
Win 1 of 8 fantastic holidays to places like the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun Travel Awards
THE Sun Travel Awards 2025 launch today, giving YOU the chance to vote for your favourite travel companies and destinations - and win one of EIGHT great breaks.
Nothing is more important to you - our amazing readers - than their
holidays
and you've got strong opinions as to who has served you best over the last year.
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10
We have eight amazing prizes up for grabs in this year's Sun Travel Awards
So
now we want to reward the travel companies, airlines and attractions you turn to for your precious breaks.
Vote for the ones you rate the highest in our 12 categories, left, and you could win one of the incredible prizes, below.
They include the chance to soak up the sunshine in Tobago, hit the beaches of Mexico, cruise to the majestic Fjords, have family fun in
Greece
and enjoy
luxury
stays in fabulous
hotels
in Corfu and Cyprus.
You have until August 31, 2025 to vote.
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The winning companies will be presented with their Sun Travel Award at a special ceremony in autumn.
VOTE NOW
Can't see the form?
THE PRIZES
KICK BACK ON A CARIBBEAN ISLAND
Kick back and relax alongside idyllic Caribbean beaches with this fabulous prize for two.
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Unspoilt, untouched and undiscovered Tobago is everything you've ever dreamed about the
Caribbean
and more.
Most read in Competitions
The trip includes return economy class flights on British Airways to Tobago for two and a seven-night stay at the beautiful
The hotel sits beside a beautiful beach where turtles still lay their eggs and
features
a lagoon-style
pool
with a swim up bar to sip while you dip!
10
Watch the sea turtles or the beach sunrise at Starfish Tobago Resort
Credit: Supplied
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HEAD TO MEXICO FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE BEACH STAY
The astonishing
Every one of its rooms faces the ocean and beach and there are six pools as well as the astonishing 2.8acre AVA Bay - the ultimate water playground to sail, swim, paddleboard or kayak.
With 17
restaurants
, countless bars and cocktail lounges, a swanky speakeasy and a variety of energetic nightlife options, you'll find it hard to fit everything into seven nights!
Prize for two includes return economy flights to Cancun.
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You'll barely scratch the surface of the AVA Resort in Mexico during your seven-night stay
Credit: © YAML
DISCOVER THE NORDIC FJORDS BY CRUISE
Uncover the scenic wonders of
Norway
and the Netherlands on a fabulous seven night cruise sailing from
London
Tilbury on
The prize for two will see you sailing in style to Stavanger and Edfjord before returning via Ijmuiden, gateway to Amsterdam.
You'll soak up the views from your Ocean View cabin as well as enjoy full-board meals and wide range of entertainment both day and night.
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There's not better way to explore Norway than with Ambassador Cruise Line
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EXPLORE LESSER-KNOWN LESBOS
There's a fabulous family holiday for four courtesy of
The seven night all-inclusive stay at the
pool
or the nearby long stretch of sandy beach.
Expect spacious rooms, a variety of delicious places to eat and drink and lots of activities to keep the whole family happy.
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The prize for two adults and two children includes return flights, transfers plus 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage for all.
10
Aeolian Village Hotel has a seven-night stay for one lucky winner
Credit: Supplied
RELAX IN BEACHFRONT PAPHOS HOTEL
Enjoy a three-night
luxury
stay at the fabulous 5*
courtesy of
The prize includes bed and breakfast for two at this exclusively for adults resort just 300metres from the Blue Flag
Coral
Bay beach.
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Cool down in the 47metre freshwater pool or sunbathe on the luxury sunbeds, sunken in-pool loungers and cool cabanas.
The prize includes return easyJet flights to Paphos and a 30minute spa treatment for two in the luxury spa.
10
One lucky winner can enjoy a three-night stay at Cali Resort & Spa
Credit: Cali Resort & Spa
STAY AT NEW FIVE-STAR
CORFU
RESORT
Indulge in premium all-inclusive at the newly-opened 5*
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The prize, for two, will see you kicking back and relaxing at this beachfront resort with its three pools, four
restaurants
, five bars and luxury spa.
Also included are return flights from the UK.
10
You could be one of the first to stay in the new Valmar Corfu resort
Credit: Supplied
ENJOY A SCOTTISH COUNTRYSIDE RETREAT
Explore the beauty of the Scottish countryside with a three night stay for a family of four at the
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This peaceful retreat also invites guests to swim in their indoor pool, dine on seasonal Scottish fare and even enjoy a handcrafted gin from their on-site distillery.
The prize also includes breakfast each morning.
10
Grab a bike and explore the grounds of the Wyndham Duchally Country Estate
Credit: Marcelo Barbosa
RELAX IN BATH SPA HOTEL
Prepare to be pampered at
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Part of
Read more on the Irish Sun
Included in the prize is one treatment per person as well as dinner on the second night at the Gainsborough Brasserie.
10
Why not escape to Bath for a stay at The Gainsborough hotel?
Credit: Supplied
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- including important info regarding dates and availability.
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Win an all-inclusive seven-night holiday to the Caribbean island of Tobago
3 YOU could win a seven-night holiday to the beautiful island of Tobago, with some return flights thrown in. One lucky winner will enjoy the week in the Caribbean as part of this year's Advertisement 3 You could spend seven nights on the island of Tobago thanks to this year's Sun Travel Awards Credit: Supplied The prize includes the seven nights at the Starfish Tobago Resort, courtesy of The resort is tucked between two of the island's historic villages, both a great place to explore. But the resort has more than enough to offer as well, with the main attraction being the lagoon-style pool along with the swim up bar. Save time for the sandy beach next to the hotel too - not only is it a quiet escape, but you might even spot some turtles laying eggs there too. Advertisement Read more on Tobago Guests even get complimentary non-motorised watersports while at the resort too. All of the rooms have ocean views too, if you want to catch it from bed with the prize including a Turtle View Superior Room. Otherwise there are three restaurants on-site with both local Caribbean food as well as an international menu across buffet and a la carte. There are three bars too, if you fancy yourself a rum cocktail. Advertisement Most read in Travel Winners will be staying on an all-inclusive basis, so make the most of the drinks and dining on offer. Return economy flights from the UK to Tobago will also be thrown in, as well as transfers from the airport to the hotel. How to enter To be in with a chance winning this trip or one of seven other incredible holidays to places like Mexico , the Caribbean and Greece , vote for your for your favourite travel companies and destinations in the form below. For the full list of prizes, see . Advertisement Pick at least one shortlisted entry in each category in this year's Sun Travel Awards. There are 11 categories in total. You have until the end of August 31, 2025 , to vote. The winning companies will be presented with their Sun Travel Award at a special ceremony in autumn. Advertisement Can't see the form? Please read our - including important info regarding dates and availability. Terms & Conditions Promotion closes at 23.59pm on August 31, 2025. Open to residents of the United Kingdom who are aged 18 years or older, excluding employees and agents of the Promoter and its group companies, or third parties directly connected with the operation or fulfilment of the Promotion and their affiliates, and their immediate families and household members. One entry per person. Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries. No cash alternative and prize is non-transferable. Booking is subject to availability and valid for travel between October 1, 2025 and October 1, 2026 excluding Christmas, New Year and February and October Carnival. Winner must book by April 1, 2026. Winner and his/her guest must travel on the same itinerary. All parts of Prize must be used in conjunction with the same booking. Winner and his/her guest are solely responsible for ensuring they are available to travel and have valid travel documentation (including passport/visa/visa waiver as may be required), obtaining adequate travel insurance and appropriate vaccinations / inoculations for foreign travel at their own expense. Travel insurance, food and drink (outside what is previously declared in the board basis), spending money and all incidental expenses are the responsibility of the Winner. Prize is subject to Tobago Tourism Agency terms and conditions. Your information will be used to administer this Promotion and otherwise in accordance with our privacy policy at and those of the partners. Promoter is Times Media Ltd Full T&Cs apply - see 3 Return flights from the UK are included too Credit: Supplied


Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
UK travel chaos as air traffic control down affecting all international flights
Major air traffic control problems have closed the London airspace, plunging travel across the UK into chaos. Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Stansted, Newcastle, Manchester, Gatwick and Luton are among the airports affected. Passengers across the UK have shared their frustration on social media, with people on planes in Liverpool and Manchester saying they're sitting on the runway with no sign of taking off. Follow along with our live blog below for the latest updates. 17:14 Chiara Fiorillo Airlines are attempting to recover their flight operations after an air traffic control (ATC) fault caused major disruption this afternoon. The technical glitch affected flights across the UK as the number of aircraft which could fly in England and Wales was restricted, ATC provider NATS said. It has left many aircraft and flight crew out of position. While the issue was ongoing, British Airways said the problem was "affecting the vast majority of our flight." 17:08 Chiara Fiorillo Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has said that while the issue has been resolved, "continued disruption" is expected. She has urged passengers to check the status of their flight with their individual airlines. I am aware of a technical issue which impacted @NATS operations causing travel disruption this afternoon. I have been informed systems have now been restored but continued disruption is expected, and passengers should check with individual airports for advice. — Heidi Alexander MP (@Heidi_Labour) July 30, 2025 17:04 Chiara Fiorillo NATS, the National Air Traffic Service, is the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services. The company handles over 2.5 million flights and looks after 250 million passengers travelling over the UK and across the North Atlantic every year. Beyond air traffic control, NATS also provides consultancy and delivery services in all aspects of air traffic management. NATS is the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services (Image: AFP via Getty Images) 17:01 Chiara Fiorillo Passenger David Ogilvie said he is in a plane on the runway at Newcastle Airport - but has no idea when the aircraft will be allowed to depart. He told us he hasn't got "a clue what time we will be going - one minute they say we can go, then next time it's cancelled." 16:57 Chiara Fiorillo Passenger Mark Robson told us he boarded a Vueling flight to Bilbao at T4 Heathrow at 3.30pm, expecting nothing more than a thirty minute delay. However, once everyone was on board, passengers were warned they could face a delay of up to three hours. He shared: "Once everyone was on board and we were ready to depart, we were informed that, because of the breakdown in the air traffic control European communication system, all flights were grounded and we could expect to be on the plane for three hours before we could depart. "A further update from our captain says the situation is 'confusing', with some saying we should disembark while others are saying the problem is fixed. "The captain wants us to stay on the plane for now in the hope that, amongst the massive backlog of flights waiting to depart, we might get an opportunity to leave Heathrow. "I very much doubt it and am now counting the minutes until we can go home and start our compensation claim." 16:55 Chiara Fiorillo Heathrow Airport said flights have resumed following the issues - and it urged passengers to check with their airline before travelling. A spokesperson for the airport said: "Flights at Heathrow have resumed following a technical issue at the NATS Swanwick air traffic control centre. "We are advising passengers to check with their airline before travelling. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." 16:53 Chiara Fiorillo NATS said in its latest statement: "Our engineers have now restored the system that was affected this afternoon. "We are in the process of resuming normal operations in the London area. "We continue to work closely with airline and airport customers to minimise disruption. "We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused." 16:50 KEY EVENT About 30 minutes after issuing an initial alert, the agency said engineers had fixed the problem and that it was "in the process of restoring normal operations." 16:43 Chiara Fiorillo More than 700,000 passengers suffered disruption when flights were grounded at UK airports on August 28, 2023 after NATS suffered a technical glitch while processing a flight plan. 16:40 Chiara Fiorillo The National Air Traffic Service, or NATS, said its engineers are "working hard to resolve the problem as quickly as possible." However, currently it's unclear how long the disruption will last. Aircraft over London this afternoon 16:36 Chiara Fiorillo Newcastle Airport has confirmed all departures are currently suspended because of the technical issue. The airport shared the update on X and said it will provide more information in due course. Important passenger information An issue in London's airspace is impacting national airport operations and all departures are currently suspended. We will provide an update in due course. — Newcastle International Airport (@NCLairport) July 30, 2025 16:33 Chiara Fiorillo Several flights scheduled to arrive at UK airports are being forced to conduct holding patterns or divert elsewhere. 16:31 KEY EVENT A statement from air traffic control provider Nats said: "As a result of a technical issue at Nats Swanwick air traffic control centre, we are limiting the number of aircraft flying in the London control area in order to ensure safety, which is always our first priority. "We apologise for any delays this may cause. "Our engineers are working hard to resolve the problem as quickly as possible and we are working closely with airlines to help minimise disruption. "At this stage we cannot say how long it will be before operations are back to normal. "Please check with your airline on the status of your flight." 16:27 Chiara Fiorillo In a statement, Gatwick Airport said the technical issue meant there are currently no departures while the situation is being resolved. "A technical issue impacting Nats is affecting all outbound flights across the UK," the airport said on X. "There are currently no departures from London Gatwick while the situation is being resolved. "We are working with Nats to resume flights as quickly as possible. Inbound flights are still landing at the airport. "Passengers should check the status of their flights with their airline." 16:25 KEY EVENT Gatwick airport has said an air traffic control "technical issue" is affecting all outbound flights across the UK. 16:24 Chiara Fiorillo Flightradar, which monitors air traffic at all time, said the issues is affecting southern parts of the UK. The greatest impact will be felt at Heathrow Airport, which is the biggest airport in the country, it added. Per @eurocontrol technical issues have closed the London CTA, affecting flights across the southern UK. Flights holding outside the CTA, diversions and delays are expected to mount. Greatest impact will be to Heathrow. — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) July 30, 2025 16:12 Chiara Fiorillo Flights are facing disruption this afternoon with no planes landing or taking off from Heathrow. According to reports, this could be due to "radar issues" affecting air traffic.


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Ditch the Caribbean for UK islands with white sand beaches that are just a 20-minute ‘Skybus' from the mainland
THE UK is home to picturesque islands with Caribbean-style beaches and you can visit them by catching a 20-minute 'Skybus' from the mainland. The Isles of Scilly off of the coast of Cornwall are often referred to as beautifully untouched, boasting several islands with white sand beaches and Atlantic grey seals. 8 The Isles of Scilly are located 28 miles off of the coast of Cornwall Credit: Alamy 8 To get there, you can get the ferry or hop on a 20-minute flight Credit: Alamy There are more than 140 isles that make up the islands and they are only 28miles from the coast of Of the islands, only five are actually inhabited - St. Mary's, Tresco, St. Martin's, Bryher, and St. Agnes. And many people who head to the isles, choose to hop between them via a 30-minute But the biggest benefit of the islands making them a great alternative to the Caribbean, is that they have their own microclimate. Read more on travel inspo Caused by the North Atlantic Drift, the islands have flourishing palm trees. This climate also means the islands rarely see cold weather , consistently staying several degrees hotter than the UK mainland - adding to the overall Caribbean feel. The easiest way to get to the islands is via the 'Skybus', which you can do from Land's End Airport, Newquay Airport or Exeter Airport. From Land's End Airport it takes just 20 minutes to reach St. Mary's and if you don't want to leave your furry friend out, the flight even allows dogs . Most read in News Travel Return flights cost £65 per person, or £52 for children under 11-years-old. Alternatively, for a cheaper option hop on the ferry from £35 per adult and from £17.50 per child. The Spanish region undiscovered by Brits despite seaside views and ancient Roman cities St Martin's St Martin's measures just two miles long