travel

“Do you have an extra ticket?” a man shouted outside SoFi Stadium last Thursday.

The World Cup has been drawing fans from around the globe. But for many, getting a seat in the stadium has come at a steep price.

Some were lucky enough to nab $400 to $500 tickets through official World Cup lotteries, others paid thousands of dollars to catch the action IRL. Tickets for the upcoming USA versus Turkey match were selling for more than $1,400 on resale sites.

The demand has been so high that authorities have been warning fans about how to avoid ticket scams.

As crowds flocked into the stadium, we asked attendees about how much they paid to get into the most-watched sporting event in the world. Here’s what they shared.

Their responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellano, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera of Orange County

Luis Moreno, Luis Moreno Jr., Angelica Castellanos, Diana Moreno and Ramon Aguilera sport Mexico gear.

How much did you pay for your tickets?

Diana: We don’t want to say because I don’t want our parents to know.

*Whispers* We paid retail. It was like $500 per ticket. For Father’s Day, we wanted to make sure he got to enjoy it.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Castellano: We went in ‘86 in Mexico, ‘94 in Pasadena and now here. We’re excited because I want to enjoy it with my kids. If we didn’t come, I would’ve been sad because they need to see how it is.

Diana: Now, it’s our turn. Even though [today’s match] is not our country, we still had to come and experience it. We’ll watch our team play later on the big screen.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Diana: Work, but that doesn’t matter. This is more important. Time with family.

Luis Jr.: Sleep. [Laughs]

Diana: It’s Thursday. We’re out here watching the game, we’re drinking, so there’s no complaints.

Was it worth it?

Diana: Absolutely. No matter what happens today. The fact that we’re here, it’s already a success.

Tell me about your outfit. You’re rocking Paisaboys, an L.A. brand.

Diana: I got the Paisaboys shirt on, repping. I know they have a collaboration with Nike. I got my Nike shoes on and I’m just ready to have a good time. My mom sewed her top last night. She wanted to add a little touch to it.

Angelica: Yes! This is an old, old, old jacket.

Diana: My dad’s outfit is sponsored by me. All Adidas, Father’s Day gift.

Luis Sr.: I got lucky this year.

Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell of Washington, D.C.

Adam Chapman and Sarah Harrell.

How much did you pay for tickets?

Harrell: We went to two games: USA versus Paraguay [in Los Angeles] and Senegal versus France in New Jersey/New York.

Chapman: The L.A. tickets were way more expensive. We bought them presale for like $1,940, but the [seats] were still very high in the arena and the resale prices are actually cheaper than the ones we bought on presale. It’s horrible. [Laughs]

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

Chapman: This is my first men’s World Cup. I went to the women’s World Cup in Australia a couple years ago. The last time the U.S. had a men’s World Cup here was like forever ago. We’re probably not going to have another in our lifetime, so I really wanted to make sure we had a chance to go to some games.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Harrell: We’re moving the day we get back, so we were packing until the moment we got here. Some of this gear was last-minute purchasing in order to make that work. Also, we took a six-hour plane ride, middle seats. We really committed to get here. We got cat sitters, we both took days off from work, the whole thing.

Was it worth it?

Chapman: Yeah, just for the experience. It’s more money than we would’ve wanted to pay but yeah.

Harrell: We bought the tickets like a year and a half ago, so it’s been on the calendar forever. We ended up getting to bring my brother and his best friend to celebrate his 40th birthday, so it sort just worked out for all of us.

Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage of Los Angeles

Laila Samimi and Elizabeth Cambage.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Cambage: Nothing. Sorry.

Samimi: We were blessed.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Cambage: This is my first fútbol game ever. I wanted to come cause it’s L.A. Yay sports! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let’s get out there and get into it.

Samimi: I’m born and raised in L.A. so I’m happy to see the World Cup here.

Tell me about your outfit inspiration.

Samimi: I’m wearing Honor the Gift, Russell Westbrook’s brand, a Nike top, my shorts are from a random boutique in L.A. and Jordan shoes.

Cambage: I just went crazy at the Nike store. I’m not gonna lie. We just came from the Nike store. I’m reppin’ USA today. Yes, I am Australian, but I do live in America and USA is AUS. [Laughs]

Kenan Sahbaz of St. Louis and family

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans cheer on their team.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

I got mine directly through the FIFA website. We paid $500 a piece. I brought my son, my cousins and their kids.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Sahbaz: This is our very first World Cup. It’s a historic event for our very small country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a huge accomplishment in the past 12 years. This is going to be the first time we’ve made it here again. We’ve got a really good squad and I think we can do some amazing things for our country. This is a time when we really need some support and joy in the country, and no better way to do it than at the World Cup.

Who’s your favorite player?

Kids: Džeko.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Sahbaz: A lot. Work. Time. We were initially going to go on vacation to the Bahamas, but I asked him either the Bahamas or the World Cup. So when we found out that we made it, it was the World Cup. We canceled everything else. We even went to the qualifiers in Wales and that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as well. There was just no way we were going to miss it.

Was it worth it?

Sahbaz: 100%. Win or lose, we still win today.

Daniel Henriquez and David Njenga of Seattle

David Njenga, left, sports Kenya gear, while Daniel Henriquez cheers for El Salvador.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Henriquez: This match was $500 each. We bought it in like October of last year.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Njenga: Because this is the World Cup. You have to go to a World Cup. This is my second one. I was in Qatar for the last World Cup.

Henriquez: The energy! World Cup baby!

Njenga: There’s people from all over the world. We are all assembled here to enjoy this moment.

Henriquez: This is what happens when all the world comes together. This is our utopia. We all love each other. We’re all here for one thing, to support our country.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Njenga: My job. I have to be at work right now, but I took the day off. I don’t mind.

Henriquez: I’m a nurse for the fire department. My boss was awesome. She gave me a day off. I love my boss Nancy. Go Nancy!

Was it worth it?

Njenga: It is worth every penny. It’s not even the money. It’s the experience. After this, we head to San Francisco for another game.

Henriquez: Then we’re heading to Vancouver and then we have another game in Seattle.

Njenga: We’re going to six games [in total]. Our Houston tickets were the cheapest. They were about $400.

Cindy Vazquez of Grenada Hills

Cindy Vazquez Zavala reps Mexico with her outfit.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

It was free.99. Shh!

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

This is my first World Cup. The Jordan team invited me to attend this game, so lucky me. That’s why I’m wearing Jordans today. I’m in the industry so they invited a few employees from neighborhood stores to come.

Tell us about your outfit inspiration.

Today there’s a Mexico game, so I still gotta rep even though I’m attending this match [Switzerland versus Bosnia and Herzegovina]. The outfit is a Nike T90 jersey and my lace is from Amazon. I got the little [soccer] ball, the little World Cup and teddy bear from the gas station. I needed it.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I actually had to request PTO to attend, but the store is still running without me. Right after this game, I actually have to jet back. I work at Feature, which is a sneaker boutique in Studio City. S/O Feature for allowing me to come here!

Fabian Almiron of Spain

Fabian Almiron, originally from Paraguay but currently living in Spain, rides Metro to the game.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

I paid $1,100 for the first game [June 12], $290 for the Turkey game [June 19] and the last game with Australia was $170 [June 25].

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

This is my first World Cup. I live in Spain, but I’m rooting for Paraguay. I’m very excited to be seeing them participate after 16 years.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I used like 20 to 25 days of vacation time to come see the World Cup.

Was it worth it?

Yes!

Sunny Kwong, Sam Mallari, Antonio Evangelista, Michael Evangelista of San Diego and Los Angeles

Antonio Evangelista, Sam Mallari, Michael Evangelista and Sunny Kwong are decked out in Bosnia and Herzegovina gear.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Michael: We paid $400 each. We got lucky with the last chance lottery. They released the tickets a few months ago.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Michael: We’re rooting for Bosnia this time. This is our first World Cup.

Antonio: It’s a lifelong dream. I’ve loved the sport ever since I was in the Philippines.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Michael: Most of us had the day off. I worked in the morning at like 6 a.m. and then I’m going to work afterward. I really wanted to carve out time to be there.

Mallari: I took time off because this is my first soccer game ever and I wanted to experience the World Cup with true fans.

Was it worth it?

Michael: 100%. It’s honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It’s been awesome to be here with my dad. We watched the last World Cup finals and we were literally in tears. I know he’s been playing soccer ever since he was in the Philippines military.

Antonio: 20 years.

Becky Clift of Orange County and William Wagner of San Diego

Colleagues William Wagner and Becky Clift sport traditional festival inspired outfits to cheer on Switzerland.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Clift: They were gifted to us.

Wagner: We’re a fortunate group.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

Clift: The World Cup in America is super fun, so we wanted to support it and be a part of it. This was the game that we got tickets for, so we decided to dress up a little bit and have some fun.

Wagner: We’re both soccer people. We both speak the world’s language, so we’re happy to be a part of it here.

Tell me about your outfit inspiration.

Wagner: I have a very close Swiss friend who was equipped for this. One quick phone call and here I am.

