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Escape to Jamaica for 7 nights with a stay at the stunning 5* Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios.

12:00, 03 Sep 2026Updated 13:11, 03 Sep 2026

We’re giving Premium subscribers a chance to enjoy a luxury five-star holiday for two in Jamaica!

The lucky winner can look forward to relaxing at the five-star Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in a standard room on an All-Inclusive basis, surrounded by tropical gardens, beautiful pools and that unmistakable laid-back Jamaican atmosphere. Spend your days soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the resort’s restaurants and bars, or simply relaxing with a cocktail in hand.

The prize will also include round-trip flights from London (via Miami) as well as resort transfers to and from the airport.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the holiday of a lifetime! To enter, simply fill out your details using the form below.

This competition is open until 23:45pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

By the time I reached the top, my shoulders were burning, my calves were screaming and I could no longer say exactly how many steps I’d climbed.

On the way down, I had counted 223. On the way back up, balancing a sack across my back, I arrived at 225. I chalked the discrepancy up to exhaustion.

The route at Thousand Steps Beach in South Laguna gains roughly 250 feet in elevation within a quarter mile from the sand to the highest point of the Ninth Avenue hill. And I was one of around 60 people making the climb again and again with sandbags weighing anywhere from 5 to 50-plus pounds.

Co-creator Joey Finiguerra sets out some gear before the workout begins.

A participant fills a bag with sand.

This was Sandbag Saturday, a free training session founded by brothers Dante and Joey Finiguerra. There’s no registration required — attendees just show up and grab one of the heavy-duty, polypropylene sacks the brothers provide and fill it with as much beach sand as they want. A portable luggage scale allows the more serious athletes to keep track of their progress week after week.

My quads and I were intimidated. But it turned out to be one of the friendliest workouts I’ve ever done.

The workout got its start in December 2023, when Dante, a former Navy SEAL and fitness coach, posted an invitation on Instagram for what was originally supposed to be “Water Jug Saturday.” He encouraged his followers to fill 5-gallon jugs and join him and Joey, a triathlete, for military-style drills on the sand, in the water and up the stairs and adjacent hill.

When a friend pointed out some weighted bags lining the path at the bottom of the staircase one day, the siblings quickly abandoned the water jug idea. Sandbags were easier to sling over shoulders and balance on heads. And perhaps just as importantly, “Sandbag Saturday” rolled off the tongue a lot better.

Long before Dante joined the military and Joey started running marathons, Thousand Steps Beach was always where they got their best workouts. As teenagers growing up in the area, they climbed the staircase barefoot, sprinted the hill overlooking the Pacific and stretched their limbs on the shoreline. They spent nights camping on the sand after long days of surfing. Joey later proposed to his now-wife there.

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1. Participants prepare to walk down a hill. 2. A close-up of a sandbag. 3. The workout consists of hundreds of steps.

“The beach really has meaning to us,” Dante told me when asked about the workout’s origins. “From 18 to 22, I trained for the Navy here almost every day. I always wanted to come back and give this to the community and to anyone who I felt would appreciate it.”

After serving for nine years, Dante’s military background is evident in the fitness sessions he designs for Sandbag Saturdays. Participants perform duck walks, suitcase carries, bear crawls and overhead holds reminiscent of the log and boat carries in Marine boot camps. But despite its inspiration, the atmosphere couldn’t be further from the “Full Metal Jacket”-esque training days that might come to mind.

“We don’t do the typical hardcore yelling at you,” Joey told me before leading the group on a recent Saturday. “Everyone can go as slow or fast as they want.”

Participants run while carrying sandbags on their heads.

Among the regular participants are active-duty firefighters, lifeguards, professional boxers, National Guard personnel, yoga teachers and locals just looking for a fun way to get their cardio in. For some, the gatherings are family affairs. When I was there, Dante and Joey’s mother and sister joined in, and a handful of young children carried tiny sacks too.

“I think people see us and it looks like there’s a barrier of entry with the sandbags and all,” said Anthony Gudenau, who joins Sandbag Saturdays regularly. “But I’m amazed at the different types of people that show up regardless.”

The group’s growth might be due to the sense of inclusiveness that becomes especially noticeable on the staircase. While doing the steps myself, I noticed participants regularly inviting curious, inquiring beachgoers to join in the following weekend.

Running in sand adds to the challenge.

Everyone is encouraged to move at their own pace.

“I love how we all pump each other up when we pass one another going up and down,” said Carmen Benedick, a local who has attended every Saturday for the past six weeks. “It’s not unusual for strangers who aren’t even part of it to also encourage you. The sense of community is amazing.”

Perhaps that’s why so many people keep coming back. Sandbag Saturday has evolved into a kind of outdoor third place, where the endorphin-releasing workout is only part of the draw. For all the sore glutes and calves, what lingers most is the appeal of turning this into a weekend ritual.

“I just want to keep doing it for free every Saturday,” Dante told me. “As long as it’s bringing a positive force to people’s lives and making them feel proud for doing something extremely hard.”

When the morning finally wrapped up and the temperature started to climb, participants stacked their sandbags into a towering formation. A few climbed onto the pile to practice gymnastics-style balances while others headed into the water.

The workout includes bear crawls after running into the water.

Then, one by one, the bags were sliced open, and the sand spilled back onto the beach where it had come from. I grabbed my belongings and headed up those 223 — or maybe 225 — stairs one last time.

Walking through downtown Santa Barbara, it’s impossible to not turn your head when you see it: those marshmallow-like plaster walls, wiggly wrought ironwork and tile that looks as though it belongs in a palace you’d stumble upon in a storybook.

This is the effect architect Jeff Shelton’s signature design has on viewers: the ability to pluck you out of the monotony of the day, if only briefly.

When asked why he thinks this is so, Shelton is quick to point to the tried-and-true architectural methods of the past, which he proudly uses. Buildings, he said, had to be designed “to act more independently” in serving the needs of their specific inhabitants. A window’s primary purpose, for example, was to allow the ideal amount of light to enter.

“So therefore they had taller windows,” he said, sitting opposite me in his Fig Avenue office in downtown Santa Barbara, surrounded by endless sketches and pattern mock-ups.

Shelton obsesses over other design details that are often overlooked in modern architecture yet instinctively felt when you encounter them: high ceilings, for one (his are 14 to 18 feet from the ground floor), as well as smaller touches like ironwork, stonework and glass. Crucially, all are made by people, designed by people — “nothing,” he said, “out of the catalog.”

Before going solo, Shelton spent a decade working in downtown Los Angeles with architect Brenda Levin on projects including the Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market. He then returned to his hometown of Santa Barbara, where he has designed 90 buildings since 1994, many of them within Santa Barbara’s Historic Landmarks District, commonly referred to as El Pueblo Viejo.

Following Santa Barbara’s 1925 earthquake, which destroyed much of downtown, new construction in the area was required to adopt the Spanish Revival style, which, according to the city’s website, “is key to the identity and beauty of Santa Barbara.” New buildings in the district must draw inspiration from Andalusia and Southern Spain and incorporate elements such as tile, terra-cotta, plaster and ironwork.

For Shelton, the guidelines are merely a reference. When designing, he doesn’t “try to make it like Spain at all,” he said, rather matter-of-factly. “I try to just use the materials and proportions and the craft of what’s so great about being in Spain.”

That approach shines through in his many projects near his Fig Street office, a 10-block radius Shelton has dubbed the “Fig District,” where 10 of his most lauded projects lie, inadvertently creating a kind of architectural museum in the heart of downtown.

Seeing them requires little more than a two-hour self-guided tour, carving your own path or following the map on Shelton’s website. By the end of the excursion, you, too, may ask yourself the same question I did: Why did we ever stop building this way?

Shelton didn’t have an answer. He could only promise to never stop.

“Every building I do is my last building,” said Shelton, now 68. “If I die tomorrow, at least I put everything in this last building.”

Without further ado, here are designs by Shelton all located in the Fig District, including iron gates designed by his brother, David.

A TRAVEL company has gone into administration – resulting in all holidays currently stopped.

Some Brits have even said they’ve been left ‘stranded’ with plans cancelled at the last minute.

Wayfairer Travel Limited is a luxury travel company which specialises in specially made packages to destinations like Maldives, Japan, Peru and Namibia.

However after almost 15 years since it was founded, the company has been forced to suspend all services “until further notice”.

A spokesperson for Wayfairer Travel said: “We are truly sorry for the concern and uncertainty caused by the current situation. Wayfairer Travel has currently suspended all services until further notice.

“At this stage, we are unable to provide further information until we have received the appropriate accounting and legal advice.

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“These discussions are currently under way, and we expect to provide a formal update during the week commencing 31 August.

“We appreciate your patience and sincerely apologise that we cannot provide greater clarity at this time.”

Some customers currently on trips or with bookings have complained that they have been left without any information.

A few hours ago on Trustpilot, one customer said that Wayfairer has left them “stranded in Botswana”.

He explained how he and his parents were on a safari when they were informed that Wayfairer “failed to pay any bills associated with our itinerary.”

He continued: “We are currently trying to complete our vacation out of pocket with no word from Wayfairer or offer of refund or compensation.”

On Google Reviews one woman wrote yesterday that the company cancelled their trip to Japan at the last minute.

She said: “They released all of our bookings and reservations, and advised that we contact our travel insurance. We have heard that they went out of business but that was not confirmed.”

Another said two days ago how Wayfairer Travel had “cancelled arrangements four days prior to the trip”.

Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT) said it has been told that Wayfairer is “unable to continue trading and is taking steps to appoint an administrator”.

ABTOT has advised costumers not to travel if they have booked a holiday with Wayfairer Travel on or before September 30.

If travelling later than this date, it has said to wait for further information.

Sun Travel has contacted Wayfairer Travel Ltd. for comment.

There is a huge change to how people can travel between the UK and Ireland

Travel expert Simon Calder has branded the new changes to travel between the UK and Ireland as “completely pointless”. Anyone travelling between the UK and Ireland by ferry will be required to show a passport before boarding.

The new rules come into force later this month and mark a major change in the ease of travel. Currently, those sailing to and from the Irish ports of Dublin and Rosslare can use photo IDs rather than passports. This can even include a bus pass.

Yet, from September 28, passports will be required. Simon shared his thoughts on the change during his Telegraph Travel Expert podcast.

He said: “We want more security, but if you’ve got a huge, long international frontier between the UK and Ireland which is completely open, and has to remain so without any checks because of the Good Friday Agreement, then putting these rules in place across the Irish Sea is completely pointless.”

While many people do have passports, Simon explained that the change can be a problem for many passengers.

He said: “There is a significant contingent of people, perhaps older travellers, who simply think ‘why do I need a passport, the only international journey I make is going back to Dublin to see family or going on the odd holiday to Kerry’.

“At the other end of the age spectrum, many people want to take their brand new child across the Irish Sea. Bring the baby, newborn across, and they are able to do that without a passport.

“It is going to be very significant in almost making life very difficult for the sorts of people who have got used to seamless travel.”

If people are not aware of the rules or do not have a passport with them from September 28, Simon said: “They won’t be getting on the ship I fear.”

The travel expert recommended other options for travellers to be able to cross between the UK and Ireland without a passport.

He said British Airways do not plan to require passports, and that you can sail from Scotland or Wales to Northern Ireland and cross by land without a passport.

New passport rules

Irish Ferries said: “From 28 September 2026, all passengers travelling on Irish Ferries services between the Republic of Ireland and Britain must present a valid passport or Irish passport card before boarding. The new passport requirement applies to Irish Ferries’ Dublin–Holyhead and Rosslare–Pembroke routes, in both directions.

“This requirement applies to all passengers, including Irish and UK citizens. From 28 September 2026, driving licences, national identity cards and other forms of photographic identification will no longer be accepted for travel on these routes.

“Irish Ferries is introducing this requirement to comply with UK Border Force requirements on the accuracy and integrity of passenger data before boarding.”

Stena Line added: “From Monday 28 September 2026, passengers travelling between Holyhead and Dublin or Fishguard and Rosslare will now need to show their passport on departure.

“There is no change to the ID requirements for business or leisure passengers travelling with Stena Line from Belfast, Liverpool, Cairnryan or Heysham.”

AN airport in the UK has been forced to close AGAIN just days after strike action resulted in cancelled flights.

Strikes have been ongoing throughout the last few weeks causing some passengers to be rerouted by over 100 miles.

And Norwich Airport will close again for three parts of today with flights already cancelled and delayed.

The air traffic closures are from 6am to 2pm, then 4pm to 4.45pm, and finally from 6.45pm to 7.30pm.

Three KLM flights have been cancelled so far, two of which were departing Norwich Airport this morning.

The 9am KLM flight from Amsterdam to Norwich has also been cancelled.

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However the 2.05pm flight is currently delayed to depart at 2.45pm.

Another flight set to depart Norwich at 5pm for Amsterdam remains on the schedule.

The TUI flight to Rhodes is set to leave at 2.05pm, rather than its scheduled time of 12:35pm.

On the website, it reads: “Due to Air Traffic Control staff sickness and ongoing industrial action which limits the flexibility to provide additional staff cover, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic on Thursday 3 September during the following periods: 0600 to 1400, 1600 to 1645  and 1845 to 1945.

“Airlines have been informed of the closures. Passengers should check with their airline for the latest information about their flight before travelling to the airport.

“We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience this may cause.”

Last month, Norwich Airport was forced to close for an entire day and suspend all of its flights.

The 24-hour-strike was held by Prospect union as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, terms and conditions.

Some passengers were forced to divert their journey by 101 miles as they departed from Southend Airport in Essex rather than Norwich.

Escape to Jamaica for 7 nights with a stay at the stunning 5* Sandals Ochi in Ocho Rios.

08:00, 03 Sep 2026

We’re giving Premium subscribers a chance to enjoy a luxury five-star holiday for two in Jamaica!

The lucky winner can look forward to relaxing at the five-star Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in a standard room on an All-Inclusive basis, surrounded by tropical gardens, beautiful pools and that unmistakable laid-back Jamaican atmosphere. Spend your days soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the resort’s restaurants and bars, or simply relaxing with a cocktail in hand.

The prize will also include round-trip flights from London (via Miami) as well as resort transfers to and from the airport.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the holiday of a lifetime! To enter, simply fill out your details using the form below. This competition is open until 23:45pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

If you are unable to view the form below, please click here.

Terms and Conditions:

This competition closes at 23:45pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026. One winner will be selected at random from all submissions after the closing date and will be contacted by email within 7 days to arrange their prize. The winner has 48 hours to claim their prize. Failure to respond at this time will result in forfeiture of the prize/pick of another winner. The prize is non-transferable. The prize is a 7-night all-inclusive holiday for two to Jamaica. Flights will be from a London airport. This competition is only open to Premium/Plus/Gold Star Subscribers only. The winners’ details will be used to administer the competition and will be shared with the company’s prize fulfilment partner, Prizeshark to fulfil the prize. Prizeshark will contact the winner to further liaise on the fulfilment of the prize (please make sure all entry details provided are correct). The winners’ details (name and location) will also be published. Upon entering this competition, there is an option to opt in to receive various newsletters sent via email. If you do opt in, you will receive these newsletters in accordance with their sending schedule, for those who do not opt in to receive any email newsletters, your data will be solely used for the administration of this competition. By entering this competition, you are permitting Reach plc to use your personal data to contact you to arrange prize fulfilment only. Entry to the competition is restricted to one entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Automated entries, bulk entries or third-party entries will be disqualified. This competition is open to UK residents only. This competition is open to people over the age of 18, with the exception of employees of the promoter, their families, agents and anyone else connected with this promotion. This competition is syndicated across the following Premium Apps: Mirror+, Daily Express, Gold Star, Daily Record, MEN, Liverpool Echo, Wales Online, Chronicle Live, Birmingham Live, Belfast Live, Yorkshire Live, Bristol Live, Leicestershire Live, the Sentinel and Nottingham Post. By entering a competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. Entry implies acceptance of these rules. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes arising under these terms and conditions.

