive.
“The biggest animal that has ever lived on our planet: a blue whale. … It’s far bigger than even the biggest dinosaur. Its tongue weighs as much as an elephant. Its heart is the size of a car. And some of its blood vessels are so wide that you could swim down them,” Sir David Attenborough said in Blue Planet. They are the ultimate Guinness World Record animal.
Their population has bounced back from 5,000 to 25,000, after decades of commercial hunting brought it down from a pre-whaling 300,000 peak.
Back in October 1865, when fisherman brothers Olof and Carl Larsson discovered the whale helplessly beached just off the Swedish west coast, the animals were reviled.
Charitably, it was fear of this vast, mysterious beast that caused the Larssons to do what they did next. I will not repeat the details of the two days of barbarity here. Suffice it to say the whale was killed. And then transported by three steamships and two coal barges into Gothenburg, where the naturalist Augustus Malm purchased the body.
“I will stuff everything,” he declared, leaping onto the collapsing carcase to deliver a speech to the assembled masses. And so he did.
Dozens of butchers, plied with as much beer as needed to withstand the violent smell, hacked it into parts, scooped the organs out and removed the skeleton.
There is something about whales that sends people a little mad. In Nobel Prize winner László Krasznahorkai’s book The Melancholy of Resistance, the arrival of a huge whale on a circus truck sparks a riot. Famously, Ishmael is driven loopy by Moby Dick. And so with the Gothenburg whale.
After days of feverish work, Malm was forced to rest as nausea hit. Realising the whale’s owner had gone, a horde of locals rushed in and snatched blubbery souvenirs. Thankfully, enough remained for the whale to be reconstructed.
Its skin and baleen was cured with arsenic, mercuric chloride and a top coat of colourless copal varnish before being placed onto a wooden frame, 30,000 zinc and copper pins holding it in place. The structure was built in four separable sections, making it easier to transport the whale on trucks to its later resting place in the museum’s great hall. A magnificent photo shows the whale’s head being rolled through a hole in the outer wall.
The whale, still pungent all these years later, remains the museum’s prized exhibit, only competing for the title with a magnificent stuffed elephant.
When in Gothenburg, the museum is the must-visit. But there is much else in Sweden’s second city that is also worth exploring.
Head to Haga, Gothenburg’s oldest neighbourhood, and wander down the cobbled streets. They’re packed with excellent homeware, furniture, book and clothing shops, as well as Café Husaren, a cosy wood-paneled spot known for its massive hagabullar cinnamon buns. These seem to be the Swedish version of the stupidly big croissants everyone photographed for their Instagram last year.
The neighbourhood is now pedestrianised, having been saved from mass demolition in the 1980s and built up from a rough, rundown area into the lovely spot it is today.
From there, hop on a tram or bus and head for the city’s Art Museum. A long day wouldn’t quite be enough to get around all six of its floors, so if in a rush, I recommend the Nordic Fin-de-Siècle section to take in the stunning nature paintings of late 19th-century Swedes, before giving the collection of Carl Larssons their dues.
If not defeated by the earlier hagabullar, consider filling up on Sweden’s (much superior) answer to McDonald’s, Max Burger, or picking up one of the country’s famously weird pizzas and heading home.
Like many second cities, Gothenburg is famous for its friendliness. But also for its terrible weather. There is a good chance you’ll be rained on.
With a sliced banana, pineapple, curry powder and peanut pizza under my arm, I retreated from the deluge to my Airbnb on the outskirts of town. Like Stockholm, you’re never more than ten minutes from the natural world in Gothenburg, or more than 20 from a lake or pretty serious forest. Robert’s place in Ugglum was but a short ride from the centre, but could’ve been deep in the woods of remote Sweden, such was the green surroundings and calm of the place.
This was no corporate holiday let landlord spinning multiple properties, but a family home costing around £200 a night where kids’ paintings decorated the walls and a Barbie Dream House stood proudly in the bedroom.
Getting to Gothenburg from the UK is quick and is easy. Direct flights from the UK to Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport are operated by British Airways from London Heathrow, Ryanair from London Stansted, Manchester, and seasonally from Edinburgh, and Norwegian from London Gatwick. Return flights are regularly available for around £30.
Spanish authorities issued a new alert on Tuesday morning
08:38, 18 Aug 2026Updated 09:34, 18 Aug 2026
Warning issued to Spain holidaymakers and residents alike(Image: Daniel Garrido via Getty Images)
Officials in Spain have issued a ‘caution’ warning as temperatures are set to soar again from today (Tuesday). The European nation, which is a firm favourite with Brits heading abroad, has endured a number of devastating wildfires this year so far, amid a number of heatwaves.
In a new update issued on Tuesday, Spain’s national weather agency AEMET warned: “Fire danger increases this Tuesday due to the rise in temperatures.”
The social media post, which has been translated from Spanish, continues: “Wednesday will be very high or extreme in much of the Peninsula and Balearic Islands, especially in the Mediterranean area due to the arrival of very dry and overheated westerly winds. Caution!”
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) urges Brits who are in or who will soon be heading to Spain to visit Spain’s Civil Protection website for information on what to do in the event of a wildfire.
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FCDO guidance adds: “Immediately report any fire you see to the emergency services on 112. In the case of wildfires, the situation can change quickly, so you should stay up to date with official advice.”
Predicted fire hazard levels are “very high” across much of mainland Spain and the Balearic islands today and tomorrow – Tuesday, August 18 and Wednesday, August 19. NHS advice for staying safe during hot weather, which the FCDO signposts those heading to Spain to, suggests that individuals follow a four hour rule.
Holidaymakers are advised to reduce heat exposure and remain indoors where possible – particularly for the four hours between 11am and 3pm – typically the warmest period of the day. You should also use sunscreen, wear a hat and light clothing, and seek out shade where feasible.
A pilot’s wife has shared her top travel clothing tips, including what people should avoid dressing in. She said there’s a common item travellers need to stop wearing on flights
The pilot’s wife urged people to stop wearing it on planes (stock image)(Image: South_agency via Getty Images)
It’s that time of the year where many of us will be heading abroad. When travelling in summer, parents are constantly warned to check their children’s passports ahead of any trips.
Taking advice is best from an expert and who knows travel more than a pilot? Now travel guru Laurie is renowned for her helpful travel tips on her YouTube channel Travel Tips by Laurie. Recently she revealed some essential advice about what to avoid wearing on a flight. While it’s tempting to disembark the aircraft looking incredibly fashionable, Laurie maintains that comfort and practicality should come before style when selecting your in-flight attire, and she urges travellers to pay attention to her guidance, which she disclosed in a recent video.
Travel Expert Warns Flight Passengers Against Wearing White Clothes and Jumpsuits
In her online video, Laurie kicks off by explaining the kinds of clothing to steer clear of while flying. She suggests: “In the airplane, I recommend not to wear white.
“I did twice in my 23 years as a pilot’s wife at the beginning, and I got smudges on my jeans from bringing my luggage down from the overhead bins and pizza stains inside the airport that some other passenger had eaten and dripped some on the boarding gate seats.
“Do not wear complicated jumpsuits. Why? Because they’re complicated. They’re going to add stress to you, especially inside a tight, cramped lavatory inside the airplane.
“My travel tip is to pack that outfit and avoid wearing it in the airplane. Do not wear stiff leather or stiff denim, because it restricts your blood flow.
“While I sometimes wear trendy pieces, this video is going to focus on cosy, stretchy and versatile garments you should be wearing and a few to avoid. All that is so we maximise your comfort from boarding to baggage claim.”
While it may appear to be obvious advice to steer clear of jumpsuits, avoiding stiff fabrics is genuinely important. Although denim is generally considered acceptable for flying, experts actually warn against it due to potential discomfort problems.
The cabin pressure on flights causes abdominal bloating, and unforgiving materials can restrict movement while increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). For both comfort and health reasons, loose-fitting clothing or athleisure wear are your safest options.
Health and Safety Risks of Wearing Tight Denim Jeans on Long Flights
There are several reasons why denim is a poor choice for air travel. First and foremost, tight waistbands can become uncomfortably restrictive as your body swells owing to reduced cabin pressure.
Beyond simple discomfort, constricting clothing can restrict blood circulation, raising the risk of DVT. What’s more, heavy denim and belts regularly cause hold-ups at airport security checkpoints.
In short, this material poses numerous drawbacks for air passengers. If you absolutely must wear denim, make sure you opt for high-stretch varieties only.
While pulling on a pair of jeans might appear to be a savvy way to save on luggage space, the downsides frequently outweigh the advantages. The general consensus points towards choosing more comfortable options such as joggers or leggings instead.
As we head further into 2026, this handy piece of advice sits at the top of Laurie’s travel tips. It’s definitely worth keeping in mind before you set off on your next trip abroad.
As the sun disappears behind the high tree line, our campfire spits and crackles. Four plump trout are sizzling on a flame-heated slab of rock, a cooking technique used by people in the Gurghiu mountains, part of Transylvania’s Eastern Carpathians, for centuries. Apart from gentle birdsong, it’s the only sound up here, 1,550 metres above sea level and far from any town or village.
“This area is very wild,” says Samir Teslovan, who drove us up through the densely forested peaks from his guesthouse in Toplița. “When I come here to the mountains, I charge my battery, charge my soul. I feel free, like the wind.”
Sitting on the edge of a fragrant forest of spruce, fir, beech and pine, our view stretches over the valley to misty mountains receding in layers to the horizon. Samir points to a far-off peak in the east, a pyramid on a ragged ridge. “That’s Ukraine, maybe 200km,” he tells us. Then, pointing west: “That way, 400km, is Hungary.” The forest is still home to bears, wolves and lynx, but it’s the solitude that brings him here. “I prefer wild zones, where no one goes,” he says. “There are places here that nobody knows.”
Across the vast forests and mountains of Harghita County in central Romania, there are many places that nobody knows. In fact, the whole region has flown under the radar of international travellers – 85% of visitors come from Romania itself, which feels bizarre when you discover the wonders here, as we did on a 12-day family road trip, staying at self-catering lodges and cabins along the way.
A holiday here costs a fraction of what it would in the Dolomites or the French or Swiss Alps. Even better, it’s remarkably uncrowded, which makes for a more authentic-feeling adventure.
The region previously belonged to the Austro-Hungarian empire, butTransylvania, including Harghita, was awarded to Romania after the first world war.The local population remains largelyof Hungarian descent(about 85%), with most people identifying as Székelys (Szeklers), a distinct, Hungarian-speaking cultural group. And the Hungarian influence can be seen in the region’s food, from goulash to kürtőskalács (chimney cakes), and in the ornately carved székelykapu (wooden gates) outside houses.
Harghita has one of the highest densities of bears in Europe
We pick up a hire car in Brașov and drive north, in the opposite direction to Bran Castle and all the vampiric hoopla. Soon, we’re enjoying wide, open countryside, sharing the road with farmers on horse-drawn carts and passing churches with silvery spires and white storks nesting on top of electricity poles.
Our first base is Sâncrăieni, staying in Organicle Lodge,a lovely, quiet cabin with an upstairs spruce bedroom, spacious lounge and kitchen. While our four-year-old son races around the garden with the owners’ cats and French bulldog, we rest on our wooden deck, drinking Harghita beer, looking over a paddock, where a brown horse and white pony gambol and graze, and out towards the Harghita mountains. In the evenings, swifts flit about and white storks glide across pink skies.
We spend time at nearby Lacul Sfânta Ana (Saint Anne Lake), the only volcanic lake in Romania, wandering first through Mohoş Peat Bog, where the trees and curious plant life make it feel like stepping back into the ice age, then take a boat trip on the sparkling lake, surrounded on all sides by shades of forest green. In the evening, we head to Medveles Székelyföld observatory, where we watch four bears feeding on corn that’s laid out for them; Harghita has one of the highest bear population densities in Europe. The best sighting of our trip, though, comes during our drive to the lake, when we spot a mother and cub ambling through the forest and sniffing the air by the roadside.
Heading farther north, we spend a couple of days at Vila Adela, near Lacu Roșu (Red Lake), an orange house decorated with red geraniums, with fairy houses, windmills, animal statues, see-saw and slide in the garden. Our bedroom looks out on to the majestic limestone massif Suhardul Mic.
Later, we drive through Bicaz Gorge, gazing up at massive rock walls and structures, dominated byPiatra Altarului (Altar Rock), the summit marked with a metal cross. Stopping to climb the tower of medieval manor house Lázár Castle en route, we reach Toplița at the far north of the county, staying at Casa Samir, where Samir and his son David run wildlife photography and nature tours.
Reflected glory … lakeside in Harghita
After a steep and bumpy afternoon drive, we go hiking in the serene Gurghiu mountains. Golden sunlight winks through the trees as David points out the tracks of wild animals as we walk to where his father has parked and started a campfire. Along with trout, Samir serves a homemade salty sheep’s cheese, called burduf, and lamb sausage, both from his farm, and a bottle of palinka, a warming plum brandy. “I’ve been coming here all my life,” he tells us. “My grandfather and great-grandfather came here. I listen to the silence and the sounds of the forest, the birds and wild animals.”
Looping back around through the county, we make one final stop at Turul Guesthouse, a row of neat, two-storey, wooden lodges with hot tubs and a big trampoline. We wander among detailed models of Transylvanian castles, palaces, and churches, including Bran Castle, at Mini Transylvania Park and large-scale, moving models of ants, butterflies and the like at neighbouring Insect Park.