Clift: Then I had to get mine so I could support.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Wagner: A full day of work. We’re both engineers. We know each other through work.

Was it worth it?

Wagner: We’ll find out.

Clift: Heck yeah!

Jorge Morales of Topanga

Jorge Morales holds out a ball he got at the World Cup opener in Mexico City.

How much did you pay for tickets?

It was between $800 to $900 for my USA versus Paraguay tickets. I bought them through Seat Geek.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

I wanted to experience it not just in Los Angeles, but I also wanted to experience it in Mexico. I’m going to three games in Los Angeles and four in Mexico City. Going to my first World Cup in Mexico City was a whole different ballgame. Mexico played in their home country and they won. It was like pandemonium. Even though it was raining over there at the time, it was still a lot of fun. Everyone was hugging each other. I’m looking at you, New York Knicks fans. [Laughs]

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I’m used to traveling, so I’m like this ain’t nothing. I just wanted to experience a World Cup game and the fact that it’s in three countries, you’re not going to experience that any other time. It’s the one and only World Cup where you’re going to see three countries hosting it.

Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness of San Diego

Switzerland fans Alexi Kulik, Marcella Harkness, Luke Kulik and Ian Harkness.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Ian: $450 per ticket.

Alexi: We won the ticket lottery. That’s the only way ‘cause the resale is expensive.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Marcella: This is our first World Cup!

Ian: I was at the Switzerland versus Qatar game. Similar outfit. We got it dialed this time. Lots of fun. Tough ending, but what are you going to do?

Luke: We wanted to support Switzerland. Everyone in the family is Swiss. It’s fun to go to a World Cup game. We were just excited to get tickets. I think it’s a great way for the family to spend time together and a good excuse to get out of work.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Luke: Time off work. Time to come here. We drove up here. I don’t think we gave up much. We just enjoy being here.

Ian: $450.

Alexi: And we woke up at 5 a.m., so that we could come up here and spend the day together.

Was it worth it?

All: Yes!

Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic, Armin Kapic of Los Angeles

Bosnia and Herzegovina fans Anja Gegic, Dino Gegic, Benjamin Mustafic, Nordin Kapic and Armin Kapic.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Nordin: $3,000. We’re like literally on the field.

Anja: $450. In L.A., we got it like that.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Anja: This is our second time ever qualifying for the World Cup. We are so proud to be here and support our country today.

Nordin: I mean, look around. Why would you not want to be here today?

Armin: We’re hoping for the win!

All: 2-0!

Bendicht Hügli and Lucia Grajales of Mexico City

Lucia Grajales and Bendicht Hugli, both currently living in Mexico City, hold a Swiss flag.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Hügli: The ticket was $650. That’s stealing. That’s robbery. When I went in ‘86, I think the tickets were 10% of the price I paid for this year.

Why did you want to attend the World Cup?

Hügli: I had some business in San Diego. I saw Switzerland is going to be here, so let’s hit it and break the bank to get tickets. I went to the World Cup in Mexico City in ’86. I saw 12 games. I’m going to one this time.

Was it worth it?

Hügli: We’ll see. If Switzerland plays lousy, then I’m going to be pissed, but I think they’ll do better than in the first game.

Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia of Washington, D.C.

Flavia Sacco and Isidoro Garcia root for Paraguay.

How much did you pay for your ticket?

Isidoro: I think it was around $500 per ticket. Again, we were very lucky because Paraguay was the first game.

Flavia: It was early bird without knowing who was going to play.

Isidoro: We’re also going to the Paraguay versus Turkey game in San Francisco and the third one in Mexico City.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

Flavia: We’re rooting for Paraguay. I’m from Paraguay, born and raised.

Isidoro: This is my second World Cup. I went to the one in Qatar. We were very excited about it. Actually, we were very lucky too because we bought Paraguay’s tickets when they were selling them blank. So we just bought the three tickets for Paraguay before knowing the group stage and then it turned out to be in the U.S., so it was awesome.

Flavia: We were hoping it would be on the East Coast because that’s where we live and it ended up being on the other side of the country, but we already had the tickets and we really wanted to go to a game, so we flew. We’re coming straight from the airport. We have our 5-month-old baby who is at the hotel with my mom.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

Isidoro: I guess time with our daughter. Even though it’s only going to be a few hours, we miss her a lot. She’s very tiny. Every [moment] is precious with her.

Was it worth it?

Isidoro: Yes, even though it’s a few hours and hopefully Paraguay will pull it off.

Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles

Jorge Espinosa of Los Angeles.

How much did you pay for tickets?

For the USA versus Paraguay ticket, I think I paid like $1,800, and for another match, I think I paid about $1,020, so a little less. I think that’s when the prices started to go down.

Why did you want to come to the World Cup?

I’ve always wanted to go. I missed my chance to go to Brazil in 2014. I really wanted to go, but I had just taken a huge trip to Asia, so I couldn’t really go. I didn’t have any money left and I’ve been thinking about the World Cup being here since it was awarded to the U.S. I was really bummed out when it was awarded to Qatar instead of the U.S. and also instead of Australia. I’m really excited about it. It feels unreal.

What does it mean for the World Cup to be in your hometown?

It means so much. I remember when they had it here in ‘94. I didn’t get a chance to go to any of the games, but the energy that you feel around the city is like next level. The events they’ve been hosting are so awesome. You get to meet more people from other walks of life and other countries.

Did you have to give up anything to be here?

I just pretty much had to pick up more debt, but I get points so it’ll help fly somewhere. Also, debt disappears when you die so they can try coming after me for that World Cup money, but they never will. [Laughs]

Was it worth it?

I looked at the price and was like, “It’ll never be this cheap in my life, ever.” It’s only ever going to go up, and, hey, it’s in my backyard.

THE mercury is rising as the UK and Europe sizzle through a second June heatwave, with temperatures soaring to over 40C.

The increasingly fierce heat has prompted a new trend and, of course, an obligatory trendy moniker – the COOL-CATION.

Increasingly, those of us who suffer in the heat are seeking out holidays where the sun shines but the degrees stay sensible.

Here, Lisa Minot, suggests six of the best holiday destinations abroad that escape the heat but still score highly in summer . . . 

FOR beach breaks, Portugal’s Costa Verde, in the north of the country, is an ideal choice.

While there’s still plenty of sunshine, the Atlantic breezes mean cooler temperatures than the Algarve.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

It’s also a green haven — think verdant forests and vineyards producing the popular Vinho Verde wine.

Solmar Villas has 30 villas in the region including Casa do Casal.

Sleeping four, this chic, modern villa includes a private pool.

Seven nights’ self-catering is from £697pp, based on four sharing, including flights from Gatwick on July 12.

See solmarvillas.com.

CLOSE to the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is the cooler alternative to Lake Como, offering watersports and hiking accompanied by a refreshing Alpine breeze.

Newmarket Holidays has a great tour that includes excursions around the lake, combined with Croatia’s Istrian Riviera and the glorious Plitvice National Park.

With expert guides, visit Rovinj on the coast and the remarkable Lim Fjord.

The eight-day trip includes flights, four excursions and 14 meals.

Prices start from £1,324pp.

For further details, visit newmarketholidays.co.uk.

GET the best of all worlds with a visit to this gorgeous little Swedish city.

With summer temperatures typically from 20C to 23C, it has a laid-back coastal feel with sandy beaches, waterfront dining and easy links to Danish capital Copenhagen, via the Oresund Bridge.

There’s sea-swimming and saunas, of course, plus pretty streets with traditional architecture.

The UNITY Malmo hotel is a ten-minute walk from the city centre and a great base.

Three nights’ B&B is from £391pp including flights from Gatwick on July 5.

See easyjet.com/en/holidays.

SESTRIERE, ITALY

SPORTY types need not break a sweat this summer with a stay at Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere in Italy’s Piedmont region.

With its refreshing Alpine climate — it was built for the 2006 Winter Olympics — there’s plenty to keep fitness fans busy in summer with 19 different activities including biking, hiking and golf, plus two pools.

And with everything included, you can sit back and relax.

Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £1,827pp including flights from Heathrow on July 11 and transfers.

See clubmed.co.uk/r/pragelato-sestriere/w or call 03453 676767.

THIS capital city offers the chance to combine a cultural break with beach fun.

There are 15 public beaches within the city’s limits, three of which hold Blue Flag awards — Balsys and Valakampiai I and II.

With cooler, Nordic summers, temperatures rarely rise above 23C but there are still plenty of places to enjoy some sunshine with many of the city’s beaches having changing cabins, barbecue zones and sports courts.

Explore the Old Town with a three-night stay at the 3* Panorama Hotel from £239pp including flights from Stansted on July 1.

See loveholidays.com.

THERE’S no problem cooling off in Finland — the country has some 188,000 lakes, the majority in its stunning Lakeland region.

Explore a few on a self-drive holiday with with Best Served Scandinavia, taking in lakes, rivers, canals and forests.

The trip starts with two nights in Helsinki before heading into Lakeland to make the most of the long summer days with time for swimming, fishing and canoeing.