Mist blankets the valley as I wheel my camping gear down the small hill towards a clearing ringed by trees and shrubs. A picnic bench sits at its edge, angled towards the reason why I’m here: one of the last remaining fragments of temperate rainforest in Britain. I’m pitching my tent at Wray Valley Camping, a low-impact site on Dartmoor’s eastern edge between Lustleigh and Moretonhampstead, where I’ll spend five days on one of the site’s “nearly wild” pitches.

Also known as Atlantic woodland, temperate rainforests depend on a rare combination of high humidity, rainfall and consistently mild coastal temperatures where the sea moderates the climate. They once stretched from the western Highlands of Scotland down to Cornwall, covering 20% of the UK, and sheltering rare and delicate lichens and plants. Today more than 95% of our temperate rainforest cover is gone, but Devon’s near-constant dampness and its exposure to the Atlantic make it one of the last strongholds for this rare habitat.

Wray Valley Camping owners Michelle Grist and her partner Kevin Chamberlain have spent seven years restoring this fragile ecosystem while developing the adjacent campsite.

“We always intended to run a sustainable campsite from here,” says Michelle, a retired environmental consultant, admitting that neither she nor Kevin (a member of the Dartmoor search and rescue Ashburton team) had ever run one previously. “We did not take it over,” she adds. “We built it from scratch.” Years of camping, both in the UK and abroad, gave them enough experience to know what they liked and what they didn’t. The valley’s topography dictated their designs from the start, Kevin explains – tents only, nothing driven in.

The early years were slow-going: Kevin built a compost toilet by hand before a shower block and other facilities arrived. Running alongside it all was the harder, longer graft of coaxing the temperate rainforest back to life.

“It was actually difficult getting on to the land,” Michelle tells me. “While the drains upland had been cleared, our land was completely flooded.” Michelle and Kevin worked along with several other organisations to restore the woodland, adding 1,200 native plants, 200 metres of new hedgerow and 45 native saplings as well as removing invasive species.

Their efforts culminated in February this year, when Wray Valley Camping saw six acres of its 4-hectare (10-acre) estate designated a Devon county wildlife site (CWS), recognising its importance as one of Dartmoor’s fragile remnants of temperate rainforest and wet woodland. The campsite now offers a unique opportunity to sleep beside this rare ecosystem in one of its four Nearly Wild camping pitches.

A short signposted sustainability trail around the campsite and woodland explains the restoration work. Along the way, I spot a pied flycatcher between the oaks, hazels, rowans and willows while stonechats call to each other and an oil beetle meanders across a mossy stone in search of food.

In the distance, the whiz of bike chains and children’s voices echo from the Wray Valley Trail. This 7-mile (11km) walk and cycle track snakes along the edge of the temperate rainforest, retracing where the Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway steam train once ran. Today it links the historic villages of Moretonhampstead and Lustleigh, and beyond to Bovey Tracey.

As I walk along the old trackbeds of the valley trail, I imagine iron cleaving the valley and clouding it with steam and soot. When once the scream of the train whistle heralded fallen timber and quarried stone, today it’s given way to the shrill call of the treecreeper. It’s a small measure of how fast this corridor has recovered since industry nearly gutted it in the 19th century.

The Wray Valley Trail acts as a low-impact gateway for exploring eastern Dartmoor, and it is worth building a few days’ itineraries around it. From the Wray Valley campsite, it’s an easy cycle or walk to Lustleigh and on towards Hound Tor, where towering granite boulders guard the low moss-strewn walls of abandoned medieval settlements. Waymarked paths from here weave between Dartmoor’s scattered prehistoric monuments and weatherworn waycrosses.

A 40-minute drive away, Dartmoor’s most popular temperate rainforest, Wistman’s Wood, is a cautionary lesson on what happens when these fragile environments go viral: eroded paths, damaged mosses and trampled roots from footfall they were never intended to sustain. Even as conservationists work there to double the woodland’s size, it remains under pressure from its popularity.

For Michelle and Kevin, restoring the woodland is only part of the challenge. The harder task is ensuring that welcoming visitors help protect the landscape rather than putting it under pressure. Their approach is simple: keep visitor numbers low and deliberately limit the impact they have on the landscape, even if that means sacrificing some of the conveniences of modern camping. There are no electric hookups, cars are left in the parking area and campers wheelbarrow their kit to their pitch. Kevin admits that the arrangements can divide opinion but says the extra effort is intentional: “If you’re asking people to make a bit more effort to protect this environment, it tends to attract those who appreciate it.”

That philosophy runs through the rest of the carbon-negative site, from borehole water and solar power to discounts for guests arriving on foot, by bike or by public transport. The result feels as close to wild camping as you can get with a hot shower.

Both Michelle and Kevin say they’re surprised by the enthusiasm of the campsite guests. One horticulturist recently helped catalogue its plants, while scout groups have joined woodland management activities.

The dying embers of sunlight fade behind our tent as we position our chairs towards the rainforest and sit, whisky in hand, and wait. A stoat dashes past liverworts into the undergrowth. An owl hoots in the distance and bats swoop and dart in the starlight above us. Without the white noise of everyday life, every splash and wingbeat becomes audible.

Wray Valley may only be a small site, but it sits in a much larger mosaic of habitats. Ancient woodland lies on either side, while the nearby site of special scientific interest (SSSI) at Bovey Tracey supports species such as adders and ground-nesting birds. Camping here offers more than a place to pitch a tent – it provides a glimpse of how a small patch of land can contribute to the wider recovery of Dartmoor’s nature.

Nearly Wild stays at Wray Valley Camping include small pitches at £10/£8 (adult/child) per person or large pitches priced per pitch (from £40 for four people). Both include hot showers and toilets. The site has six pitches in the Hay Meadow plus four Nearly Wild pitches

A NEW railcard has been launched with no restrictions on age – and it could save you up to £750.

The new Traincard has been launched by Trip.com.

Costing £25, not only can it be used with other Railcards (such as 16-25 or Senior) but anyone can apply for it, no matter their age.

The Trip.com railcard is linked to Trip.com accounts, and can be used on 30 bookings in a 90 day period.

Up to £25 can be saved per ticket – so that means as much as £750 discounted.

Of course, this would only apply if you were buying tickets over £250.

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Brits save £184 a year on average with this no-brainer travel hack

Raily good deal

Join Sun Club and save up to £20 on a railcard – plus up to £190 on tickets

For example, an Anytime Return from Manchester Piccadilly to London costs £386 when bought at short notice.

Other savings include a discount of £9.48 on a return from Folkestone to London, based on a £94.80 ticket.

But the 30-booking limit could also save families hundreds of pounds too.

One booking can include multiple tickets – meaning the 10 per cent discount could also include a a family’s four return tickets too, provided they are booked in one transaction.

The new railcard can be bought via the Trip.com app and lasts 90 days. I’d only valid in UK train journeys.

Alvaro Ungerean, Commercial Director, Europe – International Train, Trip.com Group, said: “We know that the cost of regular travel can quickly add up.

“Traincard has been designed to give passengers a simple and flexible way to save on the journeys they already make, regardless of their age or where they live.

“Whether travelling for work, education, to visit loved ones or for leisure, customers can access the same Traincard discount, including on eligible peak-time journeys.”

Here’s the new change you need to know about if buying a student railcard.

And we’ve explained how to get even more value out of your railcard.

IF you’re itching to grab your passport and head somewhere hot, Loveholidays has just made your next holiday a whole lot cheaper.

The holiday company slashed rates on last-minute sunny holidays, lowering costs from five-star hotels to all inclusive resorts to a fraction of usual prices.

We’ve rounded up the best last minute deals to places like Spain, Egypt, Tenerife and Greece, with package holidays including your flights from as little as £129pp.

Whether you want non-stop waterslides for the kids or bottomless cocktails on the beach, here are the best last minute deals to book today. (Or click here to browse all the deals).

Hurghada – £489pp (all inclusive)

For a lively, action-packed family holiday where you’ll barely want to leave the resort, check out the 4* Rewaya Inn Resort in Hurghada.

This massive beachfront complex puts everything right on your doorstep – with thrilling waterslides on-site to spectacular coral reef snorkelling on the beach.

Read more on Loveholidays

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Save HUNDREDS on these last minute Loveholidays deals – with hols from £159pp

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UNREAL last minute Loveholidays deals with infinity pools & 5* hotels – from £129

With its own aqua park and action-packed entertainment schedule, plus water sports, evening shows and sports activities, there’s plenty here to keep the kids entertained.

Parents, on the other hand, will love the hotel spa with its whirlpool, sauna and hot tub – plus the seven restaurants and eight bars around the property where you can grab an all inclusive cocktail, wine or beer.

Click here to browse all Egypt holiday deals

Rhodes 5* – £409pp

Fancy a five-star holiday to a stunning Greek island? This last minute offer bags you a stay at one of Rhodes’ most glamorous family hotels.

Rodos Palace certainly feels royal, with a fairytale bridge stretching over an enormous outdoor pool, and a giant glass dome sheltering the heated indoor pool.

With nearly 800 rooms, there’s a massive range of accommodation options. The standard double and family rooms in the main tower are sleek, modern, and many offer spectacular sea views, while the garden suites boast their own private pools and sun terraces.

You could stay here for a week and never eat in the same place twice. There are eight different dining venues, including the main buffet restaurant plus a la carte options for Italian and authentic Greek cuisine.

Click here to browse all Greek holiday deals

Majorca – £389pp (all inclusive)

This sprawling complex in Majorca is built around family activities and a lively, action-packed atmosphere.

The Club Cala Romani Hotel boasts three outdoor pools, a kids splash zone, a beautiful sandy cove just 10 minutes away, plus activities like mini discos and sports on-site to ensure no one is ever bored

With your all inclusive stay, you can help yourself from a rotating buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with familiar favourites as well as themed dinners and local cuisine.

In the evening, the lounge bar and disco become the main hub, where you can enjoy your all inclusive drinks and watch the nightly entertainment shows.

Click here to browse all Spain holiday deals.

Tenerife – £349pp

Take a trip to sunny Tenerife with a stay at a glam aparthotel overlooking a shimmering pool.

The Piramides Resort is a budget-friendly base in Playa de las Americas, putting you in the prime spot to explore local beaches, bars, restaurants and nightlife.

Stays here come in the form of modern, spacious apartments which are fully kitted-out with sleek kitchens, tellies and private balconies.

Plus there’s four swimming pools on-site, a main buffet restaurant, poolside and snack bars plus lively evening entertainment to get you pumped for a night out in one of Tenerife‘s most popular resorts.

Click here to browse all Tenerife holiday deals

Agadir, Morocco – £129pp

If you’re looking for a very afforable break to catch some last minute sun, you’ll want to snap up this Agadir deal.

Temperatures in Agadir can still reach 30°C in September, plus the coastal city even has a golden six-mile long beach built for sunbathing.

This hotel gives you all the sunny holiday essentials – a spacious apartment with a balcony, an outdoor pool for a dip, a buffet restaurant and even its own nightclub.

If you want to browse for some souvenirs, the massive Souk El Had market is nearby, and you are surrounded by plenty of cheap local cafes, pubs, and shops.

Click here to browse all Agadir holiday deals

A SMALL village in Oxfordshire could get a new £29million railway station.

The village itself is small, home to around 700 people – but is right next to Bicester Village and a new attraction currently being built nearby too.

Oxfordshire County Council has the potential for a new station on the Chiltern Main Line in a small village called Ardley.

It’s location is a nine-minute drive away from Bicester Village, a luxury designer outlet shopping centre.

A possible location being considered for the new railway is the site of the previous Ardley station, which closed in 1963.

Plans to build the new station forms part of part of the council’s bid to improve rail connectivity across the region.

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The cost of the station is estimated to be between £24-£29million.

If built it would be added to the existing OxRail 2040 proposals, which includes new stops at Oxford Cowley, Oxford Littlemore, Begbroke and Wantage and Grove.

The location of the potential train station will mean it won’t be far from the proposed Puy du Fou theme park.

It’s set to be built on a site north of Bicester near the M40.

Plans were submitted last year for the 370-acre attraction which is set to have four ‘villages’ based on different periods of time, with 13 different live shows.

Three on-site hotels would be part of the theme park and each themed on different periods of British history.

Being primarily outdoors, the park would be open between April and October.

If approved, the first phases of the park will open in 2029, with nearly 1.5million visitors a year.

The theme park is already popular in both France and Spain – it doesn’t have any rides but lots of historical re-enactments and immersive villages.

ACROSS 10 days in September, Brits can enjoy thousands of free events courtesy of Heritage Open Days.

The festival has thousands of free things to do from checking out Silverstone race course to ghost walks and even football tickets are up for grabs.

Between September 11-20, lots of England’s best-known attractions and destinations will open to the public for free.

Events will be held across the country – here are some of the places to explore with Heritage Open Days.

For racing fanatics, book a day out at Silverstone where the collections team take you through its history with a guided tour.

At Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, families can check out the codebreaking trail, try hands-on activities and have a go themselves.

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Other spots to explore include the grand Lyme Park in Cheshire, Wightwick Manor and Lyveden.

Transport museums around the country are open with lots of vintage trains and buses for viewing.

This includes Aldridge Transport Museum, Dover Transport Museum and East Anglia Transport Museum.

At the Museum of Transport in Manchester, visitors can ride on its historic buses.

Depending on who you support, some people might be interested to know that you can get free football tickets.

Head into Wigan Athletic Heritage Museum and then enjoy the match as the team plays Wycombe Wanderers (make sure to prebook).

Activities for kids include medieval crafting like decorating shields, crowns, princess hats and horse puppets at The Garage in Norfolk.

Over at Acorn Bank Watermill in Cumbria, see the mill in action and even taste some of baked goods yourself.

In Milton Keynes, head to the Midsummer Place Shopping Centre for the Caribbean carnival village celebrations with hands-on workshops.

At museums across the UK, kids can dress up and see what life was like in different eras – like the 1800s in the National Justice Museum.

Some of the best events take place during twilight hours.

Onboard the Tudor ship, the Golden Hinde, there’s a reconstruction of living, working and sailing.

At the Rosse Observatory, get up close to the impressive telescope itself – and if it’s a clear night, you could even see Saturn or Jupiter.

Or if you’re into ghosts, head to Ripon Market Place in North Yorkshire for some spooky walks.

Make sure to look at activities and events in advance as you may need to pre-book before attending.

For more on attractions – check out all the ones that you pay for once and then return all year for free.

Sept. 2 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a warning to airlines to stay clear of Russian airspace and airports due to a large-scale escalation in drone strikes on Russian targets by the Ukrainian military.

Zelensky said Tuesday that he wanted to notify every airline flying in Russian airspace, every insurance company and anyone that still used airport hubs such as St. Petersburg and Moscow, which have six airports between them, that the skies above Russia were “becoming completely dangerous.”

“There will simply be drones in Russia’s skies on a scale that has to be taken into account,” he said.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and our other institutions will provide international organizations with full information about the dangers in Russian airspace. Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation,” added Zelensky.

Zelensky stressed that the warning was not intended to “threaten civilian aviation as such — not a single civilian aircraft” and Ukraine did not want the loss of any innocent lives.

The majority of Western airlines stopped over-flying Russia after the start of the war in 2022 but Chinese, Turkish and Middle East carriers and some others continue to do so, particularly on long-haul Asia to Europe flights where the Russia route can slash up to 2,250 miles from the journey, equivalent to four hours’ flight time and as much as 30 tons of extra fuel.

Russian aviation authorities automatically suspend flights if a drone sighting is confirmed within a certain radius of a specified zone with civil aviation disrupted on numerous occasions over the past year after Ukrainian drone assaults, often involving hundreds of drones at a time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Zelensky’s warning was a “declaration of state terrorism,” vowing that Russia would not let up in its attacks on Ukraine.

On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry stoked Ukrainain fears they were facing another very tough coming winter by saying the Russian military was gearing up for “massive strikes” against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as a “response to the continuing attacks of the Kyiv regime against the Russian civil infrastructure and fuel and energy facilities.”

The defense ministry was referencing a sustained military campaign by Ukraine targeting Russia’s oil processing capabilities and logistics faclilities with long-range drones.

ALL-inclusive package holidays aren’t just for families squabbling over sunloungers – they also make great places for big group birthdays or stag and hen parties.

But as anyone who’s ever tried to organise one knows, finding a decent resort property that actually accepts group bookings without slapping you with ridiculous restrictions is an absolute nightmare.

That’s where being a Holiday Expert – like me – comes in handy.

Because I’ve studied the destinations, heard the inside track on the best deals and personally stayed in over 200 hotels across the world as a couple, solo, family and – most importantly – as part of a big group of rowdy Brits (my personal fave).

So using all that experience, I’ve found eight of the best group-friendly all-inclusive properties that give you massive value inside the hotel gates, with all of meals and drinks included to remove any arguments or maths over who is paying for dinner.

Not only that, but they put you within staggering distance of cheap local bars – and are complete with poolside sunbeds on standby, for when last night’s decisions catch up with you.

Read on for some inspiration for where to next book your mates’ holiday.

Prices correct at time of publication.

1. Dynastic Hotel, Benidorm, Spain

You don’t take a group of mates to Benidorm for a quiet retreat.

The Dynastic Hotel sits right in the heart of the lively Levante district, putting you a stone’s throw from the beach and surrounded by cabaret bars, sports pubs, and the legendary English Square.

Pints in the surrounding back-street bars are regularly advertised for as little as €1 (86p), making it an absolute goldmine for budget nights out.

And groups LOVE the Dynastic’s indoor spa and heated pool complex.

If someone in the group is suffering from a catastrophic hangover, you can retreat into the quiet, subterranean hydrotherapy circuit for a few hours to reboot before the evening session begins. Thank me later.

You can grab a three-night all inclusive stay here from £305pp, flying direct from London Luton on May 17, 2027.

2. Muthu Clube Praia da Oura, Albufeira, Portugal

If your group’s single requirement is “put us where the action is,” this is arguably the best-placed hotel on the entire list.

It sits right on the edge of Praia da Oura beach and is literally two minutes’ walk from Albufeira’s famous Strip – a neon mile of karaoke joints, sports bars and open-air clubs.

When I stayed, I’d jump into places like Wild & Co, Matt’s Bar and Liberto’s, where happy-hour cocktails can cost between €5 (£4.28) – €6 (£5.13), although head to sports bars for local beers from €3 (£2.57).

The standout feature here is that the property features a massive, elevated oceanfront sun terrace that steps directly down onto the sand.

It means you and your mates can load up on free all inclusive drinks from the pool bar and take them straight out to look over the Atlantic without spending a single euro on seafront bar prices.

And I found a three-night all inclusive break from £290pp, flying direct from London Stansted on May 2, 2027.

3. BLUESEA Montevista Hawai, Lloret de Mar, Spain

Lloret de Mar has been hosting big group trips for decades, and it remains one of the cheapest party enclaves in Europe – with shots in local spots frequently advertised for less than a quid.

The BLUESEA Montevista Hawai gives you a great pool set-up, buffet dining and multiple bars roughly a ten-minute stroll from the beach and main strip.

This is where where legendary late-night haunts like Disco Tropics and Moef Gaga keep things moving until sunrise.

The key perk at this hotel is its position slightly set back from the main strip noise.

You get all the rowdy benefits of Lloret’s legendary club scene by night, but the hotel courtyard itself stays remarkably calm during the day, giving your group an actual chance to sleep off the night before in peace.

And this is the cheapest deal on my entire list, because you can lock in three nights all inclusive here for just – wait for it – £175pp.

4. Las Piramides Resort, Playa de las Americas, Tenerife

If your crew wants guaranteed sunshine paired with a proper night out, this is the move.

Las Piramides sits right in central Las Americas, surrounded by Supermercados, sports bars and walking-distance access to both the Veronicas Strip and the Starco Centre.

The intense competition between local bars means 2-for-1 drink deals and free shot tokens are everywhere.

And an underrated perk for groups staying here is the fact that you’re getting an apartment to yourselves.

Having separate living rooms and private balconies means your group has a proper central base to congregate and pre-drink before heading out, rather than trying to cram six people onto a couple of single beds in a standard hotel room.

I tracked down a three-night all inclusive group holiday from £365pp, flying direct from Manchester on May 10, 2027.

5. Qawra Palace Resort & Spa, Qawra, Malta

Malta is a brilliant option for groups who want a buzzing nightlife scene without the wall-to-wall mega-club vibes in places like Ibiza.

The Qawra Palace sits right on the seafront with the waterfront pubs of Qawra and Bugibba Square stretching out right along the coastal path.

Local watering holes like Fat Harry’s Pub and the Royale Barrel Bistro run aggressive 2-for-1 happy hours and cheap pint-and-burger deals straight through the afternoon.

And I can guarantee that your group will love this hotel’s rooftop pool deck.

It gives you and your mates panoramic sea views over St Paul’s Bay while you make the most of the all inclusive bar, giving your trip a high-end, luxury-resort feel for a basic budget price.

You can book a three-night all inclusive stay here from £338pp, flying direct from Liverpool on May 11. 2027.

6. Sol Palmanova, Palma Nova, Majorca

Palma Nova in Majorca gives you the ultimate group compromise: a stunning beach by day, and walking-distance access to the famous party zone in neighbouring Magaluf by night.

And the Sol Palmanova hotel features outdoor pools, high-energy daytime sports activities and a massive buffet footprint to fuel up before a night out.

The killer feature for groups here is the hotel’s special late-breakfast service.

Unlike standard rigid hotels that shut their morning buffets at 9.30am sharp, the schedule here caters brilliantly to late risers.

So nobody in your group has to miss out on hot food just because they stayed out past 3am…

While searching for deals, I clocked a four-night all inclusive stay here from £340pp, flying direct from London Stansted on May 3, 2027.

7. Ponient Dorada Palace, Salou, Spain

While Salou is famous for theme parks by day, the resort flips into a massive party hub after dark.

With over 250 bars and 11 nightclubs packed into the resort, pint prices sit comfortably under £3.

The Ponient Dorada Palace sits a short walk from the main nightlife drag along Avinguda de Carles Buïgas, where spots like Danny Boy Irish Bar, Chaplins and Tropical Salou keep the energy high.

And this is another hotel with a rooftop pool section – only this time it’s adults-only.

It’s also equipped with loungers and a private bar, allowing your group to escape the family noise at the main pool deck and enjoy a sunbathing session overlooking the town.

You can grab a three-night all inclusive package from £250pp, flying direct from Birmingham on May 3, 2027.

8. BLUESEA Los Fiscos, Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Puerto del Carmen is perfect for groups who want a buzzing atmosphere centred around live-music pubs, sports bars, and tavernas rather than multi-storey nightclubs.

BLUESEA Los Fiscos sits elevated just above the historic Old Town, putting you within an easy downhill stroll of both the harbour bars and the lively Avenida de las Playas strip.

Because the poolside bar terrace is all inclusive, sure, but also gives the group sweeping views straight out across the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s an unbeatable spot to grab your free all inclusive afternoon drinks while watching the boats come into the marina below.

Perhaps a hotel for the more sophisticated groups among us… If they’re out there?

I found a three-night all inclusive stay from £260pp, flying direct from London Stansted on May 2, 2027.

A new study has found that the cost of a week’s car hire can vary by hundreds of pounds

Drivers hiring a car abroad could be paying far more than they need to if they don’t do their due diligence before booking. A new study has found that the cost of a week’s car hire can vary by hundreds of pounds depending on which rental company customers choose.

The biggest difference was uncovered in Dubrovnik, where a medium compact car – such as a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus – cost as little as £261 with one provider but £871 with another. That is a £610 difference, meaning the most expensive deal was 234% more than the cheapest.

The research, by iCarhireinsurance.com, compared prices from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt for the period from July 25 to August 1, 2026. It looked at seven popular holiday destinations, including Dubrovnik in Croatia, Faro in Portugal, Milan, Nice, Crete, Barcelona and Dalaman in Turkey.

How much could you save by shopping around?

Destination – Cheapest – Most expensive – Difference

Dubrovnik – £261 – £871 – £610

Faro – £390 – £796 – £406

Milan – £373 – £547 – £174

Dalaman – £337 – £487 – £150

Nice – £301 – £401 – £100

Crete – £344 – £423 – £79

Barcelona – £257 – £315 – £58

Faro had the second biggest gap, with prices ranging from £390 to £796 – a difference of £406. In Milan, the difference was £174, with prices ranging from £373 to £547, while in Dalaman there was a £150 gap between £337 and £487.

Even in Nice, where the difference was smaller, holidaymakers could save £100 by choosing the cheapest deal rather than the most expensive. Across all seven destinations, the average cheapest price was £323, compared with an average highest price of £549 – a difference of £226, or around 70%.

But the rental price is not the only cost holidaymakers need to watch. The study found that common extras could add another £391 to the bill if customers bought them all.

An additional driver cost £68 on average for a week, while a sat nav added an average of £76. A week’s super damage waiver excess protection cost an average of £196, while separate tyre and windscreen excess cover added another £51.

The excess is the amount a driver could be liable to pay if a hire car is damaged or stolen. In the study, the average excess was more than £1,600.

Holidaymakers are therefore being urged to look beyond the initial headline price when comparing car hire deals and check exactly what is included. Ben Wooltorton, of iCarhireinsurance.com, said: “It can be easy to assume that car hire prices will be broadly similar, but our research shows just how much they can vary between rental companies.

“Taking a few minutes to compare prices before booking could save a significant amount. It’s also important to look beyond the headline rental price. Extras can quickly add to the cost, and one easy saving is buying a standalone excess reimbursement policy in advance from a specialist provider.”

A standalone excess reimbursement policy from iCarhireinsurance.com costs from £33.15 for an eight-day European trip, according to the company, while an annual European policy starts from £41.99 for eligible customers.

The research was based on quotes for a medium compact car, such as a VW Golf or Ford Focus, from six major rental companies across the seven destinations.

ONE woman was left in Turkey for almost a week with her family when her flight home with easyJet was cancelled last minute.

Macy Neve Flye was due to fly home from Dalaman in Turkey to Bristol with easyJet but was left “stranded” with her family after a technical problem with the aircraft.

The date of the original flight was August 22 , due to take off at 11:25pm.

But by the time it hit 12:30am, passengers were told to check their emails, to which they found out their flight home had been cancelled.

To maker matters worse, the return flights home were almost a week later due to the busy summer season.

Macy and her family were been split between two replacement flights departing on August 27 and August 28.

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Talking to creatorzine.com, Macy said: “Being stranded has been nothing but stress, anger and confusion.”

She was travelling with her boyfriend and three members of his family, including a five-year-old who were all later transferred to a different hotel.

This was due to the original hotel not having enough space for all 150 passengers affected.

On the ordeal, Macy said: “‘As you can imagine, it has just been awful and stressful. We had budgeted for a two-week holiday.

“This experience has made us not want to fly with them again.”

The family have been advised to keep receipts so they can claim back additional expenses incurred during the disruption.

easyJet confirmed the flight was cancelled after the aircraft experienced a technical problem.

They also said it arranged hotel accommodation and meals, and would reimburse the family for expenses.

It said alternative flights with other airlines and indirect routes were extremely limited because of the busy summer travel period.

Some members of the family were therefore given seats on a flight on August 27, with the remainder booked to travel the following day.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Ms Flye and her family’s flight from Dalaman to Bristol was unable to operate due to the aircraft experiencing a technical issue.

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority and we have been doing all we can to support the family, including providing hotel accommodation and meals.

“Alternative flight options including with other airlines are very limited at this busy time of year and so while we have transferred the family onto the next available flights this week, we are sorry for the difficulty caused by the delay returning home.

“We are in touch with the family to apologise for their experience and reimburse them for any expenses incurred.”

For some, peace and quiet is the perfect escape, but popular holiday hotspots can often come with crowds and noise. So why not swap the chaos for a getaway to one of the ‘world’s quietest’ countries?

As Brits lament about the quickly fading sunshine after a summer of record-breaking heatwaves, it might be tempting to head for warmer climes before winter finally sets in. And at this time of year, holidays can be cheaper — and often quieter — as people return to work after the summer break and children begrudgingly go back to school.

For some, peace and quiet sounds like the perfect escape. But the usual summer hotspots can mean crowds, queues and constant noise. So why not swap the chaos for one of the world’s “quietest” countries instead?

One such nation is a secluded haven, with temperatures climbing into the 20s in September. It’s even been named the quietest country on the planet — which may not come as a surprise, given it didn’t allow visitors until the 1970s.

Go2Africa has created a list of 10 destinations where tranquillity is part of the appeal, basing the results on various indicators rather than opinion alone. It weighed up how busy a place feels – including how many people live there, how concentrated tourism is, how much countryside and protected land, and how congested the roads tend to be.

It was Bhutan, in South Asia, that came out on top — scoring 89.44 on the “quiet score”.

Go2Africa notes on its website: “The country, sitting in the shadow of the Eastern Himalayas, is well known for being beautifully preserved, with tourists only able to visit through licensed local tour operators and by paying a daily Sustainable Development Fee.

“The country ranks particularly high for rural land density with 39,041km2 of forested mountains, terraced valleys, and sparsely populated highland terrain and an exceedingly high percentage of protected areas.”

Bhutan is known for its strikingly unspoilt landscape, with around 39,041km² of forested mountains, valleys and sparsely populated highland areas.

If you’re looking at a late-season break, autumn can still feel pleasantly warm: September through November often brings sunshine and highs near 25C. Just bear in mind temperatures aren’t uniform — they can shift depending on which valley you’re in.

Autumn is also prime season for trekking — and for catching big cultural celebrations such as Thimphu Tshechu.

Bhutan also protects its low-impact tourism model with a compulsory visitor charge — around £70 a day for adults. The levy, called the Sustainable Development Fee, is used to fund priorities including conservation, education and healthcare.

One of Bhutan’s standout sights is Taktsang — better known as the “Tiger’s Nest” — a 17th-century monastery seemingly clinging to the mountainside around 3,000 metres above sea level. But visitors should be prepared: reaching it means a demanding hike that can take anywhere from two to four hours.

Second on the list was Namibia, which recorded a Quiet Score of 86.69. The southern African country is famously arid — in fact, it’s the driest nation in sub-Saharan Africa — and Go2Africa sums it up as being “built on scale and emptiness”, promising travellers “complete solitude”.

As for the remainder of the rankings: Botswana came third, followed by Zambia, Gabon, Venezuela, Chad, the Central African Republic, Mongolia and Bolivia. At the opposite end of the scale, Singapore was crowned the noisiest country with a Quiet Score of just 6.78.

IF YOU fancy a night out, the UK has some cracking spots – from more chilled venues to lively spots with big crowds.

One UK city was even recently named as one of the best places to go on a night out in the world.

With so much choice though, it can be hard to know where to go in the city.

So, here are our top spots for a night out across the UK:

Brighton

According to Time Out, Brighton is the best city to go on a night out in the UK and one of the best spots in the world.

The publication commented: “Brighton’s legacy as the home of the UK’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene continues to thrive.

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“Of all cities on this ranking, Brighton received the highest score for its sense of community, with 84 per cent of locals saying it’s easy to make connections in the seaside city.”

Travel reporter Alice Penwill said: “Brighton is fun whatever the weather, and whatever the time.

“During the day you can enjoy the delights of the seaside, then in the evening head to the pubs and club – which is why it’s a hot spot for hens, stags, birthdays and a good ol’night out.

“One of the most popular spots is OHSO Social thanks to its position on the beachfront.

“During the day it has a relaxed vibe full of friends catching up over a pint with live music in the background. Then from the early evening it turns up a notch with DJ events and beach parties.

“You can stay there for the whole day if you like as on Saturdays it opens at 10am and closes at 2am.

“On one wet and windy night in Brighton, myself and some friends ventured to the Beach Huts down on the front to try out some karaoke.

“You can book out the hut, pick the tunes and staff will deliver drinks to you don’t even have to leave to go to the bar and stay singing your heart out instead.”

London

Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without the capital and when it comes to a night out in London, there really is something for everyone.

For example, the city is home to Britain’s biggest nightclub – Drumsheds.

Able to host up to 15,000 people, the venue is inside a former IKEA warehouse and has various different events including parties, festivals and DJ sessions.

And you’ll be able to find 24-hour cafes in the city as well – for example, you could head to Polo Bar on Liverpool Street which serves full English breakfast 24 hours a day.

Or head to Duck & Waffle which is on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, so you can enjoy panoramic views no matter the time.

There are some other spots that don’t quite run the 24 hours a day but are still worth visiting like Bar Italia for espresso at between 7am and 5am the following day.

Or head to London Night Cafe in Aldgate – a dedicated late-night workspace and lounge.

When it comes to themed bars, London has a load as well.

You can head to Bunga 90 in Covent Garden, where you venture through a time machine disguised as a fridge, back to the 90s – complete with giant pizzas and fun memorabilia.

Or drop by Fairgame right next to St Paul’s Cathedral, where you can get competitive with different carnival-style games.

Manchester

Manchester is a a fantastic night out for a late one (with many bars open past 3am) but is also seen as the Gaming Capital of the North.

So for any keen gamers, there loads of fun things to choose from.

Try Chaos Karts, a real-life indoor Mario Kart attraction, or NQ64, with retro arcades and themed drinks.

Of course some of the biggest nights out are found on Canal Street, part of the city’s Gay Village.

Expect everything from live music to drag shows as you bar hop along the pubs.

Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey added: “Manchester has a fantastic bar scene with one of the most famous being Schofields, often named one of the best in the UK.

“But my favourites? Try The Morris or Bar Shrimp, both of which have very unique cocktail menus that transport you back in time.

“But if you want to go on into the late hours, end your night at K2, with two floors of karaoke which is open until 4am on weekends.

“And end with some chips and gravy, of course…”

Glasgow

Glasgow was recently named one of Time Out’s best cities to visit in Europe this year, ranking fourth.

Having recently visited the city, Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding says she gets it: “Often overshadowed by the capital Edinburgh, Glasgow has a lot to see and do.

“Rather uniquely, Glasgow’s night scene transports you to deep south America. Buck’s Bar is great for famished visitors, with giant chicken burgers and a true Texan vibe inside.

“A couple of doors down, you’ll find Maggie’s Rock n’ Rodeo – and it is as fun as it sounds.

“A small crowd shuffled around the dancefloor, performing a number of different line dances to a live country singer – what could be more fun?

You can even have a go at a mechanical bull at the venue as well.

If you want to continue your night, head to The Park Bar, , which is a traditional and historic Scottish pub dating back to 1895 with live traditional music often including an accordion player.

Newcastle

Up in the north, Newcastle is a great spot for a walkable night out with many spots close together.

Former Sun reporter, Ryan Gray said: “Newcastle isn’t just a place for crazy nights out, cheap trebles and drinking shots with celebs.

“It also has more than its fair share of relaxing pubs, perfect for whiling away an evening with a couple of pints.

“Undoubtedly the best place to do that is the Ouseburn Valley, with historic boozers like the Cumberland Arms, the Tyne Bar and the Ship making for a fantastic pub crawl away from the craziness of the city centre.

Here you can head to Free Trade, which has amazing views of the Tyne as well as a beer garden.

The city is also home to some great tap rooms and breweries.

For live music enthusiasts, there are a number of venues with large gigs as well as venues with more intimate shows.

Ryan added: “Smaller venues like the Head of Steam opposite the train station showcase the next generation of musical talent, while the Cluny in the Ouseburn Valley regularly hosts established names.

“Elsewhere, the City Hall and Utilita Arena are your go-to spots for bigger names, while Newcastle United’s football stadium St James’ Park has been known to host blockbuster gigs as well.

“With a scene that has produced the likes of Sam Fender in recent years, going to the smaller venues might be worth your while if you want to catch the next wave of talent before it hits the big time.”

FANS are getting a sneak peak inside the new Harry Potter theme park at Warner Bros. World.

Potterheads will be able to immerse themselves into the world of Hogwarts within three magical lands.

In a teaser video, Warner Bros. has revealed what awaits fans in its upcoming Harry Potter theme park in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

The caption read: “It’s official! Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest are coming to @wbworldyasisland, Abu Dhabi. BackToHogwarts.”

For fans of the series, it’s believed that Mr Weasley’s car – the Ford Anglia – will form part of the new attraction.

Reports suggest that the ride will simulate scenes from the franchise when it soars over the English countryside.

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It could follow the Hogwarts Express steam train, battle the Whomping Willow and face the giant spiders in the Forbidden Forest.

Previous reports suggest it will have its own Diagon Alley and Hogwarts castle.

According to Gulf News, the project is estimated to cost somewhere between $545 million and $816 million (£600million).

The Yas Island Theme Park first announced that it was adding a Harry Potter-themed land in 2022 and it’s expected to open in 2029.

The Harry Potter development will be the first of its kind in the Middle East.

The Harry Potter land will be entirely indoors so it can be used throughout the year – even in the summertime when temperatures soar above 45C.

With it being indoors, visitors can expect some immersive-looking scenery from the world of Harry Potter.

The land is part of the Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi which is the world’s second largest indoor theme park which has a total of 29 rides.

Currently it has six themed lands such as Bedrock where visitors can explore the Flintstones Bedrock River Adventure.

Gotham City is home to Batman and the Joker attractions, Metropolis has DC characters, Cartoon Junction has rides inspired by Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo.

Other themed areas include Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza.

RYANAIR warns the price of jet fuel could soar next summer – meaning the cost of flights could too.

The airline has warned that other competitor airlines could struggle to ‘survive’.

Conflict in Iran has caused jet fuel costs to climb due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and it will continue to affect holiday prices.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “If high oil prices continue through to S.27 (summer 2027), Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.”

Ryanair said it currently hedges fuel (which means it pays a set price).

The airline added that 80 per cent of its jet fuel is hedged through March 2027 at about $67 (£50) a barrel.

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Currently the price of jet fuel is around $140 (£103) a barrel.

Ryanair isn’t the only airline to warn of higher costs on the horizon, easyJet has said the same.

Talking to The Times earlier this year, easyJet said it would increase minimum ticket prices of its winter 2026-27 flights “by two to three pounds” to offset higher costs and uncertainty around customer demand.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby also said he expects fares to keep rising into the first half of next year.

According to Reuters he said: “I think you’re going to still see gradual increases in fares. Not as big a jump as happened this year.”

