Los Angeles is a city rich with regional specificity when considering the cuisines of Asia. When someone asks for a restaurant recommendation for “Korean food” or “dumplings” or “Thai,” I encourage them to be more specific. Are you in the mood for xiao long bao, mandu, gyoza or momos? You want to know where to get barbecue in Koreatown? Those sizzling grills crowded with galbi, while dependably righteous, only scratch the surface of the breadth and depth of Korean cuisine in what is home to the largest Korean diaspora outside of Korea.
There are omakase experiences for every price point. Cramped izakayas. A restaurant where the sole speciality is lamb prepared in the style of the Uyghur people of China’s Xinjiang province. Pho parlors and banh mi shops with pâté-smeared baguettes. Sunny Taiwanese breakfast restaurants slinging steaming bowls of congee and tightly wrapped fantuan.
AAPI-owned restaurants act as the vital centers of countless communities around the city. The San Gabriel Valley, Westminster, Little Bangladesh, Koreatown and so many more. These are places that are both hubs for thriving immigrant communities and sought-after dining destinations.
Here’s a list of 20 AAPI-owned standouts from our most recent guide to the 101 Best Restaurants in the city. — Jenn Harris
A HISTORIC railway station is set to open soon after being reconstructed brick by brick – nine miles from its original location.
The Victorian station was originally built in 1867, but fell into disuse over the last century.
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The station has been in a state of disrepair for a number of yearsCredit: The Wansford Road CIO / SWNSThe railway was once a vital link for passengers between Stamford and WansfordCredit: The Wansford Road CIO / SWNS
WansfordRoad station, near Peterborough, had been facing demolition to make room for the proposed A47 dual carriageway.
However, in 2022 an agreement was reached between Nene Valley Railway (NVR) and National Highways for the building to be dismantled and re-built.
National Highways also granted nearly £200,000 in funding towards the project.
Having been dismantled in April 2024, the limestone station has almost completed its re-location to Peterborough, now under the new name of ‘Woodstone Wharf Station’.
The historic building will serve as a gateway to both Railworld Wildlife Haven and the NVR, and features a booking office, waiting room and administration office.
Stan Bell, who led the project at The Wansford Road CIO, said: “It’s clear that the building will have a huge rejuvenating impact on this often-forgotten part of Peterborough.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky to have the support of National Highways.”
The original railway served passengers from StamfordtoWansford, although it closed by 1929.
The building was then converted into a private residence, before falling into disrepair.
The £100 million proposal to create a dual carriageway for the A47 was also scrapped in July last year, due to planning complications and rising costs.
Kath Cross, 49, and her partner Stu Hall, 47, sold most of their possessions and set off on a van life adventure across Europe and beyond after Kath’s daughters moved out of the family home
A couple of drove around the world have named their favourite place(Image: Kath Cross)
A couple who flogged all their belongings to explore the globe in a van have disclosed their top destination from their remarkable journey.
Kath Cross, 49, and her partner Stu Hall, 47, chose to embark on worldwide travels after Kath’s daughters from an earlier relationship, Stephanie, 30, and Jessica, 22, had flown the nest. Following their departure, Kath came to the realisation that she could work from wherever she fancied and opted to sell much of what she owned.
Using the proceeds from flogging items on Facebook Marketplace, she and Stu purchased a van, a 7.5m Mercedes Sprinter, and set off to see the world after vacating their rented property in Cardiff, Wales.
Since departing, they’ve weathered the highs and lows of perpetual life on the move, while also lending a hand to others during their travels.
Chatting to WalesOnline, Kath and Stu, who crossed paths through a walking club, revealed which country had impressed them most during their adventure, reports the Express.
The duo have journeyed through destinations including Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, amongst other European nations.
They selected Morocco as their standout location, saying: “In Morocco we went to the edge of the Sahara. We were sitting looking over the edge on the sand dunes drinking coffee from a mug from home – it was huge.
“Then we had snow in the Atlas mountains in January 2024 when we rescued Mohammed, ‘MouMou’, who was stuck 3,000m up in the snow in his car. We took him out with our snow chains and lent our snow chains to him. MouMou is in his late 20s and a really nice guy.
“We were just heading over the Atlas mountains when we saw him. People were just driving past him worrying he was a bandit when he just couldn’t drive on.”
However, Kath and Stu aren’t the only ones to have embraced van life, with the likes of Suzy Greenwood ditching her London job to live on the road after falling head over heels for the lifestyle.
Suzy, 39, had spent 15 years forging a career in PR before deciding to make the leap once the Covid-19 lockdowns had lifted. Confronted with her flat in Shepherd’s Bush, London, she told the Independent she realised she was “no longer doing the things I loved” in London.
After offloading her two-bedroom flat, she purchased a converted Volkswagen Caddy van and embarked on a fresh chapter. She revealed that despite the van’s compact size, it carries several distinct advantages, not least the financial savings.
She explained: “The van itself is tiny, which is great because I can park up anywhere. It looks like a workman’s van, so I can sleep in a lay-by, or at beautiful spots overlooking the sea.
“Where I once spent maybe £200 on a fancy dinner, I can now spend £10 on a whole weekend and be having the time of my life. The life I live now really doesn’t cost very much at all.”
The Barcelo Corralejo Sands in Fuerteventura offers both adults and children a huge amount of freedom without sacrificing any of the fun
12:05, 06 May 2026Updated 15:35, 06 May 2026
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Fuerteventura hotel that’s perfect for family poolside fun
Going on holiday with young children can often feel like an all-or-nothing scenario.You let them stay up extra-late one night to see a show or musician, and all of a sudden, they think sweets at 10pm and bed by midnight is a holiday norm. The extra ice cream is suddenly seen as a daily divine right.When it comes to kids’ clubs, off they go on their merry way to develop their own holiday hinterland for however many hours a day, leaving you free to chill. If you don’t go down the kids’ club route, then you’re most likely trying to divvy up your time between being chief entertainer and having a good time yourself.But on the perma-sun-kissed island of Fuerteventura, I think I’ve found the perfect middle ground hotel that gives kids bags of freedom and entertainment, while offering adults the chance to relax – without the need to commit to a kids’ club.
Barceló Corralejo Sands, to the northeast of the year-round holiday isle that’s now got a direct TUI weekly route from Cardiff Airport, doesn’t set its stall out as a place geared purely towards families, nor as a bolthole for frazzled grown-ups.
Rather than feeling like it has no identity or isn’t sure what it is meant to be, this place feels like an optimum stay for families, solo travellers, and couples of any age.The main reason is a fantastic design that maximises the compact footprint of the site by putting the two pool areas within an easy line of sight of one another down. It means there are no distractions between one side and the other. If you’re on a child-free getaway or couples’ holiday, you can lounge by the larger main pool in what we found was generally a very relaxed and quiet atmosphere. Meanwhile, a matter of seconds away is a genuinely exceptional environment for children.There’s a shallow pool with two slides – one smaller and designed like a humpback whale that would be suitable for even the youngest of kids, and another part of a pirate ship setup that was easily safe and accessible.The water, which also features a palm tree waterfall, is only the beginning of the fun. There’s a generously-sized climbing frame suitable for toddlers, a set of football goals, table football, a table tennis table, and also a pool table. And there’s a small classroom-like building filled with things like toys, such as a role-play kitchen and colouring.Combine it with a set of nearby loungers around the water, access to both the bar and your room, and you’ve essentially got all you need to satisfy everyone for a full day in the sun.Kids can play freely and easily make friends. Provided your child is old enough, you can take it easy while being on hand to splash around in the water, act as cannon fodder in goal, or take them on in one of the tabletop games.In purely logistical terms, Barceló Corralejo Sands is a complete delight. It feels like you can get the best of all worlds as a family with the absolute minimum of stress and effort.
All that would count for a lot less, though, if the rest of the hotel did not rise to the same levels. Thankfully, it does in just the same non-showy way as it bills itself.It’s elegant and classy without being overblown or fussy. The staff are discreet, friendly, and almost without exception absolutely lovely and willing to help. Our poolside suite was light, airy and comfortably spacious for four, even with the ‘lounge’ area having been converted into a second bedroom.The balcony was large and sheltered and, on our side of the pool, the staggered design of the building meant it was completely private from the neighbouring room.There were lots of neat points of attention to detail, such as cute bathroom sets for the children, and handy features like the use of beach/pool towels and a mini fridge to keep any drinks you buy off-site cool.We stayed on a half-board basis and loved the array of breakfast options. It felt particularly decadent to start the day with cava, smoked salmon, and capers, as well as the nightly themes for cuisine from around the world (Spanish, Canarian, and Arabic being my particular highlights).Bottles of wine ranged between roughly €20 (£17) and €30 and a large beer was €3.80 at the time of our visit.We tried and failed to have eaten come the start of the mini disco in the bar each night at 8pm. If I were being picky, I’d say this could maybe have run a shade longer than 15-20 minutes. Part of the reason for its brevity, though, was the nightly bingo at 8.30pm. This was genuinely pacy and fun for all ages, and had us all laughing on several occasions. Each night, there was a musician or another type of performer on at 9pm.The resort, tucked away neatly down a side street, was only a matter of minutes on foot from the buzzy bars and famed ‘music square’ of Corralejo town. It’s an easy walk to an array of different beaches, too, though we generally preferred the relaxed vibes and on-tap fun of being around the pool, which doubled up with the advantage of the buildings offering screening from the island’s famous breeze.If you want to take a day or two further afield, there are plenty of boat trips and excursions on offer.We took a dolphin-spotting trip through TUI Musement (from £132 for a family of four, based on two adults and two children), and we were so glad we did peel ourselves away from the poo. Iit was a mesmerising experience.Put together with the island’s year-round sunny climate and a delightful setting, and in Barceló Corralejo Sands we’ve found a family holiday spot that could easily become a go-to.
Book it
TUI offers a seven-night holiday to Corralejo, Fuerteventura, staying at the 4T Barcelo Corralejo Sands on a half board basis from £847 per person.
The price is based on two adults and two children sharing a Suite with Balcony or Terrace departing with TUI Airways flights from Cardiff on June 6, 2026, with 20kg hold luggage per person and transfers included. To find out more about this holiday or to book go to tui.co.uk, visit your local TUI holiday store, or download the app.
If you fancy leaving later in the year the same trip can be booked for departure on September 19, 2026, from £871 on a half-board basis or £1,086 for all-inclusive.
The surge in jet fuel prices has become a primary concern for the European travel industry, with Lufthansa finding itself at the centre of this crisis.
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According to Lufthansa’s latest earnings report, the airline expects an additional €1.7 billion ($2bn) fuel cost burden in 2026 as soaring jet fuel prices continue to weigh on the industry.
The need to avoid certain airspaces has led to longer flight times, which naturally increases consumption. These adjusted routes also require more staff hours and higher maintenance cycles, adding layers of complexity to an already strained global supply chain.
As reported by Euronews, global airlines have already cancelled approximately 13,000 flights this May, while Lufthansa alone has axed 20,000 short-haul flights through to October in a bid to cut fuel consumption.
This reduction in capacity is a direct response to the unsustainable cost of operating older, less fuel-efficient aircraft during price peaks.
While Lufthansa has managed to stay profitable, the jet fuel price spikes have forced the firm to advise passengers to book their holidays as early as possible to avoid further surcharges.
The company is currently investing heavily in its “fleet modernisation” programme to mitigate these risks in the long term, though the immediate impact of fuel volatility continues to weigh on the balance sheet.
Lufthansa remains committed to its financial targets, but the volatility of the global oil market remains the largest variable in its 2026 outlook.
“We are satisfied with the first quarter […] at the same time, the current situation compels us to rigorously examine every lever available to reduce costs, improve efficiency and mitigate risks in order to maintain our ability to act decisively. Our annual profit will likely be lower than originally anticipated,” CFO Till Streichert stated.
The Lufthansa Group has announced a landmark financial performance, revealing that it generated the highest revenue in its history in 2025. Revenue rose by 5% compared with the previous year to €39.6 billion.
According to the latest figures, the airline group also saw its operating profit grow by 20% compared with 2024, highlighting a robust recovery in passenger demand.
In the first quarter of 2026, year-on-year revenue climbed 8% despite challenges linked to the conflict involving Iran, including €1.7 billion in additional costs caused by volatile jet fuel prices and the suspension of dozens of routes.
The firm kept its capacity broadly stable with slight growth in long-haul traffic compensating for capacity reductions in short and medium-haul segments.
Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo also significantly contributed to earnings with demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul services increasing, as well as through the marketing of ITA Airways’ cargo space.
Global demand for air travel remains high and continues to prove resilient even in times of crisis, as Lufthansa Group again expects a strong summer travel season.
“In the first quarter, we significantly improved on the previous year’s financial results […] but the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, combined with rising fuel costs and operational constraints, poses enormous challenges for the world as a whole, for global air travel and for our company as well,” CEO Carsten Spohr stated.
“However, we are resilient in our ability to absorb these impacts. This applies both to our above-average hedging against fuel price fluctuations and to our multi-hub, multi-airline strategy, which provides us with greater flexibility in our route network and fleet development,” Spohr added.
A BEACH in the UK that has been closed for nearly two decades could soon welcome tourists back.
