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STANDING confidently on the north-west coast of Ibiza, Amare cuts a striking presence — white-washed, tall, broad and surrounded by swaying palm trees. 

Deliberately designed to follow the bend of the bay, the 4-star hotel benefits from unbroken views of the bluest of oceans, and I just couldn’t get enough of them. 

I was visiting for a long weekend — eager to soak up everything the White Isle has to offer, but with some much-needed downtime, too. 

Amare Ibiza was just the ticket. 

Every sleek room has been thoughtfully designed with light fabrics and local limestone that bring subtle drama as well as specific music and fragrances.  

This isn’t style over substance, though. Handy USB ports sit next to the bed, balconies face the ocean so the views are always spectacular and rooms come with a mini-bar, meaning you won’t need to wander far for a drink after a wild night out at one of the island’s famous superclubs.

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I was staying in a “Keep The Secret” room, which had a smart design that maximised the space and allowed light to pour in. Whatever room they are staying in, guests are waited on hand and foot. But those after a more premium experience can book a room in the hotel’s “The One” category. 

This will give you access to a private lounge where you can enjoy complimentary drinks, as well as a robe, Molton Brown toiletries and a coffee machine. 

The invisible army of housekeeping and maintenance staff do an incredible job of making the hotel look great.  

And the food and drinks here was a highlight across the board. 

There’s a swanky rooftop for fine dining, a casual evening buffet and award-winning sushi — tuna sashimi and spicy margaritas are a match made in heaven.  

Breakfast is right on the money, too, and well worth waking up for.  

Although if you have stayed out until the early hours, fret not, as Amare has taken Ibiza’s lifestyle into consideration and the service runs until 11am every day. 

The buffet has manned stations for personalised omelettes, pancakes and waffles, and there’s every topping for toast you could imagine, plus pastries, yoghurts and fruit, all regularly replenished. 

Fancy a little hair of the dog? You can knock back a Buck’s Fizz with your brekkie, as well as the typical tea, coffee and juices. 

And when you’re ready to explore the island — whether by day or night — take advantage of the excellent concierge cab service. 

Regular boat taxis run to San Antonio, too — and they’re much cheaper than road taxis.  

The historic Old Town, with its winding streets, panoramic views and restaurants serving some of the best grub on the island, is just a 30-minute taxi away. 

And from the Old Town marina, you can head off to the island of Formentera for the day, or hire a boat to cruise around the bay.  

My group chose a classic sailboat and it was the perfect way to take in Ibiza’s distinctive rocky coastline and clear blue waters — and experience a side that most visitors don’t.  

Our skipper took us to a deserted cove, providing a chance to swim while lunch and drinks were prepared.  

It was a welcome moment of peace away from the usual crowds. 

What Amare does so well, however, is make it so very hard to want to leave. 

With those stunning sunset views every evening, as well as an excellent spa and free rooftop yoga sessions, this spot is undoubtedly the perfect antidote to Ibiza’s party side. 

Amanda Serrano retained her WBA and WBO featherweight belts with a narrow majority decision over Argentina’s Lucrecia Manzur in the first world title fight to be streamed live on TikTok.

The Puerto Rican was made to work for her 50th career win, edging a majority decision but missing the 33rd knockout she needed to break the women’s record, remaining on 32.

Serrano’s fight, held over 12 two-minute rounds, may not have delivered a record‑breaking knockout, but it drew 3.4 million total views on TikTok.

The 37-year-old continues to be one of the most watched female fighters in the world, with her third fight against Ireland’s Katie Taylor last year drawing an audience of six million on Netflix and their rematch in 2024 getting over 50 million on the same platform.

Friday’s fight in Temeculam, California was scored 114-114, 116-112 and 116-112 in favour of Serrano.

Manzur troubled the champion early with repeated right hands, but the Argentine tired as Serrano seized momentum from round nine and finished the fight in control.

Speaking after the bout, Serrano said: “I am so happy and honoured. That was the first championship main event fight on TikTok guys, super excited, super honoured.”

On Manzur, Serrano added: “I knew this girl was tough. She’s young. She’s 27. She’s 10 years younger than me. These girls are getting younger and stronger.

“She was hungry, and I knew that coming into training. I trained very hard because I knew it was an opportunity for her, so I had to come on my A game.”

The unified champion will now be hoping to eclipse Christy Martin with a 33rd stoppage in her farewell fight, which she plans to stage in Puerto Rico later this year or in early 2027.

This city offers stunning hidden walkways, picturesque views and a world-class cuisine – it’s also far less crowded than other destinations in Europe so it’s worth adding to your bucket list

If you’re looking for your next city break destination, then this is one place you must visit. When you think of weekend getaways, Barcelona, Paris and Budapest are among the most popular spots for Brits.

Whether you’re keen for an eating holiday or exploring some picturesque streets, this European city has it all. And the best part is, you don’t have to worry about too many crowds as you would if you were visiting Madrid or Berlin. So the place we’re talking about is in France and it’s none other than the gorgeous city of Lyon.

It is the third largest city in France and unlike the other major tourist hotspots, it certainly has fewer crowds. It does experience distinct peak times during weekends, summer holidays and of course, major festivals.

But in August, locals leave for holidays and international tourism may peak, but it’s still not enough to put you off. One woman recently flocked to the city on a trip – and she was not disappointed.

Speaking with her 21,600 TikTok followers, Reanna said: “Why is no one talking about this European city? Welcome to… Lyon.”

She explained why Lyon had won her over after spending four days as she “couldn’t get enough of how picturesque it is”.

Exploring Picturesque Streets and France’s Culinary Capital

The travel content creator added: “From the colourful streets and hidden passageways to incredible views, there’s so much to explore.”

Not only is it the third-largest city in France, Lyon is also the country’s culinary capital so if you love food, then you have to visit.

Reanna continued: “The Old Town is UNESCO-listed and full of beautiful Renaissance architecture. It’s also considered the birthplace of cinema, thanks to the Lumiére brothers.”

Lyon has no shortage of attractions, from strolling through secret covered traboules (covered pedestrian shortcut) to taking in the breathtaking hilltop Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Kick things off with some sightseeing by strolling through the cobbled streets of one of Europe’s largest Renaissance old towns. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden shortcut passageways that wind through buildings and corridors.

Make sure to hop on the funicular for breathtaking views across the city. When it comes to food, there’s an absolute wealth of choice on offer. Tuck into local meat dishes and pink praline tarts at traditional eateries.

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A visit to Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse is well worth your time, where you can browse bustling indoor food stalls brimming with local cheese, wine, and meats.

For parks and museums, the Parc de la Tête d’Or boasts a vast lake, botanical gardens and a free zoo area. Many visitors also flock to the Musée des Confluences, a striking modern museum perched at the junction of the city’s two rivers.

A direct flight to Lyon from the UK will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes on average. If, for example, you’re departing from London this might take slightly less than if you were going from up north.

Many airlines offer multiple flight times to the French city, like British Airways and easyJet.

When you fly to the destination, you will land at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS) which is considerably close to the main city, taking around 45 minutes with public transport.

If you want to stay close to the city centre, prices range from £30 to £45 per night for budget hotels and basic rooms.

As for a standard hotel, this will cost about £200 or slightly more depending on what star you go for.