One morning, we hike up to the top of Harghita Mădăraș, at 1,801m (5,909ft) the highest peak in the Harghita mountains. Thunder rumbles and rain drenches us, as we reach the gold, white and blue Székely flag, the reportedly magnificent views blocked out by cloud that gives a sombre, funereal atmosphere to the cairns, flags, crosses and other memorials clustered around the summit.
We watch more bears at a tucked-away forest hide outside the Băile Homorod resort, including two mighty females who look as if they might clash over the feeding area, and spend one of our last afternoons at Zetea lake, where we take out a kayak. “It’s really a beautiful experience to be on the water,” Előd Tímár, co-owner of KayaKing, tells us. “Bears sometimes come to drink on the shore.”
Paddling south towards a forested peninsula, we’re surrounded on all sides by swaying trees. We pause in the vast expanse of open water and put down the paddles to float and drift for a while, and there it is again: a glorious, battery-charging feeling of peace, nature and being free, like the wind.
IT goes without saying that much of what an island holiday needs arrives by boat or plane.
The beer, the sunbeds . . . the bloke fixing the air con.
The trick here is that Halkidiki barely feels like the mainlandCredit: Alamy
And holidaymakers end up paying the difference.
Holiday comparison site TravelSupermarket has found five island faves where a week away can cost hundreds of pounds per person more than it does on the mainland coast of the same country.
Madeira is all verdant forests, cliffs and volcanic drama, and it charges for the privilegeCredit: GettyWhat the Algarve has that competes is the same coastal theatre with sandy beachesCredit: Poike
MADEIRA is all verdant forests, cliffs and volcanic drama, and it charges for the privilege.
What the Algarve has that competes is the same coastal theatre with sandy beaches.
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail scrambles along golden cliffs between Praia da Marinha, regularly voted one of Europe’s best beaches.
And don’t miss the Benagil sea cave with its famous skylight.
Base yourself in Lagos for the Ponta da Piedade arches, or Albufeira for waterparks, dolphin-spotting boat trips and a full strip of restaurants.
IBIZA for COSTA BLANCA – Save £336pp
Nowhere can match Ibiza’s superclub DC10, but the Costa Blanca gets closer than you would thinkCredit: Getty ImagesAlicante’s old town, El Barrio, runs tapas crawls into club nights that finish at 3am, and the city has two miles of golden sand at San JuanCredit: Getty
NOWHERE can match Ibiza’s superclub DC10, but the Costa Blanca gets closer than you would think.
Alicante’s old town, El Barrio, runs tapas crawls into club nights that finish at 3am, and the city has two miles of golden sand at San Juan.
Benidorm, half an hour up the road, is a 24-hour operation with cabaret, karaoke and Blue Flag beaches.
For the stunning holiday snaps, there’s the whitewashed coastal towns of Altea as well as Calpe, where the 332m Penon de Ifach rock rears out of the sea.
SKIATHOS for HALKIDIKI – Save £180pp
The picturesque isle of SkiathosCredit: Getty
THE trick here is that Halkidiki barely feels like the mainland.
Sithonia’s pine-backed coves, including the turquoise waters of Kavourotrypes and the fjord-like bay at Porto Koufo, are a match for anything on the isle of Skiathos.
Kassandra has big organised beaches and hotels, with the northern resorts the easiest to reach from Thessaloniki airport.
Check out the boat trips that run along the monastery coast of Mount Athos.
MENORCA for COSTA BRAVA – Save £163pp
Menorca is known for its calas, small sheltered coves where a scoop of sand sits between pine-topped cliffsCredit: GettyThe Costa Brava has them too, along the Cami de RondaCredit: Getty
MENORCA is known for its calas, small sheltered coves where a scoop of sand sits between pine-topped cliffs.
The Costa Brava has them too, along the Cami de Ronda, the old smugglers’ path that links cove after cove.
Aiguablava and Sa Tuna below Begur are the postcard ones, and the clifftop walk between Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc takes 20 minutes.
Add the medieval walls at Tossa de Mar, the Dali Theatre-Museum at Figueres and tapas in Girona, and there’s more to do on the mainland on less sunny days.
MAJORCA for COSTA DORADA – Save £153pp
Majorca has been a popular family hotspot for decades, with shallow bays, kids’ clubs and waterparksCredit: GettyThe Costa Dorada does the same job for less, and it has PortAventura WorldCredit: Portaventura Park
MAJORCA has been a popular family hotspot for decades, with shallow bays, kids’ clubs and waterparks.
The Costa Dorada does the same job for less, and it has one thing the island can’t match — PortAventura World.
It boasts everything from the eight-loop Dragon Khan and the 100m-plus drop Hurakan Condor, to Ferrari Land and the Caribe water park.
Plus, Salou has two long sandy beaches and a lively strip, Cambrils next door is the seafood port, or check out Tarragona’s Roman amphitheatre by the sea.
IF YOU are thinking about where to go on your next holiday, then you might want to consider Albania.
New research has found that Albania is among Europe’s fastest-growing holiday destinations.
Holiday bookings for Albania are on the riseCredit: Alamy
In fact, according to Thomas Cook, bookings are up a staggering 293 per cent year-on-year.
And it isn’t surprising as Albania has loads to explore including pretty beaches with crystal clear waters, a quiet capital city and cheap wine.
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Recently, even the cast of TOWIE were in the country, filming the latest series of the popular reality TV show in Drimadhë – a small village near the Llogara National Park on the Ionian coast.
Brits wanting to head to the under-the-radar country, can fly direct from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool during the summer.
Tirana is the capital but you won’t bump into loads of crowdsCredit: Alamy
The capital of Albania is Tirana and despite being the capital, you won’t find heads of crowds here.
The city can reach 35C in the summer and is even one of the sunniest cities in Europe with more than 2,500 hours of sunshine each year. Pints in the city cost as little as £1.50 too.
Travel reporter Cyann Fielding who visited the city recently, said: “One thing I really love about the city is it still feels completely undiscovered by Brits, lacking crowds and the typical souvenir shops on each corner that tend to come with that.
“In the heart of the city, visit Skanderbeg Square, where you’ll be able to get a clear view of the surrounding architecture – a mix of traditional Albanian villas and Soviet grey concrete buildings.
“If you want to earn your pint, climb the city’s very own pyramid, which has spectacular views of the mountains that border the capital.
“Make sure to also look out for ‘pillbox’ bunkers which are littered across the city – many of which have been turned into vibrant and quirky bars and cafes.”
You could stay at Hotel Elisa Tirana, Affiliated by Meliá with a spa, cafe and bar, for seven nights from £360 per person.