Newhaven West Beach in Sussex is – bizarrely – owned by French company Newhaven Port and Properties.
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Newhaven is hoping to reopen its beach that was closed by the French in 2008Credit: AlamyThe beach was closed due to being deemed dangerousCredit: Alamy
However, a new bill being backed by parliament could see it force to reopen to both locals and tourists again.
If passed, it would not only see it reopen but would also require them to have safe public walking routes onto the beach where access is allowed.
James MacCleary, local Liberal Democrat MP, said: “West Beach is not just a strip of sand. It is part of Newhaven’s history, its identity and its community life.
“For 17 years, local families – including my own – have been denied access to a beach where generations once swam, played and made memories. That cannot be right.
“My West Beach Bill is about fairness. It is about standing up for a community that has been shut out of its own seafront for far too long.
“Of course safety and harbour operations matter. But they cannot be used forever as a blanket excuse to keep people away from a much-loved public amenity.
The town has direct ferry services to France tooCredit: Alamy
“This is the first parliamentary bill that attempts to put the right of access to West Beach into law. It sends a clear message: Newhaven deserves its beach back. The Government must now adopt this Bill and make it Law”.
IF you are stuck for ideas for the kids this summer, no need to panic…just yelp for help and the heroes of hit kids cartoon Paw Patrol will come to the rescue.
As a mum of three, over the past decade I have watched more than my fair share of the hit Nickelodeon kids show which follows the rescue exploits of a team of talking, cartoon puppies under the supervision of 10-year-old boy Ryder.
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The UK’s first World of Paw Patrol has finally opened at ChessingtonCredit: PAMy family was one of the first to visit and I was surprised how good it was for ALL ages of kids
The new £15million land vibrantly brings to life the cartoon’s world of Adventure Bay making young visitors feel as though they have just stepped directly into the cartoon.
Cleverly designed with little ones in mind, it covers 1.4 acres, although the land manages to have a safe, self-contained feel.
From the trees, to the vehicles, to the models of the characters which populate the land-they all look exactly like they have been transplanted from the show.
And standing, beaconlike at the centre is the iconic Paw Patrol Lookout Tower which famously serves as Pup HQ in the show.
Four brand new rides bring the pup’s adventures to life in thrilling style.
There’s the big rollercoaster ride Chase’s Mountain MissionCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskIt isn’t the most thrilling for older kids but it is the perfect entry level rollercoaste
The World of Paw Patrol’s flagship attraction is Chase’s Mountain Mission, a small scale rollercoaster aimed at younger children (although they still have to be 0.9m tall to ride).
It’s a well thought out experience as children enter the coaster at the bottom of the Lookout Tower via sliding doors – just like in the show where they are then given the sensation of shooting to the top in a lift – again just like in the show.
A video brief on their ‘mission’ tells them the town’s chicken mad and gaff prone Mayor (who ardent viewers know is often the subject of rescue efforts) has been left stranded on a tightrope thanks to a pesky, baguette eating eagle and kids are asked to help.
Young adventurers then emerge at the rollercoaster’s loading station for the ride – while hardly white-knuckle, it has a few bends and zips along at a pace perfect as an entry level rollercoaster for more nervous riders.
But our family favourite Paw Patrol was without doubt Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure.
The orange boats look exactly like they could have floated straight from the show.
Zuma’s Hovercraft Adventure is the first ‘drifter ride’ in the UK
There is a claim to fame here too as it is the UK’s first ‘drifter’ ride meaning it gives the sensation of hovering above ground.
It is super spinney and fast and kids get to pull a leaver in the car to make it rocket out at an angle.
It’s thrilling, kind of like a cross between a bumper car and the fairground waltzer.
Even my eldest son who is 12 wanted to repeatedly ride this one…
Marshall’s Firetruck Rescue sees young thrillseekers whooshed around horizontally, yet fairly gently, in a giant red bus.
“It makes my tummy go funny!” Estella squealed with glee.
And youngsters get to soar high in the sky again above World Of Paw Patrol in soar high in Skye’s dazzling pink helicopters.
At its centre of the land isn’t the rides but ‘Rubble and Rocky’s Playzone.’
All of my kids loved something in the new Paw Patrol themed landFrom my five-year-old to my 12-year-old – they were all impressed
This is a gloriously, undulating and colourful play areas where younger visitors can explore Adventure Bay on their own terms.
They can crawl through tunnels, barrel down mini slides and clamber around the familiar sites from the show like Rocky’s waste truck and Captain Turbot’s Sea Patroller.
There is also a cute designated snack stand serving Paw Patrol branded treats and, of course, the obligatory gift shop – but parents beware, because boy what a gift shop it is!
For pup mad kids it will be heaven with aisles and aisles of every piece of Paw Patrol merchandise you can think of, including an entire wall of soft toy versions of the characters.
Each room sleeps up to two adults and three children.
Don’t forget to try the Paw Patrol themed hotel rooms tooCredit: Chris Read-Jones/Chessington World Of Adventures
Young ones would no doubt happily spend all day in World of Paw Patrol, but if course entry price also gives you free reign of all that Chessington has to offer including animal attractions, shows and brilliant thrill rides.
So for a family like mine, with kids spanning in age from 5 to 12, it offers a great day out with something for everyone.
What could be more Pawsome than that?
Tickets to Chessington start from £32pp while PAW Patrol hotel stays start from £155 for a family of four (including breakfast, early ride access and bronze fast-track pass)
THIS stunning Irish island has rugged coastal walks, homemade goat’s cheese and some of the best wildlife spotting in the country.
Cape Clear Island lies just eight miles off the coast of West Cork and is Ireland’s most southerly inhabited Gaeltacht island.
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Visitors can only get to the island by ferryCredit: AlamyCape Clear has a stunning, rugged coastlineCredit: Alamy
Visitors can reach the remote spot by ferry from Baltimore, with the journey taking around 40 minutes.
The island is known for its sparkling waters, dramatic coastline and wildlife-filled seas, where dolphins, whales and basking sharks can often be spotted.
And once on land, visitors can explore walking trails, visit the famous goat farm or enjoy a pint and a bite to eat before catching the ferry home.
Ferry tickets to the remote island start at just €9 for children’s tickets.
There are tours of the Fastnet Rock LighthouseCredit: Cape clear ferriesReturn tickets for adults to the island start at €20Credit: Hopkins Communications -Miki Barlok
Cape Clear Island is three miles long and one mile wide.
As a Gaeltacht island, the majority of people living there speak Irish, or Gaeilge.
Adult return tickets from Baltimore to Cape Clear cost €20, while children’s tickets cost €9.
There are also special family packages, including two adults and two children, for €50 return.
The island is a popular destination during the summer months with secondary school students looking to improve their Irish language skills on immersion courses.
