New terror in the skies the airline industry is brushing under the carpet: 'I almost text my parents goodbye'
Instead, passengers aboard a packed KLM Boeing 777 from São Paulo to Amsterdam on August 6 found themselves choking on smoke, gripped by panic, and preparing for the worst — all because of a portable phone charger that exploded in midair.
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Times
11 hours ago
- Times
26 alternative holiday ideas for your next big trip
There are several great reasons to visit an under-the-radar destination on your next trip. With overtourism an increasing problem in some of the world's travel hotspots, you'd be consciously helping the heaving likes of Amsterdam, Venice and Dubrovnik by lightening their load. But that might just be part of the appeal. There's also the chance to enjoy unique, authentic experiences in cities, on islands or within rainforests where few other holidaymakers tread; and to expand your own horizons by not settling for the obvious, the comfortable and the predictable in favour of somewhere totally, thrillingly new and different. By dint of being rarer — while hardly unknown — tourists in unsung places such as Bosnia, Bolivia and Sao Tome have a much more positive impact on their destinations, too. As for costs, there may be extra expense involved in reaching some of the further-flung corners on this list, but many are wonderfully cheap on the ground. Convinced? Here are 26 alternative suggestions for your next holiday, each with a suggested way to visit them. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Best for an alternative dolce vita Leave the Amalfi Coast traffic jams behind in favour of southern Italy's best secret. Between its pair of tiddly coasts — on the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas — Basilicata crams in forest-framed lakes, ghost villages, a 1,452m zip line (the Angel's Flight, linking two small towns) and the craggy Lucanian Dolomites. The best-known place is Matera, whose millennia-old, rock-carved cave dwellings and churches have become posh hotels and James Bond filming locations (from No Time to Die). Do visit it, but, ideally, also aim for bargain-priced rural agriturismos and the churched-crammed port town of Maratea, which is flanked by many beaches. To fully explore you'll need a car; fly into Bari, Naples or Lamezia Terme. Make it happen If you'd most like to experience magical Matera, the Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy group tour with Globus visits there as well as a nearby primitivo wine museum before moving on to the conical buildings and beaches of Puglia. • Most beautiful places in Italy Best for volcano worshippers In 2023, the Dominican Republic received more than 10 million visitors. Barbados welcomed over 600,000, by comparison. And Montserrat? Just 14,429. There's a good reason for that: this British overseas territory is home to an active volcano, one whose series of eruptions from 1995 to 1999 engulfed the capital Plymouth, leaving it a Pompeii-like ghost town. The southern two-thirds of this Caribbean island remains off-limits today. Yet there are still rich tropical landscapes to enjoy, a fascinating volcanic observatory to explore and, in the form of Rendezvous Bay, a white-sand beach that explains why the likes of Sting and Eric Clapton once holidayed here. Make it happen Few cruise lines visit Montserrat, but Seabourn does during a week's voyage from Canada to Barbados aboard one of its contemporary, luxurious expedition yachts. The sailing operates early in October each year. Best for castaway vibes Read guides to the best Indian Ocean islands, and next to none will mention this tiny French outpost. There's no good reason why not. Four hundred miles east of Madagascar and about 100 southwest of Mauritius, Réunion particularly excels at outdoor activities — with everything from rafting and rock climbing to surfing, biking, hiking and ziplining off waterfalls. Ah yes, waterfalls: those, along with jungles, barren mountainscapes and one of the world's most active volcanoes in Piton de la Fournaise explain the nickname of 'L'Île intense'. Even so, a more slumberous family holiday is also entirely possible thanks to sugar-coloured beaches and resorts neighbouring calm, coral-flecked lagoons ripe for snorkelling. Look out, too, for the peculiar but moreish cuisine fusing French influences — including plenty of patisseries — with creole curries and an emphasis on seafood. Make it happen Set up base at Lux* Saint Gilles, the island's only five-star hotel. A beachside riot of typical creole architecture ringed by coconut and casuarina trees, it