When it comes to finding the cheapest flights right now – it’s best to use a comparison site.

Skyscanner is a great option for comparing the price of flights with various airlines – and it even have a price drop tool.

The feature claims to scour up to 80 billion prices a day and shows which destinations have seen flights that have dropped 20 per cent compared to the last week.

Google Flights is another search engine which compares flight prices and shows multiple airline options.

If you choose the ‘explore’ option, it can show the cheapest, direct flights across the world.

For even more hacks on when to fly, Expedia has put together a handy list on the cheapest days to fly – which is Friday.

Compared to travelling on a Saturday, jetting off the day before can save up to 18 per cent.

It also found that found that international travellers can save £93 on average by booking between 15 and 30 days ahead, instead of six months.

Where you fly from also makes a difference – some of the most expensive UK airports to fly from are London Heathrow, Humberside and Manchester..

For more hacks, head here.

They say 10 passengers were told they would not be allowed on the ‘overweight’ flight

A pensioner says a dream family holiday to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary ended in “anger and frustration” after she and her husband were denied boarding on an overbooked easyJet flight home. Eileen Snow, 72, and her husband Stephen, 74, had enjoyed a week in Croatia followed by a week in Montenegro with family when they arrived at Tivat Airport on Saturday expecting to fly back to London Gatwick.

But the couple say they were stopped at the gate and left stranded abroad. The situation was worrying for Stephen, who takes daily medication and says he only had enough to last until the following day. The delay also meant Eileen was unable to visit her late father’s grave on what would have been his birthday.

EasyJet later emailed Stephen apologising that he had been “denied boarding” on flight EZY8814 and referred to procedures used when flights are overbooked. According to Civil Aviation Authority guidelines, an airline expecting to have too many passengers should first ask for volunteers willing to surrender their reservations in exchange for agreed benefits.

But the couple, from Emsworth, Hampshire, insist they did not volunteer to give up their seats. “I was angry and frustrated – I couldn’t believe the level of incompetence,” said Stephen. “It did ruin what had been a perfect holiday with family. Regardless of what easyJet claims, we did not volunteer to stay off the flight.”

Eileen and Stephen had been booked on the 4:50pm easyJet service from Tivat to Gatwick. The flight was already delayed when they reached the gate. The couple says they and three other couples were prevented from boarding despite having reserved their seats well in advance.

Eileen said: “They let many people board after us. We were told the flight was full. Ten of us could not go.”

She says they were told the aircraft was over-fuelled. She claims a woman dealing with the stranded passengers promised to arrange taxis, accommodation, food and vouchers. But Eileen says the woman then left to seek help and never returned.

She said: “She promised all the requested items – taxis, accommodation, food, vouchers. She abandoned us.”

The couple says they repeatedly asked for an easyJet representative and a senior airport manager but were unable to get practical assistance. As the airport began closing, Eileen says the remaining passengers were told they had to leave.

She said an older man approached them before bringing over what she believed was a police, security or border officer. Eileen said: “Some of them had belts with what looked like a gun. We were intimidated.”

An airport worker eventually stepped in and drove the couple to a hotel in his own car, helping them with their luggage. Eileen and Stephen paid for the accommodation themselves.

By the following evening, Eileen was still trying to resolve the situation through easyJet’s WhatsApp customer service. The airline later provided links allowing the couple to seek reimbursement for hotel, food and transport costs and submit a denied-boarding compensation claim.

But Eileen says the experience had left her deeply disappointed. The couple had travelled from 16 to 29 August for the family holiday to mark their golden wedding anniversary. They eventually secured British Airways flights from Croatia to Gatwick and booked a £190 taxi across the border to Dubrovnik.

They then faced a further £177 journey from Gatwick back to their home. An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Mr and Mrs Snow were unable to travel on their flight from Tivat to London Gatwick due to the aircraft exceeding weight limits.

“Weight restrictions are in place for all airlines for safety reasons and in the event that a flight exceeds this limit, we are required to carry fewer passengers. We did everything possible to minimise disruption for our customers including offering the next direct flight, however as this wasn’t suitable, they booked with an alternative carrier and will be reimbursed.

“We have since spoken to Mr and Mrs Snow, apologised for their experience and provided the compensation due. The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”

Hubert Bartkowiak, from Gniezno in Poland, was told he had to pay £8,640 for three rooms for three nights at the Luxor View Hotel in Egypt, or his reservation would be cancelled

Holidaymakers are being told to pay 12 times more for hotel rooms after booking – or face a cancelled reservation. Forward-thinking Hubert Bartkowiak had been looking forward to a trip to Luxor, Egypt, with friends.

The Pole had booked three rooms for four people at the Luxor View Hotel over a year before the holiday, through Booking.com, forking out $1,040 (£768) for three nights, working out at £64 per person, per night. Hubert, from Gniezno, was shocked to receive a message from the hotel demanding 12 times as much, otherwise the booking would be cancelled.

“Please note that prices have increased; for your booking during this period, the room will be $1,300 (£960) a night,” the message read. With each of the three rooms costing £960 a night, he faced a bill of £8,640. When he refused to pay, the hotel worker implied the reservation would be cancelled and the hotel closed “for renovations” if Hubert turned up.

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“The hotel will be closed for renovations. You’re free to leave. You won’t have any rooms,” a message seen by the Mirror reads. After The Mirror contacted Booking.com on Hubert’s behalf, the hotel decided to honour his booking at the original rate.

However, there are many more people heading to Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and other countries in the path of next August’s eclipse who have already had their bookings cancelled as prices spike. “Raising prices I can understand as demand is high, but changing the price after making a reservation or cancelling it for a better offer is simply unfair,” Hubert said.

Another spurned holidaymaker is Kara Wiley. She booked a hotel in Luxor, paying $681 (£504) for three nights, only to receive a message from the owner demanding $3,900 (£2,886). “This is not affordable for me, and my flights are already booked,” she wrote in a post on a Facebook group.

Facebook groups and Reddit threads are full of such horror stories, with many eclipse hunters now worried that they’ll arrive ahead of the August 2 to discover they’ve nowhere to stay.

Such a scenario befell David Tunnicliffe, who booked a villa in Escalona del Prado, Spain, two years before the eclipse this August. “It was just cancelled by the host one day before we were due to arrive for a week. Sucks to be me, I guess!” David said. David was blanked by the accommodation provider, and his emails bounced. Luckily, David managed to book back-up accommodation at the last minute. It cost twice as much, but the booking platform he used agreed to pay the extra expense.

On Monday, August 2 next year, the moon will block the sun starting in the Atlantic Ocean, crossing southern Spain and North Africa, and moving through the Middle East and the Horn of Africa before ending in the Indian Ocean. The event has been dubbed “the eclipse of the century” due to the length of totality. Total darkness will descend for 6 minutes and 23 seconds in some areas, including Luxor. That is roughly three times the duration of this year’s eclipse.

Following the eclipse this August and the buzz that’s generated, accommodation prices for next year have rocketed. In El Palmar, a villa for six people located around 600 metres from the beach will cost €33,129 (£28,379) for one night. Split between the six potential guests, that would be around €5,522 (£4,730) per person.

According to Citizens Advice, customers should check the terms and conditions for the holiday or booking they’ve made to see if they allow the company to increase the price. Look for something like ‘price variation’ – this means the price can change. They can’t increase it if the terms and conditions don’t allow it. Even if the terms and conditions allow price increases, the company can only increase the price because of:

• fuel price rises which mean transport costs have gone up
• changes to taxes or fees by third parties – like tourist taxes
• exchange rates which affect the price of the holiday

The company has to let you know in writing about their plans to increase the price. They also have to give you a reasonable time to tell them if you accept it or want to cancel. If they’re offering another package instead, they must tell you how much it costs.

The company must tell you about the price rise at least 20 days before the package starts and explain why they put the price up. You have the right to cancel the holiday without paying a fee if the increase is more than 8% – you’ll get back any money you’ve already paid.