The hillsides are covered in heather, gorse and other wildflowers, while the water sparkles beneath.
While on the ferry, passengers have a good chance of spotting wildlife beneath the waves.
Dolphins, basking sharks and even whales are known to frequent the waters surrounding Cape Clear.
From higher ground on the island, harmless basking sharks can often be seen lazily gliding through the waters close to shore.
And a number of companies provide boat tours specifically for dolphin and whale watching.
GOAT FARM
Once you’re on the island, there’s plenty to do to keep busy — including visiting the Cape Clear Goat Farm, or Cléire Goats.
The quaint farm was established in 1979 and is located near the Cape Clear Heritage Centre.
Visitors can meet the friendly goats and try delicious homemade goat’s cheese and ice cream.
And if visitors attend the farm between 10am and 12pm, they’ll get a chance to see the goats being milked.
There’s also the main heritage centre, the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, which can be toured, and a world-renowned birdwatching observatory to visit.
There are also plenty of places to go for a paddle in the sea, or to kayak further out.
And on land, there are a number of walking routes that allow visitors to explore every inch of the island’s beauty.
FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION
Cape Clear has a small number of restaurants and bars that provide hearty meals and drinks.
There’s a farmers’ market every Sunday, a small grocery shop and a tourist shop.
Many people who visit the island choose to do a day trip, arriving on the ferry in the morning and leaving again in the evening.
But for those hoping to stay overnight, there are some accommodation options.
There are a few apartments, cottages and houses to rent.
There is also the Chléire Haven glamping site, which is a family-friendly camping site open from April to September.
There’s the Ard na Gaoithe B&B, which provides an early breakfast for guests and encourages Irish speaking.
RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has made the headlines today, calling for an early-morning ban on airports serving alcohol to passengers.
He’s calling for the big change following a rise in badly behaved passengers that have caused flights forced to divert.
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Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital) says banning airport bars from serving any booze outside of normal UK licensing hours – typically from around 10 or 11am – seems pretty unfair
He told The Times: “It’s becoming a real challenge for all airlines
“I fail to understand why anybody in airports bars is serving people at five or six o’clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?
“There should be no alcohol served at airports outside [those] licensing hours,” he said. “We have been calling for many years for a limit of two drinks per person per airport, why don’t you limit people by boarding pass?”
So should we be banning morning beers at UK airports? Our travel experts go head to head…
‘Please don’t deny hard-working Brits this small holiday pleasure’ says Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
AIRPORT breakfast beers are one of those quirky British traditions, much like the Wetherspoons table number game and the dirty birthday pint.
It is pretty much guaranteed that you will see a number of sleepy-eyed Brits sinking a lager at the airport pub, no matter what time of day you arrive.
While I personally can’t stomach a drink before midday, I’m also not a fan of telling hard-working Brits how they can spend their precious seven days of holiday that they’ve been saving for all year.
Michael O’Leary has long called for there to be a two-drink limit on people drinking at airports and that is something that feels like a reasonable compromise to me.
But to ban airport bars from serving any booze outside of normal UK licensing hours – typically from around 10 or 11am – seems pretty unfair when passengers can still buy a drink on the actual Ryanair flight.
Pubs are under a huge amount of financial stress these days, thanks to a raft of anti-hospitality measures introduced by our current chancellor, Rachel Reeves.
Add to this the fact that pubs pay an extremely high rent for their airport locations, do we want to see boozers also disappearing from here too?
I’m not sure that cutting out morning drinking will see the solution to the problem that airlines are clearly having such a huge issue with, because it won’t have any effect on the thousands of flights that fly out of the UK post-midday.
I’ve been on more late-evening Ryanair flights to Ibiza than I care to remember, when I have deep sympathy for the cabin crew serving very rowdy passengers.
Mr O’Leary has been in the industry for a long time, in fact he’s one of the most experienced airline bosses in the business, and we should be listening when he says it’s a huge problem that needs sorting.
But banning the small joy of a breakfast beer in these stressful modern times, with everything that’s going on in the world? Please no.
Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey says that without airports willing to put a cap in place, more drastic measures are needed
‘More drastic measures are needed’ says Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
LOOK, I get it – you finally got that time off work, and you’re ready for a week of sunshine and relaxing.
But it has forever baffled me as to how that translates to a pint of beer or glass of champagne at 6am when normally you wouldn’t even be awake.
I can’t think of anything worse than sinking a Guinness when I’m waiting for my flight, and certainly don’t want that sloshing around in my stomach before a long journey.
If people could restrain themselves then a ban wouldn’t be needed but sadly, without airports willing to put a cap in place, it seems more drastic measures are needed.
Haven’t we all been on that awful flight where rowdy passengers just make it worse for everyone?
With Ryanair saying that as many as a flight a day are being diverted, those costs are likely to be passed onto the passenger too.
So those drunken idiots are essentially going to make your flight more expensive.
Maybe a full ban is too far, but I would say that a drink limit is definitely needed.
I’d back airports being required to scan boarding passes, with a cap on 1-2 boozy beverages before you get on a plane.
Lets save it for the all-inclusive pool bar, guys.
Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which has a suspected hantavirus outbreak onboard, was due to set sail from Cape Verde for the Canary Islands on Wednesday after Spain agreed to allow passengers and crew to disembark there. File Photo by Elton Monteiro/EPA
May 6 (UPI) — A cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak onboard that has killed at least three people and sickened more was due to set sail for the Canary Islands on Wednesday after Spain agreed to allow passengers and crew to disembark there.
The Spanish Health Ministry said in a post on X that it had agreed to “host the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands in compliance with International Law and humanitarian spirit” at the request of the World Health Organization and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
It was believed that 14 Spanish citizens are among the 149 British, American and passengers from 20 other countries stranded aboard the Dutch-flagged vessel which is at anchor off the main Santiago island of Cape Verde which on Monday said it would not allow the Hondius to dock on “public health protection” grounds.
The ministry didn’t say to which port in the islands the Hondius was headed but said it would depart Cape Verde upon completion of “a thorough examination of the ship” by ECDC officials to identify those who needed to be urgently evacuated from the ship for emergency medical care.
The BBC reported two crew members, including the ship’s British doctor, and a passenger were due to be transferred to the Canary Islands by air ambulance.
“The specific port has not yet been determined. Once there, crew and passengers will be properly examined, treated, and transferred to their respective countries. The process will be carried out using a common case and contact management protocol developed by the WHO and the ECDC, and will have all the necessary safety guarantees,” said the Spanish health ministry.
“Both medical care and transfers will be carried out in special spaces and transports specifically set up for this situation, avoiding all contact with the local population and ensuring the safety of healthcare personnel at all times,” it added.
However, it was unclear if the ship would be permitted to dock in the Canaries after the island’s president, Fernando Clavijo, posted on X on Wednesday that he would not allow the Hondius to enter without “sufficient information” to guarantee the safety of residents.
“Today I have requested a meeting with [Spanish] President [Pedro] Sanchez due to the lack of coordination and information regarding the cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak. The Canaries always acts with responsibility, but it cannot accept decisions taken behind the backs of the Canary Islands institutions and without sufficient information to the population,” he wrote.
Two passengers died during the Hondius’ five-week Antarctica-South Atlantic cruise and the wife of one of the deceased died in Johannesburg en route back to her home in the Netherlands. She and a 69-year-old Briton, who is being treated in hospital in South Africa, are confirmed hantavirus infection cases.
World Health Organization officials said Tuesday said there may have been human-to-human transmission of the virus as they had identified it as the South American Andes strain which, while it originates from rodent droppings in common with other Hantavirus variants, can jump between humans through close direct contact.
Prices for the Oceanwide Expeditions cruise, which starts from Ushuaia in Argentina, the world’s southernmost city, taking in the Antarctic Peninsula and the islands of South Georgia, St. Helena and Cape Verde, start from $19,025.
Wreathes are seen amongst the statues at the Korean War Veterans Memorial during Memorial Day weekend in Washington on May 27, 2023. Memorial Day, which honors U.S. military personnel who died while in service, is held on the last Monday of May. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Primm Valley Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing, according to a termination notice sent to employees on Tuesday.
An email to Primm Valley Resorts owner Affinity Gaming was not immediately returned.
Primm Valley was the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.
In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”
Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity Gaming, is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.
The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.
Lights glow on the Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino sign on July 6, 2025, in Primm, Nev.
The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”
As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.
Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.
Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.
Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.
The UK Government has relaxed a rule for airlines which could see some summer flights dropped to save jet fuel
Flight services could be consolidated at no penalty to airlines(Image: Jackyenjoyphotography via Getty Images)
Travellers could find their UK flights rescheduled as the Government relaxes a particular rule that airlines rarely risk breaking. Holiday-makers should be aware that their plans may be changed to avoid journeys that would result in “wasted fuel”.
Transport Department officials say airlines may consider scrapping certain services following the introduction of a temporary rule change that allows carriers to merge flights and combine passengers. The idea is meant to cut the total number of aircraft departing, aiming to preserve jet fuel and provide holidaymakers with reassurance that trips won’t be cancelled altogether.
Rather than axing flights at short notice, the idea is to “reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes”. To maximise the use of airport departures, airlines would reassess their schedules and could transfer passengers from under-booked services that haven’t sold a decent proportion of seats onto similar flights.
The Government claims these “contingency preparations” are meant to “give families greater confidence when travelling this summer”. While airlines have always been able to cancel and rebook flights, doing so typically came with a future risk to their business, reports the Express.
Addressing the update, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems. There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.
“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”
The measures being considered by the government go further by enabling airlines to plan ahead and act on the most reliable information available on fuel supply or the wider ramifications of the Middle East conflict, rather than waiting for shortages to materialise. The government remains engaged in planning for various contingencies to boost flexibility around jet fuel supply, and domestic jet fuel production has risen. The UK sources jet fuel from multiple countries that don’t rely on the Strait, including the United States.
Explaining how flight consolidation works, TikTok user and travel specialist Kate Donnelly (@Thedonnellyedit) said: “If an airline has four flights operating to the same destination across a day, they might look at them and see two are half empty, so they might combine them and cancel one of those flights altogether. This would mean they are obviously saving on the amount of jet fuel they are using and overall cost.”
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If a flight experiences a significant delay, passengers are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink and overnight accommodation where necessary. Generally, delays that warrant this include at least two hours for short-haul, three hours for medium-haul and four hours for long-haul.
Rob Bishton, chief executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur. Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.
“Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.”
If the airline cancels your flight, you’re legally entitled to a choice between being rerouted or receiving a refund. Find out more about your rights following a flight cancellation here.
A PASSPORT rule you might not be aware of could be set to ruin your holiday this year. With summer about to kick off, millions of Brits will be preparing to jet off on a sun-soaked getaway abroad. But there is one passport rule that could stop you entering certain countries that you may have…
People heading to Yosemite to escape urban congestion fumed this weekend as they waited in a seemingly endless line of cars at the park entrance.
Inside, they circled aimlessly around full parking lots, scanning for empty spots instead of majestic views.
Near the summit of Half Dome, on the infamous steel cables hikers use to ascend the final stretch of bare granite, another traffic jam formed, trapping people hundreds of feet in the air, according to social media posts.
Even before the summer rush, California’s most visited national park is seeing big crowds — the most people in a decade, according to National Park System data.
Critics of the free-for-all are blaming the influx on the Trump administration for abandoning a reservation requirement that, for the last few years, has helped control the number of visitors and preserve a sense of natural tranquility.
California’s nine national parks drew a record 12 million visitors in 2025, up more than 800,000 from the previous record set in 2019. Yosemite accounted for more than a quarter of those visits.
This year, the pace continues, with more than half a million visits to Yosemite so far. In March, the park recorded 236,000 visits, up more than 45% from the same month a year earlier.
Yosemite National Park is enormous, covering more than 1,100 square miles on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Even at the height of summer, an adventurous soul willing to hike a bit can spend weeks in the park and rarely see another person.
But Yosemite’s most famous and Instagrammable vistas — the towering, 3,000-foot granite wall of El Capitan, the thundering spectacles of Yosemite and Bridalveil falls — can be enjoyed from parking lots and picnic benches in the relatively cramped confines of Yosemite Valley.
Visitors don’t even have to get out of their cars to gaze in wide-eyed wonder at sights they will probably remember for the rest of their lives.
And that’s the problem.
Traffic in the valley, especially on summer weekends, had become legendary by the end of the 2010s, inspiring think pieces with headlines such as “Inside Yosemite’s Traffic Meltdown” and “The Siege of Yosemite Valley.”
In June 2020, to limit crowds in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the park introduced a controversial system requiring a reservation before entering.
That left a lot of would-be visitors frustrated, but those lucky enough to snag a reservation were treated to the most peaceful, serene Yosemite Valley experience in years.
Since then, the reservation system has been tweaked repeatedly as administrators searched for a sweet spot between welcoming more visitors and retaining the peace of the great outdoors.
In February, the Trump administration, which had already slashed the national park system’s staff by about 25%, scrapped the reservation system and replaced it with “targeted management” of crowds.
“We are committed to visitor access, safety, and resource protection, and will continue active traffic management strategies to ensure a great visitor experience,” Yosemite Supt. Ray McPadden said at the time. “While reservation systems are one valuable management tool, our data demonstrates that a season-wide reservation requirement is not the most effective approach for the coming season.”