Maldives of Europe
Ksamil is known as the ‘Maldives of Europe’ with pretty beachesCredit: Alamy
Albania is also home to the so-called ‘Maldives of Europe’ in Ksamil, which earns the nickname from its pretty beaches with soft sand and crystal clear water.
You can head to Ksamil Beach, where you will also find the hand of Ksamil, which is a set of stairs up to a platform that is the palm of hand, hanging over the water.
If one beach isn’t enough, you can also head to Lori Beach ans Paradise Beach, which aren’t a long walk from Ksamil Beach. On Lori Beach you can also rent sunbeds and umbrellas.
In the town itself you will find a number of bars and spots to grab a bite to eat as well.
You could stay at the four-stay Ventus Hotel right by the beach for a week costing from £171 per person.
UNESCO World Heritage sites
There are historical destinations such as UNESCO World Heritage sites you can visit as wellCredit: Alamy
If you prefer exploring history, Albania has some beautiful historical towns such as Berat and Gjirokastra – which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Berat dates back 2,400 years and is known as the City of a Thousand Windows with boxy white houses and numerous Byzantine churches from the 13th century.
Gjirokastra, on the other hand, can be found in the Drinos River Valley and is known for its ornate 17th century houses.
Known as the ‘City of Stone’, visitors can explore a 13th century citadel as well as an old bazaar, traditional marketplace.
You could stay at the Te Gjyshi at Grandfather Hotel for seven nights costing from £199 per person.
Durres
Or visit Durres, less than an hour from TiranaCredit: Alamy
Less than an hour from Tirana, you could head to the city of Durres.
In the city, you’ll find the Durres Amphitheatre, which is one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in the Balkans.
Make sure to also head to Durres Beach, which boasts a long stretch of golden sand as well as shallow waters ideal for families.
Stop by one of the restaurants along the seafront as well, to try out a catch-of-the-day grill, often with mussels and squid.
You could stay at the four-star Hotel Alion in Durres, Albania from £165 per person, including flights.
Golem
Golem is ideal for beach lovers with along stretch of coastlineCredit: Alamy
Golem is a great destination for beach lovers, thanks to being sat on a long stretch of the Adriatic coastline.
This pretty spot is also less than an hour drive from the airport.
Visitors can head along the seafront and find a boardwalk full of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.
Golem is also the perfect place to try out different water sports such as banana boat rides.
You could stay at the four-star Martiness Hotel in Golem for seven nights from £299 per person.
Sitting in the heart of the city and surrounded by museums and bars, the Hard Rock Hotel Madrid manages to be entertaining enough on its own
16:44, 17 Aug 2026Updated 16:50, 17 Aug 2026
The rooftop bar at the Hard Rock Hotel Madrid is one of the highlights of the whole place(Image: Tom Capon)
Music is the lifeblood of the soul, I firmly believe everyone needs to listen to music to stay alive. But there’s people who love music (human beings, birds) and there’s people who love music (Radiohead fans). I always thought the Hard Rock Hotel catered exclusively to the latter group, until I made a trip to their Madrid location in July.
In fact, the Hard Rock Hotel is a haven for anyone who has been to a live gig all the way up to those people who camp outside Wembley Stadium, just so they can feel what it’s like to be squished against a barrier for hours with the force of a thousand fans.
Located in Madrid’s Atocha neighbourhood and a few minutes walk from the station that shares its name, it’s also just a 20 minute drive from the airport. This makes it an absolute sweet spot for exploring the city – that’s as soon as you’re done with the inside.
Room
Madrid is hot, but Madrid in July may as well be located on the surface of an exploding star. However, the air conditioning in this hotel is next level – and it’s the first thing I noticed as I walked in to their lobby. That was seconds before my eyes clocked the museum of artefacts in the lobby.
A gorgeous Menina sculpture statue covered in song lyrics from Spanish popstar Rosalia sits on one side of the entrance, with a giant bull greeting on the other. The lobby is a cornucopia of musical artefacts alongside the art, with guitars and pics from famous rockstars and little explainers for those less in the know.
It’s difficult to have so much stuff everywhere and not feel too kitsch, but while it certainly straddles that line, it feels more exciting than it does over-the-top. A wonderful touch I enjoyed was that all the staff have their favourite artist on their name tags. While checking in, I had a lovely chat with a guy about the new Madonna album – it was Pride season, after all, and Confessions II is this summer’s gay album.
One thing that struck me was how friendly and helpful all the staff were here. This is my favourite thing about the hotel: I never felt like a burden, even as I asked questions about how to get somewhere or if I needed toothpaste brought up to the room.
I stayed in a double-bed room overlooking the lobby. The beds are dreamy – I was clocking in 30,000+ Garmin steps (if you know, you know) and resting my head on a cloud and my body on another, bigger cloud, really helped me keep the party going. Despite music pumping from individual rooms and a Pride party on the Saturday afternoon, I could at most feel a murmur and a vibration.
The rooms aren’t huge, which while not unfamiliar to a city centre hotel, may be an issue for those bringing suitcases of clothes. I brought a backpack and fairly easily expanded into the clothes storage space.
However, this was mitigated by some lovely touches – the soundbar makes getting ready an absolute delight and if you don’t have any playlists, they provide you with one. The rain shower was, also, desperately needed after walking about in 40 degree heat. The cherry on top is the ring light mirror too – you best believe I did a photoshoot.
Amenities
The hotel boasts a restaurant and bar in the lobby area, as well as a rooftop bar and a pool with access to a bar and food. I dined at the Sessions restaurant on one Friday night.
Its definite plus point is a huge menu, meaning even the most fussy eaters will have something to eat, from patatas bravas to croquettes to onion rings and ribs. I would say this is fairly standard fare – if you’ve eaten in a Hard Rock Cafe, you’ve eaten the food here. But good for those in a pinch.
However, I cannot recommend enough going to the rooftop bar at sunset. The city sets alight with golden hour glow – sipping on a gorgeous cocktail as Madrid reveals its beauty to me is something I will never forget.
The pool, meanwhile, is good for jumping in to cool down, but is not the biggest I’ve ever seen. The real stars of the pool area are the bookable cabanas, making it ideal for decompressing, reading a book and hoping the hangover doesn’t kill you off.
It’s also on the edge of the huge El Retiro Park, with so much inside (including a botanical garden) that it would take several days to explore. On the edges of this I found a smaller, free version of the Reina Sofia too, proving art is foundational to a Madrid experience.
Sol station is a 20 minute walk from the hotel – I arrived during Pride, so while I didn’t get to experience the area’s restaurants, this was the epicentre of the entertainment, with live singers on a huge stage and hundreds of people dancing.
And no trip to Spain is complete without some churros – a 29 minute walk from the hotel is the famous Chocolatería San Ginés, which has existed since 1894. Here you can get affordable churros in chocolate so good I’m surprised Arthur Slugworth didn’t go in to steal the recipe. It’s so good in fact Madrid’s police officers are often spotted in there.
Is it worth the trip?
It’s hard not to recommend the Hard Rock Hotel. Not only is the location one of the best in the city, the hotel is just so exciting to stay in. Couple that with comfy beds you can sink into, the minor issues were outweighed by the force of its riff. If you like fun, you’ll like the Hard Rock Hotel.
BELGIUM is currently seeing its largest wildfire on record, causing hundreds to evacuate.
Shifting winds have even caused smoke to drift as far as France and Germany as well.
Belgium is currently experiencing its biggest wildfireCredit: AFP
The fire first started on August 14 after temperatures reached 37C.
Here’s everything you need to know about the current situation and what to do if you are due to travel to Belgium:
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Where are the wildfires in Belgium?
The wildfires in Belgium are currently concentrated in the High Fens nature reserve, which is in the Liege province in the eastern part of Belgium, close to the German border.
The reserve is Belgium’s largest nature protection.
Currently, surrounding impacted areas include Waimes, Bütgenbach, Jalhay and Malmedy.
Some smoke and fire is also evident near the German border in the town of Monschau.
Currently, the wildfires have impacted around 7,400 acres, making it the largest wildfire in Belgium’s history.
In parts of Waimes and Bütgenbach, around 600 residents have been evacuated so far.
It started on August 14 after temperatures hit 37CCredit: Reuters
Is it safe to travel to Belgium right now?
Major tourist hubs such as Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp are entirely unaffected.
However, if you are planning or due to travel to the east of Belgium or the Ardennes region, you must exercise caution.
A recent rainfall and drop in temperature has helped to slow the fire spreading, but thick smoke has drifted widely and as far as eastern France.
Visitors and residents are currently being warned to not travel to the nature reserve, hiking trails or surrounding forests in eastern Liège.
Are flights still going to Belgium?
Flights are still operating as normal to Belgium.
The current fire zone is around 85 miles east of Brussels, and while the smoke has caused locals to evacuate it has not caused disruption to flights.
What if I have a holiday to Belgium booked?
As the Foreign Office has not warned against travel to Belgium, there are no special circumstances in place for holidaymakers to cancel their trip and receive a full refund.
Depending on what travel insurance you have, your policy might include natural disaster cover.
If so, your insurance policy should cover you for when you are unable to reach your holiday destination due to natural disasters, such as wildfires.
So it is worth checking your travel insurance policy.
It is also worth noting, that once in Belgium, open fires, disposable barbecues and wild camping outside official campsites are banned across Wallonian forests and nature reserves at the moment.
Can I cancel my trip?
If you want to cancel your trip or holiday, it is best to contact your airline and/or holiday provider.
Companies do not have an obligation to refund bookings unless Government advice changes.
More than half a million Brits were reportedly living in vans or campervans as of August 2025, but for those who want one for the odd holiday, the costs can add up quickly
Clare took the plunge after she realised the downside about campervans (stock) (Image: Getty)
For many, the idea of a portable home on wheels is a dream: the chance to hit the road, live more adventurously and avoid expensive hotel bills. Some have even opted to live full-time in converted vans, swapping traditional bricks-and-mortar living for life on the move.
More than half a million Brits were living in vans or campervans as of August 2025, according to estate agent Property Revolutions Ltd. But for those who want one mainly for the odd holiday, the costs can add up quickly.
Former campervan owner and journalist Clare Macnaughton spotted this downside and eventually sold hers. As she explains, a campervan for her meant a “third vehicle”, complete with MOT, insurance, servicing bills and a “diesel habit to feed”.
So what’s the alternative? Clare chose a vehicle famously loathed by petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson. She and her family bought an Adria Action 361 LT — a traditional two-berth caravan.
Clare admits the caravan wasn’t fault-free at first – she’s had a couple of early niggles, including trouble with the fridge switch and a fuse in one of the sockets. Even so, she says one feature has won her over completely, describing it as a “revelation”.
She wrote in The Telegraph “And then, the revelation: the bed. This caravan may be tiny, but the bed is colossal. Pete is 6ft 1in, with a back ruined by a lifetime of lugging tiles up ladders, and the campervan’s bed was always a couple of inches too short for him.
“This one swallowed Pete, me and Maya with room to spare. Whoever designed this caravan clearly understood the priorities of middle age: you can compromise on almost anything, just don’t compromise on the bed.”
The Caravan and Motorhome Club also rates the model highly. In a write-up on its site, it awarded it 92%, calling it “singularly attractive” and saying it’s “easy to tow”.
“Singularly attractive, nicely made, easy to tow, good value and a brilliant lounge. Wholeheartedly recommended.” It also highlighted the generous sleeping space, calling it a “behemoth of a double bed”.
The comments come after psychologist Dr Sophie Mort, who told the Express that camping can support mental wellbeing — noting how “camping gives everyone a task”.
She explained: “When we’re away from screens, work pressures and daily routines, we’re more likely to have meaningful conversations, share experiences and form deeper connections with those around us.
“So many of us are burned out, stressed out and even talked out right now. Camping gives everyone a task, putting up the tent, unrolling the sleeping bags or getting the stove going for tea, so people can be together without the pressure of more talking and dissecting.
“It’s often in those low-stakes, side-by-side moments that conversation starts to flow naturally.”
LOTS of family shows claim to be for everyone aged 5 to 95, but in practice, very few are.
Now You See Me Live is one of those rare West End unicorns that will have all ages on the edge of their seats (or standing on top of it in my son’s case).
The big-budget magic shows are based on the Hollywood films starring Isla Fisher and Sir Michael Caine and Mark Ruffalo, but fear not, you don’t have to have seen the movies to understand the theatre production.
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They have almost nothing in common, aside from the fact that there are four main magicians known as ‘The Horsemen’ – Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester and Matthew Pomeroy – alongside three supporting magicians who all appeared on Britain’s Got Talent – Eden Choi, Fraser Penman and Rafferty Coope.
This is, however, as close to a Vegas-style magic show as you’re going to get in the UK, which is why it makes sense that the next stop on its world tour will in fact be the Nevada city.
Running in London until September 6, it had my son and I engrossed from start to finish.
His jaw practically hit the floor, I squealed, the middle-aged man sitting next to me shouted aloud in wonder… the acts the magicians played out for the audience were truly mesmerising.
Without spoiling too much of the magic, the moment the escapologist is locked, handcuffed, upside down in a tank of water in a recreation of Houdini’s water torture stunt, is undoubtedly a highlight of the show.
As was the moment the cast appeared to travel through time, carrying possessions from the audience.