and a quarter of a mile wide but is home to scenic footpaths, clear waters and white beaches. On the island, is one of two vineyards in the Scilly Isles. At the vineyard, visitors can wander through the woodland trail before joining one of the tours. The tours are self-guided and guests will learn about the 'viticulture' and wine making that happens at the site. There is no need to book and a combined tasting and tour costs just £10 per person. St Martin's is also home to some of the "finest beaches in the British Isles", And just moments away from the The beach boasts crystal clear waters and 8 The islands are home to a wealth of things to do including seal spotting Credit: Getty When the tide goes out some small rockpools emerge, as does the long stretch of golden sands. Also noticeable from the beach is the island's red and white day mark that stands 40 feet tall. Only around 120 people live on the island, so it makes the ideal quiet spot to visit with beaches just like you are in the Caribbean. St Agnes Over on St Agnes, there is the second vineyard - Holy Vale Winery & Vineyard on St Mary's. Whilst not much else to do on the island, you should make sure to head to Troytown Farm One recent visitor said: "The taste and texture of this homemade ice cream is so good that it stays with me all year around and I miss it." You can camp here too, just steps away from the water's edge. 8 Across the islands, there are many flourishing palm trees Credit: Alamy St Mary's Over on St Mary's - the largest of the inhabited islands - you will find the Scillonian capital called Hugh Town. This is a great spot for exploring independent shops, with art galleries and restaurants . There are even some pubs such as The Mermaid Inn - which used to be a spot popular with smugglers. If you fancy seeing the island in a slightly different way, head to St Mary's St Mary's is also where you will find the airport and ferry dock, so if exploring all the 8 And on the largest island, St Mary's there are many independent shops to explore Credit: Alamy 8 On Tresco, you can visit Abbey Garden which is home to 20,000 plants Credit: Alamy Tresco Tresco is then the second largest island out of the five and is known for its dramatic, rocky landscape. For history buffs, this might be the best island to visit as it has a whole host of castle ruins, coves, Bronze Age burial sites and Tresco Abbey Garden. Here, visitors can wander around 17acres of gardens that were first opened in the 1830s. The location is home to over 20,000 exotic plants from across the globe and hand-craved figurines made from the wood of shipwrecked boats. Tresco, like St Mary's, also has a number of independent shops and spots to eat. And if you really want to indulge, you can head to Tresco Island Spa, complete with an indoor swimming pool , gym, jacuzzi, steam room and 8 Many of the beaches feature sprawling white sands and clear waters Credit: Alamy Bryher Bryher is the smallest island of the Isles of Scilly, but there are still things worth exploring there. For many, Visitors can head to the beaches like Portcressa for swimming or enjoy a boat trip off of the island. For those who prefer to stay on dry land, the island offers some great hiking options with many of the walks including views of rugged cliffs and dramatic landscapes. At low tide, you can even stroll across the channel to the uninhabited island of Samson. Wanting a real taste of local life? Then head to the Crab Shack for a crab dish, located near Hell Bay. Or head to the quirky Fraggle Rock Bar, just moments from the beach. Some of the most exotic islands near the UK THE UK is home to a number of exotic-looking holiday islands. The Isles of Scilly The Islands have been compared to several amazing holiday destinations, with some even giving it the moniker "the Maldives of the UK". Its blue waters, warm weather and secluded beaches all play a part in it drawing the comparison from visitors. And the Royal Family are known to be fans too, with William and Kate regular visitors. The Isle of Harris, Scotland Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris in Scotland has been compared to the Caribbean by visitors and locals due to its secluded sandy beaches and pristine turquoise waters. The beach was named the seventh best in Europe at the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards last year. Jersey The island off the south coast of the UK has been described as having a "Caribbean-like coastline" as well as a number of amazing beaches, perfect for family holidays. St Ouen's Bay is particularly popular, with the white-sand beach spanning almost the whole of Jersey's west coast and well-loved by surfers. The Plus, 8 Often compared to the Caribbean, the Isles of Scilly offer a great budget-friendly holiday alternative Credit: Alamy