A crowd of tourists gather to take pictures of the Yosemite Valley on March 23, 2025, in Yosemite National Park.
(George Rose / Getty Images)
But the new approach is already getting harsh reviews, and the busy season hasn’t even begun.
During “Firefall” in February — an annual phenomenon when sunlight lands on the water cascading from Horsetail Fall, making it glow orange and red, like molten lava — the crowds were reportedly nightmarish.
“I spent over an hour stuck in traffic leaving the park, and exiting felt more like leaving a major sporting event than it did visiting a national park,” Mark Rose, a senior program manager for the National Parks Conservation Assn., a nonprofit devoted to protecting the park system, wrote in a blog post.
“I saw an ambulance stuck in standstill traffic announcing over a megaphone for pedestrians and vehicles to move out of the way,” Rose wrote. “The views were incredible, but I don’t think I’d ever go back without a reservation system in place.”
It left Rose worried about a return to the bad old days of Yosemite traffic, when visitors would wait forever just to get to the gate, pay the $35 entrance fee and then run into road blocks, with signs turning them away because the valley was too crowded.
“That was not an unusual situation,” Rose said. “To wait in line for close to two hours to get into the park and then just be stuck driving around for hours trying to find any parking at any location within the park.”
Over the weekend, the wait in traffic to simply get through the park entrance was an hour and a half, according to Lorena Calvillo from Fresno, who posted pictures and video of the traffic on Yosemite National Park’s official Facebook page.
And once she got in?
“Gridlock. Cars everywhere. People everywhere. No parking. No space,” Calvillo wrote.
“This all comes right after the reservation system was lifted … and honestly, it showed,” she added. “Officials were literally telling people to avoid the Valley.”
Another visitor, Richard Smekal, posted about the conga line of climbers who packed onto the cables leading to the Half Dome summit. He shared a photo of the cables empty when he arrived at 9 a.m., and another taken two hours later.
“After I got down, I turned around and took the second photo,” he wrote. “The line was a continuous stream of people, barely moving — basically at a standstill.”
The cables can be deadly, especially in thunderstorms, when they become a slippery lightning rod. Being stuck there in a human traffic jam is a nightmare many experienced hikers and climbers would do anything to avoid.
A spokesperson for Yosemite did not respond to requests for comment.
Traffic is at a standstill on the Yosemite Valley floor in the summer of 2017 while a bus lane is empty and off-limits to visitors at Yosemite National Park.
IF you’re dreaming of a week away somewhere hot and sunny for a price that won’t break the bank – we’ve got you covered.
We’ve rounded up some of the most affordable holiday deals to Turkey online, so you can book yourself a break to look forward to without worrying about your wallet.
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We’ve found holidays to Antalya from £359ppCredit: Getty
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.”
Book an all-inclusive summer break to Marmaris in Turkey for just £547ppCredit: Alamy
Piccolo Dream Hotel, Marmaris
This adults-only hotel in Marmaris has two large freshwater pools, a gym, spa offering massage treatments, sauna and Turkish bath to enjoy.
When you get peckish, there’s a buffet restaurant with a range of international foods, plus a pool bar to grab a snack – all part of your all-inclusive package.
There’s a golden beach right on your doorstep, plus out in Marmaris you can hop on day boat trips, hike through caves and stroll along the picturesque Marina overlooked by Marmaris Castle.
Jet2 offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from June 28, including return flights from London Luton, from £547pp.
Villa Sonata Hotel, Alanya
Villa Sonata Hotel in Alanya is a colourful hotel with a pretty pool and relaxing spaCredit: Villa Sonata Hotel
This colourful hotel in sunny Alanya is decorated with blooming pink flowers, lush greenery and a bright blue pool surrounded by pretty yellow sun loungers.
Here you’re only a short walk from the beach, but there’s plenty to enjoy on the resort too – such as a sauna and Turkish bath, as well as a rooftop restaurant with sweeping views.
In popular seasons, the hotel also offer live music and folklore nights once a week.
On the Beach offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from June 11, including return flights from London Gatwick, from £455pp.
Vikingen Infinity Hotel, Antalya
The Vikingen Infinity Hotel in Antalya is a five-star holiday resort with plenty to do for familiesCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Bag a last-minute May half term holiday at this five-star mega resort in sunny Antalya, Turkey.
This massive family-friendly hotel has its own private beach, plus a massive outdoor pool and water park with plenty of thrilling waterslides.
For the grown-ups, there’s a large spa with a sauna, hammam and treatments such as massages on offer.
While prices per person can peak to £1,100+ during the summer holidays, you can bag a last-minute bargain for £689pp during the May half term.
Loveholidays offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from 24 May, including return flights from East Midlands, from £689pp.
Serenis Hotel, Side
You could bag a week’s all-inclusive stay at the Serenis Hotel in Side for just £479ppCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The Serenis Hotel is a sight to behold with a large building holding 358 rooms, a huge outdoor pool, and rainbow-coloured waterslides.
There’s a kids club and daily children’s entertainment program to keep little ones entertained, and when you fancy a family outing, there’s loads of historical sites on your doorstep including Roman ruins.
You can book a last-minute, all-inclusive stay during the May half term for a very affordable rate.
Loveholidays offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from 25 May, including return flights from Glasgow, from £479pp.
Amon Hotel Belek, Antalya
Amon Hotel Belek in Antalya is an all-inclusive option for adults onlyCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
This four-star, adults-only slice of paradise is set in sunny Belek and backed by beautiful pine forests.
Take your pick between the two outdoor pools or the indoor option, and make the most of the spa, sauna, steam room and 24-hour gym.
The spacious rooms come with balconies, flatscreen TVs and large comfy beds.
You’re well-located here, too, with bars, restaurants and even golf courses within 5 minutes’ driving distance.
Loveholidays offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from 8 June, including return flights from London Gatwick, for £359pp.
Smart Voxx Resort Marmaris
The Smart Voxx Resort Marmaris has a giant shimmering pool and two waterslidesCredit: On the Beach
The Smart Voxx Resort Marmaris offers everything you’d need for a classic all-inclusive break.
Plunge into the pool or zip down the waterslides, or simply kick back on the striped loungers to soak up the rays on the sun terrace.
There’s a large buffet restaurant serving up all your meals and snacks throughout the day, as well as a lobby and poolside bar where you can unwind with an ice-cold drink.
And if you fancy an afternoon coffee and pastry, head to the on-site Patisserie for a pick-me-up treat.
On the Beach offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from 9 June, including return flights from London Gatwick, for £480pp.
Belpoint Beach Hotel, Beldibi
The Belpoint Beach Hotel in Beldibi is an affordable option from £329 for a week’s stayCredit: NC
The Belpoint Beach Hotel sits at the base of the scenic Toros Mountains, meaning at this resort you’re surrounded by vibrant plants and dramatic views.
The outdoor swimming pool has its own aqua park, and plenty of loungers to laze on surrounding it – there’s also a kids pool for the little ones here, too.
When the sun goes down, make sure to head to the evening disco to show off some moves – all-inclusive cocktail in hand, of course.
Loveholidays offer a 7-night all-inclusive stay from 1 July, including return flights from London Gatwick, for £329pp.
The Department for Transport has announced it is consulting on major changes for holidays
07:40, 06 May 2026Updated 07:41, 06 May 2026
Rules are being changed for flights this summer which could see people shifted onto different aircraft on the same day at totally different times with no penalty to the airline(Image: PA)
Concerns have been raised about potential changes which will mean the end of a ‘14-day rule’ this summer with flights being changed or cancelled at the last minute. The Department for Transport has announced it is consulting on major changes to holidays amid uncertainties about jet fuel supplies as the Middle East crisis continues with no end in sight.
With intense pressure on jet fuel widely tipped to cause travel problems this summer, the government announced over the weekend that airlines will be allowed to group passengers from different flights onto fewer planes. This means that at the last minute, people could be switched to a different flight.
The DfT says it will help cut the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations this summer in the event of significant disruption due to ongoing global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict. It lets carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, British Airways, Wizz Air UK, and TUI, consolidate flights on routes where there are multiple trips to the same destination on the same day.
However, consumer experts said that currently, passengers are protected by a 14-day rule, and it’s ‘not fair’ for people to be shifted at the last minute to suit airlines without compensation. Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel said: “Millions of Britons will have already booked their flights for this summer, often paying over the odds for flights at peak times.
“Existing rules already allow airlines to move customers to new flights so long as they give them more than 14 days’ notice and offer the choice between a new flight or a refund. It’s only for cancellations within 14 days that compensation is payable, rightly.
“It’s not fair for the rules to now be bent in favour of airlines and potentially leave passengers holding the bill. Many passengers will understand that disruptions can occur and may be happy to travel a few hours or a day later, but for those on short trips or connecting flights it could mean the trip is no longer worthwhile.
Conservatives say it could see passengers “herded on to a different plane, at a time of the airline’s choosing”. The DfT says, however, that the measure is designed to give passengers “greater confidence” by helping airlines to lock in their schedules earlier.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, adds: “There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.
“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses.”
The Department for Transport said the measures would:
help move passengers onto similar services much earlier, helping avoid stressful delays at the airport
prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets
reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes
Current rules
If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you have a legal right to a choice between being re-routed or a refund. If a flight is subject to a significant delay – at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul – passengers are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink and overnight accommodation where necessary.
Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur.
“Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.
“Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.”
If notified of changes to their flights by airlines, passengers are advised to speak to their airline, travel agent or tour operator in the first instance.
An all-you-can-eat restaurant in Spain is introducing a “vomit fee” for diners who eat until they are sick on the premises. Sushi Toro, located in Gelves near Sevilla, said it had experienced a growing number of incidents in recent months involving customers “eating until they burst” and then vomiting.
The restaurant said the problem had affected tables and bathrooms, creating difficulties for staff and raising concerns over hygiene and customer service. In a statement shared on social media, restaurant staff said: “We have had many customers who keep ordering non-stop and eat until they burst, until they vomit. We have had vomit on the tables and in the bathrooms.”
They added that “the only solution” was to start charging vomiting fees. The restaurant, which promotes a fusion of “tradition and innovation”, offers a buffet menu featuring dishes prepared using fresh ingredients and specialist techniques. Prices range from €16.90 (£14.40) to €23.90 (£20.30), depending on the day and time of dining.
Sushi Toro bosses said their staff “strive hard to get orders out on time and maintain good hygiene” throughout all service periods. They urged diners to “order what you can eat” and apologised for any inconvenience caused by the new policy.
Demand for sushi has been surging in Spain in recent years, with diners increasingly opting for Asian seafood dishes over traditional Spanish fish fare.
In the south-west of Munich, Schlachthofviertel is an area in flux; a jarring district that is home to a theatre, a techno club and a controversial active slaughterhouse.
In the 1870s, after the final cholera epidemic in Munich, a municipal slaughterhouse (Schlachthof) was built on what was then the outskirts of the city as part of a wider effort to improve hygiene standards. Although it is still in use today, the site has dramatically decreased in capacity, and creative entrepreneurs have been quick to see the potential of unused spaces.
In 2021, the Münchner Volkstheater (People’s Theatre) moved to the area, bringing a new cultural status and sparking fears of accelerated gentrification. For me, it’s a part of town I go to for a change of scene or just a loaf of double-baked rye bread. In summer, the open-air spaces come out of hibernation and show a much edgier side to Munich.
Where to eat and drink
Today, butcher’s shops and cult dive bars sit side by side. There has been a flurry of openings; my favourite recent addition is the female-run Mari on Adlzreiterstraße, the street Albert Einstein lived on for much of his childhood. The airy cafe serves a late breakfast, including a Korean option of marinated tofu and miso mayonnaise.
The Brotatelier bakery operates from a shipping container, and bakers use equipment on wheels to maximise the limited space. From the cinnamon buns to the French fougasse bread, all products are prepared with sourdough. “Everybody has time here; we haven’t had a single customer who was stressed or anything like that,” says co-founder Christof Teriete, whose bigger concern is the impact of the fluctuating container temperatures on the sourdough starters.
For drinks, start at Frisches Bier, run by craft brewer Tilman Ludwig. He has his own beers on tap, along with a small selection of other independent labels, such as Bierol from Tirol and Hoppebräu from southern Bavaria.
‘It’s not about comfort, it’s about maximum inspiration.’ Photograph: Fabian Christ
Cultural experiences
On one side of Zenettistraße is the decommissioned cattle market (Viehhof). The red brick walls are now home to the Volkstheater. Launched with a production of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II, the diverse programme includes the Radikal jung festival, focused on emerging directors, and the U20 Poetry Slam, which invites young writers to present their work.
Next door is Bahnwärter Thiel, the heart of Munich’s underground scene, were graffitied shipping containers and the occasional caravan provide studios for DJs, artists, potters, goldsmiths, bakers (see above) and non-profits. “There’s no central heating or running water in the containers,” says Kati Legge from female creative office High Five, “but it’s not about comfort, it’s about maximum inspiration and the fascinating people around you.”
Raised garden beds add touches of green and upcycled materials are used for sculptures and makeshift walkways. There’s also a bar in an old tram, a restaurant in a train carriage and a techno club open till 6am weekends.
The Viehhof, the city’s decommissioned cattle market, is now home to the Volkstheater. Photograph: Sport Press Photo/Alamy
Where to shop
Rindchen’s Weinkontor has a huge selection of wine stored in a roomy, listed building. At Moss Concept Store on Thalkirchner Straße you’ll find ceramics, glassware and other home accessories.
Don’t miss
Actually quite hard to miss is Alte Utting, a former passenger ship that’s now a bar and event space that fills the length of a bridge over Lagerhausstraße. Destined for the scrapyard after years of service on Ammersee, it was rescued and relocated in 2017 by Wannda, the people behind Bahnwärter Thiel.
Where to stay
There’s little tourist accommodation in Schlachthofviertel, but there are hotels close to the nearby Oktoberfest site. Cocoon Theresienwiese has doubles from around €80 room-only.
A British expat made a huge life decision and uprooted her life from the UK for a fresh start in Australia, yet there were a few things that caught her by suprise
Cat Scully moved to Australia in 2021(Image: Handout)
After making a mammoth move to Australia, a British expat has revealed the five things that no one tells you.
Cat Scully, 31, was searching for a better work-life balance and outdoor lifestyle, so she made the brave decision to uproot her life from Newcastle and move to Australia in 2021. After initially exploring Western Australia, Cat settled on Perth, thanks to its slower pace and diverse landscapes of white-sand beaches, rolling hills, and urban city life.
It’s been five years since the mega move, and Cat has settled into her new life and is even an official Australian after her citizenship was approved. She’s settled down with her husband, and the pair spend evenings at the beach and weekends exploring the surrounding areas.
Yet moving to the other side of the world and uphauling her lifestyle hasn’t always been easy, with the project manager revealing what caught her off guard after taking the leap across the globe. Speaking to 1st Move International, the removals specialists to Australia, Cat said that anyone who makes the move will become a morning person, something she has adapted to.
“Most of my social plans are now built around early mornings, meeting for a walk, a beach dip or breakfast at 7:30 or 8 am. Everyone’s keen to get out and start their day early, generally before it gets too hot,” she said.
And when it comes to coffee for those early starts, there’s an extensive collection to choose from, which naturally turns expats into a renowned coffee snob without realising. “Even your standard coffee shop does an amazing coffee, and for a fraction of what you’d pay in the UK. You very quickly stop settling for anything less,” Cat revealed.
Thanks to Australia’s warm climate, there’s an abundance of avocados available, something Cat applauds as part of her new Australian life. “Avocados are everywhere here! It’s often 2 for $5 (£2.65) and they’re huge and really good quality. Even other groceries feel different; some things are more expensive, but avocados are definitely cheaper than in the UK and feature on loads of breakfast menus,” the 31-year-old said.
While the UK is dreary and dark during the winter months, Cat said that those who make the move will make the most of evenings and weekends. She said: “After work, it’s so normal to head straight to the beach for sunset, go for an alfresco dinner, run along the river, or even just jump in the car on a Friday and head into the bush for a weekend trip. You really make the most of your time in a different way.”
And it appears Cat has already forgotten what life was like back in the UK. “I can barely remember what it was like when it got dark at 4 pm in winter, or that really fast-paced UK lifestyle. Life just feels more outdoors, more stretched out, and a lot more balanced here,” she revealed.
Since making the move, Cat documents her life in Australia on her YouTube channel, sharing the realities of living on the other side of the world, alongside weekend adventures to places like Fremantle and Melbourne.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
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The island is beautiful and chilled out(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A beautiful island with crystal clear waters and impeccable vibes has been named the most relaxed place for a holiday.
It’s a mad old world out there at the moment. And during mad old times, heading to a hectic, vibrant, crowd-filled holiday destination may not be at the top of everyone’s list.
If you’re looking for somewhere where the pace is slow and the atmosphere is calm, then Alonissos is the place.
The Greek island is known for its tranquil atmosphere, exceptionally clear waters, and the chance to explore Europe’s largest marine protected area. As the most remote of the Northern Sporades islands, it offers an authentic, laid-back experience far from the bustling crowds of nearby Skiathos.
The travel experts at Solmar Villas analysed over 160 global destinations to crown Alonissos as the most relaxing places for a chilled-out summer holiday in 2026, noting its lack of crowds, beautiful nature, the slow pace of life and its lovely climate.
Melissa, a travel blogger, recently visited the island and fell in love with it. She wrote: “Alonissos is one of those places you feel. It ended up being my favourite of the three islands I visited. It’s quiet, a little wild, totally underrated. Out of all the Sporades islands, it’s the furthest out, which probably explains why it’s still kind of a hidden gem. It’s way less touristic and definitely more laid back than islands like Mykonos. No cruise ship crowds, no overpriced cocktails. I paid on average 9€ for my Aperol Spritz, where in Mykonos, that’s gonna cost double.”
What to do in Alonissos?
First and foremost, time spent in Alonissos is best spent relaxing, kicking back on the beach and dreamily gazing into the middle distance. But if you do feel the need to do something, there is plenty to choose from. Including:
National Marine Park: A 2,200 km/sq haven for biodiversity, home to the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).
You can take boat tours to uninhabited islets like Kyra Panagia, which features a 12th-century monastery.
World-class diving and snorkelling: Alonissos is home to the “Parthenon of Shipwrecks” at Peristera, Greece’s first underwater museum, where divers can view thousands of ancient amphorae at 30m depth. The water is so clear that visibility can reach up to 50 metres.
The charming old town of Chora: Perched on a hilltop with 360° views, the postcard-perfect Old Town was painstakingly restored after a 1965 earthquake and is filled with cobbled alleys and flowering balconies.
Its pristine beaches: Agios Dimitrios, striking “horn-shaped” pebble beach with vivid turquoise water, Kokkinokastro, known for its dramatic red cliffs and deep blue sea, and Chrisi Milia: The island’s only golden sandy beach, featuring shallow waters ideal for families.
Eco-tourism and nature: The island is a magnet for hikers, with over 40 km of signposted trails that lead through dense pine forests and olive groves to secluded bays. Alonissos is also a pioneer in sustainability, being one of the first Greek islands to go plastic-bag-free.
The findings revealed that Greece stands out as the best country to visit for relaxation in 2026, with destinations across the Greek islands and mainland dominating the rankings. In fact, 70% of the top 10 destinations are located in Greece, highlighting the country’s strong appeal for travellers seeking a more peaceful summer holiday this year.
There is no airport on Alonissos. To get there you need to travel by ferry from the nearest airports, which are on Skiathos (2.5 hrs by ferry) or at mainland Volos (3-4.5 hours by ferry). You can also fly to Athens or Thessaloniki and continue via internal flight or ferry.