Eight nights is from £1,950pp including return flights, B&B accommodation, seven days’ car hire, two lunches, excursions and a sightseeing cruise.

See best-served.co.uk.

THE most beautiful pubs in the UK have been revealed – ranging from historic inns to more modern upgrades.

The winners were named in Camra’s Pub Design Awards, across a number of different categories.

The Historic England Conservation Award was given to the pub which “carefully preserved the pub’s historical architectural features“.

Coming out on top is Woodman in Birmingham, which dates back to 1897 when it was a public house for Ansells Brewery,

Since then, it has undergone a £300k renovation back in 2024, which saw the restoration of the Victorian tile walls as well as the woodwork throughout.

It is also right by Old Curzon Street Station, part of the new HS2 line which will open in 2030.

TOP SEA-CRET

Locals’ guide to UK’s top seaside counties… best beaches & pubs and £15 stays

CHEERS!

Pubs offering free drinks when England scores

Two winners were named for the Conversion to Pub Use award, which is for buildings that were not originally built as pubs.

One of the winners is Blue Stoops in London, which used to be a wine bar.

Found near Notting Hill Gate Station, it has been turned into a pub by Allsopp’s Brewery and since its opening, people have raved about the food menu as well as the atmosphere.

The pub is a joint winner with St Peter’s Tavern in Liverpool, which is a converted Roman Catholic Church.

Much of the grand interiors remain, including the Lady Chapel and original alter.

The Leyton Engineer pub in London won the Refurbishment Award.

It originally opened in 2012 as a pop up pub for the Olympics, taking over Leyton Town Hall, and reopened in 2024 after a huge revamp.

And the Community Local Award went to Lord Southampton in London, which was praised for being a space for local groups.

Pub Design Awards judging panel chair Andrew Davison said: “In these troubled times, the pub still has a key role to play in our communities, and those who are working to conserve, repair and renovate them should rightfully be applauded.

“The Pub Design Awards recognise the extraordinary amount of effort, the imagination and design, plus high-quality craftsmanship which have gone into all of these projects”

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England, added: “Pubs continue to be cherished historic spaces for people across the country.

“Each pub is distinct, telling the story of the community they stand within and continue to serve.”

EUROPE’s best airlines have been named and a major one in the UK was named the winner.

Virgin Atlantic came in top for the best airlines in Europe in this year’s Airline Passenger Experience (APEX) awards.

The awards are based on passenger feedback, with millions of people anonymoulsy rating their flights across four categories.

APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader said: “Passenger feedback remains one of the clearest indicators of how airlines are delivering on the experiences travelers value most.”

Virgin has also launched two new flight routes this summer, to bucket list holiday destinations.

The airline’s first ever flights to South Korea took off earlier this year – and we were one of the first to join.

CUT OUT

Airlines face cutting ‘tens of thousands of flights’ this winter due to fuel crisis

TRAVEL ALERT

More airlines are cracking down on popular travel item in cabin

Otherwise new flights to Phuket will be starting later this year as well.

Other APEX winners included Turkish Airlines for both entertainment and food and drinks, while KLM won for Best Cabin Service.

Best Seat Comfort went to Finnair, and Best WiFi went to airBaltic.

Sadly, UK airlines missed out in the overall global categories, with Korean Air named Best Cabin Service, while Emirates won for Best Entertainment.

Qatar Airways took Best Food & Beverage while Eva Air had Best Seat Comfort.

WHEN it comes to beautiful hiking destinations, not many places beat Italy – but there is one top spot with some strict rules.

The Cinque Terre National Park in Italy spans 15sqm in the north of the country.

Home to over 75 miles of hiking trails, it is a popular spot due to its breathtaking landscapes and coastal location.

And while it is open to the public to explore, there is a major rule you need to be aware of.

Nowhere on the park’s marked hiking trails are you allowed to wear flip flops.

This includes backless sandals and shoes with smooth soles.

Read more on travel inspo

LUXE FOR LESS

Our experts’ favourite holidays that feel 5 star – but for half the price

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

In fact, any shoes deemed unsuitable for the trails – along with flip flop and sandals – could score you a fine of between €50 (£43.15) to €2,500 (£2,157.31).

Staff across the park, as well as guards, can carry out checks including stopping visitors to check they have the right footwear.

If you don’t have the right footwear, you could get fined on the spot or not be allowed to use the trails.

One trail where flip flops are banned is the famous Blue Path, which connects all five villages in the park.

The path takes between five and eight hours to walk from end-to-end, or longer if you want to explore the villages.

To do the Blue Path, you will usually need a Cinque Terre Card, which gives you access to the trails as well as local shuttle buses and museum discounts.

Flip flops are allowed in some areas though, including the villages in the park – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The park isn’t the only spot in Italy where you can’t wear flip flops though.

In Capri, a law that was created back in the 1960s bans people from wearing noisy shoes.

This includes flip flops, as well as squeaky sandals and even wooden clogs.

FOR the past eight years I’ve wasted hours on busy, overpriced trains, travelling between London and my hometown of Devon.

But I recently discovered I could skip the sweaty crowds and do the journey in my sleep for the same price.

While you might have heard of the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland, I bet you aren’t familiar with Great Western Railway’s Riviera Sleeper from London to Cornwall.

The full journey from London to Penzance in Cornwall takes eight hours overnight, compared to the daytime five hour journey.

With the normal route being popular (and often packed with chaotic carriages where I arrive home disheveled and sweaty) I thought I would opt for the overnight option to Devon instead.

It takes just over five hours compared to my usual 2hr30, departing at 11:45pm and arriving at 5am.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

I booked the cheapest seats on offer, paying £47.50 with a railcard, although the cheapest without a railcard is £43.

This got me an upright seat – if I had opted for a sleeper berth with a single or twin cabin, this would have set me back an extra £49 or £59, respectively, on top of the ticket price.

(Although for my journey, I couldn’t find any for less than £200).

The major benefit of booking a cabin is that you can use the fancy lounges – which have showers – at Paddington, Penzance, and Truro, with breakfast also included onboard.

I, however, was not one of the lucky ones, and instead boarded my seat shortly after arriving at London Paddington Train Station at around 11pm.

The train itself is weirdly clean – quite different from your standard daytime Great Western Railway train – and devoid of the usual crowds as well.

Replacing the loud beeping mechanical doors are retro-style doors you need to lean out of the window to open.

Then it comes to the part I was both dreading and anticipating – the seats.

The operator claims they are similar to airline seats and at first glance, look a lot nicer than what you find on Ryanair.

But when it comes to the actual comfort – I think I would have preferred a budget flight middle seat.

It felt like sitting on a stack of squashed cardboard boxes, and bizarrely even more uncomfortable than the daytime GWR seats.

The head rest is annoyingly high, and the promise of extra legroom was unfounded.

Just the same as a daytime carriage you get a tray table, and then you’ll find plug and USB sockets by your feet.

Additions that you don’t get on the daytime trains include an overhead reading light and swish curtain on the window.

So, how did I sleep? Well, I didn’t.

I simply couldn’t get comfortable as the seats are too small to lie across comfortably.

The minutes I did manage to get some sleep was when I put my feet on the seat next to me, I was quickly awoken by someones shouting “FEET” as they walked through the cabin.

I may be just 5″1, but the headrest didn’t help either – I knocked my head a few times just fidgeting and ended up slumping down in my seat to avoid it.

And all of this is without mentioning the disruption of passengers boarding at half-midnight, with the football playing on their phones at full volume.

Even though I saved money compared to a cabin, I definitely would only book this seat again if it was a last resort – I’d rather just stick to the daytime trains (which even in the noise I manage to get quick naps on).

There was one perk to trying this overnight train, however.

My train got into Exeter St David’s around 4:37am and because this was the stop before mine, I was starting to stir.

I also knew what was coming – a section of the track which I believe is home to the most beautiful train journey in the UK.

From Exeter, the train runs past Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth with beaches and red cliffs on the left side of the train.

And at this time in the morning, a beautiful summer sunrise adds washes of orange, red and yellow.

While getting up early to see this might not be attractive and of course it depends on the time of year you are on the sleeper train, I would definitely recommend it.

The sea was perfectly calm, with only a couple of people entertaining their dogs on the beach, the sand was untouched and the water reflecting all the bright colours of the sky made it look like something from a postcard.

It almost made the seriously uncomfortable seat worth it… almost.

Cruise passengers who dock for the day in Barcelona now face having to pay a hefty fee per passenger per day, as the mayor looks to slash the number of short-stay cruise visitors to zero

Barcelona’s city council has approved plans to triple the amount that cruise passengers pay when they take a day trip to the popular city break hotspot.

The levy for cruise ship passengers will be hiked from €8 to €24 per passenger. In addition, a €6 regional tourist tax is already payable to visitors who spend less than 12 hours in Barcelona, which means the cost of setting foot in the capital for cruise passengers will rise to €30 per person, just under £26.

The hike is part of Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni’s plans to slash cruise tourism to the Catalan city according to cruise news outlet Deep Arrival.