And I’ll never work out how they tasked the entire theatre of 2000-plus people to rip up a bunch of playing cards and the result that ended up in my hand.
Meanwhile, my seven year old son’s favourite act by far was Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Eden Choi, who appeared to shoot hundreds of playing cards out of his hands across the stage.
But for the most part, this is a full-on audience participation event, from start to finish.
We threw bouncy balls around the venue, we ripped up packs of cards, we collectively took part in mind-reading – there were very few parts of the show where we were required to stay silent.
In fact, we were actively encouraged the holler at the stage on several occasions.
When the time came for the curtain to close, my seven year old actually stood on his seat (sorry London Coliseum staff) to give his final round of applause.
Which surely shows you quite how impressive it was.
Click below to sign up to Sun Club and bag your half-price tickets.
18+ England and Wales residents only. Sun Club subscription required. Online access required. Offer ends at 23:59 on 31/08/26. Non-transferable and non-refundable. Offer valid on performances until Friday, September 4, 2026 for Monday – Thursday matinee and evening, Friday matinee, and Sunday matinee and evening shows, plus Friday, August 21 and Friday, August 28, 2026 evening performances only. Discount cannot be applied to previous purchases and is subject to availability. Full T&Cs apply, see below.
A Loganair spokesperson said: “Following a review of the route’s long-term viability, Loganair can confirm that its Dundee–London Heathrow service will cease after Friday 23 October, and the operating base will close.
“Earlier this year, we served notice to the stakeholder group behind the Public Service Obligation route after the contract became financially unsustainable.
“We have since explored alternative options but have not been able to identify a viable way forward that meets the objectives of the PSO while allowing the route to operate sustainably.
“Customers affected by the change will be contacted directly. We are also supporting Dundee-based colleagues and will explore alternative roles across the Loganair network wherever possible.
It comes after Loganair cancelled all flights from Southampton AirportCredit: Alamy
“These decisions reflect the same disciplined, decisive approach that has driven previous improvements in Loganair’s punctuality and resilience, protecting the long-term future of the airline, our people, and the lifeline connectivity we provide to communities across our network.”
IT’S easy to spend a crazy amount of money on holidays. But it doesn’t have to be that way – you just have to know where to look.
Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Forget paying hundreds of pounds just to fight over sunbeds in overpriced resorts like Ibiza and Mykonos – THIS is where to go instead.
The Algarve is the cheapest destination for a family holiday in 2026, according to a Post Office reportCredit: GettyAlbania offers cheap holidays in stunning resorts like Ksamil and DurresCredit: Getty
We’ve found holiday destinations that give you the same glorious sunshine, golden sand beaches and gorgeous hotels for much, much less.
Think 86p beers, £3 cocktails, flights under 15 quid and entire holidays for the cost of a family meal out.
From dirt-cheap Portugal holidays to five-star Turkish getaways, here’s the foreign holiday destinations where your cash stretches the furthest.
The Algarve, Portugal
Brits looking for maximum bang for their buck this summer should set their sights on The Algarve.
This golden section of Portuguese coastline was crowned Europe’s best-value beach destination in the 2026 Post Office Family Holiday report.
The report compared a list of common holiday costs in 22 European destinations, looking at the price of things like meals out, drinks and everyday holiday items – and The Algarve came out on top.
This cheap holiday hotspot boasts affordable family-friendly hotels plus plenty of cheap flights from airports across the UK.
You can book a flight to Faro for only £14.99 each way with Ryanair, from airports such as Liverpool, Edinburgh and London Stansted.
And according to Wise’s Cost of Living report, a meal out for two here can cost as little as £8.55, while a beer can cost you as little as 86p.
The destination boasts dramatic cliff-backed beaches perfect for exploring by kayak or paddle-board, such as Praia da Marinha with its famous limestone arches, and Benagil Beach with a circular ‘hole in the roof’ cave.
Whether you’re planning to hit the strip in bustling Albufeira or sip cheap coffees in charming coastal towns, your spending money will stretch miles further in this Portuguese region.
Book a holiday: The Algarve
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Golden Club Cabanas in Tavira has a giant outdoor pool lined by palm trees that looks like a tropical oasis.
Here you’re close to the Ria Formosa natural park, where you can go kayaking, bird-watching over the salt marshes, or simply find a beach bar to enjoy a cocktail with a view.
We found a seven night self-catering stay from September 19, with return flights from London Stansted, for £195pp.
Antalya is just one stunning destination on Turkey’s Turquoise CoastCredit: Getty
Holidays to Turkey are looking remarkably cheap this summer, hitting rock-bottom prices that almost look too good to be true.
The good news is, they’re not – and there’s good reason as to why holidays to Turkey are currently so cheap.
The Sun’s Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, said: “There’s never been a better time to grab a bargain break to Turkey.
“With uncertainty over the Middle East conflict, holidaymakers have been looking at the Western Med over the Eastern Mediterranean destinations like Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt.
“But everything is operating normally in all three countries – Foreign Office travel advice has not changed and it is perfectly safe to visit.
“But the reticence of some has led to a fall in demand and with that, prices have started tumbling too.
“On the ground, everything remains the same – only the prices you’ll pay are very attractive as hoteliers and tour operators tempt us to travel.
“With beautiful Mediterranean coastal resorts offering great value, now is the time to grab yourself a sunshine bargain.”
Key spots on the Turkish Riviera that balance bargain prices with beautiful views include Marmaris, with its long seafront promenade, and Bodrum, often dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey.
Book a holiday: Turkey
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The Solivia Hotel is a sprawling five-star property in Antalya, with a Blue Flag private beach and four swimming pools.
The food and drink is all inclusive done right. There’s an extensive buffet in the main restaurant, plus a beach snack bar, pool bar, unlimited ice cream hour and Turkish coffee on tap.
Book a seven-night, all-inclusive stay at the five-star Solivia Hotel, with return flights from London Luton, from £555pp.
Bulgaria is one of the most budget-friendly holiday options out there for Brits, and the Bourgas Area was even named the cheapest all inclusive holiday destination in 2026 by Travel Supermarket.
Furthermore, the country continues to appear year after year as a top affordable destination for families in the Post Office Family Holiday Report.
Plus, according to data from Wise, ameal outat an inexpensive restaurant averages £8.82, a cappuccino just 88p, and a beer as little as 89p.
You can even find cheap flights to spots like Plovdiv, Sofia and Burgas from £18 each way on Skyscanner.
Now you know just how cheap this holiday hotspot is – where abouts should you actually stay?
Sunny Beach continues to reign as one of the most affordable spots, with bargain waterparks and hotels, plus a nightlife scene where prices have barely budged.
But there’s a lot more to Bulgaria than Sunny Beach.