has facilities for volleyball, kayaking, tennis and snorkeling. Blue Bay Travel can arrange packages. Best for tropical island escapism Here's another secret Indian Ocean speck. Despite being almost six times as far from it as Réunion (see above), Rodrigues is actually an autonomous part of Mauritius. Ranking among the world's most remote inhabited islands, it's a place little spoiled by tourism — indeed, pre-Covid, of Mauritius's 1.5 million annual visitors, only 90,000 took the 90-minute connecting flight on to here. Africa's easternmost extremity, Rodrigues has a beach-flecked perimeter ringed by a lagoon and overlooked by lush peaks; there are reintroduced giant tortoises to see, octopus curries to eat, waterfalls to visit and just a few luxury resorts to discover. Make it happen Set up camp at the C Rodrigues Mourouk: an ultra-laid-back hotel on one of the prettiest beaches. Lagoon-bound activities such as paddleboarding are available below the pool and there's a brilliant, brightly coloured buffet restaurant where local musicians play after dark. Best for striking architectureThe Silk Road's romance is imbued in Uzbekistan's world-class architecture and with visa-free entry, the country is flourishing as an alternative summer holiday destination. There's plenty to see, with highlights including Tashkent, rich with museums and Soviet-era edifices, and Samarkand, the gilded former capital under the rule of the fearsome Tamerlane, where the Registan's blue-tiled mosques are an ancient wonder of the world. Further west along the Silk Road is Bukhara and its calamine-hued lanes that colour-match the desert. Meanwhile, Khiva's 1,500-year-old Islamic architecture is so well preserved it could easily be the backdrop of a blockbuster. Make it happen Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva all feature on Intrepid Travel's Premium Uzbekistan small-group tour. You'll also meet an artisan paper maker and learn how to make the classic rice dish of plov with a local family. Best for standout natural encounters Whether sailing close to breaching humpback whales or spotting grizzly bears on a national park walking holiday, Alaska is a pristine celebration of our natural world. Feel truly alive cruising the Inside Passage during summer via wildwood islands and glassy inlets choked with glacial ice. Or, in winter, sense the freedom of uncrowded skiing pistes or be mesmerised by an appearance of the elusive northern lights. Make it happen Throughout summer, Princess Cruises operates numerous Alaska cruises with departures from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, including many round trips and the option of overnight stays in five exclusive Alaskan lodges. Best for fascinating wildlifeCosta Rica is well-deserving of its reputation as the world's number one eco-paradise. Parading an exotic menagerie of everything from resplendent quetzal birds to red-eyed tree frogs, the Central American nation protects five per cent of the world's biodiversity despite comprising just 0.03 per cent of Earth's landmass. High on any list should be the volcanic bubbling geysers and hot springs of Poas, while the parrots and macaws of Corcovado rainforest make for the best walking holidays in Costa Rica. Dry season is from December to April, additionally enabling warm winter sun escapes to white-sand beaches. Make it happen A comprehensive, two-week introduction, G Adventures' Costa Rica North and South: National Parks, Wildlife & Hot Springs escorted tour takes small groups from pointy volcanoes to intensely blue waterfalls. • Best time to go to Costa Rica Best for feelgood staysBorneo is the world's third-largest island and the diversity of wildlife is matched only by the history and culture of the people. You'll find orangutans and pygmy elephants, enjoy the sandy beaches of Kota Kinabalu, pause for thought at the monuments to Allied prisoners of the Second World War. Wildlife tourism here adds value to this colossal island's forests, which are under increasing pressure from deforestation. Experience the feelgood factor supporting Sabah's spectacular Danum Valley, which safeguards 130 million-year-old rainforest where orangutans and monkeys dwell — best seen during the drier months from the end of March to until early October. Get active and dive in the world-class Sipadan Island's vibrant corals or tackle the daunting Mount Kinabalu (4,095m). Make it happen Want to travel in luxury? Available through Times Holidays is a high-end private touring itinerary which, between Malaysia's cool capital Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi's dreamy beaches, introduces Borneo's