USA holidays

Nowhere on earth parties like they do at Universal Studios. Writer Ali Graves went to discover the biggest fiesta in Florida, and fell in love with theme park celebrations

If you’re anything like me, theme parks typically conjure up images of drizzle, uninspiring grub and middling attractions that leave you feeling a bit green around the gills… until now.

Enter Universal Studios Florida, which blew away all my preconceptions with their Mardi Gras celebration. Wave goodbye to lacklustre hot dogs and say hello to succulent grilled steaks (yes, actual steaks!), delicious Chinese dishes and sophisticated cocktails… and that’s only scratching the surface.

Universal Studios Florida excels at delivering brilliantly themed seasonal celebrations — from festive cheer at Christmas to their spectacular Halloween Horror Nights — there’s consistently something to get excited about. I experienced their Mardi Gras event first-hand, which takes place each year between February and April (exact dates vary annually, but there’s ample opportunity to organise your visit for next the next one), reports OK!.

This is when the entire venue transforms into a dazzling display of gold, purple and green, with 13 food and beverage stations scattered throughout to help you embrace the carnival spirit in proper style. Additionally, there are numerous other entertainment offerings to suit all tastes, regardless of age. Better still, the majority of these bonus attractions are covered by your standard park admission ticket. And just wait until you discover what else…

Mardi Gras at Universal Studios is Florida’s ‘biggest party’ The dazzling, lively and captivating Mardi Gras parade takes place every evening (weather permitting), showcasing the most stunning New Orleans-style floats, enthusiastic dancers and performers, and the finest bead tosses – thrown by you, the park visitors.

The floats boast remarkable authenticity, having been designed, styled and decorated by Kern Studios, the very same firm responsible for crafting many of the grandest and most iconic floats seen in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parades.

For those wanting to elevate their parade experience, why not ride aboard a float through the park? That’s right – you can actually hop on and throw beads for fellow guests to catch below. It’s a guaranteed way to feel like a celebrity while soaking up the electric atmosphere from high above.

How to get the best views at the Mardi Gras parade

I found myself aboard the Bayou float with Mardi Gras jazz music pumping and swamp-like fog billowing from the sides as I hurled purple and green beads to eager fans below – it’s an absolute must-do if you get the chance.

There are two ways to secure your spot – once you’re inside the park, it demands quick thinking and a bit of luck via the Studios app. Check around 2pm and 5pm, searching for Mardi Gras parade. Virtual queue slots appear randomly and disappear within the hour. If you’ve not managed to bag a place by 5pm, head over to the Animal Actors on Location theatre – occasionally they release unclaimed slots.

The guaranteed route, however, is through the park’s new-for-2026 Float Ride and Dine Experience. It’s a paid option costing $94.99, but it secures your place and includes a three-course meal at a participating Universal restaurant – Lombard’s Seafood Grille, Café La Bamba or selected Citywalk venues.

Bear in mind that experiencing the parade from street level can be equally thrilling. Be amongst those catching armfuls of beads as you groove to the music and soak up the spectacular sights and sounds from the ground. For prime viewing, position yourself outside The Mummy or The Bourne Stuntacular to witness the floats in all their magnificence. Alternatively, if you’ve got youngsters under 10 in tow, settle in front of the Brown Derby Hat Shop – a clear viewing area specifically designated for children which opens an hour before the parade kicks off.

The best food to find when you’re at Universal Studios

Long gone are the days when theme park fare was boring and uninspiring. This event showcases authentic Southern and Cajun flavours, with dining choices to suit every member of the family.

Scattered throughout the park you’ll discover food stalls themed around various countries. The shrimp fried rice and milk boba tea at China, alongside jerk chicken and Rasta Pasta at Jamaica were personal highlights, though you’ll also encounter premium steak cuts in Brazil and wild salmon in Chile. Each food item comes with a price tag, so grab yourself a special dining card for $65, which gives you $75 worth of food and drinks. The added perk is that any leftover credit can be rolled over and spent elsewhere around the park.

Free gigs are included in the tickets

Your entry includes access to live concerts right inside the park. The 2026 line-up was absolutely brilliant, featuring the likes of Kaskade, Joey Fatone and AJ McLean (of noughties groups N Sync and Backstreet Boys) and The All-American Rejects. I spent one evening watching Bebe Rexha and another catching world-acclaimed DJ, Zedd. The atmosphere was absolutely buzzing at both performances, and they play for roughly an hour, so make sure you get yourself a drink beforehand and head over to the Music Plaza Stage.

How to book your trip to Universal Studios Florida

All Parks ticket prices start from £430pp based on June arrivals, for 14 days unlimited park-to-park admission (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe and Volcano Bay). Book at floridatix.com or call 0330 100 3130. Fly with Norse Atlantic Airways, from £196 one-way. For Premium Business class flights from £925 return.

We visited Houston in Texas where a rodeo, baseball, space and delicious food were on the jam-packed agenda. Here’s why you need to get planning your trip to the Lone Star State…

I’ve always wanted to visit Texas and what better time than rodeo season? Rodeo is a year-round pastime for Texans, but Houston holds the largest event in the US in March, with even more cowboy boots and hats descending upon the city than usual, a buzz of excitement and yee-haw in the air. Add in a Space Center visit and a baseball game and this trip to the Lone Star State isn’t one that I’ll forget in a hurry.