If you want a quieter beach break, Sozopol’s golden sands and wooden townhouses offer a far more relaxed feel than Sunny Beach – without bumping up the price tag.
Just 15 minutes outside of Sunny Beach, Nessebar boasts a UNESCO-protected old town with cobbled streets and ancient ruins, plus romantic cliffside dining where meals cost a fraction of Mediterranean prices.
Prefer a city break? Sofia and Plovdiv are excellent choices. Sofia boasts dirt-cheap metro rides, grand architecture, and bargain nightlife, while Plovdiv’s trendy Kapana district lets you sip 88p coffees surrounded by ancient Roman ruins.
Book a holiday: Bulgaria
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The Sunny Day Club hotel is an ideal spot for families, sitting in a quieter, northern patch of Sunny Beach.
The buzzy bars, shops and restaurants of Sunny Beach are just a short bus ride away, with a convenient bus stop directly outside the hotel.
Book a seven-night, room-only stay at Sunny Day Club from September 17, with return flights from London Luton, from £179pp.
Week-long holidays to Agadir average just £230, according to Loveholidays booking dataCredit: Getty
Agadir bagged the top spot as the cheapest destination for a seven-night summer holiday in 2026, according to research from Loveholidays.
The holiday booking site analysed package deals running between June 1 and August 31, with the Moroccan hotspot coming out on top.
According to their booking data, week-long holidays here averaged just £230 per person for a week away.
Agadir is a sunshine-drenched resort guaranteeing year-round heat, plus a six-mile stretch of beach and a vibrant old town bustling with colourful souks.
It’ s an extraordinarily cheap option thanks to plenty of budget airline routes and affordable package holiday deals from sites like Loveholidays and On the Beach.
Plus you can book a flight to Agadir from as little as £20.99 each way with Ryanair.
On top of wallet-friendly flights and accommodation, Morocco’s low local cost of living means dining out, watersports, and day trips can cost a fraction of the price compared to traditional European hotspots.
The average price of a meal out at an inexpensive restaurant here, according to Wise, is only £3.99.
Book a holiday: Agadir
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For a stress-free family getaway, stay in an apartment at the Appart Hotel Igoudar.
Enjoy a spacious apartment with a well-stocked kitchenette and private terrace, and spend days soaking up the sun on a lounger and taking dips in the outdoor pool.
The building is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture and makes for both a relaxing and authentic Moroccan stay.
Loveholidays offer a five-night, room-only stay at the Appart Hotel Igoudar from September 27, including return flights from London Stansted, for £129pp.
You could visit the pink saltwater lagoon of Torrevieja on a trip to Spain’s Costa BlancaCredit: Getty
Spain‘s Costa Blanca remains a reliably cheap option for a sunny holiday abroad – plus the quick and easy 2.5 hour flight goes by in a flash.
Spots like Torrevieja and Guardamar del Segura are traditional Spanish towns where costs stay low.
Guardamar has a 6.8 mile-long, white sand beach, while Torrevieja is home to bubblegum-pink salt lakes like the Laguna Rosa and Blue Flag beaches like the palm-lined stretch of Los Naufragos.
But it wouldn’t be the Costa Blanca without Benidorm, which continues to reign as the final boss of budget breaks.
Holiday Expert Rob Brooks ranks Benidorm among the top destinations for Brits to bag a cheap holiday – and a cheap beer, too.
He said: “If there’s one destination refusing to let the £1 pint disappear quietly, it’sBenidorm.
“People love to moan that the strip isn’t ascheapas it used to be, and to be fair, they’re almost right.
“But every time I go looking for a proper value holiday,Benidormstill cleans up – and there’s one legendary venue everyone mentions:Uncle Ron’s.
“They’re famously flying the flag for the €1 pint long after everyone else moved on, making it the ultimate first pitstop to prove the old-schoolBenidormspirit is alive and kicking.”
Book a holiday: Costa Blanca
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What kid would say no to a pirate island-themed mega resort in sunny Spain?
The Magic Pirates Island Resort in Benidorm has a mega kids pool called Battleship Lagoon, with play boats and jets, plus more relaxed pools for grown-ups with hot tubs and Balinese beds.
Best of all, a stay here gives you free unlimited entry to the Aqua Naturawaterparkright next door, as well as free access to Terra Natura Zoo.
Book a five night stay with breakfast from October 10, including return flights from London Luton, for £287pp.(Kids stay free – restrictions apply).
DISNEY has confirmed all of the exciting new rides and cruises launching in the next few years.
The announcements were part of Disney’s huge annual D23 event, which talks all things Disney when it comes to films, TV shows and, of course, the theme parks.
There are a number of new Disney attractions coming in the futureCredit: Disney
The upcoming attraction openings include Disneyland Paris, Disney World and the Disney cruises.
From new dark rides and log flumes, to four new cruise ships and a UK-based stage show – here’s the rundown on all the top attraction announcements:
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Disneyland Paris
At Disneyland Paris there will be a new Lion King-themed water attractionCredit: Disney
A number of new announcements were made about Disneyland Paris and some of the park’s upcoming attractions.
Along withDisney‘s first audio-animatronics figure of Scar, the ride will be at the centre of the first immersive world based on The Lion King.
The new land will sit next to the World of Frozen, transporting visitors to the African savanna.
Once completed, the zone will span 30,000sqm and have the log flume alongside a shop, restaurant and character experiences.
Next year, Wilderness Explorers Sky Swings will open, which will be the first attraction at Disneyland Paris inspired by the Up film.
The park will also retire the Star Wars themed Hyperspace Mountain and reimagine the attraction as Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune.
It first opened in 1995 based on Jules Verne’s novel “From the Earth to the Moon” before becoming Hyperspace Mountain in 2017.
The ride will be at the centre of the first immersive world based on The Lion KingSpace Mountain is also being reinvented at the French theme parkThere will also be a new parade at Disneyland ParisIt will be the first at the park since 2017
The attraction is now set to revert back to its original theme, closing at the end of next year for a few months.
And last but not least, Disneyland Paris will also be getting a new daytime parade.
The parade will feature Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog, Tangled and Coco and will launch in 2028.
It will be the first new parade at the park since 2017.
Disney World, Florida
In Walt Disney World there will be a new Villains LandCredit: Disney
Excitingly, there will be a new Villains Land in Magic Kingdom, home to two major attractions including a Maleficent rollercoaster and a Magic Mirror dark ride.
The Maleficent rollercoaster will take visitors through an enchanted briar surrounding Maleficent’s mountaintop fortress, with yet-to-be-revealed “elements never attempted before.”
The other attraction – Magic Mirror – will be a dark ride with lots of Disney Villains.
Disney stated: “You’ll find the Magic Mirror where the Evil Queen keeps him in the catacombs beneath her pristine palace. After making your way to him, he’ll magically transport you into his mystical Mirror Realm to see things on the other side of the mirror.