most wondrous wildlife. Best for oenophilesMany know nothing at all about this hidden gem of the Caucasus; those that do rate it as one of the top spots in the world. The mountain scenery is magnificent, the heritage fascinating, but it's something else: the warmth of the welcome, matched only by the excellence of the wine (this is one of the world's oldest wine-producing countries, after all, with a legacy of production stretching back 8,000 years). Start in Tbilisi. Its cobbled streets knit together a Persian and Russian fusion of ancient fortresses and a basilica. Here, you might try Georgia's esteemed saperavi wine or some khinkali dumplings on cosmopolitan Rustaveli Avenue, before heading to the Black Sea waters of Batumi or on day trips into the wild Caucasus Mountains to the likes of the photogenic, sixth-century Jarvi monastery. Make it happen Cycling is a great way to get around. For groups of for to 16 travellers, Explore! operates nine-day bike-based summer tours taking in lakes, gorges, gorgeous views and valleys. They're bookended by time in Tbilisi, with lots of focus on wine throughout. Best for surprising vistasLess than a three-hour flight from London, Montenegro is well within city break range. Its USP is a delightful juxtaposition of Balkans history and a sunny Adriatic coast ideal for winter sun. Mingle with the beautiful people at Porto Montenegro and Budva — both lively beach holiday hubs with wealthy marinas and water sports. Kotor, meanwhile, is so enriched with medieval masterpieces and Venetian palaces it offers a welcome alternative to overcrowded Venice. Inland, sense the transcendental calm of Montenegro's iconic Black Lake amid dramatic alpine scenery and feel giddy peering into the mighty Tara Canyon from one of Europe's highest arched bridges. Make it happen Content with a day in spectacular Kotor? On ships laid out with Brits in mind, P&O Cruises sails there on week-long round trips from Valletta in Malta; other calls include Corfu and Taranto, an unsung Puglian port. Best for urban fascinationWhile showier sibling Rio is as much a beach resort as a city, Sao Paulo is a true metropolis, thrumming with swanky fashion ateliers, art galleries, swish cocktail bars, pumping nightclubs and the kind of hotels that grace coffee-table books. Spend a day wandering around the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo to find Manets and Modiglianis you never knew existed or Choque Cultural for cutting-edge street art. Try a Japanese-Brazilian barbecue at the trendy restaurant Charco, then soak up caipirinhas in starchitect-designed bars in the Jardins neighbourhoods. Later, swing your hips in the samba clubs of Madalena — rootsy, wood-floored O do Borogodo whirls after midnight. Beaches? Sao Paulo also has some of Brazil's best: try tiny Ubatuba or Ilhabela Island, each about three hours' drive away. Make it happen During the winter months, Oceania Cruises operates various South American voyages which see its classy, mid-sized ships call at Santos for day trips into Sao Paulo. Available as fly-cruises, all also visit Rio and at least one beach destination. Best for budget breaksAs affordable as it is wonderfully walkable, the Bosnian capital makes for a superb weekend. Often overlooked in favour of Croatia's fancy coastline, this dinky city is a bewitching jumble of cobbled alleyways, Turkish bazaars and pavement coffee shops. By night, it thrums with music and chatter from jazz clubs, hookah lounges and lively cafés serving thick, foaming Bosnian coffee until the early hours. The cable car to the top of Mount Trebevic is another must-do, for sweeping views over the city's red-tiled rooftops, domed Orthodox churches and stately minarets. Make it happen Want to see more of Bosnia and Herzegovina? Finishing with a full day in Sarajevo, Intrepid Travel's small-group tour first visits pretty Mostar, whose iconic bridge is a symbol of reconciliation, looks for wild horses and enters Tito's old bunker. Best for adventureThe UAE's northernmost emirate feels far further away than the 90-minute drive from Dubai's bright lights and cloud-tickling skyscrapers. Ras Al-Khaimah (also known as RAK) is typically where Emiratis come to relax on quiet beaches. But its mix of mangrove forests and desert terrain is slowly starting to attract a new audience: adventurers. The big draw is the Bear Grylls Explorers Camp, where guests come to learn a mix of survival skills and leave knowing how to make an emergency shelter from scratch in the wild. There's also a chance to test your nerve with the world's longest zip line (stretching almost two miles) and clear your head with a hike