Barcelona welcomed around 16 million visitors in 2025, 3.99 million of which were cruise passengers, with campaigners claiming that the influx puts a strain on public services and leads to overcrowding during the peak summer months. The tax increase is aimed at discouraging cruises from visiting the city completely, rather than just reducing overall numbers.

In July 2025, the city’s council approved plans to gradually increase the levy paid by cruise passengers gradually over four years, but reports within cruise trade publications indicate that this timeline could be sped up, and higher charges could be implemented as soon as 2027.

Cruises that begin or end in Barcelona would not be charged this increased fee, as these sailings are seen to have a postive impact on the city compared to day trips. A report on the sustainability of cruises on the city showed that day trippers from cruises spent an average of 5.7 hours in the city, and mostly visited popular attractions as as the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.

Last year, Barcelona cut the number of cruise terminals from seven to five, and began to reroute larger cruise ships away from the most central ports, which now prioritise smaller boats and local marine traffic.

It’s not just cruise passengers who’ll pay higher fees in Barcelona. As of April 1, general accommodation tourist taxes have also increased, making them among the highest in Europe. Visitors pay both a regional and a municipal surcharge, meaning the total tourist tax ranges from €7 to €12 per person per night (approximately £6 to £10.38).

Barcelona has been at the heart of the overtourism protests sweeping Spain, and in June 2025 the city hit the headlines as protestors marched through the streets holding signs with slogans such as “Your Airbnb used to be my home”, and people sitting on outside terraces were squirted with water pistols.

Further protests are expected this summer from groups such as Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism More Life), including protests in Palma, Majorca set for July 26 to coincide with the start of school holiday season.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

THE longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK is due to open at an adventure park this summer.

Families will be able to enjoy the new attraction just as the school holidays kick off.

Spanning 315ft, Fossil Falls in Norfolk is even bigger than the 288ft-long Forest Tubing experience, which opened at Heaton Park’s Zip World in May.

Fossil Falls will be officially opened by Matty Campbell, better known as TV Gladiator Bionic.

Matty will cut the ribbon to the ride at ROARR! Dinosaur Park in Lenwade on July 18.

The launch of the mega ride will kick off the summer holidays with an action-packed day for families, who will also have the chance to meet the star.

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM

From Ha Long to Hoi An – unforgettable Vietnam trip you must book

SPLASH ZONE

Spain’s biggest theme park to open two new zones including first watercoaster

Ben Francis, park director at ROARR!, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Matty here to open Fossil Falls.

“Having a real-life Gladiator launch our longest ever ride feels like the perfect fit – both are all about excitement, energy, and family fun.

“At 107 metres, Fossil Falls is the longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK and we can’t wait for families to experience it.”

The ride is part of a £250,000 investment in the park, which already features attractions such as Dippy’s Splash Zone.

Other attractions include Predator High Ropes, and Dinomite, billed as Norfolk’s largest indoor play area.

All attractions are included in the price of entry.

New study showed UK passengers ‘unaware’ of problem as concerns raised at people deserting hotspots

Spanish media are reporting six-hour queues could hit this summer at airports. The Majorca Daily Bulletin said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said the European Union’s new digital border system is going to come under major strain.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational across the Schengen Area since April 10. Two months in, it is producing long lines, missed flights, and growing alarm across the travel industry. Airports Council International Europe said that waits of up to three and a half hours have already been recorded during peak periods. The six-hour figure is IATA’s projection for the busiest summer months.

Budget airlines from the UK Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2 have all warned of missed departures, disrupted schedules, and rising operational costs. Ryanair passengers who need to use its airport check-in or bag-drop services will be required to finish the process 20 minutes earlier.

The airline announced it will close the services an hour before the scheduled departure of a flight – compared with 40 minutes currently – to give passengers more time to get through security and passport checks. This will reduce the “very small number of passengers” who miss their flight while stuck in queues, the carrier added.

Ryanair’s website says passengers who fail to check in on time “may be denied boarding without refund”. The new policy will be in place from November 10. Passengers will still able to check in online until two hours before departure.

Jet2 check-in desks open exactly 3 hours before scheduled departure and will not open any earlier, even with the new EES (EU Entry/Exit System) checks. It is advised not to arrive at the airport earlier than this, as early arrivals may be asked to wait to prevent congestion

The airline said: “There may be longer wait times than usual when you arrive in destination and before your flight back to the UK. We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but unfortunately this is outside of our control.”

The UK boss of budget airline Wizz Air has warned British holidaymakers to arrive at European airports three hours before their flight home departs due to lengthy queues caused by new border checks.

Wizz Air’s UK managing director Yvonne Moynihan said: “When you land in the destination airport, there might be queues, so you should bring a portable charger or water,” she said.

Because EES information has to be verified when people leave, she also highlighted the risk of queues before flights back to the UK. “Because there is another passport check…that’s where we see that people have, again, experienced longer waiting times than anticipated,” she said.

She said usual advice is to get to the airport two hours ahead of your flight – “but in these circumstances, we are advising three hours”.

easyJet said: “Airports across Europe may experience longer waiting times at passport control due to the new European Entry/Exit System (EES). This could mean you need to have your biometrics taken at border checks, including the scanning of facial images and fingerprints.”

Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warned up to 41 million visitor arrivals and $45.4 billion in spending could be lost if delays of three hours or more become routine. The findings come from a May 2026 survey of 2,512 travelers in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. About one-third said regular three-to-four-hour waits would make them much less likely to visit the Schengen Area, or stop them from visiting altogether. British travellers are the most sensitive, with 39% saying that they would be much less likely to travel. The figure is 33% for Americans and Canadians and 27% for Australians.

Awareness is another problem. More than half of those surveyed (55%) had heard little or nothing about EES, and 49% do not know what the border will require of them. In one incident, more than 100 passengers reportedly missed a flight from Milan to Manchester after getting stuck in passport queues. Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2 have all warned of missed departures, disrupted schedules, and rising operational costs.

A HISTORIC UK pier that links to a tiny island is set to become a new tourist attraction following a 30-year closure.

Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare has been closed to the public since 1994 due to safety concerns.

And now the Grade-II listed Victorian pier has been reconnected to the mainland for the first time in years, as part of a £20million project to reopen the pier.

It is the UK’s only pier that connects to an island – Birnbeck Island.

The pier regeneration is also part of a wider £44million project that includes the renovation of the 1888 boathouse, clock tower and landside pavilion as well.

Other derelict buildings by the pier include the Grade II Listed Toll House and its extension, which are known locally as the ‘shell shop’.

Read more on travel inspo

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

STAYCAY

Our travel experts’ best-kept-secret UK holiday spots for summer – from £37 a night

Both will be restored and reopened as well as an information point with exhibitions.

The pier is expected to reopen in summer 2027.

And when it does, there will be a new lifeboat station and visitor centre.

Historically, the pier used to be a transport hub as well as a tourist destination before being used as a weapons testing site during World War II.

As for the island, there used to be a theme park there with a small railway and water chute.

Many locals have taken to social media to share their excitement for the pier reopening, saying it’s “excellent news“.

As heatwaves become an increasingly common feature of European summers, more of us are looking to cooler, northern coastlines for our seaside holidays. From the traditional seaside towns of Germany, northern France and the Netherlands, to the long sandy beaches of the Baltic coast and the islands of Scandinavia, we’d love to hear about your favourite cooler coastal breaks in Europe.

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

Keep your tip to about 100 words

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

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

The competition closes on Monday 29 June at 10am BST

Have a look at our past winners and other tips

Read the terms and conditions here

If you’re having trouble using the form click here. Read terms of service here and privacy policy here.

Travel expert said he has been doing this for ‘literally years’

A travel expert has revealed a “genius” hack that holidaymakers can use to dodge paying for seats on Ryanair and other airlines.

Rob Adcock regularly posts travel videos to his 141,000 Instagram followers, and in a recent clip he shared a tip he has been using for “literally years” to cut costs when flying. In the video, Rob asked: “Does everyone do this Ryanair seat hack or am I an actual genius? [Get] a better seat and it will not cost you a single penny.”

Rob recommends checking in “as normal” and selecting the free, randomly-allocated seat option, rather than forking out to choose where you sit. He continued: “Check-in closes online two hours before the flight departs so just before that go back into the app, click manage booking, then go to add or change seats. Then it’s going to show you a map of all the empty seats that are on the flight. Remember those seats.”

You should then close the app without paying for anything extra or changing your seat. Rob added: “Then when you get on the plane go and find those seats that you saw that were empty – ideally a full row or extra leg room – and just brazenly sit in it, safe in the knowledge that that seat is empty.”

Rob revealed he has been pulling off this trick for “literally years”, adding: “The flight attendant has never once asked me for my seat number. Just be careful of the front five or back five rows on the plane. Sometimes they check people for weight distribution so stay away from those.”

Although the video focused on Ryanair, he noted in the post’s caption that the trick can be applied to other airlines too, writing: “Best case? Extra leg room. Empty row. Window seat. No stranger falling asleep on your shoulder.

“Worst case? You go back to your original seat and carry on with your life. This obviously won’t magically create business class on a full flight… but for budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air, it’s honestly elite behaviour.”

Both Ryanair and Wizz Air were contacted for a response but had yet to reply at the time of publication. An easyJet spokesperson, however, commented: “We allocate seats for free and also provide the customers with the option to choose a specific seat when booking for a small fee.

“While we require customers to sit in their allocated seats for safety reasons, should customers like to move after take-off, our crew will be happy to help.”

WITH temperatures hitting 38C across the UK this week, you’ll want to know about the top spots to soak up the sun with a refreshing tipple.

So why not head to a pub right by the beach with a beer garden looking out at the sea? We’ve rounded up 15 of the best.

Fortune of War, Brighton

Found in the popular seaside city of Brighton is the Fortune of War with a large outdoor terrace right on the beach promenade.

The boozer often has late night entertainment including live music events and it’s easy to get to as well – it’s also only 12 minutes from Brighton Train Station.

Founder’s Arms, London

Thought a London pub couldn’t be on a beach? You’re wrong. The Founder’s Arms, between the Tate and Blackfriars Station, sat on the Thames has its own small beach.

While technically not a beachfront, if you catch the tide at the right time, a smallsliverr of golden sand appears next to the pub.

Read more on travel inspo

TRAVEL TIP

The £2.99 SIM hack that can save Brits HUNDREDS abroad

STAYCAY

Our travel experts’ best-kept-secret UK holiday spots for summer – from £37 a night

The Old Neptune, Whitstable

Punters who have visited The Old Neptune in Whitstable often note how it feels like you are abroad thanks to its sprawling pub garden looking out to sea.

What makes this spot even better? It often hosts events, including live music sessions.

Zetland Arms, Kingsdown

Also in Kent you’ll find the Zetland Arms, which sits on Kingsdown Beach.

Visitors can sit in the garden with their feet in the shingle and on a clear day might even be lucky enough to see the White Cliffs of Dover or even France.

The Bluff Inn, Cornwall

Run by Haven and found in one of their holiday parks, you can visit the Wetherspoons pub, The Bluff Inn, which overlooks Bluff Beach.

The pub garden has views across the sea and is just a short walk from the sand itself.

The Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate

You can’t really go wrong with a Spoons pub, and when it has a rooftop right next to the beach, what are you waiting for?

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey has visited and said: “The Royal Victoria Pavilion, now a Grade-II listed building, was originally a concert hall and was said to have been inspired by the Little Theatre in Versailles.”

Brewers Fayre Inn on the Quay, Devon

Slap- bang in the middle of two beaches, The Inn on The Quay is a great family-friendly pub right next to the UK’s biggest outdoor waterpark.

If you want a pub with plenty to do, then this is definitely the spot – one of the beaches is dog-friendly too in case you have your furry friend with you.

Velvet Coaster, Blackpool

Another Spoons spot is the Velvet Coaster in Blackpool, with just a road between it and the beach and is even often named one of the most beautiful Spoons in the country.

In addition to the beach, you will also find Blackpool’s South Pier next door and Pleasure Beach just a short walk away.

Port William, Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall

Sitting right above Trebarwith Beach in Cornwall, you’ll find Port William.

The site is home to a restaurant and hotel as well as the pub, but it is the perfect place to sit with a pint overlooking the beach.

The Gloucester, Weymouth

With Weymouth Beach just across the road, there could not be a more ideal spot for a pint after a sunbathing session on the sand.

Outside, you will find a large outdoor patio and garden area, right on the Esplanade.

Bridport Arms, Bridport

With sand surrounding the pub, Bridport Arms is a great spot to enjoy a tipple before or after heading to the beach.

The garden overlooks the harbour and beach and dogs are allowed too.

The Anchor Inn, Seatown

Found in the hamlet of Seatown in Dorset, The Anchor Inn has accumulated many awards over the past years including in 2021 for the Best Destination Pub in Dorset & Somerset.

Head down to the beaches for some fossil hunting too, as the area is known for being on the Jurassic Coastline.

Ty Coch Inn, Wales

Over in Wales, you could head to the Tŷ Coch Inn in the village of Porthdinllaen.

Boasting views across the Irish Sea, the watering hole has the beach on its doorstep.

The Coble Inn, Newbiggin-by-the-sea

The Coble Inn sits right by the sea with views of the stretching coast and the entire pub is dog-friendly (you might even spot the resident dog).

As for outside, you can grab a tipple and sit on a terrace which overlooks the harbour and beach.

The Ship Inn, Elie and Earlsferry, Scotland

Around an hour from Edinburgh, you can head to one of Scotland‘s most famous seaside pubs.

The Ship Inn overlooks Elie Bay and is also known for hosting cricket matches right on the sand when the tide is out.

The next match takes place on July 5.

A New Zealand expat and his Spanish wife, who share travel guides about Spain on YouTube, have named one city as their top destination

Perched on a narrow strip of land encircled by the Atlantic Ocean lies Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, which one expat living in Spain is urging visitors to make time for. The capital of the Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, the city is over 3,000-years-old and dotted with remarkable ancient buildings gazing out over the breathtaking blue waters that surround it.

New Zealand expat James and his Spanish wife Yoly, who both reside in Spain, have made it their mission to help others experience Spain on a deeper level through the travel guides they share on their YouTube channel @spainrevealed. They spotlighted the magnificent city of Cádiz as their “number one place to visit” on any trip to Spain, reports the Express.

“You see this city deep in the southwest of Spain on this impossibly small spit of land is the most magical city in Spain according to me,” said James.

Indeed, the expat fell so deeply in love with the region that he has long dreamed of living there for a period. He even goes as far as suggesting it would be a “crime to visit Spain without seeing Cádiz”, a sentiment his wife Yoly wholeheartedly echoes, describing such an omission as “unforgivable”.

James places the city’s rich history at the very top of his list of favourite things about Cádiz, with traces of its remarkable past visible at virtually every corner.

“There’s almost a sense that Cádiz has so much history that it can’t keep up it can’t keep it in check and all of these historic buildings are being beaten by the weather that comes off the Atlantic so it’s a challenge to keep these buildings in a state of good repair,” he said.

“And for better or worse what that does mean is that these historic parts of Cádiz have this gritty authenticity to them.”

Centuries-old buildings and cobbled streets are dotted throughout the city’s various districts, known in Spain as barrios, including El Pópulo, La Viña, and Santa María. El Pópulo is the city’s most ancient quarter, situated at the gateway to the historical centre, nestled between the Town Hall and the Cathedral.

It is widely regarded as the true medieval heart of the city, with roots stretching back to the 13th century.

The promenade is another unmissable attraction, where visitors can stroll along and take in the city’s breathtaking scenery, including the shimmering golden dome of the cathedral.

The Cathedral itself ranks amongst the most iconic landmarks in Cádiz, blending baroque and neoclassical architectural styles. Visitors can even embark on tours to oft-overlooked sections of the cathedral, including its crypts.

Plaza de las Flores is a charming square flanked by an array of cafés serving up local delicacies such as churros and fried fish, while Mercado Central buzzes with stalls brimming with locally-sourced produce.

While the millennia-old heritage forms a significant part of the fabric of Cádiz, the city has also welcomed modernity, as evidenced by the contemporary Parador de Cádiz.

The hotel first opened its doors in 2013 and boasts a stunning outdoor swimming pool with Atlantic views as its backdrop.

Flights from London to Cádiz take around two hours and 45 minutes with the nearest airport to the city is Jerez. From there it takes 45 minutes to drive with flights starting from £67.

One particular route was also named the least punctual with the airline, as Birmingham to the Greek party hotspot of Zante had an average delay of 46 minutes

A popular airline amongst British holidaymakers has been ranked among the worst for punctuality — and it isn’t easyJet, Ryanair, BA or Jet2. Budget carriers easyJet and Ryanair occasionally face criticism from passengers for a whole host of reasons, yet timekeeping doesn’t appear to be one of their shortcomings.

An airline that also offers package holidays widely favoured by Brits has apparently earned a reputation for poor punctuality.

TUI Airways has landed fifth on a list of the five worst airlines for UK flight delays, with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data revealing an average delay of 20 minutes and 24 seconds last year.

One particular route was singled out as the least punctual of all — Birmingham to the Greek party island of Zante — with an average hold-up of 46 minutes. Operating out of more than 20 UK airports, the carrier is owned by TUI Group.

Aage Dunhaupt, from TUI Group, told the Mail that “minimising delays remains a top priority”, noting that TUI Airways runs flights “wherever possible, even if they are delayed, rather than cancelling them”.

He said: “If we were to follow broader industry practices of cancelling flights more readily, our punctuality ranking would improve significantly. However, this would come at the expense of our customers.”

Air India was ranked the worst performer for the second year running, with average delays exceeding 36 minutes, while Scandinavian Airlines topped the table as the most punctual, averaging a mere eight minutes.

Taking second spot for the poorest performance was Blue Islands, which ceased trading at the end of last year, followed by TAP Air Portugal and Saudia.

On a more positive note, average delays have fallen from 18 minutes, 18 seconds in 2024 to 14 minutes, 48 seconds.

A spokesperson for trade body Airlines UK told ITV: “The vast majority of UK airline flights depart on time and CAA data shows customer satisfaction levels are at an all-time high.

“Most delays are the result of issues that are entirely outside airline control, such as adverse weather, forced reductions in the number of planes that are able to land and take off each hour, and industrial action.”

They added: “When these delays do occur, airlines work hard to support customers and get them where they need to be as quickly as possible.”

This follows a flight attendant revealing her top five “basic” habits she “absolutely loves” to see passengers doing. Taking to TikTok, she started by saying: “When you take your headphones out as I walk up to your row.

“Instant respect. You see me. I see you. We’re already besties.”

Her other habits were paying attention during announcements, offering a smile and a sincere thank you, keeping shoes on, and not treating the plane like your living room.

She added: “It’s really that simple. Kindness + awareness + basic hygiene = elite passenger status.”

LOOKING forward to a seaside staycation with the family this summer?

It can be hard to know where to book your next UK seaside holiday. With many Brits picking the same overcrowded spots, you can soon feel like you’re fighting for every square inch of sand on the beach.

Luckily, there are plenty of off-the-radar stunning seaside towns and villages where you can enjoy a summer holiday without the crowds.

We’ve gathered travel insiders from Cornwall, Devon, Norfolk and Kent to share their favourite lesser-known holiday spots – with cheap pints, quiet beaches and stays from £30 a night.

Norfolk

Travel Reporter, Jenna Stevens

I grew up on the North West Norfolk coast, going quay jumping and crabbing after school with my friends.

Over the years, I’ve seen tourists flock to the same overcrowded spots time and again, while some of the prettiest towns and villages stay pretty much deserted.

While Cromer and Great Yarmouth make for great cheap and cheerful holidays, there are much prettier and less crowded options further west along the coast.

Wells-next-the-Sea is the picture-perfect seaside town. Walking down the high street, Staithe Street, feels like stepping back in time.

You’ll wander past an old-fashioned butcher’s, bakery and greengrocers on your downhill stroll towards the sea – plus plenty of trinket shops selling seashell earrings or buckets and spades.

The high street leads to the picturesque quay, where the Victorian Granary gantry jets out over the water, and you can watch fishermen haul in fresh catches throughout the day.

Here you’ll find the old-fashioned Pop Inn Amusements, a sweet shop selling giant lollies and classic sticks of rock, plus my favourite surfer dude-feel coffee shop, Wills of Wells.

Not to mention the fact that there’s a massive, golden, award-winning beach lined with colourful beach huts backed by a sprawling pine forest.

There’s a large beachside cafe too, plus you can stay by the sea at the Pinewoods Holiday Park, with camping and touring pitches from £30 per night.

While Wells is absolutely worth visiting, tourists have certainly caught on to its charm.

Further into West Norfolk, there are small towns and villages that offer true peace and quiet – where your only neighbours are grazing sheep.

Some of these best-kept secrets are Fring, Shernborne, Wolferton and Anmer.

They’re the kind of remote, rural villages perfect for a countryside walk where you won’t pass anyone but horse riders out on a hack.

Stay at nearby Bircham Windmill, where there are camping pitches for £36 a night.

In fact, this site makes for a fantastic family day out, where you can bake your own bread from scratch for £3.95 and climb up to the top of the mill for stunning views of the surrounding villages and fields.

Although it’s quiet, there’s plenty more to do nearby. Bottle feed lambs and hand feed deer at Snettisham Park, tour the royal grounds of Sandringham Estate, or sit down for a pint of local ale in the gloriously British pub The Rose and Crown.

Devon

Travel Reporter, Cyann Fielding

Devon or Cornwall? I’m here to tell you don’t need to look further than Devon – with fewer crowds, heaps of beaches and the quaintest of villages, nothing quite beats it.

As a born and bred Devonian, one spot I will always shout about is the English Riviera.

Formed of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, the coastal towns boast an unusual micro-climate for the UK that has allowed palm trees to thrive.

Named after the French Riviera, you can expect a similar vibe but for a fraction of the price.

Stay at the newly opened £20 million seafront Hotel Indigo by IHG in Torquay from £74 per night (and there are dog-friendly rooms) – you can’t get closer to the sea with only a road separating you from the beach.

From the hotel, stroll down to Abbey Sands Beach, where you will find red-pink sand backed by a green area and the famous Torre Abbey, which you can visit for £11pp.

On the other side of Abbey Sands, walk around the harbour, which is currently under development to make it into a swish seaside hub of restaurants and cafes.

Drop by Pier Point for some fish and chips on the way – which are often voted best in the country.

For more traditional and quieter seaside towns, head to Dawlish or Teignmouth, where you will find seaside arcades and cheap cafes selling freshly made Devonshire delicacies such as pasties and cream teas.

It’s not all about the seaside in Devon, though – Dartmoor National Park sprawls over 368-square-miles with over 160 rocky tors, ideal for lengthy country walks with dramatic views.

One of the most accessible spots is Haytor, where you can head up to the tor from a car park – and don’t worry, it isn’t too steep a climb – and then nearby check out Haytor Quarry, which appears frozen in time with disused machinery still present.

Keep an eye out for wild ponies too, of which there are about 1,500.

For a historic spot – head to Exeter – a university city with a sandstone cathedral and bustling high street.

The city even has links to Harry Potter as J.K. Rowling once studied there, and it is thought that she based Diagon Alley on Gandy Street in the city centre.

For another unique spot, pop to Totnes – a town that has often been noted for its hippie lifestyle, free of big brands and chains.

Drop by on a Friday or Saturday to catch the antiques and food market, for bargain finds and huge Lebanese wraps setting you back a tenner (but big enough for two!).

In the North of the county, head to Woolacombe for the perfect holiday park break.

You could head to Golden Coast Holiday Park, for example, which costs from £219 for a seven-night break for a family of four – so just £7.83 per person per night.

The beach stretches over three miles, and there is an abundance of holiday parks around the town, many of which have evening entertainment, hot tubs on chalet decks and indoor and outdoor pools.

Kent

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey

Kent has seen a huge resurgence in recent years, aided by the pandemic, which saw thousands of people leave the Big Smoke for sunnier and sandier climes.

As one of the many who did so, I’ve since lived in both Folkestone and Margate, which are both on the rise as trendy destinations.

(I have a soft spot for both Whitstable and Deal as well, although both are much more established seaside towns).

When it comes to Margate, there are two new boutique hotels, Fort Road Hotel and No.42 Guesthouse, which have opened in recent years, the latter of which has a fantastic rooftop bar in the summer.

I love heading to the George & Heart pub just outside of the Old Town, or Rose In June for a cosy pub pint.

If you want a bit of weird and wonderful, make sure to hit up the Shell Grotto – whose origin remains a mystery – or the Crab Museum, free to visit and the largest crab museum in Europe.

Both the Turner Museum and Dreamland are free too, so you can easily visit on a budget.

The tidal lido is worth the trek, and you’ll be joined more by locals than tourists, but hop in before warming up with a coffee and sauna session.

But to me, Folkestone is winning on all sides.

It’s 52 minutes by train from London; you’ll never have to fight for space on the massive beach; it has the UK’s biggest beach sauna; it has so much art, including a Banksy – the hooks are endless.

Live music takes place at the Harbour Arms most weekends, and I highly recommend the Sunset Sessions at The Tasting Rooms for three courses and live jazz for £35.

Chase it with some oysters and a glass of champagne in The Lighthouse Champagne Bar – and you can even see France on a clear day.

Perhaps controversial, but even the touristy Good Yard food market is well worth a visit. No tourist traps here!

For an affordable place to stay, The View Hotel Folkstone has rooms from £67 per night.

Cornwall

Travel Writer, Katy Bright

Growing up in Cornwall, I’ve always had plenty of pretty places to explore. If I had to plan the perfect day in my home county, here are some places I would not miss.

Start the day off right with one of the best breakfasts around. Bude cafe The Coffee Pot offers £5 breakfasts with bacon, eggs, sausages and a hash brown, which cannot be faulted.

I may be biased, but I think Boscastle truly is one of the most beautiful places in the UK.

It’s a peaceful seaside sanctuary with a fascinating witchy history and beautiful walks, such as the one to Willapark Lookout.

Plus, it offers some of the best pub grub around – you’ve got to try the Cobweb Inn’s steak and ale pie (£13.95). Wash it down with a traditional Cornish ale.

Many tourists, of course, flock here, so it is important to learn to avoid the tourist traps.

Newquay, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Cornwall, is just way too busy during school breaks.

If you’d like to visit, I would definitely recommend going outside of the school summer holidays, when it is quieter, and the queues are much less manic.

If you are a coffee or matcha fanatic, Blend makes some of the best drinks I’ve ever tasted. Their banana bread iced matcha is a personal favourite of mine.

Something we all look for in a holiday to Cornwall is the best spots with a pint and a view – and my top pick for this is Trebarwith Strand’s, Port William.