“There, in his ethereal realm, you’ll be transfixed by countless Disney Villains conjured in ways only the Magic Mirror can do.
“A combination of special effects and physical set pieces will bring his Mirror Realm – and these iconic Villains – to life.”
Disney added: “ If you dare enter the forest of Villains Land, you may soon come across a Wishing Well that’s been torn asunder.
“Under most circumstances, a Wishing Well would indicate pure and good energy at work, but something dark happened to this one.
“Once upon a time, someone made an evil wish here – a wish so evil it corrupted the stone and broke open the structure, spreading the Well’s poisoned magic throughout the forest.”
In addition to the two major attractions, there will be shops and restaurants.
Magic Kingdom will also be getting two Piston Peak rides in Frontierland, including Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along inspired by the “Diva of Demolition” from Cars 3.
Villains Land will have two main attractionsThere will also be two new Cars-themed attractionsCredit: Disney
The ride will feature a “huge school-bus-sized animatronic” who hosts a stampeding bash at her “wildest demolition derby yet”.
The other attraction will be Cars Ridge Run Rally, which will be a quest to find “the wildest racer in the wheelderness”.
The ride will go through scenes of America’s national parks, as well as a climb up Piston Peak itself before riders then plummet down toward a geyser field.
Over in the new land of Tropical Americas in Animal Kingdom, there will be a new Indiana Jones Ride with audio-animatronics figures and an original storyline where guests are transported into the world of the ancient Maya.
Called Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, riders will beneath under an ancient temple ruin before heading off on their journey.
Also in Tropical Americas will be the new El Carrusel de los Animalitos - a carousel with 22 hand-carved animals inspired by Disney and Pixar stories.
Animal Kingdom will launch a new family-friendly Encanto Ride as well, called Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto.
When visitors enter the house, they’ll board a ride vehicle which will resemble the different pieces of furniture assembled by the power of Casita.
Inside, the space has been transformed into a rainforest with more than 50 animals and guests will travel through different rooms to see them all.
A part of Monstropolis will also open at the theme park next year, while work continues to build a “door coaster”.
As well as a Monstropolis show ahead of the doors coaster launchingCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The new attraction will be a show at the Glob Theatre called “Welcome to Monstropolis”, with the monsters in the show introducing visitors to Monstropolis.
There will be a new restaurant, Archie’s Scare Pig Pizza, too while next door, will be the Monsters University Alumni Club.
There will be Harryhausen’s Restaurant too, where visitors can see the spot that was a part of Mike and Celia’s most unforgettable dates.
There will even be the famous sushi chef brought to life with a new audio-animatronics figure.
Forbidden Mountain in Animal Kingdom will also be upgraded with a new Yeti audio-animatronic.
Over in EPCOT, Spaceship Earth is getting an update with the storyline of the ride reimagined.
Disney cruises
Disney Believe will be the last of the Wish class shipsCredit: DisneyDisney Cruise Line has also announced three more ships for the futureCredit: Getty
Disney Believe will be Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship but will also be the final ship in the Wish class.
It will launch in late 2027 and inside passengers with a Moana-inspired Grand Hall, Tinker Bell on its bow and Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the stern.
Attractions on board the ship will feature Disney Animation’s Encanto, Frozen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Moana and The Little Mermaid.
As for the stern, guests will spot Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
Disney has also announced three new ships that will begin launching in 2029 – this will increase the cruise line fleet to 13 ships in total.
After Disney Believe – part of the Wish Class – launches next year, there will Disney Cruise Line will move on to a new ship class.
As part of this new class, there will be three ships that will be bigger than the classic ships but smaller than the newer ships.
Little other details have been revealed about the ships but Disney commented that “there are amazing opportunities to visit new places and reach brand new audiences than ever before”.
New West End show
The Greatest Showman will be launching on stage in LondonCredit: Getty
Turning up at the hotel check-in desk straight away might be harming your chances of getting a more premium holiday experience
Timing is everything when it comes to checking in at your hotel(Image: Getty Images)
Checking into your holiday at the earliest possible opportunity might seem like the savvy move at first, but it could be ruining your chances of getting a luxury hotel room free-of-charge. According to industry analysis from travel experts, checking-in during a specific 90-minute window could be the ultimate strategy.
Graziano Gagliardi at Private Italy Tour claims that turning up at the front desk between 4.30pm and 6pm gives reception staff a much clearer picture of the premium suites that remain available. Arriving too early, say 2pm for instance, means housekeeping is likely still preparing and cleaning rooms, which leaves workers unable to confirm what higher-tier options are unoccupied for the night.
Gagliardi said: “If standard check-in begins at 2pm or 3pm, arriving immediately may not give you the best chance of an upgrade. Housekeeping may still be preparing rooms, while reception staff may not yet know which guests are arriving, cancelling or requesting changes.
“By around 4.30pm, the hotel usually has a much clearer picture of its room availability. If a larger room, a better view or a higher category is likely to remain empty, staff may have more flexibility to offer it.”
Turning up extremely late can also backfire, he claims, particularly at smaller boutique properties that operate limited front desk hours. He said: “Turning up at 10pm without warning is not a clever upgrade trick. If you expect to arrive late, always notify the hotel in advance.”
Holidaymakers booking shorter stays of one or two nights stand a significantly higher chance of being bumped up to a better class of room. Terms outlined by major hotel chains like Hilton confirm that complimentary upgrades strictly depend on space being continuously available for the entire duration of a guest’s stay.
A similar policy is enforced by Marriott, which explicitly states that room improvements are determined upon physical arrival at the front desk. Experts warn that travellers should remain realistic, as an upgrade often means securing a quieter location, higher floor, or better balcony view rather than the top luxury suite.
To maximise your chances, Private Italy Tour recommends using a specific phrase to politely ask front desk staff without sounding overly demanding or entitled. The travel guru suggests asking: “I understand it depends entirely on availability, but if there are any complimentary upgrades available this evening, I would be very grateful to be considered.”
Joining a hotel’s free membership scheme prior to travel can also boost your odds, as many major operators prioritize enrolled guests for empty premium spaces. However, guidelines published by Hilton Honors clarify that simply signing up does not guarantee a better room without holding eligible membership status or rates.
Guests celebrating genuine milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, or honeymoons are advised to notify the hotel a few days before their arrival date. Mentioning a real special occasion often encourages reception teams to offer a complimentary perk or a room improvement.
Finally, the experts strongly warn holidaymakers against manufacturing fake complaints or inventing faults with their original room just to pressure staff into moving them. Dishonesty is far more likely to harm your chances than help them, meaning a polite, well-timed request during that crucial 90-minute window remains your absolute best bet.