in the Al-Hajar Mountains, home to some of the highest peaks in the UAE. When you're ready to bed down, camp out in a Bedouin tent in the desert and sleep under the stars. Make it happen Celestyal Cruises visits Ras Al Khaimah during four-night round-trips from Abu Dhabi. You'll also sample the cultural Qatari capital of Doha and Khasab, an Omani town known as 'the Norway of Arabia' thanks to its photogenic fjords. Best for compact centresLjubljana, with its leafy looks and eco-credentials, is one of Europe's quirkiest — and best-value — city breaks. It's somewhere that The Grand Budapest Hotel director Wes Anderson might've created: pocket-size, whimsically eccentric, its cobbled lanes lined with baroque houses the colours of fondant fancies. Even though you're here for a lazy long weekend, you'll be walking everywhere in the compact centre, often on cobbles, so bring comfy shoes. Peruse the handmade shoes at Boutique Vodeb, then loop back along the opposite bank of the Ljubljanica river before browsing the Open Kitchen market beside Vodnik Square. Here, on Fridays, you'll find silver-haired farmers at stalls piled with harvest bounty and struklji filo parcels oozing cottage cheese. Make it happen Riviera Travel's group tour pairs some gentle walking around Lake Bled, where mountains tumble down to frame a pretty island church, with a full day in Ljubljana. Best for varietyJapan might be a bigger tourism destination but South Korea has the same cherry blossom, ornate temples and glitzy cities without the crowds. Wondering how to do it? Fly into Seoul and allow at least two days to explore it: the capital city combines rambling royal palaces, trendy shopping districts and neon-fronted karaoke bars. A high-speed train network will get you to almost everywhere else: to mountain-ringed Gyeongju, Korea's Kyoto, full of ancient temples, royal tombs and palace ruins; to Andong, with its straw-thatched villages; and to seaside Busan, home to powdery beaches and ultra-fresh seafood. Got more time? Add the volcanic Jeju Island on to your itinerary — it's a rugged yet-resorty postcard pin-up in the south. Make it happen Inside Asia Tours operates both small-group and private, tailor-made touring itineraries in South Korea, often with a culinary theme or K-pop dance class thrown in. • Best things to do in South Korea Best for jaw-dropping experiences Setting foot ashore in the Antarctic for the first time is an incredible experience: so familiar, yet so far below the southern boundaries of most tourist maps. Antarctica is the only continent on Earth with no native population and — free from an evolutionary history of human predation — gentoo penguins use investigative beaks to tug at travellers' trouser legs; colonies of chinstrap penguins huddle, unperturbed by tourists; and languid elephant seals roll in the surf. Cute Weddell seals make eyes at visitors, oblivious to potential human danger, even as they laze among the Brobdingnagian whale-bone vertebrae that lie strewn around the abandoned remains of 1920s whaling stations. With rules in place to limit tourist footfall, this ultimate alternative holiday destination is perfect for travellers who prefer small group excursions and offers one of the planet's most exclusive experiences. Make it happen Lindblad Expeditions is one of the most experienced Antarctica providers, with expert lecturers on board its modern expedition ships and Zodiac boats, sea kayaks and underwater cameras ready to help you see and experience as much as possible. Best for a sense of wonderLarge, landlocked Bolivia is a place of typical South American extremes: snow-streaked mountains here, Amazonian jungle or semi-arid lowland there. Getting around can be challenging — 'the only consistency is inconsistency' goes a local phrase — so booking an escorted tour is wise. The rewards are manifold and usually include a superlative. There's cable-car-covered La Paz, the world's highest capital at 3,650m (11,975ft), and a carnival of chaotic life and silence-inducing Andean views. Flamingo-dotted Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, is truly magical during the wet season (December to April) as rain water effects a giant mirror. And there's South America's biggest lake, high-altitude Titicaca, and its islands formed from reeds. Bolivia also excels at festivals — try Oruro's springtime La Diablada, where devils recreate the seven deadly sins. Make it happen Available year-round, this two-week highlights tour with Exodus takes small groups to Salar de Uyuni's cacti islands and spouting geysers, to amazing ancient ruins and to an ecolodge overlooking Titicaca. Best for a versatile getawayThe absence of a sensational pre-Columbian temple or colonial city enables Panama to fly slightly under the Central American tourist radar. Yet this snake-shaped country still has a wonderful range of experiences up for grabs. From slick Panama City, visitors can go sport-fishing, tackle terrific golf courses or cruise up the awesome Panama Canal. Fly west and things get wilder around the Baru volcano — one of the only places on Earth from which both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are visible. Surrounded by coffee farms, nearby Boquete is an adventure-travel capital with everything from easily-hiked trails past waterfalls to zip-lining. Panama also has some wonderful beaches: consider the Caribbean coast's San Blas islands — where simple accommodation and pristine white sand awaits — or cross to the Pacific for Islas Secas, a swanky private island resort run on solar power. Make it happen Indus Travel's 12-day Best of Panama itinerary combines the canal and Panama City with visits to an Embera indigenous village, a hike through cloud forests, dolphin-watching, waterfalls and beach time. Best for immersive counterculturePerhaps because this southernmost of the Baltic states was among Europe's last countries to be Christianised, folksy pagan traditions still pepper its boondocks. Demonic statues litter the many forests and lakes; wood-carving villages still serve mead. A different kind of counterculture, one more anchored on third-wave coffee, informs capital Vilnius, whose Unesco-listed old town has baroque churches lining twisting lanes. Cathedral Square's white belltower is especially enchanting. Elsewhere, floating on Lake Galve, witch's hat-shaped Trakai is the best of numerous castles; while the riverside spa town of Druskininkai is just a ten-minute drive from a bizarre Soviet sculpture park — The Grutas Park. But Lithuania's headline act is the Curonian Spit — shared with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. This exaggerated, oh-so-photogenic sandbar has amber-spangled dunes, pristine beaches and elk-inhabited pine groves. Make it happen Also visiting Estonia and Latvia, and starting from the Finnish capital Helsinki, Intrepid Travel's small-group tour spends six days in Lithuania. Jazz-loving Klaipeda, the Curonian Spit, the watery Aukstaitija National Park and Vilnius all feature. Best for adventurersPrincipe — the smaller isle of the two-island nation of Sao Tome and Principe, found about 135 miles off the coast of Gabon in west Africa — is finally getting overdue recognition. There are various factors: the presence of an island-wide, equatorial Unesco biosphere; the chance to see nesting sea turtles (November-February) or humpback whales (July-October); the lure of empty, paradise-like sandy beaches such as Praia Banana. Most crucial are three small, eco-luxury hotels established by South African philanthropist Mark Shuttleworth. As well as bringing good chefs and chic design, these have helped to revive the island's cocoa farms and boost employment. Local culture is encouraged, and outdoor activities — boat trips, parrot-watching walks, paddleboarding — are plentiful. Make it happen Arguably the loveliest (and least formal) of those Shuttleworth hotels is Bom Bom, which straddles two typically postcard-worthy beaches. On the tidal island between them is a good restaurant, while air-conditioned bungalows surround the palm-flanked pool. Best for off-radar safarisKenya, Tanzania and South Africa tend to hog Africa's safari limelight, but that's a good thing: it leaves authentic Malawi to savvy insiders. After decades of neglect, the non-profit organisation African Parks (Prince Harry is on its board) began rehabilitating three tracts here in 2015. Gradually, poached-out animals were reintroduced in record-breaking translocations, snares rooted out, fences formed and wonderful new lodges built. Visitors to Majete Wildlife Reserve's riparian woodland now frequently sight all the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) while hippo and croc-spotting cruises sail along Liwonde National Park's Shire River, as sunsets silhouette palm trees to create one of Africa's greatest safari experiences. Trips to this charming country should also include the tea-farming Thyolo Region before finishing at huge Lake Malawi, whose sandy beaches and diving make for an appropriately relaxing finale. Make it happen YellowWood Adventures arranges bespoke safari trips to Malawi, with the suggested itinerary pairing Liwonde, Majete and an island stay on Lake Malawi with time at a tea-growing estate in the country's south. Best for unique creaturesNinety per cent of Madagascar's exceptional wildlife can be found nowhere else on Earth, including blue coua birds, cat-sized chameleons, mongoose-like fossas and the chief reason to visit: more than 100 types of lemur, from graceful sifakas to large indris. Among the best places to view the latter is Nosy Be, an island off the island that also hosts some of the Indian Ocean's dreamiest beaches and the luxury lodge Miavana. Visit between July and October for whale watching, as well. Back on the world's fourth-largest island, vanilla plantations and crater lakes add to the natural spell, as does the striking Avenue of the Baobabs stretch of road. Make it happen Available in May and November, this 17-day group tour with Jules Verne will get up close and personal with lemurs and chameleons. You'll also pause in traditional tribal villages, walk avenues of ancient baobabs and explore sacred forests. Best for marvellous monasteriesBeloved for its philosophy of Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan kingdom is about as authentic as travel gets. Visitor numbers are limited — with tourists required to pay minimum daily tariffs from $200 (about £150), which covers accommodation, food, transportation and guiding — and Buddhist values dominate. That extends from Cham dance ceremonies to jaw-dropping standout is the Tiger's Nest, a fairytale complex somehow teetering on a precarious cliffside. Cities such as Thimphu and Punakha host impressive dzong fortresses and markets as vertiginous valleys all around provide a dream destination for trekkers. A potent fuel for that pursuit is the national dish of ema datshi — a lively stew combining hot chili peppers and yak cheese. Make it happen With its strict travel rules and myriad local customs, Bhutan is much easier to visit if you have expert help. The experienced Wendy Wu Tours is such a tour operator, and operates a 24-day group tour here every November. Best for aquatic adventureBy common consensus, this South Pacific archipelago is reckoned tobe the world's best bet for swimming with humpback whales. Its 170-odd islands, with only a few dozen of them inhabited, are a pit stop on the colossal cetaceans' natural migration from the Antarctic, with August and September being peak time. As well as swimming trips, numerous operators run boat-based tours for those who don't want to get in the water. Make for the northerly Vava'u group of islands, where you'll also find Tonga's best white-sand beaches. Tonga also promises surfing, happily little development, a Stonehenge-style megalithic structure, and absolutely no hurry. Make it happen Seabourn comes here on one of its small, sumptuous expedition ships in April as part of a cruise which also takes in Fiji and Samoa. You'll spend two days in Tonga: one in the Vava'u archipelago and another in the capital, Nuku'Alofa — its name meaning the 'Abode of Love'. Best for big sky energy 'This is wonderful! No one told me it was like this.' So, according to legend, said the modernist painter Georgia O'Keeffe upon her first visit to New Mexico. The initial seduction for her came via this southwestern US state's mesmerising, one-off landscapes: White Sands National Park's eerie gypsum dune fields, the pink-hued Sandia Mountains, the giant Rio Grande Gorge at sunset. Beyond the Land of Enchantment's great geography, though, you'll also find an esoteric arts scene — especially in main city Santa Fe, where O'Keeffe's landscapes vie for attention with mysterious collective Meow Wolf — and a fiery food scene amalgamating Native American, Mexican and Spanish influences. Then you've got mud-brick Indian pueblos, microbreweries, a famous October hot-air balloon fiesta, Breaking Bad locations, Billy the Kid's grave and Roswell's UFO history. Make it happen Globus Journeys's group tour, Enchanted New Mexico, introduces Santa Fe, sandstone canyons, ancient pueblos, O'Keeffe's studio and plenty more of the state's highlights. Best for forest hikesUnlike Bali, there are no built-up resorts and hustling hawkers here, just lush rainforest trails, scattered waterfalls and a dramatic, Jurassic-looking coastline. The two islands may both have a Kuta Beach, but Bali's is packed with bars, malls and chain hotels, while Lombok's is a windswept zig-zag of milk-white sand meeting palmy forest. Inland, there are fewer overpriced spas and more authentic villages — hike to them along forest trails for glimpses of the Indian Ocean. And don't miss a trip to the trio of car-free treasure isles a ten-minute speedboat away: the Gili Islands, sandy circles sprinkled with chic boutique hotels and low-key beach bars. Make it happen G Adventures operates a seven-night Lombok tour for small groups. You're promised animist temples, bamboo forests and traditional Sasak weaving villages before several days of relaxation in the Gili Islands. • Most romantic city breaks in Europe• Best places in the world to go island hopping
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Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
Legia Warsaw travel guide for Hibs fans: Estimated flights, hotels and more after learning play-off opponents
All the information fans will need to know for the Hibs clash in Europa Conference League play-off Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs have learned their prize for overcoming Partizan Belgrade in the Europa Conference League with a two-legged play-off tie against Legia Warsaw up next for David Gray's side. And fans will have already began scrambling to find the best modes of travel to attend both games, with the calibre of opposition expected to crank up a notch after the Polish outfit were eliminated from the Europa League third qualifying round. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Hibees are dreaming of group stage football in UEFA's third-tier competition, with the first leg to be played at Easter Road on August 21st before the return leg a week later in Poland. So what do fans need to know about their opponents in terms of travel? Here's our guide to what fans can expect... How much are estimated cost of flights for Hibs away match vs Legia Warsaw? The Stadion Wojska Polskiego, which has a capacity of 31,103, is where Legia Warsaw play their home games and the city is easily accessible for those seeking a relatively stress-free travel journey without breaking the bank. Their are flights currently available with KLM and Lufthansa from Edinburgh Airport to Warsaw Chopin (WAW) or KLM via Amsterdam from Glasgow Airport on Skyscanner. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The stadium is located 6.2 miles from Warsaw Chopin Airport and is a 20 minute taxi ride away. The number 188 bus also departs from outside the airport terminal and will take roughly 35 minutes. Flights out to Warsaw Chopin from Edinburgh via Amsterdam with KLM on Tuesday August 26th and returning on Friday 29th come in at around £327 without all the trimmings added or alternatively £446 with Lufthansa via Frankfurt. Fans could opt to fly directly into either Amsterdam or Frankfurt and then get the train to Warsaw Central for anything between £74 and £105 return on the same dates. However, that adds an estimated 10-12 hours of travel onto your journey. Flights from Glasgow via Amsterdam with KLM on the 26th and returning on the 29th work out slightly cheaper, coming in at £284. These are just a few examples and prices are subject to change. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Warsaw is also easy to access via other modes of transport from surrounding countries such as The Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia. How much is accommodation for Hibs away match vs Legia Warsaw? Through there are some cost effective options if you start your stay on the 26th, some coming in at as low as £29 a night. You might not be staying at The Ritz but you will have bedding, bathroom and WIFI facilities in most places. A three night stay in one property we looked at that was ranked highly in reviews came in at £318 and if you were doing just the two, it's £106. AirBnB has hotels listed between £60 and the upper brackets of the £300 range for three nights and mid £100 - mid £200 range for two. *Prices are subject to change. What is there to do in Warsaw? Depending on your taste, here are some things in and around the city that are ranked as the top attractions for tourists: Chopin Concerts everyday at the Fryderyk Concert Hall Discover Vistula River Half-Day Warsaw City Sightseeing Bike Tour Polish Vodka Museum Tour with tasting Extreme Shooting Range Experience with transfers From Warsaw Auschwitz and Krakow one day tour by train (includes pick up & drop off) Food and drink in Warsaw Here are the top rated restaurants in Warsaw as per TripAdvisor: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bottegas (Mediterranean/Italian) Viva Tango Steakhouse Argentino (Steakhouse) Zachianek Pierogarnia Polish/European) Whisky in the Jar (American/Steakhouse) Guru - Restaurant & Bar (Indian) Nova Wola (Polish/International) In terms of alcohol if you are that way inclined, as per Numbeo, the average cost of domestic beer in a restaurant typically ranges from 12 to 20 Polish Zloty, which is equivalent to €2.80 to €4.70, while imported stuff is 15 (approximately €3.50).
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
National Trust shuts famous UK beach voted one of best in the world due to health and safety fears
ONE of Britain's most jaw‑dropping beaches has been shut off without warning after safety bosses sounded the alarm over dangerous conditions. Pedn Vounder in Cornwall has been closed to the public by the National Trust amid mounting fears over rip currents, rockfall, and the treacherous cliff path down to the sand. 2 The powder‑soft, turquoise‑water cove that regularly makes 'world's best' lists. Barriers and warning signs have gone up, and rangers are urging visitors to stay away until further notice while they review how to make access safer. What's happened? The National Trust has closed public access to Pedn Vounder, near Treen on the far west Cornwall coast. The charity says the decision was taken on health and safety grounds after repeated incidents and concerns about the steep access route and rip currents. The closure is described as temporary while options to improve safety are explored. Where is Pedn Vounder - and why is it such a big deal? Tucked between Porthcurno and Logan Rock on the Penwith peninsula, Pedn Vounder looks like it's been lifted from the Caribbean: clear, shallow waters over pale sand, backed by dramatic granite cliffs. It's a wild beach - no lifeguards, no facilities, no road - and you only reach it via a rugged coastal path and a scramble down a rock face near low tide. That mix of beauty and danger is exactly why it's so famous and so fraught. On a calm day, it's postcard‑perfect. When the Atlantic swell and tides turn, it can be unforgiving. Why has it been closed now? The Trust's priority is the access route and sea conditions: The path: The descent is steep and uneven, with a scramble at the end. Erosion and slips have made sections more precarious, and there's no easy way back up if you get into difficulty. The sea: Pedn Vounder is notorious for powerful rip currents, fast‑flooding tides, and shifting sandbars that can catch even confident swimmers off guard. The beach is not lifeguarded. Rockfall risk: Cliffs along this stretch are constantly weathered by wind and waves. After periods of heavy rain and heat, the chance of loose material falling increases. Rangers have seen a spike in incidents during busy spells, and coastal rescue teams have repeatedly warned that people are being cut off by the tide or pulled into stronger water than they expect. Shutting the beach gives the Trust time to assess the path, improve signage, and consider whether access can be made safer without encouraging risky behaviour. How long will it be closed? There's no fixed reopening date. The Trust says the beach will remain closed while they carry out assessments and work through possible solutions with partners. This is a protected landscape and any intervention has to balance public safety with the area's wild character. Expect updates once surveys are complete and any work is agreed. The UK's best beach revealed – its white sand and turquoise lagoons helped it beat Jamaica & Thailand Why Pedn Vounder keeps topping the charts The appeal is obvious. On a sunny day, the water glows blue‑green, there's a slice of reef‑sheltered shallows, and the cliffs create a natural amphitheatre that feels a world away from the nearest road. It's also known for a relaxed, clothing‑optional vibe in parts of the cove - another reason it grabs headlines. Travel writers and social media feeds have hyped it as a 'must‑see' for years. That attention brings huge footfall to a place that was never designed for crowds, with many visitors unaware just how quickly conditions can shift on this exposed Atlantic corner. 2 Pedn Vounder's closure is a wake‑up call. This slice of Cornish paradise is spectacular - and it's seriously hazardous when conditions line up. The National Trust has taken a cautious approach, figuring out how to make access safer without damaging what makes the place special. If you're Cornwall‑bound, there's still plenty to enjoy. Choose lifeguarded beaches for swimming, respect the coast, and stay informed about official updates regarding Pedn Vounder. When it's safe to do so, those turquoise shallows and sweeping granite cliffs will still be there - but for now, the barriers are up for good reason.