A pub perched over the sea, it even offers cosy rooms for guests to stay in.

If you visit between mid-April and early May, you’ll be in my home county for one of my favourite events of the year.

Although it sits right on the border of Cornwall and Devon (so some may be a bit offended by me putting it in this list!) Strawberry Field Lifton’s ‘Tulip Fest’ makes for a very wholesome day out.

Picture a field full of half a million multicoloured tulip bulbs. There is something about walking around a field of endless tulips that just feels so whimsical.

An underrated place to stay is Whitsand Bay Fort holiday park. It’s very highly rated in online reviews, and it’s no surprise to me as a local – this is one of the best places to stay around.

Open all year, it offers both rooms and tent pitches with amazing views of Whitsand Bay. Pitches start at £15 a night, making it a super affordable and proper Cornish alternative to other popular places to stay.

The Prime Minister announced he would be leaving his role

Martin Lewis has moved swiftly to rule himself out of any political role following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation. Sir Keir confirmed earlier today that he will ‘resign as leader of the Labour Party‘.

The announcement follows a slump in poll ratings and Andy Burnham’s resounding win in the Makerfield by-election. In an emotional address outside Downing Street, Sir Keir announced his departure less than two years after sweeping to power in a landslide victory.

As has happened before, the news prompted widespread calls for money-saving expert Mr Lewis to be put forward as a potential Prime Minister. Fresh data from Focaldata indicates the 54 year old would prove an enormously popular pick amongst the British public, alongside the much-loved Sir David Attenborough.

However, in a post on social media, Mr Lewis firmly ruled himself out of the running by saying, ‘I don’t want to join any political party’. He said: “After a few “throw your hat in the ring!” messages…

1. I don’t want to join any political party

2. I’d rather wire my nipples to electrodes (& not in a good way)

“Tho the geekdom of this pop-culture politics piece is a mix of flattering, funny & scary.”

The Focaldata research revealed that Sir Keir, Reform leader Nigel Farage, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski were amongst the least favoured candidates for PM. Kemi Badenoch was the sole major party leader to achieve a positive approval rating (+2), pointing to wider cross-party appeal.

It read: “Martin Lewis and David Attenborough, who would immediately surpass William Gladstone’s record for oldest serving Prime Minister, are the breakout leaders. They sit head and shoulders above everyone else with best-worst scores of +37 apiece, practically putting them in their own “national treasure status” sub-quadrant.

“Both command cross-party consensus, recording positive scores across every voting intention group. Stephen Fry, Big John, and Louis Theroux also have positive best-worst scores across every major party.

“Piers Morgan, Jeremy Clarkson, and Gary Lineker, somewhat unsurprisingly, varied a lot from party to party. While Piers Morgan and Jeremy Clarkson are viewed positively by Conservative voters, Reform voters, and those intending not to vote, they are viewed negatively by parties on the left.

“Gary Lineker is almost the exact opposite, doing better among Green, and Labour voters although he is still viewed as a good candidate for PM by those saying they won’t vote.”

The survey presented 1,060 Brits with the names of 25 celebrities, TV personalities, politicians, and sports stars. These were then matched up against each other in groups of five, with participants asked in each round who they would most and least like to see as PM.

Passengers flying on popular budget airlines this summer have been warned over a 32kg bag rule that many holidaymakers don’t know about, and it can see your suitcases turned away at check-in

There are endless packing hacks online to help you minimise the amount you take on a plane, but let’s face it, some of us just like to take a lot of extra stuff when we go on holiday.

And it’s not always out of choice. If you’re travelling with a baby, or you need to pack medical equipment, the size of your suitcase can soon grow and the luggage scales at the airport could end up groaning under the weight of your luggage.

Some passengers who travel as a group will use a bag-pooling hack. This means their luggage allowance as a group is spread between multiple cases. For example, if you travel as a couple and buy two 20kg bags, you could have one that weighs 30kg and one that weighs 10kg. But this travel hack does have a major exception some travellers don’t know about.

Not only do airlines’ policies vary on bag-pooling, with each one having its own rules about whether you can use this method, there’s also a strict upper weight limit for a single piece of luggage.

This rule isn’t about the airlines trying to charge extra for luggage. Bags need to stay under a certain weight due to baggage handlers having restrictions on how much they can lift. For most carriers, this is a strict 32kg weight limit for a bag or any item being checked in. Anything tipping the scales over this weight could therefore be refused at the check-in desk.

Here’s a look at what the UK’s most popular airlines say about upper weight limits and whether they allow bag pooling on their flights.

EasyJet

On easyJet’s website, it explains the rules about upper weight limits and sharing baggage allowances: “If you’re travelling with family or friends on the same flight and booking, you can pool your total weight allowance.

“This means that the total weight allowance can be split among the total number of bags booked, as long as no single item weighs more than 32kg. Maximum total size (length + width + height) = under 275cm.”

Jet2

Recently, a passenger with a booking for 10 people took to social media to ask Jet2: “If one person is over does all the weight pool together or does everyone individual need to be 22kg?” The airline replied: “Yes you are able to pool your luggage providing you do not go over your overall weight limit and no one bag weighs more than 32kg.”

The customer then followed up to ask: “So one person won’t be charged if their case is overweight slightly and the rest are under?”, to which Jet2’s customer service representative replied: “That’s correct. If one bag is slightly over, but others are under, you will still have room within your overall allowance and will not be charged.”

TUI

Passengers flying with TUI should check their booking to see whether the flight is operated by TUI airways itself, or another carrier. Some packages booked through TUI fly with third-party airlines.

TUI’s website states: “If you’re travelling with TUI Airways, you’re allowed to pool your luggage allowance with anyone else travelling on your booking. However, each bag can only weigh up to 25kg.

“If you’re unsure of your luggage allowance, then you can find this on your booking confirmation or by logging into Manage my booking”. Passengers who have booked a TUI package with a flight on a different airline should contact the company they are flying with directly for advice.

Ryanair

Ryanair’s FAQs are very clear about bag-pooling, saying: “Yes. Bag pooling is allowed between passengers with check-in bags on the same flight reservation. This means that if you have two 20kg Check-in Bags (40kg total) on your booking, one of those bags could weigh 15kg while the other weighs 25kg.”

But it was clear about its upper weight limit, saying: “However, no bag can weigh more than 32kg.”

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A savvy traveller has shared a clever packing hack to beat Ryanair’s baggage allowance fees on a £15 flight — but it comes with risks if you’re caught at the airport

A clever traveller has taken the internet by storm after unveiling his ingenious trick to outsmart Ryanair’s notoriously rigid baggage rules, which frequently leave holidaymakers shelling out extra cash at the airport.

Rob Adcock, from Stoke-on-Trent, who regularly dishes out budget-conscious travel tips to his online following, has gone viral with his latest scheme to dodge luggage charges on a £15 Ryanair flight — a move that could save passengers a tidy sum given the airline’s hefty fees for additional bags.

In a clip that which now racked up over 2.4 million views from cost-conscious travellers, Rob shows how he managed to squeeze 20kg of luggage aboard without spending a single penny extra, by using a vacuum pack machine to compress his clothes down to a fraction of their original size.

With a laugh, he holds up his squashed clothing and quips: “Look at it.”

He then carefully stuffs the vacuum-packed bundles into his rucksack, which is allowed on board as a complimentary carry-on item, and breezes onto the plane without forking out a penny in hold luggage fees.

The video is captioned “POV: You’ve vacuum-packed all your suitcase to fit into a free Ryanair bag so you don’t have to pay for the hold luggage.”

As well as being a crafty way to sidestep additional costs, it carries the welcome bonus of avoiding the often frustratingly long wait at the baggage carousel on arrival.

Scores of fellow travellers found the cheeky wheeze hilarious, with one crowning it the “packing cube final boss”. However, sceptics pointed out potential drawbacks.

One baffled commenter questioned: “How are you supposed to vacuum it back up before going back on the plane when going home?”

A second chipped in with a laugh: “Vacuum packed stuff is HEAVY,” alongside a pair of laughing emojis.

Meanwhile, one female traveller highlighted the disadvantage that this approach would leave garments “creased” — hardly perfect for anyone wanting to look presentable on their break.

What’s more, you do risk being spotted by Ryanair staff at the airport.

One TikTok user shared: “Literally saw someone get caught doing this in Budapest today. It didn’t end well.”

Ryanair imposes a 10kg restriction on cabin luggage, and being caught out at the weighing scales could result in forking out additional charges for your trip.

It’s a risk that might not always work out — but for this passenger, it proved a success!

EUROSTAR has cancelled a number of trains to and from the UK this week due to the hot weather.

The train operator cited “adverse weather conditions” as the reason for the cancellations.

The cancellations include two services a day between London St Pancras International and Paris‘ Gare du Nord.

The affected trains are:

• Monday – 10:07am from Paris to London
• Monday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Tuesday – 10:07am from Paris to London
• Tuesday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Wednesday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Wednesday – 6:08pm from Paris to London
• Thursday – 1:31pm from London to Paris
• Thursday – 8:08pm from Paris to London

No trains have been cancelled on Friday yet but this could change later in the week.

RAIL-Y BAD

Eurostar cancels trains as travel strikes hit TWO popular European countries

CHEAP SEATS

Eurostar launches flash sale across ALL its destinations with £35 tickets

Eurostar said in a statement: “Due to expected adverse weather on the Eurostar network, your train is cancelled.

“We’re so sorry for the disruption and any inconvenience caused.”

Passengers affected by the cancellations can move their booking to a later time and date.

Otherwise a full refund can be claimed, either with an e-voucher which can be used up to 12 months later, or a full refund (which doesn’t include booking fees).

The UK is set to high record temperatures for June this week, with highs up to 38C expected.

This would beat the previous hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was in 1976 in Southampton.

Events and public transport have been cancelled with public drinking banned

Health warnings have been issued for peopel across Europe including in France, Italy, Spain and Germany. France has been cancelling trains, concerts and sports events and cracking down on public drinking as an exceptional heat wave unfurled across parts of Europe.

Multiple drownings were reported as people sought relief in whatever water they could find About a third of France is under “red alert″ heat and temperatures reached 40C in some areas, in a country where air-conditioning is not widespread.

The forecast for Monday is even hotter. The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures introduced by authorities to minimise risks. Tourists in Rome dunked in fountains.

Spain’s Basque Country cancelled some sports and cultural events. More than 200,000 people across Europe died from heat-related causes over the last four years, and most of the fatalities were preventable, the World Health Organisation’s Europe office said this month.

More above-average temperatures are expected this summer, which can cause heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. Human-caused climate change is tied to increasing extreme weather events and UN climate agency projections say the next five years should shatter more heat records.

A rapid study found that human-caused climate change was responsible for killing about 1,500 people in an unusually early European heat wave in May. In this latest European hot spell, French media reported that four children drowned on Saturday.

Summer drownings are an annual problem that health authorities say worsens during hot spells. France’s annual Music Day on Sunday was of particular concern. The nationwide summer solstice celebration involves thousands of concerts in village squares, rave venues and Paris clubs, bringing communities together and increasingly drawing British and other international visitors.

Some of the concerts outside Paris were cancelled. The French government banned public drinking in “red alert” zones, and ordered organisers of music day events to limit alcohol consumption to “preserve emergency services and allow medics to concentrate on taking care of the most vulnerable”.

Scores of French trains were cancelled, and the national rail authority dispatched thousands of extra staff to deal with potential problems as the heat threatened rails and electrical cables. Authorities are notably worried about people living in the baking streets, and elderly people in nursing homes or isolated in their homes.

About 15,000 older people died in France in a 2003 heat wave that became a national reckoning. The government mobilised emergency services and military forces for reinforced wildfire readiness, imposed tightened surveillance of water supplies to France’s many nuclear reactors, and ordered 845 schools to close on Monday.

Spain kicked off the summer with large parts of the country on alert because of temperatures expected to hover around 40C — even in the interior of Basque Country, a northern region that typically experiences cooler temperatures. Authorities have suspended outdoor sports and cultural activities in the region.

The heatwave is expected to scorch Spain at least until Wednesday. In Italy, authorities expanded heat warnings — referred to locally as “red flags” — to eight cities on Sunday in northern and central parts of the country.

Temperatures there are mostly in the upper 30s. At one farm outside Milan, owners set up fans and sprinklers to keep cows cool, while visitors to Milan Fashion Week huddled under parasols and clutched fans.

In Rome, tourists dunked their arms and occasionally their faces into the city’s famed fountain pools. The German Weather Service is forecasting temperatures of up to 37C for Monday and Tuesday, and up to 39C on Wednesday.

A 23-year-old man drowned on Saturday in a lake near Rheinstetten in the south-western region of Baden-Wurttemberg, the German news agency dpa reported. Three other people are missing after swimming in the Rhine River, a police spokeswoman told dpa.

Thunderstorms also threatened regions in Germany and Poland. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is convening a new government heat crisis meeting on Sunday, and ordered government ministers to plan for better adapting France to heat waves in the future — including “via air conditioning, if necessary”.

Why go now

South of the city centre, Le Mourillon is Toulon’s characterful and unpretentious seaside quarter. Once a fishing village, Le Mourillon is home to little shops selling Provençal produce such as huge garlic bulbs and tomatoes in vibrant shades, alongside lively bars and restaurants. It’s not as glamorous or polished as the likes of Antibes or Saint-Tropez – you won’t find designer brands – but it’s all the more charming for that.

The hilly, narrow streets wind down to Le Mourillon’s star attraction: its beaches. Widely recognised as the second sunniest city in France, Toulon practically guarantees year-round blue skies and sunshine. The clear, azure sea sparkles and the beaches are lined with restaurants and date palms. While cruise ships come and go from the city’s main port, Le Mourillon is far enough from the centre that you only see them in the distance, alongside sailing boats and fishing vessels.

Where to eat and drink

Eating and drinking is one of the main pastimes in the south of France, especially on Sundays when many shops are closed. Le Mourillon is home to some of the best restaurants in Toulon, most of which celebrate Mediterranean cuisine and ingredients. Try AOC 41 for fresh, seasonal fare and some of the most flavoursome meals I’ve had, such as confit beef open ravioli with sand-grown carrots and bourguignon jus whipped with bone marrow (starters from €12, mains from €26). If you fancy a pre- or post-dinner drink, pop round the corner to Havana Cafe, which in the summer months spills out across the whole square.

Down by the beaches, restaurants offer everything from a p’tit dej formule (classic French set breakfast of bread, a pastry, coffee and juice) to freshly caught fish of the day. La Sorga serves an incontournable (unmissable) caesar salad with breaded chicken and oven-baked potatoes, best enjoyed with a glass of rosé overlooking the sea. This being the south of France, the wine is cheap and you certainly won’t be rushed.

Cultural experiences

Created in the 1970s, the four human-made beaches are the main attraction in Le Mourillon. Swim in the (usually calm) Mediterranean or rent a paddleboard or kayak from the yacht club. While strolling along the promenade, take in the local people playing pétanque and beach volleyball, while children play mini golf, bounce on trampolines and enjoy churros.

At one end of the beaches, next to a little fishing harbour, you’ll find Fort Saint Louis – built in the 17th century, it’s still used by the French navy (albeit for staff lunches rather than warfare).

Back in the heart of Le Mourillon, Saint-Flavien church, built in 1868, is a beautiful building worth admiring, and you might get lucky and hear some music or singers. Art lovers should visit the Museum of Asian Art, just back from the beaches, or head inland to one of the many galleries on Rue Lamalgue, Le Mourillon’s main street, such as Galerie d’art Toulon Inna Khimich.

In the height of summer, Toulon’s jazz festival (26 July-8 August) brings free concerts to Le Mourillon’s beaches. Every year on 15 August, the Feast of Assumption is marked with a spectacular fireworks display from the fort. In spring, La Fête de la Mer sees local producers and winemakers set up stalls in the port to sell fresh oysters, baked goods and local wine and beer. Tables are filled with les Toulonnais, who arrive en masse to settle in for a day of live music, drinks and seafood.

Where to shop

Rue Lamalgue is a narrow street lined with Provençal buildings in shades of pale pink and terracotta with faded blue shutters, decorated with strings of bunting and floral arrangements on the lamp-posts. It’s the heart of Le Mourillon and home to many independent boutiques and cafes. For tasteful gifts, from vases to children’s toys, visit Oblada, and try Acanthe for chic French clothing for the whole family. But be warned: most shops close for up to 3.5 hours over lunch, as well as all day Sunday and Monday.

Pick up artisan cheeses at Fromagerie Grosso, meat at one of Lamalgue’s multiple boucheries, fruit and veg at Primeurs Vitamine, wine at Cave Faubourg du Mourillon or La Dégust Nature, and bread, pastries, chocolates and cakes at one of the many bakeries. Of course, there’s a market too, selling fresh produce every morning except Mondays. Saturday mornings is when Le Mourillon is most alive, as local people amble around, picking up fresh bread and stopping for a coffee and croissant.

Don’t miss

Walking along the beaches of Le Mourillon is lovely, but the best trails are the coastal paths that continue from each end. If you go east, past the yacht club, the path winds around the coast with various sets of steps down to tiny beaches. Keep going past Fort Cap Brun, and you’ll eventually get to Anse de Méjean, one of the most beautiful coves in the area, which almost feels like a tiny Greek fishing village. Toulon may not be as bougie as Cannes or Nice, but you might still see a family sail in on a yacht for lunch at L’Escale, a hidden gem of a restaurant that is well worth a visit (bear in mind it closes in the winter).

Walk the other way from the beaches of Le Mourillon and the path winds round to Plage de La Mitre, another beautiful stretch of sand.

Stay

There aren’t many hotels in Le Mourillon, but Hôtel Les Voiles offers simple accommodation with sea views (doubles from €112). A little more upmarket is the four-star L’Eautel in central Toulon (doubles from €119).