RIP-ROARING RODEO

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs across 21 days, with a carnival atmosphere, shows, music, energy and excitement. Inside the NRG Stadium, rodeo competitions – bull riding, barrel racing, saddle-bronc riding and roping – take place, while outside there’s livestock shows, exhibitions and loads more fun.

The fried food creations on offer are endless – think funnel cakes, jumbo corn dogs and deep-fried Oreos. “When in Texas,” we thought, as we ordered (and surprisingly enjoyed) a deep-fried cheesecake.

The rodeo is a jam-packed day and each night a musical superstar takes to the stage in the stadium. We got to see Texas native Kelly Clarkson putting on an impressive show as she bounced energetically around the rotating stage and reminding the 70,000-strong crowd just how many hits she has – naturally she finished her set with Since U Been Gone.

COWBOY COOL

To take in the atmosphere like a local, we wanted to be properly kitted out, so we visited the Republic Boot Co. I’ve never seen so many tempting rows of cowboy boots – and it’s not just a tourist trap, either. Drake is among the clientele of this cool spot.

As well as footwear, there’s a dedicated Hat Bar, where you can choose from a range of styles and colours, customising your hat however you like. My plan for a simple, understated look quickly changed when I saw the leather trims, feathers, charms and badges on offer. I walked out with my initials branded on and a playing card tucked behind a giant feather.

BASEBALL & BEERS

Go Astros! We headed to Daikin Park, the baseball stadium which is home to the Houston Astros, to watch a quarter-final of the World Baseball Classic where the US took on – and beat – Canada. It was my first time at a game, but you don’t need to be an expert to be caught up in the thrill – it’s relentless. Soon

I was willing a home run so I could see the Home Run Train chuff round the track in celebration. We didn’t need to be told twice to order the stadium’s signature Crawford Dog and settled happily into our seats with giant beers, feeling like we were at the movies.

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Houston is known as Space City, so I couldn’t miss a visit to Space Center Houston, the official visitor centre of NASA, where astronauts train and Mission Control keeps everything on track. So soon after Artemis II’s moon mission, the place is still feeling the thrill of the historic exploration, and this is where you can really immerse yourself in all things astronautical.

The highlight was the tram tour to see the Astronaut Training Facility and Rocket Park, packed with actual rocket parts so you can see the incredible scale. It’s impossible not to get caught up in the excitement.

TASTE OF TEXAS

Texas is foodie heaven. Battling jet lag on our first night, we grabbed dinner at Agnes and Sherman, a short walk from our hotel, kicking things off on a real high. The cheeseburger fried rice has to be tasted to be believed.

For a great breakfast or brunch, head to Dandelion Cafe, where the generous-sized chicken waffles have been voted “best breakfast in the US” by Good Morning America. We were also told that Viet-Cajun crawfish was a must try, so we pulled on our bibs and gloves with enthusiasm at Crawfish & Noodles in Chinatown.

A little out of town in the seaside resort of Galveston, we discovered Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant, which has served seafood to hungry locals since 1911. We dined on delicious stuffed shrimp and gumbo, followed by the famous pecan pie, before a stroll on the waterfront.

But the most magical meal of our trip was at intimate indigenous restaurant Ishtia. Choctaw chef David Skinner is inspired by his heritage and ancestors and tells the story of each dish and its ingredients as they are served.

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed in Hotel Daphne, a stylish luxury boutique hotel in historic Houston Heights. The relaxed atmosphere was just our vibe, as was the bright, quirky decor and striped purple and blue bathrobes. Around this pretty neighbourhood we discovered cool shops and grand houses on tree-lined streets, but you don’t have to venture far for a cocktail. The hotel’s restaurant and bar, Hypsi, with a sun-filled courtyard that’s perfect for catching rays, is always there to welcome you at the end of a day of adventures.

HOW TO BOOK

BA and United Airlines offer direct flights to Houston from London Heathrow. Rooms at Hotel Daphne cost from £272 per night, see hyatt.com. Plan your trip with visithouston.com

It works for breaks across Europe and even long-haul holidays

Holidaymakers could snap up bargain return flights from as low as £30 to the most popular holiday hotspots thanks to a little-known TUI Airways booking trick. The ‘insider trick’, revealed by TUI UK’s Commercial Director Chris Logan, reveals how travellers can snap up last-minute flights weeks before departure which include bargain breaks across Europe and even long-haul escapes for a fraction of the usual price.

On TUI’s dedicated ‘ Cheap Flights ’ page Brits can find seats on return routes which are regularly released at heavily reduced prices in the weeks and months leading up to departure. “If you’ve got a bit of flexibility, this is one of the easiest ways to find a great-value getaway. It’s not something everyone knows about, but checking our flights page regularly can uncover some genuinely low fares, especially closer to departure as we look to fill remaining seats,” said Chris Logan.

“We’re talking everything from quick European breaks to long-haul trips across the Caribbean, Mexico and Thailand. Because TUI Airways flies from 22 airports across the UK, it makes it easy to pick a date, pack a bag and fly from your closest regional airport.”

The best deals tend to be snapped up by those who can be flexible on dates and airports, with flights leaving from more than 22 UK airports. And it’s not just quick getaways. The deals can stretch from short breaks to two-week holidays or even longer.

Chris added: “For customers who don’t mind when or where they go, it can be a really simple way to save money on flights and land some of the best-value fares”.

Right now, Brits can find deals such as: