Our top picks on where The Sun travel editors are going this summer from cheap Turkish resorts to world's biggest cruise

The Irish Sun

6 days ago

RACKING up hundreds of countries between us all, it's no surprise that the Sun Travel team are out exploring the world this summer.
So we've spoken to each of our editors to find out where they are going this
summer
, from family villas in Sicily to being first on the world's biggest cruise ship.
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From island villages to new cruise ships - the travel team is exploring the globe this summer
Sicily villas
One of the joys of not having school-age children is being able to travel in late
summer
, taking advantage of the cheaper prices and fewer crowds.
But of course, the Bank of Mum and Dad is never closed, and our break will still see the whole family heading away together, but on a very different holiday with our grown-up kids.
Our choice was a villa in
where the whole family can come together to splash about in the private
pool
or gather for lazy meals on the terrace.
The recently refurbished Ad Astra villa sits right on the seafront at Finale di Pollina on Sicily's north eastern coast with direct access to the pebbly beach and clear cobalt waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
With four bedrooms and three bathrooms there hopefully won't be any sibling squabbles and outside in the lovely gardens, there are two terraces for dining and relaxing.
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I can't wait to take our family holiday to Sicily
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The resorts look brand new thanks to a recent refurbishment
The beachfront town is more tranquil than neighbouring bustling
The charming main square, La Torre, has gorgeous sea views perfect for a morning
coffee
or evening aperitivo.
With easyJet flights flying into Catania and flights out of Palermo, we'll hire a car and get to explore the northern Sicilian coastline, still drenched in sunshine and temperatures of 27degrees in early September.
One must-visit for me will be the ancient hilltop medieval village of Pollina - rising dramatically 730metres above the coastline where our villa sits.
With narrow, winding streets to explore and an open-air amphitheatre carved into the rock there should be breathtaking views of the sea and
Four nights at Ad Astra villa start from £462pp in September at WishSicily.com.
Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
Turkish TUI resort
While I love taking my child on busy, exploration
holidays
(he's already ticked off some great bucket listers of Lapland and
So we'll be heading to
the Holiday
Village AQI in Turkey this summer for a week of relaxation.
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The Sun's Head of Travel (Digital) Caroline McGuire is going on a family holiday to Turkey
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Trying to visit all seven pools will certainly be a challenge at the Holiday Village AQI
Credit: Tripadvisor
And the TUI resort has more than enough to keep up busy without leaving the site.
We both love swimming, and there are seven pools to choose from so we'll be able to go to a new one every day.
Although whether I'll be able to drag him away from the splash park, who knows.
Maybe when I tell him there are more than 200 activities on offer at the hotel.
And I'll be heading straight to the spa for a
Seven nights at Holiday Village Aqui start from £891 in August with flights, or £619 out of season.
Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
Fuerteventura
September might not seem like summer here, but in
The weather, on what is me and my hubby's favourite Canary isle, is glorious at that time of year. Not baking hot but still very warm and with the famous and very welcome 'Fuerty wind' making it much more bearable.
We've been here three times before, so I think you get the idea we love it here.
We've previously stayed in Caleta de Fuste, a popular resort in the middle of the island's east coast, with a good variety of hotels, villas, restaurants, pubs and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained and Lajares, a much quieter place and great place to rent a villa and just chill by your own pool.
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The Scottish Sun's Travel Editor Heather Lowrie is heading to the Spanish island of Fuerteventura
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Even in September, it still feels like the best of summer in Fuerteventura
Credit: Getty
This time we're trying something different and heading to Corralejo on the northern tip of the island, where we hope to discover yet another side to
I'm looking forward to walking along the former fishing village's well-known Flag Beach and eating glorious seafood at one of the many restaurants, especially in the old town with its cobbled streets and harbour.
We're also planning a day trip to the nearby Lobos Island nature reserve and perhaps even plucking up the courage to go snorkeling, as well as pottering around the El Campanario Market to pick up a souvenir or two.
But most of all I am just looking forward to a week of sunshine, great food and a bit of well-deserved R&R.
Heather Lowrie, Scottish Sun Travel Editor
World's biggest cruise ship
I fell a little in love with cruising a few years back, on a heavily rum-fuelled sailing between sleepy
Even now, I'm writing this from a sun-soaked lounger on a glossy ship at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, but it's the vessel I'm boarding later this year that I'm most excited about.
Royal Caribbean
's newest ship and the second in its icon class, Star of the Seas, will be
I'll be on board, of course. How could I resist another Caribbean adventure at sea?
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The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski is a new cruise fan
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Royal Caribbean's new ship Star of the Seas launches next month
Credit: Royal Caribbean
The largest cruise ship in the entire world (a title she shares with sister ship, Icon of the Seas) and reaching a whopping 1,196ft in length, this will be on a mind-boggling scale .
What I'm looking forward to most is the Lincoln Park Supper Club, an immersive dining experience exclusive to Star that, I hear, will
transport
diners back to the 1930s in the American city of
Chicago
.
I'll also get to explore
Watch this space. I'll be back here in a few months time and I'm sure I'll have endless secrets to spill.
Royal Caribbean launches from
Florida
in August 2025, with seven-night sailings from £1,059
Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Zurich
I've always been wanting to explore more of
Switzerland
, so there's no better time than with the Women's Euros taking place.
I'm looking forward to exploring
Europe
's happiest cities.
Not only that but it ticks all of the boxes - did you know the city has 18 lidos to choose from?
While the locals choose to float down the river to work, with their belongings safely tucked into a waterproof bag, I'll be hunting out some of the women-only lidos to spend the days in.
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The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey loves exploring a city on holiday
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Zurich is definitely a hot spot this summer, with Women's Euros there this year
Credit: Alamy
As a chocolate lover, I'll also be heading straight to the Lindt World of Chocolate Museum to stock up (brining hauls of
I'm determined to prove that Zurich isn't an expensive destination, especially seeing as you can fly there in just over an hour for less than £20.
Loads of airlines are launching flights too - Edelweiss now has direct routes to Zurich from
Bristol
while easyJet has new Edinburgh-Zurich flights.
But of course I'll be cheering the women on, hoping we get to the finals. Come on
England
!
The
UEFA
Women's
Euros
England
vs
Sweden
match takes place in Zurich on July 17.
In the mean time, here are some of our other Sun Travel Team tips including:
The top affordable European destinations
Where are the rest of the travel team going?
Travel Reporters Alice Penwill and Cyann Fielding are also heading abroad this summer.
Thailand exploring
This summer I'm going the furthest I've ever been, to Thailand's second largest island of Koh Samui.
It's of course known for being the star of White Lotus' third series and I'm looking forward to exploring all the island has to offer from beautiful beaches to late night parties.
On holiday, there's nothing better than swimming in a sea that's not freezing cold, so I plan to go in as much as possible.
Snorkelling is on the to do list too as I hear the island is surrounded by vibrant coral reefs - and I will be investing in an underwater camera to watch my adventure on replay.
Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter
European islands
When it comes to soft spots, Italy is a major one for me - the country boasts so many destinations that you can visit several times and never get bored.
That is why I am heading to yet another Italian destination this summer - Sardinia which has 2,000km of coastline, sandy beaches and numerous hiking trails.
For fellow Italian lovers like me, this is a great destination with flight times coming in at around two-and-a-half-hours and return flights available for as little as £48.
Particular things I am excited for are seeing the nuraghi scattered over the rugged landscape. These little houses date to the bronze age and are shaped like bee hives.
I am such a sucker for hidden gems as well, so I am keen to explore the island's caves and coves to see if I can find off-the-beaten-track spots, which tourists usually don't head to.
Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter